[WORKSHOP]
[00:00:03]
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET OUR MEETING STARTED AT 5:32.
WE'LL START OFF WITH OUR QUARTERLY DEPARTMENT REPORTS WITH THE CONFERENCE CENTER.
>> WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH OUR CURRENT CONDITIONS MAYBE.
HARANDI START US OFF WITH OUR CURRENT CONDITIONS, PLEASE.
>> THE CURRENT CONDITIONS ARE, CLOUDY AND A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN.
>> A LITTLE BIT AND IT'S PRETTY CHILLY.
>> AS YOU CAN SEE FROM OUR PICTURES HERE, THIS IS A BEFORE AND AFTER OF OUR RESTROOMS. ALL THE RESTROOMS HAVE NEW COUNTERTOPS AND CABINETRY.
OUR ICE MACHINE AND HEATERS ARE IN NEED OF REPAIR, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.
WE'VE INSPECTED ALL OF OUR INVENTORY.
WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 520 USABLE CHAIRS.
IT WILL FILL ALL OF OUR ROOMS, BUT IT DOESN'T GIVE US ANY BACKUP.
WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE MARKET FOR SOME NEW CHAIRS SOON.
WE DID REPLACE ONE PROJECTOR IN THE GREAT HALL, AND WE ARE ADDING SLIDING DOORS TO THE MAIN LOBBY TO SEPARATE FRONT AND BACK OF HOUSE BECAUSE WE JUST CAN'T MANAGE TO KEEP THE CLIENTS OUT OF THE KITCHEN.
THAT'S A HEALTH NO, SO THAT'S COMING.
OUR PLANS FOR FY24, WE WILL BE ADDING OUR FULL TIME SOUS CHEF IN APRIL.
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. NO ONE MORE THAN CHEF.
FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON A NEW FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM.
IT'S A MATTER OF SCHEDULING AT THIS POINT BUT THERE ARE FUNDS IDENTIFIED FOR IT ALREADY.
WE HAVE SOME GENERAL SAFETY AND SECURITY RELATED REPAIRS, ALARMS AND THINGS NEED SOME MAINTENANCE.
WE ARE EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR REPLACING THOSE CHAIRS AND OUR CARPET.
THIS IS HOW WE STACK UP TO LAST YEAR.
WE ARE AT ABOUT 97-98% AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF WHERE WE ARE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR'S FIRST QUARTER.
THEN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH ARE LOOKING PRETTY BUSY.
I THINK IT'S ONLY GOING TO GO UP FROM THERE.
THEN OUR UPCOMING EVENTS, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW THINGS COMING UP.
NOTABLY THE WISE REPUBLICAN WOMEN'S RED GALA THIS SATURDAY.
REPRESENTATIVE STUCKY IS DOING A FUND RAISING DINNER WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST NEXT WEEK.
WE'LL BE HOSTING OUR VALENTINE DINNER DANCE LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR.
ON FEBRUARY 10, WE HAVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CANDIDATE FORUM, WISE COUNTY, EARLY VOTING WILL BE FROM FEBRUARY 20 THROUGH MARCH 1ST AT OUR LOCATION.
THEN WE'RE HAVING YOUTH FAIR QUEEN CONTEST, BRIDGEPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AUCTION, MEALS ON WHEELS GALA, LIGHTHOUSE ACRES, MOM PROM, AND WISE CHRISTIAN COUNSELING FUND RAISING.
THAT'S ALL BEFORE OUR NEXT REPORT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> BATHROOMS LOOK SO GOOD, THEY DON'T LOOK INDUSTRIAL.
>> YOU DON'T SEE THE PLUMBING UNDERNEATH.
>> IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A PRISON TO ME THE WAY IT'S ALL OPEN AND IT JUST LOOKS INDUSTRIAL.
NO, IT LOOKS GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT REPORT IS OUR LIBRARY REPORT.
>> WE START WITH OUR STATISTICS.
OUR NUMBERS ARE LOW FROM OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER, AND THAT IS DUE TO US BEING HERE.
>> DIANE, I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THIS GREAT SAYING FROM A FRIEND OF MINE, EXCUSES ONLY SATISFY THOSE THAT GIVE THEM.
>> I LIKE IT. EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN OVER HERE THOUGH, WE STILL HAVE HAD 2,323 VISITORS OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER.
WE'VE ISSUED 86 NEW CARDS AND STILL HAVE HAD 6,251 CHECKOUTS.
WE'VE HAD 177 USERS COME IN AND USE THE COMPUTERS IN THOSE THREE MONTHS.
ALL OF OUR DIGITAL HIGHLIGHTS RESOURCES ARE UP.
[00:05:07]
WE ARE SEEING SOME INCREASE IN THOSE SINCE WE'RE NOT OVER AT OUR REGULAR LOCATION.JUST LOOKING AT THE RENOVATION, WAS OVER THERE THE OTHER DAY, THEY HAVE STARTED INSTALLING THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S REALLY HARD TO SEE, BUT THAT'S A KITTEN IN THERE.
WE WERE GOING TO KEEP THAT AS OUR LIBRARY CAT, BUT WE DIDN'T THINK NATE WOULD LET US KEEP IT OVER HERE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
>> THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, DID YOU UNCOVER AND THERE WAS A CAT THERE, OR DID THE CAT SHOW UP THERE?
ME AND RYAN FROM FX5 WALKED IN THE KITCHEN AND I WAS GOING TO GO OVER THERE AND TAKE A PICTURE AND I'M LIKE THERE'S A CAT.
THE AESTHETICS THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING THE CARPET, PAINT AND LIGHTING.
KITCHEN, JUST FUNCTIONALITY AND AESTHETICS.
WORKROOM STORAGE ROOM IS GOING TO BE OPTIMIZING OUR WORKFLOW PATTERNS.
THEN BATHROOMS AND PLUMBING, THEY REPLACED ALL OF THE SEWER LINES.
I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT ONE OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS THAT THAT CHOICE WAS ACTUALLY LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE OTHER CHOICES.
THAT'S FANTASTIC. ON THE PICTURES, THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE BATHROOMS THEM BEING DEMOLISHED AND THE HOLES ARE WHERE THEY REPLACE THE PIPING.
THEY HAD TO DIG INTO THE CONCRETE AND DOWN SEVERAL FEET TO REPLACE THOSE.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ACTUALLY COME IN, THE BATHROOMS ARE GOING TO BE SWITCHED SO REMEMBER THAT.
>> I'M SURE I WILL PROBABLY WALK INTO THE WRONG ONE [LAUGHTER] JUST OUT OF HABIT.
I WAS OVER THERE THE OTHER DAY.
THEY HAVE STARTED WORKING ON THE GARDEN AND THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING, JUST DEMOLISHING THE CONCRETE SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE PARTS OF THE PROJECT.
BECAUSE WE WERE ADDING THE DOOR, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO REDO THE GARDEN.
CLOSE UP PICTURE OF OUR KITTEN.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK IF THIS IS A DIFFERENT CAT OR THE SAME CAT.
>> NO. BUT THE WEEK WE MOVED OUT, THERE WAS ANOTHER KITTY.
>> IN THAT MIDDLE UPPER PICTURE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY'VE GOT THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM GOING IN THERE.
THE ROOM ON THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER, THAT'S WHERE THE RISER ROOM IS GOING TO BE FOR THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM.
THAT'S JUST A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PICTURES OF THE KITCHEN THAT WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE PASSED THAT, ACTUALLY WE ARE ON THE THIRD.
NO PUT OUT. I'M MOVING FORWARD TOO FAST. I'M CONFUSED.
>> WHY DON'T YOU JUST GIVE US A RUN DOWN ON WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE RENOVATION SCHEDULE.
>> YES. WE ARE STILL ON SCHEDULE TO FINISH IN APRIL AND EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE GOING AS PLANNED.
TOMORROW, HARANDI AND I ARE GOING TO BE GOING AND DOING CABLE DROPS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE COMPUTERS ARE WORKING WHEN WE GET INSTALLED OR GET OVER THERE.
THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE FINISHED IN MID APRIL, WE HAVE TO MOVE IN, GET ALL OF THE FURNITURE FROM THE GRANTS INSTALLED, AND THEN WE HAVE TO MOVE BACK IN SO I'M THINKING PROBABLY MID MAY BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GET IN THERE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR QUARTERLY REPORT FOR MAIN STREET.
>> FOR YOUR DECATUR, MAIN STREET, CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE 30 YEARS INTO THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM.
THAT'S A PRETTY BIG ACHIEVEMENT FOR ANY MAIN STREET COMMUNITY SO HAPPY 30 YEARS.
WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL THINGS PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR.
WE WILL HAVE A CELEBRATORY LUNCH AT THE CHAMBERS LUNCHEON IN MAY SO THAT'S THE 14TH SO MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THAT.
IT WILL INCLUDE A LOT OF FUN PICTURES OVER THE 30 YEARS AND MAIN STREET CAKE FOR DESSERT.
THE CHEF HAS GOT THAT DOWN, PAT NOW SO WE'LL HAVE THAT THAT DAY TOO.
WE ARE GOING TO INSTITUTE FOR THIS YEAR,
[00:10:03]
INSTEAD OF OUR BRICKS BEING $50 A BRICK, THEY'LL BE $30 FOR THE 30TH YEAR.THIS WAS A DECISION THAT THE BOARD MADE LAST WEEK AT OUR ANNUAL STRATEGY AND PLANNING MEETING.
THEN ALSO, THERE IS A PLAN UNDERWAY TO REPLACE THE WOODEN BENCHES THAT ARE ALL AROUND THE SQUARE WITH METAL BENCHES.
WE HAVE THAT OUT FOR BIDS TO SEE HOW MUCH THEY WILL COST AND THEN THEY'LL GO OUT FOR SPONSORSHIP TO SEE HOW MANY WE CAN REPLACE WITH SPONSORSHIP MONEY.
THE HOPE IS TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM IF POSSIBLE.
THE SPONSORSHIP WOULD INCLUDE A PLAQUE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, NAMING RIGHTS ON A BENCH.
THE MAIN STREET BOARD WANTS TO HAVE THE FIRST ONE BE FROM THE MAIN STREET BOARD IN HONOR OF MAYOR MARTIN.
>> THAT'LL BE THE FIRST ONE THAT WE DO.
>> FREE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE BENCHES A LITTLE BIT.
>> THE ONES THAT WE HAVE AT THE VISITOR CENTER ARE THE ONES WE WANT TO EMULATE.
THOSE ARE VICTOR STANLEY BENCHES, THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE, THEY'RE VERY HEAVY.
BUT THOSE HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE 2007, AND NO ONE HAS TRIED TO STEAL THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SO HEAVY.
NOW, THOSE ARE REALLY BIG BENCHES, THOSE ARE EIGHT FEET LONG.
THE ONES THAT WE'LL HAVE DOWNTOWN WILL BE THE FOUR FOOT LONG BENCHES.
BUT THAT'S GOT TO BE ONE OF THE THINGS IS WE DON'T WANT TO BE EASILY TAKEN AWAY.
NOW, NOT THAT ANYONE HAS STOLEN ANY OF THE WOODEN ONES THAT ARE UP THERE, WHICH THEY COULD CARRY THOSE OFF PRETTY EASY, BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE HAVEN'T LOST, BUT MAYBE ONE OF THOSE OVER TIME.
I THINK IT'LL BE A FUN THING TO SEE HOW MANY WE CAN GET AND WHO THEY'RE NAMED FOR.
ANYWAY, THOSE ARE THINGS FOR THE 30TH YEAR.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON OUR MAIN STREET INCENTIVE GRANT.
THESE ARE THE BUSINESSES THAT RECEIVED GRANTS LAST YEAR.
EZRA ZION RECEIVED A PAINT GRANT AND A SIGN GRANT FOR $1,000 THE COUNTY SEAT RECEIVED PAINT, SIGN AND THEN THE FACADE GRANT WHICH WAS $5,000 AND THEN $1,000 FOR PAINT AND SIGN.
AS YOU REMEMBER, THAT WAS A NEW PART OF OUR GRANT AS OF LAST YEAR WITH SEED MONEY FROM THE EDC SO IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE THAT ONE BE THE FIRST ONE.
THEN AT 121 NORTH STATE, WHICH USED TO BE THE HAT STORE AND IS NOW [INAUDIBLE] THEY RECEIVED 5,500 SO THEY GOT PAINT AND FACADE.
THIS PICTURE IS AN IN PROGRESS PICTURE OF THAT LOCATION, AND IT WAS REALLY COMPLETELY GUTTED, THE FRONT HAD TO BE COMPLETELY TORN OFF OF THAT BUILDING.
IT WAS A REALLY NEAT RESTORATION THAT THEY DID AND A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT.
THAT ONE ACTUALLY HAD A LOT OF WORK DONE ON THE INSIDE TOO.
THEY HAD TO HAVE THEIR FLOOR COMPLETELY REDONE ON THE INSIDE, IT WAS BRAND NEW CONCRETE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE BUILDING.
IT WAS GREAT TO GIVE THAT MONEY AWAY.
THEN WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHO WILL APPLY FOR THAT THIS YEAR TOO.
AS PART OF THAT, OUR INCENTIVE GRANTS, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THE LIGHTS ON THE COURTHOUSE ANYMORE, WHICH WAS ALWAYS A MAIN STREET FUNCTION, AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN DOING THIS JOB, THAT PUTS SOME MONEY BACK INTO OUR BUDGET THAT WE WON'T BE SPENDING ON THE LIGHTS ANYMORE BECAUSE THE COUNTY WILL BE TAKING CARE OF THAT WITH THE NEW LED COLOR CHANGING BULBS THAT WILL GO UP WITH THE COURTHOUSE FOR RENOVATION.
THE BOARD WANTS TO PUT THAT MONEY TO USE AND TRY TO ENCOURAGE OUR DOWNTOWN BUILDING OWNERS TO LIGHT THE TOPS OF THEIR BUILDINGS.
WE'RE HOPING TO ADD ANOTHER INCENTIVE GRANT TO THE THREE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AS A LIGHTING GRANT.
WE'RE WORKING ON THE DETAILS OF THAT, BUT THAT WILL PROBABLY BE ANOTHER $500 GRANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO PUT LIGHTS ON THE TOPS OF THE BUILDINGS.
WE HAVE A COUPLE RIGHT NOW, THAT WE'RE HOPING TO, ESPECIALLY WHILE IT'S DARK WITHOUT THE COURTHOUSE LIGHTS, HELP THEM FIND A WAY TO DO THAT WITH A LITTLE INCENTIVE.
IT'LL GO OUT TO THE BUILDING OWNERS FIRST BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GIVE THEIR PERMISSION TO PUT THE LIGHTS UP AND WORK THAT WITH THE CONTRACTOR.
BUT IF A BUSINESS OWNER WANTED TO APPLY FOR THAT MONEY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEIR BUILDING OWNER AND PERMISSION OF THEIR BUILDING OWNER, THAT WOULD BE FINE TOO, I WOULD THINK SO, AS LONG AS THEY ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.
THAT'S ONE OF THOSE DETAILS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
IN 2023, WE HAD SOME CHALLENGES AS FAR AS OUR EVENTS.
OF COURSE, WE HAD CANCEL BOO BASH BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.
THE CAR SHOWS WERE BRUTAL BECAUSE OF THE HEAT MORE THAN ANYTHING.
WE DID HAVE SOME CHALLENGES WITH COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION WHEN THE FENCING WENT UP, BUT IT WAS A BIG LEARNING CURVE.
BY OCTOBER, WE FIGURED OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT MOVING FORWARD FOR THIS YEAR WITH CAR SHOWS, SO WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE AND WE HAVE UNTIL MAY TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR DUCKS ARE IN A ROW BEFORE THAT EVENT HAPPENS.
THEN PAINT TOWN PINK WAS A SUCCESS AGAIN.
THAT EVENT I WAS A LITTLE BIT WORRIED WITH THE CHANGEOVER IN THE HOSPITAL IF THAT EVENT WOULD CONTINUE OR NOT BECAUSE THAT MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO MARY SKIFT.
BUT I WAS TOLD [NOISE] THAT THE GIRL WHO IS TAKING OVER THAT,
[00:15:06]
THAT WE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT EVENT AND THE MONEY WILL GO TO MARY SKIFT THAT WILL STAY LOCAL SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT GOING AWAY.THE WISE HEALTH FOUNDATION HAS ZERO EVENTS PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR.
ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE DOING ON A REGULAR BASIS ARE NOT HAPPENING.
THEY WON'T DO ANY EVENTS UNTIL 2025.
WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY'LL DO THE SAME ONES ANYMORE.
DAZZLE WON'T HAPPEN THIS YEAR.
THEN OUR SWIRL WAS A BIG SUCCESS AGAIN.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAD MORE LOCATIONS, 13 LOCATIONS, AND LESS PEOPLE, WE HAD A FEW LESS TICKETS SOLD THAN THE YEAR BEFORE, WE STILL RAISED OVER $20,000.
THAT MONEY GOES RIGHT INTO OUR INCENTIVE FUND, AND THEN THAT HELPS WITH ALL THOSE GRANTS AND DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON DOWNTOWN.
THERE'S YOUR DATE FOR 2024 THIS YEAR.
THEN [NOISE] I HAVE TO BRAG ON MY HELPERS.
THIS IS FOURTH GENERATION PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED AND PARTICIPATED IN MAIN STREET IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
REX GAG IS THESE GUYS GREAT GRANDFATHER.
HE WAS ON PNZ FROM THE BEGINNING, I THINK FOR A LONG TIME AND VERY ACTIVE IN EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED DOWNTOWN.
THEN OF COURSE, CINDY FURNEHO HAS BEEN ON MY BOARD SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE MAIN STREET BOARD.
THEN HER SON CHRIS IS ALSO ON THE BOARD NOW, AND THESE ARE HIS KIDS.
SCOUT HAS BEEN HELPING ME FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND SHE LOVES DOING THIS, AND SO IT'S FUN EVERY YEAR TO PULL OUT SOME MORE THINGS FOR HER TO WORK ON.
THIS YEAR, I JUST TOOK THEM TO HER AND SHE DID IT.
THE NUTCRACKERS THAT SHE DID TURNED OUT BEAUTIFUL.
I JUST HAVE TO BRAG ON HER EVERY TIME I GET A CHANCE BECAUSE SHE REALLY DID A GREAT JOB ON THAT AND I HAVE A LIST.
AS WE WORK OUR WAY BACK THROUGH THE REST OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE BASEMENT, THEN WE'LL START ON THE NEXT THINGS LIKE PAINTING A BRIDGE.
GET TO THE END AND START OVER AT THE BEGINNING.
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE TO DO ON THOSE AND AS LONG AS SHE'S HOME, SHE'LL BE HELPING.
IN PROGRESS, MY FAVORITE PROJECT THAT HAS TAUGHT ME PATIENCE IS TEACHING ME PATIENCE.
WE DO HAVE A PRICE FOR THE SIGNAGE, FINALLY, SO WE KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST.
IT'S $41,000 FOR ALL FOUR ROUTES OF THE SIGNAGE TO GET EVERYTHING RE-ROUTED AND NOW THE PROCESS BEGINS ON AN ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH TXDOT.
THAT'S THE NEXT STEP, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
>> FORTY ONE THOUSAND. TEN THOUSAND PER ROUTE BASICALLY, IS WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO.
>> OH, NO. YES. ANYWAY, I'VE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH ANNA, WORKING ON SOME POSSIBLE WAYS TO FUND THAT.
>> VERY SPECIAL PRICING FROM TXDOT.
I'M NOT GIVING UP SO DON'T GIVE UP.
OUR MAIN STREET DISTRICT EXPANSION, STILL NEGOTIATING WITH THE STATE OFFICE.
THINGS STOPPED OVER THE HOLIDAYS, BUT THEY ARE VERY HESITANT ABOUT EXPANDING OUR MAIN STREET DISTRICT, NORTH AND SOUTH ON TRINITY STREET.
IT'S STILL UNDER DISCUSSION, MORE THAN LIKELY, THE EAST AND WEST CORRIDOR WITH OUR GATEWAYS.
I'M CROSSING MY FINGERS THAT THEY'LL SAY YES TO THAT, BUT I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH ABOUT NORTH AND SOUTH.
THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU GUYS FOR A LOCAL DESIGNATION FOR THAT.
INSTEAD OF IT BEING MAIN STREET, IT ADDS TO THE HISTORIC OVERLAY SOMEHOW SO WE'LL FIND A WAY TO DESIGNATE IT AND STILL PROTECT THAT AREA AS A HISTORIC AREA.
OUR PARKING SIGNAGE, WE HAVE A NEW ONE THAT'LL GO UP ON WALNUT STREET RIGHT BEHIND THE COUNTY'S OFFICE, WHERE JUDGE CLARK'S OFFICE IS ON WALNUT STREET.
THAT'LL BE THE NEXT ONE YOU SEE.
THEN WE HAVE A PLAN WHERE YOU'LL SEE SOME OTHER ONES POP UP TO HELP PEOPLE FUND PARKING.
MY NEXT TASK IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IS STREET CLOSURE REQUESTS FOR ALL OF OUR EVENTS COMING UP THIS YEAR, AND IT'S TIME FOR OUR FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH TXDOT TO REDO THAT.
THAT'S THE ONE WHERE WE HAVE TO INCLUDE EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE SHUTTING DOWN, 730 AND WALNUT STREET FOR OUR EVENTS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET THEIR PERMISSION.
WE ARE HOPING TO DO SOME NEW RETAIL EVENTS THIS YEAR FOR THE MERCHANTS IN LIEU OF ADDING BIG EVENTS, MORE EVENTS LIKE WE HAVE FOR SWIRL.
IT'S A RETAIL SHOPPING EVENT, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO.
WE'RE LOOKING AT OPTIONS FOR THAT.
IN LIGHT OF THAT, WE'LL BE HAVING SOME MERCHANT MEETINGS WITH THEM AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOME TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP FOR THE MERCHANTS AS WELL.
WE HAVE SEVERAL NEW MERCHANTS ON THE SQUARE AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE,
[00:20:01]
NOT JUST FOR EVENTS, BUT ALSO FOR THE COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION, SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT'S COMING UP, NOBODY SAYS, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES. BUT THAT'S THE PLAN ANYWAY.
THEY CAN'T SAY THEY WEREN'T INVITED TO KNOW.
THEN WE HAVE OUR MAP IN PROGRESS BEING UPDATED TO INCLUDE QR CODES TO HELP PEOPLE FIND PLACES TO PARK AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR DOWNTOWN.
THEN THIS IS YOUR CURRENT SLATE OF MAIN STREET BOARD MEMBERS, WE DO HAVE ONE OPEN POSITION, IF YOU KNOW, OF ANYBODY THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED TO SERVE.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, MAYOR.
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE BASICALLY AN ANNUAL REPORT THAT I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH SUPER FAST TO FINISH UP OUR YEARLY TOTALS FOR YOU.
ONE OF THE THINGS, GUYS, THAT I REALLY JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT EACH AND EVERY YEAR, IT SEEMS LIKE OUR STAFF IS BEING TASKED WITH MORE AND MORE.
THAT IS A COMMON THEME AMONGST EVERY DEPARTMENT, PRETTY MUCH IN THE CITY.
BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR US, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE.
BUT EACH AND EVERY YEAR, OUR STAFF CONTINUES TO TAKE ON MORE AND MORE.
THEY DO IT WITH A LOT OF PRIDE AND A LOT OF INTEGRITY IN WHAT THEY DO ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.
I KNOW THE OTHER DAY AT OUR BANQUET, NAY GAVE AN AWARD TO THE, I GUESS THE STREET DEPARTMENT.
I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH HIM THAT THEY SHOULD BE THE DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR BECAUSE I ALWAYS FEEL THAT SHOULD BE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BUT KUDOS TO THE STREET GUYS AS WELL.
[LAUGHTER] AS WE CONTINUE ON HERE, THE FIRST THING IS I WANT TO TALK REAL QUICK ABOUT JUST COMMUNITY AND SOME OF THE EVENTS AND THINGS THAT WE DO, PRETTY MUCH FOR THE BIG EVENTS THAT WE DO EACH YEAR.
WE DO CARDIO WITH COPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHEN WEATHER AND OTHER THINGS PERMIT.
CAPTAIN GASTINEAU DOES NOT ALWAYS WEAR HIS DONUT WORKOUT SHIRT, SO THAT IS JUST ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
BUT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT OBVIOUSLY IS PROBABLY OUR BIGGEST EVENT THAT WE HAVE EACH EVERY YEAR.
THAT IS A TREMENDOUS UNDERTAKING BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, THIS PAST YEAR, WE WERE REWARDED WITH BEING THE 19TH, I GUESS, BEST CITY AS IT RELATES TO NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, NOT IN TEXAS BUT IN THE COUNTRY FOR A CITY OF OUR SIZE.
WE WERE UP ONE SPOT FROM WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.
MY GOAL IS TO BE NUMBER 1, SO CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT AND WE WILL GET THERE EVENTUALLY.
OUR SUMMER VACATION PROGRAM THAT CONTINUES TO GROW WITH OUR KIDS DURING THE SUMMER WHEN WE BRING THEM UP AND JUST DO A LOT OF FUN THINGS WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE DAY, INCLUDING BOUNDS HOUSES, BACK RODEOS, JUST TEACHING THEM SOME SAFETY AND THINGS.
THEN OUR BACK THE BLUE SCHOLARSHIP.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE GIVE BACK IN A BIG WAY TO A LOT OF SENIORS WHO ARE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL, WHO MAY BE LOOKING TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION OR LOOKING TO PURSUE SOME TYPE OF A CAREER IN A PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED FIELD, PLEASE FIRE EMS. OR YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN BEING A LAWYER, AN OFFENSE BAM [LAUGHTER], OR YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN NURSING OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES AS WELL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE BACK.
THROUGH THE GENEROUS DONATIONS THAT WE GET EACH YEAR FOR OUR BACK THE BLUE SCHOLARSHIP, WE'RE ABLE TO FUND A LOT OF KIDS FOR THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
NOW AS WE GET INTO STATISTICAL DATA, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS GOING TO BE RECURRING THEME THROUGH HERE IS INCREASES.
THIS PAST YEAR, WE JUMPED UP FROM 49,000 CALLS TO OVER 52,000, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THAT YEAR AND YEAR AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW.
ONE OF THE THINGS THIS PAST YEAR BECAUSE OF STAFFING, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE A HUGE IMPACT AS IT RELATES TO OUR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
HOWEVER, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THERE WERE TIMES IN OUR DEPARTMENT WHEN WE WERE NOT FULLY STAFFED EITHER THROUGH JUST BEING SHORTHANDED OR SICKNESS, OR VACATION, OR OTHER THINGS.
IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT WHEN THOSE THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE OF OUR STAFFING NEEDS, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET OUT AND ENFORCE TRAFFIC AND SUCH AS WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE.
[00:25:03]
BUT THIS PAST YEAR, YOU CAN SEE THAT OVERALL THERE WERE OVER 12,000 CITATIONS WERE ISSUED, 3,500 OF THOSE WERE WARNINGS, AND THEN 9,700 OF THOSE WERE ACTUAL TICKETS THAT WERE ISSUED TO DRIVERS TO HOPEFULLY HELP CORRECT BAD DRIVING BEHAVIORS.OUR ACCIDENTS, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK ABOUT JUST A LITTLE BIT, IS THAT THE OVERALL GOAL OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IS TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND TO BASICALLY CORRECT BAD DRIVING BEHAVIORS WHICH CREATE ACCIDENTS.
THAT'S WHAT THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IS REALLY FOR.
THIS YEAR, YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT WAS A DECREASE, WHICH AGAIN, IS A DIRECT CORRELATION TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT OUR GUYS ARE ABLE TO GET OUT AND ENFORCE TRAFFIC LAWS.
ON THIS PAGE, WE'VE SEEN A 13% INCREASE IN CALLS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MESSENGERS UPDATE FROM TODAY.
THEY DID BASICALLY A LITTLE QUICK ARTICLE ON THE STATE OF WISE AND THERE WAS A QUOTE IN THERE FROM OUR EDC DIRECTOR, KEVIN HOLZBOG, WHO WAS SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE CITY AND ITS GROWTH.
ONE OF THE THINGS IN THERE IS THAT HE MENTIONED THAT THE POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS ARE EXTREMELY STRONG FOR OUR CITY AND THAT WE DRAW OVER 2,000 PEOPLE TO SHOP AND INTERACT LOCALLY WITH OUR BUSINESSES.
THAT IS 200,000 THAT OUR STAFF OF 28 OFFICERS IS ASKED TO PROTECT ON A DAY IN AND DAY OUT BASIS.
CITATIONS, LIKE I SAID, INCREASED BY 63%, AND MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES DECREASED.
AGAIN, WITH THAT, THOSE ARE DIRECT CORRELATIONS TOGETHER, AND AS WE TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC AND THE AMOUNT, LOOKING AT TEXTS.LATEST STATISTICS, TYPICALLY THEY'RE ABOUT TWO YEARS BEHIND.
LAST AUGUST, AUGUST 24TH, WHICH WAS A WEDNESDAY, THEY DID A TRAFFIC COUNT UP ON 287, IN WHICH 40,060 CARS IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD WERE CLOCKED GOING UP AND DOWN THAT HIGHWAY, 12,000 OF THOSE WERE ON THE NORTHBOUND SERVICE ROAD AND 11,000 ON THE SOUTHBOUND SIDE.
AGAIN, THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE FLOWING IN AND OUT OF OUR CITY, AND THAT OUR OFFICERS AND OUR DISPATCH AND EVERYBODY IS TASKED WITH PROVIDING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYBODY.
AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE MAJOR CRIME DATA STATISTICS THAT WE REPORT TO NIBS EACH YEAR, OUR AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS WERE DOWN, SEXUAL ASSAULTS WERE DOWN, BURGLARIES WERE BACK UP, AND THEN OF COURSE, OUR THEFTS REMAINED STRONG.
ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S PARTLY OUR ACTIVE LOSS PREVENTION AT OUR LOCAL RETAILER.
THE BIG DISTURBING THING THAT REALLY WE SAW THIS YEAR IS ON DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED OFFENSES.
WE WENT FROM 60 TO A RECORD 94.
WE HAVE NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF OUR DEPARTMENT EVER ARRESTED 94 PEOPLE IN A SINGLE YEAR FOR DWIS.
AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND PAPERWORK FROM OUR GUYS.
WE'VE GONE BACK AND WE'VE LOOKED.
THERE'S NO ONE THING THAT SUGGESTS THIS.
THIS WAS ON CITY STREETS, THIS WAS ON THE HIGHWAY.
SO IT IS A CULMINATION AGAIN, OF THE SHEER NUMBER OF TRAFFIC THAT WE'RE SEEING THAT'S IN AND OUT OF OUR CITY ON A DAILY BASIS.
CLEARANCE RATES, CLEARANCE RATES ARE A BIG DEAL AS IT RELATES TO OUR CID UNIT.
BASICALLY WHAT THAT IS, IS ANYTIME THAT A CASE IS DONE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS THE SOLVABILITY OF THAT AND OUR CID TAKES THAT CASE.
WHAT WE WANT IS WE REALLY WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE EVERY SINGLE CASE FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON.
THE REALITY IS THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN.
YOU CAN SEE THIS PAST YEAR WE WERE AT 51.3% SOLVABILITY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY WAY ABOVE STATE AVERAGE.
THAT IS, AGAIN, JUST A GREAT JOB BY SERGEANT FLAKE, AND DETECTIVE MCCOMIS, AND DETECTIVE WHITE WHO STAY VERY, VERY BUSY IN CID.
AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLEARANCE RATES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT TO POINT OUT IS THIS CHART HERE, IT REALLY TO ME, OVER-EXEMPLIFIES HOW BUSY WE ARE.
THIS IS THE CLEARANCE RATES OF ALL THE CASES THAT ARE ACTUALLY SUBMITTED BY EACH AGENCY TO [INAUDIBLE].
I PULLED US, BRIDGEPORT, AND THE WISE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
THE BIGGEST THING IS, IS YOU CAN SEE AND COMPARE THE NUMBER OF OFFENSES AND
[00:30:02]
EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING COMPARED TO THOSE OTHER TWO AGENCIES.I WOULD ASSUME THAT YOU GUYS CAN COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION, WE'RE BUSY.
BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS AS YOU LOOK AT THAT PERCENT OF THE CASES THAT ARE CLEARED, TO ME, AGAIN, IT'S JUST A TREMENDOUS JOB BY OUR STAFF OF BEING ABLE TO GET IN AND HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY'VE HAD TO REPORT A CRIME.
BUT STAGGERING NUMBERS AS IT RELATES TO JUST WHAT OUR AGENCY IS DOING AND HOW BUSY OUR GUYS REALLY ARE.
YOU GUYS ARE FORTUNATE TONIGHT THAT YOU GET TO HEAR ME AGAIN A LITTLE LATER.
WE WILL JUMP INTO THE RACIAL PROFILING A LITTLE BIT DEEPER LATER.
BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE GOING OVER RACIAL PROFILING AGAIN.
COMMUNICATIONS. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE OUT OUR TELECOMMUNICATORS BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY ARE THE INITIAL INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL TAKE A CALL WHEN IT COMES INTO THE PD.
THIS PAST YEAR THEY RECEIVED OVER 105,000 TELEPHONE CALLS THAT THEY ANSWERED IN AND OUT OF THE DISPATCH CENTER ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
YOU CAN SEE THAT BOTH OF THOSE ARE INCREASES AGAIN FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AN ALARMING THING IS DISPATCH AVERAGES 21 911 CALLS A DAY AND JUST SHY OF 150 CALLS OF SERVICE THAT THEY DISPATCH EVERY SINGLE DAY.
TYPICALLY, THAT IS DONE WITH ONE DISPATCHER THAT IS IN THERE.
WE ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO MOVE TO HAVING TWO DISPATCHERS ALL THE TIME IN OUR COMMUNICATION CENTER AND SO THEY'RE HUMPING TO EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SOME OF THE THINGS TO JUST BE PROUD OF THIS PAST YEAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO IS OBVIOUSLY WE'RE STILL ON TRACK WITH THE NEW PD JUST THIS PAST FRIDAY.
BIDDING DOCUMENTS AND EVERYTHING WERE ISSUED OUT, SO WE SHOULD BE HAVING THOSE BACK.
THEN WE SHOULD BE COMING TO YOU GUYS PROBABLY SOMETIME NEXT MONTH ASKING TO PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
OUR CAT RMS WITH OUR COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEM, WE HAVE THAT UP AND GOING.
WE'VE BEEN USING THAT SINCE NOVEMBER THE 3RD.
LIKE ANY OTHER PROJECT, IT'S BEEN AN UNDERTAKING, BUT WE'RE GETTING PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING FINISHED WITH IT.
AS WE LOOK TO FINALIZE THE INTEGRATION WITH TILTS, WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH A FEW ISSUES ON THE STATE TO MAKE THAT INTEGRATION HAPPEN.
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT WE DID RECEIVE A 20,000 GRANT THIS PAST YEAR THAT WENT TO THE PURCHASE OF THAT LPR TRAILER.
THAT HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL SO FAR IN COLLECTING A BUNCH OF DATA.
WE DO HAVE FUTURE GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS OF UTILIZING THAT TECHNOLOGY WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND EXPANDING THAT LPR PROGRAM.
ANOTHER THING THAT ALSO THIS COMING YEAR, YOU WILL SEE THIS PAST YEAR ALONG WITH GREG HALL, WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE FOUR OF THE ELECTRONIC SPEED SIGNS.
WE HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND THAT AS WELL.
BASICALLY, WHAT THAT DOES IS AT ANY POINT IN TIME, WE'RE ABLE TO JUMP RIGHT INTO THAT SYSTEM AND WE CAN PULL DATA, LIVE RAW DATA RIGHT THEN AND THERE AS IT RELATES TO TRAFFIC COUNTS, SPEED, AND OTHER ISSUES THAT WE MAY BE SEEING ON CERTAIN ROADWAYS.
THEN RECENTLY WE PUT OUT A SURVEY.
WE HOPE EVERYBODY WILL TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FILL OUT THAT SURVEY.
IT'S EXTREMELY VALUABLE IN THE PROCESS OF US OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE UNDERSTAND, AND I REALIZE THAT WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER.
BUT A LOT OF TIMES WE NEED TO BE TOLD, HEY, YOU NEED TO DO THIS BETTER.
WE ARE OPEN FOR THAT AND SO WE WOULD REALLY HOPE THAT EVERYBODY WOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL OUT THAT SURVEY.
LET US KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING IN WAYS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER SO THAT WAY WE CAN SERVE THE CITIZENS OF DECATUR MUCH BETTER.
THAT IS ALL THAT I'VE GOT, UNLESS YOU'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I HAD A QUESTION AND YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THE CITY OF DECATURS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S SALT RATE IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
DO YOU KNOW APPROXIMATELY WHAT THE NATIONAL [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK. I DIDN'T LOOK THIS YEAR.
I KNOW LAST YEAR IT WAS LIKE IN THE 30S, LOW 40S.
>> IF YOU CAN BE AT THAT 50% YOU'RE DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT.
[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:35:05]
THAT GETS US TO OUR REGULAR PORTION OF OUR MEETING, AND WE'LL START THAT AT 6:07.IF YOU WOULD STAND IF YOU'RE ABLE AND JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROCLAMATION TONIGHT? OKAY. WELL, ALL RIGHT.
[1. CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC. TO PROVIDE BID DOCUMENTS FOR THE 2024 STATE STREET 12-INCH WATERLINE; MILL STREET TO PECAN STREET PROJECT.]
THAT GETS US TO ITEM 1.CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH KIMLELY HORN AND ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE A BID DOCUMENT FOR THE 2024 STATE STREET 12 INCH WATER LINE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
IF YOU RECALL OUR LAST COUNCIL SESSION TOGETHER, YOU HELPED US APPROVE A ENGINEERING DOCUMENT FOR THE POCO STREET OR THE POCO WATER LINE.
THIS IS A VERY SIMILAR AGREEMENT.
IT ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SECOND MAJOR WATER LINE PROJECT THAT OUR CO 2024 SERIES WILL BE FUNDING.
THE DETAILS ARE IN YOUR PACKET.
I WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO PAGE 36 UNDER THE PROJECT.
UNDERSTANDING THIS ENGINEERING DOCUMENT HELPS US WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND THE REQUIREMENTS TO LAY ROUGHLY 1,400 FOOT OF LINEAR LINEAR FOOT OF PIPE THAT'S EIGHT INCH AND 12 INCH DOWN STATE STREET FROM PECAN OVER TO MILL STREET.
PAGE 42 HAS THE EXPECTED TIMELINE AND SUBTOTAL OF THE COST.
IF YOU APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, IT WILL KEEP US ON TRACK WITH OUR TIMELINE.
PROJECTS SHOULD BE FINISHED ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 1 AND IT WOULD HAVE A COST.
THIS ENGINEERING PIECE WOULD BE A COST OF $112,000.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IF YOU SO APPROVE.
>> VERY GOOD. ANYONE ON COUNSEL WHO HAVE QUESTIONS? I FORGOT TO MENTION CONNOR MANY ONE OF THE ENGINEERS FROM THE KIMLELY HORN TEAM IS HERE TONIGHT.
CONNOR, IF I MISSED ANYTHING, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO HOP IN OR IF COUNSEL ASK QUESTIONS, IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS FOR CONNOR SINCE HE'S MADE HIS TRIP HERE.
OTHERWISE, I KNOW THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE'VE HAD LOTS OF DISCUSSION ON.
IF THERE IS NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION.
MR. MAYOR, LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, PLEASE.
I MOVED TO APPROVE NATE, SUPREME LEADER, MARA, TO EXECUTE AN EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT WITH KIMLELY HORN AND ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE A BID DOCUMENTS FOR THE 2024 STATE STREET 12 INCH WATER LINE PROJECT.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> OPPOSE. SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT.
THAT PASSES. THANK YOU, COUNSEL.
ITEM 2, CONSIDER A SECOND READING AND TAKE
[2. CONSIDER SECOND READING AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING AN AMENDMENT TO REZONE APPROXIMATELY 0.162 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 401 EAST MULBERRY STREET FROM A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT (SF-2) TO A TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT (2F). (ZONING CHANGE APPLICATION 2023-08—MR. RYAN OWEN, ON BEHALF OF PROPERTY OWNER STAR FLOWER HOMES, LLC.) (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL, 6-0.) ZC2023-08 ORDINANCE 2024-01- 03]
APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING AN AMENDMENT TO REZONE APPROXIMATELY 0.162 ACRES OF LAND.THIS IS ORDINANCE 202041. MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
THIS ZONING CHANGE YOU SAW AT YOUR LAST SESSION, IT IS A SECOND READING.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SO YOU MAY TAKE ACTION ON IT TONIGHT IF YOU SO CHOOSE.
ALL RIGHT. WHAT'S PLEASURE, COUNSEL.
>> MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ZONING CHANGE 2023-08 AS STATED.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT.
THAT PASSES. THANK YOU, COUNSEL.
[3. CONSIDER TAKING ACTION TO APPOINT JAY FEATHERSTON TO FILL THE VACANT ALTERNATE (ZONING) BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SEAT. IF APPOINTED, HIS TERM WILL EXPIRE OCTOBER 2024.]
ITEM 3, CONSIDER TO TAKE ACTION TO APPOINT JAY FEATHERSTONE TO FILL THE VACANT ALTERNATE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SEAT.>> MR. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION.
>> I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT JAY FEATHERSTONE TO FILL THE VACANT ALTERNATE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SEAT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ITEM 4 HERE AND A REPORT REGARDING POLICE RACIAL PROFILING.
[4. HEAR ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING POLICE RACIAL PROFILING REVIEW STATISTICS FOR JANUARY 2023 THRU DECEMBER 2023 AND DISCUSS WITH COUNCIL AND STAFF.]
I BELIEVE WE WERE TOLD IN ADVANCE WE WOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS CHIEF.>> YES, SIR. I DID GO BACK REAL QUICK AND ADDED UP
[00:40:03]
ALL 10 STATISTICAL CATEGORIES LAST YEAR ON DATA AND THE CLEARANCE RATES WERE 25.17.>> WELL, WE WOULD LIKE TO THINK SO BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> HE'S SETTING US UP TO SAY THAT, WASN'T HE?
>> THIS IS OUR RACIAL PROFILING REPORT.
THIS IS A MANDATE EACH AND EVERY YEAR THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO BY LEGISLATION.
AS WE GO THROUGH, I ALWAYS LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT I PUT THAT LEGISLATION AND STUFF UP FRONT.
JUST SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A BIG LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED THING THAT WE HAVE TO DO EACH AND EVERY YEAR.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT WHILE AGO WITH TOTAL STOPS.
THIS PREVIOUS YEAR THERE WERE 12,575 TOTAL STOPS THAT WE INITIATED AND THAT WE REPORTED ON.
YOU HAVE THE BREAKDOWN OF THOSE AS HOW THOSE LOOK.
THIS REPORT IS EXTREMELY DETAILED IN ALL FACETS OF IT AS IT RELATES TO EXACTLY WHERE, WHO, WHEN, AND WHAT.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IS THEY REALLY LIKE TO KEEP TRACK OF IS WAS RACE OR ETHNICITY KNOWN PRIOR TO STOP.
YOU CAN SEE THAT OVERWHELMINGLY MAJORITY OF THE TIME THAT IS NOT THE CASE OF THOSE 242 TIMES.
YOU MAY BE ASKING YOURSELF, WHAT ARE INSTANCES SUCH AS THAT? WELL, IT MAY BE THAT, HEY, LOOK, WE KNOW SO AND SO IS DRIVING A VEHICLE, WE SEE THE VEHICLE, WE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND THAT IS THEM.
WE DID KNOW THAT THAT WAS THE INDIVIDUAL AHEAD OF TIME.
WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE TIME, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO WE ARE STOPPING.
AGAIN AS WE BREAK IT DOWN ON RACE AND ETHNICITY, ALASKA, NATIVE AMERICAN, INDIAN, WE HAD SIX, ASIAN, PACIFIC 326.
BLACK WAS 1,021, WHITE IS 8,123 AND THE HISPANICS WERE 3,099 TO GIVE US THAT GRAND TOTAL, IT'S BROKEN DOWN EVEN FURTHER JUST TO MAKE SURE ON THE MALE, FEMALE SIDE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS IT RELATES TO EACH ETHNICITY, YOU CAN SEE THOSE TOTALS AS THEY ARE BROKE DOWN THERE, AS WELL TO WHERE THOSE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY SIMILAR IN WHAT WE'VE HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
RACIAL PROFILING REPORTS AS WELL.
WE DID HAVE ONE WHICH WE STOPPED SOMEBODY AND GAVE A VERBAL WARNING.
TYPICALLY, OUR DEPARTMENT DOES NOT GIVE VERBAL WARNINGS.
IF YOU'RE STOPPED, YOU WILL GET SOME TYPE OF A HARD COPY, EITHER WRITTEN OR AN ACTUAL CITATION.
WE DID HAVE ONE INSTANCE THIS YEAR WHERE WE DID A VERBAL WARNING AND THE OFFICER DID A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT THEY DOCUMENTED THAT ONE TIME SO THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WRITTEN WARNINGS 3,725 AND OUR CITATION TOTALS WERE 7,725 AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, A THREE TO ONE RATIO, THAT IS REALLY FAIRLY GOOD.
YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF EACH OF THOSE GROUPS UNDER THE WARNINGS AND THE CITATIONS.
ANOTHER THING THAT WE LOOK AT IS THE REASON FOR SEARCHES.
IN THE COURSE OF OUR DUTY, AND WE MAKE TRAFFIC STOPS, THERE ARE OFTENTIMES THAT WE WILL SEARCH A VEHICLE.
THERE WERE 45 TIMES IN WHICH A CONSENT BASICALLY, THAT IS THE OFFICER GOES UP, SOMETHING MAY NOT SEEM RIGHT, AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS THEY'RE GOING TO ASK THE DRIVER, THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE, IF THEY CAN CONSENT TO SEARCH THAT VEHICLE.
ONCE THE OWNER OPERATOR GIVES THAT CONSENT, THEN THE OFFICER WILL SEARCH THE VEHICLE.
AND THIS IS THE BREAKDOWN OF EACH OF THOSE ETHNICITY GROUPS AS IT RELATES TO CONSENT SEARCHES.
THE TOTAL RIGHT BELOW IT IS PROBABLE CAUSE ON A PROBABLE CAUSE SEARCH.
THAT COULD BE, OFFICER WALKS UP AND SMELLS THE ODOR OF MARIJUANA, MAYBE SEES SOME TYPE OF PARAPHERNALIA OR OTHER THING THAT IS LAYING OUT IN THE OPEN WHICH GIVES THE OFFICER AUTOMATIC PROBABLE CAUSE TO SEARCH.
WE HAVE THOSE BREAKDOWNS AND THEN CONTRABAND.
IN THE INSTANCES IN WHICH CONTRABAND IS FOUND, WHO ARE WE FIND IN THE CONTRABAND ON? YOU CAN SEE 61% OF THE TIME THAT CONTRABAND WAS FOUND AND THE BREAKDOWN INTO EACH OF THOSE ETHNIC GROUPS AS WELL.
ALSO, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE WILL FIND THINGS DURING AN INVENTORY.
IF WE REST AN INDIVIDUAL OUT OF A VEHICLE AND THEN WE GO TO INVENTORY THAT VEHICLE, BASICALLY DOCUMENT THEIR ITEMS FOR SAFEKEEPING.
AS WE TOW THAT VEHICLE, YOU COULD COME ACROSS SOME TYPE OF PARAPHERNALIA, OTHER CONTRABAND OR THINGS AT THAT TIME AND SO 521 TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF AN INVENTORY, WE CAME UP ACROSS SOMETHING.
BASICALLY WHAT WE JUST STRAIGHT TO ARREST SOMEBODY AND WE FIND
[00:45:03]
SOMETHING ON THE PERSON DURING THAT ARREST.YOU CAN SEE THE CONTRABAND, THE BREAKDOWNS THERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ALSO LOOK AT IS WAS PHYSICAL FORCE USED.
WE HAD SEVEN INSTANCES THIS PAST YEAR IN WHICH PHYSICAL FORCE WAS USED ON A TRAFFIC STOP.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT AS IT RELATED TO RACIAL PROFILING.
THERE WERE NO DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS TAKEN FOR ANYTHING AS WELL.
THEN THE LAST IS THAT RACIAL PROFILING ANALYSIS.
THIS IS A BRAND NEW THING THAT JUST WITHIN THE I THINK THREE OR FOUR YEARS LEGISLATION IS ALSO REQUIRED THROUGH TICO, IS TO DO A FURTHER ANALYSIS OF EACH AND EVERY SINGLE STOP THAT WE DO.
WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH HERE, THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IS THERE'S NOT ONE INDIVIDUAL GROUP THAT REALLY JUST STANDS OUT.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU CAN TAKE THESE NUMBERS AND YOU CAN CONSTRUE THEM IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS LIKE I SAID, I LIKE TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT HEY, LOOK, IF WE ARE PRIME EXAMPLE JUST ON THE CAUCASIAN, IF THE MAJORITY OF OUR CONTACTS ARE CAUCASIAN, EVERY OTHER CATEGORY THAT FALLS ALONG WITH THAT SHOULD BE VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, IS IF YOU'RE SEEING, THE MAJORITY OF THE CONTACTS THAT WE RUN INTO ARE CAUCASIAN, THEN WE SHOULD BE SEEING THE NUMBER OF SEARCHES BE HIGH, WE SHOULD BE SEEING CONSENT SEARCHES, AND THOSE OTHER THINGS SHOULD ALL KIND OF FLOW AS IT RELATES TO THAT.
ANOTHER THING THAT WE LOOK AT HERE IN OUR COUNTY, WE HAVE A RATHER LARGE HISPANIC POPULATION.
SO YOU WILL SEE THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE A LITTLE HIGHER ON THAT END AS WELL.
BUT THAT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE A LARGE POPULATION OF HISPANICS IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
WE DEAL WITH MORE HISPANIC AND MORE CAUCASIANS ON TRAFFIC STOPS THAN ANY OTHER GROUP.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE YOUR REPORT.
[5. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
THIS WILL BE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.001, CITY COUNCIL WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS.
ALSO 551.087 DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS.
ALSO 551.072 DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY.
WE WILL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 06:20.
[6. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION]
WE'RE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 07:20 AND THERE ARE NO ACTION ITEMS FOR A, B, OR C. THAT WILL GET US TO ITEM 7 COUNCIL TO HEAR PUBLIC INPUT.[7. COUNCIL TO HEAR PUBLIC INPUT]
DID WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGN UP?>> YES, SIR, WE DO. WE HAVE MS. ELAINE HAYES.
>> WELL, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
I'M ELAINE HAYES AND I'M RUNNING FOR THE TEXAS HOUSE FROM DISTRICT 64.
I JUST WANTED TO COME BY AND INTRODUCE MYSELF.
FIRST OFF, JUST TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I SERVED ON THE AMARILLO CITY COUNCIL FOR FOUR YEARS, SO I'VE BEEN IN YOUR SEAT.
I HAVE SOME APPRECIATION AND A GREAT APPRECIATION FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DO AND HOW IT IMPACTS A LOCAL COMMUNITY.
I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, SOMETIMES COMMUNITIES ARE AWARE OF THAT.
NOT ALWAYS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
ALSO HAVING SAT IN THAT SEAT OF JUST RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING GOOD COLLABORATION WITH YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND YOUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES.
I GREW UP IN BRIDGEPORT, TEXAS.
I WAS A BRIDGEPORT SISSY, I KNOW, [LAUGHTER] I STARTED SAYING SOME OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE YEARS, DON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST ME.
WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM NOW, [LAUGHTER] BUT JUST A GREAT CHILDHOOD, GREAT RIVALRY THROUGH THOSE YEARS.
[00:50:03]
I'M A PERSON OF FAITH AND I WOULD NOT BE IN THIS RACE UNLESS I FELT SPECIFICALLY CALLED BY GOD.JUST IT WOULD BE A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF DECATUR, DOWN TO OUR STATE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THANK YOU GUYS. YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
>> THANK YOU. ITEM 8 IS COUNCIL MEMBERS REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
[8. COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.]
IF YOU HAVE ANY, WE'LL PUT THOSE ON THE FUTURE AGENDA.THAT GETS US TO 7:23 AND WE WILL ADJOURN.
[NOISE] THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.