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OCTOBER 19TH, 2026 WORK SESSION OF THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENTS ON WORK SESSION ITEMS. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP? NO,
[ CONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA]
SIR, WE DO NOT. NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP. THEN FIRST ITEM IS CONSIDERING THE CONSENT AGENDA.COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, I KNOW YOU HAD AN ITEM YOU WANTED TO HAVE PULLED, SIR. THE TOMORROW NIGHT'S AGENDA. ITEM FIVE, ITEM FIVE FROM TOMORROW. OKAY, WE'LL HAVE THAT ONE PULLED. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL? ANYTHING ELSE? YOU HAVE TILL TOMORROW, AS YOU KNOW, TO GET THOSE ITEMS
[1. Board of Adjustment Annual Update]
TO ME. MOVE ON THEN TO WRITTEN BRIEFINGS. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ANNUAL[2. Pending Items List - City Council Committees and Future Work Sessions]
UPDATE. NUMBER TWO IS PENDING ITEMS LIST CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND FUTURE WORK[3. "Clean-up" Amendments to the Code of Ordinances and Garland Development Code]
SESSIONS. ITEM THREE IS CLEANUP AMENDMENTS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE GARLAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. I THINK THAT'S THE ONE YOU WANTED TO HAVE PULLED, SIR. IS THAT IT'S IN THERE TOMORROW. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THOSE, WE'LL MOVE TO VERBAL[4. Introductions of New Managing Directors and Directors]
BRIEFINGS. THE FIRST ITEM FOR VERBAL BRIEFING IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR, INTRODUCTIONS OF NEW MANAGING DIRECTORS AND DIRECTORS. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE SEVERAL OF OUR NEW MANAGING DIRECTORS AND DIRECTORS. WE'LL START WITH JONATHAN MORGAN. JONATHAN MORGAN IS OUR NEW CIO AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. JONATHAN HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 16 YEARS AND WAS MY RIGHT HAND MAN WHEN I WAS CIO AT I T AND HE WAS COMMITTED TO MOVING THE ORGANIZATION FORWARD WITH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY. HE'S ALSO AN ARMY VETERAN, AND REALLY ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER WORKED WITH HERE. HE'S HE'S ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. AND, AND HE'S THE RIGHT GUY TO BE LEADING OUR TECHNOLOGY EFFORTS HERE AT THE CITY. AND HE'S, HE'S A BIG AI FAN THESE DAYS TO THROW THAT IN. HE FINALLY SAW THE LIGHT ON AI. JONATHAN. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE WARM INTRODUCTION, MR. BETTS. AS MIKE HAS MENTIONED, I'M WITH THE CITY FOR AROUND 16 YEARS NOW, SO MY ENTIRE CAREER HAS BEEN WORKING IN SUPPORTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. AS MIKE MENTIONED, OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, I DID SERVE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, GOT TO DO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN THE ARMY AND DEVELOPED LEADERSHIP SKILLS.AND SO DEFINITELY EXCITED TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE CITY OF GARLAND. THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY, AS MIKE MENTIONED, WITH AI. SO THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AROUND THAT WITHIN THE CITY THAT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP BENEFIT AND PUSH THE ORGANIZATION FORWARD. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. I DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POSITION, SIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. JASON OLIVER. HE'S BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 27 YEARS. HE'S WORKED IN MANY CAPACITIES. HE'S DEFINITELY DEDICATED TO THE CITY OF GARLAND. AND I'M EXCITED FOR EVERYTHING THAT HE BRINGS. MY ENTIRE TENURE HERE, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH JASON, SO IT'S BEEN EXCITING IN ALL THE ROLES THAT HE'S BEEN SUPPORTING THE CITY. WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO JASON. JASON IS OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT I.T.
YES. THANK YOU. GLAD TO BE HERE. LIKE JONATHAN SAID, I'VE BEEN HERE WITH THE CITY FOR 27 YEARS.
STARTED IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SOMEHOW WORKED MY WAY OVER TO IT. SO BEEN HERE A WHILE. REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW POSITION. WE'VE GOT A GREAT LEADERSHIP TEAM IN PLACE, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING SOME GOOD PLACES, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT. VERY GOOD. YOU KNOW, I MUST SAY I HAVE IT GUYS I WORK WITH, YOU GUYS ARE MUCH MORE WELL DRESSED THAN THEY ARE FOR TODAY. NO OFFENSE TO THEM. THEY'RE GREAT GUYS. BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE CRYSTAL OWENS IS GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR AT WATER AND WASTEWATER. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS IS A VERY LONG JOURNEY. OUR DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES ACTUALLY RETIRED BACK IN DECEMBER OF
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LAST YEAR. OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES RESIGNED BACK IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. AND ONE OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT I MADE TO THE TEAM IS THAT I WOULD NOT BRING ANYONE IN UNTIL I FOUND THE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT I FELT WERE RIGHT FOR THOSE TWO POSITIONS.AFTER TWO ROUNDS OF RECRUITING, THE FIRST DID NOT YIELD THE RESULTS THAT I WAS HOPEFUL FOR.
BUT AFTER THE SECOND ROUND OF RECRUITING, I AM VERY, VERY PLEASED TO INTRODUCE YOU TONIGHT TO MR. KUMAR ALI. HE IS. HE BRINGS TO THE CITY OF GARLAND 25 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN WATER UTILITIES. AND THEN TO MY LEFT. YOUR RIGHT, MISS CHRISTINA HICKEY. SHE BRINGS TO THE CITY OF GARLAND MORE THAN 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN WATER UTILITIES.
CHRISTINA IS THE DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES AND THAT SHE WILL BE OVER WASTEWATER COLLECTIONS AND WATER DISTRIBUTIONS. THE OPERATION SIDE OF THINGS. AND KUMAR IS GOING TO TAKE IT FROM WATER UTILITIES TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT TO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH WATER UTILITIES. YOU WILL ULTIMATELY, ULTIMATELY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN WATER UTILITIES. SO I'M SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE THEM ON THE TEAM. AND I'M GOING TO LET THEM SHARE WHATEVER INFORMATION THEY WOULD LIKE TO ABOUT THEMSELVES AT THIS TIME. GOOD EVENING MAYOR. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE. PART OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM. PART OF THE GARLAND TEAM. AND AS CRYSTAL MENTIONED, I BRING 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC SECTOR FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, SERVED AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND ALSO DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES, AND I'VE BEEN IN PRIVATE SECTOR FOR 15 YEARS. SO YEAH, I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE TEAM AND THE COMMUNITY. GOOD EVENING. I'VE SPENT MY CAREER IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE IN GARLAND, EXCITED FOR THE TEAM THAT CRYSTAL HAS CREATED. WE'RE WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I'VE LIVED IN GARLAND FOR OVER A DECADE, AND SO IT'S VERY EXCITING TO BE HERE, WORKING IN THIS POSITION NOW WHERE I LIVE. THANK YOU. WONDERFUL. ALL RIGHT. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM DUTTON. I WANT TO WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO TEAM GARLAND. AS A 15 YEAR RESIDENT OR HOWEVER MANY YEARS, I DON'T REALLY PAY THE MOST ATTENTION, BUT I. I ASSUME YOU KNOW WHAT OUR PRESERVE IS. IF YOU KNOW THAT, I THINK YOU'LL BE JUST FINE. GARLAND. BUT WELCOME TO THE TEAM AND I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF FUN WHILE YOU'RE HERE. AND WE'RE PRETTY EASY, PRETTY EASY. JUST GOOGLE THE PRESERVE AND THEN YOU'LL BE GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. SO CRYSTAL, THANK YOU BOTH. BOTH OF YOU SOUND LIKE EXCELLENT SELECTIONS.
WELL DONE. I THINK YOU PROMISED ME A TOUR OF THAT WASTEWATER FACILITY, BUT ONLY AFTER NEW MANAGEMENT WAS IN PLACE. THAT IS CORRECT. IS THAT. IS THIS THE DAY I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR? THIS IS THE DAY. VERY GOOD. I DON'T KNOW IF EITHER OF YOU HAVE TAKEN THAT TOUR YET, BUT I AM RETIRED AND AVAILABLE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 8 TO 5. PRETTY MUCH ANY TIME TO DO THAT. SO LET'S LET'S ARRANGE FOR THAT HERE REAL SOON. AND AGAIN, WELCOME. I THINK YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR TEAM. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER TRENT. THANK YOU MAYOR. WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS. I KNOW DISTRICT ONE IS WE CARE ABOUT RELIABLE WATERS AND RESPONSIVE SERVICE. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCIL. YOU HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS IS RETIRED. HE'S AVAILABLE TO GO WORK OUT THERE AT THE PLANT. SO PUT HIM TO WORK WHEN HE TAKES THAT TOUR OUT THERE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. WELCOME, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I WANT TO MAKE A SPECIAL NOTE AND SAY THANK YOU TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OWENS FOR SHE HAS LITERALLY BEEN CARRYING THE LOAD OUT THERE FOR A DIRECTOR, SPOT AND MANAGING DIRECTOR SPOT FOR THE BETTER PART OF TEN MONTHS, AND I'M SURE SHE'S THE MOST PLEASED THAT WE HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP OUT THERE. BUT SHE CARRIED THAT LOAD ON HER OWN FOR THAT TIME WITH HER TEAM, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE DIRECTOR THOMAS OWENS. THOMAS IS THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE, AND HE MOVED OVER THERE ON JULY 13TH, WHICH WAS ABOUT THE SAME DAY THAT I MOVED OVER TO CITY HALL. HE HAS A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EARTH SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS.
RAZORBACK. AND IT SAYS HERE THAT HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE SECOND BEST LEADERSHIP GARLAND
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CLASS, LAST 45. THAT'S RIGHT. HE'S ALSO MARRIED AND HAS MARRIED AND HAS A YOUNG SON. SO THOMAS OWENS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU JEFF. YEAH. WE HAVE A HE'S GOING ON THREE. HE'LL BE THREE IN DECEMBER. SO WE WE HAVE OUR HANDS FULL. BUT IT'S GOOD. GOOD TO MEET EVERYONE IN PERSON. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED AND HOW BLESSED I AM TO BE HERE WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY. LIKE YOU SAID, I'VE BEEN OVER AT SANITATION FOR THREE YEARS, SO IT'S BEEN KIND OF A 180 FOR ME COMING OVER TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE. BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY THRILLING TO BE A PART OF A TEAM OVER THERE THAT CARES SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT THEY DO. I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE, YOU KNOW, PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT HERE IN GARLAND. AND I JUST COULDN'T BE BLESSED THAT I WAS CHOSEN FOR THIS. SO I CAN'T WAIT TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU ON A, ON A MORE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL. AND IF YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING, YOU KNOW WHERE TO, WHERE TO FIND ME. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD. GOOD TO SEE YOU, THOMAS. IT'S SO EXCITING. SO WELCOME. AND I JUST WANTED TO HAVE YOU REMIND EVERYBODY WHICH CLASS IS THE BEST CLASS. CLASS 45. OKAY. THANK YOU. BEST CLASS, SECOND BEST YEAR I. COUNCILMEMBER TRENT. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL. I KNOW THAT I'M SORRY. FIRST CONGRATULATION AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT YOU ARE NEW IN THIS NEW POSITION. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORK WITH YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. WELCOME TO THE NEW ROLE. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL. MOVE ON TO[5. Proposed Modification of Certified Landlord Program]
OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE. PROPOSED MODIFICATION OF CERTIFIED LANDLORD PROGRAM.GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. THE MANAGERS AT CODE COMPLIANCE. THIS IS CHRIS HARRIS, MANAGER CODE COMPLIANCE. PULLED UP. JUST A LITTLE BIT. WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
CHAPTER 3209 IS A SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL ORDINANCE IN GARLAND. I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROGRAM. IT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 2005. IN THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS A LOT OF.
IT WAS ONE OF THE PIONEERING PROGRAMS IN THE IN THE STATE, IN THE AREA, FOR SURE. IT WASN'T ANYBODY ELSE DOING THE INTERIOR INSPECTIONS OF THESE RENTAL HOUSES. SOT WAS DEFINITELY A HARD FIGHT TO GET IT PASSED IN THE BEGINNING. SO THEY WHAT THE REASON BEHIND GETTING IT IN PLACE WAS IF YOU DRIVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU COULD SEE YOU COULD EASILY PICK OUT WHICH IS A RENTAL PROPERTY. YOU'RE SEEING BASICALLY THREE VIOLATIONS.
THESE RENTAL HOUSES TO EVERY ONE OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSE. SO THAT WAS THE ORIGIN OF THE PROGRAM. GET US IN THE DOOR. THERE WAS A LOT OF LEGAL CHALLENGES BEGINNING. A LOT OF LANDLORDS ACTUALLY FOUGHT AND WENT TO COURT. AND THERE WAS A BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE, BLUE RIBBON PANEL REVIEW PROGRAM WE LAUNCHED IN 2007, CAME BACK WITH SOME KEY CHANGES. INSTEAD OF DOING EVERY YEAR INSPECTIONS, WE SET IT ON CHANGING TENANT INSPECTIONS AND A BIG, BIG PART OF THE PROGRAM THERE TOO, WAS A LANDLORD CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PART OF IT ON THE SLIDES. THE LANDLORD CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IS AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT. WE BASICALLY HAVE A FOUR HOUR CLASS. WE BRING LANDLORDS IN. IT'S COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE.
EXPLAIN WHAT VIOLATIONS WE LOOK FOR IN HOUSES, RENTAL HOUSES, SO THEY KNOW WHAT VIOLATIONS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR TENANTS. IDEA BEING THAT THEY HAVE A BETTER HOUSE THAN THE AVERAGE CITIZEN OR THE AVERAGE LANDLORD. SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO IN THERE AND DO AN INSPECTION. IT ALSO ALLOWED US TO TO MAKE THE PROGRAM MANAGEABLE WITH WITH TWO INSPECTORS. SO THAT'S HOW THE THE LANDLORD CERTIFICATION BECAME PART OF IT. AND JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NUMBERS.
SO NOW SKIP TO 2006. WE HAVE OVER 10,000 RENTALS IN THE CITY. OF THOSE, THERE'S 2500 LANDLORDS THAT ARE REGISTERED AS CERTIFIED. LANDLORDS HAVE TAKEN THE CLASS, AND WE HAVE OVER 4400 CERTIFIED RENTAL PROPERTIES NOW. SO YOU SEE ALMOST HALF NOW GET THEIR EXEMPTION. THE EXEMPTION OF NO LONGER DOING INSPECTIONS. AND WITH THAT, IT ALSO GIVES THE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING TO REGISTER THE PROPERTY EVERY THREE YEARS INSTEAD OF EVERY ONE YEAR. THE BIGGEST THING WE'RE WE'RE ASKED FOR WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS WE'RE
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WANTING TO GET IN THE CERTIFIED PROPERTIES MORE OFTEN BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE THE PROGRAM, SOME OF THESE HOUSES WE BASICALLY NEVER SEE THE INTERIOR OF LANDLORDS WILL TAKE THE CLASS. THEY TAKE THE CLASS IN 2010, THEY BECOME CERTIFIED LANDLORD. THEY CAN BUY A NEW HOUSE. TODAY. IT AUTOMATICALLY COMES ON THE PROGRAM AS A CERTIFIED RENTAL PROPERTY. WE WOULD NEVER GO INSIDE UNLESS THERE'S A COMPLAINT. A LOT OF LOT OF PEOPLE MAY SAY, WELL, AT LEAST YOU GOT THE COMPLAINT INSPECTION. BUT TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, I MEAN, CITY COUNCIL KNOW THEY PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LET YOU IN BECAUSE THEY'RE SCARED OF RETALIATION FROM THE LANDLORD. SO WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINT INSPECTIONS THAT WAY. BUT WE DO GET IN ITS THERE CAN BE SOME PRETTY, PRETTY ROUGH HOUSES AND I'LL GO INTO A FEW PICTURES LATER, SEE SOME OF THE CERTIFIED HOUSES WE'VE BEEN IN. OVERALL. WHY DOES IT MATTER WHAT'S GOING ON? THE RISE. WE DEFINITELY WANT TO GET IN THESE HOUSES MORE OFTEN TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEM, MAKE SURE WE PRESERVE THEIR EXISTING HOUSING STOCK, THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY THE NEGLECTED HOUSES QUICKER BEFORE THEY BECOME BECOME BIG ISSUES, ESPECIALLY TO PROTECT THE LIFE, HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE TENANTS. WE GOT A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WE GET A CALL DURING THE SUMMER FOR THE AC COMPLAINTS, BACKED UP SEWAGE. WE CAN GET THESE HOUSES MORE OFTEN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CHANGE IN TENANT. WE COULD ACTUALLY GET IN THERE, PREVENT THE ISSUES BEFORE THEY BECOME AN ISSUE FOR THE THE NEW TENANTS OVERALL SUPPORT STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THESE ALL THESE PICTURES ARE ARE HOUSES THAT WERE TAKEN FROM CERTIFIED RENTAL PROPERTIES THROUGH THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. ALL THE ONES HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN IN. YOU CAN SEE THE KITCHEN PICTURE THERE. THE WATER HAD GOTTEN BASICALLY AROUND THE KITCHEN SINK DETERIORATED. THE COUNTERTOPS WORKED ITS WAY UNDERNEATH THE COUNTERTOP, GOT CLOSE UPS OF IT. YOU SEE THE MOLD AND STUFF UNDERNEATH THE CABINETS. THE ELECTRICAL PANEL IS ACTUALLY THE SAME HOUSE THERE. YOU SEE WHERE THEY TOOK AN EXTENSION CORD AND WIRED IT DIRECTLY INTO A BREAKER PANEL.AND OF COURSE, ALL THE BREAKERS THEMSELVES WERE OPEN AND EXPOSED FOR ANYONE TO BE ELECTROCUTED. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE HAD CLEAR WATER ISSUES AND BACKUPS FOR FOR QUITE A WHILE.
YOU SEE THE PLUNGER IN THE KITCHEN SINK THERE. IT ACTUALLY BACKED UP ON THE KITCHEN SINK AND SEE THE THE MOLD AND MILDEW ON THE WALLS BACK THERE AND BEHIND THE COUNTERTOPS. IT ACTUALLY SAW THE SIDE OF IT. IT ACTUALLY CONTINUED DOWN THE WALL AS WELL. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE OF OUR PERSONAL FAVORITES. YOU SEE THE EXPOSED WIRING OUTSIDE AND THEN THE BATHROOM PICTURE. IT'S HARD TO TELL FROM THE THE PICTURE ITSELF. WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS ACTUALLY THE, THE FLOOR IS SEPARATING FROM THE WALLS. IT'S ACTUALLY DROPPED OFF FOUR INCHES. WHAT IT WAS, WAS YEARS OF WATER SEEPING AROUND THE TUB SPOUT. THERE WAS A ROTTED OUT OR RUSTED OUT FROM AROUND THE TUB. THEY NEVER ADDRESSED THAT SMALL ISSUE. SO IT BEGAN DRIPPING, ROTTING THE THE BEAM UNDERNEATH THAT SUPPORTED THAT WALL AND THE FLOOR DROPPED. IT'S ABOUT FOUR INCHES. YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE UNDERNEATH THE HOUSE. YOU COULD SEE THE RUNNING WATER.
YOU CAN SEE ALL THE CRITTERS BELOW THERE AS WELL. AND THIS WAS A CERTIFIED PROPERTY AT THE TIME. OVERALL, WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS TO REMOVE SECTION O OF THE FROM THE RENTAL ORDINANCE, WHICH IS BASICALLY CERTIFIED RENTAL PROPERTIES STRIKE THROUGH. IT WOULD REMAIN LEAVE THE REST OF THE RENTAL ORDINANCE INTACT. LEAVE THE CERTIFIED I'M SORRY.
LEAVE THE CHANGE IN TENANT INSPECTIONS ACROSS ALL RENTAL PROPERTIES INSTEAD. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON JUST THE ONES THAT AREN'T CERTIFIED OR MAINTAIN THE SAFE HOUSING EDUCATION.
LET'S OPEN UP THE QUESTIONS. I'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LOOKED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. SO A CERTIFIED RENTAL PROPERTY OR LANDLORD. THEIR PROPERTIES ARE INSPECTED EVERY THREE YEARS. NOT AT ALL. NOT EXPECTED AT ALL UNLESS THERE'S A COMPLAINT. I SEE THAT'S THAT'S A PROBLEM. SO WHEN THEY DO RECEIVE A VIOLATION, WHAT HAPPENS UNDER THE CURRENT PROGRAM I. SO THERE'S BASICALLY THE ONLY WAY TO RIGHT NOW GET IN THERE AND DO THE INSPECTION WAS IF THE TENANT COMPLAINS OR IF WE DID A DRIVE BY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD INSPECTORS CAN STILL SEE THE EXTERIOR VIOLATIONS AND WRITE THEM UP. THERE ARE A COUPLE WAYS WE COULD ACTUALLY DECERTIFY THEM LIKE A PROPERTY IF WE TAKE THEM TO THE PROPERTY STANDARDS BOARD AS AN ACTION OF THAT. IF WE GO OUT THERE AND ABATE A NUISANCE AS A PROPERTY THAT WOULD REMOVE IT, OR IF WE HAD ACTUAL CRIMINAL CITATION, THAT WAS A CONVICTION. SO IT TAKES A LOT TO GET GET IN THERE. AND THEN WE RIGHT. IF WE FOUND VIOLATIONS, THEY'D HAVE THE STANDARD AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET IN THERE, CORRECT THEM. WE DO INSPECTION. SO I'M CURIOUS IF.
WAS THERE THOUGHT TO MAYBE IF THEY'VE RECEIVED A VIOLATION AT ALL, THEN THEY'RE AUTOMATICALLY REMOVED FROM THAT PROGRAM. SO KEEPING THE PROGRAM AND THEN JUST, YOU KNOW, IF THEY, IF
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THEY RECEIVE A VIOLATION ON ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES AND THEY'RE TAKEN OUT OF IT KIND OF THING, THAT'S ONE WE COULD DEFINITELY LOOK AT. I WOULD HAVE TO BASICALLY FIGURE OUT A WAY TO QUERY THOSE LIKE CIVIL CITATIONS. THAT'D PROBABLY BE THE NOW THAT WE HAVE THE CIVIL CITATION ROUTE, BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF CRIMINAL CITATIONS THAT ACTUALLY WERE CONVICTIONS WAS VERY SMALL. SO MAYBE IF WE LOOKED AT THE WAY TO DO CITATIONS AND USE THOSE CONVICTIONS TO REMOVE THE PROGRAM, POSSIBLY. YEAH. AND THERE'S NO FEE FOR THE CLASS.AND THERE'S NO I MEAN, IT'S ALL PLUS FOR THE FOR THE CERTIFIED LANDLORD, THERE'S NO NEGATIVE.
I MEAN, THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF LANDLORDS THAT DO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROPERTIES AND THEY, THEY WORK VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN THEM. AND SOME OF THEM GO ABOVE AND BEYOND. BUT IT'S THOSE BAD ACTORS THAT REALLY MAKE STUFF LIKE THIS HAPPEN. AND WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH RED TAPE THAT WE CAN'T ABATE A PROPERTY THAT AND, AND, AND GO BACK AND VISIT IT AND INSPECT IT BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL IN THE PROGRAM AND IT'S TOO HARD TO GET THEM OUT OF IT. THAT'S, THAT'S A PROBLEM. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU MA'AM.
DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM DUTTON, DO WE CURRENTLY INSPECT ALL 10,200 OF THE RENTAL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY? SO IF YOU SUBTRACT OUT THE 4400 CERTIFIED PROPERTIES, WE DON'T LOOK AT THOSE. SO WE LOOK AT THEM AS PART OF THE OVERALL GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD INSPECTION. LIKE WE'RE DRIVING DOWN THE PROACTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD INSPECTION TO LOOK AT EXTERIOR VIOLATIONS. BUT AS FAR AS INTERIOR INSPECTIONS, WE WOULD LOOK AT THOSE 4400 AT ALL THOSE. THEY'RE EXEMPT FROM THE INSPECTION. SO THE OTHER ROUGHLY 5000 OR WHATEVER THAT WOULD BE, THEY'RE THEY'RE SUBJECT TO A CHANGE IN INSPECTION EVERY TIME THE TENANT CHANGES. AGAIN, MOST OF THEM HAVE AN INSPECTION. OKAY. SO JUST BECAUSE I THINK THAT WHEN WE MADE THE POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT THE CHANGES IN THE PROGRAM AND THE RATES, I THINK THAT IT WASN'T VERY CLEAR WHY WE WERE LOOKING AT GETTING RID OF THE PROGRAM. AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT IT WAS VERY COMMON KNOWLEDGE, EVEN AMONGST COUNCIL, THAT WE, THE CERTIFIED LANDLORD PROGRAM, DID AWAY WITH ANY KIND OF INSPECTION. AND SO I THINK THAT THAT HELPS CLARIFYING THAT THAT THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT GETTING RID OF IT, BECAUSE IT GAVE THEM THAT THAT SAFE, YOU KNOW, ZONE TO DO WHATEVER, BECAUSE AS YOU WERE SHOWING THE PHOTOS, I'M LIKE, JESUS, LIKE THESE ARE CERTIFIED PROPERTIES THAT ARE, YOU DID A CLASS FOR AND YOUR TENANT IS ABOUT TO FALL THROUGH THEIR BATHROOM. LIKE THE EXTENSION CORD WAS A PLUS. SO THAT DEFINITELY HELPS. DO WE HAVE ANY PROGRAM? EQUIVALENT? LIKE I GUESS THAT WOULD BE LIKE THIS. BUT FOR MULTIFAMILY. DO WE CHARGE A DO WE CHARGE? WHAT DO WE CHARGE FOR MULTIFAMILY UNIT? MULTIFAMILILYS THEY DO HAVE AN INSPECTION PROGRAM AS WELL. THERE'S THIS IS A DIFFERENT FEE STRUCTURE RIGHT NOW. IT'S CURRENTLY $13 PER UNIT WITH A MINIMUM OF $52, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME SMALLER ONES, THERE'S SOME LITTLE TRIPLEXES OUT THERE BECAUSE THE WAY THE ORDINANCE READS ANYTHING, THREE OR MORE IN A IN A AREA WOULD BE THE MULTIFAMILY. SO SO THAT $13 PER UNIT. AWESOME. PERFECT. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, I WAS I WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM DUTTON INDICATED, BECAUSE I GOT A LOT OF RESPONSE TO FROM RENTAL PROPERTIES.
COULD YOU SHOW ONE OF THOSE PICTURES AGAIN? AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS WAS A CERTIFIED HOME? IS THAT CORRECT? AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE INSPECTION, RIGHT. BECAUSE THEY WERE CERTIFIED. THEY TOOK THE FREE CLASS AND THIS IS WHAT OUR RESIDENTS WERE LIVING IN. NO PROBLEM AT ALL. THEY'RE PAYING THEIR RENT FAITHFULLY. SO WHAT DO WE DO ON THOSE THAT HAVE WHO ARE ACTUALLY LIKE COUNCILMAN SAID THAT GREAT, YOU KNOW, GREAT LANDLORDS. HOW ARE THEY? THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE BEING OVERSHADOWED BY THIS. IS THAT CORRECT? BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT'S COMINGG UPN THE CERTIFIED. IS THAT CORRECT? THERE'S THERE'S NO REAL, I GUESS, REWARDS PROGRAM OUT THERE FOR THEM. I GUESS THE, THE BIGGEST REWARD WOULD BE ABLE TO CHARGE MORE RENT, TRUTHFULLY. I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO YOUR CHARGE ABOVE OR AT MARKET RATE OR ABOVE MARKET RATE. THAT WOULD BE THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A REALLY NICE HOUSE. AND IF I MAY ADD, ONE OF THE INTENTS WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE CERTIFIED LANDLORDS WAS TO SORT OF ALIGN
[00:25:02]
OURSELVES WITH THE GROWING ON THE RISE INITIATIVE. SO WFELT THAT THIS WOULD BE THE MOST DIRECT WAY THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE, TO THE RENTAL PROGRAM, TO THE RENTAL PROPERTIES, TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND ACTUALLY HAVE A BETTER EFFECT ON THE LIVING CONDITIONS. NOW, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING IF WE WANT TO GO ANOTHER ROUTE, THEN WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK BEFORE YOU GUYS BEFORE COUNCIL WITH SOME ALTERNATE SUGGESTIONS. THAT'S THE COURSE THAT WE CHOOSE, BECAUSE I GUESS THERE'S NO WAY TO REWARD THOSE THAT ARE DOING GREAT, RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM THAT CAN REWARD THOSE THAT ARE. I KNOW THE COST OF, OF, OF, YOU KNOW, INCREASING OR DECREASING RENT OR WHATEVER. BUT REALLY THERE'S NO WAY OF RECOGNIZING, I GUESS, THAT WHAT THE FEEDBACK I'M GETTING IS THAT LIKE, HEY, WE'VE BEEN FAITHFUL LANDLORDS HERE, YOU KNOW, FOR 25 PLUS YEARS AND WE'VE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT. AND YET THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING, I GUESS, PUNISHED, SO TO SPEAK, BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY. I, I GUESS THIS FEE, DO THEY HAVE TO PAY A FEE EVERY. THERE'S A. YES, MA'AM. THERE'S AN ANNUAL APPLICATION FEE. YEAH. SO I THINK THAT THAT'S, THAT'S THE THAT'S A PUSHBACK THAT I'M, I'M ME PERSONALLY RECEIVING AS A COUNCILWOMAN AT THIS TIME. SO I JUST WANT TO REASSURE THEM THAT IT'S A, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ALLIANCE. WE, WE WANT EVERYTHING TO LOOK GREAT. AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IN THE FUTURE THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN, I DON'T KNOW, RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT ARE ARE DOING RIGHT. BUT LIKE COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN LUX SAID THAT YOU YOU CAN'T YOU KNOW, THE BAD SEEDS ARE ONES THAT WHEN MOLD SPREADS. OKAY.THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU.
MAYOR. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. SO IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, YOU MENTIONED WE HAVE TWO INSPECTOR, FOR A TOTAL OF 10,000 OR 10,000 PROPERTY. AND THEN WE HAVE ABOUT 4400 FOR THE CERTIFIED PROPERTY. AND OUT OF THAT, 2500 LANDLORDS, CERTIFIED LANDLORDS, DO WE HAVE A COMPLAINT RATE FOR ALL OF THAT 4400? DO WE HAVE HOW MANY PERCENT OF THEM IS.
BAD? GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT DATA, I WAS ABLE TO BASICALLY ENTER COMPLAINTS. WE WERE ABLE TO DO. IT ROUGHLY AMOUNTS TO LIKE 50 A YEAR, BUT THAT THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE WHEN THEY CALL OUT AND THERE'S NO NO VISIBLE ISSUES, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DO GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT WOULD BE BASICALLY LANDLORD TENANT DISPUTES THAT WE COULDN'T GET INVOLVED IN. AND THEN THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THOSE THAT JUST ARE SCARED TO CALL IN ABOUT THEIR THEIR LANDLORDS. WE GET UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THAT IS THEY'RE, THEY'LL SAY THEY'RE, THEY'RE AFRAID OF RETALIATION. SO THEY NEVER WILL CALL US. THEY REALLY MOVE OUT AND TAKE THE HIT ON THEIR DEPOSIT AND MOVE OUT. SO I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN THAT EARLIER THAT WE HAVE GOOD LANDLORDS AND THEY DO EVERYTHING RIGHT AND THEY COMPLY. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE PART OF THE GARLAND ON THE RISE. WE WANT ALL THE PROPERTY TO MAKE SURE UP TO THE STANDARD, THOUGH, THAT THAT WE WANT. BUT WE ALSO BE CAREFUL OF THE ONE THAT DOING WELL. WE WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE NOT PUNISH THEM. SO I NEED TO KNOW UNDERSTAND MORE ON THAT. WHAT IS THE PERCENT? AND THEN MAYBE THE OPTION OF. IF THERE ARE FIRST, SECOND, FIRST, FIRST VIOLATION, SECOND VIOLATION, WE CAN TAKE IT AWAY. THAT CERTIFIED LANDLORD, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND IS IF WE RIGHT NOW, IF WE GO FORWARD WITH THAT, EVERY TIME THEY CHANGE TENANTS, THEN THEY HAD TO GO TO THE CITY FOR INSPECTION, RIGHT? SO DEPENDING ON HOW MANY, HOW OFTEN THEY DO THAT, OKAY. SO. LIKE I SAID, MAYBE WE GET SOME ADDITIONAL DATA. HOW URGENCY OF THIS IS THAT I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED NOVEMBER, SOMETHING THAT WHERE WE NEED TO MOVE IT FORWARD WAS THAT THAT WAS THE IT WAS ORIGINALLY ON SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL. RIGHT. SO I'D LIKE TO BRING MORE INFORMATION FORWARD, WORK WITH. YES. SO I, I SAW SOMEWHERE THAT MENTIONED IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO GO FORWARD. IF THE COUNCIL VOTE FOR THIS GO FORWARD PRETTY QUICK SOMEWHERE IN NOVEMBER. SO FROM WHAT I SEE SO FAR, THAT WOULD MEAN I FEEL LIKE I NEED ADDITIONAL DATA. BUT WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT PUNISH THE GOOD LANDLORD FOR THE ONE
[00:30:02]
THAT DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD. ABSOLUTELY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT. SO IF I COULD ADD A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE. SO JUST A REMINDER THAT THE FEE WAS SELECTED AND EVALUATED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHERE WE EVALUATE ALL THE FEES AND MANY OF OUR FEES. AND A LOT OF THE DEVELOPMENT RELATED DEPARTMENTS WERE WILDLY BELOW OUR PEER CITIES. AND SO THIS DOLLAR AMOUNT WAS SELECTED SOMEWHAT IN REGARDS TO THAT. BUT IT ALSO WE'RE ABLE TO RECOVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS RELATED TO THESE PROGRAM DELIVERIES. AND SO THE GOAL AGAIN, IF YOU THIS IS STRIKING TO ME THAT THAT'S A. THEY'VE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM. SO IN ORDER FOR US TO. HAD WE INSPECTED THIS DURING A TENANT CHANGE OUT, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT. AND SO THOSE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES HAVE TO BE REASONABLY COMPENSATED IN SOME WAY. AND SO THAT'S THE IDEA. IN ORDER TO CATCH THESE ADDITIONAL. YOU KNOW, I CAN'T IMAGINE IN THOSE LIVING CONDITIONS AT ALL. BUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME ABILITY. I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A COMPROMISE. I WOULDN'T VIEW THIS AS PUNISHING GOOD LANDLORDS. THAT'S THE MINIMUM EXPECTATION. THAT'S THAT'S THEIR JOB. THEY SHOULDN'T BE PROVIDING ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE LIVING STANDARDS THAT ARE CODIFIED THE WAY THEY ARE. SO I FEEL LIKE IS THERE A COMPROMISE WHERE THEY COULD BE? DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY'RE A GOOD LANDLORD? BECAUSE THAT'S THE ISSUE, IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WILL NOT COME OUT AND COMPLAIN THEY WOULD THEY WILL AVOID THE FIGHT WITH LANDLORDS AND AVOID ALL THE ISSUES THAT COME WITH IT AND STILL LIVE IN THE SQUALOR THAT'S ON THIS PHOTO. SO WE CAN ABSOLUTELY FIND A WAY THAT SHOULD SOMEBODY BE A GOOD ACTOR AND DOING THE RIGHT THING, THEN THEN IT WOULD BE COMPLAINT BASED WHERE, OKAY, 1 OR 2 STRIKES AND NOW YOU'RE OUT OF THE PROGRAM AND NOW YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO INSPECTIONS ON TENANCY CHANGE OUT. NOW, THE ONES THAT TEND TO HAVE REALLY GOOD LANDLORD TRACK RECORDS ALSO HAVE LONG STANDING TENANTS. THEY LIKE, THEY LOVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S THERE FIVE, TEN, 15 YEARS. AND SO THOSE ARE THE VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT WE PROBABLY WON'T EVER INTERACT WITH. BUT I JUST WANT TO ADD SOME PERSPECTIVE THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT WAS ARRIVED AT AND THE PURPOSE TO, TO RAMP UP THE ABILITY TO, TO SEE THESE PROPERTIES THAT OTHERWISE THEY'VE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH AGAIN, AS YOU MENTIONED, WAS A COMPROMISE AT THE TIME, GIVEN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WERE RAISED AT THAT POINT. AND I AGREE THAT I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS CONDITION. THE PICTURE IS HORRIBLE, RIGHT? I'M SAYING THIS SHOULDN'T FOR FOR THOSE WE SHOULD REVOKE RIGHT AWAY. RIGHT. BUT IT'S WE NEED TO HAVE A PROCESS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER THE PROCESS OF APPEAL PROCESS THAT SOMETIMES DEPENDS ON SITUATION, WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL ONE ADDITIONAL PROCESS IN PLACE.WE'LL BE HAPPY TO STUDY IT SOME MORE AND BRING UP SOME MORE DATA THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. GENTLEMEN, YOU'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION. I CAN'T HELP BUT SIT HERE, THOUGH, AND THINK TO MYSELF THAT IN THE STATE, WHEN OUR LARGEST CITIES DO THINGS THAT REALLY CAUSE THE LEGISLATORS IN AUSTIN TO HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS, THE FIRST THING THAT AUSTIN DOES IS THEY BEGIN TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT IMPACTS THOSE CITIES TO ENSURE THAT THEY BECOME IN COMPLIANCE.
BUT GUESS WHO ELSE SUFFERS? OUR SMALL CITIES ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO THE WORK, TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO TRULY WOULDN'T WIND UP SUFFERING. AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, I'M KIND OF HEARING A LITTLE OF THAT. SO LET ME QUALIFY. LET ME CLARIFY SOMETHING BEFORE I GO FURTHER. THE FIRST THING IS, WHAT ARE YOU ASKING OF US TONIGHT? WE'RE ASKING TO BASICALLY REMOVE THE CERTIFIED RENTAL PORTION OF THE ORDINANCE TO TOTALLY REMOVE IT. CORRECT? YES, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. SO IN SO DOING NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE ARE LANDLORDS OUT THERE WHO ARE THOUGH ATTEMPTING TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS. AND IF WE WERE TO MAYBE EVEN DO A STUDY, I'M THINKING THAT THAT'S OUT OF 100%. ARE YOU SAYING THAT MAYBE 50% OF THOSE LANDLORDS ARE IN VIOLATION? I CAN'T SAY IT'S THAT HIGH. 30, 2010 I'M SAYING THAT JUST TO SAY TO YOU THAT I'M THINKING THAT MAYBE WHAT IS WE SOMETIMES A PROCESS, WHAT WOULD BE ANOTHER WAY? WHAT DO YOU THINK MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY, NOT A BETTER WAY? BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU'RE GIVING US WHAT YOU FEEL IS YOUR BEST WAY RIGHT NOW? IS THERE ANOTHER WAY OF GOING ABOUT DEALING WITH THIS PROGRAM SUCH THAT WE DON'T PUNISH THOSE LANDLORDS WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO THE RIGHT THING VERSUS THOSE WHO ARE NOT? SO WE HAVE DISCUSSED WE'VE DISCUSSED SOME THINGS THAT WE COULD DO FOR THE CERTIFIED LANDLORD DISCUSSION,
[00:35:05]
SOME SORT OF A ONE STRIKE RULE. IF YOU HAVE A CRIMINAL CONVICTION, IF YOU HAVE A FINDING OF LIABILITY FOR A CIVIL CITATION, THEN THOSE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY YOU FROM THE PROGRAM. THERE'S AN ELIGIBILITY SCREEN THAT WE CAN DO. ALSO, THE COUNCILWOMAN BROUGHT UP THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO ANY INSPECTIONS ON THEM. SO MAYBE ONE TIME PER RENEWAL SEASON, OR IF YOU WILL, THAT WE COULD DO AN INSPECTION ON THE PROPERTY. BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THE REMOVAL OF IT. IF WE IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, THEN I THINK PROBABLY INSTEAD OF DEDELIBERATI, WOULD BE BEST FOR US TO BE ABLE TO REGROUP. WE CAN GO AHEAD AND WRITE THAT UP FOR YOU, GIVE THAT PRESENTATION TO YOU AT A DIFFERENT TIME. YOU SEE, I'M ALSO GOING ALONG WITH WHAT I THINK OUR OUR CITY MANAGER ALERTS US TO QUITE OFTEN. AND THAT IS YOU SAY YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS PROGRAM. AND WHEN YOU BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT TWO PEOPLE WHO DEAL WITH THIS PROGRAM, IT'D BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THOSE TWO. AND PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LIVE IN THOSE TYPE OF CONDITIONS. THAT'S, THAT'S JUST THE BOTTOM LINE, BUT IT MAY BE A MATTER OF FINANCE. IT MAY BE THAT WE HAVE A SITUATION HERE WHERE THERE IS NO WAY, AND MAYBE THE BEST THING IS TO ABOLISH IT. I DON'T SEE THAT AT THIS POINT. BUT IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN I'M LOOKING FOR YOU TO GIVE ME THAT ARGUMENT THAT IN FACT, IT'S A FINANCIAL SITUATION. AND WE MATTER OF FACT, I THINK I'D LIKE TO GO TO THE CITY MANAGER AND JUST ASK HIM, SIR, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS AS IT RELATES TO THIS PRESENTLY? I THINK THAT THAT WE CERTAINLY I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT AND CONCERNS THAT. COUNCIL AND HAVE HEARD FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS REGARDING THE CERTIFIED THE ABOLITION OF CERTIFIED LANDLORD PROGRAM. I THINK WE CAN COME BACK WITH SEVERAL OPTIONS AND LET YOU PICK FROM THEM. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES, ONCE THEY BECOME A CERTIFIED LANDLORD, WE NEVER INSPECT THEM AGAIN, MEANING IT COULD BE TEN YEARS AND WE STILL HAVEN'T INSPECTED THAT PROPERTY. AND SO MAYBE YOU COULD HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A CERTIFIED LANDLORD, AND MAYBE WE GET IN THERE ONCE EVERY IF WE DON'T, EVEN IF IT'S NOT EVERY TENANT CHANGE ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS, ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS, SOME PERIOD OF TIME. SO A CONDITION LIKE THIS, SOMOF THESE CONDITIONS WE LOOK AT HERE, THOSE OCCURRED OVER LONG PERIODS OF YEARS. AND SO YOU WOULD REWARD THE CERTIFIED LANDLORDS BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T BE SUBJECT TO INSPECTIONS EVERY YEAR OR AT EVERY TENANT SWITCH OVER, BUT THEY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO INSPECTIONS PERIODICALLY. AND THEN THERE WOULD BE AN INCENTIVE TO BE APPROVED. AND WE COULD BUILD INTO THAT EITHER IF THEY FAIL THE INSPECTION ON A PERIODIC INSPECTION, THEN THEY'RE OUT OF THE PROGRAM, OR WHETHER YOU DO ONE STRIKE, TWO STRIKE, HOWEVER MANY STRIKES FOR VIOLATIONS ON THE PROPERTY, THEN REMOVE THEM. AND THAT CERTIFIED LANDLORDS THEO WERE INCENTIVE TO MAKE SURE THEIR PROPERTIES WERE, IN FACT, SOME OF THE BEST PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE VIOLATIONS AND GET THEM OUT. AND I THINK WE COULD COME BACK WITH A PROGRAM WE'VE DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT INTERNALLY AND COME BACK WITH A PROGRAM THAT WOULD GIVE YOU THOSE OPTIONS. OKAY. IF I COULD ADD, I CONCUR WITH THAT. THE CHALLENGE WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO TALK THROUGH IS WHAT FREQUENCY. WE DON'TT KNOW WHO THE GOOD ACTORS ARE BECAUSE THEY'VE NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THIS PERSON SAID THEY WERE CERTIFIED RENTAL AND THEREFORE WEREN'T INSPECTED. SO WE DON'T KNOW OTHER THAN BY SOMEBODY SAYING, HEY, I'M A GREAT LANDLORD. THEY'VE NOT BEEN INSPECTED. SO IF WE CAN FIND A HAPPY MEDIUM WHERE THEY CAN MAINTAIN A BENEFIT OF SOME TYPE OF CERTIFICATION. MR. BETTS'S POINT, BUT YET SOMEHOW THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME EYES ON IT TO VERIFY THAT CLAIM. WHILE OUT OF TOWN THIS PAST WEEK, I DID RECEIVE A CALL FROM SOME OF THOSE GOOD GUYS, AND THEY WANTED TO MEET WITH ME JUST TO SHOW ME WHAT SOME THOUGHTS THAT THEY HAD ABOUT HOW THEY MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST. SOME OF THOSE GOOD LANDLORDS OUT THERE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU. THEY DO WANT TO SIT DOWN AND SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE WAYS THEY FEEL THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO GO ABOUT ASSISTING IN BRINGING ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE MANAGEABLE AND FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED. SO I DO AGREE, SIR, THAT IF IN FACT YOU COULD DO THAT, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. AND LET'S TRY TO INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'LL GOACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT EMAIL AND GET IT TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE AS YOU GO FORWARD. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, SIR. MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THIS IS HORRIFIC AND NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE IN THESE KIND OF CONDITIONS. BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS BACK TO WE HAVE TWO INSPECTORS. IS THAT CORRECT? AND HOW OFTEN, UNDER IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES, DO THE PROPERTIES GET INSPECTED? SO IDEALLY, THE CHANGE IN TENANT. THE WAY THE ORDINANCE READS, THOUGH, THERE IS A BASICALLY A 48 HOUR CLAUSE. SO IF WE CAN'T GET TO IT IN THE 48 HOURS WHEN THEY REQUESTED IT, WE KIND OF FORFEIT OUR RIGHT TO GET IN THE PROPERTY. SO THERE'S WOULD THAT[00:40:06]
BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD ALSO WANT TO LOOK INTO CHANGING? OKAY, SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD, I THINK WOULD GIVE US BENEFIT. BUT WE HAVE ROUGHLY 10,000 PROPERTIES AND TWO INSPECTORS. THAT SOUNDS LIKE THAT SOUNDS DIFFICULT. AND OBVIOUSLY, THOUGH, I KIND OF WENT BACK AND JUST LOOKED AT PREVIOUS YEARS, JUST THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF CHANGING TENANTS BECAUSE NOT EVERY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PULL DATA FOR, FOR EVERY HOUSE, WE ONLY LOOKED AT THE ONES THAT WEREN'T CERTIFIED. BUT BASED ON THAT, IT EQUATES TO ROUGHLY 24 TO 25% WAS LIKE CHANGE OVER CHANGE IN TENANT EACH YEAR. OKAY. SO IT'S ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS. IT COMES DOWN TO, SO YOU HAVE 2500 PROPERTIES A YEAR, ROUGHLY. IF THERE WERE NO, WELL, GIVE OR TAKE. SO THAT'S, THAT'S STILL QUITE A STILL, STILL QUITE A TASK. IT'S STILL AT LEAST THREE A DAY THAT YOU'RE HAVING TO, YOU'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH. SO BY THE TIME YOU GET THE SUBSEQUENT INSPECTIONS, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'D BE A FULL TIME JOB FOR SURE FOR AT LEAST TWO PRIOR TO SHIFT SOME OTHER INSPECTORS TO, TO COVER DUTIES AS WELL. OKAY.WELL, I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO PUT SOME MORE THOUGHT INTO IT AND MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE COMPREHENSIVE. AND, AND SOMEHOW, IF WE CAN FIND SOME WAY TO LENGTHEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE CITY HAS TO BE ABLE TO INSPECT THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE THAT ARE NOT CERTIFIED AND JUST TRY AND THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD LANDLORDS OUT THERE. I DID GET A LOT OF THE CALLS AND THE EMAILS AND FROM THOSE THAT ARE DOING IT RIGHT. AND BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT AREN'T. SO IF WE COULD PUT A LITTLE MORE THOUGHT INTO THIS AND NOT BE QUITE AS DRACONIAN ON IT AND FIND A WAY TO FIND SOME REWARD FOR THE CERTIFIED PROGRAM, I WOULD FIND MORE COMFORT IN IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. YEAH. SO GENTLEMEN, AS A LANDLORD MYSELF WHO PRIDE MYSELF ON KEEPING MY HOUSES IN CONDITION WHERE I WOULDN'T BE ASHAMED TO MOVE INTO THEM TOMORROW. I REALLY SYMPATHIZE WITH SOME THAT I'VE HEARD FROM THAT ARE THE GOOD GUYS, YOU KNOW. AND I THINK WE ALL GOT AN EMAIL FROM LOUIS MOORE WHO'S, WHO DOES GREAT WORK WITH HIS HOUSES, AND I'VE GOT 2 OR 3 OTHERS THAT SAID MY I'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM, NEVER HAD A COMPLAINT, NEVER HAD ANYTHING. AND SO I, I BEFORE WE MARCH FORWARD HERE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING THE GOOD GUYS. THERE'S LOTS OF THEM OUT THERE. YOU SAID WE HAD 50 OF THESE A YEAR OR SO, OVER 4400 PROPERTIES. IS THAT NUMBER I HEARD? I MEAN, THAT'S 1%. AND SO I DON'T WANT TO PUNISH THE 99% TO FIX THE 1% OR I DON'T WANT TO AT LEAST NOT DON'T WANT TO RUSH INTO IT BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THINGS RIGHT, THAT CARE ABOUT THE CITY AND CARE ABOUT THEIR PROPERTIES, CARE ABOUT THEIR TENANTS, FRANKLY. AND SO BEFORE WE BEFORE WE GO THERE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE. AND SO I WAS THINKING, WELL, IF I'M A CERTIFIED LANDLORD, WHAT'S MY BENEFIT? WELL, INSPECTION, HOW ABOUT EVERY THREE YEARS WE'VE GOT TRACKING SOFTWARE AND NABILA HAS SOMETHING SHE'S TRACKING HOW LONG YOU GO NOW AND WHEN THOSE EXPIRE AND WHEN WE SHOULD RECHECK, WE COULD USE WHATEVER THAT IS TO SAY, OKAY, YOU GOT EVERY YOU GET EVERY THREE YEARS OR EVERY FIVE YEARS, WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO GO WITHOUT INSPECTION. BUT THEN WHEN THAT CLOCK'S UP, THEN WE GET X AMOUNT OF TIME TO THIS POINT, NOT FIVE MINUTES. WE NEED A NUMBER OF DAYS TO SCHEDULE YOUR INSPECTION. AND WE ONLY DO IT EVERY THREE YEARS OR FIVE YEARS. AND THAT'S SOME KIND OF A REWARD FOR THEM FOR BEING A GOOD GUY IS KIND OF THE WAY I SEE IT. SO I'LL LET YOU RESPOND TO THAT AND I APOLOGIZE. CAN I GET SOME CLARIFICATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD SOME FEEDBACK ON WHAT PART IS, IS, IS BEING CONSIDERED PUNITIVE? WHAT PART OF THE OF THE PROPOSAL IS PUNITIVE? IS IT THE FEE? IS IT BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THE RECOMMENDATION IS YOU PULL THE PROGRAM AWAY, THEY'RE ONLY INSPECTING WHEN THERE'S A CHANGE IN TENANCY. CORRECT. SO THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO BE PAYING THE NEW FEE AND ONLY BEING INSPECTED WHEN THERE'S A CHANGE IN TENANCY. IT'S NOT AN ADDITIONAL SO AM I. AM I UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE PUNITIVE PART IS CORRECTLY. WELL, I THINK IT'S I THINK THAT WE'RE ALSO ADDRESSING THE THE OTHER PART IS FOR THE TENANT THAT DOESN'T MOVE OUT FOR TEN YEARS, BECAUSE I'VE GOT A COUPLE THAT HAVE MOVED IN TEN YEARS AGO.
THEY'RE STILL THERE, THEY'RE STILL BEEN GREAT. AND SO HOW DO WE LOOK AT THOSE TO SEE THAT THOSE FOLKS ARE DOING SOMETHING? WELL, IF YOU'RE IN THE CERTIFIED PROGRAM, OKAY, WE'LL GIVE YOU YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO EVERY CHANGE. SO THERE WOULD BE THERE WAS THAT WAY. THAT KIND OF COVERS BOTH SIDES OF THAT. DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN? BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CURRENTLY INSPECTED WHEN THEY'RE IN THE PROGRAM. RIGHT, RIGHT. AND SO IT'S LIKE, OKAY, YOU'RE IN THE PROGRAM.
TENANT HASN'T CHANGED, BUT WE NEED TO GET IN THERE EVERY THREE YEARS JUST TO SEE THAT YOU'RE STILL DOING GOOD. AND IF WE DO THAT, THEN WE WON'T HAVE YOU DO IT. EVERY TENANT CHANGE
[00:45:01]
BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO CHANGE, YOU KNOW, MONTH TO MONTH AND FOR OTHER FOR VARIOUS REASONS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO IT EVERY TIME SOMEBODY CHANGES BECAUSE THAT I THINK PEOPLE CHANGE A LOT THESE DAYS BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S BETTER DEALS OUT THERE. AND I'M GOING TO I'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT PLACE. CERTAINLY EXPERIENCED THAT MYSELF. SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BUT AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THAT 1% THAT NEED TO NOT BE IN THE LANDLORD BUSINESS, LIKE THE PICTURES THERE. ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THOSE GUYS OUT OF THE MARKET? THAT HELPS THE GOOD GUYS TOO, IF THESE GUYS ARE OFF THE MARKET. SO I'M I'M FOR THAT.OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. BEFORE I GO AROUND AGAIN, I HAVE THREE MORE IN THE QUEUE. AND I THINK EVERYONE HAS HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK ALREADY. BUT I THINK I'M HEARING THE SAME THING FOR EVERYONE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THIS BACK. AND AND IF IT NEEDS TO GO TO A COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING, BUT COME BACK AT SOME POINT, AND RATHER THAN JUST ELIMINATING WHOLESALE AND ESPECIALLY IN CASES LIKE THIS, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THESE HOUSES, THESE INTERIOR PROBLEMS, DON'T HAVE EXTERIOR PROBLEMS AS WELL, THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT AND WOULD REQUIRE AN INSPECTION. AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO TELL ON THEIR LANDLORDS THAT WE CAN EDUCATE THEM, AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP, AND WE WANT TO MAKE YOUR LIVING SITUATION BETTER. I THINK THAT CLEARLY ALIGNS WITH GARLAND ON THE RISE, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY FOLLOWING OUR GUIDELINES, AND THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING POSITIVELY TO THE FABRIC OF GARLAND PROVIDING RENTAL HOUSING AND OTHER HOUSING OPTION. I THINK THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT WHAT IS THE PUNITIVE? I THINK IT'S THE ADMINISTRATIVE PART OF IT, THE OVERHEAD. THEY HAVE TO SPEND MORE TIME DOING THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS OF THAT. IF WE HAVE A THREE YEAR PROGRAM, IF WE CAN ROLL OUT WHATEVER IT WHATEVER FORM IT TAKES, I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO MORE DISCUSSION. BUT WE HAVE A ROLLING TIMELINE OF WHEN THEY'VE BEEN CERTIFIED AND THEY ROLL OFF. WE CAN BE INSPECTED OR UPON CHANGE OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT TAKE, BUT WE COULD DO I KNOW WE'VE MENTIONED KIND OF A THREE STRIKES PROGRAM OR I'M A BASEBALL FAN, BUT ALL MY KIDS PLAY SOCCER. SO IF THERE'S A YELLOW CARD, RED CARD WHERE YOU HAVE, IT'S A RED CARD, LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT, WHERE IT'S SIGNIFICANT VIOLATIONS, YOU GO IN FRONT OF PROPERTY STANDARDS OR SOMETHING, THAT'S A RED CARD AND YOU'RE OUT OF THE PROGRAM.
OR IF YOU GET TWO YELLOW CARD VIOLATIONS, THAT EQUALS A RED CARD, YOU'RE OUT OF THE PROGRAM, SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT WE COULD RK ON. AND I THINK WE HAVE THE CREATIVITY TO MODIFY THIS PROGRAM OR IT WILL WORK FOR AGAIN, I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF LANDLORDS CALLING ME AS WELL ABOUT THIS THAT ARE SADO SEE THE PROGRAM GO, BUT I THINK WE CAN FIND SOME KIND OF MIDDLE GROUND WHERE WE CAN MAKE IT WORK FOR EVERYONE. YEAH, I, I'VE HEARD ALSO FROM FROM SEVERAL LANDLORDS AND I'VE TALKED TO STAFF. WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMING BACWITH SOME OPTIONS. AND WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL IS LET US COME BACK AND OFFER YOU OPTIONS AND SAY, OKAY, HERE'S DIFFERENT PARTS OF THIS PROGRAM AND LET YOU ALL PICK FROM THEM AND THEN PUT IT TOGETHER, PUT THE ORDINANCE TOGETHER FROM THAT. THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT ONE, THE NEED TO GET INTO A PROPERTY, AT LEAST ON SOME FREQUENCY, NOT LET A DECADE GO BY WITHOUT SEEING THE INSIDE OF A PROPERTY. NUMBER TWO IS MAKE SURE THAT THOSE LANDLORDS WHO, YOU KNOW, MR. THOMAS CALLS THEM THE 1% OF BAD LANDLORDS. WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, IS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE WE GET SO FEW COMPLAINTS. THERE'S TIMES WHEN WE GO IN, YOU KNOW, WE'LL FIND OUT A PROPERTY. WE DON'T GET A COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE TENANTS DON'T WANT TO COMPLAIN. SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
BUT AT LEAST SET UP A PROGRAM WHERE IF THERE IS COMPLAINTS OR IF THERE IS VIOLATIONS THAT OCCUR INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY, THAT WE CAN REMOVE THEM FROM THE PROGRAM AND MAYBE ALSO WORK ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE GET TO GET INSPECTIONS DONE. IF YOU WOULD GIVE US A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING AND COME BACK, I THINK THAT WE COULD OFFER THE COUNCIL OPTIONS. I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD NEED TO GO TO A COMMITTEE. I THINK WE COME BACK AND OFFER OPTIONS AND GET CONSENSUS OF THE COUNCIL. THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO. THEN WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK. AND YOU WANT MORE? I HAVE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM IS IN FRONT OF THE QUEUE WITH YOU. I'LL LET HER GO FIRST AND THEN YOU CAN YOU CLARIFY THE 250 FEE? IS THAT ANNUALLY OR AT TENANT CHANGE ANNUALLY? OKAY. SO I THINK THAT WAS A LARGE POINT OF CONTENTION WAS THE 250 ONLINE. AND THEN I AGREE WITH THE LIKE DO A POINT SYSTEM. IF YOU'RE ABOVE SO MANY POINTS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE INSPECTED FOR TWO YEARS, WHATEVER. BUT THE 250, I THINK WAS THE BIGGEST POINT OF CONTENTION. SO I THAT WAS REALLY THE ONLY THING THAT I NEEDED CLARIFICATION ON. THANK YOU. WE'LL WE'LL POST IT WHEN WE COME BACK. WE'LL POST BOTH THE DISCUSSION OF THE CERTIFIED LANDLORD PROGRAM, AND WE'LL POST IT FOR DISCUSSION OF THE FEE, BECAUSE TONIGHT IT'S NOT POSTED FOR DISCUSSION OF THE FEE. YES, MA'AM. OKAY,
[00:50:05]
COUNCILMEMBER. LOOK, SO I'M ACTUALLY OKAY WITH REMOVING THIS PROGRAM. I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN AND TH PROPOSE A NEW CERTIFIED LANDLORD PROGRAM THAT'S BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS. THEY HAVE TO QUALIFY TO BE INHAT PROGRAM. AND THAT'S WHERE THIS PROGRAM INITIALLY, OR IN THE LAST 21 YEARS HAS REALLY FAILED, IS THAT THERE'S NO QUALIFICATION PROGRAM. IT'S FREE TO GO TO A CLASS, AND THEN YOU JUST GET TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS ACTUALLY, IF YOU ARE APPLYING TO BE IN THE CERTIFIED LANDLORD PROGRAM, A, AN INITIAL INSPECTION OF ALL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT YOU OWN. ALSO, FEES FOR PERFORMING THOSE INSPECTIONS AND THEN MAYBE A 3 TO 5, 3 OR 5 YEAR RE-INSPECTION FOR EVERY CERTIFIED LANDLORD.AND IF THERE ARE ANY VIOLATIONS, YOU GET KICKED OUT AND IT'S NOT THROUGH THE PROPERTY STANDARDS BOARD, IT'S NOT THROUGH HAVING TO GO TO COURT. YOU GET A VIOLATION AND YOU GET KICKED OUT. THAT'S THAT'S NOT UPHOLDING YOUR CERTIFIED LANDLORD POSITION. SO I WANT TO SEE THAT PROGRAM. IF IT DOES COME BACK, WHICH IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE VERY STRICT. AND I THINK THERE NEED TO BE VERY STRONG QUALIFICATIONS IN ORDER TO BE IN THAT PROGRAM. BUT IF WE GET RID OF IT RIGHT NOW, THEN EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE.
EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GET INSPECTED, AND ANYBODY THAT'S IN THE CERTIFIED LANDLORD PROGRAM RIGHT NOW, THEY SHOULD BE INSPECTED, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN EVER. SO THOSE ARE MY $0.02 REAL QUICK JUST TO PUT THAT THIS OUT THERE. SO IF IF WE WERE TO GET RID OF IT TODAY THERE, I MEAN, IT CAN PHASE OUT. THEY ALREADY THEY HAVE ALREADY PAID. SOME OF THEM HAVE PAID MAYBE IN AUGUST. RIGHT. SO THEY HAVE A THREE YEAR RENEWAL SO THAT IT COULD BE PHASED OUT OVER THAT TIME FRAME AS WELL. YEAH. AND WE CAN ALWAYS BRING THE PROGRAM BACK.
BUT WITH, WITH QUALIFIERS THAT MAKE IT A, A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. IT IS NOT A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM RIGHT NOW. IT'S NOT 1% OF LANDLORDS THAT THIS IS GOING ON WITH. AND THE DRACONIAN PART OF IT IS, ARE THESE CONDITIONS NOT THE WAY THAT WE ARE TREATING OUR LANDLORDS? ARE THERE ANY OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE A CERTIFIED LANDLORD PROGRAM LIKE THIS? NOT, NOT NOT EXACTLY LIKE THIS. THERE ARE SOME THAT HAVE SIMILAR AND THEY THEY'RE INSPECT THOSE PROPERTIES OFTEN, RIGHT. WE'RE THE ONLY CITY THAT'S NOT. AND THEN WE'RE, WE'RE SAYING, OH, WELL, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH RENTAL PROPERTIES, BUT WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THIS WAY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THAT LOGIC. SO IF IF WE IN FACT, KEEP THIS PROGRAM, IT NEEDS TO BE TOTALLY OVERHAULED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
COUNCILMEMBER CARRAWAY, JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF MARGARET, TOTALLY AGREE. I MEAN, I'VE SEEN PERSONALLY SEVERAL HOUSES IN THIS TYPE OF CONDITION THAT HAVE I DON'T LIKE TO CALL THEM LANDLORDS. THEY THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING. AND IF YOU GO BACK TO YOUR NUMBERS, YOU SHOW HOW MANY RENTAL PROPERTIES WE HAVE AND HOW MANY OF THEM ARE CERTIFIED LANDLORDS. THAT SHOULD ALREADY TELL YOU RIGHT THERE THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. SO TOTAL I'M WITH MARGARET 1,000%. I THINK WE SHOULD OVERHAUL THIS AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE UP F AN INSPECTION. AND LET'S GET IN AND START DOING THE WORK. WE WANT TO SEE THE CITY ON THE RISE. WE HAVE TO START WITH THESE TYPE OF ISSUES AND PROBLEMS HERE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW. LANDLORDS KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT STANDING FOR THAT ANY LONGER. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOME WORK TO DO TO BRING IT BACK. SO I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COUNCIL IS. DIRECTION IS HERE AND WE'LL COME BACK WITH A BUNCH OF OPTIONS NEXT TIME AND WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THIS PROGRAM. VERY GOOD. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU ALL. MOVE ON
[6. Legislative & Public Affairs Committee Update]
TO OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER SIX, LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UPDATE. ALL RIGHT, MAYOR PRO TEM, YOUR CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE. DO YOU WANT TO KICK US OFF, SIR? YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. WE HAD A LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING JUST RECENTLY. IT WAS MYSELF AND COUNCILMAN THOMAS, I THINK IT WAS THE TWO OF US RIDING SOLO ON THAT. AND WE WERE WE APPRECIATED ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FROM THE COMMITTEE AND STAFF. BUT WE HAVE IS ARIEL IS GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION AND DIRECTION FOR US. SO GOOD E EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TWO YEARS AGO, WE DRAFTED THE ORIGINAL STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, AND IT WAS DRAFTED IN A WAY THAT WAS INTENDED TO GROW AND EVOLVE[00:55:05]
WITH THE CITY. SO WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR IS WE LOOKED AT THE HOT BUTTON ISSUES, AND WE KIND OF TAILORED OUR AGENDA TO THAT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THOSE CHANGES THAT WE MADE TO THE AGENDA. AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO STOP ME AT ANY TIME. THE FIRST CHANGE WAS OBVIOUSLY ON ON THE FIRST PAGE, THE MEMBERS TO THE COMMITTEE, THE NEXT CHANGE WAS UNDER PRESERVE PROPERTY AND SALES TAX REVENUE BULLET THREE. WE ADDED EXPENDITURE TO THAT LIST. SO IT READS THE CITY OPPOSES EXPANSION OF REVENUE, TAX EXPENDITURE OR APPRAISAL CAPS, WHICH WILL LIMIT THE CITY'S ABILITY TO RAISE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PAY FOR CRITICAL MUNICIPAL PUBLIC SERVICES. THE NEXT CHANGE WAS BULLET NUMBER FOUR UNDER PROTECTING TAXPAYERS INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC UTILITIES AND ASSETS. IT WAS A REWRITE ON OUR POSITION REGARDING PFAS AND PFOS. AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS KEEPING GARLAND SAFE. THE LAST BULLET WAS BROUGHT TO US BY COUNCILWOMAN DUTTON, AND THAT ONE IS THE CITY SUPPORTS LEGISLATION THAT ENHANCES WORKERS COMPENSATION BENEFITS FOR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES IN A MANNER THAT BALANCES EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING WITH SOUND FISCAL STEWARDSHIP. THE BULLETS RIGHT HERE, BULLETS TWO AND THREE ABOVE TRANSPORTATION FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GROWTH ARE NEW AS WELL, AND THOSE ARE IN RESPONSE TO GARLAND ON THE RISE. AND THEY FOCUS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS AND ENSURING THAT CITIES HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE TOOLS. THE LAST BULLET UNDER TRANSPORTATION FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GROWTH IS A STANCE THAT BRINGS IN THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH DART IN REGARDS TO THE UPDATING OF THE STRUCTURE FOR MEMBERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION. AND THAT IS THE LAST CHANGE THAT WE MADE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER LOOKED DO YOU HAVE A SUPPORTING MUNICIPAL OWNED UTILITIES AND YOUR LIST? THAT IS IN HERE? YES, IT IS IN HERE. IT'S THE FIRST ONE. GREAT. THANK YOU, I APOLOGIZE. NO IT'S OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, ARIEL, WE LOOK AT THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE PRESENTLY. I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN DRMC IS ATTEMPTING TO IDENTIFY. THREE WE HAVE A LIST OF THINGS TO IDENTIFY AT LEAST THREE THAT WE REALLY FEEL THAT WE CAN TAKE TO THE LEGISLATORS, AND THAT THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT WE'LL GET THOSE, GET SOME MOVEMENT ON THEM. IF WE WERE TO PRIORITE, IS THERE OR SHOULD WE EVEN EVEN CONSIDER THAT? SHOULD WE BE LOOKING AT MAYBE SOME PRIORITIES, NO MATTER BY WHICH WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT? SO THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY PRIORITIES THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING. THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY LEGISLATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO WRITE AND HAVE SOMEONE CARRY. IT ALLOWS US AND HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE, NOT JUST TO YOU, BUT TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL. THAT SAYS, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE SUPPORT AND ALLOWS ME TO GO DOWN AND SUPPORT OR SUBMIT LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM YOU GUYS TO COMMITTEES, ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY, AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND SUPPORT OR IN OPPOSITION OF THESE ITEMS. THIS IS OUR PLATFORM. THIS IS OUR PLATFORM. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, SIR. AND YES, THIS WILL BE LOOKING FOR ADOPTION ON NOVEMBER 2ND. SO WE'LL BE AGREEING TO VOTE ON THAT AT THAT DATE. RIGHT.COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, THERE'S THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE ANY LEGISLATION THAT'S ACTUALLY PROPOSED YET TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE. BUT IF SUCH A PIECE OF LEGISLATION WERE TO ARISE, OUR POSITION ON WHETHER WE SUPPORT IT OR OPPOSE IT, OPPOSE IT, IS IN THIS DOCUMENT. IS THAT HOW I'M READING IT? YES. AND IT'S MORE OR LESS ALL ENCOMPASSING. SO IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE THAT WE HAD A STANCE ON, OR WE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE A STANCE ON, WE TRIED TO THINK THROUGH EACH OF THOSE BASED ON OUR DEPARTMENTS AND PUT IT IN THIS AGENDA. OKAY. BUT WE THEY HAVEN'T FILED BILLS YET. THAT DOESN'T START THAT DOESN'T THAT DOESN'T START UNTIL NOVEMBER. OKAY. BUT THIS GETS US KIND OF JUST AHEAD OF THAT. AND SO NOW WHEN BILLS GET FILED, YOU'RE WATCHING TO SEE IF ANYTHING THAT COMES UP TO SOMETHING WE'D WANT TO SUPPORT, OR IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT COMES UP THAT WE WANT TO OPPOSE. YES. SO THIS IS WHAT YOU YOU'LL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. YES, SIR.
[01:00:05]
THIS WOULD ALLOW ME TO LOOK AT THE BILL THAT WAS PROPOSED. THE BILL THAT WAS FILED. SEE IF IT WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE CITY. MEASURE IT AGAINST THIS TO SEE IF I CAN SUBMIT COMMENTS OR ENGAGE ON THAT BILL AT ALL. AND THEN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU ALL. OKAY. H HOW MANY BILLS DO YOU LOOK AT? LAST YEAR IT WAS ROUGHLY 13,500. ONLY 13.5. WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? HOLY COW! OKAY. AND THIS DOCUMENT IS GOING TO COVER ALL 135 THIS YEAR. IF IF THERE IS ONE THAT WE SOMEHOW MISSED, IT'S OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THIS DOCUMENT. WE WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU ALL AND ASK THAT WE HAVE A STANCE THAT IS AMENDED TO THE DOCUMENT SO THAT WE, I, MY SELF AND MY TEAM CAN WORK ON THAT BILL. OH VERY GOOD. OKAY.ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I IT'S MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING. THANK THANKS FOR THANKS FOR THE HELP. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. JUST SO IT'S CLEAR, IN RESPONSE TO MR. THOMAS'S QUESTIONING. AND SO IT'S CLEAR FOR THE MEMBERS, IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SEASON. ONE OF THE REASONS WE ADOPT THIS AGENDA IS BECAUSE DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SEASON, TIME SIMPLY DOES NOT PERMIT TO GET BACK TO COUNCIL IN TIME TO GET A CONSENSUS AND THEN GET BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE. THINGS MOVE WAY TOO QUICKLY. SO WE ADOPT A PLATFORM, AND THEN AS LONG AS IT'S COVERED BY THAT PLATFORM, THEN ARIEL KNOWS THAT SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO TO INFORM THE LEGISLATURE AS TO WHAT OUR POSITION IS AS A CITY WITHOUT HAVING TO COME BACK IN THOSE RARE CASES. AND WE'VE HAD A FEW IN THOSE RARE CASES WHERE SOMETHING COMES UP AND WE HAVE TO GET IN, THEN WE END UP IN THIS TIME CRUNCH. SO TO AVOID THAT, WE TRY TO MAKE THESE AS BROAD AS POSSIBLE. SO SHE HAS A COMPLETE WORKING DIRECTION. I JUST WANTED EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS BECAUSE OF THE TIMING THAT WE HAVE THE LEGISLATURE. COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
SO I SUPPORT MOST OF THEM. I JUST HAVE TO CLARIFICATION, CLARIFIES ON THE TWO ITEM THAT THE ONE THAT SUPPORT LETTING CITY EXCEEDS THE REVENUE CAP, AND ANOTHER ONE IS THE PROPOSED NEW PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION. SO MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PART. WE ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO TRUST US ON NOVEMBER 3RD TAX ELECTION. AND THIS IS GO TO A VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2ND. SO IT'S LIKE A DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION. SO. I, I THINK IT'S I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ON,, O ON THAT LANGUAGE OF THE TWO ITEM. IS THAT WHAT WE ASK WE SUPPORT LEAVING CITY EXCEED THE REVENUE CAPS. ANOTHER ONE IS OPPOSE THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTI. SO THE BULLET YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS ON PAGE THREE OF THE DOCUMENT. THIRD BULLET UNDER PRESERVE PROPERTY AND SALES TAX REVENUE. THIS SAYS THE CITY OPPOSES EXPANSION OF REVENUE TAX EXPENDITURE OR APPRAISAL CAPS, WHICH LIMIT THE CITY'S ABILITY TO RAISE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PAY FOR CRITICAL MUNICIPAL PUBLIC SERVICES. THIS REFERS TO BILLS THAT WOULD LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO USE TAXPAYER FUNDS TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO THE TAXPAYERS. THIS IS SAYING THAT WE OPPOSE THE STATE AND TYING OUR HANDS IN REGARDS TO USING TAXPAYER. SO THIS IS THIS MORE PREVENTS US FROM LIKE THE SB TWO THAT FROM HAPPENING. WE'RE SAYING WE. THIS IS BASICALLY SAYING WE OPPOSE FURTHER BILLS LIKE SB TWO, LIKE REDUCE THAT TO 1%. CORRECT? CORRECT. THAT COVERS THAT IS THAT IS OUR STANCE. THAT ALLOWS ME TO SAY WE DON'T WANT ANY REDUCTION TO THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. ABSOLUTELY. YES. THANK YOU SIR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA? THAT WILL BE COMING TO US FOR ADOPTION ON NOVEMBER 2ND THEN MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF. I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE VERY BUSY. I KNOW YOU'LL BE KEEPING US UPDATED WITH YOUR WITH YOUR RIVETING.
FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL, YOU'LL BE GETTING A A MAILER THE LEDGE, WHICH GIVES US A A PLAY BY PLAY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ABSOLUTELY. THERE WERE TWO OTHER ITEMS WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING AS WELL, ONE OF THOSE BEING THE CREATION OF A LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM. AND WE'RE LOOKING LONG TERM. SO THE IDEA IS TO LAUNCH A LEGISLATIVE AMBASSADORS PROGRAM ON OUR WEBSITE, WHERE WE ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SIGN UP, AND THEY
[01:05:02]
WOULD RECEIVE THE NEWSLETTER WEEKLY FROM MYSELF AND MY TEAM, AND THEY CAN ENGAGE THEIR LEGISLATOR BASED ON THAT NEWSLETTER. AND THEN LONG TERM, LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING OUT AN ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, WHERE WE WOULD HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT WOULD PROVIDE INPUT ON OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS WELL. AND THEN THE LAST ITEM WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE COMMITTEE WAS THE CREATION OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL PARTNER LIST, WHERE WE HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS COME IN AND TALK TO YOU ALL AT WORK SESSION. AND SOME OF THOSE PARTNERS INCLUDE DART, TEX DOT NORTH TEXAS TOLLWAY AUTHORITY, DALLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, ATMOS, ETC. AND WE'VE PROVIDED THAT FOR YOU GUYS AS WELL. COUNCILMAN, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT LEGISLATIVE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WAS SOMETHING I HEARD. THERE'S A METROPLEX MAYORS MEETING, AND WE INVITED THE MAYOR OF GEORGETOWN AND THE CITY MANAGER OF GEORGETOWN TO COME SPEAK TO US. AND THEM BEING SO CLOSE IN PROXIMITY TO AUSTIN, THEY RUN DOWN THERE ALL THE TIME, BUT THEY REALIZE THAT THEM GOING THERE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THE SAME IMPACT AS CITIZENS GOING DOWN THERE. AND THEY HAVE A THEY'VE CREATED A GROUP OF ENGAGED CITIZENS WHO GO DOWN AND ADVOCATE ON THE CITY'S BEHALF FOR VARIOUS ISSUES. AND THIS PROGRAM ARIEL DIDN'T MENTION. BUT WHEN SHE WAS IN GEORGETOWN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHE STARTED DOWN THERE. SO APPARENTLY IT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL AND COMPLETELY UNAWARE THAT SHE STARTED THAT PROGRAM. I SAID, LET'S START SOMETHING LIKE THAT HERE. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT TO GET OUR CITIZENS MORE INVOLVED, LEARN ABOUT MUNICIPAL ISSUES, BUT STATE ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR CITIES AND HOPEFULLY HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT CAN ALSO ADVOCATE ON OUR BEHALF. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THAT PROGRAM, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WON'T QUITE HAVE IT ROLLING BY THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. NOT ENOUGH TIME BY, YOU KNOW, SESSION STARTS IN JANUARY, BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY HAVE IT FOR THE 2029 SESSION AND BE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO CITIZENS TO JOIN THAT GROUP AND BE ENGAGED. AND GARLAND IS LEGENDARY FOR ITS ITS CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT. WE'VE WE'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB, WHETHER IT BE WITH WITH OUR OH, WHENEVER WE HAVE A BOND ELECTIONS, WE PUT TOGETHER A BOND COMMITTEE AND IT'S. THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF INTEREST IN IT. WE HAVE SOME DEEP THINKERS IN THIS TOWN AND VERY PASSIONATE AND FOLKS THAT ARE LIKE JOE, THAT ARE RETIRED, THAT HAVE TIME. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, SIR, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND, YOU KNOW, I HEAR GREAT THOUGHTS ALL THE TIME, GREAT THOUGHTS AND IDEAS.AND THIS THESE ARE CERTAINLY VERY GOOD THOUGHTS. SO WHAT I'M THINKING IS, HAVE YOU EVEN BEGAN TO THINK YET? LIKE YOU JUST SAID, IT WON'T HAPPEN THIS LEGISLATIVE TERM, BUT HAVE YOU BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT MAYBE A PROCESS BY WHICH WE CAN GO, ALL RIGHT, CAN YOU TALK TO US TODAY? BECAUSE MY THING IS, HEY, THESE ARE SOME VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES. THIS LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS ONE THAT IT'S ONGOING CONSTANTLY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. BUT HEY, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT ARE WE REALLY GOING TO DO? YES, ABSOLUTELY. THE THOUGHT PROCESS WAS THAT WE WOULD START GEARING UP AFTER SESSION. IT WOULD BE THAT EACH OF YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO APPOINT ONE PERSON TO THE COMMITTEE, AND THEN WE WOULD BRING IN DIRECTORS TO HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE COMMITTEE EVERY TWO WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER, AND THEY WOULD HEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENTS ON WHERE THEIR PAIN POINTS ARE. AN OVERVIEW FROM LAST SESSION ON BILLS THAT WERE PASSED THAT HAD AN IMPACT, AND THEN SUGGEST CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. AND THEN AT THE END, WE WOULD COMPILE ALL THOSE CHANGES INTO A DOCUMENT. WE WOULD BRING THEM TO THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND THEN TO WORK SESSION. SO IT IS OUR ABILITY. IT REALLY IS A GOOD THING TO GO DOWN AND SAY, THIS ISN'T JUST SOMETHING THE CITY CREATED, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER AND THE COMMUNITY CREATED. THIS IS WHAT THE CITY OF GARLAND AND THEIR RESIDENTS WANT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDERING APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND
[ CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS]
COMMISSIONS. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TOMORROW FOR THE COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION. IF MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU WOULD MAKE THAT NOMINATION FOR ME, SIR. ALL RIGHT. AND[ ANNOUNCE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
NOW'S THE TIME TO ANNOUNCE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. COUNCIL, ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? COUNCILMEMBER. LOCKED. YES. I WOULD LIKE FOR COUNCIL TO REVIEW THE MULTIFAMILY AND[01:10:01]
SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL PERMIT ORDINANCES. AND ALSO, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. THANK YOU. AND THEN ALSO THE EXPLORE THE CREATION OF A BUSKING ORDINANCE FOR DOWNTOWN BUSKING. MUSICIANS. THEY'RE LIKE STREET PERFORMERS. AND SECOND BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM DENTON. ANYTHING ELSE, MA'AM? THANK YOU SIR. ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD.[ EXECUTIVE SESSION]
THEN WITH THAT, THAT WAS OUR LAST ITEM. NOW WE'LL MOVE IN THE CITY COUNCIL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FIVE FIVE, 1.071 AND 551.087, THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEM. NUMBER EIGHT IS DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE COMMERCIAL OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT THE CITY HAS RECEIVED FROM ONE OR MORE BUSINESS PROSPECTS. THE CITY SEEKS TO HAVE LOCATED, STAY OR EXPAND IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT OF THE CITY, AND WITH WHICH THE CITY IS CONDUCTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS.551.087 INCLUDING POTENTIAL SALE, EXCHANGE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AT 1116 SOUTH SIXTH STREET, GARLAND, TEXAS ATTORNEY CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO THE SAME 551.071 AND ITEM NUMBER NINE DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE ATTORNEY CLIENT MATTERS RELATED TO STR LITIGATION, LAND USE, ZONING, AND NONCONFORMING RIGHTS BY 51.071 COUNSEL AT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.