Jun 07, 2021 Special City Council

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TIME IS FIVE 30.

I'LL CALL

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT.

WE'LL BE RUNNING A FEW MINUTES LATE.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER KLAUSER ITEM TO

[2.(a) Discuss temporary relaxation of special event permit requirements pertaining to outdoor cooking. (Proposed presenter: Director of Development Services Jennifer Thomas Gomez)]

AND JENNIFER THOMAS GOMEZ WILL BE PRESENTING OUR TOWN AND MEMBERS, COUNCIL.

UH, JENNIFER'S NOT WITH US RIGHT NOW, BUT MASON IS GOING TO STAND IN THE STANDING IN HER PLACE AND PRESENT THIS TO YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

GOOD EVENING.

MAYOR PRO TEM AND COMMISSION.

UM, SO THIS IS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE RELAXATION OF THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT, UM, REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO OUTDOOR COOKING.

SO A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND PREVIOUSLY, UH, STAFF HAS HAD, UM, THAT WORLD FOOD ESTABLISHMENT, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITIES INQUIRE ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SPACE AND FLEXIBILITY IN SERVICES, UH, AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC AND RECOVERY EFFORTS.

SO LET'S GO OVER SOME OF THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS AND THOSE INCLUDE ANNUAL HEALTH, TEMPORARY HEALTH PERMITS.

AND THEN THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT ANNUAL HEALTH PERMIT ACTUALLY COVERS THE INITIAL DESIGN AND PERMITTING OF A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT AND THE ANNUAL INSPECTIONS OF FOOD PREPARATION PROCESSES.

UH, THE AREAS RELATED TO PROVISION AND RELATED PROVISIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS PREPARING AND SERVING THE FOOD PRODUCTS.

THE TEMPORARY HEALTH PERMIT IS A MODIFIED VERSION OF THE ANNUAL HEALTH PERMIT.

UM, THIS COVERS THE INSPECTIONS OF THE FOOD PREPARATION, UM, THE TEMPORARY AREAS AND RELATED PROVISIONS, ALONG WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PEOPLE PREPARING FOODS AND SERVING PRODUCTS.

AND LASTLY, WE HAVE THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT, WHICH, UH, THE TEMPORARY HEALTH PERMIT IS A PART OF THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT.

UM, IF FOOD IS TO BE SERVED TO THE PUBLIC AND THEN THE, UH, SOME QUALIFIERS FOR THIS PERMIT ARE, UM, THAT THIS CAN BE APPROVED, UH, UNDER CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS BY STAFF.

IF THERE'S NO MORE THAN ONE IN A SIX MONTH PERIOD, UM, THE EVENT DOES NOT LAST LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS.

AND THEN THERE IS ADEQUATE PARKING TRAFFIC FLOWS CONSIDERED TEMPORARY SIGNS MAY BE LOCATED FOR A NON PRODUCT SPECIFIC OR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.

OTHERWISE THESE, UH, SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT WOULD BE CONSIDERED BY CITY COUNCIL FOR ACTION.

SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS, UM, I GUESS, ALTERNATIVES TO THE SHORT-TERM OPTIONS.

UH, WOULD WE LIKE TO ALLOW, UH, CONSIDER MORE THAN ONE SPECIAL EVENT PER SIX MONTH PERIOD? OR WOULD WE LIKE TO ALLOW A DURATION OF LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS AS WELL AS SOME SIGNAGE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAID SPECIAL EVENTS? UM, SO DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY, UH, OPINIONS ON THIS SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT IN QUESTION? UM, I GUESS MAYBE IF I GAVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN IDEA.

SO, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, SOME PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT, UM, OUTDOOR CRAWFISH BOILS.

UH, WE'VE HAD A RESTAURANT TALK ABOUT USING THEIR PARKING SPACES FOR OUTDOOR DINING AREA, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE, UH, MUSIC, UH, OUTDOOR EATING.

AND THEN OF COURSE, JUST ENJOYING THE OUTSIDE AREAS AND BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE MORE OF THE, UH, EXTERIOR OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENT.

HM.

FURTHER PRESENTATIONS.

UH, THAT'S ALL.

OKAY.

IS THERE A COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THIS? I KNOW WE HAVE TWO BUSINESS OWNERS HERE THAT ENJOY US.

I THINK IF WE COULD ALSO HAVE THEM, LET ME SPEAK A LITTLE BIT FROM THEIR VIEW, BUT LET'S START WITH THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

YOU HAD A QUESTION ABOUT, UH, SO IS YOUR, ARE YOU OFFERING AN, UH, AN, UM, A SUGGESTION TO US AS COUNCIL AS TO WHAT WOULD BE BEST OR ARE YOU LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE FROM US SOLELY ON THIS? OKAY, SORRY.

UH,

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SO, UH, YOU MENTIONED CRAWFISH BOILS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I KNOW SOME OF THESE ENTITIES HOLD THOSE REGULARLY.

UH, AND SO ONE IN A SIX MONTH PERIOD WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE WHAT THEY WERE SEEKING.

SO, UM, HOW OFTEN COULD EVENTS, IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CALLING THEM LIKE THIS AND OTHERS TAKE PLACE.

I MEAN, WHAT WOULD BE FROM A RECOMMENDATION STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER.

SO, UM, WE'RE LOOKING FOR PERIMETER PARAMETERS, BUT, UH, FROM, I GUESS A RECOMMENDATION STANDPOINT, IT'D PROBABLY BE LIKE A, MAYBE A TWO MONTH, UH, WEEKEND PERIOD.

SO MAYBE LIKE EIGHT EVENTS OVER TWO MONTHS POSSIBLY, UM, SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

SO THEY COULD UTILIZE A SUMMER OR A SPRING OR FALL SEASON, UM, FOR THEIR EVENTS.

WELL, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, UM, ALLOWING, YOU KNOW, THOSE ENTITIES TO, I MEAN, AS LONG AS THEY KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MONITOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND IT DOESN'T GET OUT OF CONTROL AND THEN PROVIDE A HEALTH HAZARD OF ANY SORT OR SAFETY HAZARD TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THOSE, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE, I MEAN, I GUESS AT LEAST TO THE END OF THE YEAR, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS MY RECOMMENDATION AND, YOU KNOW, ONCE A, ONCE A WEEKEND, SOMETHING LIKE THAT I GUESS IS EFFICIENT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT, COUNCILWOMAN EDWARDS, I'M SORRY.

UM, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING IT MAYBE EVERY WEEKEND OR HAVE THEM HAVING TO CONSTANTLY DO THEIR PERMIT.

I THINK IT'S SUFFICIENT ENOUGH IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY SEEKING THEIR HEALTH PERMIT AND THIS PORTION ON THERE FOR OUTSIDE COOKING THAT IF WE HAVE THE SAME MANPOWER THAT ENFORCES THAT HEALTH CODE, THAT WE CAN JUST ALLOW THEM TO, UM, PRETTY MUCH FUNCTION AT THEIR DISCRETION, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S JUST VERY TEDIOUS FOR THE OWNER TO CONSTANTLY HAVE TO GET PERMIT EVERY WEEKEND FOR, I MEAN, CRAWFISH SEASON STARTS LIKE IN FEBRUARY AND IT ENDS IN JULY AND THAT'S ALL HEADACHE FOR THEM.

I CAN JUST IMAGINE.

SO IF IT'S A PORTION THAT COULD BE AMENDED ON THE PERMIT, AS FAR AS THE HEALTH CALL IT IS, IS, UM, CONSIDERED THAT THEY CAN JUST CHECK OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, FOOD.

AND IF WE HAVE THAT MANPOWER FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND CHECK IN AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, ALIGNED WITH CODE, I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD SUFFICE.

I THINK THAT THE PROCESS IN MY OPINION IS KIND OF OUTDATED AND WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE UPDATING OUR PROCEDURES AND OUR PAPERWORK TO AMEND TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS.

THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION.

I AGREE THAT THE PROCESS THAT IT TAKES FOR A BUSINESS TO GET APPROVAL IS AS LONG THEN.

SO THEREFORE WE SHOULD SET SOME STANDARD HERE TO KIND OF OVERRIDE THAT IF YOU WILL.

UM, I'D LIKE TO CONSIDER POSSIBLY DOING SOMETHING LIKE X AMOUNT OF EVENTS PER QUARTER.

AND YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, IN THREE MONTHS YOU DO FOUR EVENTS NOT TO EXCEED FOUR EVENTS, BUT MAYBE SET A CAP WITHIN EACH QUARTER.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR AS TO WHAT I WAS SAYING.

I WAS SAYING THAT THROUGH OUT THE DURATION OF THE YEAR, UH, THROUGH THE END OF 2021, ALLOWING A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT TO ALLOW THEM TO DO EVERY WEEKEND OR AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, UH, ANY EVENT OF SOME SORT, IF, UH, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A HEALTH HAZARD OR SAFETY HAZARD, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MONITOR THAT, BUT HAVING ONE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT THAT WOULD LAST THROUGHOUT THE END OF THE YEAR, NOT APPLYING EVERY WEEKEND OR FOR IN EVERY WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT.

UNDERSTOOD.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

UH, I, I GUESS I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT ALSO BECAUSE, UH, THE ONE THING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IS PUT A BURDEN ON THE, UH, UH, THE BUSINESSES WHERE, YOU KNOW, UH, IF THEY HAVE ONE, EVERY TWO WEEKS, THEY'VE GOT TO COME BACK AND DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE, A FAR ONE, EVERY ONE OF THOSE EVENTS THAT, UH, WE'VE GOT SOME, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, HAS CONSEQUENCES ON, HE SAID SOMETHING THAT MAYBE IS FAR A, A LONG DURATION AND IT GIVES THE, UH, THE, UH, THE OWNER OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAGE AND, AND PHASE IN WHATEVER, UH, EVENTS THEY, THEY MAY WANT TO DO.

UH, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THE EVENTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, IN MANY CASES, UH, YOU KNOW, ARE DONE, UH, UH, AND THERE'S, UH, SEVERAL, I THINK THINGS THAT ARE VALUED, ONE IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THESE EVENTS ARE, UH, KIND OF A CHARITABLE, UH, TYPE OF, UH, I SAY CHARITABLE, BUT SOMETHING WHERE THEY MAY BE, UH, UH, PUTTING

[00:10:01]

SO IT'S A KIND OF, UH, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GIVE BACK IF YOU WILL, TO, UH, TO THE, UH, UH, TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO THE, UH, SOME CITIZENS THAT MIGHT BE IN NEED.

SO, UH, UH, I AGREE.

I, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING THAT'S A LONG IN DURATION.

UH, AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TO DO ANYTHING THAT SAYS IT'S GOT TO BE, YOU'VE GOT TO IDENTIFY IT AS A SHRIMP BOIL A CRAWFISH BOIL OR A CHILI COOK-OFF, OR IF HE JUST HAD A CATEGORY OF ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF, UH, OF EVENTS THAT YOU COULD HAVE, AND THEY'D BE COVERED UNDER A, UH, ONE, UH, EXTENDED PERMIT.

OKAY, AWESOME.

THANK YOU, COUNSEL, MS. STERLING, I AGREE AS WELL, SOMETHING LONGTERM GLENN, I HATE TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT WE WERE WORKING ON SOMETHING FOR AN ORDINANCE FOR OUTDOOR SEATING.

UH, ARE WE STILL, IS THAT STILL IN PROCESS OR HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER.

IT IS, AND THAT ACTUALLY, UH, THIS WILL ROLL RIGHT IN WITH THAT, THAT WE HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AS YOU AND I, AND JENNIFER DISCUSSED.

SO YES, ACTUALLY THIS BECOMES, AGAIN, PART OF THE PACKAGE OF THAT TO GIVE THESE BUSINESSES AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE PARKING SPACE HAS MADE SOME MENTION, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT FLEXIBILITY TO GO OUTSIDE, ENJOY THE WEATHER, UH, DURING THOSE TIMES OF YEAR WHEN WE CAN.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING KIND OF A WHOLE PACKAGE, BUT DEFINITELY WANT TO GET THE FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, SO THAT WHEN WE DO THOSE CODE UPDATES, THAT WE KIND OF DO THEM EFFECTIVE, YOU KNOW, EFFICIENTLY ONE TIME.

RIGHT.

AND GIVEN THE PANDEMIC, I THINK IT'S MORE FEASIBLE NOW TO EVEN SPEED IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

CAUSE I KNOW WE DISCUSSED THAT AS BE SOMETIME JANUARY OF 2022.

IT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNE TIME FOR US TO PROPERLY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MAY I ASK, UH, SOMEONE FROM THE PUBLIC TO COME SPEAK? YES, SIR.

UM, WITH CABO, LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND PERHAPS GIVE US SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS SO WE CAN KIND OF PUT OUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER.

DID YOU REFER TO HIM AS A CABO DOG? IS THAT WHAT YOU DID? UM, BASICALLY I'M LOVING ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING THAT I'M HEARING RIGHT NOW.

UM, MY INITIAL THOUGHT PROCESS OF THIS IN MY OPINION, IS TO HAVE AN, A BOX IN A BOX TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A RESTAURANT THAT CAN MAKE THE DECISION FOR THEMSELVES.

ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS OUTSIDE THING OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO STAY INSIDE? SO WHAT I'M PROPOSING ACTUALLY THERE'D BE AN, A BOX AND A B BOX FOR INSIDE COOKING ONLY WITH AN AGREEMENT THAT IF THEY DO HAVE AN OUTSIDE CRAWFISH BOIL ONE DAY, THAT THEY WILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PULLING THE PROPER PERMITTING TO DO SO.

THE BOX, I BELIEVE THAT HEALTH PERMIT IS $500 ANNUALLY.

THE BOX INSIDE AND OUTSIDE COOKING WITH AN ADDITIONAL $500 FEE OR Y'ALL CAN COME UP WITH THE, WITH THE AMOUNT.

SO THE CITY DOESN'T LOSE OUT ON OPPORTUNITY OF FUNDS OF US, OF US PULLING OUR PERMITS.

UM, ONE MAJOR THING THAT I BELIEVE IN IS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY, I CAN HAVE, UH, ONE OF MY SUPPLIERS CALL ME ON A TUESDAY AND SAY, CHRIS, WE OVER CAUGHT BLUE CRAB BY 50 POUNDS.

CAN YOU LET ME GET RID OF IT? I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THEN TO GO AND BUY A CHEAPER PRODUCT AND SELL IT TO THE PUBLIC FOR CHEAPER TO HELP HIM OUT, HELP US OUT, BUT GOING THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS, IT WOULDN'T ALLOW ME ENOUGH TIME TO DO THAT.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES COMING IN.

THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, CHANGES I THINK THAT NEED TO BE MADE AND THERE ARE GOING THROUGH THESE PROCESSES HAS BEEN AN AMAZING, UM, EXPERIENCE FIRST TIME EVER DOING THIS.

UM, BUT, UM, AS FAR AS LIKE BENEFITS GO AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, UH, THE SPECIAL PERMITTING PROCESS OR THE SPECIAL EVENTS IS A HUNDRED PERCENT SPOT ON.

UM, YOU, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF YOUR HEALTH PERMITS AND CHECKS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

UM, AN EXAMPLE WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BRISKET COOK-OFF ON JULY 10TH, THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO ANNOUNCE AND EVERY COOKING TEAM THAT'S GOING TO BE ENTERING IS GOING TO GET A CHECKLIST OF ALL SAFETY STUFF THAT THEY NEED.

UM, REASON BEING IS BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHARGE ADMITS FOR THE FOOD FLAT FEE FOR ANYBODY GOING THAT CAN TRY EVERYBODY'S BARBECUE TO VOTE ON IT AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT FOR PEOPLE'S CHOICE CHANGES, UM, THAT MONEY WILL BE DONATED TOWARDS THE BENEFIT THAT WE WILL, UM, BE RAISING FUNDS FOR.

SO THAT'S EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS, IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

YOU KNOW, I CAN SPEAK FOR HEATHER AND I BOTH THAT, UM, WE LIKE HOW THIS IS GOING.

OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, FOR HEARING US OUT ON THIS AND A POSITIVE OUTCOME.

THANK YOU, CHRIS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL

[00:15:01]

UM, I, I CAME IN LATE.

I HAD TO WORK, BUT I'M GLAD THAT, UH, CABO DOCS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST BUSINESSES THAT, UM, THAT I SPOKE WITH ABOUT THIS, AND I ENCOURAGE THEM TO, TO, UH, COME FORWARD.

AND I MEAN, IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU JUST BEING VOCAL, UM, YOU KNOW, CHANGE HAPPENS.

AND SO WE ALL WANT BUSINESSES TO SUSTAIN, THRIVE AND GROW AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO AS A CITY TO DO THAT.

I'M ALL FOR, FOR IT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL OR MAYOR PORTENDING COUNCIL.

IF I COULD, WE'RE GOING TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT TO THE BENEFIT OF THE BRICK AND MORTAR AND THOSE THAT HAVE BUSINESSES HERE, THAT SOMEONE CAN'T JUST COME IN AND DO A SPECIAL EVENT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

IT SOUNDS CRAZY, BUT THAT DOES HAPPEN.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CLOSE THAT DOOR IN THE, IN PREPARING THIS.

AND THEN, UH, ALSO AGAIN, THE FOREMOST FIRST AND FOREMOST WITH US IS THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC WITH RESPECT TO HEALTH.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO GET THE OPPORTUNITY FROM THE HEALTH PERSPECTIVE TO COME AND INSPECT THAT AND MAKE SURE IT'S BEING DONE CORRECTLY, WHICH IN THIS CASE PROBABLY IS.

BUT, UH, FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT, WE CAN WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE DOING, DOING NOT ALL THINGS BY OUR HOUSE.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

MA'AM I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I THINK TO PIGGYBACK ON COUNCIL MEMBER, EMORY HAVING A LIST OF ALLOWABLE EVENTS AND TYPES OF EVENTS, UH, TO, TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE IS IMPORTANT SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF CLOSE THAT GAP AND MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE WHO DOES SOMETHING AND WE'RE LIKE, OH, WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT.

I WANT US TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR AS TO WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT.

THANK YOU GUYS.

SO YOU'RE GOOD.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

WILL WE HEAR BACK REGARDING THE, UM, CHANGES AND ANY AMENDMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE? SO WE'RE GOING TO GET TOGETHER AND, UH, TALK ABOUT ALL THE ITEMS THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY, AND THEN, UM, HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, WE CAN HAVE SOME KIND OF ANSWER.

UM, I'M GOING TO SPEAK WITH JENNIFER TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M NOT PUSHING THE TIMELINE UP TOO FAST, THAT WE CAN, UH, MAKE THIS A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT WE COVER ALL OF OUR BASES AND PROCEDURALLY JOYCE.

UH, WHAT DO YOU FORESEE FROM THE LEGAL SIDE AND REVIEW AND, AND, UH, THE PR THE, UH, STEPS PRIOR TO COUNTY COUNCIL, AND THIS WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE ORDER SUSPENDING YOUR EXISTING RULES PURSUANT TO YOUR DECLARATION RELATED TO COVID FOUR.

WE COULD PROBABLY GET SOMETHING OUT WITHIN ABOUT 30 DAYS.

OKAY.

OKAY.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GAVE THEM SOME TYPE OF A REASONABLE TIMELINE.

SO THEY'RE NOT JUST KIND OF HANGING ON THE CLIFF, TRYING FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NEXT.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE THEM ACTIVITY, BUT THIS DOESN'T APPRECIATE THAT THEN FOR MOVING FORWARD NOW, RIGHT.

OR YOU TOOK THEM IN TWO MONTHS FROM NOW BECAUSE SUMMER BEAUTIFUL, ALMOST TWO MONTHS FROM NOW.

SO I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY GET SOMETHING OUT WITHIN ABOUT 30 DAYS, BUT BEFORE YOU ALL CONSIDER THAT ORDER, THEY WOULD HAVE TO OPERATE UNDER EXISTING RULES AND REGULATIONS.

I THINK EXPLICIT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS A BUSINESS HAS BEEN LOST A LOT, YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

SO WE CAN EXPEDITE THAT WILL HELP WE'LL WORK ON EXPEDITION OF THAT ONE LAST THING.

AND YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE NOTED THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T BURN THE OWNERS OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS.

THAT'S A LOT OF RED TAPE THAT SLOWS THEM DOWN, SLOWS THE PROCESS DOWN.

AND SO, UH, I KNOW WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM A HEALTH STANDPOINT.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S PARAMOUNT, BUT, UH, LET'S UH, IF WE CAN TRY TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS.

SO, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE FAIRLY EASILY AND QUICKLY.

WE WILL WORK ON THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL

[2.(b) Presentation and update regarding the American Recovery Act allocation to the City. (Proposed presenter: Assistant City Manager Glen Martel)]

I'M HERE THIS EVENING.

AND TALK TO YOU, GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021.

UM, AS YOU HAVE IN THE COVER MEMO, UH, WE'LL GO ONE MORE HERE.

SO THE AREAS OF FOCUS, UH, FOR RELIEF IS IDENTIFIED OR A FOUR.

YOU CAN SEE THERE, THE EFFORTS TO DECREASE, SPREAD AND CONTROL A PANDEMIC, UH, LOST PUBLIC REVENUE SUPPORT, UH, EXCUSE ME, IMMEDIATE, UH, ECONOMIC STABILITY, AS WELL AS ADDRESS SYSTEMIC PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

SO THAT, TO THAT END IN YOUR, UH, BOX, UH, ON FRIDAY, WE DROPPED THE LINK TO THE FULL LEGISLATION, ALL 242 PAGES.

IF YOU'RE REALLY BORED ONE AFTERNOON, YOU CAN TRY TO READ ALL THAT I TRIED.

I DIDN'T GET VERY FAR, UH, TODAY MARIE

[00:20:01]

IF YOU WILL, OF THE D OF THE LEGAL SPEAK, THAT'S A 39 PAGE DOCUMENT THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT BETTER BREAKDOWN OF IT.

AND THEN ON FRIDAY ALSO IS LOADED THE FACT SHEET THAT WE HAD, UH, THAT IS AN EIGHT PAGE DOCUMENT.

MORE OF WHAT I WOULD CALL A BULLET TYPE SUMMARY GIVES YOU SOME REAL GOOD BRIEF POINTS AS TO AREAS THAT ARE INCLUDED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

A STAFF HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THIS AND, UH, W WE WILL BE RECEIVING OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, UH, HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, HOPEFULLY, UH, MISSOURI CITY WILL RECEIVE 3.75 MILLION, AND THEN ROUGHLY A YEAR FROM NOW, WE WILL RECEIVE THE OTHER HALF OF THAT 3.75 MILLION, EXCUSE ME, 3.75 FOR A TOTAL OF 7.5.

UH, ELENA IS IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT THAT PROCESS WITH SOME OF HER COUNTERPARTS FROM THE AREA AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE BEST GET ACCESS TO THAT.

UH, THERE IS SOME QUESTIONS AS TO HOW, UH, WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED TO GET THOSE FUNDS LOADED INTO OUR ACCOUNT.

UM, SPECIFICALLY THERE IS A REQUEST FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM THE FINANCIAL INDIVIDUALS IN DIFFERENT CITIES.

UH, SO AS A PART OF THE ONGOING, UH, INTERPRETATION AND EXAMPLES FOR THIS LEGISLATION, UH, THE FINANCIAL PEOPLE EXPERTS ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS WELL, BUT, UH, REGARDLESS OF THAT, SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE'LL HAVE 3.75 MILLION.

SO WITH, UH, ON YOUR, UH, SUMMARY ON THE COVER MEMO FOR YOU, UH, IF YOU LOOK WITHIN THE FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THERE ARE THEN SEVEN SUB CATEGORIES.

UH, ONE OF THEM IS, UH, SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE.

AND, UH, THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK ON COUNCIL AS TO WHAT OUR CITY FACILITIES, UH, DO AS SUPPORTING AS FAR AS HVAC, UH, WATER, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO WE WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME IMPROVEMENT WITHIN A CERTAIN FACILITIES THAT WE IDENTIFY, UH, FOR EMPLOYEES OR THE HOLDING, YOU KNOW, UM, THE WARMING CENTERS AND SUCH LIKE THAT, UH, IN CASE OF A PANDEMIC.

SO WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEND SOME OF THESE DOLLARS, UM, LYING TO, YEAH, THIS IS ADDRESSING THE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS CAUSED DURING THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND IN LINE WITH COUNCIL'S INTENT TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES JUST AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER THIS EVENING.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, STAFF IS LOOKING AT DOING WOULD BE, UH, WITH COUNCILS APPROVAL WOULD BE FUNDING, A DISPARITY STUDY.

YEAH, I KNOW THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, UH, AROUND, UH, FOR QUITE A WHILE HERE TO LAST YEAR.

UM, AND THEN WE WOULD USE THAT DISPARATE THE STUDY, OBVIOUSLY TO IDENTIFY AREAS, TO IMPROVE OUR PROCESSES AND GETTING OUT TO PEOPLE AS FAR AS PROMOTING LOCAL BUSINESSES OPPORTUNITIES, CHANCES TO CONTRACT WITH THE CITY, AND THEN ALSO POTENTIALLY IDENTIFY SOME GRANT RATING OPTIONS.

YOU NEED TO GET SOME GRANT DOLLARS IN AS WELL AS THEN PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT MIGHT BE IDENTIFIED IN THAT PROCESS AS WELL TO SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES.

WE CAN REACH OUT TO SOME EXPERTS, HAVE SOME TRAINING COURSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT AS IS LOUD IN HERE.

SO WE'D CERTAINLY LOOK AT DOING SOME OF THAT, UM, LINE THREE, AS IT'S SERVING THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES.

WHEN YOU READ THE SUMMARY SHEET THAT REALLY TALKS ABOUT GETTING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE HOUSING OR SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING IS JUST CONTINUING TO USE OUR CDBG FUNDS IN THAT AREA.

I KNOW OUR COMMITTEE MET NOT TOO LONG AGO IN OUR PROGRAM GRAMS IN THERE ARE PRETTY WELL ON TRACK LOOKING AT EXPANDING THAT A LITTLE BIT, BUT, UH, WITH THE HOUSES ONE PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR BEING TWO OR THREE YEARS BEHIND JUST DUE TO THE, THE NUMBERS, UH, NO, NO LACK OF EFFORT IT ON EITHER STAFF OR CONTRACTORS SIDE, UM, RIGHT NOW NOT LOOKING, SPENDING ANY MORE DOLLARS, UH, WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR ARENA.

UM, ITEM FOUR IS REPLACING LOST PUBLIC SECTOR, RIGHT? IT LUCKY FOR MISSOURI CITY OVER THE PANDEMIC YEAR, QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

WE SAW AN INCREASE IN REVENUE, UH, DUE TO THE SALES TAX INCREASE.

SO, UH, NO OPPORTUNITY THERE TO EXPAND ANY FUNDS TO SUPPLANT ANY FUNDS THAT MIGHT'VE BEEN LOST, UM, AS, AS SOME JURISDICTIONS HAD.

UM, THE OTHER LINE WE CAN DO IS PROVIDE PREMIUM PAY TO EMPLOYEES, UH, UH, CITY, MISSOURI CITY ALREADY TOOK CARE OF THAT, UH, LATE LAST YEAR.

SO, UM, I THINK WE STAFF BELIEVES THAT IT'S FINE.

UH, THE BIG ONE IS A LINE SIX IS INVESTING IN WATER SEWER, AND THEN STORM DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO IN TALKING WITH STAFF, WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT IS, UH, AS WE DISCUSSED WITH THE BOND COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL A LITTLE BIT, UH, WE HAVE, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE WITH OUR DRAINAGE PROGRAM.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD PROGRAMS GOING ON.

WE WE'VE UTILIZED OUR ON, UH, EXPENDITURES BOND CAPABILITIES.

SO IN THE LAST COUPLE OF BOND ELECTIONS TO DO SOME GOOD PROJECTS UP ALONE, UP AROUND A LITTLE WATERHOLE, AS WELL AS CANGIALOSI DITCH.

UM, AND, AND TOO, WE FEEL THAT TO MIX THOSE DOLLARS, UH, WOULD REALLY BE MORE CUMBERSOME THAN IT WOULD BE WORTH.

SO RECOMMENDING THAT, THAT, THAT STAY THERE, UH, AND THAT WE USE THESE FUNDS, UH, IN OTHER AREAS.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK THEN AT WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR ONE WATER FACILITY, THE, UH, SURFACE WATER, REGIONAL PLANT THAT WE JUST HAD THE GRAND OPENING ON RIBBON CUTTING HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, UH, THAT IS, UH, FULLY FUNDED BY THE USER FEES AND, AND ALL THAT.

SO I'M NOT SEEING ANY PARTICULAR NEED.

NOW, I'M NOT RECOMMENDING ANYTHING TO BE SPENT ON THE SURFACE WATER PLANT.

HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AT MUSTANG, BY YOU, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UH, WE ARE ABOUT TO COMPLETE THE EXPANSION

[00:25:01]

AND WE KNOW THAT WE IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO ROLL INTO A PHASE TWO EXPANSION, AND THEN ULTIMATELY A PHASE THREE TO SUPPORT ALL THE ACTIVITY THAT WE'RE LOOKING OUT DOWN ON THE SOUTH END OF MISSOURI CITY.

SO, UH, WE ARE IN THAT LANE, WE ARE LOOKING AT EXPANDING THE DOLLARS ON IN MUSTANG, BY YOU PROPER TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT, UH, EXPANSION CAN BE UNTIMELY.

THE OTHER AREA THAT IS ALLOWED TO THE SEVENTH.

AND LAST ONE IS EXPANDING INTO BROADBAND, EXCUSE ME, BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY FOR MISSOURI CITY, UH, NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THOSE FUNDS THERE.

UH, THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT THERE TO USE THE FUNDING AS A 25 MEGABIT, UH, DOWNLOAD AND A THREE MEGABIT UPLOAD, UM, WITHIN MISSOURI CITY PROPER, THE LOWEST, UH, WE KNOW OF IS A 300 MEGABIT DOWNLOAD AND A HUNDRED MEGABIT UPLOAD.

SO, UM, THAT'S A GOOD THING.

MISSOURI CITY RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS, UH, TO, UH, TO AN INTERNET SPEED THAT IS MUCH GREATER THAN THAT AS REQUIRED IN THE ACT.

SO, UH, BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT AN ABILITY TO SPEND ANY MONEY THERE THAT IS THE LAST MILE EFFORT.

SO REALLY MORE OF A, OF A RURAL TYPE EFFORT WHERE PEOPLE HAVE NO ACCESS TO ANY OF THOSE, UH, LINES IN THEIR STREETS OR, OR WHAT, WHAT IT MAY BE.

SO, UM, WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT THEN, AND AGAIN, THIS IS ALL PRELIMINARY.

THIS IS JUST WHERE STAFF IS NOW THIS, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS AN ONGOING STORY, UH, UH, A MATURING STORY AS WE GO.

UM, SO, UH, LOOKED AT, OKAY, LOOK AT THAT.

OH YEAH.

I HAD ONE SLIDE.

YEAH.

SO, UM, ONE OF THE, WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY, UH, THAT W JUST TO BRING TO YOU IS WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, 600, $6 MILLION OF THAT TO GO TO MUSTANG, BUY YOU A MILLION OF THAT.

BE ASIDE FOR THE DISPARITY STUDY AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GRANT WRITING FOR BUSINESSES, AND THEN SETTING ASIDE THE OTHER HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO POTENTIALLY BE INVESTED IN THE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE, A CITY BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITY IMPROVEMENT, UH, TO MAKE, UH, EITHER HVAC SYSTEMS OR OTHER TYPE THINGS SAFER IN THE CASE OF WHEN A PANDEMIC AGAIN, WHERE WE MIGHT NEED SOME SHELTERING ABILITY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS A JUST PRELIMINARY WHERE STAFF IS AT TODAY.

UM, AND AGAIN, KIND OF A, AN ONGOING STORY.

WE'RE STILL LEARNING THINGS AS WE GO.

SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR TAKE ANY FEEDBACK THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE ON WHAT OTHER THINGS COUNCIL MIGHT LIKE US TO LOOK AT INVESTIGATE, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT TO OUR PARTNERS IN OTHER CITIES, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, UH, TO LOOK AT THIS, WE ARE NOT UNDER A TIME CRUNCH RIGHT NOW, AS I SAID TO START, WE ARE NOT, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BANK APP, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE PROACTIVE.

AND THEN COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH A PROGRAM THAT WE CAN PRESENT TO YOU IN TOTAL AND GET YOUR APPROVAL SO THAT WE CAN START EXECUTING THOSE FUNDS.

UH, AS SOON AS THEY GET HERE, WE DO HAVE TO COMMIT TO THE FUNDS, UH, COMMIT TO EXPANDING ALL THE FUNDS IN 24.

AND THEN ALL OF THE FUNDS HAVE TO BE EXPENDED BY 26.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME TIME TO DO THAT, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO GET GOING ON SOME OF THESE MORE POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE ISSUES.

MAYOR, MAYOR, PROTEOMIC COUNCIL.

ONE THING I WANTED TO MENTION TOO, IS AS GLEN POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE HAPPEN AS WELL IS THAT THEY WILL RELEASE THESE FUNDS.

AND OVER TIME THERE WILL BE CHANGES TO THE RULES, GIVEN HOW, UH, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESPOND OR COMMUNITIES THEY'RE ABLE TO RESPOND.

AND THERE MAY BE SUGGESTIONS THAT GO FORWARD TO CONGRESS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT IT'S NOT AS FLEXIBLE AS WELL.

UH, YOU MAY NEED IT TO BE.

AND SO WE COULD SEE THOSE THINGS BE AMENDED OVER TIME AS WELL.

SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT.

ADDITIONALLY, I'VE BEEN WATCHING ICMI AND GLENN, UH, WASHINGTON STMA TO, UH, INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION, UH, TO SEE WHAT INFORMATION THEY ARE PUTTING FORTH, THAT OTHER CITIES ARE UTILIZING IT FOR.

THESE ARE THE LATEST THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN AS GLEN TO POINT OUT.

AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT, PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.

AND AGAIN, IF THERE ARE CHANGES TO THIS, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THEN WE'LL CERTAINLY BRING THAT FORWARD.

NOT ONLY IS THERE THIS COMING, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

SO THERE MAY BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES COMING DOWN THE PIKE AS WELL.

SO WE'LL KEEP AN EYE OUT AND BRING THAT FORWARD TO YOU AS WELL.

BUT AS GLENN SAID, WE'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE OR CLARIFY, AND OR INFORMATION WE PRESENTED.

AND JUST A QUESTION, UH, HOW DID WAS THE A 7 MILLION OR SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DETERMINED? I DON'T KNOW.

I GUESS I'D HAVE TO GO DIG INTO THE LEGISLATION AND SEE THAT THAT WAS A FEDERAL FORMULA.

I HAVE SEEN A COUPLE OF SPREADSHEETS THAT SUMMARIZE HOW MUCH WENT TO STATES, HOW MUCH WENT TO COUNTIES, HOW MUCH, WHAT THE JURISDICTIONS, BUT I DO, I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE MATH BEHIND THOSE NUMBERS I'VE SEEN.

SO IT STARTED AT THE STATE LEVEL DIRECTLY FROM THE FEDERAL SYSTEM IN THIS CASE, SIR.

UH, SO THE FED SAID THE CITY HAS GET THIS BASED ON THE FORMULA.

DID NOT COME THROUGH THE STATE THROUGH THE STATE OR THE COUNTY? NO, NOT LIKE LAST TIME.

OKAY.

YEAH.

I WAS GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I SERVE ON THAT COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FEDERAL ADVOCACY COMMITTEE FOR NLC NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

AND WE WERE DRIVING THE TRAIN ON ENSURING THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDED LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES DIRECT FUNDING, VERSUS IT GOING THROUGH THE STATES AND HAVING THAT RED TAPE, DELAYING OUR

[00:30:01]

SO THESE IT'S BASED OFF OF A, LIKE A CDBG FORMULA CALCULATION THAT THEY, THAT THEY UTILIZED AND THAT DETERMINED HOW COUNTIES AND CITIES RECEIVED THEIR FUNDING, A WHOLE BUNCH OF VARIABLES IN THAT EQUATION.

I HAD A QUESTION IN A STATEMENT WITH A SUGGESTION.

UM, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE PREMIUM PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS NOT BEING FUNDABLE.

NO, IT IS FUNDABLE LOVING IT, THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE ALREADY TOOK CARE OF THAT.

DON'T BE ABLE TO DO REIMBURSEMENTS FOR WHAT WE'VE LIKE.

WHAT'S WHAT WE JUST RECENTLY, OH, NO, NO REIMBURSEMENTS ARE ALLOWED.

AND THIS FUND IS LOOKING FORWARD.

UH, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THAT LATE LAST YEAR.

UM, AND THAT WE NOT EXPEND THOSE FUNDS AND, AND GIVING ADDITIONAL PREMIUM DOLLARS, UH, TO OUR, BUT THAT THAT'S JUST WHERE STAFF IS TODAY.

IT WOULD BE ALLOWED IF YOU CHOSE TO GO FORWARD, BUT NOT REIMBURSABLE LOOKING BACK, WE DID UTILIZE, SORRY, SERVED.

UH, WE DID UTILIZE CARES, ACT FUNDS FOR THOSE THAT WERE REIMBURSABLE FOR THAT PREMIUM PAY.

OKAY.

AND THE OTHER, UM, STATEMENT, UH, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU BILL.

I SENT AN EMAIL TO BILL ABOUT THE DISPARITY STUDY IS SOMETHING SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, UH, THAT 2014 SMALL BUSINESS POLICY I'VE ALWAYS FELT HAD NO TEETH IN IT.

AND, UH, I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW, UH, THEY JUST APPROVED THEIR BUDGET FOR THE UTILIZATION OF THEIR FUNDS THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT THEY APPROVED WAS A DISPARITY STUDY AS WELL.

SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO REACH OUT TO THEM THE, UH, WHAT THEIR PROCESSES ARE AND MAYBE THE CONSULTANTS THAT THEY MAY BE UTILIZING TO, UH, TO SEE IF WE CAN WORK IN CONCERT WITH, WITH THE FORT BEND COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, DO OUR BEST EFFORT TO IDENTIFY THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND, OR, YOU KNOW, CULTURALLY DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT HAVE EFFECTIVE OUTREACH TO THEM TO APPLY FOR, CAN BE CONSIDERED FOR THESE.

IS THERE A CITY CONTRACTS AND OPPORTUNITIES? ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF ECONOMY OF SCALE WE COULD DO THERE.

AND I ALSO THINK IT ALIGNS WITH THE TEXAS PARKWAY CARTWRIGHT CORRIDOR COMMITTEE EFFORTS AS WELL.

SO DEFINITELY SOME OPPORTUNITY THERE.

I'LL, I'LL GET IN TOUCH WITH FORT BEND COUNTY.

THANK YOU.

THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

JUST WHAT DID WE HAVE IN MIND ABOUT DISPARITY STUDY? BUT THE, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS FIND AS COUNSELOR AND BONY RECOMMENDED IF THE COUNTY'S DOING WHAT I WOULD LOOK AT THEIR FIRST, BUT I'LL GET THE CONSULTANT IN.

AND THEN THE CONSULTANT ACTUALLY GOES THROUGH A GREAT DEAL OF DETAIL IN OUR BIDDING AND OUR CONTRACTING PROCESSES, AND THEN COMPARES THAT TO THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE AMOUNT OF CONTRACTS THAT ARE AWARDED.

AND THEN THEY AT ALL THAT STUFF OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS, A DECADE, OR MAYBE LONGER, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY SEE.

AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY, UH, BASED ON FEDERAL LAW WOULD GIVE US GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY IN ALIGNMENT WITH FEDERAL GUIDELINES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO ALL OF THAT RECOMMENDATION IS STRICTLY COMING FROM THE STUDY THAT, AND THEN WHAT THEY FIND AND GOING BACK TO THE 2014 POLICY, WHICH WE HAD THAT SMALL BUSINESS POLICY REALLY IS WHAT IT IS.

AND I THINK AT THE TIME THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT IT MOVING FORWARD WITH DISPARITY.

AND WE DID NOT DO THAT AT THE TIME THAT WOULD HELP ENHANCE THAT PROCESS, THAT PROGRAM, AND TAKE THAT OFF THE SHELF AND BE ABLE TO REALLY WORK TOWARD WHAT WE INTENDED IT TO BE ORIGINALLY.

WHEN WILL THIS COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH MORE INFORMATION, UH, BASED ON WHAT WE HEAR THIS EVENING, UH, IT COULD BE AS QUICK AS NEXT MEETING, I WON'T TAKE ME VERY LONG REACH OUT TO FORT BEND COUNTY AND DEPENDING ON WHAT, UH, MEMBERS HAVE THIS EVENING, UH, WE COULD EITHER, YOU KNOW, MODIFY THIS A LITTLE BIT OR ADD A COUPLE OF THINGS TO IT AND BRING IT BACK IN MY INTENT IS TO BE TIMELY.

AND IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET THE FUNDS LOADED BY THEN, FOR WHATEVER REASON, I WOULD RATHER HAVE GUIDANCE APPROVED FROM COUNCIL AND READY TO EXECUTE.

UH, EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE MONEY READY.

SO AS QUICK AS WE CAN GET BACK, IT COULD BE THAT QUICK.

AND ALSO WE WON'T GET TO TRIAL.

THEY'RE GIVEN OUT IN TRAUNCHES.

AND SO WE WILL NOT GET TO TRAUNCH FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT AT LEAST WE'LL HAVE A PLAN FOR WHAT WE'D MOVE FORWARD WITH.

I NOTICED THAT, UH, ONE OF THE PROJECTS FOR CONSIDERATION IS, UH, HVAC MODERNIZATION, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, DURING THE, UM, UH, THE, THE WINTER STORM, UH, WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH, UH, GENERATORS, UH, WOULD, DO WE STILL HAVE A NEED, UH, YOU KNOW, TO SHORE UP, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT SIDE OF THE, UH, UH, OF THE, UM, UH, A NEED FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, GENERATORS, SOME OF OUR WARMING STATIONS ARE, YOU KNOW, IN SOME CASES WE, WE COULDN'T USE LOCATIONS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE GENERATORS THAT DIDN'T DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY.

SO WOULD SOMETHING LIKE THAT, UH, MAYBE FIT IN IT MIGHT I HAVE NOT DONE.

I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT GENERATORS SPECIFICALLY AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT HVAC PRIOR WITH THE PAN, YOU KNOW, MOVING AIR AND MAKING SURE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, HOUSING PEOPLE IN FACILITY HERE IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I CAN DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT THOUGH.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

THANK YOU.

I MADE A NOTE, LOOK AT GENERATORS AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, OTHER OTHER

[00:35:01]

UM, EXCUSE ME, IF YOU ALREADY STATED THIS, BUT WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE HAD US DISPARITY STUDY, WE NEVER HAD THAT.

I HAD ONE.

OKAY.

UM, SO I'M JUST KIND OF CONCERNED OF AS USING THE FUNDING TO HIRE, UM, A CONSULTANT.

YOU DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE MANPOWER TO ACTUALLY KIND OF, NO, NOT AT ALL.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT, IF YOU, I GOOGLED IT A LITTLE, A COUPLE OF DAYS LAST WEEK IN PREPARATION, PREPARING THIS DISPARITY STUDIES ARE VERY SPECIFIC.

THERE ARE WHOLE COMPANIES THAT JUST DO DISPARITY STUDIES.

SO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALIGN FOLLOW FEDERAL GUIDELINES, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TAKING THAT ON INTERNALLY.

IT'S A VERY SPECIFIC SKILLSET.

THAT'S FAIR.

I'M JUST CONCERNED OF US UTILIZING FUNDING FOR A CONSULTANT AND ACTUALLY NOT REALLY ADDRESSING THE AREAS THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH EXPERIENCING THE DISPARITY.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, HONE IN ON THOSE AREAS ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEM AND PRETTY MUCH GIVE THEM THE RIGHT.

RIGHT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE DISPARITY STUDY, WHATEVER COMES OUT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT IN THAT PROCESS, WE ALSO IDENTIFY THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT ACTIVITIES, THE TECHNICAL TRAINING ASPECT THAT IS ALLOWED IN HERE AS WELL.

AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A NEW VERSION OF THE LEADERSHIP LUNCHEONS THAT WE USE OR BUSINESS LUNCHEONS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

AGAIN, WE HAVE ALL THE WAY THROUGH 24, UH, TO IDENTIFY IN 26 TO EXPEND THE FUNDS.

SO WE COULD PUT THOSE FUNDS ASIDE AND DO, YOU KNOW, A QUARTERLY TRAINING FOR BUSINESSES WITHIN MISSOURI CITY FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS OR SOMETHING OF THAT, IF THAT'S WHAT WE CHOOSE TO DO.

SO I THINK A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION COULD COME OUT OF THAT.

THANK YOU.

SPEAKING OF, UM, GLEN WITH THE NEWLY FORMED SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO INCORPORATE SOME WORKSHOPS, UM, SUCH AS THAT.

SO, UH, I WOULD LOVE TO INCORPORATE SOME FUNDS FOR THAT COMMITTEE.

ABSOLUTELY.

ANYTHING AGAIN, WHEN YOU READ THE, THE LEGEND, THE BULLET POINTS, IT TALKS ABOUT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES.

I THINK THAT'S PRETTY BROAD.

I THINK WE COULD BE TALKING FINANCING.

WE COULD BE TALKING, YOU KNOW, ACCOUNTING, WE COULD BE TALKING ADVERTISING, WE COULD BE, YOU KNOW, ANY OF THOSE THINGS IN SUPPORT OF A BUSINESS.

SO ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CERTAINLY BRING THAT TO THE TABLE THERE AND DEVELOP SOME IDEAS FROM THE COMMUNITY IS MAYBE WHERE WE WANT TO START, WHAT THAT TIMING WOULD LOOK LIKE.

UH, YOU KNOW, AND, AND AGAIN, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CAN DO FROM A PERMITTING SIDE OR, YOU KNOW, A CODE SIDE THAT WE CAN COME OUT AND EDUCATE TOO, THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING, BUT THAT'S A NO COST ITEM, RIGHT.

WE'RE ALREADY HERE.

UH, BUT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT BRINGING IN, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME SMALL BUSINESS EXPERTS FROM WHATEVER AREA OF THE COUNTRY, UH, WE CAN CERTAINLY THEN AFFORD TO BRING THEM INTO TOWN AND DO A NICE PRESENTATION, THOROUGH PRESENTATION.

AND BEFORE WE BRING ANYTHING TO TAKE THESE IDEAS, RUN THEM THROUGH.

THERE IS, UH, WE DID FIND A SITE WHERE WE CAN FIND OUT EXACTLY IF SOMETHING IS APPLICABLE TO THIS PROGRAM OR NOT, OR AT LEAST PUT A CALL OUT TO SOMEBODY TO MAKE SURE IT IS BEFORE WE EXPEND THE MONEY AND THEN HAVE TO REIMBURSE.

CAUSE IT WASN'T.

SO WE'LL DEFINITELY CHECK THOSE OUT.

I NOTICED THAT, UH, YOU, UH, ADDRESS NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS, UH, JUST HOW DEEP DOES THAT GO? I GUESS WHAT I'M THINKING OF IS, UH, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE PANDEMIC DID TO THE CITY CENTER, AS FAR AS THE LOSS OF, UH, OF, UH, REVENUE, UH, UH, BECAUSE OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE RESTRICTIONS THAT WERE PUT ON THE, UM, ON THE, UH, THE OPERATION, IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITY THERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT, AT, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME, UH, I GUESS, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, UH, TO CONSIDER SOME OF THOSE LOSSES IN THE CATEGORY OF NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT? I DID WHEN I DID MINE, MY READ THROUGH, UH, I LUMPED THE GOLF COURSE IN WITH THE CITY IN TOTAL, BECAUSE AGAIN, THE CITY OBVIOUSLY INCREASED THE SALES TAX INCREASE, SO, OR EXPERIENCED A SALES TAX INCREASE.

I WILL WORK WITH JOYCE AND HER STAFF TO DIG A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO WHETHER THE CORPORATION ITSELF MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT.

AND I MADE A NOTE AND WE CAME BACK BECAUSE YOU AND I GOT HIT REAL HARD AND WE HAVEN'T BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, IT BASICALLY WENT, UH, WENT DOWN TO ZERO AND WE COULDN'T USE THE FACILITY.

SO DEFINITELY RESEARCH THAT A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY.

FAIL AS A SMALL BUSINESS POLICY, UPDATED UP-TO-DATE POLICY, I'M SORRY, WHAT'S THE SMALL BUSINESS POLICY.

NO, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO UPDATE WITH RESPECT TO WHERE WE ARE THIS DAY AND AGE AND WITH OPPORTUNITIES WE MAY HAVE WITH US.

IT'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I AM TO

[2.(c) Consider and discuss the City’s board, committee, and commission member appointments and reappointments. (Proposed presenter: City Secretary Maria Jackson)]

[00:40:01]

THIS TURN WILL BE EXPIRING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

AND ALSO OTHER VACANCIES THAT THE CITY HAS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE TWO POSITIONS, WHO'S JOHN BRIGGS BUYER, AND BOTH OF THE, UH, BOTH OF THE, UH, MEMBERS, UH, WILL NOT REQUEST NOT TO CONTINUE SERVING.

UM, FOR THE THIS COMMITTEE, WE HAVE, UH, FIVE NEW CANDIDATE APPLICATIONS.

UM, WE WILL NEED, UH, FOR POSITION NUMBER FOUR, A DISTRICT, A REPRESENTATIVE, AND FOR POSITION FIVE AND DISTRICT B REPRESENTATIVE.

AND AT THIS TIME WE HAD TWO DISTRICT B REPRESENTATIVES INTERESTED IN SERVING THIS COMMITTEE.

THIS IS A 2021 MEMBER ATTENDANCE LIST.

THIS IS THE 2020 MEMBER ATTENDANCE LIST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS.

WE HAVE THREE POSITIONS WHOSE, UH, THE CURRENT MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE SERVING SHOULD COUNCIL WISH TO REAPPOINT THEM.

AND THEN WE HAVE ONE VACANCY.

UM, THIS, THIS, UH, MR. WOE HAS LEFT, HAVE SOME MOVED FROM THE CITY, AND THAT'S WHY THIS POSITION IS VACANT.

AND THERE ARE NO NEW APPLICATIONS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS FOR THE ELECTRICAL BOARD.

ALL THREE CANDIDATES WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE SERVING SHOULD COUNCIL WISH TO REAPPOINT THEM.

WE HAVE ONE NEW APPLICATION FROM MR. WILLIAM CRONIN FOR THE PARKS BOARD.

WE DO HAVE TWO POSITION.

UH, ONE IS ALREADY VACANT, UH, FOR POSITION ONE, MS HAS MOVED FROM THE CITY AND MS. CLAUDIA GARCIA, UM, SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING AND WILL NOT CONTINUE HER SERVICE.

WE HAVE SIX NEW APPLICATIONS FOR THE PARKS BOARD.

THIS IS THE 2021 MEMBER ATTENDANCE LIST.

THIS IS A 2020 MEMBER ATTENDANCE LIST.

THIS IS A 2019 MEMBER ATTENDANCE LIST FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.

WE HAVE ONE POSITION THAT WILL BE VACANT AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, UH, FOR POSITION NUMBER SIX, MS. MONICA, DR.

MONICA RASMUS WILL NOT CONTINUE HER SERVICE.