[Music] [Applause] [Music] All right. I'll now open the regular city council meeting of the love city council for September 23rd, 2025. The city council will now hold uh an executive session regarding the uh for the purpose of consulting with the city staff regarding pending or complete contemplated litigation or settlement agreements and to hold consultation with their attorney under section 551.071 of the Texas Government Code to purchase exchange lease or value of real property under section 551.072 of the Texas Government Code for personnel matters under section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code. the deployment or specific occasions for implementation of security personnel or devices or a security audit under section 551.076 of the Texas Government Code to discuss and consider action under section 551.0761 of the Texas Government Code on measures protect a critical infrastructure facility and commercial or financial information as it relates to economic development under section 551.087 087 of the Texas Government Code. Uh the city council is now recessing at 12:07 and we will come back in after we are through in regular session. We are now in executive session. City Council is now reconvening in open session and we will take up a work session for a presentation and discussion of a draft zoning map analysis. And I'm going to call on our director of planning, Kristen Sager, to lead this discussion. Miss Sager, >> good afternoon. >> That's there it goes. Happy to be here with you this afternoon to present to you our draft zoning map analysis. As you stated, today is a work session. There is no action being taken. We are just looking for discussion, feedback, and direction on next steps. So, as a reminder, this was a need identified in our comprehensive plan which was adopted in December of 2018. It is really the final step of what we've been working on over the past several years. So, first the comp plan uh completion in December of 2018, then the unified development code, and now taking a look at the zoning throughout the city. The unified development code has already been doing great things for us. We have reduced the number of zone cases annually by 50%. So this is even going to reduce them even further once we get these zone changes in place. The purpose of this analysis was to review the recent updates to our unified development code and comp plan and look at the zoning of properties to bring them into better alignment with their current land use and with the future land use designation. It helps us to better match existing land use conditions to avoid non-conforming situations or reszone desired future land uses identified on the future land use map. And it helps us to address properties that were annexed and zoned SF2 but have a differing land use, especially ones that had developed as commercial. There was a six-stage approach that our consultants took to this analysis. We worked with Safeuilt over the past year. They created this analysis for us. You have the initial stage of gathering the necessary data, analyzing that data, studying the results of that analysis, narrowing um focusing on specific areas, and then making findings and recommendations based on that analysis. They also created an interactive GIS website for this analysis, which I think is going to be a great tool to have as we go through the process of reszoning properties. And after the first couple of analysises, you have uh these two maps here just based on different things, whether we were looking on land use or looking at future land use designation. There's almost 105,000 parcels within the city limits. And once we narrowed all that information down, we have 1,250 parcels that have a recommendation for a suitable zoning designation. This key map contained in the analysis groups those areas into 16 different maps. I won't go through all 16 today, but I do want to go through a few just to give you an idea. Map one is parcels all contained within district 1. This is the airport on north I27. It is zoned lowdensity single family residential SF2. And then of course it has an industrial designation and public service designation on our future land use plan. And so the recommended zoning to bring that into conformance is your general industrial zoning. Map three is parcels contained within district 2. You have parcels that are platted for residential lots zoned industrial. And then you have part of our Canyon Lakes area at the East Leaf and 50th that is also zoned industrial, neither of which should be industrial. And so, of course, we're recommending bringing those back to single family residential SF2. Map 7 has parcels contained within District 4. This is Indiana Avenue from 114th down to 146. You have a whole mix of current zoning as you can see on this map. You have industrial along 114th which is immediately adjacent to existing single family residences. You have some areas that have developed as commercial that are zoned single family residential. And so again recommending bringing those into conformance with commercial zoning district and downzoning that industrial. Map 12 has parcels contained within districts five and six. The majority are district 5. You have 10 parcels. They're um fronting onto 45th Street that are District 6, but this is your Canyon West Shopping Center and it is zoned industrial. And so again, bringing that into conformance with commercial zoning as well as the corner of Spur 327 and Loop 289. A lot of that area has automotive uses, commercial uses. And so our recommendation is to bring those down to auto urban commercial or heavy commercial where appropriate depending on the use. Map 13 parcels contained within district 3. You have part of the medical district at 19th and Marsha Sharp Freeway and then you have the corner of 50th and Quaker. So the majority of that portion of the medical district is zoned highdensity residential and that's because it was zoned department medical under the former code at 50th and Quaker you have two existing commercial strip centers that are zoned highdensity residential and lowdensity SF2. So bringing that corner into conformance with auto urban commercial and then for the medical district we wanted to be careful because you do still have residential uses in that area along with office along with medical uses and so going parcel by parcel and determining which ones could remain high density residential, which ones should be office and then downzoning that heavy commercial to auto urban commercial. Map 16 has districts uh has parcels within districts one and six. You have parcels on North Frankfurt which were annexed in 2018 that are zoned low density single family SF2 but they have businesses on them. You have a corner on the north loop immediately adjacent to Burl Huffman which is owned by the city but zoned industrial even though it is vacant. And then at Clovis Road and Quaker, you have a lot of single family SF2 zoning, but that has developed as commercial industrial business. And so again, bringing those zonings into correct conformance based on the use that is there today. In terms of public outreach, we have an online survey that has been on the website for the past six weeks along with the draft analysis. We ask citizens to review the analysis and then answer the questions on the survey, give us feedback about what they've seen in it, um if there's things we missed, if there's something else they think we should be doing. We held a town hall Thursday, August 21st, um here in council chambers. And then we presented this analysis to the planning and zoning commission as a work session at their regular meeting on September 4th. And of course, we're here today for your work session as well. Uh we had a media release go out Monday, August 11th advertising all of all of the town hall, the survey, the work sessions, all of the information all in one place. And so now we're here today just looking for direction from city council if you would like for us to move forward with bringing the zone changes recommended in the analysis through the process with the planning and zoning commission and city council. How you might like us to do that. If you want us to do one case for the entire city, break it up by district, maybe combine a couple districts here and there, we will do the normal required process for a zone case, which requires a written notification to adjacent property owners within 400 ft. This is a good estimate of the number of letters that will be sent using that required process. Um, it's a little over 4,200 letters. And then you can see it broken up by district there. This is just a sample timeline just as a starting point if we were to start with the January planning and zoning commission and go district by district once a month. Uh what that could look like. So with that I would be happy to answer any questions. I also have Nick Pergakis and Jordan Cruz here with Safe Built. Happy to answer any questions as well. >> Mr. machine. >> I really like the proposed timeline that you suggested. I think that um each of these proposals needs careful study and input from the public. Breaking it down by district is logical and it looks like that's going to give us roughly even uh workload across these different sessions. So, I think it's very appropriate that we that we take our time and get input at every stage on those. I like your proposed schedule. Thank you, >> Mayor Pat. >> I also want to add that I appreciate that you're looking at it district by district. I think that makes it a little bit more personable and it's able to make that connection with the appropriate uh citizens. So, good job on that. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Collins. >> Thank you. Um, as you look at different properties around the city, the purpose of this is to take only existing buildings and put them in the appropriate zone. Are you looking at vacant propertes there? >> So, there's really three main areas I would say we focused on. It's properties that have an existing use that due to the unified development code may now be non-conforming based on their new zoning district because the former code stacked upon itself. So even if I had heavy manufacturing zoning, I could do every use all the way down to local retail. Whereas the unified development code purposely puts uses in appropriate districts. And so the Canyon West is a perfect example of that. It is zoned industrial. nothing out there is industrial. So that needs to be reszoned. So that's one. The second use category would be properties that developed outside city limits that were annexed and zoned SF2. So anything that's not a single family home more or less has become non-conforming upon annexation. So giving those properties appropriate zoning. And then the third category would be vacant land that is potentially zoned industrial. Maybe it's a park like the Canyon Lakes that does not need to be zoned industrial and so taking that back to single family residential. >> So there wouldn't be the possibility of you actually upping the zoning and and I'm going to refer to a particular case in our district, my district that happened a few months ago where you know a landowner wanted to go up from SF2 to HDR and and the neighborhood uh objected of course those nearby. it. So, it's not possible that that would happen in this instance where suddenly a vacant piece of land went up in its zoning that became an industrial zone or something similar to that unbeknownst to the neighborhood. It it is possible that there is a recommendation for a vacant piece of property to have a less restrictive zoning district like you were saying, but if we move forward with if council directs staff to move forward with that zone change, the adjacent property owners within 400 ft will receive written notification of that request >> per property on every individual property. It's >> Yes, >> that's that's a I mean I I get it. It seems to me like an awful lot of burden on the property owners um to to be aware of of of these things and and so I I have a little reservation, some caution about how we go about this. Um, and and I get the need, but at the same time, you know, I just I feel like we're going to be, you know, we talked about 4,200 potential letters going out. We're going to be inundating our city and our citizens with this kind of information. It's going to be difficult for them to digest possibly what what the potential is. And so, um, in in specific instances where property surrounding property owners have objected, um, they're going to have to regroup. and and and in this case, it's not even at the request of the of the property owner, it's the request of the city. Um, so just, you know, I'm voicing it's been that's what I've done today is voice these concerns that I've had about some of this. Uh, but uh, this one this one gives me a little pause. I I see the need. I just don't know and I don't have a better answer. I just don't know how we're going to go about this and and ensure that our community is made aware of what potential changes may occur. So, >> and if I could add one thing to that, um, we we've talked a lot about what that will look like. Even breaking it down district by district, you're talking about a lot of notices in some districts. And so, we have our standard legal notice that we're required to write with the legal description of the property, etc. But we think what would be even more helpful to include on those notices is a link to our website, a QR code that will take them to this interactive map so they can see exactly what properties are being proposed for reszoning around them. Make it a little bit easier than just trying to find it on that single notice that we send out. >> So, so with every change, so district six, you may have, let's say we have 200 changes in district six, >> and we're going to do that in one swoop. >> Mh. Um my my reservation remains okay that's that's an awful lot uh to assume that we're going to get um you know we can do the proper notification everybody will get a letter etc etc but is it going to um get enough attention is it going to be uh presented in such a way that our citizens will will find a need to react when the owner brings a zone case. >> Um we recognize the citizens recognize a need to react because the owner says we're going to try to do this, we want to do that and it doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing. It just we want to do this and so there's a there's an imminent um change. This is ju just kind of a broad brush and I don't know if it is going to resonate as an imminent change. We make this change and and suddenly um you know this neighborhood's in agreement because they didn't didn't react uh quickly enough or appropriately to to make a change. So have some concerns. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh thank you Mr. Collins. Uh you're just doing your job. So, uh, um, well, and that's why I think going back to, uh, Mr. Kasheen's comment that the timing of this and breaking it up per district. And I think a lot of your questions can be answered by how we actually communicate this and how well we communicate it. Uh, so that people understand exactly what is happening. Um, and so, you know, might might be good to kind of pass some of that communication through some of us up here to try to look at it through our voters and citizens and taxpayers and property owners eyes and say, "Do I understand what is going on here?" Um, and would I know how to respond if I have a response? Uh, and again, by breaking it up, you won't be inundated with questions, comments from all the city. Mhm. >> you can hopefully handle the segmented approach a little bit better and have your staff who can talk to these people one-on-one uh in the um uh town hall meetings. Uh but I am I I do share your concern that people understand exactly what's going on clearly because zoning is a headache for all of us up here a lot of times and difficult to understand. I can imagine what it's like to a lot of citizens to try to figure that out. So I think it's very important that we take that in consideration and don't do this in a way that is preuncter and just go well we we fulfilled our duties >> but we make sure that in fulfilling our duties people understand exactly what we are doing. I I I believe we need to go forward with the process. I think it's good but um we need to be careful how we do it. Any other uh Mr. You know, initially when when we talked about hiring this group, you know, months back, I was I was initially opposed to it and my thought at the time was you we can take these these parcels up as they come up or, you know, we don't necessarily need to do it. But looking at at the areas that they recommend that we focus on, these are all areas that we're going to have to address with zone changes probably at some point. But between the combination of UDC updates and and land use plan updates, uh, and we've seen, I think in the last year, a whole lot of of zone cases that have come up that are just catching up on the implementation of the UDC. like the so many SF2 for example designations that were really never meant to be SF2. So I I think that this is a process that's going to have to get done one way or the other um to clean up the implementation of the EDC and the land use plan. The advantage I see of doing it like this is having uniform conversations that will involve entire neighborhoods rather than tackling the properties peace meal. So, I think it'll actually give us a chance to have a a more holistic conversation with the community um rather than, you know, reszoning parcel by parcel. >> Mr. Collins, >> how I would assume that you could provide a map per district of every property that is subject to change. >> Yes, >> absolutely. >> Okay. So, if I can get my hands on that, then maybe I can help digest that. And then we go through and and I may request that we have some specific town halls for district 6 and that we um maybe expend, you know, a little bit more effort in contacting those areas uh where we see changes that we might feel uh or the residents might feel uncomfortable with. Uh again, this was the the one in question was an SF2 to HDR. And so, you know, if I've got five locations on in district 6, we're we're we're thinking we need to go to HDR. I want to be able to see where they are and and then maybe identify the folks around to say, are you aware? Do you want to, you know, protest this? I'm assuming that land owners have had no input in this process. >> Yeah. So the to this point the public outreach that we've done is the online survey, the town hall and the two work sessions. >> Okay. >> So it wasn't exactly my question. So have land owners had input say I'd like for this property to be X or Y? >> No, we have not had anyone reach out to us. We did not reach out to the land owners for which the properties we are recommending. Um, unfortunately we did not have anyone attend town hall nor respond to the survey. Well, I I think as again as we go forward with this and and we can speak speak directly u to our my neighborhoods and and kind of have a look at them at a case by case basis and then determine how we want to notify and and and engage the community because this is has the potential of of someone looking up and saying well I would have been against that had I known. >> Sure. and the had I known is gonna whether they knew or not, they're still going to say I wish I had known. >> So, >> thank you. >> And that goes kind of back to my suggestion again is as you do each of these, work very closely with each of the council representatives for that district so they know exactly what the presentation's going to be. They can give you any feedback on it and uh make sure that this is handled uh totally appropriately. Mayor Pro Tim, >> this definitely will give us an opportunity to keep it in the news, >> you know, so just to have the conversations going, but I think it might be an opportunity for us to also connect neighborhood associations. I know we have a very active one in North Lok, so that might be some opportunity start building those connections. Town Hall of course is great, but that's some that those neighborhood associations tend to draw a lot of folks. And then, you know, I know we're always trying to reduce our um how much money we're putting into marketing and whatnot, but maybe just build on some social media, digital media, create some opportunities in that regard and keep it out there, >> you know. So, I appreciate what y'all are doing and I know it's it's a lot for the citizens, but we definitely want to be accessible to them. And I think that was the whole drive for this is to you know not completely exclude them but you know now's another opportunity and who knows along the line we may find something else. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any further questions for Miss Sager. >> All right. Thank you very much. We are going to take a very brief recess back into executive session to deal with a question that uh we need to uh deal with before we come back out here because it's something we will be taking a vote on. It won't take us long. We'll be back out shortly. We in recess at 2:05. [Music] >> All right, we're back from our executive session at 211. We'll proceed now uh with our regular meeting and um so we're going to take up our ceremonial uh items first and uh so we have uh our senior pastor from uh Southgrass Baptist Church uh Dr. David Wilson who will lead us in our invocation and after that we will uh remain standing for our pledges of allegiance to our uh flag of the United States and of Texas led by our mayor pro Tim. Please uh rise as you are able. [Music] Y'all don't look as scary as everybody says you are. Let's pray together. Heavenly Father, we have so much to be thankful for today. The freedoms that we have and especially being able to live in Leach, Texas. And I thank you for those that have gone before us that have made this such a wonderful place to live. And I I lift up these men and women who you have given the responsibility, you've allowed to have the responsibility to make decisions that affect so many people. And I know that they hear so many voices from so many different directions. And we ask Lord that you give them discernment to filter through all of that and make the right decisions. We thank you for your love for us and the freedoms that you've given us. and I lift up this city council to you and and ask you to give them wisdom and courage and discernment, whatever is needed to make the right decisions for our great city. I lift them up to you now. Ask for your direction during this meeting. In Jesus name we ask it. Amen. Join me as well as honoring our Texas flag. >> I aliance 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 flag. I aliance to thee, Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible. [Music] >> All right. And yes, we are grateful for uh the blessings of uh uh the Lord upon our city, especially the blessing of peace in our midst. Uh and we pray that that will continue. Um, so we this time of our meeting, we'd usually be taking up uh citizen comments. Uh, we don't have any one who has signed up to make comments today, but just a reminder, anyone can speak to the city council on any item that's before us on our agenda. Uh, and you are allowed uh uh 3 minutes uh to speak on that if you sign up in advance uh before 2:00 on the day of the meeting. So, uh, we always encourage our citizens at every opportunity to come before us, uh, and make their, um, uh, concerns known to us. It's your first amendment right, and we encourage everybody to take advantage of that, and we welcome, uh, everyone who takes advantage of that opportunity. But, uh, no one today has signed up, so we'll proceed now to take up item 5.1, the minutes from our meeting on August 18th, a special city council meeting, and August 26, our regular city council meeting. uh you've had that uh those minutes uh before you in your packet. So, is there a motion to approve item 5.1? >> Oh, everybody moving and a second. All right. Any uh changes or additions, edits to those minutes? I see none. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose say nay. I hear none. The motion uh passes unanimously. We'll now take up our consent agenda, item number six. Uh we will be removing item 6.7 from the consent agenda. Uh so I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda with the exception of item 6.7. Is there a motion? >> We have a motion. We have a second. Uh any discussion? I see none. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose say nay. I hear none. That passes unanimously. All right. Um staff has requested that item 6.7 be tabled until our next me next meeting. So now I'll entertain a motion to postpone u item 6.7 until the October 14th regular city council meeting. Is there a motion? So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor let be known by saying I. I. Any oppose say nay. I hear none. That motion passes unanimously. So now we'll take up our regular agenda. Uh we'll start with item 7 uh one uh to consider a resolution nominating candidates to serve as appraisal district directors for the lach central appraisal district. >> Do I hear a motion? >> Mr. Mayor, I move to postpone this item to date certain uh October 14th. >> Second. We have a motion and a second to postpone this item until our next uh scheduled regular meeting on October 14th. Is there any discussion? I see none. All in favor of tableabling this motion until uh October 14th, please let it be known by saying I. I. Any oppose say nay. I hear none. That passes unanimously. All right. We'll now take up on our regular agenda and consider items 7.2 through 7.4. Well, every time I see my city manager move, I get concerned here. Okay. All right. Because we may have to ask him a question. Okay. Without objection, the council will conduct a consolidated public hearing on these two uh these three zoning cases. Council's already received in a package of staff reports from the planning department and the recommendations of our planning and zoning commission. And as a reminder, the purpose of the public hearing is to hear from the applicant and members of the public. And the council may ask questions of the applicant or the staff during the public hearing, but no discussion on the merits will be conducted by the council during the public hearings. They must be reserved for the discussion time after the motion. Okay. Uh call on our director of Nope. Not for Kristen. Okay. Provide a brief summary for each zoning case subject to our public hearings. Yes, sir. >> Hello, mayor. Hello, council. I'm Greg Hernandez, the planning and zoning manager, and this is zone K0774-C for Jesus Teera for Eglesius delios Vivo. Uh, requesting for a zone change from Light Industrial to Neighborhood Commercial. 30 letters were sent out. We received zero in favor and zero in opposition. The property is located west of Martin Luther King Boulevard and south of 50th Street. Here's an aerial view of the property. Uh to the west is vacant lots and neighborhood homes. To the east and to the north and south are vacant lots and to the east is developed with the warehouse. This is the current uh this is the current zoning map. The property is zoned light industrial district and surrounded by light industrial district. The future land use map designates this property for industrial uses. Here are pictures of the subject property as well as views to the east, north, and south. Here is a proposed building provided by the applicant showing the building they propose to build. Here is the site plan where they wish to put the building. The future land use map designates this area for industrial land uses. While the proposed zone change to neighborhood commercial is not consistent with this designation, it is compatible with the current land use and its proximity to the residential neighborhoods. The proposed zone change is compatible with the zoning ordinance and will be appropriate at the pro proposed location. The property is suitable for the proposed zone change and the use is allowed in the neighborhood uh commercial district. The subject property is located on Martin Luther King Boulevard which is a minor arterial designated by the master thoroughfare plan 2018. Staff has no objection to this request. Planning and zoning commission recommends the approval of this request by a vote of 7 to zero. And I can take any questions at this time. >> Are there any questions? I see none. >> Okay. >> Proceed on. Mr. Right. >> This is zone case 3116-m SK Architect Group LLC for JSJW Holding LLC requesting for a J zone change from heavy commercial to neighborhood commercial district. 15 letters were sent out. We received zero back in favor and zero in opposition. The property is located south of 130th Street, which is a future loop 88 and west of Indiana Avenue. Here is an aerial view of the property and the property is surrounded by vacant land. This is the current zoning map. The property is zoned heavy commercial districts. Properties to the east and north are zoned auto urban commercial district. To the west is highdensity residential district and to the south as highdensity residential district and neighborhood commercial district. The future land use map designates this property for commercial. Here is a picture of the subject's property as well as views to the east, north, and south. Here is concept art provided by the applicant. An additional the future land use map designates this area for commercial land uses. The request conforms to this designation and would be appropriate considering the existing adjacent zoning districts and land uses as well as the proximity to the future loop 88. Therefore, this request is in complete conformance with the comprehensive plan principles. The proposed zone change is compatible with the surrounding area and will not change the character of the existing development. The proposed zone change is compatible with the surrounding area and will not change the character of the existing development. Uh the lo the location is along Knoxville Avenue and 130th Street. Knoxville Avenue is designated as a local street and 130th is designated as a freeway by the master thoroughfare plan 2018. Staff has no objections to this request. Planning and zoning commission recommends approval of this request by a vote of 7 to zero. And I can take any questions at this time. >> Any questions? >> See, proceed on. >> Uhhuh. This is zone case 3533. The applicant is Mountaintop Engineering LLC for Patel Nimashban B and Bhavis G requesting for a zone change from lowdensity single family district to neighborhood commercial district. Nine letters were sent out and we received one back in favor and zero in opposition. The property is west of Milwaukee Avenue and north of 104th Street. Here is a notification map showing the one in favor being the applicant's property. Here is an aerial view of the property showing vacant land to the north, east, and west, and a city of love water utilities to the south. Here is a current zoning map showing the property zoned SF2 lowdensity single family to the south, east, and north are lowdensity single family with neighborhood commercial to the west. Future land use map designates this property for residential low density. Here are pictures of the subject property as well as views to the south, west, and east. The future land use plan designates this area for lowdensity residential use. While the proposed zone change to neighborhood commercial district is not in conformance with this designation, it is consistent with the principles of the comprehensive plan given its location along a principal arterial and collector streets and its close proximity to commercial zoning districts. The proposed neighborhood commercial district zoning is in conformance with the zoning ordinance and will be appropriate at the proposed location. The property is located along Milwaukee Avenue and adjacent to nearby commercial zoning districts. The proposed neighborhood commercial zoning district uh is compatible with the surrounding area and will not change the character of the existing development. The property's proximity to Milwaukee Avenue contributes to the proposed zone change being compatible with the character of other commercial properties in the area with similar access to Milwaukee Avenue. The proposed reasonzoning location is along Milwaukee Avenue and 104th Street. Milwaukee Avenue is a principal arterial and 104th Street is a collector as designated by the master thoroughfare plan 2018. Staff has no objection to this request. Planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the request by a vote of 7 to zero. And I can take any questions at this time. >> Dr. Wilson, >> is there a plan for this piece of property yet? >> I believe not at this time. I think they're just reszoning to get ready. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions? I see none. All right. Thank you very much, Mr. Herman. All right. I'll now open the public hearing on items 7.2 to 7.4. If anyone is here wishing to speak in favor of e any of these three zoning cases, if you would step forward and do so. I see no one coming forward. If anyone's here to speak in opposition to any of these uh zoning cases, would you please step forward now? >> I see no one standing stepping forward. So, I'll close the public hearing at 2:25 p.m. Is there a motion to approve item 7.2 to 7.4? >> Have a motion. Have a second. >> Second. >> Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> I see none. All in favor say I. >> I. Any oppose say nay. I hear none. Those three motions pass unanimously. All right, we move on now to item 7.5. Uh long awaited uh moment here. So, I'm going to It's a resolution ratifying a one-year meet and confer agreement negotiated between the city of Lach and the Lev Professional Police Association in accordance with Texas Local Government Code section 142.064 A subset 1. Uh, so I'm going to first call on our city manager, uh, Mr. Atinson, who's been very involved in this process, to give us a briefing on this matter. >> Thank you, Mayor, Council. Um, Mr. Everett is moving up to the front. Uh, Mr. Ever is the president and the chief negotiator for the Leach Professional Police Association. Michael, I'm going to ramble on for just a couple of minutes. If you want to take a take a seat there, we'll pull you back up. Council, quick reminder. Late last year, city council was presented with petitions both from the police association and the fire association requesting that you engage in meet and confer negotiations. Council approved both of those. we went into the process of doing so. Um made significant progress with both on everything other than really truly the financial component. So we all remember what happened in March and April and May and June and July um with our sales tax shortfalls as well as what we were seeing coming forward in the budget. Um, ultimately the city's management team and the Lev Professional Firefighters Association, we agreed to suspend negotiations. We have put together an excellent set of articles, but we don't have a financial backing to those. We also at that time agreed to re-engage at a point in the future. That point being between October 15th and November 15th. Again, looking to have more information with the police association. And these are all separate negotiations with the police association. As we ran through and really kind of knew where we stood as we got into July, we looked at it and we took a little bit different turn. Both departments have different needs. The case of the police department, one of the identified needs um has always been and probably for the near future maybe will be recruiting. And I say in the near future in the absence of the agreement that we have brought forward to you today. So the item for your consideration is a meet and confer agreement between the city of Lev represented by the city council and the Lev professional police association represented today by their president and chief negotiator. This is probably a very unique meet and confer agreement in that it is a non-monetary agreement. Rather, what you have are a few short items that modify chapter 143, Texas Local Government Code, which is what we all call civil service. So, in the absence of a meet and confer agreement, everything is very prescriptively spelled out in chapter 143. This agreement makes a couple of modifications um to that that I think, and we'll listen to Mr. ever in a moment that I think will really get towards that heart of the recruiting and the retention for the love police department. So very specifically um number one we've agreed to a modification on how and when and where you can do a civil service examination in chapter 143 that is very limited and restricted and we had already taken full advantage of the limited ability we have under this agreement and it language comes straight from it. Civil service entrance examinations for the police department can be administered at any time or location to either a qualified group of potential candidates or to individual potential candidates. So pretty much as needed, where needed and when we have an opportunity. That feeds directly into one of the second ones which is the ability to do lateral hiring. We authorized that within 143 about 18 months ago. Also pretty limited. What we have now is in this proposal lateral hires that will allow qualified and experienced and I think that's key, but qualified and experienced candidates to come in and to come in with full credit for their service in terms of where they fit within the pays. So those two really are substantive changes to 143 and really get at it the heart of what we're trying to do, which is attract, recruit, retain the best applicants that we can get for the Love Police Department. The third change that's in there is really just formalizing a physical fitness program that Chief Herman started on a trial basis about last October. They've been through a couple of iterations of it. Um, it does offer the potential as you hit different performance marks to have paid time off with the understanding that that paid time off doesn't result in banking hours or hours that can be exchanged for dollars. Again, it's a nonmonetary agreement. That pretty much covers the changes. The agreement's drafted in the appropriate style. Mr. Wade and his team, our outside council have all looked at that. Nobody is exchanging giving up any other right other than what is specifically listed in this meet and confer agreement. So with that said um first please understand that both myself and the entirety of the city's management team are pleased with this and we recommend it for your consideration. Second, this has been through the appropriate approval process with the police association and passed with a very substantial margin. Finally, um I really do want to thank um certainly my team as we've worked through this, but specifically Michael Everett uh and his team because where we ended up is certainly not where we started. But I think we're bringing forward something that is good for the city, the department, and the association. And with that, mayor, I'll stop. And again, Mr. ever's here for us as well today. >> Thank you, Mr. Atkinson. And uh thank you uh Mr. Everett for being here in your capacity as uh president of the Levette Professional Police Association. Um and we may have some uh questions for you and I'll certainly open up for any questions for you. But just to reiterate, um, we we went into this process with because I've had some questions about how this whole process operated with both of the associations representing uh our our professional forces, our police force and our fire rescue uh force. And that was done on a vote of the members to uh elect the association to represent them in this process. Um, we all hoped it would turn out uh differently than it did. We had a whole lot of hope for that, but we could not foresee all the circumstances that uh came into play uh that made it just not a good year to tackle the financial aspects of it. Um, and because that was the fundamental part of the uh fire department, they agreed to forego it. There were some things that we felt like we could salvage from that whole process that didn't have to do with the financial aspects, which we just were not in a place to make commitments to this year as a council because of some budget restraints u due to much lower than expected sales tax revenue. Um but there were things that were important that we needed to try to get out of this. So, I commend the city staff and the association for continuing to work forward uh work on this and bring forward to us today uh some really important uh things because hiring is so important. Recruitment and hiring is so important and uh and the physical fitness part of it I think is a great aspect of it too and I'm I'm I'm glad to have that forward. So, uh if there are any questions from any of the council for Mr. Atinson or Mr. um uh Everett or even our police chief who's sitting there in the back and uh uh I'll open the uh up for discussion right now. Well, actually need to have a motion first. >> All right. Let's I will anybody can ask a question right now of of Mr. Everett or Mr. >> Certainly. Mayor, we might wish to ask Mr. Everett to just address the council um from the association side of the agreement. >> Let's go ahead and do that. Okay. Thank you, >> Mayor Council. Thank you for the time to speak with you today. I am Michael Everett. I'm the president of the Love Professional Police Association and uh I'm speaking I'm proud to speak on the behalf of 430 sworn officers of our police department. Um as Mr. Atkinson said, we have uh come a long ways. Took a lot of stuff off the table. um brought together probably the best we could without it costing the city anything. We think that that's a uh a very strong move at this point and trying to get people in the door. The uh the lateral hiring process shows huge promise and uh would mean a whole lot to our department. Um same thing with the BPOC process. That's the standard hiring pro process that we currently have. um being able to test more often definitely where the people are that can't hurt us. So um love to have your consideration on those points. >> And my understanding is you recently uh brought in six lateral hires. Is that right? >> That's what I understand. >> Okay. >> All right. I met them out in the lobby uh one day. All really good uh lateral hires. Uh so any questions? Mr. Collins, >> Mr. Everett, thank you for being with us. I I'm want to just first of all commend everyone for working so hard on this. This is a very important first step and u look forward to being able to continue this process, you know, from our original intent over a year ago. Uh just a quick question though, what is your current vacancy number and or percentage? Uh today, >> currently we have 24 open positions. Okay. But you've just recently filled six and and u I think this lateral hire process is going to uh I hope it works out well as you've planned to to help make sure that our force is at at its full capacity. So again, thank you for what you're doing. >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Rose, >> uh Mr. I didn't have anything I didn't have any questions for you, but just wanted to say thank you for your for your work and um just to let the world know that um Leach, Texas uh is behind its police officers and we've got 24 open positions and um it's it's a good place to be a police officer and um now that we've got lateral hiring, um this this council and this city is is uh behind our police and fire 100%. So, um, appreciate you and and thank you for all you do. >> Thank you, sir. >> Mayor Pro Tim, >> thank you. You not only have the 24 open positions, but you also have upcoming retirees. Do you know about how many? >> It's it's hard to say from year to year. We we do have a lot of of members that are eligible, and that's uh, you know, with January rolling up, it it could be could be a few. So, And how are you addressing that or preparing, you know, for that particular recruitment? I know we're doing the lateral stuff, but are you doing some other things to try to bring in more folks? >> We always stay active on social media. We're we're going to support the city and the the training academy in any way that they request. anything that they need from us as far as bringing somebody in, we were happy to jump on board and help them out. So, >> awesome. Thank you, >> Dr. Wilson. >> Hi, Mr. Ever. Thank you for being here. Thank you for um bringing this proposal to us. I know you were kind of thrown in early on um being the new president of the association. So, thank you for your work. I know it was a lot to take on. Um, I really wanted to just let you know and let all the guys out there, the men and women of LPD know that this council and the city management team are still dedicated to make sure that this comes back um and that y'all get the financial component of this. So, I know that the guys everybody voted on this and this is great for now and we are super supportive of the hiring the lateral transfer program, but the commitment is still there from all of us. you know, when the situation gets better, we hope within the next year to bring things back and get you guys back in um at the table and get the financial piece of this negotiated as well. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Um thank you. And again, I heard from both uh associations uh their concern. They understood the financial situation the city was in and they were both saying, you know, we're citizens of this community, too. Um, so just the ability to have that kind of work and relationship with uh our police and our fire is is just something else. We're really fortunate here in Lok. Uh, and and I see the news media back there. So, make sure on the news tonight it says we have 24 open positions. Make sure that quote from uh, you know, uh, yeah, it's it's Braden, I think, just we love our police officers. We got 24 open positions. Make sure that makes the news tonight, okay? So people will see that because uh we have a great I don't think we've ever been in a better position uh with our our police than we are right now and uh so we all stand behind you. Thank you very very much. >> Thank you sir. >> All right. Any other questions or comments? All right. Uh is there a motion to approve item 7.5? >> Everybody moved. Okay. Just pick pick one, Courtney. Um, all right. We have a motion. We have a second. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, any further discussion? All right. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. Any oppose say nay. I hear none. That motion has passed unanimously. All right. Um, I think we have uh Yeah. Item 7.6 now. a resolution authorizing LPNL an engagement agreement with Laam and Watkins LLP to provide legal services for LE Power and Light uh related to power generation asset sales and we're going to call on our chief administrative officer for LPNL Joel Ivy to provide a briefing on this matter. Mr. Ivy, >> thank you Mayor Council. Good afternoon everyone. We actually exited the generation business in October of 2003 and since then we have been looking for ways to divest our generation assets. We were looking and hoping to have somebody that would move on site and generate and we just haven't been able to find that. Uh but we we have sold some of the generation assets already and they've moved off property and this uh agreement will help us continue the effort uh to continue down that path. that will be acting as our consultants to assist us in another sale opportunity that we're in negotiations with. And so that's about as far as I'm going to go with it. But we are looking to get uh this deal done. Hopefully by this time next year, it'll be signed and and done. So with your favorable approval, the electric utility board is unanimous in bringing this forward. I look forward to getting this in. >> Any questions for Mr. Ivy? I see none. So, I'll entertain a motion to approve item 7.6. Second. >> Have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion to second. Any discussion? I see none. All in favor say I. I. Any post say nay. I hear none. That motion passes unanimously. All right. We are going to again um go into recess into executive session pursuant to Texas Government Code 551.071 to consult with and seek the advice of the city's legal council and 551.07 076 to discuss the uh employment or implementation of security personnel or devices. And I believe also um I should say uh let me find this here is where is it? >> 074 >> 074 for uh exchange of value of real properties. That's the one I wanted. Yes, sir. Thank you. All right. Uh so we are now uh in moving into executive session at 2:43. [Music]