[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:41]
FOR THE MEETING. 3:30 P.M. THE DAY OF THE MEETING, PLEASE SPECIFICALLY STATE WHETHER YOUR COMMENT IS REGARDING A SPECIFIC MEETING AGENDA ITEM OR A GENERAL COMMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, YOUR COMMENT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD DURING THE MEETING AND IT MUST BE WITHIN A THREE MINUTE TIMELINE. FOR COMMENT,
[2. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
INSTRUCTIONS ARE INSIDE THE DOOR OF THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.AND THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.
I'LL READ THAT INTO THE RECORD AND WE'LL SECURE THE ROOM.
>> ITEM 2 A, CITY COUNCIL SHALL CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE TEISHIN PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551 HADN'T 07 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY, AND 551 HADN'T 087, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY AND TO DISCUSS
COMMERCIAL OR FINANCI >> WE'RE BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. AND NOW WE'LL START OUR WORK SESSION. WE DON'T HAVE CITIZEN INPUT FOR OUR WORK SESSION,
>> I'LL READ THE TWO ITEMS INTO THE RECORD, 3 A, DISCUSSING THE
[3A. Discuss amending the Fiscal Year 2022 Adopted Budget. (30 minutes)]
FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET AND. 3 B, PROVIDE GRANT PROGRAM UPDATE AND DISCUSS ALLOCATING MATCHING FUNDING.>> (INDISCERNIBLE). (INAUDIBLE)
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MR. BERRY. TAKE IT AWAY, SIR.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, I'M ROBERT CONE AND I'M THE CITY'S BUDGET OFFICER AND I'M TO PROTOES THE AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 ADOPTED BUDGET. THE ITEMS HAVE BEEN BEFORE COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY BUT THIS PRESENTATION PROVIDES THE OFFICIAL SUMMARY AND APPROVAL OF ACTION. THE FIRST ITEM IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROMISE. THE ADOPTED FISCAL YEAR 2022 CIP PROMISE TOTALLED $20 MILLION IN ALL BOND AND CASH PROJECTS. THE WET ZONE CAPITAL PROJECT IS INCREASING BY $15,786,000. OPERATE THE WEB ZONE WATER PARK AT NO COST TO THE GENERAL FUND. ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 2022, COUNCIL RECEIVED A FISCAL YEAR 2021 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHICH CONFIRMED STAFF ANALYSIS THAT THE WET ZONE REVENUES EXCEEDED THE WET ZONE EXPENSES BY $15,087,000. THAT BECAME PART OF THE GENERAL FUND'S BALANCE. THIS AMENDMENT WILL WITH DRAW THAT FROM THE FUND AS BALANCE AND ALLOCATE IT WITHIN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROMISE FOR FUTURE PROJECTS AT THE PARK.
>> THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. >> WE HAD TO CLOSE A COMB OF
DAYS AS WELL. >> THEY DID A KNOCK OUT JOB.
KUDOS TO THE STAFF. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS TO AMEND THE BUDGET FOR THE 2020 SAFER GRANT. ON OCTOBER 12TH, 2021, COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A $2.6 MILLION 2020 STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE OR SAFER GRANT. AT THAT TIME IT WAS INDICATED THERE WOULD BE A NONREIMBURSED BOND OF $167,751. THESE BE FUNDED WITH
[00:05:07]
ADDITIONAL SALES TAX REVENUE. FOR YEAR ONE OF THE THREE YEAR GRANT BUDGET WILL BE MADE TO ACCOMMODATE REVENUE AND CORRESPONDING RESPONSES TO RECEIVE THE GRANT'S FUNDS.STICKING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ON DECEMBER 7TH, 2021, COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF A 2021 SPARTAN 75 FOOT LADDER TRUCK AND A NO-COST LEASE OF AN S 180 TRUCK IN THE CAPITAL EXPENSES IN $120,483 TO ACCOMMODATE THE INITIAL LEASE PAYMENT. THIS INCREASED EXPENSE WILL BE OFF SET BY A $50,000 FIRE COST WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE REMAINING 2017 SAFER GRANT REVENUE. THE BE FUNDING WITH
ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. >> MOVING ON TO THE REVENUE SIDE OF THE EQUATION. ON DECEMBER 9TH, 2021, WE RECEIVED THE FINAL TAX CEILING CERTIFICATION FROM THE DALLAS COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE. THIS REPLACES OUR PREVIOUSLY ESTIMATE AND INCREASES OUR BUDGET BY $99,380 FROM $31 MILLION, TO AND OUR BUDGET OR CURRENT DEBT SERVICE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BY $38,100 FROM $11,562,593 TO $11,692,093. AND FINALLY, ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 2022, DURING THE PRESENTATION OF THE FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL REPORT, WE SHARED THE NEWS THAT DECEMBER 2021 SALES TAX ALLOCATION WAS THE HIGHEST IN ROWLETT'S HISTORY AND IN THE FIRST QUARTER WE RECEIVED $365,000 MORE IN SALES TAX THAN ANTICIPATED. ELIMINATE IMPACTS TO THE GENERAL FUND'S FUND BALANCE WHILE WE MAINING SENSITIVE TO A PE TENOL FUTURE DECLINE IN SALES TAX REVENUE AND WITH THAT THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND ALL THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE 2022 BUDGET. I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS. >> COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? >> I SAW NO NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
>> IT LOOKS GOOD. >> IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
(INDISCERNIBLE) >> THANKS FOR BEING HERE, I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU'VE COME AND TALKED TO
>> I THINK THE FIRST TIME YOU WERE FAIRLY NEW?
>> YES. >> LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HAZING AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
>> AWESOME. WELL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT YOU HAVE
TO SAY. >> GOOD ENOUGH. ALL RIGHT.
[3B. Provide grant program update and discuss allocating matching funding. (45 minutes)]
>> WHAT'S GOING ON. COME BACK INTO HERE, SINCE OCTOBER 1ST, 2021, WE HAVE OBTAINED $87,340.22 IN NEW GRANT AWARD FUNDING. THIS FUNDING IS GOING TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT INITIATIVES, THE CITY COST SHARE ASSOCIATED WITH RECEIVING THIS FUNDING IS $132,002,960 JUST TO GIVE YOU A BACKGROUND OF HOW THIS WORKS, WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A GRANT, SOME GRANTS HAVE A CAUTIONARY REQUIREMENT, THAT PRETTY MUCH MEANS, SKIN IN THE GAME, AS AN APPLICANT THEY WANT TO KNOW IF YOU ARE GIVEN THE REWARD YOU'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE IN THE WAYS AND HAS ASKED TO PUT UP MONEY TOWARD THAT. THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD RATIO AT 87% OF THE MONEY FOR THESE PROJECTS COMING FROM AWARDS, THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH PERCENTAGE FOR A GRANT'S PROGRAM TO BE GETTING. JUST PUTTING Y'ALL ON
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NOTICE. >> IS THAT STRAIGHT -- I'M SORRY, IS THAT STRAIGHT DOLLAR MATCH?
>> THAT IS. >> DO WE HAVE TO MEET ANY KIND
SERVICES FOR ANY OF THE GRANTS? >> WE DO NOT RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY. COOL. >> SO, THESE ARE THREE OF THE AWARDS, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET THAT $87,000, AS YOU COULD SEE THE COST SHARE IS COMING FROM THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY P MONEY THAT WE RECEIVED. THAT MONEY ALLOW US TO DO UPGRADES OF LED LIGHTING, AND PUBLIC WORKS AND DEVELOPMENT. IT'S LIKELY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, WE WILL OF COURSE HAVE SAVED ENOUGH TO COME UP WITH YOUR MATCH RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S EXCITING. AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL DUMPING AND POLLUTION ON CITY OWNED LANDS. AND THIS IS THE SECOND THAT WE HAVE IN TWO CYCLES. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT'S AN F.D.A. GRANT, THAT FUNDING THAT YOU SEE THERE, THE 2021, THE 2022, THE REASON THAT AWARD IS 2021-2022, AND NOT 2022-2023, IS WE CONTACTED THE F.D.A. AND SPOKE WITH THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT IN THE PAST WE WERE RECIPIENTS OF THAT.
WE'RE VI HOPEFUL THAT IS A POSITIVE SIGN GOING FORWARD AND WE EXPECT TO HIT THEM UP FOR MORE MONEY. GENERALLY, WHENEVER A FUNDER GIVES US MONEY, I ALWAYS MAKE A NOTE OF IT AND WE HIT THEM UP FOR MORE MONEY LATER ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S A 0%
ASSOCIATED COST SHARING. >> IS THERE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE PROPOSED EXPENSE IS FOR THE FUNDS FOR THOSE.
>> THEY ARE BUYING THE EQUIPMENT TO ALLOW THEM TO GO FROM SITE TO SITE AND ASSESS THE RISK OF LIKE, FOOD BORN ILLNESSES, AND WITH EVERY GRANT AND I'M SURE IT'S THE SAME WITH EVERY CONTRACT, PROCUREMENT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF SUPPLY SIDE ISSUES. I'M CONSTANTLY BATTLING TO DO AMENDMENTS TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. BUT WE'VE BEEN LUCKY IN THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD THE NEED TO SEND ANY MONEY BACK, AT LEAST ON MY WATCH. THAT'S A GOOD THING. AND WE'LL CONTINUE THAT.
>> MAY I ASK THAT. >> I ASK QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE THING. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE TEXAS STAAR ENERGY CONSERVATION GRANT AND HOW THAT WORKED AND WHERE THOSE ARE IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE WE HAD AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION IN THE ADVISORY BOARD THIS MORMORNING THERE'S A NEED TO UPDATE THE
LIGHTING. >> THE WAY THAT PARTICULAR GRANT WORKS, THAT ONE IS RIGHT NOW UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF PROGRAM IS RESTRICTED TO INTERIOR LIGHTING. I'M HOPING THAT AT SOME POINT THEY WILL ALLOW FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTING, THIS ONE IS INTIERIER LIGHTING AND WE'RE ABLE TO SUBMIT NOR ANY MUNICIPAL FACILITY. THAT'S NOT THE SAY THAT THEY WON'T UPDATE THAT IN THE NEXT ROUND TO SAY THESE ARE THE TYPES OF FACILITIES I PREFER OVER OTHERS, BUT AT LEAST FOR THIS ROUND THEY WERE OPEN. THE ORIGINAL AWARD WAS FOR LESS THAN THE 52,918 AND I CONTACTED THEM A MONTH AGO AND ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS ANY REMAIN FUNDS. I'M HOPING THAT IN THE NEXT ROUND, YOU KNOW, WE COULD LOOK FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES.
>> AND HOW OFTEN DO THEY HAVE THEIR ROUNDS, IS IT YEARLY?
>> NORMALLY IT'S ONCE PER YEAR. WITH SOME OF THE STATE GRANT PROGRAMS RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE SEE SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF MONEY CAME FROM ARPA AND SOME FROM INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE WAY THAT THE STATE'S HANDLING IS THEY'RE PUTTING MONEY OUT TO PROGRAMS CURRENTLY EXISTING AND SUPPLEMENTING THOSE PROGRAMS WITH THESE FUNDS, PROBABLY JUST A GOOD WAY TO GET THE MONEY OUT.
SO, IT'S POSSIBLY THAT WE'LL SEE MORE THAN THE TRADITIONAL ANNUAL
FUNDING ROUNDS. >> I DID SEND THAT REQUEST TO RON, THE GOLF COURSE AND SAID THEY WEREN'T ANY IMMEDIATE MONEY
OPTIONS AS WELL. >> NO WORRIES. SO, ON THE MIDDLE PROJECT, WHAT EQUIPMENT PURCHASES ARE YOU PLANNING TO MAKE TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL DUMPINGND A THE POLLUTION IN THE
CITY. >> THERE'LL BE TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, ONE IS AN ATV AND A TRAILER THAT GOES WITH THE ATV, WE JUST GOT AN EXTENSION, WE WERE TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE TO
[00:15:03]
GET ENOUGH TIME TO GO THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. THAT EXTENSION WE HAVE IN WRITING, SO I'M PRETTY POSITIVE ON OUR ABILITY TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR THAT. AS SOON AS WE GET THROUGH THE PROCESS, I GO TO CLOSEOUT ON THE GRANTS. I DON'T LIKE TO LEAVE THEM LINGERING OPEN. AND I'VE TYPICALLY FOUND IN THE PAST IN OTHER POSITIONS, WHEN YOU CLOSE OUT A GRANT EARLY, THE FUNDERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL GRANTS BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THEM TO GO BACK AND SHOW POSITIVE>>> IS IT ALL RIGHT GRANTS APPLIED FOR AND WAITING FOR NOTICE, I'LL START WITH THE STREET REPAIR AND THE BUSINESS PARK. THAT ONE IS A ROLLING GRANT. WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED NOTICE ABOUT AN HOUR AGO THAT THAT ROUND IS NOT APPROVED.
THAT'S NOT SURPRISING TO ME, BECAUSE IT IS A ROLLING GRANT.
EVERYBODY KNEW ABOUT IT. EVERYBODY'S APPLYING FOR IT. IN PUTTING FORTH THE APPLICATION, WE HAVE TO GATHER A LOT OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND ALSO SOME ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION FOR THINGS LIKE (INDISCERNIBLE) SO ON AND SO FORTH, AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THE INFORMATION GATHERED ALL TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE, A PLAN TO PUT THAT IN A NUMBER OF OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP, SOME OF THEM MAY BE ARPA OPPORTUNITIES AND SOME FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND JUST YOUR NORMAL DOT BILLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THE MATCH THAT YOU SEE THERE, THE $424,381, FOR A GRANT OF THAT SIZE IT'S ABOUT 20%, I BELIEVE, THAT'S EXCELLENT IN THIS TYPE OF FUND RAISING ENVIRONMENT WITH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS, IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PULL DOWN THAT TYPE OF CASH, I SUGGEST YOU DO IT. MY JOB BEFORE THIS, I WAS AT THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS WHERE WE WOULD DO THINGS LIKE ENTERING CRANES, BIG $500 MILLION PLUS TYPES THINGS AND THE COST SHARE IS CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN 20%.
JUST WANTED TO START WITH THAT. >> SO THIS ONE WAS DENIED AT
THIS TIME? >> THIS WAS DENIED BUT THIS IS A SPECIAL ARPA FUNDING ROUND, THE NORMAL PROGRAM IS NOT OPENED THE APPLICATION FOR THAT. THE ISSUE WILL BE IF WE COULD FIT WITHIN THE CHANGING PARAMETERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. AND WE WON'T KNOW IF WE'RE ELIGIBLE UNTIL THEY PUT OUT THE NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY. THE FIRST ONE IS THE MEN TALL HEALTH CARE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS FACING TRAUMA. LAST YEAR WE SUBMITTED A GRANT APPLICATION, IT GOT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE PHASE WHERE WE WERE DISCUSSING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HOW EXACTLY WE WOULD IMPLEMENT IT WHEN THE VICTIM OF CRIMES FUNDING WAS CUT DUE TO COVID. SO, THAT WAS REALLY SAD THAT WE DIDN'T GET THAT GRANT. NOBODY GOT THAT ROUND OF FUNDING, SINCE THE FUNDS WAS CUT. SO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PUT ARPA MONEY INTO THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR IT, THEY HAVE TAKEN THE COST SHARE DOWN FROM 25% TO 0%. SO IF WE GET IT, WE WOULD NOT HAVE A COST SHARE TO GO WITH IT.
LAST YEAR WE WERE GOING TO DO A COMBINATION OF CASH AND IN KIND MATCH. THIS YEAR WE DON'T HAVE THAT RESTRICTION. THE GENERAL PARAMETERS OR PRIORITIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE FUNDED FROM THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH IDENTICAL TO WHAT WE APPLIED FOR LAST YEAR, SO, JUST HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL GET THAT. THE GENERATORS WHICH YOU ARE SEEING THERE, ARE TWO DISTINCT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, HOPEFULLY, ONE OF THOSE GOES THROUGH IF IT DOESN'T, THEN I HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR ANOTHER HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM THAT WILL BE OPENING, IT WILL BE OPEN LATER IN THE YEAR, MY HOPE IS THAT WE HEAR BACK FROM ONE OF THESE BEFORE WE HAVE TO STUFF IT INTO THAT ONE. THESE ARE DIFFICULT GRANTS TO GET, RIGHT? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW MOST OF THE STATE SUFFERED FROM THIS LAST INCIDENT. HOWEVER, THEY ARE EXTREMELY TECHNICAL GRANTS AND TO BE BLUNT MY HOPE IS THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE WILL WANT TO GO THROUGH THE WORK TO PUT IN THE APPLICATIONS, IT TOOK SEVERAL SEVERAL MONTHS TO GATHER THE INFORMATION, WE HAD TO TALK TO DIFFERENT POWER COMPANIES AND IT'S EXTREMELY TECHNICAL, WE PUT IT TOGETHER AND RAN THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS, THAT WAS A PROCESS, WE HAD TO GET IT TO DO SOME THINGS SO WE COULD GET IT TO RUN ON A COMPUTER, RIGHT, IT WAS A LOT OF DATA. BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT DATA, WE'RE GOING TO BE TO SUBMIT ANYTIME SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS FOR
[00:20:03]
GENERATORS, HIGH HOPE IS EVENTUALLY, WE'RE GOING TO GET THOSE GENERATOR. WHETHER IT'S THE ROADS, ANY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, AS LONG AS WE BELIEVE WE CAN COME UP WITH COST SHARE, I'M GOING TO STUFF IT INTO ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS.>> GOOD. >> SO, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WE DID FUND GENERATORS FOR STATIONS OUT OF THE ARPA FUNDING?
>> RIGHT. >> SO, LET'S SAY WE GOT THIS GRANT WE WOULD THEN I DON'T HAVE SET THAT AND WOULD WE BE ABLE TO
REALLOCATE THAT? >> IT'S BETTER THAN THAT. SO, AS YOU KNOW, WHEN THE ARPA RULES FIRST CAME OUT IT WAS VERY RESTRICTIVE. YOU REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION WHEN WE SAID, HEY, WE CAN SPEND IT ON UTILITIES, BUT NOT THE STREETS?
>> RIGHT. >> THEY HAVE NOW REMOVED THAT RESTRICTION FROM US, AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS MAKE A BLANKET STATEMENT THAT ANYBODY WHO RECEIVES $10 MILLION OR LESS, OR THAT EVERY ORGANIZATION CAN ASSUME THAT THE PANDEMIC COST THEM $10 MILLION. SO, IN OUR CASE, WE'RE GETTING, RIGHT AT $7 MILLION. THAT MEANS THEN ALL OF THAT MONEY WE CAN APPLY AGAINST REVENUE LOSS EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T TECHNICALLY LOSE THAT MUCH AND THAT MEANS IT CAN BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE. WE GET TO REVISIT THIS WHOLE THING ALL OVER AGAIN AND DECIDE WHERE WE MIGHT PRIORITIZE THAT DIFFERENTLY THAN THE WAY WE DID.
BUT, WHAT WE ASSUME, THOUGH, AT LEAST, IF WE GOT ONE OF THESE TWO GRANTS THEN THE MATCH WOULD AT LEAST COME OUT OF THE ARPA MONEY. BUT, WE COULD PUT THAT BACK.
(INDISCERNIBLE) >> IT WILL COME UP APRIL, IF NOT MARCH, BUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY IS THAT THE LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, ONE OF THE TO THE TOPICS WAS GENERATOR FOR LIKE A DOROTHY SEEINGER, AND WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR IT, AND NOW WE COULD. AT LEAST WE GET TO
HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AGAIN. >> WE WILL APPLY IT AGAINST REVENUE LOSS AND NOW WE GET TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO WITH IT.
THAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS. >> FIX A ROAD.
>> BUILD A FIRE HOUSE. >> BUILD A FIRE HOUSE.
>> YEP. >> I THINK WE'LL GET THERE.
>> THERE ARE LOTS OF OPTIONS. >> AND OUR MATCH SO, THERE'S A
LOT OF OPTIONS. >> A LOT OF OPTIONS.
>> THE GREAT THING IS THE AW OPTIONS. WE'LL DISCUSS THOSE AT ANOTHER TIME.
>> SO, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT COME UP WITH APPLIES FOR THESE GRANTS, ESPECIALLY THE LARGER GRANTS THAT HAVE COST SHARES ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION FOR DISCUSSION IS IS THERE CONSENSUS FROM COUNCIL ON APPLYING WHAT TAKES A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE CITY'S PORTION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO, AS SO MUCH MONEY HAS COME OUT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND IN THE FORM OF GRANT FUNDING, IT IS LIKELY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO OPEN COMPLETELY NEW PROGRAMS, RIGHT? SO, SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS THEY HAVE ALREADY. THAT'S WHERE THEY PUT IN THE FUNDING, THERE'LL BE PRIORITIES AT THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS HAS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO SET UP NEW PROGRAMS. WHAT THAT MEANS, IS EVEN THOUGH YOU PASS A BUDGET, A GRANT OPPORTUNITY MAY COME UP FOR SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T CURRENTLY EXIST. SO, WHEN THAT HAPPENS, OF COURSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET SET ASIDE FOR A BUDGET THAT DOES NOT CURRENTLY EXIST, THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT. A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT TYPE OF THING WAS THAT BUSINESS PARK GRANT. YES, THAT'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, THE 20% SHARE IS STILL $424,000. SO, THE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW IT IS YOU GATHER THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, THE DEPARTMENTS DO NOT TYPICALLY HAVE THAT JUST KIND OF SITTING AROUND UNALLOCATED. THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED TO BRING TO Y'ALL, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL WANT TO DISCUSS THIS AT THE END OR IF YOU WANT ME TO
SLOW DOWN TO DISCUSS THERE. >> LET'S AT LEAST SHOW THE OTHER QUESTIONS AND COME BACK TO THAT.
>> ANOTHER, IS THERE A CONSENSUS FROM COUNCIL ON APPLYING TO FUNDS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IF MORE THAN $50,000 IS NEEDED. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE FIRST, BUT THIS YOU WOULDN'T NEED A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING THE FUNDS.
THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS FROM AN AWARD MAY BE EXTREMELY LARGE, BUT A COST SHARE AMOUNT MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN THE BUDGET, SOME
[00:25:04]
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES BECOME AVAILABLE AFTER THE BUDGET'S ADOPTED. THAT TOLLER BUSINESS PARK IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.IS THERE CONSENSUS WHEN IT COMES TO COMMITMENT FOR FUTURE BUDGET YEARS, IF NOT, IS THERE CONSENSUS FROM COUNCIL ON ANOTHER DATE. ZONING AND UNFUNDED LIABILITIES AND FUTURE BUDGET CHAIRS, SAFER IS PROBABLY THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THAT. WE HAD TO REBUILD SOUTH LOUISIANA TO IT WAS A LOT OF FUNDING AND THE FUNDING THAT CAME IN A LOT OF IT WAS PUT TOWARD RECURRING REVENUE COST, RIGHT, FOR EVERY SINGLE YEAR, EVENTUALLY THAT RAN OUT AND CAUSED A BUDGET CRISIS. LSUS FUNDING HAS STILL NOT RECOVERED NOR HAS IT'S RANKING. I BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION, NOT TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD USE IT FOR ANY RECURRING REVENUE TYPE THINGS, THERE ARE DIFFERENT SITUATION AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HAPPEN, BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS TO THINK OF WHEN YOU ARE APPLYING FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF GRANTS, RIGHT. IN LOUISIANA, I'LL TELL YOU IT'S NOT LIKE PEOPLE WERE WORKING WHEN THE ENTIRE CITY WAS DESTROYED, SO THERE WAS A METHOD TO THE MADNESS OF WHY THE DECISIONS WERE MADE, BUT THAT'S A TYPE OF CONCERN THAT POPS UP. IS THERE CONSENSUS FROM COUNCIL IN APPLYING WHEN IT CAN JEOPARDIZE ANY. MONEY IS FINITE, IF YOU SIGN A LETTER GUARANTYING THAT YOU WILL HAVE THIS MATCH FOR A PARTICULAR PROGRAM IT'S UNNETHICAL TO SIGN ANOTHER LETTER SAYING THAT YOU WOULD USE THAT SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR ANOTHER GRANT. IT MAY BE THAT HEY, HERE'S A GRANT THAT CAME UP AND HAS A COST SHARE OF 20% AND THAT MAY BE USED FOR MANY OTHER NEEDS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE MORE I KNOW, WHAT I'M SEARCHING FOR DIFFERENT GRANTS AND OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE, IF I KIND OF HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IS A PRIORITY FOR COUNCIL, IT ALLOWS ME TO BETTER FINE TUNE WHAT IT IS I'M EVEN BRINGING TO THE TABLE. THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THOSE ITEMS AND I'LL RETURN TO
THE CHAIR. >> SO, MAY BE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR ME, YOU KNOW, IN PARTICULAR HAD STAFF ASKS ME TO SIGN THAT COMMITMENT, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GET IN FRONT OF COUNCIL, THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR ME. WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A AMEND THE BUDGET, NOT WHEN IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT, THAT I COULD COVER INTERNALLY, FROM OPERATIONS, BUT WHEN IT'S A BIG ENOUGH AMOUNT THAT I GOT TO COME TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, WE KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS, BUT YOU HAVE TO AMEND THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW. I THINK THESE ARE SOME THINGS, PRIORITIZING OUR NEEDS WHEN COUNCIL HAS SAID, LIKE WITH THE ARPA MONEY, THESE ARE WHAT WE WANT TO DO FIRST AND FOR MOST, WE WANT THE GENERATORS FOR THE LIFT STATION. NOW, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A PROBLEM SIGNING THAT DOCUMENT KNOWING WE HAD ALREADY ALLOCATED THE WHOLE $1.6 MILLION OUT OF THE ARPA MONEY AND IF ALL WE NEEDED TO DO IS MATCH I WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY SIGNING IT WITHOUT COMING BACK TO COUNCIL. BUT THE NUMBER ONE REASON THAT WE'RE HERE FOR TODAY IS TO GET THIS FEEDBACK ON WHAT ARE YOU GUYS COMFORTABLE FOR US TO DO AND WHERE ARE THE DRAWING LINES, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GET OURSELVES INTO A CRACK AND HAVE TO COME TO COUNCIL AND COUNCIL SAY NO. THAT WOULD BE INEXCUSABLE ON ALL OF OUR PARTS. THIS IS A GOVERNANCE ISSUE. A
TRUE GOVERNANCE ISSUE. >> MAY I GO BACK TO THE FIRST QUESTION AND YOU HAD EXAMPLES AND WE'LL RUN THROUGH THEM ONE
BY ONE. SO -- >> NOW, IS THIS THE ONE THAT WE ASKED THAT WE COULD EXTEND THE GRANT? OR FOR THE AMOUNT THAT
WE HAD ALREADY SET ASIDE. >> THIS ONE DID NOT HAVE, IT DIDN'T HAVE AN AMOUNT SET ASIDE IN THE BUDGET THAT YOU WOULD SAY, HEY, FOR THIS GRANT, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. HOWEVER WITHIN A BOND ISSUE, WE KNEW THAT WE WANTED TO DO ROADS AND
[00:30:02]
THE SCOPE OF THE BOND WAS SUCH THAT IF THERE WERE REMAINING MONEYS AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THIS PROJECT FIT WITHIN THAT CATEGORY WHICH WAS ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, ANY SAVINGS COULD BE AGGRAGATED, AND LOOKED FOR SAVINGS THAT WERE ACTUALIZED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE BORROWING FROM THE FUTURE AND WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE MATCH. HONESTLY, RIGHT NOW, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IT'S STILL PENDING BECAUSE IT WAS DENIED YOU KNOW, WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO. BUT, I THINK THAT WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH IT, IT WAS CERTAINLY SOMETHING CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT, BUT I THINK A LOFT US WERE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH. HOWEVER, IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, THIS OPPORTUNITY WAS ROLLING, THE ORIGINAL DEADLINE WAS APRIL, WE GOT A PHONE CALL THAT SAID DO IT THIS WEEK AND LOTS OF MEMBERS OF STAFF DROPPED EVERYTHING THEY WERE DOING FOR THREE DAYS TO GET THAT INFORMATION AND A LOT OF THAT WAS EVEN RAW ENGINEERING INFORMATION WE HAD TO GETCONTRACTORS AND SAY DO THIS. >> I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS ONE WAS EASY BECAUSE WE KNEW WE HAD THE ARPA MONEY TO FALL BACK ON. BUT WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE ARPA MONEY
TO FALL BACK ON. >> YOU'RE DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB, AND WE SET ASIDE, HALF A MILLION DOLLAR DOLLARS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS TO BE A MATCH FOR THOSE THAT WE NEEDED. WHICH THEN COULD HELP SOME OF THESE PRIORITIES SO THAT IF WE HAVE ONE, YOU HAVE THAT AS A BACKUP AND IF WE COULD HIT THAT THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS, IT COULD BE BROKEN DOWN. BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT MORE GRANTS COMING DOWN THE PIKE WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED WITH CITY'S BUDGETS. SOME OF THESE YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR YEAR AFTER YEAR AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT UNTIL YOU APPLY A COUPLE OF TIMES. BUT, I WOULD HATE TO MACE MISS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THE CITY OUT BECAUSE WE WERE UNABLE TO FIND A
MATCH. >> THERE WAS NO WAY IN THIS CASE, WELL, I GUESS IF WE WOULD HAVE CALLED AN EMERGENCY MEETING, BUT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT AN EMERGENCY
MEETING FOR? >> IT WAS LITERALLY A MATTER OF DAYS, HE HAD BEEN PUTTING IT TOGETHER AND ON WEDNESDAY THEY SAID WE NEED TO FRIDAY BY 5:00 AND IT WAS LIKE, OKAY. WE HAD BOND SAVINGS FROM PROJECTS ALREADY COMPLETED AND WE WERE
ABLE TO PIECE IT TOGETHER. >> AND REMEMBER, THIS IS APPLYING FOR A GRANT NOT ACCEPTING A GRANT. AND I DON'T WANT US TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THIS GROUP CAN'T GET IT TOGETHER. I RELY ON Y'ALL'S JUDGMENT TO SAY, WHICH ONES ARE RIGHT FOR US TO APPLY FOR AND MAY BE WE DO THESE BRIEFINGS MORE OFTEN OR A BIG ONE THAT MAY REQUIRE A BUDGET AMENDMENT IF WE WERE TO GET IT AND PUT ON THE NEXT POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEM TO DISCUSS WITH US. BUT, FOR ME, YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT WE NEED OUT THERE AND SHOULD BE APPLYING FOR THOSE TO GET THEM.
>> IN OUR CURRENT PURCHASING POLICIES, WE HAVE A PROVISION FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASES, LET'S SAY. AND WHAT IT REQUIRES IS, SOMETHING HAPPENED, WE HAVE A SEWER LINE BREAK AND WE DON'T HAVE IT BUDGETED, WE'RE GOING TO GO FIX IT WHAT WE DO IS NOTIFY COUNCIL. THAT'S STEP ONE. AND THEN WE COME WHACK WITH A FARMAL RATIFICATION OF A CONTRACT, THEN I STILL HAVE TO BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR RATIFICATION OF THAT ACTION. SO, ALREADY THAT POLICY IS THERE. ONE POSSIBLE WAY IF WE GO WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, MATT, THAT IN ORDER NOT TO MISS AN APPLICATION OPPORTUNITY, IS THAT WE APPLY, NOTIFY COUNCIL THAT THIS OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE TO REQUIRE A FUTURE BUDGET AMENDMENT, OR SOMETHING, AND THEN AT OUR NEXT AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND IF FOR SOME REASON, COUNCIL SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT, NO. THEN WE PULL. AND WE PULL OUT BEFORE THEY GET TO THE PART WHERE
THEY'RE MAKING DECISIONS. >> BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE A QUICK APPLICATION PERIOD, BUT THEY DON'T GET BACK TO YOU
QUICKLY. >> AND THAT'S TYPICALLY THE CASE WITH PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS, RIGHT? IF YOU SUBMIT IN NOVEMBER, YOU DON'T FIND OUT UNTIL THE SUMMER.
>> I WOULD ASK, WHENEVER, ONE OR TWO SCENARIOS COME UP, IF YOU WOULD E-MAIL COUNCIL AND SAY, HEY, WE FOUND SOMETHING THAT MAY
[00:35:05]
TRIGGER OVER $50,000. >> I DID FEEL DIFFERENTLY WHEN THAT'S A FEDERAL DOCUMENT WITH MY SIGNATURE ON IT.
>> THEY TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY. >> YEAH. THAT'S ON YOU.
>> BUT, AGAIN, I LIKE YOUR COMPARISON TO EMERGENCY PURCHASES. BECAUSE YOU COULD ALWAYS PULL THOSE THINGS AND THERE'S ENOUGH TIME THERE THAT IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, YOU COULD YOU COULD ALWAYS PULL THE APPLICATIONS. BECAUSE THERE'LL BE SOMEBODY ELSE IN LINE, I PROMISE YOU. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE TO THAT, YOU KNOW, DOING MY BEST TAMMY IMPERSONATION, IF YOU DO THAT AND PULL OUT AND REAPPLY, IT COULD COUNT AGAINST YOU. SO, AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE JUDGMENT NEEDS TO COME IN IN TERMS OF WHAT'S, AND I THINK YOU LINE IT UP WITH OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES WHICH WE TALK ABOUT EVERY BUDGET YEAR. WE KNOW THAT LIFT STATION GENERATORS IS ON OUR HIGH PRIORITY, SO THAT HELPS TO DRIVE YOUR DECISION, IF IT WERE SOMETHING LOW ON THE LIST,
THAT MAY REQUIRE A CONVERSATION. >> AND THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE, WHY GO AFTER A GRANT NOT ON OUR PRIORITY LIST RIGHT NOW. I WANT HIM SPENDING TIME ON THE STUFF
THAT IS. >> THAT'S A GOOD POINT. WITH
YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE? >> SO, REMEMBER, UNDER MY AUTHORITY, I COULD FIND THE MONEY UNDER $50,000, BUT ABOVE $50,000, IT WILL NEED A BUDGET AMENDMENT AT SOME POINT. AND SO, THAT WOULD STILL COME TO YOU, AND TO YOUR POINT IF IT'S ALREADY ON OUR PRIORITY LISTIOUS THAT'S JUST MERELY A PREFUNCTIONARY THING AT THE END OR LATER DOWN THE ROAD IT MIGHT BE FINE. AND THEN GO TO THE NEXT ONE. I AM A LITTLE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ONE. I WOULD HOPE THAT THESE ARE THE OR THE PROCESS IS THAT WE DON'T GET SURPRISED BY THESE. I'LL SAY THIS, IF I FEEL SQUIRRELY ABOUT ANY OF THESE THEN ONE OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAVE, ONE TO NOTIFY YOU GUYS BUT I MAY HAVE FOLLOWUP CONVERSATIONS TO DETERMINE WETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA OR HOW WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE IT. BUT I WOULD BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE MAKING COMMITMENT FOR FUTURE BUDGET YEARS. A PROJECT THAT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS FIND A MATCH FOR NOW WOULD BE ONE THING, BUT TO COMMIT FUTURE COUNCILS TO A BUDGET, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE I COULD MOVE WITH THAT. SAFER GRANTS.
>> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IF IT'S A GRANT OF THAT SIZE THAT'S MULTIPLE YEARS, THOSE AREN'T USUALLY LAST MINUTE, ARE
THEY? >> NO. WHAT DO YOU SEE THERE?
>> THEY'RE NOT LAST MINUTE AND ALSO YOUR MORE THAN LIKELY NOT GOING TO SEE THOSE ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, KIND OF AN IN KIND TECHNICAL DONATIONS OF STAFF, RIGHT. SO, IF YOU HAD SOMETHING HAPPEN IN LAKE RAY HUBBARD AND YOU HAD TO GET A WATER QUALITY PERSON FROM THE EPA, THEY MAY SAY, WE'LL GAVE YOU SOMEBODY FOR THREE YEARS, AND YOU STILL HAVE TO CLEANUP AND FIND A WAY TO KEEP THIS PERSON ON. BECAUSE, THEY'RE OF THAT NATURE, I'LL TELL YOU, IN ALMOST MY ENTIRE CAREER AND I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. IT IS A SITUATION THAT YOU WILL BE ENCUMBERING MONEY FOR WHATEVER THE SERVICES ARE. THAT'S NORMALLY NOT EQUIPMENT, BUT IT'S PERSONNEL.
>> THERE'LL BE ENOUGH TIME TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH
(INDISCERNIBLE) >> SPECIFICALLY, SOME OF THE OTHER ONE'S TOO. THAT FEMA IS NOW REQUIRING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM COUNCIL ANYWAY BEFORE YOU CAN APPLY. SO, THAT WOULD HAVE TO COVER US SO WE WOULD BE AWARE OF WHATEVER THAT
WAS RIGHT UP FRONT. >> AND IS GOES BACK TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE APPLICATION AND THE AWARD, RIGHT? UNTIL YOU SIGN THAT AWARD AGREEMENT, YOU'RE NOT
LIABLE FOR CARRYING THROUGH. >> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD POINT, BECAUSE WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER, MATT, IF WE WENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THEY AWARD IT, AND WE BACK OUT, I
[00:40:01]
THINK THAT'S WHEN IT DAMAGES REPUTATIONS. WHEREAS IF WE BACK OUT BEFORE THEY GET VERY FAR DOWN THE ROAD, THEN, I DON'TTHINK IT SHOULD, NECESSARILY. >> THAT'S A GOOD DISTINCTION.
>> MOST OF THE TIME FOR THE LARGE GRANTS, THEY'RE GOING TO ASSIGN A PROGRAM OFFICER TO MENTOR US. THE PROGRAM OFFICER WAS LIKE, WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS ANYMORE SO WE'RE NOT GOING FORWARD WITH THIS. IT'S NOT LIKELY THAT YOU ARE GETTING $2 MILLION WITHOUT A CONVERSATION OR TWO.
>> I THINK WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE GRANTS, TOO, THAT WANT THE RESOLUTION OF APPROVAL. YOU'LL SEE ONE TONIGHT, THERE'S ONE ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT FOR THE NEW DIRECTIONS GRANT, BUT THOSE ARE FOR EVERY GRANT THEY DO. SOME OF THE OTHER ONES ARE STARTING TO FILTER THAT IN. SO, IF WE GET ONE ON THURSDAY, WE COULD HAVE IT READY FOR THAT VERY NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON CONSENT. HE'S GOT THOSE DOWN TO A FINE ART NOW.
>> LET'S HOPE. >> AND THIS ONE IS JUST, AGAIN, IF IT CONFLICTS WITH OUR PRIORITIES, BUT, I THINK, AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE ONE THAT I WOULD REACH BACK OUT TO COUNCIL ON ANYWAY. I LIKE MATT'S SUGGESTION AS THAT WE KIND OF TREAT IT LIKE AN EMERGENCY PURCHASE THING. FOR THE SAKE OF TIMING, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH IT IF WE FEEL LIKE IT FITS OUR STRATEGIES, AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE HAVE IT ON COUNSEL'S AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND IF THE ANSWER'S NO, WE PULL OUT QUICKLY. AND SO THERE'S REALLY NO TIME OTHER THAN THE STAFF'S TIME TO PULL IT OFF. IS EVERYBODY OKAY WITH THAT.
SCOMBR CAN WE GET HIM BACK QUARTERLY, LIKE WE DO WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JUST TO TRACK WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> THIS IS FUN STUFF. >> YOU'RE JUST DOING SO MUCH.
>> HEY, NEXT THING IS HE'S GOING TO BE ASKING FOR MONEY IN
THE BUDGET. >> I ALREADY LAID IT ON THE
TABLE. >> WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU A
MULTIPLE. >> YOU COULD COME TO US WITH A
MILLION DOLLAR. >> I HOPE TO COME BACK ASKING FOR A LOT MORE MONEY BECAUSE IT WILL RESULT IN A MULTIPLE. SO, I HAD A QUICK GRANT QUESTION BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE OUR LEADERSHIP IN NORTH TEXAS CLASS THE OTHER DAY AND COPELL JUST GOT ONE AND NORTH TEXAS HAS A GRANT TO GET THE BLOCKING
TRUCKS. DID WE APPLY FOR THAT? >> WE DID, WE DID NOT GET IT.
THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO. ONE IS THERE'S ASSERTFICATION, A TRAINING THAT WE WANT TO DO. I WAS IN CONVERSATION WITH THEM A MONTH AGO, THEY SAY AT A TIME WHEN WE COULD DO IT, THEY WILL PROVIDE THAT TO US, THEY WILL NOT CHARGE US. AND THEN WE GO THROUGH THAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, AND THEN WE NEED TO SEND A RESOLUTION TO THEM. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET TO GET THE RESOLUTION. SO, THE MAJORITY OF POINTS TO BE AWARDED WOULD COME FROM GOING THROUGH THE TRAINING AND I ASKED THEM, DO THEY THINK IN THE NEXT GRANT APPLICATION, IT WILL BE THE EXACT SAME STANDARD, AND THEY SAID YES.
AND BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE A PROJECT, AND GATHERED TOGETHER, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PUTTING IT TOGETHER AND WE SHOULD HAVE A
HIGH POINT TOTAL. >> ONCE WE GET IT DONE AND THROUGH ALL OF THAT, WE COULD APPLY?
>> NO, IT IS SUBJECT TO WHEN THEY HAVE FUNDING TO DO IT, BUT THEY BELIEVE THEY WILL HAVE FUNDING.
>> DO THE TRAINING. >> WHAT TRAINING ARE YOU
>> IT'S -- I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE TRAINING, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT COG SAYS THEY'RE WILLING TO COME OUT AND
(INDISCERNIBLE) >> (INAUDIBLE)
>> THEIR ISSUE WASN'T THAT WE HADN'T DONE IT, THEIR ISSUE WAS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD DONE IT MORE RECENTLY. THAT IS WHAT THEY TOLD ME. > WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
>> IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD GET ONE OF THOSE. I KNOW WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH HOW YOU STAFF IT AND STUFF.
>> WELL, WE DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THAT SITS ON EPPC THAT WE COULD DO SOME TALKS AT COG, THAT'S THE SECOND MOST POWERFUL COUNCIL AT COG. SO, IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF PULL AND I'M SURE THAT WE COULD MAKE SOME THINGS HAPPEN. LET'S WORK
[00:45:07]
TOGETHER AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN. >> THEY SEEM FAVOR EARPLUGS THE EQUIPMENT WAS ALLOWABLE. WE LOOKED AT MAKING SURE THAT WE PUT TOGETHER AN ASK THAT WOULD BE VIEWED FAVORABLY. IT'S AGO
MATTER OF TIMING. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> SO, WOW, WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME. COUNCIL, REAL QUICK, ANYBODY REVIEW THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WANT ANYTHING PULLED?
>> WE WERE ASKED TO PULL 7G. THAT WAS ONE.
>> OKAY. WHAT IS 7G? >> IT'S APPROVE APPLYING FOR AND ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDING, IF AWARDED.
>> IT'S TELLING PEOPLE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THAT AREA, THE E-MAIL THAT WE GOT FROM COUNCIL DID NOT SAY THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS BUT WANTED THE PUBLIC TO HEAR IT.
>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE PULLING. >> I JUST HAD A QUESTION DID WE HAVE WE HAD A CHANCE TO CONTACT EVERYBODY THAT WAS GOING TO BE APPOINTED A STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT GROUP? DID THEY ALL GET CONTACTED OR IS THIS GOING TO BE A?
>> I THINK THAT'S YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE --
>> SOMEBODY'S LOOKING TO SEE IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON THIS, AND THEN SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY READ THE PACKETS, AND THEY'RE LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO DO IT.
>> I WILL CONFIRM IT. >> I WANT TO AVOID THAT.
>> I WILL CONFIRM THAT SHE'S TALKED TO EVERYTHING.
>> WE'LL CONFIRM IT BEFORE THE 7:30 MEETING.
>> THE NICE THING IS WE HAVE TIME.
>> COOL. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL SEE EVERYBODY AT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.