City Council - Regular Meeting

warm. It is warm. Turn the AC down. Just right. Is it? There we go. Good evening everyone. We're opening our city council meeting at this point. It is now 6 o'clock. With that being said, we will open with a prayer and a pledge. Lord, we're just coming to you this evening, God, unless we know how. First of all, thank you, Lord, for touching us with your finger of love, God, and waking us to a new day, God, or waking us to a new year, God. We just praise you. We glorify you, God. God, we just ask you right now to um uh protect your children, God. Um um um please uh lead us and guide us, God. We're here this evening to uh tend to the business of the city, Lord. And we just ask you, Lord, for clear, concise understanding, God, and that uh even though we may disagree, God, that we don't fall out, Lord. We just ask you, Lord, to continue to lead us to do the right thing, God, in the right way, in the right form, the right manner. God, I just ask you, Lord, to continue to touch us, bless us, lead us, and guide us. In your son Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, at this time we'd like to recognize all of our visitors here. We have a crowd. We haven't had one in a while. So glad that you chose to join us. And we know that you're here. You have some concerns or you just want to enlight us on other things. But either way, we thank you for joining us. But just like to remind you, some of you may not have been here in [clears throat] terms of uh when we start the ones that have requested to have words that it is a reminder on here about the comments from the audience of the council. It said at this time anyone will be allowed to speak on city related matters only. No personal matters or matters under litigation will be allowed. The length of time may not exceed three minutes. No council discussion or action may take place on a matter until such matter has been placed on an agenda and posted in accordance with the law. And simply what that says, we would look at you when you talk, we will smile, but we would not respond and it would not be any dialogue. So for those of you that haven't experienced that, just [snorts] make sure. So, at this time, um, we do have several, and I think the first one is Cat Cross. Good evening, city council members. Um well, I I hadn't talked about I didn't look at what was on the agenda exactly, but I do want to say that regarding um the videoing of the city council meetings, there are times I there's a double-edged sword because we really

want people to be here in in the seats and and participate in our government, but there are times when you just can't make it, you know, and being able to go back on those videootapes and listening to what h what happened is really um I think it's necessary. I mean, I I've had many times that I've had to go back or I want to clarify something. Maybe I couldn't hear everybody because they weren't speaking into their microphones. So, I want to go have back and clarify something. But the original reason I wanted to come up here to speak is those signs that say welcome to Crockett. Good job, y'all. Those are absolutely wonderful. It makes me so proud to drive up into the city from one of the main corridors and see those welcome to Crockett signs. Good job, y'all.

Thank you. Uh, next would be Bobby Bolan. Thank you all. Appreciate this opportunity. I want to remind you a few things that maybe some of them haven't considered. by taking on item five by taking the the uh video out completely. You need to understand the people at work. They don't get off to five or 6:00. They go home. They want to fix their suffer for their family and then when it's through when they're through then they get to sit down and watch the YouTube, find out what their government's doing. They uh may not do it that night. They may do it the next morning or the next day, but they have time then. But they don't have time to come down here and uh set and then go home at 9:30, 10:00 at night and fix supper for their family. It just it people some of them it just can't happen. And one thing I just want to remind you that the bottom line is you don't burn the barn down to get rid of the rats. You control that problem on the onset and that's just something that you need to think about. Appreciate it.

Thank you. At this time, Jean Love Lady Jean Love Lady. Good evening. I have a concern about the railroad with the box cars sitting on the railroad track about three weeks or longer. And my concern is because there's a lot of traffic. Sometime you don't know what they're doing back there. Um I saw a guy back there one day looked like he was just looking down in the neighborhood and that's a concern for for my neighbors. Uh my next concern is uh they're speeding on Austin Street. We need some protection there. Kids is walking from school. Even adults may be uh walking but they're driving too fast. And then we have some bumpy uh some bumps on Austin Street. Uh they are up there. Um I can't think of the name. When you [clears throat] come in on Ford Street to Austin Street, you have to go around because it's bump. And I mentioned this before. And then you go on around Austin Streets, it it's so uh and also dogs. I have a lot of stray dogs. I had two puppies I really wanted to keep, but I can't afford them. But dogs is coming in in in my yard and up on the house next door to me.

And I was told that they had a um what is it? Um they was building what is it? Dogs. Oh, you just have to explain. Keep your dogs. But anyway, I don't think it's open yet, but we have we have a lot of dogs and I do not want them around my house. I I don't hate dogs, but I don't want them traveling around my house. So, thank you.

Thank you. [clears throat] Okay. Uh, James, what was the last dancer? Okay, it was a little hard to read.

Hi. Hi. My name is James Dancer. I'm not [ __ ] fake. Excuse me. Like your daughter said. I also didn't beat my mom like your daughter said. Oh, we're not

I know. I know. Just calm down. I'm just state my claims. You just state. Yes, I can state whatever I want. You have three minutes because y'all y'all can use this. So, I'm making sure that I'm heard loud and [ __ ] clear. No, you cannot use.

Yes, I can. Not in here. Actually, I can't. It's my first amendment right, ma'am. No, not in there. It is. Yes, it is. No, sir. Am I Am I right or am I wrong? Can we get the sheriff? Okay, stand down. First of all, I'm calling your daughter out cuz she called me an elderly abuser, which is the same as a [ __ ] pedophile. It ain't true, [ __ ]

Hold up. It ain't true. It ain't TRUE NOW. NO, I told you that. I told you that cuz you're a [ __ ] coward. Mike, what are you going to do? You going to beat my ass? What do we need to do? You going to beat my ass?

Okay, beat my ass. Okay, I I need to have him removed. That's creating the chaos. You got me. You got me. You got me. You just saw him threat me. You just [ __ ] saw him threat me. If you're not going to do anything, you [ __ ] been told to leave. That's fine.

But you saw him [ __ ] threat me. I didn't see anybody. Yes, you did. Yes, you [ __ ] did. Okay, with that being uh there are not any more comments. Uh at this time, just like to from the council would just I'll one thing I would like a a comment on. Uh you said you had a comment. Is that what? Uh

yes, ma'am. Okay. You can go ahead and do yours then. Okay. Um basically um just kind of wanting that the um citizens to be aware that um that we've been having or there have been charter meetings being conducted and uh the charter amendments will affect everyone. Uh so um I just want to let everyone know that that we do have conflicting charters here in the city of Crockett and the current charter that I believe that uh the charter committee is working on uh has not been approved or has been filed uh with the secretary of state. So, um there's only one charter that I'm aware of that's the original charter that was approved in uh April of 64. Um currently, I believe the ch the charter revision com committee is working on the official home room charter um of city of Crockett that was reprinted in February of 1997. and uh there was that that chart was never approved by the voters. So don't know how it actually got modified. So from my request uh there has not been any additional documentation or available documents to prove that the 1997 charter is legitimate or was duly duly constituted or approved by the voters. So my question again is which charter is the committee working from uh trying to amend also um just to let you all know that uh in the charter because I've attended uh several meetings and one of the meetings I I was actually one of the members but in my opinion a lot of the revisions one of them is where the the

intent of the actions are to restructure or change our local government to weaken the voices of the people and to strip strip decision making and the power from council members to give the give it to the mayor and the city manager. The stripping decision is an old technique used to involuntarily transfer power of duly elected city council members making them totally ineffective and our voices and our votes void. Um, for this I'm just saying that this is considered to me as taxation without representation. Taxing the citizens and stripping the council members voices from their con constituents. This system gives the appearance that uh again taxation without representation especially when you try to speak on the behalf of your constituents. I also want to advise you that um the charter uh also leaves a door open um to fostering corruption, financial debt, leaving the citizens unprotected, no accountability for the mayor and the city manager when poor financial decisions are made. No one is held accountable for miscence or wrongdoing. Um, I'd like to reiterate that leaving the citizens without a voice unprotected, the mayor and city manager without checks and balances system in place for accountability. Um, I I don't agree with that. Um, but I'm just bringing this to your attention that this is coming forward. You may also

You have three minutes. Yes. You may also get a ma'am. You may also get a copy of the ma'am charter from the city. Three minutes. Thank you. Uh did anyone else from the council have any words? Just like to make a note. Um it is it was brought to my attention that the city right now is working with the churches on the secure on church security. if any of you in the community that are interested in it, you can get back and um they've had a couple of meetings at different churches, but they're looking at working with the independent churches regardless of denomination about what's best for security in the churches since we've had a couple of scares with the churches with people coming in and drifting in. So, for security, if you're interested in following up, you can check with me later and I'll share some of the information with you. Okay, with that being said, if it's not nothing else from the council, that brings us to our next item, approval of minutes for the regular session December 15, 2025. Mayor uh and council. Um I just want to um for the record um state that I had that I s uh read on the minutes that I stated uh that I voted against an item. Um I did not vote against the item. It clearly stated that um I had abstained. So, I'm just requesting that the recording secretary review that um recording and correct the U statement that I have made.

I would like to make a motion that we approve regular session from December 15 meetings. Second. Okay. It's been moved and second. All in favor? Motion carries. Okay. That brings us to our item under our reports, the police department manpower and criminal incident report for October and November 2025.

Good evening, Mayor, Council, City Administrator, Police Department, and Criminal Activity Report for October of 2025. A total of 15 officers, worked 2,420 hours service, responded to 423 calls, investigated eight traffic accidents, made 50 arrests, issued 323 traffic citations, completed 82 reports, uh responded to 17 alarm calls, 14 of those were false alarm. Um below there's a breakdown of our October criminal incident. I'll move on to November. Uh total of 15 officers, 2,218 hours, responded to 396 calls, investigated 10 traffic accidents, made 34 arrests, issued 265 traffic citations, completed 65 reports, and responded to 24 alarm calls. 20 of those were false alarms. Below you'll also see a breakdown for November and I'll entertain any questions you may have.

Are we breaking more more laws? The reason we have more tickets going out getting a little careless I guess. So thank you. All right. Um,

prior fire department. Good evening, mayor, council members, city administrator. For the month of October, we had a total of 34 calls. 18 of those being inside the city limits and 16 being in our county response area. Uh, we'll move over to November. We had a total of 45 calls. U breakdown is 28 in the city, 17 in our county response area. And it's there's a further breakdown in front of y'all if y'all have any questions on that.

Does anyone have any questions? Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. It brings us to our order of business. Item number four, considering approved adopting a city council agenda policy regarding the placement of future agenda agenda items as presented in the proposed draft. Mayor and council, at the last meeting, it was brought up of the way that agenda items are brought before or put on the agenda for city council. This is just a draft for discussion tonight. It's just part of a policy that I think there's more policies in the future that fit in with this as we conduct council meetings moving forward. But this is one of the drafts that we looked at and it's very similar. Basically, the agenda items for tonight are all based on what happened with within public comments at the last meeting. If you'll look at the agenda items that are there and so this is just a draft. The city attorney has reviewed that. Um so it's for discussion in your action if you so choose.

Um I do have a question. So, so did did the city attorney create the document or she reviewed the document? I worked on the document myself. So, did she approve the document? She did. You can ask her. You approved it and you created?

Yes. Okay. We got Yeah. Um, so with that being said, uh, are we getting any input from the council or pretty much I mean because it's just a draft, right?

It is just a draft and if you'll read the agenda item, it says consider and approve which gives you the option to consider and approve or just consider and not approve or but the fact is it is there to be considered and it is council's decision whether it gets approved or not.

Okay. Well, I I uh I move that the wording I I did read it. Um I move that the wording in the new business uh agenda draft article 11 section five of Texas Constitution be struck out. New business items have nothing to do with the adoption or the amendment of the charter and section six of the new business procedure draft be removed also because we cannot prohibit any city council members from recommending items being placed on the agenda that I consider as official oppression. Therefore, I would suggest or recommend that we table the new business item agenda until the wording complies with the Texas state statutes. Okay, that's a You made a recommendation. Is it a second?

Yeah, I second. You second. Okay. Um [clears throat] on that recommendation, it's been moved and second. I I'd like to discuss now. We can I mean if we're going to do anything uh [snorts] why don't we just

do this and also do a a basically a a policy that u oversees council. I mean just uh we can tie all of this into more policy. This was just the section that was brought up during public comments at the last meeting was how

written a written policy. Yes sir. We can we can table this to go by we can table this one and be more inclusive with more policies all together. That's totally acceptable. Okay. But on the So right now in discussing with this

it's just to table it is it is a pleasure to table it is that well that's what the motion is and I was just saying I would like to see a policy put in place. Well if we table it then we can that's that that's what could happen. We can discuss that and everyone could put in the uh um the policy what they would like to see. And that way the the council will have overall everyone would have an input instead of someone creating the document and then put it forward for us just to vote on it

and plus the way it was on the table. Go ahead. Go ahead. So yeah, you vote on the table. It was on the table to do it and there's been a first and a second. All in favor? Motion carries. [snorts] So it would be table. Okay. Brings us to item number five. Consider and approve whether to televise and or live stream regular and special meetings of the council. Council

C. I I do have uh something to say on that note. We need a motion first. Oh, we need a motion. Um, I I I would like I move that we do not accept um removing uh the city uh televising the city on YouTube or for the public to review.

Okay. It's a motion to to not to not remove I guess he's right back with it. Not remove the uh television and the uh televising. I second

a live stream. Okay, it's been moved and second. All in favor? No discussion. Oh, I mean discussion. I'm sorry everybody. That's all done. Okay. Any any discussion? No discussion. I I I have something.

Okay. I mean I I want I on a the reason why I mean uh that I brought this up. I mean, I I'd like to uh I want to explain Oh, yeah. why I asked to discuss the ending the streaming. Uh it's not about hiding anything from the public. It's about how the meetings have been embarrassing and now being seen far beyond our city. Far beyond our city. uh meetings once it took 30 minutes now takes 2 hours or more. That time is spent meeting the need is not spent meeting the me need of the city but spent arguing lies and drama. Since I have been on council, we have not needed a written policy for council. That's because we had council members who acted in good faith even [clears throat] when they disagreed. People respected the process and each other now has changed. It seems that one council member now uses her position to cause chaos, spread false information, and attacks others. I believe that since she did not get her get what she wanted on EDC, now she wants to use her position to hurt the city in other ways she can. I volunteer count I [clears throat] volunteer as a council member to help and serve the city. I refuse to volunteer my time and sit here to be a part of this embarrassment. [clears throat] Council members get an agenda a full week before each meeting. That gives plenty of time to read it, ask questions, and get clarity. Meetings

should not be the first time questions are asked or homework is done. Council members are here to make choices for the city, not to run staff dayto day. That's why we have city manager and city attorney. let them do their jobs. Live streaming has become a platform for bad behavior instead of a way to keep the public informed. It shows chaos, not good leadership. People outside Crockett, including business and families taking about moving, thinking about moving here, see this and believe it represents our city. It does not. Real openness means showing up. Council meetings are open to everyone. Everyone who wants to know what's happening in the city can attend, listen, and take part. Sitting at home and posting comments after the meeting are over and voters are already taking. It's not I'm I'm sorry. I'm kind of still upset a little bit right now. But anyway, uh I'm not against the public knowing what we do. I'm against chaos and hate being used to hurt our city. That is why I am requesting council to review and adopt clear rules for council so meetings can return to being respectful and focused on serving our city. And that's why I asked for it.

Okay. Does any other anybody else have any comments? Yes, ma'am. Um I was in support of uh discussion on this agenda item because I can see it as a double-edged sword. Um I see the need for accessibility while I can understand what Mr. Marsh is saying as well. Um the the need the need we need to have and come together for discussion is apparent. Um I mean we don't control each other's we don't control each other's voices. We don't control each other's actions. um we agree to disagree and we come together to have um we come together to debate and you know that's that's the joy that I have to to debate to hear the other person's side idea agenda or that person's ideas um and when we lose sight of that um of that goal of that of that agenda in itself I feel like we do need to maybe go in another in another direction and we do need to come up with policies and procedures and guidelines and rules and regulations to um to adhere to to be better to better ourselves. Um with that being said like I said like I said earlier with this being a two-edged sword I do see the need for accessibility. Um um we can't take away accessibility to the public. Um I am I I myself am in support of discussion of this topic but I do not see the need to take away the uh the live stream or this service because this this this service is a need. Um but I am here for the debate to be had. Thank you.

Thank you. I just have a couple of questions. I of course I'm I hadn't been on the council but a couple of years. Um, how long has it been being videoed? When did it start?

During CO. During CO, what was the purpose? We couldn't at that at that at that time. No one could attend. No, you No, just Yeah. No one could attend in person. All right. The purpose was for the public to to know what was going on. Okay. Then before that, how did the public know what was happening at city council

that came to the meeting? They either Well, was there another avenue for it to be? Was it in the paper? I mean, can anybody remember that far back? Yeah, it's in the paper. Okay. So maybe

and I'm just it was covered. I think that's what you Okay. So if it was in the paper more than likely then probably just the results of each uh um thing that the city that the council voted on. Okay. So then if it if it started during COVID um I understand that you know but also uh I understand also too that people may have a challenge of getting here but I but some of us on the council uh do too uh when we come when we come to the council meetings. Uh we're certainly not coming here for the money. uh we're coming here to serve uh our city. I and I understand I don't like the you know [clears throat] my my belief is we we can we don't have to be uh uh unified to be uniform. we can have disagreements on things

uh as well as us as a council and and then the constituency of our city that we're striving uh to serve. I'm not one for division, but I am one for discussing everything and I try to make my decisions uh you know just from you know from common sense. I know that there's people um out there in the in the viewing land that that know more uh than I do. I I I learned that every time we have a council meeting. Uh so my idea is what I would like to do and hopefully they're watching uh tonight. some of those people maybe run for these positions and and offer their uh you know come come do what we do and offer uh you know their wisdom uh rather than and I and and in all honesty since I've been on the council I mean I I've actually enjoyed serving I I used to be on the Chamber of Commerce board for for years enjoyed that and when I moved to town. I got persuaded to be on counsel. Well, I've enjoyed this. I've enjoyed uh uh and I would like to I I would like to enjoy it again, but right now it seems as that every decision is made and I know we strive to to to do what's right,

but every decision that's made someone want to say something. Oh, no. It's not. Okay. Well, uh, every decision that's made, uh, uh, there's always somebody out there that knows a better way

and, um, and there may be on each, uh, on each decision that we make, but we're striving to do what's best for our city. Okay? And I think then if if uh uh this happens that it's no longer videoed, we go back to precoid, then maybe the newspaper could put it in the paper.

Okay. I mean, if that happens, I don't know. Well, but I'm you know, well, where we are right, I just know that it hadn't been videoed. It wasn't prior to that. And it is, it was a new thing. Now, like you said, I understand what you everybody's saying. and the pros and the cons. But I think even as a council, the uh the count the elected council people have a responsibility not only to throw out stuff during the meeting, but it should be have had some dialogue, not only with to to check what you're saying that doesn't create chaos, not not chaos, but doesn't create confusion. So if you're in and it's coming off what's making it look like drama it look like real live TV. I don't know I don't watch that but in that sense but what it in order for it to look from a professional level it needs to be not accusation thrown out at anybody. If your facts are there just state your facts and and share that information instead of your personal

emotion. I'm not saying you could be emotionally. I think what's what I mean it's just looking like a drama. When you watch it back on TV, it seemed like everybody said, "Let's look at the drama." And I think the point is still being missed about what the actual conversation should have been. And people not hearing the message. They're seeing the motions and and have a really hard time with that being projected. And so at the end of the day, I don't think the community is hearing the message of what the actual item was and what the real concerns were as much as they are seeing, oh, did she get mad? Did he get mad? Did he tell them off did that? And I'm thinking that the responsibility as a council and even as a community but since the council is elected to represent the people I think it should be just fact stated not if even if it's your interpretation of the facts I guess but it shouldn't be always an opportunity to uh lead to a argument argumentative and so people do have the right to do it And some people as as was said there are a lot of people now watching on TV that never really bothered with coming to the council because of the sensationalism of it. That's what it seems like. That's the response I'm getting a lot of time.

Well, it's given us a bad name. And if anybody up here, if anybody up there likes what just happened a minute ago and you want it live streamed. Yeah. But you know what? I feel like it's 2026, man. It's that's the part that's part of what's going on, right?

Everything that you can't hide. It's like we trying to hide something. No, it's not. We're not trying to We live I live in reality, man. You going to have ups and downs. You can't don't take it from the public just because you don't want them to know what's going on up here. Yeah. A lot of people It's good for a lot of people to see what's going on.

Yeah. What's going on with the council, the arguments, we can fix that ourselves. That's That's what I cons my my concern. Don't take it from the public because they haven't did nothing. They can go back and rewind and see what's going on. Yeah. I think that's good. A lot of people out here could really see what's going on.

Yeah. Don't hide it. That's like you're trying to hide something to me. Okay. We're not that long. Just at this point. And so I I want to say um I don't I don't know what I wanted to see from CC. I have no idea. But uh I I want to say this is I I I personally I I I I feel this is that you're right. If we did abide by laws didn't uh especially when we know right do right. If we know that this rule tells us what we should and what we should not do and somebody brings it to our attention don't cut them off. I mean, we we need to and that's what the people want to know. They want to know that we're doing them justice. They want to know that they chose us to represent our represent them and that that we deserve their their trust. We're earning their trust. And the only way we can earn their trust is that we have to do right by the constituents, the taxpayers, their money. Um, our money. We're concerned about how we're spending, how we're managing the the the city. So, I mean, so the thing of it is is is that we do have to dialogue. But when I got on council, it was really no dialogue. It was like everybody come in and city manager give them whatever. And once they get it, they look at it. Haven't looked at it all week and they get here and and vote. So, that's not what I that's not why I chose to run. I chose to run to serve my constituents to to show to to speak on their behalf. When they call me, I come. When they call me, I I dialogue with them because I want to know what what issues they have that I need to address. That's what I want to bring. And I don't appreciate a lot of times when we have when we're having dialogue or I'm trying to get a point over or things like that that I'm getting cut off. Mr. Marsh has it real bad about that. Cut him off. I ain't

going to call his name no more. Okay. But now that's what I'm saying. We got just stay true. Okay. I'm state my opinion that we have that we we I mean like just I mean just a few minutes ago. I mean give him time. We I learned to kind of hold my peace until he gets done with his speech. But then when I get ready to to talk then all of a sudden it's you got three minutes. Everybody else go over three minutes. I got three minutes. But other than that I just I I am serving my constituents. I feel like that the policies that we come up with, we should not dumb down the voices of our constituents. We speak on their behalf. We speak for them. They have issues. They are taxpayers and they're our boss and we have to do what our boss tell us to do. So, I mean, so that's that's my whole issue is that it's not a thing of being uh shameful or or being

So, could I ask a question? Sure. Why don't we video executive sessions? It's against the law. That's against the law. [laughter] Against the law. That's a rule. All right. Let's go back. So, so what's been said here tonight is nobody trusted the city council before CO. That's kind of what I heard in the conversation.

So, how did Crockett get along all of those years uh before CO? See, the way I see it is you vote you vote for somebody to to to be put in a position because you trust them. And if you got to be under somebody's eyeball uh for you to be trusted, you don't need to be in that position.

So, where we are at this point, that's what that's where the checks and balances come in at because just like we were talking about the streets the other week ago, I mean, you know, I'm I mean, I'm just going I'm just going out just for a minute. Just like we were talking about the streets and and repair repairing the streets, my constituents come to me and say, "Hey, why only part of our street got done, but then such and such other sides of town there." So, we got to we got to make sure that we have checks and balances here. Because if you're getting something on your side of town and you speaking for your constituents, my constituents want that same treatment.

I think we're digressing a little bit. What basically we're going, we want to kind of stay focused. Everybody's really had an opportunity to say why they think it should be and I think at this point I think yeah everybody has given their opinion on why for or against it should be so right now it was a um

it was a post it was you televis yeah and that was to consider and approve whether to televise or live stream regular special session meetings of the city council consider and approve.

We already then the motion was continue televised. Yes, please. Uh I move to that that the city of Crockett continue to televise and that that motion's already made. The motion is made and it's been seconded. So now it's a vote. So now we're ready for the vote.

All in favor of continuing to televis. Continuing the fellow oppose. Motion carries. Okay. So that brings us to item number six. Discussion regarding potential neighborhood watch programs within the city of Crockett.

Mayor and council. Um, Chief Smith's got a report for you on the neighborhood watch and and a breakdown of how to get that process going. Mayor, council, as [clears throat] y'all know, at the last meeting, uh, it was brought up about, uh, a neighborhood watch program here in the city. I met with Councilman Price about it. Uh, neighborhood watch is not really governed or um ran by the uh the city, the city council, the police department. Uh it's basically what it is. It's a group of neighbors that get together in their neighborhood. Um and they're an extra eye. Uh they're an organized group. Uh they have meetings. Um they communicate with law enforcement. Uh we provide training to them. Um so so they can be our eyes and ears out there uh when we're spread out throughout town with two officers out. Um it it's really a huge benefit. It's something that I think would be a a big benefit to us. Those

Excuse me. Voice is a little loud in the background. Those neighbors that get together, there's there's a lot of things that they can uh hold up hold up chief. Uh excuse me ladies, audience, your voice is curing. So, it's reflecting we can't hear up here.

For example, a lot of the the neighbors will get together u they'll provide access to their uh security cameras if we have a burglary, we have a theft, something like that. Um and those neighbors communicate with one another uh within that neighborhood. Um it's not a requirement. If if there's a particular residence or neighbor that does not want to be involved in it, they don't have to be. Um there is a national program that once you uh get your neighborhood watch together um you get your group together that you can be recognized nationally as an official neighborhood watch. Uh you can post signs coming into that neighborhood that that say uh this is a neighborhood watch area which also helps deter crime. So just a few quick notes. Uh really the way you want to get it started is that group of neighbors um they're going to gauge neighborhood interest, find out who all is interested, if it's something that would be beneficial for their neighborhood. Uh they're going to meet with their local law enforcement uh to start communicating u get contact numbers and so we can start explaining to them and training them on what to do and what not to do because really and truly neighborhood watch they're just eyes and ears. Uh they're not going to go contact suspects. They're not going to go arrest suspects. They're not going to go chase people down the street with their with their guns. Um that's another topic it brings up. You want to you want to make sure that your neighborhood watch understands the legal boundaries so they don't get themselves um in a bind. Um so that's really the nuts and bolts of a neighborhood watch program. I think it's something that as a city uh we should be behind. Um I think it's a positive thing. Uh again, like I said, the the residents in that particular neighborhood that want to be involved, they can be. If they choose not to be, then that's okay, too. So, if there's any questions, I'll I'll answer any questions that I can.

Well, I think that one of the thing is people know exactly even more closely what's happening in their neighborhood even more so than just the the visitation by the law enforcement through and also adds a layer of responsibility. for that you're aware and you get it reported a lot quicker. So I think it's for the city as a whole if it's a group in a neighborhood that's interested in monitoring that neighborhood because you know they used to refer to them as the nosy neighbor. They could tell you everything that was going and a lot of the stuff you needed to know what was going on. You didn't know that this person was in. So I think that that responsibility would it would lead itself to getting more accurate information.

Correct. rather than people uh thinking what's going on and they can address it even more directly because who knows the neighborhood better than the people that live in them. That's true. A lot a lot of information we receive from citizens on cases we're working is very crucial. They may they may think that it's something minor uh but a lot of times it it can it can fit that crucial piece that we need to identify that suspect or make that arrest. So

I think it's a real good. So um I know that this was a discussion. So you just the steps for the discussion is for them to we kind of had the discussion. Do they do it individually or we're just discussing as a whole? So they need to kind of contact you to get a feel for what we're where.

So I think the next step and I know Mr. Sheileley is the one that brought it up at the last meeting and and Councilman Price. I think their next step is to gauge uh the interest within their neighborhood. Uh once they determine if there is an interest in that uh then they come down and meet with us and we talk about legalities uh the dos and don'ts and what we can do to help them attend meetings uh talk about what to look for and help them get that process started.

Okay. So as we leave the discussion stage, it's into the individual community to make the next move or what they would like to do. Correct. Okay. Thank you, Chief. Um I I just really wanted the the public to know that they're they're not, you know, in this, you know, by themselves that um the city is um or does provide, you know, some support for them and some information for them um you know, if you see it reported or if you just want to help out your neighborhood and whatnot, there are ways to go about that.

That's true. And I again, I'll remind um our citizens, their information is crucial. Um there there's a lot of information that come forward that that really helps protect their neighborhoods or even their property. So it's important that they come forward with that.

Okay. Thank you so much. Okay. So at this time it brings us to our next item in the executive session. Um uh item number seven, government code. It would help if I put on my glasses. Let's try that again. uh 5510 uh71 consultation with the attorney regarding recapture of Lincoln lumber tax abatement and

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