[* A portion of this meeting is without audio *] [00:14:20] PLEASE STAND BY... ] [3.A. Receive an update from the Rowlett United States Post Office. ] [00:17:31] IF THEIR MAILBOX IS TAMPERED INTO IT, IT HELPS TO NOT ONLY REPORT IT TO US, BUT THE POSTAL [00:17:36] INSPECTORS. BECAUSE THEY MAY ASK QUESTIONS I MAY NOT THINK TO ASK OR KNOW [00:17:41] TO ASK OR ANSWER. BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION OF THE MAIL, YOU KNOW. SO. THAT IS SOMETHING THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TALK TO THEM BETTER. AND PLUS, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. THEY ARE GOOD AT THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT. I DO A LOT OF OTHER STUFF BUT NOT THIS. THERE IS OUR LOCAL NUMBER, IF YOU WANT TO PUT THAT ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE THAT WOULD BE GREAT, THAT WAY THEY CAN STOP CALLING THAT 800 NUMBER. I ANSWER THE PHONE. I COULD BE IN THE MIDDLE OF HELPING SOMEONE AND TELL THEM TO HOLD ON. THEN THE 877 NUMBER IS THE POSTAL INSPECTORS. THE PEOPLE IN BLUE, GET THEM TO HELP WITH MAIL THEFT, WHEN PACKAGES ARE STOLEN OFF THE PORCH. THAT IS THE FIRST THING THE POSTAL INSPECTORS ARE GOING TO ASK. DID YOU CONTACT THE POLICE? IF THEY HAVE PACKAGES STOLEN, MAIL STOLEN, THEY GOT TO GET THEIR LOCAL OFFICERS INVOLVED. WHICH OF COURSE FOR US IS ROWLETT, THAT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR, AS WELL. GETTING THAT POLICE REPORT AND FIGURING OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. A COOL THING JEFF TOLD ME ABOUT THE CAMERAS I DIDN'T KNOW. I LIKE THAT ROWLETT HAS THAT. THAT HELPS US BREAK DOWN OR CUT DOWN ON SOME OF THE MAIL THEFT THAT IS GOING ON. AND THEN, I DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE, WHERE THEY HAVE THE LOCKED MAILBOXES. IT'S A LITTLE DOOR, LIKE WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR, THERE'S ANOTHER LITTLE DOOR INSIDE THAT'S LOCKED. SO THE PEOPLE CAN'T JUST COME BY AND OPEN THE DOOR AND TAKE YOUR MAIL OUT. THAT IS SOMETHING SOME PEOPLE MAY WANT TO SIGN UP TO GO. -- DO. IF YOU LOOK AT USPS PACKAGE LOCKER, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. WE HAVE THE SMART LOCKERS IN OUR OFFICE. IN THE BUILDING HERE. SO YOU CAN HAVE PACKAGES DELIVERED THERE. IF YOU HAVE A PACKAGE THAT YOU ARE SHIPPING OUT, I THINK YOU ARE, YOU ARE SHIPPING OUT, YOU CAN PUT IT IN THE SMART LOCKER. MY CLERKS WILL GET IT OUT AND SEND IT OUT. ESPECIALLY IF IT'S SOMETHING OF OF HIGH VALUE AND YOU DON'T WANT TO LEAVE IT OR DROP IT IN THE BUILDING LIKE THAT. [00:20:01] SO THOSE ARE OTHER THINGS TO HELP KEEP MAIL THEFT DOWN. THE MAINTENANCE OF THE MAILBOXES, OF COURSE. I KNOW ROWLETT HAS A LOT OF GREAT MAILBOXES AND THEY ARE SINKING AND LEANING AND SHORTER THAN WHAT THE MINIMUM HEIGHT FOR THE CARRIER TO DELIVER FROM THE VEHICLE. I'VE BEEN GIVEN A LOT OF NOTICES OUT. SOME ARE GETTING THEIR MAILBOXES FIXED BUT WE HAVE SO MANY THAT ARE REALLY BAD. IT'S BEEN HARD TO KEEP UP WITH THEM. THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE I WILL BE WORKING ON NEXT. GETTING THE MAILBOXES UP TO STANDARDS. THIS IS, WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE 41-45 INCHES HIGH. AND NO MORE THAN 6-8 INCHES FROM THE CURB. NOW THE HEIGHT IS FROM THE TOP OF THE GRASS OR CURB OR WHATEVER, THAT'S WHERE THAT HEIGHT STARTS AT, AND IT'S AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR WHERE IT ENDS. SOMETIMES SOME PEOPLE THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT. AND I HAD TO, THAT'S THE BEST WAY I WAS ABLE TO EXPLAIN IT FOR THEM TO GET, THAT'S WHERE THOSE MEASUREMENTS COME FROM. I DO HAVE, THIS IS THE REAL ILLUSTRATION FROM OUR WEBSITE. I PASS THIS OUT A LOT TO CUSTOMERS. WHEN THEY SEE THAT, THEY ARE LIKE OH, OKAY, NOW I GET IT. SUPPOSEDLY WE AREN'T GETTING THOSE NEW ALIEN CARS ANY MORE, BECAUSE THEY ARE ON RECALL NOW. YEAH, YOU DIDN'T SEE THE NEW ALIEN POST -- IT LOOKED LIKE THE JETSON'S. SUPPOSEDLY WE AREN'T GETTING THEM NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE ON RECALL. THIS IS OUR TRADITIONAL LLV'S. THE OLD FLINTSTONE CARS. I TELL MY CARRIERS ALL THE TIME, THEY BETTER FLINTSTONE IT, BECAUSE THEY ARE BREAKING DOWN. BUT THAT'S THE AVERAGE OF WHAT A MALE -- MAILBOX SHOULD BE COMING TO THE VEHICLES. WE TALKED ABOUT THE LOCK BOXES ALREADY. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. ROWLETT ROAD, WHERE AM I, ROWLETT ROAD, ALMOST TO THE LAKE. 1620 ROWLETT ROAD, I THINK IT IS, THERE'S SOME BUSHES RIGHT THERE. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THOSE? [LAUGHTER] HE JUST SOLD YOU OUT. >> I WILL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK. 1620, IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? >> LET ME GRAB MY PHONE. I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT IS. >> ARE THEY IN THE MEDIAN? >> NO, IT'S ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET. >> IS IT BY THE SIDEWALK, OR BY SOMETHING ELSE? >> IT IS BY THE SIDEWALK. >> WE HAVE ADJACENT PROPERTY ON THERE. >> OKAY, HOLD ON. LET ME PULL UP THE ADDRESS. WHEN I TELL YOU, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS QUESTIONABLE ABOUT IT. IT'S RIGHT BEFORE THE LAKE. 1312 ROWLETT ROAD. MY CARRIER DRIVES AND PULLS INTO THIS DRIVEWAY AND HE GOES AROUND AND MAKES A U-TURN AND THERE IS LIKE THIS BRICK WALL THERE WITH ABOUT 6-7 MAILBOXES BUT THE HOMES ARE DEEP DOWN IN THE DRIVEWAY. THEY ARE NOT LIKE UP CLOSE TO ROWLETT ROAD. AND THERE'S LIKE A FARM THERE AS WELL. AND THEN THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF BUSHES. >> COULD WE NOT BE CALLING OUT CITIZENS STUFF? >> OH, I'M SORRY. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE A LINE OF SIGHT ISSUE. I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. >> I JUST NEED TO GET THOSE TRIMMED DOWN. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS CITY OR COUNTY, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S THE RESIDENTS. >> WE WILL TAKE A LOOK. >> LET'S SEE, I GOT THAT. AND THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT FOR ME. THAT'S ALL I HAD. >> CAN THEY DO EVERYTHING FROM THE APP? SAY I'M ON VACATION, DON'T DELIVER THE MAIL? >> YES. >> THEY CAN DO ANYTHING FROM THERE? THEY CAN HIDE FROM THE CERTIFIED MAIL? >> NO! [LAUGHTER] YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE CERTIFIED, OR IT GOES BACK AS UNCLAIMED. BUT YES, ON THE WEBSITE, OR IF YOU DOWNLOAD THE APP ON THE PHONE, YOU CAN PUT YOUR MAIL ON HOLD. YOU CAN FORWARD YOUR MAIL FROM THERE. YOU CAN DO A PREMIUM FORWARD, WHICH A LOT OF MY RETIRED CUSTOMERS DO THAT BECAUSE THEY TRAVEL A LOT. THEY MIGHT LIVE IN FLORIDA A LITTLE BIT, AND COME BACK. THERE'S A FEE FOR THE PREMIUM FORWARD, IT'S LIKE $20 A WEEK, WE WILL HOLD ALL THE MAIL AND SHIP IT IN A PRIORITY BOX TO THEM. BUT YES, THEY CAN DO ALL OF THAT FROM THERE. >> SO HOW BIG A PROBLEM IS MAIL THEFT? DO YOU HAVE NUMBERS? LIKE MONTHLY, ANNUALLY? I MEAN, IS THIS A HUGE PROBLEM? IS IT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM? >> I WANT TO SAY THAT I FEEL [00:25:05] LIKE I GOT MOST IT UNDER CONTROL, EXCEPT MY BLUE BOXES KIND OF IN THE BACK OF MY STATION. THEY HAVE STILL BEEN TAMPERING WITH THAT. BUT AS FAR AS THE CVU'S BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND REPLACING THEM, THEY CUT BACK DRAMATICALLY. >> HOW ABOUT RESIDENTIAL, GOING DOWN THE STREET OPENING THE MAIL? >> I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING SINCE, I WANT TO SAY SEPTEMBER. >> REALLY? >> YEAH. ONE OF THE THINGS I TOLD MY CARRIERS YOU NEED TO BE VIGILANT, WE HAVE TALKS ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE ARROW KEY THAT OPENS UP THE MAILBOXES. AND SO, WHEN I GOT THERE, LIKE I SAID, I HAD SIX OR SEVEN CDU'S BROKEN INTO, AND AS FAR AS REGULAR MAILBOXES, IT WAS ABOUT TEN THAT WAS GOING ON. I GOT THERE LAST YEAR IN JANUARY, SO. I PUT UP DIFFERENT THINGS, PUT UP DIFFERENT SIGNS ON THE MAILBOXES MAKING SURE THEY KNEW THESE WERE THE GOVERNMENT MAILBOXES. PENALIZING WHAT COULD HAPPEN AND EVERYTHING AND REPLACING A LOT OF THE MAILBOXES. AND I THINK THERE WAS A SITUATION WHERE SOMETHING WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO. WE GOT THAT TO THE POSTAL INSPECTORS. THAT HELPS A LOT. ESPECIALLY WITH THE RING DOOR CAMERAS AND EVERYTHING, AND CUSTOMERS HAVING CAMERAS ON THEIR HOMES, THAT HELPS THE POSTAL INSPECTORS A LOT. >> BUT IF I'M HEARING YOU, IT'S MORE ISOLATED? NOT LIKE A CRIME WAVE OF MAIL THEFT GOING ON? >> IT'S CUT BACK SOME SINCE I'VE GOTTEN HERE. >> OKAY. >> YOU HAD A QUESTION EARLIER, WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION EARLIER? >> I DON'T REMEMBER. >> SEE, THAT'S WHY I TOLD YOU TO ASK ME THEN. >> I'M SURE YOU ALREADY FIXED THIS. WE TALKED ABOUT IT'S BEEN PROBABLY SIX MONTHS SINCE I DID IT. BUT THE LAST FEW TIMES I PUT >> TO HAVE IT DELIVERED? >> YEAH. >> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT GETS MISSED A LOT. AND I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. I'M GETTING ON MY CARRIERS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PAYING ATTENTION. WHETHER YOU CAME UP TO THE STATION AND FILLED OUT THE YELLOW CARD. >> NO, I DID IT ONLINE. >> OR YOU DID IT ONLINE. I TELL THEM ALL THE TIME, READING IS FUNDAMENTAL. YOU HAVE THE NUMBER, LET ME KNOW, I WILL GET ON THEM. HI I HAD ONE OF MY CARRIERS, SHE LEFT MAILBOXES OPEN. I HAD TO LEAVE TO GO SECURE THEM. THE BAD THING IT WAS AT MY APARTMENTS. OH MAN. WE HAD A LONG TALK THAT DAY, YEAH. SHE WAS JUST APOLOGETIC, I'M LIKE DON'T DO IT AGAIN. SHE IS LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO GET ME IN TROUBLE? I'M LIKE, I AM YOUR TROUBLE. I'M YOUR BOSS AND YOU DID IT AT MY APARTMENT. I AM WORKING ON THAT. >> ONE MORE THING. I KNOW ARE IN A BIG HURRY TRYING TO GET THE MAIL OUT. CAN YOU JUST ASK THEM TO PUT THE FLAG DOWN WHEN THEY PICK UP THE MAIL. >> NOT A PROBLEM. >> I'M TRYING TO REDUCE MY STEPS. >> YEAH, THAT IDENTIFIES TO YOU WE PICKED UP YOUR MAIL. YEAH, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT, NOT A PROBLEM. HOLD ON, LET ME MAKE MY NOTES. I HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF TO TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK. >> MAILBOX IS ABOUT 40 INCHES, SO THEY ARE PROBABLY HAVING TROUBLE REACHING IT. >> THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT IT IS, IT'S TOO SHORT. [LAUGHTER] OKAY, JEFF, WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO ASK ME? >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, WITH THE CITY WE HAVE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS WE ARE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY WITH AND I'M HAPPY TO DO SOME OF THIS. WHAT DO YOU HAVE AS FAR AS COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AND HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC? IS THERE A ROWLETT POST OFFICE SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? >> THERE ISN'T. I'M WAITING FOR SOMEBODY ABOVE, BECAUSE I CAN'T DO IT ON MY OWN, I HAVE TO HAVE PERMISSION TO START THAT PAGE. >> OKAY. >> I THINK I REACHED OUT TO YOUR PAGE WHEN WE WERE CLOSED FOR THE ICE STORM. I ENDED UP TEXTING YOU BECAUSE NOBODY RESPONDED TO ME WHEN I EMAILED ON THE PAGE. I KNOW THAT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP. I DO WANT TO SAY THIS, THOUGH. ROWLETT IS NOT MY FINAL DESTINATION. I'M LOOKING TO BECOME A POSTMASTER. THIS IS A GROWING STEPPING STONE FOR ME, I DO WANT TO BE A POSTMASTER SOME DAY. THIS IS WHAT A POSTMASTER DOES. THIS IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME AS WELL. >> YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE THAT LINE OF SUCCESSION WHERE SOMEONE IS RUNNING THAT PAGE IN PERPETUITY. [00:30:02] >> RIGHT. >> JUST BECAUSE, I SHARED SOME OF THE STUFF WHEN YOU GUYS WERE BECAUSE OF THE STORM. THEN I GET QUESTIONS, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS. IT'S NOT MY POST OFFICE, RIGHT? BUT I'M HAPPY TO RELAY INFORMATION BECAUSE IT HELPS OUR RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE 4-5 DAYS WITHOUT MAIL. >> THE SAD THING ABOUT THAT, IT WASN'T JUST ROWLETT, IT WAS ALL OF FW. WE GET MAIL FROM AIRPLANES, TRAINS AND TRUCKS. IF THEY AREN'T MOVING, GUESS WHAT, WE CAN'T GET THE MAIL. THE MAIL WAS STUCK WHERE IT WAS. WHEN WE FINALLY GOT THE MAIL WE WERE SO FAR BEHIND. I THINK THEY JUST GOT CAUGHT UP THIS LAST FRIDAY. THAT'S HOW BAD IT WAS. WE DIDN'T GET MAIL FOR 5-6 DAYS. LIKE I SAID, IT WASN'T JUST ROWLETT, IT WAS ALL OF DFW. IF THE PLANT DOESN'T GET THE MAIL TO PROCESS IT, THEY CAN'T SEND NOTHING OUT TO THE STATIONS FOR US TO DELIVER. I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING THAT THE CUSTOMERS DON'T UNDERSTAND. WELL THE MAIL IS JUST NOT HERE, IT DON'T SHOW UP MAGICALLY HERE, IT HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. >> THERE'S NO BLUE -- >> NO, WE DON'T HAVE THE BIRDS AND PIGEONS NO MORE. [LAUGHTER] THIS WAS ONE OF THE WORST WINTERS I'VE SEEN. IN 2021 IT WASN'T THAT BAD. NOT LIKE THIS, THIS ONE WAS PRETTY BAD, SO. >> AND FROM A STAFF AND CODE ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, WE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT OUR INABILITY TO MAINTAIN MAILBOX STANDARDS OR TO CITE PEOPLE FOR MAILBOX STANDARDS. THAT FALLS UNDER THE POST OFFICE'S JURISDICTION. IS THAT CORRECT? >> NO, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CITE PEOPLE IF THEIR MAILBOX IS UNSAFE OR NOT BEING MAINTAINED APPROPRIATELY. WE ALSO HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS US TO CITE A VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT OF THE MAILBOX. >> OH, AWESOME. >> IT'S A STATE LAW. BASICALLY, IF IT'S -- >> WHAT? >> IF IT'S IMPEDING THE FUNCTION OF A GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THEM, THAT WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION CODE. >> I REMEMBER THAT, THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED NOT TO PROCEED WITH ANOTHER ORDINANCE BECAUSE OF THT ONE STATE LAW THAT EXISTED. >> I HAD ONE OF YOUR OFFICERS ASK ME ONE TIME ABOUT IT AND I WASN'T FOR SURE WHERE AND HOW TO FIND IT. >> IT'S IN THE TRANSPORTATION CODE. >> OKAY. >> SECTION 545.305. SECTION 9. >> A9. >> HOLD ON. TRANSPORTATION. SECTION? >> 545.305, A9. >> OKAY. COOL. THAT WORKS. SO NOW, I MEAN, I CAN EVEN TYPE UP NICE LETTERS, NICE NASTY LETTERS STATING THAT FOR PEOPLE -- THAT'S ALWAYS -- [LAUGHTER] I DO IT SO NICE. I'VE DONE THAT FOR SOME OF MY CUSTOMERS WHERE THEIR MAILBOXES, HOW DO YOU EXPECT THE MAIL CARRIER TO DELIVER THE MAIL, BECAUSE IF HE GETS CLOSER, HE WILL HIT IT AND THEN THEY GET MAD BECAUSE WE HIT IT. THEY KNOW BETTER NOT TO HIT IT, THEY CAN'T GET INTO NO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT. >> MAYOR WINGET: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, THIS IS SUPER HELPFUL. IF YOU COULD CIRCULATE THAT SLIDE DECK SHE PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL SO WE CAN SHARE THAT OUT ON OUR DIFFERENT SOCIAL MEDIA. I THINK THAT'S GOOD. >> JUST TO HELP WITH THE CARRIERS WORKLOAD. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DELIVER MIC] >> MM-HM. NO. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME. IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE. YOU HAVE THE NUMBER, FEEL FREE TO CALL UP THERE. MY WORK SCHEDULE IS 10:00-7:00. YOU ALL CAN CALL UP THERE. I ALWAYS ANSWER THE PHONE, SO. AND ASK ME ANYTHING. >> THANK YOU. SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOUR DAY OFF. HOPE THIS WAS A DAY OFF FOR YOU. >> NO, I HAD TO WORK. >> MAYOR WINGET: NEXT ITEM 3B, [3.B. Presentation of the City's Utility Assistance Program and Grants to the Salvation Army and Senior Citizens of Rowlett (SCOR) ] PRESENTATION OF THE CITY'S UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND GRANTS TO THE SALVATION ARMY AND SENIOR CITIZENS OF ROWLETT (SCOR). MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS [00:35:07] PULL TOGETHER THE ANNUAL AGREEMENT WE DO WITH SALVATION ARMY. WE HAVE HEARD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY GET THE MONEY OUT TO PEOPLE IN NEED. THE UTILITY BILLING, WHICH IS UNDER MY PURVIEW, THEY GAVE ME FEEDBACK THAT SOMETIMES CUSTOMERS CALL, I CALLED SALVATION ARMY BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE. THAT WAS THE GENESIS OF BRINGING THIS TO YOU. IS THERE A BOTTLENECK, PROBLEM IN THIS PROGRAM? NOT BEING AS EFFECTIVE AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO BE. WHAT I FOUND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE $31,000 WE HAVE BEEN ALLOCATING FOR SOME TIME. THAT WAS BASED OFF A CDBG PROGRAM AT ONE POINTFOR THIS PROGRAM. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER CDBG HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE SALVATION ARMY. THEY ARE STILL FOLLOWING THE CDBG ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, WHICH ARE REALLY RESTRICTIVE. SO, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT AND SEE IF YOU ARE OPEN TO POTENTIALLY CHANGING THOSE, OR THERE IS ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE. >> ARE YOU SAYING THE MONEY, THEY ARE GOING BY ANOTHER RULE, NOT OUR RULE THAT WE GAVE MONEY? >> WE HAVE ASSIGNED TO THEM, THAT THEY MUST FOLLOW THE CDBG, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ELIGIBILITY, IT'S A BLOCK GRANT. >> THEY ARE BEING HAMPERED BY THAT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S EXACTLY TRUE. SO THOSE RESTRICTIONS, THIS GOES OVER, BASICALLY A CAP OF $250 PER FAMILY PER 12 MONTHS ROLLING PERIOD. AND ALSO HAS THE FEDERAL WAGE GUIDELINES WHICH I WILL GO OVER IN MORE DETAIL IN A SECOND. BASICALLY THEY HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO EXPEND THOSE FUNDS. THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE OUT OF FUNDS. THEY'RE NOT. THEY HAVE MORE FUNDING AVAILABLE. BECAUSE WE PUT THIS INTO A DEDICATED FUND THAT ROLLS OVER FROM YEAR TO YEAR, IT DOESN'T DISAPPEAR AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THEY HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO THEM NOW. >> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I GOT AN EMAIL TODAY, FOR ANYBODY LISTENING, THIS IS CDBG MONEY, STILL. THIS IS CITY MONEY NOW? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. OKAY, SO THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR MONEY. WE ARE FOLLOWING FEDERAL GUIDELINES BUT IT IS CITY -- >> IT'S GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS IS HISTORY, SO I COULD GET IT WRONG, IF ANYONE WANTS TO CORRECT ME, PLEASE DO SO. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CDBG MONEY A WHILE BACK, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE MADE, PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ARE HARD TO BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF THESE RESTRICTIONS. SO WE RECOMMENDED THAT WE SPEND MONEY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO SPEND IT QUICKLY ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. ALLEYS AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT. WHERE WE CAN GET THAT MONEY EXPENDED MORE EFFICIENTLY. WHEN THAT CONVERSATION WAS HAD WITH A PREVIOUS COUNCIL, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LET GO OF THIS. SO THEY MOVED IT TO BEING FUNDED BY GENERAL FUND DOLLARS AND CHANGED THE CDBG PROGRAM. BUT THEY STILL WANTED TO DO IT AND THEY, FOR SOME REASON, APPLIED THE CDBG RESTRICTIONS ON GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. >> OKAY. >> SEE, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY KNOWS, I AM ON THE I HAVE NOT HEARD THEY HAD ISSUES. THEY KNEW THEY HAD THE MONEY. I KNOW THERE'S NEED FROM OUR CITIZENS. SO IF WE CAN MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER, I'M ALL FOR THAT. >> GREAT. THE OTHER THING THAT CAME UP, SCOR WHO DID NOT COME FOR FUNDING THIS YEAR, BUT THEY HAVE COME FOR FUNDING IN THE PAST. THEY HAVE ALSO USED THEIR FUNDING FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE IN THE PAST. IN FACT, LAST FISCAL YEAR THEY GAVE ABOUT $18,000, ABOUT HALF OF THEIR GRANT ON UTILITY ASSISTANCE. THEIR RESTRICTIONS ARE DIFFERENT. THEY ONLY AWARD TO PEOPLE 55 AND ABOVE BUT THEY HAD OTHER GUIDELINES AS WELL. THEY SENT US AN EMAIL SAYING I KNOW WE DIDN'T APPLY BUT WOULD YOU STILL CONSIDER FUNDING US. THIS HAS NOT BEEN FUNDED. IF COUNCIL WANTED TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION THAT WOULD TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD. SCOR IS LIMITED, IT'S SENIORS. BUT THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN IS A LITTLE FLEXIBLE. THEY ARE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE HOW THEY PROVIDE MONEY. SALVATION ARMY, THEY ARE RESIDENTS BUT STILL USING THE FEDERAL STANDARDS WHICH IS PRETTY HIGH RESULTING IN A BIT OF A BOTTLENECK IN THEIR FUNDING AVAILABILITY. HERE ARE THE RESTRICTIONS. YOU CAN LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF LINES HERE, YOU COULD SEE THE DIFFERENCE. [00:40:05] MUCH MORE HERE ON THE SALVATION ARMY SIDE. THAN YOU SEE ON THE SCOR SIDE. THE SCOR SIDE LIMIT IS HIGHER. THEY ALSO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY TO THAT AS WELL. WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINANCIAL QUALIFICATIONS, THEIR LIMIT IS TIGHTER. IT'S NOT JUST THE FINANCIAL STANDARD THAT IS CREATING THE BOTTLENECK. IT'S PROBABLY MORE LIKELY THE CAP AND THE 12-MONTH RUNNING AVERAGE THAT IS PUTTING A LIMITATION ON THEIR ABILITY TO ASSIST PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEED. WATER AND SEWER BILLS CAN BE OVER $250 IN JUST ONE MONTH IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY. SO THAT'S A PRETTY TIGHT LIMITATION IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY THAT HAS A LOT OF NEED. DOING THAT ONCE EVERY 12 MONTHS PROBABLY COULD BE A CHALLENGE. BUT THEIR RESTRICTION, SCOR, THE INDIVIDUALS I SPOKE WITH, THEY ONLY USE THAT $39,000 REGARDLESS OF SIZE OF FAMILY. FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE, 55 IS MUCH MORE LIMITING THAN THE FEDERAL STANDARD THAT'S BEING USED BY THE SALVATION ARMY. SO THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE PROBLEM WE NEED TO SOLVE. IT'S MORE ABOUT THE ANNUAL PAYMENT. WE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND YOU FUND BOTH. THAT CREATES A FORUM SHOPPING SITUATION. SOMEONE CALLS ONE AND DON'T GET THE RIGHT ANSWER THEY CALL THE OTHER AND GO BACK AND FORTH. OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT YOU SELECT ONE PROVIDER FOR YOUR UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. YOU DESIGN THAT PROGRAMIN A WAY YOU ARE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTING IT IN THE FUTURE. SO A COUPLE OF OPTIONS, STATUS QUO, OBVIOUSLY. OR GO TO SALVATION AND REMOVE SOME OF THE RED TAPE, SOME OF THE STANDARDS THERE, OR YOU COULD DO SOMETHING MORE SIGNIFICANT. IF YOU WERE GOING TO GO WITH RELAXING SOME OF THE CRITERIA FOR SALVATION ARMY, THESE ARE SOME OPTIONS I WOULD SUGGEST. GIVING THEM A LITTLE MORE OF A CAP. ALLOWING EVERY SIX MONTHS RATHER THAN JUST EVERY 12 MONTHS, THAT WOULD CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOME NEED OUT THERE. >> THIS IS WITHIN THE SALVATION ARMY PROGRAM? >> SALVATION ARMY. THERE'S NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT WE USE THE CDBG REQUIREMENTS THERE. IT IS YOUR MONEY TO GRANT AND YOUR MONEY TO RESTRICT BASED ON YOUR INTEREST. >> DOES, AND MAYBE KNOWS THE ANSWER. DOES THE SALVATION ARMY -- OR HVE THE CITY DOING THAT? >> THEY ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH (?) IS PARTICIPATING. BUT GARLAND HARPING. -- PARTICIPATING. I DON'T THINK WILEY. >> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEIR REQUIREMENTS ARE AND HOW THEY ARE DISTRIBUTING THE MONEY. THERE'S DIFFERENT GUIDELINES. >> THESE CHANGES CAME FROM FEEDBACK FROM THE SALVATION ARMY ABOUT THEIR PROGRAM WITH GARLAND. THEY DO HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY. MORE OFTEN AND A HIGHER CAP. >> THAT WAS THEIRS THAT YOU SHOWED? >> NO. THESE ARE FEEDBACK FROM THEM. >> I TALKED TO THE SALVATION ARMY MANAGER AND SAID WHAT THINGS GIVE YOU MORE FLEXIBILITY. THEY SAID OTHER CITIES, INCLUDING GARLAND DO IT EVERY SIX MONTHS AND HAVE A LITTLE HIGHER CAP THAN YOU GUYS DO. I DIDN'T ACTUALLY GET GARLAND. I'M NOT GIVING YOU GARLAND'S STANDARDS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO TRACK THAT DOWN, I CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. >> IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SCOR ALSO CAN FUND OTHER THINGS BESIDES JUST UTILITIES. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> I DO THINK WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT. PERSONALLY, WHEN I WORKED FOR THE CITY, I HAD A COUPLE OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HAVE FAMILY AND THEY HAD SOME, I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT LITTLE PROJECTS WE WERE ABLE TO HELP WITH. BUT THEY WERE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT IT MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THESE SENIORS' LVES. SO I WOULD HATE TO NOT FUND THE SCOR PROGRAM. JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST UTILITIES. SALVATION ARMY IS JUST UTILITIES, CORRECT? >> CORRECT, RENTAL ASSISTANCE. >> RENTAL ASSISTANCE. [00:45:03] >> RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS FUNDED THROUGH CDBG. >> >> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS, I GUESS WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS IS, SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY OUR ELDER POPULATION, THEY COULD BE RIGHT ON THAT KNIFE'S EDGE. ONE LITTLE THING CAN CAUSE EVERYTHING TO COME CRASHING DOWN. IF A $500 GRANT IS GOING TO KEEP THEM FROM BECOMING HOMELESS, I THINK THAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY. >> SO REFRESH MY MEMORY, WHY DOES SCOR NOT >> THEY DIDN'T KNOW. >> THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME A REASON. >> THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THEY HAD TO REAPPLY FOR THE GRANT EVERY YEAR. >> AND SCOR IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION. I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO. THEY DEFINITELY HAVE A VERY MEANINGFUL OBJECTIVE. I GUESS LOOK AT IT FROM A PROCESS AND MONEY MANAGEMENT POINT OF VIEW. I'M GOING TO ASSUME WITH SALVATION ARMY YOU HAVE A GROUP THAT IS MANAGING THIS. THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THEY ARE FOLLOWING THESE. THERE'S A HIGH LEVEL OF MANAGEMENT OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE GOING OUT. I DON'T KNOW, ORGANIZATIONALLY IF SCOR HAS THAT SORT OF ROBUST STRUCTURE. IF THEY WERE TO GO THAT DIRECTION, WOULD THEY NEED TO REORGANIZE OR INCREASE THE LEVEL -- YOU KNOW, SORT OF INCREASE THE LEVEL OF -- PROCESS MANAGEMENT. >> INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROCESS. >> MORE PROCESS MANAGEMENT. >> SO IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE I HAVE DEALT WITH THIS. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING, LIKE THERE IS AN INTERVIEW AND THEN THAT INTERVIEW RESULTS ARE TAKEN TO THE SCOR BOARD AND THE BOARD DECIDES THE GRANT. SO IT'S NOT JUST ONE PERSON SAYING. >> WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE SCOR BOARD ALL MEMBERS OF SAY THE SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE? OR DO THEY REPRESENT A CROSS SECTION OF THE CITY? >> IT'S A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION. THEY ARE A FUNDED NONPROFIT. AND I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY, GOSH, I DON'T HONESTLY REMEMBER, BUT I WOULD SAY SIX BOARD MEMBERS. >> I KNOW WE HAVE NEVER APPOINTED -- >> I HEAR JEFF IS KIND OF INVOLVED. >> JEFF, THE LADY FROM THERE ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. JEFF IS ON THE WALL HERE FOR THE MAYOR'S AWARD AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS. I THINK HE IS A TRUSTED COMMUNITY -- >> I DON'T AT ALL DOUBT THEIR MISSION. YOU KNOW. >> I WOULD SAY THAT IF THEY NEEDED TO, IF THEY NEEDED TO BRING IN THEIR PROCESS FOR US TO REVIEW, I'M SURE THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO DO THAT. >> I GUESS THIS IS FOR CHRISTOFF, WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE MAYBE CODIFIED A LITTLE TIGHTER IF IT OPERATED UNDER AN M.O.U. >> OF COURSE. >> OR IF WE WANTED TO GO WITH SCOR, WOULD THAT MAYBE PUT MORE GUARDRAILS, I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD GUARDRAILS, BUT MAYBE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, MORE CLARITY TO WHAT'S GOING ON? I GUESS THAT'S MY BIG CONCERN. GIVING BASICALLY A GROUP THAT'S SOMEWHAT INSULAR IN WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND NOT HAVING THAT VISIBILITY. IF WE ARE WORKING UNDER AN M.O.U. THEN YOU ARE. THAT SEEMS TO MAYBE ALLAY THOSE CONCERNS OF WHO IS REALLY WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? >> AND THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN DOING. THEY ALSO DO MONTHLY SEMINARS. >> THEY DO THE PSYCHIATRIC THING? >> YES. IN THE PSYCHIATRIC CARE. >> THE MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH ARE ALL IMPORTANT. I GUESS AGAIN IT'S MORE ABOUT THE ACTUAL ADMINISTRATION. AND IF IT IS CITY MONEY, IT'S NO LONGER FEDERAL MONEY, IF [00:50:06] IT'S CITY MONEY, I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT ON US TO AT LEAST HAVE VISIBILITY AND SOME SENSE OF WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON. I'M NOT AGAINST IT AT ALL. I JUST THINK THAT'S JUST GOOD BUSINESS. >> SO STRICTLY FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, UNDER WHAT MECHANISM ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE ENGAGING WITH EITHER ORGANIZATIONS IF THE GRANT SERVICES MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS RESCINDED? WHAT PRIORITY IS TO ENGAGE WITH ANY ORGANIZATION OUTSIDE AN M.O.U. WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM IN EXISTENCE? >> SALVATION ARMY, WE DO HAVE AN M.O.U. WITH THEM. WE WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE THEM AS WE HAVE UNDER THAT M.O.U. THAT HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED. >> AND IT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR THE RENTAL, EXCUSE ME, THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE, NOT THE RENTAL WHICH IS GOVERNED STILL BY THE CDBG REGULATIONS. >> AGAIN, THAT'S OPTIONAL BECAUSE THOSE ARE TERMS WE ADDED TO THE M.O.U. I ADDED IT TO YOUR AGREEMENT, THE PRIOR YEAR'S M.O.U. FOR THE SALVATION ARMY. I DON'T HAVE AN M.O.U. FOR SCOR. WE CERTAINLY COULD DECIDE TO DO THAT IF THAT'S YOUR INTEREST. BUT YOU SAID YOU HAD A POLICY TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY GRANTS. THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE A CHANGE TO THAT POLICY. >> I THINK I'M IN FAVOR OF STICKING WITH THE SALVATION ARMY, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF WHAT MR. SCHUPP MENTIONED THEY HAVE A BACK OF THE HOUSE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS. THEY KIND OF HAVE THAT ENGINE, IF YOU WILL, THAT ALLOWS ALL THAT TO FUNCTION REALLY WELL. BECAUSE THEY DO THIS WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN ADDITION TO ROWLETT. WHEN THERE'S ALREADY THAT PROCESS BUILT OUT, IT'S NOT HAVING TO BE INVENTED ON THE FLY AND WE ARE HAVING TO MAKE MAJOR CHANGES TO WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE JUST NEED TO REMOVE SOME RESTRICTIONS, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE SIMPLER FOR THEM TO CARRY OUT THEIR MISSION, IN MY OPINION. >> WHAT WAS THE SHORTFALL EITHER LAST YEAR OR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS? >> YOU MEAN HOW MUCH DID THEY NOT SPEND? >> HOW MUCH DID THEY NOT SPEND? >> I DIDN'T HAVE THAT NUMBER. >> ABOUT 13,000? >> ABOUT 13,000, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> BUT AGAIN, WE KEPT THAT IN A FUND THEY STILL HAVE ACCESS TO TODAY, THEY JUST NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT. >> IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE. IT'S STILL AVAILABLE TO THEM. >> IT'S NOT A USE IT OR LOSE IT. >> CORRECT. >> BECAUSE IT'S G.O. FUNDING WE SET ASIDE. >> IT'S A PROJECT ACCOUNT WHICH CARRIES FORWARD. >> THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE GOAL. IF WE GOT THAT MONEY, LET'S USE IT. IT'S TO HELP PEOPLE. IT DOESN'T DO ANYBODY ANY GOOD SITTING IN AN ACCOUNT. >> SELECT ONE OF THESE OPTIONS, ESSENTIALLY, TO KIND OF CARRY THIS AHEAD? >> YEP, NEED SOME DIRECTION. IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH SALVATION ARMY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY IN THE GLIDE PATH, SOME CONSENSUS FROM YOU ABOUT WHAT THOSE RESTRICTIONS SHOULD BE. >> THAT WOULD JUST LOOK LIKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE M.O.U., IS THAT THE IDEA? >> A REVISED M.O.U. FOR THIS YEAR. REVISED GUIDELINES. >> I'M IN FAVOR OF OPTION 2. >> OPTION 2. >> I THINK SO, WITH THE IDEA LET'S CONTINUE WATCHING, IT COULD BE ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO WE ARE STILL NOT USING ALL FUNDS, THEN I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE REVISITED. BECAUSE TO ME THAT'S THE BIG OBJECTIVE. IF THAT MONEY IS NOT GETTING OUT TO THE CITIZENS, THEN NO MATTER HOW YOU FIGURE, I WOULD CONSIDER THAT A FAILURE. >> I CAN ALWAYS BRING THIS BACK. WE MEET MONTHLY ON THURSDAY. THEY MOVE THROUGH ALL THE FINANCIALS. JUST LAST MONDAY WENT THROUGH 25 FINANCIALS. EVERY MONTH THEY DO GO THROUGH AND TALK ABOUT ISSUES AND CONCERNS ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DISPERSE THIS OR THAT. >> AND I GUESS, WITHIN SALVATION ARMY, IF WE ARE RELAXING CRITERIA WITH THE M.O.U., I THINK THERE ARE SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE SCOR PROGRAM THAT PROBABLY ARE RIGHT NOW, LIKE THE PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES. SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT MIGHT BE OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE WITH SALVATION ARMY. SOME OF THESE REALLY KEY THINGS THEY ARE DOING, I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE ROLLING SOME OF THOSE INTO THIS RELAXED CRITERIA. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT PUTTING AN AGE LIMIT BUT SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS THEY HAVE, I THINK ARE REALLY WORTHWHILE. I WOULD HATE TO JUST LOSE THEM TOTALLY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT. [00:55:04] >> LET'S PUT A PIN IN THAT FOR A SECOND. WHICH OPTIONS? >> I'M 3. >> OPTION 3? >> GIBBS? >> OPTION 2. >> WE HAVE CONSENSUS TO GO WITH OPTION 2, SALVATION ARMY. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SCOR. THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE. >> BECAUSE THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE GETTING THAT MONEY. BUT I DO THINK THEY HAVE SOME THINGS OF VALUE. MAYBE IT CAN'T BE DONE. I KNOW START GETTING INTERAGENCY STUFF AND IT GETS CONVOLUTED BUT IF THERE ARE SOME KEY FACTORS WITHIN SCOR, PRTICULARLY SOME OF THESE SERVICES. MAYBE NOT SO MUCH SET ASIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE OVER 55. SOME OF THESE SENIOR SERVICES THEY HAVE. IF WE CAN'T PUT THOSE WITHIN THE M.O.U. AND THEY FIT WITHIN ALL THE GUIDELINES, THE SALVATION ARMY AGREES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US TRY TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO DO THAT. >> IS THAT SOMETHINGWE WOULD MAYBE DO NOW OR SUMMER DURING THE BUDGET CYCLE? >> I WOULD WAIT. THEY STILL HAVE HOW MUCH, SCOR? $15,000. >> WE HAVEN'T GIVEN THEM THE $31,000 FROM THIS YEAR YET. >> SCOR? >> NO, SALVATION ARMY. >> SCOR IN PARTICULAR? >> THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OF OUR FUNDING. >> THEY HAVE UTILIZED ALL THEIR FUNDING FOR THE COUNSELING SERVICES. >> ALL THE $31,000 WAS SPENT LAST YEAR. >> BASED ON WHAT MS. BOWERS SAID, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY NEEDED TO REAPPLY. >> YEAH, I TOTALLY GET WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM. IF THIS COUNCIL, OR THE NEXT COUNCIL WANTS TO PURSUE COMING BACK WITH A COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM I THINK WE NEED TIGHTER RULES THAN PREVIOUSLY. OBVIOUSLY IT TURNED INTO A BOONDOGGLE WE WERE HAVING MULTI-HOUR VEHICLES THAT TURNED WAY MORE POLITICAL IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE THAN THEY NEEDED FOR WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. THAT WASN'T THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAMS. THEY WERE TO ADDRESS SENIOR NEEDS, PSYCHIATRIC CARE, BENEFITING THE PUBLIC. >> BUILDING AN ALLEY IS EASY BECAUSE YOU CAN USE ALL THE MONEY AT ONCE. BUT THIS IS A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO DO BUT I STILL THINK IT'S MORE VALUABLE. >> I DON'T REMEMBER SAYING IT, IS THIS INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE? WHERE THEY CAN FIND IT, THE LINK? >> FOR THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE? >> UTILITY ASSISTANCE. >> WE REFER PEOPLE THROUGH UTILITY BILLING PROGRAM. SO THEY CAN CALL AND ASK FOR ASSISTANCE. I WILL ALSO CHECK THE WEBSITE AND SEE IF WE CAN PUT IT UP AS WELL. >> 100% BEING TRANSPARENT. I NEVER HEARD OF IT UNTIL I CAME IN HERE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS AN OPTION FOR FOLKS TO HAVE. >> WE DO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE AS PART OF THE UTILITY BILLING PROGRAM. >> >> THEY ARE LISTED ON OUR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AGENCY'S PAGE. BUT I DON'T THINK THE PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS WHAT YOU ARE GETTING AT. OKAY, SO THAT'S CONSENSUS ON OPTION 2 TO MOVE AHEAD. >> ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE SUGGESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT LOOSENING THE REQUIREMENTS? >> YEAH, EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE WITH THOSE? CAN WE GO BACK TO THE PAGE YOU TALK MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT THOSE LOOK LIKE? >> YEAH. >> DID I PASS IT ALREADY? >> HERE WE GO. YEAH, SO AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE. AND THAT'S PER YEAR? >> THE $400 WOULD BE EVERY SIX MONTHS. >> A YEAR. >> TWICE A YEAR, INSTEAD OF ONCE A YEAR. >> THE REASONS YOU SAID THE SALVATION ARMY WASN'T ABLE TO EXPEND THE FUNDS WAS BOTH THE RESTRICTIONS AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY STILL HAD FUNDING REMAINING. THERE WERE TWO FACTORS THERE. >> YEAH. >> OKAY. EVERYBODY GENERALLY OKAY WITH THOSE RESTRICTIONS? >> YEAH, IT'S ONE THING I SAW WITH THE SCOR AND NOW THE SALVATION ARMY, IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL BUT THE BROAD ACCESS, THE 80% OF A.M. I., WE LOOKED AT THE SCOR, IT WAS HIGHER THRESHOLD. >> WHICH MADE IT HARDER TO QUALIFY. >> WHAT? >> MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT. >> OKAY. THIS IS ACTUALLY MORE LENIENT THAN SCOR WAS. >> OKAY. >> YOU GOOD WITH THIS? >> YES. >> MS. BOWERS,? MR. GIBBS? >> YES. >> WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED, CHRISTOFF? [4. Discuss Consent Agenda Items for February 17, 2026, City Council Meeting ] [01:00:03] >> THAT IS IT. >> OKAY, EXCELLENT. COUNCIL WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 4, DISCUSS CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. ANY REQUESTED CITY COUNCIL * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.