Sep 21, 2021 City Council Work Session

[2. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

[00:00:06]

AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 AT 6 PM AND WE ARE AT CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 551.071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THIS MEETING MAY BE CONVENED INTO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ON ANY AGENDA ITEM HEREIN. THE CITY OF ROWLETT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RECONVENE, RECESS OR REALIGN THE REGULAR SESSION OR CALLED EXECUTIVE SESSION OR ORDER OF BUSINESS AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT.

TO PROVIDE COMMENT FOR THE MEETING (IF YOU ARE NOT ATTENDING IN PERSON), PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO CITIZENINPUT@ROWLETT.COM BY 3:30 P.M. THE DAY OF THE MEETING. PLEASE SPECIFICALLY STATE WHETHER YOUR COMMENT IS REGARDING A SPECIFIC CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM. THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IT IS 6:19 AN CONCLUDED OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION

[3A. Discuss amending the Fiscal Year 2021 Adopted Budget. (15 minutes)]

TONIGHT. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. I AM ROBERT COHEN THE CITY BUDGET OFFICER AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE SECOND MINUTE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET. THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 OF BUDGET FOR THE FIRST TIME FOLLOWING THE FIRST AMENDMENT CITY STAFF COMPLETED A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES AND IS RECOMMENDING ADJUSTMENTS CONSISTING WITH THAT ANALYSIS TO AMEND THE BUDGET FOR SECOND TIME HE THE AMENDED IN THIS REPORT REFLECT CHANGES TO THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION TO THE FINANCIAL POSITION FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRST BUDGET AMENDMENT. THESE CHANGES WERE REVIEWED PREVIOUSLY BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. FIRST CHANGES TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND GENERAL FUND. NUMBER 1, PROJECT NUMBER 1, STATE ROAD 66 STATE HWY. 66 AND DALROCK IMPROVEMENT THE BUDGET IS INCREASING TO $587,044. SAVINGS IN THE AMOUNT OF TUNA JUNE 2, 2000 507 SEVEN FROM THE DELL ROCK RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT ARE BEING USED FOR THE ADVANCED FUNDING OF TEXAS DOT AND THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND TRAN 24 ROAD. THE SECOND CHANGE TO THE PROGRAM IS ANIMAL SHELTER RENOVATION PROJECT.

THE BUDGET IS INCREASING FROM ONE OR 47,000 DONATIONS TO THE ANIMAL ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO COVER THE COST OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER RENOVATION PROJECT PER THE CONTRACT RENOVATIONS AND USE OF DONATIONS WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL ON AUGUST 17.

FOLLOWING THIS TRANSFER THERE WILL BE $24,000 REMAINING IN THE ANIMAL SHELTER DONATIONS. THE AMPPROPOSED BUDGET ACTION PROGRAM WILL IMPROVE THE BUDGET BY $7795 TO 35 MILLION AND WILL HAVE NO IMPACT TO FUND BALANCE TO THE TRANSFER OF ANIMAL SHELTER DONATIONS TO THE CIP WILL DECREASE GENERAL FUND BALANCE BY $7095 TO $11 MILLION. THE SECOND BUDGET AMENDMENT IS TO THE REFUGE FUND AND THE REFUGE FUND SUPPORTS EXPENSES RELATED TO THE FCC SOLID WASTE CONTRACT LANDFILL PASSES AND HAZARDOUS ROAD PROGRAM. THESE ARE BUDGETS ON ACCOUNT OF CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS IN EACH CATEGORY DUMPSTER SIZE AND NUMBER OF WEEK COLLECTIONS. THE ESTIMATED OF TRIPS THAT THE RESIDENTS TAKE TO THE GARLAND LANDFILL AND THE BULK AMOUNT TAKEN IN BY THE DALLAS COUNTY HAZARDOUS-WASTE PROGRAM. AS THE FISCAL YEAR PROGRESSED THE CUSTOMER MIXED CHANGED AND IT CAUSED BOTH REVENUES TO COME IN HIGHER THAN BUDGETED. THIS HAS LED TO AN INCREASE WITH OUR CONTRACT TO DALLAS COUNTY $60,000 ORIGINALLY BUDGETED TO $80,000. THE STAFF IS READY TO RECOGNIZE AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF REVENUES AND REPORT THEM TO THE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SERVICES AND THE RESIDENTIAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS BUDGET. THIS AMENDMENT WILL HAVE NO IMPACT

[00:05:03]

SEVERAL LARGE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN PAID FROM THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FUND AND STOP LOSS REIMBURSEMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE CITY'S REINSURANCE PROVIDER FROM COST BIT THE STAFF POSES TO RECOGNIZE AN ADDITIONAL $513,000 THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE INSURANCE PROVIDER AND INCREASE EXPENDITURES BY AN EXPANDING AMOUNT TO COVER THE INCREASE CLAIMS EXPENSE FOR THESE ACTIONS WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE FUND BALANCE AND EMPLOYEE AND IF IT FUND. NEXT UP IS THE GOLF FUND PAID THE FUND HAS EXPERIENCED UNBUDGETED EXPENDITURES FROM ATLAS ENERGY THROUGH THE WATERVIEW GOLF COURSE THAT OF REQUIRED APPRAISAL SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $2400 AND INCREASED SERVICES PROVIDED FROM THE CONSULTANT IN THE EXHIBIT F COMPLIANCE PAID STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE GOLF FUND PAID BY ATLAS ENERGY IN THE EASEMENT OF THE AMOUNT OF 29,600 CINCI SIX DOLLARS AND INCREASE SIX MINIATURES BY 12,900 COVER THE COST OF THE EASEMENT APPRAISAL AND ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED BY THE CONSULTANT. THE PROPOSED GOLF AMEND THIS WILL INCREASE THE BALANCE BY $16,766. FINALLY TONIGHT FOR YOU WE HAVE THE DEBT SERVICE FUND AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUND HAS EXCEEDED ITS BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES FOR LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AS A RESULT OF ANTICIPATED ATTORNEY FEES TO COLLECT THE LINK WHEN PROPERTY TAXES. ATTORNEY FEES ARE ONLY CHARGED TO THE FUND ONCE THE DELINQUENT COPY TAXES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED AND AS A RESULT THESE INCREASED EXPENDITURES ARE OFFSET BY THE DEVIOUS DELINQUENT PROPERTY REVENUE. STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT IT INCREASES EXTENDERS BY THE AMOUNT OF $12,000 TO INCREASE THE FUND BALANCE BY 779 THOUSAND DOLLARS. 707 NINE DOLLARS. IT IS SPECKED TO GROW FROM $1,000,983-$1,825,779 GRADE WITH THAT THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION ON THE SECOND BUDGET AMENDMENT FISCAL YEAR 2021.

>> MAYOR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. CULLEN. COUNSEL ANY QUESTIONS FOR ROBERT? ANOTHER BUDGET YEAR IN THE BOOKS. AND THIS IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT. TERRY COULD. THANK

[3B. Discuss the City Council’s Priorities for FY2022 and FY2023. (30 minutes)]

DISCUSS THE CITY COUNCIL?S PRIORITIES FOR FY2022 AND FY2023. ARE YOU TAKING THAT BRIAN?

>> SPEAKER: IM, THANK YOU, MAYOR. ARE YOU OKAY WITH ME DISCUSSING G IT HERE OR WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF YOU? OKAY. COUNSEL, YOU WILL REMEMBER BACK IN JUNE WE WENT THROUGH AN EXERCISE TO IDENTIFY ITEMS THAT THE COUNCIL WANTED TO PRIORITIZE OR FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO WORK ON FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. WE THEN FOLLOWED UP WITH THE CONVERSATION WITH COUNSEL AUGUST 17 AND AGAIN ON AUGUST 19. SINCE THAT INITIAL CONVERSATION WE HAVE DEVELOPED A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT EACH PROJECT AND ABOUT WHAT THE FISCAL OPERATIONS IMPACT WOULD BE. ONE THING I WILL POINT OUT IS THAT IN OUR LAST MEETING WHICH WAS AUGUST 19 AT WAS THE NIGHT WE HAD THAT SPECIAL MEETING ON THE BUDGET DGET AND THERE WERE A LOT OF COMMENTS MADE BY THE QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT THE CLARIFICATION OF TIMING OF PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. ULTIMATELY WHAT WAS AND YOU WILL SEE ON THIS CHART RIGHT HERE IS THAT THERE WASN'T AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHICH OF THESE PROJECTS WERE ALREADY BEING FOCUSED ON BY STAFF AND WHICH ONES ALREADY HAD RESOURCES BEHIND THEM IN A WAY THAT WE COULD WORK WITH IT. AND WHAT THE STAFF DID WAS WENT BACK AND DEVELOPED ESSENTIALLY SAYING IT IS A DESCRIPTOR BUT WE ADDED SEVERAL COLUMNS FOR THAT DO NOT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND THOSE WOULD BE BASICALLY STAFF WORK TO DO.

ITEMS THAT WERE OUR RESOURCES THAT ARE FUNDED OR MOSTLY FUNDED, ITEMS THAT MAY OR WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND THEN SOME ARE LOCAL FUNDING SOURCES WHETHER IT IS GRANTS, BONDS, FUNDING, TAXES OR WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

[00:10:01]

DOWN. >> MAYOR: COUNSEL? I WILL START US OFF. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. SO, THE TWO THINGS THAT CAUGHT MY EYE, THREE THINGS, FOR THINGS, SORRY, I NEVER SHOULD SPECIFY. COMPLETE HER FIRST PARK. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LARGE FOCUS ON THAT. WE WERE SO CLOSE AND IT JUST GOT OUT OF OUR GRASP AND I AM HOPING THAT WE CAN PUT IT BACK IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. CERTAINLY I HAVE A GREAT DESIRE FOR THE CITY TO HAVE A DIVERSITY MANAGER AND A DIVERSITY PLAN FOR THE CITY STAFF. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS IN WHITES BUT THE PLAN AND IMPLEMENT THE NEW FACILITY PLAN I'M NOT SURE WHY WE ARE SAYING WE ARE NOT ALREADY FOCUSING ON THAT

BECAUSE WE ARE. >> SPEAKER: WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS TO IMPLEMENT THE FACILITY PLAN THAT'S GOING TO TAKE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. TO DEVELOP A PLAN.

>> MAYOR: IS SAYS TO PLAN AND DEVELOP THE NEW PLAN.

>> SPEAKER: TO DEVELOP THE PLAN AND BUILD CONSENSUS BEHIND WHICH ONES MIGHT GO FIRST AND WHICH ELECTIONS THEY MIGHT AND WE CAN DO WITHOUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

>> MAYOR: THUS WE SHOULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW.

>> SPEAKER: TO IMPLEMENT THAT IS BEYOND OUR ABILITY AT THIS

POINT. >> MAYOR: ONE THAT WAS NOT ON THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT BELONGS ON HERE IS A PLAN OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WERE GOING TO SOLVE THE ALLEY ISSUE OR COME UP WITH SOME ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE SOME HEADWAY INTO THE ALLEY ISSUE. THOSE WOULD BE MY OVERALL COMMENTS ON THIS LIST.

>> SPEAKER: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR: NEXT? COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT BLAKE MARGOLIS?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I THINK THE THING THAT WAS ENCOURAGING YOU BREAK IT OUT THIS WAY IS TO SEE THAT THERE IS SO MUCH WORK THAT IS GOING ON. THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF THAT IS GOING ON AND STUFF THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY AND IMPORTANT TO US AND

[00:15:02]

>> MAYOR: I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK THAT IS A GOOD PROJECT TO PUT ON THIS LIST FOR A 1 TO 2 YEAR PLAN.

COUNCILMEMBER MARTHA BROWN? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I AGREE FOR THE GOLF COURSE BEING AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST. I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN THAT WE ARE READY TO IMPLEMENT AND I ALSO AGREE WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT HER FOURTH PARK. I THINK THAT WOULD BE NUMBER 2 ON MY LIST AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE FOUNDATION ISSUE AT THE COAL HOUSE TAKING CARE OF WHETHER THAT IS WITH THE FUNDING WE ALREADYHAVE IN PLACE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD COVER IT ALL THAT I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE THAT DONE BEFORE WE GO FURTHER WITH THE

IMPROVEMENTS. >> MAYOR: ARE WE HEADING IN THE

RIGHT DIRECTION FOR YOU? >> SPEAKER: ABSOLUTELY MAYOR I WAS GOING TO SAY I AM GIDDY RIGHT NOW.

>> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER MARGOLIS, MAKE HIM MORE GIDDY!

>> COUNCILMEMBER: OKAY, I THINK THE MERIT ROAD INTERCONNECT INCORPORATED FUNDING OPTIONS, I AM CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IS SAYS THERE ARE ALREADY COMMITMENTS OF 17 MILLION OR THAT'S THE FIRST I HAVE HEARD OF THAT. I AM WONDERING ABOUT THAT. THE MERIT ROAD INTERCONNECT OR. IS THERE ANYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE COMMITMENT FOR 17 MILLION?

>> SPEAKER: NUMBER ONLY AS YOU KNOW ALREADY WE HAVE RECEIVED ALMOST $2 MILLION FROM DALLAS COUNTY AND THAT IS ALREADY COMMITTED IN WRITING AND THERE WAS ANOTHER 14 MILLION FROM THE COG THAT WE HAVE TO GET ETCHED IN STONE SO TO SPEAK. THAT IS A HUGE START OFF RIGHT THERE BETWEEN THOSE TWO PROJECTS

ALONE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: IT IS IT'S A BIG DEAL. THAT FOR SURE IS A GOOD PRIORITY. MILLER ROAD BRIDGE FUNDING OPTIONS I KNOW THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THERE WITH IT NOT BEING ON THE 2040 MOBILITY PLAN BUT I WOULD STILL LIKE TO SEE SOME ATTEMPT AT MAYBE SOME MORE DISCUSSIONS? I'M NOT SURE WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN THERE BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S CONTINUOUS UPDATES THAT CAN BE GIVEN ON THIS BECAUSE WE PRETTY MUCH BEEN TOLD THAT WE NEED TO WAIT UNTIL

30 IS DONE. >> MAYOR: MAY I INTERJECT? ONE THING THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THAT AS WELL AS THE INTERCONNECT, MICHAEL MOORE HAS OFFERED BRIAN AND I TO HAVE QUARTERLY MEETINGS AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED YET. I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT AND SO THAT WE KEEP GETTING IT IN THE EAR AND YOU MAKE SOME PROGRESS OR AT LEAST YOU GET IT SLAPPED DOWN, ONE OR THE OTHER. I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT AND I THINK THAT GOES A LONG WAYS. WE ARE NOT ON RTC, WE HAVE TRIED. LORD, I HAVE TRIED. I THINK THAT GOES A LONG WAY TO GET US IN FRONT OF THAT AND IN KEEPING THE PRESSURE ON.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I AGREE WITH THAT. CERTAINLY WITH YOUR MEETINGS IT DOESN'T HURT TO SAY HEY, WE HAVE A BIG PROJECT WE NEED DONE AND MAYBE YOU SHOULD DRIVE IT SOMETIME. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A WAY THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET MONTHLY

UPDATES ON THAT SPECIFICALLY. >> MAYOR: WE WOULDN'T BUT IF WE MAKE IT A FORMAL POINT OF DISCUSSION EVERY QUARTER.[LAUGHTER] > RIGHT. AT LEAST IT IS ON THEIR.

>> MAYOR: WITH MICHAEL, I THINK PWE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME

HEADWAY. >> COUNCILMEMBER: RIGHT. THE NEXT ONE IS TO CONTINUE THE FURTHER INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY. THERE WAS ONE OPTION WE SHOULD LOOK AT AND I KNOW I MENTIONED IT TO YOU BEFORE BRIAN BUT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY ON THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COPS

[00:20:05]

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THAT WOULD BE GREAT! WITH THAT I TAKE THAT BACK.[LAUGHTER] THE NEXT IS THE LAST ONE FOR ME BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE OTHER PEOPLE TIME. IT IS THE ASPHALT ROAD IMPROVEMENT REPLACEMENT PLAN. WE HAVE SO LITTLE DOLLARS, THREE AND A $30,000 PER YEAR FOR ALL OF THE ASPHALT ROADS WE HAVE SO YOU CAN START TO SEE HOW THAT IS NOT WORKING OUT WELL BECAUSE MOST OF OUR ASPHALT ROADS ARE IN REALLY POOR SHAPE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE CREATIVE IN HOW WE GO AFTER THOSE PROJECTS OR IF WE SIMPLY NEED TO ADD A LOT MORE DOLLARS TO THAT IN THE FUTURE. I DON'T KNOW WHY I AM LOOKING AT YOU. I SHOULD BE LOOKING AT HIM. SO, THOSE ARE

MIND FOR NOW. >> COUNCILMEMBER: [INDISCERNABLE] HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD STRETCH OUR ASPHALT DOLLAR ALLOCATION WHERE WE COULD DO SOME STUFF IN HOUSE RATHER THAN USING CONTRACTORS TO DO IT.

>> SPEAKER: YES. WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET TONIGHT IS A NEW VEHICLE OR TRUCK INTO MORE EMPLOYEES FOR STAFFING FOR THAT GOAL TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY FOR FIXING POTHOLES AND WHAT WERE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT JUST THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONAL ISSUES OF FIXING POTHOLES BUT REPLACING ASPHALT, STREETS AND

LIKE THAT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: THANK YOU FOR

THE CLARIFICATION. >> MAYOR: YOU ARE JUST GETTING A LIST AGAIN, BRIAN. I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED.

>> SPEAKER: KEEP IT GOING! >> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER BROWNIE SHERRILL? > COUNCILMEMBER: ONE OF MY HOT BUTTONS IS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE INCREASE OF CAPACITY AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER. I AM A DOG GUY AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU COULD ADD TO THE BACK OF THE BUILDING BUT I AM NO ENGINEER. THE OTHER TWO THINGS AND I KNOW I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE AND I WILL AGAIN IS WITH THE MERIT ROAD INTERCONNECT ARE AND MERIT ROAD RIDGE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PROVIDING SOME HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE AT OUR REPRESENTATIVES TELLING HIM WE NEED IT HERE FOR THOSE TWO PROJECTS. WE NEED SOME MONEY ON THIS STUFF. I THINK WE SHOULD GET OUR TWO CENTS, SO TO SPEAK, AND ON THAT. THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER PAMELA

BELL? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I WOULD SAY INVEST IT IN NUMBER 26 INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN THE CITY WATER AND SEWER. WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE AND BROWNIE ALREADY ANNOUNCED MY PET PEEVE FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER AND NUMBER 12, I PUT NUMBER 12 DOWN FOR SOME THING. YEAH. NUMBER 12, WE GOT THAT ONE COVERED BECAUSE IT IS IN GREEN AND THAT'S OKAY. THAT WAS BASICALLY MY TWO. THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: MAYOR, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU ADD NUMBER 31 IS ESTABLISHED IN INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT THAT WAS AN INITIATIVE BY COUNSEL WE PUT THE BUDGET AND THEREFORE IT AND THAT WILL ACTUALLY THROUGH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OR COUNSEL OR WHATEVER WILL BE SOME WORK THAT YOU CAN DO ON THAT. I THINK WE SHOULD ADD THAT TO OUR LIST, TO. OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK

[00:25:02]

DO TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: I TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT SOMEONE WILL TUNE INTO LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. THERE WAS A PUBLIC COMMENT LAST NIGHT ABOUT INVESTING IN IT SECURITY. THAT IT TOOK A LOW PRIORITY ON THIS LIST. IT TOOK A LOW PRIORITY ON THIS LIST BECAUSE WE FOCUSED ON IT FOR MANY YEARS AND INVESTED HEAVILY IN IT AND PUT THE RESOURCES IN IT THAT WE NEEDED TO. THIS LIST WAS DEVELOPED BY STAFF AND COUNSEL I GUESS BY COUNSEL THROWING IDEAS UP ON THE WALL. AND THEN WE HAD TO GO THROUGH AND UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER AND THAT THEM BETTER AND THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF IT. IT MADE THE LIST BUT DOESN'T HAVE A HIGH PRIORITY BECAUSE WE THINK WE'VE PDONE WHAT WE THINK WE NEED TO DO. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS LIST THAT WE WILL CLASSIFY

ON THIS? >> SPEAKER: MAYOR, WE ARE ACTUALLY WORKING ON A GRANT TO ALSO HELP IMPROVE OUR CYBERSECURITY. SO, GUYS, I'M TELLING YOU I AM REALLY HAPPY WITH HOW OUR GRANT DEPARTMENT IS COMING ALONG IN THE THINGS THAT ARE GETTING ATTENTION THAT ALWAYS DROP THROUGH THE CRACKS AND WE ARE FOCUSING ON THAT AND IT IS MAKING PEOPLE JUMP THROUGH HOOPS. IF YOU'RE GOING AFTER A GRANT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND IF YOU DON'T YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT. I REALLY BELIEVE THIS IS PAYING DIVIDENDS FOR US.

>> MAYOR: A GRANT FOR CYBERSECURITY WOULD BE GOOD HOOPS FOR US TO JUMP THROUGH TO MAKE SURE WERE NOT MISSING ANYTHING ELSE. IS THAT IT? ANYONE ELSE? SO, BRIAN, YOU

[3C. Discuss implementing a COVID-19 vaccine incentive for City employees. (20 minutes)]

DISCUSS IMPLEMENTING A COVID-19 VACCINE INCENTIVE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. ICU ARE HERE RICHARD BUT IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT ITEM? WE WILL START WITH THAT.

SISTER JOEL MEDINA IF YOU WOULD COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS YOU WILL HAVE THREE-MINUTE.

>> PUBLIC SPEAKER: MY NAME IS JOEL MEDINA.I'M GOING TO READ SOME THINGS THAT I FOUND ON COVID-19. WE DO LIKE TO DO OUR RESEARCH AND WE LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE BRING ATTENTION TO SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT PEOPLE OFTEN DON'T LIKE TO RESEARCH. DAY-TO-DAY LIFE AND WE GET BUSY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THESE THINGS. AS THEY VOTED 16-2 AGAINST THE APPROVAL OF THE BOOSTERS SCIENTISTS SAY THE COVID-19 VACCINE KILLS TWO PEOPLE FOR EVERY ONE PERSON THEY SAV. PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH. THE FOOD AND DRUG MINISTRATION VACCINE ADVISORY GROUP MET LIVE ON THE 17TH TO DEBATE THE VOTE ON A PFIZER AND BIONTECH PROPOSAL TO DELIVER BOOSTER DOSES TO THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE CONVERSATION LASTED MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS AND REVEALED SURPRISING INFORMATION. DURING THE DISCUSSION DOCTOR JOSEPH RAYMOND AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN FROM NEW ORLEANS BOOK FOR MANY MINUTES AND REVEALED THERE'S NO CLINICAL EVIDENCE TO REFUTE ASSERTION THAT THE COVID-19 VACCINE HURTS MORE PEOPLE THAN THEY SAVE. WITHOUT THIS DATA, WE, THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT WILL UNABLE BE ABLE TO CALL OUT ANTI-COVID VACCINE CAMPAIGNERS WHO CLAIM THAT THE VACCINE CAUSES MORE HARM THAN GOOD PARTICULARLY AMONG THE YOUNG AND HEALTHY.

IT SHOULD WORRY US THAT WE DO NOT HAVE CLINICAL DATA TO INDICATE THESE CAMPAIGNERS ARE WRONG. FOLLOWING DOCTOR JOSEPH RAYMOND THE DIRECTOR OF THE COVID-19 EARLY TREATMENT FUND DISCLOSED THAT THE COVID-19 VACCINE KILLS MORE PEOPLE THAN IT SAVES. TODAY I AM GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON MY REMARKS OF THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM THE FACT THAT THE VACCINE KILLS MORE THAN THEY SAVE EVEN THE VACCINE PROVIDES 100 PERCENT PROTECTION WE ARE STILL KILLING TWO INDIVIDUALS TO SAVE ONE LIFE. FOR EXPERTS USE COMPLETELY SEPARATE NON-US DATA SOURCES TO CONDUCT THE ANALYSIS AND THEY ALL COME UP WITH ROUGHLY THE SAME NUMBERS OF VACCINE DEATHS. THESE ARE DOUBLE VACCINE RELATED PEOPLE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. 411 DEATHS PER 1 MILLION DOSES. THAT MEANS OUT OF ALL THE DOSES

[00:30:02]

>> MAYOR: OKAY, RICHARD I THINK YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION AND I WILL MAKE A STATEMENT WE HAVE OF MYSELF AS MAYOR AND HOW THE CITY WOULD RESPOND TO THAT. WE BELIEVE THAT IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT WAS JUST PROVIDED AND THIS CITY IS VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF PROMOTING VACCINATIONS. RICHARD, IF YOU

WOULD PLEASE PRESENT? >> SPEAKER: I HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION TO TALK ABOUT VACCINATIONS. A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION. THIS STARTED AS A DISCUSSION ABOUT WELLNESS. IN SORT OF GREW INTO HOW CAN WE DO MORE TO INCENTIVIZE OUR EMPLOYEES? SO, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN THOUSANDS OF CASES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND WE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC NOW FOR WHAT, 18, 19 MONTHS? A VERY LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SUBSIDING VERY MUCH IT SEEMS TO BE CONTINUING. ACCORDING TO THE CDC UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUALS ARE 4.5 MORE LIKELY TO GET INFECTED. 10, OVER 10 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED AND 11 MORE TIMES LIKE A TO DIE FROM GETTING COVID AS VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS. WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE WHO STARTED WITH THIS AND IT MOVED ONTO WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH DISRUPTION IN THE WORKFORCE AND PERHAPS THE BEST OPTION WOULD ULTIMATELY BE SOME OTHER INCENTIVE LIKE A LUMP-SUM PAYMENT. WE ARE GOING TO PROPOSE A POLICY TO HOPEFULLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND WILL ENSURE THAT THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS, AS THIS IS AND VISITORS. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SPENDING FOR ABSENT WORKERS AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND COST EMPLOYERS MORE THAN $50 BILLION ACCORDING TO THE ANALYSIS BY INTEGRATED BENEFITS INSTITUTE. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 117 PERCENT FROM THE LAST YEAR'S INITIAL ESTIMATE OF THE DESTRUCTION. IN THEIR FINDINGS CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS AND NEW YORK HAVE IDENTIFIED AS STATES WITH THE HIGHEST COST FROM LOST TIME WORK. AS THIS BEGAN WE HAVE REACHED OUT AND FOUND JUST THE CITY OF DESOTO WAS OUR COMPARISON CITY WHICH DOES LEAD BUT RIGHT AFTER THAT DALLAS OFFERED A LUCRATIVE LEAVE POLICY WHERE IF YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED BY SEPTEMBER 1 YOU GOT A WEEK OFF AND IF YOU ARE VACCINATED BY OCTOBER 1 YOU GOT 24 HOURS IF YOU ARE VACCINATED BY NOVEMBER 1 YOU GOT EIGHT.

THAT IS WHERE MY CONVERSATION STARTED ABOUT THIS. YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE DIFFERENT PRIVATE EMPLOYERS HAVE DONE. AMERICAN AIRLINES, MCDONALD'S, TARGET GAVE TIME, TYSON FOOD, WALMART, KROGER GAVE BASICALLY A CASH PAYMENT. WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN IMPACTED BY LOST PRODUCTIVITY FROM OUR EMPLOYEES. OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME 200 EMPLOYEES MISSED SOME OR A PART OF OR TO 10 DAYS. THAT IS A LOT. CLEARLY WE WERE DISRUPTED BECAUSE WE WERE AT HOME AND IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. WE ALSO MISSED WORK BECAUSE OF FEDERAL AND STATE GUIDELINES IN MAKING SURE PEOPLE QUARANTINED AND STAYED SOCIAL DISTANCE AND SO FORTH. WE FEEL OFFERING A CASH INCENTIVE USING THE FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR US TO INCENTIVIZE OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE VACCINATED OR WILL BE VACCINATED GOING FORWARD TO GET THAT NUMBER UP TO A 70 PERCENT OR 80 PERCENT LEVEL. THIS IS THE VACCINE INCENTIVE COST ESTIMATE DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHO WOULD ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE. WE HAVE CALCULATED THAT THE COST OF THE

[00:35:02]

AT LEAST ANOTHER 60 OR 80 BE DISRUPTED BECAUSE A FAMILY MEMBER HAD COVID AND THEY HAD TO STAY HOME BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT IT IN THE WORKPLACE TO SPREAD IT TO OTHER PEOPLE. THE CITY HAS 219 THOUSAND $135 IN OUR PREFERRED FUNDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNALLOCATED. WE WOULD LIKE TO USE THAT TO INCENTIVIZE STAFF TO GET VACCINATED OR INCENTIVIZE THOS WHO HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY . TONIGHT WHEN I'M HOPEFUL OF IS TO GET A CONSENSUS THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM AND AMOUNT THAT WE COULD

INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE FOR. >> MAYOR: IS THAT YOUR

PRESENTATION? >> SPEAKER: THAT IS IT AND I WILL REMAIN HERE FOR QUESTIONS.

>> MAYOR: I'VE NOT SEEN ANYONE PUSH THE BUTTON SO I'LL START MY QUESTION. CAN YOU REMIND US WHAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY DOING ON SOME OF THE FRINGE AREAS LIKE DO WE GIVE PEOPLE TIME OFF TO GET A VACCINE? IF THEY HAVE TO ISOLATE, HOW ARE THEY USING, WHAT PART OF TIME OFF HOURS ARE THEY USING? CAN YOU HELP US WITH SOME OF THOSE FRENCH AREAS?

>> SPEAKER: WE HAVEN'T REALLY ESTABLISHED A POLICY THAT SAYS YOU GET TIME TO GO GET VACCINATED. HOWEVER, WHEN PEOPLE HAVE ANY DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS THEY CAN USE SICK LEAVE TO DO THAT AND I SUSPECT MANY PEOPLE WHILE THEY WERE DECIDING TO DO THIS THEY WENT TO THE PHARMACY AND GOT IT AND WENT TO THE HEALTH CLINIC TO GET IT. WE HAVEN'T CREATED A FORMAL POLICY I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS BEEN RESTRICTED TO GO GET IT. I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT ONE SINGLE TIME.

EVERYBODY WAS REQUIRED WITH LESS THAN 500 EMPLOYEES TO GET PEOPLE 80 HOURS OF SICK LEAVE TO DEAL WITH BEING DISRUPTED BECAUSE OF COVID. WE HAVE DONE THAT FOR EVERYBODY EVEN AT THE POINT IN TIME WHERE IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE EXTENDED. SOME PEOPLE STILL HAVE IT. I HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE MISSED TWO A MONTH. AS A FAMILY MEMBER GETS IT AND ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER GETS IT IN AND THEY HAVE TO STAY HOME. WE ARE STILL BEING FLEXIBLE WITH PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET TIME TO BE OFF AS MUCH AS NECESSARY AND NOT BE SICK. IT COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN THEM LEAVING BILLY HAVING A SICKLY.

[00:40:01]

WORKED THROUGH THIS. >> MAYOR: OKAY. AND THEN, THERE WAS MENTION IN THE PACKET ABOUT ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE FOR CERTAIN REASONS, HEALTH REASONS OR RELIGIOUS REASONS OR WHAT. WE WOULD HANDLE THOSE DECISIONS ON A SEPARATE BASIS,

HOW? >> SPEAKER: UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT THERE'S A PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOW WHEN SOMEONE NEEDS A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION AND WE WOULD FOLLOW THAT EXACT PROCESS. IF YOU SHOWED UP AND SAID YOU HAD A HEALTH CONDITION AND YOU NEED TO DECIDE IF THAT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION WORKED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE WORKPLACE. EACH ONE OF THOSE WOULD BE WORKED THROUGH USING THAT PROCESS THAT

ALREADY EXISTS UNDER ADA. >> THE HR WOULD BE THE

DECISION-MAKER? >> THAT IS CORRECT. WE WOULD UTILIZE THAT PROCESS WORKING THROUGH OUR RESOURCES MAKING SURE WE WERE FAIR AND DIDN'T ARBITRARILY DISCRIMINATE AND

THAT IS ANYONE UNDER THE ADA. >> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT

BLAKE MARGOLIS? >> COUNCILMEMBER: HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BECOME VACCINATED DUE TO HEALTH CONDITIONS OR THEY HAVE A DOCTOR'S NOTE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CONDITION THAT WILL ALLOW

THEM? >> SPEAKER: THAT IS PART OF THE PROCESS. I WILL USE AN EXAMPLE FROM THE PAST. SOMEONE COMES FORWARD AND SAID I NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME A FEW DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THEN, YOU WORK TOWARDS A RESOLUTION WHETHER OR NOT THAT REALLY FALLS WITHIN THE ADA AS A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION THAT SITUATION.

JUST BECAUSE YOUR DOCTOR SAYS IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT IS A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION BECAUSE DOCTORS WILL WRITE YOU NOTES BASED ON WHAT YOU ASKED THEM. IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE YOU STOPPED AS THE PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE FOR IT. WE NEED THE SPECIFICS OF THIS PERSON HAS TAKEN SHOTS BEFORE AND HAS ANNA FLACK 'S WHEN THEY DO IT OR SEIZURE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE WILL BE ACCOMMODATING TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY BUT YOU CAN'T JUST GET A NOTE SAYING OR DOCTOR SAYS HE DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE THE SHOT SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE THE SHOT THERE HAS TO

BE SOME SUBSTANCE BEHIND IT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: THE REASON I ASK IS I HAD A FAMILY MEMBER WHO GOT THE FIRST SHOT IN A REALLY BAD REACTION TO IT AND THE DOCTOR TOLD THEM NOT TO GET THE SECOND ONE BECAUSE CERTAIN PEOPLE VERY RARELY HAVE ANY

KIND OF BAD REACTION TO IT. >> SPEAKER: EVERY NOW AND THEN A SHOT PROVIDES SOME PEOPLE WITH A REACTION AND THEY SHOULD

NOT TAKE THE SHOT. >> MAYOR: THIS IS NOT A MANDATE. IT WOULD BE EASY TO INTERPRET IT DIFFERENTLY BASED ON MY COMMENT IN YOUR COMMENTS. I WANTED TO SAY IT OUT LOUD COULD THIS IS AN INCENTIVE AND NOT A MANDATE.

>> SPEAKER: AND IF YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD A AND YOU DON'T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DISCLOSE THAT YOU DID

IT. >> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER BROWNIE SHERRILL? > COUNCILMEMBER: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ONE OTHER POINT FOR ANYONE WHO IS LISTENING IS A CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS BENEFIT. WE DO NOT HAVE THIS BENEFIT. SO EVERYONE KNOWS, THIS IS NOT FOR US.

>> MAYOR: THE INCENTIVE IS NOT FOR US. THE VACCINE WAS FOR

US. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I AM WAY PAST

THAT! [LAUGHTER] >> MAYOR: ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

COUNCILMEMBER MATT GRUBISICH? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. I APPRECIATE OUR CITIZEN WHO CAME UP TO SPOKE WHILE THE OTHER CONVERSATION WAS GOING AND I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS IN THE QUICK LITTLE RESEARCH THAT I FOUND ARTICLES FROM THE MAYO CLINIC JOHN HOPKINS MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM AND NUMEROUS ARTICLES IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE WHO I TRUST A LOT MORE THAN OUR SENATOR BOB HALL IN TERMS OF TALKING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VACCINE. ON A PERSONAL NOTE I'VE KNOWN WAY TOO MANY PERSONAL FRIENDS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO COUNT THAT HAVE DIED FROM THE VACCINE OR DIED FROM COVID-19 BUT NOT ONE PERSON DO I KNOW THAT HAS DIED FROM THE VACCINE. ON THE CONTRARY. I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL AND CONTRACTED COVID-19 AFTER BEING VACCINATED THAT LESSENED THEIR SYMPTOMS AND KEPT THEM OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. FOR ME IF WE WANT TO GET BACK TO NORMAL NEED TO HAVE A GOOD ROBUST ECONOMY AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO BACK TO BUSINESS AS MUCH AS NORMAL THAN ANYTHING WE CAN DO THAT

[00:45:01]

FAVOR THIS PLAN. >> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT

BLAKE MARGOLIS? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I AM ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE INCENTIVE PEERED I THINK TUNA 50 IS REASONABLE.

>> MAYOR: THEY ARE PROPOSING 500.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: OKAY. WE WILL COME BACK TO THAT. I AM A BELIEVER THINK WE ARE ALL A BELIEVER. PEOPLE SHOULD BE MAKING DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND I AM ALSO FOR AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT WOULD BENEFIT THOSE WHO WOULD BECOME FULLY VACCINATED AND THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO BE FULLY VACCINATED AS A

RESULT OF THIS PROGRAM. >> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER PAMELA

BELL? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I AM DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF IT. I HAVE A LOT OF SIBLINGS AND NONE OF THEM WOULD TAKE A SHOT THEY WOULDN'T DO IT EVEN THOUGH THEY SAW ME TAKE IT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ILL AT ALL. I'VE TAKEN ALL THREE AND I WAS NOT SICK. NOW AFTER ALL OF THEM BEING SICK IN THE HOSPITAL THEY ARE TAKING IT. SO, AS FAR AS SENATOR BOB HALL, I DON'T THINK HE HAS AN MD BEHIND HIS NAME AND I DO BELIEVE THAT OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, I TOOK IT AND I'M PROUD I DID AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN. I WISH OTHER PEOPLE WOULD DO THE SAME THING. THANK YOU. AND, IT IS THEIR DECISION. THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT. FINE. JUST LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK, FINE. IT IS YOUR

PREROGATIVE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER MARTHA

BROWN? >> COUNCILMEMBER: YES, I AM ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE INCENTIVE AND I FULLY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE. I MYSELF HAVE SEEN THE BENEFIT OF THE VACCINE AND HOW IT HAS LESSENED SOME SYMPTOMS FOR SOME PEOPLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD FRIENDS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY WHO WERE NOT VACCINATED AND I BELIEVE THEY COULD HAVE BENEFITED AND POSSIBLY SURVIVED HAD THEY BEEN VACCINATED.

THERE ARE RISKS WITH EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINATIONS AND FLU SHOTS AND ALL THOSE THINGS PEERED WE KNOW THAT PEERED THOSE ARE INDIVIDUAL CHOICES. BUT, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS INCENTIVE AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS TIME TO DISCUSS THE LEVEL BUT I WOULD SUPPORT IT AT THE 250 LEVEL AS WELL.

>> MAYOR: HAS EVERYONE TALK? I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM PEERED VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND THE VACCINE. I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE $500 LEVEL.

I THINK IT PROVIDES A SUFFICIENT INCENTIVE TO MAYBE CAUSE AN ACTION AND I'M NOT SURE IF 250 DOES. I FEEL LIKE THE 250 LEVEL WE WILL BE PAYING OUT 250 FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED AND WE MAY NOT GET ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET NEW VACCINATIONS. IF YOU LIKE WITH THE $500 LEVEL WE ARE MORE LIKELY TO EFFECTUATE THAT DESIRED OUTCOME. I AM IN SUPPORT OF IT 100 PERCENT PEERED I AM IN SUPPORT OF $500 100 PERCENT. I'M SORRY I PUSHED THE WRONG BUTTON. SO, COUNCILMEMBER BROWNIE SHERRILL?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I AM FOR THIS, TOO. I AM IN FAVOR OF IT

AT THE $500 LEVEL. >> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER MARTHA

BROWN? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE ARPA FUND AND OBVIOUSLY AT THE $500 LEVEL IT WOULD EAT AT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE FUNDS IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO PRESERVE THAT FUNDING FOR?

>> SPEAKER: THAT'S PROBABLY A QUESTION I CANNOT ANSWER.

>> SPEAKER: ONE THING YOU MIGHT WANT TO REMEMBER IN ADDITION TO THE TUNA 19,000 THAT WAS NOT ALLOCATED WE ALSO SET ASIDE 1.2 MILLION OF IT JUST IN CASE THERE WAS SOME COST OVERRUN FROM THE UTILITY PROJECT THAT WE WANTED TO DO OR ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT LIST. THERE IS A LARGE SEGMENT THAT WE SET ASIDE

[00:50:07]

>> MAYOR: OKAY, THANK YOU. DID YOU SAY YOU WERE IN SUPPORT OF 500 OR DO YOU NOT WANT TO DECIDE THAT RIGHT NOW? SORRY, I COULD NOT HEAR YOU. [LAUGHTER]

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I LEAN TOWARDS THE 250 BUT I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT INCENTIVIZING THOSE WHO MIGHT BE ON THE FENCE. SO, I WOULD CONSIDER THE 500 AS LONG AS WE ARE NOT JEOPARDIZING THAT FUND.

>> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT BLAKE MARGOLIS?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WITH THE EXULTATION FROM THE CITY MANAGER I FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE 500 AND ALSO TO CLARIFY FOR THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUND NOT THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND. I

WOULD BE FOR THE 500. >> MAYOR: 500? 500? 500? YOU HAVE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM AND FOR THE 500, I THINK, I HAVE A QUESTION. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE DETAILS WITH THE MICROPHONE THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE. I ASSUME THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PICK A DAY? VACCINATED BY >X DATE WE DON'T WANT EMPLOYEES COMING BACK AND ASKING FOR A

VACCINE INCENTIVE VISITATION. >> SPEAKER: WE WOULD ASK FOR ONE VACCINATION BY NOVEMBER 30. AFTER THAT THE INCENTIVE WOULD

GO AWAY. >> MAYOR: ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT AND TELL SEPTEMBER 1 TO PAYOUT ANYTHING?

>> SPEAKER: THE PLAN WAS TO BEGIN TO COLLECT THE INFORMATION NEXT WEEK AND THE FIRST DISTRIBUTION FOR THOSE WHO ARE INCENTIVIZED WHO ARE STILL ACTIVE EMPLOYEES WOULD BE THE SECOND PAYROLL CHECK FROM NOVEMBER.

>> MAYOR: I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU WHEN YOU HAND THIS OUT TO BE

VERY SPECIFIC. >> SPEAKER: WE WILL. WE ARE GOING TO WORK THROUGH THE SECOND DISTRIBUTION OR THE SECOND PAYOUT WOULD BE ON THE SECOND PAYROLL IN DECEMBER. WE WOULDN'T BURDEN PAYROLL WITH A CONTINUOUS FLOW PEERED WE HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC TIMING. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RECEIPT RIGHT TO GET AND INCENTIVIZE BY. WE WILL BE VERY CLEAR ON WHO IS

ELIGIBLE. >> MAYOR: I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WAS VAGUE IN THE PACKET BUT THE WHOLE ISSUE OF ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THOSE WHO WON'T GET THE SHOT ARE THEY ELIGIBLE TO GET THE INCENTIVE AND IF SO WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO TO GET THAT? YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT BUT I ASSUME IT'S A TRICKY PART

OF THIS. >> SPEAKER: YES. YES AND NUMBER THE ADA, YOU CAN FOLLOW THAT EASILY YES BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO WILL COME FORWARD AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO ASK AN ACCOMMODATION FOUR. UNTIL YOU GET THERE IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE IN YOU CAN'T MAKE A PREJUDGMENT ABOUT IT. USE NEED TO FOLLOW THE 8A PROCESS UNTIL YOU GET A RESOLUTION.

>> MAYOR: OKAY. I DON'T THINK THE LAWYER IS FREAKING OUT.

>> SPEAKER: DAVE AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT IT.

>> MAYOR: I AM SURE YOU HAVE. ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD BRIAN?

>> SPEAKER: MAYOR AND COUNCIL THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. ALL OF US HAVE HAD FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE PAST FROM THIS AND I CAN REMEMBER ONE THAT PASSED AWAY BEFORE THE VACCINE WAS EVEN AVAILABLE AND IT JUST KILLS ME TO SEE THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY SINCE. I KNOW AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLEX REASONS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ADAMANT TO REFUSE THIS. WE ARE NOT FORCING THEM BUT WE ARE TRYING TO SAY THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE FENCE ABOUT IT. IF THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO INCENTIVIZE THEM TO GET OFF THE FENCE THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS AND MORE

[00:55:02]

>> MAYOR: NOT EVEN MENTION THE HEALTHCARE COST WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE HOSPITAL AND WE ARE SELF-INSURED. WE ARE GOING TO SEE THIS OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO OF INCREASED COSTS BECAUSE OF THE SELF-INSURANCE BELOW STOPGAP BECAUSE IT IS FOLLOWING

IN THAT HIGHER THAN - >> SPEAKER: THERE IS AT LEAST

ONE STOPLOSS CLAIM IN THAT. >> MAYOR: A LOT ARE UNDER THE

STOP GAP WHICH - >> SPEAKER: ALL OF IT.

>> MAYOR: WE HAVE EXHAUSTED THE CONVERSATION THANK YOU RICHARD.

COUNSEL, GO AHEAD AND LOOK AT THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS ALREADY. SO, ITEM 7Q WILL BE PULLED FOR A FUTURE MEETING. I HAVE ASKED FOR THAT. SEVEN M I HAVE ASKED TO BE PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. AND I WILL ASK FOR OTHER QUESTIONS OR ITEMS. COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT BLAKE MARGOLIS?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: YES, I THINK IT IS MORE, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE PULLED ITEM 7R. THE MAIN STREET BUILDING LEA.

>> MAYOR: YOU WANT PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: YES I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

>> MAYOR: OKAY. WE ARE GOING TO PULL 7R SO. ANYTHING ELSE COUNSEL? ? IT IS A MEATY CONSENT AGENDA. ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS IT FOR OUR WORK SESSION ITEMS. IT IS

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.