A. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding homelessness response solutions in the City of Denton. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 1:30 minutes]

[A. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding homelessness response solutions in the City of Denton. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 1:30 minutes]]

RECEIVE, REPORT, HOLD DISCUSSION, GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SOLUTION IN THE CITY OF DENTON MAYOR.

BEFORE COURTNEY IS GOING TO GIVE A PRESENTATION, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO SHARE WITH YOU IF YOU DON'T KNOW OUR STAFF WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES. SO YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE VERY TALENTED AND QUALIFIED TEAM.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, DANNY, SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVES SINCE 2015.

SHE HAS AN UNDERGRADUATE AND MASTER'S DEGREE, ONE UNDERGRADUATE FROM CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

[00:10:03]

HER MASTER'S IS FROM TWU, BUT SHE'S WORKED ON EVERYTHING FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, SYSTEMS CHANGE, LEADERSHIP, HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND THEN FACILITATION IN STRATEGIC PLANNING.

COURTNEY HAS SEVEN YEARS OF HOMELESSNESS EXPERIENCE SERVING IN SOLUTIONS AND ADVOCACY EXPERIENCE.

EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH UNITED WAY OF DENTON COUNTY.

SHE'S THE ONE WHO FACILITATED FACILITATED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DENTON COUNTY HOMELESSNESS LEADERSHIP TEAM AND HAS ALL SORTS OF EXPERIENCE IN STRATEGIC PLANNING, PEOPLE, MANAGEMENT, RELATIONAL LEADERSHIP.

SHE HAS A BACHELOR IN SOCIOLOGY FROM FMU AND SHE HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM QUEEN MARY OF LONDON.

MEGAN HAS SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMING AND INCLUDES WORK IN TEXAS AND MARYLAND.

HER AREAS OF EXPERTISE ARE CASE MANAGEMENT, OUTREACH, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, SHELTER OPERATIONS, HOMELESSNESS SERVICES, COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY.

SHE HAS A BACHELOR IN PSYCHOLOGY WITH A MASTER'S IN COLLEGE STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION, AND SHE'S CURRENTLY WORKING ON A REHABILITATION COUNSELING MASTER'S DEGREE. AND FINALLY, YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS A LIEUTENANT NOW, LISA HOWE.

ALEX HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY SINCE 2006, BUT SHE'S BEEN ASSIGNED NOW AS THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM, SORT OF IN CHARGE OF IT.

BUT SHE'S WORKED ON THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

SHE'S WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF POLICE ON PUBLIC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

SHE HAS A MINOR IN PSYCHOLOGY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS.

SHE IS ALSO PURSUING A MANAGEMENT I MEAN, A MANAGEMENT, A MASTER'S DEGREE IN VICTIM SERVICE MANAGEMENT FROM SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY.

SHE'S A LICENSED PEACE MASTER PEACE OFFICER IN CRISIS NEGOTIATIONS.

AND SHE ALSO CO-CHAIRS THE DENTON COUNTY BEHAVIORAL LEADERSHIP TEAM.

WHEN YOU HEAR THE PLETHORA AND I MEAN PLETHORA OF EXPERIENCES THESE PEOPLE HAVE, I WOULD SAY TO YOU, WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE ALL OF THEM WORKING WITH US, WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, TO BETTER SERVE OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND THE UNDERSERVED POPULATION.

IT WAS IMPERATIVE FOR ME TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK AND SORT OF GREASE THE SKIDS.

SO YOU KNEW THAT THE PEOPLE TALKING AND THE PEOPLE ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS HAVE THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS, IRA. AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL COURTNEY, DWAYNE DARRAH WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES.

VERY GLAD TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON.

TO START US OFF, WE'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT JANUARY 10TH COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS MADE A TWO MINUTE PITCH REQUEST AND RECEIVE SUPPORT FOR A WORK SESSION FOR AN UPDATE ON HOMELESSNESS EFFORTS AFTER OPENING THE NEW SHELTER WITH A FOCUS ON SAFETY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

SO TODAY WE'D LIKE TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, OUR LOCAL HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM.

TALK THROUGH SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCEMENT WITH THE FOCUS ON THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND DISCUSS SOME ADDITIONAL NEXT STEPS.

BY WAY OF REMINDER INFORMATION COVERED IN THIS PRESENTATION PERTAINS TO COUNCIL'S KEY FOCUS AREA TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 288 COMMUNITY SHELTER AND CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVES AND THE HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM.

THE HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM IS BUILT ON A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES INVOLVING COLLECTIVE IMPACT NETWORKS, INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ORGANIZE TO DELIVER AND HOUSING AND SERVICES TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, HOMELESSNESS OR HOUSING CRISIS.

THE CONTINUUM AND DENTON IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS OUR HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM.

THE CITY HAS PRIORITIZED INVESTMENT IN OUR SYSTEM AS A COLLABORATIVE AND COORDINATED SYSTEM OF RESPONSE TO ADDRESS COMPLEX ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE OUR SHARED COMMUNITY GOAL OF MAKING HOMELESSNESS RARE, BRIEF AND NON-RECURRING.

AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE'VE OUTLINED THE FIVE COMPONENT, WHAT WE CONSIDER KEY COMPONENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM.

YOU'LL SEE THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION THAT REFERENCES TO THIS, TO THESE COMPONENTS AND VARIOUS WAYS THAT THE CITY INVESTS FUNDING IN OUR LOCAL SYSTEM.

TO START US OFF OUTREACH IS A VALUABLE TOOL THAT ENSURES PEOPLE LIVING ON SHELTER ARE PROVIDED INFORMATION AND REFERRALS AND HAVE ACCESS TO EMERGENCY SHELTER.

DIVERSION AND PREVENTION ARE ARGUABLY ONE OF OUR MORE EFFECTIVE, COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS.

PREVENTION OBVIOUSLY HELPS PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES OR IN THEIR CURRENT HOUSING SITUATION.

WHILE DIVERSION FOCUSES ON PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM EVER HAVING TO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS OR ENTER INTO SHELTERS TO BEGIN WITH.

TEMPORARY SHELTER CONNECTS PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOUSING CRISIS OR FLEEING AN UNSAFE SITUATION TO A SAFE PLACE TO STAY.

COORDINATED ENTRY IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BECOME MORE PROMINENT IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

DENTON AND DENTON COUNTY HAVE ADOPTED A UNIFORM PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING, ASSESSING, REFERRING AND CONNECTING PEOPLE, EXPERIENCING A HOUSING CRISIS TO THE MOST APPROPRIATE HOUSING SOLUTION FOR THEIR HOUSEHOLD.

AND WITHOUT PERMANENT HOUSING, THERE'S CONSTANT HOUSING INSTABILITY IN OUR SYSTEM.

OUR HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM INCLUDES A GOAL TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY TO CONNECT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH PERMANENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS.

AND TO START US OFF, LIEUTENANT HOWELL IS GOING TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CITY'S APPROACH TO OUTREACH.

[00:15:05]

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M LIEUTENANT LISA HOULE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I OVERSEE THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION THERE, AS WELL AS DOWNTOWN AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION JUST AS A BRIEF OVERVIEW.

IT'S COMPRISED OF THE CRISIS INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM OR CERT TEAM, AS WE CALL THEM.

AND THAT CONSISTS OF FOUR CO RESPONDER TEAMS MADE UP.

EACH TEAM IS MADE UP OF AN OFFICER AND A LICENSED CLINICIAN, AND THEY RESPOND TO CALLS, CALLS FOR SERVICE LIKE PATROL.

AND THEY ALSO DO FOLLOW UPS, KIND OF LIKE DETECTIVES ON THE INFORMATION REPORTS, JUST TO CHECK IN ON PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVEN'T GONE BACK INTO CRISIS OR TO SEE WHAT RESOURCES THEY MAY NEED.

ALSO IN THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION IS THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM.

THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM IS COMPRISED OF TWO OFFICERS, CURRENTLY A STABILITY CASEWORKER AND A PARAMEDIC.

THE STABILITY CASEWORKER POSITION WAS CREATED BECAUSE WE SAW A GAP IN THE SYSTEM IN WHICH SOMEONE MIGHT BE PLACED INTO SERVICES, BUT NO ONE WAS REGULARLY CHECKING IN ON THEM JUST TO ENSURE THAT THEY WERE CONTINUING WITH WHATEVER REQUIREMENTS THEY NEED TO MEET FOR THAT PROGRAM.

SO THE STABILITY CASEWORKER IS JUST SOMEONE WHO STAYS IN CONTACT AND MAKES SURE THAT THEY'RE CONTINUING TO RECEIVE THEIR SERVICES AND IDENTIFY ANY OTHER BARRIERS THAT THEY MIGHT ENCOUNTER.

THE TEAM TOGETHER WILL RESPOND TO ENCAMPMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 ENCAMPMENT VISITS ARE OCCURRING PER WEEK.

THEY'RE ALSO RESPONDING TO ENGAGE DENTON REQUEST CALLS FOR SERVICE, ANY REQUESTS THAT COME IN FROM DEPARTMENT LEADERS.

AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY ARE SPREAD PRETTY THIN.

THEY LIKE TO BE PROACTIVE, BUT CURRENTLY THEY ARE REACTIVE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF REQUESTS THAT ARE COMING IN.

AND I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM, THEY ARE OUTREACH FOCUSED AND NOT ENFORCEMENT.

SO THE STABILITY CASEWORKER, SHE WORKS IN THE SYSTEM AGENCIES.

SHE CURRENTLY HAS 83 CLIENTS ENROLLED IN SERVICES.

AND SINCE A.

JOINING THE ASHES.

PLATFORM. SHE'S PROVIDED 262 SERVICES.

THOSE SERVICES INCLUDE THINGS SUCH AS JUST OUTREACH CONTACTS, PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION, HELPING INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY PAPERWORK OR OBTAINING AN ID.

SHE'S VERY MULTITALENTED AND DOES ANYTHING FOR WHATEVER THEY NEED ON HER CASELOAD.

SHE'S THERE FOR THEM.

AND THE ISSUE THAT ARISES IS THAT OUR STABILITY CASEWORKER TO HAVE A HEALTHY, MANAGEABLE CASELOAD, IT SHOULD BE AROUND 20 PEOPLE AND IT'S CURRENTLY AT 83.

SO WE'VE SURPASSED WHAT IS MANAGEABLE AT THIS POINT.

OUR PARAMEDIC, JEREMY PUNCHES, HE JOINED THE TEAM LAST MARCH, SO JUST A LITTLE UNDER A YEAR.

AND DURING THAT TIME, HE LOGS EVERY CONTACT AND VISIT ON SURVEY ONE, TWO, THREE.

THERE HAVE BEEN 820 SITE VISITS THAT HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED, AND HE'S ACCOMPANIED BY THE REST OF THE TEAM.

AND THEY'VE HAD 170 CALLS FOR SERVICE THAT WERE DIVERTED.

NOW, IT IS CONSIDERED A DIVERSION.

IF THEY HAVE LIKE THEY HEAR A CALL FOR SERVICE WHERE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO RESPOND AND THEY WILL DISREGARD THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HANDLE IT THEMSELVES.

THEY WILL ALSO SEE SOMEONE THAT THEY KNOW WILL PROBABLY GENERATE A911 CALL AND THEN THEY GO AND CONTACT THIS INDIVIDUAL AND PREVENT THAT 911 CALL.

A LOT OF HIS CONTACTS.

HE IS PROVIDING BASIC MEDICAL CARE LIKE BAND-AIDS, MEDICINE FOR HEADACHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S WHAT THE NUMBER OF 108 PATIENTS SEEN.

THAT'S WHAT THAT COVERS, JUST BASIC MEDICAL CARE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE SUCCESS OF THE ID PROGRAM.

THIS WAS ESTABLISHED BY OUR TWO ORIGINAL HOMELESS OUTREACH OFFICERS.

THEY CREATED THE PROGRAM DUE TO SEEING THAT ID IS A MAJOR BARRIER FOR PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

THEY CAN'T GET INTO SERVICES WITHOUT HAVING PROOF OF WHO THEY ARE.

AND SO THEY ESTABLISHED A RELATIONSHIP WITH DPS, AND BY WORKING WITH A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDER, THEY MAKE FACE SHEETS THAT THEN DPS WILL USE TO VERIFY THE INDIVIDUAL'S IDENTITY AND THEN PROVIDE THEM IDENTIFICATION.

SO IT'S IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM THAT GETS RID OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS FOR INDIVIDUALS.

[00:20:21]

MEGAN BALL WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES.

SO FOR THE ENCAMPMENT RESPONSE, THE CITY CREATED AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENTAL HOMELESS RESPONSE TEAM IN 2018 TO TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A COLLABORATIVE RESPONSE ACROSS CITY SERVICES TO HOMELESSNESS.

THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THAT ARE COMMUNITY SERVICES, LIBRARIES, PARKS AND REC, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LEGAL.

I BELIEVE I NEED THEM ALL.

BUT SO JUST TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF SORT OF HOW OUR RESPONSE GOES.

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE PRIORITIZE HEALTH AND HEALTH AND SAFETY AT EACH SITE.

SO WE START OUT BY IDENTIFYING THE LOCATION FROM REQUESTS THAT WE RECEIVE, EITHER THROUGH ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS OR PARTNER AGENCIES. AND SO WHEN WE GET THAT INFORMATION IN COMMUNITY SERVICES, IT GOES OUT TO THE HOT TEAM AND TO COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT SERVICES.

THE HOT TEAM WILL THEN GO TO THE LOCATION THAT WILL DO THE OUTREACH AND THEN WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT SERVICES TO ASSESS THE LOCATION.

HEALTH AND SAFETY. ONCE HOT HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SITE IS NO LONGER ACTIVE, WHICH MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER THERE AND THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT THEIR BELONGINGS AND THEY'RE GONE. COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT SERVICES WILL THEN REACH OUT TO PARKS TO DO A WORK ORDER FOR CLEANUP.

PARKS WILL ASSESS THE SITUATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY EITHER USE INTERNAL RESOURCES OR HIRE A CONTRACTOR TO CLEAN UP THE SITE.

THE GRAPH ON THE SLIDE INDICATES HOW MANY REQUESTS THAT WE RECEIVED EACH MONTH THROUGH 2022.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S ABOUT AN AVERAGE OF 15 REQUESTS PER MONTH.

SO THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE RESPONDING TO REQUESTS ABOUT EVERY OTHER DAY IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS.

THAT MEANS COLLABORATING WITH HOT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR MULTIPLE DAYS.

IT MEANS SITE REFERRALS AND ASSESSMENTS.

IT MEANS FOLLOWING UP WITH WHOEVER REQUESTED THE RESPONSE THROUGH EMAIL OR ENGAGE OR PHONE CALLS, AND THEN ALSO TRACKING THE INFORMATION FOR ONGOING EVALUATION.

ONE THING WE WANTED TO POINT OUT, THOUGH, WITH ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS THAT IT IS WORKING.

THE PROCESS IS WORKING. ONE EXAMPLE IS THIS PAST SUMMER WE RECEIVED MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR THE SAME INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE BASICALLY THEY WERE MOVING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER PLACE.

HOWEVER, DURING THAT TIME, HOTT WAS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE CONNECTED TO HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDER AGENCIES TO GET THEIR COORDINATED ENTRY COMPLETED, GET THEM ON THE HOUSING PRIORITY LIST AND REFER THEM TO HOUSING PROGRAMS. ONE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL THAT HAD WORKED WITH ACTUALLY CONNECTED STRAIGHT TO A PERMANENT, SUPPORTIVE, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING STRAIGHT.

SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEBODY BEING ON THE STREET AND THEN BEING DIRECTLY INTO HOUSING BECAUSE OF THE COLLABORATION WITH HOT AND HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS.

THAT BEING SAID, UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS HAS INCREASED BY 42% FROM 2020 TO 2022.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT INFORMATION ON THE HOMELESSNESS DATA DASHBOARD ON THE UNITED WAY OF DENTON COUNTY'S WEBSITE.

ADDITIONALLY, AS THE CITY DEVELOPS, THERE ARE LESS THERE ARE MORE PLACES THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SEEN BECAUSE THERE ARE LESS PLACES FOR THEM TO GO, THAT THEY ARE OUT OF SIGHT.

SO IT'S JUST GOING TO BE MORE VISIBLE.

THAT BEING SAID, STAFF IS REALLY SPENDING A LOT OF TIME RESPONDING TO ENCAMPMENTS.

IN MY PARTICULAR POSITION, I'M SPENDING AT LEAST 50% OF MY TIME RESPONDING TO ENCAMPMENTS.

AND ENCAMPMENTS ARE ONLY ONE GOAL THAT THE CITY HAS IDENTIFIED TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE OTHER GOALS AND PROGRAMS THAT WERE OVERSEEING AT THE SAME TIME.

SO THIS IS REALLY LED TO STAFF NOT BEING ABLE TO BE STRATEGICALLY FOCUSED.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THE CITY OF DENTON PRIORITIZES DIVERSION AND PREVENTION THROUGH ITS ANNUAL FUNDING OF THE DENTON COUNTY HOMELESSNESS BARRIERS FUND.

THE BARRIERS FUND WAS CREATED TO HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME BARRIERS TO GETTING AND STAYING HOUSED.

THE AVERAGE REQUEST AMOUNT IS JUST UNDER $500 AND RANGES FROM HELPING REPAIR VEHICLES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT, TO ASSISTANCE WITH RENTAL DEPOSITS AND EVEN BUS TICKETS HOME TO RETURN TO SUPPORT NETWORKS AND STABLE HOUSING.

AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE CITY OF DENTON FUNDED THE RENOVATION OF 909 LOOP 288, WHICH OPENED DECEMBER 12TH, 2022, AS THE DENTON COMMUNITY SHELTER OPERATED BY OUR DAILY BREAD.

THE SHELTER IS OPEN 24 SEVEN, ADDING CRUCIAL DAY SHELTER SERVICES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY PREVIOUSLY NONEXISTENT IN DENTON.

THE SHELTER PROVIDES 118 EMERGENCY SHELTER BEDS AND 32 TRANSITIONAL SHELTER BEDS, INCREASING SHELTER CAPACITY BY ABOUT 67% IN THE COMMUNITY.

COTS ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR GUESTS AS NEEDED FOR OVERFLOW WHEN THE EMERGENCY SHELTER IS AT CAPACITY.

[00:25:02]

IN ADDITION TO SHELTER, OUR DAILY BREAD PROVIDES MEALS, LAUNDRY SERVICES, SHOWERS, CASE MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

AND THE FACILITY ALSO PROVIDES SPACE FOR PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CO-LOCATE, MAKING WRAPAROUND SERVICES MORE ACCESSIBLE TO GUESTS, ALL IN ONE PLACE.

ACCORDING TO THE ENTRIES I MENTIONED, IS THE UNIFORM PROCESS IMPLEMENTED BY HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COUNTY TO IDENTIFY, ASSESS AND REFER HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING LITERAL HOMELESSNESS TO THE MOST APPROPRIATE HOUSING INTERVENTION? THE CITY SUPPORT OF THIS PROCESS HELPS ENSURE PROVIDERS ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO MEASURE, NEED AND PRIORITIZE OUR LIMITED RESOURCES FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF VULNERABILITY. THE CITY INVESTS IN COORDINATED ENTRY BY PROVIDING FUNDING FOR DATABASE LICENSES, WHICH HELPS ENSURE PROVIDERS ARE SAFELY AND SECURELY TRACKING AND SHARING CLIENT DATA IN REAL TIME.

AND ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY FUNDS BACKBONE SUPPORT STAFF AT THE UNITED WAY OF DENTON COUNTY TO MAINTAIN THIS DATA INTERNALLY FOR PROVIDERS AND TO SHARE IT EXTERNALLY FOR THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE DENTON COUNTY HOMELESSNESS DATA DASHBOARD PICTURED HERE.

THE GOAL OF PERMANENT HOUSING IS TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS THROUGH HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND AFFORDABILITY.

AND ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS KEY TO MAINTAINING SUCCESSFUL OUTFLOWS FROM OUR HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM.

THE CITY OF DENTON INVEST IN PERMANENT HOUSING IN A VARIETY OF WAYS LISTED HERE, INCLUDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOOLKIT BY PROVIDING DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO INCOME ELIGIBLE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS, HOMEBUYERS AND HOMEOWNERS THROUGH GRANTS TO NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS TO REDUCE BARRIERS LIKE PERMITTING FEES AND SUPPORT FOR HOUSING TAX CREDIT APPLICATIONS.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ALSO PRIORITIZED IN CITY PLANS SUCH AS OUR HUD CONSOLIDATED PLAN, THE 2040 PLAN, AND OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN, AND MOST RECENTLY HAD APPROVED OUR THE CITY'S ALLOCATION PLAN OF HOME ARP FUNDS FOR TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WITH A PROVIDER PRIORITY EXCUSE ME, WITH A PRIORITY FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING LITERAL HOMELESSNESS.

CURRENTLY THE CITY INVESTS JUST UNDER $6 MILLION CITYWIDE FOR THE PURPOSE OF STRENGTHENING OUR HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM.

AND THE TABLE ON THE SLIDE IDENTIFIES THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING ALLOCATED RELATED TO EACH OF OUR RESPONSE SYSTEM COMPONENTS.

APPROXIMATELY $4.1 MILLION OF THIS TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT IS THROUGH FEDERAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS PROJECTED TO BE FULLY EXPENDED THROUGH DECEMBER BY DECEMBER 2024. JUST OVER 704,000 OF THE FUNDING FOR OUTREACH FUNDS, CITY STAFFING AND OPERATIONS FOR OUTREACH AND THE REMAINING AMOUNT OF OUTREACH FUNDING IS PROVIDED AS A GRANT TO A LOCAL NONPROFIT TO SUPPORT OUTREACH.

CITY COUNCIL ALLOCATES JUST OVER 700,000 OF GRANT FUNDING ANNUALLY THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE PROGRAMS SUCH AS OUTREACH, DIVERSION PREVENTION, THE BARRIERS FUND, SHELTER AND BACKBONE SUPPORT OF OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVES.

THESE RESOURCES WERE ALLOCATED BY COUNCIL DURING OUR INITIAL PHASES OF OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE EFFORTS AS A CITY AND HAVE REMAINED AT THE SAME LEVEL SINCE ABOUT 2018.

SO STAFF HAVE IDENTIFIED CURRENT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCEMENT TO OUR SYSTEM SPECIFIC TO THE CITY'S CURRENT ROLE AND OUR INVESTMENT.

GPD CURRENTLY HAS THE TWO OFFICERS, THE TWO HOT TEAM OFFICERS, AS YOU HEARD LIEUTENANT, HOW I MENTIONED SERVING THE ENTIRE CITY.

THEY HAVE A NEED FOR INCREASED CAPACITY TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH CALL RESPONSE.

AND AS YOU HEARD THERE.

HOT TEAM CASEWORKERS CURRENTLY OVER CLIENT CAPACITY.

THEY HAVE NEW PATROL OFFICERS COMPLETING TRAINING WILL BE ABLE TO COME ON AND HELP SUPPORT THEM IN A HEALTH RESPONSE.

AND ADDITIONALLY, THEY HAVE DETERMINED A NEED FOR TWO ADDITIONAL HOT TEAM OFFICERS AND AN ADDITIONAL CASEWORKER TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY.

THEY MAY OR MAY NOT ALSO BE TALKING ABOUT ADDING A HOT DOG TO THEIR TEAM.

NO THANKS. HER THERAPY DOG.

OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T BE A BOXER AS A RESULT OF INCREASED UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS AND VISIBILITY.

COMMUNITY SERVICES STAFF, AS YOU HEARD MEGAN MENTIONED, ARE SPENDING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME RESPONDING TO ENCAMPMENTS AND REQUESTS AND LESS TIME FOCUSED ON WAYS TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S STRATEGIC FOCUS AND RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS.

AND JUST TO PULL THE CURTAIN BACK A LITTLE BIT MORE, MEGAN'S POSITION WAS CREATED TO HELP INCREASE ALIGNMENT OF OUR STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN HOMELESSNESS CITYWIDE. AND AS YOU HEARD HER MENTIONED, AT LEAST 50% OF HER TIME WEEKLY IS GOING TOWARDS OUR REACTIVE RESPONSE TO HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT WE'VE LISTED. AND IT'S ALSO BECOMING MORE APPARENT.

WE'RE HEARING IT FROM THE PUBLIC THAT THEY HAVE A DESIRE FOR US TO PROVIDE A SPEEDIER RESPONSE TO ENCAMPMENTS IN GENERAL.

SO COMMUNITY SERVICES STAFF HAVE IDENTIFIED OR HAVE DETERMINED THAT TWO ADDITIONAL POSITIONS TO SUPPORT OUTREACH AND ENCAMPMENT RESPONSE INTERNALLY IN THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE TIME TO REQUEST AND BETTER MANAGE OUR GROWTH.

ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE RECENTLY ADDED AN ANALYST POSITION TO SUPPORT DATA MANAGEMENT AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT IN ORDER TO STREAMLINE OUR PROCESSES AND FREE UP EXISTING STAFF.

[00:30:05]

TIME TO ESTABLISH SOME OF THOSE GOALS AND IMPROVE OUR PROGRAMS. BASED ON THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED TODAY, STAFF IS PLANNING TO SUBMIT A SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET PROCESS TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY AND IMPROVE THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS AND ULTIMATELY STRENGTHEN OUR HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM.

ADDITIONALLY, STAFF HAVE PREPARED WHAT WE'RE CALLING A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TO REQUESTS RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS AND SAFETY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WITH THE GOAL OF IDENTIFYING SOLUTIONS FOR CLEANER, SAFER AND HAPPIER DOWNTOWN DENTON.

SO YOU'RE RECEIVING THIS PRESENTATION TODAY ON HOMELESSNESS.

YOU'LL GET ONE RIGHT AFTER THIS ON TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

WE'LL BE BACK IN MARCH TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION PROPOSING A DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM TO ADDRESS QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

WE HEARD COUNCIL CONCERNS AND INCREASED CONCERNS FROM OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, AND SO WE'VE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH POLICE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARKS TO DEVELOP WHAT WE ARE HOPING IS GOING TO BE A GOOD PROPOSAL FOR YOU ON A SOLUTION IN THAT AREA.

AND THEN IN APRIL, COUNCIL WILL BE PRESENTED WITH PROPOSED CHANGES TO CITY ORDINANCES TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS, ADDRESS AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FOR SETH.

COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT SUCCINCT, CAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE LOTS OF OTHER WE HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC THINGS, BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ENCAMPMENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING A LOT OF TIME AND RESOURCES.

I'M WONDERING WHAT OTHER KIND OF METRICS WE'RE KEEPING ON THOSE.

SO WE SAW KIND OF THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE RESPONDING TO, BUT WE KNOW SOMETIMES THERE'S FAMILIAR FACES.

DO WE KNOW ARE THOSE ARE THOSE FOLKS TYPICALLY GETTING CONNECTED WITH COORDINATED ENTRY SO WE KIND OF KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING NEXT? OR DO WE HAVE ANY KIND OF WAY TO MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT WE RUN INTO? WE DO. AND AS LIEUTENANT HOWARD MENTIONED, THEIR CASEWORKER HAS RECENTLY BEEN ABLE TO START ADDING DATA INTO THE DATABASE.

IT TOOK US A LITTLE WHILE TO GET KIND OF OUR PROVIDERS ON BOARD WITH LETTING PD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT KIND OF INFORMATION, BUT THEIR CASEWORKER DOES CONTRIBUTE THAT DATA.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO IDENTIFY MAYBE WHO'S ENGAGED THROUGH OUR PD OUTREACH VERSUS NONPROFIT.

AND WE DO HAVE THE DATA TO BE ABLE TO TRACK SOMEONE THROUGH COORDINATED ENTRY ALL THE WAY TO A POTENTIAL HOUSING PLACEMENT.

DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? SURE. AND SO, YES, THERE ARE FAMILIAR FACES, BUT AS WE KNOW, IT COULD BE 10 TO 20 CONTACTS BEFORE SOMEONE WILL ACCEPT SERVICES. ALSO, JUST THE NATURE OF ENCAMPMENT, THEY WILL MOVE.

IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE CONSTANTLY STATIONARY.

SO THE WHOLE PROCESS SOMETIMES IS FINDING THAT ENCAMPMENT AND THEN STARTING TO WORK WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THEN JUST REENGAGING THEM IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT SERVICES EXIST AND WHAT WHAT THAT INDIVIDUAL SPECIFICALLY COULD BENEFIT FROM.

SURE. I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS.

PHRASE ANOTHER WAY.

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH DATA GATHERED NOW THAT WE'RE WE'RE COLLECTING IT IN THE SAME PLACE AS OUR OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS? DO WE HAVE ENOUGH DATA TO BE ABLE TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW THE HOW THE RESPONSE IS GOING? I MEAN, ANECDOTALLY, WE KNOW IT'S GOING REALLY WELL, BUT DO WE HAVE ENOUGH DATA YET ON OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS? THAT IS ONE OF OUR GOALS AND HONESTLY, ONE OF OUR REASONS FOR HOPING TO INCREASE SOME STAFF CAPACITY TO ALLOW US TO HAVE THE TIME TO DO MORE OF THAT DATA ANALYSIS AND KIND OF PROVIDE MORE OF A HOLISTIC PICTURE OF EFFECTIVENESS ACROSS OUR PROGRAMS. COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS SHE'S RIGHT.

THE ANSWER IS NO, WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA THAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

THAT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT.

THE GOAL IS, ONE WE ADDED AN ANALYST TO HELP US WITH THAT, BUT WE'RE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND ON THAT BECAUSE YOU SEE HOW MEGAN SPENDING 50% OF HER TIME GOING OUT TO ENCAMPMENTS, YOU KNOW, DANNY SPENDING 7% OF HER TIME, AND THEN COURTNEY AND THEN WE'VE GOT EMILY, WHO'S DOING THE HOUSING FOR NOT JUST HELPING WITH HOUSING, SHE'S DOING MORE HOUSING FROM THE STRATEGIC TOOLKIT ON HOUSING.

BUT THAT'S OUR GOAL, IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE BETTER DATA SO THAT WE CAN, ON A DASHBOARD SHOW HOW MANY ENCAMPMENTS WE'RE INFECTING, HOW WE'RE HOW WE'RE AFFECTING HOW WE ARE THEN GETTING PEOPLE INTO A JOB MARKET, INTO LEARNING DIFFERENT SKILLS, GETTING THEM HEALTH.

MANY OF THEM HAVE HEALTH ISSUES.

SO I THINK IT'S WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO GET THERE.

WE JUST WE'VE JUST BEGUN THAT.

SAYING KIND OF THE THEME OF ENCAMPMENTS.

SO SOME SOME OF THESE PLACES ARE ON CITY LAND.

AND SO WE HAVE KIND OF THE HOT TEAM RESPONSE AND WE HAVE KIND OF A LITTLE MORE TIME BECAUSE IT'S OUR LAND AND WE CAN MAKE THE DECISIONS.

SOME OF THEM ARE ON PRIVATE LAND WHERE SOMEBODY CALLS THE P.D.

AND SAYS, I WANT A CRIMINAL TRESPASS.

ANYBODY WHO'S THERE, DON'T GIVE ME ANY KIND OF TIME AT ALL.

ARE WE HAVING ANY WE'RE HAVING PRIVATE LANDOWNERS OR HOAS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS REACH OUT SPECIFICALLY FOR HOT TEAM RESPONSE, LIKE COME HELP THESE FOLKS, NOT COME

[00:35:04]

HUSTLE THESE FOLKS ALONG? WE SEE BOTH. WE DO.

AND WE DO HAVE INTERNAL PROCESSES, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY AND HOW WE RESPOND.

BUT WE HAVE GOTTEN REQUESTS FROM FOLKS WHO'VE GOT SOMEONE ON THE BACK OF THEIR PROPERTY AND THEY'D LIKE TO GET THEM CONNECTED TO HAWTHORNE SPECIFICALLY, THEY'VE HEARD ABOUT THE OFFICERS AND THE CASEWORKER, AND THEN WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE READY TO SIGN AN ENFORCEMENT AUTHORIZATION AND MOVE PEOPLE ALONG.

SO IT REALLY DOES KIND OF RUN THE GAMUT.

WHAT'S KIND OF THE AVERAGE FOR CITY LAND WHERE WE WHERE WE ARE THE LANDOWNER AND WE'RE ALSO OFFERING THE SERVICE WHAT'S KIND OF THE AVERAGE FOR GETTING AN ENCAMPMENT IDENTIFIED, CONNECTED WITH SERVICES AND THEN KIND OF CLEANED UP? IS IT VERY TOO MUCH TO GIVE AN AVERAGE? IT DOES. IT VARIES BASED ON SIZE, WHO'S THEIR KIND OF WHAT THEIR SITUATION IS AND WHETHER THERE'S HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS.

RIGHT. SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THERE THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY THAT WOULD MAKE IT WHERE WE NEED TO CLEAN IT QUICKLY, THEN WE DO THAT.

BUT AGAIN, IT DOES VARY.

IT DEPENDS ON THE PERSON'S SORRY, SORRY, IT DEPENDS ON THE PERSON'S SITUATION A LOT OF THE TIME.

SO IT'S PRETTY INDIVIDUALIZED.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE COULD SAY THAT THERE'S A.

SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TIME? WELL, YES, WE SO WE WE GIVE AT LEAST 72 HOURS AND THEN UP TO 15 DAYS.

SO WE DO SHOOT FOR THAT GOAL.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN, THOUGH, THAT THERE AREN'T SITUATIONS WHERE THINGS HAPPEN AND IT COULD TAKE A LITTLE LONGER.

WE DO ALSO TRY TO IF AN ERROR, IF A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CITY FUNDING HAS BEEN UTILIZED TO CLEAR AN AREA PREVIOUSLY TO ENSURE THAT SITUATION DOESN'T ARISE WHERE IT WOULD GET TO THE SAME LEVEL AS BEFORE.

SO WE TRY TO KIND OF ADDRESS THOSE AS NEEDED.

THANK YOU. YOU KNOW THE COURSE COUNCILMAN WANTS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR COURTNEY ON SLIDE TEN, WHERE YOU LIST THE SORT OF BREAKDOWN OF THE FUNDING.

ON THE FUNDING HIGHLIGHTS, YOU SAY THAT THE 4.1 MILLION EXPIRES IN 2024.

SO ARE THESE NUMBERS.

THIS ISN'T AN ANNUAL NUMBER.

IS THIS FROM WHAT TIME FRAME DO THESE NUMBERS REPRESENT? THIS IS IT'S NOT I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO ASK ME THAT QUESTION, BY THE WAY.

IT'S NOT A PERFECTLY ANNUAL NUMBER, SO TO SPEAK, BUT IT IS CURRENT FUNDING FROM THIS FISCAL YEAR ONWARD.

SO THERE IS A SMALL PORTION OF THAT FUNDING.

WELL, ACTUALLY, A PORTION OF THAT 4.1 THAT WILL SPAN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

BUT THE MAJORITY OF IT IS KIND OF AN ANNUAL INVESTMENT STAFF WISE, GRANT FUNDING WISE AND ALL OF THAT.

SO IT'S NOT A PERFECTLY ANNUAL AMOUNT, BUT IT IS THE CURRENT SNAPSHOT OF OUR CURRENT INVESTMENT.

OKAY. SO THEN ON THE TEMPORARY SHELTER AMOUNT OF 2.7 MILLION, THAT IS, I'M ASSUMING THAT CAME FROM SOME OF THE GOVERNMENT FUNDS MOVING FORWARD.

IS IT GOING TO STAY AT THAT LEVEL ON A YEARLY BASIS OR WHAT IS ANTICIPATED? NOW, A PORTION OF THAT IS THROUGH OUR ARP TREASURY FUNDS.

IT'S NOT ANTICIPATED TO REMAIN AT THAT LEVEL.

OKAY. DO WE KNOW ONCE THOSE ARE EXPIRED IN 2024, WHAT THE OBLIGATION OR WHAT WE THINK WILL BE OUR OBLIGATION OR THE FUNDING NEED FROM THE CITY WITHOUT THE HELP OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF FEDERAL FUNDING? WE'RE STILL DETERMINING EXACTLY WHAT THOSE NEEDS WILL BE.

OUR GOAL WITH THE FUNDING ALLOCATED THROUGH ARP FUNDING IS TO KIND OF POSSIBLY IMPLEMENT A STEPDOWN APPROACH WITH THE SHELTER TO HELP THEM OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, INCREASE THEIR FUNDRAISING AND CAPACITY TO APPLY FOR AND AND MANAGE SOME MORE SIGNIFICANT GRANT FUNDING SO THAT WE'RE NOT KIND OF THEIR PRIMARY FUNDER.

AND SO MY NEXT QUESTION SORT OF APPLIES ALSO TO THE PERMANENT HOUSING LABEL OR WHERE IN THE POLICY, WHERE IS IT PERMANENT HOUSING? ON SLIDE NINE, 1.7 MILLION OF THAT IS THROUGH THE RESCUE PLAN, CORRECT? SO THAT'S GOING AWAY IN 2024.

THAT MEANS THAT PORTION WE WILL BE RETURNING TO KIND OF PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS OF OF FUNDING NEEDS IN TERMS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND PERMANENT HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

OKAY. AND DO WE RECALL WHAT THOSE WERE PRIOR TO THAT? I MEAN, THAT WAS JUST FUNDED THROUGH, I GUESS, JUST CITY OF DENTON.

I MEAN, WE HAD A PANDEMIC SINCE THEN.

YEAH. WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK FORWARD BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY, WE'VE PUT IN A LOT OF SYSTEMS AND A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS ALMOST, THERE'S REALLY GOING TO BE THE WELLS DRYING UP.

AND SO HOW ARE WE MAKING PROVISIONS FOR WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO PASS THAT? SO DANNY SHAW, COMMUNITY SERVICES.

SO THE MONEY AND THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT ISN'T THE 1.7 IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOOLKIT STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS TO HELP GROW THAT.

BUT THERE WAS NO MONEY THAT WE HAD IN PERMANENCE OF PERMANENT HOUSING FUNDING PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

[00:40:02]

YEAH, THAT WAS PRIMARILY STILL IN THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT ARE NONPROFIT PARTNERS.

SO WE DON'T INVEST ANYTHING RIGHT NOW IN PERMANENT OTHER THAN THE NEW INVESTMENTS AND OTHER THAN WHAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO RAISE OR CREATE UNDER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH THE THROUGH THE TOOLKIT. CORRECT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCILOR MCGEE? MR. MAYOR. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

SO, PICKING UP WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS LEFT OFF.

ARE WE ARE WE RETURNING TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS OF OF TOUCHES WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH OUR IN-HOUSE COMMUNITY? AS FAR AS ENGAGEMENTS AND SERVICES, WELL, WE'D HAVE TO DEFINITELY ANALYZE THE DATA.

WE HAVE TO DETERMINE THAT.

I CAN SAY WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASED LEVEL OF NEED, BOTH THROUGH OUR ANNUAL POINT IN TIME COUNT AND JUST OUR GENERAL HOMELESSNESS DATA.

WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASED LEVEL OF JUST HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING LITERAL HOMELESSNESS IN GENERAL IN THE COUNTY.

SO I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS, ARE WE ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ARE WE GETTING TO A NEW NORMAL OR DO WE EXPECT TO SEE THE LEVEL OF NEED KIND OF GO BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVEL? AND SO THE NEED IS GROWN.

SO WHEN WE GET BACK TO WHEN THIS FEDERAL FUNDING GOES AWAY, WE WILL BE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL AT THIS POINT.

SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING THAT'S HELPING KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED.

BUT THAT MONEY ALSO GOES AWAY ONCE THESE FUNDS ARE EXPIRED.

AND SO THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE MORE FAMILIES AT RISK, MORE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, ESPECIALLY UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS.

THAT'S THE CONDITIONS WE'RE IN WHICH ARE HIGHER THAN WE WERE PRE-PANDEMIC.

AND WHEN THOSE FUNDS GO AWAY, WE WILL HAVE LESS DOLLARS TO HELP SUPPORT THEM.

SO THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST CITY.

IS IT A CORRECT ASSESSMENT TO SAY IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE YOU'RE SAYING PREPARE FOR A NEW NORMAL? YES. YES, WE WILL HAVE TO BE.

AND OUR TEAM IS LOOKING VERY STRATEGICALLY NOW AT HOW WE IDENTIFY OTHER FUNDING SOURCES TO HELP FILL THOSE GAPS.

SO WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE 1.74 ABRA, WHICH IS TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE WITH RENTS TO GET THEM HOUSED.

BUT AGAIN, ONCE THOSE FUNDS GO AWAY, WE WILL BE WILL BE IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION THAN WE WERE PRE-PANDEMIC.

THANK YOU. BEFORE YOU RUN AWAY, I THINK I MIGHT THINK YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE THIS NEXT ONE.

SO I KNOW WE DISCUSSED MUCH, PARTICULARLY LAST YEAR, ABOUT BIDS FOR A VILLAGE.

I'M LOOKING AT THE NEXT STEPS.

WHERE ARE WE AT WITH THAT PROCESS? THAT'S OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.

OK COMING MARCH.

NO, NO. RIGHT AFTER THIS.

YEAH, THAT'S. YEAH, I DON'T THINK SO.

I GUESS I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION THEN WITH THE OPENING OF THE SHELTER.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA IF WE WOULD EXPECT YOU ALL TO NOT CONTINUE TO SPEND 50% OF STAFF TIME ADDRESSING SOME OF ENCAMPMENTS IN PARTICULAR? POTENTIALLY.

I WILL SAY THAT TO HAVE THE THE INCREASED CAPACITY AND THE OPTION OF SHELTER HAS HAS HELPED SOME.

I THINK THE NATURE OF OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION, HOWEVER, IS THAT IT IS FLUID AND THEY FREQUENTLY ARE ON THE MOVE.

AND SO IT'S AND AS YOU HEARD MEGAN MENTIONED, AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO DEVELOP, IT'S JUST MORE VISIBLE.

SO WE WOULD HOPE THAT HAVING THAT THE SHELTER AS A SOLUTION WOULD WOULD CUT DOWN ON THAT AND MORE FOLKS WOULD BE KIND OF OPEN AND WILLING TO ACCESS SHELTER.

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO KIND OF WAIT AND SEE.

AND LAST QUESTION. SO I KNOW WE KNOW, PARTICULARLY IN MY PART OF THE CITY, I SEE MANY OF OUR UNHOUSED FAMILY WITH PETS.

SO HOT IS COMPRISED OF TWO OFFICERS, A CASEWORKER AND A PARAMEDIC, RIGHT? CORRECT. HOW OFTEN DO ANIMAL SERVICE OFFICERS INTERFACE WITH HOT? THEY ENGAGE SEMI-REGULARLY.

IT'S NOT SUPER FREQUENT, BUT THEY DO HAVE A DIRECT LINE.

PREVIOUSLY, THEY'VE DONE THINGS LIKE ORGANIZED VACCINATION CLINICS FOR PETS OUT IN ENCAMPMENTS.

ON THE MORE RARE OCCASION THAT THERE MIGHT BE A CONCERN OF SAFETY DUE TO AN ANIMAL.

ANIMAL SERVICES AND HOT WILL COLLABORATE TO INTERVENE.

SO IT'S NOT TERRIBLY FREQUENTLY, BUT OUR NONPROFIT OUTREACH PARTNERS, PARTNERS WITH HOT AS WELL.

AND THEY PROVIDE THINGS LIKE DOG FOOD AND THAT SORT OF THING, OR MAYBE LIKE AN AS NEEDED BASIS, RIGHT? MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO I'M GOING TO I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE DIALOG.

I'VE HEARD A LOT OF MY MY QUESTIONS ALREADY ASKED.

AND I'LL BRIEFLY SAY I REALLY LIKE COUNCILOR WATCHES.

QUESTION ABOUT CURRENT VERSUS PENDING.

AND IF WE COULD SEE SOME NUMBERS WHERE WE HAVE A BETTER FEEL FOR SEPARATING THOSE OUT, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN SPEND THE BIG PILE OF MONEY ALL THE WAY TILL 2024 ON AN ADD NEEDED BASIS. BUT I THINK YOU'RE SEEING WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOME.

WE'RE TRYING TO RESPOND TO YOUR NEEDS WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING.

SO I THINK I REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCILOR SCHWARTZ BRINGING THAT UP.

[00:45:01]

AND THEN I'LL I'LL FOLLOW ON FROM COUNCILOR MCGEE'S POINT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S TWO BIG CATEGORIES OF NEED.

ONE IS JUST SHEER QUANTITY.

WE NEED MORE BEDS, WE NEED MORE SERVICES, WE NEED MORE EVERYTHING.

AND YOU'RE SUGGESTING MORE OFFICERS TO.

TO HELP GET AT THAT.

SO ON THE ON THE WITHIN NOTING THAT WE JUST NEED MORE BECAUSE I GUESS WHAT YOU SAY THE COUNTS WERE ABOUT FOUR 5404 50 AND THOSE ARE TYPICALLY UNDERCOUNTS RIGHT RIGHT SO AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO DO.

I'M SORRY. SORRY. THEY ARE COUNTY WIDE, HOWEVER.

THAT'S WHAT COUNTY WIDE.

COUNTY WIDE. JUST. OKAY.

SO DO WE KNOW WHAT OUR COUNTS ARE INTERNAL TO THE CITY? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING TOWARDS.

THE NATURE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SERVED BY OUR PROGRAMS AND THE FACT THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE NOT COME FROM A PERMANENT ADDRESS.

IT'S IT'S DIFFICULT TO TRACK.

AND SO I'LL COME BACK TO THAT IN A SECOND.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SEEMS IF WE HAVE A SHELTER OF OF WITH CAPACITY STILL AND WE'LL I'LL COME BACK TO WHAT THAT CAPACITY IS THEN, THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE WITH OUR HOT OFFICERS AND OUR OUR CERT RECOMMENDATIONS, THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I'M HEARING FROM THE DISCUSSION IS EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND TRAINING, HOW TO GET PENETRATION AND AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENT AND INCREASE THOSE FIRST TO OUTREACH AND DIVERSION IN YOUR IN YOUR ROADMAP.

SO WHAT WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO OUTREACH AND DIVERSION? AND I'M ASSUMING FTES, YOU KNOW GLIBLY BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING BUT WITHIN THAT, BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE DO SO MANY TASKS, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE OVERBURDENED.

WHAT WHAT DO YOU. IS IT AWARENESS OF THE RESOURCE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE NOT BEING USED? IS IT IS IT WHAT I WANT? I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WANT THE ANSWER.

WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT IS CREATING BARRIERS IN TERMS OF PENETRATING THIS SECTOR? SO I'LL ANSWER YOUR MULTIPART QUESTION AND MULTI PARTS AS WELL.

SO THE REASON FOR OUR PROPOSED INCREASE BOTH IN OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES OUTREACH STAFF, IS TO YOUR POINT, NOT EVERYONE RESPONDS TO OUTREACH INTERVENTION THE SAME WAY SOME PEOPLE RESPOND REALLY WELL TO THE HOT TEAM OFFICERS.

SOME PEOPLE WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T RESPOND AT ALL TO OUR NONPROFIT OUTREACH WORKERS, AND SOME PEOPLE PREFER TO WORK WITH PD AND THEIR GROUP.

SO SOME OF IT IS A MATTER OF.

DIVERSIFYING THE INTERVENTIONS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE SO THAT THEY THEY WILL RESPOND TO WHAT'S GOING TO WORK BEST FOR THEM IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL TRAINING OR PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.

WE ARE WORKING WITH WE ARE DEVELOPING A DIVERSION KIND OF PILOT PROGRAM, SO TO SPEAK, RIGHT NOW.

SO TO NOT GO TOO FAR IN THE WEEDS.

COORDINATED ENERGY WAS OUR COMMUNITY'S REAL FIRST COLLABORATIVE ATTEMPT AT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT A UNIFORM PROCESS TO BETTER SERVE PEOPLE AND TO HOPEFULLY IMPROVE OUR OUTCOMES. AND SO WE'VE GONE A STEP FURTHER TO DEVELOP A DIVERSION PILOT, WHICH WOULD KIND OF GO FURTHER UPSTREAM, SO TO SPEAK, TO TRAIN OUR PROVIDERS OF MORE COST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ENTERING INTO HOMELESSNESS, MORE MEDIATION OR OPPORTUNITIES TO GET PEOPLE CONNECTED WITH SUPPORT NETWORKS THAT DON'T INVOLVE THEM REMAINING HOMELESS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT CAN LEAD TO HEALTH PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE ARE WE ARE WORKING ON TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT NOW WITH OUR COUNTY HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE OR LEADERSHIP TEAM, EXCUSE ME, TO DEVELOP SOME IMPROVED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND HOPEFULLY MOVE FORWARD AS WE'VE DONE WITH COORDINATED ENTRY AND IMPLEMENT SOME DIVERSION STRATEGY SYSTEMWIDE TO TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

WELL, AND I REALLY LIKE THAT BULLET POINT TO THAT.

THE THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE AND I KNOW THIS IS PD AND NOT NOT NECESSARILY COMMUNITY SERVICES, BUT IS THIS GOING TO BE BROADLY APPLIED TO PD OR SPECIFIC OFFICERS? SO PATROL CERT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE.

THESE ARE OFFICERS THAT ARE TRAINED TO DO EMERGENCY DETENTION ORDERS AND BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE FOUR CERT TEAMS, ADDING PATROL CERT PROVIDES MORE COVERAGE IN THOSE CRISIS CALLS ACROSS THE CITY.

IT DOES SUPPORT HOT AND THAT WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LIVING OUT THERE THAT HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND GO INTO CRISIS.

AND SO PATROL CERT OFFICERS WILL COME INTO CONTACT THROUGH CALLS FOR SERVICE WITH THEM.

BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SOLUTION FOR HOMELESS OUTREACH RESPONSE BECAUSE THEY ARE THEY ARE STILL PATROL OFFICERS RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE.

AND SO THEY'VE JUST BEEN GIVEN THE EXTRA EDUCATION AND THE TOOLS SO THAT THEY CAN DO AN EMERGENCY DETENTION IF NEEDED.

[00:50:08]

OC. ALL RIGHT.

I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN THE OTHER HALF OF THE EQUATION THAT I WAS SORT OF TALKING ABOUT, THE PIECES WHERE WE I MEAN, I WAS ASKING ABOUT WHAT ARE WHAT ARE BARRIERS TO EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND DIVERSION.

BUT THEN THE OTHER HALF OF THAT IS AS OUR POPULATION INCREASES, YOU KNOW, IF OUR COUNTY WIDE IS 450 AND WHEN WE'RE SERVICING THE BULK OF THAT, YOU KNOW, HERE IN THE CITY, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CITY AND ITS PARTNERS HAVE THOSE RESOURCES, THEN THEN WHAT? REALIZING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ONGOING AND A PERPETUAL PROBLEM TO ADDRESS THOSE INCREASING NEEDS, JUST BULK NEEDS.

WHAT ARE. WHERE SHOULD WE BE FOCUSING? WHAT'S THE SOURCE? YOU SAID THAT HOMELESSNESS BY THE DASHBOARD WAS INCREASING 42% OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

UNSHELTERED, HOMELESS, UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS.

WHAT IS WHAT IS THE MAJOR SOURCE OF THAT? AND I THINK PROBABLY, I WOULD GUESS, THE PANDEMIC BEING THE SOURCE OF THAT.

BUT IS THAT PANDEMIC AND EVICTION RATES, PANDEMIC AND RENTAL RATES PANDEMIC, I MEAN, OR AND WHAT? BACK TO THE QUESTION THAT THE CITY MANAGER WAS ADDRESSING.

WHEN WE GET TO OUR NEW NORMAL THAT COUNCILOR MCGEE WAS WAS TALKING ABOUT, IF DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THOSE PRESSURES ARE SO THAT WE CAN FILTER OUT PANDEMIC FROM WHERE WE'RE GOING TO.

RIGHT. ALL OF THE ABOVE.

IN A SENSE, WE WENT INTO THE PANDEMIC WITH A LACK OF PERMANENT HOUSING OPTIONS, JUST GENERALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.

AND OUR THE INCREASE WE'VE SEEN IN CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS IS NOT UNIQUE TO DENTON.

IT'S NATIONWIDE. SO IT IS LIKELY A MIXTURE OF LACK OF HOUSING, PANDEMIC RESPONSE, INCREASING AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH THE DISABILITY.

NOW THAT WE ARE THAT THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO THINGS LIKE COVID 19.

BUT WE WENT INTO THE PANDEMIC WITH LESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAN WE NEED.

AND AS YOU HEARD, THAT NEED IS ONLY GOING TO INCREASE.

AND SO SINCE OUR CHRONICALLY HOMELESS POPULATION IS ALSO INCREASED, I'D SAY OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS ARE GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ENSURING THAT OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE FOR OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, FOR SOMEONE TO QUALIFY AS CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, IT MEANS THEY'VE BEEN LIVING HOMELESS, LITERALLY HOMELESS, UNSHELTERED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, AND WITH SOME SORT OF DISABILITY, WHICH IS A LOT OF THE TIMES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OR MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITY.

AND SO ONE OF OUR MAIN FOCUSES INTERNALLY IS OBVIOUSLY FOR PERMANENT HOUSING, BUT ALSO DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS TO ENSURE ACCESS TO NEEDED PROGRAMS FOR FOLKS TO COME IN FROM FROM LIVING, UNSHELTERED AND TO SHELTER AND OTHER SERVICES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN BURT, I'M JUST GOING TO STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT AND I'VE BEEN CAUGHT MY EAR WHAT YOU SAID IN REGARDS TO WHEN THE CITY GOES OUT AND CLEANS UP AN ENCAMPMENT.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

AND THEN THERE'S A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE CAMPING ON CITY PROPERTY AS A CANDIDATE, ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

SO THE CITY FOR CLARIFICATION, THE CITY IS CLEANING UP BOTH AREAS IN TAKING ON THE COST FOR THE PRIVATE AND THE PUBLIC.

NOT QUITE AS THAT WORK, NO.

SO IF AN ENCAMPMENT IS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY AND IT'S BEEN ASSESSED FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY AND IT'S DETERMINED THAT IT NEEDS TO BE CLEARED AND THAT IT'S NO LONGER INHABITED, AS MEGAN MENTIONED, PARKS WILL COME IN AND KIND OF DO THEIR GENERAL ASSESSMENT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CLEANED OR CLEARED USING PARK STAFF AND EQUIPMENT, THEY'LL DO SO IF IT'S SOMETHING MORE SIGNIFICANT, THEY'LL UTILIZE A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR TO TO ADDRESS THAT CLEANUP ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.

ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, I WOULD SAY 99% OF THE TIME THE PROPERTY OWNER CLEANS IT UP THEMSELVES.

AND THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO ADDRESS ANY TRASH AND DEBRIS LEFT ON THEIR PROPERTY.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT 100% OF THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO CLEAN HOW IT GETS CLEANED IS THEY CLEAN IT OR THEY ENGAGE A CONTRACTOR TO DO IT.

IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO DO IT, THEN WE ENFORCE ON THEM AND WILL ENGAGE A CONTRACTOR TO CLEAN IT.

SO BUT 100% PRIVATE PROPERTY IS THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY KIND OF DISCUSSION, ANYTHING ON THE TABLE IN REGARDS TO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS? CONNECTING WITH THE CITY AND HAVING THE CITY TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY IN THE CITY JUST KEEPS IT CLEAN FOR THEM.

[00:55:06]

IS THERE? IS THERE SOME KIND OF CONTRACTUAL THINGS GOING ON THERE? NO, THERE'S NOT A SCENARIO WHERE WE WOULD USE PUBLIC FUNDS TO TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER.

THANK YOU. SO THE OTHER QUESTION IS, WHENEVER IT'S CLEANED OUT, IS IT CLEANED IN A FASHION WHERE IT'S PRETTY NICE TO GO IN AND HAVE IT AGAIN? I MEAN, IT'S LIKE YOU GO IN AND CLEAN IT OUT AND IT'S YOU KNOW, THE BRANCHES ARE JUST AT THE RIGHT ANGLE AND AND ALL OF THAT.

HOW DO YOU HOW, HOW ARE WE TAKING ACTION TO ENFORCE IT? THOSE AREAS ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PARKS HERE RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE DO CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOING THINGS LIKE CLEARING BRUSH OR LARGE PORTIONS OF THE PROPERTY.

THAT MIGHT BE A NICE COVER FOR SOMEONE WHO IS WHO IS CAMPING ON A PROPERTY.

SO AND THEN IN TERMS OF PRIVATE PROPERTY, WE DON'T CAN'T REALLY ADVISE PROPERTIES OR PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS OF WHAT THEY SHOULD DO WITH THEIR PROPERTY.

BUT IF THEY THEY ASK, WE DO KIND OF TALK THROUGH SIMILAR APPROACHES WHERE THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO CLEAR PARTS OF THEIR PROPERTY OR IF THEY WANT TO PUT UP A PERIMETER FENCE OR THINGS THAT MIGHT PROHIBIT THAT FROM BEING A PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

TAKES US ITEM B, WHICH IS ID 222595.

[B. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the Transitional Housing Request For Proposal (RFP) submissions. [Council Priority - Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 45 minutes]]

RECEIVE REPORT. WHOLE DISCUSSION GIVES STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

DANNY SHORE, COMMUNITY SERVICES.

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO AN RFP THAT THE CITY HAS ISSUED IN RELATION TO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECTS.

SO TODAY WE'LL BE GENERALLY REVIEWING THOSE RESPONSES.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SEEK YOUR DIRECTION, PROVIDING ANY MOVEMENT ON TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE.

SO JUST A REMINDER OF BACKGROUND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HADN'T PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS BEFORE.

THERE HAS BEEN ADVOCACY FOR TINY HOME VILLAGES IN THE COMMUNITY AND OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM THAT YOU HEARD COURTNEY TALK ABOUT DOES INCLUDE EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN THAT THROUGH HOUSING. IN JANUARY OF 2022, WE DID ISSUE A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO IDENTIFY WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN A TINY HOME PROJECT IN THE CITY.

WE DID HOLD A WORK SESSION WITH YOU ALL IN APRIL OF THAT YEAR TO REVIEW THOSE SUBMISSIONS AND TO SEEK FURTHER DIRECTION.

AT THAT POINT YOU DID GIVE US DIRECTION TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH AN RFP.

BUT IN THAT DISCUSSION WE TALKED ABOUT A FEW THINGS THAT I'LL GO THROUGH IN NEXT SLIDES, BUT WE DID FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WITH YOU ALL WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW WE MIGHT ISSUE THAT RFP TO ADD SOME MORE FLEXIBILITY AND CLARITY IN THE PROCESS.

SO IN THAT DISCUSSION, WE DID TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENT AROUND USING THE DEFINED TINY HOME, SINCE IT DOESN'T MEET CERTAIN PARAMETERS.

A TRADITIONAL TINY HOME VILLAGE DOESN'T MEET THE TRADITIONAL PARAMETERS FOR A TINY HOME.

SO WE DID MAKE SOME FLEXIBILITIES IN THE RFP TO ALLOW FOR TINY STRUCTURE DISCUSSION, ACTUAL TINY HOMES THAT MIGHT MEET THE DEVELOPMENT CODE DEFINITIONS, AND THEN OTHER HOUSING TYPES THAT ARE CONSIDERED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

AND SO THE RFP WAS MORE FLEXIBLE IN THE RESPONSES THAT IT COULD RECEIVE.

WE DID ALSO DISCUSS HOW WE WOULD BE EVALUATING THOSE.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY WE WANTED TO LOOK AT MAKING SURE IT WAS A LEGAL ORGANIZATION AND IT MET SOME MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, IDENTIFY WHAT THE EXPERIENCE WAS OF THE PROVIDERS WHO THEIR PROJECT TEAM AND PROJECT APPROACH MIGHT BE, WHAT UNITS AND WHAT TYPES OF UNITS MIGHT BE PROVIDED.

DO THEY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF BUDGET SCHEDULE AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR PROJECT? AND THEN WE HAD SOME BONUS OPTIONS TOO, FOR PROJECTS THAT HAD THE AT LEAST TWO YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAD EXPERIENCED DEVELOPING HOUSING, THAT THEY WERE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THEIR HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM, WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD LAND COMMITMENT OR NOT, IF THEY HAD THE APPROPRIATE ZONING ON THAT LAND COMMITMENT AND IF THEY'D RAISE MONEY BECAUSE THAT SAYS TO DO THEY ALREADY HAVE FUNDS RAISED TO HELP COMMIT TO THE PROJECT, WHICH WOULD DEMONSTRATE THEIR ABILITY TO SUSTAIN IT OVER TIME.

AND SO WITH THAT, WE DO STILL HAVE THE SOLICITATION OPEN.

SO I WANT TO JUST SET THE STAGE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE RESPONDENTS, JUST GENERALLY WHAT THE RESPONSES WERE, SO THAT WE PROTECT THAT UNTIL WE HAVE DIRECTION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RFP.

SO GENERALLY, WE HAD TWO RESPONSES.

ACTUALLY, WE DID WHEN WE INITIALLY OPENED IT UP AND WE HAD A 30 DAY PERIOD FOR RESPONSES, WE ONLY GOT ONE RESPONSE.

SO WE DID EXTEND IT AND THEN DID GET A SECOND RESPONSE DURING THAT EXTENDED PERIOD.

SO WE HAVE TWO VENDORS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

JUST GENERALLY, ONE HAS LAND, ONE DOESN'T.

[01:00:03]

BOTH THE PROJECTS ARE IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

SO ONE PROJECT IS ABOUT 8.1 FOR ITS FIRST PHASE.

THE OTHER WOULD BE 5.9.

EACH HAS SOME COMMITMENT OF FUNDING.

THEIR REQUEST FROM THE CITY FUNDING REQUEST IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR AND WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY COLLECTED.

BOTH HAVE SIMILAR PROJECTED TIMELINES.

THERE WOULD BE COMPLETION OF THEIR PHASE ONE AROUND 2025.

THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT EACH WOULD PRODUCE IS ABOUT THE SAME 29 UNITS VERSUS 26.

WHERE WE DO HAVE DIFFERENCES IN THE TWO PROPOSALS ARE THE TYPES OF HOUSING.

ONE IS PROPOSING TRADITIONAL HOUSING AND DUPLEXES AND ONE COMMUNITY HOUSE, WHICH WOULD BE A LARGE BUILDING THAT WOULD HOLD MULTIPLE HOUSEHOLDS.

THE OTHER IS AS TINY HOMES USING SHIPPING CONTAINERS.

AND THEN THERE'S AN ESTIMATE HERE OF WHAT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF EACH OF THOSE UNITS WOULD BE, AND THEN ALSO SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THEIR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION COST WOULD BE HERE. SO GENERALLY, THIS IS HOW THE TWO PROJECTS LAY OUT.

AND SPEAKING WITH SARA, AND WE DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT CALIFORNIA AND OUR TEAM OVER THE YEARS HAS VISITED DIFFERENT TINY HOME PROJECTS.

SO IN SPEAKING WITH SARA, WE DID WANT TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT OF WHAT WE SAW WHEN WE WERE IN CALIFORNIA.

SO THIS ISN'T RELATED TO THE TWO PROPOSALS, JUST TO MAKE THAT CLEAR, BUT IT IS JUST GENERALLY TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT WE LEARNED ON THAT MOST RECENT VISIT IN DECEMBER WHEN WE VISITED CALIFORNIA TO TO SEE THEIR THREE DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT THEY HAD IMPLEMENTED.

SO THIS THIS THIS ORGANIZATION UTILIZES TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRODUCTS.

THE PALLET HOME, WHICH IS A VERY SMALL PREFAB UNIT THAT POPS UP 64 SQUARE FEET, AND THE OTHER WAS SOMETHING CALLED BAS CUBES, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR KIND OF MODULAR HOME STYLE.

THESE PROJECTS THAT WE VISITED HAD ANYWHERE BETWEEN 16 AND 30 UNITS.

THEY WERE TYPICALLY USING PARKING LOTS OR VACANT PROPERTIES THAT WERE IN.

USUALLY SHAPED. SO THAT WAS KIND OF A COOL WAY TO SEE HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO USE LAND INTENTIONALLY THAT WAS PROBABLY NOT USABLE IN ANY OTHER WAY.

BOTH ARE. ALL THREE OF THE SITES HAD DIFFERENT AMENITIES, ALL PROVIDING RESTROOMS AS A SEPARATE UNIT, SOME WITH LAUNDRY, SOME WITH OTHER LIKE UNITS FOR STORAGE OF FOOD. MOST OF THE IN ALL THREE OF THEM MEALS WERE DELIVERED THOUGH ON SITE.

NOTHING WAS PREPARED ON SITE.

AND THEN THERE WERE CONTRACTED WITH A NONPROFIT TO PROVIDE SERVICES.

AND THEN WE PUT IN I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO A PALLET AFTER WE HAD THAT VISIT.

THEY PROVIDED A LITTLE PROPOSAL, WHAT IT MIGHT COST FOR A CITY LIKE OURS.

AND SO GENERALLY THIS IS WHAT PRICING WOULD LOOK LIKE WITH A GRAND TOTAL WITHOUT LAND OR SITE PREP AROUND 545,000.

AND THAT'S WITH THE UNITS BEING ABOUT 10,000 APIECE.

THE LARGER UNITS WHERE RESTROOM FACILITIES BEING AROUND 40, 45,000.

SO THIS IS WHAT A TYPICAL TINY HOME PROJECT THERE COULD LOOK LIKE.

AND THEN DID WANT TO SHARE THAT AT THIS TIME, STAFF ISN'T RECOMMENDING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS RFP.

WE DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LAND AVAILABILITY THAT WOULD SUIT THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF PROJECT AND THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING RIGHT NOW IS HIGH COMPARED TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH OUR INVESTMENTS AND OUR HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM GENERALLY.

WE THINK THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO DO THIS, AND THEN YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD.

SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS RFP.

SO WITH THAT, JUST TAKING DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL, DO YOU WANT US TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH NEGOTIATING WITH THE VENDOR? AND IF YOU ARE, WHAT TYPE OF PROJECT WOULD YOU LIKE US TO NEGOTIATE WITH AND WHAT TYPES OF FUNDING WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE AVAILABLE AS WE NEGOTIATE THAT? SO. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

I'LL START. I SUPPORT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSALS WE HAVE, SO I'LL GET OUT OF THE WAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCILMAN DAVIS? I GUESS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION SO I CAN KIND OF PREPARE TO GIVE DIRECTION.

BUT A COUPLE RELATED QUESTIONS.

THE FIRST ONE WAS THAT YOU SAID SOMETHING A MOMENT AGO ABOUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS SOME OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH A PROJECT LIKE THIS.

SORRY. IS THERE A SENSE FROM STAFF I MEAN, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN.

WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

[01:05:02]

PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO THE CITY AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE LIKE YOURSELF FOR A LONG TIME WORKING ON THIS ISSUE, YOU HAVE GONE AND VISITED DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WITH DIFFERENT FUNDING MODELS, SOME THAT DON'T TAKE A DIME OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING, AND THEY'RE LOCATED OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS, SOME THAT ARE IN CITY PARKING LOTS AND LIKE THE ONES IN CALIFORNIA, SOME OF THEM.

IS THERE A STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR WHAT BEST FITS THE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW? I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M IN THE BEST POSITION AT THIS TIME TO SAY, OH, I FEEL LIKE TINY HOMES.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. OR A 60, 64 SQUARE FOOT STRUCTURE.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW.

OR IF IT'S MORE.

YOU KNOW, A TINY HOME WITH A BUILT IN RESTROOM AND SHOWER AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

I JUST NEED A LITTLE MORE.

INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE NEED CURRENTLY IN OUR SITUATION IS.

SO I THINK I'LL ANSWER IT ONE WAY FIRST, WHICH IS TO SAY THE CITY IS NOT THE ONLY PLAYER IN THIS BALL GAME, RIGHT? SO IF WE THINK ABOUT WHAT THE CITY CAN INVEST IN, WHAT WE CAN FACILITATE, AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE IN THE BUSINESS OF DOING.

I WOULD SAY MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE WE OPEN THE DOOR TO HELP PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO THIS TYPE OF PROJECT, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT WE FUND, RIGHT? THAT WE ARE INVESTED IN 100%.

THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN FACILITATE THAT, MAKE THAT POSSIBLE FOR A NONPROFIT PARTNER TO DO IT.

MUCH LIKE THERE ARE OTHER STRATEGIES THAT WE DON'T DIVE INTO.

WE'RE NOT IN THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING GAME.

WE HAVE NONPROFIT PARTNERS WHO ARE DOING THAT WORK AND DOING THAT WORK WELL.

OUR ROLE IS TO HELP SUPPORT THEM BY CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO, TO PUT PEOPLE IN.

SO I THINK THAT'S HOW I WOULD ANSWER THAT GENERALLY.

BUT SPECIFICALLY, I MEAN, WE'VE LOOKED AT DALLAS, WE'VE LOOKED AT SEATTLE, WE'VE LOOKED AT AUSTIN, AND NOW WE'VE LOOKED AT CALIFORNIA.

AND THOSE ARE ALL VERY DIFFERENT STYLES OF PROJECTS.

BUT WHAT IS UNIQUE IN THOSE THAT ARE MOST SUCCESSFUL IS THEIR COLLABORATION WITH STRONG NONPROFIT PARTNERS WHO CAN STAY, WHO CAN STABLY RUN THESE THINGS, AND THAT THERE'S NOT 100% FUNDING FROM THE CITY PROVIDING THAT SUPPORT.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT I WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND IF THOSE COME FORWARD.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE WON'T BE LOOKING FOR AN IDEAL SCENARIO WHERE THE CITY COULD COULD INVEST IN SOMETHING THAT COULD BE SUCCESSFUL AND SUSTAINABLE OVER TIME FOR SURE.

IF IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THIS PARTICULAR RFP AND THE RESPONSES THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO IT ARE OF THE BEST FIT FOR OUR NEEDS AND WHAT THE CITY OUGHT TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW.

IS THERE A REASONABLE TIME FRAME WHERE, LET'S SAY, FOR INSTANCE, THERE IS A THIRD PARTY NOT AT THE TABLE TODAY, BUT WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE OUT THERE AND THEY'RE WORKING ON A SOLUTION VERY SIMILAR TO THIS.

IS THERE A REASONABLE TIME FRAME WE COULD GIVE OURSELVES TO SAY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CHECK BACK IN WITH DANNY IN A QUARTER, IN SIX MONTHS OR WHATEVER IT IS TO SEE IF THAT PROJECT'S COMING TOGETHER.

AND IF IT'S NOT, SEE IF WE NEED TO STEP IN AND HELP.

HELP IN SOME OTHER WAY.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE REQUEST.

AND I THINK THAT'S ALSO HELPFUL IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT, TO KNOW WE CAN COME BACK WITH PRESENTATIONS LIKE WE JUST DID EARLIER TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING THE RIGHT DATA AND UPDATED DATA TO SEE WHERE WE ARE, WHERE THOSE GAPS ARE STARTING TO REVEAL THEMSELVES IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND WHERE THOSE PROJECTS MIGHT REVEAL THEMSELVES, HOW WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE.

SO I THINK THAT IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION THAT YES, I THINK IT'D BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO COME FORWARD AS SOON AS WE CAN IF THERE'S AN IDEA THAT PRESENTS ITSELF.

THANK YOU. I THINK I'LL LISTEN A LITTLE BIT MORE.

ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO, I MEAN, I THINK WE CAN AGREE THAT WITH THE EARLIER DISCUSSION AND WE'VE GOT SOME SOME LARGE FRACTION OF OF OUR 450 PLUS ACCOUNTS THAT WE'RE SERVICING HERE IN THE CITY, THAT AND, YOU KNOW, ALL TOTAL YOU KNOW, OUR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, OUR EMERGENCY HOUSING IS, WHAT, 200 ISH? SO WE'RE WE'RE NOT EVEN WE'RE NOT QUITE WHERE WE EVEN KNOW OUR NUMBERS ARE.

AND WE ALSO FEEL LIKE WE'RE A LITTLE UNDER.

SO THERE'S CLEARLY A CLEAR NEED.

SO I GUESS WHERE.

ONE PART OF ONE FAULT.

ONE PART OF MY FOLLOW UP IS.

IF WE.

ARE HAVING PROBLEMS IDENTIFYING A PARTICULAR RFP THAT'S LEADING US TO SOLUTIONS THAT WE LIKE.

ONE IS, IS THERE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO OUR RFP THAT WOULD MAKE THIS MORE SUCCESSFUL? I THINK I SENSE THAT I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN COUNCILOR DAVIS'S MOUTH, BUT HE HAD SOME OF THE SAME QUESTIONS I DID, WHICH IS I DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.

AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO CRAFT POLICY, THEN I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE A BETTER FEEL FOR I THINK I'M BEING ASKED TO COMPARE DO I LIKE WATERMELONS, BANANAS OR ORANGES THE BEST? AND AND THOSE AREN'T THE SAME THING.

[01:10:03]

AND YOU SORT OF ALLUDED TO THAT IN YOUR RESPONSES TO HIM.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF WAFFLING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

BUT MY, MY, MY QUESTION IS, IF THIS SO IF THIS ISN'T BEING A SUCCESSFUL RFP, WHAT DOES STAFF THINK IS CAUSING US TO TRIP UP IF WE HAVE CERTAIN NEEDS, LIKE WE WOULD PREFER THIS, THAT OR THE OTHER SORT OF FEATURE, CITY DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT ITSELF? DID WE NOT PUT THESE INTO THE RFP IN A SUCH A WAY THAT GIVES US ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY TO GET ENOUGH VENDORS OR TO GET ENOUGH CONCEPTS FLOATED THAT WE CAN THEN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL RFP? SO THAT'S SORT OF MY MY FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION IS WHAT'S WHAT'S TRIPPING US UP IF IF NONE OF THESE ARE ARE GOOD, WELL, I'M GOING TO PUT SOMETHING BACK ON YOU ALL FIRST IN RESPONSE.

WE DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS PIECE OF IT.

SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL CAME TO US AND ASK US TO DO.

AND IN THAT CONVERSATION WE DID ASK YOU WHAT YOU WHAT YOU'D BE WILLING TO COMMIT, AND THAT WOULD MAKE AN RFP BETTER.

BUT YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO SAY THAT AT THE TIME.

SO WITHOUT WE CAN'T GO OUT AND SAY, TELL US WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO AND THEN NOT HAVE ANY TOOLS TO NEGOTIATE WITH.

SO I THINK IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY WOULD LIKE, THEN IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT THOSE TOOLS ARE IN ADVANCE OF THOSE ASKS.

BUT THIS IS NOT A PROJECT THAT WE HAD BEEN ASKING FOR AT THIS POINT.

IT'S NOT IN OUR PLAN.

WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON PERMANENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND NOT TEMPORARY OR TRANSITIONAL.

BECAUSE OF COVID, WE DID ENTER INTO THE HOTEL PROGRAM TO CREATE SOME ADDITIONAL HOUSING, BUT THAT WAS A RESPONSE TO THE EMERGENCY.

AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT OVER TIME WE CAN WEED THAT PROGRAM OUT, ESPECIALLY AS FUNDING WANES AWAY.

SO I THINK IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE CURRENTLY ASKING FOR, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS ASKING SOMETHING OF YOU ALL THAT YOU COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR.

BUT AT THIS POINT, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU, SO I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT, IS THAT WE DID GIVE DIRECTION TO FOLLOW AT LEAST THE CONSENSUS A YEAR, NINE MONTHS AGO, GAVE CONSENSUS TO COUNCIL TO FOLLOW SORT OF A TINY HOMES APPROACH SIMILAR TO ONE THAT WAS PRESENTED AT THE TIME BY ONE OF THE LOCAL NONPROFITS.

AND SO THERE SORT OF WAS A FLAVOR AT THE TIME DELIVERED.

SO I'M NOT SURE IT FLIES COMPLETELY THAT WE HAVEN'T GIVEN YOU ANY DIRECTION.

WE SORT OF DID.

AND AND THAT WAS SORT OF A TINY HOME APPROACH AND WITH SOME CAVEATS.

OH, WELL, IS THAT REALLY TINY STRUCTURES? AND THEN I'LL SAY, I'LL SAY.

NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I BELIEVE SHE ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR DISSENTING OPINION OR OUR ANSWER, BUT THE ANSWER IS THE ANSWER.

NO, THAT'S NOT FAIR, MR. MAYOR. THAT'S AN ACCURATE VERY GOOD QUESTION.

I COULD PROVIDE THAT.

THEN THEN, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GIVEN US, THEN IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO OFFER UP SO THAT WE CAN BETTER WE CAN BETTER ASK THAT QUESTION. I'M CERTAIN WE DON'T HAVE A CONSENSUS FOR THAT.

WE DIDN'T AT THE TIME.

THAT'S RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE NOW.

YEAH. HOLD ON.

YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DID.

I JUST I'LL ASK ONE FOLLOW UP, AND THAT IS AND THAT IS, DO WE HAVE A FEEL FOR THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SORT OF THAT 400 ISH NEED, 400 COUNT DELTA BETWEEN WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE AND WHAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF THE COST TO CITY SERVICES AND THE ONGOING COSTS.

IF IF WE DELAY, IF WE MOVE IT FORWARD WITHOUT DOING WITHOUT WITHOUT PROCEEDING AND TRYING TO TAKE STEPS TO TO MITIGATE THOSE.

AND I REALIZE THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATION WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE STEPS, BUT DO WE HAVE A FEEL FOR WHAT THOSE COSTS WILL BE IF WE DON'T IF WE DO NOTHING AT THIS POINT? WELL, THAT'S BIG.

WE COULD GET THAT INFORMATION.

BUT WE'RE BOTH NOT DOING NOTHING.

WE'RE INVESTING IN SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN DO WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE, BUT WE CAN COLLECT INFORMATION THAT WOULD HELP THAT BE MORE CLEAR.

MY ANSWERING THAT I WOULD SORT OF LIKE JUST AS A AS A PIN IF WE COULD SORT OF GET ME A REFERENCE, GET COUNSEL, A REFERENCE OF HOW WHAT WAS SORT OF THE PER PER CAPITA COSTS ARE TO.

YES. SO, I MEAN, GENERALLY WE COULD LOOK AT AND WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE TINY HOME VILLAGES THAT WE LOOKED AT, THE CALIFORNIA RESEARCH PROJECT THAT WAS ALSO DONE ON WHAT THAT COST PER PERSON IS.

AND WE WERE LOOKING AT ANYWHERE FROM 34000 TO 200000 PER UNIT.

SO IF YOU HAVE 440 PEOPLE, THEORETICALLY YOU COULD ESTIMATE EVEN IN OUR PALLET CONVERSATION, THAT'S 10,000 A UNIT JUST FOR THE UNITS THEMSELVES, 440 PEOPLE ON A SITE WHERE THESE SITES WERE RATHER LARGE, THEY COULD ONLY HOLD 30 BEDS AT A TIME.

SO WE'D NEED 440 DIVIDED BY 30 TO GET THE LAND AVAILABILITY TO PUT THEM ON, PLUS THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO PUT IN THOSE LAND PRICE.

SO WE COULD CALCULATE THAT NUMBER FOR YOU.

[01:15:03]

I WOULD REALLY ACTUALLY LIKE TO BECAUSE THAT GENERALLY GOES TO MY DIRECTION OF I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE TO DO TO TO UNDER SERVE.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE MORE NUMBERS ABOUT THE EXPENSES SO THAT WE COULD MAKE MORE OF A POLICY DECLARATION.

BUT IN TERMS OF MY DIRECTION TO THIS EQUATION, I DO THINK WE DO NEED SOME SORT OF TINY HOME RETIREMENT HOME STRUCTURE OR EXCUSE ME, TINY STRUCTURE APPROACH AS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. SO I STILL LEND MY SUPPORT TO THAT AS I DID BEFORE.

AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THERE'S CONSENSUS ABOUT.

YEAH. AND TO BE CLEAR, JUST SO THAT FOR THOSE TRACKING ALONG.

THE CITY HAS NO COST ASSOCIATED WITH MEDICAL BECAUSE IT'S THE COUNTY THAT WOULD BEAR THOSE COSTS.

SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TRANSPORTS SOMEONE TO SAY THEY'RE UNHOUSED AND THEY CALL THEY NEED THERE NEED OF AN AMBULANCE.

AN AMBULANCE TRANSPORTS THEM TO THE HOSPITAL.

THE HOSPITAL WOULD BEAR THE COST.

THE CITY DOESN'T REIMBURSE THE HOSPITAL AND NOT FOR THE HEALTH CARE COSTS PER RIDE.

AND THEN WE WE ARE COMPENSATED TO A SMALLER DEGREE, A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT WE PAY FOR AMBULANCE CARE, FOR FIRE SERVICES FOR THOSE THAT ARE UNHOUSED.

IS THAT AM I CORRECT? I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK AND SEE HOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS USE AS REIMBURSEMENTS.

I THINK THAT'S RIGHT. SO JUST TO SAY THERE'S NO TAXPAYER FUNDED MEDICAL OR THOSE SORT OF THINGS, BUT FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE WITH THE SHELTER AND THAT SORT OF THING.

RIGHT. OK. COUNCILMAN.

YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.

AND I WASN'T HERE A YEAR AND A HALF OR NINE MONTHS AGO OR WHATEVER, BUT I KNOW THE LAST CONVERSATION I WAS INVOLVED IN ON THIS COUNCIL REGARDING THIS RFP AND DIRECTION ON WHAT TYPE OF STRUCTURE OR WHAT TYPE OF APPROACH, WHAT TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THIS AND WE HEAR IT CALLED MANY THINGS. THIS TINY HOME VILLAGE, THIS TINY.

SO FIRST QUESTION, THE PALLETS.

WHAT'S A PALLET? IT IS A PREFAB UNIT.

IT'S ABOUT 64 SQUARE FEET.

WE PUT PICTURES IN THE ISR ON FRIDAY.

RIGHT. SO IT'S IT'S GOT A BED.

IT CAN HAVE HEAT AND AIR IN IT, A TEMPORARY TABLE THAT FOLDS DOWN TO CREATE SPACE.

BUT THAT'S ABOUT A 64 SQUARE FEET.

SO A WINDOW AND IT'S GOT ELECTRICAL IN IT.

AT LEAST IF IT'S GOT A IT'S GOT HVAC.

YES. ALL RIGHT. SO EACH OF EACH OF THESE THAT WE VISITED HAD ELECTRICAL HEAT IN THERE.

MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE DIRECTION LAST TIME WAS TO MOVE WAS TO ASK YOU, I APPRECIATED YOUR ANSWER BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY ACCURATE.

NOW, WHATEVER DIRECTION WAS GIVEN AT A PREVIOUS COUNCIL, I DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THAT.

BUT FROM WHAT I RECALL, THE TINY HOME, AT LEAST VILLAGES THAT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED HAVE BEEN WHAT I WOULD CALL TINY SHEDS, AND THAT IS AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN CONTAIN ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR HEATING AND COOLING AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I'M AWARE OF, AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.

AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THERE WASN'T.

AND SO THIS IS, FOLKS, IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY.

IT'S I MEAN, REALLY, I MEAN, COME ON.

THE TWO PROPOSALS, $226,000 PER UNIT ON THE 26 UNIT, 279,000, A UNIT ON THE OTHER ONE.

WHICH YOU CAN GO OUT AND BUY A BRAND NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR THAT.

ALL RIGHT. IN FACT, I THINK THE CITY OF DALLAS JUST DID NOT.

BRAND NEW, BUT THEY PURCHASED ONE FOR CLOSE TO $200,000 A UNIT.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE DONE THAT AS WELL.

SO AND THAT'S DALLAS.

SO I THINK WE'VE REALLY PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.

FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING MEANS.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT SOMEONE GETS IN THERE AND THEY'RE ONLY ALLOWED TO STAY IN THERE SIX MONTHS? IT ACTUALLY BETWEEN BETWEEN THREE MONTHS ON 24 MONTHS IS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

IF EIGHT MONTHS, IF YOU'RE SUBSIDIZED BEYOND 24, THEN IT'S JUST RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THEN YOU EXTEND IT PAYMENTS IN 24 MONTHS.

IF THEY DON'T IF THERE'S NO PERMANENT HOUSING IDENTIFIED, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 24 MONTHS, THEY JUST GET BOOTED OUT? DEPENDS ON THE PROGRAM AND HOW IT'S FUNDED.

SO LIKELY THEY'D BE ON A PLAN TO BE EXITED IF THEY WEREN'T ACHIEVING HOUSING.

THIS WHOLE APPROACH HAS BEEN VERY FRAGMENTED.

THERE'S NO IT'S IT'S IT'S LIKE WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE STARTED ON THE HOMELESSNESS TRACK, WE STARTED OUT WE HAD A VERY METHODICAL PLAN.

WE HAD BENCHMARKS THAT WE HIT EVERY SIX MONTHS, EVERY YEAR, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND IT EVENTUALLY BEGAN TO GROW INTO SOMETHING THAT WAS SUSTAINABLE AND THAT WAS PRODUCTIVE AND, QUITE FRANKLY, SUCCESSFUL.

THIS WHOLE APPROACH HERE IS NEVER GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WE CAN'T EVEN DECIDE ON WHAT'S THE DEFINITION, WE CAN'T DECIDE ON WHERE DO WE WANT TO PUT PEOPLE? DO WE WANT TO PUT PEOPLE IN FACILITIES THAT ARE ANIMALS AT THE ADOPTION CENTER, HAVE HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES THERE OR THESE PALLETS MAY WORK, BUT DOES THE CITY

[01:20:05]

FUNDED IS THE CITY GOING TO SPEND $200,000? WE'RE WE'RE SORT OF TAKING A SHOTGUN APPROACH AND WE'RE JUST LOBBING ROCKS AT A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE REALLY NO DEFINITION OF WHAT IT IS.

SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO THIS POINT IN TIME COUNT.

400. AND YOU SAY THAT'S COUNTY WIDE? YES. SO YOU GO OUT.

YOU TAKE A DAY IN JANUARY? I BELIEVE IT WAS, YES.

AND YOU FIND ANYONE YOU CAN TO MAKE A COUNT? SO RIGHT NOW, OUR SHELTER THAT WE HAVE IS ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE? 150. OVERNIGHT, OVERNIGHT, OVERNIGHT, SLIGHTLY MORE THAN THAT OVERNIGHT.

AND ON A IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY, MORE THAN THAT.

YES, 180.

I MEAN, UP TO 220 ACTUALLY ARE CONCERNED AND 20.

SO THEN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEYOND NEEDING THAT OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION TO WHERE THEY'RE MOVED TO A POINT, OR THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE SHELTER.

SO WE PUT THEM IN A TRANSITIONAL HOUSE.

I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY I MEAN, NOT YOU.

I'M SAYING THIS COUNCIL OVER THE YEARS, MYSELF INCLUDED, WE'VE ATTACKED THE UNSHELTERED PROBLEM AND THIS IS THE NEXT STEP.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE US TO ADDRESS THE FIRST STEP? THERE'S FIVE. I MEAN, TO REALLY GET WHERE WE ARE.

WAS IT FIVE OR SIX YEARS TO REALLY HAVE A PLANT, SEVEN YEARS TO HAVE A PLAN TO REALLY DO IT RIGHT, TO MAKE IT WHERE IT HAS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED? AND IT'S NOT JUST THROWING MONEY AT IT.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO JUST REALLY START OVER.

I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY BEGIN TO HAVE A STRATEGIC APPROACH ON WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THESE ARGUMENTS OF WHERE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GO TO SHELTER. THEY NEED TO HAVE SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

I DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH THAT, BUT I THINK PEOPLE ASSUME THE CITY IS THE ONE THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR AND MAYBE IT IS MAYBE THIS COUNCIL COMES TO THAT CONSENSUS.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HAVING A DISAGREEMENT ON WHAT DIRECTION WAS WHAT IS IT, HOW MUCH MONEY UNTIL WE REALLY TRY TO CREATE A FOUNDATION THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BUILD UPON AND WE'RE ON SINKING SAND.

I MEAN, WE'RE IN QUICKSAND.

I MEAN, WE THINK WE'RE MOVING ONE DIRECTION.

THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WE'RE UP TO OUR NECKS AND WE'RE GETTING SOMEBODY WITH A ROPE TO PULL US OUT.

SO I'M ALL FOR TRYING TO REALLY FIND A WAY TO SOLVE THIS OR TO AT LEAST WE'RE NEVER GOING TO SOLVE IT.

WE'RE NEVER GOING TO SOLVE IT.

WE CAN ONLY TRY OUR BEST TO DO IT.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND SO IF WE KEEP DOING THE SAME THING WE'VE DONE, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GETTING THE RESULT.

AND WE SORT OF HAVE TO, I THINK, STEP BACK, TRY TO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FORM A COMMITTEE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. WE'VE GOT SO MANY COMPETING KINDS OF AGENDAS AND THINGS.

AND ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS HELP PEOPLE.

AND I THINK WE CAN DO IT.

I DON'T THINK THE SYSTEM THAT I'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, ESPECIALLY THE LAST, WHAT, FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS, ALMOST A YEAR.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS.

SO I'M CERTAINLY WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN THE CONVERSATION.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT WE'RE SPINNING OUR WHEELS.

WE'RE SPINNING OUR WHEELS.

SO THAT'S MY THAT'S MY INPUT ON THAT, THAT ISSUE.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BERT? IT SAYS HERE ON I DON'T KNOW, I ON SEVEN.

I THINK I'M ON SEVEN OR EIGHT.

SLIDE EIGHT, EIGHT, EIGHT, EIGHT.

IT SAYS HERE THIS RECOMMENDATION IS BASED ON FIRST OF ALL, I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH STAFF, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING HERE. IT SAYS THIS RECOMMENDATION IS BASED ON LIMITED LAND AVAILABILITY.

NOW, THAT'S IN THIS TIME FRAME.

IS THIS IS THERE ANY WHAT'S WHAT'S THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THIS? ARE WE SAYING IF WE DON'T HAVE THE LAND AVAILABLE NOW OR TEN YEARS OR WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, THE LAND AVAILABILITY UNDER THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE LAND OR APPROPRIATE LAND THAT CAN HOUSE THIS KIND OF THING FOR A PROJECT THAT REQUIRES LAND COMMITMENT THAT CITY OWNED. OKAY. RIGHT.

SO I'M NOT SURE HOW TO ANSWER THE TIMELINE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGIC TOOLKIT, WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE CREATE MORE LAND OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD GENERATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.

SO THAT'S A GOAL IN THAT STRATEGIC TOOLKIT THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR BECAUSE LAND IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO CREATE MORE HOUSING IN GENERAL, AND ESPECIALLY IF WE CAN PROVIDE SOME RESOURCE THAT MAKES IT AFFORDABLE.

ALSO, THE RFP REQUESTS SEEKING COMMITMENTS BETWEEN $4,000,007.3 MILLION, YOUR YOUR REQUEST IS SEEKING COMMITMENTS. WHO ARE YOU THE TWO THAT THE TWO THAT SUBMITTED REQUEST.

[01:25:01]

AND THEY THEY ASKED FOR 8.1 AND 5.9.

THEY HAVE SOME COMMITMENT OF FUNDING.

SO THAT BROUGHT THAT DOWN TO 7.3 MILLION AND ONE AND 4 MILLION AND THE OTHER.

ME SEE THOSE NUMBERS THERE? THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP.

AND THEN THAT'S ALL THAT I HAD.

BUT YES, I WILL GO WITH THE CITY AND NOT RECOMMEND TO PROCEED.

ANYONE ELSE SEE COUNCILMAN.

MCGEE. MR. MAYOR. DANNY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I, TOO, AM GOING TO SIDE WITH STATE'S RECOMMENDATION, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

WHEN WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION LAST FALL, I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCILMEMBER WATTS WHO BROUGHT THIS UP, WHO WAS ABLE TO EXTRACT THIS.

AND I KNOW YOU AND I HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS.

WHAT I FOUND PARTICULARLY INTERESTING AT THAT TIME IS THAT I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED A TINY HOME VILLAGE.

HAVING SAID THAT, ONE OF OUR PRIMARY JOBS IS TO SHEPHERD TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY THAT WE CAN GET THE MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

YOU SAID SOMETHING AKIN TO FOR THE COST OF A UNIT WOULD BE ABOUT 1600 DOLLARS A MONTH FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. THERE ARE MANY OF US THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT AREN'T EVEN PAYING 1600 DOLLARS FOR AN APARTMENT FOR RENT.

AND YOU SHOWED US THE COST.

AND I LOOKED AT THAT AND I SAID, WELL, WE CAN BUILD AN APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR THAT.

SO GIVEN THAT.

THESE TWO PROJECTS REQUIRE SO MUCH TAX RESOURCES FROM US.

THAT IS WHY I AM GOING TO THAT IS WHY I TOO AM GOING TO AGREE TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

HAVING SAID THAT, IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE NEED.

AS COUNCILMEMBER WATTS SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK HERE BECAUSE THIS IS THE NEED THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS IS MERELY ONE WAY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE OF TACKLING THIS NEED. SO WE SHOULD JUST BE EXPECTING THIS CONVERSATION TO KEEP COMING BACK AND COMING BACK AND COMING BACK UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RIGHT FORMULA IS TO ADDRESS THIS NEED.

SO THANK YOU, DANNY.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCILMAN DAVIS? THANK YOU, MARY. JUST.

I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS NECESSARY, BUT AN EFFORT TO BUILD CONSENSUS HERE, I THINK I SHOULD STATE CLEARLY AND ON THE RECORD.

I AGREE WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT THE WAY THE RFP RESPONSES HAVE SHAPED UP, THAT THIS IS NOT A DIRECTION THAT WE NEED TO GO.

AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT SHOULD THE CITY DOESN'T EVER NEVER BE INVOLVED IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

NO, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE'S NOT A ROLE FOR US AND FACILITATING PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

BUT IF YOU HANDED THE AVERAGE DENTON TAXPAYER $7 MILLION AND SAID, HOW WOULD YOU USE THIS $7 MILLION TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS? AND HERE'S ALL THE INFORMATION WE KNOW ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND DENTON AND WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AND WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED TO DO.

THIS ISN'T HOW WE'D SPEND THE $7 MILLION LIKE THIS IS.

THIS IS KIND OF A I DON'T WANT TO SAY SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM BECAUSE THAT'S NOT EXACTLY THE IDIOM I'M GOING FOR.

BUT IT'S IT'S.

HERE WE GO. SQUARE PEG IN SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER IF I HAVE TO USE AN IDIOM.

SO I AGREE WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AGAIN, DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T NEED MORE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OPTIONS AND DENTON DOESN'T MEAN THAT I COULDN'T SUPPORT SOMEBODY ELSE DOING THIS IN A MORE COST EFFECTIVE WAY.

BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD REMINDER, TOO, THAT.

THE CITY IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO EVERY FACET OF THIS PROBLEM.

AND I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND WHERE TIM WAS GOING EARLIER WITH THE OVERALL COST TO SOCIETY OF HOMELESSNESS.

IT ABSOLUTELY IS MORE EXPENSIVE TO HAVE A PERSON LIVING ON THE STREET OR NOT IN A PERMANENT HOUSING, WORKING AT A PERMANENT JOB WITH ALL THE THINGS THEY NEED.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY MORE EXPENSIVE TO SOCIETY THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE SLIDE.

BUT THE COST TO SOCIETY ARE SPREAD OUT OVER SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

LIKE THE MAYOR MENTIONED, IT COULD BE THE COUNTY, IT COULD BE NONPROFITS, IT COULD BE SOME OF IT'S THE CITY.

IT IS JUST SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

AND THIS IS NOT THE BEST USE OF CITY, JUST OUR SLICE OF THE PIE, OUR RESOURCES.

I'VE ALSO HEARD A LOT, AND I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HEAR, BECAUSE IT'S TRUE THAT NOT EVERY PERSON WHO IS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAS ANY INTEREST IN BEING IN OUR SHELTER OR GETTING OUR SERVICES OR TALKING TO THE CITY OF DENTON EVER, WHETHER IT'S POLICE, WHETHER IT'S CIVILIANS.

SOME FOLKS JUST DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

BUT THEY COULD BE INTERESTED IN WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS TO OFFER.

FOR ME, THAT'S WHERE I DRAW THE TAXPAYER LINE IS IF SOMEBODY SAYS, THANKS VERY MUCH, CITY OF DENTON, FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THAT.

THAT'S WHERE I DRAW THE LINE FOR TAXPAYER INVOLVEMENT.

AND IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO LIKE COMMUNITY FIRST IS DONE IN AUSTIN AND NOT TAKE A DIME OF CITY MONEY AND NOT USE TAXPAYER MONEY AND DO THEIR OWN THING.

I'M ON BOARD WITH THAT. THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME, BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN INVESTING TO THIS DEGREE OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

[01:30:02]

TO SOLVE A PERCEIVED ISSUE OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN THE SERVICES WE ALREADY OFFER.

ANY OTHER QUESTION? MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO JUST JUST TO PROVIDE SOME SOME CLARITY, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM REJECTING THESE TWO PARTICULAR VENDORS IF THEY'RE NOT SUITABLE TO OUR NEEDS.

THE DIRECTION I WAS GIVING EARLIER WAS WE HAVE NEEDS MUCH.

AS COUNCILOR DAVIS JUST ILLUSTRATED, I THINK WE HAD SORT OF THE BEGINNINGS OF GOALS ALONG THOSE NEEDS IN A PARTICULAR FLAVOR, WHETHER THESE TO MATCH THAT OR NOT OR WHETHER THE CITY WANTS TO FACILITATE SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S IN THAT DIRECTION OF THAT VECTOR.

FINE. SO IF STAFF FEELS THAT THESE TWO PARTICULAR ITEMS FAIL TO MEET THOSE OVERARCHING GOALS, IT DOESN'T CAUSE ME PROBLEMS TO SAY THESE TWO.

NO, BUT WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO PUT A LITTLE EFFORT IS TO SAY WE CAN'T JUST KICK THE CAN.

WE'VE GOT TO BE MORE URGENT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. AGAIN, COUNCILOR DAVIS JUST JUST SAID THAT PROBABLY MORE ELOQUENTLY THAN I DID.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

AND PLEASE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT JUST WAITING.

WE'RE NOT KICKING THE CAN. WE ARE LOOKING ADAMANTLY AT EVERY SINGLE SOLUTION WE CAN OFFER.

THANK YOU. AGREED.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TAKES US TO ITEM C, ID 221930.

[C. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the Water, Wastewater Impact Fee Study. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 45 minutes]]

RECEIVE REPORT HOLDS THAT DISCUSSION GIVES STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING THE WATER WASTEWATER IMPACT B STUDY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

NICK VINCENT, INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR.

DO A BRIEF INTRODUCTION AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CONSULTANT WITH KIMBERLY HORN.

SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT UPDATING THE 2018 IMPACT FEES STUDY FOR WATER WASTEWATER.

AND THESE STUDIES ARE UPDATED ON FIVE YEAR INTERVALS SINCE THE LAST STUDY WAS UPDATED IN 2018.

SO WE ARE DUE TO UPDATE THAT STUDY AGAIN REALLY QUICK.

SO WE DID SUBMIT AN INFORMAL STAFF REPORT TO YOU THIS LAST FRIDAY THAT INCLUDED INFORMATION REGARDING THE IMPACT FEE STUDY AND THEN WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSED TODAY.

SO PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY SAW IT.

AND THEN LASTLY, JUST REALLY WANT TO SET THE FRAMEWORK OF TODAY'S CONVERSATION.

SO THE CONVERSATION TODAY WILL FOCUS ON THE SERVICE AREAS FOR BOTH WATER AND WASTEWATER.

WE WILL NOT GET INTO A DETAILED CONVERSATION REGARDING THE ACTUAL FEE FOR THE UTILITIES AND THAT WILL COME FORWARD TO YOU THIS SUMMER AND THIS FALL.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO JOHN ATKINS.

OKAY, JOHN, COME ON UP HERE.

OK. YOU CAN USE THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, NICK.

YES. JOHN ATKINS WITH KIMLEY-HORN ASSOCIATES.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN UPDATE, KIND OF THE KICK START, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE WATER AND WASTEWATER IMPACT FOR THE UPDATE THAT YOU ALL DO ON A FIVE YEAR BASIS.

THIS IS WE'RE ROLLING UP HERE ON THE 25TH YEAR THAT YOU ALL HAVE HAD THIS PROCESS IN PLACE.

SO NOTHING NEW.

BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT THE STAFF HAS TALKED TO US ABOUT THAT WE'D LIKE Y'ALL'S GUIDANCE ON, AND I'LL GO GO THROUGH THOSE QUESTIONS HERE IN A SECOND. SO THE OUTLINE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, THE PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES, THAT'S WHAT I JUST MENTIONED A SECOND AGO.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT SOME IMPACT FEE BASICS, SOME FUNDAMENTALS OF THE PROCESS.

THE TWO THINGS, THE OBJECTIVES WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT CENTER AROUND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AND AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS THE SERVICE AREA UPDATE.

THERE'S SOME SOME NUANCES THERE OF POTENTIAL CHANGES THAT WE'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT THE STAFF IS MAKING SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT.

WE'D LIKE TO RUN BY YOU GUYS BECAUSE IT SETS SOME FOUNDATIONAL GUIDELINES TO THE STUDY AREA THAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE STUDY.

AND IF THOSE CHANGED LAST MINUTE, THEN IT KIND OF MEANS YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE VERY BEGINNING AGAIN TO START OVER AND TO MEET THE DEADLINE FOR FINISHING UP THIS YEAR.

WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE SOME GUIDANCE ON THAT AND DIRECTION.

WE THINK WE HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT TO DO, BUT WANT TO GET Y'ALL'S INPUT ON THAT.

AND THEN THE NEXT THE LAST THING IS NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS.

THAT BEING SAID, THE KEY OBJECTIVE HERE IS THE OVERVIEW OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

I'LL GET INTO MORE DETAILS ON THAT IN JUST A MINUTE AND THEN THE PRESENT, PRESENT AND UPCOMING UPDATE TO THE IMPACT FREE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE AREAS.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU SOME MORE DETAIL ON THAT.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO ITEMS THAT I WANT TO THE STAFF HAS ASKED ME TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT TO GET Y'ALL'S INPUT.

OKAY, LET'S GO BACK TO SOME BASICS.

ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS THAT I TALKED ABOUT AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS IS THE SERVICE AREA.

SO THAT'S THE KEY THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY IS THE VERY FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS OF THIS FIVE FIVE PART PROCESS FOR DOING AN UPDATE TO YOUR IMPACT FEES. THE NEXT ITEM IS YOUR LANE USE ASSUMPTIONS GROWTH.

WE'RE ALREADY HEAVILY INVOLVED IN DOING SOME OF THAT WORK RIGHT NOW AND YOUR WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN.

[01:35:02]

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRANSITION AND HAVE ANSWERS WITH REGARDING YOUR GROWTH FAIRLY QUICKLY BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT LEVEL OF WORK ON YOUR WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN AND THE SERVICE AREA BOUNDARY THAT WE'RE USING TO DO THAT WILL BE WHAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD HERE TODAY.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE WE WANT TO DEVELOP SOME CONSISTENCY THERE AND THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU THAT.

AND SO THE LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS THAT TIE TO YOUR 2040 PLAN CONVERSATIONS WITH Y'ALL'S DEVELOPMENT SERVICES GROUP.

WE THINK THERE'S SOME CONSISTENCY THERE THAT WE CAN BRING FORWARD FAIRLY QUICKLY ON THE LAND USE THAT LAND USE THEN CREATES WHAT WE CALL SERVICE UNITS OR GROWTH UNITS, IF YOU WILL, FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER.

THOSE UNITS ARE WATER METERS BECAUSE THOSE ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO HOW MUCH DEMAND ON THE SYSTEM BY A PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT, EITHER THE NUMBER OF UNIT SERVICE UNITS OR METERS THEY NEED OR THE SIZE OF THOSE.

THE NEXT THING IS, IS WE OBVIOUSLY REFLECT A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN ASSOCIATED WITH THAT GROWTH.

SO YOU DO HAVE WATER AND WASTEWATER MASTER PLANS THAT TALK OVERALL, BOTH SHORING UP EXISTING DEFICIENCY NEEDS.

BUT THEN THERE ARE GROWTH RELATED PROJECTS IN YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN THAT WE TALK TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT AND DURING IMPACT FEES IS GROWTH RELATED.

SO WHAT WE'LL CALL THAT IS THE IMPACT FEE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH ARE GROWTH RELATED PROJECTS THAT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE.

AND THEN LASTLY, AFTER WE KNOW YOUR SERVICE UNIT GROWTH AND AFTER WE KNOW YOUR CAPITAL PLAN, WE DIVIDE THE CAPITAL COST BY THE FUTURE SERVICE UNIT GROWTH AND THAT WILL GIVE YOU A UNIT COST AND THAT'S HOW YOUR IMPACT FEE IS CALCULATED.

AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL IN THAT.

BUT THAT'S THE SIMPLEST VERSION OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF OF YOUR IMPACT FEE PROCESS.

OKAY. SO FUNDAMENTALLY A GOOD DEFINITION HERE.

WE BOIL IT ALL DOWN.

CHAPTER 395 THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE THAT DEFINES AND TALKS ABOUT THE DETAILS OF IMPACT FEES.

BUT WHAT IT IS, IT'S A ONE TIME FEE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S A MECHANISM TO RECOVER INFRASTRUCTURE COST, CITY COST REQUIRED TO SERVE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT DEVELOPMENT GROWTH TO PAY FOR GROWTH.

THAT'S KIND OF THE CONCEPT HERE.

OKAY. SO YOU TALK ABOUT OTHER FUNDING MECHANISMS FOR FOR MUNICIPALITIES, OBVIOUSLY, IN WATER AND SEWER.

YOU HAVE YOUR WATER AND SEWER RATES.

THAT'S A THAT'S A FUNDING SOURCE THAT COMES INTO THE CITY ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

PRIVATE SECTOR, SOMETIMES, IF THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD A LITTLE BIT QUICKER THAN THE CITY CAN ON THE IMPACT FEE.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PRIVATE SECTOR CAN GO AHEAD AND FIT THE BILL FOR NOT ONLY THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SERVES THEM, BUT MAYBE REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GETS INFRASTRUCTURE, GETS WATER AND SEWER OUT TO THOSE PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENTS IF THEY'RE NOT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

AND THEN LASTLY, THE COMPONENT YOU ALL HAVE HAD ENACTED FOR OVER 25 OR RIGHT AT 25 YEARS NOW, ANOTHER FUNDING COMPONENT IS IMPACT FEES, AND THAT IS FOCUSED ON GROWTH, PAYING FOR GROWTH.

WHAT ITEMS ARE PAYABLE AND OUR PAYABLE.

WE'VE GOT A QUICK LIST HERE.

THE GREEN OR WHAT IS PAYABLE AND IT'S ALL GROWTH RELATED STUFF.

SO YOU'VE GOT CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, ROADWAYS IN HERE, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT, BUT YOU HAVE WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.

TRAFFIC THAT'S THAT'S CHARLES ROADWAY IMPACT FEE.

THERE'S LISTED IN HERE BUT YOU'VE GOT SURVEYING, ENGINEERING, LAND ACQUISITION, DEBT SERVICE.

YOU ALL IF YOU ALL ISSUE BONDS FOR YOUR PROJECTS, THE DEBT SERVICE ON THOSE CAN BE PAID OUT OF IMPACT FEES FOR THOSE FUTURE PROJECTS.

AND THEN PLANNING STUDIES, YOUR WATER AND WASTEWATER MASTER PLANS.

AND ALSO THIS IMPACT FEE STUDY CAN BE PAID OUT OF IMPACT FEE FUNDS.

WHAT CAN'T BE PAID OR PARTICULARLY PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTENANCE IF WE DON'T PUT A CAPITAL FUTURE PROJECT ON THE IMPACT VQIP LIST THAT WE'LL BRING TO YOU GUYS IN THE FUTURE, IT CAN'T BE FUNDED WITH IMPACT FEES, SO THE PROJECT LIST IS PRETTY EXTENSIVE.

BOTH HAVE EXISTING PROJECTS THAT ARE OVERSIZE CURRENTLY THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO FUND THOSE PROJECTS, MAYBE THE DEBT SERVICE ON THOSE PROJECTS AND THEN FUTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE ROAD. WHAT YOU CAN'T PAY FOR IS REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE UPGRADES TO EXISTING FACILITIES THAT MAY BE DEFICIENT AND THEN ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. SO STAFF TIME YOU CAN'T PAY FOR OUT OF IMPACT FEE FUNDS.

BENEFITS TO DEVELOPERS.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A WEIRD TERM.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? DEVELOPERS DON'T LIKE PAYING IMPACT FEES.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TO GIVE YOU KIND OF A HISTORY IN 1987, THE THE ACTUALLY THE WHO BROUGHT FORWARD THE LEGISLATION TO DO IMPACT FEES FOR CITIES. IT WAS ACTUALLY THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION.

YOU'RE LIKE, THAT SOUNDS KIND OF COUNTERINTUITIVE.

WELL, WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, WHEN YOU CALL IT A BENEFIT, THEY WANT IT TO BE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AGAINST EACH OTHER, IF YOU WILL.

A WAL MART AND A TARGET WANTED TO BE TREATED THE SAME WHEN THEY CAME INTO A COMMUNITY.

[01:40:02]

IF IT HAD TO DO WITH INFRASTRUCTURE COST, YOU KNOW, THE WHERE A COMMUNITY WOULD BE.

THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY OR THE SAME.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BENEFITS.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EQUITABLE.

SO BURYING EXISTING, BARRING EXISTING ORDINANCES, DEVELOPMENTS PAY EQUAL FEES, WHETHER THEY'RE FIRST INTO THE COMMUNITY OR THE LAST INTO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S PREDICTABLE.

THE FEES ARE SET, THEY'RE PUBLISHED, THEY'RE ON YOUR WEBSITE.

A DEVELOPER CAN COME IN THE TOWN, SEE WHAT YOUR IMPACT FEES ARE PER SERVICE UNIT, AND HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH THAT COST WOULD BE.

AND THEY CAN RELY ON THOSE BECAUSE YOUR LAND USE PLANS AND YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLANS ARE PUBLISHED, THEY'RE TRANSPARENT THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO SEE BEFORE THEY EVER EVEN COME TO TOWN.

IT ENSURES ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE STATE LAW REQUIRES THE CITY TO FOLLOW PARTICULAR RULES AND HOW YOU UPDATE AND THEN ALSO HOW YOU SPIN THE MONEY.

AND IN THERE'S TIMEFRAMES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND THEN IT'S PROPORTIONAL.

SO IT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE AMOUNT OF DEMAND GENERATED BY THE DEVELOPMENT.

SO IF YOU HAD A SUPERCONDUCTOR PLANT COME IN AND THAT NEEDED 5 MILLION GALLONS A DAY OF WATER, WELL, THEY'RE GOING TO PAY A PRETTY BIG IMPACT FEE BECAUSE THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DEMAND ON YOUR SYSTEM VERSUS IF ONE PERSON COMES IN AND BUYS A LOT AND PUTS HIS SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON IT, THAT WOULD JUST HAVE A A MUCH SMALLER VALUE.

SO IT'S PROPORTIONAL NO MATTER HOW MUCH LAND HE BUYS, IF THE DEMAND FOR THE WATER OR SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE ON THAT PROPERTY IS FAIRLY SMALL, EVEN IF HE BUYS A BIG, BIG PIECE OF PROPERTY, IT'S BASED ON THE DEMAND OF THE WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.

OK ROLE OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THIS IS WHERE WE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF GUIDANCE FROM YOU.

THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS DEFINED.

THE CHAPTER THREE AND FIVE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE REQUIRES THE CITY ESTABLISH A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHEN TO UPDATE THE IMPACT FEES.

2003 THE CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WITH ONE AD HOC MEMBER FROM THE ITJ TO SERVE ON THE CIC, AND THAT GUIDANCE IS BASED. THAT'S STRAIGHT OUT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE ON HOW YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.

THE PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION MAY ACT AS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THE COMMISSION INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT OR BUILDING INDUSTRY, WHICH ARE NOT EMPLOYED BY THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION.

THE CITY AND ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR CITY LIMITS.

THAT'S STRAIGHT OUT OF THE LAW.

THE REQUIREMENTS YOU NEED.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY NOT USE YOUR PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.

THAT'S OKAY.

I THINK WE I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION THAT WAS PRESENTED TO TO THE STAFF ABOUT COULD ANOTHER GROUP I THINK THE THE BZA THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. YEAH.

THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT COULD BE COULD IT BE USED.

THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.

THE ONE CRITERIA THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO FOLLOW IS YOU'D HAVE TO FIND OUT THE NUMBER OF FOLKS, YOU'D HAVE TO KNOW THE NUMBER OF FOLKS ON THE BOARD, AND AT LEAST 40% OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD NEED TO BE FROM THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT OR BUILDING INDUSTRY.

AND IF THEY ARE AND YOU GET ONE PERSON FROM THE THE TO REPRESENT THE AREA, YOU CAN HAVE THAT BOARD BE THAT CAN CAN BE YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SO JUST IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

SO THE ANSWER IS YES, BUT THERE IS SOME CAVEATS TO THAT WHERE THEY DON'T PUT QUITE THIS THE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION CAN BE THAT WITH JUST ONE MEMBER THAT'S FROM THE BUILDING COMMUNITY. SO AND THE EXISTING PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE FOR WATER AND SEWER IMPACT FEES, EXCEPT FOR WE'RE LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE ON A REPRESENTATIVE, THE STAFF HAS ASKED THE GET INPUT FROM THE COUNCIL ON A POSSIBILITY OF A PERSON IN THE AREA THAT COULD REPRESENT THAT PERSON OR REPRESENT THAT AREA ON THE BOARD.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN ASK AND TALK ABOUT HERE IN A FEW MINUTES.

WHAT DOES WHAT ARE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY DO ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC UTILITY BOARD AND COUNCIL? FIRST STEP IS REVIEW AND PROVIDE COMMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE LAND.

USE THE IMPACT FEE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND THE IMPACT FEES ITSELF THAT WILL BE BROUGHT THROUGH IN THE REPORT AND PRESENTATIONS COME SUMMER AND FALL.

AND THEN BETWEEN THE FIVE YEAR PERIODS WHEN YOU UPDATE, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MONITORING, EVALUATE THE PLAN, FILE SEMIANNUAL REPORTS AND ADVISE IF THERE SHOULD BE ANY CHANGES. THAT'S PRETTY RARE THAT THAT OCCURS.

NEW THE FACT THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE UPDATING EVERY FIVE YEARS, THERE'S A LOT OF NOT SIGNIFICANT DEVIATION IN THE PLANNING THAT'S GOING ON.

SO WE DON'T SEE MANY ADJUSTMENTS OCCUR INSIDE THAT FIVE YEAR, BUT THEY'RE OBLIGATED TO MONITOR THAT TO SOME LEVEL.

AND THEN THE PUBLIC UTILITY BOARD IN THE CITY COUNCIL REVIEWS THE LAND, USE ASSUMPTIONS, IMPACT FEES AND THE AND THE IMPACT FEE CALCULATION ITSELF.

YOU ALL CONSIDER THE COMMENTS FROM THE THE CIC.

SO THEY'LL PUBLISH COMMENTS KIND OF LIKE PNC DOES FOR FOR APPROVALS OF PROPERTY TYPE THINGS.

[01:45:06]

AND THEN YOU'RE CONSIDER RECOMMENDATIONS AND UPDATE OR REVISE.

THE INFORMATION THAT'S BROUGHT FORWARD FROM THEM.

YOU CAN KEEP THE.

IF THE THE AFTER WE DO THE CALCULATION FOR YOUR MAXIMUM, WHAT KIMLEY-HORN IS ASKED TO DO IS PROVIDE YOU THE NEW MAXIMUM FEE THAT THE COUNCIL COULD POTENTIALLY APPROVE.

IF YOUR CURRENT FEES ARE BELOW THAT MAXIMUM, YOU CAN JUST LEAVE YOUR FEES AT WHAT THEY CURRENTLY ARE.

BUT YOU CAN YOU IT'S Y'ALL'S FREEDOM TO TO ADJUST THE FEE ANYWHERE FROM THE MAXIMUM NUMBER AS YOU WILL WE WILL PRESENT TO YOU AND THE CALCULATION DOWN TO ZERO.

SO THAT'S Y'ALL'S PREROGATIVE ULTIMATELY.

BUT YOU'LL GET RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PROBABLY BOTH THE PUBLIC UTILITY BOARD AND THE CIC ON WHAT THEY THINK YOU SHOULD DO.

OK. THE NEXT THING WE NEED, LIKE SOME INPUT FROM YOU IS ON THE SERVICE AREAS.

LET ME DEFINE WHAT THAT IS REAL QUICK.

IT'S ESTABLISHES THE BOUNDARY TO WHICH FUNDS CAN BE COLLECTED AND SPECIFIED AREAS TO SERVE FOR FUTURE IMPACT FEES.

SO IF THE ENTIRE AREA WAS ONE SINGLE SERVICE AREA, THEN YOU, YOU YOU SET IT WILL CALCULATE A MAXIMUM FEE FOR THAT AREA AND THEN YOU CAN SO CHARGE THAT OR OR YOU CAN DIVIDE IT UP INTO MANY AREAS AS YOU'D LIKE.

WHAT WE WANT TO BRING FORWARD TO YOU TODAY IS WHAT YOUR CURRENT SERVICE AREAS LOOK LIKE.

AND THEN THE SLIGHT CHANGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT.

JUST AS A REMINDER, WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS YOUR CITY LIMITS AND THE KIND OF THE DARKER BROWN AND THEN THE BEIGE COLOR IS YOUR AGE.

IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN OCTOBER, I CAME TO YOU GUYS AND TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN.

AND AT THE TIME, THE SERVICE AREA BOUNDARY WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOUR AGE IS.

AND WE SAID, HEY, DUE TO DEVELOPMENT THAT'S COMING OUT BEYOND YOUR CITY LIMITS OUT INTO YOUR DAY, THE DIRECTION WAS TO GO AHEAD AND EXPAND THE STUDY AREA FOR WASTEWATER TO GO ALL THE WAY OUT TO YOUR ETR.

SO THAT'S THAT SAME CONCEPT IS WHAT STAFF HAS DISCUSSED DOING WITH YOUR SERVICE AREA BOUNDARIES FOR YOUR IMPACT FEES.

SO TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A FEEL FOR WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

LET ME DO MY LITTLE MAGIC LASER THING.

ME. TO KIND OF POINT TO THINGS.

CURRENTLY YOU'RE YOU'RE DURING THE 2008 STUDY WE DEFINED YOUR WATER SERVICE AREA INTO THREE PARTS ONE A, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR OF THE CITY YOU SEE HERE ONE B WHICH KIND OF SURROUNDS THAT WITH SOME AREAS THAT'S OUTSIDE OF YOUR CURRENT WATER BOUNDARY AND THEN SERVICE AREA TWO, THAT IS DOWN IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE.

PORTION OF THE CITY. BUT WHAT YOU'LL REALIZE HERE, THE BOUNDARY OF THE STUDY CURRENTLY TODAY THAT YOU CAN YOU CAN CHARGE IMPACT FEES IS TERMINATES AT THIS EDGE OUT HERE THIS DASH BLUE LINE WHICH IS YOUR BOUNDARY.

SO WHAT YOU SEE TO THE RIGHT HERE IS A RECOMMENDATION BY STAFF.

AND WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THIS ASSOCIATED ALONG WITH THE WASTEWATER MASTER PLANNING, AND WE'RE DOING IT WITH YOUR ONE WATER PLAN RIGHT NOW IS EXTENDING THAT BOUNDARY OUT TO YOUR EDGE, WHICH YOU'RE LEGALLY ABLE TO DO.

CHAPTER 395 OF THE STATE CODE SAYS, YES, YOU CAN EXTEND THE SERVICE AREA BOUNDARY OUT TO YOUR EDGE AND EVALUATE THAT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS INTO THE FUTURE. SO WHAT WE'RE SHOWING HERE IS A PROPOSAL GUIDED BY STAFF TO EXTEND YOUR SERVICE AREA BOUNDARY FROM THE BLUE DASH LINE, WHICH IS KIND OF HARD TO SEE IN HERE, WHICH YOU SEE OVER HERE, EXTENDING THAT ALL THE WAY OUT TO YOUR EDGE.

SO WHAT THE NEW BOUNDARIES WOULD LOOK LIKE ONE A WOULD STAY THE SAME.

THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR AREA ONE B WOULD EXTEND TO THE NORTH AND WEST GUIDED BY YOUR.

OUT THERE. AND THEN TWO WOULD EXTEND FARTHER TO THE WEST AND NORTH ALSO.

SO THAT'S THAT'S A NEW BOUNDARY THAT THE STAFF AND MYSELF AND WITH MY TEAM HAS LOOKED AT AND WANT TO PROPOSE TO THE GROUP.

WHITEWATER IS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR.

IT'S A SINGLE SERVICE AREA.

THE GUIDANCE IS TO BE MORE CONSISTENT WITH THE WATER.

AND SO YOU SEE THE SIMILAR SERVICE AREA BOUNDARIES FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER HERE HEADING INTO THE FUTURE.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THE PRESENTATION ABOUT THOSE TWO TOPICS.

SO, NICK, YOU WANT TO COME BACK AND KIND OF TALK ABOUT BOTH CISSIE AND THESE BOUNDARIES WITH THE GROUP.

SO. NICK VINCENT, INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR AGAIN, LET ME FLIP TO THE LAST SLIDE HERE AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS REALLY QUICK.

[01:50:01]

SO WE DO HAVE COMING UP A DEVELOPER TOWN HALL MEETING THAT WILL TAKE FORWARD OR TAKE PLACE HERE IN THE COMING MONTHS.

WE WILL LOOK TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CURRENT PLACEMENT OF THE CIC COMMITTEE.

I KNOW I DO SEE SUSAN OVER HERE.

SHE HAD MENTIONED TO ME EARLIER SHE'D HAVE TO AMEND THE CURRENT ORDINANCE THAT IS IN PLACE.

AND THEN WE HAVE A SERIES OF CIC COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND THE PUBLIC UTILITY BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

SO, MAYOR, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A DIRECTION REGARDING THE SERVICE AREA AS WE GO OKAY.

WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALSO IDENTIFYING AN AD HOC MEMBER FROM THE.

GREAT. AND I'M TRYING TO PULL IT UP.

DO WE KNOW? DID YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE ZIVA BOARD? AND THE REASON I SUGGESTED THAT IS BECAUSE THEY REGULARLY GET THEIR MEETINGS CANCELED.

WE REALLY GOT TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO ACTIVATE THAT BOARD TO MAKE IT WORTHY OF PEOPLE'S TIME.

AND SO I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD FIT.

NO, I THINK, MAYOR, THAT'S A GREAT RECOMMENDATION.

I LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD.

SO I THINK THE BOARD IS MADE UP OF TEN MEMBERS.

I THINK THERE'S CURRENTLY THREE VACANCIES, BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO EVALUATE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS.

SO IF WE GET DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL TODAY TO USE THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS, WE'LL START THAT INVESTIGATION INTO THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND BRING IT BACK FORTH TO YOU.

AS OF TODAY, UNLESS WE GET THAT GUIDANCE FROM YOU, WE WOULD USE THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD WITH YOUR HELP IDENTIFYING THE INDIVIDUAL FROM THE.

OKAY. SO, SO THAT'S MY MY, MY REQUEST OF THE COUNCIL WAS TO ACTIVATE A BOARD THAT GETS I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER, BUT LET'S SAY THEY HAVE TEN A YEAR.

THERE'S EIGHT OF THEM THAT ARE CANCELED AS FAR AS MEETINGS AND THESE PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO SERVE.

AND SO I WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT THEIR MEETINGS ARE GETTING REGULARLY CANCELED AND THEY HAVE NO REGULAR WORK TO DO.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD OF SAYING THAT THAT'S WHY I MADE THAT REQUEST.

THAT FALLS, THAT FALLS, BUT AT LEAST THEY KNOW I HEAR THEM.

SO WITH THAT QUESTION'S FOR STAFF MEMBER TIM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND JUST TO ADDRESS THAT LAST POINT, FIRST, I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM THE DESCRIPTION CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT WOULD BE EASIER IN TERMS OF REQUIREMENTS TO GO WITH P AND Z.

BUT IF IT'S THE WILL OF COUNSEL TO TO GRAB ANOTHER BODY.

I DON'T HAVE PARTICULAR HEARTBURN IF YOU ASK ME.

MY DEFAULT POSITION.

I GUESS I'LL I'LL LEAVE P AND Z.

BUT IF THAT'S NOT THE WAY COUNSEL GOES, I'M FINE WITH THEN FLOPPING ON THAT ONE.

THAT IS CORRECT. COUNCIL MEMBER BECK REALLY QUICK.

SO THE P AND Z, WE WOULD NEED ONE MEMBER THAT MEETS THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT JOHN HAD MENTIONED.

IF WE USE THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS, WE DO 40% OF THE MEMBERS TO MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS.

AND HEARING THAT EARLIER, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT MY DEFAULT POSITION WILL BE P AND Z.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S I'M NOT I'M NOT WEDDED TO THAT IF THAT'S NOT WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO DO.

MY OTHER QUESTIONS ARE ON AS WE SET THE THESE NEW BOUNDARIES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS THAT YOU'VE ASKED US TO PROVIDE DIRECTION ON.

COULD YOU GO TO THE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS? SLIDE FOR WATER OR.

PERFECT. OKAY. RIGHT THERE THAT THAT ALLOWS ME TO ASK TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE, IT SEEMS LIKE TO TWO, WHEN IT'S EXPANDING, HAS A SOME ONE B DOWN IN IT AND I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED BY THAT.

COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE MIXING TWO AND ONE B ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF TOWN? WHAT? WELL, IS THAT JUST THE WAY THE WATER FLOWS OR NO ONE B LET ME SO I CAN POINT TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

THIS IS ROBESON RANCH.

THAT SITS DOWN HERE. AND THIS IS THE I DON'T REMEMBER THE SUBDIVISION WHERE THE SOUTHWEST PUMP STATION IS.

CALLED, BUT THESE ARE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED PROPERTIES ALREADY THAT THOSE IMPACT FEES FOR THOSE PROPERTIES ARE ALREADY SET BY ONE B SO THERE WOULD THERE IS NO EVALUATION FOR.

THAT THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN DEFINED AND APPROVED BY A PREVIOUS WHEN IT CAME THROUGH AND WAS PLATTED YEARS AGO.

SO THOSE THE FEES FOR THOSE TWO AREAS ARE SET AND WE DON'T WANT TO CHANGE FROM THAT.

SO SO I THINK THAT'S THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION IS THIS IS ONLY AN EXPANSION OF THE LEFT MAP, ONLY NO CHANGES TO THE EXISTING.

CORRECT. THAT THAT I WAS CONFUSED ON.

I THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

THEN AGAIN, WITH THE SINCE WE'RE ON THE MAP, I'LL JUMP DOWN TO ONE OF MY OTHER QUESTIONS.

WE'VE. WE'RE SURROUNDING OR COMPLETELY SURROUNDED SOME OF OUR PARTNERS.

SO IN THE DEFINITION OF.

THE ITJ MUST BE AN ATJ ONLY, OR JUST NOT SOMEONE WHO IS A CITIZEN OF OUR.

BOUNDARIES THAT CHAPTER 395 SAYS SPECIFICALLY IN YOUR.

SO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT LIKE SINGER AND SCRUM OR.

[01:55:02]

YEAH SO FOR INSTANCE AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS MY RECOMMENDATION.

COULD WE PICK, SAY, THE MAYOR OF CRUM AND AS A REPRESENTATIVE ON OUR BOARD? I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION.

IT JUST MAKES IT CLEAR WHAT I'M ASKING.

SO YOU COULD IF HE RESIDED IN THE J BUT IF HE DOES NOT RESIDE IN THE AND THEN IT WOULD NOT QUALIFY.

AND WE'VE WORKED I DO WANT TO SAY WE'VE WORKED WITH SCOTT STAFF.

WE WORK WITH BECKY'S STAFF AND ENGINEERING TO HELP US IDENTIFY AN INDIVIDUAL.

THE PERSON WE USE IN 2018 HAS MOVED OUTSIDE THE.

SO WE'RE HERE TODAY ASKING YOU, HEY, IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY BRING THAT PERSON FORWARD TO US, LET US RUN THEM THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS OR ROSA AND HER TEAM AND LOOK AT THEIR QUALIFICATIONS. BUT AGAIN, FOR CLARITY, IF THEY'RE INSIDE SOMEBODY ELSE'S CN, THEN THAT WOULD NOT QUALIFY.

DON'T QUALIFY. THAT'S CORRECT.

ABSOLUTELY. THAT ALSO HELPS ME.

IT'S ONLY ONLY IN OUR REGION OR EXPANDED REGION.

IF THEY RESIDED IN CRUM, TJ, THAT WOULD NOT WORK.

YEAH. GOTCHA. THAT THAT AGAIN HELPS ME.

AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS FOR THE CHANGES IN IMPACT FEES, UNDERSTANDING THE SCOPE AS AS WE DEVELOP OUT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKE CHANGES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING IS AS CHANGES TO SERVICE LEVELS GENERALLY BOTH EXISTING AND IN THE FUTURE.

SO THESE CHANGES TO IMPACT FEES AS LONG AS THEY'RE UNIVERSALLY APPLIED, WOULD.

SO FOR INSTANCE, AGAIN, I'M JUST GOING TO COME UP WITH AN EXAMPLE.

IF WE WANTED SMART METERS EVERYWHERE IN TOWN AS THE IMPACT FEES COULD PAY FOR THEM IN THE NEW DEVELOPMENT BUT NOT IN THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT.

IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, METERS THEMSELVES AREN'T IN THE PLAN.

SO IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IF YOU WANTED TO GO AND DO A SMART METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM RIGHT NOW, TRADITIONALLY METERS.

AREN'T IN THE IMPACT VIP PLAN.

NOW, COULD WE VISIT THAT AND SAY, OKAY, THIS IS KIND OF UNIQUE AND WE WANT TO PUT IN METERS INTO THE PLAN? I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER.

USUALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THINGS THAT AREN'T JUST THE EIGHT AND 12 INCH WATER LINES IN THE SUBDIVISION, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 36 INCH LINE COMING FROM LIKE GREG ROBERTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S MORE OF A REGIONAL PROJECT AS WHEN YOU'LL SEE THE PROJECT LIST, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THEY'RE FAIRLY LARGE PIECES OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SERVES THE CITY AS A WHOLE, THAT CONTRIBUTES TO FUTURE GROWTH.

WE USUALLY DON'T PUT THE INDIVIDUAL METERS.

NOW THE CONVERSION FROM TRADITIONAL METERS THAT YOU MAY HAVE NOW TO GOING TO SMART METERS IS UNIQUE AND SOPHISTICATED OR CAN BE A SIGNIFICANT COST THAT IF WE WANT TO CONSIDER ROLLING THOSE INTO THE PROGRAM TO HAVE BUDGET TO PAY FOR THOSE, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WORTH CONSIDERING NOW.

YEAH, I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THAT.

BUT THERE IS STILL TIME TO ADD THOSE KINDS OF CONCEPTS IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S NOT THE DIRECTION WE'RE ASKING FOR TODAY.

CORRECT. OKAY. WE'LL TALK MORE ON INFRASTRUCTURE PIECE DOWN THE ROAD.

YEAH. AND SO FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT YOU'VE ASKED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, I DON'T HAVE SOMEONE TO RECOMMEND FOR THE ATJ, BUT I AM I AM FOR THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR EVERYTHING ELSE.

OK COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.

YEAH, I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO GET TOO INTO THE WEEDS ON THE SERVICE AREAS BECAUSE I KIND OF I KIND OF FEEL LIKE I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE CIP BEFORE I KNOW REALLY HOW I FEEL ABOUT EACH SERVICE AREA.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT A MAP.

WE'RE NOT EVEN LOOKING AT A MAP WITH LINES DENOTING WHERE THE WATER AND WASTEWATER LINES CURRENTLY ARE, WHERE A BIG MAINS ARE.

ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF IS JUST KIND OF A TWO DIMENSIONAL VIEW.

BUT I AM CURIOUS WHY WE HAVE A1A AND ONE B AS OPPOSED TO A ONE, TWO, THREE.

AND I'M ALSO CURIOUS WHY WE DON'T HAVE A.

E, TJ. DIVISION ONE SERVICE AREA AND DIVISION TWO SERVICE AREA.

BECAUSE OUR OUR SERVICE AREAS HAVE BEEN DEFINED BY THE CCN AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING OUT INTO THE BAY.

BUT ALL THE IS NOT CREATED EQUAL, RIGHT? SOME OF THAT EDGE IS RIGHT UP ON TOP OF SOME OF THAT ETB IS OUT THERE IN MUD LAND.

I JUST COINED THAT. YOU ALL CAN USE IT IF YOU WANT TO.

BUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY BE LOOKING AT BIG DEMANDS ON INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE.

YOU KNOW, PROBABLY SOONER THAN WE'RE GOING TO SEE NEEDS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SANGER.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO I'M KIND OF CURIOUS WHY ONE, IT'S ONE A AND ONE B INSTEAD OF ONE, TWO, THREE.

AND WHY WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC SERVICE AREAS SO THAT WE CAN SET DIFFERENT FEES AND FEE RECOVERY FOR THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS.

ONE. A1B2 IS A LEGACY THAT PREDATES ME FROM JUST A LABELING THAT PROBABLY HAPPENED AT.

[02:00:10]

A GENERAL MANAGER WATER LEVEL.

PROBABLY TEN, 15 YEARS AGO.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A GUESS, BUT THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING.

WE CARRIED THAT FORWARD.

SO WHEN ADMINISTRATIVELY WHEN THE STAFF HAS TO IMPLEMENT THIS, BECAUSE THERE ARE GENERATIONAL CHANGES, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE UPDATE AND THERE'S OH, THAT PLATTED IN 2022 HERE WERE THE SERVICE AREAS THEN.

AND HERE'S THE CALCULATION NOW WE'RE 2023.

WE'VE UPDATED TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE STILL IN THAT SAME GENERAL AREA.

IT'S JUST A CONSISTENCY.

SO WE JUST DIDN'T CHANGE IT.

IT'S IT DOES SEEM A BIT ODD.

THERE'S A UNIQUENESS TO DEFINING THE THE THE BOUNDARIES AREAS YOU SEE TODAY ARE ALSO A LEGACY FROM PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS DECIDING THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO AND DO THE CALCULATIONS.

BY THE SERVICE AREA.

THE ONE THING YOU COULD DO IF YOU START GETTING KIND OF SPECIFIC ON THIS, YOU COULD ACTUALLY DO THE ANALYSIS AS A SINGLE SERVICE AREA SOMEWHAT LIKE.

BUT WE SEE CURRENTLY FOR THIS AREA HERE FOR THE WASTEWATER.

AND THEN THE COUNCIL DECIDES, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING I WANT TO CHANGE.

I WANT TO DEFINE A BOUNDARY AND SET THE FEE DIFFERENT THE MAXIMUMS THIS AND IT WAS CALCULATED BASED ON THE WHOLE AREA.

BUT THEN YOU CAN SO CHOOSE TO DEFINE A BOUNDARY.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU WE CAN MAKE DIFFERENT BOUNDARIES.

BUT WHAT'S UNIQUE IS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE GROWTH IN THOSE THOSE AREAS AND THEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SERVE THOSE AREAS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE GROWTH ARE SOMEWHAT PROPORTIONAL.

SO NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE DIVIDE THINGS UP, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PROBABLY THAT'S ONE A, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL CORE OF THE CITY THAT HAS A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY IN IT.

THE VALUES FOR ALL THE THE AREAS OUTSIDE OF THAT, NO MATTER HOW WE CHOP IT UP, THERE'S A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE THAT THE MAXIMUM FEE IN THOSE IS ALL GOING TO BE RELATIVELY THE SAME. FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S TAKE THE AREA OF.

WAY OUT HERE.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT UP NORTH OF SANGER.

IT'S LIKE, REALIZE THIS STUDY IS ONLY A TEN YEAR WINDOW STUDY.

THE ODDS ARE PRETTY GOOD THAT WE WON'T SHOW ANY GROWTH IN ANY INFRASTRUCTURE WAY OUT HERE.

AND SO IF YOU CHOP THAT AREA OFF AND DID IT'S OWN, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOUR IMPACT FEE WOULD BE ALMOST ZERO.

SO IF YOU.

SO YOU CAN DO THAT IF YOU WANT.

BUT THE ODDS THE ODDS ARE THE FEES PROBABLY AREN'T GOING TO DEVIATE A WHOLE LOT EXCEPT FOR THAT EXTREME MEASURE OUT HERE.

SO WE COULD KIND OF BE LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE IF, FOR INSTANCE, A PROJECT DID MATERIALIZE OVER THERE.

YES. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU'RE IN SERVICE AREA Z, AND THERE'S NO FEE FOR YOU, BASICALLY.

RIGHT. THAT'S WHY SOME A LOT OF MOST COMMUNITIES AND WATER AND SEWER AND I'M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, BUT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE, A LOT OF COMMUNITIES JUST DO ONE SERVICE AREA AND THEN WHAT IT DOES, IT GIVES THEM THE FLEXIBILITY.

HERE'S OUR MAXIMUM IF WE SO CHOOSE, LIKE I'VE SEEN IN CITIES WHERE THEY'LL GO, OKAY, THIS IS MORE OF AN ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREA.

WE'RE GOING TO DEFINE THIS AREA AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE FEE LOWER, LOWER HERE, BECAUSE AFFORDABLE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE DOESN'T NEED TO BE BURDENED ANY MORE THAN NECESSARY WITH FEES.

SO THEY'LL DEFINE AN AREA, BUT THEN THE REST OF THE REST OF IT MAYBE BE THREE FOURTHS OF THE MAXIMUM NUMBER.

IT'S KIND OF THERE WILL BE A BUSINESS DECISION YOU ALL WILL HAVE TO MAKE.

WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF BE ON THIS MEETING RIGHT NOW.

YEAH. SO I'M BUT I'M TRYING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

NO, I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SEE THESE AGAIN AND THE QUESTION WILL BE PRESENTED AT THAT TIME, ARE WE GOOD WITH THESE SERVICE AREAS? HAS OUR CIC BEEN OKAY WITH THESE SERVICE AREAS? AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS TO ON THAT.

ON THE CIC, I DON'T HAVE ANY ANY PROBLEM WITH GOING WITH THE ZBA.

I MEAN, I'M GOING TO KIND OF AGREE WITH I CAN'T REMEMBER BACK HERE.

I WOULD BE A LITTLE SURPRISED IF WE FOUND OUT THAT WE MET THE QUALIFICATIONS WITH THAT BOARD.

SO I THINK I THINK I WANT TO GO AHEAD, EXPRESS MY DEFAULT POSITION THAT IF WE DO FIND OUT THAT THAT BOARD IS NOT GOING TO FIT THE BILL, WE'VE ONLY GOT TO HAVE ONE PERSON WHO FOOTS THE BILL OF THE SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS ON P AND Z.

I THINK THAT'S A I THINK THAT'S A SAFE BET IS THE P AND Z.

AND I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND THROW SOMEBODY UNDER THE BUS WHO I HAVEN'T TALKED TO, BUT THEY OUT OF ALL THE VERY ENGAGED PEOPLE OUT IN AN AREA THE AGE WHERE WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE PRESENTLY, LIKE WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE INFRASTRUCTURE GOING IN PRESENTLY THIS PERSON HAS ENGAGED ME THE MOST SORT OF LOOKING FOR

[02:05:07]

COHERENTLY ON WATER AND WASTEWATER ISSUES.

AND HIS NAME IS BRENDAN KENNELLY, LIVES OUT ON OAK BEND.

AND ONE OF THESE DAYS WE MIGHT EVEN END UP PROVIDING WATER OR SEWER OUT THERE IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD TO THAT COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE ON A SEPTIC AND WELL, RIGHT NOW.

SO I CAN GIVE YOU HIS CONTACT INFORMATION.

HE MIGHT TURN US DOWN, BUT I GO AHEAD AND THROW HIM OUT THERE.

HE CURRENTLY DOESN'T HAVE WATER.

RIGHT. EXACTLY.

WE CAN GET WITH YOU OFFLINE TO TO GET HIS CONTACT INFORMATION, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE THAT RIGHT NOW.

YEAH, PERFECT. OK ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN. WHAT'S. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

IF WE COULD GO BACK TO THE MAP THAT SHOWS THE RECOMMENDED EXPANSION.

SO THERE WERE THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE THAT THIS IS THE AREAS THAT WE'RE.

I MEAN, IF WE DEFINE THIS AND THAT MEANS WE'RE WILLING TO SERVE THIS AREA.

SO GIVEN OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MUDS, GIVEN OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION, I MEAN, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND MORE OF THE INTERCONNECTIVITY BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROVIDING THIS THIS SERVICE AREA OUT HERE, WHICH MEANS ARE WE COMMITTING TO SERVE IT? IF THAT MEANS IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WHAT DOES THAT DO TO OUR NEGOTIATION POSITION IN THE FUTURE WITH MUDS COMING IN THE DIFFERENT CITIES SURROUNDING IT? I NEED TO UNDERSTAND MORE OF HOW ALL THAT FITS TOGETHER.

PLUS, IF WE'RE SETTING THE AMOUNT OF THE IMPACT FEE BASED UPON THIS EXTENDED AREA, IS THAT OVERINFLATING IT? IS IT UNDER INFLATING IT FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEVELOPING WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS? SO, I MEAN, WHEN WE START EXPANDING OUT INTO THE EVEN THOUGH I C AND N GOES OUT THAT C CCN SEASON GOES OUT THAT FAR AND MAYBE MAYBE I'M TOOK YOUR COMMENT A LITTLE BIT TOO SERIOUSLY ABOUT, WELL, IF YOU DO THIS AND YOU'RE SORT OF COMMITTING TO SERVING THIS AREA SO AND I CAN CERTAINLY BACK OFF THAT I JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE RIGHT NOW, BUT JUST TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN SERVING THE AREA, THE IMPACT FEE, AND THEN THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE WITH OUR MUDS AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT MOVING FORWARD THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED JUST RECENTLY IN SOME OF OUR CONVERSATION. AND AS FAR AS THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMITTEE, I WOULD NEED TO KNOW MORE SPECIFICALLY WHO'S ON THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS, WHAT THEIR QUALIFICATIONS ARE. AND I'M GOING TO CONCUR WITH THE OTHER COMMENTS THAT BASED UPON THAT ANALYSIS, MY DEFAULT WOULD BE TO LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS.

BUT IF IF IT COMES UP TO WHERE THOSE PEOPLE MEET THOSE QUALIFICATIONS, THEN I CERTAINLY WOULD WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

COUNCILOR WAS STEVEN GADE, DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES.

TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE OBLIGATION TO SERVE OUTSIDE IN HOUR TO THAT PINK AREA WHERE THOSE MUDS ARE DEVELOPING, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SERVE THEM THERE.

IN A DIFFERENT SEASON.

THOSE MUDS WOULD HAVE TO PETITION US FOR THAT SERVICE AND THEN WE'D HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM FOR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

YES, SIR. THAT THAT PINK AREA WHERE YOU SEE ALL THOSE MUDS EXTENDING OUT THE PINK AREA THAT'S RECOMMENDED FOR EXPANSION.

YES, SIR. SO YEAH.

WITH THAT DOTTED LINE IS IF YOU, IF YOU CAN SEE THAT DOTTED LINE, EVERYTHING WITHIN THAT DOTTED LINE IS WITHIN OUR KEN AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO SERVE.

SO THEN THAT'S GREAT, THAT'S GREAT INFORMATION.

SO THEN IF WE'RE EXPANDING OUR SERVICE AREA TO INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT IN OUR CCN, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE EXPANDING THE IMPACT FEE? THE IMPACT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE IMPACT FEE WITHIN THAT AREA, NOT OUR SERVICE AREA.

SO WE'RE LOOKING TO SAY, HEY, IF DEVELOPMENT COMES IN WITHIN THIS AREA AND WE DECIDE TO SERVE THEM IN THAT AREA, THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR IMPACT FEE.

AND WHEN YOU SAY DECIDE TO SERVE THEM, DO YOU MEAN RUNNING AN ACTUAL WATERLINE IN AN ACTUAL SEWER LINE OUT THERE? THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WHERE WE WOULD HAVE THE DEVELOPERS RUN, EXTEND THE SERVICES OUT INTO THAT AREA, BUT THEY WOULD TIE ON TO OUR SYSTEM.

OKAY. YEAH.

AND AND I CAN GET WITH YOU OFFLINE TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THOSE NUANCES ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE WHEN I HEAR WE DON'T HAVE AN OBLIGATION AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SERVE THEM AND IT'S NOT OUR SEASON, BUT WE CAN STILL SERVE THEM BASED UPON AGREEMENT, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT MOVING PARTS.

I JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS BETWEEN THOSE TWO.

SCOTT MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF SERVICES IF WE CAN JUST THROW ONE OTHER PIECE IN THERE, IT IS OUR INTENT TO ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE SERVICE AND WE JUST WANT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT THE FEES IF WE DO IN FACT PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT PLANS.

WE'VE RUN MODELING TO ATTEMPT TO GET WATER TO THESE AREAS.

AND SO WE HAVE INTENTION OF DOING THAT.

THIS IS THE VEHICLE TO HELP US COLLECT FEES ASSOCIATED AND IF IT'S NOT IN OUR CCN, THEN IT HAS TO BE A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT.

IT HAS SOMEBODY HAS SOMEBODY ELSE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

VERY, VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE SEEING NONE.

WELL, JUST IF YOU HAVE.

GO AHEAD. THANK, MR. MAYOR. I TO I WILL AGREE WITH CHECKING THE RECOMMENDATION OF ZBA AND THEN IF NOT DEFAULT INTO P AND Z.

[02:10:07]

OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? GREAT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANKS. THAT TAKES US WELL, WE NEED TO AND IT'S GOING TO BE A SUPER IT'S GOING TO BE A SUPER SHORT BREAK.

HEAR ME? SO 5 MINUTES LITERALLY, AND WE'RE BACK.

SO WE'RE RECESS FOR 5 MINUTES SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE EQUIPMENT AROUND.

THEN WE'RE STARTING. SO HERE OR NOT, WE'RE STARTING WITHOUT YOU.

WE'VE GOT TO GO. SOME.

AND WELCOME BACK TO THIS MEETING OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL.

IT IS 4:16 P.M..

WE'RE BACK FROM A SHORT RECESS AND WE'RE.

[D. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding an update from the City Manager on the implementation of Proposition B, codified as Chapter 21, Article V - “Marijuana Enforcement” in the Code of Ordinances. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]

TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM D, WHICH IS ID 23089 RECEIVED REPORT HOLD DISCUSSION GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING AN UPDATE FROM THE CITY MANAGER ON THE IMPLEMENTATION.

PROPOSITION BE CODIFIED AS CHAPTER 21 ARTICLE FIVE MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT IN THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF DENTON.

THANK YOU. MAYOR SARA HENSLEY, THE CITY MANAGER.

I HAVE A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

AS EVERYONE KNOWS, PROPOSITION B WAS APPROVED BY ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 8TH, 2022.

CANVASED ON NOVEMBER 22ND AND THE PROVISIONS WERE CODIFIED.

A MEMO WAS ISSUED TO COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 9TH WHICH SUMMARIZED THE IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES.

IT ALSO OUTLINED ONGOING APPROACH TO ENFORCEMENT.

PRIOR TO PROP B, MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT WAS A LOW PRIORITY HERE IN THE CITY.

IN 2022, OUR DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT SIGNIFICANTLY SIGNIFICANTLY REVISED OUR MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT AND THE POLICY AND PRACTICES ENUMERATED IN GENERAL ORDERS 5 TO 9 MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT.

THE LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORITY.

PROPOSITION B PROHIBITS DPD ABILITY TO ENFORCE STATE LAWS RELATED TO LOW LEVEL MARIJUANA POSSESSION.

TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 370.003.

STAT SITES CITIES POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM ADOPTING A POLICY THAT DOES NOT FULLY ENFORCE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS RELATING TO DRUGS.

THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE CANNOT DIRECT OTHERWISE.

CONTINUED ON LIMITATIONS OF AUTHORITY, PROHIBITIONS OF PROPOSITION B CONFLICT WITH, AND ARE SUPERSEDED BY THE TEXAS CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.

THE TEXAS CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE VEST OFFICERS WITH THE AUTHORITY AND DUTY TO ENFORCE STATE LAW, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO USE SMELL OF MARIJUANA AS A PROBABLE CAUSE TO CONDUCT A SEARCH OR SEIZURE.

THE RIGHT TO MAKE AN ARREST, THE RIGHT TO ISSUE A CITATION FOR THE POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA OR DRUG PARAPHERNALIA WITHIN THEIR STATUTORY AUTHORITY.

THE CHIEF OF POLICE CANNOT DISCIPLINE AN OFFICER FOR ENFORCING THE LAW.

NOW IT WAS MENTIONED TO ME, SO I DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION TO SHARE BECAUSE I WANT TO BE FAIR.

WE MENTIONED SOME CHALLENGES IN OTHER CITIES.

WE WANTED TO SHOW THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT THIS DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN IN DENTON, AUSTIN PASSED A PROPOSITION FOR MARIJUANA AND ELGIN, TEXAS, ALSO DID.

SO I WANT TO BE FAIR AND SAY THAT THEY DID PASS IT, BUT THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT PASSED IT AND ARE HAVING SOME LEGAL CHALLENGES OR OTHER ISSUES.

WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

COLLEEN BELL COUNTY VOTED TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF KILLEEN, CONTENDING THE ORDINANCE WAS PREEMPTED BY STATE LAW HARKER HEIGHTS.

THE CITY COUNCIL REPEALED THE ORDINANCE ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT CONFLICTS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW.

SAN MARCOS, THE HAYS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, REQUESTED THAT A TEXAS THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, GIVE AN OPINION ON WHETHER THE ORDINANCE IS PREEMPTED BY STATE LAW AND SAN ANTONIO IN PRIOR TO OR IN WORD OF A POSITION BEING SUBMITTED, THE CITY PUBLICLY STATED PROVISIONS RELATED TO MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT ARE UNENFORCEABLE FORCIBLE DUE TO STATE LAW.

SO THE ONE THING THAT I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT IS PROPOSITION B ALSO PROHIBITS THE CITY FROM USING CITY FUNDS OR PERSONNEL TO REQUEST CONDUCT OR OBTAIN TESTING OF ANY CANNABIS RELATED SUBSTANCE.

THIS VIOLATES THE CITY OF DETROIT CHARTER, WHICH PROHIBITS THE APPROPRIATION OF MONEY FROM A VOTER INITIATED ORDINANCE.

HOWEVER, COUNCIL DOES HAVE THE DISCRETION TO AMEND THE BUDGET.

HERE'S THE CURRENT ENFORCEMENT ENFORCEMENT STATUS.

AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THIS ONE, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SOME MISINFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE.

BUT. LET ME GET MY NOTES.

I WILL ASSURE YOU THAT MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT CONTINUES TO BE A LOW PRIORITY AND HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE FROM NOVEMBER OF 2022 THROUGH JANUARY OF 2023.

A TOTAL OF 52 CITATIONS AND OR ARRESTS WERE MADE BY THE DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT RELATING TO MARIJUANA OR PARAPHERNALIA.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT OUT OF THOSE 52.

[02:15:03]

22 WERE NON JAILABLE OFFENSES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CLASS A OR B ONE.

ONE WAS AN ARREST BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE 1000 FOOT DRUG FREE ZONE OF A SCHOOL, WHICH IS AN AUTOMATIC ARREST AND PUSHED BY STATE LAW.

SO 23, ALL 20 WERE PRIMARY VIOLATIONS OTHER THAN MARIJUANA, THOUGH.

SO 23 WERE OTHER THAN MARIJUANA COULD HAVE BEEN A WARRANT, CRIMINAL TRESPASS, PUBLIC INTOXICATION, AND THEN CITATIONS WERE ISSUED FOR MARIJUANA OR PARAPHERNALIA. IN THOSE CASES, ALL BUT ONE.

THIS WAS THE ONE WHERE THERE WAS ONE ARREST AND IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS IN A DRUG FREE ZONE.

I'M GOING TO DEFER NOW TO JUDGE ATKINSON, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU HEAR IF SOMEONE'S GIVEN A CITATION, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME.

YES. THANK YOU. BE SEATED.

THANK YOU. JUST TO DISCLAIMER, SINCE I'M ALSO AN ATTORNEY AND WE LOVE TO THROW DISCLAIMERS OUT THERE, THERE'S A CONCEPT CALLED ADVISORY OPINION. IT MEANS A JUDGE CAN'T TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME BEFORE THE JUDGE.

SO THE SLIDES THAT HAVE PRECEDED ME, I, I CANNOT ESPOUSE WHETHER I HAVE HAVE AN OPINION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON THOSE SARA HAS ASKED ME TO COME BEFORE YOU AND TALK ABOUT THE COURT'S PROCESS, WHICH A JUDGE IS ALLOWED AND ENCOURAGED TO TO TALK ABOUT.

SO I BELIEVE THIS WAS A YEAR AGO.

IT'S THE SAME SLIDES AND SAME CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD MIGHT HAVE BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, A WHILE AGO, BUT ALL DRUG PARAPHERNALIA TICKETS THAT ARE FILED WITH THE COURT AND WE GET I THINK DURING THE SAME TIME I LOOKED IT UP AND THERE WERE TWO FROM TWU AND ABOUT 33 FROM YOU AND T ALL THOSE TICKETS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR WHAT'S CALLED DEFERRED DISPOSITION.

DEFERRED DISPOSITION IS YOU CAN HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, BUT GENERALLY IT'S PAY THE TICKET OR DO COMMUNITY SERVICE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE FUNDS TO PAY THE TICKET AND THEN GO A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.

NORMALLY IT'S 90 DAYS WITHOUT PICKING UP A NEW ONE.

PAY TICKET OR COMMUNITY SERVICE.

DON'T GET A NEW ONE.

CHARGE STAYS OFF YOUR RECORD.

THERE'S NO CONVICTION AND NO CONSEQUENCES OF A CONVICTION FOR DRUG PARAPHERNALIA THAT WOULD RESULT THE NEXT. TA DA.

ALSO, ALL DRUG PARAPHERNALIA CHARGES DISMISSED THROUGH DEFERRED ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE LAW FOR WHAT'S CALLED AN EXPULSION AND EXPULSION.

JUST LIKE THE WORD SPONGE, IT WOULD ERASE THE FACT THAT THEY EVER RECEIVED THE TICKET IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IF GRANTED, AND EXPULSION ORDERS, PEDE ORDERS, THE STATE AND THEN THE COURT TO ERASE ALL RECORDS RELATED TO THE FACT THAT THE TICKET WAS EVEN ISSUED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IT CHANGES THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE PERSON SO THAT THEY CAN LEGALLY STATE THAT THEY NEVER RECEIVED THE TICKET TO BEGIN WITH EXPULSION REQUIREMENTS OR PAY EXPULSION FEE.

THAT'S $100 OR SO INDIGENCE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE FUNDS TO PAY IT AND THEN HAVE COMPLETED DEFERRED DISPOSITION FOR THE CHARGE.

DENTON YOU KNOW, WE'RE FUN AND HAVE LOTS OF UNIQUE TECH OPTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR COURT.

ONE OF THOSE IS THAT ON EVERY CASE THAT WENT THROUGH DRUG THAT HAD A DRUG PARAPHERNALIA THAT WAS GRANTED DEFERRED WAS DISMISSED WITH DEFERRED, WE SEND OUT A TEXT MESSAGE THAT EXPLAINS AS MUCH AS WE CAN WHAT EXPULSION IS.

THERE'S A YOUTUBE VIDEO THEY CAN WATCH OF ME TALKING ABOUT THE EXPULSION PROCESS.

AND THEN THERE'S AN ONLINE FORM, A LINK TO AN ONLINE FORM THAT THEY CAN FILL OUT TO REQUEST EXPULSION.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE'RE THE ONLY CITY IN THE WHOLE STATE THAT SENDS OUT TEXT MESSAGES EXPLAINING EXPULSION AND HAS AN ONLINE FORM TO TO DO THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CITY MANAGER.

JUDGE, BEFORE YOU GO, WHAT IS THAT YOUTUBE CHANNEL? JUST IN CASE. JUST THOSE TRACKING ALONG.

DO YOU KNOW BY CHANCE THE NAME JUST ON YOUTUBE TYPE IN MUNICIPAL COURT AND THE OPTIONS COME UP THERE.

SO WE HAVE, I THINK, FOUR BASIC INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS AS AS A TICKET MOVES THROUGH THE COURT THAT EXPLAINS HOW TO TAKE CARE OF TICKETS.

SO. SO CITY OF DENTON MUNICIPAL COURT.

YES. YES.

THROUGH YOUTUBE. YEAH.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE A GREAT MUNICIPAL JUDGE.

HE'S AWESOME. SO IN SUMMARY, THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF PROPERTY THAT CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN, AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT WE WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT THEM BECAUSE OF STATE LAW AND THE CONFLICTS.

DIDN'T POLICE OFFICERS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THE LAW? THEY STAKE TAKE THEIR OATH FROM THE STATE AND THEY DIDN'T.

POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE LIKE THEY HAVE TO MAKE MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT A VERY LOW PRIORITY, THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'VE DONE THAT.

YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY'VE CLASSIFIED THINGS AND YOU CAN SEE HOW WORKING WITH THE JUDGE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE IN GETTING THEIR THOSE TICKETS

[02:20:08]

DEFERRED. BUT AND THAT'S BASICALLY THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.

OKAY. VERY GOOD.

SO WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS.

I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE LISTEN DILIGENTLY SO THAT WE DON'T REPEAT THE SAME QUESTION SO THAT WE CAN MAXIMIZE TIME.

AND JUST TO BE COURTEOUS TO THE CITY MANAGER.

COUNCILMEMBER, I LOST AN EARRING.

THAT'S WHY I'M TUGGING AT MY EAR.

NO WORRIES. COUNCILMAN BURKE.

THANK YOU. THESE QUESTIONS ARE COMING DIRECTLY FROM A CONSTITUENT OF MINE, AND I NOTED TO THAT PERSON THAT I WOULD READ THESE QUESTIONS, AND I MAY HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE ANSWERS ALREADY, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S FAIR THAT WE GIVE THE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR THEIR QUESTIONS.

AND THE FIRST ONE IS JUST A FEW OF THEM HERE.

IT SAYS, WHY HER REPORT ON PROPOSITION B FAILS TO MENTION AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND OTHER TEXAS CITIES THAT HAVE FULLY IMPLEMENTED VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL ORDINANCES UNDER THE SAME STATE LAWS.

I BELIEVE THAT I MAY HAVE HEARD THAT ANSWER THERE.

YOU DID MENTION AUSTIN AND ELGIN.

YES. THE INTENT WAS NOT TO LEAVE ANYBODY OUT OR TO PICK SIDES.

SO THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION.

AND THE ANSWER IS IN AUSTIN AND ELGIN, BOTH WERE PASSED AND THE OTHERS, I POINTED OUT THAT THOSE WERE CITIES THAT PASSED AT ONE POINT OR THERE WAS A QUESTION RAISED AS TO THE LEGALITY, WHETHER IT WAS ASKING FOR AN ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION OR WHETHER THE ACTUAL CITY COUNCIL REPEALED IT.

SO TO BE FAIR, IT WAS PASSED IN ELGIN AND AUSTIN.

CITY MANAGER HENSLEY ARE YOU PURPOSELY MISLEADING THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC WHEN YOU HAVE WHEN YOU LEAVE OUT SUCH CITIES, OR DID IT NOT COME UP IN YOUR THREE MONTHS OF RESEARCH SINCE PROPOSITION B WAS CERTIFIED? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? THERE WAS NO INTENT TO MISLEAD ANYBODY.

THE EFFORT WAS FOCUSED ON CITIES THAT WERE ALREADY HAVING ISSUES RELATED TO A PROPOSITION SUCH AS PROP B IN DENTON.

SO IT WAS TO POINT OUT WHAT OTHER CITIES WERE DOING AND HOW IT WAS BEING HANDLED.

IT WAS TO NOT POINT OUT CITIES THAT HAD ALREADY PASSED IT AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES.

BUT THAT'S WHY I WENT AHEAD AND SAID THAT THOSE TWO CITIES DID PASS THE MARIJUANA ORDINANCE AND THERE HAVE NOT BEEN AT THIS TIME ISSUES, BUT THERE WAS NO INTENT WHATSOEVER TO MISLEAD THE CITY COUNCIL OR TO MISLEAD ANY PUBLIC.

WHY HAVE THERE BEEN 52 CITATIONS AND ARRESTS FOR SMALL CANNABIS POSSESSION SINCE THE NOVEMBER ELECTION? THAT'S INCORRECT INFORMATION.

THERE'S ONLY BEEN 52 CITATIONS AND ONE ARREST.

22 OF THOSE WERE NON JAILABLE OFFENSES AND I THINK I MENTIONED THAT THOSE COULD HAVE BEEN CLASS A OR CLASS B, BUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FOLLOWING THE FACT THAT WE SAID LOW PRIORITY MADE THOSE CLASSES.

THE ONE WHERE THERE WAS AN ARREST WAS WHERE DRUGS WERE FOUND ON WITHIN 1000 FEET OF A DRUG FREE ZONE, WHICH JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE, NOT ONLY ARE SCHOOLS DRUG FREE ZONES, BUT DAYCARES.

OTHER PLACES ARE DRUG FREE ZONES.

SO IF YOU WANT TO DRAW CIRCLES AROUND OUR CITY TO SEE WHERE ALL THE DRUG FREE ZONES ARE, YOU'RE LIMITED IN SOME AREAS.

IN THIS CASE, BY STATE LAW, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ARREST.

IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN CAUGHT WITH DRUGS WITHIN A 1000 FOOT DRUG FREE ZONE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE AT HOME HOW SOMEONE NOBODY ELECTED SUCH AS YOURSELF, IS EMPOWERED TO CREATE PUBLIC POLICY EVEN AFTER 32,000 VOTERS PROVIDED A DIRECTIVE OTHERWISE? SO I'M NOT SETTING POLICY.

FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SET POLICY.

WHAT I'M DOING AS A CITY MANAGER IS TALKING ABOUT WHAT WHAT IS ILLEGAL FROM A FROM A CITY MANAGER POINT OF VIEW AND TRYING TO DIRECT A POLICE CHIEF, WHICH I HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO DO.

I DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DIRECT THE POLICE CHIEF TO NOT ENFORCE THE LAW.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I COULD BE IN SOME CASES SUBJECT TO OF THE LAW FOR NOT FOR TRYING TO ENFORCE TELL HIM TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S AGAINST THE LAW.

SO, NUMBER ONE, NO, I'M NOT.

ELECTED. I'M APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL.

NUMBER TWO.

I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY, AND HONESTLY, NEITHER DOES THE POLICE CHIEF AND TELLING OFFICERS TO NOT ENFORCE THE LAW.

SO IT'S NOT A POLICY.

IT'S JUST THAT BY STATE LAW AND NOW EVEN THE FEDERAL LAW, IT'S STILL MARIJUANA IS ILLEGAL.

AND SO I'M ONLY DOING WITH I'M CERTAINLY CONSULTING WITH OUR ATTORNEYS, BUT I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT BREAKING THE LAW.

AND SPEAKING OF THE POLICE CHIEF, THIS PERSON HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR THE POLICE CHIEF.

MAY I PLEASE ASK THOSE QUESTIONS REAL QUICK?

[02:25:06]

THANK YOU, CHIEF SHOEMAKER.

HERE'S A QUESTION. WHY ARE WE NOT ENFORCING THE SMELL TEST PORTION OF PROPOSITION B? SO YOU MIGHT KNOW.

SORRY. DOUG SHOEMAKER, CHIEF OF POLICE STUDY IT.

DONE. SO YOU MIGHT ALREADY KNOW THAT'S IF YOU REVIEW GENERAL ORDER 529 THAT TALKS ABOUT THAT.

IT'S ALREADY IN THE GENERAL ORDER AND WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.

SO THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED.

WHY ARE WE USING SMELL TESTS AS PROBABLE CAUSE IN A STATE WHERE.

CBD CIGARETS MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND DELTA EIGHT ARE ALL LEGAL PRODUCTS THAT SMELL ALMOST INDISTINGUISHABLE.

AGAIN, THAT GOES TO WHAT I JUST ANSWERED.

WE ARE NOT USING IT AS A PRIMARY CAUSE FOR THAT.

FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW THE DAILY ROUTINE OF OUR POLICE, HOW POLICE COME, HOW LIMITED ARE OUR OFFICERS TIME? ARE THEY STRETCHED TOO THIN? WE ARE BUSY, A VERY BUSY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND AS WE GROW AND EXPAND, AS DOES THE CITY BORDERS AND THE POPULATION, WE DO OUR BEST TO TRY AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY.

BUT CERTAINLY THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES WITH THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEE COUNCILMAN DAVIS.

THANK YOU. THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR THE JUDGE.

MAYBE A QUESTION FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND POSE IT AND SEE WHO'S BEST, BEST SUITED.

COURT COSTS AND FINES ASSOCIATED WITH PARAPHERNALIA TICKETS.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THOSE WHAT THOSE ARE.

AND WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON FOLKS WHO ARE INDIGENT AND WHAT THE COST IS FOR ITS FUNCTION.

BUT WHAT'S THE COST IF YOU'RE NOT INDIGENT? BASICALLY, WHAT ARE WHAT ARE WE DOING TO REDUCE THE COST OF GETTING A PARAPHERNALIA TICKET? YEAH. SO FINES RANGE ON THE TICKET.

SO WHAT'S CALLED A WINDOW FINE IS $410 IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND TALKS TO US.

GENERALLY, THE PROSECUTOR WORKS OUT A PLEA AGREEMENT TO WHERE IT'S MUCH LESS THAN THAT.

SO I'VE SEEN HER SET IT AT 300, SOMETIMES AT 200, AND THEN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO JUST COMMUNITY SERVICE IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE FUNDS TO PAY THE TICKET.

THE CITY ATTORNEY MIGHT PREFER TO ANSWER THIS NEXT ONE, BUT I'LL AGAIN, KIND OF POSE IT TO THE ROOM.

LEAVING ASIDE THE POLICY CONCERN OF A CITY COUNCIL TELLING, SAY, A COURT OR A PROSECUTOR WHAT THE PUNISHMENT FOR ANY PARTICULAR OFFENSE OUGHT TO BE.

DOES THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REDUCE OR WAIVE COURT COSTS FOR PARAPHERNALIA TICKETS OR TO IMPOSE NO FINE WHATSOEVER IN THE CITY OF DENTON FOR PARAPHERNALIA TICKET? OR IS THAT SOMETHING JUST A GENERAL SEPARATION OF POWERS MATTER THAT HAS TO BE LEFT TO THE JUDICIAL PROCESS? YEAH. CITY ATTORNEY WOULD JUST SAY, TALK TO THE JUDGE.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE HIS ANSWER.

SO YEAH, THAT THE THE COLLABORATION ON ANY CONCEPTS LIKE YOU'VE MENTIONED, THE DOOR'S ALWAYS BEEN OPENED FOR FOR THAT SO.

YES. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS REALLY LESS ABOUT COULD WE WITH CURRENT PERSONNEL AND THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

MY QUESTION REALLY IS MORE DOES THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE THAT, AS DOES ANY CITY COUNCIL HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THOSE THINGS, TO WAIVE COURT COSTS FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES AND NOT OTHERS, OR TO SAY THERE'S GOING TO BE FINES FOR SPEEDING IN THE CITY OF DENTON, BUT THERE'S NO FINE FOR PARAPHERNALIA.

RIGHT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THOSE ARE SET BY THE COURT.

THE COUNCIL COULD CERTAINLY GIVE THEIR OPINION OR THEIR RECOMMENDATION OR THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHAT IT SHOULD BE, AND THE JUDGE COULD TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT WHEN SETTING THOSE FINES AS WELL AS THE PROSECUTOR WHEN LOWERING THOSE FINES.

BUT THAT'S WITHIN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNCIL TO SET THOSE FACTS SO WE COULD DO SOME KIND OF NON BINDING RESOLUTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

RIGHT. OKAY.

COULD. COULD I HAVE SLIDE SEVEN? WHOEVER'S GOT THE.

DOWN RIGHT THERE. YEP.

SO SLIDE SEVEN SAYS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE DISCRETION TO AMEND THE BUDGET TO TAKE UP THESE QUESTIONS OF TESTING AND WHAT GETS TEST AND WHAT DOESN'T.

DO WE WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON THAT KIND OF STUFF, OR DO WE NOT WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON THAT KIND OF STUFF? I GUESS WHEN? NOVEMBER 1ST.

WHEN NOVEMBER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, EXCUSE ME, WHEN THAT TOOK PLACE, WE HAD JUST CONCLUDED ONE BUDGET CYCLE.

RIGHT. OUR BUDGET YEAR STARTS SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, EXCUSE ME, IN THE END OF SEPTEMBER IS WHEN WE VOTED ON THE BUDGET AND SAID THIS IS WHAT THE NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

THE CURRENT BUDGET CYCLE HAS NOT YET BEGUN.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING ON THE BUDGET, BUT NO, FOR IT TO FOR COUNCIL TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

[02:30:06]

NOW IT'S COMING. AND I KNOW I REALIZE THAT BACK IN DECEMBER WE HAD A PROPOSAL PUT BEFORE US SEEKING CONSENSUS TO ADOPT ALL OF THE BE ALL OF CHAPTER 21, ARTICLE FIVE.

WHOLE HOG, THE WHOLE THING, EVEN THE PROBLEMATIC PARTS THAT WE CAN'T DO AS A CITY COUNCIL.

HAVE WE HAD ANY PROPOSALS SO FAR TO ADOPT JUST THE PART THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE WORK, JUST THE BUDGET PART OR JUST THE SET AND FINES PART OR A RESOLUTION TO ASK THE JUDGE NOT TO IMPOSE FINES FOR THESE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? NO. SO NOTHING.

NOTHING THAT WE'VE HAD IN FRONT OF US AS A COUNCIL THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY LEGALLY DO HAS BEEN PUT IN A PACKAGE READY FOR US TO VOTE ON.

THE ONLY THING THAT WAS WAS MAYOR PRO TEM PROPOSED THE BUDGET ONE AS A TWO MINUTE PITCH, BUT IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.

BUT NO, AS A AS A COMBINED EFFORT WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU LEGALLY CAN DO.

THIS HAS NOT BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD.

WELL, JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

BACK IN DECEMBER.

THE PROPOSAL IS NOT JUST FOR THE BUDGET THING.

THE PROPOSAL WAS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT IDENTICAL ORDINANCE AS PROPERTY, INCLUDING THE PROBLEMATIC STUFF, INCLUDING THE STUFF THAT WE CAN'T LEGALLY DO.

THAT'S RIGHT. SO.

BUT A PACKAGE THAT WOULD BE EITHER NONBINDING RESOLUTION OR FOR THE BUDGET PARTS.

A CITY ORDINANCE SAYING THAT THIS IS WHAT WE AS A COUNCIL WANT TO DO THE MOST WE CAN POSSIBLY DO TO EFFECTUATE THE WILL OF THE VOTERS THAT HASN'T BEEN PUT IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL. NO. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND I DON'T KNOW WHO TO ADDRESS THIS TO.

DO WE HAVE. WE SAW THAT THERE WERE 52 CITATIONS, ONE ARREST, 23 ARRESTS.

DO WE HAVE AN IDEA FOR RELATED PARAPHERNALIA CHARGES? RELATED. I DON'T KNOW.

CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT? THE PARAPHERNALIA RELATED TO ITEMS THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN CITATIONS, ARRESTS OR FINES FOR THAT ARE TYPICALLY USED IN THE CONSUMPTION OF OF MARIJUANA TYPE PRODUCTS? I'LL HAVE TO REFER TO CHIEF SHOEMAKER ON THAT ONE.

IF WE'RE DOWNGRADING FROM POSSESSION TO PARAPHERNALIA, THEN WE ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHAT PARAPHERNALIA CHARGES HAVE HAVE OCCURRED IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THE 52 NUMBER IS.

THE 52 IS IS ALL THAT INCLUDES PARAPHERNALIA.

YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.

AND AND SO I GUESS SINCE SINCE I HAVE YOU HERE OR AGAIN, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE CHIEF SHOEMAKER, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.

I GUESS I'M A LITTLE I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WE BROUGHT UP THE CITIES THAT THERE WERE TWO WITH WITH LEGAL CHARGES, ONE WITH QUESTIONABLE STANDING FOR THAT WERE KIND OF AMBIGUOUS, BUT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY WERE UPSET BUT HAD YET PASSED AND TWO THAT HAVE HAD NO NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER.

SO I GUESS MY QUESTION TO TO ANY MEMBER OF STAFF LEADERSHIP IS DO WE ARE WE SAYING THAT THAT THOSE WHAT DOES THAT MAKE IT FOUR PLUS TO SIX? NO, I'M SORRY. THAT'S TOO MANY FOR CITIES ALL TOGETHER ARE ENGAGING IN ILLEGAL ACTS.

I'M NOT SURE I ANSWER THAT QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER.

I'M NOT THE LEGAL CONSULTANT.

I MEAN, DO WE THINK THAT THEIR POLICE CHIEF AND AND CITIZENS AND POLICE OFFICERS, BY FOLLOWING THE POLICIES THAT WERE ENACTED AND FOLLOWING THEM INSTEAD OF NOT FOLLOWING THEM, DO WE THINK THAT SOMEHOW THEY'RE ENGAGING IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY? I THINK THAT'S AN INAPPROPRIATE QUESTION TO ASK ME.

I'M THE POLICE CHIEF OF DENTON, TEXAS, AND MY WHEN I SWORE AN OATH TO THE STATE TO UPHOLD THE STATE LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION, THAT'S THAT'S MY CONCERN.

SO I DON'T I'M I'M NOT OF THEIR OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO I GUESS THEN YOU DON'T HAVE AN OPINION ON THAT REGARDLESS.

I DO WHAT I DO FOR THE CITY OF DENTON, AND WITH THE OATH THAT I SWORE TO THE WHEN I TOOK MY OATH AND UNDER MY LICENSE, WHICH IS UNDER THE STATE AUTHORITY OF A LICENSE, NOT UNDER THE CITY AUTHORITY.

AND AND THE INTERPRETATION AS WE'VE PRESENTED IT, IS THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION WOULD BE ILLEGAL FOR ME TO DISCIPLINE OFFICERS BASED UPON THEIR ABILITY BY STATE LAW TO ENFORCE STATE LAW.

HOWEVER, AGAIN, WE'VE TAKEN A MUCH LESSER APPROACH AS AS EVIDENCED.

SO I'M NOT ONE TO GIVE LEGAL ADVICE TO OTHER COMMUNITIES OR DIRECTION TO OTHER POLICE CHIEFS AS TO HOW THEY DO WHAT THEY DO.

SO IF WE WERE TO DO SOME SORT OF JOINT OPERATION WITH ONE OF THESE OTHER BODIES, HOW WOULD THE POLICY, WHAT OTHER CONNECTS BE

[02:35:03]

RESOLVED WITH WHAT OTHER BODIES ARE YOU REFERRING TO? ANY OF THESE MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE A POLICY THAT IS BEING ENFORCED, WE WOULD NOT HAVE IT.

I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION AND THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE A JOINT OPERATION WITH KILLEEN.

NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD YOU HAVE JOINT OPERATIONS WITH AUSTIN? NO, SIR. WHAT I'M I'M ASKING MY QUESTION.

I HAVE THE FLOOR. WHOA, WHOA.

IS THIS LET'S LET'S LET'S TAKE LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK, BECAUSE TO ALLOW ME TO CALM DOWN.

DON'T WE HAVE TO HEAR THE POINT OF ORDER? NO, I'M TAKING A BREAK FOR 5 MINUTES SO THAT I CAN CALM DOWN AFTER BEING YELLED AT IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEETING.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE A BREAK, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

5 MINUTES. WE'LL BE BACK.

AND WELCOME BACK TO THIS MEETING DIDN'T CITY COUNCIL IT IS 446 WHERE WE LEFT OFF.

I JUST NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE.

I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO MAINTAIN DECORUM.

ALLOW ME TO TO CHAIR THE MEETING AS I'M TASKED TO DO WITH THE CHARTER.

AND I WILL IN MY BEST, DO MY BEST EFFORT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXHAUST ALL THEIR QUESTIONS.

BUT I ALSO HAVE A JOB TO DO, WHICH I'M GOING TO EXECUTE.

AND IF WE NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER BREAK, WE'LL TAKE ANOTHER BREAK AND WE'LL WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS.

BUT DECORUM IS CRITICAL THAT WE RESPECT EACH OTHER AND THAT THOSE HERE RESPECT THE CHAIR.

AND IF AND I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE, I RESPECT THAT.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO RESPECT EACH OTHER AND WE'RE GOING TO RESPECT THE PROCESS.

MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND I'LL START OFF WITH AN APOLOGY.

I SHOULD HAVE RECLAIMED MY TIME IN A DIFFERENT FASHION.

AND I DID IT IN AN DECOROUS WAY.

AND TO YOUR FACE, I WILL APOLOGIZE.

THANKS. AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO I GUESS I WILL JUST CONFIRM ANOTHER THING THEN.

CHIEF SHOEMAKER, CAN YOU CAN WE SAY THAT ON THE ANY OF THESE CITATIONS OR OR ELEMENTS THAT PROBABLE CAUSE OR REASONABLE SUSPICION, I CAN'T EVEN SAY THAT WORD.

SUSPICION WAS NOT PROBABLE CAUSE WAS NOT THE ODOR IN ANY OF THOSE 52 ELEMENTS THAT WE REFERRED TO.

YEAH. OUR GENERAL ORDER STATES THAT PROBABLE CAUSE CANNOT BE INITIATED SOLELY BY THE USE OF SMELL.

IS THERE? I GUESS I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED.

I'M NOT BEING A POLICE OFFICER.

IS THERE? IS THERE AN ORDER DEPENDENCY IF IF WE HAVE THREE THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN WHEN, WHEN A DETENTION OR HOW WHATEVER THE RIGHT WORD IS, WHEN AN INTERACTION WITH THE CIVILIANS IS MADE BETWEEN THE POLICE, IF THREE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

DOES THE THE PROBABLE CAUSE HAVE.

OF AN ORDER YOU KNOW A HAPPEN THEN BE HAPPENED AND SEE HAPPEN OR WHEN WE REPORT A, B AND C ARE ALL TOGETHER IN THE REPORTING.

WELL PROBABLE CAUSE IS IS ON A NUMBER OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND EVERY CASE IS UNIQUE.

AS YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY, THAT EVERY CASE IS IS UNIQUE.

SO PROBABLE CAUSE IS ESTABLISHED THROUGH A COLLECTION OF FACTS BASED UPON THE OBSERVATIONS OF THE OFFICER AT THE TIME.

SO I GUESS WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS IS, IS THE INITIAL.

PROBABLE CAUSE FOR ANY OF THESE EVENTS, THE DETECTION OF ODOR.

SO I'M THINKING YOU'RE ASKING ME SPECIFICALLY TO TO GO THROUGH THE INDIVIDUAL CASES.

AND IS IT YOUR DIRECTION THAT YOU'D LIKE US TO READ THROUGH THE CASES TO SEE IF THE OFFICER SAID, I SMELLED MARIJUANA, ARRESTED THE PERSON? I DON'T NEED THE SPECIFICS.

AGGREGATE INFORMATION WOULD BE FINE.

WELL, BASED UPON OUR GENERAL ORDER, THAT WOULD NOT BE THE CASE.

SO AS LONG AS THEY'RE FOLLOWING YOUR GENERAL ORDER, THE THE INITIAL INTERACTION WOULD NEVER BE OVER.

NO, NO, NO, NO. THERE'S THE INITIAL INTERACTION.

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PROBABLE CAUSE FOR THE ARREST OR THE CITATION OR WHAT ARE YOU SPEAKING OF? BOTH. I DON'T KNOW THAT I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY THE DIRECTION OF YOUR QUESTION IS, IS THE CAUSE TO CAUSE A FURTHER INTERACTION BETWEEN THE POLICE OFFICER AND THE CIVILIAN EVER? THE INITIAL CAUSE, EVER.

ODOR. WELL, UNDER STATE LAW IT CAN BE.

HOWEVER, OUR GENERAL ORDER SAYS THAT THAT SHALL NOT BE THE REASON TO CONTINUE THAT ALONE.

SO IN GENERAL, IF THEY'RE FOLLOWING YOUR POLICY, THEY WON'T BE USING ODOR AS THEIR INITIAL CAUSE.

THEY WON'T BE USING THE SMELL ALONE.

OKAY. AND WITH REGARD TO I WILL ADDRESS YOUR EARLIER QUESTION, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT BEARS SOME SOME CREDENCE TO IT.

[02:40:01]

SO WITH REGARD TO MULTI JURISDICTIONAL THINGS, THOSE ARE NOT FOR CLASSY MISDEMEANOR INVESTIGATIONS.

THOSE ARE FEDERAL TYPE OF INVESTIGATIONS FOR FEDERAL TASK FORCES, WHICH USUALLY INVOLVE FELONY LEVELS OF POSSESSION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

OH, I APPRECIATE THE CLARITY ON THAT.

SO THIS THIS WON'T WE WOULD NEVER BE IN THIS PARADIGM FOR INTERACTION WITH ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY.

I MEAN, THIS THIS OUR RULES VERSUS THEIR POLICY OR OUR POLICIES VERSUS THEIR POLICIES.

AND I DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE WORKING ON A MISDEMEANOR MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT INTERDICTION WITH KILLEEN.

IF THAT'S YOUR QUESTION. YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

I'VE NOT BEEN THERE, SO I DON'T KNOW.

OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. AND THEN I WILL I WILL SAY SORT OF TO THE GENERAL AUDIENCE HERE THAT WE ARE ALREADY SAYING THAT WE HAVE A DULY ENACTED ORDINANCE THAT WE CANNOT FULLY ENACT IS THE ARGUMENT THAT I'M HEARING OUT OF LEADERSHIP.

AND SO WE'RE THE CRITICISM COULD BE LEVELED THAT IF WE DO NOT FULLY AS A COUNCIL DUPLICATE, WHEN I TRY TO MAKE A COPY OF IT AT THE TWO MINUTE PITCH AND SAY WE SHOULD EXACT ADOPT AN EXACT DUPLICATE IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY CHANGES, ANY CRITICISM OF MODIFICATION, WE ARE SIMPLY PUTTING TO THE COUNCIL TO GET AROUND THE ISSUE OF WHETHER THERE'S FINANCIAL FUNDING OR NOT.

I PROPOSED AND WE COULD HAVE VOTED TO ADOPT IT AND WE ARE ALREADY IN A PROCESS WHERE A CURRENT ORDINANCE IS NOT BEING FULLY IMPLEMENTED.

SO IF THE ARGUMENT IS, OH WELL WE CAN'T, WE CAN ONLY WE DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A PARTIAL.

WE ALREADY HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY.

YOU COULD HAVE SAID, I CAN'T DO THESE OTHER THINGS, BUT I CAN DO THAT BUDGET ONE BY FULLY ADOPTING THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T THINK THAT'S THAT'S STRICTLY NECESSARY. AND I GUESS I'LL JUST END WITH I KNOW WE'RE POSTED FOR DIRECTION.

SO I WILL SAY THAT WHEN WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A CLEAR MANDATE FROM THE PEOPLE AND THE CITY MANAGER ALLUDED TO IT, MY MANDATE IS TO FULLY IMPLEMENT WHAT THE CITIZENS HAVE HAS PUT BEFORE US.

WE WERE AT 72% AND 43 OF 45 PRECINCTS ADOPTED THIS ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS, ACROSS ALL POLITICAL PERSUASIONS, ACROSS ALL REGIONS OF DENTON.

THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST OVERWHELMING VOTES THAT WE'VE HAD IN RECENT HISTORY.

THE CITIZENS OF DENTON WANT THAT, AND AND SO WE COULD HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO FIND ALL THE PIECES THAT WE CAN DO AND FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE CITIZENS. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE IN DANGER OF PLAYING CHICKEN WITH THE VOTERS.

AND PLAYING CHICKEN WITH THE VOTERS IS A DANGEROUS GAME.

WE IF WE THINK THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMATIC ROUGH EDGES, THEN WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS FOLLOW THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND USE THE EXISTING FRAMEWORK THAT WE HAVE IN THIS STATE AND IN THIS COUNTRY OF THE JUDICIAL AND THE LEGISLATURE TO TO FIND THE POINTS OF ALIGNMENT AND AND DEAL WITH THE ISSUES OF RECONCILIATION, OF ANY DIFFERENCES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE BETWEEN US AND ANOTHER BODY.

CLEARLY, OTHER CITIES ARE NOT SUFFERING THE ANGST AND THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE.

AND SO I THINK WE WOULD BE BEST TO WHAT IS THE PHRASE THAT WE OFTEN HEAR IN THIS COUNCIL? TRUST THE PROCESS.

IF THE PROCESS THAT WE SHOULD BE TRUSTING IS THE COURT SYSTEM, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, THE LEGISLATION, THEN THEN WE SHOULD FOLLOW THAT.

WE SHOULD IMPLEMENT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS, MOVE FORWARD AND AND RECONCILE AS NEEDED.

SO I'LL LEAVE MY DIRECTION AGAIN THAT WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT THE FULL WILL OF THE VOTERS.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? SO, YOU KNOW. COUNCILMAN.

WHAT? YEAH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. BASED UPON AT LEAST THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATION THAT COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS HAD ABOUT FINES AND, YOU KNOW, SETTING FINES OR GIVING RESOLUTIONS TO THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE AS FAR AS NO FINES OR I'M GOING TO BE REAL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT BECAUSE WE AS A BODY HIRE THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE.

SO I THINK I TRUST THE JUDGE'S JUDGMENT BASED UPON JUST HIS PRESENTATION TODAY AND HOW HE IS DEFINITELY TAKING A PROACTIVE STANCE TO REALLY MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO TO MOVE THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND TO GAIN THE ADJUDICATION THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO AND TO MAKE THAT EASY.

SO IF THAT CONVERSATION COMES UP, I'M GOING TO BE I'M GOING TO BE VERY LEERY OF THAT.

AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, I GUESS COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO TEM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

AND I UNDERSTAND I UNDERSTAND THE WILL OF VOTERS.

I WAS HERE WHEN THE VOTERS VOTED TO BAN HYDRAULIC FRACTURING.

AND THE LEGISLATURE CAME IN AND BANNED CITIES FROM DOING THAT.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE STATUTE.

TEXAS LAW SECTION 30 7370.003.

AND IT WAS PUT UP THERE.

[02:45:01]

SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED IS A VIOLATION OF THAT PARTICULAR STATUTE THAT IT SAYS, AND I QUOTE, I'M JUST GOING TO READ THE WHOLE THING.

IT WAS SORT OF ABBREVIATED SECTION 33 70.003, MUNICIPAL OR COUNTY POLICY.

WOULD WE ALL AGREE THAT THAT AN ORDINANCE IS A POLICY? IS OUR ORDINANCE A POLICY? I WOULD THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE CAN IDENTIFY THAT AS THE GOVERNING BODY OF A MUNICIPALITY, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF A COUNTY OR A SHERIFF, MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENT, MUNICIPAL ATTORNEY, COUNTY ATTORNEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY MAY NOT ADOPT A POLICY UNDER WHICH THE ENTITY WILL NOT FULLY ENFORCE LAWS RELATING TO DRUGS.

WHAT WAS LEFT OFF IS INCLUDING CHAPTER 481 AND 43 HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE AND FEDERAL LAW.

NOW THE MARIJUANA STATUTES UNDER THE CHAPTERS 481 OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, I BELIEVE IS.

CITY ATTORNEY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

121 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO, I MEAN, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE I'M NOT SITTING HERE SAYING WE ANYBODY IS TRYING TO IGNORE THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.

WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, DO WE LOOK AT THE RULE OF LAW AND DO WE ABIDE BY THE RULE OF LAW? AND AS YOU SAID, THIS COUNCIL, THIS COUNCIL, WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR A LAWSUIT IF THERE'S SOME ROUGH EDGES ON THIS THAT CREATE THIS KIND OF TENSION, THIS COUNCIL CAN LOOK AT HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE THAT? AS FAR AS THE BUDGET ISSUE, THE BUDGET ISSUE ALONE, WHEN YOU PRESENTED YOUR TWO MINUTE PITCH, IT WAS ALL ENCOMPASSING.

AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY NOW, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG IN MY CHARACTERIZATION THAT IF SOMEHOW IF WE ADOPTED THAT.

AS A COUNCIL, THAT THAT WOULD SEND EITHER A MESSAGE TO STAFF OR A MESSAGE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT, HEY, NO MATTER WHAT THE STATE OF THE LAW IS, WE WANT TO DO EXACTLY WHAT THIS ORDINANCE SAYS.

THAT WAS WHAT I UNDERSTOOD THEN.

THEN I CORRECT THAT.

SO WHEN I HEAR WHAT THE CHIEF IS DOING, WHEN I HEAR THAT POLICE OFFICERS CAN USE SMELL ALONE FOR PROBABLE CAUSE BY STATE LAW. AM I CORRECT ON THAT? IS THAT IS THAT DEFINITIVE? ALL RIGHT. AND SO NOW WE'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE INSTRUCTING OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO NOT USE A TOOL THEY HAVE FOR ENFORCEMENT. I'M JUST I TRUST THE PROCESS.

I DO TRUST THE PROCESS.

AND SOMETIMES THE PROCESS IS MESSY.

WE'VE HAD A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT SERVED HERE PREVIOUSLY, TALKED ABOUT HOW DEMOCRACY IS MESSY AND THIS IS MESSY, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND SAY TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE THAT YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS AGAINST YOUR OATH, THAT IS AGAINST THE POLICE.

OFFICERS ARE OUT IN THE FIELD THAT ARE DOING THAT EVERY DAY.

WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF SENSE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE GENERAL ORDERS.

AND IF THEY DON'T. HAS ANYBODY SUED THE CITY? OR BECAUSE THEY'VE WE HAVE VIOLATED THAT ORDINANCE.

AS YOU SAID, PEOPLE CAN USE THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

PEOPLE CAN USE THE LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM IF SOMEHOW SOMEBODY BELIEVES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DONE WRONG, ACCORDING TO ONE OF OUR POLICIES, THEN I BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN FILE SOME TYPE OF GRIEVANCE OR SOME TYPE OF LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY, SAYING YOU HAVE BROKEN YOUR OWN LAW.

HAS THAT HAPPENED? HAS THAT HAPPENED? SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S OVERWHELMING THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS DO NOT BELIEVE PEOPLE'S LIVES SHOULD BE DRAMATICALLY ALTERED BECAUSE OF A SMALL MARIJUANA CONVICTION.

I GET IT. I DO.

I'M NOT SO SURE, THOUGH, THAT EACH CITY IS GOING TO BE THE ONES TO DECIDE THAT.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

IF THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT WE WANT, WE ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BEFORE THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS AUSTIN GOT INVOKED.

AUSTIN GOT INVOKED.

WELL, THAT'S A LITTLE CONCERNING OR IT'S A LITTLE KIND OF ODD BECAUSE WE JUST HEARD ON THE NEWS THIS WEEKEND.

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN AUSTIN, ABOUT A CAR CLUB WHO TOOK OVER A MAJOR INTERSECTION ALMOST IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, HEARD A POLICE OFFICER DAMAGED TWO POLICE VEHICLES.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT PEOPLE GOT BURNED AND A COUNCIL MEMBER.

CALLED 911 AND IT TOOK 25 MINUTES.

FOR THAT CALL TO BE RESPONDED TO.

I HEARD THE INTERVIEW AND I UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE FROM THAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS.

BUT I THINK THAT WE CAN TRUST.

THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE DOING.

AND IF THEY DON'T, I HAVE TRUST IN THE POLICE, THE CHIEF, THE CHIEF OF POLICE, THAT IF SOMEBODY IS DOING SOMETHING THEY SHOULDN'T, THEY'RE GOING TO GET DISCIPLINED.

[02:50:04]

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS SOMEBODY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT THE CHIEF OF POLICE CANNOT DISCIPLINE A POLICE OFFICER FOR NOT FOLLOWING OUR ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED BECAUSE OF STATE LAW REGARDING MEET AND CONFER AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS.

AS A POLICE OFFICER, AM I AM I RIGHT ON THAT? YES. WE HAVE MICHAEL CRONIG HERE IF HE WANTS TO SPEAK TO IT.

BUT YES, THE SHORT ANSWER IS THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE THERE DISCIPLINED THROUGH 143.

THAT'S THROUGH THE CHIEF THROUGH HIS DISCRETION.

IT'S NOT THROUGH CITY COUNCIL OR CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION TO THE CHIEF WHO SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED AND WIN.

SO IT'S ENTIRELY UP TO THE POLICE CHIEF.

SO I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO CAUSE MY TIME OUT AND LEAVE THAT QUESTION ON THE TABLE.

SO. IS THERE ANYONE SITTING AT THIS TABLE THAT THE POLICY THAT WAS PASSED? BY THE VOTERS, WHICH IN ESSENCE IS NOW A CITY POLICY, WHICH MR. CITY ATTORNEY, IN MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE CITY COUNCIL COULD ACT UPON ANY ORDINANCE THAT IS ON THE BOOKS, AMEND IT, MODIFY IT.

I MEAN, YES, REPEAL IT, ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.

RIGHT. SO IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT BELIEVES THAT THAT POLICY IS NOT IN CONTRADICTION TO THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE? THREE 70.003.

I DON'T EXPECT AN ANSWER.

BUT BUT, I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WILL OF VOTERS AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT, I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE RULE OF LAW.

AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK SOMETIMES THIS DISCUSSION KIND OF GETS OFF TRACK.

I THINK THIS PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED.

IS IT GOING TO BE AS CLEAR AND CONCISE ON AND OFF AS EVERYBODY WANTS IT TO BE? PROBABLY NOT.

AND WE'LL JUST KEEP HAVING THE CONVERSATION, I GUESS.

I'M SATISFIED WITH WHAT I'VE HEARD IN THE CITY MANAGER'S PRESENTATION.

I THINK TO GET DATA ON WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND.

I THINK THAT'S I THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE REQUEST.

AND I'M NOT A POLICE OFFICER.

I'M NOT GOING TO TELL A POLICE OFFICER WHEN THEY COME UP TO A CAR.

TELL THEM EXACTLY HOW TO DO THEIR JOB POINT BY POINT, BY POINT BY POINT.

AND THAT'S JUST ME.

I KNOW THAT'S PEOPLE IN HERE IN THIS ROOM THAT HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON THAT.

AND. AND THAT'S OKAY.

I CAN RESPECT THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR MCGEE. FAMOUS NOMURA.

SO. FRED, I'LL START WITH MY QUESTION FOR YOU, CHIEF.

SO. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE I GOT HERE, BEFORE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS TO JOIN THIS BODY.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT COUNCIL CONSIDERED DOING THIS A YEAR, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

IS THAT CORRECT? BUT THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT SUPPORT FOR SOMEONE FROM AMONG COUNCIL.

SO THEN A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION SPRUNG FORTH TO DO THIS THROUGH A BALLOT INITIATIVE.

THAT CORRECT, AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT.

OK OK.

SO DECRIMINALIZE DENTON LED THE CHARGE TO COLLECT THE SIGNATURES TO GET THIS ON THE BALLOT.

MADAM CITY MANAGER? OR WAS IT LAST YEAR YOU MET WITH A MEMBER OF DECRIMINALIZE DENTON AND MAYOR PRO TEM, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. I BELIEVE THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE MEETING AS WELL, BUT YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

OK CHIEF, WERE YOU IN THAT MEETING WHERE YOU WAS CHIEF ON BOARD YET? I WAS HIRED IN OCTOBER OF 2022.

SO THE ANSWER IS NO.

I WAS GOING TO SAY, I THINK FRANK WAS IN THERE.

I'LL DEFER TO ACM. DIXON YEAH, I THINK FRANK WAS IN THERE.

I THINK MACK MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THERE AS WELL WHEN WE MET WITH.

I WASN'T HERE, SO.

SO YOU WERE IN THAT MEETING? I WAS IN THAT MEETING.

WHAT WAS WHAT WERE THE ACTION ITEMS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING? WERE THERE ANY ACTION THAT CAME OUT OF THE MEETING? NO, IT WAS A DISCUSSION.

IT WAS A GOOD DISCUSSION.

LEARNING A LITTLE MORE ABOUT DECRIMINALIZE, DECRIMINALIZE DENTON AND THE REASONING AND THEN LISTENING TO FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, THE REASONING WHY WE PRESENTED IT AGAIN TODAY.

IT WAS IN THE MEMO WHY WE BELIEVE THAT IT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ENFORCE IT FULLY.

AND THAT WAS REALLY THE DISCUSSION AT THAT TIME DURING THAT MEETING WAS THC FUNDING BROUGHT UP? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER.

IT'S OKAY IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER. JUST I DON'T REMEMBER TALKING ABOUT.

[02:55:01]

I DON'T REMEMBER, BUT I CAN'T I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND SAY IT WASN'T BECAUSE WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION AND WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

OKAY. AND PERHAPS THIS QUESTION IS.

THANK YOU, SIR. PERHAPS THIS QUESTION IS BETTER IS BEST SUITED FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

DOES THE CITY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE FUNDING FOR TAC TESTING SPECIFICALLY? I THINK SARAH ADDRESSED IT IN HER PRESENTATION, WHICH IS WE'VE ALWAYS GIVEN COUNSEL THAT OPINION THAT IF YOU WANTED TO IMPLEMENT A A PORTION OF THIS, THAT CERTAINLY THAT FUNDING PORTION FOR TESTING IS SOMETHING THAT'S WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE BUDGETARY AUTHORITY OF THE COUNCIL.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. CHIEF, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ON BOARD, HAVE YOU HAD ANY INTERACTION WITH DECRIMINALIZE DENTON? COULD YOU DEFINE INTERACTION? HAVE YOU MET WITH THEM, SIR? NO. YOU HAD A PHONE CALL.

TRADED EMAILS.

EMAILS WITH NICK, I BELIEVE.

ANY PARTICULAR REASON WHY YOU HAVEN'T MET WITH HIM? NO. OK.

SO THE CITIES THAT HAVE DONE THIS SO FAR, HARKER HEIGHTS, AUSTIN, KILLEEN, SAN MARCOS AND ELDON.

CORRECT. MADAM CITY MANAGER, AFTER THE VOTERS PASSED THIS, DID YOU REACH OUT TO ANYONE FROM HARKER HEIGHTS TO COLLABORATE ON PERHAPS HOW HOW THEIR IMPLEMENTATION WAS GOING TO GO VERSUS OURS? YES, ACTUALLY, I HAD I HAD A VISIT WITH THE CITY MANAGER OF KILLEEN, AND I VISITED WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FROM HARKER HEIGHTS.

AND I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH AUSTIN SINCE I WORKED IN AUSTIN BEFORE I CAME HERE.

ANYTHING, ANY IDEAS BRING FORTH FROM THAT MEETING IN TERMS OF WAYS THAT THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE IMPLEMENTED? NO. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IN THE DISCUSSION WITH HARKER HEIGHTS, IT WAS MORE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING AFTER THE VOTE.

AND THEN WITH THE CITY MANAGER OF KILLEEN, IT WAS MORE ABOUT MAKING SOME SUGGESTIONS TO COUNCIL TO MAYBE TWEAK IT.

BUT IT WAS NOT.

THE DISCUSSIONS DID NOT TAKE PLACE OF OF SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD MAKE IT DIFFERENT OR BETTER FOR DENTON.

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER TWO CITIES? AUSTIN AND ELGIN? SAN MARCOS AND ELGIN? I DID HAVE I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS WHO I WORKED WITH IN AUSTIN.

I THINK FRANK HAD TALKED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR THERE IN SAN MARCOS, AND I THAT WAS IT.

IT WAS MORE ABOUT THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN WHAT WAS HAPPENING FROM THE CITY AND THEN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

OK HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW.

AND THIS AGAIN HAPPENED BEFORE I GOT BEFORE I WAS ELECTED TO COUNCIL.

HOW WE GOT FROM TWO OUNCES TO FOUR OUNCES.

THAT WOULD BE FINE. AGAIN, I'LL DEFER TO ACM, DIXON.

SO IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY LEGAL AND WITH JUDGE ATKINSON, WE CAME TO THE DETERMINATION THAT THAT I WANTED TO MOVE IT TO FOUR OUNCES AND LESS TO BE ABLE TO ISSUE A CITATION FOR.

DO WE KNOW FOR ANY OTHER STATE, ANY OF THE CITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ALSO USING FOUR OUNCES AS THEIR GUIDELINE, SINCE THAT'S WHAT IS THE AMOUNT BEFORE IT BECOMES A FELONY? I COULD NOT SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THAT.

I MEAN, I WASN'T REALLY CONCERNED.

I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE AND THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY HERE BETTER.

I DON'T KNOW OFFHAND IF THERE'S ANY OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE THAT HAVE GONE UP TO FOUR OUNCES OR NOT.

OKAY. SO, JUDGE, WHEN HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS PROCESS.

AN OFFICER, AN OFFICER ISSUES A CITATION.

A PERSON COMES BEFORE YOU.

AND THEN WHAT? THERE'S A LOT THAT HAPPENS JUST IN THAT.

SO YEAH, THEY FIRST GET A TEXT MESSAGE THAT HAS A VIDEO ON IT THAT EXPLAINS THE PROCESS TO THEM THAT'S FOUND ON OUR YOUTUBE PAGE.

SO YEAH, THE PERSON'S CALLED INTO A PRETRIAL HEARING AND THEY THEY CAN THEY HEAR THEIR OPTIONS.

THEY HEAR THEIR RIGHTS FIRST.

I ALWAYS SAY I WANT EVERYBODY TO HEAR THEIR RIGHTS BEFORE WE START ASKING FOR MONEY FROM THEM.

SO THEY HEAR THE RIGHTS IN A MUNICIPAL COURT.

THEY GET AN OFFER FROM THE PROSECUTOR FOR FOR RESOLVING THE TICKET THROUGH DEFERRED DISPOSITION.

IF THEY EXPRESS A NEED FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE FUNDS, THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICE.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A MEDICAL ISSUE THAT KEEPS THEM FROM WORKING.

WE TALK THROUGH OPTIONS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AS WELL, AND THEN IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, WE SIGN THEM UP FOR DEFERRED.

IF THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, THEY WANT TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY, THEN THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO SO.

AND WE GET THEM SCHEDULED FOR TRIAL, EITHER A JUDGE TRIAL OR A JURY TRIAL.

YEAH. SO MY MY LAYMAN'S UNDERSTANDING OF THIS IS THAT YOU, FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT, ARE DOING ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT

[03:00:06]

DRASTICALLY AFFECTS THE LIVES MOVING FORWARD FROM THOSE WHO ARE AFFLICTED WITH THIS ARREST AND TICKETING.

THAT'S A VERY ABSOLUTE QUESTION.

SO THE THE COURT THE JUDGE IS AN UMPIRE CALLED BALLS AND STRIKES BASED ON THE LAW, APPLYING FACTS TO THE LAW, DETERMINING AN OUTCOME. AND SO JUDGE ATTEMPTS TO STAY NEUTRAL, EVEN BEING HERE IN IN THIS DISCUSSION, IT'S ATTEMPTING TO STAY NEUTRAL ON THE UNDERLYING ISSUES.

BUT JUDGES INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY PRESIDING JUDGES, ARE INVOLVED IN SETTING PROCESS FOR THEIR COURTS.

PART OF THAT PROCESS IS HOW EASY ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EXPULSION IS, WHAT DEFERRED IS, TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO DEFERRED, IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE, UNDER THE LAW.

AND SO YOUR COURT, YOUR JUDGE, HAS EXPLORED MANY AVENUES THAT ARE CREATIVE AND ARE INNOVATIVE IN TERMS OF ENSURING THAT THESE CASES STAY OFF OF PEOPLE'S RECORDS AND BEYOND THAT, THAT THEY THEY CAN REVERSE THE TIME CLOCK AND MAKE IT AS IF THEY NEVER RECEIVED THE TICKET IN THE FIRST PLACE FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I GUESS AS I CLOSED, MR. MAYOR, THE LAST THING I'LL BRING UP IS SOMETHING THAT MR. DAVIS BROUGHT UP A WEEK AFTER, I GUESS MAYBE PERHAPS TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VOTERS PASSED THIS THIS RESOLUTION COUNCIL TRIED TO INTRODUCE THE EXACT SAME RESOLUTIONS THAT CORRECT THE MEASURE.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS THE EXACT SAME RESOLUTION.

I REFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.

IT WAS A TWO MINUTE PITCH TO IMPLEMENT TO HAVE THE COUNCIL TAKE ACTION AT A FUTURE MEETING TO ADOPT THE SAME ORDINANCE THAT WAS ADOPTED BY PROPOSITION B.

SO IT WAS THE EXACT SAME WORD? THAT'S CORRECT. THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE TWO MINUTE PITCH.

YES. OKAY. SO BECAUSE I'VE RECEIVED BECAUSE I RECEIVED RESIDENT COMMENT ABOUT THIS, I DO WANT TO PASS ONE THING OUT TO ALL OF US. IF WE COULD JUST TAKE THIS AND PASS THIS DOWN.

THIS IS A SCREENSHOT OF SOMETHING THAT THE MAYOR SAID ON FACEBOOK SPEAKING TO SOMEONE.

SO THE MAYOR HAS MADE THE ASSERTION HERE THAT THE TWO MINUTE PITCH WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS PASSED THEN THAN WHAT THE VOTERS PASSED. I JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ASKED ABOUT THIS AND SOMEBODY HERE NOT TELLING THE TRUTH.

SO. THE TWO MINUTE PITCH.

IS IT THE EXACT SAME THING THAT WAS PASSED BY THE VOTERS? ANYBODY. THAT'S WHAT I ASKED FOR.

ALL RIGHT, SO THEN THIS IS, IN FACT, INCORRECT.

SO WE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN SOMEONE ATTEMPTS TO POISON THE POOL JUST BECAUSE THEY DISAGREE WITH SOMETHING.

IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS POLITICS.

MY DIRECTION LINES UP WITH MAYOR PRO TEM.

EXACTLY. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THIS.

AND COUNCILMEMBER WATTS, AS YOU TALKED ABOUT WITH FRACKING, IF THE STATE SLAPS OUR HAND BACK AND TELLS US WE CAN'T DO THAT, THEN THAT'S OKAY.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL BILLS THAT ARE ALREADY MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THAT MIGHT, IN FACT DO THIS.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, WE ARE ANSWERABLE TO THE PEOPLE.

70% OF DENTON VOTED FOR THIS.

NONE OF US GOT 70% OF THE VOTE.

I GUESS. SINCE YOU'RE UNOPPOSED, YOU MIGHT GET MORE THAN 70% OF THE VOTE.

THOSE OF US WHO RAN IN CONTESTED RACES, NONE OF US GOT 70% OF THE VOTE.

HOW OFTEN DO WE SEE 70% OF ANYTHING PASS ANYWHERE? THERE'S NO REASON THAT WE CAN'T DO THIS.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND IT.

WE'RE GETTING OUT A LITTLE OVER OUR SKIS HERE.

SO LET'S DO IT. IF WE NEED TO PULL BACK, THEN WE CAN PULL BACK.

I'M ABSOLUTELY OKAY WITH THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO PUT ME HERE TOLD ME TO DO.

AND ULTIMATELY, THE PEOPLE ARE OUR BOSS.

SO I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE THIS.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THE LAW.

I DO. BUT I UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE MORE.

AND THE PEOPLE WANT US TO DO THIS.

SO AGAIN, MY DIRECTION IS THAT WE NEED TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THIS.

IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE FIND DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE NEED TO PULL BACK ON, WE CAN HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AGAIN.

BUT 70% OF DENTON MORE THAN 70% OF DENTON TOLD US THEY WANTED US TO DO THIS.

I'M FINE WITH IT.

I THINK WE NEED TO DO IT.

ULTIMATELY, THE PEOPLE ARE BOSS.

THE PEOPLE ARE THE ULTIMATE BOSS OF ALL OF US.

BECAUSE WE HIRE THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE, WE HIRE THE CITY MANAGER.

WE HIRE THE AUDITOR.

I MEAN, WE HIRE THE CITY ATTORNEY, SO ULTIMATELY WE ARE ALL ANSWERABLE TO THE PEOPLE.

[03:05:03]

THIS ISN'T HARD, GUYS. I JUST THINK WE NEED TO DO THIS AND WE CAN MOVE ON.

OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE THIS.

YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO FACE SOME BUMPS AND BRUISES IN THE ROAD, BUT THERE'S NO REASON THAT WE CAN'T GO ON AND DO THIS.

LET'S BE HONEST WITH OUR INTENTION TO THE VOTERS AND DO WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.

IS BRIEF. IT'S POSSIBLE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I USUALLY KEEP IT BRIEF.

WELL, I'M JUST ASKING, YOU KNOW, I USUALLY COUNCIL MEMBER.

THANK YOU. I AM GOING TO I'M VERY CONFLICTED HERE FOR PERSONAL REASONS.

AND THEN THERE'S THE PUBLIC REASON, AND I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.

70%, THAT IS A VERY HIGH NUMBER.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT.

BUT YOU ALL I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS IN THAT SAFETY IS MY FIRST.

MY FIRST CHARGE.

IT'S THE FIRST THING THAT THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN DOING THIS.

I JUST DON'T APPRECIATE PUTTING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN A PARTICULAR PREDICAMENT WHERE THIS HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH. SO I DON'T I DON'T APPRECIATE THAT PART OF ALL OF THIS.

I KNOW THAT THIS IS A HARD JOB.

THEY KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT THEM.

MY BACKGROUND ALLOWS ME TO DO THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THERE IT IS.

THE PEOPLE WANT US TO BE DIFFERENT.

THEY WANT US TO BE OUTSIDE THE BOX.

THIS IS AN ECLECTIC TOWN WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.

SO THIS IS ANOTHER THING THAT WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF AS TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, THAT WORK HERE, THEY PLAY HERE.

SO I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN DAVIS.

THANK YOU, MARY, AND I'LL BE BRIEF.

THE FIRST THING I'M GOING TO SAY IS THIS IS THIS IS BELOW THE BELT.

SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY SEE SOME SOME CAMERAS IN THE ROOM AND THINKS THAT'S THE TIME TO CALL OUT ANOTHER MEMBER OF COUNCIL AND ACCUSE THEM OF SAYING THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE.

PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES. PEOPLE SAY THINGS THAT AREN'T EXACTLY CORRECT ALL THE TIME.

AND THEN HERE WE GO, PRINTING OUT THINK YOU BROUGHT HANDOUTS THE FIRST TIME YOU EVER BROUGHT HANDOUTS TO A CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

AND THIS IS WHAT IT IS THAT'S LOW.

SECOND THING IS THIS.

WHAT WE JUST HEARD IS THE EXACT REASON WHY WE HAVE NOT YET HAD A WORK SESSION ABOUT BUDGET PROPOSALS, WHY WE HAVEN'T HAD A TWO MINUTE PITCH FOR A BUDGET ONLY OR WHAT CAN WE DO. IT IS FAIR FOR THE VOTERS TO EXPECT US TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO IMPLEMENT THE WILL AS IS EXPRESSED IT THE WAY THEY CHOSE TO EXPRESS IT IS AN ORDINANCE THAT OUR LAWYER TELLS US IS NOT FULLY IMPLEMENTABLE.

CAN'T DO IT. DON'T TELL ME AUSTIN'S DOING IT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT.

THEY'RE JUST IGNORING THE STATE LAW.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. THEY PASS SOMETHING.

THEY IGNORE THE STATE LAW, AND THEIR HURDLES COME LATER IN LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT AREN'T QUITE RIPE YET.

THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT IN THE NEWS THAT AUSTIN'S.

THAT'S WHY THE ASSERTION CAN BE MADE.

THAT AUSTIN'S HAVING NO PROBLEMS AT ALL.

THAT'S NOT ACCURATE.

HARKER HEIGHTS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP HAS ALREADY REPEALED THEIR ORDINANCE BECAUSE THEIR CITY LAWYERS TELLING THEM YOU CAN'T DO IT.

STATE LAW HAS FILLED THE SPACE HAS PREEMPTED ENTIRELY.

SO WHY HASN'T THE CITY COUNCIL TAKEN UP SOME MEASURE THAT GIVES AS MUCH FORCE TO WHAT THE VOTERS HAVE ASKED FOR? AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ALL OR NOTHING FROM THE BEGINNING.

WE COULDN'T GET CONSENSUS AROUND THIS.

WHAT BECAME PROP B WHEN IT CAME UP THE FIRST TIME? BECAUSE WE COULDN'T FIND CONSENSUS AROUND, WELL, WE CAN'T DO ALL A PROP B, WHAT BECAME PROP B, BECAUSE SOME OF IT'S NOT WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION.

SOME OF IT'S NOT LEGAL.

I WANT ALL OR NOTHING.

IT WENT TO THE VOTERS.

THE VOTERS PASSED IT.

THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY OF TURNER WERE CLEAR BEFORE THE VOTE AND AFTER THAT.

SOME OF THESE THINGS WE CAN'T DO.

THE CITY, THE VOTERS CAN PASS WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT AUTOMATICALLY PASSES MUSTER AND AUTOMATICALLY BECOMES ENFORCEABLE.

IT JUST DOESN'T.

THERE'S A PROCESS TO THINGS AND THAT DOESN'T CHECK THOSE BOXES.

SO WHY HAVEN'T WE SEEN SOMETHING COME FORWARD LIKE I'M ABOUT TO PROPOSE? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THIS BODY CAN FIND CONSENSUS AROUND SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ALL OR NOTHING.

I DON'T THINK SOME OF US ARE WILLING TO ADMIT TO OURSELVES OR TO OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE ARE NOT OMNIPOTENT, THAT WE DON'T GET IT.

JUST KEEP THUMBING OUR NOSE AT STATE LAW AND NOTHING WILL HAPPEN THAT WE CAN JUST GO THE WAY OF AUSTIN AND PRETEND LIKE STATE LAW DOESN'T EXIST, OR THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET SUED BY SOME POLICE OFFICER WHO WE TRY TO PUT OUR DISCIPLINARY OR MADE UP DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE ON.

SO, MADAM CITY MANAGER, I'M GOING TO SUBMIT THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS A TWO MINUTE PITCH FOR US TO CONSIDER AND WE CAN PUT WHATEVER PRIORITY WE WANT ON IT. WE CAN SET HIGH, MEDIUM OR LOW PRIORITY ON IT FOR US AS A BODY TO CONSIDER A CONSENSUS ON DOING WHAT WE CAN UNDER EXISTING LAW

[03:10:05]

TO GIVE FULL EFFECT TO WHAT THE VOTERS WANT.

WHAT COUNCILMEMBER BECK ASKED FOR WAS NOT DOING WHAT WE CAN.

IT'S ALL OR NOTHING, AND WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO IT.

TELLING OURSELVES THAT WE CAN ISN'T THE SAME AS THE LAW.

LETTING US DO IT. DO IT.

I'M WILLING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR AUTHORITY.

I'M WILLING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITHIN THE BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S FAIR FOR THE VOTERS TO EXPECT THAT.

IT IS NOT FAIR TO SIT HERE AND SAY, WELL, THE VOTERS TOLD US TO BREAK THE LAW, SO LET'S GET AT IT.

THAT'S NONSENSE. AND THAT IS NOT OUR JOB.

ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I THINK PART OF THE REASON, JUST TO PUT SOME CLARITY, PART OF THE REASON I PITCHED IN THE WAY I DID WAS THE THE VARIOUS STATEMENTS FROM STAFF AND LEGAL FROM NOVEMBER 9TH ON SAID ONE OF THEIR BIG CONCERNS WAS THE BUDGETARY ISSUE WHICH.

I LOOKED AT THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE IT.

IT ALIGNED WELL WITH WHAT I WAS READING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M A BIOCHEMIST.

I'M NOT A LAWYER. SO IF THE WAY AROUND THAT IS TO HAVE COUNSEL DO THAT, THEN THEN WE COULD HAVE ALREADY HAD THAT IN PLACE.

WE COULD HAVE ALREADY VOTED FOR THAT.

THAT'S NOT AN ALL OR NONE APPROACH.

THAT'S THAT'S ACTUALLY WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGETARY ITEMS ALREADY.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THE REASON THAT IT WAS BROUGHT UP AS A DUPLICATE WAS THAT WAS THE THE WORKAROUND SORT OF IMPLIED BY STAFF IS THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE VOTERS AND THE COUNCIL POWERS.

AND THE WAY AROUND THAT IS, IS MERELY TO HAVE COUNSEL DO IT SO THAT AND TO AVOID ANY IMPROPRIETY.

I SAID, LET'S JUST DO IT AGAIN.

EXACTLY THE SAME THAT WAS IN MY PITCH.

SO THAT THAT IS THE RATIONALE FOR THE DUPLICATION.

AND AGAIN, WE ARE ALREADY CLAIMING THAT.

WE CAN'T IMPLEMENT FULLY.

SO IF THE TRIGGERING POINT, IF THE TRIP POINT IS THAT ONLY THE BUDGET OR ONLY THIS OR ONLY THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED, THEN AS COUNCILOR MCGEE SAID, WE'RE WE'RE ALREADY DOING SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT.

OUR DA HERE IN THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY DOING SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT SAYS HE'S NOT GOING TO.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING ANYWAY THAT HE SAYS THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO ENFORCE THC POLICIES UNLESS THE CITY PAYS FOR IT.

NOW, I COULD BE WRONG. IT COULD BE MY MISUNDERSTANDING.

I DON'T WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE AS FACT.

I'M BEING VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT.

BUT THAT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I'VE READ IN THE NEWS.

SO IF WE'RE ALREADY HAVING SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT AT MULTIPLE LEVELS.

THEN WE COULD HAVE ALREADY SOLVED THIS PROBLEM BACK IN DECEMBER AND IT COULD BE A NON ISSUE ALREADY.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT CLARITY ON THAT.

THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME, MR. MAYOR. ANYONE ELSE.

COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN DAVIS.

I JUST NEED TO. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING INCORRECT, COUNCILMEMBER BECK SAID.

BUDGETING TO MAKE SURE IT'S A REALLY CLEAR RECORD BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE HEAR WHAT WE'RE SAYING AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY GO BACK AND CHECK OTHER SOURCES.

WHAT COUNCILMEMBER BECK JUST REFERRED TO IS A STATEMENT BY AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DA'S OFFICE WHEN THE STATE CHANGED CANNABIS LAWS TO SAY THAT HEMP WAS LEGAL AND MARIJUANA WAS ILLEGAL, AND TO FIND OUT IF IT'S CANNABIS THAT YOU SMOKE AND GET HIGH FROM AND TO FIND OUT IF IT'S HEMP THAT'S LEGAL, YOU HAVE TO TEST IT. WHAT THAT EMPLOYEE SAID ON THE RECORD CHRONICLE WAS THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS NOT GOING TO PAY FOR TESTING BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PROVE THE CRIME WITHOUT TESTING.

NOT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO STOP ENFORCING MARIJUANA LAWS OR TREAT MARIJUANA ANY DIFFERENTLY THAT HAD BEEN BEFORE.

IT'S JUST NOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE A TEST, JUST LIKE PILLS.

TAKE A TEST, JUST LIKE HEROIN TAKES THE TEST.

YOU CAN'T PROVE MISDEMEANOR MARIJUANA OR ANY MARIJUANA OFFENSE WITHOUT A TEST IN HAND.

AND THE DA'S OFFICE WASN'T GOING TO PAY FOR IT OR ANYONE ELSE.

SO I'LL JUST I JUST WANT TO LEAVE WITH SOME CLARITY.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A CITY MANAGER QUESTION OR A CITY ATTORNEY QUESTION, BUT IF THE SAME ORDINANCE IS PUT FORTH AND YOU KNOW, I'LL ACCEPT THIS, I'LL JUST SAY WORD TO THE WISE FOR THOSE THAT ARE TRACKING ALONG.

I WORKED IN A LEGAL FIELD.

YOU DON'T WANT TO USE A PRINTOUT BECAUSE IT CAN BE MANIPULATED AND THEN PRINTED.

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS GET AN MD5 HASH OR A DIGITAL RECORD OF THAT SO THAT YOU CAN AUTHENTICATE ITS AUTHENTICITY.

AND AND AND THEN THIS IS MY PERSONAL FACEBOOK PAGE ONE.

AND IF YOU GO IN THERE AND LOOK, IT SAYS, I'M 107 YEARS OLD, I USE THAT AS A MESSAGE.

DON'T TRUST WHAT YOU SEE ON THE INTERNET.

BUT I TAKE THE I TAKE THE CORRECTION THAT I I MAY HAVE MISSPOKE ON THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, HEY, I'LL DO MY BEST.

JUST AS POINTED OUT HERE, WE MISSPEAK.

[03:15:01]

THAT'S IN MY NOT OFFICIAL CAPACITY.

IT'S NOT A CITY. I HAVE AN OFFICIAL MAYOR'S PAGE.

AND AND SO FORGIVE ME FOR BEING HUMAN.

I'M DOING MY BEST I CAN EVERY DAY NOW.

QUESTION WITH RESPECT TO THE RE SUBMITTING THE SAME ORDINANCE AGAIN, BUT IT COMING FROM COUNCIL, DOES THAT SOLVE THE BUDGET PROBLEM IN AND OF ITSELF? I JUST DON'T KNOW. I THINK WHAT WE'VE PROPOSED IS YOU WOULD HAVE TO AMEND THE ACTUAL BUDGET, RIGHT? SO PRESENTING AS IS EXACTLY THE SAME THING COMING FROM THIS BODY DOES NOT SOLVE THE BUDGET ISSUE.

IF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SOLVE IS TO NOT FUND TESTING.

CORRECT. OKAY. GOT IT.

SO THAT JUST I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THERE.

THEN I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED ON IS EXACTLY WHAT'S IN THE ORDINANCE.

AND SO WE WE FULFILL THAT THING.

AND WHAT I'D ASK IN THIS MOMENT OF TRANSPARENCY AND WE'RE ALL TELLING THE TRUTH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE APPLICATION THAT EVERYONE SITTING AT THIS DAIS FILLED OUT TO TO EVEN GET ON THE BALLOT BEFORE YOU EVEN GET HERE SAYS YOU WILL UPHOLD THE LAWS OF THIS STATE.

AND SO IF THERE'S I'VE HEARD A LOT OF TALKING ABOUT THIS OR THAT, BUT I'D LIKE TO I PUT IT FORWARD, JUST LIKE COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBER WATCH, PUT IT FORWARD.

IF SOMEONE THINKS THAT THIS ORDINANCE DOESN'T VIOLATE STATE STATE LAW.

I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU TO SAY IT DOESN'T VIOLATE STATE LAW ON THE RECORD.

YOU'RE NOT AT THE DAIS, SO YOU DIDN'T SIGN THAT APPLICATION.

SO THOSE THOSE AT THE DAIS, IF YOU WOULD ADOPT WITH THE WITH THE WITH YOUR SUPPORTERS ARE SAYING AND SAY AT THE DAIS INTO THE MIC, PLEASE, THAT IT DOESN'T VIOLATE STATE LAW.

GO RIGHT AHEAD. YOU HAVE THE MIC.

MR. MAYOR, TO THE BEST OF MY UNDERSTANDING, WHAT THE VOTERS ENACTED HAS IS COMPORTS WITH WITH ALL THE LAWS THAT I'M AWARE OF.

OK. I JUST.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. SO FOR THE RECORD, NO ONE SAID THAT IT VIOLATED STATE LAW.

ONE SAID IT COMPORTS TO THE BEST OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE.

BUT WE ALL FILL OUT AN APPLICATION THAT SAYS WE UPHOLD STATE LAW, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WE HAVE.

AND THEN I'LL PUT FORTH THIS JUST FOR, AGAIN, DOCUMENTING FACTS.

SO WE HAD A MEETING AND I ASKED STAFF THIS QUESTION.

WE HAD A MEETING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON NOVEMBER 2ND, 2021, ON JANUARY 11, 2022, ON JUNE 7TH, 2020 TO JULY 19TH, 2022, JULY 26, 2020 TO NOVEMBER 22ND, 2022.

AND THEN THERE IS A TWO MINUTE PITCH ON DECEMBER 6TH, 2022.

SO ALL THOSE OTHER ONES PRECEDED THAT.

WHERE THERE'S A CANVASING OF THE ELECTION IS IS THE NOVEMBER DATE.

BUT THERE WERE THERE WERE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE FUNDING ISSUE, QUOTE UNQUOTE, BEFORE IT EVEN GOT TO THE VOTERS.

BUT BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S JUST A TIMELINE OF THINGS.

AND THEN I'LL JUST I'LL WRAP UP WITH THIS, BECAUSE HERE'S MY NOT ONLY IS IT A STATE LAW ISSUE, I'LL DIRECT EVERYONE TO THE CITY CHARTER.

AND MR. CITY ATTORNEY, IF YOU CAN HELP ME, THE CITY CHARTER STIPULATES THAT THE COUNCIL IS NOT TO BASICALLY INVOLVE ITSELF WITH THE DIRECT REPORTS TO THE CITY MANAGER.

AM I AM I RIGHT? RIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT.

AND DOES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE COUNCIL? NO. SO IT REPORTS TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CHARTER PROHIBITS THAT.

RIGHT. FROM DIRECTING THE SUBORDINATES OF THE CITY MANAGER.

RIGHT. SO EVEN IF YOU CAN GET BEYOND THE STATE LAW, THEN YOU FALL TO THE CITY CHARTER.

AND THAT THEN ALSO PROHIBITS SOME OF THESE ACTIONS.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LAND OF LAWS.

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. AND I'LL JUST POINT OUT IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS.

I'VE NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF ANY COMPLAINTS, ANY LAWSUITS.

THERE'S BEEN 52 PEOPLE SUBJECT TO SOME VERSION OF THIS ORDINANCE, BUT I'VE NOT HEARD ANYONE SAY I WAS WRONGLY TREATED.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK IT GOES.

WE NEED TO EXPLORE THE THE THE PROHIBITED ZONES MORE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE JUDGE MENTIONED TWO CITATIONS THAT RELATED FOR SOME DEGREE TO T W 33 TO YOU AND T THOSE DON'T FALL UNDER THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE THEY'RE EXEMPT FROM OUR ORDINANCES.

AND SO THERE'S THERE'S A LOT TO STUDY HERE, BUT I'VE NOT HEARD ANYONE COME AND SAY.

AND THOSE THREE MONTHS THAT THEY'VE BEEN WRONGLY AFFECTED.

AND THEN AND I'LL JUST I'LL TALK TO THIS POINT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN ON THE WRONG SIDE OF BEING PROFILED.

[03:20:10]

I HAVE MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AND I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU.

PROBABLE CAUSE IS ANYTHING THEY DON'T NEED TO SMELL.

THEY CAN'T SMELL YOU WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

PROBABLE CAUSE IS YOU SWERVING INSIDE YOUR YOUR LANE.

PROBABLE CAUSE IS YOUR SIGNAL.

LIGHT DIDN'T WORK. YOUR PROBABLE CAUSE IS YOU FAIL TO TURN INTO THE MAINTAIN CONTROL AND TURN INTO THE SAME LANE, THE NEAREST LANE.

THERE'S ALL THESE NUANCED THINGS.

AND WHEN I ENDED UP IN TROUBLE.

UNTIL THEY FIGURED OUT THAT THAT WHO I WAS AND WE WERE GOING TO FIGHT THIS THING TOOTH AND NAIL, THE DOG, QUOTE UNQUOTE, ALERTED TO MARIJUANA SMOKE IN THE CAR.

THEN ONCE WE PRESSED THEM, IT WAS NO, NO, NO, IT WAS CIGARET SMOKE AND WE'RE SORRY, YOU KNOW, AND SO I UNDERSTAND THOSE THAT WANT TO EDUCATE ME ON BEING PROFILED.

I UNDERSTAND THOSE WHO WANT TO EDUCATE ME ON.

I GET THE EMAILS ALL THE TIME ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THE MINORITIES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT MINORITIES, BUT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU THAT THIS THIS OUR FORMER CHIEF DIXON AND CHIEF SHOEMAKER, ASSISTANT CHIEF, WE HAVE JUST A GROUP OF GREAT PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY, THAT ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I DON'T LIVE IN AUSTIN.

I DON'T LIVE IN ONE OF THOSE CITIES.

I LIVE IN DENTON BECAUSE I LIKE DENTON.

MY FAMILY DOES WELL IN DENTON.

AND AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SERVE WELL.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE REPRESENT THE VOTERS.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S THERE'S LAWS IN PLACE TO PROTECT US.

AND FOR THAT REASON, I SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE DOING.

IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT BUDGET, THAT'S GREAT.

I WANT IT WELL DOCUMENTED THAT BECAUSE WE'RE PRINTING OUT STUFF TODAY, I WANT IT WELL DOCUMENTED THAT WHAT WAS PROPOSED DID NOT HAVE THE EFFECT THAT IT PURPORTED TO HAVE. AND I'LL JUST CHALK THAT UP AS A MISSPEAK AND WE'LL MOVE ON.

I WON'T CHALK THAT UP AS NEFARIOUS.

I WON'T CHALK THAT UP AS MISLEADING.

I'LL JUST SAY I LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE ACTIONABLE WITH STATE LAW AND OUR CITY CHARTER.

AND AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

IT'S JUST NO ONE HERE IS WILLING TO SAY INTO THE MIC THOSE THINGS ABOUT THE STATE LAW AND AND AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT IF I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO LOOK AT THE APPLICATIONS TO GET ON TO FILE FOR OFFICE, LOOK AT THAT APPLICATION RIGHT BELOW THE SIGNATURE LINE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THAT DECLARATION TO EVEN BE AT THIS TABLE.

COUNCILMAN WATTS. YEAH. REAL QUICK, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I GAVE DIRECTION, BUT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO WITH THE DIRECTION OF OF HOW CITY STAFF HAS PRESENTED IT.

AND I JUST NEED TO SAY THIS AND I SAY IT WITH ALL RESPECT.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE I'M DISAPPOINTED.

I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT FOR SOME REASON WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HANDING OUT SOMETHING AND YOU TALK ABOUT IT'S IT'S INACCURACIES THAT YOU'VE BEEN ON THE OTHER END OF THAT.

YOU'VE BEEN ON THE OTHER END OF THAT DURING THE CAMPAIGN WITH RESUMES AND NEWSPAPER REPORTS AND ALL THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, SO I'M JUST I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU DON'T GIVE THE SAME KIND OF DEFERENCE AND YOU DON'T GIVE THE SAME KIND OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE MISTAKES AS YOU WANTED ALL OF US TO REALIZE, HEY, WE JUST WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES AND TO DO IT IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE AND IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, IN THIS SETTING, IT IS POLITICAL.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE LAST THING WE NEED AT THIS DAIS.

WE NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HERE TO BE POLITICAL.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE HERE WHO WILL FIND SOLUTIONS.

SO I HOPE IN THE FUTURE, WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT TELLING THE TRUTH, THAT YOU JUST TAKE A PAUSE AND TRY TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE AND WE'VE ALL BEEN GUILTY.

AND JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE GRACE, THAT'S THE ONLY THING I ASK.

COUNCILMAN. MCGEE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

WHAT'S. I'M GOOD.

OKAY, SO THAT'LL CONCLUDE THIS WORK SESSION AT 535.

[4. Recess of the Work Session]

WE'LL TAKE A SHORT BREAK TO.

[A. Presentation of City of Denton-themed Ice Cream Flavor]

FOR ICE CREAM AND THAT'S AND WE HAVE A VIDEO AND SO I'LL CALL THAT THAT'S ID 23502.

THEY'LL GET THAT CUED UP AND WE'LL BE ALL SET.

SO, MAYOR, WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL, A SPECIAL HERE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BRING IN. OUR ICE CREAM IS CALLED NORTH OF ORDINARY.

BETH MARIE'S HAS WORKED WITH US TO MAKE ICE CREAM THAT'S GONE ON THE SHELVES TODAY, STARTING AT BETH MARIE'S.

AND THERE'S A VERY SHORT VIDEO.

AND MARGARET AND KEN AND I THINK BOB ARE HERE FROM BETH MARIE'S.

[03:25:01]

AND THEY ARE MY PARTNERS IN CRIME WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THIS ICE CREAM.

AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, IF IT'S DELICIOUS, JUST ASK MAC.

YOU'LL NEVER GO BACK. NO, THAT'S EXCELLENT.

OKAY, WELL, WE'LL SHOW THE VIDEO.

OK.

BETH MORRIS WAS FOUNDED BY BETH MARIE COX, AND RANDY COX OPENED IN NOVEMBER OF 98.

SO THIS IS OUR 25TH YEAR.

WE'LL BE CELEBRATING OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY.

SARAH DENTON CITY MANAGER, CAME TO US AND ASKED WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE A CITY OF DENTON ICE CREAM.

SO THIS ALL CAME TO BE WHEN I FOUND OUT, YOU KNOW, BETH MURRAY'S, OF COURSE, ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES, BUT THEY'VE MADE AN ICE CREAM FOR PETERBILT.

THEY WORKED WITH TWU, THEY WORKED WITH YOU AND T.

AND I THOUGHT, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.

HERE WE ARE, THE CITY OF DENTON.

AND SO I SAT DOWN WITH KEN AND BOB AND MARGARET, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS KEN SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT ABOUT AN ICE CREAM CALLED NORTH OF ORDINARY.

AND I SAID, I LOVE IT BECAUSE DENTON IS NORTH OF ORDINARY.

AND THEN IT TOOK ABOUT A COUPLE OF TIMES SITTING DOWN AND GOING OVER SOME IDEAS OF WHAT MIGHT BE TASTY.

AND THAT'S HOW IT CAME TO BE THE BIRTH OF NORTH OF ORDINARY.

I'M JUST EXCITED THAT WE CAN HAVE AN ICE CREAM IN THE CITY OF DENTON.

WE'RE ENTERING THE DOOR OF THE MANUFACTURING.

BETH MARIE'S OLD-FASHIONED ICE CREAM.

COME ON IN, EVERYBODY.

THIS IS THE MACHINE WE'RE GOING TO BE USING.

IT'S AN EMORY THOMAS ICE CREAM MACHINE.

HEIDI BURKE IS GOING TO MAKE THE ICE CREAM FOR US.

HE'LL START OUT WITH PUTTING MILK IN THE MACHINE, AND THEN WE'LL ADD OUR RUM EXTRACT AND THE FEW OTHER INGREDIENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADD TO MAKE OUR NORTH OF ORDINARY ICE CREAM TODAY.

YOU JUST DON'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF UPSET PEOPLE BUYING ICE CREAM.

IT'S A FEEL GOOD FOOD.

IT'S HARD TO BE GRUMPY AND HAVE AN ICE CREAM CONE IN YOUR HAND.

THAT'S THE PART I LIKE ABOUT IT.

I GREW UP IN DENTON, DENTON.

FOR ME, IT'S JUST FEELS LIKE HOME.

I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN THAT YOU SUPPORT YOUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN YOUR COMMUNITY, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO STARTED HERE.

THEY'RE THE ONES WHO REMAIN HERE.

AND I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THEY DO TRANSPORT THEIR ICE CREAM TO OTHER CITIES.

SO BETH MORRIS MAY BE HOME GROWN HERE IN DENTON, BUT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO TASTE IT ALL OVER IN OTHER PLACES.

AND SO TO HAVE A CITY OF DENTON ICE CREAM CALLED NORTH OF ORDINARY THAT MAY BE TASTED IN OTHER CITIES IS, I GUESS, PRETTY SWEET.

I'LL SAY. IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH. WE STARTED THIS TODAY AT THE SQUARE OK.

WOW. EXCELLENT.

EXCELLENT. I QUIT MY JOB AND GO OVER AND START HELPING THEM OUT.

OH, YEAH. I AM THE BOMBSHELL.

I'M GOOD. THANK YOU. I CAN'T DO IT.

WE'LL HAVE TO COME UP. WE'LL HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF HASHTAG OR SOMETHING SO WE CAN GET IT.

GET IT TRENDING. THAT'LL BE GOOD.

YEAH. YEAH. THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO. OH, LIKE.

OH, YES.

NO. YEAH.

SO. SO DOES ANYONE WANT TO COME UP AND KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS AND HOW THAT ALL WORKS? I MEAN, JUST IN GENERAL, IT'D BE GOOD FOR FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW KIND OF WHAT GOES INTO THAT.

SORRY TO INTERRUPT. YEAH, SO YOU CAN.

I THINK IF YOU GO TO MIKE, THAT WAY WE CAN GET IT FIRST.

MAKING AN ICE CREAM. YES.

YES. HOW DOES THAT HOW DOES THAT WHAT DO YOU START WITH OR KIND OF WHAT'S THAT PROCESS? WELL, WE START WITH A CREAM BASE AND THEN FROM THERE WE GO.

LIKE FOR THIS ONE, IT'S BECAME A RUM BASE.

SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE STRONGER FLAVOR OF THE RUM IN IT, RIGHT? YEAH. WELL, THEN THERE'S A MUSIC SCENE.

SO IN THE MUSIC YOU GOT BARS, LIVE MUSIC.

SO THEREFORE THAT'S WHAT THE RUM IS THERE TO REPRESENT.

[03:30:02]

BUT USUALLY LIKE WHEN PEOPLE COME TO US AND APPROACH US AND LET'S CREATE A FLAVOR OR WHATNOT, THEY TELL US WHAT THEIR FAVORITE THINGS ARE IN LIFE.

MARGARET AND I WILL SIT DOWN AND WE HASH OUT.

I HAVE A CULINARY DEGREE.

SO BETWEEN THAT AND BEING IN RESTAURANT ALL MY LIFE, BECAUSE MY DAD HAD THE STEAKHOUSE HERE IN DENTON FROM THE TIME I WAS TWO YEARS OLD.

SO THE I GREW UP IN THAT, SO I'M PRETTY GOOD AT PAIRING FOODS TOGETHER.

MARGARET BEING NOW A GRANDMOTHER AND THEN SOME THE HAS DONE A LOT OF COOKING.

SO BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, WE CAN CREATE ALMOST ANYTHING.

I THINK I'VE ONLY MADE ONE THAT WAS REALLY BAD THAT SHE JUST HATED WITH THE HOLY PASSION.

SO WE WILL NOT.

YEAH, SWEET BUTTERED CORN.

IT REALLY SOUNDED GREAT AT THE TIME.

IT NEEDED SOMETHING EXTRA.

I THINK YOUR WIFE IS VERY.

ARE YOU? THAT'S NOT MY WIFE.

THAT'S THE WORK WIFE.

MARGARET, YOU'RE VERY INTELLIGENT AND.

AND A SMART WOMAN. AND I RESPECT YOUR ADVICE.

YEAH, YEAH.

THERE YOU GO. YEAH, WELL, GOOD.

SO THIS IS THIS IS AT THE THE ON THE SQUARE NOW AND AT THE UNICORN LAKE HAS IT ALSO.

OKAY, GREAT. WE ROLLED IT OUT AT BOTH STORES TODAY.

EXCELLENT. OKAY THEN WE'LL ROLL IT OUT IN CARLTON NEXT WEEK JUST TO GO NANNY, RIGHT? THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. YEAH.

WELL OUTSTANDING. WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

I'LL MAKE SURE WE GET BY THERE.

THAT'LL BE GREAT. THANK YOU.

WELL DONE. THIS IS FANTASTIC.

HOW WAS THERE A HELL? YES.

I GOT TO GET MY BOX TOMORROW.

OKAY, GOOD.

AND WILL THE VIDEO BE ON THE ON THE WEB PAGE SO WE CAN GROUP IT OUT SOCIAL MEDIA TOMORROW? OKAY, GREAT. OKAY, FANTASTIC.

GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THIS IS GREAT. YES.

YEAH, SUPER EXCITING.

I CAME OUT WITH THAT. SO WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? VERY GOOD. OH, I WOULD I'M NOT EXAGGERATING WHAT I WOULD SAY.

I WOULD BUY THIS IN WHATEVER LARGE SIZE.

IT'S A SELLER. IT'S A WINNER.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A LOCAL BUSINESS, THAT'S REALLY TASTY.

YEAH. WE TRY TO USE AS MUCH TEXAS PRODUCT AS WE CAN, SO WE'VE HAD TO BUY ALL TEXAS.

SO SOME THINGS A LITTLE HARDER TO BUY TEXAS STYLE LIKE AMERICAN INTERIORS, BUT IT'S HARD FOR THINGS TO STOP.

IS THERE ANYWHERE IN TEXAS THAT WILL SET THROUGH TEXAS? IS THERE ANYWHERE IN TEXAS THAT CHERRIES WILL SET FRUIT? RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE.

THERE'S TIMES THAT WE HAVE TO CUT THAT FLAVOR OUT.

ANY FLAVOR CARRY FLAVOR OUT THIS BECAUSE CAN'T THE.

WOW. OKAY.

WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU AGAIN. THANKS, YOU GUYS.

YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.

YEAH. SEE YOU TOMORROW.

I'M GONNA GET A PART TIME JOB OVER THERE.

ARE YOU PUTTING ALIGNING THE BUDGET FOR VARIOUS REASONS THAT WHAT? I'M HERE? HOW MUCH IS GOOD? OKAY, SO THAT CONCLUDES THAT SPECIAL PRESENTATION.

[E. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction on pending City Council requests for: 1). Ordinance to add polling locations for the May 6, 2023, elections. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]

WE HAVE ONE MORE WORK SESSION THING TO TAKE UP, AND THEN WE'LL BEFORE OUR 630 MEETING.

AND THAT'S ID 23223209 RECEIVE REPORT WHOLE DISCUSSION, GIVE STAFF DIRECTION ON PENDING CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS.

AND YEAH, SO I'LL LET YOU TAKE IT FROM THERE.

ALL RIGHT. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. JENNIFER RAINEY, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER.

THIS IS JUST A QUICK REVIEW OF THE WORK SESSION PROCESS.

UP TO SEVEN REQUESTS CAN BE REVIEWED PER MEETING AND STAFF WILL INTRODUCE EACH REQUEST AND THEN THE ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO MADE THAT REQUEST WILL HAVE UP TO 2 MINUTES TO JUSTIFY THAT. YOU CAN THEN RANK THAT OR PRIORITIZE THAT AS HIGH, MODERATE OR LOW.

AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE REQUEST THIS TIME, AND THAT IS FOR MAYOR PRO TEM FOR AN ORDINANCE TO ADD POLLING LOCATIONS FOR THE MAY SIX, 2023 ELECTIONS.

MAYOR PRO TEM, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT SCREEN BECAUSE WE HAVE THE STAFF FEEDBACK ON THAT ONE.

THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

YES. I THOUGHT YOU WERE OK.

YOU WERE JUST PULLING UP THE SLIDE.

I THOUGHT THERE'S WAS SOMETHING I SHOULD SAY.

YES, LET ME GET THERE.

GO RIGHT AHEAD. OKAY.

I'LL JUST MOSTLY READ WITH A SMALL MODIFICATION IN DEBT.

WE'VE LONG RECOGNIZED THAT WE HAVE VOTER COHORT THAT DUE TO GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OR LIMITED NO AUTOMOBILE ACCESS OR LIMITED TRANSIT ACCESS HAVE RESTRICTED VOTING OPTIONS.

[03:35:04]

THE CITIZENS, STAFF AND LEADERSHIP HAVE SPENT GREAT TIME AND ENERGY AND IN FACT SORT OF ALLUDED TO IT TONIGHT TO EXPANDING AND PROTECTING POLLING LOCATIONS FOR ROADS AND YOU AND T.W. AND AND OTHER SIMILAR CITIZENS UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATION SETS THE PRECINCT A POLE LOCATION RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE WE'RE NOT A VOTE CENTER COUNTY YET.

I'M REQUESTING THAT WE EXPAND OUR MAIN POLLING LOCATIONS FOR BOTH EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY TO INCLUDE A US CENTRIC LOCATION SUCH AS THE UNION OR WESLEY.

AND WHILE I IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL I HAD REQUESTED T.W., I HAVE COME TO LEARN FROM STAFF.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I HAVE COME TO LEARN FROM STAFF THAT RESTRICTIONS FROM THE STATE DON'T ALLOW TO VOTING LOCATIONS CURRENTLY IN A NON VOTER CENTER PRECINCT. SO AS HUBBARD AND CIVIC CENTER ARE BOTH IN THE SAME PRECINCT, WE CAN'T HAVE THAT.

SO I'M AMENDING THAT TO TO REQUEST WE KEEP HUBBARD AS AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION AND THEN CATCHING UP TO MY OWN NOTES HERE.

OKAY. I FURTHER ASK WHEN WE REQUEST OUR POLLING LOCATIONS TO THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION, WE REQUEST THAT THEY ASSIGN THE CLOSEST POLLING LOCATION TO THE PRECINCT RATHER THAN ANY IN DISTRICT LOCATION, THUS ALLOWING THE CITIZENS THE SHORTEST OPPORTUNITY PATH TO GO VOTE.

THIS WOULD BE PARTICULARLY IMPACTFUL IN THE SOUTH RIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHER SIMILARLY NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO I'M REQUESTING A YOU AND T OR WESLEY OR SIMILAR YOU AND T VOTING LOCATION HUBBARD TO REMAIN AS IT IS AS AN EARLY VOTING AND THE REQUEST THE LOCUS THE CLOSEST LOCAL LOCATION TO EACH PRECINCT.

COUNCILWOMAN DAVIS.

THANK YOU, MARY. I WANT TO LEND SUPPORT TO THE REQUEST WITH A SMALL TWEAK.

THE REQUEST IS FOR AN ORDINANCE, SO TO BE ABLE TO GET IN UNDER THE DEADLINE FOR COUNTY ELECTIONS, I THINK WE NEED TO BE AT OUR MARCH 7TH MEETING.

MY REQUEST IS THAT WE HAVE A SMALL WORK SESSION.

THAT DAY I KNOW WE'RE VERY FULL, BUT SO WE CAN FIND OUT UPDATES FROM STAFF ON WHAT LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE.

SO WE CAN'T JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO STICK A PLACE.

WE KNOW WESLEY, FOR INSTANCE, HAS HAS SIGNED ON.

BUT I'M ALSO GOING TO BE REQUESTING THAT WE ADD A POLLING LOCATION IN THE SOUTH RIDGE AREA UNLESS WE HAVE AFFIRMATIVE ADVICE FROM ELECTIONS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO LET PEOPLE IN SOUTH RIDGE VOTE AT THE SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY IF THEY'RE GOING TO GO ON.

GO ALONG WITH WHAT COUNCILMEMBER BECK ASKED FOR THAT IT'S DISTANCE AND NOT CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT.

THAT'S FINE, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW THAT BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT.

THE OTHER THING, BECAUSE I AM WORKING ON LOCATIONS IN THE SOUTH RIDGE AREA THAT I GET, I'LL GET THE STAFF AS SOON AS I HAVE THE APPROVAL FROM THE BUSINESS OWNER TO DO THAT.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK THAT THAT SAME MEETING WE WRITE A LETTER TO FRANK PHILLIPS LENDING OUR SUPPORT FOR VOTE CENTERS AS A COUNCIL.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER. WHAT'S.

I WILL AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DATA.

SO YEAH, I'M OKAY WITH WORK SESSION WITH SOME OF THOSE.

SOME OF THOSE DATA. OK ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN MCGEE FAMOUS SUMMER ALL TOO.

I TOO WILL BE A YES ON THIS, AND I DO HOPE THAT WE CAN GET THE RESPONSE BACK IN TIME.

AND YES, A GREAT IDEA WITH A LETTER TO TO MR. PHILLIPS. I ABSOLUTELY COSIGN ON THAT AS WELL.

SO I GUESS I GUESS I'M A YES ALL AROUND, TO BE CLEAR.

SO THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNSELOR BURT, I HAVE A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE T.W.

HUBBARD HALL.

WHAT QUESTION? AM I ARE WE ARE WE TRADING OFF HUBBARD HALL FOR CIVIC CENTER OR WHAT? CIVIC CENTER. AND THIS IS JUST OUR.

IT'S YOUR ONE MINUTE, SO YOU CAN USE IT HOWEVER YOU WANT.

THEY JUST CAN'T. WE DON'T WANT TO ANSWER IT.

THIS IS NOT A QUESTION. THAT'S THE SITUATION.

SO. WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT.

ANYONE ELSE THEN? YEAH, I SUPPORT THAT.

HAVING THE CONVERSATION AND FINDING SOMETHING THAT FITS FOR BOTH THOSE LOCATIONS.

I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.

SO, SO SO MAYOR, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CORRECT.

WE'RE GOING TO BRING THIS BACK ON MARCH 7TH FOR A VERY SMALL WORKSHOP.

I'M PROBABLY GOING TO IF IT'S OKAY WITH COUNCIL, WE'RE RUNNING A REAL TIGHT.

WE START AT TWO AND WE'RE GOING TO BE FOR 4 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES WITH WHAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA.

IS IT OKAY TO START AT 130 OR ONE INSTEAD OF TWO JUST TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS IN AND THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE TIME FOR DISCUSSION? I THINK THAT WORKS. YEAH, IT'S 130 AND THEN THAT SETS A HARD DEADLINE WHEN WE GOT TO.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S GREAT. AND AND SO AND TO THAT POINT, AGAIN, A LOT OF THE DAY IS STUFF THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ANSWERED VIA EMAIL.

SO IF WE CAN GET IN INFORMATION, WE CAN GET OUT INFORMATION, I ASSUME, AND THEN JUST KIND OF WHITTLE DOWN THE DETAILS DAY OF AND THAT WILL HELP.

[03:40:08]

BUT YES, THAT'S FINE.

WE'LL BE READY TO GO. SO WE'RE GOING TO START 130 ON 130 ON THE 7TH OF MARCH.

I'M MAKING SURE ROSA HEARS ME AND THEN WE MAKE THE CHANGE.

THANK YOU, ROSA. OKAY.

OH, GOOD. THAT'S IT. OKAY, SO AT 550 WILL CONCLUDE THE WORK SESSION, WILL RECONVENE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 630.

THERE'S ONLY THREE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION.

NOTHING WAS PULLED ON CONSENT, SO SHOULD SMOOTH BE PRETTY SMOOTH.

THANKS, SIR. YEAH. DINNER'S BACK.

AND GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS MEETING OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL.

[AFTER DETERMINING THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT, THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, 215 E. MCKINNEY STREET, DENTON, TEXAS AT WHICH THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED:]

IT IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY THE 21ST, AND WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, SO I'LL CALL THIS PORTION OF OUR MEETING TO ORDER.

THE FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA IS PLEDGES TO THE UNITED STATES AND TEXAS FLAG.

PLEASE STAND WITH ME IF YOU'RE ABLE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

AND THEN WE HAVE TWO PROCLAMATIONS.

[A. Proclamation: National Engineer’s Week]

I'LL COME DOWN. FIRST IS NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK, AND THEN THE SECOND IS THE PROCLAMATION AMERICAN HEART MONTH.

SO IF YOU'RE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NATURAL NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK, YOU CAN MEET ME DOWN FRONT.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

ALL RIGHT. AND.

OK. BUT YOU GOT THE THEY PUT YOU TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE.

THAT'S GOOD. YEAH. YEAH.

OKAY, WELL, WHO WANTS TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING? AND THEN WE'LL LET EVERYBODY INTRODUCE HIMSELF.

SO WHO. WHO'S THE SPOKES PERSON? OKAY. THANK YOU.

I'M THE DEPUTY CITY ENGINEER HERE AT THE CITY OF DENTON.

WE ARE HERE REPRESENTING AND HONORING THE NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK FOR THE NATION.

IT'S A NEW PROGRAM.

IT'S A PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN THE 1950S TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE ENGINEERS NATIONWIDE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND TO HELP PROMOTE SCIENCE PROGRAMS, MATH PROGRAMS, AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO JOIN ENGINEERING PROGRAMS. AND IF EVERYONE CAN INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, THAT'D BE GREAT.

I'M TAYLOR HOLT. I'M WITH CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AS A PROJECT MANAGER. I'M IT.

BOB APPLEGATE WITH WATER UTILITIES.

HOW MANY? HI, I'M BECKY DEVINNEY.

I'M THE CITY ENGINEER AND GENERAL MANAGER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND I'M A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER.

SO A P. HI, I'M TERRY NULTY.

I'M THE ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER AT DMG.

I'M A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, BUT I DO NOT PRACTICE ENGINEERING.

I LEAVE THAT UP TO JERRY AND HIS GROUP.

I'M JERRY FIELDER. I'M THE DIVISION ENGINEERING MANAGER FOR DMG, AND I'M A P ALSO.

I'M JIM WILDER. I'M A P AS WELL, AND I WORK IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.

I'M MIKE LINDER. I'M THE SENIOR DRAINAGE ENGINEER, ALSO A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER STATE OF TEXAS.

I AM ERIC GARCIA AND I WORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

HI. AND I'M TRACY BECK, A P AS WELL WORKING FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. OKAY.

WHAT GOES SO ENGINEERING SCHOOL IS THAT FOR YEAR? AND THEN THERE'S AND THERE'S ANOTHER CERTIFICATION.

HOW DOES HOW DOES IT WORK? YEAH. SO TYPICALLY IT'S YOU GO TO SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEARS, GRADUATE WITH YOUR BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ENGINEERING, AND THEN YOU'RE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE YOUR FIRST LEVEL EXAM, WHICH IS THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING THAT THE EXAM, WHICH IS WHAT IT STANDS FOR, IS ENGINEERING TRAINING.

AND THEN USUALLY YOU HAVE TO HAVE 3 TO 4 YEARS OF ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE WORKING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF FOUR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS TO QUALIFY FOR THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING EXAM. AND THEN YOU CAN SIT FOR THAT EXAM AND HOPEFULLY GET PASSED.

GOT IT. OKAY. AND IS THERE MORE THAN ONE SCHOOL OTHER THAN A&M? HOW MANY? I WON'T TO TELL YOU THEM.

HOW MANY OF THEM GRADS ARE THERE? LOOK AT THAT, MAN. WE'RE THE ANOMALY.

THAT'S GOOD. WE NEED TO WRITE A BOOK.

OKAY, SO I HAVE I HAVE A PROCLAMATION.

I HAVE A FEW COPIES, BUT IT READS A PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME.

GREETINGS. WHEREAS ENGINEERS USE THEIR SCIENTIFIC SKILLS AND SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE IN CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO FULFILL THE THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY AND TO HELP SOLVE THE MAJOR TECHNICAL TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME.

[03:45:05]

AND. WHEREAS, ENGINEERING IS CALLED THE INVISIBLE OR STEALTH PROFESSION, BECAUSE EVERYTHING AROUND US AND THINGS USE EVERYDAY THINGS WE USE EVERY DAY HAVE ENGINEERING IN SOME WAY.

YET WE MAY NOT SEE THE ENGINEERING ENGINEERS BEHIND THE SCENES OR KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT THE ENGINEERING.

AND. WHEREAS, THESE DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSION REPRESENTING MANY DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES FROM AEROSPACE ENGINEERING TO TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING TO INSTRUMENTAL INSTRUMENTAL IN BUILDING AND MAINTAINING, MAINTAINING THE SYSTEMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PROTECT OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY, RESTORE AND PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE.

AND. WHEREAS, NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1951 TO HELP INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF ENGINEERING OF THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION, AS WE OBSERVE NATIONAL ENGINEERING WEEK, WE ASK EVERYONE TO RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL WORK THAT MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION ENGINEERS IN THIS COUNTRY DO. AND NOW, THEREFORE, I.

GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY DECLARE AND PROCLAIM THIS WEEK OF FEBRUARY 19TH THROUGH THE 25TH, AS 2023 AS NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK IN THE CITY OF DENTON, AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO APPLAUD THE ENGINEERS ENGINEERS WORKING FOR THE CITY OF DENTON AND THE LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL DENTON CITIZENS.

IF WE CAN GIVE THEM A HAND, WELL.

OKAY. AND THEN RHINO PICTURED HERE.

SO WHO WANTS THIS? YEAH.

COACH ERIKSSON. YEAH.

I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THIS. ALL RIGHT.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

THANK YOU. OUTSTANDING.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. OKAY.

AND THERE YOU GO. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. OKAY.

[B. Proclamation: American Heart Month]

AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION FOR AMERICAN HEART MONTH.

IF YOU COME DOWN, IF YOU'RE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, THAT'D BE GREAT.

HEY, HOW ARE YOU, SIR? GOOD. OKAY, SO WHO WANTS TO SHARE WHAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING AND THEN EVERYONE INTRODUCE THEMSELVES? YEAH. YES.

WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE AMERICAN HEART MONTH AND OUR PARTNERS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

I'M SORRY. I'M VINCE ESPINOZA, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF I MEAN, CITY OF DENTON FOR NOW.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF DENTON.

FIVE MONTHS IN. BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND THE RUN FOR DYLAN FOUNDATION.

AND WE'RE OUR OUR MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST AND ALSO PROVIDE AID PUBLIC AEDS IN THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACES AND GET THEM OUT FROM BEHIND THE BUILDINGS LIKE THERE NORMALLY ARE.

WE'RE STILL KEEP ALL OF THOSE IN OUR REC CENTERS, LIBRARIES AND FACILITY CITY FACILITIES.

BUT OUR GOAL NOW, ONE OF OUR GOALS NOW IS TO PROVIDE IT FOR OPEN SPACES AND TO BE AVAILABLE AND IN SPORTING FIELDS AND SPECIAL EVENT AREAS AND.

HI EVERYONE. I'M JENNY AYER.

I'M WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE HEART DISEASE AS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF ANYONE ANYWHERE IN AMERICA.

AND RECOGNITIONS LIKE THIS ALLOW US TO KIND OF GET THE WORD OUT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THE DANGERS OF HEART DISEASE AND KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT IT. AND SO GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME.

MY NAME IS CHERYL. I AM WITH THE RUN FOR DYLAN FOUNDATION.

THE FOUNDATION BASED ON MY SON WHO PASSED AWAY HERE IN ONE OF OUR DENTON PARKS.

RUNNING CROSS-COUNTRY WAS A HELL OF A KID.

OKAY. SORRY.

I'M NORMALLY BETTER AT THIS.

HE WAS A GREAT ATHLETE.

HE WAS A GOOD KID.

MY WIFE AND I. OUR LIVES HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN CHANGED.

WE'VE BUILT THIS FOUNDATION TO WORK WITH GROUPS LIKE THIS TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE SAFETY. AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO TO TAKING THIS ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

I'M LISA DARRELL.

I WAS DILLON'S MOTHER.

AND WHEN DILLON PASSED AWAY IN SOUTH LAKE PARK, THERE WAS NO AD AVAILABLE IN THE PARK.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE PUT ALL OF OUR WORK INTO.

[03:50:01]

ALL OF THE MONEY WE'VE RAISED IS TO HELP ANOTHER FAMILY NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

GARY PACKAN, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRENGTH AND FOR BEING HERE AND SUPPORTING US AS WELL.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IF WE CAN GIVE DILLON'S FOLKS A HAND.

HAVE YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

THANK YOU FOR THE ADJUSTMENTS AND RAISING AWARENESS CRITICAL.

AND JUST TO SAY THAT I DIDN'T KNOW DYLAN, BUT TO SEE THE IMPACT AFTERWARDS.

RIGHT. SAYS A LOT.

SO AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME.

GREETINGS. WHEREAS RECOGNIZING THAT EACH YEAR 350,000 AMERICANS DIE FROM CARDIAC ARREST AND THAT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IS THE WORLD'S LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DEATH AND DISABILITY.

AND. WHEREAS, RECOGNIZING A GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS OF OUR GENERATION AND SUPPORTING THE RECOGNITION OF FEBRUARY AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH.

AND. WHEREAS, GLOBALLY, CARDIAC ARREST CLAIMS MORE LIVES THAN CANCER, INFLUENZA, PNEUMONIA, AUTO ACCIDENTS, HIV, FIREARMS AND HOUSE FIRES COMBINED.

AND. WHEREAS, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AFFECTS MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF EVERY AGE AND RACE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND NOW. AND NOW.

THEREFORE, I GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ONGOING FIGHT AGAINST HEART DISEASE AND STROKE AND THE NEED FOR INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF LIFE SAVING EDUCATIONAL EDUCATION AROUND CPR IN NORTH TEXAS, DO HEREBY DECLARE AND PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 2023 AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH IN THE CITY OF DENTON, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION BY COMMEMORATING THIS MONTH AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH.

BY INCREASING AWARENESS, SPEAKING OUT AND EMPOWERING OTHERS, WE CAN SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES EACH YEAR.

WE CAN GIVE IN THE HAND AGAIN. THANK YOU.

AND I'LL SAY THIS WE THIS OBVIOUSLY, THIS VIDEO IS IS RECORDED AND WE'LL GET YOU WELL THERE LISTENING AND EMAIL THE LINK TO GARY.

GARY CAN GET IT TO YOU ALSO YOU'LL HAVE THAT TO SHARE POST THAT SORT OF THING.

SO YEAH.

VERY MUCH. WHEN.

ALL RIGHT. THAT TAKES US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

ALL OR NOTHING WAS PUT.

I'LL TAKE A MOTION. MAYOR PRO TEM.

COUNCILMAN DAVIS. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THIS VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

NO. THAT PASSES SIX ZERO TAKES US TO OUR.

OH, I GOT TO GO BACK TO.

YEAH, I'M SORRY I MISSED THAT.

LET'S GO BACK TO IF WE CAN SHOW THE VIDEO FOR PUBLIC PRESENTATION.

[3. PRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC]

THAT'D BE GOOD. SORRY. THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED RULES OF PROCEDURE, INCLUDING A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT APPLIES TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THESE RULES WERE ENACTED TO PROMOTE AN ORDERLY PROCESS AND TO PRESERVE DECORUM.

SPEAKERS WILL HAVE 4 MINUTES TO GIVE A SCHEDULED REPORT AND 4 MINUTES TO GIVE AN OPEN MIC REPORT.

A BELL WILL RING WHEN TIME IS EXPIRED.

IF THE REMARKS ARE NOT CONCLUDED BY THAT TIME, THE SPEAKER WILL BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING.

IF THE SPEAKER DOES NOT CEASE AND A SECOND REQUEST IS MADE, THE MAYOR MAY REQUEST TO HAVE THE SPEAKER REMOVED FROM THE CHAMBER.

SPEAKERS SHOULD NOT APPROACH THE DAIS.

IF A SPEAKER HAS MATERIALS FOR THE COUNCIL, PLEASE NOTIFY THE CITY SECRETARY IN ADVANCE FOR SCHEDULED REPORTS.

THE COUNCIL MAY INITIATE DISCUSSION OR ASK QUESTIONS FOR NON SCHEDULED OPEN MIC REPORTS.

THE COUNCIL MAY LISTEN, HOWEVER, BECAUSE NO NOTICE OF THE SUBJECT OF THE OPEN MIC REPORT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC IN ADVANCE.

THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT PROHIBITS DISCUSSION OR DECISION BY THE COUNCIL ON NON SCHEDULED ITEMS.

[03:55:06]

AS A RESULT, THE COUNCIL MAY ONLY PROCEED AS FOLLOWS.

ON NON SCHEDULED ITEMS, PROPOSE TO PLACE THE ITEM ON A FUTURE AGENDA.

MAKE A STATEMENT, A FACTUAL POLICY, OR A RECITATION OF EXISTING POLICY.

SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO DIRECT ALL REMARKS AND QUESTIONS TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE AND NOT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL MEMBER.

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM MAKING ABUSIVE, PERSONAL, IMPERTINENT, PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS.

ANYONE WHO VIOLATES THE COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE MAY BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM THE CHAMBER.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

COPIES OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CITY SECRETARY.

OK FIRST SPEAKER IS NICK STEVENS.

IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE 4 MINUTES.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? VERY WELL, THANK YOU.

YEAH. NICK STEVENS 417 AMARILLO STREET.

I'M HERE TO ADDRESS ALL OF YOU, NATURALLY, BUT I'M ALSO HERE TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC.

ANYONE THAT'S HERE, ANYONE THAT'S WATCHING OR WE'LL WATCH LATER, IS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE MISINFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED DURING THE WORK SESSION ABOUT PROPOSITION B, THE PROPOSITION THAT'S RECEIVED MORE VOTES THAN ANY OF YOU OR ANY THING EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THIS CITY.

AND SO THE FIRST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TO CLARIFY FOR THE PUBLIC IS THE DISAPPOINTMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE IN OUR CHIEF OF POLICE WHEN HE WAS INTERVIEWED, I URGED THE CITY TO ALLOW ME TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERVIEW THAT DID NOT ALLOW ME TO BE OR ANYONE FROM DECRIMINALIZED DEBT TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE.

SO I ATTENDED THE PUBLIC INTERVIEW PROCESS.

IN THAT INTERVIEW PROCESS, I ASKED THE NOW CHIEF IF HE WAS HIRED AND PROPOSITION B PASSED IF HE WOULD FULLY IMPLEMENT IT.

HE SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS AND SAID, IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

OF COURSE, IT'S DISAPPOINTING, THOUGH, THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE WAS HIRED, HE CHANGED HIS TUNE AND SAID, ACTUALLY, THE WHOLE THING IS ILLEGAL.

I WON'T DO ANYTHING.

THAT'S DISAPPOINTING.

IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT IN THE WORK SESSION TODAY, HE SKIRTED AROUND COUNCILMEMBER BECK'S QUESTION, AND SO I'LL ANSWER IT FOR YOU.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES USE THE SMELL TEST TO STOP AND FRISK PEOPLE.

THEY DO USE THAT AS PROBABLE CAUSE TO SEARCH PEOPLE'S VEHICLES.

IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THEY CHOSE NOT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT ISSUE FOR YOU, SO I FIGURED I'D HELP THEM OUT AND ANSWER THAT FOR YOU.

THE SECOND THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT IN CONGRUENCY AND I SAY THIS WITH RESPECT BECAUSE I REALLY RESPECT OUR CITY MANAGER WAS IN CONGRUENCY IN A PART OF THE PRESENTATION MADE AT THE VERY END OF THE PRESENTATION, SHE SAID, LOOK, WE CAN'T SUPERSEDE STATE LAW.

BUT THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PRESENTATION, SHE MADE THIS CAVEAT OF ACTUALLY BACK IN JULY OF 22, CHIEF DIXON MADE AN EDIT TO OUR POLICIES TO INCREASE SITE AND RELEASE UP TO FOUR OUNCES.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHERE THAT CAME FROM THOUGH, BECAUSE BACK IN JANUARY OF 21 WHEN THE COUNCIL DEBATED THE TOPIC AT THAT TIME, THE REASON THAT EVERYONE VOTED AGAINST IT AT THAT TIME WAS BECAUSE CHIEF DIXON SAID, WELL, IF YOU PASSED THAT, I COULDN'T ACTUALLY ENFORCE IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO CITE AND RELEASE FOUR MISDEMEANOR A'S OR 2 TO 4 OUNCES OF MARIJUANA.

AND SO IT'S PECULIAR THAT ONCE OUR THING IS PLACED ON THE BALLOT, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CITY SAYS THAT THE LAWS HAVE SOMEHOW CHANGED FOR THE STATE AND NOW THEY GET TO ENFORCE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I THINK THERE'S AN INCONSISTENCY THERE THAT REALLY WHAT THIS COMES DOWN TO IS NOT SUPERSEDING STATE LAW, BUT RATHER THEY DON'T WANT TO COMPLY.

THE THIRD THING I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT IS THE FRUSTRATION I HAVE WITH THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

AND REALLY IT COMES DOWN TO TRANSPARENCY.

AND I DON'T THINK IT COMES FROM MAL INTENT AT ALL.

BUT PUBLICLY, WHAT THE CITY WILL TELL YOU IS THAT THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO ANYTHING PRIVATELY.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO TELL YOU PRIVATELY.

WHAT THEY'LL TELL YOU IS, LOOK, WE UNDERSTAND THE AUSTIN'S DOING THIS.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT ELGIN'S DOING THIS.

BUT REALLY, QUOTE, THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT ISN'T RIGHT HERE, UNQUOTE.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

IT'S THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE PERHAPS ON THIS DAIS, THIS PERHAPS PEOPLE AT THE COUNTY THAT DON'T WANT TO ENFORCE.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

AND SO I WANT PEOPLE AT HOME WATCHING TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT, PAY ATTENTION TO THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T SUPPORTING THIS, BECAUSE I WANT TO THANK MAYOR PRO TEM BECK, COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE, AND ESPECIALLY COUNCILMEMBER BIRD, WHO OUTWARDLY SAID, LOOK, THERE ARE LARGE PARTS OF THIS ORDINANCE I DON'T SUPPORT.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT I THINK WHAT THE PEOPLE THINKS BE LIKE, COUNCIL MEMBER PURRED.

THAT'S WHAT BEING A REPRESENTATIVE IS ALL ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS.

WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE AND MAKE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS, WHICH I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY, IS TO MAKE A PITCH TO ADJUST THE BUDGET AND ADJUST OTHER THINGS IN THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU COULD DO, AT LEAST MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT.

[04:00:02]

THAT'S YOUR TIME. BUT THERE'S A QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS.

THANK YOU, MARY. NICK, I APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR COMMENTS.

I WANTED TO TRY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SITE AND RELEASE, BECAUSE THEY'RE KIND OF TWO DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.

THERE IS POLICE OFFICERS DISCRETION TO ISSUE A PARAPHERNALIA TICKET RATHER THAN ARREST FOR A CLASS A OR CLASS B, THEY ISSUED A CLASS C TICKET.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO CITE AND RELEASE, WHICH IS I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND WRITE YOU A TICKET FOR THAT CLASS A OR CLASS B, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ARREST YOU.

I'M NOT GOING TO REQUIRE YOU TO POST A BOND.

THE CITATION IS THERE AND YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A COURT DATE COMING UP AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET NOTICE OF IT.

AND THERE ARE TWO, TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND MY RECOLLECTION OF CHIEF DIXON'S COMMENTS ON SITE AND RELEASE WAS ABOUT THE LIMITS OF HIS AUTHORITY JUDGES WHO SET BONDS AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE SITE AND RELEASE AND DENTON COUNTY.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT THAT PORTION OF THE MISSTATEMENT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE APPLES AND ORANGES.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STAND UP FOR YOUR ISSUE WHEN YOU WANT TO SEE ANOTHER.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SECOND SPEAKER IS DEB ARMATURE.

WELL. SO NICK PRETTY MUCH JUST TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH.

SO THERE WILL BE SOME REPEAT HERE, BUT I WILL TRY TO THROW IN SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS AS WELL.

I WILL START ON A POSITIVE NOTE BY THANKING MAYOR PRO TEM BECK.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.

AND AS NICK JUST SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD.

THESE THREE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE HAVE SAID THE SAME EXACT THING IN PUBLIC ON CAMERA, THAT THEY HAVE TOLD ME IN PRIVATE THAT THEY WILL TELL ANYONE IN PRIVATE, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT COUNCILMEMBER BIRD IS NOT EVEN A FAN OF THIS ORDINANCE AND I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.

BUT SHE KNOWS, AS NICK SAID, SHE KNOWS THAT DEMOCRACY, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HER OPINION.

THOSE OF YOU IN CITY ADMINISTRATION AND THE THREE OF YOU ON COUNCIL WHO HAVE SAID PUBLICLY THAT THIS ORDINANCE CONTRADICTS AND IS IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW, YOU'RE UTTERING AN OPINION THAT YOUR OPINION THAT YOU'RE ENTITLED TO HAVE.

ALTHOUGH, AS AS NICK SAID, YOU KNOW, FROM FROM WHAT I HEAR, THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS SAID BY SOME OF YOU IN PUBLIC AND VERSUS IN PRIVATE. AND THAT'S JUST MAKES ME REAL SAD TO HEAR THAT YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF PROPOSITION B CARRIES ZERO WEIGHT WHATSOEVER.

THE ONLY OPINION THAT MATTERS IS THE IS THE BINDING OPINION OF A HIGHER COURT OF LAW THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SAY THAT DENTON PROPOSITION B OR THE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL ORDINANCE FROM ANY OF THESE OTHER CITIES IS IN CONTRADICTION TO STATE LAW.

NOT A SINGLE COURT HAS SAID THAT NO LAWSUIT HAS EVEN BEEN FILED YET, ALTHOUGH IT'S PROBABLY SOMEWHERE THERE WILL BE.

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH DOES NOT HAVE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THAT CALL.

YOU CAN DECIDE WHAT KIND OF LEGISLATION YOU WANT TO PUT FORWARD OR NOT, BUT YOU CANNOT OVERRIDE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE BASED ON WHATEVER YOUR OPINION IS OR THE WAY THE POLITICAL WIND IS BLOWING, WHICH I THINK, UNFORTUNATELY FOR SOME OF YOU WHO ARE SAYING ONE THING IN PUBLIC AND ANOTHER THING IN PRIVATE, THIS IS A POLITICAL DECISION.

I WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I SHARED I SHARE NICK'S DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE NEW POLICE CHIEF, SCHUMAKER.

IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY SAD.

YOU KNOW, HEARING THOSE THOSE WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE NON ANSWERS TO JUST PRETTY BASIC QUESTIONS.

AND FINALLY, I WANT TO SAY THAT COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC ALSO DESERVES TO KNOW WHY AND HOW THE CITY IS CONTINUING TO DO BUSINESS AS USUAL AS FAR AS ARRESTING AND CITING FOR SMALL CANNABIS POSSESSION AND PARAPHERNALIA, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE STATISTICS YOU PROVIDED STATE.

THIS NUMBER OF CITATION AND ARREST LOOKS LIKE BUSINESS AS USUAL, AND YET WE'RE NOT GETTING THE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS.

[04:05:08]

DENTON HAS HAD A HISTORY OF DISPROPORTIONATELY ARRESTING PEOPLE OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY BLACK MEN, FOR SMALL CANNABIS POSSESSION AND NOWHERE AND THIS IN THIS REPORT.

IS THERE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THAT? COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC DESERVE A BREAKDOWN AND ITEM BY ITEM DESCRIPTION OF EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

THAT'S YOUR TIME. COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE JUST A FEW QUESTIONS, AND I'M ASKING YOU BECAUSE EARLIER DURING THE WORK SESSION, THE QUESTION WAS POSED.

DOES ANYBODY DISAGREE THAT THE PROP B IS A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW? AND I THINK YOU AND A COUPLE OTHER FOLKS, KIND OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM PIPED UP AND SAID THAT YOU DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW.

MY QUESTION IS, FIRST OF ALL, WHO IS MIKE SIEGAL? CAN YOU TELL US WHO MIKE SIEGEL IS? UH, YEAH. MIKE SIEGEL IS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF GROUND GAME TEXAS.

HE USED TO BE THE HE'S A FORMER CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

MM HMM. AND WHAT IS GROUND GAME, TEXAS GROUND GAME? WELL, YOU CAN LOOK THEM UP. I THINK YOU KNOW THE ANSWER.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE YEAH, THEY'RE A NONPROFIT.

THEY'RE VERY PUBLIC.

AND THEY HAVE HELPED ACTIVISTS IN DENTON, KILLEEN, HARKER HEIGHTS, AUSTIN, ALL EVERY SINGLE OTHER CITY, SAN MARCOS, ETCETERA.

WITH THIS ORDINANCE, WE'VE THESE CITIES HAVE WORKED TOGETHER.

WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER.

AND THERE'S NOTHING SHADY ABOUT THAT.

NO. AND IT'S NOT A GOTCHA QUESTION.

I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHO MR. SIEGEL IS. AND HE'S A FORMER CITY ATTORNEY AND HE'S THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF GROUND GAME TEXAS.

CORRECT. AND GROUND GAME TEXAS IS A PROGRESSIVE PAC THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE DECRIMINALIZATION ORDINANCES THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED AS REFERENDA.

RIGHT. YEAH. THEY DO THIS ALL PUBLICLY.

YEAH, SURE. IT'S NOT LIKE THE MANATEE, RIGHT? AGAIN, YOU'RE YOU'RE RIGHT.

BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO SAY THINGS THAT SOME PEOPLE KNOW AND IT'S PUBLIC INFORMATION.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO REPEAT IT IN A LARGER FORM.

GROUND GAME. TEXAS PAID FOR THE DECRIMINALIZED TEXAS EXCUSE ME, DECRIMINALIZED DENTON YARD SIGNS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

THEY HELPED WITH IT AND CONTRIBUTED SOME.

I MEAN, WE HAD CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE DENTON PUBLIC AND DENTON VOLUNTEERS.

I PROMISE. THERE'S NO ACCUSATION HERE.

I JUST. I GET YOU. IT WAS 100% LEGITIMATE, ABOVEBOARD, POLITICAL ACTIVISM, GRASSROOTS, WITH SOME HELP FROM OUTSIDE ORGANIZERS.

BUT GRASSROOTS IN DENTON.

YEAH. THE REASON I'M ASKING YOU THIS IS TO DATE, I HAVE READ EXACTLY ONE LAWYER'S OPINION THAT SAID THAT PROP B WAS NOT A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW, AND THAT WAS MR. SIEGEL'S WRITTEN OPINION.

AND AT THAT POINT, HE REPRESENTED HIMSELF NOT AS THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF GROUND GAME, BUT AS THE GENERAL COUNSEL, WHICH HE'S QUALIFIED TO BE.

I'M NOT REALLY TRYING TO DO GOTCHA THERE, BUT ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY OTHER CITY ATTORNEY OR PRIVATE ATTORNEY'S WRITTEN OPINION SAYING THAT PROP B IS NOT IN ANY WAY A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW? NO, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

BECAUSE THIS IS POLITICAL SITUATION.

IT'S YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE I MEAN, I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER, RESPECTFULLY.

YOU KNOW, IS IS WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A POLITICAL FEAR OF OF STATING WHAT THEY REALLY THINK ON THIS ISSUE.

IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO THEM.

THIS IS YOU KNOW, ATTORNEYS ARE THERE WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, AND SO BUT, YOU KNOW, NONE OF IT.

I DON'T. I DON'T. BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

THAT DOESN'T CARRY ANY WEIGHT.

IF A THOUSAND LAWYERS ALL SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S THAT IT'S PERFECTLY LEGAL.

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD SAY TO ME, FOR INSTANCE, WELL, THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

THAT'S JUST THEIR OPINION. IT'S UP TO A COURT OF LAW TO DECIDE.

YOU KNOW, I'M SAYING THE SAME THING TO YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.

WHAT MY OPINION IS DOESN'T MATTER, YOU KNOW, BUT THE THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE OF DENTON, THAT MATTERS.

SURE. SO CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL HAVE THE SAME VERY SIMILAR ORDINANCE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IDENTICAL OR NOT, BUT VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL.

THEY'LL HAVE THE SAME ORDINANCE ON THERE.

I ASSUME THEIR MAY BALLOT BECAUSE IT'S THE PETITIONS BEEN SUBMITTED AND ALL THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR CITY ATTORNEY HAS SPOKEN OUT.

THEIR CITY MANAGEMENT HAS SAID THAT THEY DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING THEY LIKE.

I JUST LIKE I SAID, PEOPLE IN MY PIECE, IN MY VIEW, THEY'RE PLAYING POLITICS.

[04:10:02]

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING SAN ANTONIO.

THEY'RE PLAYING POLITICS WITH THEIR LIBERAL VOTERS.

I SHOULDN'T SURPRISE ANYONE THAT IN THE WORLD OF POLITICS, POLITICS IS PLAYED.

YOU KNOW, IT'S DISAPPOINTING, THOUGH, THAT THE PEOPLE THAT THAT THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD WOULD PLAY POLITICS. OKAY.

SO SO AGAIN, NONE OF THAT SURPRISE ME.

YOU KNOW, HARKER HEIGHTS, THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL VOTED.

AND TO MY UNDERSTAND, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEIR CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY AGREED WITH THEM TO OVERTURN THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. YEAH, THAT'S I THINK THAT'S HORRIBLE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S BAD CITY COUNCIL.

BUT THAT CARRIES ZERO WEIGHT LEGALLY.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE PUBLIC DOES UNDERSTAND THAT.

I THINK EVEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.

I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING.

WE'LL HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE ON ON WHETHER OUR ATTORNEY'S OPINIONS, ESPECIALLY YOUR PAID CITY ATTORNEY'S OPINION, MATTERS.

WE THOUGHT THE CITY SHOULD DO. BUT THAT IS ALL MY QUESTIONS.

IT DOESN'T CARRY LEGAL WEIGHT.

IT DOESN'T SET PRECEDENT.

THAT'S A FACT. I DO WANT I DO HAVE A QUESTION HERE IN THE DISCUSSION, AND IT'S VERY SUCCINCT, VERY SUCCINCT.

SO YOU WOULD BE YOU WOULD RECOGNIZE AND ACCEPT COURT DECISIONS, COURT RULINGS ON TOPICS.

COURT HAS A FINAL SAY.

SO A NOT JUST ANY COURT.

YES, BUT A COURT WITH AUTHORITY.

RIGHT. AND THAT BUT BY THAT, I DON'T MEAN WHATEVER THAT COURT SAYS, THEN WE WOULD TAKE IT LYING DOWN.

IF, SAY, THAT HAPPENED, WE WOULD FIGHT IT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT'S LEGAL.

WE BELIEVE IT'S LEGAL.

BUT ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, THERE CAN BE A FINAL DECISION.

ULTIMATELY, THERE'S AN END TO IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF I CAN DISAGREE WITH THE DECISION OF A HIGHER COURT, BUT I CAN'T DENY THAT IT'S THE CASE, THERE HAVE BEEN RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISIONS I PROFOUNDLY DISAGREE WITH, BUT I CAN'T DENY THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS MADE THAT DECISION.

OKAY, VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTIN BECK BRAY.

ALL RIGHT. IS THIS MIKE WORKING? GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

CHRISTINE BRAY 1204 KORDELL.

JUST AS A VOTER, THIS IS THIS IS NOT MAYBE AN ISSUE THAT I'M EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT OR EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE THE LAW AND THE LEGALITIES AND THE TECHNICALITIES OF.

BUT IT CONFUSES ME.

MARIJUANA IS STILL ILLEGAL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

I CAN DRIVE UP TO OKLAHOMA AND BUY IT AT A LEGAL SHOP.

I CAN PAY TAXES ON IT TO THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, AND I CAN DO THAT IN MANY OTHER STATES.

AND SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS ALREADY WELL ESTABLISHED PRECEDENT, AT LEAST WITHIN OTHER STATES, THAT YOU CAN HAVE A LAW FROM A HIGHER POWER AND THE JURISDICTION CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO ENFORCE.

WE SEE IT DIFFERENTLY.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT IS WELL ESTABLISHED PRECEDENT.

AGAIN, IT'S ON THE TAX RULES.

I CAN PAY TAXES ON WEED THAT I CAN BUY LEGALLY IN MANY STATES.

AND SO JUST AS A VOTER, IT'S VERY CONFUSING TO ME, ESPECIALLY GIVEN SOME OF THE STATE POLITICS IN TEXAS.

I KNOW SID MILLER, COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURAL AGRICULTURE IN TEXAS, HAS ENDORSED DECRIMINALIZING WEED.

AND SO IT CONFUSES ME TO SEE OTHER STATES DOING IT, TO SEE POLITICIANS AT THE STATE LEVEL IN TEXAS TALKING ABOUT DOING IT, AND THEN TO SAY THAT THAT'S UNFATHOMABLE HERE, THAT I FIND THAT VERY CONFUSING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EVA GRECO.

IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE 4 MINUTES.

EVA GRECO, 802 WEST ELM STREET.

GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT DEB AND NICK SAID.

I WANT TO THANK THEM.

I LISTENED TO THE WORK SESSION ALSO.

BUT. WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS PETITION.

FOR PROPOSITION B.

I WAS OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND IT WAS AMAZING.

AND ALSO VERY SAD AT THE SAME TIME.

ON HOW MANY.

RESIDENTS IN MY AGE GROUP, WHICH IS A SENIOR AGE GROUP.

WE'RE SIGNING THAT PETITION.

BECAUSE THEY USE MARIJUANA, BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS.

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH.

THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT.

AND THAT IS THEIR ALTERNATIVE.

SENIOR CITIZENS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS CITY, THIS COUNCIL, NEEDS TO LOOK INTO HELPING OUR SENIORS.

[04:15:08]

AND GOING AFTER BIG PHARMA.

I DID A QUICK LOOKUP.

RIGHT NOW, 21 STATES HAVE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

16 STATES HAVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

AND TWO STATES HAVE DECRIMINALIZED MARIJUANA.

THAT LEAVES 11 STATES.

OK THE TIMES.

THEY ARE A CHANGING.

I AM A MOTHER, I AM A GRANDMOTHER.

I AM A GREAT GRANDMOTHER.

I MYSELF DO NOT SMOKE MARIJUANA, BUT I FOUGHT VERY HARD FOR THIS PROPOSITION B TO TO PASS.

QUITE A FEW OF YOU UP HERE ON THE COUNCIL.

OUR PARENTS.

WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT OUR CHILDREN WILL DO.

AND AS THEY GET OLDER AND YOU CAN FIGHT FOR SOMETHING, YOU CAN FIGHT AGAINST SOMETHING, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE YOUR CHILD, YOU KNOW. LIKE, JEEZ, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE ME LOOK BAD NOW.

IT'S HAPPENED. IT'S HAPPENED TO ME.

WE CAN'T PREDICT.

BUT JUST REMEMBER THAT AS PARENTS.

AND THE MORE YOU FIGHT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

THESE ARE THE THINGS YOUR CHILDREN WILL REMEMBER IN THE FUTURE.

OKAY. I'M JUST REALLY ANGRY.

ANGRY? THAT ALL THIS TIME HAS GONE BY AND.

CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER HAVE REFUSED.

TO LISTEN OR COMPLY WITH THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, YOUR PERSONAL CHOICES.

OK DO NOT MATTER.

WE DO NOT VOTE FOR ANY OF YOU FOR YOUR PERSONAL CHOICES.

LIKE I SAID, I AM REALLY, REALLY ANGRY RIGHT NOW AND.

I'M GOING TO QUOTE SOMEBODY FROM THE WORK SESSION, AND I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK SO I CAN CONTROL MYSELF.

DANA SMITH, IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOU'LL HAVE 4 MINUTES TO SPEAK.

DIANA I'M SORRY, DONNA.

I'M SORRY. AND SO. OH, SORRY.

I GOT IT NOW. OLD EYES.

FORGIVE ME. THAT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH FOR GOOD.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE FOR THE WORK SESSION.

BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND LISTENING.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF PROP B, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF DECRIMINALIZING OR D PRIORITIZING MARIJUANA USAGE.

AND I THINK SOME OF THE ARGUMENT THAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT IS THAT IT'S THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, IT'S THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

AND CERTAINLY WE'RE VOTERS.

WE WANT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

BUT WHAT IF THE PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING THAT'S HORRIBLE? WHAT IF THE PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T LIKE LEFT HANDED PEOPLE.

LET'S CUT OFF THEIR HAND.

PEOPLE WOULD LEARN TO WRITE WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND IF WE DID THAT.

AND WE WOULD SAY, WELL, THAT'S INSANE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO TO SAY THAT IT ALWAYS HAS TO, WE HAVE TO OBEY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, THAT ACTUALLY DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.

AND AND YOU ALL HAVE A HARD JOB BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KIND OF SIFT THROUGH WHAT DIFFERENT FOLKS SAY IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.

AND I DO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

I DO.

SO AS FAR AS JUST THE WHOLE, MY CONCERN, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE PEOPLE WANT TO PURCHASE.

SOMETHING THEY'RE GOING TO INGEST IN THEIR BODY FROM SOMEONE WHO'S MAKING IT ILLEGALLY.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I TRY TO BUY STUFF AT THE GROCERY STORE THAT LOOKS LIKE IT HASN'T BEEN HANDLED A LOT.

IF I SAW SOMEBODY DROP A HEAD OF LETTUCE ON THE FLOOR, I'M PROBABLY NOT GOING TO PURCHASE THAT ONE.

SO TO BUY SOMETHING THAT I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY PUT INTO MY BODY KNOWING THAT SOMEBODY MADE IT ILLEGALLY, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR CONTROLS WERE.

AND WE SHOULD JUST SAY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

[04:20:01]

WE CAN TRUST THEM BECAUSE IT'S THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE HEART AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HAD THEIR THAT FEBRUARY WAS THEIR MONTH.

I ACTUALLY READ SEVERAL THINGS.

AND STROKES AND SOME HEART PROBLEMS CAN BE DIRECTLY LOOKED AT AND SAID THAT MARIJUANA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. SO TO SAY THAT THIS IS JUST TOTALLY SAFE IS NOT TRUE.

IF YOU DO SOME RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN AND I DID LOOK AT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND ALSO THE AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION, AND THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THAT THE YOUNGER SOMEONE STARTS SMOKING MARIJUANA OR INGESTING MARIJUANA, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO HAVE HEART ISSUES AND OR STROKE.

IT'S THIS IS SERIOUS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AND THIS PARTICULAR ARTICLE THAT I'M LOOKING AT IS FROM THE THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.

AND IT SAYS THAT THAT 12 YEAR OLDS USE OF MARIJUANA HAS INCREASED FROM 11% IN 2002 TO 18% IN 2019. IT IS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED WITH NO PROTECTION FOR THE SAFETY OF SUCH PRODUCT.

BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU TO THE POLICE CHIEF.

THANK YOU TO MS..

HENSLEY. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO'S LOOKING INTO THIS.

I DO APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING OVER THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS ESPECIALLY, WHO DON'T ALWAYS THINK THINGS THROUGH. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, LIAM.

IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE 4 MINUTES.

MY NAME IS LIAM WAKEFIELD.

PONDER ON PONDER AVENUE.

I'M ACTUALLY CAME HERE BECAUSE I WAS QUITE UNPLEASANTLY SURPRISED TODAY WHEN I LEARNED LIKE THAT THERE WASN'T GOING TO BE A YOU AND T POLLING LOCATION, BECAUSE THAT'S CERTAINLY OBVIOUSLY THROWN MY PLANS OFF BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I VOTED FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS DURING EARLY VOTING.

DON'T DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I'VE JUST LEARNED ABOUT IT TODAY AND GOING TO BE A BIT OF A MESS.

DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH OF MY RESEARCH, BUT JUST WANTED TO COME OUT AND LIKE SAY LIKE I MEAN THAT THE UN POLLING LOCATION IS IMPORTANT AND I'VE ACTUALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THERE'S NOW A TWU POLLING LOCATION.

I THINK THAT'S GREAT. IT ALLOWS OF THE VOICE OF PEOPLE THAT IT'S HARD, HARDER TO REACH.

BE IT LIKE ANY BE IT KNOCKING ON DOORS FOR CAMPAIGNS OR ANYTHING, REACHING THE STUDENT BODY OR PEOPLE THAT LIVE AROUND THE UW AREA IS SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT SOMETIMES BECAUSE A LOT OF IT'S RENTAL AND MAKING SURE THOSE PEOPLE, THE LESS HEARD PEOPLE HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A VOICE IS IMPORTANT, EVEN IF THEY DON'T ALWAYS USE THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE VOTING IS A HABIT AND IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD LIKE TAKES 21 DAYS TO BUILD UP A HABIT AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE PROBABLY 21 TIME, 21 ELECTIONS TO BUILD UP A HABIT TO VOTE, RIGHT? YEAH. YEAH. AND THEN ON THE I'M ALSO WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DECRIMINALIZATION THING UP TODAY.

IT WOULD BE OKAY IF I SAID SOME THINGS ON THAT TOO.

SURE. YEAH. IT'S YOUR YOUR TIME.

YEAH. AND ON THE DECRIMINALIZATION, IT'S THE I MEAN, IT'S LIKE I THINK WE ALL BELIEVE IN FEDERALISM, RIGHT? BUT I FIND I'VE SEEN NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, LIKE, WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT HERE, LIKE THE PRIORITIZATION, THE WAY WE PRIORITIZE ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS.

ANY DIFFERENT, LIKE.

I DON'T BEGRUDGE LIKE, SAY, A COUNTY DOESN'T WANT TO ENFORCE A ONCE A D PRIORITIZATION OF CERTAIN GUN GUN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT'S LIKE THAT'S THE THAT'S THE THAT'S THE JURISDICTION'S DECISION ON PRIORITIZATION OF ENFORCEMENT.

IT'S LIKE I MAY DISAGREE WITH HIM ON THE POLICY OF IT, BUT I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THE.

WHAT THEY PRIORITIZE LIKE OR HOW THEY LIKE WHY THAT THEY CAN MAKE THAT DECISION AND ON THE ON THE 12 YEAR OLD FRONT THE BEST WAY TO LIMIT 12 YEAR OLDS GETTING WEED IS TO LEGALIZE IT BECAUSE THEN IT'S.

SAME REASON WITH ALCOHOL.

FUNNILY ENOUGH, THE REASON WHY YOUTH AND YOUTHS DON'T GET ALCOHOL AND CIGARETS ANYMORE, IT'S BECAUSE THEY'LL LOSE THEIR LICENSE LIKE THE PEOPLE SELLING IT WILL LOSE THEIR LICENSE IF THEY GIVE IT OUT TO MINORS.

THOSE ARE GOOD LAWS, YOU KNOW, BUT AND I'LL I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE DATA SHE GOT UP ON.

I NEED TO DO MY RESEARCH ON THAT.

BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT ALCOHOL AND CIGARETS DO A LOT OF HARM TO THE HEART AS WELL, WHICH IS WHICH IS BAD.

AND I REMEMBER WHEN DYLAN PASSED AWAY, THAT GREATLY AFFECTED ME TOO, BECAUSE I WENT TO GUYER AND THAT OBVIOUSLY HURT A PART OF A COMMUNITY

[04:25:08]

THAT I'M GREATLY FOND OF, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS BEAUTIFUL THAT THEY WERE UP HERE AND THEY GOT TO SPEAK AND SPREAD THEIR MESSAGE.

I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RICHARD GLADDEN.

YOU'D BE THE LAST SPEAKER.

YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME. YOU'LL HAVE 4 MINUTES.

SURE. DOES THE OVERHEAD PROJECTOR WORK? CERTAINLY, BILLY, IF YOU CAN GIVE US A PROJECTOR.

FIRST OF ALL. AND WE'LL SEE IF THAT'S GOING TO SHOW UP.

MAKE IT A LITTLE SMALLER SO WE CAN GET THE WHOLE THING IN IT.

SURE. YEAH. HE'LL.

HE'LL ADJUST IT OUT.

TO CAPTURE IT ALL. WOW.

THEN YOU ZOOM OUT A LITTLE BIT.

FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON THE RECORD THAT I AM NOT NOW, AND I'VE NEVER BEEN A CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF GROUND GAME TEXAS.

I WAS KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OFFENDED THAT I FELT LIKE I WAS BACK IN THE MCCARTHY ERA, WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS SEEMED TO THINK THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT SUBJECT MATTER TO GET INTO.

WHAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT BRIEFLY TODAY WITH Y'ALL IS I KNOW THE MAYOR EVERY OPPORTUNITY HE'S HAD TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER, AS WELL AS I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, IS THAT THEY TAKE AN OATH.

ALL OF YOU TAKE AN OATH.

YOU SWEAR AN OATH TO FOLLOW TEXAS LAW AND THAT IT'S AT LEAST PRIMARILY OR PARTLY, IF NOT PRIMARILY, YOUR OBJECTION TO GIVING FULL EFFECT TO THE INITIATIVE, THE MARIJUANA INITIATIVE.

WHAT YOU SEE UP HERE ON THE SCREEN IS THE SECTION OF THE CITY MANAGER'S SIDE AND THAT SECTION 370.

CAN I GET THE TIMER SO I CAN SEE HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE? IT SHOULD BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. THERE ARE 235 ON THE PODIUM THERE IN THE FRONT THERE.

I'LL JUST KEEP TALKING. OH, YEAH.

OVER HERE. GOOD. 235.

YOU SAY THAT THEY NAME A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES.

YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY THE GOVERNING BODY OF A MUNICIPALITY.

BELOW THAT, THEY HAVE THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

MR. JOHNSON KNOWS HIM OR SORRY, MR. DAVIS KNOWS PAUL JOHNSON, THE ELECTED CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

AND IT SAYS THAT NEITHER ONE OF THEM ARE THAT THEY SHALL NOT, BY POLICY, DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN FULLY ENFORCE LAWS RELATING TO DRUGS, INCLUDING MARIJUANA.

HERE. IS A HEADLINE.

FROM THE DENTON RECORD CHRONICLE, JULY 17, 2019, WHERE MR. DAVIS'S BOSS, PAUL JOHNSON, EXERCISED HIS DISCRETION NOT TO PROSECUTE PEOPLE FOR MISDEMEANOR AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT THE COUNTY TO HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO ENFORCE THOSE LAWS.

WHOSE LEGAL ADVICE ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE YOUR UNELECTED, UNLICENSED AS ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, OR OUR ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY ABOUT WHETHER HE HAS DISCRETION, ABOUT WHAT LAWS HE ENFORCES AND DOESN'T? AND IT DOESN'T. IT'S NOT LIMITED TO SAYING I DON'T WANT TO ENFORCE IT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO WASTE THE MONEY.

THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND SAYING I DON'T WANT TO ENFORCE IT BECAUSE 71% OF THE DENTON VOTERS SAY THEY DON'T WANT ME TO ENFORCE IT.

WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS ACCUSING PAUL JOHNSON OF VIOLATING HIS OATH OF OFFICE THAT HE TOOK JUST LIKE YOU DID.

IS THAT WHAT Y'ALL WANT TO DO? WHY DON'T YOU TELL PAUL JOHNSON TO HIS FACE? YOU THINK HE'S VIOLATING HIS SWORN OATH OF OFFICE WHEN HE DID THAT? WHY DON'T YOU TELL HIM HE'S VIOLATING STATE LAW WHEN HE DID THAT? YOU CAN'T AVOID IT.

IT'S INESCAPABLE.

HE'S BEEN A LAWYER A LOT LONGER THAN MANAGER.

HENSLEY'S A LAWYER BECAUSE SHE'S NEVER BEEN ONE.

I'VE BEEN A CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER FOR ALMOST 33 YEARS, AND PROSECUTORS AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES HAVE DISCRETION AND HOW THEY ENFORCE THE LAWS AND MAYBE TO DE PRIORITIZE IT WHERE IT NEVER HAPPENS.

THEY JUST NEVER ENFORCE A LAW AT ALL.

DEB AMEN IS RIGHT.

IF YOU WANT TO GET THIS THING RESOLVED, YOU NEED TO GO TO COURT.

BUT NOBODY SUED PAUL JOHNSON YET, HAVE THEY? I DON'T THINK SO.

I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS, YOU HAVE A, YOU KNOW, THE CONFINES BECAUSE IT'S NOT POSTED.

GO RIGHT AHEAD. YEP. COULD YOU COULD YOU PUT THAT BACK UP ON THE ON THE HEADLINE OR THE LAW? THE HEADLINE.

I'VE GOT THE FULL ARTICLE HERE IF YOU ALL WANT TO SHARE WITH EACH OTHER.

HERE YOU GO. MY QUESTION IS, ARE YOU AWARE WHETHER OR NOT MR.

[04:30:01]

JOHNSON IS PROSECUTING MARIJUANA CRIMES NOW? I KNOW THAT YOU'RE DISMISSING FELONIES EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.

THAT WASN'T MY QUESTION.

STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER. GIVE ME GIVE ME ONE.

GIVE ME ONE. ONE MOMENT.

LET ME SORT THIS OUT.

STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER THAT YOU ALLUDED TO YOURSELF, SIR, THAT WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK EXCEPT ON AREAS OF FACT AND ATTEMPTS TO PUT ON THE FUTURE AGENDA.

SO I CAN FEEL LIKE I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY'S STEPPING OVER THE LINE HERE.

BEAR WITH ME. I CAN I CAN REPHRASE, MARY.

I PUT IT IN THE FORM OF I'LL MAKE A STATEMENT OF FACT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE THE TEXT OF AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.

I'LL MAKE A STATEMENT OF FACT.

THAT'S WHAT THE TEXT UP MEETING ACT LIMITS ME TO.

I CAN'T HAVE THE BACK AND FORTH WITH YOU.

I JUST NEED TO MAKE A STATEMENT OF FACT.

FIRST STATEMENT OF FACT IS THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN DENTON COUNTY IS PROSECUTING LOW LEVEL MARIJUANA CASES AND THAT THAT HEADLINE IS INCORRECT.

THE SECOND STATEMENT OF FACT IS THAT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, YOU DO NOT REPRESENT A CLIENT HERE TODAY.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, MR. SIEGEL, WHO I REFERENCED EARLIER, DOES NOT REPRESENT A CLIENT WHEN HE GIVES A LEGAL OPINION ABOUT PROP B AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, OUR CITY ATTORNEY DOES HAVE A CLIENT THAT HE HAS TO ADVISE IN THE SAN ANTONIO CITY ATTORNEY AND THE HARKER HEIGHTS CITY ATTORNEY AND THE KILLEEN CITY ATTORNEY HAVE CLIENTS.

THEY HAVE AN ETHICAL OBLIGATION TO ADVISE AS TO THE LAW.

THEY WANT TO BELIEVE JEFF, WHO IS OVER HIM IN THE INTAKE DIVISION OF THE FELONY SECTION OF THE DA'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HE SAYS IT'S NOT TRUE.

I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR OPEN MIC TAKES US TO WE CAN WE FINISH THE CONCLUDING ITEMS THAT TAKES US TO OUR ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

WE HAVE THREE.

THE FIRST IS ID TWO, THREE, THREE, SEVEN TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022

[A. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas, amending the fiscal year 2022-2023 budget and annual program of services of the City of Denton to allow for adjustments to the General Fund of one million one hundred seven thousand five hundred fifty-five dollars ($1,107,555) for the purpose of adding two Senior Planners to the Planning department and seven positions to the Police department; declaring a public purpose; directing the City Secretary attach a copy to the 2022-2023 budget; requiring approval by at least five votes; and providing a severability clause, an open meetings clause, and an effective date.]

2023 BUDGET AND ANNUAL PROGRAM OF SERVICES OF THE CITY OF DENTON TO ALLOW FOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THE GENERAL FUND OF 1,107,000 7000 $7,500 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADDING TWO SENIOR PLANNERS TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND SEVEN POSITIONS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, DECLARING A PUBLIC PURPOSE DIRECTING CITY SECRETARY TO ATTACH A COPY OF THE 2020 TO 2033 BUDGET, REQUIRING APPROVAL AT LEAST FIVE VOTES THAT EVENING.

MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DANIELLE STANFORD, BUDGET MANAGER, HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION ON THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR YOU.

SO WE ARE REQUESTING AN INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY FOR THE GENERAL FUND BY 1.1 MILLION.

I WILL TAKE THE BUDGET FROM ONE 82.9 MILLION TO 184 MILLION.

THE MAJOR DRIVING ITEMS FOR THIS AMENDMENT ARE THE SEVEN POLICE POSITIONS IN THE TWO PLANNING DEPARTMENT POSITIONS.

THE CURRENT ADOPTED BUDGET INCLUDES 1855 POSITIONS AND THIS WILL INCREASE THE TOTAL OF NUMBER OF POSITIONS TO 864 1864. I'M SORRY.

SO THIS SLIDE BREAKS DOWN WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING TWO CIVILIAN JAILERS, ONE POLICE SERGEANT, FOUR POLICE OFFICERS THAT THE COST OF THAT IS 921 921,555.

IT TAKES THE POLICE FTE COUNT FROM 315 AND ONE HALF TO 322 AND A HALF ON THE RIGHT, WHERE WE'RE REQUESTING TWO ADDITIONAL SENIOR PLANNERS FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TAKES THEIR FTE COUNT FROM 64 TO 66.

AND THE COST OF THOSE TWO SENIOR PLANNER POSITIONS ARE 186,000 FOR A COMBINED TOTAL OF 1.1 MILLION.

WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YEAH.

I'M JUST CONFIRMING THAT THIS IS THIS IS JUST THE ACTIONABLE ITEM OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY AND THAT THERE'S NO NEW CHANGES AND WE'RE JUST APPROVING WHAT WE'D ALREADY SORT OF TACITLY GIVEN APPROVAL TO.

YES, SIR, THAT'S CORRECT.

THIS WAS DISCUSSED DURING THE WORK SESSION ON FEBRUARY 7TH.

AWESOME. THEN I'M HAPPY TO MOVE.

OH, I GUESS THE MAYOR ALREADY DID IT, SO.

NO, NO, GO RIGHT AHEAD. GO AHEAD.

OH, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I MOVE APPROVAL.

MAYOR PRO TEM MOTION TO APPROVE, IF Y'ALL CAN PLUG THAT IN FOR ME.

ROSA, I'M SORRY. AND THEN IS THERE A SECOND? UH COUNCILMAN.

WHAT ELSE I GOT? GOT IT.

MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WATTS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JUST IN CASE IT COMES UP THE HALF.

IS THAT LIKE, A PART TIME POSITION? WE'RE NOT REQUESTING A HALF AT A HALF EXISTING POSITION.

RIGHT, BUT THAT. THAT WHAT? WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THAT HALF? IF SOMEONE WOULD I ASK, HOW DO YOU HAVE HALF A FTE? IS THAT JUST A PART TIME POSITION? OKAY, GOT IT. GOT IT.

JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. YES, SIR.

[04:35:01]

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GREAT. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

OKAY, THAT TAKES US TO ITEM B, WHICH IS ID TWO, THREE, 438.

[B. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton establishing classifications and positions in the Police Department; creating certain positions; repealing Ordinance No. 22-2062 relating to establishing the classifications and prescribing the number of positions in each classification for the Police Department; providing repealer, cumulative, and severability clauses; and declaring an effective date.]

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, ESTABLISHING CLASSIFICATIONS AND POSITIONS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CREATING CERTAIN POSITIONS, REPEALING ORDINANCE NUMBER 222062 RELATING TO ESTABLISHING THE CLASSIFICATION AND PRESCRIBING THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS IN EACH CLASSIFICATION.

MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW WHO.

THIS IS THE SAME. SO.

NICK VINCENT, INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR THERE IS NO FORMAL PRESENTATION THAT'S ACTUALLY FORMALIZES THE AMOUNT OF CIVIL POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE.

SO CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS I MOVE APPROVAL.

MAYOR PRO TEM I SECOND OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DAVIS, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM BECK.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEE NONE. THIS PHOTO ON THE SCREEN.

THANK YOU, NICK.

THAT PASSES SIX ZERO TAKES US TO OUR LAST ITEM ID 23389.

[C. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation, authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Jagoe-Public Company, for the construction of the 2019 Street Bond Neighborhood 1A project for the Capital Projects Department; providing for the expenditure of funds therefor; and providing an effective date (CSP 8108 - awarded to Jagoe-Public Company, in the not-to-exceed amount of $3,778,325.25). The Public Utilities Board recommends approval (4 - 0).]

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, A HOME RULE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH JAYCO PUBLIC COMPANY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 2019 STREET BOND NEIGHBORHOOD.

ONE A PROJECT FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS DEPARTMENT.

OKAY, GREAT. YOU GOT TO.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS TAYLOR HOLT.

I AM A PROJECT MANAGER WITH THE CAPITAL PROJECTS DEPARTMENT.

I'M HERE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF AWARD TO THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ONE, A 2019 STREET BOND.

IT'S 21 TOTAL STREET SEGMENTS YOU'LL SEE ON YOUR SCREEN BEFORE YOU.

IT'S BOUNDED BY HERCULES TO THE NORTH AND LOCUST TO THE WEST.

THE PROJECT OVERVIEW IS FULL DEPTH.

STREET RECONSTRUCTION WITH CURB AND GUTTER, THERE'S LIMITED SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE PROJECT AS A TOTAL.

YOU CAN SEE THERE THE HIGHLIGHTED SECTIONS OF THE STREET THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO BE RECONSTRUCTED.