[00:00:01]
ALL RIGHT, I HAVE THIS AT 6:00, SO I'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
AND IF ABLE AND WILLING, PLEASE JOIN ME FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
[CALL TO ORDER ]
AND AT THIS TIME, IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.THANK YOU. AND AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PROCLAMATION TO WORLD
[PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION]
TEACHERS DAY.AND. WHEREAS, EDUCATION IS A FOUNDATION OF A STRONG AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY, AND TEACHERS THROUGH THEIR IMPORTANT ROLE, CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND PROSPERITY OF THEIR COMMUNITY. AND.
WHEREAS, TEACHERS CAN IS A STATEWIDE MOVEMENT SUPPORTED BY BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO EVALUATING THE TEACHER PROFESSION AND HONORING THE CRITICAL ROLE TEACHERS PLAY IN THE SUCCESS OF TEXAS.
RESOLVED THAT DECATUR CITY COUNCIL JOINED TEACHERS CANNED IN PARTICIPATING ENTITIES ACROSS TEXAS AND CELEBRATING WORLD TEACHERS DAY AND PROCLAIMED SEEING OCTOBER 5TH, 2023, TO BE DECATUR TEACHERS DAY AND IN APPRECIATION, THOSE THAT WISH TO JOIN CAN DISPLAY A BLUE RIBBON OUTSIDE THEIR HOME OR BUSINESS ON THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 5TH AS A SYMBOL TO SUPPORT THE DECATUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
[1. HEAR PRESENTATION FROM KIMLEY HORN REGARDING THE WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN UPDATE, IMPACT FEES, AND RATE STUDY]
THAT GETS US TO ITEM ONE.KIMLEY-HORN. GOOD EVENING. THANKS FOR HAVING US BACK.
I'M ANDREW SIMONSON WITH KIMLEY-HORN AND I'VE GOT CHRIS ECKERT WITH NEW-GEN STRATEGIES.
SO BACK IN JUNE, WE GAVE A PRESENTATION TO YOU ALL ON IMPACT FEES 101 AND SOME OF THE NEXT STEPS WAS, WELL, WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS? SO THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IS THIS PRESENTATION WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT BIG PICTURE PLANNING, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO START LOOKING AT AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PLANS THAT WE NEED TO BE UPDATING? AND THEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THEM? SO JUST GOING TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW, LIKE I SAID, OF PLANNING IN GENERAL FOR A CITY, AND IT'S NOT EVERY PLAN THAT A CITY MIGHT HAVE, BUT SOME OF THE MORE RELEVANT ONES TO YOUR WATER, WASTEWATER AND ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE.
TALK ABOUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT THOSE PLANS MIGHT BE AND SOME OF THE COMPONENTS OF THEM.
THEN GO INTO THE FINANCE PLANS.
AND FINALLY, TALK ABOUT SCHEDULE.
SO AS I GO THROUGH THIS, PLEASE FEEL FREE JUST TO INTERRUPT ME IF YOU'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS.
IT'S ABOUT 20 SLIDES, SO IT SHOULDN'T TAKE ALL THAT LONG.
SO COMING FROM THAT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE NEXT STEP IS THOSE CAPITAL PLANS.
SO WE KNOW WHAT WE WANT OUR CITY TO LOOK LIKE.
AND THEN FINALLY, ONCE WE HAVE AN IDEA OF THE GROWTH, THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SERVE THAT GROWTH, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR IT? SO AS I MENTIONED, YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WAS FINISHED IN 2020 FOR YOUR CAPITAL PLANS.
YOU COMPLETED THE MASTER THOROUGHFARE PLAN AS A PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND AS A PART OF THAT SAME DOCUMENT IN 2020, YOUR WATER MASTER PLAN WAS UPDATED IN 2016, AND I APOLOGIZE.
I HAVE AN ERROR. YOUR WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN WAS ALSO UPDATED IN 2016 AS WELL.
YOUR IMPACT FEE UPDATE WAS LAST PERFORMED IN 2011 AND FINALLY YOUR RATE STUDY.
SO IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT YOUR DIFFERENT STUDIES EXCUSE ME.
BASICALLY YOU CAN SEE YOU'VE GOT SOME THAT ARE MORE RECENT AND THEN SOME THAT ARE FIVE YEARS OLD.
[00:05:03]
AND THEN FOR YOUR FUNDING STUDIES, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, OVER TEN YEARS OLD.AND FOR YOUR RATE STUDY, IT'S PROBABLY IN THAT SAME TIME FRAME OF OVER TEN YEARS OLD.
SO AN UPDATE FOR SOME OF YOUR CAPITAL STUDIES IS PROBABLY WARRANTED AT THIS TIME.
SO STARTING TO THINK MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY DECATUR IS NOT IN A UNIQUE SITUATION.
A LOT OF DIFFERENT CITIES ARE GROWING.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S PARTS OF THE CITY ACROSS THE ENTIRE US WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE PIPES, THE FACILITIES ARE OVER 50 YEARS OLD AND A LOT OF THAT MAINTENANCE HAS JUST BEEN DEFERRED JUST THROUGH NECESSITY.
THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT LONG TERM WATER SUPPLY.
YOU PROBABLY STARTED TO HEAR SOME OF THE NEWS ARTICLES ABOUT WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET OUR WATER? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO DISCHARGE OUR WASTEWATER? YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE GENERALLY DECLINING PER CAPITA WATER USE.
SO BASICALLY YOUR WATER SALES MIGHT BE DECLINING.
SO IN SOME WAYS THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD THING.
THERE'S INCREASED COSTS WITH SOME OF THE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE.
SO YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, COMING OUT OF THE BIG FREEZE.
WE'VE HAD OR SOME OF THESE OTHER INITIATIVES THROUGH LIKE THE LEAD IDENTIFICATION, SOME OF THESE STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT ARE COMING DOWN ARE CAUSING INCREASED COSTS FOR COMPLIANCE.
SO AS I MENTIONED, PLANNING STUDIES ARE TYPICALLY UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS, PARTICULARLY IF A CITY IS GROWING JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STAYING UP TO DATE, UP TO TIMES WITH ALL THE NEW DEVELOPMENT COMING IN.
AND THEN REALLY THOSE FINANCE STUDIES, EITHER THROUGH BEING REQUIRED BY STATE LAW OR JUST THROUGH NECESSITY, ARE ALSO UPDATED ABOUT EVERY FIVE YEARS TO COMPLEMENT THOSE CAPITAL STUDIES OR THOSE PLANNING STUDIES.
SO LET ME JUST GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT ALL THESE DIFFERENT STUDIES ARE.
SO AS I MENTIONED, MASTER THOROUGHFARE PLAN ALREADY COMPLETED IN 2020.
AND REALLY WHAT IT WAS IS A LONG RANGE PLAN FOR MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT HERE IN A MOMENT.
SO THIS WAS REALLY JUST THE BASELINE STUDY.
SO WE KNOW THE BIG PICTURE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY BREAK IT DOWN TO BASED OFF OF THE DEVELOPMENTS COMING IN, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN FIVE YEARS AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN TEN YEARS. SAME THING FOR THE WATER MASTER PLAN COMPLETED IN 2016.
AND JUST LIKE IT SOUNDS, IT'S A LONG RANGE PLAN FOR YOUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO BUILD? WHAT HOW MANY TOWERS, HOW MANY WATER TREATMENT PLANTS? WHERE DO THE PIPES NEED TO GO TO SERVE THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS? AND AGAIN, IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE THE INPUT FOR YOUR IMPACT FEES AND YOUR RATE STUDIES.
SO HERE'S WHAT WE NEED TO BUILD TO SERVE OUR OUR POPULATION.
AND THEN THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE ACTUALLY UPDATED THE CITY'S WATER MODEL.
ON THE WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN ALSO COMPLETED IN 2016.
AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST A LONG RANGE PLAN FOR YOUR WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
HOW BIG DOES THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT NEED TO BE? WHERE ARE THE PIPES GOING TO GO, ETCETERA? AND AGAIN, THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO BE THE INPUT FOR OUR RATE STUDY AND OUR IMPACT FEES.
WE DO FEEL AT THIS TIME THAT A AN UPDATE TO THE WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN IS RECOMMENDED MOSTLY BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE OR NONE OR NO ANCILLARY WORK AROUND THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM.
AND THEN COMING OUT OF THAT STUDY WOULD BE A TEN YEAR CIP UPDATE.
SO BACK IN JUNE, I GAVE A 101 ON IMPACT FEES.
SO JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW IF YOU ALL DON'T RECALL THAT.
SO IT'S ONE OF THE FINANCE OR ONE OF THE FINANCE PLANS OR MECHANISMS OF HOW WE PAY FOR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT'S JUST APPLICABLE FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT. SO IT'S A ONE TIME FEE THAT'S APPLICABLE FOR WATER OR WASTEWATER AND POTENTIALLY ROADWAY IF YOU CHOOSE TO IMPLEMENT THAT GOING FORWARD THAT A DEVELOPER PAYS WHEN THEY COME INTO THE CITY AND IT'S BASICALLY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE CAPACITY OF THEY'RE USING ON YOUR WATER SYSTEM OR YOUR ROADWAY SYSTEM.
[00:10:10]
AND SO, LIKE I SAID, IT'S JUST THAT MECHANISM.IT'S THAT CALCULATION TO SERVE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
AND AGAIN, JUST AS A REMINDER, HERE'S YOUR CURRENT RATES.
SO YOU'RE CURRENTLY YOU'RE CHARGING $856 FOR WATER, 1378 ON WASTEWATER.
AND AS I SAID, YOU DON'T CURRENTLY ASSESS ROADWAY IMPACT FEES, BUT YOU CERTAINLY CAN MOVING FORWARD.
SO JUST FOR A POINT OF COMPARISON, AS WE START TO LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE DOING, IT'S YOU START TO BECOME PRETTY TELLING OF WHY IMPACT UPDATING YOUR IMPACT FEE STUDY MIGHT BE WARRANTED.
SO YOU'RE REQUIRED TO UPDATE IT EVERY FIVE YEARS IS PROBABLY ITEM NUMBER ONE.
BUT ITEM NUMBER TWO IS YOU GUYS ARE ALL AWARE CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE GONE UP WAY UP SINCE 2011.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF YOUR NEIGHBORS, PARTICULARLY THOSE ON THE RIGHT, THAT ARE IN PROBABLY SIMILAR STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF ROOM FOR GROWTH, A LOT OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS COMING IN.
AND YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT FEES THAT THEY'RE CHARGING COMPARED TO DECATUR, YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE CHARGING VERY, VERY HIGH RATES TO BASICALLY PAY FOR THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT NEW INFRASTRUCTURE TO COME IN AND SERVE THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
SO OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A BIG DISCREPANCY THERE.
AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY WHY WE DO THESE STUDIES.
THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN. CHRIS ECKHART WITH NUGENT STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS.
A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT.
TO VISIT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RATE STUDY.
DO YOU WANT TO TALK JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT OUR FIRM AGAIN? NEW-GEN. WE ARE I'M LOCATED HERE IN HERE IN THE RICHARDSON AREA.
WE ARE A NATIONWIDE FIRM FOCUSING ON FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES.
MOST OF OUR CLIENTS ARE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
WE WORK IN WATER, WASTEWATER, ELECTRIC, NATURAL GAS.
WE ALSO ASSIST KIMLEY-HORN ON THE ROADWAY SIDE SPECIFIC TO ROADWAY IMPACT FEES.
BUT OUR TEAM SPECIFICALLY, IN THE EVENT YOU DECIDE THAT IT IS TIME TO GO IN AND UPDATE YOUR RATE STUDY, YOU SEE THE TEAM FROM NUGEN THAT WE WOULD PROPOSE WORK WITH THE CITY ON THIS. SO AGAIN, MYSELF, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS OVER 19 YEARS NOW I'M A RECOGNIZED EXPERT WITNESS IN WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES AT THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION.
I'VE GOT TO SAY THAT'S A LOT OF FUN WORKING AT THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION.
I GET TO SERVE ON THEIR FACULTY AS WELL.
A COUPLE OTHER MEMBERS OF MY TEAM THERE, KIM AND MADISON, THAT WOULD BE WORKING ON THIS WITH US.
BUT ONE THING I DO WANT TO MENTION TO YOU IS WE ACTUALLY HAVE A HISTORY WITH DECATUR ANDREW MENTIONED WHEN WAS THE LAST RATE STUDY DONE? I WENT BACK IN OUR FILES AND OUR FIRM USED TO BE CALLED JAY STOW AND COMPANY.
WE REFORMED JAY STOW IN 2012 INTO WHAT WE ARE NOW NEW GEN STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS.
AND A COLLEAGUE OF MINE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH THE CITY BACK IN 2011 TO DO A WATER RATE REVIEW.
SO WHY DO A RATE STUDY? WHY GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS? AS ANDREW HAS BEEN TALKING, IT'S ALL ABOUT PLANNING AND ULTIMATELY YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE PLANS ACTIONABLE.
YOU COME OUT OF THOSE PLANS WITH A CAPITAL WITH A LIST OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO EXECUTE ON ALL OF THAT? THAT'S WHY THE IMPACT FEE STUDY AND THE RATE STUDY ARE SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE FUNDING TO MAKE THOSE PLANS ACTIONABLE.
NOW, WE RECOGNIZE WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD.
WE CAN CERTAINLY PLAN, WE CAN HAVE A LIST OF IMPROVEMENTS, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACT OF THE FUNDING IS GOING TO BE OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR CITIZENS. THAT'S WHY YOU DO A RATE STUDY IS YOU'RE COMING IN, YOU'RE PUTTING TOGETHER A FINANCIAL PLAN TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THAT CIP THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE PLANNING DOCUMENTS THAT ANDREW HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S ALWAYS OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU BRING IN A THIRD PARTY FOR THIS EFFORT.
YOUR CITY STAFF IS VERY CAPABLE OF DOING THESE CALCULATIONS, DOING THIS TYPE OF EFFORT.
BUT BRINGING IN A THIRD PARTY ENSURES THAT THE STUDY IS DEFENSIBLE.
WE BRING THAT EXPERIENCE TO THE STUDY, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES A CHECK FOR YOUR CITIZENS.
IT GIVES THEM SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN LOOK AT AND SAY, OKAY, THAT IS DEFENSIBLE.
[00:15:02]
A THIRD PARTY HAS LOOKED AT THAT AND SAID THAT'S WHAT THE RATE NEEDS TO BE AND SO EVERYBODY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THOSE CALCULATIONS SAYING, YEAH, THAT'S THE NUMBER. NOBODY WANTS TO SEE RATES GO UP.SO IN A RATE STUDY, WHAT ARE THE KEY STEPS? FIRST THING WE DO, WE CALL REVENUE REQUIREMENT.
WE DETERMINE WHAT IS THE REVENUE WE NEED.
NOW THIS IS WHERE THE IMPACT FEE STUDY BECOMES SO IMPORTANT.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, THAT'S KIND OF A SEESAW.
IF YOU DON'T GET IT THROUGH IMPACT FEES, IF YOU DON'T FUND SOME OF THOSE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH IMPACT FEES, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET THAT MONEY? YOU'VE GOT TO GET IT THROUGH USER RATES AND FEES.
IT'S GOT TO BALANCE OUT. WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT MONEY.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THIS IN CONCERT.
FROM THERE, WE THEN COME IN AND WE LOOK AT WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES.
WHEN YOU'RE DOING A RATE STUDY, IT'S NOT JUST NUMBERS.
THAT MAY BE WATER CONSERVATION.
IF WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE WATER CONSERVATION, WE'RE GOING TO SET RATES A CERTAIN WAY.
THIRD STEP IN THAT PROCESS IS TO COME IN JUST THAT REPORTING PROCESS.
SO A COUPLE CHARTS I DO WANT TO SHOW YOU.
ANDREW SHOWED HOW YOU LOOK IN TERMS OF WATER AND WASTEWATER IMPACT FEES EARLIER.
WHAT I DID IS I WENT TO THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
THEY PUT TOGETHER A WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE SURVEY.
SO I USED THEIR DATA TO PUT THIS COMPARISON TOGETHER.
I PULLED CITIES THAT WERE GEOGRAPHICALLY SIMILAR, THE BEST I COULD FIND.
I ALSO WENT IN AND I LOOKED AT POPULATION.
AND SO ANYTIME YOU SEE A NUMBER TO THE LEFT OR EXCUSE ME TO THE RIGHT OF THE CITY NAME THERE, I PICKED THE THREE ABOVE AND THE THREE BELOW THE CITY WITHIN THAT COMPARISON, AND THEY'RE ON THIS CHART AS WELL.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE REFER TO AS COMPETITIVE POSITION.
YES, PEOPLE MOVE FOR LOTS OF REASONS.
THEY MOVE AROUND FOR LOTS OF REASONS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN QUOTE THE MARKET, THAT WE'RE NOT PRICED TOO HIGH, TOO LOW.
AND SO WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS SERVICE FOR 5000 GALLONS OF WATER AND WASTEWATER.
THERE WAS ONE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY OF PARADISE HERE THAT DID NOT PROVIDE WASTEWATER SERVICE.
YOU ONLY SEE THE BLUE BAR THERE.
AGAIN, THIS IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA FROM THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
I HAVE NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED THIS DATA.
THIS IS COMING STRAIGHT FROM HTML, JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT.
BUT WE DO LOOK AT THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE YOU SIT AT 5000 GALLONS.
NOW WE TAKE THIS SAME INFORMATION, WE CAN LOOK AT COMMERCIAL RATES.
SO HERE'S COMMERCIAL SERVICE FOR 50,000 GALLONS.
THIS IS 50,000 GALLONS OF WATER, 50,000 GALLONS OF SEWAGE FOR A COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER.
AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE WHERE YOU ARE ON THIS LIST.
YOU DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO BE AT THE BOTTOM.
YOU DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO BE AT THE TOP.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SITTING IN A GOOD POSITION RELATIVE TO THIS COMPARISON, BUT ULTIMATELY IT WOULD BE WORKING WITH YOU TO DETERMINE WHICH COMMUNITIES DO WE WANT TO LOOK AT, WHO DO WE WANT TO SEE ON THIS LIST? BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT DO WE NEED? WHAT IS OUR CAPITAL PLAN? HOW ARE WE GOING TO FUND THAT IN LIGHT OF RATE IMPACTS AS WELL AS IMPACT FEE IMPACTS? SO AGAIN, THAT'S JUST SOME GENERAL INFORMATION FOR YOU THERE.
AGAIN, A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHY NUGEN YOU SEE THE BULLET POINTS ON THE SCREEN.
WE WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU.
I'M THANKFUL TO ANDREW AND HIS TEAM FOR BRINGING US ALONG, LETTING US BE HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT.
[00:20:04]
AND AS YOU LOOK AT UPDATING ALL THESE PLANS, WE'D LOVE TO BE A PART OF THAT.SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK TO ANDREW.
HE'S GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SCHEDULE AND TIMING ON ALL THIS.
YEAH. SO JUST BRIEFLY ON SCHEDULE OF WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT, IT'S A FAIRLY LINEAR PROCESS, BUT AS WE SAW IN THAT INITIAL DIAGRAM, THE CAPITAL PLANS INFORM THE FINANCE PLAN. SO FIRST STEP IS UPDATING THE WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN.
AND TYPICALLY THAT'S THAT'S ABOUT A NINE MONTH PROCESS, MOSTLY BECAUSE WE GO OUT AND PUT REAL TIME FLOW MONITORS IN THE SYSTEM TO ACTUALLY DETERMINE WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON OUT THERE. SO WE GIVE THAT A 2 OR 3 MONTH TIME PERIOD TO GATHER THAT DATA.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT TAKES THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME FOR THE WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN.
AND JUST LIKE CHRIS WAS SAYING, IT'S KIND OF THAT SEESAW.
SO WHATEVER THE IMPACT FEE DOESN'T DO THE RATE STUDIES HAVE TO DO TO MAKE UP THE SLACK.
SO IT'S REALLY THAT LINEAR TIME FRAME OF MASTER PLANS.
AND THEN FROM THERE IT'S WRAPPING IT UP WITH THE RATE STUDY AND TYPICALLY 3 TO 4 MONTH TIME FRAME.
WE ARE CERTAINLY OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS, IF YOU HAVE ANY.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT? HEARING NONE. WE'LL SAY THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU, ANDREW AND CHRIS.
[2. HEAR PRESENTATION FROM EXECUTIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR KEVIN HOLZBOG REGARDING YEAR IN REVIEW]
KEVIN. AND GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TONIGHT ON A YEAR IN REVIEW.
AS YOU ALL CAN IMAGINE, TRYING TO PROVIDE A YEAR'S WORTH OF INFORMATION CAN TAKE A LITTLE WHILE.
I AM NOT AN EXPERT WITNESS, NOR DO I WORK FOR THE PUC, SO I JUST WANT TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS.
I WANT TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS APPROPRIATELY.
I'VE BEEN GIVEN THREE MINUTES, SO I'LL MOVE AS QUICK AS I CAN.
BUT IF YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS, FEEL FREE TO ASK THEM.
OTHERWISE WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE AT THE END.
SO A QUICK OVERVIEW JUST TO GIVE YOU ALL THE LAY OF THE LAND, WE'LL DO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE EDC.
FIRST, I JUST WANT TO GENERALLY SAY IT WAS ANOTHER STRONG YEAR.
COUNCILMAN CARPENTER ARE YOU GOING BY COUNCILMAN CARPENTER TONIGHT? THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CARPENTER.
I APPRECIATE THAT CONFIRMATION.
AND THEN ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE EDC STAFF AND THE CITY STAFF, CITY MANAGER, CITY STAFF.
A LOT OF FOLKS ON THE CITY STAFF HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SITE VISITS AND MEETINGS RELATED TO PROJECTS THAT HAVE ULTIMATELY TURNED INTO QUALITY JOBS AND QUALITY INVESTMENT HERE IN DECATUR. AND AS THOSE OF YOU ON THE BOARD KNOW, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS CERTAINLY A TEAM SPORT.
IT TAKES AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND WE CERTAINLY TRY TO BRING ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER TO WIN PROJECTS AND FORTUNATELY WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THAT EFFORT.
SO WHAT IS ADC'S ROLE? WHAT IS THE CITY'S ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN HERE IN FRONT OF YOU, EDC'S CORE FOUR FUNCTIONS ARE BUSINESS RECRUITMENT, BUSINESS RETENTION, EXPANSION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING.
CITY OF DECATUR HELPS IN OUR EFFORTS THROUGH A NUMBER OF WAYS.
YOU ALL ARE QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THIS, BUT FOR THE AUDIENCE THAT ISN'T FAMILIAR, DECATUR CITY COUNCIL APPOINTS OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHICH, AS I JUST SHOWED YOU, WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS ON OUR BOARD, THREE OF WHICH ARE FROM COUNCIL.
THE BOARD HIRES SOMEONE IN MY POSITION AND MY POSITION CARRIES OUT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION.
ALSO ON OUR STAFF ARE BARBARA METCALF AND EMILY SMITH.
THIS IS A LIST OF A HANDFUL OF OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS.
AS I MENTIONED, IT TAKES AN ABSOLUTE TEAM TO WIN PROJECTS.
[00:25:01]
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PARTNERS THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT WORK WITH ON A NUMBER OF ON ANY PROJECT, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE.AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE $0.02 LOCAL SALES TAX.
WHAT I LIKE TO SAY IS IF YOU GO OUT TO DINNER AFTER THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY 8.25% SALES TAX.
IF YOU EAT IN, SAY, SWEETIE PIE'S, ROOSTERS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT HERE IN DECATUR, SIX AND A QUARTER OF THAT GOES STRAIGHT TO AUSTIN BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE ALL OF THE GOOD DECISIONS ARE MADE. $0.02 OF THAT LOCAL SALES TAX STAYS HERE IN DECATUR.
HOW IS THAT $0.02 BROKEN OUT? SO AS YOU CAN SEE, KIND OF UP INTO THE LEFT THERE, $0.01 GOES TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.
BELOW THAT HALF A CENT GOES TO WISE COUNTY AND THEN TO THE RIGHT HALF A CENT COMES TO OUR OFFICE.
AND SO THAT IS OUR SOLE FUNDING SOURCE IS HALF OF A CENT OF LOCAL SALES TAX.
WE TAKE THAT MONEY, PUT IT INTO PROJECTS THAT CREATE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT JOBS.
THOSE ARE DIRECT INVESTMENTS, DIRECT JOBS, AND THEN ALSO INDIRECT INVESTMENT AND INDIRECT JOBS.
AND THAT SHOULD ALL FUNNEL BACK.
THE IDEA IS ESSENTIALLY A SNOWBALL EFFECT.
THIS IS A GOOD SLIDE TO TO REPRESENT THE IMPORTANCE OF A DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY.
AND WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT PROJECTS, I THINK THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE ON THE EDC BOARD OR HAVE BEEN ON THE EDC BOARD, YOU CAN SEE THE DIVERSITY JUST IN THE PROJECTS THAT WE WORK ON. HOWEVER, THERE ARE A TON OF PROJECTS AND COMPANIES BUSINESS TYPES OUT THERE THAT AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR US TO HELP FINANCIALLY BUT EXIST AND WE ALL INTERACT WITH ON A DAILY BASIS. AND BECAUSE OF ALL THOSE THINGS, EVERYTHING FROM GOVERNMENT TO HEALTH CARE, RETAIL, MANUFACTURING, EDUCATION, DECATUR IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE NOT A TWO LEGGED STOOL LIKE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, AS YOU ALL KNOW, ONE LEGGED, TWO LEGGED STOOLS DON'T DON'T STAND VERY WELL.
WE'RE NOT EVEN SO UNLUCKY AS TO HAVE A 3 OR 4 LEGGED STOOL.
WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES IN DECATUR.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE SCREEN IN BLUE.
BLUE REPRESENTS DECATUR SALES TAX OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.
SO AS YOU CAN TELL, JUST OVER 190% GROWTH OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.
AND YOU'LL SEE A COUPLE OF BLIPS IN THAT LINE.
THERE. THOSE ARE THOSE REPRESENT PRETTY MAJOR MACROECONOMIC EVENTS, EVERYTHING FROM 2008 TO 2015 WHEN OIL AND GAS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IMPACTED THE AREA, BUT AGAINST THE BACKDROP IN RED, WHICH IS A A REAL CITY THAT IS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO DECATUR, BUT REPRESENTS A COMMUNITY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY AND REALLY HAS TWO PRIMARY INDUSTRY SETS.
AS A REMINDER ON PROJECTS THAT THE EDC WORKS ON FORMALLY.
THERE ARE THREE AREAS IN OUR PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE OUTLINED.
WE CALL IT DEFAULT LANGUAGE, OR SOMETIMES WE REFER TO IT AS CLAWBACK, CLAWBACK LANGUAGE.
SO YOU'LL SEE I INCLUDED OUR TOTAL FUNDING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
SO YOU CAN SEE THERE AT THE TOP FOR JUST UNDER $4.2 MILLION OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
AS YOU'LL RECALL, OUR FUNDING IS HALF OF A CENT OF LOCAL SALES TAX.
SO AS THAT SALES TAX GOES UP, OUR BUDGET CONTINUES TO GO UP.
THE FIRST FIRST NUMBER IS THE ONLY SIMILAR NUMBER.
SO NEW JOBS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
SO OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE MINIMUM JOB'S 375 NEW QUALITY JOBS IN DECATUR, PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT MINIMUM, JUST APPROXIMATELY $65 MILLION. NOW, THESE ARE NUMBERS WE JUST WENT THROUGH BUDGET TIME.
THIS IS INFORMATION THAT I THINK WILL BE INTERESTING TO YOU ALL.
SO THESE ARE PROJECTS AND THIS IS WHY I INCLUDED THE LAST TWO YEARS, BECAUSE PROJECTS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WHEN YOU ALL WHEN YOU AS COUNCIL APPROVE A PROJECT, IT DOES NOT COME ONLINE IMMEDIATELY. IT DOES NOT HIT THE TAX ROLLS IMMEDIATELY.
AND SO PROJECTS FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ARE JUST NOW COMING ONTO THE TAX ROLL.
AND YOU'LL SEE THERE THAT THIRD NUMBER JUST OVER $26.5 MILLION.
SO WE EXPECT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS ROLLING IN AND THAT 26.5 MILLION CREATED, JUST UNDER $200,000 OF ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE, PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. AND THAT DOES OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T INCLUDE THE SALES TAX REVENUE THAT THOSE JOBS ARE GENERATING AS THEY GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH DISPOSABLE INCOME.
[00:30:06]
I THINK THOSE THOSE PROJECTS ALONE CONSTITUTE ABOUT $12 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL PAYROLL IN THE COMMUNITY.SO THAT'S MONEY GOING IN TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AS WELL.
EAGLE'S LANDING BUSINESS PARK, EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR WITH THE EDC 165 ACRE BUSINESS PARK.
THE EDC BOUGHT IN 2018, DEVELOPED IN 2019 OUT THERE AS FAR AS PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT, JUST UNDER 50,000,350 JOBS, FIVE NEW COMPANIES, WHICH TRANSLATES INTO JUST OVER 700% RETURN ON ON PUBLIC INVESTMENT, A GOOD INVESTMENT.
WE ALL CAME TOGETHER, DISCUSSED OPENLY THE POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES OF POTENTIALLY MOVING FORWARD ON A SALES TAX REVENUE BOND TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL ACREAGE. ON THE SCREEN.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, DALLAS MORNING NEWS REPORTED ON THAT.
WE'VE GOTTEN TREMENDOUS RESPONSE.
BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT WE'LL SEE WHAT POWER IS GREATER THAN GREATER THAN US HAVE IN STORE.
SO PROJECTS PASSED ON AND SOME OF YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THIS.
I TALKED ABOUT THIS WHEN I PRESENT PUBLICLY TO DIFFERENT GROUPS.
YOU KNOW, WE PASS ON A LOT MORE PROJECTS THAN WE ACTUALLY WORK ON, THAN WE TRY TO PURSUE.
AND THAT'S FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
ON THIS SLIDE HERE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS PAST YEAR, JUST THOSE THAT THAT WE'VE SAVED.
SO WE HAVE A FILE OF PROJECTS THAT WE RECEIVE LEADS ON THAT WE DON'T PURSUE FOR WHATEVER REASON.
SO JUST IN OUR FILES, WE'VE GOT 42 PROJECTS THIS PAST BUDGET YEAR THAT WE DID NOT PURSUE.
AND WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR THAT? IT'S ANY NUMBER OF REASONS, WHETHER IT'S JUST NOT A GOOD INDUSTRY FIT.
SO MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THAT CREATES, YOU KNOW, OBNOXIOUS NOISES OR OBNOXIOUS ODORS, SOMETHING THAT'S EXTREMELY HEAVY INDUSTRIAL IN APPEARANCE AND MAYBE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO LIKE, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
ALSO, A COUPLE OF OTHER REASONS.
SO IF THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, I COULD POINT TO SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES THAT HAVE LOCATED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT PAYING SALARIES THAT ARE QUITE A BIT UNDER WHAT A LIVING WAGE IS IN DECATUR.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT JUST GOING AFTER PROJECTS TO HIT NUMBERS.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO TRYING TO EXECUTE PROJECTS THAT WILL TRULY IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY.
A COUPLE OF OTHER REASONS. WATER USE, AS YOU ALL JUST HEARD.
I MEAN, WATER IS A PRECIOUS RESOURCE.
AND SO THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF PROJECTS OUT THERE LOOKING TO USE UP A LOT OF WATER.
AND THOSE CREATE GOOD JOBS, WHICH IS WHY I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO TO PURSUE AS AS MUCH IN THE WAY OF WATER RESOURCES AS WE POSSIBLY CAN JUST SO THAT WE CAN COMPETE FOR MORE AND MORE OF THESE PROJECTS.
BUT THAT IS A PRETTY REGULAR REASON THAT WE PASS ON PROJECTS, REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE 535 ACRES, SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE SITES STILL THAT ARE LARGE ENOUGH FOR PROJECTS AND THEN EXISTING FACILITIES.
EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FOR BUILDINGS THAT ARE READY TO GO.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, INVENTORY IN DECATUR IS VERY, VERY TIGHT.
SO OVER THE LAST YEAR, EIGHT PROJECTS THAT WE ACTIVELY PURSUED.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE NEXT TO THAT SITE VISITS 16 AND SO THAT'S 16 WHETHER IT'S COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES, WHICH IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS WE'VE HAD TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES WITH BETWEEN THE TWO ABOUT 12 DIFFERENT COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES, FOUR SITE SELECTORS AND THEN ALSO DEVELOPERS COMING IN AND CHECKING OUT PROPERTY.
SO OUR MOODY'S CREDIT RATING WAS UPGRADED FROM A1 TO A2.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE MORE AND MORE HEADWINDS.
BUT FORTUNATELY, THE STATE DID.
[00:35:01]
ALSO APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU ON COUNCIL THAT JOINED FOR LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO GO DOWN AND AND SHARE THAT MESSAGE ALONG WITH MANY OTHER MESSAGES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR DECATUR.SO LOOKING AT TRENDS TODAY, APPROXIMATELY 6.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN DFW.
DEMOGRAPHERS EXPECT SOMETIME IN THE 2030, WE WILL HAVE OVER 10 MILLION PEOPLE IN DFW.
THAT WILL PUT US PAST CHICAGO TO BECOME THE THIRD LARGEST MAJOR METRO IN THE UNITED STATES.
THAT JUST BEHIND NEW YORK AND L.A.
YOU LISTEN TO SOME DEVELOPERS IN DFW THAT ARE MUCH SMARTER THAN ME, AND THEY'LL TELL YOU IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS AND YOU YOU REALLY PUSH THIS CHART OUT, YOU KNOW ANOTHER 50 YEARS OR SO.
NEW YORK DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND GEOGRAPHICALLY.
LA DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND GEOGRAPHICALLY.
THEY ALL THEY BOTH HAVE THEIR THEIR OWN CHALLENGES AND WE'VE GOT OUR OWN CHALLENGES.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT LAND AND DEVELOPABLE LAND, DFW IS REALLY A 360 DEGREE CITY.
THE STATE PUTS THESE NUMBERS OUT.
SO 1200 PEOPLE PER DAY MOVING TO TEXAS AND 375 OF THOSE INTO THE DFW METROPLEX.
RAY PERRYMAN, A LONG TIME ECONOMIST IN TEXAS THAT HAS SERVED TEXAS GOVERNORS AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF PRESIDENTS, HE MENTIONED ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO AT A FORT WORTH CHAMBER BREAKFAST THAT 70% OF THAT DFW POPULATION MOVING IN IN MIGRATION, 70% OF THAT IS ON THE FORT WORTH SIDE OF THE METROPLEX.
THIS HAS THIS HAS SOME TO DO WITH THAT.
SO IN 21, 22, SO POST-COVID, A LOT OF CORPORATE HEADQUARTER RELOCATIONS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
THERE WERE 76 THAT MOVED TO TEXAS.
34 OF THOSE CAME TO DFW TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE.
AND THAT WAS JUST IN 2021 AND 22, 34 OF THEM.
40 YEARS AGO, DFW HAD LESS THAN FIVE TOTAL.
SO THIS IS SOME DECATUR SPECIFIC DATA.
THIS IS A CHART THAT WE SHARE WITH COMPANIES REGULARLY.
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS OUR POPULATION BY AGE, AND THIS IS POPULATION GROWTH OR POPULATION CHANGE, I SHOULD SAY, OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
AND IT'S REALLY FROM 2016 TO 2021.
THAT'S THE MOST ACCURATE DATA THAT IMPACT IMPACT CAN PROVIDE.
WHAT I'LL POINT TO AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE GOT A LASER, IT WILL WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE IS THE AREA, THE AREAS WHERE OUR POPULATION HAS GOTTEN SMALLER OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN.
BUT THAT'S YOUR THAT'S THE ELDEST PORTION OF OUR POPULATION.
SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT WORKFORCE FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT.
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THERE IS FOLKS THAT ARE GETTING OUT OF COLLEGE.
THEY'RE ROOTED IN A COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE THERE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR THE LONG RUN.
THEY'RE NOT TRANSIENT WORKFORCE.
AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT THREE RIGHT THERE.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE 30 TO 45.
AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE ARE REALLY OUR THREE LARGEST GROWTH AREAS.
AND THOSE ARE FOLKS THAT HAVE GOT FAMILIES.
THAT'S REALLY THE PRIME OF THEIR CAREERS.
AND SO THAT'S A REALLY POSITIVE MESSAGE THAT WE GET TO SEND.
AND QUALITY OF LIFE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WITH THAT.
THIS CHART SHOWS INDUSTRY CHARACTERISTICS.
WHAT THIS SHOWS IS THAT THE THIRD COLUMN OVER IS AVERAGE EARNINGS PER WORKER.
AND IF YOU'LL LOOK ABOUT SIX DOWN, YOU KIND OF SEE A LITTLE SPIKE THERE.
[00:40:07]
IT'S THAT IT'S THAT SALARY, IT'S THOSE BENEFITS, IT'S THAT FULL PACKAGE OF COMPANIES THAT ARE HAVING AN INDIRECT, DIRECT AND INDIRECT RATHER IMPACT ON OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY.BUT THIS IS ALSO WHY THE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN DECATUR ARE IMPORTANT.
THIS CHART SHOWS HOME VALUES AS COMPARED TO PEER CITIES.
SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IS AT THE BOTTOM IS GAINESVILLE.
ABOVE THAT, DENTON AND WEATHERFORD, NECK AND NECK AND THEN DECATUR UP ON TOP.
WE USUALLY LIKE TO BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
THIS IS A REAL CHALLENGE FOR US.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, CONTRARY TO TO WHAT YOU MIGHT HEAR.
IN SOME PLACES, COMPANIES ACTUALLY DO CARE ABOUT WHAT THEIR EMPLOYEES LIVES ARE LIKE.
AND HOUSING IS REALLY KIND OF THE PRIMARY FOCUS WHEN IT COMES TO QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND SO COMPANIES ASK US THESE SORTS OF QUESTIONS.
WE POINT TO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT GOING ON IN THE CITY AND IN THE COUNTY.
WE GET REQUESTS FOR THAT INFORMATION REGULARLY.
EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR, I THINK WITH WITH VISIT DECATUR.
IF YOU'RE NOT, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO, SHAMELESS PLUG TO VISIT DECATURTX.ORG.
IT KIND OF SHOWS DECATUR IN ITS BEST LIGHT.
THAT'S HOW WE FEEL ABOUT IT ANYWAY.
AND SO WE'RE I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH WHAT EMILY SMITH ON OUR TEAM HAS DONE WITH THAT.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE THERE IS THAT IN THAT TOP CATEGORY, JUST UNDER 20,000 TOTAL FOLLOWERS BETWEEN OUR TWO TWO SOCIAL CHANNELS, THAT'S FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM. AND THIS YEAR ALONE, 1820 NEW FOLLOWERS THERE AT THE SECOND LINE, 536 TOTAL POSTS THIS YEAR. IF YOU'RE LIKE ME WITH MATH, YOU'RE NOT GREAT AT IT.
THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE, WASN'T IT? I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT COUNTS AS MATH, BUT I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING AN ENGINEER IN MY PRESENTATIONS.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, TOTAL IMPRESSIONS THIS YEAR.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE NUMBER TO ME.
AND SO WHAT'S AN IMPRESSION? I DON'T KNOW. BUT IT IS A IT'S A POSITIVE.
IT'S POSITIVE ENOUGH THAT THE ANALYSIS SHARES IT WITH YOU.
SO. I ALWAYS FINISH WITH THIS SLIDE.
I JUST HAD I USED TO SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, IT REMINDS ME OF MY KIDS.
BUT NOW I'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TWINS.
AND SO THIS IS NOT FULLY REPRESENTATIVE ANYMORE.
BUT IT REMINDS ME OF SOMEBODY'S FAMILY.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE REASON THAT WE DO WHAT WE DO IS NOT JUST FOR TODAY.
I DON'T REMEMBER. IT'S BEEN A WHILE BACK IN A COUNCIL MEETING, BUT I REMEMBER SOMEBODY SAYING, YOU KNOW, THE OLD SAYING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T PLANT A TREE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO SIT UNDER THE SHADE.
YOUR GRANDKIDS ARE GOING TO SIT UNDER THE SHADE.
SO THERE'S TWO WAYS TO GET TO THE TOP OF AN OAK TREE.
YOU CAN SIT ON AN ACORN OR YOU CAN CLIMB TO THE TOP.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT DECATUR IS CLIMBING TO THE TOP OF THE OAK TREE.
OR I'M ALSO HAPPY TO WELCOME A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
WILL. THANK YOU. BEFORE YOU REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THE PODIUM.
THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING CHOOSY.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK THE NEW FOLKS ON THE EDC BOARD AND JUST KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
YOU ARE A WOULDN'T SAY A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, BUT YOU ARE VALUED AND APPRECIATED AND WELL LOVED.
GIVE ME JUST A SECOND. I GOT TWO MORE.
SO YOU MENTIONED AUSTIN AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON JUST TEXTED ME.
WE'RE PLAYING GOLF THIS SATURDAY.
AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN IS THE BEST PART OF TEXAS, WHICH I VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE.
[00:45:02]
SO BUT YES, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THAT SALES TAX IS FLOWING FREE BECAUSE OF YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.I AM NOT SURE WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THE QUESTION, BUT I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
AND I WILL I WILL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR KEVIN? YOU GOT A GOOD ONE. YEP.
THANK YOU. YEAH, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING BUT ECHO.
BUT I THINK IT IS WORTHWHILE TO POINT OUT WE APPRECIATE FOR WHY WE DO THIS.
IT REALLY IS BUILDING THAT LEGACY.
IT IS PROVIDING A WORKFORCE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
AND DEFINITELY EDC HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT WORK, NO DOUBT.
[3. CONSIDER FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2023-10-32 ANNEXING THE HEREINAFTER DESCRIBED TERRITORY IDENTIFIED AS BEING AN APPROXIMATE 2.183 ACRE TRACT KNOWN AS A PORTION OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OF OLD DENTON ROAD GENERALLY BETWEEN THE 1400 BLOCK THROUGH THE 1600 BLOCK OF OLD DENTON ROAD, WISE COUNTY, TEXAS, EXTENDING THE BOUNDARY LIMITS OF THE CITY SO AS TO INCLUDE THE DESCRIBED PROPERTY, AND ADOPTING A SERVICE PLAN]
FIRST READING. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-0929 ANNEXING APPROXIMATELY 2.183 ACRES. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR THIS.MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS ANNEXATION SHOULD LOOK FAMILIAR TO YOU.
THIS COMPLEMENTS THE PALOMA TRAILS PROJECT.
THIS WOULD BE THE RIGHT OF WAY ON OLD DENTON ROAD THAT IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF PALOMA PROJECT.
IT'S ON PAGE EIGHT OF YOUR COUNCIL PACKET IF YOU NEED A VISUAL REPRESENTATION.
THE LAST ACTION THAT CAME BEFORE YOU WAS THE COUNTY SIGNING OVER THEIR VOLUNTARY PETITION TO US.
AND SO THIS IS THE NATURAL COURSE OF ACTION FOR ANNEXATION.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.
MAYOR, COULD YOU SAY THAT ORDINANCE NUMBER AGAIN? YES, I HAVE A I HAVE A A PRINTING ON MY SHEET THAT SAYS THERE MUST HAVE BEEN AN UPDATE AGENDA.
SO WHAT IS THE 23 DASH? 1032. THERE WE GO.
ANY. ANYTHING ELSE? NATE? ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? NO, SIR. MAYOR. NOTHING ON OUR SIDE.
YOU'LL SEE THIS AGAIN IN TWO WEEKS.
ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS, COUNCIL.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'LL GET US TO ITEM FOUR.
[4. CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON A SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF 201 E. Walnut P.O. Box 1299 Decatur, TX 76234 (940) 393-0200 Voice (940) 393-0201 Fax DECATUR, TEXAS, REPEALING ORDINANCE 2023-03-07 AMENDING THE CITY OF DECATUR SCHEDULE OF FEES AND ADOPTING A NEW CITY OF DECATUR SCHEDULE OF FEES AS SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT “A”; PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY FEES, BUILDING INSPECTION FEES, MUNICIPAL AIRPORT HANGAR FEES, WATER TAMPER FEE AND GARAGE SALE PERMIT FEE, AND A 3% CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION FEE; TO BE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2023. ORDINANCE 2023-09-27]
THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.REPEALING ORDINANCE 2023-0307, AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND ADOPTING A NEW SCHEDULE OF FEES.
IT IS PRINTED IN YOUR PACKET STARTING ON PAGE 17 IF YOU NEED A REFRESHER.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
OR YOU CAN JUST, OUT OF CURIOSITY, TAKE ACTION.
HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND LAST YEAR IN FEES? WHAT DID THE CREDIT CARD FEES COST US AS A COMMUNITY? JUST SHY OF 80,000.
IN FY 23, WE'RE PUSHING 100,000 THIS YEAR.
A LOT OF TAX DOLLARS. YES, SIR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? YOU KNOW, AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND YOU KNOW, CREDIT CARDS ARE THE NEW UNIVERSAL OR DEBIT CARDS ARE THE NEW UNIVERSAL POLICY.
HOWEVER SOMETHING THAT FRUSTRATES ME IS I GO INTO AN ESTABLISHMENT AND I GET HIT WITH THAT 3% FEE.
NEVER CHARGED MY CUSTOMERS THAT AND I NEVER WILL.
YOU KNOW, YOU BUILD THAT INTO THE COST OF THE GOOD.
I'M NOT SAYING I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, COST SAVINGS AS A MUNICIPALITY, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN WRITE THAT OFF ON OUR TAXES OR NOT, BUT I JUST. MM.
RIGHT. WELL, I'VE TO MAKE A COMMENT AND SOMEBODY ELSE CAN MAKE ANOTHER COMMENT IF THEY DESIRE.
BUT OBVIOUSLY I MEAN YOU HAVE A PROPRIETORSHIP, THERE IS A LEVEL OF, HEY, YOU'RE WILLING TO DO THAT FOR CONVENIENCE FOR YOUR CUSTOMER.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT FOR PROFIT, SO IT'S JUST REALLY PASSING ON THAT COST.
[00:50:02]
WHEREAS THOSE THAT ARE WRITING A CHECK, WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF COST.AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I HAD A CALL FROM A CITIZEN WHO WAS NOT HAPPY WITH IT.
AND BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN GIVEN THE INFORMATION, I WAS ABLE TO SAY, WELL, OKAY, WE'RE SPENDING THIS IS WHAT IT'S COSTING $80,000 AND WE EXPECT IT TO BE CLOSE TO 100,000 THIS YEAR OF OUR CITIZENS TAX DOLLARS.
AND DO YOU THINK THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE WAY FOR US TO BE SPENDING YOUR TAX DOLLARS? AND I MEAN THAT SHE SAID, WELL, NO, I DON'T.
SO I THINK JUST THE TRANSPARENCY OF LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THE COST AND WHY WE'RE DOING IT BECAUSE THAT $100,000 AND A LOT OF PLACES WHERE WE CAN USE THAT A LOT MORE AND THERE'S ALSO THE OPTION TO NOT USE A CREDIT CARD TO THERE IS THAT IF YOU DON'T WANT THE 3% FEE I KNOW, JAKE, BUT I ONLY WRITE HOT CHECKS.
MY CREDIT DEBIT CARD GOES THROUGH.
THERE'S NO WAY I'M GOING TO GET MY WATER BILL PAID.
HOWEVER. OKAY, YOU'RE RIGHT THAT YOUR CONSTITUENT IS RIGHT.
I GET IT. YOU LOOK AT ONE CONSTITUENT LIKE ME, OKAY? $3 ON $130 BILLS.
AND WILL YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ON YOUR CREDIT CARD, DO YOU HAVE REWARDS OR DO YOU HAVE A BETTER RATE BECAUSE YOU USE IT? BECAUSE IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN YOU'RE BENEFITING YOURSELF IN THE PROCESS? WELL, I AGREE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT CONSUMER, THAT MUNICIPALITY OR THAT BUSINESS DOES EAT THE COST OF THAT.
BUT I'M A ROTATING POINTS AND REWARDS GUY.
I MIGHT USE THIS CARD FOR THIS AND.
OKAY, UNDERSTOOD. THAT'S FINE.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD MAKE A MOTION.
THERE'S NO OTHER. WELL, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2023- 0927.
WHO DID YOU GET FOR THAT? OKAY. I'M GLAD TO INFORM YOU THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS TO MAKE MOTIONS ON.
THAT'S GOOD. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[5. CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON A SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY’S FY 2022-2023 BUDGET, ADOPTED VIA ORDINANCE NO. 2022-09-21, TO APPROPRIATE AND BUDGET FUNDS FOR SERIES 2022 BOND EXPENSES IN THE WATER AND SEWER FUND, CONSTRUCTION/IMPACT FEES FUND, AND EDC FUND FOR SERIES 2023 EXPENSES; PROVIDING FOR THE INCORPORATION OF PREMISES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE 2023-09-28]
THIS IS ALSO A SECOND READING.AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY'S 2023, 2022, 2023 BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE AND THE BUDGET FOR SERIES 2022 BONDS, EXPENSES IN THE WATER AND SEWER FUND.
QUICK REMINDER ON PAGE 41, EXHIBIT A SHOWS THAT WE HAD TO AMEND THE WATER SEWER FUND, OUR CONSTRUCTION AND IMPACT FEES FUND AND OUR EDC FUND. AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THOSE AMENDMENTS.
BUT JUST A GENTLE REMINDER THIS IS COMMON EVERY SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, AS WE TURN AND PREPARE FOR OUR THIRD PARTY AUDIT TO BALANCE THE BOOKS AND ALIGN THEM FOR THE AUDITING PROCESS.
ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? LOOK FOR A MOTION. MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2020 3-09 28.
SECOND. ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.
THANK YOU. ITEM SIX, CONSIDER AN ACTION ON A RESOLUTION WITH THE VISTA PARK PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT
[6. CONSIDER SECOND READING AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING AN AMENDMENT TO APPENDIX “B,” “ZONING” OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS TO GRANT A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A DAY CARE IN A C-2, THOROUGHFARE BUSINESS ZONING DISTRICT, ON APPROXIMATELY 0.679 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 503 N. US HIGHWAY 81-287 BUSINESS. (SPECIFIC USE PERMIT APPLICATION 2023-04—MR. WAYNE KAUFFMAN, ON BEHALF OF CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY.) (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL, 6-0.) SUP2023-04 ORDINANCE 2023-09-29]
DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR THAT? NO. DID I SKIP SOMETHING HERE? WHAT? MAYOR, WE HAVE ITEM SIX AS A SECOND READING AND APPROPRIATE ACTION ON A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
YEAH, APPARENTLY I DON'T HAVE.
IT IS VERY APPARENT THAT I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATED AGENDA.
SO ITEM SIX SECOND READING REGARDING THE ORDINANCE PROVIDING AN AMENDMENT TO APPENDIX B ZONING FOR THE DAYCARE AND AC2.
THIS IS PERMIT APPLICATION 2020 304.
GO AHEAD. MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2023.
YOU GOT A QUESTION? NO, NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THERE'S NO CHANGES SINCE YOU'RE FIRST READING.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2023-0929.
[00:55:03]
SECOND. ALL RIGHT.ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[7. CONSIDER SECOND READING AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING AN AMENDMENT TO APPENDIX “B,” “ZONING” OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS TO GRANT A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A DAY CARE IN A C-2, THOROUGHFARE BUSINESS ZONING DISTRICT, ON APPROXIMATELY 8.0 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 3483 S. FM 51. (SPECIFIC USE PERMIT APPLICATION 2023-05—MRS. BRITTANY JONES, ON BEHALF OF EAGLE DRIVE BAPTIST CHURCH.) (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL, 6-0.) SUP2023-05 ORDINANCE 2023-09-30]
THIS IS ALSO A SECOND READING TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING AN AMENDMENT TO APPENDIX B ZONING CODE OF ORDINANCES.THIS IS ALSO TO ALLOW DAYCARE IN A C-2.
SECOND. I'VE FORGOTTEN THE WIND DOWN THAT.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.
[8. CONSIDER SECOND READING AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING AN AMENDMENT TO REZONE APPROXIMATELY 0.129 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 1303 S. TRINITY STREET FROM SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT (SF-2) TO TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT (2F). (ZONING CHANGE APPLICATION 2023-06—MR. STEN JUHL, ON BEHALF OF SCJM, LLC.) (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL, 6-0. ZC2023-06 ORDINANCE 2023-09-31]
1.129 ACRES OF LAND.THIS IS ZONING CHANGE APPLICATION 2023-06.
NO CHANGES FROM YOUR FIRST READING.
MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
I MOVE TO APPROVE ZONING CHANGE.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.
[9. V2023-11 CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON A REQUEST FOR A DESIGN STANDARDS VARIANCE FROM SECTION 107, “LANDSCAPE DESIGN,” OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS DESIGN STANDARDS. SPECIFICALLY, APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO REDUCE THE LANDSCAPE STRIP FROM TEN FEET (10’) TO FIVE FEET (5’) ON APPROXIMATELY 300 LINEAR FEET ALONG CHARLES ST., A PUBLIC STREET, WHERE ADJACENT TO THE NORTH BOUNDARY OF A 7.89 ACRE TRACT OF LAND IN THE AJ WALKER SURVEY, ABSTRACT NO. 860, CITY OF DECATUR, WISE COUNTY, TEXAS, AND PROPOSED AS LOT 1, BLOCK 1 AND LOT 1, BLOCK 2, DECATUR POLICE STATION, AND MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1601 S. CHURCH STREET, DECATUR, TEXAS. (APPLICATION V2023-11—CHIEF OF POLICE DELVON CAMPBELL, ON BEHALF OF CITY OF DECATUR) (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND CONDITIONAL APPROVAL AS LONG AS STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE WALL IS MAINTAINED, 6-0.)]
CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON A REQUEST FOR DESIGN STANDARDS.VARIANCE FOR LANDSCAPE DESIGN.
2023.11 VARIANTS 2023-11 AND 2023-12 ARE FOR THE SAME PROPERTY.
SO THE PRESENTATION WILL BE COMBINED, BUT YOU WILL NEED TO TAKE ACTION SEPARATELY.
VERY GOOD. THESE VARIANCES ARE CHIEF CAMPBELL'S REQUEST ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF DECATUR TO REDUCE THE REQUIRED LANDSCAPE STRIP V 2023-11 IS FROM 10FT TO 5FT ON APPROXIMATELY 300 LINEAR FEET ALONG CHARLES STREET, WHICH IS A PUBLIC STREET.
AND THEN V 2023-12 FROM 10FT TO 0FT ON APPROXIMATELY 391.7 LINEAR FEET ALONG SOUTH HATCHER STREET.
AGAIN, IT'S A PUBLIC STREET AND THE PROPERTY IS 7.89 ACRES.
THE PROPOSED PRELIMINARY PLAT IS FOR A LOT ONE BLOCK ONE AND LOT ONE BLOCK TO DECATUR POLICE STATION, AND THE PROPERTY IS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1601 SOUTH CHURCH STREET.
WE PROVIDED AN EXCERPT FROM THE LANDSCAPE SECTION OF THE DECATUR DESIGN STANDARDS.
THE LANDSCAPE STRIP WILL INCLUDE ONE SHADE TREE, WHICH IS 2.5IN CALIPER AT A MINIMUM FOR EVERY 50 LINEAR FEET OF STREET FRONTAGE. THE APPLICANT, WHICH IS THE CITY OF DECATUR, IS PROPOSING A FIVE FOOT LANDSCAPE STRIP AND A FIVE FOOT BUILDING LINE ON THE NORTH FROM CHURCH STREET TO JUST HATCHER STREET AND A ZERO FOOT LANDSCAPE BUILDING LINE ALONG HATCHER STREET.
AND WE DID PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME INFORMATION IN YOUR REPORT, SOME OF THE PHOTOS THAT WE THIS IS A PHOTO THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE WISE COUNTY MESSENGER.
AND THEN THESE ARE SOME PHOTOS THAT WE TOOK OF THE EXISTING WALL AS IT'S STANDING NOW.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE 2023-11.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ALSO RECOMMENDED APPROVAL, BUT THEIR APPROVAL WAS CONDITIONAL.
[01:00:03]
SAME RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY HAD FOR 2023 DASH 12.SO IS THE IS IT GOING TO BE USED IN THE LANDSCAPE PACKAGE THE WALL CLEANED UP AND.
FOR ONE, THAT WALL IS PROBABLY 100 YEARS OLD.
CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER TREES AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GROWING IN TO THAT WALL.
SO SPEAKING WITH OUR ARCHITECTS AND ALONG WITH OUR HORTICULTURAL PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE WORKING ON THE PROJECT, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN THESE DISTANCES TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THAT WALL.
BUT THAT WALL IS PART OF THE DESIGN OF OUR BUILDING IN A SENSE TO BE ABLE TO BE UTILIZED HOPEFULLY FOR 40 OR 50 YEARS FROM NOW. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT BE MAINTAINED.
I JUST THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
FOR ONE, THE NEXT BUSINESS COMES TO US AND ASK, WHY DO I HAVE TO DO THIS? I UNDERSTAND THE WALL.
COMPLETELY. SO I'M ASSUMING THAT'S THE SIDE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ZERO.
THE ZERO IS GOING TO BE ON THE.
YEAH. I JUST THINK WHATEVER WE DO HERE, WE JUST GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TREAT ALL COMMERCIAL PROJECTS THE EXACT SAME WAY AS WE LOOK AT THE THINGS GOING IN OUT AT THE INDUSTRIAL PARK OR WHEREVER IT'S AT.
SO EVERYBODY GETS THE SAME TREATMENT.
NOW IT'S ONE OF THE FEW ICONS THAT'S LEFT ON THE HILL TO REMIND US OF OUR HERITAGE.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND I THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE IT'S MAINTAINED.
APPRECIATE ALL MY COLLEAGUES BRINGING UP THE HISTORICAL POINTS ABOUT ABOUT THE WALL, IN ADDITION TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD COME BEFORE US.
AND IT STATES ONE OF THE BIG DESIRES OF THIS COMMUNITY IS TO KEEP THAT HISTORICAL HISTORY HERE.
AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY GRAB HOLD OF THAT.
AND I DO FEEL I'M JUST LIKE EDDIE COMMENTED, I'VE WANT TO BE SUPER EQUITABLE FOR EVERYBODY, BUT I THINK IN THIS INSTANCE WITH THE HISTORICAL. REQUIRE VIEW OF THE JUST SO IMPORTANT TO HOLD ON TO THAT.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE BRINGING UP THOSE POINTS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION FOR THIS WOULD BE ON ACTION.
ITEM NINE, PLEASE, MR. MAYOR. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE VARIANCE 2023-11.
SECOND. LET'S HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT.
THAT PASSES. THAT GETS US TO ITEM TEN.
[10. V2023-12 CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON A REQUEST FOR A DESIGN STANDARDS VARIANCE FROM SECTION 107, “LANDSCAPE DESIGN,” OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS 201 E. Walnut P.O. Box 1299 Decatur, TX 76234 (940) 393-0200 Voice (940) 393-0201 Fax DESIGN STANDARDS. SPECIFICALLY, APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO REDUCE THE LANDSCAPE STRIP FROM TEN FEET (10’) TO ZERO FEET (0’) ON APPROXIMATELY 391.74 LINEAR FEET ALONG HATCHER ST., A PUBLIC STREET, WHERE ADJACENT TO THE EAST BOUNDARY OF A 7.89 ACRE TRACT OF LAND IN THE AJ WALKER SURVEY, ABSTRACT NO. 860, CITY OF DECATUR, WISE COUNTY, TEXAS, AND PROPOSED AS LOT 1, BLOCK 1 AND LOT 1, BLOCK 2, DECATUR POLICE STATION, AND MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1601 S. CHURCH STREET, DECATUR, TEXAS. (APPLICATION V2023-12—CHIEF OF POLICE DELVON CAMPBELL, ON BEHALF OF CITY OF DECATUR) (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND CONDITIONAL APPROVAL AS LONG AS STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE WALL IS MAINTAINED, 6-0.)]
THIS IS VARIANCE 20, 23.12. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS REALLY THING ANYTHING ADDITIONAL TO STATE AT THIS POINT.
ALL RIGHT. SO, COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ITEM TEN? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE APPLICATION VARIANCE 2023-12.
WE'RE GOING TO JUST ASK. WE HAVE A MOTION AND LET'S HAVE A SECOND AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES. THANK YOU.
SO THAT GOT US TAKING CARE OF ITEMS TEN AND 11.
[11. V2023-15 HEAR STAFF REPORT, CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON A VARIANCE FROM THE CITY OF DECATUR SIGN ORDINANCE, SECTION 15-31(2) WALL SIGNS. SPECIFICALLY, APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A CUMULATIVE WALL SIGN AREA THAT EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE AREA. BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT, THE REGULATIONS ALLOW A MAXIMUM SIGN AREA OF 67.5 SQ. FT. THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 708 E. HALE STREET, TEXAS. (VARIANCE APPLICATION 2023- 15—KENT JESTER, ON BEHALF OF MAVERICK FUELS)]
ALL RIGHT, SO IT GETS US TO 12.NO, NO, WE'RE ON 11, RIGHT? SO WE GOT NINE AND TEN. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARITY.
ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK AND ELBOWS.
[01:05:10]
THIS IS VARIANCE APPLICATION 2023-15.AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THIS IS A SIGN VARIANCE.
IT'S MR. KENT JESTER'S REQUEST ON BEHALF OF MAVERICK FUELS FOR VARIANCE FROM THE DECATUR SIGN ORDINANCE, SECTION 15-31 TWO WALL SIGNS, AND THIS IS A VARIANCE TO OUR NEWLY ADOPTED WALL SIGN.
THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SIGN AREA IS 67.5FT².
THEY'RE PROPOSING TO WALL SIGNS WHICH WOULD TOTAL 100.51FT², AND THAT'S IN EXCESS OF THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SIGN AREA BY 33.01FT².
AND THIS IS ALSO IN ADDITION TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE DIRECTOR TO GRANT A 20% INCREASE OVER THAT MAXIMUM ALLOWED SQUARE FOOTAGE.
YES. IN TERMS OF THE CRITERIA THAT WE LOOKED AT TO EVALUATE THE SIGNAGE.
THE REQUESTED VARIANCE DOES NOT VIOLATE THE INTENT AND SPIRIT OF THE ORDINANCE.
THE WALL SIGN IS LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE CANOPY, AND IT IS INTENDED TO BE VISIBLE FROM BOTH SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC ALONG US HIGHWAY 81, 287 AND EASTBOUND TRAFFIC BUSINESS ROUTE ALONG EAST HALE STREET.
ET CETERA. THEY WOULD LIKE TO SELL FUEL TO THE PUBLIC PRIOR TO THIS.
YOUTH. THEY WEREN'T ACTUALLY SELLING TO THE PUBLIC.
BUT NOW THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR.
THE GAS STATION DOES HAVE LIMITED VISIBILITY.
THE DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE IS DIRECTLY OFF EAST HILL STREET.
THE BUILDING PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF HELL AND HIGHWAY 81 TO 87 BUSINESS.
THE HARDSHIP IS NOT NECESSARILY THE RESULT OF THE APPLICANT'S ACTION.
THIS BUILDING IS AN ESTABLISHED BUILDING AND IT HAS BEEN LEASED OUT TO A NEW TENANT, MAVERICK FUELS.
THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY AWARE OF THE SIGN ORDINANCE RESTRICTIONS UNTIL WE SPOKE WITH THEM, AND THE SIGNAGE SHOULD HELP TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHILE PROVIDING NECESSARY INFORMATION TO PATRONS AND VISITORS.
STAFF DIDN'T REALLY SEE ANY NEGATIVE ISSUES WITH WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.
IT'S NOT ESTHETICALLY UNPLEASING.
SO IT JUST NEEDS TO BE LARGE ENOUGH FOR THEM TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE VISIBILITY FOR ALL VEHICLES IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS THAT ARE APPROACHING THE SITE.
OKAY. AND THEN THESE ARE JUST SOME MORE IMAGES.
GO AHEAD, SIR. YOU GOT A QUESTION, MISS RAGLAND? THAT 319 PRICE FOR AN 87.
IS THAT LIKE, WE CAN GO OVER THERE RIGHT NOW AND IF WE APPROVE THIS, IF..
YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE THAT.
SO IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS VARIANCE REQUEST FROM COUNCIL? THEN WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE VARIANCE APPLICATION 2023-15.
SO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? WELL, HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES.
[12. PP2023-05 CONSIDER TAKING ACTION REGARDING A REQUEST TO PRELIMINARY PLAT LOT 1, BLOCK 1 AND LOT 1, BLOCK 2, DECATUR POLICE STATION, BEING A 7.89-ACRE TRACT OF LAND IN ALL OF BLOCKS 110 AND 118 AND PORTIONS OF CHURCH, SHORT AND TRINITY STREETS, SOUTH DECATUR ADDITION, IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, WISE COUNTY, TEXAS LOCATED AT LOCATED AT 1601 SOUTH CHURCH STREET. (PRELIMINARY PLAT APPLICATION 2023-05—CHIEF OF POLICE DELVON CAMPBELL, ON BEHALF OF CITY OF DECATUR) (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND CONDITIONAL APPROVAL PENDING ZBA APPROVAL OF THE FRONT YARD SETBACK VARIANCES ALONG HATCHER AND CHARLES STREETS, 6-0.)]
THIS IS CONSIDER TAKING ACTION REGARDING A REQUEST FOR PRELIMINARY PLAT.WE'RE BACK TO THAT, RIGHT? YES. OKAY.
WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE VARIANCES, THE PLAT DOES MEET THE CITY'S MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.
IT IS A 7.895 ACRE TRACT OF LAND.
[01:10:04]
IT'S BEING PLATTED TO BUILD A NEW POLICE STATION AND POSSIBLY A CITY COMPLEX DOWN THE THE ROAD.SOMETIME THE PROPERTY IS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1601 SOUTH CHURCH STREET.
AND THIS IS A COPY OF THE PLAT EXHIBIT, WHICH IS ALSO IN YOUR PACKET.
THE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF PRELIMINARY PLAT 2020 305.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ALSO RECOMMENDED CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF PRELIMINARY PRELIMINARY PLAT 2020 305 PENDING ZBER'S APPROVAL OF THE FRONT YARD SETBACK VARIANCES ALONG HATCHER AND CHARLES STREET, WHICH THE ZBA DID APPROVE ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? LOOK FOR A MOTION, MR. MAYOR. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY PLAT 2020 3-05.
SO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION SAY AYE.
ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW OPEN INTO A PUBLIC HEARING AT 711.
[13. RP2023-04 HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND CONSIDER TAKING ACTION REGARDING A REQUEST TO FINAL PLAT LOTS 2R-1A AND 2R-2A, BLOCK 78, SOUTH DECATUR ADDITION, BEING APPROXIMATELY A 0.363 ACRE TRACT OF LAND LOCATED EAST OF SOUTH TRINITY STREET AND SOUTH OF EAST PRINCE STREET IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, WISE COUNTY, TEXAS FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1303 SOUTH TRINITY STREET. (REPLAT APPLICATION RP2023-04—MR. STEN JUHL, ON BEHALF OF SCJM, LLC.) (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL, 6-0.]
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING A REQUEST FINAL PLAT ON TWO R AND ONE A AND TWO R TO A.THIS IS RE PLAT APPLICATION 2020 304.
AND THIS REPLAT APPLICATION IS RELATED TO THE ZONING CHANGE.
THE SECOND READING THAT YOU HEARD EARLIER AND THAT YOU VOTED ON, THIS IS MR. STINGEL'S REQUEST ON BEHALF OF SCJM LLC TO FINAL PLAT LOTS 2R1A AND TWO R-2A BLOCK 78 OF THE SOUTH DECATUR EDITION.
THE PROPERTY IS APPROXIMATELY 0.363 ACRES OF LAND, AND IT'S A REPLAT OF LOTS 2-1 AND 2-2.
SAME BLOCK IN SOUTH DECATUR EDITION.
AND THE PROPERTY IS BEING REPLATTED FOR A DUPLEX DEVELOPMENT AND IT'S THE PROPERTY IS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1303 SOUTH TRINITY STREET. WE DID NOTIFY 22 PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200FT.
WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RESPONSES BACK.
THIS IS A COPY OF THE PLAT EXHIBIT.
AND THE PLAT DOES MEET OUR MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ALSO RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.
ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? DO YOU HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS? YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT.
MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE REPLAT 2020, I'M SORRY.
2023-04. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION SAY AYE.
ALL RIGHT. THAT MOTION PASSES AND WE WILL CLOSE OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 13.
[14. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR SEALED BIDS FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR CONSULTING SERVICES RELATED TO SPECIALIZED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES]
ALL RIGHT. CONTINUING ON ITEM 14, CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR SEALED BIDS FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR CONSULTING SERVICES RELATED TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.MAYOR AND COUNCIL, IF YOU WILL REMEMBER EARLIER IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE DISCUSSED MOVING TOWARDS CONSULTING SERVICES FOR TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS KIND OF THE THE LAST MOVING PIECE OF THOSE ELEMENTS OF TECHNOLOGY.
SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO ALLOW ME TO GO OUT FOR BIDS FOR SPECIALIZED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.
THESE WILL BE THINGS TO SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE SERVICES WILL EXCEED MY THRESHOLD TO APPROVE INTERNALLY AND IT IS BUDGETED FOR FY 24. WE JUST NEED TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO GET THE RIGHT BIDDER IN HERE AND PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.
MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR SEALED BIDS.
FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSAL FOR CONSULTING SERVICES.
SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT SAY AYE.
[15. CONSIDER AND DISCUSS AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ISSUE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND PLAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT - MITIGATION (CDBG-MIT) GRANT PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE (GLO). ]
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.[01:15:01]
I'M ON PAGE 130 CHERYL, IF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE PACKET YOU HEARD FROM ANDREW AND CHRIS AND ITEM NUMBER ONE ABOUT OUR NEED TO BEGIN THINKING ABOUT UPDATING VARIOUS PLANS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH WISE COUNTY AND GRANT WORKS.SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE LOCATED A GENERAL LAND OFFICE GRANT THAT COULD NET THE VALUE OF UP TO $300,000 TO START TACKLING SOME OF THOSE ITEMS THAT COULD BE IN FUTURE PLANNING PROJECTS.
AND CHERYL, IF YOU GO ON DOWN TO PAGE 131.
YEAH. SO DOWN KIND OF ON THE BOTTOM LEFT.
THERE THERE'S SOME THAT AREN'T.
THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT AREN'T LISTED THERE THAT WE NEED.
STREET CONDITIONS, STUDY WATER SYSTEM AND UTILITY STUDY PARKS, RECREATION AND THEN A CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT REVIEW. IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE ENTER INTO THIS PROCESS COMPETING FOR THESE FUNDS AND PAIR THE TIMING OF THOSE FUNDS TO BE RECEIVED WITH THE BEGINNING STAGES OF OUR COMP PLAN UPDATE.
SO I THINK IT'LL ALL FLOW NICELY TOGETHER.
IT WILL HELP US TACKLE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ANDREW AND CHRIS BROUGHT TO US.
AND ROB BATHAM FROM GRANT WORKS IS ALSO PRESENT TONIGHT.
ROB IF I BUTCHERED THAT, TOO BAD, FEEL FREE TO HOP IN THERE AND SHORE ME UP.
SO ALL I'M LOOKING FOR TONIGHT IS FOR YOU TO GIVE ME YOUR BLESSING, TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PROCESS IN THIS IN THIS GRANT, WHICH WOULD BE AN RFP FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND PLAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.
AND THERE'S SOME ACRONYMS THAT GO WITH THAT.
SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
IN THIS SITUATION, IT IS A 100% MATCH, SO THERE'S NO OUT OF POCKET BY THE CITY.
AND AGAIN, IT'S UP TO $300,000 IN VALUE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION.
MR. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ISSUE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS OR RFPS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND PLAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.
SECOND. A MOTION AND WE HAVE A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT.
[16. CONSENT AGENDA]
THAT GETS US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.IF THERE'S ANY ITEMS THAT YOU WANT TO PULL OFF, PLEASE MAKE THAT IN YOUR MOTION.
OTHERWISE, WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS WRITTEN.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC INPUT? ALL RIGHT. SO THAT GETS US TO ITEM 18.
[18. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
WE WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:18.UNDER 55.01 TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING, WHICH IS 551.07 FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS EVALUATION OF CITY MANAGER. ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 819 AND WE ARE RECONVENING INTO OPEN
[RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION]
SESSION AND ON ACTION ITEM 18.AND WE HAVE NO ACTION FOR THIS.
HOWEVER, THAT GETS US TO ITEM 19, WHICH IS COUNCIL MEMBERS REQUESTING FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
[19. COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.]
AND I KNOW THAT WE'LL WANT TO HAVE THE EVALUATION ON THE NEXT AGENDA.CAN WE TALK ABOUT JOE BOYD'S MUSTACHE? IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, SO.
I'M NOT GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT OTHER THAN GET WITH THE CITY REGARDING THAT.
ABSOLUTELY. THE DISCUSSION OF CHANGING THE ORDNANCE OF OUR CARPORTS AND GARAGES.
YOU CAN COMMUNICATE THESE THINGS TO BE ADDED.
WE NOW KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS AWESOME.
AND THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE TIME FOR THAT AS WELL.
[01:20:01]
OKAY. OKAY.IS IT OKAY NOW? WE'RE GOOD. AND SO WE WILL ADJOURN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.