[2. DISCUSSION OF CITY OF DECATUR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX RATE. Specific items for discussion: 1) 2025/26 Proposed Budget, 2) Property Tax Rate, 3) Other.]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I WANT TO START OFF OUR BUDGET AND TAX RATE CONVERSATION BY GIVING A QUICK THANK YOU TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, MISS REEVES, MR. CARPENTER, MR. MCQUISTON AND THEN STAFF, JUDY, BECKY, JEN AND DAWNELLE.

WE MET TWICE AS A BUDGET COMMITTEE TO GET YOU TO A BALANCED BUDGET.

AND WE'RE GOING TO TELL THAT STORY AND GIVE YOU THAT PICTURE TONIGHT.

SO BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD, KEY DEFINITIONS THAT WE HAVE TO TELL YOU EVERY YEAR, DISCUSS THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WHICH IS LAST YEAR'S LEVY DIVIDED BY CURRENT TOTAL TAXABLE VALUE.

NO NEW REVENUE, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE IS LAST YEAR'S LEVY, MINUS LAST YEAR'S DEBT DIVIDED BY THE CURRENT TOTAL VALUE AND THEN THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE. NO NEW REVENUE RATE PLUS YOUR 3.5% INCREASE.

AND THAT IS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE. THE DE MINIMIS RATE IS THE RATE EQUAL TO THE SUM OF THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, PLUS THE TAX THAT IT TAKES TO CREATE $500,000, OR HALF A MILLION PLUS OUR DEBT RATE.

AND AS A REMINDER, THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WAS NOT QUITE ENOUGH THIS YEAR.

SO WE WILL BE PURSUING DE MINIMIS THAT CAME THROUGH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

AND THAT WAS THEIR DIRECTION. AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE SET THE BUDGET IN MOTION FOR.

AND WE'LL GIVE YOU THE FURTHER DETAILS ON IT TONIGHT.

ANOTHER KEY DEFINITION IS YOU MAY HEAR THIS CALLED UNUSED PENNIES OR UNUSED INCREMENT.

THESE ARE DOLLARS THAT SOMETIMES GET LEFT IF A BODY DOESN'T TAKE ITS ENTIRETY OF ITS 3.5% INCREASE, OR 3 AND 1/2 CENT INCREASE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF UNUSED INCREMENT.

SO WHICH ADOPTED RATES MAY TRIGGER A ELECTION OR THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTION VIA PETITION.

SO IF WE STAY BELOW THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, NO ELECTION.

IF YOU GO ABOVE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, BUT AT OR BELOW DE MINIMIS, THERE MAY BE A PETITION FOR A ROLLBACK ELECTION AND THEN ANYTHING ELSE HIGHER THAN THAT IS ELECTION REQUIRED. SO ANYTHING ABOVE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE AND THE CITY DOESN'T CALCULATE DE MINIMIS.

OR IF WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND BOTH OF THOSE, IT WOULD TRIGGER A IF BY PETITION IT WOULD TRIGGER AN ELECTION.

SO THIS SEEMS LIKE A LONG LAUNDRY LIST. BUT THESE ARE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE TONIGHT.

IF YOU RECALL, CERTAINLY THOSE OF YOU THAT SIT ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEES, HISTORICALLY WE ALWAYS SCRAMBLE TO GET A SPECIAL MEETING CALLED.

AND SO WE HAVE FACTORED IN OUR TWO READING REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR ORDINANCES.

AND WE'VE GIVEN YOU A SCHEDULE THAT ALLOWS FOR THE BUDGET TO BE SET AND ADOPTED OVER TO COUNCIL MEETINGS, INSTEAD OF SPENDING IT ACROSS A MONTH AND A HALF TIME.

SO TONIGHT, WE'LL SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET.

WE'LL APPROVE A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING OUR PROPERTY TAX VALUES.

WE'LL APPROVE A RECORD VOTE ON A PROPOSED TAX RATE.

WE'LL SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THAT PROPOSED TAX RATE.

AND THEN YOU'LL GET THE FIRST READING OF BOTH YOUR TAX RATE ITEMS AND YOUR BUDGET ITEMS TONIGHT.

AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THE LAST 2 THERE FIRST READING, IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO GO BACK AND WORK ON, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. WE HAVE UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING TO TO TACKLE THAT.

THIS IS WHAT WE'LL DO AT OUR SECOND COUNCIL MEETING THIS MONTH.

WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF OUR BUDGET, AND THEN WE CAN ADOPT THAT BUDGET BY ORDINANCE.

WE'LL ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND A SECOND READING OF THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.

AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE BY ORDINANCE.

AND THEN ONCE WE DO BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS, WE HAVE A BUDGET.

WE HAVE A TAX RATE. WE'LL RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX INSIDE THE BUDGET WITH A RESOLUTION.

[00:05:03]

ALL RIGHT. LET'S DIVE INTO IT. SO YOUR PROPERTY TAX, TAXABLE VALUE.

SO CURRENTLY FY 25 IS WHERE WE'RE AT. OUR CITY WAS A $1,378,121,520 IN TOTAL VALUE. AND THIS YEAR, OUR TAXABLE PROPERTY VALUES ARE $1,495,281,348.

AND SO OVERALL, VERY SIMILAR TO HOW WE TRENDED LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF OUR INCREASE, IS 7.5% INCREASE OVERALL IN VALUE.

JUST A LITTLE BIT UNDER WHERE WE WERE IN NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR THE YEAR THAT WE'RE IN AT 17.5 MILLION.

SO GREAT, GREAT YEAR, VERY STEADY YEAR IN TERMS OF VALUES.

SO ACCORDING TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE'RE BRINGING YOU A PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.565713.

REMEMBER, WE ALWAYS ESTIMATE 6 PLACES OUT. AND THAT SPLIT BETWEEN 0.407008 FOR M&O AND THEN 0.158705 FOR OUR I&S. AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE THERE PRIMARILY IS IN YOUR DEBT SIDE OF THE HOUSE, THE I&S SIDE OF THE HOUSE THAT WENT DOWN BECAUSE OUR OVERALL PAYMENT DROPPED ABOUT $130,000 OR SO.

SO IF WE PUT THAT ON OUR SCHEDULE AND WE LOOK AT IT COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEARS, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT IT GOING 7 YEARS BACK, YOU CAN SEE THAT AS THE VALUE, THE CERTIFIED TAXABLE VALUE RISES.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF WE'RE NOT ISSUING A LARGE AMOUNT OF DEBT THE THE TOTAL TAX RATE STAYS FAIRLY FLAT AND TRENDING DOWNWARD, WHICH IS, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

AS THE VALUE RAISES, THE TAX RATE SHOULD GENTLY FALL.

THAT'S HOW. THAT'S HOW THE TRUTH AND TAXATION FORMULA WORKS.

SO I'LL GIVE YOU THE HOMEOWNER IMPACT, AND THEN I'LL PAUSE AND SEE IF I'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR.

SO OUR HOMEOWNER IMPACT IN 2025, THE AVERAGE MARKET VALUE OF A HOME IN DECATUR $324,234, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF $13,000, WITH OUR TAX RATE COMING DOWN BY JUST OVER A PENNY.

THE EFFECTIVE INCREASE OF OUR TAX, IF APPROVED BY THIS BODY, WOULD BE ABOUT $37 INCREASE.

I'LL PAUSE RIGHT THERE AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. SO FAR WE'VE REALLY JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT TAX RATE AND THEN WE'LL DIVE INTO BUDGET. QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. CONTINUE. CITY MANAGER. AND PLEASE.

WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS. IF I'M GOING A LITTLE TOO FAST PLEASE TELL ME. HOLD UP OR STOP ME AND MYSELF OR ONE OF THE STAFF CAN HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS.

SO ON THIS PROPOSED TAX RATE, SHOULD YOU SHOULD YOU APPROVE THIS AND MOVE IT FORWARD, IT WOULD REDUCE THE OVERALL TAX RATE BY JUST OVER A PENNY.

IT WILL GENERATE $591,335 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES.

AND OF THOSE REVENUES, $67,676 ARE IN THE FORM OF MEW CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS.

SO IF YOU RECALL HOW WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE OUR TAX RATE THIS YEAR, THE CITY PROPOSES TO RAISE TAXES BY -$11.84 ON THE $100,000 OF VALUE. IT IS ODD TO HAVE TO SAY THAT, BUT IT IS THE FORMULA AND IT IS ACCURATE.

I THINK JEN AND I HAVE CHECKED IT SO MANY TIMES WE'RE STARTING TO QUESTION OURSELVES.

YOU DID MAKE THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO RAISE YOUR EXEMPTION FROM $25,000 TO $30,000.

SO THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH DO REFLECT A LITTLE BIT OF LOST REVENUE, AROUND $36,000 TOTAL IN THE ACTION OF RAISING THAT HOME, THAT OVER 65 AND DISABILITY EXEMPTION. SO WE'RE SWITCHING GEARS NOW TO THE BUDGET ITSELF.

THE THE IDEAL FOCUS HERE WAS TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET AND MEANING THAT OUR OPERATING EXPENSES DIDN'T TOO FAR OUTPACE OUR REVENUES.

AND I APOLOGIZE, THAT ACTUALLY SHOWED UP A LOT DIFFERENTLY ON MY SCREEN.

BUT STAFF FOCUS IS WHERE WE WERE THIS YEAR, AND THAT WAS SET IN MOTION BY OUR JUNE BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING.

SO WE'VE FUNDED OUR MERIT PROGRAM, WE'VE FUNDED OUR STEP FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE'VE POSITIONED OURSELVES FOR ROUGHLY A 25% INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS. AND THE IDEA HERE WAS THAT WE DIDN'T PASS ON ADDITIONAL COSTS TO THE EMPLOYEES.

IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAD TO PASS ON COSTS TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I THINK EVERYBODY WAS PRETTY ADAMANT THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO. OUR OPERATING ON CAPITAL ACTUALLY LOOKS PRETTY SLIM THIS YEAR.

WE'RE TAKING KIND OF A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR, AND THAT'LL MAKE MORE SENSE. THE FURTHER WE GET INTO THIS PRESENTATION,

[00:10:05]

WE'RE MAINTAINING OUR CONTRACTS FOR TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER SERVICES THAT REQUIRE SUBSCRIPTIONS, SUCH AS SOFTWARE AND THE VARIOUS PIECES THAT THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS USE.

NO NEW DEBT FOR FY 26. AND IF YOU RECALL, WE TALKED ABOUT OUR NEXT BOND PACKAGE.

WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IN SEPTEMBER. AND THOSE DOLLARS, IF CHOSEN TO MOVE FORWARD, THOSE DOLLARS WILL IMPACT FY 27.

AND THEN OF COURSE, EVER TRENDING TOWARDS OUR FUND BALANCE GOAL, 25% OF OUR OPERATING COSTS IN GENERAL FUND AND 20% IN THE WATER FUND.

SO WE ESTIMATED OUR SALES TAX AT 2.5% INCREASE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT STAYS IN LINE WITH WHERE WE'VE BEEN HISTORICALLY.

THE LAST 2 YEARS WE'VE FORECASTED 3%. AND WE THIS YEAR WE'RE JUST BARELY GOING TO SCREECH IN OVER THE 3% MARK.

SO IN DISCUSSION WITH JEN AND A COUPLE OF OTHER FOLKS AROUND THE COUNTY, WE DECIDED THAT BASED ON HOW THINGS ARE PERFORMING IN THE SALES TAX WORLD, THAT 2.5% INCREASE WOULD BE A GOOD TARGET. AND WE CONSULTED WITH OUR FRIENDS AT ZACTAX, WHO HELPED US WITH MODELING AND AND THEIR DATA CONFIRMS OUR SUSPICIONS ON 2.5%. BUT THAT TOOK US FROM $4.6 TO $4.72 MILLION.

SO IF WE LOOK AT OUR GENERAL FUND JUST QUICKLY COMPARING THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES OVER EXPENSES, YOU CAN SEE THEIR BALANCED INCREASE OF $620,744 IN GENERAL FUND REVENUES $591,335 OF THAT IS IN PROPERTY TAX AND THEN SALES TAX AT 2.5% INCREASE.

AND THEN SOME OF OUR REVENUES ARE TRENDING UNEVENLY, SOME UP, SOME DOWN.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU A DETAIL ON THAT HERE IN JUST A MOMENT.

BUT ON THE EXPENSE SIDE OF THE HOUSE YOU CAN SEE THOSE THAT $622,000 IN NEW REVENUES WENT TO FUND PRIMARILY MERIT AND STEP, LONGEVITY, CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION PAY.

AND THEN AGAIN, WE'RE POSTURING OURSELVES FOR A 25% INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS.

AND THAT LOOKS LIKE $2,500 PER FTE. SO THAT'S A I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S PRETTY HEFTY.

AND THEN WE MAINTAIN THE EXPENSES NECESSARY TO KEEP OUR TECHNOLOGY AND OUR FLEET PROGRAM RUNNING.

AND THEN AGAIN, NO NEW DEBT ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

I'LL PAUSE RIGHT THERE, AS I MAY HAVE GENERATED A QUESTION OR 2.

I'M HAPPY TO KEEP GOING. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING ABOUT $12,500 PER EMPLOYEE.

YES, SIR. AND SO THAT'S I WAS GLANCING AT IT'S A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION.

SIR? IS IT A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE IN COST.

I THOUGHT, I MEAN, OKAY, I THOUGHT I'D SEEN SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET ABOUT THAT TELADOC PROGRAM, VISION AND DENTAL HAVE ALL BEEN LUMPED INTO ONE VALUE PER EMPLOYEE FOR YEARS.

AND THAT VALUE HASN'T CHANGED BEYOND $10,000 PER EMPLOYEE IN QUITE SOME TIME.

AND SO THIS YEAR, WE SPLIT OUT THE HEALTH SAVINGS PIECE AND BUDGETED IT SEPARATELY.

THAT ALLOWED US TO GAIN THE SEPARATION THERE.

SO $2,000 PER EMPLOYEE IN HSA FUNDING AND THEN $10,500 PER EMPLOYEE INTO THE HEALTH BENEFIT FUND.

SO THAT TOTAL VALUE WOULD BE WHERE YOUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE AT.

AND JEN, IF YOU WANT TO THANK YOU, JEN $1.8 MILLION.

SO YOU WERE CLOSE EDDIE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE THE HSA PIECE OFF THE TOP BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SET INTERNALLY.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A FLUCTUATING NUMBER EVERY YEAR UNLESS WE DESIRE FOR IT TO BE.

WE AS THE COUNCIL BODY AND STAFF. NOTE, I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY SOMETHING.

AS A COMMITTEE MEMBER ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, OUR 2 PRIORITIES THIS YEAR WERE OUR CITIZENS AND OUR EMPLOYEES, AND WE FELT WE WERE SORRY THAT WE COULDN'T GIVE EVERYONE MORE, BUT WE FELT LIKE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WITH RAISES AND THE INSURANCE, AND WE FEEL LIKE WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CITIZENS BY LOWERING THE TAX RATE.

SO THAT WAS OUR NUMBER 1 AND 2 GOALS. AND LIKE I SAID, ALTHOUGH IT WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING THAT WE COULDN'T FUND MORE, WE WE DID WHAT WE ALL AGREED ON WAS THE TOP PRIORITIES.

[00:15:01]

VERY WELL, SAID MRS. REEVES. ALL RIGHT. I MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT OUR REVENUES, SOME TRENDING UP, SOME TRENDING DOWN. SO I WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE INSIGHT HERE.

SO FOR YEARS THE WATER FUND, WHICH IS FUND 2, HAS TRANSFERRED OVER HALF $1 MILLION INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

AND AS WE'VE TALKED AND WE'VE DEALT WITH HISTORICAL ACTIONS TO CHANGE OUR WATER FUND PICTURE FUND 2 PICTURE IN THE FORM OF NEW RATES, WE DECIDED THAT THIS WAS THE YEAR AND WE CONSULTED WITH MOODY'S AND OUR AUDITORS TO MAKE THIS CHANGE.

THIS WAS THE YEAR WHERE WE WOULDN'T CONTINUE MAKING THAT TRANSFER FROM FUND 2 OVER TO FUND 1.

BECAUSE AS YOU'LL SEE HERE IN A MOMENT. FUND 2 WAS SHORT THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE WET SEASON.

PEOPLE WEREN'T WATERING THEIR LAWNS AS OFTEN.

WATER SALES WERE NOT UP QUITE AS WHERE WE HAD FORECASTED THEM.

SO IT'S A GOOD TIME TO TAKE THAT CONSERVATIVE POSTURE WITH OUR REVENUES, REEL BACK THE WATER FUND TRANSFER, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE OTHER ITEM IN BOLD UP THERE.

IF YOU'LL RECALL, WE HAD THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE LAST 3 BUDGETS AS A SOURCE OF REVENUE.

THEY'RE NO LONGER A REVENUE SOURCE ANYMORE. THOSE FUNDS ARE EXHAUSTED, AND ANY REMAINING DOLLARS THAT EXIST ANYWHERE HAVE TO BE SPENT BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WHICH WE'LL TAKE CARE OF. SO THOSE ARE TWO BIG CHUNKS THAT MAKE THE REVENUE PICTURE A LITTLE SKEWED, BUT THERE'S OTHER ITEMS THAT JUST AREN'T QUITE PERFORMING.

AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT YOUR BUDGET PACKET, YOU'LL SEE THAT WHERE THESE COURT FINES, PUBLIC SAFETY RECEIPTS, DELINQUENT TAX, CONSTRUCTION, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, WE HAVE REELED BACK OUR EXPECTATIONS ON THOSE REVENUES COMING INTO FY 26. IF THEY'RE NOT PERFORMING RIGHT NOW IN 25, IT IS OUR THOUGHT PROCESS THAT THEY MAY NOT PERFORM IN 26.

AND I DON'T WANT TO KEEP EXPECTING THE REVENUES TO COME IN AND HAVE THEM FALL SHORT.

IF WE IF WE WERE TO DO THAT, IT WOULD MEAN THAT WE EAT INTO OUR FUND BALANCE.

AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY AGAINST ONE OF OUR PRINCIPLES THAT WE HAVE FOR FOR THE CITY.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON WITH REVENUES IN TERMS OF SOME TRENDING DOWN.

HERE'S THE ONES THAT ARE TRENDING UP, THOUGH.

YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY PROPERTY AND SALES TAX ARE UP.

BUILDING PERMITS ARE UP SUBSTANTIALLY. YOUR PARK AND RECREATION FUND IS UP.

AND THEN A COUPLE OF OTHER FRANCHISE TAX, CONFERENCE CENTER FUNDS AND BANK CARD FEES.

A LOT MORE PEOPLE ARE PAYING ONLINE, SO THAT LEADS TO MORE FEES ASSESSED THROUGH THE BANK CARDS.

AND IF YOU WERE ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, YOU HEARD ME SAY THIS SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES.

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN.

SO THAT WAS FUND 1. FUND 2 WATER FUND. SO YOU CAN SEE HERE I SAID EARLIER THE THE REVENUES DECREASED IN IN OUR FUND 2 $617,000. ON THE REVENUE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND THEN OUR WATER FUND EXPENSES, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THEM DOWN BY $275,000.

AND ABLE TO BALANCE THAT OUT. WE HAD A LARGE REDUCTION IN WATER SALES THIS YEAR, AND WE WERE JUST REALLY JUST HOPING THAT OUR NEW WATER ACCOUNTS WOULD COME ONLINE AT A FASTER CLIP.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECTS THAT ARE BUILDING IN THE CITY.

SOME ARE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF OTHERS, AND OUR FORECAST ANTICIPATED QUITE A BIT MORE HOMES TO BE ON THE GROUND AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

BUT I THINK A RAINY SEASON HAD A LITTLE BIT TO DO WITH THEIR CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS AS WELL.

WAYNE SHARED WITH ME THIS MORNING THAT WE HAVE OVER 70 NEW HOMES IN THE VISTA PROJECT.

SO THEY'RE ON THEIR BACK ON TRACK, AND THEY STILL MAY HIT THE MARK THAT WE HAD FOR THEM FOR THIS CALENDAR YEAR.

BUT THAT DID HELP TO REDUCE OUR REVENUE PICTURE FOR FUND 2 ON WATER SALES.

AND THEN AGAIN, NO NEW BONDS. TAGGED TO WATER AND FUND 2.

HERE'S OUR DEBT SERVICE. YOU CAN SEE WE COLLECT THE AMOUNT OF TAX THAT TAKES, THE AMOUNT OF TAX DOLLARS IT TAKES TO PAY OFF OUR BONDS.

AND WE'RE CURRENTLY MANAGING SERIES 13, 18, 22 AND 24.

AND JUST BECAUSE OF OUR SCHEDULE OUR DEBT PICTURE HAS LIGHTENED UP A LITTLE BIT BY AROUND $130,000 OR SO.

SO THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE COUPLE OF PENNIES COME OFF OF THE DEBT SIDE OF THE HOUSE ON THE TAX RATE.

AND THEN THIS IS YOUR TOTAL PICTURE FOR THE CITY GENERAL FUND, WATER FUND AND YOUR DEBT PROFILE.

AND THAT WILL BE THE END OF ITEM 2. AND WHEN YOU'RE READY NAYOR, WE CAN MOVE TO ITEMS 3, 4 AND 5.

[00:20:04]

AND IT'S MY DESIRE THAT THIS PRESENTATION WILL STAND FOR THOSE ITEMS AS BACKUP.

AND WE CAN MANEUVER BACK AND FORTH THROUGH IT AS NEEDED.

VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS WHILE WE'RE ON 2.

IS IT. SHOULD WE ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET ITSELF RIGHT NOW? OF COURSE. PLEASE DO. SO MY ONLY CONCERN I SAW WE'RE WE'RE NOT ADDING ANY POLICE OR FIREFIGHTERS.

AND I KNOW WE'RE TIED ON BUDGET AND I KNOW BOTH BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSE ASKED FOR A LOT.

IS IT A CONCERN THAT WITH US BUILDING THIS NEW FIRE STATION, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAFF THAT EITHER? OR IF WE DO BUILD IT AND WE DO STAFF IT, THEN WILL WE STILL NOT BE ABLE TO ADD POLICE OFFICERS IN THE FUTURE? SO LET ME LET ME SPEAK TO PUBLIC SAFETY STAFFING BOTH POLICE AND FIRE.

AND I KNOW JOE'S HERE. HE MAY HAVE SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO SAY ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT JAKE, IF YOU LOOK INSIDE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE LEFT OUR I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DOLLARS A LITTLE HIGH WITH THE INTENT TO CONDUCT A STAFFING STUDY FOR POLICE.

AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT THAT STAFFING STUDY WILL ECHO CHIEF CAMPBELL'S CONCERNS FOR THE AND THE NEED FOR NEW OFFICERS.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE ASKING FOR A VOLUME LIKE THAT, I WOULD RATHER HAVE A PROFESSIONAL STUDY THAT AND TELL ME YES, YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE MONEY OR YOU'RE LOW. I'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE CONCERNED THAT BY THE TIME THE STUDY IS DONE, WE MAY BE EVEN LOWER THAN WHAT THE CHIEF PREDICTS.

THAT VERY WELL, COULD BE THE CASE. BUT I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO ASK THE CITIZENS TO CHANGE THE TAX PICTURE BEYOND WHAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE IN THE DE MINIMIS RATE, OR THE 3.5% INCREASE ON THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, I THINK WE NEED SOME DATA BEHIND THAT STUDY TO HELP US TELL THAT STORY TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN I WOULD HAVE THE SAME DESIRE FOR FIRE STAFFING, JUST TO CONFIRM THAT THE NEEDS THAT BOTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE ARE IN LINE WITH WHAT BEST PRACTICES WOULD BE AND OTHER CITIES SIMILAR SIZE.

YOU KIND OF ASKED ME TWO PIECES OF A QUESTION.

ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL UP THE FIRE STATION IF WE BUILD IT? I WOULD TELL YOU THE CURRENT FIRE STATION IS NOT FULL.

IT WILL BE HARD TO FILL UP THE NEW FIRE STATION JUST AS HARD AS IT IS TO FILL UP THE EXISTING FIRE STATION.

BUT I'LL LET JOE OR OR CHIEF BENNETT SPEAK TO THE STAFFING PLAN FOR FIRE STATION.

CHIEF BENNETT IS ONLINE. HE MAY. CHIEF BENNETT, DO YOU WANT A DIRECT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION? I WOULD LOVE TO. THANK YOU. IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, JAKE.

AND I APOLOGIZE TO THE WHOLE COUNCIL FOR NOT BEING PRESENT TONIGHT.

I, UNFORTUNATELY, HAD HAD A PTO WEEK SCHEDULED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THIS WEEK.

A CONCERN OF IT. JAKE IS NO. AND I'LL DATE BACK MYSELF TO WHEN CHIEF RICHARDS AND I STARTED BUILDING THE PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE DEALT WITH LOW STAFFING EVERY YEAR.

WE'VE ADDED SLOWLY. WE'VE PLANNED FOR IT, JUST LIKE I HAD BEEN SAYING THAT MINIMUM STAFFING IS 12 FOR THE TRUCK COMING, AND THAT WOULD BE AT STATION 2. IF STATION 2 WERE TO OPEN TODAY, IT WOULD HAVE A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT RUNNING IN IT.

IF I HAD TO SCALE BACK AND CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR PLANS, OUR FUTURE FOR NEXT YEAR, I WOULD START OUT ASKING FOR 05, KNOWING THERE'S NO WAY I'M GOING TO GET 12.

AND IF I HAD TO DROP BACK TO THE 2 THAT I ASKED FOR THIS YEAR, WE WOULD OPEN THE STATION.

THAT WOULD HAVE BASICALLY PUT ONE PIECE OF APPARATUS ON IN BOTH STATIONS, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CITY, REDUCING THE RESPONSE TIMES AS WELL AS THOSE QUESTIONS WE GET EVERY DAY WHEN SOMEBODY IS GETTING INSURANCE IN THE CITY. WHAT'S THE CLOSEST FIRE STATION, YOU KNOW, OR WHEN THIS ISO EVALUATION COMES? WHAT WHAT'S WHAT'S THE RESPONSE TIMES. RIGHT NOW, OUR RESPONSE TIMES ALONG 51 HAVING TO GET THROUGH THE QT AREA THERE, THEY'RE NOT MEETING THE STANDARDS. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE'VE PUSHED FOR STATION 2.

SO DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN PLANNING.

A MATTER OF FACT, I'D HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH MY STAFF A WEEK AND A HALF AGO ON 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT STAFFING MODELS THAT I'D BEEN WORKING ON AND TOLD THEM, WHEN I GET BACK FROM THIS PTO TIME, WE'RE GOING TO SIT DOWN AND DIVE OFF INTO THAT BECAUSE WE BASICALLY HAVE 14 MONTHS TO MAKE IT WORK. SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION.

[00:25:04]

YOU KNOW I WOULD COMMENT THAT IT'S IT'S PRETTY COMMON FOR CITIES TO BUILD FIRE STATIONS BEFORE THE DEVELOPMENT IS THERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S SIGNED ON AND IT'S COMING.

IT'S IT'S NOT COMMON TO WAIT UNTIL IT'S ALL BUILT AND THEN TRYING TO BUILD SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

IT JUST IT GETS JUMBLED. CHIEF SMITH, I'M SURE IS THERE.

AND HE CAN ANSWER TO THE DEPARTMENT WE BOTH RETIRED FROM.

AND WE WATCHED THE FIRE STATION BEING BUILT IN THE MIDDLE OF A SUNFLOWER FIELD FOR 3 OR 2 PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS AT THE TIME.

AND WE USED TO RUN, LIKE, 8 OR 9 CALLS ALL 3 SHIFTS A MONTH.

THEY RUN THAT IN THE FIRST 4 HOURS OF THE DAY NOW.

AND SO IT JUST KIND OF GROWS IN AROUND THEM, SO.

AND I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

WELL, JUST JUST FOR CLARITY. CHIEF BENNETT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON THE LINE WITH US TONIGHT.

YOU HAD STATED, YOU AT A MINIMUM, YOU COULD REALLOCATE STAFFING FOR THAT TRUCK AT THAT AT THE STATION 2.

I WOULDN'T SAY IT ACTUALLY REALLOCATE. I WOULD TAKE.

WE WE RUN RIGHT NOW, THE SQUAD 1 AND ENGINE 1.

WE WOULD MOVE THE TWO OFF OF THAT SQUAD INTO THE TRUCK AND SUPPLEMENT WITH THE PART TIME STAFF LIKE WE DO NOW, TO TRY TO AT LEAST KEEP IT AT 3, WHICH IS USUALLY NOT A PROBLEM.

WE HAVE SOME GREAT PART TIME PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE.

WE HAVE, FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE ONE CAPTAIN THAT WORKS FOR US PART TIME, WHO IS ACTUALLY A CAPTAIN ON TRUCK COMPANY IN DALLAS, TEXAS. SO WE BACKFILL PRETTY HARD. OKAY. OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL. YES. ONE OTHER QUESTION. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN ON BUDGET COMMITTEE. BUT WHEN YOU GUYS ARE GOING AND GOING THROUGH AND CUTTING STUFF FROM THE BUDGET, ARE WE TALKING TO STAFF WHEN WE CUT, OR IS IT JUST CUT AND THEN GIVE IT TO STAFF? SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO WHEN WE MEET THE FIRST THE FIRST ROUND, WE TRY NOT TO TAKE ANYBODY BELOW WHERE THEY WERE AT IN THE YEAR THAT WE'RE IN.

SO WE TRY NOT TO TAKE ANYBODY DOWN BELOW WHERE THEY'RE AT FOR FY 25.

IN THIS SCENARIO, IN BETWEEN THE FIRST MEETING AND THE SECOND MEETING, WE IDENTIFY WHERE WE CAN REDUCE AND WE TAKE.

NOW THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF LINES. AND DELVON JUST BECAUSE HE TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT TODAY, A LINE THAT DELVON SAID, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIX THAT LINE. IT WAS I CAN'T REMEMBER AMMUNITION, I BELIEVE AMMUNITION.

HE SAID, HEY, YOU CAN'T CUT THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE THINGS PLANNED WITH THOSE DOLLARS.

NO PROBLEM. CHIEF. TELL ME WHERE WE CAN MOVE FUNDS AROUND TO STANDARD THAT BOTTOM DOLLAR LINE THAT YOU WERE ALLOCATED FOR IN YOUR BUDGET THIS YEAR IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

WE CAN MAKE THAT WORK. SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS DO HAPPEN.

HAD A CONVERSATION WITH FINANCE ABOUT FREEZING A POSITION.

JEN WILLINGLY FROZE A POSITION. HAD A CONVERSATION WITH WAYNE AND LISA ABOUT FREEZING A PLANNING POSITION.

THEY WILLINGLY FROZE THAT POSITION. SO YES, THE CONVERSATIONS DO HAPPEN.

BUT SOMETIMES IF THERE'S A ZERO LINE ITEM JUST LINGERING OUT THERE, WE'LL LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE HISTORY ON THAT LINE AND WE MAY MAKE THE CUT AND HAVE THE CONVERSATION LATER. IT JUST KIND OF DEPENDS ON THE SCENARIOS, BUT WE TRY NOT TO CUT THEM BELOW WHERE THEY WERE IN THE EXISTING FISCAL YEAR.

I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION JAKE. AND JAKE, I'D LIKE TO RESPOND BY JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE OF THE UNDERPERFORMANCE OF SEVERAL OF OUR AREAS, I MEAN, WHEN WE GOT THE FIRST NUMBERS, WE WERE IN THE DEFICIT BUDGET, AND NOBODY ON OUR COMMITTEE WANTED US TO BE IN THE SITUATION THAT SOME OF THE OTHER ENTITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY ARE IN.

AND SO WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO BALANCE IT AND TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CITIZENS AND OUR EMPLOYEES FIRST.

JAKE, I'M GOING TO CATAPULT OFF HER. BUT YES, THE FIRST TIME WE MET, WE SHAVED 2 MILLION OFF.

I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT 4 MILLION AND CHANGE.

AND THEN THEY PASSED ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.

HEY, WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THAT? WE GOT A LITTLE CREATIVE WITH FINANCING ON SOME THINGS.

I DON'T WANT TO STEAL YOUR THUNDER WHENEVER YOU KEEP PRESENTING, BUT, YEAH, WE GOT IT DOWN WITHIN A THOUSAND $1,000 SURPLUS, SO. YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT. WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT THAT.

THERE WERE A LOT OF REQUESTS. AND ONE OTHER THING, ALL OF US AGREED THAT WE DON'T KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL JOBS THAT OUR PEOPLE DO.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE PART OF CUTTING INDIVIDUAL THINGS THAT WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

WE WANTED THAT TO COME FROM THE EMPLOYEES, AND WE WERE VERY ADAMANT ABOUT THAT.

SO THAT'S OUR PHILOSOPHY. I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO GO IN AND BE CUTTING PLANNING BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY NEED OR OTHER THINGS.

[00:30:05]

SO IT'S IN MY OPINION, IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE WORKED WITH THROUGH THE EMPLOYEES.

JAKE, I WANT TO BACK UP. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? IT DID. OKAY. I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S IT'S TOUGH.

WE GOT A LOT COMING AND WE GOT TO PLAY CATCH UP, AND IT'S WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.

YOU KNOW IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION THAT THIS CITY IS IN BECAUSE IT'S GROWING.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY IN POCKET YET AND IT'S TOUGH.

AND ANOTHER THING THAT REALLY HELPED ME WAS THE HANDOUT THAT NATE GAVE US ABOUT THE HOUSES AND WHAT THAT WOULD GENERATE.

AND ALTHOUGH WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S ALL THIS GROWTH GOING ON, IT SHOWED US THAT NONE OF THAT REALLY IS GOING TO HIT THE THE TAX AREA UNTIL 26, 27, 28. SO WE'VE GOT A FEW TIGHT YEARS HERE BEFORE WE SEE THE BOUNTY OF THE GROWTH.

WELL, THAT'S A GREAT POINT. AND WE'RE INTENTIONALLY TIGHTENING THE BELT THIS YEAR.

I HOPE YOU HEAR ME SAY THAT LOUD AND CLEAR. I'VE TOLD MY TEAM THAT MORE THAN ONCE.

WE'RE INTENTIONALLY TIGHTENING THE BELT HERE ON REVENUES, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE BAD GOVERNMENT TO TO ALLOW THOSE REVENUES TO BE OVERESTIMATED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. THAT'S JUST GOING TO BITE US IN A BAD WAY.

SO JEN AND I DECIDED THIS WAS THE YEAR WE TOOK THAT TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND THEY AGREED.

YEAH. YOU CAN'T KEEP OVERESTIMATING REVENUES.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO OVERESTIMATE A REVENUE. SO THAT THAT'S WHERE WE LANDED A LITTLE TIGHTER THIS YEAR.

AND THE NEW CONSTRUCTION NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, THOSE WILL BE FANTASTIC YEAR OVER YEAR AS LONG AS THAT PERFORMANCE KEEPS UP.

BUT IT'S JUST NOT QUITE HERE YET. CHIEF CAMPBELL AND I HAD THAT CONVERSATION THIS MORNING AND IT'S YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN SUCH A CRUNCH BY THE TIME THE LAST WEEK IN JULY COMES AROUND TO KNOW WHAT OUR ACTUALS ARE.

WE CHANGED UP THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR AND WAITING FOR THE ACTUAL NUMBERS TO ARRIVE.

AND THAT WAS IN OUR FAVOR SUBSTANTIALLY, BECAUSE THE NUMBERS WERE A LITTLE MORE POSITIVE THAN THEY WERE WHEN WE MET IN JUNE.

YEAH. AND I WANTED TO SAY, I THINK THAT'S THE WAY WE SHOULD LOOK AT DOING IT FROM HERE ON OUT, BECAUSE WE GOT IT DONE FAR FASTER BY HAVING ACCURATE NUMBERS ARE FAIRLY ACCURATE NUMBERS THE FIRST TIME WE MET.

THEN IN YEARS PREVIOUS WHEN I HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS AND WE WERE JUST GUESS ESTIMATING AND THAT'S JUST I MEAN, THAT'S JUST AN UNKNOWN AND THAT'S ALL YOU'RE DOING IS ESTIMATING.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET A CLEAR PICTURE FROM THE BEGINNING AND KNOW WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO.

AND I WANT TO CORRECT ONE THING I SAID, JAKE, I CALLED IT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, IT'S ACTUALLY CONTRACT LABOR UNDER ADMIN.

WE'VE BOOSTED THAT LINE UP TO HELP PAY FOR THE STUDY ON STAFFING FOR FIRE AND POLICE.

AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER OTHER QUESTIONS. SO YOU MENTIONED THAT THE STUDY IS GOING TO BE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THAT YOU WANT TO DO A FIRE ONE EVENTUALLY.

THAT'S CORRECT. WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? BECAUSE THOSE 2 DO RUN HAND IN HAND SINCE THEY DO HAVE SOME SHARED SERVICES.

OF COURSE THEY DO. I NEED TO IDENTIFY A PROFESSIONAL THAT CAN DO THAT FOR US.

I HAVE YET TO FIND ONE, SO I'M WAITING ON THAT TIMELINE.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT A GREAT ANSWER AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT THAT'S KIND OF HARD TO FIND.

IT ALSO CAN'T BE SOMETHING THAT JUST GOES BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

OF COURSE. IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE. I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH ENTITIES AROUND THAT COULD PROVIDE IT, BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DONE ON A NORMAL BASIS.

SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THAT BE DONE AT THE SAME TIME, LIKE I SAID, BECAUSE THEY ARE A SHARED SERVICE.

WE NEED TO KNOW A 5 YEAR AND A 10 YEAR PLAN ON THIS.

ABSOLUTELY. WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT. I AGREE WITH THAT.

AND I WOULD ACTUALLY WANT THE PROFESSIONALS TO MEET WITH THE CHIEFS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE TOGETHER, SO THAT THEY GET THE SAME INFORMATION. YOU KNOW, BOTH FIRE PROFESSIONAL AND POLICE PROFESSIONAL MEET WITH EACH FIRE CHIEF AND POLICE CHIEF AT THE SAME TIME. SO THEY'RE TELLING OUR STORY.

SO IT'S A GREAT POINT AS A KICKOFF. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

[3. CONSIDER AND SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026.]

ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE'LL CLOSE ITEM 2 AND GO ON TO ITEM 3.

CONSIDER AND SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET OF FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026.

JOSEPH, IF YOU'LL GIVE ME CONTROL BACK, THAT'D BE GREAT.

JUST MOVE ME 2 SLIDES. ALL RIGHT. ITEM 3 IS AN ACTION ITEM.

SO WE NEED TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR AUGUST 25TH, WHICH IS OUR NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING.

[00:35:05]

SO MAYOR WILL STAND BY. ALL RIGHT. LOOK FOR A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 ON AUGUST 25TH, 25 AT 6 P.M. SECOND. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT.

THAT ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU. ITEM 4. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DECATUR,

[4. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS, APPROVING THE 2025 CERTIFIED PROPERTY TAX VALUES FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS; DESIGNATING AN OFFICER TO SUBMIT THE NO NEW REVENUE AND VOTER APPROVAL RATES TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THE SAME OFFICER BEING AUTHORIZED TO ALSO CERTIFY THE RATES WITH THE COMPTROLLER PRIOR TO PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL; AUTHORIZING THE OFFICER TO SUBMIT THE CERTIFIED PROPERTY TAX RATES TO THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. RESOLUTION R2025-08-20]

TEXAS, APPROVING THE 2025 CERTIFICATION OF PROPERTY TAX VALUES FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.

ALL RIGHT. IF YOU'RE FOLLOWING ALONG IN YOUR COUNCIL PACKET STARTING ON PAGE 54, YOU SHOULD SEE THE CERTIFIED VALUE LETTER THAT'S INSIDE OUR DOCUMENT.

WE'LL BE PASSING A RESOLUTION R2025-08-20. AND THIS IS THE DOCUMENT THAT GIVES ME THE POWER TO SUBMIT THE APPROPRIATE DOLLAR FIGURES AND VALUES TO THE ASSESSOR COLLECTOR.

AND THIS ONE WILL BE A RECORD VOTE ON APPROVING THE VALUES.

ALL RIGHT. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS? SO WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION R2025-08-20.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION. SECOND. HAVE A SECOND.

AND ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS MOTION PRIOR TO VOTE? SO WE'LL WE'LL START AT THIS END OF THE TABLE, I GUESS.

COUNCIL. IT'S OKAY. STATE YOUR NAME AND SAY AYE OR NAY.

YES. ALL RIGHT. SO IF YOU APPROVE, SAY AYE. IF NOT, NAY.

OF THE RESOLUTION AND MOTION.AYE OR NAY. COUNCILMAN JACKSON.[LAUGHTER] COUNCILMAN HAYES.

YEA! DARLENE HILTON, YAY! MIKE MCQUISTON, AYE.

WILL CARPENTER, AYE. EDDIE ALLEN, AYE. MELINDA REEVES, AYE.

ALL RIGHT, THAT RESOLUTION PASSES. ITEM 5, CONSIDER A PROPOSAL FOR AD VALOREM RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR

[5. CONSIDER PROPOSING AN AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026 IF PROPOSED TAX RATE WILL EXCEED THE VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE OR THE NONEW- REVENUE TAX RATE, TAKE A RECORD VOTE AND SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING.]

2025-2026. ALL RIGHT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS IS THE POINT IN TIME WHERE WE PROPOSE A PROPERTY TAX RATE.

JUST A REMINDER, THIS WILL ALSO REQUIRE YOU TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH WILL BE AT OUR NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING ON AUGUST 25TH.

AND I'VE PROVIDED THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE UP THERE FOR YOU, BROKEN OUT BETWEEN M&O AND I&S.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU MOVE WITH A RECORD VOTE.

LOOK FOR A MOTION. MR. MAYOR. I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

I KEEP DOING THAT. I MOVE TO PROPOSE FOR FISCAL YEAR 25-26.

AND AD VALOREM TAX RATE OF $0.565713 PER $100 EVALUATION WITH $0.407008 FUNDING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION. AND 0.158705 FUNDING INTEREST IN SINKING. AND SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR AUGUST 25TH AT 6 P.M.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS MOTION. AS THE PRIOR MOTION WILL START AT THIS END OF THE TABLE WITH NAME AND AYE OR NAY.

DEBRA JACKSON COUNCIL 1, AYE. JAKE HAYES, YAY! DARLENE HILTON, YAY! MIKE MCQUISTON, AYE. WILL CARPENTER, AYE.

EDDIE ALLEN, AYE. MELINDA REEVE, AYE. ALL RIGHT, THAT MOTION PASSES.

ITEM 6, CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE ANNEXATION PETITION OF TODD WINTERS.

[6. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE ANNEXATION PETITION OF TODD WINTERS (PALOMA TRAILS) OF A 0.422 ACRE TRACT OF LAND SITUATED IN THE HD DONALD SURVEY, ADOPTING A SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTIONS REGARDING THE ANNEXATION REQUEST AND DIRECTING THE CITY SECRETARY TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. RESOLUTION R2025-08-21]

MAYOR, WHILE WE PAUSE FOR STAFF CHANGE AND TECHNOLOGY CHANGE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL AGAIN.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK BY BUDGET COMMITTEE AND STAFF TO GET US TO THIS POINT FOR FY.

YES. JUST TO ECHO, THANK YOU, STAFF, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, THAT'S AN ARDUOUS PROCESS.

AND IT'S A PROCESS THAT'S BASICALLY YEAR ROUND.

SO I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS ON THAT. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL LISA HANNON, PLANNING DIRECTOR FOR THE RECORD, SO THIS IS A REQUEST FROM PALOMA TRAILS TO ANNEX IN A

[00:40:06]

RIGHT OF WAY 0.422 ACRES. THIS IS THE FIRST OF THE OPERATION FOR ANNEXATION.

THIS WILL BE DEDICATED BACK TO THE CITY ONCE WE GET AN ANNEX.

THIS IS A TIMELINE. IT WILL GO TO PLANNING AND ZONING ON SEPTEMBER 2ND AND 1ST READING, SEPTEMBER 22ND, CITY COUNCIL AND OCTOBER 13TH FOR THE 2ND READING AND ADOPTION.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MOTION OF APPROVAL FOR THIS RESOLUTION.

MR. MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION R2025-08-21.

SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE, AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT. THAT ITEM PASSES. ALL RIGHT.

[7. SUP-25-0003. A PUBLIC HEARING AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOW A CARPORT THAT IS IN EXCESS OF TWENTY-FOUR (24) FEET IN LENGTH, TO ALLOW A CARPORT IN EXCESS OF TWELVE (12) IN HEIGHT, AND TO ALLOW A SECOND CARPORT ON A LEGALLY PLATTED LOT, IN AN SF-2, SINGLEFAMILY ZONING DISTRICT, ON APPROXIMATELY 0.45 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 1204 JOHN AVENUE, DECATUR, TEXAS. (CHERISSA MCCONNELL) (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 6-0)]

WE WILL NOW GO INTO PUBLIC HEARING, AND WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:41.

AND THIS IS SUP-25-0003. PUBLIC HEARING AND DISCUSSION REGARDING 1ST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOW CARPORT THAT IS IN EXCESS OF 24FT IN LENGTH. ETC.

SO PLEASE. YES, SIR. SO GOOD EVENING AGAIN, LISA HANNON, PLANNING DIRECTOR.

I'LL ENTER OUR STAFF REPORT INTO THE RECORD BY REFERENCE IN ITS ENTIRETY.

SO THIS IS A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT REQUEST. IT IS REQUIRED FOR THE 2ND CARPORT ON THE PROPERTY, AND IT EXCEEDS THE LENGTH AND HEIGHT PERMITTED BY THE CODE.

IT'S AT 1204 JOHN AVENUE. AND OUR ARTICLE 5 OF THE ZONING CODE, SECTION 5.2.5 OUTLINES THE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT PROCESS AND THE REVIEW APPROVAL AUTHORITIES. SO THE PROPERTY ZONED SF-2, CARPORTS ARE PERMITTED, PROVIDED THAT THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF THE REQUIRED FRONT SETBACK OF 25FT.

THIS ONE IS SET BACK APPROXIMATELY 33FT FROM THE FRONT PROPERTY LINE.

IT DOES REQUIRE AN SUP FOR MORE THAN ONE CARPORT ON THE PROPERTY.

SO WE HAVE 1 CARPORTS. THE 1ST ONE HAS BEEN EXISTING FOR NUMEROUS YEARS AND THEY ARE ADDING A SECONDARY CARPORT.

ALSO, IT IS NOT TO EXCEED 24FT IN LENGTH OR IT DOES REQUIRE THE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.

THIS ONE IS APPROXIMATELY 30FT AND IT IS ABOUT 14FT IN HEIGHT, SO IT IS ABOVE THE 12FT IN HEIGHT, AGAIN REQUIRING THE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT. THE BUILDING REQUIREMENTS REQUIRE THE ENGINEERED PLANS AND THE ANCHORING, AND THE BUILDING PERMIT IS CURRENTLY IN THE REVIEW PROCESS, AND IT HAS TO MEET ALL THE REGULAR BUILDING CODES BEFORE IT IS INSTALLED OR PERMITTED.

SO WE DID NOTIFY 10 PROPERTY OWNERS AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSES.

I BELIEVE WE RECEIVED ONE PHONE CALL, BUT NO FORMAL RESPONSES ON THIS.

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 6 TO 0.

ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.

AND THIS IS THE 1ST READING. ALL RIGHT, SUSIE, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT.

YES, SIR. IT IS THE 1ST ONE TO COME IN. GO PRETTY WELL, OR.

IT HAS AND HAD A FAIRLY EASY PROCESS ON THAT.

BROUGHT THEM IN FOR A DESIGN STUDIO MEETING. WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS, TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THIS.

THIS WAS ACTUALLY INSTALLED ON THEIR PROPERTY WITHOUT A PERMIT AND WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT.

WE WENT AND TALKED TO THEM. THEY WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CONTRACTOR WAS GOING TO PULL THE PERMIT.

CONTRACTOR SAID HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE HOMEOWNER WAS GOING TO DO IT. SO WE DID A TIME OUT AND SAID, OKAY, LET'S GET YOU BACK IN LINE WHERE YOU NEED TO BE.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT ON THIS. HE HAS PROVIDED A SET OF PLANS ON THIS.

IT IS ENGINEERED TO THE 130 MILE AN HOUR WIND LOAD.

AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FOUNDATION REQUIREMENTS ALONG WITH THIS.

OTHER QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE 1ST READING.

AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS ITEM AT 6:44.

[8. SUP-25-0004. A PUBLIC HEARING AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOW THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC OR MIXED BEVERAGES FOR ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION IN A C-1A, DECATUR SQUARE BUSINESS ZONING DISTRICT, ON APPROXIMATELY 0.11 ACRES OF LAND DESCRIBED AS LOT 3, BLOCK 12, ORIGINAL TOWN OF DECATUR, LOCATED AT 109 N STATE STREET, DECATUR, TEXAS. (PAPPY JACKS) (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 6-0)]

AND WE'LL OPEN UP ITEM 8 AT 644. THIS IS SUP-25-0004 DISCUSSION 1ST READING ON PREMISES CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL OR MIXED BEVERAGES.

YES, SIR. WE'LL ENTER OUR STAFF REPORT INTO THE RECORD BY REFERENCE IN ITS ENTIRETY.

SO THE REQUEST FOR THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE PERMIT DOES REQUIRE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR ON PREMISES CONSUMPTION.

[00:45:06]

IT IS A RESTAURANT AT 109 NORTH STATE STREET, WHERE THE OLD FUZZY'S WAS.

AND IT IS AN EXISTING RESTAURANT SPACE. THEY'RE NOT REQUESTING ANY DEVIATIONS.

THEY'RE JUST DOING A LITTLE INTERIOR REMODEL.

THE APPLICATION IS IN ORDER. IT IS ZONED C-1A THE DECATUR SQUARE BUSINESS DISTRICT, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE PERMITS ARE PERMITTED WITH A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.

THE LAND USE IS DOWNTOWN AND THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

WE NOTIFIED 25 PROPERTY OWNERS AND WE'VE RECEIVED NO RESPONSES.

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 6 TO 0.

WE'RE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. AND AGAIN, IT IS THE 1ST READING OF THE ORDINANCE.

VERY GOOD. COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS? SUSIE, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THAT ITEM AT 6:46.

[9. PD-25-0002 – PUBLIC HEARING AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2022-10-28, AND APPENDIX B, “ZONING,” OF THE CITY’S CODE OF ORDINANCES AND THE CITY’S OFFICIAL ZONING MAP TO PROVIDE FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE CURRENT ZONING REGULATIONS ON A TRACT OF APPROXIMATELY 166 +/- ACRES, THE PALOMA TRAILS PLANNED DEVELOPMENT, TO UPDATE THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR THE COMMERCIAL PARCELS. (PALOMA TRAILS) (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 6-0)]

ITEM 9 WILL OPEN AT 6:46. THIS IS A PD-25-0002.

1ST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2022-10-28 APPENDIX B ZONING PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE CURRENT ZONING REGULATIONS ON TRACT OF APPROXIMATELY 166 ACRES AT PALOMA TRAILS.

YES, SIR. SO IN OUR STAFF REPORT INTO THE RECORD BY REFERENCE IN ITS ENTIRETY.

SO THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT FOR PALOMA TRAILS.

THIS WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 24TH, 2022.

IT IS CURRENTLY ZONED PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. SO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE FOR THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ONLY.

THEY ARE ADDING ADDITIONAL EXTERIOR FACADES THAT WOULD BE PERMITTED.

ORIGINALLY IT WAS JUST STONE AND BRICK, SO THEY'RE ADDING MASONRY, EIFS.

FIBER CEMENT PANELS, INTEGRALLY-COLORED CMU BLOCK, ARCHITECTURALLY FINISHED METAL PANELS.

AND IT ALSO INCLUDES THE MATERIALS FOR ANY OF THE CANOPIES, ACCESSORIES, STOREFRONTS, AND ROOFING.

AGAIN, THIS IS JUST FOR THE COMMERCIAL ONLY. THEY ARE ALSO AMENDING AND ADDING PROVISIONS FOR COMMERCIAL DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE, NOT WALL SIGNAGE OR POLE SIGNS. THESE ARE FOR THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNS.

THE CURRENT CODE ALLOWS 1 SIGN PER PUBLIC ENTRANCE TO THE LOT, WITH A MAXIMUM OF 3 FEET IN HEIGHT AND 4 SQUARE FEET IN AREA.

BUT THEY'RE PROPOSING FOR SAFETY PURPOSES AS 2 SIGNS PER ENTRANCE TO THE LOT.

MAXIMUM 6 FEET IN HEIGHT AND 32FT² IN AREA. THIS IS COMING OFF OF 380.

SO THEY'RE SERVICE ROAD. SO THEY'RE WANTING TO MAKE SURE THEIR ENTRANCES ARE SEEN.

NOTHING ELSE IS CHANGING ON ANY OF THE PROPERTIES.

NO LAYOUTS OR ANY LOT CONFIGURATIONS ARE CHANGING.

WE'VE HAD NOTIFIED 40 PROPERTY OWNERS. NO FORMAL RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED.

WE DID HAVE ONE GENTLEMAN COME INTO THE OFFICE AND ASK WHAT THE REQUEST WAS, AND I GAVE THEM ALL THE INFORMATION REGARDING THAT.

PLANNING AND ZONING RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 6 TO 0, AND WE'RE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS ALSO HERE. ALL RIGHT.

QUESTIONS. AND THIS IS OUR 1ST READING. ALL RIGHT SUSIE DO I HAVE EVERYONE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NO, SIR. ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS.

DOES ANYONE WANT TO MAKE COMMENT? [INAUDIBLE] OH, I SEE WHAT I'VE HEARD NOW OR I HEAR WHAT I'VE HEARD NOW.IF YOU WOULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR YOUR PLACE OF RESIDENCE.

HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? MY NAME IS AUSTIN NAVARETTE.

I REPRESENT VAQUERO VENTURES, WHO'S WORKING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMERCIAL LOTS. I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND KIND OF GIVE A LITTLE BACKSTORY INTO THE THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE WERE ASKING TO THE PD.

OBVIOUSLY, JUST TRYING TO UPDATE SOME BUILDING MATERIALS ALLOWS FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSTRUCTION OF, YOU KNOW, UPDATED STORE MODELS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. AS WELL AS THE UPDATE TO THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE TO ALLOW FOR SAFETY AND EASE OF READABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING AS YOU'RE GOING ALONG 380 AND BUSINESS THROUGH 380 THERE AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, YOUR YOUR PLACE OF RESIDENCE.

OH 2627 TAYLOR STREET, FORT WORTH, TEXAS. ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING TONIGHT. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

[00:50:03]

NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS ITEM THEN AT 6:50.

[10. SI-25-0002 – CONSIDER FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING APPENDIX “B”, “ZONING,” OF THE CITY OF DECATUR’S CODE OF ORDINANCES, CONTAINING THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DECATUR’S (“ZONING ORDINANCE”), TO PROVIDE FOR AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 3. DEFINITIONS, SUBSECTION 3.2 DEFINITIONS; AND TO SECTION 7.5 SCREENING, FENCING, AND BUFFERING REGULATIONS; SUBSECTION 7.5.2 SCREENING OF NONRESIDENTIAL AND MULTI-FAMILY AREAS WITH SCREENING WALLS; AND TO SUBSECTION 7.5.3, FENCES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 6-0)]

SO WE WILL CONTINUE ON WITH OUR AGENDA. ITEM 10, SI-25-0002.

CONSIDER 1ST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING APPENDIX B ZONING CITY DECATUR ORDINANCES CONTAINING THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCES.

CITY DECATUR TO PROVIDE AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 3 DEFINITIONS.

SUBSECTION 3.2. WAYNE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL.

SO THIS IS THE END PRODUCT FOR THE PROPOSAL WE BROUGHT TO YOU HERE A WHILE BACK TO TALK ABOUT BUFFERING AND FENCING THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN DIFFERENT PLACES. WE'VE TRIED TO ADDRESS SEVERAL COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE DESIRES OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS WELL AS PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION CONCERNS THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

AND SO ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID IS WE LOOKED AT OUR DEFINITIONS.

WE DID ADD SOME DEFINITIONS TO THIS. AND TO ALLOW FOR SOME OF THE MATERIALS THAT WE HAVE THAT'S, THAT'S BEING PLACED IN HERE. THOSE ARE GOING TO INCLUDE A DEFINITION FOR FENCES THEMSELVES.

AND THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THERE. I KNOW THAT THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT CERTAIN MATERIALS THAT MIGHT BE ALLOWED ON THAT.

AND SO WE DID PUT IN THERE A METHOD FOR APPROVED MATERIALS.

THEY DO HAVE TO BE CONSTRUCTION GRADE MATERIALS THAT HAVE TO BE USED OFF OF THAT, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BE TREATED AND SEALED FOR THE USE. WE ALSO WORK THROUGH AGRICULTURAL GRADE FENCE MATERIALS.

CHAIN LINK FENCE. ORNAMENTAL FENCES, PICKET FENCES AND STOCKADE PRIVACY FENCES AS WELL AS GATES TO HAVE SOME DEFINITIONS, OF COURSE. DEFINITIONS MAKE THE FOUNDATION OF ANY ORDINANCE.

AS FAR AS THE BUFFERING AMENDMENT PORTION OF THIS.

THIS IS FOR PROPERTIES BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL USES.

IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, THE CURRENT REQUIREMENT WAS FOR A 6 TO 8 FOOT SOLID MASONRY WALL TO BE ERECTED BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND NONRESIDENTIAL DID CREATE SOME COST PROHIBITIVE BURDENS FOR DEVELOPERS.

AND SO WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE MATERIAL THAT THEY COULD USE AND ALLOW FOR A COMBINATION OF FENCING AND LANDSCAPING IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT MORE AFFORDABLE. THESE PROPOSED BUFFERING REQUIREMENTS WOULD INCLUDE PRIVACY WALLS AND SOME PRIVACY STYLE FENCING, AS WELL AS TREES AND SHRUBS AND SOME TYPES OF EARTH AND BERMS WHENEVER THEY ARE APPROPRIATE, AND THEN PROVIDES FOR A MINIMUM PLANTING OF BUFFERS DEPENDING ON THE INTENSITY OF THE USE THAT IT'S BUFFERING ON THERE.

THEY WILL GO THROUGH A REVIEW PROCESS WHENEVER WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS TO VERIFY THE HEIGHT OF THE MATERIALS THE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS WILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE PLANNING DIRECTOR OR THEIR DESIGNEE. TREES AND SHRUBS WILL BE A PART OF THIS SO THAT WE HAVE SOME TYPE OF LANDSCAPING THAT'S INCLUDED WITH THAT.

AND THAT LANDSCAPING WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FENCE WALL, AND SHE'LL FORM A CONTINUOUS SCREEN OF NOT LESS THAN 6 FEET WITHIN 2 YEARS OF INSTALLATION. WE DO HAVE A CHART THAT'S INCLUDED WITH THIS TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO READ WHERE THOSE BUFFERS COME INTO PLAY OFF OF THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LISA DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON WERE NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE TREE SPECIES AND SHRUBS THAT WOULD GO INTO THIS AND TO PROVIDE A LIST OF THOSE TREES AND SHRUBS TO BE SOMETHING THAT DEVELOPERS CAN CHOOSE FROM TO ACCENTUATE THEIR BUFFERING AREAS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT IRRIGATION FOR THESE TYPES OF BUFFERING AREAS.

THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM ON THESE AND THEN TO INSTALL, PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN THAT BUFFERING BETWEEN THOSE PROPERTIES.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT FOR THE THE BUFFERING PORTION OF THIS.

WE'LL GET INTO THE FENCES ON THIS. THERE WAS A PROVISION IN OUR ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWED FOR A CONTINUOUS CORNER LOT FENCE ON PROPERTIES, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE STILL ABLE TO HAVE THAT DOES STILL HAVE TO MEET THE 25 FOOT SETBACK.

BUT IT BE ON A SECONDARY STREET FRONTAGE. IT WILL BE BEHIND THE REAR ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE OF THE HOUSE.

AND THAT WAY THEY CAN HAVE A CONTINUOUS FENCE BETWEEN THERE. AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO SKIP THAT IN BETWEEN THERE.

[00:55:05]

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT.

JAKE, WHENEVER YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT PROVIDING FOR A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD HAVE A FENCE WHEN THERE WASN'T MUCH OF A YARD THERE FOR THAT.

WE DID ALLOW FOR FRONT YARD FENCES IN THIS. WE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL OF THE REGULATIONS THAT WENT IN WITH THAT ALONG, AS WELL AS 36IN IN HEIGHT FOR A MAXIMUM HEIGHT ON THERE BEING PERMITTED ON ALL PROPERTIES.

CURRENTLY THEY'RE ALLOWED ONLY ON CORNER LOTS.

THE FENCE WOULD HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 10 FEET FROM PROPERTY LINE, OR 5 FEET INSIDE OF A SIDEWALK, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. WE ALLOWED WE PUT SOME APPROVED MATERIALS IN THERE FOR THE FENCE MATERIALS, WHICH INCLUDE ALUMINUM, VINYL FINISHED WOOD. OF COURSE, HAS TO BE PRESSURE TREATED, PAINTED, STAINED OR SEALED. WROUGHT IRON. DECORATIVE OR ORNAMENTAL METAL.

DECORATIVE POST WITH ROPE, SPLIT RAIL, MASONRY FENCES.

THIS WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT CAME UP DURING THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING TO ALLOW FOR A SMALL MASONRY WALL IN THE FRONT YARDS.

NO GREATER THAN 18IN IN HEIGHT. THEY CAN STILL PUT A DECORATIVE FENCE ON TOP OF THAT, BUT THAT WOULD STILL BE CAPPED AT A MAXIMUM OF 36IN. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE OR PLACED IN THERE IS PROHIBITED MATERIAL INCLUDE UNFINISHED OR BARE WOOD, CHICKEN WIRE OR AGRICULTURAL GRADE WELDED WIRE, SOLID PANEL, LATTICE, SHADOW BOX, CHAIN LINK AND THEN CHAIN LINK WITH SLATS. AND OF COURSE ELECTRIC CHARGED AND BARBED WIRE OR RAZOR WIRE FENCES.

THERE IS A PROVISION IN THERE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THESE FENCES, THAT ALL FENCES HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED.

THIS APPLIES TO NEW FENCES AS WELL AS EXISTING FENCES THAT ARE IN THE CITY BE MAINTAINED IN GOOD CONDITION, GOOD REPAIR. AND IF FOUND IN DISREPAIR, THEY'LL BE PROVIDED NOTICE THEY'LL HAVE TO REPAIR THOSE WITHIN 14 BUSINESS DAY BY REPLACING OR REPAIRING IT.

THEY'LL HAVE TO ACTIVELY MANAGE THEIR LANDSCAPES THAT ARE ALONG THE FENCE LINES SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THEM OVERGROWN AND UNSIGHTLY. I DO HAVE SOME PROVISIONS IN THERE THAT KIND OF STATE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR WITH THAT.

SO IT'S NOT ARBITRARY IN WHAT WE DO. AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE PRESENTATION ON THAT.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ANSWER ON THIS? JUST ONE QUESTION ABOUT TIMELINE ON COMPLETION.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN THERE ABOUT THAT TIMELINE AND COMPLETION OF WHAT.

SO YOU START THE PROJECT. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT MAINTENANCE, BUT IS I'M JUST THINKING OF A GAP TIME OF I'M IN CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

AND A BUILDING PERMIT IS GOOD FOR 180 DAYS. AND IF IT IS NOT COMPLETED DURING THAT TIME, THEN THE PERMIT IS WITHDRAWN.

IT IS ENDED. AND SO IF A PERSON.

SO IF I RESTART THAT I MEAN I GUESS THAT WOULD BE THE THING.

HEY I NEED TO I MEAN HALFWAY THROUGH AND I'M GOING TO GO ANOTHER 180 DAYS.

THAT IS A POSSIBILITY. BUT WE CAN LIMIT THAT.

ALSO THE EXTENSION IS UP TO THE APPROVAL OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL AS TO HOW MUCH TIME THE EXTENSION CAN GO FOR.

SO IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHAT THE SITUATION IS. WHAT CAUSED THAT GAP IN CONSTRUCTION.

VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. I DO. I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

WITH THE FENCING BAN AND A LOT OF IT IS, I GUESS, TEXT RIGHT OF WAY.

IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH THE MASONRY? SO. TRINITY.

I MEAN, IT WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE MEET THAT 10 FOOT SETBACK REQUIREMENT.

SO THAT WOULD BE INSIDE ANY TYPE OF EASEMENT, AND IT ALSO CANNOT BE INSIDE ANY TYPE OF EASEMENT.

OKAY. GOTCHA. ALL RIGHT. THANKS. WOULD DEFINITELY BE BEHIND THAT.

OTHER QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THE FIRST READING.

YES, SIR. ARE YOU UP FOR ITEM 11 FOR US?

[11. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO ORDINANCE REGARDING XERISCAPE REGULATIONS.]

YES. THIS IS AN ORDINANCE REGARDING XERISCAPE.

[01:00:15]

OKAY. SO THIS WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE THAT WAS APPROVED BY IN 2024.

SO WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AND WE'VE DISCOVERED SOME, SOME LANDSCAPING AND XERISCAPING THINGS THAT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED.

CURRENTLY XERISCAPING IS PERMITTED IN INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS ONLY.

OF COURSE, THE PRINCIPLES OF XERISCAPING IS WATER CONSERVATION.

SOIL IMPROVEMENT HAVE SOME LIMITED TURF AREAS.

USING NATIVE PLANTS, DROUGHT TOLERANT PLANTS, PRACTICAL MULCHING, EFFICIENT IRRIGATION AND SUSTAINABLE MAINTENANCE.

AND A LOT OF IT'S FOR WATER CONSERVATION. THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE DOES ALLOW A MUNICIPALITY TO CONSIDER XERISCAPE ORDINANCES AND TO REQUIRE THE USE OF XERISCAPE TO CONSERVE WATER.

I KNOW WE HAD A WET SPRING, BUT WE'RE GETTING DRY NOW [LAUGHTER] SO THE PROPOSED CHANGES IS TO PERMIT XERISCAPING IN ALL COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS AND IN RESIDENTIAL, WITH LIMITATIONS, AND REQUIRE EITHER A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF LIVING MATERIAL OR CERTAIN NUMBER OF PLANTS THAT HAVE TO BE IN.

MAYBE HAVE SOME XERISCAPING FOR WHERE YOUR GROUND COVER WOULD BE, BUT STILL REQUIRE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF SHRUBS AND TREES.

SO WE STILL HAVE LIVING MATERIAL THERE. WE DON'T WANT JUST SOLID ROCK, SOLID SHELL, SOLID MULCH, SOLID SAND WOULD REQUIRE DESIGN STANDARDS, INSULATION STANDARDS WOULD ESTABLISH A REGIONAL PLANT LIST, ABIDING BY THE TEXAS SMARTSCAPE STANDARDS AND THE USE OF ALL DROUGHT TOLERANT VEGETATION.

SO THESE ARE A FEW, AS YOU SEE, THAT'S OUTSIDE OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

THESE ARE SOME IN THE AREA. AND THESE ARE LOCAL.

AND THEN THESE ARE GOING TO BE SOME STOCK PICTURES THAT I PULLED OFF THE INTERNET THAT ARE EXAMPLES OF ZERO SCAPING WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TOTAL GRASS, TOTAL SOD, BUT YOU DO HAVE AN INTERSPERSED AREAS OF MULCH ARE ROCK AND SOD AND ARE JUST I'M NOT SOD, BUT LIVING PLANT MATERIALS. SO STAFF IS JUST LOOKING FOR DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL IF THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD TO ALLOW THIS IN ALL COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, WITH LIMITATIONS AND LIMITATIONS IN RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND EVEN EXISTING CONSTRUCTION. I THINK IT'D BE AWESOME. HONESTLY, AS WE ALL CONTINUE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE CAN GET ALL THE WATER WE NEED, AND I KNOW THE NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS PLANNED ON USING SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO THIS.

LOWER MAINTENANCE, LOWER WATER USE, LOWER COST.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. BUT YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS JUST COMMERCIAL.

NO. MY RECOMMENDATION IS FOR COMMERCIAL AND WITH LIMITATIONS IN RESIDENTIAL.

AGAIN, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH AND STAFF'S LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS ON WHETHER WE WANT TO DO A PERCENTAGE OF LIVING MATERIAL OR WE CAN DO IT REQUIRED NUMBER OF TREES AND SHRUBS PER SQUARE FOOT PER LINEAR FOOT OF THE PROPERTY.

WELL, I'VE DEALT WITH THIS AT THE RESIDENCE I RESIDE IN.

AND THE PERSON WHO RECOMMENDED TO PUT IT IN THERE SAID THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ALWAYS WEEDED AND IT'S VERY RARELY WEEDED. [LAUGHTER] NOT CALLING OUT ANYBODY IF THEY'RE LISTENING.

BUT IS THERE ANY MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU WOULD.

THERE WOULD BE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.[INAUDIBLE]. JAKE, I THINK YOU INHERITED THAT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I LOVE THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF IT. THE RESIDENTIAL IS A LITTLE CONCERNING.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WILL PUT ON YOUR STAFF FOR HAVING TO MAINTAIN AND ENFORCE THIS? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD ADD ANY MORE TIME THAN WHAT WE ALREADY DO ON HIGH WEEDS AND GRASS.

THAT'S A NONSTOP PROCESS RIGHT NOW. SO IF WE HAVE SOME SOME TRANSFORMATION OVER TO THE XERISCAPE, IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE BENEFICIAL IN THAT. SO IF YOU PUT REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE LIVING PLANTS AND THEIR LIVING PLANTS DIE OFF, WHAT'S STOPPING THEM FROM REPLACING IT WITH OX OR SOMETHING ELSE?

[01:05:03]

THIS IS THE PART OF THE ENFORCEMENT THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.

AND I CAN I'M SURE LISA CAN SPEAK TO THIS JUST AS WELL, THAT THERE IS AN ENFORCEMENT ARM TO THAT.

ONCE THIS WOULD GO THROUGH A LANDSCAPE APPROVAL PROCESS.

AND SO ONCE IT'S APPROVED, YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAINTAIN THAT.

ON COMMERCIAL. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT A LOT MORE OFTEN.

AND IF THE PLANTS DIE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE ENFORCED RESIDENTIAL. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE COMPLAINT DRIVEN.

BUT AGAIN, AS AS MR. SMITH SAID, WE DO. WE'RE OUT THERE EVERY DAY.

WE SEE THE TALL GRASS AND WEEDS. THEY, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF WOULD NOTICE IF IT'S PRETTY BLATANT WHEN THE TREE DIES OR THE SHRUB DIES, AND IT SHOULD BE AS PART OF THE LANDSCAPE MATERIAL AND WE CAN ADDRESS IT.

WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH JUST COMMERCIAL AND LEAVE THE RESIDENTIAL OUT OR IT'S TOTALLY OUT.

WE'RE ASKING FOR DIRECTION FROM YOU ON HOW YOU WANT TO MOVE IT.

I'LL LOOK AT IT AS ON RESIDENTIAL. THERE'S NOT THERE'S NOT A TON OF NEW LOTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THAT ARE NOT ALREADY IN HOAS.

SO WAYNE AND HIS CREW ARE NOT GOING TO BE REALLY HAVING TO MAINTAIN THE HOA IN THE WAY THAT IT LOOKS, OR IF YOU HAVE A TREE OR SHRUB OR A CACTUS DYING YOU KNOW, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIKE AN HOA, YOU DON'T LIKE AN HOA. I BELIEVE ALL THE NEW SUBDIVISIONS WILL HAVE THAT, AND THEY'LL BE THE ONES KIND OF MAINTAINING AND POLICING THEMSELVES.

MOST OF THESE NEW SUBDIVISIONS DO HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR YARDS AND SOLID YARDS, AND SO THEY MAY HAVE SOME CHANGES AS WE MOVE ALONG THROUGH THERE.

BUT AGAIN, LIKE COUNCILMAN ALLEN IS TALKING ABOUT THERE.

THAT'S USUALLY INTERNALLY REGULATED BY THE HOA.

WE WOULD NEED TO KEEP UP WITH COMMERCIAL, BUT AT LEAST WITH THIS, WE WOULD HAVE A SITE PLAN THAT SHOWED WHAT THEY SET IN THE PLACE IN THE FIRST PLACE ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. RIGHT. AND MOST OF THE RESIDENTIAL, LIKE WAYNE WAS TALKING ABOUT THEIR ALL PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS.

SO WE HAVE LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS ALREADY IN THERE.

IF THEY WANT TO AMEND ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AMEND THEIR PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. RIGHT.

SO I MISSED THE FIRST 2 MINUTES OF YOUR PRESENTATION.

CAN WE JUST AUTOMATICALLY RECOMMEND IRRIGATION, YOU KNOW, TO EDDIE'S POINT THAT IF YOU'RE IN A SUBDIVISION, MY HOA REQUIRES SPRINKLER SYSTEMS AND A FEW OTHER THINGS.

YEAH. SO IT DEPENDS ON FOR RESIDENTIAL, UNLESS YOU'RE IN A PLANNING DEVELOPMENT OR YOUR HOA REQUIRES THAT WE DON'T REQUIRE IRRIGATION, BUT ALL COMMERCIAL THEY HAVE TO HAVE A LANDSCAPE PLAN THAT'S APPROVED AND IRRIGATION IS PART OF THAT.

SO IT IS REQUIRED. SO THIS WOULD BE IF WE MOVE FORWARD THIS WOULD BE THE PROPOSED TIMELINE.

WE'LL TAKE IT TO PLANNING AND ZONING SEPTEMBER FOR DISCUSSION AND THEN OCTOBER TO OCTOBER 7TH, PLANNING AND ZONING FOR THE ORDINANCE. AND IT WOULD COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL, THE 13TH FOR THE 1ST READING AND THE 27TH FOR THE 2ND READING AND ADOPTION.

IF YOU GIVE US DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AMENDMENT.

ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS BY COUNCIL. HEY, LISA, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF DROUGHT PLANTS OUT THERE THAT ARE ACTUALLY TOXIC.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTROL THAT? WELL, WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT I CAN DO IS I CAN DO ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND GO BACK TO, LIKE, THE TEXAS SMARTSCAPE. THAT'S A PROGRAM.

WE CAN GET A BROCHURE AND A PAMPHLET, BUT WE CAN PUT THE APPROVED DROUGHT TOLERANT PLANTS IN THERE, WHETHER THEY'RE NATIVE OR NON-NATIVE. THEY CAN HAVE A MIX OF THAT.

BUT AS STAFF, WE CAN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME TO US WITH A PLAN.

AND THEN WE CAN COMPARE THAT. AND IF IT'S A TOXIC PLANT, WE CAN.

WE CAN SAY NO TOXIC PLANTS OR TOXIC PLANTS ARE PROHIBITED BY THIS ORDINANCE.

SURE.

SO WHAT STOPS SOMEONE FROM XEROSCAPING A CURRENT LAWN THAT THEY HAVE.

IF THEY DON'T, OR YOU ALL WOULD COME OUT AND SAY YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

YEAH. ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE THERE'S NOT A REQUIREMENT.

RIGHT. SO SOMEBODY DECIDED TO PULL UP ALL THEIR SOD AND PUT ROCK DOWN.

NOT REALLY MUCH. RIGHT. WITH THIS, WE COULD. THIS WOULD REQUIRE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LIVING MATERIAL TO BE INCLUDED WITH ANY TYPE OF XEROSCAPING. OKAY. I KNOW. THERE'S A A HOUSE

[01:10:10]

IN THE CITY THAT DID IT RECENTLY TO THEIR BACKYARD, WHICH AND IT MADE A MESS ALL OVER THE STREET WITH THE ROCKS WASHED INTO THE STREET AND MADE IT JUST.

IT WAS KIND OF A DISASTER FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DON'T KNOW, I DEFINITELY AM IN FAVOR OF COMMERCIAL BECAUSE WE WANT TO BRING THOSE FOLKS AS MUCH AS WE CAN. I DON'T REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RESIDENTIAL.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S STOPPING PEOPLE. LIKE LIKE I SAID, THERE'S NOT NOTHING REALLY STOPPING PEOPLE FROM DOING IT RIGHT NOW, AND NOBODY'S DOING IT. SO. OR I GUESS REALLY UNTIL AFTER THIS MEETING.

I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S MY 2 CENTS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I THINK PLANTS OR PLANTS, IF IT'S TOXIC. WE ALL HAVE TOXIC PLANTS IN OUR LANDSCAPES TODAY, AND I THINK WE NEED TO STOP TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN'T DO. I MEAN, IT'S ON, IT'S NOBODY'S GOING TO USE SOMETHING THAT THEY THINK IS GOING TO BE WRONG.

BUT YOU KNOW, KALE AT THE END OF THE DAY IS TOXIC.

THAT'S WHY IT TASTES BAD. YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING HAS ITS OWN LEVEL OF TOXICITY TO EACH PERSON.

AND I THINK WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT TELLING EVERYBODY WHAT TO DO AND NOT TO DO WITH THEIR OWN BACKYARDS AND THEIR FRONT YARDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

DID YOU SAY KALE IS TOXIC? IT IS. THAT'S WHY IT TASTES THE WAY IT DOES.

IT'S BITTER. IT'S ACTUALLY IT'S OWN PROTECTION TO KEEP YOU FROM EATING IT.[LAUGHTER] I GUESS.

LISA I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD LOOK INTO IT, BECAUSE THEY JUST HAD A SURVEY THAT CAME OUT IN DALLAS IN REGARDS TO IT, AND CERTAIN THERE ARE FEW TREES AND A FEW PLANTS OUT THERE THAT HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MAJOR MEDICAL ISSUES AS WELL AS DEATHS. OKAY. WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. ALL RIGHT.

SO MUCH FOR MY MARIJUANA. COUNCILMAN HILL, WOULD YOU WOULD YOU MIND SHARING THAT ARTICLE? DO YOU KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM? I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

YES. THANK YOU. OTHER COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

[12. COUNCIL TO CONSIDER NOMINATING CANDIDATES TO SERVE ON THE 2026 WISE COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.]

ITEM 12 COUNCIL TO CONSIDER NOMINATING CANDIDATES TO SERVE ON THE 2026 WISE COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

NATE. MAYOR. COUNCIL. YOU MAY REMEMBER THIS ITEM FROM LAST YEAR.

EVERY YEAR, EVERY YEAR AND ALL THE YEARS YOU'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.

SO ITEM 12 DETAILS THE TIMELINE FOR US TO SUBMIT OUR NOMINATIONS TO THE WISE COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SO NOMINATING PERIODS OPEN NOW.

IT WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 15TH. SO TO BE PREPARED IF WE WANT TO MAKE NOMINATIONS.

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT FIT FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THE WISE COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT, BE PREPARED TO GET THOSE TO US BEFORE OUR SEPTEMBER 22ND MEETING.

AT THAT SEPTEMBER 22ND MEETING WILL APPROVE A NOMINATION IF WE HAVE 1 OR 2 BY RESOLUTION, AND WE CAN NOMINATE UP TO 5 CANDIDATES. SO THIS IS JUST A DISCUSSION POINT.

SAVE THE DATE AND I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH AN EMAIL.

SO YOU HAVE THE TIMELINES. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL BENCHMARK. REMIND ME NATE, HOW IS THIS VOTED ON.

YEP. GREAT QUESTION. SO ON PAGE 136 OF YOUR PACKET, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO GO THERE, BUT IT GOES OFF OF LEVY 2 YEARS IN THE ARREARS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE OUR 2024 LEVY, THEY TAKE A PROPORTIONATE PERCENTAGE AND APPLY IT TO THE NUMBER OF VOTES.

SO LAST YEAR I BELIEVE WE RECEIVED 198 OR SO VOTES.

THIS YEAR WE'RE DUE UP FOR 218 VOTES AND THERE'S 5000 VOTES TOTAL ACROSS ALL THE TAXING UNITS IN THE COUNTY.

AND THANK YOU, JOSEPH. IT IS BROKEN OUT PROPORTIONATELY BASED ON THE LEVY FROM 2 YEARS AGO.

SO WE NOMINATE. WE NOMINATE 5 PEOPLE. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NOMINATES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.

EVERY TAXING ENTITY NOMINATES PEOPLE. YES, SIR.

EACH EACH VOTING ENTITY OR TAXING ENTITY GETS UP TO 5 CANDIDATES THEY CAN NOMINATE FROM THERE, STARTING OCTOBER 15TH, THEY'LL TURN THAT INTO A BALLOT.

AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU AND ASK YOU, HOW DO YOU WANT TO CAST YOUR 218 VOTES? OKAY. AND WE'LL PASS ANOTHER ACTION AT THAT POINT IN TIME TO EFFECTIVELY CAST THE BALLOT.

YOU HAVE THE RESULTS OF LAST. DID WE NOMINATE? IS IT HOW MANY? WHAT'S THE TERMS? HOW MANY YEARS IS IT YEARLY.

[01:15:01]

THAT WE DO THIS OR. IT'S EVERY 2 YEARS OR THEY OFFSET SEATS.THANK YOU. SUSIE. SUSIE TELLS ME YOU DID IT IN 23.

AND SO THEY SERVED FOR 2 YEAR TERMS, IN 23 WE SPLIT OUR VOTES EVENLY ACROSS THE CANDIDATES BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PRODUCE A CANDIDATE OUT OF THE CITY.

OKAY. DID ANY OF OUR CANDIDATES MAKE IT ONTO THE.

I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT. I CAN SEND IT TO YOU AS PART OF MY COMMUNICATION ON THIS.

BECAUSE IF WE ONLY NOMINATED ONE CANDIDATE, ALL OF OUR VOTES TO THAT ONE CANDIDATE, WE WOULD ACTUALLY GET A CANDIDATE ON THERE, CORRECT? I MEAN, THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF STRATEGY TO HOW WE GET SOMEBODY.

IN THEORY, 1 CANDIDATE WITH 218 VOTES WOULD PERFORM MUCH BETTER THAN SEVERAL CANDIDATES WITH SOME OF THE VOTES.

WE DID THAT IN 2021. WE DID THAT IN 21 AS WELL.

ALL THE VOTES WENT TO 2 CANDIDATES.

OKAY. JAKE WILL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT WHAT WE DID IN 23 AND 21, AND WE'LL MAKE THAT PART OF OUR COMMUNICATION.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS. QUESTIONS, SO I GUESS DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYONE TO NOMINATE? OTHERWISE I GUESS WE'LL BE THINKING ABOUT IT. PLEASE, PLEASE DO BE THINKING.

UNLESS YOU WANT TO PITCH A NAME RIGHT NOW AND SURPRISE THEM ON THE LIVE STREAM IF THEY HAPPEN TO BE WATCHING.

VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS?

[13. CONSIDER FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY CHARTER AND STATE LAW; PROVIDING FOR THE FILING OF THE BUDGET AS REPRESENTED IN DRAFT FORM; PROVIDING FOR THE INCORPORATION OF PREMISES; PROVIDING A CUMULATIVE REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE 2025-08-26]

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 13. CONSIDER THE 1ST READING OF AN ORDINANCE THAT A DECATUR, TEXAS, ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026.FASHION THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE 1ST READING OF OUR ORDINANCE TONIGHT, REDUCING THE NEED FOR A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.

JUST AS A REMINDER, IT'S A 1ST READING, BUT THIS IS THE ORDINANCE THAT WILL SET IN MOTION APPROVING OUR BUDGET.

SO IT STARTS ON PAGE 138 OF YOUR PACKET, AND YOU'LL SEE WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE AT OUR NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING, IT WILL BE A RECORD VOTE, APPROVING THE ORDINANCE, ESTABLISHING THE BUDGET.

AND THEN THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE VERY SIMILAR MAYOR.

ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS ON 13? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO 14.

[14. CONSIDER FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS APPROVING THE 2025 CERTIFIED APPRAISAL ROLL; LEVYING AD VALOREM TAXES FOR 2025 AT $0.565713 PER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ASSESSED VALUATION OF ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY TO PROVIDE REVENUES FOR CURRENT EXPENSES AND INTEREST AND SINKING FUND REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING DUE AND DELINQUENT DATES; PROVIDING FOR THE INCORPORATION OF PREMISES; PROVIDING A CUMULATIVE REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE 2025- 08-27]

THIS IS CONSIDERED 1ST READING OF AN ORDINANCE CITY DECATUR, TEXAS, APPROVING THE CERTIFIED APPRAISAL ROLE LEVYING THE AD VALOREM TAX.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS ITEM STARTS ON PAGE 142 OF YOUR PACKET.

IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE FOLLOWING ALONG, THIS ORDINANCE SETS IN MOTION YOUR TAX RATE, WHICH IS $0.565713, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A 2.05% DECREASE FROM OUR TAX RATE IN 2024. AND AGAIN, THIS ORDINANCE SUPPORTS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT WAS APPROVED BY VOTE TONIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD.

IF THERE ARE CHANGES MADE BETWEEN NOW AND OUR 2ND READING, THERE'S STILL TIME TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

BUT THIS IS YOUR 1ST READING. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 15.

[Items 15 & 17]

ITEM 15 DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION ON A 2ND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION FOR AMENDMENTS OF THE CITY CHARTER TO BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT FOR ELECTION. THIS ITEM WE'VE RECEIVED QUESTIONS ON THIS, AND WE WILL SEEK LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING ITEM 15 AND CONVENE INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER SECTION 551.071 OF THE TEXAS CODE OF GOVERNMENTS.

WE ALSO WILL CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS.PARDON ME.I'M GOING ON TO ANOTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.

CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY CONTRACTS UNDER HB 762.

SO EXECUTIVE SESSION 551.074 AND EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR 551.071.

AND WE WILL DO THAT EFFECTIVE 7:20.