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IF YOU'RE A FRONT FACING EMPLOYEE, WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE TO TELL THAT PERSON OR TRAIN THAT
[CALL TO ORDER]
PERSON HOW TO DO CUSTOMER SERVICE? THAT JUST BLOWS MY MIND.HEY, YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON SOMEBODY SEES WHEN THEY WALK IN.
HOW DO YOU? EITHER THAT'S THE WRONG PERSON FOR THE JOB OR.
WELL, I THINK SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS PEOPLE GO INTO A JOB WITH GREAT INTENT, BUT WHEN YOU GET IN THERE AND IF YOU ARE NOT, YOUR SKILL SET IS NOT IN PLACE AND YOU HAVE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER.
YOU EITHER BECOME DEFENSIVE OR YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE AN IDIOT.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING ABLE TO SAY, LET ME GET AN ANSWER FOR YOU.
LET ME CALL YOU BACK, LET ME DO SOME WORK, BUT SOMETIMES THAT BECOMES VERY CHALLENGING DEPENDING ON HOW YOU INTERACT WITH PEOPLE AND HOW THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH YOU.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE AND YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TRAINED IN HOW TO WORK
[JOINT BOARD AND COUNCIL WORKSHOP 5:00 p.m.]
THROUGH THAT, THEN YOU ARE BASICALLY OUT THERE BY YOURSELF.SO IT'S MORE OF HAVING THAT TRAINING AND HAVING THOSE THINGS IN PLACE SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE A FAILURE AND THEY CAN SMILE AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
I CAN'T TELL YOU ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BECAUSE AGAIN, I HEARD COMMENTS BOTH WAYS.
THEY WERE THE GREATEST PEOPLE EVER OR THEY WERE RUDE, YOU KNOW? I THINK THE EXIT INTERVIEWS IS A GREAT WAY TO BE ABLE TO DOCUMENT PROCESSES AND THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND QUANTIFY, YOU KNOW, HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T TELL YOU.
I MEAN, IT WAS MIXED REVIEWS, TO BE HONEST, BUT SOME PEOPLE SAID IT'S THE BEST EXPERIENCE I'VE EVER HAD. SO ANOTHER SAID IT WAS THE WORST.
SO. BUT I THINK YOU CAN ALWAYS DO CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT IS A GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE.
ALL RIGHT. BRETT, FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, WE'VE RECEIVED THIS REPORT. WHAT ARE YOU PERCEIVING AS OUR NEXT STEPS FOR COUNCIL TO GET INVOLVED OR PROVIDE INPUT? I THINK THERE'S SOME ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA TO ADDRESS SOME OF THIS STUFF TONIGHT. VERY.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, IF YOU DON'T NEED ME, I'LL BE OVER HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
AND SO I'VE DELIVERED THE REPORT.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT EVERY TIME I WORK IN A CITY, I LEARN MORE.
AND AGAIN, I LEARNED SOME THINGS HERE.
THANK. THAT CONCLUDES THE WORKSHOP PORTION OF THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
YOU READY TO GO INTO REGULAR MEETING OR YOU NEED 5 MINUTES? OR WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.
GLAD YOU ASKED. AND REASSEMBLE IF WE CAN.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND REASSEMBLE.
I'VE GOT TO WORK. I'VE GOT TO EITHER MAKE SOMETHING DELICIOUS OR HAVE A BETTER KIND OF GET ANOTHER PULL. ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET ROLLING. LET'S GO AHEAD AND WE'LL RECONVENE AT 6:36.
GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE. WELL, THANK YOU, SIR.
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ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER ONE TONIGHT IS HERE.PRESENTATION BY MR. JOHN SPENCER FROM CHILD'S PLAY, INCORPORATED ON HARMON PARK, A PLAYGROUND PROJECT.
GREG, YOU WANT TO GIVE US A LITTLE INTRODUCTION, SAY THAT THE PARKS BOARD HAS BEEN MEETING AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH, SOMETIMES TWICE A MONTH, AND HAS WORKED REAL HARD WITH HEATH AND JOHN FROM CHILD'S PLAY TO GET THIS DESIGN PUT TOGETHER AND JUST WANT TO SHOW IT TO YOU ALL TONIGHT AND HAVE IT HERE FOR YOU ALL TO TAKE ACTION IF YOU JUST SO DESIRE.
SO ANYWAY, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JOHN AND LET HIM GO THROUGH HIS PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT WHAT WE DO.
TO START US OFF, JUST I'M JOHN SPENCER.
BURKE, THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, HAS ACTUALLY BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE THE 1920S.
THEY FIRST WERE MAKING WEATHER STRIPPING AND ENDED UP THE OWNER WANTED A FRIEND OF THEIRS, WANTED A SWING SET.
SO HE MADE A SWING SET AND WELL, THE REST IS HISTORY FROM THERE.
LIKE I SAID, I'M A CHILD'S PLAY.
WE'RE THE REP FOR BURKE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FOR ALL OF NORTH TEXAS.
BASICALLY, IF YOU JUST DRAW A LINE FROM LUFKIN TO TO MIDLAND, WE HAVE ALL THE REST OF THE NORTH, EVERYTHING NORTH, UP TO THE PANHANDLE.
WHAT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT IS WORKING WITH HEATH AND THE PARK BOARD TO COME UP WITH A DESIGN HERE OF A FULL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND TO REPLACE HARMON PARK WITH THE WOODEN STRUCTURE OVER THERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES IN HERE, AND I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THOSE AS WE GO THROUGH. BUT MAYBE JUST TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THIS.
LET'S GO A LITTLE BIT FORWARD HERE AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AS IT'S NOT.
UM. ALL RIGHT, SO HERE WE GO WITH THE.
YOU KNOW, LOST IT AGAIN. THEY'RE NOT.
THERE YOU GO. SO ANYWAY, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, IT'S ZOOMING OUT FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE STRUCTURE. AND AS WE GO, YOU'RE GOING TO NOTICE NOT ONLY THE PLATFORMS AND THE HIGHER ELEVATION LEVELS THERE, BUT SOME CLIMBING ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AND ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.
THOSE ARE A LOT OF WHAT NEW COMPONENTS ARE THAT YOU'LL SEE ON PLAYGROUNDS WITH ROPE CLIMBING. AND THIS KIND OF SHOWS YOU HOW THE ACCESS FROM THE GROUND LEVEL UP TO THE UPPER LEVELS WERE GOING.
NOW, OVER ON THE FAR LEFT, THE ARCHED ROPE ACTIVITY IS ONE OF OUR NEW LEVEL ALLIES.
WE CALL IT HAS A LOT OF MOVEMENT TO IT AND KIND OF SEE HEAR HOW THE CHILDREN ARE PLAYING ON IT. IT'S GOING TO TAKE ON A LOT OF ACTIVITIES, A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPE OF OBSTACLES TO GO THROUGH. THE FLEXIBILITY AS WE'RE ZOOMING OUT AND GOING ACROSS THE PLAYGROUND HERE KNOWS THERE'S TWO ZIP LINES ON THE ON THE BOTTOM END.
THAT ONE RIGHT THERE IS A REGULAR SEAT THAT EVERYBODY CAN SIT ON.
THERE'S ALSO A ADA COMPLIANT HANDICAPPED SEAT ON THE OTHER ONE THAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IN JUST A MOMENT. YOU'LL SEE IT THERE IN GREEN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND OF THE SCREEN ON THAT ZIP LINE THERE AS RESUMING ACROSS.
WE HAVE SWINGS IN THIS PLAYGROUND.
BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING HAVE FOUR REGULAR WHAT WE CALL BELT SEATS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TWO OTHER SEATS THERE THAT YOU'LL SEE.
ONE IS A CONNECTION SEAT AND ONE IS ANOTHER HANDICAPPED SEAT.
THIS UNIT HERE, I'LL TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S OUR WHAT WE CALL OUR SERENITY SPOT, AND IT'S ACTUALLY MORE OF A QUIET PLACE FOR THOSE A LOT OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, ESPECIALLY AUTISM, THEY LIKE TO HAVE A QUIET PLACE AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE THE FRONT HERE.
YOU CAN SEE THE ROPE CLIMBING IN THERE, THE TUNNEL AS WELL AS SLIDES HERE.
INTERESTING FIND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AS THE CLIMBING UP AND THIS SHOWS YOU HOW YOU ACCESS UP INTO THE UPPER PARTS OF THE PLATFORMS TO GET TO THE TOPS THAT YOU'RE EVENTUALLY GOING TO COME BACK DOWN THROUGH SLIDES OR CLIMB BACK DOWN THROUGH THROUGH THE ROPES
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THEMSELVES. JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME MORE, YOU KNOW, INTERACTION THERE.YOU CAN'T. STOP KIDS FROM CLIMBING.
THEY'RE GOING TO CLIMB, WHETHER IT'S IN THE TREE OR IN A PLAYGROUND.
THAT SHOWS YOU MORE ACCESS FROM THE BOTTOM LEVEL THROUGH STAIRS AND TRANSITIONS GOING UP THROUGH HERE. WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE LOOKING ACROSS THERE, YOU KIND OF JUST SEE A LOT OF ESCAPES. SO IT JUST GIVES A LOT OF INTERACTION THERE.
LET THE SLIDE ADVANCE A LITTLE BIT.
OKAY. SO ON THE FAR LEFT HAND SIDE, THAT'S KIND OF THE ENTRY.
THERE'S SOME RAMPS THERE AND WE'LL SEE SOME MORE OF THAT.
THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE COMING UP.
NICE THING ABOUT THIS IS THERE'S PLAY ACTIVITIES ON THE RAMPS THEMSELVES AS THEY'RE ENTERING THE PLAYGROUND.
SO IF A CHILD'S IN A WHEELCHAIR, THEY CAN BE COMING UP TO THERE AND INTERACT WITH THOSE ACTIVITIES AS WELL, AS WELL AS OUR NEW NOVA ROCKERS.
THIS IS PIECE THAT A WHEELCHAIR CAN GET ON.
AND THERE AGAIN ANOTHER ACTIVITY, ALL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND FEATURES AS WELL AS ONE THAT GOES ACROSS IN THE BRIDGE PATTERN.
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, YOU'LL SEE SOME MUSIC ITEMS THAT WE HAVE THERE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO GET OUT THERE AND PLAY AND HAVE AND ENJOY THE MUSIC SOUNDS AND DREAM OF WHAT THEY CAN DO.
WITH THAT. AS WE MOVE AROUND, GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT STEP.
THAT'S THE ONE RIGHT THERE. OKAY.
UM, SO THAT WAS KIND OF A QUICK VIDEO OF JUST THE MAIN STRUCTURE ITSELF, AS YOU SEE HERE IN THE LOWER PORTION.
THERE'S ANOTHER INCLUSIVE PIECE THERE THAT WE CALL THE ROLLER TABLE.
AND THEN I'LL GO TO ANOTHER WIDE LOOK HERE.
THE IF YOU LOOK KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE, TOP MIDDLE UP THERE BY THE SHADE CANOPY ON THE TOP, THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITIES THERE THAT ARE JUST SINGLE ACTIVITIES.
AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THOSE AS WE GO ON THE OTHER SIDE.
LOOKING BACK TOWARDS ACTUALLY THE STREET WOULD BE OUT THERE AT THE TOP OF THE OF THE PICTURE THERE. BUT THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THERE THE INTEREST IN THE TOWERS AS WELL AS THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE ENTRY WHERE YOU COME IN OFF OF OFF OF THE SIDEWALKS AND INTO THE PLAYGROUND AREA TO ACCESS THE.
EQUIPMENT THERE. SO I HOPE THIS WORKS.
BUT ONE OF THOSE ACTIVITIES UP IN THE TOP.
ORDER UP HERE IS THIS GREENPEACE HERE, WHICH IS OUR VOLTA.
IT'S REALLY A REPLACEMENT FOR THE MERRY GO ROUND.
AND I DIDN'T THINK THAT VIDEO IS NOT GOING TO WORK THERE, BUT IT SPINS.
AND THE NICE THING ABOUT IT, IT'S ALL INCLUSIVE SO THAT AS IT'S SPINNING, CHILDREN CAN SIT ON IT. THERE WE GO.
KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT IT LOOKS.
IT'S BEEN A VERY POPULAR ITEM WE'VE HAD SINCE PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, PUT THEM IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY PLAYGROUND THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT INCLUSIVENESS.
THIS IS BASICALLY A MINIATURE MERRY GO ROUND THAT NOT ONLY A WHEELCHAIR CAN SIT ON, BUT IT HAS A BENCH.
AND OTHER PEOPLE CAN SPIN THE SPIN IT AROUND TO GIVE PEOPLE OF ALL DEGREES THAT EXPERIENCE OF WHAT YOU WOULD GET IN THE PLAYGROUND ENVIRONMENT.
GO AND SEE IF THAT VIDEO WILL PLAY THERE.
BASICALLY IT'S THE NEW SEESAW.
YOU CAN PUT FOUR PEOPLE IN CHAIRS.
YOU CAN PUT FOUR PEOPLE ON TOP OF THE PAD.
JUST A LOT OF INTERACTION, A LOT MORE ACTIVITY THAN WHAT YOU WOULD GET IN A TYPICAL TWO SEAT SEESAW.
SO. AND WE'LL EVEN PUT A PARENT ON THERE AND THE KIDS CAN ROCK THE PARENTS AROUND.
IF THEY'LL SHOW UP. BUT THAT'S A GREAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THERE.
THERE WE GO. MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE PIECES OF MUSIC EQUIPMENT IN THIS, THE CANTINA RIGHT THERE, OR THE CANTINA THAT YOU LOOK THERE, AS WELL AS THE TALL CHIMES.
MUSIC IS VERY BIG AND PLAYGROUNDS NOW.
JUST TO GET OUT THERE AND HAVE THEM INTERACT WITH IT.
AND I DIDN'T BRING IT IN HERE, BUT WE HAVE A PIECE.
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BUT IF YOU HEARD IT, IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE THOSE HIGH DOLLAR WIND CHIMES THAT YOU GO OUT AND BUY THAT HAVE REALLY GOOD, NICE TONES AND SOUND GOOD.THAT'S BASICALLY OUR PARENT AND CHILD ACTIVITY.
IT'S ONE OF OUR SWING SWING UNITS THAT TWO PEOPLE CAN GET IN, SWING BACK AND FORTH, CONTINUE THAT EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND BONDING BETWEEN MOTHER AND CHILD OR FATHER AND CHILD.
LET'S SEE THAT VIDEO PLAY THERE.
OKAY. WE MIGHT TURN IT DOWN, BUT.
STANDARDS. I THINK THE MOST UNIQUE THING ABOUT PLAY ENSEMBLE IS THAT ON THE AGAIN, ON THE MUSIC INSTRUMENT YOU PLAY THERE IF YOU WANT TO GO FORWARD TO THAT.
OKAY. NEXT SLIDE, OUR ROLLER TABLE.
AS I MENTIONED, IT'S RIGHT HERE.
AND THIS AREA HERE, IT'S ANOTHER REALLY INCLUSIVE PIECE.
THERE. AGAIN, WHAT IT REALLY ALLOWS YOU TO DO IS THOSE CHILDREN THAT ARE MAYBE HANDICAPPED AND WHEELCHAIR BOUND, THEY CAN GET OUT.
THEY HAVE MOTOR SKILLS WITH THEIR ARMS, THEY CAN PULL THEMSELVES THROUGH.
AND IT JUST CREATES ANOTHER SENSATION THAT THAT THEY CAN EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS REGULAR CHILDREN. YOU JUST SEE HERE, AGAIN, ALL ALL AGES ON THEIR PLANE PULL THEMSELVES THROUGH.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT VIDEO MAY PLAY? I DON'T KNOW. BUT I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE ACTIVITY GOING THROUGH THERE.
OKAY. OUR COMET SPINNER IS ONE OF OURS.
IT'S BASICALLY THE PIECE THAT EVERY PLAYGROUND HAS TO HAVE IT.
WE'VE HAD IT OUT ABOUT TEN YEARS NOW, VERY POPULAR.
AND THERE AGAIN, JUST IT'S ANOTHER ACTIVITY.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE ITEMS THAT YOU CAN BE IN IT BY YOURSELF AND JUST WITH YOUR BODY MOVEMENT CAN MAKE IT SPIN OR YOU CAN.
I'VE BEEN UP TO A SCHOOL IN WICHITA FALLS WHERE SERIOUSLY, THERE ARE SO MANY CHILDREN ON THERE, I COULD HARDLY EVEN SEE THE THE MEDAL OF THE OF THE SPINNER.
THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR, WELL, LIKE I SAY, THE NEATEST, BEST THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD COME OUT, WE JUST INTRODUCED THAT THIS YEAR.
AND IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND PLAY THE VIDEO, IT'S AN ELECTRONIC GAME THAT BASICALLY TAKES NO ELECTRICITY, NO HARD WIRE.
THERE IS A CAPACITOR HERE, A GENERATOR THAT YOU SPIN TO BUILD UP ELECTRICITY IN IT.
IT'LL THE LIGHT ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT THERE TO THE RIGHT.
WE'LL SHOW YOU THE POWER INDICATOR ONCE IT'S A FULL CHARGE.
LIGHTS, COME ON. THERE ARE SEVERAL GAMES YOU CAN PLAY.
YOU CAN PLAY IT WITH UP TO FOUR FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
IT'S VERY ACTIVE. WE HAD IT AT A TRADE SHOW AND AT THE TEXAS PARKS AND RECREATION SHOW, AND THOSE PEOPLE WERE SWEATING IN JUST A FEW MINUTES BECAUSE IT HAS SO MUCH ACTIVITY.
THE LIGHTS LIGHT UP SO THAT DEPENDING ON IF YOU'RE YELLOW, BLUE OR GREEN, YOU KNOW, GOING AROUND TOUCHING THE THINGS, IT ALSO KEEPS COUNT OF HOW MANY TIMES YOU TOUCH IT.
SO IT'S REALLY AN INTERACTIVE GAME THAT EVERYBODY CAN PLAY AND SEE WHO CAN DO THE BEST AND BIGGEST SCORE.
ONE OF OUR NEW NEAT PIECES, THE SERENITY SPOT I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT EARLIER, WHAT THAT BASICALLY WAS DESIGNED FOR WAS HERE, AGAIN, CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, ESPECIALLY AUTISM. THEY DON'T LIKE NECESSARILY TO BE OUT IN THE GROUP OF EVERYBODY.
SO THEY WANTED MORE OF A QUIET PLACE WHERE WE CREATED AN ACTIVITY HERE THAT HAS A KICK PANEL, HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES ON THE INSIDE OF THOSE WALLS.
JUST HERE, AGAIN, A PLACE TO THAT THAT PERSON CAN GO AND STILL ENJOY THE PLAYGROUND AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES BUT HAVE THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT QUIET TIME TOO.
I KNOW THIS LOOKS LIKE GRASS, AND IT'S NOT REAL GRASS, BUT IT'S SYNTHETIC TURF.
SO WE'RE PLANNING ON PUTTING SYNTHETIC TURF ON AND ALL OF THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE CUSHION AND LESS MAINTENANCE AND DID YOU'D HAVE WITH GRAVEL OR WOOD FIBER.
BUT THAT'S THE TOP SURFACING 3E PLAN ON PUTTING THERE.
I COULDN'T HELP BUT HEAR EARLIER ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE.
BURKE, BEING ONE OF THE OLDEST PLAYGROUND PLAYGROUND COMPANIES, HAS REALLY BUILT A
[00:20:03]
REPUTATION ON CUSTOMER SERVICE.I CAN VOUCH FOR TIMES THAT WE'VE HAD EQUIPMENT THAT MAY BE 20 YEARS OLD THAT'S NOT BEING MADE ANYMORE. AND THEY STILL CAME UP WITH THE PARTS TO TO BASICALLY GET THOSE PEOPLE BACK UP AND RUNNING, SO TO SPEAK.
ONE OF THE BEST WARRANTIES IN THE INDUSTRY, THEY REALLY STAND BEHIND THEIR WARRANTY THERE. AGAIN, CAN GIVE YOU TESTIMONIES FROM OTHER CITIES THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST CALL US UP.
NO COST OUT OF POCKET TO TO THEM OR THE CITY OR ANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS REALLY WITH THE WARRANTY. I IF IT'S A WARRANTED ITEM IT'S TAKEN CARE OF SO I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT IT, BUT NOT NECESSARY.
SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE OVERVIEW.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
WANT MORE DETAIL OR? YES, COUNCIL, PLEASE.
COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? SO CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REFLECTIVE ABILITY FOR THE HEAT? WE KNOW WHAT DOES NOT REALLY SHOW.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CONCERN AS YOU WOULD WITH THE ALUMINUM OR SOME OF THE OTHER. HONESTLY, THE POST.
YES. IF IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY OR AUGUST AND IT'S 100 AND ABOVE 100 DEGREES, PROBABLY NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE OUT THERE ANYWAY, BUT THE POSTS ARE GOING TO BE HOT.
IF THEY'RE IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT, THE TURF CAN GET HOT.
I MEAN, THIS IS TURF JUST LIKE WHAT YOU WOULD.
WELL, NOT EXACTLY LIKE WHAT YOU'D HAVE IN A LOT OF SPORTS FIELDS.
BUT WE DON'T USE CRUMB RUBBER AND WHAT THEY FILL THOSE UP WITH SO THE TURF CAN GET WARM TOO. NOW.
THE AREAS WHERE THE SHADE CANOPIES ARE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE JUST AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.
IS THE TURF UNDER? WHAT KIND OF WARRANTY DOES THE TURF COME WITH? TURF HAS A SEVEN YEAR WARRANTY BASICALLY FOR ANY KIND OF WORKMANSHIP OR DEGRADATION THAT THAT IT COULD, YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT OCCUR.
WHAT ABOUT FADING OR WEAR AND TEAR? BELIEVE? WELL, IT'S THE SAME.
I MEAN, SEVEN YEAR WARRANTY ON ALL OF THAT.
I APPRECIATE THE INCLUSIVENESS OF YOUR PRESENTATION AND OF YOUR EQUIPMENT.
THANKS. WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW, ESPECIALLY IN CITY PARKS, IS YOU JUST NEED MORE INCLUSIVENESS FOR ALL.
NOW, IF I'M CORRECT, I THINK THE OTHER NIGHT YOU TALKED ABOUT HAVE YOU EVER HAVE A BAD SPOT OR SOMETHING HAPPENED? Y'ALL CAN CUT THAT OUT AND FIX IT.
OH, FOR THE TURF? YES, ABSOLUTELY YES.
I MEAN, IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE CARPET.
IF SOMETHING GETS WORN OUT, WE CAN COME IN THERE AND.
THE HIGH WEAR AREAS OR SOMETHING? HIGH WEAR IS RIGHT. AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE.
BUT YES, I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE WELL, THE SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE COMPONENT ON THERE, TOO, IS.
YEAH. THE TURF IS MADE BY FOREVER LAWN.
IT'S HIGHLY RATED FOR APPLICATIONS LIKE THIS.
IT'S MADE TO TAKE ON THE ABUSE.
IT'S NOT LIKE THE TURF THAT YOU MIGHT GET AND SEE IN SOMEBODY'S FRONT YARD OR LANDSCAPE AREAS. IT'S REAL SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WOULD PUT IN A FOOTBALL FIELD, BUT THE FOOTBALL FIELD USES TYPICALLY WHAT THEY CALL A SLIP FIBER THAT IS A, BASICALLY MACHINE IT, IT GETS REAL STRINGY, I GUESS THE BEST WAY I COULD PROBABLY PUT IT, BUT IT IS MADE TO WITHSTAND A LOT OF ABUSE.
AND CAN YOU KIND OF EXPLAIN MAYBE UNDERNEATH SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE THE EXTRA PADDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND KIND OF WHERE SOME OF THIS COST IN THE TURF COME FROM? SORRY? LIKE I KNOW IN SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE THERE CAN BE THE FALLS, IT'S A LOT THICKER, THE PADDING AND THINK, OH YES, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE IS BASICALLY DONE COMPLIANT TO IPMA AND CPSE AND ASTM GUIDELINES.
BUT FOR INSTANCE, WHERE THE TOWERS ARE, THOSE ARE 12, 14 FEET TALL.
SO WE HAVE TO HAVE WHAT WE CALL FALL ZONES CUSHIONED ENOUGH UNDERNEATH US OF PERSON WERE TO FALL THAT BE ENOUGH TO SAFELY KEEP THEM FROM HURTING THEMSELVES.
SO DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT IS, I MEAN WE MAY HAVE THERE'S A CUSHION THAT GOES UNDERNEATH THE TURF, COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM TWO INCHES TO FIVE INCHES THICK.
IT'S A IT'S A FOAM TYPE CUSHION.
I MEAN, IS IT GOING TO BE FENCED OFF THIS? PROBABLY THE ROADSIDE, FOR SURE.
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PLAYGROUND AND GRASS AND YEAH, JUST THE? AND THAT'LL JUST LIKE THE FOOTPRINT ON THAT IS GOING TO BE BASICALLY WHERE THE PLAYGROUND IS CURRENTLY? YEAH. AND NOW THE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE SHOWN THERE ARE THE EXISTING SIDEWALKS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE TO BE CUT OUT AND TO MAKE THE CORNER BY THE CONCESSION STANDS. BUT I THINK ON THE BOTTOM SIDE, WHERE THERE'S NO CONCRETE OR ANYTHING SHOWING MIGHT BE JUST A FEW MORE FEET FURTHER OUT THAN WHAT YOU HAVE KIND OF IN THE ORIENTATION OF THIS. JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT SOMEBODY HAD SAID SOMETHING EARLIER ABOUT WE'RE GETTING A GAZEBO. WELL, ACTUALLY, THAT GAZEBO, I THINK, IS ABOUT THE HANDICAPPED PARKING IN YOUR PARKING LOT, JUST SO THE GAZEBO IS NOT GOING TO BE THERE.ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? MR. TAYLOR, WILL YOU HAVE THE STAFFING TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP THIS CLEAN? HOW? SO JUST IT NEEDS A WEEKLY WIPE DOWN OR JUST MOTHER NATURE? WE HAVE TWO RIVAL GANGS IN TOWN? HOW SUSCEPTIBLE IS TO THE TAGGING AND CLEAN UP WITH THAT? OH. WELL, HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY THAT GOES OUT AND CLEANS THE PLAYGROUNDS.
NOW, WHEN THE PANDEMIC FIRST HIT TWO YEARS AGO, IT WAS A BIG THING.
THE CITIES THAT I WORK WITH, LIKE MCKINNEY, FOR INSTANCE, TEXARKANA, THEY WERE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, ONCE A WEEK OR WHATEVER, WIPING THEM DOWN WITH A MIXTURE OF CLOROX AND WATER, SO TO SPEAK. BUT NOBODY DOES THAT ANYMORE, THAT PRETTY MUCH STOPPED LAST SUMMER.
YOU KNOW, LET MOTHER NATURE THE RAIN WASH IT ALL DOWN.
IF ANYTHING DOES LOOK BAD, YOU COULD TAKE A PRESSURE WASHER OUT THERE AND WASH IT DOWN.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ON STAFFING.
YES, BECAUSE TAKING CARE OF THIS IS EASIER THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO.
FOR INSTANCE, IF SOMEBODY COMES OUT AND BREAKS THIS FOR WHAT YOU SAY THE WARRANTY WAS ON YOUR STUFF? MOST, OKAY, AS FAR AS WARRANTY, I MEAN, GOT A HUNDRED YEAR WARRANTY ON STEEL POSTS.
BUT REALLY THE STUFF THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FACTOR IS YOUR PLASTICS.
PLASTICS HAVE A 15 YEAR NON NON-OPERATED WARRANTY.
SO IF IT BREAKS DOWN, IT'S REPLACED.
AND CHILD'S PLAY HAS BEEN THE REP FIRM FOR BURKE SINCE 1996.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE OWNERS DID WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS SO LITTLE WARRANTY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES, THEY TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF THAT.
AS FAR AS RECEIVING THE EQUIPMENT, COMING OUT HERE, REPLACING IT AND THERE GETTING NO COST WHERE A LOT OF VENDORS WILL STILL, EVEN IF THE EQUIPMENT IS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE THOSE CHARGES FOR RECEIVING IT AND THE LABOR TAKING IT ON AND OFF AND DOING THAT.
SO IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, WHAT DOES THE TIMEFRAME LOOK LIKE FOR REPLACEMENT? HONESTLY, TYPICALLY ABOUT 2 TO 3 WEEKS.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT COMPONENT IT IS.
IF IT'S A BIG SLIDE, IT MIGHT TAKE UP TO THREE WEEKS.
BUT IF IT'S JUST A BRACKET THAT I MEAN, IT'S NOT WALMART, WE DON'T HAVE THE STUFF ON THE SHELF, BUT IT'S PRETTY READILY AVAILABLE.
WE HAVE TRUCKS COMING IN WEEKLY THAT ARE PLAYGROUNDS AND WE JUST HAVE THEM THROW IT ON THE TRUCK AND BRING IT TO US.
HAVE YOU TOURED SOME OF THEIR OTHER PLAYGROUNDS THAT THEY'VE? I'VE BEEN ALL AROUND DALLAS-FORT WORTH, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE AND I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THEIR STUFF. SO THAT'S HOW I ACTUALLY FOUND THEM THE FIRST WHEN WE FIRST CALLED THEM.
I CAN'T TELL YOU. I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE SOMETHING ON MY COMPUTER THAT TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHERE THEIR STUFF ARE, BUT THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES THAT USE THEM, SO.
A FEW, WE DO HAVE A PLAYGROUND RIGHT OVER HERE AT VICTORY CHURCH.
WE INSTALLED IT BASICALLY ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
IT HAS ONE COMPONENT THAT SIMILAR TO THIS PLAYGROUND HERE, AND I'M ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THEM RIGHT NOW TO REPLACE ALL THEIR.
PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT THE SCHOOL AT THE ACADEMY VICTORY ACADEMY.
SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WICHITA FALLS, FORT WORTH OR HAVE IT ALL OVER.
ANYBODY ELSE? IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE PARK BOARD HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANT TO ADD OR MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND? ALL RIGHT. ARE WE GOING TO DISCUSS THEM? YEAH, I GUESS WE GOT A WE GOT AN X.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
[00:30:03]
THANK YOU, MR. SPENCER, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.ITEM TWO IS CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF HARMON PARK PLAYGROUND PROPOSAL WITH CHILD'S PLAY INC AND AUTHORIZE THE USE OF 2022 BOND FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $817,701. IS THERE ANY PRESENTATION WITH THIS? WE JUST HAD IT.
OKAY. THE ONLY THING I LIKE TO SAY IS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE PARKS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR THREE PLUS YEARS.
THEY'VE BROUGHT SEVERAL THINGS.
HEATH'S GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND ON FINDING DIFFERENT PEOPLE, TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE RIGHT THING. AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S THERE MEETING ONCE A MONTH.
THEY'VE MET ONCE A MONTH FOR, I KNOW, THE LAST TWO YEARS, MONTH IN, A MONTH OUT.
AND OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THEY'VE BEEN UP THERE TWO OR THREE TIMES EVERY TIME A PRESENTATION SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE SURE THEY CAN GET THIS IN FRONT OF US TONIGHT.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THEM.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
AND IT'S THE BEGINNING OF SOME PARKS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE REALLY PROUD OF AND EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE. VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I AGREE WITH YOU, EDDIE.
IS THIS THE AMOUNT? THIS 817,701? THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT WAS IN THE BOND? THAT'S THE FULL AMOUNT, OR IS THAT A PORTION? NO, THAT'S JUST A PORTION OF THE 2.5.
THERE'S 2.45, I THINK, FOR PARKS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WAS DISCUSSED FROM VERY EARLY ON.
AND THEN RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THE SPLASH PAD IS PROBABLY THREE YEARS AWAY, BECAUSE IT WOULD ALSO BE IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS A TWO AND A HALF YEAR PROJECT. SO THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GO AT THAT POINT, IF IT'S THAT OR EXPAND OTHER THINGS OR TOUCH OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT THIS IS THE VERY FIRST ONE.
AND ONE OF THE BIG PARTS ABOUT GETTING IT BROUGHT FORWARD NOW IS THEY.
IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING OUT THERE.
IF WE PUT OUR ORDER IN TODAY, WE'RE FOUR MONTHS OUT OR FIVE MONTHS OUT.
IF WE PUT IT IN A MONTH FROM NOW, WE MAY BE SEVEN.
YOU KNOW, AND AS SOON AS WE GET IT IN, WE'RE LOCKED.
AND IF THERE'S ANY SLOWDOWNS, WE'RE ALL TAKEN CARE OF.
WHAT ABOUT THE DEMO, THE CURRENT PARK, WILL YOU ALL DO THAT OR? SO I THINK OUR STAFF WOULD PROBABLY DO ALL THE DEMO.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO, ALONG WITH PROBABLY THE PUBLIC.
YOU GONNA LIGHT IT ON FIRE AND LET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BLOW IT OUT? I DID NOT SAY THAT.
WE CAN USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SPECIALIZED RESCUE TRAINING IN THE DEMOLITION.
IT COULD BE USEFUL. YEAH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TAKING SO BECAUSE SOME OF THE ACTUAL LIKE SLIDE, MAYBE THE SWING SET, NOT THE SET ITSELF, BUT THE CHAINS AND THE SEAT ARE STILL PROBABLY USABLE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE DONATING THAT TO A SMALLER CHURCH OR CITY OR SOMETHING, OR MAYBE EVEN I THINK THE LIBRARY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN SOMETHING OF IT.
SO WE'LL PROBABLY TAKE OFF WHAT WE CAN USE AND THEN BUT ALL THAT OLD WOOD AND STUFF, I MEAN, IT'S, I THINK IT'S PUSHING 20 YEARS OLD, SO IT'S NOT USABLE WHATSOEVER.
SO, BUT WE WILL PROBABLY DO ALL THE DEMO.
YES, SIR. IF YOU DO DECIDE TO LIGHT IT ON FIRE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL? I'M HEARING WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PARK? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT? MR. REIGER, COULD YOU COME UP TO THE COUNTER AND REPEAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID ON THE MICROPHONE? OH, THAT'S NOT A BAD IDEA.
AND YOUR ADDRESS? I DO. I HAVE TO GIVE MY ADDRESS.
JUST I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S.
IT'S GOOD AND NICE TO HAVE COMMENT FROM WHOM IT IS.
DO YOU REALLY WANT ME TO REPEAT IT?
[CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP 5:30 p.m]
THAT WOULD BE FINE. MAKE SURE EVERYBODY.THAT WAY THEY CAN HEAR YOU. IT WOULD BE, AND THEN ANYONE COULD VIEW THE VIDEO LATER.
YES. ONE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER PARENTS.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PARK THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE? WELL, YOU TALK TO OUR CITY STAFF, IT'S FALLING APART.
THEY'VE HAD TO DO A LOT OF THINGS TO MAKE IT SAFE TO PLAY ON, BUT IT'S MADE OF WOOD.
[00:35:03]
IT'S TWO DECADES OLD.IT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY A BUNCH OF VOLUNTEERS AND AMATEURS.
AS MUCH AS WE TRIED TO DO OUR BEST, THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY PROFESSIONALS. SO THE NEXT PARK WILL BE ACCESSIBLE BY HANDICAPPED, ANYONE IN NEED AND IT'S JUST SAFER. THIS ONE YOU CAN'T SEE THROUGH.
SO WE'VE HAD SOME INSTANCES OF PEOPLE HIDING IN THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND THE NEXT ONE WILL BE COMPLETELY SEE THROUGH.
SO IT'LL BE SAFER, EASIER TO SEE YOUR KIDS AND WATCH YOUR KIDS.
GREG, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AS PART OF THIS PROCESS? NO. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS TO EVERYBODY.
THAT'S LIKE, COUNCILMAN ALLEN SAID, THE PARKS BOARD'S WORKED REAL HARD ON THIS, AND HE HAS WORKED REAL HARD GETTING THIS THING PUT TOGETHER, SO.
YOU SEE THIS AS A BENEFIT FOR THE CITY AND A BETTER UTILIZATION AND MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR SURE.
IT'LL BE PICKING UP TRASH AROUND THERE.
AND HOPEFULLY NOT MUCH OF THAT, BUT IT SHOULD BE A, TAKE VERY LITTLE TIME OFF OUR STAFF TO MAINTAIN THIS.
THAT'S DEFINITELY THE PERCEPTION I THINK WE'VE GOT, BUT IT'S NICE TO HEAR SPECIFICALLY THAT THERE'S AN AGREEMENT OF THAT.
THANK YOU. SO YOU READY FOR A MOTION? I THINK IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, YES.
I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AWARD THE BID ON THE NEW PARK FOR THE $817,701 TO BURKE CHILD'S PLAY.
I'LL SECOND THAT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, SAY AYE.
AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. LOOKS LIKE WE GOT A NEW PARK.
SHOULD I GO AHEAD AND OPEN IN PUBLIC? PUBLIC HEARING. YES, MAYOR, THE THE THE TWO ITEMS THAT REQUIRE PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT ARE NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER SEVEN.
THERE WAS A LITTLE SNAFU WITH THE AGENDA, BUT THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS TONIGHT ARE ITEMS NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER SEVEN.
SO THIS WILL BE ITEM THREE HERE STAFF REPORT AND PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONSIDER TAKING ACTION REGARDING A REQUEST TO FINAL PLAT LOTS 2R-1 AND 2R-2 BLOCK 78 OF THE SOUTH DECATUR ADDITION BEING APPROXIMATELY 0.363 ACRES TRACT OF LAND AND THE CITY OF DECATUR WAS COUNTY AND BEING A REPLAT OF A LOT TWO AND PART OF THE ALLEY OF BLOCK 78 SOUTH DAKOTA EDITION, MORE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS 1303 SOUTH TRINITY STREET IN DECATUR, TEXAS.
THIS IS APPLICATION REPLAY AT 2022-01.
MR. KEITH BRYAN THE PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL 6-0.
SO TONIGHT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR COMMENTS AND THEN CONSIDER YOUR ACTION, IF ANY, AFTER THE COMMENTS. MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, PLEASE.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? ANYBODY IN PUBLIC HAVE A COMMENT? ALL RIGHT.
IT'S A MOTION TIME. ALL RIGHT.
FANTASTIC. MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE.
DID WE OFFICIALLY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? I BELIEVE SO, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN STAFF WILL GIVE THEIR UPDATE.
SO THAT'S I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT, YOU ALL WERE GOING FAST OVER HERE.
SO. DEDRA, THERE'S BEEN NO COMMENTS PROVIDED OR ANY INPUT SINCE THE LAST MEETING ON, WHEN WE HAD THE FIRST READING; RIGHT? THIS IS A REPLAY THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A FIRST READING.
OKAY. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IT IS A REPLAT.
MR. BRYAN IS JUST PROPOSING, YOU GUYS DID HEAR ABOUT THE ZONING CHANGE.
AND SO NOW HE'S FOLLOWING UP WITH THIS REPLAT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR A DUPLEX AND FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME TO BE PLACED ON THE PROPERTY.
ALL RIGHT. SO JUST CAN WE GET SOME CLARITY ON THIS?
[00:40:01]
I THINK I JUST HEARD DEDRA SAY SOMETHING ABOUT FIRST READING AND THEN I ALSO HAVE READ BEING ABLE TO TAKE ACTION.SO OR THE ZONING CHANGE WAS THE FIRST READING.
AND YOU GUYS DID THE ZONING CHANGE A COUPLE OF MEETINGS BACK THE FIRST AND SECOND READING. THIS IS NOW THE REPLAT OF THE PROPERTY SO THAT HE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DUPLEX AND THE SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
I DIDN'T GET TO FINISH IT. GO AHEAD, JAKE, PLEASE.
YOU KNOW WHAT? FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE SAKES, I'LL LET YOU GO.
I'LL SECOND IT. BUT YOU GOT TO GO FIRST.
HI, MR. MAYOR. I MOVED TO IMPROVE REPLAT 2022-01.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? NOW THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT SAY AYE.
DO YOU WANT TO DO SEVEN WHILE WE'RE IN.
OH YEAH. IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DO LET'S DO SEVEN AND THEN THEN THEY CAN CLOSE YOUR PUBLIC HEARING. NUMBER SEVEN IS CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER COMMENTS, CONSIDER SECOND READING AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR A THREE YEAR WINDOW.
THREE YEAR PERIOD OF EFFECTIVENESS FOR CURB, GUTTER AND SIDEWALK VARIANCES WHEN USE REMAINS THE SAME AND FOR PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO TRYING TO CUT DOWN ON THE NUMBER OF SIDEWALK VARIANCES. SO WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION OR IF THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION.
OH, AND THEN YES, LET'S DO THAT FIRST.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC THAT SIGNED UP FOR THIS? ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM WANTING TO MAKE COMMENT? ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SUBDIVISION REGULATION WITH THE THREE YEAR VARIANCE.
SECOND. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.
AND WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME.
ITEM FIVE IS CONSIDERING TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE REVIEW FROM THIRD PARTY CONSULTANT AND CONSULTANT RECOMMENDATIONS RELATIVE TO THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PROCESS REVIEW, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCIES, WORKLOAD, DISTRIBUTION, AND MATTERS RELATED TO THE DECATUR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
THIS IS BASICALLY CRAIG, DON'T LET ME OVER SPEAK, BUT I'M ASSUMING THIS WOULD BE THEIR FORMAL ACCEPTANCE OF YOUR OF YOUR, OF YOUR EVALUATIONS.
YOU WILL ALSO HAVE SOME DECISION POINTS ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
THERE HAVE BEEN A RECOMMENDATION MADE.
WHICH ORGANIZATIONAL CHART ARE YOU GOING WITH? AND THEN A TIMELINE HAS BEEN PRESENTED.
SO IF THERE'S ANY COMMENTS ON THOSE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO COME NOW, WE DO HAVE OTHER ITEMS COMING BELOW BASED ON WHAT WAS ANTICIPATED MIGHT BE OCCURRING.
SO I, JUST LIKE I SAID AT THIS POINT, THIS IS YOUR TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS. IF YOU ALL ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD BY APPROVING THE ONE THAT WAS RECOMMENDED OR IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR WANT TO LOOK AT ANY OF THE OTHERS.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL TACKLE THAT IN THAT ORDER.
SO DISCUSSION ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THERE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS RECOMMENDED WAS THE RECOMMENDATION NUMBER ONE.
I BELIEVE WE'VE LOOKED AT THESE A FEW TIMES AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE WE DID LACK THE NUMBER ONE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
SO DO WE NEED TO INCLUDE THAT? JUST INCLUDE THAT IN THE MOTION.
WELL, WHAT COUNCIL MAY HAVE SEEN ITERATIONS OF THIS IN THE PAST? YOU ALL HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY COLLECTIVELY DISCUSS IT AND TAKE ACTION.
[00:45:04]
SO LIKE I SAID, THERE ARE OTHER ORDINANCE THINGS THAT WE HAVE COMING NEXT TO CREATE A NEW DEPARTMENT, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT'S ALL GOING TO BE DEPENDENT OR CONTINGENT UPON YOUR DECIDING TO ACCEPT WHATEVER TYPE OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.SO IF WE COULD MAYBE GO AND GET THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART PUT BACK UP.
OUR POINT. BE THE NEXT TO THE LAST SLIDE.
PLEASE PULL THAT UP. I'LL MAKE A COMMENT ON IT.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS ORGANIZATION CHART IF WE DON'T HAVE A BUILDING OFFICIAL? LIKE THAT'S A KEY COMPONENT, RIGHT? THE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL.
YES. WE'RE ACTIVELY PURSUING MARIANNE'S BEEN HAVING SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH SOME PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES.
AND IT'S A QUESTION OF FUNDING.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE OTHER AGENDA ITEMS ARE ABOUT, IS IF YOU WANT TO PROCEED THAT WAY AND MAKE A BUILDING DEPARTMENT THAT IT WILL TAKE A CHANGE TO THE CITY STRUCTURE INTO THE BUDGET. AND SO THOSE ARE THE ITEMS THAT WERE SORT OF ANTICIPATED MIGHT BE OCCURRING.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE FOR YOUR NEXT COUPLE OF ITEMS. SO DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY ITEMS OF OR ACTIONS OR QUESTIONS THAT THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT FOR THIS PREFERRED RECOMMENDATION, NUMBER ONE? SO. YEAH.
YOU GUYS GET WITH THE THIS RECOMMENDATION, NUMBER ONE, OR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS? AT THE END OF THE DAY, PATRICIA, IF FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER WE WANTED TO CHANGE SOMETHING LATER, WE COULD STILL CHANGE IT.
THIS IS JUST HELPING US MOVE FORWARD SO THAT WE DON'T LOOK UP IN ANOTHER MONTH, TWO MONTHS, THREE MONTHS. WE'RE STILL SITTING IN THE SAME SPOT RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT STRUCTURE THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
AND SO IT DOES TAKE CHANGES TO LIKE PULL OUT PORTIONS AND PUT IT FUNDED IN ITS OWN DEPARTMENT. AND I THINK THIS IS ALSO IMPORTANT IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL POSITION AS YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO DRAW APPLICANTS IN THAT YOU SHOW THIS IS A DIFFERENT STRUCTURE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE.
AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IS THERE IS A CONVICTION AND COMMITMENT BEHIND THIS PARTICULAR PLAN.
ALTHOUGH AS EVERY ORGANIZATION HAS CHANGES, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE FLEXIBLE AND ADAPT GOING FORWARD AS WELL.
SO NOW MY QUESTION FOR AT THIS TIME IS WE'VE GOT AND WE'VE GOT AN AGENDA ITEM AND IT HAS MULTIPLE SECTIONS IN IT, INCLUDING ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
SO I GUESS WE NEED TO STORE IN OUR MIND THAT IF WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH THE PREFERRED RECOMMENDATION OF NUMBER ONE, THAT WE INCLUDE THAT IN OUR POTENTIAL MOTION.
SO THE NEXT ITEM ON THIS IS THE YOU KNOW, THERE WAS LET'S GO AHEAD AND KNOCK THAT ONE OUT.
THERE WAS THE RECOMMENDATION FOR A TIME FRAME.
YOU HAD THE LITTLE STAR CHART.
RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE.
ON ALL OF THIS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S IN TOGETHER IN A SINGLE AGENDA ITEM. WHAT YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY DOING IS, IS THAT MR. FARMER HAS PROVIDED HIS REPORT.
SO IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO APPROVE ALL THESE THINGS.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF FORMALIZING.
THIS IS THE DIRECTION THE COUNCIL WANTS TO GO SO THAT STAFF CAN IMPLEMENT THAT AND GET THAT MOVING. PATRICIA, HOW WOULD THIS WORK IF THEY'RE INCLINED TO DO THIS, TO ADOPT THE THE REPORT, INCLUDING AN IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE.
YES, ALL OF THOSE THREE COMPONENTS OF THE REPORT, INCLUDING THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE.
IF YOU RECALL, THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART ACTUALLY HAD DIFFERENT PHASES.
SO I MEAN, I THINK THE FIRST OBVIOUS ONE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL A DEPARTMENT HEAD, THEN YOU NEED TO DO THIS, NEED TO REDO THE DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND HAVING A MORE FOCUSED ON THE PLANNING SIDE OF IT. SO THAT WAS THE IMMEDIATE ONE IS TO HELP YOU HIRE A BUILDING OFFICIAL CENTER AND HELP
[00:50:05]
WITH THE WORKLOADS. I'M GOING TO ECHO WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WITH THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART ABOUT POTENTIALLY MAKING CHANGES.I MEAN, I THINK EVEN THE RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE SEEMS LIKE A PLAN THAT WE CAN WORK WITH.
BUT IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO, THAT WE FELT NEEDED TO BE MORE EMPHASIZED, WE COULD COMMUNICATE THAT AS NEEDED.
SURE. AND DON'T FORGET, THAT'S A SCHEDULE.
IT'S ALL STILL SUBJECT TO PEOPLE ACCEPTING THE POSITIONS.
I MEAN, THAT WAS THAT WAS THE SCHEDULE I CAME UP WITH AND I DID SOME REVIEWING WITH STAFF AND THE ATTORNEYS. BUT OBVIOUSLY, YOU MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT NEED FOR SOME OF THIS MAY MOVE BACK AND FORTH. I WOULD AGREE THAT YOU'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH THIS PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH AND CONVERSATION AND USING AGAIN YOUR EXPERTISE.
I WOULD THINK THAT THIS IS PROBABLY A REASONABLE FRAMEWORK FOR WHICH US TO CONSIDER TO ADOPT, AND IT'S NOT WRITTEN IN STONE AND I'LL BE GLAD TO SEND YOU THE ORIGINAL.
SO IN THE CONCLUSION SECTION OF MR. PALMER'S REPORT, THERE ARE LIKE TEN RECOMMENDATIONS AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE REALLY THE ACTION STEPS TO COME OUT OF THIS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE CRITICAL PART FOR THE COUNCIL TO GIVE INPUT AND DIRECTION ON SO THAT BRETT AND HIS STAFF KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO WORK ON.
THAT'S ON PAGE 54 OF THE DOCUMENT.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS WERE EASY AND COULD BE DONE IMMEDIATELY AND SOME OF THE OTHERS TAKE MORE TIME. IF YOU ADOPT THIS REPORT.
WELL, AND THAT'S THAT WE'RE ADOPTING THAT ACTION? THEY'RE REALLY JUST ACCEPTING, AS THE MAYOR HAD INDICATED, I THINK ARE GOING TO GO, YOU'RE GOING TO ACCEPT THE REPORT.
AND THEN WHAT YOU WOULD ADOPT WOULD BE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM IT OR OR THE CONCLUSIONS, WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING. I MEAN, THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE THE CHARTS.
IT'S HELPFUL TO IDENTIFY BECAUSE THE REPORT HAS EVERY CHART IN IT.
SO YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY WHICH CHART IT IS THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE BACK AND YOU'VE GOT A TIME FRAME IN THE BACK.
SO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GROUP IT TOGETHER SO WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO ACCEPT THE REPORT AND YOU'RE GOING TO IDENTIFY WHICH OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE THE RECOMMENDED CHART.
YOU'RE GOING TO APPROVE THE IMPLEMENTATION TIME SCHEDULE, AND THEN YOU CAN APPROVE OR DIRECT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE TEN CONCLUSION ITEMS OR FIVE OF THE CONCLUSIONS HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO. WELL ARE THE, DO THOSE MATCH UP? THE LIST MATCHES THE TOP RECOMMENDATION.
RIGHT. SO THE THE THE SUMMARY CONCLUSION, THE SUMMARY ACTIONS ARE THESE? SO I THINK WE WOULD I THINK WE COULD BE GOOD WITH WHAT PATRICIA JUST SAID.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WHAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO COUNCIL? THEN I WILL LOOK FOR A MOTION.
DIDN'T ITEM? THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT TALKS ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
THEY'RE ACCEPTING THE REPORT AS PRESENTED WITH.
ALTERNATIVE ONE? AN ALTERNATIVE ONE.
I'M GOING TO GO WITH WHAT PATRICIA JUST RECOMMENDED IS TO SAY.
TEAM, LET'S LOOK FOR A MOTION.
TO? I'LL MAKE IT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL WITH THE PREFERRED ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, NUMBER ONE, AND THE RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE, ADAPTING ALL TEN OF THESE SUGGESTIONS ON THAT TIME SCHEDULE.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION SAY AYE.
AYE THOSE OPPOSE? SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT.
EXCELLENT. HOW'D WE DO, PATRICIA? YOU DID GOOD. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. I THINK GRAMMATICALLY PROPER TO SAY WELL.
ALL RIGHT. ITEM SIX IS CONSIDER FIRST READING OF AN AUDIENCE OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS, ADOPTING THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART FOR THE CITY, PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A NEW DEPARTMENT, AND IDENTIFYING A NEW POSITION TO ASSIST AND DIRECTLY SUPERVISE THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUNCTIONS AND DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY.
AND THIS IS ALL TIED BACK TO THE ALTERNATIVE.
NUMBER ONE WAS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS LAST BUSINESS LIAISON POSITION.
[00:55:04]
IT USED TO BE FIVE, BUT WHEN YOU WENT TO SEVEN, THIS IS GOING TO BE ON OUR TOES NOW.THIS ORDINANCE IS REALLY WHAT THIS IS DOING IS ACCEPTING OR APPROVING THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND IMPLEMENTING THAT BUILDING DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER IS NOT A NEW DEPARTMENT. THE CITY'S CHARTER SAYS THAT COUNCIL APPROVES DEPARTMENTS BY ORDINANCE.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THIS ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF YOU.
SO THAT ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, THAT POSITION, YOU ALL CAN DO WITHIN BUDGET IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUDGET, THAT THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
BUT THIS ORDINANCE IS TO HAVE THE CITY APPROVE THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND THEN TO BASICALLY IDENTIFY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT FOR THIS BUILDING OFFICIAL POSITION.
RIGHT. AND SOME OF THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MORE LONG TERM ONCE YOU HAD AN ACM ON BOARD WHO THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR REPORTS TO.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. YES, SIR.
WHILE MR. FARMER IS STILL HERE AND AVAILABLE FOR CLARITY.
CAN YOU, SEBASTIAN, CAN YOU PUT THE ORG CHART BACK UP THERE AGAIN, PLEASE? MR. FARMER THE QUESTION WOULD BE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE ASSOCIATION OF THE FIRE CHIEF ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF, FIRE MARSHAL TO THE NEWLY CREATED POSITION? OKAY. SO, AS YOU SEE, THE DASH LINE MEANS THAT IT'S JUST COORDINATING DEVELOPMENT REVIEW WITH THIS ACM.
THE POSITION STILL IS A DIRECT REPORT TO FIRE CHIEF.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF DUTIES WOULD BE EVERYTHING UNDER THE FIRE CHIEF. IT'S JUST IN THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS AS A FIRE MARSHAL.
ISSUES COME UP IN THE ACM COORDINATE THAT.
MY UNDERSTANDING RIGHT NOW THE CITY ENGINEER REPORTS THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, BUT ALSO HAS A DIRECT REPORT, NOT A DIRECT REPORT, BUT REPORTS ON ENGINEERING ISSUES WITH THE CITY MANAGER CURRENTLY.
ABSOLUTELY. LIKE THE ORGANIZATION CHART OR GREG, DO YOU? I MEAN, THIS AFFECTS YOU, GREG.
DOESN'T IT? AFFECTS YOU PRETTY GOOD? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART? RIGHT. ISN'T IT? YEAH.
KIND OF DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT PUBLIC WORKS TOO MUCH OTHER THAN MY I WOULD BE REPORTING TO THE NEW POSITION INSTEAD OF TO THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THAT THAT HELPS REDUCE THE SPAN OF CONTROL ISSUES FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
BUT AGAIN, THAT ONE IS A LITTLE MORE LONG TERM, MAY NEED MORE DISCUSSION.
I THINK NOW WHEN WE CHANGE THIS ORGANIZATION CHART INSTEAD OF THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, IT'LL, THAT WILL BE THE CITY MANAGER.
RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THAT POSITION CREATED YET.
SO THE ONLY ACTION REQUIRED UNDER THE CHARTER IS IF YOU'RE DOING A DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT ADDRESS, BUT NOT THIS NEW POSITION.
AND YOU WILL HAVE TO DETERMINE THAT WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH BUDGETING.
SO, IN THE INTERIM, THE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL WILL BE A DIRECT REPORT TO THE CITY MANAGER UNTIL THE ACM POSITION IS FUNDED AND FILLED.
YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? AND AS EDDIE POINTED OUT, IT IS A FIRST READING.
GREG, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
YES, THANK YOU, SIR. I ENJOYED IT A LOT.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS CONSIDER FIRST READING OF AN AUDITS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL THAT YOU ALL CAN READ.
IT'S JUST IT'S BASICALLY A BUDGET AMENDMENT, ORDINANCE AND, ANA? YOU WANT TO KIND OF EXPLAIN ALL THIS A LITTLE BIT? NO, WE'RE NOT. ITEM SEVEN, WHICH SHOWS ON YOUR LIST NUMBER SIX, BUT IT'S BECOME NUMBER SEVEN SINCE WE HAD IT.
THIS IS ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYEE SALARY ADJUSTMENT.
YES. ON YOUR PACKAGE, YOU HAVE THE EXHIBIT A WHERE I DID, BROKEN DOWN BY EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS. SO YOU CAN SEE THE EFFECTS FROM WHAT WE BUDGETED INITIALLY AT THE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET YEAR PLUS ADDED 11 PAY PERIODS WHICH AFTER THE SECOND READING
[01:00:04]
THAT'S WHERE IT WILL TAKE EFFECT.SO IT WILL BE 11 PAY PERIODS REMAINING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR AND THAT ADDING TO THE CURRENT BUDGET NUMBERS, THAT WILL BE A TOTAL ON YOUR PATIENT.
NUMBER THREE OF EXHIBIT A IS ONLY 205,577.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANA? FORWARD? YEAH. IS IT ON? OH, BECAUSE OF THE OTHER ONE.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE FROM COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WILLIAM DOES. YEAH.
JAKE HAD MENTIONED THAT MAYBE PUTTING A RACE FOR CITY COUNCIL ON THERE AND THE MAYOR WOULD BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.
WE ARE CITY EMPLOYEES, TECHNICALLY; RIGHT? WE GET A W-2 FROM THE CITY AND COME OUT.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE PROBABLY OKAY.
IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BREAK THE BUDGET AT ALL.
BUT ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A COMMENT OR QUESTION ABOUT THAT? I MEAN, SHOULD WE DO 5% ACROSS THE BOARD OR SHOULD WE DO 5% AND LET THE GIVE IT TO, THIS IS JUST AN IDEA.
GIVE IT TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND LET THEM DIVVY IT UP.
HOW THEY. THE ONLY REASON I WOULD SAY NO.
BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT INFLATION.
AND I'VE KIND OF HAD A FEW DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT AND IT'S KIND OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS JOB TO MANAGE PERFORMANCE.
AND THIS IS ABOUT TAKING CARE OF INFLATION RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S ROOM DOWN THE LINE TO HANDLE PERFORMANCE OF EMPLOYEES IS THE OTHER.
AND YOU'RE ALSO PUTTING A LOT OF WORK BACK ON PEOPLE'S POCKET.
DOING WHAT? UNFORTUNATELY, CITIES DON'T REALLY DO PERFORMANCE RAISES.
YOU EITHER GET A RAISE OR YOU DON'T.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, I LOOK AT IT AS THAT.
IF YOU START TRYING TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE AS MUCH AS SOMEONE DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT, THERE'S GOING TO BE FAVORITISM, YOU KNOW.
SHE WORKS HARDER THAN EVERYONE ELSE.
AND WE KNOW NATE AND THE FIRE CHIEF, YOU KNOW, THEY WORK LIKE 20 HOURS A WEEK, SO LET'S GIVE THEM TWO AND IT JUST TAKES A LOT OF THAT OUT.
I'M NOT SURE IN WHOM NATE OR ANA IS IN THIS EXAMPLE.
A SECOND ONE, HE SAID 20 HOUR WORKWEEKS.
THIS IS A FIRST READING AS WELL.
SO WE'LL HAVE THIS ON THE NEXT AGENDA FOR SECOND READING AND ACTION.
WELL, AND THE ONLY OTHER THING AND I WOULD ECHO JUST WHAT EDDIE HAD TALKED ABOUT, I FEEL LIKE THE TRADITION WITHIN THE CITY, IT HAS BEEN ALL THOSE THAT ARE PERFORMING WELL WHEN WE'VE HAD INCREASES, IT'S BEEN AN INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD.
THIS IS KIND OF A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TIME WHERE INFLATION HAS REALLY HIT A LOT OF PEOPLE PRETTY HARD.
SO IT PROBABLY MAKES SENSE EXACTLY.
JUST THAT IS THAT THIS IS MORE OF A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT OVERALL AND THERE ARE OTHER METHODOLOGIES ON PERFORMANCE THAT ARE IN PLACE AND THOSE CAN BE HANDLED AS A SEPARATE ACTION AND NEED TO BE IN MY OPINION AS WELL.
YEAH, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS USUALLY TAKE CARE OF THAT DURING LATE SUMMER AND EARLY OR EARLY FALL WHEN THEY'RE DOING THEIR EVALUATIONS.
BUT I WILL SAY THIS, THAT IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO EVEN CONSIDER AT TIME OF MERIT WHEN YOU DO EVALUATIONS, WHEN YOU HAVE A MERIT POOL TO DO MERIT INCREASES.
SO IT WOULD BE KIND OF A SUBJECT ABOUT PAYING FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS COMPARED TO PEERS.
SO I DON'T AGAIN, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE AT ANOTHER TIME.
ALL RIGHT THERE, MIKE, HAVE TWO COMMENTS REAL QUICK.
ONE, I HAVE STATE STREET PIZZA BEING CATERED FOR EVERYBODY IN THE BUILDING.
IT WILL BE HERE IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES.
YOU'RE WELCOME. SECOND OF ALL, YOU KNOW, INFLATION.
IT SHOULD BE A CAUTIONARY TALE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CAST A BALLOT AT THE BOX, WHETHER IT'S AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OR FEDERAL LEVEL, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WHO YOU PUT IN OFFICE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PIZZA.
THANK YOU, SIR. THERE WILL BE PEOPLE 50 YEARS FROM NOW LOOKING AT THOSE ARCHIVES GOING, WHAT THE HECK.
DOES THE CITY MANAGER THINK, HEY, I'M GOING TO MISS THESE MEETINGS? SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
[01:05:03]
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON A RESOLUTION SO YOU CAN TAKE ACTION IN NOT ADOPTING UPDATED ADOPTING A PROCUREMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE EXPENDITURES OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES.AND THIS IS ALL TIED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF THE ARPA MONEY.
SO. SO WHAT I DID, I JUST DID A HIGHLIGHT. SO YOU GUYS WON'T HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE POLICY.
SO ON THE SECOND SLIDE, I JUST PUT WHAT IS IN THAT DOCUMENT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY NEEDED POLICY. YOU KNOW, WITH THIS ARPA FUNDS THAT WE HAVING WITH THE BOND MONEY, WITH OUR USUAL PURCHASING, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF POLICY IN PLACE JUST TO HELP US WITH THE GUIDELINES, YOU KNOW, AND TO BE IN COMPLIANCE ALSO WITH THE STATE.
IT NEVER HURTS. SO HERE, JUST GIVE YOU HIGHLIGHTS.
YOU KNOW, NORMALLY WILL BE THE OBJECTIVES.
WHAT WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS POLICY? THE DO'S AND DON'TS, YOU KNOW, DON'T CHARGE SALES TAX, DON'T USE IT FOR PERSONAL PURCHASES, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT.
EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT, IF WE EVER NEED, HAS TO GO THERE'S EMERGENCY.
WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO YOU HANDLE THOSE SITUATIONS? NEGOTIATION, PRICES, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT YOU WANT TO HAVE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.
YOU HAVE A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT? DOES IT REQUIRE BIDDING? DOES IT REQUIRE? HOW DO YOU CALL THAT THE ONE THAT YOU DO? CLOSED BIDDING? SO HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT? SO THERE'S ALL OF THAT IN THE POLICY AND THEN ON THE THRESHOLDS.
SO WE TALK ABOUT APPROVALS BASED ON THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
WE STARTED WITH 2500 OVER 2500.
THEN YOU NEED ANOTHER APPROVAL, YOU NEED A PURCHASE ORDER, YOU NEED TO DO A REQUISITION, A PURCHASE ORDER BEFORE YOU GO PURCHASING WHAT YOU NEED.
AND THEN THE SAME THING WITH BIDDING REQUIREMENTS LIKE I WAS TALKING PREVIOUSLY AND OF COURSE COUNCIL APPROVAL IS OVER 50,000.
WE KNOW WE HAVE TO COME HERE AND GET YOUR APPROVAL.
AND THEN ANOTHER SECTION WE TALK ABOUT THE TRAVEL CREDIT CARD, PETTY CASH PURCHASE ORDERS, CHECK REQUESTS, ALL THAT WHICH IS MORE COMMON TO US BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT. BUT HERE AGAIN, WE JUST HAVE IT MORE IN DETAIL.
AND OF COURSE, OUR ATTORNEYS REVIEW THE POLICY.
SO THEY ADDED ALL THIS THAT IS NEEDED ON THE FEDERAL SIDE OF IT.
WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFUL BECAUSE THERE IS MORE, YOU KNOW, REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES FOR THAT SO THAT IS ALL INCLUDED IN THIS POLICY.
SO IN OUR ADS, THE SOLE SOURCE WENT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT NONCOMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT AND THEN ALSO THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
YOU KNOW, YOU CANNOT HAVE YOUR VENDOR BEING AN EMPLOYEE OR AN EMPLOYEE GETTING PAID AS A VENDOR, VICE VERSA.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.
SO WE HAVE, WE PRETTY MUCH COVERED IT AT ALL.
SO DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? JUST WANT TO MAKE THE COMMENT OF, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS OF IMPROVEMENT, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, EDUCATION.
I MEAN, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.
SO SOMETIMES IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T DO AS OPPOSED TO WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING. SO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THAT AND GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THIS BEING A RESOLUTION, IF YOU'RE INCLINED.
YOU CAN TAKE ACTION ON THIS TODAY.
I WAS JUST READING TO LOOK FOR THAT IT WAS RATING OR ACTION SO GOOD.
MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 2022-04-05, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ADOPT THE PROCUREMENT POLICY.
I SECOND THAT. ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN AND THAT PASSES.
THANK YOU, ANA. ITEM NINE IS CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING ON A RESOLUTION ADOPTING UPDATED PERSONNEL POLICIES FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WELL, I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? EVERYONE'S HAD THE.
YOU THINK THAT'S A HUNDRED PAGE? ANOTHER 100 PAGE DOCUMENT? NO, IT'S, WE'VE I FEEL LIKE WE'VE READ THAT A LOT.
[01:10:03]
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU PULL THE DISCIPLINE SECTION OUT UNTIL WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER INPUT FROM SOME OF OUR HEADS.SO BEFORE US IS THE THE ADOPTION OF THIS PERSONNEL POLICY.
SO WITH POTENTIALLY THE CONSIDER THE EXCLUDING THE DISCIPLINARY PROCESS, I THINK AND THE ONLY OTHER THING IF WE COULD FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO GO OVER THE PTO.
I THINK THEY'RE STILL HAVING A LITTLE STRUGGLE WITH WHAT IS AND ISN'T FAIR ABOUT IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS LOST AND ISN'T.
YEAH, I TALKED TO ONE OFFICER.
HE'S BEEN HERE WELL PAST THE FIVE YEAR TIME AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, HOW MANY DAYS HAVE YOU TAKEN OFF? AND HE SAID, TWO, BECAUSE I GET 13 PAY DAY A YEAR BECAUSE OF HOW HOLIDAYS FALL A LOT OF TIMES.
AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, AT TIMES BEING THE NEW OFFICER GETS WHAT YOU GET TO WORK HOLIDAYS.
WELL, THEN IN TURN YOU HAVE 13 DAYS ON TOP OF THE OTHER TEN OR 12 OR 15.
SO THEY ADD UP AND THEY WERE ASKING ME SO AT THE END OF IT AND I'VE GOT 13 AND I USED TWO AND I GET PAST THIS NUMBER DO I START LOSING BECAUSE I HAVE HOLIDAYS? WHERE THE CITY HALL IS CLOSED AND I'M STILL WORKING? I SAID, TO BE HONEST, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT YES OR NO.
YOU KNOW, AT WHAT POINT DO YOU GET PUNISHED FOR BEING PUBLIC SAFETY? AND I HAVE ALSO GOTTEN ON THAT EXACT TOPIC.
I'VE GOTTEN THREE OFFICERS CONTACTING ME CONCERNING THAT.
SO I JUST THINK WE NEED TO HAVE CLARIFICATION FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT. WELL, THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS IN THE POLICY.
ONE IS THAT IF SOMEONE HAS EXCESS TIME, THAT THEY CAN BE PAID OUT EACH YEAR AND THE OTHER. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE DEPARTMENT HEAD WOULD SUBMIT IN WRITING FOR THAT.
I UNDERSTAND. I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO PULL IT OFF UNTIL WE CAN TALK TO EMPLOYEES, OUR EMPLOYEES, AND MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND IT BETTER.
OKAY. I'M ASKING THAT THE DISCIPLINE AND I AGREE WITH EDDIE ON THE PTO AS WELL BE PULLED AND WE CAN APPROVE EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO WE'VE GOT THAT SUGGESTION FOR PTO AND DISCIPLINARY TO BE REMOVED.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. SO LOOK FOR A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL WHILE EXCLUDING ITEM NUMBER 35, WHICH I BELIEVE IS DISCIPLINE AND THE PTO POLICY UNTIL WE HAVE A CHANCE TO FURTHER DISCUSS THEM. AND I'LL SECOND THAT.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION.
COMMENTS? ANA AND I DISCUSS THAT ONCE IT'S APPROVED THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM THAT INCLUDED THE PROCUREMENT AND THE PERSONNEL POLICY SO THAT THE EMPLOYEES WOULDN'T HAVE TO SIGN BOTH. SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
WELL, YOU GUYS CAN DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO ADMINISTRATIVELY TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. BUT I THINK FOR US TODAY, BASICALLY WHAT I'M BASED ON, THE MOTION THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, THAT THE CONVICTION AND COMMITMENT PERHAPS MIGHT NOT BE THERE FOR JUST THOSE TWO ITEMS. SO ONCE WE GET THOSE CLARIFIED, I'M SURE WE CAN GET TO THE PLACE AGAIN IF WE'LL SEE WHAT THE HOW THIS MOTION GOES.
OKAY. MY PLAN IS FOR THIS IS TO GO DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT AND FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO, I WAS PLANNING ON DOING IT AFTER THE FACT.
BUT SURE. THAT WE CAN DO IT BEFORE THE FACT.
RIGHT. AND AND WHY DON'T WE GO ANY OTHER COMMENTS AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A VOTE AND THEN I GUESS MAYBE I CAN MAKE A COMMENTARY MAYBE TO HELP CLARIFY ON THE MOTION.
DID I GET THIS CORRECT? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE PERSONNEL POLICY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DISCIPLINE AND PTO.
SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE GO AHEAD AND VOTE? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION SAY AYE.
AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT.
SO WHAT? MY WHAT? FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU FOR THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT OF THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THAT.
YES. ULTIMATELY HAVING A GREAT ACTION INSTEAD OF A GOOD ACTION AS HAVING THE CONVICTION AND COMMITMENT BEHIND IT. I'M SURE WE CAN GET THERE VERY QUICKLY AND PERHAPS JUST FOLLOW UP ON THOSE ITEMS AND THEN WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S IN
[01:15:02]
OVERALL AGREEMENT.ITEM NUMBER TEN IS CONSIDER TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF BILLS AND INVOICES FOR MARCH OF 2022. LOOK FOR A MOTION.
MR. MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE PAYMENT OF BILLS FROM MARCH OF 2022.
SECOND. ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? SAME SIGN, AND THAT PASSES.
ALL RIGHT. ITEM 11 IS EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.001, WHATEVER ETCQ STANDS FOR, THE COUNCIL WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING, AND THE ITEMS ARE CONSULTING WITH THE ATTORNEY ON THE REVIEW, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, PROCESSES AND CITY PERSONNEL POLICIES.
SECOND ITEM IS CONSULT WITH THE ATTORNEY REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION OR A SETTLEMENT OFFER.
AND THIRDLY, TO DELIBERATE APPOINTMENT EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES AND DISCIPLINARY DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.
AND BASICALLY THIS IS OVER THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER CANDIDATES.
AND THOSE ARE THE THREE TOPICS YOU'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SUSIE, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR ME? AN EXECUTIVE. THAT'S AWESOME.
SO WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:48.
SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE MY MIC ON, I SAID THAT WE ARE RECONVENING INTO OPEN SESSION AT 9:23.
AND THAT GETS US TO OUR FIRST ACTION ITEM NUMBER 13.
ACTING LIKE A CITY MANAGER DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH OPEN GOV.
SO ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION, MR. MAYOR? YES.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT WITH OPEN GOV.
ALL RIGHT. SO I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION.
ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S APPROVED.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY FOR ACTION ITEM NUMBER 14? ANYBODY GOT ANY COMMENTS? ANYONE SIGNED UP? NOPE. NOBODY SIGNED UP.
SO I'M JUST ROLLING HERE, SIR.
AS USUAL. ITEM, LAST ITEM IS, ANYBODY GOT ANYTHING ON THE FUTURE AGENDA? LET ME KNOW. WE'LL GET IT ON THERE.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.