[00:00:03]
>> IS THIS MICROPHONE ON? I NOW OPEN THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF LUBBOCK TEXAS CITY COUNCIL FOR DECEMBER 3, 2024.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.071 TO CONSULT WITH AND SEEK ADVICE OF THE CITY'S LEGAL COUNSEL 551.072 TO DISCUSS THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY, AND 551.074 TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS, 551.086 TO DISCUSS COMPETITIVE MATTERS OF LUBBOCK POWER AND LIGHT, AND 551.087 REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THE CITY COUNCIL IS RECESSING AT 12:05 PM.
WE WILL BE BACK AT ONE O'CLOCK, IS THAT CORRECT?
[1. Executive Session]
WE'VE NOW COME BACK FROM OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.WE ARE NOW RECONVENING AN OPEN SESSION AT 1:34 PM.
I NOW CALL ON THE CITY MANAGER JERRETT ATKINSON TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION ON THE 2024 ROAD BOND IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM OR PLAN.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND PROBABLY MUCH TO YOUR RELIEF, WE'RE GOING TO ASK OUR NOW OFFICIALLY NEW CITY ENGINEER, MR. JOHN TURPIN TO WALK US THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. JOHN.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL. HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING TODAY?
[1. 2024 Road Bond - Implementation Plan]
[INAUDIBLE] MAYOR, COUNCIL, I WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL A QUICK UPDATE NEXT STEPS ON OUR BOND PROGRAM, WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, AS WELL AS PRIORITIZATION OF THE PROJECTS AND THE SCHEDULE.SORRY ABOUT THIS. WHERE'S MY [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S CORRECT NOW.
THE MAP THAT YOU ALL CAN SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, BASICALLY WHAT YOU CAN GLEAN OFF OF THIS IS WHERE OUR PROJECTS ARE.
WE'VE GOT BROADWAY, 34TH STREET FROM UPLAND TO ALCOVE.
I WON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME HERE, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT THE STARS REPRESENT BASICALLY OUR SCHOOLS, IT WAS REPRESENTED AS THIS IS TRULY A SCHOOL BOND, AND IT REALLY DOES AFFECT ROUTES ALL THROUGHOUT OUR CITY THAT LEAD TO SCHOOLS.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF OVERVIEW OF EACH PROJECT.
AS YOU RECALL, WE HAD OUR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT CHOSE THESE PROJECTS, AND THEN Y'ALL APPROVED THOSE TO GO FORWARD TO OUR VOTERS, AND OUR VOTERS WERE VERY GRACIOUS TO ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION.
ON BROADWAY AVENUE Q TO AVENUE V, THIS IS A TRUE REBUILD PROJECT FROM CURB TO CURB.
WHAT WENT THROUGH ON OUR BOND WAS BASICALLY A DESIGN THAT SHOWED WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BRICK PAPER INTERSECTIONS, AND ALL OF OUR STRAIGHTAWAYS ARE GOING TO BE CONCRETE, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY NICE LOOKING EXTERIOR BEHIND CURVE.
WE'LL HAVE TREES, ETC, AND WE'LL BRING THOSE FORWARD AS WE MAKE DECISIONS AND SHOW YOU MORE.
ON UNIVERSITY 50TH STREET TO LOOP 289.
THIS IS A TRUE REBUILD PROJECT.
THIS IS GOING TO BE DONE BY OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OR STREET MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE GOING TO COMPLETELY MILL UP AND RELAY ALL THE ASPHALT.
ALL THE CONCRETE MEETINGS WILL BE REDONE FOR ANYTHING THAT'S DILAPIDATED, AND THEY'LL ADDRESS ANY BASE ISSUES OR BASE FAILURES THROUGHOUT THAT PROJECT.
AVENUE P, 130-146 IS A COLLECTOR ROAD.
WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THREE LANES TODAY.
THIS IS A STRIP-PAVED ROAD THAT LIES UP AGAINST RESIDENTIAL ON BOTH SIDES.
THIS IS THE ONE OUTLIER PROJECT AND ALL OF THESE.
IT'S THE ONLY PROJECT HERE THAT IS A FIVE LANE ROAD.
THIS IS A RECENT MPO-FUNDED ROAD.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO FUND IT THROUGH OUR BONDS, WHICH ACTUALLY WILL BE VERY GOOD FOR US BECAUSE IT SHOULD IN THE LONG RUN, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HAVING TO RUN THROUGH TXDOT, THAT WILL ACTUALLY SAVE MONEY ON THIS PROJECT.
FOR 146TH STREET, UNIVERSITY TO AVENUE P. IF Y'ALL HAVE NOT BEEN OUT THERE, YOU SHOULD GO SEE IT.
IT IS A DIRT ROAD, AND IT'S IN BAD SHAPE.
THIS PROJECT WILL REALLY NEED TO BE DONE.
THIS WILL BUILD OUT THREE LANES,
[00:05:01]
146TH SLIDE TO QUAKER, SIMILAR DIRT ROAD, AND IT'S GOING TO BE THREE LANES.THEN FINALLY, 34TH STREET, UPLAND TO ALCOVE.
THIS IS A STRIP-PAVED ROAD TODAY, THAT WILL BE ULTIMATELY A THREE-LANE ROAD.
IN EVERY ONE OF THESE CASES, I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THIS EARLIER, THESE WILL BE ULTIMATE BUILD OUTS.
MEANING IT WILL BE BUILT TO ULTIMATE GRADE AND THEN IN THE FUTURE, IF WE WANT TO EVER COME BACK AND ADD LANES, WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROJECT COSTS.
YOU ALL CAN SEE EACH ONE OF THESE.
I'M NOT GOING TO CALL THEM OUT, BUT REALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT TO YOU TODAY, THE PLAN IS TO LET OUT BASICALLY 93.4 MILLION AND NOT GO TO THE 103 MILLION UNLESS WE TRULY NEED IT.
THERE'S AN INFLATIONARY COST IN THERE JUST BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN LARGE PRICE COST INCREASE OVER THE YEARS, SO THERE IS A $10 MILLION INFLATION THERE.
NEXT STEPS FOR OUR BOND PROJECT IS A BUDGET AMENDMENT, WHICH YOU ALL WILL SEE THE FIRST READ THE DAY, AND THEN ON THE 10TH, YOU'LL SEE THE SECOND READ.
THERE WILL BE A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION ON THE 10TH AS WELL TO GO AFTER WE DO OUR SECOND READ OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT.
THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH AND CREATE ALL OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I THINK IT WAS YESTERDAY, I GOT AN EMAIL.
WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING OUT THIS WEEK TO PRE-QUALIFY NEW FIRMS. WE ALREADY HAVE SOME PRE-QUALIFIED FIRMS, BUT WE'VE HAD PEOPLE REACH OUT TO US MORE ENGINEERING FIRMS THAT HAVE INTEREST IN DOING THESE ROADS, AND SO WE WANT TO LET AS MANY OF THEM IN AND GET THE BEST QUALIFIED FIRMS THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY GET FOR THESE PROJECTS.
WE SHOULD HAVE THAT OUT ON THE STREETS AND BE ABLE TO BRING THAT BACK TO YOU ALL.
I'M HOPING IN JANUARY TO FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME WITH ALL SCOPE AND FEE FOR EACH PROJECT.
ONES THAT WE'VE ALREADY STARTED IS THE BROADWAY PROJECT.
I HAD MY SCOPE AND FEE MEETING TODAY ON THAT PROJECT.
SOME OF THE PARTS AND PIECES OF THESE PROJECTS IS DESIGN, RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION, UTILITY RELOCATION, AND CONSTRUCTION.
I'M GOING TO SPEND JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME ON THIS.
THIS IS A GANTT CHART THAT BASICALLY LAYS OUT.
I TOOK A COUPLE OF DAYS TO PUT THIS TOGETHER AND REALLY LOOK AT, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO DO THIS PROJECT? BROADWAY AVENUE Q TO AVENUE E. IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT PROJECT.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME, SO I HAVE A 15-MONTH DESIGN TIME ON THERE.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SOME OF OUR EXISTING UTILITIES THAT ARE OLD THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED THAT ARE UNDERNEATH THE PAVING, AND SO THE PLAN IS TO LET THAT ALL TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION.
UNDER ONE CONTRACTOR, THIS WILL NOT LOOK ANYTHING LIKE OUR 19TH STREET PROJECT.
WE WILL HAVE IT FULLY CONTROLLED.
WE'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY TALKED ABOUT PHASING AND HOW WE CAN MAKE IT ACCOMPLISHED BETTER, AND I CAN BRING THAT UP TO YOU ALL AT A LATER DATE.
EACH ONE OF THESE PARTS AND PIECES, YOU CAN SEE IN THE LEGEND, ENGINEERING DESIGN AND SURVEY, AND THEN THE YELLOW IS RIGHT-OF-WAY, AND UTILITY RELOCATIONS.
I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE IN MANY OF THESE CASES, YOU'LL SEE WHERE GREEN IS OVERLAPPED WITH A YELLOW.
YOU HAVE TO GET APPROXIMATELY TO A 30% DESIGN TO START TALKING WITH UTILITY COMPANIES, AND THEN A 60% DESIGN TO REALLY TELL THEM, "HEY, YOU'RE IN CONFLICT, WE NEED YOU TO MOVE." THE PROBLEM BEING THAT ONCE YOU HAVE DONE THIS, YOU HAVE TO ACQUIRE YOUR RIGHT-OF-WAY IN ORDER FOR UTILITIES TO MOVE.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE TIMELINES UNTIL YOU GET THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, YOUR UTILITIES ARE STUCK WHERE THEY ARE, EVEN IF THEY HAVE THEIR PLANS READY TO GO.
THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THIS EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME ON A ROADWAY PROJECT TO ACTUALLY GET TO CONSTRUCTION, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE YOUR CONTRACTOR OUT THERE WHILE THEY'RE MOVING UTILITIES.
I HOPE TO MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
HERE'S BASICALLY THE DESIGN AND RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION.
I'M FRONT-LOADING AS MANY OF THESE PROJECTS AS I POSSIBLY CAN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOND, MOSTLY BECAUSE IT'LL GIVE US MORE TIME TO GET RIGHT-OF-WAY AND UTILITIES DONE.
IF I CAN GET AS MUCH OF THIS DESIGN DONE UPFRONT AND HAVE AS MUCH TIME AS I CAN TOWARDS GETTING TO CONSTRUCTION THAT WILL HELP.
THE TWO THAT I WOULD SAY ARE GOING TO BE TIGHT CONSTRUCTION-WISE, ARE GOING TO BE PROBABLY AVENUE P AND BROADWAY FOR THOSE TIMELINES.
[00:10:03]
NOT BECAUSE BROADWAY HAS RIGHT-OF-WAY, BUT WE DON'T KNOW YET WHAT UTILITY CONFLICTS WE MIGHT FIND.I'M HOPING THERE WILL BE NONE.
BUT AVENUE P, I ALREADY KNOW THERE WILL BE CONFLICTS WITH THIS, AND IT IS OUR FIRST TWO TRUE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE DESIGNED.
AS I SAID, UNIVERSITY AVENUE FROM 50TH STREET TO LOOP 289, THAT WILL BE GOING THIS FISCAL YEAR 2025, AND THAT'S DONE BY OUR STREET MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY ISSUES THERE.
THE REST OF THESE, I'LL HAVE LET OUT.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT UPLAND AVENUE FROM 98TH STREET TO 114TH STREET.
I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE AND UPDATE THOSE PLANS.
THEY'VE BEEN SITTING ON THE SHELF FOR QUITE A WHILE.
YOU ALL MAY HAVE NOTICED ON MY PREVIOUS SCHEDULE THAT I HAVE THIS PROJECT SET OUT FOR TWO YEARS.
THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT, AND THAT'S BECAUSE IN OCTOBER, WE'LL GET OUR MONEY FOR 82ND AND 98TH STREET.
MY INTENTION IS THAT ONCE WE FINISH THAT PROJECT, WE'LL JUMP RIGHT INTO THIS PROJECT FOR CONSTRUCTION.
WE'LL FINISH 66TH TO 82ND, AND WE'LL JUST CONTINUE OUR WAY SOUTH.
I DON'T WANT TO POINT OUT THE REST OF THESE, BUT WE CAN CONTINUE ON.
THE ONE OUT-YEAR PROJECT THAT I HAVE IDENTIFIED IS 34TH STREET FROM UPLAND AVENUE TO ALCOVE.
REALLY, THAT'S JUST SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH ENGINEERS.
I CAN GET ONE ENGINEER OFF ONE OF OUR OLD BOND PROJECTS AND PUT THEM ON THIS.
I THINK IT'S A WELL LAID OUT SCHEDULE.
THEN IN 2026, WE'LL BEGIN OUR BROADWAY AVENUE FROM Q-E, AND AVENUE P AS WELL.
THAT WILL BE PROBABLY SUMMER OF 2026 BY THE TIME WE GET THERE.
AS I SAID, THIS IS A LONGER LEAD TIME.
AVENUE P IS SIMILAR, JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO MOVE THOSE.
CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN IN 2027 IS GOING TO BE UPLAND AVENUE FORM 98TH TO 114TH STREET.
AS I SAID, GOING TO TRY TO LAY IT OUT TO WHERE WE FINISHED ONE PROJECT, JUMPED INTO THE NEXT.
THEN 146TH STREET FROM UNIVERSITY AVENUE TO AVENUE P WOULD BE IN THAT SAME YEAR.
THEN IN 2028, WE WOULD DO 146TH STREET FROM SLIDE TO QUAKER, AND THEN FINALLY 34TH STREET FROM UPLAND AVENUE TO ALCOVE.
WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
I'M GOING TO NOW CALL ON OUR CITY MANAGER TO GIVE US AN UPDATE FROM LUBBOCK ANIMAL SERVICES.
MR. STEVEN GREENE IS YOUR DIRECTOR OF LUBBOCK ANIMAL SERVICES.
HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
STEVEN, BEFORE YOU START, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WOULD YOU INTRODUCE TAYLOR AND DR. MACHADO, PLEASE?
>> YES, SIR. THIS IS TAYLOR RUGGLES, SHE'S THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
SHE'S THE DEPARTMENT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF.
DR. MACHADO, SHE HAS BEEN WITH US SINCE 2018.
SHE ACTUALLY DOES MEDICAL GROUNDS EVERYDAY,
[2. Lubbock Animal Services - Update, Metrics, and Goals]
AND THEN SPAYS AND NEUTER AT TWO DAYS A WEEK.THIS IS JUST A LIST OF OUR OPERATIONS.
FOR MYSELF ON DOWN, WE HAVE 31 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND THREE PART-TIME AND THEN OUR CONTRACTOR VET.
THIS IS JUST SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO IN THE SHELTER ON A DAILY BASIS.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S QUITE AN EXTENSIVE LIST.
[00:15:02]
DEFINITELY KEEPS OUR NON-SHELTER OFFICERS BUSY.THESE ARE JUST OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE THINGS WE DO.
OBVIOUSLY, ADOPTIONS IS A HUGE PART OF IT.
OUR ASSISTANT VOUCHERS ARE FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
WE DO HAVE JUST OUR REGULAR VOUCHERS THAT WE GIVE OUT AND THOSE PAY LESS MONEY TO THE VETS, BUT THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THEN, OF COURSE, WE DO A LOT OF MICROCHIP EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
HERE'S A LIST OF THINGS OUR FIELD OPERATIONS DO.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT THE PUBLIC SEES, AND WHEN THEY HAVE AN EMERGENCY, THEY'RE CALLING TO COME OUT.
WE DO HAVE OFFICERS ON DUTY FROM 7:00 AM TO 9:00 PM EVERY DAY, THEN WE HAVE AN OFFICER ON CALL EVERY NIGHT FOR EMERGENCY ONLY FROM 9:00 PM TO 7:00 AM.
SOME OF THE THINGS THEY ASSIST WITH IS AGENCY ASSIST.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE ACTUALLY PICKED UP ABOUT 10 DOGS FROM PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN ARRESTED AND OPD HAD US COME OUT AND GET THEM.
WE ALSO DO OUR FENCING PROGRAM WHERE WE TRY TO HELP CITIZENS WITH MINOR REPAIRS TO KEEP THEIR DOGS AT HOME.
THEN, OF COURSE, WE ARE STARTING A PROGRAM TO SPAY/NEUTER PROBLEM DOGS.
THOSE CAN BE DOGS THAT HAVE CONTINUALLY GOTTEN OUT AND CAUSED ISSUES OR HAD MULTIPLE LITTERS OF PUPPIES.
HERE'S A LIST OF THE CITATION FEES.
THEY DID GO UP FISCAL YEAR TWO YEARS AGO.
THEY ARE COLLECTED BY MUNICIPAL COURT, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, SOME OF THOSE ARE PRETTY HIGH, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO TRY TO GET THOSE ERASED.
THIS IS A LIST OF WHAT TAYLOR AND I DO EVERY DAY.
WE DEAL WITH THE DANGEROUS DOG AFFIDAVITS.
I'M THE LOCAL RABIES CONTROL AUTHORITY, SO I'LL OVERSEE ALL THE BITE INVESTIGATIONS.
TAYLOR TAKES CARE OF THE WARRANTS.
WE DO THE DISPOSITION HEARINGS ON CRUELTY CASES, AS WELL AS HELPING DR. MACHADO ON MEDICAL GROUNDS.
>> THIS IS A CHART OF OUR INTAKES FROM FISCAL YEAR '17, '18 THROUGH LAST YEAR, AND YOU CAN SEE THE OWNER SURRENDERS HAVE WENT DOWN.
THE TOTAL INTAKES HAVE ACTUALLY WENT DOWN SOME AND OUR FIELD SERVICE CALLS HAVE CONTINUED UPWARD.
THESE ARE THE CRUELTY AND AGGRESSIVE INVESTIGATIONS.. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE AGGRESSIVE HAVE CONTINUALLY WENT UP, SO WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON GETTING THOSE TYPES OF ANIMALS OUT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUT OF PUBLIC HARM'S WAY.
THESE ARE OUR EUTHANASIA NUMBERS THAT WE PUT OUT PUBLICLY.
WE HAVE STARTED PUTTING DOWN MORE ANIMALS FOR BEHAVIORAL OR FAILURE TO THRIVE ISSUES.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE THINK WE NEED TO PROBABLY FIND A GOOD COMMON GROUND OF THE EUTHANASIA NUMBERS VERSUS THE INTAKES.
THESE ARE OUR SPAYS AND NEUTERS WE HAVE DONE IN HOUSE.
THOSE NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED SOMEWHAT, BUT DR. MACHADO FEELS THAT THAT'S GOOD IF YOU'RE SPAYING LESS DOGS IN HOUSE, IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE'S LESS DOGS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT STILL NEED TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED.
IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE STARTED LOOKING AT BITES DIFFERENTLY.
UNDER THE STATE LAW, WE HAVE TO REPORT ANY BITE OR SCRATCH THAT MAKES A HUMAN BLEED.
WHAT WE DID IS WE CHANGED THOSE TWO CATEGORIES THAT IDENTIFY HOW SEVERE THE BITES ARE OR A SCRATCH COMPARED TO A BITE.
WE HAVE DEFINED THOSE FOR YOU.
WITH THOSE NEW METRICS, YOU CAN SEE IN OCTOBER, WE HAD ONE SEVERE DOG BITE, SEVEN SCRATCHES WHERE IN THE PAST, THOSE WOULD ALL HAVE JUST BEEN LISTED AS A BITE.
IN NOVEMBER, WE HAD TWO SEVERE CASES, FOUR SCRATCHES.
MINOR AND MODERATE ARE PRETTY FAIR, THEY'RE 33 SO THEY'RE RUNNING TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAD RECENTLY WAS HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE COMING IN THAT ARE SPAYED AND NEUTERED PRIOR TO ARRIVING WITH US.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN NOVEMBER, 32 DOGS CAME IN STERILIZED, 344 WERE NOT FIXED AT THE TIME THEY CAME INTO OUR CARE.
THESE NUMBERS DON'T COUNT SURRENDERED FOR ADOPTION BY QUARANTINE OR AGENCY ASSIST.
THESE ARE JUST DOGS THAT WERE ROAMING AND SOMEBODY PICKED THEM UP.
IN THE SHELTER WE HAD 74 THAT CAME IN BY APPOINTMENT, AND FIELD OPERATIONS PICKED UP 218 RUNNING AT LARGE.
OUR GOAL IS OBVIOUSLY TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF DOGS AND CATS THAT CAN REPRODUCE.
[00:20:03]
WE WANT TO TRY TO GET THOSE LITTERS OFF THE STREETS.WE WANT TO GET AS MANY SPAYED NEUTERS AS POSSIBLE.
SOME OF THE WAYS WE DO THAT IS WE WANT TO GET ANIMALS ADOPTED AND VACCINATED AND STERILIZED.
WE DO FREE SPAY AND NEUTER VOUCHER GIVEAWAYS.
WE HAVE, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THE ASSISTANT VOUCHERS.
WE HAVE MANDATORY STERILIZATION AFTER THE SECOND IMPOUNDMENT, AND THEN OUR FENCING PROGRAM AND THE SPAYING AND NEUTERING PROBLEM DOGS.
SOME OF THE CHALLENGE WE FACE IS LUBBOCK IS GROWING IN POPULATION AND AREA OF BOTH SO WE'RE CHALLENGED WITH DEPARTMENTAL GROWTH.
WE ALWAYS HAVE A CHALLENGE GETTING VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.
WE ARE HAVING A NEW VEHICLE ARRIVE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
IN A MINUTE DR. MACHADO IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT CAPACITY FOR CARE.
WE HAVE HIRED TWO NEW CSRS, THIS BUDGET CYCLE TO ALLEVIATE THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS ARE GOING TO BE A LARGE PART OF THIS DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE DILAPIDATED FENCING AND INTACT ANIMALS, AND THOSE ANIMALS USUALLY ARE NOT VACCINATED.
THEN OBVIOUSLY, ROAMING ANIMALS ARE A HUGE PROBLEM HERE IN OUR CITY.
I THINK A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS ARE RUNNING INTO THAT CURRENTLY.
WE HAVE A LARGE TURNOVER RATE.
I THINK NATIONWIDE ANIMAL SERVICES DO HAVE A LARGE TURNOVER.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE ENCOUNTERED.
THEN SUPPLIES FOR STAFF SUCH AS TRUCKS, RADIOS, CATCH POLES, A LOT OF TIMES THAT SUPPLY CHAIN GETS BEHIND.
DOGS ARE REALLY HARD ON YOUR EQUIPMENT, IT DILAPIDATES VERY QUICKLY.
WE CAN ALWAYS USE MORE TABLETS AND COMPUTERS. DR. MACHADO.
>> HI. THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE.
I GUESS MY BACKGROUND IS I JOINED WITH LAS IN 2018, CLOSE TO THE TIME WHEN STEVEN ALSO BECAME THE DIRECTOR.
WE'VE REALLY CHANGED A LOT AT THE SHELTER.
BUT ONE OF OUR MAIN CONCERNS AS A SHELTER DIRECTOR, MANAGER, VETERINARIAN, REALLY RELIES ON WHAT AMOUNT OF ANIMALS ARE IN THE CARE OF THE FACILITY IN THE BUILDING, AND CAN WE CARE FOR THAT NUMBER OF ANIMALS? IT'S DIFFICULT WORKING WITH ANIMALS BECAUSE I THINK THEY PULL AT EVERYBODY'S HEART STRINGS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
THE PUBLIC ALWAYS HAS A SAY ABOUT THEIR ISSUES AND PROBLEMS AND DILEMMAS WITH THE ANIMALS.
THEN US IN HOUSE IN THE SHELTER ALSO FACE SOME ISSUES, AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE IN THE FACILITY AT ONCE.
WE PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS RUN AT A LEVEL OF OVERCAPACITY, AND THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.
RIGHT NOW, ALL THROUGHOUT THE NATION, MAJORITY OF SHELTERS, ESPECIALLY OPEN ADMISSION SHELTERS LIKE OUR OWN ARE INUNDATED WITH ANIMALS THAT ARE STRAY AS WELL AS SURRENDERS.
I LIKE TO LOOK AT MY POPULATION HEALTH AND CAPACITY FOR CARE IS A HUGE PART OF THAT.
CAPACITY FOR CARE IS A TAG LINE, IF YOU WILL, THAT GETS AT THE TOPIC OF WHAT IS TOO MANY ANIMALS IN RELATION TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE CARING FOR THOSE ANIMALS.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE FREEDOMS OF AN ANIMAL, WE WANT THE ANIMAL TO BE GENERALLY COMFORTABLE, WE WANT THEM TO BE FREE OF PAIN AND DISCOMFORT, WE WANT THEM TO HAVE ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE, AND WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO DISPLAY BEHAVIORS THAT ARE NATURAL TO THEIR SPECIES.
THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S LOTS OF WAYS YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT AND QUANTIFY THAT, AND THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS PEOPLE DO ACROSS THIS INDUSTRY.
THE WAY WE LOOK AT IT AT OUR SHELTER IS, CAN WE GET THESE DOGS AND CATS? NOW REALLY IN THIS DESCRIPTION TODAY, I'M REALLY TALKING MOSTLY ABOUT DOGS.
CATS, WE DON'T TEND TO HAVE TOO BIG OF A OVERPOPULATION ISSUE LUCKILY, BUT DOGS WE DEFINITELY DO.
THE FACILITY IS, WE WALK THROUGH EVERY DAY AND ASSESSING THE ANIMALS IN BOTH PHYSICAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH DURING MEDICAL ROUNDS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT, DO THE ANIMALS HAVE THOSE FREEDOMS FOR THEIR SPECIES? OF COURSE, WE CAN CARE FOR THEM IF THEY'RE SICK, IF THEY'RE PAINFUL.
THOSE ARE EASY THINGS THAT I CAN DO.
SOME OF THE MORE COMPLEX THINGS IS DEALING WITH EMOTIONAL, LEVELS OF STRESS, ANXIETY, FEAR IN THESE ANIMALS, AND POPULATION HEALTH.
WHEN YOU'RE TAXED WITH OVER POPULATION, A LOT OF THE PHYSICAL HEALTH STUFF CAN GO DOWNHILL AS WELL.
STEVEN PUT TOGETHER SOME NUMBERS HERE ON AVERAGE.
[00:25:02]
EVERY DAY LAS HAS 21 ANIMALS BROUGHT IN, NINE ANIMALS ADOPTED, TWO ANIMALS FOSTERED.AGAIN, THAT'S AVERAGE, SOMETIMES THAT CAN OF COURSE FLUCTUATE UP OR DOWN.
BUT YEAH, WE CURRENTLY HOLD 350-400 ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER, AND THOSE BY FAR AND AWAY ARE MOSTLY LARGE MIXED BREED DOGS.
THE FACILITY ITSELF PROBABLY HAS HALF OF THAT NUMBER OF ADEQUATE ENCLOSURES, AND SO WE ARE DOUBLING, TRIPLING, AND QUADRUPLING OUR ENCLOSURES OFTEN.
WE WANT TO REDUCE DISEASE SPREAD, WE WANT TO HAVE A HEALTHY POPULATION, SO AS THOSE NUMBERS PUSH AND PUSH AND GROW, THE GENERAL POPULATION, THE HEALTH TENDS TO BE SOME OF THE FIRST THINGS WE SEE.
A COUPLE SUMMERS AGO, WE UNFORTUNATELY HAD OUR FIRST DISTEMPER OUTBREAK.
THAT IS A HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE AND DEADLY VIRUS AMONGST DOGS THAT WE DO VACCINATE AGAINST, BUT IT DID GET INTO THE POPULATION, AND WHEN YOU HAVE THESE NUMBERS THAT ARE JUST TIPPING THE SCALE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THINGS LIKE ENDEMIC DISEASE, PANDEMIC TYPE DISEASES HAPPENING.
WHEN YOU HAVE MORE AND MORE DOGS, YOU HAVE MORE STRESS ON STAFF, MORE STRESS ON EQUIPMENT, AND EVEN JUST MORE DOGS EQUALS MORE FECAL MATTER, SO WE HAVE HUMANS CLEANING THIS FECAL MATTER EVERY DAY.
YOU CAN IMAGINE SOME OF THESE WORKPLACE ISSUES CAN BECOME A TOPIC OF CONCERN FOR KEEPING STAFF AROUND AND KEEPING GOOD WELL BEING FOR THE STAFF.
THEN ANIMAL WELL BEING, WE DON'T WANT ANIMALS TO BE IN ENCLOSURES THAT WE CAN'T KEEP CLEAN FOR THEM EVERY DAY.
KENNEL SPACE. THEN PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THAT.
WE HAVE OPEN DOORS, WHICH WE LOVE.
WE LOVE BEING ABLE TO HAVE CITIZENS WALK THROUGH OUR HALLWAYS AND ENTER WHICHEVER ROOM BASICALLY THAT THEY WANT TO.
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I KNOW THE SHELTER WAS A BIT MORE CLOSED OFF TO WHAT ANIMALS WERE VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT WE ARE GLAD THAT WE CAN OPEN ALL OF OUR DOORS TO THESE FOLKS.
BUT WALKING THROUGH AND SEEING A LOT OF FECAL MATTER, HEARING A LOT OF BARKING, IT'S ABRASIVE TO THE HUMAN SENSES.
THOSE ARE ALL CLASSICALLY, POSSIBLY OBVIOUS REASONS WHY KEEPING POPULATION IN THE SHELTER DOWN IS REALLY IMPERATIVE FOR US.
WE ASSESS THESE ANIMALS ON CASE BY CASE MEDICAL ROUNDS EVERY DAY AT THE SHELTER.
WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, IS THIS ANIMAL DISPLAYING ANY SIGNS OF MENTAL DISTRESS OR ANXIETY? CAN WE ALLEVIATE THAT? BUT IT'S A CONSTANT STRUGGLE.
JUST FROM THE MEDICAL SIDE POINT, IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WEIGHS ON ME HEAVILY.
I DON'T LOVE THAT WE HAVE TO PAIR UP OR TRIPLE UP DOGS IN ENCLOSURES THAT WERE BUILT FOR ONE.
WE OFTEN HAVE DOGS THAT STAY WITH US, 06, 7, 8, 9 MONTHS TOO, SO THIS IS THEIR LIFE.
WE WORK HARD TO GET THESE ANIMALS ADOPTED, BUT WITH THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS BEING BROUGHT IN IN RESPECT TO THE ANIMALS LEAVING THE BUILDING, THE NUMBERS JUST DON'T MATH VERY WELL IN OUR DIRECTION.
>> WE DO HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.
SOME OF THOSE WOULD BE TO KEEP INCREASING OUR SPAY AND NEUTERS BOTH IN HOUSE AND WITH VETERINARIAN PARTNERS.
WE DO HAVE A FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT WE WANT TO WORK TOWARD.
THAT WOULD BE GETTING A FULL TIME VET TECH.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A PART TIME VET TECH.
WHENEVER DR. MACHADO IS DOING SURGERIES, WE'RE HAVING TO PULL ONE OF OUR STAFF TO ASSIST HER IN HER VET TECH.
THAT WOULD BE A REALLY BIG ITEM FOR US.
WE COULD USE A SECOND DISPATCHER NOT JUST DURING THE WEEK, BUT FOR WEEKENDS ALSO.
WE ALWAYS CAN USE MORE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS BOTH IN THE SHELTER AND IN THE FIELD.
AT SOME POINT, AN ADOPTION EVENT COORDINATOR WOULD REALLY BENEFIT US BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE HAVING TO PULL STAFF TO DO THAT.
OUR BUILDING WAS OPENED IN 2011.
THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE VERY LONG AGO, BUT ANIMALS ARE REALLY HARD ON FACILITIES, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.
I KNOW T. J AND I HAVE TALKED AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME HVAC.
IT'S JUST A MANDATORY THING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS BUDGET CYCLE.
WE DO WANT TO KEEP CHANGING OUR INTERNAL METRICS AND GETTING WHAT WE THINK THE COUNCIL WANTS AND WHAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW, AND WE WANT TO GET BETTER AT TRACKING OUR PHONE CALLS OBVIOUSLY.
WE TAKE IN OVER 5,000 PHONE CALLS A MONTH AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE A WAY TO TRACK THOSE BETTER.
[00:30:01]
THIS YEAR GOING TO THE BITES VERSUS SCRATCHES AND DOGS VERSUS CATS VERSUS MISCELLANEOUS ANIMALS ON INTAKES I THINK WILL HELP.ALWAYS BEFORE, IT WAS JUST A GENERIC HOW MANY LIVE ANIMALS CAME IN.
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO CONTINUE OUR PUBLIC OUTREACH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, VIDEOS.
IF YOU'VE BEEN AT CITY HALL, YOU'VE SEEN TAYLOR'S FACE ON THE VIDEO SCREENS.
OUR TRANSPORTS HAVE FALLEN OFF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT THAT'S NATIONWIDE, SO WE REALLY WANT TO GO PROACTIVE ON THAT AND GET THAT PROGRAM BACK UP AND RUNNING.
WE ALWAYS CAN USE MORE GRANTS, WE'RE GOING TO BE MORE PROACTIVE IN TRYING TO FIND FUNDS, NOT JUST FROM COUNSEL.
SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS WE HAVE AND HAD FROM OTHERS IS TO INCREASE THE LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR OWNING DANGEROUS DOGS.
CURRENTLY, THE CITY OF LUBBOCK THAT'S 250,000, IN MIDLAND, THAT'S $1 MILLION, AND THEY'RE BASICALLY SAYING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A DANGEROUS DOG IN OUR CITY.
WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH REP TEPPER AND HAS WORKED WITH HIM ON CHANGING SOME OF THE STATE LEGISLATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE IS MANDATORY VACCINES AND MICRO-CHIPPING.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE ALREADY DO AT LAS, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT STATEWIDE.
OBVIOUSLY, INCREASING THE FEE ON THE CITATIONS WOULD BE A FACTOR ON CITIZENS THAT AREN'T BEING RESPONSIBLE.
THEN SPAY AND NEUTER, SOME OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO LOOK AT IS MAYBE HAVING AN ORDINANCE CHANGE TO SPAY OR NEUTER BITE ANIMALS THAT COME IN OR POSSIBLY NEUTER ON FIRST IMPOUND.
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT DANGEROUS DOGS.
A DANGEROUS DOG IS AN ANIMAL THAT'S BEEN DECLARED DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT MADE UNRESTRAINED, UNPROVOKED ATTACK THAT CAUSED A BODILY HARM OR INJURY TO A HUMAN OR ANOTHER ANIMAL.
WE'D LIKE TO MAYBE CREATING A DANGEROUS DOG REGISTRY WHERE YOU KNOW IF THERE'S A DANGEROUS DOG IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GO AWAY FROM ME BEING THE HEARING OFFICER AND COME UP WITH A THREE PERSON PANEL TO HEAR THOSE CASES AND MAKE THE JUDGMENT.
WE ARE ENHANCING SPOT CHECKS ON DANGEROUS DOGS IN THE CITY.
AS PREVIOUS MENTIONED, WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS. WE'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS?
PERSONALLY, I'VE LOST TWO FRIENDS TO DOG ATTACKS.
I DON'T SEE ANY DOG CATCHERS IN MY DISTRICT.
IS THAT A SHORTAGE OF STAFF? YES, NO?
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE A SHORTAGE OF STAFF, AND IT WOULD BE A SHORTAGE OF WE RUN PRIORITY-BASED, AND SO IF THERE'S TWO OR THREE PRIORITIES GOING ON, WHATEVER DISTRICT IT'S IN, THEY'RE GOING TO RESPOND TO THOSE FIRST.
BUT IT DEFINITELY IS A SHORTAGE OF STAFFING.
>> WE NEED TO DECIDE TO GET YOU MORE STAFF BECAUSE THERE'S AN ABUNDANCE OF STRAY DOGS.
I'M SEEING HIM ON A DAILY BASIS.
I KNOW SOMEBODY HAS REPORTED THEM, BUT IF I SEE THESE DOGS FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK RUNNING AROUND IN A PACK, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN RESPONDED TO IT, THAT'S TOO LONG.
THAT'S PUTTING PEOPLE LIVES IN DANGER.
LIKE I SAID, I'VE LOST TWO PEOPLE.
THE LATEST ONE WAS JACK LOONEY, KNOWN HIM OVER 20 YEARS.
I LOVE MY DOG JUST LIKE A FAMILY.
IF YOU LOVE YOUR DOG, MICROCHIP IT.
I THINK I PASS IT AROUND HERE ON THE COUNCIL AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT AS A REQUIREMENT.
Y'ALL SITTING THERE SAYING Y'ALL HAVE THREE DOGS TO A CAGE.
WHAT IS THE TIME LIMIT ON EUTHANIZING A DOG? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IF YOU GIVE A HOOT ABOUT YOUR DOG, YOU WOULD HAVE A MICROCHIP SO IT COULD GET BACK HOME.
IF YOU DON'T GIVE A HOOT ABOUT YOUR DOG, THEN WHO IS SUPPOSED TO? WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE OVERPOPULATED ABOUT A UNWANTED DOG.
>> WHAT'S THE LENGTH ON THE EUTHANIZING.
>> THIS IS A VERY OBVIOUSLY CLASSIC QUESTION.
WHENEVER YOU TALK ABOUT EUTHANASIA, YOU GET SWARMS OF PEOPLE VERY MUCH AGAINST IT, NO MATTER IF THE OWNER CARES ABOUT THAT DOG OR NOT.
THERE IS NO TIME FRAME AT LAS, WHERE YOU REACH DAY 300 AND YOU GET EUTHANIZED.
WE TRY TO GET AS MANY POSITIVE OUTCOMES, LIVE OUTCOMES AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
A LOT OF OUR TRANSPARENCY IS FOR THE PUBLIC.
[00:35:05]
THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY DOGS WE EUTHANIZE.IT SEEMS THAT OFTEN THE LOUDEST PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES ARE ONES THAT ARE HIGHLY AGAINST EUTHANASIA PERIOD.
>> I NEED TO GET A LITTLE BIT LOUDER, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> IT IS A TOPIC THAT WE JUST DEAL WITH DAILY.
IT'S IN FRONT OF US PHYSICALLY, PEOPLE COMING INTO THE FACILITY.
IT'S A REALLY HEATED TOPIC, AND SOMEONE HAS TO EUTHANIZE THESE DOGS.
YOU ALSO HAVE TO CARE FOR THE STAFF THAT ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SLATED TO EUTHANIZE THE ANIMALS.
BACK IN THE DAY, THE SHELTER DID EUTHANIZE MANY ANIMALS PER DAY.
OKAY. THAT'S ACTUALLY EMOTIONALLY DAMAGING IT CAN BE.
EVEN FOR FOLKS WHO SAY I'M NOT AFFECTED BY IT, PSYCHOLOGICALLY, IT TURNS OUT THEY ARE.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON WITH THAT QUESTION.
BUT NO, WE DO NOT HAVE A NUMBER OF DAYS THAT THAT ANIMAL HAS AT OUR FACILITY.
FOR THE MOST PART, THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC IS SORT OF CHEERING US ON ABOUT IS THAT WE ARE NOT A "HIGH KILL" SHELTER OR KILL SHELTER.
WE TRY TO KEEP THESE ANIMALS ALIVE AND FED AND IN GOOD STANDARDS OF CARE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TAXED US WITH, AND ALSO BECAUSE IT'S A LIFE.
IF WE CAN GET THE ANIMAL ADOPTED OUT, WE'D PREFER THAT OVER HAVING TO EUTHANIZE THE ANIMAL FOR NO OTHER REASON.
>> YOU DID THEM WITH OVERCROWDING AS WELL.
THAT'S THE DOUBLE EDGED SWORD THAT WE WANT.
>> THAT'S PROBABLY SOME OF THE REASON TO WHY THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF STRAY DOGS OUT THERE, THEY'RE NOT PICKING THEM UP BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THEM.
>> IMAGINE THAT. BEING FACED WITH BOTH OF THOSE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND BOTH SIDES ARE VERY STRONG AND ADAMANT ABOUT THEM BEING THE MOST RIGHT.
IT'S A CHALLENGE AGAINST SEVEN SAID WE DO RUN PRIORITY CALLS IF THE ANIMAL IS ACTING AGGRESSIVELY OR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN.
THOSE ARE DEFINITELY OUR PRIORITY CALLS.
IF A DOG IS AIMLESSLY RUNNING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, EATING SCRAPS OUT OF DUMPSTERS AND NOT BOTHERING ANYBODY, THAT'S NOT A PRIORITY CALL. THAT'S HOW WE RUN THEM.
>> WELL, IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU LIVE, TOO.
>> NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THAT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
>> IT'S AN EYESORE TO BEGIN WITH.
>> WHAT ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU NEED? YOU NEED MORE SPACE, YOU NEED MORE EMPLOYEES TO GET RID OF ALL THESE STRAY DOGS?
>> WELL, GET RID OF IS THE EXACT QUESTIONABLE TURN OF PHRASE.
>> WELL, GET RID OF THEM FOR YOU TO LOCK THEM UP, FOR THEM NOT TO BE VISIBLE IN COMMUNITIES.
>> IT'S JUST IT'S A BIT LOADED AND HAS MULTI-TIERED EFFECTS.
>> LIKE I SAID, I LOVE MY DOG.
MY DOG IS LIKE ONE OF MY CHILDREN.
BUT I AM A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER, WHICH IS CHIP AND SPAY AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND KEPT AWARE OF.
BUT WHEN YOU GOT STRAY DOGS OUT THERE, DO LOVE EVERY BOMB YOU MEET ON THE STREET? DO YOU?
>> IT'LL TAKE TIME, AND WE'RE VERY MUCH AT GROUND 0.
SO LAS HAS ONLY STARTED SPAYING AND NEUTERING IN HOUSE IN 2019.
I ALSO WORKED FOR PETS CLINIC OF LUBBOCK.
AS OF JANUARY, WE'LL HAVE 20,000 SPAYS AND NEUTERS DONE, AND WE OPENED IN 2020.
SO WE'RE AT GROUND 0, AND WE'RE CHIPPING AWAY AT IT.
BUT IT'S NOT AN OVERNIGHT CHANGE.
I'M VERY IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS IN WICHITA FALLS THAT HAD SIMILAR ISSUES, AND IT TOOK CLOSE TO 15 YEARS FOR THEM TO SEE A DIFFERENCE ON THE STREET LEVEL AFTER STARTING VERY LARGE SPAY-NEUTER PROGRAMS. SO IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
PUTTING THESE DOGS IN THE SHELTER IS NOT REALLY GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE RIGHT AWAY.
WE'RE CHIPPING AWAY AT SOME OF THAT, THE GROUND 0 LEVEL STUFF, AND WE'LL GET THERE.
I REALLY DO BELIEVE WE'LL GET THERE.
>> MR. GREEN, THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
>> YOU AND I HAVE MET PREVIOUSLY AND DISCUSSED MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN TODAY'S WORK SESSION, BUT I ORGANIZE THIS WORK SESSION BECAUSE, AS I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH THE CURRENT PERFORMANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
THE GOAL TODAY IS NOT TO GRIPE AT YOU, BUT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE, WHAT OUR GOALS ARE, THE END STATE THAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE, AND ALSO TO LISTEN TO YOU ABOUT WHAT RESOURCES YOU NEED TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL THAT WE SET OUT FOR YOU.
[00:40:05]
FIRST OF ALL, I'LL SAY, I'M VERY ENCOURAGED TO SEE SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT YOU'VE BRIEFED US ON ALREADY FROM OUR EARLIER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DATA COLLECTION, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WILL HELP US INFORM THE POLICY DECISIONS HERE, BUT I WANT TO GO THROUGH AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFIC ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE OVER WHAT I'VE SEEN PRESENTED.>> FIRST OF ALL, I'LL SAY THAT THE BIGGEST CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS STRAY AND LOOSE DOGS.
IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, AND IT'S AFFECTING EVERY PART OF THE CITY.
THERE'S NOT ANY ONE PARTICULAR DISTRICT THAT I THINK IS FREE FROM THIS PROBLEM.
DOG BITES FROM STRAY AND LOSE DOGS ARE UNACCEPTABLE, AND OUR GOAL SIMILAR TO CRIME SHOULD BE TO GET THAT NUMBER AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
ULTIMATELY, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STRAY AND LOOSE DOGS TO HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BITES FROM STRAY AND LOOSE DOGS.
I'LL SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I SEE, AND THIS IS MY PERSPECTIVE ON IT, BUT I ALSO WANT TO EMPOWER YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE RELYING ON YOUR EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OUTCOMES.
NUMBER 1, I THINK THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO CALLS.
I COMMEND YOU THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT TRACKING YOUR PERFORMANCE ON THAT, BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IT'D BE VERY HELPFUL FOR YOU TO TRACK THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING, HOW MANY YOU'RE ANSWERING, AND HOW LONG IT'S TAKING YOU TO RETURN MISSED CALLS.
>> I'M HOPING THAT THE ADDITIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE WILL HELP YOU TOWARDS THAT.
OF COURSE, IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, THAT SHOULD BE A PART OF A CONTINUING CONVERSATION.
ALSO, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON THE DATA COLLECTION THAT YOU'VE IMPLEMENTED ALREADY.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TRACK THE SEVERITY AND TYPES OF BYTES.
ONE THING THAT I SAW IN THE HISTORICAL DATA IS THAT THE NUMBER OF INTAKES AND CAPTURES IS DOWN, BOTH THE LIVE CAPTURES AND THE OWNER SURRENDERS.
>> I WOULD THINK THAT THAT'S A BIT PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE EVEN AS THE CITY IS GROWING, I WOULD EXPECT THAT NUMBER TO GO UP RATHER THAN DOWN.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE CAPTURES, ESPECIALLY THE LIVE CAPTURES, BECAUSE I THINK ANECDOTALLY, A LARGE PART OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY PERCEPTION IS THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY DOGS GOING LOOSE FOR TOO LONG WITHOUT BEING CAPTURED.
LET'S TALK ABOUT OWNER SURRENDERS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT AN OWNER SURRENDER IS?
>> YES, SIR. THAT WOULD BE IF YOU HAVE A DOG AND YOU NO LONGER WANT TO TAKE POSSESSION OF IT, AND SO YOU WANT TO BRING IT TO ME AND LEAVE IT AT MY FACILITY.
>> WHAT DOES A PERSON NEED TO DO TO SET AN APPOINTMENT FOR AN OWNER SURRENDER?
>> THEY JUST CALL AND SPEAK TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AND HAVE AN APPOINTMENT SET.
>> HOW MANY APPOINTMENTS DO YOU SET ASIDE EACH DAY AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR OWNER SURRENDERS?
>> I BELIEVE WE DO TWO OWNER SURRENDERS A DAY.
>> WHAT'S THE CURRENT WAITING PERIOD TO GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR AN OWNER SURRENDER?
>> PROBABLY, I'D SAY YOU'RE LOOKING TO ABOUT JULY.
>> AT THIS POINT, WE'RE LOOKING AT EIGHT MONTHS OR SO?
>> FOR AN OWNER, SURRENDER, YES, SIR.
BUT FOR A STRAY APPOINTMENT, YOU CAN GET IN SOONER.
>> THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT I'D CONSIDER A REALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE A PERSON WHO DOESN'T WANT TO BE A PET OWNER IS NOT GOING TO WAIT EIGHT MONTHS TO SURRENDER A PET.
THEY'RE GOING TO DRIVE OUT TO A COUNTY ROAD WHERE IT DEAD ENDS, DROP THE DOG OFF, AND THEN THAT BECOMES A STRAY DOG.
THIS IS AN AREA THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MUCH MORE RESPONSIVE SO THAT WE ARE MAXIMIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OWNER SURRENDERS.
NOT ONLY IS IT THAT GOING TO BE A BETTER OUTCOME FOR ANIMALS, IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE A BETTER PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOME.
I'D LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT AS A PRIORITY FOR MY POLICY GOALS.
>> MAY I CHIME IN THERE? I WILL SAY THAT, AND I CAN GET THE RESEARCH FOR YOU, BUT IT ACTUALLY, AND MAYBE WE CAN START KEEPING DATA ON THIS, TOO, BUT DELAYING INTAKE TO A SHELTER OFTEN ACTUALLY FINDS A POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR THAT PET.
WE'LL FIND THAT OFTEN AS WELL, WHERE FOLKS WILL SAY, I DON'T NEED MY APPOINTMENT ANYMORE BECAUSE IT WENT TO LIVE WITH.
>> THE NEIGHBOR IN THE COUNTY.
>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE.
IT HAPPENS, SURE, EVERYWHERE, BUT WITHOUT DATA POINTS.
I DO BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF TIMES WE ACTUALLY WILL FIND POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR THESE ANIMALS BY TELLING THEM THAT THEY HAVE TO WAIT AND THEY CAN'T JUST COME IN WHENEVER THEY WANT TO SURRENDER THEIR ANIMAL THAT THEY ORIGINALLY TOOK OWNERSHIP FOR.
[00:45:02]
I'D BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THE DATA THAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING, BUT FROM THE POLICY, THE FLOW OF INSTRUCTIONS IS GOING TO BE FROM THE COUNCIL TO THE DEPARTMENT.
PART OF THE CONVERSATION TODAY IS TO SET OUR EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU HAVE DATA TO SUGGEST THAT WE CAN FIND A BETTER OUTCOME TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS, I'M HAPPY TO CONSIDER IT, BUT I'M TELLING YOU FROM MY PERSPECTIVE RIGHT NOW, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE ONE APPOINTMENT A DAY.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO WAIT EIGHT MONTHS, AND THEN WE'RE JUST TRUSTING THAT THE DOGS HAVE GONE OFF TO FIND A BETTER HOME.
>> SURE. I APPRECIATE THAT FOR SURE.
I'M JUST HERE TO GIVE MY LITTLE BIT OF MEDICAL EXPERTISE AS WELL.
IT HAS HELPED US INCREDIBLY ON KEEPING OUR POPULATION A BIT LOWER AND NOT HAVING MULTIPLE OUTBREAKS OF DISEASE.
>> WELL, WE COULD KEEP THE POPULATION LOWER JUST BY NOT DOING ANY WORK AT ALL, BUT THAT WOULDN'T BE AN ACCEPTABLE OUTCOME EITHER.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SHELTER POPULATION RIGHT NOW, A, MR. GREEN.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT IDEAL CAPABILITY FOR ANIMALS AT THE SHELTER?
>> IF YOU'RE TALKING LARGE DOGS, IDEALLY, I WOULD LIKE ABOUT 275, 300 IS MANAGEABLE.
IF IT GETS OVER 400, IT'S PRETTY HARD TO KEEP UP WITH THAT.
>> TO ME, THE SHELTER POPULATION AND THE LENGTH OF STAY ARE TWO VERY CONCERNING METRICS BECAUSE YOU'RE KEEPING DOGS FOR TOO LONG.
I UNDERSTAND FROM OUR PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'LL KEEP A DOG AT THE SHELTER UNTIL THEY ARE BEHAVIORALLY UNSTABLE FOR REMAINING IN THE SHELTER, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, SIR, AND SOMETIMES THAT'S A VERY SHORT STAY.
I'VE SEEN DOGS IN A WEEK'S TIME THAT WAS ALREADY START CRAZY.
I'VE SEEN DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THERE CLOSE TO A YEAR THAT HAVE NO BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.
>> I'D LIKE TO BE AN OPTIMIST ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK THAT A DOG WHO'S BEEN IN THE SHELTER FOR MULTIPLE MONTHS IS UNLIKELY TO BE ADOPTED OUT.
IT'S GOING TO BE A PRIORITY TO LOWER THE SHELTER POPULATION BECAUSE THAT WILL GIVE US MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OWNER SURRENDERS, FOR LIVE CAPTURES.
WHETHER YOU NEED TO DO THAT BY REDUCING THE LENGTH OF STAY OR REDUCING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DOGS IN THERE, I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT METRIC TO TRY TO ACHIEVE GREATER EFFICIENCY ON.
>> THEN THE LAST THING I'LL SAY ON ON THE OPERATIONS IS, TRAINING AND SUPERVISION OF PERSONNEL IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND WE WANT TO SEE THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF TRAINING PROFESSIONALISM.
IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT, I WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE PART OF AN ONGOING CONVERSATION AS WELL?
>> NOW, A COUPLE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU OFFERED AND TALKED ABOUT VOUCHERS, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE PET SERVICE VOUCHERS ARE FUNDED?
>> EVERY VOUCHER, EVERY SPAY-NEUTER THAT WE DO, REGARDLESS OF HOW IT'S DONE IS FUNDED BY A SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT, AND THAT IS THROUGH THE SALE OF CITY LICENSE AND RABIES TAGS.
>> ARE ANY OF THE VOUCHER PROGRAMS FUNDED THROUGH GENERAL REVENUE FUNDS?
>> WHAT ABOUT THE GRANT PROGRAM THAT PURCHASES MATERIALS FOR HOUSES? WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THAT FUNDING?
>> THAT'S OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
>> CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT PROGRAM AND HOW IT WORKS?
>> YES, SIR. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT JUST APPLY.
A LOT OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE RENTERS.
THEY APPLY, WE SPEND TYPICALLY ABOUT $850 FOR SUPPLIES, AND THEY HAVE TO DO ALL THE LABOR.
>> I'VE BEEN CRITICAL OF GRANT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS AND IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS, BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT THAT'S A POLICY THAT REWARDS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS OR IRRESPONSIBLE PROPERTY OWNERS.
SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT TAKING THE TIME AND MONEY TO KEEP A FENCE OR THEIR HOUSE IN A CONDITION THAT'S SAFE AND ACCEPTABLE FOR PETS SHOULD NOT BE REWARDED WITH GRANT DOLLARS FROM THE CITY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE BEING RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS, PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE UPKEEPING THEIR PROPERTIES HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES, THAT IN TURN ARE BEING GIVEN AS A GIFT TO PEOPLE WITH BAD BEHAVIOR.
I THINK A POLICY THAT REWARDS BAD BEHAVIOR IS NOT EVER GOING TO REALLY FIX THE PROBLEM.
I SAY THAT REALLY, THOSE ARE COMMENTS DIRECTED TO THE COUNCIL.
THOSE ARE THAT'S FOR US TO FIX, BUT I DON'T SUPPORT THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
THEN TELL ME ABOUT THE MANDATORY STERILIZATION.
>> CURRENTLY, IF AN ANIMAL IS PICKED UP TWICE IN A 12 MONTH ROLLING PERIOD,
[00:50:03]
IT HAS TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED BEFORE IT LEAVES OR RECLAIMED BY ITS OWNER.WE'RE LOOKING TO TRY TO INCREASE THAT WHERE WE HAVE MORE MANDATORY SPAYED NEUTERS.
ANY ANIMAL THAT'S ADOPTED FROM A MUNICIPAL SHELTER HAS TO BE ALTERED WHEN IT LEAVES.
THE ONE BIG LOOPHOLE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS OWNER RECLAIMS.
>> IS THAT A POLICY OF THE SHELTER OR WHAT'S THE ORIGIN OF THE AUTHORITY BEHIND THAT POLICY?
>> WHAT IS THE BEST MOST EFFECTIVE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO REPORT STRAY OR LOOSE DOGS TO ANIMAL SERVICES?
>> I ALWAYS SAY IF IT'S AN AGGRESSIVE AND AN EMERGENCY, CONTACT 911 OR CONTACT US BY OUR DISPATCH PHONE.
IF IT'S NON-EMERGENCY, IT'S EASY TO USE OUR PORTAL, THE CLICK FIX OR OUR FIELD OPERATIONS E-MAIL.
>> MR. GREEN, I HAVE BEEN CRITICAL.
I'VE BEEN TOLD I ALSO HAVE A GRUMPY FACE.
>> I'VE HEARD IT MANY TIMES. BUT I WANT TO END ON A POSITIVE NOTE THAT I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT ARE DOING.
I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED BY THE STEPS THAT YOU ALL ARE TAKING THIS EARLY ON TO IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE AND THE DATA COLLECTION, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE WANT TO SEE IT BE SUCCESSFUL.
WE WANT YOU TO HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY MISSION.
>> THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST TOPICS THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE IT PULLS ON EVERYBODY'S HEART STRINGS.
DR. MACHADO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> FROM A MEDICAL PERSON TO A MEDICAL PERSON, PEDIATRICIAN IS A LOT LIKE VETERINARY MEDICINE, BUT NOT THE SAME.
I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS SOMETIMES TO WADE OFF INTO POLITICS, AND THAT PART OF IT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DO A GOOD JOB FROM THE MEDICAL ASPECT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SOME OF THIS MAY SEEM DISJOINTED BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WRITING A LOT OF NOTES FROM WHAT COUNCILMAN HARRIS HAS SAID AND GLASHEEN.
I'M GOING TO ASK SOME RANDOM QUESTIONS, SO IT MAY FEEL A LITTLE RANDOM.
FIRST GOING BACK TO THE FENCING PROGRAM, MR. GREEN, HOW MUCH IS ALLOCATED TO THAT EVERY YEAR? HOW MUCH WAS THIS LAST YEAR? HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND ON THAT PROGRAM?
>> LAST FISCAL YEAR WAS 90,000.
75,000 LAST YEAR, AND IT'S BEEN INCREASED TO 90 THIS YEAR.
>> TO 90. I DO HAVE CONCERNS WITH THAT.
I THINK SOME OF THE SAME THAT COUNCILMAN GLASHEEN HAS IS THAT WE'RE REWARDING BAD BEHAVIOR.
SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I HAVE, AND SOME OF THEM MAY BE A POSSIBILITY, SOME MAYBE NOT.
SOME OF THEM MAY BE LEGAL QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED TO ASK LEGAL ABOUT, BUT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS I HAVE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY HARSH AND NOT HARSH FOR YOU GUYS, BUT IT'S TIME FOR THIS COUNCIL TO BECOME HARSH ON OUR CITIZENS ON THE EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS AND HARSH ON, I THINK THE WAY WE RESPOND AS A CITY AND WHAT WE ALLOW AND HOW WE ALLOW BAD BEHAVIOR TO CONTINUE.
I SEE THE GOOD HEARTED NATURE BEHIND THIS PROGRAM AS, IF WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP DOGS OFF THE STREET, IF WE JUST PAY TO KEEP THEM IN, BUT IS THAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT? IS IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS? I HAVE CONCERNS WITH THAT PROGRAM AS WELL, AND FROM THAT ASPECT.
SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS AND WE MET THE OTHER DAY.
SOME OF THESE YOU'VE HEARD AND TAYLOR'S HEARD AS WELL THAT MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT FROM A LEGALITY STANDPOINT, AND CAN WE DO IT AS COUNSEL? I THINK WE SHOULD, AND FOR ONE, IS THE LIABILITY INSURANCE.
YOU WANT TO PUT A NUMBER ON IT TAYLOR? IF A MILLION IS ENOUGH FOR YOU, YOU PUT WHATEVER NUMBER YOU THINK WILL HELP WITH THE PROBLEM.
THIS IS SOMETHING HER AND I TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER DAY.
IF IT NEEDS TO BE A MILLION, IF IT NEEDS TO BE 5 MILLION.
IF IT WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DANGEROUS DOGS IN THIS CITY, THAT'S THE NUMBER WE NEED TO GO TO.
THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT AND THE LEGALITIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
I ALSO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT INTAKES AND APPOINTMENTS AND NOT SO MUCH ABOUT OWNER SURRENDER ABOUT STRAYS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER DAY WHEN WE MET WAS THE GOOD HEARTED NATURE OF A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I'M PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE, IS IF YOU SEE A STRAY RUNNING, WE'RE ON OUR HOA PAGE GOING, THERE'S A BLACK DOG RUNNING HERE.
THERE'S THIS CUTE LITTLE FUZZY DOG RUNNING ON 96 STREET.
IS IT BELONG TO ANYBODY? I'M GOING TO PICK IT UP BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT GOOD PEOPLE DO.
IS WE HAVE THAT GOOD HEART, AND WE'RE THINKING, LET'S GET THEM OFF THE STREET, LET'S HOPE THEY DON'T GET HIT BY CARS.
MAYBE WE CAN RETURN THEM BACK TO THEIR OWNER.
ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE HEAR FROM COUNSEL IS THESE GOOD PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY ARE GOOD RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS OF THEIR OWN ANIMALS ARE TRYING TO HELP.
BUT THEY THEN CALL YOU GUYS AND SAY,
[00:55:02]
I'VE GOT THIS DOG, CAN YOU EITHER COME GET IT OR CAN I BRING IT IN.THEN THEY'RE BEING TOLD, WELL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT, YOU JUST HOLD ON TO THAT DOG.
WELL, THEY'RE LIKE, I CAN'T HOLD ONTO THIS DOG.
I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, WHATEVER THE REASON MAY BE, OR THEY ARE SAYING, WELL, I TRIED.
IT'S SATURDAY. WE WERE OUT AT A SOCCER GAME.
I CALLED AND THEY SAID WE CAN'T BRING HIM IN TODAY.
I THINK TAYLOR MAYBE YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS AND CORRECT ME, I KNOW Y'ALL WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND LOOK, BUT WE DON'T DO INTAKE APPOINTMENTS ON THE WEEKENDS FOR STRAYS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IF I'M GOING TO PICK UP A DOG, AND THIS IS JUST PERSONAL HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE.
I'M ACTUALLY PROBABLY NOT GOING TO STOP WHEN I'M DRIVING TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE I HAVE TO BE THERE FOR A SHIFT.
IF I'M DRIVING TO A VOLLEYBALL GAME FOR MY DAUGHTER ON SATURDAY, MAYBE I MIGHT BE IN WHERE I CAN STOP AND HELP, BUT THEN I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO HELP ME AS THAT CITIZEN WHO JUST TRIED TO HELP THAT ANIMAL AND TRIED TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT INTAKE APPOINTMENTS ON THE WEEKENDS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT STAFFING FOR THAT.
I KNOW IT'S A STAFFING ISSUE FOR STRAYS.
I UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND THE OWNER'S SURRENDER OF MAYBE IT WILL HELP THEM.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND COUNCILMAN GLASHEEN'S CONCERN OF, DO THEY JUST GO DUMP IT IN THE COUNTY? BUT I DO DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND IF MAYBE THEY FOUND A LOVING HOME FOR THAT DOG.
MAYBE THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND.
MAYBE IT WAS A NEW PUPPY, AND THEY THOUGHT, OH, MY GOSH, THIS DOG IS TOO MUCH WORK, AND THEN THEY GREW A LITTLE BIT AND THEY PROGRESSED IN THEIR DEVELOPMENTS, AND THEN THEY HELD ONTO THEM.
I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT MORE SO FOR THE STRAYS IS ONES I THINK I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT INTAKE.
I THINK INTAKE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
HOW WE FIGURE OUT STAFFING THAT, THAT MAY BE A CITY MANAGER AND A COUNCIL ISSUE, THAT MAY BE ON OUR SHOULDERS.
TO HANDLE THAT AND TO TAKE CARE OF THAT, IT MAY BE A BUDGET, A REVENUE ISSUE.
BUT I THINK THAT REALLY HINDERS GOOD HEARTED PEOPLE TRYING TO HELP YOU GUYS BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK IN COORDINATION TO GET THESE STRAYS OFF THE STREET, AND THEN THEY'RE BEING TOLD, SORRY, WE'RE NOT COMING OUT OR WE CAN'T COME OUT OR HANG ONTO THIS DOG.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT ON HOW DO WE MAKE THAT PART OF IT BETTER? WE TALKED ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY IN THE MEETING, AND WE WERE GOING TO CONFIRM THIS.
THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS ALLOWED PER HOUSEHOLD.
I THINK WE CAME UP WITH IT WAS WHICH I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT, LIVING HERE MY WHOLE LIFE, IT WAS FOUR, AND IT IS ACTUALLY NOT.
IT IS EIGHT. IS THAT CORRECT, MR. GREEN?
>> YES, IT IS. YOU CAN HAVE FOUR ADULT DOGS, FOUR ADULT CATS, AND A LITTER OF EACH UNDER 16 WEEKS, BUT YOU CAN'T MIX A MATCH, IT'S FOUR AND FOUR.
IF WE ARE HAVING IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS, THEY DO NOT NEED TO HAVE EIGHT ANIMALS IN THEIR HOUSE.
I THINK IF THAT IS SOMETHING LEGALLY THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER AS A COUNCIL, I THINK THAT NUMBER NEEDS TO BE REDUCED.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT GROWING UP HERE IT WAS FOUR, TOTAL.
MIX BETWEEN DOGS AND CATS AT YOUR DISCRETION, BUT IT WAS A TOTAL OF FOUR, AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A MORE REASONABLE NUMBER.
OWNING EIGHT WITHOUT A PERMIT, WITHOUT RUNNING SOME TYPE OF SHELTER SITUATION IS PROBABLY INCREASING THE PROBLEM.
THEN HAVING THE ADDITIONAL LITTERS, I UNDERSTAND THAT DOGS HAVE LITTERS, PEOPLE DO BREED AND DO BREED RESPONSIBLY, BUT EIGHT ANIMALS JUST TO HAVE IN A HOUSEHOLD SEEMS A BIT MUCH, AND THAT'S SOMETHING MAYBE WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT.
THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS CITATIONS AND CITABLE EVENTS WHEN YOUR STAFF GOES OUT.
WHEN WE HAVE FIELD PEOPLE GO OUT, NUMBERS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS HOW MANY CITABLE CALLS LAS GOES TO, AND HOW MANY TIMES THOSE PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY CITED.
BECAUSE ONE THING THAT I KNOW THAT I HAVE HEARD IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE CITED FOR DIFFERENT THINGS IN OUR CITY, THEY'RE NOT PAYING CITATIONS, WHETHER IT'S FROM OUR END, WHETHER MUNICIPAL COURT IS NOT ENFORCING THAT, OR WE'RE JUST NOT HANDING OUT TICKETS.
IF WE DON'T TAKE A HARD STANCE ON THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN OUR CITY, WHICH IS NOT 100% ON YOU GUYS.
I WANT TO SEE YOUR STEP, 100%.
IF IT'S A CITABLE EVENT, EVERY SINGLE PERSON, WHETHER IT'S YOU SHOW UP IN MY HOUSE AND I MADE A MISTAKE, YOU BETTER WRITE ME A TICKET.
YOU START MAKING PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY MORE THINGS OUT OF THEIR POCKETBOOK, AND MAYBE THAT MIGHT MAKE A DENT. MAYBE IT WON'T.
THEN ON THE OTHER END FROM THE CITY'S ASPECT FROM MUNICIPAL COURT, IF WE'RE LETTING PEOPLE WALK IN, AND I SAW 376, WHATEVER THE FEE IS, AND WE GO, WELL, YOU HAD A HARD WEEKEND.
YOU'RE GOING TO PAY $10 TODAY.
WHAT STOPS THEM FROM DOING THAT AGAIN IF NOBODY'S PAYING THEIR FEE? LEADING INTO FEES IS 376 A MONTH.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS OTHER DAY, MAKE IT 1,000, MAKE IT 1,500, MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO HURT YOU OR ME AND NOT JUST YOU LOOKING AT YOU, MR. GREEN, BUT US AS CITIZENS IN A CITY MAKE IT WORTH THEIR WHILE THAT IT'S GOING TO HURT THEIR POCKETBOOK IF THEY CAN'T FOLLOW THE LAW.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE PEOPLE OUT THERE, AND ANY LPD OFFICER IN THIS CITY YOU'LL KNOW IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU SET THE LAW AT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BREAK THE LAW.
BUT IF WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT IT MIGHT HURT, AND IT MAY EVEN TAKE TEN MORE DOGS OFF THE STREET, BECAUSE THEY HAD TO PAY A BIG FEE OR WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS,
[01:00:01]
I THINK THAT IS WORTH IT.THESE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT FROM A COUNSEL STANDPOINT TO HELP YOU GUYS TRY TO REDUCE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE CAPACITY IS A PROBLEM.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW BIG YOU BUILD IT, YOU'RE GOING TO FILL IT PROBABLY.
I DON'T THINK JUST BUILDING IT BIGGER IS THE ANSWER BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T GO TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.
IF PEOPLE ARE THE PROBLEM, THAT'S A LOT OF WHO WE NEED TO TARGET.
LET ME THINK. WAS THERE ANY OTHER THINGS THAT I WAS LOOKING AT? I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO SEE.
THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE IN COUNCIL THAT WOULD LIKE TO TALK, AND I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO SIT AND WORK WITH YOU GUYS IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT SO WE CAN MAKE THIS THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE BOTH FROM THE ANIMALS PERSPECTIVE AND FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS. COMING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS BECAUSE YOU LOVE ANIMALS.
IT'S SUCH A FRUSTRATING AND DIFFICULT SITUATION.
WE DIDN'T CALL YOU UP HERE TO BEAT ON YOU.
I KNOW THERE IS TWO SIDES OF EVERY STORY, AND THESE THINGS ARE HARD.
MY FRUSTRATION, AND I WON'T REPEAT EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY SET UP HERE, BUT THIS IS A PEOPLE PROBLEM AND NOT A DOG PROBLEM.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE NUMBERS ON HOW MANY CITATIONS WERE ISSUED LAST YEAR?
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT WITH ME, BUT I CAN GET IT FOR YOU.
>> I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO KNOW THAT.
I THINK TO DR. WILSON'S POINT, I AM 100% ON BOARD WITH RAISING THESE CITATIONS.
I THINK YOU GUYS, IF YOU ALL COULD COME TOGETHER AND LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHAT YOU THINK WOULD BE REASONABLE.
MR. GLASHEEN TALKED ABOUT A PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD.
ONE OF THE MY BIGGEST WORRIES IS HAVING PEOPLE ATTACKED BY A STRAY DOG.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT GETTING THESE DOGS IN AND OFF THE STREET AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, I MEAN, YOU'RE OVERCAPACITY AS IT IS.
OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED TO LOOK AT STAFFING AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT I THINK CITATIONS AND REALLY COMING DOWN ON PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT MEANING. DO YOU HAVE THEM?
>> YES, SIR. WE FILED 1,096 CITATIONS WITH MUNICIPAL COURT LAST YEAR, AND WE FILED 1,880 VIOLATIONS.
>> THEN WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE?
>> WHERE THAT COMES FROM IS THERE MIGHT BE MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS ON ONE CITATION.
MOST COMMON YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FAILURE TO VACCINATE, RESTRAIN, AND LICENSE.
>> YES. EACH CITATION CAN HOLD UP TO FIVE VIOLATIONS.
>> YOU GUYS CITE THOSE, AND THEN IT'S OUT OF YOUR COURT FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.
OUR MUNICIPAL COURT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THOSE?
>> WE DO HAVE SOME THAT WE WOULD DISMISS FOR CERTAIN THINGS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY SMALL NUMBER.
THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE DEALT WITH BY MUNICIPAL COURT.
>> THEN YOU TALKED ABOUT MIDLAND HAVING A $1 MILLION DANGEROUS DOG INSURANCE POLICY.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A DANGEROUS DOG?
>> IT HAS TO HAVE AN AFFIDAVIT FILED ON IT AND GO THROUGH A HEARING.
IT HAS TO BASICALLY FIT THE STIPULATIONS OF HAVING BEEN OFF ITS PROPERTY, UNRESTRAINED, UNPROVOKED, AND CAUSED BODILY HARM TO A HUMAN, A DOMESTIC ANIMAL, OR A FOWL.
>> THAT IS ON THAT SPECIFIC DOG?
>> DOES IT GO TO CERTAIN BREEDS?
>> THAT'S JUST ANY DOGS THAT CAUSE BODILY HARM.
YOU GUYS SAID THEY'RE MOSTLY LARGE DOGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE IN THE SHELTER.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHY? IS IT JUST BECAUSE SMALLER DOGS ARE EASY TO KEEP CARE OF?
>> THEY'RE EASIER TO TAKE CARE OF.
USUALLY, THEY'RE CUTER, SO THE OWNERS ARE MORE APT TO COME RECLAIM THEM.
THEY'RE CUTER, SO THEY'RE GOING TO GET ADOPTED FIRST.
LARGE BLACK DOGS ARE HARD TO GET ADOPTED FOR WHATEVER REASON.
>> WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING DOWN TODAY.
[01:05:02]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING DOWN AND RUNNING THE GAUNTLET WITH US TODAY.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOU DO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE AS COUNSEL ALMOST ALWAYS GO BACK TO IS COMPARISON TO SIMILAR CITIES.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE SIZE OF OUR SHELTER, THE SIZE OF YOUR STAFF, THE BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE, HOW DO WE COMPARE TO SIMILAR CITIES?
>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME DATA THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PUT IN THE POWERPOINT, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME NUMBERS ON THAT.
>> YOU DID THE RESEARCH. WE DON'T HAVE SHELTER SIZE.
>> GREGORY TAYLOR DID THIS RESEARCH.
I'M NOT TAKING CREDIT FOR ANYONE ELSE'S WORK.
[LAUGHTER] I DON'T HAVE SHELTER SIZE, BUT I DO HAVE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE 31 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER SHELTERS, THE LARGEST IS GOING TO BE AMARILLO AT 45.
BUDGET-WISE, OUR BUDGET THIS FISCAL YEAR WAS ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MILLION.
IF YOU LOOK AT LIKE ABILENE'S BUDGET, THEIRS WAS, [INAUDIBLE].
>> AMARILLO'S IS FOUR MILLION, DENTON'S IS THREE AND A HALF MILLION, PRETTY CLOSE TO OURS, AND PLANO'S IS 2,800,000.
WE ARE RANKED NUMBER THREE IN BUDGET OUT OF THESE FOUR CITIES.
>> OUT OF THOSE FOUR, WE'RE IN THE THIRD PLACE.
>> AND AGAIN, JUST TO COMPARE SO THAT WE HAVE A FRAME OF REFERENCE IS MY POINT.
DO WE HAVE AN ADEQUATE BUDGET? DO WE HAVE AN ADEQUATE FACILITY TO ACCOMPLISH THE THINGS YOU WANT AND NEED TO ACCOMPLISH? YOU GO BACK AND ASK THE QUESTION, THESE SMALLER BUDGET, SMALLER FACILITIES, ARE THEY KILL SHELTERS, ARE THEY NO KILL SHELTERS? I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME BACK WITH SOME OF THAT INFORMATION TO US SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A JUDGMENT AS TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO GOING FORWARD.
WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO SAY, WELL, IF WE THROW AN EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS TO YOU GUYS, ALL THIS IS GOING TO GO AWAY.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE AT ALL. WELL, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS.
THERE'S NOT AN EXTRA MILLION TUCKED HERE UNDER THE DAIS TO THROW AT YOU EITHER.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND WHAT YOUR PROPOSALS ARE AND WHAT MR. GLASHIN HAS STARTED WORKING WITH TO FIND THESE SOLUTIONS.
SPAY AND NEUTERING PROGRAM, YOU SAID WE'RE ON THE GROUND FLOOR, AND SO WE CAN EXPECT BETTER RESULTS IN 8-10 YEARS, LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES, BUT WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO PROVIDE FOR YOU IN TERMS OF TOOLS TO HELP YOU BE ABLE TO DO A BETTER JOB? THAT'S MY QUESTION, AND WHILE WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION, I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT BACK.
THAT'S WHAT, I GUESS, I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR IS AT SOME POINT, YOU COME AND SAY, WE NEED THIS.
IF WE HAD THIS BETTER, GREATER MOUSE TRAP, WE COULD CATCH MORE MICE FOR YOU IN A BETTER SITUATION.
>> YES, SIR. HR IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON A LOT OF THOSE COMPARISONS.
>> I CAN ANTICIPATE SOMETHING COMING BACK SHORTLY WITH THAT INFORMATION?
>> AS SOON AS I KNOW SOMETHING.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR BEING HERE.
>> OBVIOUSLY, I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS NOW.
ONE OF MY PRIORITIES, OBVIOUSLY, WAS MEETING WITH ANIMAL SERVICES, TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS.
WE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE SPAY AND NEUTERING.
WE HAVE DONE SOME MARKETING BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE MAKING THE PUBLIC AWARE, EDUCATING THEM ABOUT NOT ONLY THEIR PART, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM TO DO THEIR PART.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT I'VE MET WITH YOU GUYS TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING? WE HEARD ALL OF THE FLUFF AND IMPORTANT STUFF.
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK THE PROBLEM IS.
[01:10:02]
>> 100%, IT'S GOING TO BE IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE ANIMALS ARE JUST ROAMING, THEY'RE NOT FIXED, THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED.
THAT CAUSES A LOT OF PUBLIC ISSUES, BOTH IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM AND THE HUMAN KINGDOM.
THAT REALLY, WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP GETTING THOSE OWNERS TO BE RESPONSIBLE, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH MORE FINES, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY, WHATEVER TOOLS WE USE, WE NEED TO GET THOSE OWNERS TO BECOME MORE RESPONSIBLE.
>> THAT'S THE FIRST THING. IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE NEXT BIG PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF LUBBOCK?
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF OVERPOPULATION OF ANIMALS, WE HAVE A LOT OF DILAPIDATED FENCES, WE HAVE A LOT OF AREAS WHERE THERE'S VACANT LOTS AND THESE DOGS GET VERY STREET-SMART.
EVEN IF WE GET CALLED ON THEM EVERY DAY FOR A WEEK, A LOT OF TIMES YOU JUST CAN'T CATCH THESE ANIMALS.
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT MAYBE NECK GUNS, OTHER FORMS OF CATCHING A DOG OTHER THAN JUST WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
I THINK HAVING WAYS TO CATCH THOSE DOGS, HAVING THE COMMUNITY IN THOSE AREAS HELP US CATCH THOSE DOGS WOULD REALLY BE BENEFICIAL.
>> YOU MENTIONED OVERPOPULATION, LET'S ADDRESS THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
TELL ME HOW DO YOU ADDRESS OR HOW DO YOU FIX OVERPOPULATION.
>> DO YOU FEEL THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED THE SUPPORT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?
>> I THINK WE HAVE. I THINK IT ALWAYS CAN INCREASE.
I THINK DR. MACHADO WOULD HAVE A DREAM LIST OF THINGS SHE WOULD LIKE FOR HER SURGICAL SUITE AND HER TEAM.
BUT, YEAH, I THINK HAVING COME AS FAR AS WE HAVE IN THE SHORT TIME WE HAVE, I THINK GETTING THE SPAY AND NEUTER GOING, GETTING IT MORE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY ALSO IS GOING TO BE VERY BENEFICIAL.
>> YOU DO OFFER A LOT OF SPAY AND NEUTERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FREE.
BUT, AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS.
THEN TELL ME ABOUT THE PROCESS OF WHEN YOU BRING A DOG IN FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND THEN I WANT TO KNOW WHEN YOU BRING A DOG IN FOR A SECOND TIME.
>> WELL, EVERY ANIMAL THAT COMES IN GETS FULLY VACCINATED, MICROCHIPPED.
WE DO ALL OF THE MEDICAL ISSUES ON IT, WE TREAT FOR FLEAS AND TICKS, WE DEWORM, AND SO THAT ANIMAL GETS AN INTAKE, AND IT'S IN OUR SYSTEM.
WHEN IT COMES IN THE SECOND TIME, IF IT'S BEEN A YEAR, THEN IT'S GOING TO GET WHATEVER VACCINATIONS IT NEEDS TO GET CURRENT.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET RE-MICROCHIPPED OR GET A NEW INTAKE NUMBER.
THEN IF IT'S BEEN WITHIN 12 MONTHS, IT HAS TO GET SPAYED OR NEUTERED BEFORE IT GOES HOME.
>> BUT 12 MONTHS, SO TECHNICALLY, THAT'S LIKE FOR A DOG THAT HAS HAD TWO VIOLATIONS, THEY'RE REPEAT OFFENDERS, IF YOU WILL, AND SO THEY'VE BEEN BACK TWICE.
THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT 12 MONTHS BEFORE YOU GET THEM SPAYED OR NEUTERED?
>> THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE MISCOMMUNICATION HERE.
ALL OF OUR ANIMALS LEAVE SPAYED OR NEUTERED.
THE ONLY TIMES THAT ANIMALS GO HOME NOT SPAYED OR NEUTERED IS IF THEY'RE RECLAIMED BY THEIR ORIGINAL OWNER WITHIN 72 HOURS.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR ANIMALS ARE ALREADY LEAVING SPAYED OR NEUTERED.
MOST OF THOSE ANIMALS WE'RE PICKING UP A YEAR LATER ARE ALREADY FIXED.
>> THE ONLY ONES THAT AREN'T ARE THOSE THAT WERE RECLAIMED WITHIN THAT 72 HOURS OR 10 DAYS IF THAT ANIMAL WAS MICROCHIPPED OR OTHERWISE HAD AN IDENTIFICATION ON THEM.
>> [INAUDIBLE] BY QUARANTINES.
>> BY QUARANTINES THAT GO HOME TO THEIR OWNERS.
AFTER THAT FIRST IMPOUNDMENT, IF THEY'RE IMPOUNDED AGAIN WITHIN 12 MONTHS, THEN THEY NEED TO GET FIXED.
>>UH-HUH. I'M NOT GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE ORDINANCE, BUT I KNOW THAT CITY ATTORNEY AND I TALKED ABOUT AN ORDINANCE THAT WE PREPARED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL AS ON RECOMMENDATION BY YOUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. IT IS PUBLIC INFORMATION, I BELIEVE, RIGHT FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK AT IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN KNOWING ABOUT THAT.
>> WELL, DRAFTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ACTUALLY ACTED ON BY THE CITY COUNCIL MAY NOT BE.
BUT CERTAINLY WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES, YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND LOOK FOR THOSE THINGS.
>> WE'RE ALREADY DOING A LOT OF THESE THINGS.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE DOG ITSELF.
I HEARD EVERYBODY TALK ABOUT HOW THEY MOVE IN PACKS.
WHAT CAUSES A DOG TO MOVE IN A PACK? DO YOU KNOW?
>> WELL, A CANINE IS A PACK ANIMAL, SO THEIR OLDEST ANCESTORS WOULD BE THE WOLF AND THEY DO TEND TO TRAVEL IN GROUPS, HELPS THEM WITH SCARCITY OF FOOD AND RESOURCES TO WORK AS A GROUP.
>> BUT WOULD YOU ALSO SAY, AND MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN TELL ME IF THIS IS CORRECT, DOGS THAT ARE IN HEAT, DOES THAT CREATE A PACK?
>> SORT OF. DOGS, FEMALES, THAT ARE IN HEAT WILL BE GIVING OFF CERTAIN ODORS THAT MALE INTACT DOGS WILL SEEK OUT.
[01:15:08]
YOU WILL FIND SITUATIONS WHERE THERE ARE FEMALES IN HEAT AND MULTIPLE MALE DOGS CIRCLED AROUND HER, SO IN A SENSE THAT BECOMES A PACK.BUT THAT IS DURING A SPECIFIC TIME OF ESTRUS FOR THAT FEMALE.
THE FEMALE IS NOT NECESSARILY INCREASED HER ROAMING, BUT THE MALES DEFINITELY HAVE.
I GET A LOT OF OWNERS THAT DON'T SEE THE REPERCUSSION OF HAVING THEIR MALE OUT ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET THE PUPPIES.
BUT THAT FEMALE SOMEWHERE IS MAKING A BABY.
>> HAVING THEIR DOG SPAYED OR NEUTERED [OVERLAPPING].
>> SURE. A LOT OF TIMES IT'S I DON'T NEED THE MALE NEUTERED BECAUSE IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM SORT OF A THING.
>> BUT IF YOU NEUTER THE DOG, DOES THAT HELP TO DECREASE THAT ROAMING?
>> YES, MA'AM, I WILL ALMOST 100% GET RID OF THE URGE FOR THAT MALE TO JUMP ITS FENCE OR DIG UNDER THE FENCE TO GET OUT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FENCE PROGRAM.
>> THAT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL.
TELL ME ABOUT THE FENCE PROGRAM. WHAT IS THE TITLE? EXPLAIN IT, GIVE IT DETAIL SO THAT ALL OF THE COUNCIL CAN UNDERSTAND AND THE PUBLIC WATCHING CAN UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF IT.
>> WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A SPECIFIC NAME FOR IT.
WE JUST CALL IT THE FENCE PROJECT.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT MY FIELD SUPERVISOR JESSICA SMITH CAME UP WITH.
HER IDEA IS TO TRY TO KEEP DOGS AT HOME AND NOT ROAMING, AND NOT BRINGING THEM INTO THE SHELTER.
SHE STARTED ON A SMALL SCALE, AND SHE HAS CLIENTS WHO CALL HER, AND USUALLY, IT'S PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY A PROBLEM DOG, THEY JUST HAVE ISSUES WITH THEIR DOG STAYING AT HOME DUE TO WHATEVER ISSUE.
USUALLY, IT'S RENTAL PROPERTY AND ABSENTEE LANDLORDS, AND THE RENTER MAY NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO DO SOME SMALL REPAIRS.
JUST THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE'VE HAD 20 FAMILIES HELPED WITH THAT PROGRAM.
THEY HAVE TO DO ALL THE LABOR, SO IT GIVES THEM SOME SKIN IN THE GAME.
IT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT KEEPING SOME OF THOSE DOGS OUT OF THE SHELTER AND OFF THE STREET.
>> WE'RE NOT JUST HANDING MONEY OUT, ARE WE? WE DON'T ACTUALLY GIVE THEM A CHECK FOR THEM TO GO AND PURCHASE THE STUFF, RIGHT?
>> NO, MA'AM. WE ACTUALLY PURCHASE THE MATERIALS, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO GO PICK IT UP AND DO THE DELIVERY AND LABOR THEMSELVES.
>> THEN LET'S GO BACK TO EMPLOYEES.
I KNOW THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU, I THINK TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO CALLS.
CURRENTLY, YOU LACK THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER PHONES, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I THINK THAT'S BEEN HELPED WITH THE NEW POSITIONS, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TAKING IN AS MANY PHONE CALLS AS WE DO A MONTH, A DAY, A WEEK, WE CAN ALWAYS USE MORE BODIES FOR THAT.
>> HAVE WE CONSIDERED MAYBE A PHONE SERVICE OR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL THOSE THAT ANSWER PHONES? WHAT IS THAT SERVICE CALLED?
>> WE HAD THAT YEARS AGO WITH 311.
THEY DON'T GIVE GOOD INFORMATION SOMETIMES.
IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE DEPARTMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE ASK THAT YOU CAN'T GIVE A GOOD ANSWER TO.
I LIKE IT HAVING IN-HOUSE BETTER, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN-HOUSE TO ANSWER THOSE PHONES AND THOSE QUESTIONS.
>> RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT DO ALL OF THAT WORK, RIGHT?
>> WELL, WE HAVE FIVE FULL-TIME CSRS, AND WE HAVE ONE PART-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT.
THOSE FIVE CSRS, TWO ARE DEDICATED AT ALL TIMES TO ANSWERING PHONES.
OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE IN-PERSON, SO THEY, AT TIMES, ARE ON THE PHONES, AT TIMES, THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH LIVE CUSTOMERS.
>> BUT IT STILL GOES BACK THAT IS TO NOT ENOUGH EMPLOYEES?
>> THEN IF WE HAD MORE EMPLOYEES, WHICH YOU'RE WORKING ON, THAT WOULD HELP US TO INCREASE DATA COLLECTION.
I THINK WE WOULD HAVE A LOT BETTER DATA COLLECTION.
I ALSO THINK IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FIELD RESPONSE, I HAVE NINE FIELD OFFICERS, A LEAD OFFICER, AND A SUPERVISOR.
THEY'RE RUNNING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
SOMEBODY'S ON CALL EVERY NIGHT.
DEFINITELY, WE COULD ALWAYS USE MORE FIELD OFFICERS.
THE CITY GETS ANNEXES IN PROPERTY, GETS A BIGGER POPULATION, MORE ANIMALS, AND SO WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE BODIES OUT THERE RUNNING THOSE CALLS.
>> OUR POPULATION IS JUST BOOMING.
HAVE WE KEPT UP WITH THAT GROWTH WITH FIELD OFFICERS?
WE HAVE ADDED ONE WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE.
>> WE ADDED ONE WITHIN A NUMBER OF YEARS.
>> I WANT TO SAY WITHIN MAYBE TWO FISCAL CYCLES AGO, AND THEN A SHELTER OFFICER LAST BUDGET YEAR, AND THEN THE TWO NEW CSRS THIS YEAR.
>> THEN THE OTHER THING ON THE INTAKES AND CAPTURES,
[01:20:05]
I NOTICED IN YOUR CITATIONS, WHAT'S THE TOP CITATION? IF WE PICK UP A DOG AND THEY WANT, WAS IT $576?>> THAT'S FOR FAILURE TO SURRENDER A BIDE ANIMAL, I BELIEVE.
>> JUST SAY AN AVERAGE CITATION.
>> THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SIX,, I THINK.
>> I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, CARL TEPPER, WHO IS WORKING ON SOME BILLS TO SEE IF WE CAN INCREASE OR HAVE A CITATION FROM THE STATE, STARTING AT ABOUT $750.
I THINK THAT ALSO ADDRESSES, AND HE WANTS TO INTRODUCE SMALL BILLS AND START ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A CITY PROBLEM, IT IS A STATE PROBLEM, AND PART OF IT IS BECAUSE OF IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS.
THAT BEING SAID, TALK ABOUT EDUCATION.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING AS FAR AS BUILDING AWARENESS AND GETTING THE WORD OUT? TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
CITY OF LUBBOCK POSTS THEM TO THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA, I BELIEVE THEY AIR ON CHANNEL 2.
THEY PLAY OUTSIDE IN THE LOBBY.
WE DO MAKE AS MANY INFORMATIONAL POSTS ON FACEBOOK AS WE CAN.
LIKE FOR THE HOLIDAYS, WE HAVE DON'T JUST BUY A PET FOR THE HOLIDAYS FOR YOUR CHILDREN BECAUSE IT'S CUTE, IT ENDS UP IN OUR SHELTER IN SIX MONTHS.
WE ALSO DO A LOT OF STUFF WITH THE COMMUNITY.
WE GO AND TALK TO TONS OF DIFFERENT GROUPS.
WE'VE DONE THE KIWANIS CLUB, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WE'LL BE WITH THE MAYOR IN THE MORNING.
>> WE DO COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR.
SO WE DO GO OUT AND SPEAK WITH THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
ALSO, WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO OUR SHELTER, WE TRY TO GIVE THEM AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN.
WE HAVE INFOGRAPHS AVAILABLE TO THEM THAT CAN COVER A WIDE ARRAY OF TOPICS THAT THEY MIGHT BE STRUGGLING WITH FROM HOW TO TRAP A DOG TO REHOMING A BARN CAT.
>> WHO DOES ALL OF THAT? IS THAT YOUR JOB?
>> KIND OF? I ORGANIZE A LOT OF IT.
WE WORK WITH TEXAS TECH A TON.
THEIR STUDENTS ARE AMAZING, AND THEY DO THOSE INFOGRAPHS FOR US.
AND SO IT'S NOT JUST ME DOING ALL THAT WORK BY MYSELF.
>> BUT WHAT IS YOUR TITLE? TELL ME WHAT YOUR TITLE IS?
>> I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
AS THE DIRECTOR, YOU NOW ARE DOING THE MARKETING, ALSO?
>> YOU ALSO DO THE SOCIAL MEDIA? ME AND STEVEN DO IT. YES, MA'AM.
>> YOU'RE ALSO DOING THE PUBLIC AWARENESS EFFORTS.
>> THEN AT BACK AT THE SHELTER, YOU'RE DOING WHAT?
>> WE DO MEDICAL ROUNDS FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
IN CHARGE OF DANGEROUS DOGS BUDGETS WHEN THAT COMES TO THE TIME OF YEAR, OVERSEEING DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS ON BOTH SHELTER AND FIELD SIDE, FIGHT INVESTIGATIONS WHEN NECESSARY. ANSWERING PHONE.
>> HELPING WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE.
>> I GO UP TO THE FRONT AND HELP WHEN THEY'RE SLAMMED UP THERE.
>> ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE ALSO DEALING WITH ISSUES OF EMPLOYEES OR LACK HEREOF.
THAT'S ULTIMATELY ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT ISSUE.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FIELD OFFICERS.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CUSTOMER SERVICE, FOLKS, WE DON'T HAVE FOLKS TO GO AND DO ALL THAT JOB.
PART OF THE ISSUE IS THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE THAT SO THAT WE CAN DECREASE THE OTHERS.
THEN THE OTHER THING, ON THE SHELTER POPULATION, WHAT'S THE LONGEST DOG THAT'S BEEN SITTING AT THE SHELTER?
>> I'VE SEEN THAT POOR LITTLE DOG.
>> WE GOT A BUNCH ADOPTED RECENTLY, LIKE IN THE LAST COHORT OF YEAR STAIRS, BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A COUPLE.
>> WE DID JUST GET OUR LONGEST STAY DOG OUT, AND HE WAS THERE ALMOST THREE YEARS.
>> THAT'S THE DOG I'M TALKING ABOUT.
>> WELL, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
THEN THE OTHER THING IS THAT LET'S TALK ABOUT EMPLOYEES AGAIN.
HOW MANY FIELD OFFICERS DO WE HAVE THAT ARE THAT ARE OUT BECAUSE OF AN INJURY. DO WE HAVE ANY?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY OUT ON LIGHT DUTY RIGHT NOW.
>> RIGHT NOW, BUT IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE.
[01:25:03]
>> IT'S A VERY PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOB, SO IT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE WILL GET INJURED AT FREQUENTLY. YES, MA'AM.
>> THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT RETENTION.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH RETENTION? YOU GUYS SAID IT.
DOCTOR, YOU MENTIONED THAT HAVING TO PUT DOGS DOWN CONSTANTLY IS EMOTIONAL.
IT PLAYS WITH YOUR BRAIN A LITTLE BIT.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> WELL, I KNOW A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE HAD SOME TECH TEXAS TECH FOLKS COME IN AND ASSESS THAT EXACT QUESTION USING QUESTIONNAIRES OF DELVE INTO THE PSYCHE, I SUPPOSE, OF PEOPLE.
I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT'S A TAXING EMOTIONAL JOB TO DO, AND EVEN THE TOUGHEST ON THE OUTSIDE.
PEOPLE WILL FIND THAT IT MIGHT AFFECT THEM LONG TERM.
WE HAVE HAD SOME STAFF THAT WE'VE HAD TO PULL AWAY FROM THAT JOB.
IT SEEMS TO YOU CAN HAVE MULTIFACETED EFFECTS WITH ANGER OR EMOTIONAL ISSUES AT WORK ALSO AT HOME.
I'M NOT A PSYCHOLOGIST, BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S DEFINITELY A DEEPLY ROOTED THING TO LOOK OUT FOR TO KEEP IN MIND.
>> THEN JUST IN YOUR FIELD, WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF FOLKS THAT DO THE TYPE OF WORK THAT YOU DO. DO WE NOT?
>> SHELTER MEDICINE FOR SURE, AND VETERINARY MEDICINE IN GENERAL, IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.
THERE'S A LOT OF UN SERVICED AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.
AGAIN, THAT GOES DEEPLY INTO, WELL, WHAT RESOURCES ARE THERE IN THOSE AREAS FOR A VETERINARIAN WHO'S GRADUATING WITH A LOT OF DEBT SETUP SHOP AND, START WORKING.
BUT IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE.
IN RURAL, TEXAS, IT IS AN UNDERSERVED AREA FOR VETERINARIANS.
BUT AGAIN, THOSE AREAS YOU HAVE TO THINK OF, CAN THEY PROVIDE A QUALITY OF LIFE FOR A VETERINARIAN? IS THE INCOME GOING TO BE THERE?
>> WELL, I GUESS YOU'VE HEARD FROM EVERYBODY, AND IT COMES BACK DOWN TO LACK OF EMPLOYEES, LACK OF RESOURCES, AND I KNOW WE HAVE AN AGING FACILITY.
IT STILL, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONLY WHAT 11 YEARS AGO THAT IT WAS BUILT.
BUT CONSIDERING THE SIZE OF ANIMALS, I THINK IT COMES BACK TO IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS, RETAINING, RECRUITING, CONSTANT PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND THE FACT THAT YOU'RE DOING MORE THAN ONE JOB.
IF YOU FELT TODAY LIKE WE WERE ATTACKING YOU, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
I THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY A VERY SINCERE INTEREST TO SUPPORT YOU.
MAYBE FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
I DO BELIEVE THAT SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD DO GOOD TO GO VISIT YOUR FACILITY, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST THE FLUFFY, SWEET LITTLE PLACE, BUT YOU MIGHT CALL IT A DOG PRISON IN SOME REGARDS, NOT THAT YOU GUYS ARE PRISON GUARDS OR ANYTHING, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU LOVE THESE ANIMALS AND THAT YOU ADVOCATE FOR THEM.
BUT WE DEFINITELY HAVE SOME ISSUES IN THE CITY.
PART OF WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO INTRODUCE IS TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT WE HAVE SOME LEGAL ISSUES THAT I THINK WE CAN'T JUST DO THAT, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN.
AS FAR AS THE FENCING, I KNOW, I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THIS ONE MORE TIME, BECAUSE WE DID INCREASE THE AMOUNT.
I THINK EVEN OUR FORMER MAYOR HAD ONE OF HIS OWN PETS THEIR DOG WAS ATTACKED BY A STRAY DOG, AND IT HAD TO DO WITH FENCING ISSUES.
FENCING IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING.
I KNOW THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE JUST HANDING OUT GRANTS TO FOLKS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE.
BUT I THINK WHEN YOU PUT A FENCE, IT'S DEMONSTRATING THAT YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH, TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT DOGS FROM GETTING OUT OF YOUR YARD OR INTO YOUR YARD, BECAUSE IT GOES BOTH WAYS.
IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM, AND I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE IT A CHANCE.
AND I HOPE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CUT THAT BACK TOO BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO OUR CITY AND IT WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
I APPLAUD YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. KEEP DOING IT.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN REAL TROOPERS TO DO A LOT OF THE WORK.
[01:30:05]
WITH, YOUR MULTITASKING, DOING A LOT OF THE WORK WITH SUCH FEW PEOPLE.I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOU, I WILL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH YOU BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN PROBABLY ADDRESS SOME ISSUES.
AND I THINK WE'RE DEFINITELY NOW, YOU CAN TELL WE HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM COUNSEL.
DEFINITELY NEED TO INCREASE SOME CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FIELD OFFICERS, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER NEEDS THAT YOU DIDN'T INCLUDE ON HERE.
BESIDES PUTTING A HUMAN TOUCH TO ALL OF THIS, WHAT ELSE DO YOU THINK THAT YOU NEED? IT'S YOUR LAST CHANCE TO ASK, AND THEN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANOTHER CHANCE FOR A WHILE, BUT JUST KIDDING.
>> WELL, YOU ALREADY TOUCHED ON IT, BUT I KNOW THAT A LOT OF LARGE SHELTERS THAT CITIES OUR SIZE ARE LARGER HAVE FOLKS WHOSE JOB IT IS TO GET ANIMALS OUT OF THE SHELTER.
THEY'RE FOSTER COORDINATORS, THEY'RE ADOPTION COORDINATORS BECAUSE WE CAN BE A GLORIFIED BOARDING FACILITY FOR DOGS AND CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM SHELTER AND FEED AND HAVE THEM LIVE THERE FOR A YEAR.
IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER IF THEY LEFT.
WE CAN MAKE WAY FOR DOGS FROM THE PUBLIC, ETC.
I WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTED IN HAVING FULL TIME PEOPLE CONSIDERED FOR THOSE TYPES OF TASKS, REALLY OUTREACHING WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND GETTING POSITIVE LIVE OUTCOMES FOR ANIMALS.
WE STARTED A TRANSPORT PROGRAM WHERE WE SHIP ANIMALS OUT OF STATE.
BUT TRYING TO EVEN MORE LOCALLY, GET THESE ANIMALS FIT WITH THE FAMILIES THAT WILL DO REALLY WELL WITH THEM.
I KNOW THAT'S A POSITION THAT'S VERY COMMON IN LARGE ANIMAL SHELTERS, AND I THINK IT WOULD DO REALLY WELL AT OURS.
>> I KNOW I SUGGESTED UPPING LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN DEEMED DANGEROUS IN THE CITY.
I THINK HAVING SPECIALTY PEOPLE AS WELL, LIKE ILO WAS SAYING.
I KNOW DOCTOR WILSON WANTS TO GO TO INTAKE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
WE HAVE ONLY SO MANY SHELTER OFFICERS, AND THEY'RE DOING PLAY GROUPS.
THEY HAVE TO DO ANY OWNER REQUESTS THAT COME IN.
THEY ARE DOING ANY BEHAVIORAL EUTHANASIAS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN, THEY'RE CLEANING, THEY'RE FEEDING AND WATERING.
THEY'RE BRINGING ANIMALS UP TO THE FRONT FOR ADOPTIONS, DOGGY DAY OUTS.
IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN JUST DO INTAKES OR SOMETHING, IT'S GOING TO HELP THEM.
>> I'LL MAKE MINE QUICK AND EASY.
WE DID A KIND OF A STUDY TODAY OF HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE OWNED IN TEXAS.
THE AVERAGE TEXAN 40% OF TEXANS OWN DOGS, AND THE AVERAGE TEXAN HAS 1.7 DOGS, AND WHEN YOU RUN THAT OVER LUBBOCK POPULATION, WE HAVE OVER 181,000 OWNED ANIMALS.
WE NEED THOSE ANIMALS SPAYED AND NEUTERED, SO THEY'RE NOT MAKING MORE UNOWNED ANIMALS.
>> BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.
THEN I DO WANT TO CORRECT SOMETHING.
YOU DIDN'T SAY IT, BUT A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE BLAME COLLEGE STUDENTS.
YOU SAID SOMETHING TO ME ONE TIME ABOUT COLLEGE STUDENTS ACTUALLY BEING VERY RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS.
WILL YOU ELABORATE JUST A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN I WILL ENDED AT THAT.
>> YES, MA'AM. OUR BIGGEST FOSTER BASE, OUR BIGGEST VOLUNTEER BASE.
THE PEOPLE THAT COME AND DO THE DOGGY DAY OUTS, THE PEOPLE THAT COME AND SET IN A PEN, TAKE A DOG OUT TO THE PLAYYARD, ARE 90% COLLEGE STUDENTS.
THEY ARE A LOT OF TIMES IN A DORM, AND THEY CAN'T HAVE AN ANIMAL, THEIR ANIMALS AT HOME IN DALLAS, HOUSTON, SANTON.
THEY DO COME OUT AND THEY PUT THE TIME AND EFFORT IN.
I KNOW THERE'S A STEREOTYPE THAT COLLEGE STUDENTS DON'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR ANIMALS.
I THINK THE YOUNGER POPULATIONS ARE MORE ANIMAL FRIENDLY.
YOU SEE THAT ON BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND STORES, PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEIR DOGS EVERYWHERE.
THE IF WE'RE HAVING YOUNGER PEOPLE COME UP WITH BETTER PET ETHICS, SO TO SPEAK, IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY OVERALL.
>> NOT TO MENTION WE HAVE ALL THESE DOG PARKS NOW.
>> YES, MA'AM. THAT HAS BEEN A BIG HELP, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN ASKING FOR RESOURCES, PAPER TOWELS, DOG FOOD, CAT FOOD, AND THAT IS A CONSTANT THING.
BUT I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO.
I KNOW IT IS NOT AN EASY JOB, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN RESOLVE THAT AND MAKE THAT SOMETHING MORE POSSIBLE FOR YOU.
I HOPE THAT THE PUBLIC WILL TAKE THIS AND BECOME MORE RESPONSIBLE IN OWNING PETS.
[01:35:06]
ALSO, THE NUMBER THAT YOU WERE MENTIONING TO MR. GLASHIN IS OR THE OTHER APP IS MY LBK.IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT APP ON YOUR PHONE, PLEASE DOWNLOAD IT TODAY.
>> JUST A COUPLE OF RANDOM QUESTIONS I WROTE DOWN.
HOW MANY AND IT'S JUST JUST A GUESSTIMATE.
HOW MANY DOGS DO YOU THINK STRAYS THAT WE HAVE ROAMING THE STREETS IN LUBBOCK?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD COME UP WITH A GOOD ESTIMATE.
I WOULD SAY IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT STRICTLY STRAY DOGS THAT HAVE NO HOME, NOBODY CARING FOR THEM, LIVING STRICTLY ON THEIR OWN.
IT WOULDN'T BE A LARGE NUMBER, WHAT WE HAVE ARE DOGS THAT WERE ONCE OWNED FOR WHATEVER REASON, OR PUPPIES THAT WERE BORN AND NEVER TAKEN CARE OF.
THOSE DOGS ARE OUT THERE, BUT I COULDN'T GIVE YOU A GOOD NUMBER.
I WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO COME UP WITH AN IDEA ON THAT.
ONE OF THE SLIDES DID SHOW JUST ANIMALS THAT WERE AT LARGE THAT CAME INTO THE SHELTER.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN START TRACKING TO, BUT I REALLY DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR THAT.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD DATA POINT.
MAYBE WE CAN START IT'S HARD TO IT'S A GUESSTIMATE, RIGHT, BUT MAYBE SOMETHING WE CAN START LOOKING AT SO WE CAN HAVE THAT AS A DATA POINT.
SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU GUYS MIGHT KNOW, YOU MIGHT NOT ALSO WANT TO PUT THIS ON LEGALS RADAR IS, DO ANY CITIES IN THE STATE OR IN THE COUNTRY REQUIRE A PERMIT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BACKYARD BREEDING, LIKE TO BREED A LITTER OF PUPS, THAT THEY MAKE THEM HAVE A PERMIT FROM THE CITY?
>> I KNOW THERE IS A STATUTE, MAYBE IN STATE LAW WHERE IF YOU HAVE OVER, I BELIEVE IT'S EIGHT BREEDING FEMALES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PERMITS.
I'M NOT SURE ABOUT JUST CITY ORDINANCES OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY I MEAN, THE LEGAL OPTIONS FOR THINGS LIKE JUST IN GENERAL.
>> I AM AWARE OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER CITY THAT DOES DO THAT.
>> SOMETHING ELSE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE BREEDING IRRESPONSIBLY OVERPOPULATION.
THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT MAYBE WE CAN DO.
ANOTHER THING THAT I JUST WROTE DOWN BRIEFLY WAS COUNSELMAN MARTINEZ GARCIA WAS TALKING ABOUT SETTING FEES THAT THE STATE WAS LOOKING AT SOMETHING.
I AM I CONFUSED, I THOUGHT THAT WE SET OUR OWN MUNICIPAL FEES WITHIN LIMITS.
IS THERE A MAX STATE LIMIT THAT WE ARE BOUND TO?
>> WELL, IT DEPENDS OUR CURRENT CODE ORDINANCE FOR VIOLATIONS, IT'S BASICALLY A CLASS MISDEMEANOR, AND THAT'S BASICALLY SET BY STATUTE AS UP TO $500 UNLESS IT'S A SPECIAL TYPE OF VIOLATION.
SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED TODAY, PRESUMABLY WOULD RAISE THAT TO $750, BUT WE GENERALLY DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO FIND SOMETHING ABOVE A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR AS FAR AS $500.
THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS FOR DANGEROUS DOGS.
IF YOU'RE A REPEATED OFFENDER FOR A DANGEROUS DOG, IT HAS A SPECIAL FINE FOR A DANGEROUS DOG THAT DOES EXCEED THAT, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE GENERAL RULE IS $500.
>> FOR ALL THE FEES, NOT A SINGLE ONE OF OUR FEES ARE AT THE MAX THAT ARE ALLOWED BY STATUE.
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FINES AND PENALTIES FOR FEES FOR REGISTRATION.
>> NO. I'M TALKING ABOUT SORRY, FINES, NOT FEES, BUT FINES.
I SAW OTHER LIKE NUMBERS THAT ARE LIKE 376, 476, THOSE ARE THE ONES I'M TALKING ABOUT.
>> THERE'LL BE COURT COSTS THAT SOME OF THAT WILL BE STATE IMPOSED AS FAR AS WHAT THE COURT COSTS ARE.
THEN SOME OF IT WILL ALSO BE OUR OWN.
WE MIGHT HAVE SOME OF OUR OWN COURT COSTS, COLLECTION FEES THAT WE HAVE FOR ALL SIT MUNICIPAL CITATIONS.
THEN AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL FINE ITSELF, A LOT OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE, WELL, OUR STANDARD OFFER IS THIS AMOUNT PLUS COURT COSTS.
THAT'S WHY YOU WOULD SEE THOSE NUMBERS.
>> THAT ARE IN THERE. IF IT ACTUALLY GOES TO TRIAL, THEN YOU MIGHT SEE THEN THE PROSECUTOR TO ASK FOR THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
>> IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN PULL AND SEE THEY HAVE THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS THAT THEY PUT OUT THERE THAT WERE ACTUALLY PAID AND WHAT THE AMOUNTS WERE PAID AT? TO WHAT THE CITATION LEVEL IS.
>> I CERTAINLY CAN FIND THAT OUT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> I'M SORRY, GUYS, WERE GETTING LONG WINDED HERE, BUT I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
A DOG FIRST OFFENSE BITES SOMEONE. IT'S REPORTED.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR THAT? ARE THEY REQUIRED TO BE SURRENDERED, OR HOW DOES THAT?
>> UNDER CITY ORDINANCE, ANIMAL THAT BITES OR SCRATCHES AND MAKES A HUMAN BLEED, HAS TO BE QUARANTINE FOR 10 DAYS TO OBSERVE FOR RABIES.
THE ONLY THING WE'RE CHECKING FOR IS JUST ANY SIGN OF RABIES.
AT THE END OF THAT 10 DAY PERIOD, THE OWNER CAN COME AND RECLAIM THEIR ANIMAL.
[01:40:01]
>> THAT'S WHERE THIS CITATION COMES IN FOR FAILURE TO SURRENDER BITING ANIMAL?
>> YES, SIR. WE USE THAT AS A TOOL ON THE FRONT END A LOT OF TIMES TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GOING TO GET THAT ANIMAL INTO QUARANTINE AND THEN IF THEY DON'T, WE CAN ISSUE THAT EVERY DAY FOR THE 10 DAY PERIOD.
>> YES, SIR. THERE'S NO TWO STRIKES, THREE STRIKES AND YOU'RE OUT.
>> IF IT WAS WITHIN 12 MONTHS, I WOULD HAVE TO NEUTER SAME.
BUT IN SPEAKING WITH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, HE DID MENTION THAT IF IF THEY POSE THAT AT $750, IF ONCE THAT GETS INTO WORKS, THAT THE OWNER OF THE PET COULD REMOVE THAT CITATION BY SPAY NEUTERING AND DOING ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
AGAIN, IT COMES BACK TO WHAT WE CAN DO LOCALLY TO PREVENT THAT.
BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS BEING MANDATED AT THE STATE LEVEL ALSO.
BUT I'M SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSE OR THIS DIALOGUE BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS AN ISSUE OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE THE COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.
>> WHAT WAS JERRY SPRINGER'S FINAL THOUGHT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> I'M SO GLAD I COULD COME HERE AND CONVERSE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
I THINK ALSO WHAT A LOT OF THIS COMES DOWN TO IS FIELD VERSUS SHELTER.
SHELTER AS AN ADOPTION CENTER VERSUS FIELD SHELTER AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
THOSE LINES SOMETIMES BLUR AND THEY CONFLICT.
THE WAY THAT SHELTER MEDICINE FOLKS THINK ABOUT SHELTERS THESE DAYS, I'VE USED THIS ANALOGY BEFORE, BUT IT'S LIKE A FUNNEL EFFECT.
BACK IN THE DAY, SHELTERS WERE UPSIDE DOWN FUNNEL OF A TON OF ANIMALS COMING IN, A REGULAR FUNNEL, AND A VERY FEW OF THEM COMING OUT ALIVE.
THE PARADIGM HAS VERY MUCH SHIFTED AS FAR AS HUMAN ANIMAL BOND.
HUMANS THOUGHT ABOUT OWNING PETS ANYWAYS.
OVER THE LAST MANY DECADES HAS SHIFTED ANIMAL WELFARE CONCERNS TO FLIPPING THAT FUNNEL UPSIDE DOWN.
THE SHELTER FOCUSES NOW ON TRYING TO BRING IN AS FEW ANIMALS AS POSSIBLE AND GET AS MANY ADOPTED OUT.
YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT WOULD COMPLETELY CONFLICT WITH THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THIS STUFF GETS A LITTLE BIT BLURRED, TOO.
I KNOW STEVEN HAS ALWAYS BROUGHT UP HE WISHES THEY WERE TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES IN A WAY.
SO THAT'S JUST A CONFLICT THAT WE LIVE WITH DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND I THINK CAN CAUSE SOME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS TO GO AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND.
BUT THAT'S JUST FROM MY SIDE OF THINGS.
THEY'RE MY POPULATION, AND I WANT IT TO BE AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE.
>> WELL, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, BUT I THINK ISSUE IT IS.
WE RARELY TAKE THIS MUCH TIME TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE, BUT I THINK ALL OF US HAVE HEARD FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY, WELL, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT BAD OF A PROBLEM.
STATISTICALLY I KNOW THE PERCEPTION IS THERE IS A PROBLEM.
I KNOW WHEN I SEE PACKS OF DOGS RUNNING LOOSE, IT CONCERNS ME.
I THINK IT WOULD CONCERN ANYONE, ESPECIALLY PARENTS WHO MIGHT HAVE THEIR KIDS OUTDOORS, CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
IT IS AN ISSUE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS, AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY IS FOR PEOPLE.
AS MUCH AS WE LOVE OUR PETS AND OUR ANIMALS, OUR FIRST RESPONSIBILITY IS THE SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE.
THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS COMES BELOW THAT AND SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OUR PRIORITIES, AND THAT MAYBE WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT CHOICES, BUT YOU'VE PUT YOUR FINGER ON IT.
THERE'S A DISCONNECT BETWEEN WE WANT TO TAKE MORE ANIMALS OFF THE STREET, BUT WE NEED TO LOWER THE POPULATION OF OUR FACILITY.
WE'RE OVERCROWDED. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE MEET THOSE TWO GOALS WITHOUT MAKING SOME VERY TOUGH DECISIONS.
BUT WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, YOUR RESPONSIVENESS, YOUR ABILITY TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS, WHICH ISN'T ALWAYS TRUE FROM PEOPLE YOU'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS TODAY.
[01:45:02]
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU. OBVIOUSLY, PUBLIC SPEAKING IS NOT MY FORTE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE VERY POLISHED SPEAKERS, SO I THANK Y'ALL, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP IMPROVING.
THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BRIEF BREAK HERE BEFORE WE COME BACK INTO OUR REGULAR SESSION.
CITY COUNCIL WE'LL NOW RECONVENE IN SESSION, AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR CEREMONIAL ITEMS. I'M GOING TO NOW CALL ON PASTOR MICHAEL WHITE.
THE SECOND WITH THE WELL OF LIFE FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL.
HE WILL LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION, AND FOLLOWED BY MAYOR [INAUDIBLE] CHRISTIE MARTINEZ GARCIA, WHOSE BIRTHDAY IT WAS YESTERDAY.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. WILL LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGES TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE TEXAS FLAGS. WILL YOU PLEASE STAND?
>> I INVITE YOU TO PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS AND CLOSE YOUR EYES.
ETERNAL GOD OUR FATHER, WE INVOKE YOUR DIVINE PRESENCE UPON THESE CIVIC PROCEEDINGS,
[1. Invocation]
MY YOUR HEAVENLY LIGHT SHINE UPON OUR CITY AND MAKE HER A BEACON FOR MUNICIPALITIES AROUND THE GLOBE.MY OUR MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, AND POLICE CHIEF, EVER PUT THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT GROWING METROPOLIS, WE CALL LUBBOCK, ABOVE THEIR OWN.
AND WHEN WE FAIL TO AGREE, MAY WE CHOOSE CONSENSUS OVER CONTENTIOUSNESS.
ALWAYS SEEKING TO PRESERVE THE PILLARS OF CIVILITY, HUMAN DIGNITY, AND COMMON DECENCY.
MAY YOUR GRACE PEACE AND LOVE EVER ABIDE WITH US ALL.
WE HUMBLY OFFER THIS PRAYER IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD. AMEN.
>> NOW LET'S PUT THE UNITY AND COMMUNITY AND LET US JOIN TOGETHER TO DO OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
>> PASTOR WHITE, THAT WAS ALMOST LIKE SITTING THROUGH A CHURCH SERVICE, WASN'T IT?
[2. Pledges of Allegiance]
IT HAVING TO WAIT FOR YOUR PRAYER HERE.THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US.
I'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER, AND WE WILL TAKE UP FIRST, AS WE ALWAYS DO CITIZEN COMMENTS, ACCORDING TO OUR COUNSEL RULES, ANY CITIZEN WISHING TO APPEAR IN PERSON AT A REGULAR MEETING CAN SPEAK TO ANY THING ON OUR AGENDA, BUT WE HAVE NO ONE HERE TODAY WHO IS DOING SO, BUT WE ALWAYS REMIND PEOPLE, YOU'RE ALWAYS FREE TO COME, SIGN UP BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR MEETING AND NAME THE TOPIC ON OUR AGENDA YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO, AND YOU'RE ALWAYS FREE TO SPEAK TO OUR COUNSEL.
I JUST WANT TO ALWAYS LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT, BUT TODAY, WE HAVE NO ONE DOING THAT.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO TAKE UP OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
WELL, NO, FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE GOT TO TAKE UP OUR MINUTES FROM OUR PREVIOUS MEETING.
ITEM 5.1 IS THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 5.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 5.1? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY CHANGES OR ALTERATIONS? IF THERE ARE NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED, SAY NO. A HEAR NONE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE'LL NOW TAKE UP ITEM SIX OUR CONSENT AGENDA AND WITH NO OBJECTION, I'M GOING TO PULL ITEM 6.14 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA,
[5. Minutes]
AND WE WILL VOTE ON THAT SEPARATELY AT THE END.IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO ME DOING SO? I'VE SEE NONE.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS BEFORE YOU, AND I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, NOT INCLUDING ITEM 6.14.
IS THERE A MOTION? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE SAY, AYE.
[6. Consent Agenda - Items considered to be routine are enacted by one motion without separate discussion. If the City Council desires to discuss an item, the item is removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately.]
HEAR NONE. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
ON THAT CONSENT AGENDA, IF THERE IS AN ITEM ON THERE, THOUGH THAT INVOLVES, I BELIEVE, OUR VETERANS CEMETERY, IS THAT RIGHT? IT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[01:50:04]
>> THAT IS A CORRECT, MOVE. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE INITIATION OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE CITY OF LUBBOCK TO HELP WITH THE ACTUAL OPERATIONS.
MAYOR, YOU DO HAVE TWO GUESTS IN YOUR AUDIENCE.
>> RECOGNIZE OUR GUESTS TODAY HERE IN OUR AUDIENCE AND ASK YOU GUYS TO STAND.
IF YOU WOULD, WE HAVE DR. JOHN KELLY, WHO'S THE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS VETERANS LAND BOARD AND THE VETERANS CEMETERIES.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. DR. KELLY.
WE ALSO HAVE NORN BENDER, WHO IS ALSO OVERSEEING THE WHOLE PROJECT OUT THERE, THE LOCAL PROJECT.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE TO SEE THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE ON EAST 50TH STREET, RIGHT AFTER YOU DROP INTO THE CANYON ON YOUR WAY TO BUFFALO LAKES AND COME UP ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU'LL SEE IT OFF TO THE SOUTH THERE.
IT'S COMING ALONG WONDERFULLY, AND EXCITED TO SEE THAT.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE THRILLED TO SEE THAT PROJECT WHEN IT'S DONE.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM 6.4, AND AT THIS POINT, MR. GUSCIN, IF YOU WILL, RECUSE YOURSELF.
ITEM 6.14 IS A SECOND READING, CONSIDERING ORDINANCE NUMBER 202-04-0148, DESIGNATING A NORTH PARK DEVELOPMENT AREA, AS A TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE, ESTABLISHING A BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND A TAX INCREMENT FUND FOR THAT DISTRICT AND PROVIDING ALL OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEEDED THERE.
TWO, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING? I HAVE A SECOND.
[14. Ordinance 2nd Reading - Business Development: Consider Ordinance No. 2024-O0148, designating the North Park Development area as Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 4; establishing a Board of Directors; establishing an effective date; establishing a Tax Increment Fund for the North Park Tax Increment Financing District; providing a severability clause; and enacting other matters related thereto. ]
LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING, AYE.ANY OPPOSED, SAY, NO, I HEAR NONE.
THANK YOU, MR. GUSCIN. COME JOIN US AGAIN.
WELL, NOW TAKE UP OUR REGULAR AGENDA, AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH ITEM 7.1.
I'M GOING TO CALL ON OUR CITY MANAGER, MR. ATKINSON TO PROVIDE US A REPORT ON THE FINAL PRICING RESULTS OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS AND THE WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEM REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK MR. MATT BOWLES WITH RBC.
MATT IS OUR LEAD FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
OF COURSE, THE GENTLEMAN THAT TOOK YOU THROUGH THE PARAMETERS ORDINANCE THAT IS THIS REFUNDING.
I BELIEVE HE'S ALSO GOING TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON YOUR RECENT RE-RATINGS ON THE CREDIT STANDING OF THE CITIES.
[1. Report - Finance: Presentation of the Final Pricing results of the General Obligation Refunding Bonds and the Water and Wastewater System Revenue Refunding Bonds.]
MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.AS MR. ATKINSON SAID, I AM GOING TO RUN THROUGH A QUICK FINAL PRICING RESULTS FOR TWO REFUNDING OBLIGATIONS THAT YOU UNDERTOOK PURSUANT TO CERTAIN PARAMETERS THAT YOU ESTABLISHED AT A MEETING HERE RECENTLY.
I ALSO WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ON YOUR CREDIT RATING.
I WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO DO THAT TODAY, BUT I'LL WORK THROUGH THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE FIRST PAGE HERE IS JUST. I DON'T SEE IT.
>> WELL, IT'S STILL NOT CAST UP ON THE SCREEN. I'LL TAKE IT.
YOU CAN SEE IT ON YOUR MONITOR THERE? NO.
>> WE'RE SET. HERE WE GO. TWO SERIES OF OBLIGATIONS THAT YOU WANTED TO REFUND AND THE PARAMETERS ORDER THAT YOU ESTABLISHED IS PRESENTED FOR YOU ON THIS PARTICULAR PAGE HERE, AND WE'VE GOT THE PARAMETER, THEN THE ACTUAL RESULTS OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND REFUNDING AND THE WATER AND WASTEWATER REFUNDING.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS, I'VE HIGHLIGHTED THERE WITH THE YELLOW DOTTED BOX AROUND, AND THAT'S THE MINIMUM SAVINGS THRESHOLD.
YOU ESTABLISHED A THRESHOLD OF 2% NET PRESENT VALUE SAVINGS.
[01:55:03]
FOR US TO EFFECTUATE THOSE TRANSACTIONS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT BY A PRETTY NICE MARGIN.THE GO ACTUALLY CAME IN AT 3.071%, AND THE WATER AND WASTEWATER CAME IN AT 4.031%.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT I'M GOING TO GET INTO A LITTLE BIT WAS WE TALK ABOUT YOUR RATINGS.
ALL THAT REALLY SAYS FROM A PARAMETER STANDPOINT IS THAT THE BONDS MUST BE RATED BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED RATING AGENCY SERVICE AND WE DID THAT BUT WITH SOME NICE FANFARE AROUND AN UPGRADE THAT YOU RECEIVED ON YOUR WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECT.
NOT ONLY DID WE EXCEED THE MINIMUM THRESHOLD FOR SAVINGS, BUT WE GOT SOME GOOD NEWS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE BIT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF YOUR RATINGS.
I'LL TALK FIRST ABOUT THE RESULTS FROM THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.
IT'S UP ON THE SCREEN NOW AND I WANT TO HIT A COUPLE OF METRICS HERE THAT I THINK ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
THE FIRST REALLY DRIVES THE RESULTS OF THIS TRANSACTION.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE LOWER LEFT-HAND CORNER OF THIS PAGE, WE'VE GOT A SUMMARY OF THE REFUNDING RESULTS.
YOU'LL NOTE THAT FOUR LINES DOWN IN THAT TABLE, IT SAYS AVERAGE COUPON OF THE REFUNDING BONDS.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THIS WAS MADE UP OF FOUR SEPARATE SERIES OF OBLIGATIONS FROM YOUR GO LIEN THAT TOTALED ABOUT 47.63 MILLION.
THE AVERAGE COUPON RATE WAS 4.151%.
SO THINK OF THAT AS THE EXISTING RATE ON A COMBINED BASIS OF THE COMBINED FOUR SERIES OF BONDS.
WE REFINANCE THOSE WITH THE NEW OBLIGATIONS IN THE NEXT LINE; TRUE INTEREST COST AT 3.181%.
THERE'S THE DIFFERENTIAL IN THE INTEREST RATE THAT DRIVES THE SAVINGS IN THE TRANSACTION.
IF YOU THEN GO DOWN TO ONCE AGAIN THE YELLOW DOTTED BOX AT THE BOTTOM, THE NET PRESENT VALUE SAVINGS ENDED UP BEING 1.462 MILLION AND THAT DRIVES THE METRIC I SPOKE OF ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE OF 3.071%.
IF YOU WANT TO GET AWAY FROM PRESENT VALUE DOLLARS AND JUST LOOK AT GROSS DOLLARS, YOU CAN SEE THE TABLE TO THE RIGHT IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT-HAND CORNER.
IT'S 1.649 MILLION IN GROSS DEBT SERVICE SAVINGS DOLLARS OVER THE LIFE OF THOSE FOUR SERIES OF OBLIGATIONS THAT YOU REFUNDED.
THE NEXT PAGE FOCUSES ON AGAIN, THE SAME LAYOUT HERE, BUT ON THE WATER AND WASTEWATER REFUNDING THAT WE EFFECTUATED FOR YOU, THREE SERIES OF OBLIGATIONS THAT TOTAL 60.65 MILLION.
I'LL HIGHLIGHT THE SAME METRICS IN THE LOWER LEFT-HAND CORNER, THE FIRST BEING THE AVERAGE COUPON OF THE REFUNDING BONDS BEING 4.269% REFUNDED AT A TRUE INTEREST COST OF 3.232%.
SO AGAIN, ALMOST A FULL PERCENTAGE POINT LOWER OR JUST OVER A FULL PERCENTAGE POINT LOWER AND THAT DRIVES THE TIDY METRICS AT THE BOTTOM OF 2.43 MILLION ON A NET PRESENT VALUE BASIS.
AGAIN, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THAT ON A GROSS BASIS, THAT'S 2.8 MILLION DOLLAR IN DEBT SERVICE DOLLARS THAT YOU WILL NOT BE PAYING BECAUSE YOU'VE REFINANCED AT A LOWER RATE OF INTEREST.
THAT'S THE NUMERICAL PORTION OF THE ANALYSIS OR THE RESULTS THAT WE'LL GO THROUGH. I WENT TOO FAR.
WHAT I DID WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME ON WAS YOUR CREDIT PROFILE FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT YOU CAN DO TO GET A LOWER COST OF BORROWING IN THE MARKETPLACE.
ONE IS TO TIME THE MARKET BETTER, BUT THAT'S REALLY HARD TO DO.
NOBODY EVER KNOWS WHERE THAT'S HEADED.
YOU CAN HAVE SHORTER DEBT SERVICE STRUCTURES, BUT SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO MATCH THAT OFF WITH THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE ASSETS YOU'RE FINANCING, SO THAT'S REALLY HARD TO DO.
THERE'S THINGS YOU CAN DO STRUCTURALLY AND FINANCIALLY THAT WILL HELP A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOTHING NEAR AS GREAT AS YOUR CREDIT PROFILE.
JUST LIKE A CONSUMER MIGHT GO INTO A BANK AND TRY TO BORROW MONEY, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT CONSUMER.
WHEN YOU HIRE THESE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED RATING AGENCIES, IT'S THEIR JOB TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, POLICY, PRACTICE, PROCEDURE, TO YOUR ADMINISTRATION, IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY, THEIR PRACTICES, THEIR PROCEDURES, AND THEN ON DOWN TO THE FINANCIAL METRICS THAT BACK UP THE CITY OF LUBBOCK.
THINK OF THINGS LIKE YOUR TAXABLE ASSESS EVALUATION, YOUR WATER AND SEWER MODELS; THINGS THAT YOU'VE WORKED HARD ON WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATION.
YOUR POLICY HAS DRIVEN INTO THEIR PRACTICE AND SO THEY REALLY DO A VERY, VERY DEEP DIVE ON THAT.
SO YOU HAD THE CIRCUMSTANCE HERE OF LOOKING AT JUST BOTH SIDES OF THIS; THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS OF TAX BACKED ISSUANCE AND THEN YOUR WATER AND SEWER BONDS WHICH ARE DRIVEN
[02:00:01]
BY A COLLECTION OF WATER AND SEWER REVENUES FOR REPAYMENT OF THOSE OBLIGATIONS.YOUR TWO GO RATINGS CAME IN BY S&P AT FITCH AA+.
THAT IS JUST ONE NOTCH AWAY FROM AAA WHICH IS PERFECT IN THEIR WORLD.
VERY DIFFICULT TO GET TO THE AAA.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT SOMETIMES IT'S COST PROHIBITIVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE RESERVE POLICIES AND OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT NOT BE AS FLEXIBLE AS YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO BE.
THE WATER AND SEWER, YOU ACTUALLY HAD AN AFFIRMATION OF YOUR S&P RATING OF AA, BUT FITCH UPGRADED YOUR RATING TO AA+.
LET ME STOP THERE AND REMIND YOU THAT WHEN MR. ATKINSON ARRIVED AT THE CITY, WE UNDERTOOK THE PRACTICE OF GETTING AWAY FROM ISSUING TAX BACK BONDS FOR REVENUE GENERATING PROJECTS LIKE WASTEWATER AND WE PUSHED THOSE OVER INTO ITS OWN SEPARATE WATER AND SEWER REVENUE LIEN FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS ONE OF WHICH WAS WE WANTED TO DEVELOP A BETTER CREDIT PROFILE FOR THAT ENTERPRISE SYSTEM.
WE ALSO WANTED TO UNENCUMBERED SOME OF THE CAPACITY THAT YOU HAD FROM YOUR GENERAL OBLIGATION LIEN AND WE REALLY WANTED TO SEE THAT SYSTEM FLOURISH ON ITS OWN THROUGH YOUR NEW RATE MODEL AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL WERE DOING THERE.
THIS IS PROOF POSITIVE THAT THAT HAS WORKED AND IT'S WORKED QUITE WELL.
THERE ARE VERY FEW SYSTEMS THAT HAVE THE SAME GO RATING.
WATER AND SEWER RATING ARE USUALLY AT LEAST A NOTCH OF 0.2 APART WHICH HAS BEEN CONSISTENT HERE AT LUBBOCK.
NOW, FITCH HAS YOU AT AA+, AA+ FOR GEO AND WATER, WASTEWATER.
WE'VE GOT SOME COMMENTARY IN THE BULLETS BELOW.
I WON'T READ EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE, BUT A LOT OF IT IN MY MIND COMES DOWN TO GROWTH AND POLICY.
THE GROWTH BEING INCREDIBLY VIBRANT LOCAL ECONOMY GROWTH, TAXABLE ASSESS VALUATION GROWTH COUPLED WITH ROBUST FINANCIAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT A STABLE FINANCIAL PROFILE WITH STRONG RESERVES; POLICY IMPLEMENTED BY YOUR ADMINISTRATION.
THEN IN THE WATER AND SEWER PART OF IT, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE IS A STRONG RATING AFFIRMATION THAT'S SUPPORTED BY YOUR CONSERVATISM AND FORWARD LOOKING PLANNING.
I SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT YOUR RATE MODEL AND SOME OF THE THINGS YOU DID TO CREATE THIS LIEN, SEPARATE THINGS OUT, AND THOSE ARE ALL POLICY ISSUES THAT I THINK HAVE WORKED OUT QUITE WELL FOR YOU.
AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE MANY CLIENTS AND DON'T SEE MANY CLIENTS THAT HAVE THE SAME WATER AND SEWER PROFILE AS YOUR GENERAL OBLIGATION PROFILE.
YOU'VE GOT SOME MORE INFORMATION IN HERE.
I WON'T READ EVERY WORD OF THAT, BUT I WANTED YOU ALL TO HEAR THAT FROM ME BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE SPEND A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OUR TIME AND I WANT TO TIP MY CAP TO MR. ATKINSON, AMBER, CHERYL; EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH THIS EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW.
IT'S NOT SIMPLE. THEY ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS, THEY NEED A LOT OF DATA, THEY NEED FOLLOW UP.
THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB OF GETTING THEM EVERYTHING THEY NEED AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN BE PROUD OF AND THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK CAN KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE ARE DOING WHAT THEY SAY THAT THEY'LL DO AND THEY DELIVERED ON THEIR PROMISES.
I WANTED TO OPEN IT UP NOW FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE EITHER FINANCIALLY OR CREDIT RATING THAT I CAN ANSWER.
WE KNOW WHEN WE NEED INFORMATION, CHERYL CAN GET IT TO US REAL QUICK.
SHE CAN TURN IT AROUND FASTER THAN ANYBODY I KNOW JUST ABOUT.
>> WERE YOU JUST WAITING FOR ME TO ASK THAT QUESTION? THE REASON I WANTED THIS PRESENTATION TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION; YOU USED THE WORD REFUNDING A LOT AND MOST PEOPLE OUT THERE WOULD PROBABLY USE THE WORD REFINANCING.
IT'S A TECHNICAL TERM, BUT IT MEANS THE SAME THING.
WE ARE REFINANCING A DEBT AT A NEW INTEREST RATE, A LOWER INTEREST RATE, AND ACHIEVING THE SAVINGS BY DOING SO.
WE'RE NOT EXTENDING THE TIME FRAME FOR THE DEBT.
SAME TIME FRAME, JUST A LOWER INTEREST RATE WHICH ACCRUES A SAVINGS TO US OVER THAT TIME PERIOD.
WE'RE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OUR RATINGS ARE SO STRONG. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S WHY I WANT THE PUBLIC TO HEAR THAT.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO QUESTION OUR CITY'S DEBT LOAD.
IT'S OF COURSE A FAIR QUESTION TO ALWAYS ASK ABOUT HOW MUCH DEBT OUR CITY CARRIES.
BUT THESE WERE THE PROFESSIONAL GROUPS THAT RATE YOUR CITY'S CREDITWORTHINESS; STANDARD & POOR'S AND FITCH.
THEY'VE LOOKED AT OUR CITY AND GIVEN US ALMOST THE HIGHEST RATING THAT CAN BE GIVEN.
AS YOU SAID, THERE'S JUST ONE MORE NOTCH YOU COULD ACHIEVE AND IT MAY BE A STEP WE WOULD NOT WANT TO TAKE OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE.
[02:05:01]
EXTERNALS DO DETERMINE SOME THINGS.THINGS WE CANNOT DO AS A COUNCIL OR AS A CITY, THEY'RE JUST THE REALITY OF THE CITY THAT WE HAVE AND OUR TAX BASE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN ABOUT AS FAR AS WE CAN DUE TO THE GOOD WORK OF OUR CITY MANAGEMENT AND OUR FINANCE TEAM HERE.
BUT I JUST WANT OUR CITIZENS TO HEAR THAT.
DON'T LOOK AT JUST THE RAW NUMBERS OF OUR DEBT, BUT LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE BOUGHT AND ACHIEVED WITH OUR DEBT.
EVERY CITY STANDS ON ITS OWN TERMS AS TO WHAT THEY NEED.
A LOT OF OUR DEBT IS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING WATER SUSTAINABILITY FOR OUR CITY.
A LARGE PART OF IT IS LP&L DEBT THAT OTHER CITIES DON'T HAVE.
IT'S EASY TO COMPARE US AGAINST OTHER CITIES, BUT THE REAL COMPARISON IS WHAT THESE PROFESSIONAL AGENCIES DO IN COMPARING OUR DEBT LOAD AND OUR ABILITY TO PAY IT.
THEY RATED US ABOUT AS HIGH AS THEY CAN SO I HOPE OUR CITIZENS DO UNDERSTAND THAT AND CAN ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS. MAYBE NOT ALL OF THEM.
ALL THE QUESTIONS ARE FAIR TO ASK, BUT I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT OUR CITY IS REALLY IN GOOD HANDS AS FAR AS OUR DEBT IS CONCERNED.
ANY QUESTIONS? IF THERE AREN'T, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM 7.2 NOW.
I'M GOING TO CALL ON OUR CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE A BRIEFING ON THIS ITEM.
>> WHILE WE'RE WRESTLING WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY THERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MS. BROCK AND MR. BOWLES BACK AGAIN.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL IS THERE GETTING SET UP.
JUST A QUICK REMINDER, THIS IS THE NEW YEAR'S ISSUANCE FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER.
MATT WILL GO OVER THEM AGAIN HERE IN JUST A MOMENT.
BUT JUST A QUICK REMINDER, THESE ARE ALL APPROVED IN YOUR CURRENT OPERATING BUDGET.
THESE WERE REVIEWED IN GREAT DETAIL BACK IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.
[2. Ordinance (Single Reading) - Finance: Consider approval of an ordinance providing for the issuance of City of Lubbock, Texas, Water and Wastewater System Revenue Bonds, in one or more series, in a principal amount not to exceed $66,000,000, for the following projects: Lake 7 Design and Land Acquisition, West Lubbock Water System Expansion, Pump Station 11B, East 50th Street Water Line Extension, Southwest Lubbock Sanitary Sewer Expansion, and Southeast Water Reclamation Plant #4 Primary Clarifier Rehabilitation; providing for the award of the sale thereof in accordance with specified parameters; approving an official statement; approving execution of a purchase contract; and enacting other provisions relating thereto.]
NOW WE'RE MOVING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE OF THAT.I DIDN'T CHEW UP QUITE ENOUGH TIME AND I'M OUT OF JOKES FOR TODAY, SO I'LL STOP AND BACK OFF AT THE ENGINEERING FLOOR AND GET THEIR JOKES. MATT PLEASE.
MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M BACK.
THIS TIME, I'M ARMED WITH JERRY KYLE OF ORRICK IS IN YOUR AUDIENCE AND IS YOUR BOND COUNSEL AND IS HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT COME UP THAT ARE LEGAL IN NATURE.
THAT'S WHAT THIS ULTIMATELY BOILS DOWN TO BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHES CERTAIN PARAMETERS THAT IF MET CAN EFFECTUATE THE FINANCING OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
ON THIS FIRST PAGE, YOU HAVE SIX PROJECTS THAT I WILL GO THROUGH IN JUST A LITTLE BIT THAT WILL BE FINANCED IF YOU SO CHOOSE BY YOUR WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS SERIES 2025 IN EARLY 2025.
I'VE GOT A CALENDAR I'LL GO THROUGH HERE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
THESE INCLUDE FIVE PROJECTS PLUS THE LAND ACQUISITION FOR LAKE NUMBER 7.
THE MAXIMUM MATURITY ON THESE BONDS WILL BE 20 YEARS WITH A 10 YEAR PAR CALL OPTION AND THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH HOW YOU HAVE OPERATED IN THE PAST WITH OTHER SERIES OF OBLIGATIONS.
THESE WILL BE RATED BY S&P AND FITCH, AND TO MY EARLIER REMARKS, YOU WILL ENJOY THE AFFIRMATION OF FITCH'S AA RATING AND THE UPGRADED RATING BY FITCH OF AA+.
THE NUMBERS THAT WE RAN IN HERE INCLUDE CURRENT MARKET RATES PLUS A CUSHION OF 50 BASIS POINTS.
I DO THAT FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
ONE, WE'VE GOT SOME TIME YET THAT WILL ELAPSE BEFORE WE SELL THE OBLIGATIONS.
I DON'T QUITE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE MARKET'S GOING TO GO, ALTHOUGH I'M VERY BULLISH ON WHERE THE MARKET IS FROM A DEBT STANDPOINT RIGHT NOW.
THEN NUMBER 2, WE ARE UNDERTAKING WITH JERRY KYLE AND HIS STAFF AN ANALYSIS ON A PORTION OF THE LAKE PROJECT THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED PRIVATE USE AND NECESSITATE EITHER A CASH CONTRIBUTION FROM THE CITY WHICH COULD BE AS MUCH AS $4 MILLION OR THE ISSUANCE OF TAXABLE SECURITIES.
I THINK WE'RE LEANING MORE TOWARDS THE CONTRIBUTION OF CASH THAT YOU ALL HAVE ON HAND TO SUPPORT THAT, BUT I DID WANT TO LEAVE SOME CUSHION IN THERE SO THAT I DON'T GIVE YOU NUMBERS THAT ARE NOT WORKABLE IN A MONTH'S TIME.
THESE WILL BE ISSUED SO THAT THEY'RE DELIVERED IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY AND YOU'LL MAKE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT IN 2026 IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
THE PROJECTS ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.
THE SECOND LARGEST IS THE LAKE 7 DESIGN AND LAND ACQUISITION FOR 22.276 MILLION AND THEN FIVE OTHER PROJECTS SO WEST LUBBOCK WATER SYSTEM EXPANSION,
[02:10:02]
PUMP STATION 11B, EAST 50TH STREET WATER LINE EXTENSION, THE SOUTHWEST LUBBOCK SANITARY SEWER EXPANSION, AND THEN THE PLANT NUMBER 4 FOR PRIMARY CLARIFICATION REHAB.IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE PROJECTS, WE CAN STOP THERE AND DISCUSS THOSE WITH MR. ATKINSON.
>> THE PARAMETERS THAT WILL BE ESTABLISHED PER THE ORDINANCE ARE LAID OUT FOR YOU IN FRONT HERE AND THERE'S NOTHING AWFULLY MAGICAL ABOUT THIS, CONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU DID ON YOUR REFUNDING PARAMETERS.
YOU'LL ESTABLISH THE PRICE OF THE BONDS, THE MAXIMUM INTEREST RATE, THE MAXIMUM MATURITY, MAXIMUM PRINCIPLE, AND THEN THE RATINGS, JUST LIKE YOU DID ON THE REFUNDING OBLIGATIONS.
ON A VERY PRELIMINARY BASIS, WE WENT AHEAD AND RAN SOME NUMBERS SO THAT YOU COULD GET A SENSE OF WHAT THE COST OF FUNDING WOULD BE AROUND THIS INITIATIVE.
IN THE CENTER PORTION OF THIS PAGE, YOU HAVE THE SUMMARY STATISTICS, AND I'VE HIGHLIGHTED FOR YOU THE ALL IN TRUE INTEREST COSTS, 4.41%.
TAKE THAT 50 BASIS POINTS OUT, AND YOU'RE IN THE 3% MONEY RANGE, ROUGHLY 390, 395, SOMEWHERE IN THAT AREA, I WOULD GUESS WHEN IT'S ALL OVER.
THEN IN THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE PAGE, THE ACTUAL DEBT SERVICE, AND I DO WANT TO REITERATE, THESE ARE 20-YEAR OBLIGATIONS.
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE USEFUL LIFE OF THESE PROJECTS.
IN SOME CASES, THE USEFUL LIFE OF THESE PROJECTS WILL FAR EXCEED THIS AMORTIZATION, SO IT'S IN KEEPING WITH GOOD SOUND FUNDAMENTAL FINANCIAL PRACTICES.
THEN THE FINAL PAGE AND I RECOGNIZE THIS IS PRETTY SMALL IS THE TIMETABLE HERE.
WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED FOR YOU IN GRAY THE ACTION ITEMS THAT ARE REALLY MOST IMPORTANT AND THE KEY DATES, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS TODAY TO GET YOU TO CONSIDER THIS PARAMETER ORDINANCE.
WE'LL HAVE SOME DILIGENCE CALLS IN EARLY JANUARY AND LOOK TO PRICE THESE OBLIGATIONS IN THE MID-PORTION OF JANUARY, CLOSING, AS I SAID EARLIER, IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY, ON OR ABOUT THE 13TH OF FEBRUARY.
WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. BOWLES.
>> WITH THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 7.2.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? I SEE NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY SAY AYE.
AYE [OVERLAPPING]. ANY OPPOSED SAY NAY.
HEARING NONE, IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
AGAIN, MR. ATKINSON, IF YOU'LL PROVIDE A BRIEFING ON THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WITH THE ISSUES I THINK WE'RE HAVING WITH TECHNOLOGY, WOULD YOU MIND SWITCHING THE INPUTS ON YOUR MONITOR, AND I'LL TRY TO DO THIS ONE FROM UP HERE.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS.
REMEMBER THAT THE LOOMING DEADLINE RELATED TO ARPA, OR THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, THE LOOMING DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31 OF THIS YEAR, 2024.
[4. Budget Ordinance Amendment 1st Reading - Finance: Consider Budget Ordinance Amendment 8, amending the FY 2024-25 Budget for municipal purposes respecting the General Fund Capital, Water/Wastewater Fund Capital, and ARPA; providing for filing; and providing for a savings clause.]
THAT DEADLINE SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF OUR ARPA FUNDS COMMITTED BY THAT DATE.WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM EXPENDED BY DECEMBER 31ST OF 2026, BUT WE'VE GOT TO SATISFY THE FIRST ONE TO GET TO THE SECOND ONE.
THE ITEM WE HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A REQUESTED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
THIS IS THE FIRST READ, WE'LL DO A SECOND READ NEXT WEEK, THAT SETS US UP TO MEET ALL OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
OBVIOUSLY THE RED NUMBERS ARE WHERE WE ARE REDUCING THE ALLOCATION TO A PROJECT, AND THEN THE BLACK NUMBERS WILL BE WHERE WE'RE TAKING THE DOLLARS TO.
JUST REAL QUICK, THE DOLLARS THAT WERE APPROVED FOR CYBERSECURITY, THOSE PROJECTS ARE ALL IN, ALL DONE, THIS IS THE REMAINDER, WE'RE PULLING IT OUT.
THE JOB TRAINING PROGRAM WE HAVE, WHICH ACTUALLY FUNDS A NUMBER OF THE THINGS WE DO AT THE CITY, THIS IS THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEND BY THE DECEMBER 2026 DEADLINE, SO PULL IT BACK IN HAND.
PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, THIS IS BALANCING AN OVERSPEND, IT'S NOT REMOVING ANYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE, IT'S AN ADJUSTMENT.
THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THAT IS OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE.
BASED ON THE CURRENT TRACK OF EXPENDITURE OF UPTAKE, THIS IS THE AMOUNT THAT WON'T BE USED BY THAT DEADLINE.
THE PARK WALKING TRAILS, YOU'VE RECENTLY APPROVED THAT ON A CONTRACTUAL BASIS.
[02:15:01]
IT CAME IN SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE BUDGETS FOR THAT, SO WE'RE PULLING THOSE DOLLARS.THE CATTAIL REMOVAL AND DREDGING PROGRAM, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THE DREDGING.
WE'RE LEAVING DOLLARS IN TO FINISH YEAR 2 AND YEAR 3 OF KILLING OFF THE CATTAILS, AND THEN THE OTHER DOLLARS ARE GOING TO COME BACK OUT.
THE MAE SIMMONS PARKING LOT IN LAKE 6 RESTROOM, THAT'S DONE, THAT'S THE REMAINDER THERE.
THE PARKS AQUATIC FACILITIES, THAT'S WHAT WAS LEFT OUT OF THE SPLASH PADS.
LOCATE AND REPAIR WATER VALVES, THAT WAS A PROJECT THAT WE HAD FUNDED EARLY ON, PRIMARILY IN NORTH AND IN EAST LUBBOCK.
THESE WERE THE DOLLARS UNSPENT OUT OF THAT PROGRAM, WE GOT ALMOST ALL OF IT SPENT.
THEN THE NEXT IS THE NUMBER WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BUT WE'VE NEVER ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE VALUE OF IT, THAT IS THE ACCRUED INTEREST.
AS WE HAVE HELD THESE DOLLARS, WE TAKE THE INTEREST MONEY, PULL IT ASIDE, YOU'RE SITTING AT ABOUT 1.25 MILLION IN THAT.
WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ALL OF THESE DOLLARS.
FIRST, WE DO HAVE A NEED TO TAKE ABOUT 61,000 TO FINISH OUT ONE OF THE REST ROOM PROJECTS.
NOTE THAT THE PARKS PROJECTS IN GENERAL WERE BEING ABLE TO TAKE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE OF THAT.
WE'RE RECAPTURING, BUT WE NEED TO KNOCK THIS ONE OUT.
THIS IS THE ONE WE HAD TO ELEVATE IT BECAUSE OF THE FLOODPLAIN, SO WE'VE GOT ADA COMPLIANCE.
THAT THEN LEAVES YOU WITH 4.038 MILLION.
YOU ADD ALL OF THESE UP, MINUS THE 61,000, IT'S FOUR MILLION DOLLARS.
THIS IS THE DOLLARS THAT MR. BOWLES REFERENCED THAT WE CAN APPLY TO THE LAKE 7 PROJECT DIRECTLY.
SINCE THAT LAND TRANSACTION WILL CLOSE ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY THE 15TH OF NEXT YEAR, 2025, THAT GETS US TOTALLY OUT FROM UNDER ANY POTENTIAL CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE WITH BEING ABLE TO USE ALL OF YOUR ARPA DOLLARS FOR THE BENEFIT OF LUBBOCK.
ALL IN, YOU SEE WHERE WE'VE STARTED AND WHERE WE'VE ENDED WITH THESE REMAINING FUNDS, WE ASK YOU TO REDUCE THOSE IN RED BY THOSE AMOUNTS AND APPLY THEM 61,000 TO THE RESTROOM PROJECT AND 4.038 MILLION TO THE LAKE 7 PROJECT, AND THAT IS THE FIRST READ OF THE BUDGET ORDINANCE THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.
TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> MR. MAYOR, I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE SKIPPED OVER TO 7.4, WHICH IS COMPLETELY OKAY.
LET'S JUST UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON 7.4 ON THIS ONE, AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK AND DO 7.3.
>> I WAS SO EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT ARPA SINCE I WAS OUT OF JOKES.
>> WE WANT TO DO THEM BOTH TOGETHER, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> NO. HE JUST BRIEFED YOU ON 7.4, SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND HAVE YOUR DISCUSSION ON 7.4 [OVERLAPPING].
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? JUST AGAIN, FOR THE, I GUESS, FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING THIS AND HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS, EVEN THOUGH WE FOUND THESE FOUR MILLION DOLLARS THAT WERE NOT EXPENDED OF OUR ARPA FUNDS, WE'RE NOT FREE TO SPEND THOSE ON JUST ANYTHING.
WE CAN'T PUT THEM INTO OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET AT ALL.
WE HAVE TO SPEND THEM ON APPROVED ARPA PROJECTS, AND THESE TWO PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE, THE 61,000, AND THEN THE FOUR MILLION FOR OUR LAKES ARE APPROVED PROJECTS THAT WE CAN USE THEM FOR.
>> EXCELLENT POINT, MAYOR. THAT IS CORRECT.
ARPA HAS VERY UNIQUE DEFINITIONS AS TO WHERE YOU SPEND THE DOLLAR.
THERE WERE SOME CHANGES TO HOW WE HAVE TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS THAT WERE MADE IN LATE JULY OF THIS YEAR.
THIS IN OUR OPINION KEEPS YOU FIRMLY WITHIN ARPA, AND ALSO MEANS WE'RE GOING TO GET THE BENEFIT OF THOSE DOLLARS.
I DON'T WANT ANOTHER RULE CHANGE COMING IN ON US.
>> THIS ALLOWS US TO EXPEND OUT ALL THAT MONEY.
WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID ANY ISSUES WITH NOT COMPLETING EXPENDITURES WITHIN THE TIME FRAME THAT ARPA ALLOWS US.
>> JUST SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHY WE ARE DOING THIS AND HOW WE ARE DOING THIS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 7.4.
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I SEE NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOW BY SAYING AYE. AYE [OVERLAPPING].
I HEAR NONE, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
LET'S GO BACK TO 7.3 NOW. MR. ATKINSON.
>> I'LL DO A BETTER JOB OF TALKING ABOUT 7.3 ON ITEM 7.3.
ITEM 7.3, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THIS IS YOUR BUDGET AMENDMENT, FIRST READING THAT ESTABLISHES THE 2024 APPROVED STREET BOND PROJECTS.
YOU'LL HAVE A SECOND READING NEXT TUESDAY,
[02:20:01]
A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION, AND THEN THE ENTIRE SCHEDULE THAT MR. TURPIN PRESENTED WILL TAKE OFF AND RUN.>> I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM 7.3. A SECOND?
[3. Budget Ordinance Amendment 1st Reading - Finance: Consider Budget Ordinance Amendment 6, amending the FY 2024-25 Capital Program to create and appropriate the 2024 Street Bond Capital Projects approved by the voters.]
>> ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 7.3? I SEE NONE. PLEASE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
AYE [OVERLAPPING]. ANY OPPOSED SAY NAY.
I HEAR NONE, IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7.4.
I'LL CALL ON OUR CITY ATTORNEY MATT WADE TO PROVIDE THE BRIEFING ON THIS ITEM.
DR. WILSON, WHEN YOUR EYES GET AS OLD AS MINE, YOU MIGHT MISS SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
ON NOVEMBER THE 7TH, 2024, THE CITY SECRETARY RECEIVED A PETITION FROM THE LUBBOCK PROFESSIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION, ASKING THAT THEY BE CONSIDERED THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE BARGAINING ORGANIZATION FOR MEET AND CONFER UNDER CHAPTER 142 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
[5. Resolution - City Secretary: Consider a resolution acting in response to a petition for recognition, received on November 7, 2024, on behalf of the Lubbock Professional Police Association, to be the sole bargaining agent for the Lubbock Police Department police officers, in accordance with the provisions of the meet and confer statute, as set forth in Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 142.]
THE PETITION WAS CONFIRMED BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.THEY RECEIVED 81.9% APPROVAL OF THE ELIGIBLE POLICE OFFICERS WITHIN THE LUBBOCK POLICE DEPARTMENT ASKING FOR THAT TO BE DONE.
BY STATUTE, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BASICALLY THREE OPTIONS AT THIS POINT.
WE ARE REQUIRED WITHIN 30 DAYS, WE'RE RECEIVING A PETITION OF EITHER GO AHEAD AND CERTIFYING THE LUBBOCK PROFESSIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION AS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE BARGAINING AGENT FOR THE LUBBOCK POLICE OFFICERS.
YOU CAN ALSO ASK FOR A CERTIFICATION ELECTION, OR YOU CAN ALSO ASK FOR A GENERAL ELECTION OF THE PUBLIC.
THE RECOMMENDATION THAT'S BEFORE YOU IS TO GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE LUBBOCK PROFESSIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION AS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE BARGAINING AGENT FOR MEET AND CONFER PURPOSES WITH THE LUBBOCK POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WADE? I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME TO APPROVE ITEM 7.5.
>> MOTION AND SECOND MADE. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE. AYE [OVERLAPPING].
ANY OPPOSED SAY NAY. I HEAR NONE, THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
I WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7.6. MR. WADE.
>> YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO WHAT YOU JUST PREVIOUSLY APPROVED.
WE RECEIVED A PETITION ON NOVEMBER 25TH FROM THE LUBBOCK PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION ASKING THAT THEY BE CONSIDERED THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE ORGANIZATION FOR BARGAINING PURPOSES FOR MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT.
AS I SAID, IT WAS RECEIVED ON NOVEMBER 25TH WITH A 76.8% APPROVAL, WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
SAME THREE OPTIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AT THIS TIME; YOU CAN EITHER GO AHEAD AND CERTIFY THEM AS A SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE BARGAINING ASSOCIATION,
[6. Resolution - City Secretary: Consider a resolution acting in response to a petition for recognition, received on November 25, 2024, on behalf of the Lubbock Professional Firefighters Association, to be the sole bargaining agent for Lubbock Fire Rescue firefighters, in accordance with the provisions of the meet and confer statute as set forth in Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 142.]
OR YOU CAN ASK FOR A CERTIFICATION ELECTION OR A GENERAL ELECTION.THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE YOU AND THE RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF IS TO GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE THE LUBBOCK PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION AS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE BARGAINING ASSOCIATION WITH THE CITY OF LUBBOCK.
>> THANK YOU, MR. WADE. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WADE? IF THERE ARE NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 7.6.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? I SEE NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
AYE [OVERLAPPING]. ANY OPPOSED SAY NAY.
I HEAR NONE, PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVE ON TO ITEM 7.7 TO CONSIDER AN APPOINTMENT OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT TAX INCREMENT FINANCING REINVESTMENT ZONE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR.
I'M NOW GOING TO CALL ON OUR CITY SECRETARY TO PROVIDE THE STAFF BRIEFING ON THIS ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, YOU ALL APPOINT THE CHAIR OF EACH OF YOUR TIF BOARDS.
FOR THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT TIF, CURRENTLY, DAN WILLIAMS SERVES AS YOUR CHAIR.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT MR. WILLIAMS CONTINUE SERVING AS CHAIR, AND HE HAS AGREED TO CONTINUE SERVING SHOULD YOU ALL APPOINT HIM, AND THIS WOULD BE FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR OF 2025.
[7. Board Appointment - City Secretary: Consider the appointment of the Chairperson of the Central Business District Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone Board of Directors, for the 2025 calendar year, with the term ending on December 31, 2025.]
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM MISS PAZ? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CHAIR OF THIS BOARD, MR. DAN WILLIAMS.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? I SEE NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOW BY SAYING AYE. AYE [OVERLAPPING].
HEAR NONE, IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[02:25:03]
NOW, ITEM 7.7. MISS PAZ.>> YES. 7.8, THIS IS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE LUBBOCK BUSINESS PARK TIF BOARD CHAIR.
CURRENTLY, MISS SANDY HENRY IS SERVING AS CHAIR.
STAFF DOES RECOMMEND SHE CONTINUE SERVE AS CHAIR, AND SHE HAS AGREED ALSO TO CONTINUE SERVING SHOULD YOU ALL APPOINT HER.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS PAZ? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? I SEE NONE. ALL IN FAVOR.
LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE. AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED SAY NAY? HEARING NONE.
THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEM 7.9, THE CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF A CHAIRPERSON FOR
[8. Board Appointment - City Secretary: Consider the appointment of the Chairperson of the Lubbock Business Park Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone Board of Directors, for the 2025 Calendar Year, with the term ending on December 31, 2025.]
THE NORTH OVERTON TAX INCREMENT FINANCING REINVESTMENT ZONE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR. MS. POS.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. FOR THIS BOARD, CURRENTLY, JEFF DANE SERVES AS YOUR CHAIR, AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING MR. DANE CONTINUE SERVING AS CHAIR, AND MR. DANE HAS AGREED TO CONTINUE SERVING IF APPOINTED.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
ALL IN FAVOR. LET IT BE NON BY SAYING AYE. AYE.
[9. Board Appointment - City Secretary: Consider the appointment of the Chairperson of the North Overton Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone Board of Directors, for the 2025 Calendar Year, with the term ending on December 31, 2025.]
>> ANY OPPOSED SAY NO. HEAR NONE.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE CITY OF LUBBOCK INTENT TO ANNEX AN AREA OF LAND CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 374.74 ACRES OF REAL PROPERTY, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE HIGHLAND OAK SUBDIVISION, LOCATED WITHIN AN AREA.
LOCATED SOUTH OF 146 STREET, WHICH IS FARM TO MARKET ROAD 7,500 AND EAST OF FRANKFORT AVENUE, NORTH OF WOODROW ROAD, FARM TO MARKET 7,600 AND WEST OF SLIDE ROAD, FARM TO MARKET ROAD 1730 INTO LUBBOCK CORPORATE LIMITS.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
THE COUNCIL MAY ASK QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT OR STAFF DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING,
[10. Public Hearing - Planning: Hold a public hearing in accordance with Section 43.0697(c)(2) of the Texas Local Government Code, regarding the City of Lubbock's intent to annex an area of land consisting of approximately 374.74 acres of real property commonly known as the Highland Oaks Subdivision, located within an area located south of 146th Street (F.M. 7500), east of Frankford Avenue, north of Woodrow Road (F.M. 7600), and west of Slide Road (F.M. Road 1730), into Lubbock's corporate limits.]
BUT NO DISCUSSION ON THE MERITS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE COUNCIL DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.NOW I'M GOING TO CALL ON KRISTIN SAGER TO PROVIDE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THIS AGENDA ITEM SUBJECT TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AS YOU STATED, THIS IS THE FIRST POST ELECTION PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE HIGHLAND OAK SUBDIVISION.
THE ELECTION WAS NOVEMBER 5, AND THE VOTE TO ANNEX THIS AREA PASSED BY THE RESIDENTS BY 69.3%.
AFTER TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING, YOU'LL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING JANUARY 14, AND THEN COUNSEL WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACTION ON THE ORDINANCE TO ACTUALLY ANNEX THE PROPERTY.
I'D BE PLEASED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM MS. SAGER? THANK YOU, MS. SAGER. I'M NOW GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AGENDA ITEM 7.10.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE CITY OF LUBBOCK INTENT TO ANNEX THIS AREA COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE HIGHLAND OAK SUBDIVISION? IF SO, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND SPEAK TO THE MATTER.
>> SHANNON HANSON, 5502 COUNTY ROAD 7560 HERE IN LUBBOCK.
FIRST, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF HELP WITH EVERYTHING AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WHO WISH TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK TO THIS ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
ANYONE ELSE? I SEE NONE, SO I WILL CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT 4:12 PM.
NOW, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT A CONSOLIDATED PUBLIC HEARING ON A SERIES OF ZONING CASES.
THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY RECEIVED IN THEIR PACKETS THE STAFF REPORTS FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
JUST AS BEFORE, THE PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING IS TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
WE MAY ASK QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT OR STAFF DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT NO DISCUSSION ON THE MERITS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE COUNCIL DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
I NOW CALL ON MS. SAGER AGAIN TO PROVIDE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF EACH OF THE AGENDA ITEMS 7.11 THROUGH 7.14.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ITEM 7.11 IS ZONE CASE 3257-Q, A REQUEST OF AMD ENGINEERING FOR 1585 DEVELOPMENT, A REQUEST TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM LOW DENSITY, SINGLE FAMILY SF2 TO MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
WE SENT OUT 72 NOTIFICATIONS RECEIVING 22 IN OPPOSITION, SEVEN OF WHICH ARE FROM OUTSIDE THE NOTIFICATION BOUNDARY.
THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED NORTH OF 137TH WEST OF ELGIN AVENUE.
THIS IS A MAP SHOWING THE RESPONSES WE DID RECEIVE IN OPPOSITION
[11. Public Hearing - Planning (District 4): Consider a request for Zone Case 3257-Q, a request of AMD Engineering, LLC for 1585 Development, LLC, for a zone change from Low Density Single-Family District (SF-2) to Medium Density Residential District (MDR), generally located west of Elgin Avenue and north of 137th Street on approximately 34.61 acres of unplatted land out of Block AK, Section 1, and consider an ordinance.]
[12. Public Hearing - Planning (District 4): Consider a request for Zone Case 3511, a request of AMD Engineering, LLC for BARCCC Ventures, LLC – Series C, and Crowtracks, LLC, for a zone change from Low Density Single-Family District (SF-2) to Heavy Commercial District (HC), at 3201 116th Street, located south of 116th Street and east of Indiana Avenue, on 29.61 acres of unplatted land out of Block E-2, Section 21, and consider an ordinance.]
[13. Public Hearing - Planning (District 5): Consider a request for Zone Case 3510, a request of Danny J. Everson, for a zone change from Low Density Single-Family District (SF-2) to Neighborhood Commercial District (NC), at 7508 66th Street, located north of 66th Street and west of Wausau Avenue, on approximately 3.593 acres of unplatted land out of Block AK, Section 34, and consider an ordinance.]
[14. Public Hearing - Planning (District 6): Consider a request for Zone Case 3207-A, a request of Hugo Reed and Associates, Inc. for West End Hotels, LLC, for a zone change from Low Density Single-Family District (SF-2) and Heavy Commercial District (HC) to Heavy Commercial District (HC), at 2909 Iola Avenue, located at the intersection of 29th Street and Iola Avenue, West End Addition, Tract K, and consider an ordinance.]
WITHIN THE 200 AND 400 FOOT NOTIFICATION BOUNDARIES.HESTON AERIAL VIEW OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY VACANT.
THERE ARE DEVELOPED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TO THE EAST AND AN APARTMENT COMPLEX TO THE WEST.
[02:30:05]
CURRENT ZONING IS LOW DENSITY, SINGLE FAMILY SF2.THERE IS HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO THE WEST, A MIX OF AUTO URBAN COMMERCIAL, SF2, AND MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO THE NORTH WITH ADDITIONAL SINGLE FAMILY TO THE EAST AND SOUTH.
FUTURE LAND USE LAND DESIGNATES THIS PROPERTY FOR LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL LAND USES.
HERE'S SOME PHOTOS OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND SURROUNDING AREA.
HERE'S A SITE PLAN PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT SHOWING THE PROPOSED LAYOUT OF A NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX SHOULD THIS ONE CHANGE BE APPROVED.
HERE'S SOME GRAPHICS PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT SHOWING WHAT THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX WOULD LOOK LIKE.
THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION FOR THIS AREA IS RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY.
WHILE THIS REQUEST IS A MINOR DEVIATION FROM THIS DESIGNATION, IT IS APPROPRIATE IN THIS LOCATION.
THE REQUEST IS IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE ZONING ORDINANCE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA.
IT IS LONG 137TH STREET AND ELGIN AVENUE, WHICH ARE DESIGNATED AS COLLECTOR STREETS.
STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE, AND I'D BE PLEASED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I SEE NONE. THANK YOU. MOVE ON.
THE APPLICANT IS AMD ENGINEERING, AND THE REQUEST IS TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY, SF2 TO HEAVY COMMERCIAL.
WE SENT OUT 17 NOTIFICATIONS RECEIVING THREE IN FAVOR.
THIS IS THE RESPONSE MAP SHOWING THE THREE WE RECEIVED IN FAVOR.
THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED SOUTH OF 116TH STREET EAST OF INDIANA AVENUE.
HERE'S AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
THE PROPERTY IMMEDIATELY TO THE EAST IS OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS, AND THERE IS OTHER VACANT LAND AND COMMERCIAL USES SURROUNDING.
IT IS SURROUNDED BY OTHER HEAVY COMMERCIAL, NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL, AND SOME ADDITIONAL SF2 ZONING.
THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN DESIGNATES THIS PROPERTY FOR RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY.
HERE'S SOME PHOTOS OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND SURROUNDING AREA.
THE FUTURE LAND USE FACT DESIGNATION FOR RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUEST.
HOWEVER, THE REQUEST IS APPROPRIATE IN THE LOCATION, GIVEN THE EXISTING ZONING AND OTHER USES.
THE ZONE CHANGES IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE ZONING ORDINANCE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA.
116TH STREET IS DESIGNATED AS A LOCAL STREET BY THE MASTER THOROUGHFARE PLAN.
STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST AND THE PLAN AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE, AND I'D BE PLEASED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. MOVE ON TO 7.13.
THE APPLICANT IS DANNY J EVERSON.
A REQUEST TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY SF2 TO NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL.
WE SENT OUT 16 NOTIFICATIONS FOR RECEIVING ONE IN OPPOSITION.
THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 66 AND WAUSAU.
HERE'S THE [INAUDIBLE] IMMEDIATELY TO THE WEST.
AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
THERE IS A MIX OF USES IN THIS AREA, BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, AND YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE THREE PROPERTIES THAT ARE OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS.
THE CURRENT ZONING IS SINGLE FAMILY SF2.
THERE IS ADDITIONAL SF2 WITH SOME LIGHT INDUSTRIAL TO THE SOUTHWEST AND HIGH DENSITY AND MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO THE NORTHEAST.
FUTURE LAND USE PLAN DESIGNATION IS FOR LOW DENSITY, SINGLE FAMILY.
HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND SURROUNDING AREA.
THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION FOR RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUEST.
HOWEVER, THIS REQUEST IS APPROPRIATE, AS IT WOULD SERVE AS A BUFFER BETWEEN THE EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND WAUSAU AVENUE.
THE REPOSED ZONE CHANGES IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE ZONING ORDINANCE IN COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA.
SIXTY SIX STREET IS DESIGNATED AS A PRINCIPAL ARTERIAL IN THIS LOCATION, AND WAUSAU IS A FUTURE COLLECTOR BY THE MASTER THOROUGHFARE PLAN.
STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DENIAL OF THE REQUEST BY VOTE OF 2-6.
I YOU PLEASED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> IS THERE A PLAN ON WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO GO RIGHT HERE FROM THE BUILDING?
>> THE CURRENT OWNER, I BELIEVE, IS JUST GETTING IT READY TO SELL TO A FUTURE DEVELOPER.
>> WHY DID P&Z DENY THIS? DID THEY TALK WHAT WAS THE CONVERSATION?
[02:35:01]
>> THERE WERE TWO OR THREE NEIGHBORS THAT CAME AND SPOKE IN OPPOSITION AT THE MEETING.
THEY WOULD PREFER TO SEE IT REMAIN RESIDENTIAL.
BUT THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT HAVING COMMERCIAL IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THEM, HAVING POTENTIALLY MULTIPLE DRIVEWAYS ONTO WAUSAU AVENUE, DEPENDING ON HOW THE PROPERTY GOT SUBDIVIDED.
THEY REALLY JUST WANTED IT TO REMAIN RESIDENTIAL.
I KNOW THAT THE RESIDENTS THAT WAS SOME OF THE ISSUE, BUT WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE OF CONCERN BECAUSE ISN'T THERE ALREADY SOME DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING IN THAT AREA?
>> THERE IS. SPECIFICALLY, IT'S HARD TO SEE.
THAT LIGHT INDUSTRIAL PARK IS STARTING TO BE DEVELOPED.
THERE'S ANOTHER BUSINESS PARK, EVEN THOUGH IT ZONED SF2 IMMEDIATELY EAST OF THAT LIGHT INDUSTRIAL PARK.
IT BEGAN DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS, SO IT'S ALLOWED TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING AS A BUSINESS PARK.
THERE IS ACTUALLY QUITE A BIT OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA.
>> HI, KRISTIN. IN YOUR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH, WHAT IS THAT STRUCTURE JUST ABOVE?
>> I BELIEVE IT MAY BE A FRIENDSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL.
>> CORRECT. THAT'S ONE OF THE THREE NEW FRIENDSHIP SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN THIS AREA.
>> WAUSAU, YOU SAY, IS A ARTERIAL OR A COLLECTOR?
WHILE 66 IS NORMALLY A COLLECTOR IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, IN THIS AREA, THE MASTER THOROUGHFARE PLAN DESIGNATES IT AS AN ARTERIAL.
>> WOULD YOU GO BACK TO THE MAP SHOWING THE PEOPLE WHO WERE OPPOSED TO IT, OR WERE THEY?
>> WE ONLY RECEIVED ONE WRITTEN OPPOSITION EVEN THOUGH WE HAD ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS AT PANZEE.
>> THEY LIVED JUST IMMEDIATELY TO THE WEST OF IT, IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT. THEN THE AREA RIGHT TO THE WEST OF THAT IS OUT OF THE CITY LIMITS.
THESE PEOPLE ARE IN THE CITY LIMITS, OBVIOUSLY.
THEY'RE ASKING TO GO TO NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
WILL YOU REMIND ME SINCE WE DON'T KNOW A FUTURE PLAN, WHAT ALL COULD BE CONSIDERED NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL? THAT IS OUR MOST RESTRICTIVE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
IT MAINLY FOCUSES ON RETAIL RESTAURANTS, SMALL BUSINESS SHOP TYPE USES.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE AUTOMOTIVE USES, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE WAREHOUSING, HEAVY COMMERCIAL, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S MORE RETAIL SHOPPING RESTAURANT. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? LET'S MOVE ON TO 7.14 THEN.
THE APPLICANT IS HUGO REED AND ASSOCIATES FOR WEST END HOTELS.
THE REQUEST IS TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM SF-2 AND HEAVY COMMERCIAL TO HEAVY COMMERCIAL.
WE SENT OUT NINE NOTIFICATIONS RECEIVING ONE IN FAVOR.
THIS PROPERTY IS AT 29TH AND IOLA.
THIS IS THE RESPONSE MAP SHOWING THE ONE IN FAVOR IMMEDIATELY TO THE NORTH.
THIS IS AN ARROW VIEW OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A CLEANUP CASE.
THIS IS THE EXISTING AFT HOTEL THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.
THIS IS AT THE WEST SIDE OF THE WEST END SHOPPING CENTER DEVELOPMENT AT THE WEST SLEEP AND 34TH STREET.
CURRENT ZONING IS HEAVY COMMERCIAL AND SF-2, SURROUNDED BY HEAVY COMMERCIAL, AUTO URBAN COMMERCIAL, AND HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
FUTURE LAND USE PLAN DESIGNATES THIS PROPERTY FOR COMMERCIAL AND SOME PHOTOS OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND SURROUNDING AREA.
THIS IS A SURVEY PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT.
THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION IS FOR COMMERCIAL LAND USES.
THE REQUEST FOR HEAVY COMMERCIAL IS CONSISTENT.
THE REQUEST IS IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF 29TH AND IOLA AND IOLA IS DESIGNATED AS A COLLECTOR.
STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
I BE PLEASED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THAT'S IT. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PUT ANYTHING ON THERE OR ANYTHING.
>> THE HOTEL IS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE.
THIS IS JUST TO CLEAN UP THE PORTION OF THE WEST PROPERTY THAT SOMEHOW REMAINED SF-2.
>> WE'RE GOING TO SEPARATE THIS INTO TWO. WE'LL VOTE ON.
[02:40:03]
WE'LL HAVE ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON 711, 712, AND 714.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
I'M GOING TO NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEMS 7.11 THROUGH 7.14, AND ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK TO EITHER OF THESE ITEMS. EITHER IN OPPOSITION, OR IN FAVOR. I SEE NONE.
I'LL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 4:24 PM.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO SEPARATE THESE INTO TWO VOTES, ONE ON 711, 12, AND 14, WHICH CAME OUT OF OUR PLANNING AND ZONING WITH THEIR APPROVAL.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED SAY NO. I HEAR NONE, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
NOW WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON AGENDA ITEM 7.13.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND?
>> ANY DISCUSSION? MR. WAYNE, YES.
>> IF I COULD ASK WHAT THE MOTION IS FOR.
>> MR. COLLINS, WAS YOUR SECOND IS A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> ALL RIGHT. NOW DISCUSSION, DR. WILSON.
>> MS. SAGER, CAN YOU GO BACK AND PULL THE MAP UP, THE ONE THAT IS THE ACTUAL AERIAL WITH THE SCHOOL. THAT ONE.
KNOWING THIS AREA QUITE WELL, I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH BRINGING IN COMMERCIAL FOR ONE, WITH ZONING THE LOTS, THAT'S A VERY NARROW PIECE OF PROPERTY, HOW THAT WOULD BE DIVIDED UP FOR COMMERCIAL USE.
THIS IS ALREADY AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED QUITE A BIT FOR TRAFFIC CONCERNS.
WAUSAU IS ONE OF THE MAIN ENTRANCES FOR ALCOVE TRAILS, AND WHAT YOU DON'T SEE RIGHT OVER HERE IS THERE'S ALSO THE NEW ELEMENTARY IS JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THE NORTH, AND THAT THEY HAVE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC PROBLEM OUT THERE CURRENTLY.
WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THAT BY WIDENING UPLAND.
WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT BY THE PLAN TO WIDEN AND FIXED DRAINAGE ON 66.
MY WORRY IS IS THE WAY THIS PROPERTY IS SET WITH THE LENGTH OF IT AND THE NARROWNESS OF IT THAT IT WOULD APPEAR THAT ALL DRIVEWAY, SO INGRESS AND EGRESS IS GOING TO COME OUT ONTO WAUSAU.
THAT IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE FOR THE PICKUP OF THAT SCHOOL.
I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH TRAFFIC ON THIS AND NOT KNOWING WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY GO THERE AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BE BROKEN UP, RIGHT NOW, I THINK I CAN'T BE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT, JUST MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT KNOWING HOW THAT WOULD WORK WITH TRAFFIC OUT THERE CURRENTLY.
>> JUST AS A REMINDER, P&Z DID DENY THIS, AND IT WAS 2 TO 6 AGAIN.
>> IS WAUSAU CITY OF LUBBOCK OWNED THOROUGHFARE?
>> IT IS CURRENTLY TWO LANE STRIP PAVING OR IS IT THREE LANE CURB AND GUTTER?
I DON'T KNOW IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I THINK IT'S TWO.
>> THERE APPEARS TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF UNDEVELOPED LAND SURROUNDING WAUSAU ON BOTH SIDES.
I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT TO KNOW WHAT'S BEING PLANNED, BUT AT SOME POINT, I THINK IT'S CHALLENGING TO DENY THE ZONE CHANGE.
LOOK AT HOW MUCH VACANT LAND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THERE ON WAUSAU.
AT SOME POINT, THE IMPROVEMENT IN DEVELOPMENT OF WAUSAU IS INEVITABLE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DEALING WITH THIS TRAFFIC THAT'S GOING TO OCCUR IN THESE OTHER LOCATIONS.
IT MAY BE THAT WE POSTPONE THIS UNTIL WE GET A PLAN.
I'M STRUGGLING WITH HOW TO TELL A LANDOWNER HE CAN'T USE HIS PROPERTY IS WHERE I AM AT THE MOMENT.
>> I THINK THAT NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL IS VERY APPROPRIATE ZONING FOR THIS TRACT.
IT'S THE MOST RESTRICTIVE COMMERCIAL USE, AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE VERY LOW INTENSITY COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT THERE.
[02:45:06]
THE ORIENTATION OF THE LAND, I THINK ALSO LENDS ITSELF TO THAT THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE SMALL SHOPS, COFFEE SHOPS, THINGS LIKE THAT.I THINK THAT THE TYPE OF LOW INTENSITY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL, ESPECIALLY BEING CLOSE TO A SCHOOL AND OTHER THOROUGHFARES REALLY ENHANCES THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SOME OF OUR BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN LUBBOCK BENEFIT FROM THAT MIX OF LIGHT COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, SCHOOLS AND CREATES CENTERS OF ACTIVITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO I FIND THE LAND USE IS VERY APPROPRIATE.
>> I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT ONE MORE TIME, AND I THINK DR. WILSON SAID IT, BUT THERE IS A SCHOOL THERE AND THAT CONGESTION AROUND THAT SCHOOL WHEN IT'S PICK UP AND DROP OFF OR DROP OFF AND PICK UP WHATEVER, AND THEN THOSE BLOCKS ARE NOT THERE, I AGREE THAT THERE IS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S YET UNTIL WE WORK ON THIS STREET, I JUST THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.
SO I AM WITH P&Z AND WITH DR. WILSON.
>> YEAH, REALLY GROW. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, AS COUNCILMAN GUSCIN HAS SAID, I'M ACTUALLY VERY PRO SMALL SHOP, EVEN NEAR SCHOOLS AND HAVING THAT MIXED USE IN AREAS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
HAVING THAT THE CITY HAS NO INTENTION AS OF RIGHT NOW TO WIDEN OR DO ANYTHING WITH WAUSAU, IT'S GOING TO REMAIN WHAT LOOKS LIKE A RESIDENTIAL ROAD.
I THINK THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN.
IT'S NOT THE BLENDING OF SMALL SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS NEAR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE SCHOOL BECAUSE I THINK THOSE ARE ALWAYS GREAT AND VERY PRO GROWTH.
IT'S MORE THAT THERE IS NO PLAN TO MAKE WAUSAU A THREE-LANE WITH A TURN LANE.
WHEN YOU DRIVE RIGHT HERE, EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THESE VERY PIECED TOGETHER INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, OUTSIDE THE LIMITS PROPERTY, SOME OF THESE, THEY LOOK LIKE LITTLE FARMS. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF COMMERCIAL TRUE DEVELOPMENT ON THIS SIDE OF THE ROAD.
THERE IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE, BUT NOT ON THE NORTH SIDE.
MOST OF IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS BUILT TO BE HOUSING AROUND THIS SCHOOL AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE NO PLANS RIGHT NOW WITH EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING, BONDING OF ROADS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE NEXT 7-10 YEARS AT ALL TO WIDEN OR MAKE THIS ROAD HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THAT HIGHER TRAFFIC WITH COMMERCIAL.
THAT'S WHY I'M AGAINST IT. NOT BECAUSE I'M ACTUALLY AGAINST ANY COMMERCIAL RIGHT HERE AND IN THAT DESIGNATION SPECIFICALLY.
I DO WORRY ABOUT THE ROAD BECAUSE IT IS A VERY RESIDENTIAL LOOKING ROAD RIGHT NOW.
>> I'M SORRY, YOU PROBABLY ALREADY SAID THIS.
WHAT WAS THE FUTURE DESIGNATION FOR THIS ROAD?
>> SIR, THE FUTURE DESIGNATION, IT'S A COLLECTOR.
>> YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, BUT DOES 58TH STREET RUN THROUGH THERE? AS A I KNOW IN PARTS OF TOWN, IT'S MORE OF WHAT YOU CALL A COLLECTOR STREET?
>> IS 58TH RUN THROUGH THERE AS A COLLECTOR STREET AS WELL?
>> OKAY. IT RUNS BY THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THIS IS A JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, DO WE SEE? THIS IS A MIDDLE SCHOOL, EXCUSE ME.
NOT JUNIOR HIGHS ANYMORE, MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I UNDERSTAND WHERE MR. GUSCIN IS COME FROM, BECAUSE I LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A NICE LITTLE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NEXT TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON A STREET THAT'S NOT A COLLECTOR, AND IT SEEMS TO SERVICE THAT AREA QUITE WELL.
I UNDERSTAND SOME CONCERNS, BUT MY EXPERIENCE HAS IT'S BEEN A VERY GOOD THING FOR THAT PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NOW, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM 7.
WE HAVE A MOTION, EXCUSE ME, WE ALREADY HAVE IT. ANY MORE DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM 7.13, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
IF YOU'RE OPPOSE, LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING NAY.
>> SOMEBODY COUNT THOSE VOTES BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO LOOK BOTH WAYS. LET'S DO IT BY HANDS.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF ITEM 7.13, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY RAISING YOUR HANDS.
ALL OPPOSED, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY RAISING YOUR HANDS NOW.
[02:50:02]
NOW MOVING ON TO ITEM 7.15.THIS TIME, I'M RIGHT. WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM 7.15.
I'M GOING TO CALL ON OUR CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE THE BRIEFING ON THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A RESOLUTION TO PROCURE OUR LOBBYING CONSULTANT SERVICES.
YOU HAVE IN YOUR BACKUP THE RESULTS OF AN RFP THAT WAS CONDUCTED.
IT WAS GRADED BY THREE STAFF MEMBERS.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS FOR BLACK RIDGE OF AUSTIN, TEXAS,
[15. Resolution - City Manager: Consider a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute Contract 18128, for lobbying consultant services.]
AND THEN YOU SEE YOUR SECOND RESPONDENT COMING IN, JUST REALLY ONE POINT LESS, AND THEN A THIRD RESPONDENT THAT WAS QUITE A DISTANCE AWAY.I'D BE GLAD TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. AS I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE PACKAGE, I FOUND SOME ISSUES WITH THE POINT SYSTEM.
ON THE INFORMATION THAT I READ ON IT WAS 12, 03, 2024 6:30.
IT SAID QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE, 30%, RATES AND EXPENSES 30%, METHODOLOGY 25%, AND REFERENCES 15%.
THAT WAS A SCALE THAT I SAW, BUT THEN I FOUND ANOTHER SCALE, AND IT SAID ALL THE SAME, BUT 30, 30, 30, AND 10.
IT DIDN'T HAVE A PAGE, BUT YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO LOOK AT IT.
I GUESS MY ISSUE IS WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT RATING OR CRITERIA AND RANK.
>> PLEASE DO. LET ME GRAB THAT REAL QUICK.
>> I GUESS IS YOUR QUESTION, IS THERE AN EXPLANATION FOR THE CHANGE IN THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES, THAT'S THOSE QUESTIONS, I WANT TO KNOW WHY THAT HAPPENED, HOW DID WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT RATING SYSTEMS? THEN I NOTICED THAT THE TOP 2, THERE WAS ABOUT A POINT DIFFERENCE.
IF I'M LOOKING AT THE TWO DIFFERENT EVALUATIONS AND BASED ON THE MODEL THAT WAS PRESENTED, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND IT MIGHT BE A DISADVANTAGE TO THE SECOND CONSIDERATION OR THE SECOND RFP PROPOSAL.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, AND I'M SORRY, THE SECOND ONE WAS HANCE SCARBOROUGH, LLP.
DID WE RATE THEM ON THE 30, 30, 30, 10 OR DID WE RATE THEM AS PRESENTED THE 30, 30, 25, 15?
>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION AND ONE THAT I DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWER TO AT THE MOMENT.
SO MAYOR, COULD WE TAKE JUST A VERY BRIEF RECESS?
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE NOW IN RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I'LL CALL US BACK FROM RECESS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN EXPLANATION, AND IT'S NOT AN UNCOMMON EXPLANATION.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I GUESS, FIRST, YOU HAVE AN APOLOGY.
MY APOLOGIES FOR THE CONFUSION.
THE SCORING WAS DONE ON THE SCALE THAT IS WRITTEN IN THE RFP DOCUMENT YOU HAVE A COPY OF.
SO IT WAS SCORED ON THE 30, 30, 30, 10.
THUS, THE MATRIX THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR PAGE WITH THE NUMBERS ON IT. THAT IS CORRECT.
WHAT IS INCORRECT IS HOW WE LISTED OUT THE SCORING DIVISION IN THE WRITTEN PART OF THE MEMO.
IT WAS SCORED CORRECTLY, IT WAS WRITTEN UP INCORRECTLY. MY APOLOGIES.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION. MR. GUSCIN.
WELL, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
[02:55:05]
I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 7.15. MR. GUSCIN.>> I MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION AND ATTACHED CONTRACT FOR LOBBYING SERVICES BY STRIKING BLACK RIDGE AND REPLACING WITH HANCE SCARBOROUGH, LLP THROUGHOUT, AND FURTHER REPLACING THE EXHIBITS INCLUDED FOR ITEM 7.15 WITH THE UPDATED EXHIBITS THAT WE ARE DISTRIBUTING NOW AT THE DIAS.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN.
WE ARE VOTING ON APPROVING A AMENDMENT TO THE ITEM 7.15. MR. WHITE.
>> YOU'RE ACTUALLY VOTING TO DO EXACTLY WHAT HE SAYS, SO THIS WILL BE THE ONLY VOTE.
>> YES, WE ARE TOTALLY REPLACING.
>> SO WE WILL NOT TAKE A SECOND VOTE THEN.
THIS IS YOUR ONLY VOTE. SO ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
WITH THAT, WE HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR MICROPHONES.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.