[CALL TO ORDER – Roll Call and Determination of a Quorum]
[00:00:05]
>> [BACKGROUND] GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I'M CALLING THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF PARKER, TEXAS TO ORDER.
IT IS FEBRUARY 15TH, 2023 AT 06:01 P.M. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ASK MY CITY ADMINISTRATOR IF WE HAVE A SUPER QUORUM.
MS. GRAY, DO WE HAVE A SUPER QUORUM?
>> THANK YOU. THIS TIME, WE WILL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE TEXAS PLEDGE.
I WILL ASK ASH, THIS IS EXCITING.
[LAUGHTER] I WILL ASK IF MR. CORD DANA, IF YOU WOULD DO THE AMERICAN PLEDGE, AND MR. FAT, IF YOU WILL DO THE TEXAS PLEDGE.
>> JOIN ME PLEASE TO CELEBRATE OUR NATION.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL START OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
WE HAVE QUITE A FEW.MICHAEL, SINCE LUKE ISN'T HERE TO TIME, WOULD YOU DO THE THREE-MINUTE TIMING? WHEN YOU GIVE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, AND WE ASK, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS TONIGHT THAT WANT TO SPEAK, THAT YOU DO HONOR THAT.
THANK YOU. I SKIP CAVE, YOU WANT TO BE FIRST?
>> WHEN YOU COME UP, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS FOR US.
>> SKIP CAVE, 4407 SPRINGFIELD STATES DRIVE, PARKER, TEXAS.
I JUST HAD A COMMENT ABOUT THE BOND ISSUE.
NORMALLY, WHEN I HAVE TO BUILD A NEW HOUSE, I HAVE TO GET PLANS AND I HAVE TO GET DETAILED PLANS SO I CAN PUT THE ARCHITECT AND I HAD TO TAKE THAT TO GET BIDS.
I GET AT LEAST TWO BIDS, HOPEFULLY WITH THAT DRAWING AND COMPETITIVE BIDS AND THEN I CAN GO TO THE BANK.
[NOISE] I HAVEN'T SEEN THE BIDS AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THE DETAIL ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE BIDS, SO THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING IS I WOULD PREFER IF THE COUNCIL WOULD DO THE DETAILED DRAWINGS, PAN THAT OUT TO ALL THE PARKER RESIDENTS.
LET THEM LOOK AT IT AND MAKE COMMENTS, AND ONCE THE DETAILED DRAWINGS ARE UNTIL THE POINT WHERE THEY CAN MAKE BIDS, THEN DO COMPETITIVE BIDS, AND THEN PUT PUBLISHED THE COMPETITIVE BIDS AND THEN DO THE BOTTOM.
I GUESS THAT'S THE PLAN. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M LYNETTE AMAR, 6903 AUDUBON DRIVE.
THE CITY WOULD BENEFIT FROM BEING CLEAR AND INTENTIONAL WITH IDENTIFYING BUDGET NEEDS AND HOW TO GET THE FINANCES NECESSARY FOR EXPENDITURES.
IT WAS JUST LAST WEEK THAT WE WERE TOLD BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR WHAT OUR DEBT CAPACITY IS.
WHILE HE PROVIDED MULTIPLE SCENARIOS BASED ON POSSIBLE GROWTH FIGURES IN THE CITY, THE ONE THAT MATTERED THE MOST TO ME WAS WHAT WE CAN AFFORD TO TAKE ON IN DEBT NOW.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS 8.6 MILLION.
ANYTHING ABOVE THAT REQUIRES RAISING TAXES TO FUND THE EXPENDITURES.
THIS EVENING, YOU ARE CONSIDERING A $14 MILLION BOND FOR ONE ITEM.
IF WE TOOK ON THIS DEBT, AT WHAT POINT WOULD WE BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE OTHER CAPITAL EXPENDITURES? WE WERE DOWNGRADED WHEN WE TOOK OUT DEBT IN 2018.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY WE PLAN FOR EXPENDITURES.
LET'S DISCUSS OUR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
HAVE YOU COMMUNICATED THE UPCOMING FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE CITY TO THE RESIDENTS SO THEY CAN OFFER THEIR THOUGHTS ON PRIORITIES? I APPRECIATE THE SURVEY THAT WAS SENT OUT WHERE YOU CONSIDER
[00:05:02]
THE RESULTS OF THAT AND MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO FUND AND WHEN? I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN PLAN WITHOUT HAVING ALL OF THE INFORMATION.IN ADDITION TO NEEDING UPGRADES TO THE FACILITIES HERE ON THE MAIN CAMPUS, WE ALSO NOW KNOW THAT WE ARE FACING SIX TO $12 MILLION IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
NO ONE EXPECTS TO NOT HAVE WATER.
BUT LAST SUMMER THE CITY REACHED ITS MAXIMUM ALLOWED AMOUNT.
THE CITY IS CURRENTLY IN A DEVELOPMENT MORATORIUM BECAUSE UNTIL WE NEGOTIATE A NEW CONTRACT TO ALLOW US TO USE MORE WATER.
WHY ARE WE STILL NEGOTIATING? HOW MUCH MORE WILL WE BE PAYING? US COUNCIL SHOULD BE CONSIDERING THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
THEY AREN'T AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT YOU ARE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY, A SERIOUS COMMITMENT IS UNDERWAY TO IDENTIFY THE CONDITION OF OUR ROADS AND WHAT TO DO TO BRING THEM UP TO STANDARD.
THE EARLY ESTIMATES SHOW BETWEEN 25 AND $35 MILLION IS NEEDED TO REPAIR ROADS THAT ARE IN POOR CONDITION.
THAT'S 20 PERCENT OF OUR ROADS.
IF WE TAKE OUT DEBT FOR OUR BUILDING, WHAT FISCAL YEAR CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE LOUIS LANE OR DUBLIN ROAD REPAIRED? HOW WOULD WE PAY FOR IT? YOU KNOW THAT IS A NEED NOW.
WHERE IS IT IN YOUR PRIORITIES? THE VISION STATEMENT FOR THE CITY OF PARKER STATES, IN PART "TO PROVIDE COST-EFFECTIVE, HIGHLY RESPONSIVE SERVICES." IN ORDER TO HONOR THAT, IT SEEMS THAT A HOLISTIC VIEW OF OUR UPCOMING DEBT OBLIGATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AND I SUGGEST THAT WE DELAY THIS BOND UNTIL NOVEMBER, AND I CERTAINLY WOULD HELP GET SOMETHING ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE MULTI-PRONGED, NOT ONE ITEM. I THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND].
>> IT'S STANDRIDGE, 3607 HOLD DRIVE, 7502-6733.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE'VE HAD COMMENTS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH THE BOND.
IT'S ALSO INTERESTING THAT WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS ARE WE NEVER USE OUR CITY HALL FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS.
SEEMED LIKE WE HAVE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HERE, MAYBE IF MORE PEOPLE GOT INVOLVED WITH ALL OTHER THINGS WITHIN THE CITY, THAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUILDING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ROADS BUT WE ALSO HAVE A PLAN FROM THE CITY.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING OFF THE TOP OF OUR HEAD. THAT'S NOT FOR ME.
[LAUGHTER] MY POINT IS, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF MORE PEOPLE WOULD ATTEND, BE INVOLVED, VOICE THEIR POSITIVE OPINION, NOT JUST CRITICISM, BUT GET INVOLVED WITH THE CITY SINCE THEY THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT, AT LEAST ONE TIME OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU.
>> GIVE ME ONE SECOND, MY PEN JUST RAN OUT OF INK. JOHN KARR. THANK YOU.
>> HEY, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOHN KARR, 6308 WARWICK WAY.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL AND RESIDENTS OF PARKER WHO ARE PRESENT THIS EVENING.
WE MOVED HERE IN 2020, WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND KINGS CROSSING OUR NEIGHBORS WHO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY ACROSS PARKER IS WHERE WE WANT TO RAISE OUR FAMILY AND SET DOWN ROOTS.
I'M HERE TONIGHT AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KING'S CROSS COMMUNITY TO CONVEY COLLECTIVELY OUR OPINION ON THE SPENDING PRIORITIES OF THIS COUNCIL.
I CAN'T SAY THAT I REPRESENT ALL OF THE RESIDENTS KINGS CROSSING, BUT I CAN COMFORTABLY SAY THAT I REPRESENT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THEM.
PARKER, LIKE OTHER FAST-GROWING COMMUNITIES AROUND DALLAS, IS WELCOMED DEVELOPMENT BUT WAS NOT PROPERLY PREPARED FOR IT.
I'M A SYSTEMS ENGINEER BY TRAINING AND DID A GOOD AMOUNT OF STUDY AND WORK ON CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE.
JUST LIKE A HOUSE THAT REQUIRES A SOUND FOUNDATION, A TOWN REQUIRES ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE FORM OF SEWER, ELECTRIC, WATER, ROADS, SCHOOLS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND ADMINISTRATION TO THRIVE LONG TERM.
MANY OF THESE THINGS WERE DONE WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, SOME WERE NOT.
[NOISE] PARTICULARLY THE NETWORK OF LEVEE STYLE ON REINFORCED ASPHALT ROADS AND ASSOCIATED OPEN DRAINAGE THAT WAS ADEQUATE FOR A SMALL FARMING COMMUNITY IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR OUR GROWING TOWN.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR STEEL REINFORCED CONCRETE ROADS INSIDE OF ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS, THE ISSUE OF A PUBLIC STREET NETWORK IS MADE CLEAR.
WHY ARE DEVELOPERS REQUIRED TO BUILD WITH STEEL REINFORCED CONCRETE, WHICH IS A MUCH HIGHER STANDARD WHEN OUR PUBLIC ROADS ARE NON-REINFORCED ASPHALT AND THEY'RE CLEARLY DETERIORATED? THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR THIS COUNCIL TO PUT ON THE BALLOT IN MAY A PROPOSAL TO SPEND $40 MILLION ON PUBLIC FACILITIES.
ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE DEBT CAPACITY TO FUND ALL OF THIS,
[00:10:02]
WHY ARE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FOCUSED ON BUILDING NEW FACILITIES FOR THEMSELVES WHEN OUR ROADS ARE FALLING APART? IT MAKES SENSE TO PUT NEW CONSTRUCTION TOWN FACILITIES UP TO A VOTE, TO SEE IF SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT HAS CHANGED SINCE WE LAST VOTED IT DOWN.AT THE SAME TIME, YOU SHOULD PUT A COMPETING INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT THAT ADDRESSES FIXING OUR ROADS AND THE BROADER WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS THAT WERE MENTIONED EARLIER.
NOT JUST FIXING THEM, BUT LONG-TERM CAPITAL PLAN TO MAINTAIN THEM.
YOUR PRIORITY IS MISALIGNED WITH WHAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY ARE ASKING YOU TO FOCUS ON.
A NEW UPGRADED FACILITY FOR ANY OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES WILL NOT PREVENT POTHOLES, WILL NOT IMPROVE DRAINAGE, WILL NOT ENTICE FUTURE RESIDENTS OR HELP EXISTING RESIDENTS WITH THEIR PROPERTY VALUES AND CERTAINLY WON'T HELP US WATER OUR LAWNS.
WE'D LIKE TO SEE A WRITTEN RESPONSE FROM THIS COUNCIL.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE FOLKS THAT I'VE NETWORKED WITHIN KINGS CROSSING.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A WRITTEN RESPONSE FROM THIS COUNCIL WHERE YOU ALL TELL US WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES ARE PRIOR TO THE ELECTION IN MAY.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHETHER YOU PLACE YOUR OFFICES OR OUR ROADS AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS HIGHER PRIORITY FOR SPENDING.
AGAIN, PLEASE DO THIS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS SO WE UNDERSTAND YOUR POINTS OF VIEW, MS. ABRAHAM, MR. REED, MS. MEYER'S ARE YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION WILL IMPACT YOUR ELECTRIC MOBILITY SHOULD YOU RUN AGAIN IN MAY.
MS. PEDAL, MS. LYNCH AND MR. SLAUGHTER, THIS TOPIC WILL NOT GO AWAY AND WILL ONLY GAIN ATTENTION AS WE MOVE INTO 2024 AND YOUR POTENTIAL REELECTIONS.
A BOND CREATES A LIABILITY THEY CAN ONLY BE REPAID WITH THE COLLECTION OF TAXES.
OUR TAXES WILL GO UP, BUT FOR WHAT PURPOSE.
YOU ALL NEED TO GO ON RECORD EXPLAINING WHAT YOUR PRIORITY IS AND YOU CANNOT DO BOTH.
WE CAN EITHER BUILD AND RENOVATE NEW FACILITIES OR START TO ADDRESS THESE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
>> SORRY MY HANDWRITTEN RANDOM, A THIRD GRADER.
>> HI, MY NAME'S ERNIE WINSTON, SAYS AND SO ON THERE.
FEEL FREE TO CALL ME ERNIE IT'S WHAT EVERYBODY CALLS ME.
I LIVE 5303 WESTFIELD DRIVE, ALSO IN KINGS CROSSING, ONE OF JOHN'S NEIGHBORS, MIGHT BE KNOWN BY THE SUMMER AS THE WEST NILE VIRUS GROUND ZERO BASED ON THE LACK OF DRAINAGE THERE.
WHICH BRINGS US TO WHY WE'RE HERE.
JUST WANT TO HAVE A COMMENT ON THE 40 MILLION BOND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING.
I ECHO JOHN'S COMMENTS ABOUT WHERE THE PRIORITIES LIE THERE, THE ROADS, IT'S THE DRAINAGE, IT'S THE GROWTH TO GROW THE TAX-BASED TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A NEW BUILDING.
IF WE PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE GET A $40 MILLION DEBT WELL ABOVE OUR EIGHT MILLION DOLLAR DEBT LIMIT AT THE MOMENT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THE REST OF THE ROADS? HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THE REST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE? HOW ARE WE GOING TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF THIS GROWING COMMUNITY? WE ARE SURROUNDED BY A EXPLODING COMMUNITY IN THE DFW METRO PLEX SO ONE THING TO CONSIDER.
I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT TAKING BIDS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO MAKE SURE BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING ON A CITY COUNCIL BUILDING OR TOWN HALL THAT NOT ONLY TAKING MORE BIDS, BUT GETTING ACTUALS FROM SIMILAR BUILDINGS AND SIMILAR SIZED TOWNS WITH SIMILAR ECONOMIES.
GETTING ACTUALS TO VERIFY THE BIDS AND NOT JUST TAKING A GUESS AT WHAT IT WAS, WHICH PROBABLY GAVE US THE 50% COST GROWTH OVER THREE YEARS, WHICH IS UNREASONABLE AND REALLY SHOULD BE LOOKED AT SERIOUSLY.
I THINK THAT'S ALL MY NOTES I HAVE AT THE TIME.
DO I HAVE ANY MORE TIME BECAUSE I CAN SING A TUNE? NO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [LAUGHTER]
MY ADDRESS IS 5213 CHEYENNE DRIVE.
I'M PROBABLY KNOWN IN THIS BUILDING, AT LEAST IN THE BILLING DEPARTMENT BY THE PROBLEM CHILD.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS.
THE FIRST IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT RAISING TAXES FOR SALES TAX AND THE CITY, MY CONCERN IS YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF SALES TAX REVENUE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT DOUBLING THE SALES TAX DEAL IS GOING TO DO ANYTHING UNLESS WE TAKE ACTION ON WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE IN OUR CITY? ARE WE LOOKING TO BUILD A CITY CENTER WHERE WE HAVE MORE COMMERCE? OR ARE WE JUST LOOKING TO IMPOSE TAXES ON ORGANIZATIONS THAT TRANSACT IN OUR CITY AND BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL $400,000 IN REVENUE? THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET WITH REGARDS TO THE THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.
I DO WANT TO GO ON RECORD I AM IN FAVOR OF A NEW BUILDING.
I AM IN FAVOR OF A VERY SPECIFIC TARGETED PLAN FOR A NEW BUILDING, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE REASONABLE.
I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN EARLIER THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE PLANS, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT'S TRYING TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON MY OWN AND FOUND THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS CAN BE BUILT BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
[00:15:03]
AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS A LOT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE, VERY BIG COMPARED TO WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN AND A SIZABLE DECREASE FROM WHAT I'M SEEING BUDGET-WISE.THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I LOVE PARKER, I GREW UP IN PLANO, I MOVED TO THE AREA IN 1988, MY FAMILY RELOCATED HERE IN 2019.
I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME CENTRALIZED CITY GATHERING PLACE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ACREAGE, WE HAVE THINGS AROUND HERE.
I'D LOVE TO SEE A COMMUNITY CENTER AS PART OF THAT MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
IT GIVES THE ABILITY FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN IN THE AREA FOR THE THREE YEARS AND THERE REALLY HASN'T BEEN OPPORTUNITIES TO GATHER TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW FOLKS ALL OVER WE'RE SPREAD OUT.
WE'RE ON ACRE LOTS AT MINIMUM AND I KNOW MOST OF MY NEIGHBORS BECAUSE I THROW BLOCK PARTIES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD TO FIGURE OUT WHO THEY ARE.
BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, IN PARKER, WE DON'T KNOW.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> HI. I'M JOE CADENA, 4302 BOULDER DRIVE, LOVELY CITY OF PARKER.
TONIGHT, I JUST WANT TO SUMMARIZE A LITTLE BIT HERE.
YOU HEARD A LOT OF COMMENTS ALREADY.
IF YOU SAY, WHAT IS THE THEME THAT WE'RE REALLY HEARING HERE AND THE THEME IS, THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT.
PEOPLE COME TO PARKER FOR SPECIFIC REASONS.
MOST OFTEN, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE.
I REMEMBER MANY YEARS AGO, WHEN I BOUGHT MY PROPERTY HERE, I THINK IT WAS 1999 AND I THOUGHT, THIS IS SUCH A LOVELY PLACE.
THERE WAS NO PARKER ROAD LIKE WE SEE IT TODAY, IT WAS A TWO-LANE ROAD AND LATER IT BECAME SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE SO.
A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
BUT ONE THING THAT IS NECESSARY IS GOOD SOLID COMMUNITY SPIRIT.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT MEANS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CONGRUENCE STATE OF MIND.
PEOPLE NEED TO BE THINKING ALONG THE SAME LINES.
WE ARE A WEALTHY COMMUNITY, NOT NECESSARILY FINANCIALLY, BUT WE'RE WEALTHY IN THE THINGS THAT WE OFFER HERE THAT ARE NOT FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THIS WHOLE AREA.
THAT'S WHY, TWICE, WE'VE BEEN NAMED THE NUMBER ONE BEST SUBURB IN THE DALLAS AREA, TWICE.
WE COULD DO IT AGAIN, I'M PRETTY SURE.
BUT RIGHT NOW, OTHER PRIORITIES ARE IN PLACE AND WE'VE GOT TO SEEK THE ORDER OF PRIORITY, WHICH WE ARE NOT SEEING RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SAYING TO THEMSELVES, NO, WE'RE REALLY WORKING ON THIS AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE AND I RESPECT YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT THE JOB TAKES TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING, I DID IT, AS YOU KNOW, FOR 10 YEARS.
BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW, LET'S NOT PUT THE RISK FACTOR SO HIGH THAT WE CAN'T MEET THE OBLIGATIONS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.
FOURTEEN MILLION WILL BE THE HIGHEST DEBT WE'VE EVER HAD IN THIS TOWN.
THERE'S NO REASON FOR IT WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AND SAY, WHAT ARE WE REALLY PRIORITIZING? THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR, THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
THAT'S WHAT OUR SPIRIT'S ALL ABOUT.
IF YOU LOSE TRACK OF THAT, THEN I PROMISE YOU, NO MATTER WHETHER YOU BUILD A $14 MILLION BUILDING, OR A $6 MILLION BUILDING, IT'S MEANINGLESS, BECAUSE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
YOU HEAR IT FROM THESE RESIDENTS HERE AND YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ALL THE THINGS, SO I DON'T WANT TO REITERATE ANY OF THAT, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW AND I WANT TO HAVE IN YOUR HEART THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS PARAMOUNT, NUMBER ONE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JOE. MR. NELSON.
>> I THINK WITH MY SHORTNESS OF BREATH I SHOULD GET SOME EXTRA TIME [LAUGHTER]
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE'RE JUST GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
>> I'LL TRY TO STAY CLOSE TO THE MICROPHONE.
[LAUGHTER] ELVIS NELSON, 5802 CORINTH CHAPEL ROAD.
I LOVE PARKER, I MOVED HERE AS SOON AS I COULD.
FIRST, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR COMING TO MY HOUSE TWO WEEKS AGO,
[00:20:05]
PUTTING OUT THE FIRE BEHIND MY HOUSE AND NOTHING ELSE WAS DESTROYED.THEY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB, THEY WERE VERY NICE AND NOTHING ELSE SPREAD TO THE NEIGHBORS, THANK GOODNESS, SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE IS NUMBER ONE.
SECONDLY, I'VE SPENT HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS, NOT DIRECTED TO ANYBODY, HUNDREDS OF HOURS TALKING ABOUT THIS BUILDING AND OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE TOO.
BUT MY PROBLEM IS, WE DON'T SEEM TO BE MAKING ANY PROGRESS, WHEN WE'RE ARGUING THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WHY SHOULD WE PASS THIS BOND? TO ME IT'S BASED ON TRUST.
THE ARGUMENT IS, TRUST ME, WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE GOOD USE OF THE MONEY AFTER YOU APPROVE IT.
WELL, TO ME, THAT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS TIME, I GET TOGETHER WITH THE WIFE, I SAY, LET'S SPEND $5,000 ON CHRISTMAS.
I BUY A $5 BOX OF CANDY AND I BUY A NEW TV.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S HARD TO NEGOTIATE THINGS WHEN YOU DON'T GET AGREEMENT UPFRONT.
WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS FLOWCHART AND WENT TO THE CHURCH AND HEARD ALL ABOUT IT, IT LOOKED EXTRAVAGANT TO ME, IT DIDN'T FIT PARKER.
WE STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS AND NONE OF THE QUESTIONS GOT ANSWERED.
WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, IS THE METHODOLOGY.
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE SUGGESTED THESE ARE NOT REQUIREMENTS.
WE SAID, NO, THIS IS A WISH LIST, YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU NEED SOMETHING TO MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT, NOT JUST THAT I NEED THIS ROOM.
THEN WE SAID, WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS DIAGRAM, THERE ARE SEVEN MEETING ROOMS. THERE CAN'T BE SEVEN MEETINGS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME.
SURELY YOU CAN DO TOGETHER WITH FIVE.
NOW AGAIN, NO AGREEMENT WAS MADE.
THEN WE SAID, THIS BIG SITTING ROOM WITH THE PERMANENT CHAIRS IN IT, WHEN THE DESK UP LIKE THIS, WASTES SPACE.
EVERY OTHER COMPANY IN TOWNS MAKE SOME FLEXIBLE WORKING SPACE.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT, NOTHING WAS AGREED.
THEN WE SAID THE METHODOLOGY ON HOW YOU PUT SOMETHING COMPLEX TOGETHER IS TO HAVE AN AGENDA, HAVE SMALL SUBJECTS, DON'T SPEND THREE MINUTES GATHERING CITIZENS OPINIONS AND THEN GOING AND DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO ANYWAY.
YOU SET THE AGENDA AND YOU DISCUSS IT BACK-AND-FORTH UNTIL SOME COMPROMISE IS MADE AND YOU'VE GOT A MILESTONE AS A BUILDING BLOCK FOR THE NEXT STEP.
THAT WAS SUGGESTED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, NONE OF THAT WAS DONE.
WE KEPT SAYING, WELL, WE'VE ASKED FOR CITIZENS' OPINION AND WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT.
>> THREE MINUTES, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET AN EXTRA 30 SECONDS.
[LAUGHTER] TO ME, IT'S METHODOLOGY.
I DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 12 MILLION AND 14 MILLION AND 15 MILLION, IT'S ALL A BIG NUMBER TO ME AND I DON'T REALLY CARE.
WHAT I CARE ABOUT IS THE COOPERATION AND THE METHODOLOGY FOR DOING THIS LOGICALLY AND REASONABLY AND THAT'S NOT BEEN DONE IN THE THREE OR FOUR YEARS WE'VE BEEN ARGUING ABOUT THIS.
>> THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL OF THE GREEN CARDS I HAVE, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WANTED TO SPEAK? LINDA, COME ON UP.
>> I DON'T HAVE IT, IT'S OKAY.
> IT'S STUCK TO ELVIS', WHAT CAN I SAY? [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND]
>> HELLO, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF CITY STAFF, PARKER RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT.
I HAVE RESIDED AT 5802 CORINTH CHAPEL ROAD IN PARKER VILLAGE SINCE 2009, AND AS I USUALLY SAY, I DON'T EXPRESS THE OPINION OF THE NELSON HOUSEHOLD NECESSARILY.
AS MY HUSBAND RELATED, OUR FAMILY IS MOST GRATEFUL TO PARKER FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED OUR FAMILY THROUGH TWO MAJOR INCIDENTS IN THE LAST YEAR THAT HAVE BEEN LIFE AND PROPERTY THREATENING.
I DID SUBMIT A DOCUMENT EARLIER TODAY THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL ARE IN POSSESSION OF.
TO MEET THE THREE-MINUTE LIMIT, I AM NOT GOING TO READ THE WHOLE THING.
I'VE EXTRACTED SOME KEY BULLETS FROM THAT.
I LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS ROOM, LOVE PARKER.
I WANT TO SEE PARKER RESIDENTS EXISTING IN FUTURE, CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE SMALL TOWN COUNTRY LIVING LIFESTYLE WHILE STILL BEING SUPPORTED WITH FIRST-CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES THAT I AM WILLING TO PAY FOR, IF I CAN SEE THE DETAIL IN A TRANSPARENT WAY.
[00:25:01]
I SPOKE LAST IN THIS FORUM ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO, ALMOST TO THE DAY, ENCOURAGING CITY COUNCIL TO COMPLETE WORK ON AN INTEGRATED AND COUNTY ENTRY PLAN AND TO BUILD STRONG AND TRANSPARENT AND SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS.THERE IS CONSIDERATION OF A $14 MILLION BOND ITEM RELATED TO THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX ON MAY 6TH.
A SIMILAR ITEM WAS PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED AND THE VOTE WAS NO, AND THE UNDERLYING REASONS FOR THAT NO VOTE REMAINS STILL IN PLACE.
WHILE THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX IS IMPORTANT, IT IS NOT URGENT, NOR IS IT AT THE HIGHEST PRIORITY, NOR ARE WE AT A CROSSROADS THAT REQUIRE US TO BULLY THROUGH AND FORCE THIS DOWN EVERYONE'S THROAT AT THIS TIME.
IT IS NOT A MATTER OF AFFORDABILITY.
IT'S NOT ABOUT 14 MILLION OR 11 MILLION OR 9 MILLION OR 6 MILLION OR ANY NUMBER GREATER THAN ZERO UNTIL WE KNOW THAT WE CAN AFFORD ALL OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS AND ADDRESS THEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SENDING OUT THE SURVEY, PRIORITY SHOULD BE, NUMBER 1, REESTABLISH TRUST WITH THE CITIZENS THROUGH TRANSPARENT AND CONSENSUS-BASED DECISIONS.
NUMBER 2, DETERMINE DEBT CAPACITY TO FUND ALL NECESSARY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
NUMBER 3, FINALIZE A GROWTH STRATEGY THAT WILL GUIDE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
NUMBER 4, ADDRESS WATER NEEDS, INCLUDING RATES AND DEPLOYMENT.
NUMBER 5, ADDRESS ROADS AND DRAINAGE GOING ON BEYOND SIMPLY FILLING POTHOLES.
NUMBER 6, THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
YES, LET'S REDEPLOY THE EXISTING FACILITY.
YES, LET'S HAVE NEEDS-BASED SET REQUIREMENTS AND LET'S INCORPORATE ALL OF THEM WITHIN WHAT THE DEBT CAPACITY AND THE CITIZENS ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT VOTE FOR THE FUTURE OF PARKER.
IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE IF SCARCE RESOURCES HAD TO BE EXPANDED TO DEFEAT A BOND ELECTION IN MAY RATHER THAN WORKING TOGETHER ON A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TOWARDS A FUTURE BOND ELECTION.
I DON'T SEE WHY WE COULDN'T DO THAT AND MEET A NOVEMBER DATE.
I ALSO MISSED MR. SHELL, HENRY SHELL.
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES HERE.
I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY BEFORE ME.
WE HAVE PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO SOLVE BEFORE ISSUING THIS $14 MILLION BOND FOR MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
I LIVE AT CORNER OF STAFFORD AND LOUISE AND AFTER RAINS, I AM LIVING IN A SWAMP.
I HAVE MOSQUITOES, I HAVE FROGS, AND IT JUST UNLIVABLE AND IT SMELLS.
NUMBER 2, THIS PROPOSED SALES INCREASE, BEFORE IT GOES TO FOR A VOTE, I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH REVENUE IT'S GOING TO CREATE, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE NEED TO FIX THE ROADS BEFORE IT EVEN GOES INTO ELECTION DAY.
I THINK I MADE EVERYBODY'S MINUTE. THANK YOU.
>> ANYBODY ELSE WHO IS PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SOME COMMENTS? I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS THAT WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE MINUTES OF THIS MEETING.
IN JANUARY 1ST, 2021, WE QUIT READING MINUTES INTO THE RECORD BECAUSE THAT WAS TAKING SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, BUT WE DO ATTACH THEM TO THE MINUTES.
I'M SORRY. WE HAVE ONE FROM MR. LAVENDER, FROM DONALD REYNOLDS, RANDY KARCHO, DR.
CLAY, ARVID, [INAUDIBLE] SCOTT AND TERESA LEVESI, LINDA NELSON.
I THINK THAT'S ALL. ANDY IS THAT EVERTHING HERE.
>> THEIR IS OTHERS THAT CAME IN. [BACKGROUND].
[00:30:02]
>> MAYBE IN THE SECOND SET THAT HAS TWO, [INAUDIBLE] AND JACQUELINE ANDREWS SEPARATE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WOULD YOU READ TO IT. THANK YOU.
HERE IT IS. JACQUELINE ANDREWS.
ALL THIS WILL BE ATTACHED TO THEM.
>> WE HAVE ONE MORE THAT WANTS TO FILL OUT CARDS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE TIME IS ENDING.
>> WELL, YOU MIGHT AS WELL. MR. DOUGLAS.
>> OH, I'M SORRY. OH MY GOD. I GOT HERE LATE, I WAS PAD UP.
BUT IN THE CASE, I'LL PROBABLY REPEAT SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID THEN, BUT OBVIOUSLY, REALLY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THIS NEEDS TO BE OBVIOUSLY LOOKED AT AGAIN, REDUCED, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH MONEY, COSTS ARE GOING UP.
THERE'S THINGS LIKE THE PUBLIC WORKS GUYS, THEY'RE HERE, GET A PORTABLE BUILDING FOR THEM.
IN FACT, THEY'RE OUT THERE DOING INSPECTIONS, THEIR FEET ARE PROBABLY MUDDY.
THEY DON'T NEED TO BE TRACED TO THE CITY OFFICERS ANYWAY.
THEIR CITIES RIGHT HERE, LEBRON IS ONE, JUSTIN IS ONE, THEY'RE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE.
WE ARE PLUS TO HAVE COMMERCIAL, AND THEY OPERATE OUT OF OLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THERE'S THE SAME SIZE AS THIS OR A LITTLE SMALLER, SO I DON'T SEE WHY WE CAN'T BE SMART ABOUT THIS THING AND NOT HAVE THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AVERAGE INCREASE OF WHAT? TWELVE THOUSAND PER HOUSEHOLD.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF HOMES OUT HERE THAT DON'T GET EXEMPTION, OR 65 AND OLDER, WHICH PRESENTS MUCH MORE BURDEN ON THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S VERY FAIR, IN FACT, I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU WHO GOT ELECTED, YOU BECOMING ASSEMBLY, INCREASE YOUR TAXES, 14,000, 15,000 A YEAR.
WE'RE HAVING TO PAY THAT 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
PERSONALLY, I FEEL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE, BUT THEY'RE ONLY HERE FOR EIGHT HOURS FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
WE'VE GOT ROADS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED, AND I THINK THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO ON BECAUSE I GOT HERE LATE AND I APOLOGIZE. [LAUGHTER]
PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
[LAUGHTER] WE WILL MOVE ON TO INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION ITEMS.
[1. CONSIDERATION AND/OR ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NO. 837, CALLING A BOND ELECTION IN THE CITY ON MAY 6, 2023 IN THE AMOUNT OF $14 MILLION.]
THE FIRST ITEM IS CONSIDERATION AND OR ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NUMBER 837, CALLING A BOND ELECTION IN THE CITY ON MAY 6TH, 2023 IN THE AMOUNT OF $14 MILLION.I DO WANT TO INDICATE THAT THE $14 MILLION IS A HOLDER POSITION.
LUKE, YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT OR GRANT, EITHER ONE OF YOU.
>> NOW, THE HOLDER POSITION WAS FOR WHAT WE HAD PROPOSED IN THE BUILDING THAT GRANT AND I HAD DEVELOPED THAT WAS BASED ON THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAD GOTTEN BACK FROM THE ENGINEER.
WE BELIEVE IN THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW, IF WE PUT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT IN THERE AND YOU GO LESS THAN THAT, I THINK YOU'RE WELL WITHIN YOUR BOUNDS.
I THINK IF YOU PUT ONE MILLION DOLLARS AND YOU END UP DOING 14 MILLION, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW, SO THAT'S WHY WE DID THAT AS A PLACEHOLDER.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CLEAR TO EVERYBODY.
AT THIS TIME, OUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, GRANT SAVAGE IS GOING TO DO A PRESENTATION.
>> BEFORE I GET STARTED, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT ERIC MAHAL, HE'S THE MANAGING DIRECTOR AT HILLTOP SECURITIES, AND CHRIS VAZQUEZ ARE BOTH HERE TONIGHT.
ERICKSON WILL DO A PRESENTATION AFTER MINE TO DO SOME FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION FOR YOU GUYS.
WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE BUILDING LAST TUESDAY ON THE SEVENTH, ABOUT THE DEBT CAPACITY, AND WE RAN SOME SCENARIOS.
WE RAN EIGHT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
WHAT IT WOULD COST, THE IMPACT TO HOMEOWNERS ANNUALLY AND OVER A 20 YEAR, 30 YEAR PERIOD.
AFTER THAT MEETING, THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WAS REQUESTED,
[00:35:05]
AND SO I WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION HERE TONIGHT.SOME OF THIS INFORMATION MIGHT BE REDUNDANT.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF IT BEFORE AND SOME OF IT'S GOING TO BE SOME NEW INFORMATION.
THE ACTUAL USE OF BOND MONEY IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS ASKED, CAN THE AMOUNT APPROVED BY THE VOTERS BE TAKEN IN PIECES? YES, THE BONDS CAN BE ISSUED IN MULTIPLE SERIES OR ISSUED ALL AT ONCE.
IF BEING ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROJECT, TYPICALLY THE BONDS WILL BE ISSUED ALL AT ONCE IF THERE'S THE ABILITY TO SPEND FUNDS WITHIN A 2-3 YEAR PERIOD.
WHAT IS THE ADDITIONAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH ISSUING BONDS IN MULTIPLE SERIES? SOME OF THE FINANCING COSTS ARE BASED ON THE NUMBERS OF BONDS ISSUED OR A PERCENTAGE, SO THERE WOULD NOT BE A MATERIAL ADDITIONAL COST IF SPLITTING THE ISSUANCE INTO MULTIPLE SERIES.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE CERTAIN FIXED BASE COSTS FOR EACH ISSUANCE.
THOSE COSTS AREN'T EXPECTED TO BE MORE THAN 15,000 -20,000.
COMPARISON OF COSTS CAN BE PROVIDED IF THERE ARE ESTIMATED SIZES THE CITY IS CONSIDERING SPLITTING.
OVERALL, IT IS TYPICALLY ADVISABLE TO ISSUE BASED ON WHEN FUNDS ARE NEEDED.
INTEREST RATE MOVEMENT BETWEEN ISSUANCE ALSO NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED AND WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN THE INCREASE IN THE INTEREST RATES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
HOW MANY CITIES ISSUE BONDS IN MULTIPLE SERIES? IT IS TYPICALLY RECOMMENDED TO ISSUE BASED ON NEED.
IN SITUATIONS WHERE ISSUANCE IS SPLIT INTO MULTIPLE SERIES, IT'S OFTEN RELATED TO DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES OR THERE'S CONCERN SPENDING THE FUNDS WITHIN THE 2-3 YEAR PERIOD.
IS THERE EARLY REPAYMENT CAPABILITY? THE ANSWER IS YES.
TYPICALLY THE BONDS HAVE A 9-10 YEAR CALL FEATURE AT PAR.
A SHORTER CALL FEATURE CAN BE EVALUATED BUT WILL INCREASE THE INTEREST RATE SO THERE NEEDS TO BE GOOD INTENTION TO UTILIZE THE CALL FEATURE IN THAT CASE.
SOME OF THE DEBT CAPACITY MEASURES THAT WE'RE ASKED TO PROVIDE.
JUST LOOKING AT THIS CHART RIGHT HERE, IT IS THE OVERVIEW OF THE TAX RATE FOR 12 SURROUNDING CITIES HERE IN COLLIN COUNTY.
SOME OF THE ONES THAT ARE MORE SIMILAR TO US, OBVIOUSLY.
YOU CAN SEE THAT CURRENTLY WORTH A THIRD LOWEST TAX RATE, WHICH YOU CAN ALSO SEE THERE THERE'S A PARKER PROPOSED ITEM AND THAT WOULD BE IF 14 MILLION WAS ISSUED, THE IMPACT ON THE TAX RATE.
>> JUST AN OBSERVATION. IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE CITIES AND YOU WERE TO ASSESS THE VALUE OF THE AVERAGE HOUSE PER HOUSEHOLD COST.
IN MY ESTIMATION, WHEN YOU SEE THESE LOWER TAX RATES ON THESE CITIES, THEY ALSO ARE COINCIDENT WITH MUCH HIGHER VALUES OF THE HOMES, SO THIS WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE IN A TOTAL TAX DOLLAR RATE ALSO JUST TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SEE THAT COMPARISON.
>> SURE. I CAN CERTAINLY GET THAT INFORMATION.
THIS NEXT CHART TAKES THE TOTAL TAX AND THEN BREAKS IT DOWN BETWEEN THE M&O AND I&S.
OBVIOUSLY, THE I&S IS WHAT'S USED TO PAY THE DEBT PAYMENTS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE THE LOWEST I&S RATE.
IT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT NINE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL TAX RATE.
IF WE WERE TO ISSUE THE $14 MILLION OF BONDS ON THE HIGH END, THAT WILL GO TO 21 PERCENT.
EVEN AT 21 PERCENT, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE M&O AND I&S, WE'RE STILL IN THE LOW END ON THE I&S SIDE.
THE NEXT CHART IS OF THE DEBT PER CAPITA.
ERIC HAS GOT A DIAGRAM, BUT THIS ONE ALSO THAT HE'S GOING TO PRESENT, HIS IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN MINE, HE'S GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT FIGURES BECAUSE MINE TAKES PRINCIPAL AND INTERESTS BOTH INTO CONSIDERATION, I BELIEVE HIS ONLY HAS PRINCIPAL INCLUDED, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE AND THAT'S GOING TO BE WHY.
ON AVERAGE, ACROSS THESE 12 CITIES, IT'S ABOUT $3,076.
CURRENTLY, WE'RE AT ABOUT $234.
FAIRVIEW'S A LITTLE LOWER THAN US AT 217.
THAT WOULD GO TO $3,914 IF WE WERE TO ISSUE THE 14 MILLION.
>> YES. THE AVERAGE BETWEEN ALL 12 CITIES THAT WE LOOKED AT IS AROUND $3,000.
[00:40:03]
IF THE 14 MILLION WAS ISSUED, IT WOULD GO TO ABOUT $3,900.[BACKGROUND] YOU WOULD GO UP ABOUT 3,700.
YES SORRY, 3,700 [BACKGROUND] PER CAPITA.
JUST BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT'S REALLY AVAILABLE AMONGST ALL 12 CITIES.
IT'S ISSUED, EVERYTHING IS DEBT PER CAPITA, SO WHEREVER YOU'RE GOING IN, PULLING UP OUR INFORMATION ON EVERYBODY SAYS WHAT'S BEING REPORTED.
>> EXCUSE ME. MR. SAVAGE HAS THE FLOOR.
>> MOVE ON TO THE DEBT AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION.
THE AVERAGE ACROSS ALL 12 CITIES IS AROUND 2%.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE 0.09% CURRENTLY, AND THAT COULD MOVE UP TO 1.757 % IF WE ISSUED THE DEBT.
THIS NEXT ONE IS THE DEBT SERVICE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL REVENUE.
THIS SLIDE AND THE NEXT SLIDE ARE GOING TO BE REAL SIMILAR JUST BECAUSE MOST CITIES, WHEREVER THEY PREPARE THEIR BUDGET, IT'S A BALANCED BUDGET SO REVENUES AND EXPENSES ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY CLOSE.
THE AVERAGE IS 18, ALMOST 19%.
WE'RE CURRENTLY SITTING AT LOW BELOW 7% AND IT COULD JUMP TO 16%.
THIS IS THE OTHER ONE. THE DEBT SERVICE IS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL EXPENSES, AND THIS ONE, LIKE I SAID, IS VERY SIMILAR.
THE AVERAGE IS ABOUT 18%, WE'RE BELOW 7% RIGHT NOW, AND IT WOULD GO TO JUST A LITTLE OVER 16%.
THIS NEXT SLIDE IS THE DEBT AS A PERCENTAGE OF PERSONAL INCOME.
THE AVERAGE IS ALMOST 9% ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE'RE CURRENTLY BELOW 1% AND IT WOULD JUMP TO OVER 6%.
AS FAR AS THERE WERE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT THE WEIGHTINGS AND CREDIT ANALYSIS, AND I'M GOING TO LET MR. MALHOTRA DISCUSS THOSE.
LET ME LET ERIC GO OVER HIS DISCUSSION FIRST AND IF YOU SOLVE QUESTIONS, THEN WE'LL GET TO HIM.
>> PLEASE LET US GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
[BACKGROUND] WE'RE GOING TO DO THEM ALL AT ONE TIME. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL.
ALL GOOD. I SEE IT'S ON THE SCREEN.
>> AS MENTIONED, ERIK MAHABHARATA, HILLTOP SECURITIES AND MR. CHRIS VAZQUEZ IS ALSO HERE.
AS PART OF TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION, WE THOUGHT IT'D BE HELPFUL AS FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO THE CITY.
WE PUT TOGETHER SOME INFORMATION ON CREDIT RATINGS, DEBT RATIOS, AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.
I KNOW MR. SAVAGE DID A GOOD JOB OF SOME OF THE RATIOS.
YOU'LL SEE ALSO BEFORE THAT WE THOUGHT JUST SOME GENERAL, BROAD GUIDELINES AND THOUGHTS ON CREDIT RATINGS IN GENERAL STARTED ON THE FIRST SLIDE HERE.
PAGE 1. IN THE BOND MARKET, THERE'S THREE MAIN RATING AGENCIES: MOODY'S, STANDARD AND POOR'S, AND FITCH.
CURRENTLY, THE CITY OF PARKER UTILIZES ONE OF THOSE AGENCIES.
IN SOME CASES, DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, ENTITIES THAT ARE OFTEN IN THE BOND MARKET ANNUALLY, SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE WILL PAY FOR TWO RATINGS.
BUT IN YOU-ALL'S CASE, HISTORICALLY, WE'VE ONLY HAVE SOUGHT THAT ONE RATING BY STANDARD AND POOR'S, AND YOU'LL SEE HIGHLIGHTED, THAT'S ORANGE TOWARDS THE TOP ON THAT S&P COLUMN, THE CITY OF PARKER IS CURRENTLY RATED DOUBLE A PLUS, WHICH IS ONE NOTCH BELOW THE HIGHEST GRADE OFFERED BY STANDARD AND POOR'S IN THIS CASE AND SO VERY HIGHLY RATED CITY, AND WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON SOME OF YOUR PEERS FOLLOWING.
WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SEE, AND REALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RATINGS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INTEREST RATES.
THE HIGHER THE BOND RATING, THE LOWER THE INTEREST RATES. IT'S A CREDIT RISKS.
THE RATINGS ARE ASSIGNED ANYTIME WE GO TO DEBT, ISSUE DEBT.
PART OF THAT PROCESS, IT'S NOT REQUIRED BUT TO MAKE THE SECURITIES,
[00:45:04]
THE BONDS MARKETABLE TO INVESTORS.OFTEN THEY WANT TO SEE A THIRD-PARTY REVIEW OF THE CITY'S CREDIT, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT A RATING RATING IS.
PRIOR TO ISSUING BONDS, PART OF OUR ROLE AND I KNOW THE CITY HAS GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE PAST.
BUT TOGETHER PACKET PROVIDE THE RATING AGENCY INFORMATION, ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND THEN THAT RATING AGENCY ASSIGNS A RATING TO THE CITY.
THEN THAT'S USED TO MARKET THE BONDS WHEN THOSE BONDS ARE PRICED AND SOLD TO INVESTORS SO.
QUICKLY ON PAGE 3, THIS IS JUST THE GENERAL PROCESS.
I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
REALLY, THIS PROCESS KICKS INTO GEAR SHORTLY BEFORE BONDS ARE BEING ISSUED.
FOR EXAMPLE WITH THE MAY BOND ELECTION, LET'S SAY DEPENDING ON WHEN THE FUNDS WOULD BE NEEDED, TYPICALLY THOSE BONDS WILL BE ISSUED IN THE SUMMER IN THAT CASE AND SO WE'D BE GOING TO THE RATING AGENCY SHORTLY BEFORE THAT BOND ISSUE IN THE SUMMER.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT OCCURS PRIOR TO THE ELECTION.
DURING THE ELECTION, IT OCCURS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS.
THEN ONCE THE RATING AND THE BONDS ARE ISSUED, THERE'S ANNUAL SURVEILLANCE, AND I'LL MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ON THAT PROCESS.
THE RATING AGENCIES REVIEW THEIR RATINGS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IN MOST CASES AND SO THEY CAN ADJUST RATINGS UP OR DOWN DEPENDING ON CHANGES IN THE ECONOMICS OF ANY PARTICULAR ENTITY.
>> CAN I STOP YOU JUST RIGHT NOW?
>> DID YOU BRING EXTRA COPIES?
>> PATTY, WOULD YOU PLEASE HAND THOSE OUT.
EVERYBODY UP HERE HAS ONE IN THE COUNCIL.
MR. [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU'D BE SO KIND STUFF I THINK THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL. I'M SORRY.
>> THAT'S OKAY. I THINK WE ONLY HAVE 14 OR SO.
WE'LL PUT THIS ON THE WEBSITE AFTER THE MEETING.
TOMORROW SOMETIME WE WILL GET IT UP THERE IN THE WEBSITE.
I SAID I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON PAGE 3.
LIKE I SAID WE'D BE EARLY ON IN THAT PROCESS HERE THIS EVENING.
PAGE 4, I MENTIONED THE REAL REASON WE LOOK AT RATINGS AS INTEREST RATES, AND HISTORICALLY THE RULE OF THUMB HAS ALWAYS BEEN, YOU MAY RECALL FROM THE FIRST SLIDE, AS YOU MOVE BETWEEN THE A, AA, AND AAA LEVEL, HISTORICALLY, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT 40 BASIS POINTS OR 0.4 PERCENT, MOVEMENT IN INTEREST RATE IS REALLY WHAT THAT MEANS.
NOW WITHIN EACH RATING GRADE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE AA CATEGORY, WE CAN HAVE A AA-, AAAA+.
TYPICALLY YOUR 5-10 BASIS POINTS AS YOU MOVE BETWEEN THOSE NOTCHES, 0.052-0.1 PERCENT.
BUT IF YOU'RE MOVING FROM AA TO AAA, THAT'S ABOUT 0.4 PERCENT.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS CHART IS MEANT TO SHOW AND THAT RELATIONSHIP OBVIOUSLY CHANGES FROM DAY TO DAY AS WE PRICE BONDS IN THE MARKET, DEPENDING ON INVESTORS APPETITE.
BUT IN GENERAL, WE THOUGHT THIS WAS HELPFUL JUST TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RATING CHANGES.
CITY OF PARKER, LET'S SAY IF WE WERE TO MOVE FROM A TO AA, YOU'D PROBABLY GET A LITTLE BETTER INTEREST RATE, ABOUT 0.1 PERCENT IN THAT CASE.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE ALWAYS CAUTION FOLKS THE GENERAL MARKET CAN MOVE THAT MUCH WITHIN ANY GIVEN DAY.
WE WERE PRICING BONDS FOR A LARGE TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICT TODAY, AND WE SAW 15 BASIS POINT MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE MORNING AND SO A LOT OF TIMES THAT CAN EAT INTO THE RATING.
WE TYPICALLY ADVISE TO ISSUE THE BONDS BASED ON NEED, NOT TRYING TO TIME THE MARKET BASED ON YOUR RATINGS. JUST A FEW COMMENTS THERE.
PAGE 5, AND THIS IS SPECIFIC TO STANDARD AND POOR'S.
EACH OF THE RATING AGENCIES THEY HAVE THEIR OWN METHODOLOGY AND CRITERIA WHEN THEY LOOK AT CITIES AND KEEP IN MIND THEY'RE COMPARING CITIES OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AND TEXAS AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
ON PAGE 5 IS STRICTLY AT STANDARD AND POOR'S AND YOU CAN SEE UP TOP, THOSE PERCENTAGES WOULD EQUAL 100 PERCENT.
THE RATING AGENCY HAS VARIOUS RATIOS WITHIN EACH ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES.
THEN ULTIMATELY IT COMES TO A SCORECARD RATING.
THEN THAT ANALYSTS HAS THE ABILITY TO ADJUST THAT RATING AND ULTIMATELY YOU WILL GET THE FINAL RATING.
THAT PROCESS AND THOSE RATIOS, ALL THAT ANALYSIS IS DONE PRIOR TO ASSIGNING THE RATING.
WITH THE CITY BEING AA+, WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2019, IT WAS THE LAST TIME THE CITY OF PARKER SOUGHT A BOND RATING, AND WE WERE ASSIGNED THAT AA+.
YOU'LL SEE ON THE FAR RIGHT, I KNOW THERE WERE A FEW SLIDES AND MR. SAVAGE'S PRESENTATION ABOUT DEBT RATIOS.
THE DEBT AND LIABILITY CRITERIA AND STANDARD AND POOR'S IS RATING IS 10 PERCENT OF THAT RATING GRADE.
[00:50:03]
PAGE 6, WE PULLED A FEW KEY AND I WON'T READ EACH ONE OF THESE KEY EXCERPTS FROM THAT READING REPORT BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2019.ANYTIME YOU SEE THE WORD STRONG, VERY STRONG, THAT'S POSITIVE LANGUAGE AND THE RATING AGENCIES EYES.
YOU CAN SEE THE STRENGTHS AND THEN THEY ALSO IN THEIR RATING REPORT, WE HAVE A COPY OF THE FULL REPORT IF NEEDED.
THEY TALK ABOUT UPSIDE SCENARIO AND DOWNSIDE.
AT THE TIME IN 2019, THE CITY HAD JUST IMPLEMENTED SOME IMPACT FEES ON THE WATER AND SEWER.
YOU ALL SUPPORT A PORTION OF YOUR DEBT FROM WATER AND SEWER REVENUES.
TYPICALLY THE RATING AGENCIES WANTS TO SEE TWO, THREE, FOUR YEARS OF PERFORMANCE, IF YOU WILL, OF THOSE UTILITY REVENUES SUPPORTING THAT DEBT BEFORE THEY GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR THAT.
WE'RE ABOUT AT THAT POINT SO NEXT TIME WE WERE TO GO TO THE RATING AGENCIES, I THINK THE CITY WOULD HAVE A GOOD STORY TO SHOW THAT THE CITY HAS SUPPORTED A PORTION OF ITS DEBT FROM ITS UTILITY REVENUES.
THAT BASICALLY EASES THE BURDEN ON THE TAX BASE AND THAT'S WHAT STANDARD AND POOR'S NOTICED AND COMMENTED ON IN THEIR LAST READING REPORT.
QUICK QUESTION ON AN ECONOMY RATING THERE.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PRETTY VARIABLE RIGHT NOW.
HOW WOULD THAT BE LOOKED AT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW? YES, SIR.
I THINK YOU ALL ARE GETTING CREDIT.
YOU'LL SEE MSA AND THEY LUMP YOU ALL END WITH THE DFW METROPLEX, WHICH IS POSITIVE IN TERMS OF GROWTH AND YOU'LL SEE TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUE GROWTH AND THOSE FACTORS PLAY INTO THAT.
IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST PARTS OF THE RATING.
IT'S REALLY OUT OF THE CITY'S HANDS, THE ECONOMY AND SO THAT'S A VALID POINT THAT THIS IS REALLY ONE SECTION OF THE CITY CANNOT CONTROL, BUT BEING IN THE DALLAS, FORT WORTH METROPLEX, CURRENTLY YOU'RE GETTING A POSITIVE LOOK BECAUSE OF THAT.
LITTLE LIGHTER TOWARDS THE END, IT CAN POINT OUT SOME OF THOSE ACTUAL RATIOS THEY USE.
PAGE 7, WE TOOK SOME OF THE CITIES THAT WE HAD ACCESS TO.
I KNOW FOR MR. SAVAGE'S PRESENTATION, YOU CAN SEE THE RATINGS FOR THE VARIOUS PEER CITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY.
AGAIN CITY OF PARKER, MURPHY, SACHSE, AND LUCAS, ALL IN THE AA+ CATEGORY.
VERY HIGHLY RATED PEER GROUP WITHIN THE AREA.
NOBODY IN THE A CATEGORY THAT WE COULD FIND WITHIN THE COUNTY.
PAGE 8, SOME OF THESE CHARTS WILL BE VERY SIMILAR.
BUT WE DID WANT TO POINT OUT, WE DID ADD ON THE FAR LEFT-HAND SIDE THE FIRST FOUR DATA POINTS ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SLIDES.
WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE AAA RATED CITIES, THE AA+, AA, AND AA-.
KEEPING IN MIND, CITY OF PARKER'S AA+.
WE TOOK THE MEDIANS FOR THOSE VARIOUS RATING CATEGORIES.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO SEE HOW THE CITY STACKS UP, NOT ONLY AGAINST ITS PEERS, BUT AGAINST THE MEDIANS WITHIN THE RATING AGENCY.
THIS FIRST ONE IS THE TOP 10 TAXPAYERS AS A PERCENTAGE OF ASSESSED VALUE.
THIS IS REALLY STANDARD AND POOR'S WAY OF MEASURING TAX BASE CONCENTRATION.
THE LOWER THE PERCENTAGE THAT'S A POSITIVE FACTOR.
YOU'RE NOT RELYING ON ONE LARGE TAXPAYER TO SUPPORT ANY PROPERTY TAXES.
IF WORKING OUT IN WEST TEXAS YOU'LL SEE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF TAXPAYERS AND THAT'S A CREDIT NEGATIVE.
BUT IN YOU-ALL'S CASE, BEING A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, IT'S CONSIDERED A CREDIT POSITIVE.
PAGE 9, I WON'T GO THROUGH ANY OF THESE IN TOO MUCH DETAIL.
YOU CAN SEE THE HEADINGS FOR EACH OF THIS IS MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME.
AS WE SOMEBODY NOTED EARLIER IN THE MEETING, CITY OF PARKER ON THE HIGH END COMPARED TO THE MEDIANS AND ITS PEERS.
PAGE 10, ANOTHER WEALTH INDICATOR.
IT GOES INTO THE ECONOMIC SCORE.
AGAIN, CITY OF PARKER ON THE HIGH-END.
GENERAL FUND BALANCED PAGE 11.
FUND BALANCES FEEDS INTO THE LIQUIDITY AND RESERVE RATIOS THAT THE RATING AGENCY USES.
AGAIN, THE CITY OF PARKER ON THE HIGH END WHEN IT COMES TO LIQUIDITY AND GENERAL FUND.
PAGE 12, I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE KEY FOR TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION SINCE THERE IS AN ORDINANCE BEFORE COUNCIL ON POSSIBLY PUTTING UP A BOND MEASURE ON THE BALLOT.
THE RED BAR CITY OF PARKER CURRENTLY AND THIS IS DIRECT DEBT AS A PERCENT OF FULL VALUE.
I BELIEVE THERE'S A QUESTION FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR RATIO AND YOU SEE PARKER'S ON THE VERY LOW END OF THAT.
WE DO AND THE REASON FOR THIS, THIS IS ONLY PRINCIPAL BALANCE.
[00:55:01]
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE INTEREST WHEN WE LOOK AT DEBT.THAT'S MAINLY BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THE RATING AGENCIES VIEW IT AND IT'S AN EASY WAY TO COMPARE TO THE PEERS.
OFTENTIMES YOU'LL FIND THAT A LOT OF CITIES DO NOT PAY THEIR BONDS TO MATURITY.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU HAVE REFINANCINGS OR EARLY PAYOFFS.
IF YOU'RE TAKING ACCOUNTS IN FUTURE INTERESTS THAT MIGHT NOT BE THERE, YOU'RE OVER-INFLATING THE RATIOS IN THAT CASE.
TO STICK WITH WHAT THE RATING AGENCIES USE FOR THEIR METHODOLOGY, TYPICALLY WE WILL SHOW PRINCIPAL BALANCE IN THESE VARIOUS RATIOS.
THEN YOU CAN SEE IF 14 MILLION WERE TO BE ISSUED.
THE GRAY BAR, THAT WOULD BE THE CITY OF PARKER WITH 14 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL PRINCIPLE.
THIS IS REALLY THE PRIMARY REASON WHY THE CITY OF PARKER'S INS TAX RATE IS SO LOW COMPARED TO ITS PEERS, IS THE DEBT PER ASSESS VALUE.
PAGE 13, DEBT PER CAPITA, I HAVEN'T SEEN, I KNOW THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT DEATHS PER HOUSEHOLD.
THAT'S NOT A COMMON METRICS THAT WE CAN FIND.
YOU COULD PROBABLY DO SOME RESEARCH AND DO SOME BACK OF THE ENVELOPE CALCULATIONS.
BUT DEBT PER CAPITA IS A VERY READILY AVAILABLE SOURCE.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE CITY STANDS ON THOSE RATIOS AS WELL.
AGAIN CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT THE MEDIANS ON THE FAR LEFT SIDE, I THINK THAT'S VERY HELPFUL THAN THE COMPARISON.
THEN THE LAST FEW PAGES, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
THIS REALLY GETS INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE CRITERIA MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE THE VARIOUS ECONOMIC, TAX-BASED FINANCIAL DEBT AND PENSION RATIOS THAT STANDARD AND POLLS AND ALL THE RATING AGENCIES ARE VERY SIMILAR, I WOULD SAY IN THAT SENSE, THE RATIOS THAT ARE USED, AND KEEPING IN MIND THAT THIS IS A SNAPSHOT IN TIME.
ACTUALLY, TODAY IS FEBRUARY 15TH.
THE CITY OF PARKER MADE A LARGE PRINCIPAL PAYMENT TODAY ON EXISTING DEBT.
YOUR DEBT BALANCE IS ACTUALLY LESS THAN WHAT'S SHOWN HERE AS OF TODAY, ASSUMING YOU'LL MADE THE BOND PAYMENT. HOPEFULLY, YOU DID.
[LAUGHTER] YOU'RE CURRENTLY ABOUT EIGHT MILLION IN PRINCIPAL BALANCE.
I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE 0.76.
DEBT PER FULL VALUE, 0.76 UNDER ONE PERCENT IS A VERY LOW FIGURE IN TERMS OF DEBT PER FULL VALUE.
THAT'S REALLY WHY THAT TAX RATE IS ABLE TO BE KEPT LOW FOR THIS AMOUNT OF DEBT AND SO.
PAGE 15 IS JUST A CONTINUATION OF THE PURE CITIES THAT WERE SHOWN EARLIER.
WHAT THIS DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, WE ALWAYS LIKE TO POINT OUT IS SOME OF THESE CITIES AND YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE IN THE PROCESS OF ISSUING BONDS OR CERTIFICATES OR SOME TYPE OF DEBT, AND SO THAT WOULD NOT BE REFLECTED IN THIS CHART HERE.
ANY FUTURE PLANS FOR OTHER CITIES THAT SURROUND THE CITY OF PARKER.
HAVING WORKED WITH A LOT OF THOSE CITIES, I WILL TELL YOU THEY'RE CONSTANTLY IN DISCUSSIONS ON PROJECTS AND NEEDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THESE RATIOS ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING.
THAT'S THE BASIS OF THE MATERIAL.
>> MR. RAY, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> NO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ASKED.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU BROUGHT YOUR CRYSTAL BALL WITH YOU, BUT IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN, WITH INTEREST RATES CLIMBING, JUST YOUR GUT FEELING, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER?
>> YEAH. THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S NO SECRET THROUGH THE PART OF LAST YEAR AND ALREADY THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF THIS YEAR, 2023, WE'VE SEEN A DRAMATIC UNPRECEDENTED RISE IN INTEREST RATES.
IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW THE MARKET, YOU'LL HEAR THE WORD INVERTED YIELD CURVE, MEANING SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES ARE HIGHER THAN MIDDLE AND LONG-TERM INTEREST RATES.
WE HAVE A SITUATION IN THE MARKET WHERE THERE'S A DISLOCATION.
PERSONALLY, I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE ABOUT A YEAR TO WORK ITS WAY THROUGH.
THE FED HAS SIGNALED YESTERDAY THERE WAS A CPI NUMBER THAT CAME OUT.
I THINK IT SPOOKED THE MARKET.
WHEN I SAY MARKETS, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE BOND MARKETS.
WE SAW A LARGE JUMP IN INTEREST RATES TODAY THIS MORNING, AND AS I MENTIONED.
HOPEFULLY, THERE'S SOME SETTLING.
I THINK THE CONSENSUS IS THE FED IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO RAISE SHORT-TERM RATES THE NEXT TWO CYCLES BY A QUARTER OF A PERCENTAGE WHAT WE'RE HEARING.
[01:00:03]
BUT ONCE THE FED STOPS TAKING ACTION, I THINK WE'LL HAVE SOME STABILITY.BUT WE'RE STILL ON A RISING INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT.
I THINK WERE SOMEWHAT SPOILED.
THE CITY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT BY REFINANCING AND EVEN THE 2018 CERTIFICATES, YOU ALL LOCKED IN SOME VERY LOW RATES.
BUT WE'RE CAUTIONING ALL THE ENTITIES IN CITIES WE WORK WITH.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE RATES THAT WE'RE USED TO.
WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.
STILL SOME UPWARD PRESSURE THOUGH.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MS. ABRAHAM? YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> NO. THE INFORMATION WAS VERY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING AND INFORMATIVE.
YOURS TOO MR. SAVAGE, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> MR. SLATTER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU. WE'LL LET YOU SIT DOWN.
[LAUGHTER] GRANT, YOU WANT TO COME BACK UP HERE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL, PLEASE.
MR. SLATTER, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MR. SAVAGE?
>> YES. FIRST, GRANT, I WANT TO TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE PROVIDED.
I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE LAST MEETING, BUT THANKFULLY DUE TO THE TECHNOLOGY, I WAS ABLE TO WATCH IT.
YOU DID PROVIDE ALL THE NUMBERS IN WHICH WE REQUESTED AT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING.
I DO APPRECIATE YOU PULLING THIS KNOWING THAT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS AND KNOW THAT AT LEAST I PERSONALLY DO NOT BLAME YOU FOR ANY NUMBERS YOU PROVIDE US BECAUSE NUMBERS DON'T LIE.
THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE. JUST DID PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND THROUGH MULTIPLE EMAILS I RECEIVED, I'VE HAD MAYBE SIX DIFFERENT NUMBERS DON'T ADD AS WHAT YOU SUPPOSEDLY QUOTED AS OUR DEBT CAPACITY COMING UP AS FAR AS OUR CURRENT TAX RATE.
NOT WHATEVER MAGICALLY MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE I'M OF THE MINDSET, AS I SAID IN MY PREVIOUS MEETING, I CARE ABOUT WHAT THE CITY CAN AFFORD TODAY.
I KNOW THERE WERE TWO SCENARIOS, 20 AND A 30-YEAR.
CAN YOU RE-PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION?
>> SURE. THE 20-YEAR SCENARIO, OUR DEBT CAPACITY WAS AT 8.63 MILLION.
IN THE 30 YEAR, IT WAS 9.98 MILLION, ALMOST 10 MILLION.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING THOSE TWO NUMBERS ONE MORE TIME FOR EVERYBODY.
THE NEXT QUESTION THAT I'VE GOT, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THE WRITING OF THE AGENDA ITEM.
OBVIOUSLY, WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS, I WAS ALSO TAKEN ABACK, IT SAID $14 MILLION.
ABSOLUTELY, WHEN I GOT THE AGENDA, MADE A PHONE CALL AND SAID WHAT IS GOING ON HERE BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I KNOW LUKE, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS A PLACE HOLDER.
I WANT TO CLARIFY, YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE FACT THIS WAS A PLACE HOLDER FOR THE AGENDA ITEM, NOT FOR THE BOND SAYING THAT WE HAD TO GO FOR THIS AMOUNT AND WHATEVER IT IS AFTER THAT, SO THAT WE DIDN'T UNDERSHOOT IT.
I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE MILLION DOLLAR MARKET OF 14 MILLION.
THAT WAS A PLACEHOLDER FOR THIS SO THAT WE HAD THE ABILITIES TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS AMOUNT THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH?
>> YES, WITHIN THE 0-14 MILLION.
>> I DID DISCUSS WITH BOND COUNSEL WITH CHRIS SETTLE.
HE DID CLARIFY THAT THE BOND ORDINANCE CAN BE AMENDED TO SAY WHATEVER COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT NUMBER TO.
IF COUNCIL WERE TO CHANGE IT TO ONE MILLION DOLLARS, IT CAN BE CHANGED TO ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
THEN WE WOULD PROVIDE THE NEW CALCULATED NUMBERS TO SUPPORT THAT.
>> OTHER PEOPLE ASK QUESTIONS?
>> I DON'T REALLY HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
GRANT, I THINK YOU'VE SUPPLIED SOME NUMBERS AT ONE POINT THAT WE WILL HAVE TWO BONDS FULLY PAID FOR WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, ONE IN 2025 AND ONE IN 2028. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, MA'AM. THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THAT SHOULD ALSO HELP THINGS.
WAS THAT FACTORED INTO YOUR CALCULATIONS WHEN YOU DID YOUR [OVERLAPPING]?
>> YES, MA'AM. THAT WAS CALCULATED JUST TO KEEP A CONSTANT DEBT SERVICE NUMBER.
[01:05:03]
WHEN ONE DEBT WAS PAID OFF, THE PAYMENT STAYED THE SAME OR WE WERE JUST PAYING MORE TOWARDS THE 2023 ISSUANCE.>> MR. SAVAGE, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR DOING ALL THIS HARD WORK ON TRYING TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE. I'M COUNCIL MEMBER.
SLATTER SAID THERE'S BEEN VARIOUS AMOUNTS AND I TOO HAVE BEEN CONFUSED.
BUT ONE OF THE MAIN QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE AND A LOT OF RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED ME IS ULTIMATELY, I KNOW THERE WAS EIGHT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS MAYBE THAT YOU PRESENTED AT THE MEETING THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND BECAUSE I WAS ILL, BUT THE RANGE FOR THE HOUSEHOLDS.
I KNOW THERE'S NUMBERS OUT THERE THAT ARE LIKE 12,000, 13,000, 16,000.
WHAT IS THE ACTUAL ACCURATE RANGE? BECAUSE I DON'T WANT MISINFORMATION BEING PUT OUT THERE ON EITHER END, WHETHER IT'S ON THE LOW END OR THE HIGH-END, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO CLARIFY THAT?
>> SURE. UNDER THE EIGHT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS RANGE FROM AS LOW AS ROUGHLY 7,400 UP TO 16,000.
THAT WAS DEPENDENT ON THE TERMINATE BETWEEN 20-YEAR, 30-YEAR, THE GROWTH BEING BETWEEN LOW AND HIGH.
THOSE ARE THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 7,400 ON THE LOW END AND 16,000.
>> THAT'S OUT OF $14 MILLION BOND AMOUNT.
>> YES, MAM. THAT'S TAKEN $950,000 DOLLAR HOME INTO CONSIDERATION.
>> DOES IT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION FUTURE GROWTH OR IS THAT AT THE CURRENT GROWTH LEVEL?
>> THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS HAVE DIFFERENT GROWTH BUILT INTO IT, SO YES.
>> AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ALLOW FOR A FEW QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE SINCE MR. SAVAGE PUT IT ON HIS DEAL.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND TO BE RECOGNIZED AS MR. SAVAGE OR IF MR. MOTTO WILL ALSO TAKE QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
>> THAT WOULD BE OF THE TAX BILL THAT THEY PAY.
>> IS IT YEARLY OR? [OVERLAPPING]
ANNUALLY, IT WOULD RANGE FROM 362 DOLLARS TO ABOUT 600 DOLLARS ANNUALLY.
THAT'S ANYWHERE FROM 20 YEARS TO 30 YEARS DEPENDING ON THE SCENARIO.
THAT WOULD BE THE PORTION OTHER TAXES THAT THEY PAID THAT WOULD GO TOWARDS THE FACILITY.
>> THAT'S NOT PER CAPITA, THAT'S PER HOUSEHOLD, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. PER HOUSEHOLD, YES.
>> THAT COULD POSSIBLY GO DOWN IF WE ADD ADDITIONAL HOUSEHOLDS?
>> YES. OBVIOUSLY, THE LOWER NUMBER WOULD BE WHEN HIGH-GROWTH IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
THE HIGHER AMOUNT THAT WOULD BE PAYING WOULD BE WHEN THERE'S LOW GROWTH IN CONSIDERATION.
>> SURE THAT'D BE IT. I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, I COULD PUT IT INTO 100,000 INCREMENTS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I BELIEVE MR. MARLOW HAS THAT.
>> YES. THIS MATTERS FOR DIFFERENT RANGES.
>> WE DO HAVE A MATRIX FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE 14 MILLION WITH 20-YEAR REPAYMENT FOR A 350,000 DOLLARS HOME, WE'RE ESTIMATING 165 DOLLARS A YEAR.
FOR 750,000 DOLLARS HOME 354 DOLLARS A YEAR.
IT'S ROUGHLY FOUR TO FIVE SETS ON THE TAX RATE FOR THE 14 MILLION, IS WHAT WE'RE ESTIMATING.
[01:10:02]
>> THIS IS SPECIFICALLY ONE HOUSEHOLD DEPENDING ON YOUR TAXES.
>> THE CITY'S CURRENT TAX BASE IS 1.47 BILLION.
THAT'S WHAT THE CITY USES WHEN IT'S CALCULATING THE TAX RATE.
BUT I'D HAVE TO CHECK ON HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS YOU-ALL CURRENTLY HAVE.
[OVERLAPPING] TWO THOUSAND HOUSEHOLDS.
BUT COMBINED, THE CITY'S TOTAL TAX BASE IS 1.47 BILLION.
THAT'S WHAT'S USED TO CALCULATE THE TAX REVENUE.
BUT THEN THE FIGURES READ EARLIER, THOSE ARE PER HOUSEHOLD, THE IMPACT.
EVERY HOMEOWNER IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT OBVIOUSLY, IN THAT SENSE.
>> WHAT ARE THE ORIGINATION FEES ASSOCIATED WITH 14 MILLION DOLLARS?
TYPICALLY, YOU HAVE ABOUT FIVE TO SEVEN DOLLARS FOR UNDERWRITING.
YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE A BANK TO GO OUT AND FIND THE INVESTORS AND SELL THE BONDS.
THEN FINANCIAL ADVISORY BOND COUNSEL, RATING AGENCIES CHARGE A FEE ALL AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT, I WOULD SAY 150,000 OR 14 MILLION.
>> YES, SIR. CURRENTLY, THE CITY IS RIGHT AT EIGHT MILLION AS OF TODAY.
THEN THAT'LL BE 21 MILLION IN TOTAL PRINCIPAL.
THEN DIVIDED IT BY THE FULL VALUE OF THAT 1.74 BILLION.
>> YES, SIR. I THINK PAGE 12 WOULD ILLUSTRATE THAT.
I THINK ADDRESS THAT QUESTION.
PAGE 12 WOULD BE THE CITY'S CURRENT DEBT PER VALUE IN RED.
THEN YOU CAN SEE THE GRAY BAR ON PAGE 12 WOULD BE THE PROPOSED AFTER THE 14 MILLION IS FACTORED IN.
RIGHT AT TWO PERCENT IN THAT CASE. YES, SIR.
>> WE WOULD EXPECT IT TO REMAIN UNCHANGED.
THE DOUBLE EIGHT PLUS IS WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT.
IT REALLY GOES BACK TO PAGES 12 AND 13.
YOU CAN SEE EVEN WITH THE DEBT SERVICE, THE CITY OF PARKER WOULD BE WITHIN THE MEDIANS FOR THE VARIOUS RATING CATEGORIES.
>> AT THE FIRST TO SEVENTH BOND [INAUDIBLE].
>> I UNDERSTAND. WE COULD PROBABLY GO BACK TO IT.
BUT 10 PERCENT OF THE RATING IS RELATED TO DEBT.
THERE'S 90 PERCENT OF THE BOND RATING THAT'S TIED TO OTHER FACTORS, MAJORITY OF THAT BEING THE ECONOMIC.
ANOTHER QUESTION EARLIER, 30 PERCENT OF THE RATING IS TIED TO ECONOMIC OUTSIDE THIS CITY'S CONTROLS.
THAT IS IMPORTANT, THAT IT'S 10 PERCENT OF THE RATING AND STANDARD AND [INAUDIBLE].
>> [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER] THE QUESTION IS NOT MEANT TO BE AN ARGUMENT.
THE QUESTION IS MEANT TO MAKE SURE THE [INAUDIBLE].
I JUST WANTED TO TRY UNDERSTAND THIS.
THIS BOND WOULD NOT BE FUNGIBLE.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT FOR EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM, IS IF WE GO OUT AND LET'S JUST SAY FOR ARGUMENT AND THE BOND PASS.
YOU GUYS COME IN AND REALLY BREAK DOWN THOSE AS SIX MILLION DOLLARS.
WE CAN'T TASTE THE DIFFERENCE IN SPENDING ON WHETHER SOME DRAINAGE.
IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT OR NOT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. YES, MA'AM.
>> I'M SAYING THAT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO BACK HERE AGAIN FOR THE REST OF THE MONEY THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT.
THERE IS SOME LEVEL OF OTHER ADDITIONAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THAT HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH SEPARATELY.
THESE FUNDS CANNOT BE REPURPOSED.
JUST BECAUSE WE COME HERE [INAUDIBLE].
>> YES, MA'AM, THAT IS CORRECT.
>> PROFORMA NUMBERS THAT EVERYBODY IS LOOKING AT IS ONLY THE PROFORMA THAT ASSUME WE'RE TALKING [INAUDIBLE].
[01:15:02]
THE ONLY THING THAT THIS TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION WAS THE 14 MILLION FOR A FACILITY.
>> MY LAST QUESTION IS, WHEN I THINK OF COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS, I ALSO THINK THAT COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS.
WHEN PEOPLE MOVE IN TO NORTH TEXAS COMING FROM CALIFORNIA OR FROM WHEREVER, I DON'T THINK ARE PEOPLE THINKING, SHOULD I MOVE TO [INAUDIBLE], SHOULD I MOVE TO PRINCETON.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS, I CAN SEE MARY, MAYBE I CAN SEE MELISSA.
BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THOSE 12 CITIES ARE REPRESENTATIVE IN TERMS OF CITIZENRY OF LIVING AND SPEND THEIR TAX DOLLARS [INAUDIBLE]. [NOISE]
>> SO TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE].
>> SO THE ISSUE WITH US IS VERY ECONOMICAL [INAUDIBLE].
[01:20:01]
>> THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT BEING STILL 14 MILLION, 12 MILLION, 10 MILLION, WHATEVER THE AMOUNT IS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] SO I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
>> SO I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION UP HERE.
>> OKAY. JOHNSON HAD A QUESTION. AND THAT'S THE LAST QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE. GO AHEAD.
>> [INAUDIBLE] YEAH AND THE $16,000 POTENTIAL NUMBER PER HOUSEHOLD
>> RIGHT? YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY. AT THIS TIME CINDY, GO AHEAD. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S A COMMON QUESTION. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO IF IT'S SPLIT INTO MULTIPLE BONDS SERIES, ABOUT 15-20,000 ADDITIONAL FOR EACH SERIES IS THE ESTIMATE.
BUT THEN AGAIN, IF YOU'RE WAITING A YEAR OR SO BETWEEN SERIES INTEREST RATES COULD EASILY MOVE TO WIPE OUT THAT, OR THEY CAN MOVE UP OR DOWN.
SO IT'S MORE A QUESTION OF INTEREST RATE RISK, I WOULD SAY, WHEN YOU SPLIT IT INTO SERIES.
YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.
THAT'S REALLY NUMBER 1 IS MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO COME BACK TO THE BOND MARKET IN THE FUTURE AND BE SUBJECT TO THAT RISK.
>> TYPICALLY WHAT WE'LL DO HERE IS, WE HAVEN'T EVEN ENGINEERED A PROJECT YET.
ONCE WE HAVE AN ENGINEERING COSTS, WE'LL END UP BIDDING THAT OUT ONCE IT'S FULLY ENGINEERED.
IF BIDS COME BACK IN HIGHER THAN WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO SPEND AT THAT TIME, WE CAN GO BACK TO THE ENGINEERS, HAVE THEM CUT THOSE AREAS AND THEN REBID IT OUT.
THE CMR WILL BE MAX VALUE CONTRACT.
SO IF THEY SAY THEY CAN DO IT ALL FOR SEVEN MILLION, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE IN FOR UNLESS WE MAKE CHANGES ALONG THE WAY.
THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT WE'VE DONE.
>> WHEN WOULD WE TYPICALLY GET THE MONEY BEFORE THEY ARE BID OUT?
>> I WOULDN'T DO THE MONEY AFTER YOU'VE BIDED OUT THE PROJECT THAT WAY AND DEPENDING ON THE MARKET AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
[01:25:04]
>> TYPICALLY, IF YOU TRIED TO BID SOMETHING OUT WITHOUT HAVING THE FINANCES, YOU GET NO BIDS.
THAT'S WHY ALMOST EVERYBODY GETS THEIR MONEY AND THEN GOES OUT FOR REBIDS UP FOR MUNICIPALITIES.
>> BUT JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE DID GET BIDS ON CERTAIN SCENARIOS.
THEY MAY NOT BE THE FINAL SCENARIOS BECAUSE WE STILL [OVERLAPPING] HADN'T COMPLETED ALL THOSE.
>> BUT IT DOES GIVE A COMPARATIVELY SUMMARY.
>> IT'S A PRICE POINT. THAT'S WHAT IT IS, YES.
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT THAT HAS TO BE ENGINEERED STILL ON THAT BUILDING OR ANY BUILDING, ACTUALLY.
> YEAH. MR. FAT, THESE ARE THE LAST TWO QUESTIONS, MR. FAT [INAUDIBLE] SO IF LOOK AT THE URI OF EVERY ORGANIZATION, THEY HAVE COUNCIL GROUP AND SETTING THEM FOR JUST THAT [INAUDIBLE]
>> THERE ARE CERTAIN FIXED COST OBVIOUSLY.
AND WE'RE TALKING, LET ME DO IT.
SO IT'S ABOUT 2% IN ALL CASES, I WOULD SAY YES, SIR.
YEAH. SO THAT'S A GOOD RULE OF THUMB, 2% FOR THE ISSUANCE COSTS FOR ISSUING BONDS.
>> YEAH, I'M JUST NOT SURE WHY WOULD I TAUGHT A QUESTION? WHY ARE WE EVEN DISCUSSING 10 MILLION, 14 MILLION THERE'S MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT WE HAVE LIKE THE ROADS LIKE THE DRAINAGE.
ALL THIS IS JUST SO IRRELEVANT.
>> AND WHY ARE WE DISCUSSING THE BOND BETWEEN ENGINEERED?
>> WE'RE ONLY TO TALK ABOUT THE BUILDING.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.
WE CAN ONLY TALK ABOUT WHAT IS SPECIFIED ON THE AGENDA.
>> WHY ARE WE DISCUSSING THEM OUT.
>> IT'S APPLES AND ORANGES [NOISE].
>> YES I GUESS WE HAVE QUESTION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT BUILDING THE FACILITIES.
IF THE AGENDA HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY TO BORROW, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO BORROW.
>> CAN GET 14-5 MILLION GROWTH AND BY DOING THAT, NOTHING.
>> NO, WE'LL ONLY ISSUE THE FIVE MILLION.
>> WE'LL ISSUE THE DEBT FOR THE BUILDING THAT IS GOING TO COST.
>> NO. IF WE ACTUALLY DID A $14 BILLION VOTE, THAT WOULD GET ISSUED THAT WAY UNLESS WE REISSUED IT AT A DIFFERENT AMOUNT HERE.
>> NO, YOU ONLY TAKE OUT THEM OUT.
WE CAN ISSUE ANYTHING BETWEEN ZERO AND 14.
SO IF THE 14 MILLION CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, ERIC.
>> SO WITH THE BIDS COMING IN AT 10, WE CAN ISSUE 10. WE DON'T HAVE TO ISSUE 14.
SO IT'S LIKE HAVING A LINE OF CREDIT TO 14 AND I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF $14 MILLION.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UP HERE IS AGAIN, IT WAS A PLACEHOLDER NUMBER THAT WAS UTILIZED.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A BIT OF A MISCOMMUNICATION ON SEVERAL THINGS, AND I'M GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SOMEWHAT DEFENSE STAFF, AND I APPRECIATE MS. NELSON ALSO DOING IT.
THEY'RE TASKED BY COUNSEL TO DO SOMETHING, TWO MEETINGS AGO.
MY TIMELINES ARE GETTING MESSY HERE.
WE ALL CAME TOGETHER AND DETERMINED THAT NOT A SINGLE PERSON WENT OUT TO BUY A HOUSE UNTIL THEY KNEW WHAT THEY COULD QUALIFY FOR.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, TALKING ABOUT SQUARE FOOTAGES AND SUCH IS IMPORTANT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S NOT, BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER IF WE CAME TO THE POINT THAT WE NEEDED A 40,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, IF WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR A 40,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE NEED A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING.
IF WE CAN'T AFFORD A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING.
AS A COUNCIL, WE GAVE DIRECTION TO COME UP WITH OUR DEBT CEILING AND TO DETERMINE WITHIN OUR DEBT CEILING WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WE WERE WILLING TO SPEND.
AGAIN, I WILL REITERATE MR. SAVAGE, YOU DID EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE ASKED TO DO AND THAT IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED.
YOU GAVE US THAT AND THEN YOU WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND AND CREATED
[01:30:02]
SCENARIOS SO THAT THOSE QUESTIONS WOULD BE ANSWERED BEFORE THEY WERE ASKED.BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE KNOW THE NEXT THING IS A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU AS WELL, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS AND WE CROSS THIS LINE AND THIS HAPPENS? I'M GOING TO BREAK THE MAYOR'S RULE FOR ONE SECOND.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT ONE ROAD AND THAT IS A CROSSROAD.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO SAID THEY DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
AND ULTIMATELY THAT TERM CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT.
WE ARE AS A CITY AT A CROSSROAD.
WE'VE HEARD IT HERE, WE'VE HEARD ALL THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
AND I USE THE TERMINOLOGY OF A CROSSROAD BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE'VE GOT TO START DOING SOMETHING.
ULTIMATELY, I HAVE SET UP HERE ON THIS COUNCIL NOW FOR A TERM AND A HALF AND WATCHED THE SAME THING.
WE BRING UP AN ITEM. WE TALK AND TALK AND TALK AND TALK, AND THEN WE MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE, AND IT CONTINUES.
SO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FAILS, AND I TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE IS BEING EVERYTHING.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR ROAD, DRAINAGE, BUILDING.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE SEWERS. I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE WHO DO, BUT THAT TO ME IS A NON-ISSUE.
WE HAVE TO START MAKING A DECISION.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF TONIGHT WAS WE WERE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS, DETERMINE IF WE WERE COMFORTABLE SAYING ANY NUMBER.
MILLION DOLLARS WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY USELESS TO ISSUE WHETHER IT WAS A MILLION DOLLARS OR 14 MILLION DOLLARS.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS, AGAIN, MR. SAVAGE ENDS UP BEING THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS SOMETIMES BY SAYING WE CAN'T AFFORD 14 MILLION DOLLARS.
IT IS WHAT IT IS, WE CAN'T AND THAT'S WHERE WE COME DOWN TO THIS SAYING THE BUILDING SIZE MATTERS, BUT WHAT WE CAN AFFORD MATTERS MORE, AND ULTIMATELY, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE CONTINUING TO SPEND DOLLAR AFTER DOLLAR WITH NO BOND AMOUNT TO APPLY THAT TO EVERYTHING WE SPENT IN THE LAST ONE.
I WASN'T ON COUNCIL. I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT, THANKFULLY, BUT [LAUGHTER] THE LAST ONE THAT WE DID, WE SPENT A TON OF MONEY BEFORE WE EVER GOT A BOND, AND THE CITY, DOESN'T HAVE A BOND TO APPLY THAT TO.
THERE IS THE IDEA IN MOST CITIES OUT THERE.
ACTUALLY, EVERY CITY I CAN THINK ABOUT THERE DETERMINES AN AMOUNT FOR A BOND AND THEN DETERMINES WHAT THEY CAN BUILD FOR THE AMOUNT THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO GET.
WE CAN GO OUT AND WE CAN PRICE A BUILDING AND WE CAN FIND FIVE, I'LL USE ONE OF THE RESIDENTS' NUMBERS FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
WE CAN COME UP HERE AND SAY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IS GOING ON THE AGENDA AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON A BOND ELECTION.
WE COULD PUT IT OUT THERE AND THEN IT FAILS AND WE'RE RIGHT BACK TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
WHAT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DOING.
MY GRANDDAD, YOU SAY YOU NEVER SLAM YOUR HAND IN THE DOOR TWICE AND I'M NOT COMFORTABLE IN REPEATING OUR PAST MISTAKES AND DOING THAT AGAIN, BUT I THINK THAT IT IS TIME THAT WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION OF WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO, WHICH WAS MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT COUNCIL UNIFIED TOGETHER TWO MEETINGS AGO SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO.
>> I'M SORRY, I HAVE THE FLOOR.
IF I CAN FINISH MY STATEMENTS, PLEASE, THEN THE MAYOR CAN DECIDE IF SOMEBODY CAN TALK.
I HAVE DONE THIS NOW, LIKE I SAID, FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
I FEEL LIKE THERE IS A WANE AND WAX ON WHERE PEOPLE ARE.
WE HAVE PRESENTED ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AVENUES AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE WE HAVEN'T, BUT WE HAVE, BUT I'VE SAT RIGHT HERE AND WATCHED TWO PEOPLE BE OUT HERE OR TODAY, WHICH I WISH OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOOK LIKE THIS IN EVERY MEETING.
I'M THANKFUL FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO CAME OUT HERE, WHETHER I AGREE WITH YOU OR I DISAGREE WITH YOU, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, ON WHATEVER THE DAY OF THE ELECTION, MAY 6TH, MY VOTE MATTERS JUST AS MUCH AS YOURS.
YOURS MATTERS JUST AS MUCH AS MINE.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE ARE ENTRUSTED WITH AS COUNCIL IS TO DETERMINE, DOES IT GO ON THE BALLOT AND WE CAN DANCE IT AROUND AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK WE ULTIMATELY HAVE TO HAVE THIS DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSING AGAIN, REHASHING OLD IDEAS.
VERY FEW PEOPLE CAME TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MEETINGS.
LUCKILY, I IMPRISONED ALL OF YOU ALL TO HAVE TO BE HERE BY MAKING THEM CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, BUT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT I'M NOT A FAN OF REHASHING OLD BUSINESS IF IT GETS US TO KNOW IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD, SO I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS TO DO AND THAT CROSSROAD COMES TO THE FACT OF WHAT PROJECTS ARE WE GOING TO UNDERTAKE AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO.
BECAUSE CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT IT DOES A DISSERVICE TO US AND EVERYBODY HERE.
YOU BRING UP DUBLIN, I DRIVE ON IT.
YOU BRING UP LOUIS. I DRIVE ON IT.
I KNOW HOW THEY ARE, BUT I ALSO KNOW WHAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS THE FACILITY.
I HAVE WATCHED WHAT HAPPENS WITH OUR PD OVER HERE AND WHAT WE HAVE TO PAY TO MAINTAIN IT.
THAT'S NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE EITHER.
MY QUESTION TO ALL OF COUNCIL IS, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START THE CONVERSATION OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE? WE KNOW WHAT WE CAN AFFORD, SO WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START THE CONVERSATION OF WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO FOR THE NEXT STEP ON ALL OF OUR ITEMS, WHETHER IT'D BE THIS ONE OR ANYTHING ELSE, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT PRESIDENT.
>> THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS AS THE COUNCIL.
[01:35:01]
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS, AT LEAST FOR ME AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE LAST MEETING, IS THAT INITIALLY WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE DEBT THAT WE COULD TAKE, THE CAPACITY AND AGAIN, GRANT, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DID.YOU DID EXACTLY WHAT WE ASKED.
HOWEVER, THESE OTHER FACTORS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER RESONANCE HAVE BROUGHT UP ARE PART OF THE DECISION, SO THE PROBLEM THAT I'M HAVING IS THAT I KNOW WE NEED TO MAKE THIS DECISION ON THE BUILDING AS A SEPARATE ENTITY BECAUSE THE FACT THAT IF WE DO ISSUE THE BOND AT WHATEVER LEVEL THAT IT IS AT AND THERE LIES THE ISSUE IS THAT IF WE START PLAYING WITH THE NUMBER, I UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
HOWEVER, AFTER THIS POINT, NOW, THERE'S A WHOLE NEW SET OF BOUNDARIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND THOSE BOUNDARIES HAVE NOT BEEN DISCUSSED AT ALL IN ALL THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OF THEM.
EVERY DISCUSSION HAS BEEN ESSENTIALLY ONE BUILDING THE HOUSE EVERYTHING OR ARE BUILDING HOUSE EVERYTHING AND TAKE OUT WHAT THIS FACILITY WOULD PROVIDE AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE WELL IN EXCESS ON THE SWAG BID, WHICH WE KNOW WOULD PROBABLY BE A LOWBALL NUMBER FROM ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT IN CITIES.
THEY USUALLY GO OVER BUDGET AND WITH THE WAY THINGS GO UP.
MY POINT BEING WITH ALL THIS RHETORIC IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND I PERSONALLY AND I'M UNCOMFORTABLE, I DON'T KNOW, IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND SAYS A LEVEL OF THREE MILLION, A LEVEL OF FOUR MILLION, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT GETS YOU.
WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT? THEN THAT'S MY PROBLEM IS THAT I'M AT A POINT WHERE WE'VE NEVER DISCUSSED THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS BEFORE AND SO TO GO AHEAD AND ISSUE AT ANY LEVEL IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO COMPREHEND BECAUSE I DON T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.
>> I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBER REED.
MY POINT IS WE COULD DO THAT AND RUN A SCENARIO AT 3,750,000, 3,780,000, 4,120,000, BUT IF WE HAVE THAT AND THE IDEA THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AS A COUNCIL FROM MY RECOLLECTION TWO MEETINGS AGO, WAS WE DETERMINED THE VOTERS GET THE ULTIMATE SAY, AND I'M A HUGE PROPONENT OF IT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT GOES TO THE VOTERS AND THEY DECIDE IF THEY KNOCK IT DOWN. THEY KNOCK IT DOWN.
IF I VOTE YES OR NO, THAT'S MY BUSINESS WHAT I DO WHEN I COME IN HERE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE A NUMBER, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE WORKING INTO.
AS I SAID, I THINK TWO MEETINGS AGO, I'M GOING TO PARAPHRASE IT A LITTLE BIT IS WHEN WE GET THE NUMBER, IT'S GOING TO DICTATE WHAT WE CAN DO, I MEAN, WHETHER WE HAVE TO PAINT AND CARPET THIS BUILDING AND DO THAT AND BUILD ONE SOLID BUILDING BACK HERE BECAUSE THAT'S ALL WE CAN GET PASSED BY THE VOTERS OR THE VOTERS SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING OR PD GETS TO STAY IN A TRAILER.
THIS BUILDING STAYS THE WAY THAT IT IS.
THAT IS THE DECISION OF THE PEOPLE WHO GET TO VOTE, WHICH IS THE BEAUTY OF DEMOCRACY AND BEING ABLE TO VOTE AND THEY DID LAST TIME RESOUNDINGLY, NO, THEY DID NOT WANT IT.
THEY DID NOT LIKE THE WAY IT WAS.
MY UNDERSTANDINGS ARE THAT WE CAN ALTER THIS TO SAY UP TO RENOVATE OR BUILD A NEW FACILITY AND HAVE THAT ABILITY, BUT I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO MY FIRST STATEMENT AGAIN, IS I FEEL LIKE WE SET THE BOUNDARY BY SETTING THE MONEY AND THE MONEY WILL DICTATE OUR BOUNDARY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE WANT TO DO, IT MATTERS WHAT WE CAN AFFORD AND IF WE GO BACK TO ANY OF THE OTHER TOPICS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THE REALMS OF THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ON HERE, BUT ANY TOPIC WE TALK ABOUT AS A CITY, I'LL TALK IN A GENERALITY, SO I DON'T GET YELLED AT OR HAMMERED.
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE 100% OF IT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SOME OF THOSE OTHER TOPICS FOR JUST AS LONG AND WE'RE STILL GETTING NOWHERE AND I FEEL LIKE IF WE DON'T START THE PROCESS SOMEWHERE, WE GET NOWHERE.
>> I HEAR YOUR POINT COUNCIL MEMBER SLAUGHTER, MY CONCERN, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER REED.
MY CONCERN IS LET'S SAY WE PICK A NUMBER.
LET'S SAY WE PICKED SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS, FOUR MILLION DOLLARS, JUST PICK A NUMBER AND WE PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT AND THEN WE COME BACK AND FIND OUT THAT WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO, BUT WE CAN DO THIS ONE PIECE OF IT UNTIL WE'VE GOT A LOT OF NICE MONEY NOW, SO LET'S JUST MAKE THAT REAL.
IT'S A GOOD START, BUT IT'S NOT, I THINK WE'RE CLOSE AND I DO THINK THIS IS A GOOD START.
THIS IS THE FIRST PIECE WE NEED.
THIS IS THE PART OF THE DEBT THAT WE, AS A COUNCIL THINK WE CAN AFFORD AND NOT IGNORE OTHER NEEDS OF THE CITY, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE I FEEL THAT NEEDS TO BE HASHED OUT BEFORE IT GOES TO THE RESIDENTS TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO YOU.
[01:40:05]
>> HOW MANY YEARS DO YOU WANT TO GO AT THIS? I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR FOUR YEARS.
I THINK I'VE BEEN THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST 10 YEARS AGO WE STARTED THIS AS WELL.
I'M EMBARRASSED TO SAY THAT PARKER PD IS IN A TRAILER.
I AM ALSO NOT SHY TO SAY THAT WE HAVE HAD BLEEDING OF STAFF AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE LOST A POLICE CHIEF.
WE'VE LOST VARIOUS OTHER HIGH-RANKING DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS HERE.
OUR STAFF ARE NOT HAPPY BEING IN THIS KIND OF A BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT IN THE 1980S.
I'M NOT SAYING WE NEED A TAJ MAHAL, THAT'S A SHOUT-OUT TO MY COUNTRY, BUT WE DON'T NEED A TAJ MAHAL AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS EVER SAID THAT WE NEEDED TO TAJ MAHAL.
WE NEEDED A FACILITY THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR OUR CITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE EVERY DAY FOR US.
HOW MANY MEETINGS DO WE NEED TO HAVE? HOW MANY YEARS DO WE NEED TO HAVE THESE MEETINGS TO REHASH, TO TALK ABOUT THE HALLWAY IS BIGGER HERE? DO YOU NEED A ROOM HERE? DO YOU NEED A LACTATION ROOM THERE? I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT HOW DO OTHER CITIES FUNCTION? IT'S A EYESORE TO DRIVE BY AND SEE YOUR PD IN A TRAILER.
IT'S EMBARRASSING IF THERE'S A LEAK IN THE WALLS TO SEE YOUR CITY SECRETARY OR YOUR ADMINISTRATOR WITH A BUNCH OF BOXES STACKED IN THEIR OFFICES BECAUSE THERE'S NOWHERE TO PUT ANYTHING, BUT THIS IS WHAT SOMEBODY HAD MENTIONED ON THEIR LETTERS EMAIL ANALYSIS PARALYSIS.
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, WE WERE ELECTED TO DO SOMETHING AND NO ONE IS EVER GOING TO BE 100% HAPPY, I WILL HAVE TO PAY.
I LIVE HERE JUST AS ANYBODY ELSE, JUST LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER SLAUGHTER SAID.
IT'S GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF US, BUT AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, EITHER KILL IT, DO SOMETHING, GO TO A LOWER AMOUNT, OR WHATEVER IT IS, BUT THIS IS ALMOST AN EMBARRASSMENT.
I HEAR YOUR POINT AND I THINK WE ALL WANT TO SEE A SOLUTION.
WE ALL WANT TO SEE OUR CITY FACILITIES TO BE PROPER. WHAT IS NEEDED BY OUR CITY.
MY CONCERN BACK TO HAVING A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL IS I THINK ABOUT OUR WATER STORAGE TANKS THAT WERE RECENTLY BUILT.
YEAH, WE GOT THE MONEY YEARS AGO, WE FINALLY BUILT IT TWO YEARS LATER AND NOW THE WATER STORAGE TANKS AREN'T BEING FULLY USED.
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS, NOT TO THE POINT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I AGREE, WE DON'T NEED TO FIGURE THE EXACT SPACE OF EACH OFFICE, BUT WE NEED A BIG PICTURE OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE FOR.
>> THE BIG PICTURE IS THAT IT'S HOUSING OUR CITY SERVICES.
MY FEAR, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE YEARS AFTER I'M OFF THE COUNCIL, IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT WE "TREAT" OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT BY THE SURROUNDINGS THAT THEY'RE IN, THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE STAFF, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE RETENTION ISSUES, RECRUITMENT ISSUES.
WHEN YOU DIAL 911 FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS TO COME AND HELP YOU, WHO'S GOING TO BE THERE? HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE THERE?ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RETAIN POLICE OFFICERS TO COME HERE? BECAUSE THEY ARE IN A TRAILER WHEN IRVING OR PLANO OR ANY OTHER CITIES SURROUNDING THERE THEY HAVE A BETTER PLACE TO GO WORK, THEY HAVE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT, THEY HAVE BETTER SUPPORT.
THESE ARE OFTEN THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AS WELL.
I MEAN, I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO BE OVER OUR DEBT CAPACITY, BUT THESE ARE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO ACT ON BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS.
THIS IS GOVERNMENT INERTIA BASICALLY AT ITS FINEST.
>> I AGREE WITH THIS PROBLEM OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
COUNCIL WOMAN, ABRAHAM SAID, IN FOUR YEARS, WELL, I'VE BEEN HERE SIX YEARS, AND IT HASN'T CHANGED.
WE TAKE ONE STEP FORWARD AND TWO STEPS BACK.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH MULTIPLE ARCHITECTS, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH MULTIPLE DESIGNS, WE'VE TAKEN IN RESIDING COMMENTS AND SOME WOULD DISAGREE.
[01:45:03]
BUT IF I GO BACK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE PLANTS THAT WERE PRESENTED OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS.WE DID NOT FIRE, BUT WE GOT RID OF ONE ARCHITECT BECAUSE IT WAS A TAJ MAHAL AND WENT TO ANOTHER ARCHITECT AND WENT THROUGH SEVERAL RENDITIONS USING CITIZEN INPUT.
THE LATEST COMMENTS I'M GETTING THIS PAST WEEK IS, WELL, SOME OF THEM ARE BASED ON THE COST, SOME OF THEM ARE BASED ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
IT SEEMS NO MATTER WHAT WE PRESENT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FIND SOME FAULT WITH IT.
THAT BEING SAID, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
SOME OF THEM WERE PRETTY UGLY I HAVE TO SAY.
WHAT BOTHERS ME MOST IS THAT WE'RE A SMALL CITY AND I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER THE CITY BEING THIS DIVIDED OVER A TOPIC THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD AGREE UPON.
I AGREE WITH THE PART ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND STAFF RETENTION.
CITY SERVICES THAT YOU COUNT ON, SOMEBODY HERE HAS TO IMPLEMENT THOSE.
WHETHER IT'S ANSWERING THE PHONES TO JUMPING INTO A DITCH TO FIX A WATER LEAK.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT THE CITY PERFORMS THAT I DON'T THINK THAT ALL RESIDENTS REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW CRITICAL THEY ARE.
I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF SPENDING MORE MONEY THAN WE NEED TO.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE A WORKABLE PLAN.
IT'S NOT FINALIZED, BUT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN MODIFY AND GET GOOD BIDS ON, AND MORE ACCURATE BIDS.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE TAKING THE CITIZENS INPUT.
I MEAN, 20 YEARS OF LISTENING TO THIS AND THIS WAS WAY BACK WHEN THEY BUILT THE FIRE STATION, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BUILD A CITY HALL BUT THEY DIDN'T.
EVER SINCE THEN, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST SIX YEARS.
MY HOPE IS THAT THE RESIDENTS COME TO GRIPS AND SAY, WE NEED A CITY HALL THAT IS FUNCTIONAL, IT SERVES THE PURPOSE, IT'S NOT EXCESSIVE, AND IT REPRESENTS THE CITY.
WE LOOK AT OURSELVES AS A UPSCALE COMMUNITY AND I THINK CITY HALL SHOULD SOMEWHAT REPRESENT THAT.
CERTAINLY OUR STEP DESERVES A GOOD PLACE TO WORK AND MAKE IT EFFICIENT FOR THEM ALSO.
>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT AND EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING I'M 100% ALIGNED WITH.
I THINK ALL OF THE CITY RESIDENTS HAVE WANTED TO GET THINGS DONE.
WELL, I THINK THE PROBLEM WHERE WE HAVE THE IMPASSE OR THE MEXICAN STANDOFF OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT IF I LOOK BACK AT THIS NOW, I HAVE ONLY BEEN ON COUNCIL A YEAR-AND-A-HALF.
NOBODY CAN BLAME ME FOR BEING THE OBSTACLE OF THIS AND BEING THE MEXICAN STANDOFF BECAUSE I'VE ONLY BEEN A YEAR-AND-A-HALF.
THE REASON I GOT INVOLVED IN THIS IS BECAUSE QUITE HONESTLY, I RUN BUSINESSES AND I WORK ON DIFFERENT THINGS THAT INVOLVE THESE CAPITAL EXPANSION PROJECTS, AND I DO THIS ALL THE TIME AND THEY'RE MUCH LARGER THAN THIS ONE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT IT, IT BASICALLY HAS TO BE SET TO A PLAN AND REVENUE.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WHEN WE FIRST LOOKED AT IT, WHAT THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE WAS, WAS TWO THINGS FROM THE CONSTITUENTS.
NOW, EVERYBODY IS SAYING ABOUT WE NEED TO GET OFF THE DIME, WE NEED TO DO THIS.
ON THE AGENDA, IT'S UP TO 14.1 MILLION.
IN MY OPINION, THAT THE VERY ESSENCE OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY WAS VERY AGAINST, WE'RE AT THAT EXACT SAME PLACE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME OF ALL THE MEETINGS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH.
I'VE BEEN SAYING FROM DAY ONE THAT THIS FACILITY NEEDS TO BE RECONFIGURED AND THIS FACILITY NEEDS TO TAKE OFF THE OVERALL SQUARE FOOTAGE LOAD OF WHAT IS REQUIRED AND WHATEVER THAT DEBT CAPACITY THAT WE CAN TAKE.
THE THING THAT I FIND INTERESTING IS THAT I'M LOOKED UPON, AND I'VE SEEN SOME RHETORIC THAT SAID THAT I'M THE OBSTACLE AND THAT'S FINE.
BUT HERE'S THE THING, I'M TRYING TO BRING SOME RATIONAL FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
THE THING THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS THAT WE HAVE HAD
[01:50:03]
NUMBERS OF INSTANCES REGARDING THIS BUILDING THAT WERE INFORMATION THAT WAS NOT ACCURATE.WE SPENT A YEAR ARGUING OVER THOSE WHILE THIS FACILITY COULD NOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING BUT NON-CRITICAL CITY APPLICATIONS.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE VIDEOTAPES, IT WAS TALKED ABOUT OVER AND OVER.
THEN WE HAD A MEETING THAT WAS VERY CONTENTIOUS, AND I'LL ADMIT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATING FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE FRUSTRATED ABOUT THAT.
THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE COULDN'T BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH THIS.
THE POINT BEING IS THIS, I'M VERY EAGER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
MAY IS COMING UP AND THERE'S GOING TO BE ELECTION AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE GOT SOMETHING DONE.
BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN, I AM NOT JUST GOING TO GO AND SAY YES TO SOMETHING THAT IS WELL OUTSIDE OF OUR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND WITH THAT, ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY BEING PUT WITHIN JUST THIS FACILITY.
WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE NUMBER IS GOING TO BE, THEN THAT'S WHERE I HAVE OTHER ISSUES WITH HOW'S THAT GOING TO BE BROKEN OUT.
AGAIN, JUST A SUMMARY OF WHAT'S HAPPENED, WHERE WE WANT TO GO, BUT IT ISN'T EXACTLY LIKE I'VE BEEN JUST SITTING HERE SAYING NO, I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REASONS BEHIND THAT AND FACTS AND OTHER PIECES OF THIS.
THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE PLANS AND OTHER PASS-THROUGH TO HOW WE CAN DO IT MORE ECONOMICALLY.
WE'RE BASICALLY BACK TO THE SAME POINT THAT WE STARTED WITH.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF WHAT WE'RE AT NOW FROM THE LATEST PROPOSAL THAT WAS PROPOSED TO WHERE WE WERE, IT'S ALMOST IDENTICAL.
>> I JUST NEED TO MAKE A COMMENT.
IT'S IDENTICAL SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, BUT IT'S NOT IDENTICAL FROM WHERE WE STARTED.
WHERE WE STARTED WAS PROBABLY TWICE THE SIZE OF WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
>> I WOULDN'T AGREE WITH THAT EITHER [BACKGROUND]
>> 30,000 AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO 20,000 [BACKGROUND]
>> WE'LL WAY OF WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
>> IF I CAN SPEAK, I UNDERSTAND, I WILL SAY PERSONALLY, I DON'T THINK ANY ONE PERSON ON COUNCIL IS BEING AN OBSTACLE.
I THINK WE'RE HAVING A DEBATE WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHERE THE QUESTIONS COME OUT AND WE'VE FOUND MORE INFORMATION OUT IN THE LAST YEAR, I THINK THAT WE HADN'T AWHILE.
I'M GOING TO HIT ONE THING BEFORE I GET STOPPED.
THIS IS NOT AN EITHER OR IN MY OPINION.
WELL, IF WE DO THIS, THEN NOTHING ELSE IN THE CITY GETS TOUCHED.
I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.
BUT I STILL COME BACK TO IT THAT THE BOUNDARY PROPOSES.
IF WE HAVE A NUMBER, WE CAN ONLY DO WHAT IS WITHIN THAT NUMBER.
I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBERS LYNCH'S POSITION BECAUSE I HAD THE SAME THOUGHTS.
WELL, IF WE TAKE OUT X NUMBER AND I'M NOT GOING TO THROW ONE OUT THERE BECAUSE THEN I'LL GET TOLD THAT THAT'S WHAT I WAS SUPPORTING, BUT LET'S SAY X NUMBER AND WE CAN'T GET EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT, WELL NOW WE'RE JUST GOING TO MAKE A REALLY KILLER POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THAT X NUMBER AND CALL IT A DAY OR A REALLY BIG VOTING HALL OR STORAGE ROOM, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING I'M IN FAVOR OF ANY OF THOSE THINGS [LAUGHTER] I WANT TO ASK FOR IT BECAUSE WHEN IT GOES ON ONE OF THE FACEBOOKS AND IT WILL SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
BUT ULTIMATELY THE MONEY WILL DRIVE IT, AND THE MONEY WILL DRIVE THE BOUNDARIES AND THE GATEKEEPERS AFTER THAT IS NO MATTER WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO END UP, COUNCIL, WHOEVER THEY ELECT TO SIT ON THIS DYESS GETS TO BE THE GATEKEEPERS WHETHER THEY LIKE US OR NOT.
EVEN IF THEY APPROVE A THREE MILLION DOLLAR BOND, WE'RE THE GATEKEEPERS BECAUSE WE CAN MAKE ALL THE CHANGES IN THE WORLD WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WHAT THE BOND SAYS.
IF IT SAYS TO RENOVATE AND BUILD A MUNICIPAL FACILITY, WE CAN WORK THAT HOWEVER WE WANT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE MONEY.
BUT I'M NOT CLEAR ON WHAT IT IS THE OTHER DETAILS THAT ARE WANTED BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IF WE DON'T HAVE A NUMBER TWO HIT, ALL THESE GUYS ARE DOING A STOLEN A PIE IN THE SKY.
IF I GO TO HIM AS THE CITY HALL AND I WANT TO BUILD AND I DO THE SAME THING, JIM, EXCEPT IT'S MY COMPANIES, AND SO WHEN I RUN MASSIVE PROJECTS, I GO OUT AND I GET OUT BIDS.
IF I GO TO THEM AND SAY, HEY, BUILD ME A HOUSE AND I DON'T GIVE THEM ANY SPECIFICATIONS, THAT BUILDER IS GOING TO COME BACK WITH A 45,000 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE WHICH IS GOING TO COST ME $12.7 MILLION AND THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BUDGET.
I CAN BUILD YOU $150,000 HOME, I CAN BUILD YOU A SEVERAL MILLION DOLLAR HOME.
BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT TO SET IT, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE EVER GET THERE.
MY UNDERSTANDING AGAIN WAS THAT WITH THE DECISION OF COUNCIL, WHETHER WE PLACE THIS ON THE MAY BALLOT, WHETHER YOU PLACE THIS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, WE STILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE WANT TO HIT AND SEE IF WE CAN DO IT.
TERRY, THERE'S A REAL CHANCE THAT WHATEVER WE CAN AFFORD CAN'T GET US WHAT WE WANT, AND THAT'S LIFE.
[01:55:02]
PEOPLE GO THROUGH LIFE, SOMETIMES THEY WANTED TO BUY A HOUSE.THEY WANT THAT THREE MILLION DOLLAR HOME AND THEY CAN ONLY AFFORD $150,000 HOME OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, BUT I STILL THINK I'M NOT CLEAR.
I KNOW STAFF CAN'T BE CLEAR ON WHAT OTHER DETAILS ARE WANTED BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN THROUGH ALL OF THESE MEETINGS, I HAVE WATCHED ALL OF THIS.
WE HAVE GOTTEN INTO IT AND WE DO WHEN WE HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING GETTING INTO THE WEEDS.
I REMEMBER ONE TIME TALKING ABOUT THE TILE FLOORS ON A BUILDING THAT WE HADN'T EVEN DECIDED SQUARE FOOTAGE ON.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IF WE DON'T SET A NUMBER.
IF WE'RE WILLING TO SET A NUMBER, WE NEED TO DO IT AND MOVE FORWARD AND WORK AND SEE WHAT WE CAN GET WITHIN THAT NUMBER, AND THERE VERY WELL MAY BE A CHANCE, NO MATTER WHAT, I'M SORRY, BUT EVERYBODY IN HERE WILL BE CALLED BACK AGAIN WHEN IT'S TIME TO DEAL WITH ANY OF THE OTHER MIRAGE OF ITEMS THAT WE NEED A BOND FOR.
BUT ON THIS ONE, WE HAVE TO DECIDE ARE WE GOING TO DO SOMETHING OR ARE WE NOT GOING TO DO SOMETHING? THAT'S ULTIMATELY, IF WE ARE, WHAT DO WE NEED TO GET TO THAT POINT?
>> QUESTION, COULD WE NOT SET A NUMBER? GO BACK AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITHIN THAT NUMBER AND THEN BRING IT FOR A VOTE OF THE RESIDENTS? THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING [BACKGROUND] INSTEAD OF A BOND PROPOSITION.
>> AGAIN, IS ASTERISKED, ULTIMATELY, I FEEL LIKE WE JUST NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
BECAUSE I'M THINKING OF A LOT OF OTHER ANALOGIES IN MY HEAD THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATE TO SAY [LAUGHTER] BUT WE JUST NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
IF THAT IS THE PATH AND THAT IS A PATH FORWARD TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT, WHAT CAN WE DO? BUT ULTIMATELY, I CAN DO THAT TODAY, AND BY TIME WE GET THROUGH THE NEXT ELECTION, WE GET SOMETHING FOR 5 MILLION TODAY, NOVEMBER WE DON'T KNOW WHAT 5 MILLION WILL BUY US.
IF WE GET 9 MILLION TODAY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT 9 MILLION IS GOING TO BUY US IN NOVEMBER, AND WE'VE GOT NOTHING TO BE ABLE TO LOCK ANYTHING IN PLACE.
WE HAVE NO SEE MARK BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO HIRE THEM.
WE HAVE NO ENGINEERING THAT WE CAN GO OUT BECAUSE I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF SPENDING 100 PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS OF ENGINEERING COSTS WITHOUT HAVING A BOND IN WHICH TO FALL BACK ON.
THE PRICING IS ALL GOING TO BE PIE IN THE SKY WHICH IT'S AN ESTIMATOR.
THAT'S WHAT WE USE AS AN ESTIMATOR.
THOSE GUYS GO OUT AND THEY USE BASIC PUBLIC DATA TO DETERMINE WHAT A COST IS FOR A BUILDING.
USUALLY THEY'RE HIGH, SOMETIMES THEY'RE REALLY LOW. IT REALLY DEPENDS.
COUNCILS EFFECT THAT A LOT TOO, BECAUSE WE START CHOOSING A LOT OF ITEMS AFTER THE FACT.
BUT IF THAT'S THE PATH, AT LEAST IT'S A PATH FORWARD.
THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT I'M ASKING.
NO MORE OF THIS, WE NEED MORE DATA, BUT NOT GIVING ANY DIRECTION OF WHAT THAT DATA IS.
>> BUT JUST AS YOU SAID, THE NUMBER IS GOING TO DETERMINE AT WHAT YOU DO.
WHAT MY STICKING POINT IS RIGHT NOW IS THAT EVERY THING THAT I HAVE LOOKED AT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, THE SHORT TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ON, HAS BEEN INVOLVING A VERY LARGE FACILITY THAT HAS A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION.
WHAT I'M GATHERING FROM THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING NOW AND THE DISCUSSIONS THAT I'M HEARING FROM THE AUDIENCE AND THE CONSTITUENTS IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THAT BECAUSE OF THE LEVY THAT WE CAN AFFORD.
THAT'S MY PROBLEM AND THAT'S WHERE I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH, IS THAT WHY CAN'T WE LIKE DECIDE WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT, OUR SPENDING AND THEN GO LOOK AT THAT, THEN I HAVE NO PROBLEM.
IF WE SAID, FOR EXAMPLE, AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO PUT NUMBERS OUT THERE, BUT I'LL SAY A NUMBER ANYWAY.
LET'S SAY THE NUMBER IS FIVE OR $6 MILLION.
THEN WE GO AND WE TRY TO DO SOMETHING, WE SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, ALL WE CAN DO IS BET WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.
WE CAN RENOVATE THIS, WE CAN MAYBE ADD ANOTHER BUILDING, GET THE POLICE IN OR WHATEVER.
THESE ARE NOT SUGGESTIONS OF HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, BUT THESE DISCUSSIONS NEED TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS BEFORE.
THAT'S THE DATA THAT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND.
IT'S LIKE PUTTING A BIG ROCKS WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG PROJECT, YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE BIG ROCKS IN THERE FIRST.
WE DON'T HAVE THE BIG ROCKS IN THERE BECAUSE THE ONLY ROCK WE HAVE IN THERE IS ONE FACILITY.
THAT'S MY CHALLENGE BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS BEFORE.
>> I WOULD SAY WE STARTED THE FACT THAT 20-YEAR BOND TODAY WE CAN HOLD 8.63, 30 YEARS, 9.98, WE KNOW WE'VE GOT OTHER ITEMS OUTSIDE OF A BUILDING, WHAT ARE WE COMFORTABLE LOOKING AT THE PRICE?
>> THEN I'LL ASK ONE OTHER QUESTION AND THEN I'LL GET OFF BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TALKING TOO MUCH.
BUT THE OTHER CHALLENGE YOU CAN HAVE IS LET'S SAY THAT YOU DECIDE ON SOME PROJECTS.
WE GO, WE GET SOME BIDS AND YOU GO IN AND THEN WE GO, OOPS, WE DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING THAT WE NEEDED.
THEN WE'RE HERE AGAIN NOW DO AN EMERGENCY BOND FUNDING TO TRY TO GET THE THING FINISHED.
THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY, WHEN IT'S SUCH A BIG CHANGE FROM WHERE ALL THE DISCUSSION HAS
[02:00:01]
BEEN BEFORE IN THIS SCOPE AND NOW THE SCOPE BEING SO DIFFERENT, THAT'S WHERE I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS.>> WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS WE COME UP WITH A NUMBER.
RIGHT NOW, MY FEELING IS 10-12 MILLION.
WE DON'T HAVE TO USE ALL OF IT.
ONCE WE GET THE ACTUAL COST IF IT'S EIGHT MILLION, WE TAKE EIGHT MILLION.
THE CITY HAS DONE THAT BEFORE BECAUSE WHEN THEY BUILT THE FIRE STATION, THERE WAS MONEY LEFTOVER TO BUILD THE CITY HALL AND THAT MONEY WE NEVER TOOK IT.
OUR MAYOR SITTING THERE, JOE CHORDATA CAN TESTIFY TO THAT.
I THINK THAT WE DON'T WANT TO UNDER CUT OURSELVES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT FOR THE MOST PART, THE PEOPLE THAT WE HEARD FROM SAYING THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO GET INTO DEBT OR THEY DON'T WANT A BIG BUILDING, I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE IT IS BECAUSE I HEAR VARIOUS VERSIONS OF THAT, BUT WE REALLY DO NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE NEED TO STOP THE DIVISION IN THIS CITY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
IF IT'S NOT GOING TO INCREASE YOUR TAX RATE OR JUST HAVE A MINOR IMPACT ON YOUR TAX RATE, DON'T YOU THINK THE CITY SHOULD HAVE A FACE THAT REPRESENTS THE UPSCALE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE AND SERVES OUR EMPLOYEES FAR INTO THE FUTURE? BECAUSE THIS ISN'T A BUILDING THAT WOULD LAST FOR 10 YEARS OR 20 YEARS, THIS SHOULD LAST FOR 40 YEARS OR 50 YEARS.
I'M UP FOR RE-ELECTION AND IF I DON'T GET RE-ELECTED, THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
I FEEL THAT IT'S WAY OVERDUE AND WE JUST NEED TO GET MOVING.
THE SAME THING WITH ROADS AND DRAINAGE AND I KNOW WE SHOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT THAT, BUT WE HAVE WAYS TO GO ON THAT TOO.
BUT THOSE THINGS ARE JUST PART OF RUNNING A CITY.
>> LUKE, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? I KNOW THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE BROUGHT UP ONE OF THE SCENARIOS OF RENOVATING SPECIFIC EXISTING BUILDING AND THEN PERHAPS BUILDING A SEPARATE POLICE FACILITY.
THIS IS JUST A CURIOSITY QUESTION.
I VAGUELY REMEMBER US PRICE POINTING THAT AT ONE POINT.
DO YOU REMEMBER HOW MUCH THAT WAS? BECAUSE TO ME THAT [OVERLAPPING] WOULD SEEM LIKE THE MOST FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT OR NOT.
I'M JUST WANTING TO KNOW WHAT THE PRICE POINT IS COMPARED.
>> THOUGHT IT WAS A MILLION DOLLARS LESS.
>> IT'S ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.
>> TO TOTALLY RENOVATE THIS BUILDING?
THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT HAD TO BE DONE.
>> FOR THE TOTAL COST OF A NEW BUILDING A NEW POLICE FACILITY?
>> NO, THAT WAS JUST TO RENOVATE THIS BUILDING TO MAKE IT A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> I GUESS THE QUESTION IS RENOVATING THIS BUILDING FOR THE CITY PERSONNEL AND THEN BUILDING A SEPARATE FACILITY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
DID WE EVER LOOK AT THAT SCENARIO?
>> I DIDN'T LOOK THOSE NUMBERS, NO. I CAN LOOK AT SQUARE FOOTAGE, COST PER SQUARE FOOTAGE HERE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO GIVE A BALLPARK AT THIS POINT.
>> I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT LIKE WHAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> EVERY TIME I THROW A NUMBER OUT HERE, IT CHANGES SUBSTANTIALLY.
>> I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE LAST TIME WE WENT FOR BOND, IT WAS AT 9.5 MILLION AND NOW WE'RE FIVE MILLION DOLLARS MORE FOR THE SAME BUILDING. PRETTY MUCH, GIVE OR TAKE.
>> SIMILAR SQUARE FOOTAGE, YES.
>> WELL, IT DOESN'T HAVE THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SLAUGHTER, YOU SUGGESTED THE FULL DEBT CAPACITY THAT MR. SAVAGE SUGGESTED AND I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT GOING TO THE FULL CAPACITY BECAUSE WHILE I DO EXPECT OUR GROWTH TO BE MORE THAN THE ZERO GROWTH, I THINK IT'S WISE TO RESERVE SOME FUNDS FOR OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.
[02:05:08]
WHILE OUR FACILITY IS IMPORTANT, OUR RESIDENTS AREN'T IN THE FACILITY ALL THE TIME, OUR RESIDENTS ARE ON THOSE STREETS.IT'S SO CRITICAL THAT WE DON'T IGNORE THE STREETS.
THIS MAY NOT SOUND A WHOLE LOT LESS, BUT WHAT IF WE LOOKED AT SEVEN MILLION AS A STARTING POINT? I SAY THAT, BUT I'M ALSO NOT IN FAVOR OF HAVING A BOND PROPOSITION.
I'M BACK TO THE SCENARIO OF WE HAVE SOMETHING, WE SEND IT TO STAFF AND SAY, WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THIS? AS YOU MENTIONED, I THINK THAT LIFE IS TOUGH.
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS HAVE WHAT YOU WANT.
IF I'VE GOT SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE THE FACILITIES SATISFACTORY OR A MORE PLEASANT ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STAFF AND MAKE IT A GOOD PLACE TO BE FOR THE NEXT 20-30 YEARS.
>> BUT WE'D BE SPENDING MORE MONEY.
HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND FOR SENDING OUT, NOT BIDS PER SE, BUT TRYING TO ASK FOR THE PLANS AND FLOOR PLANS AND ETC, FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I KNOW WE'VE SPENT.
>> I'M NOT FOLLOWING YOU, I'M SORRY.
>> DON'T WE HAVE TO SEND IT TO THE ARCHITECT?
>> YEAH, LET'S SAY WE SEND IT TO AN ARCHITECT AND SAY, GIVE ME A FLOOR PLAN THAT WILL MEET OUR NEEDS FOR SEVEN MILLION OR SO.
HOW MUCH ARE WE SPENDING FOR THOSE FEES?
KEN, HE DOESN'T CHARGE US A FLAT FEE, HE HAS AN ADJUSTABLE RATE SO IF HE'S DOING CAD WORK, HE ONLY CHARGES US A CAD FEE.
IF HE'S DOING OTHER STUFF, HE'LL CHARGES THAT RATE.
HE'S GOT HIS FLOATING CHART THERE.
NOW OTHER ARCHITECT FIRMS WILL HAVE STRAIGHT COSTS.
IF WE SAY SEVEN MILLION, ARE WE DOING A FULLY ENGINEERED BUILDING AT THAT POINT? BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY WAY I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET DOWN TO ACTUAL NUMBERS.
I DIDN'T SAY SPEND OUR ENTIRE DEBT CEILING.
I SAID THAT THAT'S WHERE WE START AND LOOKING AT IT AND DETERMINING HOW MUCH WE WANT TO RESERVE FOR EACH THING.
AGAIN, I KNOW HOW FACEBOOK WORKS, SO I KNOW WHAT I'LL BE QUOTED SAYING LATER.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLARIFIED.
>> THAT YOU WASN'T YOUR SUGGESTION. I'M SORRY.
>> I KNOW. THE OTHER THING I MUST SAY, I FEEL LIKE I'M SITTING UP ON A DESK WITH A BUNCH OF POLITICIANS BECAUSE WE'RE ALL ASTERISKING EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE SAYING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IDEA AND I UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS.
YES, WHEN WE GO INTO THE ENGINEERING AND ALL THAT NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO SOME SUBSTANTIAL MONEY.
WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM? DO WE SPEND IT? AGAIN, WE SPEND IT OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND, WE SPEND IT OUT OF THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE FOR OTHER THINGS, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, AND WE HAVE TO DECIDE.
UNFORTUNATELY IF WE DO THAT, MY UNDERSTANDING AND I WANT CLARIFICATION, LUKE OR BOND GUY OR GRANT, [LAUGHTER] IF WE SPEND THIS ENGINEERING MONEY TODAY ON THIS PLAN, WE CAN'T GO BACK AND CHARGE IT TO THE BOND THAT WE GET, IF WE GET ONE IN NOVEMBER, OR WE GET ONE IN MAY OF NEXT YEAR OR HOPEFULLY AT SOME POINT WHILE I'M STILL ABLE TO WALK AND TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.
IF WE GET ONE IN THAT POINT, ARE WE ABLE TO BUILD THAT BACK TO SAID BUCKET OF MONEY?
>> YEAH, WE DID THAT 2019, I THINK WHEN WE DID THAT LAST BOND ISSUANCE WE PASSED I THINK IT WAS A RESOLUTION THAT YOU CAN GO BACK TO SIX MONTHS AND START COLLECTING UPS FOR THIS CURRENT PROJECT TO THIS BOND ISSUANCE, BACK SIX MONTHS.
>> IF YOU SPEND THAT MONEY TODAY [OVERLAPPING].
>> ERIC CAN, DEFINITELY. IT'S BEEN AWHILE.
>> SOFT COSTS, ANY COSTS INCURRED BY THE CITY PRIOR TO ISSUING BONDS, LET'S SAY FOR THE PROJECT ARCHITECTURE DESIGN, YOU CAN RECOVER THOSE COSTS AND PAY GENERAL FUND BACK WITH THE BOND DOLLARS WHEN THOSE BONDS WAS.
NOW CONSTRUCTION COST OR IF YOU'RE MOVING DIRT, YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE PRIOR TO MOVING DIRT.
>> YOU CAN GO BACK, I BELIEVE IT'S 60 DAYS FROM THAT ORDINANCE AND PICKUP EXPENSES 60 DAYS BACK.
THAT ORDINANCE IS GOOD, I BELIEVE FOR 18 MONTHS.
IT'S JUST A BELT AND SUSPENDERS TO WHERE YOU CAN RECOVER THAT MONEY IF YOU WANT TO, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SLAUGHTER, MY ONLY COMMENT ABOUT THAT IS THERE'S TWO, ONE THE CITY THERE IS A FUND FOR OUR FACILITIES.
IT'S ABOUT 700,000, I BELIEVE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR IN '22 AND 300,000 GOING INTO IT THIS YEAR SO THERE IS A FUND TO PAY SOME OF THOSE ENGINEERING COSTS AND WITH RESPECT TO [NOISE] MAKING EFFORTS TO GET THAT INTO
[02:10:02]
THE BOND IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK REQUIRES GOOD DISCUSSION BECAUSE OUR TAXPAYERS HAVE ALREADY PAID TAX ON THAT MONEY.IF YOU PUT IT INTO THE BOND, THAT MEANS WE WILL BE PAYING AGAIN FOR THAT MONEY.
>> YES. I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, BUT WHETHER WE TAKE AN ALL AROUND YOUR NUMBER UP WITHOUT VILLAGE SITES, 700,000, WHETHER WE TAKE THAT AND WE APPLY THAT TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S A FACILITIES FUNDED FOR THE FACILITIES THAT ARE HERE BUT WE USE THAT MONEY TO SPEND ON THIS.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE ONE, MY POINT OF THE FACT THAT I CAN GO BY THIS ENGINEERING COSTS AND BID ALL THIS OUT AND SAY SPEND 100,000 HERE, WE DON'T LIKE THAT ONE GO OUT HERE SPEND $100,000.
BY THE TIME YOU'RE DONE, YOU'RE STARTING TO ADD UP SO I WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS OF THAT AND DOING IT.
TWO, YES, YOU'RE RIGHT EXCEPT THAT MONEY HAS BEEN PAID BY A RESONANCE.
I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A DUTY TO BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE WITH THOSE FUNDS.
THEY PUT THEM IN A FUND TO UTILIZE FOR FACILITY, WHETHER WE USE IT FOR THOSE SOFT COSTS OR WHETHER WE ROLL THEM INTO THE BOND BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO KEEP THROWING GOOD MONEY OUT TO KEEP BIDDING SCENARIOS THAT ARE PIE IN THE SKIES.
>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS SUGGESTING THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.
I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE NARROWING IT DOWN TO A POINT WHERE THEY WILL FIND SOMETHING THAT WILL BE WORKING FOR THAT FINANCIAL LIABILITY THAT WE'RE INCURRING.
AGAIN, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH ON THE FACT THAT SINCE IT IS FOR THIS FACILITY, IF WE ELECTED TO UTILIZE THIS FACILITY, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THOSE FUNDS WERE PUT THERE AND WE HAVEN'T SPENT THAT MONEY FOR TWO YEARS NOW ON THIS FACILITY.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME SPIN, BUT VERY LITTLE IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF RESIDUALS, GRAN YOU CAN BACKUP IF HE'S STILL HERE BUT ANYWAY, I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S WHERE I'M ALIGNED WITH WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BIG ROCKS ARE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN THE GLASS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THERE.
NO DOUBT AND I THINK IF WE CAN GET PAST THAT, THAT'S VERY GOOD BUT WE NEED TO KNOW THEN WITH THAT WHAT CAN HAPPEN.
>> THE COST TO ME IS THE BIGGEST ROCK, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY AGAIN, THAT'S THE THING THAT ULTIMATELY MATTERS.
IF WE COME TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND X NUMBER OF DOLLARS, WHETHER WE USE THE 700,000 AND THE FACILITIES OF THE 300, WHICH AS A COUNCIL WE PUT IN THERE FOR EXPENDITURES FOR FACILITY, WHETHER WE BOND THAT AMOUNT WHETHER WE USE THAT AMOUNT.
THAT'S ALL A DISCUSSION I AGREE AND THAT MONEY IS SITTING THERE FOR THIS VERY THING.
ALL OF THESE SOFT COSTS IN WHICH WE'RE GOING TO INCUR BEFORE THE BOND MONEY EVER HITS US, SO THAT WE'RE NOT HITTING INTO GENERAL RESERVES TO PAY THESE AND SO IN THEORY, YES, THE MONEY GETS PAID BACK TO THAT FUND ONCE IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE TO BE UTILIZED FOR WHATEVER DEBT PAYMENT, SERVICE, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
I'M WELL AWARE OF HOW THE FUNDING BREAKS DOWN IN THE CITY.
WE SPEND AS GRUELING AMOUNT OF TIME ON THAT BUDGET.
BUT IT COMES BACK TO THAT BIGGEST ROCK AGAIN OF THE COST, IF WE DON'T HAVE A TARGET, WE'RE JUST OUT THERE SHOOTING TO SEE WHAT WE HIT SO I GO BACK TO IT AGAIN.
WHAT NUMBER ARE WE LOOKING AT THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN SQUEEZE INTO? AND IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE.
>> AGAIN, I SOUND LIKE I'M VERY DENSE HERE, BUT I'M SAYING THAT WITH THAT, DOES THAT NOT BY DEFINITION, PREDICATE THE BOX THAT YOU HAVE TO OPERATING WITHIN.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT I'M SAYING IS LET AGAIN, LET'S USE COUNCILMAN LYNCH SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS.
FOR SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS, THERE'S NOTHING LUKE, JUST CONFIRMED THAT, THERE'S NOT A PLAN THAT WE HAVE COSTING ON FOR ANYTHING THAT'S SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS. NOTHING.
>> THAT'S THE BUDGET ABOUT WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO GET A PLAN?
>> YES. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
GET UP ASSESSMENT. THAT'S MY POINT.
>> SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR IS THE BUDGET AMOUNT WE WANT TO GO SEE WHAT THE PLAN IS.
BECAUSE A LOT OF MY CONCERN IS I DON'T WANT TO THROW OUT THERE.
WHAT MY CONCERN IS IS WE COULD GO OUT AND GET A SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR PLAN, A $6.75 MILLION PLAN AT 6.5 MILLION, AND THOSE ARE ALL ADDED COSTS SO WE HAVE TO SET A THRESHOLD AMOUNT OF WHAT DO WE WANT TO SPEND FOR THE PLAN TO BE DEVELOPED OFF OF.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND YOUR THOUGHT AND I'M STILL IN HER NUMBER, SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS.
>> I DIDN'T SAY SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR.
>> YOU DID. WHAT IS THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO GET A PLAN OFF OF?
>> BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH AROUND IT AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION OF WE HADN'T TALKED ABOUT.
I DISAGREE AND I GET ALONG A LOT OF TIMES SOMETIMES WE DISAGREE, THAT'S PART OF THE GAME.
I DISAGREE THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THESE SCENARIOS BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT UTILIZING THIS.
I WAS AGAINST ADDING SQUARE FOOTAGE TO THIS BUILDING FROM THE BEGINNING STILL VOICING I'M AGAINST IT, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE SCENARIOS,
[02:15:02]
NOT THE EXACT PRICES, BUT WE NEVER SET AN EXPECTATION OF A PRICE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN GET WITHIN OUR DOLLARS.>> WELL TRUE, BUT MAYBE I'LL SAY IT A DIFFERENT WAY.
MAYBE IN THE CONSTRUCT OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, CAN WE UNIVERSALLY AGREE THAT THE PLAN THAT'S ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT HAPPENING.
>> NO. NOBODY HAS BEEN OVER $14 MILLION NOT HAPPENING.
I THINK WE'VE ALL SAID THAT I'M SPEAKING FOR THE RECORD [OVERLAPPING] AND WE HAVE A CALL FOR A VOTE.
MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE NUMBER?
>> NOW, I UNDERSTAND. JUST BEAR WITH ME HERE A LITTLE BIT.
AGAIN SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING AROUND CIRCLES HERE, BUT ALL OF THOSE PLANS WERE UNDER EITHER RENOVATING THIS, AND ADDING SQUARE FOOTAGE TO GET US UP TO THE 20,000 AND CHANGE SQUARE FOOT.
THAT WAS LIKE 12.3, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY AND THEN IT WAS 13.2 AND THEN I GOT DYSLEXIC ON YOU AND THERE WAS 14.1 FOR ALL ONE FACILITY AND I SAID IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, I WOULD WANT TO RENOVATE THIS BECAUSE A MILLION BUCKS IS A LOT OF MONEY TO ME.
BUT NOW, WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT AS WE'RE SAYING, THAT POINT, THAT'S GONE.
NOT HAPPENING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT DEBT LOAD THAT WE CAN ACCEPT, PERIOD.
THE POINT BEING IS THAT THAT'S WHERE I'M GETTING AT.
FINE TAKE WHATEVER THE NUMBER THAT YOU WANT TO BE ABLE DEBATE THAT AND DECIDE WHAT IT IS BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME CONSTRUCT AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT MAY MEAN THAT YOU GET ONLY A POLICE FILLS FACILITY RENOVATED HERE AND I'M WONDERING BUILDING AND WE'RE NOT AT THE FULL SQUARE FOOTAGE LOAD THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT.
>> THAT WAS THE CONVERSATION WE HAD TWO MEETINGS AGO WHERE WE DISCUSSED THE FACT THAT OUR DEBT LOAD IS WHAT IT IS AND WE WOULD BE DICTATED ON NO LONGER DISCUSSING WHETHER IT'S 21,000, 17,000, 13,000 BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON WHAT OUR BUDGET WILL SET, WHAT WE CAN DO AND ULTIMATELY, I FEEL LIKE ONCE WE SET A BUDGET, THAT'S TIME FOR THE PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE LOOKED OVER ALL OF THIS TO COME OUT AND SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THIS? WHAT IS OUR BEST USE OF MONEY? WHAT ARE OUR SCENARIOS FOR WHATEVER THAT AMOUNT MAY BE? AND I'M GOING TO UTILIZE 8.636 AT THE NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME AND I'M NOT SAYING WE UTILIZE 100 PERCENT OF OUR DEBT LOAD, BUT IF WE SENT THAT OUT THERE, THEY WOULD COME BACK AND GO, WELL, YOU CAN RENOVATE THIS BUILDING IN ITS CURRENT SQUARE FOOTAGE.
YOU CAN ALSO BUILD THIS BUILDING OVER HERE, AND THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD BE AT OR HERE'S THE OTHER OPTION OF WE CAN BUILD ONE BUILDING.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT SMALLER, BUT HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO OR YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU GET A POLE BARN AND YOU-ALL CAN HAVE MEETINGS OUTSIDE UNDER TP TENTS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO GET TO THE BARRIER OF WHAT IT IS BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE'RE JUST DRAWING FOR A PLANTS FOR THE FUN OF SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO.
>> I GUESS AT SOME POINT YOU ALL AGREED THAT WE WON'T GO PAST OUR DEBT CAPACITY, PERIOD.
I DON'T REMEMBER AGREEING TO THAT, BUT IF YOU-ALL DID REFRESH MY MEMORY.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WERE MENTIONING THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE MAJORITY OF EVERYBODY UP HERE SAID THEY DON'T WANT TO GO PASS THE DEBT CAPACITY IN THE CONVERSATION SO EXCUSE ME.
I WAS SPEAKING IN A GENERALITY BASED ON THE COMMENTS HERE NOT THAT EVERYBODY WAS IN SYNC, BUT JUST IN THE CONVERSATIONS, I TOOK THAT AS A STATEMENT THAT NOBODY WANTED TO GO PAST THE DEBT CAPACITY. MAYBE I'M WRONG.
>> IS ANYBODY READY TO MAKE ANY EMOTION? BECAUSE WE CAN DISCUSS THIS ALL NIGHT LONG IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO. [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL, LET ME JUST SAY ONE THING.
I MEAN, WE'RE TRYING TO LIMIT THE SCENARIOS, THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE AND I'M NOT SURE AS A COUNCIL WHY WE'RE DOING THAT, NOT LETTING THE RESIDENTS DO THAT.
I MEAN, THEY STILL HAVE TO VOTE FOR BOND.
WHETHER IT'S SEVEN MILLION OR NINE MILLION OR 10 MILLION, I'M NOT SURE IT'S GOING TO MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE AND PERSONALLY, I DON T THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE.
MY TAXES GO UP $50 A YEAR, OR $100 A YEAR.
IS IT REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? WELL, I MEAN, DON'T GO TO MCDONALD'S NEXT WEEK [LAUGHTER] BUT $100 A YEAR AND WITH INFLATION OVER 30 YEARS, THAT $100 IS GOING TO BE WORTH HALF OF THAT.
WELL, I AM, BUT IT'S GETTING TO A POINT WHERE IT'S A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO BUILD A BUILDING ON AN OLD SLAB.
TO ME, THAT'S NOT RESPONSIBLE.
HAVING GONE THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS,
[02:20:05]
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT BUILDING A BUILDING FOR 15 OR 20 YEARS IS THE WAY TO GO.I THINK WE NEED TO GET A BUILDING THAT'S GOING TO LAST OUR LIFETIMES IN PAST.
>> I WILL ECHO AND JUST ADD ONE POINT.
I JUST WANT TO GET A BUILDING WITHIN MY LIFETIME, NOT JUST ON THE LAST DAY.
[LAUGHTER] LET'S LOOK INTO THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'M OPEN TO THIS DEBATE.
I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR WE COULD DEBATE THIS ALL NIGHT.
WE CAN DEBATE IT LONGER ON LESSER ITEMS. [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION AND WE CAN CHANGE IT IF NEED.
BUT JUST TO HAVE A MOTION, I MOVE THAT WE SET A LIMIT OF SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS AND ASK OUR CITY STAFF TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT TO BRING BACK TO US, WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THE CURRENT FACILITY AND AN ADDITIONAL WITHIN THAT FRAMEWORK.
>> RESETTING THE BOND AMOUNT THEN AT SEVEN MILLION.
THIS IS TO GO BACK TO CITY STAFF.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION OR NOT?
>> WE ONLY HAVE A FEW DAYS AFTER THE COLD ELECTION IN WHICH TO RECALL SOMETHING AFTER THERE, CORRECT?
>> THEY ALSO DON'T I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN GETTING AN IDEA AND BEING ABLE TO DO THIS.
THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THIS IS WE HOLD THESE GREAT ELECTIONS EVERY YEAR.
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY UP AND THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE CAUTIOUS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET ON AGAIN.
I'VE NEVER OPERATED UNDER THAT MINDSET.
I ACT BASED ON WHAT I THINK IS BEST FOR THE CITY.
I DON'T HAVE AN OFFICE HERE, NOT A SINGLE ONE OF US DO EXCEPT FOR LUKE THAT DOESN'T COUNT.
NONE OF THE ELECTED INDIVIDUALS DO.
WE DON'T GET PAID TO COME TO THE MEETINGS.
WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE A SENSE OF SERVICE.
THERE'S NO GRAND JURY OF BEING A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO TEM, MAYOR.
WE DON'T GET ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE COMPLAINTS AND THE HEADACHES IN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER FOR ALL OF US.
I DON'T KNOW. SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS IS A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF MONEY.
I'M NOT DISCOUNTING IT. I WONDER IF WE WOULD BE WILLING TO LOOK CLOSER TO OUR CURRENT DEBT CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE REASON BEING IS THAT WOULD TELL US THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF WHAT WE COULD GET KNOWING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE STAGNANT IN GROWTH, BUT THAT THERE'S ALSO OTHER FUNDING SOURCES FOR OTHER PROJECTS THAT COME UP WITH THE COMMITMENT THAT WE KNOW THAT IT'S TIME TO GET THOSE HANDLED AS WELL.
BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF LOSING TIRES ON THE ROADWAY JUST AS MUCH AS EVERYBODY ELSE.
IS THERE AN APPETITE TO LOOK AT THAT NUMBER?
>> DUMB QUESTION. ALERT HERE, SEVEN MILLION, I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD HERE.
>> WHAT NUMBER WERE YOU LOOKING AT?
>> EIGHT POINT SIX THREE IF MY HANDWRITING IS NOT MISTAKEN.
THAT WAS THE TOP FOR THE 20 YEAR WHICH IN TURN, IF WE DECIDED WE COULD MOVE IT TO 30-YEAR.
BEFORE EVERYBODY GASPED, I WOULD BET 90 PERCENT OF PEOPLE IN HERE HAVE 30-YEAR MORTGAGE ON THEIR HOMES.
I WOULD WANT TO SEE THE TERMS OBVIOUSLY FOR THOSE OPTIONS.
BUT THAT WOULD THEN INCREASE OUR DEBT CAPACITY WHILE TAKING LESSER OF OUR DEBT CAPACITY.
WE WILL BE TAKING OUR 20-YEAR DEBT CAPACITY.
BUT IF WE DID IT OVER 30-YEAR, THEN THAT WOULD DROP SUBSTANTIALLY.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT SEVEN MILLION VERSUS THE 8.6 WOULD GIVE US A BUFFER OF THAT 1.6 TO COVER FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES IN THE FUTURE IF THAT WAS TO HAPPEN? I'M JUST SPITBALLING THEM.
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
[02:25:01]
>> YOU WERE SAYING UP TO 8.6, RIGHT?
>> I'M JUST SAYING WHAT IF YOU REDUCED IT TO SEVEN AND YOU HAD THAT BUFFER OF 1.6 FOR ADDITIONAL FUTURE EXPENSES THAT COUNCILMAN LYNCH WAS TALKING ABOUT?
YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING THAT TO GO A MAJOR ORDEAL, THE RAINY DAY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT POINT AND IT HASN'T FALLEN ON ME.
>> NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT MY POINT WAS IS WE USE THE 20-YEAR DEBT CAPACITY, BUT DO IT OVER 30-YEAR PERIOD.
WE'RE NOT MY OTHER THOUGHT PROCESS AND THAT IS EMERGENCIES UNDER LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY THAT WAS CANCELED BEFORE US AS MUCH AS PEOPLE WANT TO PICK ON THEM.
I DO HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER WHO'S BEEN HERE FOREVER, AND MAYOR PEDAL WHO'S BEEN HERE FOREVER, THAT WE HAVE A VERY, VERY, VERY HEALTHY RESERVE.
I WAS THANKFUL TO BE IN AN INVESTMENT MEETING BEFORE THIS TO KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
IT IS A VERY HEALTHY RESERVE FOR ANYBODY WHO IS WONDERING THE CITY OF PARKER, COULD AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE ORIGINAL BOND AMOUNT IN CASH AND WE WOULD STILL HAVE MONEY TO RUN THE CITY FOR ANOTHER YEAR ON TOP OF THE REVENUES THAT COME IN EVERY YEAR.
WE ARE VERY HEALTHY IN THAT RESPECT.
I'M TRYING TO USE THE CYNICAL APPROACH THAT IF WE DID THAT, THE NEXT QUESTION IS GOING TO BE, WELL, WHAT COULD WE GET FREIGHT 0.63? [LAUGHTER]
>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS, SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE TO EITHER ERIC OR GRANT.
IF WE TOOK OUT TWO OF OUR DEBT CEILING, WHICH IS 8.63, [NOISE] AND BUT THEN WE FIND OUT THAT WE DON'T NEED THAT, WE DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE ALL OF THAT OUT.
I JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION ON THAT TOO.
>> [INAUDIBLE] IF WE CAN PULL THIS OFF, ABSOLUTELY WOULD WE BE ABLE TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THIS MONEY.
GIVE ME AN IDEA, I'M NOT KNOWING ON HOW TO DO WITH IT.
>> WELL, ARE WE DOING FULL ENGINEERED OR?
>> JUST A BALLPARK GIVEN DAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.
I'M TALKING FOR ME NOT FOR EVERYBODY, I'M NOT WILLING TO SPEND A TON OF MONEY ON A PROJECT ONE MORE YEAR.
>> COULD WE CALL ANOTHER CITY THAT HAS RECENTLY DONE A CITY HALL AND GET THE PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT AND JUST CALCULATE IT THAT WAY?
>> THE CITY OF RICHARDSON DECIDED, I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST NIGHT TO GO OUT FOR A NEW CITY HALL AT 46 MILLION.
>> I'M SAYING IT COULD BE 60 DAYS.
IT'S JUST PUSHING IT TO SEE WHAT KENT HAS ON HIS PLATE.
I KNOW HE ASKED ME A WHILE BACK BECAUSE HE WAS ALREADY PLANNING OUT FOR HIS YEAR.
IT'S JUST DEPENDENT ON ARCHITECTS AND EVERYTHING.
>> HE'S LOOKING SOMETHING UP FOR US.
>> [INAUDIBLE] PROBABLY NOT LOOKING THAT FAST
>> WELL, COULD I ASK THAT SAME QUESTION IN A DIFFERENT MANNER? IF WE DID SOMETHING TONIGHT AND THEN AFTER A WEEK WE GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, COULD WE HOLD A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING AND THEN DECIDE TO REVERSE WHAT WE DID?
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING.
>> THE BOND ORDINANCE HAS TO BE PASSED BY THE 17TH, WHICH WILL BE FRIDAY.
IT CAN BE AMENDED TONIGHT AS LONG AS IT'S DONE BY FRIDAY, BUT AFTER THE 17TH, THE DEADLINE IS PASSED.
>> [OVERLAPPING] HYPOTHETICALLY, I'VE MADE A MOTION TO AMEND IT TO EIGHT MILLION, SEVEN MILLION, WHATEVER, AND ALTERED THE LANGUAGE OF IT.
WE COULD THEN IN TURN CANCEL THAT ELECTION, IF WE GOT INFORMATION OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS THAT SAID, THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK AND CALL FOR A SPECIAL MEETING.
WE COULDN'T PULL IT OFF THE BALLOT.
NO. I UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WORKS, BUT I MEAN, IF WE HAD A SPECIAL MEETING BECAUSE IN THEORY, BY FRIDAY WE COULD CALL ONE FOR TUESDAY.
WE HAVE A MEETING ON TUESDAY, WE CAN AMEND THE AGENDA FOR TUESDAY OR CALL ANOTHER MEETING ON TUESDAY TO DECIDE TO PULL IT BACK OFF.
TO RESCIND THIS ORDINANCE THAT'S ADOPTED TONIGHT.
THEORETICALLY, YES, YOU COULD DO THAT.
[02:30:01]
I DON'T KNOW HOW QUICKLY YOUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR IS GOING TO DESIGN AND PRINT THE BALLOTS.THAT'S ENDING THAT THEY HAVE TO BE CONTACTED FOR.
I MEAN, IT WOULD BE AUTHORIZED.
I MEAN, ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT WOULD BE YOU'D BE AUTHORIZING AND IF YOU'VE GOT VOTED FOR, IT'D BE AUTHORIZED UP TO 8.63.
BUT THEN COUNCIL JUST DOESN'T ISSUE.
I MIGHT MAKE JUST A CLARIFICATION AFTER LISTENING.
THE ORDINANCE TONIGHT HAS A NUMBER IN IT.
IT'S JUST PURELY A PLACE HOLDER.
THE ACTION COUNCIL WOULD TAKE TONIGHT IS WE PUT X MILLION DOLLARS ON THE MAIN BALLOT.
THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL WOULD BE APPROVING THIS EVENING.
THEN SAY THE VOTERS APPROVE IT IN MAY, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL AT THAT TIME TO IMPROVE THE AMOUNT OF DEBT.
LET'S SAY 14 MILLION IS PUT ON THE BALLOT. VOTERS APPROVE IT.
COME AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, YOU GET BETTER COST ESTIMATES AND THE BUILDING WILL COST 10 MILLION.
AT THAT TIME, COUNCIL WOULD APPROVE 10 MILLION IN DEBT AND YOU ONLY PAY INTEREST ON THE 10 MILLION, AND THAT'S IT.
TONIGHT'S ACTION, I THINK COUNSELOR [INAUDIBLE] MENTIONED, IS A LETTER OF CREDIT OR NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT THAT THE VOTERS ARE GIVEN THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, AND YOU CAN ISSUE UP TO THAT AMOUNT IN THE FUTURE AND THAT WOULD TAKE SEPARATE COUNCIL ACTION.
BUT THE DEADLINE TO GET ON MY BELLY AND I THINK YOU'RE WELL AWARE IS THE 17TH AT MIDNIGHT.
I'LL TALK OUT LOUD BECAUSE I HAVE A MIC THAT HAS A PUSH BUTTON, SO I GET TO DO THIS.
MY CONCERNS, AND I'M ASKING THIS GENERALLY OF COUNSEL, IS WE DO ALREADY KNOW HOW THAT VOTE WOULD GO IF I CALL THIS WITH AN ORDINANCE AND ADDED THIS TO IT.
DO WE FEEL THAT WE COULD HAVE SOMETHING WORKING AND HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE REALLY GOING TO DO, BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT FOR IT JUST TO DIE? I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, BUT THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE CONSERVATIVE PERSONALITY IS THIS ISN'T MY DECISION TO MAKE.
AS A PERSON, IT IS OUR VOTER'S DECISION TO MAKE, THE WORST THING IS I PUT IT ON AT 8.63 AND THE VOTERS SAY, NO, TRY AGAIN.
WE SPENT SOME MONEY, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING MONEY ANYWAY, SO WE ALREADY HAVE AN ELECTION CALLED FOR THEM, SO I DON'T THINK THERE WOULD BE MUCH IN THAT WAY OR RESPECT OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING FROM BEFORE IS LESS BOND GETS ISSUED, NOBODY GETS PAID.
I MEAN, WELL, NONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTY TO THIS.
ALL OF YOUR BOND FINANCING COSTS DO NOT GET PAID UNLESS THE BOND PASSES AND THE CITY ACTUALLY SELLS BONDS.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME FIXED ELECTION COSTS [INAUDIBLE] THEN I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE ARCHITECTS OR ENGINEERS, BUT ALL YOUR FINANCING COST TIED TO THE BOND.
THAT'S THE ONES THAT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT, WAS THE FINANCING COSTS.
[INAUDIBLE] WE SHOULDN'T BE TAKING ANYTHING FROM THE GALLERY AT THIS TIME, BUT SINCE YOU'VE HAD YOUR HAND UP THERE FOR SO LONG.
[INAUDIBLE] PERSPECTIVE OF THE GROUP OF PEOPLE I'M TALKING TO, [INAUDIBLE] IS THAT THEY ALL SEEM PRETTY ISSUES THAT NEED TO GET ADDRESSED AND EVERYBODY AGREES AND GET ADDRESSED.
I READ YOU GUYS READ THROUGH A BUNCH OF WORK AND SAY, "HEY, PERIPHERAL ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS.
IF YOU DON'T ADDRESS, IF YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE THREE THINGS COMPREHENSIVELY [INAUDIBLE] SUPPOSE THAT I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO PUT IT DOWN BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE LONG PART.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR DEBT CAPACITY AND THE [INAUDIBLE] FACILITY WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE TO GET IN TOUCH.
I JUST WANTED YOU TO RESPECT [INAUDIBLE] I JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO WASTE TIME.
THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY AND IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA IS NOT EVERYTHING COMES OUT OF THE SAME PILE OF MONEY.
WE HAVE A WATER BUDGET, WHICH IS A PROPRIETARY FUND.
THERE'RE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT ON THAT.
[02:35:06]
IT MIGHT BE PART OF HOT TAX THE CITIZENS.BUT WE'RE ALSO FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN AVIDLY BETTER TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ROADS AND HAVEN'T BEEN ADDRESSED AT ALL.
I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH THAT, AND YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE THIS, BUT THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.
ROADS, DRAINAGE, WATER, I KNOW HOW TO DO THINGS WITH VENDORS AND ALL THIS OTHER STAFF.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DRIVE, HOW MUCH MONEY DO THEY GOT TO WORK WITH? WE GOT 8.7 MILLION AND WE HAVE 20 MILLION OUT NOW.
I DON'T HAVE MILLIONS, BUT WHATEVER.
HERE'S HOW MUCH MONEY YOU GET BACK, AND THIS IS GO MAKE DO WITH.
WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS I'M GOING TO MAKE UP A NUMBER, IT'S NOT MY OFFICE NUMBER, $20 MILLION.
SAY 7 MILLION FOR THE BUILD, 7 MILLION FOR THE WATER TOWER, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
WHATEVER CAPACITY THERE WAS, PEOPLE ARE JUST CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TO GO AROUND FOR THE HIGH PARTIES.
THAT'S IT. THERE'S NO VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW TO ALL OF US SITTING HERE.
THAT'S WHY MANY OF US SAID, IF YOU TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME AND WORK TOWARDS NOVEMBER, WE WANT TO GET THIS DONE THIS YEAR.
A NUMBER OF US WANT TO GET DONE THIS YEAR.
[INAUDIBLE] WE JUST DON'T SEE HOW IT COMES TOGETHER.
THANK YOU. NOW, IT'S COUNCIL AND NOTHING ELSE RIGHT NOW.
DOES COUNCIL WISH TO DO ANYTHING? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MOTION.
[LAUGHTER] I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE ORDINANCE 837 WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES AND I HAVE TO SCROLL DOWN. GIVE ME A SECOND.
>> OKAY. COUNCIL, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF WE GET OFF.
>> CITY OF PARKER, TEXAS SPECIAL ELECTION THE CITY COUNCIL WELL, SHOULD I READ THE WHOLE THING OR IT WE'RE JUST TELL YOU THE AMOUNT.
THERE'S A PARAGRAPH HERE THAT WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE AND SELL BONDS HAVE SAID CITY IN ONE OR MORE SERIES OR ISSUES IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPLE AMOUNT OF REPLACE 14 MILLION WITH 8.6 MILLION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING, AND EQUIPPING A NEW MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION FACILITY.
THIS PROPOSAL BE PUT ON THE MAIN BALLOT.
WHAT AM I MISSING? [LAUGHTER] 8.63 MILLION.
>> OKAY. I BELIEVE IT HAD BEEN LOOKED AT AT THE ORDINANCE AND FOUND OUT THE ORDINANCE HADN'T MISSED.
>> IT SHOULDN'T SAY ADMINISTRATION.
>> YEAH. IT SHOULD SAY MUNICIPAL COMPLEX BUT IT DID SAY ADMINISTRATION.
>> YEAH. ON THE REST OF THE LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT.
>> I WOULD CORRECT IT FOR THE RECORD, AND IT'S IN THE BOND LANGUAGE AND THEN IN THE BODY OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF.
WITH THE BOND LANGUAGE SHOULD BE AS THE ISSUANCE OF 8.63 MILLION OF BONDS BY THE CITY OF PARKER, TEXAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING, AND EQUIPPING A NEW MUNICIPAL FACILITY, RENOVATING AND EXISTING MUNICIPAL FACILITY AND CONSTRUCTING RELATED PARKING.
THESE END LEVY A TAX EFFICIENT TO MAKE THE PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPLE AND INTERESTS THERE ON.
[02:40:05]
>> OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BUS COUNCIL MEMBER MILE TO AMEND ARGUMENTS NUMBER 837 TO THE AMOUNT OF 8.63 MILLION AND TYPE THE WORD ADMINISTRATION OUT.
>> THE ORDINANCE FOR LANGUAGE. YEAH.
>> IS THERE A SECOND? GOING ONCE. GOING TWICE.
>> MADAM MAYOR, I VOTE TO SECOND.
>> OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER AND SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ABRAHAM.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>> MAY I ASK ONE QUESTION? OBVIOUSLY, THE MAY VALID IS THE ONE THAT IS COMING UP.
BUT ACTION TONIGHT, COULD WE TAKE ACTION TO ALTER THIS, TO GO ONTO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT OR WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE CALL THAT ELECTION TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT?
>> THERE'S A SPECIFIC TIME-FRAME YOU HAVE TO CALL WITHIN AN ELECTION TIME PERIOD.
I COULD PULL IT UP ON THE CALENDAR.
>> YOU HAVE A FIRST DAY OR THE LAST DAY THAT YOU CAN PUT STUFF ON FOR AN ELECTION?
>> I THINK THE FIRST DAY WAS JANUARY.
PATTY WHAT WAS THE FIRST DAY TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BOND OR FOR AN ELECTION?
>> I WOULD REALLY DISCOURAGE DOING THAT BECAUSE THE NOVEMBER ELECTION IS JUST THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND IT'S A LOW TURNOUT.
I THINK THE MAY ELECTION WILL BE A HIGH TURNOUT, PARTICULARLY WITH THIS ON THERE.
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? GO AHEAD, DIANNE.
>> A QUESTION. WHAT WOULD BE THE NEGATIVE IF WE DID WAIT TO DO THIS IN NOVEMBER?
>> TOP OF MY HEAD, POSSIBLY INTEREST RATE CHANGE, POSSIBLY CONSTRUCTION COST CHANGE.
>> MY CONCERNS AND YOU'VE MADE A VALID POINT.
ON AVERAGE, IT'S A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS A HOUSEHOLD.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE THAT WE'LL SPEND THREE TIMES THAT IF THEY CAN TO MARKET AND I DON'T LIKE SPENDING CITY FUNDS TO FIGHT THINGS.
SOMETIMES RECORDS, SOMETIMES THEY'RE INACCURATE.
THE SAME PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO SPEND THAT WE'LL SPEND IT TO DEFEAT SOMETHING.
I DON'T WANT TO SET US BACKWARDS ON THE SAME TOKEN BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SOMETHING HERE.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE THERE AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AND NOW WORK BACKWARDS ONCE WE GET THE FUNDS TO DO IT.
IN A PERFECT WORLD, THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE.
THAT'S HOW EVERY OTHER CITY, EVERY OTHER ISD, EVERY OTHER COUNTY, MOST EVEN BOND BASED COMPANIES OR HEALTHCARE FACILITIES THEY DO THE SAME THING.
THEY CALL FOR A BOND IN THEIR HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND THEN THEY DETERMINE WHAT THEY CAN GET FOR IT, GIVING A GENERALIZED IDEA OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
>> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THE FIRST DAY YOU CAN PUT SOMETHING ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2023.
>> OKAY. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>> I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD TONIGHT.
I THINK IT WAS VERY HELPFUL AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING BETTER.
HANDLE ON OUR ISSUE, I STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT OF NOT KNOWING OUR OVERALL DEBT LOAD THAT WE HAVE OR THE NEEDS, PUTTING ALL OF OUR PRIORITIES TOGETHER AS SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME HERE TONIGHT SPOKE ABOUT IS WE DON'T HAVE PRIORITIES LISTED OR WE HAVEN'T REALLY IDENTIFIED ALL OF THEM.
THEN TWO, THE FACT THAT IT'S A NUMBER AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT COULD BE DONE FOR THAT AMOUNT.
THAT'S GOING TO HOLD ME FROM BEING ABLE TO VOTE FOR THIS.
>> OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>> YEAH. I JUST WANT TO ALSO COME IN.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS GREAT DISCUSSION AND TRYING TO MOVE US FORWARD.
[02:45:03]
I REALLY DO AND I HAVE SOME CONCERNS STILL.BUT THE MAIN ONE BEING WHAT MAYOR PRO TEM SLAUGHTER TALKED ABOUT IS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS AND THEN YOU WIND UP BEING SHORT.
I THINK BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH TALKED ABOUT, THOSE ARE I THINK AT THE CRUX OF THAT.
BUT I REALLY JUST WANT TO COMMEND EVERYBODY.
THIS WAS GOOD CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATION.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE EVER GOT TO THIS POINT IN ANY OF THE OTHER MEETINGS THAT WE HAD.
I REALLY THINK WE'RE CLOSE ON THIS IF WE COULD POSSIBLY CONSIDER HOLDING TILL THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
I UNDERSTAND INTEREST RATES IS STILL AN UNKNOWN AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AN UNKNOWN.
BUT I THINK THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS RESONANCE WILL HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO START GET A BETTER FEEL FOR WHERE THEY STAND AND WHAT THEIR SITUATIONS ARE, AND THAT'S A CRITICAL FACTOR AS WELL.
>> THE COUNTERARGUMENT TO THIS WOULD BE WE'RE NOT APPROVING A BOND FOR 8.63 MILLION IF IT GOES ON THERE, WE'RE GIVING THE VOTERS THE RIGHT TO SAY HOW FAR OFF OUR WAY.
THAT WOULD BE ULTIMATELY STILL MY OPINION IS WE'VE KICK THIS AROUND ENOUGH THAT THEY VERY WELL MAY SAY NO, BUT THAT IS THE PREROGATIVE OF A VOTER.
I SEE THE IDEAS OF GIVING THEM THE VOICE TO SAY NO AGAIN, AND WE COULD DO ALL THIS WORK, COME TO THE PERFECT CONCLUSION.
ALL AGREE THAT IT'S 8.63 MILLION HAVE THE PROPOSAL, PUT IT OUT THERE, THE VOTERS COULD STILL SAY NO.
MAYBE IS THAT IF WE GET A LITTLE BIT OUR CAUCUS OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING, WE'VE GOTTEN SOMEWHAT OF A PRETTY GOOD REPRESENTATION HERE TONIGHT WHERE PEOPLE ARE.
I THINK THAT WOULD PROVIDE YOU THAT AND THEN YOU WOULD KNOW YOU HAVE A SLAM DUNK BECAUSE YOU'VE ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH AND YOU KNOW WHERE EVERYBODY IS.
>> WELL, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM JUST IN THAT WE TOLD THE VOTERS IN 2020, WE WOULD HAVE IT ON THE BALLOT, WE DID NOT.
WE THEN SAID WOULD BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
IT WAS NOT. WE THEN WE NEEDED MORE TIME.
HERE WE ARE. WHAT POINT DO YOU LET THE VOTERS HAVE THEIR SIDE? I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT IN TERMS OF YES, WE'VE HEARD GOOD INFORMATION TONIGHT.
I UNDERSTAND WE DON'T WANT TO GO OUT AND HAVE TROUBLE AGAIN.
BUT THEN WHEN I THINK WE TELL PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, WE OUGHT TO DO IT.
BUT IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I WILL CALL FOR YOUR VOTE.
IT'S GOING TO BE A VOICE VOTE FOR THE RECORD. MR. REED?
>> MOTION PASSES THREE TO TWO.
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D [LAUGHTER] LIVED THIS LIFE.
[APPLAUSE] [NOISE] BUT UNDERSTAND, THIS IS NOT THE FINAL.
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE AS WE'VE SAID.
I HOPE YOU ALL WILL COME BACK TO HELP US WITH THE REST OF THE WORK.
THIS IS BECAUSE THERE'S WORK WHETHER IT'S ON THIS, WHETHER IT'S ON STREETS, WHETHER IT'S ON WATER, THERE'S LOT OF THINGS.
>> PLEASE THERE'S ANOTHER ITEM.
[2. CONSIDERATION AND/OR ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NO. 838, CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THE ADOPTION OF A LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX FOR STREET MAINTENANCE AT A RATE OF ONE PERCENT (1%) TO PROVIDE REVENUE FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF MUNICIPAL STREETS; AUTHORIZING A JOINT ELECTION WITH COLLIN COUNTY; PROVIDING FOR POSTING AND PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF THE ELECTION; PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING; FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED WAS NOTICED AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.]
CONSIDERATION AND/OR ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NUMBER 838, CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 6TH, 2023, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THE ADOPTION OF A LOCAL SALES TAX AND USE TAX FOR STREET MAINTENANCE AT A RATE OF 1% TO PROVIDE REVENUE FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF MUNICIPAL STREETS.AUTHORIZING A JOINT ELECTION WITH THE COLLIN COUNTY, PROVIDING FOR POSTING AND PUBLICATION OF NOTICE
[02:50:03]
OF THE MEETING AT WHICH THE ORDINANCE IS PASSED, WAS NOTICED AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW, PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF THAT.THERE YOU WANT TO START OFF ON IT.
>> I DISCUSSED THIS LAST TIME.
>> WAIT, WE'RE STILL GOING ON HERE.
IT'S BASICALLY THE PROPOSED ITEM ON THE MAY BALLOT TO INCREASE THE CITY SALES TAX TO 2% VERSUS THE 1% IT IS AT NOW, WHICH WOULD MAKE US COMPARABLE TO TWO OTHER CITIES WITHIN COLLIN COUNTY AND WOULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF BRINGING IN UP TO AROUND $400,000 ANNUALLY.
THESE FUNDS WOULD BE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED OR ALLOCATED TO THE MAINTENANCE OF STREETS.
ANY DISCUSSION, ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THAT'S FOR ME TO ASK NOT YOU.
>> THERE WERE TWO QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED AT THE LAST MEETING ABOUT THE EFFECTIVE DATE AND THAT TYPE OF THING AND WHETHER OR NOT THE STATE WOULD BE SENDING OUT THE INFORMATION TO THE BUSINESSES THAT DO HAVE OFFICES HERE.
YES, THE STATE WILL IN FACT SEND THOSE NOTICES OUT ONCE THEY RECEIVE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION THEY'VE GOTTEN.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC PROCEDURE THAT I HAVE A FEELING.
OUR CITY SECRETARY, MS. GRAY KNOWS WELL.
AS LONG AS THEY GET THAT RECEIVED BY A SPECIFIC DATE, THEN IT COULD BE EFFECTIVE BY OCTOBER THE 1ST.
THEY WOULD CHANGE BY OCTOBER THE 1ST.
>> DOES THE CITY HAVE ANY SAYING THAT SUPPOSE WE DIDN'T WANT THEM TO START UNTIL JANUARY 1?
>> I BELIEVE THEY HAVE SET TIMELINES FOR THAT AT THE STATE AT THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
IF IT'S ON A MAY BALLOT THERE'S A CERTAIN DATE AND IF THERE'S A NOVEMBER BALLOT, I THINK IT'S A CERTAIN DATE. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I'M SORRY. I WAS LOOKING AT WHAT WAS THE QUESTION ABOUT WHEN IT WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE.
>> WELL, THERE'S A CERTAIN EFFECTIVE DATE THAT THE CONTROLLER HAS.
IF IT'S IN MAY, IT'S IN OCTOBER.
>> IT HAS BEEN RECEIVED WITH A CONTROLLER'S OFFICE BY THAT QUARTER.
IF IT GETS TO THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE BY THE END OF JUNE, IT WILL GO INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST.
THEY GET A FULL QUARTER AFTER THEY HAVE RECEIVED IT.
>> MY FIRST QUESTION PROBABLY I KNOW THE ANSWER.
BUT WHY IS YOUR THOUGHT TO PUT THIS, BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING THIS WAS YOUR AGENDA ITEM, COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT SINCE YOU WERE PRESENTING IT, YOU GET TO BE THE PERSON WHO GETS TO ANSWER.
WHY FOR STREET MAINTENANCE AND NOT JUST USE THE GENERAL FUND TO BE USED FOR STREET MAINTENANCE IF THAT'S WHERE IT GETS ALLOCATED?
>> WHILE I WROTE IT, COUNCIL MEMBER REED AND I JOINTLY PRESENTED.
THIS ITEM WAS DISCUSSED IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR OUR STREETS AND LOOKING FOR OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE TO HELP FUND THOSE NEEDED REPAIRS OF THE STREETS.
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE APPROXIMATELY 1%? IT WAS 200 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND ROUGHLY, GRANT?
>> FOUR HUNDRED AND SOMETHING SORRY.
>> FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHAT IS YOUR GENERAL THOUGHTS ON HOW THAT MONEY IS GOING TO IMPACT STREETS? OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T REPLACE A SINGLE ROAD FOR $400,000.
>> I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING, BUT WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS ON WHAT THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED FOR KNOWING THAT WE BUDGETED AS A COUNCIL? WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT?
>> WE WERE JUST THINKING THAT THAT WOULD PROVIDE A LITTLE ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE TO MAYBE EXTEND THE LONGEVITY OF SOME OF THE ROADS IT'S NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE ONES THAT ARE IN POOR CONDITION THAT HAVE TO HAVE A TOTAL RECONSTRUCTION BUT MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHER ONES WE WOULD HAVE SOME BANDWIDTH THERE THAT WE DON'T HAVE NOW.
>> MY NEXT QUESTION THEN TO GRANT, AND SO I'M GOING TO BRING THAT UP IN THEORY,
[02:55:03]
THE $400,000 A YEAR ROUGHLY THAT THIS WOULD BRING IN, WOULD THAT INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO TAKE OUT A BOND FOR THE ROADS AND USE THAT TO PAY IT?INDIRECTLY IT COULD, INDIRECTLY IF WE WERE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT THAT WE TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE STREET FUND RIGHT NOW WHICH WE CURRENTLY TRANSFER 500,000 THEN THAT WOULD FREE UP FUNDS THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR DEBT SERVICE FUNDS.
>> WE COULD, IN THEORY, ROUNDABOUT WAY INCREASE OUR DEBT CAPACITY BUT WE COULD IN THEORY HAVE THAT MONEY THEN AS A BUFFER TO TAKE OUT A BOND BY TAKING IT FROM GENERAL FUND AND JUST NOT PUTTING FROM GENERAL FUND TO STREETS TO HANDLE THAT.
OR IN THEORY, WE COULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE THIS $400,000 TO FIX IF WE HAD A POTHOLE OR IF WE HAD SOMETHING TO YOU STRAIGHT CASH TO MAKE THOSE REPAIRS.
>> YES, SIR. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S THE IDEA.
>> THE INACTIVE IS OVERALL THAT THE MONEYS THAT ARE ALLOCATED TO STREETS DON'T DECREASE. [LAUGHTER]
>> NO. WELL, AND IT WOULDN'T DECREASE.
IT WOULD BE PULLING FUNDING FROM ANOTHER SOURCE.
>> NO, I JUST SAID ONE AT A TIME.
I CAN'T HEAR BOTH OF YOU AT THE SAME TIME EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TWO EARS.
>> IN RESPECT, THIS WOULD BE YOUR IDEAS TO USE US FOR FUTURE PLANNING FOR THE ROADWAY ISSUES WHICH HOWEVER, WE UTILIZE THAT WHETHER WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE OUT DEBT FOR THE LARGE ITEMS OR UTILIZE THIS FOR SMALL REPAIRS.
>> WHAT IMPACT WOULD 1% HAVE ON OUR RESIDENTS? I KNOW IT'S A SALES TAX, BUT WHAT IMPACT DO YOU FORESEE ON THE PEOPLE SITTING OUT HERE ON THEIR DAILY LIVES OF THIS 1% SALES TAX?
>> WELL, AND THAT'S WHY WE DID GET INFORMATION FROM THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE THAT SHOWS THE ALLOCATION OF ALL OF THE REVENUES THAT WE'RE RECEIVING OBVIOUSLY NOT BY INDIVIDUAL COMPANY, BUT BY INDUSTRIES AND IT'S A VERY WIDE VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES THAT I GATHER A LOT IS BUSINESSES IN THE HOME.
THERE ARE SOME INTERNET ONLINE SALES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN HERE.
WHILE I WOULD SAY THERE'S NO WAY OF TELLING HOW MUCH AN INDIVIDUAL'S IMPACT IS GOING TO BE.
EVEN WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ONLINE SALES, I KNOW AMAZON, SOME OF THEM DON'T COME THROUGH US.
I'M SURE THERE WILL BE SOME, BUT I THINK IT'S MINIMAL AND I DON'T LIKE TAXES ANY WHICH WAY BUT I LOOK AT IT AS THESE BUSINESSES ARE DOING BUSINESS WITHIN THE CITY OF PARKER, AND SO THEY'RE USING OUR ROADS.
I THINK THAT'S A FAIR THING TO DO.
YOU ASK THAT QUESTION TOO, THOUGH, ABOUT WHY NOT THE GENERAL FUND AND WE HAD THE ITEM ON THE BALLOT THREE YEARS AGO, I THINK IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO, FOR THE GENERAL FUND, AND THAT DIDN'T PASS PLUS IT PROVIDES THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE IT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED FOR OUR STREETS THAT WE KNOW NEED THE FUNDS.
>> I DON'T HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THAT.
I FIGURE 100 BUCKS A YEAR FOR A RESIDENT IN THEIR PURCHASES IS NOT PAYING US IT'S PAYING IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE LOOKED AT SOME OF THE AVERAGE NUMBERS WHICH YOU CAN'T TELL EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS THOSE BUT I THINK IT WAS $125 FOR THE YEAR [OVERLAPPING] ON AVERAGE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WASN'T IT?
>> IN THE LAST THOUGH WE THOUGHT THAT $300 A YEAR WAS EXCESSIVE, SO $100 HERE I WOULD ASSUME WOULD BE EXCESSIVE ALSO.
>> I'M CRYING GOING THERE CINDY BUT I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE.
BUT GENERALLY, THAT MONEY WOULD BE PUT ASIDE FOR THE ROADWAYS WHICH DO IMPACT.
SORRY. I UNDERSTAND YOUR THOUGHT.
I'M ASSUMING OUR EVENT VENUES ARE ALSO A BIG PORTION OF THAT WHICH ARE NOT PARKER RESIDENTS.
I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT. IT'S GETTING LATE.
THE IDEA THOUGH IS THAT THIS MONEY WOULD GO INTO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES THAT WE WERE, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE SOUND LIKE IT'S A CONTINGENT FROM THE LAST ONE, BUT THAT WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT SO THIS WOULD BE A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION OF ADDRESSING THESE IN YOUR IDEA.
>> MY CONCERN IS THAT NOW THAT WE'VE AGREED TO PUT THE FACILITY PROPOSITION ON THE BALLOT THAT HAVING TWO THINGS ON THE BALLOT THAT COULD BE PERCEIVED AS A PROBLEM FOR PEOPLE.
I REALLY DO THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE SEPARATED BY NOT PUTTING IT ON THE SAME BALLOT.
[03:00:05]
>> I THINK ONE GENERATES REVENUE, THE OTHER DEGENERATES.
I THINK THE REVENUE WOULD BE GOING FOR SOMETHING THAT THE RESIDENTS REALLY, I THINK FEASIBLY WOULD SEE THAT THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE NEED THAT THEY HAVE.
WHEN WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER ABOUT THE ROADS, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THE LAST TIME IT WAS ON THE BALLOT.
>> WE'D BE ON PAR WITH ALL THE OTHER CITIES.
[OVERLAPPING] IF YOU GO TO ALAN AND YOU GO [LAUGHTER] BUY SOMETHING FROM THERE, IT'S NOT GOING BE ANY DIFFERENT AS FAR AS THE IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUAL.
>> I AGREE AND I AGREED LAST TIME TOO, BUT EVIDENTLY, THE RESIDENTS DIDN'T. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S THE BEAUTY, AS I SAID IN MY LAST STATEMENT THE RESIDENTS GET THE CHOICE AND THEY VOTE, YES, THEY VOTE NO, MY FEELINGS DON'T GET HURT.
OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM.
MY BY BIG POSITION, AS I SAID IT THE LAST TIME BECAUSE I HAVE MY NOTE THAT I MADE SURE THAT I SAID IT, IT'S NOT AN EITHER-OR TO ME.
IT'S ONE AGENDA ITEM TO THE NEXT IS THAT THEY'RE BOTH EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT AND NOT THE TAX, BUT THE ONE IT GOES TO.
THE TAX RATE EXTENDS TO THE ETJ OR DOES NOT EXTEND TO THE ETJ? IN BEING THAT IT DOES NOT THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMERCIAL, WE LOSE A LOT IN THOSE RESPECTS, WHICH I KNOW ONE OF OUR SURVEY QUESTIONS IS REGARDING WHAT THE CITY OF PARKER IS GOING TO DO, THIS WOULD HAVE IMPACT ON.
HOWEVER, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ABRAHAM, COUNCIL MEMBER REED.
CFO, SOMETIMES WE AGREE, SOMETIMES WE DON'T. COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH.
IN THE IDEA THAT THIS DOES GENERATE IN A REVENUE TO HELP PAY FOR THE OTHER ITEMS SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS BECAUSE WE DO NEED A FACILITY, WE ALSO NEED ROADS FIXED, DRAINAGE.
DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THAT. SOME OF THAT IS US, SOME OF THAT IS NOT US AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP YOU BECAUSE IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY BUT THAT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER CONVERSATION TO HAVE ANOTHER DAY.
I THINK THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, THIS IS NOT, THOUGH IT ALL OUT THERE LET'S SEE WHAT THE VOTERS ARE WILLING TO DO.
>> HAVE WE TALKED TO SOUTH PARK THAT HAS CONTRACTS THAT ARE OPEN TO I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG.
THEY WERE EITHER HAVE TO REDO THEIR CONTRACT OR IF THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TAXES.
I RESPECT THAT AS AN ENTITY THEY CHOOSE TO DO BUSINESS IN, AND I USE THAT TERM LIGHTLY IN THE CITY OF PARKER BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN A BUSINESS BUT THERE ARE EVENTS THAT HOLD 300 PEOPLE.
IT'S COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH HAD OUR 300 CARS THAT RUN DOWN A ROADWAY.
THEIR STAGES ARE DELIVERED ON 18-WHEELERS AS A RUNDOWN ON ROADWAY.
IN THAT RESPECT, I UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE RESIDENTS WILL GO FOR IT.
I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE WRITING THIS, ALL OF US WOULD HAVE AN UPHILL EDUCATING.
AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS GOING INTO THIS ONE.
WE WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT AS WE GO INTO THE ELECTIONS PROCESS.
>> MY POINT HERE IS I WOULD RATHER US WORK WITH THOSE ENTITIES THAT HAVE CONTRACTS AND GET THEM ON BOARD WITH US RATHER THAN HAVE THEM COME OUT AND BE AGAINST IT AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE MIGHT BE, I DON'T KNOW.
WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TOWARDS EDUCATING OUR RESIDENTS ON THIS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THEM ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SITUATION AND HOW MANY AREN'T.
I THINK WE WOULD NEED TO DO A ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM TO ADVISE THE RESIDENTS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AND I'M GOING TO POINT FOR THE RECORD THAT AS I SAID BEFORE, AND IT HAS NO KNOCK BECAUSE WE DID GO FOREVER.
I THINK IT'S NINE O'CLOCK NOW.
BEFORE THE RECORD, ALMOST OUR ENTIRE ROOM IS CLEARED OUT AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE START DEALING WITH THIS IS THEY WANT TO COME FOR ONE AND NOT NECESSARILY HEAR THE ENTIRETY OF IT ALL.
BUT I THINK THAT SOUTH FORKS OPINION WOULD MATTER, BUT IT IS NOT SOMEBODY WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS THE SAME WAY WE ALL DO IN RESPECT TO WHAT SEGMENTS OF LEWIS LINE CAN BE FIXED.
I KNOW WE FIXED IT MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT WHAT SEGMENTS WE CAN FIX IN DUBLIN, WE FIXED IT AND REPAIRED IT BUT STILL NEEDS WORK.
IT'S THE RESIDENTS THAT GET THAT AND THEY WILL BENEFIT FROM THOSE ROADWAYS AS WELL.
ONE ENTITY OFF OF DUBLIN ROAD WILL DEFINITELY BENEFIT FOR THEIR EVENTS WHEN THEY CHARGE OUT OF IT SO I UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERN.
I'M ALL ABOUT GIVING IT A SHOT AND STANDING BEHIND MY IT'S NOT EITHER OR, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS BOTH ISSUES AND THIS IS A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
>> YEAH. LIKE I SAID I JUST WAS HOPING MAYBE WE COULD GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD,
[03:05:03]
SO TO SPEAK, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T PASS THE LAST TIME.>> YOU'RE RIGHT. I THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE GOING BACK TO THE FIRST ONE.
THIS WILL BE OUR JOB TO EDUCATE AND CONTINUE TO PULL INFORMATION UP UNTIL THE DAY OF VOTING TO IF WE CAN WORK SOMETHING BEAUTIFULLY OUT BEFORE THEN, THEN MAYBE WE GET A BUY-IN AND MAYBE WE DON'T, AND YOU NEVER CAN TELL WHAT VOTERS COME OUT FOR.
>> IS THERE A PLAN TO EDUCATE THE VOTERS ON THIS?
>> AS FAR AS EDUCATING THE VOTERS, I WOULD SAY THE INFORMATION THAT'S IN THE AGENDA OUTLINES PRETTY WELL THE REASONINGS BEHIND IT AND THINGS, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT ANYWHERE.
IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO JUST SEND THEM TO ME.
I'D BE HAPPY TO GO HAVE MEETINGS WITH PEOPLE IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SALES TAX.
>> THERE'S A NEWSLETTER THAT WILL BE OUT BEFORE THE ELECTION, SO IT COULD BE IN THERE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BE VERY CAREFUL HOW YOU WORDS THINGS, WE CAN'T SAY VOTE YES OR VOTE NO, WE JUST [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> LANGUAGE MATTERS, JUST EDUCATIONAL.
>> TO PUT A CLARIFICATION, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE AGENDA ITEM EXCEPT FOR THE ORDINANCE AND JUST THE DESCRIPTOR.
>> THE PACKET DIDN'T [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE'S NOTHING IN THE ACTUAL [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT COMES FROM MEMBER [INAUDIBLE], YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE FACTS STILL MISSING.
>> NOT FACTS. IT WAS MORE OF THE EDUCATION AND THE IDEAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW PEOPLE WHAT THIS IMPACT IS GOING TO HAVE ON THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD, ME AND MY HOUSEHOLD OR ANY OF THESE RESIDENTS AND THERE'S.
WE GOT $400,000, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SPEND IT ON? WHICH ROAD ARE WE GOING TO DO FIRST? THAT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHILE YOU'RE TAKING MY $400,000, IT'S JUST GOING TO SIT THERE AND WE FIGHT THE SAME BATTLE AS THE FACILITIES FUND IN A LESSER AMOUNT OF WHAT'S IT GOING TO GO TO? THAT'S GOING TO BE THE EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE TO SHOW PEOPLE.
WE GOING TO HAVE A PLAN TO SPEND THE MONEY.
I'M GOING TO SUMMARIZE THAT A LITTLE BETTER, A PLAN TO SPEND THE MONEY.
>> GOOD POINT. THAT'S WHERE I WILL TALK TO MR. MACHADO AND MR. OLSON A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE MAINTENANCE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS WE'RE WANTING A MORE ROBUST MAINTENANCE, AND WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE COST OF SOME OF THESE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS WORKING WITH THE ILA'S, IN LOCAL AGREEMENT AND WHAT IT TAKES TO GET CONTRACTS FOR THEM TO GO OUT AND DO PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
MAYBE WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT END [OVERLAPPING]
>> GARY AND LUKE AND I. I'LL ASK THEM [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS A COUNCIL FUNCTION, ALL OF COUNCIL SHOULD BE DOING THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THIS.
>> I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM MADAM MAYOR.
>> I HAVE HEARD FROM ALMOST ALL Y'ALL ABOUT THAT.
>> I THINK THIS WOULD BE A COUNCIL DECISION TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT.
BUT I THINK THAT HAVING SOMEBODY WHO'S WILLING TO SPEARHEAD SOME OF THAT AS FAR AS PULLING THE INFORMATION IS APPRECIATED.
WE CAN ALL MAKE POSITIONS, BUT I DO AGREE I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THE HOLE SPENDING A BUNCH OF CITY MONEY.
I DON'T WANT TO STEAL IT. THEY SAID IT EARLIER BECAUSE I READ IT AND ONE OF THEM, WHAT WAS IT CALLED?
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE A NEW TAGLINE FOR EVERYTHING.
ANALYSIS PARALYSIS, I DON'T WANT TO RUN INTO THAT ON THE ROADS WHICH WE HAVE DONE UP UNTIL NOW AS WE TALK ABOUT THEM AND AS THOSE POTHOLES GET BIGGER, I THINK SOME OF THEM HAVE NOW FINALLY GOT DOWN THE DIRT SO WE DON'T NEED TO REPLACE THEM, WE JUST HAVE DIRT ROADS NOW.
I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT DECISION MOVING FORWARD IN THE WORKSHOP.
>> WE DO. ALL THE COUNCIL HAS INDICATED THEY WISH TO BE INVOLVED AND MOST OF IT IS COUNCIL DECISIONS.
THAT'S MY POINT, IS IT'S DIFFICULT TO HAVE A WORKSHOP IF I HAVE NOBODY'S.
AT THE FIRST MEETING, JUST TO BE REALLY TACKY, THAT THE LAST MEETING I ASKED EVERYBODY TO LET PATTY KNOW YOUR AVAILABILITY FOR OUR WORKSHOP, ONE PERSON DID.
>> TWO OF US ROUTES, HE PROBABLY SHOULD JUST SENT THAT EMAIL SO HE KNEW.
[LAUGHTER] I MISSED IT WHEN I WAS WATCHING THE MEETING OR WHATEVER YOU ASKED THAT.
HERE NOR THERE I AGREE WITH YOU THE WORKSHOP IS IMPORTANT.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THIS.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE A COUNCIL DECISION ON ANY ROAD PROJECTS.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN ROADS THAT WE TRAVEL SO WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THEM INTIMATELY THAN OTHERS.
[03:10:05]
>> GERRY AND JIM HAVE A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION, BUT ALL COUNCIL WANTS TO BE INVOLVED AND IT IS A COUNCIL DECISION.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS HAVE AS I'VE WARN PEOPLE IT'LL PROBABLY BE A VERY LONG WORKSHOP BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ROADS, STREETS, WATER LINES, DRAINAGE, EASEMENTS.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG DEAL, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME OUT WITH A GOOD PLAN THAT ALL OF COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT.
>> ONE CLARIFICATION ON THAT BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT IT UP, BUT THAT WAS MY OTHER QUESTION EARLIER.
THIS WOULD GO TOWARDS STREET MAINTENANCE, BUT ANY AMOUNT THAT WOULD BE DUE FOR WATERLINE RELOCATION, DRAINAGE, THAT WOULD STILL HAVE TO COME FROM THE WATER FUND SEPARATELY FROM THIS, CORRECT, SINCE THIS IS STILL THE STREET FUND?
>> CORRECT. NOW IF THERE'S LIKE SUB-BASE ISSUES AND THE WATER LINES CAUSING THAT SUB-BASE ISSUES, THERE'S CERTAIN WAYS YOU CAN FINAGLE IT A LITTLE BIT.
>> THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A FINANCE DIRECTOR, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO TELL US HOW TO DO THAT.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEBODY WHO SAYS WHY WOULD IT GO IN STREETS AND ROADS AND NOT TO REDUCING PROPERTY TAXES? BECAUSE THAT'S THE BIG THING THAT I THINK WILL COME UP.
>> I KNOW THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, USING IT FOR PROPERTY TAXES LAST TIME.
EVERYTHING I'VE READ WITH RESPECT TO ADMINISTRATION, IN GENERAL, THE THOUGHT OF USING THAT TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES IS LIKE A GIMMICK.
[LAUGHTER] YOU TAKE IT OUT OF ONE HAND AND PUT IT IN ANOTHER.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BE REDUCING OUR PROPERTY TAXES.
>> CAN I GET THAT ON TYPE REALLY LOUD? [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M SAYING PROPERTY TAXES, I DIDN'T SAY RATE.
>> IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM THE WAY IT WAS?
>> WE CAN'T AFFORD TO REDUCE OUR PROPERTY TAXES AND WE WOULD DO THAT BY REDUCING THE RATE.
I GET WHERE BOTH OF YOU ARE COMING FROM.
HOWEVER, AND I'M GOING TO HIJACK HER AGENDA ITEM, IN THEORY, ANYTHING THAT WE OFFSET FUNDING SOMEWHERE ELSE WHICH THEY'RE STILL PAYING IT, IT REDUCES THE TAX LIABILITIES IN MY MIND, BECAUSE IF I DIDN'T GET THIS $400,000 FROM THIS, I'M GOING TO GET IT BY INCREASING YOUR TAX RATE.
IN THEORY, YES, THERE IS A REDUCTION HAPPENING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO INCREASE THE SAME WAY, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO INCREASE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS FUNDING.
WHEN SOMEONE ASKS THAT, WHAT IS THE RESPONSE? JOHN GAVE ME THE RESPONSE.
>> I'M SURE THE BAD GUY OF THE NIGHT BECAUSE OF MY LAST ONE AND I HEARD THE LAWS, BUT I THINK THAT I AM COMFORTABLE MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 838, CALLING FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 6TH FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THE ADOPTION OF A LOCAL SALES TAX AND USE FOR STREET MAINTENANCE AT A RATE OF 1% TO PROVIDE REVENUE FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS OF MUNICIPAL STREETS, AUTHORIZING A JOINT ELECTION WITH COLLIN COUNTY, PROVIDING FOR POSTING YOUR PUBLICATIONS OF NOTICE OF THE ELECTION, PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING AND EVERYTHING ELSE UNDER AGENDA ITEM 2.
>> [LAUGHTER] IS THERE A SECOND?
>> I WOULD SECOND THAT MOTION.
>> I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO JIM AND TERRY WHO WROTE THIS.
I WAS JUST HIJACKING IT SO WE CAN MOVE ON.
>> [LAUGHTER] WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 838.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THEN I'LL CALL FOR YOUR VOTE.
LET'S TRY AND THINK, DOES THIS NEED TO BE A RECORDED DEAL BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH MONEY? I DON'T THINK SO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING ORDINANCE NUMBER 838, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
THIS WILL GO ON THE MAIN BALLOT FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE ON.
FOR A MEETING THAT ONLY HAD TWO THINGS [LAUGHTER] ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE OUTDONE OURSELVES, AND AT THIS TIME WE ARE ADJOURNED.
IT IS 9:16.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.