[I. Call to Order]
[00:00:02]
IT IS SIX O'CLOCK FEBRUARY 9TH, AND I NOW CALL TO ORDER OUR MEETING WITH THE REGULAR CITY OF RE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
UM, ITEM NUMBER TWO, CITIZEN COMMENTS.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, COUNCIL COMMENTS.
WE CAN COME BACK TO THIS ITEM, UM, IF MR. KAR ARRIVES IN, IN A FEW MINUTES.
[Business - A]
NUMBER FOUR, UH, A CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON MINUTES OF THE CORPORATION FOR THE JANUARY 12TH, 2026 MEETING.WE APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE JANUARY 12TH MEETING.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
[Business - B]
B, CONSIDERATION AND ACTION AND FINANCIALS AND PAYABLES FOR THE CORPORATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.UM, IF YOU'LL NOTICE IN YOUR PACKETS, OUR SALES TAX REVENUES RECEIVED IN JANUARY, WERE UP 11% FROM THE SAME PERIOD THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
SO WE ARE AT 15.4% OF THE BUDGET FOR 17% OF THE YEAR.
OUR SALES TAX REVENUES RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY HAVE, UH, NOT YET BEEN RECEIVED.
SO WE WILL REPORT THOSE, UM, DURING THE MARCH AGENDA.
WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE OUR, AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE OUR, UH, FUND BALANCE ENDING AT? UM, SO IT SHOULD, WE PROJECT 10%, UM, INCREASE ON AVERAGE.
SO WE WOULD HAVE, UM, COLLECTIONS THROUGH THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
ADDED TO THE CURRENT FUND BALANCE IN YOUR PACKET.
WHATEVER THAT CALCULATION IS, I'M NOT GOING TO TRY IN MY MIND.
AND I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE ASKED AND ANSWERED.
UM, BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS ON THE DRIVE HOME AND SO I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GO BACK AND LOOK, 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS PROVIDED SOME EXTRA, UM, DATA POINTS LAST MONTH, UM MM-HMM
AND I KNOW THOSE ARE JUST GONNA BE LIKE QUARTERLY OR SUCH, BUT WE CAN'T SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF SALES TAX REVENUE BY, UM, CATEGORIZATION, RIGHT? BY LIKE RETAIL, HEALTHCARE RESTAURANT.
AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE WITH YOU AGAIN.
I THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL AS WE JUST LOOK AT, UM, BEING ABLE TO TELL A STORY OF WHAT, UH, THE SALES TAX DOLLARS ARE THAT'S COMING IN AND MAYBE IF WE SEE ANY TRENDS, UM, ACROSS THE, THE YEARS IN TERMS OF WHAT SECTORS HAVE GROWN WITHIN THE CITY OF RE SURE.
I, UH, WHAT I RECALL FROM, AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT MONTH IT WAS, BUT UH, YOU DID HAVE IT SHOWN BETWEEN LOCALLY COLLECTED VERSUS ONLINE SALES.
AND WHAT I REMEMBER IS THE ONLINE SALES HAD THE, HAD THE LARGER INCREASE WAY MORE SO THAN WHAT WAS COLLECTED LOCALLY.
SO THAT, THAT BREAKDOWN MIGHT BE HELPFUL ALSO TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT.
WE'LL BE, WE WILL BE, UH, SURE TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE NEXT PACKET.
UM, IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, I'LL MOVE THE, UH, THE, A BOARD APPROVES THE PAYABLE TO THE CITY FOR $13,384 AND 78 CENTS.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
[Business - C]
C, DISCUSSION ON THE CITY COUNCIL DECISION REGARDING FUNDING MECHANISMS FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT SALARY INCREASES.I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN, SHOULD WE, DID WE APPROVE THE BUDGETS? WHAT WE JUST DID? YOU APPROVED? OH, I'M SORRY, YES.
SORRY, I WAS STILL ON THE SALES TAX PAGE.
I WAS APPROVING THE SALES TAX, BUT I ALSO WAS INTENDING TO APPROVE THE BUDGET WHEN WE VOTED.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN GO BACK IN, IN HIGH 'CAUSE THIS, WE, THIS SHOULD BE CHANGED BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT CITY COUNCIL DID.
[00:05:01]
BEFORE WE GET INTO ANY DISCUSSION, I JUST, I DID HAVE, UM, A COUPLE OF YOU REACH OUT TO ASK HOW YOU CAN ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS AND WHAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO, UM, COMMENT ON, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR CAPACITY AS MEMBERS OF THE TYPE A EDC.SO I DID REACH OUT TO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, SO JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT DURING MEETINGS, UM, THE BOARD SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM TAKING A PARTICULAR STANCE FOR OR AGAINST, THOUGH YOU MAY DISCUSS PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES AND IMPACTS OF THE DECISION.
UM, OUTSIDE OF OUR MEETINGS, YOU SHOULD REFRAIN FROM MAKING STATEMENTS THAT SUGGEST YOU REPRESENT THE POSITION OF THE BOARD, BUT YOU MAY MAKE COMMENTS ON THE TOPIC.
UM, SO YES, THE, THE PACKET HAD TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE THE MEETING TOOK PLACE.
AND SO THE SUMMARY HERE THAT YOU SEE AS PART OF YOUR PACKET IS THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AS IT WAS, UM, PLACED ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
SO SINCE THEN, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UM, OUR CITY COUNCIL DID VOTE TO PLACE A PROPOSITION ON THE MAY 2ND BALLOT THAT WOULD ASK VOTERS TO APPROVE REDUCING THE CITY'S TYPE A SALES TAX FROM 0.5% TO POINT 25% WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASING THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND SALES TAX RATE FROM 1% TO 1.25%.
AND THAT, SORRY, THAT ALL SHOWS UP IN ONE BALLOT PROPOSITION.
YOU SAID, HE SAID IN THIS MEETING WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT FOR OR AGAINST, ALTHOUGH WE CAN DISCUSS RAMIFICATIONS AND WHAT THE ADD-ONS MIGHT BE.
BUT THEN, BUT THEN WHAT DID YOU SAY OUTSIDE OF THE MEETINGS? COME AGAIN? UM, SO OUTSIDE OF THE MEETINGS, YOU CAN MAKE COMMENTS ON THE SUBJECT, BUT JUST REFRAIN FROM SPEAKING AS IF YOU'RE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AS THE ENTITY.
OH, YOU HAVE, YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU SAY IT'S YOUR OWN PERSONAL OPINION.
AND LEGAL NATALIE, BECAUSE THE BOARD IS NOT GONNA TAKE A POSITION AT ALL, PERIOD.
WE CAN'T TELL ANYBODY THE BOARD HAS A POSITION 'CAUSE THE BOARD DOES NOT HAVE A POSITION.
AND WHY DOES THE BOARD NOT HAVE A POSITION? UM, IT'S TO KEEP FROM BEING A PART OF THE POLI INTERFERING IN THE POLITICAL PART OF THE PROCESS.
UM, I HAVEN'T DONE THE CASE LAW RESEARCH OF WHAT THAT CAN LOOK LIKE, BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY TO INSULATE FROM THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND NOT INTERVENE.
UM, IT'S SIMILAR WHEN OTHER KINDS OF LIKE BOND ELECTIONS COME UP.
UM, AND SO THE INTENTION IS TO MAINTAIN, UM, FOCUS ON HOW THAT IMPACTS, UM, THE PARTICULARITIES OF BUSINESS OPPOSED TO, UM, USING A GOVERNMENTAL ROLE TO ADVOCATE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
I, THAT'S SORT OF A NON-ANSWER.
UM, BUT IT, SO HERE'S MM-HMM
HERE'S WHY I AM ASKING IS IF I AM A MEMBER OF THE CITY MM-HMM
UM, COME IN AND SAY, HEY BRIAN.
UM, OR THEY COME TO THE MEETING AND SAY, HEY, Y'ALL ARE THE EDCA BOARD REPRESENTING THE CORPORATION.
SHOULD YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT, WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON HAVING, YOU KNOW, REDUCING OR INCREASING OR, THAT TO ME SEEMS LIKE A VERY NORMAL QUESTION THAT A CITIZEN SHOULD ASK, BUT WHAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU IS THAT MY RESPONSE NEEDS TO BE, I CAN'T SAY, YOU CAN SAY YOUR PERSONAL OPINION.
I CAN SAY MY PERSONAL OPINION OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM IN PUBLIC.
BUT AGAIN, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF I WANT TO BE A WELL-INFORMED, AND THIS WOULD GO FOR ANY COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, FOR ANY LITERALLY ANY COMMITTEE, HEY, CITY COUNCIL IS WANTING TO EITHER GET RID OF YOU OR CUT YOUR FUNDING OR INCREASE YOUR FUNDING AND DOUBLE THE SIZE.
OR HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE NITTY GRITTY MM-HMM
WHAT DO YOU THINK? AND BUT WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT SURE.
SO WHEN YOU SIT AS A BOARD, YOU'RE SITTING AS AN ABSTRACT BODY AND NOT NECESSARILY AS INDIVIDUALS OR NECESSARILY AS CITIZENS.
UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE OPERATING AS THE ABSTRACT, UM, BODY, WHICH IS A FUNCTION OF THE CITY.
AND BY MAKING POSITIONS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THE ABSTRACT
[00:10:01]
IS THEN IMPOSING ITS WILL ON THE ABSTRACT.UM, AND THAT I KNOW
AND IT'S OUR PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE PRUDENT.
OR ARE THEY MAKING POSITIONS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE MACHINE IS TELLING THEM TO MAKE THAT THE, THE FUNCTION, THE ARM, THE ABSTRACT.
I WAS GONNA SAY, SO IS THE FACT THAT IT'S ON, IT'S AN ITEM THAT'S ON THE BALLOT, REALLY KIND OF THE DISTINGUISHER, BECAUSE I GUESS IN MY VIEW MM-HMM
AS A BOARD, SO MUCH OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE'RE PUTTING TOWARD A BUDGET, PROPOSING A RECOMMENDED WAY TO SPEND FUNDS, WHICH THEN GOES AND GETS APPROVED.
IT FEELS STRANGE TO WITHHOLD AN OPINION WHEN SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO IS GIVE OPINIONS.
AND WE'VE HAD SOME OF THIS DISCUSSION WITH COUNCIL AS WELL.
UM, AND SO, UH, NATALIE OF COURSE CAN SPEAK WAY MORE ELOQUENTLY TO THIS THAN I CAN, BUT PART OF IT IS THAT DECIDING TO CALL AN ELECTION VOTE IS A VERY HARD LINE IN THE SAND.
SO BEFORE THAT TIME, YES, YOU CAN USUALLY SPEAK WHEN MORE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE STATEMENTS, BUT ONCE THAT'S DONE, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO USE WHAT ARE CITY CALLED CITY RESOURCES OR TIME OR POSITIONS TO TRY TO INFLUENCE THE VOTERS TO GO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE IT CAN GET A LITTLE BIT TRICKIER.
AS SHE WAS EXPLAINING, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO EDUCATE AS OPPOSED THANK YOU TO YES.
I DID WANNA SAY, BRIAN, WHEN SOMEONE COMES AND ASKS FOR YOUR OPINION, YOU CAN SAY, I DON'T HAVE AN OPINION, BUT THIS IS A FACT.
A WILL CAUSE B, THIS IS, THIS IS WHERE WE'LL END UP, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE.
UM, SO AS LONG AS IT IS A CONSEQUENCE AND A DIRECT IMPACT THAT IS A FACT, YOU MAY ANSWER A QUESTION IN THAT WAY AND PROVIDE INFORMATION.
UM, I MEAN, ON LIKE SCHOOL BOND PROPOSITIONS, UM, I'VE, I'VE SEEN THE SUPERINTENDENTS ON BOTH THE KATIE SIDE AND THE L-C-I-S-D SIDE COME TO, TO VARIOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY EXPLAIN THE BOND X MILLION DOLLARS IS GONNA GO TO THIS OR THIS OR THIS.
THEY DON'T SAY, PLEASE VOTE FOR IT, BUT THEY DO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF NEED THIS BECAUSE OUR CLASSROOMS ARE OVERCROWDED.
OR, YOU KNOW, THE REASON THIS IS ON THERE IS BECAUSE OF OVERCROWDING OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO WHAT, UM, WHAT IF, UH, SOMEONE ELSE'S FACTS ARE DIFFERENT THAN MY FACTS IN TERMS OF STATING TO THAT POINT, IF, IF WE DO A, THE LIKELY OUTCOME IS B, BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE DISAGREES WITH THAT, I GUESS AT WHAT POINT DOES THAT BECOME ME SAYING SOMETHING THAT'S INCORRECT AND TRYING TO INFLUENCE VERSUS ME LAYING OUT MM-HMM
WHAT MY VIEW IS OF IF YOU DO A, THEN B HAPPENS.
UM, HOWEVER, ANYTHING THAT STARTS TO BRANCH INTO AN OPINION OR IS MAYBE EVEN A DISAGREEMENT OF WHAT CONSEQUENCE MIGHT BE, THAT'S NOT DIRECTLY GROUNDED IN THE EMPIRICAL, PROBABLY BETTER TO STAY AWAY FROM.
UM, BUT A LOT OF IT DOES END UP COMING DOWN TO YOUR PERSON PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING AND CONVICTION IN THE ROLE AS TO HOW TO BEST CARRY OUT THAT, THAT INFORMATION CAN.
SO IT'S, IT'S EASY FOR ME TO GIVE YOU NON NONS ANSWERS.
UM, BUT I, I, I'M TRYING TO GIVE AS MUCH LIKE GROUNDING OR BARRIERS AS AS I CAN, BUT ULTIMATELY YOU HAVE TO FIND WHERE YOU FALL IN THAT AND FIT YOURSELF IN A WAY THAT BEST ALIGNS WITH WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST.
WELL, CAN, CAN YOU SLIP BACK INTO IF, IF PEOPLE HAVE, I HATE TO SAY DIFFERENT SETS OF FACTS.
'CAUSE I THINK FACTS ARE FACTS ALSO, UM, BUT MM-HMM
CAN YOU JUST SLIP BACK INTO THIS IS WHAT I'VE SEEN PERSONALLY AND THIS IS WHY I BELIEVE THIS AND THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION, YOU KNOW, AND, AND SOME OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN MM-HMM
[00:15:01]
IS BECAUSE OF YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THIS BOARD.BUT I MEAN, I THINK YOU COULD JUST GO BACK TO THIS IS HOW I SEE IT PERSONALLY, AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT MM-HMM
REP, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANNA BE REPRESENTING THE BOARD, BUT YOU COULD SAY, THIS IS JUST HOW I SEE IT.
OR PULLING YOURSELF AS FAR AWAY FROM THE SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE.
UM, OPERATING AS GENERALLY AS POSSIBLE TYPICALLY MAKES IT EASIER TO STAY IN THINGS THAT ARE EVIDENCE-BASED.
YOU, UH, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD GOTTEN ADVICE FROM COUNSEL.
IS THAT COUNSEL WHO SUPPORTS THE EDC OR IS THAT COUNSEL WHO SUPPORTS THE CITY? THAT WOULD BE THE CITY COUNCIL'S LEGAL COUNSEL.
AND SO SOMEONE DIFFERENT THAN THE SAME FIRM, BUT YES.
THE SAME FIRM THAT Y'ALL HIRED AFTER WE HIRED, BUT I DIDN'T HIRE ANYONE.
YES, I UNDERSTAND THE SAME FIRM, BUT DIFFERENT LAWYERS.
SO DIFFERENT LAWYERS AT THE SAME FIRM ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE BEST HANDLE THESE SITUATIONS.
IT SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT'S BEEN ADVISED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL.
SO, UM, MY SPECIFIC QUESTION IS WHAT DO WE, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON WHAT WE DO NOW? HOW MUCH DO WE GO INTO, LIKE I, I HAVE GIVEN CITY COUNCIL AN OVER AND, YOU KNOW, AN OVERARCHING VIEW SPEAKING IN GENERALITIES, WHICH IMMEDIATELY THEY WANTED SPECIFICS.
AND BECAUSE I COULDN'T GIVE IMMEDIATE SPECIFICS, IT WAS LIKE, OKAY, WELL BRIAN DOESN'T KNOW, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
UM, SO CAN WE, SHOULD WE SPEND THE NEXT FEW MEETINGS TALKING ABOUT, UM, HOW OUR BUDGET WILL CHANGE IF, UM, IF THE CHANGE, IF YOU KNOW, IT GETS REDUCED? UM, THAT'S UP TO YOU.
WE ARE ABOUT TO ENTER INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY GOING, GOING TO BE A FACTOR ON, YOU KNOW, HOW WE DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, SO WE AS STAFF WILL BE PRE PREPARED TO PRESENT YOU, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BUDGET IF, UM, WE HEAD IN THIS DIRECTION, THIS IS ON THE BALLOT, IF IT PASSES, HERE'S WHAT OUR COLLECTIONS LOOK LIKE, HERE'S WHAT OUR FUND BALANCE LOOKS LIKE.
SO IN THAT SENSE, IT WILL BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
UM, NOW I, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED OF THIS BOARD.
UM, WHEN, YOU KNOW, ONCE THIS WAS VOTED IN, UM, THIS PAST WEEK, I THINK IF THEY REQUEST ANY INFORMATION, UM, WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THEM.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS YOU WERE ASKED AT THE TIME WHEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, WE CAN MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO THEM.
UM, AND THEN IF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU AS A BOARD WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON THE AGENDA THAT'S YOU ARE FREE TO REQUEST FOR THAT SPECIFIC ITEM TO BE ADDED TO YOUR AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION.
UM, IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU, IS THIS A PLACE WHERE I CAN REQUEST THAT, UM, AS CITY STAFF GOES INTO THEIR BUDGET FORECASTING METHODS THAT, UM, THE A SA IS NOT A 50 50 SPLIT BETWEEN THESE TWO BOARDS ANYMORE? YES, MA'AM.
THIS, THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
I MEAN, AN APPROPRIATE REQUEST.
AND THEN WE CAN SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
AND MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE DS HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION THAN ME, BUT I'M LOOKING AT IT.
IF THEY'RE COLLECTING, FOR EXAMPLE, $3 MILLION IN SALES TAXES AND WE'RE ONLY COLLECTING ONE AND A HALF MILLION, I SAY THEY GET TO PAY TWO THIRDS OF THE A SA AND WE PICK UP ONE THIRD.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT THEY LOOK AT THAT AS THEY'RE GOING INTO THEIR BUDGET FORECASTING.
WELL, AND SPEAKING TO THAT, DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR NONE OF THE E EITHER OF THE EEDC BOARDS TO PAY FOR CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE A A SA THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE GENERAL FUND WOULD HAVE TO GO TOWARD FUNDING CERTAIN THINGS TO JUST A RECONSIDERATION ALTOGETHER? CORRECT.
OF THE, AS SA, YEAH, THE A SA WAS NEGOTIATED AND AGREED BASED ON CERTAIN, UH, EXPECTED PARAMETERS REGARDING FINANCES THAT ARE BEING CUT IN HALF.
SO THAT'S A PRETTY DRASTIC CUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN FEEDBACK BEING TOLD, YOU KNOW, WHAT, IF YOU, YOU NEED TO TIGHTEN YOUR BELT.
IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE GO ON THESE FANCY VACATIONS AND THESE LUXURY DINNERS AND NOW, BUT FINE CITY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANT ME TO TIGHTEN
[00:20:01]
MY BELT, WHERE CAN I CUT? RIGHT.THAT IS WHAT IS BEING ASKED OF ME.
SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IT'S WORTH LOOKING AT.
NO, I, I THINK THAT'S A, A GOOD POINT.
I THINK, UM, I'VE HEARD, UH, SIMILAR, UM, IN REGARDS TO, UH, TIGHTENING UP, BUT JUST, UH, FOCUSING IN ON WHAT THE ABOARD REALLY HAS AS OUR PRIORITIES.
AND I THINK IF, YOU KNOW, AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE WANT THOSE PRIORITIES TO BE GOING INTO THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, THAT SORT OF REALLY EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR IN THE BUDGET NEEDS TO BE, UH, UNDER REVIEW, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT, EVERYTHING IS POINTING TOWARDS A VERY CLEAR LAID OUT PLAN FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND I THINK THAT THAT WILL SUPPORT CITY COUNCIL, UM, FOR, UH, ANY, YOU KNOW, ANY FUTURE, UH, CONTRACTS OR BUDGETS, ET CETERA, THAT, THAT WE BRING FORWARD.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE DEFINITELY BEEN A LITTLE CROSS-EYED, UM, OVER THE LAST YEAR.
AND SO I THINK IF WE CAN CLEARLY PRESENT THAT PRIORITY FOR OUR BOARD AND A BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS OUR PRIORITY, UM, THAT IT WILL JUST, YOU KNOW, MAKE ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS EASIER AND CLEARER FOR CITY COUNCIL.
THAT KIND OF GETS BACK TO THE IDEA OF HAVING A JOINT MEETING.
UH, IF WE WERE TO CHOOSE, IF WE ON THE A BOARD, WERE TO CHOOSE TO PUT TOGETHER A SIDE COMMITTEE TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT, HOW, OR TO WORK ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES, HOW MANY PEOPLE FROM THE A BOARD, IF THERE ARE FIVE OF US, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN BE ON THE COMMITTEE? YOU COULD ONLY HAVE TWO PEOPLE BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE, THREE WOULD BE A QUORUM.
SO ANY, SO ANY NUMBER BELOW A QUORUM IS COMMITTEE AVAILABLE? YEAH, COMMITTEE AVAILABLE.
AND YOU HAVE TO GET THE COMMITTEE APPROVED BY COUNCIL BEFORE YOU CONFORM IT STILL.
WE ACTUALLY NO LONGER HAVE TO DO THAT.
OUR NEW BYLAWS ALLOW US TO FORM COMMITTEES WITHOUT.
I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT ABBY ASKED FOR THAT TO GET PUT BACK IN.
BECAUSE I WAS GOING THROUGH THAT TIMELINE IN MY MIND AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, IN THREE MONTHS WE CAN START
WE, UM, WE WORKED HARD TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN SO THAT WE COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, UM, BOARD MEMBERS HELP WITH RESEARCH IF IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR BACK THEN.
I THINK IT TOOK US SO LONG TO FORM A HOTEL FEASIBILITY COMMITTEE
DO YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE FROM US? NO, SIR.
ARE WE, I MEAN ARE WE, WE'RE STILL ON THE, WE'RE STILL ON THE POLICE THING, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SO IF ANY OF US JUST OF OUR OWN VOLITION WANTED TO GO GET SIGNS MADE TO STICK IN YARDS, WE COULD DO THAT.
AS LONG AS IT DIDN'T SAY THE EDC WANTS THIS, WE, IF IT'S JUST A SIGN AND IT'S LIKE PAID FOR BY
AND AS A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT, UH, IF I DO THAT, IF, IF I SUPPORT KAY IN HER EFFORT TO DO THAT SURE.
WHAT DO YOU, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS ANYONE GOING TO DO TO KAY? OH YEAH, THAT'S A REAL GOOD QUESTION.
UM, BUT IF YOU TAKE THE GENERAL ADVICE OF STAY AWAY FROM REPRESENTING FOR THE BOARD AND NOT TAKING A POSITION WHILE YOU'RE UP HERE AND REPRESENTING THAT, UM, THEN DO IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE, THE ADVICE GIVEN.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, SPEAKING OF THAT, WITH THE PARKS BOND, THERE WAS A, WASN'T THERE A PARKS PACK? YES, THAT FORMED? IT WAS, I DUNNO, I THINK THERE WAS, AND THERE WERE MEMBERS OF THE PARKS AND REC BOARD THAT WERE ON THE PARKS PACK.
AND THAT WAS NOT A CONFLICT, CORRECT? OR AM I WRONG THAT THEY WERE ON THE PAC BOARD? I DO NOT KNOW ENTIRELY.
I THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF PARKS BOARD MEMBERS, BUT HOW THAT WAS,
[00:25:01]
UM, ADVISED HOW EXACTLY THEY WERE ADVISED WITH THEIR OWN LEGAL COUNSEL AND SUCH, I CAN'T SPEAK TO.I ALSO DON'T NEED KNOW EITHER, SO I MIGHT HAVE MISSPOKEN ON THAT.
UM, BUT I, I JUST, I THINK I MADE A COUPLE OF ASSUMPTIONS, SO.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? UM, AS A NOTE, ANYTHING THAT NEEDS SPECIFIC, UM, DIRECTION FROM MY OFFICE, UM, WE WILL BRING THAT UP FOR DISCUSSION AND HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ON THEM, UM, AS NECESSARY.
UM, SO I WANT TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING EVALUATED AND CONSIDERED.
UM, AND ANYTHING THAT COMES UP IN, IN THAT VEIN, UM, WILL BE, UM, TO Y'ALL FOR DISCUSSION, UM, WITH ATTORNEY CONSULTATION.
SO IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I WORKED SO CLOSELY WITH AN ATTORNEY.
AND I'M TRYING TO, TO FIGURE OUT THE WORDS YOU SAID IN, IN MY MIND, FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY MEAN.
UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT CONTRACT WAS NEGOTIATED AND SIGNED BASED ON US, UH, HAVING A DIFFERENT FUNDING MECHANISM.
SO IS THAT BEING DISCUSSED? UM, ANYTHING THAT IMPACTS LEGAL OBLIGATION IS BEING EVALUATED AND WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU AS NECESSARY FOR DISCUSSION.
WHAT'S THE TIMING? AND REMIND ME OF THE, THE NAME OF THE, ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE A SA? NO, CENTRAL RE CENTRAL.
THE RE CENTRAL INCENTIVE WE NEED, I SAY WE, I MEAN MM-HMM
AGAIN, I CAN'T, THIS IS THEY CURRENTLY CITY COUNCIL OR SOMEONE NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO, UM, WITH THE SITUATION THEY'RE CURRENTLY EVALUATING.
UM, WE'VE SENT IT OVER, SO WE'RE JUST WAITING TO GET THAT BACK.
JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I KNOW THAT, THAT ONE, I HAVE NOT HEARD CLEAR LEGAL GUIDANCE ON HOW THAT'S GONNA BE RESOLVED.
IT'S BEING WORKED THROUGH AND AS, AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE, WE'LL BRING IT FOR DISCUSSION.
DOES THAT INCLUDE, I MEAN, DON'T WE HAVE LIKE 10 OR 20 OR SOME NUMBER OF YEARS ON TEXAS HERITAGE PARKWAY ALSO? UH, YES MA'AM.
THERE'S ALSO THE, UM, T-H-P-I-L-A.
SO, SO I MEAN, ANY ILA WE'RE INVOLVED WITH, Y'ALL ARE LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL, OR, UM, WE HAVE NOT SENT THAT OVER.
I MEAN, THERE, THERE IS A FUND BALANCE IN COLLECTIONS THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO COME.
SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, HERE ARE OUR OBLIGATIONS, WHAT IS LEFT.
AND WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THE REST? SO CITY COUNCIL MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT IS THEIR EXPECTATION THAT THE A BOARD EXCLUDING THE RE CENTRAL ISSUE, 'CAUSE THAT WAS NOT NECESSARILY ON THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR MINDS, BUT IT WAS CITY COUNCIL'S EX, UH, EXPECTATION THAT THE A, THE, A CORPORATION WOULD CONTINUE PAYING OUT ON THESE JUSTICE
UM, BASED ON OUR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION.
AND IF WE HAVE TO GO INTO A NEGATIVE, UH, YOU KNOW, TAKE OUT, WE HAVE TO GO BORROW MONEY, NO, NOT BORROW MONEY, BUT IF WE HAVE TO TAKE OUT OF OUR ACCOUNT BALANCE AS OPPOSED OUR FUND BALANCE, THEN THAT IS THEIR EXPECTATION.
I, I HAVE NOT, I'M, I'M, I MISSED THE MEETING AND I HAVE NOT YET WATCHED THE VIDEO, SO I APPRECIATE THE UPDATE.
SO JUST FOR EVERYONE ELSE'S AWARENESS, I WAS IN, I WAS OI WAS OBVIOUSLY IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST WEEK, AND THEN I WAS IN, UM, TWO COMMITTEE MEETINGS PRIOR TO THAT, LISTENING TO THE, AND THAT WAS, THOSE WERE COMMITTEE MEETINGS OF ONE WAS AT THE TIME THE PUDS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO GET MONEY FROM THE EDA AND GET IT INTO THE, TO SUPPORT SPECIFICALLY THE POLICE.
SO I WAS INVOLVED IN TWO OF THE, THE LAST TWO MEETINGS, I GUESS, OF THE COMMITTEE BEFORE THE, UH, COUNCIL MEETING.
SO THAT'S, I DO PROBABLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT BROADER, IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
BUT JUST TO GIVE Y'ALL SOME TRANSPARENCY ON WHY I KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE, THAT'S WHY.
[Business - D]
D, EXECUTIVE SESSION.DO WE NEED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? YES.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.07, TWO OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, DISCUSS THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY EDC OWNED PROPERTY AT 3 0 6 0 3 FM 10 93 AND 3 0 609 FM 10 93 4 TEXAS 7 7 4 4 1.
[00:30:01]
CLOSE THIS PORTION OF OUR MEETING AT EXACTLY SIX 30, AT 6 58 ON FEBRUARY 9TH.I CALL TO ORDER WHAT THE, THE SESSION AFTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WHAT AM I CALLING TO ORDER EXACTLY THE REGULAR SESSION? I JUST REOPEN OUR REGULAR SESSION AT 6 58.
UM, DO I NEED TO MENTION THAT WE TOOK NO ACTION? YOU DON'T TAKE ACTION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I MEAN, SO YOU HAVE NO ACTION TO TAKE NOW? CORRECT.
[Business - E]
ITEM IS ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.[Recurring Items - A]
A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT.I'LL START WITH THE HARRIS STREET.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, THE CONTRACT FOR DG MEDINA WAS TERMINATED BY CONVENIENCE ON DECEMBER 5TH.
UH, SINCE THEN THE, THE CON DJ MEDINA COMPLETELY MOBILIZED, UH, BY JANUARY 10TH.
AND WE HAD CEDROS PAVING COME IN AND COMPLETE SOME DEFICIENCY ITEMS LEFT BY DJ MEDINA, WHICH INCLUDED THE CONCRETE APRON AT HARRISON 10 93, SOME RESEALING OF EXPANSION JOINTS AND THE INSTALLATION OF A STORM INLET ON PHASE ONE.
UH, CURRENTLY CITY STAFF IS WORKING WITH TRON ELECTRIC TO INSTALL THE DECORATIVE LIGHT POLES IN THE PHASE ONE PORTION.
UH, SO THAT, THAT IS IN, IN PROGRESS RIGHT NOW AS WELL AS, UH, LANDSCAPING IS.
SO WE'RE FINALIZING THE NOTICE TO PROCEED FOR SILVER SANDS TO COMPLETE THE LANDSCAPING PORTION, UH, FOR PHASE ONE, WHICH WILL INCLUDE, UH, IRRIGATION.
SO, SO UPCOMING ITEMS. SO BY THIS FRIDAY THE 13TH AND BCO WILL HAVE FINALIZED, UH, REVISED PLANS THAT WE WILL THEN, UH, RES SOLICIT BY THE END OF THIS MONTH AND HOPE TO AWARD A NEW CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT BY APRIL WITH AN ANTICIPATED NOTICE TO PROCEED IN MAY.
SO IF THE ANTICIPATED NOTICE TO PROCEED IS IN MAY, WHAT IS OUR NEW ESTIMATED DATE OF COMPLETION? SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER OF THIS, THIS YEAR.
SO ONE FULL YEAR, END OF THE YEAR, PARTICIPATED OF DELAY.
'CAUSE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO COMPLETE IN THIS DECEMBER PAST DECEMBER, CORRECT? CORRECT.
AND, UH, I WOULD ASSUME THAT ALL FINAL PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DG ME MEDINA.
SO JUST, UH, I BELIEVE FRIDAY OR THIS MORNING, THEY SUBMITTED THEIR LAST PAY APP, WHICH WE'RE CURRENTLY REVIEWING, UH, MOST LIKELY GOING TO REJECT BASED ON THE AMOUNT.
SO, UH, STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT, BUT WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S PROPER.
I WAS GONNA, BUT THAT WILL BE THE LAST, UH, PAYOUT.
AND I GUESS THAT WOULD ANY, UH, ANY NEGOTIATION, ET CETERA ON THAT FINAL PAYMENT, I WOULD ASSUME WOULD BE TO HELP US COVER THE COST OF WHAT S'S PAVING HAD TO PERFORM IN TERMS OF CLOSING OUT AND FINISHING UP THEIR WORK MORE SO THE, THE LANDSCAPING PORTION THAT OH, RIGHT, THE LANDSCAPING.
YEAH, S'S ROS'S PORTION WAS, UH, HAS BEEN PAID.
ANY OTHER HARRIS STREET QUESTIONS? OKAY,
[00:35:01]
SO MOVING TO DOWNTOWN EAST SIDE DRAINAGE OR FOURTH STREET.UH, SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING, YEAH, SO ANTICIPATED NTP BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, UH, THE CONTRACTOR HAS BEGAN ORDERING MATERIALS.
UH, THEY'VE ORDERED THEIR STORM SEWER BOXES, WHICH ARE, WHICH IS THE FIRST PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
UH, SO THAT'S KIND OF, NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL THOSE ARRIVE ON SITE.
UH, BUT WE'RE EXPECTING BY THE END OF THIS MONTH AND, UH, WE WILL ISSUE THE NOTICE TO PROCEED AND GET GOING ON THIS ONE.
WHAT DOES BOP STAND FOR? PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE.
JUST THE NUMBER OF DAYS, THE LENGTH OF, UH, FINAL COMPLETION.
SO, UH, DID YOU HOLD THE PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING ON JANUARY 7TH? WE DID, YES, MA'AM.
ALRIGHT, SO I JUST HAVE TWO MORE UPDATES THAT'S PART OF, UM, THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
AND THE SECOND ONE IS, UH, JUST AN UPDATE ON OUR GATEWAY SIGN.
WE ARE WORKING TO MOVE INTO THE BIDDING PROCESS.
THERE'S JUST A FEW, UM, QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH NOW, UH, WITH KGA TO FOREST TO HOPEFULLY MOVE INTO THE BIDDING PROCESS.
SO WE WILL LET YOU KNOW, UM, WHEN THAT IS SCHEDULED AND PUBLISHED AND WHEN IT GOES LIVE.
AND THEN ITEM THREE IS, WE ARE HEADING TO ICSE NEXT WEEK, MYSELF AND HAYDEN.
UM, WE WILL BE THERE MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND WEDNESDAY.
AND, UM, WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
THIS, UM, I THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE QUICKEST THAT OUR SCHEDULE HAS FILLED.
UM, SO WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO A VERY PRODUCTIVE CONFERENCE.
UM, WE ARE HAVING BACK TO BACK MEETINGS THROUGHOUT.
UM, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND THAT'S ALSO WHY HE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT.
HE IS AT, UH, TEDC BASIC TRAINING, UH, IN HOUSTON.
AND HE'LL BE THERE FOR THE WHOLE REST OF THIS WEEK.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR Y'ALL TONIGHT.
[Recurring Items - B]
B, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. I HAVE AN ITEM, I JUST WANNA MENTION IT BEFORE I FORGET IT.I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH THE FULCHER ARTIST OR ART ALLIANCE, UM, SPECIFICALLY, UH, EVANGELINE ROYER.
SO, UM, DO YOU HAVE HER CONTACT INFORMATION? YES, SIR, I DO.
SO CAN YOU REACH OUT TO HER TO GET HER ON EITHER AN AGENDA NEXT MONTH OR THE FOLLOWING MONTH? I DON'T, ARE WE MEETING NEXT MONTH? WE ARE.
UM, I'M SORRY, CAN YOU CLARIFY, ARE YOU REQUESTING A MEETING WITH, FOR ME TO SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH YOU AND HER, OR REQUESTING TO INVITE HER HERE AND HOVER AS AN AGENDA ITEM? I'M REQUESTING TO INVITE HER HERE AS AN AGENDA ITEM TO INTRODUCE THE FULL SURE.
ART ALLIANCE SO THAT WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR US TO START WORKING TOGETHER, MAKING DECISIONS, WE ALREADY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHO SHE IS, UH, THE, THE VISION OF THE ALLIANCE AND GOT IT.
SO EVERYONE FEELS A BIT MORE COMFORTABLE.
WE'LL MAKE SURE TO ADD THAT, UH, THIS TIES BACK TO SOME PRIOR COMMENTS, BUT, UH, I'D, I'D LIKE TO KIND OF FIRM UP WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH THIS STRATEGIC PLAN? DO WE NEED TO DO A COMMITTEE? HOW'S THAT GONNA BE HANDLED? UM, HOW, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH GETTING THAT DONE GOING FORWARD? UH, YES MA'AM.
UM, YOU HAD REQUESTED OUR LAST MEETING TO SEE IF WE COULD SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH OUR COUNCIL.
UM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO DO THAT.
THE ONLY REQUEST, UM, I WOULD MAKE IS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER AN AGENDA.
UH, PROPOSE TO JUST KIND OF KEEP THE MEETING ON TRACK TO GIVE THEM AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DISCUSS AND WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS.
SO IF WE COULD GET THAT AS STAFF, THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND MAYBE SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING SCHEDULED, UM, BETWEEN CO COUNCIL AND THE
[00:40:01]
EDC.DO YOU NEED FEEDBACK FROM US TO CREATE THE AGENDA OR DO YOU NEED US TO CREATE THE AGENDA? SORRY, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I CAPTURE WHO OWNS THE ACTION.
UM, MS. KAY HAD ORIGINALLY REQUESTED THE MEETING.
UM, BUT YES, IF EITHER, EITHER WAY, I, I CAN DRAFT SOMETHING AND THEN GET YOUR APPROVAL.
UM, IF YOU SAY THESE ARE THE THREE POINTS I WANNA TALK, IF YOU WILL JUST EMAIL THAT TO ME AND I CAN PUT EVERYONE'S, UM, DESIRED TOPICS ON AN AGENDA.
IT SOUNDS LIKE STAFF OWNS THE ITEM, BUT WE CAN PROVIDE INPUT.
COULD THE STRATEGIC PLAN CHANGE AFTER THE MAY LOADING THOUGH? HARDLY, BECAUSE THERE'S HARDLY ANY CONTESTED RACES.
UM, UH, BUT I THINK ALL THE REST OF 'EM ARE IN PLACE, RIGHT? I MEAN, SOMEONE, SOMEONE CAN STILL FILE TO RUN UP UNTIL THIS COMING FRIDAY.
BUT THE LAST THING THAT I SAW PUBLISHED ON IT, THERE WAS ONLY ONE CONTESTED RACE.
I I WAS JUST GONNA SAY AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS LAST WEEK, UM, I THINK IT WAS EXPRESSED THAT, UM, I THINK MEETING TO GO OVER SOME OF THE POINTS AROUND A STRATEGIC PLAN IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE, THERE REALLY WAS A DESIRE FOR US ON A BOARD AS OURSELVES TO SET A CLEAR PRIORITY FOR WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.
SO I DO, I THINK, I THINK WE CAN DO THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN MAY, REGARDLESS OF WHO CONTINUES ON THE BOARD.
I THINK THAT WE CAN STILL SET THAT INDEPENDENTLY.
UM, I THINK, UM, BUT I, I THINK IT, FOR ME, IT'S MORE OF SOME OF THE, I GUESS SOME OF THE HIGHER LEVEL THINGS THAT I WOULD WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE ALIGNED WITH CITY COUNCIL ON.
ANY OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? NOPE.
[Recurring Items - C]
FIVE C.DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? EARLY VOTING STARTS MAY 17TH IN THE, UH, PRIMARIES.
UH, MAY 17TH FOR FEBRUARY 17TH.
UM, FEBRUARY 17TH, I GOT TO THE RIGHT MONTH.
EARLY VOTING STARTS FEBRUARY 17TH, UH, IN THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE LIBERTARIANS HAVE A PRIMARY OR NOT, UM, BUT I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET OUT AND VOTE.
LAST DAY TO VOTE IN YOUR PRIMARIES IS MARCH 3RD, AND ALL THE SAMPLE BALLOTS ARE OUT THERE AT FORT BEND ELECTIONS.
IF YOU JUST GOOGLE FORT BEND ELECTIONS, IT'LL BRING UP THE WEBSITE AND YOU CAN FIND YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT.
AND IF YOU LIVE IN CROSS CREEK, IT'S 10 0 6.
I DON'T KNOW ALL THE OTHER ONES, BUT, OKAY.
ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? UH, NOPE.
SO DO I HEAR A MOTION? I MOVE.
CLOSED THE MEETING AT SEVEN 12 ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 2026.