[CALL TO ORDER]
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CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 6TH, 2026, TO ORDER AT 3:02 P.M. WELCOME TO THE WORK SESSION OF THE WACO CITY COUNCIL, AND WELCOME TO ALL THE PEOPLE GATHERED HERE IN THE BOSQUE THEATER GALLERY HERE IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN WACO. THANKS, EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS A GREAT CROWD. INTERESTING AGENDA WE HAVE TODAY. WELCOME TO ALL THE VIEWERS AT HOME WATCHING ON THE WACO CITY CABLE CHANNEL. AND THANK YOU ALL THERE FOR FOR WATCHING AT HOME TODAY. I'M MAYOR JIM HOLMES. I'M JOINED ON THE DAIS HERE TODAY BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANDREA BARFIELD FROM DISTRICT ONE, ISABELLA FROM DISTRICT TWO, OUR DISTRICT THREE COUNCIL MEMBER JED COLE, DISTRICT FOUR COUNCIL MEMBER DARIUS VIEWING HERE AT THE END. AND OUR MAYOR PRO TEM FROM DISTRICT FIVE. GEORGE CHASE NEXT TO ME RIGHT HERE, ALSO JOINED ON THE ADJACENT DAIS BY OUR SENIOR CITY STAFF, CITY MANAGER RYAN HOLT, CITY ATTORNEY KRISTEN HAMILTON AND CITY SECRETARY MICHELLE HICKS. THERE ON THE END OF TODAY, WE WILL START THE MEETING WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE. OKAY. THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS TODAY IS
[WORK SESSION]
RECOGNITION OF WORK SESSION SPEAKERS. AND WE HAVE WE DON'T OFTEN HAVE THEM IN THE AFTERNOON, BUT TODAY WE DO. IT'S GREAT. WE HAVE SOME WORK SESSION SPEAKER CARDS AND IT'S ALSO OPEN FOR ANYONE, ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM. IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR CARDS WE HAVE. AND I GOTTA READ THIS LITTLE CAVEAT BEFORE WE GET INTO IT. WE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY AGENDA ITEM. DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF THE AGENDA ON ITEMS OTHER THAN PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLOTTED ONE THREE MINUTE PRESENTATION REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF AGENDA ITEMS THE SPEAKER WISHES TO ADDRESS. IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK AND HAVE NOT FILLED OUT A REGISTRATION CARD, PLEASE SEE THE CITY SECRETARY STAFF THERE IN THE BACK OR RIGHT OVER HERE, AND THEY WILL. THEY'RE AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE OUT BACK, ACTUALLY, THEY'LL PROVIDE REGISTRATION INFORMATION SO THAT STAFF CAN CONTACT YOU IF NECESSARY IF YOU HAVE HANDOUTS.I THINK WE DO HAVE SOME HANDOUTS THIS MORNING. LET US KNOW AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PRESENTATION. AND STAFF WILL DISTRIBUTE THOSE TO THE COUNCIL. IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO APPROACH THE PODIUM DUE TO PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS, THE MICROPHONE IS AVAILABLE TO BE BROUGHT TO YOU AND WE CALL TO THE PODIUM. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. AND EACH SPEAKER MUST LIMIT COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES. I'M SORRY, WE ONLY HAVE A THREE MINUTE LIMIT, SO WE'LL WARN YOU, THERE'S LITTLE LIGHTS UP THERE THAT SAY, WHEN YOU'RE APPROACHING THREE MINUTES. THAT'S ALL. I'LL HAVE TO CALL YOU DOWN AFTER THREE MINUTES.
IF YOU'RE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A GROUP OF TEN OR MORE INDIVIDUALS PRESENTS, PLEASE, PLEASE HAVE THOSE PERSONS STAND AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR COMMENTS AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN TEN MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU STAND IN SUPPORT OF A PERSON GETTING TEN MINUTES TO SPEAK, YOU ARE FORFEITING YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM.
AND FOR ANY PERSON ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL THROUGH THE USE OF A TRANSLATOR, THE SPEAKING TIME WILL BE DOUBLED TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRANSLATION SERVICES. WHILE PUBLIC DISCOURSE IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNCIL, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN THE MEETINGS SO THAT ALL PERSONS MAY BE HEARD AND CITY BUSINESS MAY BE CONDUCTED, AND IF SO, DIRECTED BY ME, THE SERGEANT AT ARMS SHALL REMOVE FROM THE COUNCIL MEETING ANY PERSON WHO, WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL, OR WHILE ATTENDING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ANY PERSON WHO MAKES PERSONAL, IMPERTINENT, OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS. ANY PERSON WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS, OR ANY PERSON WHO MAKES UNAUTHORIZED REMARKS FROM THE AUDIENCE OR STARTS CLAPPING OR STOMPS THEIR FEET OR WHISTLES, YELLS, OR MAKE SIMILAR DEMONSTRATIONS. OKAY, WE HAVE FOUR CARDS. WE'LL GET STARTED ON THAT. OUR FIRST CARD IS ANDREA ZIMMERMAN. ANDREA, PLEASE. THE PODIUM IS RIGHT UP HERE. AS YOU GET HERE, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. MY NAME IS ANDREA ZIMMERMAN AND I LIVE AT 2727 COLUMBUS AVENUE, SEVEN SIX, 710. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM SPEAKING TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILIES AND FOSTER CARE COALITION. THIS COALITION WAS STARTED AT THE REQUEST OF MAYOR MEEK AND REPRESENTS A VARIETY OF AREA NONPROFITS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, CHURCHES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT SPAN THE CHILD WELFARE CONTINUUM. WE FULLY AND ENERGETICALLY SUPPORT THE SAFE HAVEN BABY BOX AS AN ANSWER TO CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND CHILD SAFETY IN 2023. SENATE BILL 780 WAS PASSED, WHICH AMENDED THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE TO EXPLICITLY AUTHORIZE NEWBORN SAFETY DEVICES, COMMONLY KNOWN AS SAFE HAVEN BABY BOXES. THE LEGISLATION EXPANDED THE LIST OF DESIGNATED EMERGENCY INFANT CARE PROVIDERS TO INCLUDE FIRE DEPARTMENTS. IT DEFINED NEWBORN SAFETY DEVICES IN STATUTE AND ESTABLISHED CLEAR STANDARDS FOR GOVERNING THEIR PLACEMENT, ALARM SYSTEMS AND MAINTENANCE.
SINCE THEN, 23 BABY BOXES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED IN TEXAS, AND I JUST HEARD THERE ARE THREE
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MORE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO THIS YEAR. FIVE BABIES HAVE BEEN SURRENDERED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. IN FOSTER CARE. WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK OF NEWBORNS COME INTO CARE FROM MOTHERS WHO DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE PREGNANT, LIVED AS IF THEY WEREN'T PREGNANT, AND WHO HAD NO INTENTION OF CARING FOR THE BABY AFTER BIRTH. THANKFULLY, THESE BABIES WERE BIRTHED AT A HOSPITAL AND TAKEN INTO CARE. THAT'S NOT THE STORY FOR EVERY BABY BORN TO A MOTHER WHO IS NOT PREPARED TO CARE FOR THEIR BABY. WE HAVE ALL READ THE NEWS REPORTS OF BABIES FOUND UNATTENDED AND SADLY, OF THOSE WHO HAVE PERISHED DUE TO NEGLECT. FOR BABIES WHO ARE EVENTUALLY REMOVED BY CPS, THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA THAT WILL IMPACT THEM AND THEIR CAREGIVERS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE. THE SAFE HAVEN BABY BOX PROGRAM PROVIDES SOLUTIONS TO THIS COMMUNITY CHALLENGE BY PROVIDING STREAMLINED COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING, AND THE BOX ITSELF COMMUNICATES TO THE PARENT THAT THE CHILD WILL BE SAFE. THE ANONYMOUS SURRENDER IS SHAME FREE AND DOES NOT FORCE THE PARENT TO INTERACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE. IT PROVIDES RESOURCES TO THAT PARENT FOR HEALING, AND IT PROVIDES TRAINING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND ONGOING SUPPORT. MAYOR HOLMES PROVIDED ME WITH AN EXCELLENT QUOTE TO USE IN OUR COALITION PUBLICATIONS. HE SAID A CITY IS MEASURED BY HOW IT TREATS ITS MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS, AND I BELIEVE THAT WACO. THIS TO BE TRUE IN WACO BY HOW WE WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE COMMUNITY CHALLENGES THAT IMPACT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. THIS IS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT THE FUNDS FOR THE BOX AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ANDREA. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT UP IS CAITLIN.BOOK. MISS BOOK. THERE YOU ARE, CAITLIN. AS YOU GET TO THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. HI, MY NAME IS CAITLIN BOOK, AND I LIVE AT 1420 OLD STEINBECK ROAD, WACO, TEXAS. 76708. I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS PROJECT AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN THE CITY OF WACO. I AM A 36 YEAR OLD MOTHER OF FOUR. I HAVE LIVED IN WACO ALMOST MY ENTIRE LIFE. DURING THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT I WAS NOT IN WACO, I WORKED AS A LABOR AND DELIVERY NURSE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT LABOR AND DELIVERY THAT MIGHT BE UNDERESTIMATED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC, I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF HOW MANY MOTHERS WE SEE COME IN WITH LIMITED OR NO PRENATAL CARE. AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE JUST A QUICK STORY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS AT WORK. WE WERE THERE JUST A NORMAL DAY, AND WE GOT A CALL FROM THE AMBULANCE SAYING THAT THERE WAS A MOTHER COMING IN TO DELIVER. WE GO DOWN TO THE AMBULANCE. WE DELIVERED A BABY THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY PRETERM BREECH IN THE BACK OF AN AMBULANCE. I LOST THAT BABY UP TO THE NICU. WAS GETTING HIM OR HER SETTLED, AND I GOT A CALL FROM THE OPERATING ROOM. THAT SAME MOTHER WAS BEING. WE WERE GOING TO DO AN EMERGENCY C-SECTION ON HER. SHE HAD BEEN IN AN ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS. CONSCIOUSNESS ALTERED MENTAL STATE. WE'LL PUT IT THAT WAY. AND SHE WAS UNAWARE THAT SHE WAS CARRYING TWINS. SO I THINK ABOUT THOSE BABIES OFTEN, AND I WONDER WHERE THEY ARE NOW. AND I ALSO AM AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF THAT MOTHER HAD NOT COME TO OUR HOSPITAL. WHERE WOULD THOSE BABIES HAD ENDED UP? I FEEL LIKE AS A CITY, WE OWE IT TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION TO PROVIDE ANOTHER OPTION FOR THESE FAMILIES. I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WACO CAN DO AND THAT WE SHOULD DO, AND THAT WE NEED TO DO. IF THERE IS ONE BABY THAT WE SAVE, THEN THIS IS WORTH IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I TRUST THAT Y'ALL WILL MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU, MISS BLAKE. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE THIS AFTERNOON. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, OUR NEXT CARD IS JESSICA TREVINO. MISS TREVINO, AS YOU GET TO THE PODIUM HERE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. AND THEN PLEASE GIVE US THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JESSICA TREVINO. MY ADDRESS IS 721 NORTH 43RD STREET, WACO, TEXAS, 76710. SO I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH GREATER WACO LEGAL SERVICES, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA ITEM RELATED TO BABY BOXES. AS AN ATTORNEY AND ALSO AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM, AND YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HEAR MORE, I BELIEVE, LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
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BUT I WANTED TO PROVIDE MY VIEWPOINT AS AN ATTORNEY. REGARDING THIS MATTER BEFORE COMING HERE, I DID DO A CASE LAW SEARCH REGARDING THESE DEVICES TO SEE WHAT THE TEXAS COURTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THEM. HAS LAWSUITS BEEN BROUGHT UP REGARDING THESE DEVICES? AND NO, I DIDN'T FIND ANY CASES. NOW, THIS LAW IS RELATIVELY NEW, SO THAT CAN BE A FACTOR. BUT IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY SAFEGUARDS WITH THESE DEVICES THAT THE CHANCE FOR LIABILITY IS MINIMAL. THE LAW REQUIRES THAT ALARMS IN THE BOXES BE TESTED REGULARLY, AND THIS IS PRETTY BROAD LANGUAGE, BUT SAFE HAVEN, THE ORGANIZATION WHO PROVIDES THESE DEVICES, HAVE THEIR OWN TESTING REQUIREMENTS, WHICH INCLUDE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE DONE BY ONE OF THEIR PROFESSIONALS. SAFE HAVEN LAWS HAVE EXISTED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND THEY ALREADY PROTECT ENTITIES FROM DAMAGES RELATED TO TAKING, POSSESSION OF, EXAMINING OR TREATING THE CHILD. THE LAW OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT PROTECT ENTITIES FROM NEGLIGENCE, BUT WE CAN BE PROACTIVE ABOUT THIS AND CREATE POLICIES AND TRAINING SO THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF NEGLIGENCE IS MINIMIZED. FIRE STATIONS AND HOSPITALS SHOULD ALREADY HAVE PROCEDURES ON WHAT TO DO WHEN A CHILD IS SURRENDERED. SO THE INCLUSION OF THESE BABY BOXES DOESN'T HAVE TO BE REINVENTING THE WHEEL. THERE'S ALREADY PROCEDURES AND POLICIES ABOUT WHAT TO DO WHEN A CHILD IS SURRENDERED. ONCE A CHILD IS PLACED IN THE BOX, THE CHILD WILL BE THEN BE PLACED WITH A FOSTER TO ADOPT FAMILY. THAT'S KIND OF THE NEXT STEP THERE. THEN AT THAT POINT, ATTORNEYS LIKE MYSELF OR MY COLLEAGUES CAN STEP IN TO COMPLETE THE ADOPTION FOR THESE FAMILIES. AT GREATER WACO LEGAL SERVICES, WE ARE LAUNCHING A FAMILY JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP TO ASSIST THESE FAMILIES WHO ARE WANTING TO ADOPT THESE CHILDREN AT NO COST. SO IT REALLY IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO PROVIDE STABILITY FOR THESE CHILDREN. AS A CITY WITH A MAJOR CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY WHERE COLLEGE STUDENTS MAY FEEL SCARED OR ASHAMED ABOUT BEING PREGNANT. THESE BOXES CAN PROVIDE LIFE SUSTAINING CARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISTER RENO. APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE THIS AFTERNOON. OUR LAST CARD IS PASTOR JOHN. PASTOR JOHN DURHAM.
STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. JOHN DURHAM, 3800 LAGUNA VISTA, WACO, 76708. MAYOR HOLMES, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER HOLT AND STAFF. THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME A FEW MINUTES TO SHARE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR EACH OF YOU. NOT JUST THAT YOU SERVE, BUT GRATEFUL FOR THE WAY THAT YOU SERVE. WACO APPRECIATES A CORDIAL COUNCIL, A COUNCIL THAT RESPECTS EACH OTHER AND LISTENS. AND THAT'S KIND OF RARE IN OUR PRESENT POLITICAL CLIMATE. I SERVE AS LEAD PASTOR AT HIGHLAND BAPTIST AND HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 13 YEARS NOW. I'M A WACO HIGH GRAD, A BAYLOR GRAD, HAVE SPENT 33 YEARS IN WACO IN TOTAL, AND I LOVE THIS CITY. BACK IN 1999, TEXAS WAS THE VERY FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO PASS A SAFE HAVEN LAW, THE BABY MOSES LAW. AND IN 2023, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AMENDED THAT TO AUTHORIZE A SAFETY DEVICES BABY BOXES IN QUALIFIED FACILITIES THAT ARE STAFFED 24 HOURS A DAY. TODAY, THERE ARE 470 SAFE HAVEN BABY BOXES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 27 STATES, INCLUDING NOW 26 HERE IN TEXAS. JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, IN MAY OF 2026, A NEWBORN WAS ANONYMOUSLY SURRENDERED THROUGH THE SAFE HAVEN BOXES IN ENNIS, TEXAS, AT THE FIRE STATION THERE. MORE THAN 150 LEGAL SAFE HAVEN SURRENDERS HAVE TAKEN PLACE ACROSS THE NATION, INCLUDING A 24 HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE THAT HAS RECEIVED 9000 CALLS TO SAFE HAVEN FROM 50 STATES. SO BABY BOXES AREN'T AN EXPERIMENT. THEY ARE A PRACTICAL TOOL ALREADY SAVING LIVES. TEXAS LAW ALLOWS A PARENT TO SAFELY AND ANONYMOUSLY SURRENDER A BABY WHO IS 60 DAYS OLD OR YOUNGER TO A DESIGNATED EMERGENCY INFANT CARE PROVIDER. SO THE PRINCIPLE IN OUR STATE IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. VULNERABLE HUMAN LIFE IS WORTHY OF PROTECTION BEFORE BIRTH AND AFTER BIRTH. BUT FOR ME, THIS IS MORE THAN A LEGAL ISSUE.
IT'S A MORAL ISSUE, A SPIRITUAL ISSUE. GOD'S WORD CONSISTENTLY CALLS US TO PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE. AND I SUBMIT TO YOU, NO ONE IS MORE VULNERABLE THAN A PREBORN OR A NEWBORN CHILD, QUICKLY FOLLOWED IN VULNERABILITY BY A NEW MOM WHO IS FRIGHTENED, DESPERATE, AND SEEMINGLY WITHOUT OPTIONS. A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW COMPELS US TO CONTINUALLY MOVE TOWARD THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED. I BELIEVE A GREAT CITY DOES THE SAME THING. SO THIS IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT PUTTING A BOX IN THE WALL OF THE FIRE STATION. THE HIGHER VIEW IS THIS IS ABOUT CONTINUALLY DEVELOPING COMPASSION INTO THE DNA OF WACO. WE PROTECT CHILDREN, AND WHEN SOMEONE IS DESPERATE, WE WANT THERE TO BE A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM TO TURN. WACO AT PRESENT,
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MCLENNAN COUNTY AT PRESENT HAS A TEEN BIRTH RATE THAT'S 46% ABOVE THE NATIONAL RATE. SO THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT THIS WILL BE USED. MAYBE THE BOX IS NEVER USED, AND I HOPE THAT'S THE CASE. HIGHLAND BAPTIST HAS COMMITTED TO PAYING THE FULL COST OF YEARLY MAINTENANCE FOR EACH AND EVERY BOX PLACED IN MCLENNAN COUNTY, AND I'M COMMITTED TO KEEP THIS BEFORE YOU, OUR CITY LEADERS TASKED WITH THE WISE DECISION MAKING FOR THE LIVES OF WACOANS FROM THE OLDEST TO THE VERY YOUNGEST. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, PASTOR JOHN.THANK YOU ALL. THAT'S THE LAST CARD THAT I HAVE IS ANY OTHER SPEAKERS FOR THE SESSION THIS AFTERNOON? ALRIGHT. I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS. AND I ALSO WANT A SPECIAL THANKS TO SUSAN DEWITT AND DEBBIE SARTIN UP THERE, OLD FRIENDS. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING HERE TODAY. SEEING NO OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK, WE WILL NOW RECESS THE REGULAR SESSION AND CONVENE THE WORK SESSION WITH THE REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER RYAN HOLT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND WELCOME TO THOSE JOINING US IN THE AUDIENCE AND ONLINE. WE HAVE NO CHANGES FOR YOU ON TODAY'S AGENDA. OFFICIAL CHANGES. WE ARE GOING TO GO A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER ON THE WORK SESSIONS. WE'RE GOING TO DO NUMBER 665 FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THE REST OF THE WORK SESSIONS UNDER EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE GUSTAVO ALBA. GUSTAVO, IF YOU WOULD STAND, PLEASE. MR. ALBA OFFICIALLY STARTED WITH THE CITY ON SEPTEMBER 28TH AS OUR NEW CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER. MR. ALBA BRINGS MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE AND EXTENSIVE PUBLIC SECTOR TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP TO OUR ORGANIZATION. MR. ALBA JOINS US RECENTLY FROM THE CITY OF FRISCO, WHERE HE SERVED AS M I. S TECHNOLOGY SUPERVISOR OVERSEEING INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES. HE'S ALSO PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS SENIOR MANAGER OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGY ACROSS 42 CITY AGENCIES, AND HELD A TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP ROLE WITH THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. PRIOR TO THAT, MR. ALBA'S EXTENSIVE CAREER INCLUDES LEADERSHIP OF LARGE SCALE TECHNOLOGY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS, CLOUD ENVIRONMENT, CYBERSECURITY, RISK MITIGATION, DISASTER RECOVERY, AND TECHNOLOGY. MODERNIZATION IS EXPERIENCE SPANS MOST MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE MR. ALBA ON OUR TEAM, SO WELCOME. I'LL JUST SAY GUSTAVO OR MR. ALBA. WELCOME TO THE TEAM. WE WE WE'VE GOT A VERY WE'RE VERY ASPIRATIONAL AROUND GETTING GETTING NEW SYSTEMS AND NEW SOFTWARE AND NEW PROCESSES IN PLACE. AND WE'RE TRYING TO STAY AHEAD AND BE VERY EFFICIENT IN OUR WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS AS FAR AS INFORMATION SYSTEMS GO. AND YOU'RE YOU HAVE A VERY IMPRESSIVE RESUME. AND I THINK YOU HAVE GREAT STAFF IN PLACE. SO WE EXPECT GREAT THINGS. AND WELCOME TO WACO. APPRECIATE YOU BEING PART OF THE TEAM. ALL RIGHT. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, NEXT, I'M PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE MELISSA SHELTON, DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL SERVICES, FOR EARNING THE CERTIFIED ANIMAL WELFARE ADMINISTRATOR CREDENTIAL, THIS CREDENTIALING PROGRAM FOR NONPROFITS AND MUNICIPAL AGENCIES ADMINISTERED BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR ANIMAL WELFARE ADVANCEMENT, AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY WHOSE MISSION IS TO HELP DEVELOP STRONG LEADERS AND PROMOTE STANDARDS OF PRACTICE IN THE ANIMAL WELFARE PROFESSION. MISS SHELTON IS NOW OF ONE OF ONLY A FEW HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS WORLDWIDE TO HOLD THIS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION.
THE ONLY LEADERSHIP CREDENTIAL IN ANIMAL WELFARE. IN ADDITION TO MEETING STRICT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN THE ANIMAL WELFARE WELFARE FIELD, MISS SHELTON NEEDED TO PASS A RIGOROUS EXAM TO EARN HER CAA DESIGNATION. THE EXAM COVERS BEST PRACTICES IN ANIMAL WELFARE WITH QUESTIONS REVIEWING LEADERSHIP, HUMAN RESOURCES, FINANCE, FUNDRAISING, MARKETING, ADMINISTRATION AND ANIMAL CARE, OBTAINING HER EVALUATION STATUS VALIDATES MISS SHELTON'S WORK IN THE ANIMAL WELFARE FIELD AND ILLUSTRATES HER COMPETENCY TO CONTRIBUTE TO BROADER ANIMAL WELFARE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. CONGRATULATIONS, MELISSA. I'LL JUST SAY, MELISSA, WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO AND YOU HAVE MY UNWAVERING SUPPORT. I KNOW YOU WORK IN VERY TOUGH GROUND BETWEEN FOR PETS AND BOTH FROM THE ANIMAL CONTROL PART AND THE PLACEMENT PART AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. AND IT'S HARD. IT'S TOUGH. SOME OF THE TOUGHEST WORK THE CITY DOES, AND VERY EMOTIONAL FOLKS ALL THE WAY AROUND BOTH ENDS OF THE ARGUMENT OR THE SOLUTION. SO I APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING THINGS GOING OUT AT PET CIRCLE, AND YOU'RE WELL DESERVED ON THIS. KW A ALL RIGHT, GREAT MAYOR COUNCIL, THERE ARE FOUR IN FORMAL REPORTS ON YOUR AGENDA. ITEM 659 PROVIDES A MONTHLY UPDATE ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHINA SPRING PARK AND ALICE MARTINEZ RODRIGUEZ PARK. BOTH PROJECTS ARE CURRENTLY ON TRACK FOR A NOVEMBER COMPLETION. CHINA SPRING PARK HAS MAJOR SITE INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECREATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE. AND UP NEXT, WE'LL SEE RESTROOM FINISHES, PARKING LOT PAVING, PAVILION CONSTRUCTION AND SPLASH DECK INSTALLATION AT AMMAR PARK, MAJOR SITE INFRASTRUCTURE, UTILITIES AND FOUNDATIONAL WORK ARE ALSO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE. NEXT STEPS INCLUDE THE NEW TRACK SURFACE ALL WHEELS COURSE,
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CONCRETE POUR, PLAYGROUND INSTALLATION AND POND WALL IMPROVEMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER LOZANO AND I WENT OUT THERE. IS IT TWO WEEKS AGO, TWO WEEKS AGO, AND IT'S TO THE ALICE MARTINEZ ALICE, ALICE MARTINEZ RODRIGUEZ YEAH, I GOTTA GET AMMAR OR WE NEED THE ALICE. THE ALICE.EVERYBODY SHOULD GO TO ■THE ALICE. BUT AMAZING. I MEAN, IT'S THAT IT'S GOING TO COME TOGETHER SO QUICKLY TOO BECAUSE ALL THE PAVEMENTS OUT THERE, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME ARTWORK OUT THERE TODAY AND IT'S I APPRECIATE JONATHAN COOK AND ALL EVERYBODY AT PARKS AND REC, I THINK WE'VE GOT LIKE 6 OR 8 PROJECTS, MAJOR PROJECTS ON THE ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
JONATHAN. AND YOU'RE COMING THROUGH WITH EXECUTION, WHICH WE LOVE TO SEE. BUT YEAH, BOTH GREAT REPORTS. WISE MAN ONCE TOLD ME IT STARTS IN PARKS. OKAY. YOU CAN'T FINISH THEM UNTIL YOU START THEM. THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT. ITEM 660 PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON DORIS MILLER COMMUNITY POOL OPERATIONS, ATTENDANCE AND PROGRAMING. THE SECOND SUMMER OF OPERATIONS AT DORIS MILLER COMMUNITY POOL DEMONSTRATED CONTINUE WITH CONTINUED GROWTH IN PARTICIPATION AND PROGRAMING. INCREASED SWIM LESSON ENROLLMENT, EXPANDED OPERATION HOURS, NEW COMPETITIVE SWIMMING OPPORTUNITIES, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH SWIM. THE COOPER FOUNDATION WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE FACILITY'S ROLE AS AN ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY RESOURCE FOR RECREATION AND WATER SAFETY THROUGH A GENEROUS $4,000 CONTRIBUTION FROM THE COOPER FOUNDATION THAT WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT PREVIOUSLY. FREE ADMISSION WAS OFFERED TO THE FIRST 50 GUESTS ON EACH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FROM JULY 24TH THROUGH AUGUST 29TH. DURING THIS TIME, 144 GUESTS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE SWIM OPPORTUNITY WITH REMAINING FUNDS AVAILABLE. FREE SWIM OPPORTUNITIES ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO THE FALL, EXTENDING THE IMPACT OF THE COOPER FOUNDATION SUPPORT BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL SUMMER SEASON. PARTICIPATION IN SUMMER SWIM LESSONS ALSO INCREASED BY 38%, FROM 230 IN 2025 TO OVER 317 IN 2026. SO SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT UPDATE FOR YOU ALL. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER HOLT. I WILL ALWAYS STAND TEN TOES DOWN IN CELEBRATING THE FACT THAT WE HAVE WACO'S FIRST INDOOR PUBLIC POOL IN DISTRICT ONE AND AND AM SO PROUD AND EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT IT HAS HAD. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT WE HEAR ALL THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE COMMENTING ON AND EXCITED ABOUT IN THE PROGRAM. MY SCHEDULE WON'T LET ME BE GREAT, BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THE WATER AEROBICS CLASS IS BOMB, AND THE FACT THAT THE COSTS HAVE DECREASED FOR THAT IS IMPORTANT. AND I THINK MORE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW. SO WE SAY IT PUBLICLY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE MINDFUL OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS ECONOMY, AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE EVERYTHING AND EVERY CONCESSION POSSIBLE TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE IN THE POOL ALL YEAR ROUND AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE IT IS INDOORS AND YOU DON'T GET THAT OPPORTUNITY EVERYWHERE WITH IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY NOT AT A PUBLIC FROM A PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE. SO I'M ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR STAFF, GRATEFUL FOR THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND THIS COUNCIL FOR SEEING THAT PROJECT THROUGH, AND ENCOURAGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO GO AND TAKE A DIP IN THE DORIS MILLER POOL. 661 INCLUDES AN UPDATE ON THE CITY OF WACO YOUTH COUNCIL SELECTIONS FOR 2026 2027. THIS YEAR'S YOUTH COUNCIL INCLUDES 14 RETURNING MEMBERS AND 11 NEW MEMBERS FOR THIS TEAM. EACH DISTRICT IS REPRESENTED AMONGST THESE 25 STUDENTS. MEMBERSHIP CONSISTS OF FRESHMEN THROUGH SENIORS WITH DISTRIBUTION ACROSS SEVEN DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS. APPLICATIONS FOR THIS YEAR'S YOUTH COUNCIL OPENED IN MARCH AND CLOSED IN AUGUST. HOWEVER, MOVING FORWARD, APPLICATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN YEAR ROUND, ALLOWING STAFF TO EXPAND OUTREACH AND ENGAGE MORE STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. WITH THOSE SELECTIONS TAKING PLACE EACH SEPTEMBER.
ITEM 662 AS SOME WE'VE HAD SOME SPEAKERS SPEAK ABOUT AS A FOLLOW UP TO THE SEPTEMBER 1ST WORK SESSION PRESENTATION ON SAFE HAVEN BABY BOXES. I WILL SAY EVEN AFTER THIS IR WAS POSTED, WE'VE HAD ONGOING AND CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF WE COULD OVERCOME SOME LEGAL HURDLES. SO THAT'S IN IN PROCESS AS WE SPEAK. I IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE ON IT? OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE STAFF'S WORK ON. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THE COMMUNITY KIND OF STANDING UP AND SAYING, HEY, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT THING. AND THEN OFFERING TO FUND IT AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH SOME ISSUES AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE, WHAT THE BEST PLACE AND HOW WOULD WE DESIGN IT. AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT COME UP, BUT I APPRECIATE THE ENERGY AND THE YOU GUYS HEARTS ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE. AND WE'LL, WE'LL GET SOMETHING FIGURED OUT HERE ON THIS. AND I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT BEEN AN EXCEPTIONALLY LONG TIME, BUT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, IT'S VERY RARE TO GET A HANDOUT WITH THIS MANY LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR ANY ONE
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ITEM, ESPECIALLY WITH HOW, HOW MANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS THERE ARE IN OUR IN OUR GREAT CITY.SO TO SEE THIS MANY FOLKS COMING TOGETHER FOR FOR ONE PURPOSE, ONE IS INSPIRING AS A REPRESENTATIVE TO, TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL THINGS WE CAN RALLY AROUND AS A COMMUNITY, BUT DEFINITELY PUTS IT ON OUR RADAR. AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT STAFF IS CONTINUING TO WORK TO FIND A WAY TO GET THIS DONE. ALL RIGHT. THERE ARE SIX ORDINANCES ON THE AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ALL ARE ON SECOND READING, AND IF THERE AREN'T ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS THAT WILL END THE MANAGER'S REPORT, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. CITY MANAGER HOLT, I JUST DID WANT TO REITERATE A POINT THAT PASTOR DURHAM MADE IN HIS COMMENT ABOUT THIS COUNCIL, THAT WE ARE A HIGH FUNCTIONING COUNCIL, AND WE DO WORK INCREDIBLY WELL TOGETHER, AND THAT'S INTENTIONAL. WE HAVE A A COMMITMENT THAT IS IS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY THAT STANDS IN LINE WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES COMMITMENT TO CIVIL DISCOURSE. AND WE ALL KNOW THESE THINGS. AND IT WASN'T A THING FOR US TO. WELL, YEAH, DUH. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
I MEAN, WE WE KNOW HOW TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE DON'T AGREE ON. AND THAT'S FINE. WE HUG IT OUT WHEN WE GET DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE WORK TO DO. AND THE PEOPLE OF WACO ARE OUR PRIORITY. BUT WE WANTED TO PUBLICLY STATE TO THIS CITY FIRST, TO THIS STATE AS WELL AS THIS COUNTRY, THAT WE STAND IN ALIGNMENT, THAT CIVIL DISCOURSE IS A PRIORITY FOR THIS COUNCIL AND ADVANCING THE ABILITY TO HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS IN SAFE SPACES IS A PRIORITY FOR THIS COUNCIL. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR AGREEING THAT THIS IS AS IMPORTANT TO THEM AS IT IS TO ME AND OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR SEEING THIS THROUGH. BUT THIS THIS RESOLUTION WILL STAND IN LINE WITH THE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS THAT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IS COLLECTING. AND WE ALL, ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS SIGNED A COMMITMENT TO CIVILITY LAST YEAR AT OUR OUR CONFERENCE. AND WE CONTINUE TO SIGN THAT BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE A PRIORITY FOR SOMEBODY TO KEEP CIVILITY FIRST. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AND THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE ON CITY MANAGER HOLT'S REPORT FOR THE AGENDA TODAY? OKAY. WE NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES 2026-669 AND RESOLUTION 2026-670 THROUGH 692. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? I THINK YES, I HEAR A YES FROM THE FAR END OVER THERE. YEAH, THERE IS COUNCIL MEMBER EWING. I'M TRYING TO RECALL WHICH SPECIFIC RESOLUTION WAS 72. I WOULD HAVE HAD THIS PULLED OUT ALREADY. SORRY. YEAH. 672 WHERE WE WILL BE VOTING TO ENDORSE THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNCILWOMAN ANDREA MERRIFIELD AS THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, OR NLC, WOULD LOVE TO PULL THAT TO VOTE AND SPEAK ON IT SEPARATELY DURING THE BUSINESS SESSION. WE'LL TAKE 672 OUT AND VOTE ON THAT AND DISCUSS THAT SEPARATELY TONIGHT JUST SO SHE'LL BE ON THE EDGE OF HER SEAT, NOT KNOWING IF WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THE ENDORSEMENT OR NOT. YEAH, LET'S MAKE HER SWEAT A LITTLE BIT. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO HE CONSENTED. ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE WANT TO PULL OR VOTE ON SEPARATELY TONIGHT ON THE AGENDA. ALL RIGHT. THE CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES 2026, 66, 69 AND THEN RESOLUTION 2026-6, 73, 692, EXCEPT FOR 2026 672, WHICH WILL BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY. YOU GOT THAT, SECRETARY. GOOD. ALL RIGHT. SO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS WORK SESSION ITEMS 2026-663 THROUGH 2026-666. CITY MANAGER HOLT, WILL YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE THE FIRST? FIRST, WE'RE GOING A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER TODAY.
A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER, MAYOR. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH ITEM SIX. 65 IS OUR FIRST WORK SESSION. FIONA BOND, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE WACO, JOINS US TODAY FOR AN OVERVIEW OF THE DESIGN PROCESS AND ARTIST SELECTION FOR OUR PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION AT THE ALICE MARTINEZ RODRIGUEZ PARK. AS THIS PARK PROJECT NEARS COMPLETION, WE'RE THRILLED TO SEE FINISHING TOUCHES BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE, INCLUDING MEANINGFUL PUBLIC ART LIKE THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CITY MANAGER HOLT FOR THE INTRODUCTION. HI. IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY. IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MOSAIC ART PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW ALICE MARTINEZ RODRIGUEZ PARK. AND THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BETWEEN CREATIVE WACO WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AT CITY OF WACO. SO OUR PROFOUND THANKS GO TO THE AWESOME TEAM AT PARKS AND REC WHO HAVE BEEN JUST FANTASTIC TO
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WORK WITH. AND OF COURSE, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE SELECTION PANEL PROCESS. OF COURSE. SPECIAL THANKS GO TO JONATHAN AND MARK AND BRITTANY AND ASHLEY AT PARKS AND REC, WHO'VE ALL BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS. SO JUST TO RECAP A LITTLE BIT. AT ALICE MARTINEZ RODRIGUEZ PARK. IT'S OF COURSE, LOCATED IN SOUTH WACO, NEXT TO THE GILBERT SANCHEZ TRACK. AND THE 30 ACRE PARK ALREADY HAS A LOT OF REALLY VIBRANT DESIGN ELEMENTS, WHICH OF COURSE MAKES ADDING PUBLIC ART BOTH A CHALLENGE, BUT ALSO A FANTASTIC INVITATION. THIS IS DESIGNED TO BE WACO'S LARGEST AND MOST INCLUSIVE DESTINATION PARK, AND WE'RE THRILLED TO GET TO BE PART OF PUTTING ART IN THIS. THE FEATURES INCLUDE, OF COURSE, THE CUSTOM INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUNDS, A LIGHTED FOUNTAIN PLANT PLAZA WHICH IS INTERACTIVE. THE LARGE FAMILY PAVILION, SPORTS COURTS AND ALL WHEELS COURSE WHICH I CAN'T WAIT TO USE. TRACK AND FIELD COMPLEX UPGRADES AND THE BEAUTIFUL RENDERINGS THAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU THERE. LOVE THIS DRAGON! SO WE ARE TALKING TODAY ABOUT AN INSERT ARTWORK, WHICH IS GOING TO GO ON THE, THE BUILDING ELEMENT THAT IS THERE, WHICH WE'LL SEE IN A MINUTE. IT'S A MOSAIC ARTWORK WHICH PRESENTED A CHALLENGE OF SORTS, BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY PROFESSIONAL MOSAIC ARTISTS IN WACO. AND WE SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE CULTURAL AS WELL AS THE ARTISTIC AND DESIGN ELEMENTS OF THIS. BUT THIS ONE WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE INTERIOR WALL OF THE FAMILY RESTROOM BUILDING WITHIN THE PARK IN A RECESSED ALCOVE, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES A BENCH SEATING. THE ARTWORK WILL CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE AND REFLECT THE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF BOTH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PARK'S NAMESAKE. OF COURSE, ALICE MARTINEZ RODRIGUEZ, WHO OF, OF COURSE, HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNCIL AND A RESPECTED LOCAL HISPANIC LEADER. AND SO THIS DESIGN IS MEANT TO THOUGHTFULLY WEAVE TOGETHER THEMES, PATTERNS, MOTIFS, AND COLOR PALETTES WHICH GO WITH THE PARK'S OTHER DESIGN ELEMENTS, BUT IS ALSO FUNDAMENTALLY INSPIRED BY THE HISPANIC CULTURE AND BROADER HISPANIC VISUAL TRADITIONS. SO THE DESIGN PROPOSAL FOR THIS BROUGHT TOGETHER THESE ELEMENTS, AND THESE WERE THE INSPIRATION PIECES. AND BIG SHOUT OUT TO JULIE CERVANTES, WHO HAS LED THE CHARGE ON THIS PROJECT FROM THE CREATIVE WACO SIDE. SHE'S HERE TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JULIE. SHE IS THE ONE WHO HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER A LOT OF THE INSPIRATION AND THE FOUNDATIONAL PIECES OF THIS PROJECT. SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR BOLD COLOR AND STRONG VISUAL IMPACT, DECORATIVE PATTERNING, REPETITION, MOTIFS THAT ARE INSPIRED BY THEMES LIKE FAMILY, COMMUNITY, HERITAGE, NATURE, CELEBRATION, AND RESILIENCE. AND WE HAD SAID THAT IT COULD BE RECOGNIZABLE IMAGERY OR ABSTRACTED, BUT NEEDED TO FEEL WELCOMING, EMBRACING, JOYFUL, AND ROOTED IN CULTURAL PRIDE.THIS IS THE TIMELINE OF THE MOSAIC ELEMENT OF OF THIS PROJECT. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE TODAY AT THE COUNCIL APPROVAL PART. SO WE HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH A PROCESS OF PUTTING OUT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. AND WE ARE HOPEFULLY, WITH YOUR APPROVAL, READY TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS INSTALLATION OF THE ARTWORK. AND HERE IS THE, THE, THE AREA ITSELF UNDER CONSTRUCTION. AND THIS IS THE THIS IS THE BUDGET FOR THIS PARTICULAR PIECE. SO WE'VE GOT A BUDGET OF 17, JUST OVER 17,500, OF WHICH 14,000 IS THE ARTIST'S FEE, AND THE REST IS THE MANAGEMENT AND ALL OF THE LOGISTICS THAT GO WITH MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS A MANAGED LOGISTICALLY, BUT ALSO SO THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE THE ARTS COMMUNITY IN WACO TO LEARN FROM A PROFESSIONAL MOSAIC ARTIST. AS I SAY, ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES WITH THIS PIECE IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE PROFESSIONAL MOSAIC ARTISTS LIVING AND WORKING IN WACO THAT CAN DO A PROJECT OF THIS SCALE. AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO CONNECT THE SELECTED ARTISTS WITH OUR LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY TO. SO THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS CLOSED ON JULY 7TH, AND THERE WAS ONE QUALIFYING ARTIST WHO WAS INVITED TO DEVELOP PROPOSALS.
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SHE PRESENTED THREE DESIGNS AND THE DESIGN REVIEW PANEL WAS PRESENTED WITH THOSE DESIGNS AND MADE SELECTION FROM THAT. THE PANEL WAS COMPRISED OF COUNCIL MEMBER ISABEL LOZANO FROM DISTRICT TWO, ASHLEY MILLARD, BRITTANY COOMBES AND MARK KEELEY FROM PARKS AND RECREATION. JULIE CERVANTES AND MYSELF FROM CREATIVE WACO. AND THE ARTIST SELECTED IS CARMEN RANGEL. SHE IS ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS OF THE MOSAIC WORKSHOP IN AUSTIN. THEY HAVE DONE NUMEROUS AWARD WINNING PIECES, AND IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN THEIR MOSAICS, THEY ARE TRULY SPECTACULAR. THEY DO BEAUTIFUL WORK, OFTEN USING UPCYCLED MATERIALS. SHE HAS. SHE HAS DONE WORK IN MOSAIC TILE AS WELL AS CUT GLASS, BROKEN POTTERY ELEMENTS, MIRROR WORK, ALL KINDS OF THINGS, AND SHE'S EXTREMELY PROFICIENT AND SHE'S PART OF THE TEACHING COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS IN AUSTIN AS WELL. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN. SO THE PROPOSED DESIGN HERE, WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD A WARM, VIBRANT COLOR PALETTE THAT REALLY WORKED WITH THE OTHER VERY RECOGNIZABLE AND SPECTACULAR ELEMENTS OF THE PARK. IT'S GOT A LOT OF COLOR. IT'S GOT A LOT OF INTERACTIVE AND INVITATIONAL DESIGN ELEMENTS ALREADY, AND WE WANTED TO COMPLEMENT, NOT COMPETE WITH THOSE. SHE'S. SHE SUGGESTED THE NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, WHICH IS BOTH TEXAS'S STATE BIRD, BUT ALSO IN MEXICAN AND INDIGENOUS CULTURE, IT'S KNOWN AS THE BIRD OF 400 VOICES. IT'S A REALLY POWERFUL SYMBOL OF HOW EACH OF OUR VOICES ARE INFORMED BY THE VOICES AROUND US. WHAT WE HEAR IS WHAT WE CONVEY FORWARD INTO WHO WE ARE IN SOCIETY. THE BLUE AGAVE PLANT, WHICH IS COMMON TO BOTH TEXAS AND MEXICO, IS A PLANT THAT FLOURISHES EVEN IN THE HARDEST OF CONDITIONS, AND YOU CAN DO SO MANY THINGS. IT'S A MEDICINAL PLANT. YOU CAN MAKE FIBERS AND WEAVE OUT OF IT. OF COURSE, IT'S WHAT'S USED TO MAKE TEQUILA. IT IS. IT HAS SO MANY USES, AND SO IT'S A POWERFUL SYMBOL, A SYMBOL OF ADAPTABILITY, STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE. THESE ELEMENTS ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER WITH THIS FOUR SIDED STAR AND MANY FOUR SIDED ELEMENTS, WHICH ARE EMBLEMATIC OF COMPASS POINTS AND THE IDEA OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER. WACO BEING THE CENTER OF ALL THINGS, AS OF COURSE WE KNOW IT IS. AND THESE COLORFUL, GEOMETRIC AND PATTERNED ELEMENTS KIND OF FORM AN EMBRACING SHAPE ON THE WALL, WHICH YOU'LL SEE IN A MINUTE. IT'S MEANT TO BE WELCOMING, PLAYFUL. THE COMPOSITION IS APPROPRIATE FOR A PARK SETTING. GREAT SELFIE MOMENT. AND OF COURSE, IT'S IT'S MEANT TO BE BOTH FAMILY FRIENDLY, BUT ALSO TO BEAR FURTHER EXPLORATION AND UNPACKING OF MEANING SO THAT IT BECOMES A GREAT CONVERSATION POINT BETWEEN FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND A GREAT KIND OF INTERACTIVE PIECE IN THE WIDER DESIGN. IT'S STRONGLY VISUALLY COMPLEMENTS THE SURROUNDING PARK ARCHITECTURE AND IS A BROAD CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE THAT IS DESIGNED TO BE CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE. AND SO THIS IS THE PROPOSED DESIGN, WHICH WOULD BE EXECUTED AS A MOSAIC IN BOTH TILE AND STAINED GLASS. THE STAINED GLASS ELEMENTS ARE CUT INTO BOTH RANDOM BUT ALSO DESIGN SPECIFIC SHAPES. AND THEN THE MOSAIC TILE IS IT'S SMALL SQUARES. SO IT'S KIND OF A COMBINATION OF BOTH REGULAR AND IRREGULAR SHAPES IN THESE GORGEOUS COLORS. AND THAT'S, THAT'S A RENDERING OF WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE ON THAT BUILDING ITSELF. YOU CAN SEE HOW THE COLORS ECHO THE COLORS OF THE, THE FABRIC, AND ALSO THE TILE ELEMENTS ALREADY AROUND THAT BUILDING, AND ALSO THE OTHER ELEMENTS IN THE PLAY AREAS. AND I WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS FOR FIONA, MISS BOND ON THIS ONE? JUST A THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION ON THIS PROJECT. I KNOW YOUR STAFF AND JULIE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. JULIE IS THE ROCK STAR IN THIS FOR SURE.JULIE IS HERE TODAY TO. JULIE IS RIGHT. RIGHT BACK THERE. YEAH. GOOD JOB JULIE. JULIE.
RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS QUESTIONS? I JUST WANT TO SAY CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT PICTURE THE BECAUSE AGAIN, ISABEL AND I WENT OVER THERE AND WHERE IT IS KIND OF RIGHT AT THE THE
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ENTRANCE AS YOU COME IN, IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT THERE FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE. GO BACK. OKAY.I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ONE OF THEM IS THIS THE IS THAT THAT'S JUST A PATTERN AROUND THE TOP.
IS THAT TILED AS WELL? THE, THE TOP PART, THAT'S NOT REALLY PART OF THIS ART, BUT THAT'S NOT PART OF THIS PARTICULAR COMMISSION. I BELIEVE THAT'S THE ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING OF THE TILE WORK AROUND THE TOP OF THE BUILDING. THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON THERE. JONATHAN WILL HAVE THAT ON. OH, COOL. BECAUSE THAT'S I LIKE THAT THE FLAIR THERE TO GO BACK ONE MORE.
THERE YOU GO. AND I THE MOCKINGBIRD THING IS COOL. THE TEQUILA PART IS VERY NICE WITH THAT. AND IF YOU IF YOU JUST IF YOU COULD JUST ONLY THE PLANT NOT THE. THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S A MEDICINAL PLANT, SIR. MANY USES, MANY HEALING USES FOR THIS ONE. THE. IT'S JUST THE AGAVE PLANT.
IT'S NOT THE TEQUILA. WELL, AND WHAT I WHAT IS EMBLEMATIC OF THE. LIKE THE TENT OR THE DWELLING? WELL, FIONA, WHAT I SEE THERE, IF YOU SQUINT, IS AN A FOR ALICE. YOU KNOW, IF YOU IF YOU DO, YOU GOT TO KIND OF LOOK AT IT IN A KIND OF COMING UP THE LETTER A. SO I WILL THINK OF ALICE EVERY TIME I WALK INTO THAT PLACE. ANYWAY, GREAT JOB ON GETTING THIS. I LOVE THE PUBLIC ART AND HOW WE'RE INCORPORATING THAT INTO ALL OF THE PARKS THAT JONATHAN IS GETTING US INTO AND CELEBRATING. AND NOT JUST PUBLIC ART, BUT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND, AND WHERE WE'VE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT HONORING THAT AND CELEBRATING IT AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME. IT'S WONDERFUL. AND THIS WILL BE ALSO THE TIMELINE IS JANUARY.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO OPEN IT IN DECEMBER. THIS WILL BE BEING WORKED ON. YOU'LL GET TO SEE IT BEING BUILT AS YOU AS YOU AS YOU WALK IN. THAT'S COOL. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, FIONA. THANK YOU.
THE NEXT ITEM, CITY MANAGER HOLT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO TELL ME, WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO NEXT? WE'RE GOING TO GO TO 664, WHICH IS AN UPDATE ON THE FORMER FLOYD CASEY SITE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, INCLUDING AN UPDATE ON THE CORDOVA SPRINGS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE JEREMY PECINA, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND OUR FRIEND, STEVE SORRELLS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SORRELLS AND COMPANY, FOR A LOOK AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND UPCOMING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. AS CITY MANAGER, HOLT SAID, MY NAME IS JEREMY PESINA AND I SERVE AS THE INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I HAVE HERE TO MY RIGHT, STEVE SORRELLS, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SORRELLS AND CO. SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF THE PROJECT. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE BACKGROUND AND KIND OF TIMELINE TO BRING EVERYONE UP TO DATE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR A WHILE, BUT THE EXCITING PART IS TO HAND IT OVER TO STEVE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON, ON THE HOUSING BEING DEVELOPED OVER THERE. SO I WILL GET STARTED THE PROJECT TIMELINE. SO AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR A WHILE. 2016 IS WHEN WE DID THE LAND SWAP WITH BAYLOR TO GET THAT 72 ACRES OF LAND RIGHT IN THE CORE OF DISTRICT TWO. IN 2019, WE DID THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, AND SO WE SENT THAT OUT. AND SOME OF THE POINTS FOR FOCUS THAT WERE GIVEN BY COUNCIL WERE HOUSING CHOICES. SO THIS IS RIGHT AS IF YOU REMEMBER BACK, RIGHT AS WE WERE PUSHING TO DEVELOP OUR HOUSING STRATEGY AND THE HOUSING STUDY AND KIND OF BEING MADE REALLY AWARE OF WHAT THAT MISSING MIDDLE WAS, BUT A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE MULTIFAMILY IN THERE AND NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL. SO THERE WERE SOME VERY SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WE WERE AFTER ON THIS RFP. WE GOT MANY RESPONSES. AND IN SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2022, THERE WAS A LITTLE THING CALLED COVID THAT'S IN THAT BLANK SPACE THERE. BUT IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022, COUNCIL APPROVED A MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, OR MDA, WITH THE TURNER BROTHERS FOR THIS PROJECT. AND IN FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026, THAT'S THIS YEAR YOU APPROVED AN EXTENSION AND AN AMENDMENT TO THAT MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AND THAT WAS TO MAKE THE COMPLETION DATE FOR THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS JANUARY 1ST, 2027. SO THAT IS THE PROJECT TIMELINE. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF DETAILS ON THE PROJECT. SO WE REQUIRED $100 MILLION OF INVESTMENT FROM THE DEVELOPER. SO THEY WERE GOING TO COME IN AND DO ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVEST THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO THE PROJECT, $15 MILLION WORTH OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS. WE REQUIRE 259 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, OF WHICH 92 HAVE BEEN DELIVERED. TO DATE, 28 HOMES ARE IN PRODUCTION, 14 HOMES HAVE BEEN PRE-SOLD AND AGAIN JANUARY 1ST, 2027 FOR THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT COMPLETION DATE. AND SO NOW I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHERE THE PROJECT STANDS FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE SIDE. LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT THE EXCITING PART. THAT'S STEVE'S PART. BUT I'LL GIVE YOU THE UPDATE FOR THIS. SO LAST TIME WHEN WE APPROVED THE EXTENSION, WHAT WE DID IS ALSO WE ADOPTED THIS PHASING MAP TO HELP US KIND OF SEE THE PROGRESS AS IT WAS HAPPENING. AND SO YOU CAN SEE PHASES ONE THROUGH SIX THERE. THIS IS PHASE ONE AND ONE B. AND I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE BOTTOM CORNER THERE WHAT THAT ENTAILS. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE IN SOME OF THESE PICTURES HOW THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS COMPLETE THERE. THE CITY HAS ACCEPTED IT.
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THE LOTS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO THE BUILDER AND THE HOME BUILDING IS UNDERWAY, AS YOU CAN SEE. SO IT'S EXCITING WHEN YOU BEGIN TO SEE VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION GOING UP LIKE WE ARE IN PHASE TWO. IT'S THE SAME SAME. THE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN COMPLETE. IT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE CITY. YOU CAN SEE THAT'S THAT BACK SIDE THAT GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO 29TH STREET. AND YOU CAN SEE THE LOTS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED THERE AND HOME BUILDING IS IN THE PERMIT STAGE. IN PHASE THREE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PROGRESS. THE LOTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE DELIVERED THIS MONTH TO THE BUILDER. SO HOME BUILDING IS TBA AS THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT AND THE CITY'S ACCEPTANCE IS PENDING. WHAT I WILL, BECAUSE THIS RELATES TO BOTH THE ALEX RODRIGUEZ PARK AND THE FLOYD CASEY DEVELOPMENT, IS THAT HISPANIC HERITAGE TRAIL THAT'S BEING BUILT RIGHT ALONG THIS LINE OF PHASE THREE. AND SO WE DO HAVE 100% PLANS WERE ANTICIPATED BEING DONE FOR THAT TRAIL THIS WEEK. WE WOULD ADVERTISE LATE THIS MONTH, AND BIDS WILL GO OUT AND END IN NOVEMBER. AND WE PLAN TO TAKE THIS TO YOU FOR APPROVAL IN JANUARY OF 27 FOR THE HERITAGE TRAIL. AND SO THAT IS THE TEN FOOT WIDE SIDEWALKS, THAT IS THE BENCHES AND LIGHTING AND EVEN THE NAMING AS IT GOES. SO AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO GO RIGHT ALONG THAT BACKSIDE AND PHASE THREE. SO WE WANTED TO BRING THAT UP BECAUSE THAT WILL BE THE CONNECTION OR ONE OF THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CORDOVA SPRINGS, THE PARK AND ULTIMATELY OUR RECREATION CENTER. SO PHASES FOUR THROUGH SIX, PHASE FOUR, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PROGRESS. STORM, SEWER AND WATER ARE UNDERWAY. AND THEN FIVE AND SIX INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE STARTED THIS MONTH. UTILITY WORK IS TARGETED COMPLETION IN NOVEMBER, AND THE TURNERS EXPECT TO COMPLETE ON TIME. AND YOU CAN SEE WHICH PORTIONS ARE LEFT WHICH ARE NOT MUCH OF THE MAIN ROADS. AND SO THEY PLAN TO BE DONE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.AND THE CITY DOES HAVE, PER THE AGREEMENT, UNTIL MARCH, TO FULLY ACCEPT. SO IF THERE'S DETAILS TO BE WORKED OUT, THEY HAVE UNTIL MARCH TO FULLY ACCEPT THE WORK. AND WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO STEVE TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON CORDOVA SPRINGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS Y'ALL. WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT CORDOVA SPRINGS, AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR FRIENDS IN OUR NEIGHBORS HERE IN WACO TO DO THIS. AS YOU KNOW, WE PUT TOGETHER A GROUP OF BUILDERS GUILD OF LOCAL BUILDERS WITH COMBINED ABOUT 120 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BETWEEN US, BETWEEN KEN COOPER, SCOTT BLAND, AND MYSELF. AND WE'RE THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE HONOR TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS VERY IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT HERE. YOU COULD ALWAYS GO AND SEE THE HEART AND VISION OF OUR COMMUNITY AT WWW.CORDOVASPRINGS.COM, AND WE INVITE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR A PERSONAL CHEFS TOUR OF THE OF THE COMMUNITY ITSELF WITH OUR FRONT PORCH GUIDE.
DAVID SANDERS AND MYSELF WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU THROUGH WHAT WE'RE DOING. SO TODAY WE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A PROJECT OVERVIEW. WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST PEOPLE MOVING IN, OUR FIRST THREE FAMILIES MOVING IN, IN, IN NOVEMBER. SO COMING UP VERY QUICKLY AS WE KNOW, SO 259 LOTS OVERALL, 92 HAVE BEEN DELIVERED SO FAR. ANOTHER 73 IN PHASE THREE WILL BRING IT UP TO ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE DEVELOPMENT HAVING BEEN DELIVERED BY WITHIN THE NEXT BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT 30 DAYS. SO THAT'S GREAT WITH THE REMAINDER BY THE END OF THE YEAR. WE AS BUILDERS HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED OUR PENDING CLOSINGS ON 47. LOTS OF THE ORIGINAL 92 ALREADY, AND WE HAVE 28 HOMES IN PRODUCTION RIGHT NOW, PLUS 17 IN PLANNING AND PERMITTING STAGE RIGHT NOW. PS PLUS, OUR MULTIFAMILY PORTION IS IN DESIGN PHASE AS WELL, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. 14 OF OUR LOTS AND HOMES HAVE BEEN PRE-SOLD TO END USER CUSTOMERS, CITIZENS. AND THAT'S REALLY EXCITING TO SEE AS WELL. STARTING TO SEE THE, THE CLIENTELE AND THE BASE AND THE BROAD DIVERSITY THAT WE'RE ATTRACTING HERE. SO THAT'S REALLY FUN. AND SO WE'VE ALREADY CLOSED ON A THIRD OF OUR MULTIFAMILY PARCEL UNITS, AND WE PLAN TO HAVE 102 UNITS THERE. ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME, REALLY WISH TO PRAISE THE, THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY, THE TURNERS US AS THE BUILDERS GUILD. IT'S REALLY EVIDENCED IN THE PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS THAT WE'RE HOLDING EVERY WEEK WITH CITY STAFF. THEY'RE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB OF WORKING WITH US THROUGH THE INTRICACIES AND NUANCES OF T AND D DEVELOPMENTS AND NEW URBANISM TYPE. DEVELOPMENT IS RATHER NEW FOR WACO, AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THIS. AND SO THERE IS REAL PROGRESS BEING MADE. AND SO WE'RE HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE PROGRESS, WHAT I LOVE ABOUT
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THESE PROGRESS PHOTOS AND SEEING THESE IS EVEN THOUGH THESE WERE ONLY CAPTURED A WEEK OR 2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO, THEY'RE NOW HOPELESSLY OUT OF DATE. EVERYTHING'S GOING VERY NICELY AND SMOOTHLY WITH, WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION GOING ON. AND SO YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR INSPIRATION PHOTOS AND RENDERS ARE FROM OUR SOUTHERN LIVING ARCHITECTS GUILD THAT WE'RE UTILIZING THROUGH HERE. AND YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE THE FLESH AND BONES OF THESE STARTING TO COME ALONGSIDE HERE. AND THOSE WERE SOME OF OUR LARGER HOMES THAT ARE GOING TO BE FROM 3000FT AND DOWN. THIS IS OUT OF OUR GARDEN HOME SERIES. SO ZERO LOT LINE HOMES TO A LOT OF Y'ALL THAT SPEAK KIND OF THE BUILDER EASE PORTION OF IT. SO THESE ARE HOMES THAT WE DID REALLY LEANED INTO KIND OF NEW ORLEANS SORT OF FLAIR WITH SEVERAL OF OURS.AND YOU CAN SEE KIND OF WE PAY HOMAGE TO SOME OF THAT IN OUR NAMING OF THOSE. THESE ARE COMING ALONG WELL FROM. AND THEY'LL RANGE FROM 1200FT UP TO 2200FT, ALL OF THEM TWO STORIES.
MANY, AS WITH ALL OF THEM, WE'RE DOING FRONT PORCHES BECAUSE IT'S PART OF OUR DESIGN ELEMENT. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY LEANED INTO. AND HAVING THE SECOND FLOOR PORCHES AS WELL GIVES IT A LOT OF FUN AND SOMETIMES EVEN THIRD FLOOR. AND NOW WE'RE STARTING TO GO INTO, AS YOU'LL SEE ON THE FAR RIGHT, TWO COLUMNS, OUR BROWNSTONES ARE, ARE TOWNHOME SORT OF STYLES. SO THESE ARE COMMON WALLS BUT NOT COMMON FLOORS BETWEEN THEM. SO THE ONE THAT'S THE THIRD ONE THERE IS A FIVE UNIT BROWNSTONE. WE'VE ALREADY PRE-SOLD THE ONE ON THE END. IT'S OUR LARGEST ONE THERE. AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL THING. SO THAT'S COMING ALONG WELL. AND THEN RIGHT NEXT TO IT IS OUR OUR FOUR UNIT NEW ORLEANS BROWNSTONE SERIES. AND THESE WILL HAVE LITTLE INTERIOR COURTYARDS WITHIN THEM AS WELL, WHICH ARE KIND OF SLICK AND HAS A VERY NICE STYLE. WE'VE STARTED UP FRAMING ON ONE OF THEM AND ACTUALLY STARTING UP ANOTHER PAD SITE RIGHT NOW ACROSS FROM THE FIVE UNIT BROWNSTONE. AS WELL. SO MOVING FORWARD. ASIDE FROM JUST LOOKING AT THE DESIGNS AND THE PROJECTS RIGHT NOW, THE THINGS THAT WE ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT, THIS IS REALLY THE, THE ECONOMICS OF BUILDING ATTAINABLE HOUSING HERE IN WACO. WE WENT TO AN ECONOMIC FORECAST, WHICH WAS TALKING ABOUT WHAT SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENTS WERE BEING DONE AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WHICH ONES WERE WORKING WELL, AND TO A DEVELOPMENT, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM THAT HAD MARKET SEGMENTATION, THAT OFFERED MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS AND DIVERSITY FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS AND HOMEOWNERS THAT WILL BE COMING IN THERE. WE'RE THE ONES THAT WERE LEADING THE MARKET IN IN NUMBERS AND ABSORPTION AND ULTIMATELY IN PRICING AND, AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS. AS FAR AS HOMES CONTINUE TO, TO RISE IN VALUATION FOR THE HOMEOWNERS ONCE THEY BECOME, YOU KNOW, OWNERS THERE IN THE SITE. SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GOOD FOR THAT, FOR HELPING BUILDING THAT GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR HOMEOWNERS WITHIN THE CITY OF WACO. AND ONCE THEY BUY AND INVEST IN HOMES AND BEING ABLE TO SEE THOSE THINGS BE ABLE TO, TO WORK NICELY. BUT MARKET SEGMENTATION, AS WE MENTIONED, WE HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS. SO WE'LL BE HAVING HOMES FROM THE MID THREE HUNDREDS ALL THE WAY UP IN, IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS AND SIZES. IT ALLOWS FOR DIFFERENT TIMES OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOMES THAT ARE THERE. SO, YOU KNOW, FOR FOLKS THAT ARE MAYBE WANTING TO HAVE LESS YARD AND BE ABLE TO LOCK AND LEAVE AND GO TRAVEL, THE BROWNSTONES AND ZERO LOT LINE HOMES REALLY APPEAL TO THEM. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE GETTING YOUNG FAMILIES WHO ARE JUST STARTING OUT AND AFFORDING THEIR FIRST HOMES. AND THAT'S EXCITING AS WELL. SO LIKE I SAID, THIS, HAVING THIS DIVERSITY ALLOWS FOR US TO BETTER WEATHER VARIOUS ECONOMIC CYCLES THAT WE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY SEE IN REAL ESTATE. AND SO IT ALLOWS FOR SOMETHING TO BE ABSORBED AT ALL TIMES. THE THING WE'VE BEEN, AS BUILDERS REALLY FOCUS IN ON IS REALLY HELPING TO KEEP OUR COST DOWN AS BEST AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN ALWAYS REACH ATTAINABILITY FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS TO BE ABLE TO COME IN HERE. THAT'S BEEN ABLE TO BE ACHIEVED ONE BY Y'ALL'S WISE DECISION OF PUTTING TOGETHER WHAT Y'ALL DID WITH YOUR WITH YOUR MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. IT ALLOWED LOT COSTS TO BE MUCH MORE ACHIEVABLE THROUGH THAT. BY BUILDING IN A CONDENSED AREA LIKES THIS. WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE SOME ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND EFFICIENCIES, AND BEING ABLE TO DELIVER THESE IN A FAIRLY BRISK MANNER AS WELL, AND BE ABLE TO BRING THEM TO MARKET. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR OTHER FRIENDS IN THE AROUND US, OUR LOCAL LENDERS IN THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS CADENCE BANK, NOW KNOWN AS HUNTINGTON'S. THEY HAVE A REALLY DYNAMIC, RIGHT AT
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HOME PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO COME IN EVEN WITH 0% DOWN, NOT HAVE ANY PMI INSURANCE THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY ON. THAT ALLOWS FOLKS WHO ARE ALREADY PAYING THE AMOUNT OF A MORTGAGE IN THEIR RENTS QUITE OFTEN, TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND START GETTING A SLICE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM OR THE WACO DREAM, BEING ABLE TO HOME OWN A HOME HERE IN OUR OWN TOWN.SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND BEING ABLE TO BRING IT IN. AND WE'RE CATCHING ATTENTION AROUND THE NATION AS WELL. WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT SOUTHERN LIVING HAS NAMED US AS A SOUTHERN LIVING INSPIRED COMMUNITY. THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 4 OR 5 OF THESE AROUND THE UNITED STATES, AND YOU'RE GOING TO START SEEING SOME OF THEIR PROMOTIONS IN THEIR IN THEIR MAGAZINES AND IN ALL THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AS WELL. THEY'RE PART OF THE PEOPLE MAGAZINE BRAND, AND THEY HAVE AN AMAZING FOLLOWING OF 1.8 BILLION FOLLOWERS, SECOND ONLY TO FACEBOOK AND THE NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS BETWEEN THEIR BRANDS. AND SO YOU'LL START SEEING THE ADS COMING OUT PROMOTING CORDOVA SPRINGS HERE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON IN BOTH BETTER HOMES AND GARDEN, AS WELL AS SOUTHERN LIVING MAGAZINES. SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THEIR. WE ARE OUT HERE EVERY DAY JUST WORKING TO MAKE THIS THING SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL WILL BE ULTIMATELY VERY PROUD OF, AND THAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WILL REALLY BE ABLE TO RALLY AROUND.
I'M WELCOME TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SOROS OR MR. CENA OR COMMENTS? I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY EXCITING DEVELOPMENT, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE TENURE IS, BUT I THINK ALICE HAD SAID IT WAS THE FIRST FULL COMMUNITY IN SOUTH WACO AND 40 YEARS. IS THAT RIGHT? SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I CAN'T REMEMBER BUT OF THAT SCALE. SO IT IS AN INCREDIBLE FOOTPRINT ON WACO.
BUT I AM CURIOUS, AND THIS IS JUST MY MY CURIOSITY OF THE LOTS THAT ARE SOLD, ARE ARE THEY LOCAL FROM LOCAL FOLKS OR BECAUSE I KNOW YOU, WE ARE BECAUSE YOU WERE LISTED AS THIS INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN LIVING THAT THE WORLD KNOWS THAT THIS IS IS IN PLACE.
SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF, IF THIS WAS BEING SUPPORTED BY THE FOLKS AT HOME. YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND THAT'S AN EXCITING ANSWER ALSO IS THAT IT IS A IT'S A BROAD DIVERSITY. I'VE GOT LOCALS, RETIREES, I'VE GOT LOCALS THAT ARE STILL WORKING DOUBLE INCOME, NO KIDS. I DON'T NEED THAT BIG A HOUSE ANYMORE. AND I WANT TO GET SOMEWHERE THAT'S KIND OF COOL. THAT PERSON ACTUALLY HAD LIVED IN ANOTHER PART OF THE NATION THAT WAS A NEO TRADITIONAL DESIGN COMMUNITY. SO SHE'S LIKE, OH, WE GOT IT. WE UNDERSTAND IT. WE WANT THAT.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE YOUNG FAMILIES WITH THEIR FIRST BABY WAS JUST BORN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO MOVE UP INTO THIS HOME. AND SO THAT'S EXCITING. WE HAVE A BAYLOR STUDENT AS WELL THAT'S COMING IN AND GOING TO BE IN ONE OF THE BROWNSTONES. SO IT'S A BROAD DIVERSITY AND MIXTURE OF FOLKS FROM ALL RANGES OF ALL SOCIOECONOMIC TYPES, ALL RACES, ALL IT'S IT'S KIND OF COOL. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WHY WITH THAT FRONT PORCH LEANING THEME, AS YOU'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT NEIGHBORLINESS AND BEING ABLE TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER AND BRINGING PEOPLE FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE COMMUNITY IN CONVERSATIONS. AND SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE REALLY ARE LEANING INTO. LOVE IT. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU.
AS I DRIVE BY, IT LOOKS LIKE Y'ALL HAVE BEEN REALLY BUSY. SO IT LOOKS GREAT. WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST EVEN WITH THE RAIN. YEAH. APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION TODAY, GUYS.
BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU, I WAS HOPING WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE 17 HOUSES THAT ARE IN PLANNING AND PERMITTING. AND I WAS CURIOUS IF THERE WAS ANY WAY. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE HOUSES ARE GOING TO BE BUILT TO THE STANDARD, THE LOOK, THE DESIGN. WE'VE GOT ELEVATIONS YOU CAN SEE ON THE WEBSITE AND WHATNOT. IS THERE NOT A WAY WE CAN EXPEDITE FUTURE PLANNING AND PERMITTING, THROUGH HAVING THROUGH GETTING SOME OF THE CURRENT HOMES THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN PRODUCTION PRE-APPROVED GOING FORWARD? IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE IN DISCUSSION FOR OR WHAT? I'M NOT A PLANNING AND PERMITTING GUY. I'LL LEAVE THAT TO OUR ESTEEMED STAFF, BUT IS THERE A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR THAT, OR IS IT SOMETHING WE'VE EXPLORED TO TO KEEP THIS MOVING ALONG IN THE FUTURE? GOD BLESS YOU FOR THINKING THAT WAY, BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE CYCLE TIME IS IMPORTANT. YEAH. AND SO I WILL SAY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PART OF THOSE WEEKLY DISCUSSIONS I REFERENCED AND HAVING A REALLY GOOD COMMUNICATION CYCLE WITH, WITH STAFF HAS BEEN VERY DYNAMIC. IT'S ALLOWED US TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH SOME THINGS BECAUSE THERE'S SOME OF THESE THAT ARE NEW BROWNSTONES AND ZEROS WHERE WE'RE BOTH KIND OF WORKING, YOU KNOW, FEELING THE ROPES. NOW THAT WE HAVE
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SOME EXPERIENCE AS THE SECOND GENERATION OF SOME OF THESE PLANS, WE'RE ABLE TO BRING THEM BACK OR MAKE SLIGHT VARIATIONS. THAT'S BEEN MORE FLUID AND MORE FLUENT, BEING ABLE TO, TO BRING THAT THROUGH. SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE WE'RE CROSSING I'S AND T'S ON THE SUBMISSION SIDE OF THINGS. BUT YES, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE CAN SEE SOME, SOME, ONCE WE GET SOME PLANS DONE, BE ABLE TO SAY, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE DONE BEFORE. Y'ALL ALREADY DONE IT BEFORE. IT JUST IS ON A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT LOT. YEAH.AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE STAFF AS WELL, JUST TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ON LIKE, LIKE YOU POINTED OUT FOR THE SECOND GENERATION OF SOME OF THESE HOMES TO HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF IN STOCK AND JUST BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, SORT OF AN OFF THE SHELF THING WHERE WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING THUMBS UP ON THE CITY SIDE TO GO AHEAD AND GET INTO PRODUCTION ON THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN IT BEFORE. RIGHT. AND AS LONG AS WE CAN STICK TO THE PLAN, WE'LL BE GOOD. SO I CAN APPROVE THAT. BUT I DON'T THINK CLINT WOULD. BUT I. YEAH, HE'S SHAKING HIS HEAD NOW. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, GUYS? I'LL JUST SAY STEVE AND JEREMY GREAT PRESENTATION. AND YOU COME WITH A GREAT TEAM. KEN COOPER, SCOTT BLAND, DAVID SANDERS, GOOD, GOOD YOUNG MAN. THE I JUST SEVERAL THOUGHTS I HAD ON THIS WHERE YOU HAD THE RENDERINGS AND THE ACTUAL. IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE THAT SOMETIMES WE DON'T SEE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE IT THIS QUICK. IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE THE PICTURE THAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE. THAT'S AMAZING. AND I'LL AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LOZANO HERE. WHENEVER YOU DRIVE BY ON VALLEY MILLS, YOU JUST GET SO CURIOUS THAT I END UP KIND OF DRIVING BACK IN THERE TO KIND OF SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM ALL SIDES. AND IT'S, IT'S THE PROGRESS THERE IS AMAZING. AND IT'S I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, STEVE, ON THIS IS A NEW URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
NOBODY'S EVER TRIED IT ON THIS SCALE BEFORE. AND IN 2016, I GUESS I WAS THE ONLY ONE HERE BACK THEN. BUT HAVING I'M NOT SAYING I HAD THE VISION, BUT STAFF HAD THE VISION OF WHAT ARE WE WE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET FLOYD CASEY STADIUM. WHAT WOULD WE DO WITH IT IF WE GOT IT? AND HAVING THIS KIND OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING OUT INFILL IS SOMETIMES KIND OF HARD BECAUSE IT'S NOT GREENFIELD AND YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO WITH IT.
SO THAT AND THEN WITH THE DEVELOPERS AND THE BUILDERS AND THE STAFF ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO GET IT THIS FAR, ALONG WITH JONATHAN COOK'S WORK ON GETTING THAT PARK DONE. IT'S ALL KIND OF HAPPENING HERE AT THE SAME TIME. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR COMMENTS ON, ON THE COOPERATION AND THE COLLABORATION, THE WAY, THE WAY COLLABORATION IS THAT WHAT WE CALL IT, RIGHT? THE WAY COLLABORATION. SORRY ABOUT THAT. ANYWAY, WITH, WITH THE ALICE RODRIGUEZ PARK RIGHT NEXT DOOR, THIS IS ALL COMING TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE THREE MOVE INS NEXT MONTH. I MEAN, THAT'S WE NEED TO CELEBRATE THAT AND THE SOUTHERN LIVING RECOGNITION TOO. VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE THIS KIND OF PROJECT IS RECOGNIZED ON A NATIONAL A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BASIS. THIS IS A IT'S A COOL PROJECT WE'RE WORKING ON. SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE WE'RE MOVING RIGHT ALONG. THANKS A LOT, STEVE. JEREMY. THANK YOU. OKAY. CITY MANAGER HOLT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT. WHICH ONE ARE YOU GOING TO TACKLE NEXT? ALL RIGHT. NUMBER 663. ASHLEY NYSTROM, OUR CHIEF OF STAFF, WILL PRESENT A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE UPCOMING 90TH LEGISLATURE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. NEEDED A LITTLE BIT LONGER OF A WALK UP INTRODUCTION. WELCOME, ASHLEY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GLAD TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS ASHLEY NYSTROM. I SERVE AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND CURRENTLY LEAD OUR LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS AS THE THIRD PRESENTER AND OUR KIND OF OUT OF ORDER WORK SESSION. I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE OF TODAY'S FOUR PRESENTATIONS, YOU ALL HAVE THREE REALLY FUN ONES, AND I WILL LEAVE IT UP TO THE ROOM TO DECIDE WHICH OF THE FOUR ARE THE THREE ONES. AMEN. FOR SOME OF US, THE LEDGE IS THE CONTACT SPORT. COME ON NOW, YOU GOT AT LEAST TWO. COME ON NOW, THIS IS THE MOST FUN ONE. SO TODAY I WILL GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE UPCOMING 90TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE. WE'LL TALK THROUGH SOME KEY DATES AND TIMELINES.
TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE LEGISLATURE'S WORK DURING THE INTERIM, AS WELL AS GO THROUGH OUR LOCAL PLANNING AND PREPARATION AHEAD OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO WHILE THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLY MEETS FOR 140 DAYS EVERY OTHER YEAR, QUITE A BIT OF WORK GOES ON OUTSIDE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO ON THE SCREEN FOR YOU NOW, HAVE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE KEY DATES. ONE OF THOSE DATES IS ALREADY IN THE PAST. WE RECENTLY ATTENDED THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE MUNICIPAL POLICY SUMMIT, CHAIRED BY OUR VERY OWN COUNCIL MEMBER, ANDREA
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BERFIELD, AND HER ROLE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. AT THIS SUMMIT, MEMBER CITIES OF THE TML ESTABLISH A PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE POSITION THAT WILL GUIDE EMLS ADVOCACY WORK DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO THIS POLICY POSITION DOCUMENT WILL BE VOTED ON BY THE TML BODY AT THE NOVEMBER TML CONFERENCE. WE ARE RIGHT ON THE CUSP OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. COMING UP ON NOVEMBER 3RD IS ELECTION DAY. IT'S A BIG BALLOT IN TEXAS THIS YEAR. THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL, COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS POSITIONS ARE ALL UP FOR ELECTION. AND LOCALLY, WE HAVE A STATE SENATE RACE AS WELL AS BOTH OF OUR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS ARE ON THE BALLOT.DID NOT INCLUDE MY FAVORITE CLIP ON THE SCREEN, BUT I WILL SAY THIS IS WHERE MY DISCLAIMER GOES FROM WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAYS? THE GAME WHERE EVERYTHING IS MADE UP AND THE POINTS DON'T MATTER. A LOT OF WHAT I SAY TODAY COULD CHANGE DEPENDING ON HOW STATE ELECTIONS GO IN NOVEMBER. FOLLOWING THE ELECTIONS, MEMBERS WILL JUMP QUICKLY INTO THE BILL FILING PERIOD, WHICH BEGINS ON NOVEMBER 9TH. WE WILL SEE SEVERAL HUNDRED BILLS FILED IN THE FIRST MONTH AHEAD OF SESSION, AS WELL AS IN THROUGH DECEMBER. SESSION WILL THEN CONVENE ON JANUARY 12TH, AND MEMBERS WILL HAVE THROUGH MARCH 12TH TO CONTINUE FILING BILLS, AFTER WHICH THE REMAINDER OF SESSION WILL BE FOCUSED ON THEIR CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET AND ALL THE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED, AND THEY WILL WORK THROUGH MAY 31ST, UPON WHICH THEY WILL ADJOURN SINE DIE, WHICH MEANS WITHOUT A DAY TO RECONVENE. ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY OVER THE LAST FEW LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, WE HAVE SEEN A TREND WHERE AFTER THE REGULAR SESSION ENDS, WE HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE SPECIAL SESSIONS. DURING A SPECIAL SESSION, LEGISLATORS CAN ONLY CONSIDER BILL TOPICS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY THE GOVERNOR. SO THE GOVERNOR CALLS THOSE SPECIAL SESSIONS. SO LEGISLATURE MEETS BI ANNUALLY ON ODD NUMBERED YEARS. THEY'RE ONLY MANDATED JOB DURING SESSION IS TO PASS A BIENNIAL STATE BUDGET. OF COURSE, THEY DO MUCH MORE THAN THAT IN SETTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS FOR THE STATE IN THE OFF YEARS OR THE EVEN NUMBERED YEARS. THE LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS INTERIM CHARGES SET BY THE GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. DURING THE CURRENT INTERIM. SEVERAL OF THESE CHARGES WERE RELATED TO MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS. I'VE LISTED SOME HERE. THIS IS NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT SOME KEY ONES. THE BULK OF THE WORK DURING THE INTERIM HAS REALLY GEARED UP OVER THE LATE SUMMER, WITH MANY COMMITTEE HEARINGS TAKING PLACE IN JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND INTO OCTOBER. AT THESE MEETINGS, THE COMMITTEES HERE INVITED TESTIMONY ON THE SUBJECT AREAS ON THE MUNICIPAL MUNICIPALLY RELATED CHARGES THAT I HAVE HERE. INVITED. WITNESSES HAVE OFTEN INCLUDED PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS, TRADE ASSOCIATIONS, DIFFERENT THINK TANKS, AS WELL AS TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVES AND MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS. WACO HAS NOT BEEN INVITED TO GIVE TESTIMONY.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN MULTIPLE SURVEYS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AS TML IS SEEKING TO PROVIDE GENERAL EDUCATION AT THESE COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS AND HOW THINGS WORK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. THIS HAS INCLUDED PARTICIPATION IN SURVEYS ON CITY BUDGETING, CITY FEES, AS WELL AS CITY CONTRACTS WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. I WILL QUICKLY GO THROUGH THIS HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE KEY CITY RELATED CHARGES. PROPERTY TAX RELIEF IS A BIG ONE. IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR CAMPAIGN POINT FOR MULTIPLE LEVELS OF STATE LEADERSHIP. GOVERNOR ABBOTT RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A FIVE STEP PROPERTY TAX PLAN THAT INCLUDES LIMITING LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING TO POPULATION AND INFLATION, OR 3.5%, WHICHEVER IS THE LESSER OF THE TWO, REQUIRING A TWO THIRDS VOTER APPROVAL ON ALL LOCAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASES, SETTING THE PETITION LEVEL TO 15% OF REGISTERED VOTERS TO TRIGGER PROPERTY TAX RATE ROLLBACK ELECTION, LIMITING PROPERTY APPRAISALS TO ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS AND LOWERING THE HOMESTEAD APPRAISAL CAP FROM 10% TO 3%, AND EXPANDING APPRAISAL CAPS TO ALL PROPERTY TYPES. AND ADDITIONALLY, HE HAS ALSO PROPOSED ELIMINATING SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAXES FOR HOMEOWNERS. THAT'S THE FIRST ONE. THE CHARGE ON REMOVING BARRIERS TO HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND PROPERTY RIGHTS IS PRIMARILY TIED TO THE CONVERSATION AROUND LOT SIZE AND HOUSING DENSITY REQUIREMENTS, AS WELL AS MIXED USE AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AREAS, AND THE ABILITY OF PROPERTY OWNERS TO BE ABLE TO RELEASE FROM A CITY'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION. SO, AS A REMINDER, IN THE 89TH LEGISLATURE, SENATE BILL 15 HAD TO DO WITH MINIMUM LOT SIZES, BUT THERE WAS A POPULATION BRACKET OF 150,000. WACO DID NOT QUITE MEET THAT POPULATION BRACKET. HOWEVER, BASED ON THE CONVERSATION AT THESE HEARINGS, THIS IS ONE WHERE WE WOULD ANTICIPATE IN THE 90TH LEGISLATURE, THERE WILL BE A LOOK TO EXPAND THOSE REGULATIONS TO ADDITIONAL CITIES. LOCAL GOVERNMENT FEES ARE ALSO UNDER SCRUTINY. THE CHARGE IN THIS INTERIM WAS TO
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EVALUATE THE COLLECTION, USE AND OVERSIGHT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FEES AND DETERMINE IF THERE'S ADEQUATE TRANSPARENCY THERE. TML'S TESTIMONY AT THIS HEARING COVERED EXISTING STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR FEES AS WELL AS COST RECOVERY RULES, AND THEY PROVIDED A COMPREHENSIVE 18 PAGE MEMO ON CITY FEES AND IMPACT FEES. BUT THE COMMITTEE DID DISCUSS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF INCREASING AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR CITY FEES AND ENSURING APPROPRIATE PROPORTIONALITY STANDARDS ON IMPACT FEES. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IS STUDYING HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX PROGRAM AND THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR THAT PROGRAM TO ENSURE IT'S OPERATING AS THEY INTENDED.THEY'RE ALSO STUDYING PROJECT FINANCING ZONES AND CONSIDERING THE STATE'S LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT IN THAT PROGRAM. SO CURRENTLY, THE STATE WILL APPROVE WHICH CITIES CAN OPERATE A PROJECT FINANCING ZONE. SOME OF THE DISCUSSION AT THIS HEARING WAS TO TO SEE IF THEY NEED TO INCREASE AUTHORIZATION TO REQUIRE ANY NEW PROJECT IN A IN A PFC TO RECEIVE STATE APPROVAL.
AND THE WATER. AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IS STUDYING THE PRACTICE OF WATER AND WASTEWATER FUND TRANSFERS TO GENERAL FUNDS, PARTICULARLY IN LARGER MUNICIPALITIES, AND THEY'RE CONSIDERING A STATUTORY LIMIT ON UTILITY REVENUE THAT COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR TRANSFER. AND THEN AT A RECENT HEARING JUST LAST WEEK, THEY COVERED LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS OF FUNDS TO THIRD PARTY CONSULTANTS AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
THE COMMITTEE HEARD TESTIMONY FROM THE CITIES OF AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, HOUSTON AND DALLAS IN THE CONVERSATION BY THE COMMITTEE RANGED FROM LOOKING AT A RECOMMENDATION TO REQUIRE PUBLIC REPORTING OF ALL THIRD PARTY OR NONPROFIT CONTRACTS, ALL THE WAY TO CONSIDERING AN OUTRIGHT STATUTORY PROHIBITION OF CITIES TO PROVIDE GOVERNMENT GRANTS OR DONATIONS OR CONTRACTS TO NONPROFIT, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. SO THERE'S A LOT TO WATCH IN THE UPCOMING SESSION ON THE SCREEN HERE, I HAVE SOME TRENDS FROM RECENT SESSIONS, TAKING A LOOK BACK AT THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT ARE FILED. HOW MANY OF THOSE BILLS RELATE TO MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, AND THEN SEEING THE TOTAL BILLS THAT PASSED IN EACH SESSION, AS WELL AS CITY RELATED BILLS THAT PASSED. SO OVER THE LAST SESSION, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASING TREND OF MORE AND MORE BILLS BEING FILED IN EACH SESSION, GENERALLY AROUND 1800 TO 2000 OF BILLS IN EACH SESSION ARE GOING TO BE RELATED TO CITY GOVERNMENT, AS THE PROPORTION OF BILLS FILED INCREASES, THE ACTUAL BILL PASSAGE RATE HAS DROPPED FROM AROUND 20 TO 25%. BILLS PASSING TEN YEARS AGO. NOW IT'S AT ITS LOWEST OF 14% OF BILLS PASSED IN THE 89TH LEGISLATURE. HOWEVER, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE NUMBER OF BILLS THERE ON THE RIGHT THAT HAVE PASSED IN EACH SESSION HAS STAYED PRETTY STEADY BETWEEN 1200 TO 1400 BILLS, WITH ANYWHERE FROM 200 TO 300 BILLS PASSED BEING RELATED TO CITY GOVERNMENT. AND REALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THIS IS DUE IN LARGE PART TO MAJOR TIME CONSTRAINTS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. EVERY LEGISLATURE HAS THE SAME 440 DAYS TO PASS BILLS, AND SO FAR, 1400 SEEMS TO BE THE UPPER LIMIT OF THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT CAN MAKE IT THROUGH THE GANTLET OF SESSION. THE GROWING NUMBER OF BILLS FILED DOES ADD TO THE WORKLOAD, NOT ONLY FOR THE LEGISLATURE SIDE DOWN IN AUSTIN, BUT FOR CITY, CITY SIDE AS WELL AS WE WORK TO TRACK BILLS AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS, UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO WACO ARE, AND SEE WHAT THEIR LIKELIHOOD IS OF PASSING. AND THIS IS THE PROCESS. I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE WHOLE THING, BUT NEARLY EVERY BOX ON THE SCREEN IS A STEP AT WHICH A BILL COULD DIE.
THE SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK THING GOING A LITTLE BIT, I DID. I DID STEAL THIS FROM TML. THEY PUT ON A REALLY GREAT LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY BOOT CAMP THIS SUMMER WITH SOME REALLY GREAT RESOURCES FOR CITIES. THE FIRST ONE OF ITS KIND, FIRST INAUGURAL. SO AFTER A BILL IS INTRODUCED, IT'S READ FOR THE FIRST TIME. EVERY BILL MUST THEN GO THROUGH A COMMITTEE.
AND MOST OFTEN, IF A BILL IS GOING TO DIE AND 85% OF BILLS WILL DIE, OR AT LEAST IN THE LAST SESSION, THEY USUALLY NEVER MAKE IT THROUGH COMMITTEE, OR THEY DON'T MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE UNTIL MUCH LATER IN THE SESSION, AND THEN THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE FULL PROCESS. BUT IF THEY DO MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE, THEN THEY MOVE ON TO THEIR SECOND AND THIRD READINGS ON THE FLOOR, AND THEN THEY MUST, UNLESS THEY HAD A COMPANION BILL, THEY MUST THEN MAKE IT THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS IN THE THE HOUSE OR SENATE, DEPENDING ON WHERE THE BILL ORIGINATED. SO THAT BRINGS US TO WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AS I ALREADY DISCUSSED, WE ARE ACTIVE WITH THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY PLATFORM. HOWEVER, TML TAKES POSITIONS ON A STATEWIDE BASIS. THEIR. THEIR PLATFORM MANAGES THE INTERESTS OF 1400 MEMBER CITIES. 11 1100. I WAS A
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LITTLE OFF, BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS HELPFUL TO US IN GUIDING US THROUGH AS WE'RE NAVIGATING THE PROCESS, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE A SPECIFIC POLICY STANDPOINT. THAT END POINT THAT IMPACTS ONLY ONE CITY. FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE BILL IN 2023, THEY WERE HELPFUL TO US IN NAVIGATING THE PROCESS. HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE A POSITION AND WOULD NOT TAKE A POSITION ON A SIMILAR BILL IN THE FUTURE. SO WE DEVELOP LOCAL PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGED WITH. HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE WORKED WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY PRIORITIES DOCUMENT THAT WE ADOPT BEFORE EVERY SESSION, AND THE WACO LEADERSHIP FORUM CONVENES STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AHEAD OF THE SESSION TO DISCUSS PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT, AND HAVE DEVELOPED A DOCUMENT THAT COVERS THE FOCUS AREAS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. PRE K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION, WORKFORCE AND HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE. SO WE WE DO HAVE A DRAFT DOCUMENT THERE THIS YEAR. WE ARE ALSO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE SUPPORT NOT ONLY OF THE WACO LEADERSHIP FORUM AND DEVELOPING THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES, BUT ALSO FROM ENTITIES LIKE THE WACO BUSINESS LEAGUE AND THE GREATER WACO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AS WE CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF INITIATIVES LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S FIVE POINT PLAN ON PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ON SPENDING CAPS AND OTHER EROSIONS OF MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY AND MUNICIPAL FINANCE MECHANISMS LIKE CEOS. I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE IN WACO TO HAVE REALLY GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR STATE DELEGATION, AND I CLARIFY THAT BEFORE I SAY THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE CAPITOL, MORE AND MORE CITY OFFICIALS ARE INCREASINGLY SEEN AS PERSONA NON GRATA. SO IT IS INVALUABLE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT AND THE OUTREACH BY LOCAL RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY SPEAKING ON OUR BEHALF, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CITIES AND OUR NEEDS AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL CONTROL. SO AS FAR AS FOR NEXT STEPS, I WILL BRING BACK THAT COMMUNITY PRIORITIES PLATFORM DOCUMENT FOR ADOPTION AT A COUNCIL MEETING IN NOVEMBER, AS WELL AS A CITY OF WACO PLATFORM THAT WILL SERVE TO GUIDE STAFF'S INTERACTIONS DURING THE SESSION AND AT THE CAPITOL. IN THE PAST, WE HAVE CARRIED SUCCESSFULLY SPECIFIC PROJECTS SUCH AS ESTABLISHING THE TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, WACO'S HOTEL OCCUPANCY ZONE DESIGNATION, AND THE TEXAS RANGER HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED LAST SESSION. WE ALSO HAVE SUPPORTED BILLS CARRIED BY REPRESENTATIVE CURRY AROUND NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND WATERSHED PROTECTION, AND FOR THE UPCOMING SESSION, WE WOULD CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE PROTECTION OF LOCAL CONTROL AND AUTHORITY, PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF WATERSHED PROTECTION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS, AS WELL AS MUNICIPAL FINANCING MECHANISMS, AND OUR ABILITY TO FUND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. WITH THAT, I WILL SAY THANK YOU, AND I WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK ON OUR PRIORITY PLATFORM OR THE LEGISLATURE IN GENERAL. GREAT PRESENTATION. ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANKS, ASHLEY, FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION. I TO LOOK FORWARD TO ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES POST NOVEMBER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT'S REALLY GOING TO LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S ALL A GUESS. AS GOOD AS WE CAN HAVE, WE DO. I DO WANT THE PUBLIC TO REALIZE THE THE IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE, BECAUSE LITERALLY 1 IN 4 OF THE BILLS FILED ARE DEALING WITH MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, 1 IN 4. AND IT USED TO NOT IT WENT UP 10% FROM 20 YEARS AGO. AND IT'S GOING UP EVERY YEAR. AND I AM INCREDIBLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE SUCH STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERS, BECAUSE IN I THINK SINCE SESSIONS SINCE 2011 ISH, THERE'S BEEN A CONSTANT ATTACK ON LOCAL CONTROL AND IN PARTICULAR HOW CITIES DEAL WITH IT. NOW, OF THE ALMOST 1200 CITIES IN THIS IN THIS GREAT, BEAUTIFUL STATE. BUT A HANDFUL, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THE BIG SIX AND SOME HIGH FUNCTIONING MIDSIZE CITIES WHO ACTUALLY HAVE TEAMS WITH THEM THAT WORK ON THIS, SPECIFICALLY THAT WORK ON MAKING SURE THEIR CITIES ARE PROTECTED AND, AND, AND WALKING IN LOCKSTEP WITH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. EVERYBODY ELSE IS JUST FENDING FOR THEMSELVES, WHICH IS WHY I HAD TO DO THE TML ADVOCACY BOOT CAMP, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE CONSISTENT SUMMITS EVERY OTHER YEAR. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALIGNING OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND WALKING WITH THEM, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO TAKE US MORE ADVOCATING INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LOBBYISTS IS NOT A BAD WORD, BUT NONETHELESS, IT'S IT'S A BAD WORD IN THE LEGISLATURE. BUT WE DIGRESS. WE DO HAVE A STRONG INTERNAL TEAM TO AVOID THE THE MELEE OF IT ALL, BUT EVERYBODY DOESN'T. BUT WALKING IN LOCKSTEP WITH THE BUSINESS LEAGUE, WITH THE CHAMBERS, WITH THOSE THINGS, AND HAVING THEM STAND UP PUBLICLY AND TRAVEL DOWN TO AUSTIN, AS MANY OF US DO MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT THE SESSION, IS IMPERATIVE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THAT TO[01:20:04]
MAKE SURE THAT THE. OUR LEGISLATIVE BODY REALLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE WORK IS OF TEXAS CITIES AND THE TEXAS CITIES WORK. SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES AND MAKING IT HAPPEN. WELL, I KNOW I DO, BUT I DON'T YOU KNOW, I LUCKILY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, BUT I KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WE STAND IN THIS ROOM WITH AND WE WALK IN LINE WITH, FROM PARKS TO PUBLIC WORKS, BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE THINGS MATTER IN THIS WORK. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE SUPER BOWL OF IT ALL. GREAT COMMENT, COUNCILMEMBER MERRIFIELD, ANY ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO CHIME IN ON THIS ONE? JUST APPRECIATE THE WORK. TO ECHO BROOKFIELD'S SENTIMENT THAT WE'VE GOT GREAT FOLKS ON OUR STAFF LIKE YOURSELF, ASHLEY, WHO ARE DOING THE HARD PART OF THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTED AND KEEPING US AWARE AND, AND LETTING US KNOW WHEN IT'S, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE FOR US TO, TO JUMP IN AND, AND FIGHT FOR THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO KEEP OUR CITY AFLOAT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN ALL BE ON THE SAME PAGE AS WE'RE UNDERTAKING THESE EFFORTS, THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE SORT OF THEY CAN SEEM INSURMOUNTABLE WHEN YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT ARE INTRODUCED IN NOVEMBER, AND EVERYONE STARTS SORT OF GETTING TO THE EDGE OF THEIR SEAT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GIVING US A CLEAR PICTURE TO GUIDE US THROUGH AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SORT OF BRING US IN WHEN IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND, AND KEEPING US UP TO SPEED WITH IT. SO THANKS. GREAT. THANKS, ASHLEY, FOR THAT SUMMARY AND PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER. IT FEELS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS SESSION, HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THESE SESSIONS. AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE, WE, WE STRESS HERE IN WACO TO BE VERY GOOD STEWARDS OF, OF, THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS AND THROUGH TAXPAYER REVENUE AND GETTING $3 BILLION WORTH OF BACKED UP DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. AND WE'RE CHIPPING AWAY AT IT. AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE, THE BIGGEST STRESS IN THIS THING IS AUSTIN MEETING EVERY TWO YEARS. AND AS YOU SAID, KIND OF USURPING LOCAL CONTROL, YOU KNOW, AS AND WANTING TO RUN EVERYTHING FROM AUSTIN, WHICH WE'LL SEE HOW IT ALL SHAKES OUT. BUT I HAVE A FEELING WE'LL BE SPENDING MORE TIME DOWN IN AUSTIN THAN WE HAVE IN PAST YEARS. SO GOOD. WE NEED TO STAY AHEAD OF THIS, FOR SURE, AND ORGANIZE. AND SOME OF THE SOME OF THE EARLY INDICATIONS, I DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE CAMPAIGN DEALS. YOU NEVER KNOW. IT COULD BE PRETTY TOUGH ON CITIES THAT ARE GROWING LIKE US, THAT HAVE A TON OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. BY THAT I MEAN STREETS THAT AREN'T FIXED, WASTEWATER THAT'S NOT FIXED STRONG. AND WE HAVE CHIEF VICTORIAN BACK THERE. WE HAVE STRONG POLICE DEPARTMENTS NOW BECAUSE WE'RE MAKING THAT INVESTMENT. WE HAVE STRONG FIRE DEPARTMENTS. CHIEF BERGESON BACK THERE BECAUSE WE'RE MAKING THAT INVESTMENT, AND WE'RE POTENTIALLY PUTTING THAT AT RISK WITH SOME OF THE RHETORIC THAT'S BEING SPILLED RIGHT NOW DURING THE CAMPAIGN. BUT ANYWAY, STAY IN FRONT OF IT. IT'S THE BEST WE CAN DO, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS. THE NEXT ITEM IS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ORDER YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THESE IN, BUT NOW I DO BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY ONE LEFT. YEAH, THERE'S ONLY ONE LEFT. MAYOR.IT'S ITEM SIX, SIX, SIX. THAT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN. CAN WE CHANGE THAT NORMALLY, NORMALLY A PARKS PRESENTATION WOULD BE THE MOST EXCITING. BUT AFTER THAT RIVETING LEGISLATIVE ITEM. I'M NOT SURE THAT'LL BE TRUE OF THIS TIME. BUT IT IS EVERYONE'S FAVORITE ANNUAL PRESENTATION. A PREVIEW OF HOLIDAY EVENTS. OUR OWN JONATHAN COOK, THE BEST OF THE COOKS IN TOWN, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. OUR FAVORITE THINGS HAPPENING IN WACO OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL WACO WONDERLAND FESTIVAL, OUR DOWNTOWN LIGHTING DISPLAY AND CAMERON PARK ZOO, WILD LIGHTS, AND OTHER PLANNED DEPARTMENTAL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS.
MR. COOK, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER HOLT. ALWAYS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. GOT A LITTLE WARM TODAY. BUT ABOUT 12 HOURS AGO, WAKING UP, IF YOU WALKED OUTSIDE, THE AIR WAS CRISP. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SOME RAIN. THE HUMIDITY HAS LEFT US. AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? THAT MEANS IT'S STIRRING UP AT THE NORTH POLE. AND CHRISTMAS IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. COULDN'T BE HAPPIER TO SIT HERE AND GO OVER SOME PLANS OF WHAT WE HAVE AND REALLY EXPLAIN HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS HERE IN WACO THIS YEAR. AND QUITE SIMPLE, WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING WITH A LOT OF HOLIDAY CHEER AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT AS WE'VE BECOME KNOWN NOT ONLY TO OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS, BUT VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS, REALLY A CHRISTMAS DESTINATION. AND SO TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A COORDINATED LOOK AT SOME OF OUR PLANS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR ANNUAL WACO WONDERLAND EVENT. LOOK BACK AT WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED LAST YEAR, BUT THEN LOOKING AT THIS YEAR'S PLANS, AND THEN ALSO TAKE A MINUTE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING FROM A DOWNTOWN LIGHTING AND DECOR
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PERSPECTIVE, WORKING WITH OUR FRIENDS AT CITY CENTER WACO ON THAT, AND THEN ALSO JUST CITY AND COMMUNITY EVENTS AROUND THAT. WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPECTING THIS DECEMBER. SO WACO WONDERLAND AT A GLANCE. THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR. THIS PAST WEEKEND WE HAD THE IRONMAN EVENT. WE HAVE MAGNOLIA CELEBRATION COMING UP. BAYLOR FOOTBALL, HEART OF TEXAS FAIR AND RODEO. WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS THAT BECOME TRADITIONS, AND THIS WAS NO LONGER THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, BUT IT'S A TRADITION THAT WE STARTED BACK IN 2013 WHEN REALLY AN INTENT DECISION TO REVITALIZE OUR HOLIDAY PLANS AND FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN WACO. AND SO WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS A FREE HOLIDAY CELEBRATION, THREE DAYS CENTERED RIGHT IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN AT HERITAGE SQUARE, BUT REALLY DESIGNED NOT ONLY TO BRING RESIDENTS DOWN, BUT REALLY GIVE VISITORS A REASON TO COME TO WACO. BUT WE SEE IT AS A KICKOFF TO THE HOLIDAY SEASON. WONDERLAND IS NOT JUST ABOUT ONE WEEKEND. IT'S ABOUT A MONTH LONG OF TRYING DIFFERENT MECHANISMS AND DIFFERENT PROMOTIONS AND ACTIVITIES TO GET PEOPLE TO OUR DOWNTOWN AND ALSO TO VISIT OUR CITY. BUT THIS EVENT IS HOSTED EVERY YEAR, JUST A ENORMOUS TEAM. PROPS TO OUR PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF. OF COURSE, IT TOUCHES ALL AREAS, BUT YOU'RE TALKING WACO, P-D FIRE DEPARTMENT, TRAFFIC, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO HOST A FESTIVAL OF THIS EVENT OF THIS SIZE, BUT ALSO DEPEND AND WORK WITH OUR CITY CENTER, WACO, OUR DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AND A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS COME TOGETHER AND WE WANT TO FESTIVE. I LOVE THE PICTURE OVER HERE. YOU SEE THE LIGHTS, YOU SEE THE FIREWORKS, THAT VIBRANT HOLIDAY DESTINATION, GIVING PEOPLE SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN AND REALLY SHOWCASE THAT WE'RE A COMMUNITY THAT COMES TOGETHER AND KNOWS HOW TO CELEBRATE. SO A COUPLE HIGHLIGHTS LAST YEAR, AND AS WITH EVERY YEAR, I'VE LEARNED AFTER DOING A GOOD MANY OF THESE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THE ROLL OF THE DICE WHEN YOU'RE DOING AN OUTDOOR EVENT AND IT COMES TO DECEMBER. AND SO YOU'RE ALWAYS PLAYING A LITTLE WEATHER GAME. BUT OVERALL, WE HAD A SOLID YEAR LAST YEAR.WEATHER WAS A LITTLE COLD ON THE LAST DAY, BUT WANTED TO JUST SHARE SOME NUMBERS. I LOVE THE FACT THOSE MISTLETOE MERCHANTS AND FOOD AND DRINK TRUCKS, THOSE ARE ALL LOCAL VENDORS THAT ARE COMING DOWN, NOT ONLY DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS, BUT PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN ALSO THOSE PERFORMANCE GROUPS. THAT CAN BE EVERYTHING FROM A UKULELE BAND.
WE HAVE PLAY EVERY YEAR THE CIVIC THEATER, THE DANCE GROUPS REALLY USE THAT AS A WAY ONE, NOT JUST KIDS, BUT PEOPLE SHOW OFF AND BRING THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO CELEBRATE. ALL THESE ARE CHRISTMAS THEMED PERFORMANCES. OUR OUR ANNUAL WACO WONDERLAND PARADE IN DOWNTOWN HAD 74 ENTRIES. AND THEN YOU SEE THE TICKET SALES ANDALES. IT IS A FREE EVENT MENTIONED THAT. BUT THE TICKET SALES GO TO RIDE THINGS SUCH AS THE FERRIS WHEEL OR SNOW HILL, WHICH IS MADE OUT OF REALLY REAL ICE. AND THEN TWO THINGS WE'RE EXCITED LAST YEAR AS WELL. I'LL MAKE NOTE WE ADDED TWO ADDITIONAL TREES TO THE HERITAGE SQUARE AREA, WORKED WITH AFRICA AND CITY CENTER ON THAT. AND THEN WE ALSO STARTED AND BASED OFF ANOTHER EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE LAST FALL, WE SAW SOME STRING LIGHTS DOWN AUSTIN AVENUE. SO WE WERE ABLE TO CAPTURE ON THAT. WE'LL BE BRINGING THOSE BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND REALLY LOVE THE WAY THOSE LOOKS AND CONTINUE TO LOOK AT PLANS ON HOW THAT CAN BE EVEN MORE OF A PERMANENT OPTION, PERHAPS IN THE FUTURE. HERE, LOOKING AT OUR INSIGHTS OVERALL, I MENTIONED THE COOL WEATHER WE'VE HAD WACO WONDERLAND TO WHERE WE'VE LOOKED AT OUR ATTENDANCE AND REALLY HIT THAT 20,000 MARK LAST YEAR. WE CAME IN AT 16 FOR REALLY HAPPY WITH THAT. AND YOU SEE PEOPLE STAY FOR A CONCENTRATED TIME, AND THE MAP ON THE LEFT REALLY JUST SHOWS THE DENSITY. AND WHAT IT SHOWS IS THERE'S NO DOUBT WE HAVE A CORE LOCAL AUDIENCE. BUT AS WE GET FURTHER AND FURTHER ALONG, WE'RE SEEING THAT SPREAD OUT A LITTLE BIT AND YOU'RE SEEING CLUSTERS. SO WE KNOW THAT THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THAT REGIONAL REACH, WHICH IS ALSO SOME OPPORTUNITIES. NO DOUBT ON THAT FIRST NIGHT, REALLY HEAVILY ATTENDED. WHEN YOU'RE DOING A TREE LIGHTING SHOW AND THE FIREWORKS AND THE MAYOR AND FRIENDS ARE FLIPPING THE SWITCH, THAT BRINGS THE CROWDS OUT. AND SO IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD CELEBRATION AND KICK OFF. BUT WHAT WE SEE IS PEOPLE COME BACK ON THE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
THAT'S WHEN YOU SEE THE FAMILIES COME, BRING OUT THE KIDS TO RIDE THE DIFFERENT ATTRACTIONS. SO WE DEFINITELY SEE THAT IMPACT THAT FROM AN ECONOMY. BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WACO WONDERLAND. ONE THING WE LIKE THE COUPLET WITH IS DIFFERENT EVENTS, ESPECIALLY ON LIKE THE SATURDAY TO WHERE PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO WONDERLAND. BUT THEN YOU GO TO OTHER, OTHER MERCHANTS IN DOWNTOWN AND SUPPORT OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES.
[01:30:03]
SO THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO CAPTURE THAT THIS YEAR AS WELL. SO WHEN'S THIS GOING DOWN? FIRST WEEKEND OF DECEMBER. AND SO WONDERLAND IS SCHEDULED DECEMBER 4TH THROUGH SIX. A LITTLE PREVIEW OF THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE HAVE WE'VE GOT THE PICTURES, WE'VE GOT THE WRITTEN WORD, BUT THE TREE LIGHTING AND FIREWORKS, THE MERCHANT MARKET, OUR HOLIDAY PARADE TAKING PLACE ON THE SATURDAY GETS A LOT OF PEOPLE. LAST YEAR WE HAD NEARLY 5000 IN ATTENDANCE FOR THAT PARADE THAT STRETCHES DOWN AUSTIN AVENUE. I MENTIONED THE ENTERTAINMENT. I LOVE THE FERRIS WHEEL AND NO CHRISTMAS EVENT WITHOUT THOSE VISITS WITH SANTA. AND SO A LOT GOING ON ON THAT FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. AND THEN JUST LOOKING AROUND, I HAVE TO MAKE NOTE OF BAYLOR UNIVERSITY. THEY START OFF THE WEEKEND ON DECEMBER 3RD. THEY HAVE THEIR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS ON FIFTH STREET. AND THEN ALSO OUR PARTNERS AT MAGNOLIA GOING A BIG CHRISTMAS AT THE SILOS EVENT THIS YEAR TO WHERE IT'S A MONTH LONG CELEBRATION. BUT THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING A KICK OFF HOLIDAY CONCERT, DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES ON THE SATURDAY NIGHT. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET SOME OF THOSE EVENT MARKETING PEOPLE AROUND THE TABLE AND, HEY, WE'RE DOING THIS, WE'RE DOING THAT. IT GETS THE WHEELS TURNING. AND THAT'S WHERE THIS YEAR, WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE A REALLY A COLLABORATIVE MARKETING EFFORT THAT'S BEING HEADED UP BY OUR DESTINATION MARKETING OFFICE, MISS BLACKMAN AND TEAM TO POSITION WACO AS A TRAVEL DESTINATION FOR THE HOLIDAYS. NOT JUST THIS ONE WEEKEND, BUT MULTIPLE WEEKENDS TO REALLY GIVE VISITORS A REASON TO STAY OVER TONIGHT. WHAT YOU SEE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OR TO MY LEFT? THE JINGLE ALL THE WACO. THAT'S A SLOGAN THAT WE'VE WORKED TO DEVELOP WITH THE MARKETING FIRM JIM AND THEIR TEAM, AND WE REALLY THINK THERE'S SOME LONGEVITY HERE. I LOVE THE SPARKLE ON THE EYE, AND IT'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS COME TOGETHER TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, INSTEAD OF ALL OF US DOING THESE INDIVIDUAL EVENTS, HOW CAN WE PACKAGE THIS TOGETHER? SO THAT CAMPAIGN STRATEGY AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO NOT ONLY CONTINUE THIS ONE FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, BUT WE REALLY THINK IT REALLY CREATES A BLUEPRINT ON HOW WE CAN CREATE THESE DESTINATIONS FOR OTHER WEEKENDS. I MENTIONED ALL THESE TRADITIONAL EVENTS. WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, JULY 4TH, OUR BRAZOS NIGHT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, HEY, IT'S NOT JUST ONE EVENT, IT'S A WEEKEND DESTINATION. SO WITH THIS, THE STRATEGY, PRETTY SIMPLE TO BREAK IT DOWN, BUT INSPIRE, CONNECT AND CAPTURE.AND WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT WHEN YOU START WORKING WITH DIFFERENT FIRMS IS YOU REALLY SEE HOW YOU GET SORT OF HOOK, LINE AND SINKER TO. AND SO LOOKING AT THAT, WE'VE GOT TO ROLL OUT A CAMPAIGN. WE'RE EIGHT WEEKS AWAY. I ADDED UP ON MY CALENDAR JUST BEFORE. AND SO THE TIME IS TICKING AND WANTED TO ADDRESS A COUPLE THINGS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS MARKETING CAMPAIGN, WHAT DOES THAT INCLUDE? YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A WEBSITE, HOME PAGE LIKE LANDING PAGE THAT DIRECTS TO WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALL THE INFORMATION IN ONE SOURCE.
OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF PROGRAMMATIC DISPLAY ADS, THOSE ARE THOSE PESKY LITTLE THINGS SOMETIMES THAT LIKE, HOW DO THEY KNOW? LIKE WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING UP? WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOKING UP WHAT TO DO IN DECEMBER. YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT ABOUT JINGLE ALL THE WACO AND THEN ALSO COME TO SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION. YOU'LL SEE IT A LOT IN THE DIFFERENT SOCIAL ADS. AND ALL THREE OF THE PARTNERS ARE GOING TO HELP DELIVER THIS. AND SO WE'RE AT THAT 30 TO 60 DAY PERIOD RIGHT NOW. I MENTIONED EIGHT WEEKS. SO OVER THE NEXT WEEK AND A HALF, YOU'RE GOING TO START SEEING DIFFERENT THINGS ROLL OUT. AND WE KNOW IT'S VERY IMPORTANT LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS ON TOP 57%, THEY BOOK WITHIN FOUR WEEKS. THAT LAST NUMBER, 40% OF HOTEL BOOKINGS MADE WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF SOME SEARCH. SO WE WANT TO REALLY STRONG ROLL OUT OF THIS PLAN. AND REALLY GIVEN THE BIG PICTURE, THE STRATEGY THAT WE'RE WORKING ON WITH THE DMO OFFICE, THEN WILL BE THAT CONNECTION PIECE. VERY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY SHOWING THEM WHAT THEY CAN DO ON THE WEEKEND OF THE 1ST OF DECEMBER, BUT WHAT THEY COULD DO THE MULTIPLE WEEKENDS AND REALLY CREATING, LIKE I SAY, THE WHOLE PACKAGE. AND THEN FINALLY, AS WE LEAD UP, I'M A LAST MINUTE PLANNER. SO THERE YOU CAPTURE.
AND SO THAT'S AT THE END LIKE, OH YEAH, LET'S GO DO THAT THIS WEEKEND. WHAT ARE WE DOING? SO IT'S A MULTI-PHASE STRATEGY TO REALLY DRAW PEOPLE IN. AND, AND IT GOES BACK TO THE COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT. AND I DO WANT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE PEOPLE OF BAYLOR UNIVERSITY AND ALSO THE TEAMS AT MAGNOLIA TO WHERE WE'VE REALLY COME TOGETHER. THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE ENERGY COMING OUT AS WE LOOK TO REALLY JINGLE ALL THE WACO AND INTRODUCE THIS
[01:35:01]
CAMPAIGN TO EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. SO WHEN YOU TRAVEL AND YOU GO TO A DIFFERENT CITY, I'M A SUCKER FOR THE LIGHTS, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS LIKE, WHAT CITY? WHAT ARE THE LIGHTS LOOK LIKE? AND SO THIS IS ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS AND ALWAYS AN IDEA OF WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE? WHAT CAN WE DO? LIKE IN DREAM BIG? AND SO WE WANT OUR LIGHTS TO SHINE BRIGHT. AND THIS IS ANOTHER COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WORKING WITH OUR CONVENTION CENTER, CITY CENTER, WACO AND THEIR CONTRACTOR TO COME IN. AND OBVIOUSLY A FOCUS ON HERITAGE SQUARE. THESE ARE LIGHTS THAT WILL BE PUT UP HERE WITHIN THE NEXT STARTING IN THE NEXT MONTH AND GOING IN. SO THEY'RE READY AND THEY'LL BE ON DISPLAY THROUGH THE 1ST OF JANUARY. BUT BE WRAPPING TREES, WRAPPING THE COLUMNS. WE'VE ADDED THE TWO NEW 16 FOOT TREES, WHICH COMPLEMENT THE LARGE TREE IN FRONT OF CITY HALL. ONCE AGAIN LOOKING AT SOME SPOTLIGHTING AND SOME DIFFERENT ADDITIONS THERE. ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS IS WE HAVE THESE SPRITZERS. THEY CALL THEM, I'LL CALL THEM THE SPARKLES THAT HANG DOWN FROM THE TREES. YOU'LL SEE THOSE AROUND CITY HALL, THE CONVENTION CENTER ALSO BRIDGE STREET PLAZA IS A BIG FOCUS FOR US AND TRYING TO CREATE NOT ONLY A HERITAGE SQUARE. WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FROM A MUSIC STANDPOINT, FROM THE DECORATIVE PHOTO OP STANDPOINT, TO GET PEOPLE TO COME DOWN AND SEE THE LIGHTS, TO ACTIVATE THOSE SPACES. AND ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S FINDING REASONS NOT JUST ON THE FIRST WEEKEND, BUT OTHER WEEKENDS OF DECEMBER FOR PEOPLE TO COME DOWNTOWN. AND I THINK THE LIGHTS ON AUSTIN AVENUE ALSO PLAY. A BIG PART OF THAT JUST ADDS TO THAT FESTIVE FEELING IN DOWNTOWN MENTIONED THE CONVENTION CENTER DOES SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHTING ON THEIR TREES. ALWAYS A GREAT PRODUCT OF HOW MAGNOLIA LIGHTS UP THE SILOS. BAYLOR ARBOR MUSEUM THERE'S LIGHTS EVERYWHERE, BUT MY FAVORITE, THE WILDLIFE THAT CAMERON PARK ZOO IS REALLY BECOME WACO'S HOLIDAY ATTRACTION. IT'S BECOME A TRADITION FOR FAMILIES, BUT THIS IS A SHOWCASE EVENT FOR CAMERON PARK ZOO DURING THE WINTER SEASON. OBVIOUSLY IT CAN BE A LITTLE COLD, BUT THIS IS A MONTH LONG ATTRACTION. 15,000 PEOPLE LAST YEAR. SO GREAT ATTENDANCE OVER 3 MILLION LIGHTS, 65 DISPLAYS. I LOVE HOW THEY DO THE TUNNELS. THEY'VE GOT ONE OVER THE BRIDGE. ALWAYS LOVE WALKING THROUGH THERE. AND A DIFFERENT VARIETY OF HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES ACCOMPANY THIS EVENT. THIS YEAR THEY'RE GOING TO BE OPEN RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING, STARTING ON THAT 27TH THROUGH DECEMBER 30TH. I WANT TO SHOW 6 P.M. TO 9 P.M. ON THE THIRD THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAYS. LEAVES THE FRONT PART OF THE WEEK OPEN FOR DIFFERENT PRIVATE EVENTS. WHETHER IT CAN BE EVERYTHING FROM A BIRTHDAY PARTY OR A COMPANY PICNIC. I KNOW THE ZOO LIGHTS AND STAFF AND OUR EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT TEAM. THEY WORK REALLY HARD. WE HOST THE CITY EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION EVENT, WHICH LAST YEAR WE HAD OVER 1200 EMPLOYEES AND FAMILIES COME OUT TO THAT. SO A GREAT SPOT FOR THE HOLIDAYS TO SHOWCASE WACO. IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE ZOO, THOUGH, WE'VE BECOME KNOWN FOR SPREADING THAT HOLIDAY CHEER AND BRINGING THE LIGHTS TO THE PEOPLE. AND THAT'S FROM OUR CREWS AT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WACO FIRE, WACO PD. THEY'LL ALL BE RETURNING TO THE STREETS THIS YEAR AND VISITING OUR PARKS, LIBRARIES AND DIFFERENT COMMUNITY LOCATIONS AND JUST LOVE THE CREATIVITY THAT COMES INTO IT, THE TEAMWORK THAT COMES TO LIGHT UP THESE DIFFERENT VEHICLES. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S NOT JUST LIGHTS. WE'VE GOT INFLATABLES, WE GOT SNOW MACHINES BLASTING.IT'S A PARTY ON WHEELS FOR THE HOLIDAYS, BUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT HOLIDAY CAMPS AND PROGRAMING, NOT ONLY COMMUNITY CENTER. AMAZED AS ROBERTO, GIVE ME A LIST OF WHAT SORT OF LIBRARIES. AND OF COURSE, WHAT'S THE STEAM CENTER DOING FOR THE HOLIDAYS? AN AMAZING LIST. FULL PAGE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES. GREAT FOR FAMILIES TO VISIT THE STEAM CENTER WHILE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL. BUT VISIT FROM BLUE SANTA WACO PD. OUR EMPLOYEES DO A TOY DRIVE. THE YOUTH COUNCIL DOES A TOY DRIVE, SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS. BUT ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT IS MAKING SURE THAT AS A CITY, WE COME TOGETHER AND SORT OF CREATE THAT SPIRIT AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER. AND ALSO, I ALWAYS HAVE TO SAY, IF YOU'RE THINKING THERE'S A BEST GIFT OUT THERE, GO SEE MELISSA AT THE PET CIRCLE. THEY DO DIFFERENT HOLIDAY ADOPTIONS AS WELL. AND SO VERY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. NOW I MENTIONED THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING INTERNALLY. THERE IS NO DOUBT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES. I DIDN'T PUT A CALENDAR UP, BUT THERE ARE STARTING. WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM OUR DOWNTOWN COCOA CRAWL. WE HAVE CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCES AT THE HIPPODROME. YOU HAVE THE WACO STRIDERS DO DIFFERENT RUNS, JUST A LONG LIST AND THE CHURCHES COME TOGETHER. PERFORMANCE GROUPS
[01:40:05]
COME TOGETHER. I KNOW THE NUTCRACKER WILL BE IN DOWNTOWN, SO DECEMBER IS DEFINITELY A TIME WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES. THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE JINGLE ALL THE WACO CAMPAIGN IS WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SORT OF A ONE SOURCE THAT SHOWS ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES. BUT WITH THAT, WE'RE EXCITED. I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU A PROMO KICKOFF OF OUR VIDEO FOR WACO WONDERLAND, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.SO AS ALWAYS, NO DOUBT APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THE COUNCIL AND OUR COMMUNITY TO NOT ONLY BUILD GREAT PARKS, BUT ALSO BRING GREAT EVENTS TO THOSE OPEN SPACES. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT ANY OF THE EVENTS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR JONATHAN ON THIS? I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING EVERYBODY READY HERE. I KNOW WALK OUTSIDE. WE EXPECT IT TO BE SNOWING RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW IT WHILST IT IS 79 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS. YOU KNOW, I LOVE A GOOD THEME AND THE MERCHANDIZING AROUND JINGLE ALL THE WAY CO ALONE. MY GOSH, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE GOLD. I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT. I MEAN I'M LIKE BUDDY FROM ELF KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT THIS BUSINESS RIGHT NOW JUST BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE ON THE REGION. RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST WACO, IT IS. IT IS THE COLLECTIVE AROUND THE AREA. TWO QUESTIONS. ONE, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE LIGHTS GOING BACK UP ON AUSTIN. I ENCOURAGE US TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO KEEP THOSE FOREVER. MY QUESTION IS, WILL THEY BE ALONG THE SIDES AS THEY WERE FOR THE PROSPERITY DINNER, OR ARE WE TRYING TO GET OUR CRISS CROSS ON? YEAH. SO RIGHT NOW THEY WILL BE ALONG THE SIDE GOING FROM THE LAMP POST. THAT'S THE TEMPORARY ROUTE THAT WE HAVE FROM A LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE. WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING SEVERAL OF US IN MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, GETTING SOME ENGINEERED PLANS UP. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AS EASY BECAUSE YOU GOT THE WEIGHT LOAD AND I KNOW CROSSING AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE KNOWN HAS HAD A GREAT RESPONSE. I JUST ADDS TO IT. ONCE AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WHEN YOU GO TO A DOWNTOWN AND YOU WALK THROUGH A TUNNEL IN DOWNTOWN WITH THE LIGHT, THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID. SO WE ARE WORKING ON A SOLUTION. JUST LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING AT LIGHTS. I'M TAKING PICTURES OF APPARATI TO WHAT IS THAT ATTACHED TO? CAN WE, YOU KNOW, WILL IT MATTER? MY SECOND QUESTION. WELL, FIRST COMMENT, SECOND QUESTION. I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE HOW OUR DEPARTMENTS HAVE GOTTEN REALLY INVOLVED IN SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WITH THE FIRE TRUCKS, WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS TRUCKS, WITH PD AND ALL THE THINGS. YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I THINK DIDN'T THAT HAPPEN OUT OF COVID AND THAT WHAT HAPPENED, WE WERE UNABLE TO GATHER. AND SO WE BROUGHT THE CHEER TO THE PEOPLE. FIRE ACTUALLY FIRED. FIRE STARTED THAT. AND, AND JUST THINK ABOUT HOW IT HAS EVOLVED AND BECOME A LITTLE COMPETITIVE. BUT WE DO LOVE IT. AND LIKE, I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT FIRST COUNCIL MEETING IN DECEMBER BECAUSE THEY ALL COME HERE AND WE GET TO PLAY. THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE, I AND THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHEN I WAS AT CITY CENTER, BUT I THINK WE DID A AS WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT SANTA COMING, THERE WAS A SERIES WHERE WE DID SANTAS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, LEANING INTO SOME MORE CULTURAL ASPECTS OF WHO SAINT NICHOLAS IS. YEAH.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT IS COULD BE IN PLAY AGAIN OR SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE AROUND. NO DOUBT. AND I KNOW AND YOU MENTIONED REMEMBER AT OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, WE DID CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD AND SHOWCASING THAT. AND I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THAT TO A BIGGER STAGE. SO WE CAN DEFINITELY BE WORKING ON THAT AND FIGURE OUT BE ALL ENCOMPASSING AS WELL. COOL. I MEAN, IF CERTAINLY IF NOT AT THE WONDERLAND PIECE, I MEAN, WITH WHATEVER'S HAPPENING AT THE STEAM CENTER, WITH WHAT HAPPENS AT THE LIBRARIES, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED BECAUSE I KNOW JUST IN TIME YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY PHOTOS WITH SANTA, AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO EMBRACE
[01:45:01]
ALL CULTURES AND THAT AND DO THAT AS REFLECTIVE OF THEIR FAMILIES. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.YEAH. IT'S EXCITING. GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TO LEVERAGE RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS INDUSTRY WITH BAYLOR AND MAGNOLIA AND SORT OF COME TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE ON EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE TOTAL VISITORSHIP FOOT TRAFFIC AND EXPERIENCE FOR THE CITY OF WACO. I LOVE TO SEE THAT WE HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP APPARATUS IN PLACE. IT'S A SUPER FUN TIME OF YEAR. THIS IS I'M STARTING TO FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE BECAUSE I WENT TO SAM'S CLUB YESTERDAY AND IT'S ALL CHRISTMAS AND I WALKED OUT. I WAS LIKE, OH, IT'S STILL VERY EARLY OCTOBER.
WHAT'S GOING ON? AND NOW WE'RE HAVING THIS PRESENTATION AND IT FEELS MUCH CLOSER THAN 79 DAYS TO CHRISTMAS NOW. BUT IT'S A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME TO TO PLAN AND EXECUTE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING EVERYTHING YOU HAVE GOING ON. SECOND, THE NOTION TO FIND A WAY, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON IT TO MAKE THOSE LIGHTS PERMANENT. IT'S IT'S ONE STORY, BUT I WILL SAY I WAS RECOGNIZED IN MY CAPACITY AS A COUNCIL MEMBER GETTING A COFFEE AT DICHOTOMY DOWNTOWN WHEN WE HAD THEM UP PREVIOUSLY. AND THE BARISTA THANKED ME BECAUSE THEY OPENED AT 6 A.M. NOW, AND SHE FELT MUCH SAFER GOING THERE, OPENING THE SHOP WITH THE STREET LIGHTS.
IN ADDITION TO THE THE SORT OF ORNAMENTAL LIGHTS THEY HAVE DOWN THERE. SO I'VE NOT BEEN BACK SINCE THEY WENT DOWN. I HOPE SHE'S NOT UPSET, BUT IF WE COULD GET THEM UP, I THINK. I THINK I CAN GO BACK AND GET COFFEE THERE AGAIN THE NEXT TIME THEY'RE UP, SO LET ME KNOW.
BUT YEAH, THIS IS AN EXCITING THING. IT'S ALWAYS A REALLY FUN TIME OF YEAR. I KNOW THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE IS GEARING UP FOR PARADE SEASON IN GENERAL, GETTING SOME SLOW NODS OVER THERE. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THOSE COMING UP. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM. I THINK THAT, GENERALLY SPEAKING, IN TEXAS, SPECIFICALLY, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS COOL, WE GET OUT AND ABOUT. WE START PARADE SEASON, WE START HOLIDAY SEASON. THERE'S THERE'S A LIGHTNESS IN THE AIR, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO INTERACTING WITH FOLKS THAT ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND HELPING TO CREATE THAT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, JONATHAN, YOU DO SUCH A GREAT JOB WITH THE WINTER WONDERLAND AND THE TRUCKS, THE FIRE, THE POLICE, THE PUBLIC WORKS TRUCKS, THE WILDLIFE AND ALL THE THINGS. AND THEN AND I LIKE HOW YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT JINGLE ALL THE WACO AND JUST THAT CONSTRUCT. I KNOW THAT WE HAD A MEETING, I DON'T KNOW, 6 OR 8 MONTHS AGO, IT WAS YOUR BROTHER WAS REPRESENTING BAYLOR AND I WAS THERE AND THE MAGNOLIA FOLKS, WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER AND SYNERGIZE WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND SO I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO AND THIS ISN'T DIRECTLY ON THE HAPPY HOLIDAYS POINT, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THEIR CELEBRATION, TIMING AND SEQUENCING. AND I JUST THINK IT MAKES ALL KINDS OF SENSE TO GET THOSE THREE ELEMENTS TOGETHER, WACO, BAYLOR AND MAGNOLIA, AND PARTICULARLY ON. I LIKE THAT JINGLE ALL THE WAY ON THE LITTLE LOGO THERE. IT'S PRETTY COOL. YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST QUICK, THERE ARE VERY FEW TIMES WHERE YOU ROLL SOMEBODY, A TEAM WILL ROLL OUT A SLOGAN OR A LOGO AND YOU GET A UNANIMOUS, OH, WE ALL LIKE THAT. IT HAPPENED. IT WAS LIKE A UNICORN. SO I THINK WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT. AND IT'S GOING TO BE NICE TO ROLL THIS CAMPAIGN OUT. THAT AND THE ALICE RODRIGUEZ MOSAIC ALSO I THINK IS GREAT. WE HAD TWO GREAT ONES TODAY, AND I HATE TO CHIME IN AND PILE ON HERE, BUT THE LIGHTS ARE SO NOT NOT JUST AT CHRISTMAS, BUT YEAR ROUND. AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET LEAST IN ON THIS, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST THE KNOWS HOW TO TURN THOSE LIGHTS ON AT THE THE BRIDGE OUT THERE. BUT YEAH, THE PERMANENCE OF THAT AND NOT NOT TO MAKE THEM CHRISTMASSY ALL YEAR ROUND, BUT JUST THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A, I THINK UP HERE, WE THINK MAYBE OVERSIMPLISTIC LIKE JUST LEAVE THEM UP ALL YEAR OR GET SOME COOL ONES AND LEAVE THEM UP ALL YEAR. NOTHING THAT HADN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE. SO IT CAN BE DONE. WELL, I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS TO KIND OF BE THINKING ALONG THOSE LINES. AND, AND YEAH, I THINK EVERYBODY'S GOT COOL MEMORIES OF WHAT THE COOLEST, YOU KNOW, LIGHT DOWNTOWN LIGHTING THAT THEY'VE SEEN AND LIKE WACO TO BE IN THAT, THAT MEMORY BANK. BUT GREAT JOB AS ALWAYS, JONATHAN. APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? CITY MANAGER HOLD. THAT'S THE END. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 667. COUNCIL REQUEST FOR FUTURE ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED AND SCHEDULED FOR UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. ANY REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. WE DON'T NEED TO DO THE LIGHTS THING AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM, DO WE? I THINK THAT'S ESTABLISHED THAT WE WANT THEM.
OH, GO FOR IT. CAN WE GET AN IR ON THE COST AND ALL THAT GOES INTO IT TO BETTER EDUCATE COUNCIL AS AS MAYOR HOLMES SAID, WE MIGHT BE THINKING ABOUT IT OVER SIMPLISTICALLY. SO YOU PUT IT TO PRACTICAL USE. THIS IS. AND I WOULD I WOULD LOVE A DEEP DIVE. MEDIUM DIVE, SHALLOW DIVE.
LET'S GET OUR ANKLES WET IN TERMS OF DETERMINING ALL THAT GOES INTO GETTING THOSE LIGHTS
[01:50:02]
UP SO WE CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING. AND IT'S NOT JUST US UP HERE SHOUTING AT STAFF TO SAY, DO THIS THING. THAT MIGHT BE HARDER THAN WE THINK. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT'S EXACTLY AS HARD AS I THINK WE CAN GET THEM UP. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.THERE WE GO. WE. I THINK THAT'S IT THEN FOR FOR I DO I MEAN, I DO WANT TO MENTION THIS, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS FITS IN EXACTLY, BUT CHIEF VICTORIAN, I SEE YOU BACK THERE AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR VOLUNTEERING WITH DANCING WITH THE STARS FOR THE FAMILY OF B CENTER. AND AND WE'VE GOT A CLIP. WE'RE GOING TO ROLL THE CLIP NOW. NO, I'M KIDDING, I'M KIDDING. WE'LL DO THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE CITY. BOTH CHIEFS ARE HERE TODAY. THIS IS FANTASTIC. OKAY. WE WILL NOW RECESS THE WORK
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
SESSION. RECONVENE THE REGULAR SESSION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AS READ INTO THE RECORD BY CITY SECRETARY HICKS AT 4:53 P.M. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS. REAL PROPERTY TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.072 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.087 ATTORNEY BRIEFING. TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION FIVE FIVE. 1.071 CITY OF WACO VERSUS THE CAMERON COUNTY HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION ET AL. CAUSE NUMBER 2025-31, 31-4 IN THE 170TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT. AN ATTORNEY BRIEFING TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.071 IN RE AQUEOUS FILM FORMING FOAMS PRODUCTS. LIABILITY LITIGATION. MDL NUMBER* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.