Aug 15, 2022 City Council

[1. ROLL CALL]

[00:00:05]

SO TODAY'S MONDAY, AUGUST 15TH ON THE CALL, THE CITY COUNCIL, REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER AT 7:01 PM.

WE DO HAVE A CALL.

I HAVE NUMBER TWO IS THE PLEDGE.

WE HAVE OUR TROOPS, 1985 TO DO THE LAGS.

AND THEN THE SCOUTS PRECINCT COLORS.

PLEASE JOIN US AND SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE.

LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

TRUE, 1985.

THANK YOU.

ALL.

I HAVE NUMBER THREE, PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITION.

THERE ARE NO PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITION ON THIS AGENDA.

[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

MADAM SECRETARY.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE? YES, SIR.

JAY MCLEAN, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

AND ALSO YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

I'M JAY MCCLELLAN.

I REPRESENT THE MISSOURI CITY POLICE OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION.

ONCE AGAIN, I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

THIS ASSOCIATION IS NOT OPPOSED TO OFFERING A SIGN-ON BONUS TO ASSIST WITH RECRUITING.

WE UNDERSTAND THIS AS A CHALLENGE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD FOR YEARS.

AND THAT IS A RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES.

ONCE AGAIN, FAILURE TO ADDRESS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM AND COMPENSATION WILL GIVE WAY TO CONTINUED REVOLVING DOOR OF HIRING TRAINING, AND THEN TAKING THEIR TALENTS ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION.

BUT WITH AN ADDED $6,000 IN THEIR POCKET FROM THE CITY, WE MUST FOCUS ON RETAINING THE DEDICATED, INTELLIGENT PERSONNEL, PRESENTLY PATROLLING THE STREETS, INVESTIGATING CRIMES AND THE SUPPORTING THE OVERALL MISSION WHO CAME HERE WITHOUT BEING LORD.

WHAT THEY SIGN ON BONUS THAT WE WILL NEVER RECEIVE.

AND TYSON THOSE TO COME HERE IS ONLY ONE PART OF A SUCCESSFUL RECRUITING IN TODAY'S CLIMATE.

ONCE, ONCE IN THE DOOR, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SHOW THEM DEDICATION AND APPRECIATION TO WANT THEM TO STAY.

AND WE MUST COMMIT TO SHOWING THESE PRESENTLY HERE THEY ARE APPRECIATED.

THIS DEPARTMENT HAS A LONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL POLICE SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS, AND THEY EXPECT THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE.

THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE FATEFUL STAFF WHO FEEL REPRESENTED AND VALUED AND NOT SIMPLY TREATED LIKE A LINE ITEM IN A 459 PAGE BUDGET BOOK.

THANK YOU.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

[00:05:01]

I AM MIKE ZIMMER.

I WENT TO RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYED BY MISSOURI CITY.

I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE MISSOURI CITY POLICE OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION SPRINGS ME HERE TONIGHT.

I BRING THE CONCERNS OF APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED MEMBERS, WHICH IS ABOUT 90% OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IF YOU ARE UNCLEAR OR DON'T KNOW WHERE WE CURRENTLY STAND, I'M HERE TO SHARE THAT THOSE CONCERNS, IF WE WERE A HUNDRED PERCENT STAFF WOULD STILL BE BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE PER THE POPULATION OF MISSOURI CITY.

BUT THE ISSUE WE ARE CURRENTLY HAVING IS 10 OPEN SPOTS AND ONE OFFICER ON MEDICAL LEAVE MAKING A TOTAL OF 11 OFFICERS SHORT, WHICH IS AN ENTIRE SHIFT.

YES, WE DO HAVE THREE PEOPLE SPONSORED IN THE ACADEMY, BUT WE'LL NOT SEE THEM ON THE STREETS FOR POSSIBLY SIX MONTHS.

THIS BRINGS US TO A TOTAL OF SEVEN OPEN SPOTS, WHICH BRINGS US TO THE LAST TESTING OPPORTUNITY THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD, WHERE WE HAD 10 PEOPLE APPLY TO TEST, WHICH WAS A GREAT START.

BUT THE ISSUE WE HAD IS ONLY HALF SHOWED UP THE TEST.

ONE, PASSED THE TEST AND TOOK A JOB ELSEWHERE ALREADY, WHICH WERE BACK TO ZERO BACKGROUNDS AND ZERO OFFERS MOTTO.

SINCE I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE FOR 20 YEARS, AS MISSOURI CITY DOES MORE WITH LESS AND AWARDED ONE OF THE SAFEST COMMUNITIES WE'LL LIVE IN.

SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE'RE BELOW LESS, WHICH WE CURRENTLY ARE, WHAT IS THE NEW MODEL GOING TO BE? SO PLEASE LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND THE SALARIES WE ARE THAT ARE BEING OFFERED SO WE CAN KEEP THE OFFICERS WE HAVE AND FILL THE SPOTS THAT ARE VACANT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MARIE.

AT ABRAMS, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, BUT MARIE VIOLA, I LIKE TO BE CALLED MURRAY ABRAMS THAT LIVE IN HUNTERS, GLEN FOR SECTION.

AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR THE LAST 33, 34 YEARS.

AND I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THE CDBG GRANT.

AND THEY DID QUITE A, UM, BLESSING TO ME AT MY HOME.

BUT IN THE REASON WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT IS TO BRING TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CITIZENS.

I AM A SENIOR CITIZENS MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE IT, BUT I AM OVER 60.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED IN MY HOME AND IS SOMEWHAT DISTURBING TO ME FOR THE SIMPLE REASON WHEN I HAD, UH, A MINOR LEAK ON MY ROOF.

AND I HAVE PICTURES TO SHOW, THEY SAY, PICTURES CAN TELL YOU A THOUSAND WORDS.

I HAD A MINOR LEAK ON MY ROOF, AND I BROUGHT THAT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PREVIOUS, UH, DIRECTOR OTIS SPRIGS.

AND, UH, IT WAS NOT ADDRESSED TIMELY.

AND MY ROOF COLLAPSED IN MY BEDROOM.

IT CAUSED A BIGGER PROBLEM.

NOW, THE PROBLEM THAT I'M HAVING NOW, PRESENTLY IS SOME OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE BY CENTEX.

WASN'T COMPLETED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

AND, UH, I HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH OTIS BACK IN 2020, AND HE WAS READY TO HAVE SOME ONE SENT OUT, BUT WITH MY AGE AND WITH THE PANDEMIC, I JUST DIDN'T CHANCE IT.

BUT I'M HERE TO NIGHT HOPE HOPEFULLY TO BRING LIGHT TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE ONGOING AND NOT BEING A DRESS.

I DID SPEAK WITH MS. GOMEZ THIS AFTERNOON.

AND SHE SAID THAT WE HAVE A MEETING COMING UP NEXT WEEK ON THURSDAY.

AND, UH, I WENT THROUGH MY NOTES AS WELL, BUT I'LL HAVE SOME PICTURES THAT I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU.

THIS IS MY ROOF.

WHEN MOST SMALL LEAK, IF THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE TO END UP DOING, REPLACING ALL THE SHEET ROCK IN MY BEDROOM, JUST FROM A MINOR LEAK, IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED TIME.

NOW, MY SIDING IN THE FRONT WHERE MY GARAGE IS, IS FALLING AND, UM, WATER DAMAGE IS GETTING INSIDE WHERE TERMITES MIGHT BE AN ISSUE.

I DON'T WANT A BIGGER PROBLEM.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING THIS GOOD FOR THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE MIRROR.

I DID TALK WITH, I DID EMAIL THE MIRROR ON JUNE 19TH.

I THINK IT WAS THE 18TH AT ANY WAY.

HE EMAILED ME BACK AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE IT WAS

[00:10:01]

AND I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.

AND, UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

I HAVE OTHER PICTURES HERE.

MA'AM THAT'S THE THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

UH, CITY SECRETARY, CAN YOU THINK, SHOULD WE GET A COPY OF THOSE PICTURES? ABSOLUTELY.

CAROL MARTIN, I LIVE IN COLONY LOSS, UM, ALPHA CRAVE IN BETWEEN THE BELTWAY AND CRAVING LOAN, BUT I'M NOT HERE TO ADDRESS THE WALL AGAIN, THIS CLASS, NO ONE ELSE I'M CALLING BECAUSE WE STARTED LAST YEAR ASKING THE CITY TO ALSO INSTALL THE MISSOURI CITY DIGITAL INFORMATIONAL BOARD, AS YOU HAVE IN LEXINGTON AND 10 92 THAT YOU PUT IN A YEAR AGO WITH ALL THE CITY, BUT YOU LEFT ONE OUT ON THAT END.

AND BEFORE THE LAST CENTER MANAGER WAS, I'M NOT GONNA SAY TERMINATED BEFORE HE LEFT.

THAT WAS AN ACTION ITEM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.

I THINK YOU GUYS FAMILIAR WITH IT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BECAUSE IT'S 400 HOMES DOWN IN COLONY CROSS, WE HAVE FOUR SECTIONS, BUT WONDERING HOW THERE ARE 97 TO BE EXACT AND THERE'S THINGS GOING ON IN THE CITY THAT YOU PUT ON THE DISPLAY BOARD FOR THIS END.

AND WE DON'T SEE IT BECAUSE ON SEPTEMBER, THE FIRST WE'RE HAVING A STATE OF THE CITY AND A LOT OF US ON THAT END, DON'T NORMALLY ALWAYS GET THE COMMUNITY IMPACT PAPER.

SO WE NEED THAT, UH, DIGITAL, UH, BOARD TO HAVE STEADY FLASHING EVERY DAY, ALL DAY AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY, LIKE THE OTHER RESIDENTS DO ON THE OTHER END OF MISSOURI CITY.

I KNOW YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CALL IT.

IT'S THAT BRICK FIVE FEET TALL AND DIGITAL THAT YOU CONTROLLING.

IT TELLS YOU OF EVERYTHING WAS GOING ON.

BEING ON AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, THE STATE OF THE, WELL, WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT AND PEOPLE ARE DRIVE AND THAT'S THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE THAT BRINGS US INTO THE CITY.

WE WANTED THEM RESIDENTS ON THAT.

IT WAS FONDREN PARK.

SO WE NEED THAT.

I KNOW IT'S BUDGET TIME, BUT AGAIN, AKI COMMENT.

SO WE GET THAT LITTLE BRICK, DIGITAL INFORMATION BOARD PREMIUM FOR US AS WELL.

AND YOU CAN GET MORE POTENTIAL PATIENT FROM US ON THAT END AS WELL WHEN THINGS ARE GOING ON HERE.

AND YOU SAID, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

I APPRECIATE YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENTS.

THANK YOU.

[6. CONSENT AGENDA]

IS THERE A MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE? THAT'S BEEN A MOTION BY MAY APPROACH AND BONEY SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER KLAUSER.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY, AYE.

AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED TO THE MOTION.

PLEASE SAY NO MOTION CARRIES FIVE, ZERO I'M NUMBER SEVEN, OUR PUBLIC HEARING AND RELATED ACTIONS.

THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARING AND RELIVING THE ACTIONS ON THIS AGENDA.

ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ARE APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE NO APPOINTMENTS ON THIS AGENDA.

[(a) Consideration and Possible Action - To authorize the Mayor to execute ...]

SECTION ONE, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY JENNIFER THOMAS GOMEZ, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL DOESN'T NORMALLY SEE SUBDIVISION PLAT.

SO THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR YOU, BUT IT IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

UH, THIS IS THE DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU SEE THE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON AT INDEPENDENCE AND FM 10 92.

SO THIS IS A SUBDIVISION PLAT THAT NOW CONTAINS A PIECE OF CITY PROPERTY BECAUSE THE SUBDIVISION DEDICATED APPROXIMATELY 1.5 ACRES AS PARKLAND, UM, RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE SUBURBAN SUBDIVISION OFF OF INDEPENDENCE.

SO THE CITY IS NOW OWNER OF PROPERTY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SUBDIVISION.

SO A REQUIREMENT OF THE PLAT IS THAT ALL OWNERS HAVE TO SIGN THE PLAT.

SO THIS ITEM WOULD AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, UH, TO SIGN THE PLAT, UH, SO THAT THE PLAT WILL BE REPORTED.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE FLOOR THAT MOVE AND EMOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM BONING SECOND BY COUNSELOR? CLOUSER ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY, AYE.

AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED TO THE MOTION.

PLEASE SAY NO MOTION CARRIES FOR ONE,

[(a) Consideration and Possible Action - First of Three Readings - An ordin...]

[00:15:03]

THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A PRESENTATION OR COMMENTS.

GO AHEAD AND JUST, YES SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ON JULY 18TH, 2022, THE COUNCIL VOTED TO AUTHORIZE THE AMENDMENT OF THE EXISTING AGREEMENT FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SOLID WASTE BY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS ONTO THAT CONTRACT.

THE CITY'S CURRENT CONTRACT ENDS ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2022 AS DOES THE CITY'S FRANCHISE AGREEMENT FOR THOSE SOLID WASTE SERVICES, THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND THE NEXT PROPOSED ORDINANCE, BOTH EXTEND THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS TO EXTEND THAT ADDITIONAL THREE-YEAR PERIOD FOR THE FRANCHISE ITSELF.

IN THE COMING WEEKS, YOU'LL SEE A CONTRACT WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED AS WELL AS THE CHANGE TO THE SCHEDULE OF FEES.

BUT AGAIN, THIS ITEM AND THE NEXT ITEM SIMPLY EXTEND THE CITY'S EXISTING FRANCHISE TO INCLUDE THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD THAT YOU ALL REQUESTED AT THE JULY 18TH, 2022 MEETINGS.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE FLOOR MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND, THE MOTION BY MAYOR PROTON BONEY SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER RILEY, ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL RIGHT.

HEARING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SAY AYE.

AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED TO THE MOTION PLEASE SAY NO, NO MOTION CARRIES FOUR ONE.

[(b) Consideration and Possible Action - First of Three Readings - An ordin...]

GRANTED TO GFL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, USA, EACH SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO WASTE CORPORATION OF TEXAS LP, A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF WC, A WASTE CORPORATION FOR THE RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE TO USE THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY TO CONDUCT A SOLID WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE BUSINESS FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WITHIN THE CITY OF MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL, PROVIDING A PENALTY AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY.

IT'S AN EMOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM BONING SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER KLAUSER.

IS THERE A DISCUSSION HEARING? NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY, AYE.

AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED TO THE MOTION SAYING NO AND MOTION CARRIES FOUR ONE.

THANK YOU, JOYCE.

ALL RIGHT.

[(c) Consideration and Possible Action - First of Two Readings - An ordinan...]

FIRST OF TWO READINGS AND ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTING MONITORING INCENTIVES FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICERS.

WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MIKE WRITERS AND OUR POLICE CHIEF, THE AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS IMPLEMENTING A MON MONITORING CENTER FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICERS SETTING FOR THE CRITERIA SETTING FOR THE CRITERIA FOR THE MONETARY INCENTIVE, PROVIDING FOR APPEAL, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND CONTAINING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED THERE TO, UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

AS YOU KNOW, POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE NATION ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY HIRING AND RETAINING QUALITY PERSONNEL.

WE'RE CERTAINLY NO DIFFERENT THAN THESE OTHER AGENCIES.

WITH THE EXCEPTION.

WE DON'T SEEM TO ATTRACT ANY CERTIFIED PERSONNEL THAT WILL PASS OUR ENTRY LEVEL EXAMS. WE'VE REACHED OUT TO HIGHER CADETS, MEANING PEOPLE THAT EITHER HAVE MILITARY OR COLLEGE OR A COMBINATION THEREOF AND PAY THEIR WAY THROUGH THE ACADEMY.

THAT'S A LOT GREATER THAN THE, UH, SIGNING INCENTIVE.

THEN WE'RE ASKING.

SO WHEN WE HIRE A CADET, WE RUN THE RISK IN THREE LARGE OBSTACLES BEING IN THEIR WAY.

ONE IS, WILL THEY SUCCESSFULLY PASS THE POLICE ACADEMY? AND IF THEY DO THAT WELL, THEY SUCCESSFULLY PASS THE STATE LICENSING EXAM.

THEN LASTLY, WILL THEY POSSIBLY SUCCESSFULLY PASS THE FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS DEPARTMENT? THOSE ARE THREE LARGE HURDLES THAT NOT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO OVERCOME.

YEP.

WE'RE GOING TO INVEST A LOT MORE THAN THE $6,000 SIGNING INCENTIVE THAT I'M ASKING THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL.

SO WITH THE 6,000 SIGNING BONUS, WE'RE HOPING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE ALREADY CERTIFIED.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'VE ALREADY PASSED A POLICE ACADEMY AND THEY'VE ALREADY ASKED THE STATE LICENSE EXAM.

I'M ACTUALLY HOPING THAT WE FIND PEOPLE WILLING TO COME HERE THAT ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCED IN OTHER AGENCIES.

I THINK THE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES PROBABLY COVERED WELL, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE A POSSIBILITY FOR US, BUT A

[00:20:01]

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE FRESH OUT OF THE ACADEMY AND WHO HAVE JUST PASSED THE LICENSING EXAM.

WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE I'M STRUGGLING TO FILL THE RANKS.

I HAVE SEVEN OPENINGS.

NOW I EXPECT TWO MORE BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH AND MORE TO COME AFTER THAT.

AND I'M LOSING PEOPLE FASTER THAN I'M ABLE TO GAIN THEM.

SO IN THE EVENT THAT THIS IS APPROVED, THE WAY THAT THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN PERSON WILL GET $3,000 ON THEIR FIRST CHECK.

AND THEN ONCE THEY PASS THE FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM, THEY'LL GET ANOTHER $3,000 IN THE EVENT.

THEY LEAVE PRIOR TO A THREE-YEAR COMMITMENT THROUGH THE CONTRACT.

THEY'RE GOING TO SIGN, IT'S BROKEN DOWN IN THIRDS, IF YOU WILL.

SO IF THEY, BEFORE THEIR FIRST ANNIVERSARY DATE, THEY'RE EXPECTED TO PAY 100% OF THAT MONEY BACK TO THE CITY.

IF THEY LEAVE PRIOR TO THEIR SECOND ANNIVERSARY AT 66%.

AND IF THEY LEAVE PRIOR TO THEIR THIRD ANNIVERSARY, THEY'LL PAY 33% BACK TO THE CITY.

SO MANY OTHER CITIES ARE DOING IT.

YOU'LL SEE IT IN YOUR DOCUMENTS WHERE THERE'S BENCHMARK CITIES THAT ARE PAYING, UH, W W WE'RE ASKING THEM SOME EVEN MUCH MORE.

SO I THINK THIS IS A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, ALTHOUGH I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THIS NECESSARY CHIEF.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

SO THIS IS FOR OFFICERS WHO WERE COMING IN COMPLETELY NEW, FRESH, OR IS THIS FOR OFFICERS JOINING US FROM DIFFERENT, UM, DIFFERENT AGENCIES? I SHOULD SAY.

I THINK THAT THIS WILL IN OUR CURRENT SITUATION, THIS ACTUALLY FOR BOTH.

SO THEY HAVE TO BE A LICENSED PEACE OFFICER.

IN OTHER WORDS, READY FOR SOMEONE TO CARRY THE COMMISSION MEANS THEY'VE COMPLETED A POLICE ACADEMY AND THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED THE STATE LICENSING EXAM.

IF I'M ABLE TO GET EXPERIENCED PERSONS WITH THIS, I'LL BE VERY GRATEFUL.

SO, BUT MY QUESTION IS THEY BOTH GET THE SAME.

THEY DO.

THEY'LL BOTH GET 3000 WHEN THEY START.

AND THEN 3000 UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM TRAINING.

SO WHETHER YOU'RE JUST GRADUATED FROM ACADEMY OR YOU'RE COMING IN FROM, LET'S JUST SAY, I'M JUST USING AN EXAMPLE LIKE HOUSTON, UM, WITH, I DON'T KNOW, THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE, THEY WOULD STILL BE QUALIFIED FOR THIS.

CORRECT? CORRECT.

SO THAT, SO THEY CAN GET BOTH.

ALL RIGHT.

SO I HAVE COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THIS.

I THINK I JUST READ IT RECENTLY.

UH, I UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLES CHIEF OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST OUR AGENCY.

THERE ARE SEVERAL AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS, UH, THAT STRUGGLING WITH KEEPING, UH, RECRUITS OR BRINGING IN NEW PEOPLE.

SO I LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO UP THIS, TO SOMETHING SIMILAR THAT I'VE READ RECENTLY WITH ANOTHER TOWN, WITH A $10,000, UM, UH, BONUS, UH, SIGNUP BONUSES VERSUS SIX.

AND WE CAN BREAK THAT DOWN TO A WAY OF FIVE AND THEN FIVE FOR THE FIRST, UM, AS YOU BROKE IT DOWN THREE, AND THEN ANOTHER THREE, I LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES OR A 10,000 WITH FIVE AND FIVE, AND I KNOW I CAN MAKE A MOTION, RIGHT? HE JOYCE THAT'S CORRECT.

SO THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A MOTION TO CORRECT.

SO THIS IS, THAT'S JUST MY COMMENT AND EVERYONE IS OPEN TO CHIME IN.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE BEHIND OR AROUND THAT $10,000.

IT'LL PUT US IN A MORE COMPETITIVE SPOT THAN WE'RE CURRENTLY IN.

UH, IF IT'S THIS GUESSTIMATE NOT, I ASKED OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR TO TELL US MORE FROM UP WITH HIM, BUT MY ESTIMATE ALONE, WHEN WE HIRE A CADET, WE PAY THEM A SALARY.

WE PAY FOR ALL THEIR ACADEMY TRAINING, ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT, EVERYTHING THAT'S CLOSER TO $10,000 THAN IT IS $6,000.

SO I'M RUNNING THAT RISK BY HIRING CADETS.

ANYWAY, IF I DON'T HAVE TO RUN OUR CADET AND RUN THOSE THREE HURDLES THAT I SPOKE OF EARLIER PAST THE ACADEMY, ESSENCE AND STATE LICENSING EXAM AND PASSING OUR FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM, WE ONLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ONE HURDLE BEING THE FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM, THEM SUCCESSFULLY PASSING AND BRING IN CERTIFIED PEOPLE AT A GREATER NUMBER THAN 6,010,000 WOULD CERTAINLY BE A PLUS FOR US.

AND I KNOW WHAT AGENCY HE'S TALKING ABOUT.

I'M ACTUALLY LOSING SEVERAL OFFICERS TO THAT AGENCY THAT HE JUST REFERRED TO.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S NECESSARILY A GOOD IDEA, WAS THAT, UM, DO WE, IS ELENA? UM, I AM TOTALLY ON BOARD.

WE MAKING SURE OUR POLICE AND FIRE HAVE WHAT

[00:25:01]

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE FROM A STEVE CITY STANDPOINT THAT WE CAN FINANCIALLY AFFORD TO DO THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF VACANCIES THAT WE HAVE.

UH, THE PLAN IS TO USE THE SALARY SAVINGS, TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THESE BONUSES.

SO AT THIS TIME I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO AFFORD THE HIGHER LIMIT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES, AND THEN THAT'LL GO AWAY AND, YOU KNOW, BUT MORE ON THAT, THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN IS ONCE WE GET TO THREE VACANCIES ARE LESS THAN WE CAN SUSPEND.

I THINK IT'S THE CITY MANAGER MAKES THAT CHOICE, BUT WE CAN SUSPEND HIRING INCENTIVES BECAUSE NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE PEOPLE COME IN, UM, ELENA STAY WHERE YOU ARE.

AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, UM, I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS POS, UM, QUESTION TWO, AS FAR AS, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THEIR SALARIES ARE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

SO IF WE DID AT $10,000 BONUS, WOULD THAT STILL, AND THIS QUESTIONS FOR ELENA WOULD THAT, WOULD THAT GIVE US ROOM TO BRING OUR, UM, OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, UM, WHERE THAT IS? UM, I'M NOT SURE I'M NOT LOOKING AT NUMBERS, BUT WOULD THAT GIVE US ROOM TO INCREASE THEIR SALARY? SO I SEE IT AS TWO DIFFERENT, UM, ISSUES AS FAR AS THE, UH, CHANGE, IF ANY, TO ANY SALARY RANGES THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING, UM, THAT'S INCLUDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 23 FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO RIGHT SIZE THAT.

UM, BUT THE HIRING INCENTIVE CURRENTLY WE HAVE THAT AS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE FUNDED FROM SALARY SAVINGS.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, ONGOING RECURRING DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SALARY ISSUES.

AND YOU'LL SEE THAT WHEN WE PRESENT THE BUDGET TO YOU IN THE NEXT WEEK.

OKAY.

AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS WHEN WOULD THERE BE AN END DATE TO THIS, UM, PROPOSED BONUS? THAT WAS THE STANDARD ON THE, ON THE BONUS PROGRAM.

THE END DATE WOULD BE IN IT'S WAY IT'S WRITTEN IN THE ORDINANCE IS IF WE GET THE THREE VACANCIES OR LESS, IT CAN BE SUSPENDED IN THE CITY MANAGER WOULD MAKE THAT CALL, BUT I'M PRETTY COMPETENT.

IT'S WRITTEN THAT WAY IN THE ORDINANCE.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

MY FIRST QUESTION IS THE ORDINANCE.

THAT'S THE ORDINANCE THAT'S BEFORE US TODAY WITH THE $6,000, UH, THAT SUGGESTED ORDINANCE CAME FROM WHO I KIND OF KNOW, I KNOW THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING IT TO US, BUT THAT $6,000 FIGURE HAD TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.

SO WHERE FROM YOU? OKAY.

SO IN YOUR ESTIMATION, YOU FELT AT THE TIME THAT THIS WAS, UH, PRESENTED TO THE, TO THE CITY CITY AND THE CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT, THAT $6,000, WELL WAS A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

I KNOW YOU MENTIONED CONSERVATIVE THE WORK CERTAINLY EARLIER, BUT YOU WERE THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH THE $6,000, CORRECT.

BUT SUFFICIENT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE A GOOD WAY TO TERM IT.

IT'S ONE THAT I THOUGHT THAT, THAT YOU ALL WOULD POSSIBLY ENTERTAIN AN APPROVE A $10,000 IS WHAT I DIDN'T THINK THAT YOU ALL WOULD EVER ASK FOR, BUT I JUST PUT IT OUT THERE.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING, I HAVEN'T APPROVED IT YET, BUT, UM, I ASKED FOR WHAT I THINK IS POSSIBLE.

AND I THINK THE $6,000 WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD ENTERTAIN MORE THAN 10,000.

WELL, THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR JUST PRESENTED A $10,000 FIGURE.

YOU KNOW, HE JUST CAME OUT WITH THAT NUMBER AND HE MENTIONED AN AGENCY, WHICH HE DID MENTION THE ACTUAL AGENCY.

AND I LOOKED AT ALL OF THE, THE BENCHMARK CITIES THAT ARE LISTED HERE.

AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING REMOTELY CLOSE TO $10,000.

NOW I'M NOT OPPOSED TO DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO ATTRACT TALENT TO THE CITY OF MISSOURI CITY, BUT TO JUST THROW OUT A RANDOM NUMBER WITHOUT ANY BACK, UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT ANY INFORMATION FOR ME TO JUSTIFY THAT, THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE WOULD THAT WOULD ACTUALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE IS A LITTLE CONCERNING FOR ME, WHICH IS WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION.

NOT THAT I'M OPPOSED TO THIS BEING DONE.

I JUST DON'T KNOW MAYOR WHERE YOU GOT.

YEAH, LET ME ANSWER THE WHOLE CITY OF BAYTOWN, JUST, UH, ALONG WITH IT, THAT'S COMING IN THIS, IN THEIR BUDGET.

UPCOMING IS WHAT I'M TOLD THAT THEY'RE THEY HAVE THAT 10,000 THAT'S COMING IN.

I KNOW I LOOKED AT THE LIST OF ITEMS THAT WAS GIVEN BY STAFF AND IT DOESN'T SHOW BAYTOWN EYES THAT, BUT I JUST DID FIND OUT LAST WEEK, IT SHOWED 6,000.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO, AND MY OTHER THING IS, IS TO THAT GUYS, AND I'LL SAY THIS, WE DID SOMETHING GREAT WITH THE, WITH THE DISPATCHERS, WHEN YOU CAME TOWARDS US, WE GAVE, WE WERE ACTUALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

I HAVE, NOW I KNOW WAS PLAYING FOR DISPATCH, RIGHT? SO IT WAS WORKING.

SO FOR ME, THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE,

[00:30:01]

I HAVE FRIENDS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ELSEWHERE THAT I'M NOT GOING TO LIST, BUT I KNOW THAT THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM.

AND YES, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT, IT SHOWS 6,000 WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO BE COMPARED TO ONE OF THE CITIES.

BUT TOMORROW THAT NEEDLE'S MOVING, THAT NEEDLE IS MOVING YOU'RE RIGHT.

AND WE CAN'T KEEP MOVING IT.

YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO GET SOMEWHERE WHERE WE GOT TO GET SOME, UH, UH, POLICE OFFICERS IN HERE THAT ARE CONSISTENT AND CONCRETE.

THAT'S WHY, WHEN WE MADE THAT DECISION FOR DISPATCHERS, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING WAY ABOVE SOME OF OUR SISTER CITIES, AND WE DID THAT, UH, SO MY SUGGESTION TO THE COUNCIL IS, AND UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T MAKE A MOTION IS TO SAY THAT LET'S JUST LOOK AT THIS ISSUE.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S ONGOING.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN THERE.

AND I DON'T WANT TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND SAY, WE DID SIX AND SOMEBODY ELSE DID NOW 10 AND SOMEBODY ELSE DID OTHERS.

AND WE'RE ALWAYS CHASING THE BALL.

AND I LIKE TO BE WHERE WE'RE CONSISTENT WITH THIS.

SO THIS WAY WE NEED TO GET OUR TEAM IN HERE TO DO SO.

AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS MY SUGGESTION.

AND I RESPECT EVERYBODY ELSE'S SUGGESTION.

AND THE REASON MAYOR PRO TEM THAT I MADE THAT IS I DID FIND OUT THAT, UM, UH, BAYTOWN IS MOVING ALREADY.

IF NOT, THEY HAVE ALREADY TAKEN ACTION.

AND FOR THE REASON WHY I'M THRILLED THAT NUMBER, I JUST DIDN'T THROW THAT NUMBER OUT THERE JUST TO BE A NUMBER OUT THERE.

BUT I THREW IT OUT THERE FOR THE REASONS I JUST EXPLAINED.

I WANT IT TO BE CONSISTENT, NOT KEEP COMING BACK.

AND I KNOW THAT GIVES YOU SOME ROOM TO GO BACK AND START RECRUITING PEOPLE.

IT MAY NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY AND YOU'RE NOT COMPARING OR COMPETING WITH OTHERS, JUST LIKE YOU DO WITH THE DISPATCHERS.

REMEMBER CHIEF, WE HAD SOME BACK AND FORTH DISCUSSIONS ON THAT.

AND WE ENDED UP AS THAT COUNCIL AS A BODY, WE ENDED UP GIVING YOU PROBABLY MORE THAN WHAT WE, WHAT YOU WERE ASKING FOR AT THAT TIME.

BUT I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND IT AT LEAST IS WORKING.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY I PUT IT ON.

YEAH.

SO FOR ME, I JUST WANTED TO JUST BE, I'M SORRY IF I FINISHED WITH THIS COUNCIL ONE, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FISCAL MATTERS, UH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS.

AND IF I'M MAKING A DECISION ON THAT, I JUST WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THE WHY BEHIND, WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE WHY BEFORE I ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS.

UH, I DID FEEL COMFORTABLE HEARING ELENA SAY THROUGH SALARY SAVINGS THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT, BUT TO INCREASE FOR $4,000 FROM THE SUGGESTED PROPOSED $6,000, JUST BECAUSE OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO.

WASN'T SITTING WELL WITH ME AND THANK YOU, MARY, FOR EXPLAINING.

OKAY.

UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU CHIEF FOR COMING UP HERE AND EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS THAT THE PLA JUST MENTIONED, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, UM, BEING THE VOICE FOR THE DEPARTMENT, UM, I'M EXCITED THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE ENGAGED IN THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE IN MY OPINION HAS BEEN GLOSSED OVER FOR WEEKS, MONTHS AND POSSIBLY YEARS.

SO I'M EXCITED THAT THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN ENGAGED, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT HAS TAKEN WAY TOO LONG.

AND SO I'M KIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMING CONSIDERING THE YEAR AND THE MONTH AND THAT THE SEASON THAT IS OCCURRED, IF YOU GUYS CAN CATCH MY DRIFT.

AND SO MOVING FORWARD, I JUST WANT TO, UM, SAY THAT I'M NOT.

AND, UM, I AM IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED, UM, AMOUNT OF THE, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT ACTUALLY I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

I KNOW THE MAYOR MENTIONED 10,000 OR WHATNOT, BUT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY ABOVE THE CURVE OF OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES? UM, I GUESS YOU CAN MAKE THAT, UM, COMMENT AFTER I CONTINUED TO SPEAK, BUT FURTHERMORE, UM, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SIGNING BONUS, BUT I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE IF MY COLLEAGUES, AS WELL AS OUR FINANCIAL STAFF WOULD TAKE HEAVE AND ADDRESSING THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE AND NOT JUST TRYING TO ATTRACT MORE OFFICERS, BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO RETAIN EVERYONE? AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S IN THE BUDGET, BUT WILL THAT SUFFICE, WILL WE BE BACK NEXT YEAR OR THE OTHER YEAR FROM THAT TALKING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE? SO JUST KIND OF PUT THAT OUT THERE.

I'M SURE OTHERS HAVE OPINIONS, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FOR FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS AS A WHOLE.

SO IF WE GIVE THIS BONUS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE OTHER SENIOR STAFF OR, UM, PD OFFICERS ARE FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE AND WANT TO STAY AS WELL? SO THAT'S MY PIECE.

WE HAVE RESPONSE CHEAP BEFORE I MAKE MY COMMENTS.

I, EVERYTHING SHE SAID IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

I KNOW THE CITY MANAGEMENT IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON PLAN TO MAKE SURE I DON'T LOSE ANY MORE SENIOR EXPERIENCE.

UM, THIS WILL ATTRACT NEW PEOPLE, DOES NOTHING

[00:35:01]

THE TRUE VALUE OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THAT SENIOR LEVEL EXPERIENCE THAT IS WALKING OUT THE DOOR REGULARLY NOW.

SO, BUT I KNOW CITY MANAGEMENT IS WORKING ON SOMETHING.

YEAH.

AND JUST TO ADD TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, UM, I CONCUR WITH EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS OF FEAR, UM, AND DEFINITELY APPRECIATE Y'ALL, UH, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT OPERATE AS A CITY WITHOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WHILE WE LIVE HERE.

MISSOURI CITY IS BECAUSE WE ARE ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES, YOU KNOW, AND WE LOVE OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

WE LOVE OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OBVIOUSLY MY COLLEAGUES AND I, WE SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN YOUR EFFORTS AND DEFINITELY APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

UH, CHIEF.

UH, MY QUESTION IS, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT IN BUDGET SEASON ABOUT SOME OF THE OFFICERS THAT YOU NEED.

AND, UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VACANCIES RIGHT NOW, BUT MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS, UM, TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, POINT IS, ARE YOU ASKING FOR A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT, THE 6,000 OR THE 10,000, OR DOES IT NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE BEING COMPETITIVE, NOT TO MENTION JUST BRINGING THEM IN, BUT TO KEEP THEM IN WHAT TYPE OF INCENTIVES DO WE HAVE TO KEEP THOSE NEW OFFICERS? AND THEN ALSO, WHAT TYPE OF INCIDENTS ARE YOU OFFERING YOUR EXISTING OFFICERS THAT ARE EXPERIENCED? WE CAN HAVE ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE NEED.

WE CAN HAVE OVER, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE HUNDRED IF WE NEEDED THAT, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT TRAINED, SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED, THAT STILL PUTS US AT A DISADVANTAGE.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU, WHAT ARE YOUR INITIATIVES THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN THESE NEW RECRUITS AT THE ALLOWANCE, WHATEVER COUNCIL DECIDES TO VOTE ON, AND THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE OFFERING TO MAINTAIN OUR EXPERIENCED, UM, OFFICERS AND OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP AS WELL? UM, SHE KNOWS THAT A QUESTION FOR CHIEF, OR WOULD THAT BE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER? UM, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, THAT I'M ASKING YOU, I REALLY CAN'T BE RESPONSIVE TO THAT.

AND WHEN I'LL TELL YOU THAT, IF I, IF WE GET THE 6,000 THAT PUTS IN A BETTER POSITION THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW, THAT NEEDLE IS MOVING AND IT MOVES EVERY, EVERY DAY, IT SEEMS LIKE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT SHEET THAT YOU SAW ABOUT THE HIRING BONUSES, YOU'LL SEE THE STARTING SALARIES AND YOU CAN SEE WE'RE WAY BELOW THE NEEDLE ON THAT.

SO IF CITY MANAGEMENT AND THIS COUNCIL DOESN'T ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, THEN THIS HIRING INCENTIVE WILL DO LITTLE FOR US TO MAINTAIN THE EXPERIENCE AND THE SENIOR KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE IN A YEAR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT I DON'T DEAL WITH MONEY.

THAT'S NOT MY JOB.

I AM THE PERSON THAT YOU ALL HAVE CHARGED WITH MAKING SURE THAT OPERATE DEPARTMENT IS FISCALLY EFFICIENT AS I CAN AND PROVIDE THE BEST POLICE SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE ALL TOLD ME TO DO.

I HAVE TO COME TO YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.

I HAVE TO APPROACH YOU FOR THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, FISCAL MATTERS.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I, I HAVE THE AUTHORITY OR ABILITY TO DO.

I HAVE TO WORK WITH CITY MANAGEMENT AND SEE MANAGEMENT HAS TO WORK WITH YOU.

SO I WOULD LOVE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS TO KEEP MY SENIOR EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THOSE THINGS, THAT'S A COMMODITY THAT'S HARD TO BUILD AND IT'S HARD TO MAINTAIN NOW.

SO THAT'S ACTUALLY A CITY MANAGER AND A FINANCE QUESTION.

I THINK MOST OF WHAT YOU'VE ASKED ME ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I'D LOVE TO DO, BUT THAT WOULD JUST BE ME SPEAKING.

I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY OR THEN THAT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY ACTUALLY.

OKAY.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU, UM, GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS ON MY STATEMENT? YEAH, SO IT'S JUST LIKE A DIRECTOR PORTER SAID WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING SORT OF SURVEY, UM, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A BENCHMARK IS AND WHAT A NEEDLE IS.

AND THEN WITH THAT, WE ALREADY PUT FUNDING ASIDE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT WITH, WITH ON COUNCIL MEAL.

AND CAN YOU IDENTIFY, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? ACCOMMODATE WHAT THE FUNDING, THE REASONS FOR, TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT OFFICERS OR FOR THE ADDITION? CURDLES.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

BUT ALSO THE WHOLE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AS FIRE OFFICERS, UM, THE WHOLE ENTIRE CITY, AND THAT'S, WHAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENTED TO US, UM, WHEN WE FINISH OUT FOR OUR BUDGET SEASON.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND, UM, WHAT WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR, AND THAT IS TO AMEND TO A $10,000 SIGNING BONUS WITH A THREE-YEAR COMMITMENT.

I COUNT.

YEAH, THIS HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I CHIEF THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

THE MOTION WAS MADE AND NO ONE MADE A VOTE.

SO, UM, THERE'S BEEN A MOTION BY

[00:40:01]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SAY, AYE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED TO THE MOTION.

SAY NO MOTION CARRIES FIVE, ZERO.

ALL RIGHT.

[(d) Consideration and Possible Action - First of Two Readings - An ordinan...]

THAT'S 10.

YES, 10 30, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS IMPLEMENTING MONITORING CENTER FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTERS, SETTING FORTH THE CRITERIA FOR THE MONETARY INCENTIVE, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND CONTAINING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED THERE TO COUNSEL.

SO I'M HERE WITH, WITH THE SAME ITEM AS CHIEF HARRISON, UH, KIND OF FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT, UH, I'LL JUST ADDRESS THE SLIGHT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POLICE AND FIRE.

UH, FIRE IS, UH, TWO CERTIFICATIONS THAT WE'D MONITOR AND TRACK.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE FIRES, TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION, FIRE CERT, AS WELL AS THE EMS SIDE.

SO FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY, HEALTH, AND HEALTH SERVICES, THEY HAVE TO BE EITHER AN EMT, BASIC ADVANCED OR A PARAMEDIC WHEN THEY COME HERE.

SO WE'RE REQUESTING A CONSIDERATION FOR A SPLIT, WHICH IS 3000 FOR CERTIFIED FIRE AND EMS PERSONNEL THAT APPLY FOR US.

AND 6,000, IF THEY LEAVE ANOTHER CITY TO COME TO US, THEY HAVE THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH ANOTHER CITY.

WE'RE REQUESTING A HIGHER AMOUNT OF 6,000 AND IT'S SIMILAR PAYOUT.

IT'S PAID OUT IN ONE PAYMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST DAY.

SECOND PAYMENT IS PAID AT THE END OF THEIR FIELD TRAINING.

UH, AND AGAIN, THAT'S A, THAT'S A TOUGH HURDLE.

AND SO ONCE THEY PASS THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE SECOND AND THEN IF THEY LEAVE THE CITY, THEY WOULD REPAY IT, UH, IN A THREE-PART, UH, FIRST YEARS, YOU KNOW, 33% SINCE BROKEN DOWN OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME, UM, PERSPECTIVE OF FIRE AND THE AMOUNT OF VACANCIES THAT WE'RE CARRYING RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 12 VACANCIES AND IT'S BEEN THROUGH VARIOUS LEVELS OF ATTRITION, UH, FROM SEPARATIONS RETIREMENT, UH, HAD TO LEAVE FOR ANOTHER CITY, UH, THREE RESIGNED.

UM, AND THEN I HAVE ONE CURRENT ONE THAT IS GOING TO BE LEAVING TO WOODLANDS FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SO WE CONTINUE TO LOSE FIREFIGHTERS PARTLY FOR, UM, JUST LIKE POLICE ARE STRUGGLING WITH MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR, OUR SENIOR STAFF AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE COMPENSATED.

AND I THINK THESE COMPARISONS ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SIGNING BONUSES FOR SOME OF THESE DEPARTMENTS, YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BASE PAY, WHICH THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR IT IN SOME, IN SOME WAY TO GET THEM HERE.

SO WE START IN FIRE AT 52,000 A YEAR.

AND SO YOU SEE SOME OF THESE SALARIES WERE WE'RE AVERAGING RIGHT AROUND 10,000 BELOW THE MARKET ON MOST OF THESE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE'RE COMPETING WITH.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT FROM A FIRE PERSPECTIVE, UM, MAKE SURE WE'RE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.

SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT DEPARTMENTS, LIKE, SURE, GO HAND PEAR LAND COLLEGE STATION, CONROE, THE WOODLANDS.

THOSE ARE DEPARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE THE SAME OR SIMILAR TYPE OF SERVICE.

UH, SO SOME OF THESE SMALLER DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT GOOD COMPARISONS.

SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE KEY AS WE WORKED THROUGH WITH, WITH CITY MANAGEMENT ON THE SALARY STUDIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING COMPARED TO THE RIGHT DEPARTMENTS WHEN WE BRING BACK A GOOD, STRONG, UM, YOU KNOW, AN ACCURATE PROPOSAL.

UH, SO AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE REQUESTING THE SAME, WE'RE STRUGGLING TO FILL VACANCIES.

UH, THE FIRE ACADEMIES ARE PUTTING FEWER AND FEWER STUDENTS OUT AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS ARE COMPETING WHEN WE FIRST PRESENTED THIS, I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS.

WHEN WE FIRST PRESENTED THIS A FEW WEEKS AGO FOR THE AGENDA ITEM, THERE WERE 60 SOMETHING DEPARTMENTS HIRING IN TEXAS.

WHEN I LOOK TODAY, THERE ARE 76 OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE HIRING FOR FIREFIGHTERS, AND THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH FIREFIGHTERS TO FILL ALL THOSE VACANCIES.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

AND, AND I HOPE THAT, UH, THAT WE CAN SUPPORT A FIREFIGHTER'S.

SURE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I JUST HAVE, AGAIN, ANOTHER COMMENT TO MY COLLEAGUES TO GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE, UH, FOR THE PB, UH, DO THE SAME THING AGAIN, MY COMMENT IS A SIMILAR, UH, YES, WE'RE, WE'RE, YOU'RE PROBABLY ASKING FOR THIS, BUT THERE ARE AGENCIES THAT ARE LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER AGENCIES ARE DOING, AND I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO BE WHERE THREE MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, WE'RE BACK TO HAVING THIS DISCUSSION SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT, WE CAN'T GET ANYBODY.

SO IT JUST SHOWS THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH INCLUDES AND PD TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND THE SALARY CONVERSATION, CHIEF.

I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BUDGET DISCUSSION, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WITH THIS, WHAT WE HAVE, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY TALKING ABOUT THE SIGN ON BONUSES FOR YOU TO GET NEW PEOPLE AND GET BACK IN.

SO THE OTHER DISCUSSIONS THAT WE WILL HAVE, IT WILL BE VERY SHORT IN THE FUTURE THAT'S COMING.

UM, BUT I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.

THANK YOU.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? UM,

[00:45:01]

SO WE, UM, WE, WE DELIVER TWO TO THREE HIRING PROCESSES A YEAR.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE LOW NUMBERS, WE'LL RUN A PROCESS WHICH TAKES AT LEAST 12 WEEKS TO PROCESS AN APPLICANT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND THEN WE'RE ONLY YIELDING ONE OR TWO APPLICANTS OR THREE OR FOUR AND THEY'RE SINGLE DIGITS.

SO THEN WE HAVE TO START AGAIN.

SO WE'RE JUST TRICKLING THEM IN, BUT AS WE KEEP LOSING THEM, LIKE CHIEF, BARISONE SAID WE'RE LOSING A FASCIA THAT WE GET THEM IN.

AND WITH THOSE, UH, RECRUITMENT PROCESSES, UM, IS THAT FOR, WHEN YOU SAY 12 VACANCY, IS THAT FIRE AND EMS OR IS THAT TWO SEPARATE CERTIFIED? SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE BOTH CERTIFICATIONS.

OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

MY LAST QUESTION IS WHAT ARE YOU DOING AS FAR AS RECRUITMENT? ARE YOU, UM, TALKING TO THE COLLEGES, THE HIGH SCHOOLS, UM, WHAT, WHAT TYPE OF RECRUITMENT PROCESS ARE YOU MARKETING TOWARDS? YES, MA'AM WE, UM, ONE, WE CANVAS ALL THE JOB MARKETS OUT THERE, THE JUMP TO ONLINE SYSTEMS, THE PRIMARY SYSTEM THAT IS USED AS THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE SERVICE.

THAT'S WHAT MOST, MOST APPLICANTS GO TO LOOK FOR THEIR JOBS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP OF RECRUITING TEAM MEMBERS THAT GO OUT TO THE SCHOOLS AND THEY TARGET THE GRADUATION DATES.

SO A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THEY GRADUATE THESE SCHOOLS, THEY'RE AT THOSE SCHOOLS DROPPING OFF FLYERS AND SELLING MISSOURI CITY TO COME WORK FOR US.

UH, SO WE HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP THAT GO OUT OF CANVAS IN SCHOOLS.

OKAY.

SO IS THERE A MOTION VITAMIN 10 D I, I WOULD, UM, YOU'VE HELPED ME THAT JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THIS.

YES MA'AM.

SO THE 3000 SIGNING BONUS THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS FOR EMS AND FIRE OR CERTIFICATIONS WITH NO EXPERIENCE WITH NO EXPERIENCE.

CORRECT.