Curtis Bell

The discussion focused primarily on the aftermath of a severe winter weather event, including preliminary thoughts on outcomes and the incredible teamwork displayed across city departments and the community. Key challenges discussed included frozen monitoring sensors on water infrastructure, diesel gelling in equipment, multiple sanding truck incidents, difficulty accessing fuel and sand, over 100 major leaks in the water system, and critical power outages at infrastructure locations like sewer lift stations and the Riverside Water Treatment Plant. The city narrowly avoided a community-wide boil water notice due to exceptional community water conservation efforts, creative leak detection, and operational warming centers. The council addressed damage assessment for city-owned facilities and initiated procedures with the Texas Department of Emergency Management and FEMA for potential reimbursement. Furthermore, a resolution was discussed to extend the emergency declaration, which included waiving building permit fees for repairs related to the storm and applying a winter freeze adjustment to February 2021 water and wastewater fees for customers with higher consumption due to leaks or necessary dripping of faucets. An after-action report was tasked to review response effectiveness and identify lessons learned.

The meeting included a work session following a regular session, which began with a moment of silence and procedures for public comments. Key discussions involved employee recognition for city staff contributions to the Fourth on the Brazos event. The agenda covered three public hearings related to Tax Increment Financing (TIF), the draft 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan, and subdivision plot approvals for 'Land Earth Gardens Edition Phases Two and Three' and 'The Springs Edition Phase One'. Significant attention was given to resolutions amending economic development services contracts with Creative Waco and the Central Texas African-American Chamber of Commerce to distribute funds to small businesses for economic recovery. Another highlighted resolution involved approving a contract with Prosper Waco to implement the Waco Connect Mental Health Program, which includes co-locating a social worker with the Waco Police Department's CCAST unit to address social and health needs of individuals interacting with law enforcement. The meeting also addressed updates to the Boards and Commissions appointment list and scheduled future discussions regarding the 87th Texas Legislative Session.

The City of Waco's 'City Talk' program outlines a long-term strategic development plan for the McLennan County area, centered around the BASE (Business, Arts, Sports, and Entertainment) venue. This multi-phased initiative, initiated in 2014 and projected for 40 years, aims to enhance Waco's regional appeal as an event destination. Key components include establishing an 80,000 square-foot multi-purpose exhibition center for indoor sports, trade shows, art events, and banquets; funding the project through venue taxes (hotel, motel, rental car) paid by visitors rather than local taxpayer ad valorem taxes; and developing complementary infrastructure such as new school athletic fields and future equine facilities. The plan emphasizes attracting outside revenue, boosting tourism, and generating significant economic impact, solidifying Waco's position as a premier event host.

The meeting began by addressing the temporary suspension of Open Meetings Act provisions due to the Governor's disaster authority related to social distancing guidelines, resulting in the meeting not being open to the public but broadcast live. Public comments were received regarding the development agreement for the Brazos River development (Brazos Promenade Project), including requests for incorporating clean energy solutions such as electric construction, solar panels, and EV charging stations. Discussions followed regarding approving a second amendment to the development agreement, which involved extending the Phase 1 commencement deadline and removing Phase 4, complicated by a surprise joint payable bond term that required staff to reassess risk. Additionally, the council considered and passed three ordinances on second reading, involving zoning changes (designating the Seaport District classification and changing zoning for properties on South 11th Street and South 6th Street). The hearing of visitors section included public input emphasizing the need for more publicly available 24/7 EV charging stations and encouraging the city to leverage state rebates for replacing gasoline cars with EVs to cut emissions. Council members also discussed the passing of local residents due to COVID-19 and encouraged participation in the census.

The meeting commenced with an opportunity for public comment on agenda items. Key discussion focused on providing updates regarding the boards and commissions annual report process, which is slated to be distributed on July 1st and will include reports from chairs, attendance records, and roster information for current, reappointment-due, and vacant positions. The appointment terms beginning October 1, 2021, require council review during upcoming meetings on July 27th, August 24th, and September 21st. Project updates included finalizing a draft handbook for legal review and translation, aiming for a July 23rd release. Furthermore, the committee discussed policy reviews concerning term limits and groundwater training, and preliminary demographic survey data from current board members (63 responses out of 360) was reviewed, highlighting initial patterns. The application process for new positions was also detailed, noting changes such as requiring home addresses and moving previous experience to a higher priority, alongside the voluntary collection of demographic data for new applicants to align with city diversity goals. The system used for management information (Granicus) and the status of active boards and seats were also outlined.