[1. Call to Order] [00:00:43] 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 11:36 ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2024. WE'RE CONDUCTING THIS MEETING AT TCAD HEADQUARTERS LOCATED AT 850 [2. Establishment of Quorum] EAST ANDERSON LANE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND A QUORUM IS PRESENT. WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THIS MEETING THROUGH ONLINE BROADCAST AS A COURTESY. THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS [5. Citizens Communication] CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? LEANA MANN: WE DO NOT. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE [3. Execution of Oath of Office and Statement of Officer for All Board Members] EXECUTION OF OATH OF OFFICE AND STATEMENT OF OFFICER FOR ALL BOARD MEMBERS. LEANA MANN: DAVINA, IF YOU'LL ADMINISTER THE OATH. DAVINA BARTON: YES, IF YOU ALL CAN, PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. YOU HAVE YOUR PAPERS IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU WILL READ ALONG WITH ME WHERE IT SAYS, I CAN REPLACE YOUR NAME AND CONTINUE TO READ IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS IN THE OATH OF OFFICE. ALL: I DO SOLEMLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS OF THE US TO THE STATE. SO HELP ME, GOD. I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I'M NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED PROMISE TO PAY CONTRIBUTED OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY, ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE, OR PROMISE ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE AT THE ELECTION, OR IS THERE AN AWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR CONFIRMATION, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE, SO HELP ME GOD. DAVINA BARTON: THANK YOU, IF WE PLEASE WAIT FOR THE END TO SIGN IT. [4. Election of Officers for the Board of Directors] JAMES VALADEZ: THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CHAIRPERSON, VICE CHAIRPERSON AND SECRETARY TREASURER. WILL START WITH CHAIRPERSON, ANY MOTIONS? OKAY? IT'S BEEN MOVED BY DR. O. WE'LL TAKE IT ALL AT ONCE, ACTUALLY TOGETHER, WE'LL GO FOR VICE CHAIRPERSON. YES, BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: DEBBIE. AND DEBBIE IS INTERESTED IN BEING THE VICE CHAIR FOR THIS YEAR. AND I CONCUR, I AM VERY HAPPY THAT SHE CAME FORWARD. DEBBIE HAS SO MUCH EXPERIENCE AT THE STATE LEVEL WITH THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, AND SHE ALSO IS AN ATTORNEY, SO THAT ADDS A LOT OF VALUE. AND I'M VERY THRILLED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO SERVE AS OUR VICE CHAIR, AND I WANT TO NOMINATE HER, JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY FOR SECRETARY, IS THE NEXT ONE ON THE LIST? DOES ANYONE HAVE OSEZUA EHIYAMEN: NICOLE? JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU. OKAY, SO WE'LL TAKE A MOTION SO IT'LL BE MYSELF AS CHAIR, MISS CARTWRIGHT AS VICE CHAIR, MISS CONLEY AS SECRETARY, AND I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THAT ALTOGETHER NOW. OKAY, MOVED BY MISS MONTOYA, SECONDED BY DR. O ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE OF OUR AGENDA. I'M SORRY, THIS IS CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM SIX, WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE. CONSENT [6. Consent Agenda] AGENDA TODAY CONSISTS OF ITEMS SIX A THROUGH 6D WHICH IS [00:05:05] APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 13, 2023 REGULAR MEETING, AS WELL AS THE SECTION 2525 BE REPORT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE ACCOUNTING STATEMENTS AND THE PERSONNEL REPORT. I'LL GIVE THE BOARD MEMBERS SOME TIME TO REVIEW THOSE ITEMS, AND THEN, IF ANYONE HAS ANY ITEM THAT THEY'D LIKE TO PULL FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. WE CAN DO THAT AT THAT TIME, OR WE CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION. BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: I CONSENT AGENDA LAST NIGHT. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T. I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL, JAMES VALADEZ: MOVED BY BLANCA, SECONDED BY VIVEK. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7A OF OUR REGULAR AGENDA, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION [7. Regular Agenda] ON APPOINTMENT OF AG ADVISORY BOARD. LEANA MANN: AND WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF THE AG ADVISORY BOARD UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT, MR. LARRY MELLON BROOK AND MR. TIM VAN AKRON AND BOTH ARE HERE IF YOU'D LIKE TO MEET THEM. JAMES VALADEZ: LARRY AND TIM, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE AG ADVISORY BOARD. AND IF YOU JUST WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES AND TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO MEET YOU ALL AND LET US KNOW HOW IT'S BEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THERE. LARRY MELLON BROOK: ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'M LONG IN TOOTH, SO I'VE BEEN AROUND A PRETTY GOOD WHILE, AND I'M RETIRED, BUT WE STILL RANCH OVER IN THE EASTERN PART OF TRAVIS COUNTY BORDERLINE. WELL, IN FACT, THE TRAVIS BASTROP COUNTY LINE GOES JUST TO FEW FEET FROM MY HOUSE. GOT OTHER OPERATIONS THAT I HELPED TO MANAGE IN WILLIAMSON, AND LIKE I SAY, BASTROP AND LASALLE COUNTY, WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD WAYS FROM HERE, BUT I'VE BEEN PRETTY ACTIVE IN RECENT YEARS, OUR LANDS THAT WE'VE BEEN MANAGING HAS BEEN MIGRATING FURTHER AWAY FROM THE CITY. MOST ALL OF IT IS LEASE LAND AND SAYS THE CITY GROWS. WE SEE THE TRANSITIONS. AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN FARMING AND RANCHING IN THIS AREA, WHICH IS ABOUT 55 YEARS. THE ROW CROP PART IS PRETTY WELL GONE, EXCEPT FOR THE PFLUGERVILLE AREA OUT THERE, AND IT'S MOST OF THE MOST OF THE AGRICULTURE PROPERTIES ARE IN THE HANDS OF SPECULATORS. SO IT'S HARD FOR SOMEONE TO GO IN ON LEASE LAND AND AND MAINTAIN IT THE SAME WAY. NOW OUR ROLE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD HAS BEEN TO TRY TO GIVE CURRENT INFORMATION AS BEST WE COULD ON THE RATES OF PRODUCTION ON ON THESE VARIOUS PROPERTIES, AND SO I GUESS I'M HOPING THAT WE'RE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB, BUT, BUT IT'S TRAVIS COUNTY IS QUITE A QUITE A VARIATION. AND YOU GO FROM THE WESTERN SIDE, WHICH I'M [00:10:03] NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH, OVER TO THE EASTERN SIDE, YOU'VE GOT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M STARTING TO BE CURIOUS ABOUT IS WHAT'S WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING IN THE INNER CITY, WE WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN DOING YOUR OWN TYPE THINGS, AND WE SEE A LOT OF SMALL GARDENS, AND I KNOW WE DISCUSSED THIS IN OUR MEETINGS REGULARLY, ABOUT SMALL ACREAGE WITHIN THE CITY THAT'S ACTUALLY QUITE PRODUCTIVE IN A REAL BUSINESS OPERATION. I'M NOT REAL FAMILIAR WITH THE ECONOMICS ON THAT, BUT I SOMETIMES WONDER IF, IF SOME OF THESE ARE GOING TO BE, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT AUSTIN'S GOING TO BE DEALING WITH, THINGS LIKE MAYBE HYDROPONICS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, WHERE YOU CAN AUSTIN CAN GROW MORE OF ITS OWN FRUIT FOOD WITHIN THE CERTAIN TYPES OF FOOD WITHIN THE CITY ITSELF. SO I DON'T WANT TO BURN UP ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN. JAMES VALADEZ: I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE AND SPEAKING TO US. I KNOW WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT EVERY TIME WE GET TO INTERACT WITH THE AG BOARD, JUST BECAUSE IT'S A IT'S A POSITION THAT WE NORMALLY DON'T GET TO TOUCH ALL THAT OFTEN. SO WE'D LIKE TO AT LEAST SEE THEM DOWN HERE ONCE A YEAR OR SO. AND SO WE WE REALLY ENJOY ALL BEING DOWN HERE. LARRY MELLON BROOK: THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. TIM VAN AKRON: LIKE SAID, I'M TIM VAN AKRON, AND BEEN A RESIDENT OF TRAVIS COUNTY FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. IN THE COUNTY, 20 YEARS PROBABLY IN THE GRAZING SIDE OF IT. WE HAVE A SMALL RANCH OUT NEAR HAMPTON POOL ROAD, SOUTHWESTERN TRAVIS COUNTY, AND AS LARRY SAID, I THE THERE ARE CHALLENGES BECAUSE OF THE THEY'RE STILL GRAZING, BUT LEAST IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY, OTHER THAN SOME VINEYARDS THERE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CROP PRODUCTION. AND SO TO COME UP WITH VALUES, COSTS AND REVENUES OFF CROPS IN LEAST IN OUR AREA, IT IS DIFFICULT. I GUESS THE AG ENTERPRISE IS GROWING MORE, IS PROBABLY BEEKEEPING. WE'RE SEEING MORE IN THAT AND AND I DON'T ONE THING CATHERINE HAD SUGGESTED IS PROBABLY FINDING A ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER THAT HAS KNOWLEDGE OR IS IN THE BEEKEEPING BECAUSE THAT THAT'S PROBABLY THE LARGEST AREA OF GROWTH AS FAR AS BUT ANYWAY, I'M GLAD YOU'RE DONE. I'M PROBABLY THE MOST RECENT BOARD MEMBER GENTLEMEN LIKE LARRY. YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY BEEN IN THIS COUNTY FOR A LONG TIME, I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE HOPE I CAN CONTRIBUTE. JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I BELIEVE WE'LL NEED ACTION ON THIS ITEM, CORRECT? NICOLE CONLEY: MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE REAPPOINTMENTS OF MR. MILLENBROOK AND MR. AKRON. JAMES VALADEZ: IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MS CONLEY, SECONDED BY MS MONTOYA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7B OF OUR REGULAR AGENDA, WHICH IS DISCUSSION ON REPORT FROM BOARD OPERATING POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE. THIS IS WORK THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE HAS DONE ON OUR BOARD POLICIES TO BRING THEM IN LINE WITH CHANGES TO NEW LEGISLATION UNDER SB2, AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE CHANGES IN OUR BOARD MATERIALS. LEANA MANN: YES, IT'S ITEM 7B. HAS THE KEY CHANGES. IT STARTS ON PAGE 71 AND ONE THING TO POINT OUT, THERE'S TWO VERSIONS OF THE POLICY. THERE'S ONE THAT TAKES US THROUGH JUNE 30, AND THEN ONE THAT STARTS JULY 1, AND THAT'S MAINLY THE ARB APPOINTMENT CHANGES WITH SB2. [00:15:12] JAMES VALADEZ: JUST A LITTLE BIT OF UPDATE ON WHAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE DID WE WE MET IN NOVEMBER OF 2023 AND AS WELL IN JANUARY OF 2024 TO WORK THROUGH THESE CHANGES. SO WE DID MEET A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH STAFF TO HELP US NAVIGATE THROUGH WHAT SB2 SPEAKS TO THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO OUR EXISTING POLICIES FOR TO BRING US INTO ALIGNMENT. AND THEN PAGE 71 ITEM 7B IS THE LIST OF THE CHANGES. SO WE DON'T NEED ACTION ON 7B, WE WOULD NEED ACTION ON 7C. CORRECT LEANA MANN: CORRECT. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, SO I'LL MOVE OVER TO 7C LEANA MANN: AND THE RESOLUTION FOR THE BOARD POLICIES IS PROVIDED ON PAGE 75. JAMES VALADEZ: YEAH, ON 7C ELIZABETH MONTOYA: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024, 020, BOARD OF DIRECTORS OPERATING POLICIES AS PRESENTED. JAMES VALADEZ: SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MS MONTOYA AND SECONDED BY MS CONLEY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7D WHICH IS DISCUSSION ON REPORT FROM TAXPAYER LIAISON. SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, WE, AS THE TLO COMMITTEE, MET IN NOVEMBER AS WELL AS JANUARY, AND THEN WE HAD OUR, I GUESS, IN NOVEMBER AND JANUARY, 2023 AND 2024 IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE REVIEWED THE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE TLO AND INCORPORATED CHANGES RELATED TO SB2 AND HB 1285 WE ALSO CREATED AN EVALUATION PROCESS FOR THE TAXPAYER LIAISON OFFICER THAT IS NOW A REQUIREMENT UNDER THOSE NOW STATE LAWS AND THE TLO SUBCOMMITTEE CONDUCTED AN EVALUATION OF THE TLO TODAY BEFORE THE REGULAR MEETING AND A SUMMARY OF THE TLO EVALUATION SO WE CAN THEN GO INTO TALKING THROUGH SOME OF THE WORK THAT THE TLO SUBCOMMITTEE DID BEFORE I WOULD OPEN IT UP TO ANY OF THE TLO SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT WANTED TO CHIME IN AND TALK ABOUT A SUMMARY OF THAT EVALUATION, KIND OF WHAT WE SAW THERE TODAY, NICOLE CONLEY: SURE, SO THE TAXPAYER LIAISON PRESENTED A REPORT ON SOME OF THE STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES THAT SHE WAS UTILIZING TO COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THOSE THAT REACHED OUT TO HER TO RESOLVE ANY TAXPAYER ISSUES, SHE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE SPREADSHEETS AND REPORTING MECHANISMS, HOW SHE WAS SORT OF CATEGORIZING BASED UPON SOME OF THE REQUESTS OF THE BOARD, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY AND ALSO THE LEVEL OF RESPONSE. THIS TO TAXPAYERS TOUCH ABOUT BEING SORT OF RESPONSIVE IMMEDIATELY AND [00:20:05] WHENEVER, SORT OF TAXPAYERS REACH OUT, BUT ALSO MONITORING, SORT OF LIKE AN AGING REPORT, THE LEVEL OF THE TIMING OF RESOLUTION OF THOSE VARIOUS ACTIONS WHICH SHE WAS, WHICH WE THOUGHT WERE GREAT ENHANCEMENTS TO SORT OF IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE. ALSO TALKED ABOUT COMPLIANCE WITH REPORTING UNDER LAW AND TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, AND SATISFYING THOSE DEADLINES OFFERED UP SOME POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES DOWN THE ROAD TO SORT OF BUILD MORE GOALS AND MECHANISMS TO MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T THAT WE HAVE THE SUFFICIENT TIME TO ESTABLISH OUR MEMBERS, BUT ALSO TIGHTEN UP ON COMMUNICATION TOOLS, BUT ALSO FOCUSING ON COMMUNICATING WITH NON ENGLISH SPEAKING COMMUNITIES AND REALLY AGREEING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SOME ADVANCEMENTS IN THOSE AREAS. AND SO WE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS, AND FELT THAT AS IF THE TAXPAYER LIAISON HAD FULLY COMPLIED AND MET ALL THE STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE POSITION, BUT CERTAINLY RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD SOME NEW STRATEGIES IN PLACE TO IMPROVE UPON AND MAKE US MORE EFFECTIVE AS WE RESOLVE TAXPAYER ISSUES. AND SO THAT WAS THE SUMMARY OF THE REPORT AND OUR DIALOG AT THE MEETING. JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND SO ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? OKAY, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7E WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON TAXPAYER LIAISON OFFICER ANNUAL EVALUATION AND CONTRACT RENEWAL THAT CAN BE FOUND ON 151 AND WE WOULD JUST NEED A MOTION ON THE CONTINUATION OF THIS EXISTING CONTRACT, BASED ON THE THE ANALYSIS AND WORK THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE HAS DONE GETTING US TO THIS POINT AND THEN TAKING US FORWARD FROM HERE FOR THE NEXT YEAR. NICOLE CONLEY: SO WE DISCUSSED THE TLO HAD PROPOSED, SORT OF EXTENDING, GIVING US A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY AND EXTENDING THAT THROUGH FEBRUARY. SO BUT YOU KNOW, WITH WITH THAT SETTLED CHANGE, OR THAT MODIFICATION, I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE TAXPAYER LIAISON. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MISS CONLEY, SECONDED BY MR. BUCKLE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX. SORRY, 7F. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON TAXPAYER LIAISON REPORT. BETTY THOMPSON, TAXPAYER LIAISON: GREETINGS. THE FIRST THING THAT I HAVE IN MY REPORT IS THE REPORT TO YOU ON THE ACTION ITEMS THAT I WAS GIVEN AT THE LAST MEETING. SO I DID INCREASE THE RECRUITING ADVERTISEMENT, I CONTACTED THE FOLLOWING PLACES IN MULTIPLE WAYS, EITHER VIA EMAIL OR VIA THEIR WEBSITE, AND ASKED THAT THEY INCLUDE US IN ANY JOB POSTINGS THAT THEY MAY HAVE. I AM UNABLE TO TELL THE SUCCESS OF THAT BECAUSE THE LATEST APPLICANTS HAVE PUT THAT THAT THEY ARE RESPONDING TO A JOB BOARD, WHEREAS BEFORE I GOT THAT, THEY WERE RESPONDING TO KUT OR INDEED, SO I'M NOT REALLY ABLE TO MEASURE THAT SUCCESS. THE OTHER THING THAT I WAS SEEKING INFORMATION FOR YOU WAS THE TOTAL ACTIVITY OF TLOS IN OTHER COUNTIES, AND WHAT THEY WERE REPORTING TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE OF THAT TOTAL ACTIVITY, OURS IS LISTED FIRST, 705, I'VE REPORTED 157 TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, WHICH IS A 22% BEAR IS NEXT. THEY REPORTED 37% OF THE ACTIVITY OF THE TLO, AND I'VE ONLY RECEIVED ONE MORE SINCE THIS WAS REPEAT PRINTED. SO WILLIAMSON COUNTY HAD 103 COMMUNICATIONS TO THEIR TLO. THEY REPORTED FOUR, AND THAT'S 4% I HAVE INCOMPLETE INFORMATION FROM DALLAS CAD THEY REPORTED TWO TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE. SO IT LOOKS LIKE OTHER CADS ARE OUR DISTRICTS ARE REPORTING LESS TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE THAN WE ARE. SO MY NEXT PAGE IS A REPORT OF THE ARB RECRUITMENT I'VE SPENT 10 WEEKS SCHEDULING INTERVIEWS, DISTRIBUTING APPOINTMENT LETTERS, SECURING BACKGROUND CHECK FORMS AND CLEARING THE LIST OR PROVIDING THE LIST OF APPOINTED MEMBERS TO THE ARB SO WE HAVE AT THIS POINT, 38 APPOINTMENTS. I AM CHANGING THE NUMBER OF 11 PENDING BACKGROUND CHECKS. I BELIEVE I ONLY HAVE THREE OUTSTANDING AT THIS POINT. OUR GOAL WAS TO APPOINT 41 MEMBERS, NEW MEMBERS TO THE BOARD, IN ADDITION TO THE 20 REAPPOINTMENTS THAT WERE MADE, THE 2025 PROJECTION, THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT I'M PROVIDING YOU, YOU WILL HAVE THE SAME WORKLOAD AS WE EXPERIENCED THIS WEEK, BUT OUR MEANER THIS PAST YEAR FOR THOSE 2025 APPOINTMENTS, THE CHAIR AND THE SECRETARY ARE BOTH SIX YEAR MEMBERS, AND THEY WILL TERM OFF OF THE BOARD. SO THOSE APPOINTMENTS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED TO BE SCHEDULED, PERHAPS AT THE END OF 2024 OR YOU WILL ENTER 2025 WITHOUT LEADERSHIP ROLES BEING FILLED ON THE ARB. SO IT WAS JUST TO GIVE YOU A PROJECTION OF WHAT'S AHEAD OF YOU. I SPENT 10 WEEKS AND THE JUDGE INTERVIEWED FOUR PLUS DAYS, AND THOSE WERE 20 MINUTE INTERVIEWS ACROSS ZOOM. SO THAT'S WHAT KIND OF EFFORT IT TOOK TO HIRE OR TO APPOINT 41 NEW MEMBERS TO THE BOARD. SO THE NEXT PAGES ARE THE FAMILIAR PAGES THAT I PROVIDE YOU ONLY IT'S A YEAR IN ANNUAL SUMMARY, SHOWING THE 705 COMMUNICATIONS THAT I RECEIVED. AND SO MY PRESENTATION, I DECIDED, INSTEAD OF GIVING YOU THE MAP WITH NUMBERS SCATTERED ALL OVER THE PLACE THAT I WOULD GIVE YOU A BREAKDOWN A CHART, AND IT PROVED NOTHING MORE THAN WE HAD ALREADY SEEN IN PREVIOUS MONTHS THAT PFLUGERVILLE AND MANOR PERHAPS NEED ADDITIONAL EDUCATION, BUT I STILL HAVE 33% OF COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED I CONSIDER TO BE GENERAL INQUIRIES. THOSE ARE JUST, PERHAPS, CUSTOMER SERVICE QUESTIONS. I GO AHEAD AND RESPOND TO THOSE QUESTIONS. I DO. I AM TRYING TO DEFINE INTO A CATEGORY SO THAT I DON'T HAVE SUCH A LARGE GENERAL INQUIRY CATEGORY, WHICH YOU CAN'T TELL WHAT THAT REALLY IS. SO MOVING ON, I'M SHOWING YOU WHAT IS HAPPENED IN THE FIRST MONTH OF 2024, I LOOKED AT IT YEAR OVER YEAR AND JANUARY OF 2023. WE RECEIVED 50 COMMUNICATIONS IN JANUARY OF 2024. I RECEIVED ONLY 25 THE BULK OF THAT DIFFERENCE COMES FROM FORMAL HEARINGS OR EXEMPTIONS, AND SO I'VE CHARTED PROPERTY TAX SECTION HAS LOOKED SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN IT HAS IN THE PAST, BUT IT'S REALLY ONLY THREE MORE. IT'S THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER IS LOWER IN 2024 SO THAT'S WHAT SKEWS THAT DATA. AND SO THEN YOU HAVE THE MAP OF THE AREAS. OF COURSE, IT DID NOT HAVE PFLUGERVILLE AS ONE OF THE HIGHER AREAS WHERE INFORMATION IS BEING REQUESTED. LEANDER AND LAKE TRAVIS ARE STILL TWO OF THE LARGER ONES, WHERE AREA WHERE INFORMATION IS BEING REQUESTED. SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY. ANY QUESTIONS? [00:28:38] JAMES VALADEZ: I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AS ALWAYS, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7G WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN ANNUAL REVIEW AND ADOPTION OF INVESTMENT POLICY. LEANA MANN: SO THE RESOLUTION AND POLICY START ON PAGE 173 THE BOARD DOES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO REVIEW THE INVESTMENT POLICY AND STRATEGY FOR THE CAD EACH YEAR. SO I'VE PROVIDED OUR CURRENT POLICY. IT WAS REVIEWED BY METER PUBLIC FUNDS, WHO'S OUR INVESTMENT ADVISORY GROUP, AND THE ONLY RECOMMENDED CHANGES THAT WE HAVE IS A STATEMENT ADDED TO PAGE SIX OF THE POLICY, WHICH IS 183 IN YOUR PACKET THAT JUST MAINTAINS THE BROKER DEALER LIST WITH THE ADVISORY GROUP WHO ACTUALLY MANAGES THAT, INSTEAD OF THE CAD MANAGING IT. WE ALSO UPDATED THE INVESTMENT OFFICERS ON APPENDIX EXHIBIT A THAT'S PAGE 191 AND THEN WE PROVIDED THE UPDATED AUTHORIZED BROKER DEALER LIST ON PAGE 192 NICOLE CONLEY: MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM THIS VOTE. THANK YOU. JAMES VALADEZ: NEED A MOTION. NICOLE CONLEY: I AM NOT. I'M ABSTAINING FROM THE VOTE. THANK [00:30:01] YOU. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, OKAY, MOTION BY MR. BUCKLE, SECONDED BY DR. O, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7H DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION ON CHIEF APPRAISER'S REPORT TO INCLUDE THE 2023 METHODS AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM REVIEW RESULTS, THE 2024 CALENDAR, THE 2024 FIELD WORK, TAXPAYER OUTREACH PROGRAMS. LEANA MANN: THANK YOU. SO I INCLUDED THE MAP REVIEW FROM THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE AS YOUR FIRST DOCUMENT. EVERY TWO YEARS, THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE REVIEWS OUR GOVERNANCE, TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE, OPERATING PROCEDURES, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE DID PASS. WE GOT THE HIGHEST RATING POSSIBLE. OUR STAFF WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY. IT'S A LOT OF DOCUMENTS YOU HAVE TO PULL, SO I WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK ON THAT. WE'VE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST QUITE A FEW CADS. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE HAD MONTGOMERY, TARRANT, DENTON, AND WE HAVE CAMERON CAD COMING NEXT WEEK TO REVIEW KIND OF OUR PROCESSES AND HOW WE DO THINGS. WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH VOLUME THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN OUR EFFICIENCY, AND SPECIFICALLY, CAMERON IS COMING TO LOOK AT HOW WE PROCESS ARB HEARINGS. SO WE HAVE BEEN BUSY, BUT WE'VE GAINED A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE FROM THE OTHER CADS AS WELL. IT'S BEEN A BENEFICIAL PROCESS. WE ARE ON TRACK WITH OUR FIELD WORK. WE JUST ARE FINISHING THAT UP THIS WEEK WE WILL TRANSITION INTO VALUATION. WE ARE STILL GOING TO BE SENDING NOTICES BEGINNING OF APRIL. AND THEN I ALSO PROVIDED OUR COMMUNICATION REPORT THAT WE HAVE ON PAGE 213, A 2023, SUMMARY, CYNTHIA, OUR TAXPAYER, OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, PROVIDED SOME REALLY GREAT HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2023 YEAR. SHE SPENT ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW DEVELOPING HER COMMUNICATION APPROACH. AS WE GO INTO YEAR FIVE, IT'S GOING TO BE MORE ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION AND REFINING THINGS. WE ARE DEVELOPING AN INTERNAL CONTACT TEAM, WHICH WILL BE SOME KEY STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND CAN REPRESENT US AT DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS. CYNTHIA WAS ALSO ABLE TO INCREASE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. WE GAINED THREE NEW PARTNERSHIPS IN 2023 SO WE NOW HAVE THE DEL VALLEY COMMUNITY COALITION, THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY, THE ECONOMIC GROWTH BUSINESS INCUBATOR AND THE ANDERSON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. BRUCE ALSO GRACIOUSLY HELPED US GET A CONTACT AT THE CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE, AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON STAFF THERE TO GET AN EXEMPTIONS EVENT IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH. SO WE HAVE SCHEDULED MORE OUTREACH EVENTS IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 2024 THAN WE DID IN ALL OF 2023 SO SHE'S DONE A WONDERFUL JOB, AND THE LIST OF OUR OUTREACH EVENTS IS PROVIDED ON PAGE 213. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE IN MY REPORT. JAMES VALADEZ: ANY QUESTIONS? OSEZUA EHIYAMEN: WELL, IT'S NOT A QUESTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST TO APPRECIATE THE TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT FOR A JOB WELL DONE, FOR THE HARD WORK. I THINK THERE'S EVERY NEED TO CELEBRATE THEM. YOU HAVE DONE WELL. YOU HAVE DONE WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU. JAMES VALADEZ: THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS 7 IWHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE ORDER OF ELECTION AND FOR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. LEANA MANN: SO FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR ELECTIONS THAT ARE COMING UP ON MAY 4, THE BOARD DOES NEED TO PASS AN ORDER FOR THE ELECTION, WHICH JUST OUTLINES THAT WE HAVE THREE PLACES UP FOR THE ELECTION, THE DATE OF THE ELECTION AND THE LOCATIONS OF VOTING LOCATIONS. SO THAT IS PROVIDED ON 227, AS A DRAFT WE ARE PENDING INFORMATION FROM THE TRAVIS COUNTY ELECTIONS DIVISION ON EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS FILLED IN THAT Y'ALL CAN APPROVE FOR US TO POST BEFORE FEBRUARY 16. [00:35:11] AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE ELECTIONS DIVISION. THEY HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL IN THIS PROCESS. IT HAS BEEN I HAVE A NEW FOUND RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DO ELECTIONS, THEY ARE THEY'RE WONDERFUL. THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, SO FOR 7J WE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO ORDER THAT ELECTION. GREAT, THAT'S THE ACTION THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. LEANA MANN: CORRECT FOR 7 I JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, SEVEN OR SEVEN? OKAY, RIGHT? 7 I SORRY. I WAS AHEAD. ANY? OKAY, BEEN MOVED BY VIVEK, SECONDED BY MISS MONTOYA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING? NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7J, OF OUR REGULAR AGENDA, WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON REQUIRED NOTICE OF DRAWING FOR PLACE ON BALLOT AND PROPOSED DATE FOR DRAWING. LEANA MANN: AND ONCE WE GET ANY FILERS FROM THE JUDGE'S OFFICE, WE DO HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC DRAWING FOR THE PLACE ON THE BALLOT. IT REQUIRES ONLY TWO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO CREATE THE QUORUM FOR THAT, AND WE ARE PROPOSING FEBRUARY 26 THAT'S A MONDAY TO HOLD THE PUBLIC DRAWING, SO WE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO POST THE NOTICE AS WELL AS WHICH MEMBERS COULD ATTEND. NICOLE CONLEY: OKAY, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE ONLY BECAUSE THAT'S MY BIRTHDAY AND I PROBABLY WON'T BE ATTENDING. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, SO IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MS CONLEY, SECONDED BY DR O. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON. LEANA MANN: DO WE HAVE ANY VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE THE TWO MEMBER? JAMES VALADEZ: I'LL BE THERE. I'LL BE PRESENT. THANK YOU. NICOLE CONLEY: I WON'T BE THERE, BUT THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. JAMES VALADEZ: THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS 7K DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ELECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN TRAVIS COUNTY AND TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO INCLUDE JOINT ELECTION AGREEMENT FOR MAY 4, 2024, ELECTION. LEANA MANN: AND STARTING ON PAGE 235, WE HAVE SECURED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY ELECTIONS DIVISION TO PERFORM THE ELECTION FOR US. SO THERE IS A CONTRACT FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL, AND THEN ALSO THE AGREEMENT FOR THE JOINT ELECTION WITH ANY OTHER ENTITIES THAT WILL HAVE ELECTIONS ON MAY 4. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY. I HAVE, I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. BUCKLE, SECONDED BY BLANCA. I DO HAVE A QUESTION RAISED BY MS CONLEY. NICOLE CONLEY: MISS MANN, I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD JUST RECAST AND TALK ABOUT THE COST OF THOSE SUCH ELECTIONS TO TCAD, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE TOTAL ELECTION COSTS, JUST SO THAT WE'RE MINDFUL AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THIS COMES AT A COST TO SOME OF THE TAXING ENTITIES AND IMPACT. LEANA MANN: WE'VE BUDGETED A 2 MILLION COST, 1 MILLION FOR THE INITIAL ELECTION AND THEN ANOTHER MILLION FOR THE RUNOFF. WE DO ANTICIPATE THE COST TO GO DOWN SOME WE WON'T KNOW THE FULL COST OF THE ELECTION UNTIL THEY KNOW HOW MANY ENTITIES ARE PART OF THAT JOINT ELECTION WITH US BEING HAVING TO DO THE ELECTION FOR ALL OF TRAVIS COUNTY, IT IS THE MAJORITY OF THE COST. SO WE SHOULD KNOW AROUND FEBRUARY 26 WHAT OUR ACTUAL COST WILL END UP BEING. BRUCE ELFANT: DO DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT THE COST MIGHT HAVE BEEN IF THIS ELECTION WAS IN NOVEMBER INSTEAD OF MAY? LEANA MANN: WE'VE ASKED THAT QUESTION. THEY'VE NOT GIVEN US A STRAIGHT ANSWER YET. THEY SAID THAT THE COST WOULD BE LESS BECAUSE THERE'S MORE ENTITIES THAT PARTICIPATE. BUT IT'S JUST HARD TO SAY WITHOUT KNOWING HOW MANY ARE IN THE ELECTION, WHAT THE COST WOULD BE? BRUCE ELFANT: WHAT ABOUT LOT LESS. LEANA MANN: HALF A MILLION WOULD PROBABLY BE OUR COST. OSEZUA EHIYAMEN: DO YOU HAVE AN APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE ELECTION? LEANA MANN: YES, THE ELECTION COSTS. THE BOARD APPROVED THAT IN OUR 2024 BUDGET, AT 2 MILLION OSEZUA EHIYAMEN: 2 MILLION. OKAY [00:40:02] JAMES VALADEZ: SO WE HAVE MOTION AND A SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE. WE WILL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE TWO. ITEM, I AM SORRY I LOST MY SPOT, 7L DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON RESOLUTION TO ADOPT NEW VOTING EQUIPMENT FOR THE TRAVIS COUNTY ELECTION AGREEMENT, LEANA MANN: AND THIS IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE AGREEMENT, THAT WE PASS A RESOLUTION THE BOARD PASSES A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE VOTING EQUIPMENT THAT THEY USE. NICOLE CONLEY: OKAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE APPROVAL. JAMES VALADEZ: IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MS CONNELLY, SECONDED BY DR. O. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, THIS WOULD BE DISCUSSION. BRUCE ELFANT: I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE PUBLIC THAT THE VOTING EQUIPMENT USED BY THE TRAVIS COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE FOR TRAVIS COUNTY ELECTIONS HAS BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS AND HAS NOT INCURRED ANY ISSUES SINCE IT'S BEEN DEPLOYED. JAMES VALADEZ: THAT'S GREAT. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7M OF OUR REGULAR AGENDA, WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON LITIGATION AND APPEALS RELATED TO PENDING AND ANTICIPATED LAWSUITS. I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY THINGS TO DISCUSS ON THAT ITEM, RIGHT? LEANA MANN: WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT AT THIS TIME. JAMES VALADEZ: WE WILL MOVE ON. MOVE ON TO ITEM 7N WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ADD ITEMS TO FUTURE AGENDAS. DO ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE APPEAR ON OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING? I DON'T THINK SO. OKAY. LEANA MANN: WE WILL NEED TO CONVENE THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE FOR PROBABLY MARCH, END OF MARCH. JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD. OKAY, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7O WHICH IS ADJOURNMENT. SO WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN. [8. Adjournment] OKAY, MOVED BY DR. O, SECONDED BY VIVEK, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. GREAT AT 12:18, ON FEBRUARY 1, 2024 THE TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS STANDS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.