City Council - Regular Meeting

We knew as an NDD and a council that we looked at three to five years for the hotel to start. This is not mine. This is Miss Angie's. I now call to order the city council of Baytown, City of Baytown, um, and the Baytown Municipal Development District joint meeting on Thursday, February 26, 2026, 6:30 in the council chamber and announcement of quorum at 6:30 p.m. We will now have the pledge and invitation given by council member district 3, Kendrick Griffith.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible.

Dear heavenly father, we come to you humbly, Father, thanking you as the one true creator of this heaven and earth. Father, we give you honor. We give you praise for another day under your son. Thank you, Father, for keeping those who are keeping this city together safe. Father, from our firefighters to our police to those who are working on our infrastructure, those working out in parks. Father, thank you for keeping them safe as they do their day-to-day duties, including the ones that work here in the even in the office. Father, thank you for keeping them safe. And dear heavenly father, we pray as we come together and make decisions that will will will shape our city, not just today, but the next uh several years, Father, we just pray that you give us the wisdom to guide us, Father, in all things that are of you and that are right in your eyes, Father. And I thank you for all these things in Christ your precious name we pray. Amen.

Amen.

Amen. Start off with citizen comment. Has anyone signed up to speak? Good deal. Moving on to to a receive the Baytown Hyatt Regency quarterly update. Mr. Reynolds. All right. Mayor and council or board members, I have a um quick update for you. Um we'll just run through these. Uh the first one is that we are seeing uh this is quarter one performance for the hotel. Uh kind of give you all the quarterly update reports on where things are going. Uh we have a very strong IBIDA. I'm not trying to be up here just to throw financial terms around. Uh that but IDA is important because it shows operational uh effectiveness and efficiencies that are happening. And so we um we see we saw a very very strong uh la first quarter and our EVID was was quite impressive especially what's going on with just hotel industry uh around the state and around the nation. And so this is a big shout out to the Hyatt for what they uh what they're doing how they're managing our expenses. Uh, and so all of that shows uh increased revenue and expense control is basically the the bottom line for that. Sorry to be so long-winded on that point. Uh, I just stuck a mint in my mouth as soon as I was getting ready to speak, so my bad. Um, excuse me. The next one we have is increased revpar. This is the revenue per room. Uh, it's a it's a what hotels use to see how well again they are operating, how how they are managing their their cost. Um, and so we saw uh a revar that was um 5% above budget. So like that's uh above the budget. So that

shows that we're controlling our costs very well as well. Um our GOP margin almost doubled. Again, these are all three things saying the same thing. Controlling costs uh revenues coming in well, but our our GOP margin almost doubled and happy to see that gross operating profit. sorry. Um for the GOP and um very happy for what we're seeing over there and a lot of that is to do with our first million dollar month and which was in December. Uh so the hotel continues to increase in the revenue. Uh we're getting continued sales uh repeat sales and just it was a milestone and kind of want to you know small celebration of hitting that million dollar uh month. So and then expenses overall are 11% less. That's all I can really put out uh publicly at this point, but I wanted to share the good news. We also posted on our uh bond disclosures uh on the website, not on our website, on Emma website. So, that is publicly accessible if people want to see that type of information as well if you want to look at numbers. That's all I have, mayor, and council from board members.

Good deal. Thank you. We'll consider that report received. And moving on to 3A. Consider approving the minutes of the city council work session and city council meetings held on January 14th, 2026, January 21st, 2026, and January 22nd, 2026. I need a motion. Second. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Motion carries. 4A. Recognize City of Baytown employees for their years of service. Mr. Lopez. Good evening, Mr. Mayor and Council. We have one employee to recognize today, a 40-year patrol officer.

Russell Cretzinger, police 40 years. Russell, a 1981 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School, earned an associates degree in applied sciences from Lee College, where he was recognized as a distinguished scholar. He was hired by the Baytown Police Department in February of 1986 and began his career in the patrol division, serving there for nine years. In 1995, he transferred to the Harris County Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, working undercover for two years. Returning to patrol, Russell served as a field training officer, K-9 officer, and mounted patrol unit member. With his K-9 partner, Bart, he spent three years tracking fleeing suspects and recovering concealed narcotics. After Bart's retirement in 2001, Russell continued his proactive service in patrol. In 2006, Russell was selected for the SWAT team where he served for 12 years while also being chosen for the hotspot team focused on problem areas within the city. After three years, he returned to the patrol night shift until 2017, then rejoined the hotspot team and was promoted to corporal. In 2022, he was assigned as a detective to the special investigations division's gain unit where he currently serves. A master peace officer with many years of service, Russell has received numerous letters of appreciation and commendation along with two emergency service ribbons, a commander award of excellence, three honorable conduct awards, and two life-saving awards. Thank you, Russell, for 40 years of exceptional service. 5A consider an ordinance to authorize an update of the city of Baytown development and permitting fees. Mr. Scrier.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. Um, for the record, Martin Scribner, Planning and Development Services. Um, so you guys have seen this uh a couple of times already, so I will keep this pretty brief. Um we did hold a u public meeting on January 13th. A handful of people show up to that. Um and we presented what the uh the proposal is. And if you remember um that proposal is basically we have a 5-year goal of getting up to about an 80% cost recovery for the services that we provide in terms of permitting and inspections. Um so what you're looking at tonight is only approving the fiscal year 2026 uh fees. Um that is an average increase of roughly 12%. Then we will be looking at those 27 the fiscal year 27 to 30 um increases of again somewhere between 12 and 15% annually. Um but we'll be considering those as part of the annual budget process. So tonight, the only thing you are approving is this initial uh increase in fees. Um staff is recommending that we set the effective date for June 1st, which will allow uh the folks who are applying for our permits to kind of prep for the the increase in costs, but it will also allow staff to get the the computer system, the gov and and everything else that uses that to get those programmed because it will take quite a bit of time to get that fixed up. Um with that, I'm here to answer any questions,

questions or comments. One question. Um, I understand it'll take a little time to to put these into effect. So, we're going to push back to June. But, if we consider the next as a part of the budget process, will we have will the other one hit uh when the new budget goes into effect in October or would we space these out a little bit from June to the next increase? I think either could be accomplished. Um, I don't know that we've gotten that far with it quite yet. Okay. So, um, if if council has a preference, then staff's open.

Okay. No, I think I mean we can discuss that through the budget process. I was just curious if you had any inclination on that, but no, no concerns with this increase for this evening. Thank you. I just want to say that looking at the uh fees and the schedule, one thing that I did notice is that we are not even on the high end compared to the cities that we compare ourselves to. And um I think that's good. Um I think that the increase was needed so that we could be right where we need to be and also to offset some things. So, I appreciate the job that you all did in researching this and making this recommendation.

Thank you. One of the other things that we did too that I I forgot to mention was we did try to streamline some of these. There were several that say you have a commercial permit uh application that there's an application fee, there is a processing fee, there is the permit fee itself. So, um and a plan review fee. So what we tried to do was take out all those extra steps where you have to calculate add this plus this. Now it's just a one fee for one. If you're applying for this, that's the fee. So um we tried to to and there were reasons why it was set up that way, but those reasons no longer really matter. So um just trying to to make it a little bit easier to decipher. Excellent. All right, good deal. I need a motion. Motion to approve.

Second. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Thank you. We are on to 5B. I'm going to recuse myself and hand it over to Mr. Powell to take care of this. Um, I've already signed the documentation for it.

All right. We will consider uh item 5 is consider an ordinance amending chapter 90 taxation article 2 advalorum taxes section 90-27 exemptions to add a new subsection F entitled child child care facilities establishing an exemption from advalorum taxes for qualifying child care facility properties providing a repealer containing a savings clause and providing an effective date. Uh Councilwoman Alvarado.

Yes. Thank you. Um, just as a refresher, and you'll see on the screen, um, in 2023, the legislative session passed a bipartisan bill, um, to provide county and municipalities the opportunity to wave taxes, um, property taxes for, um, childc care centers that fit a certain demographic. And so they have to be part of Texas Workforce Solutions Rising Star program. Um and that is a a big achievement in itself. So not any childcare facility can do that. Um they have to maintain a 20% of um subsidized children that go there. So those that get u vouchers or they get um financial assistance through the childcare center itself or through other grants that the facilities maintain. Um and us as cities cannot provide any stricter guidelines than the state has already done which is usually what we do with any state law that you know we can't go any stricter than that. Um so the application process is that childcare facilities that would meet the qualifications would submit an application just as they do for any homestead exemption. Um so there are certain number a certain form number that they would have to provide and um these would uh initially be for child care facilities but um in going back and reviewing the process this would also include any licensed child care homes. Um and so there's a difference between licensed and registered homes. registered homes. If I open up a childcare facility in my home, I just want to be registered, but I'm not

beholdened to a lot of the state rules and regulations. Um, I just want to serve my community. Um, lensure co providers um are regulated by the state. So, they have to ensure they meet certain parameters just to operate as a lensure um childc care facility. Um, but with with them being eligible for this, they still have to meet the requirements of the 20% of their enrolled children have to receive sub subsidies and then of course being able to um provide, you know, the the Texas Rising Star certification and those are reviewed annually by Texas Workforce Sol. Sorry, I had a long day today. Um those are reviewed annually by Texas Workforce Solutions and all of the applications that are approved by the um composers office are actually also reviewed and sometimes they're put on hold if the childcare facilities are not meeting the requirements. Um, so since it passed, as as I mentioned before, Harris County did provide a 100% um reduction or um exemption for the childcare facilities. At that time, they identified maybe 300 facilities across the county that would probably um qualify, but only about 142 actually did. Um and so some of them probably have to do a little bit more work or they decided it wasn't worth the amount that they would be saving. Um and so when I went back um to do the review for Baytown itself um in 2023 we only had about 15 that would possibly qualify. Um right now there's 13. Um, and but that's not to say all of them would actually go

through the application process. Um, so totaling the amount because that's one of the things that y'all wanted to see is the economic impact. It's roughly $1,500 a year um that they would be saving because remember this is just the city portion of the taxes if we do it at at a 100% exemption. Um, and if you want to get down to the penny, it's $14.84.99. 84.99 um out of the ones that could possibly qualify. Um if we decide maybe that we just want to do a a 50% exemption, which is under our perview, then of course it would just be half of that. Um what the county did is put it in a two-year review just to see how things went. Um how many applications came through. Um now they did um in 20 uh December of 25 they did do it in perpetuity where you know as long as they qualify and the controllers's office is satisfied with that they're meeting the parameters then they will input in perpetuity receive the 100% reduction from the county. Um and again it would be up to us whether we want to do the 50 or 100%. And so those were the uh remaining items that I needed to bring back to you as far as the dollar or the economic impact to the city of Baytown.

And just keep in mind the amount may vary depending on on the valuation of the the taxes. So thank you couple question. First the comment then a couple questions. I thought we were going to bring this back as a work session. I was surprised to see it as an action item, but we can we can discuss all that and go through it of so of the 13, let's just say they all qualify. So it's about $15,000 impact. That's that's no, 1500 1500 a piece or No, total 1,500 total for all 13. So you're talking less than

Yeah. Some of them were only saving like $12. Um, and just remember it's an evaluation of their property and some of the homes ma can only like if the registered homes qualify then they could only deduct that p that square footage uh of the licensed child care home. So they wouldn't be able to exempt the entire property. Yeah. Wonderful. There's no double dipping either. So, if they want to exempt their child care facility, but then also apply for homestead exemption, they would not be able to do both.

That's that's part of what I was getting to is that one of the exceptions is if they uh claim it as a permanent residence and homestead exemption, then they can't not for that portion of the home. Yeah. Okay. So, you're talking $1,400 or 1,500 bucks a year. A year total. Yeah. Mhm. That and that was that was my question last time is you know what type of economic impact we're talking about and we weren't sure. Um how many of the licensed daycarees do we have because this I'm assuming this is includes licensed this includes homes and centers. Okay. Yeah.

Okay. Any other Yep. Um, if they qualify, if we were to approve this and they qualify through us, would they also be able to qualify through Harris County and get the deduction for their Harris County? And if Baytown put something like this um into play, does this somehow help them get the deductions with other entities also?

No, they're they're standalone. So, they wouldn't be able to use this and say, "Look, Baytown gave me the exemption, then that means I qualify." They still have to go through the application portion. And not only that, the the homes actually have to get an a affidavit or the license, the ones that rent have to get an affidavit of the owners to say this is your square footage and yes, the money will come back to you. I have a question. Now we talked about the economic impact for I guess the provider correct. These are businesses small businesses for a lot

right. So when we the initial spirit of this I believe was uh a cost effective delivery for people who need child care. So I guess my question is is what's the economic impact for people using these services? How how by by doing this what economic impact would they have for child care people seeking child care?

No, it wouldn't be for the the people themselves because this is applied to the child care center themselves. Now what they you can they can use that money for is either add additional subsidies or more you know scholarships for kids seeking um child care. Um they can add it to their operational cost. Um, uh, let me give you for instance, we had a childc care center that ended up needing new fire doors. Those were $75,000 a piece. And not only did they have to replace the door, they also had to um fix their ADA ramps. They had to do everything for those new um, fire doors. Topcare centers are heavily regulated and the amount of money that goes into even having a center to provide service is monumental. And so just any little amount will go a long way. whether they use it for operational costs, maybe to tack on some bonuses or um higher pay for child care um uh providers who are currently right now lacking uh across the nation then any little bit helps

and and I guess that's kind of I guess an issue is how do we measure that that's going to happen for sure and I mean do we ask the city to to look tend to see that that that abatement is going for cost effective savings for providers or hoping that will happen. No. And and I understand that and some some folks had that same question, but that would be adding an additional restriction that the state did not provide.

So all we could do is um see how many actually applied and maybe review it year to year um to see what the impact is over time. But, you know, we can go door to door to each of each one of them. We can do that, but it wouldn't be like a requirement. So, we can't go to them, look to see who applies, go and speak to them to see, you know, how's it going? What are you using the money, etc. But if they end up using it for operations and you wanted it to go to vouchers, we can't do that.

And and that's where my reserves lie with with this. I got a question because you you led into something I was thinking and and Councilman Alvarado mentioned a couple of times. It do we have a for lack of a better term a sunset clause in here? So we could come back in a couple of years and say is it working? Is it worth having on the books? You can add it in there just as um HDAC I mean uh Harris County did. we can come in and say, "Okay, we'll only do it for two years and we want to review it within that period." And then it'll come back to us whether we want to extend it or not.

Yeah. That that way we could have some type of matrix. Is it working? Is it not working? You know, there's 13 in town and only two are using it and it's just not a viable program. I think it' give us an opportunity to look at that. Yeah. Is there a way to add that to this if we decide to pass it tonight? Well, um, council member,

yes. So, it's council's will and your desire as to how you want to put this in place within the city of Baytown. If that is something that you would like to consider, I mean, we're amending the uh code of ordinances now to include that exemption. If that is something that needs to be recon to be considered, then that can be added to an ordinance to do that. Yes. And I have no problem with that. you meaningful to I mean and I mean this is you've kind of been leading the charge on this. So yeah and let me be clear there are more childc care facilities in Baytown. These the 13 to 15 are the only ones that qualify for this.

I got that. Yeah, that's that would be my understanding as well. And and that number may increase as it could. Um, just when I when I first did the initial research, um, there were 12 and so now we're to 13 to 15 that would qualify. Some of them fell off and new centers opened. So, it's it's a give and take. Any other comments? No, I think everybody hit the

where I'm at on this. Um, I I appreciate the the intent of it. Um, and I and I'll be honest with you, that um that economic impact was was was lower than I was expecting. Um, but to be honest, it's so low. It's it's to the point that I don't know how much benefit this is really going to provide. It seems like um, you know, to add this as an exemption and then there's a a a application process when you said some of these are going to get as little as $12 back. Um, I just I have a hard time believing that's going to move the needle at all on actually making child care more affordable, which was the intent of um yeah, when when session passed this, the intent was to to in some way, you know, make child care more affordable. And um I mean, even the things you meant raises or whatever it may be, I I don't see that when you're looking at maybe a hundred to $200 per facility. Um, I have a hard time believing they're going to lower the cost to, you know, the individual family using the child care facility. Um, I'd be inclined to hold off on this. I mean, if Harris County is already doing it, um, they're going to have some data in a few years. Um, I'd be more inclined to wait and see how it goes for them and then we can discuss it to where we have that real data. Uh, it's all speculation right now. Um, so that that's kind of my thoughts on it. And if I may, uh, Mr. Mayor Prom, um, it it may seem not monumental to us. Um, and this combined with Harris County is what's going to elevate each center. You may think it's just a little very little, $12. Some of them may decide not to do it. One of the centers is receiving would possibly receive $400. So they're

taking the bulk of it because it all depends how many um children are at their center and the valuation of their center. And so for us it may not seem like a big deal but for centers who are definitely needing each penny then that's what makes the difference. You know our our role is just to look at this and our role is to hopefully pass it but it's not to decide whether senators think it's you know enough or not. That's that's up to them. If they decide to apply, great. If they don't, then they don't. But that's not for us to regulate. So, and and you're right, the cost of child care, um, this is not what's going to solve it, but that's a much higher decision at the state level.

Yeah. Go ahead.

Yeah, I I agree. It's it's a it's a very small amount compared to some of the other things that we see and deal with um when we're sitting up here. I don't I was just thinking about a different social aspect. Um if this sets the bar in Baytown to say we want to welcome licensed well operated um child care centers that might be eligible and this might incentivize even if it is a low amount compared to other things. I think go ahead and getting this on the books and putting in the the two years I don't I see your point about the low amount, but I don't think it would it would do any harm and it could do some help in an area that I'm no expert in when it comes to child care. So, um that's where I'm at with that.

And one one final if you don't mind I'm just flabbergasted at the 1,500 total

amount because I'm sitting here thinking if I had a commercial establishment and I've got 30 or 40 kids in my establishment, I find it hard to believe that my city taxes alone are not more than $1,500 a year. And we're talking about 100% wave on that. So the $1,500 I'm just floored at. Um, I hope that number is correct, but u again it's it's such a nominal amount I would be willing to support it if we put a sunset a two-year sunset would be fine. I think one year is probably a little short

but a two-year sunset so we can bring it back and if that 1500 turns into 150,000 now we need to sit down and do something about that. I just find it hard to believe that a commercial avalorum tax on a commercial building for a daycare would would be that low. Um I mean because my property taxes are quite a bit more than that and I just single family home and but they're paying the same tax rate. Uh I would think so their valuations have got to be higher than that. But I'm good to go as long as we have some type of two-year sunset for

review and and I appreciate that. And let's just remember that this is just for city of Btown taxes. This does not include Goose Creek 69 College. I mean, none of those. I got that, but it's kind just sounds extremely 1500 a piece probably, but 1500 total is just I I just think that's really low. I was I was thinking about And I don't know if they're part of the 13 to 15, but I was thinking about three childc care centers just on this side of town. And um square footage wise, they're extremely small. And so I I don't I mean I don't the building's got to be worth 100,000 150,000.

Not some of the facilities that we've seen. Yeah. I don't know which ones are, you know, in there. I

I don't know. I'm not an appraiser. I don't want to answer that. So Yes, sir. Come on eventually. So, guess it's not going to come on. Uh yeah, for me, I mean, like I said, it's a very minimal amount and understand and and I hate for that minimal amount real quick and we didn't we didn't see some of that come in, but at that minimal amount, it also is going to be a lot on our staff because that's off extra staff time. So, we have to look we're we're actually be supplementing that also part also because our staff's going to have to be as they come through these for these for these for the for the applications and everything's going to come through. I get I get where it's coming through. But, um yeah, it's it's I'd like to see more data. I'm I'm data driven just being in project management and everything. I'm just data driven and it's I'd like to see what Harris Countyy's going to do with it, how it's going to have how we have more stats on that and where we're going to where it's going to be before we kind of see how we're going to go with this. I mean, I have no problem giving them, but I just want to see where the data is going driving it.

And I appreciate that, but just a clarification, the applications do not come to the city. It goes to the controller. So, it's Harris County Appraisal District and then so applications do not come through us. There would be no staff time from city of Dayton at all. It's still on our tax, but it's we we still pay taxes for the controller.

Understand? But at at some point we do need to be able to support our small businesses here. We do have a new um team with Brian that is going to do just that. Um and so at some point we need to support them and and the work that they're doing here. And you know, not everybody can have, you know, a grandparent, an aunt or someone that takes care of their children or a stay-at-home parent. They have to go somewhere. So I appreciate the time. I understand. Yeah. Our small businesses are the backbone of our country. That's that's that's the backbone of it. So I completely understand that.

All right. Well, there's no further discussion. I need a motion. Motion to approve with Oh, with the new amendments of a two-year uh review. Second. All right. Any last questions or comments? All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? No. I'm going to be a nay. It's time. That is 33. The motion fails.

All right. Thank you. Okay, we're on the 5C. We're going to push that. It's been pushed. We're going to take no action on 5C. On to 6A. Consider a resolution suspending article 4 types of meetings section 4.1 regular meetings of the city of Baytown city council rules of procedure for the purpose of cancelling the March 26 2026 city council meeting. Um looks like we're going to try to reschedu this meeting on the 23rd. I thought we were there maybe an opportunity to discuss what we need to discuss ahead of time.

Point of order. I thought we were supposed to be talking about 5C. I don't think No, we put that's been pushed. Yeah. Yeah. Mayor, the question again. I'm sorry. I thought we were going to be able to discuss. So, everything that everything that we need to handle

almost everything that we need to handle can be handled at the first meeting. The only thing that cannot be handled is the audit. And so we do have to have a special meeting for the audit uh so either March 23rd or March March 30th to work around missing this date. So we can't push the audit up any sooner than that. I got you. And we are scheduled. When is Oh, and we can't do the 30th. We can only do the 23rd. Okay. All righty then. Well, it's the 23rd. It is. Need a motion? Motion to approve. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries.

We're going to receive a racial profiling report for calendar year 2025. Chief Stringer.

There we are. Good evening, Mayor, City Council. John Stringer, chief of police. I'm here to present the annual racial profiling report uh as required by Texas law. Uh, since the passing of the 2001 Texas racial profiling law, also known as Senate Bill 1074, the Baytown Police Department has complied with this law, which requires all agencies that are engaged in traffic enforcement or conduct traffic stops to maintain, review, and submit reports on racial profiling data and metrics that are associated with those traffic stops and enforcement. The information contained in this report reflects data and analysis of traffic stops from calendar year 2025 that was conducted by the Baytown Police Department. The report is required to be presented to the governing body of the city of Baytown as well as the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement by no later than March 1st of each calendar year. In accordance with Senate Bill 1074, House Bill 3389, House Bill 3051, and Senate Bill 1849, the following declar declarations are made. The Baytown Police Department equips all marked patrol units with digital video and audio recording devices that record traffic stops. Bodywn cameras, also known as BWC's, are also issued to all patrol officers, which also records these encounters. In addition to this equipment, Baytown Police Department provides TCO required training in uh antibbias, racial profiling, and cultural diversity. Supervisors with the Baytown Police Department also conduct regular reviews of both the body warn cameras and incar videos for policy compliance and to determine whether or not there's any instances of racial profiling that might have occurred. During calendar year 2025, Baytown Police Department conducted 13,97 traffic stops for which racial profile

data was collected in accordance with the law. Results show that of these stops, 37% of the drivers were Caucasian or white. This is consistent with the same figure in calendar year 2024. 36% of the drivers were Hispanic, which shows a 1% increase over the previous calendar year. And 26% of the drivers were black, which was down 1%. In 95% of these stops, the race of the driver was not known to the officer prior to the stop. of that total s of that excuse me total searches whether consensual or non-consensual were only conducted in 941 or 7% of these stops out of the 13,97 traffic stops conducted 55% resulted in warning 39% resulted in a citation and 6% resulted in arrest which is up 1% from the previous calendar year. The leading causes for arrest in calendar year 2025 were violation of the penal code, violation of the traffic code, or arrest for outstanding warrants. Of these arrests, 35% of the subjects were white, 33% were black. That's also down 1% from last year. And corresponding to the increase with the population, 33% of the uh stops were Hispanic and uh 33% of the the arrests were Hispanic, which is also an increase of 3%. Other ethnic groups included Alaskan Native, American Indian, Pacific Islander, and Asian, which account for 1% of the arrest on these traffic stops. Baytown Police Department also conducted a three-year analysis of racial profiling data as reported to both the city council and TCO I'm sorry uh traffic and and resulting criminal enforcement continue to be consistently applied across demographics in our community. This occurs despite yearly fluctuations in population and

traffic enforcement numbers. Data suggests that over multiple years uh enforcement remains consistent. Additional details of this report are also available uh at the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement website under racial profiling and the data for this report was compiled from the police department's Brezo software system and we have made the declaration that data information represented in this report has been reviewed and is believed to be true and accurate. At this time, if you have any questions, I'll be more than happy to answer them for you. questions or comments. Good deal. Thank you, Chief. Thank you so much.

Now we're on to consent agenda. U Does anyone wish to pull any item? Okay. Well, I need a motion. Items 8 through What is it? S. Second. All in favor? I. Any oppose?

Motion carries. 9A appointments. Consider a resolution to appoint Michael Garner as presiding judge of the municipal court on record in the city of Baytown, Texas to serve a term of office commencing on March 2nd, 2026 and ending on January 31st, 2028. Mr. Lopez My apologies. I didn't know I was up here for this one. So, this is Mr. Garner is in attendance today and this is the judge that y'all have interviewed and selected and the appointment is up for adoption by council night. Mr. Garner, would you please come up?

How you doing today? How are you, sir? doing pretty good. Well, I'm excited. You excited? Yes, sir. Good deal. Very much so. Um, I was reminded earlier, I do have some very big shoes to fill. Fortunately, and Judge Escalante has set the standard and she's developed and neutered a an awesome staff over there at the court. I'm sure with their assistance, things will be much much easier for me as I take take the helm of the ship over there. And I I'm very humbled and grateful that you've given me this opportunity. Thank you.

Yes, sir. This was a I'm not going to say a long drawn out process, but it was a simple process and we worked hard to find the right person for this. Um, I'd like to thank Councilwoman Graham for chairing the ad hoc committee to start this and shephering us through the uh process. You have any comments?

Oh, yes, I do. Hi, Mr. Garner. How are you doing? Good. Um, and thank you. I I really wanted to say thank you for y'all allowing me to to chair this, but everyone did work really hard, but I am you you took the word right out of my mouth. I'm very excited that council and the mayor came to the agreement because not only are you a true professional um but it's exciting to affirm you um into this position because you care and have served the people of Baytown before and I know you're going to continue um what you've already done here and I'm excited to see you take this position as judge. Thank you, ma'am. Any other comments? Ma'am, he's got some guests with him too. Oh, yeah. I was I was going to get to that, but I wanted to see

my my my wife Kimberly is here with me today. Uh we we have five children uh age 18 to 22. They are scattered with school stuff today, so we didn't bring them with us. Also here today, and I very much appreciate uh my my wife's support, but also Judge Escalante, uh Jackie Cormona, and Chris Curry from the court are also here. And like I said, I very much appreciate their support and congratulate Jess Escalante on her upcoming retirement. Yes, sir.

Mr. Garner, I'm excited to see you and especially now in this role. Uh I have no doubt being, you know, working with you in the past that you will meet the expectations that Judge Julie has set for the court. you have a great following from your your court uh fellows that are here tonight and those that we'll be working with. Um and so I remember you being there my very first time on council and um had a little spill there and you just looked at me and we're like and you had this little smirk. Um but I just appreciate you and we look forward to working with you again. Thank you ma'am. Anyone else?

That's it. Yes, my m Yeah, no doubt. Mr. Mr. Garner, we appreciate you taking the interest in our city and interest in in becoming a a a part of this community and and a chef for this community. So, it is it's going to be an honor on March second to call you the honorable Judge Garner. Thank you, sir. No one else. Good deal. Well, we need We don't need to vote. Make a motion. Yeah. Oh, go ahead and make the motion. Motion. All right. Motion to approve item 9A.

Second. I only need one. Members of the ad hoc committee support. Members of the commission support our chair. All in favor? Any oppose? Motion carries. We will see you on May March the 2nd. That's Monday, right?

9B. Consider a resolution authorizing three appointments to the Baytown Library Board. Mr. Reynolds. Yes, Mayor Council. Um have three appointments. We had uh Brenda, Tammy, and Judy have recently been serving uh and uh Miss Judy Gerald's did term limit. Uh so I'm going to recommend that uh in her place, Jennifer Rouse uh be appointed along with Brenda uh Brenda Ramaron and Tammy Gry. Those will be my three uh individuals for appointing to the library board. D I need a motion move to approve. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? We all want a second tonight. Yeah. Yeah.

What we should have done for that, what we should have done, anyone who does not have a library card on council shouldn't have been allowed to vote on that. I've got a library card. I've got a library card. You got a library card? Yesterday. It's old. I don't know where it's at. Actually, it just came across mine. It's like 1999. But you have it. See what that happened. I think I got a book. Now we're DHS still out manager report.

All right. Mayor and council, I'd like to begin by highlighting two uh departmental recognitions that recently took place. Our public affairs team celebrated National Government Communicators Day and our engineering team celebrated National Engineers Week. We uh were incredibly proud of both teams and thank uh thank them for all the work that you do. So great photos there and uh uh great to see that. Thank you all. Uh, Robert Benvitas from public works recently earned his CDL license. Awesome stuff. Congratulations and keep up the great work. Great photo. Nice smile, man. All right. Uh, the parks and recreation team, parks and recreation tourism team recently attended the annual traps equipment rodeo. This year, Louis Mendoza, Leonard Graham. How does it happen every month, Cliff? Like, come on, man. All right. Um Lewis Mendoza, Leonard Graham, Robert Renteria, uh Mutlars, Tony Serola, and Daniel Medina all placed at the East Region competition and advanced to the state uh the state competition. From that, the city of Baytown placed in the following categories. Backpack blower, Leonard Graham, second place.

That's what I'm talking about. And nail driving, uh Mint Cutlars, uh second place as well. So, congratulations to all the participants and thank you for doing a great job representing our city. I know they have a good time uh with that event.

I'd also like to shout out another parks and recreation team member, Josh Wilson, for winning the 2026 Baytown Parks and Recreation Jack of All Trades Award. This award recognizes team members who consistently step up when needs arise beyond their normal job duties. Way to go, Josh. And thank you for all of your hard work. Please pass that on as well. All right. Um, all right. Another stop in today. Our uh planning department was pleasantly surprised by a visit from the Bay Area Rehab uh rehab center who stopped by to express their appreciation for the team's help in securing a permit during the recent power outage. Thank you to the team for consistently going above and beyond. Martin, please pass that on. And I'm happy when people come in. I think y'all know when people write in or come by to stop by, it's nice to uh get that. We don't often get the add of voice. So, um, and lastly, uh, the tourism kiosk located at the BIES was recently upgraded and is generating more than 400 weekly user interactions. The current kiosk's most popular feature is the Visit Baytown branded selfie app, enabling guests to capture and share their visit on social media. Shout out to our IT and PRT department for working together on this project upgrade. Did y'all know that was there? Have y'all done your selfie yet at BIES? Mayor, right after you go get the library card for Ken or for Mr. Griffith, y'all can go do the the selfie app at uh

Call me out on the library card. I'll go. You said it Monday. I'll go get it. Hey, if you're at Bunkies, hey, don't forget the car wash. It's a dollar off. Why not? Tomorrow. I got Okay, fine. Tomorrow. I'll go get I'll take pictures. My goodness. All right. Uh I do have one final thing. Um, go texting day is tomorrow. Do you want to put your hat on? No, I want to take it off.

Okay. All right. So, um, I did get a lot of requests from employees um, to dress up for Go Texan Day. And so, if you are an employee and just any citizen of Baytown, celebrate Go Texan Day. All right. If you can wear appropriate dawn your your Texan day uh, uh, stuff, please have fun with it. Please be smart with whatever you wear. Uh but have a good time. Celebrate it. Mr. Franco, thanks for wearing the hat. But uh let's uh let's partake and have a good time and celebrate Go Texan Day. So that's mayor and council. That's all I have tonight.

Now we are on to council member district report district three.

Thank you mayor. Uh, District Three continues to see new business development with the following locations in progress. Goose Creek Commerce Center uh, Logistics at 7100 Bass Boulevard. El Matador Food Processing Plant, that's on that's at 7414 Bayway Drive. Pedmont Pedmont Apartments remodeled. Give a good exterior look. Pilot Travel Centers at 1876 East I 10. Baytown Water Treatment Plant at 1510 I I 10 Road. Express in Ant Suites at 4540 Decker Drive. San Marketplace. What everybody's asking for. What's when when's when's it going up? Well, work has officially begun on the foundation for Sam. Oh, this must be the surprise. Thank you. Uh, work has officially begun on the foundation of Sam's Club. The first concrete slab expected to be poured in March, followed by the start of their CMU walls. Their fuel station is also currently undergoing inspection. Permits have been issued for several businesses including HomeGoods, Burlington, Barnes & Noble, Ross, Dick Sporting Goods, and EO EOS Fitness and four Shell buildings uh those shell buildings uh exterior structures are being constructed. However, specific specific stores are not identified. So, we'll have to wait to see what stores are coming. I'm sure there'll be great uh uh stores for our citizens to experience uh from Fidelis. Uh there are several exciting events happening at the nature center. Uh

let me the nature tree planting. Uh staff has be the nature tree planting is one of them. staff has begun installing eight of the uh 27 trees that are previously displayed during the holiday hangout event at Baytown Town Square. These trees are planted along the entrance and exit drives of the Baytown Nature Center to help enhance the experience of facility and contribute to the landscape over time. This is part of the department part of the department's ongoing effort to prepose holiday hangout decorations into permanent landscape improvements that will provide visual and environmental benefits in the future. The remaining trees will be installed in in phase in phases at all at other appropriate locations throughout the city. BNC greenhouse greenhouse construction of the greenhouse continues to move forward with the construction now going vertical and plexiglass panels scheduled for installation soon. Final plumbing is current currently scheduled for March 9th. This greenhouse has was funded through a previous port authority grant that will support the nature nature division's educational class and programs. Once complete, it will provide a dedicated space for plant propagation. That's it. Did I say spell that right? Say that right. Propagation and hands-on learning, helping expand environmental education and prop opportunities at the Baytown Nate Nature Center. Birding photography contests. I love birding. Visit visit Baytown Tourism uh in partnership with Baytown Nature Nature Center team will be will host a will host a birding photography contest from March 1st to June 1st, 2026

celebrating wild birds captured within the nature center. The contest features youth, adult, and youth, adult, amateur, and professional categories with prizes awarded to each category winner and a grand prize for the overall top photograph. Run for wildlife lace lace one. Run for wildlife. Lace up your running shoes and d and dress as your favorite wildlife for a fun field trail run at the beautiful Baytown Nature Center on Saturday, February 28th. Participants can choose between children's 1K and adult 5K. Then enjoy a meet and greet with the animal ambassadors from Eddie V Grey Wetland Center along with the light along with light and freshments. Medals will be awarded after each race. Come ready to show off your wild or your wild side. Registration for this event is full. Uh Wade into wetland summer science camp registration. Registration for for Wade into the wetland summer science camp opens March 1st. This exciting program offers 10 weeks of camp for students entering one through 10, which each week featuring a different a different hands-on science theme. Families can choose from 10 full days day camps held in Eddie B. Grey Wetland Center for $175 per week or six half days at the Baytown Nature Center for 90 per week, making it a perfect summer adventure for your young explorers. Tikeke Hike. The Tikeke Hike is hands-on nature nature-based preschool program held on Fridays Fridays from 10 to 11:00 a.m. at the Baytown Nature Center. During the fall and spring sessions, the spring se runs March through May and begins March

6, offering weekly opportunities for children three to five to explore the outdoors. Each week features a new nature theme brought to life through an in through engaging stories and interactive hands-on activities that spark curiosity and foster a love of learning in nature. Full moon hike. Enjoy a magical nighttime walk through the nature's handiwork on March 7th at 6 p.m. The Baytown Nature Center. at the bait hunting center. Take advantage to this unique opportunity to explore nocturnal habit habitats and at habitats that are home to owls, raccoons and apossums and other wildlife that emerge after the dark after dark. Full moon hike $5 full moon hike is $5. Park entry fee is included and registration is required. Uh and finally, uh almost finally, there's a couple of things. Uh we have they have the evening of sports to speed things up. The trash bag trash bash bash is on March 28th. Lot of tongue twisters in here. Uh March 28th and the guided paddle uh is on March 21st. One thing I didn't see in here is backed by popular demand is the party on the peninsula on March 28th. So we have Zadico band and

Ty Laramore. A local Ty Laramore, a local talent that will be playing out there. So good music, good food. Y'all come out and enjoy the party on the peninsula. So he's actually

Yeah. So amazing. So uh I'm going to wrap this up. Talk about storm water. The ditches have been mowed in Lakewood and street maintenance. Uh Sidewalks are prepared are are sidewalk repairs are ongoing at Noble at Noble Court. And finally, curb and gutter repairs are in progress at B uh Bernett Drive and Meter Lane. And also, I just want to also send out a shout out again to Martin Scribner and his permitting team for helping those out at those people out at uh Bay Area Recovery get their doors open so they could help out the the disabled in our city. So, thank y'all for for working expeditiously on that. So, that's all I have.

Good deal. Mayor, um if Mr. Griffith, if you want, you can ask Mr. Franco about the type of concrete that's being used for that tilt wall construction. If y'all want to talk about concrete, I'll pass. Oh, and also thank you Sabrina for the visual slide that you did. I know. I'm a joke. You're um a lot of taxes.

I want to talk about the library. I'm going to keep my word. I'm going to do this after every council meeting. I want to remind individuals about how important our library is and the events that are going on there. First and foremost, we have early voting going on at the library. So, some of the events are not taking place because of early voting. And I would encourage each and every person who is elig eligible and able to get out and vote, please do so. Get out and vote. Now, one thing that is going on March the 6th from 6:00 to 8. This is not quite like night at the museum, okay? You're not going to have little people running around with books growing legs and arms, but we're going to have Night at the Library, Night at the Library, Friends of the Library annual meeting. And it's a special after hours event celebrating the library's history and future in our community since 1963. And I'm going to say this for the rest of this year, just to remind everyone, we have the second best library in the nation and the best library in the state of Texas. That's what I'm going to say. So, if you don't want to hear it, mute your TVs. That's still going to come across in the closed caption. Cover your ears, but our library is awesome. Take the time to come out for a special after hours event where you can go behind the scenes. Now, what's going to take place behind the scenes? I'm not going to tell you because if I told you, you may not come out. I want to peique your interest to get you out at our library. If you don't have a library card, I can attest it only takes three minutes to get a library card. And two of those minutes were because I could didn't follow the rules. So, one minute if you can follow the rules, if you want to come out

tomorrow with Ken and get his while he gets his library card, come on out tomorrow with Ken and get your library card. I'll be there at 2 o'clock. There you have it. Be my library card. We'll make a thing out of it. go live. I'm gonna go live.

Um I will say that one thing I um that did happen this week, there are over 2,000 cars clean in Baytown. And I'm bringing that up because there was a new business that opened up on Gar World, the Quick Quack Car Wash. Say that quickly if you want a tongue twister. Go by and check them out. They said that most of the cars that were washed were not even from the city of Baytown. I did not know a car wash could be an economic driver, but it is. Yeah. Yeah. So,

get out, check out Quick Quack Car Wash on Friday, and after you get your car wash, stop by the library at 2 o'clock with Ken, get your selfie and your library card. And then on March the 6th, which would be next week, come out from 6:00 to 8:00, and see what goes on in our library after hours. I'd like to add something for Friday's list. Go ahead. Little league's got opening ceremonies at 6:30. They do. So, watch the little leaguers play. That's right. That's a lot of fun. A lot of fun. Having exhausted everything on this meeting agenda, we're not having executive session, I now adjourn this meeting.

Hi, I'm Laura Alvarado and I am your Baytown City Council member for District 1. And I'm Sarah Graham, Councilwoman for District 2. and our community.