[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
FAIRBURY 21ST, 2023 AT 530 P.M. AND WE ARE AT CITY COUNCIL. AS
[2. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 551.071 O THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THI MEETING MAY BE CONVENED INTO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR TH PURPOSE OF SEEKING CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ON ANY AGENDA ITEM HEREIN. THE CITY OF BRALETTE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RECONVENE RECESS OR REALIGN THE REGULAR SESSION OR CALLED EXECUTIVE SESSION OR ORDER OF BUSINESS AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO JUDGMENT. IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON YOU MAY COMPLETE THE CITIZEN INPUT FORM ON THE CITY' WEBSITE BY 330 P.M. THE DAY OF THE MEETING. ALL ARMS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL WIRE TO THE START OF THE MEETING. FOR IN PERSON COMMENTS REGISTRATION FORMS INSTRUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE INSIDE THE DOOR O THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. OUR FIRST ITEM FOR TONIGHT IS ITEM TWO A. THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO CONSULT WITH AND HAVE CONCLUDED THE ITEM TO A EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH NO ACTIO[3A. Present and discuss an update to the drainage utility fee based on impervious area for residential and nonresidential metered accounts]
TAKEN. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR WORK SESSION. IT'S ITEM THREE A. PRESENT AND DISCUSS AN UPDATE TO THE DRAINAGE UTILITY FEE BASED ON IMPERVIOUS AREA FO RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL METERED ACCOUNTS. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC INPUT FOR THIS ITEM?SEEING NONE. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN TO PRESENT THIS TOPIC. YEAH. MY PRESENTATION IS ABOUT THE STORMWATER FEE UPDATE AND SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED WHE WE LAST PRESENTED IT. A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND FIRST. THE CITY ESTABLISHED THE DRAINAGE UTILITY IN 2002. IT IS AUTHORIZED BY THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. IT IS FOUND I OUR COURT OF ORDINANCES IN CHAPTER 70 ARTICLE 4. IT INCLUDES THE KEY SCHEDULE WHIC IS SCHEDULED RATES. THOSE ARE $5.50 A MONTH AND $13.50 A MONTH FOR NONRESIDENTIAL USERS. ALL CUSTOMERS WITHIN EACH CLAS PAY THE SAME FEE WITH VARYING LEVELS OF SERVICE. NO EXEMPTIONS ARE SPECIFIED IN TH CURRENT ORDINANCE. THAT FEE CURRENTLY GENERATES ABOUT 1 1/ MILLION DOLLARS IN ANNUAL REVENUE AND IT SUPPORTS STORMWATER RELATED PROGRAMS SUC AS STAFF, SUPPLIES, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IS A STATE PERMIT FOR US TO DISCHARGE. THAT SERVICE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE HAVE ENGAGED TO HELP US WITH THIS UPDATE AND THE PURPOSE IS TO BETTER ALIGN THE ORDINANCE WITH CURRENT TEXA LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE RULES AN REQUIREMENTS AND TO ADJUST THE FEE STRUCTURE TO BETTER REPRESENT . THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE REQUIRES THE DRAINAGE UTILITY FEE CLASSIFIE PROPERTIES IN A NONDISCRIMINATORY REASONABLE AND EQUITABLE MANNER. NICHOLS HAS FOUND THAT UPDATING THE FE STRUCTURE WILL RESULT IN A MOR EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF COST WILL RECOUP MORE COST THE CITY SPENDS TO PROVIDE RATING SERVIC AND THEREBY INCREASE THE REVENU STREAM THAT FUNDS DRAINAGE PROJECTS AROUND THE CITY. THE CURRENT FEE STRUCTURE IS METER BASED. EVERY PROPERTY THAT'S SERVED BY A WATER METER IS ASSESSED IN DRAINAGE UTILITY FEE A FLAT FEE IN ADDITION TO ITS WATER SEWER AND . THIS APPLIES TO BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. THE ARE $5.50 PER RESIDENTIAL AND 13.50 A MONTH FOR NON-RESIDUAL REGARDLESS OF PROPERTY SIZE . ALL THOSE CUSTOMERS WITHIN EACH CLASS PAY THE SAME FEE FOR A SERVICE . THIS SYSTEM. THIS
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STRUCTURE PRODUCES AN INSIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN USERS. THEY ARE ALL PAI 5.50 AND THEY ARE ALL ABOUT THE SAME LOAD ON THE SYSTEM BUT IT CREATES A VERY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE WITHIN THE NONRESIDENTIAL CLASS . FOR EXAMPLE , A LARGE BOX STORE CREATE A LOT MORE STORMWATER RUNOFF THAN A SMALL DRIVE-THROUGH RESTAURANT OR SOME SPECIAL RETAIL SHOP. THE PROPOSED RATE SCHEDULE IS, ON THE OTHER HAND, AND IMPERVIOUS AREA BASED SCHEDULE . EACH PROPERTY IS ASSESSED A DRAINAGE UTILITY FEE THAT REPRESENTS A LOAD ON THE CITY'S SYSTEM. THI WAS DONE BASED ON GIS DATA AND WE HAVE DETERMINED THE MEAN RESIDENTIAL IMPERVIOUS AREA I 4000 SQUARE FEET AND THAT WIL THEREFORE EQUATE TO ONE EQUIVALENT RESIDENTIAL UNIT. THE PROPOSED UTILITY FEE THEN REMAINS AT $5.50 PER E.R. YOU PER MONTH FOR EACH PROPERTY, RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL TO GET THE FEE CHARGED TO THAT PROPERTY YOU MULTIPLY THE RATE OF $5.50 BY THE NUMBER OF ERU AND THAT CALCULATES THE MONTHLY FLEA. LET'S GET INTO THE DISCUSSION. AT OUR LAST MEETIN WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS, THE COUNCIL DID ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AN PROPOSED FEE. I WENT BACK AND LISTENED AND WATCHED THE VIDEO OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I THINK I CAN BREAK THEM DOWN INT FOUR BASIC QUESTIONS. PLEASE, IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS EVERYTHING. THE FOUR QUESTIONS ARE BASICALLY HOW WILL THE DRAINAGE UTILITY ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF ENCOURAGIN THE PRESERVATION OF WATER QUALITY AND RUNOFF QUANTITY WITH LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT AN LANDSCAPE STANDARDS? DOES THE PROPOSED FEE COVER THE ESTMATED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COST INCURRED BY THE CITY? WHICH, I ANY PROPERTIES , SHOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THE DRAINAGE UTILIT FEE? IS THE PROPOSED FEE AMOUNT STRUCTURE BURDENSOME ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES? THE FIRS QUESTION IS ABOUT LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT. THE CONCEPT OF LO IMPACT DEVELOPMENT THAT CAN PROTECT AND PRESERVE WATER QUALITY AND REDUCE QUALITY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE, AS A CITY, ENCOURAGE ITS USE THROUGH DESIG ? HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT THOSE STANDARDS AND CONCEPTS? ONE PART OF THE ANSWER IS THAT STAFF IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON A PROJECT THAT WILL RESHAPE AND REWRITE THE DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT IS KNOWN AS RECODE BRALETTE. THIS WILL INCLUDE LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT RULES AN STANDARDS BUT THE PROJECT IS I ITS INFANCY AND THOSE CRITERIA ARE NOT YET KNOWN. THE ANTICIPATED DATE FOR ADOPTION OF THAT RECODE ROULETTE IS THE SECOND QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 24. STAFF IS ALSO WORKING ON A REVISION TO LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE. IT WILL INCLUDE L.A.D. STANDARDS RELATED TO LANDSCAPING AND WE ANTICIPATE PRESENTING THAT TO COUNSEL AT FUTURE WORK SESSION IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. SO, IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT THE DRAINAGE UTILITY ORDINANCE PROMOTE L.A.D PRACTICES. HOWEVER, RATHER THA ADDING A THIRD PLACE IN THE COD TO LOOK FOR THESE ROLES AND STANDARDS AND ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE THAT IS A UTILITY ORDINANCE IT MAY BE BETTER TO USE THE DEVELOPMENT CODE TO DEFINE AND ESTABLISH L.A.D.RULES AND STANDARDS. BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE IS BASICALLY A FE ORIENTED SERVICE FOR REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS OF THIS FEE THAT MAY BE THE BEST PRACTICAL WAY T PROMOTE L.A.D. FROM WITHIN THIS ORDINANCE. WE HAVE INCLUDED AN EXPANSION OF THE CURRENT PROVISION OF THAT ORDINANCE TO AWARD REDUCTION OF DRAINAGE UTILITY FEES . THE CURRENT PROVISION IS VERY WEAK. IT REFERENCES THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE BUT THE TEXAS
[00:10:03]
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE ITSELF IS A BIT SILENT ON EXACTLY HOW CREDITS AND REDUCTIONS CAN BE CONSIDERED AN ISSUE. THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, ALTHOUGH BROAD, IS SPECIFIC . IT DOES ALLOW PROPERTY OWNERS TO PETITION THE CITY TO REDUCE THE FEE ON THE BASIS OF THE CUSTOME STORMWATER MANAGEMENT CONTROLS REDUCE THE PROPERTIES IMPACT TO OUR SYSTEM. THAT, IN ESSENCE, WOULD BE L.A.D. CONCEPTS AND BEST PRACTICES . THEY WOULD BE CONSIDERED AND REVIEWED BY THE CITY ENGINEER AND THEN ONCE RECODE ROULETTE IS ADOPTED WE CAN AMEND THAT SPECIFIC PORTIO OF THAT DRAINAGE UTILITY CODE TO BE MORE SPECIFIC IN LINE WITH THOSE L.A.D. STANDARDS . THE SECOND QUESTION INVOLVED TH COST OF SERVICE. THE COST TO PROVIDE THE STORMWATER SERVICE TO CITY PROPERTIES INCLUDE PERSONNEL, TRAINING, HARDWARE, GIS DATA COLLECTION , MANAGEMENT, STRATEGIC STUDIES, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CAPITAL PROJECTS AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS. AT THAT DECEMBER 13T MEETING WE PRESENTED THAT THE CURRENT STORMWATER COST IS APPROXIMATELY $2.1 MILLION .THAT WAS BASED ON DATA COLLECTE IN 2018 WHEN THIS PROJECT BEGAN AND I DID AN UPDATE. I TRIED TO CALCULATE A NEW FIGURE .
COUNSEL RECOMMENDED THAT PROGRAM -- THAT THESE BE RE-EVALUATED TO ASSESSED A MORE ACCURATE COST. WE HAVE DONE THAT. WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED A THE COST. SOME OF THE PROGRAM ELEMENTS, LIKE TRAINING SOFTWAR AND DATA COLLECTION , ARE RATHER SMALL AND COST. I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ANALYSIS. WE DID SEE THAT PERSONNEL SALARIES , WHICH COUL BE PROJECTED OVER A FIVE-YEAR SPAN, DO INCREASE RATHER SUBSTANTIALLY. MAINTENANCE COSTS IN THE ORIGINAL ANALYSIS DID NOT SEEM TO BE INCLUDED.
THOSE ARE ABOUT 3.2 MILLION BASED ON THE RECENT BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED AND EXTRAPOLATED OU TO A FIVE YEAR PROJECTION. TH FIVE-YEAR C.A.P. COSTS ARE LOWE BY ABOUT HALF 1 MILLION COMPARED WITH THE FOUR-YEAR PERIOD THAT WAS STUDIED IN 2018 SO, WE FOUND THAT THE CURRENT COSTS ARE MORE CLOSE TO $1.8 MILLION WHICH DOESN'T BRING THE COST IN LINE WITH THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS WE ARE LOOKING AT. ANOTHER QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED WAS ABOUT THE EXEMPTIONS. THE CURRENT ORDINANCE DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY EXEMPTIONS. TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE PROHIBITS ASSESSING DRAINAGE UTILITY FEES ON THE THREE TYPES OF PROPERTIES . THOSE ARE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE A WHOLLY SUFFICIENT PRIVATELY OWNED DRAINAGE SYSTEM. PROPERTIES IN THEIR NATURAL STATE UNTIL THEY ARE EVENTUALLY DEVELOPED AND SUBDIVIDED BLOCKS UNTIL SOMETHING IS ACTUALLY BUILT ON IT AND ACO HAS BEEN ISSUED.
TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE ALSO PROHIBITS MUNICIPALITIES FROM ASSESSING FEES ON STATE PROPERTIES AND PROPERTY OWNED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION. >> THE CITY MAY EXEMPT?
>> IN 580.003 IT ACTUALLY PROHIBITS US FROM ASSESSING FEES ON THOSE TWO TYPES OF PROPERTIES.
>> IT MAY BE EXEMPT. >> THAT'S 552. YES. IN 580 IT PROHIBITS US. NO, I DON'T THINK IT DOES CONTRADICT AT ALL INDISCERNIBLE - OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ]
>> I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THIS CAREFULLY.
>> I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING ELSE
>> RIGHT. 552 DOES NOT REQUIR , BUT ALLOWS US TO ACCEPT THOSE
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TYPES OF PROPERTIES. HE SEES STATE PROPERTIES LISTED HERE.WHEREAS IN 580 IT IS LISTED AS PROHIBITION. EXACTLY.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. CONTRADICTORY.
>> IT'S NOT REALLY. IT'S REDUNDANT.
>> HERE IS A LIST OF PROPERTIE THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO EXEMPT.
SO, CURRENTLY THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT INCLUDES EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY TL GC. TH DRAFT AMENDMENT ALSO INCLUDES COUNTY PROPERTY, SCHOOL DISTRIC PROPERTY , WHICH ARE OPTIONAL UNDER THE RULES, THE STATE RULES, THE DRAFT ORDINANCE ALSO EXEMPT HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTY ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THE STATE RULES REQUIRE THIS TYPE OF PROPERTY T BE EXEMPT. I BELIEVE THE ONLY COMMUNITIES THAT MUST EXEMPT HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTY FRO THIS DRAINAGE FEE OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE OF AN INTERNATIONAL BORDER AND HAVE HAVE 1 MILLION POPULATION MORE.
THE DRAFT AMENDMENT DOES NOT EXEMPT STRAIGHT PROPERTIES , RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION PROPERTIE OR HIGHER EDUCATION PROPERTIES.
PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE EXEMPT CONTRIBUT TO RUNOFF TO THE CITIES DRAINAGE UTILITY SYSTEM IN THE SAME MANNER AS THEY ARE TO THA WATER AND SUING UTILITIES. THE CITY IS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT FOR THE DRAINAGE UTILIT SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE TO THES PROPERTIES ALSO. NEVERTHELESS, THE COUNSEL IS ENTITLED TO EXEMPT ANY PROPERTIES LISTED I SECTION 552 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE. AND 580, I MIGHT ADD.
NOW, THE LAST QUESTION REVOLVED AROUND THE AMOUNT OF THE FEE. WE ARE PROPOSING A RATE OF $5.50 PER ERU PER MONTH . EACH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, SINCE THEY ARE ASSESSED ONE ERU THAT WILL BE THE MONTHLY CHARG THAT IS ASSESSED TO EACH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. THAT MONTHLY CHARGE REMAINS THE SAME AS IT IS NOW. NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES WILL BE CHARGED A FE CALCULATED BY MULTIPLYING THE ERU THAT ARE ON THAT PROPERTY PER ERU RATE. THE QUESTION HAS BEEN RAISED WHETHER THIS FEE IS TOO BURDENSOME ON NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES . ONE THOUGHT TO CONSIDER IS THAT NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES INCLUDE RETAIL SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS, SHOPPING CENTERS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OF COURSE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. OFFICE CAMPUSES, GAS STATIONS, APARTMENTS AND CONDOMINIUMS AN OTHER USES. THE FEES WHICH AR BASED ON AN IMPERVIOUS AREA WOULD BE ASSESSED THAT REPRESENTS THAT LOAD ON THE DRAINAGE UTILITY FROM THAT SPECIFIC PROPERTY. JUST TO REVIEW, AND IMPERVIOUS AREA IS SURFACE THAT'S BEEN ALTERED FRO ITS NATURAL STATE WITH HARDENED MATERIALS THAT DO NOT PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY FOR STORM WATER TO INFILTRATE INTO THE SOIL. THESE ARE TYPICALLY DRIVEWAYS, ROOFTOPS, PATIOS AND PARKING LOTS. THEY INCREASE TH STORMWATER RUNOFF TO THE MUNICIPAL STORM SYSTEM. AN IMPERVIOUS AREA IS A GOOD MEASURE OF THE PROPERTY'S USE OF THE STORMWATER SYSTEM AND I IS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS TO EQUALIZE THE BURDEN OF COST BETWEEN THE DRAINAGE UTILITY USERS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE REQUIRES THAT THESE CLASSIFIED PROPERTIES IN A NONDISCRIMINATORY REASONABLE AND EQUITABLE MANNER. SO, THI PARTICULAR PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION ILLUSTRATES THE COST AND REVENUE PROJECTIONS THAT WE HAVE CALCULATED . AS I'VE SAID BEFORE WE ARE CALCULATING THE COSTS OF THIS SERVICE TO BE ABOUT $1.8 MILLION PER YEAR . I'VE LOOKED AT THE COSTS AND EXTENDING OUT FOR A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD . BECAUSE OUR BUDGET ALSO GOES OUT IN A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD . THE PROJECTED FEES , BASED ON
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THE ERU THAT WE HAVE ALREADY MEASURED ARE ALSO CLOSE . LAS TIME WHEN WE PRESENTED THIS TABLE THE CITY IS STILL ZERO.APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. IT'S SOMEWHERE IN THE $30,000 RANGE.
THAT IS BASICALLY IN THERE TO REPRESENT IN ESSENCE WHAT WOUL BE A TRANSFER BETWEEN A GENERAL FUND AND DRAINAGE FUND WHICH I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT. I KNOW. I APOLOGIZE. I DIDN'T EDIT THE
TABLE HERE. >> THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE
1,000,809 . >> THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE. TO CONCLUDE, WE ARE SEEKING RECOMMENDED -- OF RECOMMENDATION ON HOW TO PROCEE WITH THE ORDINANCE REGARDING THE L.A.D. STANDARDS , THE COS TO OPERATE THE SERVICE , EXEMPTIONS AND, OF COURSE, THE AMOUNT OF THE FEE. I OPEN THE
FLOOR UP TO QUESTIONS . >> I'VE GOT ONE. COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE TITLED EXEMPTIONS ? OH. TWO SLIDES.
OKAY. I THINK IT WAS THE OTHER ONE. YES. OKAY. SO, WE HAD A WORK SECTION ON DECEMBER 6 WHE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED AND THEN WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 13TH. I REMEMBER IN THAT WORK SESSION THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE EXEMPTIONS AND THE MAIN GIST O THAT WAS A CONCERN FOR THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. OKAY. WE HAD ANOTHER SLIDE THAT SHOWE WHAT THE CURRENT PROPOSED ORDINANCE --
>> I SAY NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS
>> THE STATE SAYS NONTAXABLE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. YEAH.
YEAH. IT DOES. THIS IS WE ARE EXEMPTING HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTY WHICH DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE REQUIRED , COUNTY PROPERTY, SCHOOL DISTRICT , BUT WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS WHICH WA THE ONE THAT THE COUNSEL WAS ACTUALLY ASKING ABOUT AND CONCERNED ABOUT. YOU KNOW.
>> YEAH. GO BACK TO YOUR FEE SLIDE. NEXT TO THE LAST SLIDE.
IT HAD ALL THE COSTS. SO, THAT'S WHY WE GOT HUNG UP LAST TIME. I TRIED TO DO THE MATH A COUPLE TIMES. IS THAT 36 894
FOR CHURCHES AND AGGREGATE ? >> YES.
>> SO THE 559 IS A BALLPARK RIGHT NOW? ARE YOU GOING TO
ASSESS EACH CHURCH? >> THAT REPRESENTS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ERU FOR ALL 32 CHURCHES. EACH CHURCH WILL HAVE SOME PORTION OF THAT 559. TOGETHER THEY WILL ADD UP.
>> BASED ON THE SCOPE AND SIZE OF THAT CHURCH?
>> THAT'S RIGHT. EXACTLY. THA IS CORRECT.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THE TOTAL EXEMPTION IS THE RIGHT ANSWER, BUT CERTAINLY CONSIDERING A DIFFERENT METHODOLOGY OR MAYBE IT'S THE SAME WAY WE LOOK AT RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS THE SAME WAY WE LOOK AT RESIDENTIAL CALCULATION.
>> THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING TO GO WITH A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
>> IT MAY BE A SMALL AMOUNT TO US OR THE CITY BUT IF YOU HAVE CHURCH THAT'S GOT A SMALL CONGREGATION THAT HAS A LARGE FOOTPRINT THAT COULD BECOME A BURDEN.
>> THE AVERAGE COST , AGAIN , THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE WHAT IT IS FOR ALL CHURCHES. A CHURCH I THE CERTAINTY IS GOING TO BE BURDENED BY FAR. OVER $1100 AVERAGE ACROSS.
>> I THINK THAT'S A BURDEN THAT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR SOM CHURCHES. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M COMPLETELY ON BOARD BUT MAYBE
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DIFFERENT TYPE. >> WE ARE COUNTING EVERY RESIDENTIAL AS ONE ERU. COULD WE COUNT AS THREE? RESIDENTIAL IS WE LOOKED AT A SAMPLE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIE . A RANDOM SAMPLE. WE FOUND THA THE AVERAGE IMPERVIOUS AREA WA ABOUT 4000 SQUARE FEET . IF WE SET THAT AS THE STANDARD ERU THEN ALL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ARE ONE ERU.
>> THERE ARE RESIDENTIAL'S THAT HAVE A LOT MORE?
>> THERE ARE A FEW OUTLIERS, TO BE SURE. EVEN SOME OF THE LARGER RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ONLY HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF ACTUAL IMPERVIOUS AREA. THEY DON'T HAVE LARGE PARKING LOT .
YEAH. >> SOME HAVE LARGE PATIOS.
>> I THINK THAT IT'S REASONABL TO CONSIDER A DIFFERENT METHODOLOGY FOR THOSE INSTITUTIONS THAT AREN'T PROFITABLE . I WISH THERE WAS A WAY WE COULD DELINEATE 501(C) NONPROFITS INSTEAD OF JUST RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. I DON' WANT TO GET IN THE WAY OF RESPECTING RELIGION OVER A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE . I'M SORRY? ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY. >> WHO OWNS THEIR BUILDING?
>> I WAS THINKING ALONG THOSE SAME LINES. THERE MIGHT BE A FEW, BUT I THINK MOST OF THEM CASH
>> SOMEBODY PAYS FOR IT. >> CAN I CHANGE THE TOPIC FR JUST A SECOND? ON EXEMPTION SLIDE YOU MENTIONED EXEMPTING
SCHOOL DISTRICTS? >> YOU COULD.
>> THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN IT DOE .
>> WHY? >> YOUR REVENUE SHOWS ALMOST
$60,000 . >> IS THERE ANY REASON?
>> I DON'T REMEMBER THE COUNCIL DISCLOSING ANY CONCERN ABOUT TH SCHOOLS , BUT WE PUT THEM IN. I DON'T KNOW WHY.
>> I THINK IT'S WORTH A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT. I THINK THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHETHER IT WAS REQUIRED OR
OPTIONAL. >> IT'S CLEARLY OPTIONAL.
>> IS IT OPTIONAL? >> YOU ARE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING . IS IT OPTIONAL? OKAY. SO , THEY DO HAVE A LOT OF IMPERVIOUS AREA. YES, ABSOLUTELY.
>> SO WE HAVEN'T REASSESSED THI RATE FOR SOME TIME.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. I BELIEVE IT WAS 2002.
>> LOOKING FORWARD, WOULD WE B PLANNING TO LOOK AT THIS TO RECOVER THE COST ? BASED ON THE CALCULATIONS HERE WE ARE ACTUALLY OVER . IN THE FUTURE CAN SEE EXPENSES SO WE WOULD NEED TO REVISIT THIS ON ANOTHE BASIS I WOULD SUGGEST.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE WISE.
>> I THINK THERE COULD BE CONFUSION ABOUT THIS DISTRICT.
I'M NOT SEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THE EXEMPTIONS ARE HIGHER EDUCATION WHICH IS REQUIRED BUT NOT THE DRAT.
>> OKAY. YOU WILL GO AND CLARIFY THAT. WE ARE NOT APPROVING THE ORDINANCE TONIGHT WITH REGARDS TO THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS I THINK WE NEED TO COME TO SOME KIND OF CONSENSUS FOR STAFF SO THEY CAN PUT TOGETHER A DRAFT ORDINANCE.
>> I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE REQUIRES NONDISCRIMINATORY REASONABLE AND EQUITABLE. SO, I THINK WHEN YOU ARE CONSIDERING CHURCHES, SINCE IT IS SPECIFICALLY ALLOWED BY THE STATE TO BE EXEMPTED, I THINK
IT IS A YES OR NO CHOICE . >> YES OR NO TODAY. CAN YOU SA
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NO TODAY BUT YES FOR FUTURE?>> THERE IS AN IMPACT ON STORMWATER BY CHURCHES SO IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN LOWER THE BURDEN ON RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS BUT THEY STILL HAV TO PAY INTO THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT I THINK THAT IS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE FOR US. I'M LOOKING AT HERMAN RIGHT NOW. FOR A PARTIAL EXEMPTION?
>> YOU'RE ASKING FOR ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY . A REDUCED FEE. FOR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.
>> I'M STRUGGLING WITH THAT BECAUSE THE STATE AUTHORIZES US TO GRANT EXEMPTIONS TO RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. THE DEFINITION IS BASED ON THE TAX CODE WHICH PRETTY MUCH PARALLELS THE SAME DEFINITION FOR OTHER CORPORATIONS EXCEPT ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE . THE STATE LEVEL ALLOWS US TO EXEMPTED. I'
NOT SURE I HAVE EXEMPTION >> THERE IS A SEPARATE METHODOLOGY THAT ISN'T A PAY NOTHING BUT WE ARE NOT GOING T CHARGE YOU THE SAME LEVEL THAT WE CHARGE PROFIT ENTITIES.
>> I DON'T SEE THAT. >> I THINK THAT'S GOING TO CREATE MORE PROBLEMS FOR US. I THINK IT'S EITHER YES OR NO.
>> AS I SAID IN DECEMBER, ONE O THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS DISCOURAGE FUTURE CONSTRUCTION OF HUGE PARKING LOTS. THE CHURCH AND CITY HAS A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE SAYING THE NEXT MEGA CHURCH COULD COME IN HERE TO NORTH SHORE AND PUT IN 1 MILLION SQUARE FEET PARKING LOT AND PAY NOTHING. SO, I'M OKAY. I THINK IT IS A BURDEN FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS. AT LEAST $1000 ANNUAL IS NOT GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED EVENLY IN THE CHURCHES. IN TERMS OF REVENUE WE ARE GENERATING FOR COST OF SERVICE WE DON'T NEED IT. I DO NOT WANT TO NOT DISCOURAGE TH FUTURE OVERSIZED PARKING LOTS FROM FUTURE NONPROFIT RELIGIOU ORGANIZATIONS. THE QUESTION IS , CAN WE GRANT AN EXEMPTION FOR CHURCHES THAT EXIST TODAY WITHOUT CREATING THAT EXEMPTION FOR FUTURE JURISDICTIONS?
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE DISCRIMINATORY.
>> I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WH YOU CAN'T HAVE A SEPARATE METHODOLOGY FOR CHURCHES , EVEN IF IT'S THE SAME TYPE OF METHODOLOGY YOU HAVE RESIDENTIA .
>> THAT'S DISCRIMINATORY. THAT'S BASED ON THE EXERCISE OF RELIGION.
>> IN TERMS OF A MINIMUM ALL CHURCHES ARE GOING TO HAVE IMPERVIOUS AREAS. SOME MIGHT HAVE AREAS EQUIVALENT TO FIVE
ERU BUT ACROSS THE BOARD -- >> EVERYONE GETS FIVE. EVERYONE GETS 10. WHATEVER THE MAGIC NUMBER IS. CAN THEY DO THAT?
INAUDIBLE ] >> IT WILL BE AMENABLE TO CONSIDERING, FOR EXAMPLE, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
EQUIVALENT TO FIVE ERU'S. >> I STAND CORRECTED. MY CONSULTANT WHO IS HERE TO HELP WITH THESE KIND OF THINGS , PARAGRAPH D UNDER THE EXEMPTIO RULES DOES SAY MAY EXEMPT FROM
[00:35:01]
ALL OR A PORTION OF DRAINAGE .>> MAYBE YOU CAN DO IT BASED ON A PERCENTAGE?
>> ALL RIGHT. THE MAC WE CAN STILL DO THE ERU.
>> THE CHURCH HAS NEVER SAID THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO PAY.
THEY JUST WERE OBJECTING TO AN INCREASE WHICH COULD BE BURDENSOME FOR SMALLER CONGREGATIONS.
>> SORRY. >> SORRY. JUST A QUICK THOUGHT AS WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT RATE WOULD BE AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND WE KNOW WE ARE GOING T LOOK AT SOME LEADS DOWN THE ROAD . ONE OPTION IS EACH APPLICANT DEVELOPER CAN COME AND REQUEST AN EXEMPTION FROM THAT FEE BECAUSE IF THEY ARE PROPOSING A LARGE CAMPUS THAT MEANS THIS IS A LARGE CAMPUS AN IT IS BURDENSOME FOR US TO HAV THIS BE ATTACHED TO IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO CREATE IT. YOU CAN HAVE THE FEE READY TO BUT THEY CAN REQUEST AN ALTERNATIV OR EXEMPTION FROM THAT FEE FROM
COUNSEL AT THAT TIME . >> THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS IN THE
ORDINANCE. >> NOT AN EXEMPTION BUT A
CREDIT. >> A CREDIT OR WAIVER. A
REDUCTION IN FEE. >> IT COULD GO TO ZERO.
>> HE'S STILL SHAKING HIS HEAD
>> IF THERE IS ZERO IMPACT TO THE STORM SYSTEM THERE CAN BE N CHARGE. YOU CAN'T GET A WAIVER OR EXEMPTION . WHAT YOU'RE BASICALLY DOING IS TAKING THE CONCEPT OF EXEMPTION AND IT'S JUST A MORE ROBUST EVALUATION .
>> OKAY. WE ARE WAY OVER TIME. WE HAVE TO WRAP IT UP QUICK. I YOU CAN COME BACK TO COUNSEL AN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, COME BACK WITH THIS ORDINANCE WITH A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION METHOD.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. EVERYBODY GOOD? OKAY. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ITEM BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNIN OUT OF TIME. ALL RIGHT. NEXT
[3B. Discuss the Downtown Assessment Report prepared by the Texas Downtown Association (TDA) and presented by Shelly Hargrove, Marketing & Communications Coordinator for TDA.]
ITEM IS ITEM 3B. DISCUSSED THE DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENT REPORT PREPARED BY THE TEXAS DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION AND PRESENTED BY SHELLEY HARGROVE, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR FOR TDA. IS THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. OKAY.HALL. >> I THINK I EMAILED YOU GUYS ARE PREVIOUS . WE HAVE OUR NE DOWNTOWN MANAGER . SO, SHELLE HARGROVE IS WITH TEXAS DOWNTOW ASSOCIATION. SHE IS HERE FROM AUSTIN THIS EVENING SO WE HAVE BEEN SHOWING HER THE RED CARPET. SHE'S STAYING HERE IN TOWN. SO , I'M JUST GOING TO LET HER RUN TO HER PRESENTATION .
>> YEAH. I GUESS I SHOULD JUST SIT. OKAY. WELL, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MY NAME IS SHELLEY HARGROVE I'M WITH TEXAS DOWNTOWN AND WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO GET TO MEET TH MAYOR AND THE WHOLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM LAST JULY WHE IT WAS BURNING HOT . I MEAN, IT'S NOT FAR FROM IT TODAY.
TODAY IS , WHAT, 89 DEGREES? W WERE KIND OF UP AGAINST THE WALLS OF THE BUILDING TRYING TO GET INTO SHADE TO STAY COOL BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND A GREAT TEAM. I'M JUST HERE TO GIVE YOU A REALLY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENT THAT WE DID LAST JULY AND HOPEFULLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH TEXAS DOWNTOWN, WE ARE TH ONLY STATEWIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS DEDICATED
[00:40:03]
TO DOWNTOWN. WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. WE HAD A REALLY DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP . WE ARE MAD UP OF EVERYTHING FROM MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS , CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS , INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS. THAT'S THE GREAT THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN. SOME OF THE DRAWBACK IS THAT THERE IS A BROAD DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE DOWNTOWN AN THEY HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT DOWNTOWN AND WHAT THEY WANT TO HAPPEN WITH DOWNTOWN. THE DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENT IS ONE OF THE DOWNTOWN ASSISTANT SERVICES THAT WE DO OFFER OUR MEMBERS.WE HAVE OVER 300 MEMBERS AND W OFFER DIFFERENT SERVICES SUCH A PUBLIC SPEAKING, ANNUAL BOARD TRAINING IF THE DOWNTOWN BOARD WANTS TO HAVE ANNUAL TRAINING W DO THAT, WE DO STRATEGIC WORK PLANNING SESSIONS. OF COURSE WE DO DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENTS AND WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES. THERE IS SOMETHING NEW WE ARE ADDING THIS YEAR. ANYBODY WHO HAS DONE A DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENT WE ARE GOING TO OFFER DESIGN SERVICES. SO , FOR THOSE OF Y'ALL THAT HAVE EVER BEEN WITH A TEXAS MAINSTREET CITY THEY OFFER RENDERINGS OF WHAT A CONCEPTUAL DRAWING OF WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE IF CERTAIN THINGS WERE DONE. IT COULD BE SIMPLE PAINT SCHEME, SIGNAGE OR IT COULD BE OPENING WINDOWS THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED FOR DECADES. SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED THAT VISION BEFORE YOU CA MOVE ON BOARD TO A PROJECT. WE ARE GOING TO DO A PILOT PROGRAM WITH OUR DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENT CITIES AND SEE HOW THAT GOES. W ARE GETTING REALLY GREAT INITIAL RECEPTION. FOR THOSE O YOU WHO WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR ASSOCIATION AT TEXA DOWNTOWN.ORG IS A NEW WEBSITE W HAVE REDONE. LIKE MOST STRONG ORGANIZATIONS WE ARE MISSION DRIVEN. WE REALLY WANT TO SEE VIBRANT DOWNTOWNS ACROSS TEXAS.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE PROVIDE OUR MEMBERS WITH RESOURCES, CONNECTIONS, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY. WE ARE NOT A LOBBY GROUP. WE DON'T HAVE A LOBBYIST , BUT WE DEFINITELY EDUCATE OUR MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT. WE ARE PRO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PRO-SMALL BUSINESS PRO-HERITAGE AND CULTURE AS WEL AS ARTS AND TOURISM. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS JUST AN OVERVIE OF WHAT WE DID IN ROW LET. WE STARTED WITH THE STAKEHOLDER SURVEY AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM FILLED OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE AND THEN WE DID OUR OWN RESEARCH FOR THE TEAM BEFORE WE EVEN SHOWED UP TO ROWLETT. WE KIND OF KNEW A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND BEFORE WE GOT STARTED. WE SPENT THE DAY ROAMING AROUND DOWNTOWN. W TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS, WE WATCHED PEOPLE, WE WENT AND TALKED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT BUSINESS OWNERS AND TOOK A LOT OF NOTES WE DROPPED A LITTLE SALES TAX REVENUE. I LOVE THIS PANTS. I' GOING TO TELL YOU. A GREAT PAIR OF PANTS. OUR ASSESSMENT TEAM WAS MADE UP OF FOUR DIFFERENT PEOPLE. COLIN COOLIDGE WAS THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF THAT SPECIFIC BRAND, MYSELF ON MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH TEXAS DOWNTOWN, CATHERINE ZACH IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT TEXAS DOWNTOWN AND TOMMY IS WITH THE CITY OF TAYLOR. WE AL KIND OF WENT ON OUR WAY AND ASKED LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND TOOK LOTS OF NOTES AND THEN WE PROVIDED Y'ALL WITH AN ASSESSMENT REPORT. IN THAT ASSESSMENT REPORT, FOR THOSE OF Y'ALL WHO MAY HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET, WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS. Y'ALL KNOW THIS. THIS IS NOTHING I'M TELLING YOU THAT'S NEW. Y'ALL ARE IN A FABULOUS LOCATION IN THE DFW AREA. YOU HAVE ACCESS TO DAAR STATION WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR DOWNTOWN MEMBERS WOULD DIE FOR TO HAVE PUBLIC TRANSIT STATION IN DOWNTOWN. YOU HAVE A HUGE QUANTITY OF DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL UNITS . Y'ALL DON' REALIZE HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AS MANY RESIDENTS AS YOU HAVE. THAT'S YOUR CAPTIVE AUDIENCE, RIGHT? ALL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE. I'M NO TALKING ABOUT JUST THE VILLAGE. I'M TALKING ABOUT THESE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE AROUND THE PERIPHERAL. IT'S ALL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE. SO, Y'ALL AR WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME ON TRYING TO GET SOME OF THE HARDEST THINGS DONE. THAT'S MASS TRANSI AND RESIDENCES IN YOUR DOWNTOWN WOULD YOU HAVE RESIDENCES IN YOUR DOWNTOWN THEY TREATED MOR LIKE A NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY HAVE MORE PRIDE. THEIR FRONT YARD IS THE SIDEWALK AND THEIR
[00:45:12]
BACKYARD IS SOMETIMES THE ALLEYS. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE CLEAN AND SAFE. SO, THAT'S SOMETHING WE SAY A LOT I DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT. THE TO PRIORITY IS TO KEEP DOWNTOWN CLEAN AND SAFE. IF YOU CAN DO THAT, YOU ARE WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME. IT'S VERY COMPLICATED TO DO THAT WELL. SO, I APPLAUD Y'ALL FOR HAVING THIS IN YOUR DOWNTOWN . DOWNTOWN HAS THE AMAZING POTENTIAL TO BE THIS VIBRANT SPOT IN THE DFW AREA.WE KNOW THOSE DOWNTOWNS PEOPLE LOVE. WE GIVE THEM ALL THE TIME WE HEAR ABOUT MCKINNEY AND DENTON AND I'M SURE OTHER PEOPL HAVE OTHER FAVORITES BUT WE REALLY THINK THAT Y'ALL CAN HAV SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL. SO, WHEN WE DID THIS ASSESSMENT WE BROKE IT DOWN INTO THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. THAT'S O O WHAT WE WILL GO THROUGH QUICKLY TONIGHT DICTATING SOME HIGHLIGHTS. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PHYSICAL CONFIGURATION OF DOWNTOWN, THIS MAKES THE BUSINESSES AND EVENTS AND THEN SOME CHANGES TO YOUR CITY PROCESSES. SO, LET'S GET STARTED. PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS. AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST A REALL BRIEF RANDOM FIVE . ONE OF TH THINGS WE NOTICED IS IT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING ON THE BRANDIN OF DOWNTOWN. WE SAW VILLAGE AND THEN WE SEE THE VILLAGE ACTUAL RESIDENCE AND THEN WE ARE LIKE WHY IS THE VILLAGE? WE'RE KIND OF CONFUSED. WE RECOMMEND REMOVING VILLAGE AND MOVING FORWARD WITH SOMETHING JUST FOR DOWNTOWN. IN THAT WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO A POP OF COLOR. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO READ. YOU DON' HAVE TO DO THAT BRIGHT. WE REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET SOM VIBRANT COLOR IN THERE FOR YOU LOGO. THAT'S ONE SUGGESTION. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IS OBVIOUSLY A HIGH PRIORITY IN ANY DOWNTOWN THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS HAVE AN ACCIDENT. WE WANT DOWNTOWN TO BE KNOWN AS A PEDESTRIAN ZONE. WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE BECAUSE THE MORE THEY FEEL SAFE THE MORE THEY WILL WALK AROUND AND THAT GOES BACK TO THAT TOP PRIORITY OF BEING CLEAN AND SAFE IN YOUR DOWNTOWN. MAKING SURE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO WALK AROUND FOR HOURS BECAUSE THE LONGER THEY STAY IN YOUR DOWNTOWN THE MORE MONEY THEY'R GOING TO SPEND IN YOUR DOWNTOWN THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. THAT SALES TAX REVENUE. CAPITALIZE O THE HISTORY OF Y'ALL HIGHWAY HISTORY. I LOVE THAT Y'ALL HAV BEEN KEN BREWERY , BUT BEING AN OUTSIDER FROM AUSTIN I DIDN'T KNOW Y'ALL HAD THE HIGHWAY TO HEAR. WE LOOKED AT SOME HISTORI PHOTOGRAPHS AND I'M LIKE, THIS IS GREAT. I'M SURE SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE ROWLETT? Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY COOL HISTORY THAT Y'ALL CAN BRING TO LIFE. JUST AN EXAMPLE IS GEORGETOWN. THEY ARE THE RED POPPY CAPITAL OF TEXAS BECAUSE ONE OF THEIR WORLD WAR SOLDIERS BROUGHT BACK RED POPP SEEDS AND THEY STARTED SPREADIN AFTER WORLD WAR I. SO, IN OLD TOWN, WHICH IS NEAR THEIR DOWNTOWN, THEY STARTED SPREADIN NATURALLY. BACK THEN PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE TO MOW. THEY DIDN' HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON MOWING AND KEEPING EVERYTHING TRIM. THAT IS ONE OF THEIR MURALS THAT THE DID. IT'S GOT A LOT OF COLOR. THAT'S WHERE RED POPPIES COME FROM. JUST AN EXAMPLE. Y'ALL HAVE GOT SOME GREAT WIDE SIDEWALKS. THE BEST THING ABOUT WIDE SIDEWALKS IS TO HAVE CAFE SEATING. I KNOW Y'ALL KNOW THIS BUT PEOPLE WANT TO BE WHERE THEY CAN SEE OTHER PEOPLE. THEY WANT TO EAT AT A RESTAURANT WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF CARS IN THE PARKING LOT, WHERE PEOPLE ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME, YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE WINDOW, YOU CAN SEE OUTDOOR SEATING. SO, I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO ENCOURAGE RESTAURANTS AND OTHER PLACES TO HAVE OUTDOOR SEATING NEAR COFFEE SHOPS JUST BECAUSE OF THAT VERY REASON. I PEOPLE ARE DRIVNG TO RANDOMLY AND THEY SEE PEOPLE SITTING AND HAVING FUN THEY WANT TO STOP AN SIT AND HAVE FUN . AGAIN, THE LONGER YOU KEEP YOU WILL DOWNTOWN THE MORE MONEY THEY WILL SPEND. CURRENTLY, DOWNTOWN IS A LITTLE BIT BEIGE. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF COLOR. THAT'S THE GREAT THING. THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD COLOR IN YOU LANDSCAPE, TO EDIT IN YOUR DOWNTOWN BANNERS, IT'S A VERY COST-EFFECTIVE WAY. ANY OF YOU PUBLIC ART PROJECTS. I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET SOME COLO IN THERE. DON'T BE SCARED. WE ALWAYS SAY, DON'T THINK IT'S ONLY PAINT . YOU CAN PAINT OVER IT IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT. THES
[00:50:05]
ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS. MOVING ONTO SMALL BUSINESS AND EVENTS YOU HAVE THESE RESIDENTS DOWNTOWN. LET'S FIND OUT WHAT THEY WANT. LET'S ASK THEM WHAT THEY WANT. WHAT ARE SOME NEEDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNMATCHED THAT POSSIBLY CAN BE TRANSFORME INTO A TOP 10 TARGET LIST FOR BUSINESSES Y'ALL NEED TO GO AFTER . THIS IS WHAT THE SURVEY SAYS. HOW STRONG OF A MESSAGE WOULD THAT BE TO GET OUTIN THE MEDIA AND SAY WE SURVEYED X NUMBER OF DOWNTOWN RESIDENCE AN THIS IS THE TOP 10 THINGS THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO SEE. THIS IS OUR TOP 10 LIST OF WHAT WE ARE TARGETING. IT'S NOT WHAT I THINK. IT'S NOT WHAT'S EASY THINGS. IT'S NOT WHAT JANE DOE THINKS. IT'S WHAT THE RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR AND SAYING THEY WILL SUPPORT. REALLY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO DO THAT .YOU CAN BASE A LOT OF DECISION ON THOSE FACTS. YOU CAN SAY THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE ASKING US FOR AND WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET IT. SO, YOU HAVE GOT THIS LONG LINEAR DOWNTOWN BUT SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET OVERWHELMED WHENEVER YOU HAVE THAT MUCH SPACE. IT'S OVERWHELMING. YOU'VE GOT MORE OF THE SMALLER HOUSES AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE CORE AND THEN IT'S THE NEW CONSTRUCTION GOING ON AT THE OTHER END. WE REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO FOCU ON MAIN STREET BETWEEN COMMERC AND THE SKYLINE. YOU REALLY WANT TO GET THAT DENSITY.
THAT'S HOW WE REALLY TRY TO WOR WITH DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT. WE TRY TO GET THE CORE REALLY STRONG AND START GOING OUT IN RADIUS IS AND GETTING BIGGER AND BETTER. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT REALLY STRONG HEART OR CORE IN YOUR DOWNTOWN IT'S JUST SO RANDOM . AGAIN, IF YOU WANT DOWNTOWN TO BE A PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE IT'S GOING TO BE HAR IF YOU HAVE A LOT GOING ON WAY DOWN THERE BUT THEN YOU PARK DOWN HERE TO GO TO THE STORE. I HAVE TO GET BACK IN MY CAR AND DRIVE ALL THE WEIGHT TO THE OTHER END. YOU REALLY WANT THA CLUSTER. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT YOU TO ENCOURAGE. WE REALLY TR TO GET PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON THAT CENTRAL SPOT OF DOWNTOWN AND MAKE IT WORK REALLY WELL. I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THI BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ANYWAY. CITY HALL IS A WPA BUILDING. FOR THOSE OF Y'ALL WH WORK PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION, WPA ARCHITECTURE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. I LOVE THIS BUILDING I THINK THIS BUILDING HAS HUG POTENTIAL. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WANT TO EXIT QUICKLY . THIS COULD BE A GREAT LIBRARY. THIS COULD BE A GREAT ART CENTER.
THAT FRONT LAWN CAN BE ACTIVATED. SOME DOWNTOWNS HAVE THEIR COURTHOUSE LAWN AND THEY DO LIFE MUSIC OR THEY DO WHAT EVER THAT'S WHAT THIS COULD BE YOU COULD DEFINITELY REUSE IT FOR OTHER PURPOSES . YEAH. I WANT GO TOO FAR INTO THAT, BUT I LOVE THE BUILDING. IT'S A GREAT BUILDING. CHANGES TO CIT PROCESSES. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WHEN WE FIRST WALKED INTO THIS ROOM AND STARTED OUR DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENT THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FROM TAYLOR SAID IS DOWNTOWN A PRIORITY FOR COUNSEL IN THE BUDGET? IT WAS NOT. HE GOES, OKAY , IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT MEANS IT'S NOT. SO, WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS FOR DOWNTOWN TO BE A PRIORITY IN YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND IN YOUR CITY BUDGET BECAUSE WHAT THAT DOES IS IT SENDS A GREEN LIGHT TO THOSE PRIVATE INVESTORS AND THOSE LOCAL INVESTORS . CITY GOVERNMENT IS SERIOUS ABOUT INVESTING IN DOWNTOWN. IT ALMOST GIVES THEM PERMISSION AND A LITTLE BIT OF A SAFETY NET THAT IT'S SAFE FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND START INVESTING IN DOWNTOWN. A LOT O OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL DOWNTOWN PROJECTS ARE PRIVATE PROJECTS. SO. I COULD GIVE YOU EXAMPLES ALL OVER TEXAS. GEORGETOWN IS ONE. THEY DID A DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN. PROVIDED DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE FOR THEIR DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES. I KNOW Y'ALL GOT A LOT GOING ON WITH INCENTIVES WITH THE VILLAGE AND OTHER STUF
[00:55:04]
BUT MAYBE 380 AGREEMENTS OR OTHER FUNDING SOURCE CULD BE USED TO HELP FILL THOSE VACANT SPACES LIKE THE ONES THAT ARE NEAR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. MAYBE LOOK INTO THAT. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I THINK THE WORK OF THE CITY AND FAST-TRACK PROCESSES AND MAKE IT FASTER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES . TIME IS MONEY, OF COURSE. SO, WE REALL ENCOURAGE YOU TO REVIEW ALL YOUR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCES AND MAKE SURE THERE IS NOTHING PROHIBITING WHAT Y'ALL DECIDE YOU WANT. WHETHER IT HAS TO DO PEOPLE WALKING AROUND WITH A PLASTIC CUP AND THEY'VE GOT AN ALCOHOLIC AVERAGE. IF YOU WANT THAT YOU'V GOT TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL CAN LEGALLY DO IT. DID Y'ALL JUST HAVE A CONVERSAION ABOUT THIS? YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT. IT'S OKAY. YES. JUST MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE RECRUITING WINERIES AND DISTILLERIES AND MORE BREWERIES THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY LAWS O RULES OR ORDINANCES THAT PREVEN THAT. PICTURE YOU CAN DO UPPE FLOOR LODGING. THE FASTER YOU CAN GET SOMETHING THROUGH THE CITY PROCESS THE MORE ATTRACTIVE YOUR DOWNTOWN IS GOING TO BE FOR PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT. AGAIN, TIME IS MONEY. THEY KNOW THAT Y'ALL AR SERIOUS AND DEDICATED TODOWNTOWN. >> DID YOU GET ANY SENSE OF WHA
MIGHT TO BE DEALT WITH? >> I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER IF WE HEARD ANYTHING THAT WAS CONSISTENTLY MENTIONED. I DON' REMEMBER ANYTHING STICKING OUT WITH ME. DO Y'ALL REMEMBER ANYTHING? LIKE PEOPLE SAYING THIS IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM? PEOPLE ARE REALLY POSITIVE. IT' GREAT TO HEAR. SOMETIMES WE GO INTO DOWNTOWN AND THEY ARE NOT VERY POSITIVE. THAT'S GOOD. I DON'T RECALL ANY ONE THING STANDING OUT OR WEED OF DEFINITELY PUT IT IN THE ASSESSMENT AND SAID THIS NEEDS
TO BE A TOP PRIORITY. >> ONE THING WE HEAR FROM SMALLER BUSINESSES IS OUR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IS VERY CHALLENGING TO MANEUVER THROUGH SO, THAT'S ONE AREA THROUGH ROWLETT THAT WE COULD HELP EAS AND THROUGH THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS OR VIA OVERLAY ZONE FOR DOWNTOWN.
>> EVEN IN SMALLER DEVELOPERS THAT MAY NOT BE AS EXPERIENCED AS OTHERS STRUGGLE TO PROCESS. THEY DON'T HAVE THE TENACITY.
EXPERIENCE YET. SOMETIMES CITIES REALLY HAVE TO HANDHOLD.
YOU ALMOST HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO HANDHOLD AND , YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD CITIES WHERE THEY'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS .
WHETHER IT'S THE FIRE CHIEF OR BUILDING CODE GUY AND FIRE MARSHAL AND THEY SIGN OFF ON EVERYTHING BECAUSE THEY GET SO FRUSTRATED WHEN THEY GO BACK AN THEY ARE TOLD SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. THEY WER JUST TOLD. IT HAPPENS. THERE AR WAYS OF CITIES STREAMLINING THIS . THAT'S THE GREAT THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE A LIST THROUGH OUR MEMBERSHIP THAT YO CAN POST A QUESTION TO ALL MEMBERS . IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS YOU WANT ANSWERED , HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR DOWNTOWN? HAD YOU DEAL WITH UPPER FLOOR RESIDENTIAL AND THEIR PARKING I FRONT OF A BUSINESS ALL DAY? POSES QUESTIONS AS PART OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO TEXAS DOWNTOWN AN YOU'LL GET ANSWERS FROM ALL OVE THE STATE. YOU CAN STEAL IDEAS WE GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO STEAL IDEAS FROM OTHER DOWNTOWNS AND
MAKE THEM YOUR OWN. >> THAT'LL BE MY BIGGEST QUESTION.
SPOTS FOR OCCUPANCY LOAD AND GE TIED UP AND ALL THESE THINGS AN IT'S HARD TO GET OUTSIDE. THERE HAS TO BE A DIFFERENT BOX FOR DOWNTOWN. I'M SURE THERE'S A MODEL OUT THERE.
>> THERE'S A LOT. YOU CAN LOOK AT OTHER STATES AND THEIR
REQUIREMENTS. >> ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.
[01:00:03]
IT'S COMMON SENSE TO KNOW THAT PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR DOWNTOWN IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT THAN A PARKINGREQUIREMENT FOR A BIG BOX STORE >> IF YOU LOOK AT DOWNTOWN PROPERTIES THE LOT LINES AND GOING UNDERGROUND FOR PARK IS VERY EXPENSIVE. ANY UNDERGROUND PARKING IS SUPEREXPENSIVE.
PARKING GARAGES ARE NOT CHEAP. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STATES THAT ARE DOING AWAY WITH PARKING.
>> I THINK SOMETHING FOR DOWNTOWN HAS TO BE CONSIDERED
AND I THINK IT IS. >> SO, THIS IS THE CITY. IT' GOT A LOT GOING ON. JASON WAKE HAD THIS GREAT QUOTE. I KNOW IT'S A LONG ONE. JUST BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN SO MANY GREAT ASSESSES BECAUSE THEY HAD DOWNTOWN AS A TOP PRIORITY AND THEY HAVE THEIR ECONOMIC ENGINE SO, IT'S DONE IN TINY TOWNS LIKE GOLIAD AND IT'S DONE IN BI CITIES LIKE AMARILLO. WE ARE DEFINITELY HERE TO HELP Y'ALL WHEN WE CAN AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THIS EVENING.
>> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH TO YOU AND TO THE TEXAS DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION. WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION
OR COMMENTS? >> I'VE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THIS. I LOVE IT. SO MANY OF THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE THINGS THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT O OR THINGS I WOULD NOT THINK
ANYONE ELSE WOULD HAVE. >> FRESH EYES.
>> I THINK THERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL IDEAS.
>> THERE WAS A REQUEST IN THE PACKET FOR RECOMMENDATIONS CONDENSES . I WILL MENTION A PUBLIC PARK. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. NOT ONLY THE PIECES THEMSELVES BUT I THINK FROM AN OPERATION STANCE WE NEED SOMEON ON STAFF, EITHER PART-TIME OR FRACTIONAL PERSON THAT CAN SERVE AS A COORDINATOR FOR THE OUR PROGRAM. THERE'S MORE TO IT THEN WHAT LAURA IS ABLE TO HANDLE AND EXPECTING THE HUMANITIES COMMISSION A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THAT GROUP OF THREE PEOPLE TO MANAGE A PUBLIC ART PROGRAM FOR THE CITY. IT'S UNREASONABLE. AT SOME POINT, WE NEED TO EXPLORE THE OPTION OPERATIONALLY TO HAVE A FRACTIONAL MANAGER MAYBE AS PART OF WHAT OUR MANAGER DOES O SOMEONE THAT WORKS WITH HER. IT'S A NEED THAT WE DEFINITELY
HAVE. >> ALSO THE FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM . I KNOW WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF GETTING READY TO STAR OUR INCENTIVE POLICY REVIEW AN SO THOSE ARE INITIATIVES WE CA INCLUDE IN THE INCENTIVE POLICY. EVENTUALLY THAT WILL
COME TO COUNSEL. >> WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS DO YO
SEE FOR OUR CARMER'S? >> IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT I THINK.
THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL THINK. YEAH. REALLY WHAT WILL BE
SUPPORTIVE? >> WHAT SHOULD WE NOT HAVE?
>> TOO MUCH OF ONE THING IS NOT A GOOD THING. TOO MUCH OF ONE THING IS NOT GOOD. WE HAVE DOWNTOWNS THAT HAVE CLUSTERS O WINERIES . YOU CAN HAVE CLUSTER OF BREWERIES. WITH ANY OF THAT YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT YOU NEED THAT BALANCE WITH FOOD.
YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE EATING ENOUGH WHEN THEY'RE HAVING FUN AND DRINKING. THAT' A GOOD THING Y'ALL CAN DO.
SURVEY YOUR RESIDENCE . YOU'LL BE SURPRISED WHAT THEY COME UP
WITH. >> WE ALSO HAVE NONRESIDENT
CUSTOMERS. >> YEAH. THAT'S THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED WHEN WE TALK TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS. WE WOULD ASK IF THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS. WHAT DO SOME OF YOUR CUSTOMERS ASK FOR? DO Y'ALL HAV AN ICE CREAM SHOP? WHAT DO THE ASK FOR THAT Y'ALL DON'T HAVE? THAT CAN BE ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS MAY BE TO YOUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS. WHAT ARE THINGS CUSTOMERS ASK FOR THAT WE DON'T HAVE IN ROWLETT AND WE HAVE TO SEND THEM TO ANOTHER TOWN OR T
ANOTHER PART OF TOWN? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SORRY. WE
[4. DISCUSS CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]
ARE WAY OVER TIME. OKAY. COUNSEL, TAKE A LOOK AT THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR CONSIDERATION? ALL RIGHT. INAUDIBLE ][01:05:11]
>> LET'S CONVENE AND THE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.