[00:00:04] >> GOOD EVENING. [A. CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCE A QUORUM PRESENT] WELCOME TO THE WESTLAKE TOWN COUNCIL, WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2024. I CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. THE TIME IS FOUR O'CLOCK. [NOISE] WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER ASSELTA IS ON VIDEO. I'D LIKE TO START WITH AN INVOCATION BY PASTOR BILL EASON. >> PRAYER. ALMIGHTY, MERCIFUL, GRACIOUS, AND LOVING GOD. IN THIS MOMENT OF PRAYER, WE SEEK REFUGE FROM THE CHAOS OF OUR SURROUNDING WORLD. GIVE TO US YOUR PEACE AND YOUR GRACE. REMIND US THAT THE SACRED NATURE OF THESE MOMENTS IN THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT LIES BEFORE US. REMIND US THAT WHAT WE DO IN THIS TOWN COUNCIL MEETING AFFECTS MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WE SHARE. BLESS NOW ALL WHO GATHER IN THIS PLACE, BLESS THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING THAT LIES BEFORE US, BLESS THOSE WHO LEAD US. TO THOSE WHO LEAD, GRANT THE PATIENCE OF COOPERATION OR DISCUSSIONS ENCOUNTERED HERE, GRANT CLARITY OF THOUGHT. FOR DECISIONS MADE HERE, GRANT THE COURAGE FOR TRUTH. LET US BE SURROUNDED WITH YOUR GRACE AS WE PRACTICE DISCERNMENT, WISDOM, AND VISION. KEEP EVER BEFORE US THE BROKEN PLACES OF OUR LIFE TOGETHER, PLACES OF DESPAIR AND DISAPPOINTMENT, PLACES OF PAIN AND INJUSTICE, PLACES OF NEGLECT AND ABUSE. IN A WORLD TODAY, IT SEEMS WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SO MANY EXTREMES. WE ARE OFTEN TEMPTED TO TAKE THE SHORT JOURNEY TO AN EXTREME POSITION. JUST FIVE DAYS AGO ON SEPTEMBER THE 11TH, WE PAUSE TO REMEMBER. REMEMBER THE DANGER OF SUCH EXTREME BELIEFS. REMEMBERING THE SACRIFICE OF SO MANY, REMEMBERING THOSE BRAVE WOMEN AND MEN WHO FEARLESSLY WENT INTO THE UNKNOWN, SACRIFICING THEMSELVES TO HELP OTHERS. BLESS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO WATCH OVER US AND PROTECT US. REMIND US TODAY THAT WHAT DIVIDES US PALES IN COMPARISON TO WHAT UNITES US. REMIND US OF OUR LOVE FOR YOU AND OUR LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR, HELP US KEEP OUR VISION AND OUR PURPOSE TOWARDS THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL PEOPLE. A VISION THAT BENEFITS OUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. AS WE JOURNEY TOGETHER, SET OUR HEARTS TO BEAT AND RHYTHM WITH YOURS AND BLEND US WITH ALL PEOPLE OF GOODWILL, BOTH IN THIS PLACE AND BEYOND, AS THIS COMMUNITY STANDS AS A BEACON OF HOPE OF PEACE, AND OF JUSTICE. FOR THIS, WE PRAY IN YOUR HOLY AND PRECIOUS NAME. AMEN. >> AMEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GO DOWN. ALL PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN THE PLEDGE OF THE TEXAS FLAG. >> WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TONIGHT TO HAVE JAMES AND JOSHUA MILLER WITH US, TWO OF OUR PYP STUDENTS. JAMES IS A FOURTH GRADER AND HE'S IN MISS THOMPSON'S CLASS, AND SHE DESCRIBES HIM AS SOMEONE WHO LOVES TO READ AND LOVES HISTORY. SAYS HISTORY IS HIS PASSION. ONE OF OUR IB TRAITS IS BEING AN INQUIRE AND SHE SAID THAT HE IS ONE OF THE BEST ENQUIRES THAT SHE'S EVER SEEN. CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT, JAMES. JOSHUA IS A SECOND GRADER IN MISS ORMON'S CLASS. HE HAS LEARNER PROFILE TRAITS OF A RISK TAKER, AND HE WORKS REALLY HARD AT SCHOOL AND ENJOYS FOOTBALL, HIS HORSES, HIS FAMILY, AND HIS FRIENDS, AND HE PUTS HIS HEART INTO EVERYTHING HE DOES. BOYS WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU TONIGHT TO LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGE. ALLEGIANCE] [APPLAUSE]. >> I LOVE THAT PART. THAT'S JUST THE BEST. GOING TO AGENDA ITEM C-1 RESOLUTION 24-65, [C.1. Consider and act to approve Resolution 24-65 Making an appointment to Council Member Place 2 to serve until the next Municipal Election] CONSIDER AN ACT TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 24-65, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE 2 TO SERVE UNTIL THE NEXT MUNICIPAL ELECTION. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 24-65 TO APPROVE MICHAEL YACKIRA TO COUNCIL PLACE 2? [00:05:05] >> THERE MOVED. >> CAN I GET A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. LET JUST TELL YOU REAL QUICK ABOUT WE ARE SO PLEASED WHEN WE HAD THIS OPENING ON COUNCIL. WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE APPLY, AND MICHAEL YACKIRA HAS BEEN IN WESTLAKE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. HE'S IN QUAIL HOLLOW. HE HAS A CEO, CFO BACKGROUND. HE HAS BEEN ON NUMEROUS BOARDS FROM UNITED WAY OF SOUTHERN NEVADA TO THE STATEWIDE MEDICAL SCHOOL STEERING COMMITTEE. HE IS STILL ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, A FOUNDATION FOR UNLV. HE'S ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE SMITH CENTER PERFORMING ARTS, AND HE IS ON THE FOUNDATION FOR LEHMAN COLLEGE. NOW HE IS A TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER OF WESTLAKE AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE HIM. HE'S ACTUALLY HAD A MEDICAL PROCEDURE TODAY. ONE THAT I'VE HAD, THE SPINAL INJECTION, WE HAVE BAD BACKS. WE HAVE THAT IN COMMON, BUT HE WILL BE READY TO GO IN TWO WEEKS. BUT MICHAEL, GET BETTER AND WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE ON COUNCIL. >> IF I CAN JUST ADD TO THAT, DURING HIS INTERVIEW PROCESS, MICHAEL REALLY DOES HAVE A HEART TO SERVE AND HE HAS A PASSION FOR EDUCATION. HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING ABOUT WESTLAKE ACADEMY AND MORE ABOUT OUR TOWN. >> I THINK WADE, HE'S COMING UP HERE TO GO OVER THE FINANCIALS AND WE HAD LUNCH WITH HIM LAST WEEK, [OVERLAPPING]. >> AS SOON AS HE GETS RECOVERED, WE HAVE A DATE SET ASIDE FOR HIM TO COME UP AND GO THROUGH ALL THE FINANCIALS FOR THE TOWN. >> THANK YOU. PERFECT. >> THANK Y'ALL. DEREK MILES, IS HE HERE? WE'RE GOING TO DO A PROCLAMATION. [Proclaiming September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (Mayor Kim Greaves)] DEREK, THANKS FOR BEING HERE. WE'RE GOING TO PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 2024 IS PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. WHEREAS, PROSTATE CANCER IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CANCERS IN AMERICA AND THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER DEATHS FOR TEXAS MEN. IT'S A SERIOUS CONDITION THAT PLAGUES THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF MEN, THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THEIR LOVED ONES. WHEREAS PROSTATE CANCER IS THE MOST FREQUENT DIAGNOSED CANCER AMONG MEN IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE ONE IN EIGHT WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH THIS PROSTATE CANCER AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE WITH MOST CASES OCCURRING IN MEN OVER THE AGE OF 45. HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHER MULTIPLE FACTORS THAT CAN INCREASE A PATIENT'S RISK SUCH AS FAMILY HISTORY, PROSTATE CANCER, AND BEING OVERWEIGHT. WHEREAS, ALTHOUGH PROSTATE CANCER GIVE JUST CAUSE FOR CONCERN, MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS CAN CURE THE DISEASE AND SCREENING CAN HELP DETECT CANCER IN ITS EARLIEST STAGES BEFORE IT IS SPREAD. ACCORDINGLY, ALL TEXANS AND WESTLAKE RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE ANNUAL PROSTATE SCREENING AND SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE. THE OTHER WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TEXAS LOSS TO PROSTATE CANCER. THEREFORE, I KIM GREAVES, MAYOR OF TOWN OF WESTLAKE, WITH THE TOWN COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 2024 TO BE PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ANY COMMENTS? >> JUST QUICKLY. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK WAIDE CARROLL AND THE COUNCIL BECAUSE PROSTATE CANCER IS PERSONAL TO ME. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, MY FATHER 60S AT PROSTATE CANCER. BUT THE SILVER LINING THERE WAS HE FOUND OUT EARLY. FINDING OUT EARLY HAS BECOME A PET PROJECT FOR ME. THERE'S NEW TECHNOLOGIES TODAY THAT YOU CAN FIND OUT AS EARLY AS STAGE 0. IF YOU FIND OUT ANY TYPE OF CANCER AT STAGE 0, THERE'S A 99% SURVIVAL RATE. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. >> LET ME JUST SHARE A PERSONAL STORY. MY STEPFATHER PASSED OF PROSTATE CANCER YEARS AND YEARS AGO, AND I'M PRETTY DILIGENT, BUT I HAD AN ELEVATED PSA SCORE AND I WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE RIGHT THING, BUT I HAVE AS MILD AS YOU CAN GET PROSTATE CANCER AND LUCKILY IT'S ON OBSERVATION EVERY SIX MONTHS, BUT I KNOW WE'VE HAD OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD THOSE ISSUES, BUT YOU DO HAVE TO GET CHECKED. THESE THINGS ARE IF YOU CATCH THEM EARLY, AS THEY TELL US, YOU CAN BE IN GOOD SHAPE WITH THEM. >> YOU'RE WITH WHERE? >> EXCUSE ME? >> WHAT GROUP ARE YOU WITH? >> I'M WITH A COMPANY CALLED CORMED. WE'RE A PRIVATE CLIENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS PLATFORM. WE PROVIDE HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO PRIVATE CLIENTS. TYPICALLY IN A BANK, YOU'RE A CUSTOMER UNTIL YOU HAVE AT LEAST $1 MILLION IN INVESTABLE ASSETS. ONCE YOU HAVE ONE MILLION INVESTABLE ASSETS, YOU BECOME A PRIVATE CLIENT. WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO HIGH NET WORTH INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOMES. GONE ON THE DAYS OF WAITING IN CLINICS, SENDING TRAFFIC, WAITING FOR A PLACE TO PARK, WE SEND WORLD CLASS HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS TO YOUR HOME OFFICE OR ON THE GO. [00:10:01] [APPLAUSE] >> ANY CITIZEN AND PARENT COMMENTS. I DID NOT SEE ANY. GOOD. MR. SASS ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST. [F. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST] >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. HELLO, EVERYBODY. WE'VE GOT A BUSY NEXT FEW WEEKS. I KNOW WE MENTIONED A LOT OF THESE THINGS THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT THE TRAIN KEEPS ON GOING. THERE'S TONS OF GREAT ACTIVITIES GOING ON IN NOT ONLY THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE, BUT WESTLAKE ACADEMY. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A QUICK RUNDOWN ON ALL OF THESE THINGS, BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE'LL BE POSTING THIS ON A SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNEL RIGHT AFTER THIS MEETING AS WELL AS YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR ON THE FRONT OF OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AS WELL AS THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY WEBSITE AS WELL. LET'S START OFF WITH SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON. IT'S A HUGE DEAL, BLACKSMITH GIVING DAY HAPPENING THIS THURSDAY. THE GOAL IS TO RAISE $1.25 MILLION FOR THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT THE ACADEMY AND DR. RICHIE ARE DOING THERE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE ACCOMPLISHING EVERY DAY, EVERY CLASS. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A STUDENT AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO DONATE BECAUSE THE SUCCESS OF WESTLAKE ACADEMY IS THE SUCCESS OF WESTLAKE AS WELL. WE HOPE EVERYBODY CAN DONATE. COMING UP HERE, WE'VE GOT FOUR STRATEGIC PLANNING PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT ARE COMING UP HERE IN SEPTEMBER AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER. THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION AGAIN, SO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE. WE SENT OUT A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ALREADY. BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS, STAKEHOLDERS, WA PARENTS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD REGARDING THE FUTURE OF WESTLAKE, WESTLAKE ACADEMY, FOR RESIDENT AND PARENT FEEDBACK. IT'S SO VERY IMPORTANT. WE HOPE EVERYBODY CAN ATTEND. SOME OF THOSE DATES, WE HAVE TWO IN PERSON MEETINGS AND TWO VIRTUAL MEETINGS AS WELL. THE FIRST IN PERSON MEETING IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, FROM 6:00-9:00, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE HELD AT 1,500 SOLANA BOULEVARD, BUILDING 7. THIS IS THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE, RIGHT DOWN THE HALL, IS GOING TO BE THOSE MEETING ROOMS WHERE THESE MEETINGS ARE GOING TO BE HELD. THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST ONE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH, FROM 6:00-9:00. THE SECOND IN PERSON MEETING WILL BE THE VERY NEXT DAY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH, AND THAT'S FROM 10:00-12:00 IN THOSE SAME MEETING ROOMS. AGAIN, YOU CAN CHECK OUT ALL THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE. I'M SURE RESIDENTS HAVE SEEN THAT EMAIL ALREADY GO OUT. THE TWO VIRTUAL MEETINGS IN CASE YOU AREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THE ONES THAT ARE IN PERSON, ARE GOING TO BE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST, FROM 6:00-7:30 PM. THEN THE NEXT DAY, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2ND, FROM 10:00-1130. LINKS ARE ALSO INCLUDED, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ATTEND THOSE VIRTUAL MEETINGS ON OUR WEBSITE. OUR FALL CLEANUP AS WE GET INTO OCTOBER ACTIVITIES, OCTOBER 5TH, THAT'S A SATURDAY FROM 9:00-12:00, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE TWO BIG DUMPSTERS FOR BULK WASTE, ELECTRONIC RECYCLING, A SHREDDING TRUCK, HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP OFF TRUCK, AND YOU HAVE TO BE A WESTLAKE RESIDENT AND SHOW PROOF OF RESIDENCY TO TAKE PART. THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S 100% FREE. IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO CLEAN OUT YOUR HOUSE OR YOUR GARAGE, WE'RE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. AGAIN, THAT'S OCTOBER 5TH. ON OCTOBER 19TH, IS THE MONSTER MASH TRUNK OR TREAT EVENT. THAT'S A SATURDAY AS WELL. THAT'S GOING TO BE FROM 5:00-7:00 PM. THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY FIELDHOUSE PARKING LOT. FOLKS CAN DECORATE THEIR TRUNKS, HAND OUT CANDY, ACADEMY, STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND WESTLAKE RESIDENTS ARE ALL INVITED. THAT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN. THAT'S ALWAYS PRETTY VISUAL. KIDS HAVE A GREAT TIME. SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO MENTION AS WE CLOSE THIS OUT. OUR WESTLAKE TOGETHER CONCERT SERIES IS KICKING OFF ON OCTOBER 9TH AND THE 23RD. WE HAVE TWO CONCERTS COMING UP IN OCTOBER. AZARD COUNTY PLAYS THEIR TOP 40 AND COUNTRY HITS ON OCTOBER 9TH, AND THEN WE HAVE A TAYLOR SWIFT COVER BAND COMING UP ON THE 23RD, AND BOTH THOSE CONCERTS ARE 6:00-7:00 ON THE 9TH AND THE 23RD. IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT OUT HERE RIGHT BEHIND OUR COUNCIL. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NICE STAGE, FOOD, DRINKS, VENDORS. IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME. IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN, AND I'M HOPING THE WEATHER WILL BE TURNED OUT AND MAYBE IT'LL COOL DOWN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, I'M SURE. WE ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING FUN THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT AFTER THIS MEETING. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COUNCIL SOCIAL HOUR TONIGHT IN THE TARA LOUNGE, WHICH IS RIGHT BEHIND US, RIGHT ACROSS THE HALL HERE AT 1,500 SOLANA BOULEVARD. IT'S GOING TO BE A TON OF FUN. IT'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT AND MEET WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR, STAFF, AND SO FORTH. FOLKS FROM WESTLAKE ACADEMY AND GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. EVERYBODY'S NEIGHBORS HERE AND WANT TO TALK ABOUT [00:15:03] THINGS THAT MAY BE ON YOUR MIND AND LEARN MORE ABOUT WESTLAKE AND WESTLAKE ACADEMY. >> JUST AS A REMINDER, GETTING BACK TO THOSE PUBLIC MEETINGS, WE WILL BE HANDING OUT THESE FLYERS AT THIS LITTLE GATHERING RIGHT AFTERWARDS THAT GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING. IF YOU WANTED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, YOU COME BY. AND I HAVE A GOOD TIME. ALSO, WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY ABOUT AN EMAIL THAT WE HAVE. IT'S CALLED INFO@WESTLAKE TX.GOV, THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE KUDOS, COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, WHATEVER IT MAYBE. WE'VE GOT EVERYBODY TAGGED ON THAT, ALL THESE STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT AND ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO JUST LEAVE SOME INFORMATION. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU CAN'T ATTEND SOME OF THESE MEETINGS OR ONE OF THE GATHERINGS LIKE TONIGHT. THEN YOU CAN USE INFO@WESTLAKE TX.GOV TO LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS. THEN FINALLY, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE OUR BRAND NEW COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST, ALEXA WADON RIGHT OVER HERE. SHE JOINED US LAST WEEK. THIS IS HER SECOND WEEK. WE'RE THROWING HER TO THE DOGS, OBVIOUSLY. [LAUGHTER] BUT ALEXA HAS A GREAT BACKGROUND IN JOURNALISM BOTH ON AIR IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, AS WELL AS WRITTEN PRINT. THAT'S GOING TO SERVE US WELL FOR STROLL MAGAZINE AND SOME OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS. BUT NOT TO GET EVERYBODY TOO HYPE, BUT SHE'S GOT A GREAT VIDEO COMING OUT HERE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS ABOUT OUR WONDERFUL TRAIL SYSTEM AROUND WESTLAKE. I'M EXCITED FOR ALL YOU GUYS. I KNEW THE MAYOR WOULD GET EXCITED ABOUT THAT. [LAUGHTER] I THINK YOU'RE GET EVEN MORE EXCITED AFTER YOU SEE THIS VIDEO. SHE'S ALREADY DONE A FANTASTIC JOB, SO PLEASE WELCOME HER. THOSE ARE YOUR ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST. >> WE MET LAST WEEK. WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE. THANKS FOR JOINING IN THE WESTLAKE FAMILY. JOHN, I JUST WANT TO WRAP UP FRIDAY NIGHT. I WANT TO THANK KELLY AND MAXWELL AND JAMES. WE HAD TRAGIC EVENTS OF THE SUMMER. WE LOST A CURRENT STUDENT AND AN ALUMNI. WE HAD A REALLY NICE CEREMONY AT THE FOOTBALL GAME FRIDAY NIGHT, THE JUNIOR HIGH, HAD THE PARENTS THERE, I GAVE THEM THEY'RE JERSEY. WE HAVE THE NUMBERS ON THE HELMETS FOR JUNIOR HIGH AND VARSITY RESPECTFULLY, BUT REALLY SHOWED WELL. I THINK WESTLAKE ACADEMY FAMILY, HOW WE TREATED THAT AND IS REALLY TOUCHING. THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. >> JAMES AND MAXWELL REALLY TOOK THE LEAD ON ALL OF THAT AND DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. >> THANK YOU ALL APPRECIATE IT. VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WHEN'S THE VIDEO COMING OUT ON THE TRAILS? >> NEXT WEEK. >> THANK YOU. I JUST I ASK FOR VERY LITTLE. [LAUGHTER] WE'RE NOW ON ITEM G1 PRESENTATIONS, [G.1. Westlake Academy IB Viewbook Presentation (Michelle Briggs, Westlake Academy Director of Innovation and Development)] WA 24-307 WESTLAKE ACADEMY, IB VE BOOK PRESENTATION, MICHELLE BRIGGS. BEARING UP HERE. >> TWO MEETINGS IN A ROW. >> YES. >> THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME. AS PROMISED, IT'S NOT ANOTHER VIDEO THIS WEEK, BUT THIS IS A ROUGH DRAFT OF WHAT I'M HOPING WESTLAKE ACADEMY IB WORLD SCHOOL LOOK BOOK WELL. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE SECONDS TO SCROLL. AS I TALK ABOUT IT, JUST FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE IT IN YOUR HANDS, IT IS GOING TO BE A BOOK. AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT PRICES AND SIZES AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT TELLS ALL ABOUT THE IB PROGRAM AND HOPEFULLY A VISUALLY APPEALING WAY, IN A WAY THAT WE CAN MARKET WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING. JASON, DO I HAVE? ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS IS, WHY DO WE NEED IT? ONE, OF COURSE, IT'S NOT A NEED. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD REALLY HOPE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN. DURING MY EXTENSIVE RESEARCH PROCESS, I FOUND THAT MOST SCHOOLS IN GREATER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A WAY FOR THEIR STAKEHOLDERS TO REALLY EASILY IN AND CONSUME INFORMATION IN A FUN AND EASY AND REALLY DYNAMIC WAY. OUR GOALS WITH THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE TO PROMOTE WESTLAKE ACADEMY. SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR RESIDENTS SO THAT WE HAVE MORE BUY IN FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL WHERE WE CAN GET PEOPLE FROM WESTLAKE TO REALLY BUY INTO WHAT WE'RE DOING AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY. ONE IS TO PROMOTE. TWO IS TO EDUCATE. [00:20:01] LIKE I SAID, TWO WEEKS AGO, EDUCATING OUR STAKEHOLDERS, EDUCATING OUR PARENTS, EDUCATING OUR TOWN COUNCIL ON WHAT IB IS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU GUYS TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO WHAT WESTLAKE ACADEMY CAN OFFER. THEN ALSO TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO WITH THIS IS PUT THESE IN THE HANDS OF THE CHARLES SCHWAB TRANSITION TEAMS OR THE FIDELITY, TRANSITION TEAMS TO HAVE THESE PROFESSIONALS BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT OUR SCHOOL CAN OFFER AND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS AND CAN ENGAGE IN. THOSE ARE OUR THREE GOALS. THERE'S GOING TO BE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS FOR DISTRIBUTION. DR. RICHIE AND I ARE LOOKING INTO OUR BUDGET TO SEE WHAT FUNDING WE HAVE, BUT THE BEST, I GUESS, THE FIRST THING IS FREE. ALL OF THESE PICTURES AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THERE, I'VE DONE, AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE FREE TO PUT ON THE WEBSITE. EVERYBODY WHO GOES TO OUR WEBSITE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONSUME IT, SEE IT, ENJOY IT, AND LEARN FROM IT. THE SECOND LEVEL IS GOING TO BE MATERIALS FOR EVENTS AND TOURS. IF WE HAVE A TOUR, IF WE HAVE AN EVENT, IF WE HAVE A FUNDRAISER, WE ABLE TO SEND PEOPLE HOME WITH ACTUAL TANGIBLE INFORMATION ABOUT IB. THEN IF WE DO HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT, HOPEFULLY, ALL OF THE EVENTS, BUT ALSO MAILERS TO WESTLAKE RESIDENTS. WE'RE WORKING ON DO WE LIKE THIS SIZE? DO WE WANT IT TO BE THE HALF BOOKLET SIZE? WHAT'S THE MOST ATTAINABLE THERE. WE HAVE AGAIN ARE THREE OPTIONS. FIRST, IT'S FREE, IT'S UNLIMITED. EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO THE WEBSITE, EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT. IF WE WANTED TO DO THE MATERIALS FOR THE EVENTS AND TOURS, IT WOULD BE ABOUT 1,200 FOR ABOUT 300 OF THESE. AGAIN, IT'S STRIKING. IT LEAVES A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION. WE'RE ABLE TO SAY, WE KNOW WHO WE ARE, WE WANT YOU TO COME, BE HERE WITH US. THEN THE MAX THAT WE COULD DO IF WE WANTED TO MAKE 1,000 IN THIS SIZE WOULD BE ABOUT 3,000. AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ASKING. THIS IS NOT WE'RE NOT PITCHING, BUT WE ARE JUST WANTING TO INFORM YOU GUYS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING TO HELP PROMOTE THE IB AND HELP PROMOTE WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE IB. ANY QUESTIONS? >> NO, I JUST WANT TO SAY, I THINK THIS IS REALLY A NEED, NOT A WANT BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE ABOUT OUR SCHOOL, BECAUSE WE ARE SPECIAL. WE'VE DONE SOMETHING NO OTHER TOWN IN WESTLAKE NO OTHER TOWN IN TEXAS HAS DONE, OWN AND OPERATE AN IB SCHOOL. BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO WHEN THEY COME. HAVING MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE ABOUT, WHAT THE CURRICULUM IS ABOUT, WHAT THE SCHOOL CULTURE IS LIKE IS HUGE. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK, ANNA. SORRY. >> THIS IS JUST OUTSTANDING. WE JUST OBVIOUSLY GOT IT AND FLIPPED THROUGH, BUT IT'S SO WELL DONE. I LOVE THE PATH WE'RE ALL GOING OUT. WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THIS TO EVERY WESTLAKE RESIDENT, SO THEY KNOW BECAUSE THE SCHOOL ESPECIALLY THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON, AND WE'VE HAD SOME FUNDRAISERS FOR ATHLETICS, AND THIS SCHOOL IS PART OF WESTLAKE. AS ANNA SAID, WE'RE THE ONLY TOWN THAT RUNS A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL. WE HAVE THREE OTHER ISDS THAT OVERLAP WESTLAKE. IT IS OUR TOWN. WE WANT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT. I LOVE THIS. THIS IS SO WELL DONE. YOU GUYS, AGAIN, MICHELLE, YOU'RE DOING THIS STUFF REALLY QUICK. THANK YOU. >> IT'S FIRST CLASS. [LAUGHTER] FOR ANYTHING OUR CORPORATION EVER TURNED OUT, AND IT'S ACTUALLY BETTER THAN ALL THE UNIVERSITIES THAT WENT TO GO SEE BEFORE OUR DAUGHTER CHOSE TO GO TO TCU AND FRANKLY, IT'S BETTER THAN WORTHY IT. GREAT JOB. >> I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK. THANK YOU GUYS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU GUYS SEE THAT YOU'RE LIKE, ABSOLUTELY NOT. OR, HEY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE GOOD, PLEASE SEND IT MY WAY OR DR. RICHIE'S WAY, AND SHE CAN PASS IT ALONG. >> AS MICHELLE SAID, THIS IS A DRAFT. WE'D LIKE TO GET SOME IN PRINT, BUT FOR SURE, TAKE IT HOME, SPEND SOME TIME WITH IT AND ANY FEEDBACK THAT YOU HAVE, WE CAN MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO. >> GREAT JOB. >> THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER]. >> THANK YOU. >> MICHELLE, THANK YOU. WELL, JUST OUTSTANDING. AGENDA ITEM G.2 WA [G.2. 2024 Westlake Academy Student Performance on STAAR and EOC Assessments and discussion (Mrs Beth Hughes, PYP Principal, Mr. Maxwell Ituah, Middle School Principal and Dr. James Owen, High School Principal)] 24-308 2024 WESTLAKE ACADEMY STUDENT PERFORMANCE ON STAAR AND EOC ASSESSMENTS AND DISCUSSIONS, MRS. HUGHES, MAXWELL, JAMES, AND BETH. HOW ARE YOU ALL? >> GREAT. >> ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE. >> JUST OVER A MONTH ON THE JOB. I STARTED AS THE NEW PYP PRINCIPAL ON AUGUST 5TH, SO IT HAS BEEN A WHIRLWIND OF FUN AND EXCITEMENT, [00:25:03] BUT I HAVE LOVED BEING WITH THE LITTLES AND I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THE LAST YEAR WITH OUR STAAR DATA. FIRST SLIDE HERE IS SHOWING THAT FOR MOST SUBJECTS, WE'VE STAYED ON PAR. WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS PASSING RATES, AND MATH HAS STAYED FAIRLY CONSISTENT. BUT THE PART THAT MATTERS FOR THE STUDENT WHO'S GOING TO BE ENTERING THE NYP AND THE DP IS REALLY THE STUDENT WHO IS HAVING A MASTER'S LEVEL SUCCESS. ALTHOUGH THERE'S NOT A SCIENTIFIC CORRELATION BETWEEN SOMEONE SCORING MASTERS AND DOING WELL IN THE DP, WE KNOW THAT THOSE KIDS ARE READY AT A HIGHER RATE, AND SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR STUDENTS AT THE MASTER'S LEVEL, AND WE'RE ABOVE THE STATE IN EVERY CATEGORY. SOME OF THE SUCCESSES THAT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE IB EFFECT, WHICH WE SEE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS. THE PLATFORM OF THE IB IS AN EDUCATION OF INQUIRY. KIDS ARE ASKING QUESTIONS. IF YOU GO IN TO SPEAK TO THE STUDENTS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PREPARING QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME, AND THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT VERBAL COMMUNICATION AS WELL AS WRITTEN, AND THAT COMES THROUGH IN OUR SCORES. THE CLASS OF 2031, WHICH IS OUR CURRENT SIXTH GRADE CLASS, HAD A MASTER'S LEVEL IN ENGLISH AT 62% WHEN THEY WERE IN THIRD GRADE, BUT EVERY YEAR THEY GOT BETTER AND THEN WHEN THEY LEFT IN FIFTH GRADE, 82% AT MASTERS. THAT SHOWS THE FORTITUDE THAT THOSE EDUCATORS HAVE A TAKING KIDS FROM GOOD TO GREAT. THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS THAT MOVEMENT TO THE MASTERS. IN THE APPENDIX, YOU'LL NOTICE A COMPARISON TO LOCAL SCHOOLS AND TO SOME IB COMPARABLE SCHOOLS, AND WE'RE ABOVE ALMOST ALL OF THEM IN EVERY CATEGORY. THAT'S A NICE COMPARISON. OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH IS IN MATH AND SCIENCE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD FROM US IN PREVIOUS YEARS. WE'RE STILL FOCUSING ON THAT. WE ALSO IN THE PYP, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNCOVER THE EXACT ACTION PLAN WHEN WE HAD MID YEAR RESULTS SHOWING THAT WE WEREN'T EXACTLY WHERE WE WANTED TO BE LAST YEAR. THAT IS A BIG FOCUS THAT I HAVE. WE'RE LOOKING AT WHERE THE KIDS ARE NOW, WHERE ARE WE IN DECEMBER? THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IN RESPONSE TO IT. THAT IS A BIG PIECE, AND WE MAYBE RIGHT ON TRACK, BUT IF WE'RE NOT, WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKING ACTION. THEN ALSO WORKING WITH THE NEW SCIENCE TEKS. THAT'S A BIG PORTION BECAUSE THINGS ARE NEW IN SCIENCE FOR US. OUR ACTION PLAN INCLUDES MORE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN SCIENCE AND MORE STANDARDS BASED ASSESSMENT TRACKING. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A LOT OF TRACKING HAPPENING IN THE PYP, THE CONSISTENCY OF THAT IS AN AREA THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO IMPROVE UPON, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT SEVERAL WAYS THAT TECHNOLOGY CAN ASSIST US IN DOING THAT WORK SMARTER. WE'VE GOT A NEW SCIENCE CURRICULUM THAT WE'VE SPENT $30,000 ON AND WE ARE DIVING IN HEAD FIRST, GETTING IMMERSED IN ALL OF THE GREAT CAPABILITIES THAT A CURRICULUM HAS FOR US. WE'RE WORKING ON ACADEMIC VOCABULARIES. WHEN YOU SEE ME IN CAROLINE IN THE MORNING AND I'M FLASHING UP DECOMPOSER AS THEY WALK IN. THAT'S ME WORKING EVERYONE. [LAUGHTER] PE DOING RELAYS. I'VE ASKED EVERY SUBJECT, HOW ARE YOU CONTRIBUTING TO OUR SCIENCE SUCCESS? THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN NEW. I HAVE SOME SCIENCE RELAYS GOING ON. NOW I'M GOING TO PASS IT UNLESS YOU WANT TO DO QUESTIONS NOW, I WAS JUST GOING TO PASS IT ON TO MIDDLE SCHOOL. >> THANKS, BETH. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M GOING TO GO OVER THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DATA RESULTS FOR THE PAST ACADEMIC YEAR, IN WHICH IT COVERS A THREE YEAR TRAJECTORY OF OUR PAST PERFORMANCE. BETWEEN THE 2022-2023 DATA, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAD THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW STAAR REDESIGN, AND FOR THE OVERALL PASSING, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE FALL WITHIN LINE OF PREVIOUS PERFORMANCE FOR THE 2023 ACADEMIC YEAR AS WELL AS THE 2022. GOING INTO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO THE MASTER PASS RATE AND FOR THE ACADEMY FOR THE PAST THREE ACADEMIC YEARS. THEN TO THE FAR RIGHT IN THAT COLUMN, WE HAVE INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO THE STATE MASTERY LEVEL ON THE RESPECTIVE STAAR EXAMINATIONS. FOR THE GRADE 8 ALGEBRA 1, SORRY THAT THE SLIDE DIDN'T UPLOAD PROPERLY. I PUT A NOTE THAT THERE WAS AN ALGEBRA 1 READINESS COURSE LAST YEAR. WE DID THAT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ON LEVEL INSTRUCTION FOR [00:30:03] THOSE STUDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN THEN TAKE ALGEBRA 1 IN NINTH GRADE, WHICH IS THE TRADITIONAL PATHWAY. >> HOWEVER, AT THE ACADEMY, WE ACCELERATE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS BEGINNING IN GRADE 6. TRADITIONALLY WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, ACCORDING TO TEXAS EDUCATION CODE 28, ONLY THE TOP 40% ARE REQUIRED TO BE ACCELERATED. HOWEVER, WE ACCELERATE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. THAT SHOWS THE MASTERY PASS RATE FOR OUR RESPECTIVE GRADE LEVELS. IN TERMS OF SUCCESSES FOR THE PREVIOUS ACADEMIC YEAR. WE FOUND OUT THIS ACADEMIC YEAR, OF COURSE. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SECTION OF THE ACADEMY WAS RANKED THE NUMBER 1 TEXAS CHARTER SCHOOL AMONGST MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE NUMBER 8 TEXAS PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE KUDOS FOR OUR TEACHERS FOR THE EXCELLENT WORK THAT THEY DID THAT ACADEMIC YEAR. THIS PAST ACADEMIC YEAR, WE SAW THE SUCCESS OF HAVING AN ALGEBRA 1 READINESS COURSE IN WHICH WE HAD 100% OF OUR STUDENTS PASS ALGEBRA 1. WE HAD 99% PASS THE GRADE 8 AND THE GRADE 7 STAR READING, AND WE HAD AN OVERALL 8% INCREASE IN THE STAR MASTER RATE, WHICH IS PHENOMENAL. THEN ACROSS THE BOARD, WE'RE PERFORMING SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE THE STATE AVERAGE AND IN COMPARISON WITH OUR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS. IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE STAR ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL FROM MEATS TO MASTER. >> RECORDING IN PROGRESS. >> I DON'T HOG THE ACTION NOW. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES. I DON'T STILL. >> MAKE IT HE'S STILL THERE, YOU'RE FINE. >> THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THE ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL MIKE HE'S BACK AT IT. [LAUGHTER] ONE PARTICULAR SUBJECT IS THAT BEING PRE ALGEBRA, INCREASING THE MEATS TO MASTERY RATE FOR OUR GRADE 7 MATH IN WHICH THEY SIT FOR THE GRADE 8 STAR. ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH FROM THE LEADERSHIP STANDPOINT IS GIVING TEACHERS MORE TIME TO EVALUATE CURRENT PRACTICES AND DATA SOURCES IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT VERTICAL ALIGNMENT GOING FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SECTION INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL. DR. OWEN, WILL CONCLUDE TODAY'S MESSAGE WITH THIS, BUT ADHERING TO OUR CAMPUS WIDE T TEST GOAL OF MONITOR AND ADJUST, SO INFORMALLY AND FORMALLY COLLECTING DATA AND UTILIZING THAT IN ORDER TO DRIVE AND ADJUST INSTRUCTION. WITH THAT, MIDDLE SCHOOL IN WORKING WITH THE SYSTEM PRINCIPAL, MRS. PHILLIPS, AND WE GENERATED A MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PLAN. PRETTY MUCH IT PROVIDES A SCOPE AND SEQUENCE FOR A YEAR AT A GLANCE OF PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES IN ORDER TO WORK WITH OUR TEACHERS, ANALYZE AND REVIEW DATA IN ORDER TO SEE THE GRADUAL CONTINUING IMPROVEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR. THUS FAR, WE'VE ALREADY MET WITH TEACHERS AS A TEAM COLLECTIVELY TO DISCUSS DATA IN AUGUST, AND WE RECENTLY HAD A LUNCH AND LEARN SESSION JUST LAST WEEK ON SEPTEMBER 11, AND THEN MOVING INTO OCTOBER, WE'LL START FOLLOWING UP WITH OUR TEACHERS, ALL OF OUR TEACHERS, JUST REVIEWING THE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS AND THEIR SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS, JUST TO SEE THE GRADUAL PROGRESS ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT JUST IN THE CORE TESTED SUBJECTS. AT THIS JUNCTURE, I'LL JUST TURN IT OVER TO DR. OWEN TO REVIEW THE HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> TO THAT PLAN IS NEW, ISN'T IT? THAT PLAN IS NEW. >> YES. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT IMPLEMENT THIS YEAR. LAST YEAR, WE DID HAVE IN THE SPRING SEMESTER. WE HAD SPRING INTERVENTION SESSIONS IN WHICH WE HAD SOME AFTER SCHOOL SESSIONS TO MEET WITH STUDENTS. BUT THIS YEAR, WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE EXTENSION OPPORTUNITIES. THOSE STUDENTS THAT WE CAN PUSH FROM MEETS TO MASTERS OR APPROACHES TO MEET AS WELL AS THE INTERVENTION SESSIONS OF PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL LEARNING SUPPORT. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT BOTH SPECTRUMS OF THE LEARNING POPULATION. >> THAT'S REALLY AWESOME. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE SR AND EOC RESULTS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL, THIS ENGLISH 1, ENGLISH 2 BIOLOGY AND US HISTORY. THE DATA IS SHOWING THAT IN TERMS OF OUR PAST RATE, WE ARE MAINTAINING BETWEEN 100 AND 99% PASS RATE COURSES IN QUESTION. [00:35:03] WHAT WE REALLY HONE IN ON THOUGH IS THE RATE OF MASTERY. FOR ALL THE FOUR IDENTIFIED SUBJECTS, WE'RE STILL EXTREMELY COMFORTABLY ABOVE THE STATE WIDE AVERAGES. ALSO, LAST YEAR, WE WERE A LITTLE BIT LOWER IN BIOLOGY, WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE. WE HAD A NEW TEACHER WHO CAME IN LATE. AS MR. KIM AND I SPOKE TO THE BOARD, LAST YEAR, WE EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE GOING TO GIVE SUPPORT TO THIS TEACHER AS THEY TRANSITIONED INTO THEIR NEW ROLE. THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB AND YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR MASTERY RATE HAS ACTUALLY JUMPED UP TO THE HIGHEST THAT IT'S BEEN IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. IN TERMS OF PARTICULAR PARTICULAR SUCCESSES, IN ADDITION TO THE 100% AND 99% PASS RATE. THERE IS ONE THING IN PARTICULAR THAT I WANT TO DRAW THE BOARD'S ATTENTION TO, WHICH WAS IN THE FALL OF 2023, OUR NINTH GRADE ENGLISH ONE TEACHER. MRS. WATSON CAME TO MRS. HUGHES AND I WITH SOME CONCERNS. THE DATA WAS SHOWING THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO WEREN'T ON TRACK TO PASS THE ENGLISH 1 EXAM, 50% OF THE STUDENTS WHO IDENTIFIED WERE NEW TO WESTLAKE ACADEMY AS WELL, SO THEY HADN'T HAD THE BENEFIT OF THE CONTINUUM. WE WENT THROUGH SOME OPTIONS, FIRST OF ALL, WHICH WAS ADDITIONAL TUTORING FOR THESE STUDENTS HAVING A SPECIAL ADVISORY GROUP TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AS WELL, BUT THIS STILL FELT LIKE IT WASN'T ENOUGH, SO WE FELT THAT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO ACTUALLY CREATE A SPECIAL READING CLASS FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER WHERE THE STUDENTS IDENTIFIED COULD GO INTO THAT CLASS AND BE SUPPORTED. THAT OBVIOUSLY HAD A MONETARY IMPACT AND WE CAME TO THE BOARD WITH THE REQUEST THE BOARD WAS FANTASTIC ABOUT IT, APPROVED IT STRAIGHT AWAY, AND OF ALL THE 18 STUDENTS WHO IDENTIFIED AS AT RISK BECAUSE OF THAT READING COURSE ALL 18 PAST THE ENGLISH 1. I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR SUPPORTING US ON THAT. SAME THING AS ALL WITH OUR AS MR. KIM EXPLAINED, OUR WESTLAKE ACADEMY STUDENTS TAKE THE ALGEBRA ONE IN GRADE EIGHT. WE HAD GRADE NINE STUDENTS NEW TO WESTLAKE ACADEMY, WHO HADN'T TAKEN THAT ALGEBRA ONE. AGAIN, WE HAD DATA THAT SHOWED THAT THEY WERE STRUGGLING. WE MADE A SPECIAL COURSE FOR THEM IN THE SPRING FOR 11 STUDENTS OR OF THEM PAST AS WELL. THESE INTERVENTIONS DO WORK, AND WE WANT TO CELEBRATE INCREASING OUR MASTER WE BY 11% IN ENGLISH, 15% IN BIOLOGY 2. AS THE DATA SHOWED ACROSS THE BOARD, WE WERE SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE STATE AND COMPARISON SCHOOLS AS WELL. >> DOCTOR, I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR THE FOLLOW UP BECAUSE WHEN THE BOARD PASSED THAT, I HAVE TO SAY I'D NEVER SEEN ANOTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL GO TO SUCH LENGTHS TO HELP ELEVATE STUDENTS WHO NEEDED SOME EXTRA SUPPORT, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. IN TERMS OF THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH, THIS REALLY COMES DOWN TO FOCUSING ON THE LEVEL OF MASTERY THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE EOC. AGAIN, IT'S NOT A SCIENTIFIC LINK, BUT THE MORE STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVING MASTERY, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON THE DIPLOMA PROGRAM AND THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT COLLEGE. FOCUSING ON THE MASTERY LEVEL IS REALLY KEEPING IN LINE. WITH OUR VISION OF SUPPORTING COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS ACHIEVE THEIR HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL. LAST MONTH, WHEN MR. JOHN AND I ADDRESSED THE BOARD IN TERMS OF THE DATA ANALYSIS THAT WE DO FOR AP EXAMS AND FOR IB EXAMS AS WELL, WE WANT TO BRING THAT SAME DEGREE OF BEING INTENTIONAL TO USING EOC DATA AS WELL. IN TERMS OF OUR ACTION PLAN, WE BROKE THAT DOWN. WHAT WE CAN DO AS LEADERSHIP IS WHEN WE'RE DOING OUR WEEKLY WALK THROUGHS, WE CAN COLLECT DATA BASED ON MONITOR AND ADJUST. THIS HAS BEEN A CAMPUS WIDE GOAL THIS YEAR TO GIVE FEEDBACK TO TEACHERS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING, AND ALSO LEADERSHIP CAN HELP DATA ANALYSIS, WHICH IS TIED TO THE ESC TICK AS WELL. WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO IS MODEL THE DATA ANALYSIS THAT WE DID WITH THE ENGLISH 1 COURSE. PLUS YEAR TO USE DATA TO IDENTIFY ANY ISSUES BY THE END OF THE FOUR SEMESTER SO WE CAN IMPLEMENT ANY INTERVENTIONS AS NEEDED IN THE SPRING. THAT'S OUR ACTION PLAN TO REPLICATE THE DATA ANALYSIS OF IP AND AP AND TRANSFER THAT TO THE EOC. BUT ALSO AS MRS. HUGHES, MR. KIM AND MYSELF ARE WORKING ON OUR ACTION PLANS, WE WANTED ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE HAD A CROSS CAMPUS ACTION PLAN AS WELL AND THAT WE WEREN'T ALL WORKING INDIVIDUALLY WHEN WE ALL HAD THE SAME GOAL OF IMPROVING STAR PERFORMANCE. [00:40:04] ON AUGUST 24TH, THE THREE OF US MET AND WORKED ON THE FORMS THAT WE USE FOR CAMPUS WALK THUS WHEN WE'RE GOING INTO THE CLASSROOMS AND GIVING FEEDBACK. WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR FORMS ALIGNED, SO THERE WAS CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE IB CONTINUUM AS WELL. AGAIN, WE AGREED TO HAVE T-TESS 2.5 MONITOR AND ADJUST AS A CAMPUS WIDE PRIORITY. THAT'S HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE ACTUALLY GOT THIS? THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE OUR PRIORITY. ALSO, BECAUSE THIS IS A YEAR WHERE WE WILL BE EVALUATED BY THE IB IN MARCH. WE ARE HAVING STUDY SESSIONS CAMPUS WIDE, WHERE TEACHERS FROM PYP, YP, AND DP ARE COMING TOGETHER. WE WANTED TO ACTUALLY USE THAT OPPORTUNITY, WHERE WE ARE HAVING CROSS CAMPUS COLLABORATION TO HAVE CAMPUS WIDE DISCUSSIONS ON HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR TEACHING. LEARNING. >> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THIS CROSS FUNCTIONAL ALIGNMENT IS RELATIVELY A NEWER ENDEAVOR WITH THIS PARTICULAR K THROUGH 12 CAMPUS WALK THROUGH AND ALIGNING THE FORMS, IS IT? >> YES, IT IS. WE'VE ALL WORKED ON DATA ANALYSIS BEFORE, BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY TAKEN TIME TO ALIGN THAT, SO THE THREE PRINCIPALS HAVE MADE THAT A PRIORITY. >> YEAH. I LOVE THIS. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD ALL BENEFIT FROM. THANK YOU, GUYS. >> GREAT JOB. THERE IS AN APPENDIX THAT WE ALSO ATTACHED WHICH SHOWED THE DATA WITH COMPARISON SCHOOLS AS WELL. BUT WE'LL ALSO BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AS A WHOLE. >> YEAH. COULD YOU TELL ME WHO THOSE COMPARISON SCHOOLS ARE? I'M NOT UP. THE THREE OF THEM THERE WAS RADIAN. >> IF I CAN JUST REALLY QUICKLY. YOU'VE INCLUDED SOME. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT AS LEADERSHIP TEAM IS THERE THE COMPARISON SCHOOLS THAT THE STATE SAYS ARE A COMPARISON GROUP, WHICH ARE SOMETIMES VERY RANDOM SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER OUR COMPARISON SCHOOLS. WE KNOW SITTING HERE WITH THREE DISTRICTS THAT PULL FROM US, OUR TRUE COMPARISON SCHOOLS ARE THE PEOPLE WE SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF, THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE IN COMPETITION WITH. I THINK THAT THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. THE GROUP HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF INCLUDING THOSE SCHOOLS AND THEN ALSO YOU'VE IDENTIFIED SOME CHARTER SCHOOLS, I THINK THAT ARE MORE COMPARABLE TO US >> THE ONE STATE. >> WHAT ABOUT WORLD CLASS THROUGH WORLD CLASS LEARNING INSTITUTIONS? THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS IN THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA, HOUSTON, OTHER AREAS, ST. MARK, ST. JOHNS. YEAH. I CAN GO THROUGH ALL THE NAMES. THEY'RE KNOWN NATIONALLY. WHAT ARE THEIR PERFORMANCE LEVELS AND HOW DO WE COMPARE TO THOSE? INTERESTING TO UNDERSTAND. >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO COMPARE DIRECTLY WITH THOSE BECAUSE THEY DON'T USE THE SAME MEASUREMENTS THAT WE DO. WE'RE HELD TO THE STATE REQUIREMENTS AND THEN ALSO IB REQUIREMENTS. UNLESS WE'RE COMPARING DIRECTLY TO AN IB SCHOOLS, THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND THAT WE CAN DO SOME COMPARISONS AROUND OUR ACT SAT SCORES, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THOSE ARE DATA POINTS THAT WE COULD DO FOR SURE AS A POINT OF COMPARISON, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE GOOD FOR US TO KNOW WHERE WE RANK WITH SOME OF THOSE WHAT ARE CONSIDERED A LITTLE BIT MORE LEAD INSTITUTIONS AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED AND WHERE WE WANT TO BE FOR SURE. WE CAN LOOK THAT, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. >> GREAT JOB. ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION, WHAT DO YOU'LL NEED? WHAT YOU'LL NEED GOING FORWARD? YOU LAST REQUEST WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL. >> I CERTAINLY WHAT YOU'LL SEE ALL THE ACTION PLANS HAD IN COMMON WAS THE USE OF DATA. IT'S GREAT TO KNOW THAT IF THE DATA IS TELLING US SOMETHING THAT WE NEED, THEN THE BOARD IS THERE TO SUPPORT US, SO KNOWING THAT IS WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW. THAT'S GREAT. >> I CAN'T SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH OF THESE THREE, THE WAY BETH HAS JUMPED IN AND KIND OF BROUGHT SOME STANDARDS THAT WERE BEING USED IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CAMPUS TO SECTION OF THE PROGRAM AND IT'S PAYING OFF IN SPADES. THE TEACHERS ARE VERY EXCITED. THESE TWO GENTLEMEN ARE JUST TRUE PROFESSIONALS AND BETH. IT'S BEEN A DREAM TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM AND HAVE THEM TAKE THE LEAD. ONE OF OUR FIRST ADMIN MEETINGS, THEY SAID THEY REALLY OWNED THIS 2.5. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW, T-TESS IS THE STATE EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR TEACHERS. LAST YEAR, THEY STARTED A PROCESS OF ADOPTION AROUND THAT AND THIS YEAR IT'S GETTING A LOT MORE FORMALIZED AND THEY PICKED THIS CAMPUS WIDE GOAL OF MONITOR AND ADJUST BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT'S THE BIGGEST LEVERAGE POINT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE SOME THINGS FORWARD AND THEY'VE BEEN ALL IN ON THAT, AND I REALLY CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW THEY'VE JUMPED INTO THAT WORK. >> LOOK, I'VE BEEN A PARENT AROUND FOR 14 YEARS AND THIS MIGHT SOUND CRITICAL. I DON'T MEAN IT TO BE, BUT IT'S NEVER FELT LIKE ONE SCHOOL. IT'S FELT LIKE THREE SCHOOLS. [00:45:02] AND WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TELLING US TODAY, IT'S THE FIRST TIME I REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS ARE ALIGNED WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND IT'S ONE SCHOOL GOING THROUGH LOOKING AT ALL THE DAY. I COULDN'T BE MORE PLEASED. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] GUYS, THANK YOU AGAIN. OUTSTANDING. CONSENT AGENDA, [H. CONSENT AGENDA] DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY ISSUES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? EXCELLENT. CAN I GET A MOTION TO PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> MOVED. >> CAN I GET A SECOND? >> A SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? >> MOTION PASSES. AGENDA ITEM I PUBLIC HEARINGS. [I.1. Hold public hearing, discuss, consider and act to adopt Ordinance 1005 approving the Annual Operating & Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 (Finance Director Cayce Lay Lamas)] GO TO I.1 ORDINANCE 1005. HOLD PUBLIC HEARING DISCUSS. CONSIDER ACT TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 1005, APPROVING THE ANNUAL OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 AC. HOW ARE YOU? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE ARE AT THE FINISH LINE FOR ALL THE BUDGET STUFF FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. >> YES. >> WE ARE GOING TO DIVE RIGHT IN. TONIGHT, WE ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET SO I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY A REAL QUICK REFRESHER ON WHAT IS IN THAT BUDGET BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. FIRST THINGS FIRST, WE'RE PROJECTING 28 MILLION IN REVENUES ACROSS ALL FUNDS AND 24.5 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS RESULTING IN ABOUT A 4.6 PROJECTED CONTRIBUTION TO FUND BALANCE. WITHIN THAT 4.6, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 1.5 MILLION THAT WE'RE EARMARKING TO GO BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE FOR FUTURE CAPITAL SPENDING. THE REMAINING 3 MILLION OR SO, MOST OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, MEANING THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE REVENUE SOURCE THAT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR VERY SPECIFIC THINGS. IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT SOMETHING IDENTIFIED AT THE TIME OF ADOPTION, IT JUST GOES INTO THE FUND BALANCE. THIS BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES A FLAT TAX RATE OF $0.16788. IT'S ADDING FIVE AND A QUARTER FTES, WHICH ARE THE THREE FIREFIGHTERS, TWO PUBLIC WORKS CREW MEMBERS AND THEN THAT 0.25 IS THE TOWN SHARE OF THE BUILDING TECHNICIAN THAT WAS APPROVED AS PART OF THE ACADEMY'S BUDGET. WE ALSO HAVE THE STAFF COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENTS INCLUDED. THE 1.7 MILLION DOLLAR SUBSIDY, THAT'S THE DIRECT TRANSFER FROM THE TOWN TO THE SCHOOL. THEN WE'VE GOT 1.4 MILLION IN CAPITAL EQUIPMENT, AND IT'S REALLY JUST TWO PIECES, IT'S A VAC TRAILER AND A REPLACEMENT FIRE ENGINE. THEN WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING AT YEAR OVER YEAR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, WHAT WE'RE SEEING FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR IS A DECREASE OF ABOUT $150,000 IN PROJECTED REVENUES. THE REAL REASON FOR THAT IS FISCAL YEAR 24 HAD ABOUT $4 MILLION IN ONE TIME DEVELOPMENT FEES THAT WON'T BE RETURNING FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. THAT'S MOSTLY OFFSET WITH INCREASES IN SALES TAX RECEIPTS AND SOME INTEREST EARNINGS. FOR THE EXPENDITURES. WE ARE LOOKING AT AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 1.1 MILLION, AND THAT INCLUDES THE CAPITAL, THAT INCLUDES THE FIREFIGHTERS. YOU WOULD THINK THAT IT'S NOT A ONE TO ONE, BUT WE ALSO JUST THROUGH DUE DILIGENCE OVER THE PAST YEAR. WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK THROUGH LINE ITEMS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE THINGS THAT WE ARE INCLUDING IN THE BUDGET ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED. THEN I JUST ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT BECAUSE THIS HAD BEEN A QUESTION, THE SUBSIDY TO THE ACADEMY WENT FROM 1.4 IN FISCAL YEAR 24 TO 1.7. THE MAJORITY OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THOSE ADDITIONAL SLAS AND THE COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENTS APPROVED EARLIER THIS SUMMER. WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND, THIS IS OUR LARGEST OPERATING FUND. THE MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTY AND SALES TAX RECEIPTS ARE WHAT FUND MOST OF THOSE REVENUES. ADDITIONALLY, THIS IS WHERE THE VAST MAJORITY OF ALL OF OUR DEVELOPMENT FEES GO. THE $15 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES INCLUDES THE 1.7 MILLION TO THE ACADEMY. IT INCLUDES THE THREE FIREFIGHTERS, THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE, AND ALL THOSE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS. THE UTILITY FUND IS THE SECOND LARGEST OPERATING FUND. THE REVENUE SOURCES HERE ARE BASICALLY THE WATER AND SEWER BILLS THAT EVERYBODY GETS EVERY MONTH AND DON'T FORGET TO PAY THOSE BECAUSE WE'LL ASSESS A 10% LATE FEES. [LAUGHTER] THE 5.7 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES INCLUDES THE COST TO PURCHASE WATER AND TO TREAT SEWER. THOSE COSTS ARE ABOUT 2.5 MILLION DOLLAR ANNUALLY FOR THE TOWN. IT ALSO HAS MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS COSTS, THE VAC TRAILER, AND THOSE TWO CREW MEMBERS FOR PUBLIC WORKS. IT IS A DECREASE OF ABOUT $500,000 YEAR OVER YEAR, [00:50:01] BUT THAT'S SOLELY BECAUSE WE SEPARATED OUT THE DEBT SERVICE INTO ITS OWN FUND FOR BETTER ACCOUNTING AND CLARITY. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? NOW, OPEN UP FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK? I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 1005? >> SO MOVED. >> CAN I GET A SECOND?. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? >> MOTION PASSES. CASEY, THANK YOU. HOPE YOU'RE HERE FOR THE NEXT ONE, CORRECT? >> YES, SIR. I'M STICKING AROUND. >> ORDINANCE 1006, HOLD PUBLIC HEARING, DISCUSSED. [I.2. Hold public hearing, discuss, consider and act to adopt Ordinance 1006 to Levy an Ad Valorem Rate for the Tax Year 2024 (Finance Director Cayce Lay Lamas)] CONSIDER AN ACT TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 1006 TO LEVY AND ADVALORM TAX RATE FOR TAX YEAR 2024. >> THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING OF THE EVENING IS FOR THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE. THIS RATE THAT WE ARE ASKING TO LEVY IS WHAT WILL FUND THE GENERAL FUND AND THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS. WE ARE PROPOSING THE RATE STAY FLAT AT $0.16788 PER $100 EVALUATION. THIS IS THE FOURTH YEAR CONSECUTIVELY THAT IT WILL BE FLAT. WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TAX RATE, WHAT IS REQUIRED LEGALLY IS TO ADOPT A RATE IN TWO PARTS, ONE BEING M&O OR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS. THAT PORTION GENERATES THE REVENUE FOR THE GENERAL FUND. THE OTHER SECTION INS INTEREST IN SINKING OR DEBT SERVICE IS THE MINIMUM AMOUNT REQUIRED IN ORDER TO PAY PROPERTY TAX PAID DEBT. DURING FISCAL YEAR 24, WE ACTUALLY HAD A TAX NOTE OFF OF OUR BOOKS, WE PAID IT ALL OFF SO THAT REQUIREMENT ON THE INS SIDE IS LESS. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A FLAT TAX RATE FOR CONSISTENCY PURPOSES AND STILL MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FUNDING THOSE CAPITAL ITEMS THAT WE DO NEED AND THE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, WE RE ALLOCATED AND WE DO THAT EVERY YEAR JUST BASED ON THOSE ANNUAL REQUIREMENTS. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET, WHICH IS THE TAX YEAR 24 RATE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS $0.05 ON THE INS SIDE, AND THEN $0.11788 ON M&O. THEN AGAIN, JUST FOR CONVERSATION, IF WE WERE SAYING THIS IS AN EQUIVALENT CALCULATION, THE 1.7 MILLION DOLLAR SUBSIDY FROM THE TOWN TO THE ACADEMY WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT 7.25. I SPOKE ABOUT THAT INS PORTION SO A QUICK OVERVIEW ON THE DEBT FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST REQUIREMENTS ARE 4.2 MILLION DOLLAR, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE SPREAD OUT OVER 11 DIFFERENT ISSUANCES. AS OF OCTOBER 1, WE'LL HAVE $46 MILLION IN OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL. OUT OF THOSE 11 ISSUANCES, THE ORIGINAL TOTAL WAS ABOUT 63.2%, SO WE PAID OFF A QUARTER OR SO OF OUR OUTSTANDING BALANCE. OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE WILL HAVE THAT UP TO 50%. WITHIN 10 YEARS, WE'LL HAVE ALMOST 70% OF THE OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS PAID, AND THEN BY THE TIME WE HIT 20 YEARS, WE'LL BE AT 95. FUND REFRESHER, A LOT OF THESE DEBTS THAT WE ISSUE, THE SMALLEST LENGTH OF TIME IS SEVEN YEARS, THE LONGEST IS 30. OUT OF THOSE 11 ISSUANCES WE'VE BROKEN IT DOWN JUST FOR SOME CLARITY AND DISCUSSION POINTS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE PURPOSE. WHY DID WE ISSUE THOSE INSTRUMENTS? THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE BEEN FOR INFRASTRUCTURE OVER ON CAMPUS. YOU'LL RECALL THE SCHOOL JUST CELEBRATED ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY, WHICH MEANS WE ONLY ARE ABOUT TO START PAYING OFF SOME OF THAT DEBT. THE REMAINING TWO QUARTERS ARE FOR UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ON THE TOWN SIDE, MOSTLY RELATING TO STREETS. AS FAR AS HOW WE PLAN TO PAY FOR THESE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST REQUIREMENTS NEXT YEAR. THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT FALLS UNDER THE SALES TAX CATEGORY. THE 1.2 MILLION FOR PROPERTY TAX, THAT SPECIFIC PORTION IS THAT $0.05 OF THE INS RATE, AND THEN THE REMAINING ON UTILITY REVENUE IS ONLY FROM THOSE WATER BILLS THAT WE SEND OUT. HOW ALL OF THIS IS CALCULATED, IS A SUPER FUN CRAZY LONG FORM THAT WE HAVE TO FILL OUT EVERY YEAR, AND WE DON'T MAKE IT UP OURSELVES. HOW WE DO ALL OF THE ALGEBRA STARTS WITH OUR NET TAXABLE VALUE. THESE FIGURES ARE GIVEN TO US EVERY YEAR BY THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS. WE FALL INTO THE TARRANT APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND THE DENTON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT. WHAT THEY DO IS THEY GO AROUND TOWN AND THEY SAY ALL THE PROPERTY THAT IS TAXABLE WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS, TOTAL THIS MUCH. [00:55:05] FOR TAX YEAR 24, WE'RE LOOKING AT 2.4 BILLION DOLLAR OF TAXABLE VALUE. THAT'S AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 206 MILLION YEAR OVER YEAR, AND OFF THAT 206 MILLION, ALMOST 70,000 OF IT IS JUST BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION SO DIFFERENT IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AROUND TOWN OVER THE LAST YEAR. WHAT THAT MEANS FOR FOLKS LIVING IN TOWN IS YOU ARE LIKELY TO SEE A LITTLE INCREASE ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL. THE AVERAGE TAXABLE HOME VALUE FOR THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE IS ABOUT 2.4 MILLION. THAT'S AN INCREASE OF ALMOST 8% YEAR OVER YEAR SO WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THAT THOSE HUGE JUMPS THAT WE SAW IN 2020, 2021. IT'S STARTING TO COME DOWN TO SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE MANAGEABLE. IT ALSO MEANS THAT FOR THE TAX YEAR 24, THE AVERAGE WESTLAKE RESIDENT WOULD SEE A TAX BILL OF LESS THAN $4,000. ONLY ABOUT A $300 INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST PROPERTY TAX RATES IN THE STATE. NORMALLY, WHENEVER SOMEBODY IN THE STATE GETS THEIR TAX BILL, THE PORTION OF THE TOWN IS 20- 25%, REGARDLESS OF WHAT SCHOOL DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN IN TOWN, WESTLAKE TAKES UP LESS THAN 10% OF THAT TOTAL BILL FOR YOU ANNUALLY. BY APPROVING THE $0.16788 TAX RATE TONIGHT, WE WILL BE PROPOSING A LEVY OF JUST OVER $4 MILLION WITH THE MAJORITY OF THAT GOING TO M&O AND THAT 1.2 MILLION GOING TO INS. ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON PROPERTY TAX RATE? >> HI CASEY IT'S MIKE, YOU CAN HEAR ME? >> YES, SIR. >> ON THE LAST SLIDE, THE AVERAGE TAX BILL THAT WAS JUST THE WESTLAKE PORTION. >> CORRECT. >> FOR TAX BILL. THANK YOU. >> YOU ARE WELCOME. IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED, YOU CAN GO OUT ON TARTA INFO.COM AND YOU CAN LOOK UP ALL THE RATES THAT APPLY TO YOUR HOUSE, AND THAT INCLUDES THE ONES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADOPTED YET SO ALL THE ENTITIES WERE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO GO TELL YOU WHAT OUR PROPOSED RATES ARE TOO. >> CASEY, WE'VE HISTORICALLY SAID THAT 6.5% OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES GO TO WESTLAKE. IS IT HIGHER THAN THAT NOW? >> SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME? >> 6% OF PROPERTY TAXES GO TO THE TOWN. >> ABOUT ALMOST 10%, IT'S USUALLY LIKE NINE AND HALF. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT SCHOOL DISTRICT YOU'RE IN. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE TO SPEAK? I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 1006. >> MOVED. >> CAN I GET A SECOND?. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, CASEY. >> THANK Y'ALL. >> [OVERLAPPING]. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WOW. APPLAUSE AT THE TAX RATE. >> I COULD HAVE WARNED IT WASN'T EVERYTHING. >> THANKS FOR NOT LOWERING IT, OR NOT RAISING IT. RESOLUTION 24-69, HOLD PUBLIC HEARING, DISCUSS, [I.3. Hold public hearing, discuss, consider and act regarding Resolution 24-69 approving the Final Plat of the Villaggio Addition (Jason Alexander, AICP, CEcD, Deputy Town Manager)] CONSIDER AND ACT REGARDING RESOLUTION 24-69, APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF THE VILLAGGIO ADDITION. JASON, HOW ARE YOU? >> I'M WELL, HOW ARE YOU, MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF A FINAL PLAT FOR THE VILLAGGIO ADDITION. HERE IS JUST A PHOTO OF THE SITE GETTING YOU ACCLIMATED VISUALLY TO WHERE IT IS LOCATED. IT IS A FINAL PLAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 37.5 ACRES THAT WAS APPROVED FOR DEVELOPMENT ON FEBRUARY 27, 2023, ORDINANCE NUMBER 965 FOR 17 RESIDENTIAL LOTS, ALL A MINIMUM OF ONE ACRE IN AREA. THE FINAL PLAT DOES CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS, THE POLICIES, AND THE PLANS THAT ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE TOWN. HERE IS THE FINAL PLAT DEMONSTRATING CONFORMANCE WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS. THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THEY DID MEET ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2024, THEY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE FINAL PLAT AS PRESENTED UNANIMOUSLY. THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDS THE SAME. I'LL PAUSE THERE, MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. I DO BELIEVE THE APPLICANT OR A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE APPLICANT IS AVAILABLE AS WELL. >> ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? I WILL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 24-69? >> MOVED. >> CAN I GET A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. [01:00:01] >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. JASON. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> ORDINANCE 1002. [I.4. (CONTINUED FROM 8/19/2024) Hold public hearing, discuss, consider and act to adopt Ordinance 1002 approving amendments to Ordinances 928 and 939, as amended, regulating PD7 Zoning District, known as “Westlake Ranch”, for an approximate three-acre portion of land platted as Aspen Estates, Tarrant County, Texas. The property is generally located east of Pearson Lane and South of Aspen Lane.] >> 2-C. THIS IS CONTINUED FROM AUGUST 19. THERE'LL BE NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. THIS ITEM WILL BE CONTINUED FROM THE 819 MEETING. IN THE MEANTIME, THE APPLICANT HAS AMENDED A NEW PROPOSAL, WHICH IS THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM SO AGENDA ITEM I-5 ORDINANCE 1008, HOLD PUBLIC HEARING, [I.5. Hold public hearing, discuss, consider and act to adopt Ordinance 1008 approving proposed amendments to Ordinances 928 and 939, as amended, regulating PD7 Zoning District, known as “Westlake Ranch”, for an approximate three-acre portion of land platted as Aspen Estates, Tarrant County, Texas. The property is generally located east of Pearson Lane and South of Aspen Lane. (Jason Alexander, AICP, CEcD, Deputy Town Manager)] DISCUSS CONSIDER AN ACT TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 1008 APPROVING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TWO ORDINANCE 928 AND 939 AS AMENDED, REGULATING PDS AND SEVEN ZONING DISTRICT, KNOWN AS WESTLAKE RANCH, FOR AN APPROXIMATELY THREE ACRE PORTION OF LAND PLATTED AS ASPEN ESTATES, TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS. THE PROPERTY IS GENERALLY LOCATED EAST OF PEARSON LANE AND SOUTH OF ASPEN LANE, JASON. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS A REQUEST AS WE'RE GETTING THAT PRESENTATION UP ON THE SCREEN FOR A PD PLANT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO GO FROM THREE LOTS TO ONE LOT. HERE IS AN AERIAL OF THE PROPERTY. YOU CAN SEE THAT IS JUST OFF OF ASPEN LANE AND NEAR NORTH PEARSON LANE. A COUPLE OF PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE SITE. IN TERMS OF THE REQUEST, AGAIN, IT'S TO GO FROM THREE LOTS TO ONE. IT WOULD BE ACCESSED VIA A PRIVATE STREET THAT TERMINATES AS A HAMMERHEAD. THE SITE WILL CONSIST OF APPROXIMATELY THREE ACRES. AGAIN, DIRECT ACCESS ONTO ASPEN LANE. A LOT WIDTH IS 125 FEET WITH THE BUILDING SETBACKS OF 40 FEET FROM ALL LOT LINES. THE PROPOSED FLOOR AREA OF THE HOME IS 4,500 SQUARE FEET AT A MINIMUM. THE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT IS 35 FEET, AND THE MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE STANDS AT 5% AS PROPOSED UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT IS SHOWN IN FRONT OF YOU THIS AFTERNOON. THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT DID COME FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WHEN THIS ITEM WENT TO THEM FOR REVIEW, CONSIDERATION, AND A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU, MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL. THE FIRST DEALT WITH THE PERMITTED USES, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE ACCESSORY USES AND STRUCTURES, ENSURING THAT THE SPORTS COURSE AND ATHLETIC TRAINING FIELDS DID NOT PROVIDE TOO MUCH NOISE OR DISRUPT THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE LIGHTING ASSOCIATED WITH THE SAME. I WOULD LIKE TO PAUSE THERE FOR A MOMENT AND STATE THAT THOSE ACCESSORY USES AND STRUCTURES WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS IN THE TOWN'S CODE OF ORDINANCES DEALING WITH LIGHT AND NOISE. THOSE CAN BE FOUND UNDER THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS IN SECTION 102 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. AS PART OF THAT, A SITE PLAN SHOWING WHERE THOSE STRUCTURES WOULD GO IS ALSO REQUIRED FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL, AND THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR THE LIGHTING PLAN AS WELL, AND THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING WOULD BE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED AND ENFORCED IF THE NEED SHOULD ARISE. IN TERMS OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. THAT ALL CONDITIONS AND PROVISIONS OF ORDINANCE 939 SHALL BE APPLICABLE TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY AMENDED AND NOTED HERE IN. THAT IS A PRELIMINARY SITE EVALUATION SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, THAT THE LANDSCAPING AND TREE SURVEY REQUIREMENTS IN ORDINANCE NUMBER 928, THAT THAT BE SATISFIED. CONTINUE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS REVISED CIVIL ENGINEERING PLANS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THE REDESIGN OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT WILL COME IN AT THE SAME TIME AS REVIEWING THE PLAT, AND THAT RE-PLAT WILL BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO A BUILDING PERMIT ISSUED, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ADOPTED BY THE TOWN FOR PLAT REVIEW AND APPROVAL. THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AGAIN, THEY DID MEET ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2024, AND THEY DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH THE CONDITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. THE ACTIONS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF YOU, MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL ARE AS FOLLOWS AND GENERALLY SUMMARIZED. IT IS A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 1008, INCLUDING THE CONDITIONS RECOMMENDED, A MOTION TO APPROVE 1008 WITH MODIFICATIONS OR ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS AS DESIRED BY YOU AS THE ELECTED BODY, [01:05:06] A MOTION TO TABLE ORDINANCE 1008 OR A MOTION TO DENY ORDINANCE 1008. I'LL PAUSE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. I DO BELIEVE THE APPLICANT OR A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE APPLICANT IS AVAILABLE. >> ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? >> MY ONLY QUESTION IS BECAUSE WE'RE COMBINING THESE THREE LOTS BACK INTO ONE. WHAT ABOUT THE FENCING? >> THE FENCING WILL REMAIN THE SAME, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS SIX FEET IN HEIGHT. >> DO YOU KNOW IF IT'S IRON FENCE OR STONE FENCE? >> I THINK IT'S AN IRON FENCE, IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY. >> AND IS THAT CONSISTENT WITH THE WESTLAKE RAMP THAT'S JUST TO THE I GUESS WEST OF THIS PROPERTY? >> I BELIEVE SO. >> I BELIEVE THEY'LL SHARE A BORDER ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, CORRECT? >> I BELIEVE SO AND IF NOT, WE'LL DEFINITELY CONFIRM THAT WITH THE APPLICANT WHEN THE SITE PLAN COMES IN. >> IT LOOKS GOOD TO ME. DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS WHEN YOU'VE LOOKED IT OVER? >> NO, MA'AM. I DID NOT. >> JASON, I HAVE A QUESTION. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO, AND YOU MAY HAVE SAID THIS AND I MISSED IT, BUT WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO ASK THE OWNER JUST TO SUBMIT LANDSCAPING AND HARDSCAPING PLANS TO THE CITY BEFORE INSTALLATION? THAT MIGHT GIVE US A CHANCE TO REMEDY ANYTHING IF THERE'S A CONCERN WITH THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY? >> YES, SIR AND THOSE PLANS WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS. I THINK THAT WAS IN ORDINANCE 928. >> THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 1008, INCLUDING THE CONDITIONS RECOMMENDED. >> SO MOVED. >> DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. JASON, THANK YOU. AGENDA ITEM J.1, ORDINANCE 1004. [J.1. Discuss, consider and act regarding adoption of Ordinance 1004 Approving a Negotiated Settlement Between the Atmos Cities Steering Committee (“ACSC”) and Atmos Energy Corp., Mid-Tex Division regarding the Company’s 2024 Rate Review Mechanism Filing; declaring existing rates to be unreasonable; adopting tariffs 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; adopting a savings clause; declaring an effective ate; and requiring delivery of this Ordinance to the Company and the ACSC’s Legal Counsel.] DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACT REGARDING ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 1004, APPROVING A NEGOTIATED SETTLE BETWEEN ATMOS CITY STEERING COMMITTEE AND ATMOS ENERGY CORP, MID TEXAS DIVISION REGARDING THE COMPANY'S 2024 RATE REVIEW MECHANISM FILING, DECLARING EXISTING RATES TO BE UNREASONABLE. ADOPTING TARIFFS THAT REFLECT RATE ADJUSTMENTS CONSISTENT WITH THE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT, FINDING THESE RATES TO BE SET BY THE ATTACHED SETTLEMENT TARIFFS JUST TO BE REASONABLE AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, APPROVING THE ATTACHMENT, ESTABLISHING A BENCHMARK FOR PENSIONS AND RETIRING MEDICAL BENEFITS, REQUIRING THE COMPANY TO REIMBURSE ACSC'S, REASONABLE RATE MAKING EXPENSES. DETERMINE THAT THIS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT, ADOPT A SAVINGS CLAUSE, DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, IN REQUIRING DELIVERY OF THIS ORDINANCE TO THE COMPANY AND ACSC'S LEGAL COUNCIL. TURN THIS OVER, I THINK TO WADE? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >. THAT WAS A LOT. >> THANK YOU FOR READING THAT, MAYOR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS ITEM TONIGHT. ATMOS ENERGY IS REQUIRED BY STATE LEGISLATION TO COME UP WITH THEIR ANNUAL BILLING USING THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S COST OF SERVICES. ONCE THEY LOOK BACK AT THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S COST OF SERVICE, THEY COME FORWARD WITH A REQUEST FOR NEW BILLING PRICES FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE IS IN A CONGLOMERATE WITH 181 OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAS HIRED A COMPANY TO COME IN AND NEGOTIATE FOR US ON THE TOWN'S BEHALF. BY WORKING TOGETHER IN A LARGE GROUP, WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY OFF OUR ATMOS BILL AND THROUGH THAT PROCESS, YOU'LL SEE FROM THE STAFF REPORT THAT THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS THIS YEAR'S ATMOS CHANGE FROM WHAT THEY HAD DESIRED CHANGE TO THE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT CHANGE. THAT IS REALLY THE PROCESS THAT GOES THROUGH EVERY YEAR AND WE'RE REQUIRED TO ADOPT THIS NEW RATE AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT. TONIGHT, MAYOR ALSO BEFORE I ANSWER QUESTIONS, WE ALSO HAVE WITH US, ANDRE KRALL FROM ATMOS ENERGY. SHE'S THE MANAGER OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER, SHE'S AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. HAVE WE DONE THIS BEFORE FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS? >> I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT BEFORE COUNCIL IN THE PAST, BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. >> YES. BETTER BE. >> I DON'T RECALL IT. >> I'D EXPLAIN THAT I HAD MEMORY LAPSE. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR WADE. >> WE'RE JUST CLARIFYING THE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE ALREADY [01:10:02] BEEN SETTLED AND THIS RATE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED, BUT WE JUST NEED TO ADOPT IT. >> THAT'S CORRECT. YES, MA'AM. >> GREAT SUMMARY. >> THANK YOU. >> CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 1004. >> SO MOVED. >> CAN I GET A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. >> MAYOR, I WILL SAY ATMOS ENERGY HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER WITH US FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE THEM HERE IN TOWN. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. APPRECIATE IT. AGENDA ITEM J.2, [J.2. Discuss, consider and act regarding Resolution 24-66 approving FY25 Financial Policies (Finance Director Cayce Lay Lamas)] RESOLUTION 24-66. DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACT REGARDING RESOLUTION 24-66, APPROVING FY 25 FINANCIAL POLICY. >> I'M BACK. THIS ONE SHOULD BE QUICK. RESOLUTION 24-66 IS PRESENTED TONIGHT TO APPROVE THE FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT WE USE AS THE FRAMEWORK FOR BUILDING ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES AND OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. HISTORICALLY, THIS HAD BEEN ADOPTED AS PART OF THE BUDGET, BUT BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 24, WE BROKE IT OUT AS A OWN SEPARATE ITEM FOR CLARITY, FOR DISCUSSION, FOR TRANSPARENCY, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR ACCOUNTABILITY SO WHAT YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON TONIGHT ARE THE SAME FIVE POLICIES THAT WERE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL LAST YEAR. THE ONLY CHANGE OF SUBSTANCE YEAR OVER YEAR IS THE REFLECTION OF RESOLUTION 24-60 THAT MOVED THE TOWN MANAGER'S AUTHORITY TO SPEND FROM THAT $20,000 CAP BACK TO THE 50 THAT IT HAD BEEN. ANY OTHER CHANGES THAT YOU MIGHT SEE IN THERE ARE SIMPLY GRAMMATICAL OR CLARIFYING IN NATURE. THE FIVE POLICIES THAT ARE INCLUDED ARE THE FINANCIAL POLICIES SO THAT'S OUR STEP 1 POLICY THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT SAYS, THIS IS HOW MUCH WE WANT FOR FUND BALANCE, THIS IS HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING FOR DEBT SERVICE. IT ALSO HAS THE BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND BUDGETING, AND IT TELLS US WHO WE'RE REPORTING TO AND WHEN. OR PURCHASING AUTHORITY, THIS IS BASICALLY THE POLICY THAT SAYS, WHO CAN BUY WHAT AT HOW MUCH? THIS IS ALSO WHERE WE DEFINE WHAT WE ACCEPT AS A TOWN AND AS AN ACADEMY FOR EMERGENCY EXPENDITURES. OR THE PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES SO THAT'S JUST THE LIST OF THINGS THAT NOBODY'S ALLOWED TO DO. IT DOES HAVE A SECTION ON RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES SO NOT THINGS THAT WE EXPLICITLY SAY NO TO, BUT DEFINITELY WARRANT MORE DISCUSSION WE EVER HAVE ANY OF THOSE. THAT POLICY ALSO SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO COME BACK AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL. THE NEXT POLICY HAS TO DO WITH CONTRACTS AUTHORITY, SO WHO CAN SIGN WHAT. A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT POLICY SAYS, VERBAL CONTRACTS ARE NOT BINDING GOT TO HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN, IT'S GOT TO BE EXECUTED, AND IT'S GOT TO GO THROUGH ALL THE PROPER CHANNELS. THEN THE LAST POLICY THAT WE HAVE HERE IS THE P-CARD POLICY. THIS ISN'T NORMALLY BROUGHT TO MANY COUNCILS, BUT BECAUSE P-CARDS ARE SUCH A HEAVY AREA OF POTENTIAL FRAUD, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S IN FRONT OF YOU ALL. ADDITIONALLY, WHAT WE DID THIS CURRENT YEAR ARE ISSUING BANK OF THE CREDIT CARD SWITCHED PROVIDERS SO NOW WE ARE ROLLING OUT ALL BRAND NEW CARDS THERE'S A BRAND NEW PORTAL SO EVERYBODY WITH A CARD GOT TO LISTEN TO ME TALK AT THEM FOR 45 MINUTES THROUGH TRAINING AND THEY HAVE A BRAND NEW CARD WITH BRAND NEW POLICIES IN PLACE. >> YOU KNOW, CASEY, THESE POLICIES REALLY DO REPRESENT THE FINANCIAL OVERHAUL THAT YOU STARTED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, AND THEY'RE HUGELY IMPORTANT TO THE TOWN. I THINK MOST RESIDENTS ARE AWARE OF THIS. I'M REALLY GLAD YOU DID PULL THIS OUT SEPARATELY. I'M NOT SURE THAT 10 YEARS FROM NOW, WE'LL STILL NEED THESE PULLED OUT SEPARATELY, BUT I'M HOPING AS WE MOVE FORWARD EVEN IN 2025, YOU'LL LET US KNOW IF ANY OF THESE POLICIES NEED TO BE UPDATED OR TWEAKED OR EVOLVE AS OUR TOWN MATURES. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> WELL, SAID. I LOVE THE CONTROLS, AND AGAIN, I THINK I'VE TOLD YOU THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES WE'RE REALLY GLAD YOU'RE HERE. >> I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE. >> JOB YOU'RE DOING FOR US. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 24-66? >> SO MOVED. >> CAN I GET A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. >> ALL OPPOSED? >> MOTION CARRIES. CASEY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU ALL. >> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY ABSENCES TO EXCUSE FOR J.3. THE TIME IS NOW 5:15, [K. EXECUTIVE SESSION] PURSUANT TO PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THE TOWN COUNCIL, BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY CONTAINED IN SECTION 551.074A1 DELIBERATION REGARDING PERSONNEL MATTERS TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT, DUTIES OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OR TOWN OF WESTLAKE OR WESTLAKE ACADEMY STAFFING LEVELS AND SECTION 551.0712, [01:15:02] CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS SEEK ADVICE AND COUNCIL REGARDING EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCES RELATED TO THE POSITION OF ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. WE WILL NOW ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.