* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [1. Open Meeting.] [00:00:04] GOOD EVENING. TODAY IS THURSDAY, AUGUST 15TH, 2024, AND THE TIME IS 6:00 PM AND THIS IS THE BRIEFING WORKSHOP OF THE LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL, CITY [2. Roll Call.] SECRETARY CRABTREE. WILL YOU PLEASE CALL ROLE COUNCIL MEMBER CATHERINE BATTALION PARKER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL HERRERA. HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID MCDONALD. MAYOR PROM. NICOLE THOMPSON. PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS ERNIE. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER BECKY ROSS. HERE, MAYOR CHRISTINE DELIVE. HERE. CORRUM IS PRESENT. THE COUNCIL IS ELIGIBLE TO DO BUSINESS. WE MOVE INTO [3. Convene into Executive Session pursuant toSection 551.071, Texas Government Code, and Section 1305, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding Public Utilities Commission Docket No. 53063, petition by outside city ratepayers appealing the water rates established by the City of Leander, Texas; andSection 551.071 and Section 551.087, Texas Government Code, Section 1.05, Texas Disciplinary rules of Professional Conduct, to consult with legal counsel regarding the Chapter 380 Agreement with SSM BBQ LEA, LLC; andSection 551.072, Texas Government Code, to deliberate the acquisition of properties located in the Elijah D. Harmon Survey, Abstract No. 6 for water line easements and temporary construction easements relating to the RM 2243 Water Main Project.] ITEM NUMBER THREE, CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO NUMBER ONE, SECTION 5 5 1 0.071, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND SECTION 1 3 0 5, TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION. DOCKET 5 3 0 6 3. PETITION BY OUTSIDE CITY RATE PAYERS APPEALING THE WATER RATES ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY OF LEANDRO, TEXAS. AND TWO SECTION 5 5 1 0.071. AND SECTION 5 5 8 7, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 1.05. TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING THE CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT WITH SS MBB Q AND NUMBER THREE, SECTION 5 51 7 2, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DELIBERATE THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES LOCATED IN THE ELIJAH D HARMAN SURVEY, ABSTRACT NUMBER SIX FOR WATERLINE EASEMENTS AND TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS RELATING TO THE RM 2243 WATER MAIN PROJECT. THE TIME IS 6:01 PM [ Reconvene into open session to take action as deemed appropriate in the City Council's discretion regarding:Public Utilities Commission Docket No. 53063, petition by outside city ratepayers appealing the water rates established by the City of Leander, Texas; and Chapter 380 Agreement amendment; andWater line easements and temporary construction easements relating to the RM 2243 Water Main Project.] ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AT 6:32 PM TO TAKE ANY ACTION DEEMED APPROPRIATE IN THE CITY COUNCIL'S DISCRETION REGARDING NUMBER ONE, PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION. DOCKET 5 3 0 6 3 PETITION BY OUTSIDE CITY RATE PAYERS APPEALING THE WATER RATES ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY OF LEANDRO, TEXAS MAYOR PRO TEM. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? NO. ACTION NUMBER TWO, CHAPTER THREE 80, AGREEMENT AMENDMENT MAYOR PRO TEM, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT WITH S-S-M-B-B-Q-L-E-A-L-L-C AND APPROVE. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECOND MOTION. AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AND NUMBER THREE, WATERLINE EASEMENTS AND TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS RELATING TO THE RM 2243 WATER MAIN PROJECT MAYOR PRO TEM. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION APPROVE THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES LOCATED IN THE ELIJAH D HARMON'S SURVEY, ABSTRACT NUMBER SIX FOR WATERLINE EASEMENTS AND TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS RELATED TO THE RM 2243 WATER MAIN PROJECT AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION SECOND MOTION, AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH WITH THAT. THE BRIEFING WORKSHOP IS ADJOURNED AT 6:33 PM PLEASE BE BACK AT SEVEN O'CLOCK FOR OUR REGULAR MEETING. ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING. [4. Open Meeting, Invocation and Pledges of Allegiance.] TODAY IS THURSDAY, AUGUST 15TH, 2024, AND THE TIME IS 7:01 PM AND THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE LEANDER CITY COUNCIL. TONIGHT WE HAVE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER KIRSTEN LYNCH, WHO WILL BE PROVIDING OUR INVOCATION FOLLOWING THE INVOCATION. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE. HEAVENLY FATHER, MERCIFUL LORD, YOU, YOU ARE ALWAYS WITH YOUR FOLLOWERS. YOU ARE A PROVIDER. OUR JEHOVAH GYRA, OUR ALL SUFFICIENT ONE, OUR EL SHADI LORD, BE PRESENT THIS EVENING AND ALL THE VOTES AND ALL THE DISCUSSIONS. AND AS THE CHILDREN OF LEANDER ARE BEGINNING A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, BE WITH EACH OF THEM IN THEIR LEARNING AND WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS OF ALL THE SCHOOLS AND HOME, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. LORD, SURROUND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WITH YOUR SHIELDING GRACE. BE WITH ALL OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, WHETHER IN OFFICES OR OUT IN THE CITY, BE PRESENT IN THEIR DECISIONS AND THEIR ACTIONS. LORD, WHEN WE ARE REPENTANT AND OBEDIENT, WE ARE ASSURED THAT YOU WILL JOYFULLY AND MERCIFULLY GIVE US YOUR STRENGTH IN EVERYTHING WE DO. LET IT BRING GLORY TO YOU IN YOUR HOLY AND MIGHTY NAME, AMEN TO THE VOTE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH YOU STANDS. ONE NATION UNDERCUT THE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL UNDER THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER AND WELCOME BACK. ALL RIGHT, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, [5. Roll Call.] CITY SECRETARY CRABTREE, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER CATHERINE BATTALION PARKER. [00:05:01] HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL HERRERA. HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID MCDONALD, MAYOR PRO TIMM NICOLE THOMPSON. PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS CER. HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER BECKY ROSS. HERE, MAYOR CHRISTINE DELAL. HERE QUORUM IS PRESENT COUNCIL IS ELIGIBLE TO DO BUSINESS. ITEM NUMBER [6. Public comments on items not listed in the agenda. Public comments on items listed in the agenda will be heard at the time each item is discussed. [All comments are limited to no more than 3 minutes (6 minutes if translation is needed) per individual.]] SIX IS NON AGENDA ITEM, PUBLIC COMMENTS. FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, I WILL CALL ON SPEAKERS PRIOR TO THE DISCUSSION OF THE AGENDA ITEM AND DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, INDIVIDUALS THAT SUBMITTED COMMENTS VIA THE WEBSITE WILL ONLY HAVE POSITIONS READ INTO THE RECORD. ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH THE COUNCIL AND WILL BE MADE A PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD. WITH THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. WAS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHED TO SPEAK TONIGHT ON SOMETHING NOT ON THE AGENDA. ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, [7. Recognitions/Proclamations/Visitors.Proclamation recognizing Backflow Prevention Day (August 16)] RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND VISITORS. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING BACKFLOW PREVENTION DAY OF AUGUST 16TH. AND, UH, TO RECEIVE THAT PROCLAMATION IS JEFF TUCKER, OUR BACKFLOW PREVENTION SPECIALIST. MR. TUCKER, IF YOU WANNA COME UP, I'LL START READING THIS. WHEREAS SINCE 2021, THE AMERICAN BACKFLOW PREVENTION HAS DESIGNATED AUGUST 16TH AS NATIONAL BACKFLOW PREVENTION DAY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF LEANER STRIVES TO ASSURE THAT DRINKING WATER IS SAFE, GOOD TASTING, AND AESTHETICALLY PLEASING. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF LEANDER IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO ENFORCE RULES PREVENTING CONTAMINATION THROUGH CROSS CONNECTIONS BETWEEN OUR WATER SUPPLY AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES. WHEREAS A MAIN METHOD TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION IS TO REQUIRE STATE APPROVED BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES IN CRITICAL LOCATIONS ON PRIVATE PLUMBING AND PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM PIPES. AND WHEREAS STATE LAW REQUIRES MANY RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES TO USE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES TO PREVENT PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY CONTAMINATION, AND IN MANY CASES MAKE SURE THESE DEVICES ARE TESTED ANNUALLY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY WISHES TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT BACKFLOW PREVENTION AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND BACKFLOW TESTING RULES. NOW THEREFORE, I AM MAYOR CHRISTINE DE YOU HEREBY RECOGNIZE FRIDAY, AUGUST 16TH AS BACKFLOW PREVENTION DAY AND URGE ALL WATER CUSTOMERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BACKFLOW PREVENTION IN THE CITY OF LEANDER IN WITNESS THEREOF, I HAVE HERE TO SET MY HAND AND CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF LEANDER TO BE AFFIXED ON AUGUST 15TH, 2024. MR. TUCKER, DO YOU MIND TELLING EVERYBODY WHAT ALL THIS BACKFLOW PREVENTION IS ABOUT? WELL, I HAVE A LITTLE SPEED. GO FOR IT. SHOULD I DO IT? YOU SHOULD DO IT . IT'S A SHORT SPEAKER. YOU'RE FINE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR IL. OH, JUST CITY MANAGER, START THE MICROPHONE. AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF LEANER CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JEFF TUCKER AND I AM YOUR CROSS CONNECTION AND BACKFLOW PREVENTION SPECIALIST. FOR THE CITY OF LEANDER, I HOLD THREE TCEQ LICENSES, BACK FLIP PREVENTION, ASSEMBLY TESTER, CUSTOMER SERVICE INSPECTOR, AND LICENSED IRRIGATOR. I'M A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS PROFESSIONAL IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION AND THE A BPA, WHICH STANDS FOR, EXCUSE ME, THE AMERICAN BACK FLIP PREVENTION ASSOCIATION. UH, THE A, THE A BPA HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROMOTING BACKFLOW AWARENESS FOR MANY YEARS, AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE A BPA THAT HAD COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE TOMORROW AUGUST 16TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL BACKFLOW PREVENTION DAY. NOT ON THANKS. THANK YOU. YOU'RE DOING GREAT. UH, THANK YOU. UH, UH, UH, AS NATIONAL BACK FLIP PREVENTION TODAY, IT IS A DAY THAT WE IN THE INDUSTRY WANT TO BRING AWARENESS TO EVERYONE REGARDING BACK FLIP PREVENTION. THIS SUBJECT IS LARGELY UNKNOWN AND OFTEN NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE PUBLIC. SO WHAT IS BACKFLOW? SIMPLY STATED, BACKFLOW IS THE UNDESIRABLE REVERSAL OF FLOW OF WATER FROM ITS INTENDED DIRECTION. IN ANY WATER PIPELINE OR PLUMBING SYSTEM, BACKFLOW CAN ALLOW CONTAMINANTS TO ENTER THE WATER SUPPLY, WHICH IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN CAUSE DRINKING WATER TO BECOME TAINTED AND UNUSABLE. SOME SITUATIONS CAN CAUSE OUR DRINKING WATER TO LOOK, SMELL, AND TASTE BAD. EVEN THOUGH THIS MAY NOT BE A HEALTH HAZARD. MORE SEVERE SITUATIONS MAY CAUSE POLLUTION TO ENTER THE WATER SYSTEM, RELEASING DISEASE CARRYING ORGANISMS SUCH AS BACTERIA, VIRUSES, AND PARASITES INTO THE WATER SYSTEM. THESE ORGANISMS CAN CAUSE NAUSEA, CRAMPS, HEADACHES, AND WORSE SYMPTOMS. PEOPLE WITH SEVERELY COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS, INFANTS AND SOME ELDERLY MAY BE AT INCREASED RISK. THAT IS WHY BACKFLOW PREVENTERS ARE REQUIRED TO BE INSTALLED AT CROSS CONNECTIONS FOR LAWN AND IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, FIRE SPRINKLERS AND SWIMMING POOL, AUTO FILLERS, AS WELL AS FACILITIES SUCH AS HOSPITALS, RESTAURANTS, AND MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, AND MANY OTHERS. ANYTIME A CROSS CONNECTION IS MADE TO THE CITY'S WATERLINE, THAT CONNECTION MAY BE A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION. AND THOSE CASES, [00:10:01] A BACKFLOW PREVENTER IS REQUIRED. SOMEBODY MUST ALSO TEST THE BACKFLOW PREVENTER TO ENSURE THAT IT WORKS PROPERLY BY PROVIDING THE NECESSARY PROTECTION REQUIRED BY THE E-P-A-T-C-E-Q AND ALL LOCAL WATER PROVIDERS. SO TOMORROW, THE NATIONAL BACK FLIP PREVENTION DAY IS DEDICATED TO CALLING ATTENTION TO OUR CRITICAL NEED FOR BACK FLIP PREVENTION AND CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL. WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK ALL THE PROFESSIONALS FOR THEIR ROLE IN PROTECTING OUR NATION'S DRINKING WATER. THESE PROFESSIONALS INCLUDE BACK FLIP PREVENTION, ASSEMBLY TESTERS, CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL SPECIALISTS, PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY OPERATORS, PLUMBERS, INSPECTORS, LAWN SPRINKLER, AND FIRE SPRINKLER INSTALLERS, ENGINEERS, REPAIR TECHNICIANS, BUILDING MAINTENANCE STAFF REGULATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND NUMEROUS OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OUR LEANDER RESIDENTS AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES THAT GET THEIR BACKFLOW PREVENTERS TESTED ON A REGULAR BASIS. AS REQUIRED FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CROSS CONNECTION, CONTROL AND BACKFLOW PREVENTION, I URGE EVERYONE TO GO TO TCEQ.TEXAS.GOV AND SEARCH THE TERM BACKFLOW PREVENTION ON THEIR SITE OR ON THE INTERNET. IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT SAFE DRINKING WATER IS NO ACCIDENT. IT TAKES ALL OF US DOING OUR PART TO MAKE THAT A REALITY. BACKFLOW PREVENTION IS A MATTER OF HEALTH AND SAFETY. THANK YOU. VERY NICELY DONE. NOT BAD FOR YOUR FIRST TIME UP HERE AT COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DON'T GO ANYWHERE. DON'T GO ANYWHERE. AND AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I THINK IS SUPER IMPORTANT, BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN REALIZE EXISTS. YEAH, IT'S IT'S, IT'S REALLY UNKNOWN TO MOST PEOPLE OUT THERE. YEAH. EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE ONE IN THEIR YARD, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE IT. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT DOES. ABSOLUTELY. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING AWARENESS. WHY DON'T YOU COME ON UP AND WE'LL DO A PHOTO. OKAY. ALL [8. Leander Chamber of Commerce mid-year update.] RIGHT. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, LEANDER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MID-YEAR UPDATE WITH CHAMBER PRESIDENT BRIDGETTE BRANT. GOOD EVENING MS. BRANT. THANKS GUYS. OKAY. UM, I'M A LITTLE LATE ON OUR MID-YEAR UPDATE, BUT I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND COVER ALL THE TOPICS THAT WE NORMALLY DO. I APOLOGIZE FOR SOME OF THIS BEING A LITTLE PAST. WE'RE NOW AT THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST. I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY, BUT IT'S HERE. SO, UM, I'M FIRST GONNA GIVE YOU OLD TOWN RECAP. UM, WE DID FLY A DRONE THIS YEAR. WE ESTIMATE PROB SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 15 AND 20,000 PEOPLE. WE THINK WE PROBABLY, HONESTLY, I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY MORE IN LIKE THE 15 TO 17 JUST BECAUSE OF THE HEAT. I DON'T THINK WE HIT 20 THIS YEAR. IT WAS JUST SO HOT FOR THAT MAIN PART OF THE DAY. UM, WE ARE PUTTING IN PLANS FOR, UM, MISTERS FOR NEXT YEAR IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO HAVE ANOTHER HEAT. SO WE'LL HAVE COOLING AREAS. SO THAT WILL BE AN ADDITION DUE TO THE HEAT THAT WE HAD THIS YEAR IN HOPES OF KIND OF KEEPING SOME OF THAT AUDIENCE THERE LONGER. UM, GETTING PEOPLE TO COME THERE IS NOT HARD. YOU WANT TO KEEP 'EM THERE LONGER TO SHOP MORE ESSENTIALLY. SO, UH, MOST PEOPLE MADE IT DOWN ONE STREET, MAYBE TWO. USUALLY PEOPLE WILL DO THE WHOLE ENTIRE THING SHOPPING THAT WHOLE ENTIRE WAY, WHICH IS WHAT WE REALLY WANT. UM, ANYWAY, SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. UM, I DO WANNA, BEFORE I GIVE YOU THE AMAZING NUMBERS AGAIN, I'M GONNA DO A SHOUT OUT. I WANT TO THANK BOTH OUR PARKS TEAM FOR THE HELP THAT THEY HAVE IN HELPING US PREPARE OLD TOWN PARK FOR IT. WE HAD SO MUCH RAIN THIS YEAR, IT WAS ACTUALLY A THING BETWEEN THE ANTS AND THE RAIN AND THE, ALL OF THAT. SO THANKS TO THEM. AND THEN A HUGE GIANT BIGGEST THANK YOU YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE TOO PUBLIC WORKS. YOU PROBABLY DON'T REALIZE THAT PUBLIC WORKS ARE ACTUALLY THE PEOPLE THAT HELP US AT THE FESTIVAL BY MAKING SURE ALL THE STREET CLOSURES ARE CORRECT, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY HUGE. MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS ARE ROPED OFF SO NO ONE PARKS IN THEIR YARDS, WHICH PEOPLE WOULD DO OTHERWISE. MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE POWER, BECAUSE AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, AND MAYBE MIKE, MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW, THERE IS NOT POWER IN OLD TOWN, SO THEY HAVE TO BRING POWER IN TO SET [00:15:01] THAT UP. AND THEN THEY DO THE BEST SERVICE OF ALL, WHICH IS PICKING UP THE TRASH FROM 20,000 PEOPLE, WHICH IS INSANE. AND SO, GINA, THANK YOU TO ALL OF THEM. WE LITERALLY, IF THEY SAID WE'RE NOT DOING THIS ANYMORE, I WOULD SAY I'M NOT EITHER. UH, THEY'RE THAT INCREDIBLE. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THEM. AND THEN I ALSO WANNA DO SHOUT OUTS TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF THE HEAT. UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT CALLED OUT A COUPLE TIMES AND WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WAS SAFE AND HAD WATER AND GOT ALL OF THE THINGS. AND THEN OF COURSE, POLICE HELP US KEEP THE ROADS SAFE FOR ALL OF OUR RUNNERS, WHICH AGAIN, WE HAD ONE OF OUR BIGGEST RACES FOR OLD TOWN. IT'S CONTINUING TO GROW EVERY YEAR. SO JUST ALL OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. REALLY INCREDIBLE, UH, SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT WERE THERE TO HELP. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, IT'S JUST REALLY A GREAT FESTIVAL. AND HERE'S THE NUMBER. SO, UH, ON A STATE AVERAGE, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAD SHOPPING, AND THEN WE DO AN AVERAGE FROM THE VENDORS THAT DO PROVIDE FEEDBACK FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY MADE. WE ESTIMATE THAT $1.120 MILLION WENT BACK INTO THE ECONOMY FOR LEANDER FROM THAT FESTIVAL, WHICH IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE. SO, UH, VERY, VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT. AND GREAT NEWS FOR CHRISTMAS. IT IS ALREADY SELLING OUT. WE HAD OUR FIRST ROUND OF AVEN, WE HAD 50 VENDORS THAT WE RELEASED IN THE FIRST ROUND, AND WE HAD 292 APPLICATIONS FOR THAT FIRST ROUND OF 50 SPOTS, WHICH IS INSANE. SO REALLY EXCITING. I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO THE SUCCESS OF THE FESTIVALS THAT WE'VE HAD. AND SO IT WILL SELL OUT. WE'RE HOLDING SOME OF THEM BACK. UH, WE ALSO ARE, UH, OF COURSE WORKING WITH PARKS, UH, BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS OF THE FESTIVAL, WE ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO INVEST MORE IN IT AGAIN, AND THE TEAM IS JUST INCREDIBLE THIS YEAR'S THEME. CAN WE SAY, MARK, DO YOU THINK WE CAN SAY, I GUESS WE CAN SAY THE THEME, RIGHT? THIS YEAR'S THEME IS POLAR EXPRESS. SO, UH, EVERYBODY WILL BE VERY EXCITED. WE'VE HAD LOTS OF REQUESTS TO JUST GO BACK TO THE MOVIES THAT EVERYBODY REALLY LOVES AND WANTS TO SEE. AND SO WE'RE JUST GONNA KEEP REPEATING EVERYBODY'S FAVORITES FROM THIS DAY FORWARD. SO, UH, IT WILL BE POLAR EXPRESS THIS YEAR, AND SO EVERYBODY'S REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. UM, SO COMING, UH, THE 5K ALREADY HAS OVER 150. I THINK IT'S 152 PEOPLE AS OF THIS MORNING THAT ARE SIGNED UP FOR THE 5K ALREADY. AND WE ARE AUGUST 15TH. SO REALLY, REALLY EXCITING. UM, LEADERSHIP LEANDER HAS 13 STUDENTS THAT'LL BE GRADUATING AT THE GALA ON SEPTEMBER 21ST. THIS YEAR. THE GALA WILL BE IN OLD TOWN. UH, WE ARE TINTING OLD TOWN FOR THE GALA, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. AND THERE WILL BE AC SO WE ARE BRINGING AC INTO OLD TOWN. SO, UH, JUST FYI. WE ALSO HAVE STARTED NOW OUR SECOND ROUND OF SMALL GROUPS SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME REPORTING. OUR SMALL GROUPS FOR OUR, UH, BUSINESS IS MEET TWICE A YEAR NOW. THEY MEET FOUR MONTHS IN THE SPRING AND FOUR MONTHS IN THE FALL. IN THE SPRING WE HAD 60 BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING. AND IN THE THIS FALL WE'VE GOT 52 PARTICIPATING, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE. REAL ESTATE SUMMIT IS COMING UP ON OCTOBER 3RD. WE ALREADY HAVE 50 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THAT AS WELL, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. I THINK WE WILL BE WELL OVER OUR, UM, NUMBERS. UH, SHOUT OUT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND PLANNING FOR HELPING US JUST GET ALL OF THAT ORGANIZED. UM, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE SUMMIT COMING NEW THIS YEAR. UH, ON OCTOBER 19TH, WE WILL BE DOING THE SPIRIT OF BAGHDAD WITH, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO DO A REENACTMENT IN BAGHDAD CEMETERY OF FIVE SICK, FIVE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE CEMETERY, WHICH IS REALLY COOL. SO IT'LL BE A LITTLE, IT ISN'T A HAUNTED HOUSE TOUR, IT IS A HISTORICAL REENACTMENT, BUT IT WILL BE, HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SPOOKINESS TO IT AND IT WILL BE REALLY COOL. LOTS OF CITIES DO THESE AND THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND ME, WE'VE WANTED TO DO IT FOREVER AND EVER. AND SO WE'RE FINALLY MAKING IT HAPPEN. SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. ALSO, SO FAR THIS YEAR WE'VE ALREADY DONE 34 RIBBON CUTTINGS, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE. UM, THAT IS THE MOST, AT THIS POINT IN THIS YEAR WE'VE EVER DONE IN OUR HISTORY. SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. ALSO, REALLY EXHAUSTED FROM DOING SO MANY RIBBON CUTTINGS. IT'S A WONDERFUL PROBLEM THOUGH. UM, AND THEN WE ARE, UM, WE'VE LAUNCHED SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES AT THE CHAMBER THAT WE ARE NOW HOSTING HERE IN LEANDER. RATHER THAN PUSHING PEOPLE TO SCORE TO DO, WE'RE BRINGING THEM IN HOUSE. THAT WAY WE CAN MEET THEIR NEEDS. WE JUST HOSTED A CLASS ON AI MARKETING AND WE HAVE A QUICKBOOKS CLASS COMING UP. AND SO TRYING TO BRING ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES AND THOSE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY BUSINESS OWNER. SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE CLASSES, WHICH IS ALSO REALLY COOL. SO JUST AGAIN, TRYING TO HELP EXPAND THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR BUSINESS OWNERS SO THAT THEY CAN GROW. AND THEN FINALLY, [00:20:01] WE ARE IN PRE-DEVELOPMENT AGAIN FOR PROPERTY. AND SO HOPING VERY SOON TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE A TEMPORARY HOME, UH, FOR THE CHAMBER FOR MORE SPACE, PREDOMINANTLY TO REALLY BRING A TRAINING ROOM TO LEANDER, WHICH WE AGAIN NEEDED TODAY FOR A CC TO BE ABLE TO HOST ONE OF THEIR, UM, ALL EMPLOYER CONFERENCES, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN SO COOL 'CAUSE THEN THEY WOULD'VE COME, USED OUR CATERERS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. UM, BUT WE ARE REALLY HOPING FOR THAT. AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE STILL INTERESTED AND STILL WANTING TO PURSUE A FINAL HOME AT BRYSON FARMSTEAD. SO LOTS OF THINGS HAPPENING. IT HAS BEEN AN INSANE, UH, FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT AND ARE ALL FEELING THAT EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, CITY STAFF US, WE GET THAT SAME, UH, SAME GROWTH PRESSURE. AND SO IT'S JUST BEEN CRAZY. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT A WONDERFUL PROBLEM TO HAVE. I'D MUCH RATHER HAVE THAT PROBLEM THAN THE OPPOSITE, WHICH IS STALLING BUSINESSES AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS. SO REALLY EXCITED. ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ME? THAT WAS FANTASTIC, COUNSEL. OH, THAT'S EASY. HOW ARE YOU GONNA TOP THIS NEXT YEAR? HONESTLY, I'M TRYING NOT TO . I'M GONNA BE HONEST. I'M TRYING TO DO LESS NEXT YEAR. I'M HOPING TO STAND HERE NEXT YEAR AND BE LIKE, WELL, WE ONLY DID 30 RIBBON CUTTINGS AND WE ARE GOOD . THAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT. UH, YEAH, NO, I DON'T KNOW. I'LL LET YOU KNOW. ALL RIGHT. I'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING. I'M SURE. , THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. IT'S FANTASTIC. IF Y'ALL HAVE QUESTIONS, REACH OUT TO US ANYTIME. THANK YOU. ALL [ CONSENT AGENDA: ACTION] RIGHT, COUNSEL, WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. YOU'LL BE CONSIDERING ITEMS NINE THROUGH 18. THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM, MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND MOTION. AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PASSES UNANIMOUSLY INTO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. ITEM 19 WAS POSTPONED BY THE APPLICANT. SO NOW [20. Discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Budget and proposed tax rate.] WE'RE INTO OUR REGULAR AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER 20, DISCUSSED THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025 ANNUAL BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE. CITY MANAGER PARTNER. IS THIS YOU? IT IS. AND, UH, I APOLOGIZE. IT'S ME. MR. POWERS COULD NOT BE WITH US TONIGHT. SO YOU GOT THE B TEAM. OH, SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO, UM, I WAS PREPARED TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE ENTIRE AUGUST 1ST WORKSHOP ITEM AGAIN, BUT I FIGURED Y'ALL, Y'ALL ALREADY HAVE THAT MEMORIZED. SO I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY, KIND OF HOW THE PROPOSED TAX RATE FITS INTO THIS PROCESS AS WELL. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOKED AT, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT WAS WHERE TO SET OUR RATE IN A PRIOR CONVERSATION. THE RATE THAT THIS BUDGET IS BUILT ON IS THE 41, UH, 0.7 IN ODD, UM, UH, TAX RATE, UH, THAT IS A CONSISTENT TOTAL TAX RATE FROM CURRENT FISCAL YEAR TO, UH, THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THERE IS A PENNY INCREASE ON THE M AND O PORTION OF THE RATE AND A PENNY DECREASE ON THE INS PORTION. AND AGAIN, THE INS IS THE PART THAT GOES TOWARDS THE CITY'S DEBT SERVICE OBLIGATIONS ON THE GENERAL FUND PIECE OF IT. AND SO WE DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL TAX INCREASES AND THEN SOME REDUCTIONS IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL REQUIREMENT, UH, FOR DEBT SERVICE, WHICH NETS OUT THIS DIFFERENCE BY APPLYING THIS RATE TO THE NEW ASSESSED VALUATION. UH, WE HAVE $2 MILLION THAT IS BEING, UH, ALLOCATED BACK OVER IN A CAPITAL RESERVE. WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC TARGETS FOR THAT $2 MILLION. UM, WE ARE PROPOSING TO WORK WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AS WE BEGIN WORKING ON A NEW CFP STRUCTURE AND TO BRING FORWARD THAT CFP PROCESS. SO A LITTLE LATER TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT CREATING A CFP, UM, FINANCING, UH, SUBCOMMITTEE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE COMMITTEE IS HOW TO BEGIN TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS AND WHERE TO BEGIN TO PROGRAM THESE DOLLARS. SO WE'RE GONNA NEED A VARIETY OF SOURCES OF, OF PAYGO DOLLARS, UH, OTHER FEES THAT WE COLLECT, IMPACT FEES, THINGS LIKE THAT, GRANT DOLLARS AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY, UH, LEVERAGING BOND FUNDS MOVING FORWARD. SO THIS DOES MOVE SOME DOLLARS OVER INTO THAT PROCESS AS WELL. THANK YOU, SIR. SO THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED FROM THE LAST BUDGET, UH, DISCUSSION WE HAD WHEN WE WERE GOING BACK THROUGH SOME FINAL UPDATES ON THE AV. UH, THERE WAS, UH, ROUGHLY AN ADDITIONAL $700,000 OF FUNDING THAT CAME IN. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, WE WERE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS BUDGET IS, UH, REALLY TRY TO CONCENTRATE ON MAYBE SOME DEFERRED OR SOME NEEDED CAPITAL PROJECTS AS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, UH, WANTING TO PRESERVE ANY OF THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO GO TOWARDS MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS. ONCE WE GET A CHANCE TO PUT A MULTI-YEAR FISCAL FORECAST TOGETHER AND WE BEGAN TO TALK OUR MEET AND CONFERS WITH OUR, UH, POLICE AND FIRE ASSOCIATIONS, UH, THERE MAY BE SOME DOLLARS WE NEED TO LOOK AT THERE. SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, [00:25:01] UM, WE ARE MEETING OUR NEEDS TODAY, BUT ALSO BEING, UH, KEEPING AN EYE OPEN FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL DEMANDS THAT MAY BE COMING FORWARD. SO, UH, YOU CAN SEE SOME ADDITIONAL $644,000 OF ALLOCATIONS THAT CAME IN. UH, THESE WERE ITEMS THAT WERE SELECTED FROM THE UNFUNDED SUPPLEMENT LIST THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BACK ON THE AUGUST 1ST, UH, UH, TIMELINE. ONE OF THE CRITICAL PIECES YOU'LL SEE IN FINANCE AS A GRANT ADMINISTRATOR. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO TRY TO CREATE IN THIS BUDGET MOVING FORWARD IS REALLY A MORE PROACTIVE AGGRESSIVE GRANT PROGRAM. SO WE'VE DONE INTERVIEWS. THERE IS A CONTRACT WE'RE PREPARING TO BRING FORWARD TO YOU IN THE NEXT MEETING OR TWO TO CONSIDER AWARDING A CONTRACT TO A GRANT CONSULTANT. THAT GRANT CONSULTANT WILL BE THE FIRST ARM OF WORKING WITH STAFF, LOOKING AT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, AND THEN THEY'LL BEGIN THE PROCESS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MATCHES OR OPPORTUNITIES ARE OUT THERE FOR US, GETTING THE GRANT IS REALLY THE FIRST PART AND SOMETIMES THE EASIEST PART. IT'S WHAT YOU DO AFTER THAT THAT WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT. UH, WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GRANT GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF EXECUTING AND MEETING THOSE CRITERIA, UH, ARRANGING AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE MEETING WITH THE STATE AND WHOMEVER THE GRANTING AUTHORITY IS. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO IT. SO THIS IS CREATING A GRANT ADMINISTRATOR POSITION, UH, WITHIN THIS BUDGET TO THEN BE THE CITY ADMINISTRATIVE PIECE OF THAT TO BEGIN A GRANT PROGRAM THROUGH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT SIDE. UM, THE, UH, ON THE PLANNING SIDE, UH, LOOKING AT ADDING AN ADDITIONAL PLANNING TECHNICIAN POSITION. SO THAT'S A, A CORE SUPPORT POSITION IN THE PLANNING OPERATION THAT WILL HELP OUR URBAN PLANNERS AS WE'RE PREPARING CASES. UM, DOING BACKGROUND RESEARCH, UH, PUTTING OUT ZONING SIGNS, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT IS, UH, WHAT THAT, UH, UH, WOULD DO PUBLIC WORKS. WE HAVE SOME CAPITAL PIECES THERE, UH, TO HELP WITH, UH, FACILITIES TRAILERING. UM, WE HAVE DONE THE INITIAL UPDATE TO THE, UH, CITYWIDE DRAINAGE STUDY. UM, THE, UH, ATLAS 14 PROJECT, I BELIEVE IS WHAT IT'S CALLED. SO, UM, WE DO NEED TO TAKE THAT STUDY TO THE NEXT PHASE TO FINALIZE THOSE NEW FLOODPLAIN AND FLOOD WAY BOUNDARIES. SO THIS TAKES US THAT NEXT STEP TO HELP GET THAT PROJECT COMPLETED. AND AGAIN, WE'VE GOT SOME, A DRONE AIRCRAFT, UH, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE UPDATE TO STAY COMPLIANT, UH, WITH FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. UH, IT GOES BACK TO MANUFACTURING, UH, NOT UTILIZING CHINESE MANUFACTURED, UH, DRONES. SO THERE'S A POTENTIAL WE MAY HAVE TO CHANGE OUR EQUIPMENT. SO THIS GOES AHEAD AND TAKES CARE OF THAT. UH, NEW CONSOLE EXPANSION, RADIO REPLACEMENT, UM, IN THE COMMUNICATIONS OVER IN PD. UM, SAME THING WITH THE RECORDER UPGRADE. SO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN RECORD OUR PHONE CALLS AND NINE ONE ONE CALLS, THINGS LIKE THAT COMING IN. UH, CRITICAL THING IS THE LOWER WAREHOUSE HVAC. SO THAT'S THE, UM, WAREHOUSE THAT'S BEHIND THE, UH, FIRE STATION, OVER FIRE ADMINISTRATION OVER OFF OF LEANDER DRIVE. THERE'S, UH, STORAGE IN THAT FACILITY. UM, IT GETS HOT IN THERE. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL STORAGE IF WE CAN AIR CONDITION THAT SPACE SO IT GIVES US MORE FUNCTIONALITY. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ADDITIONS THAT, UH, WE'VE GOT ROLLED INTO THE BUDGET. AND AGAIN, IT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF SOME ADDITIONAL AV THAT CAME ONTO THE BOOKS FROM THE LAST TIME WE HAD A CONVERSATION. AND AGAIN, HERE'S SOME, UH, FINAL PIECES THAT, UM, WE'VE GOT FOR SOME, UH, ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION BY COUNCIL. UM, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO THE MOST RECENT EVENT WE'VE HAD IN OUR PARKS, UH, REALLY STEPPING UP AND TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES IN THE PARKS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO FOR OUR PATRONS TO ENSURE THAT, THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN. THERE IS IMPORTANT. UM, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, FUND IS AN OLD TOWN GRANT PROGRAM, SO THIS IS $250,000, WHICH WOULD BE AN INITIAL SEED AMOUNT. UH, WHAT THIS CONTEMPLATES IS ESTABLISHING A GRANT FUND FOR LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO LOCATE OR EXPAND IN THE OLD TOWN AREA. SO IT'D BE LOOKING AT PROVIDING UP TO $25,000, UH, DOLLAR TO DOLLAR MATCH THAT WOULD GO TOWARDS CAPITAL. EITHER LAND BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, UH, UPGRADES TO THE BUILDINGS, THINGS THAT WE CAN GET A RECEIPT OR TITLE OR SOMETHING. WE CAN CONFIRM EXPENDITURE HAPPENED AND, AND IT'S THERE. UM, THIS WOULD GIVE US OPPORTUNITY FOR UP TO 10 MAXIMUM GRANTS, LET'S SAY [00:30:01] EVERYBODY TOOK THAT DOWN. UH, AS THOSE FUNDS ARE DRAWN DOWN, THEN WE WOULD WANT TO REPLENISH THAT OVER TIME. SO, UH, SO AGAIN, IT'S THE IDEA OF LOCAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TRYING TO ACTIVATE OLD TOWN THROUGH THAT PROCESS. UM, AND THEN SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS THE FINAL DESIGN AND GETTING READY TO GO OUT TO BID FOR, UH, PALMERA AND REAGAN. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD CONTEMPLATED WAS TRYING TO ALSO BID OUT A TEMPORARY TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THAT LOCATION, UM, TO TRY TO STAND THAT UP AND HAVE THAT READY AND BEGIN TO HELP MODERATE THAT WHILE WE'RE GETTING THE SAN GABRIEL PHASE TWO PROJECT GOING, WHICH INCLUDES THAT TRAFFIC SAN GABRIEL IN, UH, REAGAN. UM, IN TALKING TO STAFF, ONCE WE BEGIN REALLY LOOKING AT THAT, LOOKING AT THE COST AND THE TIMELINE TO PROCEED FORWARD WITH A TEMPORARY, UH, UH, LIGHT AND SIGNAL, REALLY BY THE TIME YOU GET DONE WITH THAT, YOU'VE BASICALLY JUST ABOUT THE SPENT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AND TIME TO DESIGN AND BUILD A PERMANENT LIGHT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WAS, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU DO SET UP A TEMPORARY SIGNAL, WE HAVE A WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S GONNA GET USED TO USING THAT SIGNAL. IF WE GO BACK AND TAKE IT OUT, I THINK THERE'S A DANGER OR CONCERN THERE WITH REGARD TO THAT IMPLICATION. IF YOU GO OUT AND DRIVE THAT AREA AND LOOK AT WHERE THAT LOCATION IS, YOU GET REALLY BAD VISIBILITY AT THAT LOCATION AND PEOPLE ARE COMING UP THE HILLS. AND PARTICULARLY AS THE MEDIANS GROW AND GRASS STARTS TO COME UP, VISIBILITY DOES BECOME AN ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HIGH SPEEDS. UM, NOW THE NEW LIGHT AT SAN GABRIEL WILL HELP MODIFY SOME OF THAT BEHAVIOR, BUT IT'S STILL GONNA BE VERY BUSY. WE DID A WARRANT STUDY FOR RONALD REAGAN AND IT, IT DID WARRANT A NUMBER OF LIGHTS ALONG THAT CORRIDOR. A LIGHT AT PALMER RIDGE AND REAGAN COULD BE WARRANTED. IT'S A LITTLE BIT CLOSE. UM, IT'S ABOUT 2100 FEET FROM, UH, THE SAN GABRIEL LIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE. NORMALLY I THINK WE'RE AT ABOUT A 2,500 FOOT, UH, SEPARATION, BUT WE CAN WARRANT IT. WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE MONITOR THE TIMING OF THE SIGNALS TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE COORDINATED CORRECTLY. THIS WOULD ANTICIPATE GETTING THE DESIGN DONE IN THE CIP FOR THIS YEAR WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF HAVING IT BASICALLY READY TO BID OUT AND TO CONSTRUCT TOWARDS THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 25 OR THE EARLY PART OF FISCAL YEAR 26. SO I THINK REGARDLESS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A FINAL INSTALL THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN 26, SO YOU'D BE LOOKING AT 200,000 HERE TO DO THE, THE DESIGN AND THEN SOME ALLOCATION OF CIP FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 THAT WOULD ACTUALLY FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF IT. AND WE DO HAVE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROGRAMMING FOR, UM, UH, KIND OF SYSTEM-WIDE, UH, TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS. THERE'S ABOUT 2.4 MILLION IN THE BUDGET THAT'S ACCOUNTED FOR TO HELP FUND SOME OF THOSE THINGS. UM, SO, BUT WE HAVE DOLLARS AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. SO THIS PROPOSAL REALLY CONSTITUTES THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF. MAYBE NOT TO DO TEMPORARY, BUT DO, UH, JUST A FULL INSTALL AND TAKE CARE OF THAT AND ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, UM, MOVING FORWARD. UM, COUPLE OTHER THINGS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT, AGAIN, WHEN WE HAD OUR ISSUE OUT THERE IN, IN, UH, WITH REGARD TO OUR EMPLOYEE SAFETY ISSUE. UM, YEAH, THAT THERE DID IDENTIFY A NEED FOR, UH, COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN OUR, UH, OPERATIONAL DEPARTMENTS. SO, UH, IT DID GO TO WORK AND PULL TOGETHER A QUOTE TO PROVIDE MOTOROLA, YOU KNOW, CELL BASED SERVICE, UH, MOTOROLA HANDHELD RADIOS FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE OUT IN THE FIELD. SO THIS WOULD BE A RECURRING EXPENSE THAT WE'D LIKE TO ADD TO THE BUDGET AND TAKE CARE OF IT. THINK IT'S CRITICAL FOR DAILY OPERATIONS, FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS, THINGS, UH, COME TOGETHER. AND THE OTHER ISSUE IS ALSO PUTTING GPS, UH, SYSTEMS ON OUR VEHICLES SO WE CAN KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, UH, CAN TRACK, UH, OPERATIONAL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN THE VEHICLES, BUT ALSO TRYING TO TRACK WHEN WE HAVE SERVICE CALLS, UH, IF WE'RE THROWING OFF CODES, THINGS LIKE THAT WE CAN MONITOR AND RECORD THAT INFORMATION AND HELP TO, UH, ENHANCE OUR OPERATING, UH, OF, AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR VEHICLES. AND THEN THE FINANCE POSITION WOULD BE ONE ADDITIONAL POSITION, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO HELP SUPPORT THE GRANT OPERATION. SO WE, IF WE DO THAT, WE GOT OUR GRANT ADMINISTRATOR AND THEN HAVING SOME ADDITIONAL FINANCE SUPPORT TO HELP DO THE GROUNDWORK BEHIND THAT. SO THO THAT'S ANOTHER $411,000 OF, UH, POTENTIAL ITEMS THAT WE [00:35:01] WANTED TO PUT OUT FOR A DISCUSSION FOR YOU TONIGHT TO SEE WHETHER THOSE ARE, ANY OF THOSE ARE ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO TRY TO ROLL INTO THE BUDGET AS WELL. SO MAYOR, TURN IT BACK TO YOU AND COUNSEL. THANK YOU. AND COUNSEL, THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM, NOT AN ACTION ITEM. SO SPEAK UP. SO I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. SO ONE WOULD BE ON THE, THE MOTOROLA SYSTEM. SO WOULD THAT BE ABLE TO TALK TO THE FIRE AND THE POLICE? IT WOULD SET US UP SO WE COULD SET UP SEPARATE CHANNELS, BUT WE COULD ALSO HAVE COMMON CHANNELS WHEN THE NEED ARISES. BUT WE, WE DON'T WANT EVERYBODY ON THE SAME CHANNELS. YOU WANT SEPARATE, RIGHT. BUT WE CAN CROSS COMMUNICATE AS WE NEED TO. OKAY. AND THEN, UM, SO IF WE DID THE TEMPORARY LIGHT, WHEN WOULD IT BE UP? WOULD IT BE THE SAME TIMELINE AS PUTTING UP THE PERMANENT LIGHT OR IS IT LIKE THREE MONTHS EARLIER OR IS IT A YEAR EARLIER? IT MAY BE WITHIN WEEKS. IT, IT'S, IT'S BY THE TIME YOU PUT IT UP, YOU'RE THERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT. OKAY. AND MY LAST QUESTION IS IS, AND YOU MIGHT, YOU PROBABLY SAID THIS, WHO'S GONNA ADMINISTRATOR ADMINISTRATE THE, UH, THE GRANT PLAN FOR THE OLD CITY? THAT'S GONNA BE, UM, THAT WOULD BE HANDLED THROUGH ECON DEVELOPMENT AS IN, AS IN RANDALL'S. THAT'S OKAY. I JUST HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE SECURITY CAMERAS. UM, FOR PARKS AND REC. I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS. IS THE LIBRARY HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THOSE FOR THE EXTERIOR OF THE LIBRARY? SINCE WE DON'T HAVE CAMERAS THERE, I THAT, I DON'T KNOW. WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND DOUBLE CHECK THAT. OKAY. YEAH, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UM, GUESS MORE OF A COMMENT, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE SEEING THE, SEEING THE GRANT WRITER. UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND I, UM, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THAT, UM, WE'LL BECOME AVAILABLE WITH SOMEONE DEDICATED TO DO THAT FOR US AND THEN HAVING SOMEBODY IN FINANCE THAT CAN HELP RUN IT DOWN. SO I'M EXCITED FOR THAT. I'M JUST GONNA SAY I LOVE ALL OF THIS AND, UH, THANK YOU AND STAFF AND ESPECIALLY FINANCE FOR HELPING TO FIGURE ALL OF THIS OUT. UM, THIS, THIS IS A FANTASTIC LIST OF, OF REALLY GOOD UPGRADES FOR THE CITY, SO JUST HAPPY TO SEE IT. UH, YES, COUNCIL MEMBER. SO I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. SO ABOUT THE RATE, SO BASICALLY THE RATE WOULD BE THE SAME AS IT IS CURRENTLY, CORRECT? THE TAX RATE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. YEAH, THE TAX RATE WOULD BE THE SAME AND JUST THE DIFFERENT LITTLE MIX. MM-HMM, . OKAY. THAT'S RIGHT. ALRIGHT, COUNSEL, ANYTHING FURTHER? DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED FROM US? NO MA'AM. I THINK WE'VE GOT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. [21. Discuss and consider action on a Resolution authorizing the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority, Inc., (BCRUA) to execute a Financing Agreement with the Texas Water Development Board relating to the sale of $39,090,000.00 Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority, Inc., City of Leander, Texas Contract Revenue Bonds, Proposed Series 2024 (Brushy Creek Regional Water Treatment and Distribution Project).] ITEM NUMBER 21, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION ON A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE BRUSHY CREEK REGIONAL UTILITY AUTHORITY INCORPORATED, B-C-R-U-A TO EXECUTE A FINANCING AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD RELATING TO THE SALE OF $39,090,000. BRUSHY CREEK REGIONAL UTILITY AUTHORITY INC. CITY OF LEANER TEXAS CONTRACT REVENUE BONDS, PROPOSED SERIES 2024, BRUSHY CREEK REGIONAL WATER TREATMENT AND DISTRIBUTION PROJECT AND CITY MANAGER PARTNER, IS THIS ALSO YOU? YES. UH, AND, AND AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE, YOU GOT THE B TEAM ON THIS ONE AGAIN. UM, SO THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL TRANCHE OF THE CITY'S PORTION OF THE DEEP WATER INTAKE AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE. UM, SO THE TOTAL, UH, PROJECT THAT BC RUA AWARDED, UM, IN 22 WAS ABOUT $225 MILLION. SO THE CITY'S PORTION OF THAT IS ABOUT, UH, 42, 40 3% OF THAT. SO OUR TOTAL OBLIGATION OR COMMITMENT HAD BEEN $119 MILLION TOWARDS THAT. SO THERE IN 21 AND 22, THE FIRST TWO INSTALLMENTS WERE MADE. SO THIS 39, UH, $0.1 MILLION, UH, IS THE FINAL AND LAST TRANCHE OF THE CITY'S OBLIGATION TO DO THAT. SO THIS IS A LOAN, UM, THIS IS A LOAN BY B-C-R-U-A THROUGH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD. AND SO WE'RE CONTRACTING WITH THEM AND THEN, THEN THEY'RE SELLING THAT AND, AND, UH, COMPLETING THAT PROJECT ON CITY'S BEHALF. BUT WE ARE COM UH, PROVIDING THE, UH, DEBT SERVICE OBLIGATIONS THROUGH THE CITY OF LEANDER. SO WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, THIS, UM, BOND AMOUNT BEING CONTRACTED THROUGH B-C-R-U-A. SO THANK YOU. THAT RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO AUTHORIZE THIS. SO THANK YOU COUNSEL. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. OH, I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION. HOLD ON, HOLD ON. WE NEED A SECOND. I'LL SECOND. OKAY, NOW DISCUSSION. OH, SORRY. YOU'RE GOOD. SO A QUICK QUESTION. SO THIS WOULD BE COVERED BY THE RATES OF SELLING THE WATER TO THE END CUSTOMERS AND COVER THE DEBT AND EVERYTHING, RIGHT? YES. EVEN THOUGH THE CITY'S PAYING IT, RIGHT? SO THIS IS, THIS IS A CITY CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE DEBT SERVICE OF ABOUT 2.5 MILLION A YEAR. UM, IT'S A 25 YEAR, UH, DEBT SERVICE SCHEDULE [00:40:01] ON THIS ONE. AND SO THE CITY WATER RATES WOULD BE SET TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THIS DEBT SERVICE ALLEGATION. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM NUMBER 22, [22. Discuss and consider action on appointing a Capital Projects Financing Subcommittee consisting of up to three (3) Councilmembers.] DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION ON APPOINTING A CAPITAL PROJECTS FINANCING SUBCOMMITTEE CONSISTING OF UP TO THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS. STATE MANAGER. IS THIS ONE ALSO YOU OR IS THIS ME? YES. OKAY. AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE. YOU GOT THE B TEAM ON THIS ONE AS WELL. UM, SO WHEN WE HAD OUR COUNCIL WORKSHOP, WE DISCUSSED A LONG RANGE FINANCING STRATEGY FOR OUR CAPITAL PLAN. ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAD INCLUDED IN THAT DISCUSSION WAS THE CREATION OF A SUBCOMMITTEE, SO A CIP FINANCING SUBCOMMITTEE. AND AS WE ENVISION THIS, UM, WHAT WE'D ENVISION IS A, UH, COMMITTEE OF UP TO THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD DO TWO THINGS INITIALLY. THE FIRST THING WOULD BE TO WORK WITH US TO IDENTIFY HOW TO PRIORITIZE AND EVALUATE PROJECTS. SO WE HAVE A LIST OF ROAD AND PARK AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE OUT THERE. WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THAT. HOW DO WE WANT TO EVALUATE THOSE? SO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL PURPOSES OF THE PROJECTS? IS IT PUBLIC SAFETY? IS IT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, QUALITY OF LIFE? WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO USE TO EVALUATE? AND THEN FROM THERE, HOW IN A RELATIVE BASIS DO WE WANT TO ELEVATE ONE OF THOSE CRITERIA OVER THE OTHER? SO IF WE SAY PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE ISSUE, DO WE WANNA WAIT THAT AT 1.5 OR 1.25? UM, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS. SO WE CREATE THAT SCALE, THAT SCHEDULE, AND, AND AS A RECOMMENDATION BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL AND AFFIRM THAT ONCE WE'VE GOT THAT AFFIRMED, THEN WE CAN BEGIN GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO, UM, BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA CREATE A CIP PROGRAM AND BRING THAT RECOMMENDATION BACK. THE CITY CHARTER HAS A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR CREATING A CIP. SO WE NEED TO GO BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING OUR CIP TO MEET THAT PROCESS AND REQUIREMENT. THERE IS A PROVISION IN THERE AND INTENT AS WELL AS SOME, SOME PROVISIONS THAT PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC INPUT IN THAT PROCESS. SO WE NEED TO KIND OF BEGIN TO PULL THOSE PIECES TOGETHER, BEGIN THAT PROCESS. WE CAN ALSO BEGIN TO EVALUATE THE PROJECTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE LISTED OUT TO SEE HOW THEY SCORE OUT AND RANK OUT. UM, ULTIMATELY FROM A LONGER TERM PERSPECTIVE, THIS SUBCOMMITTEE WOULD BE THERE TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT MULTI-YEAR SNAPSHOTS OF THE CITY. WHAT IS SCHEDULED, WHAT KIND OF REVENUES DO WE HAVE AVAILABLE, WHAT ARE THE OTHER DOLLARS THAT WE WANNA BRING TO THE TABLE TO BEGIN TO FINANCE A MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL PROGRAM SO WE CAN IDENTIFY WHAT WE HAVE, HOW WE'RE GONNA GO ABOUT DEPLOYING THIS PROCESS. WE'RE GONNA HAVE CERTAIN MODELS AND CERTAIN BASE ASSUMPTIONS PUT TOGETHER. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO EVALUATE THOSE AND MAKE SURE THEY STILL VALID. HAVE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS CHANGED FROM WHAT WE FORECAST? AND ARE WE BETTER OR WORSE OFF WITH REGARD TO THE AVAILABILITY TO CERTAIN LEVELS OF, OF CAPITAL THAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD ACCESS? SO, SO THERE'S AN IMMEDIATE NEED. SO WE'D START MEETING PRETTY SOON TO BEGIN TO DO PHASE ONE, BEGIN TALKING ABOUT PHASE TWO AND BEGIN TO PREPARE OURSELVES MOVING INTO THAT ONGOING PHASE INTO THE PROCESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. UM, I THINK EVERYBODY UP HERE WOULD BE FANTASTIC AND WE ALL HAVE INPUT. UM, I HAD A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS THOUGH. UM, THE LAST TIME WE DID A SUBCOMMITTEE FROM COUNCIL, WE HAD THREE PEOPLE. AND, UM, I FEEL LIKE A CONFLICT CAME UP THAT, UM, WHEN THERE WERE ISSUES IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE, NONE OF Y'ALL COULD TALK TO ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT IT. UM, AND SO THERE WERE, THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE LEARNED ON THE DAIS, UM, THAT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN BETTER HANDLED THROUGH, THROUGH CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO HAVE. AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I WOULD LIKE TO LIMIT THIS TO TWO PEOPLE. UM, AND IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION COUNSEL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT, UH, PRO TEM THOMPSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER MCDONALD AS OUR TWO PEOPLE AND WE CAN ALWAYS GIVE INPUT IF WE WANT. OTHERWISE I'M FINE WITH THAT. I WAS GONNA MENTION JUST THAT DAVID MED MENTIONED WANTING TO BE A PART OF THAT, SO THAT'S GREAT. I THINK YOU'D BE REALLY GOOD. IS THAT A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU. MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. ITEM [23. Discuss and consider action on an Ordinance approving a personnel policy; providing for the City Manager to prepare an Employee Handbook and cause it to be updated from time to time; providing for the City Manager to create job descriptions based on the organizational chart and positions established in the budget by the City Council; making findings of fact; providing for severability; and providing effective date and open meetings clauses.] NUMBER 23, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION ON ORDINANCE APPROVING A PERSONNEL POLICY PROVIDING [00:45:01] FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO PREPARE AN EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK AND CAUSE IT TO BE UPDATED FROM TIME TO TIME. PROVIDING FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO CREATE JOB DESCRIPTIONS BASED ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND POSITIONS ESTABLISHED IN THE BUDGET BY THE CITY COUNCIL, MAKING FINDINGS EFFECT, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATE AND OPEN MEETINGS CLAUSES, CITY ATTORNEY SIGNS. WELCOME. THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL. UM, AS THE CITY STAFFING LEVELS HAVE GROWN, THE PERSONNEL MANUAL HAS EVOLVED INTO A DOCUMENT THAT SETS FORTH DETAILED STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES THAT ADDRESS THE MECHANICS OF EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY, SUCH AS HOW TO REQUEST LEAVE, HOW POSSESSIONS ARE FILLED, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN EMPLOYEE RESIGNS, HOW BENEFITS WORK AND SO ON. THE CURRENT MANUALS OVER 130 PAGES LONG, SO IT FUNCTIONS MORE AS AN, AS AN OPERATIONAL MANUAL AS IT PERTAINS TO PERSONNEL MATTERS. UNDER THE CHARTER, THE COUNCIL WITH CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTS PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. THE CITY MANAGERS, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF THE CITY WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE EMPLOYEES AND FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE BUSINESS AND AFFAIRS OF THE CITY. KIND OF TO SIMPLIFY THAT, COUNCIL ESTABLISHES POLICY MANAGER CARRIES OUT THE POLICY THROUGH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CITY STAFF. THIS PROPOSED POLICY REFLECTS THE POLICY MAKING ROLE OF THE COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLEMENTATION ROLE OF THE CITY MANAGER. THE POLICY ESTABLISHES THE BROAD POLICIES ADDRESSING PERSONNEL AND THEN AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO CREATE A HANDBOOK TO IMPLEMENT THOSE POLICIES ESTABLISHED BY COUNCIL. SIMILARLY, THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHES THROUGH THE BUDGET, UM, AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, THE PROPOSED, UH, THE, THE STAFFING LEVELS OF THE CITY AND THE PROPOSED POLICY ASSIGNED TO THE MANAGER DOING THE DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT OF, OF JOB DUTIES FOR THOSE POSITIONS, GIVEN HOW MUCH STAFF YOU HAVE, THE POLICY RETAINS OVERSIGHT MEASURES FOR THE COUNCIL, INCLUDING THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK BEING REVIEWED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY EVERY THREE YEARS WITH RESULTS BEING REPORTED TO THE MANAGER. THOSE, THOSE, UH, RESULTS ARE ALSO REPORTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, BOTH REVIEW OF THE HANDBOOK AND THE POLICY, AND THEN THE COUNCIL, THE POLICY ALSO ADDRESSES HOW THE COUNCIL WOULD ADDRESS ANY GRIEVANCES MADE AS TO YOUR ONE EMPLOYEE, THE CITY MANAGER FOR TRANSITIONAL PURPOSES. THE DOCUMENT THAT CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE, THE PERSONNEL POLICY, THAT 130 PAGE DOCUMENT, IT REMAINS IN EFFECT AS THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK BECAUSE IT DE, IT DEALS WITH ALL THOSE DETAILED, UM, PERSONNEL MATTERS UNTIL THAT IS UPDATED BY THE CITY MANAGER DELEGATING TO THE CITY MANAGER. THIS, THE PREPARATION OF THIS HANDBOOK CREATES EFFICIENCY AND AMENDING THE HANDBOOK TO RESPOND TO OPERATIONAL CHANGES AND LEGAL CHANGES IN A MORE EXPEDITIOUS WAY. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. IT WAS GOOD. COUNSEL, WAS THAT A MOTION? I MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PASSES YOU UNANIM. MS. LEE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M NUMBER 24. COUNCIL MEMBER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. ANY DELIBERATION OF OR DECISION ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF THE INQUIRY SHALL BE LIMITED TO A PROPOSAL TO PLACE THE SUBJECT ON THE AGENDA FOR A SUBSEQUENT MEETING. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING? ALRIGHT, I'M NUMBER 25. [25. Council Member Closing Statements.] COUNCIL MEMBER CLOSING COMMENTS. PLACE ONE. GOODNIGHT EVERYBODY. PLACE TWO. UH, GOODNIGHT. PLACE SIX. GOODNIGHT. PLACE FIVE, KEEP IT CONSISTENT. GOODNIGHT PRO TIM. GOODNIGHT. GOODNESS. OKAY. UH, SO THAT JUST LEAVES ME WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN GOODNIGHT. UH, SO FIRST OF ALL, IN KEEPING WITH OUR TRADITION OF KEEPING OUR LEANDER MONEY LOCAL, RIGHT HERE IN LEANDER TONIGHT, WE PICKED UP DINNER FROM HARDIN'S. UM, WE JUST WANNA SEND OUT A REMINDER EVERY SINGLE TIME WE'RE UP HERE THAT WHEN YOU ARE OUT AND ABOUT SHOPPING THIS WEEKEND, THINK OF LEANDER FIRST. EVERY TIME YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE, IT CIRCULATES IN OUR ECONOMY. IT KEEPS PEOPLE EMPLOYED, IT KEEPS BUSINESSES INTERESTED IN COMING HERE BECAUSE THEY KNOW OTHER BUSINESSES ARE MAKING MONEY AND THEY HELP PAY FOR ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT MEETING AFTER MEETING. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE THAT WE ISSUED A PROCLAMATION FOR DAY OF GRATITUDE. AND THEN, UM, YOU ALL MAY HAVE NOTICED THIS WEEK, IT IS BACK TO SCHOOL TIME AND YOU CAN TELL THAT IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME BECAUSE THERE IS TRAFFIC EVERYWHERE, LITERALLY EVERY SCHOOL. UM, AND SO JUST A REMINDER TO EVERYBODY TO DRIVE SAFE. OH, BLESS YOU. DRIVE SAFE. UM, AND I BELIEVE THIS WEEK THE NEW EXPANDED SERVICE FROM CAP METRO IS STARTING UP. MM-HMM, . YEAH. AND SO MAYBE THERE'S SOME MORE OPTIONS TO GET, GET AROUND AND GET OFF OF THE ROAD, BUT, UM, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY AN INFLUX THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO OF SCHOOL EVERY YEAR. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT ARE COMPLICATING THINGS. I KNOW LEANDER HIGH SCHOOL HAS CONSTRUCTION [00:50:01] ON THE SCHOOL SITE THAT IS SLOWING THINGS DOWN ALL AROUND IT. AND OF COURSE WE HAVE OUR LONG AWAITED RAIDER WAY PROJECT THAT IS SLOWING EVERYTHING DOWN. AND SO I WANTED TO REALLY SEND A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT ARE DEALING WITH THE TRAFFIC AND ARE JUST BEING INCREDIBLY PATIENT. WE SEE YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU. UM, THIS WILL NOT LAST FOREVER. THIS IS THAT PART THAT GETS WORSE BEFORE IT GETS A LOT BETTER. UM, AND SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR STICKING WITH US. AND AS A REMINDER, LISD HAS OPENED UP BUS SERVICE TO EVERY CHILD THAT IS ZONED AT ROUSE AND WILEY. AND SO IF YOU WANNA GET SOME OF THOSE CARS OFF OF THE ROAD, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE DRIVING, YOU DON'T WANNA SIT IN IT ANYMORE. UM, PLEASE BE PLEASE NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, EVEN IF YOU'RE WITHIN THE TWO MILES, GO AHEAD AND PUT YOUR KIDDO ON A BUS AND THAT'LL KEEP THINGS FLOWING A LITTLE BIT FASTER. UM, ALSO ON THAT NOTE, I WANTED TO THANK C-T-R-M-A AND LISD FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH US IN CONJUNCTION ON THIS PROJECT. UM, IT'S BEEN REALLY INCREDIBLE LATELY SEEING THE WAY THAT THE TEAM HAS COME TOGETHER AND, UM, REALLY LOOKED FOR SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN ALL WORK WITH AND, AND BENEFIT EVERYBODY INVOLVED AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEND A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR STAFF THAT HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS. SOME OF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN OUT THERE AT LIKE THREE IN THE MORNING, . I SAW A POLICE CAR OUT THERE LAST NIGHT AT 1:00 AM. UM, THERE'S JUST BEEN SO MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE TOUCHED THIS PROJECT AND, UM, AND IT'S BEEN HARD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME KIND OF DELAY THAT HAS POPPED UP AT EVERY TURN. UM, A LOT OF THINGS THAT THAT NOBODY COULD HAVE ANTICIPATED. AND Y'ALL HAVE ROLLED WITH THE PUNCHES TIME AFTER TIME, AND WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. UM, I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN HARD AND PEOPLE ARE CRITICAL, BUT WE SEE YOU AND WE KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WITH THAT, UM, WE ARE ONTO ITEM 26. EVERYONE'S FAVORITE OF THE NIGHT COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED AT 7:50 PM HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. STAY SAFE. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.