EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. [A. CALL TO ORDER-MAYOR] [00:00:02] THE TIME IS 6:30, AND THIS WILL START OUR REGULAR COUNCIL AGENDA. TODAY IS GOING TO BE MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026. AND I'LL DO A ROLL CALL. MS. DAVID-GRAVES? CAROLYN DAVID-GRAVES: HERE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MS. TODD? CRISTINA TODD: HERE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. WASHINGTON? SORRY. GO AHEAD. BRYAN WASHINGTON: HERE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. JOHNSON? TERRANCE JOHNSON: HERE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. RUTLEDGE? JAISEN RUTLEDGE: HERE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. LONG? BEN LONG: HERE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A QUORUM, AND THIS WILL TAKE US TO OUR INVOCATION BY JOHN PROM. JOHN PROM: LET'S PRAY. FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT GRATEFUL, GRATEFUL FOR THIS CITY, GRATEFUL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SAID, YES, TO SERVING IT. THANK YOU FOR PRINCETON, FOR THE FAMILIES ON THESE STREETS, THE CHILDREN IN THESE SCHOOLS, THE BUSINESSES THAT OPEN THEIR DOOR EACH MORNING, THE NEIGHBORS WHO LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER. YOU PLACED US HERE, ON PURPOSE, FOR A BIGGER PLAN THAN ANY OF US CAN SEE ON OUR OWN. WE LIFT UP EVERY PERSON SEATED IN THIS ROOM. GIVE THEM YOUR WISDOM, THE KIND THAT SEES PAST THE IMMEDIATE AND BUILDS SOMETHING THAT LASTS. WHEN THE DECISIONS ARE HARD AND THE PRESSURE IS REAL, QUIET THEIR HEARTS, AND LET THEM HEAR FROM YOU. FATHER, WE ASK YOU TO BRING UNITY TO THE CITY. GUARD WHAT IS GOOD HERE, AND HEAL WHAT IS DIVIDED. LET THIS CITY COUNCIL GOVERN WITH HUMILITY AND HONOR, TREATING EVERY RESIDENT WITH DIGNITY, WHETHER THEY AGREE OR DISAGREE. WE PRAY PROTECTION OVER PRINCETON, OVER OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR PASTORS, OUR VOLUNTEERS. WE PRAY FOR THE MARRIAGES AND THE FAMILIES HERE AND FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE GROWING UP IN THIS CITY, THAT THEY WOULD KNOW THAT THEY ARE LOVED AND THAT THEY HAVE A FUTURE. LORD, WE ASK YOU TO EXPAND OUR BOUNDARIES, NOT FOR OUR NAME BUT FOR YOUR GLORY. LET PRINCETON BE A CITY WHERE YOUR GOODNESS IS EVIDENT, WHERE PEOPLE ARE CARED FOR, WHERE HOPE HAS A NAME. AND FATHER, LET YOURSELF BE HONORED IN THIS PLACE TONIGHT, NOT BY OUR WORDS ALONE, BUT BY HOW WE LOVE, HOW WE SERVE, AND HOW WE LEAD. WE ASK IT IN THE NAME OF JESUS, THE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME, ABOVE EVERY PROBLEM, ABOVE EVERY DECISION THIS COUNCIL WILL EVER FACE, IN JESUS'S NAME, AMEN. ALL: AMEN. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. LET'S STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. ALL: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. THIS WILL TAKE US TO ITEM F, PUBLIC APPEARANCE. [F. PUBLIC APPEARANCE] MS. ANDERSON, TAKE IT FROM HERE. AMBER ANDERSON: THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS SET ASIDE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY ITEM OF BUSINESS THAT IS NOT FORMALLY SCHEDULED ON THE AGENDA AS A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD COMPLETE A PUBLIC HEARING APPEARANCE CARD PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND PRESENT IT TO THE CITY SECRETARY. SPEAKERS ARE ALLOWED UP TO FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK. THE CITY COUNCIL IS UNABLE TO RESPOND TO OR DISCUSS ANY ISSUES THAT ARE BROUGHT UP DURING THIS PORTION THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA, OTHER THAN TO MAKE STATEMENTS OR SPECIFIC FACTUAL INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO A SPEAKER'S INQUIRY OR TO RECITE EXISTING POLICY IN RESPONSE TO THE INQUIRY. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK SHALL ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL DIRECTLY, NOT CITY STAFF OR OTHERWISE. BE COURTEOUS, RESPECTFUL, AND CORDIAL, AND REFRAIN FROM MAKING PERSONAL, DEMEANING, INSULTING, THREATENING OR DISPARAGING REMARKS, AS TO MAINTAIN DECORUM AND SUPPORT THE EFFICIENT AND ORDERLY FLOW OF THE MEETING. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I DON'T HAVE ANY FORMS. OK, THANK YOU. ELAM? AMBER ANDERSON: HANG ON. ONE SECOND. ELAMURUGU VAIYAPURI: OK. MY NAME IS ELAMURUGU VAIYAPURI. PLEASE CALL ME, ELAM, NO PRONOUNS, PLEASE. 903 EGRET STREET, PRINCETON, TEXAS. PAR-- I HAVE NOT FACED ANY TROUBLE WITH PAR THAT I HAVE RAISED MYSELF, BUT I HAVE KNOWN OTHERS WHO HAVE SEVERAL ISSUES. ONE WAY BY WHICH CITY CAN SOLVE, OR AT LEAST MAKE IT OPEN [00:05:02] IS BY PRODUCING PAR REPORTS. SO HOW MANY WERE FILED? SO THE REPORT-- I STARTED SEEING IT-- LAST CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, SO IT WAS SMALL, THREE NUMBERS. MAYBE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF INFORMATION THAT WE OFFER AS PART OF THE PAR. SO HOW MANY CAME IN THE PAST MONTH? HOW MANY WERE RESPONDED WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME? HOW MANY WENT TO AG? HOW MANY COMPLAINTS CAME ABOUT THE PAR REPORT, PARS THAT WERE REQUESTED? SECOND ITEM-- I ASKED ABOUT IT DEPARTMENT. DO WE EVEN HAVE AN IT DEPARTMENT NOW? I DON'T SEE IT LISTED IN THE CITY'S WEBSITE. WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH SOME POTENTIAL DATA LEAK THAT I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT. SO IT'S A HIGH RISK, AND I WISH WE HAVE AN IT DEPARTMENT AND HAVE IT KNOWN IN THE WEBSITE SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN IT DEPARTMENT. COMING TO MASON PLAQUE THAT WAS PULLED OUT OF ORDER LAST TIME. SO IT'S ABOUT AGENDA. SO WHEN SOMETHING IS PULLED OUT OF AGENDA, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT IT IS GETTING ALL THE WAY TO THE COMPLETION, OR IF SOMETHING IS DROPPED? I HAVE NO OTHER AGENDA ITEMS THAT WERE DROPPED IN THE PAST TWO, THREE YEARS. SO HOW DO WE TRACK SOMETHING IS DROPPED? MAYBE THERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT TOPICS THAT WERE MISSED. ON THE MASON PLAQUE ITSELF, I DON'T WANT THE PLAQUE TO BE PLACED ON CITY PROPERTY BECAUSE WHAT IF I WANT ELAM NAME TO BE PUT THERE? THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. IT SAYS, LEVELED BY MASON, SOMETHING. HARVEST POINT. SO I DON'T THINK HARVEST POINT OWNS THE LAND. THE LAND WAS NOT SOLD IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, SO THEY MAY BE HAVING AN OPTION. SO IF THEY WANT TO DEVELOP THAT PIECE, LET THEM DEVELOP, BUT THE REST OF THE PROPERTY IS-- WE ARE TALKING MULTIPLE MILLIONS. SO IT HAS TO GO TO PUBLIC RFP PROCESS SO THAT WE GET THE BEST-- IT CAN BE THE HARVEST POINT. I HAVE NO PROBLEM, AS LONG AS IT IS COMPETITIVE-- IT IS REVIEWED ALONG WITH OTHERS. CHECK REGISTRY. SO I KNOW THAT DURING THE CURRENT-- THE MOST RECENT CFO'S TENURE, IT WAS NOT PUBLISHED. SO NOW THAT WE MAY HAVE A NEW HEAD OF FINANCE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CHECK REGISTRY PUBLISHED ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AS IT USED TO BE. I DON'T THINK IT IS A REQUIREMENT, PER SE, BY ANY OF THE LAW THAT WE HAVE. SO THAT WAY I CANNOT EVEN CHALLENGE THAT WHY IT'S NOT PUBLISHED. SO I WISH IT STARTS GETTING PUBLISHED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: THANK YOU. STEVE DEFFIBAUGH? STEVEN DEFFIBAUGH: GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU ALLOW ME TO COME HERE AND SPEAK TO YOU ALL. IT'S WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT I HAVE RESIGNED FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AND AS A DECISION THAT WAS NOT EASILY MADE. BUT I DO WANT TO APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL. I VALUE YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND YOUR SERVICE ON THIS COUNCIL. IT'S NOT SAID OFTEN ENOUGH FOR THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE UP HERE. YOU SERVE FOR FREE. YOU VOLUNTEER. I VOLUNTEERED UP HERE AND STARTED IN MAY OF 2005 AS A COUNCILMEMBER. AND THAT'S LOTS OF SERVICE. THAT'S LOTS OF TIME, A LOT OF TIME AWAY FROM MY FAMILY, BUT DOING CITY BUSINESS, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT. AND I APPRECIATE IT. I SINCERELY APPRECIATE IT, AND I SINCERELY PRAY FOR EACH ONE OF YOU, THROUGHOUT THIS COUNCIL AND THROUGHOUT THE YEARS TO COME. THIS CITY IS GROWING. I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO GROW. I'VE BEEN SEEING IT FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT'S NOW TAKING PLACE. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GROW OUT TO A POINT, AT ONE TIME, THAT MANY OF Y'ALL WON'T BE ON THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME, BUT YOU GET TO SET THE DIRECTION. BUT ANOTHER COUNCIL WILL COME ALONG, AND THEY'LL CHANGE THE DIRECTION. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN. AND YOU'LL HAVE PEOPLE COME UP HERE STANDING WHERE I'M STANDING, COMPLAINING ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS. THAT HAPPENS, JUST DIFFERENT ONES. IT'S HAPPENED SINCE 2005. IT'S JUST DIFFERENT FOLKS. BUT I DO SINCERELY THANK YOU. NOW, THE OTHER ITEM I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT WAS THE SAFER GRANT, STUFF THAT YOU HAVE ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING. I HAVE A PASSION. I SERVED ON THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM 1989 TO 2018. IT WAS ALL VOLUNTEER. AND WE HAD VERY LITTLE FUNDING, ESPECIALLY FROM THE CITY. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE TIME. AND EVER SINCE WE BECAME A PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT, OR A COMBINATION AND THEN FINALLY A PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE CHIEFS HAVE BEEN APPLYING FOR THE SAFER GRANT [00:10:01] TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR MANPOWER. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS YEAR, IT CHANGED A LITTLE BIT. IT USED TO BE 100% UP FRONT, FIRST YEAR, AND THEN IT STARTED GOING DOWN, THE PERCENTAGE THEY'D COVER. NOW IT'S 75%. AND THIS PUTS US IN A TERRIBLE PLACE BECAUSE OF OUR-- I DON'T WANT TO SAY, BUDGET SHORTFALLS, BUT YOU CAN'T DO THINGS WITHOUT MONEY. AND I DON'T ENVY YOU MAKING THIS DECISION THIS EVENING. I DO NOT ENVY YOU. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY. IN ONE WAY, YOU'LL MAKE SOME PEOPLE MAD. SOME WAYS, YOU'LL MAKE OTHER PEOPLE HAPPY WHETHER YOU APPROVE IT OR NOT. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW IT'S A PRIORITY. AND WE NEED THE MANPOWER, NOT ONLY IN THE FIRE SERVICE BUT ALSO IN THE POLICE SERVICE. OUR CITY IS GROWING AT SUCH VOLUME. THE CALLS HAVE GONE UP. I CAN TELL YOU BACK IN THE 1989S, IF WE ANSWERED A HUNDRED CALLS A YEAR OR 200 CALLS A YEAR, WE WERE DOING A LOT OF CALLS. NOW IT'S PROBABLY 200 CALLS OR MORE A MONTH, MAYBE EVEN IN A COUPLE WEEKS. AND THEY DO NEED YOUR SUPPORT IN DOING THIS. NOW, I PRAY THAT THERE'S OTHER WAYS THAT IT CAN BE FUNDED IF NEED BE. I SEEM TO THINK OR REMEMBER WE APPROVED SOMETHING FROM THE EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS, GETTING FUNDED FOR THAT TO MAYBE DO SERVICE. DID WE? NO, WE DIDN'T? OK. I CAN'T REMEMBER. I THOUGHT I SAW SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT IF WE DO ENTER INTO SOME TYPE OF CONTRACT, EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS, THE ESD-- THE ESD? THAT WE DID ENTER INTO SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT-- I WOULD SAY TAKE SOME OF THAT FUNDING TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR THIS. I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR, IS TO PROVIDE SERVICE. AND WHAT A BETTER WAY TO PROVIDE THAT. WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE I'VE JUST GOT A FEW SECONDS LEFT. I HAVEN'T STOOD OVER THIS SIDE FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I DO APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: STAN FIKE? STAN FIKE: IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE. AND I WANTED TO START JUST BY SAYING, SINCE WE'RE IN AN ELECTION SEASON, IT MAKES ME APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU-- JUST ECHOING A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT STEVE SAID, THAT YOU SPEND YOUR TIME, TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY AND EVERYTHING TO HELP GOVERN THIS CITY. AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU'RE APPRECIATED. AND AS JOHN PRAYED A WHILE AGO, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE PASTORS HERE IN TOWN ARE PRAYING FOR YOU OFTEN. I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THE THING THAT YOU'RE DOING, THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE NATIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS DAY, AND WHAT A BLESSING THAT IS, BECAUSE THEY ALSO ARE SERVANTS HERE. I KNOW THEY'RE ON THE PAYROLL, BUT THEY'RE ON THE PAYROLL BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HEART TO SERVE THIS CITY. AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR EMTS ARE CRUCIAL, AND THEY'RE NOT PAID ENOUGH FOR WHAT THEY DO. THEY DO IT BECAUSE THEY LOVE US AND THEY LOVE KEEPING US SAFE. THE OTHER THING THAT BRINGS ME TO IS I WANTED TO JUST SAY I'VE KNOWN STEVE DEFFIBAUGH FOR OVER PROBABLY 40 YEARS AND KNOWN HIM TO BE SOMEONE WHO HAS LOVED THIS CITY AS MUCH AS ANYBODY I'VE EVER KNOWN. AND I'M SURE APPRECIATIVE OF HIS SERVICE HERE, NOT JUST ON CITY COUNCIL, BUT HIS SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY. AND I PRAY THAT GOD RAISES UP MORE LEADERS LIKE STEVE AND THAT YOU WILL BE LEADERS LIKE STEVE TO HAVE CITY OF PRINCETON ON YOUR HEART. THANK YOU. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: THANK YOU. MS. ELLIS? AUDIENCE: GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I HAVE A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF PRINCETON-- I HAVE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS. ONE-- AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE FOR THE PUBLIC [00:15:01] TO SPEAK ON OR NOT. BUT I KNOW AT THE SEPTEMBER 28 MEETING, THERE WERE SOME CHALLENGES AND SOME INACCURACIES WITH NUMBERS THAT WERE REPORTED. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'LL BE COMING BACK AROUND TO BE CORRECTED OR NOT. AS A RESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT BECAUSE, OF ALL THINGS, WITH ALL THE CHALLENGES AND STRUGGLES WE'VE HAD WITH THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, ALL NUMBERS SHOULD BE 100% ACCURATE AND CORRECT. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT-- STEVE, PLEASE-- I DO APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE THING YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS CITY. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID. YOU'RE A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, WHICH I TRULY APPRECIATE. HOWEVER, AGAIN, AS A CITIZEN, I DO HAVE A CONCERN REGARDING THE TIMING. WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT SPENDING MONEY FOR FIRE, FOR SAFETY. EVERY TIME WE'RE UP HERE, ANOTHER DEPARTMENT IS TALKING ABOUT SPENDING MONEY FOR SOMETHING. AND NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO SPEND $60,000 FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION. WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? ANYBODY KNOW? YOU'VE ALREADY RAISED MY TAXES. WHAT ELSE ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR THAT MONEY? ALSO, Y'ALL? I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT IF THE MAYOR IS ABSENT, NONE OF THE REMAINING OF YOU CAN BE ABSENT NOW OR YOU WILL NOT HAVE A QUORUM. AND HOW MANY BOARD MEETINGS DO WE SEE PLANNING AND ZONING-- HOW MANY TIMES DID WE NOT MEET QUORUM BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE? SO AT THIS POINT, THAT SEAT REMAINS OPEN UNTIL MAY OF 2027. SO YOU ALL PLAN ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: THANK YOU. THIS WILL TAKE US OUT OF CONSENT-- SORRY, NOT CONSENT-- PUBLIC APPEARANCE AND TAKE US TO ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST. [G. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST] MS. DAVID-GRAVES? CAROLYN DAVID-GRAVES: ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 2026. EARLY VOTING FOR THE NOVEMBER 03, 2026 PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION CONTINUES THIS WEEK FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM THROUGH OCTOBER 30. ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3. THE STEVE AND JUDY DEFFIBAUGH COMMUNITY CENTER, AT 416 NORTH 4TH STREET, IS THE VOTING LOCATION. VISIT THE COLLIN COUNTY ELECTION PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION. JOIN US FOR FALL GARDENING WORKSHOP ON NOVEMBER 14 AT 10:00 AM AT PUBLIC WORKS. LEARN WHY COOLER WEATHER MAKES AUTUMN A GREAT TIME TO GET BACK OUTSIDE AND ENJOY YOUR GARDEN. TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT YOUR GARDEN. REFLECT ON WHAT WORKED WELL THIS YEAR, AND START PLANNING FOR THE SEASONS AHEAD. THE COLLIN COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS WILL SHARE TIPS FOR EVALUATING YOUR GARDEN, INCLUDING FAVORITE FLOWER VARIETIES, SUCCESSFUL PLANT COMBINATIONS, AND COLOR SCHEMES THAT CAN HELP INSPIRE YOUR FUTURE GARDEN PLANS. SIGN UP, AND A LINK HAS BEEN PROVIDED. DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, FILLED WITH EVENTS, SERVICE AND PROGRAM INFORMATION AND MORE? THE PULSE DELIVERS PRINCETON TO YOUR INBOX. WHETHER YOU'RE A LIFELONG RESIDENT OR A NEWCOMER EAGER TO LEARN ABOUT THE CITY, SIGNING UP ENSURES YOU NEVER MISS A BEAT. STAY CONNECTED AND INFORMED, AND YOU CAN SIGN UP ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER. THESE ARE THE ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 2026. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: THANK YOU. [H. CONSENT AGENDA] ALL RIGHT. THIS WILL TAKE US TO ITEM H. MS. ANDERSON? AMBER ANDERSON: CONSENT AGENDA. ALL CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS LISTED ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL BE ENACTED IN ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS UNLESS A COUNCILMEMBER SO REQUESTS, IN WHICH EVENT THE ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED IN ITS NORMAL SEQUENCE ON THE AGENDA. WE HAVE H1 THROUGH H3. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: IS THERE ANY ITEMS THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE? [00:20:04] EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: OK. ONE OF Y'ALL WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME. TERRANCE JOHNSON: I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE REMOVAL OF ITEM H3. CRISTINA TODD: I'LL SECOND. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT, S. TODD, SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES. THIS WILL TAKE US TO CEREMONIAL ITEMS. [I. CEREMONIAL ITEMS] ITEM 1, MS. ANDERSON. WELL, I GOT THIS ONE. 2026-249, PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 28, 2026 AS THE NATIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS DAY IN THE CITY OF PRINCETON. AND I'LL READ THAT PROCLAMATION. "FIRST RESPONDERS, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL, AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATORS, PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY IN PRINCETON, TEXAS. THESE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS RESPOND AT ALL HOURS, PROVIDING LIFE-SAVING CARE, PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY, AND BRINGING ASSISTANCE AND REASSURANCE TO PEOPLE IN TIMES OF CRISIS. AND FIRST RESPONDERS DEMONSTRATE COURAGE, COMPASSION, PROFESSIONALISM, IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, OFTEN PLACING THE NEEDS OF OTHERS WELL BEFORE THEIR OWN SAFETY AND WELL-BEING. THEIR COMMITMENT TO TRAINING, PREPAREDNESS, AND COOPERATION STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES AND RECOVER FROM DISASTERS. AND THE FAMILIES OF FIRST RESPONDERS SHARE THOSE SACRIFICES AS PUBLIC SERVICE, SUPPORTING THEIR LOVED ONES THROUGH LONG SHIFTS, MISSED HOLIDAYS AND DEMANDS OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE. AND NATIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS DAY, ON OCTOBER 28, 2026, OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED AND REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THEIR ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. AND THE CITY OF PRINCETON EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE TO ALL FIRST RESPONDERS WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND HELP KEEP OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND VISITORS SAFE. NOW, THEREFORE, I, MAYOR EUGENE ESCOBAR, JR, AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PRINCETON, TEXAS, ON BEHALF OF CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 28, 2026 AS NATIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS DAY. I URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN HONORING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE, AND SUPPORT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ANSWER THE CALL TO PROTECT AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY." AND WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO GIVE. [APPLAUSE] AND WE WILL MOVE EXECUTIVE TO THE END OF THE MEETING. THIS WILL TAKE US TO ITEM L, REGULAR AGENDA, [H3. 2026-250 Consider the First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Community Center Operations Agreement, and take appropriate action.] AND THIS WILL START US OFF WITH H3. MS. ANDERSON? AMBER ANDERSON: 2026-250. CONSIDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED COMMUNITY CENTER OPERATIONS AGREEMENT, AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. DAVID HALL: SO, MAYOR, ALSO FILLING IN THAT ROLE AS WELL. DIDN'T EXPECT THIS ONE TO BE PULLED. BUT FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS AN ITEM WHERE I WAS ASKED TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT THAT HAD THIS AUTOMATICALLY RENEWING TERM, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE A COPY OF AN ACTUALLY EXECUTED AGREEMENT. AND SO THE EDC, CDC ATTORNEY RECOMMENDED, AND WE AGREED, THAT IT WOULD JUST BE PRUDENT TO BRING IT BACK TO GET "AUTHORIZED" AGAIN. IT HAD BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COUNCIL AND THE OTHER BOARDS BEFORE, BUT JUST BRINGING IT BACK, REALLY, IN A VERY PERFUNCTORY MANNER TO BE AUTHORIZED AGAIN [00:25:03] FOR THE CITY AND THE-- THE CDC, RATHER, TO HAVE THIS AGREEMENT WHERE THE CITY OPERATES THE COMMUNITY CENTER. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: OK. MR. JOHNSON? TERRANCE JOHNSON: YEAH, AND THE REASON I HAD THIS ONE PULLED IS BECAUSE THE AGREEMENT EFFECTIVE DATE WAS LISTED AS JANUARY 21 OF 2026, BUT WE'RE AGREEING TO IT TODAY. AND ON THE DOCUMENT, IT DOESN'T GO INTO FULL EFFECT UNTIL BOTH PARTIES AGREE, WHICH- THE CHAIR SIGNED THIS ON JANUARY 21. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN BETWEEN THAT TIME, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD APPROVE IT WITH THE EFFECTIVE DATE BEING AT 1/21/26. IT NEEDS TO BE THE DATE THAT WE APPROVED IT TODAY. SO I WOULD-- DAVID HALL: AGREED. AND I PROBABLY COULD'VE DONE A BETTER JOB OF EXPLAINING. THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE'RE BRINGING IT BACK, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY EXECUTED VERSIONS. AND TO YOUR POINT, THE ONE EXECUTION DATE WAS WAY BACK THEN. IN FACT, IT HAD ACTUALLY ALMOST EXPIRED AND GOING INTO THE NEXT TERM. IF YOU LOOK AT THE EXPIRATION, IT WAS SEPTEMBER OF 2026. SO THAT CAN BE CHANGED. THE EFFECTIVE DATE WILL BE FROM THIS POINT WHEN IT'S APPROVED BY BOTH PARTIES AND EXECUTED AND GOING FORWARD. SO THAT'S A DRAFTING THING THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT COURTNEY CORRECTS. TERRANCE JOHNSON: PERFECT. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: SO CAN WE CONDITIONALLY APPROVE THAT WITH THE CORRECTION? OK. AT THIS TIME, LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION. TERRANCE JOHNSON: I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM H3, WITH THE-- CONDITIONALLY APPROVING IT SO THAT WE CAN AMEND THE EFFECTIVE DATE SO THAT IT REFLECTS 10/26/2026. CAROLYN DAVID-GRAVES: I SECOND. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. MS. DAVID-GRAVES SECOND. I THINK I'M MISSING ONE. I'M MISSING A VOTE. SORRY. THERE WE GO. MOTION PASSES 6-0. ALL RIGHT. THIS WILL TAKE US TO ITEM L1, MS. ANDERSON. [L1. 2026-248 Consider the resignation of Councilmember Steven Deffibaugh, Place 5, and take appropriate action.] AMBER ANDERSON: 2026-248. CONSIDER THE RESIGNATION OF COUNCILMEMBER STEVEN DEFFIBAUGH, PLACE 5, AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. BEFORE WE MAKE A MOTION, DOES ANYBODY LIKE TO SAY? I'M PRETTY SURE. BRYAN WASHINGTON: WITHOUT A DOUBT, I JUST WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MR. DEFFIBAUGH FOR NOT JUST HIS YEARS OF SERVICE BUT ALSO JUST BEING A MENTOR TO A LOT OF FOLKS WITHIN THE CITY AND, I MEAN, JUST ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE, FROM PUBLIC SERVICE TO FIRST RESPONDERS, MAN, JUST EVERYTHING. I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST GOT INVOLVED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT I REACHED OUT TO, AND WE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE CITY AND THE HISTORY. AND I'M GOING TO MISS THOSE STORIES, MAN. I TELL YOU. WE GOT TO MEET UP AT JOCY'S SO YOU CAN TELL ME THOSE STORIES, KEEP TELLING ME THOSE. BUT ANYHOW, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY OF PRINCETON, AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU ON THE COUNCIL. WE APPRECIATE YOU, STEVE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. RUTLEDGE? JAISEN RUTLEDGE: STEVE, I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED GETTING INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE THINGS RELATED TO THE CITY ON THE CDC AND OTHER AREAS, AND I JOINED THE CDC, AND YOU WERE THE PRESIDENT AT THE TIME. AND I WAS SO GREEN, AND THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT I JUST DID NOT UNDERSTAND. AND I HAVE TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN WASHINGTON SAID. YOU WERE A GREAT MENTOR. WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING. WE COULD STILL HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION. AND I APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION, YOU'RE WILLING TO DISCUSS IT. AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS CITY-- I DON'T KNOW THAT THE RESIDENTS AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE TIME INVESTED. AND I DROVE HERE TODAY, DROVE PAST MY SON, MY 11-YEAR-OLD SON, PLAYING CATCH WITH A NEIGHBOR, THINKING HOW I WOULD LOVE TO BE THE NEIGHBOR PLAYING CATCH WITH MY KID. AND PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT THE TIME THAT'S INVESTED HERE SO THAT WE CAN BE A SERVICE TO THE REST OF THE CITY. AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF YEARS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU MISSED OUT ON, THE THINGS THAT YOU DID, DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO DO BEING UP HERE ON THIS DAIS. SO I HAVE TO SAY, MAN. I JUST-- INSPIRED BY YOUR TIME AND INSPIRED BY YOUR PERSON AND JUST, THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. LONG? TERRANCE JOHNSON: I'D LIKE TO- OH, GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: SORRY. I'M NOT SURE WHO HAD IT ON FIRST, BUT MR. LONG? BEN LONG: STEVE, I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS HERE IN THE CITY. I APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY. YOU'VE ALWAYS TOLD ME YOUR OPINION VERY CLEARLY, AND I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT. I'VE APPRECIATED ALL THE GUIDANCE YOU'VE GIVEN ME AND ALL OUR CONVERSATIONS [00:30:01] OVER THESE FEW SHORT YEARS THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU. AND YOU'RE DEFINITELY A LEGEND IN THIS TOWN. SO GLAD WE'RE ABLE TO HONOR YOU TODAY. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. JOHNSON? TERRANCE JOHNSON: SO, 2005. I MEAN, THAT'S A LONG TIME. I MEAN, IN 2005, I THINK I WAS IN COLLEGE DOING THE DOUGIE AND THE WHEEL IN A PARTY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND I WAS NOT THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE. AND YOU HAVE SPENT THAT AMOUNT OF TIME GIVING YOUR TIME TO THIS CITY. AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THIS SEAT AND THIS ROLE AND WHAT IT TRULY TAKES TO SIT HERE AND DO THIS, TIME AFTER TIME. AND YOU'VE DONE THIS FOR, I MEAN, MOST ALL OF YOUR LIFE. AND LORD KNOWS THAT YOU AND I DIDN'T AGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS, AND THAT'S OK. THAT'S ALLOWED. THAT'S DEMOCRACY. BUT ONE THING WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET WITH YOU IS WE'RE GOING TO KNOW WHERE YOU STAND, AND THERE'S NO SECOND GUESSING THAT. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WILL EVER-- OUTSIDE OF MAXINE. I THINK MAXINE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A RUN FOR YOUR MONEY IN TERMS OF [LAUGHS] THE LENGTH OF TIME FOR SERVICE. BUT AGAIN, JUST- I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY. YOU ARE TRULY A LEGEND, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE OFFERED. THANK YOU. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MS. DAVID-GRAVES? CAROLYN DAVID-GRAVES: STEVE, I DON'T THINK WORDS ARE ENOUGH TO THANK YOU FOR THE CONTRIBUTION THAT YOU HAVE MADE TO NOT ONLY PRINCETON, BUT ALSO COLLIN COUNTY. EVEN BEFORE I KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT STEVE, I WATCHED A MOVIE ABOUT A COLLIN COUNTY INVESTIGATOR TASKED WITH SOLVING THE MURDER OF A LADY IN THE 1980S. I WATCHED THAT MOVIE. AND I LIKE MOVIES LIKE THAT, ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH FIRST RESPONDERS OR CRIME DRAMA, AND THAT WAS A GOOD MOVIE. AND THEN I MET YOU. AND THEN I LEARNED ABOUT SMOKEY THE BEAR. AND THEN I LEARNED ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND WHEN I RAN FOR COUNCIL, YOU TOOK THE TIME TO INVITE THOSE OF US WHO ARE RUNNING AT THE TIME TO YOUR HOME AND TALK WITH US ABOUT THE ROLE THAT WE WERE UNDERTAKING AND WHAT IT MEANS, THE SACRIFICE, THE HEART THAT WE NEED TO HAVE BEHIND THE SERVICE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING, THE ABILITY TO DISCERN, THE ABILITY TO BE TOUGH-SKINNED AND TO SERVE FOR THE PEOPLE. AND THAT DID NOT GO COLD ON ME. MY SON, MY YOUNGEST, WAS VERY MUCH AFFECTED BY YOUR TAKING HIM UNDER HIS WING AT A TIME WHEN HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT HE WANTED TO DO. AND TODAY HE IS SERVING IN OUR MILITARY BECAUSE OF YOUR INFLUENCE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE GUIDANCE THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED, THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE SERVED HERE, THE WISDOM THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN, THE LEADERSHIP. I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT. AND TODAY, I CRIED A LITTLE BIT WHEN YOU CAME UP TO THE PODIUM BECAUSE PRINCETON IS MISSING HISTORY. IT'S MISSING A MAN WITH HEART, A MAN WHO SELFLESSLY SERVED AND IS STILL SERVING. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW DEEPLY I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I BELIEVE I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MANY PRINCETONERS IN SAYING THIS. THANK YOU, STEVE. THANK YOU, EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MS. TODD? CRISTINA TODD: YEAH. YOU'VE DONE A LOT FOR THE CITY, AND YOU'VE CREATED A LEGACY THAT WILL LAST GENERATIONS. YOUR IMPACT UP HERE AND IN EACH OF YOUR CAPACITIES WILL IMPACT THE CITY FOR GENERATIONS. I WISH THAT, WITH MY FOUR YEARS, I'D BE ABLE TO DO HALF THE AMOUNT OF THINGS AND HAVE THAT MUCH OF AN IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE IN ALL YOUR YEARS. IT WON'T HAPPEN, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY. I NEVER GOT TO HAVE MY BREAKFAST WITH YOU. BUT IF YOU ARE STILL WILLING, I WOULD LOVE THAT. I KNOW THAT ALL YOUR YEARS-- YOU HAVE A LOT OF WISDOM AND INSIGHT TO SHARE, AND I WOULD LOVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY AND HOW IT'S GROWN AND WHERE IT'S COME FROM. AND I KNOW THAT IT WASN'T AN EASY DECISION FOR YOU TO STEP DOWN, BUT I DO HOPE THAT WE [00:35:04] CAN TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AS A COUNCIL AND TAKE THIS MOMENT OF YOUR-- YOUR CHOICE TO DO SOMETHING, ONCE MORE, FOR THE CITY. AND WITH US HAVING TO DO A SPECIAL ELECTION. IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE HOME RULE CHARTER THAT DID NOT MAKE IT ONTO THIS ELECTION. AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT LEGACY THAT, AT THE SPECIAL ELECTION WE'LL HAVE TO CALL FOR YOUR SEAT, THAT THIS COUNCIL ALSO ENSURES THAT THE HOME RULE CHARTER COMES BACK UP SO ONE LAST THING CAN BE DONE AS YOU LEAVE YOUR SEAT FROM COUNCIL. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: STEVE, I WILL MISS YOU. I KNOW WE PROBABLY DIDN'T SEE EYE TO EYE ON A LOT OF THINGS, BUT THE ONE THING THAT WE DID SEE EYE TO EYE WAS THE CHILDREN, WAS MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS TAKEN CARE OF. I WILL ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU FOR PUTTING ME IN THE POSITION FOR THE TOYS FOR TOTS. I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT, BUT THAT WAS STEVE'S DEAL, WHO PUT ME IN THAT LIGHT. SO I WILL ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT. BUT I THINK THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY THE ONE PERSON IN THIS ROOM THAT HAS SAT IN EVERYBODY'S SEAT. YOU SAT IN THE CHIEF'S SEAT. YOU SAID IN THAT CHIEF'S SEAT. YOU SAT IN THE COUNCIL'S SEAT, ON THE MAYOR'S SEAT. SO YOU WILL ALWAYS BE RESPECTED FOR THAT IN THIS CITY. AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAVE A BUILDING NAMED AFTER YOU AND YOU'RE HERE TO SEE IT. SO I KNOW THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE HERE IN PRINCETON. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BECAUSE I DOUBT I'LL PUT IN THAT MUCH TIME THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE CITY. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HERE, STEVE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NOW, BEFORE WE VOTE, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ONE MORE TIME. I KNOW YOU'VE SPOKEN YOUR FIVE MINUTES, BUT YOU CAN SPEAK AGAIN. I KNOW YOU WANT-- ONE MORE STORY? YOU GOT A STORY? AUDIENCE: I JUST GOT TO PUT ONE THING [INAUDIBLE] EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: OR A JOKE. [LAUGHTER] EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: CAN YOU COME UP TO THE MIC SO THAT PEOPLE AT HOME CAN HEAR YOU, TOO? STEVEN DEFFIBAUGH: ANY OF Y'ALL EVER WATCHED STAR TREK? MAXINE? ARE YOU A TREKKIE? OK. ANY OF Y'ALL WATCH STAR TREK? I READ AN ARTICLE THE OTHER DAY-- IN FACT, ONE OF THE STARS OF STAR TREK JUST PASSED AWAY JUST A COUPLE DAYS AGO. BUT I READ AN ARTICLE THAT REALLY DISAPPOINTED ME IN THE FILMING OF STAR TREK BACK THEN, BECAUSE OF-- YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT BUDGET SHORTFALLS. HAD THIS BUDGET SHORTFALL BACK THEN. AND DID YOU KNOW THAT THEY DID MOST OF THE FILMING ON EARTH? [LAUGHTER] EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: HEY, STEVE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION. CRISTINA TODD: ALL RIGHT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION. SO I MOVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RESIGNATION OF COUNCILMEMBER DEFFIBAUGH PLACED BY EFFECTIVE BY ITS TERMS, OCTOBER 14, 2026. FIND THAT THE UNEXPIRED TERMS EXCEEDS 12 MONTHS AND DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY SECRETARY TO PLACE ON THE NEXT AGENDA AN ORDER CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION UNDER CHARTER 3.05E WITH THE DATE, ITS ELECTION CODE AUTHORITY, AND THE COST. TERRANCE JOHNSON: I SECOND. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT, MR. JOHNSON, SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES, 6-0. [L2. 2026-244 Consider the Steven and Judy Deffibaugh Community Center Forensic Audit close-out report and presentation, and take appropriate action] THIS WILL TAKE US TO ITEM L2. MS. ANDERSON? AMBER ANDERSON: 2026-244. CONSIDER THE STEVEN AND JUDY DEFFIBAUGH COMMUNITY CENTER, FORENSIC AUDIT, CLOSEOUT REPORT, AND PRESENTATION, AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. BLAKE BOGDAN: GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK IN PRINCETON. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT I'VE BEEN COMMITTING-- OR PRESENTING FOR THE CDC FOR PROBABLY A YEAR AND A HALF NOW AT THIS POINT. SO CONSIDER PRINCETON A SECOND HOME AT THIS POINT. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME'S BLAKE BOGDAN. I'M A MANAGER AT WEAVER AND TIDWELL. WEAVER AND TIDWELL'S A FULL-SERVICE ACCOUNTING FIRM. THINK PUBLIC, AUDIT, TAX, THINGS LIKE THAT. WITHIN THEIR ADVISORY ARM, I SIT WITH THE FORENSICS AND LITIGATION TEAM. SO WE'RE FORENSIC ACCOUNTANTS. OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, ROUGHLY, WE'VE [00:40:02] CONDUCTED OUR INVESTIGATION OF THE STEVEN AND JUDY DEFFIBAUGH COMMUNITY CENTER. AND THE RELATIVE EXPENDITURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND TODAY IS THE DAY THAT ALL OF THAT GETS WRAPPED UP FINALLY, AND THE FINAL PRESENTATION GETS MADE. SO TO START-- IF I CAN GET THIS TO WORK. TO START, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A QUICK BACKGROUND AND TIMELINE OF HOW THINGS HAVE PROGRESSED OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. WE WERE INITIALLY RETAINED IN AUGUST OF 2025 TO CONDUCT A FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND RELATED EXPENDITURES FOR THE PERIOD 2015 TO 2022, ROUGHLY. ON OCTOBER 10, WE PRESENTED OUR INITIAL FINDINGS TO THE CDC BOARD, AT WHICH POINT THE SCOPE WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SELECT ITEMS AND EXPENDITURES PAST THE INITIAL 2022 SCOPE INTO 2025. FEBRUARY OF 2026-- WE PRESENTED OUR FINAL FINDINGS, AND THEN THE REPORT WAS ISSUED AND FINALIZED FOR THE CDC CEO AT THE TIME, JIM W, IN END OF MARCH 2026. AT ANY POINT, FEEL FREE TO STOP ME AND ASK QUESTIONS. I PREFER THIS TO BE AN OPEN DIALOGUE AS WE GO THROUGH. IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANT TO STOP AND TALK ABOUT, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT. BUT TO SUMMARIZE, EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY HAS EITHER BEEN PRESENTED TO THE CDC BOARD AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER IN OPEN FORUM OR IS PULLED DIRECT QUOTE FROM OUR REPORT. AS AN OVERVIEW OF THE REPORT-- AND WE SPLIT IT APART INTO THREE SECTIONS. SO B.I WAS THE INITIAL ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER RENOVATIONS. YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ME SAY PART 1 AND PART 2. SO PART 1 IS THAT INITIAL SCOPE OF 2015 TO 2022. AND THEN PART 2 ARE GOING TO BE THE RECENT RENOVATIONS THAT WERE FINISHED, I THINK LATE LAST YEAR. PART 2 IS RELATED TO THE COMPLIANCE OF PURCHASING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT THE CDC AND CITY PROJECT MANAGERS WENT THROUGH OVER THE COURSE OF THE RENOVATIONS. AND THEN PART 3 WAS RELATED TO REVIEW OF THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS THAT WERE INITIALLY PROPOSED BY CONTRACTORS WORKING ON THE WORK AND WHAT ACTUALLY GOT IMPLEMENTED AT THE END OF THE DAY. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: JUST A QUESTION. THIS IS YOUR FINAL DRAFT, RIGHT? IT SAYS PRELIMINARY DRAFT, BUT THIS IS FINAL? OK I'M JUST MAKING SURE. BLAKE BOGDAN: YES. SO PART 1, REVIEW OF THE EXPENDITURES UNDER THE PHASE I RENOVATIONS. WE ESSENTIALLY POLLED ACCOUNTING RECORDS AND REPORTS FROM THE CDC OF ANY MONEY THAT WAS SPENT UNDER THE PHASE I RENOVATIONS. WE REVIEWED INVOICES RELATED TO ANY OF THOSE EXPENSES AND EXPENDITURES TIED TO THE ACCOUNTING RECORDS, ESSENTIALLY MARRIED THOSE UP ONE TO ONE, WHETHER THAT BE ON DOLLAR-VALUE BASIS OR SCOPE OF WORK MENTIONED IN THE ACCOUNTING RECORDS. ULTIMATELY, EVERYTHING WE REVIEWED HAD SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. I WILL SAY WE DIDN'T REVIEW EVERYTHING BY DOLLAR VALUE. WE REVIEWED ABOUT 80% OF THE ACCOUNTING ENTRIES. THOSE WERE SELECTED BASED ON RISK-BASED CRITERIA. SO THINK TOTAL DOLLAR VALUE OR WHETHER THERE WERE SPECIFIC VENDORS OF NOTE. WE'LL GET INTO THIS LATER, BUT THERE WERE THREE THAT WERE RECEIVING OVER $50,000 THAT WE REVIEWED EVERY EXPENDITURE RELATED TO THOSE VENDORS. BUT OVERALL, AGAIN, 80% OF THE MONEY SPENT UNDER THE PHASE I RENOVATIONS WERE REVIEWED AND TIED TO SPECIFIC INVOICES OR CONTRACTS THAT THE CDC ENTERED INTO. THE SECOND SECTION OF B.I PERTAINS TO, ESSENTIALLY, BACKGROUND CHECK INTO CITY PROJECT MANAGERS OR CDC STAFF THAT MIGHT'VE HAD A HAND IN SELECTING SPECIFIC VENDORS THAT PERFORMED THE WORK. AND THESE WERE THINGS THAT CAME UP IN INTERVIEWS THAT WE CONDUCTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE INVESTIGATION. AND ULTIMATELY, EVERYTHING WE LOOKED INTO, OR PUBLIC INFORMATION-WISE-- THERE WAS NO IMPROPER OWNERSHIP, NO FINANCIAL INTEREST THAT ANY OF THE PROJECT MANAGERS OF THE CITY HAD INTEREST IN THE VENDORS THAT WERE ULTIMATELY AWARDED THE WORK. SO THAT IS SECTION I. ANY QUESTIONS, OR READY TO MOVE ON? CRISTINA TODD: I'M JUST CURIOUS. YOUR MEMO-- THERE WERE ADVERSE FINDINGS THAT WERE ACTUALLY IN YOUR REPORT, BUT THE MEMO DOESN'T REFERENCE ANY OF THESE THINGS. BLAKE BOGDAN: IN OUR REPORT? CRISTINA TODD: YEAH, SO FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'RE SAYING THE-- BREAKING DOWN WITHIN THE $50,000. ONE OF THOSE IS THE DFW FRAMING. THEY HAD 12 INVOICES. EVERYTHING WAS BROKEN-- BLAKE BOGDAN: WE'LL GET INTO THAT IN SECTION II. CRISTINA TODD: OK. BLAKE BOGDAN: YEAH, SORRY. SECTION II IS A REVIEW OF COMPLIANCE WITH PURCHASING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT THE CITY PROJECT MANAGERS UNDERWENT WHEN SELECTING VENDORS. SO ATTACHED IS A DIRECT PULL FROM OUR REPORT, IS A SUMMARY OF THE PRINCETON PURCHASING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT WERE ADOPTED AT THE TIME OF THE RENOVATIONS. [00:45:02] BASED ON CDC INSTRUCTION, WE FOCUSED MAINLY ON ANYTHING ABOVE $50,000, AND THAT WOULD BE RELATED TO THREE SPECIFIC VENDORS, WHICH MS. TODD WAS ALLUDING TO HERE. FIRST ONE IS MIKE RODGERS CONSTRUCTION. I THINK, ULTIMATELY, THEY RECEIVED ABOUT $200,000. TO CUT IT SHORT, MIKE RODGERS CONSTRUCTION-- THERE WAS PROPER CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THEIR APPOINTMENT AND SELECTION TO DO THE WORK. THERE'S A SPECIFIC RESOLUTION THAT I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT WE REFERENCE IN THE REPORT, OF THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVING THEIR AWARD OF THE WORK. SO NO ISSUES WITH MIKE RODGERS CONSTRUCTION, DFW FRAMING. LET ME SEE, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. HAD ABOUT $200,000 WORTH OF WORK AS WELL. THEY WERE AWARDED THAT WORK OVER 12 DIFFERENT CONTRACTS WITH DIFFERENT SCOPES OF WORK, LIKE MS. TODD MENTIONED. ALL OF THOSE WERE PRIMARILY RANGING IN THAT $25,000 RANGE. THERE WAS A COUPLE THAT GOT UP TO $30,000. BUT IN THE REPORT, THERE'S SPECIFIC LINE ITEMS FOR EACH OF THESE AMOUNTS. AS THEY WERE BELOW $50,000, THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH A FORMAL BIDDING PROCESS. I THINK THE REQUIREMENT WAS THREE QUOTES. FORMAL-- I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AS THEY WERE BELOW $50,000. SO WITH THAT, MS. TODD, WHEN WE PRESENTED THESE FINDINGS TO THE CDC BOARD, THERE WAS NO ISSUES WITH THAT CONSIDERING DIFFERENT SCOPES OF WORK IN DIFFERENT CONTRACTS. DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AROUND ANY OF THOSE VENDORS OR THEIR SELECTIONS? CRISTINA TODD: I MEAN, YOU LOOKED AT OUR ORDINANCES, BUT DID YOU LOOK UNDER STATE LAW FOR STATE MUNICIPAL-- FOR SPLIT PURCHASING, AND HOW-- AND-- BLAKE BOGDAN: YES, MA'AM. CRISTINA TODD: AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE SPLIT PURCHASING THAT WAS DONE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW? BLAKE BOGDAN: GIVEN THAT THEY WERE SEPARATE SCOPES OF WORK AND SEPARATE PIECES OF WORK UNDER SEPARATE CONTRACTS, WE DID NOT HAVE ISSUES WITH THAT, AND THE CDC BOARD DID NOT AS WELL. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: SO ARE YOU SAYING THERE WAS SEPARATE-- SO I KNOW I'VE LOOKED INTO THIS-- TO A FEW OF THESE WHEN I FIRST CAME ON, AND I'VE SEEN CONTRACTS UP TO $50,000, NOT SURPASSING IT. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU FOUND MORE CONTRACTS OR SCOPE OF WORK THAT WENT BEYOND THAT. BUT I KNOW FOR SOME OF THESE COMPANIES, I DIDN'T SEE WHERE COUNCIL APPROVED MORE THAN THE AMOUNT THAT THEY GOT PAID. BLAKE BOGDAN: MM-HMM. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: AND YOU WENT BACK TO VERIFY THAT THE WHOLE $200,000 FOR-- YOU SAID-- FOR, LET'S SAY, MIKE RODGERS-- THAT $200,000 WAS APPROVED THROUGH COUNCIL AT SOME POINT IN TIME? BLAKE BOGDAN: I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WAS APPROVED THROUGH COUNCIL. I KNOW SEPARATE SCOPES OF WORK-- CDC BOARD SCHEDULED IT. WHETHER THAT ULTIMATELY MET THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HOLDS-- EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO JUST THROW IT OUT THERE PUBLICLY, BUT THERE'S-- I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE CONTRACTS-- OR ONE CONTRACT FOR ONE OF THESE SPECIFIC VENDORS WHERE IT GAVE THEM UP TO, AND THEN THEY WERE PAID WELL BEYOND THAT. YEAH. SO I'M TRYING TO SEE WHEN WERE THEY APPROVED AFTER THAT SET AMOUNT, AND DID THEY USE THAT SAME SCOPE OF WORK OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BECAUSE WE NEVER GOT THE SCOPE OF WORK. THEY WENT WELL BEYOND THAT SCOPE OF WORK THAT WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED FROM COUNCIL. BLAKE BOGDAN: I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT WORK PAPERS SPECIFICALLY FOR ONE CONTRACT OR ANOTHER. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: BUT DO YOU VERIFY THAT THE SCOPE OF WORK, EVEN IF IT SAYS UP TO $50,000, NOT $50,000 EACH OCCURRENCE-- DO YOU VERIFY THAT THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT THEY FOLLOWED? BLAKE BOGDAN: CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN FOR ME? SORRY. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: SO BASICALLY, I KNOW THAT THEY WAS UNDERNEATH A THRESHOLD TO BRING IT BACK, BUT THE CONTRACT GAVE THEM AN AMOUNT UP TO. SO ANYTHING BEYOND THAT AMOUNT UP TO SHOULD'VE CAME BACK TO COUNCIL, AND DO YOU GUYS VERIFY THAT HAS HAPPENED. BLAKE BOGDAN: I DO NOT BELIEVE WE LOOKED AT THAT AS PART OF THE SCOPE OF WORK. THAT WOULD'VE BEEN-- THE SIX CONTRACTS WE REVIEWED WERE EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT THEY WERE INVOICED. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: BUT THERE'S A CONTRACT ATTACHED TO EACH ONE OF THEIR INVOICES. BLAKE BOGDAN: OF SIX OF THE 12 THAT WE SEE, YES. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: OK. MS. TODD? CRISTINA TODD: YEAH. ONE OF THE EXAMPLES THAT I'M READING IS THAT INTERDEPENDENTLY SPLITTING A UNIFIED PROJECT OR SYSTEM INTO INDIVIDUAL PIECES- SO BUYING A VEHICLE IN ONE AND THE ENGINE IN THE OTHER-- THAT'S STILL CONSIDERED PROHIBITED. SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THEY BROKE IT UP INTO DIFFERENT PIECES, BUT IT'S STILL UNDER THE ONE MAIN PROJECT. BLAKE BOGDAN: I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION, WHETHER THESE SCOPES OF WORK'S RELATED TO ONE OVERALL PROJECT [00:50:01] OR IF THE SEPARATE SCOPES OF WORK WERE VALID OR NOT, ACCORDING TO CITY OPINION. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: AND JUST, FOR EXAMPLE, THESE TWO CONTRACTORS-- YOU'RE SAYING YOU HAVE A CONTRACT FOR BOTH OF THEM THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND, THAT YOU WAS PROVIDED? BLAKE BOGDAN: WHEN YOU SAY BOTH OF THEM, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: SO MIKE RODGERS CONSTRUCTION-- THERE'S A SEPARATE CONTRACT FROM DFW FRAMING? BLAKE BOGDAN: MIKE RODGERS CONSTRUCTION, YES. DFW FRAMING, AGAIN, WAS PERFORMED UNDER SEPARATE CONTRACTS. WE HAVE SIX OF THE 12, BUT I BELIEVE THOSE SIX ARE A LITTLE OVER HALF OF THE VALUE ULTIMATELY PAID TO THEM. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: IN REGARDS TO THE PURCHASE THRESHOLDS THAT ARE LISTED, AS PART OF CITY POLICY, THERE'S SOME CAVEATS THAT ARE LISTED HERE, LIKE THREE QUOTES EITHER WRITTEN OR EMAIL. OR IF THREE QUOTES WERE NOT OBTAINED, A STATEMENT MUST ACCOMPANY THE REQUISITION SUBSTANTIATING WHY LESS THAN THREE QUOTES WERE OBTAINED. DID WE SEE ANY INSTANCES WHERE THE FIRST WASN'T PROVIDED AND MAYBE THE SECOND, WHERE THERE THE CAVEAT WAS USED? BLAKE BOGDAN: NOT IN THE DOCUMENTATION WE RECEIVED, NO. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE, FOR THE QUOTES-- I MEAN, WE'RE MISSING CONTRACTS, IT SEEMS LIKE. AND ALSO, IN THE QUOTING PROCESS, I'M TRYING UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S-- ARE THERE GAPS IN HOW THE QUOTES WERE RECEIVED? BLAKE BOGDAN: NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, AGAIN, OF THE DOCUMENTATION WE RECEIVED, CONTRACTS AND QUOTES WERE MISSING ON OCCASION. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: I THINK WE HAVE SOME GAPS THAT WE PROBABLY-- THERE'S PROBABLY SOME FURTHER QUESTIONS. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I'M MORE CURIOUS-- SO ARE YOU GUYS-- I GUESS WHAT IS YOUR FINDING? I GUESS YOU'RE NOT DONE WITH YOUR PRESENTATION EITHER. BUT I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT YOUR VIEW ON THIS PROJECT IS AND THIS DEAL SO. BLAKE BOGDAN: CAN YOU DEFINE "VIEW"? [LAUGHS] EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: WAS THIS CONSIDERED A CLEAN INSPECTION FOR YOU, OR IS THERE DEFICIENCIES OR MAJOR CONCERNS THAT YOUR COMPANY WOULD POINT OUT? BLAKE BOGDAN: I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ELIGIBLE TO MAKE A CLAIM ON-- OR IS THIS CLEAN VERSUS NOT CLEAN, DOES THIS SATISFY THE CITY'S REQUIREMENTS FOR A LOT OF THIS STUFF. I THINK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, BASED ON ETHICAL GUIDANCE FROM CPA AND CFE ORGANIZATIONS, I CAN PRESENT WHAT WE FOUND, WHAT WE PROVIDED, AND IT'S UP TO YOU ALL TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON WHETHER THAT WAS SATISFACTORY OR NOT. CRISTINA TODD: DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF-- SORRY. DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF WHAT EACH OF THOSE WORK ORDERS FOR THE DF FRAMING AND CONSTRUCTION WERE, FOR WHAT EACH OF THOSE ITEMS WERE? BLAKE BOGDAN: WORK ORDERS, NO. CONTRACTS, YES. SO I DON'T KNOW IF WORK ORDERS WOULD SATISFY THAT DEFINITION? CRISTINA TODD: I WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE SCOPE OF WORK IS FOR EACH OF THOSE 12. BLAKE BOGDAN: YEAH. THE CDC HAS THEM. CDC HAS PHYSICAL FILES OF THEM, I BELIEVE. WE HAVE RETAINED CONTRACTS FOR THOSE AS WELL, BUT WE CAN PRODUCE-- YOU'D PROBABLY HAVE TO ASK THEM THROUGH THE CDC BECAUSE OUR CONTRACT IS THROUGH THE CDC, SPECIFICALLY. BUT I MEAN, THOSE SIX, YES, WE COULD PRODUCE SIX. CRISTINA TODD: SIX? OR THE SIX THAT YOU HAD OF 12. BLAKE BOGDAN: SIX OF 12. YES, MA'AM. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. HALL? QUESTION FOR YOU. I KNOW THIS IS JUST TO PRESENT US-- US THE INFORMATION FROM CDC AND THIS AUDIT. BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT-- LET'S JUST SAY COUNCIL DOESN'T FIND THAT THIS MAY BE SUFFICIENT ENOUGH, HOW DID THAT WORK? DAVID HALL: MAYOR-- IF YOU COULD GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TO ROUND THAT OUT, OR LET ME TAKE A STAB. ARE YOU SAYING LET'S-- SAY YOU'VE LOOKED AT THIS REPORT WHICH IS PROVIDED AND YOU FEEL THAT IT'S INACCURATE? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S INACCURATE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GETTING-- DAVID HALL: OR THAT YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS, MEANING YOU DON'T LIKE SOME OF WHAT YOU SEE. NOT REFLECTING ON WEAVER'S PERFORMANCE, BUT YOU JUST DON'T LIKE-- EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: STUFF LIKE THAT, THE MISSING 12. DAVID HALL: LIKE, TAKE THE ISSUE WITH DFW FRAMING AND CONSTRUCTION AS AN EXAMPLE, THAT MAYBE YOU BELIEVE, AS A BODY, IT'S ITS COMPONENT PURCHASING, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S THE WORRY WHEN YOU BREAK DOWN THAT MUCH MONEY INTO 12 PIECES, ALTHOUGH TO HIS POINT, THE SCOPE MAY BE DIFFERENT. I THINK THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT ON THE OTHERWISE THAT A PORTION OR THE PREMISE OF COMPONENT [00:55:03] PURCHASING IS THAT YOU'VE GOT A LARGER PROJECT, WHICH MAY HAVE MULTIPLE COMPONENTS TO IT, MULTIPLE PHASES, MULTIPLE STAGES, IF YOU WILL. AND YOU KNOW THIS WHEN YOU START THE PROJECT, AND YET YOU BREAK IT DOWN TO EVADE THE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS. LET'S SAY YOU BELIEVE THAT AS A BODY. YOU COULD THEN DIRECT ME TO DO SOMETHING-- I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS- TO CURE A PAST POTENTIAL INFRACTION. I COULD INVESTIGATE IT FURTHER. SO I GUESS I WOULD NEED A LITTLE MORE SPECIFICITY. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: YEAH, NO, I JUST-- I THINK YOU ANSWERED IT, BUT, MS. TODD? CRISTINA TODD: I GOT THIS. I FORGOT THAT I DID GET THE FRAMING THINGS. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT A FLOOR INSTALLATION FOR ONE WAS $42,797.15 FOR ONE INVOICE. AND A DIFFERENT INVOICE-- WE HAVE ONE FOR FLOOR INSTALLATIONS FOR $26,231.25. SO THOSE WOULD BE THE SAME-- DAVID HALL: SAME VENDOR? CRISTINA TODD: SAME VENDOR, SAME THING ORDERED UNDER SEPARATE THINGS, WHICH FALLS UNDER THE QUESTIONABLE LEGALITY OF THE STATE RULING OF SEPARATING THINGS. DAVID HALL: YEAH, WHICH IS, TO YOUR POINT, COMPONENT PURCHASING, POTENTIALLY. CRISTINA TODD: AND THE FIRST ONE THAT I MENTIONED TALKED ABOUT PAINT. THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE FOR PAINT. PAINT TOUCH-UPS FOR A 03,000-SQUARE-FOOT AREA WITH $16,000. OH, OK. AND THEN WE HAVE INSTALLATION OF TILE AND MORE-- WHICH IS FLOORING BUT SAID ANOTHER WAY. SO YEAH, I'M NOT VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT THAT I'M SEEING THE INVOICES HERE WITH SOME REPEATED INFORMATION. EVEN IF IT'S WORDED DIFFERENTLY, IT'S STILL INSTALLING FLOORING. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: AND I GUESS THAT'S JUST A QUESTION- THAT SHOULD BE ONE COMPONENT, CORRECT, IN YOUR EYES, IN YOUR-- OR WOULD THAT BE A RED FLAG FOR YOU? JUST-- BLAKE BOGDAN: AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A LEGAL DETERMINATION ON WHETHER THAT WAS, LIKE WE MENTIONED, TRYING TO SKIRT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OR NOT. ALL I CAN SAY IS WE WERE SEEING AND WERE INFORMED THROUGH INTERVIEWS THAT THEY WERE PERFORMED UNDER 12 CONTRACTS, AND THOSE CONTRACTS HAD SEPARATE SCOPES OF WORK, VERSUS-- WHETHER THOSE SCOPES OF WORK OVERLAPPED OR NOT-- THAT'S-- EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I KNOW YOU WANTED TO SAY-- WANTED TO FINISH THESE TWO PAGES AND THEN SAY-- YEAH, LET'S FINISH WITH TWO MORE SLIDES, AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THEM. BLAKE BOGDAN: SURE. SO THIRD CONTRACTOR WAS KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES. ACCORDING TO TEXAS STATE LAW IN PRINCETON POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES, WHICH COINCIDE WITH TEXAS STATE LAW, THEY WERE CONTRACTED AND AWARDED THE WORK BASED AS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDER. THAT ULTIMATELY MEANS THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SELECTED BASED ON DEMONSTRATED COMPETENCE, WHICH, ACCORDING TO CDC OFFICIALS, WAS MET BASED ON PREVIOUS WORK THAT THEY HAD PERFORMED FOR THE CITY AS WELL. SO, IN SUMMARY, STATE LAW SAYS THEY SHOULD'VE NOT BEEN SELECTED BASED ON A FORMAL RFP PROCESS. IT SHOULD'VE BEEN MORE DEMONSTRATED COMPETENCE, WHICH THEY HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY FROM PAST WORK THAT THEY HAD PERFORMED. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: WAS THERE NOT A THIRD-- I MEAN ANOTHER ENGINEER? MS. TODD, DID WE REMEMBER LOOKING AT THERE WAS ANOTHER ENGINEER ON THIS? CRISTINA TODD: SO THERE WAS-- ACTUALLY, YEAH. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. LET ME PULL UP MY NOTES. THERE WAS AN ORIGINAL ENGINEERING COMPANY THAT WE USED. WE USED THEIR PLANS. LET'S SEE. THEY RECOMMENDED THE FOUNDATION TO BE DONE, AND THEY GAVE US A HEFTY DOLLAR AMOUNT. AND THEN WE WENT BACK AND CHANGED WHO WE WERE USING AND REDUCED THE FOUNDATION. I JUST NEED A MINUTE TO PULL UP WHERE IT'S AT ON MY NOTES. BLAKE BOGDAN: WAS IT PGAL? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: PGAL. YEP. BUT THEY'RE NOT LISTING THIS REPORT AS JUST-- WERE THEIR NUMBERS GOOD? EVERYTHING WITH THEM WAS GOOD? BECAUSE I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE INVOICES. BLAKE BOGDAN: YEAH, THE INVOICES BACKED UP ACCOUNTING RECORDS THAT WERE BOOKED. YES. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: OK. CRISTINA TODD: SO WITH PGAL, WE SKIPPED-- SO THEY'RE ARCHITECTURAL FOUNDATION PLANS. DID WE FIND ANYTHING IN REGARDS TO THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INSTALLED BUT WAS NOT INSTALLED? BLAKE BOGDAN: YES. SO THAT'S SECTION III OF THE REPORT, OUR REVIEW OF THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT CAME UP DURING THE PHASE II RENOVATIONS. ONE WAS THE FOUNDATION REPAIRS, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, FROM PGAL. [01:00:02] I THINK THEIR INITIAL PROPOSAL FOR THE WORK WAS COMPLETE FOUNDATION REBUILD. I CAN'T SPEAK AS TO WHY THAT WAS REJECTED BY THE CITY AT THE TIME, BUT I CAN GUESS IT WAS PROBABLY MONEY, TO SOME DEGREE. THAT WAS ULTIMATELY SHELVED IN FAVOR OF JUST A BASIC SHIMMING OF THE FOUNDATION, TEMPORARY LEVELING THAT WAS DONE DURING PHASE I. PROBLEMS WITH THAT DURING AFTER PHASE I LED TO PHASE II RENOVATIONS. SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS ADDRESSED DURING THIS MOST RECENT RENOVATIONS. THE OTHER THING WAS THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM. EVERYTHING WE HEARD HERE-- THERE WAS NO DOCUMENTATION, BUT IT WAS IN INTERVIEWS WITH VARIOUS PRINCETON STAFF AND LEADERSHIP. THE GENERAL STORY WAS THAT NO FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM WAS REQUIRED, BASED ON STRICT INTERPRETATION OF THE FIRE CODE AT THE TIME. THE FIRE MARSHAL OF PRINCETON AT THE TIME ESSENTIALLY STOOD HIS GROUND AND SAID, NO, THERE NEEDS TO BE A FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM IN HERE, AND THE CITY STAFF OVERRULED HIM. SO THAT IS, AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT DONE IN PHASE I DESPITE RECOMMENDATION, AND THEN PHASE II-- CRISTINA TODD: DID YOU ACTUALLY READ THE REPORT ON THAT? BLAKE BOGDAN: WE WEREN'T PROVIDED A REPORT ON THAT. CRISTINA TODD: OH. I DID. OK. I'LL SEND THAT TO YOU-- YOU. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: OK. WE CAN CONTINUE. BLAKE BOGDAN: I BELIEVE THAT IS IT. SO THOSE WERE THE TWO MAJOR THINGS THAT WERE-- AGAIN, WERE IMPLEMENTED AGAINST RECOMMENDATION FROM PROFESSIONALS DURING PHASE I THAT ULTIMATELY HAD TO BE FIXED DURING PHASE II. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: OK. MR. RUTLEDGE? JAISEN RUTLEDGE: I'M ASSUMING, THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN OUT, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACTION, FROM COUNCIL PERSPECTIVE. IS THAT CORRECT? SPEAKER: NO. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: I MEAN, BASED OFF OF WHAT DAVE HAD MENTIONED EARLIER. WELL, THAT WOULD GIVE HIM-- BEN LONG: YEAH, IT IS ACTION ON THIS ITEM. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: YEAH, IT DOES SAY, TAKE ACTION. THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION, IS WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT ENTAIL, AS FAR AS, TAKE ACTION, OR WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION. DAVID HALL: YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. IT MEANS, I GUESS, CANDIDLY, WHATEVER YOU SAY IT MEANS, WHATEVER ACTION YOU DEEM APPROPRIATE IN RESPONSE TO THIS. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: NO. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE HAVE YOU, DAVID, AS THE CITY MANAGER, FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE OF WORK, THE MISSING ITEMS THERE, THE CONCERN OF HOW THE PURCHASING PROCESS WENT AS FAR AS WHETHER OR NOT WE FOLLOWED THE PURCHASING PROCESS COMPLETELY, AND PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE THAT MAY SUPPORT THAT. OBVIOUSLY, WE SEE THE PRESENTATION HERE, JUST TO GIVE SOME CLARITY, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A COMPLEX SITUATION. BUT WITHIN THE EXHIBIT, THERE ISN'T DETAILS AROUND THOSE ITEMS LISTED. SO I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO FURTHER LOOK INTO THAT AND PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION BACK TO US AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE ABLE TO FULLY IDENTIFY THAT-- WHETHER THESE CONTRACTS WERE OVERLAPPING AND THEY ACTUALLY FELT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WORK AND THEN WORK WITH LEGAL TO IDENTIFY, PER COUNCILWOMAN TODD'S POINT EARLIER, IF THERE'S ANY LEGAL CONCERN FROM A LIABILITY STANDPOINT. DAVID HALL: OK, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND. REALLY, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY-- IF I'M NOT, CORRECT ME. FEELS LIKE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I LOOK INTO POTENTIAL PURCHASING IRREGULARITIES RELATED TO THE CONTRACTED WORK DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME. IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT? JAISEN RUTLEDGE: CORRECT. DAVID HALL: OK. MY NEXT QUESTION, WHICH I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO AND I MAY NEED TO RESEARCH. DID YOU ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT, MEANING THE CITY? AND DOES THE CITY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE? AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS. I WOULD THINK WE SHOULD. OR WAS THIS CONTRACT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE CDC AND X VENDOR? AND WHAT IS OUR OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY, LEGITIMATELY, OVER THOSE? AND NOT THAT YOU'RE NOT THE COUNCIL, BUT THEY'VE GOT THEIR OWN BUDGET AND THOSE THINGS. SO I WILL LOOK INTO ALL OF THAT BECAUSE I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT PIECE. BUT I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF WHAT THE REQUEST IS. IS THAT FAIR? JAISEN RUTLEDGE: THAT'S FAIR. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: NOW, THAT WASN'T A MOTION. YOU WAS TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL MOTION. CORRECT? OR DID YOU MAKE A MOTION BECAUSE- JAISEN RUTLEDGE: I MADE A VERY LONG MOTION. I WAS MAKING A MOTION, BUT-- HAPPY TO REFINE IT, REFINE IT DOWN. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MS. KELLY ON-- JAISEN RUTLEDGE: LEGAL'S PERSPECTIVE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: YEAH, LEGAL, IF YOU HAVE A-- KELLY WILSON: WELL, IT'S LIKE MR. HALL SAID. I MEAN, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASK FOR OR TAKE ACTION AS YOU LIKE. SOME CLARITY WOULD BE NICE, SOME SPECIFICITY. TERRANCE JOHNSON: I KNOW ME PERSONALLY-- THERE ARE SOME-- IN THE ORIGINAL REPORTING FROM WEAVER, THERE WAS A LIST OF QUESTIONABLE DECISIONS MADE BY THE CITY AND YOUR FINDINGS. ONE OF THOSE WAS, "THE CITY DIDN'T HIRE A GENERAL CONTRACTOR [01:05:02] FOR THE 2019 RENOVATION. INSTEAD, CITY STAFF PERFORMED THE DUTIES OF GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND PROJECT MANAGER." THINGS LIKE THAT-- I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THE LEGALITIES OF THAT. IF WE WENT OUT FOR A CONTRACT AND THE BID WAS DONE BUT THE WORK WAS DONE BY CITY STAFF AND, AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THAT, GENERAL CONTRACTOR, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS LEGAL OR NOT OR IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD'VE DONE OR IF THERE WERE ANY FUNDS INVOLVED IN THAT WHOLE PROCESS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO. DAVID HALL: I CAN HELP PARTIALLY ANSWER THAT. THAT WOULD BE COMPLETELY LEGITIMATE IF WE DID NOT AWARD A CONTRACT. AND I DON'T KNOW ALL THE FACTS, BUT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR CITIES TO ISSUE RFQS, RFPS, GET PROPOSALS BACK, FIND THAT THEY'RE COST-PROHIBITIVE, AND THEN HAVE STAFF DO THE WORK. NOW, THERE MAY BE OTHER QUESTIONS OF LEGALITY RELATED TO DID WE DO A GOOD JOB OR-- BUT IT'S COMPLETELY LEGAL FOR STAFF TO DO WORK THAT WAS-- WHERE RFPS WERE ISSUED. WHAT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC IS IF WE PAID A VENDOR BECAUSE YOU COULD EVEN ENTER INTO A CONTRACT, CANCEL THE CONTRACT. BUT IF THERE WAS PERFORMANCE BY A VENDOR AND WE PAID THIS VENDOR, THEN YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY WE WOULD DO THAT SAME WORK. AND I DIDN'T HEAR THAT THAT WAS NECESSARILY THE CONCERN. TERRANCE JOHNSON: SO I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE-- BRINGS UP THE 12-- THE 12 SCOPE OF WORK CONTRACTS THAT WERE SECTIONED OUT. SOME OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE STAFF WAS ALSO DONE-- WAS MENTIONED IN THOSE BIDS THAT WAS PAID OUT, SO. DAVID HALL: YOU JUST ADDRESSED THE POSSIBILITY OF AWARDING A VENDOR AND THEN DOING THE WORK. TERRANCE JOHNSON: OK. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: SO I KNOW THAT, JUST TO KEEP THINGS CLEAR, WE HAD A MOTION. AND I KNOW YOU DIDN'T SECOND IT, BUT YOUR CONVERSATION WAS A SECOND. BUT WE'RE STILL NOT CLEAR ON THE MOTION. SO YEAH. SO I NEED-- JAISEN RUTLEDGE: WELL, I THINK DAVID REFINED IT FOR ME, BUT I'M HAPPY TO RESTATE IT IF WE CAN, PLEASE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: YEAH, AND WE CAN STILL HAVE DISCUSSION AMONGST OURSELVES AFTER THE MOTION'S BEEN MADE. BUT IF YOU CAN MAKE THE MOTION AND WE HAVE A SECOND AND WE CAN DISCUSS AND-- OR TAKE VOTE, SO. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: YEAH. SO ESSENTIALLY, CONCERNS ABOUT PURCHASING-- THE PROCESS IT WENT THROUGH AND WHETHER OR NOT THE SCOPE OF WORK, SPECIFICALLY TO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN TODD MENTIONED, AROUND-- WE HAVE FLOORING FOR THIS AMOUNT, FLOORING FOR ANOTHER AMOUNT. WHAT'S THE LEGALITY THERE BASED OFF OF THAT-- IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT MY MOTION WAS TO FORCE TO INVESTIGATE, IF THAT WAS CLEAR. DAVID HALL: SURE. YOU WANT ME TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF POTENTIAL COMPONENT PURCHASING OR OTHER PURCHASING IRREGULARITIES WITHIN THIS. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: CORRECT, AND HAVING LEGAL'S PURVIEW ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S ANY-- YEAH. DAVID HALL: ABSOLUTELY. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: OK. WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND? BRYAN WASHINGTON: I'LL SECOND THAT. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. WASHINGTON SECOND. I KNOW, MS. TODD, YOU STILL WANTED TO DISCUSS, OR YOU WERE GOOD? OK. SO WE HAVE A SECOND, MR. WASHINGTON SECOND. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. ALL RIGHT, MOTION PASSES 4-2. THANK YOU SO MUCH. BLAKE BOGDAN: THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, EVERYONE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: THIS WILL TAKE US TO ITEM L3. [L.3. ORD-2026-10-26-01 Consider Ordinance No. 2026-10-26-01 amendments to the Development Services and Fire Department Fee Schedule adopted by the City Council on July 27, 2026, and take appropriate action. Presented by Shai Roos, Director of Development Services.] MS. ANDERSON? AMBER ANDERSON: ORDINANCE 2026-10-26-01. CONSIDER ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-10-26-01, AMENDMENTS TO THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT FEE SCHEDULE ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON JULY 27, 2026, AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION, PRESENTED BY SHAI ROOS, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. SHAI ROOS: GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. WE'RE BRINGING THIS BACK TO YOU ALL BECAUSE WE WERE DIRECTED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE FALSE ALARM-- RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL FALSE ALARM FEES, AND MAKE THEM A LITTLE EASIER AND TIERED, LIKE CITY OF CELINA, AND ALSO TO LOOK AT THE REMODEL FEES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SMALLER PROJECTS VERSUS THE LARGER PROJECTS WERE COMPARABLE AND ONE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THE SAME AS THE OTHER. SO WE DID LOOK AT CITY OF CELINA AND MADE THE TIERS-- FIRST THREE IN 12 MONTHS. FIRST THREE FALSE ALARMS ARE FREE. AFTER THAT, THE FOURTH, AND THE FIFTH ARE $75. SIXTH AND SEVENTH WOULD BE $150, OR $250. AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT BECOMES $500 OR MORE. BUT IT'S ALL IN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT MANY. [01:10:01] IF IT'S JUST THREE, THEN BOTH FOR COMMERCIAL AS WELL AS RESIDENTIAL, THE FIRST THREE ARE NOT CHARGED. AND THEN FOR THE RESIDENTIAL REMODEL, WE HAD $400 FLAT FEE. GOING FORWARD, WE'RE DOING $0.68 PER SQUARE FEET. AND THAT WAY, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO DEFINE WHAT A SMALL PROJECT IS OR A LARGE PROJECT IS, DOING IT AS A CENTS PER SQUARE FEET LETS US IMMEDIATELY SAY-- HOWEVER MUCH REMODEL PEOPLE ARE DOING, THAT'S WHAT THE COST WOULD BE, SO. SO THOSE ARE THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO THE FEE SCHEDULE THAT WAS ADOPTED ON JULY 27. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. I THINK THIS WAS YOUR ITEM, RIGHT, MR. JOHNSON? TERRANCE JOHNSON: YES. AND THANK YOU, SHAI ROOS, FOR PRESENTING THIS. I THINK THESE UPDATES BRINGS US TO A HAPPY MEDIUM. SO THAT WAY, THE CITY'S PAID WHAT THEY SO RIGHTFULLY DESERVE IN TERMS OF THE WORK AND THE RESIDENTS ARE NOT HIT SO HARD WITH IT. I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE PROJECT FEE EXEMPTION. IT STATED IN THERE THAT ON THE PROJECT FEE EXEMPTION, WHERE THE DEVELOPER-- THEY COULD WAIVE A FEE IF IT'S FOR A PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE OR IF THE PROJECT IS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. I GUESS THE QUESTION I HAD WAS, SAY, FOR INSTANCE, THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY TO CONSTRUCT SOME INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME PUBLIC. WOULD THAT STILL COUNT FOR THEM? SHAI ROOS: NO, SIR. THIS IS, SAY, THE PD NEW PD BUILDING OR THE PARK-- WE'RE PLANNING IT FOR A PARK. THOSE ARE THE FEES THAT THE DEPARTMENT-- ONE DEPARTMENT WOULD END UP PAYING THE OTHER DEPARTMENT, SO IT JUST CREATES MORE PAPERWORK. IT'S GOING FROM THE SAME FUND TO THE SAME FUND. SO THAT'S WHY-- WE JUST WANTED TO HAVE IT IN WRITING, THE POLICY. THAT'S HOW IT'S BEING DONE. BUT IN THE PAST, SOMETIMES SOME DEPARTMENTS WOULD PAY. THE OTHERS WOULDN'T. SO WE JUST THOUGHT BRINGING IT TO COUNCIL AND MAKING IT A POLICY SO THE RESIDENTS WOULD ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT JUST MAKING IT UP. TERRANCE JOHNSON: YEAH. IT REMOVES SOME OF THAT REDUNDANCY, INTERNAL WORK THAT HAD-- SHAI ROOS: YES. IT'S JUST TO SAVE TIME AND-- INTERNAL TIME. TERRANCE JOHNSON: ALL RIGHT. YEAH, YOUR HONOR, I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. MR. WASHINGTON, I KNOW YOU-- BRYAN WASHINGTON: NO, ACTUALLY I DIDN'T-- I WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A MOTION. I WAS GOING TO THANK SHAI FOR BRINGING THIS BACK AND MAKING THOSE CHANGES, BUT I WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A MOTION, UNLESS, MS. TODD, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? CRISTINA TODD: JUST FOR REFERENCE, IF A KITCHEN GETS REMODELED, IS THE FEE BASED ON JUST THE REMODELED AREA OR THE WHOLE HOUSE? SHAI ROOS: REMODELED- SORRY. REMODELED AREA. SO JUST THE PORTION THAT IS BEING REMODELED-- THAT'S WHAT THE FEE'S BASED ON. CRISTINA TODD: AND IS THE 30-DAY GRACE PERIOD FOR NEWLY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEMS BEING DROPPED? SHAI ROOS: I'M SORRY. WOULD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? CRISTINA TODD: THE 30-DAY GRACE PERIOD FOR NEWLY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEMS BEING DROPPED? SHAI ROOS: DO YOU KNOW? STEVE GAMMONS: I DON'T BELIEVE SO. THEY WOULD STILL GET THEIR THREE THEIR THREE FREE ONES. AFTER THE THREE FREE ONES, THEN IT WOULD-- CRISTINA TODD: SO JUST THREE FREE ONES, NOT A GRACE PERIOD FOR THE BRAND NEW SYSTEM PUT IN? STEVE GAMMONS: THE BRAND NEW SYSTEM IS WHERE WE'RE HAVING MOST OF OUR PROBLEMS WITH THE OWNERS-- ESPECIALLY WITH THE COMMERCIAL-- WITH THE OWNERS JUST DOING FREQUENT TESTING ON THEIR UNITS. THEY'RE NOT PUTTING THEM ON TEST MODE. SO IT'S DISPATCHING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE'VE GOT THAT ISSUE GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH ONE OF OUR BUSINESSES THAT'S GETTING READY TO OPEN BACK UP. THEY'RE DOING STATE TESTING. THE STATE COMES OUT AND DOES TESTING. THEY'RE NOT PUTTING THEIR UNITS ON TEST. SO IT'S BEEN DISPATCHING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AT 2 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING FOR A TEST. CRISTINA TODD: OK. DOES THE FALSE ALARM SCHEDULE APPLY JUST FOR THE FIRE ALARMS OR ALSO BURGLAR ALARMS? STEVE GAMMONS: YES, BURGLAR ALARMS ALSO. CRISTINA TODD: AND THIS QUESTION IS-- AS TEACHERS, I'VE SEEN IT GO DOWN. WHEN THE FIRE ALARMS GO OFF FOR THE SCHOOLS AND THEY FAIL TO TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE DOING A DRILL-- AND I KNOW IT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENED AT MY CAMPUS MANY TIMES. SO IT'S A FALSE ALARM, AND YOU SHOW UP. IS THAT COUNTED PER CAMPUS OR PER THE ISD AS A WHOLE IN THE THREE, OR ARE THEY EXEMPTED COMPLETELY? STEVE GAMMONS: IT'S PER CAMPUS. BUT I WILL BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF EDUCATION WITH ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ALL OF THEIR TESTING THAT THEY DO, THEIR FIRE ALARM DRILLS. WE NORMALLY GET A PHONE CALL THAT MORNING OR THE DAY BEFORE, LETTING US KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING A FIRE DRILL. [01:15:02] CRISTINA TODD: AND IF THE KID PULLS THE FIRE ALARM AND IT'S NOT PRACTICED? STEVE GAMMONS: IT'S A CASE-BY-CASE SITUATION WITH ISD. YES, MA'AM. WE'VE HAD THAT AT A COUPLE OF THE SCHOOLS. I'LL LEAVE IT UP THERE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION. BRYAN WASHINGTON: YEAH, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM L3. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: I'LL SECOND. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. MR. RUTLEDGE, SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES 6-0. THIS WILL TAKE US TO ITEM L4. MS. ANDERSON? [L.4. 2026-10-26-R01 Consider Resolution No. 2026-10-26-R01, repealing Resolution No. 2026-06-08-R06, adopted on June 8, 2026, and Rescinding Authorization to File an Application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s FY25 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (Safer) Grant, and take appropriate action. Presented by Interim Fire Chief Steve Gammons] AMBER ANDERSON: 2026-10-26-R01. CONSIDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 2026-10-26-R01, REPEALING RESOLUTION NUMBER 2026-06-08-R06, ADOPTED ON JUNE 8, 2026, AND RESCINDING AUTHORIZATION TO FILE AN APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES, FY 25, STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, SAFER GRANT AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION, PRESENTED BY INTERIM FIRE CHIEF STEVE GAMMONS. DAVID HALL: MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THIS ITEM BEFORE CHIEF GAMMONS GETS INTO HIS THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE, AS YOU AND PERHAPS MOST OF THE COUNCIL MAY KNOW, I ASKED FOR THIS ITEM TO COME TO YOU. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I ADDRESS WHY BECAUSE THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME MISINFORMATION ABOUT THAT AND THE REASONING FOR IT. I'VE HEARD IT CAST AS SOME ATTACK AGAINST THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR A LACK OF SUPPORT AGAINST THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR ANY NUMBER OF THOSE THINGS. AND THAT COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. WHAT IT IS IS IN FULFILLMENT OF MY OBLIGATION AS YOUR ALTERNATE CITY MANAGER. SO WE RECEIVED A NOTICE OF AWARD, FROM THE FEDS, ABOUT THIS GRANT. BEING NEW HERE AND NOT BEING AWARE OF THE BACKGROUND, I LOOKED INTO IT AND RECOGNIZED THAT I BELIEVE, VERY UNINTENTIONALLY, WE HAD PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION THAT WASN'T ACCURATE, AND YOU WILL HEAR CHIEF GAMMONS DISCUSS THAT INFORMATION. BUT IN SHORT, THE SAFER GRANT IS NO LONGER 100% FUNDED, AND STATUTORILY, IT WASN'T. THERE WAS A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH COVID HAPPENED AND THE FEDS WAIVED THEIR RULES AND THEY FUNDED THE SAFER GRANTS AT 100%. MY POINT IN THAT IS, IN LOOKING AT THIS AND RECOGNIZING THAT WE'VE PERHAPS GIVEN YOU INFORMATION THAT WAS NO LONGER VALID AND ACCURATE AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON CITY FINANCES AND CITY OPERATIONS, IT CERTAINLY THEN ISN'T IN MY ROLE OR MY POSITION, ADMINISTRATIVELY, TO USURP YOUR AUTHORITY IN MAKING WHAT IS ULTIMATELY A SIGNIFICANT AND HIGH-LEVEL POLICY DECISION OF THAT NATURE. SO IN THAT, I ASKED FOR CHIEF GAMMONS TO BRING THIS BACK TO YOU FOR YOU TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT YOU'RE EMPOWERED TO MAKE BUT I'M NOT. SO I WANTED TO SET THE RECORD REALLY CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOTHING BUT FULFILLING MY DUTIES TO PUT THIS ITEM BACK IN FRONT OF YOU. WE'VE HEARD COMMENTS TONIGHT ABOUT THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION. THIS IS NOTHING BUT A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION AND NOTHING MORE. SO THANK YOU. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: THANK YOU. GAMMONS? STEVE GAMMONS: HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, TONIGHT, I WANTED TO PRESENT THE FEMA SAFER GRANT, AND I WANTED TO PRESENT SOME OF THE INCONSISTENT INFORMATION FROM THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN. RESOLUTION 2026-06-08-R06 WAS BASED ON INCONSISTENT INFORMATION FROM A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION ON MAY 11. TODAY'S PRESENTATION PRESENTS THE FEMA GRANTS PROCESS, FUNDING REQUIREMENTS, THE STATUS, AND THE CITY'S FINANCIAL OBLIGATION TO BE CONSIDERED. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND CITY SHARE. WHAT WAS PRESENTED ON MAY 11 WAS YEAR ONE WOULD BE PAID OUT AT 100%, YEAR TWO WOULD BE PAID OUT AT 70%, AND YEAR 3 WOULD BE PAID OUT AT 50%. THIS WAS FIGURES BACK FROM 2023. LIKE OUR ULTIMATE CITY MANAGER STATED, THIS WAS DURING THE COVID PROCESS, WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO-- THEY HAD A LOT OF FIREFIGHTERS GET LAID OFF WHEN COVID CAME OUT, AND THIS WAS THEM TO TRY TO BOLSTER THE STAFFING BACK UP. 2024, THEY STOPPED DOING THE 100% ON THE FIRST YEAR, AND THEY WENT BACK TO THEIR NORMAL ACTUAL AWARD OF 75% THE FIRST YEAR, 75% THE SECOND YEAR, AND 35% THE THIRD YEAR, WHICH-- THE CITY SHARE ON THE FIRST YEAR IS GOING TO END UP BEING 25%. SECOND YEAR WOULD BE 25%. [01:20:01] THE THIRD YEAR WOULD BE 65%. AND THEREFORE, IN THE FOURTH YEAR, THE CITY WOULD TAKE OVER AFTER THE THIRD YEAR. SO THE PROCESS. SO APRIL 24, 2026, THE CONTRACT WITH CLEMENTS FIRE CONSULTING GROUP, LLC FOR $18,000 WAS EXECUTED. THIS WAS THE COMPANY THAT WROTE THE GRANT FOR US TO SUBMIT TO SAFER FOR THIS GRANT. THIS APPLICATION REQUIRED DETAILED RESEARCH, SUBSTANTIAL WORK, AND A PLAN TO ACCEPT AN AWARD IF FUNDED. ON JUNE 5, 2026, THE GRANT APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED BY KELLY WILSON, FORMER CFO OF THE CITY OF PRINCETON. BEFORE THIS GRANT CAN BE SUBMITTED, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH FINANCE TO VERIFY THAT THE CITY CAN TAKE ON THESE FIREFIGHTERS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE THIRD YEAR. ON SEPTEMBER 28 OF 2026, THE SAFER GRANT WAS AWARDED TO THE CITY OF PRINCETON. WHAT WE'RE SHOWING YOU NOW IS THE FUNDING BREAKDOWN. WHAT YOU SEE WITH PERSONNEL IN THE FRINGE BENEFITS IS WHAT FEMA PAYS US. THIS IS WHAT THEY SUPPORT. IN THE FRINGE BENEFITS, IT'S ALL BUT FLSA AND ANY STEP RAISES. THEY DO NOT COVER THOSE TWO THINGS, SO THE CITY WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE TWO. SO TOTAL OF PERSONNEL FRINGE BENEFITS IS $623,147.52. WITH THE 25% THAT THE CITY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, IS $155,786. ADDING FLSA, THAT'S 100% CITY-COVERED AND THE PPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO BUY FOR THE SIX FIREFIGHTERS. THE FIRST YEAR'S TOTAL CITY CONTRIBUTION WOULD BE $218,120.48. GO TO YEAR TWO. SAME PERSONNEL, FRINGE BENEFITS. CITY PERCENTAGE WOULD BE THE SAME UP UNTIL THE FLSA. WE HAVE A 3% STEP RAISE. THE FIREFIGHTERS WORK ON-- EVERY YEAR, THEY HAVE A STEP PLAN. SO IT'S A 3% SO I'VE ADDED THE 3% PER FIREFIGHTER TO THE FLSA 100%, AND I'VE ALSO ADDED THEIR STEP RAISE IN THERE, WHICH-- THE NEW TOTAL FOR YEAR TWO COMES TO $210,652.19. [COUGHS] SORRY. AND A LOT OF YOU MAY LOOK AT THAT AND WONDER WHY THAT NUMBER'S LOWER THE SECOND YEAR THAN IT IS THE FIRST YEAR. IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PPE. THE PPE IS THEIR BUNKER GEAR, HELMET, BOOTS, GLOVES, HOODS THAT THEY WEAR-- THAT WE PROVIDE THEM TO WEAR. WE MOVE TO YEAR THREE. ONCE AGAIN, PERSONNEL, FRINGE BENEFITS ARE GOING TO BE THE SAME. CITY PERCENTAGE ALLOCATION IS NOW 65%. THAT COMES TO $405,045. WE, ONCE AGAIN, ADD THE 3% TO THE FLSA INCREASE BECAUSE THEIR SALARIES ARE GOING TO INCREASE WITH THEIR 3% STEP RAISE, AND THAT COMES TO $42,236. THERE'S NO PPE THE SECOND AND THIRD YEAR, BECAUSE WE BOUGHT THAT IN THE FIRST YEAR. AND THEIR 3% STEP RAISE, WHICH IS AN INCREASE AGAIN, IS NOW $22,504, WHICH-- A TOTAL CONTRIBUTION FOR YEAR THREE WILL BE $469,786. AFTER THAT YEAR, I ADDED THE 3% STEP RAISE AGAIN. I ADDED THE 3% TO THE FLSA. AND YEAR FOUR YEAR TOTAL WOULD BE-- SUPPORTING THE SIX FIREFIGHTERS WOULD BE $712,721.84. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT SIDE? ALL RIGHT. SO MOVING FORWARD, ADDITIONAL FUNDING BREAKDOWN. SO I WANTED TO BREAK DOWN THE FLSA AND THE 3% STEP JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER FOR Y'ALL. SO IN YEAR ONE, WE HAD THE $32,000. WE HAD THE FLSA, WHICH IS $30,000. THE FLSA IS BASED ON 132 HOURS A YEAR. SO NO STEP RAISE IN THE FIRST YEAR. SECOND YEAR, YOU HAVE YOUR TOTAL STEP RAISE, 19,071. REPLACES THE PPE. YOUR FLSA GOES UP BY 3%. IT'S $35,793. AND YOUR STEP RAISE PER FIREFIGHTER'S $3,178. WE GO TO YEAR THREE. ALL YEAR INCREASES ARE BY 3%. YOUR TOTAL STEP RAISE IS NOW $22,000. FLSA MOVES UP TO $42,000. AND THEN YOUR STEP RAISE PER FIREFIGHTER IS $3,750. YEAR FOUR WOULD BE THE YEAR THAT THE CITY WOULD TAKE OVER, IS $26,555 FOR THEIR STEP RAISE. FLSA'S $49,000, AND THEIR STEP RAISE PER PERSON IS $4,425. SO WHEN I RESEARCHED WHAT WAS PRESENTED BACK ON MAY 11, THIS GRANT WAS WRITTEN FOR NFPA 1710, WHICH IS A STANDARD FOR OPERATION AND DEPLOYMENT FOR CAREER FIRE DEPARTMENTS. SO WHAT I DID WAS I BROKE IT DOWN INTO WHAT THE 11-- IF WE HAVE 11 GUYS ON DUTY, WHICH IS OUR SOP [01:25:04] RIGHT NOW FOR MINIMUM STAFFING, WITH OUR CURRENT STAFFING OF 14 PER SHIFT, IF WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE ABSENT, IT PUTS US INTO OVERTIME TO MAINTAIN OUR MINIMUM STAFFING. WITH THE SAFER GRANT, IF WE HAD 16 ASSIGNED TO A STATION, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE FIVE PEOPLE ABSENT BEFORE WE WENT INTO HAVING TO HAVE OVERTIME FOR MANDATORY STAFFING. FOR NFPA 1710, THE FOUR-PERSON COMPANY, THE STANDARD FOR NFPA 1710 IS FOUR PERSONNEL PER APPARATUS, FOUR ON A LADDER TRUCK, FOUR ON AN ENGINE, FOUR ON A QUINT. WITH THE 11 ON DUTY, WE COULDN'T DO THAT WITH OUR CURRENT STAFFING RIGHT NOW, WITH 14. IF WE HAD ONE PERSON OFF OR SICK, HURT, WE WOULD FALL INTO HAVING TO HIRE OVERTIME TO MEET THAT MANDATORY FOUR. WITH THE SAFER GRANT, WITH THE 14-- OR WITH 16 STAFF, WITH THE FOUR-MAN STAFFING, WE GO TO THREE PEOPLE OFF BEFORE WE FALL-- FALL INTO HAVING TO HIRE OVERTIME. THE BIGGEST THING THAT AFFECTS THIS, OBVIOUSLY, IS HAVING THE GUYS MAINTAIN THEIR VACATION. GUYS HAVE TO USE THEIR VACATION TIME. THEY'RE ALLOWED TO HOLD 240 HOURS OF VACATION TIME. ANYTHING OVER THAT-- THEY END UP LOSING IT IN A YEAR. WE HAVE TWO GUYS OFF EVERY SHIFT JUST SO THEY CAN MAINTAIN THEIR VACATION HOURS. BUT ILLNESSES, INJURIES, FMLA, AND OTHER LEAVE REDUCES OUR DAILY AVAILABILITY. SO WE GO INTO A LITTLE BIT WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OVERTIME. SO OUR TOTAL OVERTIME HOURS LAST YEAR WERE 14,434. 05,372 OF THOSE HOURS WERE MANDATORY FLSA HOURS THAT ARE FEDERALLY MANDATED FOR FIREFIGHTERS WITH THE HOURS THEY WORK, WITH THE SCHEDULES THEY WORK. WE HAD 386 HOURS OF WINTER WEATHER WHEN WE STAFFED A FULL APPARATUS FOR THE WINTER WEATHER EVENT THAT WE HAD. OUR SPECIAL EVENTS ADDED UP TO 107 HOURS. AND THEN OTHER OVERTIME, WHICH IS 59% OF OUR OVERTIME, WAS 8,569 HOURS, WHICH-- THAT OTHER OVERTIME INCLUDES FMLA, WORKERS' COMPENSATION, SICK CALL-OFFS, AND THIS OVERTIME WAS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN OUR MINIMUM STAFFING. AND I DO WANT Y'ALL TO UNDERSTAND ONE THING, WHICH CHIEF WATERS HAS BROUGHT UP A COUPLE TIMES TO ME. PART OF THIS IS WHEN WE HAD FOUR STATIONS. SO WE WERE MEETING THAT MINIMUM STAFFING AT FOUR STATIONS. ONCE WE DID THE TEMPORARY CLOSE ON STATION 4, IT HELPED OUT A LITTLE BIT, BUT WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAD OUT ON FMLA AND SICK LEAVE AND WORKERS' COMP, WE STILL FELL INTO THAT OVERTIME STRUGGLE. OUR CURRENT STAFFING RIGHT NOW-- WE HAVE 42 OPERATIONAL FIREFIGHTERS. IT'S 14 PER SHIFT. AND WE HAVE SEVEN ADMIN-- PEOPLE IN ADMIN RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE MYSELF AS THE INTERIM CHIEF. WE HAVE A DEPUTY CHIEF OF OPERATIONS. WE HAVE A FIRE MARSHAL, TRAINING, CHIEF, ADMIN, AND INSPECTOR. JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART SO YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT NOW. CURRENTLY, IT'S SHOWING YOU THAT WE HAVE FOUR OPEN POSITIONS THAT WE'RE HIRING. WE JUST HAD A FIFTH PERSON THAT TURNED IN HIS-- LAST WEEK, TURNED IN HIS IMMEDIATE LEAVE OF ABSENCE, OR HE'S LEAVING. ONE OF OUR GUYS HAS BEEN HERE A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO RETIRE. HE'S BEEN IN THE SERVICE FOR A LITTLE BIT, AND HE'S DONE A LOT OF MILITARY, AND HIS BODY'S JUST NOT HANDLING IT, SO IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO RETIRE. SO WE'RE DOWN NOW TO FIVE OPEN SPOTS THAT WE SHOULD BE REPLACING THOSE SPOTS PRETTY QUICK. CALLS TO DATE-- EMERGENCY CALL VOLUME HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE EVERY YEAR. IT PLACES A GREATER DEMAND ON THE PRINCETON FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL AND APPARATUS, AND EMS INCIDENTS ACCOUNT FOR OVER 70% OF OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSES. ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS WOULD ALLOW US TO STAFF A SMALLER RESPONSE VEHICLE AT ONE STATION TO ASSIST EMS CALLS. THIS WOULD IMPROVE COVERAGE WHILE REDUCING WEAR AND TEAR ON A LOT OF OUR BIGGER TRUCKS. SO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR CALL VOLUME-- THIS IS JANUARY 1, DECEMBER 31. 2023, WE WERE 3,900 CALLS. 2024, WE RAN 4,400 CALLS. 2025, WE'RE AT 5,223. AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN 2026 IS TILL THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THAT'S NOT UNTIL DECEMBER YET. SO WE'RE RUNNING ROUGH-- I KNOW CHIEF DEFFIBAUGH WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER ABOUT RUNNING A HUNDRED TO 200 CALLS. WE'RE AVERAGING ALMOST 500 CALLS A MONTH NOW. SO WE'LL BE CLOSER TO 5,500 TO 5,600 CALLS BY THE END OF THE YEAR. SO TWO OPTIONS WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT. OPTION ONE, RESCIND THE APPROVED RESOLUTION. DENY THE AWARD GRANT. [01:30:01] OR ACCEPT THE AWARD GRANT, AND WORK WITH FINANCE TO ALLOCATE MONEY TO COVER THE COST FOR THE SIX NEW POSITIONS OVER A THREE-YEAR COST-SHARING EFFORT PROVIDED BY THE AWARDED GRANT. AND WITH THAT, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. WASHINGTON? BRYAN WASHINGTON: WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I THINK THAT WAS A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION. I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION. I JUST WANTED TO LET COUNCIL KNOW I SUPPORT OPTION TWO. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND CONSIDER. JUST GIVEN THE POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE IN THE FUTURE WITH THIS GRANT, I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT OPTION TWO. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. HALL, I JUST WANT TO ASK A QUESTION. HAVE WE LOOKED AT WHAT THAT FINANCIAL IMPACT WOULD BE FOR YEAR ONE, TWO, AND THREE, AND THEN ALSO YEAR FOUR, AND DO WE HAVE THAT INCOME COMING IN? BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO, AGAIN, IS GET IN A POSITION TO WHERE WE HAVE A NEW BILL AND WE DIDN'T BUDGET FOR IT. SO I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS AND JUST GOING THROUGH THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. IT WAS HARD TO JUST MAKE UP $300,000. BUT TO TRY TO MAKE UP $700,000 IN YEAR FOUR-- DO WE HAVE THAT INCOME COMING IN, MAYBE FROM SALES TAXES OR THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST TO COVER SOME OF THESE-- HAVE WE EVEN RAN THAT ANALYSIS? DAVID HALL: WELL, MAYOR, TWO THINGS, MAYBE THREE. THIS WASN'T APPROPRIATED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR BUDGET. AND SO TO YOUR POINT, IT'S GOT TO BE MADE UP. WE'RE JUST NOT EVEN THROUGH THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR, I MEAN, THE FIRST QUARTER-- FIRST MONTH, FISCAL MONTH 1. WE'RE NOT EVEN THROUGH THAT YET. SO IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE FOR ME TO GIVE ANY KIND OF PROJECTION IF REVENUES WOULD SURPASS THE BUDGETED AMOUNTS IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MAKE UP THIS DIFFERENCE OR IF EXPENDITURES WOULD. IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE. IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE THAT EXPENDITURES SOMEWHERE COULD BE CONTAINED OR REDUCED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MAKE THIS SHORTFALL UP. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AND I DON'T KNOW AND I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF AN ANALYSIS SUPPORTING WHERE THAT WOULD BE YET. BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, JUST LIKE IT'S POSSIBLE, AS YOU KNOW, THAT REVENUES COULD EXCEED THAT WHICH ARE BUDGETED. BUT AT THIS TIME, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT WOULD COME FROM. AND SO THE ONLY PLACE I COULD READILY TELL YOU THAT WOULD HAVE THIS FUNDING WOULD BE TO DIP INTO YOUR RESERVE BALANCE. NOW, THE CHALLENGE THERE IS, WHILE YOU ARE IN EXCESS OF YOUR FUND BALANCE PAST YOUR POLICY AMOUNT TODAY, AS YOU ALSO MAY RECALL, YOU BUDGETED A FUND BALANCE ADDITION, I BELIEVE, OF APPROXIMATELY $14,000, PLUS OR MINUS, OVER YOUR POLICY 25% BALANCE. SO I COULDN'T TELL YOU WITH ANY DEGREE OF CERTAINTY WHERE THIS MONEY WOULD COME FROM. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS IF YOU DIRECT ME TO DO IT, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO, AND IT MAY RESULT IN CUTS. I'M NOT TRYING TO GLOOM AND DOOM ANYONE, BUT I WOULD BE NEGLIGENT TO NOT TELL YOU THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WOULD COME FROM AT THIS TIME. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I KNOW MR. RUTLEDGE WAS GOING, THEN CRISTINA, AND THEN I GOT MS. GRAVES. ALL RIGHT. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: SO MY QUESTION IS TWO PARTS. IS IT ACCURATE TO STATE, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD IN THIS PRESENTATION AND PRIOR PRESENTATIONS, THAT STAFFING IS NEEDED FOR THIS DEPARTMENT? IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT, FROM STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE? DAVID HALL: I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN ANSWER THAT. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON. AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE CHIEF, SO I DON'T THINK I'M SAYING ANYTHING OUT OF SCHOOL. I DON'T BELIEVE SO, BUT I HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. I'M NOT A FIRE CHIEF. I DON'T BELIEVE SO BECAUSE I'M NOT A FIRE CHIEF, AND I'M NOT AIMING FOR NFPA 17. SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO ANSWER. I'M A CITY MANAGER WHO'S LOOKING AT, OK, YOU'VE GOT MINIMUM STAFFING OF 11. YOU'VE GOT 14 ON. OK. MANAGE THREE OFF-- THINGS WILL HAPPEN-- THERE'LL BE SOME INCREASE BUT NOT SIGNIFICANTLY. BUT AGAIN, IF NFPA 17 IT IS IMPORTANT TO US TODAY, THEN THE ANSWER IN THE CHIEF'S CHART SHOWS, YEAH, WE NEED MORE. SO IT'S JUST DIFFICULT FOR ME TO ANSWER. I DON'T MIND GIVING AN ANSWER. I'D PROBABLY BE THE MOST UNPOPULAR PERSON. BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE NFPA 17 TODAY. WILL THERE BE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE? UNEQUIVOCALLY SO. THE RATE OF GROWTH IN ALL OF THESE THINGS, THE NEED TO PUSH NORTH, BUT WE HAVEN'T SECURED LOCATIONS AND THOSE THINGS. IS THAT TODAY? FROM A CITY MANAGER'S PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD SAY, NO. AND IN SAYING THAT, IT'S LIKE, WELL, OF COURSE, YOU CAN ALWAYS USE MORE FIREFIGHTERS. YOU CAN ALWAYS USE MORE POLICE. YOU CAN ALWAYS USE MORE PEOPLE. GIVE ME MORE PEOPLE, AND I GUARANTEE YOU EVERY DEPARTMENT HERE WILL BE GLAD TO TAKE THEM. I ASKED FOR THIS PRESENTATION, THOUGH, SO THAT YOU COULD ASSESS BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT YOU WANT MY OPINION, MY OPINION MEANS NOTHING BECAUSE YOU GET TO VOTE. [01:35:02] JAISEN RUTLEDGE: NO, I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK, OBVIOUSLY, MY PURPOSE OF THAT QUESTION IS AS COUNCIL, WE'RE NOT FIREFIGHTERS EITHER, OR CITY MANAGERS. SO WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE. SO CHIEF, I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR ANSWER TO THAT AS WELL. STEVE GAMMONS: I'M ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE. YES, 1710-- WE DO NEED MORE FIREFIGHTERS. TO MEET THE FOUR-MAN STAFFING, YES, WE DO NEED MORE FIREFIGHTERS. IS FOUR-MAN STAFFING SAFER? YES. IS IT MORE EFFICIENT? YES. CAN WE DO MORE WITH IT? YES. MEDICAL CALLS. 70% OF OUR CALLS ARE MEDICAL CALLS. WHEN WE RUN EMS CALLS, IF WE HAVE ANY KIND OF TRAUMATIC INJURY, IF WE HAVE ANY KIND OF CPR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE HAVE TO SEND A FIREFIGHTER IN WITH AMBULANCE. ONCE WE DO THAT, WE TOOK THAT TRUCK OUT OF SERVICE BECAUSE IT'S ONLY GOT TWO GUYS ON IT NOW. WE HAVE TO RUN A FIRE TRUCK WITH THREE GUYS ON IT. ACCORDING TO ISO, WE HAVE TO HAVE-- TO MEET OUR ISO 2, WHICH WE JUST OBTAINED AGAIN, WE HAVE TWO ENGINES IN A TRUCK. WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN STAFFING ON THOSE TRUCKS TO MAINTAIN THAT ISO. ARE WE MINIMALLY STAFFED WITH 14, WITH MINIMUM STAFFING 11? YES. THIS YEAR WAS A PHENOMENAL YEAR OF INJURIES, FMLA, WORKERS' COMP, AND THEY WERE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME. THEN WE HAD SOME SHIFTS THAT WERE MISSING THREE OR FOUR GUYS AT THE SAME TIME THAT WERE OUT FROM INJURIES, BABY LEAVE, KNEE SURGERIES, ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS. AND THESE WEREN'T INJURIES WHERE THEY WERE OUT FOR A WEEK. THEY WERE OUT FOR SIX MONTHS. THEY WERE OUT FOR SIX WEEKS. SO IT DID IMPACT OUR OVERTIME BUDGET, TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE STILL HAD THE 11-PERSON STAFFING. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: DO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT, IF WE WERE TO SAY, NO, NOT FOR RIGHT NOW, THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE A SUBSTANTIAL DEGRADATION IN WHAT OUR RESIDENTS FEEL AS FAR AS THE SERVICE FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT? STEVE GAMMONS: OUR SERVICE AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT'S TOP-NOTCH. I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SEE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR SERVICE BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR. BUT I THINK THE QUALITY AND THE WAY OUR GUYS ARE GETTING BEAT DOWN RIGHT NOW, HAVING FOUR IS GOING TO MAKE THEIR JOB A LITTLE BIT EASIER AND A LITTLE BIT SAFER. BUT WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT'S TOP-NOTCH. THEY CAN DO WHAT FIVE GUYS CAN DO, WHAT THEY DO WITH THREE. WE'VE ALWAYS DONE MORE WITH LESS. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: GOT YOU. I KNOW IT WAS A TWO-PART QUESTION AND I ASKED, LIKE, THREE. BUT MY OTHER QUESTION IS, HOW DOES THE OVERTIME IMPACT HERE WITH MORE STAFF? SEEING THAT WE HAVE $700,000 WORTH OF OVERTIME, IS THERE AN IMPACT THERE WITH BRINGING ON MORE GUYS? IS THAT GOING TO HELP SOLVE FOR THAT AT AT ANY CAPACITY, FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT? DAVID HALL: SO I'M GOING TO BE A CONTRARIAN HERE, IN A SENSE. AND I'M GOING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. BUT THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS-- I HAVE TO SPEAK FOR THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T HERE, AND THAT'S THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE $200,000 TODAY AND IN NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHETHER I'M HERE OR NOT-- THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR US TO DEAL WITH. IF WE WERE FLUSH WITH CASH, I MIGHT BE GIVING YOU A VERY DIFFERENT ANSWER. IF THIS HAD BEEN ALLOCATED AND APPROPRIATED IN THE BUDGET, I KNOW I WOULD BE GIVING YOU A DIFFERENT ANSWER. AND SO WHEN I SAY THAT THERE'S NOT "A NEED," I'M PUTTING THAT IN QUOTES. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO MISUNDERSTAND WHAT-- NOT YOU-- DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO MISUNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING. THERE'S ALWAYS A NEED. THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH. I SAID IT BEFORE. THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH FIRE, NEVER ENOUGH POLICE. THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH ANY OF STAFF. BUT WHEN YOU CONTEXTUALIZE THIS, THERE WILL BE-- AND THIS IS-- AGAIN, GLAD I'M NOT IN YOUR SEAT TONIGHT, BUT THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL IMPACT. AND IT MAY MEAN SOMEBODY'S NOT GETTING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU PROMISED THEM IN THIS FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME EXCESS. LET'S NOT GO BACK AND ACT LIKE THERE WASN'T. THERE WAS ABOUT ONE-POINT-- I DIDN'T DO THIS BUDGET, SO I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS AT THE TOP OF MY HEAD LIKE I USUALLY. BUT WHAT DID WE ALLOCATE? $1.X MILLION? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: 1.2, I BELIEVE. DAVID HALL: YEAH. THANK YOU, SIR, IN ENHANCEMENTS. SO THOSE ENHANCEMENTS ARE GOING AWAY. THAT'S THE FIRST THING I WOULD LOOK AT. SOME OF THAT'S GOING AWAY. AND SO IF YOU DO THIS, I'M NOT GOING TO LAY PEOPLE OFF. LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT DOOMING-AND-GLOOMING THIS. AS A CITY MANAGER, THE FIRST THING I'M GOING TO START TO DO, BECAUSE IT'S A CERTAINTY, IS TO REDUCE THE ENHANCEMENTS. YOU CAN'T FUND THIS ON THE HOPE THAT REVENUE EXCESS IS GOING TO FLOW. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS ECONOMY IS GOING. AND SO IF WE'RE PLANNING ON PEOPLE-- 98% PAYING THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, WELL, YOU HOPE SO. IF WE'RE PLANNING ON A 10% OVERAGE IN SALES TAX, WELL, THAT WOULD JUST BARELY, PERHAPS-- THAT WOULD JUST BARELY COVER THE DIFFERENCE. AND SO FOR ME, TO BE PRUDENT AND SENSIBLE FINANCIALLY, I'M GOING TO REDUCE THE ENHANCEMENTS. AND SO WHEN I SAY TO YOU, THERE ISN'T THE NEED, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR. [01:40:01] IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S NOT AN OPERATIONAL NEED. CHIEF JUST MADE HIS POINT. NOW, WILL THERE BE SOME OFFSET WITH OVERTIME? SURE. NOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE DID HE HAVE OFF THIS YEAR? WHO'S TO SAY THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR? AND NOW YOU ACTUALLY HAVE ENHANCED-- SEE, I CAN MAKE A COUNTERARGUMENT. NOW YOU HAVE ENHANCED FSLA FOR SIX ADDITIONAL PEOPLE BECAUSE WHILE, TO CHIEF'S POINT, MORE FIREFIGHTERS ABSOLUTELY GIVES YOU MORE CAPACITY TO NOT HAVE TO ENHANCE THE OVERTIME, WHO'S TO SAY YOU DON'T HAVE ANOTHER YEAR? SO I DON'T THINK ANY OF US ARE TRYING TO TELL YOU, WITH A CERTAINTY, THERE'S A ONE-TO-ONE OFFSET BECAUSE THERE ISN'T. NUMBER ONE, YOU'RE ADDING IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BUILT-IN OVERTIME, WHICH WE SHOWED YOU, BUT YOU'RE ALSO-- WHICH WE DIDN'T SHOW YOU, AND IT'S NO INTENT TO CHIEF'S-- THERE WAS ONLY SO MUCH WE COULD TALK ABOUT IN THIS PRESENTATION. BUT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THESE SAME FIREFIGHTERS WILL HAVE OVERTIME-- I MEAN VACATION NEEDS THEMSELVES. SO IT'S NOT ONE-TO-ONE MATH. IT JUST ISN'T. AND THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THIS TO YOU. THIS IS TRULY A POLICY QUESTION. AND IT ISN'T-- I WOULD HOPE THAT NONE OF US WOULD EVER SAY THAT THERE'S NOT A NEED. WE KNOW THERE IS A NEED. THE QUESTION IS PRIORITIZATION OF RESOURCES, WHICH ARE STRAPPED AND LIMITED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. AND THE FACT IS THAT UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T PROPERLY FORECAST THIS EXPENDITURE, AND IT IS A SIGNIFICANT ONE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT, MS. TODD? CRISTINA TODD: SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING THE QUESTION ABOUT THE OVERTIME. THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. THE OTHER ONE IS, HAVE YOU DONE A SWOT ANALYSIS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SIMILARLY TO WHAT THE PD DID? STEVE GAMMONS: WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH PD THIS YEAR TO DO A THIRD-PARTY COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING OUT TO DO THAT FOR US. WE'VE DONE JUST AN IN-HOUSE ONE. CRISTINA TODD: THE REASON BEING IS THAT A WHILE BACK, I HAD SHARED OUT AN ORDINANCE THAT I HAD DRAFTED. OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE THIS. AND WE CAN SET A STANDARD FOR OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT ALLOWS EMERGENCY SERVICES TO HAVE A STAKE IN THE GAME DURING THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS SO THAT IF OUR STANDARD OF CARE AND WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS CANNOT BE MAINTAINED BY NEW DEVELOPMENT, WE CAN SAY, NO. WE CAN HOLD THE LINE OR HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR HELPING TO FINANCE THE DIFFERENCES IN WHAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES, ESPECIALLY THE NEW FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND SUCH. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THAT SHOULD THIS ORDINANCE COME BEFORE COUNCIL AND WE CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND GIVE OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES A STAKE IN THE GAME, ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST CARE POSSIBLE AS A SET STANDARD FOR OUR CITY MEANS THAT WE CAN HOLD THAT LINE AS DEVELOPMENTS COME FORWARD, WHICH IS THEN A TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT OF BENEFIT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING OVERWHELMED WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS, NEW DEVELOPMENTS COMING IN. THIS GIVES THEM ANOTHER LEG TO STAND ON WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO US AND SAYS, I WANT TO DO THIS. NOW OUR FIRST RESPONDERS CAN BE LIKE, WHOA, YOU CANNOT BECAUSE IF YOU DO THIS, WE CANNOT RESPOND TO THE RESIDENTS WITH THE CARE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT WE HAVE AN ENTIRE SECTION WITH ZERO RIGHT OF WAY AND 6,000 RESIDENTIAL HOMES GOING IN THERE BECAUSE NO ONE GOT RIGHT OF WAY DURING THOSE CONTRACTS. AND I'VE LOOKED AT IT, AND I'VE SEEN THAT TINY HOUSE IN THE TOP CORNER, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET FIRE TRUCKS THROUGH THERE. AND THAT'S GOING TO CUT DOWN OUR TIME WEAVING THROUGH ALL THOSE RESIDENTIAL STREETS TO GET TO THEM. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE A SAY IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS SO THINGS LIKE THAT DON'T HAPPEN. AND LOOKING AT ENSURING WE ARE STAFFED AND SETTING A STANDARD IS AMONG THE FIRST STEPS TO PUTTING THAT TOGETHER. SO I SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE. I MEAN, I'VE DONE A RIDE-OUT WITH YOU GUYS. WE'VE PUT OUT A FIRE. [LAUGHS] AND THEY DO THE WORK OF MORE THAN ONE PERSON. BUT, I MEAN, I'M A SPED TEACHER. I DO NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES. AND I KNOW I GET BURNT OUT HAVING TO DO THE JOB OF TWO OR THREE TEACHERS IN WHAT I DO. AND HAVING GONE OUT THERE AND SEEN IT, WE CAN'T ASK THEM TO CONTINUE DOING THE JOB OF TWO AND THREE PEOPLE FOR JUST THAT ONE INDIVIDUAL. AT SOME POINT, THEY WILL BURN OUT. AT SOME POINT, IT'LL PUT THEM AT RISK, OUR RESIDENTS AT RISK. AND WITH THE WAY SOME OF THESE DEVELOPERS ARE GETTING THEIR DEALS, THOSE HOUSES ARE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TOGETHER. AND THAT TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT OF FIRE? THAT'S A RISK. [01:45:01] AND THOSE ARE ALL FACTORS WE NEED TO BE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION. IT'S NOT JUST THIS LITTLE SNAPPET. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE AND HOW THIS CAN IMPACT IN ALL AREAS. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MS. DAVID-GRAVES IS NEXT AND THEN MR. WASHINGTON. CAROLYN DAVID-GRAVES: CHIEF GAMMONS, THANKS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL RISK. HOWEVER-- OR IMPACT, RATHER. HOWEVER, ARE THERE ANY OTHER GRANTS FOR WHICH WE CAN APPLY THAT WILL HELP TO OFFSET THE COST THE CITY WILL HAVE TO BEAR IF WE DID ACCEPT THE SAFER GRANT? STEVE GAMMONS: UNFORTUNATELY, THERE AREN'T ANY THAT WILL COVER THAT COST. THE SAFER GRANT IS THE PERSONNEL GRANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT OFFERS, THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFERS. THEY OFFER ANOTHER ONE, BUT IT'S ONLY FOR EQUIPMENT. SO THEY DON'T OFFER-- THERE'S NOTHING ELSE OUT THERE THAT WOULD COVER THAT PORTION FOR THEIR SALARY. CAROLYN DAVID-GRAVES: DOES THE STATE OFFER ANYTHING? STEVE GAMMONS: I DON'T THINK SO. I CAN LOOK INTO IT. I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU, NO, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T PERSONALLY LOOKED INTO IT, BUT I CAN LOOK INTO IT. CAROLYN DAVID-GRAVES: OK. AS ALWAYS, MY SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE. SECOND QUESTION. IF WE DECLINE THE SAFER GRANT, WOULD THAT HAMPER US OVER CHANCES OF APPLYING FOR IT IN THE FUTURE IF WE THINK IT'S NEEDED? STEVE GAMMONS: SO I DID TALK TO OUR GRANT WRITER. HE DIDN'T SAY IT WOULD OR WOULDN'T, BUT OBVIOUSLY, GETTING THE GRANT WRITER FOR WHAT WE GOT THEM FOR THIS YEAR-- THE EXPENSE WOULD BE EXPONENTIALLY MORE. THERE'S NO GUARANTEE. THERE'S ONLY SO MANY FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT RECEIVE THIS GRANT. THERE'S SO MUCH FUNDING THAT FEDERAL-- THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUTS INTO THIS PARTICULAR LINE ITEM FOR THEM TO GIVE OUT. SO THERE'S ONLY SO MANY FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT'S SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. CAROLYN DAVID-GRAVES: YEAH, WORKING IN GRANTS, I KNOW THAT USUALLY, IF YOU DO NOT USE THE FUNDING, IT'S EXTRACTED FROM THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET FOR YOU, AND I IMAGINE IT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE SAME THING. IF WE DECLINE THIS GRANT, WE WILL NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR IT AGAIN. STEVE GAMMONS: YEAH. WE CAN STILL APPLY FOR THE GRANT. YEAH. IT'S NOT THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT. WE CAN STILL APPLY FOR THE GRANT. CAROLYN DAVID-GRAVES: THE SAME GRANT. STEVE GAMMONS: YEAH. DAVID HALL: THERE ARE CITIES WHO APPLY YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR THIS GRANT. SO I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF TURNING IT DOWN. BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY-- AND I APPRECIATE CHIEF'S CANDOR BECAUSE I KNOW HE HAS TO-- HE HAS TO FIGHT FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS, AND I'VE ALWAYS RESPECTED DIRECTORS HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THEIR PIECE OF THIS PIE. BUT I APPRECIATE HIS CANDOR IN SAYING, EVEN THE GRANT WRITER CAN'T DEFINITIVELY SAY THAT THIS WILL BE COUNTED AGAINST YOU. I MEAN, IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HELP, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST IT'S GOING TO HURT EITHER. I THINK THE THING IS, TO HIS POINT, AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW THIS, YOU AREN'T GUARANTEED TO GET IT IN ANY YEAR. YOU AREN'T GUARANTEED TO GET A SAFER GRANT IN ANY PARTICULAR YEAR. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT, MR. WASHINGTON. BRYAN WASHINGTON: SORRY. SO THE GRANT ITSELF, AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL, IS HOW MANY AGAIN? STEVE GAMMONS: IT'S FOR SIX. BRYAN WASHINGTON: FOR SIX. NOW, IS THAT INCLUDED THE YELLOW SPOTS THAT WERE ON THE ORG CHART, OR IS THAT IN ADDITION TO? STEVE GAMMONS: NO. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE ORG CHART IS WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE LOST. THOSE ARE CURRENT FTE POSITIONS THAT WE'RE BACKFILLING. SO WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF GUYS LEAVE TO GO TO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT TO BUILD ON THEIR CAREER. THEY'VE GOT MORE ADVANCED STUFF THAN WE DO, SO THEY'RE BUILDING ON THEIR CAREER. WE HAD ONE RETIRE JUST RECENTLY, AND THEN WE HAD A GENTLEMAN IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM PROMOTE, TOO, OUR TRAINING CHIEF, WHICH LEFT HIS POSITION OPEN. AND THEN WE HAD ONE OF OUR CAPTAINS GO TO LOCKHEED MARTIN TO PROGRESS HIS CAREER ALSO. SO WE'RE CURRENTLY BACKFILLING. WE'VE ALREADY DONE THE PROCESS FOR THESE POSITIONS. WE'RE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF BRINGING THESE PEOPLE ON. BRYAN WASHINGTON: THANK YOU. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. JOHNSON? TERRANCE JOHNSON: SO IT'S A VERY TOUGH SPOT TO BE IN. BUT HONESTLY, I THINK IF WE HAVE THIS INFORMATION PRIOR TO REVIEWING AND GOING OVER AND APPROVING THE BUDGET, WHERE WE COULD ASSESS WHERE THOSE FUNDS WILL COME FROM, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, JUST LIKE WHAT MR. HALL STATED, THERE'S CAUSE AND EFFECT. IF WE ACCEPT THIS, THEN, AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IMPACTS WE'RE MAKING OR FINANCIAL IMPACTS OR COMMITMENTS WE'VE MADE IN THE BUDGET TO GET HERE. AND WE HAVE A RAZOR-THIN OVERAGE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AVAILABLE. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD POSITIVELY SAY THAT THEY WERE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BY ACCEPTING THIS NOW WHEN THERE ARE AVENUES FOR US TO POTENTIALLY DO A SWOT ANALYSIS. WE HAVE AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT COMING UP, [01:50:01] WHERE WE COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT OUR PROCESSES AND PROCEDURE, WHICH-- I KNOW, WITH 100% CERTAINTY, THE OVERTIME-- THAT THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE TRACKING IT, AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MEAT LEFT ON THE BONE IN TERMS OF OUR OVERTIME AND HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT. I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD MAKE A IRRATIONAL OR A RUSHED DECISION BY DOING THIS TODAY. I THINK THAT, LIKE HE STATED, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR IT LATER ONCE WE'VE EVALUATED WHERE WE ARE, CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES NOW AND WITH OUR FINANCES DEPARTMENT. I WILL BE COMFORTABLE WITH OPTION ONE ON THIS AND THEN COMING BACK AT A LATER DATE ONCE WE'VE REASSESSED OUR FINANCES. DAVID HALL: MAYOR? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: YEAH. DAVID HALL: LET ME OFFER THIS. AND THIS IS NOT-- AGAIN, I'M IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION BECAUSE I HAVE MY DUTY IN THIS ROLE. AND THEN I HAVE-- OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO SUPPORT EVERY DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET A GRANT. BUT I DO HAVE A DUTY IN THIS ROLE. AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU-- I WASN'T HERE THROUGH ALL OF THE DELIBERATIONS, BUT LET'S CONSIDER THIS. IF WE HAD PLANNED THIS MONEY, WOULDN'T BE A REAL CHALLENGE. WE COULD SAY, OK, WE'VE GOT THIS APPROPRIATED. BUT YOU HAD ENHANCEMENTS THAT-- I'M JUST TRYING TO DISTILL THE ARGUMENT BECAUSE, REALLY, FOR ME-- AND THEN I'M GOING TO SHUT UP, MOST LIKELY. THE ARGUMENT COMES DOWN TO-- AND I HATE THIS. I DO. BUT IT DOES. YOU FUND THIS, $220,000 THIS YEAR, MINIMUM, MINIMUM, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE VACATION THAT THESE SIX FOLKS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT. OR YOU REDUCE YOUR ENHANCEMENTS. AND WHAT WERE YOUR ENHANCEMENTS? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: THAT WAS ALL THE ADDITIONAL OFFICERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT I-- DAVID HALL: AND THAT'S WHY I WASN'T GOING TO MAKE THIS DECISION. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: YEAH. AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION. SO I KNOW THAT THIS BUDGET-- WE APPROVED $700,000 IN OVERTIME, CORRECT, FOR YOU GUYS, WHERE THE PREVIOUS YEARS, WE'VE APPROVED-- STEVE GAMMONS: $400,000. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: $400,000? OK. DAVID HALL: WE EXPENDED $700,000 IN FISCAL YEAR '26, AND YOU'VE APPROPRIATED $400,000 IN '27. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: OK. SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR COMING UP? DAVID HALL: $400,000. YES, SIR. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: IN ADDITION TO REGULAR PAY. STEVE GAMMONS: YES, SIR. WE HAD THE NORMAL SALARIES PLUS $400,000. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: AND NOW, I KNOW-- AND I DON'T KNOW. AND ONCE AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE MATH THAT YOU GUYS USE FOR VACATION AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE TWO SERVICE MEMBERS OFF EVERY SHIFT. THERE'S NOT A WAY TO ADJUST THAT TO COVER OVERTIME TO MAKE-- IS THERE? STEVE GAMMONS: TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR GUYS DO NOT END UP LOSING THEIR VACATION TIME AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO PEOPLE OFF PER CHORE FOR THEM TO MAINTAIN THEIR VACATION SO THEY DON'T LOSE VACATION TIME. DAVID HALL: THERE MAY BE OPTIONS ADMINISTRATIVELY, AND I DON'T-- WHAT'S THE THRESHOLD FOR FIRE NOT TO LOSE? 240, RIGHT? AND SOME CITIES CARRY 280. SOME CARRY MORE. NOW, DOES THAT ADD LIABILITY ON YOUR BOOKS? YEAH, IT DOES. IT'S PAPER LIABILITY. AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PERFECT SOLUTION HERE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PLAN FOR THIS. BUT THOSE ARE ALL OPTIONS, AND THEY, TOO, HAVE CONSEQUENCES. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: AND I KNOW THAT, BUT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF MAYBE THEM KEEPING THAT ADDITIONAL [INAUDIBLE] DAVID HALL: WELL, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. BY RAISING THE THRESHOLD, YOU ALLOWED THEM TO CARRY MORE. BUT THAT DOES SHOW AS A LIABILITY ON YOUR BOOKS, WHICH-- AGAIN, THERE COULD BE SOME IMPACTS TO THAT DOWN THE LINE. BUT THOSE ARE OPTIONS, AND MY JOB IS TO TRY TO GIVE YOU OPTIONS. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I KNOW MS. TODD WANTED-- GO AHEAD. CRISTINA TODD: SO TWO THINGS. ONE, HONESTLY, I UNDERSTAND THE LIABILITY IN THE BOOKS OF LETTING THEM ROLL OVER THEIR LEAVE. HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO EVEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU DON'T WANT THEM ALL TO TAKE CHRISTMAS OFF. AND WHEN WE GET TO THIS TIME OF YEAR AND EVERYONE'S GOT BUILT-UP TIME, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE PUTTING IN. AND THAT'S WHEN YOU START FEELING IT, REALLY FEELING IT AS EVERYONE'S TAKING THE TIME OFF. AND IF THERE WERE TWO DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LOOK AT TO MAYBE CONSIDER SOME MORE FLEXIBILITY IN ALLOWING THEM TO ROLL OVER SOME DAYS, IT WOULD BE THE PD AND THE FD BECAUSE THEY HAVE INTENSE JOBS. I MEAN, A LOT OF THEM WILL TRY AND WORK THROUGH, EVEN IF THEY'RE FEELING SICK, JUST TO BE THERE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT WHEN THEY'RE OUT, THEIR TEAM IS LOW. THEN IF THERE'S SOMEONE INJURED, IT BECOMES MORE AND MORE. [01:55:03] I REALLY THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONSIDER AND LOOK AT FOR THEM BECAUSE ALL THAT DOES IS CREATE THE MASS CHAOS OF RUSHING TO USE IT OR LOSE IT. AND THAT'S NOT HEALTHY FOR A DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY IN A CITY THAT'S GROWING. PUSHING THEM TO HAVE THAT LIMITATION, TO USE IT OR LOSE IT? WE'RE ASKING FOR ISSUES THERE. DAVID HALL: SO AGAIN, I RAISED THAT AS AN OPTION BECAUSE IT IS ONE THAT'S AVAILABLE, TOO. CRISTINA TODD: THIS COMES TO MY NEXT QUESTION, THOUGH. NOVEMBER 1 WE GET AMBULANCES, CORRECT? STEVE GAMMONS: CORRECT. CRISTINA TODD: HOW WILL THAT HELP-- SINCE I KNOW OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT KEEPS GETTING CALLED FOR EMS. HOW WILL THAT HELP-- THIS IS A TWO-PARTER-- BECAUSE WHAT I KEPT TRYING TO BRING UP WITH THE WHOLE FIRE SERVICES THING OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS WAS THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR CALLS WERE EMS, NOT ACTUALLY FIRE SERVICES. SO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PROVIDING EMS OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS, TAKING OUR TRUCKS OUT OF HERE. SO NOW WE'LL HAVE AMBULANCES. HOW IS THAT GOING TO CHANGE AND SHIFT-- BECAUSE I KNOW WE STILL HAVE THE DEALS WITH THE MUDS AND ALL OF THAT. HOW IS THAT GOING TO HELP BENEFIT WITH KEEPING OUR GUYS AND GIRLS IN THE CITY LIMITS AND NOT BE SENDING OUT OUR TEAM TO DO EMS OUTSIDE THERE? STEVE GAMMONS: SO WE DO NOT RUN EMS IN THE COUNTY. IN THE ESD AREA, WE DO NOT RUN EMS. THE ESD HAS THREE AMBULANCES THAT ARE CONTRACTED TO RUN ALL THE EMS IN THE ESD AREA. WE WILL ASSIST IF IT IS A CPR, MAJOR TRAUMATIC INJURY. WE WILL ASSIST. CRISTINA TODD: AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THROUGH-- STEVE GAMMONS: AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE WILL. THAT'S MUTUAL AID. CRISTINA TODD: SO THEY WILL CONTINUE TO-- BECAUSE THE COUNTY'S IS HUGE, AND THEY HAVE NOTHING WHEN IT COMES-- STEVE GAMMONS: BUT IT'S JUST OUR COUNTY AREA. WE'RE NOT GOING TO FARMERSVILLE'S COUNTY AREA, JOSEPHINE'S COUNTY AREA. CRISTINA TODD: BUT THEIR AMBULANCES DO. STEVE GAMMONS: MM-HMM. CRISTINA TODD: SO IF THEIR AMBULANCES ARE GETTING PULLED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY-- STEVE GAMMONS: WE WILL NOT RESPOND TO A LOW-LEVEL [INAUDIBLE]. CRISTINA TODD: RIGHT. BUT IF THEY'RE PULLING FROM OUR AREA AND OUR AREA HAS A THING, THEN WE'RE STILL RESPONDING, AND WE'RE STILL TAKING OUR TRUCKS OUT OF THE CITY LIMITS TO HELP [INAUDIBLE]. STEVE GAMMONS: SO WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ESD, WITH THEIR AMBULANCES. WE DON'T PAY FOR ANY OF THOSE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THERE'S AN AMBULANCE IN THE BRANCH AREA. CRISTINA TODD: RIGHT, BUT THE NEED MUTUAL CARE, SOMEONE'S HAVING A HEART ATTACK, THEIR AMBULANCES ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY A FEW OF THEM, AND THE WHOLE THING-- STEVE GAMMONS: AND THAT'S A-- CRISTINA TODD: --WE ARE STILL GOING TO BE-- STEVE GAMMONS: THAT'S A STATEWIDE, STATEWIDE MUTUAL AID, THAT-- EVERY FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS A STATEWIDE MUTUAL AID, THAT WE WILL MUTUAL AID STATEWIDE. SO WE WILL PROVIDE MUTUAL AID. BUT THESE CALLS IS VERY MINIMAL. CRISTINA TODD: WOULD IT BE BENEFICIAL TO LOOK AT SOMETHING WITH THE ESD IN REGARDS TO OUR AMBULANCES, TO-- ANOTHER CHARGE OR WHATEVER TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT? BECAUSE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO LIMIT HOW MUCH THEY'RE GETTING PULLED OUT OF CITY LIMITS FOR NON-FIRE THINGS. STEVE GAMMONS: SO WHAT WE DID INITIALLY WITH THE EMS CONTRACT-- WITH GETTING THE THIRD AMBULANCE, IT REDUCED OURS BY ALLOWING ONE OF OUR AMBULANCES TO MUTUAL AID IF NEED BE. WE WOULD'VE ONLY GOTTEN TWO AMBULANCES IN THE CITY OF PRINCETON FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE GOT THE TWO AMBULANCES FOR. TO GET THREE AMBULANCES, IT WAS GOING TO COST US OVER $1 MILLION, AND WE GOT THE THREE AMBULANCES FOR $500,000 THAT ARE DEDICATED TO-- DEDICATED TO OUR CITY, AND THEY ONLY MUTUAL AID WITH OUR BATTALION CHIEF'S PERMISSION. CRISTINA TODD: ALL RIGHT. SO THEN IT WILL HELP-- OK. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE-- STEVE GAMMONS: OH, 100%. CRISTINA TODD: --THAT WE CAN-- STEVE GAMMONS: YEAH, WE WENT FROM FOUR AND A HALF AMBULANCES, WITH AMR. THE COUNTY NOW HAS NINE AMBULANCES IN THE COUNTY, BETWEEN US, FARMERSVILLE, JOSEPHINE, AND THE AMBULANCES IN WESTON. CRISTINA TODD: OK. GO AHEAD. I WAS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW AMBULANCES PLAYED INTO ALL OF THIS. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, STATEMENTS? CAN YOU BRING UP THOSE TWO OPTIONS? STEVE GAMMONS: THERE YOU GO. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MY ONLY CONCERN IS, LIKE WE DID WITH STATION 04, WE TOOK ON A RESPONSIBILITY, AND IT ENDED UP BITING US, AND IT ENDED UP PUTTING US IN A POSITION TO WHERE WE WERE HAVING TO FIRE FIREFIGHTERS OUT WITH JUST TWO STAFF ON THE TRUCK BECAUSE WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO DO MORE. I DON'T WANT TO GET TO YEAR THREE, YEAR FOUR, [02:00:01] AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHO WE'RE LAYING OFF, BECAUSE WE CAN PROBABLY STILL MAINTAIN WITH THREE OR SO OR FIGURE OUT A WAY, FINANCIALLY, THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD THIS. I THINK THAT REGARDLESS OF THE GRANT OR NOT, AS A CITY, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE AFFORD THESE EXTRA FIREFIGHTERS AND AFFORD IT IN A WAY THAT IT DOESN'T BITE US IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. SO I SUPPORT YOU GUYS BEING SAFE. I SUPPORT THE STANDARDS. I THINK THAT IF WE HAD SOME TYPE OF SWOT ANALYSIS TO SAY, HEY, IF THIS IS CALL-RELATED OR IF OUR CALLS ARE GOING, SHOOTING UP AND YOU GUYS ARE RUNNING CRAZY AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, THEN I SUPPORT IT 100%. I JUST-- ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO PUT US IN ANOTHER POSITION TO-- WE ALREADY SUBSIDIZED A LOT OF MONEY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, TRYING TO JUST MAINTAIN, EVEN THE CITY. AND WE SEND A LOT OF MONEY OUTSIDE THE CITY THAT-- I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE HERE AND WE'RE DOING A BUDGET, AND I'M SITTING THERE, AND WE'RE SAYING, HEY, WHAT DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO LOSE, OR WHO WE'RE LAYING OFF, BECAUSE THAT YEAR FOUR, THIS $700,000, PLUS WHATEVER IT COULD GO UP TO BY THEN-- COST GOES UP. I JUST DON'T KNOW, IF WE HAVEN'T EVEN LOOKED AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND THAT, WHETHER IT'S PRINCETON TOWN CENTER OR IF IT'S-- WHAT MECHANISM IS TIED TO THIS BECAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD IT TODAY. SO LET'S JUST SAY SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH THE GRANT AND WE JUST HAVE TO-- I MEAN, I GET IT. SOMETHING HAPPENS. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? AND I THINK THAT WE KEEP PUTTING OURSELVES IN POSITIONS BECAUSE WE WANT IT. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN SUSTAIN IT. AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THAT ANSWER RIGHT NOW. BRYAN WASHINGTON: IS TONIGHT OUR DEADLINE TO SAY YAY OR NAY OR OPTION ONE OR OPTION TWO? WHAT'S THE TIMELINE LOOK LIKE? STEVE GAMMONS: YES. WE NEED TO HAVE A LETTER DRAFTED FOR FEMA TO LET THEM KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ACCEPT THE GRANT, BECAUSE THE GRANT WAS-- ONCE WE WERE AWARDED THE GRANT, OUR FORMER CFO ACTUALLY HIT THE BUTTON TO ACCEPT IT. AND ONCE IT WAS ACCEPTED, WE HAVE-- TECHNICALLY, IT'S 30 DAYS TO MAKE THE FINAL, YES, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ON THIS GRANT, OR WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS GRANT ON. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY OF AMENDING, AT ALL, THE GRANT AND MAYBE LESS AND-- STEVE GAMMONS: NO. THE GRANT WAS ON 1710, AND IF WE WENT WITH LESS FIREFIGHTERS, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE GRANT BECAUSE THE 1710 STARTS FULFILLING OUR STAFFING-- STARTS FULFILLING OUR STAFFING TO GET US CLOSER TO THAT 1710 LEVEL, WHICH IS 7-- SORRY. IT'S SORRY. IT'S 18 PERSONNEL ON SCENE WITHIN EIGHT MINUTES OF A STRUCTURE FIRE. AND THEN IT'S ALSO-- THE SECOND BENCHMARK OF IT, LIKE I EXPLAINED, WAS FOUR STAFFING ON EACH APPARATUS. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: SO THIS IS TO HIT THAT STANDARD, BASICALLY. THE SAFER GRANT'S SUPPOSED TO GET A CITY TO THAT-- STEVE GAMMONS: IT'S SUPPOSED TO GET ALL CITIES UP TO THE NFPA 1710, WHICH-- ACTUALLY, 1710 IS GETTING READY TO CHANGE TO 1750, WHICH-- THE MINIMUM'S GOING TO RAISE UP TO 20, BUT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STILL UNDER 1710. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MS. TODD? CRISTINA TODD: WHAT ARE THE LAWS IN REGARDS TO FIRST RESPONDERS ONCE OUR RESIDENCY HITS 50,000, OFFICIALLY, ON PAPER? STEVE GAMMONS: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I'M ALWAYS TRANSPARENT WITH YOU. I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. I CAN GET TO YOU BACK TO YOU ON THAT FIRST THING TOMORROW. CRISTINA TODD: BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS, SUCH AS TAKING ON COUNTY ROADS, REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WRITE IT DOWN ON PAPER THAT WE HAVE 50,000. AND SO THAT IS ANOTHER THING WE FACE IS ONCE WE ACKNOWLEDGE, OFFICIALLY, THE RESIDENCY COUNT, WE ARE GOING TO BE PUT IN A CORNER WHERE WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO STEP UP AND MAKE SOME CHANGES. AND SO THE QUESTION THEN IS, DOES THIS PUT US AHEAD OF THAT, OR ARE WE GOING TO FALL BEHIND EVEN MORE AT THAT MOMENT? BECAUSE HONESTLY, HOW MANY RESIDENTS DO WE HAVE GUYS? STEVE GAMMONS: RIGHT, AND I KNOW IT AFFECTS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT JUST AS MUCH AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THE 50,000. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: YEAH, AND THIS IS WHERE I'D SAY THAT WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR THINGS BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT'S COMING. I MEAN, 50,000 IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, IF WE HAVEN'T PASSED IT ALREADY. AND I KNOW THAT IT GOES BASED ON WHEN WE ADOPT THAT NUMBER, BUT I KNOW THE CENSUS HAD US RIGHT UNDERNEATH IT, AS THEIR PROJECTION. BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE BECAUSE WE CAN GET THIS GRANT FOR THIS. BUT WHAT ABOUT PD, IF WE CAN'T AFFORD PD OR THE OTHER THINGS [02:05:02] THAT WE NEED TO DO, THE COUNTY ROADS. WE'RE IN THE SAME PLACE ANYWAY. [INAUDIBLE] TERRANCE JOHNSON: I WAS MAKING MENTION THAT ONE OF THE ENHANCEMENT WAS TO INCREASE THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WHICH-- THEY'RE THERE TO HELP BRING IN FUNDING TO GET THESE PERMITS PROCESSED FASTER TO HELP WITH THE REVENUE. SO I THINK THERE ARE THINGS IN THOSE ENHANCEMENTS THAT WILL MAKE THIS A MORE SUSTAINABLE ADD IN THE FUTURE. BUT-- EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I THINK WE'RE SAYING THE SAME THING. BUT I GUESS-- WHO'S COMING FIRST, RIGHT? TERRANCE JOHNSON: PRETTY MUCH. THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF-- IN THE BUYING PROCESS OF A HOUSE, YOU'RE ALSO GOING OUT TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE BEFORE THE CLOSING, AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AMOUNT WOULD BE. AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD JUST TAKE A STEP BACK, LEARN FROM MY PAST MISTAKES, AND ASSESS THIS IN A BETTER WAY. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: AND PROBABLY ASSESS EVERYTHING, INCLUDING PD. INCLUDING WHAT THAT 50,000-- BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD-- OFFICIALLY HAD THAT CONVERSATION. THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE A WORKSHOP THAT WE DO SO WE CAN KNOW THAT WE'RE PREPARED FOR THAT NUMBER BECAUSE THAT CAN COME OUT NEXT YEAR. AND YEAH. MR. RUTLEDGE. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: CHIEF, OBVIOUSLY THE AMOUNT OF DIALOGUE THAT HAS GONE ON FROM THIS DAIS AND ACROSS-- TO THE PODIUM SHOWS THE WEIGHT. I THINK THAT THIS COUNCIL FULLY UNDERSTANDS WHERE YOU SIT, WHERE YOUR GUYS SIT AS WE WATCH THEM RUN OUT TO GO TAKE CARE OF SOMEONE THAT'S IN NEED AT THIS MOMENT HONESTLY, I SEE BOTH PARTS. THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT JUST WANTS TO SAY, WE MAKE THIS DECISION. WE PULL FROM WHAT WE NEED TO PULL FROM. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT STAFF TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF IN THE BEST CAPACITY. I THINK ABOUT YOUR GUYS. I THINK ABOUT THE WEIGHT AND THE TOLL THAT'S ON THEM. I HAVE TO SAY THAT THERE'S AN ELEMENT OF THIS FOR ME THAT COMES BACK TO THAT $700,000 NUMBER THAT IS-- I'M TRYING TO BALANCE OUT. AND I WISH WE HAD-- IF YOU'RE SAYING, TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT, I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO TALK THROUGH THAT BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, IS THERE PULL-- IT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, WE'VE REDUCED THAT DOWN TO $400,000. DO YOU REALLY SEE YOURSELF TAPPING THAT $400,000 THIS YEAR? IS THAT GOING TO BE ENOUGH FOR US TO GET THROUGH THAT YEAR ONE AND THEN BE ABLE TO REVISIT? I DO FEEL CONFIDENT WITH THE WORK THAT EVEN CHIEF, EVEN THOUGH WON'T TAKE CREDIT FOR IT, HAS STARTED TO DO. AND THEN NOW WE HAVE DAVID HALL AS OUR ALTERNATE CITY MANAGER-- SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPEN THAT WILL START TO MOVE THAT NEEDLE A LITTLE BIT MORE. BUT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS BODY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. AND SO I WISH THAT THERE WAS MORE TIME TO REALLY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT NUMBER LOOKS LIKE, UNLESS YOU CAN SAY, THERE'S SOME-- FOR SURE, I CAN GIVE YOU NUMBERS, MANAGEABLE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, SPECIFICALLY, THE OVERTIME OR OTHER AREAS THAT WOULD REDUCE-- AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO-- I DID SOME QUICK MATH MYSELF. I DID THAT $700,000, AND I WENT THROUGH THE NUMBERS, AND I WAS LIKE, THAT'S ABOUT SEVEN AND A HALF GUYS, WHICH-- SIX TO SEVEN IS GOING TO FILL THAT VOID. BUT AGAIN, TO CITY MANAGER HALL'S POINT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS NEXT YEAR. SO UNLESS YOU CAN SAY, FOR SURE, THESE ARE THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT WE HAVEN'T MANAGED IN THIS CAPACITY AND WE ARE MANAGING DIFFERENTLY AND IT'S GOING TO PRODUCE X, IT JUST MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR US TO MAKE THAT CALL. STEVE GAMMONS: YEAH. I WOULD LOVE TO SAY I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE $700,000 IN OVERTIME THIS YEAR. WE'VE REDUCED DOWN TO THREE APPARATUS RUNNING. IF WE DID GO WITH THE GRANT, YOU SEE IN THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE, EVEN IF WE STAYED WITH THE 11 AND IMPLEMENTED THE FOUR-MAN STAFFING-- BUT IF NEEDED BE, WE COULD DROP TO A THREE-MAN TRUCK JUST TO-- OR THREE-MAN ENGINE TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T HAVE OVERTIME. IT SHOWS THAT IT WOULD TAKE OVER FIVE ABSENCES FOR US TO EVEN TAP INTO OVERTIME. SO THAT RIGHT THERE-- LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT NOSTRADAMUS. I CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE. IF I DID, HONESTLY, NONE OF US WOULD BE DOING THIS RIGHT NOW. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: WHAT DO YOUR AVERAGE ABSENCES LOOK LIKE? STEVE GAMMONS: [SIGHS] IT'S HARD TO SAY. I MEAN, THERE'LL BE A WEEK WHERE WE HAVE NOBODY OUT. THEN DURING THE WINTERTIME, YOU CAN NORMALLY SAY THERE'S ONE OR TWO GUYS MISSING A TOUR BECAUSE OF THE FLU, COVID, JUST A SIMPLE COLD. I MEAN, WE TRY NOT TO HAVE PEOPLE COME TO WORK WHEN THEY'RE SICK SO THEY DON'T GET A WHOLE SHIFT SICK. BUT WHEN YOU DON'T DO THAT, THEN YOU REDUCE YOUR MANPOWER, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO CALL IN OVERTIME TO FULFILL THAT. SO THERE'S ALWAYS THAT DOMINO EFFECT, IS IF YOU DON'T GIVE THE TWO GUYS OFF, THEN THERE'S A DOMINO EFFECT OF THEN WE HAVE THE RISE IN GUYS [02:10:01] NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THEIR-- OR USE THEIR VACATION IN FEAR OF LOSING IT. THEN IF WE DO THE TWO GUYS THAT ARE ON VACATION SO THEY DON'T LOSE THEIR VACATION TIME AND WE HAVE SOMEBODY, TWO PEOPLE CALL OFF OR WE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S OUT, THEN WE HAVE TO CALL IN OVERTIME TO MEET MINIMUM STAFFING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FIRE SERVICE DOESN'T STAFF LIKE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WHERE YOU CAN JUST CALL AND SAY, YOU'RE GOING TO WORK HERE TODAY, HERE THIS WEEK AND HERE THIS WEEK. WHEN THEIR STAFFED, THEY'RE STAFFED ON A TOUR. SO THEY STAY ON THAT TOUR, THE REASON BEING IS WE BOOK OUT OUR VACATIONS-- MOST FIRE DEPARTMENTS BOOK OUT THEIR VACATIONS A YEAR IN ADVANCE. SO ALL THEIR VACATIONS ARE ALREADY BOOKED ON PAPER A YEAR IN ADVANCE. AND THEN THAT'S HOW THEY MANAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KEEP UNDER THAT-- BARELY KEEP UNDER THAT 240 HOUR. BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU 100% THAT-- I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE AT $700,000. IF WE DID THE SAFER GRANT, THERE'S NO WAY WE'D BE AT THE $700,000. BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT'S 100%. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: AND THE FIVE ABSENCES-- IS THAT PER SHIFT, OR IS THAT PER DAY? IS THAT FOR THE CITY? STEVE GAMMONS: THAT'S FOR THE WHOLE TOUR. SO THERE WOULD BE 16 GUYS ON DUTY. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: AND THIS INCLUDES THE TWO THAT ARE OFF. SO THERE'S SEVEN PEOPLE OFF AT THE-- STEVE GAMMONS: NO, THERE'D BE FIVE. THERE'D BE TWO PEOPLE OFF, AND THEN YOU WOULD SAY THREE MORE PEOPLE-- EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: FMLA OR WHATEVER. STEVE GAMMONS: IF SOMEBODY WAS ON FMLA OR WORKERS' COMP OR JUST CALLED IN SICK, YOU HAVE THREE MORE BEFORE YOU'D HAVE TO CALL IN OVERTIME. BUT I CAN'T-- LIKE I SAID, I CAN'T TELL YOU 100%. I'VE GOT TO RUN THE DEPARTMENT, TOO, AS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AS POSSIBLE. AND I CAN'T TELL YOU 100% THAT I MAY NOT GO A LITTLE BIT OVER OVERTIME. I KNOW PART OF THE OVERTIME THAT'S PUT INTO OUR OVERTIME BUDGET IS JUST FOR FLSA. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: OK, SO THE OVERTIME THAT WE DO BUDGET FOR IS-- THAT'S JUST TO COVER THAT ONE ASPECT, AND THAT'S THE BILLING OVERTIME. STEVE GAMMONS: FLSA IS ROUGH-- AVERAGE IT'S GOING TO RUN-- IT'S ABOUT $296,000. SO THAT GIVES US A LITTLE OVER $100,000 BUFFER FOR EXTRA OVERTIME, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND ANY KIND OF WINTER WEATHER, STUFF LIKE THAT. DAVID HALL: SO YOU'RE GOING TO GO OVER OVERTIME. AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE CONTRARIAN, BUT LET'S BE CLEAR. IF YOU SHOWED THE NUMBERS THAT GO BACK, IN YOUR $700,000-- UNFORTUNATELY, 50%, APPROXIMATELY, WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO OTHER STUFF, FMLA, VACATION. IF $290,000 OF A $400,000 BUDGET IS JUST FEDERALLY MANDATED AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE, WHAT, TWO GUYS OFF A SHIFT ON VACATION, AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GO PAST THAT NUMBER. BY THE WAY, IT ISN'T UNCOMMON FOR CITIES TO BUDGET A LITTLE BIT LOWER IN SOME INSTANCES ON THEIR FIRE OVERTIME. THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE LOWER THAN-- WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER THAT, AND I WOULD BE AMAZED IF WE DIDN'T GO OVER THAT NUMBER. AND AGAIN, I'M NOT ARGUING AGAINST IT. BUT YOU WON'T COME BACK AND SAY, I DIDN'T TELL YOU THESE THINGS, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DECIDE, IS THAT IF YOU ADD THESE OTHERS AND YOU'VE TAKEN, NOW, THE $200,000 WHEREVER WE HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM, WHICH, FOR ME, IS MOST LIKELY ENHANCEMENTS, YOU'VE NOW-- AND THIS IS WHY I SAY, I WISH-- AND I DO WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO REALLY DO MORE ROBUST ANALYSIS. BUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF ADDING FLSA, ADDING VACATION, BUT THEN ALSO ENHANCING CAPACITY TO ABSORB THAT? BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET A BAD YEAR? THAT'S THE GAMBLE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EITHER DECIDE TO TAKE OR UNFORTUNATELY NOT TONIGHT, BUT IT IS A GAMBLE. AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE CHIEF WANTING TO SAY, I'M GOING TO HOLD THE LINE- BUT WE CAN'T PREDICT. THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY. AND I LOOKED AT YOUR BUDGET A LITTLE BIT TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE. IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR FISCAL YEAR EXPENDITURES TWO YEARS PRIOR, WHAT WAS YOUR OVERTIME EXPENDITURE? APPROXIMATELY $300,000-ISH, RIGHT? FISCAL YEARS PRIOR. AND DIDN'T WE ADD FIREFIGHTERS SINCE THEN? YOU SEE THERE'S NO ONE-TO-ONE. AND I'M NOT BASHING FIRE ONLY. I GET TIRED OF PEOPLE TWISTING MY WORDS. THESE ARE FACTS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO THE FACTS, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE. AND SO YOU HAD A 20% INCREASE, APPROXIMATELY-- I DON'T REMEMBER YOUR NUMBER, BUT ABOUT 20% INCREASE IN STAFFING IF YOU HAD 30-SOME-ODD AT THE TIME, YOU ADDED SUB-- YOU HAD ABOUT A 20% INCREASE IN STAFFING. BUT YOU HAD A 100% INCREASE IN OVERTIME. NOW, AGAIN, IT WAS AN ANOMALOUS YEAR. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MS. TODD? CRISTINA TODD: SO DURING ALL THIS, I DID SOME SEARCHING. THE 50,000 RESIDENTS, ACTUALLY 50,001, [02:15:03] WILL TRIGGER US TO, IF WE GO FOR THE SAFER GRANT, HAVING A HIGHER PERCENTAGE FOR LOCAL MATCH THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. AND IT ALSO TRIGGERS A LOT OF THINGS IN REGARDS TO PERSONNEL AND CONTRACTING, WHICH CAN BE DIFFICULT WHEN WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE THOSE DIFFERENTLY. WE'RE IN A TOUGH SPOT FINANCIALLY, BUT ALSO, SEEING THAT, YES, WE CAN APPLY FOR THIS LATER, BUT THE LOCAL MATCH AMOUNT IS GOING TO INCREASE, SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO PUT UP MORE MONEY IF WE APPLY FOR THIS LATER AFTER WE HIT THE 50,001, OFFICIALLY, ON PAPER. AND WE ALSO LOSE OUR STATUS AS A SMALLER CITY, AND WE'LL HAVE TO START COMPETING WITH THE LARGER CITIES FOR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. SO IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE TRADE-OFFS OF, YES, WE CAN APPLY LATER, BUT WHAT ARE OUR ODDS WHEN WE HAVE TO START PLAYING WITH THE BIG KIDS? STEVE GAMMONS: YEAH. IF THERE'S NO MORE FURTHER, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME. TERRANCE JOHNSON: YOUR HONOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RESCIND THE SAFER GRANT FOR ITEM L4. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT. THERE'S NO SECOND. THE MOTION FAILS. AT THIS TIME, ENTERTAIN A MOTION? JAISEN RUTLEDGE: I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR US TO APPROVE THE SAFER GRANT. BEN LONG: I'LL SECOND. CRISTINA TODD: AND THERE REALLY ISN'T ANY WAY TO GET MORE INFORMATION BEFORE WE COME BACK. STEVE GAMMONS: NO, MA'AM. YOU HAVE 30 DAYS FROM THE 28TH, AND WE TRIED TO GET THIS ON AS QUICK AS WE COULD. CRISTINA TODD: BECAUSE WE NEED IT. BUT ALSO-- EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHO WE'RE CUTTING, SO. CRISTINA TODD: FOR REAL THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT BUDGET-- AT CUTTING STAFF. DAVID HALL: YOU WOULD BE CUTTING ENHANCEMENTS. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ENHANCEMENTS? OK. DAVID HALL: SO THOSE ENHANCEMENTS THAT YOU APPROVED? I WOULD COME BACK TO YOU AND TELL YOU WHICH ONES DON'T GET-- AND ASK YOU TO TELL ME WHICH ONES DON'T GET FUNDED. CRISTINA TODD: AND THE MONEY THAT WE PUT TOWARDS THIS CAN'T COME FROM THE MONEY WE HAVE ALREADY GOING TOWARDS IT FOR OVERTIME? DAVID HALL: MOST LIKELY, YOUR OVERTIME BUDGET IS GOING TO BE SHORT, AS IT IS. I WOULD LOVE FOR SOMEONE TO REFUTE THAT, BUT THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE. AND AGAIN, THIS ISN'T AN OPINION. I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS IN THE ANALYSIS. SO YOU'RE MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE SHORT AS IT IS WITH YOUR BUDGETED AMOUNT. I COULDN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH, BUT WE COULD PROBABLY DO THE ANALYSIS. WE COULD GET LUCKY AND, YOU KNOW WHAT? GET THIS WINDFALL OF SALES TAX. I DON'T KNOW. BUT I WOULDN'T STAKE MY PROFESSIONAL REPUTATION ON THAT. AND MORE THAN THAT, FROM A PRUDENT FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE SOUND FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT OR RECOMMEND TO YOU. YOU COULD DIRECT ME IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, AND I WILL FOLLOW MY DIRECTIONS. I WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU THE MOST READILY AVAILABLE SOURCE OF "FUNDING," WHICH WOULD BE THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT YOU APPROVED IN THE FISCAL YEAR DELIBERATIONS. CRISTINA TODD: CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE? DAVID HALL: HARDLY, BECAUSE I WASN'T INVOLVED, BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS SIX POLICE OFFICERS AND A ADMIN. I MEAN, YOU ALL WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN I, I MEAN, NOT TO BE FUNNY. BUT I KNOW YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: IT WAS ADMIN FOR [INAUDIBLE]. DAVID HALL: RIGHT. I THINK IT WAS AN ADMIN FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND SIX POLICE OFFICERS, FIVE OR SIX POLICE OFFICERS. CRISTINA TODD: SO WE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP POLICE OR FIRE IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. DAVID HALL: [INAUDIBLE] FOUR? FOUR AND AN ADMIN? AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY'VE HIRED THE ADMIN YET. I KNOW IT WAS ADVERTISED, BUT. [02:20:02] SO FOUR OFFICERS, I GUESS, AND AN ADMIN. AND SO YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO LOSE ALL FOUR. I WANT TO MAKE SURE NOBODY MISCONSTRUES THAT. BUT YOU WOULD BE LOSING AT LEAST TWO OF THOSE POSITIONS, POTENTIALLY THREE. CRISTINA TODD: I WANT YOU TO KNOW I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO GIVE THIS TO YOU, BUT I CAN'T SACRIFICE POLICE OFFICERS AT THE SAME TIME. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES 4-2. STEVE GAMMONS: THANK YOU. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: THANK YOU. AND WE'RE GOING TO PULL ITEM L5 FROM THE AGENDA. [L.5. 2026-10-26-R02 Consider Resolution No. 2026-10-26-R02 authorizing a contract for citywide mowing and landscaping to BrightView Services, Inc.; and take appropriate action. Presented by Parks & Recreation Director Chase Bryant. ] AND THIS WILL TAKE US TO L6. MS. ANDERSON? [L6. 2026-235 Consider a request from Forestar (USA) Real Estate Group Inc. to approve a final plat for 31.852 acres of land called Crossmill Phase 1B, located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Cypress Bend Parkway and Myrick Lane, Princeton, Texas; and take appropriate action.] 2026-235. CONSIDER REQUEST FROM FORESTAR (USA) REAL ESTATE GROUP, INC TO VOTE TO APPROVE A FINAL PLAT FOR 31.852 ACRES OF LAND CALLED CROSSMILL PHASE 1B, LOCATED AT NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF CYPRESS BEND PARKWAY AND MYRICK LANE, PRINCETON, TEXAS, AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION, PRESENTED BY SHAI ROOS. SHAI ROOS: GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. IF YOU REMEMBER, WE HAD THIS COME IN FRONT OF YOU LAST TIME AND WERE ASKED TO BRING IT BACK WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AS WELL AS THE THIS ANNEXATION ORDINANCE. SO ONE OF THE CONCERNS WAS COUNCIL WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND HAD SOME QUESTIONS. IF YOU WILL LOOK AT ALL THE ATTACHMENTS, AND WE TAKEN A LOOK AT IT LAST TIME, CROSSMILL IS JOYCE CARRELL AND BANSCHBACH, THE DEVELOPMENT AROUND THOSE TWO SCHOOLS. WE HAVE BROOKSIDE BOULEVARD. IT'S IN THE CITY LIMIT AND CITY'S ROAD. CYPRESS BEND AND ALL THE OTHER ROADWAYS IN THIS DEVELOPMENT ARE PRIVATE ROADS. AND THE DEVELOPMENT ITSELF IS OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS, WHEREAS THE TWO SCHOOLS AND BROOKSIDE BOULEVARD IS WITHIN CITY LIMITS. SO THOSE WERE SOME OF THE CONCEPTS AND THE ISSUES HERE. CROSSMILL PHASE 1A FINAL PLAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY YOU ALL. AND THIS ONE IS CROSSMILL PHASE 1B, THAT'S COMING IN FRONT OF YOU FOR FINAL PLAT. IT DOES MEET-- SUBSTANTIALLY MEETS THE PRELIMINARY PLAT THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MS. TODD? CRISTINA TODD: SO DOES THE CURRENT PLAT DEDICATE THE COMPLETE REQUIRED RIGHT OF WAY TO BUILD OUT CYPRESS BEND PARKWAY TO MYRICK LANE? BECAUSE A PARTIAL DEDICATION WILL FORCE THE CITY OR COUNTY TO CONDEMN LAND LATER AT THE TAXPAYERS' EXPENSE. SHAI ROOS: SO IT'S 70-FEET-WIDE RIGHT OF WAY. IT'S SHOWN ON THE PLAT. YES, MA'AM. CRISTINA TODD: OK. AND WE HAVE ALREADY ENSURED THAT EASEMENT OWNERSHIP IS LISTED EXPLICITLY TO THE MUD AND NOT TO THE CITY OF PRINCETON? SHAI ROOS: SO EASEMENT OWNERSHIP ALWAYS BELONGS WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER. CITY JUST HAS ACCESS, OR EVEN THE MUD WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE EASEMENT. EASEMENT DOES NOT- THEY DON'T GIVE AN OWNERSHIP. SO WE WOULDN'T PUT THAT ON THE PLAT. CRISTINA TODD: SO WE'LL HAVE NO MAINTENANCE LIABILITIES ON ANY OF THAT. SHAI ROOS: NO, MA'AM. BROOKSIDE BOULEVARD- WE WILL. CRISTINA TODD: WHO IS CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE THE FIRE AND EMS TO THE 576 HOMES? SHAI ROOS: SO I THINK-- EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: IS THE ESD? IF THEY'RE IN THE MUD. THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN THE COUNTY, SO THEY'LL BE COVERED BY THE ESD. AND I THINK POLICE IS THROUGH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, CORRECT? SHAI ROOS: YES, SIR. STEVE GAMMONS: YEAH, THEY'RE CONSIDERED IN MUD 4. AND MUD 4-- WE'VE NEVER HAD A CONTRACT WITH MUD 4. LAST TIME WE TRIED TO GET A CONTRACT WITH THEM WAS WHEN GRANT LOWRY WAS STILL OUR ATTORNEY. AND THEIR ATTORNEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THEY FIGURED OUT WHAT THE ESD WAS GOING TO DO. SO THEY DID NOT GET FUNDING FROM THE ESD FOR REIMBURSEMENT, AND THEY HAVE NOT COME FORTH TO SIGN A CONTRACT WITH US [02:25:02] FOR CITY SERVICE. SO THEY'RE PART OF THE ESD SERVICE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MS. TODD? CRISTINA TODD: I'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE ASK. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. I'LL LET YOU GET YOUR-- TERRANCE JOHNSON: I MEAN, THIS IS A MINISTERIAL PLAN, RIGHT? THERE'S REALLY NOT A LOT THAT WE CAN ENFORCE IN TERMS OF THIS-- JUST MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE-- EVERYTHING ON THE PUNCH LIST FILLED OUT. THERE'S REALLY NO ENFORCEMENT HERE FOR US, RIGHT? SHAI ROOS: YES, SIR. CRISTINA TODD: IS THE DEVELOPER HERE? I'M GOING TO ASK THE SPICY QUESTION, BECAUSE I WASN'T ON COUNCIL WHEN IT HAPPENED. SO WHAT DID HAPPEN? BECAUSE THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT. Y'ALL WERE IN THE CITY LIMITS. THINGS SEEMED TO BE GREAT. AND THEN ONE DAY, BAM, IT WASN'T. AND THEN A FEW DAYS LATER, I'M ON COUNCIL. SO CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED TO MAKE THAT SPLIT? BECAUSE THERE ARE RUMORS, AND I JUST WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU DIRECTLY. ALEX RACHEK: SURE. I'M GOING TO STATE MY NAME FIRST. ALEX RACHEK, JPI PARTNERS, ENGINEER FOR THE DEVELOPER, HERE ON BEHALF OF FORESTAR AND DR HORTON AS WELL. AT THAT POINT IN TIME, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY DIDN'T WANT THE PID THAT WE WERE ORIGINALLY INVOLVED IN. I DON'T KNOW THE BACK STORIES. I WASN'T IN THE EXACT MEETING. I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK. I KNOW GRANT LOWRY WAS A PART OF THAT, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPERS. I WASN'T IN THAT MEETING DIRECTLY, SO I APOLOGIZE. I DON'T HAVE THE BEST ANSWER FOR THAT. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THE FACTS. WHEN THE CROSSMILL PID WAS ACCEPTED IN NOVEMBER 2023, AND THEN ULTIMATELY, IT WAS ANNEXED. AND THEN WE WERE DE-ANNEXED, AND WE HAD A NEW DEVELOPER'S AGREEMENT, AND WE ARE IN FULL COMPLIANCE. CRISTINA TODD: DOE ANYONE UP HERE ON COUNCIL KNOW WHY YOU TOOK BACK THE PID THAT WAS OFFERED? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I THINK THEY SAID-- OH, YEAH. I MEAN, IF THERE'S A MOTION, WE CAN DISCUSS THAT, BUT YEAH, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. BUT IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I'M GOING TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO MOTION. ALEX RACHEK: THANK YOU. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: THANK YOU. BRYAN WASHINGTON: YEAH, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM L6. CAROLYN DAVID-GRAVES: I SECOND. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT, MS. DAVID-GRAVES. SECOND. CRISTINA TODD: WILL ANYONE ANSWER THAT QUESTION? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I MEAN, Y'ALL CAN ANSWER IT IF Y'ALL WANT TO AT THIS TIME. CRISTINA TODD: CAN ANYONE ANSWER? DOES ANYONE UP HERE ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU-- AN AGREEMENT WAS MADE BY THIS BODY AND THEN BROKEN BY THIS BODY, WHICH NOW PUT AN ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CENTER OF OUR CITY AS A MUD BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON, YOU MADE A DEAL AND TOOK BACK THE DEAL. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHY THIS DEAL WAS BROKEN? CAN WE GET CLARIFICATION AND TRANSPARENCY FOR THE RESIDENTS AS TO WHAT HAPPENED HERE? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I'M JUST GOING TO SAY POLITICS, BUT IT'S JUST WHAT IT IS. BUT YOU CAN CAST YOUR VOTE. I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO ANSWER. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: I'M HAPPY TO HEAR IF SOMEONE ELSE KNOWS, IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA. I'M NOT SURE. CRISTINA TODD: I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW BECAUSE THIS PUTS US IN A BIND, PUTTING A MUD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY. SO WHAT KIND OF SCUFFLE WENT BETWEEN US AND THE DEVELOPER THAT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR US? AND SO THAT'S WHY-- EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: IT WAS THE PID. I'M PRETTY SURE. HE SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE HIM THE PID, AND THAT'S WHY THEY-- CRISTINA TODD: SO THAT THAT'S THE PROBLEM, IS WE GO INTO THESE AGREEMENTS. WE MAKE PROMISES. AND THE CONSEQUENCE IS THIS, BREAK THE CONTRACT, AND THEN THEY ANNEX OUT. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: YEP. BUT IT WAS AN AGREEMENT. BUT WE CAN MOVE ON, THOUGH. YEAH. WE'LL GO TO ITEM L7, 2026-247, CONSIDER APPROVING A REQUEST [L7. 2026-247 Consider approving a request for items to be placed on a future agenda and not for discussion of these requests.] FOR ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA AND NOT FOR DISCUSSION OF THIS REQUEST. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: OH, YEAH, WE GO-- AFTER THAT. I'M GOING TO ADD-- I WANT TO HAVE THE 50,000-RESIDENT DISCUSSION AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THE CITY, AND SO WE CAN JUST BE PREPARED FOR THAT. STAFF MEMBER: MR. MAYOR? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: YEAH. STAFF MEMBER: EXECUTIVE SESSION? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I KNOW. I'M JUST GETTING DONE WITH THIS SO WE CAN COME OUT OF THAT [02:30:01] AND BE DONE, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GET HIS UPDATE GOING, AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE-- CRISTINA TODD: WE'RE GOING ON FUTURE AGENDAS RIGHT NOW? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: YES, FUTURE AGENDAS. MR. RUTLEDGE? JAISEN RUTLEDGE: YEAH, I'D LIKE TO ADD THE ITEM OF HAVING CITY MANAGER HALL BRING BACK TO US THE DISCUSSION AROUND THE IMPROVEMENT SO WE CAN SEE HOW MUCH OF A HOLE WE DUG OURSELVES INTO. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: WITH THAT SAFER GRANT. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: WITH THE SAFER GRANT. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: YEAH, TO HAVE THAT BACK UP SO WE KNOW-- DAVID HALL: YEAH, THAT'LL BE AT THE NEXT MEETING. NOW, MAYOR, YOUR ITEM WE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND SOME TIME DISCUSSING, BUT THE OTHER ONE'S EASY. YES, SIR. CRISTINA TODD: I HAVE A FEW. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MS. TODD? CRISTINA TODD: JUST A REMINDER, MR. MAYOR, YOU SAID I COULD HAVE THE CIC COMMITTEE BROUGHT BACK ON TO A DISCUSSION, SO I WOULD LIKE PUTTING THAT-- I KNOW I ASKED FOR IT MANY TIMES BEFORE. I'M ASKING FOR IT AGAIN. ETHICS COMMITTEE-- AGAIN, BYLAWS WERE PASSED. WE DON'T HAVE AN ETHICS BOARD. WE NEED STAFF TO PUT OUT FOR APPLICATIONS. SO THAT'S A REQUEST. LET'S SEE. CAN WE GET A SAFER COST SHEET, SO JUST THE OVERTIME OFFSET? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: FOR THE GRANT? CRISTINA TODD: YEAH. I GUESS THAT WOULD COME BACK WITH THE ITEM THAT-- EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: COME BACK WITH THE-- DAVID HALL: I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE THAT ANALYSIS. WE'LL WORK ON IT. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: BUT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO FIGURE THINGS. DAVID HALL: YEAH. I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME HALF-BAKED ANSWERS. SO AT THIS POINT, THE DIE IS CAST. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: IT WILL JUST BE ON IN THE FUTURE. DAVID HALL: WE'LL UPDATE YOU, YES. CRISTINA TODD: THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE THAT I'M GOING TO BRING THIS UP. BUT WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND HOW THE FUNDS WERE SPENT AND THOSE PURCHASES, 2012, THE LIBRARY WAS DONE AS WELL. HAVE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE REPORT FROM APRIL 1 OF 2025? EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: WHAT'S THE AGENDA ITEM? I'M NOT SURE-- CRISTINA TODD: I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, SAME THING AS A COMMUNITY CENTER, HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT ON THOSE ITEMS BECAUSE ON THAT ONE, PARTICULARLY, THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM WAS PAID FOR AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THERE. IS NOT IN THE LIBRARY CURRENTLY. AND SO IT'S DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME AS THE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND IT APPEARS THE SAME METHODOLOGY WAS USED. SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT LOOKED, AT LEAST INTERNALLY AT FIRST, BEFORE WE START LOOKING AT-- EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A DECISION-- THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A VOTE FROM COUNCIL. BUT YEAH, WE'LL GET THAT-- CRISTINA TODD: PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR A VOTE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MM-HMM. I HAD TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T THINK-- GET ON THAT RIGHT NOW. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: AND IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. JAISEN RUTLEDGE: OH, ONE LAST THING, MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND. I KNOW WE BUDGETED FOR AN AUDIT. I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT ITEM ADDED AND TO BRING BACK UP FOR US TO DISCUSS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. DAVID HALL: THAT'S COMING ON THE NEXT MEETING. AT LEAST THE PLAN WAS TO GET THE RFP FOR YOUR EFFICIENCY AUDIT. THAT WAS TENTATIVELY GOING TO BE THE NEXT AGENDA ALREADY. CRISTINA TODD: AND I KNOW ON 1013, RUTLEDGE BROUGHT UP THE CHARTER COMMITTEE AND THE HOME RULE CHARTER AND ALL THAT. I WANT TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING THAT FORWARD SO WE CAN LOOK AT THOSE AMENDMENTS. WITH DEFFIBAUGH STEPPING DOWN AND US GOING TO THE BALLOT AGAIN, THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT ON THE BALLOT WITHOUT HAVING TO DO TWO SPECIAL MEETING-- OR SPECIAL ELECTIONS. AND WE HAVE THE MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO DO THE HOME RULE. SO TWO-FOR-ONE SPECIAL THERE. IT WOULD SAVE TAXPAYERS. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. AND THIS WOULD TAKE US TO ITEM M, CITY MANAGER'S UPDATE. [M. CITY MANAGER UPDATE] DAVID HALL: AS IF SOMEHOW I HAVEN'T TALKED ENOUGH TONIGHT, YOU GET TO HEAR ME A LITTLE BIT MORE. OK, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS QUICK. A COUPLE OF THINGS TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AND TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC. WE MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT YOUR PRINCETON SERVICE APP-- IT GIS WORKING ON THAT. THEY'VE FINISHED THE PRIMARY BUILD OF IT. IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A PRETTY COOL APP. THE RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO TYPE IN THEIR ADDRESS AND SEE THEIR CLOSEST PARK, THE NEAREST FIRE STATION, TRASH RECYCLING DAYS, AND IN OUR CASE, WATER, SEWER PROVIDERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A PRETTY- KIND OF HOLISTIC COLLECTION OF INFORMATION USING THE GIS APPLICATION. EVERYONE WAS AT PUMPKIN BOOLOOZA. THEY'RE SHOWING 8,500 ATTENDEES. IF YOU WERE THERE-- I WAS THERE. SOME OF YOU WERE THERE. IT WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB. IT WAS A GOOD EVENT. IMPORTANT TO NOTE, CWD ROUTE CHANGES [02:35:01] ARE COMING UP NOVEMBER 2. MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH CWD'S MARKETING TEAM. YOU WILL ALSO NOTE THAT THE AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOODS, THE MARKETING GROUP, OUR MARKETING GROUP, HAS PUT SIGNS OUT. SO JUST, AGAIN, TO BRING THAT BACK TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION THAT ON THE 2ND OF NOVEMBER THERE WILL BE SERVICE CHANGES WITH THE CWD SERVICES. EMPLOYEE WELLNESS-- OUR EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE GROUP, ON THE 22ND OF OCTOBER, HAD A BIOMETRIC SCREENING FAIR. WE ALSO DID IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TOWN OF ST. PAUL BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO SMALL TO HOST THEIR OWN. 22 EMPLOYEES WHO HAD PRESCHEDULED SHOWED UP, AS WELL AS SEVERAL MORE WHO WALKED IN. SO THOSE ARE ALWAYS BENEFICIAL TO HOLD. I THINK SOMEONE ASKED BEFORE, BUT THE HOLIDAY CLOSURE CALENDAR WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR OCTOBER 12 THROUGH 16 WEEKLY COUNCIL UPDATE. THAT'S SIMPLY OUR LIST OF HOLIDAY CLOSURES. AND SO THAT'S FISCAL YEAR, RUNNING THROUGH OCTOBER 1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2027. VOTING LOCATION-- AGAIN, WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT THE NOVEMBER 3 GENERAL ELECTION-- THE VOTING CENTER IS NOT THE MUNICIPAL CENTER, BUT THE DEFFIBAUGH COMMUNITY CENTER. AND LASTLY, BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST, MUNI DOCS-- THERE WAS KIND OF QUESTIONS ABOUT MUNICODE. AND SO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING, AND SHE'S ADDED THE MUNI DOCS MODULE TO THAT. AND ALREADY, THAT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU ACCESS TO CITY DOCUMENTS. AND SO THERE ARE THINGS GOING TO BE LIKE THE ADOPTED ORDINANCES, RESOLUTION, COUNCIL MINUTES. AND THE GOAL WILL BE TO GET THINGS SUCH AS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ON THERE BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR. SO WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, THAT'S THE MOST RECENT UPDATE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I THINK SHE HAD OTHER QUESTION FOR YOU. CRISTINA TODD: OH. IT'S KIND OF QUESTION, POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEM. CAN WE LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS THAN HOW WE HAVE OUR ORDINANCES AT DIFFERENT COMPANY, OTHER THAN MUNICODE, FOR ORDINANCES? DAVID HALL: WELL, ADMINISTRATIVELY-- CRISTINA TODD: COMPARE OPTIONS? IS THAT [INAUDIBLE] DAVID HALL: THERE MAY BE. I'LL WORK WITH THE CITY SECRETARY IF, IN HER ASSESSMENT, THERE ARE ISSUES OR IF I'M HEARING THAT THERE ARE ISSUES. WE CERTAINLY DON'T MIND LOOKING AT BETTER WAYS TO DO BUSINESS. THIS IS ME AND MY SOAPBOX, BECAUSE THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING AN ALTERNATE IS THAT YOU CAN LET ME GO, AND I'M OK. THERE'S A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF HAPPENING AT THE DAIS. AND I POINT THIS OUT BECAUSE I'M HAPPY TO RECEIVE ASSIGNMENTS. BUT I WOULD SAY THIS. WE'RE SHORT A CEO, A PERMANENT CITY MANAGER, AN ACM. YOU ALL HAVE A LOT OF DESIRES FOR US TO IMPROVE, AND WE WILL, WHETHER I'M HERE OR SOMEONE ELSE. IT'S CLEAR. BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION. AND THERE ARE A LOT-- EVERY MEETING, THERE ARE 15 DIFFERENT THINGS. WE'RE HAPPY TO TACKLE, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. BUT AT SOME POINT, WHETHER IT BE ME OR SOMEONE ELSE, I WOULD ASK FOR THIS COUNCIL TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH US. AND YOU PRIORITIZE WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE BOSS, AND WHAT YOU SAY IS NUMBER ONE IS NUMBER ONE, AND NUMBER TWO IS NUMBER TWO. BUT I'M SAYING THIS BECAUSE IT'S OVERWHELMING. AND I'M NOT OVERWHELMED PERSONALLY, BUT I'M THINKING ABOUT, OK, HOW DO WE GET THIS DONE, AND WHAT'S THE ORDER? WHAT MAKES YOUR ISSUE ANY LESS IMPORTANT THAN YOUR ISSUE OR YOUR ISSUE? AND IT ISN'T FOR ME TO DECIDE, AND IT ISN'T FOR ANY OF US. AND I SAY THIS TO ALL OF YOU, RESPECTFULLY, THAT I WOULD ASK THAT AT SOME POINT, WE FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PRIORITIZE YOUR DESIRES FOR US BECAUSE WE WORK FOR YOU AS THE BODY. AND THE GOAL IS WE'RE GOING TO APPEAR TO BE INCOMPETENT AND INEPT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE SCATTERED IN 20 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND 20 DIFFERENT TOWNS. CRISTINA TODD: IT SOUNDS LIKE A WORK SESSION, SO WE CAN ACTUALLY PLAN SOMETHING. DAVID HALL: UNFORTUNATELY, I WORK FOR THE COUNCIL, SO I DON'T TELL YOU WHAT TO DO AND WHEN TO DO. I WANT TO BE RESPONSIVE TO EVERYTHING YOU'VE ASKED OF ME, ALL OF YOU. AND THERE'S A LOT OF MOVEMENT. PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE THEN WE'LL GET STAFF TO DO IT. WELL, YOU COULD, AND THEN WHAT ARE WE TAKING AWAY FROM THAT SOMEBODY ELSE WANTED DONE? AND THAT'S WHAT-- IF I WOULD OFFER THIS THING, IT WOULD BE THAT WE HAVE TO GET YOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES IN PLACE FOR US. AND YOU, AS THE BODY THAT GOVERNS US, HAVE TO THEN BE WILLING TO STICK TO IT SO WE CAN GET YOUR WORK DONE. CRISTINA TODD: THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE, AT ONE OF OUR RECENT CONFERENCES I ATTENDED, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS OUT THERE, SOME THAT INCLUDE THINGS THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE A LOT FOR AMBER-- DAVID HALL: YES, AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT. CRISTINA TODD: --WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING TABS WHERE THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ARE AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO THEN SHE'S NOT GETTING THOSE TYPES OF PIRS. LIKE, THERE ARE PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT CAN ALLEVIATE STUFF OFF OF OUR STAFF AND MAKE THINGS A LITTLE EASIER FOR THEM. DAVID HALL: AND SHE JUST INSTITUTED THIS MODULE, WHICH WILL ALLOW PEOPLE, IN PART TO THE SUGGESTION-- THESE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS WILL BE OUT THERE, BUT WE HAVE TO START WITH THE ORDINANCES AND THE OTHER THINGS. AND THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED IN THIS UPDATE, [02:40:02] THE CURRENT VENDOR DOES HAVE THOSE CAPABILITIES, AND THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS IN PLACE BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR. SO WE'RE GOING TO MEET THE OBJECTIVE. BUT IT DOESN'T ALSO MEAN WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS SUGGESTION AND GO BACK ADMINISTRATIVELY. I'M JUST SIMPLY ARGUING THE POINT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF GOOD SUGGESTIONS. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO MEET WITH YOU, BECAUSE THERE'S STUFF THAT YOU WILL FEED ME THAT WE CAN TAKE BACK AND DO ADMINISTRATIVELY, WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WASTE YOUR TIME GETTING ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDANCE UP HERE, BUT YOU GIVE IT TO ME ON THE BACK END, AND I CAN TAKE IT, AND WE CAN GO WORK ON THESE THINGS BECAUSE WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON ALREADY. CRISTINA TODD: WELL, IT WOULD ALSO HELP-- I KNOW THAT I HAD SHOWN CHIEF WATERS-- THERE'S A FOLDER THAT WAS SHARED TO ALL OF COUNCIL, AND I KNOW THERE'S STUFF IN THERE THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD. BUT THERE WAS STUFF IN THAT FOLDER THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO, WHICH REDUCED A LOT OF THE REQUESTS I'VE HAD TO ASK FOR-- EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT JUST HAVING-- CRISTINA TODD: SO I'M JUST POINTING OUT THERE, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD GET ACCESS TO THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE TAKEN FROM US. DAVID HALL: WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOCUMENTS, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE ACCESS TO ANY INFORMATION-- AND I'VE SAID THIS TO YOU. I'LL SAY IT TO ALL OF YOU. ANY INFORMATION YOU WANT, YOU GOT A PROCESS. WE ARE NOT GOING TO HIDE ANYTHING FROM YOU. THERE'S NOTHING TO HIDE, SO. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DAVID HALL: THANK YOU. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, THE TIME IS 9:12. THIS IS TAKEN IN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. [J. EXECUTIVE SESSION] 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. CONSULTATION WILL BE LEGAL MATTERS RELATED TO CITY MANAGER'S RECRUITMENT PROCESS, LEGAL MATTERS RELATED TO CYBERSECURITY INCIDENT INVOLVING UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO CITY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES, AND POTENTIAL DISCLOSURE OF OR-- EXFILTRATION OF CONFIDENTIAL, SENSITIVE, OR PROTECTED INFORMATION, INCLUDING LEGAL LIABILITIES, STATUTORY NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, INSURANCE COVERAGE, CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, AND POTENTIAL LITIGATION. THEN SECTION 551.089-- DELIBERATION REGARDING SECURITY DEVICES OR SECURITY AUDITS. AND THIS WILL BE SAME THING AS CYBERSECURITY INCIDENT. AND THEN SECTION 551.074, PERSONNEL MATTERS-- THIS WOULD BE FOR A CITY MANAGER RECRUITMENT, INCLUDING RECRUITMENT, APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, AND RELATED PERSONNEL MATTERS. EXIT TIME IS 9:13. THE TIME IS 9:51. [K. ACTION PERTAINING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION] THIS WOULD TAKE US OUT OF EXECUTIVE, AND THERE IS ACTIONS PERTAINING TO EXECUTIVE. BRYAN WASHINGTON: YOUR HONOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ALTERNATE CITY MANAGER'S CONTRACT, AS DISCUSSED. CAROLYN DAVID-GRAVES: SECOND. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ALL RIGHT, MS. DAVID-GRAVES, SECOND. MOTION PASSES 6-0. AND THIS WILL TAKE US TO OUR REPORT AGENDA. CITIZENS GOVERNMENT ACADEMY? WILL BE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026 FROM 6:00 PM TO 8:30 PM. NEXT REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026 AT 6:30 PM. NEXT REGULAR P&Z MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2026 AT 6:30 PM. NEXT REGULAR PARKS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 AT 6:30 PM. NEXT REGULAR EDC MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2026 AT 6:00 PM. NEXT REGULAR CDC MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2026 AT 6:00 PM. AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN MOTION TO ADJOURN. BRYAN WASHINGTON: YEAH, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION TO ADJOURN. TERRANCE JOHNSON: SECOND. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: MR. JOHNSON, SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY, AYE. COUNCILMEMBERS: AYE. EUGENE ESCOBAR JR: ANY NAYS? THE TIME IS 9:52. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.