>> JASON, THANK YOU. I NOW CALL THE REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER.
[A. CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCE A QUORUM PRESENT]
[00:00:04]
GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THE WEST LAKE TOWN COUNCIL BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING FOR JULY 15TH, 2025.THE TIME IS 3:33 PM, AND A QUORUM IS PRESENT.
WE'LL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
THIS EVENING INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY PASTOR MIKE BANES FROM MILESTONE CHURCH, KELLER. WELCOME AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. LET'S PRAY.
FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GIVE UP THEIR TIME, EFFORT, AND ENERGIES TO GOVERN, TO BE THE TRUSTEES, TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS.
FOR THE AUTHORITY THAT YOU'VE PLACED UPON THEM, I ASK THAT YOU GIVE THEM WISDOM.
I PRAY, LORD GOD, THAT YOU WATCH OVER THEIR FAMILIES AND PROTECT THEM, RETURN TO THEM AS THEY GIVE TO OTHERS, GIVE BACK TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
FATHER, I ASK YOU TO BLESS THEM AND BLESS ALL THAT THEY PUT THEIR HANDS TO HERE TODAY, AS WELL AS EACH AND EVERY DAY, WHO WE ASK THIS IN CHRIST'S NAME. AMEN.
>> AMEN. THANK YOU, MIKE. NOW, PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE PLEDGE OF THE TEXAS FLAG.
WE HAVE CHILDREN FROM PRIMROSE WESTLAKE, ENTRADA, TO JOIN US.
WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE THEM AND MANDI MCCOMBS FROM PRIMROSE HILL.
>> MANDI AND PARENTS, GREAT JOB.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE. ANY CITIZEN OR PARENT COMMENTS? I GOT A NOTE, IS ANDREW CRUSTA HERE? WE WILL MOVE ON.
[D. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST, MR. SASSER.>> MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
WE'VE GOT QUITE A FEW THINGS AS WE START TO WRAP UP OUR SUMMER, WHEN IT WAS SPARSE WITH EVENTS, BUT WE'VE GOT QUITE A FEW COMING UP, INCLUDING ON THURSDAY, JULY 31ST AT 9:30, WE HAVE THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE B1 BANK.
JUST SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WE HAD THE RIBBON CUTTING IN ENTRADA, AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE ACTUAL GROUNDBREAKING.
AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO BE THURSDAY, JULY 31ST AT 9:30.
WE WON'T HAVE A PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING IN AUGUST, SO OUR NEXT MEETING IS GOING TO BE IN SEPTEMBER 2ND.
WE DO HAVE A CHAMBER LUNCHEON COMING UP ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13TH, AT 11:00 AM, IS THE TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
THEY TOOK A COUPLE OF MONTHS OFF FOR THE SUMMER, BUT WE'RE BACK AGAIN.
I SENT YOU GUYS AN INVITE YESTERDAY, AND WE KNOW BALLY'S HERE AS WELL, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR FROM HER.
AGAIN, THAT'S AUGUST 13TH AT 11:00 AM.
WESTLAKE ACADEMY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS AUGUST 14TH.
WE BLINKED, AND THE SUMMER IS ALMOST OVER.
THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY EXCITING.
WE HAVE OUR MILITARY HEROES RUN.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FIFTH YEAR IN WESTLAKE, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING, AND IT'S A TRUE HONOR TO HAVE THIS EVENT IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE FIFTH YEAR IN A ROW.
THAT'S GOING TO BE ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH AT 7:00 AM.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A 5-K AND A 10-K AS WELL.
THAT'S ALWAYS A LOT OF FUN AND A GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT.
THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB THERE.
OUR NEXT TOWN COUNCIL MEETING IS GOING TO BE AUGUST 19TH.
OUR TOWN HALL AND MUNICIPAL COURT IS GOING TO BE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF LABOR DAY ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST.
THEN THE LONE STAR REPORT IS ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, FROM 11:00 - 1:00 IN SOUTHLAKE, AND I SEE YOU GUYS ARE INVITED TO THAT AS WELL, SO IF YOU GUYS COULD RSVP, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
WE CAN GET YOU LOCKED IN. A FEW OTHER NOTES HERE TO MENTION.
OUR 4TH OF JULY WAS JUST SPECTACULAR.
WE HAD MORE THAN 40 VOLUNTEERS OUT
[00:05:01]
THERE TO PLANT THE AMERICAN FLAGS IN HONOR OF OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY.LAST YEAR, WE HAD ABOUT 1,000.
AGAIN, HUGE TURNOUT WITH OUR VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING THE YOUNG MEN'S SERVICE LEAGUE.
THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB, AND THEY WERE EVEN OUT THERE TO PICK THEM UP A FEW DAYS LATER, WHICH WAS A DAUNTING TASK.
[OVERLAPPING] THEY LOOKED GREAT, BUT SOMEBODY'S GOT TO PICK THEM UP.
BUT I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO TALK HERE IN A SECOND ABOUT ANOTHER INITIATIVE, MAYOR, ABOUT THE YOUNG MEN'S SERVICE LEAGUE COMING UP HERE.
AGAIN, THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK PART OF THAT.
THAT WAS JUST A GREAT SHOW AND TURNOUT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE GOT STILL FLOODING VICTIMS IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
THEY'RE STILL DEALING WITH AN AWFUL LOT DOWN THERE.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO HELP OUT.
WE SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH THE CITY OF KERRVILLE.
THEY HAVE TWO MAJOR NEEDS DOWN THERE.
NUMBER 1, IT'S GOING TO BE MONETARY NEEDS.
THEY'VE GOT A LINK THAT WE HAVE ON OUR WEBSITE, AS WELL AS OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, AND VOLUNTEERS THROUGH THE SALVATION ARMY.
ANY INFORMATION, IF YOU'D LIKE TO VOLUNTEER OR DONATE ANY GOODS, SERVICES, WHATEVER YOU CAN, ALL THAT INFORMATION IS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, AS WELL AS OUR WEBSITE, SO PLEASE CHECK THAT OUT.
FINALLY, WE'RE SADDENED BY THE NEWS OF THE PASSING OF ONE OF OUR LONGTIME RESIDENTS, DOUG WHEAT, WHO, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, FORMER MAYOR LAURA WHEAT, HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON NOT ONLY THE TOWN BUT ON WESTLAKE ACADEMY AS WELL.
WITH MORE ON DOUG'S LEGACY, WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BEFORE I GET TO THAT, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, JULY 4TH FLAGS, THAT WAS A BLAST.
HOPEFULLY, IT'S IN OUR DNA AND IT'LL GROW EVERY YEAR.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE VOLUNTEERS.
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK YMSL, TAMMY, THANK YOU FOR HELPING GET THAT SET UP.
THEY HELPED US PLANT, BUT ALSO PULL THE FLAGS UP.
WITH THAT, WE HAD AN IDEA; WE'RE GOING TO START THE MAYOR'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAM, NOT ONLY FROM YMSL, BUT I TALKED BRIEFLY TO KELLY ABOUT IT.
ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH, EITHER CLEAN UP AROUND THE TRAILS, OTHER ACTIVITIES JUST TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND ALL OF OUR KIDS NEED SERVICE HOURS.
THEY'RE DESPERATE FOR SERVICE HOURS, WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM THERE.
AS FAR AS THE FLOODS GO, I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S HARD TO WATCH TV RIGHT NOW, WITH ALL THAT'S GOING ON, AND OUR GOOD FRIENDS, SCOTT AND KELLY BRADLEY, LIVE IN KERRVILLE.
WHEN THE FLOODS HIT, I SENT HIM A TEXT, THEY HAD TO EVACUATE THEIR HOUSE.
EVERYTHING'S OKAY. THEY LOST SOME FENCE.
THEY HAVE FIVE NEIGHBORS THAT HAD SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE, BUT WE'RE GLAD THEY'RE OKAY.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP FOLKS DOWN THERE, IT'S JUST DEVASTATING.
THEN, FINALLY, IT IS VERY SAD.
I KNEW DOUG ACTUALLY PRETTY WELL.
DOUG WHEAT PASSED AWAY ON JULY 9TH AFTER ABOUT A 10-YEAR BATTLE WITH CANCER.
HE'S MARRIED TO LAURA FOR OVER 37 YEARS.
HE WAS A KU GRADUATE, BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND LAW DEGREE.
THE LIBRARY AT KU IS ACTUALLY NAMED AFTER THE WHEAT FAMILY.
HAD A LONG, SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS AN ATTORNEY, AN INVESTMENT BANKER, AND IN PRIVATE EQUITY.
DOUG AND LAURA HAD FOUR KIDS TOGETHER AND TWO GRANDKIDS, AND THEY'VE CALLED WESTLAKE HOME.
I'VE KNOWN THEM FOR AT LEAST 16 YEARS, IT'S HOW LONG I'VE BEEN HERE.
WHEN I MOVED IN, I GOT A CAKE FROM LAURA AS MAYOR, AND THAT NICE TOUCH SHE HAD.
THEY GENEROUSLY DONATED THEIR TIME AND MONEY TO HELP ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHOOL AND THE TOWN.
THE CELEBRATION OF DOUG'S LIFE WILL BE HELD AT THE GRACE CHAPEL, WHITES CHAPEL METHODIST CHURCH IN SOUTHLAKE AT 11:00 AM FRIDAY, JULY 25TH, AND THEN A RECEPTION WILL BE FOLLOWING IMMEDIATELY THE SERVICE IN LAS COLINAS COUNTRY CLUB IN IRVING.
WE'RE SO SORRY FOR YOU, AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS E1,
[E.1. Receive Metroport Chamber of Commerce Annual Update Presentation (Sally A. Aldridge, IOM, President & CEO)]
RECEIVE A METROPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL UPDATE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, OUR GOOD FRIEND SALLY ALDRIDGE. HI, SALLY.>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I CAN'T BELIEVE ANOTHER YEAR HAS PASSED.
I FEEL LIKE I WAS HERE YESTERDAY.
I JUST WANT TO THANK JOHN FOR GIVING A SHOUT-OUT FOR OUR AUGUST LUNCHEON AND THE LONE STAR LEGISLATIVE REPORT.
WE'RE WORKING ON CONFIRMING ALL THE LEGISLATORS FOR THAT, SO STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION.
WE'RE ALSO SHARING A LOT OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FLOOD BECAUSE BUSINESSES REALLY WANT TO PARTICIPATE.
JUST GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT.
IN THERE IS THIS YEAR'S VERSION OF OUR BUSINESS AND RESIDENTIAL RELOCATION GUIDE, OUR ANNUAL REPORT FOR LAST YEAR, JUST A REMINDER ON THE POLICY OF ADMISSION FOR BEING A COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND THEN THE RUNDOWN OF THE BENEFITS AND THE INVESTMENT THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET.
YOU KNOW I GO REALLY QUICK, SO HERE WE GO.
WE ARE YOUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
[00:10:02]
WE HAVE BEEN SERVING THE ALLIANCE REGION SINCE 1988.I ALWAYS LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT WE ARE A 501(C)6, AND OUR MISSION, VISION, AND VALUE STATEMENT STILL STANDS SUSTAINED.
WE ALWAYS REVIEW IT EVERY YEAR.
I'M PLEASED TO SAY, AND I NEED TO UPDATE THIS, BUT THE CITY OF HASLET IS RETURNING TO THE CHAMBER.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING THEM BACK ON BOARD.
>> IT DID. THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR TALKING TO THEM AND ALL OF THE FEEDBACK THAT OUR COMMUNITIES GAVE TO THE CITY OF HASLET, AND THEY WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS RETURNING AT THE AUGUST LUNCHEON, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS TO SHARE.
WE COVER BUSINESSES THAT ARE FROM THE NONPROFITS ALL THE WAY UP TO THE FORTUNE AND GLOBAL 500.
WHEN WE'RE WORKING ON PROGRAMS AND TRAINING, WE REALLY MAKE SURE WE'RE COVERING THE GAMUT AND SUPPORT.
THIS IS HOW OUR MEMBERSHIP BROKE DOWN AT THE END OF 2024, AND EVEN THOUGH WE REPRESENT SEVEN COMMUNITIES, WE SERVICE BUSINESSES THAT ARE COMING FROM 49, SO PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND DO BUSINESS IN OUR REGION.
THAT'S VERY EXCITING. WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THESE FOUR AREAS, WHICH IS NETWORKING, EDUCATION, PROMOTION, AND EFFICACY.
ON NETWORKING, THESE ARE ALL THE AREAS THAT WE COVER.
LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FROM SMALL BUSINESS NETWORKING ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR LARGE EVENTS THAT WE DO, AND WE HAVE A HUGE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.
THEN ON A DIGITAL NETWORK, WE HAVE OUR FACEBOOK GROUP, WHICH IS A CLOSED GROUP HAS CLOSE TO 600, AND THEN OUR FOLLOWERS ARE OVER 300.
THEN ON OUR EDUCATION, WE DO AN ADVANCED LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, OUR REGIONAL ADVANTAGE THAT WE RUN FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH TO MAY.
THAT'S A PROGRAM THAT I MANAGE.
THEN ALSO, WE DO FOUR QUARTERLY LUNCHEONS FOR WOMEN AND BUSINESS, WHICH BRINGS IN SPEAKERS AS WELL AS OUR SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING, WHICH WE DO.
ON A PROMOTION, ALL OF THESE ARE THE DIFFERENT AREAS FOR PROMOTION OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS, AND DEPENDING ON YOUR LEVEL OF BENEFITS, A LOT OF THE THINGS ARE INCLUDED.
FOR ADVOCACY, WE DO OUR STATE OF THE COMMUNITY'S ADDRESS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR PRESENTING AT OUR FEBRUARY LUNCHEON, WHICH WE DO EACH YEAR, OUR LONE STAR LEGISLATIVE REPORT, WHICH WILL BE IN SEPTEMBER, OUR LEADERSHIP CLASS, AND THIS YEAR, OF COURSE, WAS DENTON AND TERRAN COUNTY DAYS IN AUSTIN.
ACTUALLY, OUR LEADERSHIP CLASS WAS THERE FOR COUNTY DAYS.
ON THE ED INITIATIVES, WE WORK ON STRATEGIC PLANNING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE MEET ONCE A MONTH AT THE CHAMBER.
WE DO, OF COURSE, THE RELOCATION GUIDE, WHICH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S IN HERE IS PROVIDED BY EACH COMMUNITY, AND YOU HAVE A TWO-PAGE SPREAD.
OF COURSE, THE WEBSITE WE KEEP UP TO DATE.
WE DID A REGIONAL VIDEO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
WE'RE LOOKING TO MAYBE DO ANOTHER.
THEN LAST YEAR, WE FINALIZED A REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WE WORKED WITH HILLWOOD ON WHERE ALL OF THE PLANS WERE OVERLAPPED, WHICH HELP EVERYBODY TO SEE WHAT EVERYBODY'S DOING.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE A STANDALONE BUILDING THAT'S LOCATED IN ROANOKE, AND IT IS A MEMBER-USE-ONLY BUILDING.
WE HAVE THE METROPORT COMMONS, WHICH IS ON THE LOWER LEVEL, WHICH IS OPEN TO ALL OUR MEMBERS TO USE AT ANY TIME MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
IT'S PART OF THEIR BENEFIT, AND COFFEE IS ON TAP.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THEN WE HAVE MEETING SPACE ON TOP OF THAT, WHICH HAS VERY NOMINAL RATES COMPARED TO WHAT IS OFFERED IN THE REGION.
THEN WE HAVE 12 LEASABLE OFFICES UPSTAIRS.
OUR GOAL IS TO BRING PEOPLE IN, START UP A BUSINESS, HANG A SHINGLE, INCUBATOR SPACE, AND WE HOPE THEY STAY IN THE AREA, CONTINUE TO GROW, AND BUILD A BRICK AND MORTAR.
>> THEN WE COULDN'T DO WHAT WE DO AND OFFER THE LOW RATES FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WITHOUT THE TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIP FROM OUR HIGH-LEVEL MEMBERS, SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION, OUR CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE, AND OUR PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE.
THEN ON THE EVENT SIDE, WITHOUT THIS TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIP, WE COULD NOT OFFER OR EVEN PUT ON THE LARGE EVENTS THAT WE DO EACH YEAR.
AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE FOR BEING OUR PARTNER.
THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF ALL OF THE ONLINE WAYS TO FIND US.
THEN, IN YOUR PACKET IS ALSO THE CARD THAT HAS ALL THE QR CODES IN IT.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP THAT ON HAND.
IT KEEPS EVERYTHING UP TO DATE IN REAL TIME, AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP THAT ON HAND.
BACK OF THE CARD. THEN JUST A FEW PICTURES FROM THIS PAST YEAR AND THE FRONT END OF THIS YEAR.
>> NOT GOING TO HELP MEMBERSHIP THERE. [LAUGHTER].
>> SOME OF OUR THINGS THAT WE'VE DID THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND THE PICTURES, AND ALSO SOME RIBBON CUTTINGS.
>> THE RIBBON CUTTING. THOSE ARE FUN. GOT ONE COMING UP.
>> YES. THAT'S MY PRESENTATION. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. ONE, I KNOW SOME OF YOU GUYS, IF YOU CAN ALL MAKE IT TO THESE LUNCHES.
>> NO, THEY'RE ONCE A QUARTER.
[00:15:02]
>> ONCE A QUARTER. THEY USED TO BE ONCE A MONTH.
>> THEY USED TO BE EVERY OTHER MONTH, BUT REALLY THE VENUE COSTS HAVE REALLY BECOME OUT OF REACH FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO ATTEND.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER OF QUALITY INSTEAD OF QUANTITY, SO WE REALLY BRING IN SOME HIGH-LEVEL SPEAKERS FOR THOSE QUARTER LUNCHEONS.
I ENCOURAGE IF YOU HAVE TIME AND TEAM MAKE SURE THEY GET THEM.
I REMEMBER TO DATE MYSELF BECAUSE THE YEARS ARE FLYING BY.
BUT WHEN THE RARE EARTH GUY CAME TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE PLANT THAT THEY WERE PUTTING IN THAT JOINT, LITTLE DID I KNOW ABOUT RARE EARTH, AS YOU'RE HEARING ALL THE ISSUES TODAY.
REALLY NEAT, BUT YOU HAVE A WIDE ARRAY OF REALLY EDUCATED SPEAKERS.
>> YOU GUYS DO A WONDERFUL JOB.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. APPRECIATE YOU.
[F.1. Town of Westlake FY 25-26 Budget Work Session (Cayce Lay Lamas, Finance Director)]
F.125-195 WILL NOW HOLD A TOWN OF WESTLAKE F125-26 BUDGET WORK SESSION, CASEY OR WADE?>> MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE A COUPLE OF THINGS PRIOR TO CASEY COMING UP AND GIVING HER PRESENTATION.
AS WE GOT INTO THE BUDGET SEASON, WE REALLY WERE PUSHING US TOWARDS SOME GOALS THAT WE WERE SETTING FOR THE BUDGET ITSELF, AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMUNICATE THOSE GOALS TO COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE WORKSHOP.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE WANT TO ADVANCE OUR TOWN TOWARDS BEST PRACTICES, BUT NOT JUST BEST PRACTICES, BUT DOING SO IN A LEAN MANNER.
WE ACTUALLY WANTED TO CREATE A BUDGET THAT GETS US CLOSER TO BEST PRACTICES THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY, BUT ALSO CREATE A BUDGET THAT CREATES A LITTLE SURPLUS THAT GOES BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE WITH EXPANDING OF WESTLAKE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FUTURE NEEDS FOR MORE INFRASTRUCTURE, MORE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT, MORE EXPANSION OF THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE.
IF WE CAN CREATE MORE SURPLUS TODAY, THEN WE KNOW THAT'S LESS DEBT THAT WE'LL HAVE TO DRAW ON IN YEARS TO COME TO MAKE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE HAPPEN.
THOSE ARE THE TWO BIGGEST FUNCTIONS THAT WE WANTED TO SEE, BUT WE ALSO BY DOING THAT, WE WANTED EACH DEPARTMENT TO GO INTO THEIR INDIVIDUAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND CUT AT LEAST 3% FROM LAST YEAR'S EXPENDITURES.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS IN THE GENERAL FUND, YOU'LL SEE A LOWER AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURES THIS COMING YEAR THAN WE HAD LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE LESS EXPENDITURES AND WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO GAIN MORE MONEY REVENUE SIDE.
IT'S AN EXCITING BUDGET TO BRING FORWARD.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. I SAID, WOULD YOU SIT DOWN AND CALL THE GOOD BUDGET AND MOVE ON.
>> NOT THAT EASY. GENERAL IDEA.
>> SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT A SERVICE LEVEL ENHANCEMENT.
WE ASKED EACH DEPARTMENT ALSO TO BRING FORWARD ANY SERVICE LEVEL ENHANCEMENTS THEY FEEL ARE NECESSARY TO BRING THEM TOWARDS THAT BEST PRACTICES.
YOU'LL SEE A LIST OF THOSE SLAS IN YOUR PACKET.
WE HAVE NOT APPROVED OR DENIED ANY OF THOSE YET, BUT WE WANTED TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU GUYS TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THOSE AS YOU SEE FIT.
THEN A BIG THING ALSO WAS TO ADJUST OUR BENEFITS PACKAGE FOR EMPLOYEES.
LAST YEAR, WE TOOK A HARD LOOK AT SALARIES, AND WE DID A MARKET STUDY LAST YEAR AND BROUGHT OUR SALARIES UP TO WHERE WE WERE COMPETITIVE SO WE COULD ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING SOME GOOD EMPLOYEES AND HOLDING ON TO THE GOOD EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE.
THIS YEAR, WE WANTED TO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP, WHICH WAS LOOKING AT THE BENEFIT SIDE OF THAT EQUATION.
AS YOU CAN PAY ANYBODY AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU WANT TO, BUT IF YOUR BENEFITS AREN'T THE SAME AS EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU'RE STILL GOING TO LOSE THAT EMPLOYEE.
WE'RE HAVING TO BRING THAT BENEFIT PACKAGE UP A LITTLE BIT.
YOU'LL SEE THOSE THINGS ARE ALREADY CAPTURED WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT'S BEING PRESENTED TONIGHT.
THEN THE LAST, AGAIN, IS WE HAVE THE CIP LIST.
WE HAVE A LIST OF THOSE LARGE ITEMS, THOSE LARGE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GET UNDERWAY OR THOSE LARGE PURCHASES IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN BRING FORWARD THOSE BEST SERVICE DELIVERY POSSIBLE IN THIS NEXT YEAR.
ALL OF THAT, I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY, AS WE SAID BEFORE, EXPENDITURES ARE GOING TO BE DOWN, REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE UP, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ALL THE REST OF THAT DETAIL FROM CASEY.
>> ONE THING I WANT TO THROW AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ABOUT IT, BUT I DO WANT TO GET METRICS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
I WANT TO JUST WHATEVER THE KEY METRICS ARE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, FOR YOUR DEPARTMENTS, PERMIT TURN TIMES, ALL OF THAT STUFF.
COUNCIL CAN LOOK AT A SCORECARD AND GO, HEY, GUYS YOU'RE KILLING IT.
BUT I THINK THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH THAT'S WILLING TO HELP THOSE, BUT I REALLY DO WANT TO MAKE IT UP.
>> WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO BE EXCITED BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT ROLLING OUT BY OCTOBER 1.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FORWARD FACING DASHBOARD WHERE OUR CITIZENS AND THE COUNCIL CAN VIEW ALL OF THAT.
WE HAVE A MEETING NEXT WEEK WITH A VENDOR THAT'S GOING TO BE HELPING US BRING THAT FORWARD. WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE.
>> AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BUDGET ALREADY ON THE SCHOOL SIDE, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO FLIP AND START TALKING ABOUT ALL THE TOWN STUFF.
TODAY IS JUST THE FIRST WORK SESSION
[00:20:02]
WHERE WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE SOME OF THE HIGH LEVEL CONCEPTS, GET SOME FEEDBACK SO THAT WE KNOW HOW TO START CRAFTING A MORE CONCRETE BUDGET GOING FORWARD.JUST TO GET A STARTED, WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING AT REVENUES AND PROJECTED EXPENDITURES ALL IN.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT $33.9 MILLION IN REVENUES ACROSS ALL FUNDS AND 28.5 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES.
THAT NETS US ABOUT A $5.4 MILLION CONTRIBUTION TO FUND BALANCE AND RETAIN EARNINGS, AGAIN, ACROSS ALL FUNDS AT THIS POINT.
I DO WANT TO MAKE A LITTLE NOTE THERE, THE REVENUES ARE UP, ONLY ABOUT 2% YEAR OVER YEAR FROM ADOPTED FISCAL YEAR 25, BUT THE EXPENDITURES HAVE A DECREASE OF ABOUT 4% AGAIN ACROSS ALL FUNDS AT THIS POINT.
TALKING ABOUT GENERAL FUND, THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR LARGEST OPERATING FUNDS, MAKES UP ABOUT HALF OF ALL ACTIVITY ACROSS THE TOWN'S BUDGET.
THE REVENUES ARE DOWN ABOUT $64,000, WHICH IS REALLY EFFECTIVELY A FLAT AMOUNT.
THE MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES IN THE GENERAL FUND INCLUDE SALES TAX, PROPERTY TAX, AND DEVELOPMENT FEES.
FOR NEXT YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT HIGHER THAN THIS YEAR ON SALES TAX.
WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW ABOUT FLAT M&O PROPERTY TAX, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT DEVELOPMENT FEES BEING SLIGHTLY DOWN.
IT ALL COMES OUT IN THAT WASH OF ABOUT 0% YEAR OVER YEAR FOR REVENUES.
>> CASEY, ON OUR SALES TAX, I KNOW WE HAVE BUSINESSES MOVING INTO WE DO PRO FORMAS ON THAT AND THEN DO WE LOOK AT HOW GOOD WE WERE PROJECTING WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO OR WHAT WE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO DO.
>> IF THE COMPANY IS WILLING TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION, YES.
BUT WE DON'T ALWAYS GET THAT INFORMATION.
THEN WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT SALES TAX, THERE IS THE CONFIDENTIAL REPORT THAT WE GET FROM THE SALES FROM THE COMPTROLLER.
IT DEPENDS. WE TRY TO PROJECT AS BEST WE CAN.
>> BUT Y'ALL BENCHMARK, IF YOU DON'T GET IT, YOU BENCHMARK THAT GOING FORWARD?
>> YES. GOOD. WE LOOK AT INDUSTRY AVERAGES AND WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE COMING IN.
THEN WE REVIEW THAT MONTHLY AS THE DOLLARS ACTUALLY HIT OUR ACCOUNT.
>> OR EXPENDITURES IN THE GENERAL FUND, THOSE ARE DOWN 3.2 MILLION OR ABOUT 21% FROM FISCAL YEAR 26.
THE MAJOR REDUCTIONS THERE ARE IN TRANSFER ACTIVITY AND SOME OF THOSE ADJUSTMENTS THAT YOU'LL RECALL WE MADE FOR THE ACADEMY.
WE HAD SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WERE BUDGETED IN THE TOWNS THAT THROUGH THE ACADEMY'S BUDGET PROCESS AND REVIEW, WE EITHER CUT THEM ALTOGETHER OR SOME OF THOSE WERE MOVED OVER TO THE ACADEMY'S OPERATING BUDGET ITSELF.
>> CLARIFICATION, I THINK THE 3.2 IS DIFFERENT. OF THE DEC.
>> I USED TO BE AN AUDITOR. MY EXCUSE.
>> I KNOW. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE OTHER EYES ON ALL THE STUFF.
THEN THAT DECREASE ALSO INCLUDES THOSE ACROSS THE BOARD CUTS THAT WADE MENTIONED DURING HIS OPENING.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, DRAFT BUDGET WISE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE 3.2 MILLION BEING AVAILABLE FOR ANY TYPE OF SERVICE LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS OR ANY CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED.
THEN SWITCHING OVER TO UTILITY FUND.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE TOWNS SECOND LARGEST OPERATING FUND, AND THIS IS WHERE ALL THE WATER AND SEWER ACTIVITY HAPPENS.
AS PART OF THE REVIEW PROCESS THIS YEAR, WE ADJUSTED WATER REVENUES TO REFLECT WHAT WE'RE SEEING AS A SUSTAINED INCREASE IN THOSE REVENUES.
THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 1.7 MILLION OR ROUGHLY A QUARTER INCREASE FROM FISCAL YEAR 25 ADOPTED ON THE WATER AND SEWER REVENUE RATES.
THIS IS THE NEW NORMAL THAT WE'LL BE INCORPORATING INTO OUR WATER RATE STUDY.
WHICH KEEP THAT IN YOUR BRAIN FOR WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEBT LATER.
BECAUSE THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY GOOD NEWS AS FAR AS ANY POTENTIAL INCREASE THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY.
THEN EXPENDITURES ARE UP ABOUT 1.6 MILLION OR ROUGHLY 28%.
REALLY, THE CAUSE FOR THOSE INCREASES RIGHT NOW HAVE TO DO WITH RISING RATES BEING PASSED ALONG FOR SEWER TREATMENT.
THE OFFSETTING REVENUES FOR INCREASED USAGE MEANS OFFSETTING EXPENDITURES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE WATER, AND WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SEWER TO BE TREATED.
THEN THERE ARE A COUPLE ITEMS IN HERE ALSO RELATED TO CONTRACTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED, IF YOU RECALL, COUNCIL APPROVED THE LANDSCAPING CONTRACT.
THERE YOU GO. WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT.
IF COUNCIL'S ALREADY APPROVED A CONTRACT,
[00:25:02]
WE WENT AHEAD AND FOLDED IT IN.FOR THE UTILITY FUND, WE'RE LOOKING AT A LITTLE LESS THAN $800,000 THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY SLAS OR ANY CIP PROJECTS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR TWO MAJOR OPERATING FUNDS BEFORE WE GET INTO SOME MORE FUN STUFF?
>> SWITCHING OVER TO OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
THE DRAFT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT'S A DELIVERABLE THAT CAME DIRECTLY OUT OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN WORK OVER THE WINTER.
THIS IS JUST THE FIRST ITERATION OF IT.
WE'LL BE REFINING THIS YEAR OVER YEAR AS WE GET BETTER AT IT.
REALLY WHAT WE'VE CAPTURED ON THIS LIST ARE GOING TO BE THOSE LARGE PROJECTS THAT ARE RELATED TO ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR THE MOST PART.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF LARGE SCALE MAINTENANCE THINGS ON THIS LIST.
SPECIFICALLY, WE'VE GOT OUT OF THE ROUGHLY $600,000 IN PROJECTS THAT DON'T HAVE ANY BUDGET.
THEY'RE NOT IN THE TOWN'S BUDGET, THEY'RE NOT IN THE ACADEMY'S BUDGET YET, 360,000 OF IT IS FOR ADDITIONAL LARGE SCALE MAINTENANCE THINGS FOR WATER AND SEWER.
THEN THE REST OF IT, ALMOST ALL OF IT IS FOR FACILITY MAINTENANCE ITEMS THAT REALLY DO NEED TO HAPPEN OVER ON CAMPUS.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON THERE, DO WE HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED? ABSOLUTELY. A LOT OF THE BUILDINGS OVER ON CAMPUS, THE OLDEST ONES ARE 21-YEARS-OLD NOW.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE GYM'S AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.
KEEP THOSE KIDS COOL WILE THEY'RE SWEATING.
THEN THE LAST THING I WANTED TO MENTION, IS ALSO GOING TO SHOW UP ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS FIVE YEARS AND WILL INCLUDE LARGE SCALE PROJECTS LIKE THE ARTS AND SCIENCES EXPANSION THAT WE'RE DOING THE BOND ISSUANCE FOR TODAY AND THE UTILITY PROJECTS.
PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED THROUGH RECENT AND NICHOLS ASSESSMENT ARE ALL GOING TO BE FUNDED BONDS.
WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT FIVE YEAR FORECAST, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT YEAR OVER YEAR, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS APPROPRIATING OR ACTUALLY APPROVING ALL OF THE PROJECTS ON THERE FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, AND THOSE OUT YEARS, THOSE WILL BE DISCUSSED OVER AND OVER AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS EACH YEAR.
THE FUNDING SOURCES MAY CHANGE, THE AMOUNTS, THE TIMING, THE PROJECTS THEMSELVES.
JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN YOUR BRAIN WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING CIP.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN? THEN WE'LL SWITCH OVER TO THE SERVICE LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS.
WHERE THESE REALLY DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES FROM THE CIP.
THESE TEND TO BE ONE TIME PURCHASES OF VEHICLE EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES, NOT NECESSARILY LARGE SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE PLANS.
THEN THIS IS ALSO THE MECHANISM THAT WE USE INTERNALLY TO MAKE ANY REQUESTS FOR PERSONNEL.
THEN FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, WE'VE IDENTIFIED ALMOST 1.3 MILLION IN VARIOUS SERVICE LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS, AND THAT INCLUDES ABOUT 800,000 FOR VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.
THERE'S ALMOST 200,00 FOR IT AND SECURITY TYPE REPLACEMENTS, INCLUDING ACCESS CONTROLS AND CAMERAS.
THEN WE'VE GOT $125,000 FOR A THOROUGHFARE ASSESSMENT.
OUR STREETS AND TRAILS, AND THEN ANOTHER 25 AND INCLUDED IN THAT IS THE PARKS MASTER PLAN.
WILL RECALL ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHENEVER WE STARTED TALKING TO YOU, WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE WATER MASTER PLAN.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THIS PAST YEAR IS REALLY GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DOING INTERNAL EVALUATIONS, LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR STREETS LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR STUFF AND SAYING, WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE PLANNING FOR SO THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE THINGS THAT WE OWN AS WE HAVE THEM.
>> CASEY WAIT, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STREET SIGNS LIKE DO NOT ENTER SIGNS LIKE IN GRENADA? AS I WALK BY THERE.
THEY'RE DO NOT ENTER ON THEIR LEFT SIDE IS VERY FADED.
>> WITHIN GRENADA OR LEADING INTO GRENADA, THOSE WOULD BE THE HOAS.
BUT ANYTHING OUTSIDE IS US. YES, SIR.
>> IT DOES. THEN THERE'S SOME IN TROD AS WELL THAT HAVE JUST AGED OUT.
[00:30:04]
I DO WANT TO JUST REAL QUICK.YOU MENTIONED LANDSCAPING. I DIDN'T REALIZE.
I ASKED WADE WHEN WE WERE DOING ALL THE FLAG WORK OUTSIDE QUEL HOLLOW, ALL THAT GRASS IS DEAD. IT WAS TERRIBLE.
WELL, AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE OF CHERYL AND KYLE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS I WAS GETTING READY TO CALL YOU THE HOA.
IT VERY MUCH NEEDED. I THINK WE TOOK OVER THAT SPACE ALMOST A YEAR AGO, AND IT LOOKS GREAT, BUT IT'S NEEDED.
I WOULD ASK US TO GO AROUND AND LOOK AT THOSE SIGNS.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF WESTLAKE FIVE STEPS AT A TIME PUTTING IN THOSE FLAGS AND I DO WANT US TO LOOK AT THOSE SIGNS AND JUST MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS THE WESTLAKE STANDARDS.
WE CAN DO THAT. BUT YOU GUYS THANK YOU FOR THAT LANDSCAPING.
>> THEN THE $75,000 IN MAINTENANCE, THAT'S JUST ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE DOLLARS IN THE UTILITY FUND TO BE A LITTLE MORE PROACTIVE.
THEN THE LAST SERVICE LEVEL ADJUSTMENT ON HERE IS FOR AN ADDITIONAL FTE THAT WOULD BE SERVICING MAINLY THE PARKS.
RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT'S SOLELY DEDICATED TO THAT, OUR PUBLIC WORKS CREWS, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS IN THE PARK, SOMEBODY GETS PULLED OFF.
THIS POSITION WOULD ALSO BE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND ONCE WE DO GET THAT PARKS MASTER PLAN IN PLACE TO HELP MAKE SURE THOSE THINGS ARE ACTIVE.
>> I THINK WADE IN LIGHT OF SOME OTHER THINGS, SOME DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD OVER BY AROUND THE FRONT 44 AND STUFF, THAT'S A GREAT MOVE.
>> YES, SIR. I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ABOUT 75% OF THE TIME.
WE HAVE ENOUGH ACTIVITY GOING ON THE PARK TO KEEP THAT PERSON BUSY AND THAT OF THE 25%, THAT WOULD BE HELPING THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM WITH OTHER PUMP REPLACEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A FULL FTP.
>> THEN DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE SLAS AS WE AFFECTIONATELY REFER TO THEM? AWESOME.
>> THEN THE LAST MAJOR OPERATING CHANGE WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TODAY WERE THOSE COMPENSATION CONSIDERATIONS THAT WADE HAD MENTIONED AS FAR AS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE INDUSTRY-STANDARD.
THIS BUDGET, AS PRESENTED RIGHT NOW, CURRENTLY DOES INCLUDE THE REDUCTION OF AN FTE.
WE HAD A PARAMEDIC THAT WAS HOUSED MAINLY OVER ON CAMPUS, AND SO THAT POSITION WAS ELIMINATED.
IT INCLUDES 3.5% RAISES FOR THE TOWN.
IT INCLUDES AN INCREASE TO PENSION COSTS OF 5.5%.
THEN ON HERE, I MADE SURE TO PUT THAT WE ARE PROJECTING A 12% INCREASE OVER CURRENT INSURANCE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, BUT IT HAS A NET ZERO EFFECT ON THE BUDGET.
WHENEVER WE DID OUR BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, WHAT WE ALWAYS DO, BECAUSE THE BENEFIT YEAR STARTS JANUARY 1, WE GO OUT TO BID AFTER THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED.
WE CHANGED COMPANIES, AND IT GOT US A LOT OF SAVINGS CURRENT YEAR.
>> THEN THE LAST THING THAT WAS ALSO INCORPORATED WERE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS, AGAIN, THAT ARE VERY INDUSTRY-STANDARD.
WE'RE ADDING LONGEVITY CERTIFICATION AND STEP-UP PAYS.
IF WE WERE ACTUALLY LARGER, LONGEVITY WOULD BE LEGALLY MANDATED FOR US TO DO.
SO WE'RE, AGAIN, JUST TRYING TO BE IN LINE WITH ALL OF OUR SURROUNDING CITIES THERE.
>> CAYCE, WHEN YOU SAY THAT, IS THERE A COMPENSATION STUDY THAT WE ARE PART OF TO LOOK AT SURROUNDING TOWNS TO SEE HOW OUR BENEFITS?
>> YES, SIR. THERE'S ACTUALLY EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY WITHIN THE HR FIELD WHERE THEY GO AND THEY ARE CALLING EACH OTHER BASICALLY FROM APRIL 1 UNTIL EVERYBODY ADOPTS A BUDGET GOING, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD AS BEST WE CAN.
>> MR. YACKIRA, WE SPECIFICALLY LOOKED AT THOSE 10 COMPARISON CITIES THAT THE COUNCIL AGREED UPON IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE LOOKED SPECIFICALLY AT THOSE CITIES AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE THERE.
BUT THEN WE ALSO WENT AROUND THE METROPLEX AND LOOKED AT SOME OF THOSE OTHER CITIES AS WELL, JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ATTRACTING AND KEEPING THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED.
>> TO ME, IT'S ABOUT ATTRACTING AND RETAINING AND THEN, LIKE ALL ORGANIZATIONS, WHAT'S THEIR TURNOVER? ARE WE LOSING PEOPLE BECAUSE OF SALARY OR BENEFITS, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS THE CASE, BUT WE WANT TO CONTINUE.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. WE MADE THE PROMISE LAST YEAR THAT WE'D LOOK AT SALARIES AND THAT THIS YEAR WE WOULD LOOK AT BENEFITS, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE KEEPING THAT PROMISE.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 26? I'M GOING TO CHANGE TOPICS.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FUND BALANCE POLICY.
AS WE'RE FINALIZING THIS BUDGET AND WE'RE FINALIZING ALL OF THE REVENUE CALCULATIONS, ONE THING I DO WANT TO BRING UP WITH COUNCIL AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON IS WHAT LEVEL OF FUND BALANCE POLICIES YOU'RE ALL COMFORTABLE WITH.
RIGHT NOW, AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET ADOPTION, WE ALSO BRING FORWARD FINANCIAL POLICIES FOR THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT RATING AGENCIES REALLY LOVE, AND IT VERY MUCH HELPS THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AS FAR AS WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT OUR LIMITS ARE
[00:35:01]
FOR ANY OF OUR CUSHION AND ANY TYPE OF AMENDMENTS THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY MAKE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.WHENEVER WE DO OUR FUND BALANCE POLICIES, WE TALK ABOUT THEM BY TYPE.
GENERAL FUND RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT 180 DAYS OF NEXT YEAR'S EXPENDITURES BEING UNASSIGNED OR AVAILABLE FOR PROJECTS.
BASICALLY WHAT THAT SAYS IS WE'RE GOING TO HOLD ON TO ABOUT HALF OF WHAT WE PLAN ON SPENDING NEXT YEAR ALL OF THE TIME.
CITY TO CITY, THAT CAN VARY GREATLY.
YOU MIGHT SEE SOME CITIES THAT ARE VERY CASH HEAVY AND SO THEY LIKE TO HAVE THAT MUCH HIGHER.
YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME THAT ARE SMALLER, THEY'RE STILL DEVELOPING, AND SO THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF THAT STARTING WORK, SO THEY KEEP THEIR FUND BALANCE CUSHION MUCH LOWER.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE, SO LOOKING AROUND, I'M LOOKING FOR HEAD NODS RIGHT NOW.
ARE WE ALL COMFORTABLE WITH 50%? DO WE THINK WE WOULD NEED MORE TO HANG ON TO OR LESS?
>> I THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK IN FRONT OF US.
IT'S NOT OVERLY CONSERVATIVE, BUT IT'S ALSO NOT BEEN HAPPY.
>> THEN THE NEXT FUND TYPE IS GOING TO BE SPECIAL REVENUE TYPES.
THIS ONE IS 25% OF NEXT YEAR EXPENDITURES, AND THE REASON YOU SEE THAT INDUSTRY WIDE, WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT SPECIAL REVENUES, WE ARE SAYING THAT THERE IS A DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCE THAT OFTENTIMES COMES WITH A VERY SPECIFIC USE.
AS OPPOSED TO THE GENERAL FUND WHERE WE CAN BUY WHATEVER IT IS WE NEED TO DO BUSINESS, IF WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDED VISITORS ASSOCIATION FUND, THAT IS A STATE-MANDATED TAX THAT SAYS YOU CAN ONLY SPEND IT ON VERY SPECIFIC ITEMS. BY KEEPING THAT LOWER BALANCE IN THE FUND, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE IS USING THOSE DOLLARS THAT ARE RESTRICTED FIRST BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT THOSE GENERAL DOLLARS.
>> VERY GOOD WITH THAT? AWESOME. THEN DEBT SERVICE FUNDS.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THREE DEBT SERVICE FUNDS.
ONE ACCOUNTS FOR THE DEBT SERVICE THAT IS PAID THROUGH SALES TAX, ONE IS PAID FROM OUR INS RATE FROM PROPERTY TAX, AND THE LAST IS THE UTILITY REVENUES.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE HISTORICALLY NEVER REALLY KEPT ANY FUND BALANCE IN OUR DEBT SERVICE OR THE SALES TAX AND UTILITY FUNDS IN PARTICULAR.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IS JUST TRANSFER AND MAKE IT A LITERAL ONE-TO-ONE TRANSFER TO COVER THOSE PAYMENTS.
>> BUT INDUSTRY STANDARD TENDS TO SAY AT LEAST ONE MONTH OF ANNUALIZED PRINCIPLE AND INTEREST.
IF WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT, WE CAN MAKE THAT CHANGE.
IF WE'RE COMFORTABLE KEEPING THOSE AT ZERO, WE CAN ALSO LEAVE IT AS IT IS.
>> IS THERE ANY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES TO DOING THIS? WE LOSE ANY EARNINGS OR ANYTHING?
>> NO, MOST OF OUR DEBT IS WHAT'S EFFECTIVELY CALLED DOUBLE-BARRELED, WHICH MEANS IT'S ULTIMATELY BACKED BY PROPERTY TAXES.
SO SHOULD THOSE REVENUE SOURCES COMPLETELY GO AWAY, WE WOULD BE FORCED TO INCREASE OUR INS RATE TO CAPTURE THOSE.
BUT AS FAR AS WHAT WE KEEP ON HAND, IT'S REALLY JUST IF THERE ENDS UP BEING SOME WEIRD ISSUE WITH CASH FLOW IN A YEAR.
>> AWESOME. HERE'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE FUN ONES IS OUR CAPITAL FUNDS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THREE CAPITAL FUNDS, ONE FOR MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENTS, ONE FOR ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENTS, AND THEN ONE THAT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE ARTS AND SCIENCES EXPANSION.
RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE A FUND BALANCE POLICY FOR CAPITAL.
MY QUESTION FOR THE COUNCIL IS HOW COMFORTABLE ARE WE WITH TAKING IT DOWN TO ZERO VERSUS PUSHING THAT DOLLAR UP SO THAT WE CAN START IDENTIFYING PROJECTS? THEN COUPLED WITH THAT CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT WE WANT TO KEEP BACK AND KEEP ON HAND AND SAY, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND UNLESS WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO, IS A IDEA AROUND WHAT'S CALLED A YEAR-END SWEEP.
FOR SALES TAX IN PARTICULAR, WITH IT BEING AS VOLATILE OF A REVENUE SOURCE AS IT IS, WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT ANY DOLLARS RECEIVED AT YEAR END OVER WHAT WAS BUDGETED WOULD BE SWEPT INTO A CAPITAL FUND FOR FUTURE ITEMS. WHENEVER WEIGHED AT THE START OF THE PRESENTATION MENTIONED, TRYING TO LESSEN THE NEED FOR FUTURE DEBT, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CASH FUND THINGS AS WE NEED, WE'D REALLY LIKE TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE CONSIDER THOSE VOLATILE SALES TAX RECEIPTS TO BE ONE TIME AND WE'D LIKE TO MATCH THEM WITH ONE TIME EXPENDITURES.
>> FOR [INAUDIBLE] BE USED TO, IT WOULD BE HAVING A WORKING CAPITAL OR A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT RESERVE?
[00:40:02]
>> WE'RE JUST HAVING MONEY SET ASIDE WE COULD USE FOR A FUTURE PROJECT.
>> CAYCE, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?
>> ABOUT HOW MUCH WOULD THIS BE IF WE WERE TO HAVE DONE THIS LAST YEAR? WHAT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF REVENUE? WHAT'S THE ACTUAL IMPACT OF IT IN TERMS OF ACTUAL DOLLARS?
>> LAST YEAR, I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THAT FOR YOU, BUT I WANT TO SAY IT WAS AROUND 1.1 MILLION.
IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO BE BETTER AT SALES TAX FORECASTING, ONE, FOR GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS, AND THEN, TWO, BECAUSE IT ALSO IMPACTS HOW WE DO OUR TAX RATE CALCULATION BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN TOWN ON THEIR BILL GETS THAT LITTLE THING THAT SAYS THIS WAS REDUCED FOR THE PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION BY HALF CENT.
>> COUNCIL, WITH THAT POLICY, WE COULD ALSO SAY A PERCENTAGE OF THAT END-OF-YEAR SWEEP WOULD BE GOING INTO A CAPITAL FUND, AND A PERCENTAGE OF IT WOULD GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND FOR UNASSIGNED DOLLARS AS WELL, JUST TO KEEP THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE WHERE YOU WOULD WANT IT.
THAT'S AN OPTION AS WELL AS WE COULD SAY A 50/50 SWEEP OR A 75/25 SWEEP OR ANYTHING THAT COUNCIL FEELS WOULD BE MOST PRUDENT.
THE AMOUNT OF PROJECTS THAT WE THAT HAVE IN FRONT, I'D SAY.
>> OR THE MORE WE PUT INTO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT RESERVES THE BANK.
>> THEN FOR THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS, IS THERE ANY DESIRE TO KEEP A MINIMUM FUND BALANCE IN THOSE, OR ARE WE THINKING THAT MAYBE THOSE FUNDS ARE SPECIFICALLY SET UP TO FUND THINGS AND EXHAUSTING THEM WOULD BE FINE, IF WE HAD IDENTIFIED PROJECTS THAT NEEDED THOSE DOLLARS?
>> WHAT'S YOUR COMFORT LEVEL? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I LOVE PROBABLY 10-20% OF WHAT WE SEE ON THE CIP LIST AS FAR AS OPERATING DOLLARS EACH YEAR.
WE CAN BE REVISITING THAT, AND ALL OF THESE FUND BALANCES WOULD BE RECALCULATED EACH YEAR SINCE THEY'RE BASED ON FUTURE BUDGET YEARS.
>> I'M FINE WITH THAT. WE CAN CHANGE THAT ANY TIME AS WE LEARN.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS PREFERENCE AND POLICY THAT WE ADOPT, SO WE CAN COME BACK AND READOPT.
>> WHAT ARE YOU PROPOSING THEN?
>> WE CAN DO 10% OF THOSE OPERATIONAL FUNDS FOR THE FUTURE YEARS.
>> THE NEXT ONE ON HERE ARE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS.
THESE ARE WHENEVER WE IDENTIFY THOSE ONE-TIME CAPITAL OUTLAY THINGS, THE VEHICLES AND THE EQUIPMENTS, NOT THE CIP LARGE SCALE PROJECTS, WHAT WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY DONE IS SAY, IF WE BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE A VEHICLE, IT WILL COST US $75,000.
WHAT WE THEN DO IS WE TRANSFER $75,000 OUT OF AN OPERATING FUND INTO AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND TO PAY FOR THAT VEHICLE.
HOWEVER, IF IT COMES IN AT $71,000, THEN WE WOULD HAVE A BALANCE.
IF IT COMES IN AT $77,000, THEN WE HAVE A DEFICIT.
WHAT I WOULD BE PROPOSING IS FOR THOSE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, KEEPING THEM AT ZERO YEAR-OVER-YEAR, AND ONLY DOING A YEAR-END TRANSFER TO SHORE UP WHAT IT WAS WE ACTUALLY SAID.
>> THEN FOR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTING, THOSE GET ROLLED INTO THEIR APPROPRIATE OPERATING FUNDS ANYWAY.
THE LAST ONE ON HERE IS THE UTILITY FUND.
THIS ONE, INDUSTRY STANDARD TENDS TO BE AROUND 25% OF NEXT YEAR'S EXPENDITURES.
I'M NOT SURE HOW COMFORTABLE THE COUNCIL IS WITH THAT KNOWING THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AS FAR AS WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE WANTING TO MAKE TO GET US ALL SHORED UP AND BE READY FOR FUTURE EXPANSION, SO OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
IF YOU'RE WANTING TO INCREASE THAT, IF YOU'RE WANTING TO LEAVE IT AT 25, WE CAN BE REVISITING THAT.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS, CAYCE?
>> RIGHT NOW, I'M GOOD WITH 25% JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS TO USE SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS.
>> AWESOME. THEN WE WILL GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE POLICIES.
WE'LL GET THEM UPDATED AND THEY'LL BE PRESENTED TO THE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR FINAL REVIEW, AND YOU ALL CAN LOOK FORWARD TO ADOPTING THEM IN SEPTEMBER.
>> CAYCE, I KNOW THIS DISCUSSION PROBABLY TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN YOU GOT HERE, WE HAD ALL THESE DIFFERENT FUNDS, SO WE SCALED THESE FUNDS DOWN.
ARE WE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT ON ALL OF OUR VARIOUS FUNDS?
>> YES, SIR. WE'VE TAKEN DOWN AT LEAST TWO FUNDS AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE DOWN ANOTHER ONE THIS CURRENT YEAR.
>> TRYING, AS MUCH AS THE STATE WILL ALLOW ME.
[00:45:03]
NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK PROPERTY TAX RATE.THE CURRENT TAX RATE IS 0.16788 CENTS OR THE LOWEST IN THE AREA.
>> DO YOU HAVE A COMPARISON OF THE CITIES AROUND US?
>> I DO. WOULD YOU LIKE IT GRAPHICALLY OR IN A TABLE?
>> YES, SIR. WHENEVER WE START TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAX RATES, THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR FUNDING MECHANISMS FOR THE TOWN BUDGET.
WE WILL HAVE A VOTE AT THE AUGUST MEETING IN WHICH COUNCIL WILL BE ASKED TO VOTE ON EFFECTIVELY A MAXIMUM RATE, THE WAY THE LEGISLATURE IS WRITTEN.
BEFORE YOU CAN ADOPT A PROPERTY TAX RATE AND LEVY THAT TAX, YOU HAVE TO POST A PUBLIC NOTICE AND HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, AND THE NOTICE HAS A VOTE ON THE TAX RATE INCLUDED IN IT.
ACROSS THE STATE, WE'VE DECIDED TO INTERPRET THE LAW AS SAYING, THIS WILL BE THE MAXIMUM THAT WE CONSIDER.
JUST TO WARN YOU, NEXT MONTH, YOU WILL HAVE TO VOTE ON A PROPERTY TAX RATE THAT YOU WERE NOT VOTING ON JUST YET.
>> HOW WE CALCULATE THAT? JULY 25, EVERY SINGLE YEAR, WE GET OUR CERTIFIED VALUES FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, SO TARRANT AND DENTON FOR US.
THAT'S HOW WE GO THROUGH AND WE USE THE COMPTROLLERS FORM TO BACK INTO ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT REQUIRED TAX RATE CALCULATIONS.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT AN EXTRA CENT WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR INS BASED ON THE DOLLARS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THE NEW DEBT ISSUANCE.
FOR EVERYONE RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT ONE CENT ON THE TAX RATE, EFFECTIVELY, WHAT THAT NETS THE TOWN IS ABOUT $240,000.
WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT OUR MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES, WE ONLY GET ACROSS ALL FUNDS, ABOUT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
WHENEVER WE ALSO START TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND I WILL HAVE MUCH MORE DETAIL FOR THE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE BECAUSE IT IS A VERY LONG, TEDIOUS CALCULATION THAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND WE CAN'T DO IT UNTIL WE HAVE THOSE CERTIFIED VALUES.
W HAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT DOING AS FAR AS ANY CHANGE TO A PROPERTY TAX RATE IS CAPTURING AS MUCH OF WHAT IS LEGALLY ALLOWED WITHOUT A VOTE.
THE STATE LAW RIGHT NOW SAYS THAT YEAR-OVER-YEAR ON EXISTING PROPERTIES, WE ARE CAPPED AT COLLECTING 3.5% OF REVENUE ON THOSE EXISTING PROPERTIES.
HOWEVER, ANY NEW PROPERTIES THAT ARE ADDED TO OUR TAX ROLE, WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO, AS PART OF THAT CALCULATION, A LITTLE MATH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPTURE AS MUCH OF THAT SO THAT WE ARE SPREADING THAT BURDEN OVER ALL TAXPAYERS AND NOT JUST THOSE EXISTING PROPERTY OWNERS.
FOR THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, IF WE HAD GONE UP TO THE FULL VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INCREASE OF ALMOST FOUR CENTS ON OUR TAX RATE.
WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT ANY RATES AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, HERE IS THE VISUAL OF THOSE COMPARISON CITIES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AND HOW THEY RELATE TO OUR PARTICULAR RATE.
YOU CAN SEE ACROSS THE BOARD, WE ARE THE LOWEST.
ANOTHER THING THAT THIS SLIDE IS REALLY GOOD AT REPRESENTING IS THAT SPLIT BETWEEN MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OR THOSE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, AND THEN THE DEBT PORTION OF ANY OF THE RATES.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE ARE ACTUALLY A COUPLE UP THERE THAT DON'T HAVE ANY DEBT THAT IS BEING PAID THROUGH THEIR INS RATE.
WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS, LIKE I SAID, WE ARE THE LOWEST.
WE HAVE THE LOWEST MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE AND THE LOWEST TOTAL RATE OF ANY OF OUR COMPARISON CITIES.
WE ARE ABOUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK AS FAR AS THE DEBT PORTION OF OUR RATE, AND PART OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THOSE TWO CITIES THAT DON'T HAVE ANY.
EVEN IF WE WERE TO GO UP, THE NEXT CLOSEST TO US IS STILL ABOUT THREE CENTS HIGHER THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
>> AS I SAID, WE'LL BE GETTING THOSE CERTIFIED VALUES AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
WE'LL SPEND ABOUT A WEEK WORKING WITH THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR FROM TARRANT COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CALCULATIONS ARE GOOD AND THEN WE'LL CONNECT WITH THE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE APPETITE IS AS FAR AS ANY CHANGES WE NEED TO MAKE FOR THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, WHICH COULD INCLUDE, AS I SAID, ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE I&S TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR ALL OF OUR DEBT OBLIGATIONS,
[00:50:03]
INCLUDING THE NEW DEBT THAT'S BEING ISSUED TODAY, AND THEN MAINTAINING ANY M&O NEEDS.>> LOOK, NOBODY WANTS THEIR TAXES RAISED, INCLUDING ME.
BUT CORRECT ME IF I SAY ANYTHING WRONG.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WESTLAKE HAS BEEN LIVING OFF PERMIT FEES PROBABLY THE LAST 20 YEARS.
THE PERMIT FEES ARE STARTING TO DECLINE.
WE HAVE A BACKLOG OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN DELINQUENT ON.
THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THIS TAX RATE.
THAT WON'T BE POPULAR, BUT OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TOWN IS VIABLE GOING FORWARD.
>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT FOR THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER IN WESTLAKE PAID A TAX BILL OF LESS THAN $4,000 FOR ALL MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
>> YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS WELL KNOWN.
LOOK, ACROSS THE BOARD, I EXPECT US TO BE BEST IN CLASS.
I'VE SAID THAT SEVERAL TIMES, ORAL CLASS IN OUR MUNICIPALITY AND OUR SCHOOL, HOW WE MANAGE THING, HOW WE SPEND OUR RESIDENTS MONEY, BUT WE GOT TO MAKE PRUDENT DECISIONS TO MAKE SURE OUR TOWN CAN SUSTAIN LONG-TERM AND DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND CONTINUE TO BRING IN THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE NEED TO TO GET US ULTIMATELY WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
>> ALL THE ONES THAT ARE CLOSEST TO US, WE'RE $0.11 BENEATH THE CLOSEST COMPETITOR.
THE ONE CLOSEST TO US IS A CITY THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME, HAS BEEN BUILT OUT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
IT HAS VERY SUSTAINABLE SALES TAX RATE COMING IN.
YOU WANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JUST MOVE TO WESTLAKE.
AS A BUSINESS, YOU HAVE IT RIGHT THERE IN YOUR PROPERTY TAX COMPARED TO LOOK AT THE SURROUNDING AREA. GREAT CHART. THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT CALENDAR NEXT STEPS, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS DRAFT BUDGET AND WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW?
>> BEFORE YOU TAKE THIS FINAL LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE, I LOOK TOWARDS COUNCIL FOR SOME HEAD NODS AND ISSUES.
IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES, QUESTIONS, THE WAY THE BUDGET IS BEING PRESENTED TODAY, NEXT TIME YOU SEE THIS BUDGET, WE WILL INCLUDE 100% OF THE SLAS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR AND 100% OF THE CIP THAT'S BEEN REQUESTED, AND YOU'RE STILL GOING TO SEE WELL OVER A, ABOUT 1,000,003, I BELIEVE GO BACK TO FUND BALANCE.
>> THAT'S ALL SAID AND DONE ABOUT 1,000,003?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S JUST GENERAL FUND.
YOU'LL HAVE CLOSE TO 3.5 MILLION FOR ALL FUNDS, GOING BACK TO GENERAL.
THAT'S WHY I FEEL COMFORTABLE IN MOVING FORWARD AND PRESENTING THAT NEXT BUDGET THAT WAY AT LEAST TO THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE OR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
WE CAN WORK THROUGH THOSE AT A LITTLE MORE DETAIL IN THAT COMMITTEE MEETING AND THEN BRING COUNCIL A MORE FINAL BUDGET AT THE NEXT WORKSHOP.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE CALENDAR?
>> AS I MENTIONED, NEXT STEPS ARE GOING TO BE NOT IN A PUBLIC FORUM.
WE GET THE CERTIFIED VALUES ON JULY 25TH, AND THEN WE'LL START CALCULATING THAT RATE.
WE WILL MEET WITH THE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AUGUST 4TH TO GO OVER THOSE VALUES, RATES, WHERE WE STAND AHEAD OF THE ACTUAL NEXT BUDGET WORK SESSION.
ON THE 7TH, WE ARE REQUIRED TO CERTIFY THE RATE CALCULATION WITH THE ASSESSOR COLLECTOR.
THEN WE WILL CRAFT THAT FINAL PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED ON OUR WEBSITE AND FILED WITH THE CITY SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.
I'LL BE BACK ON THE MEETING DURING AUGUST 19TH TO HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION TO GO OVER ALL OF THOSE CHANGES AND GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE WE'RE LANDING AS FAR AS WHAT THE BUDGET WILL BE THAT GETS VOTED ON IN SEPTEMBER.
THEN THAT IS ALSO THE MEETING WHERE WE'LL VOTE ON THAT MAXIMUM PROPERTY TAX RATE.
WE WILL TAKE THAT VOTE AND WE WILL PUT IT INTO THE TAX RATE PUBLICATION THAT NEEDS TO BE PUBLISHED BY SEPTEMBER 7TH.
WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE FOR THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING BY SEPTEMBER 10TH AND THEN AT THE SEPTEMBER 16TH MEETING, THAT'S WHERE WE WILL DO BOTH THE BUDGET AND THE TAX PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE'LL DO OUR REVENUE RATIFICATION, WHICH IS JUST THE VOTE THAT SAYS, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE COLLECTING ONE MORE PENNY IN PROPERTY TAX THAN THE PRIOR YEAR.
[00:55:01]
THEN WE'LL ALSO HAVE THE VOTE ON THE FINAL TAX RATE.>> CAYCE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL KNOW THIS.
HOW LONG HAS THIS EXISTING TAX?
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
>> LONGER THAN. IF YOU COULD JUST FOLLOW UP ON THAT THEN?
>> CAYCE, WHAT IS THIS EVENT ON AUGUST 7TH? WHAT IS CERTIFY RATE CALC?
>> THAT MEANS THAT WHENEVER WE DO THE VERY LONG COMPTROLLERS FORM, AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH, WHAT WE'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DO IS CALCULATE THREE TAX RATES.
ONE IS CALLED THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
THAT IS THE ALGEBRA THAT GIVES US THE RATE THAT SAYS, IF WE WERE NOT TO COLLECT A PENNY MORE OVER LAST YEAR, BASED ON WHAT VALUES CAME IN AS ON JULY 25TH, THIS IS THE RATE WE WOULD SET.
THE OTHER TWO RATES THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO CALCULATE ARE THE VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE, AND THAT IS JUST THE MAXIMUM RATE THAT THE COUNCIL COULD LEVY WITHOUT TRIGGERING AN AUTOMATIC ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
THEN THE THIRD ONE BECAUSE WE'RE A POPULATION UNDER 30,000, WE'RE REQUIRED TO CALCULATE WHAT'S CALLED A DE MINIMS RATE.
BASICALLY, IT'S THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE PLUS WHATEVER THE RATE ADDITIONAL WOULD BE, THAT WOULD NET US LITERALLY $500,000 EXACTLY.
THE INTENT FROM THE LEGISLATURE WAS TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW SMALLER CITIES TO UP THEIR TAX RATE SO THAT THEY WOULD SAY BUY A FIRE ENGINE, BUT I APPROVED ONE RECENTLY.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE BUYING WITH THAT.
WHENEVER WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT MATH, WHAT WE'RE THEN REQUIRED TO DO WITH THE ASSESSOR COLLECTOR IS TO CERTIFY THAT CALCULATION AND SAY, ALL OF THESE VALUES, ALL OF THE MATH THAT IS IN HERE, THAT'S TRUE.
>> IT DOESN'T OBLIGATE THEM. THE SETTING RATE LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S MATH BASED ON CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THEY REQUIRE.
>> CORRECT. IT'S BASICALLY GIVING COUNCIL THE BUMPERS ON WHAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO ADOPT WITHOUT GOING TO THE VOTERS.
>> EXACTLY. ANY OTHER BUDGETARY QUESTIONS FOR ME THIS EVENING?
>> ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PROCESS.
[G. CONSENT AGENDA]
AGENDA ITEM G CONSENT AGENDA.IS THERE ANY THING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT? NOT, CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? CAN I GET A SECOND?
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
[H.1. Hold a Public Hearing and Discuss, Consider and Act Regarding Ordinance 1026 to Adopt Land Use Assumptions and Capital Improvement Plans for the Potential Implementation of Impact Fees for Water, Wastewater, and Roadway Impact Fee Program (Cheryl Taylor, P.E., Director of Public Works)]
NEXT IS PUBLIC HEARING ASSOCIATED WITH AN ACTION ITEM.AGENDA ITEM H.1, ORDINANCE-1026, HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACT REGARDING ORDINANCE-1026 TO ADOPT LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS FOR THE POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPACT FEES FOR WATER, WASTEWATER AND ROADWAY IMPACT FEE PROGRAM. HOW ARE YOU?
THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING THAT'S REQUIRED FOR THE POTENTIAL ADOPTION OF IMPACT FEE ORDINANCE.
THIS EVENING, YOU'LL BE CONSIDERING THE ADOPTION OF LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECT LIST.
INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET ARE THE LUA AND CIP REPORT AND THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THAT WAS ALSO SENT TO YOU WAS IT EARLY LAST WEEK IN PREPARATION FOR THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC HEARING? BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO THE CONSULTANT, I WANT TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION ON THE IMPACT FEE SCHEDULE.
RECENT LEGISLATION HAS PASSED THAT REQUIRES US TO EXPEDITE THE SCHEDULE FOR ADOPTION OF IMPACT FEES BY SEPTEMBER 1ST.
THE ORDINANCE ADOPTION WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 21TH, SO WE'RE MOVING THE DATES UP BY NEARLY TWO MONTHS.
OTHERWISE, WE'D NEED TO ROUND UP ANOTHER GROUP OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO CREATE A NEW CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HOLD UP THE ADOPTION OF IMPACT FEES FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR.
THIS EVENING ON YOUR AGENDA ITEM I3 IS RESOLUTION 25-25, AND THAT IS THE NOTICE TO CALL FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, AND THAT WILL BE ON AUGUST 25TH AT 4:00 PM.
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S NEXT MEETING IS GOING TO BE AUGUST 11TH TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF IMPACT FEE CALCULATIONS.
THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION BY AUGUST 18TH SO THAT YOU HAVE A A MINIMUM OF FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THAT SECOND PUBLIC HEARING.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RECENT LEGISLATION OR THE REVISED SCHEDULE BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO THE CONSULTANT?
>> WAIT, DO WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AT SPECIAL SESSION THAT IMPACTS US?
[01:00:04]
>> THERE IS ANOTHER DISCUSSION ON DEBT.
THERE IS SOME POSSIBILITY THAT THAT COULD AFFECT US, BUT ONLY MINIMALLY.
THE CHANCES OF THAT HAPPENING IS LOW.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE AROUND THE ZONING ISSUES BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING ELSE IN THERE.
IT'S MAINLY HEMP AND HEMP PRODUCTS, AND THERE'S SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT DON'T RELATE TO CITY BUSINESS.
>> I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CONSULTANT FOR THE PRESENTATION ON LAND USE ASSUMPTION AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. AS CHERYL SAID, WE HAVE EXPEDITED THE SCHEDULE, SO I DON'T GET TO SEE MY FAMILY AS MUCH OVER THE NEXT MONTH.
>> [LAUGHTER] WE APPRECIATE THAT.
>> EXACTLY. BUT LIKE CHERYL SAID, THIS IS PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 1 OF THIS PROCESS.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING A POTENTIAL NEW PROGRAM FOR THE TOWN, WE'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IF THIS MOVES FORWARD IN THE FUTURE AND YOU DO AN UPDATE, ONLY ONE PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED SO JUST TO SET THE STAGE THERE.
WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS AND THE IMPACT FEE AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS FOR WATER, SEWER, AND ROADWAY SYSTEMS. I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WATER A LOT, SO A LOT OF THAT WILL BE SOME RETREAD, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT.
SOME OF THAT INFORMATION WILL BE THINGS YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE.
WE'LL GO THROUGH THE SEWER AND THE ROADWAY SIDE AS WELL.
I'LL TALK BOUT WATER AND SEWER.
I'VE GOT EDDY HAAS HERE AS WELL, HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ROADWAY SIDE OF THING.
JUST JUMPING INTO THE VERY QUICK PRIMER AGAIN AS A REMINDER, WHAT ARE THE BASICS OF THESE IMPACT FEES.
IT'S REALLY A TOOL OR A FUNDING MECHANISM THAT A MUNICIPALITY CAN USE TO HELP BASICALLY HAVE GROWTH PAY FOR GROWTH.
WHEN YOU HAVE NEW DEVELOPMENT, EITHER RESIDENTIAL OR NON-RESIDENTIAL MOVES INTO THE TOWN, THAT MAY REQUIRE EXPANSION OF YOUR WATER SYSTEM OR SEWER OR MORE ROADWAY PROJECTS.
WHAT THIS PROGRAM DOES, IT REALLY ALLOWS FOR THE NEW RESIDENTS AND THE NEW WORKERS HERE IN WESTLAKE TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR PROPORTIONAL OR EQUITABLE SHARE OF THE BURDEN OF EXPANDING THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS. THIS IS A STATE LAW.
THE STATE LEGISLATION DOES PRESCRIBE THE METHODOLOGY ON HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING THIS PROCESS.
WE'LL STEP THROUGH THOSE FIRST TWO ITEMS HERE ON THE PROCESS, TALK ABOUT THE LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS AND THE OVERALL ELIGIBLE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
THE LAST PRESENTATION WE SAW, THERE WAS A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED, IE, THE GENERATOR AND THE NEW PUMPS.
THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE ACTUALLY MORE ON THE O&M SIDE, SO THEY'RE REALLY NOT GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR BEING PUT INTO THIS PROGRAM.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ELIGIBLE WATER PROJECTS, YOU WON'T SEE THOSE ON THERE.
AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT PRIMARILY PROJECTS THAT REALLY SERVE OUR FUTURE POTENTIAL GROWTH.
ONCE WE MOVE FORWARD AFTER THE ELIGIBLE CIP PORTION, TEAM, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON THE IMPACT FEE CALCULATION SIDE OF THINGS.
WE REALLY LOOK AT REALLY, WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE TOTAL ELIGIBLE COSTS DIVIDED BY THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH, EITHER IN SERVICE UNITS, FROM A WATER SEWER PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW MANY NEW CUSTOMERS ARE TYING INTO YOUR SYSTEM.
ADDING NEW WATER METERS, PRODUCING MORE WASTEWATER FLOW.
ON THE ROADWAY SIDE OF THINGS, WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS IN TERMS OF ADDED VEHICLE MILES OF DEMAND BY ADDED TRAFFIC.
REALLY, YOU TAKE THAT COST DIVIDED BY THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH, THAT'S WHAT THE POTENTIAL MAXIMUM FEE YOU COULD CHARGE IS.
WE WILL COME BACK AT A LATER MEETING, AND WE WILL GO THROUGH THE RESULTS OF ALL THE CALCULATIONS.
WE WILL HAVE SOME BENCHMARKING INFORMATION FOR YOU ALL AS WELL.
LOOK AT WHAT YOUR NEIGHBORING CITIES ARE CHARGING.
ULTIMATELY AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF COUNCIL CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM LIKE THIS, YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING WHAT THAT RATE'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
YOU CAN GO FROM $0 TO THE MAXIMUM TO ANYTHING IN BETWEEN.
MORE INFORMATION TO COME THERE.
CHERYL MENTIONED THE CIAC MEETINGS.
WE'VE MET WITH THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES.
WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED AUGUST 11TH.
AGAIN, HERE WE ARE ON PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 1.
GETTING INTO THE LAND USE SIDE OF THINGS, LOOKING AT THE HISTORICAL GROWTH HERE IN WESTLAKE.
WE LOOKED AT NCTCOG POPULATION PROJECTIONS, WE LOOKED AT US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION PROJECTIONS.
TO LOOK AT HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO GROW AND MAKE RESIDENTIAL STANDPOINT, AS YOU CAN SEE HOW THE AVERAGE GROWTH RATES OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, FIVE YEARS, THREE YEARS ARE TRENDING.
IF WE LOOK AT IT ON A CHART, WE'VE MOVED FORWARD AND NOW WE'RE AT
[01:05:03]
A POTENTIAL INFLECTION POINT WHERE WE THINK WE MIGHT HAVE SOME MORE GROWTH.AGAIN, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THINGS ON A RESIDENTIAL STANDPOINT FOR THIS CHART AND THE WATER MASTER PLAN PRESENTATION I PROVIDED LAST MONTH TO THE COUNCIL.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT RED LINE WHERE IT'S NOT SUPER AGGRESSIVE, IT'S NOT SUPER CONSERVATIVE, IT'S SOMEWHERE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE OVER THE NEXT 10 AND 20 YEARS.
FOR THE IMPACT FEE STUDY WE'RE TALKING, IS A 10 YEAR WINDOW.
IN 2025, A BASE POPULATION OF JUST OVER 2,000, AND THEN MOVING OUT 10 YEARS, 03,469 RESIDENTS, THAT IS GOING TO BE YOUR NIGHTTIME POPULATION FOR WESTLAKE.
>> ANDREW, THESE LAST TWO CHARTS THAT YOU'VE SHOWED WERE THE SAME CHARTS YOU SHOWED?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. YES, SIR. LOOKING AT THINGS FROM A SERVICE AREA PERSPECTIVE, OUR SERVICE AREA WHERE WE CAN POTENTIALLY ASSESS THESE FEES IS REALLY GOING TO BE COMBINED BY YOUR CITY LIMITS.
PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY THE SAME FOR WATER, SEWER AND ROADWAY SYSTEM.
IF YOU'RE WITHIN THE WESTLAKE TOWN LIMITS, YOU COULD BE SUBJECTED TO POTENTIALLY PAY FOR THESE FEE.
LOOKING AT WHAT THAT POPULATION PROJECTION LOOKS LIKE.
YOU CAN SEE REALLY THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE TWO NUMBERS, IS RIGHT ABOUT 200 RESIDENTS OR SO.
A LITTLE BIT LOWER ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE DUE TO SOME CUSTOMERS BEING STILL ON A SEPTIC SYSTEM.
THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT 10 YEAR DELTA DIFFERENCE FOR WATER AND SEWER GOING FORWARD IS THE SAME.
WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT EVERYBODY THAT'S COMING INTO WESTLAKE WILL BE ON CITY SEWER, ESSENTIALLY.
>> AGAIN, ON THE ROADWAY SERVICE AREA SIDE, THE SHAPE IS THE SAME.
IT'S THE TOWN LIMITS AND LOOKING AT THINGS NOW FROM AN EMPLOYMENT TYPE, YOU SEE THE THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, BASIC, RETAIL, AND SERVICE.
THOSE WILL BE LOOKING AT SOME OF YOUR RETAIL CUSTOMERS OR HAVING MORE OFFICE TYPE, CORPORATE CAMPUS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, A SMALL INCREASE ON THE BASIC SIDE, THAT WOULD BE GENERAL COMMERCIAL OR MAYBE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, NOT REALLY A BIG JUMP THERE, BUT THE BIG JUMP THERE IS GOING TO BE ON THAT RETAIL AND SERVICE SIDE.
WHAT THESE PROJECTIONS DO IS THEY SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR PROJECTING GROWTH IN ADDITIONAL WATER NEEDED, MORE SEWER PRODUCED, ADDED TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS.
THE LENGTH ASSUMPTIONS AT THE END OF THE DAY PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION OF JUSTIFICATION FOR ALL OF THE RECOMMENDED OR ELIGIBLE IMPACT FEE CAPITAL IMPROVE.
IN ORDER TO REALLY SAY, HOW DO WE GET TO THOSE SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS, WE LOOKED AT 10 YEAR LANE USE PLAN, A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF, BASIN AND THE PLANNING TEAM, CHERYL ON THE PUBLIC WORK SIDE, WE GOT A LOT OF INPUT.
WE DO KNOW OF SOME THINGS IN THE SHORT TERM THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING INTO THE TOWN.
WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE ACCOUNTING FOR NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT ARE BEING BUILT, RETAIL DEVELOPMENT, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS, EXPANSIONS OF SOME OF OUR LARGE CORPORATE CAMPUSES, AND THEN MAYBE SOME OTHER TYPES OF EVENTS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOME OF THE RECOMMENDED IMPACT FEE ELIGIBLE PROJECTS, YOU WILL SEE.
THE AREAS THAT ARE IN YELLOW THIS IS A 10 YEAR FUTURE LOOK AT THE TOWN.
THE AREAS IN YELLOW WILL BE RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND RED, THOSE WILL BE THE TWO BIGGEST THINGS.
YOU CAN SEE SOME MIXED USE JUST ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 170 ON THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF THE TOWN.
MY POINT IS, ALL THESE AREAS WHERE YOU SEE, GROWTH, EITHER RESIDENTIAL OR NON RESIDENTIAL IN THE 10 YEAR SNAPSHOT, WE HAVE WATER PROJECTS AND SEWER PROJECTS IN THOSE GENERAL SAME AREAS TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO OUR GROWING AREAS OF THE TOWN.
AGAIN, LOOKED AT THE GROWTH IN POPULATION.
>> COULD YOU GO BACK TO THAT LAST?
>> SOME OF THESE AREAS ARE DEVELOPED ALREADY.
>> CORRECT. SOME OF THEM. THESE ARE EXISTING PLUS AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO BE.
>> NICE TO GET A MAP THAT SHOWS WHAT'S DEVELOPED VERSUS YET TO COME, MAYBE DIFFERENT COLOR.
>> WE DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND WE CAN PRODUCE A MAP.
>> YES, IT HAS. I WAS LOOKING AT THE SAME COMMERCIAL.
WELL WE HAVE STUFF THERE'S A LIFETIME.
>> LOOKING AT THE INCREASE OF WHAT ALL THIS GROWTH IS GOING TO MEAN ON THE WATER SEWERSIDE, YOU COULD SEE YEAR 2025,
[01:10:01]
THREE COLUMNS ON THE RIGHT, AVERAGE DAY, MAXIMUM DAY, AND PEAK HOUR DEMAND.THAT'S REALLY HOW MUCH WATER IS BEING CONSUMED.
AVERAGE DAY BEING THE AVERAGE OVER THE ENTIRE CALENDAR YEAR.
MAXIMUM DAY DEMAND USUALLY IS GOING TO OCCUR IN THE JULY AUGUST TIME PERIOD WHERE WE HAVE HOT DRY CONDITIONS.
THEN PEAK HOUR DEMAND IS REALLY THE SINGLE PEAK HOUR WHERE THE MOST WATER IS USED IN A CALENDAR YEAR AGAIN.
THE COLUMN I LIKE TO CENTER IN ON IS GOING TO BE YOUR MAXIMUM DAY DEMAND.
A LOT OF THE BASIS FOR SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE GOING TO COME AROUND SERVING MAXIMUM DAY TYPE OF DEMAND EVENTS.
AGAIN, PROJECTING OUT HERE IN 2025, 5.26 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
WE'VE ALL BEEN PRETTY BLESSED SO FAR WITH A RELATIVELY MILDER AND WETTER YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE ACTUALLY REACHED TO THESE NUMBERS YET, BUT I KNOW AUGUST IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, SO WE'LL WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> IN THE 10 YEAR TIME PERIOD, YOU CAN SEE THAT MAXIMUM DAY DEMAND JUMPING JUST FLAT AT 10 MGD.
SO LOOKING AT ALMOST DOUBLING WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY COME INTO PLAY HERE IN WESTLAKE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
SIMILARLY, ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE OF THINGS, THAT AVERAGE DAY FLOW, IT TAKES A SMALLER JUMP.
WE USE MORE WATER IN WESTLAKE THAN WASTEWATER THAT WE PRODUCE, AND THE BIGGEST DRIVER IN THAT IS GOING TO BE IRRIGATION.
SUMMERTIME IRRIGATION IS A HUGE DRIVER FOR WHY THOSE MAXIMUM DAY AND PEAK HOUR DEMAND NUMBERS ARE SO HIGH, BUT ALSO WHY THOSE SEWER FLOW NUMBERS ARE REALLY ON THE RELATIVELY LOWER SIDE OF THING.
LASTLY, FROM A ROADWAY PROJECTION, REALLY WHAT ALL THIS MEANS IS ALL THOSE ADDED RESIDENTS, ALL THOSE FUTURE PROJECTED EMPLOYEES MOVING TO THE TOWN.
WE'RE LOOKING AT AN INCREASE FROM A VEHICLE MILES STANDPOINT OF ABOUT 52,836 OVER THE 10 YEAR WINDOW.
AGAIN, THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS REALLY GOING TO COME FROM THAT SERVICE OR SOME OF THOSE OFFICE IP LAND USES.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE LAND USE ASSUMPTION SIDE BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING INTO OUR ELIGIBLE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS MAP AND YOU'VE SEEN A VERY SIMILAR MAP IN PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS FROM ME, WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF PROJECTS.
I HAVE THIS SLIDE, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING SIDE IS REALLY THE PROJECTS THAT ARE LISTED OUT THERE.
I'LL KEEP US ON THE MAP VIEW AS I TALK THROUGH THIS, BUT REALLY THE BIG TICKET ITEMS THAT ARE COMING INTO TOWN OF WESTLAKE ARE WE NEED A SECOND SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY SINCE WE ONLY HAVE ONE SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE 377 PUMP STATION.
WE HAVE A NEW PROPOSED PUMP STATIONS, IT'S PRELIMINARILY CITED RIGHT ALONG DAVIS BOULEVARD.
THERE'S A LARGE FORT WORTH LINE IN DAVIS BOULEVARD.
YOU'LL OWN WATER RIGHTS TO SOME OF THAT WATER AND SO IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT A FACILITY TO BE OUR SECONDARY SUPPLY AND TO HELP SERVE SOME OF THAT FUTURE GROWTH.
WE HAVE PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS.
WE HAVE ELEVATED STORAGE TANKS IN ORDER TO HELP PROVIDE IT STABILIZE THIS PRESSURE.
IT HELPS YOU RIDE THROUGH SOME OF THOSE HIGHER DEMAND PERIODS IN THE SUMMERTIME, ESPECIALLY, AND IT'S JUST NICE TO HAVE THAT STORAGE FOR WHATEVER MAY COME.
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE YOUR BIGGEST TICKET TANKS ON THE EAST AND THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN, AND REALLY JUST THE LINEWORK NECESSARY TO MOVE THE WATER TO WHERE THE NEW GROWTH IS COMING IN.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A TOTAL OF 14 PROJECTS HERE.
IN THE ACTUAL REPORT THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET, WE DO HAVE A MORE DETAILED BREAKDOWN WHAT ALL THOSE PROJECTS ARE SPECIFICALLY.
AGAIN, THIS IS STUFF I THINK WE'VE SEEN AND TALKED ABOUT IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE WATER SIDE.
MOVING OVER TO THE WASTEWATER.
THERE'S REALLY ONLY EIGHT PROJECTS AND THEY'RE REALLY CONFINED TO THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN, AS WELL AS IN THE MIDDLE WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE OR WE'RE PROJECTING SOME GROWTH FROM MAYBE A SCHWAB OR A FIDELITY OR TYPE, WHO'S GOING TO PRODUCE MORE SEWER FLOW.
ALL OF THE TOWN'S SEWAGE IS BASICALLY PUMPED AND SENT TO THE TRA,
[01:15:05]
TRANE RIVER AUTHORITY, THEIR DENTON CREEK WASTEWATER PLANT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY JUST A LITTLE BIT NORTH OF A TROPHY CLUB.AT PROJECT 8, WHERE YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING A PLAN EXPANSION IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND ESSENTIALLY, THEY PASS THEIR COSTS ON TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AND SO YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE GROWING AND PRODUCING MORE WASTEWATER FLOW.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE GROWTH PORTION OF THAT IS GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR IMPACT FEE RECOUPMENT.
DEFINITELY THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR BIGGEST TICKET ITEM ON THE SEWER SIDE.
AGAIN, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE PROJECT LIST RIGHT NOW.
WHEN WE COME BACK AT OUR FUTURE MEETING, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE NUMBERS AND THE BREAKDOWNS OF IF THE PLAN EXPANSION COSTS X DOLLARS, ONLY Y DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE WESTLAKE'S FAIR SHARE PORTION DUE TO NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THE COST TO EXPAND THAT PLANT FOR TRA DENTON CREEK IS NOT GOING TO BE PAID FOR JUST FROM WESTLAKE.
OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO PAY THEIR PROPORTIONAL SHARE.
WHAT IS YOUR PROPORTIONAL SHARE DUE TO NEW GROWTH? EXISTING CUSTOMERS SHOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR THAT EXPANSION, NEW CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE.
THOSE NUMBERS WILL FACTOR INTO WHAT THE ULTIMATE CALCULATION. HE'S GOING TO TALK ROADS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EDDY HAAS WITH FREESE AND NICHOLS.
THE ROADWAY COMPONENT OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACT FEE PROGRAM IS ROOTED IN YOUR THOROUGHFARE PLAN.
ROADWAY FACILITIES THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS ARTERIAL OR COLLECTOR CLASS FACILITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR INCORPORATION INTO THE PLAN.
THE MAP THAT'S DEPICTED HERE SHOWS BOTH PLANNED PROJECTS.
THOSE ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED PER YOUR HOUGHFARE PLAN.
GREEN ARE THOSE THAT WERE RECENTLY COMPLETED IN WHICH THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR RECOUPMENT IF THE TOWN HAS CONTRIBUTED FUNDS TOWARD THOSE.
A PRECINCT LINE ROAD, WAS A TEXTO PROJECT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME FUNDS THAT THE TOWN CONTRIBUTED.
THEREFORE, IT'S ELIGIBLE, WHETHER WE INCLUDE IT IN THE FINAL CALCULATION, IT'S TO BE DETERMINED, WE NEED TO LOOK FOR SOME OF THE BACKUP DOCUMENTATION.
BASICALLY, THOUGH WE HAVE ABOUT 21 NEW PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THOSE RECOUPMENT PROJECTS, THE AMOUNT OF CAPACITY THAT'S GOING TO BE PROVIDED, THESE ARE ROAD WIDENING SO NEW ROADS ALTOGETHER.
IS A LITTLE OVER 21,000 VEHICLE MILES OF CAPACITY THAT'S BEING PROVIDED.
AS ANDREW HIGHLIGHTED PER THE LAND USES ASSUMPTIONS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FORECASTED GROWTH OF ABOUT 50,000, MEANING WE'RE GOING TO CONSUME IT ALL OVER THE 10 YEAR WINDOW.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS IT JUSTIFIES THE FULL INCLUSION OF YOUR THOROUGHFARE NETWORK INTO THE PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE INTENDING TO DO.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO VISIT WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH ON THE 11TH.
THE LISTING OF PROJECTS OR SOME OF THOSE THAT ARE EXTENSION OF EXISTING NAME ROADS, LIBERTY ROAD, OTTINGER AND DOVE, SOME OF THE WINDINGS THERE.
YOU'VE CLEVERLY CALLED SOME OF THE OTHER ROADS, NEW ROAD A, NEW ROAD B, THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT WE WANTED TO LEAVE THAT TO YOU TO NAME THOSE.
BUT ANYWAY, FOR IMPACT FEE PURPOSES, WE ARE PROVIDING A LISTING OF THOSE ROADS.
WHAT ARE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ADDED PER THE PROGRAM AND THE CLASSIFICATION PER YOUR THOROUGHFARE PLAN? THESE ARE THE 21 NEW PROJECTS.
THE FOUR LISTED PROJECTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RECOVERY, DAVIS ROAD, AND DOVE ROAD, THOSE LANES THAT WERE BUILT, AND IF THERE WERE TOWN FUNDS EXPENDED, WE WILL CONSIDER RECOUPING THE COST OF EXCESS CAPACITY.
WAIT, THESE FUTURE ROADS, THAT'S ALL ON OUR LATEST STRATEGIC PLAN, AND OBVIOUSLY HILLWOOD HAD SOME SAY INTO THAT.
>> NO, SIR. WE NEED TO UPDATE THOSE.
THIS IS OFF OUR CURRENT STRATEGIC PLAN BUT NOT THE ONE THAT WE WORKED ON THIS LAST YEAR, IT'S ON THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN, WHICH NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.
THAT THOROUGHFARE PLAN SHOULD BE UPDATED THIS NEXT YEAR WITH HILLWOOD ASSISTANT.
>> WHAT THAT MEANS IS IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES IN THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN AS PART OF YOUR NEXT UPDATE, THAT WOULD GET ROLLED INTO THE UPDATE, AND THE RECALCULATION SET FORWARD FROM THERE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THE ROAD COMPONENT OF THE IFSIP? THIS IS A 10 YEAR WINDOW.
THE FORECAST GROWTH IS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS THROUGH 2035, ANTICIPATED GROWTH THAT COMES WITH IT, THE WASTEWATER, THE ROAD IMPACT.
THESE ARE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE PROGRAM.
>> JUST ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ROADS THAT ARE POSSIBLE FOR [INAUDIBLE].
[01:20:01]
>> [INAUDIBLE] I WAS JUST WANTING THAT ROAD.
>> OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WAS PURELY DEVELOPMENT DRIVEN.
THEY PAID 100%, THEREFORE IT'S ONLY THOSE PROJECTS THAT THE TOWN EXPENDED FUNDS FOR.
WE WOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERING THE RECRUITMENT OF THAT COST.
>> DAVIS IS ALL FOR THE MOST PART TEXT.
>> I'M AVAILABLE ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON THE ROAD CFP, BUT IF THERE'S NEXT STEP ACTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING, WE ARE GOING TO BE VISITING WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AUGUST 11TH.
THAT'S TO PRESENT THE FINAL NUMBER CRUNCH, IF YOU WILL.
THAT'S THE CALCULATED COST PER SERVICE UNIT, ETC.
AS PART OF TONIGHT, WE ARE SEEKING THE PUBLIC INPUT, THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ON APPROVAL OF THE LUA AND THE CIPS AS PRESENTED.
I THINK ALSO TONIGHT IF APPROVED, YOU'LL TAKE THE INITIAL STEPS CALLING FOR A RESOLUTION FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD WITHIN 60 DAYS.
THAT'S TO CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL IMPOSITION OF IMPACT FEES.
THIS IS JUST THE BUILDING BLOCK, IF YOU WILL, GOING TOWARDS THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
THAT PUBLIC HEARING IS SLATED FOR AUGUST 25TH, COMING UP PRETTY QUICKLY.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING WILL IT'S GOING TO BE ON AUGUST 11TH, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SHOW THEM THE COST PER SERVICE UNITS, THE BENCHMARKING, WHAT ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE IMPACT FEE PROGRAMS, OR WHAT ARE THEY COLLECTING? THAT MIGHT HELP YOU IN SOME OF THE DECISION MAKING IN DETERMINING WHAT YOU FEEL MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE FOR WESTLAKE.
THEIR LAST CHARGE WILL BE TO PROVIDE A LETTER, COMMENTING ON THE LUA CIP, THE IMPACT FEE.
YOU'LL TAKE THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT AS PART OF CONSIDERATION ON IMPACT FEES IN WESTLAKE.
>> THEN, THE ACTION ITEMS TODAY FOR YOU ALL AFTER YOU CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THE ADOPTION OF THE LUA AND THE ADOPTION OF THE CIPS FOR THE ROADS, WATER, AND WASTEWATER COMPONENTS. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> WAIT, I KNOW I'VE ASKED THIS BEFORE, BUT OUR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE THESE IMPACT FEES?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. SOUTHLAKE, KELLER [OVERLAPPING].
>> 100%. THERE IS QUITE A FEW.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE'RE ABOUT THE ONLY ONES IN OUR AREA THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'LL HAVE SOME SAMPLE LAND USES, SO YOU'LL SEE IF YOU WERE TO ADOPT IMPACT FEES IN WESTLAKE, LET'S JUST SAY AT THE MAXIMUM RATE, YOU'LL SEE WHAT YOU COULD COLLECT, AND PER ORDINANCE, WHAT ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES COLLECTING THAT HAVE ADOPTED IMPACT FEE PROGRAMS?
>> THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] OPEN UP FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
>> I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE TO SPEAK REGARDING THIS ITEM? I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 1026 AS PRESENTED?
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
I WILL WAIT THE OTHER COMMENT I WOULD HAVE ON THAT AS WE GET THROUGH WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN WE DID LAST YEAR.
JUST THROUGH YOUR UPDATES, THE WORK WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
YOU MENTIONED THE WORK WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US WITH ALL THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> YES, SIR. NOW, THE WATER MASTER PLAN WAS HUGE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO MOVE THROUGH THAT.
THE PUMP STATION EVALUATION WAS A HUGE PIECE AS WELL.
THE PARK MASTER PLAN WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION AS WELL TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITH OUR PARKS, THOROUGHFARE PLAN WILL BE NEXT, ALONG WITH OUR COMP PLAN.
I THINK WE'RE RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHERE WE SHOULD BE.
OVER THE NEXT YEAR, WE'LL HAVE ALL THE PLANNING COMPLETE AND WE'LL KNOW WHAT OUR MARCHING ORDERS ARE TO MOVE OUT TO [INAUDIBLE] INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES.
>> WELL DONE. WE'LL GET INTO REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS ORDINANCE 1027,
[I.1. Discuss and take action to adopt Ordinance 1027 Authorizing the Issuance of up to $9,540,000 Town of Westlake, Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2025, to fund water projects, including pump stations and a water tower, and the Sam & Margaret Lee Arts & Science Center; Levying an Annual Ad Valorem Tax and Providing for the Security for and Payment of said Certificates of Obligation; Approving an Official Statement; and Enacting other Provisions relating to the Subject (Cayce Lay Lamas, Finance Director)]
DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 1027 AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF UP TO 9,540,000 TOWN OF WESTLAKE COMBINATION TAX AND REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, SERIES 2025, TO FUND WATER PROJECTS, INCLUDING PUMP STATIONS, AND A WATER TOWER AND THE SAM & MARGARET LEE ARTS & SCIENCE CENTER, LEVYING AN ANNUAL AD VALOREM TAX AND PROVIDING THE SECURITY FOR PAYMENT OF SAID CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, APPROVING AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT, AND ENACTING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. CAYCE.>> IT'S A MOUTHFUL FOR A VERY SHORT PRESENTATION.
[LAUGHTER] IF YOU'LL RECALL, BACK IN MAY, THE LEGISLATURE WAS ENTERTAINING THE IDEA OF LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO ISSUE DEBT.
WE TOOK OUR DRAFT CIP PLAN, PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL,
[01:25:02]
DID OUR NOTICE OF INTENT THAT WAS APPROVED AT THE MAY MEETING TO ADVERTISE TO THE PUBLIC TO SAY, WE'RE CONSIDERING ISSUING UP TO $30 MILLION OF DEBT.WHENEVER THE LEGISLATURE BACKED OFF OF THAT INITIATIVE, WE WERE ABLE TO REVISE THAT DOWN TO 9.5.
WHAT HAS OCCURRED THIS MORNING WAS WE SOLD BONDS.
NOW, I'M HERE TO START TALKING ABOUT YOU ALL APPROVING THEM AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET ALL OF THAT STUFF DONE.
WE ALSO HAVE TED CHRISTIANSEN, OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, WHO WAS THE LEAD ON THIS BOND SALE, AND HE CAN ANSWER ALL THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT IT.
BUT AS THE OPENING STATEMENT SAID, WE ARE APPROVING $9.5 MILLION OF BONDS, WHICH WILL BE TO SUPPLEMENT THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE ARTS AND SCIENCES EXPANSION.
THEN THE REST WILL BE DEDICATED TO THOSE PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, AS WELL AS SECURING LAND AND DESIGN FOR THAT SECOND WATER TOWER WITHIN TOWN.
GOOD NEWS THAT EVERYBODY CAN TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED, I'M SURE, IS THAT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THE TOWN REAFFIRMED OUR AAA RATING WITH STANDARD & POOR'S.
>> THAT'S OUTSTANDING. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
>> WITH THAT, I'LL LET TED GET INTO SOME MORE OF THE SPECIFICS.
>> WE HAD A REALLY GOOD SALE TODAY.
WE HAD THREE UNDERWRITERS THAT ALL WENT OUT IN THE MARKET.
ACTUALLY, A LOCAL FORT WORTH BANK BOUGHT MOST OF THE BONDS, SO THAT WAS INTERESTING.
SOUTHSIDE BANK, I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER HEARD OF THEM, THEY'RE [INAUDIBLE] IN FORT WORTH.
THEY HAVE AN OFFICE OR BRANCH IN SOUTHLAKE.
>> ONE IN GRAPEVINE. THEY'RE AROUND, BUT THEY BOUGHT 8.13 MILLION [INAUDIBLE] OUT THERE.
[INAUDIBLE] MUTUAL FUND BOUGHT ANOTHER MILLION, AND THEN A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL BOUGHT 250,000.
GOOD SALE, WE WRAPPED EVERYTHING AROUND YOUR CURRENT DEBT, SO KEEPS THINGS LOWER IN [INAUDIBLE] THAT LEAVES ROOM FOR [INAUDIBLE] YOUR NECESSITY.
WE CAN ISSUE MORE DEBT DOWN THE ROAD WHEN AND IF IT'S NEEDED.
REALLY GOOD WORK BY WADE AND CAYCE ON THE RATING AND ALL THAT.
HE HAS TO VOTE. [LAUGHTER] IT TAKES A SUPER MAJORITY OR TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU'D [INAUDIBLE]?
>> I DID SEE YOU ASKED FOR A DEBT SCHEDULE, I THINK ROUGH SOME OF THE, I AGREE, I SEE THAT AND MAKE SURE, BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU GOT THAT RIGHT, CAYCE, MADE IT AVAILABLE?
>> WE'LL GET IT. MAYBE NOT YET.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. WHAT WAS THE PRICE? THE TIC ENDED UP AT 506.
IT'S BECAUSE IT WAS WRAPPED AROUND YOUR CURRENT DEBT, YOU'RE NOT PAYING PRINCIPAL UNTIL YOU GET OUT TO 2047, YOU'RE BASICALLY PAYING INTEREST FOR THE NEXT 22 YEARS.
THEN THAT'S HOW THE WRAP WORKS.
TIC OF 5,068,426. STILL PRETTY GOOD MONEY.
IT'S A VERY CHOPPY MARKET TODAY.
THE CPI REPORT CAME OUT THIS MORNING, IT WASN'T THE GREATEST.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. THE UNDERWRITERS DID A GREAT JOB.
>> THE LAST NUMBERS THEY PUT OUT YESTERDAY, THEY HELD THAT TODAY.
IT WAS GOOD BECAUSE WE HAVE ANOTHER CLIENT WHO SOLD $21 MILLION OF SCHOOL BONDS TODAY, THEY ACTUALLY HAD TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> I'M SORRY, AND TO HAVE A AAA RATING.
THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING.
YOUR CREDIT IS STERLING, YOU DO A GOOD JOB OF, YOU KNOW, KEEPING IT THAT WAY.
THAT'S THE KEY. EVERYTHING LIKE YOUR BUDGET WORK TONIGHT, THAT'S WHAT KEEPS IT THERE.
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT RATING. NO DOUBT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 1027 AS PRESENTED?
>> ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU, TJ.
AGENDA ITEM I2, WA RESOLUTION 25-16,
[I.2. Consider and act to approve WA Resolution 25-16 approving the Westlake Academy Amended Operating Budget for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025 (Cayce Lay Lamas, Finance Director)]
CONSIDER AND ACT TO APPROVE WA RESOLUTION 25-16, APPROVING THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY AMENDED OPERATING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2025. CAYCE.[01:30:08]
>> THIS IS THE FINAL BUDGETARY ACTION THAT COUNCIL WILL TAKE ON THE FISCAL YEAR 25 ACADEMY BUDGET.
JUST SO EVERYBODY CAN THINK BACK TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE ADOPTED ORIGINAL BUDGET OF $11.5 MILLION.
WE CAME BACK AND AMENDED IT QUICKLY THEREAFTER, AND SO WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY IS MORE ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE.
TEA REQUIRES THAT ALL OF OUR BUDGETARY AMOUNTS BY FUNCTION BE WITHIN 10% OF ACTUALS ON BOTH THE REVENUE AND THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
WHAT WE'LL BE DOING BY APPROVING THIS IS JUST ADJUSTING THOSE FINAL BUDGET NUMBERS SO THAT WE CAN DO ALL OF OUR YEAR-END REPORTING TO TEA.
AS I MENTIONED, THE ADOPTED FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET WAS 11.5 MILLION.
WE ARE LOOKING AT INCREASING THAT TO 11.9 MILLION TO END ON REVENUES.
THE CHANGES FROM ADOPTED TO TODAY INCLUDE THE INCREASE IN THE TOWN TRANSFER THAT WAS APPROVED DURING THE JULY MEETING LAST YEAR, AND MOSTLY THE REST OF THAT IS GOING TO BE RELATED TO INTEREST EARNINGS, AND SOME SLIGHT CHANGES AT THE STATE LEVEL RELATED TO OUR AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE AND [INAUDIBLE] SHORE-UP ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
>> THIS IS BASICALLY JUST ACTUAL.
HOW WE ENDED JUST ADOPTING ACTUAL RESULTS?
THEN, FOR FINAL EXPENDITURES, WE ARE LOOKING AT INCREASING THOSE JUST SHY OF $300,000.
MOST OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH VARIOUS CHANGES THAT OCCURRED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE PERSONNEL CATEGORY IN PARTICULAR WENT DOWN.
THERE WAS SOME GOOD WORK DONE WITH POSITION CONTROL WITHIN OUR SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THOSE VACANT POSITIONS OVER THE SPRING, WITH CAMPUS, AND ELIMINATING WHATEVER WE COULD.
THERE WAS ALSO A LOT OF GOOD COVERAGE AS FAR AS ANY TYPE OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHING THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THE REST OF IT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH INCREASED ACTUAL COSTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, MUCH OF IT RELATED TO SPED OR SPECIAL FUNDING.
EVEN WITH THAT INCREASE OF ALMOST $300,000 ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT ENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 25 IS WITH A SURPLUS OF ALMOST $150,000.
THEN, JUST SHORING IT UP AND GIVING IT TO YOU IN A VISUAL REPRESENTATION.
AS I SAID, WE ARE GOING FROM $11.5 MILLION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 ADOPTED BUDGET TO 11.9 OF THE ENDING BUDGET.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> QUESTIONS. GOOD. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE WA RESOLUTION 25-16 AS PRESENTED?
>> [LAUGHTER] YOU ALL MAKE ME NERVOUS.
>> [LAUGHTER] EERILY. [LAUGHTER]
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, CAYCE.
>> THANKS, TJ. RESOLUTION 25-25 AGENDA ITEM I3, DISCUSS, CONSIDER,
[I.3. Discuss, consider and act to approve Resolution 25-25 calling for and setting a public hearing to discuss and receive public testimony on the adoption of an ordinance imposing roadway, water and wastewater impact fees in the Town of Westlake, Texas; and providing an effective date (Cheryl Taylor, P.E., Director of Public Works).]
AND ACT TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-25 CALLING FOR AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE IMPOSING ROADWAY WATER AND WASTEWATER IMPACT FEES IN THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE, TEXAS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.>> MAYOR, THIS IS JUST CALLING OUT A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FUTURE.
THESE ARE THE TWO DATES THAT WERE DESCRIBED BY [OVERLAPPING].
>> THIS IS JUST A VOTE THAT [OVERLAPPING] PUBLIC HEARING?
>> CORRECT. THIS SETS THOSE DATES.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-25 AS PRESENTED?
>> THANK YOU. CAN I GET A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR?
[I.4. Discuss, consider and act regarding Resolution 25-26 to approve an economic incentive agreement with Pluralsight as recommended by the Westlake Development Corporation, Inc (EDC 4B).]
AGENDA ITEM I-4, RESOLUTION 25-26.DISCUSS, CONSIDER, AND ACT REGARDING RESOLUTION 25-26 TO APPROVE AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE AGREEMENT WITH PLURALSIGHT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE WESTLAKE DEVELOPMENT CORP, INC. EDC 4 B. HI, JASON.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE AGREEMENT THAT WENT BEFORE THE WESTLAKE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ON JULY 7TH.
JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PLURALSIGHT, THEY ARE AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TRAINING COMPANY THAT IS SEEKING TO EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS IN THE NORTH TEXAS MARKET.
THEY HAVE ASKED FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES TO NOT ONLY ASSIST WITH THEIR EXPANSION BUT ALSO TO HELP WITH THE STIMULATION OF
[01:35:01]
THE LOCAL ECONOMY IN WESTLAKE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE AGREEMENT, IT IS AN AGREEMENT THAT NOT ONLY INVOLVES PLURALSIGHT, BUT ALSO THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 380 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH ALLOWS FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES IN THE ATTRACTION, THE RETENTION, AND THE EXPANSION OF BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS CHAPTERS 501 AND 505.
OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE THAT DEALS WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS, SPECIFICALLY TYPE B, AND THE WESTLAKE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS A TYPE B.
IN TERMS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE, WHICH IS INCLUSIVE OF THE WESTLAKE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, IT WILL BE EXPEDITED DEVELOPMENT REVIEW, WAIVED FEES AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND THE BUILDING PERMITS, AND THE CASH GRANT THAT COMES FROM SALES AND USE TAX, REVENUES ARE SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO THE WESTLAKE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000.
IN TERMS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF PLURALSIGHT, THEY WILL HELP FINISH OUT 18,000 SQUARE FEET OF UNDERUTILIZED AND UNUSED SPACE HERE WITHIN THE SOLANA HILLS CORPORATE CAMPUS.
IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THEIR COMPLETION OF THAT FINISH OUT WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $1.2 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL VALUE.
THEY WILL ALSO EXPEND $240,000 ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND RELATED EQUIPMENT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY WILL ATTRACT AND RETAIN A MINIMUM OF 75 FULL-TIME OR EQUIVALENT EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS WITH THE DESIRE TO INCREASE THAT POTENTIALLY TO 150.
IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON WESTLAKE.
IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE INITIAL SALES AND USE TAX GENERATED WILL BE $37,000 APPROXIMATELY, THE ANNUAL SALES AND USE TAX GENERATED IS $1,500, AND THAT IS AFTER THAT INITIAL AMOUNT.
IN TERMS OF THE ANNUAL HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, THAT IS $19,635.
>> THERE IS AN ARRANGEMENT THAT HAS BEEN FACILITATED WITH THE MARRIOTT THAT IS HERE IN WESTLAKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR TRAINING AND ADDITIONAL OPERATIONS.
THEN THE ANNUAL SALES AND USE TAX FROM FOOD AND BEVERAGE IS ABOUT $9,500.
IN SUM, FOR THE FIRST YEAR, THE TOTAL TAX REVENUES GENERATED IS A LITTLE UNDER $68,000 OVER A TEN-YEAR LEASE PERIOD, JUST OVER $306,000, AND THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT BY BOTH THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE, AS WELL AS THE WESTLAKE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PLURALSIGHT IS ONE YEAR 122 DAYS.
IF THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE AGREEMENT IS APPROVED BY TOWN COUNCIL, THEN PLURALSIGHT, THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE, AND THE WESTLAKE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WILL BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CREATION OF NOT ONLY NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT ACTIVATING UNDER UTILIZED SPACE AS WELL AS STIMULATING THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
AGAIN, THE WESTLAKE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CONVENED ON JULY 7TH, AND THEY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT AS PREPARED AND PRESENTED WITH A VOTE OF FIVE TO ZERO.
THE OFFICE OF THE TOWN MANAGER RECOMMENDS THE SAME.
I WILL PAUSE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> IS IT $50,000 THAT WE ARE GRANTING THEM?
>> HOW IS THAT MORE THAN A YEAR PAYOUT?
>> WELL, YOU ALSO HAVE TO COUNT THE AMOUNT OF FEES THAT WE'RE HAVING TO BYPASS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S CORRECT. YOU ADD IN THE AMOUNT OF THE FEES, THAT'S CORRECT.
>> HE'S WAITING FOR IT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-26 AS PRESENTED?
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME TO THE FAMILY.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, TOWN COUNCIL.
>> YES, SIR. PLEASE COME UP. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> I'M DANIEL RUDD. I'M WITH AVISON YOUNG.
WE REPRESENTED PLURALSIGHT IN THIS EFFORT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED, AND WE CAME AND WE LOOKED AT AT LEAST FOUR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT WERE AIRPORT ADJACENT AND NARROWED THIS DOWN AS ONE OF THE FINALISTS,
[01:40:01]
AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK WADE, YOU GUYS WERE VERY RESPONSIVE AND VERY IMPRESSIVE IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS.I JUST WANTED TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY, THANK YOU AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING THIS LONG TERM AT THE HEADQUARTERS, ACTUALLY.
THEY'RE RELOCATING THEIR HEADQUARTERS FROM SALT LAKE HERE.
>> THAT COMMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, IT'S LIKE A TESTIMONIAL.
>> YEAH. IT SHOULD BE. JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY GOT SOME GREATER INCENTIVES FROM A COUPLE OF OTHER COMMUNITIES.
BUT WESTLAKE STOOD ON ITS OWN.
ANYWAY, IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GREAT COMMENTS. APPRECIATE IT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD STUFF.
I WAS THE OFF STAY AWAY KIND OF PINCHING OURSELVES ON SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
BUT WE ANNOUNCED MIKE BOWMAN OF CENTURY 21 IS MOVING IN THIS BUILDING.
PLURALSIGHT OBVIOUSLY IS JOINING THE FAMILY.
WE HAVE ANOTHER COMPANY THAT'S GETTING READY TO MOVE IN.
THE WORK THAT COUNCIL IS DOING, THE WORK THAT WADE, YOU AND YOUR STAFF ARE DOING, WE'RE OUT THERE MEETING PEOPLE TALKING TO PEOPLE, THE REALTORS, DEVELOPERS, BUILDERS, EVERYBODY.
HOPEFULLY IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS, WE'LL HAVE SOME MORE GOOD NEWS TO SHARE, BUT THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU.
[I.5. Discuss, consider and act regarding Resolution 25-27 to award the bid for audit services and authorize the Director of Finance to execute the engagement letters under the terms (Cayce Lay Lamas, Director of Finance)]
CONSIDER AND ACT REGARDING RESOLUTION 25-27 TO AWARD A BID FOR AUDIT SERVICES, AND AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO EXECUTE THE ENGAGEMENT LETTERS UNDER THE TERMS. CAYCE.>> THIS IS THE LAST TIME YOU'LL HAVE TO HEAR ME TALK TONIGHT.
THIS APPROVAL IS TO ACCEPT THE BID THAT WE RECEIVED FROM MGO, MACIAS GINI & O'CONNELL.
THEY ARE A NATIONWIDE AUDIT FIRM THAT RESPONDED TO OUR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR NEW AUDIT SERVICES.
IT WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO SIGN THE ENGAGEMENT LETTERS FOR ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND DO IT IN A MANNER THAT IS STANDARD FOR AUDIT SERVICES, WHICH IS A THREE YEAR ENGAGEMENT WITH 21 YEAR OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS.
PART OF THE REASON YOU ARE SAYING THIS IS BECAUSE IN MAY, STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED SENATE BILL 1851, AND THIS IS CONCERNING FOR A LOT OF CITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT ANY MUNICIPALITY THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN AUDIT ACCEPTED BY THEIR BOARD WITHIN 180 DAYS OF THEIR FISCAL YEAR IN WILL BE LIMITED TO ADOPTING THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
FOR A LOT OF SMALL CITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY PROBLEMATIC.
BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL DELAYS WITH OUR CURRENT AUDIT FIRM, WHAT WE DID IN JUNE IS GO AHEAD AND SEND THE NOTICE THAT WE WOULD NOT BE DOING ANY OF THE EXTENSIONS.
WE COMPLETED OUR THREE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT WITH THEM AND CONSIDER IT DONE.
THEY ARE STILL FINALIZING THE TOWN AND TEXAS STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHICH IS A COMPONENT UNITS FISCAL YEAR 24 AUDIT.
>> THEY'RE DOING THE SCHOOLS AS WELL, ACADEMY?
>> THEY ARE COMPLETED WITH THE ACADEMY.
THAT WAS THE ONE THAT WAS APPROVED BACK IN NOVEMBER.
AFTER WE SENT THAT NOTICE, WE WENT AND TALKED TO ALL OF OUR VARIOUS ENTITIES, WHICH INCLUDE THE ACADEMY, TEXAS STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND THE FOUNDATION AND GOT THEIR FEEDBACK ON WHAT IT WAS THEY EXPERIENCED WITH THE CURRENT AUDITOR AND WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR IN ANY CHANGE.
IT WAS ADVERTISED FOR TWO WEEKS ON BOTH OUR WEBSITE, THE STAR TELEGRAM, AND ADDITIONALLY, WE SENT IT DIRECTLY TO 14 DIFFERENT AUDIT FIRMS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE AUDIT FIRMS THAT ARE AUDITORS FOR THE THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WESTLAKE FALLS INTO.
NORMALLY, THAT WOULD BE VERY DISHEARTENING.
HOWEVER, MGO WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE IN THEIR RESPONSE.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW IN PART BECAUSE OF WHAT I JUST MENTIONED ABOUT THE CHANGING LEGISLATURE.
A LOT OF THE TEXAS SPECIFIC REGIONAL, SMALLER FIRMS, LIKE THE ONES THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST, ARE ABOUT TO BE OVERLOADED WITH WORK AND DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE ON NEW CLIENTS.
ADDITIONALLY, WHAT WAS VERY NICE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR FIRM IS THEY HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH HOUSING AUTHORITIES, WHICH HAS BEEN THE CAUSE FOR DELAY FOR THE LAST TWO TOWN AUDITS.
THEY WERE ALSO ABLE TO COMMIT TO US TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL AUDITING, AND THEY'D BE AVAILABLE TO START IMMEDIATELY SO THAT WE WOULDN'T INCUR ANY DELAY WITH THE ACADEMIES AUDIT BECAUSE IF YOU'LL RECALL, THEIR FISCAL YEAR ENDED LAST WEEK.
[01:45:01]
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.>> I'M CONCERNED WE ONLY HAD ONE RESPONSE.
WE KNOW WE HAVE SOME BAGGAGE ON THE TOWN'S BEHAVIOR.
HOW DO I GET MY HEAD AROUND, ONE RESPONSE AFTER EVERYBODY WE WENT OUT TO?
>> THE COMMENTS I GOT BACK FROM ANYBODY THAT WE RESPONDED TO SAID THAT IT WAS MOSTLY A RESOURCING ISSUE BECAUSE WE HAD UP TO FOUR ENTITIES THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE AUDITED WITH THE FOUNDATION, THE ACADEMY, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND THE TOWN, AND THAT THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO RESPOND.
>> IT IS. ANOTHER COMPLICATION FOR US IS BEING THE UNICORN THAT WE ARE, IF WE COULD FIND AN AUDITOR THAT HAD MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE, THAT MAY NOT HAVE ACADEMIC AND VICE VERSA.
>> YEAH. I'M CONCERNED THOUGH, JUST BY THE NATURE OF THAT.
I KNOW WE HAD ANOTHER ONE EARLIER.
>> I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT, BUT WHERE IS THEIR OFFICE? HOW CLOSE IS THEIR OFFICE?
>> THEY HAVE OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT CLOSE, WHAT'S THE CLOSEST PROXIMITY OFFICE? DALLAS?
>> HOUSTON? SO ALL OF THIS WORK IS GOING TO BE DONE REMOTE?
>> WE HAVE THE TWO RESOURCES THAT WOULD BE DEDICATED TO US.
ONE OF THEM IS COMING TO US FROM LUBBOCK AND THE OTHER FROM HOUSTON AND THEY WOULD BE ON SITE FOR FIELD WORK, BUT MUCH OF THE AUDITING INDUSTRY IS REMOTE ANYWAY, JUST BY NATURE.
>> WHAT KIND OF REFERENCE CHECKS DID YOU DO?
>> WE CALLED THE REFERENCES ON THERE.
WE HAD AN EXTRA INTERVIEW WITH THE PARTNER.
I ALSO REACHED OUT BECAUSE I'M ON THE BOARD FOR THE TEXAS CHAPTER OF GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
I TALKED TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD INTERACTIONS WITH THEM AND THEY WERE ALL VERY POSITIVE.
>> THE REFERENCE CHECK WAS BOTH FOR THE TOWN AS WELL AS THE COUNTY?
>> YES. IN FACT, WE WENT THROUGH THE LIST OF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT THE RESOURCES DEDICATED TO US HAD AUDITED AND ENSURED THAT ALL OF THEIR ISDS THAT THEY'D AUDITED ALL HAD ON TIME DELIVERED AUDITS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.
>> WE ARE UNICORN, WE KEEP SAYING THAT.
IS THERE ARE ANOTHER WAY WE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS? WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS TONIGHT.
BUT IS THERE ANOTHER WAY WE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS COMBINED ORGANIZATION? DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT TOGETHER? YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT, BUT I WOULD ASK YOU GUYS TO ASK THE QUESTION.
I KNOW THE STUDENT HOUSING THING IS REALLY UNUSUAL AND I KNOW THAT'S HELD US UP EXACTLY WHY SEVERAL TIMES.
BUT I JUST ASK YOU, LET'S GET THIS ONE GOING, BUT IN THE FUTURE, I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC OFFICE THREE YEARS NOW, AND THIS IS OUR THIRD OR FOURTH AUDITOR.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY IT WILL BE THE THIRD SINCE '22.
>> ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT DOING AN ENGAGEMENT LETTER AND NOT A CONTRACT IS IF THEY DON'T PERFORM, WE DO NOT HAVE TO CONTINUE.
>> YEAH. WE JUST CAN'T TAKE A CHANCE ON NON PERFORMANCE.
>> CORRECT. THE CHARTER FIRST RATING AND THE TAX RATE ARE TOO IMPORTANT.
>> WE GOT TO BE OUT ON THAT ONE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-27 AS PRESENTED?
>> CAN I GET A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR?
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
>> THANK YOU, CAYCE. AGENDA ITEM, WIND IT DOWN,
[I.6. Discuss and act to schedule any special meeting(s) as needed.]
I.6.25-199, DISCUSS AND ACT TO SCHEDULE ANY SPECIAL MEETINGS THAT NEEDED.THE TOWN COUNCIL BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING ON AUGUST 25TH, 2025 AT 4:00 PM TO CONDUCT A REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING IMPACT FEES PREVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, MAYOR. I.3 ANNOUNCED THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT THIS WILL ACTUALLY PUT THIS MEETING ON OUR CALENDAR.
IT'S REQUIRED THAT OUR CALENDAR IS UPDATED WITH A VOTE.
>> DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS?
>> YES, SIR. WE'LL NEED A MOTION, A SECOND AND A VOTE.
>> CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE 25-199?
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THE MEETING IS SET.
IT IS NOW 5:23 AND AS PROVIDED IN CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE,
[J. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
TOWN COUNCIL WILL NOW ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH[01:50:01]
TOWN ATTORNEY REGARDING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, 25-191, SECTION 551.087 DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS TO DELIBERATE THE OFFER OF FINANCIAL OR OTHER INCENTIVES TO BUSINESS PROSPECTS, A PROJECT 2025-06, 25-200 SECTION 551.072, DELIBERATION REGARDING THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY, A4852 GERONA AND 34 CORTEZ, WESTLAKE AND TROTTA.WE'LL NOW ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE ARE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
TROUBLE TALKING. AGENDA ITEM K, TAKE ANY ACTION NEEDED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[L. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
>> NONE FROM STAFF. HAVE ANY FROM COUNSEL?
>> YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO I TALK TO OUR SCHOOL ATTORNEY.
I WANT THE WAC ATHLETIC CLUB ON THE AGENDA FOR US TO VOTE FOR TURNING OVER TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHATEVER'S PROPER.
WE'VE GOT NO RESPONSE FROM THE NUMEROUS CERTIFIED LETTERS WE SENT.
>> THANK YOU. STAFF RECAP AND COUNCIL DIRECTION.
[M. STAFF RECAP OF COUNCIL DIRECTION]
>> YES, SIR. ON THE STAFF RECAP, THROUGH THE WORK SESSION, WE'VE ASKED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE SIGNS THAT LOOK A LITTLE DUSTY THROUGHOUT TOWN GET A LITTLE [OVERLAPPING].
>> I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE, BUT THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE REPLACED.
ALSO IN THE FUTURE WORK SESSION, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEBT SCHEDULE IS INVOLVED AND HAS A SLIDE AND NOT JUST FOR THE COUNCIL PACKET, BUT WE'LL HAVE A SLIDE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC FOR THAT AS WELL.
LET'S SEE. THE QUESTION WAS ASKED ABOUT HOW LONG OUR CURRENT TAX RATE HAS BEEN IN PLACE.
WE'RE GOING TO FIND THAT ANSWER AND BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL AND I'LL INCLUDE THAT IN THE NEXT MEETING AS WELL.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE DEBT SCHEDULE.
HOW MANY UNITS ARE PERMITTED AND COD AND IN TROTTA? THAT QUESTION HAD BEEN ASKED.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT.
THAT'S IT FOR THE COUNCIL RECAP.
>> YEAH, JASON, IF YOU COULD HELP US OUT, TO TAMMY'S QUESTION.
I'M PUTTING OUT A NEW MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR, AN UPDATE TO OUR RESIDENTS, AND THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH ACTIVITY IN TROTTA.
WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE BIG ONES, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH RESIDENTIAL.
SO HOW MANY HOUSES ARE THERE, HOW MANY ARE CONSTRUCTION OF ALL OF THAT STUFF BECAUSE I REMEMBER THAT 40% NUMBER AS WELL. SO THAT'D BE HELPFUL.
>> YES, SIR. WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU.
>> MAYOR, IF YOU'D LIKE, WE CAN DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TOWN AS WELL.
HE'S ALREADY GOT A SPREADSHEET THAT WE TRACK THOSE NUMBERS, SO WE CAN SHOW YOU EXACTLY HOW MANY PERMITS AND COMPLETED BUILDINGS ARE IN TOWN.
>> I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE ADDITIONAL ROADS OVER THE NEXT 10 PLUS YEARS.
I KNOW THAT'S CHANGED A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BUT I JUST WANT THE RESIDENTS TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING AND PART OF OUR PLAN AND WANT TO FOLLOW THAT.
EXCELLENT. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. ANOTHER GREAT MEETING.
NEXT REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 19TH, AT 4:00 PM.
I NOW ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING AT 6:21. THANK YOU ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.