City Council - Regular Meeting

Excuse me. They want to come back. Well, because

we do not agree on back there. So, I don't know if we're going to do it in open session. Do I have a motion to come out to open session? Do I have a motion to come out to open session? Mayor, I'll make a motion to come out and open at 8:16 p.m. 8:16 p.m. Do I have a second? Motion made by Miss Francis, seconded by Mr. All in favor. Three. All against two. Clear to motion passes and we come back. Okay. Do we come uh do we continue the conversation?

Mayor, I'd like to make a comment. Yes. Go ahead. I want to take the opportunity to speak direct to share concerns about recent developments with the city council.

There's a sign of order on this, but mayor, this is not on the agenda. [clears throat] Well, we're going to discuss this grievance. It's a grievance against mayor. You need a motion to come back into open. We are done with that item. The grievance is not on the agenda. It was the grievance process and the council was briefed on the grievance process. The grievance isn't on the agenda. Okay. I mean, you're the lawyer. So, yes, ma'am. So, do I have a comment? I'm not speaking about I'm just trying to make a comment here. Okay. Point of order. This is no time for comment period.

Does it say that somewhere? Yes, ma'am. It does. There is no comment period with that item that we just finished. So, we can move on to the next item. Show that to me. Show that to me, please. Yes. I made a motion to come back. And uh people need to know what happened back there. So, [snorts] mayor, point of order. What happened back there? Yeah, but he's just making a comment. It's close session consultation with attorney. into attorney client privilege communication. Only the council as a body can wave attorney client communication if you're familiar with your charter. Yes.

Okay. Moving on to item C. The city council will meet to post uh close session pursuant to Texas code section 551.074 for personal matters and city charter section 4.01. 1 city manager and 4.05 city attorney to deliberate the evaluation and duties of public of a public officer of employees. Do I have a motion to go to executive session? Mayor, I'm requesting that my evaluation be done as a public hearing. Okay, that's good. Do I have a a second?

Do I have a motion? Yes, I'll make the motion. Okay. Do I have Do I have a second? Do I have a second? A second. Okay. Second by Mr. Moronz. All in favor? More. Do you was I didn't take the What is the motion for

to have the um to have this in outside of here in open session? Okay. Made by Lambert, seconded by All in favor to have it an open session. One, two, three, four, five. Okay, let's have a little open session, three, and then four. So, those two are done together, Mr. Santi.

No, you just do number three. I didn't Nobody asked me anything. Three. And then because it says four, the attorney separate it. Oh, that's a separate item. Okay. Mayor, um, requesting my item as a public hearing allows the opportunity for the public to give comment as well.

Okay. Go ahead and we will start with evaluation. Mr. Um, Sentine, do you take are you going to talk about this or you want me to do about about the city manager's evaluation? Uhhuh. This isn't consultation with attorney. This is personnel matters. This the council's item. So that means you don't get involved.

I may have comments. All right. Oh, now we can have comments. Citizens comments. Yes, she requested a public hearing. Okay. It's a personel matter. It's not a matter. Okay. I have a citizen comment. Thank you. Hello. My name is Alfredo. I am a city employee and I want to thank Monica for her leadership and equal opportunity. Thank you.

Thank you. Good evening, mayor and council members and city staff. My name is Allison Lambert and I'm a local businesswoman here in Floresville. I appreciate the opportunity to address tonight you tonight as our city stands at a pivotal moment in its development. Floresville is currently at a crossroads and faces significant infrastructure challenges. The city is in [clears throat] pressing need of improvements to water and sewer systems as well as roads and road repairs. Access to reliable water and sewer services is essential for continued growth. Prospective businesses are hesitant to invest in Floresville without the assurance that utilities will be available rather than relying on promises of future utility expansion. Over the past year, Monica Belise has served as interim city manager and has made notable progress that had previously been lacking. Her dedication to the future growth of Floresville has influenced businesses decisions regarding relocating commerce to our town. Monica has been a committed employee of the city for 24 years, holding various positions at city hall, including city secretary, finance director, assistant city manager, and most recently interim city manager. Throughout her tenure, Monica has worked across multiple levels to benefit Floresville. She was instrumental in preparing the package that secured funding from FEMA for damages caused by the 2015 tornado. She also assisted with

the 2018 annexation plan and has been diligently involved in developing Floresville's comprehensive plan and updating city ordinances. Monet has consistently [snorts] prepared herself for the city's future growth by continuing her education and adapting to evolving needs. Since the departure of the previous city manager, Monica has taken on the responsibilities of two roles with limited support. As Forsville moves into its next phase, her extensive experience and longstanding dedication will be essential to ensuring that all future developments are in the best interest of the city's citizens, both current and future.

Thank you. Do I have anyone Council, thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of Monica. Uh I don't remember how many years she's actually been with the city, but to her credit, she's gone through many managers, supervisors, working as a as a clerk. She's worked in the PD. She's worked in our finance office. She's worked in the front office. She's been city secretary, assistant city manager, interim city manager. So throughout that career, she has proven herself as a heavy worker. I believe also if the opportunity offered itself, I think she become can become the city manager.

Thank you. Moving on. Do I have any more? Um

comments. How about from the council?

I want to speak on that. City attorney. I worked with the prior city manager. I worked with Monica now and I will first say that in in Monica's first three months stepping into the role um I felt like she was tentative and and and kind of keeping the car on the road a little uncertain but after that point she really seized the opportunity. Uh we talked often about what her authority was. I assured her she had the same authority. There's no distinction. and a city manager when it comes to power and authority to make change and to do things. Um during this time she's she's been a signator on all city accounts. She's pushed forward the comprehensive plan and these things in order. Um but most importantly she has been a leader in the most ethical sense uh which I have to say has not always been the case. Um some of the council members I know Councilman Moronis, Counciloman Lambert were there at the end of the TML conference when Jimenez was the president and they also got to hear a great presentation by Frank Ashley on ethical leadership. And why that matters is because being an ethical leader means not just doing uh what is popular or doing what's always been done, but it means what's doing what's right regardless of the possible personal cost to you. And I've been extremely impressed and proud of manager police for doing just that and standing up to even council members when necessary. on behalf of her employees

and uh putting herself out there to make sure that uh Floresville remains a safe place for all employees and a fair place for all employees and that the decisions are made in a transparent manner and the way they should be made. And so I commend her for that. Um I work with cities all across the state of Texas and I've assured Monica that if her leadership is not uh good enough for It's damn sure good enough for dozens and dozens of cities that I know would welcome

anything from the council. Mayor, may I?

Sure. So, I'm glad that some of you up here got some really nice treatment and you know, Monica's really attentive to you all. Um, I just want to point out that that hasn't been the case with me. There's several things here that I feel that um still could be worked on. Um, a lot to learn. I know that see being a city manager is a tough job. you not only have to u manage all the different personalities here but you're also hearing different initiatives from everyone. So just a couple of things here that I would like to point out. [clears throat] Um and just things that there was a question what are the critical area for improvement and for me it was professionalism. As an interim city manager the role demands a high standard of conduct impartiality and ethical leadership. During the rating period, there were instances where negative commentary about employees who report to you shared with other staff members that information. So, I know that you think that you're saying in confidence it came back. The other thing I also want to point out is that you do engage in the political dynamics that appear to influence your decision making and that's also important. Um, and then the other thing I have is just um I I don't know what's going on. I've never been asked to be part of any kind of initiative, committee, anything of that sort. Although you have no problem speaking with some members more than over them than than the other. So I don't feel I'm giving getting acquitted opportunity to do anything. I have a great skill set. There's a lot I bring to the city, but I feel that I'm not wanting. So um and that's just how I feel. Very closed off. A lot of time your door is closed. The other feedback I get from the community is that they don't see you enough out there in the

community. They want you to be the face of Floresville. What does that look like? Are you going to be out there? Are you going to be approachable? Are you going to be friendly? Those are things that all come. So, in saying that, I'm just going to say um you know, just be inclusive by engaging all council members equally and extending opportunities for involvement. The other big thing for me, I'm going to be honest, I had an issue with was during our budget season. That was the turnaround for me. And I'm sorry, but I'm going to say it. Um, the thing that came before council was a budget to approve that included employee salaries. Now, we had about 16 employees, I believe. I don't approximately that were below the the minimum point. When I looked at that, it's it's a no-brainer, right? Let's bring our employees up to date. What I had a problem with was the list that I had. I there was a consultant that I um had given our uh interim city manager, you know, and HR director kind of a directive saying, "Hey, you know, if there's other employees that need to be brought up to the midpoint, they can be brought up to the midpoint up to 30%." Um there were some positions and I'll start with u the assistant city manager position and if you recall the interim city manager position that's the old position that she had. There hasn't been anybody in that role since taking on the interim manager position and it was uh requested $22,000 raise that was requested for that position. Look, I'm just saying the request appears to me excessive and it lacked jur justification given the vacancy number one. Um, and then of course it was kind of the same thing. There was a few other positions that were inflated.

The administrative services director was one of them. It was inflated above the 30%. Again, I didn't get a justification. I asked for one back in August. I never received that. And that to me is I'm not saying I would have said no, but I wanted to see written justification and what that looks like. So at least I felt better in making my decision because it's really hard to give somebody a $22,000 raise and we don't even have guys in the field that make the minimum. So it just seems over and over that this was put before your employees and that worries me because they are your employees. Um, last but not least, the other um big issue for me was an increase uh for a position that had been recently filled um by your former sister-in-law. This raises concerns about the appropriateness of timing. Uh my understanding and and I will say I got public calls for this. Excuse me. So, one of the big issu is issues for me was if you hire the individual, fine. So be it. But this individual was in the role for maybe approximately 30 to 60 days tops, and that position was already on the list to get an an additional $1,000 raise. Um, so again, what I saw in my opinion was these figures suggested a pattern of inflated salary recommendations that exceeded the state at 30% midpoint adjustment goal. So, I didn't appreciate the lack of transparency and consistency in these proposals. It undermines trust in the compensation process and it raises serious questions about fis fiscal stewardship and adherence to policy. Again, that is my opinion. That's what I came across and that was the turning point for me because right there I just saw a lot of things and um putting yourself before employees and especially

those that look to you and you're supposed to be the leader of this organization. Um, the other thing I don't even want to go there, but it's been on off and on about the organizational structure. Again, the organizational structure was tied to our budget. And here's the thing, I wanted the organizational chart to give me some kind of, you know, it didn't seem like that. It seemed like we told you we didn't like it. Um, I wasn't here at that meeting, but I know another council member said, "Hey, take it back. It it's just too much, what have you." I'm going to say this, there has been instances where we're changing New York chart. I want to make sure that we are actually changing it because there is actually justification behind it. There is actually a purpose. I I don't want to go into the last city manager, you know, change things and, you know, so forth. So if that is the case, um, [snorts] how do we allow employees to go ahead and start doing that when we don't have approval? Number one. So it's really hard for me to believe that. But again, that's what was brought to me. I didn't like it. I don't like making uninformed decisions and on a win without any documentation justification. So um, let's see. So, so I do want to tell you this as well and just some things that I saw and and I'm going to bring up TML as well because I know that a lot of us were were all there, but there has been some concern that um that a contractor was authorized a contractor or temporarily temporary employee was authorized to attend the TML conference at the city's expense. So again, the authorized contractor was from FEDC and to me this decision raises

serious concerns about, you know, the misuse of public funds and blurring the, you know, the blurring of organizational boundaries. So my thing is is that I know it's hard to tell somebody no or say like I I don't know, but as a city manager, I think that it's critical. It's imperative that these conversations be had. And I don't think it would have been a big deal had you had that up in the beginning rather than wait and then find it on a you know on an evaluation. Um see and then of course we've had um you know I I am going to say we had an employee who previously worked here on two separate occasions. Um my understanding he vol he left on his own was rehired for the third time and that employee ended up being arrested in a different county while operating the city vehicle. Again this happened under your leadership and again if the employee worked for us twice what kind of decision making or what was the process of thinking about you know I should hire him a third time. I get I I understand he left on his own. I understand that but still these are decision making process that you know what are you using to evaluate that and I would hope if the employee worked here twice before you would have known um and I know you can't foresee but those are some judgment calls that I saw that I don't agree with and I just think they could have been handled differently. Um so anyways I will stop there but those are the things that I see. Um, the other thing I want to mention in getting this evaluation, you know, the totals are listed across, but I'm having to do my own math to come down to see what each council member rated are, you know. So, again, I I don't know how things are done here,

but I I don't like coming and looking at evaluation and having to do my own math. I'm going to go ahead and stop there with the comments. That's all I have. Thank you. So, mayor, if I may respond to her comments.

Okay. So, um thank you for your comments and I have read your evaluation and to the budgeting process whenever we went over um salaries and compensation for the employees. I know you pointed out um an assistant manager's position, administrative services director, accounts payable clerk, the water supervisor, the municipal court clerk, and an administrative secretary. Whenever the council um decided on the con on the the pay increases for the employees overall, a 3% pay increase was decided and it was decided that per the pay study, those that were below the minimum would be brought to that minimum rate. Um the mid rate was completely taken out [snorts] of the budget. It wasn't anything that we were even going to keep putting in or anything that was going to be considered. So therefore, you know, the understanding that I had was that that was that was completely gone. We weren't we weren't even discussing that anymore. We were doing the 3% and those below the minimum that we brought to the minimum,

right? Um then as far as the organizational structure, I know you mentioned that um you had talked to some different supervisors asking that certain individuals were I heard

were reporting to them. um they they weren't reporting to them and that was what we were trying to do was put them under the right leadership. The duties were being performed but they weren't reporting to the correct leadership. Um and then as far as the um individual or the contract employee, temporary employee that had attended the TML conference, that individual was had actually been a board member that had already been decided on to attend the TML conference. But there is actually no policy currently in place for the city of Forzville that states that a temporary contract employee cannot be sent to training or conferences. And and I can give you um documentation where we have done it before. In January of 2021, [cough] we sent a contract employee to a training where the city did pay for the registration for the training and the hotel expense as well. So, I just I wanted to share that information with you.

Thank you. I appreciate that. But I do want to clarify back to the budget process. I understand that it was the minimum was was approved and so forth. My point was you still brought it forth to try to get up to the midpoint and that's where for me even though I know it didn't go through it still lies with me as to you know it it I didn't like that especially when employees weren't making their minimum. Okay. But thank you for the explanation. Do I have any more comments?

I I have a I feel that we should have evaluated Monica sooner that way you know if we had any issues, you would have worked on them. And um and I know this role as is very demanding as it requires balancing multiple responsibilities and addressing uh many individual goals. Um but consistency, fairness, and uh sound judgment are essential to succeeding. you you'll so you can keep everyone that would be very very good. So, you know, I know you've done a tremendous you've done a good job, but there are, you know, little, you know, issues that if we don't, you know, I don't feel like um I we they like you, everybody likes you, but you know, criticism is just for your benefit. So, you'll know what you know, everyone's looking at. It's not not to hurt you or anything. It's just to help you. That's how I feel. So, just

I have a question there. Go ahead. I'd like to know why my evaluation wasn't included. [clears throat] Get an explanation on that. Go, Mr. Sanki. Yeah, the explanation on that is because you are the subject of a pending grievance that has not yet been uh resolved and your participation uh given the comments in No, I'm sorry. Excuse me. We didn't vote to to So we haven't done anything.

Not yet. No, but I that was my recommendation that was before you that if if he doesn't voluntarily recuse himself in the process to keep the city from facing an additional retaliation claim like the one we have pending right now for the same scenario that the council take a vote as to whether or not he should be allowed to participate. So that's that's the explan I mean that's legal advice. I mean you you're free to ignore it. I mean, you have to Thank you for that legal advice, but it's hard to take advice from a city attorney who I don't feel represents council as a whole, but instead maybe re represents one of our members and not a body as a whole. It's hard to come to you, Mr. Santi, and really take it and know that that's your best foot forward and that you're really looking out for all of us.

I'm going to call a point of order. We're we're on a we're on the city manager evaluation. We're getting away from the subject again. Well, he said they're asking the question is why was his name his evaluation question was answered mayor respectfully. Okay. Well, uh I think Fedix can turn around and answer why you know he's asking a question and he is our lawyer. Well, if I may, I have a comment on our city management. That's the topic that we're on. So, I would like to make a comment. Thank you.

Wait a minute. You don't have to wait. Hold on. Can finish. Well, I'm just trying to get a I mean, is that going to be the final answer first? I mean, did was this thing already decided? I mean, just decided it's a done deal. There's documentation at your chair with the recommendation that staff followed. It was a recommendation that staff followed. Yes, I'll address it from Excuse me. I'll address it from the podium. So, yeah. So, so we'll we'll do this out here. We tried to do it in close session about the grievance process, but when a grievance is filed, Mr. Tanti, I don't feel that's in the best interest of

I don't feel it's in the best interest of the MC either, but Mr. Ku wants an explanation as to why his evaluation wasn't included. And it's because his evaluation was so egregiously. Mr. Understand? I'm going to call a point of order because we have taken an oath to uphold the constitution and to make legally sound decisions. So, if this council is willing to hear this information in open session, I recommend they take a vote on it. I don't disagree.

So, I'm going to make a motion for this information to be disclosed in open session. to answer Miss Council member Gandu's question in open session. I make a motion. You make a motion to uh are we going to open uh item B because that's what we're discussing. [clears throat] So, are we going to have two motions? I make a motion to pause the current item C and revert back to item B per Councilman Kantu's request to have it in open session. I'll second.

There's a motion on the floor. All in favor of this motion, raise your right hand.

I didn't raise my hand. Well, I'm waiting for you to raise it because you made the motion. Well, it doesn't matter that you made it. You don't have to vote. So, I do I have a there's a motion to bring this item B out in public. Do I have a motion? The motion is made by Miss Himenez. Uh uh Councilwoman Himenez, seconded by Mr. Member. All in favor, raise your right hand. One, two. Okay, then uh motion f. Okay. So, we can't address your question.

Yes. I'd like to make a motion that we continue this in executive session process. I have a motion. Mayor, may I point of point of order? That would be a motion to suspend the current item. No, you the current item is on cost. [clears throat] We already made a motion on that. It's on cost. So, um I have a motion on the floor to go back to item B from Mr. Compton. Do I have a second?

I'll second. Motion based on Mr. Ku to go back to executive session and do items. The council will meet in close session pursuant to the Texas government code section 551.071 consultation with attorney to discuss the procedure steps and legal options related to grievance file against council members made by Mr. Gou second by uh Miss Francis. All in favor of raise your right hand. One, two. All against. Motion fails to go back. Okay. Now we're going back to item C. [snorts] The council will need I mean we're already Do we do I have a motion to go back to item C? I don't have a motion to go back to item C. Okay. Then I'll say pause till when till next meeting.

The floor's open for motions. Sorry. Well, there's no motion. I mean, I'm asking if we uh if we return to item C because it's on pause evaluation [clears throat] or that's evaluation the evaluation to continue.

I make the motion, but mayor to me it's already I don't know about going that way or this way. Now, [laughter] you know, we were we were out there in the back. Don't get me wrong that you know what is going on over but we were out there trying to figure out and they wanted to have it out here. They had the opportunity to to ask the questions back there. They didn't want to ask the questions. So now we want to go back again and it's kind of really, you know, uh it's kind of confusing and they're probably out there probably laughing at us, you know, and it's not funny that that that there are citizens over thousands of people watching and we're We we can't get it right, you know. I'm going to make the motion if if you want to continue and then it's up to y'all, you know. But the thing is if we need to to get some water in here, I mean, I'm not the mayor. I'm nothing but

Yeah, I but we need to I'll make a motion to return. We have a second. I'll second. Motion by second by Lambert to return to C at um Okay, let's continue. Mayor, I I I have received my packet of evaluations and you're happy with that. I'm good with this. I know there's been a lot of back and forth on this. So, thank you. Well, I have a comment. So,

we need to take a vote to come back. that we should probably vote on [laughter] before I start talking. Motion made by uh by [clears throat] Lambert, second by or motion made by Mario, second by L. Right. All in favor. We're returning back. And now Monica said she's happy with what we're um so we're going to adjourn on this one. Go ahead. Thank [laughter] you. Go ahead. Thank you. One second. Mayor, please.

Been a lot of accusations thrown around tonight. Um, it's been a long night, but I can tell you that nobody is perfect. And I believe that this interim city manager has been doing really good, especially with the heavy presence of council through throughout the city hall all the time. So, it's kind of hard to do your job when someone's over your neck all the time. So, that's just my opinion. But, you know, there will never be a perfect city manager in this world. Amen.

The only thing that she can do is grow. You know, I think that this evaluation may have come at a at a maybe a prolonged rate. Maybe we should have had this with this new council. that way this new council could have set some expectations before we come out here and just start hammering down on her. And we didn't give it we weren't we didn't have that opportunity. So here we are. You know, I really hope Monica that you aren't taking you take this the the criticism, the compliments, and you keep doing the job you're doing because I do think you're doing a great job. I I will never think you're going to be a perfect city manager because no one will ever be one. But the only thing you can do is grow. And I really really I love you here. You're doing a great job. Keep doing what you're doing. Mr. Mayor, I mean, Monica has been for almost a year uh pushing the city forward, but you know, I'm always the bad guy. But I I go out there and I ask people, you know, what they want and sometimes they tell me they tell me that they still kind of come from my heart. As long as I feel I'm okay with it, I'm okay with it. you know, regardless of what happens, you know, Monica, you've done a fair job and uh it's just a hard situation. We we had a a committee that that they looked at 29 applications. They picked the top seven. We're going to get it to seven. I don't know who's the seven, but regardless of how I vote or whatever, I mean, it's she's still are will still be I'm not saying that I will vote against or what, but I still I'm still doing my investigation on what is the right thing for the city. You know, sometimes I say, well, you need I hear it out there. We need leadership that that has no time or

nobody. Now, I I know that Monica is is a good assistant city manager. Maybe another person come to work ahead with her and give her a little more push and she and I don't know what's going to happen but what I'm saying and one thing I would tell if I have to say something we don't have to roast somebody [clears throat] in front of public you go out to her office hey can I speak to you and I asked her if did if they come to you and ask you the wrongdoing that you're doing and I think her answer was No. So my thing is whatever I have that I have to tell Monica, I don't have to I'll say it back there. When I go back there, I might say, "Hey, you know what? You need this." But I'm very proud of her what she's done. But I also have to respect also the people that took their time to come and look at 29 applications and we'll take it from there. But for for now, keep doing what you're doing and and we'll see what what we

see. But, you know, I apologize to the public out there that kind of we might have to order some popcorn or something. [laughter] I got confused. They're like, "Wait a minute. Wait a minute." But anyways, that's what I wanted to say. But I don't know what I want to do. [laughter] Anyway, thank you. Mayor, I have a comment. Yes.

And a recommendation. Um, normally these things occur in an executive session behind closed doors because it's it's personal. Not everyone wants to hear this. This reminds me of Thank you, Monica, for reminding me of the hanging out days when we did this out in the open. And even though some of her ratings were low, there were no bashing comments. It was just the what have you done? What do you need to improve on? and um working with different city managers, there are always some there's always something different to work on. There's always something to improve on. We as human beings when we know better, we do better. And sometimes we decide not to do better. And that's when we need to get called on to the carpet. I will say um I do I did listen to um the other councilman's comments and I will say that I I you know I just disagree with one of them in particular where the constituents have said that the face of the city is the city manager. I don't completely agree with that 100%. I feel the face of the city is the mayor or the council members are the employees are the other community activists. We are all the faces of this community. It's not just resting on one person that gets paid. [clears throat] More so, I mean the mayor is out there. She's out. You see her online. She's out there and about at different events. That's what people wanted. Why did the previous city manager go to everything? because we didn't have a mayor that went to everything like our mayor does. So, I I disagree with that comment in that sense. It's great for you to go out to events. That's fabulous, but it doesn't rest on you. That that that's on all of us. That's on all of us as a community

to show up to events and to show up for each other. There's also um you know I'm looking at the and what what the people don't know since we are an open what the people don't know is that we have the evaluation they were given to HR HR took each of those sections because there's different sections and in each section there's about four or five questions where she's rated for each one. So she took the averages for each of those areas. Council member Flores mentioned that there were no averages. If you take the averages from all if you add up everything on here, it totals over 220 something points, which is not normal for an evaluation. Evaluations total 100 points. That way you can get averages. This one doesn't work this way. So my recommendation to this council is if you are not satisfied with this evaluation, let's look at at instilling another one. This one was changed um with the last council. It was brought forward by the city manager who pulled it from TCMA. So if this is not up to standards of this council, I recommend this council change the evaluation. One thing that I will make note on here as I see the ratings of everyone's it it surprises me. It surprises me at some of these extremely low ratings because I feel in my personal opinion and I've never rated employees that low to be zeros and ones. You practically have to be dead to get zeros and ones. I do not find that appropriate. It works very well if you say I don't feel you are meeting the standard here. So what do we need to work on? What does that look like? I'm just going to give a couple of examples of what I said. And so there are questions of what are her strengths, what are her weaknesses, what does she need to work on.

Monica is going through her training right now and congratulations to Monica as she will be graduating her training. So that is that is fabulous. That is what you want to see in all of your employees is to further their education. That way they can improve their services for the entity. One of the things that I have said so critical improvement it's critical to com convey these complex issues to the council in the way that promotes full understanding and I say that to you and I say that to every presenter here for that informed decision making as we've heard councilman [snorts] Ford saying. So this can include awareness of risks consequences associated with each option and this can be done during your meeting or presentation or right before a CNA item. So council does not always think in terms of what decisions or lack thereof decisions will impact the city immediately and in the long term. I've mentioned before the decisions we make now will affect us 5 10 20 years from now. we are dealing with consequences of decisions that were made 5, 10, 20 years ago. So, it's critical that we all understand what we're deciding on up here. I've also um made a note that um well, one, I asked for a better copy of this PDF because as you as council can look at mine, it I tried to edit this PDF and it just did not work for me. So, that was my one solidifying request. Um I did mention to consider adding EP emphasis on improving internal communication and staff readiness. So ready you know regular updates and briefings from the staff are are only going to make council more comfortable with decisions. Also offering [clears throat] targeted

training and encouraging cross department collaboration that can build confidence and consistency across the team can empower staff with the right information and clear guidance. [clears throat] I do think that it's very important that staff that are working with vendors, business owners, community members are able to communicate the correct information. And sometimes that requires us to take a step back and say, "Let me find out." And so I have heard from business owners and community members how when they interact with different departments that they've seen differences. They've seen differences in that they no longer get the I don't know incident. They get the well actually this is how we do this. They provide you with information and that is something that has been lacking in the city. And so I think that is a tremendous improvement that we've seen throughout the all of the departments. I've also asked for recommendations. Um you heard me ask the um financial consultant about her recommendation. I've asked Monica about recommendations out in the open and she's giving them. She does not deter to what council thinks. Well, it's whatever the council decides. council can't make a decision unless there's a recommendation from the city manager. So, I I really appreciate that and I um applaud you for that and just keep going and just keep improving the city.

Okay. So um did we vote on that already? Was it we haven't voted? Okay. The motion was made by by There's no motion. Okay. We'll move on to item four. It's been a long night. So item four, city attorney um We're going to go to the

So, I asked that I be placed on the agenda when I saw that someone had placed Monica on the agenda after she'd been doing the job for 11 months on the same night that you would be looking at the application. So, I said, "Hey, please list place me on there as well." Um, and though I don't have a right to go into the back uh and do this in close session, I strongly recommend that you allow me to do so. And I would ask the council vote on whether or not I can be present in the back to do this rather than do this in public. Well, I would rather us go in the back and talk about it and then we'll call you back in there.

Well, then we'll just do it in public. We can either take a vote and allow me to be in the back or we can do it in public. Okay, let's take Okay, we'll take the vote. Okay. Um, the city council will meet in close session pursuant to Texas code uh section 551.074 personal matters and city charter section 4.01 either um with a city attorney and because it says 401 city manager interm city manager and 4.05 05 city attorney to deliberate the evaluation and duties of a public officer city attorney Daniel Santini and then it's got the rest of the you're from David Ro. Do I have a motion to go to the back?

Yes. Yes. I'll make a motion for us to go to the to go into executive session at 9:05 p.m. with the city attorney present with us. Uh, all in favor? I mean, I'm sorry. Yeah. Second. Second by motion made by Mr. Lambert, seconded by Miss Himenez. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Yes. Felix. Yes.

Are you the same?

Motion passes for for the Wednesday.