ALL RIGHT. TIME IS NOW 6:00. WE'RE GOING TO CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER. IT IS TUESDAY, [CALL TO ORDER/GENERAL COMMENTS] [00:00:05] SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE WHO MAY BE TUNING IN ONLINE. FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN INVOCATION BROUGHT TO US BY COUNCIL MEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BEING LED TO US BY MAYOR PRO TEM DAWKINS. I'LL ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE STAND. AND GUIDING SPIRIT. AS WE GATHER TONIGHT, WE PAUSE WITH GRATITUDE. IN THIS COMMUNITY WE SHARE. SINCE YESTERDAY WAS LABOR DAY, WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE WORKERS, BOTH PAID STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WHO KEEP BEDFORD RUNNING. FOR THOSE WHO REPAIR OUR STREETS, CARE FOR OUR PARKS, CARRY AWAY OUR TRASH, RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES, WELCOME OUR NEIGHBORS, AND QUIETLY CARRY OUT THE WORK THAT MAKES DAILY LIFE POSSIBLE. BLESS THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION, THEIR LONG HOURS, AND THE PRIDE THEY TAKE IN SERVING THIS CITY. NOW, AS WE REFLECT ON LABOR DAY AND THE MEANING OF HONORING WORK, WE ALSO OFFER THANKS FOR EVERYONE WHO POURED THEIR ENERGY INTO OUR LABOR DAY FESTIVAL BEATS AND EATS FOR THE PLANNERS, THE CREWS, THE VOLUNTEERS, THE VENDORS, AND ALL WHO SHOWED UP EARLY AND STAYED LATE TO MAKE THE OUTDOOR CELEBRATION A SUCCESS. MAY THEY FEEL OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE JOY THEY HELPED BRING TO BEDFORD AND FOR THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY THEIR EFFORTS CREATED. AS WE BEGIN THIS MEETING, GRANT US FAIRNESS IN OUR DECISION MAKING. HELP US LISTEN WITH PATIENCE. CONSIDER WITH CLARITY, AND VOTE WITH WISDOM. GOD IS TOWARD CHOICES THAT BRING PROGRESS TO OUR CITY AND STRENGTHEN THE WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT. MAY OUR WORK TONIGHT HONOR THE TRUST PLACED IN US AND REFLECT THE BEST OF BEDFORD. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM DAWKINS. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT. SO AGAIN FOR PUBLIC [PUBLIC COMMENTS] COMMENTS, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES PER SPEAKER AND DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF. BUT I WILL IF I NEED TO. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S LEFT UNSAID, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US. ALL RIGHT. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL UP TO THE PODIUM. CHERYL BEAN TO ANNOUNCE NOMINEE FOR HD 94. YES. GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY, THERE WE GO. I GOT IT CONNECTED UP. OKAY, SO I AM CHERYL BEAN. I'M THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 94. THAT'S REPLACING TONY TINDERHOLT. THAT'S HEB IN ARLINGTON FOR THE MOST PART, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT. AND I JUST CAME BY TO SAY WE'RE 5 WEEKS OUT FROM EARLY VOTING. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING, AND I'VE TALKED TO A FEW OF YOU ABOUT THIS, IS PROPERTY TAXES AND THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE STATE AND WE ARE ALL PUSHING HARD TO REDUCE THEM. I'VE BEEN MONITORING FOR A WHILE. THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE HIDE OF THE CITIES. AND I THINK WE KNOW THAT. BUT I ALSO AM NOW CONFIDENT THAT YOU GUYS ARE IN THE POSITION WHERE YOUR MARGINS FOR ALL THOSE MARGINS ARE WITHIN THOSE RANKS, WHICH IS AWESOME. WHERE THEY ARE GOING NOW IS THE BIGGEST, YOU KNOW, THING THEY'RE DOING IS THE M&O FOR SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. THAT IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF PROPERTY TAX THAT WE PAY. AND THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT ON AS A STATE AND PAY IT THEMSELVES. THAT'S WHAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS PUSHING FOR. IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING IS THAT MEANS THE WHOLE ROBIN HOOD THING GOES AWAY WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION. SO THERE'LL BE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE THRILLED WITH THAT. AND IT ALSO CUTS OUR PRICES WITHOUT AFFECTING WHAT YOU NEED. BUT I'LL KEEP THAT ON WATCH AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES FOR PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO COUNCIL RECOGNITION PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 2026 AS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD. I'D LIKE TO CALL UP CAROLYN NUARDU WITH THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION OF SUICIDE PREVENTION IF SHE IS HERE NOW. MICHAEL WELLS, YOU DID SAY THAT SHE WOULD BE COMING TODAY. OKAY. IF COUNCIL IS ALL RIGHT WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON WITH OUR AGENDA, AND THEN WE'LL GIVE IT SOME MORE TIME. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT GIVE YOU CITY MANAGER ANDREA ROY. [CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT] THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD EVENING ALL. I WILL MOVE THROUGH OUR AGENDA, OUR CONSENT AGENDA, QUICKLY. [00:05:03] ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER 1, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM AUGUST 25TH OF 2026, OUR REGULAR MEETING ITEM 2 CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE ADOPTED BUDGET OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS FOR THE FISCAL PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2026. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY BUDGET AMENDMENT NUMBER 6 FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS INTENDED TO PRIMARILY ADDRESS YEAR END EXPENDITURE NEEDS IN THE WATER AND SEWER FUND AND OUR FACILITIES MAINTENANCE FUND TOTALING APPROXIMATELY $786,000. THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS AVAILABLE THROUGH EXISTING FUND BALANCES AND ARPA INTEREST REVENUES, WITH NO NEW ONGOING FUNDING REQUIRED. ITEM NUMBER 3 CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS, AMENDING SECTION 18-25 ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY BOARD OF ARTICLE 3, ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY BOARD OF CHAPTER 18 ANIMALS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS. BY ADDING 2 ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO THE BOARD. AS WAS NOTED, THE SUBJECT REQUEST WILL INCREASE THE GENERAL PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BOARD FROM 1 TO 3, INCREASING THE BOARD THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS TO 7. I THINK IT WAS NOTED IN THE ORDINANCE BURIED IN THERE THAT IT'S STILL AT 5. IT DOES INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER TO 7. SO THAT HAS BEEN CORRECTED SINCE THAT WAS NOTICED. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INTEREST IN SERVING ON THE BOARD AND LIMITING THAT TO 1 RESIDENT. WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO SHARE THE, SHARE THE FUN AND INCLUDE MORE FOLKS THAT ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED AND WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE. SO THAT'LL OPEN THAT ABILITY FOR THOSE FOLKS TO APPLY TO THAT POSITION. THERE IS NO FINANCIAL IMPLICATION TO THAT CHANGE ITEM NUMBER 4, CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY BEDFORD TEXAS AMENDING ARTICLE 4 BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES OF CHAPTER 2 ADMINISTRATION OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS. BY REMOVING DIVISION 3 CULTURAL ARTS ADVISORY BOARD AND AMENDING SECTION 2-66 MEETINGS OF DIVISION 6 FOR THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD. THIS SUBJECT REQUESTS WILL ADJUST THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF REQUIRED MEETINGS FOR THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD FROM 6 TIMES PER YEAR TO 4 MEETINGS OR QUARTERLY, AND IT WILL CALL FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE CULTURAL ARTS ADVISORY BOARD. THERE IS NO BUDGETARY IMPACT TO THIS, AND THIS IS REALLY JUST MORE OF RIGHTSIZING THE BOARDS BASED ON INTEREST NEED DEMAND ALONG THE WAY. AND THEN AGAIN, OBVIOUSLY, THOSE DATES FOR THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD. I THINK THAT WE FELT THAT 6 WAS A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH. AND 4 WOULD WOULD HIT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE TO MAKE SURE THOSE MEETINGS ARE FULL AND MEANINGFUL AND COVER THE TOPICS THAT WE NEED TO COVER. ITEM NUMBER 5 CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HER DESIGNEE TO RENEW AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITIES OF HURST AND EULESS FOR COMBINED JAIL SERVICES FOR THE CITIES OF HURST AND BEDFORD IN THE AMOUNT OF $713,064. SO THIS AGREEMENT RENEWS THE EXISTING PARTNERSHIP AMONG THE THREE CITIES FOR OUR JAIL SERVICES, WITH EULESS CONTINUING TO PROVIDE AND OPERATE THE JAIL. I KNOW THAT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE JAIL IS ACTUALLY OPERATING IN HURST AT THE MOMENT. BUT THAT IS A TEMPORARY MEASURE THAT WILL GO BACK TO EULESS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THIS 5 YEAR AGREEMENT RUNS FROM OCTOBER 1ST OF 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2031, WITH THE ANNUAL COST OF $713,000 AND AN OPTION TO EXTEND EXTEND IT FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIVE YEARS BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT. THE COST OF THAT CONTRACT IS MAXED OUT AT AN ANNUAL INCREASE OF 5% OVER THE YEARS. IT HAS TYPICALLY FALLEN BELOW THAT. AND THIS YEAR WE ACTUALLY ARE SEEING A DECREASE FROM LAST YEAR AS EVERYONE BECOMES MORE AND MORE EFFICIENT AND WORKS TOGETHER ON THAT, I THINK THAT WE'RE BENEFITING FROM SOME OF THOSE EFFICIENCIES. SO THAT COST IS ACTUALLY GOING DOWN FOR US. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE WITH THAT HERE FOR QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE CONSENT. MAYOR PRO TEM DAWKINS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANDREA, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED IT, BUT IN OUR PACKET IT STILL SAYS 5 VERSUS 7 FOR ITEM NUMBER 2. SO NO FINAL ORDINANCE. IT WILL BE CORRECTED. CORRECT. IT'S BEEN CHANGED. YES. THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU STAFF. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER 6 PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD, [6. Public hearing on the annual budget for the City of Bedford, Texas for the fiscal period of October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027; levying taxes for the 2026 tax year.] TEXAS FOR FISCAL PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027. LEVYING TAXES FOR THE 2026 TAX YEAR. I GIVE YOU OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, BRADY OLSON. HOWDY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. [00:10:01] THIS IS AND WE HAD A 2 HOUR WORK SESSION ON THE SIXTH AND ANOTHER MEETING ON THE 11TH. I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS FAIRLY HIGH LEVEL AND ON THE SHORTER END. BUT IF YOU DO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. MY MAIN GOAL IS TO LET CITIZENS BE AWARE OF THE MAIN CHANGES IN THIS, AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS DECISION TONIGHT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE MARCH. WE'VE BEEN HAVING HOURS AND HOURS OF MEETING WITH STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE REQUESTS ARE APPROPRIATE, THAT THEY HAVE THE FUNDS NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THEIR EXISTING SERVICES ARE MAINTAINED, BUT THAT THEY'RE ALSO RESPONSIBLY SPENDING THE FUNDS OF THE CITY. THOUGH THIS IS A CALENDAR FROM MARCH TO SEPTEMBER, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BUDGET IS A 365 DAY PROCESS. WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT COSTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SPENDING CITIZENS MONEY APPROPRIATELY, AND WE ARE USING THE RESOURCES IN THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY POSSIBLE. SO WE DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS THAT WERE OUTSIDE THE BUDGET PROCESS WHERE WE DID FIND SAVINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 1 OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS FROM THE INITIAL BUDGET UNTIL NOW WAS, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO CUT COSTS? AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THESE. BACK IN AUGUST OF 2024. WE WENT AND BROUGHT INVESTMENT CONSULTING IN-HOUSE. THAT IS A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO HANDLE IT IN-HOUSE. BACK IN JANUARY, WE CHANGED ELECTRIC PROVIDERS. WE FINALLY GOT TO SEE THAT SAVINGS THIS COMING THIS YEAR, AND MANY, MANY ELECTRIC LINE ITEMS WERE CUT IN THIS COMING BUDGET BECAUSE OF THOSE SAVINGS BACK IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET IN JULY, WE REDUCED SUPPLIES AND MAINTENANCE BUDGETS BY 6.56% WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS. IN OCTOBER, WE UPDATED OUR FEE SCHEDULE. THAT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE A CUT, BUT WHENEVER WE CHARGE FEES FOR SERVICES PEOPLE DIRECTLY RECEIVE, THAT'S MONEY WE DON'T HAVE TO RAISE IN TAXES, AND IT APPROPRIATELY CHARGES PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING THE BENEFIT AS OPPOSED TO THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE. BACK IN MARCH, WE REDUCED OUR LIABILITY INSURANCE. WE TOOK A HARD LOOK AT WHAT WE WERE ENSURING, WHAT OUR PAST CLAIMS WERE AND WHAT THOSE LEVELS WERE TO MAKE SURE WE WERE COVERED, BUT THAT WE WEREN'T OVER COVERED AND WE WERE ABLE TO FIND SOME REAL SAVINGS THERE AS WELL. ONE OF OUR HEALTH INSURANCE CAME IN AT 33%. WE DIDN'T JUST ACCEPT 33%. WE NEGOTIATED THAT DOWN, DOWN TO 11%. WELL, 11% IS STILL SIGNIFICANT. IT'S CERTAINLY NOT 33%. I SERVE ON A NONPROFIT BOARD, AND WE'RE SEEING THIS EVERYWHERE. AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO SEE THIS SORT OF REDUCTION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SEE BACK IN JULY. WE REORGANIZED SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SKILL SETS MATCH THE PEOPLE WE HAD, AND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BRING SOME SERVICES THAT WE WERE CONTRACTING OUT IN-HOUSE BECAUSE WE HAD THOSE SKILLS NOW. BUT WE'RE WE'RE CONSTANTLY MAKING SURE THAT THE SKILLS WE HAVE MATCH THE TALENT WE HAVE. AND IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING CHEAPER IN-HOUSE, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. BUT IF WE ARE ABLE TO DO IT CHEAPER AND AT THE SAME LEVEL OF EFFICIENCY BY USING A THIRD PARTY, WE EXPLORE THAT AS WELL. AND THEN FINALLY, WE'RE ONGOING. WE'RE RIGHTSIZING OUR FLEET. WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH VEHICLES FOR THE PEOPLE WE HAVE. WE'RE UTILIZING POOL VEHICLES. SO IF MAYBE YOU ONLY USE A VEHICLE ONCE EVERY WEEK OR SO, YOU AND 3 OTHER PEOPLE CAN USE THAT SAME VEHICLE AS OPPOSED TO THREE DIFFERENT VEHICLES BEING DEDICATED. AND WE'RE ALSO IMPLEMENTING A NEW IDLING POLICY TO HELP CUT DOWN ON SOME OF THAT GAS USAGE. SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT. WE'RE NOT JUST DOING THIS IN A ONE TIME BUDGET PROCESS. WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE SPENDING MONEY WISELY THIS ENTIRE YEAR. THERE'S ALSO BEEN A HANDFUL OF PROCUREMENT SUCCESSES. WE FOLLOW A STRICT PURCHASING POLICY SET BY THE STATE AND ALSO BY YOU AS THE CITY COUNCIL. WE CAN'T JUST GO BUY WHATEVER WE WANT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S A FAIRLY ACQUIRED AND ALSO THAT WE ARE SHOPPING WISELY. WE'RE SHOPPING AROUND, WE'RE COMPARING PRICES. WE'RE NOT ABLE TO LOWER THE PRICE ON EVERY BID WE DO, BUT WE TRY TO KEEP THE THE INCREASES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. THERE ARE 4 WE WERE ABLE TO LOWER RECENTLY. THAT'S PRINTING SERVICES, PEST CONTROL, OVERHEAD DOOR MAINTENANCE AND FIRE ALARM SERVICES. WE ALSO HAVE A RECENT SUCCESS STORY WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR BALL FIELDS THAT IS BRINGING REVENUE. IT'S NOT A COST, BUT THAT REVENUE DOES HELP OFFSET SOME OF THAT PROPERTY TAX NEED. SO SPENDING MONEY, BRINGING IT IN, WHATEVER IT TAKES, WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING THAT TAX BURDEN AS LOW AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR CITIZENS. SO ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE'VE CUT COSTS. SO WHY WHAT'S THE BUDGET DOING? WHENEVER A CITIZEN LOOKS AT THIS THESE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS. WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL POLICE, FIRE AND EMS. WE'RE KEEPING STREETS UP TO DATE. WE'RE RECRUITING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES. WE'RE ADVANCING REDEVELOPMENT. WE'RE INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY, AND WE'RE PROTECTING THE LONG TERM FINANCIAL HEALTH. A LOT OF CITIES, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR, AND THEY'RE DOING SOME SHORT TERM MEASURES TO FUND SOME THINGS THEY'D LIKE TO. THEY'RE TAKING SOME EASY CHOICES THAT ARE GOING TO PROBABLY HURT THEM LONG TERM. WE'RE NOT DOING THAT. THIS IS A SUSTAINABLE BUDGET LONG TERM THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF, AND THAT CAN LAST YEAR AFTER YEAR, [00:15:05] WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY SHORTCUTS. HERE ARE SOME SHORTCUTS THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO NAME THE CITIES. WHAT ARE SOME THINGS SOME FOLKS READ REISSUED SOME DEBT AT SOME INTEREST RATE SAVINGS RIGHT NOW THAT'S GOING TO COST A LOT MORE OVER TIME. YEAH, YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT A GOOD, NOT A GOOD DECISION RIGHT NOW. YEAH. SOMETIMES YOU CAN REISSUE IT AT SOME SAVINGS, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY DID. OH, WOW. OKAY. SO THE HIGHLIGHTS WHAT THIS BUDGET. WHY DID THE GENERAL FUND GO UP? THESE 4 ITEMS SUMMARIZE ALMOST THE ENTIRETY OF THE CHANGE IN THE GENERAL FUND. IT WENT UP 1.75 MILLION. THESE 4 ITEMS COST 1.65 MILLION. SO IF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THESE 4 ITEMS, YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THE GENERAL FUND INCREASED AND WHY THE PROPERTY TAX RATE WENT UP. ONCE WE FUNDED PUBLIC SAFETY STEP INCREASES HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS MORE. WE MADE SURE OUR POLICE AND FIRE HAD THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED TO KEEP GOING FORWARD. AND THEN WE DID A 2% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. THAT ALL TOGETHER, THAT THAT IS THE CHANGE IN THE GENERAL FUND. AND I WANTED TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF MISCONCEPTIONS. GOVERNMENT FINANCE IS UNIQUE. A LOT OF IT CAN BE COMPARED TO YOUR PERSONAL BUDGET OR YOUR BUSINESS'S BUDGET, BUT NOT EVERYTHING IS 1 TO 1, APPLES TO APPLES. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WERE AWARE OF A FEW TERMS. ONE IS A BALANCED BUDGET AND GOVERNMENT. A BALANCED BUDGET MEANS RECURRING REVENUES IS OVER RECURRING EXPENDITURES. YOUR PAYCHECK IS COVERING YOUR BILLS. IF YOU'RE SAVING UP A LITTLE BIT EVERY MONTH TO MAYBE BUY A CAR IN A YEAR, THAT MONTH YOU FINALLY BUY THAT CAR, YOU'RE SPENDING A LOT MORE THAN YOU TOOK IN THAT MONTH, BUT YOU'RE NOT OUT OF BALANCE. YOU WERE SAVING IT. IT WAS A PLANNED PURCHASE, JUST LIKE A CITY. WE'VE BEEN SAVING UP FOR AN ANIMAL SHELTER TO DO THOSE RENOVATIONS FOR A FEW YEARS, AND NOW WE HAVE THE MONEY, AND WE'RE SPENDING THAT AS A ONE TIME EXPENSE. OUR ONGOING REVENUES ARE ABOVE OUR ONGOING EXPENDITURES, SO WE ARE BALANCED, THOUGH WE ARE DRAWING DOWN OUR RESERVES FOR THIS ONE BIG CAPITAL PROJECT. WE ALSO HAVE ONE TIME REVENUES THAT HAPPEN. SO WE HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY. WE COULD SELL THAT PROPERTY AND WE COULD GET SOME MONEY. WE WOULDN'T WANT TO USE THAT MONEY TO THEN FUND 3 NEW POSITIONS, BECAUSE THAT MONEY IS NOT GOING TO BE THERE NEXT YEAR. BUT THOSE PEOPLE ARE WE ONLY USE THAT MONEY TO GO TO RESERVES TO FUND FUTURE ONE TIME PROJECTS. SELLING A PIECE OF PROPERTY IS NOT GOING TO IMPACT THE TAX RATE. WE CAN'T LOWER THE RATE BECAUSE OF THAT. SAME WITH ONE TIME EXPENDITURES. THAT DOES NOT IMPACT THE TAX RATE EITHER A SAVING UP FOR THIS ANIMAL SHELTER OR SAVING UP TO GET SOME PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS. THAT'S GETTING RID OF THAT ONE TIME EXPENSE. IT HAS NO IMPACT ON OUR ONGOING EXPENDITURES. IT HAS NO IMPACT ON OUR BALANCED BUDGET. AND IT DOESN'T IMPACT THE THE TAX RATE. IT JUST REDUCES OUR RESERVES. AND THEN FINALLY, OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, WHICH IS THE HARDEST TO KIND OF GRASP. THE BIGGEST ONE IS THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. ANYTIME SOMEONE COMES TO HOTEL IN THE CITY, THEY PART OF THAT TAX REVENUE GOES TO US AND WE HAVE TO SPEND THAT ON TOURISM. IT THERE'S PROBABLY A DISCONNECT. WHENEVER SOMEONE HEARS ME TALK ABOUT. WE'RE ADDING A NEW SLIDE FOR CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK, BUT WE'RE ALSO RAISING TAXES. WELL, UNFORTUNATELY THAT NEW SLIDE IS COMING OUT OF THE TOURISM FUND AND THAT MONEY HAS NO IMPACT ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATE. WE CAN'T USE. WE CAN ONLY USE THAT MONEY ON TOURISM EXPENSES. WE CAN'T USE THAT TO HELP WITH THE GENERAL FUND. SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF THOSE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS STORM WATER, WATER, WATER AND SEWER. OUR STREET MAINTENANCE FUND. THOSE CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON THOSE ITEMS. SO WHENEVER YOU HEAR US TALK ABOUT CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, THAT THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT CAN ONLY BE SPENT OUT OF THIS ONE SPECIFIC AREA THAT CAN'T BE SPENT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. AND I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW ALL OF THIS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE WHO'S LISTENING AT HOME MAYBE. EXACTLY. I DO APPRECIATE THAT. AND I ALWAYS TRY TO SAY THE SAME THING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE THERE IS, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S A DISCONNECT. WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD BEATS AND EATS THIS WEEKEND, RIGHT? AND WE SAID, OH, SO THEY'RE HAVING THIS HUGE FESTIVAL AND THEN YOU RAISE MY TAXES. WELL, IT'S A DIFFERENT FUND. IT'S A DIFFERENT POOL. IT'S NOT THE SAME. JUST LEGALLY CANNOT BE SPENT ON ANYTHING BUT TOURISM. CORRECT? EXACTLY. HERE IS THE TAX RATE THAT IS CURRENTLY $0.52. IN ORDER TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO UP TO $0.55, WHICH IS ABOUT 2 AND A HALF CENT INCREASE, SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PAST, BUT I WANTED TO TOUCH ON TODAY. A LOT OF CITIES AROUND US HAVE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. WE DON'T HAVE THAT. GENERALLY FOR RESIDENTS PROPERTIES IN OUR CITY, SOMETHING WE DO HAVE WHICH IS LESS CATCHY AND KIND OF HARDER TO EXPLAIN, IS THE SALES TAX ADJUSTMENT RATE, THE SALES TAX ADJUSTMENT RATE. A QUARTER OF OUR SALES TAX GOES TO LOWERING OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE. NOT EVERY CITY HAS THAT. WITHOUT THAT, OUR TAX RATE COULD BE $0.65, WHICH IS $0.08 HIGHER THAN OUR CURRENT VOTER APPROVAL RATE. SO AS OPPOSED TO HAVING A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, WE HAVE THIS SALES TAX RATE THAT IS LOWERING OUR TAX BILLS BY $0.08. SO IT'S KIND OF THEY'RE BOTH GOOD TOOLS. WE JUST HAVE THIS TOOL AND WE DON'T HAVE THE TOOL WITH LIKE THE EASIER NAME. [00:20:04] CORRECT. AND THIS TOOL WAS VOTED ON BY THE RESIDENTS. IT WAS I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE 90S, LIKE 90 OR 95, I THINK IT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT IN 95. AND SO THEY USE THAT AS A MECHANISM TO, TO LOWER, OBVIOUSLY LOWER THAT RATE, THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE. AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT IN THERE BECAUSE IN THE PAST WE'VE NOT REALLY SEEN WHAT THAT SALES TAX NUMBER ACTUALLY DOES TO TO OUR BUDGET AND TO THE TAX RATE. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY BENEFICIAL TO THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED, WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. WHY DON'T WE DO THAT? THE CITY DECIDED TO GO THAT ROUTE BACK IN THE 90S AND IT WAS VOTED ON BY THE PUBLIC. SO IT'S NOT LIKE SOMETHING WE COULD THAT WE COULD TAKE AWAY OR DO ANYTHING WITH. IT'S SOMETHING WE LIVE WITH NOW AND TO OUR BENEFIT. YES, IT'S 2 GOOD OPTIONS. WE WENT WITH THIS ONE. IT'S HARD TO HAVE BOTH. EXACTLY. YES. AND THEN ONCE AGAIN, OUR PROPOSED BUDGET IS THE $0.56. SO NOT GOING COMPLETELY TO THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE. SO THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE WAS 57. AND STAFF FELT THAT GOING TO 56 STILL MEETS EVERYTHING. OUR CRITERIA STILL MEETS NO CUTS TO SERVICE. AND WE DECIDED TO KIND OF LEAVE LEAVE SOME ON THE TABLE, SO TO SPEAK. YES, SIR. AND WE'RE PROUD TO PUT FORWARD A BUDGET THAT THIS IS THE 1ST TIME WE'RE BELOW THAT VOTER APPROVAL RATE FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT IN AT LEAST AS FAR AS OUR OUR SPREADSHEET WENT BACK. YOU SAID, A DECADE BEFORE AT LEAST A DECADE, AT LEAST A DECADE WHERE THE CITY HAS NOT GONE TO THE TO THE COMPLETE VOTER APPROVAL RATE. SO I THINK THAT'S THAT SAYS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT TO STAFF AND WHAT YOU GUYS ACCOMPLISHED HERE. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM DAWKINS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO BRADY, GOING BACK TO THE SALES ADJUSTMENT RATE. SO IF WE ARE PROACTIVE IN GETTING MORE BUSINESSES IN HERE THAT THAT WILL JUST BENEFIT OVER US OVERALL BECAUSE THEN WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL SALES TAX THAT WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT WHAT RESIDENTS PAY IN THE SALES TAX OR PROPERTY TAX. YES, MA'AM. AND THEN I DON'T KNOW IF WE, WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR PREVIOUS WORK SESSION, THE, THE NEED TO GO TO THIS PROPOSED RATE AS OPPOSED TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. YES. SO THAT IS THAT DIFFERENCE IS NEEDED TO FUND THE FOUR ITEMS MENTIONED EARLIER. THE POLICE AND FIRE STEPS. THE 2% COLA. THE HEALTH INSURANCE. OKAY. NO, I THINK PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK, WELL, IF THERE'S A RATE WHERE WE COULD GET THE SAME REVENUE THAT WE DID IN THE PAST YEAR, LIKE WHY ARE WE ASKING FOR MORE? SO JUST SO IT'S EXPLICIT OF LIKE, WHY WE'RE NOT ALSO NOT DOING THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. YES, YES. OUR OTHER REVENUES WERE GENERALLY FLAT. SO THE ONLY WAY TO PAY FOR THIS WAS RAISING THAT TAX RATE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. EXACTLY. AND LOOKING LOOKING AT THAT THAT TAX RATE. SO OBVIOUSLY GOING WE HAD TO RAISE. I'M JUST GOING TO ROUGHLY ESTIMATE HERE ABOUT $0.03 JUST TO GO TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WHICH IS OF COURSE JUST TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF SERVICES THAT THAT WE PROVIDED LAST YEAR. OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU MENTIONED IN THAT SLIDE, THE COSTS WENT UP. JUST FOR THE RECORD, OUR 2% COLA WAS ABOUT $935,000 TO THE CITY, WHICH IS JUST A 2% INCREASE FOR COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. AND SO THAT RIGHT THERE IS A BIG CHUNK OF THAT INCREASE, WHICH I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT EVERY YEAR AFTER WE GOT WE GOT TO PAY OUR EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE TO THEY EXPECT TO GET A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT AND THEY DESERVE IT. YOU ALL DESERVE IT. ANYONE WHO DOES WORK DESERVES TO TO SEE THAT INCREASE. SO WE DON'T THINK I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T DON'T SEE THAT THAT WAY. AND, AND OF COURSE, HEALTH INSURANCE AND BENEFITS, HEALTH INSURANCE AND BENEFITS THIS YEAR, 258,000. SO THOSE 2 ITEMS ALONE IS 1.1 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL COST TO OUR CITY. AND REAL QUICK THE, THAT PUTS US TO ONE MORE CENT, BASICALLY TO GET UP TO WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING, WHAT STAFF IS PROPOSING AT 0.56. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THAT $0.01 ONLY GENERATES ABOUT 678,000 IN PROPERTY TAXES. 675 WELL, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WITH THE SENIOR FREEZE, IT'S CLOSER TO. 575. WOW. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO I OVERESTIMATED THAT. SO. SO SO YEAH. SO WITH THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT WE FALL SHORT IN THAT CASE. AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE MADE THOSE, THOSE CUTS YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET TO ACTUALLY GET TO COVER THOSE, THOSE NEW EXPENSES. SO SO I DON'T WANT PEOPLE THINKING THAT THAT $0.01 IS RAISING TAXES, $1 MILLION. IT'S NOT. WE HAD TO CUT OTHER PLACES IN ORDER TO MEET IT, JUST TO GIVE OUR RESIDENTS 2% RAISE JUST TO COVER HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS. YES, SIR. THERE WAS A WHOLE BUNCH OF INFLATION EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE BUDGET THAT WE WERE TRYING TO COUNTERACT ELSEWHERE. AND THESE 4, THE 4 ITEMS HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER, WERE BASICALLY THE NET OF ALL OF THAT WORK. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THIS IS TO TOUCH ON THE TAX RATE IMPACT, WHICH IS IT'S A REAL IMPACT OF [00:25:07] $11 PER MONTH ON AVERAGE HOME. THAT IS THAT'S MONEY OUT OF OUR CITIZENS POCKET. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO RECOMMEND, BUT IT IS WHAT'S NEEDED TO FUND THIS BUDGET. AS A REMINDER, IF YOU'RE A FEW YEARS CLEAR OF 65, THIS IS MOST LIKELY NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY IMPACT ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL. WHAT YOU'RE GETTING FOR THIS COST. GETTING POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION. YOU'RE GETTING STREETS. YOU'RE GETTING A PARK. YOU'RE GETTING LIBRARIES, YOU'RE GETTING YOUR SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER. YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF AMAZING THINGS FOR WHAT THIS BILL IS GOING TO. AND THEN I'M GOING FAIRLY HIGH LEVEL ON THESE. THEY'RE MAINLY JUST FOR REFERENCE SAKE. SO IF SOMEONE PULLED IT UP, THEY'D BE ABLE TO SEE. BUT A TOTAL OF $108 MILLION, ABOUT HALF OF. THAT'S THE GENERAL FUND. WE'RE SPENDING ABOUT $110 MILLION. BUT OF THAT, ABOUT 5 MILLION IS ONE TIME. SO WE ARE GENERALLY TAKING IN MORE MONEY THAN WE'RE SPENDING GOING FORWARD. SO OF THAT $110 MILLION INCREASING LARGE CHUNK OF THAT IS A PASS THROUGH WITH TRA OUR PURCHASE WATER AND OUR PURCHASE WASTEWATER AND THEN POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS ARE LARGE PORTIONS OF WHAT WE SPEND AS A CITY. ABOUT HALF OF OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE COMES FROM PROPERTY TAXES ABOUT A QUARTER COMES FROM SALES TAX. THAT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT $51 MILLION THIS COMING YEAR. AND WHAT WE'RE SPENDING ON IS ABOUT $54 MILLION, THOUGH THAT INCLUDES OVER $3 MILLION IN ONE TIME EXPENDITURES, WITH MOST OF THAT BEING THE ANIMAL SHELTER. MOST OF OUR MONEY DOES GO TO POLICE AND FIRE WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS MAKING UP THE REST. IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY TOUCH THE BUDGET, IT'S HARD TO DO WITHOUT TOUCHING PEOPLE. THEY MAKE UP 74% OF OUR GENERAL FUND. AND THEN JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, THESE ARE SOME OF THE BIGGER CHANGES THAT HAPPEN IN THE GENERAL FUND. IF ANYONE WAS CURIOUS AT THE LEVEL OF DETAIL, THEY CAN LOOK AT THIS. WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS BEFORE WE PRESENTED AT THE BUDGET WORK SESSION, BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE LARGER LINE ITEMS THAT CHANGE AND WHAT MAKE UP WHAT WE DISCUSSED EARLIER. AND THESE ARE THE SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET. WE DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE DIDN'T JUST SAY YES TO EVERY REQUEST OUR DEPARTMENTS MADE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT WE JUST DIDN'T THINK WE COULD RESPONSIBLY FUND THIS YEAR. THEY WERE NEEDS. WE. WE THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON THIS BUDGET PROBABLY NEXT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. BUT WE THOUGHT WE COULD MAKE DO THIS COMING YEAR. THE DESIRE TO BE AS RESPONSIBLE OF THE PUBLIC MONEY AS POSSIBLE. AND THEN THESE ARE THE REST OF OUR FUNDS. DEBT SERVICE FUND IS STAYING PRETTY FLAT. IT'S NOT REALLY INCREASING BY ANY SIGNIFICANT LEVEL. OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THEY'RE FAIRLY HEALTHY. THEY'RE PRETTY EVEN WHERE REVENUES ARE ABOUT EXPENDITURES. WATER AND SEWER FUND IS JUST BECOMING A LARGER AND LARGER PART OF WHAT OUR BUDGET IS. OUR RATES WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THEY DO GO UP ABOUT 5.5%. AN AVERAGE SUMMER BILL IS GOING TO GO UP MAYBE JUST UNDER $11. BUT OF THAT $0.50 IS THE CITY PORTION, $10.50 IS TRA. SO WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO KEEP OUR COSTS UNDER CONTROL. IT'S JUST IT COSTS MORE AND MORE TO GET WATER. NOW, THIS IS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE UNDER THE REVENUE REQUIREMENTS. AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT OUR OUR WATER AND SEEWER FUND IS BEING SOLVENT GOING FORWARD AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE WATER WHENEVER YOU TURN ON YOUR TAP. THESE ARE ALL OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS. THESE ARE THE SPECIAL POTS OF MONEY THAT CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON THESE SPECIFIC ITEMS. I WILL NOTICE A NOTE THAT ONLY 1 CHANGE FROM THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO TODAY'S ALTERED PROPOSED BUDGET. WE INCLUDED A $40,000 ITEM FOR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DECORATION REFRESH THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SPENT TO THAT LEVEL, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE AUTHORIZED GOING FORWARD TO JUST LOOK AT WAYS WE COULD IMPROVE AND HELP CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS. PRETTY GOOD. IT'S CELEBRATED. ALL RIGHT. AND AND ALSO THAT'S COMING OUT OF HOT TAX. YEAH. TOURISM FUND HAS NO IMPACT ON THE TAX RATE OR THE GENERAL FUND. OKAY. YES. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. THESE ARE OUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS. THESE ARE JUST MONEY WE SET ASIDE FOR GENERAL REPLACEMENT AND MAINTENANCE. AND THESE ARE OUR LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND WHERE THEY'RE BEING FUNDED FROM. WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON ISSUING ANY NEW DEBT THIS YEAR TO FUND THESE PROJECTS. THIS IS MONEY ON HAND THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE FOR THESE NEXT STEPS. TONIGHT WITH COUNCIL APPROVAL, WE'D BE ADOPTING THE BUDGET, THE TAX RATE, AND THE WATER AND SEWER RATES, AS WELL AS THE 2 OR 3 OTHER STATE REQUIRED ORDINANCES. WE HAVE TO PASS IF WE, IF WE DO THOSE THINGS. AND THEN AS A REMINDER, THERE IS SOME SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT YOU HAVE TO USE WHENEVER PROPOSING THE TAX RATE. BUT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. [00:30:01] ANY QUESTIONS FOR [INAUDIBLE] UP HERE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE FLOOR AT 6:30. SO PUBLIC PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. SO IF THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED IN COMMENTING ABOUT THE BUDGET, NOW IS YOUR TIME. I THINK THE MAD RUSH HERE. SINCE WE'RE ON BUDGET AND WE'LL WAIT HERE SINCE WE'RE ON BUDGET. BRADY, DO YOU DO YOU HAVE ANY PEOPLE COME VISIT YOU FOR YOUR OFFICE HOURS? WE HAVE 12 HOURS AVAILABLE, OFFICE HOURS. AND WE HAD 2 VISITORS, WHICH IS, I THINK TWO MORE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT, I AGREE, I AGREE. I AGREE. THANK YOU ALL FOR THANK YOU FOR MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS FOR FOR THAT. AND I'M GLAD THAT THE TWO RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, THAT CAME TOOK A PART OF IT. SO THAT'S GOOD. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 631. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED 2026 TAX RATE, WHICH AGAIN, [7. Public hearing to consider the proposed 2026 tax rate.] I THINK YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SAY THE SAME THINGS. THE SAME EXACT THINGS. YES, EXACTLY. OKAY. NOTHING NEW. NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. FANTASTIC. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:31. AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO COMMENT ABOUT THE TAX RATE, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME. YOU MENTIONED TEXAS TECH ONE. THEY BEAT THE POWERHOUSE OF ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY. OH, WOW. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE. SINCE NOT SEEING ANYBODY HERE, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE AT 6:32. OKAY, THAT TAKES CARE OF ITEM NUMBER 6 AND 7, ITEM NUMBER 8. [8. Consider an ordinance adopting the annual budget for the City of Bedford, Texas for the fiscal period of October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027; providing for intra-fund and/or intra-departmental transfers; providing for investment of idle funds; and declaring an effective date.] CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS FOR FISCAL PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027 AND PROVIDING INTERFUND AND OR INTER-DEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS, PROVIDING AN INVESTMENT OF IDLE FUNDS AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ALL RIGHT. WE WOULD RECOMMEND ADOPTING THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM, WHICH I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE FIRST MOTION TO ADOPT THE BUDGET. DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL. LET'S GO AND VOTE. AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU STAFF. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE OF LEVYING TAXES FOR TAX YEAR 2026 FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD, [9. Consider an ordinance levying taxes for the Tax Year 2026 for the City of Bedford, Texas; establishing the Ad Valorem Tax Rate of ____________ per one hundred dollars valuation; providing for the apportionment of taxes for interest and sinking and for general operating needs; providing penalties and interest for delinquent taxes; and providing an effective date.] TEXAS, ESTABLISHING AN AD VALOREM TAX RATE OF 0.566599 PER $100 VALUATION PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT. APPORTIONMENT OF TAXES FOR INTEREST IN SINKING FOR THE GENERAL OPERATING NEEDS, PROVIDING PENALTIES AND INTEREST FOR DELINQUENT TAXES, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS ACTUALLY SETTING THE TAX RATE. I'LL GO AHEAD. AND I BASICALLY WENT AHEAD. I'LL MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF TAX RATE OF 0.566599, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 2.31% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. SO THAT IS MY MOTION. AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU STAFF. NUMBER 10. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, AS REFLECTED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 CITY OF BEDFORD BUDGET. [10. Consider a resolution to ratify the property tax increase as reflected in the FY 2026-2027 City of Bedford Budget.] ALL RIGHT. SO THIS ONE IS MICHAEL WELLS. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. THIS WAS A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE WHERE ANY KIND OF INCREASE PASSED THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. WE HAVE TO TAKE A SEPARATE VOTE ON THIS JUST TO SAY THAT WE ARE GOING PAST THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. OKAY. WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO GIVE RAISES TO YOUR EMPLOYEES, THAT GIVES YOU A DIFFERENT CARD. THAT'S MORE COST. PLUS, WE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT HEALTH INSURANCE AND BENEFITS COST MORE AS WELL. SO YOU HAVE TO GO PAST THE NO NEW REVENUE. OKAY. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ONE SINCE I'M ALREADY ON A ROLL. OH, ACTUALLY, SINCE I'M ALREADY ON A ROLL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION ON THIS ONE AND WE'LL HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER AMY SABOL. GO AHEAD AND VOTE. AND THAT PASSES AGAIN UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU. STAFF ITEM NUMBER 11. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF WATER RATES BY AMENDMENT OF SECTION 1, ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 3450, [11. Consider an ordinance amending the schedule of water rates by amendment of Section 1. Ordinance No. 2025-3450 and amending the schedule of sewer rates by amendment of Section 1., Ordinance No. 2025-3451; providing a repealing clause; providing a severability clause; and declaring an effective date.] [00:35:02] AND AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF SEWER RATES BY AMENDMENT OF SECTION ONE, ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 3451, PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ALL RIGHT. SO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER BRADY OLSON, WE DO RECOMMEND THE INCREASE IN THE ORDINANCE. THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO THE TRA, TRA TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY PASS THROUGH. OKAY. AND HOW MUCH IS OUR PORTION OF THAT THAT YOU MENTIONED BEFORE FOR THIS RATING? SO THE AVERAGE SUMMER BILL IS GOING TO BE ABOUT AN INCREASE A LITTLE LESS LESS THAN $11. OUR PORTION IS ABOUT $0.50. OKAY. EXACTLY. SO MOST OF THIS WE'RE JUST PASSING ON THE COSTS THAT TRA HAS KIND OF IMPOSED UPON US TO OUR RESIDENTS. YES, SIR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. AND WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER LEMMAN. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. IT'S NOT WORKING WELL. WE VOTED. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU STAFF. ALL RIGHT. GETTING WORD. SO WE HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PROCLAMATION. [COUNCIL RECOGNITION] IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND SKIP BACK TO OUR BEGINNING OF OUR OF OUR AGENDA FOR OUR COUNCIL RECOGNITION. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 2026 AS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE PODIUM CAROLINE NUARDU WITH THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION. GOOD EVENING. I'M CAROLINE, I ADVOCATE FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION BECAUSE I LOST MY SISTER MICHELLE, 8 YEARS AGO ON AUGUST THE 6TH. MICHELLE'S PRESENCE LEFT A LASTING IMPRINT THAT THE SILENCE IS SO LOUD AFTER SHE. SHE PASSED THE WAY SHE CARED FOR OTHERS, THE WAY SHE SMILED AND JOKED ALL THE TIME. WE DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS STRUGGLING. AND SO THAT'S HOW I CAME TO FIND OUT ABOUT AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION. I DO PROGRAMING AND WE OFFER FREE PROGRAMING TO ANY OF THE CITY'S RESIDENTS, SCHOOLS, COMPANIES. WE WERE AT AMERICAN AIRLINES CAMPUS TODAY. THEY THEY CARVED OUT SOME TIME FOR US TO TALK TO THEIR PEOPLE THERE TODAY. SO WE'D LOVE TO PARTNER WITH ANYBODY, ANY OF THE CITIZENS OF BEDFORD. AGAIN AT NO FINANCIAL EXPENSE TO THEM. ABSOLUTELY. SO ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, I WANT TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 2026 AS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH AND SPECIFICALLY THE 10TH AS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY. YOUR PROCLAMATION IS A POWERFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SUICIDE AS A CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAT TOUCHES EVERY COMMUNITY. YOUR EFFORTS BRING HOPE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST, AND DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU STAND BEHIND YOUR RESIDENTS WITH COMPASSION AND RESOLVE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CAROLINE, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR YOUR STORY. AND I KNOW THAT KNOWING THAT WE HAVE THIS THIS ORGANIZATION HERE TO HELP OUT OUR COMMUNITY, HELP OUT OUR RESIDENTS. SO THAT'S SOBVIOUSLY MUCH NEEDED. I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PARTNER GOING FORWARD. SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND RE AD OUR PROCLAMATION, IF YOU DON'T MIND. WHEREAS SUICIDE IS A PREVENTABLE NATIONAL AND STATEWIDE PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM AND A SIGNIFICANT CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING AMONG YOUTH AND OLDER ADULTS. WHEREAS MORE THAN 49,000 INDIVIDUALS DIED BY SUICIDE IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2025, AND MILLIONS OF ADULTS REPORTED SERIOUS THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE OR ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, HIGHLIGHTING THE CONTINUED NEED FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION EFFORTS. WHEREAS, SUICIDE IS A COMPLEX AND CAN BE INFLUENCED BY MULTIPLE FACTORS INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, SUBSTANCE USE, PHYSICAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, PAIN, PAST TRAUMA, AND STRESSFUL LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES. WHEREAS, STIGMA AND NEGATIVE ATTITUDES SURROUNDING SUICIDE AND MENTAL HEALTH CAN DISCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS FROM SEEKING HELP. WHILE OPEN CONVERSATIONS, [00:40:01] RECOGNIZING WARNING SIGNS AND ENCOURAGING THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO SEEK ASSISTANCE CAN SAVE LIVES, EVERYONE HAS A ROLE IN SUICIDE PREVENTION. AN ORGANIZATION SUCH AS THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION ARE DEDICATED TO SAVING LIVES AND BRINGING HOPE THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY SUICIDE AND SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS SHOULD PROMOTE AWARENESS, REDUCE STIGMA, INCREASE ACCESS TO QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH AND CRISIS SERVICES, ENCOURAGE STRATEGIES THAT IMPROVE SAFETY, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DAN COGAN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS, AND THE CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 2026 AS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON. MOVING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. WE DO HAVE OUR REPORTS. SO I'LL START OFF WITH MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS. [12. Mayor/Council Member Reports] FIRST OFF I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT A FEW OF US HERE ON COUNCIL WERE LAST TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST ALONG WITH THE CHAMBER CELEBRATED THE REOPENING OF BOJANGLES. SO SOME OF YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT BOJANGLES WERE WAS CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS. I KNOW THEY'RE NEW. I KNOW THEY'VE ONLY BEEN OPEN LIKE A YEAR AND A HALF, BUT THEY WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE THE FOOTPRINT WAS A LITTLE BIT SMALLER FOR THEIR REFRESH FOR FOR ALL OF THE BOJANGLES. SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE A TEST SUBJECT OF SORTS. AND THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB IN THERE. AND I WAS HAPPY TO HAPPY TO SEE EVERYTHING. AND ONE THING THAT I LIKED THAT THEY ADDED, THEY ADDED A COMMUNITY PAGE WHICH SHOWED ALL OF THE DIFFERENT EVENTS IN BEDFORD. SO AS PEOPLE ARE, ARE KIND OF HANGING OUT THERE AND ORDERING, THEY CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN BEDFORD. SO VERY, VERY GOOD THING. GO CHECK OUT AND SUPPORT LOCAL AND GO CHECK OUT BOJANGLES THERE. AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT WE HAD KIND OF A BIG EVENT OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND. OUR SIGNATURE EVENT BEATS AND EATS. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT AND SUPPORT. I KNOW IT WAS A LITTLE TOASTY, A LITTLE HOT. IT WAS DEFINITELY THE HOTTEST WE'VE WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST 4 YEARS. BUT THAT BEING SAID FROM, FROM ALL ACCOUNTS AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE THAT, THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO, IT WAS A PHENOMENAL EVENT. PARMELEE AND MISTER DON FELDER DID A GREAT JOB PERFORMING FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AND I KNOW AS SOON AS THE SUN WENT DOWN, THE. IT COOLED OFF QUITE A BIT. SO SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT TRANSITION. AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF FOR BEING OUT THERE. MY GOODNESS, YOU GUYS WORK SO HARD ON THIS EVENT. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE OUT THERE IN THE BLAZING HEAT FOR MOST OF THE DAY AND EVEN AFTER. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING OUT THERE AND, AND WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS, I DO APPRECIATE AND, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I JUST WANT TO SEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU. AND WE ARE NOW AFTER TODAY'S MEETING, WE HAVE NOW CONCLUDED THE BUDGET CYCLE. AND I CAN HEAR THE APPLAUSE AND CHEERS AND FROM FROM STAFF AND EVERYONE ELSE. BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THOUGH, I. IT'S NEVER. IT'S ALWAYS HARD WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO RAISE A TAX RATE. AND WE ALL KNOW WHY WE HAVE TO DO IT. I MEAN, IT WAS FORCED UPON US BY THE TARRANT COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT FROM NOT APPROVING APPRAISING VALUATIONS THAT LED TO A DEFICIT. WE MADE OUR CUTS, BUT AS DEMONSTRATED, WE. WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES WERE PAID. WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE OFFERED COMPETITIVE BENEFITS TO OUR EMPLOYEES. AND THAT'S WHY THE COSTS WERE THERE. SO, YOU KNOW, KUDOS TO EVERYBODY WHO WORKED ON THAT BUDGET AND, AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND YOU WORK HARD FOR OUR RESIDENTS. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS NEXT YEAR AND WHAT I WILL SAY TO THE RESIDENTS, AS LONG WE'LL SEE WHAT THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS IN STORE. BUT AS LONG AS TAD GOES AHEAD AND APPRAISES VALUATIONS AS THEY SHOULD CORRECTLY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION NEXT YEAR FOR THE BUDGET CYCLE. FOR FOR THE MOST PART, I FORESEE US PROBABLY GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PROBABLY HAVE TO LOWER THE RATE BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH NEW PROPERTY COMING ON, PLUS THE ADDITION OF THE CORRECT EVALUATIONS. I SEE THAT IN OUR NEAR FUTURE. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MUCH DIFFERENT CONVERSATION NEXT YEAR. SO WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE DOWN THE LINE THERE. MAYOR PRO TEM DAWKINS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND YOU KIND OF STOLE THE I'M SORRY. WELL, NO. AND YOU KNOW, YOU GET TO GO 1ST AS MAYOR. BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THE PHENOMENAL EVENT FOR BEATS AND EATS AND ESPECIALLY BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH PROMOTER LINE TO TURN ON A DIME TO GET DON FELDER IN LIGHT OF OUR HEADLINER, YOU KNOW, HAVING MEDICAL ISSUES AND THANK ALL STAFF AND BRADY [00:45:09] GETTING THROUGH THE BUDGET SEASON, WE MADE DIFFICULT CHOICES. AND I APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGER AND THE STAFF WORKING TO EVALUATE WHAT WE REALLY NEED. AND PRESENTING A BUDGET FOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE CITY AS A WHOLE. AND THE PARKS BOARD, I WASN'T ABLE TO MEET LAST WEEK. SO THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS FOR, FOR THIS WEEK. I'M STILL GETTING USED TO YOU HAVING BEING ON THE PARKS BOARD, SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A SECOND. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WELL, I TOO WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO BRADY. HARD WORK, NEW TO HIS JOB, AND HE EXPLAINED THINGS SO WELL AND PUT HIMSELF OUT THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. AND I THINK THAT'S COMMENDABLE. BUT AS YOUR LIBRARY LIAISON, I HAVE THINGS TO REPORT. AND I JUST LOST MY REPORT THROUGH THE MAGIC. OKAY. NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY IS A TIME YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR LIBRARY. YOU CAN DONATE STARTING NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 17TH. AND THIS YEAR, THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S LITERACY INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE PURCHASE OF READING AND STEM KITS, AS WELL AS FUNDING READING CHALLENGES THAT GIVE CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN BOOKS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THAT NEW BOOK VENDING MACHINE. THESE PROGRAMS WILL HELP ENCOURAGE A LOVE OF READING, PROVIDE HANDS ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND ENSURE ALL OUR CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS THEY CAN ENJOY AT HOME. ALSO THROUGH THE LIBRARY, YOU CAN NOW UPDATE YOUR ACCOUNT TO RECEIVE MESSAGES IF YOU WOULD. SO LIKE YOU LOG INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AND YOU CAN DECIDE YOUR PREFERRED DELIVERY METHOD. AND THAT'S IT. OUR LIBRARY IS ALWAYS UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST AND GREATEST THEY ARE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER LEMMAN. HELLO. THERE WE GO. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE. THANK YOU STAFF. THANK YOU, BRADY, FOR OUR BUDGET. I'M NEW TO THIS, SO IT'S ALL I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE ISN'T IT? IT IS. AND HE MAKES IT SO SIMPLE. AND HE BREAKS IT DOWN IN LITTLE CHUNKS THAT EVEN I UNDERSTAND, WHICH IS AMAZING. BEATS AND EATS PHENOMENAL. THE STAFF THAT WAS THERE, Y'ALL WERE OUT THERE THE ENTIRE DAY, WHICH IS AMAZING. POLICE DEPARTMENT I WANT TO THANK FOR MAKING SURE EVERYBODY WAS SAFE, WELL HYDRATED. I DON'T THINK I PASSED ANYONE WHO DIDN'T SAY GET YOUR BOTTLE OF WATER. SO THAT WAS NICE. AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT EVENT. THE MUSIC WAS TOP NOTCH. OKAY, SO MY ANIMAL SHELTER IS DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL. I'M VERY EXCITED. AND WE ARE HAVING, WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY ARE HAVING THEIR OPEN HOUSE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAMPUS ON THE 17TH NEXT THURSDAY. SO I WELCOME EVERYBODY TO COME OUT 5:30 TO 8. GRAB A HOT DOG, SAY HI TO EVERYBODY, MEET ROCKY BECAUSE HE'S SO PRECIOUS. AND ADOPT A DOG OR CAT, PLEASE. WE HAVE TOPPED OR CAPPED OUR CAT AND KITTEN INTAKE FOR RIGHT NOW, SO YOU CAN'T DROP OFF ANY CATS OR KITTENS. SO COME ADOPT 1 OR 2 OR 3 OR 4. AND WE FRIENDS OF THE BEDFORD ANIMAL SHELTER, WE ARE DOING A T SHIRT DESIGN. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE PARTICIPATION IN THAT. WE'VE ONLY HAD A COUPLE SUBMISSIONS AND WE'RE GIVING AWAY A NICE PRIZE. AND OF COURSE YOU GET RECOGNITION FOR IT. SO I WOULD LOVE ANYBODY WHO IS ARTSY OR VERY CREATIVE TO SEND US IN YOUR DESIGNS, PLEASE. OKAY. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANKS. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. DITTO ON EVERYTHING. BUDGET, OUTSTANDING JOB. AND IT'S TOUGH. AND THE MAYOR IS RIGHT. IT'S TOUGH TO TO INCREASE TAXES, BUT YOU GOT TO DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO BECAUSE WE GOT GREAT STAFF AND WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM. AND WE WANT TO PROVIDE OUTSTANDING SERVICES. BEATS AND EATS WAS ANOTHER GREAT EVENT. IT WAS IT THE POOR MAYOR HAD TO EAT ALL THAT STUFF IN THE HEAT. IT WAS. IT WAS HOT OUT REALLY EARLY, BUT IT WAS A GOOD EVENT. AND A COUPLE OF THINGS COMING UP. WE HAVEN'T HAD A SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD MEETING YET, BUT WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE WORKING ON SOME STUFF ON THAT. THE CHAMBER'S GALA IS NEXT A WEEK FROM SATURDAY, WHICH IS GOOD. AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M GOING TO BRAG A LITTLE BIT. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT TO GO TO THE TITANS AND BUSINESS DINNER FOR THE AREA. GLENN MILLER, WHO'S WITH LINEBARGER WAS HONORED, BUT ALSO LOCAL RESIDENT PHIL FARCO WAS HONORED AS A TITAN IN BUSINESS FOR MASON DALLAS FOR [00:50:03] 60 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY OF NOISE AND SOUND CONTROL. HE'S DONE EVERYTHING FROM THE BASS HALL TO THE MEYERSON TO OTHER THINGS. AND HE WAS HONORED AS A TITAN IN BUSINESS IN FORT WORTH, AND WE WERE PRETTY DANG PROUD OF HIM. VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI. I AGREE WITH EVERYONE. I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT. THANK YOU. I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY MOTION TO ADJOURN. OH, NO WE'RE NOT. [LAUGHTER] NO, NO WE CAN'T. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, CITY MANAGER STAFF REPORTS. I ALSO I TO HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT, MAYOR. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. SO NEXT UP, WE DO HAVE SOME EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. [EXECUTIVE SESSION] SO PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072, SECTION 551.087 AND SECTION 551.071. SO WE WILL BE BACK. WE GOOD. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE RETURN BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THERE IS NO ACTION TO BE TAKEN. [14. Take any action necessary as a result of the Executive Session.] SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO ADJOURN, PLEASE. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A FIRST FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI. I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN COUNCIL MEMBER LEMMAN. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE VERBAL VOTE OF AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO BE ADJOURNED AT 07:48. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.