>> BOARD MEETING AT 6:02. [NOISE] ALL RIGHT.
[00:00:04]
MOVING IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE TOURS MEETING.[QUARTERLY DEPARTMENT REPORTS]
I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER OUR WORKSHOP.FIRST ITEM IS PUBLIC WORKS AND AIRPORT. GREAT.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
THIS IS QUARTER 3, SUMMARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND AIRPORT.
I FIRST WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS AND THE COMPLAINTS YOU'VE BEEN HAVING TO TAKE CARE OF REGARDING OUR QUALITY OF WATER.
AS I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO OUR STAFF TOO THAT HAS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS EVERY DAY.
THE LAST MONTH HAS BEEN HORRIBLE.
NOTHING WORSE THAN TRYING TO ANSWER A QUESTION THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR.
MOTHER NATURE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR WATER.
I APOLOGIZE FOR YOU GUYS HAVING TO TAKE THE HEAT FOR PUBLIC WORKS WATER.
WE'RE BETTER THAN THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER WITH OUR PLAN EXPANSIONS.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO WITH THE EQUIPMENT AND CHEMICALS WE HAVE TODAY.
IF WE CAN GET TO LAKE TO TURNOVER, THEN WE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT I DO APOLOGIZE TO YOU GUYS FOR HAVING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS DAILY.
EVERYBODY, CITY MANAGER, COURT CLERK, GIRLS UP FRONT, FINANCE DIRECTOR, PUBLIC SAFETY THERE.
EVERYBODY'S HAVING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ALL DAY LONG EVERY DAY, SO I DO APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE.
>> JUST AS A REMINDER THOUGH, THE WATER CAN LOOK BAD, TASTE BAD, SMELL BAD, AND IT'S STILL SAFE TO DRINK, OKAY? WE WOULD NEVER KNOWINGLY PUT OUT WATER THAT'S NOT SAFE TO DRINK.
>> WELL GREG, I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS AT MY HOUSE, SO I'M GLAD I MISSED IT ALL. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M GLAD YOU DID TOO, BUT THERE'S PLENTY OUT THERE THAT ARE SUFFERING THROUGH IT.
EVEN NEXT DOOR TO ANNEX, THE HOT WATER, IT'S TERRIBLE.
IT'S NOT ONLY RESIDENTS, AT OUR CITY BUILDINGS TOO.
BUT AGAIN, WATER CAN LOOK BAD, TASTE BAD, SMELL BAD, AND STILL SAFE TO DRINK.
THIS IS JUST A REAL QUICK LITTLE GRAPHIC THAT SHOWS A LAKE TURNOVER. YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT THIS.
YOU PROBABLY STUDIED IT AND KNOW IT AND WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR MANY YEARS, AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, PROBABLY.
RIGHT NOW, THE WATER ON THE SURFACE IS WARM.
IT NEEDS TO GET COOL DOWN BY THE TEMPERATURE, WIND, AND THE COLD WATER WILL BE HEAVIER AND IT'LL GO TO THE BOTTOM AND IT'LL MIX THE WATER FROM THE BOTTOM AND BRING THE BAD STUFF UP TO THE TOP.
THE CITY'S INTAKE IS DOWN AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE LAKE, SO WE'RE GETTING ALL THE BAD WATER RIGHT NOW.
THE TURNOVER REGIONAL HAS A VALVE THAT'S NOT OPERATIONAL.
IN THE PAST, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP US SOMETIMES DEPENDING ON DOWNSTREAM, IF THEY CAN HANDLE, THEY CAN OPEN THAT VALVE AND GET SOME OF THAT BAD WATER OUT.
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
I'M HOPING BY THE END OF THE WEEK, HOPEFUL WE'LL BE ON A GOOD COURSE TO GET OUR GOOD WATER BACK.
BASICALLY WHAT I JUST EXPLAINED, THE FOUL ODORS AND GASES, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE LOW OXYGEN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE.
AGAIN, JUST MOTHER NATURE IS IN CONTROL OF MOST OF THIS RIGHT NOW.
I DO APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING, AND AGAIN, I DO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE IT'S BAD.
STICKING WITH THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, REMEMBER OUR PLANT CAPACITY IS THREE MILLION GALLONS A DAY, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE AVERAGING 1.33 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
THE LAKE AS OF 10/17, IT WAS 3.5 FOOT LOW.
I DIDN'T CHECK IT TODAY, BUT ABOUT 88% FULL.
AT OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, OUR PERMITTED ANNUAL AVERAGE FLOW THERE IS 1.2 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
REMEMBER OUR 75 AND 90% RULES.
THAT'S WHAT TRIGGERS ENGINEERING AND THEN CONSTRUCTION, 75 AND 90.
RIGHT NOW, OUR ANNUAL AVERAGE IS 778,000 GALLONS PER DAY OR 64%.
YOU GUYS KNOW WE KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THIS.
AT THE AIRPORT FOR QUARTER 3, YOU CAN SEE OUR DAILY OPERATIONS FOR VISITING AIRCRAFT WAS 18,000, BASICALLY, AND IN OUR BASED AIRCRAFT, 945, AND THEN QUARTER 1 THROUGH QUARTER 3, 51,034, VISITING AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS, 03,308 BASED AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS.
THIS JUST SHOWS OUR OPERATIONS PER HOUR.
[00:05:01]
IT LOOKS LIKE THE MOST PER HOUR OUT THERE IS BETWEEN 10:00 UP AROUND 2000 AND 10:00 A.M. SO 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 IS REAL BUSY AT THE AIRPORT.BUT THIS GIVES YOU A IDEA OF EACH HOUR, HOUR BY HOUR.
THEN OPERATIONS BY DAY OF THE WEEK, THE MOST LOOKS LIKE TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, REALLY, THEY'RE ALL SUNDAYS, THE LOWEST, WHICH COULD PROBABLY BE EXPECTED, BUT TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, REALLY, THEY'RE ALL BUSY DAYS OUT THERE.
WE'RE VERY BUSY AT THE AIRPORT.
FUEL SALES, REMEMBER, WE GET $0.09 PER GALLON.
RIGHT NOW, AS OF END OF SEPTEMBER, WE'VE COLLECTED $6,511.41.
811 DIG TEST, WE'RE PART OF THAT NOW.
TICKETS RECEIVED TO DATE, WE STARTED IN MARCH, 01,520 TICKETS WENT OUT AND LINE LOCATED.
A BREAKDOWN OF THE TICKET TYPE. I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL THESE.
ALL THIS STUFF IS IN THE FRIDAY REPORT AND THEN OF COURSE, IN THE PACKET.
BUT THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD DEAL FOR US TO JOIN THIS.
IT COSTS US A LITTLE BIT TO FOREVER LINE LOCATE.
WE HAVE TO DO IT, IT COSTS THE CITY, BUT IT KEEPS US MORE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
AS FAR AS OUR WATER METER CELLULAR UPGRADES.
TOTAL METERS IN THE SYSTEM, 2,951.
WE'VE UPGRADED 1,773 AND HAVE 1,178 TO GO.
WE'RE KNOCKING OUT ABOUT 30 TO 40 A DAY RIGHT NOW.
WE RAN INTO A LITTLE PROBLEM WITH THE METERS WE RECEIVED ARE NOT ASSIGNED TO THE CITY OF DECATUR, SO WE HAVE TO HOLD OFF A LITTLE BIT.
IT CAUSES PROBLEMS IN OUR BILLING.
WE GO INSTALL ON, IT HASN'T BEEN ASSIGNED TO US, AND IT JUST CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR BILLING, SO WE'RE GETTING THAT WORKED OUT.
>> SHOULD I REMIND SOMETHING ELSE. [LAUGHTER].
>> THEN JUST A REMINDER, WE'RE THE EYE ON WATER, WHAT CUSTOMERS CAN SEE THERE THEY CAN SET LEAK ALERTS AND SEE THEIR DAILY USAGE AND SET ALL THINGS TO LOOK AT.
AS FAR AS OUR TOTAL WORK ORDERS FOR QUARTER 3, 718.
WELL, WATER QUALITY MIGHT SURPASS THIS NEXT TIME, BUT JUST KIDDING.
CHIP BRUSH, EVERYBODY WORKS HARD EVERY DAY, BUT THESE GUYS ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY JUST CHIPPING BRUSH, AND YOU CAN TELL BY THE NUMBERS THERE.
LITTLE PROJECT WE'RE WORKING ON JONES PARK FOR THE PARKING ISSUES WE HAVE OUT THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO ADD ABOUT 40 MORE PARKING SPACES OUT THERE ALONG COUNTRY CLUB ROAD, RIGHT THERE, WHAT WE CALL THE PEACH ORCHARD.
THEN WE'LL HAVE A CONNECTING SIDEWALK TO THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.
JUST A FEW PICTURES, LIKE I SAID, THESE WERE IN YOUR PACKET.
JUST A FEW PICTURES OF THE GUYS WORKING AND THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING.
THIS IS A SPLASH PAD, FEW PICTURES FROM THE SPLASH PAD.
IT'S FURTHER LONG NOW THAN THESE PICTURES SHOW, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A REAL NICE PROJECT.
IT IS REALLY LOOKING GOOD UP THERE, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS PROJECT. THIS IS OUT AT PALOMA.
WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING OUT IS A LIME SLURRY, THAT STABILIZES A SUB-GRADE TO GIVE GOOD FOUNDATION FOR THE PAVEMENT. THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT.
NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE'LL START PAVING OUT THERE.
BEFORE LONG, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DRIVE OUT THERE AND NOT BE IN THE MUD AND EVERYTHING ELSE, SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS GOING TO BRING A LOT OF NEW HOMES TO THE CITY.
THIS IS THE OFFICE VILLAGES RIGHT THERE ACROSS FROM THE NEW POLICE STATION THOMPSON AND TRINITY.
IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THESE PICTURES NOW, THERE'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE.
THERE'S SOME PIPE LANE OUT ON THE GROUND AND THEY'RE STARTING TO INSTALL SOME WATER AND SANITARY SEWER.
A LOT OF STORM DRAIN UP THERE ON THE GROUND, STILL NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED.
THIS WAS JUST A LITTLE DRAINAGE PROJECT WE DID DOWN HERE ON THE SOUTH BUSINESS ROUTE.
THIS AREA WASN'T DRAINING REAL GOOD, SO WE WENT IN AND TRIED TO HELP IT AND CLEAN IT UP A LITTLE BIT AND MAKE THAT DRAIN A LITTLE BETTER.
THAT'S ALL, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN BE GLAD TO ANSWER.
[00:10:06]
>> THERE WE GO. OUR CURRENT CONDITIONS, WE CAN LOCK THE DOORS.
>> WITH THE HELP OF THE TECHNOLOGY OF DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, WE REPLACED THE WEST ENTRY DOORS COMPLETELY, AND SO THERE.
WE WERE NEVER UNLOCKED, BUT IT'S MUCH EASIER TO SECURE THE BUILDING NOW.
WE HAVE NEW MOTORS ON THOSE DOORS AS WELL AND THE MOTORS ARE WHAT MAKE THE AUTOMATIC DOOR, THE ONE YOU HIT THE WHEELCHAIR ACCESS BUTTON.
WE HAVE CONTRACTED EVERY SIX MONTHS FOR A LOCAL CARPET COMPANY TO COME AND CLEAN THE ENTIRE BUILDING BECAUSE IT'S JUST TOO MUCH FOR US AND OUR ONE LITTLE BIG, BUT NOT BIG ENOUGH [LAUGHTER] CARPET CLEANER.
THIS IS JUST FOR 25 VERSUS 24.
I WILL TELL YOU THE DIFFERENCE OF 18,300 IS BASICALLY A COUPLE OF QUINCEANERAS, AND WE JUST CAN'T CONTROL WHEN LADIES WERE BORN [LAUGHTER].
THE OCTOBER 25 NUMBERS ARE IN, AND IT LOOKS LIKE OUR MONTH THIS YEAR WILL BE 59,000.
THAT $26,600 DIFFERENCE IS BASICALLY DAZZLE, ADDYS HOPE AND A HOT TUB SHOW.
IT'S AMAZING HOW SO FEW EVENTS CAN MAKE SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE.
I STILL HAVE THE POWER, SORRY JOSEPH.
I WENT AHEAD AND PUT THIS SLIDE UP HERE JUST SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FIRST MONTH OF THE NEW QUARTER.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF EXCITING THINGS.
THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF VENUES AND FACILITIES WAS WITH US LAST WEEK.
GOT BURIED A LITTLE BIT WITH THE COURTHOUSE, ALL ALONG, BUT WE HAD OUR COLLEAGUES FROM ALL AROUND THE STATE AND THEY LOVED OUR FOOD.
THEY'VE NEVER BEEN SO WELL FED AT A CONFERENCE, AND THEY REALLY ENJOYED THE ATMOSPHERE THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE WITH OUR NEW CARPET, NEW PAINT AND EVERYTHING.
IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO IMPRESS YOUR COLLEAGUES.
TOMORROW IS THE JOINT CHAMBER ON IN THE STATE OF THE COUNTY BY JUDGE CLARK.
THEY'RE EXPECTING ABOUT 400 PEOPLE.
THERE'S ANOTHER BIG EVENT FOR US.
THIS IS GREEN GROUP, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE TCEQ PUBLIC FORUM FOR THE LANDFILL THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED FORWARD.
IN NOVEMBER, WE'RE STILL BUSY.
OUR NORMAL FOLKS, WE HAVE SWIRL IS OFF SITE, WE'LL BE DOING THAT.
WE HAVE THE HEROES GALA, WHICH WAS A NEW EVENT FOR US LAST YEAR.
IT'S A BIG GALA THAT THAT GROUP WORKS WITH NRS AND US TO PUT ON A WEEK LONG THING IT CULMINATES WITH THE GALA AT OUR PLACE.
I BROUGHT A FLYER AND SOME POSTCARDS, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THOSE HOME AND ORDER YOUR THANKSGIVING MEAL FROM US.
DECEMBER IS CRAZY, BUT GOOD CRAZY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF HOLIDAY PARTIES, FOOTBALL BANQUET, VOLLEYBALL BANQUET, PRIVATE ANNIVERSARY PARTY.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY IS THESE FOLKS HAVE HAD THEIR DAUGHTERS' QUINCEANERAS WITH US.
THEY HAVE A CHURCH FUNCTION WITH US EVERY YEAR, SO WE'RE JUST THEIR GO TO PLACE TO HAVE THEIR LIFE CELEBRATIONS AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE WANT TO BE.
>> THAT GETS US THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.
>> CARLA, I DON'T REALLY HAVE A QUESTION.
BUT I DID HAVE A CITIZEN THAT HADN'T BEEN IN THERE IN QUITE A LONG TIME, AND THEY WERE COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY ABOUT HOW THE BUILDING LOOKED, AND THEY SAID YOU CAN REALLY TELL CARLA CARES.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S MY WHOLE TEAM. IT'S NOT JUST CARLA.
>> HE SAID IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS BEFORE AND JUST BLOWN AWAY.
>> WELL, GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT JUST ME.
I HAVE A GREAT TEAM THAT ACTUALLY MAKES MY CRAZY IDEAS COME TO FRUITION.
>> I THINK THAT WILL WORK. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WAYNE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNSEL.
>> GOOD EVENING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH PERMITTING INSPECTIONS.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS LAST QUARTER.
WE DID PASS AN ORDINANCE THROUGH
[00:15:02]
CITY COUNCIL FOR THE REGULATION OF FRONT YARD FENCES AND FENCE REGULATIONS.THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING BIG THAT'S BEEN ON OUR PLATE FOR A WHILE.
WE'RE FINALLY ABLE TO GET OFF.
YOU'LL SEE LATER TONIGHT WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO TALK ABOUT EVENT PERMITTING ORDINANCE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS IN THE MAKING THAT WE'VE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WORKING THROUGH THAT.
WE DID FILL OUR INSPECTOR POSITION THAT WAS OPEN.
HE'S BEEN IN BUILDING INSPECTOR, HAZLETT, JUSTIN RECENTLY, AND COMES TO US, BRINGS A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE, SOME QUALIFICATIONS, AND THAT'S ALLOWED US TO STOP THE USE OF THIRD PARTY FOR INSPECTIONS.
ALL THE INSPECTIONS ARE BACK IN HOUSE.
KYLE BUDREAUX HAS COMPLETED THE HOURS TO SIT FOR THE PLUMBING INSPECTORS TEST.
HOPEFULLY, HE'S GOT HIS APPLICATION IN.
WE'RE WAITING FOR A TEST DATE ON THAT, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT PRETTY SOON.
AS FAR AS PERMITTING AND REVIEW FOR THE QUARTER, 342 PERMITS ISSUED, AND THAT BRINGS THE YEAR TO DATE TOTAL TO 815.
AS FAR AS REVIEWS, 216 FOR THE QUARTER AND 566 YEAR TO DATE SO FAR.
NOW, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
THERE'S A BILL PASSED SEVERAL LEGISLATIVE CYCLES AGO THAT WE COULDN'T ASK FOR THOSE VALUES ON THERE.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANYTHING ON SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, BUT YEAR TO DATE, ABOUT $25.5 MILLION IN VALUATION.
THIS IS PERMITS, PLAN REVIEWS, AND TECHNOLOGY FEES, COMES UP TO 475.9.
THAT'S THE PERMIT VALUATION GRAPH AND THE FEES GRAPH.
THE YELLOW IS WHERE WE STARTED TRACKING ONLY PERMIT FEES INSTEAD OF INCLUDING IMPACT FEES WITH THAT.
THE INSPECTIONS PORTION OF THE DIVISION HAS BEEN VERY BUSY.
YOU CAN SEE Q3 HAD 1,432 INSPECTIONS THAT WERE COMPLETED AND JUST UNDER 3,000 PER INSPECTIONS FOR THE YEAR COMPLETED SO FAR.
>> THOSE ARE NUMBERS THAT ARE BIGGER THAN ANYTHING WE'VE SEEN BEFORE, HAS A LOT TO DO WITH SOME OF THE HOUSING STARTS THAT WE'VE HAD ON THERE.
NEW SINGLE FAMILY PERMITS YEAR TO DATE IS 86.
OUR PAST FELL RATE IS STILL STANDING AT 81%.
ATLAS MUNICIPAL SERVICES WHERE WAS THE THIRD PARTY INSPECTION SERVICE THAT WE WERE USING, THEY COMPLETED 243 YEAR TO DATE.
THAT'S AS HIGH AS THAT'LL GET RIGHT NOW.
I WENT AHEAD AND PROVIDED THE PERMIT FEE COLLECTED WITH IMPACT FEES ON THERE BECAUSE THAT'S USUALLY THE NUMBER THAT I'M GIVING TO YOU.
IF YOU'LL REMEMBER BACK IN MARCH, COUNCIL PASSED A PERMIT FEE WAIVER FOR THE STORM DAMAGE FROM WHEN THE HIGH WINDS CAME THROUGH.
THERE WERE 29 RESIDENTIAL PERMITS AND EIGHT COMMERCIAL PERMITS THAT WENT THROUGH THAT PERMIT FEE WAIVER, AND SO THAT DID HELP OUR CITIZENS OUT A LOT WITH THIS.
HEALTH HAS BEEN VERY BUSY WORKING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED IN THIS LAST SESSION.
WE'RE WORKING ON FIGURING OUT EXACTLY HOW THAT IMPACTS US AND WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE CAN'T DO.
THE FOOD TRUCK FREEDOM BILL DOES GO INTO EFFECT IN JULY OF '26.
YOU'LL BE SEEING A REVISION TO THE HEALTH ORDINANCE THAT WILL REFLECT WHAT THAT LEGISLATION HAS CREATED ON THAT.
THIS LEGISLATION HAS MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE CITY'S ABILITY TO CHARGE CERTAIN FEES IN THERE, AND WE'VE ADAPTED THAT INTO OUR FEE STRUCTURE.
WE ARE COMPLIANT WITH THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE WORKING ON A FOG PROGRAM THAT IS FATS, OILS AND GREASES.
IS MAINLY HANDLED THROUGH THE INTERCEPTORS AT RESTAURANTS IS WHERE YOU GENERALLY SEE THESE AT.
WE'VE NEVER REALLY HAD AN OFFICIAL FOG PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, BUT IN COLLABORATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS,
[00:20:01]
WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT SO THAT WE CAN ESTABLISH ONE AND GET THE INTERCEPTORS THAT WE'VE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH BACK UNDER CONTROL.WE'RE TRACKING THOSE MORE APPROPRIATELY.
WE SEE THAT THERE WAS 60 PERMITS ISSUED IN Q3 FOR 165 TOTAL FOR THE YEAR SO FAR.
THEN 100 INSPECTIONS THIS QUARTER, 349 YEAR TO DATE.
JUST OVER $19,000 IN PERMIT FEES.
WE DID ISSUE SIX NEW FOOD ESTABLISHMENT PERMITS THIS QUARTER.
THERE'S 16 YEAR TO DATE ON THERE.
SEVEN MOBILE FOOD UNITS, AND EIGHT TEMPORARY EVENTS, AND NINE PLAN REVIEWS THIS QUARTER.
CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN WORKING THROUGH SOME DANGEROUS STRUCTURES.
WE'VE BEEN USING THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION TO KEEP THOSE MOVING ALONG.
OUR LATEST ONE WAS OVER ON WARD STREET.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT PROPERTY DEMOED.
THE PROPERTY OWNER DID IT ALL THEMSELVES, BUT IT IS A CLEARED PROPERTY NOW THAT CAN BE MAINTAINED A LOT EASIER.
WE'RE CURRENTLY TRACKING FOR PROPERTIES UNDER THIS DANGEROUS STRUCTURES ORDINANCE.
THEN CODE HAS BEGUN ISSUING NOTICES OF FENCE VIOLATIONS.
THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS NEW ORDINANCE THAT THE COUNCIL PASSED ON THAT.
THIRD QUARTER OPENED TO 115 CASES, YEAR TO DATE, 275 CLOSE TO 169 FOR THE YEAR, 61% CLOSURE RATE.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE NUMBERS THERE ON HIGH WEEDS AND GRASS, TRASH DEBRIS, AND OUTSIDE STORAGE, AND WORKING WITHOUT A PERMIT.
SEVEN POOL VIOLATIONS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER AND THAT MAKES A TOTAL OF 14 FOR THE YEAR.
PLANNING HAS BEEN WORKING OR HAS WORKED ON THE FEE SCHEDULE REVISION. WE TRACKED IT BACK.
IT'S BEEN RIGHT ABOUT 12-15 YEARS SINCE THOSE FEES HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED.
WE DO HAVE SOME NEW FEES THAT ARE IN THERE.
WE'VE CONSOLIDATED SOME OF THOSE THINGS, MADE THEM A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO USE.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COMPLETED DURING THIS TIME.
WE'VE INITIATED THE XERISCAPE ORDINANCE.
WE BROUGHT IT TO YOU FOR A DISCUSSION ITEM A FEW WEEKS AGO.
WE DO HAVE IT ON FOR A FIRST READING TONIGHT.
LISA HAS ALSO BEEN VERY BUSY WITH AN RFP FOR THE RESILIENCY GRANT FROM THE GENERAL AND OFFICE TO ASSIST WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT, ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS.
THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE TO REVIEW AND AWARD BIDS SOMETIME IN NOVEMBER.
HAD 221 APPLICATIONS FOR THIRD QUARTER AND 612 FOR THE YEAR.
YOU SEE THERE FOR THIRD QUARTER OF '25 PRE-DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN STUDIO MEETINGS.
WE'RE HAVING QUITE A FEW OF THOSE ONE ANNEXATION, TWO SPECIFIC USE PERMITS, AND A BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT APPLICATION.
APPLICATION FEES FOR 2025, THIRD QUARTER 4,600, AND FOR YEAR TO DATE, JUST OVER $30,000.
WE HAVE HIRED A NEW GIS ANALYST.
IF ANYBODY HASN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET TUCKER CURRY.
HE'S A VERY EXCITING YOUNG MAN THAT'S COME TO WORK FORCE. VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.
HE'S CURRENTLY COORDINATING LICENSE MIGRATION FOR OUR GIS PRO PLATFORM.
IT'S MIGRATING TO A NEW TYPE OF PLATFORM AND HE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF GETTING ALL THOSE THINGS TAKEN CARE OF SO THAT EVERYTHING'S IN THE CLOUD WITH THIS MOVING FORWARD.
HE HASN'T DONE ALL OF THESE THINGS, BUT YEAR TO DATE, WE'VE CREATED 195 MAPS.
YOU CAN SEE THERE THE Q3 INFORMATION FOR ADDRESS VERIFICATION PLAT CASES.
ONE THING THAT I WOULD SAY HE'S COMPLETELY RESPONSIBLE FOR IS THAT PLAT SCANNED AND FILED.
HE'S BEEN VERY BUSY CATCHING UP ON THAT AND GETTING ALL THOSE PLATS OVER HERE TO THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE TO RECORD THOSE.
THAT'S A PRESENTATION. ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE?
>> ONCE AGAIN, NOT A QUESTION, BUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, I MOVED MY SON OVER INTO CHISHOLM TRAIL AND I RAN INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
HE HAD NOTHING, BUT GREAT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT
[00:25:02]
YOUR DEPARTMENT AND HOW EASY YOU ALL WERE TO WORK WITH AND CONSISTENT.HE SAYS HE DOES PROJECTS ALL THE WAY FROM NORTH TEXAS AND DOWN INTO THE AUSTIN AREA, AND HE'D LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AGAIN.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE I KNOW ALL YOU EVER GET IS COMPLAINTS, PROBABLY, BUT AWESOME JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM THAT WE'VE ASSEMBLED OVER THERE RIGHT NOW.
THE GUYS AND THE GIRLS OVER THERE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET THIS DEPARTMENT HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. I APPRECIATE IT.
WE HAVE ONE MORE REPORT THAT'S THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. CHIEF.
>> I WANT TO THANK WAYNE FOR TAKING ON A FOG PROGRAM.
THIS IS THIRD QUARTER 360 VIEW OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
INCIDENTS IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
ONE THING THAT I ALWAYS BRING TO YOU ALL TO LET YOU KNOW IS 256 TIMES OUT OF THAT 832 WAS TWO OR MORE 911 CALLS GOING ON AT ONE TIME.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE TRACK A LOT OF.
THE TOTAL FOR QUARTER 1 THROUGH QUARTER 3, WE'RE AT 2,656, AND THAT WAS AT NOON TODAY, AND THERE'S BEEN ABOUT SEVEN SINCE THEN, SO NOW WE'RE UP MORE.
THEN OUR FIRE RECOVERY, THAT'S OUR SYSTEM THAT WE GO BACK AND BILL INSURANCES FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD OR CHIEF BOYD HAS TO GET THAT UP.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN SEE HERE IN THIRD QUARTER, 21, 889 SUBMITTED, AND WE'VE GOT 7,464.64 BACK.
OUR TOTAL IN COMPARISON, WE'RE JUST 17,000 AWAY WITH ONE QUARTER LEFT TO GO OVER AND BASICALLY $1,100 AND WE'LL GO OVER WHAT WE MADE.
EVERY QUARTER RUNS BETWEEN SEVEN AND 10,000.
I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB THIS YEAR.
A LOT OF THE TIME, THESE NUMBERS COME BACK AND FORTH WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES AND FIRE RECOVERY.
THERE'S TIMES THAT WE MAY GET MONEY FROM QUARTER 2 THAT WAS SUBMITTED IN THE END OF THE YEAR.
THERE WAS 113 INSPECTIONS DONE, 94 OF THOSE BUSINESS.
I WOULD SAY THAT'S PURSUANT TO US HAVING A INSPECTOR, AND THAT'S WHAT SHE DOES IS THE STANDARD ANNUAL INSPECTIONS.
WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO WORK ON THAT BEING DONE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WHICH, AGAIN, I ALWAYS SAID, BUT THAT TIES TO ISO RATINGS.
THEY ATTENDED 63 MEETINGS, ONLY FIVE FOOD TRUCKS THIS TIME.
THEY DID 44 PLAN REVIEWS, PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE HAD 15 EVENTS, CPR CLASSES.
THERE WAS ONLY TWO, WHICH IS PRETTY COMMON.
THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR, THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL AND PEOPLE AREN'T COMING.
THEN I ALWAYS LIKE TO THROW IN THERE AND THERE'S FIVE MORE HOMES THAT HAS SMOKE DETECTORS TO HELP THEM BE SAFE.
AS FAR AS PERMIT FEES, THIRD QUARTER, CONSTRUCTION, THERE WAS NINE FOR 3,150.
GOVELL, WHICH IS THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS WE'VE INCORPORATED THERE THAT AUTOMATICALLY CHARGES THROUGH THERE SO THE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO COME TO OUR OFFICE.
THAT'S AT 2,372.13 WITH A TOTAL OF 5,522.13.
TRAINING. OBVIOUSLY, AGAIN, WE'RE GETTING INTO THE FALL MONTHS AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
JULY WAS AT 190, AUGUST, 205, SEPTEMBER, 160 WITH A TOTAL OF 555 HOURS.
WHAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN DOING NOW IS WE'RE BRINGING YOU THE HOURS THAT ARE SPENT IN CLASSROOMS, ONLINE CLASSROOMS, OR WHERE THEY TRAVEL TO ANOTHER PLACE.
THAT'S NOT THE DAILY TRAINING THAT THEY DO IN-HOUSE.
FRIENDLY REMINDER, NOVEMBER THE 5TH, YOU SHOULD EVERYBODY GOT A COIN LAND YOUR SEAT POSITION.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY CHIEF SMITH BACK THERE HAD THE IDEA OF DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND WE DID A COIN INSTEAD OF LITTLE SHOVELS.
HOPEFULLY, EVERYBODY ENJOYS THOSE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST.
ONE OF MY FAVORITES PHOTOS, I USE EVERY TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> I APPRECIATE IT. THAT GETS US TO OUR CONCLUSION OF OUR WORKSHOP,
[00:30:06]
SO WE'LL CLOSE OUR WORKSHOP AT 6:32, AND WE WILL GAVEL INTO OUR NORMAL MEETING AT 6:32.[CALL TO ORDER]
IF YOU ARE ABLE TO STAND, JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.AT THIS TIME IF YOU JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AT THIS TIME, I HAVE A PROCLAMATION AND I'D ASK COUNCIL TO JOIN ME UP FRONT.
THIS IS A PROCLAMATION ON OUR MUNICIPAL COURT.
I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR MUNICIPAL COURT PARTICIPANTS TO JOIN US AS WELL.
I WOULD LOVE, IT'S REALLY GREAT THAT WE DO HAVE THE JUDGE WITH US AS WELL.
JUDGE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN US. I KNOW.
WELL, THIS IS NICE THAT WE'RE DOING A PROCLAMATION OF ALL NIGHTS, AND YOU'RE HERE, SO WE APPRECIATE.
IT'S LIKE, THANK YOU. COME ON IN.
WHEREAS, MUNICIPAL COURTS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WHEREAS MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, AND COURT PERSONNEL ENSURE THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF PEOPLE ARE OBSERVED AND RESPECTED, AND THEY SERVE AS THE FRONTLINE OF THE TEXAS JUDICIARY, ADDRESSING A WIDE RANGE OF CASES FROM TRAFFIC CITATIONS OR ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS, AND WHEREAS THE MUNICIPAL COURTS HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE RULE OF LAW AND PROMOTE PUBLIC TRUST IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM BY PROVIDING FAIR, IMPARTIAL AND TIMELY JUSTICE.
WHEREAS, THE CITY OF DECATUR IS COMMITTED TO THE NOTATION OF OUR LEGAL SYSTEM IS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES THAT AN INDEPENDENT, FAIR, AND COMPETENT JUDICIARY WILL INTERPRET AND APPLY THE LAW AND GOVERN US AND THAT JUDGES AND COURT PERSONNEL SHOULD COMPLY WITH THE LAW AND ACT IN A MANNER THAT PROMOTES PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE INTEGRITY AND IMPARTIALITY OF THE JUDICIARY.
WHEREAS, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MUNICIPAL COURTS AND THEIR STAFF TO THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I MIKE MCQUISTON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR DO, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 3RD, 2025 AS MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK.
[APPLAUSE] DO YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS?
>> I JUST WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME INTO OUR OPEN DOCKET ON NOVEMBER THE 19TH, 11:00 IN THE MORNING.
THEN THE WEEK FROM NOVEMBER THE 3RD THROUGH THE 7TH, I'LL HAVE SOME PAMPHLETS FOR MUNICIPAL COURT, IF YOU GUYS WANT TO COME GRAB, SO MAYBE I'LL GET SOME TREATS.
FEEL FREE TO COME BY COURT AND SEE US.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
NATE, IS THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE WE GET TO ITEM 1?
>> DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT?
>> WE WILL OPEN UP ITEM 2 FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:36.
[2. CP-25-0003 – PUBLIC HEARING AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY’S COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE MAP TO CHANGE THE FOLLOWING LAND USE DESIGNATIONS FROM ESTATE LIVING (EL) TO COMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD (CN) ON AN APPROXIMATELY 0.422-ACRE TRACT OF LAND SITUATED IN THE HD DONALD SURVEY, ABSTRACT NO. 1158, WISE COUNTY, TEXAS, AND BEING PART OF CALLED 1.205 ACRE TRACT OF LAND DESCRIBED IN A WARRANTY DEED TO AMERICAN TOWER MANAGEMENT, INC., RECORDED IN VOLUME 946, PAGE 311, DEED RECORDS OF WISE COUNTY, TEXAS. (PALOMA TRAILS) ]
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS REGARDING THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE LAND MAP TO CHANGE THE FOLLOWING LAND USE DESIGNATIONS FROM A STATE LIVING EL TO COMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD, CN.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
IF YOU REMEMBER, THERE WAS A ANNEXATION THAT CAME THROUGH FOR RIGHT OF WAY FOR PALMA TROLLS.
THIS IS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT FOR THAT PORTION THAT WAS ANNEXED ON THIS.
THAT'S THE SECOND OF THE THREE APPLICATIONS WITH THE FIRST OF THEM BEING THE ANNEXATION.
IT IS FOR THE RIGHT OF WAY THAT GOES ALONG THAT PALMA TROLLS BOULEVARD.
CITY COUNCIL DID APPROVE THE ANNEXATION AND WENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ANNEXATION OF THAT RIGHT OF WAY.
IT IS TO BE DEDICATED AS RIGHT OF WAY TO THE CITY OF DECATUR,
[00:35:03]
AND THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.THERE WERE NOTIFICATIONS FROM NINE PROPERTY OWNERS.
NO FORMAL RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED ON THAT.
WE DID RECEIVE A FEW PHONE CALLS ON IT ASKING WHAT THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHING WITH THIS.
IT WAS MAINLY WITH THE ANNEXATION PORTION OF THIS, BUT WE LET THEM KNOW THAT IT HAD A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT AND ZONING THAT WOULD COME BEHIND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
>> THE CURRENT LAND USE ON THIS IS A STATE LIVING AND THE PROPOSED LAND USE IS COMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF CP-25-0003, AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 6-0.
>> DO WE HAVE ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC WANTING TO MAKE COMMENT ON THIS ITEM?
>> HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, MAYOR.
>> ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED?
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS ITEM AT 6:38.
[3. PD-25-0003 – PUBLIC HEARING AND DISCUSSION, AND REGARDING THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY’S ZONING ORDINANCE AND OFFICIAL ZONING MAP TO CHANGE THE EXISTING ZONING DESIGNATION FROM EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION (ETJ) TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (PD) ON AN APPROXIMATELY 0.422 ACRE TRACT OF LAND SITUATED IN THE HD DONALD SURVEY, ABSTRACT NO. 1158, WISE COUNTY, TEXAS, AND BEING PART OF CALLED 1.205 ACRE TRACT OF LAND DESCRIBED IN A WARRANTY DEED TO AMERICAN TOWER MANAGEMENT, INC., RECORDED IN VOLUME 946, PAGE 311, DEED RECORDS OF WISE COUNTY, TEXAS. (PALOMA TRAILS) ]
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ITEM AT 6:39.>> THIS IS THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE FOR THIS PALOMA TRAILS RIGHT-OF-WAYS.
THIS IS THE THIRD OF THREE APPLICATIONS RELATED TO THE ANNEXATION OF THAT RIGHT-OF-WAY.
THE REZONING OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IN THE PROPERTY, IT WAS ANNEXED INTO THE CITY.
CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE RESOLUTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ANNEXATION.
OF COURSE, THIS RIGHT-OF-WAY JUST LIKE BEFORE IS TO BE DEDICATED TO THE CITY OF DECATUR RIGHT-OF-WAY.
CURRENT LAND USE, THIS IS 2CP.
THIRD APPLICATION. THIS IS THE REZONING OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY PROPERTY AND EXTEND TO THE CITY.
OF COURSE, IT IS TO BE DEDICATED TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.
NINE PROPERTY OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED, NO FORMAL RESPONSES.
THE EXISTING ZONING ON THAT IS EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, AND IT'S BEING PROPOSED AS A PLAN DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WILL FALL IN LINE WITH THE PALOMA TRAILS DEVELOPMENT.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF PD-25-0003, AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 6-0.
>> VERY GOOD. DO WE HAVE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC FOR COMMENT ON THIS ITEM?
>> COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WE WILL CLOSE THAT ITEM AT 6:40.
WE WILL OPEN UP ITEM 4 AT 6:40. WAYNE.
[4. SI-25-0003 – PUBLIC HEARING AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS, AMENDING APPENDIX “A,” “DECATUR SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE,” APPENDIX I – “DESIGN STANDARDS,” CHAPTER 1. – “DESIGN CRITERIA,” SECTION 107, “LANDSCAPE DESIGN,” ADDING SUBSECTION 107.1.1 “DEFINITIONS,” ADDING SUBSECTION 107.4.1 “PERMIT REQUIREMENTS,” AND AMENDING SUBSECTION 107.6, “XERISCAPING REQUIREMENTS,” PROVIDING FOR UPDATED REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO XERISCAPING.]
THIS IS A STAFF-INITIATED XERISCAPING ORDINANCE.
CURRENTLY, THAT XERISCAPING IS ONLY RECOGNIZED IN THE INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.
THE PRINCIPLES OF THAT XERISCAPING INCLUDE WATER CONSERVATION, SOIL IMPROVEMENT, LIMITING THE TURF AREAS, USING NATIVE PLANTS, USING EFFECTIVE IRRIGATION AND SUSTAINABLE MAINTENANCE.
TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE DOES ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES TO ADOPT A XERISCAPING ORDINANCE.
SOME OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN THIS IS GOING TO ADD SOME DEFINITIONS IN THERE.
THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC THINGS TO XERISCAPING.
IT WAS A VERY GLANCING ORDINANCE THAT WE HAD ADOPTED BEFORE.
THIS DOES HAVE A LOT MORE MEAT TO IT, A LOT MORE SUBSTANCE, AND PROVIDES A LOT MORE STRUCTURE FOR THE XERISCAPING.
DID ADD SOME PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS FOR IRRIGATION AND BACKFLOW.
IT DOES CLEAR THOSE UP FOR WHERE THEY'RE REQUIRED AND WHAT'S REQUIRED FOR THOSE.
IT WOULD PERMIT THE XERISCAPING IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS WITH CERTAIN REGULATIONS.
WE'LL COVER SOME OF THAT HERE IN SOME OF THE OTHER SLIDES.
WE DO ADD A TABLE IN THERE THAT TALKS ABOUT PERMITTED TREES,
[00:40:03]
SHRUBS, AND GROUND COVERS.WE DID LOOK INTO THIS, WE DID NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT WAS POISONOUS IN NATURE THAT WE COULD FIND IN ANY OF THOSE.
THESE ARE ALL RECOMMENDED THROUGH A TEXAS-BASED SITE FOR XERISCAPING USE.
ONE OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT WE HAD IN THERE, WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP WITH THE PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION.
THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ARTIFICIAL TURF AND HOW THAT WAS PUT IN.
LISA DID A PRETTY DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT WAS REQUIRED ON THAT.
LOOKING AT THE WEIGHTING AND THE DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS AND WHAT ALL WAS INVOLVED WITH PUTTING IN THAT ARTIFICIAL TURF.
THERE'S A LOT OF MAINTENANCE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONSIDERATION TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR THAT DRAINAGE.
THEN, OF COURSE, IF ANY OF IT ENDS UP BACK IN A RIGHT-OF-WAY OR A DRAINAGE EASEMENT, IF IT GETS DAMAGED, WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO GROW BACK.
ALL OF THOSE WERE ADDED IN THERE HAVING A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT WHEN IT IS IN THAT DRAINAGE EASEMENT OR RIGHT-OF-WAY.
RESIDENTIAL XERISCAPING REQUIREMENTS.
A MINIMUM PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL LOT AREA OF THE PROPERTY ON A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OCCURS SHALL BE DEVOTED TO TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPING WITH THE SINGLE-FAMILY OR DUPLEX DWELLINGS AT 35% HAVE TO BE TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPING.
ARTIFICIAL TURF SHALL BE LIMITED TO 40% OF ANY REQUIRED LANDSCAPING ON THERE.
THAT WAY, IT'S NOT ALL JUST GOING TO ARTIFICIAL TURF OR XERISCAPING, THERE'S STILL SOME TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.
THE SAME REQUIREMENTS BUT WITH COMMERCIAL USES BEING AT 10% OF TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPING, AS WELL AS INDUSTRIAL USES, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND PHILANTHROPIC USES WOULD BE AT 20%.
ARTIFICIAL TURF WOULD BE LIMITED TO 50% OF THE REQUIRED LANDSCAPING IN THERE.
BOTH OF THESE, WHETHER IT'S RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL, COULD BE CHANGED THROUGH A PD ORDINANCE WHEN IT COMES FORWARD.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THOSE PD ORDINANCES AS THEY MOVE FORWARD.
THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE GROUND COVER REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST HAVING EXPOSED SOILS THAT ARE LEFT OUT THERE.
SO WE ADDED SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT ALL EXPOSED SOILS HAVE TO BE COVERED SO WE DON'T HAVE THE EROSION PROBLEMS GOING ON WITH ANY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF IS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF STAFF INITIATED 25-0003, AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ALSO RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AT 6-0.
>> DO WE HAVE ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM?
>> WAYNE, ON THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT TURF, HOW DOES THAT LANGUAGE READ? LIKE OR NOT EVEN DRAINAGE EASEMENT, JUST PUBLIC EASEMENTS.
IF I WERE TO PUT TURF IN MY FRONT YARD AND PART OF THAT'S A CITY EASEMENT, AND THE CITY HAS TO GET IN THERE AND THEY TEAR UP THE TURF.
THAT'S ON THE HOMEOWNER TO REPLACE THAT TURF.
>> YES, SIR. AS WE PERMIT THESE, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS IS GOING TO DO IS IT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO BE IN THERE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THESE WHOLE HARMLESS AGREEMENTS IN THERE AND THAT THE RESIDENT OR THE BUSINESS OWNER IS AWARE.
IF I PUT THIS INTO SOME TYPE OF AN EASEMENT OR A RIGHT-OF-WAY, IF IT GETS DAMAGED, IT'S ON YOU TO REPLACE IT.
THOSE AREAS COULD BE THAT TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPING AREAS THAT THEY USED SO THAT THOSE COULD GROW BACK EASIER.
>> WHAT IS IT RIGHT NOW IF I HAVE SOD AND NICE GRASS AND AN EASEMENT AND THE CITY COMES AND TEARS IT UP, IS THAT ON THE HOMEOWNER TO FIX IT OR.
>> GENERALLY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THIS, BUT I THINK THAT WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL FILL THAT BACK IN.
THEY CAME AND THEY'VE WORKED AT MY HOUSE WITH THE WATER METERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHAT THEY TRY TO DO IS THEY TRY TO REMOVE THAT GRASS THAT'S IN AROUND THAT AREA, SET IT TO THE SIDE, AND THEN THEY PUT IT BACK IN WHENEVER THEY'RE FINISHED.
THAT'S BEEN GENERALLY WHAT WE SEE HAPPEN ON THAT.
[00:45:01]
IT COMES OUT OF GREG'S PERSONAL BUDGET?>> NOW, THAT I COULDN'T TELL YOU.
>> THAT TURFS EXPENSIVE, GREG.
>> WAYNE, ON THE SECOND OF THE LINT SLIDE, IT SAID GROUND COVER TALLER THAN 12 INCHES?
>> YES. NOW THAT'S NOT TALKING ABOUT SHRUBS AND TREES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT WILL GROW UP OUT THERE.
IF YOU'RE USING SOME TYPE OF GROUND COVER VINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO KEEP IT DOWN.
>> VERY GOOD. OTHER QUESTIONS? WE'LL CLOSE THIS ITEM AT 6:48.
MOVING ON WE HAVE NON PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS, ITEM 5,
[5. V-25-0003 – A VARIANCE REQUEST BY KEVIN HOLZBOG, ON BEHALF OF THE DECATUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (EDC), REQUESTING TO INSTALL A REAL ESTATE (FOR SALE) SIGN THAT IS FIFTEEN (15) FEET IN HEIGHT AND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY (160) SQUARE FEET IN AREA, WHICH EXCEEDS THE PERMITTED HEIGHT OF SIX (6) FEET, AND EXCEEDS THE PERMITTED MAXIMUM SIGN AREA OF THIRTY-TWO (32) SQUARE FEET. THE PROPOSED SIGN WILL BE LOCATED WITHIN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK, ON DECATUR EDC-OWNED PROPERTY, A-401 A HERNANDEZ, PARCEL ID 739553, DECATUR, TEXAS. THIS IS A VARIANCE TO THE DECATUR CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 15, SECTION 15-22 (8)(A)(C). (DECATUR EDC) ]
A VARIANCE REQUEST BY KEVIN HOLZBOG ON BEHALF OF THE DECATUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.>> THIS ONE IS ALSO COMING FROM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
OUR EDC CAME TO US WEEK OR SO AGO ABOUT A FOUR-CELL SIGN THAT THEY WANTED TO PUT UP.
WE LOOKED THROUGH THE ORDINANCE AND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS WOULD FIT IN WITH THE ORDINANCE.
THE PROPOSED SIGN WAS PRETTY LARGE IN SIZE AT 160 SQUARE FEET IN AREA.
THE SIGN ORDINANCE ALLOWS FOR REAL ESTATE SIGNS AT 32 SQUARE FEET AND SIX FOOT IN HEIGHT WHILE THE PROPOSED SIGN IS 160 SQUARE FEET IN AREA AND 15 FEET IN HEIGHT.
THERE ARE SOME SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY'RE NEEDING TO DO TO BE ABLE TO BE SEEN WITH THIS.
THE CODE DOES PERMIT FOR REAL ESTATE SIGNS WITH SIZE RESTRICTIONS.
THE SIGN HAS TO BE LOCATED ON A VACANT LOT AT THE INDUSTRIAL PARK OWNED BY THE EDC, AND IT NEEDS TO BE VISIBLE FROM US 287.
YOU CAN SEE THE PROPOSED LOCATION OF WHERE THAT SIGN WOULD BE BASED OFF OF WHERE 287 IS LOCATED.
YOU NEED THAT HEIGHT AND AREA TO BE ABLE TO BE SEEN.
CHAPTER 15, SECTION 15-67 PERMITS CITY COUNCIL TO GRANT A VARIANCE.
VARIANCE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE ENFORCEMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS PREVENTS ANY REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SIGNS ON THE SITE OR CONSIDER THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF A SITE, INCLUDING ITS DIMENSIONS, LANDSCAPING, OR TOPOGRAPHY.
YOU CAN SAY THIS IS VERY CLEARLY WOULD FALL INTO THOSE AREAS.
TO BE VISIBLE FROM 287, THE SIGN NEEDS TO BE LARGER THAN THE CODE PERMITS.
IT IS PROPOSED AS A SALE LEASE SIGN, AND SO THAT WOULD BE THE CONDITION OF THE VARIANCE IS THAT IT IS A FOR SALE OR LEASE SIGN.
IT'S OUT THERE. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SUPPORTS THIS AND RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
>> MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE VARIANCE V-25-0003.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[6. CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE A WARRANTY DEED FROM TODD WINTTERS (PALOMA TRAILS) CONVEYING OWNERSHIP OF THE AMERICAN TOWER TRACT TO THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS, AND DIRECTING THE CITY SECRETARY TO FILE THE DEED IN THE PROPERTY RECORDS OF WISE COUNTY.]
ITEM 6, CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE A WARRANTY DEED FROM TODD WINTERS.>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, YOU HEARD WAYNE MENTION ON ITEMS 2 AND 3 RELATED TO PALOMA TRAILS, THAT THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION FOR THOSE ITEMS WAS PROPOSED TO BE DEEDED TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.
ITEM 6 ALLOWS FOR THAT DEEDING PROCESS TO TAKE PLACE.
IT ALLOWS FOR THE CITY SECRETARY TO FILE SAID WARRANTY DEED IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACE, AND EVENTUALLY THAT WILL BECOME CITY STREET.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ON THIS ITEM.
>> COUNCIL, QUESTIONS. LOOK PROMOTION.
>> MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE A WARRANTY DEED FROM TODD WINTERS WITH PALOMA TRAILS CONVEYING THE OWNERSHIP OF THE AMERICAN TOWER TRUCK TO BE DEEDED TO THE CITY OF DECATUR AND DIRECTING THE CITY SECRETARY TO FILE THE DEED IN THE PROPERTY RECORDS OF WISE COUNTY.
>> WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THANK YOU. ITEM 7, EVENT ORDINANCE.
[7. EVENT ORDINANCE – DISCUSSION ITEM – DUE TO THEIR SIZE AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, SOME GATHERINGS OR ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES MAY PLACE UNIQUE DEMANDS ON RESOURCES OR POSE A DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, OR WELFARE. TO PROPERLY PLAN FOR THESE DEMANDS ON PUBLIC RESOURCES AND TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ARE PROTECTED, THE CITY MUST RECEIVE ADVANCE NOTICE OF THESE SPECIAL EVENTS. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE ARE INTENDED TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO PLACE AN UNNECESSARY BURDEN ON ANY INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO ASSOCIATION OR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. ]
[00:50:01]
>> YOU HEARD ME MENTIONED DURING MY STAFF REPORT ABOUT EVENT ORDINANCES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHENEVER I FIRST CAME BACK TO DECATUR, SOMETHING THAT CHIEF CAMPBELL APPROACHED ME WITH AND SAID, LOOK, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THIS AND FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH THIS.
YOU CAN SEE THIS IS THE ONE THAT I'VE SENT YOU.
WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME GRAPPLING WITH THIS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW IT FITS IN TO THE CITY OF DECATUR AND EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED TO PROVIDE FOR THAT.
WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT IS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 7, WHICH IS THE LICENSING AND BUSINESS REGULATION.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS NOT A SINGLE ORDINANCE THAT SPECIFICALLY REGULATES SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
THESE SPECIAL EVENTS BRIDGE MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND CAN HAVE IMPACTS ON EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL ASPECTS THAT ARE REGULATED THROUGH THE ORDINANCE ARE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE CODE IN DIFFERENT PLACES, WHETHER IT'S STREET CLOSURES, FOOD PERMITTING, TENTS, USE OF CITY SERVICES.
WHAT OUR HOPE IS IS TO BRING THESE IN TO ONE UMBRELLA WHERE SOMEONE CAN COME IN AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S REQUIRED FOR A SPECIAL EVENT.
THE INTENT IS TO PROVIDE A SINGLE ORDINANCE TO ENSURE THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE THE ADVANCED NOTICES THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO BE AWARE OF EXPECTATIONS FOR WHAT A SPECIAL EVENT WILL NEED AND THAT APPLICANTS HAVE EASILY ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CLEAR LANGUAGE TO HOLD A SPECIAL EVENT.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS JUST TO SEEK CITY COUNCIL FEEDBACK AND DIRECTION ON ADDING ARTICLE 8 FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
WE FEEL LIKE THIS ENCOURAGES ORGANIZER ACCOUNTABILITY AND SITE MAINTENANCE.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WAS VETTED AGAINST A LOT OF PEER CITIES AND WE WENT IN AND LOOKED AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT CITIES AND HOW THEIR ORDINANCES WOULD ALIGN WITH WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING.
THEY ALIGN WITH OR EXCEED WHAT OUR PEER CITY'S STANDARDS ARE.
WE FEEL LIKE IT STRENGTHENS THE PUBLIC ACCESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OF EVENT REQUIREMENTS.
IT GIVES A CENTRAL PLACE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GO AND FIND THESE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SPECIAL EVENT.
IT PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR EARLY ENGAGEMENT AND A REVIEW OF PROPOSED EVENTS THAT IMPACT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
>> IT ALSO PROMOTES CONSISTENCY OF EXPECTATIONS BY PROVIDING DEFINITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS BY THE EVENT TIME.
ONCE YOU GO THROUGH THERE, YOU'LL SEE THAT IT COVERS SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS AND IS ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF GROUNDWORK FOR HOW THAT EVENT CAN BE CONDUCTED.
WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH GETTING ALL OF THE LANGUAGE CORRECT IN THIS.
BUT THE ARTICLE RIGHT NOW IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR DIVISIONS TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT CLEARER.
DIVISION 1 IS GENERAL REQUIREMENTS, DIVISION 2 IS PERMITTING, DIVISION 3 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN DIVISION 4 BEING INSURANCE INDEMNIFICATION AND COSTS.
DIVISION 1, IT PROVIDES THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE AND ESTABLISHES THE DEFINITIONS FOR THIS ARTICLE.
YOU SEE HERE THE SPECIAL EVENT DEFINITION.
I JUST PLACED IT IN THERE JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE DEFINITIONS THAT'S IN THERE.
THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE SHOULD BE IN YOUR PACKET FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO LOOK THROUGH AND GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK ON AS YOU'RE FINDING AREAS IN THERE THAT YOU WANT TO ENGAGE IN.
DIVISION 2 PROVIDES WHEN A PERMIT IS REQUIRED AND WHEN EXEMPTIONS ARE APPLICABLE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL EXEMPTIONS FROM THE PERMIT REQUIREMENTS IN THERE.
IT SETS PERMIT FILING TIMELINES.
WE REQUIRE THE EVENT PERMIT TO BE FILED AT LEAST 60 DAYS IN ADVANCE.
[00:55:03]
IT GIVES US TIME TO MOVE THROUGH ANY PROCESS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED FOR THAT, WHETHER IT'S STREET CLOSURES OR MOBILIZATION OF DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE IN THERE.THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS THAT WE'RE ADDING IN THERE WHERE THEY COULD HAVE A FASTER REVIEW TIME BASED ON THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE EVENT.
IT OUTLINES THE SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS OF THAT PERMIT APPLICATION, STANDARDS FOR ISSUANCE OF THE PERMIT, DENIAL REVOCATION AND CANCELLATION CONDITIONS, DEPENDING ON CONDITIONS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THAT, A SPECIAL EVENT ON THE DAY OF THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> APPEALS TO THE DEPARTMENT DECISIONS AND QUARTERLY REPORT TO COUNCIL ON DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THIS ORDINANCE IN PARTICULAR.
DIVISION 3 SETS UP THE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS IN THROUGH THERE, AND IT COVERS A VERY WIDE RANGE OF SPECIAL EVENTS AND SPECIFIC THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN AT A SPECIAL EVENT, WHETHER IT'S PARKING REQUIREMENTS, FOOD SERVICE, ALCOHOL, POLICE PROTECTION, CLEANUP AFTERWARDS, NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTIES, PARADES, ALL OF THE, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SECTION IN THERE AND HAVE THE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT PARTICULAR SPECIAL EVENT.
>> PROBABLY FOR YOU AND CHIEF CAMPBELL.
AS YOU LOOK AT POLICE PROTECTION, BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS, MAYBE BECAUSE OF WHAT'S BEING SERVED NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CHARGE FOR THAT?
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT IN HERE IS TO START LOOKING AT THE SIZE OF THE EVENT ITSELF AS TO THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS AND STUFF THAT WE WOULD NEED.
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF EVENTS.
PRIME EXAMPLE, YOU TAKE LET'S SAY THE FOOD TRUCK CHALLENGE.
AN EVENT THAT IS EXTREMELY LARGE THAT TAKES LOGISTICS.
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT THAT GOES INTO THAT OF ENSURING THAT THAT EVENT IS SECURE FOR EVERYBODY AND IS SAFE FOR ATTENDING.
AT ANY POINT IN TIME, WE COULD HAVE 8-10 OFFICERS THAT'S NEEDED FOR THAT EVENT, WHETHER IT BE THE CONCERT, THAT NIGHT, OR DURING THE DAYTIME, MAYBE WE ONLY NEED 4-5 OFFICERS.
BUT THAT SPELLS THAT OUT, AND THAT GIVES US AND THAT'S THE THING WE'VE BEEN MISSING.
LIKE WAYNE SAID, THIS HAS REALLY BEEN A 45 YEAR PROCESS OF GETTING THIS THING ROLLING BECAUSE THERE'S NOT BEEN THAT COMMUNICATION FOR ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER AND SAY, HEY, THIS PERSON'S GOT THIS, THIS PERSON'S GOT THAT.
THAT DOES ADDRESS OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR US FOR PAYING FOR THOSE SERVICES FOR OFFICERS TO WHERE IF YOU NEED TEN OFFICERS, YOU KNOW RIGHT UP FRONT, THIS IS WHAT THAT COST LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE OF THE SIZE AND THE SCOPE OF THAT EVENT.
THAT A WAY, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY WE'RE HAVING, IF IT'S A SPECIAL EVENT, IN MY OPINION, AND THEY'RE NEEDING POLICE PROTECTION, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO ALWAYS BE PAYING OVERTIME FOR ON A CITY SIDE.
>> RIGHT NOW WE DON'T CHARGE FOR THAT?
>> NO, SO THAT EVENT, WE'RE PAYING OVERTIME TO OUR GUYS FOR IT.
BUT THAT'S BECAUSE IN THE PAST, THOSE EVENTS, WE DON'T HAVE NO CLEAR CUT PROCESS FOR THOSE EVENTS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS WILL SPELL OUT AND ACTUALLY, PEOPLE WILL KNOW AHEAD OF TIME, HEY BY SITTING DOWN WITH US, LOOK, IF YOU IF YOU'RE EXPECTING 500 PEOPLE TO BE THERE, THAT'S PROBABLY THREE OFFICERS, FOUR OFFICERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED.
YOU KNOW AT $50 AN HOUR, THIS IS THE AMOUNT THAT YOU GET YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THEM.
>> ARE THERE GOING TO BE THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS ALCOHOL BEING SERVED?
>> CORRECT. YEP. WE ADDRESS ALCOHOL AS PART OF IT INSIDE OF THAT ORDINANCE AND EVERYTHING AS WELL. YES, SIR.
>> ARE THERE RAMIFICATIONS IN THIS AS WELL FOR THOSE TIMES WHEN SOMEBODY COMMITS TO AN EVENT, BUT THEN THEY CHANGE IT AFTER IT'S ALREADY INSTALLED LIKE A NON ALCOHOLIC EVENT THAT TURNS INTO AN ALCOHOLIC EVENT?
>> THEY WOULD HAVE TO DISCLOSE THIS AT FIRST.
THERE WILL BE A PERMIT APPLICATION THAT COMES IN AND THEY HAVE TO DISCLOSE EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING TO BE INVOLVED WITH THAT.
PAST THAT, THERE ARE RAMIFICATIONS BASED ON IF YOU FOLLOWED YOUR APPLICATION AND WHAT YOU WERE APPROVED FOR.
[01:00:02]
EACH ONE OF THESE, SO WE'VE ESTABLISHED, AND YOU'LL SEE THIS FURTHER IN THE PRESENTATION, WE'VE ESTABLISHED AN APPLICATION, AND RIGHT NOW IT'S A WRITTEN APPLICATION.WE HOPE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN DO IT, WHETHER IT'S WRITTEN OR IT'S ONLINE.
WE HOPE TO USE OUR PERMITTING SOFTWARE.
WE'VE ALREADY BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THEM IN ORDER TO BUILD A FRAMEWORK FOR THIS TO GET INTO OUR PERMITTING SYSTEM.
THEY COULD BE ABLE TO FILL IT OUT ONLINE, OR THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE A PACKET AND BE ABLE TO GO FORWARD AND FILL THAT OUT BY HAND AND BRING IT TO US.
THEY WERE GOING TO DISCLOSE EVERYTHING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO DURING THIS.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE HORSES IT HAS A PLACE FOR ANIMALS.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TENTS, IT AS A PLACE TO DISCLOSE THAT, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT.
IT ASK YOU VERY CLEARLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ALCOHOL ON THERE.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT, IT WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT ON THE APPLICATION.
>> THE DIVISION 4 OUT OF THIS RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU GO THROUGH THIS AND SEE, IT'S ACTUALLY LABELED AS DIVISION 5.
WE COMBINED ONE OF THE DIVISIONS EARLIER AND I DIDN'T GET THAT CHANGED IN THERE.
BUT DIVISION 4 IS INSURANCE, INDEMNIFICATION AND COSTS.
IT PROVIDES FOR MINIMUM INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
THAT'S FOR THE SPECIAL EVENT, AND THERE'S A SEPARATE ONE FOR ALCOHOL WHEN THAT'S SERVED AT ANY SPECIAL EVENT.
IT INCLUDES A HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT FOR THAT SPECIAL EVENT.
PROVIDES FOR FEES AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EVENT TO BE ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE FEE SCHEDULE AND ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL.
THAT'S WHERE DELVIN WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
WE REALLY DID NOT HAVE A PLACE TO LOOK AT THIS AND TO PUT AN UMBRELLA OVER SPECIAL EVENTS AND WHAT WAS INCLUDED WITH ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
THIS ALLOWS THAT AND ALLOWS US TO PUT A PLACE IN THERE IN THE SCHEDULE OF FEES TO ACCOUNT FOR THESE THINGS.
IT SHOULD COVER, EACH DEPARTMENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHATEVER FEES THEY'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, FOR A SPECIAL EVENT AND ADDING THOSE TO THE SCHEDULE OF FEES SO THAT THEY CAN BE ADDED TO A EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION.
>> WAYNE, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S COMMERCIAL INSURANCE.
>> DOES ANY OF IT REQUIRE BONDING?
>> WE DID NOT PUT ANY BONDING REQUIREMENTS IN THERE.
NOW, IT IS RIGHT NOW WITH CITY ATTORNEY FOR RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT WE LOOK AT, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT EVENT INSURANCE.
WE TALKED WITH FRIDA ON THIS AND SHE RECOMMENDED THE INSURANCE SIDE OF IT, AND SHE SAID THAT ALL EVENTS THAT MAIN STREET OR CHAMBER DOES, THEY GET THIS EVENT INSURANCE TO GO ALONG WITH IT.
THAT'S WHAT SHE RECOMMENDED FOR PLACEMENT IN THERE.
THEN, OF COURSE, IT ALSO ESTABLISHES THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE ON THERE.
NEXT STEPS, APPLICATIONS AND FORMS ARE IN DRAFT FORM CURRENTLY.
WE'VE GAVE SOME RECOMMENDED FORMS AND APPLICATIONS TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS FOR THEM TO MAKE CHANGES TO THOSE AND WE ARE MOST OF THE WAY THROUGH DRAFTING AND A SPECIAL EVENT MANUAL THAT WILL GO ALONG WITH THIS THAT PROVIDES FURTHER CLARITY OTHER THAN THE ORDINANCE.
THE ORDINANCE IS BEING REVIEWED CURRENTLY BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND WE'RE HERE TO RECEIVE ANY FEEDBACK OR DIRECTION FROM CITY COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.
ONCE WE RECEIVE THAT FEEDBACK AND THE FEEDBACK FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, WE'LL REVISE THE ORDINANCE BASED ON THAT INFORMATION.
WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING FEES BY DEPARTMENT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND PREPARE THE FINAL ORDINANCE, ANY ASSOCIATED APPLICATIONS, FORMS AND A MANUAL FOR ADOPTION.
>> HOW WOULD THAT WORK FOR REUNION? WOULD THERE BE A SPECIAL EVENT FOR THE CAMPING SECTION AND THEN A SEPARATE ONE FOR THE CARNIVAL, AND ANY EVENTS THAT ARE BEING HELD? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S ON CITY PROPERTY.
>> WELL, IT'S STILL IT WOULDN'T MATTER IF IT'S ON CITY PROPERTY BY THIS ORDINANCE.
IT WOULD BE BASED ON AND LET ME GO BACK TO THAT DEFINITION OF THAT.
>> RIGHT. TALKS ABOUT SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS IN
[01:05:03]
THERE INCLUDING FESTIVALS INVOLVING 100 OR MORE ATTENDEES OR ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING.THEN THERE'S A LIST OF 12 THINGS THERE. IT WOULD FALL INTO THAT.
EVEN REUNION WOULD FALL INTO SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT STILL HAS AN IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT VERY CLEARLY THROUGHOUT OUR MEETINGS ON THIS, THAT THIS WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THERE.
THESE EVENTS CAN COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL TO ASK INCOME AND FEE WAIVERS IF THEY CHOOSE TO.
>> IT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT'S BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE PART OF IT OR?
IT HAS SEVERAL OF THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE THAT ARE IN THERE.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED REUNION AS BEING ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNEW WOULD COME UP AND SPECIFIC WITH REUNION, IT'S THE SAME WITH ANY PROCESS, AND IT'S TO HAVE AN IDEA OF EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.
REUNION, THE WAY WE WOULD DO THE APPLICATION IS ACTUALLY, IT CAN BE DONE A YEAR IN ADVANCE UP TO THAT 60 DAY MARK.
THE REALITY OF IT IS IS THAT EVERY YEAR, REUNION, THEY KNOW THE SAME THING THEY DO OVER AND OVER EVER AND EVERY YEAR.
EVERYTHING IS SET UP THE SAME.
WE WOULD WORK WITH THEM BASICALLY THE FIRST YEAR TO WORK ON THEIR SITE PLANS OF JUST SAYING, HEY, LOOK, THE CARNIVAL IS SET UP HERE.
THIS PERSON IS HANDLING THIS, THIS PERSON IS HANDLING THAT.
THIS IS NOT AN ELABORATE PROCESS.
THAT WAS NEVER OUR INTENT FOR THIS TO BE THAT.
IT'S TO JUST BE SIMPLE TO WHERE WE ALL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT EACH ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED HAVE TO DO WITH IT.
YES. WE'LL WORK AND WE'LL TALK WITH THE REUNION FOLKS ABOUT IT.
IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS FOR THEM TO MANAGE.
THAT WAS OUR BIG GOAL IS MAKING SURE THAT IT'S A SIMPLE PROCESS, BUT THAT IT REALLY CUTS DOWN ON THE FACT THAT, SO AND SO GOES TO FRIDA TO DISCUSS THIS, AND THEN THEY COME TO ME TO DISCUSS THIS, OR THEY GO TO DEROY TO DISCUSS THIS.
NONE OF US ARE ALL AT THE TABLE TOGETHER.
REALLY THIS JUST BRINGS EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE AT THE SAME TIME, SO WE HAVE A CLEAR CONCISE UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR SPECIAL EVENT.
>> WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO IN PERSON MEETINGS OF THESE AND WOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE ON LARGER SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE THAT, SO WE'RE COMING TOGETHER AND WE'RE BRINGING THOSE STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE CITY, THE STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE EVENT TOGETHER IN THE SAME PLACE.
THAT WAY, EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE MOVING FORWARD.
WE CAN WORK THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND GO FROM THERE.
>> JUST SAY ONE THING LIKE ON REUNION.
THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES SINCE I'VE WORKED OUT THERE FOR 20 SOMETHING YEARS NOW, AND SOME CAPACITY IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE YEARS TO WHERE IF WE SIT DOWN KNOWING, HEY GUYS, DID YOU TALK TO THE COUNTY ABOUT HAVING THE GATE CODES TO BE ABLE TO GET IN FOR THE PARKING ON FRIDAY OR WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, NOW, SATURDAYS.
THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
THAT'S BY US GETTING TOGETHER WE CAN RELAY THAT INFORMATION BACK, HEY, HAVE YOU CHECKED OFF ON THIS? HAVE YOU CHECKED OFF ON THAT? IT'S JUST A WAY TO HELP THEM MAKE SURE THAT THEIR EVENT IS A SUCCESS AS WELL.
IT'S NOT JUST REUNION, BUT THAT'S ALL EVENTS.
WE WANT THEM TO BE A SUCCESS, BUT WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE THERE TO BE SAFE AS WELL.
>> THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE ORDINANCE IS ABOUT, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THESE EVENTS ARE PULLED TOGETHER.
THEY HAVE THE LARGEST CHANCE FOR SUCCESS FOR WHATEVER EVENT IT IS.
BUT EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED WITH IT KNOWS THEIR ROLE IN THIS AND IS ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT WHEREVER THAT IS.
>> IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF CONTINUOUS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT, GETTING EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE, IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS AND UNDERSTANDING FOR ACTION, SO THAT'S GREAT WORK.
>> THERE'S GOING TO BE A LEARNING CURVE ON THIS AS WE MOVE THROUGH IT.
WE'RE GOING TO FIND SPEED BUMPS AND HICCUPS THAT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING ON THIS.
IT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUOUS EVOLUTION OF THIS.
IF WE NEED TO COME BACK AND REVISE THE ORDINANCE, WE'LL ABSOLUTELY DO THAT.
>> IT ALSO SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO AVOIDED SOME ISSUES.
>> I THINK THAT'S MORE AVOID A LOT OF ISSUES OVER TIME.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO REPORT ON?
>> JUST IF YOU HAVE FEEDBACK ON THIS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.
WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING ONCE WE GET THE ORDINANCE BACK FROM LEGAL,
[01:10:04]
ANY REVISIONS THAT ARE IN THAT.THERE'S A COUPLE OF REVISIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SENT TO ME FROM A COUPLE OF THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CITY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING EVERYBODY'S INPUT.
>> YES. TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.
IF YOU SEE ANYTHING ON IT, AS YOU LOOK THROUGH IT, IT'S NOT A LONG DOCUMENT.
IT DOES HAVE QUITE A FEW THINGS ON THERE, BUT IT'S NOT A LONG DOCUMENT TO READ, AND IT'S BROKEN DOWN INTO THOSE DIVISIONS, AND YOU CAN PICK UP ON WHERE YOU NEED TO BE ON THAT.
BUT IF YOU SEE THINGS ON THERE THAT YOU HAVE A CONCERN ON OR THAT YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS FURTHER, PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL.
>> THANK YOU EVERYBODY ON THAT.
I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF WORK FROM EVERYBODY IN THE CITY STAFF AND OUR PARTNERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
NUMBER 8, CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE TO
[8. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL ZONE TO REGULATE THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC ON MULBERRY STREET FROM APPROXIMATELY N. CHICO AVENUE TO N. LANE STREET FROM 7:00 AM TO 8:00 AM AND 2:30 PM TO 3:30 PM ON SCHOOL DAYS. ORDINANCE 2025-10-35 ]
ESTABLISH THE SCHOOL ZONE TO REGULATE SPEED TRAFFIC ON MULBERRY STREET.>> MAYOR, AND COUNSEL, THIS IS YOUR SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THAT SCHOOL ZONE.
I DO JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE CLARIFYING POINT.
I THINK YOUR AGENDA ITEM SAYS 7A 28A FOR THE START TIME IN THE MORNING.
I THINK I HAVE IT WRONG ON THE AGENDA.
IT IS CORRECT ON THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE.
I'M HAPPY TO RUN THROUGH THAT PRESENTATION AGAIN.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED, AND WE HAVE CONFIRMED THE COST SHARING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ACADEMY EXISTS IN THE AREA.
>> DID WE EVER [OVERLAPPING] TALKED ABOUT THE CROSSWALKS YET OR?
>> WE HAVE NOT TALKED THROUGH CROSSWALKS.
THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE MECHANISM.
I THINK THE IDEA IS TO GET THE SPEED ZONE ESTABLISHED, SEE IF THAT CHANGES BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT CREATING A CROSSWALK INTO AN AREA THAT DOESN'T HAVE A SIDEWALK.
THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES THERE, SO THERE COULD BE SOME FOLLOW ON ACTIONS AFTER THE SCHOOL ZONE OR SPEED ZONE IS CREATED.
>> VERY GOOD. OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> YEAH. I DO. JOSEPH, IF YOU COULD PUT MY PRESENTATION UP THERE, YOU'RE MOVING FASTER THAN THAT.
THAT'S ABOUT HOW FAST YOU'LL PROBABLY WANT ME TO GO.
I GOT IT FROM THERE. THANK YOU, SIR.
THERE'S LANGUAGE TO CONSIDER IF YOU SO CHOOSE.
>> MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
I MOVE TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2025-10-35 TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL ZONE REGULATING THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC ON MULBERRY STREET FROM APPROXIMATELY NORTH CHICO AVENUE TO NORTH LANE STREET FROM 7:30 AM-8:30 AM, AND 2:30 PM-3:30 PM, ON SCHOOL DAYS AND ALLOW STAFF TO PROCEED WITH SUNDAY.
IT SAYS IT'S ORDINANCE 2025-10-36. I JUST WANT TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> 35 THE CAPTION ON THE ORDINANCE IS 35.
>> AS WELL AS YOU WANT TO MODIFY YOUR MOTION?
>> COUNSEL, DO YOU WANT ME TO REPEAT THE SAME VERBIAGE WITH THE 36 OR JUST MAY?
WE'VE HAD SOME INSTANCES IN THE RECENT PAST WHERE WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT ORDINANCE NUMBERS, NOW WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND TROUBLESHOOT THOSE ISSUES.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT ORDINANCE NUMBER.
>> IF I JUST SAY, I MOVED TO APPROVE 2025-10-36.
>> WELL, THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE TO VOTE ON.
NUMBER 9, IS THE ORDINANCE- 36?
>> I WANT TO CLARIFY IN YOUR COUNSEL PACKET, PAGE 120 HAS THE SPEED ZONE ITEM WITH ORDINANCE 2025-10-35.
>> COUNCILMAN CARPENTER, HOW YOU STATED THAT IS CORRECT?
>> WE DO HAVE A MOTION FOR 2025-10-35, AND WE HAD A SECOND FOR THAT.
>> CITY ATTORNEY, WE'RE IN GOOD STANDING?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> OPPOSED. THAT ITEM PASSES, AND WE'RE GOOD TO MOVE FORWARD TO OUR NEXT ITEM,
[9. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS, FOR THE CREATION OF THE WEST FORK PUBLIC UTILITY AGENCY. ORDINANCE 2025-10-36]
WHICH IS 2025-10-36, VERY GOOD.>> THAT IS ACCURATE. THAT'S ALSO ON PAGE 123 OF YOUR PACKET, IF YOU WANT TO VERIFY.
THIS IS YOUR ITEM FOR CREATION AND JOINING THE WEST FORK PUBLIC UTILITY AGENCY.
IF YOU WANT TO HEAR IT, HAPPY TO RUN THROUGH THAT.
I DO WANT TO JUST POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
[01:15:02]
SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, I'VE HAD COMMUNICATION WITH SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, A COUPLE OF MY OWN STAFF, AND THEN SOME PARTNER CITIES WHO HAVE ASKED FOR SOME CLARITY HERE.IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME, I'M STARTING ON PAGE 122 OF YOUR PACKET.
IN THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, THE LAST WHEREAS SPEAKS SPECIFICALLY TO PUBLIC ENTITIES NOT EXCUSE ME, THE BOARD WILL NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO CREATE ANY DEBT OR FINANCIAL OBLIGATION FOR OR ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THE MEMBERS AND ANY SPONSORING PUBLIC ENTITY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A PUBLIC ENTITY ENTERS INTO A SEPARATE AGREEMENT OR APPROVAL FOR SUCH PURPOSE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE PUA ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS CREATING THAT AGENCY AND ALLOWING FOR US TO GET TO WORK ON FINDING YOU A BOARD REPRESENTATIVE.
THEN THEY WILL HAVE A MEETING IN JANUARY WHERE THEY ESTABLISH THE BOARD SEATS.
THEY COME UP WITH THEIR BY LAWS AND THE RULES OF THAT BODY.
BUT I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, THEY CANNOT SPEND WITHOUT THIS BODY HAVING OVERSIGHT ON THE SPENDING THAT WOULD TIE THE CITY TO THE PUA, AND I'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE THINGS.
JAKE, YOU HAVE A QUESTION. A COUPLE MORE ITEMS, SO IF YOU GO TO PAGE 124 OF YOUR PACKET, I'M STILL WORKING THROUGH THE ORDINANCE ITSELF.
SECTION 5 TALKS THROUGH DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS.
VERY CLEARLY, IF YOU WERE TO SKIM THROUGH THAT, YOU WOULD NOTICE A COUPLE OF BIG GLARING ITEMS.A DIRECTOR MAY NOT BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
IT TALKS ABOUT A BOARD MEMBER MUST RESIDE IN THE TERRITORY OR CCN.
THAT'S A CERTIFICATE OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY, THAT'S RELATED TO WATER AND SEWER, OF ITS APPOINTING PUBLIC ENTITY, AND MUST BE A REGISTERED VOTER.
VERY CLEARLY, TEASE UP WHO CAN SERVE AND THEN THAT LAST SENTENCE UNDER SECTION 5, IT TALKS ABOUT A PUBLIC ENTITY MAY APPOINT AN EMPLOYEE OF SUCH PUBLIC ENTITY TO SERVE AS DIRECTOR WITHOUT REGARD TO RESIDENCY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAD A EMPLOYEE WHO LIVED, SAY, IN ARLINGTON, WHO HAPPENED TO WORK FOR PUBLIC WORKS, AND YOU WANTED TO APPOINT THAT PERSON, NOT THAT WE WOULD DO THAT TO ANYBODY ON OUR STAFF, BUT IF YOU WANTED TO APPOINT THAT PERSON, IF YOU COULDN'T GET A VOLUNTEER FROM THE COMMUNITY TO STEP IN FOR YOU, THAT'S AN OPTION WHEN APPOINTING YOUR BOARD REPRESENTATIVE.
I'VE GOT ONE MORE THING, PAGE 125, SECTION 8 DISCUSSES BOARD PROCEDURES.
IT SAYS "THE BOARD SHALL PREPARE AND ADOPT BY LAWS FOR THE AGENCY AND SHALL HOLD REGULAR SPECIAL OR EMERGENCY MEETINGS AT TIMES OR DATES SPECIFIED BY THE BY LAWS." IT GOES ON FROM THERE FROM SECTION 8 DOWN TO SECTION 9.
IT TALKS ABOUT ORGANIZING THE BODY, THE OFFICERS, IF YOU WILL, THE BOARD WILL CONSIST OF A PRESIDENT, A VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, TREASURER, AND SO ON.
IF WE JOIN, OUR BOARD REP WILL PARTICIPATE IN ALL OF THOSE, CREATION OF THE BYLAWS, ORGANIZING OF THE BOARD, SO ON AND SO FORTH, BEFORE ANY PROJECTS WILL BE TACKLED.
THOSE ARE JUST SOME THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE ANY OTHER CLARITY ON THIS ITEM IF YOU NEED IT.
>> JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE STATED IT, WE AS A CITY WILL NOT BE OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE ANY MORE MONEY UNTIL WE AS A CITY COUNCIL OR FUTURE CITY COUNCILS VOTE TO PROVIDE THIS WEST FORK PUA OR MONEY?
WITH ONE EXCEPTION THAT WE'LL HAVE OUR ANNUAL PAYMENT FOR PARTICIPATING THAT WILL COME DUE, BUT EVEN THAT ITEM WILL STILL COME BACK BEFORE THE COUNCIL BODY FOR APPROVAL AND CONTINUATION OF PARTICIPATION.
>> IF WE DON'T APPROVE THAT ANNUAL PAYMENT, WHAT HAPPENS?
>> WE WOULD BE REMOVING OURSELVES FROM THE PUA AND GIVING UP OUR BOARD SEAT, WHICH WOULD, CREATE SOME DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS ON THE PUA. BUT THE CITY [OVERLAPPING]
>> CORRECT. ONE MORE WAY TO THINK ABOUT THAT IS WE'RE SAYING, YES, THE CITY OF DECATUR WANTS TO BE PART OF THIS BODY THAT WE'RE ALL ATTEMPTING TO CREATE HERE, AND THEN A SEPARATE ITEM THAT WILL COME AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE FOR THE CITY IS WE BELIEVE NOW WE NEED TO BECOME A CUSTOMER OF THE PUA.
THAT'S A TOTALLY SEPARATE CONVERSATION THAT WILL HAPPEN, AS I SAID LAST TIME, 04, 5, 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE NEED COMES TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR AGAIN TONIGHT THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR IS IN A VERY GOOD WASTEWATER POSITION BECAUSE OF FORETHOUGHT OF COUNCIL AND LEADERSHIP IN THE PAST AND STAFF TODAY.
BUT TO ME, THIS IS MORE ABOUT SETTING US UP FOR A FUTURE NEED THAT WE WILL HAVE AT
[01:20:03]
SOME POINT AND GETTING OURSELVES A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO BE PART OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.>> I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO EDC, IT'S BEEN PROVIDED TO OUR WATER BOARD AND THOSE GROUPS ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF OUR PARTICIPATION.
>> YES, MAYOR AND THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME THAT PAGE 136 AND PAGE 137 OF YOUR PACKET HAVE THE EDC'S LETTER OF SUPPORT, AND THEN THE WISE COUNTY WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT'S LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR JOINING IN THIS EFFORT TO CREATE THE PUA.
THOSE ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU IN YOUR PACKET.
I DO HAVE SOME AGENDA LANGUAGE FOR YOU, BUT I HAD THIS ITEM READY FOR YOU JUST IN CASE YOU NEEDED A REFRESH.
>> THAT MATCHES WITH THE 36 MATCHES, SO THIS IS GOOD.
>> IT'S BEEN A DAY OF NUMBERS, MR. MAYOR.
>> MR. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2025-10-36, CITY OF DECATUR CREATION OF THE WEST FORK PUBLIC UTILITIES AGENCY, PUA, AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND OR CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS AS NECESSARY.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION.
THAT ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT.
[10. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 10-111, “MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS,” OF ARTICLE IV, “UNSAFE, DANGEROUS OR HAZARDOUS BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES,” OF CHAPTER 10, “NUISANCES,” OF THE DECATUR CODE OF ORDINANCES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR OCCUPIED DWELLINGS RELATED TO SEWER, WATER, AND ELECTRICITY. ORDINANCE 2025-10-37 ]
>> ITEM 10. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 10-111, MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS.
>> YES, SIR. THIS IS A SECOND READING OF THAT MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS UPDATE, AND NO CHANGES FROM THE FIRST READING.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL?
>> MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2025-10-37. SECOND.
>> I BELIEVE MELINDA, JUST TO SO FASTER ON THAT ONE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ITEM 11, CONSIDER TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE
[11. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO FIND PUBLIC PURPOSE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF A SEWER EASEMENT EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS TO CONNECT THE CITY’S WASTEWATER SYSTEM TO PHASE 1 OF THE NATURE CREEK RESERVE DEVELOPMENT. RESOLUTION R2025-10-28 ]
A RESOLUTION TO FIND PUBLIC PURPOSE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF A SEWER EASEMENT AND EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS.IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT ITEM 11 TO YOU.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A NEW ITEM FOR US.
IT'LL RESULT IN A RESOLUTION BEING PASSED, IF YOU SO CHOOSE TONIGHT.
YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE NATURE CREEK DEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMING INTO THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN.
THEY'RE PHASING THEIR PROJECT, AND PART OF PHASE 1 IS GETTING TO EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THE CITY HAS IN THE GROUND AT THE MOMENT, AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THEY'RE TRYING TO PLAN THEIR ROUTE FOR THAT INFRASTRUCTURE TO ARRIVE AND CONNECT WITH EXISTING CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEY'RE COMING UP WITH A ROADBLOCK ON AN EXISTING PROPERTY, AND SO ONE OF THE VERY FIRST STEPS IS TO TRY TO REACH OUT, HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH PROPERTY OWNERS, WHICH NATURE CREEK HAS DONE.
WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THAT SAME CONVERSATION WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND TRY TO WORK OUT SOME WAY FOR AN EASEMENT TO BE OBTAINED FOR ULTIMATELY CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'RE JUST RUNNING UP AGAINST DEAD END AFTER DEAD END, AND NOW IT'S STARTING TO GET INTO AN ISSUE OF TIMING.
IF WE DON'T CONFIRM SOME ROUTES FOR SOME OF THEIR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, THEN IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE OVERALL TIMING OF THE PROJECT, WHICH LEADS TO ALL OTHER ISSUES.
THE CITY STAFF BELIEVES THIS CONNECTION WILL BE NECESSARY FOR SANITARY SEWER SERVICE, AND SO LET ME PUT A PICTURE UP HERE AND TRY TO WALK YOU THROUGH THIS AND I DID NOTE UP THERE THAT THIS IS JUST A VISUAL AID.
IT'S NOT IN YOUR PACKET. THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL.
THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN USING AS A CONVERSATION TOOL, WHETHER I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH NATURE CREEK, BY THE WAY, THEIR TEAM IS HERE TONIGHT, OR I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE EXISTING PROPERTY OWNER.
IT'S A TOOL THAT I'VE BEEN USING JUST TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
I'LL TRY TO ORIENT YOU UP IN THE TOP RIGHT OF THE SCREEN IS THE UNOFFICIAL BOUNDARY OF THE NATURE CREEK PROJECT, AND YOU SEE THE THE NORTH BUSINESS ROUTE 8127 IS WHERE THE ORANGE LINE STARTS AND HEADS GENERALLY WEST.
IT GOES ACROSS EXISTING CITY EASEMENTS AND GETS OVER ONTO TODAY IS FM 1810,
[01:25:01]
AND THEN IT TURNS THERE ON, I BELIEVE FORTENBERRY ROAD, AND IT GETS ONTO A PROPERTY THAT STAFF IS ALL FAMILIAR WITH CALLED RETAIL CONNECTIONS, AND THAT IS WHERE WE START RUNNING INTO AN ELEMENT OF CONFLICT, TRYING TO GET AN EASEMENT DOWN THAT PROPERTY LINE.BY THE WAY, IT WOULD JUST BE THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY LINE FOR SANITARY SEWER SERVICE TO GET UP TO EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE ON 380.
WHAT I'VE DONE IS YOU SEE THE ORANGE LINE REPRESENTS THE WOULD BE SANITARY SEWER LINE, AND THEN THE YELLOW REPRESENTS WHERE THE EASEMENT IS NECESSARY.
THAT'S WHERE WE START TO GET INTO A LITTLE BIT OF A CONFLICT.
I'LL PAUSE AND ASK IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING AT THE MOMENT.
>> OUTSIDE OF THE YELLOW, YOU ALREADY HAVE EASEMENTS?
>> CORRECT. THEY'RE EITHER IN AN EXISTING CITY EASEMENT OR ALONG A I BELIEVE A TEXTILE EASEMENT, IF I'M CORRECT ON THAT, IS THAT RIGHT, MR. GILL?
>> EXISTING EXISTING EASEMENTS.
>> THIS WILL GO ON THE RETAIL CONNECTION SIDE OF THAT ROAD?
>> THERE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT EITHER BETWEEN NATURE CREEK AND THEM OR THE CITY TRYING TO OPEN UP A CONVERSATION TO REACH SOME AN AGREEMENT.
WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS, JAKE, IS IT IS A LITTLE UNUSUAL FOR US TO GET INVOLVED IN THESE THINGS, BUT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND MOST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS DO HAVE THIS.
WE HAVE THE CONDEMNATION POWER ATTACHED IN THERE, IF THERE'S AN IMPASSE THAT CAN'T BE WORKED OUT PRIVATELY, AND THE CITY DETERMINES THAT IT'S NECESSARY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO GO THERE, THE CITY CAN STEP IN.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE HAVING THAT PRELIMINARY CONVERSATION, AND THIS RESOLUTION WOULD SAY, YES, WE COUNSEL AGREE WITH STAFF THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE PLACE FOR THAT EASEMENT TO GO, PLEASE PROCEED.
PAM, YOU MAY WANT TO JUMP IN IF I'VE MISSED ANY CRITICAL POINT THERE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IT'S A DETERMINATION OF PUBLIC NECESSITY.
PUBLIC PURPOSE FOR THAT SEWER LINE TO BE EXTENDED.
>> HOW IS THERE NOT A UTILITY EASEMENT ON THE PROPERTY?
>> DO YOU HAVE UTILITY EASEMENTS OUTSIDE THE CITY?
>> IF IT WAS PLATTED AT ONE POINT IN TIME OR EVEN A SURVEY, IT SHOULD HAVE A UTILITY EASEMENT ON IT.
>> LET ME GIVE YOU A COUPLE MORE SLIDES, AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK TO THIS IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
THE FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION, THERE WILL BE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.
ULTIMATELY, NATURE CREEK WILL BE SEEKING THE EASEMENT, AND WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT THAT WILL PAY FOR ANY LEGAL FEES THAT COME ALONG WITH THAT, ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SECURING THE EASEMENT.
OF COURSE, WE'LL TRY TO MINIMIZE COSTS OF STAFF.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE DO HAVE TO GO DOWN THE FULL ROUTE OF EMINENT DOMAIN, IT COULD ULTIMATELY BE EXPENSIVE.
I DO ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT HOPEFULLY THEY CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT WITHOUT US STEPPING IN AND GETTING INVOLVED.
IF YOU APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION, THEN WE WOULD NATURALLY APPROVE ITEM 12, WHICH TALKS ABOUT A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ARRANGEMENT FOR AN OUTSIDE ATTORNEY.
THE NEXT STEPS, IF YOU APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, WE'LL PROCEED WITH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE EASEMENT NEGOTIATIONS.
IF THEY FAIL, THEN WE'LL HAVE ITEM 12, WHICH BRINGS IN AN ATTORNEY FIRM TO HELP OUR LEGAL COUNSEL IN-HOUSE, WALK THROUGH THE EMINENT DOMAIN STEPS.
THEN ULTIMATELY, AS I SAID, IF THIS EASEMENT IS SECURED AND INFRASTRUCTURE GOES IN, IT BECOMES CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> IS THIS JUST ONE PERSON THAT'S AGAINST THIS, OR IS IT MULTIPLES?
>> I DO BELIEVE THIS IS JUST ONE UNIFIED PROPERTY OWNER, AND I MAY DEFER TO THE NATURE CREEK TEAM, BUT AT THE MOMENT, WE'RE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT ONE PROPERTY.
>> HAVE YOU SPOKEN OR HAS THE CITY SPOKEN WITH THIS PROPERTY OWNER? ARE THEY WANTING IT IN ANOTHER AREA, OR THEY'RE NOT WANTING IT AT ALL?
>> WE HAVE HAD COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT IT BEING ALONG THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH, BY THE WAY, IT IS OUR OPINION.
I'M NO ENGINEER, BUT IT IS MY OPINION THAT IT WOULD MAKE ABSOLUTELY THE PROPERTY QUITE A BIT MORE VALUABLE.
OR MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY VALUABLE, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DEVELOPABLE.
MAYBE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO FOLKS TO COME AND BUILD ON.
WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE WEEDS ON ALL THAT, WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION.
I'VE ENCOURAGED THE CONNECTION OUTSIDE OF CITY STAFF, WHICH IS MUCH MORE NATURAL THAN US STEPPING IN AND GETTING INVOLVED.
[01:30:02]
IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING TO DATE THAT STILL RESULTS IN ZERO COMMUNICATION.>> THAT PIECE OF LAND IS NOT IN THE CITY LIMITS, OR IT IS THE RETAIL CONNECTION LAND?
WITHOUT HAVING A MAP IN FRONT OF ME, JAKE, I BELIEVE IT IS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL?
>> HAVE YOU GOTTEN OUR EDC DIRECTOR IN ON THIS ISSUE?
>> I WON'T SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE EDC, BUT WE HAVE COMMUNICATED A NUMBER OF TIMES ON THIS ITEM.
SINCE HE'S IN THE ROOM, I WOULD LET HIM SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, BUT I COULD JUST TELL YOU, I THINK WE'RE EQUALLY FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF PROGRESS WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE HERE.
IT IS, AGAIN, UNUSUAL THAT STAFF IS INVOLVED AT THIS LEVEL.
>> DOES THE PROPERTY OWNER UNDERSTAND WHAT THE END RESULT COULD BE EMINENT TO MEAN?
>> YES, MA'AM. I BELIEVE THEY'RE FULLY AWARE OF WHAT THE END RESULT MIGHT BE.
>> IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER MORE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION.
>> MR. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION R 2025-10-28.
>> I'M READING FROM HERE. I WASN'T LOOKING THERE.
>> I'M SORRY, I DID HAVE LANGUAGE THERE. I'M SORRY.
>> THERE IS LANGUAGE TO CONSIDER.
>> MR. MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION R 2025-10-28, FINDING A PUBLIC PURPOSE FOR ACQUISITION OF A SEWER EASEMENT NECESSARY TO CONNECT THE CITY'S WASTEWATER SYSTEM TO PHASE 1 OF THE NATURE CREEK RESERVE DEVELOPMENT, AUTHORIZING THE USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS IF VOLUNTARY ACQUISITION EFFORTS ARE UNSUCCESSFUL.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> OPPOSED? THAT ITEM PASSES. YES?
>> YEAH. WHY DON'T WE TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK AND TRY TO RECONVENE AT 7:34 OR 7:39? I GOT IT. IT SAID 7:41.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND RECONVENE. LET'S SEE.
[12. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ENGAGEMENT LETTER WITH BAKER MORAN DOGGETT MA & DOBBS LLP TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF DECATUR IN EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS RELATED TO THE ACQUISITION OF A SEWER EASEMENT CONNECTING THE CITY’S WASTEWATER SYSTEM TO PHASE 1 OF THE NATURE CREEK RESERVE DEVELOPMENT. ]
IS THAT CORRECT, TEAM? CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ENGAGEMENT LETTER.YES. THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE WE LEFT OFF.
>> YES, SIR, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE BREAK, BY THE WAY.
ITEM 12 IS RELATED TO ITEM 11.
JUST FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, ITEM 11, WE DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR AN EASEMENT TO BE OBTAINED POTENTIALLY THROUGH THE ROUTE OF EMINENT DOMAIN.
ITEM 12 WALKS US THROUGH APPROVING A RELATIONSHIP, AN ENGAGEMENT LETTER RATHER WITH BAKER MORAN DOGGETT & DOBBS, TO REPRESENT THE CITY IN THE EVENT THAT THERE ARE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING, NECESSARY TO CONNECTING TO THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
I BELIEVE I'VE ADDRESSED THE PURPOSE.
THINK ABOUT THIS FROM BEING HAVING OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL ENSURES THAT THE CITY IS READY WITH THE CORRECT BACKUP TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EMINENT DOMAIN IF NECESSARY.
>> OUR FIRM THAT HAS A LOT OF EXPERTISE IN MUNICIPAL WORK AND CONDEMNATION LAW, WHICH CAN BE VERY TRICKY DEPENDING ON HOW FAR THIS GOES.
JUST A REMINDER, THIS IS THE SAME PHOTO FROM BEFORE.
SAME FISCAL NOTE IS THAT WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MINIMIZE COSTS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE COSTS THAT ARE INCURRED DO GO TOWARDS THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR NATURE CREEK.
IF YOU VOTE TO APPROVE THIS LETTER TONIGHT, WE CAN KEEP MOVING ALONG IF WE SO NEED THIS FIRM.
>> WELL, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTION, WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. COUNCILOR WISTON, ARE YOU VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS FIRM?
>> YES. NATE AND I HAD A MEETING ALONG WITH THE DEVELOPERS WITH THIS PARTICULAR ATTORNEY.
IT'S AN ATTORNEY, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE USED IN THE PAST, AND I WAS VERY WELL PLEASED WITH HIM AND HIS EXPERTISE.
>> IS HE A GRADUATE FROM TEXAS TECH LAW SCHOOL?
>> I DON'T REMEMBER THAT PART.
>> MR. MAYOR, WE MOVE TO APPROVE THE ENGAGEMENT LETTER WITH BAKER MORAN DOGGETT MA & DOBBS LLP TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF DECATUR AND POTENTIAL EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS RELATED TO THE ACQUISITION OF A SEWER EASEMENT
[01:35:01]
NECESSARY TO CONNECT THE CITY'S WASTEWATER SYSTEM TO PHASE 1 OF NATURE CREEK RESERVE DEVELOPMENT.>> IT'S A GOOD MOTION. I'M GOING TO SECOND THAT.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[13. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO AWARD A BID FOR CITY EMPLOYEE GROUP INSURANCE FOR THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD OF JANUARY 1, 2026, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2026, AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. ]
ITEM 13: CONSIDER, TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO AWARD A BID FOR THE CITY EMPLOYEE GROUP INSURANCE.>> MAYOR AND COUNSEL, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR, AND JOSEPH, I'LL LET YOU GO AHEAD AND GO BACK TO THE COUNSEL PACKET.
I'M SURE THAT'S WHERE BRIAN WILL WANT TO PICK UP ON.
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE AWARD OUR BID FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.
I'M GOING TO LET BRIAN STEVENS FROM STEVENS BASTIAN & CARTWRIGHT COME UP AND GIVE YOU THE HIGH POINTS, AND HE'LL BE MUCH MORE EQUIPPED TO ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
BRIAN, IF YOU'RE READY, SIR, I'LL TURN THE PODIUM OVER TO YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
WE DID ENCOUNTER A LOT LARGER CLAIMS LOSS RATIO THAN WE WOULD HAVE LIKED ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR.
IT WAS WELL OVER 100%, AT 117.6% AS OF THE LAST MONTH OF DATA.
JUST TO TRANSLATE, THAT MEANS THAT 17.6% MORE WAS SPENT IN CLAIMS THAN WAS SPENT IN IN PREMIUM.
THAT HAS BEEN OVER 100% FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS IN A ROW.
THAT'S DRIVEN MOSTLY BY LARGE CLAIMANTS.
THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD RENEWAL WAS RELEASED AT JUST UNDER 42%.
TYPICALLY, WHAT YOU SEE ON THAT IS YOU SEE, WHEN YOU GET COMPETITIVE BIDS IN AND YOU START NEGOTIATING, YOU TYPICALLY SEE THEM COME DOWN.
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ELECTED TO NOT NEGOTIATE THEIR POSITION.
THEY WERE STUCK AT THAT 42% AND THEY WERE UNWILLING TO COME DOWN.
THANKFULLY, WE DID HAVE COMPETITIVE BIDS FROM ATNA CURATIVE AND A COMPANY CALLED EVERY HEALTH.
THE ATNA BID TURNED OUT TO BE THE MOST COMPETITIVE.
YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL COMMITTEE HERE, MADE UP OF A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN ORGANIZATION THAT COME TOGETHER.
WE DISCUSSED THE CLAIMS, WE DISCUSS ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO INTO IT IN GREAT DETAIL.
EVERYBODY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS, AND THAT'S IN ADDITION TO OUR OTHER MEETINGS WITH HR AND WITH NATE.
BASED ON ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND THE FACT THAT ATNA CAME IN, WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THEM DOWN.
THEIR INITIAL BID, I THINK, WAS 22-23% OVER CURRENT.
WE DID GET THAT DOWN TO 12.43 PLUS A $76,000 CREDIT TO YOUR BILL AT TRANSITION CREDIT, WHICH GETS THAT NET INCREASE DOWN TO AROUND 7.5%.
GIVEN THAT YOU HAVE 117.6% LOSS RATIO, THAT NUMBER ACTUALLY GETS YOU DOWN BELOW WHERE YOU'RE ALREADY IN 100% LOSS RATIO GOING FORWARD IF YOUR CLAIMS CONTINUE TO RUN THE SAME.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS OUTCOME BASED ON THE FACT THAT OBVIOUSLY NONE OF THE OTHER BIG CARRIERS, LIKE UNITED AND CIGNA, THE NORMAL BIG FOUR, THEIR QUOTES WERE ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN WHAT THE BLUE CROSS RENEWAL WAS.
WE WERE THANKFUL TO GET THAT PROGRESS WITH ATNA.
I JUST WANTED TO THROW IN THAT OUR RUNNING PERFORMANCE OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD RELATED TO THE AMOUNT OF CLAIMS BEING PAID OUT VERSUS PREMIUM BEING PAID IN? WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THAT DOWN TO WHERE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, BLUE CROSS HAS SPENT $1.66 MILLION MORE IN CLAIMS THAN WHAT YOU'VE PAID IN OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD.
THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESULT.
WE'RE PLEASED WITH THAT OUTCOME.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE HEALTH COMPONENT SO FAR? ON DENTAL, THERE WAS A 7.5% INCREASE WITH BLUE CROSS, WE WERE ABLE TO GET NEGOTIATED TO A 9% DECREASE WITH ATNA.
ON VISION, THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE AN INCREASE WITH IMED, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THAT TO A 24% DECREASE BY BUYING IMED THROUGH ATNA.
BIG SWING THERE. BASIC LIFE, THERE WAS A 0% INCREASE WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, BUT WE NEGOTIATED THAT TO A 4.3% DECREASE, STAYING WITH BLUE SHIELD.
SHORT-TERM DISABILITY, ZERO INCREASE.
WE GOT THAT NEGOTIATED TO A 9.4% DECREASE BASED ON COMPETITIVE BIDDING.
[01:40:05]
LONG TERM DISABILITY, 0% INCREASE THAT WE HAD, WE GOT THAT NEGOTIATED TO A 17.1% DECREASE AND STAYING WITH THE SAME CARRIER.NO INCREASES ON EAP OR TELEMEDICINE, AND HEALTH ADVOCACY.
AFTER MEETING WITH THE INSURANCE COMMITTEE AND ALL OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD, THEY WERE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF GOING WITH ATNA ON THESE PROPOSALS AND THE PACKAGING OF THE DENTAL AND THE VISION TO OBTAIN THE ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS THAT ARE BUILT INTO THAT. ANY QUESTION?
>> JUST TO COMMENT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT'S SUPER FANTASTIC WORK BY SBC, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE EXPERTS IN THIS BUSINESS, AND YOUR WORK IS ALWAYS PAID OFF FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.
>> I'M GOING TO PIGGYBACK OFF THAT, AND I'M THANKFUL THAT WE USE A LOCAL BROKER TO SHOP IT AROUND.
IF I'M AN EXISTING CUSTOMER, EVEN THOUGH THE PAYOUT IS MORE THAN WHAT I'M TAKING IN, HOW DOES ANOTHER INSURANCE COMPANY REALIZE THEY SEE THE NUMBERS? HOW DOES THAT SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M OKAY WITH THAT? I'M TAKING A RISK THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, AND IN RETURN, WE'RE GOING TO OFFER YOU SAVINGS, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE OF INSURANCE.
BECAUSE I CHANGE INSURANCE CARRIERS YEARLY, WHICH BENEFITS MY FAMILY.
>> IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
I'VE DONE THIS FOR 20 YEARS, AND THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
WE NEGOTIATE THESE DEALS, AND I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK HEALTH INSURANCE IS A RACKET, AND I HONESTLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY MAKE MONEY BECAUSE I'M NEGOTIATING THESE DEALS A LOT, WHERE THEY'RE LOSING MONEY YEAR OVER YEAR.
I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT, BUT NEVERTHELESS, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WHY ATNA WOULD COME IN THAT AGGRESSIVELY, BUT I DO THINK THAT IN YEAR 1, THE NON-INCUMBENT, ANYBODY THAT'S COMPETING THE FIRST FEW MONTHS, THEIR CLAIMS ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER, BECAUSE THEIR CLAIMS ARE HAPPENING, AND IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO FILE THE CLAIM, AND THEN, IT BUILDS UP OVER THE FIRST THREE MONTHS.
IN THAT FIRST YEAR, THEY HAVE A SLIGHT ADVANTAGE IN THAT REGARD.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, IT CATCHES UP AT THE TAIL END OF THAT.
IF YOU TERMINATE WITH THAT CARRIER AT THE END OF ONE YEAR, THOSE CLAIMS THAT YOUR ADVANTAGE IN THE BEGINNING IS NOW CATCHING UP WITH YOU.
AN INCUMBENT ALWAYS HAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADVANTAGE, SO I DO THINK CARRIERS WANT TO BE IN THAT POSITION.
THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE FROM A POSITION OF HAVING THE BUSINESS.
THE NON-INCUMBENTS HAVE A PRICING ADVANTAGE, TYPICALLY, AND SO SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO BUY THE BUSINESS TO ACTUALLY GET IT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
>> OUR EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS ARE PRETTY MUCH STAYING THE SAME UNDER THIS PLAN, OR HAVE THE DEDUCTIBLES GONE WAY UP, OR IS THERE A CATCH THERE WITH ANYTHING?
>> NO MA'AM, SO THE BENEFIT PLANS ARE DESIGNED TO MATCH UP PRETTY CLOSELY.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MATCH UP JUST PERFECTLY, BUT IT'S OVERALL, ACTUALLY, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT ARE BETTER ABOUT THAT PLAN DESIGN.
I WOULD SAY THAT GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE STANDARD PLANS AND SO FORTH, THEY ACTUALLY MATCH UP QUITE WELL.
ANYTIME THAT YOU CHANGE CARRIERS, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME DISRUPTION.
THERE'S GOING TO BE FORMULARY DIFFERENCES, THERE'S GOING TO SOMETIMES BE PROVIDER DIFFERENCES, BUT WHEN YOU STAY IN THE BIG FOUR, THE BLUE CROSS, UNITED, CIGNA AND AETNA, THOSE ARE NATIONAL COMPANIES WITH NATIONAL NETWORKS, AND THEY TYPICALLY HAVE THE VAST MAJORITY OF EVERYBODY IN THE NETWORK.
YES, THERE WILL BE A FEW PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE SOME DISRUPTION, BUT GENERALLY, WITHIN THOSE FOUR CARRIERS, IT'S PRETTY MINIMAL.
>> BRIAN MAY ASK, DO MOST PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS ACCEPT?
>> YES [OVERLAPPING]. I WOULD EVEN PERSONALLY SAY THAT I WOULD HAVE WITHIN THOSE FOUR CARRIERS, I WOULD BE AGNOSTIC.
IT WOULD BE THE NETWORKS FOR ANY OF THOSE FOUR FOR ME OR MY FAMILY, I'D BE HAPPY WITH.
>> EXCELLENT. WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION.
[01:45:02]
OR IF THERE'S OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?>> WE HAVE NO COMPUTERS. WE CAN'T SEE THE NUMBER ON THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> MR MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE AWARD OF A BID FOR CITY EMPLOYEE GROUP INSURANCE FOR THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD OF JANUARY 1, 2026, THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026, AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[14. COUNCIL WILL REVIEW NONSUBSTANTIVE AND SUBSTANTIVE UPDATES TO THE PERSONNEL POLICY, NO ACTION IS REQUIRED ON NON-SUBSTANTIVE ITEMS. CHAPTER 3 CONTAINS PRIMARILY COMPENSATION RELATED ITEMS WHICH FALL TO THE AUTHORITY OF CITY COUNCIL. PERSONNEL POLICIES FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL: A. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 01 – COMPENSATION PLAN STRUCTURE B. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 02 – MERIT PAY PLAN C. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 03 – STEP PAY PLAN D. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 04 – OVERTIME MANAGEMENT E. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 05 – COMPENSATORY TIME F. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 06 – FLEX TIME WORK SCHEDULE G. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 07 – ON CALL, CALL BACK PROVISIONS H. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 08 – NON-EXEMPT EMPLOYEES I. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 09 – EXEMPT EMPLOYEES J. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 10 – PROMOTIONS K. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 11 – CERTIFICATION PAY L. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 12 – EDUCATION PAY M. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 13 – BILINGUAL PAY N. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 14 – LONGEVITY PAY O. CHAPTER 3 SECTION 15 – AUTHORIZED PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS]
COUNCIL WILL REVIEW NO SUBSTANTIVE AND SUBSTANTIVE UPDATES ON THE PERSONNEL POLICY.>> HELLO AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M SURE YOU ARE TIRED OF AGENDA ITEMS FROM CERTAINLY WAYNE AND THIS EVENING.
ITEM 14 IS CHAPTER 3 IN ITS ENTIRETY.
CHAPTER 3 CONSISTS OF PRIMARILY COMPENSATION-RELATED ITEMS, WHICH WHOLLY ARE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
IF IT'S NOT JUST AN ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM, AND WE'LL WALK THROUGH THE DIFFERENCE HERE IN JUST A SECOND, THEN IT REQUIRES YOU GUYS TO APPROVE THEM BY MATTER OF PRACTICE.
BUT JUST AS A REMINDER, WE'RE WALKING THROUGH OUR POLICIES FROM COVER TO COVER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COMPLIANT, THAT THEY FUNCTION WELL, THAT LEGAL AGREES WITH THEM, THAT THEY FOLLOW ALL THE STATE AND FEDERAL LABOR LAWS, AND THAT THE BIGGEST CHANGE HERE IS THAT WE'RE REFORMATTING THEM, SPECIFIC HEADER, BREAKING THEM OUT INTO CHAPTER AND SECTION, SO THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, SUBSTANTIVE VERSUS NON-SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.
THE SUBSTANTIVE MEANS THAT WE HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED THE DOCUMENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHANGES.
NON-SUBSTANTIVE MEANS THAT WE JUST SIMPLY COPY AND PASTED AND PUT THE NEW HEADING ON IT.
THERE ARE A FEW ITEMS THAT WE DID CHANGE.
AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE A TIMELINE FOR OUR POLICIES.
CHAPTER 4 WILL BE SPLIT IN NOVEMBER OVER BOTH OF YOUR MEETINGS IN NOVEMBER, AND THEN CHAPTER 5 IN DECEMBER, JANUARY 1, EFFECTIVE DATE, AND THEY'LL GET POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.
THESE ARE ALL IN YOUR PACKET, STARTING ON PAGE 189.
BUT THE ITEMS IN BLUE ARE ITEMS THAT, SPECIFICALLY, IN OUR OLD POLICY REQUIRED COUNCIL TO SAY, YES, WE APPROVE OF THAT METHOD OF ADMINISTERING POLICY.
THE ITEMS THAT ARE NOT IN BLUE ARE ITEMS THAT CONTINUE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY STAFF, SPECIFICALLY THE CITY MANAGER.
I WILL PAUSE RIGHT THERE AND ASK, HAVE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW YOUR POLICIES IN YOUR PACKET? DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? CAN I PROVIDE ANY CLARITY?
>> IS THE HOLIDAY STUFF IN HERE?
>> GREAT QUESTION. HOLIDAY IS COMING IN CHAPTER 4.
>> WE TALKED WITH THE EXECUTIVE TEAM THIS MORNING, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE HOLIDAY, MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO JUST MASSAGE THAT UNTIL IT IS IN THE BEST POSSIBLE FORM THAT WE CAN.
WE'VE BEEN EXHAUSTED BY THAT CONVERSATION, I THINK, TODAY.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?
>> I CAN ANSWER OTHER QUESTIONS.
OTHERWISE, THIS IS A REQUEST FOR YOU TO APPROVE CHAPTER 3.
>> MR MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED UPDATES TO CHAPTER 3 OF THE CITY OF DECATUR PERSONNEL POLICY AS SO ELOQUENTLY PRESENTED.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION, AND WE HAVE A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[15. CONDUCT FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING AND APPROVING THE REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE, CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS, FINAL PROJECT AND FINANCE PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE, CITY OF DECATUR, TEXAS. ]
ITEM 15, CONDUCT THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE, ACCEPTING AND APPROVING THE REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 1.>> WE HAD A WHOLE 30 MINUTES DEDICATED TO THIS JUST BEFORE OUR COUNCIL WORKSHOP.
I DID CONFIRM WITH OUR PARTNERS, P3 WORKS.
IT'S CALLED MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
THAT WAS THE TERM THAT WAS ESCAPING ME FROM THE BEGINNING.
IT WILL NEED TO BE WRITTEN IN.
LET ME RUN THROUGH THE PRESENTATION REAL QUICKLY FOR THOSE WHO JUST NOW MAY BE PICKING THIS MEETING UP, OR IF THEY ONLY WATCH COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE.
THIS IS A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE OUR PROJECT AND FINANCE PLAN FOR OUR TIRZ ZONE.
THIS IS OUR FORMALIZED APPROACH AT DETERMINING THAT THE ZONE MEETS THE STATUTORY CRITERIA UNDER THE TIF ACT OR TIRZ ACT.
THE PURPOSE HERE IS TO ESTABLISH A REINVESTMENT ZONE TO PROMOTE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT.
[01:50:03]
THE ZONE ENABLES THE CITY TO FINANCE PUBLIC WORKS, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, AND OTHER ELIGIBLE PROJECTS, SUCH AS MUNICIPAL EXPENSES.THE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE ZONE IS GOVERNED BY THE FINAL PROJECT AND FINANCE PLAN, WHICH OUTLINES ANTICIPATED COSTS, AND I DO WANT TO NOTE HERE THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE FISCAL NEEDS THAT WE ANTICIPATE, MAINLY BECAUSE THE FUND HAS NOT GROWN MORE THAN JUST TO WRITE OUT ABOUT $20,000.
IN SPEAKING WITH OUR CONSULTANTS AT P3, MUNICIPAL SERVICES WOULD NEED TO BE ADDED TO OUR PROJECT LIST.
THIS IS WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE BIT TRICKY.
THE GUIDANCE IS TO PROCEED WITH IT AS IS, AND AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, DETERMINE HOW MUCH OF THAT ALLOCATION YOU WANT TO POINT TOWARD MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
IT CANNOT BE 100%, AND IT CANNOT BE OVERLAPPING WITH FUNDS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO OTHER PROJECTS OR A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAVE AN EXISTING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WE'VE COMMITTED THOSE FUNDS; OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE THOSE FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
BUT AT SUCH A TIME, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO OPEN THIS BACK UP IN A PUBLIC FORUM, MAKE THAT AMENDMENT TO THE LARGER PLAN.
BY THE WAY, I DO HAVE THE LARGER PLAN FOR YOU TO TAKE WITH YOU AND STUDY UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN.
I WILL BREEZE THROUGH THESE QUICKLY.
HERE'S YOUR BEGINNING AND POSSIBLE ENDING VALUE, SO TOTAL NON-PROJECT COSTS.
THE GUIDANCE AT THE MOMENT FROM P3 WORKS IS TO APPROVE THIS AS WRITTEN.
THEN, BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE OPEN THE FY27 BUDGET PROCESS.
GO BACK TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, HOST ANOTHER PUBLIC MEETING OF THE TIRZ BOARD, AND ADJUST THIS TO ADD THE MUNICIPAL EXPENSES IN THERE.
THAT'S THE ADVICE AT THE MOMENT.
THEN HERE'S THE ASSUMED TIMELINE, AGAIN, BASED ON IF WE WERE TO EXPEND AN $18 MILLION PROJECT, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THE FUND HAS NOT GROWN THAT MUCH TO DO SO.
THEN HERE'S AGAIN, THESE ARE THE SAME IMAGES WE USED FOR YOUR TIRZ BOARD MEETING.
HERE'S WHERE WE'RE AT TONIGHT. YOU'LL HAVE YOUR FIRST READING, WHICH WE'RE HAVING NOW, PROVIDE ANY MORE FEEDBACK THAT YOU NEED, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A SECOND READING IN NOVEMBER.
WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE, OR WHAT CLARITY CAN I PROVIDE?
>> WHY CAN'T WE WRITE THE MUNICIPAL PART IN THERE NOW?
>> GREAT QUESTION. THIS NOTE HERE SAYS IT'S CONSIDERED BEST PRACTICE TO HAVE A FORMALLY APPROVED FINAL PROJECT AND FINANCE PLAN IN PLACE PRIOR TO THE COLLECTION OF INCREMENT FUNDS.
YOU'VE BEEN ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, MRS HILTON, SO YOU UNDERSTAND IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, TAX FUNDS WILL START COMING IN.
EVEN THOUGH OUR INCREMENT FUND IS SMALL AT THE MOMENT, WE'LL STILL BE RECEIVING DOLLARS.
IT'S A BEST PRACTICE TO HAVE AN APPROVED FINAL PROJECT AND FINANCE PLAN IN PLACE BEFORE YOU BEGIN RECEIVING THOSE DOLLARS.
>> THE ADVICE IS TO OPEN THIS BACK UP BECAUSE IT WOULD REQUIRE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING TO OPEN UP THE FINANCE PLAN, AND WE CAN CHANGE IT IN A FUTURE DATE.
YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE PLAN WHEN YOU'RE PREPPING FOR FY27 AND SAY, HEY, WE THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE THIS AMOUNT OF DOLLARS IN THIS PLAN, AND WE'LL WRITE IT IN AS MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
I DON'T KNOW IF DANIEL LEFT US. DANIEL IS STILL HERE.
DANIEL AND TOM ARE STILL HERE, IF I MAY HAVE MISSTATED THERE, SO HAPPY TO DEFER THE QUESTION TO THOSE AGAIN.
>> I JUST HOPE SOMEBODY IS HERE FOR THAT CONVERSATION IN 2027 TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS.
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT POINT.
JUST A REMINDER, FIRST READING TONIGHT, WHEN WE BRING THIS BACK TO YOU, WHEN YOU APPROVE IT, YOU COULD GIVE US THE DIRECTION TO MEET AGAIN IN 90 DAYS OR MEET AGAIN IN 120 DAYS TO READDRESS THIS PLAN, AND WE CAN WORK WITH OUR CONSULTANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TIMELINES MARRY UP AND THEY'RE MEETING THE INTENT OF THE TIRZ RULES.
>> THE CONCERN IS, I HOPE I'M BEING CLEAR, THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PIECES HERE.
THE CONCERN IS BRINGING IN THESE TAX DOLLARS AND NOT HAVING A PLAN FOR THEM.
IN THE EVENT THAT YOU NEEDED TO SPEND OR WANTED TO SPEND, YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN THAT LEGALLY ALLOWS YOU TO DO SO.
THAT'S THE CONCERN AT THE MOMENT.
[01:55:01]
>> IT IS MY RECOLLECTION WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS INITIALLY, THIS COUNCIL, THE CITY, OVERALL, I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN HIT WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF DISTRICTS, IF YOU WILL, OF FUNDING FOR DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THAT WE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION WITH, INCLUDING THE CONCEPT OF HAVING THE DIVERSITY OF BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE'S ON BOARD WITH THAT, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO LOOK AT WITHIN WHATEVER IS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
AGAIN, THIS IS OUR FIRST READING.
>> YEAH. I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS IF THIS SOUNDS GOOD TO THE COUNCIL TEAM.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS PROBABLY MARCH OUT A CALENDAR.
HOW OFTEN DO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS TIRZ ITEM? HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE ADDRESS THE PLAN? MAYBE I'LL CHECK SOME OF OUR PEER CITIES TO SEE HOW OFTEN THEIR TIRZ BOARDS ARE MEETING, AND WE CAN BEGIN TO MIRROR ONE OF THEIR PROCESSES AND GET OUR HEADS WRAPPED AROUND HOW WE CAN OPEN AND CLOSE AND ADJUST AS NEEDED.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY IF WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT TONIGHT, I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.
IF YOU THINK OF SOMETHING OR IF YOU RUN THROUGH THAT PACKET AND SOMETHING JUST IS NOT CLEAR, PLEASE DO GIVE ME A CALL, SHOOT ME AN EMAIL, BECAUSE I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
>> IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, AS THE YEARS GO ON, WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THIS.
>> DOWN THE BUDGETS, BACK AND FORTH, WHATEVER WORKS.
>> RIGHT. AS LONG AS WE THINK ABOUT IT LIKE THIS, THAT IF WE START GETTING INTO DEDICATING FUNDS TO SPECIFIC PURPOSES, THAT BEGINS RESTRICTING HOW MUCH OF THAT INCREMENT BECOMES AVAILABLE FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
WE JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ON WHERE WE WANT THOSE FUNDS TO GO.
RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOT THAT MANY DOLLARS TO DIRECT.
BUT AS THE DISTRICT GROWS, AND WE ALL KNOW IT WILL GROW.
AS IT GROWS, WE'LL HAVE TO BE QUITE A BIT MORE THOUGHTFUL ON HOW WE PUT THOSE FINANCES TOGETHER.
>> YEAH, I THINK AT THEN THE DATE, THIS DEVELOPMENT, THERE ARE GOING TO BE THAT FLUIDITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO APPROACH THAT THROUGH THIS TOOLBOX.
>> PERFECT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM FROM COUNCIL?
>> THANK YOU, ALL APPRECIATE IT.
>> ITEM 16. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE AND RATIFY
[16. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE, AND RATIFY THE DECATUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION’S (EDC) APPROVAL OF, AN ASSIGNMENT OF THE HOTEL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND THE ASSOCIATED 380 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, TRANSFERRING OBLIGATIONS AND BENEFITS FROM GATEHOUSE (FAIRFIELD INN) TO THE SUCCESSOR ENTITY OPERATING THE FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES DECATUR, FORMERLY KNOWN AS FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS INCLUDING THE NOTICE OF SATISFACTION (RELATED TO DEED PROVISIONS UNDER THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT) AND THE RELEASE OF THE RIGHT OF REVERTER. ]
THE DECATUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION'S CDC APPROVAL OF AN ASSIGNMENT FOR THE HOTEL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE RECEIVED WORD FROM THE PROPOSED BUYER OF THE FAIRFIELD IN EARLIER, WELL, IT WAS TUESDAY, AND WE'VE GOT A POSTING REQUIREMENT NOW THAT WE HAVE TO POST ON TUESDAY, THAT THEY HAD AN UPCOMING CLOSING DATE.
WE WERE TRYING TO HELP THEM ACCOMMODATE GETTING WHAT THEY NEEDED IN ORDER SO THAT THEY COULD MEET THAT CLOSING DATE.
BUT IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY LOOSE ENDS THAT NEED TO BE TIED UP, TOO MUCH ANALYSIS STILL YET TO DO FOR THE CITY TO DO ITS PART, RELEASING OF INVERTER, FOR EXAMPLE, IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
I'M RECOMMENDING NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT.
>> VERY GOOD. WELL, IF COUNCIL HAS ANYTHING OTHER TO MAKE A COMMENT, WE CAN JUST TAKE NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM.
HEARING NONE, WE'LL TAKE NO ACTION.
[17. CONSENT AGENDA ]
ITEM 17, CONSENT AGENDA.WE CAN PULL ITEMS, OR WE CAN APPROVE.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS WRITTEN.
>> WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
>> NUMBER 18, EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE,
[18. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
SECTION 551.001, COUNCIL WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.THIS IS ON PERSONAL MATTERS, DELIBERATE IN THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT OF DUTIES, DISCIPLINE, OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, OR MUNICIPAL JUDGE EVALUATION.
AT 8:08, WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE WILL RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AT 9:16.
[19. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION ]
ANY ACTION FROM COUNCIL?[02:00:01]
HEARING NONE. NO ACTION ON THAT. ITEM 20.[20. COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. ]
COUNCIL MEMBERS' REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. ANYTHING THERE? THAT GETS US TO ADJOURNMENT AT 9:17. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.>> I THINK YOU MISSED THAT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.