[2. Call meeting to order;]
[00:00:08]
>> -- ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 20TH.
DAY 4 OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BILLION DOLLARS BUDGET WORKSHOP.
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE ALL BEEN ON A SUMMER CAMP MATH TRIP ALL WEEK, AND WE HAVE NO MEETING TONIGHT. I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO GET DONE TODAY. THAT'S JUST ME.
LET'S KICK IT OFF. PLEDGE WITH ALLEGIANCE.
RICHARD. WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAD US OFF?
[1. Invocation / Pledge of Allegiance;]
YES, IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEK. YES, THE PRAYER.
>> OKAY. >> HEAVENLY FATHER -- OH, I'M
>> HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, THIS WEEK, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ASK YOU FOR WISDOM TO STEWARD THESE DECISIONS THAT IMPACT SO MANY PEOPLE, AND WE TAKE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY AND HONOR TO DO THIS. SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH US WITH PATIENCE AND PEACE AS A TEAM AND AS A COMMUNITY TO SOLVE THESE THINGS AND COME TOGETHER FOR GREAT STUFF. AND WE THANK YOU AND LOVE YOU AND PRAISE YOU. IN JESUS' NAME.
AMEN. >> WOULD YOU LEAD US IN THE
PLEDGE, PLEASE? >> (IN UNISON): I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> TEXAS FLAG? >> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS.
ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
>> ALL RIGHT. >> IT'S 8:31 A.M.
THIS MEETING WAS POSTED 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE.
POSTING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP AT THIS OFFICE BUILDING. I ASK THAT EACH BOARD MEMBER INDICATE YOUR PRESENCE BY RESPONDING WITH AN AUDIBLE SOUND AS I CALL ROLL.
MYROL CALL HAS DETERMINED THAT A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MEMBERS ARE
[3. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of the meeting agenda;]
BRENT TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM.ADOPTION OF THE MEETING AGENDA. LOOKING AT PAGES 1 THROUGH 3 OF YOUR PACKAGE. DO I HAVE A MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RESPOND BY SAYING "AYE."
[5. Public comment;]
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC OFFICIALS HERE AT THIS TIME, SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS HERE TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE A DISSERTATION TO READ. SO BEAR WITH ME.
PARTICIPATION BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN OPENING MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED.
ITEMS INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF ALL REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDAS. THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR ALLOWING CONSTITUENTS TO ADDRESS THE
BOARD, THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. >> AMBER: ACCEPTS THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES: EACH PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST FIRST SIGN UP WITH THE SECRETARY.
INDIVIDUALS WILL BE LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF TOPICS F THERE'S MORE THAN 15 15 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR COMMENT, EACH SPEAKER WILL BE ALLOWED TWO MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO YIELD THEIR TIME TO ANOTHER SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
THEREFORE ANY BOARD DISCUSSION OF ITEMS NOT INCLUDED IN THE POSTED AGENDA IS LIMITED TO QUESTIONS FOR CLARIFICATION AND WHETHER OR NOT THE ITEM SHOULD BE PLACED ON A FUTURE BOARD OF AGENDA. SPEAKERS MAY EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS AND VIEWPOINTS ON AN ISSUE, BUT ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBATE OF AN ISSUE.
SPEAKERS WILL NOT USE PROFANITY. ALSO I'D REMIND YOU TO PLEASE PUT YOUR CELLPHONES ON SILENT. I CALL ON THE FIRST ONE.
MICHELLE KNUCKLES. MS. KNUCKLES...
YOU'RE QUITE THE ONLINE STAR OF LATE, MS. KNUCKLES.
>> GOOD MORNING, BOARD. GOOD MORNING.
I'VE BEEN READING THIS HANDY BOOK ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE WOODLANDS, AND THERE'S A SECTION ABOUT THE PAVILION THAT STOOD OUT TO ME, AND IT IS IN -- THAT THERE'S -- AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS HISTORY ABOUT SUPPORTING THE PAVILION WITH TAXPAYER MONEY. THERE'S A LOT THAT WE'RE DOING THAT IS NOT PART OF THIS, JUST FYI, BECAUSE I HEAR THAT A LOT FROM PEOPLE; THAT, LIKE, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAT WHAT THE VISION WAS, AND WE ARE NOT.
THE PAVILION WAS ESTABLISHED AS A NON-PROFIT SO THAT ITS
[00:05:03]
RESOURCES COULD BE USED TO SUPPORT THE ARTS AND BRING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PERFORMANCES TO OUR COMMUNITY.THE PAVILION ALSO ACTIVELY RECRUITS SPONSORS.
SO I HAVE TO ASK: WHY SHOULD TAXPAYER MONEY BE USED TO SUPPORT THE PAVILION? IN MY OPINION, THESE DOLLARS COULD BE SPENT ELSEWHERE. PERHAPS ON A CLOSED TRADITIONAL THEATER, ESPECIALLY WHEN PAVILION LEADERSHIP DOES NOT APPEAR INTERESTED IN MAINTAINING THE SURROUNDING AREA AS A FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT. OTHER RESIDENTS AND I STARTED A RESIDENTS' FOCUSED FACEBOOK PAGE RECENTLY, AND WE'VE SEEN A GREAT DEAL OF PUSHBACK FROM C CONCERT-GOERS WHO DON'T ACTUALLY LIVE HERE. ONE PERSON, IN PARTICULAR, APPEARED TO BE ELECTED TO LOCAL LEADERS.
I LOOKED UP HER NAMES AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT APPEARED WAS A NEWS REPORT ABOUT POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO SELL METHAMPHETAMINE, AND I HAVE TO ASK, IS THIS REALLY WHERE WE ARE? I BELIEVE WE CAN DO BETTER FOR THE FAMILIES WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE.
ALSO, THERE'S -- THIS IS JUST A SIDE NOTE: YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE VOTERS ARE TIRED OF LAND SWAPS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU, MICHELLE. >> THANK YOU, MICHELLE KNUCKLES.
NEXT UP, ANNA COSSOA. ANNA, WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANNA COSSIA.
I'VE BEEN IN THE WOODLANDS FOR 35 YEARS.
WOULDN'T MOVE ANYWHERE ELSE. THE TOPIC I HAVE TODAY IS ABOUT THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT -- EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED, AND NO, I DON'T GET A KICKBACK FROM ANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT, BUT THIS IS JUST MY OPINION. THE BEST RETURN ON YOUR MONEY.
IT'S OBVIOUS: VISIT THE WOODLANDS.
THE CREW, WHAT NICK DOES, IT'S JUST AMAZING THE MONEY THAT WE GET BACK. THE INVESTMENT, JUST ALL HANDS DOWN, POUR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY ASK FOR, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT BACK TEN-FOLD.
NEXT IS, BOARDS COME AND GO. YOU'VE BEEN WONDERFUL.
ALL THE WORK YOU PUT IN FOR THE WONDERFUL PAY THAT YOU GET, BUT WHAT'S BEEN CONSTANT WITH THE WOODLANDS HAS BEEN THE WOODLANDS STAFF. MONIQUE AND HER LEADERSHIP, WHICH SHE CAME FROM FINANCE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE HR AND ALL OF THE CONFIDENCE WE HAVE WITH THEM...
I SAY WHATEVER YOUR STAFF WANTS, I THINK YOU NEED TO RESPECT THEIR EXPERTISE. IT'S BEEN ROLLING AND GOING AND GROWING IN A WONDERFUL FISCALLY WELL-DONE WAY.
SECOND COMMENT ON THE TOWNSHIP: YOUR I.T.
I BELIEVE THEY REQUESTED $100,000.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE I.T., I THINK WILLIAM IS QUITE AN EXPERT IN WHAT HE'S DOING. FOR $100,000? LOOK... CHANGE THE MOUNTED POLICE THAT WAS SPOKEN ABOUT, AND YOU'VE GOT MONEY TO GO AHEAD AND FUND AND LET HIM THROW THAT THROUGH DIFFERENT PHASES OF WHAT HE WANTS. AND DSC.
HOW YOU CAN USE A.I. WITH THAT. I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF MONEY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ALREADY BEEN USED TOWARDS WHAT WILLIAM WANTS TO IMPLEMENT. SO THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE YOU BRING OUTSIDE PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW THE WORKINGS OF THE WOODLANDS. CREEKSIDE PARK...
I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT STATE PARK THAT'S BEEN USED SO MUCH, THAT SHOULD BE RENOVATED; THAT MONEY SHOULD BE USED ON THAT. WHETHER IT COMES TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE, I'M NOT GETTING INTO THAT ONE.
THERE'S A LOT OF COMPROMISES THAT YOU GUYS HAVE MADE IN THE PAST, AND I'M NOT TOUCHING THAT ONE.
MR. PETERSON IS AMAZING WITH WHAT HE DOES.
MANY, MANY MURDERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED MONEY TOWARDS THAT DRAINAGE PROJECT. THEY'RE WAITING ON THE FEDS TO COME DOWN TO HELP US WITH SOME MORE GRANTS.
I WOULDN'T GET YOUR MONEY INTO WATER.
YOU HAVE MANY MURDERS THAT WILLE COME BACK TO ASK YOU FOR MORE.
THEY'VE BEEN EXTREMELY FRIENDLY WITH THE TOWNSHIP AND ANYTHING THAT WE'VE NEEDED, AND THE LAST THING, THE MOUNTED PATROL! YAY, LET'S CHANGE THAT OUT. LET'S BRING THAT MO MONTGOMERY COUNTY, AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE SAVING MONEY IN THE LONG RUN, AND IT IS ENFORCEABLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, ANNA. >> THANK YOU, ANNA.
>> NEXT UP... PATRICIA CLEAVEAND.
[00:10:02]
HOW ARE YOU? WELCOME BACK.>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.
>> HI. I'M TRISHA MONTH SELL OWE CLEAVEAND. I AM A RESIDENT OF THE VILLAGE OF STERLING RIDGE AND A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL BIKE AND ADVOCACY COALITION. I'M ONE OF THE THOUSANDS -- MILLIONS -- OF PEOPLE WHO WATCH THESE BUDGET WORKSHOPS ONLINE, AND I WANT THAT THANK THIS BOARD FOR YOUR CARE, FOR YOUR TRANSPARENCY THAT YOU BRING TO THESE CONVERSATIONS.
THIS IS A LOT OF WORK, AND YOU GUYS HAVE OTHER JOBS, SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS.
I WAS WATCHING YESTERDAY, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT ONE OF THE FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT MY K THROUGH 6 SCHOOL THAT MY DAUGHTER ATTENDS IS THE PARK NEXT DOOR.
AFTER SCHOOL, A LOT OF THE KIDS WHO WALK TO SCHOOL WALK NEXT DOOR WITH THEIR PARENTS. THE PARENTS HANG OUT.
THE KIDS PLAY ON THE PLAYGROUND. THEY RUN AROUND ON WHAT IS APPARENTLY A BMX PARK, BUT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A BUNCH OF HILLS.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A BMX PARK AT FIRST.
THE ONE CRITICISM OF THE PARK IS THAT KIDS AGE-OUT OF IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE A BASKETBALL COURT.
THERE ARE TWO BASKETBALL GOALS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THE PARENTS ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAYS AT THE END OF THE DAY SO THAT THE KIDS CAN PLAY BASKETBALL. WE HAVE A TON OF BASKETBALL-CRAZY BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT'S NOT AT THEIR PARK, AND THE OTHER THING IS THE BMX PARK, IT'S NOT OBVIOUS U HOW TO USE IT. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A PUMP TRACK WAS AT FIRST. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE TO KIND OF GET A SENSE OF IT BECAUSE I FALL OFF MY BIKE SOMETIMES, SO I LIKE THINGS ABOUT THAT SAFETY. THE NICE THING ABOUT A PUMP TRACK IS THAT SAFETY IS REALLY BUILT IN.
IT'S ABOUT GOING FAST ON YOUR BIKE OR ON YOUR SCOOTER.
DOING THAT IN AN ANALOGUE WAY WHEN YOU'RE USING YOUR FEET AND YOUR BODY AND WEARING A HELMET IS THE WAY TO DO IT.
THE OTHER REASON I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BOTH THESE IDEAS -- ABOUT THE BASKETBALL AND THE BUMP TRACK -- IS I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THE PEDESTRIAN SUBCOMMITTEE.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO TALK ABOUT HERE'S ALL THE AMENITIES AND PARKS AND REC THAT WE HAVE IN THE WOODLANDS.
AND NOT EVERYBODY HAS THOSE. THE ONE THING WE DON'T HAVE A PUMP TRACK. IT WOULD BE REALLY COOL IF WE HAD THAT, BECAUSE THE REASON THAT OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT IS SO AMAZING IS BECAUSE IT IS STATE-OF-THE-ART.
IT LOOKS AT -- THEY LOOK AT WHAT IS OUT THERE IN THE WORLD AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE VERY BEST OF THE BEST.
I THINK IT WOULD BE AMAZING AMENITY TO ADD, AND I KNOW, BECAUSE I TRUST OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, WHEN THEY ADD THE BASKETBALL PARK, WHEN THEY ADD THIS, THAT THEY'LL DO IT WITH FIDELITY AND WHAT THE REST OF THE PARKS LOOK LIKE.
THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT ENABLES IT TO BE MORE LIKE FALCONWING, WHERE YOU HAVE THESE GROVES OF TREES, AND I AS A PARENT HAVE SIGHTLINES THROUGH THEM.
IF A KID IS SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE PARK, YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN'T FIND THEM. SO THE IDEA OF TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS REALLY TREASURED PART OF STERLING RIDGE, MAKING IT BETTER, MAKING IT MORE OF AN ALL-AGES SPACE WOULD BE INCREDIBLE. SO...
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THAT BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, TRISHA.
>> ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
MOVING ON... WE DO NOT NEED TO GO TO AGENDA
[7. Receive, consider and act upon Budget Initiatives related to the 2027 Preliminary Budget and Five-Year Plan;]
ITEM 6. SO MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM 7 OF OUR REGULAR AGENDA. RELATED TO THE 2027 PRELIMINARY BUDGET AND THE FIVE-YEAR PLANS. LOCATED PAGE 4 OF YOUR BUDGET BINDERS. I CALL ON PRESIDENT AND CEO MONIQUE SHARP. WELCOME BACK, MONIQUE.YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LARYNGITIS AFTER THIS WEEK.
>> GOOD MORNING. >> I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT A WAY TO PROCEED THROUGH TODAY.
MY THOUGHTS ON IT, AND SEE IF Y'ALL ARE GOOD WITH THAT OR IF YOU HAD SOME DIFFERENT THOUGHTS. SO WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THE BASE BUDGET, ALL THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.
WE HAVE TAKEN A LOOK AT ALL OF THE BUDGET INITIATIVES.
SO WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS LOOKING AT CHANGES TO THE BASE BUDGET, ANY AMENDMENTS THAT THE BOARD MAY WANT TO MAKE, SO I THOUGHT WE WOULD DO THAT FIRST. AND WE HAVE OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR HERE WITH THE BUDGET MODEL PULLED UP.
AS THE BOARD MAKES CHANGES, HE'S GOING TO INPUT THAT INTO THE MODEL SO WE CAN SEE IN REAL-TIME WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF THE UNDESIGNATED SURPLUS IN 2026 THAT WE HAD TALKED, ABOUT THE $3.3 MILLION THAT'S IN THERE. AND THEN ALSO THE '27 UNDESIGNATED SURPLUS THAT'S USED TO FUND ONGOING OPERATIONS, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, BY THE TIME YOU TAKE A VOTE ON THE PROPOSED RATE, PROBABLY TODAY, THAT WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. .THOSE NUMBERS, AGAIN? TTHE UNDESIGNATED AND DESIGNATE? I'M SORRY.
[00:15:06]
>> THAT'S OKAY. I'VE GOT THE WRONG THING PULLED UP HERE. SORRY.
CARL, DO YOU HAVE -- OH, HE DOESN'T HAVE THEM.
WHERE'S THE OTHER BUDGET PRESENTATION? AM I MISSING IT? FROM YESTERDAY.
AWESOME THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FREDDY.
SO RIGHT NOW, FOR 2026, AGAIN, FOR ONE-TIME PURCHASES, IS THE 3,000,284, AND FOR ONGOING EXPENSES, WE HAVE 361, BEFORE
ANY BUDGET AMENDMENTS ARE DONE. >> OKAY.
SO MY IDEA IS TO FIRST GO THROUGH THOSE AMENDMENTS AND THE BOARD TAKE VOTES ON THOSE THAT THEY WISH TO ADD TO THE BUDGET, AND THEN WE WILL -- BETWEEN THE AMENDMENTS TO THE BASE BUDGET AND THE BUDGET INITIATIVES THAT ARE ADDED TO THE BASE BUDGET, THEN WE WILL SEE WHERE WE STAND FINANCIALLY.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PROCESS? >> DO YOU WANT THE AMENDMENTS
THAT WOULD BE BEST, BECAUSE THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO VOTE --
>> CAN I LIST THEM ALL AND THEN VOTE SEPARATELY? OR DO WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME?
>> HOWEVER THE BOARD WOULD CHOOSE TO DO IT.
>> I'D LIKE TO GO ONE AT A TIME. >> I THINK SO, TOO.
>> OKAY. >> BEFORE WE START THAT PROCESS, ANY JUST GENERAL QUESTIONS FROM THE LAST THREE DAYS? OKAY. VERY GOOD.
>> FIRE AWAY. >> I HAVE SEVERAL.
>> DIRECTOR SEKULA GIBBS? >> I HAVE IT LOOKS LIKE SIX
AMENDMENTS TO THE BASE BUDGET. >> OKAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. >> THE FIRST IS TO -- AND THIS IS A PROPOSAL. I GUESS IT REQUIRES A VOTE.
SO DO I SAY THAT THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE BASE BUDGET?
>> EVERYTHING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW ARE AMENDMENTS TO THE
BASE BUDGET. >> I OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO THE BASE BUDGET THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE APPROXIMATELY 2 MILLION-DOLLAR TRANSFER OF TICKET TAXES, ALSO KNOWN AS EVENT TAXES, THAT IS ANNUALLY GIVEN TO THE CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION. THIS WILL REQUIRE A RENEGOTIATION OF THE CONTRACT. SO IDO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> THAT'S MY JOB. >> OKAY, SORRY.
>> DO I HAVE A SECOND? NO, YOU DON'T.
I OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO ALLOW THE ALPHA AND OMEGA CONTRACT TO EXPIRE, WHICH WILL GIVE US AN ADDITIONAL $1.5 MILLION TO OUR
BASE BUDGET. >> SO, IN THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING RELATED TO THE CONTRACT. IT WOULD JUST BE A DOLLAR
>> YES, I'LL HAVE THE EXACT DOLLAR AMOUNT.
IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WANTS TO ENTERTAIN.
SO THE MOTION WOULD BE TO -- TO DECREASE THE MOUNTED PATROL LINE ITEM IN THE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT BUDGET BY 1,576,621.
>> YES, MONIQUE HAS THAT CORRECT.
>> SEW, MOVING THAT FROM -- >> THERE'LL BE A SECOND ITEM TO CHANGE THE BASE BUDGET FOR OTHER ITEMS IF YOU WANT TO TALK
>> SO THIS ONE ISN'T TO MOVE. THIS ONE IS TO -- THE MOTION WOULD BE TO DECREASE MOUNTED -- THE MOUNTED PATROL LINE ITEM IN THE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT BY 1,576, 621, WHICH
WILL BRING IT TO ZERO. >> I'M CONFUSED BECAUSE OF --
[00:20:05]
>> RIGHT NOW IN THE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT 2027 BASE BUDGET, THIS IS A LINE ITEM FOR MOUNTED PATROL, WHICH IS PROVIDED BY ALPHA AND OWE MAKING A, FOR 1 1,576,621, SO IF THE BOARD WANTS TO LET THE CONTRACT EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THERE'S NO MOTION ON THE CONTRACT. WE DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTRACT, BUT WHAT YOU WOULD -- BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN HERE IS YOU WOULD REMOVE THAT BUDGET AMOUNT.
>> OTHERWISE, IT'S A -- >> WHAT I'M DOING IS TRYING TO GET TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, AND BY DOING THESE BASE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS, IT HELPS US TO GET TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
IF WE DON'T TOUCH THE BASE BUDGET, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
WE CAN'T GET TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
>> THIS, FOR ME, AT LEAST, DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE BASE BUDGET -- OR GETTING TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
IT IS PART OF THE EQUATION. >> OKAY, SO I UNDERSTAND IT MAY BE FOR YOU. THIS IS JUST WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO -- WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH ALPHA
AND OMEGA. >> WELL, WE'LL GET TO THE END AND YOU'LL SAY WE CAN'T GET TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, BECAUSE THE BASE BUDGET DEMANDS THAT WE EXCEED THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
>> I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A MOUNTED PATROL OF SOME SORT.
>> OF COURSE. >> IT'S NOT NECESSARILY -- I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE VENDORS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET. SO I DON'T WANT TO X OUT A BUDGET AMOUNT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A MOUNTED PATROL OF SOME
SORT. >> SO, THERE WOULD BE -- AGAIN, THIS IS ONE STEP. THERE WOULD BE A SEPARATE MOTIOA SEPARATE BUDGET AMENDMENT TO INCREASE A LINE ITEM IN THE CONTRACTED LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET FOR 1,371,354, TO ESTABLISH A MOUNTED UNIT FROM -- PROVIDED BY MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO WE HAVE TO ELIMINATE THE
BUDGET IN CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT. >> OKAY.
>> AND THEN WE HAVE TO CREATE A BUDGET LINE ITEM IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT. >> THAT'S CORRECT, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE WERE TWO DIFFERENT BUDGET CATEGORIES THAT I DON'T THINK NEED TO BE MIXED. YOU COULD DECREASE THE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT LINE ITEM. YOU COULD INCREASE, YOU KNOW, PLANTING FLOWERS, IF YOU WANTED TO.
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING THE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET.
LATER ON, THERE MAY BE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT INCREASING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INCLUDE WHATEVER YOU WANTED TO INCLUDE.
>> EXACTLY. >> AT WHATEVER RATE WE WANT TO
INCREASE IT. >> WE'RE NOT DOING THIS
SIMULTANEOUSLY? >> NO, THOSE ARE TWO COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT SECTIONS. >> CAN I DO THAT RIGHT AFTER
THIS ONE? >> IF YOU'D LIKE TO.
>> GO AHEAD. SAY YOUR MOTION AGAIN?
>> MY SECOND MOTION IS TO AMEND THE BASE BUDGET TO ELIMINATE THE ALPHA AND OMEGA ITEM, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $1.5 MILLION.
MONIQUE CAN SAY IT EXACTLY. AND THIS WILL ALLOW THE CONTRACT TO EXPIRE, AND THERE'LL BE NO FUNDING IN THAT LINE ITEM.
>> THIS WILL ALLOW IT TO EXPIRE. >> YES.
>> I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE PART OF -- IF THE MOTION COULD BE TO DECREASE THE MOUNTED PATROL LINE ITEM IN THE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT BY 1,576,$621. >> 1,576 AND HOW MANY CENTS?
>> $621, AND NO PENNIES. >> NO PENNIES.
WE DON'T BUDGET IN PENNIES. THANK GOODNESS.
>> 1,57,621. >> I WOULD GIVE A SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> NOW, I -- >> I WILL BE ADDING 1.5 WHATEVE-
>> IT'LL BE 1.3 MILLION TO ADD. >> LET IT BE KNOWN WE WILL BE ADDING MOUNTED PATROL INTO THIS BUDGET.
IN ANOTHER LINE ITEM, SO -- >> MM-HMM.
OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RESPOND BY SAYING "AYE." OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 7-0. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO ADD ONE POINT. --
>> 1,371,354 TO ESTABLISH AN M MCSO -- MONTGOMERY COUNTY
[00:25:07]
SHERIFF'S OFFICE -- >> DO I HAVE A SECOND?
SECONDED BY DIRECTOR FRANKS. DISCUSSION?
>> I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. IT'S AN IDEA THAT I AND MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN AND DISCUSSED OPENLY FOR A LONG TIME. WE NEED MORE AND BETTER LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND BRINGING IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE THAT IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN HAVING A CELLPHONE ON A PONY THAT CANNOT ARREST. SO NOW WE WILL BE MOVING IT UP TO A-LEVEL SERVICE, AND IT'LL STILL BE BEAUTIFUL HORSES.
WE WON'T LOSE OUR BEAUTIFUL HORSES.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I THINK IT'S TIME TO CUT THE CORD AND TO MOVE INTO A-LEVEL SERVICE IN TERMS OF SECURITY FOR BIG EVENTS AND FOR THE MALL, FOR MARKET STREET, FOR AREAS THAT ARE THE HIGH CRIME SPOTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO THE HIGHEST LEVEL -- THE HIGHEST AREA OF SALES TAX PRODUCTION.
WE NEED TO PROTECT THOSE AREAS. >> DID YOU HAVE OTHER
>> WE GOTTA VOTE. I, TOO, CHAMPION THIS.
LOOK... LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO AS BOARD MEMBERS.
ONE OF OUR LARGEST SPENDS. SINCE MY FOURTH YEAR ON THE BOARD, WE'VE INCREASED FUNDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, I THINK 70%. WE'VE PUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT MORE COPS ON THE ROAD, BECAUSE THE THREAT IS REAL.
HAVING A SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPUTY WITH A GUN, WITH A RADIO, WITH THE ABILITY TO ARREST SITTING ON A HORSE AT A HIGH LEVEL, TO BE ABLE TO SEE HIGH AREAS IN OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS THAT PROVIDE 70 PLUS PERCENT OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS AND OUR SHOPPING AND RETAIL.
IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE FRONT OF THIS, AND I THINK MOUNTED PATROL FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT WORKS HAND-IN-HAND WITH OTHER SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES IS KEY. I PROUDLY SUPPORT THIS.
I THINK IT'S -- IT'S MOVING MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN A FORWARD FASHION BY ESTABLISHING A MOUNTED PATROL IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. SO SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING, AND I'M GLAD THE WOODLANDS IS TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN IT.
>> CALL THE QUESTION? >> MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RESPOND BY SAYING "AYE." OPPOSED? 7-0.
>> GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO RIDE A HORSE.
>> NUMBER 3: I MOVE TO ELIMINATE THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE CLERK POSITION, WHICH IS AROUND $75,000 ANNUALLY. I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS CANNOT BE DONE UNTIL NEXT CYCLE, BUT I OFFICIALLY MOVE TO DO IT NOW.
PERHAPS -- AND I KNOW WE HAVE PLACEHOLDERS, SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE PLACEHOLDER FOR NEXT YEAR...? IF WE CAN, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT REGISTERED THAT THIS THIS BOARD SUPPORTS THAT SO THAT WE CAN DO COST-CUTTING.
>> I DON'T THINK WE CAN COST-CUT.
YOU CAN STATE YOUR CLAIM. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN SAY YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN FUNDED IN PROCESS,
RIGHT, AND WE CAN'T TIE THE BOARD'S HANDS FOR NEXT YEAR.
>> BUT YOU SAID, MONIQUE -- EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPTING YOU.
>> SURE. >> BUT YOU SAID THAT WE NEED TO NOTIFY THEM. GIVE THEM TIME THE HARRIS -- HARRIS COUNTY -- EXCUSE ME. MONTGOMERY COUNTY HAS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. SO WE NEED TO SET THE TABLE SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE ACTION PROBABLY TO FUND THIS POSITION, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERY OTHER CONSTABLE, EVERY OTHER JUSTICE OF THE PEACE -- OR, EXCUSE ME, NOT CONSTABLE.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND EVERY OTHER PRECINCT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY FUNDS. WE ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT FUNDS IT FROM TOWNSHIP DOLLARS. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE FOR US
TO CONTINUE THIS. >> LOOK, LAST YEAR, I THINK YOU PROBABLY MADE A CLAIM ON YOUR INTENT ON ALPHA OMEGA, AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU JUST DELIVERED, SO --
>> BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? WE NEED TO --
>> I UNDERSTAND. AND I TEND TO AGREE WITH YOU.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE NEXT YEAR TO VOTE ON IT.
THERE'S A PERSON WORKING THERE WITH A FAMILY AND STUFF.
WE CAN'T JUST UNFUND IT. SO I THINK YOU'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB, AN EFFECTIVE JOB, OF STATING YOUR CLAIM AND YOUR INTENTION. NOW, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT NEXT YEAR TO DO THAT. I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW. I THINK IT'S JUST A -- NOT THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT IT, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU.
WE CAN'T BE THE SOLE BURDEN OF SOMETHING ON THAT.
AND WE NEED TO REVISIT THAT WITH MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BUT THERE'S A
[00:30:04]
LOT OF MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE ON THAT.>> YES, SIR. >> DO YOU CONCUR OR WOULD YOU
LIKE TO GET A SECOND? >> WELL, I'M OFFERING IT OFFICIALLY, AND IF I DON'T GET A SECOND, THAT'S FINE.
>> LET'S THE RECORD REFLECT, SHE'S MADE A STATEMENT AND IT'S
IN THE RECORD, ALL RIGHT? >> OKAY.
NUMBER 5: I MOVE TO ELIMINATE THE LOBBYIST POSITION THAT IS CURRENTLY AT $60,000, BUT I FULLY EXPECT IT TO BOUNCE HIGHER, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT USUALLY DOES, WHEN THERE'S A LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO...
THAT'S MY AMENDMENT. >> DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT. CAN WE LOCK IN THAT AMOUNT TO SAY THAT THIS IS ALL THAT WE WOULD PUT FORWARD THE LOBBYING
POSITION? >> IT WOULD BE A CONTRACT NEGOTIATION. YES.
I MEAN, WE LOCK IT IN WHEN WE HAVE -- WHEN WE HAVE A CONTRACT
WITH THE LOBBYIST. >> I THINK QUESTION ALSO NEED TO WE ALSO NEED TO LOOKAT OUR LEGI, WHICH WE HAVEN'T.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DIG IN ON TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE JANUARY IS COMING.
I WILL SAY -- CAN CONFIRM THIS, BUT BY LAW, WHEN WE CONTRACT WITH A LOBBYIST, WE HAVE TO PUT THE AMOUNT THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR THE LOBBYIST. WE HAVE TO PUBLISH THAT.
SO IF 60,000 IS WHAT WE HAVE BUDGETED, THEN THAT'S WHAT IT
WILL BE. >> ALL RIGHT, SHELLEY HAS A MOTION ONBOARD. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? IF NOT... NUMBER 6.
>> THE SIXTH ONE RELATES TO FUNDING FOR NON-PROFITS, AND I COMBINED THEM, BUT WE CAN SEPARATE THEM.
IT SOUND LIKE I MAY HAVE TO. I COULD HAVE HAVE AN (A) AND A (B). ELIMINATE THE 5,000 PER YEAR, WHICH IS A BASIC GIFT TO NON-PROFITS.
IN THIS CASE, IT'S GOING TO LEADERSHIP MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
I DON'T BEGRUDGE GIVING THE TRAINING, THE $1,700,000 TO INDIVIDUALS AND OUR STAFF WHO GD RECEIVE THAT TRAINING.
THAT'S A REIMBURSABLE EXPENSE. I'M NOT ADDRESSING THAT.
BUT I'M SAYING, AS A GIFT FROM OUR BOARD, WHY ARE WE GIVING A GIFT TO LEADERSHIP MONTGOMERY COUNTY? WHY DON'T WE GIVE IT TO THE GIRL SCOUTS? THE BOY SCOUTS? WHY DON'T WE GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE? LIKE MONTGOMERY COUNTY FOOD BANK. THE NEXT ONE IS THE YMCA.
AND IT'S THE SAME PREMISE, AND THE YMCA -- I CAN'T REMEMBER THE
>> 80? >> IT'S AN EMPLOYEE, OR MAYBE TWO EMPLOYEES. I DON'T KNOW.
AGAIN, IT'S CHOOSING WINNERS OR LOSERS IN THE NON-PROFIT WORLD,
AND I MOVE TO ELIMINATE THAT. >> WHICH ONE ARE WE TALKING
>> TO ELIMINATE FUNDING TO LEADERSHIP MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND THE YMCA. FROM DR. SHELLEY.
TWO SEPARATE. TO ELIMINATE FUNDING FOR LEADERSHIP MONTGOMERY COUNTY. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? NO SECOND. DIES.
DO WE HAVE -- STRIPPING FUNDING FROM THE YMCA FOR $80,000.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT. HAVE WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM TO SEE IF THEY COULD PROVIDE SOME VALUE TO THE TOWNSHIP, LIKE EMPLOYEE MEMBERSHIP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I THINK THERE'S, LIKE, A GIVE-AND-TAKE. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE TOWNSHIP STAFF WOULD BENEFIT IF THEY HAD FREE SHELL "H" MEMBERSHIP AT TH, BECAUSE WE ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN THEIR AFTER-SCHOOL WAY.
I'M NOT NECESSARILY TALKING ABOUT REMOVING IT, BUT MAYBE ASKING IF THERE'S SOME SORT OF VALUE THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT, THAT COULD BENEFIT THE STAFF TO HAVE A FACILITY TO GO TO? I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DON'T GET ANYTHING.
IS THAT CORRECT? >> I KNOW WE GET -- FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WE GET -- THE. TTOWNSHIP IS RECOGNIZED IN THEIR MATERIALS. THERE'S SOME CONCERNS ABOUT TRADING A STAFF BENEFIT FOR A CONTRIBUTION.
WHERE THIS WAS ESTABLISHED, JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, IS PART OF OUR -- IT WAS A PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVE.
IT WAS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE KNOWN TO HAVE TO GO HOME WHERE NO PARENTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
>> YEAH. I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS.
[00:35:02]
>> YEAH. >> SO -- DO WE HAVE ANY -- I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE DID THIS. I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, LIKE, HOW MANY KIDS ARE IN IT? DO WE GET ANY FEEDBACK ON THAT PROGRAM? I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT PROVIDED DURING THE SESSION TO UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SO I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
>> I UNDERSTAND. SO, THAT'S MY FAULT.
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR SO LONG, I FORGET THAT NOT EVERYBODY IS AWARE, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.
THE CONTRACT IS NOT SIGNED UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO YOU CAN CHOOSE TO FUND IT NOW.
WE CAN BRING BACK INFORMATION REGARDING THE YMCA CONTRACT, AND IF YOU CHOOSE AT THAT POINT NOT TO FURTHER THE CONTRACT, THEN THAT MONEY WOULD JUST NOT BE UTILIZED IN THE BUDGET.
>> IT MIGHT BE NICE TO HAVE THEM COME AND VISIT AND TELL US EXACTLY WHAT THE PROGRAM IS ALL ABOUT.
>> THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
DR. SHELLEY HAS A MOTION TO TRIP FUNDING FROM THE YMCA FOR $80,000. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> YEAH, 80,000. WE DON'T HAVE A SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER 8?
>> I'VE GOT ONE. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO CONTRADICT ONE OF DR. SHELLEY'S PROPOSALS.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR LOBBYING. YOU KNOW, I THINK MANY PEOPLE DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF HAVING A COMPETENT LOBBYIST AND WHAT THAT CAN DO TO ENHANCE THE OUTCOME FOR THE TOWNSHIP.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE ONLY FOCUSED ON THE ACTUAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU KNOW... LEGISLATION IS LIKE A BROADWAY PLAY. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE INPUT ON THE PLOT, YOU'VE GOT TO BE A PART OF CASTING AND, YOU KNOW, WRITING THE SCRIPT. OKAY? MOST OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH LEGISLATION HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF THE ACTUAL SESSION. SO WE CAN'T JUST EXPECT TO ONLY HAVE A LOBBYIST DURING A LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THINK THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
SO I WOULD PROPOSE INCREASING THE LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET FROM
60,000 TO 100,000. >> I WISH WE HAD DISCUSSED OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES BEFORE. THAT'S A GREAT POINT THAT THE CHAIRMAN MADE. SO, TYPICALLY, WE DO THIS TO PREPARE FOR WHAT COULD COME UP IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND TO MOVE FORWARD ANY THINGS THAT WE, ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, SO...
>> LET ME JUST POINT THIS OUT. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT LENGTH, SO I'LL BRING IT UP PUBLICLY: THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR ARE ALIGNED ON MASSIVE PROPERTY TAX REFORM. NEEDS TO DO THAT.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT COUNTY. THEY'RE LOOKING AT CITIES.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT TOWNSHIPS. EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT'S CHARGED THAT. OUR VOICE NEEDS TO BE HEARD IN THAT DEBATE. WHAT WE DO AS FAR AS OUR HEAVY SALES TAX, 72%, MONIQUE, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> 49% OF OUR SALES TAX, BUT ALSO USED TAXES.
MIXED BEVERAGES TAXES. HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES, BUT THIS IS THE EXACT FLIP FROM MOST CITIES.
MOST CITIES ARE 70 PLUS PERCENT PROPERTY TAX AND 20 PLUS PERCENT SALES AND USE TAX. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR VOICE IS HEARD, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THERE AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE GETTING HAIRCUTS RIGHT AND LEFT, AND IF OUR VOICES ARE NOT HEARD, WE STAND IN LIMBO TO HAVE A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION. IT IS YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND YOUR SENATORS' JOBS TO CARRY THAT MAIL AS WELL, BUT BEING ABLE TO TELL THE WOODLANDS SUCCESS STORY IS CRITICALLY, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO NEED BACKUP TO DO THAT.
THAT'S MY TWO CENTS WORTH. >> IS THAT A MOTION THAT YOU'VE
I HAVE A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION?
>> WELL, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, CRAIG.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS: "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW" AND WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING WAY BEFORE SESSION STARTS... YOU KNOW, THE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HANG FOR SIX, EIGHT MONTHS NOW, AND THEY GO IN AND THAT'S WHEN -- IT'S BEFOREHAND THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, AND I THINK HAVING A LOBBYIST OUT THERE THAT'S WATCHING ALL THE TIME AND LETTING US KNOW IS THAT SOMETHING'S SNEAKING UP BEHIND US AND THERE'S A BIG VOTE AND WE'RE NOT AWARE OF THAT.
SO I'M FULLY BEHIND THE 100,000. >> I THINK THE PROPERTY TAX IS
[00:40:02]
AROUND $52 MILLION, WHERE THEREABOUTS.SO IT'S A BIG NUMBER. >> YES, SIR.
>> IS 100,000 ENOUGH THEN? >> WHAT HAVE WE SPENT IN YEARS
>> BUT THAT WAS A LOT OF SPECIAL SESSIONS THAT WENT ON, AND THE --
>> THE CONTRACT WAS FOR THE FULL YEAR.
>> CALLING THE QUESTION? >> ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RESPOND BY SAYING "AYE."
THE MOTION CARRIES. >> I'M A "NO," TOO.
>> I HAVE ONE. I'M GOING TO REMOVE THE REQUEST FOR THE $250,000 FOR -- TO SUPPORT THE PAINT THE RANCH PROJECT. THERE WAS AN UPDATE LAST NIGHT THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT WILL BE EXTENDED TO 2028, AND THE FUNDING LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE SATISFIED WITHOUT OUR PARTICIPATION, SO... THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE REMOVING IT FOR WHAT? >> REMOVING THE $250,000 TO GO TOWARD PAINT THEIR BRANCH. THERE WAS AN UPDATE LAST NIGHT.
>> WHICH RANCH? >> PANTHER BRANCH.
>> PANTHER BRANCH, I'M SORRY. >> THE WATER.
>> THEY HAD ASKED FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION TO MEET A GAP IF THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS COMES THROUGH, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO MEET THAT GAP, AND IT'S PUSHED OFF UNTIL 2028
ANYWAY, SO... >> IS THAT A MOTION?
>> I'M MAKING A MOTION TO REMOVE THE 250,000.
>> WE DON'T NEED A MOTION, BECAUSE THAT WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. IT WAS A BUDGET INITIATIVE.
SO DIRECTOR HEISER IS SAYING SHE'S WITHDRAWING HER BUDGET INITIATIVE. NO VOTE IS REQUIRED ON THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? SO THE BASE BUDGET.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE THE STARLINK FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
>> FOR EVERY VEHICLE TO HAVE STARLINK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT A -- I STILL AM CONFUSED ON WHAT A MORE MANAGEABLE NUMBER IS OF WHAT WE NEED.
BECAUSE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOESN'T HAVE ANY.
>> WHAT DID THEY SAY TO YOU? DID THEY SAY THEY EVEN KNEW ABOUT IT? DID THEY CONSIDER IT?
THE SHERIFF 'S OFFICE? >> I JUST ASKED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, DID THEY HAVE STARLINKS ON THEIR VEHICLES.
THEY SAID NONE. >> DID THEY EVEN CONSIDER IT?
DON'T KNOW THAT? >> THE CAPTAIN IS HERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.
MONIQUE, DO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION OF WHAT WE COULD DO ON THAT, VERSUS WHAT IS THE REQUEST?
>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY MY RECOMMENDATION IS THE REQUEST.
WE RESEARCHED THAT QUITE HEAVILY.
HOWEVER, IF YOU WOULD LIKE, WE CAN GO BACK AND WHITTLE THAT NUMBER DOWN TO PLACE STARLINK ON JUST CERTAIN APPARATUS, AS
OPPOSED TO ALL APPARATUS. >> I THINK WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE VEHICLE MATH IT WAS, LIKE, 21 VEHICLES.
>> 31. >> 31 UNITS, BUT WHEN WE ASKED WHAT VEHICLES THEY WOULD GO ON, THE NUMBER WAS 21, UNLESS THERE WAS VEHICLES THAT WERE FORGOTTEN ABOUT.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO READ IT, BUT I DID SEND OUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LAST NIGHT ON
STARLINK AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT. >> CHAIRMAN, I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMIN' FROM, BUT I DO SEE THE VALUE IN HAVING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE THAT TECHNOLOGY. BUT, MONIQUE, I'M -- I LIKE WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH, YOU KNOW, WHITTLING THAT NUMBER DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, ONLY CERTAIN VEHICLES.
IS CHIEF HERE? YES, RIGHT THERE.
IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT REAL QUICK WHILE WE'RE FINISHING THIS CONVERSATION AND COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT NUMBER THAT YOU STILL THINK MAKES SENSE, AND THEN WE CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU SO YOU CAN TAKE A VOTE BEFORE THE END OF THIS MEETING.
>> I GUESS, PURSUING THAT TOPIC, CHAIRMAN: DID YOU FIND ANY COMMUNITY THAT IS DOING THIS?
>> I JUST -- I DIDN'T ASK. I JUST WENT TO FIRST RESPONDERS
MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFFS. >> IS HAIR HARRIS COUNTY DOING
IT? >> I WOULD NOT LIKE TO COMPARE OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO THAT OF HARRIS COUNTY.
>> I'M SORRY. I DON'T MEAN TO INSULT YOU.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A CONTEXT CONTEXT.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH TECHNOLOGY LIKE Y'ALL ARE, SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE CONTEXT IS. ARE WE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR ADVANCING THIS INTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT?
>> I'M OKAY WITH THAT. IT'S AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF PROTECTION FOR WHEN CELL SERVICE IN THIS COMMUNITY IS COMPROMISED. I UNDERSTAND WE'RE WORKING ON IMPROVING CELL SERVICE. I UNDERSTAND --
>> BUT, I MEAN, WE NEVER DID THIS BEFORE.
[00:45:02]
I MEAN, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A SUGGESTION THAT WE NEEDED TO DO THIS, AND WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE CELL SERVICE ISSUE, WE TALKED ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS, AND WE WERE TOLD, WE CAN'T GO GET CELL TOWERS. WHWE JUST CAN'T DO IT.BECAUSE HOWARD HUGHES WOULD NEVER DO IT.
BUT HOWARD HUGHES DID IT. I NEVER HEARD BEFORE THAT THEY LOST COMMUNICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WOODLANDS.
NOT ONE TIME. >> BARREL EXPOSED THE GAPS IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS. THAT'S WHERE THIS IS COMING
RELATIVE TO STARLINK. THE REASON WHY WE WENT THROUGH TITERATION IS DURING BERYL, ALL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HOUSTON, WHERE MOST COMMUNICATION OF HOUSTON PASSES THROUGH. THEY LOST POWER.
THE GENERATORS FAILED. OUR JOB IS TO ANALYZE HOW WE CAN MITIGATE FAILURES, SO WE DO IN I.T. IS IN TRIPLICATE.
NOW, I AM AWARE OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE STATE THAT HAVE SUBMITTED REQUESTS. WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S PASSED -- EVERYONE'S GOING THROUGH THE BEST ITERATION AS WELL.
CELL TOWERS WILL GO DOWN DURING OUTAGES, DISASTERS, BUT WHAT WILL REMAIN IS THAT CENTRAL POINT OF FAILURE DOWN IN GREENS
IN CERTAIN AREAS. >> NOT LIKELY.
>> BUT DO THEY GO DOWN? DID THEY GO DOWN DURING THIS?
>> NO. THE RADIOS WILL JUST GET YOU SOMETHING'S GOING. IT'S GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THE INCIDENT. IT'S NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THE MAPPING DATA. SO THERE'S -- CHIEF CAN PROBABLY DISCUSS MAYBE IF WE HAVE TO STEP DOWN ON DIFFERENT APPARATUS, AT A MINIMUM, AND CHIEF CAN WEIGH IN.
I WOULD SAY WE AT LEAST MAINTAIN THREE UNITS FOR THE BATTALION CHIEFS. THAT WAY THEY CAN MAINTAIN COMMAND-AND-CONTROL DURING AN OUTAGE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ON ONGOING COSTS OF IT.
THE NUMBER IS -- IS IT 82,000 FOR 31 UNITS? DOES THAT PURCHASE THE UNITS? DOES THAT INCLUDE?
>> THE AIR TIME. IT'S $165 A MONTH PER UNIT.
>> 165 PER UNIT, AND IS THAT CAPPED AT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
DATA? >> 300 GIGABYTES, I BELIEVE, IT'S POOLED THROUGH ALL THE APPARATUS, SO IF ONE FOR WHATEVER REASON ABSORBS MORE, THEN IT'S POOLED THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. >> 300 GIGABYTES PER MONTH?
>> YES, SIR. >> THERE IS GOING TO BE ANYTHING IN THE PLACE OF -- I MEAN, IS IT CONSIDERED EMERGENCY USE ONLY? THAT'S WHY WERE WHAT I WANT TO USE.
IS IT EMERGENCY USE ONLY, OR IS IT KIND OF CONVENIENCE?
>> WELL, IT'S BOTH. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S
ROLLING, THAT'S AN EMERGENCY. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I THINK -- TODAY, YOU HAVE A SOLUTION FOR IT, THOUGH, RIGHT?
I MEAN, STARLINK IS -- >> TERTIARY.
>> WHAT'S THAT? >> IT'S OUR THIRD OPTION.
IF ALL -- IF BOTH CARRIERS FAIL, THEN WE HAVE TO GO TO STARLINK.
OTHERWISE WE'RE DEAD IN THE WATER WITH DATA.
>> ALL RIGHT. AND I THINK FOR 31 UNITS, IT'S GOING TO BE HOW MUCH PER MONTH ONGOING?
>> OH, PER MONTH? IT'S $165 PER MONTH PUSH UNIT.
SO WHATEVER -- >> $60,000 A YEAR ONGOING.
>> 5,000 A MONTH. >> SO IT'S 6,000 ONGOING.
PLUS INITIAL PURCHASE OF 82? >> THE 82 INCLUDES THAT 61 FIVE
>> THEN THAT'LL BE OBVIOUSLY A FUTURE BUDGET ITEM, THEN,
>> CAN YOU GO INTO WHAT IT MEANS WHEN YOU CAN'T TRANSMIT DATA? WHAT DO -- WHAT DOES THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LOSE THAT A RADIO CANNOT PROVIDE? CAN YOU PUT A POINT ON THAT,
PLEASE, FOR US? >> DATA IS WHAT GETS US THE CALL NOTES. GETS US THE PRE-FIRE PLANS.
GETS US THE MAPPING TO FIND THE LOCATION.
WE USED TO HAVE MAP BOOKS IN OUR FIRE TRUCKS.
WE DON'T WANT H DON'T HAVE MAP R FIRE TRUCKS ANYMORE.
MAYBE MAKES MAP BOOKS ANYMORE. >> BECAUSE $1.5 MILLION FIRE
TRUCKS DON'T HAVE NAVIGATION? >> THEY DON'T.
>> WHEWHAT? >> THAT'S SURPRISING.
>> WE COULD UPDATE THAT. >> WATCH OUT, DUDE.
NEXT YEAR, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG OLD NAVIGATION --
>> I MEAN, HOLY COW. >> AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE TO THE QUESTION: THIS WAS A SOLUTION TO REQUEST
[00:50:04]
BY THE BOARD TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO AUGMENT WHEN WE LOSE ALL OF OUR CELL TOWER DATA, WHEN WE LOSE THE INTERNET.SO THIS OFFERS AN OPTION TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
>> I MEAN -- >> I REMEMBER THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
>> OH, I'M VERY CONCERNED, BUT I JUST -- I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW -- >> CHAIRMAN, WE WILL RESPOND TO THE CALL AND TAKE CARE OF THE EMERGENCY.
WE'RE JUST OFFERING YOU UP A SOLUTION AS A BACKUP TO A BACKUP. THAT'S ALL THIS IS.
REGARDLESS OF THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE, WE WILL -- WITH WHATEVER WE HAVE AVAILABLE -- TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE.
>> DO YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER COMMUNITIES WHO ARE UTILIZING
I CAN LOOK INTO THAT. AGAIN, FOR THE LONGEST TIME, OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, ONE OF THE FALLBACK WAS SATELLITE PHONES. SATELLITE PHONES AND SATELLITE DISHES ON TOP OF VEHICLES THAT WHEN YOU GO OUT AND GET AWAY FROM THE CELL TOWERS, WE HAD THAT FOR A WHILE AS WELL.
THEY'RE JUST VERY EXPENSIVE AND NOT VERY RELIABLE.
STARLINK HAS TURNED THE CORNER ON SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY WITH THE ABILITY TO DOWNLOAD A COPIOUS AMOUNT OF DATA, BECAUSE THE SATELLITE PHONES REALLY DIDN'T HAVE THAT GREAT BANDWIDTH AS
SO, CHIEF, IF YOU ARE TO GIVE US ANOTHER NUMBER BESIDES FUNDING FOR ALL OF THEM, WHAT WOULD THE NUMBER BE THAT YOU FEEL LIKE WOULD STILL MEET THE NEEDS OF THE EMERGENCY THAT WE'RE LOOKING
AT? >> I THINK, AGAIN, AS WE DISCUSSED -- OR AS WAS DISCUSSED, IF WE PILOT IT ON OUR COMMAND FIRE TRU TRUCKS, THAT WA START.
>> YOU HAVE THAT TODAY, RIGHT? >> HE HA
>> WE HAVE IT ON OUR HAZ-MAT TRUCK.
>> ONE TRUCK? >> ONE TRUCK, THAT'S RIGHT, SIR.
>> -- THAT IT WOULD ALSO HELP THE OTHER ONES NEARBY?
>> IT CAN BE A HOT SPOT, IT CAN. IT DOESN'T DIMINISH THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WHEN WE LOSE THE INTERNET KNOWING WHERE OUR FIRE TRUCKS ARE. WITH RESPECT TO CAD.
GETTING THAT DATA BACK, BUT, AGAIN, WE CAN MUDDLE THROUGH THAT. WE'RE NOT FROZEN IN TIME.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO GO TO THE CALLS.
HOWEVER, THE EFFICIENCY IS HAVING THAT DATA AND ALL THE STUFF WE TALKED ABOUT. PREFIRE PLANS.
KNOWING WHERE OUR FIRE TRUCKS ARE WITH RESPECT TO THE NEWEST EMERGENCY AND GETTING THEM TO THAT LOCATION.
>> I'VE WONDERED, TOO. IS THE GREENS POINT DATA CENTER GOING DOWN, WAS THAT AN ANOMALY, OR IS THAT LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN
STORMS SUCH AS BERYL. >> IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT COMMON, FOR SURE. THE FACT THAT WE LOST POWER AND IT WENT DOWN AND THEN THE GENERATORS THAT GOT DELIVERED DID NOT WORK. SO THAT'S WHY WE HAD THE THREE AND A HALF DAYS' WORTH OF NO INTERNET.
>> RIGHT. >> BUT THAT'S THE PROBLEM IN THE EMERGENCY SERVICES. THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING.
AND YOU NEVER KNOW. WHEN I WORKED IN AUSTIN, WE HAD SOMEBODY FLIP A SWITCH THAT BLEW UP THE 911 CENTER.
BASICALLY FOR 45 MINUTES. WE COULDN'T RECEIVE 911 CALLS, AND WE HAD NO POWER. THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE PLAN, SO, AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF A WOWORST-CASE SCENARIO.
HOW CAN WE BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT, SO...
>> CHIEF, HOW MANY COMMAND TRUCKS?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY TO BE EFFECTIVE, FOUR.
WE HAVE TWO ON DUTY ALL THE TIME, PLUS A COUPLE OF HQ STAFF.
>> BRING THE NUMBER DOWN FROM 82,000 TO 11,000, 12,000.
>> CORRECT. >> WOULD YOU ACCEPT THAT,
CHAIRMAN? >> I -- 11, YOU SAID?
>> 11,000, VERSUS 82,000? I'D TAKE THAT.
>> I SECOND THAT, THEN. >> PROPOSE THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT? IS THAT HOW THAT WOULD WORK?
>> TAKING IT DOWN FROM $82,000 TO $11,000 FOR STARLINK?
>> DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU, TEAM? EXECUTIVE TEAM?
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY MATH IS CORRECT.
>> WE CAN GET YOU A NUMBER REALLY QUICK FOR -- IF WE HAD A.I., WE'D HAVE THE NUMBER FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.
[00:55:02]
>> YEAH, IT MIGHT BE NICE TO PILOT THE PROGRAM THAT WAY AND SEE HOW IT WORKS FOR YOU ALL THIS YEAR.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. >> ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT 31 COMMERCIAL UNITS IS -- AT 500 GIGABYTES IS $57,000 ANNUALLY.
SO THAT IS -- IT'S NOT JUST 82,000.
THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING EXPENSE, RIGHT?
>> YEAH, 5,000 -- >> IS IT CAPPED? YOU KNOW, I THINK OF MY KIDS AND THEY'RE GOING PASSED THE DATA PLAN OR IN ROAMING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THAT CELLPHONE BILL POPS UP AND, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU'RE, O...
>> THE CAP IS REALLY THE TRAP. >> WELL, IF THERE IS A CAP, IT BECOMES A PROBLEM, A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
>> WHAT'S THE MOTION N NOW? >> 11,000.
>> MOVING FROM 82,000 TO 11,000 FOR STARLINK SERVICES FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. RICHARD HAS SECONDED.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION. IF NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RESPOND BY SAYING "AYE"? OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. ANYTHING ELSE ON THE BASE
BUDGET? >> CAN I ADD SOMETHING?
>> SURE. >> CAN I -- I'D LIKE TO ADD A $50,000 TO THE I.T. BUDGET FOR POTENTIAL OUTSIDE CONTRACT TO HELP NAVIGATE SOME A.I. WORK THAT WE DO.
I THINK THAT THE STAT -- WILLIAM IS OBVIOUSLY INCREDIBLY QUALIFIED AND THE STAFF IS DOING IT, BUT I THINK IN BUSINESSES, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS IN THAT FORM, HAVING AN OUTSIDE SET OF EYES THAT ISN'T USED TO DOING EVERYTHING THE WAY WE ALWAYS DO IT, CAN HELP ADD PERSPECTIVE.
SO I THINK I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST PUTTING A LINE ITEM ON THERE IF WE FOUND A QUALIFIED OUTSIDE THIRD PARTY TO COME IN AND SAY, HOW COULD WE IMPLEMENT, WHERE COULD WE BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH A.I. OUTSIDE OF OUR SCOPE WOULD BE HELPFUL.
>> SO ONE-TIME OR ONGOING? >> IT WOULD BE A ONE-TIME, YEAH.
>> THAT WOULD BE A CAPITAL -- LIKE, WOULD THAT BE ADDING TO
THE CAPITAL UP FRONT? >> IT'S NOT A CAPITAL EXPENSE.
IT'S A ONE-TIME OPERATING SENSE. >> GOTCHA.
>> WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PUT A PLACEHOLDER?
THAT'S A RANDOM NUMBER. >> I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT AT 100,000, BUT I THINK EXPLORING HAVING AN OUTSIDE PERSON COME IN, IT'S JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT IT YESTERDAY.
HAVING SOMEBODY WHO'S OUTSIDE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT TO OUR
BENEFIT. >> I THINK WITH THE STAFF, 50 IS PLENTY. I THINK WE HAVE VERY TALENTED
I THOUGHT YOU ALREADY HAD A CONSULTANT THAT LOOKED AT A.I.
WITH YOU. >> NO, THAT'S JUST BASED OFF OF THE COALITION THAT'S SPREAD OUT THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
50,000 I THINK COULD GET US THERE.
IT JUST GENERALLY TALKS ABOUT HOW THERE'S DIFFERENT A.I. USE CASES, BUT IF WE WANTED TO GET INTO THE WEEDS AND SAY, OKAY, LET'S LOOK AT THE EXACT PROCESSES OF, SAY, COVENANTS, AND THAT'S TYPICALLY IN THE SIX FIGURES, BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLE
MATH AND JUST HOURLY MEETINGS. >> YEAH, I THINK, AGAIN, IT -- I THINK THE PERSON -- I'M SORRY, I FORGOT YOUR NAME THAT SPOKE.
LIKE, THERE'S A LOT OF STAFF HERE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE A VERY LONG TIME AND HAVE A WAY OF DOING THING.
JUST LIKE OUR BOARD CHANGES. WE BROUGHT UP A GREAT POINT.
THE BOARD CHANGES. A NEW SET OF EYES COME IN AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY WE'VE DONE SOMETHING FOR TEN, 15, 20 YEARS. LIKE BRAD'S MENTIONED, THE COVENANTS. SOMEONE'S GOT TO ASK QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK IN THIS A.I. AGE AND IT'S RAPIDLY CHANGING, HAVING AN OUTSIDE SET OF EYES TO SAY, HOW DO WE DO THIS? COULD WE DO THIS? THINGS THAT WE MIGHT MISS BECAUSE WE'RE JUST DOING THINGS THE WAY THAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT.
>> THERE'S PLENTY OF GOVERNMENT-RELATED CONSULTANTS, FOLKS THAT ARE ON A.I. THAT ARE BEATING DOWN THE DOOR LEFT AND RIGHT. I'M NOT TURNING DOWN YOUR MONEY
HERE, SO... >> I'M SORRY, JUST FOR US TO HAVE THAT, I THINK IT WOULD BE WISE TO HAVE OUTSIDE HELP OF
WHAT'S POSSIBLE. >> BEFORE YOU SECOND, I JUST WANT TO GET BACK TO YOUR POINT. YOU SAID SIX FIGURES, AND THEN YOU SAID 50. THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING, MAYBE A PLACEHOLDER WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO GO.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TELL THE A.I. WHEN YOU WANT -- THAT YOU -- THERE AT LEAST FOR ME, TU WANT TO DOGE THE BUDGET.
THAT YOU WANT EVERYTHING THAT COULD BE EFFICIENT.
YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO GROW THE BUDGET.
BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS GET BETTER SERVICE.
BETTER SERVICE COMES AT A HIGH PRICE.
UNLESS YOU SAY, NO, I DON'T WANT THAT HIGH SERVICE AT A HIGH PRICE. IF YOU DON'T GIVE THE COMMAND THAT YOU CAN'T JUST GROW THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND SO
[01:00:01]
FORTH. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT.IT'S SO EASY TO GROW. >> A CONSULTANT WOULD COME IN FOR EFFICIENCY THAT WE MIGHT NOT SEE.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING. >> I'M CONFIDENT THAT 50 WOULD BE A GOOD NUMBER FOR A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT A STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY. I'VE SEEN THE -- WHAT OTHER CITIES AROUND TEXAS, PRIMARILY AROUND DALLAS, WHAT THEY'VE SPENT. AGAIN, THE SIX-FIGURE COST IS WHERE THEY REALLY GET INTO THE WEEDS AND INTERVIEW EVERY DEPARTMENT ON THEIR ACTUAL PROCESSES.
50 GRAND OUT OF THE OVERALL CONSULTANT IS THIS IS WHAT THE OTHER CITIES ARE DOING. THIS IS WHAT'S UNIQUE TO YOUR CITY OR YOUR ORGANIZATION, AND FROM THERE, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF CASES THAT YOU COULD DO. THE BUILDING PART, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GETTING INTO THE SIX FIGURES.
>> AND I THINK MY REQUEST WOULD BE, TOO, THAT IF WE EARMARK SOME MONEY FOR THAT, THAT WE COULD GET THAT REPORT FROM THEM AS A BOARD, TOO, TO REVIEW WHAT THE OUTSIDE A.I. GROUP HAD FEEDBACK
ON. >> SO THE PROCESS WOULD BE WE WOULD ISSUE AN RFP. WE WOULD DEFINE THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND GET RESPONSES AND BE BROUGHT
BACK TO THE BOARD FOR REWARD. >> WILLIAM, DO YOU THINK 100,000 IS BETTER? YOU'RE THE EXPERT.
IF THAT SAVES US $2 MILLION A YEAR, THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> I HOPE I'M ALIVE TO SEE THAT.
>> WELL, IF YOU CAN LIVE SIX WEEKS, YOU COULD PROBABLY FIGURE IT OUT, BECAUSE A.I. IS FAST AND EFFICIENT.
>> I HOPE SO. >> I WOULD GO WITH 50.
THAT'S A COMFORTABLE -- THAT'S WHAT MOST CITIES HAVE SPENT TO LOOK AT A.I.-USE CASES AND HOW IT COULD WORK WITH US AND SUGGESTIONS. THE SIX-FIGURE COST IS WHERE YOU'RE REALLY GETTING INTO THE WEEDS.
>> IMPLEMENTATION. >> NOT QUITE MEMBERS, BECAUSE THAT'S SIGNIFICANTLY MORE, BUT IT'S GOING TO GET INTO THE PROCESS OF, HEY, THIS IS WHAT EACH DEPARTMENT DOES.
NOW LET'S BUILD SOMETHING, AND THEN, FROM THERE, YOU WOULD DEVELOP AN RFP TO SAY WHETHER WE DO IT IN-HOUSE OR OUTSIDE TO ACTUALLY DEVELOP THE PROCESSES OR THE AGENTS.
THAT'S WHERE YOU GET INTO THE -- THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE SPENDING
MONEY. >> BUT ARE WE SAYING THIS IS SPECIFIC TO COVENANTS. THE WORK AT 50,000?
>> 50,000, CITIES HAVE JUST DONE, WHAT CAN WE DO WITH A.I.? ARE WE IN THE RIGHT SHAPE? WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO FROM HERE? WHAT CAN WE DO?
>> WILLIAM, IF WE DID THAT, WOULD THAT -- I THINK I PROBABLY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, BUT -- REDUCE PART OF THE NEED FOR THE BUDGET INITIATIVE FOR YOUR A.I.?
>> WELL, THE BUDGET INITIATIVE FOR A.I. WAS ESSENTIALLY 35,000-ISH TO TRAIN, AND THE REST WAS FOR BUYING THE LICENSES
AND THEN THE TOKEN USAGE, SO... >> SO "NO."
>> THAT WOULD BE SEPARATE. >> RIGHT.
>> SORRY. WE'RE ADDING -- ADDING 50,000.
>> SECOND. >> I LIKE THE IDEA.
I THINK IT WOULD BE -- >> WE HAVE A SECOND.
$50,000. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RESPOND BY SAYING "AYE." OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ANYONE ELSE.
ALL RIGHT. MONIQUE, I HAVE A QUESTION: AND THIS MIGHT BE A SENSITIVE SUBJECT, BUT I THINK THE BOARD NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND. I THINK THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WATCHING NEED TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
>> OKAY. >> I'M LOOKING AT A PAGE HERE THAT WAS PRESENTED ABOUT MONTGOMERY COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEIR NEW PAY STRUCTURE, THAT WE INHERITED BECAUSE COMMISSIONERS COURT ADOPTED IT.
>> CORRECT. >> AND WE WERE PUT IN THAT WAY.
I'VE HEARD THERE'S GOING TO BE W WE PAY OUR FIREFIGHTERS, WHAT KIND OF INCENTIVES THEY GET AND HOW THEY'RE BEING COMPARED.
WHAT DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE A -- I'M NOT SURE ABOUT A COMMITTEE.
WHAT WE HAVE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IS A COMPENSATION STUDY.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO?
>> A COMPENSATION STUDY, YEAH, SORRY.
>> YES, SO THE COMPENSATION STUDY...
WE WILL HAVE A CONSULTANT THAT IS FAMILIAR WITH HOW -- WITH FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND WILL GO OUT AND COMPARE TO PEER WHAT WE DEFINE AND ACTUALLY WHAT THE BOARD IS GOING TO DEFINE AS OUR PEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND THEY WILL LOOK AT THE VARIOUS PAY STRUCTURES THAT THEY HAVE, WHICH IS GOING TO INCLUDE BENEFITS AND STIPENDS THAT THE COUNTY HAS. SIMILAR TO WHAT THE COUNTY HAS.
>> RIGHT. SO ON PAGE 81 OF OUR PACKET, THERE'S A STIPENDS PAGE, AND I GUESS THAT'S CERTIFICATE PAY, WHAT HAVE YOU, THAT THEY'RE QUALIFIED TO DO.
WHETHER IT'S A DRONE OPERATION OR TACTICAL OPERATIONS OR WHAT
>> IN THE SMALL PRINT... READDO WE HAVE A PARITY COMMITTR ANYTHING LIKE THAT HERE AT THE TOWNSHIP FOR FIREFIGHTERS?
>> NO. THE COUNTY SPECIFICALLY DID THAT TO IMPLEMENT THIS, SO, NO, WE DON'T HAVE A PARITY COMMITTEE.
[01:05:03]
I MEAN, WE HAVE THE -- I KNOW THE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS' ASSOCIATION DOES THEIR RESEARCH. ANGELA DOES HER RESEARCH, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO RELY ON A THIRD PARTY COMPENSATIONCONSULTANT TO HELP US WITH OURS. >> HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?
>> WOULD YOU PLEASE PUT THAT PAGE UP FOR THE RESIDENTS TO
SEE? >> SO, A COMPENSATION STUDY...
WELL, IT VARIES, DEPENDING ON THE SCOPE THAT YOU DEFINE FOR THE CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT. SO IT COULD TAKE THREE, FOUR MONTHS TO COME UP WITH ALL OF THE COMPETITIVE DATA, SO THE CONSULTANT WILL GO OUT AND ASK OTHER CITIES, ASK OTHER AGENCIES FOR THEIR DATA TO COMPARE TO OURS, AND THEN THEY'LL TAKE ALL THAT DATA. THEY'LL PUT IT INTO A MODEL THAT COMPARES DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR. LIKE, WE GIVE EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE'S COMPENSATION AND THEY PUT THAT IN THERE, AND THEN THEY'LL LOOK AT A RECOMMENDATION FOR HOW TO ADJUST OUR PAY PLANS.
Y'ALL RECOMMENDED THAT WE LOOK AT PAY FOR PERFORMANCE.
SO THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL SCOPE THAT WE WEREN'T PLANNING TO LOOK AT, BUT WE CAN ADD. SO I WOULD SAY IF WE KICK THIS OFF MID-YEAR 2027, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO PUT INTO THE 2028 BUDGET, IF YOU AGREE TO IT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START PROBABLY IN MARCH OR APRIL.
>> AND WE'RE LOOKING AT CERTIFICATE PAY? SO YOU'RE A DRONE OPERATOR, A LICENSED DRONE OPERATOR, WHERE YOU COULD -- YOU HAVE THAT CERTIFICATE OR YOU'RE A SME INSTRUCTOR -- I DON'T KNOW. DO WE HAVE THAT CERTIFICATION
THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT? >> WE DEFINITELY HAVE LOOKED AT THAT IN THE PAST, AND THE ASSOCIATION HAS HELPED US LOOK AT THAT IN THE PAST, AND WE'LL ASK FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO HELP US. ALSO THE CONSULTANTS.
CERTIFICATEWE LOOK AT WHAT WE'R. WHAT OTHER CITIES ARING TO, AND WHAT THOSE DIFFERENCES ARE AND WE DECIDE WE'RE GOING TO ADD OR NOT. SO THE LAST COMP STUDY, WE ADDED TCFP CERTIFICATION PAY FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT OUR PEERS WERE DOING.
WE WERE NOT. THOSE WILL BE ITEMS THAT WILL COME UP THAT'LL BE RECOMMENDED AND THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO ADD THEM OR NOT ADD THEM.
TEAM FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU GET ADDITIONAL PAY FOR THAT.
YOU GET ADDITIONAL PAY FOR YOUR DIFFERENT CERTIFICATIONS.
SO IF YOU'RE ADVANCED EMT, IF YOU'RE A PARAMEDIC, YOU GET MORE PAY. IF YOU GET YOUR HAZ-MAT CERTIFICATION, YOU GET MORE PAY FOR THAT.
SO, CHIEF WYNDHAM IS HERE, HE COULD GO OVER EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF THAT, IF YOU WANT. YOU CAN SEE ALL THOSE DIFFERENCES ON THE PAY PLAN, WHICH I MENTIONED YESTERDAY, IS ON OUR WEBSITE. ALL OF THE STEPS.
ALL OF THE RANKS. ALL OF THE CERTIFICATION PAY FOR THE SPECIAL TEAMS AND WHATNOT. ALL OF THAT'S LISTED THERE.
YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT PAY COMPONENTS ARE MADE UP FOR THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT. >> I JUST -- I FOUND THIS INTERESTING. ARE WE PAYING OUR STIPENDS AND -- THE SAME THING, OR SPECIAL TEAMS PAY, WHAT YOU CALL IT? IS IT THE SAME THING THAT'S SHOWN ON THE SLIDE? ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SPECIALTIES.
>> OKAY. ARE WE LOOKING AT THE SAME, LIKE, 3598.40 PER YEAR, AS THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS ON THAT,
OR IT'S DIFFERENT? >> IT'S DIFFERENT, AND AGAIN, WE HAVE TO GO PULL THOSE AMOUNTS. THAT'S WHAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT CAME UP WITH. OURS WAS BAS BASED ON THE MARKER
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. >> THE ITEMS LISTED THERE ARE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WOULD APPLY TO A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> RIGHT. >> AND WE WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE PAYING THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENTS EMPLOYEES FOR THE CERTIFICATIONS THAT APPLY TO THE FIRE
[01:10:01]
DEPARTMENT. >> WHICH IS WHAT WE DID IN THE
LAST COMPENSATION STUDY. >> RIGHT, AND THAT WAS FOUR TO FIVE YEARS AGO, THAT LAST COMPENSATION STUDY?
I'M GOING TO GET DINGED BY SOME OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR CUTTING STARLINK. I KNOW THEY'RE MAD AT ME, BUT...
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD PAY OUR RANK AND FILE FIREFIGHTERS LIKE WE DO FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS. SO WE HAVE -- WE HAVE BALANCES -- $3.2 MILLION IN BALANCES FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. COULD WE MOVE SOME MONEY IN IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR DEPARTMENT, ANGELA, TO EXPEDITE THIS COMPENSATION STUDY TO START NOW, VERSUS IN MARCH? OF 2027? OR NOT NOW, BUT IN THE COME
MONTHS. >> SO, FOR THE COMPENSATION STUDY, WE HAVE TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, AND THROUGH OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS. AND SO WE WILL GET BIDS FROM THE CONSULTANTS THAT WOULD LIKE THE BUSINESS, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE BOARD WITH THE SCOPE AND THOSE BIDS TO SEE WHICH CONSULTANT WE RECOMMEND WHICH YOU WANT TO GO WITH.
AND THEN WE WOULD GET STARTED WORKING ON IT.
SO -- AND WE COULD START -- START THAT SOONER, I GUESS.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO START THE STUDY IS BEING BUDGETED IN 2027, SO... I DON'T HAVE THAT IN MY BUDGET FOR 2026, BUT --
>> THE ISSUE IS NOT MOVING -- WE CAN CERTAINLY FUND $60,000 TO START THIS YEAR. THE ISSUE IS MOST LIKELY THE COMPENSATION STUDY WILL COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADVANCE PAY, TO INCREASE PAY, AND WE WON'T HAVE THAT IN THE
'27 BUDGET. >> THAT'LL BE THE '28 BUDGET.
>> RIGHT. SO THAT'S HOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROCESS DURING LAST YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS, AND THAT'S HOW WE HAVE IT SCHEDULED OUT. SO WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THE COMPENSATION STUDY EARLY, BUT IF IT COMES BACK AND RECOMMENDS ADDITIONAL PAY -- I MEAN, IT IT'S NOT IN THE '27 BUDGET.
THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DEFERRED UNTIL '28 ANYWAY.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE, IT'S FOR THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.
>> THE COMPENSATION STUDY IS, AND LAST YEAR, THE BOARD TALKED ABOUT THE STIPENDS, THE ADDITIONAL PAY, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, WOULD NOT ONLY BE APPLICABLE TO FIRE DEPARTMENT BUT FOR GENERAL EMPLOYEES WHO QUALIFIED FOR CERTAIN THINGS
WOULD ALSO BE ELIGIBLE. >> BRAD, WOULD YOU SUGGEST MOVING SOME MONEY INTO THAT FUND IF IT CAME BACK TO THAT THE PAY
WOULD START IN '27? >> WE WOULD NEED THAT, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IT'S GOING TO DELAY ANOTHER YEAR.
>> RIGHT. >> AND YOU KNOW, THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN -- I THINK HAVE BEEN PRETTY PATIENT.
AND IT'S, YOU KNOW -- I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S JUST -- IT'S HARD WHEN YOU HAVE -- YOU GIVE ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT A RAISE AND YOU DON'T GIVE ANOTHER PUBLIC SAFETY PEOPLE A RAISE, SO I'M JUST LOOKING AT THIS AS A PARITY COMMITTEE, HOW WE COULD STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AND LOOK AT THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT DO QUALIFY FOR THIS AND BE ABLE TO BUMP THEIR PAY, AND THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT DON'T, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE THAT
SYSTEM READY YET. >> NO, AS ANGELA JUST EXPLAINED, WE CAN GET STARTED ON IT SOONER THAN NEXT MARCH.
WE CAN GET STARTED ON IT RIGHT AWAY.
THE STUDY IS ONE COST. THAT'S THE EASY PART.
IT'S THE IMPL IMPLEMENTATION THS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART, AND AT $331,000... I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WOULD
BE LEFT. >> WOULD YOU SPECIFY -- I'M JUST THINKING ALOUD. WOULD YOU SPECIFY SOME EMPLOYEES AND NOT OTHERS WOULD GET A RAISE EARLIER?
>> I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THAT, BUT CERTAINLY THAT -- IF THE BOARD DIRECTS US TO DO THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD DO.
>> OKAY. JUST ASKING THE QUESTION.
NO, MR. CHAIRMAN -- YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE -- I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A LITTLE TOO COMPLEX TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING FOR '27. WE'RE JUST FLYING BLIND WITHOUT THAT -- WITHOUT THAT STUDY AND THE RESULTS.
>> IS THERE A WAY TO CREATE A FUND THAT YOU COULD PULL FROM IF WE SAW SOME ROCK STAR -- I DON'T KNOW.
I'M JUST -- IS THERE A WAY THAT THERE'S A -- SOME MONEY THAT'S IN THERE THAT'S AS SOON AS THE STUDY IS DONE, WE CAN TRUE UP SOME PEOPLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. >> YOU CAN.
EXCEPT THE POLICY OF THIS BOARD HAS -- FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, AND BEST PRACTICE, IS ONGOING REVENUES FUND ONGOING EXPENSES. SO UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT AS A BONUS, WHICH IS WHAT NOT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
[01:15:03]
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFECTING THE ONGOING PAY.WE DO NOT AT THIS TIME HAVE THE ONGOING REVENUE TO SUPPORT THAT.
>> BUT IF WE DO A BONUS, LIKE, AS WE SEE YOU GUYS, WE'RE WORKING ON IT. UNTIL THE '28 BUDGET...
>> THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH WITHOUT THE -- I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT, RATHER THAN TO DO A ONE-TIME ADJUSTMENT, TO GET THE COMPENSATION -- TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TYING TO THE
>> AS THE BOARD DEFINES THE MARKET TO THE PEER CITIES AND T.
IF WE HAVE -- IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL MONIES, FAVORABLE VARIANCES NEXT YEAR AT THE TIME OF THE BUDGET OR AT THE TIME THAT THE STUDY IS COMPLETE, THEN, YES, THEN WE COULD GO AHEAD AND IMPLEMENT EARLY AND WE CAN CERTAINLY TRY TO WORK TOWARDS THAT. WE TYPICALLY TO HAVE FAVORABLE VARIANCES. I WANT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES TO BE PAID. I'D LIKE FOR THEM TO BE PAID ABOVE MARKET. BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE
PHENOMENAL. >> NEXT YEAR'S BOARD, AS WE GO KEEP THAT COGNIZANT, AS AN INITIATIVE TO NOT LET THE BALL
SO AS SOON AS WE COULD IMPLEMENT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT,
AND WHEN WE HAVE THE FUNDS. >> THE EDUCATION PAY, IF WE IMPLEMENTED THAT RIGHT NOW, DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE, ANGELA?
THAT'S ON THE SLIDE. >> I DO NOT.
WE DID NOT PRICE THAT OUT PREVIOUSLY.
WE WOULD HAVE TO COLLECT ALL OF THAT DATA FIRST TO KNOW WHAT ALL
THE DEGREES ARE. >> ARE THERE A LOT OF BACHELOR, MASTERS AND DOCTORATE DEGREES OUT THERE RIGHT NOW? A FEW? A HANDFUL?
>> ACROSS THE TOWNSHIP, THERE'S QUITE A FEW.
QUITE A FEW POSITIONS REQUIRE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT FIRE DEPARTMENT?
>> FIRE DEPARTMENT. >> OH, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE ADVANCED THEIR EDUCATION.
DEFINITELY TO THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE, AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THEM WITH MASTERS DEGREES AS WELL.
>> I GUESS FOR BUDGET PURPOSES, WE COULDN'T GO AND RESEARCH WHAT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT WOULD BE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD EDUCATION PAY TO MATCH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS A BUDGET REQUEST.
>> ONLY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? >> FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> I DON'T HAVE THE ONGOING MONEY.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT...
WE CAN DO IT AS A ONE-TIME. AND IT'LL JUST HAVE TO BE A DEFICIT GOING INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
>> SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION: IS THERE A TURNOVER PROBLEM?
DO WE HAVE A LARGE TURNOVER? >> NO.
>> I THINK THAT'S ONE THING I HAVE TO LOOK AT.
ARE WE LOSING REALLY GOOD PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THIS? TO START JUST THROWING MONIES OUT AND DOLLARS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A FISCAL YEAR, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
>> IF THERE'S A TURNOVER PROBLEM, THAT'S DIFFERENT.
>> EXCELLENT QUESTION, AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
ANY COMPENSATION PLAN SHOULD BE TIED TO YOUR RECRUITMENT AND YOUR RETENTION OBJECTIVES, AND WE DO NOT HAVE A RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION PROBLEM IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THE TOWNSHIP.
>> BRAD, I MEAN, AGAIN, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I MEAN, WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW SOME LOVE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, LIKE WE DO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND I'D LOVE TO DO THAT. BUT, AGAIN, FLYING BLIND...
I THINK WE NEED TO SEE THE RESULTS OF ANY COMPENSATION STUDY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING IT APPROPRIATELY AND THE RIGHT
IF WE COULD EXPEDITE THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
WAITING ANOTHER YEAR IS -- >> BUT, I MEAN, TO WHAT MONIQUE WAS SAYING, IF WE DID IT NOW, THE RESULTS WOULDN'T COME BACK FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND THAT WOULD AGAIN ONLY BE IMPLEMENTED
BY THE '28 BUDGET. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS -- I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT NUMBERS VERSUS JUST A GENERAL CONVERSATION, IF THERE'S TEN FIREFIGHTERS THAT HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 15 GRAND. RIGHT? RELIKE, IF WE HAD A LITTLE FUND, THAT THE POTENTIAL FOR TRUE-UP.
UNLESS YOU GUYS ARE, LIKE, IT'S GOING TO BE $800,000.
THAT'S DIFFERENT. PUT WE PROBABLY HAVE ENOUGH DOLLARS IN THIS THING WHERE WE FLIP THROUGH SOME PAGES AND LOOK
AT WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE -- >> LOOK...
I'M FOR SAYING THE $70,000 WE SAVED ON STARLINK AND PUTTING IT IN AN EDUCATION FUND RIGHT NOW. WE SAVED $71,000 ON EVERY APPARATUS TO HAVE WI-FI. LET'S TAKE THAT SAME $71,000.
PUT IT INTO A FUND AND LOOK AT EDUCATION PAY AND WHAT THAT
[01:20:01]
LOOKS LIKE AND PAY IT. >> I'M TRULY NOT TRYING TO BE DIFFICULT. THE $71,000 WAS A ONE-TIME CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS ON AN GOING EXPENSE. SO I WILL MAKE IT WORK AS BEST AS I CAN, BUT IT'LL BE -- I DON'T HAVE THE ONGOING MONEY RIGHT NOW. I WISH I DID.
I DO. I -- I WANT NOT JUST THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES, BUT ALL EMPLOYEES, TO BE PAID.
>> THE ONGOING WAS 361, AND YOU SAID WE'VE ALREADY CHEWED THAT
UP? >> NOT THE WHOLE AMOUNT, BUT SOME OF IT. AND WE DON'T WANT THAT NUMBER TO
>> WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE I DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? WELL, I GUESS WE CAN'T DO THAT, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE ONGOING EXPENSE.
>> I CAN CERTAINLY -- I THINK MY RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME WOULD BE TO MOVE UP THE $60,000 FOR THE COMPENSATION STUDY.
LET US GET STARTED ON THE PROCESS, AS ANGELA MENTIONED.
THERE'S AN RFP. WE GOTTA COME BACK TO THE BOARD? IF WE HAVE THE ONGOING FUNDS TO FUND IT AT THAT TIME, I'M ALL FOR THAT. I DO ESSENTIALLY, WE SHOULD GET THE DATA AND LET'S SAY, HEY, WE COULD CREATE THIS PAY, THIS NEW ONGOING PAY, AND WE HAVE -- THE TOTAL WOULD BE, LET'S SAY, $45,000. AND WE HAVE $45,000, LET'S GIVE IT TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS IN 2027 AND THEN MOVING FORWARD IN 2028,
WE WOULD ADAPT. >> ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY. I WOULD HOPE WE WOULD DO THAT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, BUT, YES, IF WE HAVE THE MONEY.
>> NOT CREATING A FUND, RIGHT? BUT USING FAVORABLE VARIANCES.
>> FAVORABLE OPERATING VARIANCES, YES, SIR.
>> THAT MAKES SENSE. >> WE WILL CERTAINLY WORK
TOWARDS THAT. >> I'LL SECOND YOUR MOTION.
>> SO WHAT IS THE -- WHAT IS THE MOTION? YOUR MOTION, CINDY? WHAT IS YOUR MOTION?
>> THE MOTION IS TO MOVE UP THE $60,000 FOR THE COMPENSATION STUDY TO ENABLE ANGELA TO DO THAT IMMEDIATELY.
TO GO TO RFP IMMEDIATELY. >> THE MOTION WOULD BE TO A ADD $60,000 TO THE 2026 BUDGET, WHICH WE CAN DO FROM THE UNDESIGNATED SURPLUS, AND TO PROCEED WITH THE COMPENSATION
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RESPOND BY SAYING "AYE."
>> (IN U ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU, MONIQUE. ANY OTHER ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BASELINE BUDGET? ALL RIGHT.
>> OKAY. THE NEXT STEP IS GOING TO BE THE
BUDGET INITIATIVES. >> REAL QUICK, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS, AND MAYBE I MISSED IT THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
THE BUDGET FOR REFORESTATION WE TYPICALLY HAVE IN THERE?
IS THAT -- >> LET ME PULL THIS BACK UP.
>> LET ME JUST... $1.1 MILLION.
>> THE FOREST MANAGEMENT? GOTCHA.
>> CONTRACTED SERVICES. >> I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
THAT IS -- YOU'RE THE NUMBERS QUEEN.
HOW MUCH HAVE WE INVESTED IN REFORESTATION IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS? OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
>> YES. SO ABOUT $4.5 MILLION.
>> $4.5 MILLION, AND I'VE SEEN HUGE STRIDES IN THAT.
KUDOS TO CHRISTIAN AND THE ENTIRE TEAM.
IT'S REALLY COOL TO SEE AREAS THAT WERE JUST INFESTED WITH VINES AND THAT, THAT HAVE JUST BEEN TAKEN OUT AND PLANTED.
I'LL GET SOME HATE MAIL ON THAT, BECAUSE PEOPLE THOUGHT VINES WERE THE REAL DEAL, BUT -- IT'S SOMETHING YOU SEE POWERFUL.
THE OLD HAY STACKS, AS DR. SHELLEY REGULARLY CALLED THEM OUT RIGHT HERE ON RESEARCH FOREST.
IN THE CENTER MEDIAN GO BY AND LOOK AT THEM NOW COMPARED TO WHAT THEY LOOKED TO. I'D LOVE TO GET SOME BEFORE AND
>> WE'VE GOTTEN KIND OF USED TO IT, BUT HOW MANY TREES ARE WE PLANTING A YEAR, JUST ON AVERAGE, CHRIS?
>> OVER 6,000. >> OVER 6,000 TREES.
[01:25:02]
15 TO 30-GALLON TREES. >> MEMBER MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE HERE. SO THEY NEED TO HEAR IT.
>> THANKS FOR THAT REMINDER. WE'RE IN EXCESS OF 6,000 TREES, AND THESE ARE 15 TO 30-GALLON TREES, AND THAT'S WHERE THE IMPACT IS REALLY MADE FROM A VISUAL STANDPOINT.
>> AND OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES TEAM THAT DOES ARBOR DAY. IT WILL BLOW YOU AWAY THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP TO GET SEEDLINGS PLANTED AND DONE, SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD REALLY BRAG ABOUT.
IF THERE'S A NATIONAL AROBOR BR AWARD, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE
NOT WINNING THAT. >> A LOBBYIST NOW.
>> IT'S NOT A LOBBY THING, IT'SS AN ARBOR DAY.
>> I DO THINK -- I HAVE ONE REQUEST THAT I THINK WOULD BE A GOOD ONE. I KNOW THIS SOUND A LITTLE OUT THERE, BUT I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT GETTING SOME GOATS.
>> , OH, MY GOD. >> MY WIFE WOULD SECOND THAT.
THEY ACTUALLY CAME THEM UP, AND THESE THINGS WILL TAKE OUT
INVASIVE VINES AND. >> CAN THEY HANDLE PIGS?
BUT PIGS AGAINST GOATS. >> IN AUSTIN THEY'RE DOING IT.
THE INVASIVE SPECIES... I THINK THAT WOULD BE A COOL -- TO LOOK AT THE COST BETWEEN HAVING A CREW GO IN THERE AND TAKE OUT EVASIVE VINES AND GETTING 20 GOATS AND FENCING.
I DON'T KNOW. >> DOES SOMEONE DO?
>> IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE. >> THEY BRING IN, LIKE, IN INVASIVE AREAS, AND IN 24 HOURS, THEY'RE GONE.
>> LET US KEEP THE GOATS AT YOUR HOUSE, TOO.
>> I'VE SENT CHRIS SOME VIDEOS AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.
>> THEY DON'T EAT THE TREES? THEY DON'T DAMAGE THE TREES?
>> THEY EAT EVERYTHING. THAT'S PART OF THE CHALLENGE.
>> I'VE SEEN GOATS EAT THE BARK OF A TREE.
>> THEY EAT EVERYTHING. >> THEY'RE LIKE A TA TEEN-AGED .
>> PLANTING OVER 6,000 TREES A YEAR, HOW HOW MANY ARE WE HAVING
TO REMOVE? >> WE ARE PLANTING 6,000 TREES.
WE WERE PLANTING THEM IN, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGED AREAS.
WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER SOIL, WHICH IS THE BASE OF EVERY PLANT. OKAY? AND SO SOMETIMES WE GO INTO GOOD SOIL.
SOMETIMES WE GO INTO BAD SOIL. THE KEY THAT WE HAVE CHANGED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, JOHN, WAS REALLY MOVING WATERING IN-HOUSE FROM A CONTRACTING STANDPOINT.
THE CONTRACTING COSTS JUST REALLY KEPT GOING UP AND UP, AND THE RTHE RELIABILITY WAS GOING N AND DOWN.
SO WE MOVED THAT IN-HOUSE, AND NOW WE'RE PUSHING ABOUT 90%
SURVIVABILITY ON THESE TREES. >> I GUESS MORE WHERE MY QUESTION WAS GOING IS HOW MUCH OF THAT 6,000 IS REPLACING? REWE SAY "REFORESTATION," YOU KNOW...
>> OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. THROUGH PROPER FOREST MANAGEMENT, WE ARE ALSO ALLOWING THE FOREST TO REPLENISH ITSELF, TO -- THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN SEEDS, PINE CONES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, DROPPING TO THE GROUND AND PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, A NUTRIENT SOIL-RICH ENVIRONMENT IN THOSE RESERVES FOR THE TREES TO PROM PROMULGAT. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE DO NOT REMOVE ALL OF THE DEBRIS IN THE RESERVES -- OKAY? -- WHETHER IT BE LARGE, LARGE DEBRIS, WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE OF THOSE BRANCHES LEAVES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, PROVIDES TO HELP THE NEXT GENERATION GROW.
>> ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION. LET'S GROW.
>> TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF BREAK REAL QUICK.
I NEED TO TAKE A BREAK. SO CAN WE TAKE ABOUT A 15-MINUTE BREAK AND GET RESTARTED. MONIQUE, WHERE DO WE GO FROM
>> GOOD TIME TO TAKE A LITTLE BREAK.
15 MINUTES, AND BE BACKS IT ALMOST 1
>> THE CHAIR: ALL RIGHT. WE ARE BACK IN SESSION.
10:30 :13 A.M. TURN IT BACK OVER TO MONIQUE.
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO START OFF WITH THIS
[01:30:05]
NEWS, SO WE ALREADY HAD $100,000 BUDGETED FOR A LOBBYIST.THE 60,000 WAS THE INCREASE THAT I HAD FROM GOING FROM 26 TO 27.
THAT WAS THE INCREASE THAT WE WERE DOING.
SO BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL-- LOOK IN YOUR BOOKS.
THE ACTUAL 2027 AMOUNT THAT WE HAD BUDGETED FOR LOBBYISTS WHICH IS UNMY DEPARTMENT, PRESIDENT'S DEPARTMENT IS ALREADY AT $100,000. SO.
>> WE WILL VACATE THAT VOTE. >> CAN'T GIVE ENOUGH TO THE
SHE LOVES TO DIG. >> SO THE 2027 BUDGET INITIATIVES WE'RE GOING TO START THERE.
THESE WERE ALL DISCUSSED YESTERDAY OR OFFERED AS ADDITIONAL BUDGET INITIATIVES. SO THIS FIRST COUPLE OF SLIDES WILL GO JUST AS A REMINDER TO GO BACK THROUGH WHAT WAS DISCUSSED YESTERDAY AND THEN WE'LL START GOING ONE BY ONE FOR THE BOARD TO TAKE A VOTE ON THE ONES YOU WANT TO APPROVE.
SO IN TERMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE HEARD IN CAPTAIN ABOUT THE MOTORCYCLE FOR THE MOTOR UNIT, THE TWO UNDERCOVER VEHICLES FOR THE CRIME REDUCTION UNIT, AND THE 10 RADAR PACKAGES FROM THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. WE HEARD ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE FOR AN EXISTING POSITION, AND IN THE REQUEST FOR A NEW SERGEANT POSITION WHICH WOULD INCLUDE BOTH THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND ONGOING COST AS WELL AS CAPITAL FOR A VEHICLE.
FOR TRANSPORTATION, THERE WAS DIRECTOR SECRE SEKULA-GIBBS REQUESTED-- IN TERMS OF PARKS. CRIES NUNES WENT THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROJECTS. WE HAD THE ENGINEERING STUDY FOR THE NATURE TRAIL PATHWAY, AND THEN WE HAD SEVERAL THAT WOULD BE FUNDED OUT OF THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT RESERVE WHICH ARE THE SCHUMER OAK PARK PLAYGROUND. THE BASKETBALL COURT, AND THE PUMP TRACK, AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A CREEKWOOD PARK EXISTING SKATE PARK RENOVATION THAT IS OLD AND IN NEED OF REPAIR.
THERE WAS A SUGGESTION THAT ALSO BE PAID OUT OF THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT RESERVES WHICH WE COULD DO.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE REQUEST OF ALPHA AND OMEGA FOR AN INCREASE IN THEIR RATE AND HOURS. DIRECTOR HEISER WITHDREW NUMBER 13 RELATED TO THEIR BRANCH DRAINAGE PROJECT.
WE HEARD REQUESTS FROM THE CREEKSIDE VILLAGE ASSOCIATION.
WE'LL GO THROUGH THOSE. THERE WAS-- THESE WERE THE ONES THAT WERE ADDED BY THE BOARD YESTERDAY.
SO AERATORS FOR WOODLANDS WATERWAY.
THE COMMUNITY VILLAGE BEAUTIFICATION DAY, AN INCREASE IN THE ANNUAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUDGET.
A PARTNERSHIP WITH CSID TO DEVELOP A RECREATIONAL AMENITIES WHICH COVERED FACILITY FOR-- PRIMARILY TO SPORTS AND THEN A PARTNERSHIP WITH SHENANDOAH. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE START GOING ONE BY ONE. OKAY.
THE CONSTABLE REQUEST FOR A NEW SERGEANT POSITION.
THAT WOULD BE FUNDED OUT OF HERE, AND THEN WE HAVE A 2026 UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE OF 3.3 MILLION.
THOSE WITH THE CHANGES THAT YOU JUST MADE ARE PRETTY MUCH UNCHANGED. WE DO HAVE THE 2027 UNDESIGNATED FUN BALANCES SET OF 361 IS NOW AT 397, AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR MOUNTED PATROL WAS LESS THAN THE PROPOSAL. SO WE GAINED A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY IN THE OPERATIONS. THE 2026 BUDGET IS BASICALLY THE SAME EXCEPT FOR ITS 60,000 FOR THE COMPENSATION STUDY ADVANCE.
SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
>> GO BACK ONE SLIDE. >> SURE.
>> TO THE A.I., THAT 100,000. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT A ONE-TIME CAPITAL BUT THAT IS ONGOING?
>> WE CAN GO WITH CAPITAL-- THE TRAINING WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO
[01:35:04]
BE ONGOING. SO 35,000 OF THAT.WE WOULD HAVE INITIAL TRAINING, BUT A.-AND-I. CHANGE SO MUCH.
THERE WOULD BE ONGOING TRAINING. WE'LL TREAT THIS AS A ONE-TIME EXPENSE. THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
>> FIRST ONE UP IS MONTGOMERY MOTORCYCLE FOR UNIT.
THE STAFF POSITION IS ALREADY THERE.
IT'S NOT AN INCREASE IN STAFF. IT IS JUST PURCHASING THE MOTORCYCLE ITSELF AT A COST OF 50,830.
THIS WOULD BE FUNDED FROM THE 2026 UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE.
>> I THINK WE GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION.
I'M ALL IN FAVOUR OF THIS ONE. >> SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR. >> ANY DISCUSSION.
WE APPROVE THE NEW MOTORCYCLE. MAKE SURE IT'S NOT TOO FLASHY.
I WANT THE OLD SCHOOL SMOKIE AND THE BANDIT MOTORCYCLE.
>> WILL IT SAY WOODLANDS ON IT. >> ALL RIGHT.
BIG LETTERS. >> HOW FAST CAN YOU GET IT?
>> ALL RIGHT. TWO UNDERCOVER VEHICLES FOR THE CRIME REDUCTION UNIT. THIS IS A ONE-TIME COST AGAIN IN THE 2026 BALANCE AT THE COST OF 122,654.
>> DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> I LIKE THIS ONE TOO.
>> SECOND. >> SECONDED BY ADAM.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR, SAY AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES.
SHELLEY IS A HARD NO. >> HARD NO.
>> SOFT. >> THE NEXT REQUEST RELATED TO MONTGOMERY SHERIFFS OFFICE ARE THE-- ONE-TIME COST THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THE 2026 UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE OF
23,100. >> I LIKE THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS A RECENT ARREST ON GOSLING THAT WAS PRETTY BIG ARREST OF SOME THUGS DOING HARM IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY WERE CAUGHT WITH LIDAR. THEY WERE ABLE TO APPREHEND THEM. THAT WAS A BIG ONE.
I MOVE TO ACCEPT THIS ONE-TIME COST.
>> I'M GOING TO SECOND THAT. >> I LIKE THIS ONLY IF I CAN GET VIDEO OF SHERIFF DOOLITTLE DOING HIS DR. EVIL IMPRESSION SAYING
>> ALL IN FAVOUR SAY AYE. >> MOTION PASSES.
ALL RIGHT. >> THIS IS THE CONSTABLE'S PRECINCT 3 FIRST REQUEST WAS FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE FOR A
CURRENT SAFE HARBOUR DETECTIVE. >> WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR, SAY AYE. >> NO.
>> THIS WAS THE REQUEST FOR THE SERGEANT'S POSITION AS A REMINDER THE TOWNSHIP CURRENTLY FUNDS SIX POSITIONS FOR THE IN THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE FOR THE SAFE HARBOUR PROGRAM AND INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN, AND REQUESTING DUE TO THE WORK LOAD AND THE INCREASE NUMBER OF CASES A POSITION A SERGEANT POSITION OVER THOSE S SIX.
LIEDAR ONE TIME COST OF 65,000. >> MOTION?
>> I NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND. WAS THIS PRESENTED TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY AT ALL OR. TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THIS.
>> WE HAVE NOT PRESENTED FOR SERGEANT POSITION OVER THIS ONE
[01:40:01]
FOR TO THE MONTENEGRO COUNTY. >> WE HAVE SIX DETECTIVES THAT DO SAFE HARBOUR AND THEN YOUR CHILD EXPLOITATION HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND WE HAVE ONE SERGEANT THAT IS FUNDED BY THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW THAT HAS BEEN MANAGING THOSE SIX PLUS THE OTHER DETECTIVES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR C.I.D. DIVISION, AND IT'S CREATING A REAL BIG WORK LOAD FOR THAT ONE SERGEANT.
SO WE WOULD PUT THIS SERGEANT SPECIFICALLY OVER YOUR SIX.
>> WE JUMP UP ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO SEVEN THAT WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, GUYS.
>> HOW WOULD THAT BE SEVEN? WE'RE JUST ADDING ONE?
>> WE HAVE SIX. SIX PLUS ONE IS SEVEN.
I MEAN-- THEY TEACH THAT-- SO SORRY.
MATH, BABY. >> WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
[LAUGHTER] >> I THOUGHT YOU MEANT SEVEN
NOT SEVEN MORE. >> ESSENTIALLY WE WOULD HAVE ONE DEDICATED SERGEANT TO THE SIX FOLKS THAT ARE HELPING PROTECTED KIDS HERE IN THE WOODLANDS VERSUS ONE SERGEANT WE HAVE CURRENTLY THAT IS SHARED ACROSS 11, 12.
>> AS FAR AS BOOTS ON THE GROUNDS, IT'S 11, BUT WE HAVE 14 IN C.I.D. THAT ONE SERGEANT DOES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK. HE IS GREAT.
>> WHAT IN 168, 190 ONGOING COST.
>> THAT IS THE SALARY, THE BENEFITS, AND ALL OF THAT FOR THE POSITION ITSELF AND THE ONE TIME IT'S FOR HIS VEHICLE, AND THEN THE EQUIPMENT THAT IT COMES ALONG WITH IT.
WE DON'T PUT EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT IN OUR C.I.D. VEHICLES.
WE WOULD LIKE THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE THAT YOU PROVED FOR THE 37 THE DODGE DURANGO. THAT WOULD BE A SIMILAR TYPE VEHICLE. WE DON'T OPT FOR THE 62,000 TAHOE. WE GO WITH THE DURANGO.
>> THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THAT UNDESIGNATED.
YEAH. ROLLING DOWN THE SCREEN.
BUDGET INITIATIVE FOR NEXT YEAR. TRACKER.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> DO YOU HAVE ATTRITION BECAUSE OF OVERWORK IN YOUR DEPARTMENT. DO YOU FIND PEOPLE ARE LEAVING
BECAUSE THEY'RE OVERWORKED. >> NOT AT ALL.
IN THIS SPECIFIC TEAM THAT WE HAVE THAT YOU GUYS FUND.
THESE ARE-- THEY ALL TESTED FOR DETECTIVE, AND THEN THEY WERE HAND CHOSEN. IT'S HARD WORK.
WE GIVE THEM COUNSELLING SERVICE AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR.
ONCE FOR SURE. THEY GOT TO GO ONCE BUT IF THEY NEED TO GO BACK. THEY GO TWICE.
HE IS DEALING WITH THOSE CASE LOADS PLUS THE OTHER CASE LOADS THAT WE HAVE. LIKE THE WHITE COLLAR CRIMES OR ROBBERIES, DEATH INVESTIGATIONS AS WELL.
HE HAS TO SUPERVISE EVERYTHING. WHICH IS WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS POSITION SO WE CAN GIVE HIM SOME BREAK.
>> THAT DEDICATED SERGEANT WOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE TEAM THAT IS DEDICATED TO PROTECTING OUR KIDS FROM.
>> WE GIVE AN OVERALL OF WHAT CHILDREN SAFE HARBOUR DOES.
>> CHILDREN SAFE HARBOUR IS A CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER AND THEY PROVIDE A NUMBER OF SERVICES TO CHILD VICTIMS. THEY NOT ONLY PROVIDE THAT TO THE CHILD ITSELF BUT THE CHILD'S FAMILY AS WELL. TELL US AGAIN HOW MANY TOTAL OFFICERS THIS ONE SERGEANT IS SUPERVISING.
>> RIGHT NOW 11. >> THAT WOULD BRING IN ONE TO WATCH OUR SIX. THE CASE LOAD ON YOUR SIX-- EACH
[01:45:02]
CASE PROBABLY LASTS A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS. IF WE THINK THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING SMALLER. WE'RE NAIVE.WE SAW THAT WITH THE BIG BREAK FOR FIFA.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS A HOTBED FOR CHILD EXPLOITATION AND WHATNOT. I'M ALL FOR THIS.
I KNOW IT'S A BIG COST. I THINK GOING FORWARD IT WILL BE
WORTH IT FOR OUR RESIDENTS. >> I MAKE A MOTION WE ACCEPT IT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR RESPOND BY SAYING AYE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THIS AGAIN WAS DIRECTOR KIBBS REQUEST TO SET ASIDE 500,000-DOLLARS TO SUPPORT MOBILITY PROJECTS. THIS MONEY WOULD BE LEVERAGED WITH GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDING FG SOURCES TO HELP FORWARD TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> I'M ALL IN FAVOUR FOR THIS. >> SECOND.
>> THE M >> THE CHAIR: ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR RESPOND BY SAYING A. MOTION CARRIES.
>> THE NATURE TRAIL PATHWAY ENGINEERING STUDY.
THIS IS AGAIN WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY.
WE HAVE A TEMPERATURE SOLUTION TO BE ABLE TO GET ACCESS OUT OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD TO THE REST OF THE PATHWAY SYSTEM.
100,000 ONE-TIME COST TOWARDS THAT GOAL.
>> MOTION TO ACCEPT. >> SECOND.
>> I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION IF I MAY.
I AM A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED ABOUT THIS.
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE ALLOCATEDDED FOR THE BRIDGE ALREADY.
SO THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALLOCATED IS MONTGOMERY COUNTY PRECINCT THREE. IF HE KNOWS THE PROPOSAL FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS TO ELEVATE THAT BRIDGE DUE TO CONSISTENT FLOODING IN THAT AREA. PANTHER BRANCH AND ON THAT DIAGRAM THERE. THAT IS OUR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES ARE RIGHT NOW. HOWEVER JUST IN THE LAST TWO SIX-INCH STORMS. TWO TREES THAT ARE 32 INCHES CAME IN AND HIT THAT BRIDGE AGAIN.
WE NEED A LONG-TERM SOLUTION BECAUSE IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF, IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN THAT SOME EVENT.
SIGNIFICANT RAIN EVENT WILL OCCUR AGAIN AND KNOCK OUT ONE OR TWO OR BOTH OF THOSE BRIDGES. THE PROPOSAL IS A STRAIGHT LINE COMING DOWN FOR I ANY A LATE COVE H.O.A. AREA WHERE THE OLD WHACK WAS. STRAIGHT DOWN ALONG THE PIP PIPELINE. PIPELINE WILL REQUIRE THE ENGINEERING PLANS TO COME DOWN AND THEN WHEN THE SAWMILL BRIDGE IS READY. LINK UP WITH THAT AND PRECINCT 3 HAS INDICATED THERE WILL BE A PATHWAY WING ON THE NORTH SIDE.
LONG TERM ACCESS WITH THIS ENGINEERING DOLLARS.
WE LAND TO HAVE THAT DONE THANKSGIVING TIME.
THIS IS. >> IS IT ALSO ON THIS RED LINE.
[01:50:03]
>> NO, MA'AM. THAT IS WHERE YOU SEE THE PANTHER BRANCH NAME ICON IN WHITE.
THAT IS WHERE THE CURRENT BRIDGES ARE.
SO THIS IS A NEW BRIDGE BUT JUST STUDYING IT RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE. >> WE'RE JUST TYING INTO THEIR
>> DO A STUDY TO SEE HOW TO DO THAT.
>> IT'S REALLY THE ENGINEERING DOLLARS TO CREATE PLANS THAT
ARE. >> IT WILL BE IN A BRIDGE STUDY.
I THINK I VOTED FOR THIS THE FIRST TIME.
DR. SCHNEIDER AND I WERE IN FAVOUR OF THIS PARTICULAR--
>> I KNOW WE PRESENTED THIS EARLIER THIS YEAR, MARCH.
>> IT WAS BEFORE THAT. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> MOVED BY. SECONDED BY EISSLER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR. >> TOGETHER: AYE.
>> THE CHAIR: MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE 12 MORE, GUYS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR MONEY SITUATION LOOKS LIKE.
BUT MONIQUE YOU CAN GIVE US A RUNNING TOTAL?
IN OUR 26 UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE, WE ARE AT 2 MILLION,
CHRIS, YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF PARK STUFF COMING UP.
I DON'T KNOW. I'M KIND OF CONFUSED ON.
>> FUNDED BY THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT RESERVE.
SO THESE ARE NOT CONTINUING TO COME OUT OF THE 2026 UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE. THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE ONE POINT-- HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE IN THAT? $1.2 MILLION CURRENTLY. WOULD IT BE YOUR RECOMMENDATION
TO TAKE THAT DOWN TO ZVEREV. >> WE CAN.
YOU CERTAINLY CAN. THESE ARE THE PRIMARY PROJECTS THAT WE HAD LEFT TO COME OUT OF THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT RESERVE.
WE HAVE FULLY FUNDED BRIDGE, WE HAVE FUNDED ALL THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES OF THE BOARD THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETELY FUNDED. THIS HAS BEEN REMAINING.
SO IN THE STERLING RIDGE PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE LISTED.
THAT DOES NOT COME OUT OF THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
IS THIS 200,000 PER PARK OR ALL SIX.
>> IT'S JUST FOR THIS PARK. ENOUGH MONEY IN THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT RESERVE TO FUND ALL OF THE FOUR PROJECTS THAT ARE
BEING PRESENTED HERE. >> PRIOR TO THIS PARK TOO WE'LL CHECK WITH RESIDENTS. THIS IS OUR AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH THE NEXT STEPS. THIS IS NOT OUR AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH CONSTRUCTING THE PARK.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
>> WANT TO GET PAID THE BIG BUCKS, FOLKS.
PICK A PARK. >> WHAT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON.
DOES THAT ALL FIT WITHIN THIS 1.2.
>> YES, SIR. >> JUST AS A REMINDER THIS IS ONE OF THE PLAYGROUNDS WE MENTIONED THERE.
IS A LACK OF A PLAYGROUND IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
HERE IS THE BASKETBALL COURT. THIS IS ONE OF THE PARKS THIS IS
[01:55:02]
THE PUMP TRACK AND THIS THE CURRENT WE HAVE CURRENT STWAS INSTALLED IN 2003 AND IS IN NEED OF RENOVATION.>> AGAIN ALL THESE SUGGESTIONS FIT WITHIN THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT BUDGET THAT WE HAVE LEFT OF 1.7. THAT IS ONE PERSON.
WHAT OTHER HAVE YOU HAD OTHER CALLS FOR BASKETBALL COURTS THERE. DO WE KNOW WHAT THE RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO SAY ONE WE TAKE ALL THOSE TREES DOWN.
>> JOHN REMINDED ME AND I WENT BY THE PARK ON MY WAY HOME LAST NIGHT. THE IMAGE OF THE BASKETBALL COURT IS QUOTE UNQUOTE MISLEADING.
THE BASKETBALL COURT. IT LOOKS VERY, VERY HEAVILY PORTIONED RIGHT NOW. DO TO THE SHADOWING OF THE TREES. AND ANY PROJECT THAT WE DO.
WE GO BACK INTO AND REFOREST. THAT HAS BEEN PART OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
ONE OF OUR STAFF SAYS IT LOOKS LIKE A RUNWAY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE TREES IN THERE YET AND REFORREST AS PART OF EVERY ONE OF OUR PROACTSZ. THIS ONE IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE EQUITABLE SERVICES ACROSS ALL OF OUR VILLAGE PARKS AND ONE OF THE MISSING PIECES IS THE BASKETBALL COURT.
NICE SYNERGY THERE. THE SKATE PARK EXCUSE ME THE PUMP TRACK IS REALLY TRYING TO THINK ABOUT IDEAS THAT FA SIMILAR TILTS THAT WE DO HAVE HAVE BUT HEARING NEEDS OF ANECDOTEALLY THROUGH. THROUGH WHAT ALL WE WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER IN THAT MARCH TIME FRAME THIS IS HOW THAT HAS GERMANED UP. THESE ARE ALL THE PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IF YOU SO CHOOSE.
IT'S REALLY UP TO THE BOARD'S DISCRETION.
>> HAVE YOU TALKED TO STERLING RIDGE VILLE A.J. ASSOCIATION
ABOUT THIS? >> NOT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS, BUT THAT GOES TO THE OVERALL PUBLIC PROCESS PRESENTED THESE IDEAS, DISCUSSED THESE IDEAS. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT A MORE ROBUST PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS BEFORE WE EVEN COME BACK TO THE BOARD. BUT WE NEED THE DOLLARS THEORETICALLY ALIGNED TO GO TALK TO THE RESIDENTS.
IT'S NOT A DONE DEAL BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BOARD THROUGH THE BID PROCESS PROCUREMENT PROCESS HAS THE ABILITY TO SAY NO OR THIS IS NOT WHAT WE THINK IS RIGHT FOR THIS
PARK AFTERALL. >> AS WE PACKAGE UP OUR PROJECTS. HERE IS THE RESIDENT PROCESS.
HERE IS THE BID. YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED.
>> WELL, CHRIS, THIS IS YOUR WORLD.
YOU BREATHE IT YOU LIVE IT YOU SLEEP IT.
WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THESE?
>> I THINK THESE ARE VERY GOOD. THE ISSUE WITH THE BMX TRACK THAT IS THERE RIGHT NOW. IT'S NEVER BEEN RIGHT.
NO MATTER WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO.
IT'S NEVER BEEN RIGHT. THE BMX TRACK WHEN I STARTED LOOKING AT IT OVER THE LAST UPTEENTH YEARS, IT WAS NOT DESIGNED REALLY TO A SPECIFICATION.
THIS WAS BACK IN 2003. WE'RE SEEING MORE OF THIS PUMP TRACK. THERE ARE STILL BMX TRACKS AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT MOST ARE MOVING TOWARDS A PUMP TRACK BECAUSE IT CAN BE USED BY MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AUDIENCES.
IT'S NOT JUST A BMX TRACK THAT WE CAN HAVE THE BIKES AND THE SCOOTERS AND OTHER DEVICES THERE TO ENJOY AND EXPERIENCE.
SO WE ACTUALLY ARE ABLE TO GET MORE BANG OUT OF OUR BUCK BECAUSE IT'S NOT A SOLE USE FACILITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO DO IS LOOK AT HOW DO WE HAVE MULTIUSE FACILITIES AND THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE IS A MULTIPURPOSE RINK. THERE IS LACROSSE, SOCCER, NET BALL LINES NOW. ET CETERA, ET CETERA, TO GET EVERY SQUARE FOOT THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PARK SYSTEM TO BE USED BY AS MANY PEOPLE AND ENJOY BID AS MANY PEOPLE.
>> IS CREEKWOOD PARK IS THAT IN PENDLE CREEK.
[02:00:03]
>> YEAH. GET THE ATEXT THAT AWFUL OUR PARKS NEED. PROVIDE THAT.
>> ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE KIND OF ONE LUMP OR ONE BY
ONE HERE. >> THAT IS UP TO THE BOARD.
>> MY ONLY QUESTION IS IF YOU GO BACK TO THE 200,000 PARK.
IT'S IN CREEKSIDE PARK. THE SCHOOL IS RIGHT NEXT TO CRANE BROOK. YOU CAN SEE THE TOP OF-- THAT IS A FENCED-IN AREA LIKE A COVER CEMENT AREA.
>> MY QUESTION IS, THE TREES, DR. SHELLEY WATER BOARDED ME OVER THE YEARS ABOUT TREES. I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD REACH OUT BECAUSE IT'S ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM AND SAY COULD WE BUILD YOU A BASKETBALL COURT IN THAT SECTION OF LAND THAT WE HAVE WIDE OPEN. YOU USE IT DURING YOUR TIME WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION BECAUSE IT'S ELEMENTARY THEY'RE OUT.
WE GET TO HAVE IT AFTER SCHOOL, IN AN OPEN AREA.
WIN-WIN. PUBLIC-PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND IT PROTECTS THE TAXPAYERS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR TO US LOOK AT THAT OPPORTUNITY ESPECIALLY IN THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT.
>> THE ONLY COMMENT I WOULD MAKE ABOUT THAT IS THE C.I. SCHOOLS AND ALL SCHOOLS IN TEXAS HAVE CHANGED THEIR OPEN ACCESS CAMPUS POLICIES DUE TO TRAGEDIES THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS SO THAT IS WHY YOU SEE FENCES ALL-AROUND THEIR SCHOOLS.
SO WHEN THOSE SCHOOLS ARE EVEN AFTER HOURS, THEY'RE LOCKED UP
THERE MIGHT -- >> I'M IN FAVOUR OF THIS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY PUT A CAVEAT ON IT TO SAY WE GO GIVE THE OLD COLLEGE TRY TO TALK TO SEE IF WE CAN PUT IT ON THE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL SOMEHOW. >> I MENTIONED TO DR. EISSLER A LITTLE BIT THIS MORNING I ALREADY GOT A COUPLE OF CALLS INTO C.I.S.D. ABOUT OTHER PARK ISSUES WITH PARKS AND SCHOOLS THAT WE WILL START THOSE DISCUSSIONS ESPECIALLY TO YOUR LATER AGENDA ITEM AS WELL STARTING AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK.
>> I WANTED TO CLARIFY, IS IT THAT OPEN SPOT WHERE YOU ARE
PROPOSING THE PUMP TRACK. >> YES.
>> SO WHERE THAT DIRT IS WHERE THE-- IF GOES FURTHER TO THE
EAST IN THAT AREA. >> WHAT WOULD WE DO TO POINT OF THE CHAIRMAN, HOW WOULD WE HANDLE THAT TO SAY THAT WE ARE INTERESTED, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NOT A BETTER
CHOICE WORKING WITH C.I.S.D. >> THAT WOULD BE PART OF OUR DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS THAT I'M ASSUMING-- I'M TRYING TO PROVIDE A PLAN OF ACTION THAT THEORETICALLY YOU WOULD APPROVE.
THIS WE ALSO GO BACK TO C.I.S.D. AND MEETINGS WITH THEIR FOLKS TO SAY HOW WITH HE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
CAN WE OPEN THAT COURT TO THE PUBLIC, NO, MAYBE.
AND THEN COME BACK TO YOU TO SAY HEY, LISTEN, HERE IS OUR PLANS.
>> I LIKE THAT CHAIRMAN. >> I DO.
>> YEAH, THAT IS FINE. >> CAN WE GO TO THE PUMP TRUCK.
SO MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THIS IS WE'VE HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS WITH OUR 365 CAMPAIGN AND WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS.
WILL WE BE ENCOURAGING MORE SCOOTER AND E.V. VEHICLE USE IF
WE BUILD A PUMP TRUCK. >> THIS WAS ONE OF YOUR IDEAS ABOUT TRYING TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION.
SO WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE IT. YES.
>> HOW COULD WE HANDLE THAT THROUGH COMMUNICATION.
>> THAT LIKE ANY AMENITY GOES THROUGH A RULE BECAUSE THIS WILL BE A NEW AMENITY. EVERY ONE OF OUR NEW AMENITIES THAT WE HAVE GOES THROUGH A RULE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS THAT WE LOOK AT WHAT OUR BEST PRACTICES FOR THE PUMP TRUCK.
OFTEN TIMES WE WILL RUN NEW RULES BY TML TO SAY HEY, LISTEN, DOES THIS MAKE SENSE. IS THIS THE BASIS OF WHAT WE SHOULD BE PROVIDING ON OUR SIGNS AND GUIDELINES FOR THAT.
>> THIS IS THE ONE I'M WITH YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING THIS ROUTE, BUT I AGREE I THINK THIS IS THE KIND OF JUST-- WELL
[02:05:01]
IT LOOKS GREAT FOR E-SCOOTERS AND BIKES.BUT THEY HAVE TO GET TO THIS VENUE SOMEHOW, AND THEY AREN'T PUTTING IN THEIR MOM AND TRUCKS. THEY'RE RIDING IT.
I JUST THINK. , WE NEED TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND
THE E-BIKE PROBLEM FIRST. >> SCHOOLS ARE ELIMINATING THEM FROM THEIR CAMPUSES AS WELL. THAT IS A NEW DEVELOPMENT.
I'M AFRAID WE MIGHT BE ENCOURAGING MORE RIDERSHIP
RATHER THAN LESS RIDERSHIP. >> I DON'T THINK THIS IS A E-SCOOTERS FACILITY. IT COULD BE USED FOR THAT.
MOST OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN IS IN I KNOW YOU MAY BE THINKING I'M TALKING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF MY MOUTH IS YOU SEEN BIKES ON SKATEBOARDS. SCOOTERS ON IT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS HUMAN POWER. THE QUESTION THEN WE ALSO COULD COME TO IS, OKAY. WHAT ARE THE RULES.
DO WE ALLOW E-SCOOTERS ON THIS OR NOT.
AND WE CAN BRING THOSE RULES BACK TO YOU FOR A VERDICT BECAUSE THAT WOULD ALSO GIVE US TIME, OKAY.
TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE IS ANY LEGISLATION LIVE RELIEF ON THESE TYPES OF THINGS AND WHAT THE LEGISLATE LAY TORE IS DOING TO OPEN THIS UP. WE FEEL THAT THERE WILL BE A
STRONG USE OF THIS. >> WE SEE THREE-YEAR-OLDS ON BIKES ON THESE TYPE OF DEVICES. 600,000 AND LOOK AT PARTNERS WITH ON A MULTIUSE AIR CONDITIONED FACILITY IN THE BARE BRANCH SPORTS PLEX WE THINK WOULD BE GOOD.
BUT I JUST THINK THAT WILL GETTING A LOT MORE USE.
THE WAY CHRIS AND HIS TEAMS ARE ABLE TO PROGRAM AND INDOOR ARTIFICIAL FIELD. ESPECIALLY WITH THE TEMPERATURE
RATINGS NOW. >> YOU ARE RIGHT.
WOULD WE BE ABLE TO USE THE MONEY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT IS A PLEASURE OF THE BOARD TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
TO THINK ABOUT AIR-CONDITIONING AND SUN SAFETY.
YES. >> THE CHAIR: I GOT HER ON MY TEAM, YES. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, DR.. >> I LOVE THAT IDEA.
I WANT TO SEE THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MONEY NEEDS TO COME FROM THE PARKS NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
>> YOU ARE JUST TALKING-- IT'S A CLASSIC.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW TO DIRECTORS.
CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS ABOUT BUBBLES.
EVERY 15 PLUS YEARS BECOMES A CHALLENGE VERSUS A STEEL METAL BUILDING. LOOKING AT 35 TO 50 YEARS.
A LITTLE BIT LONGER RUN. I THINK FROM A BASE LEVEL OF ENGINEERING STANDPOINT. AS WELL AS AN OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS BECAUSE NOW YOU ARE BRINGING ON AN INDOOR FACILITY.
IF YOU ARE DOING TURF IN THOSE AREAS.
IT HAS TO BE CLEANED A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THE U.V. DOESN'T KILL BLOOD, SWEAT, AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE
TURF. >> I'M TELLING YOU PROFIT GENERATOR BIG TIME. RENT THE OUT FOR EVENTS AND
[02:10:01]
GALAS AND NOT JUST SPORTS. THERE ARE A TON OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO WITH IT. I THINK THE COMMUNITY WILL EMBRACE THAT AND ENJOY THAT AND IT WILL BE A PROFIT GENERATOR.>> THAT IS TRUE. >> COULD THAT BE A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AGAIN.
>> IT COULD BE PUBLIC/PUBLIC. >> BECAUSE I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING ALL THESE OTHER OPTIONS. IT'S A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN C.S.I.D. AND WOMEN'S TOWNSHIP. SERIESAGE OF THE SALES OF THAT.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO THESE CONTRACTS TO LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT REALLY BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THERE IS A HUGE NEED FOR EVENT SPACE HERE.
>> 100% AGREE. >> IS THAT AN RFP INSTEAD OF TAKING AWAY FROM THIS. DO AN RFP AND TALK MORE ABOUT
THAT. >> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE.
>> AN RFP OR A STUDY FIRST. >> I WOULD START WITH WHAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A STUDY. WHAT ARE WE REALLY IN FOR.
MY PROJECTION IS BETWEEN 5 AND $7 MILLION, BUT I MIGHT BE HIGH, LOW. THAT IS MY FIRST GUT.
I THINK I MENTIONED IT TO YOU LAST WEEK WHEN THIS IDEA STARTED TO POP BACK UP AGAIN, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY. HOW DO WE LEVERAGE PARTNERS WITH US. THROUGH C.I.S.D. TO CHAIRMAN'S BAILEY COMMENT. OR THROUGH A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE THERE MAY BE SOME SYMMETRY ABOUT HOW WE HAVE DONE THE GOLF COURSE INTO A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
THERE MAY BE SOMEONE WILLING TO INVESTIGATE THOSE DOLLARS NOT NECESSARILY-- IS IT SEVERAL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY WILL GET A PERCENTAGE OF THE REVENUES.
THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAY TO STRUCTURE THESE THINGS.
WE HAVE TO GET A GOOD ESTIMATE OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FOR NUMBERS. BRINGING IN ELECTRICITY IS A
ANOTHER HUGE ONE AS WELL. >> I AGREE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A BETTER USE OF THE MONEY.
I FEEL TENTATIVE ABOUT THIS CONSIDERING WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE MORE OF A LONG TERM INVESTMENT WITH THOSE
DOLLARS. >> IS THAT AN AMENDMENT TO THE
BUDGET INITIATIVE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION-- GO BACK TO THE-- SORRY. -- THAT WE APPROVE-- SHUM SH PARK PLAYGROUND. $200,000.
BASKETBALL COURT FOR 225,000. ASK CIDC TO PARTNER WITH THEM NEXT DOOR. THE CREEKWOOD PARK SKATE RENOVATION, 230,000, AND TAKE THE CANE BROOK PARK TRACK AND PUT IT TOWARDS A STUDY FOR SPORTS PLEX PARKS AND RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS AND SPONSORSHIPS WITH OTHER LOCAL COMPANIES.
>> I SECOND. >> GOT A SECOND FROM LINDA.
>> ANY DISCUSSION. >> I THINK WE GOT IT.
I GOT A SECOND FROM LINDA. ANY DISCUSSION?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR. >> TOGETHER: AYE.
>> THE MAYOR: ALL THOSE OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, CHRIS.
>> I KNOW WE ALREADY THE BOARD TOOK ACTION ON THIS.
THERE IS A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION THAT I HAVE TO PRESENT BUDGET INITIATIVES THAT THEY PRESENT SORT OF A MOOT POINT AT THIS POINT, BUT THAT IS WHAT THIS IS.
GIVEN THE PREVIOUS ACTION WE CAN SKIP OVER THIS ONE.
DIRECTOR HEISER PULLED THIS ONE. THESE WERE THE REQUEST FROM THE CREEKSIDE PARK VILLAGE ASSOCIATION.
SO LARGE FANS FOR THE MULTIPURPOSE RINK.
TWO FANS ARE RECOMMENDED AT A COST OF 40,000.
>> IS THIS THE ONLY MULTIPURPOSE RINK WE HAVE.
>> YES. >> THAT IS WHY THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT BASKETBALL COURTSES RIGHT NEXT WHICH HAVE AN ANSWERING THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER DOING BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. BECAUSE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME THAT YOU WILL BE ASKED TO DO BOTH.
>> JUST 90,000. >> WE HAVE 100,000.
>> THAT WOULD BE COMING OUT OF THE 2026 UNDESIGNATED FUND
[02:15:02]
BALANCE. >> THIS IS JUST A REQUEST FROM THE CREEK SIDE VILLAGE ASSOCIATION.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD LARGE AREA RESPONSE FOR FANS IN THESE TWO
FACILITIES. >> THERE ARE SEVERAL REQUESTS.
ARE THERE SEVERAL SLIDES. CAN WE LOOK AT THE SLIDE REAL
THEY ARE THE REQUEST WAS FOR A SHADE STRUCTURE FOR ENCLAVE PLAYGROUND. APPROXIMATE COST IS 75,000.
WE DID TALK ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY.
THIS WOULD BE FAIRLY UNIQUE TO HAVE AN ENTIRE PLAY AREA COVERED. WE HAVE STRUCTURES THAT HAVE PARTIAL SHADE. THIS PARK DOES HAVE A PAVILION SO THERE IS A SHADE AVAILABLE. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS REQUEST COULD LEAD TO SYSTEMWIDE REQUEST.
THAT WOULD GET INTO THE 7 MILLION-DOLLAR CATEGORY TO DO THAT. THIS IS THE OUGHT ONLY ONE THIS
YEAR. >> THEY ALSO REQUESTED PATHWAY SIGNS WHICH I AM RECOMMENDING THAT THEY DEFER UNTIL WE HEAR TO
SEE WHAT THE LEGISLATION DOES. >> THOSE THREE.
I'M OKAY WITH THE FANS. WHERE WE LIVE, TAUGHT.
IT'S ONE OF OUR PREMIER REC CENTERS.
I AM OKAY WITH FUNDING 100,000. >> I WILL MOTION.
>> SECOND. >> WHERE ARE WE IN OUR 2026
DESIGNATED FUND? >> 2.3 MILLION.
>> I HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF THAT. >> NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT.
>> SECOND. >> THE CHAIR: ALL THOSE IN
FAVOUR RESPOND BY SAYING AYE. >> TOGETHER: AYE.
>> THE CHAIR: MOTION CARRIES. SORRY.
>> FOR THE FANS, RIGHT. ARE WE DOING ALL OF THEM.
>> IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A VOTE ON THIS OR DO YOU WANT TO SKIP.
>> THE CHAIR: ANY MOTION? >> EVERYBODY IN FAVOURITE OF
>> ANY MOTION FOR THE PATHWAY SIGNS.
I THINK ON THE SECOND DAY OF BUDGET WORKSHOPS THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF IMPROVING THE WATER IN WOODLANDS WATERWAY.
THE FLOW OF THE WATER AND A SUGGESTION FOR-- AERATORS.
>> IS THAT A STUDY THAT YOU NEED TO DO, CHRIS.
I BRING THAT UP-- I DON'T THINK WE'RE LIKE WE HAVE 12 AERATORS ALREADY RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE TURNING BASIN AT TANGERINE PARK TO ANADARKO. THOSE WERE ALL UPGRADED AND INSTALLED IN 2023. THE COMMENT I WOULD LOVE TO GET SOME MORE FEEDBACK FROM YOU. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PROBLEM I'M TRYING TO SOLVE ON YOUR BHAVMENT IS THIS ALGAE AND WATER VEGETATION. IS THIS WATER QUALITY WE WANT TO
SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE WATERWAY. >> MIGHT BE GETTING MORE
PROTESTERS. >> WE CAN DO SOME THINGS AND WE'VE HAD SOME PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS JUST IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. PROBABLY UNDER 50,000 WITH ADDING MORE AERATORS IN THAT AREA AND POTENTIALLY ANOTHER SET WHICH IS IN THE RING ROAD AREA AS WELL.
>> ONE OF MY COMMENTS WOULD BE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH THE IRONMAN. THE BACTERIA LEVEL WAS VERY TENTATIVE WHETHER WE WOULD BE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE THE WATERWAY OR NOT AND TAKE THE SWIM AWAY FROM THE TRY WAS A BIG DEAL. I DON'T KNOW IF THE AERATOR WOULD SAY HELP WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> NO. IS THERE A WAY TO DO A STUDY TO GET THE WATER TO MOVE BETTER. NOW YOU ARE TALKING REAL DOL
[02:20:02]
DOLLARS. YOU ARE TALKING REAL DOLLARS.I WOULD HESITATE ON ANY GUESSES. WE HAD A RESIDENT COME IN WHO PENSIONED PUTTING UP A LINE ALL WAIT TO MALL RING ROAD AND BACK.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAID TO DIRECTOR NELSON COMMENT IS OH, BY THE WAY. THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING SPOTS OF WATER BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE ALL THE DOWKS. AGGRAVATE THE SYSTEM.
WHAT I WOULD MIGHT RECOMMENDATION TO YOU IS IF THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE, I WILL BE HAPPY TO DO SOME MORE RESEARCH. HEY, I NEED 50,000 OR 100,000.
>> THE CHAIR: LET'S DO RESEARCH AND BRING IT BACK
LATER. >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
>> VOTES. >> BOATS NEED WATER.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD PUT THE MONEY THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE 100,000 FOR THE AERATORS TO BOATS.
>> I AGREE. >> WHERE DO THE BOATS COME FROM?
>> I JUST-- I WANT TO HAVE A PLACEHOLDER.
IT'S A PLACEHOLDER. >> ALWAYS READY TO GO.
>> I KNOW, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT-- ON THE AGENDA ITEMS.
>> THE CHAIR: WE'RE GOING TO SKIP THIS ONE AND DO MORE
RESEARCH. >> AGAIN HOPEFULLY WE AREN'T TAKING THIS BALANCE DOWN TO ZVEREV.
230, IN THE 27,000. SO THAT IS FOR ONGOING.
$2.2 MILLION IN THE 2026. >> BUT IT'S OKAY IF WE LEAVE
SOME IN THERE. >> WE PROBABLY SHOULD LEAVE SOME
>> PRECAUTION. >> THE CHAIR: NEXT UP.
>> COMMUNITY VILLAGE BEAUTIFICATION DAY.
SOME MINNAL COST TO THIS THAT COULD BE ABSORBED WITHIN OUR CURRENT OPERATING BUDGET. SO IF THE BOARD AS A WHOLE APPROVES OF THE PROGRAM IDEA, WE WILL START PUTTING THAT
TOGETHER. >> MOTION TO ACCEPT.
>> TOGETHER: AYE. >> THE CHAIR: THANK YOU.
>> THIS WAS SUGGESTED BY CHAIRMAN BAILEY YESTERDAY TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUDGET TO 600,000.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE A BUDGET OF $259,000.
INCREASING IT TO 600,000 IS NO PROBLEM.
YOUR HOTEL TAX RESERVE IS WHAT SERVES AS YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESERVE RIGHT NOW. YOU HAVE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED THAT MONEY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
SO IF WE WANTED TO TAKE PART OF THAT RESERVE AND FUND IT INTO AN OPERATING ACCOUNT EACH YEAR. WE CAN DO THAT.
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THE FUNDING COME FROM THE HOTEL TAX RESERVE
AS OPPOSED TO THE GENERAL FUND. >> WE HAVE OTHER IDEAS FOR THAT HOTEL TAX FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS FOR SURE.
>> YES, I'M AWARE, AND WE STILL HAVE MONIES IN THERE THAT WOULD FLOW INTO THAT. YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT BALANCE TO DO IT IF THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
>> RIGHT. THIS IS A SPECULATION THAT THIS IS GOING TO TURN INTO REAL RETURN WHICH I HOPE IT WOULD, BUT THEN WE AREN'T SAVING THE MONEY FOR A BIG PROJECT.
A BIG CAPITAL PROJECT LIKE EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER WHICH I KNOW IS ALSO DEAR TO YOUR HEART AND PARKING GARAGE OR
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. >> I KNOW, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THIS IF WE DON'T WANT TO. IT'S MONEY THAT IS IN THERE.
WE AREN'T GIVING THIS TO AN ORGANIZATION.
>> BUT IT'S ALREADY IN THERE. THAT IS WHAT SHE IS SAYING.
>> IN THE HOTEL-- WHAT I'M SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY LEFT IN YOUR ONGOING OPERATING 2027 RESERVE TO FUND AN ADDITIONAL 350,000 BUT YOU DO IN YOUR HOTEL TAX RESERVE.
>> I LIKE THE SPIRIT AND I LIKE THE IDEA.
>> WE'VE ALREADY DONE THIS. >> WE HAVE, BUT NO.
A WAY TO LOOK AT CREATING THINGS.
WE'VE ALL HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
IT'S A WIN-WIN. I THINK THIS MULTIUSE IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF THAT. >> THIS IS EXCITING.
SO WE WILL START PURSUING THAT. AND IN THE PARTNERSHIP WITH SHENANDOAH FOR A TRAFFIC AND BEAUTIFICATION STUDY, ESTIMATING THE COST OF 50,000 AS THE PLACEHOLDER RIGHT NOW.
SO THE BOARD WANTS TO AUTHORIZE SETTING ASIDE THIS MONEY THEN WE
WILL START PURSUING THAT. >> I MOTION.
[02:25:02]
SECOND. >> THAT IS COMING FROM THE
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR RESPOND BY SAYING AYE.
>> TOGETHER: AYE. >> THE CHAIR: MOTION CARRIES.
>> THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH SHENANDOAH.
AGAIN THE VOTE WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE FOR SETTING MONEY ASIDE. THE VOTE WOULD BE TO PURSUE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH SHENANDOAH.
CHIEF BUCK HAS HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS AN I HAVE AS WELL.
THIS WOULD BE TAKING IT FROM JUST AN IDEAL LEVEL TO
DEVELOPING THE CONCEPT FURTHER. >> I MAKE A MOTION.
>> SECOND. >> THE CHAIR: ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSETHIS WILL HELP US IF WE TO GET THIS FIRE STATION ON 45 CORRIDOR FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT PULL FROM OUR RESOURCES FROM OUR TOWN CENTER LOCATION.
>> AGREED. IT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
IN OUR BUSIEST AR. >> THE CHAIR: ALL THOSE IN
FAVOUR RESPOND BY SAYING AYE. >> TOGETHER: AYE.
>> THE CHAIR: MOTION CARRIES. >> OUR FINAL ONE, IS THAT CORRECT IS BASED ON WILLIAM'S PRESENTATION YESTERDAY TO HAVE-- AND AS A DIRECTOR EISSLER POINTED OUT.
WE'LL TREAT THIS AS A ONE-TIME INITIAL INVESTMENT INTO A.I., AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK IN FURTHER BUDGET IF WE NEED ONGOING MONEY. THIS WOULD BE TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND LICENCES AND USAGES BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE
HAD TO ADVANCE A.I. INITIATIVES. >> WHAT ABOUT THE 50,000 WE
TALKED ABOUT. >> THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN
>> SECOND. >> THE CHAIR: ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOURITE RESPOND BY SAYING AYE.
>> TOGETHER: AYE. >> THE CHAIR: MOTION CARRIES.
CONGRATS, WILLIAM. >> MORE WORK FOR YOU.
YOU PULLED IT OFF. >> PULLEDDED IT OFF.
>> THAT, KARL, YOU CAN GIVE US OUR BALANCE?
THANK YOU. DID YOU ALL HEAR THAT 230 REMAINS IN OUR 2027 UNDESIGNATED FUND REMAINS.
THAT IS GOOD FOR ONE TIME PURCHASES THAT MAY COME UP DURING THE YEAR AND THEN THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT BALANCE RESERVE
BALANCE HAS BEEN ZEROED OUT. >> THAT IS REASONABLE.
>> I WANT TO REITERATE A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS Y'ALL ALL TALKED ABOUT. THIS IS JUST ALLOCATING FUND.
IT'S NOT AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD.
ALL OF THESE WILL BE COMING BACK TO YOU.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONMENT. >> THE CHAIR: GREAT.
>> SO I'M SORRY. >> I HAVE ONE QUESTION JUST SO I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. WE DID 3% SALARY ADJUSTMENT IS THAT ACROSS-THE-BOARD FOR ALL POSITIONS, AND IS THAT IT EXCEPT FOR STEP INCREASES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
PROBATIONARY INCREASES OR WHATEVER.
DOES THAT COVER ALL SALARY ADJUSTMENTS.
>> THE 3% IS ACROSS-THE-BOARD. SO THERE IS A 3% INCREASE.
SO IT'S 3% FOR ALL ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES.
>> THAT IS THE TOTAL IN INCREASE AND PERSONNEL COST.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE HAVE STEP INCREASES FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IF YOU ARE ASKING I BELIEVE BECAUSE YOU ASKED ANGELA ABOUT IT IT THE CONSECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR A 5% MERIT POOL SO THAT IS A ONE-TIME ADJUSTMENT THAT IS MADE. IT DOESN'T INCREASE OUR BASE SALARIES BY 3%. IT IS A ONE-TIME BONUS BASED ON PERFORMANCE, AND IT'S EVALUATED BY ME.
DOESN'T INCLUDE ME. BUT IT INCLUDES MY DIRECT
REPORTS. >> YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
CUT YOURS 10%. >> I DON'T REMEMBER THAT RECOMMENDATION. THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS. >> THE CHAIR: ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BASE BUDGET OR BUDGET INITIATIVES, WHICH I BELIEVE THERE ARE NOT, THEN WE
[8. Receive, consider and act upon the proposed 2026 debt service tax rate and maintenance and operations tax rate;]
WILL MOVE FORWARD TO THE PROCESSED TAX RATE.>> THE CHAIR: DO YOU NEED A FEW MINUTES TO GET YOUR TABULATIONS. OKAY.
[02:30:01]
>> READY TO GO. >> SHE HAS A.I.
>> HOLD ON ONE SECOND. >> I DO WANT TO SAYING IS BEFORE
>> SORRY. LINDA FED ME SOME ORGANIC NUTS
OVER HERE THAT. >> HE WAS GETTING POTATOES.
>> I'M CHOKING. >> HE TURN AROUND AND SPIT THEM
OUT. >> I LOVE TO HEAR THE NO NEW REVENUE DISCUSSION, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. I'VE DONE SOME TALLYING, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MEET SOME PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE STATE REPRESENTATIVES. SO I'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE BANNER BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR TAX RATES.
SOME OF THE SLIDES THAT MONIQUE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SHOW INCLUDING COME OF SOME OF THE CITIES THEY SERVED AS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF. ONE BEING PEARLAND.
PEARLAND IS A GREAT CITY. MY GOOD FRIEND STARTED GREEN GOES MEXICAN KITCHEN. GREAT PLACE.
BUT WE HIT THE NO NEW REVENUE. HIT THE NO NEW LEFNS RATED.
OUR TAX RATE IS 61 CENTS PER 100.
61 CENTS PER 100. SO I STARTED LOOKING AT CURRENT TAX RATE. 17 CENTS PER 100.
OKAY. WE HAVE WATER, WASTEWATER, THINGS LIKE THAT. I ADD IN ALL OF OUR MUDS WHICH IS 12 CENTS PER 100. SO WE ARE AT 29 CURRENTLY PER 100 AND A COMPARATIVE CITY THAT WE GO UP AGAINST A LOT AS FAR AS COMPARABLE WHETHER IT'S STAFF SALARIES OR FIRE DEPARTMENTS
WHAT HAVE YOU ARE AT 61 CENTS. >> BUT YOU ARE LEAVING OUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND YOU ARE LEAVING OUT ROADS AND BRIDGES.
>> WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE JUST SPENT $22 MILLION ON LAW
ENFORCEMENT. >> THAT IS SUPPLEMENTAL.
>> IT'S A GREAT SUPPLEMENT. >> THE WHOLE ENCHILADA.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE FRANK ABOUT IT.
THEN YOU NEED TO SAY THAT. >> OUR EFFECTIVE TAX RATE.
>> RIGHT NOW 17 CENTS PER 100 AS WE SIT RIGHT NOW FOR VALUATION.
>> BUT YOU ALSO SAID THEY HAVE 70% OF THEIR MONEY COMING FROM PROPERTY TAX. WE HAVE 30% OR LESS COMING FROM PROPERTY TAX. WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT.
>> I UNDERSTAND BUT WHEN PEOPLE START USING THE NO NEW REVENUE AS A BANTER OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT THEY'RE STILL CHARGING 61 CENTS PER 100, THERE IS-- WHERE DO YOU FEEL SAFER.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL BETTER AT. I WANT TO FOCUS IN ON THAT.
I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT OTHER-- WE HAVE A LIMITED GOVERNMENT WHERE WE OUTSOURCE.
WE OUTSOURCED OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE SPENT $22 MILLION ON OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK CONRAD SPENT OVER 15 MILLION ON THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE HAVE THE WHOLE ENCHILADA.
I PERSONALLY FEEL SAFER IN WOODLANDS.
I THINK OUR OUTSOURCED MODEL WORKS.
WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH, AND WHEN EVERYONE STARTS DOING THE NO NEW REVENUE I LIKE TO BRING THAT UP.
YOU CAN BANG ON THAT DRUM BUT YOU ARE STILL CHARGING 61 CENTS PER 100. THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY.
>> VERY WELL SAID, CHAIRMAN. >> I DO WANT TO GO THROUGH THE SLIDES WE WENT THROUGH THE FIRST DAY ON PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO REMIND EVERYONE AGAIN HOW EFFECTIVELY OUR TAX RATE TO THE CHAIRMAN'S POINTS HAS BEEN MANAGED BY THIS BOARD AND PREVIOUS BOARD. WE ARE AT A CURRENT RATE OF.
OUR NEW RATE IS AT 16.4 # 54. OUR 17.14 RATE-- OF 16.14 AND A DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE OF ONE PENNY.
WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR PROPOSED VOTES HERE IN A MINUTE, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SEPARATE VOTES ON THE DEBT SERVICE RATED WHICH HAS TO BE A PENNY. WE HAVE TO GENERATE THE MONEY TO PAY OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND THEN A SEPARATE RATE ON THE
M.N.O. RATE. >> AS A REMINDER.
HERE AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS IS INCREDIBLE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF AMENITIES AND SERVICES THAT HAVE PROVIDED OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS THAT A HOME BACK IN 2012 THAT WAS HAD A VALUE OF 312,000, THAT VALUE HAS INCREASED IN TODAY'S AT
[02:35:05]
5,099,335. THAT IS THE MEDIUM VALUE OF A HOME IN 2012, THERE WAS A PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 32.5 CENTS AND THAT PROPERTY TAX OWNER WAS PAYING 1,014.TODAY THAT TAX RATE IS 17.14 AND THAT SAME PROPERTY OWNER WOULD BE PAYING 873. ALSO WANT TO REMIND US OF THE RECENT RESIDENT SURVEY WHERE RESIDENTS EXPRESSED OVERWHELMLY POSITIVE VIEWS REGARDING THE VALUE OF THE TOWNSHIP SERVICES.
NEARLY ALL RESPONDED 95%-- THE SERVICE IS EITHER VERY GOOD OR GOOD VALUE FOR THE MONEY AND THAT IS DEFINITELY A TESTAMENT TO THE BOARD'S MANAGEMENT OF PROPERTY TAX.
THAT SAME HOME THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS GRAPH SHOWS WHILE THAT HOME HAS INCREASED IN TAXABLE VALUE BY 63.3% OVER THAT 15-YEAR PERIOD.
THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX THEY PAY HAS ACTUALLY DECREASED BY 13.9%. AGAIN JUST LIKE WE TALK ABOUT WE'RE UNIQUE IN THIS COMMUNITY IN VERY MANY RESPECTS.
THIS IS A SLIDE THAT MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WOULD BE LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW BUT IT'S JUST NOT THE FACT, BUT IT IS FOR US.
>> AGAIN THIS WAS THE LOOK AT THE TAX RATES.
WE ARE THE LOWEST OF MOST OF OUR LOCALS HERE.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE SOME HAVE PROPOSED TAX RATES THAT ARE INCREASING FROM THEIR CURRENT RATE.
THOSE ARE SHOIN IN RED. WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE STAYING THE SAME. THOSE ARE SHOWN IN BLUE.
AND MAGNOLIA IS THE ONE THAT WILL DECREASE.
>> RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WE'RE ONE OF THE TOP 10 LOWEST PROPERTY TAX RATES IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
>> YES, THANK YOU. >> AGAIN AS A REMINDER THIS WAS FOR THE 2026 YEAR. IF YOU LIVE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND YOU OWN A 500,000 HOME. YOU RECEIVED A TAX BILL OF 7,035. OF THAT AMOUNT, $831 WAS APPLICABLE TO THE TOWNSHIP. HARRIS COUNTY, SAME THING.
831. 8% OF THE TOTAL TAX BILL THERE BECAUSE YOUR TOTAL TAX IS HIGHER IN HARRIS COUNTY AT 9,832.
I WANT TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR TAX RATE AND WHAT A GREAT JOB LOOKING AT THE RATE HAS ACCOMPLISHED.
THE IMPACT OF GOING FROM OUR COULDN'T RATE OF 17.14 TO THE NO-NEW REVENUE RATE AND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN ON A 500,000 HOME. SO IF WE WENT TO THE NO-NEW REVENUE RATE, THAT WOULD REDUCE TOWNSHIP TAX REVENUES BY 1,879.
SINCE WE'RE AT 230,000 FAVOURABLE VARIANCE RIGHT NOW IN OUR 2027, THAT MEANS WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND AN ADDITIONAL 1.6 MILLION TO CUT FROM OUR BASE BUDGET IN ORDER TO GET TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IN ORDER TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
IF THERE WAS AN INTEREST IN MOVING DOWN, DECREASE IN THE RATE BUT NOT ALL THE WAY TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS HERE.
WE TOOK THIS IN INCREMENTS OF .20.
GETTING TO 16.94 WOULD BE A REDUCTION OF 625.
I DO WANT TO GO BACK TO THE REVENUE RATE.
SO WHILE IT'S A REDUCTION FOR US OF 1,879.
US BEING THE TOWNSHIP. THAT PROPERTY OWNER.
THE OWNER OF THAT 500,000 HOME. THE DIFFERENCE IT WOULD MAKE TO HIM WOULD BE 30 A YEAR OR 2.50 A MONTH TO GO TO THE NO NEW
REVENUE RATE. >> ANY QUESTIONS?
>> IF WE'RE READY TO MOVE THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO TAKE A VOTE ON THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE.
>> ONE CENT. >> ONE CENT, YES.
IF YOU CAN READ THE SCRIPT. >> I GOT TO GET MY SCRIPT HERE.
>> HAVE THAT SPECIFIC LANGUAGE. >> OKAY.
PROPOSED 2026 DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE AND MAINTENANCE OF TAX RATE REFER TO PAGE 5 OF YOUR PACKET. VOTE NUMBER 1, I CALL ON A MOTION AND A SECOND TO PROPOSE THE 2026 DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE OF 1 CENT PER 100-DOLLAR TAXABLE VALUE.
>> SO MOVED. >> THE CHAIR: DIRECTOR FRANK SECOND BY ICER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR SAY BY
SAYING AYE. >> I'M SORRY I HAVE TO DO A RECORDED VOTE ON. THIS I APOLOGIZE.
>> THE CHAIR: I CALL ON A MOTION AND SECOND TO PROPOSE THE
[02:40:03]
2026 DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE OF 1 CENT.DO I HAVE A MOTION. >> MOVE AGAIN.
>> FRANK. SECONDED BY EISSLER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.
>> THANK YOU. VOTE 2, DO WE HAVE A PROPOSED TAX RATE JYE PROPOSES THE NEW-- THAT WE HIT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND GO BACK THROUGH THE BUDGET AND FIND THAT
1.8 MILLION. >> THE CHAIR: DO I HAVE A SECOND? NO SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. >> I HOPE SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WERE ENABLING THIS YEAR THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THERE EVENTUALLY. REVENUE PRODUCING INITIATIVES.
I CAN'T VOTE FOR IT TODAY. BUT HOPEFULLY IN FUTURE.
>> THE CHAIR: OKAY. DO I HAVE A PROPOSED TAX RATE?
I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE 16.94. >> 16.14.
SO WE ALREADY DID A PENNY. IF YOU WANT TO STAY AT.
>> 16.14. >> THAT STAYS AT THE CURRENT RATE. IF YOU WANT TO LOWER.
>> LOWER THE RATE. >> THEN YOU GO TO 15.94.
>> 15.94. I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A TAX
>> I WOULD LOVE TO LOWER TAXES WHERE WE CAN.
MY CONCERN IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH PROPERTY TAX.
THEY COULD ELIMINATE PROPERTY TAX ENTIRELY.
NOT LIKELY, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE. I WOULD HATE TO THEN HAVE TO LOOK AT RAISING POTENTIAL RATE AT THAT TIME.
I JUST THAT IS MY HESITATION. >> THE CHAIR: WE NEED TO TELL OUR STORY FOR ONE. I AGREE WITH YOU.
IT'S A PERIL THAT WE'RE IN THAT WE'VE GOT TO GO OUT AND TELL OUR STORY. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PENALIZED BECAUSE WE'RE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST STEWARDS OF TAXPAYERS MONEY IN TEXAS. I THINK MORE CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES NEED TO BE TAKING OUR MODEL VERSUS THEIR MODEL.
BUT IS THERE A WAY TO GET TO THAT, MONIQUE, AND YOU CAN SHOW US HOW WE WOULD GET TO THAT 15.94 TAX RATE?
>> ANTICIPATING THAT MIGHT BE A SUGGESTION, I DID PREPARE THIS-- I DO WANT TO SHOW THIS. BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT.
IF YOU LOOK AT VET BOTTOM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE 27 BUDGET BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AS A STAFF WE ALSO PREPARE A FIVE-YEAR PLAN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS BECAUSE DECISION US THAT MAKE TODAY ARE GOING TO IMPACT WHAT DO YOU IN THE FUTURE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM LINE ITEM NUMBER, THAT YELLOW LINE, YOU CAN SEE THAT WHILE WE'RE BUDGETED FOR 2027, WE ARE NOT WHEN WE GET TO 28, 29, 30, 31, I WOULD SAY THAT I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THESE NEGATIVE NUMBERS BECAUSE WE BUDGET CONSERVATIVELY. WE KNOW FOR INSTANCE WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE DON'T FULLY FULL FUND THE CAPITAL RESERVE.
WE'LL USE VARIANCES IN ORDER TO BEEF THAT UP WHICH WOULD PUT US BACK. I WANTED TO GO THROUGH THIS BECAUSE I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO SO, BUT TO CHAIRMAN BAILEY'S SPECIFIC THING, AGAIN, I FORGOT I HAD ALL THESE SLIDES.
WE DID JUST TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THINGS THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE LOWERING THE CURRENT EXEMPTION FROM SENIORS. FROM LOWER HOMESTEAD PROPERTY FROM 10% TO 5%. THAT IS YOUR APPRAISAL DISTRICTS WITH 5%. AND THEN LOWERING THE ANNUAL INCREASE FOR CALCULATION OF APPROVAL RATE CURRENTLY IT'S 3.5%. IT COULD GO TO 2%.
THAT ONE WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR TAX RATE.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, REDUCING REVENUES.
GOING TO 1695 TOTAL TAX RATE WOULD REDUCE REVENUES BY 625.
MY SUGGESTION FOR BEING ABLE TO STILL HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET WOULD BE TO TAKE THAT 498,400 WHICH ACTUALLY IS A LITTLE BIT LOWER NOW BECAUSE OF THE REDUCTION IN THE STAR LINK FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. TO FUNDS ALL NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS FROM THE 2026 UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE.
SO AS WE SAID, WE HAVE $2.1 MILLIONS IN THERE.
THIS WOULD REDUCE IT BY ANOTHER $450,000.
SO THAT IS ONE WAY THAT WE CAN GET TO THE LOWER RATE.
THE OTHER WAY WOULD BE TO UTILIZE MORE OF OUR TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT CREDITS TO FUND A CERTAIN PORTION OF TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES.
[02:45:01]
TROLLEYS AND PARK-AND-RIDE INSTEAD OF FUNDING THEM WITH GENERAL FUND. WE WOULD FUND THEM WITH-- THE REASON WE DIDN'T PROPOSE THAT IN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET, I'M TRYING TO LADDER THEM OUT TO LAST OVER FIVE YEARS.SO IF WE DID THIS, IT MAY ONLY BE FOUR-AND-A-HALF YEARS THAT WE GET TO LADDER OUT T.D.C.S, BUT IT IS AN AVAILABLE REVENUE SOURCE THAT WE COULD USE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
>> BUT THESE ARE MY RECOMMENDATIONS IF THE BOARD
CHOOSES TO LOWERLET RATE. >> TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THAT, YOU HAVE TO USE IT FOR TRANSPORTATION.
>> YES, CORRECT. >> IT'S IN THERE --
>> THE T. STANDS FOR TRANSPORTATION, YES.
CORRECT. >> NOT TRAFFIC OR TUNNELS.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING THAT PREPARED.
IT REALLY HELPS OUT. >> SO THAT 129, IS THAT INCORRECT TO SAY BORROWING FROM FUTURE USE.
MOVING FORWARD. >> WE ARE ESSENTIALLY.
>> WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT AWARDED, YOU ARE RIGHT, AND SO AGAIN ME AND THE TRANSPORTATION TEAM AND FINANCE TEAM HAVE LADDERED THAT OUT OVER FIVE YEARS.
ALTOGETHER WE'RE USING THE FUND FOR TRANSPORTATION ABOUT 500,000 THIS YEAR. THAT WAS-- WE COULD USE ALL 500,000 OF THE FUND THAT I DON'T THINK THAT IS WISE.
>> WE'RE JUST TRIMMING, THIS IS AN AMOUNT THAT I'M COMFORTABLE
WITH. >> ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE TAX RATE AT 15.94 IN THIS SUGGESTION?
>> I WILL STILL BE ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, YES, SIR.
>> ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH IT? ALL RIGHT.
SO I CALL A MOTION AND SECOND TO PROPOSE A 2026 MAINTENANCE AND
OPERATION TAX RATE OF .1594. >> ., YES.
1594 PER 100 OF TAXABLE VALUE. DO I HAVE IS A SECOND.
>> MOTION. >> SECONDED BY LINDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.
MONIQUE. FOUR DAYS OF FUN IN THE
PLAYGROUND. >> ONE FINAL MOTION TO TAKE BECAUSE THE RATE IS ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WE DO HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, AND YOU HAD ALREADY SCHEDULED THAT FOR SEPTEMBER 3RD. THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 3RD THAT WE-- YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE A MOTION ON THAT AT THAT TIME.
[9. Receive, consider and act upon the date and time for a public hearing on the proposed 2026 property tax rate, if necessary;]
>> THE CHAIR: OKAY. LOCATED ON PAGE 6 OF YOUR PACKET. CALL A MOTION TO SECOND TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2026 AT 5:45
>> SECOND. >> THE CHAIR: ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR RESPOND BY SAYING A. MOTION CARRIES.
WE WILL NOT BE HAVING EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT TONIGHT. WE'LL ALL GET BACK TOGETHER TONIGHT. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE COULDN'T KEEP IT GOING TODAY. BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO TONIGHT
I SEE ON MY CALENDAR WE'RE ON FOR 6:00 ON SEPTEMBER 3RD.
>> THE CHAIR: HANG ON. I GOT TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
RICHARD IS GETTING UP AND WALKING AWAY.
CALL HIM DOWN HERE FOR A MINUTE. >> I'M JUST WANT TO CLARIFY IF
IT'S 6:00 OR 5:45. >> THANK YOU.
I SHOULD HAVE EXPLAINED THAT. BY LAW YOU HAVE TO ADOPT YOUR BUDGET BEFORE YOU ADOPT YOUR TAX RATE THERE.
IS A BUDGET MEETING SCHEDULED FOR 5:30 THAT SAME DAY, AND THEN THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS GOING TO BE AT 6:00.
I DID IT AT 5:45 BECAUSE-- WE OFTEN FINISH UP THAT BECAUSE WE SPENT FOUR DAYS TOGETHER. WE USUALLY ONLY NEED 15 MINUTES TO ADOPT THE BUDGET. THIS JUST GIVES YOU OPPORTUNITY TO INSTEAD OF HAVING A BIG RECESS TO MOVE RIGHT INTO YOUR
PUBLIC HEARING. >> SEPTEMBER 3RD.
>> THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD, YES, MA'AM.
>> THE CHAIR: OKAY. MOVING ON.
[13. Board announcements; and]
AGENDA ITEM 12. DISCUSS FUTURE AGENDA AND ANNOUNCEMENT. I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.I WOULD LIKE TO READ. AS' POSED TO LAST NIGHT.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON POSTED AGENDA ITEM ON THEIR AGENDA.
I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS SCHEDULED TO PROPOSED THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWNSHIP DURING THE MEETING OF WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26TH, 2026.
THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL ALSO HOLD A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING ON WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26TH AT 4:00 P.M.
TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD END THE LONG-TERM REGION
[02:50:02]
PARTICIPATION STRUCTURE. IT PROVIDES PAYMENTS OF TOTALLING $27.4 MILLION FROM THE TOWNSHIP TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO BE SPREAD OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.IT ALSO RELEASES RESTRICTIONS FOR $22.6 MILLION.
CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN THE FUND.
MAKING THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S USE.
SALE TAX REVENUE PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED TO FUND WILL REMAIN WITH THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP AND WILL I VEILABLE FOR TOWNSHIP PRIORITIES. IN ADDITION THE AGREEMENT WOULD ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE ANNEXATION OF THE TOWNSHIP BY THE CITY OF HUSSEIN. THE PROPOSED AEND OF THE DAYMENT IS THE RESULT OF DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TOWNSHIP TO ADJUST THE PRIORITIES OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS. THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS LOOKS FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THIS AGREEMENT PUBLICLY DURING
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING NEXT WEEK. >> THANK YOU.
>> BRAVO. >> HELL OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
>> THAT IS A BIG ONE, GUYS. THAT IS A BIG ONE.
>> TUNE IN. TUNE IN NEXT WEDNESDAY.
>> YES. >> THE CHAIR: ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTLESS? ANNOUNCEMENTS, I CALL ON THE FOURTH ADJOURNMENT OF THE WEEK. DO I HAVE A MOTION.
>> SO MOVED. >> THE CHAIR: DIRECTOR FRANK.
SECOND BY DIRECTOR EISSLER. ALL THOSE IN
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.