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UH, 4:00 PM[Intragovernmental Affairs Committee on November 28, 2022]
ON, UM, NOVEMBER 28TH.AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE CITY OF GARLAND'S INTERGOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, UH, TO WATER, UH, PRESENT, UH, WITH, WITH, WITH US TODAY, UH, UH, OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS MAYOR PROTE, DEBORAH MORRIS.
ALSO, SHE DOUBLES AS COUNCIL LADY FOR DISTRICT TWO
AND WE'VE GOT THE DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE, UH, ROBERT JOHN SMITH, WHO ALSO DOUBLES AS THE COUNCIL, COUNCIL PERSON FOR DISTRICT EIGHT, ALONG WITH, UH, MR. BRIAN ENGLAND, OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND OKAY.
AND OTHERS, UH, PRESENT TODAY.
UH, OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, UH, TODAY OR INDIVIDUAL, UH, ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION.
UH, ITEM A, UH, THE IN GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, CITY OF GARLAND, UH, WILL MEET TO DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE A RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AGENDA FOR THE 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
UH, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GO TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO GIVE US SORT OF AN OVERVIEW AND START OUR DISCUSSION.
MR. CITY ATTORNEY, MR. CHAIR, I THINK WHAT EACH OF Y'ALL HAVE BEFORE Y'ALL IS THE 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
I THINK Y'ALL HAVE HAD ACCESS TO IT, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED IT WITH, UM, LAST TIME THAT WE MET WITH OUR OUTSIDE LOBBYIST, TY.
UH, AND SO IF I CAN GO THROUGH IT, IF THAT'S YOUR PLEASURE, UM, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ANY LISTENING AUDIENCE OR, UM, IF Y'ALL HAVE QUESTIONS, I CAN TAKE QUESTIONS.
JUST DIRECT IN WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO DO.
UM, MR. ATTORNEY, WOULD YOU ASSIGN TO BRIEFLY GO THROUGH IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ANY LISTING AUDIENCE THAT WE MAY HAVE? SURE.
I THINK THE OVERALL, UH, PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THIS PARTICULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS THE SAME AS THE LAST ONE, REALLY THE SAME AS THE LAST TWO.
AND THAT IS TO PRESERVE GARLAND'S ABILITY TO GOVERN SELF-GOVERN EFFECTIVELY, AND SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WILL PROTECT OUR, OUR LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND DECISION MAKING, AND ALSO OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT WILL ERODE THAT AND WHICH WILL ALSO LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALSO IMPOSE UNFUNDED MANDATES IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO RAISE REVENUE TO SUPPORT SERVICES THAT OR CITIZENS, UH, DEMAND OR, UH, WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM OR OTHERWISE NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE CITY OF GARLAND'S RESIDENCE.
THAT'S KIND OF OUR OVERARCHING THEME AND OUR PHILOSOPHY GOING INTO THE SESSION THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR, I SHOULD SAY.
AS FAR AS THE LEG SPECIFIC LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE HEARD RUMORS ABOUT ON THE FISCAL AND FINANCIAL SIDE, WE'RE GONNA OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT WILL IMPOSE FURTHER REVENUE CAPS OR MAKE REVENUE CAPS MORE RESTRICTIVE ON US THAT WOULD PREVENT US FROM, UM, UM, GROWING THE CITY ECONOMICALLY OR PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT THE CITIES THAT, THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THE CITIZENS OF GARLAND AND WILL SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW US TO, UH, ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND THERE'S GONNA BE SOME BILLS THAT COME UP THAT WILL, INCLUDING IN CHAPTER THREE, ATM THREE 13, THAT WILL ALLOW US TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THOSE TOOLS REMAIN IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO, TO ASK BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOOKING FOR NEW HOMES, EITHER FROM OUTTA STATE OR EVEN FROM INSTATE, AND GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE FOR THOSE BUSINESSES AND COMPETE FOR THOSE, UM, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE FOR A BROADER TAX BASE.
WE ALSO SUPPORT LEGISLATION DESIGNED, UH, TO PROVIDE, UH, CITIES THE ABILITY TO USE BONDS TO PAY FOR NEEDED PUBLIC SERVICES OR PROJECTS, AND OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO CONTROL AND MANAGE TAXPAYER INVESTED RIGHT OF AWAYS AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THAT'S RELATED TO PEOPLE, TO, TO FRANCHISES THAT COME IN AND PUT FACILITIES INTO OUR RIGHT OF AWAYS.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, LAST SESSION, ACTUALLY ERODED OUR ABILITY TO TELL FRANCHISES NO AND CHARGE THEM REASONABLE FEES FOR THAT.
AND SO THIS IS, UH, WE'RE GONNA OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWS FOR THAT PRACTICE TO CONTINUE.
AND WE'RE GONNA SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWS US TO ACTUALLY CHARGE FOR THE USE OF OUR RIGHT OF AWAYS AND, AND PROVIDE ALSO ALSO THE RIGHT TO REGULATE THE USE OF OUR REG, OUR RIGHT OF AWAYS ONCE THE FACILITIES COME IN PLACE, UH, ACTUALLY ARE PLACED INTO IT.
WE'LL ALSO SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT MAKES CONFIDENTIAL AND NOT SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE UNDER THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACTS CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATED TO A CITY CYBER CYBERSECURITY TECHNOLOGY.
IT'S ALREADY, WE'RE ALREADY, IT'S CLEAR THE ACT IS ALREADY CLEAR THAT WE CAN PROTECT INFORMATION RELATED TO PHYSICAL SECURITY.
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A LITTLE MORE, UH, UNCLEAR ABOUT CYBERSECURITY, AND SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S IN PLACE AND THEN SUPPORT THE ABILITY OF THE CITY TO LOBBY OR HIRE REPRESENTATIVES WITH PUBLIC FUNDS TO LOBBY ON ISSUES THAT WOULD IMPACT OUR CITY OR ITS RESIDENTS.AND THIS OF COURSE IS BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE GOING TO AUSTIN REQUIRES RELATIONSHIPS AND US BEING 180 MILES FROM AUSTINS, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE RELATIONSHIPS OFTEN THAT ARE, THAT TIE DOES AS HE IS BASED OUT OF AUSTIN.
AND SO HAVING THAT ABILITY AND HAVING HIM TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED OUTSIDE OF COMMITTEE ROOMS AND IN THE BACK OFFICES OF THE CAPITAL AND UNDERNEATH THE CAPITAL, UM, THAT'S JUST INVALUABLE TO US.
AND ALSO WE WOULD OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT AROSE THE CITY'S TAX BASE.
ANY QUESTION ABOUT ANY PHYSI, ANY FISCAL AND FINANCIAL STRENGTH LEGISLATION? OKAY.
UH, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO THERE IS TURN TO THE COMMITTEE, UM, ON THAT PARTICULAR SECTION ON PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.
I THINK I INTRODUCED EVERYBODY, FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW.
I'M BJ WILLIAMS, COUNCIL FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
AND, UH, AND WE ALSO HAVE MR. RENEE DIAL OUR CITY SECRETARY OVER, OVER ON THE WING.
UM, WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS ON THAT SECTION, ON PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL STRENGTH, TURN TO OUR COMMITTEE.
I'D LIKE TO FIRST GO TO OUR MAYOR PROTE, SEE IF SHE HAS ANY COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS, SUGGESTIONS ON THAT SECTION.
MADAM MAYOR PROTE, UM, I GUESS THIS IS WORKING.
IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT IS, BUT WELL, YOU CAN JUST YELL.
IT WAS THE ONE IN FRONT OF ME.
YEAH, THAT MAKES, TRY IT AGAIN.
THAT DOES MAKE IT MUCH EASIER.
YEAH, WE, OUR MICS WERE ALL MOVED OVER.
UM, YEAH, I DON'T, WE HAD LOOKED OVER THE SAME LIST AND IT SEEMS, UM, I, I HAD SOMETHING ELSE PROBABLY TO GO UNDER, UM, DEVELOPMENT OR SPECIFIC LEGISLATION, BUT ON THIS SECTION I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING TO THAT I WANTED TO ADD TO IT, SO.
UH, DEPUTY, MAY I APPROACH YOU YOUR THOUGHTS? GOT A COUPLE, UM, STEPPING BACK REAL QUICK INTO THE OPENING PARAGRAPH, I MIGHT ADJUST IMPACT REVENUE TO FURTHER IMPACT REVENUE.
UM, THIS MAKES US A LITTLE MORE APPROACHABLE AS A CITY, I THINK.
AND IT, UH, IT HIGHLIGHTS THE FACT THAT WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN A FEW HITS TO REVENUE.
SO I THINK IT'LL, IT'LL FLY A LITTLE BETTER.
I ASSUME THESE LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS MAY GET PASSED OUT TO OUR REPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, I'M KIND OF THINKING OF THIS WITH THAT IN MIND.
POINT NUMBER TWO OF FISCAL AND FINANCIAL STRENGTH.
UH, IT SAYS TO ISSUE BONDS TO PAY FOR NEEDED PUBLIC SERVICES AND PROJECTS OR, OR BONDS UNDER THREAT, OR ARE WE REALLY TALKING ABOUT COS OR DO WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT BOTH? I WOULD SAY BOTH WOULD BE THE BETTER, PROBABLY THE MORE PRECISE LANGUAGE IN THERE.
SO, SO CAN WE ADD CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND BONDS? CERTAINLY.
UH, YOU ALREADY ANSWERED ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD ABOUT CYBERSECURITY AS IT RELATES TO PHYSICAL SECURITY.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALREADY HAD THE ABILITY TO, TO, UH, NOT FOIA OUR PHYSICAL SECURITY MEASURES AND THEN, UM, SUPPORTING THE ABILITY OF THE CITY TO LOBBY HIGHER REPRESENTATIVES OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO LOBBY ON ISSUES THAT WOULD IMPACT OUR CITY OR ITS RESIDENTS
THAT'S THE TOUGH ONE, CUZ I KNOW THAT'S THE ONE THAT REALLY, REALLY IS GONNA COME UP QUITE A BIT THIS YEAR.
I, I SEE THE BENEFIT IN KEEPING IT WIDE OPEN ON THE LANGUAGE AND IT REALLY COVERS LITERALLY ANYTHING BECAUSE EVERYTHING THE STATE DOES MAY IMPACT OUR CITY'S RESIDENCE.
UM, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF A WAY TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT THE ABILITY OF THE CITY TO LOBBY FOR ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CITY AS A, AS AN ENTITY BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT TALK ABOUT PHILOSOPHICAL AND TECHNICAL LOBBYING.
SO WE WOULDN'T, WELL, SCHOOL TAX REFORM MIGHT AFFECT OUR RESIDENTS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN.
AND I'M TRYING TO, I'M NOT TRYING TO GET THIS PRECISE FOR THE SAKE OF PRECISION.
I'M TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT FOR THE SAKE OF THE DISCUSSION.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING WITH OUR REPS THIS YEAR ABOUT WHAT SORT OF LOBBYING WE CAN BE ENGAGED IN.
AND SO I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER ON IT YET.
UM, I'D LIKE THE ABILITY TO, TO KIND OF WORK WITH THAT SENTENCE AND WORDSMITH IT A BIT MAYBE AFTER THE MEETING, UH, OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO BEFORE THIS COMES TO COUNSEL, IF THAT'D BE OKAY.
IF YOU, IF YOU'LL MASSAGE THAT, DO YOUR THING WITH THAT.
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FEEDBACK TO, TO MISS CITY COMMITTEE.AND WE'RE LOOKING BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL.
AND, AND THEN, YEAH, MY INTENT IS JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE WANT TO LOBBY ON CITY ISSUES.
WE'LL THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT, SIR.
UM, ON THAT PARTICULAR SEC SECTION, THE ONLY THING THAT I HAD ONE, ONE THING AND, UH, ONE THING TO ADD, AND I, I'VE GOTTA GIVE MORE THOUGHT TO, BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY SUPPORT TO SUPPORT, UM, LEGISLATION THAT REFORMS THE PROPERTY TAX CODE.
AND I DON'T KNOW MR. ATTORNEY, WE NEED TO GET TOO SPECIFIC ON THIS, BUT THIS IS JUST SOME, SOME, UH, FIRST OUTTA THE SHOOT LANGUAGE, UH, TO SUPPORT, UM, REFORMS THE PRIVATE TAX CODE.
UM, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD, IN MY LANGUAGE, I'LL READ EXACTLY WHAT I GOT HERE.
UH, BY CAPPING A, FORMING THE CURRENT, UM, INCREASE APPRAISAL INCREASES.
AND WHEN I SAY REFORMING, I MEAN REDUCING THAT FROM THE CURRENT 10% AND I THREW A PERCENTAGE IN THERE, UH, POSSIBLY RANGE FROM FIVE TO EIGHT.
AND KIND OF THINKING THE WAY HOW THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WORKS.
UH, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU TAKE, YOU TAKE INCHES, YOU DON'T MEASURE BY, BY, BY A FEET, YOU MEASURED BY INCHES.
SO I'M THINKING IF IF WE, IF THERE'S COULD BE SOME LEGISLATION THAT COULD REDUCE THAT FROM 10% TO 8% A A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION AND THAT, AND BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE A DIRECT AND ANIT IMPACT ON APPRAISALS ALSO AND THAT THAT, AND THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE TO THAT TAX CODE.
I KNOW THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CHANGE IN PROBABLY 20 THE LAST 25 YEARS NOW FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO RUN AROUND ALONG ME.
I KNOW ITS NOT BEEN CHANGED SINCE THEN.
SO, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS JUST SOME INITIAL THOUGHT MISS CITY'S JOURNEY, UM, ON THAT HOW EXACTLY HOW WE WOULD COUCH THAT.
UM, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL PUT SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE.
I I, I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF WHAT YOU'RE WANTING TO DO.
IF THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO GO THAT RIGHT, I'LL CERTAINLY PUT THAT IN.
I'LL INCORPORATE THAT INTO THIS DRAFT TO PRESENT THE COUNCIL.
I'LL ALSO AMEND THE LANGUAGE FOR THE LAST BULLET POINT CUZ IT'S SOMEWHAT NOT NECESSARILY CONTRADICTORY TO THAT, BUT IT, IT, I JUST NEED TO CLEAN THAT UP IF THAT'S WHAT, IF THAT'S THE DESIRE OF THE COMMITTEE.
IF, IF YOU COULD, YOU COULD, UH, MAD MAYOR FOR TIM, YOU HAVE SOME YOU WANNA HELP ME WITH THIS? UM, WELL, I THINK FROM, FROM ONE OF THE LAST, UM, SUMMARIES OF SOME OF THE BILLS IN MOTION THAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE'S AN HB 3 35 APPRAISAL CAP, UM, IN MOTION RIGHT NOW TO REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX APPRAISAL CAP ON HOMESTEADS FROM 10% TO 5%.
AND APPLY THE NEW APPRAISAL CAP TO ALL RETAIL PROPERTY.
SO THAT'S, UM, UM, AND THAT'S ONE, UM, I WOULD SUPPORT, IT WOULD JUST SLOW DOWN.
AND A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS THIS YEAR IT WOULD, IT WOULD KEEP CRAZED, UM, APPRAISAL INCREASES FROM SKYROCKETING AND CATCHING PEOPLE OFF GUARD.
THEY JUST WOULDN'T GO UP AS FAST AND AS SHARPLY DOES.
DO YOU KNOW IF 3 35 ADDRESS, YOU SAID RETAIL, DID YOU MEAN RESIDENTIAL? UH, HOMESTEADS WILL REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX APPRAISAL CAP ON HOMESTEADS FROM 10 TO 5% AND APPLY THE NEW APPRAISAL CAP TO ALL REAL PROPERTY.
IT DOES APPLY TO, UH, UH, RESIDENTIAL.
AND THERE'S ALSO A H AS AS AS IT'S CURRENTLY DRAFTED.
WHICH IS PROBABLY GONNA CHANGE IT.
AND I WOULD ALSO BE FINE WITH THE FIVE TO 8%, WHATEVER WE WANTED TO LAND ON WITH THIS.
I'M KIND OF, IF WE CAN GET SOME MOVEMENT MM-HMM.
YOU KNOW, ON THIS, WE, YOU KNOW, AND NOW THAT, THAT, THAT WOULD BE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HUGE.
AND IF OUR AND OUR PUBLIC, OUR CONSTITUENT WOULD SEE IF WE, IF, YOU KNOW, IF WE, IT'S ONE THING WE CAN DO.
WELL AT LEAST, AT LEAST WE COULD PUT IT ON THE TABLE AND I DON'T
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KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS OF THEM OF THAT.SO COULD YOU CRAFT SOMETHING THAT I WILL ADD THAT TO THE LIST.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT ON THAT SECTION.
SO, UH, WITH THOSE, WITH THAT INPUT AND THAT CHANGES, LET'S MOVE TO THE DEVELOPMENT SECTION.
UM, UM, THE LEGISLATION THAT WE WILL BE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON IS RELATED TO BOTH THE BUILDING MATERIALS BILL AND THE 30 DAY SHOT CLOCK BILL.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, THAT I PLACED IN GARLAND'S SPECIFIC LEGISLATION.
IT'S MORE OF SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT THE LEGISLATURE'S GONNA HAVE MUCH OF AN APPETITE TO AMEND THOSE THINGS.
AND IF THEY DO AMEND THEM, I, I, I SUSPECT ESPECIALLY THE 30 DAY SHOT CLOCK BILL WON'T BE FAVORABLE TO THE CITY.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA AMEND IT TO INCREASE IT.
THEY'LL DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT PROBABLY MORE DIFFICULT.
UM, BECAUSE AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, CITIES HAVE BECOME VERY CREATIVE AND IN TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR STAFF AND THE ABILITY TO DO A THOROUGH AND ACCURATE REVIEW OF SOME OF THESE PLANS THAT COME IN 30 DAYS SOMETIMES ISN'T JUST, ISN'T ENOUGH.
AND SO, UM, THOSE TWO BILLS, IF THEY, IF SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS ON THOSE, WE WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE BENEFICIAL AMENDMENTS, BUT ALSO OPPOSE LEGISLATION, OF COURSE THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE CITY TO, TO REVIEW DEVELOPMENT PLANS IN AN EFFICIENT AND, UH, THOROUGH MANNER.
AND THEN THE THIRD THING THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT IN THE DEVELOPMENT FRONT IS LOOKING FOR LEGISLATION, IF ANY, THERE HASN'T BEEN RUMOR THAT I'VE HEARD OF, BUT IN CASE SOMETHING DOES POP UP, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE TEXT DOT FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT WOULD BENEFIT GARLAND.
AND SO IF SOMETHING DOES POP UP, WE'D CERTAINLY WOULD WANT TO SUPPORT THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS ON DEVELOPMENT? ANY COUNCIL SMITH? I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE, THE LANGUAGE BENEFICIAL AMENDMENTS MM-HMM.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE SAYING, BUT DOES THAT NEED TO BE TIGHTENED UP TO SAY SOMETHING OTHER THAN BENEFICIAL TO WHOM? I MEAN, I'M ASSUMING OKAY.
I'M ASSUMING TO US, BUT, AND TO THE CITY.
ANYTHING ELSE? I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT, THAT SECTION.
UM, CAN WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT GARLAND SPECIFIC LEGISLATION? YES, OF COURSE.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE BILL THAT WILL GIVE THE CITY THE OPTION TO CREATE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ZONES.
AND THAT IS OF COURSE, JUST BECAUSE A BILL GETS PASSED, KEEP IN IN MIND.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE CITY HAS TO EXERCISE ITS RIGHT TO DO IT.
SO BASICALLY, EVEN IF THE COUNCIL AFTER THE BILL GETS PASSED DECIDES, OR A FUTURE COUNCIL DECIDES THAT THIS IS AN OPTION THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
THIS IS AN OPTION WE WOULD NOT LIKE TO EXPLORE AT THIS TIME.
THIS DOES WILL NOT REQUIRE THE CITY COUNCIL TO EXPLORE THE OPTION.
IT JUST GIVES US THE, GIVES Y'ALL THE ABILITY TO MOVE THAT DIRECTION IF THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL CHOOSE.
AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS A BILL THAT WILL GIVE THE CITY THE FLEXIBILITY TO USE CHANGE ORDERS TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF AN ORIGINAL CONTRACT.
MORE THAN 25% SO LONG IS THE CONTRACT PRICE DOES NOT EXCEED 50.
AND THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE BILL THAT WILL HELP STAFF AND HELP US AS WE MAKE SMALL CHANGES TO CONTRACTS THAT THAT NEVER CAME TO COUNCIL IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND, UM, CURRENTLY THERE'S A QUESTION OF LAW THERE.
SOME CITIES SEND ALL CHANGE ORDERS TO THEIR COUNCILS, SOME DON'T.
AND SO THERE'S A QUESTION OF LAW THERE.
SO THIS IS JUST SOME CLEAN, CLEAN UP LANGUAGE IN CHAPTER, UH, 2 52 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
AND THEN A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR NOVEMBER BOND ELECTIONS.
AND THE IDEA THERE, OF COURSE, IS THE BILL WOULD, BECAUSE THERE'S MORE PARTICIPATION IN NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, IT WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE CITIZEN PARTICIP PARTICIPATION IN DECISIONS RELATED TO WHAT BONDS ARE PASSED.
AND SO THAT'S THE IDEA BEHIND A NOVEMBER BOND ELECTION.
AND THEN SUPPORT BILLS THAT MAY BE FU MAYBE FUTURE FORMS OF HB 1818.
AND THAT'S THE RETAIL PAT STORE REGULATIONS.
AND THIS IS, UH, BOTH, UH, MAYOR PROTE MORRIS AND DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE SMITH HAD BEEN LEADING THIS AND HAVE BEEN HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS.
AND THEN SUPPORT BILLS THAT ALLOW CITIES THE OPTION OF USING THE CITY'S WEBSITE TO PUBLISH LEGAL NOTICES.
AND THIS IS JUST, AGAIN, A KIND OF A CLEANUP BILL THAT ALLOW US TO SAVE SOME MONEY.
IT'S QUITE, ACTUALLY, IT'S SURPRISINGLY MORE MONEY THAN I THOUGHT, HOW MUCH WE SPEND EVERY YEAR AND, UH, NOTICES AND PUBLICATIONS OF NOTICES.
AND SO THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO USE OUR WEBSITE AND KIND OF COME INTO THE 21ST CENTURY INSTEAD OF DOING THINGS LIKE WE WERE DOING IT BACK IN THE EIGHTIES AND THE SEVENTIES AND THE SIXTIES.
AND THEN, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT, IT WILL ACTUALLY GIVE THE, UM,
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UH, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T READ NEWSPAPERS, ESPECIALLY THE LEGAL NOTICES OF NEWSPAPERS, THIS WILL ACTUALLY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO SEE IT, UH, MORE EASILY.IT'D BE MORE READILY AVAILABLE.
AND THEN SUPPORT BILLS THAT ALLOW CITIES TO SUBMIT ELECTRONIC REQUESTS FOR AN AG LETTER UNDER THE PIA.
AND THIS IS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THE ONE BEFORE IT, IN THAT IT'S JUST, AGAIN, IT ALLOWS US TO TRY TO CATCH UP ON SOME TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IN THE LAST 20, 25 YEARS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE GARLAND SPECIFIC LEGISLATION? OKAY.
BUT I'M GONNA GO BACK TO THE COMMITTEE FIRST.
I'LL HOLD MINE THE LAST COUNSEL SMITH.
UM, A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR NOVEMBER BOND ELECTIONS.
NOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE LEGAL TODAY, ARE THEY NOT? UH, CAUSE I KNOW PLANO DID ONE.
I THINK IT WAS GIA, IT WAS THE P I S D.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SCHOOL ONLY.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE ALLOWED BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO YEAR TERMS AND NOT THREE YEAR TERMS. I'M NOT SURE THAT NOVEMBER ELECTIONS ARE BECAUSE THE STANDARD UNIFORM ELECTION DATE STUFF.
AND YEAH, WE'D LOVE TO GET SOME OF THESE BOND ELECTIONS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT JUST TO GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED.
AND I THINK WE'LL FIND SOME, SOME VERY SYMPATHETIC YEARS FOR THAT WITH OUR SENATOR.
IT'S BEEN A GOAL OF THEIRS AS WELL.
SO IT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE FEW, ONE OF THE PLACES WE CAN ALIGN AND OVERLAP AND USE IT TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP.
UM, I DON'T HAVE A, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THESE SPECIFIC THINGS, BUT ONE ITEM I HAD BROUGHT UP BEFORE THAT, UM, ANGIE CHEN BUTTON HAD SPECIFICALLY BROUGHT UP TO ME IS ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCES.
SHE SAID SHE IS GETTING SLAMMED WITH CITIES WHO ARE ASKING HER TO, UM, CHAMPION A, UH, HAVING INSTEAD OF THE ORDINANCE, SHUTTING THEM DOWN, ALLOWING CITIES TO, UH, LIMIT OCCUPANCY AND DO SOME OTHER THINGS, WHICH ARE THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THAT THE LEGISLATURE SEEMED TO BE GOING, UM, THE LAST FEW YEARS.
MAYBE YOU HAVE, UM, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC BILLS IN MOTION RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL, UH, IN THAT DIRECTION? IT'S, IT'S NOT QUITE, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.
WE KIND OF DISCUSSED THIS IN OUR LAST MEETING, AND THAT IS THAT RIGHT NOW CITIES ARE TEND, ARE TRENDING TOWARD DOING THEIR, DEVELOPING THEIR OWN REGULATIONS BECAUSE IF THE STATE DOES REGULATE IT, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT WILL BE, WILL BE PREEMPTED AT THAT POINT.
AND SO WE MOST LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO CREATE FURTHER REGULATIONS ON STR.
AND AS WE KNOW, STR HAVE A VERY POWERFUL LOBBY GROUP, AND SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY THAT THEY CAN SPEND DOWN IN AUSTIN.
AND SO IT MIGHT BE MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITY.
AND AS Y'ALL KNOW, ALSO COMING OUT OF A COMMITTEE, WELL, THIS WEEK ACTUALLY NEXT MONDAY, UM, AN STR UH, ORDINANCE BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL ON MONDAY COMING OUT OF, UH, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICES.
AND SO THERE'S THAT, THERE'S THAT LAYER.
THE SECOND LAYER IS, RIGHT NOW THE PROBLEM WITH EVEN THE LEGISLATURE PASSING A, A BILL REGARDING OCCUPANCY LIMITS ON THESE IS THAT YOU HAVE NOW CASE LAW THAT SAYS THAT THOSE ARE NOT CONSTITUTIONAL IN TEXAS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ISSUE.
THE LEGISLATURE CAN'T SOLVE THAT ISSUE.
BECAUSE IT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE.
WELL, I RAISED IT JUST BECAUSE ANGIE ASKED FOR A WHITE PAPER ON IT BECAUSE FOR, TO HELP HER, BECAUSE SHE'S GETTING SO MANY REQUESTS FOR CITIES TO BE ALLOWED TO REGULATE OCCUPANCY OF STRS.
SO JUST BROUGHT THAT UP AND YEAH, OUR, OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE COMING OUT.
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE SOMETHING COUNSEL WILL ROLL WITH, BUT, UM, I, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TALK TO REPRESENTATIVE BUTTON ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO SEE WHAT SHE HAS IN MIND AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, IF THAT'S, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'D LIKE.
UH, JUST, JUST ONE ON, ON, UM, NOVEMBER BOND ELECTIONS.
UH, AND THIS IS, THIS IS, I KNOW THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS OUT IN THE BLEACHERS.
UM, BUT I HAVE A CONCERN, UH, HAVING GONE THROUGH A NOVEMBER ELECTION, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM YES.
FROM, UH, WHAT A CHARTER SAYS, WHAT MOST OF US HAVE GONE THROUGH IT, TRUST ME, IT IS VERY DIFFERENT.
AND IF WE GO THIS DIRECTION, I, I, I HAVE NO, I HAVE NO, NO, UH, RESERVATIONS.
IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BOND ELECTIONS,
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REFERENDUMS, IF, IF THE LANGUAGE IS SUCH THAT IT'S SPECIFIES THOSE, MY CONCERN IS IF THAT IS BROADENED TO INCLUDE LOCAL ELECTIONS, I HAVE SOME REAL CONCERNS.UH, I TIE, TIE THAT BACK TO THIS WHOLE THING.
I'VE, UH, MAINTAINING LOCAL CONTROL.
IF, IF THE LEGISLATURE, TEXAS, AND WHEN I EXPAND THIS, I WON, UH, WITHOUT LOCAL CHARTER REVISIONS.
IF THE LEGISLATORS DECIDE TO PASS THIS AND RENDER ESSENTIALLY THAT PROVISION OF HOME RULE CHARTERS MUTE AND VOID, UM, THAT, THAT'S A REAL BIG CONCERN OF MINE.
THE SECOND PIECE IS, I THINK THAT TIME WE ARE, UH, IF THIS, IF THIS FUTURE LEGISLATION GOES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT SAYS THAT THAT ALLOWS FOR THE LOCAL FOLKS TO HAVE AN OPTION OR SOME SAY.
SO I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WOULD HAVE, BUT THE LOCAL FOLKS THAT HAVE SOME SAY SO IN GOING THERE, GIVE US THAT, GIVE THAT OPTION.
BUT I WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE AN ABSOLUTE, I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE A MANDATED I I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SO THE LANGUAGE SHOULD BE IN INCLUSIVE, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVE, INCLUSIVE OF NOVEMBER, BUT BUT NOT EXCLUSIVE OF OTHER OF THE UNIFORM DATES.
AND I, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO LOCAL LIKE LEADERSHIP, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE FOLKS WHO, WHO WHO WHO ARE EXPECT YOU TO KNOW BEST.
AND SO I'D, I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME, SOME LOCAL OPTIONS IN ANY, IF WE GO IN THAT DIRECTION.
MY, MY SECOND CONCERN THERE IS IN REASON FOR, FOR, FOR HESITATING ON THIS ONE, AND AGAIN, I'M THINKING ABOUT OUR LEGISLATURE.
I WOULD BE CONCERNED THAT SOME FOLKS WOULD, WOULD U WOULD USE THIS TO, UM, FOR THE POLITICIZED, IF YOU WILL, LOCAL ELECTIONS AND PUT THEM INTO A PARTISAN BASKET.
NODS AND THUMBS UP AROUND THE TABLE ON THAT ONE.
WHAT, WHAT, I MEAN, WE ARE CHARGE, WE GET THINGS DONE.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE ON PROJECTS AND POLICY AND THEN, AND THEN WE, WE, WE DO OUR THING TO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE MASSAGE 'EM AND BOIL 'EM AND YOU KNOW, THROW 'EM OUT AND COME BACK AND GET 'EM AND ALL THAT.
BUT THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ABLE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITIZENS.
WE, WE, WE ARE NOT, WE DON'T, SOME QUESTIONS, WE DON'T HAVE TO, WE DON'T ASK EACH OTHER.
IT'S, IT'S, THEY'RE NOT RELEVANT.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT IMPORTANT.
IT, AND I'M JUST, I WOULD JUST BE CONCERNED, OKAY.
THAT IF, IF THAT FILTERS ITSELF AND TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODY, IT'S GO, IT'S GOING TO THE REPERCUSSIONS ON THOSE KIND OF THINGS THAT, THAT YOU CHARGE WITH TO MAKE QUALITY OF LIFE DECISIONS BETTER FOR THE CONSTITUENTS, I THINK IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED.
AND I'D BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, ABOUT, ABOUT THAT.
SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF MY THOUGHTS ON, YOU KNOW, I LIKE YOUR APPROACH, BUT I'M, I, AGAIN, KNOWING OUR LEGISLATION, YOU, YOU CRACK THE DOOR.
I'M JUST AFRAID THAT THERE'S SOME FOLKS THAT INSTEAD OF SAYING, OKAY, WE GONNA,
[00:30:02]
WE GONNA APPLY TO WHAT'S THE VOTES HERE? I, I I, I, I SEE SOME FOLKS SAYING, LET'S JUST, LET'S JUST KNOCK THE DOOR DOWN.IT'S, THERE'S ALWAYS, YOU'RE RIGHT, OF COURSE THERE'S ALWAYS THAT RISK OF ONCE IT'S GETS THE GET IT'S ON THE FLOOR, THERE'S AN AMENDMENT THROWN IN BECAUSE AMENDMENT, THAT'S AN AMENDMENT.
SO THAT WOULD, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S MY CON BIG CONCERN.
I THINK THAT'S VERY ASTUTE BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE WITH OTHER BILLS, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE THAT SPEAKS BOTH WAYS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT NOVEMBER ELECTIONS ARE ANY MORE EFFECTIVE.
AND ALTHOUGH MORE PEOPLE MAY VOTE, THERE'S NOT ANY EVIDENCE, AT LEAST UP FROM A COUPLE OF STUDIES THAT I'VE SEEN, THAT, THAT BILLS GETTER BONDS IN PARTICULAR BOND ELECTIONS ARE VOTED NO OR PROPOSITIONS ARE VOTED NO AT OUR HIGHER RATE IN NOVEMBER VERSUS IN MAY.
SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME THOUGHTS, UH, UM, MANAGER AND COMMITTEE THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR WHAT WERE MY CONCERNS OF HOW THIS LANGUAGE IS CRAFTED MOVING FORWARD.
WOULD THE COMMITTEE, MR. CHAIR, WOULD THE COMMITTEE WANT TO REMOVE THIS ONE FROM THE LIST? IS THAT THE DIRECTION THAT Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO GO? CAUSE IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALL THE RISK YOU'VE JUST RAISED, NO MATTER HOW WE DRAFT IT, THERE'S THE RISK OF THAT.
THERE'LL BE AN AMENDMENT MADE OR SOMETHING THROWN IN AND, UM, UM, AND SO IT'S UP TO Y'ALL, IF Y'ALL WANNA LEAVE IT ON HERE, IS GARLAND'S SPECIFIC LEGISLATION.
UM, THE MECHANICS OF THE LAW THAT PREVENT US FROM DOING THIS IN NOVEMBER, AND I'M GOING BACK TO 2017, 2018, SO I'M RUSTY ON THIS.
BUT I'M GOING OFF THAT'S CORRECT.
I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THIS IN FIVE YEARS, SO BEAR WITH ME.
UM, I
CAN WE LOOK AT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN THIS GOES, COMES TO THE FULL COUNSEL AND WE CAN RE-EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS, WHICH ARE VERY VALID.
UH, BUT, BUT LET'S LOOK AT THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF, OF WHERE THE LAW WOULD HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED AND SEE IF THAT ALIGNS WITH THOSE FEARS OR IF THAT'S SEPARATE.
BECAUSE I, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE TRY AND DRAG US DOWN THAT PARTISAN PATH TOO, AND I, I MM-HMM.
SO I'D IT'S POINTS WELL MADE, WELL TAKEN.
MEMBER COR, I I ABSOLUTELY AGREE.
WE, WE WATCHED, UM, WHEN OUR MUNICIPAL ELECTION GOT PULLED INTO NOVEMBER IN 2020, WE WATCHED THE UTTER BEDLAM AND CHAOS OF HAVING YEAH.
A LOT MORE VOTERS WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE VOTING ON.
SO YEAH, I HAVE CONCERNS AS WELL.
SO COULD, I'LL, I'LL COME UP WITH SOME LANGUAGE AND I'LL SHARE IT WITH THIS, THIS WEEK AT SOME POINT WITH THE COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, I'M GUESSING THAT WE WANT TO GET SOME FINAL PRODUCT OUT TO COUNCIL ON DECEMBER THE EIGHTH MEETING.
IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SHOOTING FOR? WHAT THIS IS? WELL, LET ME, THAT'S AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
NOW YOU, YOU'VE SAID THERE'S GONNA BE A CONVERSATION WITH, WITH, UM, WITH STATE REP BUTTON OVER THE PREVIOUS, FOR OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSION.
JUST TO SEE WHAT SHE, SHE IS, WHAT SHE HAD IN MIND THAT'S NOT GOING TO, THAT WOULD NOT AFFECT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH HER OFFICIAL LEGISLATION.
I JUST WANNA BE, I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR OF, YOU KNOW, UM, WOULD ANSWER THAT NOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
AND CUZ I VERY MUCH LIKE TO HEAR WHAT, YOU KNOW, MAY AND REST OF COUNCIL, UH, THOUGHTS ARE ON THIS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN BEFORE WE, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND, AND, AND TAKE THAT INPUT AND, UH, REBA THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD, WE COULD JUST MOVE, UH, TARGET THAT DATE AND WE, UH, I I I'M OKAY WITH LEAVING IT IN THERE,
[00:35:02]
BUT A CITIZEN, CAN YOU, I DON'T WANNA REWRITE, BUT YOU LOOKING AT YOU AND YOU SAID IT, CAN YOU COUCH THAT LANGUAGE SO THAT IT IS NOT SO BROAD? MM-HMM.COULD YOU NARROW THAT IN SOME, SOME WAY THAT, THAT TAKEN THAT ACCOUNTS AS A PART OF OUR DISCUSSION THAT IS NOT SO SURE WE CAN'T THROW EVERYTHING IN THE POT, CAN YOU SURE.
AT LEAST, AT LEAST DELETE OUR DISCUSSION WITH FULL COUNSEL.
CAN YOU COME UP WITH SOME LANGUAGE BETWEEN NOW AND, AND OUR DECEMBER 8TH.
CAUSE OUR, OUR SCHEDULE CHANGED.
WE MEET ON THE THIR THIRD NEXT WEEKEND.
IT'S DECEMBER, RIGHT? THIS WEEKEND IS DECEMBER.
SO WE MEET ON THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH.
AND THEY'RE MEET AGAIN ON THE 12TH AND 13TH.
RIGHT? THAT WE'RE BACK TO BACK.
I'M LOOKING AT THE WRONG CALENDAR TOO.
OH WAIT, HELP ME OUT SECRETARY.
WHAT'S FIFTH AND SIXTH? OKAY, SO I WAS OFF MM-HMM.
SO THIS WOULD GO TO COUNSEL ON THE SIXTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH.
AND THEN ASSUMING THAT THEY WANT TO, THEY WANNA SEND IT FOR FORMAL APPROVAL ON THE SIXTH AND WE CAN DO IT ON THE SIXTH OR WE COULD SEND IT TO THE, YOU SAY THE 20TH ALSO, IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? 12TH AND 13TH.
OR WE CAN DO IT FOR THE 13TH EVEN.
THAT MIGHT BE, YOU THINK ABOUT FIFTH AND 13TH.
I, I I WOULD NOT WANNA SEE A DUDE NEXT NIGHT ON THE FIFTH AND 13TH.
YEAH, BECAUSE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMITTEE, ONCE WE GET, IF WE HEAR THE INPUT ON FIFTH AND THE SIXTH, I'D LIKE TO HEAR ALL OF THAT AND THEN HAVE A LITTLE TIME TO MASSAGE IT AND, AND I THINK WE'LL COME BACK WITH A BETTER PRODUCT.
WASN'T TRAINED TO GET NEXT NIGHT.
AND THEN WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK? I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I THINK THAT IS, THAT'S, I THINK WE'VE GOT, WE'VE COVERED EVERYTHING.
UH, BEEN A VERY FRUIT FROM, UH, MEETING, UH, COUNCIL SMITH.
ANYTHING OF ANYTHING ELSE RELATED TO THIS? NO, SIR.
MR. ATTORNEY, ANYTHING? THANK YOU, SIR.
WELL, UH, WITH, WITH, WITH THAT, WE, WE THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR TIME AND FOR THEIR INPUT.
AND, UH, AT, UH, 4 38 WE STAND ADJOURN.