City Council - Regular Meeting

And again, the sentiment was going to come down the pike. Yeah.

In a minute, can you grab the mic? Mic check, mic check. Well, I was talking to my mom.

And I think I accidentally said housing addition. I called it Kemah Oaks Addition. And he got mad. I can't talk to him. I haven't talked to him since. But I was just wondering if I could take a copy of the thing and say, this is what's the next step.

Finance in front of the board. I used to live in Clear Lake and there was, when I walked to and from the library, there was this one.

Oh, it does.

An oak tree. Yeah.

Especially when you've got a few books or much less a computer at night and you're not really paying that much attention.

She doesn't have a name tag.

Oh, okay. We'll make you official.

No, no, that's for the turnaround. Go to the back and make some markers. Oh, my God. No. We'll get you a real one.

What's up, six-by-one? I'm going to do all the papers from out there. We talked about doing bad lip reading over the top of it. I thought you said I'm afraid to be a trip hazard.

I feel like you guys are beating stuff up. You're going to get one drop. One drop. Cesar said he'll do it. I'm looking at you.

And Natasha. Like it's all 30 minutes later.

Why don't you put it right there?

you need to pop it you and william

Oh, he's here. These are so slow, he's on both screens. It's delayed by like 30 seconds. You guys are funny.

you let me know when Jason's on let me know when Jason's on Oscar everything good How many are in the ground?

Seeing we have a quorum, I will call to order the City of Pima City Council and Pima Public Facilities Corporation, our regular city council meeting, August 19th, 2026 at 4 p.m. And the first thing on our agenda is the pledges.

Marley pledges.

Just stay standing. Is that peanut butter? Oh, yeah. It's called peanut butter. 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.

Under the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state, under God, one nation. What did you say? What did you say?

Oh, he's one. I smell peanut butter. Where's the peanut butter coming from? I'm eating peanuts.

Next on the agenda is a moment of silence. Okay, and next on our agenda is invitation to address council and I believe Ms. Cheryl Gonzales is the only one we have tonight.

The reason I'm coming is because the street, Sioux Drive or Sioux Avenue, it's in deplorable condition. And there's a huge storage complex in there of RVs and other buildings. There's a big boat repair of luxury boats. There's a halfway house. There's... regular residences. There's another business on the corner, I can't remember. But anyway, if we let it go, we're going to be spending a lot more than if we go ahead and repair it now. And as I recall, back in around April or May, one of the city councilmen came up with an idea to build a new street from west to east over there, going where I have no idea. And that was going to be at least a million dollars. So I'm just wondering why we're not repairing the streets that we already have. It'll cost us a lot more if we don't get that thing repaired. Thank you.

Is there anyone that was overlooked after we picked the list up?

Okay. We do not have any problemations, presentations, awards, etc. Mayor's comments is next. I hope everybody's staying cool at the The summer is transitioning into fall if it gets better quick. I know my. My grass looks terrible. It's also back to school time and I just wanted to remind everybody to keep an eye out for the children and the buses and the school zones drive slower and keep your head on a swivel and look for those little ones. And if you need a school supplies, we've got great options here in town. i also want to welcome our newest city council member miss jacqueline whelan she was appointed during our previous meeting to fill a vacancy and position um it is four yeah position four and she previously served on our economic development board for more than two years and we're excited to have her and look forward to working with her because of her appointment to city council she has resigned from a position on our kcdc board anyone interested in filling a position may apply online or up here at city hall the applications must receive be received by 5 pm on thursday september the 3rd I'd also like to thank the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce for holding a ribbon cutting. It was today at a local business. We were all up here in a workshop, so we didn't get to attend, but they visited G Rep Signs and Graphics, which is just up the road here, and they also do the graphics on the police cars. So we're excited to see them recognized. And also remember to go online at scenictexas.org and vote for KEMA. Scenic City, Texas is holding their 2026 People's Choice Awards. And we've been recognized and nominated and all the votes count. And thank you for coming out tonight. Next, our city council member comments. Councilwoman Thorne, would you like to go first tonight?

Thank you everybody for coming out and enjoy the budget season.

Councilman Oliver.

Just shout out to Public Works getting all the trees in. It's really hot out there. Been working all day. So a lot of trees going in up and down Evergreen and they're working hard. It's just really hot. So thanks guys.

Thank you. Councilman Broaddus.

Jack Clinton, welcome aboard. I look forward to working with you. Public Works, thank y'all very much. I know that's a lot of work. Much appreciated. I don't want y'all to think it's not. Also reiterate that we are taking applications and we're looking for somebody that wants to engage with the business owners is what the board really is in need of. you would like to go door-to-door and meet the business owners of this town that's who we're really and truly working for to help us with our business development and strategic plan so if that's something that you feel passionate about please apply for the position because we definitely that's the void that we're looking for on the board right now so thank you uh councilman wheeler well thank you i'm happy to be here and i would echo to public works the street looks awesome with all the trees that you're working with

and then highly encourage people to apply for KCDC and really focus on the business alliance. I know we had a lot of people who were interested in the council position, and KCDC is an awesome way to get involved and really learn about what's going on. So thank you.

And Councilman Rohrer?

Well, I'd also like to say welcome to Councilman Whelan. I would also like to say thank you all for coming out. Public works, I say congrats. Doing good. That's about it.

Thank you. Next on the agenda is the city administrator in form, Cesar.

uh good afternoon uh mayor council and thanks for your patience that we spent a pretty good amount of time together today um thank you everybody for your efforts on the retreat thank you to kcdc uh for being here earlier for this the uh strategic plan session we're excited to have completed phase two uh today we'll get that written up and then we'll move on to community input which was what my That's probably the part that I'm looking forward to the most. Thank you everybody for your time. I did want to do two things. I'd be remiss. I want to say a call for volunteers that is available for ARP grants. We have two audits that are going on. We got a bunch of folks after we asked yesterday for KCDC. Thank you, Council Member Broaddus, for helping us recruit to get them folks for the walkability audit. I need some more for the walkability and the bikeability audit. The more volunteers we have, the more of the city we can cover. And basically what we want to do is we want to audit our streets to make sure how walkable and bikeable they are. So we're doing a full call for projects, full call for volunteers through all of our volunteers that we have that are already registered to see who would like to start. We do need some champions in certain areas that we would like to have champion and lead the actual charge so we can get this done properly, get them properly trained, know how to fill out the paperwork so we can get that done. If any members of the public would like to partake in that, the bikeability is the one that we're having the most trouble recruiting for. I think we've got a few runners.

Bikeability.

So likeability and walkability are the two that we're looking for.

Excellent. Excellent.

I will... I appreciate it. The goal we'd like to get is 12 minimum in each group. We'll always take more. The more we can do, the more streets we can check, and we want to really look out. It tells you what to look for, whether it's speed humps or potholes or missing sidewalks or broken sidewalks, whatever it may be. It allows you to have a full audit done or the general walkability, like, hey, the road's too narrow, or this happens, or it dips on this side, whatever the case is. There's a whole training that goes with that. I won't bore everybody on that, but that's our call for volunteers. I also want to take a moment. I'd be remiss. There's two vendors that are here that are on the call that I'd be remiss. If you're in the budget workshop, you wanted to ask these questions, they are available. That's Higginbotham is on the call. Ms. Shana is on the call. If there's any questions, we didn't go over health insurance very much, but I always like to have the vendors on the phone as well as IT. And that's open that back up. But should you have any questions, if this is likely not the forum to do so, I want to let you know that they are on the call if we need to follow up with them in any way, shape, or form. If you have any questions about the budget, operations, anything else that you have on our benefits or the IT, they're both on the call. There is another item later where I keep going to be speaking, or if you have any questions, it'll be later on the agenda. But other than that, that concludes our report. If you have any questions for either of them.

Or bikes, definitely bikes.

There's a business, it's called Bike EMS, and they just started.

It's a bag emergency maintenance service. And they will come to your home and repair bikes.

I can get his name and we could get in touch with him. He may know people. You're familiar with this. Yeah. But that could be a resource. OK, thank you. Thank you.

Uh, if there's no questions for me or for either health insurance or it that on the call, I again, I'd be remissed. I apologize for not having them during the budget workshop. That's that's my fault. We closed the meeting before I told you that they were available questions or comments for them.

Thank you. Thank you shana for waiting.

Uh Jason, I know you have an item still on the agenda. Thank you.

Yeah.

Next on the agenda is to approve the minutes of the 8 5, 2026 City Council regular meeting. There was made to. from the time the packet was printed until what I will sign tonight, actually. It's on item 10A. And all it was was that I believe Councilman Rourke's vote was left off, and so it needed to be added. So the minutes that I would sign would have that edit in bill tonight. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda with item 10 a corrected? And a second. So we have a motion by councilman brought us and a second by councilman or all those in favor. Any opposed motion carries unanimously. 11, a consideration of possible action to approve resolution 2026 dash 32. A resolution of the city council of the city of Texas for the designation of an alternate. For the golf cut is transit district. This is to replace Councilman Lee Wallace, who was an alternate. I believe Councilman Dustin Oliver is our main and our proxy representative is City Administrator Cesar Garcia, but we need to replace Lee on this board. Any nominations or volunteers?

Just so everybody knows, keep in mind the meetings are... third tuesday of each month at alternating locations there was one yesterday in texas city the next one is in lake jackson so it does require you know to and from just so anybody knows before they volunteer i have been going to the meetings and i have been representing us but as an as a elected official you have a different standing on the board than somebody that's a proxy like myself so i can speak i can vote but i cannot hold off i'm just a proxy vote so whoever would like to be that second nominee and coordinate with the first one that's your question It is the third Tuesday of each month in alternating locations.

Is Lake Jackson the furthest place to go? Yes.

It would be either Texas City at their office there next to Carlos Garza Park at their main hub there. Their other one is in Lake Jackson. And if you can't make it, it's...

i'm i'm i'm going to the meeting so don't feel either dustin exactly anybody stop i make a motion to nominate councilwoman the alternate to the board of the gulf coast transit district uh for resolution 2026-32 we have a motion by councilman oliver a second by councilman bronis

Motion carries unanimously, and thank you for volunteering. 11B, consideration of possible action on the 2027 proposed agglomerate fiscal year 2027 through October 1, 2026. to September 30th, 2027 of 0.1899. The property tax rate will be considered for adoption on first reading at the September 2nd, 2026 city council meeting on a second and final reading at the September 16th, 2026 city council meeting. A roll call vote is required for this. So I guess I can just call their names for you and have them vote affirmative or negative. Yes. So Councilwoman Thorne. Aye. Councilman Oliver.

Affirmative.

Councilman Broaddus. Affirmative. Councilwoman Wieland. Affirmative. And Councilman Rourke. Affirmative. all affirmative natasha motion carries unanimously 11.51 consideration and possible action regarding finalization of the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget this is also a roll call vote uh council changes made though yeah i'm gonna make those changes so with the motion we would ask you to say with the changes that were suggested through the budget workshop

for each one of us not to say that?

No, we need a motion and a second, and then we can do a roll call vote.

I'll call the motion.

I make a motion to approve the finalization of proposed fiscal year 2027 budget pending budget review changes.

Second. We have a motion by Councilman Broaddus, a second by Councilwoman Thorne. I will begin down here. Councilman Rourke. Councilwoman Whelan. Affirm. Councilman, well, brought us, you made the motion. Councilman Oliver. Affirmative. Councilwoman Thorpe. Affirm.

I'll join the crowd.

Okay. Motion carries unanimously again, Natasha. Thank you all. 11D, consideration of possible action to approve the LJA proposal for the 57-acre park engineering under the scope of Gomesa Grant. It's a general land office. So we have a motion by Councilman Broaddus, a second by Councilman Oliver. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. 11E, Consideration of Possible Action on a Budget Amendment for the Domestic Grant.

I make a motion to approve a budget amendment for the Domestic Grant. Second.

Councilman Broaddus, motion, second by Councilman Oliver. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. 11F, consideration of possible action on a budget amendment for the Texas A&M Forestry Grant.

I make a motion to approve the budget amendment for the Texas A&M Forestry Grant. Second.

Again, Councilman Broaddus made the motion. Councilman Oliver seconded it. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. 11G, consideration of possible action to approve a new phone contract with Clearly IP.

Yeah, I can describe what that is. Okay. Jason, can everybody hear me okay?

Yes, sir. Okay.

Yeah, so Fairly IP is what we have, a LAN SC phone system. So the new phone system is just the next generation phone system with the same company with a lot more features. And I don't have the exact number, but about $480 cheaper a month. So it's a big upgrade for cost. I got them to throw in all of the migration services for free as well. So really this is an upgrade. Get the same company, just at a cheaper cost.

Perfect. Love that. Make a motion to approve the new phone contract with Clearly IP. Second.

We have a motion by Councilman Oliver, a second by Councilman Broaddus. All those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? Motion carries 11 H consideration and possible action to approve the may have renewal contract. It's a 3 year renewal. It is already in our budget and I believe it is 15,000 dollars for that.

Not in our budget. So, but I think mark showed up. So I don't want to just slam this 1 through. So, if you wouldn't like, come up and educate the new council members. We got 3 new council members. It might not be.

up to speed in what your organization does absolutely well mayor council thank you so much for the opportunity um so my name is mark mitchell i'm the vice president of economic and economic development and policy at the bay area houston economic partnership so our main goal is to recruit retain and uh retain primary jobs in our region So we work with our municipalities on different projects, looking at industries, trying to bring those companies to that area that fit what they're looking for. And so with those jobs that come in, they create the secondary and tertiary jobs as supporting companies that go in there. And so we work as a region. And if you look at the map of our area, kind of Houston, all the way down to the water, we represent everything from three o'clock to six o'clock. And so we work with maritime, aerospace, aviation, especially chemical, hotel tourism, healthcare. We try to focus on those five pillars and bring them to our region. And so unlike a lot of the regions in the state and in the country, you work with one or two of those types of pillars, we have the luxury of having five. So it's really great. And it also keeps us very busy. WE ALSO WORK WITH THE ICSC AND TRY TO BRING IN DIFFERENT RETAIL STORES AND RETAIL SHOPS IN HERE. WE GO AFTER WHAT THE CITY IS LOOKING FOR SPECIFICALLY.

I would probably suggest, I mean, I do this in my personal business as well in the oil and gas sector. We use the same services. So, I mean, they're very informative. They've actually helped us on the KCDC side on two, almost three leads now. Barbara that helps Cesar all the time is very, very informative. And I probably get 20 emails a week from her potential projects and make Mike a kind of chemo. But I mean, it's a great partnership and I much appreciate it.

they may have any questions for us i also want to comment that this was a kcdc expense that was approved last night uh through their or recommended for approval last night through their kcdc meeting so it is a three-year commitment we would plan a budget for the next three years should you approve tonight

We have a motion by Councilman Broaddus, a second by Councilman Oliver. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Natasha brought it to my attention that I may have jumped the gun and we might not have done a motion and a second on 11B. We did do a roll call vote, however, so I'd like to go back just to make sure that we have a motion for the tax rate by someone and a second. make a motion to approve the tax rate of 0.1899 second so we have a motion now by councilman oliver and a second by councilman broadus and you all have already done a roll call vote on that i also am under the assumption we do not need another executive session since we had one earlier today if that being the case is there any other councilman comments or questions if not we will call the meeting uh Over.