[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE WILMER CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER AT 6:00 PM ON BEHALF OF CITY COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND A WARM WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.
YOUR PRESENCE REFLECTS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO CIVIL ENGAGEMENT, AND WE TRULY VALUE YOUR INTEREST IN THE WORK AND PROGRESS OF OUR CITY.
[BUDGET WORK SESSION]
WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR BUDGET WORK SESSION REVIEW AND DISCUSS AND PROPOSE 2026 BUDGET.AND WE'LL HAVE PATRICIA ALBERT, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, COME AND PRESENT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE BACK HERE AGAIN.
AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A BRIEF BUDGET WORKSHOP BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE TILL SIX 30.
I KNOW WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING RIGHT AFTERWARDS.
AND WHAT I DID IS THAT I JUST UPDATED THE BUDGET WITH, UM, THE NUMBERS THAT COUNCIL WANTED TO INCLUDE IN THERE.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO OVER THOSE CHANGES RIGHT NOW.
COUNCIL UPDATES FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
SO THE FIRST SLIDE WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THAT COUNCIL, UM, SEND THESE NUMBERS IN.
YOU WANTED TO, UH, INCREASE THE STREETS AND BRIDGES FROM A HUNDRED THOUSAND PROPOSED BUDGET TO A MILLION DOLLARS.
THEIR DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE WENT FROM 25,000 TO 800,000 AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR THE WATER RATE STUDY AND MOWING CONTRACT 124,000 TO $174,000.
SO THE TOTAL INCREASE IN APPROPRIATIONS IS $1.725 MILLION.
ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE AFTER INCREASE IN APPROPRIATIONS ABOVE IS ABOUT $8.7 MILLION.
SO IT'S A GOOD USE OF CITY, UH, FUNDS TO HAVE THOSE INCREASES TO THE STREETS AND BRIDGES AND DRAINAGE, UM, PUBLIC WORK STREETS.
SO THAT'S THE GENERAL FUND, GENERAL FUND SNAPSHOT.
WE WENT OVER THIS LAST TIME, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE TOTAL REVENUE IS EIGHT POINT 26% INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, UH, OF FISCAL YEAR 26, MAINLY DUE TO THE HIGHER TOTAL ASSESSED VALUES IN PROPERTY TAXES AND THE INCREASE IN SALES TAX REVENUE.
NEXT ONE IS THESE ARE THE EXPENDITURES.
AND UH, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, NOTHING ELSE CHANGED EXCEPT FOR, UM, THE PUBLIC WORKS.
IF YOU GO DOWN TO PUBLIC WORKS THAT LINE, YOU WILL SEE THE INCREASE THERE FROM, UM, FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET OF THROUGH 3.2 MILLION, UM, ALTOGETHER.
AND IT, IT LOOKS LIKE 139%, BUT THAT'S FOR THOSE CHANGES THAT YOU, UM, WANTED TO MAKE FOR STREETS AND DRAINAGE AND, UH, THOSE STUDIES, EVERYTHING ELSE REMAINED THE SAME.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE ENDING FUND BALANCE ESTIMATED AT THE $8.7 MILLION.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CHANGES FOR GENERAL FUND? UH, YES.
UH, IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, HOW MANY DO WE HAVE? THERE ARE THREE BUDGETED POSITIONS IN THERE.
WE HAVE ONE EMPLOYEE IN THERE, WHICH IS THE SENIOR ACCOUNTANT THAT WAS JUST FILLED, UH, A FEW MONTHS AGO.
SO WE WILL HAVE THE ACCOUNTANT POSITION COMING UP.
WE'RE GOING TO, UH, GO AHEAD AND PUT AN AD BACK UP.
WE DIDN'T HAVE GOOD APPLICANTS THE FIRST TIME AROUND.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, WHENEVER YOU ALL DECIDE YOU WANNA, UH, GO THAT ROUTE.
SO THAT'S, UH, THE, THE, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, UM, ACCOUNTANT ACCOUNT AND SENIOR ACCOUNTANT.
AND IN, UM, LITTLE, UH, IN THE, UH, THE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
WELL, WELL, THIS HAS GOT THE TOTAL OF, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IS THAT THE PERSON THAT SITS BEHIND?
[00:05:01]
UM, IN EACH DEPARTMENT BEHIND, IT'S A DISPATCHER, SO THEY ANSWER 9 1 1 CALLS.IT'S JUST ANOTHER DISPATCHER? YES, THOSE ARE THE, THE, THE PEOPLE WHO ANSWER THE CALLS FOR 9 1 1.
OH, THEY DON'T TAKE THE, JUST THE REGULAR POLICE CALL.
WELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL 9 1 1.
YOU KNOW, THEY CALLING NO, THE, THESE ARE THE LADIES OR GENTLEMEN WHO ANSWER WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, THEY'RE THE VOICE YOU'RE HEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE.
YEAH, THEY ANSWER, ANSWER ALL THE 9 1 1 CALLS.
AND I HAVE A, UH, I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE COURT.
UH, WE, UH, OUR JUDGE, IS IT LISTED THIS TIME THE SALARY OF THE JUDGE IN WITH THE COURT? UH, NO, BECAUSE HE IS A CONTRACTOR.
SO WE PAY HIM UNDER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
HE DOES NOT WORK AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE CITY.
BUT THERE, UH, UH, THE COURT DOES HAVE A, UH, THE MONEY FOR HIM IN A OH YES.
THEY BUDGETED THAT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO BRING THIS UP OR NOT, BUT, UH, I, I KIND OF HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, UH, UH, NOT, NOT WITH THE JUDGE.
YOU KNOW, WE, UH, THIS WAS DONE, BUT OUR PREVIOUS JUDGE WITH JUST KIND OF WAS, SHE'S GOT THE TITLE OF, UM, COURT ADMINISTRATOR.
UM, I THINK THAT'S ONE WE NEED TO TALK TO.
IF SHE MIGHT COULD FILL IN WITH SOME OF THESE.
THERE'S THERE, THERE'S NOTHING TO DO OTHER THAN A REPORT AND MAKE SURE THE MONEY GOES TO THE, UH, I WORKED FOR TWO OTHER CITIES AND THAT POSITION CAME UNDER THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
IT WAS JUST LIKE AN EXTRA TITLE THEY HAD.
UH, BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY, IS THE MONEY GETTING THERE? IS IT DONE SENT TO THE BANK ALL TIME? WELL, ACTUALLY NO.
THE COURT, COURT ADMINISTRATION THEN WE REPORT ONCE A MONTH TO THE STATE.
THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR IS A VERY, VERY VITAL POSITION.
AND THEY WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE JUDGE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE DOCKETS AND ALL THE LAWS ARE FOLLOWED.
I, I KNOW I WAS 24 AND A HALF YEARS HERE AS MUNICIPAL JUDGE, BUT WE NEVER HAD THAT POSITION.
I MEAN, WE JUST KNEW WHAT WE HAD TO DO.
AND IT'S, IF IT'S UH, SET UP RIGHT, IT'S RUN SMOOTHLY.
WE NEVER HAD A COMPLAINT WITH ANYONE.
SO, BUT, UH, I THINK THAT TITLE CAME UNDER THE, UH, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS NOT A, A TITLE, BUT YOU, YOU KNOW, WHO IS THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR? WE'LL GO SEE THEM.
'CAUSE THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT WAS.
UH, YES, BECAUSE THE FINANCE, IF THE MONEY IS OFF OR YEAH.
THE FINANCE DIRECTOR DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT COURT.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE LAW.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING, THERE'S NOTHING REALLY THERE, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, OTHER THAN A REPORT, YOU KNOW, YOU DO A REPORT ONCE A MONTH FOR THE STATE? NO, I, I AM SURE SHE DOES A LOT.
BUT I'M JUST, THAT'S, I, THAT'S, I DID THAT 24 AND A HALF YEARS OVER THERE, SO I KNOW HOW IT'S A VERY BUSY CITY.
UH, IF Y'ALL GOT SOMETHING Y WANT TO ASK, JUST BUDDYING, SO, I MEAN, NOT BUDDYING, BUT GO, GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT BACK.
AND PUBLIC WORKS, UM, ARE GETTING AN INCREASE.
IT SAID ON, ON, UM, MORE EMPLOYEES OR THEY'RE TRYING TO HIRE, OR NO.
PUBLIC WORKS IS THE STREETS AND BRIDGES LINE THAT WENT UP.
AND ALSO THE DRAINAGE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT COUNCIL, UM, SENT IN.
THEY CAN USE THIS MONEY TO DO THAT WITH, OR MM-HMM
UH, COMMUNITY SERVICE, THAT'S, THAT'S JUMPED UP.
WHAT DOES THAT COVER? OH, YES.
I, I WENT OVER THAT DURING THE BUDGET SESSION, UH, LAST TIME.
SO I EXPLAINED THAT IT'S KIND OF A PASS
[00:10:01]
THROUGH.SO PERMITS, WHEN COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES COME IN AND PULL A PERMIT, THE CITY PAYS A CONSULTANT OUTSIDE TO GO AND DO THAT INSPECTION AND CHARGES THE CITY SOME FEE, YOU KNOW, A FEE.
BUT THE CITY ALSO GOES AND, AND THEY CHARGE THAT COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT A FEE AS WELL.
SO IT, IT KIND OF IS A PASS THROUGH.
SO WE COLLECT THE MONEY FROM THE COMMERCIAL PLACE THAT WANTS THE INSPECTION.
LET'S SAY THIS IS NOT THE, THE FEE, BUT LET'S SAY A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
AND THEN THE, THE CONSULTANT SAYS, OKAY, I'LL CHARGE YOU 75 FOR THE, FOR THE PERMITTING, UH, THE INSPECTION.
AND SO THE CITY KEEPS $25 JUST TO MAKE IT SIMPLE.
IT'S MORE, AND SO BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT WE EXPECT TO COME IN AND PULL PERMITS, THAT WENT UP 143%.
NOW THE REVENUE ALSO WENT UP BY THAT SAME AMOUNT.
SO IT'S KIND OF A PASS THROUGH.
AND THEN THE CITY KEEP, KEEPS SOME PORTION OF THAT REVENUE.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE JUST SPENDING THAT 143% INCREASE AND NOT GETTING ANYTHING BACK.
IT'S, IT'S FOR COMMERCIAL INSPECTIONS.
Y'ALL HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT? OKAY.
WELL, THOSE, THOSE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS.
SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
SO, UH, COUNCIL, UH, PROPOSED SOME UPDATES TO THE CDC BUDGET AND IT WAS ALL IN THE SPECIAL EVENTS.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WE BROUGHT IN LAST TIME, THERE'S THE FOUR 26,950, WHICH WAS THE TOTAL FOR ALL OF THOSE LINE ITEMS. COUNCIL CHANGES 3 31, 3 50.
SO TOTAL DECREASE IN, UH, APPROPRIATIONS, $95,600.
ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE AFTER DECREASE IN APPROPRIATIONS ABOVE IS ABOUT $5.9 MILLION.
SO YOU JUST ADDED 95,600 BACK INTO THE FUND BALANCE.
AND YOU SEE A LITTLE SNAPSHOT THERE OF THE BUDGET.
CDCI JUST WANTED TO SEE HOW, UM, THAT IMPACTED THE OVERALL LOOK.
SO THERE'S THE FISCAL YEAR 26 ADOPTED BUDGET, AND YOU SEE THERE, UH, THE, UH, DECREASE IN APPROPRIATIONS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
AND, UM, AT THE VERY BOTTOM YOU'LL SEE THE 5.9 MILLION FUND THAT IS ESTIMATED.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CDC? THIS? UM, I'VE GOT ONE ON THIS ONE.
UH, 'CAUSE IT'S ONE UP 450% OTHER EXPENSES IN INCENTIVES.
IS THIS WHERE WE'RE GIVING YES.
THESE BUSINESSES MONEY TO COME IN? YES.
THAT'S WHERE I PUT THE INCENTIVE WHEN I SAID, WHEN I HAVE TO PUT, UM, THE REVENUE UP AT THE TOP, 'CAUSE IT HAS TO BE BALANCED.
AND THEY WERE ASKING FOR THE, UH, $6 MILLION IN INCENTIVES TO BE PUT ASIDE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT RIGHT THERE.
UNDER OTHER EXPENSES OF INCENTIVES, YOU'LL SEE THE $7.4 MILLION.
SO THAT'S WHERE I PUT THE 6 MILLION TO BE BUDGETED OUT OF.
AND AGAIN, IT'S ONLY IF COUNCIL DECIDES TO GIVE INCENTIVES TO, UM, YOU KNOW, COMPANIES OR WHATEVER.
AND, UM, AND THAT'S WHY IT LOOKS, YOU KNOW, AS 450%, 'CAUSE IT DID GO UP BY THAT AMOUNT.
IS THAT ALL IT CAN BE USED FOR? UM, SO IT'S THE CDC AND, UM, IT IS USED FOR, UH, BUSINESSES, PARKS, ANYTHING THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY.
SO USUALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY BUILD LIBRARIES WITH THAT, THE, ANYTHING THAT IS FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S NOT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
SO REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE MADE FOR THE CITY REPAIRS, CAN IT BE USED FOR REPAIRS? UH, NO.
THIS IS FOR ACTUAL BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO COME IN TO THE CITY AND PROVIDE SOME KIND OF ENRICHMENT, COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT TO THE CITY.
THEN THEY WOULD COME AND APPLY HERE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO START OF A BUSINESS.
SO NEEDS TO GET ON YOUR FEET OR GET GOOD START OR WHATEVER.
[00:15:03]
WE'LL GO TO THE EDC.SO, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ALSO HAD A FEW UPDATES, NOT THAT MANY, UH, BUT YOU'LL SEE THERE THAT THE TOTAL DECREASE IN APPROPRIATIONS WAS $39,500.
AND YOU'LL SEE THE, UH, ENDING FUND BALANCE AFTER THE DECREASE.
THIS WAS MOSTLY FOR MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES, UH, DECREASE IN 20,000 CONFERENCES AND TRADE SHOWS DECREASE IN 10,000.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE TRAVEL ALSO, UH, ABOUT HALF OF IT WENT DOWN.
SO, UH, 8.3 MILLION WOULD BE THE ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE AND APPROPRIATIONS.
UM, AND YOU'LL SEE THE EDC SNAPSHOT NEXT, SAME THING.
THEY ALSO HAVE INCENTIVES THAT THEY'RE WANTING TO, UM, PUT ASIDE $4 MILLION.
AND THAT'S, YOU'LL SEE IT AGAIN, OTHER EXPENSES, INCENTIVES, 280% GOING UP.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE, UM, 4 MILLION THAT THEY HAVE SET ASIDE.
NOW, THIS IS FOR REAL BUSINESSES WHO THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO OPEN UP, I DON'T KNOW, A LAUNDROMAT, RIGHT? AND DOES THE CITY HAVE ANY KIND OF INCENTIVES? AND THEN THE CITY CAN SAY, WELL, WE CAN GIVE YOU X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE? YOU KNOW, AND THEY PRESENT SOMETHING TO COUNCIL.
AND THEN COUNCIL AND THE EDC WILL DECIDE, OKAY, WE'LL GIVE YOU A HUNDRED THOUSAND, YOU KNOW, SO THAT YOU CAN KICKSTART YOUR, YOUR LAUNDROMAT.
AND, AND SO THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
BUSINESSES, THAT, THAT COULD BE FOR ROADS AS WELL, ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE, OF THE WHOLE CITY.
I KNOW YOU MENTIONED ROADS EARLIER.
SO THIS ONE WILL BE FOR ROADS IF NEEDED.
ANY QUESTIONS ON EDC? AND THAT INCLUDES, WELL, I HAVE JUST THAT ONE ON THAT.
UH, WITH THE BUSINESSES, THAT'S TO HELP GET A GROCERY STORE IN HERE, YOU KNOW, OR WHATEVER.
SO THE NEXT ONE, THESE ARE JUST THE SUPPLEMENTAL CAPITAL REQUESTS.
NOW, THE REASON I PUT THIS IN HERE, IT'S BECAUSE IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME BACK AND REDID THEIR PRIORITIES AND ASKED FOR ME TO REMOVE SOME ITEMS FROM WHAT THEY WERE, UM, ASKING FOR CAPITAL ITEMS. SO YOU'LL SEE THE FIRST AREA THERE, IT'S CALLED, UH, FIXED ASSETS.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR VENTILATORS ON 37,720.
AND THEN PRIORITY NUMBER TWO IS THEIR FIREFIGHTER TRAINING PROPS, WHICH ALSO GOT ANOTHER QUOTE, WHICH WAS A LITTLE BIT LOWER.
SO THEY ASKED ME, ASKED ME TO CHANGE THAT NUMBER TO THE 62 8 50.
AND THEN ON THE, UH, REPLACEMENT UNIT REQUEST, THESE ARE FIRE, UH, UM, VEHICLES.
THEY REMOVE THE TRAILER THAT WAS AT THE VERY BOTTOM.
AND SO THESE ARE THE TOP FOUR ITEMS THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR, UM, LIST OF REQUESTS FOR REPLACEMENT VEHICLES.
AND EVERYTHING ELSE STAYS THE SAME.
SO I JUST HAD TO SHOW, UM, THAT CHANGE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE UPDATES FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? OKAY.
PART OF THAT, SO EVEN IF COUNCIL DECIDES NOT TO INCLUDE ANY OF THESE ITEMS HERE, STAFF CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND ASK FOR THESE ITEMS AGAIN DURING THE YEAR AND PRESENT THEIR, YOU KNOW, UPDATED LIST OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND THE WAY THAT WOULD WORK IS THAT IF COUNSEL DECIDES TO APPROVE, YES, LET'S GET THREE NEW POLICE VEHICLES, OR YES, LET'S GET ONE AMBULANCE, THEN WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS THAT WE WOULD JUST ISSUE A BUDGET AMENDMENT SAYING, THIS IS WHAT, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GONNA PAY IT FROM.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
AND SO DON'T FEEL THAT YOU'RE PRESSURED INTO ADOPTING, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN ITEMS TONIGHT SO THAT THIS IS HERE FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
THESE ARE THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR THESE DEPARTMENTS AS THEY ASSESSED, UM, HOW THINGS ARE.
THEY'RE BROKEN DOWN, THE VEHICLES AND THE AMBULANCES ARE VERY OLD, AND SO THEY JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
[00:20:01]
COUNSEL WAS AWARE OF THE COSTS INVOLVED.THERE'S ALSO COSTS WITH REPAIRS.
MY CONCERN WITH THAT, UM, TO GET NEW VEHICLES IS, IS GREAT, BUT UNTIL WE GET OUR ROADS REPAIRED, THEY'RE JUST THE ROAD THAT, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S OWN IS LIKE A ROAD BOARD WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GO DOWN IT.
SO THIS, THIS EQUIPMENT JUST GONNA, YOU KNOW, AND OUR OTHER ROADS TOO.
SO WE NEED OUR STREETS, ROADS, AND THEN MAYBE, YOU KNOW, COME BACK TO THIS.
OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF YOU.
YOU HAVE THE COSTS AND EVERYTHING.
YOU, YOU WANT IT TO BE INFORMED FROM LAST YEAR.
I PROMISED THAT I WAS GONNA GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION.
AND UM, AND THE SAME THING WITH WHEN YOU DO, I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO ADOPT THE BUDGET TONIGHT, BUT IT'S ON THERE FOR, AND THE TAX RATE AS WELL.
UM, THAT THERE WAS A 3% COST OF LIVING INCREASE IN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PLANNING ON DOING THAT.
IF NOT, YOU CAN JUST ADOPT THE BUDGET AS IT WAS PRESENTED.
THERE'S NO COST OF LIVING INCREASE IN THE BUDGET.
AND I MADE CLEAR WHEN I GAVE YOU ALL THE BINDER, YOU CAN ADOPT IT AS IT WAS PRESENTED WITH, UM, COUNSEL UPDATES.
AND IN THE PACKET, WHEN YOU GO TO RATIFY THE, THE BUDGET, THE NEW BUDGET, THESE COUNCIL UPDATES THAT I JUST WENT OVER ARE INCLUDED IN THERE.
SO YOU'RE FOR STREETS, BRIDGES, CULVERTS, AND ALL OF THAT, THAT IS NOW INCLUDED.
SO YOU CAN SAY AS PRESENTED, UM, AS PROPOSED, I'M SORRY, AS PROPOSED.
AND, UM, IT WOULD PASS JUST LIKE YOU ALL WANTED IT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO YOU.
AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THE AMBULANCE TO ORDER AMBULANCE TAKES ABOUT A YEAR, MAYBE TWO YEARS.
UH, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, CHIEF, BUT, UM, WE DO NEED SOME AMBULANCES.
THIS HERE AND THE ROADS, SOME OF THAT MONEY WE'RE GONNA HOPEFULLY APPROVE WILL GO TOWARDS THOSE POTHOLES, ESPECIALLY RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF, UH, IN FRONT OF THE, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY GET THAT FIXED.
WE HAVE THREE AMBULANCE, IS THAT CORRECT? WE HAVE ONE THERE, UH, THERE AT THE WATER DEPARTMENT THAT'S USED FOR THE RADIOACTIVE.
AND THEN WE HAVE, I LOOKED AT THE, UH, I HAD MECHANIC SEE INFORMATION ON BOTH AMBULANCES.
THE ONE HAS 139,000 MILES VEHICLES FOR A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WILL GIVE YOU EITHER 3 75 TO 400,000 MILES.
SO I THINK AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE NEED TO START GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND, AND BEING, HAVING TWO AMBULANCES.
AND I KNOW, UH, THERE ARE WITH LOW MILES AND POOL INSPECTIONS AND THEY WERE UP AND RUNNING CORRECTLY BY OUR MECHANIC.
UH, FORESEE THAT WE DIDN'T NEED ANOTHER AMBULANCE FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS.
WE'RE AVERAGING 8,000 OR 10,000 MILES.
SO HOW ABOUT WE GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THE COMMUNITY ROADS AND BRIDGES AND STUFF THAT THE CITY WANTS, NOT JUST FOR THE EMPLOYEE, BUT REQUEST.
WE HAVE CHIEF GIFFORD THAT CAN SPEAK, UH, TO THAT IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME CHIEF.
WHAT'S THAT? WE HAVE CHIEF GIFFORD HERE.
HE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT.
NO, I WAS JUST, UH, I WAS JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
UM, YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE DETAILED DOCUMENTATION ABOUT THE REPAIRS THAT WE'RE MAKING TO, THESE AREN'T TWO AND $3,000 REPAIRS.
THESE ARE 15 AND $20,000 REPAIRS WE'RE MAKING.
UM, YES, THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD ARE BAD, BUT WE'RE TALKING AN 18 TO 36 MONTH LEAD TIME ON GETTING AMBULANCES.
THE LONGER WE WAIT, THE MORE IT'S GONNA COST.
UM, THE, AND THE, AND THE ASSOCIATES THAT GOES WITH THAT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO VEHICLES THAT ARE OVER 10 YEARS OLD.
UH, WE'VE HAD THESE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE COUNCIL FOR BUDGET OVER THE LAST, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
UM, AND WE KEEP GETTING TOLD TO WAIT, TO WAIT TO WAIT.
UM, SO YOU CAN SEE, I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY PROBABLY 75% OF OUR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE WENT INTO THE AMBULANCES THIS YEAR.
UH, SO WE HAVE THAT, WE HAVE A NEW ENGINE.
WE HAVE A NEW LADDER THAT WE'RE, THAT WAS BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BEFORE I GOT HERE.
UM, SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S THAT, UM, WE WERE PROMISED THE AMBULANCE OUT OF THAT WHEN IT HAPPENED AND, AND THAT DIDN'T COME ABOUT.
SO, UH, WE HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION OF EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN PUT INTO THE AMBULANCES.
THEY'RE BOTH, UH, ONE'S A DIESEL, ONE'S GAS, AND THEY'RE BOTH OVER 130, 150,000
[00:25:01]
MILES.SO BASED, I, I HAVE, I HAVE, UH, A PHOTO OF, UH, THE DENISE ONE THAT HAS A 39,000 MILES THAT WAS SENT TO ME LAST WEEK.
I I, I, I'M JUST GOING, I, BUT I MEAN, I, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M GOING BASED ON THE MECHANIC.
WORKED FOR THE CITY OF WARMER, SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD SHAPE BESIDES JUST AN AC THIS YEAR.
SO WE'VE, WE'VE REPLACED THE AIRBAGS ON IT TWICE THIS YEAR.
WE REPLACED THE SHOCKS ON IT THIS YEAR, SO, SO IF I MAY, WHO'S THE MECHANIC I WANT, WHERE'S HE AT SO I CAN TALK TO HIM ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE ON HIS VEHICLES? THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA ASK, UH, TOO ABOUT THAT, FRANK, WHERE'S, WHERE'S THIS MAINTENANCE GUY? A MECHANIC THAT WE HAVE THAT I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT? AND I'M A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND I, SO THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS MECHANIC IS, FRANK.
THE GUY THAT WE'VE HAD IS, IS, IS WORKS FOR PUBLIC WORKS.
HE USED TO BE AN EV TECH AND HE'S HELPED US WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING.
AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, I'M A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HERE AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT A MECHANIC BEING HIRED FOR OUR CITY.
WE HAVE BOTH AMBULANCES WERE DOWN BECAUSE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING.
SO HE AGREED TO COME OVER AND LOOK AT IT, TRIED TO HELP US BECAUSE THE PARTS THAT WE NEEDED TO GET ONE OF THE AMBULANCES BACK IN SERVICE WAS GONNA TAKE TWO WEEKS.
SO HE CAME TO HELP US OUT TO SEE IF WE COULD DOCTORATE AND GET IT ONE OF THE AMBULANCES BACK IN SERVICE BECAUSE WE WERE DOWN FOR ABOUT 20 HOURS WITHOUT AN AMBULANCE.
NOW AGAIN, WHERE'S THE MECHANIC AT ALL THE REPAIR.
YOU ALL REPAIRS FOR D POLICE CARS COUPLE DAYS AGO? I'VE BEEN RUNNING BRAKE AND EVERYTHING.
HAVE YOU'VE BEEN TO CITY COUNCIL? NOT BEING AWARE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER REPAIRS I CAN TELL YOU WHAT HE'S DONE FOR US IS AC WORK.
SO DO Y'ALL USE GOOD ROAD INSTEAD OF GOING THOSE CONCRETE ROADS? DO Y'ALL USE GOOD ROAD IN THE SHAPE IT'S AT? DO Y'ALL GO UP AND DOWN THAT ONE? RIGHT NOW, IF WE HAVE TO GO THAT DIRECTION, WE TYPICALLY TRY NOT TO BECAUSE IT'S IN SUCH BAD CONDITION.
UM, BUT YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND IF WE GO THE OTHER WAY THAT'S ADDING THREE TO FIVE MINUTES DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC DURING THE DAY.
UH, THAT'S WHY THE SHOCKS ARE GOING TO OUR YES, MA'AM.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF Y'ALL CAN LEAVE YOUR DEPARTMENT AND GO DOWN AND OVER TO PLEASANT RUN AND WE'D DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN.
AND THEN AGAIN, FRANK, OUR OUR PLAN IS TO FIX THAT ROLE WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO.
AGAIN, HAVE YOU TALKED TO THIS MECHANIC PERSONALLY? HAVE YOU TALKED TO HIM AND HE'S GIVEN YOU THIS INFORMATION THAT OUR AMBULANCE ARE READY TO GO AND, AND, AND GET IN THE COMMUNITY ROADS AND HELP OUR OUR CITIZENS IN A MEDICAL INJURY? I MEAN, EMERGENCY? UM, YEAH, HE DID MENTION A FEW THINGS, UH, THAT HE FIXED.
HE CAN TELL YOU MORE ABOUT IT.
ARE THEY, WELL, ARE THEY READY TO GO? AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE 10-YEAR-OLD VEHICLES.
I MEAN, DID THEY HAVE OVER A HUNDRED PLUS THOUSAND MILES ON 'EM? SO, SO WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK? I MEAN, AN EMERGENCY, YOU THINK THESE VEHICLES CAN STILL BE USED IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY? MY THOUGHT IS, IS NOW THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE A MECHANIC ON STAFF EMERGENCY, EXCUSE ME, HOW WOULD THEY NOT BE A MEDICAL EMERGENCIES ANYMORE? BECAUSE Y'ALL BROUGHT IT UP BECAUSE YOU WANNA DO NO, THAT'S UP TO THE CHIEF.
UH, THE PEOPLE ARE, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T, I DON'T EVEN, YOU UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU'RE GETTING INFORMATION AND I HAVEN'T GOT THE INFORMATION OF THIS MECHANIC GUY.
IT WOULD, IT WOULD, UH, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, BUT, AND THEY STARTED MAINTENANCE AND ALL OUR VEHICLES.
EVERYBODY, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DON'T KNOW, UH, EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO GET INFORMED BY EVERYBODY IN PAST.
WELL THAT'S THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S POSITION TO TELL US WHAT HE NEEDS.
IT'S NOT US AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GO UP THERE AND DECIDE WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS, SIR.
HE'S SUPPOSED TO DO THE INVESTIGATION.
HE'S SUPPOSED TO BRING THAT EVIDENCE TO US.
HE DOESN'T NEED TO INVESTIGATE IT.
AND I'VE BEEN, I'M A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND I'VE TALKED TO, AND I'VE TALKED TO FRANK MANY TIMES AND HE'S NEVER BROUGHT IT UP.
YOU'RE SAYING WHEN YOURSELF OUT, YOUR PROBLEM, EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL KNOWS WE BEHALF FRANK KNOWS BEHALF.
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT DOESN'T KNOW.
GILBERT KNOWS WE HAVE Y'ALL COULD JUST DON'T USE GOOD ROAD UNTIL IT'S REPAIRED BECAUSE YES, MA'AM.
I I HAVE NOTICED Y'ALL USE IT QUITE A BIT.
LIKE I SAID, THE THE, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT CAN ADD BECAUSE OF THE INTERSECTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHEN WE DON'T GO DOWN GOOD.
YEAH, BUT YOU GO DOWN, THAT'S GONNA ADD ANOTHER DOWN THE ROAD.
YOU'RE GONNA TEAR UP ALL THAT STUFF.
I MEAN, I, I'M VERY AWARE OF THAT STREET AND WHAT'S GOING UP AND DOWN IT.
THERE'S ALSO CONCERN PARKED BY MAINTAINING THE VEHICLES.
WE HAD THE, UH, ONE VEHICLE, UH, FIRE SERVICE, UH, TAHOE, UH, WAS NOT MAINTENANCE
[00:30:01]
CORRECTLY.ANOTHER CAR, UH, WAS GIVEN TO, UH, MR. GUILFORD, THERE'S TWO CARS HE'S ALREADY WENT THROUGH.
HOW MANY MORE CARS DID WE HAVE TO GIVE HIM? I MEAN, IT ALSO
SO, SO MOSES, UH, IF I MAY, ARE YOU BLAMING MR. GIFFORD FOR DESTROYING OUR CAR, SIR? NOT THE CITY'S, UH, JOB TO BUY EVERYBODY BRINGING IN CARS BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT MAINTAINING THESE CARS OR TAKING TO GO GET IT SERVICE.
SO THE, THE TAHOE HAD ALREADY BEEN REBUILT TWICE BEFORE IT WAS PASSED ON TO ME.
I BABIED IT AS LONG AS I COULD.
UM, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I'M SUPPOSED TO DO BESIDES DO THE PMS, CHECK THE OIL, DO THE THINGS I CAN, WHEN IT GOES OUT AT 110,000 MILES, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I'M SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THAT.
UH, THE SECOND VEHICLE, I WAS REAR ENDED IN A CAR WRECK.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW THAT WAS MY FAULT.
SO YES, I UNDERSTAND THAT WAS, IT WAS A SECOND VEHICLE AND I APOLOGIZE.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO.
TROOPER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR AN ACCIDENT, SIR.
YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR HAVING AN ACCIDENT, SIR.
IT DIDN'T, YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT YOUT, IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT ANYWAY.
THE VEHICLES, MY UNDERSTANDING, UM, WE HAD WORKED ON DOING A VEHICLE REPLACEMENT.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT WAS, UH, BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE VEHICLES AND, AND THEN HAVE THEM AVAILABLE AND REPLACE THEM REGULARLY SO THAT THEY ARE DEPENDABLE AND RELIABLE SO THAT WE CAN DO EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN THEM.
NO, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO, WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY MR. KIF, UH, GIFFORD AND THANKS A LOT.
I WAS JUST HERE TO GIVE YES MA'AM.
SINCE WE HAVE A MECHANIC, I JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, WORK IT HERE.
NOW, UM, A A LOT OF THIS, WHEN YOU TAKE 'EM INTO A SHOP, YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO PAY BIG MONEY.
I KNOW I GOTTA TAKE MY, MY CAR IN AND UH, BUT WHAT, SINCE WE HAVE A MECHANIC ON DUTY HERE, UH, A LOT OF STUFF THEY CAN, HE CAN HANDLE.
'CAUSE WHAT I'VE HEARD, HE'S, HE'S A GOOD, YOU KNOW, GOOD MECHANIC.
I MET HIM A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
JUST, I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD ONE EITHER.
SO, UH, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING.
CUT COSTS UP THERE INSTEAD OF, BUT AGAIN, EXCUSE ME, FRANK, DO YOU HAVE THE, THE ABILITY TO TAKE OUT A MOTOR AND REHAUL IT IN OUR CITY? DO YOU, DO WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT, SIR? SO HE CAN DO A A, A GOOD JOB OF PROFESSIONAL JOBS IS SO-CALLED MECHANIC THAT WE HAVE.
WELL, I, I, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA POINT OUT WAS THE FACT THAT, DO WE HAVE THE MACHINE SHOP TO DO THE HEADS AND EVERYTHING COMING MARKED? THESE ARE HEAVY DD VEHICLES.
THEY'RE NOT NO, WE DON'T, THEY'RE NOT YOUR CAR.
AND THEN WE ALSO BORROWED HUTCHINS AMBULANCE FOR A WHILE.
WHENEVER OUR TWO AMBULANCES ARE OUT, WE HAVE TO GO INTO A NEIGHBORING CITY TO BORROW THEIR AMBULANCE.
AND THEY'RE ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AMBULANCES.
IF YOU CLARIFY ON THE MECHANIC.
UM, SO THE FORMER CITY ADMINISTRATOR, UM, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TOOK A PUBLIC WORKS, UM, PERSON AND GAVE HIM THE TITLE OF MECHANIC BECAUSE HE SEEMS TO BE TALENTED IN THAT REGARD.
AND SO HE WAS NO LONGER A PUBLIC WORKS WORKER.
HE CHANGED HIS TITLE TO MECHANIC AND GAVE HIM A LITTLE BIT OF A SALARY INCREASE.
HE WAS A MECHANIC FOR LANCASTER FURTHER CITY.
MA'AM, HE WAS NOT HIRED AS A MECHANIC HERE BECAUSE THERE IS NO MECHANIC POSITION IN THE BUDGET.
AND WHAT HE WAS, IF YOU WANNA KNOW HIS BACKGROUND, HE WAS A MECHANIC IN LANCASTER FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS AND HE DID ALL THE MECHANICAL WORK.
NOW, WHETHER YOU WANT TO FLIP THE STORY, THAT'S OKAY.
I'M NOT FLIPPING ANY STORY, SIR.
ME AS A FINANCE DIRECTOR AND DON'T GET INVOLVED IN OTHER ISSUES, I AM YOU'RE FINANCE DIRECTOR NOT TO, NOT TO INVESTIGATE, UH, A MECHANIC'S, UH, JOB YOU WANNA DID, INVESTIGATE YOUR RESUME UP IN HISTORY.
ALL I'M MENTIONING MR. CAMPOS, I DISAGREE.
I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ALL THESE NUMBERS YOU HAVE, DO YOU WANT START TARGETING YOU AND START SAYING THAT THESE NUMBERS IS A WISHLIST FOR THE, UH, EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF DO AND NOT FOR WISHLIST FOR THE CITY OF UH, RESIDENCE.
THE CITY IS ALWAYS GETTING WHAT THEY WANT.
ARE WE HERE TO CATER THE CITY EMPLOYEES OR ARE WE HERE TO, UH, GET BACK WHAT THE CITY PUTS INTO IT, WHICH IS A RESIDENCE? THEY PAY TAXES.
[00:35:01]
THEY SHOULD GET SOMETHING BACK TO RETURN.FOR SEVERAL NUMEROUS OF YEARS, THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY TO RETURN I COM NOT FIXED.
AND OVER 40 YEARS, I COMPLETELY AGREE ABOUT THE RESIDENTS.
ALL THEY DO IS CUT LAWS AND THAT'S IT BECAUSE THEY SELF CONTRACT EVERYTHING OUT.
I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT THIS IS FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THE TAXPAYERS.
I WAS SIMPLY CLARIFYING TO MR. CAMPOS BECAUSE HE SAID THAT A MECHANIC WAS NOT ON THE BUDGET.
AND THAT'S HOW IT, THAT'S HOW HE GOT HIS, HIS HIS TITLE.
I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HIS QUALIFICATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW THE PERSON YOU SAID HE WAS NOT HIRED AS AN MECHANIC.
THEY GAVE HIM AN EXTRA SALARY.
HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT? DID YOU TALK TO MR. NORWOOD? THE FORMER HR PERSON LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I WAS PREPARING THE BUDGET.
SHE'S THE SAME ONE THAT TOOK THE $52,000 A STEAL WARRANT HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE FOR HER ARREST.
WHERE IS HER ADMINISTRATOR? WHERE'S OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT? THERE? OKAY.
ARE THEY HERE TO, UH, UH, ARREST COUNSEL? WELL, THAT'S ALL.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
THAT'S, WE'RE THROUGH WITH THAT? YEAH.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING.
IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED AT 6 37.