[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6305762,"mediaKeyId","2443775-a084a051ddc3544cf5ced5b604038f90","parentId",2443775,"title","Longview council approves consent agenda, reallocates COVID CDBG funds to parks and cancels May District 6 election","audioSeconds",307,"startMs",865000,"endMs",1172000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2443775-a084a051ddc3544cf5ced5b604038f90&start=865&end=1172","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2443775-a084a051ddc3544cf5ced5b604038f90/thumbnail_865000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6305762/Longview/Gregg-County/Texas/Longview-council-approves-consent-agenda-reallocates-COVID-CDBG-funds-to-parks-and-cancels-May-District-6-election","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305762-2b83348842eac83dac61093597bcffad/orig.mp4?Expires=1775107936&Signature=dPElhMhahYZJnBRcMBVWZlX1sVDXtsmFFzn7rCY69XYDpIgL~1~HuY~1AxgLJnVmv3evHKXsvMRVk7TOUY9Irk0PZDhizsf1lUgQ1kVST~mgT4-cZwnCDIB8RwqwQswwe8SPxCLVuM3m6E0u7ers2P-exW732NrGTtQdqsWZ0eOu7SqAAS~kCOStemK1Myr-K1I3XO92OxTsasnDzc~QyXHPZ6ZWbzMt40UDidzC9KCUNOEQKK4mbSkSV9GSuRUB~8uEROHF6-SiypYfydNuwUfnWmeiycvitVMjb8v6IOSQZ9tavavrxd~RpykoEQII7ddqmtQiDaqGjlkWoJYTWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Longview, TX","date","2025-02-28T12:34:11Z","article","The Longview City Council, at its Feb. 27, 2025 meeting, approved a consent agenda that included equipment transfers and partnerships, voted to re-obligate remaining COVID-related Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to eligible parks projects and adopted an ordinance canceling the May city council election in District 6 after certifying an unopposed candidate.

Consent agenda highlights

Council approved the consent agenda by voice/raised-hand vote. Among items discussed or explained to council during consent were:

- A trial partnership with CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Sports Medicine offering targeted athletic-trainer rehabilitation services for Longview firefighters during a testing phase; officials said the service is provided as part of CHRISTUS' community benefit and will not cost the city during the trial and will be limited to the fire department while the pilot is evaluated.

- A nominal lease of an ambulance to Culver College to support its EMS/paramedic training program; staff described the arrangement as a $1 (\"a dollar or something\") one-year contract with multiple renewals historically used in similar academy partnerships.

- Transfer of an older patch truck (2017) to Gregg County for their use until that county returns it for eventual city auction sale.

- Rejection of three bids on a separate procurement after one bidder sought to withdraw a very low (approximately $70,000) price; staff recommended rejecting all bids and re-bidding the work.

Public hearing and re-obligation of COVID CDBG funds

Staff presented a request to re-obligate remaining COVID-related CDBG funds toward parks and recreation projects that meet HUD's COVID-related eligibility rules. Diedrich Johnson presented the item, explaining that some earlier small-business assistance programs are no longer timely or feasible to complete under HUD cost-expiration rules and that eligible park projects (for example, hands-free water fountains and outdoor amenities that encourage safe outdoor activity) meet the program's COVID-related objective. The council opened a public hearing, received no public comments, closed the hearing and voted to approve the re-obligation; staff said the change will be forwarded to HUD for a 30-day public comment period and HUD review.

Ordinance cancelling District 6 election

City staff presented a certificate showing only one candidate, Sydney Allen, filed for the District 6 council seat. Staff noted the city's election code requires canceling the municipal election when a candidate is unopposed. Council adopted an ordinance canceling the May election and declaring Sydney Allen elected to District 6.

Motions and votes

- Consent agenda: motion and second, approved by raised-hand vote (no roll-call tally in the record).

- Re-obligation of COVID CDBG funds (amendment to FY 2020 annual plan and five-year consolidated plan): public hearing opened and closed with no speakers; motion to approve and forward to HUD for 30-day comment period, motion approved by raised-hand vote.

- Ordinance cancelling the May District 6 election and declaring Sydney Allen elected: motion and second, approved by raised-hand vote.

Ending: The council approved the items listed above; staff will forward the CDBG amendment to HUD for comment and proceed with administrative steps to implement the approved consent items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 27, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At the Feb. 27 meeting the Longview City Council approved a consent agenda that included equipment transfers and partnerships, voted to re-obligate remaining COVID CDBG funds to parks projects (which will go to HUD for 30-day comment), and adopted an ordinance cancelling the May election in District 6 after certifying an unopposed candidate.","taxTitle","Longview, Gregg County, Texas","taxId",2796,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6305767,"Longview reviews plan to replace six fire apparatus, weighs $3 million seed for financing",1471,1249000,2720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2443775-a084a051ddc3544cf5ced5b604038f90&start=1249&end=2720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2443775-a084a051ddc3544cf5ced5b604038f90/thumbnail_1249000.jpg","/articles/6305767/Longview/Gregg-County/Texas/Longview-reviews-plan-to-replace-six-fire-apparatus-weighs-3-million-seed-for-financing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305767-0eb7590e69f1ca85a6744e871757cd32/orig.mp4?Expires=1775107936&Signature=E0QWT-pDDh8V51H-WhZUFjo9PhsbH0bE6on5NBktC1o3cRWE1SFLxPEFlJA1T9OQ-j4L5nqXnktDCBsP8KSFEoqrVIVBDp4txTCRdgbWEhtCkVdbI6IgfQ2HW1H3uklD-hetIUFq~-gOVFz34~SzXLfVQwcCHZ4YrFKAqJT7yC68RpPzcgrFD31F0fgrKFgqc3qcKQOCpmKM40J-AxYGg5C0u9zrmwt04ZJJeV35oGXvovXcjSA5jjDXtUddXS~NHMoIk~s2Yuu-hvQIQSlkmftKisIRqbncwLpjTh59oL-GVOPgflEwiXW1Dz54x7FBxOnsUuUpOUEjqu8n-UFk0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Feb. 27, 2025, Longview City Council meeting, councilmembers discussed a committee-backed proposal to replace six fire apparatus and a financing plan that would use an initial $3 million seed fund to stabilize multi-year payments.

The plan, developed by a fire apparatus review committee and endorsed by the fire chief, the director of public works and the finance director, would bring six new units onto a replacement schedule the city estimates will cost roughly $7 million to $8 million in today's dollars. Brandon Cotton, a sales consultant with Siddons Martin Emergency Group, presented financing options and said a fully equipped pumper is \"1.2-ish million dollar vehicle today.\" Cotton described a \"turn-and-lease\" structure backed by PNC Bank that guarantees a residual (balloon) value at the end of a multi-year term and gives the city three end-of-term options: buy the vehicles outright, refinance the balloon, or return the apparatus to the manufacturer with the balloon paid.

Why it matters: Longview officials said worn vehicles and high call volumes are straining the department. The presentation noted the department runs heavy call volume (the presenter described Longview as one of the busiest departments of its size), which shortens apparatus life and increases maintenance costs. Council members and staff framed the financing proposal as a way to avoid one-time large draws on fund balance and to make replacement sustainable year-to-year.

What was presented and discussed

- Committee and endorsement: City Manager McPhee said Chief J.P. Steelman appointed a fire apparatus review committee that included John Eric Johnson, Kelsey Trotti, Steve Dankers and other department and public-works representatives to develop replacement recommendations. Finance Director Angela Cohen helped estimate the funding need.

- Costs and scope: Cotton told council the package to acquire six units would cost \"somewhere around $7 or $8,000,000.\" He estimated a single pumper at about $1.2 million, noting final prices depend on options and specifications.

- Financing options: Cotton described two principal structures: a lease-purchase, which results in ownership at the end of the term, and a turn-and-lease (lease-turn) that includes a balloon (residual) payment guaranteed by the finance partner. He said in similar plans the back-end balloon figure \"has been about 2.3\" (as stated in the presentation) and explained that guaranteed residuals and prepaid discounts for a multi-unit purchase can reduce overall cost of ownership.

- $3 million seed fund: City staff and the consultant proposed using about $3 million as seed money to equalize payments during the early years of the financing schedule so annual obligations remain manageable while the city phases in replacements.

Council questions and concerns

Council members pressed for clarity on annual payments, total lifetime cost and the balloon payment at the end of terms. One councilmember asked for hard numbers for annual payments and the size of the balloon; Cotton answered that annual payments could average on the order of hundreds of thousands to about $1 million depending on structure and term and reiterated the $7'$8 million present-cost estimate for six vehicles. Council members emphasized long-term affordability and the need to avoid repeated shortfalls that previously left fleet purchases deferred.

No formal action taken

The item was presented as a discussion item; council did not adopt a financing agreement or appropriate funds at the meeting. Staff and council members indicated intent to return with detailed financing proposals, amortization schedules and recommended contract terms before any binding commitment.

Ending: Council members thanked the presenter and city staff for the analysis and acknowledged public-safety needs; staff will provide follow-up figures and recommended contract terms for future action.","At its Feb. 27, 2025 meeting the Longview City Council discussed a committee-backed plan to replace six aging fire vehicles and a financing proposal that would use a $3 million seed fund to smooth multi-year payments under a lease-turn financing option presented by Siddons Martin and a partner bank.","actionData","errors"]

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Longview council approves consent agenda, reallocates COVID CDBG funds to parks and cancels May District 6 election

Longview reviews plan to replace six fire apparatus, weighs $3 million seed for financing