Mar 10, 2026 City Council on 2026-03-10 6:00 PM

YES, SIR.

OKAY.

[00:00:01]

WELCOME

[1. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 PM]

IT'S MARCH 10TH, 2026 AT 6:00 PM UM, AS WAS MY PLEASURE TONIGHT TO WELCOME PASTOR MITCH ROSE FROM THE CITY HILLS CHURCH TO LEAD US IN INVOCATION THIS EVENING.

PASTOR, THANK YOU MAYOR.

FAILURE YOUR HEADS.

LET'S PRAY TOGETHER, OUR GREAT GOD OF HEAVEN.

TODAY.

WE BOW OUR HEADS AND HUMBLE OUR HEARTS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.

WE STAND IN HONEST, THANKS TO YOUR REMARKABLE BLESSING ON OUR STATE, OUR COUNTY, OUR CITY, OUR GREAT LEADERS.

OUR HEARTS ARE THANKFUL THAT YOU BLESSED US IN SUCH A MEASURE TO CONSTRUCT THIS BEAUTIFUL SPACE, THE HALLS OF WHICH HOLD SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEETINGS WITH SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.

SO THIS EVENING, WE DEDICATE NOT ONLY THE SPACE TO YOU AND YOUR GLORY, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT OCCUPY IT.

AND I PRAY FOR PROVIDENCE AND PROVISION AS THEY MEET AND CARRY ON THE BUSINESS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I PRAY THEY WOULD CONSTANTLY SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE, LEAD ON YOUR GOODNESS, DEPEND ON YOUR HAND AND YOUR HELP.

I PRAY FOR VISIONARIES TO OCCUPY THESE SEATS.

I PRAY FOR A VISION FOR A PROSPEROUS BERNIE TO FILL THESE LEADERS.

I PRAY FOR YOUR HAND OF SAFETY ON THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.

YOUR BLESSINGS ON THIS.

COUNCILS, THEY MAKE DECISIONS THAT GUIDE OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I PRAY FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR GREAT STATE, OUR GOVERNOR, OUR LEADERS, OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

I PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY TONIGHT, OUR PRESIDENT, HIS CABINET, OUR CONGRESS, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE GIVING AND SACRIFICING TONIGHT, AND OUR ARMED FORCES AROUND THE WORLD AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS KEEPING US SAFE.

SO THIS EVENING, WE DEDICATE THIS ROOM TO YOU, THE PEOPLE THAT FILL IT, THE IDEAS THAT ARE BIRTHED HERE, THE PLANS THAT PROCEED FROM HERE.

AND TODAY AND EVERY DAY WE STAND HERE, WE BOW AGAIN OUR HEARTS TO YOUR GENTLE HAND AND FOLLOW YOUR PLANS FOR OUR LIVES AND OUR GREAT CITY.

GOD BLESS THE CITY OF BERNIE, BLESS ITS LEADERS, OUR STATE, OUR OFFICIALS, AND CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR WONDERFUL COUNTRY FOR YOUR GLORY.

AND IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS.

AMEN.

AMEN.

THANK YOU.

MASTER.

WOULD YOU JOIN ME IN THE PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN TO THE TEXAS FLAG? I PLEDGE THE, TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TWO WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, ONE WITH LIBERTY, REDEEM JUSTICE FOR ALL, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE THESE TO BE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE IN INDIVISIBLE.

THANK YOU.

YOU MAY BE SEATED.

WE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA

[2. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST]

ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST TONIGHT? NO, SIR.

AWESOME.

WONDERFUL.

MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE, PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UH, NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT IF SOMEONE COME IN LATE AND WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND STATE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS, THEY'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL.

OKAY.

NO TAKERS.

MOVING ON TO AGENDA

[4. CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed below within the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the City Council and may be enacted with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of items unless a Council Member or citizen so requests, in which event the item may be moved to the general order of business and considered in its normal sequence.]

IF NOT, CAN I GET A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MACALUSO? A SECOND MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

THANK YOU.

UH, SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN WILLISON, PLEASE VOTE.

CONSENT AGENDA PASSES AS IS FIVE.

OH, THANK YOU EVERYONE.

MOVING ON TO OUR REGULAR

[5.A.2026-039 RECEIVE THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT (ACFR) FROM WHITLEY PENN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. (Report from the auditors)]

RECEIVED THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FROM WHITNEY PENN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

PRESENT HERE, SARAH LUCERA.

GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.

UM, I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND INTRODUCE PATRICK SIMMONS, WHO IS THE PARTNER, OUR ENGAGEMENT PARTNER ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WHITLEY PENN HAS SERVED AS OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDITOR AND PATRICK LED THE TEAM AND THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THROUGHOUT.

SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO HIM TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND THE WORDS THAT HE IS REQUIRED TO TELL YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SARAH.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS PATRICK SIMMONS.

I'M AN AUDIT PARTNER WITH WHITLEY PENN.

UH, I JUST HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION OF THE GOOD NEWS, THE AUDIT RESULTS THIS YEAR FOR YOUR FISCAL YEAR 2025 AUDIT.

UH, FIRST OF ALL IS JUST A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM.

IN ADDITION TO MYSELF, UH, ANDREW JEANNETTE WAS THE SENIOR MANAGER ON THE ENGAGEMENT, BRITTANY THE SENIOR ASSOCIATE, AND THEN ROGER THE, UH, QUALITY CONTROL REVIEWER.

SO THAT'S ROGER'S NOT NECESSARILY ON THE TEAM, BUT HE IS A SECOND AND SECOND PARTNER THAT PUTS ANOTHER SET OF EYES ON THE REPORT BEFORE IT GOES OUT THE DOOR.

AS YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW THE AUDIT, IT, IT IS A VERY LONG PROCESS.

IT, IT'S A LOT GOES INTO IT ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON YOUR SIDE.

UM, AND THEN WE COME IN FOR A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE YOU CLOSE THE BOOKS.

AND WE CALL THAT INTERIM FIELD WORK.

WE DO A LOT OF PLANNING RISK ASSESSMENT, MEETING WITH ALL YOUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, GETTING, GETTING COPIES OF ALL YOUR POLICIES, PROCEDURES, ANY UPDATES, AND THEN WE TEST YOUR CONTROLS.

WE, WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE OPERATING HOW YOU EXPECT THEM

[00:05:01]

AND THEN AFTER YOU CLOSE THE BOOKS, WE COME BACK, UH, FOR YEAR END FIELD WORK, AND WE, THAT'S STEP NUMBER FOUR, WHERE WE DO THE SUBSTANTIVE TESTING AND WE SUBSTANTIATE ALL OF THOSE BALANCES.

AND ALL OF THAT GOES INTO PROVIDING AN OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

AND SO THIS SLIDE JUST HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE, THE AREAS IN WHICH WE PERFORM OUR INTERNAL CONTROL TESTING OR WE AT LEAST DO A WALKTHROUGH AND, AND LOOK AT YOUR INTERNAL CONTROLS.

SO IT'S A VERY COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, BUT OVERALL, THE, THE PURPOSE IS REALLY TO PROVIDE AN OPINION.

AND THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT, UM, OUTCOMES THAT CAN HAPPEN.

AND THAT WAS ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, BUT I'LL JUMP TO THE RESULTS.

SO WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE AN UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT, AND THAT SIGNIFIES A CLEAN OPINION.

IT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT CAN BE GIVEN ON A SET OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE NUMBERS, THE AMOUNTS, THE NOTE DISCLOSURES IN THIS REPORT CAN BE RELIED UPON AND ARE WITHIN MATERIAL RANGES.

AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THIS, YOU DO HAVE A, UH, GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING STANDARDS REPORT.

AND SO WE DIDN'T, AND THAT'S YOUR REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

AND SO WE DIDN'T IDENTIFY ANY FINDINGS FOR THAT REPORT AS WELL.

AND THEN THIS YEAR, UM, FROM IT, IT'LL VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR, BUT YOU DID NOT HAVE A FEDERAL SINGLE AUDIT THIS YEAR.

SO YOU DID NOT REACH THE MILLION DOLLAR THRESHOLD OF, UH, SPENDING FOR FEDERAL AWARDS TO TRIGGER THE SINGLE AUDIT.

AND THAT'LL, THAT COULD HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.

UM, AND SO YOU WOULD SEE AN ADDITIONAL, A THIRD REPORT IF THAT WAS THE CASE.

SO THAT, THAT COVERS REALLY MY, UM, MY OVERALL NEWS ON ALL THE GOOD NEWS ON THE REPORT.

AND SO I HAVE A FEW, UM, JUST FINANCIAL STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR, FOR, FOR YOUR REFERENCE, UM, TO KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH THE REPORT AS WELL.

BUT THIS, UH, STATEMENT IN THAT POSITION, THIS FIRST ONE, IT'S GOING TO, IT'S BROKEN UP INTO GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES AND BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES.

IT'S ON FULL ACCRUAL BASIS, SO IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WOULD BUDGET ON.

IT'S GONNA INCLUDE YOUR CAPITAL ASSETS, YOUR BONDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT YOU CAN SEE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, UM, YOU, YOU INCREASE YOUR NET POSITION TO 108 MILLION, 108.3 MILLION.

AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT NET INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL ASSETS NUMBER INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR, WHICH MEANS YOU'RE EITHER ADDING TO YOUR CAPITAL ASSETS OR, OR YOU'RE BUILDING THEM FASTER THAN THEY'RE DEPRECIATING.

SO, UM, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE THAT NUMBER, UH, INCREASE.

NEXT IS YOUR FUND LEVEL STATEMENTS.

SO THIS IS VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW, AGAIN, ON YOUR FUND STATEMENTS.

YOU HAVE EACH OF YOUR MAJOR FUNDS, GENERAL FUND, DEBT SERVICE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AND THEN YOUR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, WHICH WILL BE SOME GRANT FUNDS, THE PFC, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO YOUR GENERAL FUND REALLY REMAIN RELATIVELY FLAT YEAR OVER YEAR, UM, TO A FUND BALANCE OF 21.7 MILLION AS YOUR FINAL RESULT.

AND THEN DEBT SERVICE FUND AT 1.9 MILLION CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AT 45.6 MILLION.

AND THEN OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS AROUND 10 MILLION.

AND WHAT MAKES UP THAT FUND BALANCE IS WHAT THIS SLIDE IS HERE.

SO YOU CAN SEE, UM, WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND, THERE IS THREE, ABOUT 3 MILLION THAT'S RESTRICTED BY, UM, EXTERNAL AGENCIES NORMALLY.

SO CRIME, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY PURPOSES AND A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

BUT, UM, JUST SO YOU KNOW, IT IS RESTRICTED ON WHAT'S TO BE SPENT ON.

SIMILAR IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND WHERE YOU HAVE 19.3 REPRESENTS YOUR UNSPENT BOND PROCEEDS, BASICALLY.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A SIGNED FUND BALANCE OF 26.3.

SO VERY HEALTHY FUND BALANCE THERE.

AND THEN OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, MOST OF THAT RESTRICTION IS THAT, UM, ECONOMIC OR THE PFC, UH, PUBLIC FACILITIES CORPORATION FUND BALANCE.

AND THEN ON THE ENTERPRISE FUND SIDE.

SO OVERALL YOUR INCREASE, UM, REVENUES OVER EXPENSES WAS AN INCREASE OF 6.5 MILLION.

AND THEN ONCE YOU ADD IN SOME NON-OPERATING REVENUES, CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ENTER FUND TRANSFERS, IT WAS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 17 MILLION.

AGAIN, WHAT MAKES UP THAT NET POSITION FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, IT'S SHOWN IN SOME DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, SIMILAR TO THE CATEGORIES YOU SAW ON ONE OF THE EARLIER SLIDES BECAUSE THESE, THESE FUNDS ARE ON A FULL ACCRUAL BASIS.

SO YOU HAVE YOUR NET INVESTMENT CAPITAL ASSETS NUMBER, THEN YOUR RESTRICTED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR YOUR IMPACT FEES, AND THEN ANYTHING ELSE GOES INTO THAT UNRESTRICTED NUMBER.

AND, UM, THAT UNRESTRICTED NUMBER, AGAIN, FOR FULL ACCRUAL STATEMENTS, UM, IT'S NOT EXACTLY A CASH BASIS, WHICH YOU MAY BE USED TO BECAUSE THERE THERE IS PENSION LIABILITIES AND OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT LIABILITIES THAT WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT, UH, THAT NUMBER THERE.

AND LAST SLIDE I HAVE, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORDS ON HERE.

I WON'T REPEAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE, BUT I'LL HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS.

AND WE DO ISSUE A SEPARATE, UH,

[00:10:01]

BUT, UM, GASB 1 0 1 WAS IMPLEMENTED IN THE CURRENT YEAR THAT'S RELATED TO YOUR VACATION SICK LEAVE, YOUR COMPENSATED ABSENCES, AND HOW THAT'S ACCOUNTED FOR.

AND FOR, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERY CITY HAS TO IMPLEMENT, AND WHAT IT TENDS TO DO IS INCREASE YOUR LIABILITY FOR LEAVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR LEAVE THAT SOMEBODY EARNED THAT IT MIGHT NOT GET PAID OUT WHEN THEY LEAVE, BUT THEY MIGHT TAKE IT BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

SO IF YOU COME UP WITH AN ESTIMATE, AND THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL LIABILITY THAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR BOOKS.

NOW, IT DOES NOT IMPACT YOUR GENERAL FUND, BUT IT DOES IMPACT YOUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND YOUR GOVERNMENT-WIDE STATEMENTS.

AND THEN ALSO THE, UH, SIGNIFICANT RISK IDENTIFIED OF IMPROPER REVENUE RECOGNITION.

THIS IS A STANDARD RISK IN ALL OF OUR GOVERNMENTAL AUDITS AND, UH, EVEN NON-GOVERNMENTAL AUDITS.

AND, UM, WE BUILD PROCEDURES, DESIGN PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS THE REV IMPROPER REVENUE RECOGNITION.

AND THEN WE, IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT RISKS THAT WE, UH, DISCOVERED DURING AN AUDIT, WE WOULD DISCLOSE THOSE TO YOU, BUT WE DID NOT DISCOVER ANY.

AND THEN ALSO THE OTHER THING I LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS DURING OUR AUDIT PROCEDURES, WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS THAT REQUIRED CORRECTIONS.

AND SO THAT'S, UH, VERY IMPORTANT.

UM, AND IT IS VERY NICE TO SEE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE CASE EVERYWHERE BECAUSE YOU CAN, WE CAN FIND MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS AND THEY CAN BE CORRECTED, AND WE CAN STILL ISSUE AN UNMODIFIED OR CLEAN OPINION.

BUT IN THIS CASE, WHAT THIS MEANS IS WHENEVER WE GOT THE TRIAL BALANCE THAT YOUR TEAM GAVE US, WE DIDN'T IDENTIFY ANYTHING, ANY MATERIAL CORRECTION THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE.

SO THAT REALLY IS A TESTAMENT TO HOW WELL YOUR FINANCE TEAM DOES ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AND, UH, WITH THAT, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY OTHER, UM, ITEMS TO DISCUSS, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

PATRICK, ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? NO QUESTIONS.

NO.

THANK YOU.

AND YOUR, AND WHITNEY, PENN AND SARAH AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

GREAT JOB AS ALWAYS.

UH, IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE NO ISSUES AND ESPECIALLY DURING AN AUDIT.

SO, UH, GREAT JOB GUYS.

THANKS, PATRICK.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM FIVE B 2026 DASH ZERO SMITH.

MAYOR, MAYOR, WE NEED TO RECEIVE THAT REPORT.

OH, MY BAD, MY BAD.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM FIVE A, UH, COUNCILMAN WILSON MAYOR MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RECEIVE THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FROM WHITLEY PENN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MICKELSON, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES.

FIVE.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

THANKS FOR KEEPING ME IN LINE, MAN.

MOVING ON TO FIVE B 2026

[5.B.2026-072 RECEIVE THE POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT (PAFR) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025]

RECEIVED A POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

SARAH, AGAIN, YES, SIR.

THIS IS HOW THE ITEM ALIGNS WITH OUR STRATEGY.

MATT, UM, THE ER, THIS IS THE, THE THIRD YEAR THAT WE'VE DONE A, A PATH FOR THE POPULAR, UM, ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW WHAT, I DID WANNA TAKE JUST A SECOND 'CAUSE WHOA, THAT, THAT LAST ONE WAS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.

IT TAKES MOST OF THE YEAR.

AND, UM, YOU DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET DANIELLE MONTEZ THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN I HAD OTHER TEAM MEMBERS, BUT SHE'S HERE TONIGHT.

SHE'S OUR ACT FOR EXPERT.

AND SO WE RELY HEAVILY ON HER EXPERTISE AND JUST WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND AND SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO MY TEAM BECAUSE THEY, THEY PUT IN A LOT OF WORK.

SO, UM, MOVING ON, THE ER IS A SECOND FINANCIAL REPORT.

IT'S THIS SMALL ONE THAT WAS AT YOUR DAS.

UM, IT'S MEANT TO BE JUST A 10 TO 15 PAGE REPORT.

YOU CAN KEEP IT IN YOUR CAR, YOU CAN TAKE IT WITH YOU IF THERE'S RESIDENCE OR CONSTITUENTS THAT MAYBE THERE'S ONE THAT HAS NUMBERS.

UM, THE, THE PURPOSE IS THAT IT'S MORE READILY AVAILABLE, TRANSPARENT TO THE EVERYDAY PERSON BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE, LET'S BE HONEST, ARE NOT GONNA OPEN THIS 140 PAGE SUCKER AND KNOW WHAT TO ASK.

SO, UM, THIS IS A, UH, ONE OF THE THREE AWARDS THAT WE GO FOR, AND WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT WE GOT THE AWARD FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR 2020 FOR PAP R.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.

UM, SO WE'LL SUBMIT THIS ONE FOR OUR AWARD AS WELL.

BUT IT'S, IT'S JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT KIND OF PUTS US ABOVE AND BEYOND.

NOT A LOT THE CITIES DO THIS, BUT IT'S, IT'S A HELPFUL REPORT.

UM, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, ON PAGE THREE, IF, IF YOU EVER WANNA JUST KNOW AT THE DROP OF A HAT, SOME OF OUR, OUR METRICS, OUR LANE MILES, OUR PARKLAND ACRES, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT OUR CURRENT POPULATION WAS OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD, YOU KNOW, PAGE TO KEEP JUST AT THE READY.

THERE'S ALSO JUST VERY, VERY HIGH LEVEL FINANCIAL OVERVIEW.

SO IF YOU WANNA KNOW, IF SOMEONE ASKS YOU HOW MUCH DID YOU GET IN SALES TAX REVENUE LAST YEAR, IT'LL, IT'LL SAY IT THERE, IT ACTUALLY HAS THREE YEARS OF COMPS, SO YOU COULD SHOW THAT TO SOMEONE.

LOTS OF LOTS OF

[00:15:01]

ANY, ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTION, COUNSEL, IS THIS THE ONLY PLACE THIS EXISTS? IT'S, IT'S ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL.

SO WE ANYBODY CAN ACCESS? YES.

WE'LL HAVE TO JUST HAVE IT IN OUR CAR TO TALK TO BILL.

OH, NO, NO, NO.

IT'S, IT'S ON THE WEBSITE.

YOU CAN ALSO DIRECT PEOPLE TO IT.

EXCELLENT.

PERFECT.

AWESOME.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO, BUT I JUST WANNA COMMENT IF I MAY.

UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I NOTICED YEAR OVER YEAR, OUR SALES TAX HAS ESSENTIALLY GONE UP EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

UM, SAME WITH PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE OF ASSESSED VALUE INCREASES.

YOU LOOK AT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, OVERALL IT'S BEEN ALMOST UNCHANGED.

AND ACTUALLY IF YOU GO BACK ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE THAT, SO IT'S REALLY LIKE THE LAST 12 YEARS.

SO OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE HAS FUNDAMENTALLY NOT CHANGED OVERALL.

UM, THE OTHER THING IS OUR DEBT SERVICE, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR DEBT SERVICE ABOUT, UM, A THIRD OF IT OR A QUARTER OF IT IS ACTUALLY UTILITY DEBT.

NOT CITY DEBT, NOT PROJECT DEBTS.

SO I THINK PEOPLE KIND OF, THEY JUST LUMP THESE NUMBERS TOGETHER AND DON'T THINK THROUGH THE WHOLE THING.

SO, 'CAUSE WE'RE DOING, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE EXACTLY.

CITY AND THE UTILITY.

SO I JUST WANNA COMMENT ON THAT.

YEAH, THANK YOU FOR GOOD STUFF.

THERE'S SOME GREAT GRAPHS ON PAGE 11 THAT SHOWS THE DEBT OUTSTANDING, UM, LIKE DR.

MAX SAID, AND IT BREAKS DOWN OUR DEBT BY GOVERNMENTAL VERSUS VERSUS UTILITIES.

WE GET A PREFERENTIAL INTEREST RATE IF WE ISSUE THE UTILITY DEBT AS A GEO BOND.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IN THE PAST, IT, IT JUST SAYS THAT THOSE BONDS ARE BACKED BY THE GOOD FAITH OF THE GOVERNMENT.

YOU CAN ALSO DO REVENUE BONDS, WHICH IN THAT CASE WOULDN'T, UM, SHOW UP AS, AS TOTAL REVENUE THAT'S, UM, BY THE GOOD FAITH OF THE CITY.

BUT THE, THE GRAPH ON PAGE 12 THAT SHOWS BASICALLY THE, THE LEVEL TAX RATE OVER THE YEARS, I THINK IS REALLY HELPFUL AS WELL.

COUNCIL MEMBER MLU ALSO SAY ON THAT PROPERTY TAX, WHILE IT'S TRUE AVALOR AND VALUE GOES UP, UH, FOR US THE BIGGEST GROWTH IS NEW VALUE BEING ADDED MM-HMM .

UM, EACH YEAR.

ALRIGHT, GREAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I GET A MOTION.

MOTION COUNCIL MACALUSO MAYOR, I MOVE TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE THE POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.

ER I SAY THAT RIGHT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

UH, SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN WILLISON, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES.

FIVE ZERO.

THANK YOU SARAH.

THANK YOU GUYS.

MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM FIVE

[5.C.2026-051 PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE DRAFT SAFETY ACTION PLAN AS PREPARED WITH THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL (SS4A) PLANNING GRANT.]

GRANT, JEFF EVENING MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

SO HERE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT OUR SAFETY ACTION PLAN IS TIES BACK TO MANY OF OUR ITEMS ON THE STRATEGY MAP, UH, COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INVESTING AND MAINTAINING HIGH QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE, UTILIZING DATA, ADVANCING MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS.

UM, SO SOME OF THIS YOU RECALL WE DISCUSSED AT THE WINTER WORKSHOP.

UM, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE KEY THINGS WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT AS WE CONTINUE FORWARD.

UM, BUT REALLY THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL PROGRAM IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM.

THERE'S BILLION DOLLAR ANNUALLY OUT COMING OUT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

UM, CITY OF BURN, MANY OTHER CITIES IN OUR LOCAL AREA HAVE APPLIED FOR THIS.

AND IT'S, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET SOME OF THE PLANNING THINGS DONE, WORKING THROUGH TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER FOR DRIVERS, PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLISTS, EVERYONE THERE.

UM, SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT NOW AND AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AT THE WORKSHOP, WE HAVE LOTS OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS AS WELL.

UM, AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS A PLANNING GRANT.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON A PLANNING GRANT TODAY, AND THIS GRANT WILL PUT US IN SO THAT WE'RE READY FOR THE FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION GRANT.

THAT'S WHERE WE COULD APPLY AND GET FUNDS TO POTENTIALLY DESIGN AND HOPEFULLY GO BUILD SOME OF THESE THINGS THEY'RE RECOMMENDING.

BUT TODAY IT'S JUST THE PLANNING GRANT OPERATION OF THE, OF THE PROCESS.

SO WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING TO DATE? UM, SO WE'VE BEEN ACTUALLY KIND OF WORKING ON THIS FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW.

OVERALL, UH, BACK IN THE GOAL SETTING, UM, SOME OF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN THOSE LATE 2022 IS WHEN WE ADOPTED A GOAL ZERO OF NO, NO FATALITIES ON OUR PUBLIC ROADWAY.

SO WE'VE MADE A LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT AND GOAL SETTING.

WE'VE DONE A PLANNING STRUCTURE, DONE SAFETY ANALYSIS, COMMUNITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT.

WE'VE DONE LOTS OF ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION OVER THE YEARS, UH, STRATEGY AND PROJECT SELECTIONS AS WELL AS REVIEWING POLICY AND PROCESS CHANGES, WORKING ON PROGRESS AND TRANSPARENCY.

AND THEN TODAY WE'RE KIND OF AT THE POINT NOW WHERE WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ITSELF.

UM, YOU REMEMBER THIS SLIDE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE WINTER WORKSHOP.

UM, WE SPENT A LOT OF EFFORT REVIEWING THE PAST CRASH DATA.

UM, SO THERE ARE 2300 22,342 CRASHES.

WHAT WE, THROUGH THIS PROCESS, SPENT A LOT OF EFFORT ON

[00:20:01]

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT 36 DOWN TO ZERO, AND AT THE SAME TIME WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO THE PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE CRASHES.

UM, REALLY THAT'S OUR, IT COULD BE OUR, COULD BE KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL, COULD BE PEOPLE RIDING THEIR BIKE TO WORK.

IT COULD BE ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, UM, THAT WE WANT TO PUT OUR BIKE AND PET SAFE HERE IN BURN AS WELL, AS WELL AS REDUCING THAT FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURY CRASHES.

UH, THIS IS AGAIN JUST A SUMMARY SLIDE THAT I SHOWED YOU WHEN WE TALKED THROUGH A DETAIL AT THE, AT THE WINTER WORKSHOP, UM, WHERE 73% OF OUR CRASHES OCCUR ON 15% OF OUR ROADWAYS.

AND SO PART OF THAT IS WE DEFINED A HIGH INJURY NETWORK, AND THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT IN A LOT FURTHER USING DATA ON WHERE THE CRASHES ARE TO PUT OUR EFFORT ONTO THESE PARTICULAR ROADWAYS.

FOR FUTURE PROJECTS, WHAT WE LOOKED AT ARE INTERSECTIONS THEMSELVES, UM, THEN THE CORRIDORS ALONG BETWEEN THE INTERSECTIONS AS WELL AS WHAT SYSTEMIC TYPE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE COULD DO THAT WOULD BE A CITYWIDE IMPROVEMENT AS WELL.

SO TARGETED INTERSECTION RECOMMENDATIONS.

UM, THE KEY INTERSECTIONS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING IS WHAT WE COMMONLY CALL FIVE POINTS AT THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN, UH, MAIN AND RIVER, RIVER AND PLANT, MAINE AND BANDERA.

AND THEN DOWN AT THE SOUTH SIDE AT A CASCADE AND SCENIC LOOP INTERSECTIONS.

AND THESE ARE WHAT WE COULD LOOK AT AS PEDESTRIAN MIDBLOCK CROSSINGS, PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS, TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS, LEFT TURN LANE CHANGES, OR EVEN POTENTIALLY ROUNDABOUTS OR THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO POTENTIALLY DO AT THESE INTERSECTIONS.

FOR THE CORRIDORS THEMSELVES, WE'RE LOOKING KIND OF IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHAT MOST OF YOU WOULD CONSIDER DOWNTOWN.

UM, SO THE SECTION OF MAIN STREET FROM JOHNS ROAD TO, UM, I THINK THAT'S HIGHLAND AND THEN A OF RIVER ROAD, UM, DOWN TO THE END OF THE PARK.

AND THEN THAT LITTLE PORTION THERE IS WEST SAN ANTONIO THERE AT THE SQUARE ITSELF.

AND SO THESE ARE OUR CORRIDORS THAT WE'VE STUDIED, AGAIN, KIND OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'LL LOOK AT FOR CORRIDORS OR PEDESTRIAN MIDBLOCK CROSSINGS, PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENTS, POTENTIAL ACCESS MANAGEMENT, ENHANCED PAVEMENT MARKINGS AND OR ROUNDABOUTS.

AND THEN SYSTEMIC RECOMMENDATIONS.

AGAIN, THESE ARE STUFF THAT WE CAN DO CITYWIDE.

UM, REALLY WE LOOKED AT THESE PARTICULAR AREAS FOR SYSTEMIC, SYSTEMIC SAFETY TREATMENTS.

UM, BLANCO, AGAIN, PORTION OF MAINE, PORTION OF RIVER PORTION OF SCHOOL, AND A PORTION OF WEST BANDERA AS WELL AS A HANDFUL OF KEY INTERSECTIONS.

AND THESE ARE WHERE WE CAN BE DOING SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS.

ENHANCED PAVEMENT MARKINGS.

UH, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THAT TXDOT HAS BEEN DOING THIS RECENTLY.

AS YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE TWO TRAFFIC SIGNALS.

ALL THE REST ARE TEXT DOTS, AS I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE.

SO THEY'RE PUTTING REFLECTIVE YELLOW ORANGE BACK PLATES AROUND THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS.

UM, SO TDOT'S BEEN DOING THAT THIS LAST SUMMER.

AND THEY'RE ALSO UPGRADING MANY OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO HAVE A FLASHING YELLOW ARROW.

IT'S A NEW, MORE MODERN TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

UM, SO TDOT'S BEEN DOING THAT.

WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO THAT FOR OUR TWO TRAFFIC SIGNALS, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE OTHER ITEMS WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE WINTER WORKSHOP, IS FOR SOME OF OUR DOWNTOWN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS, THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO WITH THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS THEMSELVES THAT'LL HELP FAVOR AND GIVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO THE PEDESTRIANS.

AND THAT'S THAT LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVAL.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE TALKING WITH TDOT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF USING THAT.

NON INFRASTRUCTURE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THESE ARE KIND OF CONTINUED STUDIES.

WE CAN DO INTERSECTION CONTROL EVALUATIONS, CORRIDOR STUDIES, UH, SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL PLANS, AS WELL AS ROADWAY SAFETY AUDITS.

UM, SO WE KIND OF IDENTIFIED SOME OF THESE OTHER LOCATIONS FOR THAT.

AGAIN, FIVE POINTS INTERSECTION, THE ENTRANCE, THE DRIVEWAY TO BERNIE HIGH SCHOOL, UM, THE NORTH SCHOOL JOHNS ROAD INTERSECTION, UM, AS WELL AS RIVER HERF INTERSECTION IN A PORTION OF WEST BANDERA.

AND WE'RE ALSO DISCUSSING SOME POLICY AND PROCEDURE RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL AS PART OF THIS, UM, UPDATE SOME OF OUR DESIGN STANDARDS AND OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO THERE IS LIKE WHEN WE DO TRAFFIC STUDIES, UM, WE GET A TRAFFIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN AND IT HAS DIFFERENT ROADWAYS AND DIFFERENT ITEMS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN PUT INTO OUR CODE IS IF IT IS A PROJECT THAT'S ON THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK THAT WE CAN FAVOR IMPROVEMENTS ON THE STREET THAT'S A HIGH INJURY NETWORK VERSUS ONE OF THE OTHER STREETS THAT'S NOT, UM, DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PARKING MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

UH, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS OF KIND OF DOWNTOWN, UH, PARKING.

WE'RE IMPROVING THE PLANT STREET PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING SOME FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS ON A PARKING LOT ON TYSON.

UM, WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY ON A PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS,

[00:25:01]

UM, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A PROGRAM THAT REALLY DEFINES WHAT PARKING WE NEED AND KEEP TRACK OF THE, THE PARKING COUNT.

UH, WE CAN ESTABLISH SOME EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS NOW, TREAT PROGRAMS WITH COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH BERNIE, ISD, ANYONE THAT'S DRIVEN THIS WEEK COMPARED TO LAST WEEK.

WE KNOW, UH, TRAFFIC'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT WITH THE SCHOOLS.

UM, SO WE CAN DO A LOT OF EFFORT WITH THE SCHOOLS TO HELP IMPROVE OUR TRAFFIC.

UM, THAT TIES BACK INTO DOING SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL PROGRAM.

UM, IT IS A, A PROGRAM THAT WE CAN DO, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO COME UP WITH, UH, SOME MORE DEFINED ITEMS TO HELP IMPROVE BIKE ED ACCESS TO SOME OF THE SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE QUEUE LANES THAT ARE BACKING UP ON THE CITY ROADS, CALLING, CAUSING ISSUES, SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH.

AND THEN AGAIN, WE'LL MAINTAIN OUR HIGH INJURY NETWORK AND REGULARLY UPDATE TRASH CRASH DATA.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL CONTINUE DOING.

CONTINUE WORKING WITH MPO AND TXDOT.

TXDOT LOOKS AT THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK AS WELL.

UM, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TAKING OUR, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN EXISTING SAFETY TASK TASK FORCE MEETING THAT'S EVOLVED OVER TIME.

AT ONE POINT ENGINEER'S OFFICE, WE MET WITH THE FIRE AND PD AND THEN WE CREATED A SEPARATE INTERNAL TASK FORCE WHERE WE ADDED, UM, UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS AND PARKS AND MANY OTHER CITY STAFF.

BUT ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO MAKE THIS MORE PUBLIC FACING.

SO IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE, I'VE CHATTED AND REACHED OUT TO A COUPLE CITIES PEERS.

THERE'S SOME CITIES THAT DO VERY MUCH LIKE A BOARD, AN ACTUAL ONE OF THE MANY BOARDS.

THERE'S OTHER THAT JUST DO A LITTLE MORE INFORMAL.

BUT IT'S A WAY TO ACTUALLY KEEP THIS PUBLIC FACING, SHOWED RECORDS, SHOWED NOTES, MAKE IT WHERE IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC COULD ATTEND THESE MEETINGS AS OPPOSED TO AN INTERNAL MEETING ONLY.

AND AS WELL PROGRESS THE A DA TRANSITION TRANSITION PLAN.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE A DA TRANSITION PLAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

WE HAVE A HANDFUL MORE YEARS LEFT TO ACTUALLY FINISH THE PLAN ITSELF, AND THAT'S MAKING THE LIST OF THINGS TO GO FIX.

AND THEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN GO START WORKING ON THE THINGS TO FIX.

BUT THERE ARE SOME CITIES OUT THERE THAT HAVE DONE THESE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL GRANTS TO DO WORK ON THEIR A DA TRANSITION PLAN.

SO THAT'S MAYBE, MAYBE SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT.

INSTEAD OF DOING A LITTLE BIT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, MAYBE WE CAN TRY TO BUNDLE IT AND TRY TO GET A GRANT TO FINISH.

JUST FINISH THE WHOLE A DA TRANSITION PLAN ITSELF.

SO REALLY THE NEXT STEPS TODAY I'M PRESENTING KIND OF THE DRAFT, UM, AT LATER IN THE MONTH WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING IT ONLINE.

WE'LL BE WORKING WITH, UH, COMMUNICATIONS ON HOW WE'RE GONNA GET THIS OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

UM, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE SOME TIME TO REVIEW THAT AND PROVIDE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UM, THEN BASICALLY LATER THIS MONTH IN THE SPRING IS WHEN THE SS FOUR A THE NEXT ROUND OF GRANTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PUBLISHED.

WE'VE BEEN WATCHING CLOSELY, BUT IT HASN'T COME OUT YET.

AND ALL THIS SCHEDULE IS TIMING.

SO THAT IN MAY WE WILL BRING THIS BACK AND I'LL HAVE A FORMAL TONIGHT, IT'S JUST A DISCUSSION ITEM.

UM, BUT IN MAY I'LL HAVE A FORMAL APPROVAL FROM THE COUNCIL.

AND THAT'S ALL FOR PLANNING TO SUBMIT IN JUNE TO ACTUALLY MAKE OUR FORMAL SUBMITTAL OF THIS AND BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE DEMONSTRATION.

I'M SORRY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION GRANT, IF THAT'S WHAT WE DESIRE.

UM, SO THAT'S THE NEXT STEPS.

YOU'LL SEE ME A COUPLE MORE TIMES.

AND REALLY JUST NOW, JUST IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PROGRESS SO FAR, WHAT YOU'VE SEEN.

THANKS JEFF.

ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL OL JEFF, CAN YOU CLARIFY LIKE BY IMPLEMENTATION, ARE YOU MEANING IMPLEMENTATION OF US BEING ABLE TO JUST HAVE THIS DOCUMENTATION AS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT OR HAVING AN ACTUAL PROJECT TO, TO FUND? SO YEAH, THE, WITH THIS DOCUMENT, IF WE'RE GOING TO APPLY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION GRANT, THEY ACTUALLY GET FUNDS TO DESIGN AND BUILD.

THEY WANNA SEE THAT YOU HAVE THE PLANNING GRANT AND THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN IN PLACE.

SO BY FINISHING THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN, IT PUTS US READY TO GO TO APPLY FOR THE NEXT FUNDS TO ACTUALLY GO DESIGN AND BUILD SOMETHING.

SO, SO THEN COME MAY, JUNE-ISH, WE'D BE TRYING TO FUND A ACTUAL PROJECT TO, WE WOULD BE APPLYING, MAKING AN INITIAL APPLICATION FOR A PROCESS THAT TAKES A YEAR TO FIND OUT IF WE GOT THE GRANT.

OKAY.

YEAH.

IT'S SLOW.

I KNOW, YOU KNOW THAT.

NOW MY QUESTION WAS ARE WE USING THE SAME GRANT, UM, ENTITY THAT WE'VE BEEN USED TO ASSIST WITH THIS? OR HOW, HOW ARE WE OKAY.

BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, I'VE SEEN SOME, YOU KNOW, OCCASIONAL DEROGATORY COMMENTS ABOUT FEDERAL MONEY AND STRINGS ATTACHED AND ALL THAT.

AND I GET ALL THAT.

BUT I'VE BEEN PAYING INCOME TAX FOR A LONG TIME, .

AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET MONEY OUTTA WASHINGTON TO COME BACK TO BERNIE OR TO KENDALL COUNTY IS THROUGH GRANTS.

SO UNLESS THE STRINGS ARE JUST TO SO ONEROUS, WE SHOULD GET EVERY PENNY AND, WELL NO MORE PENNY, EXCUSE ME, EVERY DIME AND NICKEL THAT WE CAN GET OUT OF DC TO HELP US DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

TO REMOVE IT FROM OUR LOCAL TAXPAYERS BACK.

'CAUSE THEY ALREADY PAID THE MONEY, BASICALLY .

AND ONE MORE, UM, CLARIFICATION.

I KNOW THERE WAS

[00:30:01]

BUT OBVIOUSLY I KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE 'CAUSE THAT WAS PART OF THE GROUP, BUT CAN YOU JUST KIND OF ELABORATE ON, THERE'S VARIOUS IDEAS OUT THERE.

TDOT HAS IDEAS TOO, BUT THERE'S NOTHING ACTUALLY CONCRETE.

WE DON'T, WE HAVE VARIOUS IDEAS, BUT THERE'S, WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON ANYTHING, SO ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

YEAH, WE, THERE'S SCHEMATICS AND CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE HAD ON WHAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY DO TO IMPROVE.

UH, BUT IT WOULD BE THAT NEXT GRANT WHERE WE WOULD ACTUALLY GO AND DESIGN SOMETHING, UM, AND THEN FIGURE OUT FROM THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF, SO WE'RE NOT AT THAT POINT TODAY.

THANKS.

AND, AND THAT WAS MY LINE OF QUESTIONING AS WELL AS WHERE WE WERE ON THAT TIMELINE.

SO THE FINAL DISCUSSIONS OF IMPLEMENTATION, WHAT THOSE ELEMENTS LOOK LIKE ARE FOR A LATER DISCUSSION.

BUT FOR AS FAR AS APPLYING FOR GRANTS, I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES HAVING SAFER STREETS AND HAVING A GRANT HELP FOR THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

'CAUSE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ISSUES.

WE HAVE THE CRASH ISSUE, RIGHT? THE SAFETY, PARTICULARLY DOWN MAIN STREET.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE JUST THE TRAFFIC ISSUE AROUND SOME OF THE SPOTS THAT YOU POINTED OUT.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO, TO CLARIFY ON THE, UM, 'CAUSE WE DID THIS AT THE WORKSHOP, BUT JUST FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WATCH THAT OR ATTEND, WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT FATAL, FATAL OR SERIOUS INJURIES, THOSE ARE INJURIES THAT REQUIRE TRANSPORTATION TO MEDICAL FACILITY.

IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.

OKAY.

AND WE WERE AT 36, CORRECT? BACK TO THE SLIDE.

YEAH, IT WAS 36 OUT OF OUR 2,300.

CORRECT.

AND, AND, AND IS THE NUMBER HERE, OR REFRESH MY MEMORY OF WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WERE IN THAT MAIN STREET AREA? AND I CAN GO BACK AND CHECK MY NOTES, BUT IT WAS A PRETTY HIGH PERCENTAGE.

YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T, I WAS WAS ASKING FRIEND, BUT UH, NO, DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

RIGHT.

SO FOR ME, THAT'S THE AREA NUMBER ONE OF SAFETY, RIGHT? FOR THE PEDESTRIANS, FOR OUR RETAILERS, FOR ALL THE OBVIOUS AREAS, THE REASONS WE WANT TO HAVE IT, IT'D BE A DESTINATION FOR EVENTS, ET CETERA.

BUT THEN THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE TRAFFIC, RIGHT? AND EVERYONE THAT YOU TALK TO POINTS OUT AND KNOW WAS BROUGHT UP AT THE WORKSHOP IS IT'S DURING SCHOOL TIME, RIGHT? SO JUST ONLY PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, IT'S THOSE TWO TIMES A DAY.

UM, WE DO HAVE SOME THINGS IN THESE DISCUSSIONS AS WE BUILD THESE PLANS THAT I THINK ARE WITHIN OUR SPAN OF CONTROL THAT WE CAN TAKE ACTION ON QUICKLY WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND MONEY.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE KIND OF DISCUSSIONS.

I THINK THOUGH, FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS WHERE WE ARE IN THE TIMELINE PUTTING ALL THE ELEMENTS THAT YOU PUT IN THERE ARE FOR PURPOSES OF GETTING THE GRANT, RIGHT? I MEAN THERE'S CORRECT.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THERE.

SO THERE'S SOME THINGS IN HERE THAT I THINK ARE PROBABLY WORTHY OF FURTHER DISCUSSIONS THAT I WANNA ASK QUESTIONS ON.

BUT I THINK FOR RIGHT NOW, I'M, I'M COMFORTABLE.

YEAH.

WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO FOLLOW THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES TO A T WITH THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, THE TALKING ABOUT IT AT THE WORKSHOP, TALKING ABOUT IT TONIGHT, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA POST IT ONLINE AND THEN WE'LL HAVE AN ACTUAL COUNCIL ITEM.

AGAIN, WE, OUR GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT FOR AN ACTUAL, GET FUNDS TO ACTUALLY GO DESIGN SOMETHING, UM, WHERE WE CAN GET SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

COOL.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL .

JEFF, DO, WHEN YOU'RE, UH, IN THE PROPOSAL, ARE YOUR IDEAS, UM, BUDGETED SO THAT WHEN YOU'RE SUBMITTING FOR THIS GRANT, UH, IS IT A ALL OR NOTHING OR WILL WE JUST GET WHATEVER THEY DECIDE TO GIVE US AND THEN WE CAN TAKE THAT MONEY AND APPLY IT TO DIFFERENT PROJECTS WE SEE FIT OR? SO WITH THE CONCEPTS THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED TODAY, WE DO HAVE COST ESTIMATES FOR THOSE ITEMS. UM, THEN WHEN WE GO AND APPLY FOR THE NEXT GRANT, YES, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN MAKE AN INTERNAL DECISION ON WHAT WE WANT TO APPLY FOR.

IN GENERAL, IT'S A 80 20 GRANT, BUT WE HAVE TO GO SPEND A HUNDRED PERCENT TO BE ABLE TO GET 80% BACK.

UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL DECIDE.

AGAIN, THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE DECIDE WE DON'T WANNA DO THIS ONE, BUT WE DON'T WANNA DO THAT ONE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN PICK AS WE MAKE THE APPLICATION TO THE GRANT.

BUT TYPICALLY THE GRANT IS YOU APPLY FOR IT AND YOU GET THAT AMOUNT, THAT AMOUNT, AMOUNT THAT YOU ASKED FOR.

OKAY.

WELL THE BIG THING IS THAT YOU, WE CAN, I MEAN THE TIMELINE, IF YOU APPLY IN JUNE OF 26, YOU'LL BE LUCKY IF YOU HERE BY JUNE OF 27.

AND YOU'LL BE LUCKY IF YOU GET ANY MONEY BY THE END OF CALENDAR YEAR 27 IF, IF AT ALL.

AND THEN YOU CAN FINESSE THE PRO.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST A VERY YEAH.

LONG AND I, AND I WOULD, I WOULD, I CONCUR WITH THAT AND MY ANSWER ALWAYS IS, WELL WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS TWO YEARS AGO, RIGHT? LIKE, THE BEST DAY TO PLANT A TREE WAS YESTERDAY, NEXT BEST DAY IS TODAY.

SO I'M GLAD WE'RE ON THAT JOURNEY 'CAUSE IT DOES TAKE TIME.

YEAH, I BELIEVE WE APPLIED FOR THIS GRANT IN LATE 23, WE NOTICED.

GOT A NOTICE OF AWARD IN 24, AND THEN IT TAKES ALL THE PAPERWORK THROUGH 24, 25 AND LATE 25, 26.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT.

SO IT TAKES A LOT, I THINK, I THINK FOR THAT TIMELINE, THE PEOPLE THAT WE HELP THAT HAVE HELP WITH WRITING THESE GRANTS, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE SUCCESSFUL, RIGHT? IF YOU'RE GONNA PUT THAT MUCH TIME INTO IT, YOU WANT, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE YOU GET IT.

I THINK THERE'S SOME COOL OPPORTUNITIES, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT IT IS WATERWORKS TERRACE OR THE PLAZA WHERE THERE'S SOME JOINT OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE FUNDS TO WORK TOGETHER, RIGHT? MAYBE NOT, OR IT'S THE A DA THING, WHATEVER.

BUT I YOU ABOUT THE COUNTY? NO, UH, IT'S FOR WATERWORKS TERRACE OH, OH OH, IN MAINE PLAZA WHERE THERE ARE SOME SAFETY CONCERNS.

SURE.

WHETHER THAT'S WHERE, WHAT WE DO.

I, I ALWAYS THINK IF WE CAN PIGGYBACK ON FUNDS TO, YOU

[00:35:01]

UM, SO YEAH, AGAIN, TO YOUR POINT, JOE, I THINK BE SOME GOOD DISCUSSIONS TO BE HAD.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOOD WORK.

OBVIOUSLY I'VE BEEN ENJOYING BEING A PART OF THE GROUP, SO THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO, THANK YOU, JEFF.

THANK YOU.

MOVING ON TO AGENDA

[6.A. 2026-071 CITY PARTICIPATION IN AMERICA 250.]

I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO BEN.

BEN, YES.

MAYOR, I ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCILMAN MACALUSO, YOU ASKED FOR A PRESENTATION ON OUR PARTICIPATION IN AMERICA TWO 50 THIS YEAR.

A VERY SIGN SIGNIFICANT YEAR.

I'VE ASKED, UH, A CM STARK TO GIVE THE PRESENTATION.

SHE'S WORKED WITH MULTIPLE DIRECTORS TO KIND OF TEE UP WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL.

I JUST WANNA GIVE A, UH, VERY HIGH OVERVIEW OF, UH, SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, DIFFERENT EVENTS AND, AND EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE PLANNED AS, UH, AS OUR COUNTRY CELEBRATES.

ITS 250TH BIRTHDAY AND WHAT'S GONNA GO ON IN AND AROUND BERNIE.

UH, THIS DEFINITELY IS NOT AN ALL ENCOMPASSING LIST AS WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT WILL COME UP DURING THE YEAR, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS OR GROUPS THAT MAY REACH OUT TO US.

AND WHILE THEY MAY BE BE HANDLING THE EVENT, WE MAY BE ABLE TO ENHANCE THAT BY SOME TYPE OF PARTICIPATION.

SO WE KNOW THAT THERE'LL BE ADDITIONAL ITEMS. UH, THIS PRESENTATION HAS, UH, CONCENTRATED ON WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, WITH OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UM, AS WELL AS OUR LIBRARY.

UH, BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE OTHER AREAS THAT WILL BE, UH, PUTTING EFFORTS FORTH.

I KNOW THAT, UH, CITY SECRETARY CAROL AND HER STAFF HAVE BEEN, UH, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT ITEMS AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE COULD USE AROUND CITY HALL.

SO THERE'LL BE LOTS OF GOOD STUFF GOING ON.

JUST BRIEFLY HERE.

UH, WE WANTED TO, TO, UH, KIND OF GO OVER THE DECORATION AND THE FESTIVITIES THAT WILL BE HAPPENING DOWNTOWN.

NOW, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE QUITE AS ELABORATE AS OUR CHRISTMAS UH, DECORATIONS, BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO, UM, MAKE IT, UH, VERY VISIBLE AND TO, UH, GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT NOT ONLY THE, OUR NATION'S BIRTHDAY, BUT ALSO SEE THAT OUR CITY IS, IS SUPPORTING THAT.

SO WE WILL AGAIN, DO THE, UH, LIGHTS ON THE DOWNTOWN, UH, LIGHT POSTS.

SO YOU'LL SEE THOSE.

WE'LL HAVE LIKE A STAR TYPE, UH, LIGHT ELEMENT AS WELL AS, UH, GROUND DECOR.

UH, SO DIFFERENT ITEMS, IF YOU ALL REMEMBER HOW WE HAD SEVERAL THINGS AROUND WILD BILL, UH, THE LITTLE PHOTO AREA AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME THINGS TO GO IN THAT AREA AS WELL AS PUTTING SOME, SOME ITEMS AT VETERANS PARK.

UH, ALSO DOING AS A LOT OF LIGHTING ON MAINE PLAZA.

THINGS THAT ARE NOT, UM, THAT ARE PRETTY COST EFFECTIVE, BUT DO HAVE A REALLY NICE IMPACT WHEN PEOPLE ARE DOWN IN AT MAINE PLAZA.

AND THEN ALSO WE WANNA USE US FLAGS AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES YOU'LL SEE, UH, DIFFERENT GROUPS WILL, UH, LINE YOUR MAIN STREET WITH FLAGS AND THEN AS WELL AS USING LARGE FLAGS ON OUR BALCONIES HERE AT CITY HALL.

SO WE'LL BE PURSUING THAT AS WELL.

JUST SOME VISUAL, UM, ELEMENTS THAT YOU CAN SEE.

YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD OUR AMERICA TWO 50 FLAG, UH, UP FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE WITH, WITH, UH, ITEMS SUCH AS THAT ALONG THE FRONT OF CITY HALL.

YOU CAN SEE ALSO THE, THE STARS.

THOSE ARE JUST AN EXAMPLE OF SOME ITEMS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE DOWNTOWN TO, UH, TO BRING FESTIVE AND FUN TO OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.

AND THEN LASTLY, WE ALSO, UH, WE'LL PROBABLY DO A T-SHIRT FOR OUR STAFF.

UH, SOMETHING THAT, THAT THEY CAN WEAR TO THE DIFFERENT EVENTS.

AND ALSO TO SHOW THE CITY'S SUPPORT OF OUR NATION'S BIRTHDAY PARKS SPECIFICALLY.

UH, DIRECTOR RAMEZ, UH, PUT THE LIST TOGETHER HERE.

SO WE, WHILE SOME OF THESE EVENTS WE WE'VE HAD IN YEARS PAST, UM, THEY WILL DEFINITELY BE THEMED TOWARD PATRIOTIC, UM, THINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE FAMILY FUN.

UH, SO THE FREE FAMILY NIGHT AT THE POOL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE, BUT THAT'S GONNA BE THAT WE'VE HAD BEFORE.

BUT WE'LL HOLD THAT ON JULY 3RD.

AND, UH, THAT WILL BE A PATRIOTIC AMERICA THEMED EVENT.

HOT DOGS, HAMBURGERS, AND, UH, THAT IS FREE FOR THE FAMILY.

OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, DIRECTOR RAMEZ AND HER STAFF KNEW THAT THEY WANTED TO ELEVATE THIS YEAR.

SO WE BUDGETED A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY.

IT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT LONGER FIREWORK SHOW, BUT ALSO WE WILL HAVE, UH, A PATRIOTIC MUSIC THAT WILL BE PLAYED.

SO WE'VE NOT HAD SOUND WITH OUR FIREWORK SHOW IN THE PAST, BUT THIS YEAR WE WILL.