[00:00:06]
>> TODAY'S TOWN OF WESTLAKE TOWN COUNCIL BOARD OF TRUSTEES AGENDA FOR MONDAY,
[A. REGULAR MEETING – Call to Order (4:00 P.M.)]
SEPTEMBER 25TH AT 4:00 PM, RESOLVE FOR THE LAYER MEETING CALL TO ORDER AND WE SWEAR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE THAT'S WHAT WE SAW FOR A CEREMONIAL ITEM FIRST,[C.3. 23-230 Ceremonial item recognizing John Ard as the new Fire Chief (Wade Carroll)]
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH 23-230 CEREMONIAL RECOGNIZING JOHN ARD IS THE NEW FIRE CHIEF. WADE, COME ON UP.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
TONIGHT, I HAVE THE GREAT HONOR TO FILL THE POSITION OF FIRE CHIEF WITH A GREAT MAN.
AS YOU ARE AWARE, RICHARD WHITTEN RETIRED AS FIRE CHIEF LAST MONTH AFTER 18 YEARS OF HONORABLE SERVICE HERE IN WESTLAKE AND RICHARD HIRED JOHN ARD TO BE AS DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF AND HAS MENTORED HIM OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
CHIEF ARD HAS BEEN SERVING THE PUBLIC FOR OVER 25 YEARS IN THREE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, AND THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE.
HIS FIRE SERVICE CAREER BEGAN IN SOUTHLAKE IN 2002, WHERE HE WORKED IN THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND THEN MOVED TO A FIREFIGHTER, CLIMBING TO THE RANK OF DRIVER ENGINEER.
IN 2016, HE WAS HIRED AS WESTLAKE'S DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF OF OPERATIONS AND FIRE MARSHAL.
WHILE SERVING IN THIS ROLE, CHIEF ARD ADVANCED HIS EDUCATION, COMPLETING HIS MASTERS DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM STEPHEN F. AUSTIN UNIVERSITY.
JOHN ARD ALSO HOLDS MANY LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS WAY TOO MANY FOR ME TO STAND UP HERE AND WALK THROUGH, SORRY JOHN.
HE GOT HIS FIRE SERVICE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FROM TEXAS A&M MAYS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND THE CHIEF FIRE EXECUTIVE FROM THE TEXAS FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION.
ADDITIONALLY, CHIEF ARD GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE FIRE SERVICE COMMUNITY BY SERVING AS AN ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR AT TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE.
CHIEF ARD IS A GREAT LEADER AT HOME, AS WELL AS THE FIRE STATION, TONIGHT HE IS JOINED BY HIS FAMILY, HIS WIFE, TAMMY, HIS SONS, JUSTIN AND CANON, HIS DAUGHTER, KAYLA, HIS FATHER, DON ARD.
DON ARD, AND HIS FATHER AND MOTHER-IN-LAW, FRANK AND SHARON TRENTO.
WE SURELY APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE TONIGHT? WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY MANY OF HIS FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SO WE'RE JUST HONORED TO HAVE ALL OF YOU HERE AND ALL THE GUESTS THAT ARE HERE WITH US.
MAYOR IT'S MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THE PROMOTION OF JOHN ARD TO THE RANK OF FIRE CHIEF FOR THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE.
AFTER HIS OATH OF OFFICE, JOHN'S WIFE TAMMY, WILL REMOVE HIS CURRENT BADGE OF DEPUTY CHIEF AND PIN HIM WITH HIS NEW BADGE OF FIRE CHIEF. MAYOR.
>> FOR THE OATH OF OFFICE, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR AND AFFIRM.
>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR AND AFFIRM.
>> THAT WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE.
>> THAT WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE.
>> FOR THE WESTLAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> FOR THE WESTLAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> AND THAT WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
>> AND WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
>> PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND,.
>> PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND.
>> THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> THE LAWS AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> TAMMY, YOU WANT TO COME UP OVER HERE [APPLAUSE]
>> FOR THOSE IN THE PARTY WITH JOHN ARD,
[00:05:03]
WE'VE GOT A SMALL RECEPTION FOR YOU.IF YOU GO OUT THESE DOORS AND DOWN TO THE LEFT, THERE'S A ENTRYWAY.
IT LOOKS LIKE A BAR IN THERE, BUT IT'S A LITTLE RECEPTION AREA.
I GUESTS HELP YOURSELF TO DRINK.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO DRINK AS WELL THAT'S GOING TO BE ON YOU THOUGH BUT THERE ARE SOME CAKE AND SOME FLOWERS FOR TAMMY AND EVERYTHING BACK THERE IN THE BACK BUT JOHN, IF YOU WANT TO LEAD THEM THAT WAY AND YOU GUYS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO EXIT THE ROOM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING.
>> FIVE-MINUTE BREAK HERE JUST SO THEY CAN CLOSE OUT HERE [BACKGROUND]
>> CASEY, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU FIRST ON THE QUARTERLY REPORT.
>> LET'S GET BACK INTO SESSION HERE FOR AWAIT.
[F.1. 23-202 Receive a Quarterly Financial Update (Cayce Lay Lamas)]
CASEY, YOU WANT TO START OFF WITH F123-202 RECEIVER OF QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT?>> YES, SIR. THIS IS THE QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE BORDEN COUNCIL AS FAR AS THE TOWN'S FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES GO.
THIS IS GOING THROUGH JUNE OF 2023.
OVERALL, WE HAD ADOPTED A BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '23 THAT WAS PROJECTING A FIVE MILLION DOLLARS DEFICIT.
WITH THIS THIRD QUARTER REPORT, WE ARE NOW EXPECTING A $2.8 MILLION SURPLUS OVERALL.
STARTING WITH THE GENERAL FUND, THROUGH THE THIRD QUARTER, WE HAVE COLLECTED APPROXIMATELY 124% OF OUR PLANNED REVENUES, AND WE HAVE ONLY SPENT 54% OF OUR PLANNED EXPENDITURES.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE AFTER THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR UTILITY FUND AND THEN CAPITAL FUNDS.
THE FULL REPORT IS PART OF THE AGENDA PACKET AND WILL BE POSTED ONLINE.
GOING TO THE UTILITY FUND THROUGH THE END OF JUNE, WE'VE COLLECTED 54% OF OUR PROJECTED REVENUES, AND WE'VE ONLY EXTENDED 36% OF OUR PLANNED EXPENDITURES.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THOUGH, THAT FOR THE UTILITY FUND, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES OCCURRED DURING THOSE HOT SUMMER MONTHS, AND IF ANYBODY WAS IN TOWN LAST MONTH, YOU KNOW THAT WE WERE VERY HOT THROUGH THE MONTH OF AUGUST, SO I EXPECT THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES TO FINISH THE YEAR SIGNIFICANTLY UP FROM WHAT YOU'RE SAYING NOW.
THEN THE CAPITAL FUNDS, THIS IS A COMBINATION OF THREE CAPITAL FUNDS THAT COMPRISE THE MUNICIPAL AND THE ACADEMY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
THE BIG CHANGE FROM WHAT WAS ADOPTED FOR FISCAL YEAR '23, IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE $3.5 MILLION TAX NOTE ISSUANCE FOR THE MODULAR BUILDINGS AND THE ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES NECESSARY TO OUTFIT THOSE BUILDINGS.
[00:10:05]
THE OTHER PART OF YOUR QUARTERLY REPORT THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET OUTSIDE OF THE GENERAL FUND FINANCIALS HAS TO DO WITH THE PFIA REQUIRED INVESTMENT REPORT.THROUGH THE END OF JUNE, WE'RE UP SIGNIFICANTLY ON INVESTMENT EARNINGS THAT HAS TO DO THROUGH JUNE 30TH ENTIRELY WITH THE FED RAISING THE RATES CONTINUALLY.
IF YOU'LL RECALL, IN JUNE, THE COUNCIL VOTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TEXAS CLASS RISK POOL.
WE ACTUALLY FUNDED THAT MECHANISM IN THE FOURTH-QUARTER, SO YOU WON'T SEE ANY OF THOSE EARNINGS UNTIL OUR LAST QUARTERLY REPORT.
ADDITIONALLY, FOR DEBT PAYMENTS, WE DO ALL OF THOSE TWICE A YEAR, ONCE IN FEBRUARY, ONCE IN AUGUST.
THE DEBT PAYMENTS THAT ARE MADE IN FEBRUARY INCLUDE THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS.
THEN THE LAST BIT OF DEBT PAYMENTS WILL OCCUR EVERY YEAR IN AUGUST, AND THOSE ARE INTEREST-ONLY.
FOR THE DEBT SERVICE FUNDS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ACTIVITIES HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED THROUGH THE THIRD QUARTER.
THEN JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON NEXT STEPS, THIS AGAIN, IS ONLY THROUGH THE THIRD QUARTER.
YOU'LL SEE AN UNAUDITED DRAFT REPORT BACK IN NOVEMBER TO GIVE YOU YOUR FIRST GLANCE AT HOW WE FINISHED THE FISCAL YEAR OF '23.
ALSO ADDITIONALLY, NEXT MONTH, WHAT WE'LL BRING FORWARD TO THIS BODY FOR CONSIDERATION IS A FORMAL BUDGET AMENDMENT.
BUDGET AMENDMENT, THE INTENT THERE IS TO ACTUALLY CODIFY ANY NECESSARY CHANGES IN REVENUES OR EXPENDITURES THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR FISCAL YEAR '23 HAS TO DO WITH THOSE SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN EXPECTED REVENUES THAT WILL WANT TO AMEND FOR AND ADJUST THE BUDGET PRIOR TO GOING THROUGH THE AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR '23.
DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE QUARTERLY REPORT?
>> YEAH. CASEY, REAL QUICK. I DON'T REMEMBER.
I KNEW WE REALLY SWUNG THIS DEFICIT TO A POSITIVE.
DO WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT 2.8 MILLION AS WE CLOSE OUT THE YEAR?
>> WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE 2.8 MILLION THROUGH JUNE 30TH.
I EXPECT THAT TO BE A LITTLE BIGGER THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
>> OR DOWNSIDE? THANK YOU. FOR NEXT YEAR, IS THERE A WAY WE CAN GIVE THEM THE MONEY BACK TO THE PEOPLE HERE, IN TERMS OF MAYBE ENHANCING OUR TOWN DEDUCTION FOR, IT'S 400 GRAND OR SPLINT THAT FOR EACH HOME, MAYBE THE ALLOTMENT FOR INCREASING AT AND AS A WAY OF REIMBURSEMENT PEOPLE?
>> WE'RE LEGALLY CAPPED WITH THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
WE CAN ONLY GO UP AS MUCH AS WE'RE CURRENTLY AT WHICH IS AT 20%, BUT WE CAN EXPLORE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
>> FOR EXEMPTIONS, WE'RE ALREADY AT THE LEGAL CAP?
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION?
>> NO, I'M TALKING FOR THE EXECUTIVE.
>> IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE EXEMPTION THAT WAS RECENTLY PASSED THROUGH A LEGISLATURE THIS CURRENT YEAR THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT, THAT'S ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SIDE, NOT ON THE MUNICIPAL TAX SIDE.
>> NO, I'M TALKING FOR THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE.
THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE HAS 200,000, WHERE 150,000 IS THE EXEMPTION, AND THEN AFTER THAT THE TAX STARTS.
EVERY COUNTY HAS EXEMPTIONS, EVERYONE HAS EXEMPTIONS.
THERE'S NO WAY OF INCREASING IT.
>> YES, SIR. THAT IS THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT. YES, SIR. [OVERLAPPING]
>> MUNICIPALITIES ARE ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS WITH A MINIMUM OF $5,000.
>> ACTUALLY, I HAVE A QUESTION.
>> IN THE OVERVIEW HERE, SO WE HAD PROJECTED THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR A USE OF FUND BALANCE OR DEPLETION OF FUND BALANCE OF ABOUT FIVE MILLION.
YOU SAID PROJECTED REVENUE IS 27, PROJECTED EXPENDITURES OF 33.
WHEN YOU COME DOWN TO THE GENERAL FUND, THIS IS SOMETHING I KEEP STRUGGLING WITH WHENEVER WE GET INTO THESE CONVERSATIONS, YOU WERE SHOWING A GENERAL FUND BALANCE SURPLUS OF 2.8 MILLION, AND THAT'S BASED ON THIS PROJECTED REVENUE OF 17.2 MILLION, LESS THAN PROJECTED EXPENDITURES OF 14.38, WHICH APPEARS SEPARATE FROM THE CONSOLIDATED 27 AND 33.
>> HOW ARE WE PROJECTING 2.8, AND HOW DOES IT RELATE TO THE CONSOLIDATED SET OF ACCOUNTS?
>> THIS IS JUST A PORTION OF IT.
FOR THE QUARTERLY REPORT, WE FOCUS ON THE MAJOR FUNDS.
THE ACTUAL BACKUP IS AN APPENDICES TO THE QUARTERLY REPORT ITSELF.
>> WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO SEE ON A CONSOLIDATED BASIS THAT TRUE SURPLUS TO BE FOR THE TOWN?
>> OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD AS OF Q3, I'LL HAVE TO GET THAT NUMBER BACK FOR YOU.
[00:15:07]
>> IT LOOKS IT'S GENERAL FUND AGAIN.
UNDER THE EXPENDITURE SUMMARY, THERE'S A COMMENT HERE ABOUT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT BEING OVER BUDGET.
>> THIS RELATES TO CONTRACT STAFFING.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT OUTSOURCING OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAD CEASED.
>> WHY IS THIS STILL CONSIDERED TO BE OVER BUDGET FOR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT?
>> IT WAS OVER BUDGET BEFORE JUST FROM THE OVERUSE OF THOSE CONSULTANTS FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
>> FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS? OKAY.
>> WE DISCONTINUED ONE OF THEM IN MARCH, THE NEXT ONE WAS DISCONTINUED IN MAY, AND THE LAST ONE HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AS OF JULY 4TH.
THAT WAS JUST TO HAVE THEM WRAP UP THE PROJECTS THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON FOR US.
>> MY OTHER QUESTION BECAUSE THIS AGAIN, IS GOING TO RELATE TO OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION WHICH IS COMING UP HERE IN A MINUTE.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE TRANSFERS OUT OF GENERAL FUND AND YOU CONSIDER TO BE A COST CENTER HERE.
YOU SAY THAT IT'S LOWER THAN EXPECTED ACTIVITY DUE TO LIMITED CAPEX.
ARE THESE TRANSFER OUTS, AGAIN, ARE THESE WIPED OUT ON A CONSOLIDATED BASIS? I WILL ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN LATER.
WERE THESE CONSIDERED TRUE EXPENDITURES ACROSS THE BOARD FOR THE YEAR?
FOR GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING, THE METAPHOR THAT I ALWAYS LIKE TO USE, IF YOU HAVE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND A CHECKING ACCOUNT AND YOU TRANSFER $25 FROM ONE TO THE OTHER, ONE OF THOSE WILL SHOW A DECREASE OF $25, AND THE OTHER WILL SHOW AN INCREASE.
>> NO, I UNDERSTAND. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE GENERAL FUND, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE TRANSFER COSTS, ARE THESE TRUE EXPENDITURES OF THE GENERAL FUND?
>> NO, THESE ARE GOING TO BE TRUE EXPENDITURES IN A DIFFERENT FUND.
THE TRANSFERS OUT WILL BALANCE WITH THE TRANSFERS IN FOR THE OTHER FUND.
>> BUT THEY WILL BE EXPENSED THROUGH SOME OTHER FUN DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR?
>> OR WHATEVER PURPOSE THEY WERE FOR.
>> WE'LL DEFINITELY VISIT THIS ON THE BUDGET. [INAUDIBLE]
>> DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> MOVE ON TO F223-240 PRESENTATION DISCUSSION STATE ASSESSMENT RESULTS
[F.2. 23-240 Presentation and discussion of State Assessment Results for 2023 (Maxwell Ituah/Rod Harding)]
FOR 2023. MAXWELL AND ROD.>> YOU CAN HIT THE NEXT SLIDE. HI, COUNCIL.
MR. HARDING AND I WILL REVIEW THE 2022, 2023, EO STAAR AND EOC RESULTS FOR THIS PAST ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR.
TO START, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HOW THE STAAR ASSESSMENTS ARE SCORED AND THEN ALSO THE MOST RECENT STAAR REDESIGN THAT WE HAD THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR.
THERE ARE SOME BRIEF CHANGES THAT THEY IMPLEMENTED.
HB4545 HAS NOW CHANGED TO HB1416.
I'M SHORT. HB4545 HAS NOW CHANGED TO HB 1416 FOR ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION.
SO THE STATE REVISE FOR THE STANDARDS FOR WHAT DISTRICTS NEED TO IMPLEMENT FOR STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PASS A STAAR/EOC ASSESSMENT.
BEFORE ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION, IT WAS 30 HOURS THAT WERE NEEDED FOR STUDENTS AND NOW IT'S CUT BACK TO 15.
THE PREVIOUS RATIO WAS 3:1 FOR WORKING UNLESS THERE'S A WAIVER.
THAT RATIO HAS NOW INCREASED FROM 4-1.
APPROACHES, MEETS, AND MASTERS STILL REMAINS THE SAME.
AS THERE WAS A STAAR REDESIGN IN TERMS OF THE GROWTH MEASURES, IF A STUDENT GOT LIMITED GROWTH EXPECTED OR ACCELERATED, THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
SO WE DON'T HAVE THOSE RESULTS NOW.
FOR THE STAAR REDESIGN, THERE WERE SOME CHANGES THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED.
YOU NOW HAVE CROSS-CURRICULAR PASSAGES.
MAKING SURE THAT SOMETHING THAT'S LEARNED IN HISTORY CAN BE OVERLAPPING IN A SOCIAL STUDIES EXAMINATION, SO ACTUALLY PROVIDING MEANINGFUL PASSAGES FOR STUDENTS.
ANOTHER THING IS WRITING AND ALL OF THE READING LANGUAGE ARTS ASSESSMENTS.
IT'S NO LONGER IN JUST ENGLISH 1 AN ENGLISH 2.
THERE IS SOME WRITING COMPONENT IN ALL OF THE ENGLISH TESTS AND THERE'S ALSO NOW A CAP FOR THE NUMBER OF MULTIPLE CHOICE ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE GIVEN TO STUDENTS.
BEFORE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ENGLISH 1 AND ENGLISH 2, IT WOULD BE 100% MULTIPLE-CHOICE.
ALSO, ALL ASSESSMENTS ARE NOW ONLINE IN WHICH WESTLAKE WE WERE AHEAD OF THE CURVE IN MOVING TO ONLINE LAST YEAR.
[00:20:02]
LOOKING AT THIS SLIDE, THE NEXT TWO SLIDES JUST SHOW THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF QUESTION TYPES THAT WERE NOW ADDED TO THE STAAR ASSESSMENTS AND THE EXAMS THAT YOU CAN SEE THEM IN.YOU SEE HERE LIKE TEXT ENTRY, WE SEE THAT THAT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED FOR MATHEMATICS IN GRADES 3-8 AND ALL EOCS, AS WELL AS READING, LANGUAGE, ARTS, AND SCIENCES AMINATION.
I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ALL THAT THERE WAS A REVISION TO THE STAAR. MR. HARDING.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? I'M GOING TO GO OVER THESE STAAR GRADE 3-5 RESULTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PASS RATE FOR GRADE 3.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE THE FIRST USERS OF THE STAAR EXAMINATION SO IT'S VERY STRANGE TO THEM, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD MANY TRIALS IN HELPING THE CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.
WHEN IT'S ON THE COMPUTER, IT GETS VERY DIFFICULT WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE ATTENTION ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE TESTING, AND THE TESTING MAY LAST FOR A LONG TIME.
THEREFORE, IT REDUCES IN THE APTITUDE AND THE DETERMINATION OF THE CHILD.
IN THE LONGITUDINAL DATA, WE ARE AT MASTERS LEVEL OF 48%, AND THAT'S VERY GOOD FOR THE GRADE 3S COMING IN.
VERY, VERY GOOD. IN THE MATH, WE ARE HOLDING AT 43%.
THAT MASTERED LEVEL COMPARES VERY FAVORABLY TO THE STATE AND REGIONAL SCHOOLS, AND WE WILL GET INTO THAT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.
>> MR. HARDING, CAN I JUST ASK A BRIEF QUESTION? HAVING LOOKED AT THIS DATA IN ADVANCE, AND I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU GOING THROUGH THIS, A LOT OF THE TEST REPORTS ARE ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD.
THE TEST SCORES ARE GENERALLY VERY GOOD.
THERE'S JUST ONLY A FEW ANOMALIES AND THIS JUST HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THEM, WHICH IS WHY I JUST WANTED TO PAUSE FOR A MINUTE.
THE 48% AND THE 43% MASTERY IS HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGES.
BUT IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY, THEY ARE ANOMALIES.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE US A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO YOUR READING OF THESE RESULTS AND JUST WHAT YOU THINK THE PLAN OF ACTION WOULD BE TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
HOW CONCERNED YOU WOULD BE, THAT SORT OF THING.
>> YOU MEAN FROM THE 62% TO 48?
>> YES, EXACTLY. OBVIOUSLY, THAT 35 TO THE 43 IS AN IMPROVEMENT, BUT IT IS STILL, COMPARED TO OTHER GRADES AND OTHER SUBJECTS, IT IS LOWER.
>> WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT MRS. THOMAS WHO DOES THE READING AT SCHOOL AND ALSO, I WON'T GET ONTO THE MATH AT THE MOMENT, BUT THE READING, HER TIME WAS SHARED DURING LAST YEAR WITH THE HB4545 FOR THOSE CHILDREN WHO DID NOT MEET THE STANDARD.
SHE WAS OCCUPIED WITH THE ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION WITH THAT.
ALONG WITH THAT, MRS. THOMAS SPENT HER TIME WITH SMALL GROUPS AND HELPING THEM WITH READING.
HER TIME WAS TAKEN AWAY AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE REASON.
THE OTHER REASON IS THAT THIS YEAR, AND THAT'S LATER ON IN THE DISCUSSION, WE ARE NOT GETTING MRS. THOMAS OR THE MATH SPECIALIST TO TAKE ON THE HB4545 FOR THOSE THAT DID NOT MEET WITH THAT ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION.
WE'RE HANDING THAT OVER TO THE GRADE 4 AND 5 TEACHERS THIS YEAR.
THAT'S GOING TO CREATE A SITUATION WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE BETTER USE OF HER TIME TO CONCENTRATE ON THE ALIGNMENT OF THE TAKES FROM GRADE 3, 4, AND 5.
THAT WAS A DEFINITE AREA THAT WE NEEDED TO CHANGE AND WE DID THIS YEAR.
THERE'S ONLY SO MANY HOURS IN A DAY.
YOU'VE NOW CORRECTED THAT AND YOU THINK THAT WILL FIX THAT?
>> YES, WE HAVE. THAT WAS THE FEELING OF THE STAFF.
>> AND I THINK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT WAS THE FEELING.
THAT HOW CAN WE DO ALL THIS? HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT ONE DAY OF THE TEST AND WE DID HAVE PRELIMINARY TESTS,
[00:25:05]
BUT WE WEREN'T SURE WHAT THE RESULT WOULD BE.WE NEEDED TO PULL THE READING SPECIALISTS AND THE MATH SPECIALIST AWAY FROM THAT POSITION AND WE HAVE.
WE SHOULD SEE A RISE IN THOSE RESULTS.
>> ARE WE GOING TO CAUSE OTHER ISSUES HAVING THESE OTHER TEACHERS TAKE ON SOME OF THESE RESPONSIBILITIES?
>> NO. IT'S 30 HOURS FOR THE DURATION OF THE TIME, AND IT'S ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES AFTER SCHOOL OR BEFORE SCHOOL, SO THEY WOULD BE TUTORING THOSE CHILDREN AS WELL.
>> AND YOU FEEL OKAY ABOUT THAT?
>> YES. WE FEEL OKAY WITH THAT.
>> WHILE THE MATH IN GRADE 3 HAS IMPROVED SLIGHTLY.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I'LL GO ON TO GRADE 4 RESULTS.
AGAIN, WE HAVE 97% PASS RATE AND WHEN YOU TURN OVER TO SORRY, I'M NOT USED TO THIS.
USUALLY HAVE SOMEONE CLICKING IT FOR ME.
>> I'M HAPPY TO HELP IF YOU NEED [LAUGHTER]
>> COMING OUT HERE. THE GRADE 4 LONGITUDINAL STUDY, 65% IN READING WAS MASTERED.
WE GRADUALLY MOVING THAT SCALE UP AS WE GO THROUGH THE CLASSES AND THE GRADES.
IN MATH 59%, THAT IS AN INCREASE AS WELL, AND FOR LAST YEAR THE WRITING COMPONENT WAS GIVEN.
THAT COMPONENT IS NOW INTEGRATED INTO THE READING COMPONENT SO THAT CHILDREN HAVE A DUAL ROLE WHEN THEY TAKE THE READING EXAM AND I'M GOING TO GET INTO THAT IN A MOMENT ABOUT THAT.
YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD THIS IN MY HAND.
RATING 78% MASTERED, AND FOR MATH, A DROP OF 62% AND WE WOULD EQUATE THAT WITH NOT ONLY DID THE READING SPECIALISTS HAVE TO DO THE ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION IN HOSPITAL 45, BUT THE MATH STUDENTS SPECIALIST HAD TO DO THAT AS WELL.
FOR THE SAME REASONS, THE GRADE 5 TEACHERS AND THE REST OF THE TEACHERS IN GRADE 4 AND 5 WILL BE DOING THE ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION SO THAT NOW LEAVES THE MATH SPECIALIST, STEM SPECIALIST FREE TO DO THAT.
I'M GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE SCIENCE IN A MOMENT BECAUSE THE MASS SPECIALISTS DOES A SCIENCE AS WELL SO SHE HAS A DUAL ROLE.
THE WRITING COMPONENT, THAT IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT IT'S BEING DONE AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF THAT WAS 24% AND I KNOW THAT THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE STATE AND REGION IS LESS THAN THAT, BUT I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE AND THE REGION, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SCHOOL AND CAN WE IMPROVE ON THE RESULTS THAT WE HAVE? IN THE WRITING, THE COMPONENT WAS ADDED DURING THE STOCK LAST YEAR.
IT GAVE AN EXTENDED CONSTRUCTIVE RESPONSE ESSAY, A LITERARY RESPONSE TO A READING PASSAGE.
THAT WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE CHILDREN WERE DOING WHEN THEY WERE WRITING AN ESSAY, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
THEY HAD ANOTHER SECTION TO DO AS WELL, AND THAT WAS TOO SHORT CONSTRUCTED RESPONSES FOR OR WITH TEXT EVIDENCE ON ONE AND THEN AN EDIT AND A REWRITE ON THE OTHER.
THEY WERE DOING A LOT OF WORK WITHIN THAT READING COMPONENT AND THE IDEA WAS FOR THAT EXAM OR THAT TEST WAS TO LINK THE WRITING TO THE READING, WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE AND THEY DID, BUT WE HAVE TO GET USED TO THAT FORMAT WITH THOSE CHILDREN WHO WERE DOING THE WRITING.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE, THE STATE ASSESSES MATH AND READING, BUT THEY ONLY GET TO WRITING IN THE GRADE 5 COMPONENTS SO THAT'S A PROCEDURAL THING WITH THE FORMAT OF THE WHOLE THING.
[00:30:01]
>> CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT THE SCIENCE?
>> THANK YOU, DAVID. IN AUGUST 22 TO MAY 23, THE STEM SPECIALIST TOWARDS SCIENCE AND ALSO TAUGHT IT EVERY SECOND WEEK AND IN THE ALTERNATE WEEK, SUPPORTED TEACHERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MATHEMATICS.
SHE'S SPREAD BETWEEN A LOT OF THINGS.
HER CONCENTRATION WAS ON MATHEMATICS AND ALSO ON HB45.
SHE TRIED TO IMPROVE THE CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT WITHIN AND ACROSS GRADES.
ADDITIONALLY, THE STEMS SPECIALISTS SUPPORTED THE TEACHERS THAT DID NOT MEET AND I MENTIONED THAT ABOUT THE HEALTH BILL 45.
IT'S THE STEM SPECIALIST IN THE PYP CURRICULUM AND THE PYP CURRICULUM COORDINATOR PROVIDED WORKSHOPS ON THE STAR REDESIGN AND THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS THAT WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN THE NEW STAR ALIGNMENT OF THE TEST IN MAY 23.
SHE WAS PULLED IN MANY DIRECTIONS DURING THAT YEAR.
TO CREATE THAT SITUATION IN FULL, IN 2022 WE HAD THE NEW STYLE REDESIGN WHERE THE MATH SPECIALIST WAS INVOLVED IN THAT RATHER THAN SCIENCE.
IN MAY 23, THE NEW TECHS CAME IN AND THAT WAS DONE BY THE MATH SPECIALIST.
ALL OF THESE INSTANCES WE'RE REDIRECTED BY THE STEM SPECIALISTS WHO WAS A MATH AND SCIENCE SPECIALISTS.
ALSO IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT 11%, SEVEN CHILDREN WERE NEW TO WESTLAKE ACADEMY IN GRADE 5.
AGAIN, THAT MAY HAVE HAD AN EFFECT.
OUR ACTION PLAN THIS YEAR, AS I SAID, THE STEM SPECIALISTS IS SEPARATED AND SHE WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE SCIENCE AND THE TARGET INTERVENTIONS WILL NO LONGER TAKE PLACE BY HER IT WILL BE TAKE PLACE BY THE GRADE 5 TEACHERS.
THAT'LL FREE HER COMPLETELY UP.
IF I LOOK AT THE RESULTS IN SCIENCE, THERE ARE CERTAIN CONCEPTS OR STRANDS THAT ARE LACKING.
FOR INSTANCE, ONLY 55% OF THE STUDENTS IN GRADE 5 WERE SUCCESSFUL IN MATTER AND ENERGY, THAT WERE CORRECT.
IN EARTH AND SPACE, 52% GOT IT CORRECT.
THERE ARE CERTAIN QUESTIONS THAT WERE WORSE THAN THE OTHERS AND WE'VE MADE SURE THAT WE'VE SEPARATED THOSE QUESTIONS AND WE KNOW WHICH ONES DID WELL AND WHICH QUESTIONS WERE NOT DONE SO WELL SO WE CAN CONCENTRATE ON THAT.
IN FORCE, ENERGY AND MOTION, 70% OF THE STUDENTS IN GRADE 5 GOT IT CORRECT OR GOT CORRECT ANSWERS.
IN ORGANISMS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, 74% OF STUDENTS WERE AT THE CORRECT ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS.
OUR MATTER AND ENERGY AND EARTH AND SPACE ARE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON, BOTH IN THE CLASSROOM AND WITHIN WHAT IS ON OFFER AT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
>> AS HARD AS I ASSUME THIS EVALUATION WAS DONE AT YEAR-END AFTER THE ACTUAL STAR RESULTS CAME OUT.
>> CAN WE USE TESTING EARLIER IN THE YEAR TO TURN [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE INTERIM TESTS, YES WE CAN.
>> YES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL DO WITH THE SCIENCE IS LOOK AT WHAT OFFERINGS ARE AT REGION 11 FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND WORKSHOPS.
ON SEPTEMBER THE 7TH OF THIS YEAR, WE SENT THE GRADE 3, 4 AND 5 REPRESENTATIVES AT MATTER AND ENERGY.
WE SENT THEM FOR THE WORKSHOP AT REGION 11.
ON SEPTEMBER THE 21ST, FORCE, ENERGY, AND MOTION WAS ALSO I LOOKED AT IT THE REGION BY SENDING ONE OF THE GRADE 3 TEACHERS.
THAT WILL IN TURN COME BACK AND FOCUS ON WHAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE ON THAT.
THEN FURTHER TO THAT ON OCTOBER THE 11TH, WE WILL HAVE SOMEONE GO TO EARTH AND SPACE AND THAT'S ONE GRADE 3 TEACHER AS WELL.
IF OUR BUDGET PERMITS, WE CAN SEND MORE.
THE STEM SPECIALIST NOW HAS THE LIGHT START WEDNESDAYS.
WHEN SHE WAS CONCENTRATING WITH THE HB45 AND OTHER TIMES SHE NOW IS FREE ON LIFESTYLE WEDNESDAYS, SO THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
WE HAVE PURCHASED STEM SCOPES AND THAT'S A PACKAGE THAT WILL CREATE
[00:35:01]
AN ALIGNED LOT OF QUESTIONS AND A QUESTION BANK THAT REACH LOWER TO THE GRADE AREAS FROM GRADE 5 SO WE'RE BRINGING IT ALL THROUGH HERE.THE LAST PART OF THAT IS WE HAD A PERSONNEL CHANGE AT GRADE 5 IN 2324 SCHOOL YEAR.
THE STEM SPECIALIST NOW IS WORKING WITH THAT POSTING GRADE 5 EVERY LUNCHTIME ONCE A WEEK.
SHE'S WORKING VERY WELL WITH THAT NEW TEACHER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
HONESTLY, I WAS HOPING WHEN YOU WERE COMING IN HERE, YOU WEREN'T JUST GOING TO READ THE RESULTS OUT TO US, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO ANALYZE THEM AND TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO TRY TO HELP WHEREVER WE CAN TO IMPROVE THIS, SO THANKS FOR DOING THAT.
THEN AS ALWAYS IF YOU NEED ANYTHING FROM A SUPPORT STANDPOINT FROM THE COUNCIL, LET US KNOW PLEASE.
>> FOR THE GRADE 6, WE HAVE THE MATHEMATICS AND THE READING ASSESSMENTS.
THERE IS AN OVERALL INCREASE IN BOTH SUBJECT AREAS.
THEN THE MASTERY FOR MATHEMATICS REMAIN FAIRLY THE SAME AND THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE READING RESULTS FOR GRADE 6.
FOR GRADE 7 AS MR. HARDING NOTED, IN 2021 THAT WAS THE LAST WRITING ASSESSMENT AS IS NOW EMBEDDED IN ALL THE OTHER READING ASSESSMENTS.
BUT FOR GRADE 7, THE STUDENTS IN THAT GRADE LEVEL, THEY ALL TAKE THE GRADE 8 MATHEMATICS STAAR.
THEY DON'T TAKE THE GRADE 7 STAAR BECAUSE THEY LEARN ALL OF GRADE 7 TEKS AND HALF OF GRADE 8, IT'S CATEGORIZED AS PRE-ALGEBRA, AND IN THE EIGHTH GRADE THEY TAKE ALGEBRA 1.
THE RESULTS FOR THAT INCREASED BY 5% AND THEN THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE FOR THE READING RESULTS IN GRADE 7.
THEN ALSO FOR READING, WE CAN SEE THAT THE MASTERY LEVEL REMAINED AROUND THE SAME AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE MASTERY LEVEL FOR MATHEMATICS.
WE'LL GET TO ALGEBRA 1 ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
FOR GRADE 8 WE HAVE THE READING, THE SCIENCE, THE SOCIAL STUDIES, AND ALSO ALGEBRA 1, SO THEY'RE TAKING FOUR ASSESSMENTS THAT ACADEMIC YEAR.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE READING.
THE PASS RATE FOR THE READING WAS IN THE '21, '22 SCHOOL YEAR AND LOOKING AT THAT COHORT, IT WAS 94% AND THE MASTERY RATE WAS 65%.
ALTHOUGH THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE PASS RATE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT COHORT SPECIFICALLY, THEY DID PERFORM AT THE SAME RATE AS THEY DID THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
WE KNOW EACH COHORT IS DIFFERENT FROM ONE TO ANOTHER.
I HAD TO LOOK DEEPER INTO IT TO SEE HOW THEY PERFORMED THE PREVIOUS YEAR WHILE THEY WERE IN GRADE 7.
FOR SCIENCE, THE APPROACHES HAD DROPPED BY 2%.
WE CAN SEE THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE OVERALL MASTERY BY 4% THERE.
THEN ALSO, THE APPROACHES FOR SOCIAL STUDIES REMAINED THE SAME AND THEN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE MASTERY LEVEL FOR STUDENTS IN SOCIAL STUDIES.
>> MR. ITO, CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ON THE SCIENCE AGAIN.
THE MASTERY LEVEL IS AN ANOMALY OVERALL AND IT'S COMPARABLE BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE SCIENCE BEING TESTED AT GRADE 5, GRADE 8.
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING HERE AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION?
>> WITH THAT, IT'S THE VERTICAL PIECE.
AS YOU NOTED LIKE IN OUR READING ASSESSMENT, THEY'RE TAKING STAAR IN GRADE 3 ALL THE WAY THROUGH GRADE 10.
WHEREAS WITH THE SCIENCE THEY'RE BROKEN UP AND THEN THE TEKS DON'T CORRESPOND FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
THAT VERTICAL ALIGNMENT ALL THE WAY FROM PRIMARY THROUGH SECONDARY WILL BE CRITICAL IN TERMS OF INCREASING THE OVERALL RESULTS IN THE AREA OF SCIENCE.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE IT.
>> BUT THE SEVENTH GRADE IS UNDER YOUR PURVIEW?
>> SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT IS STILL THE LEAD UP?
>> WITH SCIENCE, FOR THE SECONDARY WE DO HAVE THE VERTICAL ALIGNMENT MEETINGS ALL THE WAY SIX THROUGH 12.
WE HAVE OUR DP COORDINATOR WHO'S ALSO THE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR.
THOSE TEACHERS ACTUALLY TOMORROW, THE 4TH WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH THEY'D BE GETTING TOGETHER IN ORDER TO HAVE THE VERTICAL ARTICULATION FOR OUR STUDENTS IN ORDER TO SEE CONTINUED SUCCESS.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE THE RESULTS FOR THE END OF COURSE ASSESSMENTS, THE EOCS.
[00:40:02]
THE STUDENTS IN ORDER TO GRADUATE, THEY HAVE TO PASS THE FIVE END-OF-COURSE ASSESSMENTS.THE STUDENTS TAKE ALGEBRA 1 IN GRADE 8, IN GRADE 9 THEY HAVE ENGLISH 1 AND BIOLOGY, IN GRADE 10 THEY HAVE ENGLISH 2, AND IN GRADE 11, THEY HAVE US HISTORY.
THERE WAS AN OVERALL INCREASE IN THE PASSING PERCENTAGE FOR ALL OF THE EOCS APPROACHES-WISE.
FOR ENGLISH 1, THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE MASTER'S PERFORMANCE.
FOR ENGLISH 2 OF COURSE, THERE WAS AN ANOMALY IN WHICH IT WAS LOWER LAST YEAR.
THERE WAS AN INCREASE FOR GRADE 10.
FOR ALGEBRA 1, THE MASTERY RATE REMAINED AROUND THE SAME, FOR US HISTORY IT DID AS WELL, AND THEN FOR BIOLOGY.
WITH BIOLOGY, I WANT TO PROVIDE CONTEXT THAT THAT TEACHING POSITION DUE TO A LAST MINUTE OF HIRE BEING PULLED OUT, IT WAS VACANT FOR THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF SCHOOL THEN WE HAD ON-BOARDING.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A TEACHER TEACHING THAT CLASS FOR THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS OF SCHOOL AND THEN A BRAND NEW INSTRUCTOR AT THAT.
THAT PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT ABOUT THAT AREA, BUT THEN IN SPEAKING WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, THEY'VE ANALYZED THE LOWEST PERFORMING TEKS.
THEY'LL BE GOING IN SUPPORTING THE TEACHER THROUGH OBSERVATIONS, PROVIDING FEEDBACK, ALSO ONE-ON-ONE MEETING PLANS, AND THEN ALSO PAIRING WITH THE DP COORDINATOR AND SCIENCE DEPARTMENT HERE IN ORDER TO REVIEW THE STANDARDS THAT ARE NEEDED IN ORDER TO SEE IMPROVEMENT IN THE AREA OF BIOLOGY.
>> YEAH. LOOKING AT THESE GRADES ON A WHOLE, OBVIOUSLY THE EOC RESULTS ARE FANTASTIC AND THERE'S A THEME COMING HERE ON THE SCIENCE AND IS THAT WE'RE NOT MASTERING IT.
WE'RE PASSING IT WELL, IT'S GENERALLY IN LINE WITH OTHER SUBJECTS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MASTERY OF ANY OF THE SCIENCES, IT'S A STRUGGLE.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT? DR. OWEN, ASSUME GRADE 9 NOW FALLS UNDER THE HIGH SCHOOL.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD, BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING SPECIFICALLY IN THE SCIENCES TO TRY TO IMPROVE STUDENTS' MASTERY OF THESE SUBJECTS?
>> I CAN SPEAK TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE CAN BREAK DOWN THE TEKS AND SEE THE AREAS WHERE THE STUDENTS HAVE UNDER PERFORMED.
IN TERMS OF DESIGNING THE TEACHING, IT CAN FOCUS MORE ON THAT.
I THINK ALSO IN TERMS OF THE STYLE OF TEACHING PERHAPS WHERE WE SUFFER A LITTLE BIT IN SCIENCE IS THAT IT'S REALLY ABOUT APPLIED KNOWLEDGE.
SOMETIMES WITH THE SCIENCES, THAT CAN BE AN APPROACH WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE HAVING A LOOK AT THE CONTENT AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY NEED BUT WHEN THEY ACTUALLY GET TO AN EXAM FORMAT AND THEY HAVE TO APPLY IT TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE FALLING A LITTLE BIT SHORT.
WE ACTUALLY SAW THAT WITH THE SCIENCE DIPLOMA EXAMS AS WELL BECAUSE WE WERE A LITTLE BIT LOWER IN BIOLOGY.
I THINK IT'S ALSO SUPPORTING TEACHERS NOT ONLY IN FOCUSING ON THE TEKS, BUT ACTUALLY IN THE WAY THAT THEY ARE TEACHING AS WELL.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE NEED TO WORK MORE WITH APPLIED KNOWLEDGE, WHEN WORKING WITH TEACHERS, WHEN WE DO FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS, BUILDING UP TO THE BIG EXAMS, THEY SHOULD BE DESIGNING FROM JUST RESEARCHING MIRROR THAT APPLYING OF KNOWLEDGE RATHER THAN SAY JUST MULTIPLE CHOICE ON FACTUAL BASE KNOWLEDGE.
I THINK THOSE TWO THINGS HAVING WITH THE TEKS BUT THE TEACHING PHILOSOPHY BEHIND IT, I THINK IS IMPORTANT AS WELL.
WE'RE ALSO ACTUALLY INVESTING MORE MONEY INTO LABS AS WELL.
I THINK MOST TEACHERS AND CERTAINLY I WOULD AGREE THAT THE BEST WAY TO LEARN SCIENCE IS ACTUALLY HANDS-ON AS WELL.
WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE WITH GRANTS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN IN THE PAST FOR MORE SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT WHICH WE'VE JUST PUT IN A NEW GRANT FOR UPDATED BIOLOGY EQUIPMENT AS WELL.
GREATER ACCESS TO LABS I THINK SHOULD HELP TOO.
>> I'M BACK. I FORGOT TWO IMPORTANT THINGS IN MY PRESENTATION.
THAT WAS TO RECOGNIZE MONICA PULIS WHO IS A STEM TEACHER WHO HAS DONE SO MUCH LAST YEAR.
I KNOW SHE PUT MOST OF THESE TOGETHER AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH ALL OF THE SCIENCE.
I WANT TO REALLY STOP AND APPRECIATE HER VERY MUCH.
IT REALLY GOES TO SHOW THAT SHE'S A QUALITY PERSON AND I KNOW THAT SHE WANTS THE BEST FOR THE STUDENTS,
[00:45:01]
NOT ONLY FOR THE STATE TESTING BUT ALSO FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF SCIENCE MOVING THROUGH THE SECONDARY SCHOOL.I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO DROP.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WITH THE COMPARISON.
IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE MASTERS AND YOU LOOK AT GRADE THROUGH READING, WE ARE 28 PERCENTAGE POINTS BETTER THAN THE STATE IN GRADE 4.
IN MASTERS, WE ARE 44 PERCENTAGE POINTS BETTER.
IN GRADE 5 READING, WE ARE 50 PERCENTAGE POINTS BETTER THAN THE STATE.
WHEN I GO DOWN ALL THROUGH THIS, IT'S THE SAME EXCEPT FOR SCIENCE.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE 9% BETTER THAN THE STATE.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO FINISH OFF WITH.
I WANT ALL THE BOARD TO KNOW AND THE TEACHERS AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE WORKING ON SCIENCE AND WE'LL GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE CHILDREN.
>> THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT.
>> THE NEXT TWO SLIDES FOR SECONDARY JUST SHOW THE PASS RATE AND THE PASS RATE FOR MASTERY FOR WESTLAKE ACADEMY IN COMPARISON TO THE STATES PASS RATE FOR APPROACHES AS WELL AS THE STATES RATE FOR MASTERY AS WELL.
THE NEXT TWO SLIDES AT YOUR OWN LEISURE, YOU CAN TAKE JUST A FEW SECONDS TO JUST SEE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HOW WESTLAKE IS PERFORMING IN COMPARISON TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.
>> THANK YOU. SORRY. WHILE THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL COMPARED TO STATE STANDARDS, I'LL AGAIN REPEAT MYSELF THAT WE CAN DO BETTER AS A SCHOOL AND YOU KNOW THAT, AND ALSO WE'RE COMMITTED TO THIS IMPROVEMENT AND I KEEP ON MENTIONING THAT ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE SOME GREAT EDUCATORS IN THE PRIMARY USE PROGRAM AND IN THE SECONDARY USE PROGRAM.
ACADEMY, I'M SURE THAT YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE OLD ADAGE IS WE WANT THIS PLACE TO BE THE BEST PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN AND TEACHERS TO TEACH AND WE'LL CONTINUE THAT VEIN. THANK YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK HERE.
WE'RE SUPPOSED [INAUDIBLE] SOME STUDENTS [INAUDIBLE] FIVE PEOPLE WILL BE COMING IN HERE AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TIME TO DO THE NEXT PRESENTATION.
[NOISE] YOU'RE BACK IN SESSION HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO DO TWO ITEMS IN A ROW.
THEY'RE BOTH SCHOOL-RELATED, C123-251,
[C.1. 23-251 Presentation of a Proclamation recognizing October 5, 2023 as World Teachers’ Day in the Town of Westlake (Mayor Kilbride)]
PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 5TH, 2023 AS WORLD TEACHER DAY IN THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE, AND THEN ALSO C23-228 PRESENTATION RECOGNITION WESTLAKE ACADEMIES 2023, AP SCHOLARS, 2023 RECIPIENTS WITH THE COLLEGE BOARD NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM, AND 2023/24 NATIONAL MERIT SEMI-FINALISTS AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT THERE. ANYONE WANT TO COME UP?>> FIRST ITEM IS TOWN OF WESTLAKE PROCLAMATION WHEREAS A STRONG EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF SCHOOL EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN IS ESSENTIAL FOR A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT AND WHEREAS MUCH OF THIS PROGRESS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO QUALIFIED AND DEDICATED TEACHERS AND TRUSTED WITH THE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CHILDREN THROUGH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND WHEREAS OUR TEACHERS ARE AT THEIR BEST WHEN THEY HOLD STUDENTS TO HIGH EXPECTATIONS, CHALLENGE THEM TO THINK CRITICALLY, PUSH THEM TO EXCEL IN THE FACE OF OBSTACLES, AND GUIDE THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND CONTRIBUTING TO EXEMPLARY CITIZENS, WHEREAS EXCELLENT TEACHING IS A LABOR OF LOVE AND DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS OFTEN USE THEIR OWN RESOURCES AND WORK EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS TO
[00:50:02]
ENHANCE AND ENRICH THE DAILY LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF THEIR CHILDREN WITH INNOVATIVE AND INDIVIDUALIZED LESSONS AND WHEREAS TEACHERS FILL MANY ROLES INCLUDING LISTENER, ROLE MODEL, MENTOR, AND CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE THEIR STUDENTS LONG INTO ADULTHOOD, NOW THEREFORE, I [INAUDIBLE] PRESIDENT, BOARD TRUSTEES, MERYL WESTLAKE, PROCLAIM OCTOBER 5TH AS WORLD TEACHER DAY IN WESTLAKE TEXAS AND CALL UPON THE CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE AND EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE DAILY BY TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AND WITNESS THEREOF.I HAVE HERE UNTIL SET MY HAND AND CAUSE OFFICIAL SEAL THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE TEXAS TO THE EFFECTS TO THE 26TH OF SEPTEMBER 2023.
MICHAEL BIRD AND THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE AND RECOGNIZE OUR 2023 ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLARS, OUR RECIPIENTS OF THE 2023 COLLEGE BOARD NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM AWARDS AND OUR NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED SCHOLARS AND SEMI-FINALISTS.
AS THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE WORLD SCHOOL, WESTLAKE ACADEMY IS PROUD OF ITS TRACK RECORD OF OFFERING A NUMBER OF COURSES THAT ALIGN WITH THE SUBJECT-SPECIFIC AP CURRICULUM.
YOU HAVE TO STILL TAUGHT THROUGH THE LENS OF THE IB WITH A CONTINUING EMPHASIS ON THE IB LEARNER PROFILE AND THE IB APPROACHES TO LEARNING.
WE'RE ALSO PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS WHO TAKE ON THIS ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE, EVEN WHILE FOLLOWING THE RIGOROUS AND DEMANDING IB PROGRAM.
THE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED TONIGHT, PUSHED THEMSELVES EVEN FURTHER BY SITTING FOR AND EXCELLING AT AP EXAMS. 2023 IS A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR THIS ADDITIONAL STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY.
WE HAVE A RECORD HIGH OF 57 AP SCHOLARS AND A RECORD HIGH OF 48 STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED A COLLEGE BOARD NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM AWARD.
THIRTY-NINE HAVE RECEIVED BOTH DISTINCTIONS.
TO PUT THIS ACHIEVEMENT INTO CONTEXT, 35 OF OUR CURRENT SENIOR CLASS HAVE ACHIEVED THE STATUS OF AP SCHOLAR, MEANING THAT OVER HALF OF THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2024 ARE BOTH AP SCHOLARS AND IB DIPLOMA CANDIDATES.
TO RECOGNIZE THESE STUDENTS, WE WILL BE CALLING THEM UP IN SPECIFIC CATEGORIES AND WE'LL EXPLAIN THE DESIGNATION OF THEIR RECOGNITION.
STUDENTS, WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, YOU'RE GOING TO APPROACH THE DAIS FROM THE FAR SIDE.
YOU'LL GET TO SHAKE HANDS WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR.
ONCE YOU'VE DONE THAT, WE'LL JUST ASK YOU TO LINGER ON THIS SIDE, AND THEN ONCE WE'VE FINISHED, YOUR DISTINCT GROUP, WE'LL ASK YOU TO TAKE A PICTURE, YOU RETURN TO YOUR SEATS, THEN WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT GROUP.
THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE COLLEGE BOARD, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM STUDENTS.
TO EXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS, THIS IS STUDENTS WHO PERFORMED EITHER A HIGH LEVEL IN EITHER THE PSAT OR THEIR AP EXAMS AND IDENTIFY AS LATINO, HISPANIC BLACK, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, NATIVE, INDIGENOUS, OR ATTEND HIGH SCHOOL IN A RURAL AREA.
WESTLAKE ACADEMY IS DEFINED AS A RURAL SCHOOL.
WE'RE FIRST GOING TO ASK STUDENTS TO COME FORWARD WHO HAVE ACHIEVED THIS DISTINCT RECOGNITION AND I'M GOING TO HAND OVER TO MR. TIPPIN WHO'S GOING TO READ THE STUDENT NAMES.
BAYER BRAXTON, ANTHONY HARNON.
[APPLAUSE] GRACE [INAUDIBLE] .
[00:55:02]
[APPLAUSE] AVA AYE, [APPLAUSE] GARDNER BERNARD, [APPLAUSE] BENJAMIN KILGORE, [APPLAUSE] LEONA LEFRISCO, [APPLAUSE] AUSTIN MCKINNEY [APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE] .[APPLAUSE] OKAY, STUDENTS. IF YOU JUST WANT TO GO BACK INTO THE DAIS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PICTURE WITH YOU AND THE BOARD.
[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT CATEGORY OF STUDENTS ARE AP SCHOLARS.
[C.2. 23-228 Presentation and recognition of Westlake Academy’s 2023 AP scholars, 2023 recipients of the College Board National Recognition Program, and 2023-24 National Merit Semi-Finalists (Dr. Ownes/Carl Tippen)]
THIS IS GRANTED JUST STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED SCORES OF THREE OR HIGHER ON THREE OR MORE AP EXAMS.>> JACK BAUER, [APPLAUSE] ALLEY GOTIE, [APPLAUSE] HUNTER GREEN, [APPLAUSE] BUTMARK JAGMAN, [APPLAUSE] DONESH KHAN, [APPLAUSE] MYAM MIAWAY, [APPLAUSE] MARIO NATHAN, [APPLAUSE] JOSHUA PAGE, [APPLAUSE] FATALE ROZALE, [APPLAUSE] NATALIA SPICER, [APPLAUSE] ARGININE VINTANTO RAMA, [APPLAUSE]
>> OUR NEXT GROUP ARE STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED THE DESIGNATION OF AP SCHOLARS AND THEY'VE ALSO BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM.
>> ABEL [INAUDIBLE] [APPLAUSE] ALEJANDRO GOTUNAM, [APPLAUSE] ELIZABETH BASSETT, [APPLAUSE] NEAL BATIA, [APPLAUSE] JASON BODEKER, [APPLAUSE] EVA CASTLE, [APPLAUSE] EDWARD TIM, [APPLAUSE] ARION DASGUPTA, [APPLAUSE] BENZ DIDAWARI, [APPLAUSE] AEROSMITH DINOREDI, [APPLAUSE] CARSON FENON, [APPLAUSE] CATHERINE FOLEY, [APPLAUSE] ATHENA WIN, [APPLAUSE] TRIACON CONNIE, [APPLAUSE] JOSEPH CATHERINE, [APPLAUSE] AVNI LULA, [APPLAUSE] PESHAWAR MALLOC, [APPLAUSE] MATHEW MALIBOBURU, [APPLAUSE] ELIAS MENCHER,
[01:00:02]
[APPLAUSE] VANILLA NARROW, [APPLAUSE] LUKE WIN, [APPLAUSE] MARTIN RASHPOL, [APPLAUSE] MEGAN FLIGHT, [APPLAUSE] C. A PATEL, [APPLAUSE]>> OUR NEXT GROUP OF STUDENTS ARE AP SCHOLARS WITH HONORS WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN AWARDED THE NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM.
AP SCHOLARS WITH HONORS IS GRANTED TO STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE AN AVERAGE SCORE OF AT LEAST 3.25 ON ALL AP EXAMS TAKEN AND SCORES OF THREE OR HIGHER ON FOUR OR MORE OF THESE EXAMS.
>> GRANT FLOWERS, [APPLAUSE] JOSEPH HERNANDEZ, [APPLAUSE] ELISA DIDARALLY, [APPLAUSE] JACOB PAGE, [APPLAUSE] MACY ROW, [APPLAUSE] VINCENT SING, [APPLAUSE]
>> NEXT, WE RECOGNIZE OUR AP SCHOLARS WITH DISTINCTION.
THIS IS GRANTED TO STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE AN AVERAGE SCORE OF AT LEAST 3.5 ON ALL AP EXAMS TAKEN AND SCORES OF THREE OR HIGHER ON FIVE OR MORE OF THESE EXAMS.
>> SOPHIA AGIDE, [APPLAUSE] GRAYHORN ARERIAK, [APPLAUSE] ALI AZING, [APPLAUSE] NETHAN MASKY, [APPLAUSE] ALLHAD SING, [APPLAUSE] PAIGE WANDERSCOPE.
>> OUR NEXT GROUP ARE STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED AP SCHOLARS WITH DISTINCTION AND RECEIVED A NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM AWARD.
[01:05:02]
MAXWELL ROBERTS [APPLAUSE] LONG YI.
>> THEN FINALLY, FOR THE COLLEGE BOARD RECOGNITION, WE HAVE A CATEGORY THAT WE'VE NEVER RECOGNIZED BEFORE.
THIS IS AN AP INTERNATIONAL SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION.
IN ADDITION TO BEING AN AP SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION, STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE TWO AP WORLD LANGUAGE EXAMS IN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, AN AP EXAM OFFERING A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE, AN AP EXAM FROM EITHER MATH OR SCIENCE, ONE ADDITIONAL AP EXAM, AND HAS SENT AP SCORES TO A UNIVERSITY OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES.
OUR FIRST EVER INTERNATIONAL SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION IS CHRISTIAN GUGOV.
>> THE NEXT STUDENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CALLING TOOK THE 2022 PRELIMINARY SAT NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP QUALIFYING TEST AND MET THE REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THE 2024 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
WITH A SELECTION INDEX SCORE OF A 207 OR ABOVE, EACH OF THESE STUDENTS ARE AMONG THE 50,000 HIGHEST SCORING PARTICIPANTS.
[APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE] [APPLAUSE] MAXWELL ROBERTS.
[APPLAUSE] THESE TWO STUDENTS ARE PART OF 16,000 STUDENTS WHO ARE NAMED NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS, REPRESENTING THE TOP SCORERS IN EACH STATE.
FOR TEXAS, THE MINIMUM SELECTION INDEX SCORE WAS A 219.
THESE STUDENTS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE IN THE COMPETITION FOR ABOUT 7,250 MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WILL BE AWARDED IN 2024.
CHRISTIAN GUGOV AND ANAND SINGH.
[01:10:08]
>> THIS CONCLUDES OUR STUDENT RECOGNITION FOR 2023.
I DO WANT TO SAY TO THE PARENTS THAT ARE HERE AND THE PARENTS WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING LATER HOW INCREDIBLY PROUD WE ARE OF YOUR FANTASTIC STUDENTS AND THIS PHENOMENAL ACHIEVEMENT WHICH GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE EXPECTATIONS AT A SCHOOL, WHICH EVEN BEFORE THAT SETS HIGH RIGOROUS STANDARD.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THAT FANTASTIC ACHIEVEMENT.
>> LET'S BACK INTO SESSION 538.
WE'LL GO BACK TO ITEMS IN COMMUNITY INTERESTS.
[E. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
JOHN, COME ON UP.>> THERE WE GO. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL. HELLO EVERYBODY.
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A VERY BUSY WEEK WITH WESTLAKE ACADEMY, WITH IT BEING HOMECOMING WEEK THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
VARIOUS STEAM EVENTS PLAN THROUGH PEP RALLIES, FOOTBALL GAMES, AND OF COURSE, A DANCE ON SATURDAY.
WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON, ESPECIALLY ON WEDNESDAY.
WE'VE GOT THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION HAPPENING THIS WEDNESDAY FROM ABOUT 10:00-2:00, I SENT YOU GUYS A CALENDAR INVITE AND SOME INFORMATION AS WELL.
WE'RE HOPING YOU GUYS CAN STOP BY 9:45, WE'VE GOT THIS GIGANTIC CELEBRATORY CAKE THAT WE'RE GOING TO CUT WITH CANDLES.
WE'VE GOT SOME KIDS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO HIGH SCHOOL SINGING HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
THE KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE CUPCAKES AND INFLATABLES, ALL GAMES.
IT'S GOING TO BE JUST AN ABSOLUTE CHAOS, SO MY APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE TO EVERYBODY WHO WILL BE THERE BECAUSE WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO LEAVE BEFORE THE CAR LINE HITS.
WE'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU GUYS TO DEAL WITH [LAUGHTER] WHEN THEY'RE HYPED UP ON CUPCAKES.
[01:15:04]
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN FOR SURE.WE'RE HOPING YOU GUYS CAN ATTEND.
WE HAVE OUR NEXT COFFEE AND CONVERSATION.
IN FACT, THE LAST ONE OF THE YEAR, IS GOING TO BE ON OCTOBER 3RD ON TUESDAY 8:00-9:30, SIP STIR COFFEE RIGHT HERE IN WESTLAKE.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE OUR WORLD TEACHER'S DAY ON OCTOBER 5TH.
WE'RE GOING TO DO A FEW FUN THINGS WITH THAT AS WELL, LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR.
THERE'S A STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL DAY ON THE 6TH.
THEN ON THE 7TH, THAT'S A SATURDAY, WE'LL HAVE THE WESTLAKE FALL CLEAN UP FROM 9:00-11:00.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL STUFF GOING ON OUT THERE, AND IT'S ACTUALLY RIGHT HERE IN THIS BIG PARKING LOT RIGHT OUTSIDE OF TOWN HALL.
THE CROWD CRUISER WILL BE THERE, ELECTRONICS RECYCLING, DOCUMENT SHREDDING, AND BULK TRASH.
THIS IS FOR WESTLAKE RESIDENTS ONLY SO PLEASE BRING YOUR LICENSE OR WATER BILL FOR PROOF OF RESIDENCY.
AGAIN, THAT'S ON OCTOBER 7TH, 9:00-11:00 RIGHT OUT HERE IN THE PARKING LOT.
OUR NEXT TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS IS GOING TO BE MONDAY, OCTOBER 9TH.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE ON OCTOBER 9TH IS GOING TO BE A HOLIDAY FOR WESTLAKE ACADEMY COLUMBUS DAY, AND THIS IS FOR BOTH STAFF AND FOR STUDENTS AS WELL.
WE HAVE ON OCTOBER 13TH, THE LONE STAR LEGISLATIVE REPORT, I SENT YOU GUYS A RSVP OR CALENDAR INVITE FOR THAT AS WELL.
THAT'S AN 11 O'CLOCK AT THE TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
THAT'S ALWAYS A GREAT ADVENT, SO THAT FILLS UP PRETTY FAST.
IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND, JUST SEND ME AN RSVP AND WILL GET YOU DOWN FOR ONE OF THOSE TABLES.
WE'VE GOT OUR PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING COMING UP ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17TH.
TWO QUICK OTHER ITEMS TO MENTION, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO CHECK OUT THE VIDEO FROM THE 911 RUN FROM OUR WESTLAKE FIRE AND EMS CREW.
THOSE GUYS, THEY PUT THAT STUFF TOGETHER.
THEY GOT NOT ONLY THEMSELVES, BUT A FEW MEMBERS OF DEPARTMENTS FROM AROUND THE REGION WERE ABLE TO RUN THROUGH THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE CARRYING FLAGS, PLAYING PATRIOTIC MUSIC.
THEY HAD THE ENGINES AND THE TRUCKS AND SO FORTH.
JUST A REAL EMOTIONAL EVENT AND A GREAT WAY TO HONOR THOSE WHO FALLEN IN 911.
BUT FINALLY, I WANT TO LEAVE ON A POSITIVE NOTE WITH THE BLACKSMITH GIVING DAY.
THE FOLKS AT THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY FOUNDATION RAISED MORE THAN $1 MILLION FOR THE SCHOOL, WHICH WAS JUST A TREMENDOUS FEAT.
SHELLY, CHRISTINE AND THE ENTIRE FOUNDATION JUST DID A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH THEIR AWARENESS, THEIR MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS JUST KEPT IT TOP OF MIND FOR EVERYONE, BUT THEY DID A GREAT JOB.
THEY FINISHED NUMBER 1 OVERALL IN SCHOOLS BY A LARGE MARGIN BY, I BELIEVE, $160,000.
CERTAINLY, PLEASE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY FOUNDATION AND ALL THAT THEY DO FOR THE SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] THOSE ARE YOUR ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS.
>> HEY JOHN, THE VIDEO THEY DID FOR THE FOUNDATION WAS HILARIOUS, BY THE WAY, [OVERLAPPING] THAT WAS REALLY GOOD.
>> YEAH, THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JUST [LAUGHTER] THROW IN YOUR INHIBITIONS TO THE WIND AND THEN DOING THAT, IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
>> LET'S GO ON TO ITEM F322-232,
[F.3. 23-232 Presentation and discussion regarding International Trips for High School Students (Beth Hughes)]
PRESENTATION DISCUSSION REGARDING INTERNATIONAL TRIP FOR HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS.>> MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M BETH [INAUDIBLE], I'M THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND SO I'M EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TWO INTERNATIONAL TRIPS WERE BRINGING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SLIDES, I BELIEVE, FRENCH OR SPANISH, EITHER ONE. IT'S GREAT.
WE HAVE SOME LONG-STANDING TRADITIONS FOR EXCHANGE.
ONE WITH COSTA RICA, ONE WITH ARGENTINA, AND ONE WITH AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM.
BUT THOSE ARE VERY LIMITED IN NUMBERS.
THESE WILL BE TWO OPT-IN TRIP OPPORTUNITIES.
THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE SPANISH IMMERSION.
IT'S GOING TO BE IN COSTA RICA OVER SPRING BREAK THIS YEAR.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO 10TH, 11TH, AND 12TH GRADERS.
WE WILL BE USING EDUCATIONAL FIRST TO MANAGE THAT FOR US.
WE'VE DONE MANY TRIPS, OUR DC TRIP EVERY YEAR HAS BEEN THROUGH EF.
OUR PUERTO RICO TRIP LAST YEAR WAS THROUGH EF.
THE COST IS 3,299 AND THAT INCLUDES JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING BUT SOME POCKET CHANGE THAT THE STUDENTS WILL NEED.
THE TRIP OVERVIEW INCLUDES A LOT OF NATIONAL PARKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERIENCES.
OUR SPANISH TEACHER, HEATHER DAVIS IS GOING TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS TRIP.
HERE'S A QUICK MAP SHOWING YOU WHAT THE ITINERARY WOULD BE.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO MISS A LOT OF SCHOOLS, SO THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE OVER SPRING BREAK, AND KIDS WOULD PROBABLY JUST MISS ONE DAY OF SCHOOL.
THE NEXT ONE IS OUR FRENCH IMMERSION TRIP.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S MORE ALL A CART.
IT'S GOING TO BE IN VICHY, FRANCE.
OUR FRENCH TEACHER CHRISTINE KING TRAVELED TO VICHY THIS PAST SUMMER AND DID A TWO-WEEK IMMERSION EXPERIENCE HERSELF FOR
[01:20:04]
TEACHERS AND WAS ABLE TO CHECK OUT THE SCHOOL IN CAVILAM.THE STUDENTS WILL BE TAKING CLASSES AND LIVING WITH A FAMILY WHILE THEY'RE IN VICHY.
IN THE AFTERNOON THEY'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SOME CLASSES WHERE THERE'LL BE WITH STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TOWARDS THE AP EXAM.
THE TARGET GROUP FOR THIS WILL BE JUNIORS THAT WILL BE TAKING THE AP EXAM.
HERE'S SOME PICTURES FROM AROUND THE AREA.
THEY WILL HAVE SOME FIELD TRIPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE PART OF THE SCHOOLS EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS THAT ARE THERE.
THE COST IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THAT WE WILL BE PAYING MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL, BUT THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO FLY INTO PARIS.
THEY'LL SPEND A DAY OR TWO THERE OVER THE WEEKEND AND THEN TAKE A TRAIN DOWN TO VICHY FOR THE WEEK EXPERIENCE.
THEY WOULD ONLY BE MISSING TWO DAYS OF SCHOOL FOR THIS AS WELL BECAUSE OF THE HOME STAY EXPERIENCE, THE COST, IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE WE FOUND TO EUROPE OVER SPRING BREAK.
THESE WERE JUST TO SHOW YOU TWO THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO BRING TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OR TRAVEL, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME THINGS THAT ARE PRETTY STATIONARY AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, BUT POST-COVID, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN BACK INTO A ROUTINE OF WHAT ARE WE GOING TO OFFER, AND IT MADE THE MOST SENSE TO DO THAT THROUGH OUR LANGUAGE ACQUISITION PROGRAMS, AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR THE REPORT.
>> JUST QUICK QUESTION. IS THIS OFFERED TO ALL STUDENTS WHO TAKE THESE LANGUAGES OR IS THERE A FIRST-COME?
>> FOR SPANISH, WERE GOING TO OFFER IT THROUGH GRADES 10, 11, AND 12 AND FOR FRENCH WE'RE OFFERING IT TO 11 AND 12 IF WE HAVE INTEREST THERE.
>> THERE'S UNLIMITED SPACES, CAN ALL STUDENTS THEORETICALLY GO OR?
>> I BELIEVE FOR THE FRENCH TRIP, THE TYPE OF CLASSES THAT ARE OFFERED AT THIS LANGUAGE SCHOOL ARE GEARED TOWARDS THIS UPPER LEVEL, SO I DON'T THINK OUR 10TH GRADE STUDENTS WOULD HAVE THE FRENCH BACKGROUND YET FOR IT.
AND BECAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF INDEPENDENT TRAVEL THAT GOES WITH THAT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAKING THE TRAIN FROM PARIS THAT WE WERE TRYING TO KEEP THE GROUPS SMALL AND WITH OUR FRENCH-SPEAKING LEADER TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE MANAGEABLE FOR OUR FIRST-TIME TAKING STUDENTS.
>> CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE ALL STUDENTS IF THEY WANT TO GO?
>> ALL 11TH AND 12TH GRADE FRENCH STUDENTS, YES.
>> HAVE YOU DONE SIMILAR TRIPS TO THIS?
>> YES. I'VE TRAVELED WITH EF MOST RECENTLY TO DC, SO IT'S A WELL ORCHESTRATED TYPE TRIP.
WHEN I WAS A DEAN AT HIGH SCHOOL, I LED TRIPS TO MEXICO AND HAVE TRAVELED DOING THIS TYPE OF THING.
BOTH TEACHERS HAVE LED THESE TYPE OF TRIPS BEFORE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. F 223-244,
[F.4. 23-244 Consider approving the Texas Teacher Evaluation Support System (TTESS) Appraisal Handbook; and take appropriate action (Jennifer Phillips)]
CONTINUE IMPROVING IN TEXAS TEACHER EVALUATION SUPPORT SYSTEM TESTS, APPRAISAL HANDBOOK, AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION HERE.>> HELLO, BOARD. I'M JEN PHILLIPS.
I'M THE NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THIS WILL BE MY FIRST PRESENTATION WITH YOU GUYS.
WHEN I JOINED WESTLAKE ACADEMY, I LEARNED THAT THEY WERE ADOPTING T-TESS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I'VE PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH T-TESS FOR A FEW YEARS IN OTHER DISTRICTS.
T-TESS WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED IN 2014 BY A GROUP OF TEACHERS WHO GOT TOGETHER AND CAME UP WITH SOME IDEAS AND GOALS THAT THEY WANTED TO IMPLEMENT IN ALL APPRAISAL SYSTEMS, THE STATE OF TEXAS REQUIRES US TO EITHER ADOPT T-TESS OR SOMETHING THAT OUR DISTRICT APPROVES.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN USING IS FABULOUS THIS IS SIMPLY A MORE ROBUST SYSTEM AND PROVIDES TEACHERS MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH ADMINISTRATORS IN A GROWTH PROCESS.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS VERY QUICKLY PLEASE ASK ME QUESTIONS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP MORE OF YOUR TIME THAN I NEED.
THE MAIN BENEFITS OF T-TESS IS IT DOES INCLUDE A SELF-ASSESSMENT AND A GOAL SETTING PROCESS FOR TEACHERS EVERY YEAR.
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS IS THEY CAN RECYCLE THOSE GOALS.
A GROUP OF OUR SCIENCE TEACHERS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS ACTUALLY PARTNERING TOGETHER AND THEY'VE CREATED THE SAME GOAL TO TAKE THE PROCESS TICKS AND THE KNOWLEDGE TEACH AND ALIGN THEM WITH OUR IB CURRICULUM BECAUSE THE STATE DOESN'T NECESSARILY DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH THAT.
THAT'S A REALLY ADMIRABLE GOAL AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE THEM A COUPLE OF YEARS TO GET THERE.
IT ALSO PROMOTES TEACHER GROWTH THROUGH OBJECTIVE FEEDBACK PROVIDED BY ALL OF THE ADMINISTRATORS.
WE'VE ALREADY STARTED SOME NEW WALKTHROUGHS, MISUSES CURRENTLY LEADING THE TREND WITH THAT.
BUT IT GIVES TEACHERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET FEEDBACK IN A QUICK SNAPSHOT, WE ARE IN THE ROOM FOR 5-10 MINUTES AND I GET SOMETHING VERY
[01:25:03]
SPECIFIC SO THEY HAVE APPRECIATED THAT FEEDBACK AT THIS POINT.IT HAS FIVE DISTINCT LEVELS AND IT HAS A CYCLE THAT WE GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE YEAR SO THEY SELF-ASSESS, THEY SET THEIR GOALS, THEY HAVE A GOAL MEETING WITH THEIR APPRAISER THEN THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD BE OBSERVING AND A FORMAL OBSERVATION.
THEY HAVE A FORMATIVE REVIEW, A POST CONFERENCE, AND THEN AN END OF THE YEAR CONFERENCE.
THERE ARE FOUR MAIN DOMAINS THAT TEACHERS ARE RATED IN, IN T-TESS AND THE LAST ONE IS PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PEDAGOGY SO THAT WHEN WE DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR WHEN THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE ASSESSMENTS THAT THEY'VE HAD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
I'VE INCLUDED A PICTURE OF THE TABLE OF CONTENTS SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT ALL WE HAVE IN THIS BOOK.
MOSTLY JUST THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE SO IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
THE CYCLE THAT WE'LL USE IS IN A GRAPHIC UP HERE, STARTS WITH THE GOAL-SETTING LIKE I MENTIONED, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CHECKPOINTS BUILT-IN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS AND FORMAL OBSERVATIONS AND THE TEACHERS ALWAYS RECEIVE FEEDBACK DIRECTLY FROM THE APPRAISER AFTER THAT.
THE TIMELINE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE BOARD HAS TO APPROVE SO WE STARTED THIS YEAR, ENDED T-TESS TRAINING FOR ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AT BACK-TO-SCHOOL PD.
THEN WE DID THE GOAL-SETTING PROCESS WHICH IN SECONDARY WE DID IT ALL TOGETHER IN PRIMARY THEY'RE WORKING ON IT RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL KNOW, BUT ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS ATTENDED TRAINING TOGETHER.
IT'S A VERY INTENSIVE THREE-DAY TRAINING, IT'S LENGTHY AND A TON OF INFORMATION.
I REALLY WAS EXCITED THAT THEY ALL GOT THAT TRAINING TOGETHER AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK BACK AND FORTH AND FIGURE OUT HOW THIS WORKS BEST FOR OUR CAMPUS AND THIS IS THE TIMELINE THAT WE HAVE COME UP WITH.
IT INCLUDES WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES, WHICH ARE THE DATES FOR THE WALKTHROUGHS, THE WINDOWS FOR THE FORMAL OBSERVATIONS WHICH THE BLACKOUT DATES AT THE BOTTOM, WE AREN'T LEGALLY ALLOWED TO DO FORMAL OBSERVATIONS ANYTIME RIGHT AFTER A HOLIDAY, WHICH IS NICE FOR TEACHERS AND IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT WHEN WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR END OF THE YEAR CONFERENCES AND WHEN WE NEED TO SEND ALL OF THE DATA TO REGIONAL ELEVEN SERVICE CENTER.
OUR CURRENT APPROVED APPRAISERS ARE ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND IT HAS THE DATE THAT THEIR APPRAISAL APPROVAL EXPIRES.
T-TESS WORKS ON A ONE-YEAR RECERTIFICATION UNTIL YOU REACH YOUR THIRD YEAR, AND THEN THEY WILL CERTIFY YOU FOR THREE YEARS SO EVERYONE HAS TO GET RECERTIFIED EVERY YEAR.
IT'S A TEST WHERE YOU WATCH A WHOLE CLASSROOM LESSON THAT'S 90 MINUTES AND THEN YOU RATE AND THEY SEE IF YOU'RE RATING IS EQUAL TO WHAT THE STATE SAYS IT SHOULD BE SO IT'S PRETTY INTENSE.
THE LAST PART IS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS IS OUR GRIEVANCE PROCESS AND IT'S REALLY COOL BECAUSE IT GIVES THE TEACHERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST A SECOND FORMAL EVALUATION THERE IS A PROCESS THAT THEY GO THROUGH, THERE'S A FORM THEY HAVE TO FILL OUT, THEY HAVE TO SUPPLY WHAT THEY BELIEVE THEIR RATINGS WOULD BE WITH THEIR INITIAL APPRAISER, AND THEN THE FINAL SCORE IS COMBINED SO A PORTION OF THE FIRST OBSERVATION, AND A PORTION OF THE SECOND OBSERVATION.
THE WAY THAT WE'VE SET IT UP FOR WESTLAKE ACADEMY IS THE SECOND APPRAISER WOULD BE SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF THE PROGRAM.
IF I WERE EVALUATING A TEACHER AND THEY ASKED FOR A SECOND APPRAISER, THEN THAT WOULD GO TO MAYBE CAROLYN OR ROD COME IN AND OBSERVE.
THAT IS ABOUT THE EXTENT OF T-TESS.
>> YEAH, GOOD QUESTION SO IS THIS A VOLUNTARY STANDARD THAT THE SCHOOL CHOSE TO ADOPT IS NOT REQUIRED?
>> IT IS NOT REQUIRED LIKE I SAID, T-TESS IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS OR DISTRICTS CAN ADOPT THEIR OWN.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THIS IS IF WE IMPLEMENT T-TESS THEN WE BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR THE TEACHER INCENTIVE ALLOTMENT.
WE STARTED WORKING ON THAT AND PUT TOGETHER A COMMITTEE AND WE WILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR THAT.
IF WE DON'T USE T-TESS WE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE TEACHER INCENTIVE ALLOTMENT.
>> WHAT'S BEEN DONE HISTORICALLY?
>> WE HAVE USED OUR OWN APPRAISAL SYSTEM.
>> YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT SUBMITTING DATA TO AN EXTERNAL PARTY, SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS?
>> SURE, THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS A T-TESS SITE WHERE THEY HOUSE THE FORMAL OBSERVATION AND THE FINAL RATING AND WHATEVER WE USE TO RATE HAS TO BE SENT TO OUR REGIONAL SERVICE CENTER TO KEEP ON RECORD FOR EVERY TEACHER.
[01:30:05]
SOME DISTRICTS WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A DIFFERENT JOB OR YOU TRANSFER DISTRICTS REQUIRE WHATEVER YOUR PREVIOUS YEAR'S APPRAISAL WAS, SOME OF THEM ALSO REQUIRE A CERTAIN RATING IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR HIRE.>> THIS AFFECTS EMPLOYMENT ONCE IT'S ADOPTED?
>> NO, IT MAY AFFECT EMPLOYMENT AS THEY MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR CAREER IF THEY DECIDE TO LEAVE LESS LIGHT.
>> UNDER THE INTERNAL SYSTEM, WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN ACCESSIBLE BY A FUTURE EMPLOYER HAD THEY ASKED FOR THAT DATA OR EVALUATION?
>> IS THERE A COST TO THIS PROGRAM?
>> NO, WE'VE ALREADY PAID FOR THE TRAINING FOR ALL OF THE ADMINISTRATORS.
THE SYSTEM TO HOUSE THE DOCUMENTS IS IS FREE FOR ANYONE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THERE'S NO COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
IT JUST GIVES US A FEW MORE OPPORTUNITIES MOVING FORWARD AND IT IS MORE OBJECTIVE THAN THE PREVIOUS EVALUATION.
>> IS IT JUST GENERAL CONSENT REQUIRED OF THE TEACHERS? HOW IS HOW IS THE DECISION MADE TO COME TO THIS PROCESS?
>> I WASN'T PART OF WESTLAKE AT THAT POINT, SO I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE TEACHERS WERE INFORMED OF THE DECISION AND GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE FEEDBACK.
IT IS REALLY DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT IS FOCUSED ON TEACHER GROWTH AND WE WANT THE TEACHERS TO COME UP WITH GOALS AND SPECIFIC BENCHMARKS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO USE AND IT REALLY BUILDS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS THAT DIDN'T PREVIOUSLY EXIST IN OUR SYSTEM THAT WE WERE USING FOR APPRAISAL.
[G. CONSENT AGENDA]
ANY ISSUES WITH CONSENT?>> THERE'S MINUTES OF BATTLE OF STUFF IN THE VELASCO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
>> I THINK THE MINUTES ARE FINE, BUT THE OTHER TWO I THINK JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW WILL BE HELPFUL.
>> CAN WE BRING UP A G2 ORDINATES 980. DROPPING ORDINANCE 98,
[G.2. ORD-980 Consider adopting Ordinance 980 approving a negotiated settlement between the Atmos Cities Steering Committee (“ACSC”) and Atmos Energy Corp., Mid-Tex Division regarding the company’s 2023 Rate Review Mechanism filing, declaring existing rates to be unreasonable, adopting tariff’s that reflect rate adjustments consistent with the negotiated settlement, finding the rates to be set by the attached settlement tariffs to be just and reasonable and in the public interest, approving an attachment establishing a benchmark for pensions and retiree medical benefits, requiring the company to reimburse ACSC’s reasonable ratemaking expenses, determining that this ordinance was passed in accordance with the requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act; and take appropriate action (Wade Carroll)]
PROVING A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT BETWEEN AMYLOSE CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE AND AMYLOSE ENERGY CORP, MID TEXTS DIVISION REGARDING COMPANIES 2023 RATE REVIEWING MECHANISM.EVERY OTHER YEAR, WE HAVE A GROUP, THE ACS, THE ATMOS CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE THAT WORKS ON OUR BEHALF WERE A GROUP OF CITIES THAT WORK TOGETHER TO NEGOTIATE RATES WITH ATMOS FOR THE BEST GAS PRICES POSSIBLE.
ATMOS HAS ALLOWED EVERY TWO YEARS TO LOOK AT THEIR RATE STUDY, DO AN INTERNAL RATE STUDY, AND THEN THEY GET TO PROJECT OR ESTIMATE WHAT THEIR LOSSES OR GROWTH OF THEIR BUSINESS WOULD BE OVER THE NEXT YEAR, AND THEY COME OUT WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WITH THE ACSC AND THEY HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM AND GET THAT PRICE DOWN.
IF YOU LOOKED AT THE STAFF REPORT, YOU CAN SEE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM ABOUT 160 MILLION DOWN TO ABOUT $130 MILLION, IS WHAT THAT PROJECTED GROWTH WAS LIMITED TO.
AND THEN NOW THE ATMOS BILLS WILL ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.
>> THERE WAS A PROPOSAL FOR A LARGER INCREASE IN TARIFFS AND THE SETTLEMENT WAS A SMALLER INCREASE?
>> DO WE KNOW WHAT THE NET IMPACT IS GOING TO BE TO THE TOWN AND WESTLAKE ACADEMY IN TERMS OF TARIFF CHANGES?
>> NOT THE TOTAL NET IMPACT, BUT THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER WOULD ONLY SEE, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WOULD SEE ABOUT A $5 INCREASE AND THE COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER WOULD SEE ABOUT $8 INCREASE.
>> WHAT DOES THAT IN A PERCENTAGE TERM OR SOMETHING? I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW THE $5 WOULD AFFECT A RESIDENT.
>> THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT AN AVERAGE HOME IN WESTLAKE.
SO [LAUGHTER] THE AVERAGE HOME THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS AROUND 2,000 SQUARE FEET, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY AROUND A 3-5% INCREASE?
>> NEXT ONE FOR G.3, THE VILLAGIO DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERING APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2358,
[G.3. RES 23-58 Consider approval of Resolution 23-58 approving an economic development and development agreement for subdivision improvements with Westlake RE Development Partners, Inc. for the Villaggio residential development located at the southwest corner of Pearson Lane and Dove Road; and take appropriate action (Ron Ruthven)]
APPROVING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENTS WITH WESTLAKE REGARDING DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS FOR THE VILLAGIO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT LOCATED SOUTHWEST CORNER AT PEARSON IN THAT ROAD.>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL. THIS IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS WHICH GETS INTO THE ACADEMY, PAYMENTS,
[01:35:04]
AND THEN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS VERY TYPICAL FOR ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT TO ENCAPSULATE JUST ALL THE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT.ON THE ACADEMY PAYMENTS SIDE, THE DEVELOPERS AGREED TO $210,000, TO GO TO WESTLAKE ACADEMY, AND THAT COMES OUT TO $15,000 FOR 14 LOTS.
THERE'S 17 TOTAL THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEY'VE ASKED THAT SAYS THERE'S THREE EXISTING HOMES OF THE PROPERTY TO PULL THAT OUT AS PART OF THE NEGOTIATION.
THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I GUESS MY QUESTION IS THAT IN THE STANDARD HERE IN WESTLAKE, AND WHY WAS THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NOT IN PLACE BEFORE THE FIRST LOTS WERE ACTUALLY SOLD?
>> THERE'S BEEN NO PLAT OF THE PROPERTY, SO TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO LOTS HAVE BEEN SOLD [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE FIRST THREE ARE EXEMPT FROM THE PAYMENT.
>> THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING IN NEGOTIATING WITH THEM THAT THEY HAD PROPOSED TO PULL OUT BECAUSE THERE'S THREE EXISTING HOMES ON THE PROPERTY, THESE ARE ALL GOING TO BE PULLED OFF OF THE PROPERTY.
>> WHEN YOU SAY EXISTING HOMES, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> THERE'S THREE SEPARATE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES [OVERLAPPING] THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE PROPERTY.
>> RON, LOOK IT LIKE THIS, THEY GOT 17 NEW HOMES COMING IN THERE, RIGHT?
>> THEY'RE PAYING THE OLD RATE OF %15,000 AND SEAN REMEMBERS IT COSTS HE WAS ALIVE, THAT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, SO THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN LET THREE SLIDE WITHOUT PAYING.
I MEAN, THAT'S NOT FAIR TO ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
>> ONE THING TO THIS ED AGREEMENTS ARE OUTSIDE OF ZONING AND THEY'RE VOLUNTARY OBVIOUSLY ON THE PART OF THE DEVELOPER.
>> NO, WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL.
>> ALL THESE IS ACADEMY PAYMENT FOR LOT THING CAN NOT BE STARTED WITH THE TROTTER AND GRANADA DEVELOPMENTS AND THEN HAPPENED WITH EVERY SUCCESSIVE DEVELOPMENT AFTERWARDS, AND IT'S NEVER BEEN MORE THAN 10,000 PER LOT.
IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN 10,000 OR LESS AND SO WELLHOLLOW, THE KNOWLES, WESTLAKE RANCH, AND ASPEN, THE STATES IF ALL WERE 5,000 PER LOT.
SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY PAYING THE HIGHEST RATE PER LOT.
>> I KNOW, BUT THERE'S A FINITE AMOUNT OF LOTS.
THESE LOTS ARE GOING TO SELL FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
HOPEFULLY THEY REALLY LIKE OUR SCHOOL TOO.
>> THE THREE EXISTING PROPERTIES, ARE THEY BEING REDEVELOPED OR THEY'RE JUST AS THIS?
>> THEY WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE SITE ONCE IT WANTS DEVELOPMENT [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY ARE GOING TO BE SCRAPPED.
>> NO, THEY ARE GOING TO BE SCRAPED SO THAT THEY CAN PUT 5 MILLION, 6 MILLION HOUSE LOTS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO, I UNDERSTAND BUT I DO UNDERSTAND OF THE 17 HOMES, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THERE'S AN EXEMPTION FOR THREE FROM WHAT YOU JUST SAID, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THERE'S THREE EXISTING HOMES THERE.
THAT IS JUST SEEKING ONGOING EXEMPTION, BUT NOW YOU'RE SAYING THESE ARE TEAR DOWNS?
>> YES. THERE'S GOING TO BE 17 LOTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEY'RE PROPOSING IS IT'D BE THE RATE OF 15 BY 14 BECAUSE THERE'S THREE EXISTING HOMES ON THE PROPERTY.
>> I THINK WE'VE BEEN VERY GENEROUS WITH THIS BUILDER THEY WERE PRETTY MUCH ICED OUT, SAND ON RAW LAND, PAYING DEBT SERVICE, SO I THINK THEY COULD COME UP A LITTLE, BUT WE'LL HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
>> THEY ARE HERE TONIGHT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.
>> THERE'S ALSO THIS FEE IN LIEU OF THIS DEDICATION OF GREEN LAND.
IS THE 210 SUPPOSED TO BE THAT FEE IN LIEU OF THE GREEN SPACE?
>> THE WAY THE AGREEMENT IS WORDED IS THE TIT FOR TAT, SO TO SPEAK INSTEAD OF THE ACADEMY PAYMENT AND THEN THE PARK LAND DEDICATION FEE IS WAIVED [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT IS THAT WHAT WE DID FOR GRANADA AND THEN ENTRADA?
>> NOT NECESSARILY [OVERLAPPING] DEVELOPMENTS, ALL WE'RE HANDLED IN DIFFERENT WAYS [OVERLAPPING].
>> NO, I UNDERSTANDS IT'S A COMMERCIAL NEGOTIATION. I GET IT.
>> YOU GUYS WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, CAN WE DO THAT?
>> OR WE COULD LET MR. OMEGAS VISIT REAL QUICK AND THEN DECIDE IF WE WANTED TO GO EXECUTIVE SESSION EITHER WAY. I MEAN, HE'S HERE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MY NAME IS EHSAN MARACAS, 108 MURPHY DRIVES, SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS.
AGREEMENT AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL ALSO GIVE JUST SOME HONEST FEEDBACK OF KIND OF WHERE I'M AT TODAY AND MAYBE WHY THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS.
I WASN'T IN ON SOME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAD HAPPENED WITH MY DAD AND STAFF, AND BY THE WAY, STAFF HAS BEEN VERY EASY TO WORK WITH.
I HAD BEEN TOLD BY MY STAFF THAN IT WAS 15,000 PER LOT IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND IT WAS AT 14 LOTS TO COME UP WITH THAT 210,000.
[01:40:02]
I WASN'T THERE, SO I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S ACCURATE OR IF THAT'S WHAT WAS REMEMBERED, LOOKING BACK AT SOME OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT PAID THE 10,000, UNDERSTAND THAT WAS IN 2013 ON THE GRANADA, AND SO EVEN IF IT WAS, THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS HERE.
THE ORIGINAL LANDOWNER IS HOLDING BACK THREE LOTS, SO NOT TO GET INTO THE ECONOMICS OF OUR AGREEMENT, ME IN THEIRS, BUT WE HAVE 14 LOTS AS A DEVELOPER THAT WE WILL BE TRYING TO SELL.
COMING IN HERE TODAY, I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AND I WANT TO BE FAIR AND I'M HERE AND I WOULD HAPPILY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST WOULD BE FAIR?
>> WHAT'S IN THERE IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT IF THERE WAS ANOTHER DISCUSSION THAT I WASN'T IN ON.
>> BUT THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS BETWEEN THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE AND THE DEVELOPER OF THE PROPERTY.
THE DEVELOPER ITSELF OWNS HOW MANY LOTS FOR DEVELOPMENT?
>> YOU'RE SAYING YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE CONTRACTUAL AUTHORITY TO BIND THE OTHER THREE PAYMENT, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> YES. THEREFORE, I THINK YOUR DISCUSSION IS ALSO 14.
>> YOU HAVE TO EXCUSE US. WE'RE GIVEN ABOUT, WHAT IS IT? 76 HOURS NOTICE FOR THESE THINGS?
>> THIS HAS BEEN [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS 500 PAGES OF THIS AGENDA, WHICH SPENDING MOST OF THE WEEKEND STUDYING IS TOUGH.
>> IT WAS WELL PLAYED THAT ALL THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY STUFF JUST HAPPENED TONIGHT.
>> THAT WAS FASCINATING. [LAUGHTER].
>> WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION HERE.
>> THIS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.
IF WE DO 14 AND WE FORGIVE THE THREE, THAT MAKES ME THINK WE CAN NEVER GET THE THREE.
THEN YOU GOT TO SEE WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM, AND CHANEL PURSES DON'T GO AND SELL, WESTLAKE RARELY GOES ON SALE, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT LOTS OF PROBABLY SOLD IN GRANADA FOR MAYBE 400 GRAND, 500 GRAND BACK IN THE DAY, THESE ARE GOING TO BE THREE TIMES.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THE SCHOOL.
>> SURE, TO GO BACK TO YOUR QUESTION.
IN MY MIND, AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY, WHICH IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM WHEN I LEAVE HERE, AN EQUITABLE SOLUTION MAY BE 16 AT 15.
I'M NOT TRYING TO NEGOTIATE AGAINST MYSELF, BUT IF YOU WENT TO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND CAME BACK WITH SOMETHING, I COULD MAYBE EXPLAIN THE MERITS OF WHERE I'M COMING FROM, BUT I THINK THAT MIGHT BE MORE SO THAN WHAT IS ALREADY ON THIS PAPER.
TIM, I TRUST YOU, I'M NOT BEING CHEESY.
>> NO, THE BACKGROUND IS YOUR FATHER STARTED THIS AND UNFORTUNATELY PASSED.
SEAN AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM, AND SEAN REMEMBERS THAT BEING SOMETHING.
THIS IS ONE OF THESE GRAY AREAS WE REALLY CAN'T TALK ABOUT TO BE CANDID.
I PERSONALLY GUYS WOULD LIKE TO JUST FIND WHAT HE'S WILLING TO OFFER AND DECIDE IF WE CAN LIVE WITH IT.
IT'S THE WAY I WANT TO GO BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T THERE, I DON'T REMEMBER FULLY.
YOU'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF STEPPING IN AFTER YOUR FATHER PASSED, SO I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT A GUN TO ANYONE'S HEAD.
IT'S HARD TO SWALLOW WHEN YOU GET THREE FOR FREE, AND WE'RE DEALING WITH 2013, 2014 LOT BACK IN THE DAY.
I WISH I COULD BUY A HOUSE IN LESS LIKE FOR 2014 PRICES, THAT'D BE WONDERFUL TOO.
>> YOU CANNOT DEVELOP THE OTHER THREE. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE ESTATE LOT.
>> THE ORIGINAL LANDOWNER HAS A HUGE ESTATE LOT.
>> AS PART OF A RETIREMENT PLAN, HE'S KEPT THE TWO MOST PREMIER LOTS TO HOLD BACK.
>> THIS IS THE SITUATION THERE.
WE'RE ABLE TO SELL AND MARKET THE 14 PENDING THIS EVENING AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, BUT IF THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU WANT TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SECTION ON THIS?
>> WELL, I WANT TO ASK RON ONE MORE QUESTION.
THE OTHER COMMINGLING HERE IS THAT THE PAYMENT FOR THESE LOTS IS IN LIEU OF,
[01:45:04]
AND I THINK THE TOWN GENERALLY THE STANDARD IS FOR EVERY WHAT? 36 HOME LOTS, THERE'S AN ACRE OR 36 ACRES IS AN ACRE OF?>> ROUGHLY 30 UNITS CONSTITUTES ONE ACRE OF PARKLAND.
>> WHAT HAVE WE DONE FOR OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN LIEU OF ACQUIRING THE GREEN SPACE OF PARKLAND? DO WE TAKE ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OR DID WE COMMINGLE IT WITH THE LOT FEE IS GOING TO THE SCHOOL?
>> FOR WESTLAKE RANCH, WHAT WE DID WAS THEY ACTUALLY DEDICATED PARKLAND DEDICATION TO SATISFY THE TOWN REQUIREMENTS, SO THAT WASN'T PART OF THAT ED AGREEMENT.
HOWEVER, ASPEN ESTATES, WHICH HAS NO PARKLAND DEDICATION, IT WAS EFFECTIVELY WAIVED BECAUSE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY PART OF WESTLAKE RANCH, AND IT GOT CARVED OUT DUE TO OWNER DISPUTE.
WITH THE KNOWLES, THERE WAS A REALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF DEDICATION TO THE TOWN FOR BOTH CONSERVATION AREA AND FOR PARKLAND.
THAT WAS NOT PART OF THAT ARRANGEMENT AS WELL, BUT WITHIN TROTTER IN GRENADA, THAT'S WHERE IT'S MORE COMPLEX WITH THE WAY THE PARKLAND WAS WAIVED IN THOSE AGREEMENTS.
>> WAS THERE PAYMENT FOR THE WAIVER?
>> THERE WAS, I BELIEVE THE TOWN HALL LOT.
IT'S THAT THE TOWN OWNS, AND THEN TROTTER WAS PART OF THAT AGREEMENT, BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT.
>> GRENADA WAS TIED IN WITH THE INITIAL TROTTER [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE DON'T HAVE A PRECEDENT FOR WAIVER OF THE GREEN SPACE THAT'S REQUIRED?
>> IN THE PAST, THERE WAS A SET ASIDE OF OPEN SPACE TO SATISFY THAT REQUIREMENT.
ONE THING I DO NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IS QUAIL HOLLOW BECAUSE I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW THAT WAS HANDLED AS WELL BECAUSE THAT'S 96 LOTS, WHICH WOULD HAVE REQUIRED A COUPLE OF ACRES, BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME LAND THAT WAS DONATED TO THE TOWN THAT'S ACROSS FROM GLENLAKE PARK, THAT MAY SOMEDAY CONNECT TO GLENLAKE PARK.
IN THIS CASE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A HALF-ACRE OF DEDICATION REQUIRED FOR [INAUDIBLE].
IN THIS CASE, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME OPEN SPACE THAT AMOUNTS TO A THIRD OF AN ACRE THAT'S JUST FOR PRODUCT USE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE, WHICH IS WHAT THE STIPULATION OBLIGES.
>> THIS WOULD JUST WAVE THE PARKLAND EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND ABSORB IT INTO THERE.
>> NO, I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT OF THE 14 VERSUS 17, IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEVELOP THE OTHER THREE.
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT TO DEVELOP THE PARKLAND OR TAKE ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OVER AND ABOVE LOT PAYMENTS?
>> ONE THING WE'VE NEVER DONE IN WESTLAKE IS ESTABLISH A FORMAL PARKLAND DEDICATION, BE IN LIEU OF DEDICATION, WHICH WE WOULD BE TRYING TO DO THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO GO THAT ROUTE.
>> RON, THESE ARE GOING TO BE ONE ACRE LOTS VERSUS WESTLAKE RANCH WHICH ARE HALF-ACRE, IS THAT CORRECT OR NO?
>> WESTLAKE RANCH IS ABOUT HALF TO TWO-THIRDS OF AN ACRE.
>> TIM, THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP IS BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A HISTORY IN THIS TOWN OF APPROVING THINGS, AND THEN SUDDENLY PEOPLE FIND OUT WHAT GOT APPROVED AND THEY ASK, WHY DID YOU APPROVE IT? I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE READING THIS STUFF AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE'RE AGREEING TO.
>> I UNDERSTAND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THE COUNCIL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A FORMALIZED POLICY.
WE'VE JUST TAKEN IT AS IT COMES IN THE PAST.
>> WHEN, IT DOES SET PRECEDENT.
>> IT DOES. HERE'S WHERE I FEEL DISCOMFORT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN AT THIS ONE FOR A LITTLE BIT, IS THERE'S A MONSTER ESTATE LOT, AND THEN IT'S GOING TO BE 14 ONE ACRE LOTS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO FEEL DENSE AT ALL.
WESTLAKE RANCH WILL FEEL WAY MORE DENSE, THEN THEY ALSO FEEL WAY MORE DENSE.
THAT GAVE ME SOME COMFORT, ESPECIALLY ON THAT TWO-LANE ROAD.
THAT GAVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF COMFORT.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS IF WE FORGO, THEY BOUGHT THE LAND FROM THE GUY THAT EVENTUALLY IS GOING TO BUILD A MONSTER HOUSE ON THE ESTATE LOT.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO APPEAR THAT THE POTENTIAL OF THE BIGGEST HOUSE EVER BUILT IN WESTLAKE DIDN'T HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN HELPING THE SCHOOL.
>> BUT IF HE'S AN EXISTING HOMEOWNER, I MEAN.
>> HE'S NOT GOING TO BE LIMITED AT HOME LONG.
HERE'S THE THING, THERE WAS A DEATH, THIS THING HAS BEEN A MOVING TARGET.
YOU GUYS GOT DELAYED BEFORE WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS A NO-BRAINER TO DO ONE ACRE LOTS, WHEN HALF-ACRE LOTS WOULD BE DONE DOWN THE ROAD.
I WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THIS DOWN AND I LIKE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT DONE TONIGHT. THAT'S ALL.
BUT I ALSO THINK WE GAVE YOU GUYS GREAT QUESTIONS.
MAYBE RAMBLED A LITTLE BUT PROVIDED MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF COLOR.
>> THAT'S FINE. LOOK, I FEEL PRETTY GOOD LIKE 15,000 PER LOT BECAUSE I FEEL THAT'S PRETTY COMPARABLE TO WHAT WE'VE DONE.
THE ONLY QUESTION IS JUST THE WAIVER FOR NO ADDITIONAL FEE FOR THE REQUIREMENT UNDER THE TOWN,
[01:50:01]
THAT TYPICALLY YOU'D HAVE TO PUT A HALF AN ACRE PARK LAND IN, PUBLIC ACCESS PARK LAND.THE QUESTION IS DO WE WAIVE THAT FOR NO CONSIDERATION, BUT THE 15,000 I'M FINE ON, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S MORE GENEROUS THAN POTENTIALLY WHAT HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS HAVE DONE.
>> COUNCIL, ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT THINGS WITH THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS YOU CAN TELL FROM RON'S PRESENTATION IS THAT WE'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE MAP HERE.
WE'VE GIVEN SOME HERE AND NOT GIVEN ANOTHER PLACES.
AS RON STATED, HE AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR US TO NAIL DOWN THIS EXACT POLICY SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, MAKE SURE THAT IT'S EQUITABLE GOING FORWARD.
>> COUNCILMAN QUINT, ON THAT ONE TOPIC AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, RON, THERE IS 1.246 ACRES DEDICATED TO THE TOWN FOR RIGHT AWAY.
I THINK THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF MAYBE A FUTURE ROUNDABOUT JUST RIGHT THERE DEVIN PEARSON SOUTH.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT COMES INTO PLAY WHATSOEVER, BUT THERE WAS A DEDICATION OF SOME LAND, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S LABELED PARK LAND.
BUT THEN COUNCILMAN SCHEINER, ON YOUR ACCOUNT, I WILL TELL YOU THE AMENABLE SET THE PRECEDENT AND WITH NO POLICY, WE'RE OPEN.
>> BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS, RON, AGAIN, YOU WILL KNOW THE ANSWER, IS THE TOWN AT SOME POINT GOING TO PAY FOR THE TRAILS TO BE CONNECTED OUTSIDE THESE DEVELOPMENTS RESIST CAN BE ALL PART OF WHAT THEY CONTRIBUTE.
MY OTHER QUESTION IS, OUTSIDE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, BELLAGIO, MY READING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS THE HOA WILL TAKEOVER, LANDSCAPING, IRRIGATION, UPKEEP, MAINTENANCE, ALL THOSE THINGS.
IS THERE GOING TO BE A TRAIL SYSTEM OUTSIDE OF THAT ALSO THAT CONNECTS AND IS THAT PART OF WHAT THE TOWN IS POTENTIALLY GOING TO FUND IT A FUTURE CAPEX?
>> THE TRAIL SYSTEM ON THE TRAIL PLAN IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF [OVERLAPPING].
THAT WAS ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN BUILT THIS YEAR BUT IT'S DELAYED BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOME ENGINEERING ISSUES WE HAD.
BUT THE DEVELOPER THIS IS PART OF THEIR SIDE OF THINGS FOR THE VILLAGIO IS TO CONNECT OVER TO THAT TRAIL WITH A CROSSWALK, RIGHT WHERE THE TWO STREETS ARE GOING TO INTERSECT WITH KILL ACROSS THE STREET IN VILLAGIO.
BUT THERE'S NO OFFSITE REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO AT LEAST TO THE WAY THE AGREEMENTS WORDED, BUT BECAUSE IT'S WAVING THE PARKLAND DEDICATION, THERE'S NO OFFSITE MONEY THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE TRAIL.
>> THESE ARE THE TRAILS ONLY ON THE EAST SIDE.
ARE YOU SAYING IT WE'LL CROSS OVER TO THE WEST?
>> THE PEARSON LIGHT TRAIL GOES UP AND THEN THERE'LL BE A CROSSWALK ACTUALLY WITH TRAILS ALREADY EXISTING IT CONNECTS ACROSS TO THE NORTH SIDE OF WHERE THE TRAIL CONTINUES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
>> BUT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE EAST SIDE OF PEARSON?
>> IF COUNCIL IS HAPPY, I'M HAPPY.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON BECAUSE I KNOW THESE THINGS COME BACK AND HAUNT.
I'M OKAY WITH A 15,000 PER LOT AND THE QUESTION IS, DO WE WAIVE THE PARKLAND FOR NO FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND THAT'S IT.
>> HERE'S ONE, TAKE A QUICK BREAK BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THIS OR.
>> I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE QUICK LITTLE BREAK AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
>> WE'LL TAKE A QUICK BREAK, FIVE-MINUTE BREAK.
WE'LL GO BACK IN SESSION HERE.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT FOR G1 AND G2. HEAR A FIRST?
>> ALL OPPOSED? NO OPPOSE. MOTION CARRIES.
>> YEAH. I'D LIKE TO MOTION TO AMEND.
>> FOR 17 LOADS FOR 15,000. IS THAT WHAT IT IS?
>> THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO AMEND IT TO.
>> YOU AT FIRST. THAT'S TIM'S FIRST. IS THERE A SECOND.
>> ALL OPPOSED. NO OPPOSE. MOTION CARRIES.
THANKS, GUYS. LET'S JUMP DOWN TO THE REGULAR ITEMS REAL QUICK.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO CELL TOWER COVERAGE FOR REAL QUICK. CALL THE UP REAL QUICK.
[01:55:09]
>> GETTING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MAYOR, WE'RE
[I.3. 23-237 Discussion regarding Cell Town Coverage (Wade Carroll)]
READY TO GO HE SHOULD BE ONLINE HERE IN JUST A SECOND.I JUST GOT A HOLD OF A BOBBY WELLS FROM AT&T WHO WILL BE JOINING US SHORTLY.
AS COUNSEL AS WELL AWARE, WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SOME OF OUR CELL COVERAGE HERE IN TOWN BECAUSE IS PLAYING YET.
SO THE PREVIOUS TOWER THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT THE CORNER OF THE FIRE STATION.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WE NEVER SAID THAT CONTRACT BACK TO VERIZON, WHOEVER IT WAS.
BUT FOR SOME REASON THE FORMER ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER BEFORE THE DAY HE QUIT, SIGNED IT AND MAIL IT BACK TO THEM.
>> YES, SIR I'VE GOT THAT [OVERLAPPING] WE'LL TALK THROUGH.
AS I WAS SAYING, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE SOME AREAS IN TOWN WERE HAVE SOME POOR CELLULAR SERVICE.
A LOT OF THOSE AREAS IN TOWN INCLUDE OUR SOUTHERN EDGE AROUND THE SOUTHLAKE BORDER AND THE COLORBORDER BACK IN THAT AREA ON THE SOUTHERN END OF VAQUERO.
SO WE'VE GOT SOME AREAS IN TOWN THAT WE WANT TO OBVIOUSLY BUMP THAT COVERAGE UP AND THERE WAS A PROPOSED CELL TOWER TO BE GOING IN AND ADD DAVIS AND DOVE.
THAT CELL TOWER WAS PROPOSED BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.
THEY HAD WORKED WITH A CELL TOWER GROUP TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND ACTUALLY HAVE A SIGNED LEASE AGREEMENT, WE'RE 3,125 SQUARE FEET FROM THE TOWN FOR $13,200 A YEAR.
AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BILLING FOR THAT PRICE A 130-FOOT STEALTH TOWER WITH THREE CARRIERS ON IT.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD WHEN I FIRST CAME ON BOARD, IS I CAUGHT WIND OF THIS PROJECT AND KNOWING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CELL TOWERS AND SOME OF THE LEASE AGREEMENTS THAT I'VE SIGNED IN THE PAST WITH ANOTHER CITY.
IT LOOKED LIKE THIS WAS NOT A GREAT DEAL FOR THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE TO BE QUITE HONEST.
ON A MONETARY BASIS GENERALLY, WE'RE GETTING BETWEEN $30 AND $40,000 PER ANTENNA ON SOME OF THESE TOWER SITES.
IF WE'RE ONLY GOING TO GET 13 TO A YEAR INSTEAD OF $90,000, THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
NOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TOWER, THE ERECTION OF THE TOWER.
WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE STEALTH WORK THAT'S BEING DONE ON IT.
SO OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME AS WELL.
BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE FOR ME IS THAT A SINGLE TOWER DOES NOT SOLVE OUR ISSUE.
I ACTUALLY GOT IN MEETINGS WITH AT&T AND VERIZON AND WE TALKED ABOUT AND LOOKED AT THEIR PROPAGATION MAPS TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL AREA THAT THESE CELL TOWERS WOULD, OR THIS ONE CELL TOWER IN PARTICULAR WOULD COVER.
WHEN THEY SHOWED THE TOWER ON A PROPAGATION MAT, IT IS INCREDIBLY INCREASE THEIR AREA RIGHT AROUND THE TOWER ITSELF.
BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY HIT OUR PROBLEM AREAS WITH FOR THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE.
THEN I WENT TO THEM WITH A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION AND SAID, A CELL TOWER WAS BROUGHT TO YOU, WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE THE CELL COVERAGE IN THIS ONE PARTICULAR AREA OF TOWN, BUT THE QUESTION IS WHERE YOU BROUGHT A PROBLEM AND CAN WE ACT ON THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN THIS IS A CELL TOWER.
WE'VE GOT AN ANSWER AND NOW BUILD YOUR PROJECT AROUND AN ANSWER THAT WE GAVE THEM.
I'M WORKING WITH BOBBY WELLS WHO'S ON ONLINE WITH US NOW FROM AT&T,
[02:00:05]
AND HE'S BEEN WORKING ON A PROPAGATION MAP AND A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR US.AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THESE ARE THE AREAS OF TOWN WHERE IT HAD SOME PROBLEM AREAS THAT SOUTHERN END OF VAQUERO, GRANADA, THERE ARE SOME AREAS IN WESTLAKE RANCH AND QUAIL HOLLOW THAT ALL OF THOSE HAVE AREAS THAT WE HAVE SOME ISSUES.
THIS GOES INTO WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE GUYS AT AT&T.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS I WANT TO BRING FORWARD TO COUNCIL SOME CHOICES.
BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME WITH THIS.
THE NICE THING ABOUT THE CELL TOWER THAT WAS PROPOSED IN THE PAST, JUST BEING COMPLETELY HONEST IS IT WAS NO DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET AND IT WAS JUST A REVENUE STREAM IN.
NOW IT WASN'T A VERY BIG REVENUE STREAM END, BUT IT WAS A REVENUE STREAM, AND THE BIGGEST THING, LIKE I SAID, NO DOLLARS OUT-OF-POCKET.
ANY OF THESE OTHER MIXES WILL PROBABLY REQUIRE US TO BE IN A PPP OR A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH AT&T OR VERIZON OR BOTH.
IN ORDER TO MAKE SOME OF THESE WORK.
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COST THEM A LOT MORE MONEY TO DO MICRO CELLS THAN IT WILL BE JUST TO PAY RENT ON A SINGLE TOWER THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO BUILD THEMSELVES.
BUT TALKING TO BOBBY AND SOME OF THE FOLKS AT AT&T, IT LOOKS LIKE THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND POSSIBLY MOVE FORWARD IS A MIX OF THE MACRO TOWER THERE AT DOVE AND THEY'RE AT THE FIRE STATION AT DOVE AND DAVIS.
BUT ALSO WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD A COUPLE OF OTHER DESIGNS WHERE WE USE ALL MACRO CELLS ON A FORGING NETWORK THAT WOULD REQUIRE ONLY 28-FOOT TOWERS, BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF THEM.
WE LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL MAP IT'S ABOUT 28, 29 TOWERS THAT ARE ONLY, LIKE I SAID, ABOUT 28 FEET TALL, BUT THOSE TOWERS HAD TO BE SCATTERED IN THOSE LOW SIGNAL AREAS.
NOW THAT IN ITSELF WOULD FIX OUR ISSUE.
WHEN YOU SEE THE PROPAGATION MAP FROM THAT, THEN I'M SURE BOB, WILL GIVE US A LITTLE HINT OF YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT IT SOLVES OUR ISSUE.
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT TO FORGE A NETWORK LIKE THAT? THE OTHER OPTION IS WE GO WITH A 5G+ NETWORK.
BUT THOSE TOWERS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY TALLER AND NEED TO GET ABOVE THE MAJORITY OF THE TREELINE TRASH, WHICH IS AROUND 40 FEET TALL.
THEN THE LAST OPTION IS A MIXTURE OF BOTH A STANDARD TOWERS AND 5G+ TOWERS, WHICH BOBBY WHO HAD A CHANCE TO WORK UP YET, BUT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE MOTION, JUST TO BRING SOME OF THOSE FORWARD.
SO WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH COUNCIL TONIGHT IS REALLY JUST SHOW YOU WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS.
AS THE MAYOR SPOKE ABOUT, THERE'S SOME CONTROVERSY AROUND THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AS WELL.
BUT STAN HAS HAD A LOOK AT THAT CONTRACT AND BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY SENT A MEMO TO THE CONTRACTOR AND AGREED TO THESE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE WE'RE GOING TO BE TIED TO THOSE.
>> CAN YOU ENLIGHTEN US WHERE THE CHANGES WERE MADE?
>> I CAN'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, DAVIS, BUT THEY ARE IN YOUR PACKET.
THERE ISN'T ACTUALLY A LETTER IN THE PACKET FROM AT THE TIME THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MAYOR.
>> BUT TROY HAD NO AUTHORITY TO READ THEM.
>> BUT I SEE A LEASE AGREEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN SCRATCHED OUT FROM 24TH OF JANUARY AND HANDWRITTEN 14TH OF NOVEMBER, WHICH CAME UNDER OUR PURVIEW AS A COUNCIL.
I ALSO SEE A MEMORANDUM OF ELIS DATED THE SAME DATE.
AGAIN, UNDER OUR PURVIEW AS A COUNCIL, I DON'T EVER RECALL THAT COMING TO US.
I HAVE THESE BOTH PRINT AND I'VE READ THEM BOTH.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S OUR QUESTION AS WELL.
THE QUESTION THAT WE'D HAVE FOR OUR ATTORNEY IS DO THOSE TAKE LEGAL STANDING OR NOT? THERE IS ALSO WITHIN THAT WE MAY NOT EVEN HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT'S A LEGAL STANDING BECAUSE WITHIN THAT AGREEMENT, THERE IS ANOTHER OUT.
WE HAVE TO APPROVE A ZONING CHANGE TO ALLOW THE TOWER AND IF THE ZONING CHANGE IS NOT APPROVED, THE AGREEMENT IS NULL AND VOID.
WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND THE BIGGER PICTURE IS EVEN PASSED, A BAD CONTRACT THAT WAS SIGNED, EVEN PASS SOME CHANGES ARE [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS, THE LEASE BECAUSE I READ THE ORIGINAL LEASE, I UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR OUTS ARE, BUT IF THERE'S AMENDMENTS MADE, WHETHER THEY'RE VALID OR NOT STANDARD.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S A MATTER OF WHETHER THE COUNCIL APPROVALS IN IT.
>> DO WE HAVE A WORTHY AMENDMENTS? DO WE KNOW WHAT WAS PROPOSED?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT MY STAFF REPORT IT AND BRING IT UP HERE.
>> BUT AGAIN, I THINK DAVIS, THE REAL TRUE QUESTION IS IF IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THEN LET'S MOVE ON AND LET'S GET ANOTHER CONTRACT IN WHERE WE CAN SOLVE THE ISSUE.
>> NO, I AGREE BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT LIABLE AS A MUNICIPALITY FOR SOME BREACH OF CONTRACT.
THAT'S THE QUESTION I'M TRYING TO ADDRESS.
>> WE BUILT IN YOUR ULTIMATE APPROVAL BY ZONING.
>> NOTWITHSTANDING THE AMENDMENTS TO THE LEASE THAT APPARENTLY WERE MADE WHILE WE WERE AT COUNCIL.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. BUT I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING DEEPER HERE IS REALLY, REALLY CURIOUS WHY THESE PEOPLE THEY WERE EMPLOYED BY WESTLAKE WERE JUST SO EAGER TO BUILD.
IT WASN'T JUST 130. IT GOT UP TO 160 FEET, WHICH I DON'T THINK IT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE.
[02:05:03]
SO THERE'S SOME PUSHBACK BACK-AND-FORTH ON THIS CONTRACT.THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S FIRE ON THIS THING.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR THINK WE TABLE THAT PART OF IT.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE POTENTIAL FUTURE IS.
>> I'M GLAD, SAM, THAT YOU PUT SOME OUTS ON ZONING THAT COULD GET US OUT OF THAT, BUT THAT CONTRACT IS ALL SCRIBBLED UP AND THERE'S A LOT OF CHATTER ABOUT HOW THAT WAS REALLY GOOD FOR THE VENDOR AND NOT REALLY GOOD FOR US.
>> SURE. I THINK LOOKING AT BOBBY'S PROPAGATION MAP, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO AGREE WITH THAT AND JUST SAY, YES, THAT'S HELPING A VERY SMALL PORTION OF TOWN AND IT HELPED AND TRY TO IMMENSELY.
BUT OUTSIDE OF INTRONS, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CHANGE.
TROTTED DIDN'T HAVE TERRIBLE CELL COVERAGE TO BEGIN WITH.
DOES IT HELP THE OVERALL CELLULAR MAP STRUCTURE?
>> YES, IT DOES. BUT DOES IT HELP WESTLAKE-SPECIFIC PROBLEMS? YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, MS. SHAWNA, IT DOES NOT HELP THOSE PROBLEMS, SO WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ANSWER TO THAT PROBLEM IS.
>> AT THIS POINT, I'D REALLY LIKE TO BRING UP BOBBY.
BOBBY WELLS, WOULD YOU GIVE US YOUR OFFICIAL TITLE AND WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR US ON THIS PROJECT.
>> I'M GOING TO RF ENGINEER FOR AT&T, DESIGN ENGINEER AT PRESENT TIME AND HAD BEEN WORKING ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PROPOSED DESIGN TO TRY AND FIX OR HELP IMPROVE THE SERVICE OUT THERE IN WESTLAKE.
>> YES. BOBBY, CAN I EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT OR CAN YOU POSSIBLY EVEN SHARE YOUR SCREEN WITH US AND SHOW US SOME OF THOSE PROPAGATION MAPS REAL QUICK?
I LOGGED IN WITH MY PERSONAL COMPUTER BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO LET ME WITH MY COMPANY COMPUTER.
LET ME TRY TO JOIN FROM MY COMPANY COMPUTER AGAIN REAL QUICK.
>> WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS GOING BACK OVER 16 MONTHS BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL, I HEARD ABOUT THIS.
I GUESS MY QUESTION CONTINUES TO BE WHAT PROBLEM ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR [OVERLAPPING] 1,800 RESIDENTS IN WESTLAKE, HOW MANY DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE?
>> MY BEST GUESS, LOOKING AT THE COVERAGE AREAS IS AROUND 75-125 RESIDENTS. MAYOR, WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
>> YEAH. SO A LOT OF GRANADA HAS ISSUES AND THEN FOR CAROL ESTATES, THE BACKSIDE HAS ISSUES AND THEN TERRABELLA AND SO WE GET A LOT OF PHONE CALLS AND COMPLAINTS FROM THEM.
>> THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER OPTIONS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT TOO.
WHEN YOU'D START TALKING ABOUT WI-FI CALLING AND THE ABILITY, IS REALLY HOW MANY HOMES IN WESTLAKE DON'T HAVE FIBER? BECAUSE WE CAN LOOK AT THAT ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT AS WELL AND JUST RUN FIBER TO THOSE REMAINING HOMES THAT DO NOT HAVE FIBER, WHICH WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO WI-FI CALLING, WHICH THEY WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO HIT A CELLULAR KNOW.
>> I LIKE YOUR SUGGESTIONS, PUTTING A LOT OF TOWERS IN FOR 7% OF THAT.
I UNDERSTAND IF YOU DON'T HAVE CELL PHONE COVERAGE, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE THING WITH THESE TOWERS FROM SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ONE.
>> BUT I WILL SAY, WESTLAKE, OUR RESIDENTS, THEY WORK FROM HOME.
THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE WORK FROM HOME FOLKS.
WE REALLY NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE FUTURE OF THIS AND SAYING, LET'S GET THE BEST COVERAGE THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN, THAT MAY BE PUTTING IN A SINGLE MACRO TOWER, IT MIGHT BE PUTTING IN HALF OF THE PROPOSED MACROS.
>> AND THERE MIGHT BE SOME STUFF WITH SOUTHLAKE AND CAROL, THEIR TOWERS GOING IN THAT THEY MIGHT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE'S SOME PROPOSED MACRO TOWERS BUT WE DON'T HAVE DATES ON THOSE AT ALL, SO TO UNDERSTAND REALLY.
IF THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT THE SAME WAY WE ARE, THAT 130, 190 FOOT TOWER IS AN EYESORE, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO GO WITH A MICRO CELL AS WELL, AND IF THEY DO THAT, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP WESTLAKE AT ALL.
BOBBY, WERE YOU ABLE TO SIGN IN?
>> YES, SORRY. I THINK YOU CAN HEAR ME AND EVERYTHING?
>> I HAD TO DOWNLOAD THE ZOOM APP ON MY WORK COMPUTER SO I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED THAT IT WOULDN'T HAVE LET ME BUT IT DID SO THAT'S GOOD.
BACK TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, LET ME SHARE MY SCREEN WITH YOU.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE POWERPOINT THAT WE'D GONE OVER.
>> I'M NOT SURE, I'LL JUST RUN THROUGH THE WHOLE THING.
AT LEAST WHAT ME AND YOU TALKED ABOUT AND IF YOU WANT TO DIRECT ME IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION, WE DEFINITELY COULD DO THAT.
WE INITIALLY STARTED OUT MODELING THE TOWER UP HERE AT THE CORNER OF DOVE AND DAVIS BOULEVARD, THE ONE THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT TRYING TO BUILD AND SO I'LL GO THROUGH THERE.
[02:10:02]
THIS IS THE EXISTING COVERAGE OF WHAT WE HAVE NOW.THERE'S QUITE A COUPLE OF SOME HOLES THERE SO TO SPEAK, SOME OF IT VENTURES DOWN INTO THE SOUTHLAKE AREA BUT DEFINITELY A LARGE HOLE UP HERE AROUND WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO PUT IT IN THE NEW MACRO SIDE.
THIS WAS MY FIRST. THIS WAS KIND OF A PIE IN THE SKY.
IF WE COULD DO ANYTHING WE WANTED TO DO, THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD DO.
WE CAME IN WITH A COUPLE OF NEW NSBS ALL AROUND SOUTHLAKE AND WESTLAKE, TWO DOWN TO THE SOUTH, ONE IN WESTLAKE RIGHT THERE WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT, AND THEN I STARTED FILLING IN WITH MICRO NOTE COVERAGE TO SEE WHAT WE WOULD TAKE TO BUILD OUT THE AREA.
THE NODES THAT FELL WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF WESTLAKE WAS ROUGHLY NINE.
WE'VE BEEN TO THE ONE NSB AND WE WERE LOOKING AT MAYBE A FOURTH SECTOR.
YOU SHOULD DO ALL SMALL CELLS, JUST THESE, AND I DID THEM AT 38 FOOT TALL BECAUSE [NOISE] THE TALLER THEY ARE, THE BETTER THE COVERAGE AND I KNOW WADE HAD MENTIONED IF WE'D PROBABLY RATHER LOOK AT A LOWER COVERAGE OPTION AND SO A LOWER CENTER LINE OPTION, AND I DID THAT AS WELL.
IN THIS CASE, WE WOUND UP WITH ABOUT 26 NODES IN THE WESTLAKE CITY LIMITS AND THEN 46 TOTAL.
AT THE TIME WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING ON THIS, I WASN'T EVEN REALLY SURE IF YOU WANTED TO CONTAIN OF WHAT AREA, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF LACK OF INFORMATION ON MY END SO I OVERBUILT, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT IT FROM JUST THE WESTLAKE CITY LIMITS AREA HERE, AND THEN I WENT AHEAD AND MODELED IT.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, THE SHORTER, IF YOU WENT 25-28 FOOT TALL TO TRY TO MAKE THE NODES A LITTLE LESS CONSPICUOUS AND YOU LOSE COVERAGE BUT IT'S NOT A TON OF COVERAGE, BUT YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE.
I'LL ROTATE BACK AND FORTH A COUPLE OF TIMES, YOU CAN SEE THE LARGER FOOTPRINT HERE VERSUS THE SMALLER FOOTPRINT OF EACH NODE.
FROM THERE, I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GO IN AND TRY AND COMPLETELY FILL OUT THE COVERAGE AT THE SHORTER 28 FOOT, WHICH WE COULD LOOK AT DOING THAT TO SEE HOW MANY NODES THAT WOULD TAKE TO GET THE SAME OVERLAPPING COVERAGE AT A SHORTER CENTER LINE, IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANTED US TO LOOK AT, WE COULD DEFINITELY DO THAT.
BUT IT JUST GIVES YOU A GENERAL IDEA OF THE DIFFERENT COVERAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF NODES AND STUFF THAT IT WOULD TAKE.
IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE SPECIFIC THAT YOU DIRECT ME TO WADE OR?
>> NO, SIR. I THINK THAT DOES THE TRICK FOR US.
>> CAN WE JUST GET A LITTLE BIT OF INPUT? OBVIOUSLY THESE RED SECTIONS IS WHERE CELL PHONE COVERAGE HAS GREATLY IMPROVED, WHAT IS THE YELLOW MEAN? IN PARTICULAR, WE'VE HAD ISSUES ON WESTLAKE ACADEMY CAMPUS, AND I THINK THAT'S STILL OUTSIDE OF SOME OF THESE IMPROVED ZONES.
>> WE CAN DEFINITELY MOVE IN OTHER DIRECTIONS IF WE WANTED TO.
AT THAT TIME, I JUST DIDN'T REALLY KNOW FOR SURE FROM TALKING TO MY SENIOR GROUP, WHERE THEY WANTED ME TO FOCUS WITH.
WE HAD MENTIONED SOME AREA DOWN HERE AND REALIZED THAT'S IN SOUTHLAKE.
FOR THE SIGNAL LEVEL, THE RED IS A GOOD STRONG NEG 90 AND A SERVICE WITH 4G AND 5G.
YOU CAN SEE A GOOD CELLULAR, I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN A BUNCH OF BARS BUT YOU'LL DEFINITELY SEE WORKABLE USEABLE CALLS GO THROUGH DATA WORKS DOWN TO NEG 120 IN A LOT OF CASES.
THE RED IS NEG 90, THEN YOU GOT ORANGE IS NEG 98, THE LIGHTER COLOR ORANGE IS ABOUT NEG 103, AND THEN WHEN YOU GET TO THESE YELLOWS ARE ABOUT 108.
YOU'RE HAVING A SENIOR THAT WELL, THERE IS SOMETHING OUT HERE THAT THE BLUE AREAS.
ANYTHING YELLOW AND ABOVE, IF THE LOWEST, IT'S ABOUT A NEG 108 IN COVERAGE, AND OUTSIDE THAT WOULD DEFINITELY WORK ON A PHONE OUTSIDE.
IT DOES DO INDOOR COVERAGE AS WELL, BUT I WOULD LOOK AT THAT SIGNAL LEVEL AS USABLE IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE FOR SURE AT NEG 108, 110, 115, AND IT'S STILL VERY USABLE FOR YOUR PHONE.
>> MR. [INAUDIBLE] TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
I WAS TOLD AND HAVE GOTTEN COMPLAINTS FOR MAINLY THAT EASTERN AND SOUTHERN PART OF THE CITY.
BUT IF WE'VE GOT SOME COMPLAINTS THAT I HAD NOT HEARD ABOUT YET AND WE NEED TO BUILD THIS A MODELING OF IT, MOVING FURTHER TO THE WEST, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE ACADEMY AREA, THEN WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.
THE QUESTION AGAIN GOES IS, DO WE LIKE THIS IDEA VERSUS A MACRO, AND THEN DO WE SEND THEM OUT TO START GIVING US SOME PRICING BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE PRICING ON ANY OF THESE YET FOR US? WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WOULD LOOK LIKE AT THIS TIME.
>> THESE ARE ALL 28 FOOT TOWERS.
JUST FOR REFERENCE, THE ONES THAT ARE ON THE OUTER PERIMETERS, THE THREE RADIOACTIVE SPIKES, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM.
>> YEAH. WHAT SIZE ARE THEY JUST SO WE GET
[02:15:03]
SOME REFERENCE POINTS HERE AND THEN DO YOU HAVE ANY SCHEMATICS SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT?>> [OVERLAPPING] GO AHEAD, BOBBY. GO AHEAD.
>> I WANTED TO ASK, WHEN YOU SAY WHAT SIZE ARE THEY, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT HOW TALL ARE THEY?
>> YEAH. I'M ASSUMING THESE ARE ALL CORRELATED TO HEIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THIS STUFF.
>> YEAH. WELL, THEY DEFINITELY COULD BE DIFFERENT HEIGHTS.
I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT IN THIS POWERPOINT.
IN THIS GENERAL AREA, I WOULD SAY WE PROBABLY RANGE ABOUT 130-150 FOOT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE HIGHEST TOWER, MAYBE ONE OF THE OLDER TOWERS WAS MORE SPACED OUT BACK IN THE DAY, YOU MIGHT BE A LITTLE OVER 150 FOOT.
BUT NOWADAYS WITH THE DENSITY GOING IN AND TRYING TO PROVIDE AS MUCH CAPACITY AS POSSIBLE, WE DON'T TYPICALLY LIKE TO BUILD 200 FOOT TOWERS, 180 FOOT, 190 FOOT TOWERS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'M NERVOUS ABOUT 28 FEET.
[LAUGHTER] DEVANEY, SCHEMATICS OF WHAT A 28-FOOT TOWER LOOKS LIKE.
>> LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
>> REALLY, THE SKY'S THE LIMIT ON SOME OF THESE.
SOME OF THESE CAN BE ATTACHED TO LIGHT POLES, SOME OF THEM CAN BE JUST A SINGULAR POLE THAT'S PAINTED BLACK TO BLEND IN WITH THE SURROUNDING.
THEY CAN MAKE THEM LOOK LIKE TREES.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO THESE POLES, BUT OF COURSE, EVERYTHING HAS A DOLLAR SIGN ATTACHED TO IT.
>> ONE OF THE ISSUES WOULD BE THE 615 HOMES IN WESTLAKE.
BUT FIDELITY HAS GOT 11,000 PEOPLE WHO SIGN, SO YOU COULD LITERALLY HAVE 11,000 PEOPLE COME IN AND LITERALLY JUST DRAIN THE CELLULAR NETWORK THAT DAY.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. TALKING TO BOBBY IN OUR MEETING, HE SAID 114 IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR US AS WELL, SO ALL THE CARS DRIVING BY ON 114, THOSE TAKE ACCEPT OR TAKE PRECEDENT ON THE TOWERS BEFORE WE DO.
YOU'RE LOWERING THAT SIGNAL STRENGTH JUST DUE TO THE TRAFFIC AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE INCREASED TRAFFIC IN THIS AREA AS WE ADD ANOTHER LANE TO 141.
WE'RE NOT 100% SURE THAT THIS IS THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM, BUT WHAT I WANTED TO ASSURE COUNCIL IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CITIZENS THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
THEY FEEL LIKE THIS HAS BEEN PUT ON THE BACK BURNER, BUT IT IS NOT, IT IS ON THE FRONT BURNER.
WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR PUBLIC DOLLARS THAT WE SPEND TOWARDS A PROJECT LIKE THIS IS ACTUALLY BENEFICIAL FOR THE TOWN, AND WE DON'T GO WAY OVERBOARD AND SPEND $3 MILLION ON A CELLULAR PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT 75 PEOPLE.
>> I AGREE. I THINK THERE'S OTHER SIDE OF THAT COIN IS THESE PEOPLE THAT BACKED UP TO THE FIRE STATION AND PEOPLE IN QUAIL, THEY WERE GOING CRAZY OVER 130, 160-FOOT TOWER.
>> IT'S A VERY POLARIZING THING.
>> SURE. QUITE HONESTLY, WE GO BACK TO THE WI-FI SOLUTION.
THERE'S ONLY 670 HOUSES IN WESTLAKE.
I COULD PROBABLY PAY FOR THE HIGHEST GRADE OF WI-FI CHEAPER THAN WE CAN BUILD SAY, A NETWORK.
>> OF COURSE THAT MIGHT BE AN OPTION TOO.
>> THAT'S AN OPTION THAT WE SHOULDN'T TAKE OFF THE TABLE YET, AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE HERE.
BUT I REALLY WANTED BOARD TO KNOW AND FOR COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, WORKING HARD WITH AT&T AS OUR PARTNER, SO WE'RE SKIPPING THE MIDDLEMAN FOR ANY TOWER BUILDER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND GOING DIRECTLY TO THE CARRIERS WHO CAN GIVE US THE BEST ANSWERS.
>> WHY WOULD YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SHARE WITH YOU?
>> I WAS TRYING TO LOCATE JUST A GENERIC TOWER THAT IT'S BEEN PUT IN WITH A LIGHT POLE SCENARIO AND THEY GET IT MUCH NICER OF COURSE, BUT I JUST COULDN'T COME ACROSS ONE OFF THE TOP MY HEAD.
I WAS TRYING TO FIND A DRAWING THAT WE HAD, LIKE A CD-TYPE OF SCENARIO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT THAT'S FINE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE QUITE THERE YET ANYWAYS BOBBY, SO WE CAN GET TOGETHER AGAIN OFFLINE AND START GATHERING SOME MORE INFORMATION. I CAN SEND THAT TO COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION, BOBBY, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
>> HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> THAT'S WHERE I'LL MOVE ON TO 23-48,
[I.4. 23-248 Consider approving repairs to Back Flow Preventor Devices; and take appropriate action (Wade Carroll)]
CONCERN IMPROVING REPAIRS, THE BACKFLOW PREVENTER DEVICES TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.GETTING NUMERIC COUNCIL, I HAVE WITH ME TONIGHT COW FLANAGAN, WHO IS OUR OPERATIONS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, WHO CAN ANSWER SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
BUT HERE'S PART OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE COME INTO IS WE'VE TESTED OUR BACKFLOW THAT'S REQUIRED BY TCEQ THAT WE DO THESE ANNUALLY.
WE'VE TESTED THESE BACKFLOW PREVENTERS THROUGHOUT TOWN THAT WE OWN, AND IT LOOKS LIKE AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY WE HAVE FIVE OF THE SIX THAT HAVE FAILED.
WHAT A BACKFLOW PREVENTER DOES IS THEY
[02:20:01]
LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT SITS STAGNANT IN THE SYSTEMS, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH A FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM OR A SPRINKLER SYSTEM, THINGS LIKE THAT.WATER THAT SITS STANDING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
IF YOU LOSE WATER PRESSURE IN YOUR SYSTEM AND THE BACKFLOW PREVENTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEN ALL THAT STAGNANT WATER GETS INTO YOUR WATER SYSTEM, COMPLETELY CONTAMINATES YOUR WATER SYSTEM AND YOU'RE FORCED TO PUT OUT A BOIL WATER NOTICE FOR YOUR CITIZENS.
IT'S DANGEROUS FOR OUR CITIZENS TO DRINK THAT WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME FIRST.
THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS SCENARIO IS GREATER RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE A MAJOR WATER LEAK ON OUR 20-INCH LINE COMING FROM FORT WORTH.
THIS IS OUR ONLY LINE FROM FORT WORTH THAT ACTUALLY FEEDS WATER TO WESTLAKE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EVENTUALLY TAKE THAT LINE OFF OFFLINE AND STOP RECEIVING WATER FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHILE WE TRY TO FIX THIS WATER LEAK.
OUR ISSUE IN WESTLAKE IS COMPOUNDED BECAUSE IN THE PAST, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE NEVER APPROVED TO HAVE ENOUGH WATER STORAGE AND ENOUGH ESPECIALLY ELEVATED WATER STORAGE TO LAST VERY LONG FOR THE TOWN AT ALL.
FROM TALKING TO COW, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT ABOUT A 4-6 HOUR WINDOW THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS REPAIR.
AT THAT TIME WE WOULD BE OUT OF WATER IN WESTLAKE AND WE WOULD HAVE TO AGAIN, SEND OUT A BOWL OF WATER NOTICE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT BAD BACKFLOW PREVENTERS THAT WE KNOW OF HERE IN TOWN.
WITH THESE TWO THINGS COMING ONLINE TOGETHER, WE HAD THE BACKFLOW PREVENTERS TESTED AS REQUIRED BY TCEQ.
THEIR CORRECT OPERATION IS REQUIRED BY TCEQ.
WE'VE ONLY GOT ABOUT A 4-6 HOUR WINDOW IF FOR SOME REASON THAT LEAK, EITHER WE DECIDE TO FIX IT OR IT BURSTS, AND BECOMES A WORST LEAK AND WE HAVE TO SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN TO FIX IT, WHICH MAKES THE DANGER EVEN HIGHER.
THE PRICE TO FIX THIS REPAIR WAS ONLY 14,200.
SAY ONLY 14,000 IS NOT CHEAP AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT IN THIS GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, AND A $23 MILLION BUDGET AT $14,214 REPAIR.
THIS BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS INVOLVED, MEETS A QUALIFICATION FOR THE STATE EXEMPTION TO OUR PURCHASING POLICIES FOR THE STATE PURCHASING POLICIES.
CODE 252.022 ALLOWS US TO DO MAKE.
>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE I DIDN'T READ THAT STATUTE.
ARE WE BOUND BY THAT OR CAN WE HAVE A DIFFERENT STANDARD IN THE TOWN? ARE WE BOUND BY SECTION 252 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE?
>> WE CAN BE MORE STRICT, BUT [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE CAN BE. I GUESS I'M ASKING RIGHT NOW.
>> WE CAN BE MORE STRICT. SURE.
>> IT MEETS 252 AS IT SITS TODAY, IT MEETS THE PURCHASE AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN MANAGER AND IT FIT MY JOB DUTIES AS OPERATIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS ARE ALL TAKEN CARE OF.
IT'S A REGULATORY REQUIREMENT BY TCEQ, SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE A CHOICE TO GET AWAY FROM THIS.
>> THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THOUGH, RIGHT?
>> WELL, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW LONG IT IS.
WELL, WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS, WE'VE TESTED THEM, SO WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THEY FAIL, OBVIOUSLY, AND THERE ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO TEST ONE TIME A YEAR.
BUT WHEN YOU KNOW ABOUT IT, THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO FIX THESE THINGS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
REALLY, I SPOKE WITH STAN AND I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CONCERN FROM COUNCIL ON MAKING A QUICK DECISION TO MAKE SOME OF THESE ADJUSTMENTS AND TO SPEND THIS CASH WITHOUT IT COMING TO COUNCIL.
BUT AFTER TALKING TO STAN FOR A LITTLE BIT, I THINK WE CAME UP WITH A GREAT SOLUTION FOR THIS THAT STILL ALLOWS ME TO MAKE THOSE EMERGENCY REPAIRS AS THEY COME UP, BUT WE WOULD BRING THOSE ON AND RETROSPECTION RATIFY THOSE DECISIONS AT COUNCIL AT THE VERY NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
TO SAY, ANYTIME WE BREAK OUTSIDE OF OUR STANDARD PURCHASING POLICY, THAT I WOULD BRING THAT TO COUNCIL TO RATIFY THAT DECISION AS AN EMERGENCY.
>> BUT THAT'S FALL UNDER SECTION 23234 WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TOWN FINANCIAL POLICIES.
WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR RIGHT NOW IS DO WE APPROVE THE PAYMENT OF 14,000 TO REPAIR THE BACKFLOW PREVENTERS? IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE WHERE WE ADDED 2348, CONSIDER IMPROVING AND REPAIRS TO BACKFLOW DEVICES. FIRST.
>> MANY THANKS. NOW, ALSO ON THIS, I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY MORE ISSUES COMING DOWN THE PIKE FOR WATER, AND SO PART OF THIS WAS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THERE'S OTHER THINGS COMING.
>> THERE'S A BIGGER DISCUSSION.
LIKE I SAID, THAT WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO HAVE HERE AND THAT'S ON GENERAL AUTHORITY TO SPEND MONEY, BUT LET'S KEEP THAT IN THE APPROPRIATE AGENDA ITEM.
[02:25:02]
>> BUT AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE DO HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
LIKE I STATED BEFORE, WE ONLY HAVE ONE LINE OF WATER THAT COMES FROM FORT WORTH, WHICH IS WHEN WE TALKED TO THE CITY OF FORT WORTH JUST LAST WEEK ON A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO GET AROUND THIS WATER LEAK, WE SEE THAT A SINGLE ENTRANCE OF WATER INTO YOUR TOWN, A SINGLE ACCESS WATER, IT'S ASININE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT A SECOND WAY TO GET WATER IN THIS TOWN FOR INSTANCES JUST LIKE THIS.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ELEVATED WATER STORAGE, AT LEAST WE BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO GET A WATER MODEL DONE TO MAKE SURE EXACTLY HOW MUCH OF THE WATER STORAGE.
ALL OF THAT TO BE SAID, THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CHANGES THAT ARE NEED TO BE MADE WITHIN OUR SYSTEM, AND WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC KNEW THAT MORE REQUESTS LIKE THIS ARE GOING TO BE COMING FORWARD.
>> WAY JUST TO CHIME IN THERE.
THIS IS MY SECOND TERM ON COUNCIL, BUT THIS LAST MONTH WAS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT THESE ISSUES WITH A LACK OF REDUNDANCY. THANK YOU.
>> YES, MA'AM. THAT'S 100% DUE TO COW COMING ON BOARD AND REALLY EVALUATING OUR SYSTEM.
HE'S THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS WHEN IT COMES TO OPERATIONS, EVALUATING WHAT'S GOING ON AND SAYING WE'RE MISSING THESE PROGRAMS AND WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY.
>> MOVING ON TO YOUR RESOLUTION 2355 CONCERN IMPROVING RESOLUTION 2355.
[I.5. RES 23-55 Consider approving Resolution 23-55 authorizing the Town Manager to purchase network security equipment, licensing, software, services, maintenance, and support in an amount not to exceed $240,000; or lease the same in an amount not to exceed $85,000 per year for 3 years; and take appropriate action]
AUTHORIZING TOWN MANAGER TO PURCHASE NETWORK SECURITY EQUIPMENT LICENSING SOFTWARE, MAINTENANCE IS SWORN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 240,000 OR DO A LEASE IN LIEU OF FOR A 5,000 FOR THREE YEARS?>> CAN I SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE START THIS?
>> NOT TO GET ANYONE IN TROUBLE OR ANYTHING, IT'S JUST THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING I'VE BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.
BASICALLY, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE PENETRATION TEST EVERY YEAR.
WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AND A HALF, MAYBE TWO YEARS, SO WE'RE TARDY IN THAT.
>> THOSE WERE YOUR WORDS, NOT MINE.
WHEN ASKED ABOUT THIS IN MEETINGS, I HAD SOMEONE THAT WAS WILLING TO DO.
YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO TALK AFTERWARDS, BUT MAY I SPEAK? I'VE HAD SOMEONE VISIT WITH YOU ON THE 19TH OF APRIL, THE 25TH OF APRIL, 27TH OF APRIL, 2ND OF MAY, ON AND ON TO OFFER TO DO A FREE SURVEY OF WHAT WE HAVE, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN TODAY YOU GUYS WANT 240 GRAND, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO FIX A PAST PROBLEM.
I'VE GOT A REAL PROBLEM WITH THIS, AND I'VE GOT ALL THE DOCUMENTATION AND I'LL HAND IT OUT TO EVERYONE HERE.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE REQUIRED STUFF IS FOR? [OVERLAPPING]
YES. UNLESS YOU REPLY TO THIS.
>> BUT COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT THE REQUEST IS FOR?
>> IT'S THE BRIEFING FOR THE AGENDA HERE.
>> JASON, I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA ITEM ITSELF AND THEN YOU CAN RESPOND LATER. WE NEED TO.
>> I INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA MEMO, THIS IS FOR NETWORK SECURITY APPLIANCES.
THEY DO A LOT MORE THAN BEING FIREWALLS.
OUR CURRENT ONES ARE FOUR YEARS OLD.
THE WAY EVERY VENDOR THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT WORKS IS YOU HAVE THE HARDWARE, BUT YOU ALSO PAY FOR THE SERVICES.
YOU PAY FOR THOSE YEARLY, OR YOU CAN PAY FOR THEM IN A GROUP OF YEARS.
IF YOU DON'T PAY FOR THOSE SERVICES, THE HARDWARE STOPS WORKING.
WE'VE GOT OUR WALLS THAT ARE FOUR YEARS OLD NOW.
AT THE END OF NOVEMBER, WHERE DO YOU MAKE A YEARLY PAYMENT? I'LL JUST GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE TO SHOW THAT.
IT WOULD BE THAT FIRST COLUMN THERE OF ABOUT $89,000.
SUGGESTING AN OPTION TO BUY NEW HARDWARE WITH NEW SERVICES THAT IF WE DID A THREE-YEAR LEASE WOULD BE AROUND 85,000 PER YEAR OR IF WE PURCHASE THEM STRAIGHT OUT, IT WOULD BE AROUND $240,000 OR AROUND 80,000 A YEAR IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER IT AS A YEAR, BUT IT WOULD BE A ONETIME PURCHASE OF $240,000.
>> AND WHAT'S THE LIFESPAN OF THEN?
>> THESE USUALLY LAST, IT DEPENDS ON THE MANUFACTURER.
THEY DO AGE IF YOU GET FASTER, NEWER HARDWARE THAT WILL DO THINGS FASTER AND ARE OPTIMIZED TO LOOK FOR MORE ISSUES.
>> BUT IT SAYS HERE IT'S ONLY THREE YEARS OF LICENSING OF THE SOFTWARE SO WE HAVE TO EXTEND DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE HARDWARE.
[02:30:02]
>> WOULD THIS INCLUDE THREE YEARS?
>> WE WOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO EXTEND AFTER THAT THIRD YEAR.
>> OKAY. THE TOTAL COST IS 237,558 FOR JUST THREE YEARS IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> I THINK IT WAS IN THE AGENDA MOMENT, WE LOOKED AT FOUR DIFFERENT VENDORS.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD DO AN AUDIT FIRST.
>> WE DO NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE FIREWALLS WE HAVE.
EITHER REPLACE THEM OR APPROVE THE $90,000 TO RENEW.
>> THAT'S GOING TO AUDIT DONE.
>> WE WOULD NEED THE HARDWARE ONSITE IF WE CHOSE TO DO SOMETHING NEW, WE WOULD NEED TO ORDER THAT QUICKLY.
THERE ARE STILL PRODUCTION DELAYS IN SHIPPING GLAZE.
>> WE ENTER OUR CURRENT LICENSING AGREEMENT. IS THAT THE PROBLEM?
>> YES. LIKE I STATED BEFORE, THE HARDWARE WE HAVE NOW IT HAS A LICENSING AGREEMENT.
THAT COMES UP AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
>> WE CAN ALSO PAY ONE MORE YEAR, RIGHT?
>> 99-673-72, AT FIRST COLUMN.
>> THAT WOULD HAVE NO SHIPPING. NO ISSUES WITH THE SHIPPING IN ORDER.
>> THAT'S THE EXISTING HARDWARE.
>> THAT'S THE EXISTING HARDWARE OR WE COULD GET NEW HARDWARE THAT'S FASTER AND BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE.
>> TO TIM'S POINT, HAVE WE CONSULTED WITH ANYONE WHO SPECIALIZES IN CYBER SECURITY, NETWORK SECURITY IN TERMS OF WHAT THE TOWN NEEDS, OR WAS THIS ASSESSMENT DONE INTERNALLY?
>> THESE WERE CONSULTING WITH THE VENDORS AND WITH THE COMPANIES THAT SELL THE SOFTWARE AND THE HARDWARE.
IT'S NOT JUST AN INTERNAL DECISION.
WE LOOK AT THE OPTIONS THAT THE DIFFERENT VENDORS HAVE.
I DON'T WANT TO NAME A LOT OF NAMES JUST FOR SECURITY REASONS. THEY DON'T WANT TO SAY WHAT WERE.
>> I'LL CUT RIGHT TO THE CHASE.
I'M SORRY, TIM, I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR YOU, BUT I THINK THE QUESTION IS, IF GROUPS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE TOWN WHO SPECIALIZE IN THIS SPACE WHERE THOSE RESOURCES USE, HAVE CONSULTATIONS BEEN HAD IN TERMS OF WHAT THE TOWN'S REQUIREMENT IS? FOR THE FIREWALL NEEDS OR IS THIS I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE TALKING TO THE VENDORS, BUT THEY'RE ALSO SELLING THEIR OWN PRODUCTS.
>> I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.
>> MR. WARREN, WE'VE ALREADY MET WITH THREE DIFFERENT VENDORS FOR A SECURITY AUDIT SO WE ARE WORKING ON THE LAST PRICE STRUCTURE IS ON ITS WAY TO US NOW, FROM THE VENDOR THAT YOU BROUGHT TO US, WE HAVE THE PRICE STRUCTURE FROM THE VENDOR THAT MR. SHANNON BROUGHT TO US AS WELL, WHICH THE PEN TEST WAS FOR YOU AND THE REST OF YOU.
FOR SOME REASON, WE CHOSE NOT TO TAKE A $3,900 PENETRATION TEST THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AND A HALF, PROBABLY TWO YEARS AND WE DIDN'T TAKE A FREE AUDIT, BUT INSTEAD, WE WANT TO SPEND 240 GRAN LOCK OURSELVES INTO A THREE-YEAR DEAL BECAUSE THE VENDOR SAYS IT'S GOOD, THE VENDOR IS TRYING TO SELL US SOMETHING.
I THINK THIS IS TOTALLY ADELINE.
I THINK IT'S THE WAY WE USED TO DO BUSINESS IN WESTLAKE.
I THINK THIS IS THE OLD WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.
I THINK WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT, AND LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE SAME AND THEN MAKE AN INTELLIGENT DECISION WITH THE TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS NOW BECAUSE THE VENDOR THAT WANTS TO SELL SOMETHING SAYS IT'S GOOD.
>> WEIGHTS GIVEN WHAT YOU'VE SAID ABOUT TALKING TO THESE POTENTIAL PARTIES AND THE PROPOSED TIMING, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO JUST TABLE THIS UNTIL THEY CAN ALSO WEIGH IN ON ANY THOUGHTS?
>> IF YOU TABLE THIS, I THINK WE NEED TO JUST GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE A YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE FIREWALLS AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE A SERVICE TIED TO THEM.
BY THE TIME WE GET EVERYBODY LINED UP AS A VENDOR AND GET AN AUDIT DONE, IT COULD PROBABLY BE ANOTHER 60 DAYS.
IF SOMEONE WOULD RESPOND TO THESE EMAILS, WE COULD ALREADY HAD AN AUDIT.
WAS 3,900 BUCKS, WHICH I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO DONATE TO THE TOWN AND GET A FREE AUDIT.
THIS HAS BEEN THE KICK-THE-CAN-DEAL DELAY AGAIN DEAL.
>> HOW LONG HAD WE LEASED THIS CURRENT SETUP FOR?
>> WELL, HOW LONG HAVE WE HAD THE CURRENT HARDWARE FIREWALL?
>> IT'LL BE FOUR YEARS AT THE END OF [INAUDIBLE].
>> REVENUE AT THE MEETING, A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
>> YOU MEAN WHEN'S OUR NEXT MEETING? WAIT, WHEN IS IT?
>> ARE WE SAYING HERE THAT WE WOULD AGREE TO AN AUDIT IF ONE CAN BE DONE FOR NOTHING QUICKLY?
[02:35:03]
>> ABSOLUTELY. WITH MR. SHANNON, THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING APPARENTLY WITH THE VENDOR THAT YOU BROUGHT US BECAUSE WHEN HE SAT DOWN WITH US, THAT VENDOR PRICE TURNED INTO $39,000 AND HE WANTED TO RUN PART OF OUR NETWORK.
>> 3,900, I'LL CONFIRM WITH THEM TODAY. HERE'S THE THING.
ALL I'M SAYING IS WE'VE DELAYED THIS DELAY THIS, AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE IN A HURRY AFTER FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE MAKE A DECISION, WE'LL QUIT FOR $240,000.
WE CAN ALWAYS EXTEND THIS FOR ONE YEAR BUT WHAT I DON'T LIKE IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T OPENED OURSELVES UP TO A THIRD PARTY.
I BET THE MGM AND CAESAR'S WISH THEY WOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
>> WE'RE ABSOLUTELY OPEN TO A THIRD PARTY AND WE WILL GET SOMEBODY ONLINE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND COUNCIL THAT WE DO HAVE WEEKLY TESTING THAT'S PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> IT'S NOT A PENETRATION TEST.
>> WHY DON'T WE TABLE THIS TO THE MOTION TO TABLE TO OCTOBER 6TH?
>> ALL OPPOSE? NO OPPOSE, MOTION CARRIES.
>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S CLOSE DOWN.
>> LET'S TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK HERE.
>> IS THERE NO WI-FI CALLING? THAT'S THE NEW PORTABLE. HIS ART.
SO I THOUGHT IT WAS THE NEW CELL PHONES.
BUT IN THAT POINT, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT.
[02:41:41]
[LAUGHTER][I.2. 23-234 Discussion Regarding Town Financial Policies (Cayce Lay Lamas)]
234 DISCUSSION REGARDING TOWN FINANCIAL POLICIES.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM IS REALLY TO BE TRANSPARENT AND INVOLVE YOU ALL IN THE CONVERSATION.
THERE IS NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT SAYS WE MUST ADOPT ANY OF THESE FINANCIAL POLICIES.
INSTEAD, WHAT WE'VE ELECTED TO DO IS START THE CONVERSATION AND HAVE YOU ALL, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER IN A PREVIOUS AGENDA ITEM, START LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE LEGISLATED ARE MANDATED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND THEN SEE WHERE OUR POLICIES NEED TO BE MORE TIGHTENED UP OR PUT IN MORE RULES, REGULATIONS, OR PROCESSES THAT WE DIDN'T PREVIOUSLY HAVE CODIFIED.
I DO WANT TO MAKE IT A POINT TO SAY THAT THE ONES THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT, THE VERY FIRST ONE, THE FINANCIAL POLICIES, THAT WILL BE THE UPDATE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET DOCUMENT EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S VERY BASIC STANDARD BOILERPLATE STUFF AND I'LL GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALLY.
THE OTHER FOUR THOUGH, HAVE TO DO MORE WITH MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL CLEAR ABOUT AUTHORITY AND AUTHORIZATION.
THAT'S BEEN A HOT BUTTON TOPIC FOR THIS COUNCIL, FOR STAFF HERE.
WHAT WE DID WAS WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE'RE SEEING MAYBE SOME INTERNAL CONTROL ISSUES.
WE WERE HAVING DIFFERING INTERPRETATIONS OF THAT GENERAL LAW THAT MAY HAVE APPLIED AND WE WERE ALSO SEEING A LOT OF WELL, THAT'S HOW WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT.
WE WANTED TO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD SOUND FINANCIAL POLICIES IN PLACE THAT WE CAN PUSH OUT AND HAVE THEM BE CONSISTENT AND HAVE THEM BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ENFORCE.
>> THANKS FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND FOR PUTTING ON THE AGENDA.
YOU'LL QUICKLY FIND OUT AS PASSIONATE AS TIM IS ON SECURITY MATTERS.
THAT'LL BE ME ON FINANCIAL MATTERS.
I DID TAKE NOTE HERE THAT YOU SAY THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT THESE BE APPROVED.
BUT HONESTLY, I THINK ALL FIVE OF THESE ATTACHMENTS SHOULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE BUDGET EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND HAVE APPROVAL. SAW IT.
I THINK THESE ARE CRITICAL DOCUMENTS AND I THINK THESE ARE POLICY PIECES.
I KNOW PERSONALLY I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR OVER A YEAR AND THESE ARE LONG TIME IN THE MAKING, SO THANKS FOR BRINGING THEM.
BUT I THINK THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT AND THEY DO GO HAND IN HAND WITH THE BUDGET.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT AND WE CAN BUILD THAT INTO OUR PROCESS JUST TO MAKE IT A ROUTINE THING WHERE WE SHARE ANY NECESSARY UPDATES COME BACK EVERY YEAR AS PART OF THAT BUDGET PROCESS.
MOVING ON TO THE VERY FIRST ONE, AS I SAID, THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR OVERARCHING FINANCIAL POLICY.
THIS REALLY JUST GIVES US SOME RULES AND REGULATIONS ON BASIC OVERALL FINANCIAL THINGS.
WHAT IS THE BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND BUDGET? DO WE HAVE TO ADOPT AN ANNUAL BUDGET? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE TOWN? WHAT ARE OUR DIFFERENT FUND BALANCE POLICIES? WHAT IS OUR STANCE ON DEBT SERVICE? WHEN DO WE ISSUE DEBT? HOW MUCH DEBT ARE WE FINDING TO BE PALATABLE FOR OUR TOWN?
[02:45:04]
THEN WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION ON FINANCIAL REPORTING? AGAIN, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CODIFYING THAT WAY WE CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO IT.>> JUST SO ON THIS FINANCIAL POLICIES, JUST LOOKING HERE AT THE POLICY STATEMENT WHICH IS THE INTRODUCTION TO THIS WHOLE PIECE, IT SAYS THAT THESE ARE REVIEWED AND UPDATED PERIODICALLY BY THE TOWN MANAGER, HEAD OF SCHOOL, AND DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.
DID YOU GET INPUT ON THESE FROM THE ACTING HEAD OF SCHOOL?
>> OKAY. IT ALSO SAYS THAT THE FINANCIAL POLICY, ALONG WITH ANY OTHER POLICIES ENACTING OR DEFINING AUTHORITY GRANTED WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL BOARD FOR APPROVAL OF ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.
MY UNDERSTANDING HERE IS THIS IS AN INTERNAL POLICY AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST ME SPEAKING FOR ME.
I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A COUNCIL LEAD POLICY.
I THINK ANY CHANGES SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO COUNSEL, BUT I THINK COUNSEL SHOULD APPROVE THESE DOCUMENTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
>> OKAY. WE CAN CLARIFY THAT LANGUAGE, EITHER STRIKING OUT THE WORD SIGNIFICANT, REALLY IT WAS PUT IN THERE JUST TO SAY IF WE CATCH A TYPO, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> I UNDERSTAND BUT THE SAME POINT IS WITH A SCOPE IS STILL LACKING THE WORDING APPROVAL OF COUNSEL AND SAYS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF STAFF.
I THINK PROPOSED AMENDMENTS SHOULD BE MADE BY STAFF, BUT I DO THINK THESE DO REQUIRE APPROVAL.
>> THEN IN THE REST OF THIS POLICY, AS I SAID, WE TALK ABOUT THE BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND BUDGETING, JUST THAT WE'RE GAP GASB FRIENDLY, THAT WE DO AN ANNUAL BUDGET EVERY YEAR.
WE HAVE A PROCESS. WE ADHERE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 102 FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THEN WE ALSO IN HERE, AND YOU'LL SEE THIS IN SOME OF THE OTHER POLICIES.
WHAT WE TRIED TO DO AND A LOT OF THESE IS IF WE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNIFY THE POLICY AND THE APPLICATION OF IT BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE ACADEMY.
WE TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY SO THAT WE'RE NOT OPERATING UNDER DIFFERENT SETS OF RULES.
YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE WHENEVER IT COMES TO BUDGETARY POLICY.
THAT MOSTLY HAS TO DO WITH THE FISCAL YEAR DIFFERENCES AND THE TIMING AND THEN ALSO HOW OUR MAJOR FUNDING MECHANISMS WORK.
IF YOU'LL RECALL, THE SCHOOLS MAJOR FUNDING MECHANISM COMES FROM STATE MONEY.
WHEREAS THE TOWN, A LOT OF OURS IS LOCAL TAXES BE AT PROPERTY OR SALES.
IN HERE ALSO, WE HAVE FUN BALANCED POLICIES AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, PARTICULARLY WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOLLARS THAT WE ARE SEEING COME IN AND DOLLARS THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO HAVE GO OUT.
DIFFERENT FUN TYPES HAVE REALLY DIFFERENT PURPOSES.
MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ENUMERATING THAT IN OUR CONVERSATIONS IS CRITICAL SO THAT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS ON WHEN WE WOULD BRING A PROPOSAL TO USE ANY KIND OF FUND BALANCE AND WHAT WE NEED IN RESERVES.
>> YEAH. CAN I JUST JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE MOVING THROUGH THESE SEQUENTIALLY, I JUST WANT TO BACKUP TO THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
I THINK HERE UNDER BUDGET AMENDMENTS, IT SAYS ADJUSTMENTS FOR PURCHASES MUST ADHERE TO THE APPROPRIATE PURCHASING AUTHORITY POLICY, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS CRITICAL IT SHOULD IT SAYS BUDGETED ADJUSTMENTS MAY NOT INCREASE OR DECREASE THE APPROPRIATION AMOUNTS APPROVED WITHIN THE ADOPTED BUDGET.
BUT I THINK WE'VE ALREADY BEEN SEEING EXAMPLES WHERE THERE'S REQUESTS TO BE ABLE TO AMEND THE BUDGET.
THIS SEEMS TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE PURCHASING AUTHORITY POLICY, SO WE SHOULD JUST VERIFY THAT.
>> IN THAT PARTICULAR SECTION, THE TERMINOLOGY DIFFERENCE THAT WE'RE MAKING THERE IS AMENDMENT VERSUS ADJUSTMENT.
AN AMENDMENT IS A FORMAL LEGAL ACTION TAKEN BY THIS BOARD WHERE AN ADJUSTMENT IS MORE OF A TRANSFER.
IF I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO SPEND 20 BUCKS HERE, BUT IT ENDED UP BEING 25.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SOURCE $5 FROM A DIFFERENT ACCOUNT WITHIN MY PURVIEW.
>> WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT HERE BECAUSE THE Z EXACT POINT I'M GOING TO RAISE HERE WHEN WE GET TO THE PURCHASE AUTHORITY.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. THEN MOVING OVER TO THE DEBT SERVICE, A LOT OF THIS LANGUAGE HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM PREVIOUS DEBT SERVICE LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED AS PART OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENT.
A LOT OF IT ALSO INCORPORATES NEW STUFF THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T BEEN CLEAR ON IN THE PAST.
ONE THING I DO WANT TO MAKE IT A POINT TO SAY IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MADE SURE TO BUILD INTO THIS DEBT SERVICE PROCESS IS THE CONVERSATION AROUND REFINANCING AND WHAT THAT PROCESS IS.
WE WORK WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
THEY'RE MONITORING RATES ON, AT A MINIMUM A MONTHLY BASIS.
THEN THEY'RE COMPARING THE MARKET TO WHAT IT IS WE HAVE OUTSTANDING.
THEY'RE ADVISING ON TO US WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A GOOD TIME TO REFINANCE OR TO HOLD.
THEN THE LAST THING ON HERE HAS TO DO WITH THE FINANCIAL REPORTING.
THE LANGUAGE IN HERE REALLY IS MORE FOCUSED ON THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL THE ACT FOR
[02:50:02]
THE COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT AND NOT SO MUCH THE DIFFERENT QUARTERLY REPORTS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY OTHER LEGISLATION.AGAIN, THIS POLICY, THE FINANCIAL POLICIES SPECIFICALLY WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT WHENEVER IT'S PUBLISHED.
NOW GOING OVER INTO THE NEXT FOUR POLICIES THAT WE HAVE HERE.
THE PURCHASING AUTHORITY IS THE FIRST ONE, AND THIS IS THE ONE I EXPECT A LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND.
WHAT WE DID HERE FOR ALL OF THESE DOLLAR THRESHOLDS THAT YOU'LL SEE IN ANY OF THESE, WE TRIED TO ALIGN THEM MOST CLOSELY WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AS FAR AS PURCHASING LAWS GO.
THAT WAY. AGAIN, TRYING TO THINK ABOUT ANYTIME THAT WE CAN HAVE ONE SINGLE NUMBER AND EVERYBODY'S BRAIN AND NOT HAVE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT KIND OF MEASURES OF HOW WE DO THINGS IN THIS PROCESS VERSUS ANOTHER.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE FOR THE PURCHASING AUTHORITY, FIRST OF ALL, WE ACTUALLY DEFINE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER AUTHORIZED SPENDING.
THAT MEANS THAT YOU DON'T GET TO BUY WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE.
WE DO HAVE LINE ITEM DETAILS FOR THE TOWN BUDGET WHERE WE CAN GO IN AND SAY THIS IS OUR PLAN.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT PLANS ARE JUST THAT THEY CAN CHANGE AND SO WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THAT AND HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE ABOUT WHAT IT IS WE CONSIDER OKAY TO GO FORWARD WHEN WE CONSIDER IT AN APPROPRIATE TIME FOR STAFF TO MAKE A DECISION.
THEN WHAT DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS WHENEVER WHAT WE NEED TO DO DOESN'T ADHERE INTO WHAT'S EXPECTED OR NORMAL AND HOW CAN WE BE COMMUNICATING THAT AND GETTING APPROVAL FROM THIS BOARD.
LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL SPENDING THRESHOLDS, WE DID BREAK IT DOWN INTO TWO BUCKETS, BUDGETED PURCHASES AND UNBUDGETED PURCHASES.
THE THRESHOLDS THAT WE ARE USING AND AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE THESE IN THE DIFFERENT POLICIES.
IS THIS UP TO $3,000 MARK? THE $3,000 MARK THERE IS FROM THE PURCHASING CODE FROM THE STATE.
IT SAYS BASICALLY, IF YOU'RE GOOD OR SERVICE IS UNDER $3,000, YOU DON'T NEED A PURCHASING MECHANISM THAT'S VIABLE IN ORDER TO PURCHASE IT, YOU CAN SWIPE YOUR PEAK CARD.
YOU CAN USE WHOMEVER YOU CHOOSE AS FAR AS VENDORS GO WITHOUT DOING A LOT OF EXTRA DUE DILIGENCE ONCE YOU GET TO 3,000, AND THIS IS ACCORDING TO STATE LAW.
THE 3,000 - 50,000 SAYS YOU NEED A REASON TO BUY IT, WHETHER IT'S THREE QUOTES, IF THE PURCHASE IS ALREADY UNDER A CONTRACT AND OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT SOLE SOURCE, WHAT HAVE YOU BUT YOU CAN'T JUST USE WHOMEVER.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETED PURCHASES HERE.
>> FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE PURCHASE IS DIFFERENT FROM THE PURCHASING METHOD.
THE PURCHASING METHOD WHERE WE ARE USING THESE, WHERE WE'RE SOURCING THESE 3,000, 5,000 OR $50,000 THRESHOLDS.
THAT HAS TO DO WITH HOW YOU PURCHASE.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO APPLY IT HERE TOO.
THAT WAY AGAIN, WE'RE USING SIMILAR NUMBERS WHENEVER WE CAN.
FOR BUDGETED AND AND BUDGETED PURCHASES WERE STILL USING THOSE SAME THRESHOLDS OF THE 0-3 AND THEN 3-50.
THERE'S JUST DIFFERENT MECHANISMS THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE.
>> FOR THE BUDGETED PURCHASES, EFFECTIVELY, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS SAY THAT UP TO $3,000, DEPARTMENT HEADS OR PRINCIPALS HAVE SPENDING AUTHORITY.
>> TRYING TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN BUDGETED AND UNBUDGETED, WHAT THESE THRESHOLD LIMITS ARE,.
>> REALLY THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE IN THE THRESHOLDS.
IT'S THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE LINING UP WITH WHAT.
>> HAS BEEN PRE-APPROVED BY COUNCIL, THE OTHER HAS NOT.
THIS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO.
ON THE BUDGETED PURCHASES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY COME THROUGH AS A LINE ITEM.
COUNCIL'S ALREADY REVIEWED IT, APPROVED IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT A DEPARTMENT HEAD OR A PRINCIPAL CAN SPEND UP TO $3,000 ONSET ITEM THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE BUDGET WITHOUT ADDITIONAL APPROVAL.
>> YEAH. WHICH IS FINE. THEN YOUR NEXT THRESHOLD IS UP TO $19,999.09, SO JUST UNDER 20,000.
WE'RE SAYING THE HEAD OF SCHOOLS THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE PURCHASES FOR WESTLAKE ACADEMY, AS LONG AS AGAIN, THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE BUDGET.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FOR IS IT THE SAME THRESHOLD APPLIES TO THE TOWN MANAGER, WHICH IS IN KEEPING WITH WHAT IT WAS A TERRIFIC CLUB.
WE SET THE SAME LIMITS BECAUSE HEAD OF SCHOOL AND THE TOWN MANAGER HAVE PRETTY SIMILAR BUDGETS.
THAT WE REQUIRE ANYTHING OVER AND ABOVE 20 AND UP, WOULD COME TO AN OPEN MEETING AND HAVE FORMAL BOARD APPROVAL FOR THE ITEM.
>> WHAT ABOUT COMMINGLING OF FUNDS TO SO WE HAD THAT ISSUE WHERE PEOPLE WOULD TAKE THEIR 3,000 SOMEONE ELSE'S 3,000 TO GET OVER THE THRESHOLD.
>> THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THE BUDGETED.
ACTUALLY I'VE GOT THAT NODE HERE.
>> TO THAT COMMENT THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY FALL UNDER BUDGETED.
I DO HAVE LANGUAGE IN THE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED SCENARIO.
[02:55:03]
THAT'S WHAT IS LEGALLY REFERRED TO AS SEQUENTIAL PURCHASING.EFFECTIVELY, THE LAW SAYS, IF A REASONABLE PERSON WAS MAKING A PURCHASE AND THERE WAS NO FUND RESTRICTION, YOU HAD ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD.
WOULD A REASONABLE PERSON MAKE THIS PURCHASE IN ONE GO?
>> THAT'S IN THAT'S IN THE NEXT SECTION, THE PERIMETER RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES.
>> THAT'S ALL ON A BUDGETED PURCHASES.
I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD DO AS A COUNCIL, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS TO COME BACK AS AN AGENDA ITEM I'VE DONE WITH THE FORMALITY IS BUT I THINK WE SHOULD GET THIS MARKED UP AND BROUGHT BACK FOR FORMAL APPROVAL.
>> WE CAN ABSOLUTELY SHARE THIS. [OVERLAPPING] SHOULD BE ADOPTED AS PART OF THE BUDGET.
>> A RED LINE THAT IS CIRCULATED.
AGAIN, THESE WOULDN'T BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT RIGHT NOW, AND THEY ARE VERY MUCH OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
THEN THE NEXT SECTION HERE IS ABOUT THE UNBUDGETED PURCHASES.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE LANGUAGE ABOUT WHAT TO DO AS FAR AS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.
WE DO HAVE IN HERE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS IF IT'S UP TO THAT $3,000 AND YOU CAN MAKE A CORRESPONDING CUT.
THEN WE'LL PRESENT IT TO YOU ALL.
BUT WE'RE ALLOWING THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, THE PRINCIPLES, TOWN MANAGER, AND THE HEAD OF SCHOOL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR PARTICULAR ORGANIZATIONS AND DEPARTMENTS AND NOT SLOW THEM DOWN.
IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE FROM THAT PLANT.
WE'LL COME BACK TO COUNCIL, AND WE'LL BE REPORTING ON THOSE ABSOLUTELY.
WE CAN ALSO DO SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF RATIFYING RETROACTIVELY.
AGAIN, ALL UP TO YOU ALL AND PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE PENALTY IF PEOPLE MAY HAVE CORRESPONDING CUT TO GET SOMETHING THROUGH? THE END OF THE YEAR WAS, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY.
ACTUALLY, THIS HAPPENS IN THE FBI EVERY YEAR THEY OVERSPEND THEIR BUDGET AND THE LAST DAY TO GO TO CONGRESS, AND THEY DROP A LETTER TO THEM SAYING BASICALLY SCREW.
IS THERE ANY PENALTY, OR IS IT JUST A THAT.
>> THAT WOULD GO THROUGH THE DISCIPLINARY THE NORMAL DISCIPLINARY PROCESS FOR THE TOWN.
>> ON THE UNBUDGETED PURCHASES.
ANYTHING UP TO 3,000 AS LONG AS THERE'S A COMMENSURATE REDUCTION TO COVER THE UNFORESEEN EXPENDITURE.
I THINK IT'S FINE AS LONG AS IT IMMEDIATELY COMES TO COUNSEL FOR THEM TO APPROVE AFTER THE FACT.
I THINK THE SAME THING JUST COMING TO YOUR NEXT SECTION HERE IS THE HEAD OF SCHOOL AND THE TOWN MANAGER HAVE ALSO SIMILAR AUTHORITY.
BUT I THINK AGAIN, THEY SHOULD BOTH BE SET AT JUST UNDER THE $20,000 THRESHOLD.
I THINK AGAIN, IT'S WHAT THIS SAYS HERE IS THERE SHOULD BE A REDUCTION IN AN EXPENDITURE IN EQUAL AMOUNT TO COMPENSATE.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DEFINE IS WHAT THAT IS GOING BACK TO PRIOR POINT ABOUT WHERE THAT MONEY COMES FROM.
I THINK WE NEED TO VERY CAREFULLY DEFINE IT BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS MONEY COMING FROM AN UNRELATED FUND TO COME IN AND COVER AN UNFORESEEN EXPENDITURE.
IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS VERY SIMILARLY DEFINED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE BACKFLOW PREVENTERS, WE HAVE INSUFFICIENT FUNDS IN THAT LINE ITEM, BUT WE HAD SUFFICIENT FUNDS IN GENERAL REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE.
THAT MIGHT BE AN OKAY. DEFINITION OF MOVING FUNDS TO COVER SOMETHING ON A TEMPORARY BASIS.
I THINK THAT'S THE LANGUAGE WE SHOULD STRIVE FOR.
THEN ANYTHING OVER AND ABOVE 20,000, I THINK, SHOULD COME TO COUNCIL.
I THINK COUNSEL SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT IT AND DECIDE.
>> BUT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE DEFINE BUDGET VERSUS BUDGET AUTHORITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD TRAINING IN THE SCHOOL FOR 120,000,
>> WELL, THIS IS GOING TO GET ONTO A MUCH BROADER POINT, WHICH I WAS GOING TO SAVE UNTIL WE GET INTO THE ACTUAL BUDGET.
BUT I THINK IF IF THERE IS TRAINING, IF THERE'S THE HIRING OF A CONSULTANT, IF THERE'S A PURCHASE OF A PRODUCT.
I THINK IF IT'S A BUDGET ITEM, THIS SHOULD BE A CLEARLY DELINEATED AND DEFINED PRODUCT OR SERVICE IN THE BUDGET.
>> IF NOT, IT'S GOING TO BE CLASSIFIED AS UNBUDGETED.
>> WHEN I HAD ASKED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT HAVING A LIST OF OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS.
AGAIN, I'LL SAY THIS TOO, WE GET INTO THE ACTUAL BUDGET DETAILS, THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF DOING SO.
IF A CONSULTANT IS TO BE HIRED, YOU CAN POINT AND PROTECT YOURSELVES AND SAY, LOOK, HE WAS ON THE LIST.
WE HAD IDENTIFIED THIS PARTY, AND WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY NOW TO GO AHEAD AND HIRE THEM BECAUSE IT'S WITHIN OUR THRESHOLD.
IF IT'S NOT, IT'S STILL A BUDGET ITEM, BUT I THINK WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAN UP THIS SORT OF GRAY AREA WHERE IT'S NOT SO CLEAR WITH THESE AUTHORITY LIMITS ARE.
>> CORRECT. WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS PART OF THE LINE ITEM DETAIL IS IF THERE WERE ANY DOLLARS REQUESTED ON THE TALENT SIDE FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET,
[03:00:04]
THEY ALL HAD TO EFFECTIVELY BE JUSTIFIED.WITHIN EACH ACCOUNT, IF IT'S $100 IF IT'S $100,000, EVERY SINGLE EXPENDITURE HAS SOME DESCRIPTION THAT SAYS WHAT THIS IS.
IF IT'S OFFICE SUPPLIES OR IF IT'S A LIST OF CONSULTANTS, WE HAVE ALL OF THAT CODIFIED ALREADY SO THAT WE CAN BE LOOKING TO THIS POLICY FOR THOSE BUDGET AND PURCHASES.
>> CASEY, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS IN PRINCIPLE, IT'S WONDERFUL.
BUT SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE, HEAD OF SCHOOL, BUT TRAINING THAT WAS NOT APPROVED, THERE WAS SOME NETWORK RECORDING, PHONE CALL RECORDING SOFTWARE THAT WAS BOUGHT THAT WAS NOT APPROVED, SO SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE, THAT TYPE OF STUFF HAS CONSULTANTS.
CONSULTANT HAVE BEEN HIRED. [OVERLAPPING].
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO TIGHTEN UP, AND WHAT KNOWING PEOPLE JUST FORGET WE GOT A BRAND NEW CREDIT CARD.
LET'S GO SPEND. IT WAS STILL 48 OR 50 MILLION IN THE HOLE.
WE'RE TRYING TO DIG OUT OF A WHOLE.
COULD THIS LOOSEN UP IN A YEAR OR TWO OR THREE? YOU BET.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO DIG OUT OF THIS HOLE THAT WE INHERITED, AND JUST, THERE'S THREE OR FOUR EXAMPLES THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
NOT THAT IT'S YOUR JOB TO BEAT COP ON IT THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE.
IT DOES HAPPEN, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CRACK DOWN ON, AND THAT'S WHERE OUR FRUSTRATION LIES.
>> WE HAVE A SIMILAR APPROACH THEN.
WHAT THE ORGANIZATION HAD NOT DONE PREVIOUSLY IS THIS TYPE OF DISCUSSION WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING AND SEEING WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE BUDGETING FOR.
WE HAD A LOT OF MISSING DOCUMENTATION AS FAR AS BUDGETS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
>> CASEY, I WANT THIS PERSONALLY TO GO BEYOND JUST A DISCUSSION.
I WANT THIS AGAIN, MY REQUEST TO BE REDLINED, AND GIVEN THE COUNCIL'S, THEY CAN SEE IT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND I'M HAPPY TO DO THE MARKUPS WITH YOU.
I'VE EXTENSIVE NOTES THROUGHOUT THESE POLICIES.
BUT I REALLY FEEL THIS IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF US LOOKING TO APPROVE A BUDGET HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE OVER FROM YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT THE NEXT THING ON THE LIST HERE IS EMERGENCY PURCHASES, WHICH IS VERY TIMELY BECAUSE THIS JUST CAME UP AGAIN WITH A BACKFLOW PREVENTER.
I UNDERSTAND, WADE, YOU WANT TO ADOPT THIS DEFINITION OF AN EMERGENCY PURCHASE, WHICH IS BROUGHT BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 252.
BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO, I PULLED UP SECTION 252.
THIS IS THE SECTION WHICH TALKS ABOUT PURCHASING AND CONTRACTING AUTHORITY OF THE MUNICIPALITY, AND YOU'RE RELYING ON THE GENERAL EXEMPTIONS.
AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.
WE COULD THEORETICALLY EXEMPT THESE POLICIES FOR POTENTIAL PURCHASE BY THE TOWN MANAGER.
ONE IS A PUBLIC CALAMITY, NO IDEA WHAT THAT IS.
ANOTHER WOULD BE A PROCUREMENT NECESSARY BECAUSE OF UNFORESEEN DAMAGE TO PUBLIC MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT, OR PROPERTY.
IT CAN BE A PROCUREMENT FOR PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL, OR PLANNING SERVICES.
IT COULD BE A PROCUREMENT FOR WORK THAT IS PERFORMED AND PAID FOR BY THE DAY AS THE WORK PROGRESSES.
IT COULD BE A PURCHASE OF LAND OR A RIGHT-OF-WAY.
IT COULD BE A PROCUREMENT OF ITEMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FROM ONLY ONE SOURCE.
IT COULD BE A PURCHASE OF RARE BOOKS, PAPERS, AND OTHER LIBRARY MATERIALS.
MY POINT IS, THAT STANDARD, IN MY OPINION, IS TOO BROAD.
I THINK WHEN WE USE THE WORD EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO SIDESTEP A FINANCIAL POLICY TO MAKE AN EXPENDITURE WELL MY ONLY POINT ABOUT BRINGING THIS BACKFLOW PREVENTER TO COUNSEL WAS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO AVOID.
I UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S A TRUE EMERGENCY AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT LAST-MINUTE DECISION, AND WE HAVE MADE SURE.
I THINK WE NEED TO BETTER DEFINE WHAT THAT EMERGENCY STANDARD IS, AND IN THE VERY FIRST MOMENT THAT YOU CAN BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR JUSTIFICATION, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD STANDARD TO BE HELD TO.
I DON'T THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE AGREE WITH THAT 100%.
THE HARD PART ABOUT PUTTING A SPECIFIC DEFINITION IS EVERY EMERGENCY IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
>> WE WILL HAVE TO BE BROAD ENOUGH WHERE WE CAN FIT THINGS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO AFFECT THE LIFE AND SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS.
A GREAT EXAMPLE. YOU LOSE BOTH FIRE TRUCKS.
WELL, I GOT TO MAKE A REPAIR ON A FIRE TRUCK.
BECAUSE WE CAN'T MAKE CALLS THAT'S ALIVE AND SAFE.
>> I KNOW, BUT THAT WE CAN FIT UNDER EMERGENCY.
THE AMERICAN CALL MEETING 2 HOURS.
ISN'T IT AN EMERGENCY THAT THE FIRE TRUCKS WERE OUT? WE COULD JUST MOVE ON THAT.
TRUE EMERGENCIES DEFINED ON THAT ALREADY.
>> I THINK STAN, I THINK YOU WEIGHING IN ON NOW, BUT IN TERMS OF THE LANGUAGE, YOU UNDERSTAND, I WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO GET THIS TIGHTENED UP SO A VERY WORKABLE POLICY.
>> WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT TRYING TO SIDESTEP ANY POLICIES, DAVID.
WE JUST NEED TO GET THE DEFINITIONS WHERE WE ALL AGREE TO THEM AND WILL ABIDE BY THEM.
WE'LL DEFINITELY BRING BACK ANYTHING THAT WE DEEM AN EMERGENCY OR THAT FALLS WITHIN EVEN FALLS WITHIN THE SCOPE OR DEFINITION OF EMERGENCY THAT WE HAVE.
WE'LL BRING THOSE BACK TO COUNCIL FOR RATIFICATION JUST SO THAT YOU CAN SEE EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT WE'RE NOT ABUSING THAT RIGHT.
[03:05:05]
>> YOU'RE WELCOME TO CONTINUE GOING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
THOSE ARE MY MAJOR POINTS THAT PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES ARE ALL PRETTY MUCH COMMON SENSE.
JUST DON'T BUY ALCOHOL AND OTHER THINGS THAT JUST DON'T MAKE SENSE.
>> WE HAVE TO WRITE SOME COMMON-SENSE THINGS DOWN JUST TO HELP EVERYBODY BOTH THEIR STRIKE.
>> I HAD NO OTHER COMMENTS ON THAT ONE AND THEN ON THE CONTRACT AUTHORITY.
>> I DO WANT TO START ON THE CONTRACT AUTHORITY.
THE INTENT HERE IS TO BE GOOD PARTNERS FOR OUR VENDORS.
WE DON'T WANT OUR VENDORS ACTING IN GOOD FAITH AND USING IMPLICIT AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE A GOOD OR SERVICE.
>> NO, I UNDERSTAND. I MEAN, I'M JUST TRYING TO GO BACK THROUGH MY NOTES HERE BRIEFLY BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE CAN MARK THIS UP AND RECIRCULATE, AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO THIS ON A TIMELY BASIS.
BUT HERE UNDER AUTHORIZE CONTRACTS, IT SAYS NOT ALL PURCHASES REQUIRE A CONTRACT.
THOSE PURCHASES ALLOWED TO BE MADE WITHOUT A CONTRACT WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS POLICY.
AGAIN, THAT'S A VERY GRAY AREA BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IF YOU COMMIT VERBALLY TO SOMETHING THAN IT MAY BE ABLE TO SIDESTEP THIS POLICY.
I THINK THESE ARE JUST SMALL THINGS, BUT I THINK THERE IS SOME CLEANING UP TO DO ON THIS.
THEN THERE'S THE LAST SECTION HERE ON ADMINISTRATION OF CONTRACTS.
IT SAYS CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION OF MAINTENANCE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY THE CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR, IS GLUES COUNCIL BOARD APPROVAL IS NECESSARY.
IS THERE ANY PROVISION STAND WHERE WE CAN HAVE THESE CONTRACTS, IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY, VOIDED IF THEY DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE PROPER POLICY AUTHORIZATION? FOR EXAMPLE, IF ONE WERE TO SIGN A LEASE AMENDMENT WITHOUT SEEKING PROPER APPROVAL, CAN IT BE VOIDED, OR IS THAT JUST A MATTER OF LAW AT THAT POINT?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A DISTINCTION IS BOARDING IT INTERNALLY VERSUS BOARDING IT WITH THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. SIT DOWN.
>> THEN MY ONLY LAST QUESTION, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO SIDESTEP YOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO THROUGH IT, WAS ON THE PROCUREMENT CARD ADMINISTRATION.
BECAUSE THIS RELATES TO A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO USE CARDS TO PURCHASE.
IS THERE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY STAFF TO ACCEPT THIS?
>> THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR INTERNAL POLICY GOING FORWARD.
WE'RE WORKING ON CRAFTING NOT ONLY AN ACCEPTANCE OF THE POLICY.
BUT ALSO AN ANNUAL UPDATE WITH TRAINING.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN LACKING PREVIOUSLY.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR NOT ONLY US, BUT ALSO FOR THE CARDHOLDER TO BE PROTECTED.
>> THEY SIGNED SOMETHING EVERY YEAR ACKNOWLEDGING THE POLICY?
>> MR. QUEEN. I DON'T KNOW THAT'S EVER BEEN DONE IN THE PAST, HONESTLY.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH.
>> SORRY. SAY THAT AGAIN. IN WHICH PART?
>> I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT WAS EVER DONE IN THE PAST.
I DON'T THINK THAT OUR EMPLOYEES EVER SIGNED ANYTHING.
EXCEPT THAT THEY AGREE TO HOLD THEMSELVES TO THESE POLICIES.
BUT THAT WILL BE DONE MOVING FORWARD.
>> WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING THROUGH THIS.
>> THIS IS ALL MY COMMENTS ON THIS PARTICULAR SECTION AS I SAID.
IF COUNCIL WANTS TO HEAR THE REST OF PRESENTATION.
I'M SORRY FOR HIJACKING. THOSE ARE VERY SPECIFIC.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, DO YOU WANT TO BRING THIS BACK?
>> I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE MARKED UP AND BROUGHT BACK.
I THINK A RED-LINE VERSION OF COUNCIL WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF COUNSEL AGREES.
>> WE'LL REDLINE IT AND BRING IT BACK LATER.
>> NOW WE DON'T KNOW, SHE WAS JUST WONDERING BREATHING ACTION.
>> THANK YOU. DAVID, THANKS FOR DOING ALL THAT WORK.
>> I JUST WANTED TO BEFORE YOU DO THE BUDGET, JUST CLOSE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
YOU WANT TO GO BREAK INTO THAT REAL QUICK.
WHERE DO WANT TO HIT BUDGET FIRST?
>> WE JUST WANT TO DO EXECUTIVE OR BUDGET?
>> LET'S GO CLOSE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[J. CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION]
WE'RE GOING BE DOING 23-224.TOWN COUNCIL CONDUCTED CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE ANNOTATED CHAPTER 551, CHAPTER D, FOR THE FOLLOWING SECTION 551.074, ALPHA-1 DELIBERATION REGARDING PERSONNEL MATTERS, TO DELIBERATE REGARDING WESTLAKE ACADEMY HAD TO SCHOOL.
CONSTITUTIONAL ATTORNEYS SEEK ADVICE REGARDING ADMISSIONS POLICY FOR WESTLAKE ACADEMY.
NOW WE'RE BREAKING OUT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR 740.
BACK IN SESSION, EXECUTIVE SESSION ENDED AT 8:12, NOW IS 8:21 WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM H1.
[H.1. ORD 979 Conduct a Public Hearing and consider approving Ordinance 979 adopting the FY 24 Town of Westlake Municipal Budget; and take appropriate action (Tabled from September 11, 2023 Town Council Meeting) (Cayce Lay Lamas)]
WHICH IS CONDUCTED PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING IMPROVING THE ORDINATES 979, ADOPTING FISCAL YEAR '24 WESTLAKE MUNICIPAL BUDGET AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.[03:10:06]
IT WAS TABLED FROM SEPTEMBER 11TH.WE'VE HAVE ANY ISSUES OR QUESTIONS ON THE LAST BUDGET THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO A PRESENTATION AGAIN FOR HERE? HERE IT IS.
>> LOOK, I'VE REVIEWED THIS PRESENTATION FOR A DOZEN TIMES.
I'M VERY HAPPY FOR CASEY TO WALK US THROUGH AND THEN GO FROM THERE.
BUT I HAVE A LOT OF GLOBAL QUESTIONS, CONCERNS.
BUT LIKE I SAID, WE CAN JUST DO THE PRESENTATION FIRST.
WE'LL JUST ROLL RIGHT THROUGH IT.
OVERALL, THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS CONTAINING $28 MILLION IN REVENUES AND $23 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES.
WE ARE PROJECTING A CONTRIBUTION TO FUND BALANCE OF ROUGHLY $4.8 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR '24.
WITHIN THAT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A DECREASE OF $3.8 MILLION IN TRUE EXPENDITURES.
THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A LOT OF INTERNAL SCRUTINY AND CLEAN UP.
BASICALLY, AS I STATED EARLIER, IF WE HAD DOLLARS IN AN ACCOUNT IN OUR SYSTEM.
THEY HAD TO BE JUSTIFIED DOWN TO THE SINGLE DOLLAR.
THEN WE ALSO DECREASED SIX FTES IN FISCAL YEAR '24 FROM WHAT WAS ADOPTED FOR FISCAL YEAR '23.
ALL OF THIS IS PREDICATED ON KEEPING THE TAX RATE FLAT.
WE ARE SEEING A SLIGHT INCREASE IN OVERALL REVENUES FOR FISCAL YEAR '24.
THIS IS NORMALIZING FOR THE SALES TAX INCREASE THAT WE EXPERIENCED DURING FISCAL YEAR '23 RELATED TO ONETIME SALES TAX RECEIPTS.
THIS IS ALSO OFFSET THOUGH BECAUSE OF A PLANNED DELOITTE PROJECT.
WE'RE EXPECTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PERMIT FEES FOR FISCAL YEAR '24.
THEN LOOKING AT OUR REVENUES AND A LOT OF THE PRESENTATION YOU'LL SEE HERE, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE OVERALL PICTURE AND THEN WE'LL DO A YEAR OVER YEAR COMPARISON FOR THE REVENUES AND THEN THE EXPENDITURES.
FOR THE REVENUES, WE'RE LOOKING AT A $9.1 MILLION SALES TAX AMOUNT.
WHICH IS ABOUT 32% OF OUR OVERALL REVENUES.
OUR PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE COMING IN AT ROUGHLY $4.1 MILLION.
THEN WE'VE GOT THE REST OF OUR SALES TAX, PROPERTY TAX, AND THEN OTHER TAXES, SO TALKING ONLY ABOUT TAXES IN TOTAL, THAT MAKES UP ABOUT 51% OF THAT $28 MILLION IN PROJECTED REVENUES.
PERMITS AND FEES, THOSE HAVE ABOUT FOUR MILLION OF IT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE DELOITTE DEVELOPMENT.
WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHARGES FOR SERVICES, WHAT WE'RE MOSTLY TALKING ABOUT IS THE WATER SEWER REVENUE.
THE OTHER TYPES OF REVENUES THAT WE HAVE PROJECTED FOR FISCAL YEAR '24 INCLUDE FINES AND FOR FEATURES WHICH ARE FLAT YEAR-OVER-YEAR.
THEN WE'VE GOT INVESTMENT EARNINGS.
INVESTMENT EARNINGS WERE PROJECTING TO BE UP SIGNIFICANTLY.
AGAIN, THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE INCREASED RATES.
THIS PICTURE HERE JUST SHOWS YOU THE YEAR-OVER-YEAR CHANGES FOR EACH OF THOSE MAJOR CATEGORIES.
AS I SAID, WERE UP ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE PROJECTED FISCAL YEAR '23, NORMALIZED FOR THE ONETIME SALES TAX AND THEN LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR FOR FISCAL YEAR '24.
WERE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON REVENUES BEFORE I MOVE ON TO EXPENDITURES? THEN GOING THROUGH EXPENDITURES, WE'RE LOOKING AT $23.4 MILLION IN TRUE EXPENDITURES FOR FISCAL YEAR '24.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN TOWN ONLY PERSONNEL COSTS.
WE'VE ALSO GOT ROUGHLY $12.7 MILLION IN OTHER OPERATING COSTS.
THEN OVER AT THE ACADEMY, WE'RE PROJECTING A LITTLE OVER FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN THE TOWN'S BUDGET.
THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE $11 MILLION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
THIS IS HOW YOU ALL HAVE TRADITIONALLY SEEN IT IN THESE VERY LARGE BUCKETS.
THE FEEDBACK WE'D GOTTEN OVER THE PROCESSES THAT WE'D LIKE IT TO BE A LITTLE MORE REFINED, AND A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC TO WHAT WE THINK IS RELEVANT TO OUR OPERATIONS.
WITHIN THAT, WE'VE GOT DIFFERENT CATEGORIES BROKEN OUT AND WE'LL GO INTO SOME MORE DETAILS ON EACH OF THEM.
PERSONNEL, OUTSIDE SERVICES THESE ARE GOING TO BE ALL THOSE THINGS THAT STAFF CAN'T HANDLE IN-HOUSE.
IF IT'S A CONSULTANT, IF IT'S SOMEBODY COMING IN, MOWING THE LAWN.
ALL OF THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE OUTSIDE SERVICES.
UTILITIES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVERHEAD, BRENT, ALL OF THAT.
WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AND SOFTWARE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS GOING TO BE JUST THE TOWN'S PORTION FOR THE MOST PART.
REMEMBER, THE ACADEMY HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF IT AND SOFTWARE NEEDS AND A LOT OF THEIR STUFF IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THEIR OPERATING BUDGET.
[03:15:01]
WE ALSO HAVE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.THESE ARE JUST GOING TO BE THOSE CONSUMABLE ITEMS, CLEANING SUPPLIES, OFFICE SUPPLIES THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS.
WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT CATEGORY, THESE ARE ALL THE TRAVEL AND TRAINING THAT'S REQUIRED FOR TOWN STAFF.
OTHER OPERATING IS GOING TO BE ANYTHING THAT DIDN'T FIT IN THOSE CATEGORIES ABOVE.
FOR THE MOST PART, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THINGS LIKE MEMBERSHIP AND DUES WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
WE'VE ALSO GOT A CATEGORY FOR CAPITAL AND THEN ONE FOR THE ACADEMY.
WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ACADEMY BUDGET IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TOWN BUDGET, WE'RE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT SHARED SERVICES.
WE WENT THROUGH AND BROKE IT OUT YEAR OVER YEAR AGAIN, LOOKING AT THOSE VERY SPECIFIC CATEGORIES.
YOU CAN SEE OVERALL, THE EXPENDITURES HAVE BEEN CUT $3.8 MILLION.
THE BIG CHANGES THERE ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
BUT OUTSIDE SERVICES WAS A BIG ONE.
WE AGAIN, GOING THROUGH AND DOING THE CLEANUP IF WE HAD DOLLARS BUDGETED IN FISCAL YEAR '23 AND WE COULDN'T IDENTIFY WHY THEY WERE PULLED OUT.
>> ON THIS CHART HERE, THERE'S NOT TWO POSITIONS IN THE TOWN MANAGER AREA.
>> THE POSITION OF THE PROCUREMENT MANAGER.
THAT'S WHERE IT WAS SLOTTED IN UNDER THE ACTUAL ORGCHART.
>> THIS IS THE PROPOSED STAFF ORGANIZATION CHART FOR FISCAL YEAR '24.
IT DOES INCLUDE 49.75 FTES, OF WHICH EIGHT AND A HALF ARE CONSIDERED SHARED SERVICES, MEANING AT LEAST SOME PORTION OF THAT PERSON IS SUPPORTING THE ACADEMY.
THE CHANGES FROM FISCAL YEAR '23 HAVE TO DO WITH THE TOWN MANAGER CUTTING TWO POSITIONS, FIRE CUT ONE THAT WAS NEVER HIRED, THAT WAS RELATED TO THE COUNCIL AND THE BOARD'S DECISION ON THE SCHOOL NURSE.
WE HAD ORIGINALLY FOR FISCAL YEAR '23, PROPOSED ADDING A SECOND EMT.
BUT IT WAS DETERMINED DURING THE COURSE OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR THAT THE SCHOOL NURSE, ALONG WITH THE EXISTING EMT WITH SUFFICIENT.
WE HAD A FACILITY/PARKS PERSON THAT WHENEVER THAT VACANCY CAME UP, WE'VE ELECTED NOT TO FILL THAT.
THERE IS A POSITION FROM FINANCE THAT WAS CUT AND THEN WE ARE ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM.
THEN WE HAVE FOUR AND A HALF CURRENT VACANCIES THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS REQUEST.
WHICH IS NOT CONSIDERED A VACANCY UNTIL THAT POSITION IS APPROVED.
>> THAT PUBLIC WORKS IS A DIRECTOR?
>> WE CURRENTLY HAVE A DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THEM TOO, RIGHT?
>> THEN WE ONLY HAVE TWO WORKERS?
>> CORRECT. IN THAT COST CENTER, HOWEVER, THERE'S ALSO TWO WORKERS AND WE HAVE OUR UTILITIES AND FACILITIES COORDINATOR THAT IS BUDGETED THERE.
EVEN THOUGH SHE REPORTS TO ME.
>> THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR IS AN OPERATIONS PERSON, SO HE'S IN THE FIELD AS WELL.
THEN UNDER THAT THERE'S A $700,000 OUR CONTRACT FOR B&R.
>> THIS IS NOT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION.
>> THEN WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING AT PERSONNEL WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO DO HERE IS BREAK IT OUT BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF SALARIES VERSUS THE ANCILLARY BENEFITS.
YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT SALARIES AND BENEFITS ARE ABOUT 76, 24%, SO THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD FOR ANY OPERATING ENTITY.
THEN GOING INTO OUR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES HERE, OUTSIDE SERVICES WE'D BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE THE TOP FIVE BECAUSE KELLER IS TECHNICALLY AN OUTSIDE SERVICE AND THEY'RE PRETTY LARGE.
WE WENT AHEAD AND DID THE FIVE UNDER THAT.
AFTER THE KELLER PD CONTRACT, THE NEXT TOP FIVE SERVICES THAT WE OUTSOURCE, OUR LEGAL SERVICES, LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE, AND ROADWAY MAINTENANCE.
>> CASEY, OVER THE SUMMER, THERE'S NO WAY.
THIS IS WHERE OUR FRUSTRATION IS.
FIRE AND COURT 151 GRAND REALLY? WHAT'S THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE FIRE STATION? WE FIGURED IT OUT THIS ROUGHLY ABOUT $4 MILLION, BUT IT'S BURIED INTO DIFFERENT BUCKETS.
HOW BEST I CAN TELL AND I WROTE IN EMAIL.
THAT'S I CAN TELL THE MOST EXPENSIVE EXPENSE IS FIRE.
IT'S ROUGHLY FOUR TIMES LARGER IN THE SCHOOL, IT'S FOUR TIMES LARGER THAN POLICE.
BUT WHEN YOU GIVE THESE CHARTS AND THESE PRETTY LITTLE PICTURES, YOU HIDE THAT WE'VE GOT A REALLY EXPENSIVE EXPENSE THERE.
LIKE THE AVERAGE PERSON OR IF THE CITIZEN LOOKED AT THAT, THEY GO WOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS, ONLY 151 GRAND, THAT'S FANTASTIC.
[03:20:02]
YOU CAN'T RUN A BUSINESS LIKE THIS.YOU CAN'T NOT SHOW THE REAL COSTS.
>> MR. SHANNON, THIS IS ONLY FOR OUTSIDE SERVICES FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE THAT IT BREAKS DOWN EXACTLY HOW MUCH OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE COST.
>> I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT BECAUSE OVER THE SUMMER IT WAS INACCURATE.
HOPEFULLY IT'S ACCURATE. IS IT GOING TO BE ACCURATE?
AGAIN HERE, OUR COSTS HAVE TO DO MOSTLY WITH WATER AND SEWER.
WE PURCHASE OUR WATER FROM THE CITY OF FORT WORTH AND WE CONTRACT WITH TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY TO DO OUR SEWER TREATMENT.
FOR IT AND SOFTWARE AND THEN THERE IS A LIST IN THE PACKET THAT BREAKS DOWN ALL OF THE IT AND SOFTWARE THAT IS WITHIN THE TOWN.
YOU WILL NOTICE WHAT MAY COME ACROSS AS DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THIS SLIDE AND THE ACTUAL BREAKDOWN BECAUSE THE BREAKDOWN IS IN THE AGGREGATE.
IF WE HAVE CERTAIN EXPENDITURES THAT ARE SHARED BETWEEN THE ACADEMY AND THE TOWN, YOU'RE SEEING THAT TRUE FULL COST ON THE APPENDIX.
BUT HERE WHAT WE'VE GOT IS THE FIREWALLS AND SECURITY SERVICES MAKE UP THE TOP TWO LARGEST EXPENDITURES.
WE SPENT A FAIR AMOUNT ON RECORDS MANAGEMENT AND OUR WEBSITES AS WELL.
REMEMBER, WE OPERATE MULTIPLE WEBSITES BECAUSE WE HAVE THE TOWNS AND THE SCHOOLS, AND THEY ALSO WORK ON SEPARATE PLATFORMS. COMING OVER INTO SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
WHAT WE SEE HERE THROUGHOUT IS FIRE UNIFORMS ARE THE MOST EXPENSIVE SINGLE SUPPLY THAT WE PURCHASED.
THEY HAVE THEIR BUNKER GEAR THAT IS VERY SPECIALIZED AND JUST REQUIRES A LOT MORE OF EVERYTHING FOR THEM.
WE ALSO SPEND A FAIR AMOUNT ON FUEL BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT WORK VEHICLES AND THE FIRE VEHICLES.
WATER METERS ARE OUR NEXT LARGEST EXPENSE AND THIS COST CAN FLUCTUATE DEPENDING ON WHAT DEVELOPMENTS WE HAVE AND IF WE HAVE ANY ISSUES.
THEN WE HAVE MEETINGS AND WHAT WE CALL FIRE SPECIALTY.
FIRE SPECIALTY, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE ENGINE ITSELF, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS THAT ARE PART OF IT.
THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED REGULARLY.
COMING FOR TRAVEL AND TRAINING.
THIS IS ACTUALLY BROKEN DOWN BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE DIFFERENT TRAININGS ARE FOR SO WHENEVER IT COMES TO TOWN MANAGER SPECIFIC TRAINING, THOSE TEND TO BE MORE GLOBAL FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIRE, THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MANDATED CONTINUING EDUCATION THAT THEY HAVE TO DO.
YOU WOULD SEE THAT ALSO IN THE FINANCE, THE IT AND THE PUBLIC WORKS AND "A LOT OF THE TRAININGS THAT WE ALL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ARE MANDATED BY SOME ENTITY." IF IT'S FOR A CERTIFICATION OR IF IT'S FOR GENERAL COMPLIANCE.
I KNOW THIS IS A LITTLE HARD TO SEE.
ALSO IN THE AGENDA PACKET WE HAVE A LARGER BREAKOUT THAT SHOWS A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION, THINGS LIKE THE DIFFERENT RATES AND WHENEVER THESE THINGS ARE EXPECTED TO BE RETIRED.
GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR '24, WE'RE LOOKING AT AN OUTSTANDING AMOUNT OF $48.9 MILLION IN DEBT THAT'S GOING TO BE OVER 12 ISSUANCES THAT DOES INCLUDE THE THREE-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS TAX NOTE THAT WAS ISSUED IN MARCH.
THE FIRST INTEREST PAYMENT OF THAT WENT OUT IN SEPTEMBER AND THEN IT IS BUILT INTO THE INS PORTION OF THE TAX RATE, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT HERE IN A FEW MOMENTS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE TAX NOTES FOR THE FIRE STATION.
FISCAL YEAR '24 WILL BE THE LAST YEAR OF THEIR REPAYMENT SCHEDULE.
THIS TIME NEXT YEAR PENDING NO NEW DEBT ISSUANCES, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT ONLY 11 ISSUANCES STILL OUTSTANDING.
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR '24 ACTUAL BUDGET, THOUGH, WE'VE GOT ABOUT $4 1/2 MILLION IN PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS PLANNED.
THEN BREAKING DOWN THEIR USES, REALLY, THERE'S THREE MAJOR USES THAT WE HAVE ISSUED DEBT FOR ONE OF WHICH HAS TO DO WITH UTILITIES SO ALL OF THOSE UTILITIES INFRASTRUCTURE DEBTS ARE PAID FOR BY THE WATER AND SEWER RATES THAT WE SET.
WE INCLUDE THAT AS PART OF OUR STUDY WHENEVER WE LOOK AT THE RATES THAT WE DO NEED TO CHARGE.
THE OTHER TWO ARE GOING TO BE FOR TOWN CAPITAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEN THE THIRD CATEGORY IS ALL OF THE ACADEMIES INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEN MOVING ON TO OTHER OPERATING.
AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST THE OTHER SMALLER ITEMS THAT DIDN'T FIT INTO ANY OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES ABOVE.
THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE TO DO WITH PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS.
WE'VE GOT TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AND THE NEFDA,
[03:25:02]
WHICH IS A FIRE THING AND SOMEBODY ELSE THAT KNOWS MORE ABOUT FIRE CAN HAPPILY JUMP UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT THAT.BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE, AS A SMALLER CITY IN PARTICULAR HAVE TO BE PART OF SO THAT WE GET THE INFORMATION IN A TIMELY FASHION AND WE CAN RELY ON EXPERTS AND A HUGE NETWORK TO GET ANY INFORMATION THAT WE NEED.
>> CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT DEBT PAGE, THE 48 POINT.
>> IF I'M READING THAT RIGHT, THOSE RATES.
>> CORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE ISSUANCES AND THEN THE WAY THAT GOVERNMENTAL DEBT GETS STRUCTURED, USUALLY IT'S ONE YEAR AT A TIME.
>> I WOULD ASSUME THAT TODAY. THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
>> IT IS. WE'RE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR MONITORING THE RATES TO SEE.
IN FACT, IF YOU COME OVER HERE, YOU CAN SEE A COUPLE OF THEM ARE REFUNDING RATES BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOWER RATES AT ONE POINT IN TIME.
THEN MOVING ON TO ACADEMY EXPENDITURES.
AGAIN, THESE ARE GOING TO BE THE SHARED SERVICES.
THIS IS EXCLUSIVE OF THE $11 MILLION THAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED FOR THE ACADEMY.
THE MAJORITY OF THESE COSTS HAVE TO DO WITH THEIR DEBT SERVICE, WHICH IS ABOUT $1.8 MILLION.
WE ALSO HAVE THE LARGER COSTS OF THE 1.4 MILLION THAT IS A DIRECT TRANSFER FROM THE TOWN TO THE ACADEMY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR REVENUES MATCH THEIR EXPENDITURES.
THE REST OF IT HAS TO DO WITH PERSONNEL.
AGAIN, WE HAVE EIGHT-AND-A-HALF MEMBERS OF TOWN STAFF THAT ARE CONSIDERED SHARED SERVICES AND SO THIS IS THEIR PORTION OF THEIR SALARY AND BENEFITS COSTS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE ACADEMY? THEN COUNCIL MEMBER SCHEINER, HERE IS ALL OF THE FIRE.
THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 IS $3.9 MILLION.
THAT INCLUDES THEIR 19 FTES, ONE OF WHICH IS THE EMT PART OF THAT SHARED SERVICES OVER AT THE ACADEMY WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED HERE.
THE REST OF IT HAS TO DO [NOISE] WITH THEIR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, THE ONLY CAPITAL ITEMS THAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON ARE SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS.
WE'VE GOT A FEW OF THOSE THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED.
THE REST OF IT BREAKING OUT INTO THOSE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES HAVE TO DO WITH A LOT OF THOSE ROUTINE THINGS THAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE BARBIES, THEY COME WITH A LOT OF ACCESSORIES.
THEN THE AFTER PERSONNEL, THE LARGEST COST HERE IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THEIR DEBT SERVICE.
WE HAVE TWO ISSUANCES FOR THEIR DEBT IS CURRENTLY OUTSTANDING AS I SAID.
THE TAX NOTE, FISCAL YEAR 24 WILL BE THE LAST YEAR OF THAT, AND THEN WE'LL ONLY HAVE THE GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT THAT WOULD STILL BE OUTSTANDING THAT WE ISSUED AN ORDER TO BUILD THE FIRE STATION.
>> YOU SAY ONLY BUT IT'S LIKE 7.8 MILLION.
THAT'S ALMOST 7.9, THAT'S NOT AN ONLY, IT'S THE SECOND BIGGEST NUMBER UP THERE.
>> THAT DEBT IS INCLUDED IN THIS TOTAL FIRE DEPARTMENT A DEBT SERVICE?
>> CORRECT. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24 DEBT SERVICE.
REMEMBER FOR THIS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FISCAL YEAR 24 EXPENDITURES ONLY.
>> ROUGHLY FOR US TO PROVIDE FIRE, IT'S FOUR TIMES MORE THAN WHAT IT TAKES TO PROVIDE POLICE.
>> THAT'S, BY THE WAY, EXCLUDING ALL THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THINK ABOUT JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, WE TRIED TO STICK A MILLION ON TOP OF THAT.
I'M NOT DISCOUNTING WHAT THOSE PEOPLE DO AND HOPEFULLY NEVER NEED THEM AND MY PERSONAL HOUSE, BUT IT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING THAT WE CAN HAVE IN THIS TOWN.
WE INHERITED IT. WE INHERITED A LARGE POLICE STATION VERSUS THAT VERY SMALL ONE ON DEV.
>> LOOK AT THE FIVE-YEAR CAPEX PLANKS, THERE'S A SECOND ONE COMING.
>> NO. THE SECOND FIRE STATION.
>> BUT DO RECALL ALL OF THE CAPEX THAT GOES OUT MORE THAN ONE YEAR?
>> I KNOW IT'S SUBJECTIVE TO REFORM.
>> WELL, NOT SUBJECT TO GROUP DID NOT EVEN COME FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION.
>> I AGREE BY A MILLION DOLLAR SPLIT IN TWO WEEKS AGO, DID SO?
>> NO, SIR. WE SLID THAT MILLION DOLLARS OUT, THERE WAS NO MILLION DOLLAR HERE..
>> 1.2 LINED UP FOR NEXT YEAR?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IN TWO YEARS THAT ENGINE WILL BE DUE.
IT'S FOUR TIMES MORE THAN POLICE AND WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT ALTERNATE WAYS OF PROTECTING OUR RESIDENTS.
WHAT YOU SEE HERE AGAIN IS JUST THE FISCAL YEAR 24 IN THE ORDINANCE.
[03:30:02]
SPECIFICALLY, THERE IS LANGUAGE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE FACT THAT WHAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO VOTE ON TONIGHT IS ONLY YEAR 1 OF THAT CAPITAL LIST.THE ITEMS THAT YOU SEE IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, INCLUDING THE SECOND FIRE STATION, SOME OF THESE LARGER THINGS, THIS WAS MORE OF AN INHERITED LIST THAT WE WANT TO SERVE AS A TALKING POINT AND A JUMPING OFF POINT FOR FUTURE CONVERSATIONS.
WE ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT ASKING FOR APPROVALS.
>> THIS CAPEX PLAN CAME TO US AT THE BUDGET RETREAT.
COUNSEL WHO IS PRESENT THERE UNANIMOUSLY SAID, KICK THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ITEMS OUT OF THE OPERATING BUDGET.
THEN WHEN WE HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING, THEY WERE ALL BROUGHT BACK IN AND WE WERE TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE ENTIRE COUNCIL WAS IN PRESENT, IT WASN'T A FAIR VOTE, AND SO IT HAD TO BE VOTED ON UPON AGAIN.
UNANIMOUSLY, WE ASKED FOR ALL CAPEX TO BE TAKEN OUT.
THEN OF COURSE, FROM THE BUDGET CAME ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, WE HAD TWO MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PRESENTED TO US IN THE BUDGET AND CREATING A $1.1 MILLION DOLLAR FIRE TRUCK.
BUT HERE WE ARE AGAIN WITH JUST UNDER A MILLION DOLLAR OF CAPEX.
THIS IS NOT FOR DISCUSSION, THIS IS ALREADY IN THE BUDGET.
SO I FEEL LIKE THE CAPEX DISCUSSIONS DON'T HAPPEN.
THIS IS JUST THE BUDGET AS IT'S PRESENTED.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF MY MANY, MANY ISSUES I'M HAVING RIGHT NOW WITH THE WAY THIS BUDGET IS BEING PUT TOGETHER AND BEING PRESENTED TO US.
YOU CAN FINISH YOUR PRESENTATION IF YOU WANT, BUT I'VE GOT OTHER CONCERNS GENERALLY.
>> UNDERSTOOD. HERE. ON THE CAPITAL ITEM, THERE ARE ONLY THREE ITEMS HERE THAT HAVE BEEN GENERAL FUNDED.
SO WE HAVE THE GLENN MIC FARMS OVERLAY REIMBURSEMENT, THE SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS IS AND THEN ALSO SOME SAM SCHOOL ROAD RECONSTRUCTION.
THE OTHER TWO ITEMS ON HERE THAT ARE THE LARGER TICKET ITEMS, THOSE ARE COMING FROM THE UTILITY FUND.
FOR THE MOST PART, WE DO HAVE ROUGHLY $435,000 IN ARPA FUNDS THAT WE CAN APPLY TO THESE PURCHASES.
>> IS THE SAME SCHOOL ROAD FOR THE LIFETIME COMMITMENT.
WHAT IS BEING DONE ON SAM'S COOL.
>> RON, CAN YOU COME FORWARD WITH THAT?
>> SAME QUESTION ABOUT THE GENERATOR AND THE SAME QUESTION ABOUT THE PUMP STATION.
>> IT BETTER NOT BE THE LIFETIME.
>> THE SAME SCHOOL ROAD MONEY WOULD TIE INTO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SMALL STRETCH OF SAM SCHOOL WHERE IT GOES FROM FOUR LANES DOWN TO A UNIMPROVED OLD COUNTY CROSS-SECTION BEFORE IT GOES INTO SOUTHLAKE AND THEN BECOMES A CONCRETE ROAD.
THE ASSUMPTION IS IF THE DEVELOPMENT GETS APPROVED FOR SALONA HILLS, THEY COULD PITCH IN HALF THE COST BECAUSE THEY'RE DEVELOPING ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAM SCHOOL AND THEN THIS WOULD FINISH THE OTHER SIDE TO IMPROVE THAT LITTLE PIECE BETWEEN WESTSIDE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE WHOLE IMPROVEMENT IS 500 OR WHOLE IMPROVEMENT IS 25O.
>> THE 250 IS A NUMBER THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED IN PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THIS IMPROVEMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE AN ACTUAL COST ESTIMATE YET.
>> CAN WE JUST TAKE THIS OUT AND CROSS THIS BRIDGE WHEN WE GET THERE?
>> THAT'S CERTAINLY. HERE'S THE THING THAT'S NEXT DOOR HASN'T BEEN APPROVED YET.
>> WHEN WE APPROVED A LIFETIME WERE THEY EVER ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS KNOWN PROBLEM.
>> NO. BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY.
>> YOU DON'T THINK CARS WHEN WE'RE DRIVING DOWN SAME SCHOOL ROAD TO GET TO THEIR BEAUTIFUL GYM.
>> NO, I UNDERSTAND. IT'S JUST THAT WE JUST CAN'T MAKE THEM, THEY'RE ALREADY PAYING FOR SOME OFFSITE UTILITY CONNECTIONS.
BUT ON THE ROAD, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS TOO FAR FROM THE LIFETIME PROPERTY TO WORK.
THEY CAN NECESSARILY HAVE TO PROVE IT THIS WAY.
>> ALL THE WEAR AND TEAR FROM LIFETIME, YOU DON'T THINK WILL HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THAT ROAD.
>> BUT CERTAINLY THE TRAFFIC WOULD HAVE AN EFFECT.
>> THAT'S GOING TO THEIR GYM, SO IT WOULD'VE BEEN GREAT TO ASK THEM.
>> AND DID WE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ON THIS SLIDE? JUST TO WRAP UP, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADOPTING TONIGHT IS A PROPOSED BUDGET OF $23.4 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES.
WE ARE PLANNING, AGAIN TO CONTRIBUTE TO FUND BALANCED ABOUT $4.8 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.
WANT TO THANK COUNCIL FOR YOUR PATIENTS, FOR YOUR GUIDANCE IN THIS PROCESS.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THIS IS AN ITERATIVE PROCESS.
WE'VE HAD DEFINITELY OUR FAIR SHARE OF CHALLENGES I KNOW INTERNALLY TRYING TO CRAFT ANYTHING.
AGAIN, THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
[03:35:03]
>> IN THIS CONTRIBUTION, THIS IS ON A CONSOLIDATED BASIS?
>> CAN I JUST SUMMARIZE BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
LITERALLY, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THE [INAUDIBLE] THIS COUNCIL INHERITED THINK WE HAD A $5 MILLION LOAN TWO YEARS AGO.
INHERITED BUDGET CLOSE TO THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT INTO A $2.8 MILLION GAIN.
WE STARTED WITH A $5 MILLION, WHICH WAS AN ACTUALLY A $5 MILLION DRAIN TO THE GENERAL FUND.
WE INHERITED A BUDGET THAT WAS CLOSE TO THAT 5 MILLION, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TURN THAT INTO A 2.8 MILLION.
YOU SAID GAIN. NOW WE'RE SITTING HERE WITH A BUDGET, OF 4.8 MILLION CONTRIBUTION, AND THIS IS ALL-INCLUSIVE.
>> THIS IS COMPLETELY CONSOLIDATED.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT I AM THRILLED.
I THINK IF ANYBODY WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS BUDGET 4 MONTHS AGO, WE WOULD BE HAPPY WITH THE PROGRESS.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND THERE'S SOME PROCESSINGS YOU CAN DO.
BUT I'M PERSONALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AND WHERE WE ARE ON THIS BUDGET TODAY.
>> WELL, I MEAN, I'LL TELL YOU WHERE I STAND ON ALL OF THIS.
I THINK IT'S BEEN PRETTY CLEAR FROM THE COMMENTS I'VE MADE SO FAR THAT MY BIGGEST CONCERN ABOUT THIS BUDGET IS UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHERE MONEY IS BEING SPENT.
I THINK THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED HERE IN VERY LARGE PIE CHARTS TO THE 120 PAGE LINE ITEM APPENDIX THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA.
I MEAN, THOSE ARE REALLY FAR APART.
AND I THINK WHAT I WAS HOPING FOR IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT REALLY NICE HALFWAY HOUSE WHERE WE HAD A VERY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING WHERE MONEY'S WE'RE GOING TO BE DIRECTED.
BECAUSE MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS I'LL JUST SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
IF I APPROVE THIS BUDGET AND APPROVE $23.4 MILLION BEING SPENT, MY GREATEST FEAR IS THEN WITHIN ABOUT ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO THINGS ARE GONNA BE PURCHASED.
CONSULTANTS ARE GOING TO BE HIRED.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION, HOW DID THAT GET APPROVED? SOMEONE'S GOING TO SAY, WELL, DIDN'T YOU KNOW, IT WAS IN THE BUDGET AND TRUTHFULLY, I DON'T KNOW. IS IT IN THE BUDGET? THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE A MASSIVE GOOD-FAITH GESTURE ON MY PART TO APPROVE IT BASED UPON THE WAY IT'S BEEN PRESENTED HERE.
WE HAVE A HISTORY IN THIS TOWN OF RUNNING UP DEFICITS.
WE INHERITED TO KIM'S POINT A DEFICIT LAST YEAR BECAUSE I THINK WE HAD A TOWN MANAGER AND A FINANCE DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE VERY GOOD AT SPENDING MONEY.
I THINK WE CAME IN AND REALLY TRIED TO TIGHTEN UP THE REINS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE MONEY WAS BEING DIRECTED.
WHEN YOU GUYS CAME ON BOARD, WE WERE INITIALLY SHOWING ABOUT A 7 MILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS AT THE BUDGET RETREAT.
MAYBE IT WAS A PURE COINCIDENCE, BUT WE HAD ABOUT 7 MILLION DOLLARS OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ALSO PRESENTED TO US IN THE EXACT SAME BUDGET RETREAT.
THE MOMENT WE HAD THAT SURPLUS, IT WAS IMMEDIATELY BEING SPENT. WE SAID NO.
AND WE CUT EVERY SINGLE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OUT OF THAT BUDGET BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO COVET THESE SURPLUSES.
TO KIM'S POINT ON THE 2.8 MILLION SURPLUS, THAT'S GREAT, BUT THAT'S AT THE GENERAL FUND LEVEL, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS ON A ON A CONSOLIDATED BASIS SO IT MIGHT BE WELL OFFSET BY LOSSES AND OTHER FUNDS.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW TO COME BACK WITH THOSE NUMBERS.
WE'VE HAD EXAMPLES WHERE BUDGETS HAVE BEEN APPROVED, MONEY'S BEEN EXPENDED AND QUESTION BEEN RAISED ABOUT WHERE THE AUTHORITY CAME FROM.
I THINK THE MAYOR POINTED OUT EARLIER, WE HAD SOFTWARE EXPENDITURES OR MAYBE TIM DID AT THE SCHOOL.
I THINK WE HAD CONSULTANTS [INAUDIBLE], EVEN IN PUBLIC WORKS VERY SHORTLY AFTER WADE CAME ON.
AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE AUTHORITY CAME FROM TO HIRE THESE CONSULTANTS.
WE'VE SEEN PAY RAISES GIVEN TO INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS.
WE'VE SEEN STAFF MEMBERS AGGREGATE SPENDING LIMITS TO PULL TOGETHER TO MAKE ACQUISITIONS THAT EXCEEDED THEIR AUTHORITY.
THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES OF WHY AND I'M JUST TRYING TO JUSTIFY, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHY WE ARE BEING A LOT MORE CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS ABOUT APPROVING A BUDGET WHICH HAS THEORETICALLY A LOT OF LEEWAY TO SPEND MONEY WITHOUT KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO.
WE JUST HAD THIS RECENT EXAMPLE WHERE WE'VE SEEN HIRING INTO NEW POSITIONS WITH MASSIVE PAY RAISES.
IN FACT, PUBLIC WORKS WAS ONE THAT I HAD BROUGHT UP THE OTHER DAY.
YOU GUYS HAD SENT OVER THIS BUDGET WHERE WE HAD TAKEN A DEPUTY TOWN MANAGER AND ELIMINATED THE POSITION BY ORDINANCE.
[03:40:02]
THIS POSITION WAS TO BE FILLED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.THE WAY WE HAD LEFT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WITH A BUDGET OF ABOUT 236,000 DOLLARS FOR SALARIES.
ACCORDING TO YOUR BUDGET, IF WE APPROVE IT TODAY, IT'S GONNA BE 435,000 DOLLARS SPENT ON SALARIES ALONE.
THAT IS A MASSIVE INCREASE TO WHAT WE AS A COUNCIL, FELT GOOD ABOUT AND CUTTING BACK ON CERTAIN SERVICES AND DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE TOWN.
WE HAD AN ISSUE ABOUT EMERGENCY EXPENDITURES AND I DID QUESTION YOU.
YES. 14,000 IS NOT A LARGE NUMBER IN THE GRAND SCHEME, BUT I RAISED IT BECAUSE IT BROUGHT UP AN IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT SPEND AUTHORITY AND THE RESPONSE WAS, I HAVE THE AUTHORITY, IT'S AN EMERGENCY.
WE CAN DEBATE WHETHER THIS IS AN EMERGENCY OR NOT TO REPLACE BACKFLOW PREVENTERS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.
BUT THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF COUNCIL NOT HAVING FULL CONTROL AND OVERSIGHT IS TO WHERE MONEY IS BEING SPENT.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH YOU GUYS GOING THROUGH PREVIOUS ITERATIONS OF THE BUDGET.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO APPROVE THE ORIGINAL BUDGET ON SEPTEMBER 11 AND I THINK I CAME INTO OFFICE IS ON A FRIDAY.
WE WENT THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE REWORK OF THIS.
YOU'D SEND NUMBERS OUT AND I THINK WITHIN THE SPAN OF ABOUT 24-48 HOURS, THERE WERE MASSIVE CHANGES TO THE BUDGET PRESENTATION.
I SAT THEM DOWN SIDE-BY-SIDE TRYING TO RECONCILE THE NUMBERS.
I JUST SCRATCHED DOWN SOME NOTES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> PLEASE, RECALL THAT THE PRESENTATION THAT I PROVIDED THAT FRIDAY EVENING WAS SIMPLY FOR FORMATTING.
THERE WAS A HUGE CAVEAT ABOUT NUMBERS.
>> WE CLEARED THAT WITH YOU DAVID. [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU'VE SAID THIS POINT TO ME ON AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR OCCASIONS.
BUT THE WAY WE LEFT IT WAS, WE HAD AGREED A TEMPLATE FOR THE PRESENTATION.
SEVERAL PAGES WERE MISSING BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO BREAK THEM DOWN INTO CERTAIN CATEGORIES THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED.
BUT THE GLOBAL REVENUES AND THE GLOBAL EXPENSES WERE STILL IN THERE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE UP IN BIG BAR GRAPHS, BROKEN DOWN BY CATEGORY.
WE LOOKED AT THE REVENUES THAT TIME WERE SOME 31 ODD MILLION.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE EXPENSES WERE.
BUT JUST BETWEEN THESE ITERATIONS, WE CUT REVENUE BY 3.7 MILLION AND WE CUT EXPENDITURES BY 4.5 MILLION.
THIS WAS TEED UP FOR SEPTEMBER 11 APPROVAL AND WE CUT THE 4.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN-BETWEEN ITERATIONS, 2.7 MILLION WAS TRANSFERS OUT.
THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING I CANNOT GET MY HEAD AROUND.
WHEN WE MET, I ASKED YOU, HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE TRANSFERS IN AND OUT.
I UNDERSTAND A COMPONENT OF THIS IS SIMPLY REVENUE COMING OUT OR MONEY COMING OUT OF ONE FUND, GENERAL FUND INTO A SUB FUND.
THAT'S AN EXPENSE BY THE GENERAL FUND AS A REVENUE TO THE SUB-FUND.
BUT I ASKED YOU VERY SPECIFICALLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN ALL INSTANCES, IS THIS OFFSETTING BALANCE ON A CONSOLIDATED BASIS? DOES ALL OF THIS DISAPPEAR? MY UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN, THERE ARE TRANSFERS THAT ARE MADE FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO A SUB-FUND THAT ULTIMATELY WILL BE EXPENSED DURING THE YEAR.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, ERADICATING A TRANSFER OUT FROM THE GENERAL FUND DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
IT'S STILL GOING TO BE EXPANDED.
I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION SEVERAL TIMES.
I'VE NEVER HAD A GOOD ANSWER FOR IT.
OPERATING COSTS GOT CAUGHT BY 750,000 DOLLARS, 1.1 MILLION OF IT CAME FROM THE FIRE STATION, EVEN THOUGH THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THE OPERATING BUDGET AND I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS CALLED AN OPERATING EXPENSE.
AND I ASKED SEVERAL TIMES THAT WE KEEP ALL CAPEX IS SEPARATE SO WE CAN APPROVE THEM AND DISCUSS THEM AT THE COUNCIL AND THE FACT THAT OUR MAYOR IS EVEN ASKING WHAT IS SAM SCHOOL ROAD CAPITAL EXPENDITURE IS? I MEAN, IT JUST SHOWS YOU WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WAS BEING TEED UP FOR CAPITAL PURPOSES.
MY CONCERN IS THAT IF I APPROVE THIS BUDGET AS IT STANDS, I DON T FEEL LIKE I HAVE GOOD CONTROL OVER WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING.
I ASKED HIM ON THE PERSONNEL COSTS IF WE'D BREAK DOWN ALL OF THE BENEFITS THEY WERE BEING PAID TO EMPLOYEES, DIDN'T ASK YOU TO NAME THEM.
I JUST WANTED TO BREAK DOWN SO EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL COULD SEE OTHER THAN THE SALARY BEING PAID, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? I WAS HOPING WE HAVE A CELL PHONE AND CARS AND HEALTH CARE AND RETIREMENT BROKEN OUT FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT I WAS TOLD BY EMAIL THAT THAT WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, SO THE ANSWER WAS NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BREAK IT OUT.
I ASKED FOR A LIST OF ALL THE CONTRACTORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS.
I SAID WE'D LIKE TO LIST BROKEN DOWN BY NAME BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO SEE EVERY SINGLE THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTOR THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AND THAT YOU WANT HER PROVE IN THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD.
I HAVE YOUR EMAIL RESPONSE HERE AND THE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE WAS, IT'S NOT EFFICIENT AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO SO.
YOU DID SAY THAT THERE WAS ONE IN THE APPENDIX.
THIS WAS THE ATTEMPTED TELLING US WHO ALL THE THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE.
STAN, I'M NOT PICKING ON YOU, BUT YOUR LAW FIRM APPEARS ON THREE DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS.
[03:45:04]
I HAD TO GO THROUGH, ADD THEM UP TO TRY TO GET A FEEL FOR HOW MUCH PART OF OUR LEGAL SERVICES COST.THERE'S A LINE ITEM CALLED CONSULTANT.
IT APPEARS FIVE TIMES AND AGGREGATES $111,000.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CONSULTANT I'M APPROVING.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE CALLED CONTRACT SERVICES THAT APPEARS EIGHT TIMES IN THE APPENDIX LIST AND AGGREGATES $215,000.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CONTRACTS SERVICE I'M BEING ASKED TO APPROVE.
MY BIGGEST FEAR IS SUDDENLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YET ANOTHER CONSULTANT COME INTO THIS TOWN, I WILL HAVE APPROVED IT THROUGH THIS BUDGET AND I'LL HAVE NO IDEA WHO THEY ARE.
I DID TRY, I'VE ASKED REPEATEDLY IF WE COULD BREAK THESE THINGS OUT.
I ASKED IF WE COULD SIMPLIFY THIS PRESENTATION SO IT BECAME VERY CLEAR WHAT WE'RE PROVING AS A BUDGET.
LIKE I SAID, FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, I DON'T FEEL I HAVE A GOOD ENOUGH CAN COMMAND ON THAT.
>> I'M GOING TO JUMP IN. WE ALL TOOK TIME WE COULD IN THE SUMMER RIGHT AROUND JUNE 23RD TO DO ONE WEEK OF SCHOOL, ONE WEEK OF TOWN.
THAT'S WHEN I THOUGHT, I KNOW YOU ARE NEW, YOU'RE DRINKING FROM A FIREHOSE, I THOUGHT THAT'S WHEN WE WERE GOING TO GET IT.
IT'S EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING THAT WE DID NOT GET THAT.
WE MADE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR, WE'RE NOT PROVEN CAPEX.
Y'ALL ASKED US FOR HEALTH INSURANCE TO STAY THE SAME FOR THE TOWN AND THE SCHOOL.
YOU ASK FOR A RAISE FOR PEOPLE AND WE AGREED PEOPLE ARE IMPORTANT AND WE'D GAVE THE RACES, WE GAVE THE HEALTH CARE.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN AT THE LAST SECOND, WE GOT THE 5.5 MILLION CAPEX ASKED.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY, I KNOW CHEQUES OR DIRECT DEPOSIT AND NOWADAYS, BUT EVERYONE APPEARS WORKING FOR FREE.
EVERYONE'S TRYING TO GET BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY, EVERYONE'S TRYING TO REPRESENT OUR TOWN.
ON THE TOP-LEFT CORNER OF YOUR CHEQUES IF YOU GOT A CHECK, IT SAY THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE.
I'M TIRED OF FIGHTING IN BATTLE IN AND SNEAK AND STUFF IN AND SNEAK IN STUFF OUT.
JUST PLEASE BE TRUE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE, AND REMEMBER WHO PAYS YOU.
CASEY, YOU'RE VERY HIGHLY COMPENSATED FOR WHAT YOU DO.
WAIT, YOU'RE EXTREMELY HIGHLY COMPENSATED FOR WHAT YOU DO.
DO YOUR JOB. TAKE CARE OF THE TAXPAYERS OF THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE.
THIS SHOULDN'T BE THIS CAT AND MOUSE IS UP WITH A RADAR AND A SPEEDER.
THIS SHOULDN'T BE A COYOTE AND A DROP IN THE ANVIL ON THEM.
>> LOOK, I FEEL LIKE I'M ALWAYS JUSTIFYING MYSELF AND I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BECAUSE IT DIMINISHES MY PURPOSE.
BUT THEY SAY THIS EVERY SINGLE TIME.
THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL ATTACK ON EITHER OF YOU TWO OR ANYBODY ELSE IN THE TOWN.
THIS IS A FRUSTRATION ON MY PART, BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THERE'S ONE THING I CAN BRING IT TO COUNCIL.
IT IS JUST SHINING THE BIG SPOTLIGHT, AND I DON'T MIND HOW PEOPLE VOTE.
I DON'T MIND IF PEOPLE APPROVE THE BUDGET.
I DON'T MIND IF WE ALL DISAGREE ON CERTAIN COURSES OF ACTION, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT FULLY ENLIGHTENED AND MAKING SURE WE ALL FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE COMMITTING TO.
I DO NOT FEEL LIKE I UNDERSTAND THIS BUDGET SUFFICIENTLY TO APPROVE IT.
>> IF I GET OUT VOTED ON THIS BUDGET, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE VOTING YES TO.
>> I'M GOING TO JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF WORDS HERE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT DAVID AND SEAN AND TIM ARE SAYING BECAUSE AS TYPE A PERSONALITIES, I KNOW ALL OF US WOULD LIKE TO KNOW CRYSTAL CLEAR WHAT WE'RE APPROVING OR CONDUCTING OVERSIGHT FOR.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE A WHACK-A-MOLE GAME, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE MONEY IS GONE.
THAT SAID, THERE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAT WE SEE IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS TOWN, THE ONE I CAME ON BOARD OVER TWO YEARS AGO.
IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, CASEY HAS NOT ONLY TAKEN OVER A STAFF THAT HAS BEEN POORLY TRAINED AND SHE'S TRAINING THEM, BUT SHE'S CUTOUT LINE ITEMS OF THINGS THAT REALLY MAKE NO SENSE IN THE BUDGET.
SHE'S CLEAN UP OUR BUDGET SUM.
SHE'S TAKEN INSIGHTS FROM EACH OF US OR WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE AS COST DRIVERS.
THIS BUDGET IS NOT PERFECT AND THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
BUT IT'S SO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT I SAW A YEAR AND TWO YEARS AGO.
I DO HAVE FAITH THAT THINGS WILL GET BETTER AND BETTER EACH YEAR WITH THIS BUDGET.
THIS IS NOT AMENDED AGAIN AT THE TOWN OFFICES AND THIS IS NOT OUR PREVIOUS FINANCE HEAD AS LEADER OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
IN THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE CUT FTE'S.
WE'VE GONE FROM A DEFICIT TO A SURPLUS.
I THINK THE BIGGEST TAKE HOME MESSAGE BESIDES ALL THE NEED FOR FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND PROPER PRESENTATION IS REALLY THAT SLIDE.
CASEY, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT ONE ON DEBT? WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR DEBT THAT'S OUTSTANDING, IT'S ALMOST 50,000, AND QUITE FRANKLY, NEARLY HALF OF THAT IS THE WATER PUMP AND THE UTILITY FUND THAT WAS
[03:50:04]
THE HILBERT DEBT THAT BALLOONED AND THE ORIGINAL BOND FOR THE FIRE STATION.BUT ALMOST HALF OF THAT LITERALLY IS THE WATER PUMP AND THE FIRE STATION DEBT.
THAT'S REALLY STRIKING BECAUSE FOR A TOWN OUR SIZE, I DON'T THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE REALIZE THE NATURE OF THE MOST OF THE DEBT THAT WE CARRY.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT REALLY CLEAR.
>> WELL, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES, MAYBE STRIKE THE SAME SCHOOL AND THE PROCUREMENT POSITION?
>> I THINK THIS GOES BACK TO MY POINT ABOUT WHY THESE POLICIES THAT I KNOW I'VE BEEN ASKING IF THESE POLICIES FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND IT REALLY ACTUALLY GOES HAND IN HAND WITH HIS BUDGET.
I SAID THIS TWO BEFORE AND AGAIN, THIS ISN'T PERSONAL.
I'M JUST SAYING THIS IS NOT ABOUT PUTTING HANDCUFFS ON EXPENDITURES OR LETTING THE TOWN DO ITS JOB.
THIS IS ABOUT GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT.
OUR JOB IN GOVERNANCE IS TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW THE BUDGET IS BEING PUT TOGETHER, WHERE MONEY IS BEING DIRECTED, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES IN PLACE TO SPEND THE TOWN'S MONEY.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I'D LIKE TO SEE THESE POLICIES TIGHTENED UP, REWORKED.
I WOULD FEEL MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE IF WE KNEW WHAT THESE SPEND LIMITS ARE.
IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET, I GENUINELY FEEL.
STAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR OBLIGATION IS IN TERMS OF REQUIREMENT TO APPROVE IT AND WHEN THAT HAS TO HAPPEN. IF YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT.
>> WE HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THIS MONTH.
>> I BELIEVE IF YOU DO NOT APPROVE THE BUDGET, IT GO TO THE LOWEST OF THE OVERALL AUTHORIZATION OR NEW REVENUE.
>> BASICALLY, SINCE WE DIDN'T GET OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, WE GOT A GUN TO HER HEAD TONIGHT.
>> BUT YOU CAN MODIFY AND DO A CONTINUING RESOLUTION OR YOU CAN DO THIS BUDGET OF 5% DISCOUNT. YOU CAN MAKE MODIFICATIONS.
>> CAN I JUST CHIME IN. YOU'RE HARD TO DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I DO THINK THERE'S A BUDGET THAT WE HAVE TO APPROVE AND THEN THOSE POLICIES AND CONTROLS.
IF I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, YOUR BIGGEST FEAR IF WE APPROVE THIS BUDGET, BUT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS MONEY, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE.
I'M PROBABLY LESS WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW YOU'RE STILL FAIRLY NEW.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU, IN MY STATEMENT EARLIER, LET ME JUST CLARIFY THAT.
ON A MACRO LEVEL, I HAVE MY MATH RIGHT.
REVENUES WERE UP 4%, EXPENSES ARE DOWN 14%.
WE GOT TO 4.8 CONTRIBUTION, THE GENERAL FUND.
THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS IN THERE.
AGAIN, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING DAVID, TIM, YOU GUYS HAVE SAID, BUT ON A MACRO LEVEL, I'M HAPPY WITH THIS BUDGET, BUT WE DO HAVE TO GET THOSE CONTROLS.
AS I TOLD YOU ON BREAK, I LOVED THE START OF THOSE POLICIES, THAT WE HAVE TO GET THAT IN OUR DNA.
ALL OF THE EXAMPLES THAT MARY GAVE YOU, AND TIM GAVE YOU ARE BAD THING.
WE GOT SOME SCARS UP HERE FROM WHAT WE INHERITED.
I'M SAYING ON A MACRO LEVEL, I AM FINE WITH APPROVING THIS BUDGET KNOWING THAT THOSE CONTROLS ARE COMING. I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU STAND.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU, KIM, BECAUSE I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING DAVID AND TIM AND SEAN HAVE SAID.
WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH THIS BUDGET, I THINK THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE IN MY OPINION.
>> I WILL SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE ALSO THAT THE ADOPTION OF THIS BUDGET DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T EVER COME BACK AND MAKE AMENDMENTS AFTER WE HAVE SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AND AFTER WE REALLY NAIL DOWN SOME OF THOSE FINANCIAL POLICIES.
>> WITH THAT SAID, DAVID, DID YOU HEAR HYPOTHETICAL, WE APPROVE THIS BUDGET.
YOU CAN MAKE THEM BEEN AMENDMENTS.
>> YOU CAN APPROVE IT AS IS AND THEN TAKE AWAY TWO FTE AND SOME OF THE EXAMS GOLD STUFFS.
>> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN, I WANT THESE POLICIES CLEANED UP.
I WANT THEM EXECUTED AND APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
AM I LOOKING TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT? NO. DO I THINK SALARIES SHOULD [OVERLAPPING]? OH, MY GOD, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M TALKING TO THESE WORDS.
[LAUGHTER] LOOK, AS I SAID TO YOU BEFORE, THERE IS BROAD CATEGORIES IN HERE WHICH THE SALARIES ARE SALARIES, THE BENEFITS ARE BENEFITS.
I WISH WE'D BROKEN THEM OUT AND WE COULD ALL SEE AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THE BENEFITS ARE BEING SPENT.
>> WE DO HAVE THAT AS AN APPENDICES.
CASEY, THE REALITY IS HOW MANY OF
[03:55:01]
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE SEVEN ATTACHMENTS TO A BUDGET?>> THEN HAVE SEVEN LINE ITEMS OF THE SAME THING.
>> THEN 120 PAGES OF LINE ITEMS. DID ANYONE ACTUALLY READ THROUGH THOSE?
>> YEAH. WHAT I MEAN AND THIS IS MY POINT.
I'D REALLY DO WANT TO SEE A LIST OF OUR CONTRACTORS.
I THINK I ASKED FOR THAT THREE WEEKS AGO.
WE SAT IN YOUR OFFICE, MENTIONED IT TO YOU, THEN I SEND A FOLLOW UP EMAIL, ASKED FOR IT AGAIN.
I KNOW I'M NOT THE LOUDEST GUY IN THE ROOM, WHICH DON'T PARTICULARLY WANT TO BE, BUT THOSE ARE THINGS WHEN I ASKED FOR I GENUINELY REALLY FEEL LIKE THOSE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
I ASSUME WE KNOW WHAT SOFTWARE WE'RE GOING TO USE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR, WE KNOW THE CONTRACTORS WHO GENERALLY WE'RE GOING TO USE AND WE KNOW WHAT THE BUDGETS ARE AND WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE SPENDING AGAINST WHAT WE HAD PROJECTED THAT WE WANTED TO SPEND.
SAME DEAL IN REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE.
I SAID BEFORE, IF WE HAVE A BUDGET FOR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE, WE SHOULD BE TALLYING UP ALL THE MONEY WE SPEND IN REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE AND SHOWING EXACTLY WHERE WE SPENT, WHERE WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO SPEND AND HOW MUCH HEADROOM WE HAVE LEFT.
THIS IS ALL REALLY SIMPLE STUFF, BUT IT'S REALLY CLEAR.
THEN IF SUDDENLY I'D STILL WANT TO KNOW WHO IF IT'S BEING OURS.
>> THEY ARE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTORS.
>> THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR 15, 20 YEARS.
>> BUT TO YOUR POINT DAVID, WE'VE HAD VENDORS THAT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS TOWN.
>> YES. WE'VE HIRED CONSULTANTS WITHOUT THEM COMING INTO COUNCIL.
THIS IS WHAT I'M SAYING HAS TO STOP.
I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP US HELP YOU GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE, BUT HELP US FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THIS IS GOING TO STOP.
>> YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN. I DON'T ARGUE WITH THAT.
>> THAT'S IT. LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT TRYING TO PROTEST THE FUNCTIONING OF GOOD GOVERNMENT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN SOMEBODY STOPS ME AND SAYS, "HEY, WHY DID THE TOWN SPEND MONEY ON THAT," I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL HIM WHY.
>> I WILL SAY THAT THIS BUDGET I'M HYPER-AWARE THAT NOBODY WANTS TO READ THAT 120 PAGES OF LINE ITEMS, BUT I'M QUITE PROUD OF STAFF.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE EVER PUT THAT DETAIL.
>> WE IT HAD LAST YEAR. WE HAD 120 PAGE BUDGET LAST YEAR AND I WENT THROUGH EVERY SINGLE PAGE WITH A PENCIL [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY MAY BE INCOMPLETE, BUT AGAIN, EVEN SINCE YOU GUYS HAVE COME ON, IT'S NOT LIKE ALL OF THIS ACTIVITY STOPPED.
>> WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THIS.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A COMPROMISE HERE.
I THINK THE COMPROMISE HAS TO BE, WE NEED TO PUSH THIS POLICY THROUGH, WE NEED TO GET THESE LIST OF OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS AND CONTRACTORS LIKE I SAID AND THE NAMES AND IF THEY ARE TO BE HIRED, BUT NOT IDENTIFIED, LIKE I SAID IN MY EMAIL TO YOU GUYS, THEN THERE SHOULD BE A PLACEHOLDER FOR THEM IN THE BUDGET.
THEN WHEN YOU GO AND HIRE SOMEBODY, IF AS LONG AS YOU'RE IN YOUR THRESHOLD LIMITS, YOU CAN POINT TO THAT LIST OF DEFINITIVE CONTRACTORS AND SAY, "HEY, THIS IS THE EXACT LIST WE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL." I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS LIST THAT YOU GAVE US.
>> THAT HAS TO DO MOSTLY WITH [OVERLAPPING].
>> BEING HAMSTRUNG WITH A SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE.
>> I UNDERSTAND HAS BROKEN DOWN BY YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBERS, WHICH MEANS NOTHING TO US.
>> WE'RE ALSO A VERY LITTLE TOWN.
WE'RE NOT SOUTHLAKE, WE'RE NOT DALLAS, SO IT SHOULD BE AN EASIER TASK.
>> ARE YOU PROPOSING BE HERE IN MINUTES OF THE BUDGET?
>> NO, I DIDN'T. LOOK, I'M NOT ASKING TO CUT IT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE IS SOME NEFARIOUS PURPOSE TO IT.
I'M JUST SAYING IT LACKS CLARITY.
I JUST WANT TO GET IT TO A POINT WHERE WE ALL JUST CAN LOOK AT A 10, 15, 20 PAGE PRESENTATION.
>> DAVID WHAT I WANT TO GET TO IS HAVE THE FAITH AND TRUST IN OUR TOWN STAFF.
THAT WHEN WE DO BUDGET NEXT YEAR I REALLY WANT TO GO, REVENUES WERE UP 4%, EXPENSES DOWN 14%, HERE IS THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. DOING A GREAT JOB Y'ALL.
>> I KNOW WE'RE NOT THERE, BUT AS MUCH AS I WANT TO LEAVE.
I DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE TONIGHT [OVERLAPPING].
WHAT I WOULD ASK IS, I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HERE TONIGHT THAT DON'T HAVE A DATE THAT WE'RE SITTING DOWN AND WE'RE FINISHING THOSE POLICIES.
>> YES, SIR. I GOT THAT ON MY LIST.
I WANT SPECIFIC TIME AND DATE THAT DAVID WILL GET THOSE AND HE CAN LOOK AT IT AND SEND TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.
BUT I'LL APPROVE THIS BUDGET BASED ON THOSE THINGS.
I WANT HIM TO GET HIS INFORMATION ASKED. HE'LL GET TO US.
>> BASICALLY CAN HAVE THOSE LISTS TOGETHER BY FRIDAY? [OVERLAPPING] WE'LL HAVE A LIST OF CONTRACTORS, THE LIST OF SOFTWARE.
>> I THINK YOU'RE THE SOFTWARE IS PRETTY MUCH COMPLETE.
>> THEN, WHO'S GOING TO GET IN A ROOM TO RED LINE THESE POLICIES AND GET THIS BEHIND US.
>> I WILL ASSUME THE POLICY IS OUT AND A RED LINE VERSION TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
EVERYBODY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN CHANGES AND I'LL COMPILE THOSE CHANGES AND IT'LL BE BACK AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
>> IS THAT THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT OR DO WE GET PEOPLE IN A ROOM? I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO YOU.
>> TO GET PEOPLE IN THE ROOM HAS A LOT OF SCHEDULING AND EVERYTHING [OVERLAPPING].
>> [OVERLAPPING] RED LINE AND FROM MY HOME AND CIRCLE THEM TO YOU WAYS THAT YOU CAN CIRCLE THEM TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'LL FORWARD MINE TO DAVID. [LAUGHTER]
[04:00:03]
>> I'LL LOOK AT IT MUCH ALL RED LINE.
>> DO YOU THINK WE'VE GOT ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING?
>> I'M GOING TO OPEN UP TO A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE? YOU WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I SEE WE DO IT SEQUENTIALLY HERE, IS THAT WE HAVE TO DO? THAT'S FOR THE TAX RATE.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET? CAN I HAVE A FIRST?
>> CAN WE DO THE CAVEAT? WELL, IT'D BE IN A MINUTES.
I WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE TOWN, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WORK TOGETHER TO GET THIS CLEANED UP.
>> WE CAN EITHER MAKE IT IN THE MOTION OR AT THE VERY END OF OUR AGENDA.
THERE IS A RECAP AND I'LL GO OVER IT IN A RECAP.
>> MAKE A MOTION SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S THE LIST OF CONTRACTORS, LIST OF SOFTWARE BY FRIDAY TO DAVID AND THEN THE RED LINE VERSION OUT TO COUNCIL THIS WEEK.
>> THERE IS GOING TO BE A FEW MORE ITEMS, BUT I THINK GETTING YOUR LIST OF CONTRACT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ONE, SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING MAJOR.
>> CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE BUDGET SUBJECT TO OUR CONDITIONS OF CONTRACTS AND ETC. FIRST?
LET'S MOVE ON TO RECEIVE A REPORT ABOUT PROPOSED TAX RATE.
[H.2. ORD 975 Receive a Report on the Proposed Tax Rate; Conduct a Public Hearing; Consider Adopting Ordinance 975 Approving an Ad Valorem Tax Rate; and take appropriate action (Tabled from the September 11, 2023 Town Council Meeting) (Cayce Lay Lamas)]
I THINK WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED THIS REPORT, DIDN'T WE? I'LL TO DO OTHER PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE WE DID A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE.WE DO. THAT'S THE PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERING ADOPTING ALREADY [INAUDIBLE] TAX RATE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
>> DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> YEAH. WE DON'T NEED A BRIEF. DO WE NEED A BRIEF AGAIN? NO. ANY FIRST?
>> DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE THE MOTION?
>> I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF $0.16788, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 7.59% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE, BUT I WILL CAVEAT THAT IT'S THE EXACT SAME RATE WE ADOPTED LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE.
>> YES. LET ME CLOSE DOWN EVERYTHING, I THINK WE HAD EVERYTHING ON HERE.
[I.1. Consider a Resolution to Ratify the Property Tax Increase as Reflected in the FY 2024 Annual Operating and Capital Budget; and take appropriate action (Tabled from the September 11, 2023 Council Meeting) (Cayce Lay Lamas)]
IT IS THE REVENUE RATIFICATION.IT'S A PROCEDURAL THING THAT SAYS BECAUSE THE TAX RATE IS GOING TO COLLECT $1 MORE, YOU'LL HAVE TO VOTE AGAIN.
>> REVENUE RATIFICATION, IS THAT UNDER I1?
>> CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO RATIFY PROPERTY TAX INCREASES REFLECTED IN FY 2024 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
>> I'M GOING TO DO THE DEBRIEF HERE.
>> ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
WE'LL JUMP ON TO FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING?
[L. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
>> ONE ON WHAT WE DID IN TROPIC CLUB TO ELIMINATE CRIME VIRTUALLY THAN NOTHING WITH THE FLOCK WORN CAMERAS.
I THINK CHIEF FORTUNATE LIGHTS.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A BID FOR OUR TOWN ON THAT.
IT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT 30, 35 GRAND, BUT IT WILL REALLY KEEP THE BAD GUYS OVER TOWN.
>> THEN THE SECOND ONE IS, VIC HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH ME WITH THE HUGO AND THE TATAS PEOPLE, I KNOW RON JUST TRYING TO WORK THROUGH SOME ARCHITECTURE THING, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM HERE.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE THEM TO THE NEXT MEETING.
>> WE'LL INVITE THEM NEXT MEETING. ANYTHING ELSE? I'LL LIKE TO ADD ONE THING ACTUALLY, ON THE PUBLIC WAY.
THE CROSSWALK OVER BY THE SCHOOL, KID ALMOST GOT HIT.
A PARENT WAS ALMOST GOT HIT AGAIN THIS MORNING.
WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING. THERE IS 70 KIDS IN CROSS COUNTRY.
EITHER WE DO AN OVERPASS AND UNDERPASS OR BETTER OR STREET LIGHTING OR PERMANENT COP OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, BUT WE NEED SOMETHING ON THERE BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING TOO MUCH RISK.
>> DON'T WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC WORKER THERE? CAN THEY MAKE THAT JOB ONE.
>> BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING SO THAT WE HAVE A PERMANENT SOLUTION, SO WE DON'T HAVE KIDS CROSS THAT ROAD.
[04:05:02]
IT'S A BLIND CURVE ON A DOWNHILL.I'VE SEEN TOO MANY TIMES PEOPLE ALMOST GET HIT.
>> THAT NEEDS WE PREPARE AN AGENDA FOR THAT.
[M. COUNCIL RECAP/STAFF DIRECTION]
>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL WHAT I HAVE FOR COUNCIL RECAP OF THE CROSSWALK DISCUSSION BY THE SCHOOL, BUT HUGO'S AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
ALSO HAVE THE FLOCK WARRANT CAMERAS, LPRS, WE'LL BE WORKING ON GETTING A BID AND MAKE SURE WE GOT THE RIGHT LOCATIONS FOR THOSE THINGS.
WE HAVE TABLED THE NETWORK SECURITY EQUIPMENT TO THE NEXT MEETING.
THEN I HAVE, WE'RE BRINGING BACK A RED LINE VERSION.
I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY EMAIL THAT OUT TO ALL THE COUNCIL FOR THIS WEEK.
THEN BY FRIDAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LIST OF CONTRACTORS AND SOFTWARE.
>> YEAH. I DIDN'T MAKE THIS A CAVEAT, BUT I THINK ANY NEW PURCHASES OF SOFTWARE, USE OF CONSULTANTS OR HIRES, ETC, SHOULD COME BACK TO US UNTIL WE GET THIS POLICY IN PLACE.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? CLOSE IT OUT.
ADJOURNMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.