[Public Hearing] [00:00:16] JAMES VALADEZ: GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE PUBLIC HEARING [1. Call to Order] MEETING OF THE TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ORDER. THE TIME IS 11:41, ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, [2. Establishment of Quorum] 2022. WE ARE CONDUCTING THIS MEETING AT TCAD HEADQUARTERS, LOCATED AT 850 EAST ANDERSON LANE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AND A QUORUM IS PRESENT. WE ARE ALSO CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THIS MEETING THROUGH ONLINE BROADCAST AS A COURTESY. THE FIRST ITEM ON [3. Citizens Communication] OUR AGENDA IS CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS SIGNED UP FOR COMMUNICATION. OKAY? WE WILL [4. Public Hearing on Proposed 2023 Travis Central Appraisal District Budget] MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2023 TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BUDGET TO INCLUDE THE OPEN PUBLIC HEARING, RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING. SINCE NO CITIZENS HAVE SIGNED UP FOR COMMUNICATION, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE OF OUR PUBLIC [5. Public Hearing on Proposed 2023/2024 Travis Central Appraisal District Reappraisal Plan] HEARING. THIS INCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2023 2024 TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT REAPPRAISAL PLAN, INCLUDING ITEMS A THROUGH C, OPEN PUBLIC HEARING, RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED 2023 2024, REAPPRAISAL PLAN, AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SINCE WE HAVE NO CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO COMMUNICATE ON THIS ITEM, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX ON OUR [6. Adjournment] AGENDA, WHICH IS ADJOURNMENT. SO I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 11:42 ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 AND WE WILL BE BACK TO OPEN OUR REGULAR MEETING AT 11:45. [Regular Meeting] GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE [1. Call to Order] TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ORDER. THE TIME IS 11:45 ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 WE ARE CONDUCTING THIS MEETING AT TCAD HEADQUARTERS, LOCATED AT [2. Establishment of Quorum] 850, EAST ANDERSON LANE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND A QUORUM IS PRESENT. WE ARE ALSO CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THIS MEETING THROUGH ONLINE BROADCAST AS A COURTESY. THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA [3. Citizens Communication] CITIZEN COMMUNICATION. I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP FOR COMMUNICATION BYRON TRIM. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. I'M SORRY. YEAH, WE HAVE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION AS OUR FIRST ITEM HERE. [00:05:04] TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: I MADE IT ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE JUST BECAUSE I WANTED TO SPEAK TO KIND OF LET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED, THE WHEN YOU WHEN YOU GO TO FIGHT YOUR TAXES, YOU KNOW, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE A FIGHT WHEN YOU GO TO REALLY DO YOUR RESEARCH TO SEE IF YOU'VE GOT A HOW MUCH YOUR TAXES HAVE GONE UP NEXT TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND JUST MAKING SURE YOU GET A TRANSPARENT CHANCE AT GETTING THE BEST VALUE YOU CAN FOR YOUR HOUSE. WE'RE ALL TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, NOT PAY ANY MORE THAN WE HAVE TO PAY, JUST PAY WHAT WE'RE DUE. AND THE ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO SAY, I HAVE A WATERFRONT, SOME WATERFRONT PROPERTY, AND THIS YEAR, I DIDN'T HAVE THE TOOL TO BE ABLE TO USE LOOKING AT THE FOOTAGE OF WATERFRONT ON EACH IF YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING ON ONLINE, YOU ALSO DO NOT SHOW THAT ANYMORE. IN 2022 YOU'VE TAKEN THAT AWAY. SO I DIDN'T HAVE ANY TOOLS TO COMPARE MY PROPERTY WITH MY NEIGHBORS, EXCEPT FOR THE ONES I HAD IN MY FILES FROM YEARS PAST. I'VE HAD SOME NOTES AND FOOTAGES OF DIFFERENT THINGS. IN YEARS PAST, I WAS ABLE TO USE THOSE. BUT THAT TOOK MY THAT TOOK MY RIGHT AWAY TO HAVE THE TOOLS I NEED TO DO MY RESEARCH THAT I SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON FOR MY PROPERTIES. THAT'S THE FIRST THING. AND WHEN DOING COMPARISONS THIS YEAR, I ALSO NOTED THAT 40% OF THE ONES THAT I PULLED UP TO LOOK FOR COMPARISONS DIDN'T SHOW ANYTHING BUT THE 2022 VALUES. THEY DIDN'T SHOW PREVIOUS VALUES, AND I ALWAYS SAY THAT WAS ABOUT 40% OF THE PROPERTIES I PULLED UP. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE WHAT THEY PAID LAST YEAR TO SEE WHAT THEIR INCREASES WERE FROM 2021 TO 2022 ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL THAT YOU USE AS A HOMEOWNER TO COMPARE YOUR TAXES TO YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO SAY A FEW THINGS. YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, I'VE DONE MY PROTEST ONLINE, AND I'D SEND IN MY INFORMATION ONLINE, THEN I'D SEND IT IN THE MAIL, BECAUSE I'M 65 YEARS OLD, LITTLE OLD FASHIONED. AND THIS YEAR, I DECIDED, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO JUST USE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE INTERNET, AND I'M JUST GOING TO FILE ONLINE. AND I DID THAT, AND THERE WAS SOME KIND OF PROBLEM WITH IT. I ENDED UP, IF I, IF YOU ALL KNEW THE WHAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH JUST TO BE ABLE TO PROTEST MY PROPERTY. THE RIGHT TO PROTEST MY PROPERTY WAS UNBELIEVABLE, AND IT WAS A SOME KIND OF ERROR ONLINE. I DON'T KNOW. I HAD THE I HAD THE RECEIPT SHOWING FINALLY, I HAD TO SHOW HIM THE RECEIPT SHOWING THAT I GOT THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BACK, AND ALL THAT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BS, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CALL IT? BUT YOU KNOW, THE THING ABOUT IT IS, IS I'M NOT THE ENEMY. I'M A TAXPAYER. WHEN I CALL DOWN HERE AND I'VE AND THERE'S BEEN A CLERICAL ERROR, I DON'T FEEL LIKE I GOT ANYBODY TO WANT TO HELP ME AT ALL. FINALLY, I GOT TO SOMEBODY THAT TRIED TO HELP ME, AND I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN DOING SO. BUT IT WAS A FIGHT. IT SHOULDN'T BE A FIGHT. I I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW IT'S IT WAS A BAD EXPERIENCE. BUT I DID FINALLY GET BACK AND WAS ABLE TO PROTEST MY PROPERTY. YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER WHEN I COULD WALK IN THE TCAD OFFICES YEARS AGO, AND I'VE BEEN COMING DOWN HERE FOR YEARS. I'VE HAD PROPERTY, AND I ALWAYS COME DOWN HERE TO TRY TO GET THE, YOU KNOW, GET THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT'S, I THINK, IS OFF BASE. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A DIRECTORY OF EMPLOYEES ANYMORE. I USED TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN INTO THE SENIOR AT APPRAISER'S OFFICE. I COULD SIT DOWN FOR TWO HOURS. IT MIGHT BE THREE HOURS, BUT HE'D SEE ME THAT DAY, OR HE'D TELL ME TO COME BACK THE NEXT DAY. I'LL QUIT. BUT I THINK I HAVE SOME GOOD THINGS TO TELL Y'ALL. BUT COULD I GO ON FOR ANOTHER MINUTE OR TWO? JAMES VALADEZ: YOU CAN FINISH YOUR YOUR THOUGHT, AND I WOULD LIKE IF YOU COULD POTENTIALLY EVEN GIVE US, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER PRINT COPY YOU HAVE, SO WE CAN TAKE THAT JAMES VALADEZ: CAN YOU? CAN YOU, FIRST OFF? WANT TO START OFF BY TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: THESE ARE JUST KIND OF NOTES TO MYSELF. BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO EVERY TIME, THE FEELING IS NOW THAT IT'S CONTROVERSIAL. WHEN YOU COME IN HERE, IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE, I'M A TAXPAYER, I'M YOUR FRIEND, RIGHT? IT'S NOT NOW, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE TAKE IT SAYING THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE AND TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR WRONG, BUT IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THAT. YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY'S THE SAME. YOU CAN'T JUST ACT LIKE THAT, AND YOU CAN'T HIDE BEHIND THE CURTAIN. YOU KNOW, CHATTING ONLINE. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU KNOW YOU CAN CHAT, I CAN TALK AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM A LOT FASTER. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE, IF YOU'RE SHORT OF EMPLOYEES, I'VE HELD FOR AN HOUR, AN HOUR AND A HALF, BY THE DAY TO CONVEY THIS INFORMATION TO US. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT WAY, TRYING TO GET TO Y'ALL'S OFFICE WHEN I WAS, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT THE BLOG TO SHOW YOU, IT'S JUST, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT IF ME THERE AND I'VE MADE THE REQUEST. ONE THING I'D LIKE TO SAY I MADE THE REQUEST FOR TWO PROPERTIES TO GET SOME RECORDS INFORMATION. I GOT THE INFORMATION, AND SHE SENT IT GUIDANCE WHEN WE GET TO INTERACT WITH TAXPAYERS, AND I APPRECIATE BACK TO ME, AND I ASKED HER A QUESTION. I SAID, OKAY, I SEE THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN SOME RELIEF ON THEIR ON THEIR LAND DUE TO SOMETHING THERE'S A 44% REDUCTION WHAT THEY'RE PAYING NEXT TO ME. AND THE ANSWER, THIS IS THE ANSWER I GOT. THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT DOES NOT REQUIRE A GOVERNMENTAL BODY TO CREATE INFORMATION, PREPARE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, OR TO DO LEGAL YOU DOING THAT. CAN YOU GIVE CYNTHIA OR STAFF ANY OF THE RESEARCH FOR OPEN RECORDS. DECISION NUMBER 563, AND 555, I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THAT'S NOT HOW YOU HELP PEOPLE, JAMES VALADEZ: RIGHT. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: AND IF I HAVE, IF I CAN'T GET WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE FILE THAT SAYS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO GIVE ME THAT NOTES JUST DISTILLED DOWN FOR US TO GET FURTHER GUIDANCE FOR INFORMATION. IT'S LIKE IT'S A HIDE AND SEEK TYPE. [00:10:01] MAYBE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: HAPPY TO GIVE YOU WHAT I'VE GOT. JAMES VALADEZ: I APPRECIATE THAT. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: I MEAN, IT'S JUST MY NOTES TO TALK, BUT IT GIVES YOU THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT I JAMES VALADEZ: ABSOLUTELY . IF YOU COULD JUST GET WITH HER, AND THEN WE CAN GET THAT DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD MEMBERS. AND IF WE WANT, TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: AND I'M NOT HERE TO BE UGLY OR ANYTHING, JAMES VALADEZ: NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. I APPRECIATE IT. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: IS TO DIRECT TCAD, YEAH, YOU'RE NOT. YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: BECAUSE THERE'S JUST A LOT OF PROBLEMS JAMES VALADEZ: ABSOLUTELY WHEN YOU CAN'T FIND THE INFORMATION YOU NEED, WHEN YOU CAN'T GET ANYBODY ON THE PHONE. WHEN YOU DO GET SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GREAT, BUT YOU MIGHT BE HOLDING FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF, AND YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IS, YOU KNOW, YOU GET FRISKED WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR. YEAH, YOU PUT YOUR STUFF ON THERE. THAT'S WHEN I CAME FROM MY PROTEST. THEN YOU DO IT AGAIN BEFORE YOU GO BACK. JAMES VALADEZ: MESSAGE, MESSAGE RECEIVED. IF YOU COULD GET WITH CYNTHIA, TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: IT'S NOT LIKE I'M GOING TO GET A GUN IN THE BATHROOM. I'M GOING TO GO GRAB YOU KNOW, JAMES VALADEZ: MESSAGE RECEIVED. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: AND THAT MAYBE THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE DEFENSIVE WHEN YOU WHEN YOU FIRST COME THAT MANY JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN, SIR. OKAY, THE NEXT [4. Consent Agenda - These items may be acted upon by one motion. No separate discussion or vote on any of the items will be had unless requested by a Board member.] ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM FOUR, WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS CONSISTS OF THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 7, 2022 MEETING, AS WELL AS THE SECTION 2520 5B REPORT, THE ACCOUNTING STATEMENTS AND PERSONNEL REPORT. THESE ITEMS MAY BE ACTED UPON BY ONE MOTION. NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OR VOTE ON ANY OF THE ITEMS WILL BE HAD UNLESS REQUESTED BY A BOARD MEMBER. I WILL LET THE BOARD HAVE SOME TIME TO REVIEW ITEMS A THROUGH D, AND THEN IF ANYONE HAS ANY ITEM THAT THEY'D LIKE PULLED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE CAN DO THAT AT THAT TIME AND THEN ENTERTAIN A MOTION. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: WILL YOU ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MR. CHAIRMAN? JAMES VALADEZ: YEAH, I NEED A DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I MOVE APPROVAL OF ALL OF THE ITEMS IN THE CONSENT AGENDA. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MS. CARTWRIGHT AND SECONDED BY MISS BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THOSE ITEMS? HEARING NONE. LET'S TAKE A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA FIVE, A DISCUSSION AND [5. Regular Agenda] [a. Discussion and Possible Action on Appointment of AG Advisory Board Member] POSSIBLE ACTION ON APPOINTMENT OF AG ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS. MARYA CRIGLER: THANK YOU. WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER POTENTIAL FOR OUR AG ADVISORY BOARD. WE'VE HAD ONE RELOCATION, AND UNFORTUNATELY, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS HAS PASSED AWAY, SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENTS. AND MR. TIM ACKERMAN IS HERE. VAN ACKERMAN, I'M SORRY, MR. VAN ACKERMAN, HE IS HERE. HE IS VERY GRACIOUSLY VOLUNTEERED HIS TIME TO HELP US SERVE ON OUR AG ADVISORY BOARD. AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE INTRODUCED HIM TO YOU, MR. COME TO THE PODIUM. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. JAMES VALADEZ: HI. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: THANK YOU JAMES VALADEZ: ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY FIRST WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF? AND TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: MY NAME IS TIM VAN ACKERMAN. MY RANCH IS LOCATED AT 10017 CRUMLEY RANCH ROAD. WE'VE BEEN LANDOWNERS JAMES VALADEZ: ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GO AHEAD. MS. THERE FOR THE LAST 1617, YEARS. ONE OF THE FORMER BOARD MEMBERS WAS MY NEIGHBOR THE LATE MORNING, ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE, YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY, HE'S NOT WITH US ANYMORE, BUT I HAVE AN EXPERIENCE IN THE AGRICULTURAL SIDE OUR PROPERTY UP UNTIL THIS THIS YEAR 2022 WAS UNDER MAJORITY OF THE LAND WAS UNDER GRAZING LEASE FOR CATTLE AND GOATS. BUT MY FAMILY WERE HAVE AGRICULTURAL RANCH AND FEED LOT IN STATE OF NEBRASKA, AND I'VE BEEN A PARTNER IN THAT FOR 50 YEARS, BEEN A RESIDENT OF TRAVIS COUNTY FULL TIME FOR 30 YEARS, AND A PROPERTY OWNER IN CARTWRIGHT. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: WELL, I NOTED THAT YOU WERE ON THE TRAVIS COUNTY FOR 40 YEARS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN THAT, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE ADVISORY BOARD [00:15:02] AND AND I HAVE I'M SEMI RETIRED NOW, AND HAVE THE TIME TO DO IT. I'M CURRENTLY IN MY SECOND TERM AS A DIRECTOR FOR THE SOUTHWESTERN TRAVIS COUNTY GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT WE WERE VOTED IN AROUND THREE YEARS AGO, AND THAT'S BEEN GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, AND I WANTED, I THINK QUITE AN EXPERIENCE AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE, AND I THINK WE'VE THAT GIVES YOU A GREAT DEAL OF INSIGHT INTO WHAT'S GOING ON ACCOMPLISHED A LOT AS FAR AS PROTECTING THE GROUNDWATER WITH THIS ADVISORY BOARD. AND SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING, YES, THAT WITH WITH THIS GROUP COMING UP. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: WELL, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE GROUNDWATER IS SO IMPORTANT, LIKE FOR OUR RANCH AND RANCHES AROUND THIS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OFF OF HAMILTON FULL ROAD, PERMANENT RANCH ROAD, AND YOU KNOW, THERE IS A SURFACE WATER LINE OBVIOUSLY GOING DOWN HAMPTON FULL ROAD, AND WHICH IS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONTENTION OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS. I GUESS, WAS PUTTING IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, I VERY WELL UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR MAINTAINING GROUNDWATER WAS INVOLVED IN A CERTAIN EXTENT, HOPING THAT TRYING TO GET THE DISTRICT VOTED IN BACK WITH SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS BACK 10 12 YEARS AGO. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: IT HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: IT REALLY IT DOES. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S YOUR GRANTED YOUR ONLY SOURCE OF WATER, YOU TEND TO WANT TO PAY ATTENTION. AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT. I'M NOT AN ENGINEER. MAJORITY OF OUR BOARD ARE HYDROLOGISTS AND GEOLOGISTS, AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE FOR THAT. AND THESE PEOPLE WORK REAL HARD, AND I THINK WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES OF DROUGHT. YOU KNOW, IT REALLY BRINGS IT TO THE FOREFRONT WITH THE WELL OWNERS. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO? WELL, DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: WE APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST IN SERVING ON THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ONE, AND ONE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL COMPELLED TO PARTICIPATE IN. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING INTERESTED. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: I'D LIKE TO I WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE. JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. SO THE ITEM AT HAND IS CALLING FOR ACTION ON THIS APPOINTMENT. IS THERE A MOTION? OKAY, MOTION COMES FROM MR. BUCKLE SECOND FROM BLANCA. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? HEARING NONE. LET'S TAKE A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 5B DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION [b. Discussion and Possible Action on Taxpayer Liaison Report] ON TAXPAYER LIAISON REPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE. THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE. I WANT YOU TO KNOW IT WAS A REAL CHALLENGE. FIRST THING I HAVE ON MY REPORT TO YOU IS A LETTER FROM THE JUDGE, AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS INFORMATION HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE PROCESSES AND PRACTICES IN PLACE AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY ARB, AS WELL AS LEADERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP RELATIONSHIPS WITH TCAD MAY BE IN IMPROPERLY ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE OTHER ARB MEMBERS AND THEIR DECISION MAKING PROCESS. THAT SOUNDS PRETTY SERIOUS. TWO PROBLEMS WITH THAT IS THAT I THINK A LOT OF THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMING THROUGH ME AND NOT THROUGH THE JUDGES OFFICE. I'M NOT TOO SURE WHAT AUTHORITY SHE HAD TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE THE ACTIONS OF THE ARB. SECOND THING IS THAT I HAVE ASKED FOR MORE CLARIFICATION IS EXACTLY WHAT'S BEHIND THIS LETTER AND THE ACCUSATIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE. I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE BACK FROM THE JUDGE'S OFFICE, OTHER THAN WE'RE WORKING ON IT, SO I HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM INVOLVED HERE. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S BEEN SOME COMPLAINTS FROM ARB MEMBERS TO THE JUDGE, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. THIS IS GOING TOTALLY TO SLEEP, SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS. SO THERE WE GO. I'VE TRIED TO GET A RESPONSE BACK FROM THE JUDGES OFFICE, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEHIND THIS AT ALL. I. IT, BUT I FEEL LIKE I [00:20:02] NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF IT, BECAUSE SOMETIME IT MAY BLOW UP. I DON'T KNOW, THIS YEAR HAS BEEN AN UNUSUAL YEAR IN THAT THE INTERACTIONS I'M HAVING FROM SO MANY PROPERTY OWNERS SEEM TO BE THAT THEY HAVE A PRECONCEIVED NOTION THAT I'M A FIXER, THAT THEY GOT AN EXEMPTION THAT WAS DENIED, THAT YOU GOT GOING GRANT THEM AN EXEMPTION, OR THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR INFORMAL HEARING OR FORMAL HEARING, AND THEY THINK THAT THAT I CAN GRANT THEM ANOTHER HEARING OR OVERRIDE THE RESULTS, OR I CAN NEGOTIATE WITH THEM A MARKET VALUE THAT THEY DON'T LIKE. AND SO WHEN I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM I HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO BE THE FIXER, THEN I'D BE THEN I'M CALLED USELESS, AND THEN THEY WON'T KNOW HOW TO COMPLAIN AGAINST ME. SO I BECOME THE COMPLAINT. SO THAT'S KIND OF SORT OF AN UNUSUAL SITUATION I'VE RECORDED HERE. I'M SEPARATING OUT COMPLAINTS. THESE ARE COMPLAINTS WHERE I'M ACTUALLY RECEIVING INTERACTIONS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS. SO I'VE KIND OF LISTED WHAT KIND OF INTERACTIONS I'VE HAD. I'VE SEPARATED OUT WHEN I'VE GOTTEN AN ACTUAL WRITTEN COMPLAINT, AND I HAVE REPORTED THOSE TO YOU. THESE. THESE ARE COMPLAINTS FOR JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST. I HAD PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS I'VE ALREADY REPORTED TO YOU, BUT THIS IS JUST FOR COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED FROM JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST BEEN QUITE A FEW. I ALSO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT UNEDITED COMPLAINTS I RECEIVED TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE THAT YOU'RE IN, AND SO WHAT I'M REPORTING TO YOU IS EXACTLY WHAT I'LL BE SUBMITTING TO THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE THAT YOU'RE IN, AND I'M ONLY REPORTING TO YOU WHAT I'VE NOT REPORTED TO YOU BEFORE. OKAY, SO THE LONG LIST A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON LET YOU KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN KIND OF BUSY THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: MR. CHAIRMAN. JAMES VALADEZ: MS. CARTWRIGHT. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION? MR. I NOTICED YOU HAD SO MANY COMPLAINTS OR INQUIRIES, SHOULD I SAY ABOUT THE INFORMAL MEETING PROCESS, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF THE ARB REALM? MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: YEAH. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: AND ALSO NOTICE ON YOUR RESPONSE SHEET THAT YOU SO NICELY PROVIDED TO US IT HELPED A LOT FOR US TO LOOK AT THAT MOST OF THOSE WERE RESOLVED. DID YOU FIND THAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT STAFF DEALT WITH THOSE INFORMAL MEETING COMPLAINTS FAIRLY QUICKLY? DID THAT MOVE ALONG PRETTY FAST? MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: IT'S HARD TO SORT OUT WHAT'S FOR REAL. YOU KNOW, STAFF MEETING MEMBERS I'VE WORKED WITH, AND I KNOW A LOT OF THEM, AND THOSE ARE VERY PROFESSIONAL, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP OUT IN SOME SITUATIONS, I THINK IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE THE CUSTOMER SERVICES REP TO ADDRESS THE KIND OF ISSUES, BECAUSE THEY GOT SOMEBODY ON THE OTHER END, IRRATIONAL TREATMENT, YELLING, AND THE ONLY ANSWER THEY REALLY WANT IS GIVE ME ANOTHER HEARING, OR CHANGE THE MARKET VALUE I HAD. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: WELL, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE INFORMAL MEETING PROCESS, SEPARATE PROCESS. YEAH, THAT'S THAT WAS PRETTY MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: PROCESS. THE COMPLAINT I'M GETTING FROM THE INFORMAL HEARING PROCESS IS ABOUT THE WAIT TIME TO HAVE THE HEARING AND CONFUSION ABOUT, DO THEY CALL IN, OR IS SOMEBODY GOING TO CALL THEM? THEY SEEM TO HAVE A CONFUSION FACTOR ABOUT THE PROCESS, DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: RIGHT, RIGHT. MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: AND THEN ABOUT THE RESULTS ITSELF IS A LONG WAIT TIMES THEY'VE BEEN DISCONNECTED, OR THEY'VE BEEN ON HOLD FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GET A MESSAGE THAT THAT THEY THEIR MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY HAD A HEARING WHEN THEY HAD THIS HAD SOME OF THOSE KINDS OF PROBLEMS THAT HAPPEN. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: SO DO YOU SEE THAT AS A PROBLEM OF NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS AT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO HANDLE THESE REQUESTS HAVING TO DO WITH INFORM I'M TALKING STRICTLY ABOUT INFORMALS. I DON'T WANT TO, I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT INFORMALS. IS THIS A STAFFING ISSUE ON THE PART OF THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT? MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: I DON'T THINK IT'S A STAFFING ISSUE. I THINK IT MAY BE A TECHNICAL ISSUE. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: A TECHNICAL ISSUE, WITH A COMPUTER SYSTEM? MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: I THINK SO. I THINK THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THAT FOR SOME REASON, PROPERTY OWNERS WHO HAVE NOT HAD A FORMAL HEARING, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY'RE GETTING A NOTICE THAT THEIR HEARING HAS BEEN CANCELED BECAUSE THEY DID HAVE A FORMAL HEARING WHEN THEY, IN FACT, DID NOT. AND SO I KIND OF PUT THAT AS A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS I'M SEEING IS LONG WAIT TIMES AND THEN HEARINGS BEING CANCELED WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE HEARINGS. I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE INFORMALS. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INFORMALS. MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: TALKING ABOUT THE INFORMAL HEARINGS THAT THERE. I SEE IT IS, THE WAY I LOOK AT IT IS, I THINK THERE'S NEW SYSTEM IN PLACE, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THERE HAVE BEEN SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES IN TERMS OF WHEN THE HEARING HEARING HAPPEN WHEN IT HAPPENS. AND DURING THE HEARING, THE COMPLAINT I'M [00:25:03] GETTING IS THE THE DISTRICT APPRAISER IS NOT LISTENING TO THE EVIDENCE. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO PRESENT IT. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: WELL, THAT'S A HEARING ISSUE. I'M STILL, I'M STUCK ON INFORMALS. I'M NOT, MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS INFORMALS. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: OKAY. MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: INFORMALS YOU HAVE HERE, YOU HAVE WAIT TIME, YOU HAVE A SIGN UP TIME, YOU HAVE THE ACTUAL HEARING ITSELF. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: AND OF COURSE, I KEEP CALLING THE MEETINGS BECAUSE THESE ARE NOT HEARINGS. I'M STUCK ON WORDING. I'VE GOT A SEMANTIC PROBLEM. BUT YOU'RE SAYING AT THE INFORMALS THAT THERE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME WITH THE STAFF, IS WHAT YOU'RE HEARING. MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: WELL, THEY HAVE A CERTAIN THEY GOT A LOT TO GO THROUGH. SO THEY HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME. AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS UNDERSTAND THAT, DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: OKAY MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: THEY HAVE, BUT I GET TO LISTEN TO THE PRESENTATION THEY DIDN'T GET TO PRESENT. AND SO IT'S USUALLY A GOOD 30 MINUTES OF MY TIME TO GO THROUGH WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY DIDN'T GET TO PRESENT. AND SO SO FROM THE HEARING ITSELF. TWO ISSUES I SEE IS THAT A LONG WAIT TIME ON THE PHONE, THEY DON'T CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RIGHT PROCESS OR PROCEDURE IS TO ENGAGE IN THE HEARING PROCESS, THE INFORMAL HEARING PROCESS, AND THEN VERY SHORT TIME TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE HEARING ITSELF, THAT WE HAVE TO CONTROL THE TIME. IT HAS TO BE CONTROLLED BUT, BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IS IN THE HEARING GETTING CANCELED, I THINK IT CORRECTLY, AND DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: THAT'S A STAFFING ISSUE THAT I THINK THE CHIEF APPRAISER CAN DEAL WITH. MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: I DON'T KNOW. I'M TOO SURE WHERE THE ISSUE IS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT'S CAUSING IT. ALL I CAN SEE IS I GET CALLED. I GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE PHONE ON WAIT TIME. THEY'VE BEEN ON THIS WAIT TIME FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF. THEY'RE CALLING ME AND WANTING TO KNOW WHY THEY HAD IT. HERE. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: IT'S INTERESTING, I'M IN A GOOD POSITION THAT I GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE SAYING, WHAT A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE. I'VE SINCE I'M NOT THE TAXPAYER LIAISON OFFICER, I GET POSITIVE INPUT WHO IMMEDIATELY GET THROUGH THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING GREAT, THAT THEY HAD SUFFICIENT TIME TO TALK TO TO AN APPRAISER. AND MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: I'M NOT GETTING THOSE CALLS. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I KNOW I WAS GOING TO SAY, I'M I'M LUCKY I GET THOSE. AND I'M SORRY, YOU GET THE OTHER ONES. MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: I'M GETTING THE OTHER ONES WHERE THERE'S BEEN A PROBLEM, RIGHT? AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEHIND THAT, OR WHAT'S CAUSING IT DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: WELL, AND I THINK THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CAN, CAN DIRECT THE CHIEF APPRAISER TO ADDRESS THESE KINDS OF THINGS, BECAUSE THIS IS A STAFFING AND TECHNICAL COMPUTER ISSUE, AS OPPOSED TO AN ARB HEARING ISSUE. THIS IS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT INFORMALS, WE CAN MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: INFORM PROCESS. I THINK FOR SOME REASON, THESE PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS REQUIRED WHEN THEY'RE HAVING THE INFORMAL HEARING. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: THEY DON'T. MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE CONFUSION FACTOR. WHAT HAPPENS IS, IN FACT, THEY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, FOR SOME REASON, WHATEVER REASON, DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HELPING. JAMES VALADEZ: MS. GARCIA. BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: IS IT 10 MINUTES? VIVEK KULKARNI: HOW MUCH TIME DO THEY HAVE? BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: YEAH, THE INFORMAL MEETING IS 10 MINUTES. IS THAT MUCH TIME THEY HAVE? MARYA CRIGLER: SO THERE IS NO SET TIME FOR INFORMAL MEETINGS. JAMES VALADEZ: SO TO CLARIFY, BUT WE HAD A RECORD NUMBER OF PROTESTS, 171,000 PLUS PROTESTS. BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: I DON'T THINK I COULD, I COULD PRESENT AND IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THOSE AND GET DONE, CERTIFIED ANYTHING, ANY MATERIAL, IN FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES. TIMELY, THAT GIVES OUR APPRAISERS APPROXIMATELY FOUR AND A HALF TO FIVE MINUTES PER PROPERTY OWNER. IT IS, IT IS A SCOPE AND AND VOLUME ISSUE THAT WE HAVE NOW FOR THE LONG WAIT MARYA CRIGLER: YEAH, IT'S WE NEED A LEGISLATIVE FIX TO HELP TIMES THAT PROPERTY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. WE GIVE FOR AN INFORMAL WE GAVE PROPERTY OWNERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER US WITH THE CALENDAR, BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE GIVES US A JULY SCHEDULE THEMSELVES OR THEY COULD GET IN LINE THE SAME DAY. HOWEVER, IF YOU GET IN LINE THE SAME DAY, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE IN LINE ALSO, AND WE TAKE YOU IN THE ORDER THAT THE CALL HAS BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WE GIVE PRIORITY TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SCHEDULED THEIR APPOINTMENTS. SO PEOPLE THAT GET IN LINE THE SAME DAY EXPERIENCE MUCH LONGER WAIT 20 DEADLINE TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE ALL OF OUR PROTESTS, TIMES THAN PEOPLE THAT SCHEDULE THEIR INFORMAL TIME. SO THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN A LONG WAIT TIME. SO IT'S A IT'S AN EXPERIENCE, LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH US AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS, AND JUST TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SCHEDULE THEIR INFORMALS, RATHER THAN TRYING TO GET IN LINE ON THE SAME DAY. BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN, AND YOU'RE IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE CALL THAT DAY. AND WE'RE GETTING A LARGER AND LARGER VOLUME THAT WE'RE HAVING TO PUT THROUGH THAT SAME TIME CONSTRAINT, AND THEN THAT IS [00:30:01] REALLY, REALLY A PROBLEM AND A STRUGGLE. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: AND TO ADD TO THAT, BLANCA, THE PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO HAVE HAD SCHEDULED INFORMALS, AND THEY HAVE APPROVED, PROVIDED TO THE APPRAISER INFORMATION ONLINE, BUT THEY'RE EVIDENT SO THEY THE APPRAISER OF THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT HAS WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT, BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: YES. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THE WE'RE ABLE TO GET THROUGH IT IN 15 MINUTES, BUT, AND IT WENT VERY SMOOTHLY, BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: BUT THERE'D BE A LARGE SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY DON'T UNDERSTAND, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO YEAH. I MEAN, I COULD DO THAT, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE, MARYA CRIGLER: YEAH BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: THEY JUST GET IN LINE. JAMES VALADEZ: SO MARYA, JUST TO CLARIFY, THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE QUEUES I HAVE. I HAVE, I HAVE A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. ANOTHER QUEUE IS, POTENTIALLY, I RESCHEDULED FROM MY SCHEDULED DAY, RIGHT? AND NOW I'M IN THIS GENERAL LINE, RIGHT? MARYA CRIGLER: YEAH, YOU'RE IN THE IN THE IT'S KIND OF A CATTLE CALL OF EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO GET IN THAT DAY, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIT IN AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN WITHIN THE TIME THAT WE'VE GOT. NOW, I WILL NEVER, I WILL NEVER SAY THAT WE DON'T WANT MORE STAFF, OR NEED MORE STAFF, BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S LIVING WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT WE'VE GOT. AND REALLY IT IS THAT THAT TIGHTENED STATE, STATE PERFORMANCE WINDOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH A VOLUME OF PROTESTS THAT IS PRETTY UNPRECEDENTED STATEWIDE, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S A CHALLENGE RUNNING. WHEN THE LAWS WERE WRITTEN AND THE DEADLINE FOR JULY 20 WAS SET, WE HAD 18,000 TOTAL PROTESTS. WE'RE NOW LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE WE HAVE 171,000 PROTESTS, AND THE TIME HASN'T CHANGED. VIVEK KULKARNI: REAL QUICK. HAVE WE LOOKED INTO TECHNICAL ISSUE WITH SCHEDULING? I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT WAS A PROBLEM. HAVE WE FOUND EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON? MARYA CRIGLER: THERE, EARLY ON, IT WAS A TRAINING ISSUE AND GETTING STAFF TRAINED. SO THERE WERE SOME ISSUES EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS, BUT AS WE GOT OUR STAFF MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW SYSTEM, THOSE TENDED NOT TO HAPPEN QUITE AS FREQUENTLY. AND IF ANY TIME WE HAD A PROPERTY OWNER THAT YOU KNOW, WE DISCONNECTED, WE WOULD ALWAYS LET THEM GET BACK IN THE QUEUE AND HANDLE THEIR INFORMAL. IN REGARDS TO THOSE TECHNICAL ISSUES, WE REALLY DETERMINED THERE WERE TWO ISSUES. WHEN THE PERSON WAS MAKING THEIR APPOINTMENT, THEY WOULD ENTER THEIR PROPERTY ID WRONG, OR TRANSPOSE THEIR PHONE NUMBER, SO THEN THEY WOULDN'T GET A CALL, OR THEY WOULD MAKE MULTIPLE APPOINTMENTS, SO THEY'RE ONLY ALLOTTED ONE TIME SLOT, AND THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR OTHER TWO REJECTED, AND THEY GET A NOTICE THAT IT'S BEING REJECTED. BUT IN ORDER TO KEEP THOSE SPOTS OPEN AND ALLOW EVERYONE TO GET A FAIR CHANCE, WE HAD TO REJECT THEIR EXTRA APPOINTMENTS. JAMES VALADEZ: MS. CONLEY. NICOLE CONLEY: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANY SORT OF METRICS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT IN TERMS OF WAIT TIMES ON THE PHONE, OR IF THERE'S WAYS TO OPTIMIZE A SYSTEM WHERE YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY SCHEDULED, EVEN IF YOU ARE IN THE LARGER POOL, YOU SCHEDULE FOR TIME AND PEOPLE COME BACK, IS THERE A WAY TO SORT OF IMPROVE THE TECHNOLOGICAL COMPONENTS SO THAT, BECAUSE TAXPAYERS ARE NEVER GOING TO KNOW THE PROCESS, I'M A CITIZEN. I DON'T KNOW THESE PROCESSES LIKE YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO KNOW. OH, I'M SUPPOSED TO, AND THEN I JUST WAITING, YOU KNOW? I TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN SCHEDULE EVERYTHING AND MOVE PEOPLE TO SUBSEQUENT DAYS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, YOU KNOW, AND SO THAT IT'S AND THEN ALSO GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CANCEL AND EXIST. YOU SCHEDULE FOR THREE YOU WANT TO CANCEL THESE OTHER TWO SO THAT, SO THAT THERE'S MORE INFORMATION AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT AS A BOARD, IT'D BE GREAT TO GET SOME METRICS AND DATA, LIKE, HOW MANY PEOPLE USE IT? WHAT ARE THE WAIT TIMES ON THE PHONE? YOU KNOW, HOW MANY MEETINGS WERE SCHEDULED, AD HOC VERSUS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED? IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN THE SYSTEM THAT WOULD GIVE US AN EYE TOWARDS LOOKING AT WHAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN MAKE, BECAUSE THESE SEEM LIKE SOME TWEAKING AND CODING AND, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT COULD BE AMELIORATED, BECAUSE TO EXPECT TAXPAYERS TO KNOW A PROCESS IS IMPOSSIBLE. I'M JUST SAYING, LIKE A NORMAL CITIZEN Z, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW HOW THESE AND THESE PROCESSES CHANGE, RIGHT? BASED ON US, BASED ON OUR TECHNOLOGIES, BASED ON OUR ADAPTATIONS, AND SO I DON'T OPERATE FROM THE EXPECTATION OF HAVING TAXPAYERS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE IT EASIER AND TAKE OUT SOME OF THE TIMELY, BURDENSOME THINGS THAT WE DO, AND LEVERAGE THE TECHNOLOGY MORE, AND THEN LOOKING AT SOME METRICS TO KIND OF SEE IF WE'RE IMPROVING OVER TIME? MARYA CRIGLER: YES, AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT. WE'RE MEETING WITH OUR SOFTWARE VENDOR TO SEE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT TO USE ULTIMATE MULTIPLE SYSTEMS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OUR PRIMARY CAMA. WE'RE LOOKING AT INTEGRATING EVERYTHING SO IT'S ALL INTEGRATED WITHIN ONE CAMA SYSTEM. AND THEN WE ALSO WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE FORMAL HEARINGS SO STAFF IS STILL OCCUPIED DOING FORMAL BOARD HEARINGS, BUT POST FORMAL BOARD HEARINGS, WE'VE GOT [00:35:04] A POST MORTEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH OUR STAFF SO THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T WORK? WHAT CAN WE CHANGE AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE? JAMES VALADEZ: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MS. CARTWRIGHT. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: MAYBE WE NEED A NEW NAME, A NEW TITLE FOR YOU, RATHER THAN TAXPAYER LIAISON OFFICER, MAYBE WE NEED TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND GET A DIFFERENT NAME THAT WOULDN'T IMPLY THAT YOU ARE NOT A FIXER. MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: THE WAY THE TAX CODE READS IS VERY CLEAR, DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I KNOW, BUT PEOPLE LIKE YOUR NAME IMPLIES SOMETHING. MAYBE WE NEED TO CHANGE YOUR TITLE, AND NOT WE. THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO CHANGE YOUR TITLE TO SOMETHING THAT BETTER REFLECTS WHAT YOU ARE INTENDED TO DO. I KNOW WHAT YOUR STATUTORY DUTIES ARE. MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: YEAH, THAT'S A PROBLEM. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I EMPATHIZE. I'M EMPATHIZING THE MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: COMMENT ABOUT THOUGH ON THE INFORMALS, I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN I GET A CALL OR AN EMAIL OR COMPLAIN ABOUT AN INFORMAL PROCESS SOMEBODY'S HAD. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THAT EXPERIENCE WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD CALLED IN THEY OR THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A SCHEDULED HEARING. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHICH IT IS. AND I'LL ALSO COMMENT TO YOU THAT THAT I'VE HAD OVER TWICE AS MANY INQUIRIES ABOUT THE INFORMAL HEARING PROCESS THIS YEAR THAT I HAD EVER BEFORE. IT'S BEEN THE VOLUME HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE, AND SO I THINK THAT THE DISTRICT IS GOT A THEIR HANDS FULL TRYING JUST TO HANDLE THE VOLUME. AND WITH ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT HAPPEN, BUT IT'S HARD TO SORT OUT WHEN, WHEN I GET SOMEBODY RANTING RAVING AT ME, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN SOMEBODY WHO'S REALLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THEIR WITH THEIR SCHEDULED TIME, OR THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY'RE SPENDING, VERSUS SOMEBODY WHO DIDN'T LIKE THE RESULTS AND SYSTEM WANTS A NEW HEARING. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SORT THROUGH THAT THAT HAPPENS. I DON'T START TO BELIEVE BUT, BUT I GET, I KNOW THAT THAT THE SYSTEM ALLOWS PEOPLE TO COME IN AND COMPLAIN TO ME, AND THEY EXPECT ME TO BE ABLE TO GRANT TO THEM ANOTHER HEARING BECAUSE OF SOME JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. MR. WILBANKS. WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE HAVING THAT INSIGHT. MARTIN WILBANKS, TAXPAYER LIAISON: ENJOY THE READING. [c. Discussion and Possible Action on ARB Chairman Report] JAMES VALADEZ: THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS 5C DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ARB CHAIRMAN REPORT. CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: MORNING. JAMES VALADEZ: MORNING. HOW ARE YOU? CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: CRAIG PHIFER, CHAIR. I CAN SHED A LITTLE BIT MORE LIGHT ON THE LETTER FROM THE JUDGE'S OFFICE. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A RESOLUTION YESTERDAY. JAMES VALADEZ: CAN YOU SPEAK UP? SPEAK UP. OR YEAH. CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: NO PROBLEM. I HAVE A HEARING ISSUE MYSELF. SO THE LETTER FROM JUDGE MEACHUM'S OFFICE, THE ARB WAS ACCUSED OF COLLUSION WITH THE DISTRICT. THE ACCUSERS ARE UNKNOWN, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF ACCUSATIONS. AS THE CHAIR I ASKED THE ARB LEGAL COUNSEL, ARMSTRONG AND ARMSTRONG TO CONTACT THE JUDGE'S OFFICE. THEIR MEETINGS RESULTED IN A LEGAL SUMMARY SUPPLIED TO JUDGE MEACHUM ON AUGUST 31 JUDGE MEACHUM DECIDED TO TURN OVER ALL DOCUMENTS TO THE ARMSTRONGS, AND ASKED AND HAS TASKED THEM TO INVESTIGATE AND RESOLVE WITH MY ASSISTANCE AT THIS MOMENT, THE NATURE OF THE COMPLAINT IS STILL NOT KNOWN BY ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE JUDGE'S OFFICE. EXCUSE ME, SO THIS ALL OCCURRED YESTERDAY. THAT GOES THROUGH MY EAR SO I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING. THIS WAS YESTERDAY, OKAY. SO AND WE HAVE NOT THE DOCUMENTS ARE TO BE TURNED OVER TO THE ARMSTRONGS FOR INVESTIGATION AND BY EMAIL, THEY'RE GOING TO SEND IT BY EMAIL, AND THEY HAVE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THEY'RE NOT RECEIVING THEM AS OF THIS AFTERNOON OR THIS MORNING, SO THEY BASICALLY HAVE WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THE ISSUE AND TURNED IT OVER TO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL TO RESOLVE, AND THAT'S ALL I KNOW ABOUT. IT IS VERY WHEN IT COMES ACROSS YOUR DESK. THE NATURE OF IT WAS VERY DISTURBING. NO NO KNOWLEDGE OF NO WAY TO MAKE A RESOLUTION, NO WAY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE IS. AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED MY THE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE ARB TO INQUIRE, AND ONCE THEY DID INQUIRE, I THINK THE JUDGE'S OFFICE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT, TO THE POINT OF TURNING EVERYTHING OVER TO THEM. SO RIGHT NOW, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THAT'S ALL YOU KNOW. MR. WILBANKS WASN'T PRIVY TO THAT UNTIL THIS MOMENT HIMSELF. [00:40:06] DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. JAMES VALADEZ: MISS CARTWRIGHT. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE LEGAL COUNSEL AND YOU SHOULD. ARB IS A SEPARATE ENTITY, BUT SINCE THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT FINANCES THE ARB ACTIVITIES, AND IN FACT, YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ANYTHING THAT THEY DO AND INVESTIGATE SHOULD BE TURNED OVER TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, SO THAT WE CAN SEE THAT ALSO, ATTORNEY TO ATTORNEY. I MEAN, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THEY GIVE IT TO THE BOARD, BUT I THINK THE ATTORNEYS NEED TO COLLABORATE SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE NATURE OF THIS COMPLAINT IS, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO BE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE TO TELL US YOU DON'T KNOW. BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR LEGAL COUNSEL TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS IN WHATEVER MANNER IS NECESSARY. SO I'M GOING TO ASK SPECIFICALLY, DUSTIN TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE ARMSTRONGS AND TO TELL THEM THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. IT'S APPROPRIATE. DUSTIN BANKS: AND WE HAVE CHAIRMAN CARTWRIGHT THAT THEY HAVE REACHED OUT. THEY HAVE BEEN IN COORDINATION WITH ME. HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE LATEST UPDATE THAT THE JUDGE BELONGED TO THE DOCUMENTS TO HER, BUT I HAVE SEEN THE REQUEST TO THE JUDGE FROM MR. ARMSTRONG, YES. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: WE'RE NOT EXCLUDING BUT AGAIN, THE JUDGE'S OFFICE WAS VERY CLOSED ON THIS. WAS VERY RELUCTANT TO OPEN UP ANY INFORMATION, EVEN TO THE THE FIRST PINNING WITH THE ARMSTRONG THEY WERE WOULD NOT DISCLOSE THE NATURE OR THE WHO THE ACCUSATIONS WERE BEING BROUGHT BY, WHETHER WE HAVE HEAVY ATTRITION THIS YEAR WITH SEVERAL LETTERS OF RESIGNATION THAT WENT TO THE JUDGE'S OFFICE. WE DON'T IT'S SPECULATION AT THIS POINT AS TO THE NATURE OF WHO AND WHAT. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, WE'LL GET MORE HOPEFULLY THIS AFTERNOON, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT TRYING TO EXCLUDE WHEN WE'RE IN THE SAME BOAT. SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO EXCLUDE THE DISTRICT. KEEP IN MIND, THOUGH, THE ARMSTRONGS ARE UNDER A DIRECTIVE FROM THE JUDGE'S OFFICE. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: WE UNDERSTAND THAT. I UNDERSTAND, THEN I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE ARB PERFORMANCE FOR THIS ARB SEASON LAST YEAR, UNDER MR. KING'S CHAIRMANSHIP, I BELIEVE HE WAS ABLE TO TO TO GET THINGS CERTIFIED AND MOVED WITHIN THE DEADLINE. AND WERE YOU ABLE TO COMPLETE YOUR WHAT IS YOUR STATUS REGARDING HEARINGS? CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: I THINK I'LL COVER THAT AND THEN THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION. BUT THE ANSWER, DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I THOUGHT YOU WERE CONCLUDING CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: NO DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I REALIZED YOU HAD CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: NO THAT WAS JUST CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: NO THAT WAS JUST THE OPENING. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: THE OPENING. YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE THE PERFORMANCE, WHERE YOU ARE. THANK YOU. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE, WHERE YOU ARE. THANK YOU. OKAY, THE PERFORMANCE, WHERE YOU ARE. THANK YOU. OKAY, CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: OKAY, SO AGAIN, RESULTS OF 2022, CERTIFICATION WAS WE ACCOMPLISHED IT TIMELY AND BUT WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE SO THE WAY WE WERE SCHEDULED THIS YEAR, IF WE, IF IT WASN'T, WASN'T FOR THE DISTRICT'S INITIATIVE TO GO AHEAD AND ENTER INTO JOINT SETTLEMENTS, MOTIONS OF TOP LINE AND TO DO PERFORM INFORMALS THAT THERE WAS NO WAY AT THE RATE THAT WE WERE SCHEDULED TO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION. WE WERE SCHEDULED HEAVY WITH THE INTENTION WAS 15 MINUTES PER HEARING, BUT THE NUMBERS REDUCED IT, WHICH IS SEVEN MINUTES, THERE'S 20 THERE'S 20 POINTS ON THE MODEL HEARINGS, THE PROCEDURES FROM THE COMTROLLER'S OFFICE THAT WE HAVE TO COVER IN EACH IT'S SCRIPTED, AND WE HAVE TO COVER EACH HEARING TO DO THOSE 20 ITEMS IN SEVEN MINUTES, TO HEAR THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT. PEOPLE FORGET. PEOPLE FORGET, IN THAT HEARING THAT THE DISTRICT IS AS MUCH OF THE THEY'RE DEFENDING THEIR APPRAISAL. THEY'RE MUCH OF THE PARTY AS THE PROTESTING PARTY IS. AND WE, WE TRY TO TRAIN THAT INTO OUR PEOPLE. TO DENY THAT THE DISTRICT ARE A PARTY OF THE APPRAISAL, DEFENDING THEIR APPRAISED WORK WOULD BE A BIAS. AND WE, WE DON'T NEED BIAS. WE'RE TRYING TO TRAIN OUT BIASES AS MUCH AS WE CAN. EACH PARTY COMES TO THE TABLE WITH THEIR INFORMATION, THE PANEL IS TASKED WITH JUDGING THE EVIDENCE AS PRESENTED. IT'S THE IDEA THAT WE ARE HAVE A BIAS AND FAVOR OF BECAUSE WE ARE SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY, TECHNOLOGICALLY, ARB, ADMIN STAFF, IT DOESN'T [00:45:06] NECESSARILY LOOK GOOD. I MEAN, IT DOESN'T OPEN IT DOESN'T LOOK GREAT, BUT THAT'S THE WAY THE LEGISLATORS HAVE DESIGNED IT, AND WE HAVE NO WE HAVE NO RECOURSE IN THAT. WE CAN ONLY WORK WITH THE TOOLS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO US. I THINK THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD A I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT WE'VE HAD AN EXCELLENT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH MS. CRIGLER AND MS. MANN AND THE WHOLE STAFF, THE ARB ADMIN STAFF, HAS BEEN ADMIRABLE TO OUR APPROACHES ANYTIME WE NEED ASSISTANCE. THEY'RE THERE. THEY'RE VERY CAPABLE. THEY'RE VERY UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN AND WHAT THEY'RE IN. WE'RE TRYING TO BE VERY ACCOMMODATING TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN TRAVIS COUNTY. WE RESCHEDULE AS THE LAW ALLOWS US TO RESCHEDULE. WE TRY NOT TO CIRCUMVENT THE STATE STATUES AND THE PROPERTY CODE. THAT IS HOW YOU GET BIAS OUT, IS TO FOLLOW THE STATUTES. THEY'RE THERE FOR US TO THAT'S OUR GUIDE, AND WE DO WHAT WE CAN. WE DID COLLECT SO SOME OF THE INFORMATION WE I GAVE YOU ABOUT THE SEVEN MINUTES WEEK, WE STARTED TASKING OUR PANELS WITH TO TRACK THEIR TIME, HOW THEIR TIME WAS USED, SO THEIR AVAILABLE TIME CONSIDERED 100% DURING THE DAY THEY WERE ABLE TO DO 69% OF THEIR AVAILABLE TIME WAS USED IN HEARINGS. 25% WAS USED ON WAITING ON THE DISTRICT AND 3% WAITING ON PROPERTY OWNERS AND AGENTS. 4% TECHNOLOGY ISSUES AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY, THAT WEEK, THAT TWO DAYS AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY, WAS INCREDIBLE IN THAT SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE IN THE GRID, NOT IN THE BUILDING, BUT OUTSIDE OF ANYONE'S CONTROL, FLIPPED THE SWITCH, AND WHEN WE CAME BACK IN ON TUESDAY, THERE HAD BEEN NO POWER, AND THE COMPUTERS DON'T LIKE TO INSTANTLY TALK. SO IT TOOK PROBABLY TWO DAYS, EVEN TWO DAYS, JUST TO GET TO WORKING LEVEL, AND THEN IT STILL TOOK ANOTHER TWO WEEKS TO GET TO PRINTING INFORMATION. PRINTERS WEREN'T IT JUST THE TECHNOLOGY IS SO SUSCEPTIBLE TO ANY TYPE OF TURNING OF THE POWER OFF FOR THE BUILDING IS JUST SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE. SO WITH THAT SAID, WE COLLECTED THAT DATA FROM JUNE 15 TO AUGUST THE FIRST AND OUR PEOPLE. THAT WAS ALSO A WAY TO ALLOW OUR MEMBERS TO, YOU KNOW, FEEL LIKE THEY HAD A LITTLE SAY IN SOMETHING. SO OKAY, IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT, QUIT RUNNING TO US WITH COMPLAINTS. JUST BRING US AND START COLLECTING DATA. WE'LL COLLECT YOUR DATA INTO THE DAY. WE'LL COMPILE IT. AND WE DID COMPILE IT. I'LL SHOW IT TO YOU IF YOU LATER ON, I CAN LEAVE A COPY FOR THE I DIDN'T SUBMIT IT AS PART OF MY TESTIMONY FOR MY PRESENTATION TODAY. IT'S JUST A NICE LITTLE PIE CHART. JAMES VALADEZ: IT'D BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: ALL RIGHT, I'LL LEAVE IT WITH MISS MARTINEZ. OUTSIDE OF THAT. SO WHAT'S THAT WITH TRAINING FOR 2022 WAS IT WAS WHAT WE WERE MANDATED WITH AND TASKED WITH WHEN I WAS INTERVIEWED BY THE JUDGE'S OFFICE AND WHEN I TALKED TO YOU AS WELL. TRAINING IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. IT STILL IS. WE DIDN'T ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH. THIS YEAR IN THE TRAINING PHASE, WE WE OUR TRAINING FOR 2021, AND 2022, WAS NON EXISTENT. WE MET THE MINIMUM WITH THE CONTROLLERS TRAINING THIS YEAR, WE DID A LITTLE BIT BETTER. WE GAVE EIGHT HOURS AFTER ALL OVER THAT WITH Y'ALL IN THE PAST, I WON'T BORE YOU WITH THAT ONE, BUT IN 2023 ON THIS SO WE'RE SCHEDULED THROUGH THE 15TH OF SEPTEMBER, 16 OF SEPTEMBER, WE BRING OUR PANEL CHAIRS IN. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ROUND TABLE, BASICALLY 180 DEGREE DISCUSSION. GIVE US 180 DEGREE REVIEW ON WHAT THE LEADERSHIP DID FOR THEM AND WHAT WE DIDN'T DO, HOW WE LET THEM DOWN, HOW WE CAN DO IT BETTER, AND WHAT'S THEIR INPUT. WHAT'S THE 2023 APPOINTEES, WHAT'S THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO BE TRAINED ON? AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE TRAINED THEM ON THIS YEAR, THEY ESSENTIALLY GOT EIGHT HOURS ADDITIONAL TRAINING ON TOP OF THE CONTROLLERS TRAINING. SO NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR GOAL RIGHT NOW IS TO TAKE THAT EIGHT HOURS AND EXPAND IT. EACH SECTION IS GOING TO GET A HALF A DAY TREATMENT INSTEAD OF A ONE OR TWO HOUR TREATMENT. IT'LL BE EXPANDED GREATER WE HAVE. THE BUDGET FOR IT. THANKS TO Y'ALL, WE'VE BEEN, I THINK, [00:50:04] PRETTY RESPONSIBLE THIS YEAR ON OUR BUDGET. WE HAVEN'T OVERSPENT. WE WERE REALLY DOING PRETTY WELL. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, BECAUSE OF THE JUDGE'S MANDATE TO THE ARMSTRONGS, I THINK WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT FROM AN INQUIRY FROM OUR ATTORNEYS. SO THEIR THEIR BILLABLE HOURS MAY BE GREATER THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED. BUT AGAIN, THAT'S A JUDGE'S MANDATE NOT NOT BASED ON ME ASKING THEM QUESTIONS EVERY DAY. I DO TALK TO THEM QUITE A BIT. WE'RE ON A PRETTY GOOD FIRST NAME BASIS. OCTOBER 12 AND 13TH. THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BRING BACK OUR 2021, AND 2022 APPOINTEES. HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL TRAINING WITH THEM AND TALK TO THEM WHAT THEY'RE FIRST OFF, WHAT THEY LACK AND WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT GOING FORWARD, WHAT DO THEY NEED? ALSO, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO IDENTIFY STRENGTHS, WHO'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT CHAIRS, WHO, WHO'S GOING TO LEAD OUR PANELS AND DISCUSSIONS GOING FORWARD INTO 2023, SEASON. I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL BE HERE. I CAN PUT THIS IN IT'S AN APPOINTMENT, AND I'M ALSO UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD, SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. BUT I CAN PUT IT IN PLAY. AND THAT'S I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD STAFF. WE HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD PEOPLE. PEOPLE FORGET, I TELL MY MEMBERS, AND I AM A MEMBER, AND I TELL THEM, THEY GET ACCUSED OF BEING EMPLOYEES OF THE OF THE COUNTY EVERY DAY, I REMIND THEM THEY'RE THEY'RE VOLUNTEERS. THEY'RE DOING CIVIC DUTY, AND THEY'RE BEING PAID A PER DIEM BASED AND THAT'S TO REIMBURSE REIMBURSE THEM FOR THEIR TIME AND EXPENSES OF BEING HERE. IT'S NOT A METHOD FOR THEM TO MAKE MONEY. THEY GET NO AS YOU PREACH TO THE CHOIR, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY GET THEY GET NO SOCIAL SECURITY. THEY DON'T GET TAXES WITHHELD. THEY GET NO BENEFITS. THERE'S NO TIME OFF PAID. THERE'S NO VACATION TIME. SO THEY'RE NOT TRADITIONAL EMPLOYEES, PEOPLE WHO COME IN, WHO SIT DOWN IN FRONT OF THAT PANEL DO NOT REALIZE. THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT THE MOMENT THAT THEY'RE IN, THAT THIS PERSON SPENT MOST OF THEIR CAREER AS AN EXECUTIVE WITH ATT AN ATTORNEY, ARE CHAIRMAN OF THE TCEQ. THEY DON'T SEE THAT THING. THEY SEE A PERSON IN THAT MOMENT, AND THEY DO NOT CONSIDER THAT THEY HAVE THE LEVEL OF INTELLIGENCE THAT THEY HAVE. IT'S SAD. WE HAVE REALLY WELL EDUCATED PEOPLE. IT WAS PROBABLY A AS A COLLECTIVE, ONE OF THE BEST EDUCATED GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY AND IN ONE ROOM, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, PHDS, REAL ESTATE AGENTS, SO FORTH. THEY'RE A GOOD GROUP PEOPLE. THEY MAKE MISTAKES. EVERYONE DOES. THEY MAKE POOR DECISIONS THEY THEY MAKE. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I THINK. MS. CRIGLER WILL TELL YOU, WE MAKE A LOT OF POOR DECISIONS THAT THEY DON'T DISAGREE, THAT THEY DISAGREE WITH, AND THEY MAKE A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT PROPERTY OWNERS DISAGREE WITH. AND WE'LL TRY TO CONTINUE TO TO EDUCATE, TO GET THEM TO A POINT WHERE THEY'RE MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON EVIDENCE. SINGLE MEMBER PANELS HAVE BEEN USED THIS YEAR. WE UTILIZED IT. WE HAD SEVERAL AGENTS WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT, AND THERE'S BEEN NO COMPLAINTS TO MY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SINGLE MEMBER PANELS. LATELY, WE'VE BEEN RUNNING SIX. WE'VE CUT BACK ON THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED AS MANY. BUT SINGLE MEMBER PANELS, I USE THEM INITIALLY, TO TAKE SOME PRESSURE OFF OF THE ROOM, TO MOVE PEOPLE OUT AS QUICK AS WE CAN. IN THE RECENT COUPLE WEEKS, SINGLE MIRROR PANELS HAVE BEEN MOSTLY UTILIZED FOR REMOTE HEARINGS, PEOPLE CALLING IN THAT'S WE WANTED TO GET AN IDEA OF THREE, USING THREE REMOTE AND THREE IN PERSON TO KIND OF GET AN IDEA HOW, HOW THAT WAS BEING USED. MISS MANN ASKED FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER TWO, SHE'S TRACKING IT RESULTS. DALLAS COUNTY CREATED THIS SINGLE MEMBER PANEL IDEA. IT'S BEEN MANDATED BY THE LEGISLATURES THAT TO USE IT. I THINK GOING FORWARD, WE MAY NOT NEED AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE'VE NEEDED IN THE PAST. IF WE UTILIZE SINGLE MEMBER PANEL. ROLLS A LITTLE [00:55:01] HEAVIER AND IT'S A BECOMES A DEEP WE DID NOT DEFAULT IT THIS YEAR. DALLAS COUNTY DEFAULTS IT. THAT'S ALMOST ALL THEY DO IS SINGLE MEMBER. I DON'T THINK THAT'S A TOTAL SOLUTION, BECAUSE I NEED TIME AS A CHAIR. I NEED TIME WITH MY NEW APPOINTEES, AND I NEED SOMEBODY TO LOOK WITH THE SIT WITH THEM AND ACTUALLY COACH THEM AND MENTOR THEM INTO THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. THEY'RE NOT. I DIDN'T, WOULDN'T TRUST THEM IN A SINGLE MEMBER PANEL SITUATION AS A FIRST YEAR MEMBER, I WOULDN'T WANT, I WOULDN'T WANT TO SIT DOWN IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY LIKE THAT. SO I THINK WE, I THINK WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE GOING FORWARD. JAMES VALADEZ: WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM MS. CONLEY. CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: MS. CONLEY. I CAN APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE SINGLE MEMBER PANELS, NICOLE CONLEY: THANK YOU. AND I JUST HAVE THESE THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD ABOUT PROCESS AND HOW TO SORT OF IMPROVE UPON THE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE, RIGHT THE OUT, YOU KNOW, THE QUALITY OF THE DECISION MAKING, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO SINGLE MEMBER PANELS, MY THINKING IS, HAVE WE EVER TRIED TO BUILD TRAINING CAPACITY IN HOUSE? LIKE A COUPLE OF TRAINERS THAT ARE ONGOING, SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE THAT CONSISTENT, ONGOING TRAINING AND COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR ARB TEAM, AND YOU CAN RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS IN IT'S LIKE A AND IT'S A LONG STANDING EFFORT. YOU GET TO BUILD A CADRE OF FUTURE POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS, BUT THEY'VE ALSO STARTED AMASSING SORT OF THIS HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE BASE OF UNDERSTANDING AND LEARNINGS ABOUT THE SYSTEM. SO I SEE THAT IT HAS WORKED. IN OTHER INSTANCES, I'VE RAN A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMITTEES AROUND THIS COMMUNITY, AND WHEN YOU SORT OF SPEND THAT TIME TO SORT OF RAMP UP YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR YOUR COMMITTEES, TO SORT OF PARTICIPATE OVER TIME, THEY BECOME MUCH MORE. THEY BUILD AN EXPERTISE. AND EVEN WHEN, IF THEY'RE NOT SERVING AT THAT TIME, THEY COULD SERVE AT SOME POINT DOWN IN THE FUTURE. SO I KNOW WE JUST PASSED THE BUDGET, BUT THERE COULD BE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING DOWN MAYBE BEING ABLE TO BUILD IN SORT OF A CONTINUOUS TRAINING ASPECT INTO THIS, MARYA CRIGLER: THERE ARE SOME STATUTORY LIMITATIONS ON TRAINING THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD, AND THEY ARE VERY SPECIFICALLY ALLOWED TO BE TRAINED BY THE COMPTROLLER AND BY THEIR ATTORNEYS. BUT OUTSIDE OF THOSE TWO PARTIES, THERE IS LIMITED ABILITY FOR THE ARB TO TRAIN THEMSELVES ON SPECIFIC MATTERS. THEY'VE GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL ON WHEN THEY'RE CONDUCTING TRAINING AND WHO IS CONDUCTING THE TRAINING AND HOW IT'S BEING CONDUCTED, BECAUSE, AGAIN, STATUTORILY, THE LEGISLATURE WANTED THAT TRAINING TO COME FROM THE COMPTROLLER, WITH ONLY SOME SUPPLEMENTAL BEING DONE BY THEIR ATTORNEYS. SO AGAIN, AS MUCH AS THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'VE GOT THE FREEDOM TO DO AS MUCH AS THEY WOULD LIKE, JUST BECAUSE OF THE STATUTORY LIMITATIONS. NICOLE CONLEY: WOULD THE COMPTROLLER ALLOW DEDICATED STAFF LIKE YOU SPONSORED AND PAID FOR POSITION WITHIN THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE TO HAVE ACCESS TO ONGOING TRAINING, JUST AS AN IDEA, AS A THOUGHT, AND JUST TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF JUST ONGOING ACCESS TO BECAUSE IN MY MIND, THESE ARE NOT JUST SORT OF ONE AND DONE DECISIONS RIGHT EVERY EVERY DECISION IS SORT OF ENLIGHTENS FUTURE DECISIONS, AND TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE AND UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU WENT WRONG ON AN ONGOING BASIS, OR JUST HAVE SOMEONE THAT YOU CAN ACCESS, COULD REALLY, IN FACT, ENABLE US TO SORT OF RECRUIT A BROADER POOL OF FOLKS THAT COULD BE READY TO SERVE WHEN CALLED UPON. SO THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT. MARYA CRIGLER: WE WILL. I MEAN, WE'RE MORE THAN WILLING TO REACH OUT TO THE COMPTROLLER. I KNOW THAT THEY'VE GOT A LIMITED STAFF THAT THEY HAVE THAT HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED TO DO THE TRAINING. I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED A LEGISLATIVE ITEM FOR JUST IN GENERAL ACROSS THE STATE, FOR IT TO ALLOW FOR MORE TRAINING TO COME FROM THE COMPTROLLER. IT HAS BEEN REDUCED NOW THAT IT'S IT'S A SINGLE DAY OF TRAINING THAT THEY GET FROM THE COMPTROLLER, AND I THINK IF WE EXPANDED THE BREADTH OF THAT TRAINING A LITTLE BIT MORE ALL NOT ONLY WOULD OUR APPRAISAL DISTRICT BENEFIT, BUT ALL APPRAISAL DISTRICTS WOULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING A MORE EDUCATED POOL OF PEOPLE TO SERVE ON THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD. BUT WE WILL, AGAIN, WE'LL EXPLORE THAT, AND WE'LL ALSO PURSUE THAT AS A LEGISLATIVE ITEM. CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: SO TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOUR QUESTION, WE SO I PUT TOGETHER A TRAINING COMMITTEE, AND I TASKED THE TRAINING CHAIR TO SEEK OUT AND BUILD HIS OWN COMMITTEE, AND HE'S DONE THAT, AND HE'S DONE IT WITH SEVERAL, SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS, EDUCATORS THEMSELVES, SO THEY'RE SITTING ON THAT. SO WE TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE ARB AND OUTSIDE OF OUR ATTORNEY. WHO DO YOU GO TO LOOK FOR? YOU KNOW, IN IN TEXAS, ONE OF THE LEADING GENTLEMAN IS JOHN TRIBBLE. HE HE APPEARS WITH THE COMPTROLLER OFFICE TRAINING. HE'S AN APPRAISER OUT OF DALLAS, [01:00:01] PRIMARILY COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE. BUT THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH MR. TRIBBLE AS WELL, WHO WE'VE RUN INTO ISSUES USING HIM IN THE PAST. HE DOES APPEAR AT THE COMPTROLLER'S TRAINING AS PART OF AS PART OF THEIR PROGRAM, AS DOES OUR ATTORNEY ROY ARMSTRONG. WE USED ROY THIS YEAR. WE BROUGHT HIM IN. WE'LL BRING HIM IN AGAIN NEXT YEAR TO IF YOU GO OUT AND LOOK FOR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF APPRAISAL IN TRAVIS COUNTY HERE, I CAN THINK OF A FEW TO GO ASK, BUT THEY ALL PRESENT IN FRONT OF THE BOARD. SO NOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE ACCUSED OF BUILDING A BIAS AND TRYING TO AVOID THAT. SO ANYBODY WHO'S AN EXPERT IN THE AREA IS ALREADY PRACTICING IN THE FIELD TO GO OUTSIDE OF THAT, TO GO LOOK FOR THAT YOU'D ALMOST YOU'D HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER CITY THAT DOESN'T PARTICIPATE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, AND BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DO. I HAVE THOUGHT OF WORKING ON THAT SOLUTION. MS. CONLEY, I DO SEE EXACTLY AN IDEA, YOU KNOW, I SEE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM AND AND IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA. IT'S JUST THAT OUR HANDS ARE SO TIED WITH HOW WE CAN TRAIN AND WHO WE CAN USE. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: AND I JUST GOTTA ADD NICOLE, THERE'S A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT ARB MEMBERS DON'T NEED APPRAISAL TRAINING AT ALL, THAT THEY'RE LIKE JURORS. AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A JURY TRIAL ON A PATENT ISSUE, YOU WON'T HAVE ANYBODY ON THE IN THE JURY POOL WHO IS AN ENGINEER OR IS INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDS THAT THEY'RE LISTENING TO THE EVIDENCE AND MAKING A DECISION REGARDLESS OF THEIR TRAINING. AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT TRAINING IS NOT, IS NOT THE BE ALL, END ALL. CRAIG PHIFER, ARB CHAIR: SURE, ACTUALLY THE BEST APPROACH ONE OF THE GREATEST PROBLEM. IF WE COULD BRING A JUDGE TO HELP IT'S WORKED TO SOME DEGREE, BUT I NEED THEM BACK IN THE TRAIN AND GET OUR PANEL MEMBERS THINKING MORE ALONG THE LINES OF BUILDING. SO I HAVE AN IDEATHAT COMES TO I GET A PHONE CALL FROM A JUDICIAL, IT WOULD BE BETTER. BUT THERE IS SOMEBODY NEW DETAILS AND APPRAISAL PRESENTATIONS THAT THEY NEED TO THE APPRAISAL STAFF. HEY, WHERE'S PANEL 21 THEY'RE NOT ON HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A GRASP ON CONTINUE IS, I THINK WE'RE CLEAR OF THAT SUBJECT. MS. CONLEY, THAT YOU GET YOUR ANSWER. OKAY, THE PHONE. THAT'S PAST THEIR LUNCH TIME. MR. PHIFER, SO WE THANK YOU. NEXT YEAR, I THINK WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH HAVE TO GO ROUND THEM UP AND SAY, HEY, YOU WERE EXPECTED. THE DISTRICT THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECONFIGURE THE ROOM. I DON'T KNOW. WE HAVEN'T SOLIDIFIED MS. CRIGLER AND MS. MANN HAVEN'T WELL, WE TOOK A 40. WE WEREN'T DOING ANYTHING. WE TOTALLY TOOK REALLY SOLIDIFIED WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE A 45 MINUTE OR AN HOUR LUNCH. NO, YOU GOTTA GET BACK ON THE RECONFIGURATION, OR WHEN OR WHAT, AND IF IT'S GOING TO OCCUR, IF IT DOES OCCUR, THAT WILL PUT 40 PANELS INTO THE PHONE WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. AND AGAIN, ROOM, AND WE WILL GO BACK TO HAVING ALL OF OUR PANELS OPERATE IN THE BUILDING. SO NOT WORKING FROM THEIR HOME, WORKING FROM THIS IS A VERY INTELLIGENT GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE FORMER HOME CREATES FOR FOR ME AS A CHAIR, IT CREATES A LOT OF MINOR JUDGES WHO, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE CONSTRAINED, ISSUES. THERE'S A DISPARENCY BETWEEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT HOME. THAT DISPARENCY IS THAT THE ESSENTIALLY. SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. SO THEY'LL BE IF WE HAVE PEOPLE ARE HOME DO NOT HAVE TO FOCUS AND PAY ATTENTION LIKE 40 PANELS, WE'RE COMING BACK INTO THE ROOM NEXT YEAR. THEY DO INSIDE THE PANEL ROOM. THEY BRAG ABOUT MAKING THEIR LUNCH, DOING THEIR LAUNDRY, AND I DON'T LIKE THAT. IT TAKES RETENTION 50% WE HAVE A 50% ATTRITION RATE. I. LOT OF THAT CERTAIN YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON WHAT YOUR JOB IS WHEN YOU'RE AT HOME. HAS TO DO WITH I REALLY DON'T WANT TO WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK SO AS A AS A CARROT, WE'VE GIVEN THEM 45 MINUTE LUNCHES IN THE BUILDING SO THEY CAN GET AROUND, GO GET LUNCH AT HOME. IT'S A 30 NOW, FORTUNATELY, WE MANAGED TO REDUCE OUR WORK WEEK TO FOUR DAY MINUTE NOW. I HAVE A LOT OF PUSHBACK ON THAT. I WANT THE 45 WORK WEEK TO FOUR EIGHT HOUR DAY WORK WEEK. WE HELD OUR MANDATORY WELL, THEY COME INTO THE BUILDING. YOU GET THE 45. JAMES VALADEZ: I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SATURDAYS, BUT AFTER CERTIFICATION, WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO A FOUR DAY WORK WEEK. I FELT THAT IT WOULD HELP THE DISTRICT STAFF TAKE SOME PRESSURE OFF THEM. THEY COULD PREPARE FOR THE WEEK. THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME IN HERE ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY AND START TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT WEEK FOR MY FOR MY STAFF AND MYSELF. IT'S A NICE BREAK. THE MOST, MOST OF MY MEMBERSHIP IS THEY'RE RETIRED. I GOT A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM MY MEMBERSHIP IN THE BEGINNING, I WANT THAT MONEY. MR. PHIFERR, I WANT TO WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK. NOW THAT [01:05:08] WE'VE GONE TO THE FOUR DAY THERE, I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH I MISSED HAVING A DAY TO TAKE CARE OF MY ERRANDS. SO IT'S APPRECIATED, IT'S IT'S OBVIOUSLY APPRECIATED BY THEM. I WAS SUMMARY. IT WAS VERY THOROUGH, AND I KNOW WE ALL APPRECIATE REALLY I THINK THIS. WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO 2023 I DON'T HAVE OTHER THAN THE JUDGES LETTER. IT'S BEEN A REALLY EASY, GETTING THAT INSIGHT FROM YOU WHEN YOU COME AND AGAIN. THANK COMFORTABLE YEAR WORKING WITH MISS KRIGLER, BECAUSE I YOU FOR SERVING IN THIS ROLE. MR. PHIFER. APPRECIATE THE THINGS THAT SHE DOES, THE DIFFICULTIES THAT SHE FACES. THIS MAN HAS, I THINK, A REALLY WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP. WE CAN CALL. SHE DOES NOT AFRAID OF ME CALLING, AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT AFRAID OF GETTING A PHONE CALL FROM HER. AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE WORK THROUGH OUR PROBLEMS LIKE ADULTS. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, USUALLY WE'RE HELPING EACH OTHER SOLVE PROBLEMS. AND THAT'S THAT'S A VERY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. AND I APPRECIATE THE APPOINTMENT OF MISS THOMPSON AS HE'S BEEN WELL, THERE'S, YOU CANNOT PUT A PRICE ON WHAT SHE'S BROUGHT, BACK TO THE ARBY. SO WITH THAT, I REALLY HAVE NOTHING ELSE. THANK YOU ALL. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 5D DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CHIEF APPRAISER'S REPORT TO INCLUDE THE 2022 PROTEST SEASON CERTIFICATION STATUS, 2023 FIELD WORK AND TAXPAYER OUTREACH PROGRAMS. MARYA CRIGLER: I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME GOT SOME MEMBERS WITH SOME CONFLICTS, SO IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WOULD REQUEST WE TABLE THIS. WE CAN COME BACK TO IT, BUT WE'VE GOT SOME VOTING ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF FIRST. JAMES VALADEZ: SO WE'LL CIRCLE BACK TO 5D WE'LL MOVE ON TO 5E [e. Discussion and Possible Action on 2022 Proposed Budget] DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE 2022 PROPOSED BUDGET. MARYA CRIGLER: OKAY, AND WE'VE ALREADY DONE A WORKSHOP ON OUR BUDGET. WE HAVE NOT MADE ANY SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO THAT, AND SO WE JUST NEED TO SEE IF WE'VE GOT A MOTION FROM THE BOARD OR ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES OR RECOMMENDATIONS. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: ONE COMMENT, WELL, A QUESTION. FIRST, YOU HAVEN'T HAD ANY FEEDBACK FROM ANY TAXING JURISDICTION BY THE PROPOSAL? MARYA CRIGLER: NO FEEDBACK. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, OR INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR MORE STAFF, I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE Y'ALL, AND I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING ON THIS TO GET THOSE PEOPLE HIRED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO WE DON'T HAVE VACANCIES, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO SO THE BOARD IS VERY INTERESTED IN QUICK ACTION ON THOSE MEMBERS. DO YOU NEED A MOTION, MR. CHAIR? JAMES VALADEZ: ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, A MOTION. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET FOR THE 2022 2323 FISCAL YEAR. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, SO THAT'S BEEN MOVED BY MISS CARTWRIGHT AND SECONDED BY MISS CONLEY. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. LET'S TAKE A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 5F, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION [f. Discussion and Possible Action on 2023/2024 Reappraisal Plan] ON THE 2023 2024 REAPPRAISAL PLAN. MARYA CRIGLER: AND WE JUST DID OUR WORKSHOP ON OUR REAPPRAISAL PLAN ON TUESDAY. AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ONE CLERICAL TYPO, WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN THE PLAN. SO JAMES VALADEZ: ANY COMMENTS ON THE REAPPRAISAL PLAN FROM ANY BOARD MEMBERS? ANY ITEMS OF DISCUSSION? OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. BUCKLE, SECONDED BY VIVEK. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. LET'S TAKE A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO AND 5G DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION [g. Discussion and Possible Action on Contract with Cyclomedia for Street Level Imagery] [01:10:01] ON THE CONTRACT WITH CYCLOMEDIA FOR CENTRAL, I'M SORRY, FOR STREET LEVEL IMAGERY. MARYA CRIGLER: SO THIS IS A NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER. IT IS A STREET LEVEL IMAGERY THEY HAVE CAMERAS ON THEIR VEHICLES, KIND OF LIKE GOOGLE STREET VIEW, BUT IT'S DONE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AND IT WOULD ALLOW US TO LEVERAGE MORE DESKTOP TOOLS FOR OUR APPRAISERS TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD DO, AND AS WE DO THIS, WE WOULD SCALE BACK ON OUR PICTOMETRY WITH OUR OBLIQUE IMAGERY, BECAUSE THIS WOULD BECOME A SUBSTITUTION FOR THAT. AND SO WE THINK IT WOULD BE A REALLY VALUABLE TOOL. AGAIN, IT HELPS US LEVERAGE THE ABILITY TO DO OUR WORK, YEAH, THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEANS, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN KEEP UP WITH THE SCOPE AND VOLUME OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. JAMES VALADEZ: MISS CONLEY. NICOLE CONLEY: I'M SORRY, JUST ONE QUESTION, HOW IS THE SOFTWARE SELECTED? DO WE GO THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS, OR DID THEY APPROACH US REGARDING? IS THIS IS A PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE? LEANA MANN: IT IS PROPRIETARY. THEY'RE OUT OF THE NETHERLANDS, BUT WE FOUND THEM AT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT CONFERENCE THAT WE GO TO EACH YEAR. THEY WERE A VENDOR, AND TRULY, WE'VE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING. IT'S PRETTY AMAZING. JAMES VALADEZ: VIVEK. VIVEK KULKARNI: MY QUESTION IS WHY, LEANA MANN: WE GET TO LOCK IN PRICING FOR BUDGET PURPOSES, BUT WE DO HAVE A 30 DAY CANCELATION POLICY WHERE WE JUST GIVE NOTICE AND WE CAN CANCEL THE CONTRACT. MARYA CRIGLER: SO WE CAN CANCEL THE CONTRACT FOR NON FUNDING IN ANY OF THE YEARS, BUT IT DOES ALLOW US TO LOCK PRICING IN NOW. NICOLE CONLEY: ONE LAST QUESTION, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S GOING TO BE VALUE ADD WITH THEM HAVING YOU AS A CLIENT, ANY OTHER MAJOR CAD DISTRICTS UTILIZING THE SOFTWARE, OR IS THERE ANY OTHER KIND OF VALUE ADD BENEFITS THAT WE CAN GET FROM BEING SORT OF, YOU KNOW, PIONEERING THIS TOOL? MARYA CRIGLER: SO THE BENEFIT OF THIS SOFTWARE IS THAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT WILL DO THE PURCHASE, BUT IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE UTILIZED BY ANY OF OUR TAXING UNITS. SO THIS IS A VALUE ADD TO OUR TAXING UNITS THAT THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN. BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE SPECIFIC TIMING AND NEEDS, WE NEED TO BE THE DRIVERS OF THE PURCHASE OF THIS SO THAT IT MEETS OUR NEEDS AND THE TIMING THAT WE NEED. IN TERMS OF OTHER APPRAISAL DISTRICTS THAT USE SOMETHING SIMILAR LIKE THIS, HARRIS COUNTY HAS DONE SOME PILOT PROGRAMS WITH THIS. NICOLE CONLEY: I JUST FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A DEVELOPMENTAL ADVANTAGE HERE THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE QUIET ABOUT. DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE OTHER TAX UNITS WOULD USE THE SERVICE TO DO? MARYA CRIGLER: SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE CITY WANTS TO LOOK AT UTILITY LINES AND MAINTAINING THE UTILITY LINES, THERE'S A STREET LEVEL VIEW THEY'RE DRIVING DOWN EVERY STREET THE CITY CAN LOOK AT THIS IMAGERY AND SEE WHERE ARE THE TREES ENCROACHING ON UTILITY LINES, AND IT WILL HELP THEM BETTER PLAN FOR DOING THAT. THEY CAN LOOK AT UTILITY POLES IF THEY'RE LEANING WHERE THEY MIGHT NEED REPLACEMENT MANHOLE COVERS FOR BUSSING TRANS AND FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS BUSSING ROUTES, AND YOU KNOW WHERE THERE MIGHT BE THINGS THAT MIGHT IMPEDE PICKUPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. JAMES VALADEZ: I'M THINKING ZONING CASES OR SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS AS WELL, JUST FOR COMPATIBILITY ISSUES AND ALL SORTS OF USES THROUGH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ON CITIES AND COUNTY. MARYA CRIGLER: YEAH, IT'S A REALLY IT'S A REALLY POWERFUL TOOL THAT I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR ORIGINAL USE CASE, BUT I THINK AS WE GET INTO IT, WE WILL FIND EVEN MORE USE CASES WHERE WE CAN USE IT INTERNALLY. PART OF OUR PURCHASE IS THEY GET IT FOR FREE. NOW WE WOULD ALWAYS ENCOURAGE THEM, IF THEY WOULD LIKE, TO PARTICIPATE IN FUNDING IT. WE ALWAYS WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO CHIP IN AND PARTICIPATE IN FUNDING. BUT NO, BUT PART OF THE CONTRACT IS, IS THEY GET IT FOR FREE. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? OKAY, LOOK FOR A MOTION. OKAY, MOVED BY MISS GARCIA, SECONDED BY MR. BUCKLE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. LET'S TAKE A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 5H WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CONVEYANCE OF REAL PROPERTY. MARYA CRIGLER: AND WE'LL NEED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR BOTH ITEMS 5H AND 5I. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN HANDLE IN REGULAR ABSENT THE CHIEF APPRAISERS REPORT, SO WE'LL JUST GO STRAIGHT INTO EXECUTIVE AND THEN COME BACK OUT. OKAY, SO AT 12:54 I GUESS WE NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO, OKAY, YEAH, MOVE BY MISS CONLEY, SECONDED BY MISS CARTWRIGHT, THE TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL STAND ADJOURNED [01:15:04] AT 12:54 AND GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TAKE UP ITEMS 5H, AND I, CITING SECTION 551, POINT 071, AND SECTION 555, 1.072 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION SETTLEMENT OFFERS IN MATTERS OF WHICH THE ATTORNEY HAS A DUTY TO ADVISE THE BOARD UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT BY THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS AND DELIBERATIONS REGARDING REAL PROPERTY. WE'LL BE BACK TO OPEN THE MEETING AGAIN AFTER EXECUTIVE. [01:47:03] THE TIME IS 1:28 AND WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE ARE [h. Discussion and Possible Action on Conveyance of Real Property] [01:47:09] OPENING BACK UP OUR REGULAR MEETING AT 1:28 WITH TAKING UP [01:47:14] ITEM 5H DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CONVEYANCE OF REAL [01:47:20] PROPERTY. DO I HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR ANY MOTION ON THAT [01:47:25] ITEM? [01:47:26] NICOLE CONLEY: YES, I MOVE TO APPROVE AND ACCEPT THE REVISED TERMS OF THE CONTRACT OFFERED TO TCAD REGARDING THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 8314 CROSS PARK DRIVE AND 2304 FORBES DRIVE AND FOR CLOSING TO OCCUR NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 IN ORDER TO DEFRAY BUT DEBT SERVICE COSTS ON TCAD'S, NEW BUILDING AT 850, EAST ANDERSON LANE. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MISS CONLEY AND SECONDED BY MISS MONTOYA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM? HEARING NONE. LET'S TAKE A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 5I, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION [i. Discussion and Possible Action on Authorization of Appeals under Section 42.02, Texas Property Code] ON AUTHORIZE AUTHORIZATION OF APPEALS UNDER SECTION 42.02 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE. AND DO WE HAVE ANY DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: FILE SUIT PROPERTIES, DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND LISTED ONE THROUGH 28 ON A RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE SIGNED BY YOU CHAIRMAN AND JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY. MOVED BY MS CARTWRIGHT AND SECONDED BY VIVEK. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? HEARING NONE. LET'S TAKE A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 5D DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION [d. Discussion and Possible Action on Chief Appraiser Report to Include: 2022 Protest Season, Certification Status, 2023 Field Work, and Taxpayer Outreach Programs] ON THE CHIEF APPRAISER'S REPORT TO INCLUDE THE 2022 PROTEST SEASON CERTIFICATION STATUS, 2023 FIELD WORK AND TAXPAYER OUTREACH PROGRAMS. MARYA CRIGLER: BECAUSE PROTEST WE'RE STILL ONGOING. WE WILL BE CONTINUING THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15 TO CONTINUE WITH OUR FORMAL HEARINGS, UM, AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE WILL GO TO A MONTHLY BASIS WHERE WE WILL DO ANY LATE HEARINGS OR LATE PROTEST REQUESTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS. WE HAVE CREATED OUR NEXT YEAR LAYER, AND WE WILL START OUR FIELD WORK. BUT AGAIN, WE CANNOT START THAT UNTIL WE COMPLETE WITH OUR PROTEST SEASON. SO WE WILL BE DOING OUR FIRST ROUND OF PLANNING IN THE NEXT WEEK, AND THEN WE LOOK TO HAVE OUR STAFF STARTING OUT IN THE FIELD, CONDUCTING FIELD INSPECTIONS STARTING EARLY OCTOBER WITH OUR FIELD WORK. OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO [01:50:04] OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON A PROGRAM, POTENTIALLY TO EDUCATE PROPERTY OWNERS ON OVER 65 EXEMPTIONS. WE WILL ALSO PROBABLY DO A COUPLE MORE WEBINARS FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AS TAX BILLS GO OUT, BECAUSE WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ONCE TAX BILLS GO OUT, SO WE'LL PROBABLY LOOK AT DOING SOME INFORMATIONAL, IF NOT A TRUE WEBINAR, A VIDEO THAT WE'LL MAKE AVAILABLE TO PROPERTY OWNERS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT COME UP, OUR UNDERSTANDING IS, IS TAX BILLS WILL MAY COME OUT A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE ELECTIONS. WE'VE GOT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT THE TAX RATE IS GOING TO BE. SO THEY CAN'T REALLY CALCULATE TAX BILLS TILL AFTER THOSE ELECTIONS OCCUR. BUT THAT ALWAYS DRIVES AN INCREASE OF CUSTOMER CONTACT TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT ONCE THAT HAPPENS, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT FOR THE CHIEF APPRAISERS REPORT. I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE. JAMES VALADEZ: ANY QUESTIONS? WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 5J DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ITEMS TO BE ADDED TO FUTURE [j. Discussion and Possible Action to Add Items to Future Agendas] AGENDAS. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE ON OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING? MARYA CRIGLER: WE DON'T THINK THAT WE'LL NEED TO HAVE A MEETING IN OCTOBER, BUT WE WILL NEED ONE IN NOVEMBER. WE'LL NEED A MEETING IN NOVEMBER, SO WE'LL WE'LL SURVEY YOU GUYS TO SEE AVAILABILITY FOR THE NOVEMBER MEETING. NICOLE CONLEY: I KNOW THAT IN JUNE I WASN'T ABLE ABSENT FOR THE MEETING, BUT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, AND JUST KIND OF REAFFIRMING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AT SOME POINT, NOT URGENT, BUT AT SOME POINT JUST SCHEDULING IT FOR A FUTURE MEETING. MARYA CRIGLER: WELL, I'LL LOOK AND SEE IF THE ATTORNEY THAT WAS GOING TO DO THAT TRAINING WILL BE AVAILABLE TO COME BACK, MAYBE IN OCTOBER, AND DO THAT FOR YOU GUYS. YEP. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY. NO OTHER ITEMS THAT ANY BOARD MEMBER HAS. [6. Adjournment] WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 5K WHICH IS ADJOURNMENT. MOTION TO ADJOURN BY ANYONE MOVE ADJOURNMENT. MS, CONLEY MOVES ADJOURNMENT AND MS GARCIA SECONDS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNING AT 1:33 ON SEPTEMBER 01, 2022 THE TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS STANDS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.