City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Workshop council meeting for the city of Coppers Cove, Texas held January 20th, 2026 is called to order at 5:00 pm. Madam Secretary, please call the role. Mary Yansie here. Christina Strous here. Rita Hogan here. Howard Hawk here. John Hail here. Dell Chudway here. Vona Hart here. Jack Smith here. All right, everyone's present. Item C, announcements. Nothing for me, Mr. Mayor. Okay. None at this time, sir. No, Mr. Mayor. Uh, none right now. Okay. I have nothing, sir. Nothing, Mr. Mayor. No announcements. No announcements.

All right. There is no public recognition for the at the second meeting. So, we move directly into item E, workshop items. Item one, presentation and discussion on the police department mobile video project. Gabriel Cardona, police captain. Evening council.

So, we're going to spend just a little bit of your time here this evening talking about our mobile video project, where we stand, uh some of the challenges that we've encountered as we move into our project refresh year, which is this year. So, as you know, mobile video has been a staple in law enforcement for a number of decades. Uh we had incar video for a number of years preceding 2021. In 2021, we finally integrated body warn cameras to our systems. Uh and that's been a great tool, very valuable to our officers. Uh we also had to find a way to house that that that data. Okay. So in 2021 when we integrated bodywn warn cameras we opted for on-site premise for storage capacity for on-site server. Uh the reason that we did that as opposed to cloud-based just was because we could not fiscally uh handle that yet. Okay. We couldn't absorb that into the operating budget. So it would have been wouldn't have been prudent for us to go in that direction. Uh here we are 5 years later as I'll get to here in in just a moment. uh we've now come to a point where we can no longer sustain that. Uh and as with all things, especially electronic, everything gets to end of life and that's kind of where we are right now on this project. Uh just about all the hardware that we have has already met end of life and anything that still has a limited or warranty that's about to expire, it just so happens to be because we may have replaced that more recently. But everything has come to an end of life term. Uh I'm going to talk a lot about uh one of our biggest challenges which goes to storage capacity. As you know videos take a lot of storage space. Um and that has been a challenge of for us uh for the last well really for the duration of this project if I'm being quite honest with you. So, as we move into our challenges, there's been a significant time commitment from our city staff, police,

yes, but predominantly from our IT staff, and they have done a phenomenal job of navigating what I I'd consider some some trying times for us with this specific project. Because we're an on-site premise, everything that that we have to do to troubleshoot any issues, we have to have IT staff present for. Okay? uh whether that's physically handling the hardware or whether that's allowing the vendor uh to get into our secure server to be able to make any patches or fix any issues that may come about. Uh but again, they've done a phenomenal job of of uh working through that. They become uh pretty good experts in the system, one in particular. Uh we definitely couldn't wouldn't have made it this far without their help. So I just want to recognize that. So when we come to data storage, videos take up a lot of space. When we first started this project in 2021, we integrated body warn cameras. Uh the vendor asked us to provide them with some data. Uh how many stops on average per day do officers uh make related to traffic stops? How many calls they go to? Uh how long is the vehicle out in service? So they take all these data points, they plug it into a formula, and they tell you based off of what you've you've told us, this is about how much data you should have. And so we bought a server that that exceeded that threshold. Okay, we didn't buy the bare minimum. And within two years of this project starting in 2021, our IT staff had to find more storage capacity for us because we had already exceeded that limit. And during the duration of this project time, they have had to make multiple expansions of the server to facilitate the needs to house that data that we're collecting. So that's the reason the drive to where now we're at a point where we have to go cloud-based. Uh it is costly. It is no more costly today than it really was 5 years ago. Uh if I'm being quite honest with you. The other thing that moving to a

cloud-based system will do is it hopefully well won't hopefully it definitely will. I just don't know to what degree yet because we haven't had it yet. But it will definitely uh minimize the time requirement from our staff specifically our IT staff because outside the the hardware issues that we need to have hands on uh we don't need their presence to have the vendor uh get into the system and troubleshoot any of those kind of issues, those technical issues. Right. One of the other challenges that we have is as you know the police department fields the highest number of open records requests in the city. Last year alone, 64% of of open records requests went through the police department and it's very time consuming and burdensome not just on our staff but on the city secretary's office. Uh the current system we have in place um we've made it work again with the help of our great IT staff but it could be better. So those are just some of the challenges we have on that end. speaking to to to something that we weren't anticipating. Uh you see on the graph there, I'm going to talk about the calls for service and why that's important to the project that we're talking about. Our city is growing and continues to grow. Last year, we estimated just over 40,000 residents. Uh we have new subdivisions that continue to pop up and we continue to expand uh not only in population but in area of coverage. And in over 25 years, uh we haven't added to our police staff. Uh, matter of fact, we've actually lost one position in in years past. I bring all this up, as you can see on the graph that's reflected in front of you, that year-over-year since 2020, our calls for service have gone up to the tune of 56.5% since 2020. Our officers are spending upwards of 40% of their time writing reports. So almost half of the calls that they're going to uh half of their time is being spent at

the police department writing case reports. There's an increased pressure to complete those reports quickly and return to the field because we have not increased staffing. Right? This has led to higher burnout. Uh it definitely has contributed to employee turnover out of necessity. A couple of years ago, we had to transition our patrol staff from a 10-hour workday to a 12-h hour workday. That's a long day for any job, no matter what job you're doing. It's especially hard for a police officer. And with our population continuing to grow, uh our our uh our coverage area continuing to grow. Uh we want we always emphasize service in the field. We want our officers out there doing the job that everyone expects us to do. Um, nobody signs up to be a police officer at case reports. We understand it's a part of the job. We have to do that. Uh, but they would much rather be out in the field, uh, tending to the needs of the community. So, that brings us to where we are now today, where we hope to be, and how we plan to uh do more with less, if you will. uh how do we leverage technology to be more efficient as a police department, especially on the patrol side? So, we field tested a couple of different products the last few months and we came away highly impressed with Axon. Uh if you're not familiar, Axon is is pretty much the industry leader in law enforcement when it comes to body cam video, incar mobile video, and a plethora of other things that that that they have their hand in. Uh obviously they offer the full incar and body camera system uh that we're already uh uh used to handling. They only offer a cloud-based storage solution. The great thing with them is it's unlimited data. So we don't have to worry about uh where we're going to be the following year if we need to increase that storage capacity. It's unlimited for the videos

that we offload to the system. So that is is great benefit to us. They have a 247 support system from their service provider. So any point in the day or night if there is an issue, we can immediately reach out to someone and they can get in there and help troubleshoot it for us. With that, we expect a significant reduction in uh the responsibilities of our city staff and again primarily our IT department. Uh they offer a refresh every two and a half years. So after 2 and a half years, they'll completely refresh and replace all of our existing bodywn cameras so that everything stays in in warranty. And anything that should uh uh have to be sent back for repair or replacement, very timely. There's a two-day turnaround max and those those systems can be put back on the road and we get our officers what they need. Another great thing that they offer is the video redaction. They use an AI model uh that really makes it so much easier and and and and really simplistic to facilitate those open records requests uh to redact those videos whether that's to send to uh to a different office, the AG's office or to produce to whatever uh person requests that information once it's been deemed that it could be released. And they've shown that reduction time up to 70% uh using this feature. So, we talked about staffing level and how we can leverage this technology uh to do more with our current staffing. They offer a a a segment in their uh in their body warn camera video uh platform called Axon Draft One. Essentially, it's an AI powered tool designed to assist officers in generating draft narratives for anything that they uh capture on their body warn camera. We had a chance to see this in action and we came away highly impressed. Essentially, what it does is it takes all the footage, all the audio from the officer's bodywn camera and once it's uploaded to the to the system, it generates a narrative for that officer.

There are safeguards in place, so you can't just just copy and paste it over without reading it. You have to make sure that's authentic. You have to make sure that's accurate. Okay? And officers have to do that. um using that in our field trial alone. The officers who were utilizing that left on time every single day. So we talked about a 12-h hour day that the patrol officer has to work. Uh it is more often a 13 to 15 hour day, especially on the second day, the back end of their workday. So they generally will work two days on, they'll be off for two days, and there's also a stretch of three and three. So, it's it's highly important on that second or third day in a row they're working. They have to get all their work done. And that is usually where we see the the highest level of overtime because they have to stay to complete those tasks. Uh I've seen this in action. Once it's uploaded, it will generate a narrative for you in 30 to 60 seconds. The officer goes in, verifies the accuracy, make sure that everything that happened that they witnessed is accurate on the report, and then they can move it over to their official case report. It doesn't alleviate the officer doing the work. The officer is still doing the work in the field. They're still doing the things that we expect them to do. But it is, and for your average case report, you're probably talking about anywhere from 30 minutes to 60 minutes of report writing time. Uh that doesn't include processing evidence. Uh that goes up exponentially if an arrest is involved. Um and depending on what the type of arrest may be. Uh so with that, our officers who were demonstrating it, they were in the field much more frequently during this demonstration period, during the trial period. Uh the reports were accurate. They were grammatically accurate. They were they they were of high quality. Uh very good, very good reports. And we're going to show you here on the next graph here. Talk about a little bit of overtime. Historically, we have generally been over budget on

overtime. Uh prior to fiscal year 2020, our overtime budget always sat about $90,000. And every single year during the mid uh budget review every March, April, we always had to increase that number so that we didn't go over budget to the point where in 2020 we just made it a staple. We essentially just made it about $135,000 a year. That was our annual overtime budget. No uh every every year. As you can see, with the exception of one year, we've exceeded that. that one year that we didn't exceed that, you saw that we preemptively already bumped that up higher than what it normally was, and that's why we didn't didn't go over quite there in FY2022. As of early December of last year, we're already on pace to exceed our overtime budget again. And again, the overtime is is being generated mostly from officers having to stay over to prepare their case reports before they leave uh for their weekend or if they're going on vacation or whatnot. So we anticipate a a great benefit just reducing that cost there. So you have in front of you the the cost comparison. So the year one cost is 146,000 just a little over 146,000. That's for all the hardware uh that we have to purchase the incar systems the body cam systems everything that comes with that. Uh where it differs is in the annual cost. So without Axon draft one we're looking at just over $59,000 annually. That's the the everything we just talked about. That's the service agreements. That's the unlimited cloud storage. To include draft one, now we go up to a little bit over $115,000 annually. So to put that into context, the cost of adding one more officer to our staff is about the same, maybe just a little bit less, about $100,000, right? And if you ask us if would you rather have one officer or would you rather have this in place, this is going to going to yield better and and greater

results for our staff than if you gave us one more person to add to the police force. That's how impactful that this can be. So with that being said, uh I'll entertain any questions or or further discussion. I have a question. Yes, ma'am. You said that the uh equipment wouldn't be refreshed every two and a half years. The the body worn cameras, the incar systems, they're pretty stable. They stay in the car. They're not coming out into the elements. So, those are pretty good for that 5year period. But every two and a half years, the body worn cameras, those will be refreshed. Yes. And there'll be an additional cost, correct? No, no cost. That's built into the the pricing. Okay. Thank you.

Uh no question, sir, but I just want to say great presentation. Thank you for the time that you put into this and we're well verssed and uh it's much very much needed equipment to help our staff and our police department. Thank you. Thanks sir. Sure. Thank you mayor. Um have you exp also explored maybe grant opportunities? I know back in like 2021 there was something with a body warn camera system as well. Is is there was that for a specific period for a specific grant and it's not available now or possibility.

Yes, we are always exploring grant opportunities. You actually have something on the the council at the regular meeting later that you'll see there. We actually did apply for that grant funding. That's how we got our first body warn cameras once of 2021. So, we did apply for that. Uh that grant is more geared towards those who have never had this before to assist with getting that established. Okay. And that's why we haven't dipped back into that. Okay. Thank you for that. Anyone else? Do you have something, Dale? I just got one question, Mr. Mayor. When you say full service support and everything, if they have to come on site, they'll show up on site, work on hardware if it needs to be worked on or update the software.

Yes, sir. If they need to be on site, they will send some. That will be through a third party vendor. Won't be someone from Axon, but if they're vetted through them, but they would send someone out. Okay. Thank you. Anybody else? So, are you are we looking for direction as far as with or without for a future agenda item?

That that that is some direction that council can provide. Uh our recommendation is uh with the AI services and if council disagrees with that uh let us know now because in the regular meeting is the budget amendment that would uh be established to fund this initiative. I see it nodding heads. Yes. Yes. Yes. Mr. Mayor Council, I recommend we move forward with this item. Everybody good? I'm good. Is that with draft one? Correct. With draft one. Okay. Yes. I'm all

Thank you. Okay. Thank you.

All right. We've moved to item E2.

Update on the Parkland dedication ordinance development and direction on future actions related to the same. Brian Havlaw, city manager. Thank you, Mrs. Wilson. Thank you, Mrs. Wilson. Mayor and council, uh many months ago, uh we had a discussion about parkland dedication ordinance and council gave some direction. Um we staff had made a recommendation at that time. uh and uh one many of you received calls uh from developers and some of the developers actually showed up at that uh meeting when we were having this discussion and the direction council gave staff was take this discussion the parkland dedication ordinance with staff's recommendation bring the subdivision technical advisory committee and the quality of life committee together as two separate bodies and come up with uh a negotiated or unified recommendation to city council on a parkland dedication ordinance. Uh a little bit on timing. Um the subdivision technical advisory committee uh did not have enough active members to actually have a quorum in order to convene a meeting. So it took a little bit of time to get active members reappointed to that committee. Uh and then they started meeting. Uh in all um both of those groups met I believe five or six times in total. I believe the sixth time was the very last time in October. Um and uh through all of those discussions, uh here's here is the the general my summary of how those meetings went. Uh the first few meetings uh did not result in any common ground through the

discussions that the two groups were having uh with staff. uh kind of in the middle of those meetings, uh we began really establishing um a single point of agreeance and then started to try to build on that one point of agreeance and we eventually generated and created a few points of agreeance between the two groups. Uh then in the next couple of meetings after that uh the discussion uh further degraded back to its original discussion to where there was no agreement eventually again uh with the two groups. And so what you have in front of you is is just a a spreadsheet that uh we use to help uh guide the discussion to try and generate some uh agreeance. But, uh, on that spreadsheet, and I'm I'm going to drop down to, uh, the bottom numbers on all of these, but the first that first column is the initial, uh, city staff recommendation, and that was almost $8,000 per dwelling unit that the developer would have to commit or donate to the or not donate, but pay to the city in order to develop and or improve parkland for new developments. So $7,991 city uh city council gave the direction for the two groups to come together. Quality of life developed their initial proposal uh which was uh $2,466 per dwelling unit one. It's a substantial drop uh from the initial staff recommendation. Then the subdivision technical advisory committee provided a recommendation and one the one that you see on here has actually been revised from their initial recommendation. Their initial recommendation was $38.

Um and it has eventually been revised to $436 per dwelling unit. [snorts] on the the right side where it says revise city staff recommendation that's where we were starting to develop some level of consensus uh amongst the groups and I'm going to uh take us to the very very middle of that page on the left side it says dedication and development minimum number of DU which is dwelling units and it has 300 and then to the right of that it says agreement although it's stried out now it does say agreement so what that meant is Um the through the consensus of or the the discussion there was a consensus that for new developments that would have at least 300 new dwelling units, a minimum 2 acres of parkland needed to be dedicated for that new neighborhood. And the developer at that time or the developers at that time in the subdivision technical advisory committee agreed and the quality of life committee agreed that if the developer is proposing a minimum of 300 units that the developer would identify two acres of parkland and would build the park. And that's where that next number right below 300 comes in of $150,000. And that is because that is the amount of value in park land equipment, benches, playgrounds, trash cans, uh trails, sidewalks that needed to be put in that park that it would equate to about $150,000. Um, and so those are kind of the three points that we eventually had some

consensus on. Minimum two acres of parkland. The developer would build the park after having a minimum of 300 planned dwelling units and would invest about $150,000 in parkland equipment and improvements. the following discussions that occurred uh is where that that consensus started to break down again. Um and where it came into play was both the subdivision technical advisory committee and the quality of life committee were both not willing to uh provide concessions on some of their other requirements and agreements. Um below that 150 uh dropping all the way to the bottom is a number of $798. And that is the amount that if a developer was creating a new development less than 300 dwelling units that they would then contribute an amount of $798 per dwelling unit to improve the park system throughout the city for those new residents that would eventually occupy those new dwelling units. the developers um quality of life uh excuse me subdivision technical advisory committee did not agree with that number. Uh the quality of life committee was willing to accept that number although quite a bit lower than their initial recommendation. Um and uh the discussion kind of revolved around uh the idea that a private developer can actually build and install a park at a lower cost than the local government, the city of Coppers Cove can build and install that park. Of course, the question is why? And the answer is uh as

a private developer you are not constrained by state law procurement uh regulations. The city is the city must follow those procurement regulations which means we have to do advertising. We have to publish certain information about the project that we're going to do. Uh we have to identify what the budget is which a lot of developers those companies are looking at to make sure that whatever they submit in a bid is within the budget but it also might be quite a bit more than what it actually would cost a private person or a private company to build that or do that same type of improvement. And so um eventually in the very last meetings on September 15th and October 6th of last year uh there was uh no longer a consensus uh between the groups. Um and the dialogue during those meetings was no longer productive um uh or creative even uh to try to get us to a consensus. Um and so one uh mayor and council uh I did not fulfill your directive of uh bringing back a recommendation from those two groups within six months. Uh that was a unified recommendation. Um and so there is a failure there. Uh also we're past that six months. [laughter] Um it it took us longer. Uh and um so we are here today almost a year later

uh sharing the same position that we're in except you have more data, you have more ideas of what was uh discussed and shared um by both groups, by city staff. Um and we're we're looking for council's direction on what you want to do. Those options include uh either we don't do the parkland dedication ordinance and so this could be the end of it if that's your direction tonight or we do the parkland dedication ordinance and you as the governing body determine what those specifications are and staff will prepare uh the ordinance uh as you dictate to us uh and how we should include in that ordinance or something in between and that might include you telling me go back with the groups again and have that discussion and dialogue. Uh and maybe it needs to be a smaller group in order to start building that consensus. Um or uh you know there there's I'm sure there's some other options out there, but just really looking for council's direction. And before I ask you uh to give us direction, I just want to make sure that um Bobby Scott, anything I missed on that or

Okay, very good. Thank you both. And Jeff, okay, Jeff's giving me a thumbs up as well. Okay, so uh mayor, I'm looking for council's direction on what you'd like to do with the parkland dedication ordinance.

Anybody have anything to say at this point? Mr. [snorts] Mayor, if I may, if they want to build the park and y'all say it's for approximately $150,000, I I'm, you know, I I can agree with that. Since we can't come to consensus, I'm assuming basically on the other price of $798 and putting everybody back in the room, I don't know how far we'll actually get unless, like the uh city manager suggests, maybe reduce how many's actually on that committee. I'd be willing to go down to $400. Anybody else?

Uh, Mr. Mayor, the direction I would give Let's go back and look at it one more time. I I tend to agree with that.

We've let enough time pass that maybe we can uh come to a little bit closer idea of some type of consensus. I would rather this body not dictate exactly how that might go. It's very important. Uh we don't want to just forget about it. we don't want to dis dismiss it. So, I think it's worth going back for another look and see if we can't come up with some some kind of consensus. U quality of life leaves on now is uh Miss Hart and she has this way about her that might be able to get people to come to some kind of an agreement, consensus. So, That would be my recommendation, but I'd look for more counsel.

I agree because the city manager provided us with a lot of data. So, we can work with that data and go back and see what we can come up with, Mr. Mayor. Yes. And and I agree with him on trying one more time. Uh, but if we had to do it right now, I would agree with Dale and do the 436. That was the subtac recommendation. So maybe if they go back with that recommendation that um I'd like to I'd like for them to try it one more time. Yeah.

And come up with a consensus with the parks department, the quality of life advisory committee and the subdivision technical advisory committee. One thing we have to look at for the future is uh we can't keep uh raising the prices of houses. I mean that we have to have affordable housing for the soldiers that are stationed here at Fort Hood. And everything we do from this to uh later in the year we're coming up with some other things. Everything we do to raise the price of houses is going to price them out of the market, right? You want to defend yourself, Miss Hart? [laughter]

Not actually defend. I just want to say thank you for your vote of confidence in me. I appreciate that. Um, I can just, and this is just my perception of pretty much what I see is happening. It sound like we were at an agreement and then a specific thing came up and it and then it got lost. The the you got it seemed like it swayed off the mission of the original what we were here for. And so this agreement was here and then something was said and that totally went into a different um direction. and then the focus came off of this. So, it would be nice for that to come back. Let's start from that scratch period, look at that and just Yes. mediate and make sure we stay focused on to that um goal that you're going for. So,

that's why I have confidence in you. [laughter] I I appreciate that, mayor. Thank you. All right. So, consensus is that we go back One more. One more try. Yes. And see if we can't come up with something. Is that what you need? Right. That's great. I can I ask Oh, I think Go ahead. Can I ask for one one point of um clarification? And that is what's your deadline? Two months, 60 days, 90 days? I'm willing to try another not 12 months a month. Six months. Six months.

A minute to get them all together. Yeah. They only meet once a month. Six months. I agree. Did you have something you wanted to Yes. Who when when this is finalized, who is going to be building these parks? The developer or the city? [snorts] I vote for the developer because they can do it at according to these numbers almost 75% off. Right.

Well, the answer to that is uh depending on how they want to both groups want to come to an agreement on who's going to build it based on what metric is met. And that's that's the where we were going where the developer would actually build the park because they could do it for less than uh the fees that they would have to pay to have a park built by the city which we're fine with because there would be standards on how that park is supposed to be built. So it would basically be the same thing. Mr. Um, go ahead.

And most of those would be HOA parks probably when you when you have a developer build the parks like we have over at Creekide Hills where there's a swimming pool and a little park. [snorts] I it could be I mean it depends on the development and and I think part of the uh if you're developing a 10 acre subdivision and you're putting maybe 30 40 houses they can't stop and build a park there. That's where the the money in lie of a park. I think I think the 300 300 lot subdivision is a good standard to where they may have to build some parks in there. But we'll let them talk about that and bring it to us.

Yeah. Whether or not it's an HOA or not, I think it would be based on the building standard of what the subdivision would uh help sell it. I guess that would be the right way to say that. That sound right, Bobby? Okay. You're smiling. You got another something. Well, so so if is it six months? Yes. Yes. I think everybody said six months. Six months. Developer build. Are y'all good with six months?

Jamba [laughter] Jamba. I'll supply y'all the coffee. Y'all don't want to go for four months. Four months is fine if you think we can do it in four, but six max. Okay. So here here here's the reason I'm asking and and I'm stuck on this is um it takes a lot of time to go through these discussions because they don't they don't flow quickly. But if city council puts some urgency on it maybe those discussions could occur a little bit quicker. Okay. Four months. How about four months? Four months. Four months. Four months. Four months. Well, right. Okay. How about four months? Four months.

Tomorrow. We good? Direction received. Thank you. Okay. All right. Thank you. So that concludes all the workshop items. So the time is 5:37. We stand adjourned. The regular meeting will begin at 6 o'clock.

Good evening. Regular council meeting for the city of Coppers Cove held January 20th, 2026 is called to order at 6:00 p.m. Please stand for the invocation by Hart second and followed by the pledge of allegiance. If you could please bow with me in prayer. Dear heavenly father, we just want to say thank you for your covering, your tender loving care during this time for our community. We ask that you continue to be with us, the families, and the communities, for our falling friend, Officer Elijah Garrickson. Continue to be with us as we make these important decisions for our community. continue the blessings that you bestow on our community and continue to guide us each and every day with the things that are so important with us in our lives and continue to provide peace and comfort within our community. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Please join me in the pledge to our nation 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. And to the Texas flag. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge algiance to the Texas one state and indivisible. Please be seated.

Madam Secretary, please call the role. Mary Yansy here. Christina Strous here. Marita Hogan here. Howard Hawk here. John Hail here. Dale Treadway here. Ana Hart here. Jack Smith here. All right. We move to item D, announcements. None for me, Mr. Mayor. Okay. None for me, sir. Not Mr. Mayor. Ryan, you have any?

Uh, yes, sir. F. First uh and foremost, I want to tell our community um thank you for uh respecting and honoring um Officer Elijah Garrettson. Uh many of our community came out and supported his family and honored him in many various ways. um and for honoring uh our police officers and our leadership in the police department. Um our our honor guard and the command staff within the police department uh did a phenomenal job of coordinating and arranging for a uh service that truly respected Elijah Garrison. And so I just want to say thank you and mayor and council, thank you all for your support uh of our team in order to do what we uh what they accomplished this past week and this weekend. I do have a few others, mayor. Um this Friday on January 23rd, uh we are swearing in and uh pinning our new fire chief, Douglas Mataggets. He goes by Doug. Um, but that will be occurring on Friday at 10:00 a.m. here in the council chambers and everybody is welcome uh to come celebrate uh his swearing in. Uh, his official first day is actually going to be on the 26th of January, so it'll be next Monday. Um, we have uh the MLK day of service. Um, this will be uh it was planned for this Saturday with the upcoming winter weather that is uh going to be uh upon us and I encourage everybody to be prepared uh for this weekend. Uh not be scared but just be prepared. Uh but the

MLK day of service will be moved to January 31st um at 9:00 am at City Park and that will be for a cleanup uh in coordination with the Copper Scope Police Department. uh on January 31st was the re is the rescheduled uh polar bear plunge. Uh Jeff, you didn't want to do it on Saturday. You didn't? No. No.

Polar polarity bear. Okay. Uh and then uh also on January 31st uh is the uh chambers uh gala night. It's uh where they they're presenting the uh chamber awards. Um, so January 31st from 5 to 10:30 p.m. at the Civic Center. Uh, it tickets are required and you go to, uh, copperscove.com uh, which is the chambers website to obtain those tickets. That's it, mayor. Thank you. I have nothing, sir. Thank you. Nothing, Mr. Mayor. No announcements, sir. No announcements. All right.

We move to item E, citizens forum. At this time, citizens will be allowed to speak for a length of time not to exceed five minutes per person on any item which is listed on the agenda and items not listed on the agenda. 30 minutes total has been allotted for this section. Pursuant to section 5501.042 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, any deliberation or decision about the subject of inquiry, which is not listed on the agenda, shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject on the agenda for a subsequent meeting.

All right. Does anyone wish to speak during citizens forum? Again, anyone wish to speak during citizens forum. All right, we will close that. Move to item F, consent agenda.

All matters listed under this item are considered to be routine by the city council and will be enacted by one motion. There will not be separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately. Item one, consideration and action on approval of city council workshop meeting minutes for January 6, 2026. Lisa Wilson, city secretary. Item two, consideration and action on approval of city council regular meeting minutes for January 6, 2026. Lisa Wilson, city secretary. Item three, consideration and action on resolution number 2026-2 authorizing and supporting the chief of police in the submission of a grant application and other related mandatory documents to the office of the governor public safety office criminal justice division for the FY2027 project safe neighborhoods grant program. Gabriel Cardona, police captain. Item four, consideration and action on resolution number 2026-3. Resolution number 2026-4 and resolution number 2026-5 authorizing and supporting the chief of police in the submission of a grant application and other related mandatory documents to the office of the governor public safety office criminal justice division for the criminal justice grant programs FY 2027 justice assistance grant program Gabriel Cardona police captain item five consideration and action on authorizing the mayor to enter into a local agreement with the Central Texas Emergency Communications District for 911 public safety answering point services. Jeremy Alber, Deputy Chief of Police. Item six, consideration and action to authorize a city manager to enter into a business associate agreement with Sentex Rack. Steven Rlanden, Deputy Fire Chief. Item seven, consideration and action authorizing the city manager to execute change order number one to the city's northwest wastewater treatment plant ultraviolet

improvements project contract with Matus Construction Limited. Chris Alat, assistant director of public works. All right, council, you have seven items for the consent agenda. Is there any item you wish to consider, pull and consider separately? All right. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda, Mr. Mayor? Yes. I make a motion that we approve consent agenda items F1 through seven as presented. Second. Motion B by Mr. Hail, second by Miss Hart. All those in favor say I. I.

Any oppose? Motion carries. We move to item G, public hearings. A governmental body shall allow each member of the public who desires to address the body regarding an item on an agenda for an open meeting of the body to address the body regarding the item at the meeting before or during the body's consideration of the item. Item one, public hearing in action on ordinance number 2026-4 amending chapter 3, articles 1 through13, sections 3-1 through 3-145 to the city of Coppers code of ordinances regulating microchipping animals at large and renaming the animal shelter. Jeremy Albert, deputy chief of police.

The time is 609. We will open the public hearing. [clears throat] Mayor, Council, and City Manager, with the passing of the bond for the new shelter, uh, city staff recommended that we change the name of the shelter to more align with what actually takes place at the shelter to care for the animals, not just shelter them. Additionally, with the the change in the name of the shelter, we also found that there were some other areas where we could clean things up just a little bit. Previously, the cats were kind of left out of animals at large. So, this would bring cats back into being uh part of the animals at large in the ordinance. And additionally making it so that we have to microchip all dogs and cats. And microchipping all dogs and cats will will enhance public safety, improve animal welfare, reduce taxpayer uh costs associated with stray animals, and modernize local animal control practices. The animal shelter advisory committee uh supports city staff's recommendation of adopting the ordinances requiring all dogs and cats within the city limits to be microchipped. Uh so these amendments to the ordinances are to facilitate facilitate those changes. So city staff recommends the city council hold a public hearing and take action on ordinance number 20 2026-4 amending chapter 3 animals and foul articles 1 through 13 sections 3-1 through 3-145 of the city of Copper Cove code of ordinances.

Thank you Jeremy. Council, you have any comments, questions? Okay. Uh, is there anybody in the audience wishes to address this public hearing? All right, the time is 6 to12. We will close the public hearing. Council, is there action to be taken on this item? Mr. Mayor? Yes. Uh, I do have a couple of questions. I apologize I didn't do them in order. It's good. What other cities close to us have microchipping?

Uh Colleen does mandatory microchipping and then it gets into the larger cities. Uh San Antonio, Austin, San Marcus, Waco, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, uh all have mandatory microchipping. Right now we have a policy that if a dog or a cat is found at large, we make them get microchipped before we release them back to the owner. That's actually state law. State law requires that the animal be microchipped before it's released from the shelter. Okay. So, this would just facilitate that as well.

The ultimate goal there is to keep the animals from going into a shelter environment. If a animal control officer finds an animal at large, they can run it for a microchip. There's a high probability that they can get that animal back to its house. The it doesn't uh save the citizen from the repercussions of having an animal at large. However, it does save the animal from being housed in a a shelter or in an environment that it's not used to.

I would like to just to state um a few things. Um I do have concerns with this. I understand the I understand what's being presented as a need for our community. Um I just know that there's other options that we can look for. um that's something that we can go over with maybe the advisory committee or things other things that we can explore in in regards to that. Um so I don't feel comfortable at this time um basically saying yes to this um until we can talk more about the other options that are out there. Um, if we if we are able to microchip when we do find them, then I I guess my question is is why are we going to put it on the owner in order as a mandatory requirement? And I just believe that that something like that should be more of a personal decision, but it's not that I am ignorant to what is going on in Copper Cove. I just know with some of the things that are going on, there could be other options in order to address it. And that's where I'm

so standard practices to microchip an animal that's over six weeks of age. Uh we do have a a veterinarian on the animal shelter advisory committee. She recommends that all animals be microchipped. This we did have initially in the ordinance we had that it had to be either microchip or tattooed. The other uh the only other acceptable way of identifying an animal is via the tags. And currently we do have a a tag ordinance uh that the person has to pay for a tag every two years. With a microchip ordinance, the person would pay for a microchip one time and they would never pay again. Do you I'm sorry.

Did you want to Did you want to try to to table? Um I would like to table. I think I would like the opportunity to um speak about more of these options um that are available um rather than putting this in right now. Is there any way that you can split this up with the other two with the other two uh articles that are up for consideration with t pulling just this one?

So, Mr. Hart, you you want to you're considering approving the ordinance excluding the changes in microchipping Yes, that is in the draft ordinance. Correct. Correct.

Okay. So, I'm I'm gonna defer real quickly to our city attorney and ask our city attorney for some guidance on that action on regarding whether those changes should be made in this action tonight or to table the entire discussion and bring it back for uh action once the ordinance can actually be revised. Good evening, mayor and council. I recommend a motion that will bring back the shipping elements to a date certain because this involves a public hearing. If you will pick a date, then you don't have to renotice the whole thing and start from scratch and then do a separate motion for the naming of the shelter. So you can approve the ordinance for that component, but then bring back the other item on a date certain.

Bring back the uh microchipping specifically. Yes, sir. Okay. Another item is uh including cats in at large animals too. That's on this which I'm fine with and I believe she's fine with. But yeah, if I'm understanding everything on here is okay except for the microchipping correct element which would like to be excluded and then put on a future agenda item. Yes. And from what I'm hearing from the city attorney, we have to set a specific date. February. Is that the next meeting? February 3rd. Okay. Can do that.

Okay. Oh, I'll make the motion. Okay. [laughter] Okay. I make a motion that we table. Wait a minute. Jeremy, do you know what? How should I motion? chapter. I'll make the motion and verse that we're excluding the change. It is section 3-43.1A. Yes. I'll make the motion for Vana.

Okay. I'd like to make a motion that we approve this item, ordinance number 2026-4 with the striking of section 3-43.1 a microchipping of animals. I second it. And mayor, I'm sorry. Yeah, mayor. If if I can get clarification on that uh motion because the way the motion was just made and the city attorney can correct me, but you just struck all of the microchipping portion. No, I said a I said a which is a subsection of that. Yeah.

Section three- Well, I don't want to strike the whole section. I just want to strike a Can we Can we just exclude the recommended revisions for that section? And I think Chief Chief Wilson has something to add.

Yeah, I was trying to get in before any motion was made just for consideration and I think it's cleaner if we just do it all at once as long as we're not looking for a future date that's months and months away. Uh, I think just for the city secretary's side of having it recottified more than once, the the costs that are associated with that, I think it'd be more efficient if we're going to uh push it down the road for a little more education or whatever the council would like to do that we just do all three items at one time and not just segment it for this piece and then the other piece later on. So would first meeting in March be enough time.

I was actually um good with sometime in February. I don't think it's going to take that if I would if I can. I just need direction then on what what the microchipping what alternative there is that I need to explore. We've explored the the ways in which an animal can be identified and that's the the three ways tattooing microchipping and then actual tags. So what other I would need to know what other information [clears throat] you would want. Okay. Uh um do

um one of the options I was looking at is uh microchipping events here for the city through nonprofit organizations. That would be one.

So implementation uh once this this ordinance passes, the implementation will take time. We're not going to run around and and just start um issuing citations to people for their animals not being microchipped. We would do lowcost microchipping events where the city would actually provide the microchip and actually do the microchipping for the people and then every time that the your animal goes to the vet, your your veterinarian would have the opportunity to do a microchip there as well. Now, the city can do the microchips. A microchip costs about $10 to to purchase. We typically buy them for $10. We sell them for $20. we would do it for the cost of the microchip for the the beginning of this program. If you take your animal to the vet and have a microchip done there, you're going to pay $40 or $50. So, the city's looking we're looking at it as a as an entity to get people into compliance and then look to enforce it. So, we're looking at at over a year from here from now before the ordinance is really enforced where we start actually issuing citations for those animals. And I think I feel more comfortable with just doing the events without the mandate until a later time. It's just my opinion on [clears throat] only one.

Well, you're going to have either you are or you're not. Yeah. So, we need something to drive the people there. uh if we when we do microchipping events with the shot clinics that we currently do um we don't have turnout because there's no incentive for people to get their animals microchipped. If the ordinance says that an animal has to be microchipped and we do the the shot clinic and we have the ability to do the microchipping there, then we have incentive for people to actually do it. How much is the ticket? I don't know. Not for not getting a microchip. It it would be up to the court at that point. I I don't know more than 10 bucks. Oh, absolutely.

Okay. Uh if I could say something uh I don't think that DC is mainly talking about finding he talking about keeping the animals from on the street and if you microchip that animal and instead of bringing that animal into the shelter I think microchipping is a great avenue to go if we table this and come back in amount of months you talking about and we come back is it going to be the same thing we talking about right now. I'm kind of confused right now. Let's go ahead and approve this ordinance. They going to say animals that are going into the shelter and I don't think uh anyone will be against it. So, I just want a little clarity may promp why we shouldn't approve this item tonight. What I'm saying is is that there are a lot of different opinions in regards to this particular issue and I'm trying to respect all of that. That's basically what I'm saying in regards to mandating something. Whereas there's other opinions where people just don't want to be able to do that with their family pets and they're considered members and some people do not feel comfortable with that and people have multiple pets and now you're increasing it even if it is even if the costs are very low. But I know that there are free events that we can be able to offer and I understand about incentives. But can we look at other incentives or if it has been looked at then what other incentives has there been to bring there? Because from what I'm hearing is a lot of this is because of uh animals being abandoned and sometimes because of the military uh because of them going overseas or PCS moves. These are one of the what has been explained to me. But there are

other avenues that we can explore in order to address that issue just that specific issue. Um because microchipping even though you can put a microchip in doesn't mean that the owner is going to be responsible to update that information. And if we bring it with the military and if it's a PCS move then we're not going to be able to locate that military person anyway. So, I'm hearing these reasonings for the microchipping, but I'm just not fully on board with it because of those are just a few. Just one more. Um, that's my bigger issue with the citizen and residents here in this city. They'll express their concern they comment through the public but if they come to where is being presented which is here at the chamber and hear the presenter who present that information then I think we can stop a lot of you know things that the citizen don't want. So that's all I got.

Jack, Mr. Mayor, I am I'm not against microchipping. I am against mandating it. I just I'm I'm all for microchipping. I think everybody should have a microchip on their animals. But there's also people that their dog stays in their house, goes out in the backyard, comes back in. They're responsible pet owners and it's just adding another fee or a requirement that we're just adding another layer of requirements on their on their on responsible people. and irresponsible people aren't going to get them microchipped even with the requirement. So, right now, do we have a requirement to at least have a tag?

Yes. And how many people actually do that? The the vet requires people to purchase the the tags from the vet. How many people take their animals to the vet? Do we know? I I don't know. I don't have that number.

I don't know. Anybody would know that. So I just recently did the end of month numbers and it actually for the end of the year and we had over 1,200 tags sold through the veterinarians and close to about 600 tags sold through the shelter um for the rabies um when whenever a person got their pets the rabies vaccination that's whenever they purchase So, you're looking at less than 2,000 tags purchased, city registration for your pets purchased in a year. And thank you.

So, there's always going to be a a group of people that are non-compliant. Um, you know, speed limits have been established for hundreds of years and people are still speeding, right? So, there's there's always going to be people that are non-compliant. Our goal is to bring people into compliance so they can get their dog back. I understand the the statement that, you know, Fluffy stays in the backyard. Well, that happens a lot, too, where Fluffy stays in the backyard until Fluffy doesn't stay in the backyard, and then animal control ends up picking up the animal and animal control can't bring it to its home. If the animal is microchipped, then the the animal gets home to address the military issue. The military issue is going to be a military issue regardless. And microchipping is not not here to solve that. Micro shipping is here to get people's pets back to their home. It's it's really it's nothing more than that. The way the city tags work right now, we get a tag, we try to find an owner. It's it's a needle in a hay stack kind of thing. And if the person doesn't come into the shelter within the next within three days, the animal becomes part of the city anyway. And then we we try to adopt the animal out to a to another home where we and we microchip the animal at that point.

So the microchipping of the animals would facilitate animal control just taking the animal back to the home rather than to the shelter. Correct. Yes. So so we would we would really save a lot of money and time in taking it home versus taking it to the shelter and then having it sit there for three days and now we own it. I believe so. Yes. Which if it was in the shelter then it would be mandated. Yes. Okay. Council, what do you want to do? I say we vote on it as is.

You want Well, let's see. Mayor, you you have a motion and a second. I believe the motion, correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Smith is to uh approve the ordinance striking section 3-43.1A.

Yes. And bring that back at a later time. And and my my position on that is by simply striking A does not alleviate the rest of the changes to the ordinance which then leaves out a critical section of the ordinance which no longer makes sense with all of the other changes that are adopted at that point because there are exceptions and references back to a in other portions of the ordinance. So I would have a concern with council adopting it as motioned at this point. Okay. So, Jack, you made the motion.

Well, I read that and it kind of stands all by itself. 3-43-1A is stands by itself. The rest of it doesn't go back to that. It just says, yeah, section C uh refers back to um uh section A. Um section D refers back to section B. But if there's no section A, then the structure of our ordinance is is no longer logical uh at that point. And so it's by striking one section of a revised ordinance uh can cause unintended consequences. Okay. And I would I'd be concerned about that.

Do you want to you want to make the motion continue with the motion and ask for a second or withdraw? Do we have a second already? Yes. The second was uh Miss Hart and I I would actually agree with Chief Wilson's recommendation just to table the entire discussion to a very near future date and we could be okay with that too with council to uh discuss the concerns that y'all have. Okay. So, we have a motion and second. So, we would need to withdraw the motion. Withdraw the motion. Okay. I'll withdraw my motion to strike. And you withdraw your second. And I withdraw my And I withdraw my second.

Okay. And I make a motion that we move this to February 3rd. Okay. Is would that be enough time? I don't think so. Mr. Mayor, council, I said the first meeting in March. Seems like that sounds like Okay. Then I will withdraw mine and make a motion that we move it to March 3rd. Okay. Second. Motion made to table to March 3rd. A second by Mr. Treadway. Did you have anything, Howard?

If we come back February 3rd, I think we going to be at

March 3rd. We going to be at where we at now. The DC the deputy chief did a great presentation and I understand the opinion on the dasis about microchipping but microchipping is going to help the animal control going to help residents and they're going to help to get that pet back to his owner. I heard the word fluffy. Fluffy be in the house all the time. And the DC said, "Well, just in case Fluffy get out." If I'm on a Fluffy, I want to get Fluffy back to me as soon as I can. If he's microchipped, then Fluffy going to come back home. He won't go to that kennel and get stressed out. Okay. So there's there's a motion to table to March 3rd. Is that the right meeting? Is that the date?

Yes. Motion made in a second. Any other discussion? Okay. Voting on tableabling to March 3rd. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Name. Okay. Roll call. [clears throat] Christina Strous. Nay. Rita Hogan. Yes. Nay. So, Mr. Hawk. Nay. Yeah. I John Hail. Hi. Del Treadway. Hi. Bonnie Hart. I Jack Smith. I.

Five to two. Okay. So, it's tabled, this item is tabled to March 3rd, I believe. Just a quick question. Do we bring that back in the form of a second public hearing in action? [clears throat] I would think so. Uh based on uh what our city attorney said, we do not need to bring that back as a public hearing. Okay. Uh to publish it as a public hearing.

Okay. Thank do not need to publish but but put it on the agenda for public input. Okay. All right. Clear as mud. Here we move. Uh so we move to item uh to to agenda item H action items. We're going to go a little bit out of order and we're going to push item six to number one. Consideration and action on the appointment of a mayor prom to serve for a period of one year and who shall act as mayor during the absence or disability of the mayor. Dandy Yansy mayor.

Okay. Thank you. We've uh we always have a mayor pro Tim to act on my behalf on the mayor's uh behalf if the mayor cannot attend. uh and that uh doesn't happen very often but it does happen from time to time. Uh I think uh from my part uh Miss Hart served as mayor pro Tim last year and did a very admirable job. Uh but that's just my opinion. So I would take action from council.

Mr. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to renominate renominate Madame Mayor Promp Vana Hart as Madame Mayor Promp. I'll second. I'll third. Mr. Mayor, boy, everybody wants to exclude themselves real quick. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to close the nominations and uh vote on Vana. Okay. All right. All those in favor say I. I any oppose? Don't do it. [laughter] [clears throat] Okay. All right. Thank you for for that. Congratulations. Congratulations.

Congratulations. I just want to say thank you to my council members for um nominating me. It's an honor to serve and I'm very grateful to continue to serve. Um thank you. Okay. All right. Now we go back up to item one.

Consideration and action on the evaluation and reappointment of M municipal court associate judge Haviban Jr. including authorization for the mayor to renew a professional judicial services contract. Wanita Eperson, court administrator. I was about to do it for you, Wanita. Busted. All right, here we go. Rotary meeting. That'd be a fine, but [laughter]

good evening, city um mayor, city manager, city council. The city of Grapers Cove designated Hhabib Urkan Jr. as the municipal court associate judge on January 16, 2024 for a two-year term. In accordance with chapter 29 of the Texas government code and city chapter 5.03 of the city council will conduct an annual required evaluation of the associate judge and consider reappoint. Approval of this item will also include authorization for the mayor to renew the personal I'm sorry the professional judicial service contract withhabib Jr. In accordance with section 005 of the Texas Government Code, chapter 29, it is stipulated that the judge of the municipal court holds office for a 2-year term unless the municipality opts for a more extended term as per article 11, section 11 of the Texas Constitution. A municipal court judge not reappointed within 91 days following the term's expiration in the absence of action by the appointing authority will automatically serve another term con commencing on the day the previous term expired. City um charter section 5.03 03 mandates an annual evaluation of the municipal judge by the mayor and city council with each council member and mayor signing the assessment. To facilitate the process, an evaluation form is provided for use by the governing body. A professional judicial service contract is also attached. City staff recommends that the governing body evaluate the municipal court associate judge as required by section 5.03 3 of the city charter staff further recommends that the governing body take one of the following two actions on the reappoint of the municipal court associate judge. One, reappoint Habib

Urkan Jr. for another two-year term and authorize the mayor to renew the professional judicial service contract. Or two, remove Habib Urkan Jr. as the municipal court associate judge. All right, councel. Mr. would you like to come up defend yourself? [laughter] [cough]

Thank you, your honor. And um yeah, it was a real pleasure being your judge the last two years and uh if appointed, I'd be glad to serve the next two years. Um you know, I was thinking about um what it was like 40 years ago. I was hired as a prosecutor by Garzo and he told me that when you come to municipal court, most people in this city, that's their only point of contact with the city and always treat them with respect and be professional. And uh those are words I've always lived by. And so if you appoint me, I'd be honored to to serve two-year term. Wait a minute.

Any questions? Yes. Questions? Rude comments. [clears throat] Du. I'm good, ma'am. You hit your buzzer. I'm good. Okay. Just a thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Council, is there action be taken on this item? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes. I make a motion that we reappoint B. Burkan Jr. for another two-year term and authorized the mayor to renew the professional judicial service contract. Second.

Motion made by Mr. Hail, second by M. Trophus. Any other discussion? I I'm [laughter] reading over here. So, I've lost complete control of this place. All right, [laughter] let's start over again. All those in favor say I. I. All right. Any oppose? Mayor. Yes.

If if we can take uh maybe just a couple of minutes recess uh so we can sign the documents for the reappoint of associate judge and uh sign the contract. Time is u something that we need to achieve this. Appreciate it. Thank you, Judge.

Don't need that. Just All right. Thank you, council. We will move on to item H2,

consideration and action on approval of ordinance number 2026-3 amending the fiscal year 2025 2026 budget for the city of Coppers Cove. Ariana Beckman, director of budget.

Good evening, council mayor, uh, city manager, and everyone in the audience and and those listening. Uh, the budget amendment before you is one of the largest uh amendments. It amends several of our uh funds as you see uh in the screen in front of you. Um as noted on the agenda, several purchase orders and uh other commitments remained open at the last fiscal year which was um fiscal year 2425 and they were carried into this current year which is 2526. However, the unused budget for those commitments um does not automatically carry forward. So, we have to bring that VI budget amendment. Um the details of uh all these changes are included in the agenda item, but if you have any specific uh questions, we can address those. But with that being said, uh the general fund uh requires an overall expenditure increase of 1 million36,694. Uh water and sewer fund uh requires an overall expenditure increase of 1,78,489. uh solid waste uh fund um will require an overall expenditure increase of 1,742,950. Uh tax interest and syncing fund which is our debt service fund um will increase uh and expenditures in the amount of $3,851. The drainage fund um will increase their overall expenditures by 213,447.

Uh street maintenance fund will require an overall expenditure increase of $158,112. Hotel occupancy tax fund will require an overall expenditure increase of $120,276. uh park improvement funds will require an overall expenditure increase of $72,559. Uh the remaining are donation funds which are specific to every uh department. So uh the donations for police will require an overall expenditure increase of 29,626. Donations for animal control will require an expenditure increase of $22,123. Donations for fire department requires an overall expenditure increase of 7,396. Uh donations for parks, an overall expenditure increase of 28,551. Donations for the library uh department requires an overall expenditure increase of $3,245. KCCB donations uh require an overall expenditure increase of $4,817. Uh golf course donations an expenditure increase of $49,011. uh donations for non-depreal which does not fit in any other department requires an overall expenditure increase of $5,549. So that concludes the donations uh the grants uh for police department requiring an increase in revenues and expenditures in the amount of $522,198.

And the last fund there is the five hales pageant fund requires an overall expenditure increase of $41,357. So staff's recommendation is uh that you approve the attached ordinance amending uh current budget 2526 uh as presented. Council have questions for Miss Beckman. Yes, Miss Beckman. So to explain it to everybody else, those funds are already in the budget. We're just expend taking the expenditures and putting them over there now. Is that correct?

They were included in last year's budget. So we have different projects uh and funding commitments that were not fully completed last fiscal year. So we're just not bringing in the funding in this fiscal year. So we can purchase the equipment or finish the projects or whatever. Yeah. It's not new expenditures. That's correct. Okay. That's just one just wanted to be clear. Thank you. Yes. Any other questions, comments? Okay. Is there a motion on this side? Mr. Mayor? Yes.

I make a motion that we approve ordinance number 2026-3 amending the fiscal year 2025 2026 budget. Second. Motion by you made by Mr. Hail, seconded by Mr. Treadway, I believe. Yes. Okay. Any other questions? All right. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you.

Thank you. We move to item H3. Consideration and action on resolution number 2026-6 establishing the population of the city of Coppers Cove, Texas as of January 1st, 2026. Bobby Lewis, development services director.

Mayor and councel, as of January 1st, 2025, the Texas State demographer estimated the city's population at 40,393 persons by adding,76 persons from new residential construction activities. There is now a new population estimate of 41,69 669 persons as of January 1st, 2026. This new estimate shows that the city's population growth has grown 13.63% over the last 5 years. With that, city staff recommends adoption of or res resolution number 2026-6 establishing the city's population of city of Coppers Cove, Texas to be 41,669 persons as of January 1st, 2026.

All right, questions for Mr. Lewis. Okay. Is there a motion be made on this item? Mr. Mayor. Yes. I make a motion that we approve resolution number 2026-6 establishing the estimated population of the city of Coppers Cove to be 41,669 persons as of January 1st, 2026. I'll second. Motion made by Mr. Hail, seconded by Miss Hogan. Any other questions? All right. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? The motion carries.

Thank you, Bobby. We move to item H4, consideration and action on authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with the Hill Country Community Action Association leasing the building located at 2400 Walker Place Boulevard in the city of Coppers Cove. Jeff Stoddard, director of parks and recreation.

Thank you, Lisa. Mayor Council, we're almost to the finish line. So, uh, we're projecting the building to be completed at the end of this month with the finals and the, uh, COOs happening in the first part of February. Um, HCCAA will continue to operate the, uh, day-to-day operations of the senior center. They also be providing other services out of that facility such as aging services, weatherization, and energy assistance. City staff recommends the city council authorize the city manager enter into a 5-year lease agreement between Hill Country Community Action Association and the city for 2400 Walker Place Boulevard within the city of Coppers Cove. And I believe Miss Ashley Johnson is here from HCCA if you have any questions for her and the operations.

Okay, council, any questions? Okay. Is there a motion to be made on this item, Mr. Mayor? Yes. I make a motion that we authorize the city manager to enter into a 5-year lease agreement between the Hill Country Community Action Association and the city for 2400 Walker Place Boulevard within the city of Copper Cove. Second. Motion made by Mr. Hail, seconded by Mr. Treadway. Any other discussion? Right. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries.

Thank you, mayor. Thanks, Jeff. Uh, let's see. We move to item H5. Consideration and action authorizing the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with APGN, Inc. for the asset management and maintenance service plan for the Northwest Wastewater treatment plant blowers. Chris Alott, assistant director of public works.

Thank you, Lisa. Uh good evening, council, mayor, city manager. Uh the item before you is for, as Lisa stated, the asset management and maintenance service plan proposed for the Northwest wastewater treatment plant blowers. Uh these blowers uh provide a critical part of the treatment process. They supply air uh to the microorganisms in that treatment process. These blowers specifically were replaced as part of an upgrade that the city completed in 2016. At that time, the blowers were rated to last between 8 to 10 years from the manufacturer. When I say rated, that the blower is a larger enclosure, but inside that blower, there's electrical components and a blower core. Uh that blower core, like I stated before, is rated for 8 to 10 years. We're approaching nine uh or just over nine years right now. Um so, um it the the time is coming for these to start being replaced. um just like any other piece of equipment that's running all the time. Uh during that upgrade, we received um some pretty significant efficiencies when we upgraded to these blowers. These blowers uh allowed for 30 to 50% reduction on the electricity costs for the treatment plant at the Northwest plant. Uh that is the equivalent of a roughly between 13,000 and $15,000 per month since they've been in service. Uh so quick math on it is over a million dollars in savings of electricity costs since they've been in service. W with that said, uh the blowers themselves um as they're reaching the end of life, we have included in our operating funds $80,000 per year to replace the blower core itself. That does not include any of the ancillary uh the control panel, the VFD, other electrical components that uh as you all know when you have any kind of

component the electrical computer they become obsolete or they quit working over a period of time and need to be replaced. Uh this service plan provides uh two two different sides to it. The first is that uh the actual manufacturer will come out and inspect and do maintenance on these blowers uh twice per year. Uh the other element to this is the increased warranty of these blowers. These blowers originally came with a 2-year warranty period for after they were installed and placed into service. At this time, uh this plan itself would increase that warranty for the duration of the plan. Uh with that it includes items such as the blower core, uh control panels, any electrical system upgrades, uh the variable frequency drive, multiple things. [snorts] Roughly all of those items per blower, there's four blowers there, roughly about $136,000 uh for each blower. [snorts] The plan itself is, let's see here, $61,800 per year. uh8 $61,870 per year for a period of 10 years. Um and would increase that warranty for that period. Let's see here. Okay. Uh currently, uh the the city's wastewater treatment plant, Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant, has experienced uh one blower uh out of service uh during this period of time. Uh currently we've spent roughly on electrical components outside of the blower core. Um it was $33,000 for an electrical upgrade, uh $15,000 for an MCP, $14,000 for a blower diagnostic and a rental, and then $9,000 for ancillary other costs. So roughly around $60,000

that we've already spent. The blower core that's in the blower now is a rental core. Um, and as part of this agreement, the APG Neuros will be allowing us to keep that core and that core will remain in the blower. So, it will not need to be removed again and replaced again. Uh, and that would be covered as part of the warranty of this project of of this plan itself. So, right out the gate, we are um the the the first year is covered in essence by that initial expense that we would experience otherwise. Uh the other thing to consider is in our operating funds right now we are including an expenditure of $80,000 for a blower core every year. And so this gives us a predictable cost uh which is less and would actually be a net reduction in the operating fund cost of uh $18,130 per year. So we would have a reduction in the overall uh operation operations budget. Uh, with that said, I'm I'm available for any questions. Uh, and city staff recommends that the city council authorize the city manager to execute a professional service agreement with APGN Incorporated for the asset management and maintenance plan for the Northwest Wastewater treatment plant blowers in the amount of $61,870 annually for a period of 10 years.

Thank you, Chris. Council, you have questions for Chris? Good presentation. All right. Any action be taken? Mr. Mr. Mayor, I make a motion authorizing city manager to execute a professional service agreement with APGN Incorporated for the assessed management and maintenance plan for the Northwest wastewater treatment plant blowers in amount of $61,870 annual for a period of 10 years accumulating a total of $618,700. Second.

Motion by Mr. Treadway, seconded by Miss Trophus. Any other questions? Right. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you, Chris. Thank you. All right. We've already taken care of item six, so we move to item seven, consideration and action on establishing a charter review committee. Ryan Havlaw, city manager.

Thank you, Mrs. Wilson. Mayor and councel, it has been a while since we've had a [laughter] charter review committee. Um and that is actually uh dictated by state law. Uh the city can only change its charter or proposed to change its charter every two years. And typically in the past, city council has established charter committees to review the charter. And those committees are typically made up of citizens of the community that city council uh approves and then a couple of city council liaison to that committee. Uh I have uh reviewed state law. Um, I've looked at our charter. I've looked at the previous discussions that occurred and the amendments that were presented by city council [cough] to our voters uh for consideration. Um, at this time, I do not see a significant compelling reason uh to have a charter review committee, but that should not necessarily persuade you from not establishing a committee to review the charter. Uh but again uh it's it's really completely up to city council uh if you would like to have that charter review committee. With that staff's recommendation is to discuss it and if you so wish to create that committee create that committee and then I'll ask you some more details of how you want that committee to be formed if that's the direction you want to go. All right, council. Any recommendations? Right now, you're saying that there's not a compelling reason to uh form the committee. We've already we we the last time we did it, we made a considerable amount of changes which were related to corrections, updates,

and state law preeemptions and and all those. Yes. Uh I I say that there's no compelling reason to recommend changes to the charter based on state law changes that have occurred since the last time the charter was reviewed. That's that's what I'm saying. I'm not saying there's not a compelling reason to have a committee, right? Uh because citizen engagement is always positive. So [laughter] all right, council. What's your pleasure? Yes. No. Maybe.

I tend to agree with Ryan. They updated it to comply with all the state mandates uh just well two years ago. And and it was voted on in November of 24 if I'm not mistaken. Uh November of 23. November of 23. Okay. [snorts]

I'm okay. Just so the citizens know that uh anyone can petition to change the charter. Just takes 2.5% of the qualified registered voters in the city. Anyone see a compelling reason to reestablish the charter review committee? I do not. Okay. Not at this time, Mr. Mayor.

Okay. All right. We will. Okay. Item eight has been pulled. So, we move to item agenda item I, city manager report. Oh, excuse me.

Took your thunder away, Lisa. Thank you, Mayor, Mayor, and Council. Uh, I'll go through this pretty quickly. Uh, I'll I will say upfront um that I do not have a significant number of updates uh based on the activities that occurred uh last week uh within our city. Um so, as I'm going through these, by all means, please interrupt me and and I will uh stop and we can talk about that topic. Uh starting with capital projects, the animal control facil, and I'm going to cover several of these real quick. animal control facility, uh, senior center facility, municipal court renovation, and fire station number three expansion. Um, all of those projects received coal from me during Christmas because they were not complete prior to Christmas. So, they got no gift uh from me. Um, those projects at this point are still incomplete. Um but uh from a staff perspective, we are pushing very hard uh with those contractors and subcontractors and our team members to uh uh accomplish and finish those projects. If you go by and look at those projects, a lot of them uh are actually they from the exterior look really good. Um and so I'm really happy with where we're at from the an exterior perspective. Uh but it's not just the exterior. All the interior work still needs to be done and accomplished as well. Uh city park improvements are virtually done. Uh there there are still a few more things that need to be uh finished there, but let's focus on roadway projects. Uh roadway projects. Um let's let's talk let's talk about the touchy one first and that is uh our local roadways. Um city council approved the uh street maintenance utility uh fee. That fee is being implemented this month. So, our residents will start seeing that uh fee on our utility bills.

Um, and those projects will begin to be uh defined and uh begin scoped out in terms of the work that needs to be done so that we can uh bid those projects out u before the midyear calendar year. Uh I know that uh Mr. Osborne and his team burn and his team. I'm so sorry, Scott. You want to focus on it? It just doesn't come out right. Sorry. Um, but uh Mr. Osburn and his team have already contacted uh the engineer uh that helped us complete our roadway inventory uh based on the condition of those roadways and uh that engineer will be helping us define what those projects are and the work that needs to be done. uh we will be very uh public and upfront about what those projects are, the work that needs to be done. So they'll be we'll be publishing a lot of that information. Uh there are uh there there's a significant project that is coming up and that is the uh expansion of US 190. Uh I have already reported to council that that project was bid out uh by Texot. that was awarded last year and uh Texot and the contractor have already begun discussions in what is called preconstruction. So before construction begins, they're talking about the project, how it's going to uh proceed from the beginning of construction till the end. Uh city staff is actually going to be involved in those discussions beginning this week. Um and uh in just as a reminder, it will be adding two additional new separated lanes on the north side of the existing lanes. It will be adding six new bridges uh all the way from the east side of town to the west side of town at FM2657. And so uh this will be a very substantial project uh that will be

done. As we learn more about that project, uh we will be sharing that with you and with the residents as the public information comes out. Another project that is actually currently underway is are the ramp uh construction at State Highway 9 and Tank Destroyer Road in uh Old Georgetown Road. Uh there was some public information that was released by uh Fort Hood uh that was not entirely accurate. And so we've worked with text. Ford Hood and and our team to obtain that information. We are now they are now including us in those uh regular updates and discussions on the project itself. Um but at this point it is about 13% complete and there's some dirt that's being moved u material that's being brought in uh and so that project will continue but that project should be go pretty quickly uh because it is not a substantially large project. uh other activities. Um there there's a lot of activity going on uh within our departments. So starting with parks and recreation uh a lot of youth sports activities. Uh adult sport activities are also uh becoming more frequent and uh more engaging. Um over the last sport leagues that we've had, we've had uh nearly record levels of participation. So we are doing really well. But just keep in mind that the more participation we get, the uh less traditional uh are the days of play are the locations of practice um times of uh games. And so we're really having to stretch out and change what we've done in the past to accommodate those that want to p participate in really great programs. Um we do have have had a number of activities scheduled in some of our

other departments. Some of those will have to be rescheduled uh based on um uh the memorial services and planning that we had for officer Garrettson uh this past week. Uh but we will be uh moving forward uh with some of those uh emergency notifications and preparations. I will encourage every resident and please encourage everybody you know to sign up for code red. Uh the first code red message has actually come out today that we've not seen for months. Um one that's a good thing because we haven't had major uh concerns weatherwise. Uh but uh it is an indication that that system is working again. I've previously shared that there was some concern about how that system was functioning. Um but it is functioning again and please sign up for those notifications especially with the winter weather that is coming up. Please be prepared. uh and and do not wait till the last moments. Uh Central Texas Water Authority, I know that there is a meeting coming up, so I don't have a whole lot of uh new information beyond the fact that we have submitted our application for membership. There are fees that the association um authority has determined uh need to be paid and so uh we will be working through that process as they consider our application for membership. And then uh grant statuses. Um looking through those real quick. Nothing significant no significant changes in any of those uh have occurred. Uh so I that'll conclude my report for tonight. Mayor u subject to any questions the council may have.

Council, any questions? Thank you, Ryan. Uh we move to item J. Items for future agendas. Nothing for me, Mr. Mayor. Nothing for me, sir. Nothing, Mr. Mayor. I have nothing, sir. Thank you. Nothing, Mr. Mayor. I have nothing. Okay. There is no executive session tonight. So, the time is 7:12. We stand adjourned. Thanks everyone.