City Council 6-17-25

[0:00:06] Oh, there's Mary on Brian. Yep. That one's going to be a little loud. That is wide out. It's loud. We'll move it up. Good morning, everyone. It's uh time to call this meeting to order. It's 8:31 June 17, 2025. Um with that, we will start off with the chaplain prayer by Art Mavro. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we gather here today with gratitude for the opportunity to witness to the swearing in ceremony and to welcome our newly elected city council member. We ask for your divine guidance and wisdom to be upon him as he embarks on this important journey of public service. Grant him clarity of mind, strength of character, and a deep sense of justice as he makes decisions that will impact the lives of all citizens. May he be united in purpose and dedicated to serving the best interest of our community. Bless his family and loved ones who support him in this endeavor. We ask for your grace and protection upon him. And father, we thank you for being a God of love who is with us now in this very room. You never leave us or forsake us. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible. Thank you, Art. We have no proclamations or recognitions

[0:02:13] this morning. We'll move straight into public comment. Members of the public may raise issues or concerns not listed on the regular agenda during this time. To participate, please sign in with the city clerk prior to the beginning of the meeting. Speakers will be called in the order they are signed in. When speaking, citizens must speak from the podium. Address all comments to the dis. Begin by stating your name and address or single member district and limit their remarks to three minutes or less. Heather, do we have any public comment? Michelle Grooms Reed. Good morning. Uh my name is Michelle Grooms Reed single member district 2 and I come standing as the unit president of NAACP unit 6219 here in St. Angelo, Texas. And on behalf of the unit, I would like to welcome our new mayor and our new city councilman's to your new positions. We look forward to working with each of you in our community here in St. Angelo because we know that there'll be a great partnership and we'll do great things together. So, welcome. Welcome to each and every one of you. Thank you so much, Miss G. Hey, anybody else? No, that concludes. That conclude a public a public comment. We'll move straight into the consent agenda and we'll go and see if anyone has any items to pull. Mary, Karen, no. Patrick, no. America Harry. Item C. Item C by Harry. Nobody in seat two right now. He with that. Can I have a motion for approval for all items except C? So move. Second. Any public comment on the consent agenda? None. All right. With all that said, all those in favor say I. I. Opposed. consent agenda except item C passes 6.

[0:04:18] With that, we'll move into item C. Consider authorizing the fire department to apply for the FEMA staffing for adequate fire and emergency response grant and authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute all related documents. Chief Brody, you're on. Thank you. Good morning, council. Good morning, mayor. Um, this is basically just authorization for us to apply for the safer grant. There is no obligation for us to accept the grant if we are awarded it. But I do have to get authorization before we apply and the deadline is approaching. Uh one thing I do want to make clear to everybody here that if we are awarded this grant, it will come back to council for approval to accept it. So Chief, I pulled this for one reason so that you can talk to the public a little bit about why this grant is appropriate. uh what's necessary for station 9 and a protection of the citizens out there. So if you want to span expand just a little bit on on that. Oh absolutely. So first of all why the need why the need for the additional personnel. So with uh expans as the city starts to expand we have recognized a service delivery gap in the southwest region of our town. Uh excess uh response times to that area. So we've identified an area that needs a new fire station. In order to staff that fire station, there's a metric that we use. So we have three personnel on the engine every day. Three different shifts, that's nine people. Plus an ambulance, that's two more people every day. That's f six more people to a total of 15. Industry standards. You don't just fill for the vacancies. You have to account for uh vacations and backfill. So that metric we use is like 1.3 per person that you need for minimum staffing. And 1.3 by 15 is like 19.6. And that 6 person is really hard to find. So we go ahead and round it up to 20. So um now the safer grant, the beautiful part of the safer grant, it is fedally funded and uh it's a cost share grant that it'll offset some of the expenses to the citizens and um our first year if if we're awarded the grant, our first

[0:06:21] year FEMA will cover over 8 $800,000 worth of expenses for this uh for personnel. The second year, um, it bumps up to 1 point or 1,77,000. And then year three, it's a decreased contribution from FEMA and an increased from the city, but FEMA is still covering 502,000 for a net total savings of taxpayer dollars of $2.3 million. So, it's a huge impact to our citizens, a huge cost offset to our city, and I'm I'm I'm optimistic that we're going to get awarded this grant. Thank you. Uh I just wanted the citizens to understand that there's there's a full reason behind applying for this particular grant because of the expansion of of city services. So with that, I move to approve this item. Second. Thank you. Got a first from Harry and a second from Karen. Any public comment? Mayor, if I may say something about this and Chief Rodie could attest to this. Um Mr. Valenuela explained yesterday to me that your our response time is less than 3 minutes to um to a to a a scene for for an ambulance or a fire department fire truck. But that with this new station that's going to decrease the response time I believe. So in that area that we're referring to uh national fire protection a association or agency sorry it is the national standard is a 4minute response time in this area of town I'm discussing we're at a 7 and a half minute response time and that's police and or police that is police and that is EMS and fire response to that area. um ISO, the insurance survey organization, they mandate a uh every structure in the city be within five road miles of a fire station. Well, Country Club Lake estates there is a like the last three streets in that neighborhood are greater than five road miles. That's why we've identified this as being a a very large

[0:08:24] need for a new station in that area. But even with where we are right now, we are still at a higher standard than most other cities with our response time and this this will only allow us to be even even better. Yes, ma'am. So, some of those long response times in that area are what driving the average up. So, whenever you reduce those long response times and bring those back into national standard, that only makes the average even better. Thank you for being on top of this and applying for this grant. We appreciate it. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. All right, with that I've got a first by Herring, a second by Karen. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? With that, item C passes 60. Now we'll move into a special agenda. We'll consider resolution canvasing returns and declaring the results of the runoff election held on June 7th, 2025. With that, the city held the runoff election Saturday, June 7th, 2025 to fill the single member district 2 vacancy. Early voting was conducted between May 27th and May 31st and between June 1st and June 3rd in accordance with Texas election code. The vote totals were as follows for the two candidates. Dudra D. Butler received 195 votes, total 39.47%. Joseph received 299 total votes, 60.53%. The city council officially finds, determines, and declares the results of the runoff election to elect Joseph to a four-year term ending May 2027 by a majority vote of the votes cast for single member district 2. The resolution in the council meeting packet includes a prepared tabulation of votes for each candidate by precinct and totaled as required by election code 67.004. We'll need to make a motion to adopt the resolution canvasing the returns. Excuse me. Go back and do that. Make sure we got 2020.

[0:10:26] That should be 29. We've got an error there. That will be the term ending May 2029. With that, a motion to adopt the return. So move. I have a first from Tommy. Second from Harry Thomas. Any public comment on the election? Okay. So we will accept the vote. Um, I will sign the Secretary of State's Canvas certification immediately following this meeting. This completes the canvas of the June 2000 June 7th, 2025 runoff election. Joe, if you would come to the podium. Did we vote? Okay. Right now we have the certificate of election in the name and and by the authority of the state of Texas is to certify that a general election on June 7th, 2025. Joe M. Self Jr. was duly elected city council member single member district 2 for the city of St. Angelo. Congratulations. I just want to say it's been a it's been a process uh to get here and we're going to come full circle. We'll have a full group and a full team shortly. What I do want to comment is the quality and the standards of the candidates in this election for this district district. Dudra, you and John, I I commend y'all both for doing this and doing this um um in a process that was great for all of us. I I'm glad we had a winner that was decided very clearly. But the point is it came through and it was very there was it was almost thirds in the election, but in the end Joe came out through the runoff and I appreciate that. I appreciate the fact that everyone shown up to welcome Joe on board. Joe, now we're going to swear you in with Judge Daniel. Raise your hand. Repeat after me. I,

[0:12:33] Joseph, I, Joseph, do solemnly swear or affirm do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of of St. Angelo City Council of the office of St. Angelo City Council, single member district 2, single member district 2 of the state of Texas of the state of Texas. And will to the best of my ability and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this state of the United States and of this state. So help me God. So help me God. Congratulations. Thank you. I think he was a little nervous. So, do we some of the family want to come up and take some pictures right quick while we have Joe? Mayor sir may have a point of personal privilege. Absolutely, Mr. D. Well, no, they all come up here. City Council's good for a lot of things and probably not so good for some things, but one of the good things that has come from city council for me was a long-term friendship. I served with Joe's dad back going back to 1990. I didn't know Marty at that point in my life, but Marty has become one of my best friends over that 35 year period. So, there are good things that come from city council that have nothing whatsoever to do with the city council itself, but you can establish some long-term friendships. My first memory of Joe was in Love, Texas at a TML meeting, and I'm not going to say how tall he was, but his sister was younger, so she was shorter. So, anyway, that there are good things that come from city council. I just wanted to say that. and it was good to see Marty and Shorty both here. Um, so anyway, thank you for

[0:14:36] that. Thank you, Tony. Words well spoken. Yeah, we're going to make it official now. Give him a name plate. Heather, would you like to make a comment how we're going to do the refreshments and the cake? Uh, just immediately following the conclusion of the meeting, we have refreshments and cake in the back to celebrate um Joe's win. All right. Thank you. Welcome aboard, Joe. With that, we're going to move into the regular agenda. Comments regarding items on the regular agenda may be made by the public when each item is discussed as outlined above. To participate, please sign in with the city clerk prior to the beginning of the meeting. Speakers will be called in the order they are signed in. Comments are limited to less than 3 minutes. Applicants, proponents, and appellants are exempt from the time limit above and instead must limit the remarks to less than 5 minutes. We'll move into item A. Consider approving a resolution

[0:16:40] supporting the collaboration between the city of St. Angelo and the Concho Valley Community Action Agency to create the Cono Concho Valley Rock Rose Community Campus on city-owned property. Presentation by Mike Bernett. Mike, please come up, sir. Mike, we've got an agenda item that's we've all been waiting for quite a while to bring forward. Um sir, thank you for your hard and diligent work the past several months. You and several of the people here within the nonprofit community on bringing this item forward. I think you've got a very strong task in front of you. I think we've laid this on broad shoulders that'll look at a great way to get it done and accomplished. With that, as soon as Lauraai tees up your presentation, we'll leave it. We'll start off with you and if you have an initial comments, please make them. All right. Uh I am glad to be here and I don't have to worry about a threeminut timer this time. So, uh, but I will try to keep it as brief as I can. And, uh, I apologize for the eye patch and the pirate look. Um, I had a detached retina surgery a couple of weeks ago. And so, uh, without it, I wouldn't be able to see anything. So, at least I can see your faces this way. So, uh, mayor, city council members, city staff, and guests, I'm Mike Bernett, uh, single member district 1, executive director of Concho Valley Community Action Agency and chair of the Concho Valley Homeless Planning Coalition. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today in support of the partnership resolution between the city of St. Angelo and CVCAA. A partnership rooted in the belief that poverty is not inevitable but unacceptable. This resolution reflects a commitment to a concept they began over 60 years ago to eliminate poverty in the midst of plenty by expanding access to education, employment, and the opportunity to live in decency and dignity. This is not just a moral imperative. It is a practical one. When we serve those in need, we strengthen our entire community. CVCAA works to address the root causes of

[0:18:45] poverty, hunger, housing instability, unemployment, and lack of access to essential services. But we just don't respond to crisis. We create opportunity, helping individuals move from survival to self-reliance and sufficiency. At the heart of our work is the promise of community action that I've shared with you before. Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. You can sum that up simply with helping people, changing lives. Today's resolution is more than a formality. It's a call to action. It's about aligning the city, nonprofits, faith organizations, businesses, and citizens to build a coordinated, compassionate response to poverty and homelessness. The Concho Valley Homeless Planning Coalition plays a viv a vital role in this effort, bringing together the homeless, the public, and the private sectors to identify and address the causes of homelessness. Our goal is to make our community more responsive and more humane by mobilizing every available resource. This partnership represents a united front not just to meet immediate needs but to dismantle systemic barriers that keep people in poverty. We believe people and systems can change. We believe poverty can be overcome through collective uh action. And we believe every person deserves the chance to thrive. And to understand the urgency, we must first look at the data because behind every number is a person, a story, and a future we can help shape. In the Concho Valley, there are 14% of our Concho Valley residents live in poverty. That's over 16,700 individuals in the 11 counties that we serve. These are people, neighbors, friends, family, acquaintances, and they are in need. In addition, uh 25% of the Concho Valley households have a housing burden of over 30% of their income. Uh 30% is a rule, a guideline uh for affordable housing.

[0:20:50] This is rent and mortgage plus utilities. These are people in harm's way. Uh every now and then you'll see people coming up to the podium and speaking uh in support of better animal services and they are rightfully outraged at some of the services that uh our animals in our the Koncho Valley face. Uh but these are people that we are talking about and they deserve better from us. In addition, 230 students are identified as homeless at the end of the 2024 school year from SISD. We have two over 247 on our homeless housing priority list. That's 190 single person households and that's 57 households with children that represent 166 individuals. 43% of the Koncho Valley falls into what is called Alice by the United Way. That is asset limited income constrained employed. In 2024, CBCAA conducted a a needs assessment of our top of our 11 counties, identifying the top five needs in our service area. These aren't surprising to anyone. Community lacks affordable housing. Families lack the financial resources to pay their rent or mortgage. Families lack access to affordable food. Individuals lack access to affordable health care. And the community lacks a temporary or emergency shelter for homeless people. Every year we conduct a point in time count as part of our relationship with the Texas Homeless Network. Uh most people in our community think of homeless only as those that they see under the bridges, at the Walmart, along the river, on the corner. In reality, the number is much much higher. The point in time count is a one-day census where we actually lay lay eyes on and have a conversation with our unhoused neighbors. This year, that number is 173 with 55 being chronically homeless. However, due to the nature of the point in time count, that number is inaccurate and it is low. The given um acceptance is that if you multiply that number by between uh between two and three, you get a closer uh accurate number of the

[0:22:53] number of homeless. Uh for us in St. Angelo, that number is closer is between 275 and 350 homeless on any given night with around 100 to 120 being chronically homeless. This slide kind of tells us how big the issue is. Uh what you see here are the response systems uh for low-income individuals and housing. A lot of folks think, well, couldn't they just get on HUD housing? Couldn't they just go to the Salvation Army shelter? The issue is much bigger than that. If you look here, uh the blue circles represent the number of households that the housing authority currently has housed, which is over 1,200 households. The purple are the number of households that are on weight lists. That number is over 2500 households that are waiting for some kind of affordable housing or subsidized housing. If you look at the family shelter and the Salvation Army, those combined can house around 70. If you look at MHMR Concho Valley's respbit and crisis intervention, that number is low. And then you add in the the 275 to 350 homeless individuals, you can see that we are at a tipping point. And it's easy to see why we have so many unhoused neighbors. In talking with Chief Griffith, uh he spoke to the St. Angelo Nonprofit Association a few uh months ago. SAPD is planning for a population explosion over the next 10 years where we see the highways coming through. We see more industry coming through. We know that the population of St. Angelo will grow, which means that the unhoused and those in need will grow as well. We're not meeting that need now. uh how can we expect to meet that in 10 years? The time is now to act. We're not doing this alone. This is one of my favorite slides to share. We have over 30 community partners that we do this work with. Um primarily we started uh working on short-term fixes through the housing uh the homeless coalition. Uh that quickly grew to providing more services on a more regular basis for our unhoused and low-income neighbors. The

[0:24:56] pandemic showed us the reality of the strain on our housing supply and support systems. Um, in 2022, there was a fire at the encampment on 14th Street. Uh, we began a weekly outreach to that encampment that quickly grew into what we call navigation days, which is a one-day uh service opportunity for our unhoused and low-income neighbors. It started for our low uh unhoused neighbors and it moved into those at risk of homelessness at well. The navigation day model is one time a month. It is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Gym on the last Tuesday of the month. That would be next Tuesday if you want to come check it out and see it. It is very impressive to see in action 20 plus partner agencies descending on one place to offer assistances for those in need. Last year, we assisted 546 unique individuals. We gave out over 4,400 services to those attendees. And what we discovered was that 34% of those attending homeless navigation day were housed but on the edge of homelessness. Rather than turn them away, we welcomed them in and said, "You can keep coming because you need these services as well." We've extended this to the rural parts of our service area with rural navigation day, which is equally as impressive. We have seen upwards of 20% of a poverty population in a county in two hours receiving services. And you can see there in the five counties we piloted in 2024, the average was 13% of a poverty population and 209 attendees with 17 partner agencies. When you look at the math of that and you think from 900 a.m. to 3 p.m. that's 6 hours. We did 12 events at homeless navigation day. That's 72 hours. We served 546 individual unique individuals uh knowing that there were people that duplicated uh and 4,400 services in 72 hours last year which is incredible. So we have a plan that we are calling

[0:26:59] the Koncho Valley Rockrow Community Action. Focusing on the success of Navigation Day with our partner agencies, we are creating a one-stop shop for our homeless and our lowincome individuals. we will think we see that homeless navigation day is already moving the needle on poverty for folks and we think this will make an even bigger difference. Uh we put together a task force last year. We've been learning from other communities across the country that have programs that are similar to this. So it's not like we just created an idea and thought hey let's run with it. We did a lot of research talked with a lot of partner agencies talked with a lot of organizations across the country about how they are meeting similar needs. The name is significant. Uh, Concho Valley. It is the entire Concho Valley being served, not just the city of St. Angelo. Rock rose. The rock rose is a plant known for thriving in poor rocky soil and blooming brightly despite harsh conditions. It is a powerful metaphor for working with low-income and homeless individuals, demonstrating their resilience, beauty, and strength and how that can emerge even in the most challenging environments. Community. because it's not just CVCAA. It is a community of organizations. It is the full community of the Concho Valley working to make this happen in campus. Uh the phrase campus came from one of our city uh colleagues. He said a a campus is a place you go for a period of time to learn to learn discipline and to better yourself. And so that really encapsulates why we have the campus in the name. This is a service campus. It is a secure service campus providing essential services and shelter and housing for homeless individuals. We think this will have a huge impact on the Concho Valley. Empowering pathways to stability and self-reliance by providing a service center for essential resources from partner agencies and secure private units in the campus enables individuals to move forward towards stability in an efficient way. Case management is the key. The campus will serve the broader needs of the community, not just our homeless

[0:29:00] individuals, but the 16,000 low-income individuals as well. It is a safe haven for healing and growth, preparing for transition to permanent housing, fostering self-reliance and confidence. It's communitydriven. Not only are there community partners engaged in this pro project, we've also engaged people with lived experience of low income and homelessness. They're involved in the planning. They This gives them a sense of belonging and ownership as well. And it is green and sustainable equipped with solar power. Uh if whenever it does rain in the Concho Valley, we can water the uh harvest the water in green spaces. The campus is a model of environmental sustainability. We estimate assisting around between 12,000 and 14,000 individuals annually. We can house over 100 at any time. That 12,000 to 14,000 is not homeless individuals. that is number of people in poverty that we anticipate helping in a in a year once this is is working. Uh CVCAA already works with over 7,000 individuals in a year. When you add in our 30 plus partner agencies, that is where you get to that 12 to 14,000 number. You can see there the list of programs and services that will be offered uh on the campus. We have a campus planning model similar to community first and the Espironza community in Austin. I know some of you have looked them up. Uh numbers of folks from St. Angelo have gone and visited with them. Uh they are planning partners with us in this. We're also working through what is called a hick plan, a homeless individual camping plan. This is not required uh for this project. Uh when the state outlawed public camping, they did create a way for municipalities to allow public camping. Uh and you have to do what this is called the homeless individual camping plan. And it has five core components. Local health care, indigent services, public transportation, law enforcement, and coordination with the local mental health authority. Even though we're not required because we don't have camping on this property, we're not required to do the hick plan. We are using this as

[0:31:03] the framework for the planning of essential services on our campus. So, we're going the extra mile for that. We always get questions on security for this campus. It has a controlled access. It provides safety and security both inside and outside of the campus and provides an impact of security for that neighborhood as well. And the security plan is being created in conjunction with local law enforcement. You want to look at the costs. National data says that over $35,000 are spent per year per individual for uh per chronic homeless individual for community. So that's money that we are already paying uh to offer services uh for our community. This is higher costs in law enforcement, uh jail, emergency room visits, indigent care. If you multiply that by the number of chronic individuals, the Concho Valley is spending approximately $3.5 million per year to work with our chronic homeless individuals. I don't think that's three and a half million that's well invested. We still see the issue and people are not moving out of harm's way. When programs like Rockrows come into existence and operate, that number is reduced by 49 a.5%. That's a savings of over $1.7 million per year. And if you talk with city operations, if you talk with police, if you talk with fire, if you talk with Shannon, they will tell you that having a campus like Rockrows in place will reduce a burden on their strained support services as well. In addition, uh those housed on the campus uh cost on average $4,800 less than uh housing someone uh across the city or in a in another type of uh permanent housing. And that's another $480,000 saved. This is a proven solution to end chronic homelessness. Permanent supportive housing pairing with affordable housing and case management support services. It not only helps end chronic homelessness, it helps them move

[0:33:08] towards long-term stability, improves their health and well-being. Programs like this have decreased chronic homelessness across the country by 30% since 2007. There's an economic multiplier as well when you think about the number of dollars invested in support programs like this. Uh on average it's seven. You can multiply every dollar invested times seven and that's the economic impact. This campus has a total cost in the 27 to $30 million range. So when you multiply that times seven that's upwards of an in impact of over $200 million. We brought in experts to help us with this. CVCAA engaged Denise Ferris, a nationally recognized nonprofit consulting firm with 55 years of experience specializing in major gift fundraising and capital campaigns. They are good listeners looking to community leaders for local knowledge and landscape. They have success in West Texas. They came highly recommended by Abel Hangar Foundation in Midland. Uh they've successfully get guided numerous major campaigns across West Texas and throughout the United States. Over the past few months, Denise Ferris has led a thorough planning process, speaking with community leaders and potential funders to assess the landscape for Rock. Their findings show that there is strong support for the Rock Rose campus. There's a strong reception for CVCAA to lead the charge of partners and that the community recognizes the urgent need that this project addresses. And we're encouraged and inspired by the numerous partners that were already on board, including the city. So, where is it? It is right here in the heart of St. Angelo. It's 11.8 acres of cityowned property. Centrally located, has access to transit. Uh, NIMI, the not in my backyard, is always a concern that we look at with the homeless coalition. This location is less of a concern than others, but we still pay attention to that and listen to the voices that raise concern. And there's access to essential services. adjacent to this campus. On one side is the railroad and commercial

[0:35:11] and on the other side is Black Shear Heights, the Boys and Girls Club. And we have been having conversations with individuals inside the Black Shear Heights to get their input on this as well. What this campus looks like here is um I'm excited to share this with you and and the public. Uh this is how we would use 11.8 acres on the front side. These are buildings one, two, and three. We call this the service part of the campus. This is not fenced. This is accessed for anyone in town, anyone across the Concho Valley with a bus stop right in the front. This is an admin and service center for CVCAA and our partner agencies. This is where case management happens on the daily. When you look at what we do on homeless navigation day, one day a month, we'll be able to offer this every day of a month, every day of the year if needed. uh space for us, space for our 30 plus partner agencies, training spaces, classroom spaces, meeting spaces. It meets a need for our community. Uh building number three is a warehouse for supplies where we anticipate doing food distributions on a massive scale out of here. Being able to stockpile for the co-ad and the VOAD, which are community organizations active in disaster and volunteer organizations active in disaster. CVCAA is part of that team working with TEM to make sure that we have adequate crisis response. the humanitarian response after the fact and so we would be able to stockpile things there. In the center section, this is the fenced area. Uh we like to call it a gated community. It is controlled access. It is controlled not to keep people in but to keep people out. The people living on this part of the campus have to abide by a community standards. They have to follow a continuum of care that is individualized for each person getting them the case management that they need. Intake comes through referrals from partner organizations. This is not just a show up one day and get housed. There is a process. Uh you have to stay on track on your continuum of care. Uh if you look at this uh number six and seven, those are what we're calling micro homes. At

[0:37:13] one point six was going to be tents uh meeting the folks where they were at, but we've we've since moved away from that. So six and seven are micro homes built out of uh storage containers. Uh we've been working with the city leaders on uh having how those would work. You see them across the country and popping up in different populations serving both housed uh folks as Airbnbs but also as unhoused uh cong non- congregate shelter. Those units uh have electricity, heating, and air, but they do not have hygiene facilities. And so if you are housed in six or seven, you would be getting your hygiene from buildings four and five, which are hygiene facilities. These have ADA compliant showers, bathrooms, laundry facilities, and kitchens. Um, number 11 is an outdoor workout space. Number 10 is a community green space uh with uh barbecue pits where they can cook outdoors. We've been working with the fire marshall to make sure that what we're doing aligns with uh what he needs to see for safety. So an individual comes in, they start in one of the micro homes and then they move into one of the tiny homes in number eight. This is permanent supportive housing. These are also uh shipping container homes that these do have um bathrooms and kitchens inside them. So you can think of them more like a a scaled up efficiency. Uh we call those permanent supportive housing because that's the next phase in housing a a homeless neighbor. Uh they still get the case management there. And then uh kind of rounding out that center part of the campus, uh 13 is a community garden, 12 is a dog park, and 14 is more green space plus uh a place for storm water detention. Outside the fence on the back, number nine, these are more tiny homes. This is affordable housing. Uh this is for individuals that graduate out of the campus. This could also be for individuals on a section 8 voucher. It could be folks just looking for something cheaper in town to rent. The key here is case management. This doesn't work without providing those essential services. We learned through CO that just putting a homeless

[0:39:16] individual in an apartment or in a house without providing them with the keys, without the access to the services they need, it does not work. The case management part is super important. There's growing support from federal and state funding programs to support programs like this. If you want to look at success rates, Community First in Austin has a higher high success rate with an average retention rate of approximately 85%. They have 50 acres that they are on and they are currently building on two additional 50 acres for their program. Uh it's a little bit different from us in that community first is primarily a permanent supportive housing development which would be number eight and it is designed for long-term. Our program is designed for moving folks that are currently unhoused through a continuum of care and then eventually into permanent supportive housing or permanent housing outside the campus. If you look at the Espironza community in Austin also the other one's foundation runs that they have helped 74 in one year they helped 74 clients move from Espironza cabins into longerterm housing. They've supported 288 people and successfully exiting their programs into stable housing. Uh they also provide vocational support. In 2023, 69 community members at Espironza were enrolled in vocational services. We are looking to them as a model for similar services that we would be offering. Uh the other one's foundation workforce first program uh includes residents from Esparonza. Uh it served 214 low-income individuals and unhoused individuals and paid out almost $400,000 in income to those individuals. So, it's it's paying them a living wage, uh, which is one of the goals as well. You can't have affordable housing if you're not making a living wage. The general impact of the Espironza community has been recognized as a massive success in aiding transitions out of homelessness. So, I hope what I've shared with you today has painted a clear picture, not

[0:41:19] just of the need, but of the vision, the plan, and the impact this campus and partnership will have. You've heard about the data, you've heard the strategy, and you've heard the services and the collaboration already underway. If you'll indulge me a few more moments, I'd like to share why I am so passionate about this work. Before the CO 19 pandemic, I'll be honest, my life didn't really intersect with the people that CVCAA serves. I was aware of the challenges in our community, but I wasn't deeply connected with them. That changed when I began volunteering with a food distribution ministry at my church, St. Paul Presbyterian. It was there handing out boxes of food during a time of crisis that I saw the faces of neighbors who were struggling, many for the first time. I listened to their stories. I felt their fear, their resilience, and their hope. And something inside me shifted. What started as a volunteer effort became a calling, one that led me to this work and eventually to this moment here today. What started as an act of service became something much more. I met families who had never needed help before. Seniors who were isolated and afraid. Parents doing everything they could to keep food on the table. I saw the faces behind the statistics. It wasn't just empathy. It was a calling. A calling into service. That experience opened my heart, changed the direction of my life. It led me to CVCAA where I now have the privilege of serving as executive director. It led me to the Concho Valley Homeless Planning Coalition where I work alongside countless others who believe that no one should be invisible. But more than titles, what drives me is the belief that no one in our community should be left behind. Not the single mother working two jobs and still struggling to pay rent. Not the veteran sleeping in his car. Not the child who goes to school hungry. I'm also proud to carry forward the legacy of my grandfather, the Honorable Dick Bernett, a man who dedicated his life and service to the greater good and to the Concho Valley. He taught me that leadership means showing up, listening, and doing the hard work to make things better. Today, I bring that same spirit. I believe in

[0:43:21] the power of community. I believe in the potential of every person, and I believe that St. Angelo can be a leader not just in managing poverty and homelessness, but solving it. Council members, today we stand at a crossroads, a defining moment for St. Angelo and the Concho Valley. This partnership between the city and CVCAA is not just about programs. It's about people. It's about creating more efficient operations across agencies, helping more individuals reintegrate into society, strengthening our workforce, and ultimately reducing the burden our taxpayers by investing in long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes. It's about building a future where every person, regardless of their starting point, has the opportunity to thrive. Where the voices of the poor are not only heard, but empowered. Where our community becomes a model not just for Texas, but for the entire nation. This is more than a resolution. It's a commitment to shaping the future, to addressing long-term needs, and to changing the trajectory of homelessness and poverty in our region. Together, we can create lasting impact. The e is the need is urgent and the time is now. Let St. Angelo and the Concho Valley be known not just for our compassion but for our courage to act. Thank you Mike. I think it was a great presentation. Um I know we're going to have I will and I think with that we we tackle the root of homelessness head on. All right. We're trying to help them become self-sufficient transition in. I think it's just an outstanding thing that we're starting with. But I know we're going to have lots of questions up here from the das and so what I will uh open it up to questions from council and whoever wants to start let me speak up. Mary Mike thank you very much for this. What is the length of time that some of these will stay? I mean do we do we have just like a first class and they fill it up fill it up and then what do we do then? I mean is there a the the short answer is it takes as long as it takes.

[0:45:23] Okay, we create an individualized continuum of care for each neighbor that is residing there. Some of our folks through history of working with homeless individuals, we know they will sail through that and be able to come in, be stabilized, get some of the essential services they need, and be successfully housed within 3 to 6 months. We know that some of our folks need much longer care than that. And so rather than put a timeline on it, we create an individualized care program that uh pairs them with service partners, with case managers. And as long as they're working towards success, they can stay housed there. The longer they stay housed there and they start receiving some kind of income, whether it's SSI or SSDI or uh a job, uh they do start paying some rent while they're there, uh the encouragement there is to progress through the system, progress into the tiny homes and then into permanent housing of their own. So I can't really say this is the time. It's individualized for every person. When you when these people come and you identified the chronic homeless, do you have a success rate on them? And and is there counseling services available? Because sometimes the thank God I don't have this problem, but I have encountered those that do and they they're in a loop, an endless miserable loop. are is there counseling and stuff available that can help give them the life skills. Yes. So that they can assimilate whether they don't have a job or not but for instance the uh contra valley home for girls will intake you know clothes business clothes so that they can go to an interview um and give them a better chance of of being being self- sustaining. So will you have the resources then to to help counsel the mindset of of some of these individuals? Yes, I probably already went over that, but I want to I want to bounce back to my favorite slide. Uh, yes. Well, there you there you go. So, what what's what's cool about this is if you come to navigation day and the first press gym, you will see 20 plus agencies on tables all around the gym providing essential

[0:47:26] services, not just coming in and saying, "Here's a pamphlet, set up a meeting with me." And so, we are seeing folks come in, they can go from table to table to table and get those uh services. This replicates that but in a in a much grander uh level. So if you think about the service part of the campus, uh we are creating what is called a a community care coordination system. So someone in need, whether they're homeless or low-income, can contact CBCA. They ident we do a needs assessment with them. They identify the needs that they have. Then our care coordinator will contact the appropriate agencies and say, "Okay, let's say this person's name is Steve. Steve, at 8:30 tomorrow, you're going to come in and you're going to talk with our housing navigator. At 9:00, you're going to go right next door and you're going to talk with uh West Texas Counseling about some of the mental health issues you have. Then you're going to go right next door and talk to someone from ADAC about the dependency issues that your kids might have. You're going to go around the corner in the same building and you're going to see someone from either Shannon or uh Los Bronza Health Clinic there. um if they have uh more needs than that. I mean, we've got the partners and the partner this this list is actually um small. There's probably about another 10 or 12 partners that we couldn't squeeze on the page. So, but the short answer, see, I'm I'm a little longwinded. Sorry. Okay. The short answer the short answer is yes. The long answer is this is how it works. It's very cool. You got to come see a navigation day if you've not seen one. It is so impressive to see that team of community leaders. It is faith organizations. It is nonprofits. It is civic organizations. There's members from the city there from time to time providing services. It is the best of St. Angelo. And it is very, very cool. This isn't just a project. This is a promise. Yes, ma'am. Well, God love you, man, for bringing this. Thank you Karen. Patrick, good morning. Um, you've answered most of my questions. One I would have though is especially on the Black Sheer Heights side of it, what kind of fencing security is there going to be there for

[0:49:29] those families? Um, so if you look at the center section here, is it possible to like touch things on here and like Yep. There you go. So there from there to there to there to there to there to there. Hey, this is pretty cool. I can draw a lot of cool stuff. This this is this is uh fencing. So we're looking at uh I think it's called Z panel R panel. It's that metal corrugated stuff. Uh tall enough that it can't be scaled, right? Uh controlled access points. Uh working with the fire marshall knowing that their vehicles have to come in. This there's no vehicle traffic on this. So it's not like it's a through street or anything, but this is gated controlled access for the residents so that only the residents can be there. Um, we know that in housing this that there are folks that don't want to play by the rules. We saw that on 14th Street. We saw how an unchecked population became a hazard to society and the surrounding communities. What we think and in talking with Chief Griffith by putting something like this in place by housing over 100 homeless individuals at any given time that number of uh these are the people who want to play by the rules. That means that the folks outside the fence are typically the ones that don't want to play by the rules. So, they become an easier force, an easier population for the police to enforce. Um, in our in our security plan, we're definitely talking about security inside, but we're also talking about security outside to make sure that any transient folks that are trying to get in that they are they are um talked to and help helped as well. not inside here, but they're moved along to the appropriate maybe to the emergency shelter. If they are causing harm or disturbances, then the the natural place for them would be the jail. And hopefully as the success of this grows, um those folks can see the light and want to come and get housed as well and go through the program. Um but the immediate is a security presence, fencing, and then that security presence is inside and outside the fence. And

[0:51:32] then on the the cost um you were talking about that we were talking about the multiplier uh that 27 to 30 million where's that coming from? That is coming from uh local philanthropers, local donations, foundations. There are some government programs that we've applied for as well that can provide up to up to 14 to 20 20 million of that. Um, some of those we have we feel like we have a really solid shot at as being one of uh the few communities in Texas that are even eligible to apply for this. Um, it's but it's not coming from taxpayers. It is not coming from bond elections or or those kind of things. And then paired with that is the is the savings that are uh over overburdened structure uh is already having. So like police, fire, um medical and those things. So there's a savings there as well so that those would be able to operate better. So unfortunately it's not like hey there's $1.7 million savings here's a check, right? Uh that would be cool. Um but we're not asking for that. We know that there's community support for this. We know that's what Denise Ferris the campaign consultants uh their diligence said that they think there is support for this in phases and so as that support grows as that financial support grows we'll build this out in phases. Uh when we talk about phases uh we're not talking about hey we're going to put micro homes here and hope for the best. The phasing has to have the presence of the front half of that the the case management presence. So, we know what happens when we just drop an unhoused population in a in a vicinity. But by being there with them, providing that case management daily, we know that that security will be higher and that the success rates are much higher. And I think that's a big point is to to show that it's this city. All we're really um doing is giving you the property to use. Yes. Yes. And then in kind, well, not in kind, but in return, our return on investment, not only is it the compassion and humane part of it, but it's actually the savings that we'll recoup in all the other divisions. Yes, sir. That that cost us money, the 36,000 down to, you know, roughly half that.

[0:53:34] Yes, sir. So, it it will not only help our city and help our homeless, but it also eases eases the taxpayers's burdens in other areas. Yes, sir. Um, that's all I've got. Thank you. Thank you, Harry. Just a real quick comment. First of all, I want to say thanks to Mike and the Homeless Coalition for putting this stuff together. I appreciate the partnership and certainly the partnership with all these 30 other agencies. Uh can't do this by yourself and this is one of the great things about St. Angelo is is people want to help other people. Neighbors helping neighbors. I want to see this done in my lifetime. Now, I'll be 80 years old in a few months, so I I'm I'm going to say let's get this done. Can Can we get a protection? Can we get a a Pope mobile bubble around Harry to make sure as we do? Yes, sir. We are We are trying to move as fast as we can once the funding comes in. We anticipate moving pretty quick. Thank you, Mr. Sil. Very, very great information. Uh there there's a lot of buzz about this. Honestly, it's close to my district and I've had a few calls about it. uh this helps understand more about it. Uh one quick thing that I just who does the case management? So it's each of the agencies and we're already doing that case management. So like at CVCAA we have case managers uh for our utility program, our housing navigators and a program that we call transitioning out of poverty. Uh most of those are are overlapped of the same handful of people. And so they will provide a piece of it. Some of that case management is provided by counselors with the partnering agencies. And so like if you come to navigation day, you'll see some of those folks there already providing that counseling and uh services. Okay, cool. I I enjoyed the presentation. That's very informative and helpful. Thank you, Heert. So I never knew the connection between you and your grandfather. I never knew that existed. That that that's pretty cool. I know your grandfather. Um is your dad

[0:55:36] Tommy? No, that's my uncle. Okay. My dad was uh is is uh Bill Bernett. He was the head of text dot during the '9s. So um Okay. Well, I know your I know your uncle then went high school with your uncle. Um I will echo everything that everybody else on the dis here has said, Mike. Um thank you for tackling this and those of us that have been on the council for a while since this has been bubbling up for a good while or at least since I've been on the council the last eight years. um getting calls from business people that they are having some issues um and they need help. So, and as you said, there's going to be those that want to be there and there's going to be those that don't want to be there. And you have a an avenue or avenues with which to direct both those paths. So, I think that that's important to note, too. um those that want to be there, you're going to be working with them as hard as you can. Those that don't, you have other avenues um through which you you can deal with that, too. Yes, sir. So, thank you. Um I've seen the model. If y'all haven't been to Mike's office to to see kind of the mockup, it is really really neat. So, Mike, thanks for all the hard work and and I I thank you, council member. Uh while I'm the person standing here, I'm just the captain of the ship. Um you can say I drew the short straw or I volunteered myself or whatever but uh it is a team a team of hundreds of individuals of agencies of partners working on this together. I just get to take the glory when uh I get to take the punches as well and they will come I'm sure. But well and thanks to all your all your partners as well too. Yes. Thank you. Gotcha. Daniel do you have a staff of people? Yeah I sure do. First of all, uh, as far as taking the punches, uh, we're grateful to have the pirate captain actually prioring the shift there. So, thank you for that. I I do want to talk about the, uh, the

[0:57:38] challenges that we face as a staff. Um, you know, we talk about the the cost connected with the homeless. Actually, we have been doing over, I mean, hundreds of thousands of dollars of cleanups per year uh, in areas where the homeless have set up and they've been removed for health and safety purposes. And so, our staff has to go on there, make do the cleanup. So, it's a hundreds of thousands just on that part of it. But, uh, on the 14th Street, for example, it took our staff close to 3 weeks. We had to pull staff from their normal duties to go and do that cleanup. So, that means that other things start falling behind. There's opportunity costs associated with that. So, those are those challenges. Also, before the uh Salvation Army opened up, uh and mind you, you mentioned a while ago, they'll uh they can keep up to 40 individuals, but anything above that, the city, if it gets cold outside, the city would have to open up a youth center like we've have in the past. Of course, we have to man that, you know, we do have to cancel programs, but to make sure that that that that's staffed as well. So, there's that cost to the city. So on our end, uh this partnership really helps these individuals, but it also helps the city to reduce its cost and make sure that we're providing the essential services to our citizens uh that actually go away when we have to pull staff from from uh certain areas to come and help out. But again, uh thank you for working so closely with us. I know that um that this is a program that we're we're looking forward to. We know that that'll really help the city as well in other aspects as far as a cost connected but also in the human aspect of it. So again, thank you for that. Thank you. Director Bernett, you've covered I had eight questions written down at the start of the presentation and I think you've covered it all from city cost to property values to the growth. Um, one thing I'd like to hear if we have a chance, uh, Chief Griffith, could you come up and maybe make a brief statement? I didn't know if you were back there for fun or not, Griff, but we thought we'd bring up just we just need a statement of how PD looks at this. And I and I'll

[0:59:39] tell you where I'm coming from. Quite often there's times where I and I have been in facilities where there's a homeless person that's in, you know, using your establishment for shelter and you might cause some bug. You're worried about it and, you know, it looks great for them to have somewhere to go. Quite often it's if they're not causing you any harm, is it okay for them to stay here? and and I think this solves the biggest question I've ever had, you know, and I know you've got to go somewhere, but you can't stay here. Can you expand upon that with how this would shape with this facility in PD? I say first off, I think this really is teaching a man to fish, teaching a woman to fish philosophy and that's it's important to me and my my background. Um, I've been working with Mike for a long time on this. This has been something that I believe in is as as an opportunity to course correct. If you rewind to to about four years ago, for sure, if not even two, we didn't have any wares to send them. Exactly what you're talking about, mayor, is that we were having to um deal with from place to place to place and that's doesn't feel humane as enforcement. There are laws in place and we're we're we're saddled with enforcing those laws. It we understand the the the business side. It is frustrating for individuals because just as Mike touched on, not some of some of these individuals do not play by the by the by the rules, so to speak. And so we we have a plan moving forward because there's some dangerous intersections for soliciting. There's some dangerous locations for for them to gather. I was there the day of the fire. I was there down uh worked on patrol during the time frame we had it underneath the bridge. um this without proper planning and and and and dealing with situations. We have seen time and time again crime increase in these areas, drug use increased in these areas. Our officers were getting in involved in altercations with people that were struggling with with drug addiction. This provides a place where rules can be followed. We can send them to two different locations to be able to send that to is is is going to be huge

[1:01:41] for uh the enforcement side for the San Angelo Police Department. this back. At this point, Heather, what are we looking for? A resolution here. Yes. You'll need a motion and a second to approve the resolution in support. I have a first from Karen Hessie Smith. A second. Second from Tommy Heert. Do we have any public comment? Yes. Uh David Ingram. Good morning. My name is David Ingram. I live at 3605 Green Ridge Drive. Uh I'm the director of uh Rust Street Ministries and I moved here at the very beginning of COVID from San Antonio. Uh before that I spent my life in uh huge metropolitan areas overseas and poverty for me was a constant seeing it uh all around me and very frustrating because I just felt like there was very little that I could do. Uh when I heard about the job at Rust Street Ministries, I was first attracted because there was there were over 25 different churches that participated in this ministry in an in an active way. I said, "Wow, at least about this we can all agree." And then I moved to St. Angelo. Uh I have uh some roots in West Texas. I won't say where because of what I'm about to say. Uh but I just assumed it would be like the place I was born in. But arriving here in St. Angelo, even during or maybe especially because of COVID, I found out very quickly that St. Angelo is an extremely generous community. Emphasi emphasis on both of

[1:03:46] those words, generous and community. And um fast forward uh to a few months ago when my friend Mike uh started telling me about the Rock Rose campus and my heart just exploded. I had been thinking for a couple of years about a Rust Street Jr. somewhere over in this very area of town. So for me as a Christian, this was an answer to prayer. Uh, and I I have seen I have been to the um I think it's called uh community one in Austin back when they began with their first 22 acre campus. Uh I went home and told my wife I said I want to move to Austin. I want to live in this place and uh serve people in this place. So I am very excited. Uh Rust Street will have a presence in on this campus. Uh I just uh to finish uh it's very challenging for our homeless folks to go to MHMR one day and then go to Rust Street the next day and then go to somewhere else the next day and then uh navigation day has been a big help. But as Mike said, this will be kind of a navigation day on steroids and it will be every day. So, I am really excited. All of us at Rust Street are excited about this possibility. Johnson Street Church, the elders have seen uh have have heard about this project and and uh I think we're all on board with this. My heart is just really ready for this to happen. God bless you. Thank you, David. Heather Brent Jenkins. Good morning. My name is Brent Jenkins. I'm the executive director of the Contra Valley Regional Food Bank. I've worked in nonprofit though for more than 35

[1:05:48] years and I currently am a live and work in single member district 5. I grew up here. I've lived here most of my life. I'm here today to say two things. The Koncha Valley uh community action agency is a tremendous community partner not only for the Koncha Valley Food Bank but for many many social organizations, service organizations that you've seen there on the slide and that the time to have a facility such as Rock Campus is now. Contra Valley Community Action Agency has known for a long time the needs of the homeless and know that it's bigger than any one of us knows and it know and that it will take all of us to address it. It was the Contra Valley Community Action Agency who conceived and implemented the monthly navigation days and what started in the basement of the Cactus Hotel has now had to move three times to accommodate the growing numbers of local neighbors who need help. The concept is simple. connect the neighbors who need help with the agencies that can meet that need and try not to make it too complicated and have them run around all over town to get it. As we gather here, there are individuals, as I'm sure you know, families and veterans, youth, and the elderly who will spend tonight wherever they can find in tents they've acquired somehow or in bushes out of sight and structures wherever they can find. They are not only homeless, there are neighbors. Studies show that without stable housing and shelter, individuals are far less likely to access the support they need, whether it's in health care or education, job training, or mental health services. Homelessness creates a vicious cycle of instability and despair. But it doesn't have to. By establishing a homeless shelter, we're not mere we're not merely providing a roof over someone's head. We're offering a foundation where they can rebuild. From an economic perspective, as you've seen and talked about, shelters are a solution that saves money in the long run. Without them, the emergency services, the hospital, the emergency care, the law enforcement resources are

[1:07:50] overburdened, costing taxpayers far more than the investment in a 360 solution like the Rock Gro campus. This sort of collaboration, prevention, and early intervention is not only compassionate, it's practical. A well-designed shelter such as the Rock Rose campus is more than a bed. It's a place that fosters hope. It provides connection to social services and a sense of safety that many have lost. It becomes a bridge that helps people transition from the life on the streets to stability and self-sufficiency. More importantly, it demonstrates that our community refuses to ignore the suffering, but that it shows that we care. Thank you for your consideration and support of the Rock Rose campus. Thank you, Michelle Grooms Reed. Good morning again. Um, I do want to uh, Mayor Thompson, address this as a private citizen at this time. Uh the NAACP will have to have their executive committee meeting uh at the end of this month. Uh and then we want to invite uh Mike to our general membership meeting to do a presentation where we will invite the Blackshire Heights community to come and ask questions. Uh but as a private citizen as single me member District 2, uh Mr. Self, welcome. Um, I do want to say that the uh the Rock Rose campus is a great thing to tackle homelessness effectively. Uh, the Rock the Rock Rose campus creates a service uh campus for lowincome and homeless individuals.

[1:09:52] uh the campus would offer a range of services including health care, job training, all those things. And in the in the mind of my in my mind, coming together and doing this as a community is a great thing. It's an awesome thing. Uh, and just to know that all the different things are going to be happening in one central area because when you're homeless and and you're trying and you don't have a car and you're trying to get to different places, it's very difficult when you're having to go all over to different places. This is going to be centrally located and all the services in one place. How awesome is that? You can take the public transit right there, Uber, whatever you need, however you're going to get there. Walk. Uh, it's going to be an awesome thing to have in our community and I'm looking forward to seeing this and I want to commend each of you. It's been very positive this morning and uh that's a great thing when we can all come together and be in one mind and one place and and uh come together and make this happen. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you as a private citizen here in St. Angelo. Thank you, Michelle and Stephanie Hamby. Morning. um Stephanie Hamby uh singleman District 6 but also executive director of Galley Community Development Corporation and um fiscal agent of the homeless planning coalition. So they sit under Galley CDC um for reasons of fiscal um money things. But um this has been a a project that has been in the works for years. We have had different ideas. We've had different you know plans. They've fallen through. So, it's

[1:11:55] so great to see this come before you guys today. Um, I appreciate your positive energy and all this and your um enthusiasm and optimism um as we see this come together. Mike has done an amazing job getting it together and getting it ready. Um, Black Shearan is amazing community. We build a lot in there and we love to um work with them. The one thing I think that this will be hugely successful in is it allows us to build relationships with those that are kind of on the fringe and on the outskirts and it's very hard for us when we give them something and they leave our office. We cannot get them back in unless they choose to come back through those doors. So this way allows us to get them where they are. Um just this week we had a young lady come in our office in tears because she had so much paperwork. She didn't know where to go next. She was confused. You know, it's just overwhelming for them. And for them to be able to go to one place and meet with all of us and get all of the services can handled at once as well as we can come back to them. We're not expecting them to come back to us. That gives us a lot of um opportunity to work with them and to solve the some of the problems that they're having. Um it also gives us hope that when someone calls us and they need a place to stay because they're being evicted or um they've been kicked out, um we don't have a place to go. And I'm sure some of you have gotten that phone call and it is heartbreaking to tell them, "I don't have an option for you. I cannot place you in a house, an apartment, anywhere." Um, this is going to be a great thing to be able to get them in a place right away where we can then help them. So, I appreciate you guys taking the time. I appreciate your partnership and involvement in this and I'm excited to see what it does next. Thank you, Miss Sam. That concludes the public comment on item A. I believe I have a first from Karen and a second from Tommy Heert. All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Didn't think so. With that motion passes 70. [Applause] Moving item B, the first reading and

[1:13:58] public hearing of an ordinance for SU25-01, a request for special use to allow resident and art gallery with a studio in a single family residential zoning district located at 1302 Kinwood. Aaron, you're on. Thank you, Mayor. Good morning, uh, city council, Mr. Valenuela. Uh, this is a special use permit for 1302, uh, Kinwood. in what we have here is basically a residence um and an art gallery uh studio. It was a church at one time and had been purchased about 20 years ago uh turned into a residence and actually kind of an art gallery at that time. They want to do an addition and so this is really allowing the legal use um to allow them to move forward. This is in district 5 um Karen Hessie Smith in the Sanantaorita neighborhood. So you can see here on the left is our vision plan that this is neighborhood and so residential living primarily in the neighborhood. On the right side you can see there's kind of a transition there uh along the alleyway uh between the single family and the two family. That image also is probably a little easier to see that this used to be an entire campus uh for the church. Um not as good as Mike Bernett on this apparently. Not even close. So, it's uh doing lots of stuff there, but that is that is kind of an old campus for the the entire entire church. Pieces of that has been sold off over the years. Um there's actually right here on this property a special use for a daycare. And then, of course, this uh property down here uh used to be a tire shop and now just kind of a automotive repair shop that are in the neighborhood area. Uh we just kind of highlight that in that block. Um, we chose as as city staff to recommend to go with a special use, not a full resoning. Um, because if you do a resoning, uh, we would really want to look at that entire block and we just did not think that that was a smart move at this time for that entire block to move as a as a a zoning. We did mail out notices. Um, we did receive back zero in support and zero in opposition.

[1:16:01] Uh, our rationale is looking at this because it is a limited scale. It is just one operator. They do only present their own art through their art gallery. Uh they do have it set up as their own residence. Uh we were seeing that this is a a limited scale and limited impacts. Uh and in fact, since it takes up a corner property, there's actually quite a bit of parking uh on street parking as well as on property for when he does have folks that come over by invitation to view his art and to see the art gallery and things like that. um the community need. We have heard even through our um discussions about our um cultural district that there are artists in town that are interested in having their own studios at their homes. Um we don't really have the zoning for that and we have to be very mindful of where those uh areas are located, but we did see through this special use request that this is an opportunity for us to uh do a property that has been working. We looked back and we did not find any complaints about the property, code compliance issues, those types of things. And so, uh, we think this is a a a possibility particularly for this property, uh, and maybe future, uh, properties if the situation is is correct. So, with that, the staff did recommend approval, uh, to the planning commission. Uh, they also did approve this at their May meeting. We did have one condition at the time that the planning commission struck which was the number of folks that could be at the property. Um we had we had thought of just limiting it to 10 that was just really not based on a whole lot of evidence of what the volume was. The discussion at planning commission was well what if you had a Bible study? What if you had a church part or a Christmas party or what if you had a family reunion? How is that different than having 20 or 25 people come to the art gallery? Um and so that's that was kind of the question. So they struck that as one of the conditions. They did keep the operating hours there. Um the minimum of onebedroom must uh exclusively remain for residential use. So it's really not

[1:18:04] a a let's rent this out over over for just anybody to come and stay there. Um and of course they're doing an addition and so we're just asking them to do the uh permits uh process for that. With that I'll be happy to answer any questions. So Erin, how I would like to do this? I would like as this is in Karen's district, I would let would like for any other council members to ask their questions first and I would like to have Karen have the final opportunity to make comment and then make the motion. So with that, I'll start with you, Mr. Heert. Uh my wife has a good friend that lives right across the street and the the individual seeking this request is a extremely good neighbor. So to you to support your point uh with no issues, code violations or anything. Um I'm I'm in favor of this Joe. I don't have anything. HT I think this really lets us look at some of the opportunities that may come forward in the new cultural district. So um I'm in favor. Patrick Mary Karen, wrap us up. Mr. Heert is correct. This individual is a is a known and good neighbor. I I think I'd like to see the footprint of the addition pointed out. So, let me see if Let me go back to the very first one here, maybe. So, it's going to be actually off the alleyway. Okay. They're going to actually add a back patio and some covered parking back there. Almost like a a twotory or an upper deck so that he can sit outside and do some of his artwork out there and then have some parking in this area right back here that comes in off the alleyway. It doesn't encroach onto the Avenue Eye uh or the Kinwood side and it doesn't encroach back towards um the property to the south. Motion to approve. I have a first from Karen. A second from Tommy Heapert.

[1:20:06] Any public comment? With no public comment, we'll ask for a vote. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes 70. Go to item C. First reading and public hearing of an ordinance for Z2517, a request to reszone 20.696 696 acres out of survey WH Willis in the Pauland subdivision from single mam single family residential zoning district to multifamily residential zoning district north and east of the intersection of McGill Boulevard and Gregory D Gregory Drive. With that, I'll start with any council members that have questions and then we'll let this close with Patrick. Tommy, no. I do not. Joe, no. Harry, no. Mary Karen no question Patrick uh no it's so yeah I was say didn't see a presentation or anything basically this I hope is going to allow more affordable housing on it you know what why don't we have a presentation first before I just try to rip through this and make our 10:30 appointment I thought we were moving very quickly I was doing great stacking the debt I was like going through the list thing and looking at the clock and then everybody Everybody's looking all right. So, hey, go ahead and make a presentation, Aaron. Everybody needs a mulligan. Thank you, mayor. Glad y'all were prepared. This is a property that's right here off of McGill. Um and as uh council member uh Gily was talking about, it is going to what we call RM1, but that is our what we call our flex zoning within our zoning district, which allows single family houses, two family houses, uh town homes, uh twin homes, as well as up to um low-rise multif family. The intent of the developer is to mimic some of the area here to kind of the uh southeast where along the back property. They're looking at uh doing more of the duplex style back there. They may have some area of some town homes, but then

[1:22:09] to mimic across from McGill and these areas, the single family uh housing in there. It gives that developer, that builder more flexibility. Um and you can see we did not update this when we should have, so I apologize for that. Um, so this is in district 4 and this is in the Pauland neighborhood. Um, so here again it's neighborhood in the future for for family living. Right now it's single family residential. You can see just to the southeast is the RM1 and it is to mimic that to give some more flexibility. We did send out um notices against large properties. So 75 notices went out. We did have one in opposition which was here and I think we did have one other one that came in uh through the mail later and they were concerned that it was going to be a a large multifamily project but after we talked to them that actually the idea is they're going to still have single family they may have some duplexes they were very much more comfortable with that decision. This did go to uh staff for the rationale. Uh obviously we need more affordable housing in our community. Um following this is a a neighborhood that supports Goodfellow heavily and a lot of Goodfellow folks uh like to invest in duplexes so that they live on one side, rent out the other side. When they move on, they sell it to somebody else that's coming to be stationed there and they get to do the same thing. So we think that's a a win-win for the community as well as the developer. uh as that uh established pattern in that neighborhood neighborhood continues to grow. So staff's recommendation at planning commission was for approval for this 20 acre uh parcel to go from RS1 to RM1. Uh planning commission did agree with that and came forward with the recommendation of approval to city council. What was the staff vote on that, Aaron? What was the planning's vote? I believe it was 6, but I I know there was nobody in opposition, but I don't remember if we had seven members that time or or 6. Thank you. All right, Patrick, we'll roll this one over to you. Uh yeah, kind of like we talked about. Um Paulanne is a uh there's a lot of renters, part of Good Fellow, and part

[1:24:12] of it is just it's a little more affordable housing over there. the with the way the lots are, the size of the houses, there's, you know, there's some five bedroomedroom homes, so some big families that can't afford a $500,000 home can find a nice home there. Um, so I think that that'll just help affordable housing in town, and that's that can rarely be a bad thing. So, I'm all for it. Any other questions now that we've vetted this out very thoroughly? With that, in favor, can I get a motion? Motion. I got a first from Patrick. Second. Patrick, who was my second? Joe. We'll give Joe Self his first second. All right. Any public comment? With no public comment on this matter, can we get a vote? All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 70. See if I can get this one right. All right. Discussion and consideration of a request to create a strategic planning committee to work with city council on policy guidance and project. else. Let's go to D. Maybe we need to have another election. I was fix I need to You don't know how many people be happy with that. Anyway, first reading and public hearing of an ordinance amending chapter 12, exhibit A, article 5, section 509, fences of the code of ordinances to provide an exception for public and private schools to allow fencing in front of yard setbacks up to 8 ft in height. Presentation by Aaron. Thank you, mayor, city council. Aaron Venoy, director uh planning development services. This is a simple text update to align more with the state law that allows u schools to provide security on their campuses. Our current zoning ordinance uh prohibits certain size or certain height of fences within the front yard setback. Uh several of our campuses are in RS1 zoned areas which would say you can only have a 4ft high fence. Well, that really doesn't help them with their security plan. And so this is just a simple text amendment that basically exempts public, private, and charter schools for security purposes on exempt from the maximum

[1:26:14] height of 4T in the front yard. Um, as it's written, it could allow up to a 10-ft fence. Basically, that's the maximum height in the zoning ordinance. Uh, SISD at this time is uh their intent is an 8ft total. We would recommend a 8ft total, but we're not opposed to a 10-ft fence if someone really wanted to come in and do a 10-ft fence. really is for security and safety for the campus. Uh and so we have kind of left that open to if that's a height restriction that planning commission or city council wanted to place in there, they could. Uh planning commission did not have a height restriction at that time. So with that, uh any questions from the council? Erin, I had some thoughts about this concern. Does are you worried about the appearance or the, you know, the type of fence that is placed up, what they can put versus what they can't? Well, I think at one time we probably were, although I think our school district and other campuses do a very good job because one, they don't really want a solid fence. Now, they will either do a hurricane fence or a rod iron uh type metal fence because they kind of want to see what's coming back. I mean, they want to be able to visualize areas. So, uh the other thing is that really cities can't really control materials any longer. We can't go and say you got to have a stone fence, you got to put an R panel fence, those types of things. And so I think it's really left up to the to the schools and and what is going to be their best option to secure their campus and provide that safety for their campus uh for the the children and their staff. Any other questions? Tommy Erin, would we be creating more problems if we stated a minimum 8 foot fence that would that would then allow them to go to 910 if they wanted to? or would that perhaps have some unintended consequences if we said a minimum of eight? I I think if we went to a minimum of eight, there are some campuses or maybe uh private schools or charter schools that say, "Well, we can do a 6ft fence or 6 and 1/2t fence based on costs." Um I think we would just leave that up to their individual decision-making. I mean, our

[1:28:16] zoning ordinance really, it's just the prohibition of anything over four feet. And so that kind of gives them some area if we allow them to do this. Um, one added note, they do always uh work with our fire prevention team so that when they do those fencing and gates that they still have access and things like that. Well, and Mr. Heber, I think the education code or uh the regulation on that also allows six foot fences with anti-scaling features. So, I wouldn't do that. Thank you. Any other questions down here? Patrick, um just a a random question. Um on especially I guess mainly the private, what would a say somebody homechools, would they be able to use this and build an 8ft fence around their home? I would say no. Uh because I don't think they're classified as a private school, but I would have to do some research to be sure. Um, but I I believe based on the the character of what a private school would be as a as a campus, I would say no. But I may lean also to Mr. Dyson as I know he's may may give the same answer. I don't think so, but yeah, I'd have to look into that. Yeah, but that'd be my only curiosity with it is is what would allow somebody from just saying, "Okay, I'm gonna homeschool my kid and build an eight foot, 10 foot fence around my house now." Yeah, that that is certainly not the intent. U Right. And I'm happy to in investigate that. And uh as this is a text change, I can bring that back at the second reading and give you affirmative answer on that. Okay. Can you remind us please what the current front yard setback is for educational institutions for schools? Well, it's set by their their zoning. Um almost all zoning requires a 25- foot front yard setback. There's a few zoning districts that allow a 15 foot, but almost all of them are 25 foot in the front yard setback. And so depending on how old the campus is and when it was designed, those may be in front of that 25 foot. And to not have to build additional fencing or move fencing and

[1:30:18] really secure the entire campus where people can't go through windows, exterior doors, they have to move that fencing sometimes in front of that 25- ft uh setback. And so to have the right height, this is just an exception for those areas. Mary, any questions? With that, can I get a motion? Motion approve. I have a first from Harry. Second from Mary Coffee. Is there any public comment? Heather. No. With no public comment. I've got a first from Harry and a second from Mary. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries 70. Now, can I move to item A? Yes, sir. All right. Go ahead. Discussion and consideration of a request to create a strategic planning committee to work with city council on policy guidance and project financing plan for the tax increment reinvestment zone number one. Presentation by Aaron. You're on. Thank you, mayor. Uh I'm actually going to invite Miss Shirley Spears up who's our current vice chair of the uh TEI board. She's going to uh present this as this is an idea that's coming from the TEI board to the council to request this committee. Good morning. This is the first time I've had an opportunity to address the mayor and the new uh members who have been seated to council. So, welcome to your new positions. We're so glad uh that you all are here and seem to be working very well together. So, congratulations to everyone. As Aaron said, I'm Shirley Spears. I'm vice chair of the tears um board and uh we are wanting to kind of get proactive with some things that we need to prepare for over the next 10 years and many of you have been around and you've seen the good things that tears has been able to do over the last many years and we're wanting to now be proactively prepared and invite other members of the community uh city council persons and others to help us plan for the next 10

[1:32:21] years. So the purpose of the um strategic committee that we want to form is to discuss, update and align the project plan and the tiers policies for the remaining 10 years of the tiers zone number one which encompasses both the north and south tiers. So we basically have a per state uh regulations 10 more years left and that's for the north and the south and I know we've had several discussions about whether or not we can change the locations and all of that and reconfigure it and we cannot. So we're just trying to prepare for the next 10 years. Uh we have these goals that we've established. Uh we want to establish a unified project plan encompassing public and private project areas in the tiers zone number one. And so what we want to make sure that we can do here is ensure that as we have done over the last few years is to make sure that property owners know what they can and cannot do, how they can apply for additional funds to help their uh business locations and to work with the city uh and making sure that everything is attractive, aesthetically pleasing. We want to review current policies uh update policies which reflect actions to implement the project plan. So, just recently, we did get an updated policy from the council, and that had to do with a long-standing concern that we've had over nonprofit status. And so, we have incorporated that. We want to make sure as other things uh happen, we've got a lot of things, great things I'm hearing this morning, going on on the city. We want to make sure that we either update our policy so we can afford uh to encompass all of our uh residents, create a unity, a vision between city council, the tiers board and the public for the remaining 10 years. Uh for the most part, there's always been a good relationship I would say between uh the council and the tiers board. We want to enhance that. And so we think that by being proactive in planning for the next 10 years and just recently having our new city council members seated and our new mayor that perhaps we can move into some more

[1:34:25] positive directions to plan for the future. Uh provide an action plan to city staff to enact simplified policies for public incentives and public projects. And so we want to continue to work with Aaron and his great staff uh as a tears board to make sure that they're seeing the vision that we have with input from others as we mentioned just a little bit ago and to allow them to continue to help us uh move forward. Our plan for delivering this is to establish uh this today. Uh if you all would approve this strategic um committee if you will uh then we would meet every other Thursday as a committee. Uh this committee as I mentioned would be made up of several members from the tiers current tiers board. Uh it would be made up of city council persons uh people from the community as well because oftentimes when you're on these boards and you make these decisions you really are trying to speak on behalf of the citizensry and we want to make sure that the citizens have an opportunity to speak. So we invite some of them to be a part also uh business owners and uh property owners who have had opportunities in the past to benefit from tiers funding. We want them to come basically as subject matter experts to help guide us through the things that perhaps they had a little hiccup with as they were going through the process. We think that would be invaluable to help us. And then our meetings would be uh those dates that are listed there. Uh if we meet every other uh Thursday, then we would be able to present this to the council uh excuse me to the tears board overall uh by September 23rd and then we would finalize that to present to the council on October 7th uh and on the 21st or if if uh the 7th or the 21st whichever is necessary. So we're asking for you all to approve this uh creation of this strategic plan which would be under the uh guidance of the tiers board so that we would have benefit of our relationship with staff and to already

[1:36:28] be familiar with the rules and regulations and I'll entertain any questions. Surely I think this is a great idea. I mean, there's been times where we've just had a disconnect between what we've have tried to communicate back and forth and and a lot of times without everybody in the same room. It's it sometimes the message gets detourred and and drifted by the conduit that goes between the both. Um, do you have suggestions on who you want to put on this committee? We do have that. I'm not sure if Aaron has their names. We do have uh some people from the TEI board. Uh we have I think four from the TEI board and then we have some other people from uh the community and we certainly want the council persons uh for the tiers north and south uh to be actively involved and I'm not sure if we're ready to to discuss those things and Erin certainly if we don't need to call you know define those things right now we can just leave that open and look to fill that later if that gives you a little flexibility. Yes. Our biggest concern is to make sure that we're not meeting a quorum and so that we don't have a quorum at these meetings and so we're really limiting to three. Uh we have kind of an alternate from uh the TEI board that would in in case one somebody missed. And so we're really looking for you know there's two districts that the TEI currently falls in which is Mr. Harry Thomas and Mr. Patrick Healey's district and then an additional council member uh that may have some interest in that. Um, and it's kind of an aggressive timeline as as Shirley said, but we do want to bring something forth because 10 years goes by very quickly and if we don't plan way ahead for major projects, it it it I don't think anybody has a problem with the aggressive timeline. I think that's great, Sure. Okay. I'm like Harry, I want it in my lifetime. Harry, we got a lot of y'all that are I don't know if we need to put a defibrillator around here or some got a lot of concerns coming about that. Anyway, Shirley, if you don't mind, if if I pose, I'll start asking the council if they have any questions. Okay, Mr. Heert. No. Uh, I think we had some suggestions in our background

[1:38:32] information as to individuals. Um, they all look good to me. So, u my that's my comment, Mr. Self. No, sir. I don't have anything. Harry Thomas. Well, I think it's a good idea. As Aaron said, 10 years goes by pretty quickly. So, let's try to get some things done. Uh, and if we work out, and you said it appropriate, mayor, and that is sometimes there's some disconnect between the tears group and and the council, uh, not knowing which direction they're going in and possibly them not knowing which direction the council is going to go in. So, I support this. All right, Patrick, Karen, any question? Mary behind you. Mayor, they do have some suggested names. My recommendation is cover those names and maybe establish it now. If y'all have some suggested names, now it's time to bring it forward. So, yes, from the from the TEI board, um, we would have Shirley Spears. We would have Brienne Killiam and Mr. Joe Spano. Um, from city council, Mr. Patrick Healey, Mr. Harry Thomas, and then Mr. Tom Thompson. Unless mayor, you've got a full schedule and you need to suggest another another name on the um business uh the the citizen side. Uh Michelle Babish uh who's been a great downtown supporter, receiver of tears. Um I'm trying to think who the other two were now. There was one that was the president-elect of the uh real estate. You have Monica Ramos on there as well. And then Monica Yes, Monica Ramos with downtown St. Angelo who's been a critical piece of tears downtown St. Angelo was critical of of piece of tears and Tiffany and then Tiffany Sers presidentele just a real quick comment if I'm going to be on this particular committee I will not be in town on June 26th now most of the rest of these dates I've

[1:40:33] I've got my calendar already so but yes sir I'll be in Kansas City soon. Yes sir. Daniel, do you have any staff comments that you want to put? No, I think that I think it's a wonderful idea because we have been debating and talking about the tears and really to get some really great direction. This is a wonderful idea and as far as the names, I don't have any issues with any of his names. I think they're great names. So, tears board was uh Shirley Brittney and Joe Spano. Do we need to make any type of decision here other than say we're in support? We don't need to vote on this, do we? Well, you're creating the the committee, though. I mean, this is an opportunity to create that committee. Yeah, it would be consensus by council to approve the All right. So, could I have a motion? Someone first by Harry. I'll second it. Second by Tommy. Any public comment? None. With none, all in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 70. Thank you very much. Thank you, Shirley. Appreciate it. Nice job. Okay, now we're going to move into item F. Consider selection of a mayor pro Tim for June 25 through May of 2027. Election presentation by Heather Statsnik. Okay. Well, not much of a presentation. as council um has the opportunity now to appoint a mayor pro Tim that will um serve for the next two years until a new council is seated with the next election. Would you expand upon the duties of a mayor pro Tim? Uh so the mayor prom basically is like a vice sits in for the mayor when the mayor is not available or if you know something were to happen long term um and to to fill that time until a new mayor is elected and he will cover for or they will cover for the mayor in any absence. Correct.

[1:42:36] And that can go for um being chair at a meeting uh social events uh signing any documents um that the mayor needs to sign. Okay. And I'll start off with a little history on the on the pro 10. We have alternated it historically um the past eight years we've alternated it every two to typically the senior person on there or somebody that has not already served as a mayor pro Tim. With that in mind um I would like to suggest first for it to be um Tommy Heert. Tommy Heert is completing his final two years on council and I think uh Harry has already been a mayor pro Tim. Everybody else has opportunities for two, four, and six more years. And with that, I'd like to make a motion for it to be Tommy Heert. Second. And I have a second by Harry Thomas. Okay. Is the rest of council amenable to that? Say, is there any objections to that? Is the discussion good? Tommy, are you amenable with that? Do I do you have a choice in it? You know what? It's that that position is probably going to be used a lot more than it has been. Brenda was great on her attendance and I can only think of twice in Brenda's tenure, once with Lane and once with me where she was not here. Mayor, I can tell you that Tommy Field in at Goodfield Air Force Base uh just recently, I thought he did a wonderful job presenting the key to the city on behalf of the mayor. So, good job there. So, I'll clean up after you, Tom. There's there's a line of carnage behind there. All right, with with that, with all those in favor, say I. I. Any opposed? passes 70 for Tommy Heert to be mayor pro Tim. Awesome. Go to item G. Consider appointment of city council members to boards and committees. Heather, you're on. Okay. So, um the uh council has different um organizations around um the community where they serve on um certain boards and commissions. um to expedite the process. Um I think it'd be easier for me to go through the um boards and commissions that have immediate

[1:44:38] vacancies due to um Mayor Gunter and council members Gonzalez and uh Miller um no longer serving on council. Um so first concho river water mastery advisor or sorry water master advisory committee. Um that is a we have three members that sit on that committee right now is um Mayor Thompson and council member Heert um with a vacancy from Mayor G um Mayor Gunter. So we just need someone else to step in that third chair for Konto River Water Master Advisory Committee. This meets once a year does it not? Yes. Once again, I'll look for a volunteer on this. I mean, input will be minimal, but I will chair that committee. Will I not move into chairing that? Um, yes, that's essentially. Gotcha. So, anyway, with that, that is going to be you, Tommy. You're already on. Yeah, I'll volunteer. Harry Thomas is my suggestion. Okay. And then uh council member Gonzalez is uh left a vacancy with the Contro Valley um COG Executive Committee and that's the only one on that particular Council of Governments. Correct. Yes. Sorry. Kind of tell a little bit on what that one does. Unfortunately, I cannot um on the COGS. I think maybe Harry might be able to speak. Have you served on that previously? I'm just trying to look for the responsibility. I mean, council governments is in charge of lots of funding, lots of grants. They provide a lot of opportunities for us to look for alternative ways to take the burden, financial burden off of the um pretty much the city. And with that, I think we need to look at somebody that maybe is open to helping write grants and looking at ways and opportunities to move forward. Do you agree with that, Rick? I think you're right. It's more of a broad

[1:46:39] community approach of of opportunities and ways to make things happen and use resources. Right. So, with that, I wonder if Mary or Karen, would you all be interested in one of that? I'm already on the the other call. Yeah, Karen is on general assembly, right? So, I'm thinking Mary needs to take one right here. Well, I do want to take one. Are we only allowed one or can we be on No, no, we'll have several as we move through this. Mary, I'd like I'd like the COG, please. Executive committee. Yes, please. Okay. And then on the general assembly, uh Karen currently sits um on that um assembly, but there were two vacancies left by Council Member Miller and Mayor Gunter. I'll take Mayor Gunters. Okay. And another volunteer for Council Member Miller's seat. What is this committee? Oh, general assembly. Super efficient meeting. I can tell you that because it's run by. Awesome. Patrick, would you like to step in for that one? I think we'll put in Patrick on that. Okay. And then last with the COG is the transit board. Um, Council Member Thomas and Council Member Hessie Smith currently sit on that board, but there was a vacancy left by Council Member Miller. So there's the general assembly and a transit board. You sit on both. So who do we not have on a board yet? The new guy. Joe, think of the new guy. Joe Sil would like to be on that one. Okay. Um, thank you for your volunteer for that, Joe. Okay. And then a vacancy left by uh Mayor Gunter on the I-14 Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition. So, let me let me ask Daniel on this. We we've had discussions. Some of these councils or some of these boards and commissions, they expect a mayor to be in that position. If that is the case, I understand that and we will follow suit

[1:48:42] on those. I know that's been the way on the 27. Mayor has a lot more influence to have the mayor represented on the on that I-14. Um it's something that's been that Brenda was very active on. She did a really great job as far as promoting that and more so than anything. The mayor's voice really carries. So my recommendation would be that you as well as the president as that fits the way we've we're doing it. We're going to follow up with that. I'll take that one spot. Okay. Um and then to follow suit with that um would put you also on the metropolitan planning organization board and the ports to plains advisory board. Agreed. And um that's all as far as um preferred mayoral representation. Um the last one that we would have is uh a vacancy that was left on um the Murphy Performance Hall and that was left by Brenda. Uh that was left by Brenda. Um who's on it currently? Sure. Uh and Harry. Harry. So I don't know how often they meet anymore. Murphy perform the Murphy Performance Hall. MF fm Yeah, facility maintenance. Rick's got some comments. Rich got some comments. That's real easy. So, basically, you set up a we set up a fund after that tickets generate fund on the on the Murphy and that goes into a maintenance account. If there are maintenance items that rise to the level of needing to use that as it's written in the policy, it requires the vote of the uh SPAC board and then they send it over to three people that serve on it from this end which is myself, Harry, and it was the mayor. And I think it stipulates that it has to be the mayor. But with that said, it is easy and a lot of those are done by email. So, we've only only met twice over the last three years and one one email. Is

[1:50:47] that correct? Maybe two emails. Maybe two mail. Okay. Request my type of deal. So, you can handle this one. Trust me. I think the policy states that it's the mayor and the council district. Okay. And then very last is um a vacancy on the MHMR nominating committee. And this is also a committee um that I do not believe meets very often. That was the vacancy left by council member Gonzalez. Patrick needs to be on that one. Who? Patrick, it looks like you just got it or not. Welcome to council. Harry's your new best friend. So, return it, right? Okay. Um, so no vote is required on that. That'll just be consensus and I will email you an updated list of what you just signed up for and then what boards you currently what boards you currently serve on. Mayor, before we get off this subject, let me make a comment. We have a new person on the council that is uh certified public accountant, and I think her talents could be used on the audit committee. Now, I served on the audit committee for nine years, and I'm willing to continue to do that. I'm very comfortable there. But I also think that Mary could bring some fresh looks to that particular committee. Now whether we have just the one and I get off and let Mary do it or will we have two council people on there, I don't care how we do it, but I believe that she should come on the audit committee. Okay. So, um that is just one council member on that committee as of now. Um and it is by Harry. So, if that is something that Mary would be interested in, that's this would be So, can we list them as an alternate and can they attend as an alternate? Uh, I'm not as familiar with that committee. Do y'all offer alternates? I got it. Okay, Michael. We Harry has served for a long time. Tommy has shown an interest in that and has been attending the meetings as a non- voting participant and it has worked well. He

[1:52:53] uh so we can move ahead with an informal arrangement or if the council would like we can bring back an amendment and alter the number of personnel assigned to that we can do that however way you want. It has been positive both from the official member and the unofficial member I think and so we we'll work it either way. work. Well, I think what the steps we need to do here and I'm I'm big on a succession plan and steps. It's great to have Harry and Tommy there with visibility used to it and seen it, but we realize each one of those two members only has two more years. Mary's got four. So, I I would love for Tommy and Mary to each each attend whether that be an advisory or volunteer and however we have to manage that pull it off. But the audit committee is really important. So, it it wouldn't hurt to have three sets of eyes. Okay. I'd be honored to I'm sorry. Would you prefer for a uh an amendment to the um plan for I was going to say staffing the uh equipping of or assignment to include instead of one council member, we include three. I that's what I was going to suggest. Why don't why don't we do that since because I am familiar now with with the the process and and so forth. And so if that would work, let's bring Mary on just for Tom what Tom said for succession. So with that, I'll default to Daniel to give the final blessing. We can absolutely I think that'd be great. Uh and we can amend that and change that to make that three uh three council members. I think that that'd be great to have three sets of eyes on that and that's legal. Yes. Okay. Just make it I just got an attorney over there for a reason. Nobody else. I haven't seen that policy, but I'm glad to look at it. All right. I think with all that we've got a consensus to expand that committee to include three council people. The the secret is it's the best committee to serve on by far. We we got it's a clearly well just thinking post Tommy and post Harry. What if we had two

[1:54:57] council members and an and and an alternate because you don't know how you're going to fill this in May of 27. We've got a couple years to rotate that. All right. We're good with that. We got three. Mary, are you good with that? I'm honored to to be on that committee and however you want to structure this. I don't know if it's a maybe an an interim time frame, but I would greatly need your guidance and support Tommy and Harry especially um just to get me up to to the speed that you are. So if it could be worded as a maximum of three so that you didn't have to fill all that at time at the same time but just uh let's not let's have some overlap just like we do in council uh so that we do this the the right way and and that's the most thorough way but I I'm proud and honored to serve with you guys. All right. Thank you. With that that wraps up item G. Correct? Yes, sir. We will move there is no close session. We'll follow up with any uh take any follow-up and administrative issues. Do we have any? Uh we have nominations. Uh do you just have a couple board Okay. nominations to do. Start with those. Considering Okay, I do have that one. I was expecting that. I want to continue with airport advisory board Joseph my appointment to third term ending October 2026. and the museum board want to put the great Larry Miller SND1 to a first term ending January 2027. So move I have a first from Harry second. Second from Tommy. All those in favor say I. I. Item C, announcements of any future agenda items somebody would like to bring up. With none. I'll take a motion to adjurnn. So move. Second. I have a first and a second. All those in favor say I. I. We will close this meeting at exactly 10:29.

Captured 2026-07-26 · source: youtube.com/watch?v=2mfxMjhcn6c