[1. Call to Order] [00:02:12] JAMES VALADEZ: GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ORDER THE TIME IS 11:31 ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2023. WE'RE [2. Establishment of Quorum] CONDUCTING THIS MEETING AT TCAD HEADQUARTERS LOCATED AT 850 EAST ANDERSON LANE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND A QUORUM IS PRESENT. WE'RE ALSO PROVIDING AN ONLINE BROADCAST OF THIS MEETING AS A COURTESY. THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ELECTION OF OFFICERS. [3. Election of Officers for the Board of Directors] DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE ELECTION OF SECRETARY TREASURER? NICOLE CONLEY: MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS THE WHICH ITEM ARE JAMES VALADEZ: SO WE ARE ON ITEM THREE. AND SO WE'RE DOING WE ON? ELECTION OF OFFICERS RIGHT NOW. WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MOTION FOR SECRETARY TREASURER. NICOLE CONLEY: YES, I MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE APPROVAL OF SECRETARY TREASURER. I'M NOT PREPARED. SORRY, I CAN'T APPROVE. I CAN'T MAKE A MOTION FOR MYSELF. JAMES VALADEZ: EXACTLY, EXACTLY. OKAY. THAT HAS BEEN MOVED BY MISS MONTOYA, SECONDED BY MR. BUCKLE. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? MARYA CRIGLER: MR. VALADEZ, YOUR MICROPHONE WASN'T ON, SO THEY DIDN'T HEAR YOU. SO COULD YOU PUT YOUR MICROPHONE ON AND REMAKE YOUR MOTION? THANK YOU. ELIZABETH MONTOYA: I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE EXISTING SLATE OF OFFICERS CONTINUE TO SERVE. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, THAT WAS MOTION BY MS MONTOYA, SECONDED BY MR. BUCKLE. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? SEEING NONE, LET'S TAKE A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR OF OUR AGENDA, [4. Citizens Communication] CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE ALLOWED VIA TELECONFERENCE. ALL PUBLIC COMMENT WILL OCCUR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. TO SPEAK AT THIS MEETING IN PERSON, MUST REGISTER ONLINE. EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: WE'RE GOING TO START WITH NIKEYA LAWLOR. JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: THANK YOU. THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS TO MAKE THE BOARD AWARE OF THE SITUATIONS THAT ARE OCCURRING AT TCAD. I WAS DEMOTED WITH NO PRIOR NOTIFICATION OR WRITE UPS. I WAS TERMINATED WITH NO PRIOR NOTIFICATION OR WRITE UPS. I WAS THE VICTIM OF HARASSMENT BY A MALE EMPLOYEE WHO WAS STILL CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AT TCAD MULTIPLE TIMES. I NOTIFIED MY DIRECT MANAGER MULTIPLE TIMES AND NOTHING WAS DONE. IN FACT, SHE LAUGHED AND SHRUGGED IT OFF. I WAS A VICTIM [00:05:02] OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION REGARDING RACIAL COMMENTS MADE ABOUT MY CHILDREN WHO ARE MIXED RACE BY MANAGEMENT, I WAS BEING UNJUSTLY TARGETED AND NOT PROVIDED SUPPORT OR ANY FORMAL TRAINING IN NEITHER THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER POSITION OR THE EXEMPTIONS TEAM LEAD POSITION, WHICH USHER WHICH UPPER MANAGEMENT WAS MADE AWARE OF. I WAS COUNSELED IN FRONT OF ANOTHER EMPLOYEE DURING THAT COUNCIL. I WAS A VICTIM OF INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING BY UPPER MANAGEMENT AND THE PRESENCE OF HR. I WAS THREATENED WITH MY JOB. I'VE BEEN WITNESS TO MANAGEMENT. I'VE BEEN A WITNESS TO MANAGEMENT DISCUSSING OTHER EMPLOYEES PERSONAL AFFAIRS, NOT ONLY WITH ME, BUT OTHER EMPLOYEES FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITH THE DISTRICT. I WAS TOLD OF THE WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF AN EMPLOYEE BY THE NAME OF JASMINE, AND WITNESSED THE BRAGGING OF THIS TO OTHER EMPLOYEES. I WAS PERSONALLY TOLD ABOUT OTHER EMPLOYEES FMLA STATUSES AND HOW THE REASON FOR THEM BEING ON FMLA WAS RIDICULOUS BY MANAGEMENT. THE UPPER MANAGEMENT HAS CREATED EXTREME, HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR PRESENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEES. I'VE BEEN A WITNESS TO CURRENT EMPLOYEES NOT FEELING SECURE AND AFRAID TO SPEAK UP IN FEAR OF RETALIATION BY UPPER MANAGEMENT. I CAN PROVIDE NAMES AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR UPPER EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS WITNESSES TO THE FACT STATED IN MY LETTER, SHOULD A BOARD MEMBER CHOOSE TO DISCUSS. I URGE THE BOARD TO DIG DEEP INTO THE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS BEING CREATED BY TCAD BY UPPER MANAGEMENT. I INITIALLY CAME HERE WITH A FOUR PAGE LETTER DETAILED WITH TIME, DATES AND INCIDENCES, BUT WITH THREE MINUTES ALLOTTED TO SPEAK, I WASN'T UNABLE TO TO COMPLETE THAT SPEECH. SO TO THE BOARD MEMBER DISCUSS. YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS NIKEYA LAWLER. TCAD HAS MY INFORMATION, AND I'D BE MORE THAN WILLING TO DISCUSS MY EXPERIENCES, WHAT I'VE BEEN A WITNESS TO, AND PROVIDE OTHER DOCUMENTATION AS NEEDED, PHONE RECORDS, EMAILS, ALL THAT, TEXT MESSAGES, ALL THAT STUFF SHOULD IT BE REQUIRED. THANK YOU. JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THINK THE NEXT PERSON WE HAVE SIGNED UP IS MISS YOUNG. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: GOOD MORNING. I AM HERE TODAY TO BRING TO YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION GREAT CONCERNS INVOLVING THE INTERNAL TCAD LEADERSHIP AND MISMANAGEMENT. THE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE HERE ARE TOXIC. THE EMPLOYEES FEEL THREATENED AND HAVE A GENUINE FEAR OF RETALIATION. FOR MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYEES EXPECT TO DO THEIR JOBS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY, BUT WITH THIS PROBLEMATIC LEADERSHIP, THE DISTRICT CANNOT OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY. A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FROM UPPER MANAGEMENT TO SET THE RIGHT TONE AND BE GOOD EXAMPLES ARE NEEDED. TCAD HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS TIED TO SOFTWARE ISSUES AND BARELY FUNCTIONING SYSTEMS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE INTERNAL ISSUES THAT KEEP THE DISTRICT FROM RUNNING SMOOTHLY. THE STAFF DOES NOT WANT CONTINUE PLAYING PLACE ON PAST DECISIONS. THEY WANT THE PROBLEMS FIXED IN A DESIRED SMOOTH ENVIRONMENT. THE MANAGEMENT STAFF IS RARELY INCLUDED OR CONSULTED IN MANY OTHER PROCESSES AT TCAD WITHIN THE MANAGEMENT MEETINGS, THE DIRECTORS AND MANAGERS IDEAS TEND TO BE STIFLED BY LEADERSHIP. THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS WITHOUT THE FEAR OF RETALIATION. BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. I AM PROOF. MY POSITION AS IT MANAGER WAS ELIMINATED BECAUSE THE DEPUTY CHIEF NO LONGER WANTED ME AS AN EMPLOYEE. I WAS NOT SHOCKED, BECAUSE SHE EXPLAINED HOW TO GET RID OF SOMEONE ON FMLA BY USING OUTDATED VERBIAGE IN THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION, SLASH TITLE. SO WHEN I GOT THE INFORMATION DURING MY LAYOFF, I KNEW EXACTLY WHY WAS BEING LET GO. THE RETALIATION CONTINUED WITH FALSELY FOLLOWING AN APPEAL ON MY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND WHEN THAT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, THREATS WERE MADE TO CONTINUE ADDITIONAL RETALIATION. IN CONCLUSION, PLEASE CHECK ON YOUR CURRENT STAFF, I THINK, A REQUIRED INTERVIEW WITH AN INDEPENDENT REPORT GOING DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD WHEN AN EMPLOYEE SEPARATES FROM THE COMPANY, REGARDLESS OF TYPE, WILL GIVE INSIGHT INTO TCAD WHEN DENTON CAD HAD THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH THEIR CHIEF APPRAISER. THEY BROUGHT IN AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT WHO COMPLETED AN OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUES AND PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS. THE STAFF DESERVES A MORE PRODUCTIVE AND PLEASANT WORKPLACE. THANK YOU. JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU. MISS YOUNG. THINK THE NEXT PERSON WE HAVE TO SPEAK IS TOM KING, WELCOME BACK, TOM. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: THANK YOU. I WANT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S SOME NEW FACES ON THE BOARD THAT DON'T KNOW WHO I AM, MR. BUCKLE, YOU KNOW WHO I AM. I'VE BEEN AROUND TOO LONG OF A SIX YEAR MEMBER OF THE TRAVIS APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD WAS FORCED TO RETIRE LAST YEAR. SO I HIT THAT THAT THIRD, END OF MY THIRD TERM, I WAS THE CHAIR OF THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD IN 2021 AND WE STRUGGLED [00:10:02] THROUGH AND GOT THINGS HANDLED AND GOT CERTIFIED ON TIME. I WANTED TO, I LIVE IN LAKEWAY, TEXAS, IF YOU, IF THAT'S ANY INFORMATION, STILL LIVE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, HAVEN'T, HAVEN'T LEFT. I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE MS. CRIGLER AND MISS MANN FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DID LAST YEAR ON CERTIFICATION. I MEAN, THAT WAS JUST 100,000 TOP LINE NO, 100,000 TOP LINE AGREEMENTS. THAT WAS AND THEN HOW MANY 30 OR 40,000 INFORMAL AGREEMENTS? I MEAN, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST FABULOUS. IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE IN THE IN THE DISTRICT BEFORE, EVER. SO I WANTED TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT AND THOSE ACCOLADES, WHAT THEY DID IN MY MY WORKING WITH THEM WAS WAS A FABULOUS EXPERIENCE FOR ME. WHAT I'M HERE TODAY IS TALK ABOUT SIX. YOUR AGENDA ITEM 6B, AND C. MR. VALDEZ HAS HAS GIVEN ME THE TIME TO TALK ABOUT BOTH ITEMS SO I CAN HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO SAY WHAT I WANT TO SAY. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE SIX MINUTES THAT IT MIGHT. I MADE MY ON THE COMPUTER, MY APPLICATION TO SPEAK TODAY, AND I FILLED OUT THE FORM, AND THERE'S A STATEMENT IN HERE. SPEAKERS WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD UNLESS ONE OF THE EXCEPTIONS TO THE TIME LIMIT RULE ADOPTED BY THE BOARD APPLIES. THE BOARD REVISE THEIR POLICIES BACK IN DECEMBER 2019 I CAN'T FIND THAT THEY'VE BEEN UPDATED IN ANY SINCE THAT TIME. WHAT I HAVE IS A DRAFT OF PART OF THAT. IT'S CALLED DRAFT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WAS IN THE DOCUMENTS OF DECEMBER 18 OF 2019 I CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE ON THE ON THE TCAD WEBSITE WHERE YOUR POLICIES ARE SHOWN. I ALSO, BECAUSE I IN LATE DECEMBER, AFTER THINKING LONG AND HARD ABOUT IT AND TALK WITH MY WIFE, I MADE THE APPLICATION TO BE THE TLO. I WITHDREW MY APPLICATION WHEN I FIGURED OUT THAT I CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE IN NOVEMBER, I GOT ELECTED TO BE THE ON THE BOARD OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE MUD 11 OVER IN TRAVIS, TRAVIS COUNTY, MUD 11, AND I CAN'T BE THE TLO BECAUSE OF THAT, IT'S IN THE TAX CODE. SO I WITHDREW MY APPLICATION, BUT I MADE A LOT OF INVESTIGATION ABOUT TLOS ALL IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES AROUND THE AROUND THE STATE, WHAT THEY HAVE ON THEIR WEBSITES. AND I WANT TO, I'M HERE JUST TO URGE YOU TO PUT SOME OF WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR POLICIES ON YOUR WEBSITE. I COULDN'T FIND IT, AND I LOOKED AND LOOKED AND LOOKED AND LOOKED. THERE'S AN APPENDIX A, WHICH IS TITLED GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC ACCESS. NOW THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE EXCEPTIONS TO YOUR THREE MINUTE RULE. IT'S ON PAGE THREE OF THE DRAFT FOR APPENDIX A THE EXCEPTIONS ARE EXCEPTION EXCEPTION FOR SPEAKERS, NEEDING TRANSLATORS, EXCEPTIONS FOR DONATING TIME, EXCEPTIONS FOR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AND EXCEPTIONS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. BUT THAT'S REFERRED TO WHEN YOU SIGN UP TO ON THE WEBSITE TO TALK. BUT I CAN'T FIND THE EXCEPTIONS ANYWHERE. I URGE YOU. I GUESS MY WHOLE POINT IS, HAVE SOME TRANSPARENCY. PUT SOME OF WHAT YOUR POLICIES AND YOUR PROCEDURES ARE ON THE WEBSITE, SO THAT SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO LOOK REAL HARD FOR THINGS CAN FIND THEM. AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. SO MANY QUESTIONS. JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY AND POSTING THOSE YOU KNOW, OPENLY AND ACCESSIBLY ON THE WEBSITE FOR ALL TO SEE. TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYER: THANK YOU, SIR. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, YEAH. MARYA CRIGLER: IT IS, IT IS ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT I THINK IT MAY NOT BE EASILY FOUND, SO PUT IT IN A PLACE THAT IS MORE ACCESSIBLE. WE CAN DO THAT. YEAH. JAMES VALADEZ: NEXT THING I WANT TO DO IS GIVE A NEW BOARD MEMBER AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF. I BELIEVE HE COMES TO US FROM A JOINT APPOINTMENT FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN ISD AND JUST FEEL, FEEL FREE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE BOARD AND THOSE IN ATTENDANCE, STAFF AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. OSEZUA EHIYAMEN: THANK YOU, MR. JAMES. MY NAME IS DR. OSEZUA EHIYAMEN. I REPRESENT AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AISD AND A PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, HIGHER EDUCATION, CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, SO IT'S NICE BEING AROUND YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ME TO YOU ALL NICO AND JAMES, THANK YOU. [00:15:05] WE HAVE A WONDERFUL INTERACTION. THANKS SO MUCH. JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO [5. Consent Agenda] OUR CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS LISTED AS NUMBER FIVE ON OUR REGULAR 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. THE CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 12, 2022 MEETING, THE TAXPAYER LIAISON REPORT, SECTION 2520 5B REPORT, THE ACCOUNTING STATEMENTS, BUDGET LINE ITEM TRANSFERS AND PERSONNEL REPORT. GIVE THE BOARD MEMBERS SOME TIME TO REVIEW THOSE ITEMS. AND IF ANY BOARD MEMBERS WOULD WISH TO HAVE ANY ITEM PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, WE CAN PULL IT FOR DISCUSSION OR APPROVE THE ITEMS A THROUGH F, ON CONSENT, I'LL GIVE THE BOARD MEMBERS SOME TIME TO REVIEW AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION. THERESA BASTIAN: I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, A THROUGH F JAMES VALADEZ: THAT HAS BEEN MOVED BY MS. BASTION, SECONDED BY MR. BUCKLE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. LET'S TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA, [6. REGULAR AGENDA] STARTING WITH SIX A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON [a. Discussion and Possible Action on Appointment of AG Advisory Board] APPOINTMENT OF AG ADVISORY BOARD. MARYA CRIGLER: SO WE HAVE ONE AG ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER WHO IS RETIRING AND WILL NO LONGER BE SERVING MR. MERCHANTS, AND SO WE THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE, BUT WE DO HAVE THREE OTHERS THAT ARE UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE BOARD. SO WE WOULD ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL ON THOSE THREE REAPPOINTMENTS WHILE WE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND OTHER CITIZENS THAT ARE WILLING TO SERVE ON OUR AG ADVISORY BOARD. IT'S IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND THOSE KIND OF VOLUNTEERS, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO REACH OUT, AND AS SOON AS WE HAVE ANOTHER CANDIDATE, WE'LL INTRODUCE THAT PERSON TO YOU GUYS AND ASK FOR YOUR CONSENT TO APPROVE HIM AS A NEW MEMBER, BUT AT THIS TIME, WE ONLY HAVE THE THREE, AND THEY ARE MR. DEAR DICK LEANA MANN: CLIFF KESSLER AND LINDA HALL MARYA CRIGLER: AND LINDA HALL JAMES VALADEZ: ANY COMMENT ON OKAY? MOTION BY MR. BUCKLE, SECONDED BY MISS MONTOYA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO [b. Discussion and Possible Action on Appointment of Taxpayer Liaison Officer] ITEM 6B DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON APPOINTMENT OF TAXPAYER LIAISON OFFICER. MARYA CRIGLER: AND I WILL LET WE DID REQUEST NEW APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF TAXPAYER LIAISON. OUR BOARD FOUNDED A SUBCOMMITTEE WHO REVIEWED THE APPLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWED THE CANDIDATES, AND I'LL LET THEM REPORT BACK TO YOU THE FINDINGS. JAMES VALADEZ: I KNOW THAT BRUCE WAS ON THAT SUBCOMMITTEE, AND I KNOW BLANCA IS GOING TO BE HERE SHORTLY AND BUT I WAS GOING TO SEE IF YOU COULD KIND OF BRING US UP TO SPEED. MR. ELFANT, OKAY, SO WE, WE INTERVIEWED A SLATE OF CANDIDATES, AND WE DECIDED AS A AS A SUBCOMMITTEE, THAT THE MOST QUALIFIED OF OF THOSE CANDIDATES WAS MISS THOMPSON, JUST TO SERVE IN THAT ROLE. AND YOU KNOW, THE SLATE OF CANDIDATES THAT WE HAD WERE VERY QUALIFIED, AND I THINK IT WAS A THOROUGH VETTING PROCESS OF THE CANDIDATES THAT WE HAD. I KNOW THAT BLANCA AND MISS CARTWRIGHT AS WELL WERE ABLE TO LOOK THROUGH THOSE CANDIDATE PACKETS AS WELL. AND MR. ELFANT, I KNOW YOU WERE A PART OF THAT INTERVIEW PROCESS AS WELL. YES, BRUCE ELFANT: I WANT TO ECHO WHAT YOU SAID, THAT WE HAD VERY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS. WE WERE IMPRESSED WITH WITH WHAT WE SAW, BUT SHE WAS THE ONE THAT REALLY HAD THE, THE MOST EXPERIENCE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR JAMES VALADEZ: IS THAT A MOTION? UNKNOWN: CAN I MAKE A MOTION? MAKE A MOTION? ELIZABETH MONTOYA: I MOVE TO APPOINT MISS THOMPSON AS THE. JAMES VALADEZ: A TAXPAYER LIAISON. [00:20:03] ELIZABETH MONTOYA: I'M SORRY. THE TLO. THE TLO JAMES VALADEZ: THAT'S BEEN MOVED BY MISS MONTOYA AND SECONDED BY SECONDED IT MISS BASTIAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM? HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 6C OF OUR REGULAR [c. Discussion and Possible Action on Directives and Expectations of Board of Directors for Newly Appointed Taxpayer Liaison Officer] AGENDA, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON DIRECTIVES AND EXPECTATIONS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR NEWLY APPOINTED TAXPAYER LIAISON OFFICER. AND I KNOW THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THE INTERVIEW PROCESS OF THE SLATE OF CANDIDATES, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT WE WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS AS A BOARD, OR AT LEAST FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S PERSPECTIVE, THAT GIVING FURTHER GUIDANCE TO OUR TAXPAYER LIAISON OFFICER OF WHAT THOSE EXPECTATIONS OF THAT ROLE WOULD BE IN THE REPORTING METHODOLOGIES OF COMPLAINTS AND RESOLUTION OF VARIOUS ISSUES THAT COME ACROSS THEIR DESK, AS WELL AS DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS. AND I'M GONNA LET MR. ELFANT SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT AS WELL. BRUCE ELFANT: SURE, WE REALLY WANT TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE ON AN ONGOING BASIS FROM THE TAXPAYER LIAISON. WE DISCUSSED PUTTING TOGETHER SOME DASHBOARDS OF THE THE KEY DATA THAT WE REALLY WANT TO SEE FROM MONTH TO MONTH. AND IT'S ONE THING FOR THE LIAISON TO COME AND SAY THIS MONTH, THIS HAPPENED, BUT WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THE PREVIOUS MONTH AND WHAT THE TRENDS ARE. ARE ARE THE TRENDS IN A GOOD DIRECTION? ARE WE TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS OR WE FALLING BEHIND? AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE KIND OF DASHBOARDS THAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS. AND I THINK WE DISCUSSED EITHER PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA OR HAVING A SUBCOMMITTEE. LOOK AT THIS, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'D BE BETTER TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND GIVE PEOPLE TIME TO THINK ABOUT I THINK WHAT THEY'D LIKE JAMES VALADEZ: I THINK SO TOO, AND I KNOW THAT MISS CARTWRIGHT TO SEE. HAD SOME THOUGHTS, AND I WOULD WOULDN'T WANT TO CREATE A SUBCOMMITTEE WITHOUT HER BEING PRESENT. SO I THINK WE STILL HAVE ENOUGH RUNWAY BETWEEN NOW AND REALLY HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING ON THIS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE A SUBSEQUENT MEETING AND SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO CHIME IN AS WELL AS ANYONE ELSE THAT HAS ANYTHING TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS WHAT THOSE DASHBOARD SHOULD LOOK LIKE. BUT I THINK PART OF THE CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE AS A BOARD IS GETTING AS MUCH COLOR TO THE PICTURE AS WE CAN BEING ABSENT OF A DAY TO DAY TOUCHES AND EXPERIENCES OF WHAT THAT ROLE IS FACING. AND SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN GET THAT GIVES US A BETTER PICTURE OF, YOU KNOW, THE ADVERSITY THAT THEY'RE FACING, AND ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO THAT WOULD GUIDE US ON THAT OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS AS A BOARD, I THINK, WOULD BE THE END IN WHICH MISS CARTWRIGHT AND MR. ELFANT WERE SEEKING IN THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT DASHBOARD. IS THAT OKAY? SO WE HAVE THAT ON A AGENDA ITEM FOR OUR SUBSEQUENT MEETING? MARYA CRIGLER: WE MADE A NOTE TO DO THAT. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY? THANK YOU. SO NO ACTION, NO ACTION THERE. WE WILL GO ON TO ITEM 6D OF OUR [d. Discussion and Possible Action on Annual Review and Adoption of Investment Policy] REGULAR AGENDA DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ANNUAL REVIEW AND ADOPTION OF INVESTMENT POLICY. MARYA CRIGLER: AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. AND I'LL LET LEANA MANN KIND OF DISCUSS WHAT OUR POLICY IS, AND IF THERE'S ANY AMENDMENTS WE REQUEST, LEANA MANN: WE HAVE AN INVESTMENT ADVISORY GROUP. THEY'RE METER PUBLIC FUNDS. WE'VE HAD A LONG TERM CONTRACT WITH THEM. THEY REVIEW OUR POLICY EVERY YEAR. THEY PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS ON DIFFERENT INVESTMENT OPTIONS, AND THIS YEAR THEY THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION THEY MADE WAS TO EXTEND OUR MAXIMUM MATURITY FROM THREE TO FIVE YEARS, AND THEN EXTEND OUR MAXIMUM WEIGHTED AVERAGE MATURITY MATURITY FROM 12 MONTHS TO 24 MONTHS. AND THOSE ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN YOUR PACKET. JAMES VALADEZ: ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE ACTIONS? MISS CONLEY. NICOLE CONLEY: YES, AND I CONCUR WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT BEFORE US. IT MAKES SENSE TO IT MAKES IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE CHANGES, AND GIVES YOU BROADER CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES IN THE COMPLEXITIES, IN THE MARKET DYNAMICS, SO AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE MORE FAVORABLE RATES, I MEAN, YOU MAY GET A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING NOW AND SO, BUT I WILL ABSTAIN FROM THIS VOTE TO, YOU KNOW, JUST SO THAT THERE ARE ANY PERCEIVED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. THANK YOU. JAMES VALADEZ: MOTION FOR APPROVAL OR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THERESA BASTIAN: APPROVE THAT OR MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR. JAMES VALADEZ: THAT'S BEEN MOVED BY MISS BASTIAN, SECONDED BY MISS MONTOYA. OSEZUA EHIYAMEN: MR. JAMES. JAMES VALADEZ: YES. OSEZUA EHIYAMEN: YOU KNOW, TODAY IS MY FIRST TIME OF BEING HERE. [00:25:03] WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SEVERAL APPROVALS, YOU KNOW. AND MAYBE IT IS AN ONGOING, YOU KNOW, PROCESS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T I THINK I WANT TO ABSTAIN FROM THE APPROVAL, BECAUSE I NEED TO ALSO BE GIVING TIME TO UNDERSTUDY, OKAY, SOME OF THE THINGS I WANT TO APPROVE, FOR THE SAKE OF MY FOR SAKE OF INTEGRITY HERE, I WANT TO REALLY KNOW WHAT I'M APPROVING, PLEASE. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY. OSEZUA EHIYAMEN: SO THAT I DON'T JUST WANT TO BE RULED OR ROLLED OVER AND KEEP APPROVING, APPROVING APPROVAL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M APPROVING. JAMES VALADEZ: RIGHT. OSEZUA EHIYAMEN: THANK YOU. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY. BRUCE ELFANT: WOULD THERE BE AN ISSUE WITH POSTPONING THIS TILL THE NEXT MEETING? WOULD THAT BE HELPFUL? WOULD THERE BE AN ISSUE WITH POSTPONING THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT MEETING SO YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT ITEM TIME WISE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S AN ISSUE. LEANA MANN: OUR CURRENT POLICY WOULD REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. OSEZUA EHIYAMEN: YES, PLEASE. JAMES VALADEZ: SO THAT WHEN IT WOULDN'T CAUSE A PROBLEM. OKAY, YES PLEASE. OKAY, IS THAT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO MOVE TO POSTPONE? THERESA BASTIAN: I'LL ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT TO POSTPONE TO THE NEXT MEETING? JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY. THAT HAS BEEN, IS IT GOOD FOR THE SECONDARY AS WELL? OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED FOR POSTPONEMENT TO A SUBSEQUENT MEETING. TO MOVE THE INVESTMENT POLICY TO OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR SIX. NICOLE CONLEY: I DO WANT TO HAVE A FOLLOW UP? UM, NOTHING IN THE POLICY IS GOING TO WITH THEM. SHIFTING IN THE MARKET CHANGES. IS IT GOING TO CONSTRAIN YOUR ABILITY TO TO, YOU KNOW, GET ADVANTAGEOUS LEVERAGE OF YOUR DOLLARS? LEANA MANN: NO, RIGHT NOW, TEXT POOL AND TEXT POOL PRIMER, JUST COMPARABLE RATE, COMPARABLE FOR RIGHT NOW. NICOLE CONLEY: OKAY. JAMES VALADEZ: WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX, 6E OF OUR REGULAR [e. Discussion and Possible Action on Property Value Study to Include 2022 Preliminary Findings and 2020 District Court Appeal] AGENDA, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON PROPERTY VALUE STUDY, TO INCLUDE THE 2022 PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND 2020 DISTRICT COURT APPEAL. MARYA CRIGLER: AND WILL, I'LL GIVE YOU UPDATE ON THE 2022 PRELIMINARY FINDINGS, BECAUSE WE ARE STILL IN DISTRICT COURT APPEAL. WE'LL DO THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. BUT REGARDING OUR 2022 PRELIMINARY FINDINGS FOR THE PROPERTY VALUE STUDY, WE PASSED ALL OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, 95% IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND PASSED THAT SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH THE EFFORT THAT THE STAFF HAS MADE AND THE RESULTS OF THIS PROPERTY VALUE STUDY. JAMES VALADEZ: I THINK THAT THAT CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED HOW AMAZING THAT IS TO GET THAT RESULT. SO I KNOW I SPEAK FOR THE BOARD WHEN I SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE MOST IDEAL OUTCOME THAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR. NICOLE CONLEY: ABSOLUTELY, DISTRICTS WILL BE THRILLED. THIS IS A VERY IT'S A CONCERNING ISSUE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I JUST LEFT TASBO, WHICH IN TEXAS, WHICH IS THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS. AND THERE ARE MANY SESSIONS ON YOU FAILED YOUR PROPERTY VALUE STUDY. NOW WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT TO DO, HOW TO MOVE THROUGH THAT, HOW TO NEGOTIATE THOSE THINGS. SO THE FACT THAT YOU'VE OVERCOME WITH THIS, AND ALL OF THEM HAVE PASSED, YOU HAVE SUCH A SIGH OF RELIEF. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT WORK, AND I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU PARTNER WITH THE DISTRICTS TO HELP THEM ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE FAVORABLE OUTCOMES. AND THAT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED. AND AND THIS IS GREAT NEWS. MARYA CRIGLER: WE'RE VERY PLEASED. I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO MY STAFF, BECAUSE THAT WORK WAS DONE BY THEM. SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO THEM. JAMES VALADEZ: AND WE WILL TAKE UP THE SECOND PART OF 6E AND EXECUTIVE AS AS NOTED, BUT WE WILL GO ON TO SIX. THERE'S NO ITEM ON ON THAT FIRST HALF. THAT WAS JUST JUST AN UPDATE 6F [f. Discussion and Possible Action on Chief Appraiser Report to Include: 2023 Calendar, 2023 Field Work, CAD Staffing, Taxpayer Outreach Programs, Legislative Updates] DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CHIEF APPRAISERS REPORT TO INCLUDE THE 2020 2020 23 CALENDAR, 2023 FIELD WORK, CAD STAFFING, TAXPAYER OUTREACH PROGRAMS, LEGISLATIVE UPDATES. MARYA CRIGLER: SO WE'LL START TACKLING THESE IN ORDER. FIRST, TALK ABOUT OUR 2023 CALENDAR. WE ARE ON TARGET WITH OUR GENERAL CALENDAR. WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL BE SENDING OUR NOTICES OF APPRAISED VALUE ON APRIL 15, WHICH IS A STANDARD DATE THAT WE SEND OUR NOTICES OUT. WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL BE READY TO START INFORMAL MEETINGS SHORTLY THEREAFTER, SO PROBABLY ABOUT APRIL 17 TO A LIMITED BASIS. THERE'S STILL SOME CLEANUP AND FILE CLOSING THAT WE NEED TO DO BEFORE WE DO FULL THROATED INFORMALS, BUT WE'LL START INFORMALS IN WHOLE, AND WE REALLY ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR TAX AGENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO COME IN AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. BUT APRIL 24 WE WILL HAVE ALL STAFF AVAILABLE FOR INFORMAL MEETINGS. THE PROTEST DEADLINE THIS YEAR REMAINS MAY 15. SO. THE MAY 15 WILL BE THE DEADLINE TO FILE THE PROTEST. WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE [00:30:04] WILL START FORMAL HEARINGS. THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE IS TYPICALLY WHEN WE START ACTUALLY HAVING FORMAL HEARINGS AND THEN CERTIFICATION. AGAIN, BY STATUTE, THAT'S JULY 25 WE ALSO HOPE TO HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF OUR PROTESTS BY SEPTEMBER 1 WE ARE SEEING IN THE MARKET. AND AGAIN, WE'RE STILL ANALYZING THE DATA. WE'VE COMPLETED OUR FIELD WORK, AND WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THAT. WE ARE NOW IN OUR VALUATION PHASE. WE'RE ANALYZING THE DATA, TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THERE'S ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE TO MARKET VALUES OF PROPERTIES, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE ONGOING FROM NOW UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF APRIL, BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING INITIALLY IN THE DATA IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE SUBSTANTIAL MOVEMENT LIKE WE SAW LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR WAS A RECORD YEAR IN TERMS OF WHAT WE SAW IN APPRECIATION, AND WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT AT ALL THIS YEAR. WE ARE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A MIXED BAG. THERE WILL BE SOME AREAS THAT WILL BE UP, SOME AREAS THAT MAY BE DOWN, AND PROBABLY MANY AREAS THAT MAY BE FLAT, AND BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SEEING WE DON'T SEE SUBSTANTIAL SHIFTS OR CHANGES IN THE MARKET VALUES, WE'RE NOT EXPECTING THE SAME KIND OF RECORD PROTEST VOLUME THAT WE'VE HAD IN PRIOR YEARS. SO WE HOPE THAT WE'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT LESS IN TERMS OF PROTEST VOLUME THIS YEAR, WHICH MEANS THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE WORK DONE, HOPEFULLY ON TIME, TO CERTIFY BY JULY 25 AND ALSO TO COMPLETE BY SEPTEMBER 1. LET'S SEE. CAT STAFFING WAS THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT. WE HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS, PARTICULARLY IN THOSE CRITICAL AREAS OF APPRAISERS, BEING ABLE TO FILL OUR POSITIONS FOR APPRAISERS. YOU KNOW, IT IS STILL ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING STRUGGLE WITH THE CLERICAL ASPECT. WE'RE IN A LOT OF COMPETITION WITH A LOT OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES FOR THAT SAME WORKFORCE. THE CITY IS MAKING A VERY SUBSTANTIAL DRIVE THEY'VE GOT, LAST I HEARD, OVER 2000 VACANCIES WITH THE CITY, AND THEY'RE DOING A REALLY HARD PUSH TO FILL THOSE VACANCIES, BUT THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT INCREASING THEIR SALARIES AND WAGES AS WELL, AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE KIND OF THINGS AND THE STAFFING POOL THAT WE'RE COMPETING TO FILL OUR POSITIONS AS WELL. SO JUST WANT TO PUT THAT BUG IN YOUR EAR. BEAR IN MIND THAT AS WE COME INTO THE NEXT BUDGET SESSION, WE MAY BE ASKING AND LOOKING AT, WHAT KIND OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS DO WE NEED TO MAKE TO RETAIN OUR STAFF, BUT ALSO TO RECRUIT AND TRACK NEW STAFF. BRUCE ELFANT: I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTION, WHAT IS OUR MINIMUM? MARYA CRIGLER: WE ARE? WHAT IS OUR MINIMUM? 18 LEANA MANN: 18.94 HI, HIGH 18 YEAH, MARYA CRIGLER: 1893 BRUCE ELFANT: YOU ALL AREN'T REAL COMPETITIVE WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY NOW. MARYA CRIGLER: NO, NO. BRUCE ELFANT: SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE LOOKED AT BETWEEN NOW AND BUDGET, OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT? MARYA CRIGLER: WE WOULD, WE WOULD HAVE TO SEE WHAT KIND OF FUNDS WE WOULD HAVE AVAILABLE LATER IN THE YEAR IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE A MID YEAR ADJUSTMENT, WE DID THAT LAST YEAR. IF WE HAD FUNDS AVAILABLE, WE MADE A MID YEAR ADJUSTMENT TO MAKE OURSELVES MORE COMPETITIVE. BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT WILL COME TO YOU IN MAY WHEN WE DO OUR BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS AND LOOK AT MAKING BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS. BUT IT SITS ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. IT'S OUR GOVERNMENT, IT'S SCHOOLS, IT'S THE COUNTY, THE CITY, THE STATE, IS EVEN HAVING THOSE KIND OF DIFFICULTIES. SO ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY STAFFING, AND SINCE WE'RE IN THE CAPITAL, WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST THEM ALL. BRUCE ELFANT: WE WANT YOU ALL TO BE COMPETITIVE. MARYA CRIGLER: YEAH, WE DO TOO. JAMES VALADEZ: THE ONLY, THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY ON THAT IS I KNOW THAT. YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS OVER THE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE, I'VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE THE THE WILL OF THE BOARD WAS TO HAVE US HAVE A REAL STRONG FOCUS ON THAT BOTTOM END OF THE THE SALARY SCALE FIRST, BEFORE WE ADDRESS ANY DISCREPANCIES ON THE TOP SIDE, JUST BECAUSE THE MONEY GOES SO MUCH FARTHER ON ON THE BOTTOM SIDE, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFFING THAT ARE REALLY MAKING, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONS, YOU KNOW, FUNCTION AND WORK ON A DAILY BASIS, ARE BEING RETAINED AND COMPENSATED FAIRLY SO MARYA CRIGLER: BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT WE HAVE TO BUDGET STATUTORILY, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BUDGET SO FAR IN ADVANCE. YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME THAT WE ARE MAKING OUR ADJUSTMENTS IN OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, AND WE DO SOMETHING THAT IS COMPETITIVE, BY THE TIME OUR BUDGET CYCLE COMES AROUND, WE'RE ALREADY OUT OF COMPETITION. SO WE THOUGHT WE WERE DOING REALLY GOOD BY DRIVING IT TO $18 AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS AFTER THAT, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY INCREASED THEIRS. SO WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE BEHIND. SO IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE ABOUT DRIVING OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BETTER THAN WHAT THE AVERAGE IS, JUST TO ANTICIPATE WHAT THOSE OTHER NEXT DRIVERS MIGHT BE. JAMES VALADEZ: IS THIS AN ITEM THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DIRECT [00:35:04] STAFF TO LOOK AT IN ADVANCE OF THE MAY MID CYCLE ADJUSTMENT, IF THAT WAS OUR DESIRE AS A BOARD? MARYA CRIGLER: YEAH, AND WE'RE KEEPING BOTH LEANA AND CAT ARE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB OF KEEPING ON TOP OF WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION WILL NEED TO BE MOVING IN. WE'RE REACHING OUT TO OUR COUNTERPARTS TO SEE NOT ONLY WHAT HAVE THEY DONE, BUT WHAT DO THEY ANTICIPATE THAT THEY WILL BE DOING NEXT SO THAT WE CAN STAY COMPETITIVE. THE OTHER THING, JUST TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN UPDATE ON, ARE SOME OF OUR OUTREACH, AND EVERY YEAR WE'VE BEEN DOING A AND I THANK CYNTHIA, BECAUSE CYNTHIA HAS DEVELOPED THIS PROGRAM FOR US, AND IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, BUT WE DO A SERIES OF TOWN HALL WEBINARS FOR OUR PUBLIC EVERY WEBINAR THAT WE DO, WE RECORD, WE PUT IT ON OUR WEBSITE. WE'VE ALREADY DONE TWO SO FAR THIS YEAR. WE DID ONE IN JANUARY, ALL ABOUT YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL, AND BRUCE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN US IN DOING THAT ONE. WE JUST DID ONE FEBRUARY 8 ON HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS. OUR NEXT SCHEDULED WEBINAR WILL BE FOR NEW HOMEOWNERS TO INTRODUCE THEM TO THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM, AND THAT WILL BE ON MARCH 15. AND THEN WE HAVE TWO MORE THAT WE WILL DO IN OUR SERIES. WE HAVEN'T FINALIZED THE DATE, BUT IN MID APRIL, WE WILL DO ONE SPECIFICALLY ON THE NOTICES OF APPRAISED VALUE. SO AS SOON AS OUR NOTICES START HITTING THE STREET, WE'LL DO A WEBINAR SO THAT WE CAN EXPLAIN TO PROPERTY OWNERS, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT WHEN YOU GET YOUR NOTICE OF APPRAISED VALUE, AND EXPLAINING THAT PROCESS TO THEM AS WELL. AND THEN OUR LAST ONE THAT WE'LL DO AS PART OF OUR WEBINAR SERIES IS PROBABLY END OF APRIL, EARLY MAY, AND IT'S GOING TO BE ALL ABOUT PROTESTING. HOW DO YOU PROTEST? WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU NEED TO BRING AND JUST EDUCATING THEM ABOUT HOW TO GO ABOUT FILING THEIR PROTESTS, GETTING IN LINE TO DO INFORMAL HEARINGS, AND WHAT THE FORMAL PROCESS MIGHT BE LIKE. SO THOSE ARE ALL TOWN HALL WEBINAR SERIES. IS THAT WE DO. AND AGAIN, I HAVE TO THANK CYNTHIA FOR PUTTING ALL THOSE TOGETHER, BECAUSE SHE DOES A FANTASTIC JOB FOR US. ON THAT LAST UPDATE I WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS IS ON LEGISLATIVE BECAUSE IT IS A LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THERE IS LOTS OF ACTIVITY DOWN AT THE LEGISLATURE. PROPERTY TAXES IS A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS FOR BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. SO WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF BILLS BEING FILED EARLY ON, I SAW A LOT OF BILLS BEING FILED ON MNO AND ADJUSTING THE M AND O RATE, AND THERE WAS 14 OF THEM THAT CAME OUT REAL FAST, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY MORE BILLS FILED RELATIVE TO THAT. SO I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THAT IS GOING TO BE TAKEN. AND WHERE I SEE THAT THE MOST BILLS FILED IS ON APPRAISAL LIMITATIONS. RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT A LIMITATION ON THE APPRAISED VALUE OF HOMESTEADS, PROPERTY PROPERTY OWNERS WITH HOMESTEADS, BUT I THINK THAT JUST BASED ON THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT WE'RE SEEING, THAT WE MAY EITHER SEE THAT PERCENTAGE CHANGED, OR WE MAY SEE AN EXPANSION OF THAT. AND I AM SEEING MORE BILLS FILED RELATED TO THAT THAN I'VE EVER SEEN IN THE PAST. RIGHT NOW, I AM TRACKING 45 BILLS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO HOMESTEAD LIMITATIONS OR APPRAISAL LIMITATIONS OF SOME SORT. SO I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT KIND OF OF LEGS UNDER LIMITATION BILLS BEFORE. SO WE'RE TRACKING ALL OF THOSE VERY CLOSELY AND ANTICIPATE THAT WE MIGHT SEE SOME SORT OF CHANGE RELATED TO THAT. WE'RE ALSO TRACKING SEVERAL BILLS RELATED TO THE PROPERTY VALUE STUDY. SO HOUSE BILL 32 HOUSE BILL 794-971-1324, AS WELL AS SENATE BILL 942, ARE ALL BILLS RELATED TO PROPERTY VALUE STUDY EITHER CHANGING THE PERCENTAGE OF THE THRESHOLD THE FREQUENCY MAKING AN ADJUSTMENT FOR PROPERTY VALUE STUDY, AND WE'RE TRACKING THOSE VERY CLOSELY OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO OUR BOARD. THERE ARE SOME VERY SPECIFIC BILLS RELATED TO ELECTED CHIEF APPRAISERS AND ELECTED BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED. SO WE'RE TRACKING HOUSE BILL 808 HOUSE BILL 2253 AND SENATE BILL 883, ALL WHICH WOULD REQUIRE ELECTED CHIEF APPRAISERS AND FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE ARE TRACKING HOUSE BILL 809 1294, 2136 2250 AND SENATE BILL 750, ALL WHICH WOULD EITHER REQUIRE ELECTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OR CHANGE THE ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERS TO SERVE AS BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AND THOSE ARE ALL IN THE REPORT THAT I PROVIDED TO YOU, SO WE'RE CLOSELY LOOKING AT THOSE. ALSO IN RELATION TO THE TAXPAYER LIAISON POSITION. THERE IS HOUSE BILL 1285 WHICH IS LOOKING AT DOING A LEGISLATIVE EXPANSION OF THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE DUTIES OF A TAXPAYER LIAISON. SO WE'LL BE TRACKING THAT AS WELL. THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE A COUPLE LITIGATION BILLS THAT MAY IMPACT US IN TERMS OF OUR FINANCIAL LIABILITY. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HOUSE BILL 1956, 2023, AND SENATE BILL 832, AND THEN THERE'S AN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION BILL. 1609 WHICH WOULD REQUIRE US TO ACCEPT ALL [00:40:03] ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AND PROVIDE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION IN LIEU OF PAPER, WHICH MAY EITHER BE A SAVINGS OR AN EXPENSE, DEPENDING UPON HOW BROAD THAT BECOMES, AND WHAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES WE MAY NEED TO MAKE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. AND LASTLY, I'VE HAD A COUPLE REQUESTS FROM SOME OF OUR TAXING UNITS TO HELP THEM GET A FISCAL NOTE FOR SOME BILLS THAT WOULD EXEMPT PERSONAL PROPERTY, EITHER EXEMPT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY OR EXEMPT ALL PERSONAL PROPERTY INVENTORY. AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR TAXING UNITS TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THEM. SO THAT IS A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AND TRACKING FOR THIS COMING SESSION, AND I'LL UPDATE YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING. JAMES VALADEZ: ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT, OR WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANY? BRUCE ELFANT: ARE THERE ANY BILLS THAT YOU WOULD WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO TAKE A POSITION ON? MARYA CRIGLER: YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED WITH, WITH, BILLS THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN ELECTED CHIEF APPRAISER, BECAUSE THAT WOULD IMPACT THE ABILITY TO ACT INDEPENDENTLY AND DO THE JOB AS REQUIRED BY THE STATUTE AND THE CODE. THOSE ARE VERY CONCERNING TO ME, THE BILLS RELATED TO LITIGATION AND INCREASING THE LIABILITY OF OUR BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A POSITION IN OPPOSITION TO THOSE JUST BECAUSE IT'S A FISCAL EXPENSE TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT THAT COULD BE VERY SUBSTANTIAL, AND IT WOULD REALLY REPRESENT A RISK TO OUR OPERATING BUDGET IF WE HAD A LOT OF LITIGATION RELATED TO LIMITATIONS OR EXEMPTIONS OR TAX CEILINGS. WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A POSITION ON THOSE. WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE JUST AS RELATED TO CAN WE ADMINISTER IT AS THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT? BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THAT ADMINISTRATION IS PUT UP TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ADMINISTER, AND THAT IT WOULD NOT CREATE COMPLICATIONS. BUT I DON'T SEE ANY OF THEM RIGHT NOW CREATING ANY COMPLICATIONS FOR US, IT'S JUST AN ISSUE OF ADMINISTRATION. BRUCE ELFANT: IF THE BOARD WERE TO TAKE POSITIONS, COULD WE DO IT AT THE NEXT MEETING THAT WOULD THAT MARYA CRIGLER: YES BRUCE ELFANT: TIMELY ENOUGH, MARYA CRIGLER: YES, BRUCE ELFANT: THAT'S SOMETHING MAYBE WE WANT TO CONSIDER. THERE MAY BE OTHER OTHER BILLS BY THEM THAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT. JAMES VALADEZ: CAN WE, WE JOT THAT DOWN AS A ACTION ITEM FOR FUTURE AGENDA AS WELL? NICOLE CONLEY: MARYA, JUST ONE QUICK JUST OFF THE CUFF, BECAUSE I'M SORT OF WORKING WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES, AND I MEAN, THESE ARE ALIGNED VERY MUCH WITH A LOT OF THE PRIORITIES THAT I'M SEEING COMING OUT OF THE SESSION, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO SOME OF THE ISDS AND THAT THE TAXATION AND ADA. BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU, ARE ANY OF THESE BILLS EVERY YEAR? THERE'S ALWAYS THOSE CHALLENGING BILLS, RIGHT THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO IMPACT EITHER WITH A FISCAL NOTE THAT HADN'T BEEN CONTEMPLATED, BUT ALSO A WAY TO DISCOURAGE THINGS FROM HAPPENING. I LOOK AT DEBT AND TAXATION, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. SO ONE ASKS, DO ANY OF THESE NOW HAVE LEGS THAT YOU BETTER LIKE, SORT OF KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT, LIKE, WHAT BILLS HAVE LEGS? THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SORT OF SORT THROUGH. AND THEN SECONDLY, I, WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE OTHER, THE ORIENTATION OF THE OTHER, MOST OF THE BILLS, I DON'T, IF YOU COULD SPECULATE AND GIVE ME SOME BACKGROUND ON WHY THEY'RE WITH. WHERE IS THE SENTIMENT COMING FROM? THE GOVERNANCE OF THE PRE YOU KNOW THAT PRAISE THE ELECTIONS FOR THE APPRAISER BOARD OR THE BORDER THE LIAISONS IS THERE. IS THAT COMING FROM A SENTIMENT SOMEWHERE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S LIKE CHAPTER 313 I KNOW THERE'S A SENTIMENT OF BALANCING OUT CORPORATE, YOU KNOW, ADVANTAGES OVER, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTIAL AND ALL THOSE ARGUMENTS. BUT I'M I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE. WHERE'S THAT COMING FROM? YEAH, MARYA CRIGLER: YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE ELECTED BOARD OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO INJECT SOME MORE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THOSE ELECTED BOARD OF DIRECTOR BILLS. IT'S A VARIETY OF BILLS. SOMETIMES IT'S DIRECT ELECTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBERS. SOMETIMES IT'S CHANGING THE ELIGIBILITY, ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVING ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THAT YOU MUST BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. NICOLE CONLEY: SO IT'S LIKE STRUCTURE, LIKE A LINE, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD, YOU HAVE TO HAVE ELECTED CITY COUNCILS. WE THINK THESE BOARDS SHOULD BE ELECTED. OKAY, MARYA CRIGLER: YEAH, YEAH. NICOLE CONLEY: SO IT'S MORE STRUCTURAL, AS OPPOSED TO AN INTEREST? MARYA CRIGLER: YES, YEAH, I THINK FOR THE LIMITATION, I THINK IT'S A PROPERTY TAX RELIEF EFFORT, AND I THINK RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS WITH A HOMESTEAD THIS LAST YEAR SAW TREMENDOUS BENEFIT OF THE LIMITATION, BUT THERE WAS NO BENEFIT TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS OR PEOPLE THAT HAD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT WEREN'T HOMESTEADED. SO I THINK IT'S AN EFFORT TO EXPAND THAT SAME KIND OF RELIEF TO ALL TAXPAYERS. YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE MAY BE MORE LEGS IN LIMITATION THIS SESSION THAN I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE. IN PRIOR SESSIONS, WE MAY HAVE FIVE BILLS FILED, BUT. RELATIVE IS 45 RIGHT [00:45:02] NOW NICOLE CONLEY: LIKE HALF. I WAS LIKE, 5050, OR IS IT LESS? 6040, I CAN'T REMEMBER. LIKE, IF YOU HAD TO GUESSTIMATE THE COMPOSITION OF THE PROPERTY TAX BASE, THAT'S COMMERCIAL IS AROUND 40% MARYA CRIGLER: YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT VALUE, THEN THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, JUST UNDER 50% OF TOTAL VALUE. IN TERMS OF COUNT, IT'S A MUCH SMALLER PERCENTAGE, BUT THEY CARRY OUT EACH EACH ONE IS MUCH MORE VALUABLE, SO THEY CARRY MUCH MORE VALUE. BUT YEAH, IT'S ABOUT 50% OF OUR OUR VALUE IS COMMERCIAL. AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEADS, WE ARE IN A POPULATION WHERE WE ARE TRENDING THAT WE SEE FEWER HOMES BEING HOMESTEADED. WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE RENTAL PROPERTIES HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, SO EVEN ALL OF OUR HOMESTEADED SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL IS NOT ALL HOMESTEADED. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT 60 TO 70% BEING HOMESTEADED. THE OTHER IS RENTAL AND THAT PERCENTAGE IS DIMINISHING EVERY YEAR. SO IT'S LOOKING TO EXPAND SOME OF THAT TAX RELIEF TO RENTAL RENTERS. JAMES VALADEZ: ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENT ON THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE [g. Discussion and Possible Action on Performance Review and Compensation for Chief Appraiser] SESSION TO DISCUSS 6E 6G AND 6H WITHIN 60 WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE 2020, DISTRICT COURT APPEAL CITING PROVISION SECTION 551071, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION, SOME OFFERS AND MATTERS OF WHICH THE ATTORNEY HAS A DUTY TO ADVISE THE BOARD UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS. FOR 6G WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION CITING SECTION 551074, PERSONNEL MATTERS TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT, DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF THE CHIEF APPRAISER OR OTHER PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, OR TO HEAR A COMPLAINT OR CHARGE. AND ON 6H WE WILL ALSO BE CITING SECTION 551071, AS PREVIOUSLY READ, DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE BOARD TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? IT'S BEEN MOVED BY BLANCA, SECONDED BY DR SIZE. WHEN ANY CAN'T GET A FORMAL VOTE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR GO INTO AYE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED, WE WILL NOW BE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND WE WILL COME BACK ON TO FINISH THE MEETING AS WE CONCLUDE THAT THANK YOU. [h. Discussion and Possible Action on Litigation and Appeals Related to Pending and Anticipated Lawsuits] [02:33:59] THE TIME IS 2:03 ON FEBRUARY 17, 2023 AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS [02:34:05] IS BACK IN ITS OPEN AND REGULAR SESSION. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE [02:34:11] ACTION NOW ON ITEM 6H, SPECIFICALLY I, DISCUSSION AND [02:34:16] POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF COUNTER CLAIMS FILED BY TCAD FOR TAX [02:34:21] YEAR 2022. [02:34:25] THERESA BASTIAN: I MOVE THAT WE AUTHORIZE AND AFFIRM THE CHIEF [02:34:27] APPRAISERS DETERMINATION TO FILE COUNTER CLAIMS FOR THE LAWSUITS [02:34:31] DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION [02:34:34] JAMES VALADEZ: THAT HAS BEEN MOVED BY MISS BASTIAN AND [02:34:36] SECONDED BY MISS MONTOYA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM? [02:34:40] HEARING NONE. LET'S TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE, ALL [02:34:44] THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE [02:34:48] ON TO ITEM 6IOF OUR REGULAR AGENDA DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE [7. Discussion and Possible Action to Add Items to Future Agendas] [02:34:52] ACTION TO ADD ITEMS TO FUTURE AGENDAS, AND I THINK WE HAVE A [02:34:56] RUNNING TALLY OF THOSE. UH. AGENDA ITEMS. IF ANYONE ELSE HAS [02:35:00] SOMETHING THAT HASN'T COME UP OVER THE COURSE OF THE MEETING [02:35:03] THAT THEY'D LIKE INCLUDED IN OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED [02:35:07] MEETING. NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO SAY THAT, AND IF EVERYONE'S [02:35:11] GOOD WITH THE LIST THAT'S BEEN CREATED SO FAR, WE'LL MOVE ON TO [8. Adjournment] [02:35:15] ITEM 6J. [02:35:20] MARYA CRIGLER: ONE QUESTION FOR OUR BOARD ON THE NEXT MEETING. [02:35:23] WE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR YOU SCHEDULED, BUT IT GOT CANCELED WHEN OUR MEETING GOT CANCELED BECAUSE OF THE ICE STORM. SO OUR ATTORNEYS ARE AVAILABLE APRIL, 18 OR 19TH. IF THAT WORKS FOR THE BOARD, WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT AS PART OF THAT MEETING IN APRIL. IF THAT WOULD WORK FOR YOU JAMES VALADEZ: I SHOW 18. THIS TAX DAY. WE DO 19TH. MARYA CRIGLER: WE DO 19. YEAH, OKAY, THE 19TH. OKAY, SCHEDULED FOR THE 19TH. OKAY, GOT IT. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, SO I WILL MOVE ON TO 6J. ADJOURNMENT. DO I HAVE A MOTION MOVED BY MS. BLANCA GARCIA AND SECONDED BY DR. OSEZUA. WITH THAT AT 2:05, THE TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS STANDS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.