City Council - Regular Meeting

All right. Check. Check. I should have Mic check. Mic check. Not long. Hello.

It's good. Oh, I fixed it. Oh yeah. Can you grab this? Thank you,

Picasso. Where's your green? Where's your green one? I didn't wear the green one.

Mhm. Spare no expense.

Oh my god.

The signature. If you wanted to read out necessarily, but you have to certify it. Certify the winners. late for a meeting. stupid thing. No,

raise your daughter. Smoking cigar. Mayor, I'll put it on the screen.

Yeah, I'll put it on the screen, too. I'm just saying I just do. I'm doing this for you. Appreciate that. It's been

I can watch you watch Yeah.

He didn't wear his Are you having trouble seeing the steering wheel? Seeing we have a quorum, I will call to order the city of KMA city council and KMA public facilities corporation regular council meeting on May 6, 2026 at 4 p.m. First thing on our agenda is the pledges. Algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.

I aliance to the Texas one state. Next um on the agenda is a moment of silence. And next on the agenda is the invitation to address council. And first on the list is Shalia the one council staff members of the public. I am humbled and honored to have been selected to ser citizen and I take that seriously. I did like transparency, fiscal responsibility. I want to thank the members of the council that are departing because you serve well and just made a different decision for again. I thank you for your service and your time because it is it is positive. You all your time and your talents and much appreciated. I also want to thank my opponent who ran a campaign and and I'd like to talk

about perception because now people has the perception of of being an upright city when it comes to elections the last few years perfectly clean running campaign and I hope to keep that on I'd like to talk the last thing on the resolution to approve the expenditure of the funds not exceed $50,000. I am well aware that it is within state code when anything under 50,000 can be done especially when we talking about professional services no requirement or putting it out for bid because it is professional services. I would ask that the council consider what the voters have asked for transparency and openness that this is not peace meal to run up bill that was actually allotted for budgeted for and and that was fun expended to for city of Ryan spent over $75,000 get certified. So uh I would hope that we are not going to peacemail this oh 50 here 50 there because while again professional service you don't have to go out qualification it dispond the general fund is not a that reserve. Thank you very much and again thank you for your service.

Next is Dee McLaram.

I got here early and seemed to take care of my business before I did. So I'll just tell you all what I had. Uh, first of all, I don't know anything about politics. I noticed correct in any way. And I just want to say that I think we need a public information officer because a lot of what goes on is Indian windows, falsehoods, accusations, and not the true information. People have a AI newspaper here. It took me a few times reading it to realize it wasn't a journalist that write it. he or she or they or you know just it's crazy stuff and we need a person that we can call and say what is going on you know we I have a new council member and I looked him up he has no is he a felon is he a is he anything other than there's nothing no bio on him is he okay to handle money do I want to run my city I don't know was my understanding that he thought about and then he decided he didn't want to run and then all this information and I start looking information. I can't find anything, but I did find that he's a spy novelist and he's an independent publisher. So, this might be an opportunity to write a sitcom about human politics because this is the craziest place I've ever been where people don't even respect each other. If you step on somebody's foot and you say your story, you know, and you don't take any windows and make them truth and you don't take an AI paper, people are reading it, they're new citizens. So, all I'm asking is that get some education. I just talked to Robert. He makes the best dirty rocks better than any other. He um told him I said, "Why didn't you send a letter out?" I didn't I didn't I need a script to tell me what this means. First of all, I didn't know the rules have changed where you have to put this is going to increase your taxes. So, right there, my head blew off. It's like, do I want this one or do I not want this? And

I said, "Just one of you to educate us and let us know if the bond passes, what does that mean? If it doesn't pass, what does that mean?" And it to me, I'm on a fixed income. Yes, it matters. $50 here, $100 here, $10 here. It adds up. So, all I'm saying is that the people on this board I respect, uh, they certainly don't agree with each other. And I also know that Armada has three jobs that I'm sure of. And I had asked her three times to please write something about this. And she goes, "I'm not getting in the quagmire of Facebook and social media." And so I've asked Isaac to say something. If there's some history here like what happened to Daniel, all that needs to be brought to the light because there's just too many quiet agendas, secret agendas, and a lot of meanness. And I just think we need to make it clear. I mean, does anybody can anybody tell me about Mr. Moore?

Oh, I guess you can't talk. Yeah, we can't we cannot answer you tonight. Maybe after school. Well, that's all. I just think that we need a community PR relations person and you know, and I just found out so so much. Anyway, let's try.

Next is Cheryl Gonzalez. Oh, yes. As far as the election, I'm I'm thankful the people in Kuma have dodged a $100 million bullet. Is it a convention center? Is it a children's sports complex? ATV basketball courts? I have no idea. But we dodged it when we voted against the six million. that was so we could get some water and sewer so we could build a $100 million what convention center. It's had a lot of different names. Uh okay. The second is the $5 million road that maritage by all rights should have paid for and that was back on us. We scooted past that with a $5 million bond issue. Get this. We're still responsible for that $5 billion. That was a mistake that should never have been brought back to us. The developer of that development should have stood the cost of that $5 million. There are only 600 people in Kuma, residents that I know of who are even taxpayers, maybe not even that many. I don't have a calculator who that can divide 5 million by 600 people or even a hundred million by 600 people. And the next five million is for that slag heap that was dredged out of the Houston ship channel stuff that's fallen down in there. I'm from oil and gas country. Has anybody tested that for heavy metals of any kind? Does anybody remember love canal? Children got sick. Children died and mothers were losing their babies. Um, they say in a farm parllet, you

know, throwing up the calf or their cow or their horse, their cold because they couldn't bring the babies to turn because the place was just it was that stuff was just oozing up out of the ground. All kinds of stuff that they had had back there in New York. Has anybody even looked any test at all about that heel? That's my question. Thank you. Matt Wiggins.

Good afternoon everyone. I'm here to speak on our uh our hidden project. Somebody sent this to me February 20. 2024 and present it to you. Anyway, I made a number of record requests and open the state and from the city. I've got no documents on sports facility. I find it interesting that building project is 35 million the one that we have now is 70 circulating around. So to the extent that you don't have just with it the monthly payment on that will be 375,000 a month which is more than our city brings in. and we've got to get a control over what we can actually record on this thing. Um the fact that it's been totally hidden no records or copies of checks as all partners for free. I hired them myself over three decades. and I've had to work for the city for

quite a while. We asked to know how much I've spent and come up with any answers. So until some you know more information is shared I think a few ideas about how this works. Our sports flex mainly operates on weekends. If you've been around in KA on the weekend, the mugs that all the hotels are full. So we're gonna fill up hotels in le city or for probably every weekend we're full. So there parts of that first place I think would be great for towns. Especially the numbers that I've read that they lease the property to the city for a dollar. $70 million. Got an interesting text a few minutes ago from Isaac. He said, "F your time. You not figured out how to sp your time is up."

We also had some comments sent in via email that were requested to be read tonight. So, I will do that at this time. Carmen Burns. Um, she's writing in about item number 11B. I am a resident of Kuma, Texas, residing at 575 Morning Tide Lane, Kima, Texas. Although I am unable to attend the city council meeting in person tomorrow, I respectfully request the following comment be reviewed. I request that the vote authorizing an expenditure of $50,000 for third-party legal and financial reviews as next steps in the path forward for the city center be delayed until the new council members have been sworn in and the outgoing members have concluded their terms. Given that this is significant expenditure will have a substantial impact on the future of our small town, I believe it is appropriate for the incoming council members to have the opportunity to weigh in on this decision. The next comment is from Daniel S. Conrad and he's also speaking to the same item 11B. Dear mayor, city council members, and city administration, please accept this email as my three minutes of public comment for the upcoming May 6th city council meeting. I am writing to respectfully ask the council consider postponing any action item that authorized the expenditure of taxpayer dollars until the next regular meeting after our newly elected leaders have taken their oaths and assumed their seats at the dis. The voters overwhelmingly made us excuse me, made a decision this election season and that decisive mandate should set the tone for the remainder of this election cycle. Allowing our newly elected officials the opportunity to review and weigh in on these financial decisions ensures that the concerns of the majority of KMA are accur accurately

represented before impactful projects and processes move forward. Taking this brief pause would be an honorable and prudent way to handle city business during this transition. It protects our municipal funds and ensures the incoming council can fully deliberate on the specific issues that residents have been so vocal about, namely the expansion of Kuma, flood mitigation efforts, municipal transparency, communication, and the overall direction of our community. Thank you for your time, your service to the city, and your consideration of this request to honor the voice and direction of the constituents. We have no proclamations and presentations tonight. And next is mayor comments. I have a few. Um, thank you all for coming out tonight. I want to begin by recognizing our city election this past Saturday. We will be canvasing the results of that election here tonight and we look forward to welcoming two new city council members who will be sworn in at our next meeting on May the 20th. The swearing in will uh take place at 300 p.m. followed by light refreshments and photos and then the council meeting will begin at four o'clock. So, I welcome Shalia Thorne who spoke earlier and I believe Bob is sitting next to her there. Is is it Bob or Rob? Rob Ror. Okay. Well, welcome both of you. I also want to thank all of our C council members up here tonight to the for the service of our city and would especially like to recognize Councilman Doug Micinger and Councilman Isaac Sana for their dedication and contributions. Your service has been much appreciated.

Um, this week is May 3rd through May 9th, we proudly recognize National Business Week. Kuma small businesses are the heart of our community and play a vital role in our local economy and our unique coastal character. May is also mental health awareness month. We encourage our community to continue supporting awareness, compassion, and resources that pro promote mental wellness for individuals and families. I also want to recognize a city employee, Joy Turner. Joy, raise your hand. Um, she is our very own court clerk and she just graduated from Purdue Global with her master's degree in legal studies. Congratulations, JOY. UM, let's see. Looking ahead, we're excited uh to announce that this year's Fourth of July parade um the theme will be let freedom ring KMA style. We encourage everyone to participate and help make it a great 250th celebration for our country and a huge celebration as always for Kuma. And finally, as we approach this Sunday, I want to wish all mothers a very happy Mother's Day. Please take time to recognize and celebrate the important role they play in our lives. And next, we will proceed to city council comments. Um, Councilman Bris,

thanks for everybody coming out tonight. I just want to say thank you to Isaac and Doug. Learned a lot from you two fellas over the last five years, I guess it's been. So, it's been a while. So, uh, hopefully you'll get to enjoy life and and endeavors in in the future. So, much appreciated. That's all I got. Councilman Oliver, thanks for your service. Quitter. Just kidding. Thank you. Thank you both for your service. I'll echo what everybody else has said so already. It's a takes a lot of time and effort and, you know, not everybody's always up for it, and y'all two have served the city for a long time, and I I appreciate that effort from you both. Councilman Nice.

Oh man, I didn't think I was going to be here tonight, so I'm a little shocked. I I actually said some goodbyes to a lot of people and then I rolled back in. Nobody likes that guy. I get that. Um yeah, it's 10 years in elected office for me between uh the other offices and and it was uh you get that you you start to realize it's it's time and and I felt that a while ago and I had made the decision to not run for re-election quite a while ago. Um, but it's it's while while I don't think I'll miss the job, I'll miss the people. I don't think there's anybody I argued with more than that one down there. But it, you know, we we had some good leaders that um we we had some good ones over there, but but it uh I always thought the world of you still do. I that's always been my thing. You you know, I can sit up here and and disagree with a lot of what happens here, but I can honestly say everybody sitting up here truly truly wants what's best for chemo. The problem is we don't always agree on what that is. But I've never questioned anybody's motives. I think they're they're a great group of people. I've I've enjoyed being up here with them. I'm really ready to set this thing down, though, and see what else. I tell people all the time, I weighed a buck 25 and didn't have any gray hair when I took this job. Look what this thing did to me. I'm just a mess right now. But, uh, enjoy the the friendships. Uh, those don't go away. Um, you know, look forward to not fighting with people quite so much. It should be nice. And then the last thing, um, and I've saved this for this and and people have asked me before, why why don't you say anything about Robin? You've been pronouncing my name wrong for the entire time.

Tell me how to say it. And I always thought I'm going to wait till my last meeting. You should have told me earlier. No, no, no. It's my It's not my There we go. My good. Thanks, guys. I'll I'll try to do better. All right. Are you finished? That's it. Councilman Wallace. Uh I'm gonna echo what uh Darren and uh what's it Dustin said? U

I'm sorry. I'm still bullying you, Dustin. I I want to I want to thank Doug and and Isaac for your leadership, but most of all your friendship. Um, you guys took me under your wings and u and I I really appreciate everything y'all done for me and for the city. Going to miss you both. Council Councilman Sana. Well, I've never been a fan of of opening comments. You know this, but I'm going to take my time today. Okay.

First of all, Wiggins, I did send you that text, but I had to Mississippi it up so you could read it. Um, I want to thank everybody up here honestly um for serving with me. It's been a lot of fun. Actually, Doug, I'm gonna miss you too, buddy. I mean, we don't always agree for sure. We have had some colossal fights. Yep.

But our but our pictures have always been awesome and we've always had a good time and and that's that that I'll miss. Um really truly has been awesome. Thank you, Robin. I've been doing this. I first got involved in the game of politics in 2008, and you are by far the best we've ever had. You know, you've done it with grace. you stayed out of the fray. Um, you know, you present our city well and nobody's been there. So, I really appreciate that.

Um, I'll talk about a few things that we've accomplished while we're up here. Uh, and there's a reason why. Um, one of the biggest a few things that I've been in charge of or led. First one being fixing Kima Oaks drainage. Kim Oak used to flood in the rain, you know, and then when Harvey came, I think something like 30 houses in Kim Oaks flooded. I think that was avoidable. And uh at the time it was pretty controversial for the city to go help them, but they didn't have they didn't have the funds to do it. And we did it and it was controversial and people were mad about it. Uh but now it doesn't play anymore. Um Anders, you know, Anders had been talked about for decades. You know, it it had been it had been talked about, been talked about. It was a dangerous. It was hard to pass by. Um I took up the mantle on that and pushed it through. uh did the whole song on Tony Dance with Wiggins over there proving him wrong every time and and we finally got it done and and uh that probably got me on the billboard, but it was the right thing to do. It was the right thing to do for the citizens and I did it and I stood up and I did what was right. Um and and then there's u you know Evergreen, same thing. Heritage was supposed to put that in. Um they can do it. We knew that that would be a big uh connector between a you know 500 houses and apartments and our e our economy. So we did it. Wasn't popular. People were mad that we did it. We did it because it was the right thing to do. Um you know go on to um you know the the the oneway circulator. You know us three sat how many meetings? Probably 18 meetings. Yeah. and we sat with uh with I don't know like a dozen traffic engineers over weeks because that was thrown on our lap and and we got it done. It wasn't popular. People were mad about it. I mean, we listened to actual traffic engineers, people that were educated in that field, but yet we had armchair traffic engineers on in the

city telling us that it wasn't the way it was supposed to be. You know, figure go figure that it was going to hurt people's business. You know, it was going to do this, it was going to do that. It was terrible. people going the wrong way, blah blah blah blah blah. All this stuff, but yet we did the time. We to put in the effort. We listened to the engineers. We did what we said was right, what they said was right. It was what it wasn't easy. We took a lot of lumps for it, but we did it because it was the right thing to do. Um, you know, closing Six Street was actually part of that. You know, um, by the way, we won that lawsuit. We could close it today if we wanted to. It's not closed. But that was also told to us to do by the engineer told us that was the right thing to do. Um the the uh the event center it's it's not going to be easy to do. It's hard and there's a ton of naysayers and everybody in town knows better than you up here. Everybody ain't nobody done the work and nobody done the the research. do what you think is right for humans, period, because it takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to do what's right, you know, and and sometimes it's gonna make people mad. Uh, another thing that I'm proud of that we did was for a long time we pushed out the negativity. We pushed it out. And if you'll pay attention, that's when a lot of things got done. You know, we dealt with a lot of things here. We dealt with uh, you know, the the the building of the of the freeway, COVID. You know, we sat in in in remote meetings in CO. It's hard. Um, you know, hurricanes, I mean, all that's hard to do. Uh, but we pushed out the negativity and we we worked hard and we've got the right people in place. Caesar, chief, you know, I mean, that that chief is probably is probably one of the best hires we've ever done because our police department has turned around and become this big shining star, you know, of of our town. And and these are things that again, when you push out the negativity and you focus on what's right, the answers are clear. They're clear. You're not always going to make everybody happy. And there's a theme of what I'm saying because it it's it's not

it's just it's to sit up here is hard to do and it's hard to do the right thing and and when you do something right, you're going to piss half the people off. The problem in this is that some people have money and they have money they'll throw around and make you look bad. You have to sit up here and have the fortitude to do that. You two and that audience, you got to be able to sit up here and do that. It ain't easy because I've been here long enough to know the playbook. The playbook doesn't change depending on who's up here and the leopard doesn't change his spots. you two are going to be up here, too. And you two are are grounds for that. And the faster you learn that, the better off you are. And if you don't, good luck. Um, the last thing I want to talk about is, um, I'm going to step away. If you got a question, don't call me. I'm going to be enjoying the lake. You know, uh, I'm not going to worry about this stuff. Uh, I asked I called Dustin, Councilman Oliver, and asked him, would he take the mantle on the special needs initiative? That's very important to me. Um he said he would um I asked him that if he would just you know think about guiding whenever he was doing that and um and he said he would you know and so I appreciate that. So anyway

don't forget the park. You didn't warn me I was going to cry today. Thanks.

No I mean Kylie's taking a liking of Dustin and and I just it was a selfish initiative for me to do that but to make Ka a a better place for everybody is important. That's what we did with the park. The park's a big one, man. You know, the park was a dead deal. It was dead. You know, we we did that back in 2009. We had already acquired the prop acquired the property and and and we went away and I was working hard at it back then. And then, you know, we got kicked off the case at DC at that time, too. We ain't the only one that got kicked off case at DC over there looking at your phone. We got kicked off, too, you know, and and we didn't we didn't cry about it. We got back when I took the mantle again. Um, we took it right back up and and we and we pushed it and pushed it and pushed it. Now it's a great area for special needs for everybody. So every all inclusive park Darren, thank you for taking that up. Um, and we have a plan in place and I'm real proud of that. So anyway, that's all I have to say. I appreciate the time almost seven years. I didn't have 10 years of elected, but I've been involved since 2008,

but it felt like it. It did. It did. Again, it's a it's a hard hard job that a lot of people don't realize. So, I appreciate everybody up here and thank you. Thank you both very much and I'll miss you both. And you you have a gift here. I'm not going to make you open it in front of everybody. And yours is on the way. Just a thank you. A little bit. You got a gift I get. I got nothing. Yours is on the way. Oh my goodness. It would have helped today. It would have helped today. Yes. Because uh Yeah. I will I will swap out this one for that. Thank you very much. I love I do love my pocket knives.

You're welcome. Hey, if you don't mind, I take one last picture with the earth. Absolutely.

No, we're gonna make you do it one more time. Thank you.

How are we doing?

One, two, three. One, two, three. Okay. here.

Okay. Uh, next on the agenda, um, by the way, we had one person come in late. Uh, Glenn Gordy, is he still here? Okay. Oh, you didn't want to sign up to speak, did you? No. Okay. All right. I just wanted to make sure I didn't overlook you. Alrighty. Moving on. Uh, this it's the city administrator's report, so we'll turn it over to you, Caesar.

I want to take a point of uh personal privilege to uh say thank you both to Doug and Isaac for your leadership. It's been uh about 15 months since since I came on board and it's been a up and down battle and I know we don't always see eye to eye but it was uh it was great serving under your leadership and uh we know that this isn't goodbye. Um there's there's a lot of things that you guys have uh initiated and started that we hope to see through. So on behalf of the entire team, I just want to say thank you to both of you. Uh we really appreciate that and there's still a lot of work left to be done. I don't have anything to report specifically on the project. Just want to thank everybody um for their patience as we continue to drive through some of the jobs we have to do.

Thank you. Um next is reports from staff. Um Chief, do you have a department update? I just want to echo echo echo everybody in here. You know, you two guys um if I could give you a badge, I would have given you one. Y'all been there for us and uh out in the community, you're very supportive. you always calling in and saying the great things that um you know my department are doing. You know how much I love my guys. So, we're going to miss you and u if you need something, I'm going to be here for you. But uh thank you for being big supporters of the police department and back in the blue. Thank you.

And there's Caesar. There's nothing on 9B administrative staff report. No ma'am unless any items want to be pulled for consideration or discussion.

Okay. Uh number 10 is consent agenda consideration and possible action. There's three items A, B, and C. Consideration and possible action to approve resolution 2026-9. A resolution of the city council of the city of Puma, Texas supporting a no wake zone in and around the Kuma Clear Lake area on June 26, 2026 during the Texas Outlaw Challenge. B to approve the minutes of the 4826 city council special meeting and 10 C to approve the minutes of the 415 2026 city council regular meeting. Do I have a motion? Oh, I do have one change to the minutes on April 15th if that's okay. Okay.

So, do I need to move that to do it or tell you what it is? Um, so what I did, uh, just tell me as on the sidewalks, the, uh, uh, motion to go out for bid that failed for a lack of second is credited to Darren, and that is my loss. Don't take a check out of the L column for me before I go. So, I'm the one that made a motion that nobody seconded, not Darren. So, that's not the only L you're going to get tonight. That's not the only L I'll get tonight. Don't don't take any L's from me. I I still got some more coming. Councilman Bratis, would you like to amend your motion? Yes. So moved second with Doug's correction on the minutes from 4:15 26.

So we have a motion by Councilman Dar, a second by Councilman Isaac Sana. All those in favor.

Any opposed? Motions carry. Number 11 A. Consideration of possible action to approve resolution 2026-20, a resolution in order canvasing the returns and declaring the real results of the city officer's general election of the city of Puma, Texas, held on May 2nd, 2026. The general election council position one, Shalia Shalia Thorne, 141 votes. Sean Williamson, 88 votes. Council position number three, Darren Bris 125 votes. Council position five, Rob O'or, Isaac Sonia, 86 votes. Do we have a motion?

Uh, I will make a motion to approve resolution 2620. Second. So, we have a motion by Councilman Doug Minger. Second. And we have a second by Councilman Dustin Oliver. All those in favor. Any opposed? Motion carries. 11B. Consideration and possible action to approve resolution 2026-21. A resolution of the city council of the city of Puma, Texas, approving the expenditure of funds not to exceed $50,000 for the third party financial and legal reviews of the Kuma Event Center. I'll make a motion to pass the resolution. We have a motion. Do we have a second? I'll second.

I have a motion by Councilman Isaac Salana and a second by Councilman Darren Bruce. All those in favor? Any opposed? There it is. There it is. Councilman uh on man. I mean Bisinger voted nay. The rest voted affirmative. Motion carries. 11 C considerate considerate consideration of fee waiver for the use of the KMA community center by CORD LLC DBA KA crisis on Saturday July 18th 2026

questions or discussions second wave it second so we have a uh motion by Councilman Isaac Sana a second by Councilman Dustin Oliver all those in favor I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 11D. Consideration and possible action to award the contract for RFQ 2026-3 for the associate municipal court judges. I believe we have all the judges here. Um, we have Judge Miles Whittington. And do do you want to um step to the podium? Does anyone have any questions or uh discussion?

I guess judge, you're good with these three associate judges. Yes, I am. Judge Gerald Patm and Judge Julie Escalante. Okay. Any other questions or comments? It's for Barfield as well. Yes, it's for all three as well, right? But he's just not here. I was introducing them. I'm sorry. If the judge is good, I'll make a motion to approve uh and award the contracts for RFQ 2026-3 for associate municipal court judges.

Second. So, I have a motion by Dust, Councilman Dustin Oliver, and a second by Doug Minger. All those in favor? Any opposed? Uh, we do not have an executive close session tonight. So, thank you. Yes. Thank you.

Uh, if there's no more comments or anything, I'll move to adjourn. Ajourn at 4:38 p.m. Mayor Rick Yes sir. Yes sir. Glad to have you back. Yes, sir. It has been very pleasant.