[A. Receive a report, hold a discussion regarding a recommendation from the Special Citizens Bond Advisory Committee to the Denton City Council regarding a 2023 Bond Program and Election, including projects and funding level. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 1 hour]]

ONE, TWO, THREE, THREE.

RECEIVE, REPORT, HOLD, DISCUSSION AND HOLD A DISCUSSION REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SPECIAL CITIZENS BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO DENTON CITY COUNCIL REGARDING A 2023 BOND PROGRAM AND ELECTION, INCLUDING PROJECTS AND FUNDING LEVEL.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

WE ARE GOING TO RUN THROUGH A COUPLE ITEMS TODAY FOR THE BOND POTENTIAL BOND PROGRAM.

IN NOVEMBER. WE'RE GOING TO STAFF WILL RUN THROUGH AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE PROCESS HAS LOOKED LIKE TO DATE AND THEN WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CHAIR, KEVIN RHODEN AND CHAIR PRO TEM SUSIE REIMER, TO TALK THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.

THEN STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH NEXT STEPS AND THEN WE'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

SO WE STARTED HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A POTENTIAL BOND PROGRAM IN JANUARY OF 2023 WITH COUNCIL.

WE HAD TWO WORK SESSIONS, ONE IN JANUARY, ONE IN MARCH.

CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED THE SPECIAL CITIZEN BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON APRIL 4TH.

THAT COMMITTEE WAS COMPOSED OF 40 CITIZENS.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE HOW THAT WAS COMPRISED AS THE BOTTOM COUNCIL WAS ABLE TO SELECT OR NOMINATE MEMBERS.

AND THEN BOND OVERSIGHT HAD A SELECTION IN THAT CHARGE.

CITY COUNCIL APPOINTED KEVIN RODEN AS THE CHAIR AND SUSIE REIMER AS THE CHAIR PRO TEM.

SO THE COMMITTEE CHARGE IN THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A POTENTIAL NOVEMBER BOND PROGRAM NOT TO EXCEED $335 MILLION.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE PROJECTS THAT COUNCIL HAD PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED AND TALKED ABOUT MOVING FORWARD.

SO WE HAD QUALITY OF LIFE CATEGORY, CITY FACILITIES, PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES, ROADWAYS, DRAINAGE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND ALSO THE CHARGE OF THE COMMITTEE WAS TO CONSIDER THE INCLUSION OF FUNDING FOR PUBLIC ART.

HERE'S AN OVERVIEW OF THE MEETINGS.

WE HAD SIX MEETINGS AFTER THE CHARGE OF THE COMMITTEE THROUGH JULY, AND THIS IS AN UPDATE OF THE TOPICS THAT WERE COVERED BY VARIOUS STAFF MEMBERS.

SO WE DID A FINANCE 101 TO GIVE A BACKGROUND TO THE CITIZENS ON THE STATE OF THE CITY'S FINANCES AND THEN AN UPDATE ON THE LAST TWO BOND PROGRAMS SO THEY COULD SEE HOW WE WERE WORKING THROUGH 2014 AND 2019.

WE DID DEMOGRAPHIC REPORTS AND THEN HELD INDIVIDUAL TOPIC SESSIONS ON EACH PROPERTY, EACH PROJECT WITHIN THE PROPOSITIONS.

ON JUNE 10TH, WE DID A FACILITIES TOUR AND THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE WAS ABLE TO GO TOWARDS CITY HALL, WEST CITY HALL, THE SENIOR CENTER, THE ANIMAL SERVICES CENTER, SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY AND FIRE STATION SIX.

WITH THAT, WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO KEVIN RODEN AND SUSIE RUMER.

THANK YOU. HI, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR FIRST PUTTING YOUR TRUST IN US TO TRY AND LEAD THIS GROUP OF CATS THAT WE LED OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

AND I WANT TO START BY JUST THANKING THE COMMITTEE WHO WORKED HARD OVER A LOT OF VACATION TIME FOR A LOT OF THEM, OVER SIX MEETINGS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS TO COME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL.

AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY.

IF ANY OF YOU WERE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE FIRST COUPLE OF MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, AS DENTON DOES, THEY BRISTLED A BIT AT THE INITIAL PROCESS THAT WAS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS.

AND SOME FOLKS EVEN WERE WERE WERE COMMUNICATING THEIR EARLY DEATH OF THE BOND COMMITTEE AS A RESULT.

BUT I GOT TO COMMEND THE COMMITTEE FOR COMING TOGETHER AND ITERATING ON THAT PROCESS AND COMING UP WITH A PROCESS THAT WE THINK WORKED FOR EVERYONE, WHERE EVERYONE FELT LIKE THEY HAD THEIR VOICES AT THE TABLE AND WERE ABLE TO HAVE UNFETTERED ABILITY TO SHARE WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO THERE.

SO THANKS FOR THE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR TIRELESS WORK TO ARRIVE AT THIS.

THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK WAS INTERESTING IS I THINK THIS WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST BOND COMMITTEES WE'VE HAD TO DATE.

AND I KNOW THERE WAS DISCUSSION ON THAT FROM YOU ALL ON THE FRONT END OF THAT.

AND I THINK IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

I MEAN, YOU HAD FOLKS WHO WERE BUDGET HAWKS, YOU HAD ENVIRONMENTALISTS, YOU HAD PRO-BUSINESS FOLKS, YOU HAD ANTI-BUSINESS FOLKS, YOU HAD FOLKS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU HAD FOLKS THAT WERE INTERESTED IN WHAT HAS THE MOST ROI.

YOU HAD FOLKS. THAT'S WHAT DENTON IS.

[00:05:02]

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS COMMITTEE BROUGHT TOGETHER.

AND TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT GROUP OF VOICES AND HAVE FOLKS LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS COMING TO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAN THEY HAD WHEN THEY CAME INTO IT IS WHAT DEMOCRACY IS ALL ABOUT.

AND IT WAS QUITE THE BEAUTIFUL PROCESS TO WATCH AS YOU HAD FOLKS WHO WERE READY TO DITCH EVERYTHING, WHO CAME OUT VOTING FOR THINGS AND SUPPORT AT THE END.

AND SO I THINK WITH THAT, AS YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND TO BE PUT ON THE BALLOT, I THINK YOU CAN HAVE CERTAIN TRUST THAT WHAT WAS VETTED THROUGH THIS LARGE COMMITTEE IS A GOOD MICROCOSM OF WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND BEING VETTED THROUGH THE CITIZENRY.

ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE ASKED OUT THERE AS YOU'RE LOOKING THROUGH THESE PROJECTS WERE ASKED BY THAT COMMITTEE.

AND WHAT RESULTED IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK EVERYONE CAN LIVE WITH.

BY AND LARGE, FOLKS WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF, OF UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF THE CITY IN A GROWING CITY WITH A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, WITH A LOT OF NEEDS TO SERVE THE THE LIFESTYLE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, WHAT PEOPLE WANT OUT OF A CITY.

SO THE SECOND THING I WANT TO START BY SAYING IS THANKING THE STAFF AGAIN, SOME OF THE CURVE BALLS IN THE EARLY PART OF THE PROCESS RESULTED IN A HEAVIER LIFT THAN WHAT WAS EXPECTED FOR THE STAFF WHO WERE SHEPHERDING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

WE HAD MANY EMAILS BACK AND FORTH LATE AT NIGHT WITH CHRISTINE, WITH CASSIE AND OTHERS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE BUILD THIS BACK FROM HERE.

AND THEY WERE NONSTOP COMMUNICATIVE WITH US, ALWAYS READY TO MEET, WHICH WE DID ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

AND SO THANK YOU TO THE STAFF WHO HELPED BRING THIS AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS WHICH WERE ENDLESS AT TIMES.

SO A COUPLE OF THINGS TO START OFF WITH.

WE PULSE THE COMMITTEE INITIALLY.

I GUESS WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

WE PULSE THE SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS TO GET A SENSE OF WHERE THEY WERE.

WE CALLED IT A TEMPERATURE GAUGE.

SO AT THE END OF EACH MEETING, WE WANTED TO GET A SENSE OF WHERE THEY WERE WITH THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAD JUST PRESENTED OR THAT THE STAFF HAD JUST PRESENTED TO US AND WE JUST HAD DISCUSSION ON THEM. WE HAD Q AND A, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE PULSE TWICE ON TOWARDS THE END OF THE PROCESS WAS WHAT IS YOUR COMFORT LEVEL WITH THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THIS PROJECT? BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE WAS OPTIONS THERE AND 330 MILLION WAS THE KIND OF THE CAP OF WHAT WE WERE CHARGED WITH PURSUING.

BUT IT COULD GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ZERO IF FOLKS WANTED IT TO.

AND TWICE THROUGH THAT PULSE, THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE SAID THEY WERE COMFORTABLE WITH BRINGING TO THE VOTERS A 330 MILLION BOND PACKAGE.

NOW, WHILE YOU'LL SEE THAT THAT'S NOT QUITE THE TOTAL NUMBER AT THE END OF WHAT WAS ULTIMATELY VOTED ON, WHICH YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT IN TERMS OF THAT PROCESS, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AS BACKGROUND AS YOU'RE THINKING THROUGH WHAT YOU CAN DO FROM HERE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE GAVE YOU, YOU KNOW THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN ADDITIONAL WIGGLE ROOM BASED ON, I THINK IT WAS UP TO 64% OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE, WHEN WE PULSE THEM, WERE INTERESTED IN THAT.

$330 MILLION.

ANOTHER THING I WANT TO SAY OFF THE BAT, THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX DID NOT RECEIVE ANY SUPPORT.

IT'S NOT THAT FOLKS DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SPACE AND HOW THIS THING WAS BUILT MANY, MANY MOONS AGO WITH A DIFFERENT SIZE OF A CITY AND A DIFFERENT SIZE OF STAFF. I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS TO IT THAT I'LL JUST SAY AND WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT IT AT THE Q&A.

ONE IS THERE WAS A COMPLEXITY TO THE WAY I THINK IT WAS PRESENTED TO US IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE CREATIVITY OF THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE STARTING TO LOOK AT CONCEPTS ON A SLIDE AND YOU'RE STARTING TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT, WELL, WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE RENT OF THOSE RETAIL BUILDINGS, OR HOW ARE WE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CHARGE FOR THIS? IT OPENED UP A WHOLE CAN OF WORMS IN WHICH WE DON'T HAVE ANSWERS FOR BECAUSE WE HAVE NO PRIVATE PARTNER YET AT THE TABLE.

AND THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

AND I THINK FROM THE GROUP'S PERSPECTIVE, AS THEY WERE THINKING, I'VE GOT ALL THESE QUESTIONS, I'VE GOT ALL THIS CONFUSION AROUND THIS.

THEY WERE EVEN VOCALIZING THIS THAT NIGHT TO SAY WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE QUESTIONS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO SELL THIS IF IT'S NOT THAT CRYSTAL CLEAR? SO THAT COMBINED WITH THE PRICE TAG, I THINK AT ONE POINT WE SAW A $70 MILLION PRICE TAG.

AT ANOTHER POINT WE SAW $110 MILLION PRICE TAG AS THINGS WERE ADJUSTED AND THEY REALIZED THAT THAT'S A GOOD THIRD OF WHAT THIS POTENTIAL BOND PACKAGE COULD BE.

AND WHILE I THINK THERE WAS SOME INTEREST IN SAYING THERE'S A NEED THERE, PERHAPS NOW'S NOT THE TIME FOR THAT.

SO IT WAS AN EASY THING AT THE START OF WHEN WE WERE DELIBERATING AND COMING UP WITH A FINAL PACKAGE TO SAY, IS THERE ANY INTEREST IN INCLUDING THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX AS PART OF THIS PROJECT? NOT A SINGLE PERSON ROSE THEIR HAND, SO WE JUST TOOK THAT OFF THE TABLE AND FOCUSED ON THE OTHERS AS A RESULT.

SO WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IF THERE'S SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

AT THAT POINT, THERE IS A MOTION TO ADOPT THE REST OF THE PACKAGE AS PRESENTED, AND THERE SEEMED TO BE INTEREST IN THAT UNTIL THERE IS ANOTHER MOTION TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION AND CONSIDER EACH ITEM INDIVIDUALLY, WHICH WAS APPROPRIATE, IT ALLOWED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATION AROUND THESE, AS I THINK WE'LL GET INTO AND HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE NUANCE OF THAT.

SO BECAUSE THAT INDIVIDUAL ANALYSIS OF EACH ITEM RESULTED IN SOME UNIQUE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MODIFICATIONS, I'M GOING TO ASK

[00:10:09]

SUSIE TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO SOME OF THOSE MODIFICATIONS.

HEY, SUSIE RIEMER, CHAIR PRO TEM, SO ON ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING YOU SEE ON THE ON THE SLIDE HERE ON SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE ADJUSTABLE, WE SAW SORT OF INTEREST IN POSSIBLY ADJUSTING THINGS UP OR DOWN OR KEEPING IT THE SAME.

AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS ONE OF THOSE ONES WHERE IF YOU LOWER IT OR INCREASE IT, IT DOESN'T COMPLETELY BLOW UP THE ENTIRE PROJECT.

SO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ONE WHERE WE SORT OF PULSE THE COMMITTEE TO SEE IF THEY WANTED TO GO UP OR DOWN, KEEP IT THE SAME.

AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS ONE WHERE THE COMMITTEE WAS INTERESTED IN INCREASING IT.

SO THAT GOT UPPED FROM 10 MILLION TO 15 MILLION.

SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY GOT REDUCED BY 12.8 MILLION WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO EXPAND THE EXISTING FACILITY WHERE IT CURRENTLY SITS.

THERE WAS NO ADJUSTMENT MADE TO FIRE STATION SIX TO ACCOMMODATE MOVING IT.

BUT THE KIND OF THE THINKING THERE, SOME OF THE SENTIMENT WITH SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY WAS I HEARD CONCERNS LIKE THE AGE OF THE BUILDING.

IT'S NOT THAT OLD CONCERNS ABOUT YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS.

SO THAT WAS JUST SORT OF THE SENTIMENT THAT RESULTED IN THE RECOMMENDATION TO LEAVE IT WHERE IT IS, BUT EXPAND IT.

AND THEN RIDDEL IMPROVEMENTS GOT ADJUSTED AS WELL.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT KNOW MINGO QUIET ZONES.

IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYBODY WAS FOR THE QUIET ZONES.

BUT JUST FIGURING OUT HOW RYDELL AND MINGO FIT INTO THAT, THAT ENDED UP GETTING REDUCED BY 10 MILLION TO CUT OUT RYDELL.

SO THE FIRST TIME THAT WE VOTED ON IT, WHEN WE WERE VOTING ON THINGS LINE BY LINE, THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT THAT PROJECT.

AND SO WE. HAD TO KEEP TRYING TO REVAMP.

WE HAD DIFFERENT MOTIONS COMING ON THE FLOOR.

THERE WAS ONE ATTEMPT TO JUST DO THE QUIET ZONES THAT FAILED.

THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO DO IT AS IS, BUT THERE WAS CONCERN THAT THERE'S MAYBE NOT ENOUGH RIGHT OF WAY.

SO IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH RIGHT OF WAY IN SOME AREAS OF MINGO, LET'S SAY THAT MAYBE THE SIDEWALKS MIGHT GET CUT.

SO THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT AT THAT MOTION AND THEN FINALLY SOMEBODY MADE A MOTION TO CUT RIEDEL OUT TO SEE IF THAT GOT THROUGH.

THE THINKING THAT THERE WAS ALSO CONCERN THAT EXPANDING MINGO AND RIEDEL MIGHT INCREASE THE CHANCE OF THE BELL CLOSURE.

SO THAT WAS SORT OF THE SENTIMENT BEHIND CUTTING OUT RIEDEL.

SO ONCE WE CUT OUT RIEDEL FINALLY THE PROJECT WAS ABLE TO TO MAKE IT THROUGH.

AND THEN DID WE GO BACK TO YOU? I DON'T REMEMBER. THANKS, SUSIE.

YEAH. AND SHE POINTED OUT WITH RYDELL ALSO AT THE SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY PROJECT THAT WAS INITIALLY VOTED DOWN AS WELL.

SO THERE'S THREE PROJECTS. INITIALLY VOTED DOWN, VOTED DOWN SOUTH BRANCH, THE RYDELL MINGO QUIET ZONE AREA, AS WELL AS THE AQUATIC CENTER OR THE AQUATIC NEEDS WERE VOTED DOWN AS WELL. SO EACH OF THOSE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK IN THE PROJECT.

AND SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THESE AS MAYBE ATTEMPTS AT COMPROMISES AMONG THE COMMITTEE TO GET FOLKS COMFORTABLE WITH THEM, AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT TO FLUSH OUT WITH THINGS LIKE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT THE THE FIRE STATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT? JUST UNDERSTAND THAT THESE WERE ATTEMPTS TO BRING THESE THINGS BACK AND KEEP THEM FROM CERTAIN DEATH AS A RESULT OF THE PROCESS.

THE AQUATICS ONE WAS INTERESTING, AS YOU'LL SEE ON THE FOLLOW UP SLIDE THAT WE'LL GET TO, THERE WERE SOME PITCHING THAT WENT ON AS A RESULT IN SOME QUESTIONS THAT WAS ASKED OF STAFF THAT ACTUALLY TURNED THE TIDE OF THAT ONE.

BUT WE COULDN'T VOTE ON THE SAME ITEM THE SAME WAY.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT ONE INCREASED BY $1.

SO YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF CAPACITY THERE TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS WITH THAT ADDITIONAL DOLLAR.

SO ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS.

AGAIN, WE WANTED TO ALLOW THE COMMITTEE TO NOT JUST RESPOND TO WHAT WAS PRESENTED IN FRONT OF US, BUT IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE THEY WANTED TO BRING TO THE TABLE TO RECOMMEND AS PART OF WHAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU AS THE COUNCIL.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE HERE AT THE BOTTOM, THESE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS.

NONE OF THESE ARE THINGS YOU WOULD PUT ON A BALLOT, BUT THEY WERE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE OFFERED AS A MOTION AND VOTED UPON AND ULTIMATELY PREVAILED AS THROUGH THAT PROCESS. ONE OF THEM OBVIOUSLY IS TETHERED TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THERE'S CONVERSATION THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS.

AND THEN DURING THIS FINAL MEETING AROUND THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC FACILITIES CORPORATION, WHICH I UNDERSTAND HAS BEEN BEFORE YOU ALL BEFORE.

BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE SAID, WHILE WE'RE TAKING A STAB AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MAYBE WE CAN GET MORE BANG FOR OUR BUCK AND A BETTER PROCESS IN PLACE IF WE PUT FORWARD THAT. DANNY HELPED US UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT PROCESS WAS AND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR THE CITY AS WELL AS GARY HENDERSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNITED WAY OF DENTON COUNTY, WAS ON THE COMMITTEE AND ALSO SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THAT AND HELPED SWAY THE GROUP TOWARDS THAT ADOPTION.

AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU TO DO AS YOU WILL.

THE OTHER ONE WAS THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION THAT LAST DAY AROUND THE POSSIBILITIES OF USING COES OUTSIDE OF THE BOND PACKAGE TO GO AHEAD AND FUND MAYBE A QUICKER, MORE QUICKLY FIRE STATION FIVE AND SIX OUTSIDE OF THE BOND PACKAGE, SINCE YOU ALL HAVE THAT AUTHORITY AND THERE WAS 100% APPROVAL ON BOTH OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

[00:15:10]

SO AGAIN, THAT'S JUST A RECOMMENDATION PUT FORWARD BY THE COMMITTEE.

I'M GOING TO LET SUSIE LOOK AT THE TOTAL PACKAGE IN ITS ENTIRETY AND SPEAK TO ANY ASPECTS OF THIS SINCE KEVIN WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE CEOS AND THE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN ON THE VOTE.

SO PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION HAD 60% SUPPORT AND THEN THE USE OF COES HAD 69% SUPPORT.

THESE WERE ALL SOME OF THE LAST MOTIONS THAT WERE MADE AS WE WERE PUTTING FORWARD OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

SOME OTHER THINGS I'LL POINT OUT ON THIS SLIDE IS YOU HAVE THE TOTAL, OUR RUNNING TOTAL AND THE PERCENTAGE OF THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS IN SUPPORT OF WHATEVER MOTION WAS MADE.

SOME THINGS WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED ON YET ARE.

AQUATICS. I MEAN, KEVIN KIND OF HIT ON IT.

SO WHEN WE WERE VOTING ON THINGS LINE BY LINE, IT IT GOT VOTED DOWN THE FIRST TIME PEOPLE WANTED TO DISCUSS IT MORE.

SO IT FAILED.

INITIALLY WE DISCUSSED IT MORE AND JUST WITHIN THAT DISCUSSION, SOMEBODY WHO HAD VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE FIRST TIME WANTED TO MAKE ANOTHER MOTION JUST TO SEE IF IT COULD GET THROUGH THE SECOND TIME. SO SHE HAD TO INCREASE IT BY $1 JUST TO MAKE THE MOTION DIFFERENT, WHICH IS WHY THERE'S THAT $1.

AND THEN WE DID VOTE FOR PUBLIC ART TO BE INCLUDED WITH IN THE PROPOSITIONS WITH THE VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

AS SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER, LAST TIME PUBLIC ART WAS SEPARATED OUT IN ITS OWN PROPOSITION AND IT FAILED.

SO THE GROUP DID WANT TO TRY TO PUT THOSE IN THE PROPOSITIONS WITH THE VERTICAL STRUCTURES.

WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? THAT I MISSED.

YEAH, I WAS JUST GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE PUBLIC ART TOO, AS WE WERE DELIBERATING ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE PROJECTS IN WHICH PUBLIC ART IS NOT GOING TO BE THAT WELL DISPLAYED AT.

I THINK A FIRING RANGE WAS ONE OF THEM THAT WAS DISCUSSED AS PART OF THE PACKAGE OR WAS CONSIDERED LAST TIME.

BUT AS WE STARTED GOING LINE BY LINE IN EACH OF THE VERTICAL PROJECTS HERE, THE THOUGHT WAS THESE ARE ALL PROMINENT FACILITIES WHERE YOU'VE GOT CITIZENS COMING IN AND OUT OF THEM. SO THEY SEEM TO BE VERY APPROPRIATE SPOTS FOR PUBLIC ART AND NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE JUST TAGGING ON WITH EXTRA DOLLARS, BUT SOMETHING WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM. SO THAT'S IT.

I THINK CHRISTINE HAS A FINAL SLIDE AND THEN WE'LL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.

SO WE HAVE A COUPLE MEETINGS FOR COUNCIL TO HAVE DISCUSSION ON THE VARIOUS PROJECTS, ANY MODIFICATIONS, AND THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE IT SCHEDULED FOR US TO HAVE A DISCUSSION IS ON AUGUST 1ST, STAFF WILL PRESENT AND HAVE UPDATED PROJECT INFORMATION.

JUST ONE NOTE ANY TIME THOSE PROJECTS WERE MODIFIED DOWN, THAT WASN'T BASED ON A NUMBER THAT STAFF HAD PROVIDED.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST.

SO THE THOUGHT PROCESS TODAY WAS THAT THE CHAIR AND CHAIR PRO TEM WOULD GIVE YOU THE OVERVIEW OF THEIR RECOMMENDATION.

WE, OF COURSE, CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECTS OR MODIFICATIONS AND FEASIBILITY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON AUGUST 1ST. ALSO, BRING IN THE FINANCIAL ADVISORS AND THE BOND COUNSEL TO TALK ABOUT THE TAX RATE IMPACT, THE FINANCIAL ASSUMPTIONS AND BOND PROPOSITION LANGUAGE.

THEN AGAIN, ON AUGUST 15TH, IF COUNCIL IS IN FAVOR OF CALLING THE ELECTION, WE WOULD HAVE AN ACTION ITEM TO CALL THE ELECTION ON AUGUST 15TH.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE KEVIN, SUSIE AND STAFF AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS? GREAT QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

ESSER YEAH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU PUT IN AND FOR STAYING NIMBLE THROUGH THE PROCESS.

I NOTICED THAT THE MINGO AND QUIET ZONES WITHOUT RIDDELL, I THINK IT WAS 61% SUPPORT JUST ON THE LOW END FOR FOR THOSE. DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHETHER THE THE OPPOSED POINT OF VIEW WAS DON'T DO IT AT ALL OR DO IT, BUT INCLUDING RIDDELL OR WHAT MADE UP THE OPPOSITION? OR MAYBE IT WAS ALL OF THE ABOVE.

YEAH. AND I, I THINK THESE WOULD BE GOOD ONES TO REVISIT AND WATCH THE CONVERSATION TO GET THE NUANCE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND THEM.

THAT ONE IN PARTICULAR, WHAT SEEMED TO STUCK WITH SOME FOLKS IS IS SOMEBODY AT SOME POINT TETHERED THAT PROJECT TO WHAT WE KNOW IS A POLITICAL HOT TOPIC AROUND THE CLOSING OF BELL AVENUE.

SO THE THOUGHT WAS IF WE DON'T GIVE THE CITY THE ABILITY TO CLOSE RIDDELL OR TO TO WIDEN RIDDELL, THEN WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BELL PROJECT, WHICH THE PERSON WAS SAYING, I'M IN FAVOR OF NOT CLOSING, THAT.

THEREFORE WE'RE KIND OF FIXING THAT POLITICAL PROBLEM THROUGH WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING HERE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO THAT TETHERING OF THOSE TWO PROJECTS, WE KNOW THE BELL AVENUE ONE WASN'T PART OF OUR PURVIEW.

I THINK HAD SOME STICKING POINTS WITH SOME FOLKS WHO WERE ALSO MAYBE OPPOSED TO THAT CONVERSATION.

[00:20:01]

AND SO THIS WAS MY TAKE IS A BIT OF A MESSAGE TO THE COUNCIL AND AND THERE WASN'T ANY ONE ELSE WHO CAME FORWARD AND SAID, NO, NO, THESE THINGS STAND ALONE. AND HERE'S THE REASON FOR THIS PROJECT.

THERE WAS ALSO SOME CONVERSATION FROM SOME AGAIN, THESE ARE FACTS THAT AS A COMMITTEE SOMETIMES EMERGE AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS COUNTERED WAS, WELL, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY GROWTH IN THAT AREA.

SO WHY ARE WE FOCUSING ON WIDENING THESE PARTICULAR ROADS? WHAT'S THE BENEFIT OF THAT? SO THERE WAS A LOT OF NUANCE TO THAT, BUT THOSE WERE SOME OF THE THEMES THAT EMERGED.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS OR IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL.

YEAH, I DON'T THINK THIS CAME OUT IN THE GENERAL DISCUSSION, BUT IN SOME OF THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION, I ALSO HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT CONCERN THAT THE MINGO RIDDELL PROJECT WAS A ROAD EXPANSION PROJECT BEING DISGUISED AS A SAFETY PROJECT.

THAT WAS ANOTHER SENTIMENT THAT I HEARD.

SO I DO THINK THERE WERE A VARIETY OF REASONS MAYBE THAT WE STRUGGLED TO TO GET THROUGH THAT ITEM.

YEP, SURE.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE PRIMARY ISSUE RELATED TO THE LIBRARY WAS THAT IT'S ONLY A 14 YEAR OLD BUILDING? AND WAS THERE ANY HOW DID THE GROUP DEAL WITH THE POINT OF VIEW THAT THE PARKING SPACE IS NOT ADEQUATE TO THE BIGGER LIBRARY VISION? I THINK THAT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP.

I CAN PROBABLY GET US STARTED ON THAT ONE.

I THINK THE LARGE PRICE TAG WAS A CONCERN.

I FELT LIKE I HEARD THAT COME UP QUITE A BIT.

SO YEAH, THE AGE OF THE BUILDING, THE LARGE PRICE TAG FOR THE NEW LIBRARY AND JUST MAYBE A SENTIMENT THAT MAYBE IT HADN'T BEEN THOUGHT THROUGH, MAYBE THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS TO MOVE ONE OR THE OTHER.

I DIDN'T REALLY HEAR PARKING COME UP AS AN ISSUE WITH THE COMMITTEE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, OH, IF WE EXPAND, IT'LL TAKE AWAY THE PARKING OR SOMETHING.

IT FELT LIKE IT WAS MORE OF A PRICE TAG AGE OF THE BUILDING.

COULD THERE BE A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS KIND OF THING? YEAH. AND THE DIFFICULTY WITH THAT CONVERSATION WAS THAT IN THE FIRE STATION OR SYMBIOTIC, THERE ARE TWO PROJECTS.

EVERYONE WAS IN FAVOR OF THE FIRE STATION.

SOME PEOPLE WERE IN FAVOR OF THAT.

AND THE QUESTION WAS, HOW DO WE GET THESE TWO THINGS THAT SOME OF US BOTH WANT AT THE SAME TIME IN A WAY THAT WE COULD GET PASSED THROUGH THE COMMITTEE? YOU JUST GOT A COUPLE MORE OR DO YOU WANT TO GO AROUND? NO. NO, I CAN GET THEM ALL OUT.

YEAH. THANK YOU. I WAS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE TO INTRODUCE THINGS THAT KIND OF WEREN'T ON THE MENU. AND LET ME JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE CONTEXT FOR MY QUESTION.

IN 2019, IT WAS KIND OF MID PROCESS THAT THE IDEA OF GREEN SPACE ACQUISITION WAS INTRODUCED, YOU KNOW, INTO THE BOND COMMITTEE AND IT ENDED UP BEFORE THE PUBLIC AND IT IT PASSED $5 MILLION KIND OF STANDALONE.

SO WAS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GREEN SPACE TO COME UP? WAS IT DISCUSSED? WAS IT REJECTED? WHAT YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE'S CERTAINLY LESS AVAILABLE NOW THAN THERE WAS IN 2019.

SO, YOU KNOW, DID IT PLAY ANY ROLE? WELL, NOT AS AN OFFICIAL TOPIC THAT WAS ON ANY OF THE AGENDAS, BUT ALONG THE WAY WE WERE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMITTEE.

AND THERE WAS TIMES WHERE FOLKS SAID, HEY, KEVIN, CAN WE DO THIS AT THE NEXT MEETING OR CAN WE TALK ABOUT OR CAN WE GET TO IT? AND WE WOULD TALK TO THE STAFF ABOUT HOW WE WERE ARRANGING THE AGENDAS.

AND SO IN SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I CLEARLY SAID, IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS THAT YOU WANT TO RAISE, BRING IT UP.

AND SO LET'S HAVE IT.

AND SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE WHO WANTED TO RAISE IT, BUT IT WASN'T A TOPIC SPECIFICALLY THAT PEOPLE BROUGHT UP THAT I RECALL IN ANY OF THE CONVERSATIONS. GREEN SPACE IN PARTICULAR.

SO JUST IN GENERAL CONVERSATIONS, INCLUDING DURING OUR TOUR, I FELT LIKE I HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF INTEREST IN JUST PEOPLE KIND OF POKING AROUND THE EDGES OF THE IDEA OF LAND ACQUISITION. SO NOT NECESSARILY FOR PARKS, BUT, YOU KNOW, FUTURE PROPERTIES FOR FUTURE BUILDINGS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

AND ALSO I WAS ON THE 2019 BOND AND I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE WHAT WE WERE PRESENTED FROM THE GET GO BECAUSE I REMEMBER A PRESENTATION FOR THAT.

BUT EVEN THEN IT JUST SORT OF SOMEBODY JUST THREW OUT AN IDEA LIKE SOMEBODY TRIED TO ADD A MCKINNEY EXPANSION IN 2019.

BUT THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SURE, ESPECIALLY AT THE END THERE, FOR PEOPLE TO PROPOSE THINGS.

SO SOMEBODY THEORETICALLY COULD HAVE ADDED GREEN SPACE IF THEY WANTED OR LAND ACQUISITION JUST AND.

THANK YOU. AND JUST LASTLY, GOOD PROCESS.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND GOING FORWARD AS BIG A COMMITTEE AND WORKING WITH WHAT YOU ULTIMATELY ITERATED TO? DO YOU THINK IT'S A MODEL THAT WE SHOULD LOOK TO IN THE FUTURE? YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? I DO. OKAY.

GO AHEAD. YOU GO. I LIKE THE LARGER COMMITTEE I THINK DENTON HAS GROWN UP FROM, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, A GOOD OLD BOYS CLUB. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHO HAS ANIMATED THESE CONVERSATIONS IN THE IN THE PAST, IT'S BEEN FOLKS LIKE THAT WHO HAVE BEEN INTEGRAL TO THE GROWTH OF DENTON.

AND I'M NOT SPEAKING AGAINST THAT.

I THINK EXPANDING IT AND THINKING ABOUT HOW QUICKLY THIS THIS COMMUNITY IS GROWING AND HOW MANY ADDITIONAL VOICES THERE ARE.

[00:25:06]

THE BEAUTIFUL PART OF THIS PROCESS IS HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE NEW TO IT.

AND FOLKS THAT EMAILED ME AFTER THE FACT SAYING, HEY, I MADE SOME NEW FRIENDS.

I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE CITY.

I GAINED SOME NEW PERSPECTIVES ON THINGS.

AND SO EVEN IF THAT'S JUST AN EXERCISE IN HELPING OUR CITIZENS LEARN HOW TO BE DEMOCRATIC CITIZENS TOGETHER, IT'S A HEALTHY THING. THE LARGER IT IS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE WAY I SEE IT, TOO, IS IF YOU GUYS PUT THIS THING TO A VOTE, THE NEXT ROLE OF THIS COMMITTEE IS THEN TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATE FOR IT.

THE MORE FOLKS WE HAVE DOING THAT, AS OPPOSED TO A SMALL, PREDICTABLE GROUP OF FOLKS, I THINK IS BETTER.

SO FROM MY VANTAGE POINT THAT WORK FROM A PROCESS PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THE PROCESS THAT WAS INITIALLY KIND OF RECOMMENDED, I THINK.

ARGUABLY SO MADE A LOT OF FOLKS FELT LIKE THEY WERE BEING CONSTRAINED IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE OPEN ENDED CONVERSATION, ASK QUESTIONS, GET WHAT THEY NEEDED DONE.

TOTALLY MAKES SENSE.

AND I THINK WHAT WE ARRIVED AT, WHICH WAS IN CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMITTEE, WAS A WAY TO KIND OF HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

WITH 40 PEOPLE, IT MAKES IT HARDER TO HURT EVERYONE AND HAVING PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS AND REACHED CONSENSUS, YOU NEED SOME CONSTRAINTS, BUT I THINK IT WAS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. AND I DO THINK US BEING KIND OF IN SMALL GROUPS WAS HELPFUL FOR SUCH A LARGE GROUP.

SO HAVING BEEN ON 2019 BOND AND THIS LARGER BOND, SO I THINK 2019 WAS LIKE 19 PEOPLE, 17 PEOPLE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT THIS YEAR, SOMETHING THAT WAS A BENEFIT WAS THAT THERE WAS A LARGER DIVERSITY OF VOICES BECAUSE OF THE NEW FOLKS THAT COULD COME AND PARTICIPATE.

WHEN IT'S REALLY CAPPED, YOU GET A LOT OF THE REPEAT PEOPLE.

YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF THOSE SAME VOICES.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT OF TOPICS.

SO WE HAD, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME FOLKS THAT WERE REALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE LIBRARY IN THERE, SOME FOLKS WHO WERE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, FOLKS WHO WERE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT VOICES.

AND I THOUGHT THAT DIVERSITY OF KNOWLEDGE WAS REALLY HELPFUL TO SEE WHAT THEY KNEW, WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS THEY HAD.

AND IT PROBABLY DID REFLECT THE CITIZENRY A LOT BETTER THAN JUST 20 PEOPLE OR SO.

GREAT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME, MAYOR.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AND Y'ALL CAN SEE THE CLOCK AS WELL AS I CAN.

SO DO THE MATH.

AND COUNCILMAN HOLLAND.

TURNED IT OFF AND TURNED IT. THERE WE ARE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

I KNOW THAT THIS WAS A HUGE PROJECT AND I CERTAINLY COMMEND YOU FOR DOING IT.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LIBRARY EXPANSION, HOW MUCH EXPANDING DO YOU PLAN TO DO? AND I'LL GET MY SECOND QUESTION VERY QUICKLY.

I SHOULD HAVE ASKED THIS LONG AGO, THE QUIET ZONE, COUPLED WITH WITH MINGO ROAD, HOW IS THAT SEPARATE AND WHAT IS WHAT IS QUIET ZONE COST? TELL ME WHAT A QUIET ZONE IS FIRST AND THEN TELL ME HOW MUCH IT COST.

THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO STEP IN AND ANSWER ON THE LIBRARY.

SO STAFF PROPOSED A 40,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY AT A DIFFERENT SITE.

THE NUMBER THAT WAS THROWN OUT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS NOT BASED ON REDUCING ON A SPECIFIC SQUARE FOOTAGE.

SO WE WILL COME BACK WHEN WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION IN AUGUST.

AND THEN WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION LATER TODAY TO TALK MORE ABOUT THOSE MODIFIED PROJECTS.

BUT THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED PROJECT WAS TO EXPAND TO 40,000FT², WHICH IS WHAT NORTH BRANCH CURRENTLY IS AND WHAT IS SOUTH BRANCH.

SOUTH BRANCH NOW IS 30, 21 I'M SORRY, 21 AND HAS THE HIGHEST VOLUME.

NORTH BRANCH, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP? SORRY. JENNIFER BECKER, DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES.

THE PROPOSAL WAS FOR A 40,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY, AND THAT'S FROM OUR FACILITY MASTER PLAN THAT WAS DEVELOPED WITH COMMUNITY INPUT AND WAS APPROVED BY THE LIBRARY BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL.

SO THAT'S WHY WE WERE GOING WITH THAT PROPOSAL.

SOUTH BRANCH IS 33,500FT².

TO GIVE YOU SOME PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THAT DIFFERENCE IS.

SOUTH BRANCH WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 95 AS A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY.

IT WAS UNDERFUNDED.

THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO BE 20,000FT².

SO WHEN IT WAS BUILT, IT WAS BUILT AT 10,000FT².

IN 2000, 2008, IT WAS EXPANDED TO ITS CURRENT SIZE OF 21,000FT² TO MEET THE GROWING COMMUNITY THAT HAS FURTHER SINCE BUILT OUT.

OKAY. TREVOR.

TREVOR CRANE, DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL PROJECTS.

SO A QUIET ZONE MEANS THAT THE TRAIN NO LONGER HAS TO BLOW ITS HORN WHEN IT CROSSES A CROSSES.

[00:30:04]

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A CAR TO GO ACROSS SO QUIET ZONE IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT QUIET ZONES, YOU HAVE TO INSTALL SAFETY FEATURES.

IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM AN EXTENDED CURB.

IT COULD BE QUAD GATES, IT COULD BE A LOT OF THINGS.

SO THERE'S BEEN INITIATIVE, AN INITIATIVE IN THE CITY OF DENTON TO MAKE IT A COMPLETELY QUIET ZONE COMPLIANT.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER DESIGN IN OTHER AREAS TO BRING THOSE INTO QUIET ZONE COMPLIANCE.

SO THE QUIET ZONE, THE MINGO QUIET ZONES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AS PART OF THIS PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN THE 2012 2014 BOND.

WE WERE NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE THOSE PROJECTS STRICTLY DUE TO A LACK OF FUNDING.

AND SO COUPLING AND ALSO AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT IS THE RUDDELL EXTENSION WAS A PART OF THE 2012 2014 BOND THAT WAS ALSO NOT ABLE TO BE DONE DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING. SO THE THINKING OF DOING ALL THESE PROJECTS TOGETHER AS YOU IMPROVE MINGO AND DO UPGRADES THERE, THOSE WHENEVER THE RAILROAD LOOKS AT QUIET ZONE COMPLIANCE, THEY LOOK AT THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR.

SO AS WE MAKE IMPROVEMENT, SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO MINGO, THAT GIVES US POINTS AS FAR AS THE QUIET ZONES THERE ALONG ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACK.

AND THEY LOOK AT THAT AS A AS A COMPLETE CORRIDOR AND TO BRING THAT UP TO QUIET ZONE COMPLIANCE.

YES, SIR. GOT IT.

AND SO SIMPLY JUST BEFORE I CALL THE NEXT PERSON FOR THOSE TRACKING ALONG, SIMPLY SAID, JUST TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON THAT QUIET ZONE IS BASICALLY SO YOU CAN'T DRIVE AROUND THE ARM, YOU NEED A CURB. YOU NEED SOME KIND OF IMPEDIMENT TO ARMS, SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T DRIVE AROUND THE ARM AND GET IN FRONT OF A TRAIN.

SO YOU BUILD SOMETHING TO PREVENT OR AT LEAST DISCOURAGE BEST YOU CAN THAT THAT ACTIVITY.

MAYOR PRO TEM AND THEN COUNCILMAN MCGEE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION.

I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR THAT MYSELF.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THAT AT THE END THE AND I'M NOT SURE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THREADS THAT THAT HAVING WATCHED THE VIDEOS AND THEN AND THEN COME IN PERSON AND WATCH THE DIALOG ON THE LAST DAY.

IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS SORT OF A COMMON THREAD OF LAND ACQUISITION THE WAY YOU MENTIONED SUSIE.

AND AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BEHOOVE US AS A COUNCIL TO THINK ABOUT THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WHETHER WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, ADD IN THOSE COMPONENTS AS AS WE HAVE OUR OUR DIALOG ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS NO LAND ACQUISITION FOR FIRE STATION SIX.

I THINK THAT'S CORRECT.

THERE'S NO LAND ACQUISITION FOR FOR THE PROPOSAL AND BUT LAND ACQUISITION ASSOCIATED WITH A POTENTIAL FUTURE PARK FOR THE LIBRARY.

IS THAT IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IN CLOSED SESSION.

OKAY. SO ACTUALLY, LET ME ASK YOU, MAYOR AND OR STAFF, THESE NUANCED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT GENERAL PIECES.

WE WANT TO SAVE THAT TO THE AUGUST MEETING.

IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? OKAY, THEN THEN THEN THEN I'LL JUST ASK THROUGH LINE QUESTIONS.

SORRY, CHRISTINE. NO WORRIES.

YES, WE WANTED SOME TIME TO COME BACK ON AUGUST 1ST SO WE CAN THOROUGHLY DISCUSS THOSE MODIFICATIONS BECAUSE LIKE THE CHAIR PRO TEM CHAIR SAID, I THINK SOME OF THE MODIFICATIONS WERE TO KEEP IT MOVING FORWARD AS PART OF THE PROCESS.

SO WHEN NUMBERS WERE THROWN OUT, IT WASN'T BASED ON, OKAY, WE WANT TO DO IT AT THIS SQUARE FOOTAGE AND WE KNOW THAT COST IS GOOD.

SO WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT THE MODIFIED PROJECTS ON AUGUST 1ST.

OKAY, PERFECT. AND THEN I WILL I WILL PULL ALL THOSE QUESTIONS UNTIL THAT TIME.

I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION, BUT THIS WAS ONE THAT I THINK WE COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER TOUCHED ON IT AND AND THIS IS FOR THE CHAIR AND CHAIR PRO TEM IT SEEMED AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG WHEN I'M WATCHING THE DISCUSSION ON THE LAST DAY, IT'S AND, AND ONE OF YOU MENTIONED THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECTS FOR MINGO WAS WAS THAT GENERALLY THE THE TENOR IS THAT THEY WANTED THE SAFETY OF MINGO IMPROVED THE COMMITTEE DID MORE SO THAN CAPACITY EXPANSION.

WAS THAT GENERALLY THE TENOR OF THE COMMITTEE? I DON'T THINK I RECALL.

WELL, NO, I DO REMEMBER SOMEBODY MENTIONED CAPACITY.

THEY ACTUALLY THOUGHT THAT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH CAPACITY.

I DID HEAR THAT COMMENT ONCE, I THINK THE FIRST TIME WE DISCUSSED IT.

BUT OTHERWISE, I DON'T THINK THE COMMITTEE EXPRESSED A WHOLE LOT ABOUT CAPACITY CONCERNS.

IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT OF THE CONCERNS WERE HOW IT RELATES TO THE BELL PROPOSAL.

AND THEN THERE WAS DEFINITELY SUPPORT FOR ADDING SOME PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE SINCE THERE'S NOT CURRENTLY ANY.

BUT I DON'T I DON'T THINK CAPACITY CONCERNS CAME UP VERY MANY TIMES IN COMMITTEE DISCUSSION.

WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S MULTIPLE PIECES OF THIS TO DISCUSS MAYBE ON AUGUST 1ST WHERE, OKAY, IF THE COMMITTEE WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE TOTALITY OF THE

[00:35:11]

QUIET ZONES, THE THE STORMWATER FLAMINGO, THE SIDE PATHS, FLAMINGO, THE THE SIMILAR FOR RUDDELL, IF IF IF THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE FOLLOW IS SOMETHING REDUCED FROM THAT.

IF IF THE COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE WAS MORE INTERESTED IN ONE ASPECT OR ANOTHER OF THOSE, THEN THAT THAT WILL BE GERMANE FOR OUR AUGUST DISCUSSION.

AND I GUESS PULLING OUT ALL THOSE STAFF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OTHER THINGS.

THEN THE LAST ONES I HAVE FOR YOU GUYS ARE BACK TO THE SOME OF THESE THESE COMMITTEE DEMOGRAPHICS COMPONENTS.

AND KEVIN, YOU REALLY LIKE THE BROAD THE EXPANSION YOU FELT IT HAD MORE MORE COMMUNITY MORE KNOWLEDGE THAT SO THE THE LARGER STRUCTURE WAS BETTER.

AND I'M THINKING FOR, YOU KNOW, 2 OR 3 YEARS FROM NOW WHEN WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE AND THAT HOPEFULLY EVERYONE'S TAKING NOTES.

BUT DID YOU.

DID. DID EITHER OF YOU FEEL LIKE WE WERE WE WERE GETTING TO A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE OR WE STILL HAD SOME OF THE SAME SORT OF. YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT SOME OF THE SAME REPRESENTATIVE FOLKS OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND ARE WAS WAS OUR AGE DISTRIBUTION GOOD, WAS OUR SORT OF DEMOGRAPHICS.

AND I'LL LEAVE THAT NEBULOUS ON PURPOSE SO WE DON'T STEP IN ANYTHING.

BUT WHERE DID YOU TWO AS LEADERS FEEL THAT THAT THOSE WERE A GOOD PLAY, BETTER THAN SINCE YOU PARTICIPATED IN THESE BOND COMMITTEES IN THE PAST, AN IMPROVEMENT ON WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST, AND WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING MORE LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE.

SO I THINK IN 2019 I WAS THE YOUNGEST ON THE COMMITTEE MAYBE, OR VERY CLOSE TO IT.

SO IT WAS CERTAINLY NICE. THERE WERE 3 OR 4 PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN ME THIS TIME AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY COOL.

SOME 20 SOMETHINGS, WE HAD SOME 30 SOMETHINGS AND 40 SOMETHINGS.

AS FAR AS IT MATCHING THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY AGE WISE, IT PROBABLY WAS NOT DISTRIBUTED IN THAT FASHION.

BUT I MEAN, WHEN I LOOKED AT MY MY INITIAL TABLE THAT I ENDED UP AT, WE HAD I MEAN, I HAD PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I HAD A 20 SOMETHING.

THERE WAS ME, YOU KNOW, WE HAD LIKE AN AGE DISTRIBUTION.

WE HAD EVEN PEOPLE'S INTERESTS.

THERE WAS LIKE I LOOKED AROUND THE ROOM AND IT'S LIKE, OKAY, THERE'S LIKE SORT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL TYPE PERSON AT EACH ONE.

MAYBE THE FOLKS WHO ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING THE BOND RIGHT NOW, THEY WERE SORT OF SPREAD OUT.

SO IT'S LIKE THE THE WAY WE WERE DIVIDED INTO TABLES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THOUGHT WENT INTO THAT, BUT I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE DIVERSITY OF MY TABLE AND THE VIEWS REPRESENTED AT MY TABLE.

YEAH, I AGREE.

AND I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, BUT.

LOOK, I THINK. I THINK YOU GUYS.

IF I'M IN YOUR SEAT.

I THINK THERE'S A I THINK THERE'S A STRATEGY THAT'S TWOFOLD.

ONE IS YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO ASK ARE GOING TO GET ASKED BY THIS GROUP BECAUSE THEY'RE VETTING IT INITIALLY AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT IN A DEGREE THAT NO CITIZEN IS LOOKING AT IT.

RIGHT. YOU'RE GOING TO KIND OF HEAR OPINIONS.

YOU'RE GOING TO READ SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS OR WHATEVER, AND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE YOUR DECISION TO VOTE ON IT.

BUT THE OTHER THING I THINK TO CONSIDER, IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT FUTURE PROJECTS OR THIS ONE IS I WANT TO BE STRATEGIC BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I WANT THIS THING TO PASS.

SO NOT ONLY AM I LOOKING AT DIVERSITY FOR ITS OWN SAKE AND DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS FOR ITS OWN SAKE, BUT I'M ALSO LOOKING AT WHO AM I PICKING THAT I KNOW HAS A POCKET IN AN AREA OF TOWN THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR US TO REACH AND SO ON THIS THING AND FIND THOSE INFLUENCERS AND WHO ARE THEY? AND LET'S MAKE SURE WE PACK THE HECK OUT OF THIS WITH THAT.

SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WOULD THINK ABOUT AS AN ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION FROM A DIVERSITY PERSPECTIVE IS HOW DO WE WIN THIS COME NOVEMBER.

I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.

I'M ALL DONE, MISTER MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MCGEE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER.

I'M GOING TO PICK UP RIGHT THERE WHERE YOU JUST LEFT OFF, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

DID YOU ALL HAVE ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT THE ADVOCACY LEVEL WOULD BE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS POST THE COMMITTEE? WE MENTIONED IT AS WE WERE ADJOURNING FOR THE EVENING.

AND OF COURSE, EVERYONE WAS READY TO HIGHTAIL IT OUT OF THERE AFTER A LONG NIGHT.

BUT YES, WE DID MENTION THAT WE WOULD BE FOLLOWING UP WITH THEM AFTERWARDS ON TO THE NEXT STAGE AND TALK ABOUT THIS.

I HAD SOME ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHERS WHO'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS IN THE PAST.

OF COURSE, YOU GUYS ARE LIMITED IN TERMS OF YOUR ABILITY TO ADVOCATE, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE ON US TO BE THE ONES WHO ARE ACTUALLY MAKING THE CASE POLITICALLY OUT THERE, RAISING FUNDS AND GETTING SIGNS OUT AND THAT SORT OF STUFF.

SO WE'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT IF YOU GUYS PUT THIS FORWARD TO THE VOTERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND CHRISTINE, THIS MIGHT BE AN AUGUST QUESTION.

IF IT IS, FEEL FREE TO JUST LET ME KNOW.

I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT NECESSARILY THE NUMBER YOU ARRIVED AT, BUT HOW THE PROCESS WENT TOWARD ARRIVING AT THE NUMBER.

[00:40:01]

IS THAT SHOULD THAT IS THAT TODAY DISCUSSION? KEVIN YOU CAN ANSWER THAT BECAUSE THEY DID IT THROUGH A COUPLE OF TOOLS THEY RECOMMENDED.

OKAY. YEAH.

SO AS FAR AS THE NUMBER WE ENDED UP AT ON SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE ADJUSTABLE UP OR DOWN.

SO WE HAD AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS ADJUSTABLE UP AND DOWN.

THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF INTEREST IN THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND MAYBE GOING UP.

SO WE GAVE WE DID LIKE A PULSE SURVEY TO SEE ARE YOU ALL INTERESTED IN GOING UP WITH INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND, AFFORDABLE HOUSING? ARE YOU INTERESTED IN KEEPING IT WHERE IT IS GOING, UP OR DOWN? WE DID IT WITH TRAILS AS WELL.

SO JUST WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHEN WE DID THAT PULSE SURVEY WITH THE COMMITTEE, THE MAJORITY SAID INCREASE IT BY 5 MILLION.

SO THEY WERE JUST GIVEN 5 MILLION UP OR DOWN ON THE PULSE SURVEY.

SO I THINK THE PROPOSAL WAS 10 MILLION.

AND SO WE SAID, DO YOU WANT 5 MILLION, 10 MILLION OR 15? SO WE DIDN'T GO ANY HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THAT.

WE JUST WANTED TO GET A FEEL FOR ARE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN GOING HIGHER OR LOWER? AND SO JUST BASED ON THAT PULSE SURVEY, I BELIEVE KEVIN JUST SAID IS EVERYBODY'S STILL GOOD WITH THIS 15 SO WE WE ALL RAISED OUR HANDS TO SAY HOW MUCH SUPPORT THERE WAS FOR THE 15 FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INCREASING IT.

AND THAT WENT THROUGH BY A MAJORITY.

BUT NOBODY MADE A MOTION TO GO HIGHER OR LOWER ON THE FLOOR.

AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, I THINK CONNECTED TO THIS PROJECT AND SOME OTHERS, THERE WAS A COMMON THEME THAT WAS FROM START TO FINISH THAT YOU SAW THE COMMITTEE GRAVITATE TOWARDS THOSE SORTS OF PROJECTS WHERE WE'RE COMMITTING PUBLIC FUNDS THAT WE THINK HAS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT, EITHER THROUGH PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT OR UNLOCKING LAND OR WHATEVER.

SO YOU SAW THAT CONVERSATION COME ABOUT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DRAINAGE PROJECTS.

YOU SAW IT COME UP EVEN WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TRAIL PROJECTS, WHICH I LOVE THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

THIS CAN UNLOCK NOT ONLY ADDITIONAL PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO BUILD NEAR TRAILS, BUT ALSO THIS CAN MAYBE UNLOCK FEDERAL FUNDS, STATE GRANTS, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT MIGHT BE IN PLACE FOR IT IF WE COMMIT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND I THINK WE HAD SOME GREAT PRESENTATIONS ON THAT WHICH SHOWED US THE DATA AND WHERE WE WERE GOING AND HOW WE WERE GETTING BEHIND, BUT NEEDING THAT SORT OF TOOL.

BUT ALSO THIS IS ANOTHER TOOL THAT'S UNLOCKING PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT IN TOWN AS WELL.

SO IT'S ANOTHER THREAD TO CONSIDER.

JUST TWO MORE BRIEFLY, IF I MAY, MR. MAYOR. YOU MENTIONED THE MIX OF FOLKS.

GIVEN THAT YOU'VE BOTH SERVED ON PREVIOUS COMMITTEES.

I TOOK A VERY INTENTIONAL APPROACH TO THE MEMBERS THAT THAT I SELECTED.

I INTENTIONALLY TRIED TO FIND FOUR NEW PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN COMPLETELY UNINVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS BEFORE, BECAUSE I INHERENTLY BELIEVE THE PROCESS WORKS BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE MORE NEW VOICES SO AS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE WHO WHO CHAIRED THE COMMITTEE AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN PREVIOUS COMMITTEES, HOW WAS THE THE RATIO OF NEW FOLKS VERSUS OLD FOLKS? WELL, THERE ARE TOO MANY NEW FOLKS, NOT ENOUGH NEW FOLKS, JUST THE RIGHT MIX AS WE'RE GOING FORWARD TO THINKING ABOUT FUTURE BONDS IN THE IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK IF THE COMMITTEE SIZE HAD BEEN MORE LIKE THE 20 NUMBER, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY IT WOULD BE MOSTLY BE RETURNING PEOPLE BECAUSE IT WAS LARGER.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS MORE SPACE FOR FOR NEW FOLKS.

SO, I MEAN, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE I'D NEVER MET BEFORE.

AND I'VE KIND OF BEEN AROUND THE CITY QUITE A BIT AT THIS POINT.

THERE WERE QUITE A FEW I HADN'T KNOWN BEFORE, AND A LOT OF THEM WERE EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED AND WAS SURPRISED I'D NEVER HEARD OF THEM BEFORE.

SO, I MEAN, I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE MIX OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE NEW FOLKS CONTRIBUTED A LOT OF GREAT COMMENTS, A LOT OF GREAT QUESTIONS.

SOME WERE A LITTLE ON THE QUIET SIDE, BUT I MEAN, AT OUR SMALL GROUP TABLES, WE WERE ABLE TO PROCESS THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I FOUND IT VERY HELPFUL THAT THE NEW FOLKS AND I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THERE WERE TOO MANY OR TOO FEW.

I THOUGHT THEY BROUGHT GOOD PERSPECTIVES.

SO AND THE LAST QUESTION, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M THANKFUL THAT I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE LAST THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING AND I HEARD A DISCUSSION, I BELIEVE IT WAS, BETWEEN COUNCIL MEMBER MCADAMS TALKING ABOUT QUIET ZONES BEING INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS BONDS.

WAS THAT THE CASE? IS THAT WHAT I WAS UNDERSTANDING? DO WE KNOW TO HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF WHY THOSE THINGS DID NOT MAKE IT IN PREVIOUS BONDS? IF THAT'S AN AUGUST DISCUSSION, I'M HAPPY TO WAIT.

WELL, JUST TO CLARIFY, THOSE WERE INCLUDED IN A PREVIOUS BOND PACKAGE.

I THINK IT WAS 2012, 2012.

THE DISCUSSION WAS THEY WERE UNDERFUNDED.

I THINK THEY WERE PUT FORWARD.

I THINK IT WAS NINE $90,000.

90,000. IT'S OKAY IF YOU HAD THE EXACT AMOUNT.

1900. SORRY.

SO UNDERFUNDED AND DIDN'T MAKE IT.

WE STILL HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT.

OR WAS THAT SPENT ON SOMETHING ELSE? HOW DOES THAT WORK? THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE REALLOCATES MONEY AS APPROPRIATE, AND SO THEY ALLOCATED THE FUNDING TO ROADWAY PROJECTS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR WORK.

THANKS ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. DID YOU HAVE FUN AT LEAST, VICE MAYOR? GOOD. AND JUST TO BEFORE I TRANSITION AGAIN, JUST TO BE CLEAR TO YOUR POINT, THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I'M GOING TO GET.

I'LL GET THE DATA JUST BY QUESTION.

EVERYONE WILL GET IT. BUT THE MONEY, I DON'T THINK IT'S PROPER TO SAY THE MONEY WAS REALLOCATED.

EVERYTHING FROM 2012, I DON'T KNOW, ABOUT 22,005, 1214 WERE WOEFULLY FUNDED.

[00:45:09]

AND SO WE TOOK MONEY FROM GENERAL BUDGET TO PROP THOSE UP.

NOT THERE WAS EXTRA MONEY THAT WE DIDN'T ALLOCATE TOWARDS THOSE.

SO YOU'LL SEE THE NUMBER AND IT'S GOING TO BE STUNNING HOW BAD THOSE MISSED, BUT THEY MISSED BY A BIG BIT.

OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

MR. ROWDEN. I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING YES TO ME.

THAT'S MY GUY. AND SO BUT MY THING IS AND I'VE WANTED TO QUESTION YOU ALL ON HOW DID YOU ALL HOW DID THAT CONVERSATION COME ABOUT THAT YOU AND THIS IS NEITHER HERE NOR THERE.

QUESTION HOW DID YOU ALL COME ABOUT RELEASING THE FACILITATORS AND DOING IT YOURSELVES? WHAT WHAT WAS THE WHAT WAS THE THING ABOUT THAT? WELL, LET ME TAKE YOU OFF THE HOOK.

SHE SHE QUIT BECAUSE THE PROCESS CHANGED AND SHE FELT IT UNDERMINED HER AUTHORITY AND HER PROCESS.

AND SO I JUST DON'T THINK SHE WANTED TO PROCEED UNDER THE PROCESS THAT WAS GIVEN HER VERSUS THE PROCESS SHE'S FAMILIAR WITH AND TRUST BECAUSE HER REPUTATION FALLS ON THAT.

AND SHE WASN'T I'M SPEAKING FOR HER, DIDN'T WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S PROCESS AND BE HELD TO THOSE RESULTS.

SO WHOSE PROCESS IS THAT? THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. WHEN I TRY, I'M IN THERE.

MAYOR. AND AND DON'T THINK OF IT AS ANYONE DISMISSED A FACILITATOR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK WHAT HAPPENED WAS AS FOLKS WERE LISTENING TO THE PROCESS SUGGESTIONS, THERE WAS TWO CAMPS IN THERE.

AS SHE MENTIONED, THERE'S FOLKS WHO ARE MUCH MORE INTIMIDATED OF SPEAKING IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF 40 PEOPLE WITH AN ADDITIONAL 20 STAFF MEMBERS AROUND THERE.

THEY'VE NEVER SPOKEN OUT IN FRONT OF FOLKS ON THESE TOPICS IN THEIR LIFE.

TOTALLY GET IT, WHICH IS WHY THERE WERE SMALL GROUPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND THERE'S OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE LIKE, EVERYTHING SHOULD BE A LARGE GROUP, OPEN DISCUSSION, AND WE KNOW WHEN THAT'S THE CASE.

ONLY A HANDFUL OF FOLKS END UP TALKING, RIGHT? SO THERE'S SOME SORT OF MIDDLE GROUND IN PLACE.

THERE WAS A MOTION AT THE SECOND MEETING BY SOME FOLKS AND WAS MOVED FORWARD AND SOME CASES MADE AS TO LET'S CHANGE THE PROCESS TO ALLOW FOR MORE OPEN CONVERSATION FACILITATED BY THE CHAIR.

IT WASN'T MY DOING SOMEBODY ELSE THAT HAD SUGGESTED THAT AND THEY PUT FORWARD THAT AND SAID SO WHEN THEY MADE THAT MOTION AND MADE THE CASE AND THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE VOTED FOR THAT, I THINK THE CONSEQUENCE WAS THERE WAS MAYBE NO MORE ROOM FOR THE FACILITATION AS IT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY CONCEIVED.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE THE GROUP WAS VOTING TO ASK SOMEBODY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT WAS JUST LET'S CHANGE, TWEAK THE PROCESS.

THE PROCESS. YEAH.

OKAY. SO IT STARTED THERE.

YEAH, WELL, THAT WAS THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAVE.

AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE.

SUSIE, I'VE PHYSICALLY MET YOU AND SAT DOWN AND SPOKEN WITH YOU, BUT I'VE, OF COURSE, HEARD YOUR NAME, YOU KNOW, ALL OVER.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AS WELL.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

AND SO TO SUMMARIZE AND THEN I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, BUT TO SUMMARIZE, THE ONLY THING I'VE HEARD THAT WOULD COME BACK, OTHER THAN KIND OF WHAT'S ALREADY PROGRAMED TO COME BACK, WOULD BE LAND ACQUISITION AS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LIBRARY.

OBVIOUSLY WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

BUT THEN TO TO BRING THAT BACK AND THEN I WOULD ANTICIPATE WE'D NEED THE HISTORY OF WHAT WE'VE SPENT ON GENERAL LAND PURCHASES ACQUISITION IN THE PAST TO, TO FACILITATE THAT WILL HAVE TO BE IN HAND FOR THE CONVERSATION WE'D HAVE JUST READING THE TEA LEAVES TODAY AT LEAST, SO WE CAN BE AWARE OF WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE, WHAT'S IN PROCESS, THAT SORT OF THING.

THEN FOR FOR THE CHAIR.

I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS.

WATCH. I'VE WATCHED THE MEETINGS.

I'M ALMOST DONE.

I WATCHED SOME LIVE.

I'M CATCHING UP.

BUT I WANT TO I HAVE A QUESTION.

DID THE WERE THE NUMBERS A IMPEDIMENT? MEANING I DON'T KNOW THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS, THAT SORT OF THING.

AND THAT'S RIGHTFULLY SO. RIGHT? THAT'S THAT'S SHOCKING EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS.

BUT DO YOU THINK THAT'S AN IMPEDIMENT TO THE DISCUSSION KIND OF IN GOOD FAITH TO JUST SAY, HEY, DO WE WANT THIS OR NOT? IS THIS NEEDED OR NOT? BUT WHEN YOU PUT A PRICE TAG OF I'M GOING TO GO ABOVE ANYTHING THAT'S THERE LIKE $300 MILLION ON SOMETHING, IT THEN SHAPES HOW PEOPLE THINK BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

THEY DON'T THINK, OH, THAT'S THE GOING RATE.

SO DO YOU THINK THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO CAPTURE? JUST TO GET PEOPLE'S OPINION IN EARNEST WITHOUT THE PRICE TAGS.

FIRST OF ALL, I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR 2.5 HOUR BINGE WATCHING OF THESE MEETINGS.

OVER TIME, IT'S LIKE MUST SEE TV, I'M SURE, FOR YOU AND YOUR WIFE.

I'M SURE. NO, I DON'T THINK IT WAS AN IMPEDIMENT.

I REALLY LOOK AT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT THIS.

[00:50:03]

I MEAN, EVEN SOMEBODY LIKE ME WHO SAT IN THESE CHAIRS BEFORE, THERE'S A MYSTERY BEHIND COST OF CONSTRUCTION.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST THERE'S THINGS THAT OUTSIDE OF MY EXPERTISE.

AND SO I THINK EVERYONE WAS THERE READY TO LEARN AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

SO THAT WASN'T AN IMPEDIMENT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.

OKAY. AND THE COMMITTEE'S REACTION WHEN THE NUMBERS CHANGED, RIGHT.

SO COST GOES UP.

WHAT? AND I DON'T HAVE MY NOTES WITH ME, BUT IT'S $4 MILLION, I THINK 4.8 MILLION.

MAYBE IT'S 8 MILLION. I DON'T KNOW.

BUT IN EIGHT MONTHS, THE CONSTRUCTION COST IS WHAT I ZEROED IN ON.

IT'S A GREAT SLIDE THAT BROKE THOSE OUT.

BUT WAS THERE WHAT WAS THE DISCUSSION IN THE ROOM? BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT LEANED MORE TOWARDS THE TOTAL NUMBER THAN THE GRASP OF, HEY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO, GO NOW.

YEAH. NO, I THINK I THINK THE LATTER IS THE CASE.

I THINK FOLKS REALIZE THIS THESE PRICES ARE ONLY GOING UP.

SO IF WE'VE IDENTIFIED THESE AND WE AGREE THESE ARE A PROBLEM FOR THE CITY THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, THAT IF WE WAIT ANOTHER TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS OR EVEN TILL MAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THE COSTS ARE GOING TO GO UP ACCORDINGLY.

AND SO I THINK THAT HELPED MOTIVATE THE FOLKS TO GATHER AROUND AND GOT IT TOGETHER.

AND THEN ONE LAST QUESTION FOR DANNY, IF I COULD, PLEASE.

AND IT'S REALLY JUST AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT.

I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING SURE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN DENTON GET THE STAY IN DENTON AND WE'RE NOT MAKING HOUSING AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE TO THEN COME IN AND SWOOP IN AND KIND OF UNDERCUT THAT.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? LIKE, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.

YEAH. SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE.

DO WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE WHAT YOU PROPOSE? I WATCH YOUR PRESENTATION.

WELL DONE. AND DO DO I.

DO WE FEEL LIKE WHAT YOU PROPOSED HELPS US OR GIVE US THE TOOLS WE WOULD NEED TO THEN? KIND OF. UNDERSTANDING THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, UNDERSTANDING OUR GOAL OF MAKING SURE DENTON KNIGHTS CAN BE HERE.

DO WE FEEL LIKE THOSE TWO CAN WORK WELL TOGETHER UNDER WHAT YOU PROPOSED? I THINK THE PROPOSAL WILL BENEFIT DENTON RESIDENTS, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WAY WE COULD SAY OTHER PEOPLE FROM OTHER PLACES COULDN'T BENEFIT FROM THESE AS WELL.

AND GOT IT.

AND THAT'S SO I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT TALK WITH YOU AFTER THAT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO THANK YOU. AND THEN LASTLY, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT FOR STAFF THAT I, I WOULD LIKE WHEN YOU COME WHEN WE COME BACK IN AUGUST TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS FROM BOND ELECTION AND WE CAN EVEN GO BACK AS 2005.

WE HAVE THOSE NUMBERS BUT 2005, 2012 AND 2014.

I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW MUCH MONEY WE TOOK FROM THE BUDGET TO TO.

FULFILLED OUR OBLIGATION TO THE VOTERS BEST WE COULD.

AND THEN IF YOU COULD AND JUST TO THOSE TRACKING ALONG, I DIDN'T MENTION 20, 2019, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED TO FIX THIS, THE HOUR WE GOT IT RIGHT OR CHANGE THE PROCESS AND STAFF CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

BUT WE'RE SPOT ON.

WE HAVE 100, $150 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR ROADS.

AND WE'RE ON PACE WITH THE BUDGETS AND WITH THE PROJECTIONS, WHICH IS OUTSTANDING.

THE ONLY THING THAT WAS OUT OF WHACK IS THE POLICE STATION REMODELED THE DOWNTOWN STATION, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE WAS A REMODEL VERSUS A THEY WANTED TO BUILD IT NEW THAT WAS REJECTED.

SO WE SETTLED ON REMODEL AND THEN WE GOT BEHIND THE WALLS AND FOUND ISSUES.

AND THOSE LED TO OVERRUNS OF ROUND NUMBERS EIGHT, 9 MILLION.

SO OTHER THAN THAT, THE PROJECTIONS ARE SPOT ON.

SO WE'VE THAT ADMINISTRATION 2019 DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF FORECASTING AND GIVING US BETTER NUMBERS THAT THEN HAVE HELD.

SO THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL.

ANYTHING ELSE? MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. REAL BRIEFLY, I JUST APPRECIATE THE POINT THAT YOU LED OFF YOUR YOUR COMMENTS ON THE UNDERSTANDING, THE IMPACTS AND BEING HELPING THE CITIZENS UNDERSTAND THE ROLE AND NOT JUST BEING TARGETED BY THE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF TERROR OF THE ABSOLUTE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I IN REINFORCING THAT, I THINK IT WAS A GREAT POINT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE FUTURE PRESENTATION ADDRESS THAT IN SOME WAY, WHETHER THAT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, COST PER MEDIAN HOUSE DOLLAR KIND OF THING OR SOMETHING ELSE WHERE IF WE COULD BREAK IT DOWN LIKE THIS IS THIS IS $0.50, YOU KNOW, THIS IS TEN BUCKS, YOU KNOW THIS, YOU KNOW, SPREAD OUT OVER THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE THE WAY YOU DO DURING OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION.

I FIND THAT REALLY HELPFUL.

AND I THINK THE MAYOR HAD A A GREAT POINT ON THAT ONE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE BACK COMING BACK ON THE FIRST SO STAFF CAN PULL THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER? GREAT. OKAY. THANK YOU AGAIN.

APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME.

AND Y'ALL DID A FANTASTIC JOB.

OKAY. THAT TAKES US TO ITEM.

ANYTHING ELSE FOR YOU? OKAY, GREAT. SO THAT TAKES US TO ITEM B, WHICH IS ID 23270.

[B. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding Customer Service, Water & Wastewater, Environmental Services, Electric, and Solid Waste FY 2023-24 Preliminary Budgets and Rates. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 45 minutes]]

RECEIVE, REPORT, HOLD DISCUSSION, AND GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING CUSTOMER SERVICE, WATER AND WASTEWATER, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, ELECTRIC AND SOLID WASTE.

[00:55:05]

OH, AND KEVIN. UH.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AGAIN.

BELATED BUT YOU.

YEAH. TELL YOUR BETTER HALF WE SAID HELLO.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I AM AMY KASTELIC.

I AM THE INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER.

AND I SAY THAT JUST TO SAY RIGHT NOW I'M WEARING A LOT OF HATS.

SO JUST IF YOU CAN AFFORD ME A LITTLE BIT OF GRACE TODAY IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I'D GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE UTILITY BUDGETS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, WATER AND WASTEWATER ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

DENTON MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC AND SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING.

WITH EACH OF THESE PRESENTATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE JOINING ME IN THE DISCUSSION.

FIRST UP FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE, WE HAVE KRISTA FOSTER, WHO IS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER.

MAYOR COUNCIL.

KRISTA FOSTER, CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER.

I'M GOING TO DO THE INTRO ON THIS.

I'LL GO THROUGH IT FAIRLY QUICKLY.

I KNOW THAT WE HAVE LIMITED TIME.

JUST AS A REMINDER FOR EVERYONE, THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND.

SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2018, WE DO NOT HAVE AN OPERATING RESERVE FOR THE FUND AND ALL OF OUR ALLOCATIONS COME FROM THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE SERVE BASED ON THE PERCENTAGE OF BUSINESS THAT WE DO FOR THEM.

SO OUR TOTAL ORGANIZATION RIGHT NOW HAS 56.5 HEADCOUNT.

THAT IS THREE DIFFERENT BUSINESS GROUPS.

WE HAVE OUR INBOUND CALL CENTER, OUR COLLECTIONS AND REVENUE GROUP, AS WELL AS OUR UTILITY BILLING, OUR CURRENT FTE SUMMARY, WE'RE ESTIMATED AT TO END THE YEAR AT THE 56.5.

WE DO HAVE SEVERAL SUPPLEMENTAL PACKAGES FOR STAFFING AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE LATER.

ON OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.

ONE WAS OUR PHONE SYSTEM REDESIGN THAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN COMPLETED.

NOW. OUR CUSTOMERS SHOULD HAVE A MUCH BETTER EXPERIENCE WITH OUR IVR.

WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE SILVER BLAZE UTILITY PORTAL.

WE WERE WORKING ON A FEW OF THOSE ITEMS THIS MORNING THAT WILL ALLOW OUR CUSTOMERS TO HAVE A MORE OF A FULL SERVICE ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT PORTAL WHERE THEY CAN GO IN AND SET ALERTS, SEE INTERVAL USAGE ON THEIR ELECTRICITY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEN OUR LAST INITIATIVE IS THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND CALL CENTER CONSOLIDATION.

SO AS YOU KNOW, IN NOVEMBER WE ARE GOING TO BE LAUNCHING PHASE ONE OF THE CONSOLIDATED CALL CENTER AND START BRINGING IN CALLS FROM SOME OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

SO IT GIVES OUR CITIZENS ONE PLACE TO CALL TO BE ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE.

AND THOSE WILL BE DIFFERENT NUMBERS AT THE BEGINNING.

BUT IF THEY CALL, THEY'LL FLOW TO THE SAME PLACE.

SO THEY DIDN'T CALL A WRONG NUMBER IF THEY CALLED THE NUMBER.

AND THEN I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO AMY.

ALL RIGHT. SO AS KRISTA MENTIONED, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS FULLY FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENTS THEY SERVE BASED ON THE CALL VOLUME BILLS, PROCESS AND REVENUES COLLECTED FOR EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS.

AT THE END OF THE YEAR. WE DO CONDUCT A TRUE UP BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENDITURES AND SUPPORT PROVIDED TO EACH DEPARTMENT.

PRELIMINARY EXPENDITURES SHOW AN INCREASE OF $1.8 MILLION.

THIS IS DUE IN PART TO PERSONNEL COSTS RELATED TO THE KÖPPEN CLASS STUDY, AS WELL AS A BASELINE ADJUSTMENT ADJUSTMENT OF $700,000 FOR BANK FEES RELATED TO CREDIT CARD USAGE.

THESE FEE INCREASES ARE ALSO REFLECTED IN THE CURRENT YEAR ESTIMATE.

THERE'S ALSO AN ADJUSTMENT FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PLUS ONE PROGRAM, INCREASING IT BY $50,000 TO A TOTAL OF $225,000. AND THIS IS BASED ON THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR THIS ASSISTANCE.

ALSO INCLUDED ARE SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS, WHICH WILL BE COVERED IN A BIT MORE DETAIL LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION.

SO SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS TOTALING THREE I'M SORRY, $534,000 INCLUDE A 2% MERIT INCREASE AND AN INCREASE IN STAFFING.

IF APPROVED, THESE WILL BE FUNDED IN CUSTOMER SERVICES OPERATING BUDGET, THEN ALLOCATED BACK OUT TO THE DEPARTMENTS THEY SERVE.

SO KRISTA IS GOING TO COME BACK UP HERE BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO DISCUSS THE SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST FOR PERSONNEL AND ALL OF THE DATA THAT SUPPORTS THAT REQUEST. CHRISTA FOSTER, CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER.

SO REAL QUICKLY, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN VOLUMES OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

WE'VE OBVIOUSLY SEEN AN INCREASE IN ACCOUNT NUMBERS AS OUR CITY IS CONTINUING TO GROW.

[01:00:04]

WE SAW A TREMENDOUS INCREASE OF CALL VOLUMES.

THIS HAS BEEN ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED INDUSTRYWIDE IN THE UTILITY SECTOR FOR CALL CENTERS.

IT'S VERY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I'M SEEING IN BENCHMARKING FOR OTHER UTILITY SECTOR CENTERS AS WELL.

THEN YOU'LL ALSO NOTE THAT OUR AVERAGE CALL TIME HAS GONE UP AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, AS WE'VE SEEN ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS.

A LOT OF TIMES IT'S TAKING LONGER TO WORK WITH THESE CUSTOMERS.

AND PART OF OUR STRATEGY FOR TRYING TO COMBAT CALL VOLUMES IS WE'VE TURNED OUT NINE DIFFERENT SELF SERVICE FORMS FOR THE PUBLIC OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS.

AND PART OF THAT MEANS WE'RE TAKING SOME OF THOSE SIMPLER CALLS AND LETTING THEM SELF-SERVICE.

SO THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO ARE CALLING IN TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO WORK WITH BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEEDED OUR HELP TO BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO JUST BRIEFLY TO TALK ABOUT CALL CENTER CONSOLIDATION, ALL STAFF IN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION THAT TAKE CALLS WILL TAKE CALLS FOR THAT, AS WELL AS ANY OF THE CONSOLIDATED DEPARTMENTS THAT WE BRING IN.

SO THERE IS NOT A SEPARATE STAFFING OF A PHONE AGENT FOR DEALING WITH UTILITIES OR A PHONE AGENT FOR DEALING WITH OTHER SERVICES.

THEY'RE THE SAME PEOPLE.

AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING IS WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING OVER THE WHOLE PROJECT.

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PARKS, MAINTENANCE, PUBLIC WORKS, WATER DISTRIBUTION, METER SHOP WASTEWATER.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING IN THE AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY SUPPORT SO THAT WE CAN GIVE FULL SERVICE, YOU KNOW, AS BEST WE CAN FOR CUSTOMERS.

THE IMPORTANT THINGS FOR US TO NOTE IS THAT DOES MEAN THAT WE WILL BE DOING EMERGENCY SERVICE ORDERS AND DISPATCHES FOR THINGS LIKE TRAFFIC, FOR THINGS LIKE WATER MAIN BREAKS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, WHICH MAKE STAFFING A HUGE CONSIDERATION FOR RUNNING OUR BUSINESS.

OUR SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST ARE FOR SOME FRONTLINE STAFF AS WELL AS SOME SUPPORT STAFF.

WHAT WE FOUND IS OUR STAFF GROWTH HAS NOT MET THE BUSINESS GROWTH AND THE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO FULFILL OUR BUSINESS, OUR SUPPORT STAFF.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A FAIRLY CRITICAL POSITION.

WE HAVE 5 OR 6 STAFF MEMBERS WHO, FROM THE MOMENT THEY WALK IN THE DOOR, HAVE A 9 TO 11 HOURS WORTH OF WORK THAT'S PRE-PLANNED BEFORE ANY EXTRA RESEARCH, ANY EXTRA REQUESTS COME INTO THEM, ANYTHING GOES SIDEWAYS.

SO WE ALSO HAVE TWO FRONTLINE STAFF THAT WE'RE HAVING TO PULL MORE THAN 75% OF THEIR TIME JUST TO ASSIST US WITH TRAINING AND RETAINING THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE HAD A 33% CHANGE IN CALL VOLUME.

THE DARKER AREA OF THE BAR ARE THE CALLS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HANDLE AND ANSWER THAT LIGHTER AREA.

ARE THE CALLERS WHO JUST GIVE UP, CAN'T GET THROUGH AND WE CAN'T GET TO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO REACH US AGAIN, TRY TO REACH US ANOTHER WAY.

AND THIS IS A NUMBER THAT MAKES ME AS A CONTACT CENTER MANAGER, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

SO YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE ANOTHER NUMBER THAT MAKES ME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, AND THAT IS OUR PEAK WAIT TIME.

SO IF I TELL YOU THAT MY AVERAGE WAIT TIME IS TWO MINUTES, THAT MEANS FOR EVERY CUSTOMER WHO GOT IN WITH NO, WAIT, SOMEBODY WAITED EIGHT, TEN, 12. DURING THE LUNCH HOURS, WE HAVE THE SMALLEST NUMBER OF STAFFING AND A HIGHER VOLUME OF CALLS.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU'LL START SEEING PEAK HOURS FROM ABOUT 1130 TO ABOUT TWO, 230, AND WE SEE WAIT TIMES ANYWHERE ON AVERAGE OF 40, 45 MINUTES.

SOMETIMES THAT MEANS THE ONES THAT ARE GOING HIGH OR MAY EXCEED AN HOUR.

AND THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO ADDRESS AND BE ABLE TO CHANGE.

THAT ALSO LENDS TO THE PERCENTAGE OF CALLERS THAT ARE WAITING LONGER THAN ONE MINUTE ON HOLD.

OUR GOAL IS TO ANSWER THOSE WITHIN 75, 75% OF THOSE CALLERS WITHIN ONE MINUTE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, 2019 PRE-PANDEMIC IN SOME OF THESE CHANGES THAT WAS OCCURRING, THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE.

AND AT THIS POINT, 60% OF OUR CALLERS ARE WAITING FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO SOMEONE CONSISTENTLY.

SO THAT IS WHAT I HAVE FOR.

SO YOU'LL SEE THIS SLIDE IN EVERY PRESENTATION THAT WE SHARE TODAY OF NEXT STEPS.

NEXT STEPS WILL BE GOING BACK TO PUB ON JULY THE 24TH AND THEN COMING BACK TO THIS BODY ON AUGUST THE 5TH AT RETREAT.

ANY QUESTIONS ON CUSTOMER SERVICE? CERTAINLY. MAYOR PRO TEM, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

SO THIS IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BASED ON MY PRE READING OF THE PRESENTATIONS BEFOREHAND, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, KRISTA, BUT I'M PRETTY MUCH GOING TO ASK EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEAD THAT PRESENTS BEFORE US.

IT SEEMS LIKE FAR AND AWAY ALL OF YOU ARE JUSTIFYING MORE FTE.

IT SEEMS LIKE IN YOUR CASE, JUSTIFYING DOUBLE WHAT YOU'RE WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING YOU MAY EVENTUALLY ASK FOR IN THE BUDGET REQUEST.

[01:05:10]

AND SO IF YOU HAVE METRICS THAT ARE JUSTIFYING DOUBLE, I GUESS, AND FOR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEAD THAT'S GOING TO PRESENT TO US TODAY, FIRE DID THIS TO US LAST YEAR AND WE'RE LIKE, NO, WAIT, IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR METRICS JUSTIFY MORE THAN THAT.

I GUESS I'M QUESTIONING.

I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY HASN'T MADE MUCH MONEY AND WE'VE GOT A BUDGET BASED ON OUR TAX RATE AND EVERYTHING, BUT WHY ARE WE NOT BEING PRESENTED IF YOU I MEAN, SO FIRST QUESTION TO EVERY FUTURE DEPARTMENT HEAD, INCLUDING YOU IS, IS AM I RIGHT IN MY ASSESSMENT OF ABOUT DOUBLE THE FTE? I MEAN, 25% WAS YOUR AVERAGE ON THE ONE SLIDE AND AND IT SEEMED LIKE 25% OF 56 IS 1213 EMPLOYEES IN YOU'RE ANTICIPATING SIX SO MAYBE HALF.

SO AM I UNDERSTANDING THE SORT OF BALLPARK METRICS CORRECTLY AND AND WHY AREN'T YOU ASKING FOR MORE? SO I WANT TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE LIMITATIONS WITH BUDGET.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A VERY BIG ASK TO BEGIN WITH.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT CALL CENTER STAFFING, THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC FORMULAS THAT ARE USED AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT CALL ARRIVALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHEN I PUT THOSE NUMBERS THROUGH, IT WILL TELL ME THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT I NEED BASED TO BE SIGNED INTO A PHONE LIKE FOR A GIVEN DAY.

THIS PUTS US AT A PLACE WHERE WE WOULD MAINTAIN 65% OF OUR CALLERS ANSWERED IN 60S OR LESS MATHEMATICALLY.

RIGHT? ONCE WE GET THEM HIRED AND TRAINED, THAT CAN TAKE UP TO TEN MONTHS TO GET SOMEONE IN THE DOOR THROUGH ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND FULLY ON THEIR FEET.

BUT WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT AS WE BRING IN THE CONSOLIDATED CALL CENTER.

RIGHT NOW, WHAT I HAVE ARE ALL THE NUMBERS OF WHAT ACTUALLY COMES IN TODAY.

THAT'S MY MAXIMUM, RIGHT? I KNOW WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE.

BUT AS WE'RE BUILDING OUT OUR CRM SOFTWARE, WE ARE BUILDING IN A LOT OF SELF SERVICE CAPABILITIES SO THAT IT WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH ASKING THE QUESTIONS.

AND THAT WAY YOU CAN GET ON FROM HOME AND BE ABLE TO BE ASKED THE EXACT SAME QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD ASK YOU IF YOU CALLED ME.

SO I'M ANTICIPATING THAT WE WILL SEE A MOVEMENT OF A PORTION OF THAT VOLUME TO SELF SERVICE.

SO RATHER THAN PUT US IN A POSITION TO REQUEST FOR STAFF THAT MAY PUT US IN AN OVERSTAFFED SITUATION, I WANTED TO PUT US IN A POSITION THAT WOULD BE STABLE, GET US CLOSE TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE, GIVE US SOME TIME TO DO OPERATIONS AND REEVALUATE.

NO, I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER.

AND JUST AS A HEADS UP TO ANYBODY ELSE, IF YOU IF YOU COULD PRE ANTICIPATE MY QUESTION, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THE SAME SORT OF THING.

THANK YOU, CRYSTAL. I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCILOR MELTZER.

YEAH. YEAH. THANK YOU.

I'M SURE YOU WEREN'T WAITING FOR ME TO SUGGEST THESE THINGS.

SO YOU ARE COMPLETELY ENTITLED TO JUST RESPOND.

WELL, DUH.

BUT I WOULD LAY THIS OUT. BUT ARE THERE COMMON CALL RESOLUTIONS IN BIG BUCKETS SO COMMON THAT THEY COULD CONCEIVABLY GET ADDRESSED IN THE IVR THROUGH SELF CARE WITHOUT EVEN IF THEY MIGHT TAKE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PATHS TO GET TO THAT RESOLUTION? LIKE IF IT'S LIKE TRY THIS FIRST? THAT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY GREAT QUESTION AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I ACTUALLY WAS SPEAKING WITH THE CENTENARY OF SAYING, WELL, DUH.

YES, YES.

I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE 311 MANAGER OF SAN ANTONIO YESTERDAY AND THEY JUST PUT INTO PLACE A BRAND NEW IVR SYSTEM THAT ACTUALLY USES AI, THAT GOOGLE SEARCHES THEIR WEBSITE AND PROVIDES A LOT OF THOSE ANSWERS FOR US.

WE JUST WENT THROUGH UPGRADING OUR IVR, BUT IT'S AN UPGRADE OF THE SAME PLATFORM WE HAVE BECAUSE IT NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED BECAUSE IT WAS SO OLD.

IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT CAPABILITY.

WE DO HAVE SOME OF THE BASIC INFORMATION THAT IS IN OUR IVR, BUT WE RIGHT NOW TEND TO MOVE TOWARD PROVIDING SOME OF THOSE THINGS ON OUR WEBSITE SO THAT YOU CAN JUST GET THERE, FILL OUT THE FORM AND BE DONE.

BUT YEAH, I WOULD LOVE TO BE MOVING THAT DIRECTION ONCE THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE.

THAT IS DEFINITELY ON THE HORIZON IN MY BOOK.

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER.

YEAH, THIS IS THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A PERSONAL QUESTION, BUT I THINK EVERYONE CAN, CAN CAN GET WITH THIS.

THIS IS A NEW SYSTEM THAT YOU PUT IN THE IVR SYSTEM AND AND THE IDEA THAT A PERSON LIKE ME CAN GO ONLINE AND KIND OF MANAGE MY ACCOUNT, THE CRM AND THE SILVER BLADES. SO IF YOU'RE TALKING SILVER BLAZE, THEN YES, IT WOULD GIVE YOU THE ABILITY, LIKE RIGHT NOW YOU CAN GO AND LOG INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AND YOU CAN PAY YOUR BILLS AND YOU CAN PULL A COPY OF YOUR BILL, THE EXISTING PAGE THAT WE USE FOR YOU TO ACCESS YOUR BILLS AND MAKE PAYMENTS IS EMBEDDED INTO THE NEW SOFTWARE.

[01:10:02]

IT WILL ALLOW YOU TO MAKE CERTAIN CHANGES.

WE'RE GOING TO FORMAT IT SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE CERTAIN CHANGES, LIKE ASK FOR CHANGES ON YOUR SECONDARY INFORMATION, MAYBE BE ABLE TO HAVE.

WE STILL HAVE TO LOOK AT A FEW THINGS, SO I CAN'T PROMISE EVERYTHING, BUT IT WILL ALSO ALLOW YOU TO SET UP ALERTS SO YOU CAN SAY MY AVERAGE UTILITY USAGE OR WHAT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IS THIS IF I GO OVER THAT FOR A DAY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO THAT I CAN GO BACK AND MAKE SOME CHANGES IN MY HOW THOSE KIDS TURN THOSE LIGHTS OFF.

SO YOU CAN DO ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IN THE NEW SYSTEM.

AND SPEAKING OF THAT, I WAS HOPING THAT THIS NEW SYSTEM WOULD ALSO ALLOW YOU TO PICK YOUR DATE FOR PAYMENT. I THINK I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR THE LAST.

THAT'S LUXURY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO DO BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PHYSICALLY WORK ALL OF THOSE BILLS.

SO YOU HAVE TO BREAK THE ENTIRE CITY INTO ORGANIZED GROUPINGS OF CYCLES SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE 50% OF THE CITY COMING IN ON THE SAME DAY BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY LIMITED TIME FRAME WHEN IT COMES IN WITH THE REED.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET IT CLEANED UP, SEND PEOPLE BACK OUT TO DOUBLE CHECK THOSE REEDS.

IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS, DO ALL OF THE CALCULATIONS, GET THEM PRINTED AND OFF TO BE SENT OUT, THEN WE ARE BY ORDINANCE AND BY EVERYTHING ELSE REQUIRED THAT.

AND I THINK EVEN TIFFANY, PART OF IT GOES INTO STATE REGULATIONS ON THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT WE CAN GO BETWEEN BILLING PEOPLE.

SO IF WE SEND OUT A BILL, WE HAVE TO PUT IT OUT WITH A DUE DATE IN A SET NUMBER OF DAYS.

THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE CAN'T CHANGE DUE DATES.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO FOR PEOPLE.

BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THAT IS JUST NOT IT.

OKAY. OKAY. AND SO THE LAST THING IS THAT I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A DUE DATE NOW AND THERE IS ALSO A LATE FEE THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THAT DUE DATE AND IT WILL KEEP ADDING ON AND ADDING ON IF YOU CONTINUE TO BE LATE.

AND THIS IS WHY I'M JUST TRYING TO CONNECT MY PAY DUE DATE TO THE TIME, YOU KNOW, SO I WON'T GET A LATE FEE.

RIGHT. THE BEST ALTERNATIVE THAT I, I BELIEVE WE OFFER FOR SOMEONE WHO IS ON A FIXED INCOME FIXED PAYDAY THAT WANTS SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS TO MOVE TO OUR PREPAID UTILITIES.

THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT I USE.

I LOVE OUR PREPAID PREPAID.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU START THE ACCOUNT, YOU'LL START THE ACCOUNT WITH LIKE A BALANCE OF WHATEVER YOUR MONTH IS, JUST LIKE A DEBIT CARD, RIGHT? RIGHT. AND THEN THAT WAY ON THE DATE THAT'S COMFORTABLE FOR YOU, YOU MAKE THE PAYMENT FOR YOUR NEXT MONTH'S SERVICE AND IT JUST SITS THERE AND THERE ARE NO LATE FEES, THERE'S NEVER A DEPOSIT.

NOTHING LIKE THAT APPLIES TO THE PREPAID.

THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED TO HEAR.

YEAH. SO JUST. JUST CATCH UP AND PUT SOME EXTRA MONEY IN THERE.

YES. AND IF AN ACCOUNT HAS A DEPOSIT CURRENTLY BEING HELD, WE ACTUALLY APPLY THAT DEPOSIT PLUS THE INTEREST AS PART OF THE PREPAID ACCOUNT. SO YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, A CUSTOMER CAN TAKE MONEY THAT'S SITTING THERE AS A DEPOSIT AND MOVE IT ON TO A PREPAID ACCOUNT WHERE IT WILL ACTUALLY PAY THEIR UTILITIES. I LEARNED I LOVE LEARNING NEW THINGS.

AND THEN IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE I GET THOSE KINDS OF PHONE CALLS.

AND I'VE BEEN LATE BEFORE BECAUSE I WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE FIRST, YOU KNOW, TO PAY MY BILL.

AND IT WAS DUE ON THE 22ND.

SURE. SO THAT YOU KNOW, AND THAT WAS A SURPRISE.

OH, MY GOODNESS. I'M LATE NOW.

RIGHT. BECAUSE OF THE NEW SERVICE.

THAT'S THE GOOD THING WITH THE PREPAID IS YOU CAN SET UP THE PHONE APP, YOU CAN CHECK YOUR BALANCE EVERY DAY.

IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY SEND YOU ALERTS IF YOUR BALANCE GETS BELOW $10.

BUT YOU CAN SET IT TO GIVE YOU AN ALERT IF IT'S BELOW $100 OR BELOW 50.

BUT THAT IS ALWAYS A GREAT NO FEE OPTION FOR CUSTOMERS.

THAT'LL BE A GREAT EDUCATIONAL POINT FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT DOES COME BACK TO US.

SO I'M ASKING NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE CONTACTED ME ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME.

HARLAN. THANK YOU.

CRANK BACK EARLY, EARLY INTO YOUR PRESENTATION.

DID I UNDERSTAND THAT? THAT THE CITY ABSORBS THE DISCOUNT RATE FROM PEOPLE WHO PAY BY CREDIT CARD? WE ACTUALLY DO.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REASONS FOR THAT.

ONE, IT WAS COUNCIL DIRECTION THAT WE DID NOT WANT TO PASS THE FEES ON TO OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AT THAT TIME.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

THIS WAS WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS QUITE YET, THAT THE BYLAWS FOR THE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES REQUIRES US TO CHARGE THE FEE AS A FLAT RATE.

IT CANNOT BE A PERCENTAGE BASE.

IT HAS TO APPLY TO ALL CUSTOMERS.

IT HAS TO APPLY TO BOTH CREDIT CARD AND ELECTRONIC CHECK, AND WE CANNOT ALLOW RECURRING PAYMENTS.

SO THERE WERE A LOT OF STIPULATIONS THAT WOULD MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO REFUSE.

IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE, I WORKED FOR A GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND WE ALWAYS ADDED WE CALLED IT A CONVENIENCE FEE, AND I TOLD PEOPLE IT WAS SO

[01:15:03]

CONVENIENT IT WAS WORTHWHILE.

BUT BUT WE ADDED THAT ON.

I'M JUST SURPRISED THAT I HEARD THAT.

YEAH, WE DID CHARGE THE CONVENIENCE FEE UNTIL WE HAD TO SWITCH OUR PAYMENT PROVIDERS, OUR MERCHANT SERVICE PROVIDER, AND WHEN WE DID, THEY BROUGHT US UP TO THE CURRENT STANDARD AND THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO GO BACK TO THE WAY WE HAD.

SO YOU'RE NOT COLLECTING 100%.

YOU'RE NOT LITERALLY ABLE TO DEPOSIT 100% OF THE BILL INTO THE BANK.

WE DEPOSIT 100% OF THE BILL.

WE GET CHARGED THOSE OTHER FEES.

BUT YOU BUT YOU ABSORB THE DISCOUNT RATE.

OKAY. EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT A DISCOUNT RATE IS.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I COULD BE HERE ALL NIGHT.

SO I HAVE. I HAVE.

I HAVE JUST AND HOPEFULLY THESE ARE ONE WORD ANSWERS, BUT BECAUSE TRYING TO BE QUICK.

BUT. THE POSITIONS YOU HAVE.

WILL THOSE BE. THERE ARE A LOT OF I SEE SERVICE REP AND SUPERVISOR WERE THE BULK OF THESE BE PROMOTIONS AND THEN YOUR BACKFILL A NUMBER OF THESE WILL BE PROMOTIONS AND BACKFILL.

RIGHT. RIGHT. SO THEN YOU HIRE SOMEONE NEW TO.

OKAY. GOT IT. MAKING SURE.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS YOU TALK ABOUT AND I MAY JUST NOT BE UNDERSTANDING.

WELL, AND I CAN GET BACK WITH YOU, BUT THE THE CURRENT THE SLIDE WE HAD A CURRENT SERVICE AND THEN THE CONSOLIDATED SERVICE AND THAT CALLS WILL THAT ARE THEIR CURRENT EMPLOYEES THAT ARE DOING THAT NOW THAT WOULD THEN JUST SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT.

MOST MOST OF THE VOLUMES THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN ARE FAIRLY LOW.

SO IT'S NOT TAKING EVEN A QUARTER OF A PERSON FROM SOME OF THESE DIFFERENT PLACES AT THIS POINT.

A LOT OF TIMES IT'S THINGS THAT IS INTERRUPTING SOMEONE ELSE'S WORK, LIKE THEY'RE DOING WHATEVER AND NOW THEY'VE GOT TO GO GRAB A PHONE.

RIGHT? SO IT'S NOT IT SHOULD NOT BE DISPLACING ANYONE.

BUT WE ALSO FOUND THAT IT WASN'T ENOUGH VOLUME FROM ANY INDIVIDUAL AREA TO START TAKING THEIR STAFF AND GOING, HEY, WITH THESE CALLS COMES THIS STAFF, BECAUSE I HAVE DONE THAT IN PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES WITH THIS, WHERE THE VOLUMES WERE HIGHER IN OUR SITUATION, WE ARE ALREADY TAKING THE HIGHEST VOLUME OF ALL THE CALLS THAT COME IN.

OKAY, GOT IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OF COURSE.

ANYTHING ELSE? GREAT. THANK YOU. ME THE.

ALL RIGHT. SO NEXT UP IS WATER AND WASTEWATER.

AND JOINING ME FOR THIS PRESENTATION IS STEVEN GAY, WATER UTILITIES DIRECTOR.

THERE YOU GO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

STEPHEN GAY, DIRECTOR, WATER UTILITIES.

SO THIS RIGHT HERE, THIS IS ONE OF THE MATRIX WE LIKE TO SHOW.

IT'S REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF MAIN BREAKS WITHIN OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

AND THIS BREAKS PER 100 MILES OF PIPE.

THAT IS AN W.W.A.

STANDARD. AND IT'S USED TO SEE HOW WELL RUN OR MAINTAIN YOUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IS.

AND IF YOU CAN SEE IT'S ROUGHLY 13 BREAKS OR 15 BREAKS PER 100 MILES OF PIPE AND WE'RE BELOW THAT SIGNIFICANTLY.

THE NEXT ONE IS FROM THE WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION, AND THAT'S THE NUMBER OF CHOKES AND OR OVERFLOWS THAT WE EXPERIENCE WITH PER HUNDRED MILES OF PIPE.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE BELOW THE INDUSTRY.

STANDARD ORGANIZATIONAL CHART IS ROUGHLY 173 FTES HAVE MYSELF WERE BROKEN UP INTO FOUR DIVISIONS.

WE HAVE OUR PLANNING AND ENGINEERING DIVISION, WE HAVE WATER TREATMENT FIELD OPERATIONS AND OUR UTILITIES ADMINISTRATION.

FTE SUMMARY. YOU'LL NOTICE THE THE THE POSITIONS THAT HAVE THE ASTERISK BY THEM.

THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE BEING MOVED OVER TO SUSTAINABILITY.

SO THOSE ARE THE ADJUSTMENTS.

I DO BELIEVE THIS DOES INCLUDE THE SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS FOR FTS THIS YEAR.

AND THIS IS FOR THE WASTEWATER.

SAME INFORMATION.

THE POSITIONS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING ARE WITH REGARDS TO WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECT TWO PROJECT MANAGERS, ONE FOR EACH, AND INSPECTOR IN BOTH AREAS FOR OUR VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION, WE'RE LOOKING AT MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS AT OUR LAKE LEWISVILLE AND LAKE RAY ROBERTS TREATMENT FACILITIES AND AS WELL AS OVER ON WHEN WE GET TO THE WASTEWATER.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME PLANT OPERATORS OVER AT OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES, AND THAT'S TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWING MAINTENANCE THAT WE HAVE AT THOSE SITES, AS WELL AS TO BALANCE OUT THE OPERATIONS TEAM.

CURRENTLY OVER AT LAKE, WE'RE ACTUALLY PECAN CREEK.

WE'RE ON SINGLE SHIFT COVERAGE, SO WE HAVE A SINGLE OPERATOR THAT'S THERE DURING NIGHTTIME OPERATING THE PLANT.

AND SO THIS IS GOING TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE.

OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES ARE TO DEVELOP AND UPDATE OUR MASTER PLANS.

WE'VE HAD SOME SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS RECENTLY ABOUT OUR WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN.

[01:20:04]

WE HAVE THE ONE WATER MASTER PLAN THAT'S UNDER DEVELOPMENT CURRENTLY.

THIS IS GOING TO LOOK AT UPDATING OUR WATER MASTER PLAN.

IT'S GOING TO LOOK AT OUR COMPREHENSIVE WATER SUPPLY PLAN.

IT WILL BE LOOKING AT OUR DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN AND CONSERVATION PLAN, AS WELL AS DOING SOME COMPREHENSIVE CONDITION ASSESSMENTS AT OUR TREATMENT FACILITIES WITH THE CONTRACTING, OUR CONTRACTS AND OPERATIONAL AGREEMENTS.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR WELL, SINCE 2021, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THOSE AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE EXPIRED AND SIGNIFICANTLY EXPIRED.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET THOSE AGREEMENTS UPDATED.

THANKS TO MACK AND HIS TEAM.

WE'VE MADE A LOT OF GREAT HEADWAY ON THE OUR AGREEMENTS WITH OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES, CRUM AND I WOULD SAY WITH CORINTH AND LAKE CITIES AS WELL.

AND THEN THE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS IS TO DEVELOP THOSE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH NOT ONLY THOSE NEIGHBORING UTILITIES OR CITIES, BUT ALSO WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AND WITH THE OPPORTUNITY REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S ABOUT IT FROM MINE.

OKAY. READY FOR QUESTIONS? NOT YET. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO FINANCIAL ASSUMPTIONS INCLUDED FOR WATER IS A TWO AND ONE HALF PERCENT GROWTH IN ITS CUSTOMER BASE THAT IS CONSISTENT ACROSS ALL UTILITIES. EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS INCLUDE MODERATE INCREASES IN PERSONNEL AND OPERATING COSTS.

AND FOR WATER WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING OR INCLUDING A RATE INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 FOR BOTH REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ARE EXPECTED TO COME IN UNDER BUDGET IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

LOOKING AT THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE ARE USING MORE IMPACT FEES TO FUND CAPITAL AND DEBT SERVICE.

REDUCTIONS IN EXPENSES ARE RELATED TO THE MOVEMENT OF PERSONNEL AND RELATED COSTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND SUSTAINABILITY.

WE ARE MEETING RESERVE BALANCES AND DEBT RATIO TARGETS IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, BUT ARE ANTICIPATING RATE INCREASES FOR THE FOUR YEARS FOLLOWING THAT.

WATER CAPITAL PLAN INCLUDES $96.5 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND A FIVE YEAR TOTAL SORRY, OF $377.7 MILLION.

OF THAT, $82.2 MILLION IS BEING FUNDED BY BONDS 7.9 OR 8 MILLION BY REVENUES, ANOTHER 5 MILLION BY IMPACT FEES AND A LITTLE OVER 800,000 BY WITH VEHICLE REPLACEMENT DOLLARS.

SO KEY PROJECTS INCLUDED ARE THE AUTOMATED METER READING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR $14 MILLION.

LAKE LEWISVILLE RAW WATER PLANT TRANSMISSION FOR $7.5 MILLION.

RAY ROBERTS PLANT EXPANSION FOR $154 MILLION.

RAY ROBERTS PLANT UPGRADES FOR $33 MILLION AND THEN $27 MILLION.

IN SUPPORT OF THE 2019 BOND ELECTION.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS, WHICH STEPHEN DID MENTION EARLIER, INCLUDE A 2% MERIT INCREASE.

AND THEN THOSE SIX ADDITIONAL POSITIONS NEEDED TO SUPPORT WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATIONS AS WELL AS NEEDED VEHICLES.

SO THEN LOOKING AT WASTEWATER FINANCIALS AGAIN, WE ARE MAKING AN ASSUMPTION THAT WE HAVE 2.5% GROWTH RATE.

EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS AGAIN INCLUDE MODERATE INCREASES IN PERSONNEL AND OPERATING COSTS FOR WASTEWATER.

WE ARE ANTICIPATING A 11% RATE INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 WITH SIMILAR RATE INCREASES IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE COVERING THAT IN MORE DETAIL LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION.

SO REVENUE EXPENDITURES INCLUDED IN THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET ARE BELOW LAST YEAR'S ADOPTED BUDGET.

THIS IS DUE TO REVENUES ASSOCIATED WITH COST PARTICIPATION NOT BEING EXPECTED UNTIL FUTURE YEARS.

IN ADDITION, WE ARE ANTICIPATING LESS REVENUE FUNDED CAPITAL PERSONNEL AND OPERATING EXPENDITURES ARE LOW AGAIN DUE TO THE MOVEMENT OF PERSONNEL AND RELATED EXPENSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND SUSTAINABILITY BASED ON ANTICIPATED RATE INCREASES.

WE ARE PROJECTED TO MEET CASH AND DEBT COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS.

CASH EACH YEAR AND THEN DEBT COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS IN TWO OUT OF THE FIVE YEARS.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE BOND RATING AGENCIES LOOK AT DEBT COVERAGE ACROSS ALL UTILITIES AND NOT JUST A SINGLE FUND.

SO THE WASTEWATER MASTER I'M SORRY, WASTEWATER CAPITAL PLAN INCLUDES $61.3 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND A TOTAL OF

[01:25:02]

$385.1 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

IN 2024 $56 MILLION IS PROPOSED TO BE FUNDED WITH DEBT 2.9IN REVENUE FUNDS 2.5 WITH VEHICLE REPLACEMENT DOLLARS.

WE ARE ALSO ANTICIPATING USING IMPACT FEES IN FUTURE YEARS.

KEY PROJECTS FOR WASTEWATER INCLUDE THE PACKAN CREEK PLANT EXPANSION TO 26 MGS.

THE PACKAN CREEK PLANT PLAN 75 MGD HEADWORKS.

THAT'S A LOT TO SAY RIGHT THERE.

OVERSIZE PARTICIPATION AND FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF THE 2019 BOND ELECTION.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS AGAIN INCLUDE THAT 2% MERIT INCREASE FOR WATER RECLAMATION OPERATORS FOR PECAN CREEK, A PROJECT MANAGER AND AN INSPECTOR.

THERE IS ALSO A HYDRO EXCAVATION TRUCK WHICH IS BEING PROPOSED TO BE FUNDED BY DEBT.

THE TOTAL IMPACT ON THE OPERATING FUND IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 IS $748,000.

SO HERE'S A DRAINAGE PROFORMA.

REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ARE IN LINE WITH CURRENT YEAR ESTIMATES.

THIS DOES INCLUDE SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS, WHICH AGAIN, IS THAT 2% MERIT INCREASE.

A CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION TRUCK FOR EXAMINING INFRASTRUCTURE.

A FLUSHING TRUCK.

A COST OF SERVICE STUDY AND AN ASSET CONDITION ASSESSMENT.

SO IN LOOKING AT RATE CHANGES, WE ARE PROPOSING TO REMOVE TWO RATES THAT ARE RELATED TO DYNO DIRT.

NEXT, AND LOOKING AT THE WASTEWATER RATES, THIS IS A COMPARISON OF OTHER CITIES IN THE METROPLEX.

WHEN COMPARING RATES, WE USE THE WW STANDARD OF 8000 GALLONS.

IN LOOKING AT THE COST.

SO WHEN LOOKING AT WWE STANDARDS, OUR CURRENT RATE WOULD RESULT IN A $41.40 CHARGE.

AS PROPOSED, IT WOULD BE $45.95 PER MONTH.

HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS AN WWE STANDARD.

DENTON ACTUAL AVERAGE IS $33 PER MONTH PER CUSTOMER.

AN 11% INCREASE WOULD ADD $3.30 TO THEIR MONTHLY BILL, SO LESS THAN A CUP OF COFFEE PER MONTH.

SO WE WANT TO SHARE A HISTORY OF THE RATE INCREASE.

RATE INCREASES FOR OUR UTILITIES.

THIS INCLUDES A 5% RATE REDUCTION IN FISCAL YEAR 2019.

THIS RATE REDUCTION, COUPLED WITH THE CAPITAL NEEDS FOR WASTEWATER, IS ONE OF THE FACTORS BEHIND THE NEED FOR INCREASES GOING FORWARD.

SO IN ORDER TO KEEP RATES AS REASONABLY MINIMAL AS POSSIBLE, WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH WATER UTILITIES IN EXAMINING THEIR CIP NEEDS AND LOOKING AT WHAT PROJECTS NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD NOW VERSUS WHICH ONES COULD BE DELAYED UNTIL LATER.

INCLUDED IN THE CAPITAL PLAN IS $63 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 I'M SORRY, $62 MILLION.

AND THEN $384.6 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

SO THIS IS A LIST OF THE CIP PROJECTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PLAN.

THE BLUE HIGHLIGHTED PROJECTS ARE RELATED TO CAPACITY AND THE YELLOW TO REGULATORY.

NEXT, WE HAVE A LIST OF CIP PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED BUT ARE ANTICIPATED IN FURTHER OUT YEARS.

NEXT STEPS, WHICH YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION AND THEN NOW.

YES, WE ARE OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.

OKAY. AND JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

CP STANDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

PERFECT. THANK YOU.

QUESTIONS COUNCILWOMAN COUNCILOR AND THEN COUNCILMAN.

MCGEE. THANK GOODNESS COFFEE PRICES HAVE GONE UP SO MUCH.

IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S MAYBE LIKE A 711 CUP OF COFFEE.

I DON'T KNOW. I JUST MAKE IT AT HOME.

SO I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT WHAT DRIVES THE IMPACT FUND AMOUNTS FOR EACH YEAR BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE A LEVEL AMOUNT.

IT IT GOES UP AND DOWN, YOU KNOW, IS IT BASED ON THAT'S WHAT WE THINK IS GOING TO BE IN THE FUND AVAILABLE FOR THAT OR, YOU KNOW, OR IS THERE POTENTIALLY MORE AVAILABLE THAT COULD OFFSET SOME OF THE RATE INCREASE? WHAT DRIVES THE IMPACT FEE DRAW NUMBER? DO YOU WANT TO START THIS ONE? BASICALLY, WE'RE PULLING IN IMPACT FEES AND WE LOOK VERY CLOSELY AT HOW MUCH WE ESTIMATE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN EACH OF THOSE FUTURE YEARS SO WE CAN MAXIMIZE OUR USE OF THOSE IMPACT FEES. AND THEN I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TO THAT.

WE HAVE TO BY STATE LAW, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO LEVERAGE AN IMPACT FEE, IT HAS TO BE RELATIVE TO THE IMPACT FEE AREA IN WHICH IT WAS COLLECTED.

THANKFULLY, ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE, WE HAVE ONE SINGLE SERVICE AREA.

[01:30:02]

SO WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING THE CAPITAL PROGRAM, WE LOOKED AT HOW WE COULD BEST LEVERAGE THOSE IMPACT FEE DOLLARS TO KEEP, YOU KNOW, TO PUT SOME DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE RATES.

BUT IT'S BASICALLY THE MOST YOU COULD.

YES, SIR. ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY. THANKS.

COUNCIL MEMBER. MCGEE. HEY, MR. MAYOR, I THINK I HAVE A QUESTION FOR EACH OF YOU.

YOU HAD THE SLIDE UP ABOUT THE RATE INCREASE.

I WAS DOING MY STUDY FOR THIS OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE ONE THING I NOTICED IS THAT IT SEEMS, LOOKING AT I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR PROPOSED RATE INCREASE IS STILL GOING TO BE LOWER THAN THAN FOR OTHER CITIES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT LOOKING AT THE THE OTHER CITIES KIND OF IN OUR CLASS THAT HAVE ALSO INCREASED THEIR RATE.

DENTON'S RATE IS GOING UP A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.

ARE WE ATTRIBUTING THAT TO POPULATION GROWTH? THAT'S SIMPLE. CAN I GO AHEAD.

GO FOR IT. I WOULD.

WE'RE GROWING FASTER PERHAPS THAN LEWISVILLE AND IRVING, WHATNOT.

ACTUALLY, I WOULD SAY THE DRIVING FACTOR IS THE IMPROVEMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE TO THE CONCRETE.

IF YOU NOTICED ON THAT SLIDE, THE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, I THINK IT WAS AROUND $187 MILLION ALL IN.

THAT'S THE HEADWORKS FACILITY AND THAT'S THE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY THAT WE NEED BECAUSE WE HAVE EXCEEDED THE 75 TO 90 RULE FOR T-C-E-Q.

OKAY. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S DRIVING IT, SIR.

I, I FEEL LIKE I CAN SPEAK FOR IRVING FOR ONE SECOND.

SO IRVING, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BY POLICY, PUT IN A FIVE YEAR PLAN OF SMALL INCREMENTAL RATE INCREASES SO THAT THEY COULD AVOID RATE SHOCK.

SO IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR THEM TO INCREASE JUST A BIT EACH YEAR.

AND NORTH TEXAS ALSO HAS AN.

NORTH TEXAS. OKAY. I'M SORRY.

NORTH TEXAS IS JUST ANNOUNCED AN 11% RATE INCREASE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS AS WELL.

WOW. OKAY. AND LAST QUESTION, I GUESS, FOR YOU AS WELL, STEVEN.

I KNOW YOU AND I, BASED OFF OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT TRAINING IS TO YOU.

TRAINING AND CROSS TRAINING.

I DIDN'T NOTICE IT IN THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.

IS THAT BY DESIGN? I'LL SAY THAT'S AN OVERSIGHT ON MY BEHALF.

IT'S NOT. IT HASN'T LEFT THE TABLE.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.

BUT WE HAVE WE HAVE A LOT OF HUGE INITIATIVES RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND.

AND ONCE WE COMPLETE THE MASTER PLANNING INITIATIVES, WE WILL WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT TRAINING AND EDUCATION PIECE.

THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN HOLLAND AND MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU.

WHAT? WHAT IS A HYDRO EXCAVATION TRUCK? ARE YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO ANSWER THIS ONE, AMY? WELL, YOU CAN. I'M TERRIFIED.

NOW, COUNCILOR MCGEE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET YOU CLOSE ON IT.

SO HYDRO EXCAVATION TRUCK IS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT'S SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO DIG HYDRO EXCAVATE.

SO YOU USE WATER AND A BIG VACUUM TO REMOVE THE SOIL AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF CONFLICT, SO SAY YOU HAVE CABLE AND GAS AND WATER AND WASTEWATER ALL IN THE SAME AREA.

IT ALLOWS YOU TO EXCAVATE AROUND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT USING A BIG BUCKET TO LIFT OUT THE DIRT LIKE A VACUUM, A VACUUM AND AN ACTUAL HIGH PRESSURE HOSE. SO WE HAVE A TANK OF WATER ON THERE AND A PUMP AND SO WE CAN ERODE THE SOIL.

AND THEN THEY'VE BEEN OUT IN THE FIELD WITH ME, AND YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME OUT.

AND WE'D LOVE WE'D LOVE TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT, BUT THAT'S WHAT A HYDRO EXCAVATOR IS.

AND WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN USING OUR VECTOR.

THE VECTOR IS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE USE TO CLEAN OUT THE COLLECTION SYSTEM.

WE'VE HAD TO USE THAT FOR HYDRO EXCAVATION AND THAT USE IS ACTUALLY REDUCED THE USEFUL LIFE OF THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE GETTING WE'RE ASKING FOR A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT SPECIFIC FOR THAT FUNCTION.

IS THERE A BRAND NAME ON THAT TRUCK? SO AS I'M DRIVING AROUND, I CAN SAY THERE'S A VERMEER MAKES THEM.

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODELS, BUT WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE YOU OUT IN THE FIELD AND SHOW YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAN YOU SHOW HIM THE ROBOT THAT CHECKS OUT THE PIPES, TOO? WE CAN SHOW HIM THAT, TOO.

YEAH, WE CAN SHOW THEM THAT, TOO.

ALL RIGHT. ANY ANY MAYOR PRO TEM.

COME ON, LET'S.

THERE WE GO. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO, YEAH, IF YOU HAVEN'T.

IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN STEPHEN'S STORY, PLEASE DO.

IT'S GREAT. I RECOMMEND IT.

I WAS UNAWARE OF A LOT OF THE THINGS, AND IT'S REALLY RELEVANT, SO THAT'S JUST A PLUG FOR THAT.

MY QUESTION WAS RELATED TO COUNCILOR MCGEE'S NOT SO MUCH IN THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVE, BUT IT CONCERNED ME THAT AND AGAIN, THIS IS SORT OF RELATED TO THE QUESTION I ASKED KRISTA.

IT'S I SEE WHY YOU WANT THE EXTRA FTE.

SO THE PLANTS HAVE MORE OF A SINGLE OPERATOR.

BUT THEN ONE OF THE THINGS THE MAYOR ASKED, I BELIEVE, IS THE MAYOR ON KRISTA'S SECTION WAS THIS TRAINING AND AND MIGRATION OF OF EXISTING STAFF TO TRAIN NEW STAFF. AND DO YOU FEEL THAT AT YOUR CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS YOU HAVE THAT SORT OF UPWARD CAREER DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY BUILT

[01:35:04]

IN? BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THE MAYOR I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

YES, AND WE DO.

AND SO SOMETHING YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF IS WE ACTUALLY WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH TEKES TO GET THREE OF OUR SUPERVISORS OR MANAGERS CERTIFIED TO TEST TO TO TEACH TSIK CLASSES SO WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THE TRAINING IN-HOUSE FOR CERTIFICATION.

SO AS WE BRING THESE FOLKS IN, WE CAN CREATE A CAREER PATH FOR THEM.

SO YES, THERE IS THAT UPWARD MOBILITY.

IS THAT WHAT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH.

BUT WAS THERE SUFFICIENT STAFF TO WHERE THEY'RE NOT THEY HAVE TIME TO TRAIN INCOMING INDIVIDUALS AND NOT SIMPLY BE ANSWERING CALLS ALL THE TIME OR IN THIS CASE, WE WILL. WE'RE BUILDING THAT PROGRAM.

IT'S KIND OF ALONG THE LINES OF THAT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WHERE FIRST WE DID IS WE GOT OUR WE GOT A TEAM OF CERTIFIED INDIVIDUALS IN HOUSE WHO CAN TEACH THE CLASSES WITH THESE NEW FTES. WE'LL BRING THEM ON BOARD.

WE'LL HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE IN AT A, YOU KNOW, ENTRY LEVEL AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO BUILD THEM UP AND GET THEIR CERTIFICATIONS.

MOST OF THESE PLAN OPERATORS, THE WAY THAT THEY'RE POSITIONED, IF YOU LOOK BACK, I THINK ON THE MAINTENANCE TEXTS, THERE ARE ONE THROUGH THREE AND THAT'S BY DESIGN.

AND THE PLAN OPERATORS ARE ONE THROUGH FOUR.

SO THAT ALLOWS US TO GO OUT TO MARKET AND GET SOMEONE WITH RELATIVELY NO EXPERIENCE AT ALL, BRING THEM IN AND THEN TRAIN THEM AND GET THEM THEIR CERTIFICATIONS SO THEY CAN ADVANCE TO THE HIGHER LEVELS.

OKAY, AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS.

MR. MAYOR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. AND JUST JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT IN 45 MINUTES TOTAL.

SO WHAT I'VE DONE IS STOLEN 20 MINUTES FROM THE NEXT TOPIC BECAUSE HOPEFULLY IT'LL GO FAST.

AND SO IF YOU SEE ME CUTTING OFF CONVERSATIONS, IT'S BECAUSE THAT NEXT TOPIC, BECAUSE I'M ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT.

SO NEXT UP, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND SUSTAINABILITY.

AND HERE TO PRESENT IS MICHAEL GARNIER, DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND SUSTAINABILITY.

MAYOR, MEMBER OF COUNCILS.

MICHAEL GARNIER, DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND SUSTAINABILITY.

STARTING OUT WITH OUR METRICS HERE, JUST TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR AND A FEW ACRONYMS. IP IS INDUSTRIAL PRETREATMENT PROGRAM.

MSW IS MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE.

ESR ON HERE IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA.

A ESR IS ALTERNATIVE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA.

THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THOSE GET TRICKY.

WE JUST CAN'T ALWAYS SPELL THEM OUT FROM OUR SUSTAINABLE FRAMEWORK.

WE DO TRACK ALL OF OUR UTILITY CONSUMPTION ACROSS THE CITY, SO THESE TWO GRAPHICS SHOW OUR MUNICIPAL ONLY SO MUNICIPAL OCCUPIED OR RUN BUILDINGS.

THE ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION DID SPIKE LAST SUMMER.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE HAD OUR HIGHEST POTABLE WATER DEMAND AND OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER PLANTS ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 70% OF OUR ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION.

SO THAT'S WHAT DROVE THAT CHANGE.

NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION.

WE'RE DOING A NICE TREND DOWN.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE ANOMALY YEAR OF COVID BACK IN 2020 ON BOTH.

AS FAR AS OUR OVERALL STRUCTURE, WE'RE BROKEN OUT INTO SIX PRIMARY AREAS WITH 39 FULL TIME POSITIONS.

GOING DOWN A LEVEL WE'RE ADDING IN AN ADMINISTRATION HQ THIS YEAR TO PULL MY POSITION, MY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, THINGS LIKE THAT OUT OF WHERE THEY USED TO BE BURIED BECAUSE WE'RE CREATING AN ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FUND THIS YEAR.

SO THAT'S A NEW LINE ITEM THERE.

SHIFTING OUT OF SUSTAINABILITY, IT DOES ALSO SHOW A SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST FOR AN ADDITIONAL POSITION.

THE WATER AND WASTEWATER LABS ARE BEING RECOMMENDED TO BE COMBINED INTO ONE LINE ITEM.

THE OTHER ONE STAY RELATIVELY THE SAME.

YOU'LL SEE THE HALF A POSITION CHANGE ON INDUSTRIAL PRETREATMENT.

THAT'S CHANGING A HALF TIME POSITION TO A FULL TIME POSITION.

SO TO GET TO THAT, OUR SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST FOR POSITIONS ARE TO ADD ON HERE, THE POSITION TITLES CONSERVATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR.

BUT BASICALLY THAT'S GOING TO BE A WATER CONSERVATION COORDINATOR, ACTUALLY A FULL TIME POSITION GOING OUT AND DOING WATER CONSERVATION ACROSS THE CITY OF DENTON, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO FOR RECYCLING FOR SOLID WASTE.

WE WANT TO BE DOING THAT FULL TIME FOR WATER UNDER THE ADMIN OR THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR.

THIS IS TO ADD A POSITION TO HELP OUT ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT.

SO WHETHER IT BE ASBESTOS RELATED ISSUES, HAZARDOUS WASTE OR WASTE DISTRIBUTION BECAUSE WE'RE REGULATED AS ONE ENTITY, WHETHER OR NOT DWU, DME, WHOEVER GENERATES IT.

WE'RE REGULATED AS ONE ENTITY.

SO WE NEED TO HAVE A COMMON PLACE TO HAVE THAT.

AND THE LAST LINE ON THERE IS JUST TO CONVERT THE TECHNICIAN CURRENTLY TECHNICIAN ROLE WITHIN OUR FATS, OILS AND GREASES PROGRAM FROM A HALF TIME TO A FULL TIME POSITION.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.

MINE'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

I FOCUSED ON THE ONES WE'RE WORKING ON FOR THE COUNCIL.

SO THESE THREE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THAT ARE ACTIVELY OUT THERE ON OUR STRATEGIC DASHBOARD.

[01:40:02]

WE PROVIDED SOME UPDATES ON AT LEAST ONE OF THESE IN THE PACKET, I BELIEVE, FOR TODAY.

AND FINANCIALS.

SO THE MAJORITY OF REVENUES FOR THIS FUND ARE TRANSFERS IN BASED ON COST ALLOCATION FOR GENERAL FUND, DM, WATER, WASTEWATER, DRAINAGE AND SOLID WASTE.

THERE ARE ALSO REVENUES RELATED TO ANALYSIS DONE IN THE WATER LAB, PRETREATMENT AND THEN GAS WELL INSPECTIONS.

THE INCREASE IN TRANSFERS FROM SOLID WASTE ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE POSITIONS AS WELL AS THEIR ASSOCIATED COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THIS FUND.

A DECREASE IN THE TRANSFER FROM DM IS BASED ON THE DECISION TO NOT TRANSFER THE GREEN SENSE PROGRAM TO THIS FUND.

EXPENSES INCREASED MARGINALLY DUE TO THE CLASS AND COMP STUDY AS WELL AS PERSONNEL AND OPERATING EXPENSES THAT I MENTIONED AGAIN, WITH THAT MOVE OF PERSONNEL INTO THIS FUND.

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES IS REQUESTING 341,000 IN ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING.

AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE THE MERIT INCREASE AS WELL AS THE POSITIONS THAT MICHAEL MENTIONED AND A COMPLIANCE TRACKING SOFTWARE.

AGAIN, WE HAVE THE NEXT STEPS AND THEN ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

SEEING ANY? SEEING NONE.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

WELL FOR.

DID WE LOSE, TONY? OH, THERE YOU ARE. YOU'RE JUST HIDING IN THE CORNER.

ALL RIGHT. SO NEXT UP, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT DENTON MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC.

AND TONY PUENTE, GENERAL MANAGER, IS GOING TO BE WALKING YOU THROUGH THE PRESENTATION IN ITS ENTIRETY.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

TONY PUENTE, THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR DME.

ACTUALLY TERRY NOLTE IS GOING TO COVER THE OPERATING PIECE FIRST AND THEN I'M GOING TO COVER THE FINANCIALS.

SO. TERRY NOLTE. OKAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON. TERRY NAULTY ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER.

SO ON OUR METRICS, REAL QUICKLY, ONE WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF IS OUR RATES.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE VERY LOW COMPARED TO ALL OTHER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES.

MOST OTHER UTILITIES IN THIS SECTOR ARE INCREASING RATES.

AND AS YOU'LL SEE, WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING A RATE INCREASE NEXT YEAR.

ON THE RENEWABLE SIDE AS 100% RENEWABLE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE THE LOWEST RENEWABLE RATES IN TEXAS.

SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

AND THEN PERFORMANCE WISE, WE MEASURE TWO THINGS ON PERFORMANCE, THE DURATION OR THE THE AVERAGE INTERRUPTION TO A CUSTOMER AND THEN THE DURATION OF THAT INDEX, THAT OF THAT INTERRUPTION.

AND WE WE MEASURE THIS ON AN INDEX BASIS.

AND THE RED LINE HERE SHOWS WHAT THE AVERAGE IS AND THE BLUE LINE SHOWS WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO WE'RE CONSIDERABLY BELOW IN THE LOWEST 5% AMONGST MUNICIPAL UTILITIES.

HERE'S OUR STRUCTURE.

WE HAVE ADDED WE'VE JUST ADDED AN ELECTRIC ADMINISTRATION FUNCTION THIS YEAR.

IN THE PAST YEAR.

AND WE'RE ALSO ADDING A PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, WHICH DOES NOT SHOW ON THIS.

I BELIEVE. SO 185 IS OUR TOTAL FTE COUNT.

HERE IS THE BREAKDOWN BY EACH OF THE DIVISIONS.

AND WE'RE ASKING FOR TWO FTES, AN OUTREACH COORDINATOR AND A RELAY TECHNICIAN.

THAT GIVES US TO 187 FTES.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, THREE INITIATIVES.

ONE IS TO UPDATE THE DENTON RENEWABLE RENEWABLE RESOURCE PLAN.

WE'LL BE COMING TO YOU LATER THIS YEAR WITH THE REVISED PLAN.

THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON HOW TO GET TO 100% RENEWABLE.

THE NEXT PLAN WILL BE LOOKING AT THE NEXT TEN YEARS OF HOW WE MAINTAIN THAT AND WHAT THE MARKET ISSUES ARE, AS WELL AS WHAT THE ECONOMICS LOOK LIKE.

SECOND INITIATIVE IS A NEW DME CAMPUS.

YOU KNOW, OUR RAPID GROWTH, WE WILL BE THE THIRD LARGEST UTILITY MUNICIPAL UTILITY IN THE STATE ON A MEGAWATT HOUR BASIS, AND WE'LL BE THE FOURTH LARGEST ON A NUMBER OF METERS.

[01:45:03]

WE CONTINUE TO GROW VERY, VERY FAST.

WE'VE ADDED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF METERS EVERY EVERY YEAR.

AND OUR FACILITIES ARE NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE AND FOR THE TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION THAT WE NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO TO MEET CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS.

AND THE THIRD ONE IS UTILITY OF THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE AN ADVANCED DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WILL ENABLE US TO HAVE A EFFECTIVELY A SELF-HEALING GRID.

WE'RE SPENDING SOME SIGNIFICANT MONEY ON THEIR ASKING FOR CAPITAL DOLLARS FOR THAT.

WE'RE ALSO FOR THE COAL HUNTER RANCH AREA BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO INVOLVE A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES THAT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED, WILL BE CONVERTING THAT OR BUILDING THAT NEW SECTION OF OUR SYSTEM AT A HIGHER VOLTAGE.

WE CURRENTLY SERVE ALL OF DENTON AT 13,200V AND WE'LL BE MOVING UP TO 25,000V THAT WILL ENABLE US TO BUILD FEWER SUBSTATIONS AND SERVE MORE CUSTOMERS MORE EFFICIENTLY.

AND WE'LL BE STARTING DEVELOPMENT OF A DEMAND RESOURCE PROGRAM THAT WILL BE ONE TO HELP INCENTIVIZE CUSTOMERS TO USE LESS ELECTRICITY DURING HIGH PEAK DEMAND PERIODS.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TO PAY THEM FOR THAT.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE A NEW WORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT IS GOING IN PLACE AND THAT WILL IMPROVE OUR OVERALL EFFICIENCY.

WE'VE EFFECTIVELY REDESIGNED THE WAY WE DO WORK AT DME OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO TONY AND HE CAN MAKE LIKE A CFO AGAIN.

TONY PUENTE, GENERAL MANAGER.

IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR TERRY, WE'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY RATE INCREASE FOR NEXT YEAR.

JUST THOUGHT I'D MAKE SURE THAT POINT THAT OUT.

SO I DO WANT TO I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THAT IF IN FACT, THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE GO, THAT WILL BE NOW THE FIFTH YEAR, THAT DME DOES NOT RAISE RATES IN FISCAL YEAR 1718. AS AMY SHOWED EARLIER, WE DID DO A 1.2% DECREASE IN RATES IN 1819.

WE ACTUALLY DECREASED RATES BY 3.5%.

SO CERTAINLY WORKING AS DILIGENTLY AS HARD WE CAN FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.

AVERAGE GROWTH FOR DME.

LOAD WISE, WE'RE PROJECTING ABOUT A TWO AND ONE HALF PERCENT ANNUAL GROWTH.

THIS HAS BEEN BEEN BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE.

BUT CERTAINLY AS TERRY MENTIONED, THERE'S A LOT OF GROWTH COMING AND CERTAINLY THAT THAT CAN COME IN A LOT HIGHER THAN THAN WE'VE PROJECTED AND CERTAINLY THE HOTTER IT GETS.

CERTAINLY THERE'S A LOT MORE CONSUMPTION AS WELL.

AS I MENTIONED ALREADY, NO RATE INCREASE BEING PROPOSED FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

BUT WE HAVE INCLUDED IN THE FORECAST.

I'LL SHOW YOU IN A MINUTE A 3% INCREASE EVERY YEAR BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 25 FOR A TOTAL OF 12% SPREAD OUT OVER A FOUR YEAR PERIOD.

THERE IS INCREASE TO PERSONNEL COSTS INCLUDED HERE.

OBVIOUSLY, COMPENSATION STUDY, SOME OF THE SIMILAR ITEMS THAT YOU'VE SEEN ACROSS THE OTHER BUDGETS AND OVERALL 2% INCREASE IN OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.

HERE'S A QUICK LOOK AT AT OUR PROFORMA JUST WILL POINT OUT, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE WE'VE INCLUDED A 3% EVERY YEAR BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 25.

CERTAINLY THESE ARE PLACEHOLDERS.

WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THESE AS WE DEVELOP THE BUDGETS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

WE'LL BE PRAYING A LOT AND HAVE A LOT OF HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO TO MANAGE THOSE AS BEST WE CAN.

OVERALL, OVER THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD WITH THIS 3% INCREASE, WE DO MAINTAIN OUR FUND BALANCE WITHIN THE FUND BALANCE POLICY, BUT ALSO BY YEAR FIVE, WE WILL BE AT THE 1.5 TIMES DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO.

AND AS AMY MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT DEBT COVERAGE RATIO, EVEN THOUGH EACH FUND STRIVES TO HAVE THAT, IT IS LOOKED AT AS A WHOLE FOR ELECTRIC WATER AND WASTEWATER FOR FOR BONDING PURPOSES.

AND THEN WE DID WANT TO SHOW YOU KIND OF ANOTHER OPTION HERE.

AGAIN, STILL NO RATE INCREASE, BUT THIS WOULD BE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PULL THE BAND-AID OFF ALL AT ONCE.

IF THE COUNCIL WERE TO DECIDE TO DO THAT IN FISCAL YEAR 25, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT A 12 AND ONE HALF PERCENT INCREASE.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR INCREASE VERSUS THE THE STEP STAIR STEP INCREASE IS THAT THAT THEN MEETS EVERY SINGLE ONE EVERY SINGLE YEAR AT A DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO ABOVE ONE AND ONE HALF PERCENT.

BUT CERTAINLY THAT WILL BE A DISCUSSION THAT WE'LL BE HAVING WITH COUNCIL NEXT YEAR, NOT ASKING FOR A RATE INCREASE THIS PARTICULAR YEAR.

THERE IS ONE PARTICULAR ITEM THAT WE DID WANT TO COVER WITH YOU TODAY, AND THAT'S DISTRIBUTED GENERATION.

THIS THIS ACTUALLY HAS NO IMPACT ON DMB'S BUDGET.

WE WOULD STILL SPEND THE SAME DOLLARS, BUT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS TO ELIMINATE OR DISCONTINUE REBATES FOR ROOFTOP SOLAR.

THE ISSUE HERE IS SEVERAL FOLD.

ONE, WE HAVE ABOUT AS MANY PEOPLE INSTALLING ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEMS IN THEIR HOMES WITHOUT A REBATE AS THEY DO WITH THE REBATE.

[01:50:03]

AND SO SO SO WE CERTAINLY THINK THAT THAT THAT MONEY CAN BE BETTER SPENT IN OTHER PLACES.

WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS TO SHIFT THAT DOLLAR AND REALLOCATED TO OTHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS THAT ARE MANAGED BY MICHAEL GARNER AND HIS TEAM. HE ALREADY IS MANAGING ABOUT HALF $1 MILLION.

SO THIS WOULD INCREASE HIS BUDGET TO ABOUT $1 MILLION.

THE PLAN WOULD BE IS THAT HE WOULD COME BACK TO THE SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK ADVISORY COMMITTEE PUB COUNCIL ON A WORK PLAN AND A FRAMEWORK ON HOW TO BETTER SPEND THOSE DOLLARS. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT HOW WE COMPENSATE CUSTOMERS FOR ELECTRICITY THAT'S PUT BACK INTO INTO OUR SYSTEM.

CURRENTLY, WE'RE WE'RE PAYING FULL RETAIL.

WE DO PLAN TO ENGAGE A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT WHAT'S CALLED A VALUE OF SOLAR STUDIES, SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT AUSTIN DID.

WE THINK THAT THAT IS PROBABLY A GOOD COURSE TO BRING BRING KIND OF A THIRD PARTY TO TO DO A FRESH LOOK.

SO WE'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY CHANGES TODAY TO OUR NET BILLING PROCESS.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO TO HANDLE THOSE AS WE ARE TODAY AND AND PAY FULL RETAIL.

JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO KIND OF SHARE WITH YOU HERE AS WE LOOKED AT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOLAR REBATES VERSUS OTHER EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS, I'LL JUST POINT TO YOU THAT OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THESE REBATES, OTHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS HAVE REMOVED A LITTLE BIT OVER 22,000 TONS OF CO2 VERSUS THE ROUGHLY 7500 TONS THAT THE SOLAR REBATES HAVE HAVE REMOVED ON A ON A PER DOLLAR SPENT BASIS. ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS HAVE REDUCED THE OVERALL UTILITY CONSUMPTION IN THE CITY BY 19 KILOWATT HOURS VERSUS THE 3.5 HOURS KILOWATT HOURS THAT SOLAR REBATES.

SO CERTAINLY, I THINK AS WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS PROGRAM FROM AN EFFICIENCY STANDPOINT, FROM A COST STANDPOINT, CONTINUING TO REBATE SOLAR CUSTOMERS IS CERTAINLY NOT THE BEST USE OF DOLLARS AT THIS POINT.

AND IT'S ALSO THE TREND ACROSS THE INDUSTRY.

CPS ENERGY, AS AN EXAMPLE, RECENTLY DISCONTINUED THEIR REBATE PROGRAM AS WELL.

SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT OTHER OTHER UTILITIES ARE DOING ACROSS THE STATE.

CAPITAL PROGRAM.

CERTAINLY WE DO HAVE A VERY LARGE CAPITAL PROGRAM.

$411 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

I WILL POINT TO YOU TO FEEDERS AND EXTENSIONS.

NEW RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF DEVELOPMENTS.

SO WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF DOLLARS IN THOSE AREAS.

DISTRIBUTION, TRANSFORMERS.

I KNOW THAT JERRY FIELDER HAS TALKED TO YOU AT NAUSEAM ABOUT THE 250% INCREASE IN PRICES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN TRANSFORMERS.

SO THAT'S CERTAINLY PUTTING BUDGETARY PRESSURES ON US.

AND THEN WE CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN TRANSMISSION LINES AND TRANSMISSION SUBSTATIONS.

CERTAINLY WE HAVE THE HICKORY SUBSTATION THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDER UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT WILL BE ENERGIZED SUMMER OF 24.

AND THEN WE DO HAVE PLANS FOR SOME ADDITIONAL SUBSTATION SUBSTATIONS GOING INTO THE FUTURE, CERTAINLY NOT IMMEDIATELY, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT THIS.

AS YOU KNOW, THERE IS A RATE OF RETURN THAT WE EARN ON THOSE TRANSMISSION DOLLARS THAT MAKE IT PRETTY ATTRACTIVE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS.

AND AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY DO HELP CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY OF OUR OF OUR OF OUR LOCAL SYSTEM AND SERVING OUR CUSTOMERS.

THE MAJORITY OF OF OF THE PROGRAM IS BOND FUNDED.

DME DOES ISSUE COS ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ISSUED REVENUE BONDS, I WILL POINT OUT THAT ALL THE DEBT THAT DME ISSUES LIKE ALL THE UTILITIES IS CONSIDERED SELF-SUPPORTING DEBT. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT ALL THE DEBT IS COVERED BY THE REVENUES OF THE UTILITY AND NOT BY TAX DOLLARS.

AND SO WE DO HAVE SOME CLOSE SESSION ITEMS TO PRESENT TO YOU.

WE CAN HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT.

BUT I DID WANT TO POINT THAT OUT, THAT THIS IS CONSIDERED SELF-SUPPORTING, THAT DOES NOT USE ANY PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS TO PAY FOR FOR THOSE OBLIGATIONS.

A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO COVER THAT WE'VE REQUESTED IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

CERTAINLY YOU'LL SEE THE MERIT INCREASES AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

THAT DOES COVER ONLY A PORTION OF OUR OF OUR WORKFORCE.

ALL OUR LINEMEN, OUR CRAFT PAY FOLKS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT PARTICULAR MERIT INCREASE.

SO THAT COVERS ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR OF OUR EMPLOYEES AT DME.

AND YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN THE TWO POSITIONS THAT WERE REQUESTING AN OUTAGE COORDINATOR, A RELAY TECHNICIAN.

AND THEN I WILL POINT OUT THAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO SPEND ABOUT $450,000 TO SET STANDARDS RELATED TO A HIGHER SYSTEM VOLTAGE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO GO TO IN THE HUNTER AND COLE AREA AND LIKELY IN ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT AREAS.

AS TERRY ALREADY MENTIONED, THAT CERTAINLY MEANS LESS, LESS POLES, LESS WIRES, LESS TRANSFORMERS, LESS SUBSTATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

[01:55:01]

BUT WHAT IT ALSO MEANS IS A MUCH MORE ROBUST SYSTEM TO COVER EV VEHICLES AS AN EXAMPLE, TO BE ABLE TO TO TO MANAGE THOSE WITHIN THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE.

AND THEN FINALLY, IT'S A VOLTAGE THAT'S MORE COMMON ACROSS UTILITIES.

AND SO THE EVENT THAT THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, WE CAN LEVERAGE OTHER UTILITIES INVENTORY VERSUS THE SYSTEM VOLTAGE THAT WE HAVE THAT'S VERY UNIQUE TO DME.

WITH THAT, YOU ALREADY KNOW THE NEXT STEPS.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

TERRY IS HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AS WELL.

GOT IT. SO I'M GOING TO START OFF REAL QUICK.

SO JUST CONFIRM RENEWABLE WERE 100% RENEWABLE.

THAT'S MEASURED THE SAME ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE, RIGHT? THAT'S A STANDARDIZED MEASUREMENT OR OR EVALUATION? NOT ENTIRELY. MAYOR OKAY.

THAT'S CERTAINLY IS A GOAL UNIQUE TO TO DME.

IT IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE PLAN TO HAVE WITH THE COUNCIL AND THIS REWRITE OF THE DENTON RENEWABLE RESOURCE PLAN.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS PREDICATED ON RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS AS THE EVIDENCE FOR THE RENEWABLE POWER THAT HAD BEEN GENERATED.

BUT HOW IT'S CALCULATED THAT'S UNIQUE TO DENTON OR IT IS UNIQUE TO DENTON AND IT IS A LOCAL DECISION.

OKAY. SO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT YOU LISTED ON THAT CHART CALCULATE THAT DIFFERENT.

NO OTHER MUNICIPALITY OTHER THAN GEORGETOWN HAS THE SAME TYPE OF GOAL AS AS DME DOES.

AND THEIR CALCULATION IS LIKELY DIFFERENT FROM FROM WHAT WE HAVE GOT IT.

SO I'LL GET UP TO SPEED ON THAT.

AND THEN I DIDN'T SEE ANY MORE ITEMIZED SECURITY.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE HAD A FEW FOLKS AND WE'VE BEEN FANTASTIC AT AT WHO'S EVER MONITORING THOSE THINGS AND GETTING THERE IN A HURRY.

BUT ARE WE INVESTING IN MAKING SURE WE SECURE OUR SUBSTATIONS FOR THOSE THAT WANDER IN THERE? THERE'S TWO THAT I KNOW OF.

THERE'S PROBABLY MORE. SO SO CERTAINLY CYBERSECURITY AND PHYSICAL SECURITY ARE TOP OF MIND FOR THE UTILITY AND CERTAINLY OTHER UTILITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

IT IS ALSO PART OF THE BASIS FOR THIS CAMPUS RENOVATION THAT THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

CERTAINLY A BIG A BIG COMPONENT OF THAT.

BUT YEAH, WE CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN IN CAMERA SYSTEMS AND OTHER LOOK FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO BETTER SECURE OUR SUBSTATIONS. WE DO HAVE PERSONNEL THAT ROUTINELY GO OUT NOT JUST DURING THE DAY, BUT CERTAINLY ON THE EVENINGS AND THE WEEKENDS TO MONITOR THEM.

BUT INEVITABLY THE MARKET FOR COPPER IS IS VERY ATTRACTIVE.

AND SO PEOPLE DO SOME VERY DANGEROUS THINGS TRYING TO GET INTO THOSE THOSE SUBSTATIONS.

BUT LUCKILY AT THIS POINT, WE'VE NOT HAD ANYBODY GET INJURED OR KILLED.

BUT WE HAVE HAD SOME BREAK INS THAT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH.

RIGHT. YEAH. AND THEN LASTLY, JUST A COMMENT.

NO QUESTION. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US POST SOMETHING.

I KNOW WE'RE NOT TAKING ACTION YET, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE US POST EITHER ON THE UTILITY BILLS OR SOMEWHERE THAT SAYS, HEY, WE'RE CONSIDERING CHANGING HOW WE SUPPORT OR HOW WE REFUND THESE SOLAR SYSTEMS BECAUSE PEOPLE SIGN THESE CONTRACTS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

I'D LIKE TO, AS SOON AS WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME DISCUSSIONS AND STUDIES START GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT SO THAT PEOPLE ARE EDUCATED WHEN THEY WHEN THEY PURCHASE AND SIGN A CONTRACT, THAT THIS MAY I MEAN, YOU SHOULD KNOW EVERY YEAR IS A NEW YEAR.

BUT BUT JUST I'LL MAKE I'LL GET STUART ON IT FIRST THING TOMORROW.

YEAH. VERY GOOD.

OKAY. QUESTIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT.

KEEP IT PITHY, JUST SO I CAN MAKE SURE I GET THIS RIGHT ON MY TWITTER TIMELINE LATER TONIGHT.

DID YOU SAY THERE WILL BE NOT PROPOSING ANY RATE INCREASE NEXT YEAR? YES, SIR. OKAY, THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR BECAUSE WE DISCUSSED THIS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING.

THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD AND YOU TOUCHED ON IT RIGHT THERE AT THE END, INCREASING THE VOLTAGE, PARTICULARLY ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN, GOING FROM 13 TO 25.

IS THAT GOING TO ALSO BE MEANT TO SUPPORT MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS EVEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, ON THE EAST AND NORTH SIDE OF TOWN? OR DO YOU ALREADY HAVE THE POWER IN PLACE AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD THOSE THOSE CHARGING STATIONS? SO WE CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE.

CERTAINLY, MICHAEL, WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH HIM TO DEVELOP A BETTER WORK PLAN ON ON WHERE THOSE FUTURE CHARGING STATIONS GO IN.

CERTAINLY WE'RE LOOKING FOR GRANT OPPORTUNITY HIS BUT FROM A FROM A SYSTEM STANDPOINT, WE CAN PRETTY MUCH GET THE POWER WHEREVER WHEREVER WE NEED IT CURRENTLY.

OKAY. THANKS MAYOR.

THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO OUR FOR THE DEVELOPMENTS IN COLE AND HUNTER, SINCE THOSE ARE TECHNICALLY TWO DEVELOPMENTS, OR IS THAT A UNIFIED APPROACH FROM DAM OR.

WE GOT TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES.

YEAH. LET ME FIELDER UP HERE.

HE'S OUR HE'S OUR ENGINEER.

HE PROBABLY AN ENGINEERING QUESTION THAT HE CAN HANDLE.

[02:00:05]

JERRY FELDER, ENGINEERING DIVISION MANAGER FOR DME TO ANSWER.

RESPONDENT IT IS UNIFORM.

WE'RE TRYING TO TREAT HUNTER RANCH AND COLE RANCH THE SAME.

AND SO IT'S KIND OF ONE BIG DEVELOPMENT FOR US, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT DEVELOPERS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, IT'S KIND OF ONE BIG PHILOSOPHY THAT WE'RE IMPOSING UPON BOTH OF THE DEVELOPMENTS.

SO IF I MIGHT PARAPHRASE THE SAME TECHNOLOGY STANDARD, THE NEW STANDARD THAT TONY WAS TALKING ABOUT, BUT THEN SHARED ACROSS BOTH DEVELOPMENTS, YOU HAVE A COMMON INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BOTH DEVELOPMENTS, NOT SEPARATE INFRASTRUCTURE.

OKAY? YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. AND THEN THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN WELL, LET'S STAY ON THE TOPIC OF THESE THESE VOLTAGE CHANGES AND THE REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION FOLLOWING UP FROM COUNCILOR MCGEE.

IT. WE'RE SWITCHING TO THESE SO THAT WE PROVIDE A BETTER QUALITY.

AND PRESUMABLY, I BELIEVE YOU SAID CHEAPER STUDY IS CHEAPER, CORRECT? DID I HEAR THAT OR AM I IS THAT JUST WISHFUL HEARING AND AND AND MAYBE ELABORATE ON THE ABILITY TO ROLL OUT THOSE TECH CHANGES IN THE OLDER PARTS OF TOWN A LITTLE BIT.

YEAH. SO SO SO CERTAINLY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SUBSTATIONS, TRANSFORMERS, POLES, WIRES, THE HIGHER SYSTEM VOLTAGE ALLOWS US TO HAVE LESS OF THAT EQUIPMENT.

NOW, WHETHER OR NOT IT MEANS LESS COST OR NOT, IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT THAT THAT WILL BE DICTATED BY THE MARKET.

YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING THAT IT DOES DO IS THAT BECAUSE IT IS A MORE COMMON SYSTEM VOLTAGE THAT WE FIND ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, IN THE EVENT OF A A A CATASTROPHIC EVENT, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO TO TO TO GET THOSE SAME SYSTEM LEVEL EQUIPMENT AND BE ABLE TO GET US GET OUR CUSTOMERS BACK ON THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS A 13 TWO SYSTEM, IS VERY UNIQUE TO DENTON AND NOT VERY COMMON ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE LARGER INVENTORY ON HAND IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

SO IN A IN A IN A MORE COMMON SYSTEM VOLTAGE, IDEALLY WE WOULD HAVE LOWER INVENTORY THAN WE DO CURRENTLY.

AND SO THAT COULD BE LESS COST TO US OVERALL.

SO JUST REAL BRIEFLY FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT INTO I MEAN, THE ANSWER IT COULD BE THAT THE ANSWER IS NO, WE CAN'T DO IT. IT'S JUST AN OLD PART OF TOWN.

THAT CAN BE THE ANSWER.

BUT THEN THAT'S SORT OF WHERE I'M LOOKING AT, IS ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THAT OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE TWO SETS OF INVENTORY? WELL, I THINK SO.

SO HAVING TWO SYSTEM VOLTAGES IS NOT UNCOMMON ACROSS THE INDUSTRY.

AND LIKELIHOOD WE WILL ALWAYS END UP WITH THAT.

BUT CERTAINLY IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE IN THE EXISTING SYSTEM, IT WOULD PROBABLY MAKE SENSE FOR US TO LOOK AT THE THE EXISTING TERRITORY THAT WE HAVE.

WE DO WANT TO COMMISSION A STUDY.

JERRY'S BEEN ASKING FOR THAT MONEY NOW FOR TWO YEARS.

I'LL KEEP TELLING HIM NO.

EVENTUALLY I WILL FUND THAT.

WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.

BUT REMEMBER, WE MADE HUGE INVESTMENTS OVER THE LAST DECADE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR US TO GO OUT THERE AND RIP ALL THAT OUT UNTIL IT'S FULLY DEPRECIATED.

SOME OF THAT EQUIPMENT WILL LAST 40 OR 50 YEARS.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LONGITUDINAL STUDY FOR US TO TO GET THERE.

I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS, THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY INTEREST IN THE VALUE OF SOLAR COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS THAT'S THAT'S COMING UP.

SO TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON THE MAYOR'S QUESTION, IF WE COULD GET A LOT OF LEAD TIME AND SOME COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THAT, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHICH, WHICH VARIABLES, HOW WE'RE DOING IT, YADA YADA, YADA, THOUGH THE WHOLE WORKFLOW THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

YES, SIR. MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S EVERYTHING.

THAT'S IT. OKAY. COUNCILMAN MELTZER.

YEAH. THANK YOU. HEY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GENEROUSLY HOSTING MY VISIT YESTERDAY AT THE DECK.

IT'S SUPER FASCINATING.

AND PLEASE BACK ME UP. I DID NOT ACCIDENTALLY TOUCH ANY BIG RED BUTTONS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I HEARD, PAUL.

I WAS A LITTLE CURIOUS ABOUT THE THE DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO.

IS THE NUMERATOR ON THAT FREE CASH FLOW.

IS IT FREE CASH FLOW? YEAH. OVER DEBT SERVICE? YES. SO SO.

SO IN THE OUT YEAR AT 1.5, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT.

RIGHT. THAT'S SAYING TWO THIRDS OF OUR FREE CASH FLOW WOULD BE GOING TO DEBT SERVICE.

IF IT'S 1.5 TO 1, WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LARGER FUND BALANCE TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT.

SO YOUR CASH ON HAND IS ACTUALLY YOUR CASH ON HAND.

REQUIREMENT IS ACTUALLY HIGHER.

IT'S ABOUT, WELL, OKAY, WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE MORE OFFLINE, MAYBE ON IT.

BUT ARE YOU A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING DOWN TO THE 1.5 LEVEL? THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT I WANT TO ASK YOU.

NO, I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

I THINK HISTORICALLY, THE CITY OVER THE LAST ROUGHLY AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE I LOOKED AT IT NOT TOO LONG AGO, OVER THE LAST 11 YEARS, THE UTILITY SYSTEM HAS BEEN WELL OVER

[02:05:10]

THAT ONE AND A HALF TIMES.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'VE BEEN CLOSER TO TWO TIMES THE DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO.

SO FROM A UTILITY SYSTEM STANDPOINT, I HAVE NO CONCERNS AND I PERSONALLY DON'T HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT DME SPECIFICALLY.

CASSIE CAN TALK ABOUT WATER WASTEWATER, BUT I THINK WE'RE I THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE WITH OUR DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO AND BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE THAT OBLIGATION.

AND I HASTEN TO UNDERSCORE, I KNOW WE ROUTINELY WIN AWARDS FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.

I WANT TO SAY WE I MEAN YOU THE CITY OF DENTON.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER.

YEAH, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT BATTERY WALLS AS MAYBE AN ALTERNATIVE THING TO SUPPORT THOUGHT IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE RENEWABLE CUSTOMERS SHIFT THEIR RENEWABLE USAGE TO TIMES WHEN WE AREN'T ALREADY BUYING RENEWABLES.

SO I'LL LEAVE THAT.

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

ALL RIGHT. SO LAST UP IS THE SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING BUDGET.

AND JOINING ME IS BRIAN BURNER, SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING DIRECTOR.

WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, BRIAN BURNER, SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR WITH THE CITY OF DENTON, SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST.

SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR BUDGET.

SO A LOT OF REALLY FINE METRICS ON THIS THAT WE USE TO HELP DRIVE OUR SYSTEM, WANT TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE BOTTOM LINE HERE.

OVERALL DIVERSION RATE.

SINCE WE'VE SUBMITTED THIS, WE'RE ACTUALLY REALIZING AN ESTIMATE OF ABOUT 12% AS OPPOSED TO 10% WITH OUR GOAL OF 20 AT THE END OF 2023 TO ACTUALLY BE AT 18%. SO SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE ABOUT 135 PROFESSIONAL MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE PROVIDING SERVICES IN TWO TWO REPORTING GROUPS.

ONE IS OUR OPERATION DIVISION THAT GOES OUT AND COLLECTS THE GARBAGE, PUTS IT IN THE LANDFILL EVERY DAY, AND THEN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE, WHICH HELPS DEFINE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GROUP, THE SITE MANAGEMENT, OUR HOME CHEMICAL COLLECTION.

AND THEN FOREMOST, I HAVE A SAFETY AND TRAINING COORDINATOR REPORTING DIRECTLY.

TO ME, SAFETY IS KEY TO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

IT'S INTEGRATED IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR OPERATION.

AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER WAY OF PRESENTING THAT MATERIAL FROM A STRATEGIC INITIATIVE STANDPOINT, WE HAVE TWO WE'RE FOCUSING ON THIS YEAR.

FIRST, WE'RE WORKING ON IMPLEMENTING OUR COMPREHENSIVE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.

ALMOST A YEAR AGO, TO THE DATE THE CITY COUNCIL ACTUALLY ACCEPTED AND IMPLEMENTED THE TENETS OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.

AND EVEN TONIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON ORDINANCE CHANGES WHICH WILL HELP PROMOTE AND BRING THAT FORWARD THROUGH OUR UPDATE TO CHAPTER 24 AND IMPLEMENTING THAT, THE COMPREHENSIVE DIVERSION, ARTICLE TWO, THAT THAT PLAN WE'RE LOOKING AT EXTENDING OUR ORGANICS DIVERSION PROGRAM CURRENTLY.

WE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED A SYSTEM OR A PROGRAM DOWN IN OUR VALLEY AREA TO PULL ORGANIC MATERIAL FROM BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND ACTUALLY WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS OVER AT WASTEWATER TO ACTUALLY RECYCLE THIS MATERIAL INTO NATURAL GAS AND THEN INTO BIOSOLIDS, WHICH WILL BE TURNED INTO DOWN OR DIRT.

SO A VERY INNOVATIVE PROGRAM THAT FROM ACROSS THE STATE, STATE AGAIN, SECOND INITIATIVE GOES BACK TO REPAIR OF AN OLD CITY OF DENTON LANDFILL, THE MOSELEY ROAD LANDFILL THAT'S LOCATED JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE 380 BRIDGE OUTSIDE OF CROSSROADS.

THERE'S SOME PERMIT REQUIRED REPAIRS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.

AND ALSO, AS FOLLOWING THE REPAIRS, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DETERMINE SOME LONG YEAR, LONG TERM USES OF THAT PROPERTY.

IT'S BASICALLY MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

IT REALLY HAS NO REUSE TO THE CITY OF DENTON RIGHT NOW.

NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT REALLY BENEFIT BOTH THE CITIZENS AS WELL AS THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT AND THE BOTTOM LINE.

SO FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, WE'LL CALL ME BACK.

ALL RIGHT. SO FINANCIAL ASSUMPTIONS INCLUDED FOR SOLID WASTE ARE IN LINE WITH THE OTHER UTILITIES.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A 3% GROWTH IN ROLL OFF CUSTOMERS.

WE'VE INCLUDED WHOLESALE AGREEMENTS TOTALING A LITTLE OVER $4 MILLION, AS WELL AS ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CLOSURE AND POST CLOSURE FUND. SO LOOKING AT THE PERFORMER, WE ANTICIPATE ENDING THE YEAR WITH REVENUES COMING IN ABOUT $2 MILLION UNDER BUDGET.

THAT IS PRIMARILY DUE TO NON RATE REVENUES, WHICH INCLUDES THE SALE OF SCRAP METAL AS WELL AS RECYCLING PROGRAM AND OTHER DIVERSION EFFORTS.

WHILE OVERALL EXPENDITURE BUDGET IS IN LINE WITH LAST YEAR'S ADOPTED BUDGET, INCREASES EXIST IN PERSONNEL COSTS RELATED TO THE COMP AND CLASS STUDY, COST OF SERVICE TRANSFERS RELATED TO THE PERSONNEL MOVES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN SOME OF THE OTHER PRESENTATIONS AS WELL AS DEBT SERVICE.

[02:10:05]

THIS IS BALANCED OUT BY REDUCTIONS IN REVENUE FUNDED CAPITAL AND VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS.

SOLID WASTE HAS $10.7 MILLION IN CAPITAL PROJECTS PLANNED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND A TOTAL FIVE YEAR PROGRAM OF $54.4 MILLION.

KEY PROJECTS INCLUDED ARE THE CELL FIVE AND SIX CONSTRUCTION FOR 5.4 MILLION, THE HOME CHEMICAL COLLECTION STORAGE CAPACITY FOR 2 MILLION, AND VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS FOR $5.6 MILLION.

SO INCLUDED IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST ARE, AGAIN THAT 2% MERIT INCREASE, AS WELL AS A CAR WASHING TRUCK THAT IS SET TO BE FUNDED IN CAPITAL.

A RATE INCREASE IS NOT INCLUDED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.

ALSO, I WOULD SAY THERE'S A TYPO IN YOUR PACKET, BUT I'LL ALSO TELL YOU WHY IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO SOON ON EITHER ONE OF THESE.

ACCORDING TO THE PRO FORMA, A RATE INCREASE IS NOT NEEDED UNTIL 2026.

HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I POINT OUT THAT A COST OF SERVICE STUDY IS ON THE WAY AND RESULTS WILL BE PRESENTED AT A LATER DATE.

SO THAT COULD CERTAINLY CHANGE WHAT YOU SAW ON THAT PROFORMA.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE PROPOSING A RECYCLING CART FEE OF $15.

THIS WILL APPLY TO ANY RESIDENT OR ANY CUSTOMER RECEIVING MORE THAN THREE CARTS.

THERE'S ALSO PROPOSED ADDITIONS TO ORDINANCE LANGUAGE RELATED TO BULKY WASTE, AND IT WILL PROVIDE THAT WASTE IN EXCESS OF FOUR CUBIC YARDS, WILL NOT BE COLLECTED AND WILL REQUIRE A CART.

IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT FOUR CUBIC YARDS LOOKS LIKE, I THINK TAMMY GAVE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT IN THE PUB MEETING WHEN SAYING IT IS BASICALLY THE SIZE OF A WASHING MACHINE OR A DRYER.

SO PICTURE FOUR OF THOSE BAGS OUTSIDE OF THE CONTAINER WILL BE LIMITED TO FIVE AND THERE WILL BE WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS PLACED PER BAG.

AND THEN THE ORDINANCE WILL SPECIFY THAT DISHWASHERS ARE NOT CONSIDERED APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS.

WE ARE PROPOSING TO INCREASE EACH OF THESE RATES RELATED TO BRUSH GRASS AND LEAVES BY $5 EACH.

THESE FEES COVER THE COST OF BENEFICIAL REUSE.

WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING TO REMOVE FEES RELATED TO CONTAMINATED YARD WASTE AND WHOLE TREES AND STUMPS.

AGAIN, YOU SEE THESE NEXT STEPS, AS YOU'VE SEEN IN PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS AND THEN ANY QUESTIONS? GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TWO QUICK THINGS I HAVE.

CAN YOU WHEN YOU WHEN WE COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AGAIN, JUST A REQUEST.

CAN WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT A PROGRAM WOULD BE TO GIVE PEOPLE TO WAIVE THE $20 FEE FOR SMALLER JUST ONE TIME DROP OFFS? RIGHT. BECAUSE I JUST THINK IN MY MIND, THERE'S OFTEN TIMES WHEN I'LL SEE STUFF THAT I'D LIKE TO PICK UP AND AND IT WON'T FIT IN MY CAN.

AND IF I DROP IT OFF, IT'S GOING TO COST ME 20 BUCKS.

SO I'M LIKE, WELL, I'LL JUST LEAVE IT RIGHT? SO AND I THINK THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE SIMILARLY SITUATED WHERE YOU MAY WANT TO GO OUT AND PICK UP TRASH, BUT YOUR, YOUR CANS FULL OR SOMEONE ILLEGALLY DUMPED SOMETHING AND YOU WANT TO DO THE CITY A SOLID AND TAKE IT TO THE THESE ONE OFFS.

I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO THAT'S ONE I'D LIKE TO SEE.

AND THEN TO THE CITY MANAGER'S ALREADY PROVIDED ME THE NUMBER, BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL, SO I NEED TO SURE UP THE NUMBER.

AND THE NUMBER I WAS GIVEN BEFORE WAS LIKE $10,000 ISH.

BUT I'D LIKE TO GET A FIRMER OR AN UPDATED COST TO REBRAND OUR TRASH CANS, OUR CARTS, TO READ SLOW CHILDREN AT PLAY OR SLOW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THAT WOULD THEN CYCLE THROUGH THE CITY.

YOU'D HAVE THIS KIND OF REMINDER FOR PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN INSTEAD OF OFTENTIMES NEIGHBORHOODS WILL ASK FOR SIGNS, THAT SORT OF THING.

WELL, THIS WOULD BE EVERY EVERY ONCE A WEEK IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, WE'D HAVE KIND OF A REMINDER TO SLOW DOWN AND DRIVE SAFELY OR SOME KIND OF MESSAGE LIKE THAT.

SO JUST LIKE IT SAYS CITY OF DENTON, IT WOULD SAY, I WANT TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD COST TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE TO IT.

SO I JUST WANT TO GET AN UPDATED NUMBER SO THAT I CAN MAKE MY SALES PITCH.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? COUNCILWOMAN MELTON MAYOR PRO TEM.

YEAH. AT THE RISK OF LOOKING A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, WHY DID YOU WANT TO ELIMINATE THE COUPLE OF FEES? IT WAS TREE TRUNK AND PART OF IT IS WE JUST DON'T ACCEPT THEM ANYMORE.

SO THERE'S REALLY NO REASON TO HAVE IT.

GOTCHA. OKAY.

AND JUST QUICKLY, I'LL COMMENT.

YOU KNOW, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU TAKING ON DOWNTOWN IN THE PAST WITH VALET SERVICE.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT A HOME RUN THAT THAT WAS.

AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU TOOK ON THE WHOLE CONTAMINATION ISSUE.

THAT WAS THE OBSTACLE TO GOING AFTER COMMERCIAL MULTIFAMILY.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT VOTE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM.

IT HATES ME TODAY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WILL YOU REMIND US IN THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN, THE EXTENSION OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE SOLID WASTE FACILITY

[02:15:10]

PREDICTED THROUGH THE PLAN'S CHANGES.

CURRENTLY, OUR. THE LIFE OF THE LANDFILL.

GIVEN ALL OUR 12% AND 18% DIVERSION RIGHT NOW IS AT 6065 YEARS.

SO AGAIN, AS AS WE PROMOTED, WE WANT TO TRY TO GET TO 30% DIVERSION BY 20, 30, 40% BY 2040, 75% DIVERSION BY 2075. AND THOSE ADDITIONAL WILL ONLY EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE LANDFILL, ASSUMING THAT THE AMOUNT OF MATERIALS THAT'S COMING IN IS NOT INCREASING.

WE KNOW WE'RE IN A GROWING REGION.

WE KNOW THAT WE'RE REALLY ONE OF THE LAST FEW THAT LANDFILLS IN THE AREA THAT HAVE CAPACITY.

SO PART OF OUR TASK IS GOING TO BE WORKING AND COORDINATING WITH AREA CITIES AND ON A REGIONAL BASIS TO TRY TO NOT ONLY AFFECT THE WASTE THAT CITY OF DENTON IS MANAGING, BUT ALSO HOW OTHER CITIES MANAGE THEIR WASTE THAT MAY BE COMING TO US.

OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN.

MCGEE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. BRIAN, CAN YOU JUST SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE MOSLEY ROAD SITE? YEAH. YEAH, IT WAS.

IT WAS OPERATED FROM ABOUT 1970, ABOUT 1970 TO 1984.

IT WAS A PRE SUBTITLED TYPE FACILITY WE HOLD.

IT'S LOCATED IF YOU KNOW WHERE THE THE DISCOUNT TIRE IS, IT'S ABOUT 2 TO 3 MILES BACK ON ON ON MOSLEY ROAD.

BACK IN THAT AREA, IT'S 75 ACRES.

IT IS CLOSED.

IT HAS BEEN CLOSED.

THE THE PERMIT ON IT HAS BEEN REVOKED.

BUT THERE IS JUST SOME EROSION ISSUES BASED ON ON WATER FLOW IN THE AREA.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GO BACK IN, REPAIR THE CAP AND THEN FROM THAT AREA, GO IN, MOVE FORWARD.

WE'RE BOUNDED ON ONE SIDE BY ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROPERTY THAT IS ACTUALLY BUTTS UP TO THE LAKE.

SO BETWEEN US AND THE LAKE AND THEN TO THE NORTH AND TO THE EAST OF THE FACILITY IS LOCATED THE TOWN OF CROSSROADS.

BUT WE ARE NOT. WE ARE IN DENTON COUNTY.

WE ARE NOT IN ETJ OR IN THE CROSSROADS ETJ.

OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR. GOT IT.

VERNACULAR HAS CHANGED.

NO CAP AND CAP ARE DIFFERENT THINGS NOW.

I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER, BUT INTERESTING TIMES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, MY 16 YEAR OLD, MY 14 YEAR OLD TELLS ME I CAN'T SAY THE PHRASE NO CAP IN PUBLIC ANYMORE.

REALLY? CAUSE THAT'S NOT IT'S FANTASTIC.

SO I'M GLAD YOU GOT IT IN.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT.

THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN BEING UNHIP WITH YOUR KIDS.

IT'S THE SUPER FUN.

OKAY, ANY ANY OTHER RECAP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? WE'RE ALL GOOD. PERFECT.

THANK YOU. OKAY, THAT TAKES US TO ITEM C, WHICH IS ID 23651.

[C. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the Downtown Denton Ambassador Program Pilot. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 45 minutes]]

RECEIVE, REPORT, HOLD DISCUSSION, AND GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING THE DOWNTOWN DENTON AMBASSADOR PROGRAM PILOT.

WHEN BRIAN SAID HE WAS SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST, HE KNEW IT'S BECAUSE MY PRESENTATION.

THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT.

SO. OKAY.

AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

COURTNEY DONDERO, COMMUNITY SERVICES.

I'M HERE TO BRING YOU AN UPDATE AS A FOLLOW UP FROM OUR MARCH 7TH CONVERSATION REGARDING A PROPOSED DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM PILOT. AS A REMINDER, THIS PILOT IS PART OF OUR MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF IDENTIFYING SOLUTIONS FOR CLEANER, SAFER AND HAPPIER DOWNTOWN DENTON.

DURING THE MARCH 7TH WORK SESSION, COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO PURSUE AN RFP TO OBTAIN A CLEAR PRICING ESTIMATE FOR A THIRD PARTY VENDOR TO OVERSEE DAILY OPERATIONS OF AN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

THIS WAS BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM OTHER CITIES AND THE RESEARCH THAT STAFF DID IDENTIFYING A FEW VENDORS NATIONALLY THAT SPECIALIZE IN PROVIDING THESE PROGRAMS TO DOWNTOWN AREAS FOR CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS REGARDING THE MARCH 7TH WORK SESSION WERE INCLUDED IN THE FRIDAY REPORT SENT OUT ON JULY 14TH.

AS A REMINDER, THE PROPOSED PILOT PROGRAM WOULD EMPLOY NON-POLICE TRAINED HELPERS KNOWN AS AMBASSADORS, TO PROVIDE SAFETY, HOSPITALITY AND CLEANING SERVICES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. ESSENTIALLY, THE PROGRAM WOULD PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF SUPPORT, EXTRA EYES AND EARS.

DOWNTOWN DENTON IS GROWING THE NEEDS OF OUR BUSINESSES AND OF OUR VISITORS AND OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE GROWING, ESPECIALLY IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA SUCH AS DOWNTOWN.

AND THIS PROPOSAL WOULD HELP TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDE A SAFE AND HOSPITABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

[02:20:04]

SO THIS IS A LOT OF INFORMATION, BUT WE DID FOLLOW COUNCIL DIRECTION TO PURSUE AN RFP, WHICH WAS RELEASED APRIL 14TH AND CLOSED ON MAY 10TH.

WE RECEIVED ONE BID BY THE DUE DATE.

THE TABLE ON THE SLIDE PROVIDES A BREAKDOWN OF PARTIAL AND FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM BY SERVICE COMPONENT, SO YOU CAN SEE THE SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THE HOSPITALITY AND SAFETY BUCKET WOULD INCLUDE, AGAIN THOSE EYES AND EARS THAT ON FOOT VISIBLE PRESENCE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

DETERRENCE OF PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS, DAILY INTERACTION WITH BUSINESSES, REFERRALS TO SOCIAL SERVICES FOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR NEEDING ACCESS TO SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

JUST GENERAL HOSPITALITY INFORMATION AND THEN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WE SPOKE WITH.

THIS WAS EVERYTHING FROM SOMEONE WITH AN UMBRELLA HELPING SOMEONE GET TO THEIR CAR, SOMEONE ESCORTING SOMEONE WHO WAS LEAVING WORK AT 2 A.M.

AFTER THE BAR CLOSED DOWN AND DIDN'T WANT TO WALK TO THE PARKING LOT ALONE TO HAVING DAILY INTERACTIONS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS, IDENTIFYING WHAT THE SPECIALS ARE AT RESTAURANTS SO THEY CAN TELL FOLKS WHO ARE VISITING WHERE A GOOD PLACE TO EAT LUNCH MIGHT BE.

BUT THEN ALSO BEING, AGAIN, THAT EXTRA LAYER OF SUPPORT, MEDIATION, COMMUNICATION, IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND THE CITY ITSELF.

SO OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION FOR FOLKS LIKE I MENTIONED, WHO MIGHT NEED REFERRALS TO SOCIAL SERVICES, YOU KNOW, COLLABORATION WITH THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, THESE AMBASSADORS WOULD NOT HAVE ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY, NO ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY WHATSOEVER.

THEY WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO ADDRESSING ISSUES IN PUBLIC PLACES.

SO IF COUNCIL DIRECTS US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROGRAM, WE'VE ALREADY GOT A LOT OF PLANS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE TRAINING IS PROVIDED NOT ONLY FROM THE VENDOR BUT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL CITY PARTNERS INVOLVED IN THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM WOULD KNOW WHO AND HOW TO COMMUNICATE AND HOW BEST TO RESPOND TO ANY CONCERNS OR ISSUES THAT MIGHT ARISE IN THE WAY OF CLEANING SERVICES.

THIS WOULD BE EVERYTHING FROM KIND OF DAILY SWEEPING LITTER REMOVAL, DEBRIS REMOVAL.

WE ALL KNOW WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE PRESSURE WASHING HAPPENING DOWNTOWN.

SO THIS WOULD IDENTIFY SOME CORE AREAS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ON A WEEKLY BASIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AND THEN KIND OF FOR THE OUTER AREA OF WHAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS DOWNTOWN FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS, THE SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT THAT WOULD MOVE TO KIND OF BI WEEKLY OR BI MONTHLY EVERY OTHER WEEK, WHICHEVER IS THE RIGHT WAY TO SAY IT.

NO ONE EVER REALLY KNOWS, BUT ALL OF THE SIMILAR ACTIVITIES, BUT JUST ON A LESS FREQUENT BASIS FOR FURTHER OUT AREAS OF DOWNTOWN.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS WOULD PROVIDE GRAFFITI REMOVAL AND SOME MINOR REPAIR OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AS NEEDED.

SO ALL IN ALL, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FULL IMPLEMENTATION AND A PARTIAL IMPLEMENTATION WOULD NOT REALLY DIFFER WHEN IT COMES TO SERVICES, PROVIDED YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING AT A DIFFERENCE IN THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF A PHYSICAL AMBASSADORS ON SITE, ON THE SQUARE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

SO FULL IMPLEMENTATION WOULD PROVIDE ABOUT 1 TO 4 CLEANING AMBASSADORS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND 1 TO 3 HOSPITALITY AMBASSADORS DOWNTOWN ON ANY GIVEN. A DAY AND THEN PARTIAL WOULD PROVIDE 1 TO 2 CLEANING AND 1 TO 3 AMBASSADORS WITH THE BULK OF THAT STAFFING CONCENTRATED TO THE WEEKEND.

SO ABOUT THURSDAY TO SUNDAY.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS REGARDING THE SCOPE OF WORK AND SERVICES PROVIDED.

SO A BREAKDOWN OF EACH OF THESE COMPONENTS LISTED HERE WAS PROVIDED IN THE BACKUP AS WELL.

AND AS NOTED ON THE SLIDE.

COST ESTIMATES PROVIDED ARE ANNUAL AMOUNTS AND THEY DO INCLUDE INCLUDE THE COST OF EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, EVERYTHING FROM UNIFORMS TO MODES OF TRANSPORTATION TO EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO CONDUCT THIS WORK.

ALSO INCLUDED SORRY I FORGOT TO MENTION IS A TEAM LEAD THAT WOULD BE ON SITE FIVE DAYS A WEEK AS WELL AS AN OPERATIONS MANAGER.

SO CURRENTLY PARKS CONTRACTS WITH A THIRD PARTY TO PROVIDE PRESSURE WASHING AND CLEANING SERVICES DOWNTOWN.

AND AS THEY ARE ABLE PARK STAFF SUPPLEMENTS THIS CONTRACTOR'S EFFORTS.

WE KNOW THERE'S A GROWING NEED FOR CLEANING SERVICES DOWNTOWN.

THIS HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED THROUGH PARKS.

WE CAN ALL SEE IT FROM TIME TO TIME AS WELL.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S JUST A NEED FOR AN ENHANCED LEVEL OF CLEANING SERVICES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

SO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CLEANING SERVICES THROUGH THIS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WOULD ENHANCE THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE, WOULD FREE UP PARKS, MAINTENANCE STAFF AND ADDITIONALLY COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT SERVICES STAFF WHO BOTH TAKE TACKLE THE TASK OF GRAFFITI REMOVAL, GUM REMOVAL, STUCCO REMOVAL, ALL OF THAT FUN STUFF.

[02:25:05]

AND IF COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF TO PROCEED, THE THIRD PARTY CONTRACT THAT PARKS HAS, WHICH IS ABOUT ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $38,000 ANNUALLY, WOULD NO LONGER BE NECESSARY.

ALSO WORTH NOTING IS THE SUBMITTED PROPOSAL FROM THE VENDOR INCLUDES ACCESS TO THEIR PROPRIETARY PROPRIETARY DATA REPORTING TOOL.

SO THIS WOULD PROVIDE INSTANT ACCESS TO REAL TIME PROGRAM DATA FOR STATISTICS LIKE STATS BY AREA.

SO BREAKING DOWN THE DOWNTOWN AREA INTO KIND OF SMALLER AREAS TO IDENTIFY PATTERNS AND ACTIVITY, WALKING PATHS OF AMBASSADORS.

SO REAL TIME MONITORING TO ENSURE THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE TO PROVIDE ON FOOT ASSISTANCE ARE PROVIDING ON FOOT ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, REAL TIME SUPERVISOR AUDITS, ADDITIONAL DATA.

AND AS WE MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, THIS DATA WOULD BE UTILIZED TO INFORM ANY LONG TERM PLANS FOR THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.

THINGS LIKE IS IT THE RIGHT SERVICE AREA, HAVE WE IDENTIFIED THE PERIMETERS OF DOWNTOWN CORRECTLY? AND IF WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE ANY IMPROVEMENTS, AS IT'S NOTED ON THE SLIDE, AMBASSADORS WOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT SPECIAL EVENTS IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN.

AND I'LL ALSO MENTION THAT THEY HAVE INCLUDED IN THEIR BID THAT THEY ARE A SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYER AS WELL.

SO WITH THAT TODAY, WE ARE LOOKING FOR DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL ON WHETHER OR NOT TO PROCEED AND INCLUDING THIS IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

AND I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND I'LL JUST GO GET OUT OF THE WAY SAYING I SUPPORT THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION AND HERE'S WHY.

IT WAS JUST RAINING THIS PAST SATURDAY.

IT WAS NATIONAL FREE ICE CREAM DAY OR WHATEVER.

THAT WAS NO SUNDAY.

AND WE WERE THERE AND IT JUST SUMMER RAIN RIGHT OUT OF NOWHERE.

AND SO TO HAVE SOMEONE WE HAD PEOPLE STUCK UNDER THE AWNINGS SO THEY COULD GET UNDER AND CROWD UNDER AND OTHERS JUST GETTING DRENCHED AS THEY'RE WALKING TO THE CAR.

SO THAT'S WHAT CAME TO MIND.

IT'S LIKE THOSE THINGS IF YOU IF YOU GO DOWN BY SPROCKETS AND JUST WALK DOWN THERE AND YOU'LL SEE ALL THE TRASH COLLECTED BY THE CURB.

AND THEN THIS THIS PAST SUNDAY, AGAIN, I WAS I WAS GOING TO JOE RIVAS, SHOUT OUT TO JOE RIVAS FUNDRAISER.

AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF KOMODO LOCAL, THE ONE OF MY FRIENDS THAT WAS WITH ME WAS TRYING TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE RECYCLE BIN AND IT'S BROKEN, RIGHT? SO THESE ARE THINGS, USER EXPERIENCES THAT WOULD BE CAUGHT AS SOMEONE'S WALKING AND JUST KIND OF TRACKING THESE THINGS, MAKING NOTES, A PROACTIVE APPROACH.

WHERE'S THE RESTROOMS, WHERE'S PARKING, YOU KNOW, THAT SORT OF THING.

AND THEN I'LL JUST TALK FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT.

I MEAN, IT CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED UNLESS WE'RE GOING TO START GIVING A TICKET TO EVERYONE ALONG HICKORY THAT THEY PULL IN THE WRONG SIDE.

RIGHT. THEY DON'T BACK IN.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT NETS YOU OUT.

YOU CAN'T SEE BACKING OUT.

RIGHT? SO YOU'RE INEVITABLY HAVE TO BACK INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BEFORE YOU CAN EVER SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

SO TO HAVE SOMEONE THERE TO ALERT TRAFFIC AND KIND OF HELP CONTROL THOSE THINGS, ABSENT TRYING TO CHANGE BEHAVIORS AND GIVING A TICKET TO EVERYONE, WHICH STILL DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE YOU CAN STAND RIGHT HERE BY THE POST OFFICE AND WATCH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE DRIVE THE WRONG WAY IN THERE.

AND THAT'S BEEN SIGNED AND EVERYONE KNOWS, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK RIGHT.

AND SO JUST THAT SAFETY COMPONENT, THE CLEANING COMPONENT, ALL THOSE THINGS JUMP OUT AT ME.

AND THEN WE HAD A MURAL THAT WAS THAT WAS REALLY FANTASTIC.

VANDALIZED, RIGHT? SO SO IT'S ANOTHER EYES AND EARS TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS SO PEOPLE DON'T FEEL FREE TO JUST DO WHATEVER.

I'VE REFERRED SEVERAL CALLS FROM PEOPLE THAT WORK DOWNTOWN THAT ARE HAVING SECURITY CONCERNS OR WALK INTO THEIR STORE, WALKING TO THEIR CAR FROM PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE OPERA HOUSE TO PEOPLE THAT WORK AT EASTSIDE, THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

SO AND THEN JUST MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, RIGHT? WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER SET OF EYES AND EARS THAT WILL BE THERE TO REPORT THOSE.

AND THE DATA IS REALLY CRITICAL BECAUSE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE EMPTY DOWNTOWN.

RIGHT. YOU LOOK AT THE OLD SWEETWATER BUILDING, YOU SPROCKETS DOWN THERE IS EMPTY.

YOU HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, MCNEIL'S IS STILL EMPTY.

I MEAN, AND I THINK THAT'S THAT DATA AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS MAY HELP COMMERCIAL REALTORS FILL THOSE SPACES OR EDUCATE POTENTIAL LEASE PEOPLE THAT WOULD WANT TO LEASE THOSE BUILDINGS, THAT SORT OF THING.

AND THE EXTRA PRESENCE, I THINK, WOULD HELP MOTIVATE PEOPLE.

SO FOR THOSE REASONS, FOR REAL LIFE, JUST KIND OF ENHANCEMENT.

I THINK IT'S IT'S CRITICAL TO TO TAKE THE STEP AT A FULL IMPLEMENTATION, AT LEAST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE AND BEGIN TO WORK WITH THOSE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU ONE OTHER THING FROM A IT'S CONCERNING TO ME IN THE NATIONAL NEWS, YOU SEE A PERSON THAT STOPPED TO HELP AND THEN THERE'S A KIND OF A ABDUCTION OR WHATEVER, HOW THAT SHAKES OUT.

BUT THERE'S JUST PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE LEVERAGING PEOPLE'S GOODWILL AGAINST THEM.

SO TO HAVE SOMEONE TO SAY, HEY, YOU NEED HELP, GREAT.

THERE'S A PERSON IN THE VEST THAT'S ABLE TO TO HELP AND IT'S TRAINED ON HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE, TRAINED TO SEE THINGS.

[02:30:02]

SO JUST THAT TRAINING, THE DATA, SAFETY, CLEANLINESS, ALL THOSE THINGS SORELY NEEDED DOWNTOWN.

SO I SUPPORT THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DIRECTION? COUNCILMAN. MCGEE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

HOLLAND AND THEN MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

GOOD JOB, COURTNEY. I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE.

SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYER.

I LIKE THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT.

WHY WAS THERE ONLY.

I'M JUST CURIOUS. WHY WAS IT ONLY ONE COMPANY SUBMIT A BID? IS THAT BECAUSE THERE AREN'T A LOT OF COMPANIES IN THIS SPACE? WE KNOW. DO WE KNOW? WE KNOW ABOUT TWO, MAYBE THREE NATIONALLY WHO PROVIDE THESE HOLISTICALLY THESE SERVICES.

SO THE WHOLE GAMUT OF HOSPITALITY, CLEANING, SAFETY, THEY WERE ALL CONTACTED, INCLUDED ON ALL THE PROMOTION AND ONLY ONE WAS RECEIVED.

WE WERE NOT CERTAIN WHY THEY DIDN'T APPLY, BUT THAT WAS WHAT WE WE GOT IN.

MR. MAYOR, CAN I ASK DEPUTY CHIEF A QUESTION? SURE. IF YOU DON'T MIND.

I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THE INTERFACE WILL BE LIKE BETWEEN THE DOWNTOWN TEAM AND THE AMBASSADORS IF WE MOVE FORWARD.

LIKE, HOW WOULD THAT INTERACTION, HOW WOULD THAT INTERACTION GO? HOW WOULD THE AMBASSADORS CONTACT THE POLICE? I'M HOPEFULLY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT ON HOLD FOR 911 LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

HOPEFULLY THEY'LL HAVE RADIO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HOW IS THAT RELATIONSHIP GOING TO BE? YEAH, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE ISSUED RADIOS.

FACT ME AND COURTNEY WERE TALKING IN THE HALLWAY ABOUT THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME CLEAR DIRECTIVE ON WHAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR AND CLEAR LINE OF COMMUNICATION ON WHAT OFFICERS CAN EXPECT FROM THE AMBASSADORS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK JOINTLY TOGETHER TO OVERCOME ANY ISSUES THAT WE THAT WE FACE.

ARE THESE AMBASSADORS OR ARE WE ENVISIONING THEM BEING CPR TRAINED, ANYTHING LIKE THAT FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES? TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, STUFF LIKE THAT.

WOULD THEY WOULD THEY DO STUFF LIKE THAT OR IS THAT A BRIDGE TOO FAR? THAT REALLY WOULD DEPEND ON THE VENDOR.

I WOULD HAVE TO REFRESH MY MEMORY ON THE THE LIST OF TRAININGS THAT THEY STANDARD TRAININGS.

BUT I'M SURE THAT JUST MINOR RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES IS INCLUDED IN THOSE.

ARE WE GIVEN DIRECTION NOW OR DO YOU WANT TO IF YOU IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.

I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M I'M GOING TO BE A YES FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION.

AND I'LL I'LL JUST QUICKLY SAY WHY.

WHEN WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, RESIDENT REACHED OUT TO ME AND SHE DIDN'T THINK I UNDERSTOOD THE REFERENCE BECAUSE OF MY MY YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE. BUT SHE SAID, THIS IS GOING TO MAKE DENTON FEEL LIKE MAYBERRY AGAIN.

WHILE I DON'T WANT TO EVER FEEL LIKE MAYBERRY FOR SOME OBVIOUS REASONS, I DO THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO HELP MAKE EVERYBODY SAFER.

I DO THINK THAT THIS HAS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT TO IT.

WITH A DOWNTOWN VACANCY RATE AT OVER OVER 25%, I THINK THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE SHOULD MOVE.

SO I'M I'M DEFINITELY GIVING DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH FULL IMPLEMENTATION.

SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND.

THANK YOU. WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE USING THIS? OH, GOSH, QUITE A FEW.

SO WE HAVE FIVE.

DALLAS, FORT WORTH, RENO, SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA.

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

CHICAGO. OKAY.

OKAY. VERY GOOD. WILL THEY WORK 24 HOURS A DAY? NO, SIR. THEY WOULD WORK FROM ROUGHLY ABOUT 6 A.M.

AS WHEN THE CLEANING AMBASSADORS WOULD START AND THEY WOULD HAVE DIFFERENT SHIFTS.

AND THEN THE HOSPITALITY AND SAFETY AMBASSADORS WOULD WORK TILL ABOUT 1130 OR 12 P.M.

OR 12 A.M. ABOUT THE TIME OF THE BAR IS CLOSED.

CORRECT. OKAY. OKAY. WHO IS THE VENDOR? I AM NOT ABLE TO SHARE.

THE BID IS TECHNICALLY STILL OPEN.

RIGHT. OKAY. WHAT ARE THE BOUNDARIES? YEP. GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES.

THAT IS SO FOR THE ENTIRE AREA.

WE IDENTIFIED ABOUT CONGRESS TO EAGLE AND CARROLLTON RAILROAD.

ROUGHLY. THERE IS A MAP INCLUDED IN YOUR BACKUP AS WELL WITH SOME MORE SPECIFIC BOUNDARIES.

CONGRESS EAGLE. WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? CARROLLTON RAILROAD.

OKAY. OKAY.

AND A SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYER I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT TERM IS THAT IS THAT A PERSON THAT HAS POSSIBLY HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD THAT'S GOING TO BE HIRED BY THIS COMPANY? CORRECT. THEY MIGHT FACE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT THAT THE EMPLOYER WOULD HAVE.

THANK YOU. AND YOUR RECOMMENDATION? I BEG YOUR PARDON? I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PLAN.

I LIKE IT FULL HALF FULL.

FULL. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

SO TO FOLLOW UP ON ON COUNCILOR HOLLAND'S QUESTION, I JUST LOST TRACK OF THE HOURS BECAUSE 168 IS 24 TIMES SEVEN.

SO THAT'S THAT'S ONE POSITION, 24 SEVEN.

RIGHT. FOR THIS WHOLE THING.

EXCEPT YOU JUST SAID IT'S NOT 24 SEVEN.

SO COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE HOURS AND THINGS OF THE PROPOSAL? YEAH. SO THE STAFFING STRUCTURE IS SUCH THAT ABOUT THREE DAYS A WEEK YOU'D HAVE THREE CLEANING AMBASSADORS FROM 6 A.M.

TO 232 DAYS A WEEK.

YOU'D HAVE THEM FROM THE SAME TIME FRAME, JUST A FEW LESS SO TWO AND THEN THE OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEK, 1 TO 2.

[02:35:07]

ADDITIONALLY, THERE WOULD BE AN AMBASSADOR FIVE DAYS A WEEK FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS.

SO SOME OF THOSE MINOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS WE DISCUSSED, POSSIBLY SPECIAL EVENTS AND THEN FOR HOSPITALITY AND SAFETY FOR ABOUT FIVE DAYS A WEEK, YOU'D HAVE TWO AMBASSADORS ON BIKE AND FOOT PATROL SPACED OUT ON DIFFERENT SHIFTS AND THEN ONE ON FOOT PATROL AND ANOTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE MIDDAY SHIFT 1130 TO 8:00 PM.

ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT BREAKDOWN OF HOURS OF COVERAGE WAS A TEAM LEADER ON BIKE AND FOOT PATROL FIVE DAYS A WEEK AS WELL.

I HAVE A TABLE I CAN SEND.

THAT WOULD BE LOVELY.

BECAUSE. BECAUSE EVEN WITH THAT QUICK SYNOPSIS, I WAS I WAS LOSING TRACK OF IT A LITTLE BIT.

AND THE REASON I BRING THIS UP IS I THINK VARIOUS COUNSELORS HAVE POINTED OUT VERY LAUDABLE GOALS THE SAFETY CLEANING, PUBLIC SAFETY, THE CONCIERGE SERVICES.

ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT WE'RE WE'RE NOT BAKING IN ENOUGH FTE TO MAKE ANY ONE OF THOSE SUCCEED.

YOU KNOW, JUST JUST TO TAKE YOUR PRESENTATION, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE WALK TO THE CAR AT TWO A M BUT I DIDN'T HEAR TWO A M HOURS.

SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE AND THAT'S NOT MEANT TO BE CRITICAL.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE IT WOULD BE LOVELY TO HAVE A WALK TO THE CAR AT TWO A M BUT IF WE'RE NOT BAKING IN THE HOURS AND THE FTE AND THE COSTS INTO THE SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, THEN THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CARVE OUT SOMETHING SOMEWHERE.

THOSE ARE SPECIFICS THAT ARE NEGOTIABLE WITH THE VENDOR.

IF WE DO PROCEED TO KIND OF ADJUST THE STAFFING STRUCTURE TO TAILOR IT TO OUR NEEDS LOCALLY.

AND I GUESS THE OTHER THING THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP LIKE FOR YOU, CHIEF SOURCE, AND THAT IS IT'S NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE.

AND I DON'T MEAN TO NAIL THIS DOWN TO A SPECIFIC CONTRACT AT THIS EARLY TIME, BUT IT IT FEELS TO ME LIKE WE'RE A LITTLE PREMATURE ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARKS AND STAFF CLEANING, WHICH SEEMS TO BE BASED ON MY FOLLOW AROUND OF THE CITIES THAT THAT SOME OF WHICH WERE PROPOSED THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU KNOW THAT'S CLEANING SEEMS TO BE THE BIGGEST COMPONENT.

AND SO I'M.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE THIS IS THIS ISN'T BAKED ENOUGH FOR ME TO GIVE A DIRECTION ON ON LEVELS OF SUPPORT AND PARTIAL AND FULL OR AND EVEN SOME OF THE THE THE THE COMPONENTS IN THE CONTRACT PARTLY BECAUSE WE ONLY HAD ONE VENDOR AND THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE WHAT THEY PROVIDE IF IT'S ONLY ONE VENDOR.

SO I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

SO I GUESS I'M NOT A NEVER BUT I'M NOT AT THIS TIME. SO MY DIRECTION WOULD BE DEDICATED.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT AN OPTION.

BUT IF I COULD, I'D DEDICATE THE FUNDING TO EXISTING DEPARTMENTS TO FULFILL THOSE ROLES.

BUT, BUT GIVEN THAT, I'LL JUST SAY I'M NOT PROVIDING DIRECTION FOR THIS AT THIS TIME.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN BYRD. AND THEN COUNCILMAN MELTZER.

I'M JUST LOOKING AT THIS PERSON AND I'M SEEING SOMEONE IN A YELLOW SHIRT WITH SOME BLUE PANTS OR SOMETHING. WHAT? WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO LOOK LIKE? I MEAN, DO THEY WEAR UNIFORMS OR.

AND ALSO, FOR THE PART OF THE SAFETY, ARE THESE PEOPLE ALSO GOING TO LOOK OUT FOR ILLEGAL PARKING AND ALL OF THAT? WILL THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO WRITE TICKETS OR WARNINGS OR PUT SOMETHING ON SOMEONE'S CAR AND THAT KIND OF REGARD? NO, THEY'LL HAVE NO LEGAL AUTHORITY WHATSOEVER.

THEY'LL HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEM TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO GIVE MY FULL SUPPORT TO THIS MEASURE HERE.

THANK YOU. OKAY, COUNSELOR MELTZER MOSTLY I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN TRIED ELSEWHERE.

AND IF IT WORKS AS ENVISIONED, THAT'S ALL HELPING.

THERE'S A LITTLE PART OF IT THAT FEELS A LITTLE CREEPY.

LIKE A LITTLE BRICK BIG BROTHER.

I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU.

LIKE, IF. AND IT WOULD MAKE ME WANT THERE TO BE SOME KIND OF FEEDBACK LOOPS.

SOME. I DON'T KNOW.

I'M NOT. I'M NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM FOR YOU.

I'M JUST EXPRESSING IT LIKE AT SOME INTERVALS, EVALUATIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO INTERACT WITH THESE PEOPLE, THE DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES.

[02:40:04]

I'M SURE THE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

BUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO FEEL MAYBE BUFFALOED AROUND OR SO YOU KNOW, I'M CONFIDENT THAT IF YOU JUST HAVE HELPFUL PEOPLE OR VISIBLY IDENTIFIED, THEIR PRESENCE ALONE WILL DETER WHAT'S THE TERM, DETER PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS? YOU KNOW, THAT'S FINE.

AND I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL JUST HAVING.

MORE THAN EYES AND EARS JUST PRESENCE.

SO. SO I'M SUPPORTIVE.

BUT I WOULD LOVE THERE TO BE.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET A COUPLE MORE BITES AT THE APPLE, LIKE WHEN THERE'S A CONTRACT AND YOU KNOW RIGHT.

THIS ISN'T THE LAST CHECKPOINT ON THIS PROCESS BUT I WOULD LOVE THERE TO BE BUILT IN.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO EVALUATE WHETHER THE INTERACTIONS ARE COMING OFF THE WAY WE HOPE THEY DO? AND ALSO, IS THERE AN OUT ONCE WE GET TO THE CONTRACT? IS THERE AN OUT FOR EVEN WITHOUT CAUSE AT SOME INTERVAL, YOU KNOW, ARE THESE BIG ENOUGH COMPANIES THAT THEY CAN ENTER INTO IT KNOWING THAT THEY DON'T THINK IT WORKS OUT? YOU KNOW WE COULD BACK OUT OF IT.

THAT'S GREAT FEEDBACK. WE'LL DEFINITELY INCORPORATE THAT INTO ANY FUTURE PLANS.

AND ALSO, JUST AS A REMINDER, THIS IS A PILOT, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS INITIALLY TO TRY IT ON AND SEE IF WE LIKE IT, IF IT'S THE RIGHT FIT FOR DENTON THE RIGHT SOLUTION TO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AND MOVE FORWARD ACCORDINGLY.

PILOT IS A GREAT WORD FOR FOR MY CONCERNS AND THAT MEANS EVALUATION POINTS.

SO EXACTLY THANKS SO NO NO SUPPORT.

HAVE SUPPORT. FULL SUPPORT.

FULL HALF.

OKAY. GOT IT. OKAY.

OKAY. YES, SIR.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE PRICE OF 708 IS THAT FOR THE FULL PILOT? THAT'S TWO YEARS, RIGHT? THAT'S ONE YEAR. THAT'S ONE YEAR.

CORRECT. OKAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOOD.

YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED? YES. OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, OFFICER.

OKAY, THAT TAKES US TO OUR LAST WORK SESSION ITEM.

[D. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction on pending City Council requests for: (1) Request for staff to research and prepare an Informal Staff Report (ISR) on PEC multimodal paths. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]

ITEM D, ID TWO, THREE, TWO, ONE EIGHT.

RECEIVE REPORT, HOLD DISCUSSION.

GIVE STAFF DIRECTION ON PENDING CITY COUNCIL REQUEST.

SORRY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

JENNIFER RANEY, ASSISTANT ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER.

THIS HAS GOT OUR WORK SESSION PROCESS.

UP TO SEVEN REQUESTS WILL BE REVIEWED PER MEETING.

THIS MEETING WE JUST HAVE ONE STAFF WILL INTRODUCE THAT AND THEN THE ELECTED OFFICIAL HAS TWO MINUTES TO DESCRIBE AND JUSTIFY THEIR REQUEST.

AND THEN EACH INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER HAS AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND INDICATE THEIR LEVEL OF SUPPORT.

THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT CAN ALSO BE PROVIDED WITH A HIGH, MODERATE OR LOW PRIORITY.

AND THEN OUR SINGLE ITEM IS COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER.

PLEASE PROCEED WHEN YOU'RE READY.

YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE BASIC PREMISE HERE IS THAT YOU'VE GOT A NETWORK OF CONCRETE CREEKS THAT ARE TRIBUTARIES TO THE CONCRETE THAT THE PLAN LOOKS LIKE MAY END UP IN THE IN THE BOND PROPOSAL IS, IS TO FINISH THE JOB OF COVERING THOSE SO THAT IT TAKES AREA OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

BUT THEN WHAT'S LEFT IS THIS NETWORK OF WHERE THERE USED TO BE CREEKS THAT'S NOW COVERED OVER.

AND THE IDEA, NOT ORIGINAL TO ME IS TO TURN THOSE INTO SOMETHING THAT FITS INTO YOUR TRAIL PLAN, YOUR MASTER TRAIL PLAN, SO THAT YOU'VE GOT BIKE AND PED OFF ROAD BIKING TRAILS THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO DOWNTOWN, OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE NETWORKS OF TRAILS.

I'M SAYING THIS ANECDOTALLY TO BE VERIFIED.

SEE INCREASED VALUE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO BE ALONG THE TRAIL, WHETHER IT'S INDIANAPOLIS OR BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS, OR, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF OTHER PLACES.

I THINK BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, WHEN QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN.

I BROUGHT THIS UP ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, QUESTIONS.

ONE THING THAT CAME UP WAS WE HAVE DRAINAGE EASEMENTS IN FOR WHERE THESE CREEKS ARE, BUT ONCE YOU COVER IT, THEN YOU DON'T NEED THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT, YOU NEED PATH EASEMENTS.

AND ALSO TO MAKE PATHS ARE WE LIKE TO HAVE 10 FOOT OR 12 FOOT WIDTHS AND WE DON'T KNOW, DO WE HAVE TEN FOOT AND 12 FOOT WIDTHS? I SUSPECT WE DO, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

AND HOW MUCH WOULD ALL THIS COST? SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR IS, IS IF YOU THINK THAT THERE'S SOMETHING HERE IS FOR STAFF TO TO AT LEAST DO THE JOB OF ESTIMATING WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO IT SO WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT LATER.

HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO BUILD SOMETHING LIKE THAT OUT? IS THERE IN FACT TEN AND 12 FOOT CLEARANCES ALONG IT? AND ANOTHER QUESTION, YOU KNOW, TAKE A LONGER TIME TO SOLVE IS WOULD PEOPLE WANT TO GIVE, YOU KNOW, GIVE THOSE EASEMENTS FOR THERE TO BE A PATH WHERE TODAY THERE'S A

[02:45:02]

CREEK, YOU KNOW, THE ABUTTING NEIGHBORS? I WANT TO POINT OUT ANOTHER DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TIME ARE OKAY ANY ANYONE ELSE CARE TO SPEAK OR COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.

I APPRECIATE I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT PROCESS.

I'M I'M A I'M A YES ON THIS.

I DIDN'T HEAR YOU ASK FOR A SPECIFIC PRIORITY LEVEL TO THIS.

SO I'LL SAY WHATEVER WHATEVER STAFF DEEMS APPROPRIATE IN TERMS OF A PRIORITY LEVEL.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR PRO TEM. YEAH.

I THINK THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT BACKUP MATERIAL AND METRICS THAT THIS WOULD PROVIDE WOULD ALLOW US TO DECIDE TO DO OR NOT DO PARTICULAR PROJECTS.

SO I'D BE SUPPORTIVE HAVING STAFF GO BEYOND THE TWO HOURS IN TERMS OF PRIORITY.

YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD PROBABLY SAY MEDIUM TO LOW, JUST PUSH IT MAYBE MORE TOWARDS MEDIUM JUST BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE GOT TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO LET THINGS SLIP OUT OF OUR GRASP.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN. BYRD. I'M GOING TO SAY YES TO THIS, AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO UTILIZE THOSE SPACES.

I'M THINKING ESPECIALLY BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE MAJOR POINTS COME THROUGH THE SOUTHEAST DAYTON AREA.

EVERYTHING RUNS DOWN TO THE SOUTH, SO IT'LL BE GREAT TO SEE HOW ALL OF THIS PLAYS OUT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING IT.

GOT IT. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND.

I WOULD SUPPORT LOOKING INTO THIS.

NOT ABSOLUTELY I WOULD NOT WOULD NOT SAY THAT I'M READY TO VOTE FOR IT TODAY.

BUT BUT I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING PROPOSAL AND I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU. GOT IT.

AND YOU CAN SEE THIS ON THE BOND COMMITTEE.

THEIR CONCERN IS YOU'RE WALKING PEOPLE BEHIND PEOPLE'S HOMES OFTENTIMES AND JUST KIND OF YOU HAVE JUST A DISJOINTED POTENTIALLY OR SAFETY ISSUES. SO THERE ARE CONCERNS.

BUT THE TO DO THE WORK TO UNDERSTAND THE MAP I THINK IS FAIR.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THAT THAT TAKES US TO THAT CONCLUDES OUR WORK SESSION.

SO LET'S TAKE A LET ME FIND THE WORDING.

WE'LL TAKE US INTO CLOSED.

THIS. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW, AT 4:47 P.M.

[1. Closed Meeting:]

CONVENE IN CLOSED MEETING TO DELIBERATE THE CLOSED MEETING ITEMS SET FORTH ON THE AGENDA, WHICH INCLUDE ITEM A ID 23118 TO DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY UNDER TEXAS. TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.072 AND ITEM B ID 231301.

DELIBERATION REGARDING CERTAIN PUBLIC POWER UTILITIES COMPETITIVE MATTERS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.086 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT DINNER HAS BEEN DELIVERED.

SO LET'S LET'S SAY WE WILL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK JUST TO SET THE ROOM.

WE'LL BE BACK AT 455.

GET STARTED. 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:]

TODAY IS TUESDAY, JULY 18TH.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, SO WE'LL CONTINUE OUR MEETING.

IF YOU FIRST THING ON OUR AGENDA ARE PLEDGES TO THE UNITED STATES AND TEXAS FLAG.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND WITH ME IF YOU'RE ABLE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE.

TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

OKAY, GREAT.

NEXT, WE HAVE A FEW PRESENTATIONS.

[A. Proclamation: Parks and Recreation Month]

SO IF YOU ARE HERE FOR A PROCLAMATION REGARDING PARKS AND REC MONTH, WE'LL BE RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE.

YOU CAN COME DOWN AND I'LL JOIN YOU THERE.

WE'RE GONNA MAKE MORE.

[02:50:01]

ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU TELL? I'M TRYING TO GET IT ALL RIGHT.

NO, NO.

FIVE. THAT'S AWESOME.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO WHO WANTS TO WHO'S WHO'S SPEAKING? THERE WE GO. HI, MY NAME IS GARY PACK AND I'M DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.

AND WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE JULY AS PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH.

I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME WE'VE DONE IT SO FAR, AND I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST WE'VE HAD TURNOUT.

SO THANK YOU STAFF, FOR COMING.

BUT JULY IS OBVIOUSLY THE HOTTEST MONTH, ONE OF THE HOTTEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

AND THESE GUYS ARE OUT WORKING IN IT EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHETHER IT'S MAINTAINING OUR PARKS OR OPENING OUR CAMPS AND OUR POOLS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO AS A CELEBRATION OF WHAT YOU GUYS PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO PROMOTE PARKS AND RECREATION AS AN ASSET TO THE CITY.

SO IN ANY EVENTS COMING UP, WE WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF EVENTS.

WE HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON EVERY DAY.

ARIANA IS OUR SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR.

SHE'S PLANNING STUFF FOR THE FALL.

USUALLY WE TAKE JULY AND AUGUST.

WE HAD JULY JUBILEE FOR THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, BUT WE START PLANNING FOR THE FALL AND REALLY KICK OFF A LOT OF EVENTS IN THE FALL.

BUT WE HAVE ACTIVITIES, MOVIES IN THE PARK, POOLS ARE OPEN, CAMPS ARE OPEN, ALL KINDS OF FUN STUFF.

GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND ANYONE WANT TO INTRODUCE WELL, HERE, WE'LL JUST PASS AROUND REALLY QUICK.

LIKE NAME. FAVORITE MOVIE? NO, GO AHEAD. HI, MY NAME IS ZOE BERNARD.

I'M A RECREATION LEADER HERE AT PARKS AND REC AT THE DENTON CIVIC CENTER.

I'M JODY MCLAREN.

I'M THE RECREATION CARE COORDINATOR FOR ALL THE SUMMER CAMPS AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. I'M FAITH. I'M A NEW REC LEADER OVER AT THE DENTON CIVIC CENTER.

HI, MY NAME IS ARACELI AND I'M A LIFEGUARD AND I WORK AT THE WATERWORKS PARK.

HI, MY NAME IS ALI, AND I AM ALSO A LIFEGUARD, BUT I WORK AT THE CIVIC CENTER POOL.

HI, I'M GRACIE DENNIS.

I AM AN ASSISTANT POOL MANAGER AT WATERWORKS PARK.

I'M BLAISE BISHOP AND I AM A CAMP SUPERVISOR AT OUR SUMMER CAMPS.

I AM JULISSA HAMILTON, AND I AM A CAMP COUNSELOR.

MEGAN THOMAS PARKS PROGRAM AREA MANAGER.

CAROLINE SEWARD BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION MANAGER.

NIKKI SASSENUS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.

ROBBIE JOHNSON RECREATION SPECIALIST SUPERVISOR.

ROBIN HILL, THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR LEISURE SERVICES.

FAITH ALLEN, A SUMMER CAMP COUNSELOR.

CHRISTINE WRIGHT'S SUMMER CAMP COUNSELOR.

LARS MCCLOUD, INTERN AT THE SERVICE CENTER.

I'M ANN AND I'M FROM PARKS AND REC.

MY NAME IS ETHAN MORRIS.

I AM AN AQUATICS LEAD FOR THE AQUATICS DEPARTMENT.

MY NAME IS RYAN SKINNER. I'M THE RECREATION SPECIALIST FOR THE AQUATICS.

I'M WHITNEY DOLLENS.

I'M A WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR WITH THE LEARN TO SWIM PROGRAM.

ARIANA SUCH SPECIAL EVENT SUPERVISOR.

TORI HILL SPECIAL EVENT COORDINATOR.

YVONNE KENDRICKS REC COORDINATOR AT AMERICAN LEGION HALL.

AUTUMN NATALI PROGRAM AND EVENTS MANAGER.

MONICA MARTIN PROGRAM AREA MANAGER FOR AQUATICS.

KAREN ZIEMANN OUTDOOR RECREATION COORDINATOR.

MIKOTO PARK AND RECREATION BOARD MEMBER.

MADELINE JOHNSON, SUMMER INTERN FOR EDENIA.

FRANCIS PUNCH.

I AM TWO TERM CHAIR AND CURRENT VICE CHAIR OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.

HI, MY NAME IS GEORGE FERRY.

I'M THE CURRENT BOARD CHAIR OF THE PARKS AND REC BOARD.

OH, I'M READY. WOOHOO! AND IS AWESOME.

WELL, WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, I COULDN'T IMAGINE, LIKE, THE REQUIREMENTS TO DO ALL THE JOBS, THE LIFEGUARD, ALL THOSE THINGS, MAN, IT'S.

IT'S TOUGH, HARD WORK.

AND SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO YOUR FRIENDS AND BRINGING IN.

WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET.

WE'RE GROWING. AND IF ANYBODY WANTS TO GET INTO A VERY DANGEROUS GAME OF DOMINOES ON THURSDAY NIGHTS, RIGHT? YEAH. BUT DON'T GO IF YOU IF YOU AIN'T BOUT THAT LIFE, DON'T GO BECAUSE THEY, THEY ARE SERIOUS.

BUT IT'S IT'S A REALLY GOOD TIME.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PROGRAMS SO OKAY I HAVE A PROCLAMATION AND IT SAYS TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME.

[02:55:02]

GREETINGS. WHEREAS PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS, LOCAL PARKS, TRAILS, OPEN SPACES AND FACILITIES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE DENTON COMMUNITY AND AND ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE.

ENSURING THE HEALTH OF ALL CITIZENS AND.

WHEREAS, PARKS AND RECREATION SUPPORTS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND ENDLESS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, FOSTERING SOCIAL, INTELLECTUAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH IN PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.

WHEREAS PARKS AND RECREATION STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY AND IDENTITY BY PROVIDING FACILITIES AND SERVICES, REFLECTING AND CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY'S CHARACTER, HERITAGE, CULTURE, HISTORY, ESTHETICS AND LANDSCAPE.

AND. WHEREAS, PARKS AND RECREATION SUSTAINS AND STEWARDS OUR NATURAL RESOURCES BY PROTECTING HABITATS AND OPEN SPACES, CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE AND PROMOTING THE ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF PARKLAND.

AND NOW, THEREFORE, I GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY DECLARE AND PROCLAIM JULY 2023 AS PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH.

IF WE CAN GIVE HIM A HAND. WHAT DO YOU WANT? OKAY, HERE WE GO.

WELL, I DON'T WANT TO GET READY.

YEAH. COME ON. READY? YOU READY? YEAH. ALL RIGHT. OH, WELL, ARE YOU READY? WE. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL GIVE EVERYBODY A SECOND SO YOU CAN SEE THE PHONE.

THREE. I HOPE.

HEY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.

YES, SIR. YES.

ALL RIGHT. AND I THINK IS.

IS THIS NEXT. RIGHT? YEAH.

THAT'S NEXT. OKAY.

OKAY. GOT IT. OKAY, GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, SO IF WE COULD GET HAPPY AND DOWN OUR PET MAYOR AND HIS

[B. Proclamation: Pet Mayor 2023]

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS.

COME ON DOWN. OH, SWEET, SWEET, SWEET.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

HARD EARNED WIN, RIGHT? AND SO IF YOU COULD TELL US TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.

JUST SHARE WITH US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HAPPY AND AND THE PROCESS AND.

OKAY, YOU GOT IT.

HI, EVERYBODY. WELL, THIS IS HAPPY.

AND NOT TOO LONG AGO, HAPPY WASN'T LIVING HIS BEST LIFE.

HIS PREVIOUS OWNER DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF HIM AND ONE DAY PUT HIM IN HIS TRUCK TO DRIVE HIM DOWN A DIRT ROAD TO KILL HIM.

AND HE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART ON THE DRIVE AND ABANDONED HIM IN THE WOODS.

INSTEAD. I FOUND HAPPY AFTER HE WAS LIVING A COUPLE OF WEEKS ON HIS OWN, JUST LIVING ON WHATEVER HE COULD FIND AND AND TOOK HIM IN.

ME AND MY WIFE HERE WE HAVE SEVEN DOGS AND MULTIPLE CATS AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER ANIMALS THAT WE'VE TAKEN IN OVER THE OVER THE YEARS.

SO WE WAS LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT ORIGINALLY TO MAYBE TRY TO FIND A HOME FOR HIM.

AFTER WE FOUND OUT ABOUT HIS OWNER, WE LOOKED INTO THAT FIRST AND THEN FOUND THAT INFORMATION OUT.

AND WE LOOKED INTO MAYBE FINDING HIM A DIFFERENT FAMILY.

BUT I COULDN'T RISK POTENTIALLY GETTING IN HIM INTO ANOTHER HOME THAT DIDN'T CARE FOR HIM.

SO WE TOOK HIM INTO OURS.

AND THEN IN ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO LATER, I NOTICED OUR SCENE ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A PET MAYOR ELECTION.

I SAID, WHAT? THAT'D BE AMAZING TO ENTER HIM IN TO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO HAVE A REDEMPTION STORY.

AND AND SO WE DID.

WE ENTERED HIM IN AND AND HE'S THE MAYOR NOW.

AND SO THERE WAS, I BELIEVE 70 CANDIDATES ALL AWESOME ANIMALS, EVERYTHING FROM I THINK THERE WAS A DONKEY AND A I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF STUFF IN THERE.

BUT IT WAS AMAZING.

WE HAD, I DON'T KNOW, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF VOTES AND AND JUST SO MANY POSITIVE THINGS SAID ABOUT HAPPY AND AND HE'S JUST A THE MESSAGE YOU KNOW, IF HE COULD SPEAK I BELIEVE HIS MESSAGE WOULD BE TO SAY THAT NEVER GIVE UP.

[03:00:01]

YOU KNOW THAT LIFE CAN CHANGE IN A MOMENT AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SOMEONE ELSE THINKS OF YOU, YOUR WORTH IS NOT DEPENDABLE ON WHAT I THINK OF YOU OR WHAT YOUR NEIGHBOR THINKS OF YOU.

IT'S INSIDE YOU. AND SO HIS HIS PREVIOUS OWNER DIDN'T VALUE HIM.

AND NOW THE CITY OF DENTON DOES.

AND SO I HOPE HOPEFULLY HIS PREVIOUS OWNER GETS TO SEE THIS AND SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT HE MADE A HORRIBLE DECISION.

BUT BUT ANYWAYS, WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR VERY BEST TO SPREAD AS MUCH LOVE AND KINDNESS TO EVERYTHING BIG AND SMALL.

YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT IF THE GOOD LORD MADE IT, IT'S IMPORTANT.

AND THAT GOES FROM EVERYTHING FROM A MOUSE TO A GIRAFFE.

YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE BIGGER DON'T MEAN YOU'RE MORE VALUABLE.

AND SO IF THE GOOD LORD THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT AND PUT IT HERE AND WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD ALL TAKE CARE OF IT.

SO THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S GREAT.

THAT'S STARTING OVER HERE.

AND SO I HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR YOU AND IT SAYS A PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME GREETINGS. WHEREAS PETS HAVE BROAD, BROAD, POSITIVE IMPACTS ON OUR WORLD WELL-BEING, WELL-BEING, AND OUR VITAL, OUR VITAL PART OF OUR LIVES AND THE CITY OF DENTON RESIDENTS.

AND. WHEREAS, HAPPY A BLACK LAB AS DETERMINED BY A MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS THROUGH THE DENTON PET MAYOR CONTEST, IS THE SECOND CITY OF DENTON PET MAYOR.

AND. WHEREAS, HAPPY WILL SERVE AS A CITY OF DENTON PET MAYOR FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS BEGINNING JUNE 2023, WE'RE HAPPY PLANS TO CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING TO DENTON COMMUNITY, BRINGING JOY TO OTHERS AND REPRESENTING THE VALUES AND THE AND THE CHARACTER OF THE CITY OF DENTON.

NOW, THEREFORE, I GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND DECLARE HAPPY CITY OF DENTON PET MAYOR AND EXTEND TO HAPPY HOUR SUPPORT AND WISHES BEST WISHES HIM WELL.

PARDON ME AND WISH HIM BEST IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

IF WE CAN GIVE HIM A HAND.

SO WE HAVE. SO WE HAVE A PLAQUE.

OH, YES. YEAH.

AND THEN WE HAVE THIS. SO WE'LL GET A PICTURE OF BOTH HERE.

SO. YES.

MAYBE. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU. SEE YOU. YES. YES.

THERE YOU GO. OH, YEAH.

THANK Y'ALL. APPRECIATE YOU.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

AND I LIKE THAT VEST.

IT'S AWESOME. AND I HAVE ONE MORE HERE AND THAT IS DISABILITY JUSTICE DAY.

[C. Proclamation: Denton Disability Justice Day]

IF YOU'RE HERE FOR DISABILITY JUSTICE DAY, YOU CAN COME ON DOWN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. SO TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW.

WELL, HI. MY NAME IS ALISON KELLY.

I'M ON THE COMMITTEE OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY.

I'M HERE WITH SOME OF MY LOVELY FRIENDS THAT AREN'T STANDING UP HERE WITH ME.

AND THANKS FOR THAT HAPPY AND EXTREMELY HARD ACT TO FOLLOW.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE WANT TO SAY TONIGHT IS THAT WE DEDICATE THE PROCLAMATION THIS EVENING TO THE MEMORY OF JUDITH HEUMANN, WHO IS CONSIDERED THE MOTHER OF THE DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT, AND SHE PASSED AWAY IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR.

WOW, WOW. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO.

HEY, VAL, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YES, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.

IT'S CRITICAL. IT REALLY ADDS A LEVEL, AN EXTRA CHECK ON MAKING SURE WE MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S ACCESSIBLE BEST WE CAN AND CONTINUE TO HAVE A PLAN TO UPDATE THINGS AS NEEDED.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, FOR THAT INSIGHT.

AND SO IT'S A PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME GREETINGS.

WHEREAS JULY 26TH, 2023, IS THE 33RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT MARKING THE BEGINNING OF THE MODERN DISABILITY JUSTICE AND INCLUSION MOVEMENT.

AND. WHEREAS, WE RECOGNIZE THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF DISABILITY JUSTICE ADVOCATES AND ALLIES WHO PURSUE EQUAL ACCESS FOR ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF ABILITY STATUS IN TEXAS AND ABROAD.

AND. WHEREAS, ON JULY 26TH, 2000, JULY 26TH, 1990, THE ADA WAS SIGNED BY THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN ALL AREAS OF PUBLIC LIFE, INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION AND MORE.

AND. WHEREAS, MEMBERS OF THE DENTON COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE DENTON COMMITTEE ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, CONTINUALLY CHAMPIONED THE CAUSE FOR DISABILITY AWARENESS, INCLUSION AND AN END TO DISCRIMINATION AND STIGMA.

[03:05:02]

NOW, THEREFORE, I GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY DECLARE AND PROCLAIM THE 26TH DAY OF JULY 2023 AS DISABILITY JUSTICE DAY, IF WE CAN GIVE HIM A HAND. OH, HERE WE GO. WE'LL VOLUNTEER.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. APPRECIATE YOU.

Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT EVENING. OKAY.

OKAY. IF WE COULD PLAY THE VIDEO FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON COMMENTS, THEN WE'LL HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

[3. PRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC]

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 FOUR MINUTES TO GIVE A SCHEDULED REPORT AND FOUR 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 NONSCHEDULED ITEMS. AS A RESULT, THE COUNCIL MAY ONLY PROCEED AS FOLLOWS ON NON SCHEDULED ITEMS PROPOSED TO PLACE THE ITEM ON A FUTURE AGENDA.

MAKE A STATEMENT OF 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.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.

FIRST SPEAKER IS LAUREN JENKINS.

RICHARDSON YEAH.

IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME OR JUST CONFIRM YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LAUREN JENKINS RICHARDSON.

I ACTUALLY LIVE AND IN THE CITY OF DENTON, PROVIDENCE PLACED THE APARTMENTS THAT SITS RIGHT NEXT TO THE MEDPARK STATION.

I RELOCATED OUT HERE IN 2016 FROM LOS ANGELES, AND SO AND I'VE PRETTY MUCH BEEN HERE EVER SINCE.

SO WHAT I'M HERE TONIGHT ABOUT IS SPECIFICALLY SOME BILLING ISSUES THAT I DISCOVERED WITH THE CITY OF DENTON ELECTRICITY, PROBABLY, I WOULD SAY, AT THE END OF APRIL, BEGINNING OF MAY.

I USUALLY PAY MY BILL ONLINE.

THAT'S HOW I'VE ALWAYS DONE IT.

I'VE I THINK I'VE PROBABLY WENT INTO THE ACTUAL FACILITY MAYBE ONCE.

IT'S JUST MORE CONVENIENT THAT WAY WHEN MY WORK SCHEDULE.

WHAT I FOUND OUT IN, I WOULD SAY THE BEGINNING OF MAY WHEN I WENT ONLINE TO PAY MY BILL, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS ALMOST $300 AND I WAS JUST LIKE, WHAT IS THIS? SO I OPENED IT UP AND I SAW $142 SECURITY DEPOSIT THAT WAS ADDED TO MY BILL.

I BELIEVE THIS WAS ON A WEEKEND, MAYBE A SATURDAY OR A SUNDAY.

SO I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY, SPOKE WITH THE GENTLEMAN ON THE PHONE AND WAS TRYING TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION AS TO WHAT THIS DEPOSIT WAS.

WHEN I FIRST MOVED OUT HERE, I OBVIOUSLY HAD TO PAY A DEPOSIT TO MOVE INTO MY APARTMENT, WHICH I BELIEVE AT THE TIME IT WAS LIKE 225.

I TOTALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT BECAUSE I WAS, YOU KNOW, BRAND NEW.

AND WE ACTUALLY HAD THOSE POLICIES BACK HOME IN CALIFORNIA.

HE KIND OF WAS VAGUE, REALLY DIDN'T GIVE ME A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHAT THAT AMOUNT WAS.

HE JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS DEPOSIT.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, I KIND OF WAS UPSET BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET LIKE A STRAIGHT ANSWER.

WE ENDED THE CONVERSATION AND THE VERY NEXT DAY I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER.

I DON'T RECALL HER NAME, BUT I KNOW SHE WAS A WOMAN.

AND SHE WENT ON TO BASICALLY SAY THAT WHAT THE CITY OF DENTON ELECTRICITY DOES IS FOR ANY PERSON THAT HAS A ROLLOVER BALANCE, IF THEY

[03:10:10]

DEEM THAT IT'S TOO MANY ROLLOVER BALANCES, LIKE MAYBE YOU HAVE A ROLLOVER BALANCE IN, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE 20 OR $30.

IF YOU JUST DON'T HAVE ALL THE MONEY THAT MONTH, THEN YOU DON'T PAY IT ALL IN JANUARY AND THEN MAYBE $20 OR $15 IN THE MONTH OF APRIL AND THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN MAYBE, YOU KNOW, IN JULY.

SO WHAT THEY DO IS BASICALLY THEY JUST LOOK AT A PERSON'S PROFILE AND THEY DEEM THAT PERSON AS, OH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE NEED WHAT AS SHE SPOKE IT, IT COVERS THEM.

I KIND OF JUST DISAGREED AND I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND IT.

SHE BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT IT PROTECTS THE CITY OF DENTON IN THE EVENT THAT THAT PERSON DECIDES ALL OF A SUDDEN TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR APARTMENT AND JUST LEAVE, LEAVE A BILL. AND I'M LIKE, BUT I'M AN EXISTING CUSTOMER, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE IT.

IT'S IT'S NOT LIKE A CREDIT CARD.

IT'S NOT LIKE A CELL PHONE BILL.

YOU KNOW, ME PERSONALLY, I DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE MAYBE $5 THAT ROLLS OVER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT TO SIT THERE AND KIND OF LIKE RUN SOMEBODY'S PROFILE AND RUN SOMEBODY'S CREDIT AGAIN AND KIND OF DEEM THEM AS, OH, WE NEED TO ADD THIS AMOUNT ON.

SHE SAID. IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 2 MONTHS AND EACH MONTH IS $142.

AND SO IF AT THAT POINT YOU GO IN TO PAY YOUR BILL, THAT MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO THE DEPOSIT.

IT DOES NOT EVEN PAY YOUR BILL.

SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, IT'S PRETTY MUCH JUST LIKE, OH, WELL, THEY TACK IT ON, YOU'RE KIND OF STUCK WITH IT.

AND THEN SHE TELLS ME THAT, OH, WE GIVE IT BACK TO YOU AFTER A 12 MONTH PERIOD.

IT REALLY DOESN'T HAPPEN LIKE THAT.

OKAY, SO I'M A LITTLE HESITANT OR I JUST WANT TO GET SOME GROUND RULES BECAUSE AS THE BOARD OF THAT ORGANIZATION, WE CAN'T DISCUSS.

YOU'RE FREE TO DISCUSS YOUR BILL.

WE CAN'T DO THE SAME.

RIGHT. RIGHT. SO I THINK.

BUT CAN YOU HELP ME OUT, MR. CITY ATTORNEY? RIGHT.

THAT'S ACCURATE. YEAH.

SO I WOULD I'M CERTAIN WE HAVE STAFF HERE THAT CAN OR SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE THAT CAN GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH YOU.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BEST WAY TO KEEP TO ONE, TRY TO WORK TOWARDS A RESOLUTION AND THEY CAN UPDATE US.

AND THEN, TWO, WE CAN NOT GET IN TROUBLE FOR, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSING PEOPLE'S BILL.

RIGHT. SO WHO WHO CAN WHO HAS A MAYOR? KRISTA FOSTER IS HERE, OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER.

OKAY, GREAT. SO.

Y'ALL, YOU'LL TALK.

WE'LL GET AN UPDATE, AND I'M CERTAIN YOU'LL MAKE SURE WE'LL GET YOUR INFORMATION.

OKAY. NO PROBLEM. AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW UP AND SEE HOW THAT'S THAT'S GOING.

BUT SO THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD RESOLUTION.

I UNDERSTAND NOT IS IT JUST TO HAVE AN ABILITY TO ADDRESS THAT OVER TIME OR NO? OKAY. I MEAN, I TOTALLY FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF A PERSON HAS A ROLLOVER BALANCE, THAT'S JUST LIKE WHAT THE CELL PHONE BILL OR WITH THE CREDIT CARD, THEY WILL CHARGE A LATE FEE ON THAT ROLLOVER, BUT THEY CHARGE SOMEONE A WHOLE SECURITY DEPOSIT ANYWHERE FROM 100, YOU KNOW, A WHOLE TWO MONTHS.

AND THEY ARE AN EXISTING CUSTOMER FOR, YOU KNOW, A $20 ROLLOVER BALANCE.

AND THEN YOU KIND OF LIKE TO ME, I JUST KIND OF FEEL LIKE YOU'RE JUDGING THAT PERSON BASED OFF OF A $20 OR $30 ROLLOVER BALANCE BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT IT'S EXCESSIVE.

OKAY. GOT IT. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

THAT TAKES US TO PHILLIP YOUNG.

YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME. YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

I'M PHILIP YOUNG AND I LIVE AT 2041 SCRIPTURE STREET IN DENTON.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN A WORD OF PRAYER OR A MOMENT OF MEDITATION.

ALMIGHTY GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU AS BEINGS CREATED IN YOUR IMAGE, IN NEED OF YOUR GUIDANCE, AND WE BESEECH YOU TO GUIDE US IN OUR DELIBERATIONS THIS EVENING AND TO UNITE US IN ONE PURPOSE THAT WE MIGHT BE INSTRUMENTS OF PEACE AND RESTORING LAW, ORDER AND JUSTICE TO THIS COMMUNITY, TO YOUR HONOR.

AND GLORY. AMEN.

I STAND BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR THE NEW SPIRIT OF COOPERATION WHICH THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN EXHIBITING, AS RECENTLY REPORTED IN THE DENTON RECORD-CHRONICLE. AND TO SAY THAT I AM VERY HAPPY FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH ALL OF YOU ARE MAKING TO THE BETTERMENT OF OUR BELOVED CITY.

BEFORE THE RECENT CHANGE OF ATTITUDE, I WAS HONORED WHEN ONE OF YOU SAID TO ME, NOW WE JUST NEED TO GET RID OF COUNCIL MEMBER X USING THE MEMBERS REAL NAME.

[03:15:02]

I WILL HOLD THAT CONVERSATION IN CONFIDENCE.

BUT ALTHOUGH MY PHILOSOPHY OF GOVERNMENT DIFFERS FROM THAT OF COUNCIL MEMBER X, I SEE THAT MEMBER AS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE KIND OF DIALOG WHICH MAKES US STRONG.

WHEN MEN AND WOMEN OF DIVERSE OPINIONS COME TOGETHER IN UNITY, FORMING A CONSENSUS ON DIFFICULT ISSUES, GREAT THINGS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN WE MERELY SURROUND OURSELVES WITH FRIENDS WHO REINFORCE WHATEVER BLIND SPOTS MAY AFFLICT OUR THINKING, WE BECOME DULL AND USELESS LIKE MINDLESS LEMMINGS FOLLOWING ONE ANOTHER OVER A CLIFF.

MY ADDRESS TO THIS COUNCIL THIS EVENING IS LISTED ON THE AGENDA, ALLOWING YOU TO INTERACT WITH ME.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ENGAGE WITH ME IN ORDER TO ALLOW ME TO SHARE MORE OF WHAT EACH OF YOU HAS COME TO MEAN TO ME AND WHAT I BELIEVE YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE IN ADVANCING THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF DENTON.

I GIVE THANKS FOR THE WISDOM OF COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS FOR THE MODERATION OF MY OWN COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER, WHOM I VIEW AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN DISPARATE FACTIONS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

FOR THE HONESTY AND COURAGE OF COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD, WHO HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE RACE CARD EXPIRED A LONG TIME AGO IN DENTON AND THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS MUST NOT BE DEPRIVED OF THEIR DISCRETION TO ENFORCE THE LAW.

FOR THE DEDICATION AND LOVE DISPLAYED BY MAYOR HUDSPETH AND FOR THE PASSION FOR JUSTICE SHOWN BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE HIS INITIATIVE WITH RESPECT TO THE MISLEADING NATURE OF CRIMINAL RECORDS AS USED IN HIRING PRACTICES, GOES TO THE VERY HEART OF THE BREAKDOWN IN OUR SOCIETY AS A RESULT OF A TWO TIER SYSTEM OF JUSTICE IN WHICH A UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT CAN HIT PEDESTRIANS WITH HIS CAR WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL WITH IMPUNITY.

BUT A US MILITARY VETERAN SELF-MEDICATING FOR HIS PTSD WITH MARIJUANA ENDS UP BEING LABELED AS A CRIMINAL.

IN THATRILLIONEGARD, I GIVE THANKS FOR THE EXPERIENCE GAINED AS A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE ON THE PART OF COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND, AND FOR THE EXPOSITION OF SCIENTIFIC TRUTH VOICED BY MAYOR PRO TEM BECK IN THE FACE OF QUESTIONABLE ASSERTIONS ON THE PART OF POLICE OFFICERS WITH REGARD TO THEIR ABILITY TO SMELL ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES.

IN ADDITION, I AM HERE TO EXPRESS MY THANKS FOR CITY MANAGER SARA HENSLEY, WHOM I SEE AS A ROCK OF STABILITY IN THIS COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF WARRING FACTIONS. AND AS ONE WHO RIGHTLY RECOGNIZES THAT WE ARE A NATION OF LAWS WITHOUT WHICH WE WOULD HAVE ANARCHY IN OUR CITY.

AND SPEAKING OF LAWS, I AM GRATEFUL AS WELL FOR CITY ATTORNEY REINWALD, WHO KEEPS US ON TRACK IN THESE MEETINGS SO THAT OUR AFFAIRS ARE ACTED IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. I WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT OR TO LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND SO I SKIPPED ONE.

STEPHEN SIMMONS.

YES. IF YOU COME NOW AND GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

THANK YOU. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS STEPHEN SIMMONS, LIVE IN COLLEYVILLE, TEXAS.

SORRY. NO PROBLEM.

I WANT TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME MISCOMMUNICATION ON AN INCIDENT.

IT WAS STILL DARK AND I WAS COMING FROM MY HOME AIRPORT FIVE TO FOX TROT IN ROANOKE, TEXAS.

I LANDED AT DENTON AT APPROXIMATELY 615 THAT MORNING.

SO IT'S STILL DARK AND I WAS GOING TO THE US TO TRINITY FBO.

THE LINEMAN WAS SIGNALING SIGNALING ME TO PARK HEADED WESTBOUND AS I CROSSED IN FRONT OF THE FBO.

AS I STARTED TO MAKE THE TURN TO THE LEFT, I WENT INTO WHAT THERE WAS A SWELL AND A DRAINAGE DITCH AND THIS DRAINAGE DITCH HAD BEEN REPAIRED.

AND THE SPRING BEFORE THIS THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED SEPTEMBER 29TH OF 2022.

SINCE THE PROP IS IN FRONT OF THE NOSE GEAR BY ALMOST FIVE FOOT, THERE WAS A PROP STRIKE AS THE CONCRETE ROSE UP TO THE GRADE LEVEL BEFORE THE NOSE GEAR OF MY PLANE STARTED GOING BACK UP TO THE CURRENT GRADE OF THE REST OF THE TAXIWAY THAT THE CITY OF DENTON HAD MADE.

AND ACTUALLY, I GUESS IT WAS THE CONTRACTOR WAS WHAT I UNDERSTAND ACTUALLY MADE THIS THING.

I WAS INSTRUCTED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT KSR ENGINEERING AS THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENGINEERING ON THE DRAINAGE AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAD HAD IT BUILT, I GUESS, OR REPAIRED.

[03:20:08]

I CONTACTED THEM.

THEY IMMEDIATELY SENT THEIR ENGINEERS OUT TO LOOK AT THE DRAINAGE AREA AND WROTE A LENGTHY THREE PAGE LETTER, ALONG WITH A DRAWING SHOWING THAT THE CONCRETE HAD NOT BEEN POURED AS THEY HAD ENGINEERED.

THE DITCH WAS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

IT WAS AT LEAST EIGHT INCHES BELOW THE GRADE OF THE REST OF THE TAXIWAY, AND IT WAS ONLY MAYBE FIVE FOOT OFF THE YELLOW LINE, WHICH REALLY DOESN'T MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE ANYWAYS BECAUSE IT'S A TAXIWAY AREA.

UNFORTUNATELY, I GUESS BECAUSE IT WAS DARK, I DIDN'T SEE IT AND I WAS HAPPY TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO RUN INTO IT AND MESS UP MY NEW AIRPLANE THAT I PURCHASED.

I USED THIS AIRPLANE STRICTLY FOR BUSINESS.

I TRAVEL ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND I GO INTO A LOT OF SMALL AIRPORTS.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HAVE THE USE OF THIS PLANE.

I WAS OUT OUT THE USE OF THE PLANE FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS WHILE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED.

THE. THE CITY OF DENTON OWNS THE AIRPORT.

THEY HIRED KSA ENGINEERING TO DO THE ENGINEERING.

AND THEN THE CITY OF DENTON HIRED APPARENTLY A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO GO OUT THERE AND MAKE THE REPAIRS TO THIS DRAINAGE DITCH.

I KNOW YOU GUYS SEND YOUR INSPECTORS OUT TO INSPECT IT, AND OBVIOUSLY THEY DIDN'T INSPECT IT VERY WELL OR WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE DITCH.

JUST THIS LAST MONTH, IT HAD BEEN CORDONED OFF FOR ALL THIS TIME.

AND JUST THIS LAST MONTH, THE THERE WAS A CONTRACTOR OUT THERE THAT JACKHAMMERED ALL THE CONCRETE UP AROUND THIS DRAINAGE DITCH AND RELEVELED IT. SO I FEEL LIKE THE CITY OF DENTON SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.

IT'S IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I'M OUT $51,014.99 AND IT'S THAT'S NO SMALL PENNY.

AND AND APPARENTLY THE INSPECTOR DIDN'T INSPECT THE JOB VERY WELL AND CONCRETE GUY DIDN'T DO HIS JOB.

AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHASE CONCRETE PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER? SEEING NONE. I WILL TAKE I TAKE YOUR POINT.

I'LL HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS ON MY END AND WE'LL I'LL ASK SOMEONE TO CIRCLE BACK WITH YOU AT LEAST OR GET AN UPDATE ON IF WE CAN FACILITATE OR CALL A MEETING TO TO EXPEDITE THINGS. SO THANK YOU.

FAIR POINT. FAIR POINT. DO YOU HAVE MY TELEPHONE NUMBER? I'M CERTAIN YOU DO.

WE I'M SURE SOMEBODY DOES.

RIGHT? OKAY.

HERE. HERE.

JUST JOT IT DOWN JUST IN CASE.

THERE WE GO. THANKS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THEN THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TRACY DUCKWORTH.

IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS TRACY DUCKWORTH.

KEEP MY ADDRESS ANONYMOUS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE I LIVE.

UM, ANYHOW, SHORT TESTIMONY FOR Y'ALL THAT DON'T KNOW ME.

UM, I WAS ACTIVE DRUG ADDICT FOR 27 YEARS.

YES, THAT'S A VERY LONG TIME.

I WAS HOMELESS FOR SIX YEARS ON THE STREETS BY MYSELF, FROM SOUTH DALLAS TO DENTON.

UM, AND SO NOW I ADVOCATE FOR HOMELESSNESS.

DO MINISTRY OUT OF MY APARTMENT.

UM, FIRST, I WANT TO COMMEND THE CITY OF DENTON BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HOMELESS IN SO MANY CITIES.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE OTHER CITIES ARE DOING FOR HOMELESSNESS ARE NOT DOING, YOU KNOW, AND THE CITY OF DENTON TRIES TO DO A LOT.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF COMMITTEES THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE OR THEIR GOAL IS TO MAKE HOMELESSNESS RARE, BRIEF AND NON-RECURRING.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NONE OF THAT.

UM, ALL OF YOU ARE OVER, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN DISTRICT, EXCEPT FOR THE TWO OF YOU THAT ARE AT LARGE.

BUT WHAT ABOUT MY PEOPLE? THE HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO HOME AND THEY HAVE TO MOVE AROUND ALL THE TIME CARRYING EVERYTHING THEY HAVE BECAUSE CAMPING OUT IS ILLEGAL.

UM. AS FAR AS THE COMMITTEES GO THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN PLACE?

[03:25:02]

I DON'T KNOW YOU KNOW ANY MORE, EXCEPT FOR THERE'S A LOT OF THEM I KNOW.

I RUN INTO THEM ALL THE TIME WHEN I CHASE LEADS ON THE INTERNET.

IF YOU PUT A COMMITTEE TOGETHER TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE, BUT NO ONE FROM THAT PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE IS PRESENT, THEN THEY'RE NOT EVEN BEING POORLY REPRESENTED.

THEY'RE NOT BEING REPRESENTED AT ALL IN THE WRONG DECISIONS ARE MOST LIKELY BEING MADE.

SOME OF YOU WORKED WITH ME LAST YEAR AND WORKED WITH ME BEFORE MY ORGANIZED A LISTENING MEETING.

I'M FIXING TO DO THAT AGAIN.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST TIME I DID IT.

NO REPORTERS, NO CAMERAS, NO NEWSPAPER, NONE OF THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE I WANT IT TO BE WHERE MY PEOPLE CAN SAY WHATEVER THEY NEED TO SAY.

SO PLEASE WATCH YOUR EMAILS FOR THAT INVITATION.

I JUST WANT TO HELP.

AND I'VE GOT A LOT OF IDEAS AND MY PEOPLE HAVE IDEAS BECAUSE THEY'VE GONE THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAMS IN DENTON AND SO HAVE I.

IT'S VERY HARD TO FIX A PROBLEM WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

AND I DON'T EXPECT ANY OF YOU ALL TO KNOW WHAT THAT PROBLEM, THE PROBLEMS OF BEING HOMELESS ARE IN THIS TOWN BECAUSE Y'ALL HAVEN'T HAD TO DEAL WITH IT.

UM, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

AND THERE'S CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE, VERY SERIOUS CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE, WHICH WE CAN GO INTO, YOU KNOW, IN THE OTHER MEETINGS.

AND FURTHER, I JUST WANT TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND JUST HELP WHEREVER I CAN, BECAUSE EVERY TIME SOMETHING HAPPENS IN THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY, I GET A PHONE CALL.

SO I HEAR ALL THIS INFORMATION AND I JUST I WANT TO HAVE AN OUTLET FOR IT, YOU KNOW, TO TO RELAY THE INFORMATION WITH Y'ALL SO IT'LL BE HELPFUL SO Y'ALL CAN KNOW THE AREAS WHERE HELP IS NEEDED AND CHANGE IS NEEDED.

UM. AND THAT'S REALLY ALL I'VE GOT.

THE CITY DOES FOR THIS.

THIS CITY REALLY DOES TRY TO DO A LOT.

I'VE SEEN SOME THINGS THAT I WANT TO TRY THAT I THINK WILL BE GOOD IN THIS CITY THAT I'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL.

LIKE IN ANOTHER MEETING AT ANOTHER TIME WHEN WE HAVE MORE TIME.

AND I APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL DO TRY TO DO AND I APPRECIATE THE ONES THAT HAVE ALSO ALREADY WORKED WITH ME, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE REST OF Y'ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. SEE? NO QUESTIONS.

OKAY, SO THE LAST PUBLIC SPEAKER AND THEN I WANT TO GIVE WHATEVER TROOP THAT IS.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IF YOU WANT.

YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO IT. AFTER THIS, YOU'RE GOOD.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

SURE. APPRECIATE YOU.

I'M HAVING A HARD TIME TYING IT.

NO, JUST KIDDING. OKAY.

I NEED YOUR HELP. OKAY.

THE LAST SPEAKER IS CHRISTINE BRAY.

HELLO, Y'ALL. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF BRANDON MCGEE'S PITCH TO CREATE TEMPORARY SIDEWALKS ALONG THE SIDE OF MCKINNEY.

IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION WHEN HE PITCHED THAT AT THE MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO OFFER, I THINK, MY THOUGHTS ON THIS, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS HIS, DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR HIM, BUT MOST OF THE STRETCH OF MCKINNEY FROM WOODROW TO TO 88 HAS QUITE WIDE SHOULDERS STAFF.

AND I BELIEVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE TALKING ABOUT TEMPORARY SIDEWALKS AS IF THEY WOULD BE LAID CONCRETE ALONG THAT STRETCH.

AND I THINK WHAT I ENVISION WHEN I THINK OF TEMPORARY SIDEWALKS ALONG MCKINNEY IS JUST CONING THE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE ROAD LANES AND THOSE WIDE SHOULDERS.

AGAIN, MOST OF THE STRETCH BETWEEN WOODROW AND TO 88 DOES HAVE 4 OR 5, SIX FOOT SHOULDERS THAT YOU COULD JUST CONE TO PROVIDE SOME SEPARATION. THAT IS ALREADY THE SPACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE WALKING.

THAT IS ALREADY THE SPACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE RIDING THEIR BIKES, RIDING THEIR WHEELCHAIRS TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO OFFER SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

ADDITIONALLY, IF THEY WANTED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFORT ON THAT, I THINK THERE ARE ALSO PORTIONS WHERE THOSE SHOULDERS DISAPPEAR, BUT THEN THERE IS STRIPED DO NOT ENTER YELLOW AREAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND SO THAT COULD BE RESTRIPED POTENTIALLY TO THEN EXTEND THAT CONTINUOUS SHOULDER.

SO I JUST WANTED TO OFFER SUPPORT FOR THAT IDEA.

I THINK THAT IS AN EXCELLENT AND NEEDED IDEA.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WALK AND BIKE IN THAT AREA ON A DAILY BASIS.

A FRIEND OF MINE ONCE PICKED UP A MAN WHO WAS RIDING HIS WHEELCHAIR DOWN THAT AND OFFERED HIM A RIDE IN THEIR CAR SO THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE EXPOSED TO THAT 40, 45, SOMETIMES 50 MILE AN HOUR TRAFFIC DOWN THAT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT AND EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THAT IS ALL OUR SPEAKERS THAT TAKES US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

I'LL TAKE A MOTION, BUT FOR ITEM H.

MAYOR PRO TEM. I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT FOR ITEM H.

[03:30:01]

COUNCILMAN MCGEE. SECOND.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM BECK, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MCGEE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

BUT FOR ITEM H ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

THAT PASSES. SEVEN ZERO.

[H. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton amending Chapter 2, Article II, Section 2-30 of the Code of the City of Denton (City Council requests for information or agenda items), to require a consensus of a supermajority of councilmembers for a request for a resolution or ordinance to be placed on an agenda prior to a work session on the request; providing a repealer clause; providing a severability clause, providing a savings clause; and providing an effective date.]

ITEM H. THERE'S NO PRESENTATION, JUST AN INDIVIDUAL VOTE.

IT'S ITEM ID 231367.

CONSIDER. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON AMENDING CHAPTER TWO.

ARTICLE TWO, SECTION 230 OF THE CODE OF CITY OF DENTON.

CODE OF THE CITY OF DENTON.

CITY OF DENTON. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR AGENDA ITEMS TO REQUIRE CONSENSUS OF SUPERMAJORITY OF COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR REQUEST FOR A RESOLUTION OF ORDINANCE TO BE PLACED ON AGENDA PRIOR TO A WORK SESSION ON ON THE REQUEST PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

SO I WILL.

SO I'LL MOVE APPROVAL IS COUNCILWOMAN METZLER.

YES, I'LL SECOND.

MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO.

HALF THE ITEMS THAT WE SEE ON OUR AGENDA ARE ITEMS THAT WE'VE NOT SEEN BEFORE THEY OCCURRED ON THE AGENDA.

I THINK THIS UNNECESSARILY DILUTES THE POWERS OF COUNCIL.

I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF IT, THE CONSENSUS BUILDING THAT IS ATTEMPTED TO BE.

BUT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE THE POWERS OF COUNCIL AS THE POWERS OF COUNCIL FOR THE TIME BEING.

OKAY. ANY OTHER COUNCILMAN? MCGEE. MR. MAYOR, I TOO WILL BE VOTING NO, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T AGREE, BUT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD REQUIRE A SUPERMAJORITY.

OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, THEN LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

THE MOTION FAILS 3 TO 3.

AND SO.

IF STAFF CAN JUST WHEN WE HAVE A FULL CONTINGENCY, IT WILL BE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

JUST WE'LL JUST PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA.

[A. Hold a public hearing and consider adoption of an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas repealing Chapter 24, titled “Solid Waste,” of the Code of Ordinances in its entirety; adopting a new Chapter 24 titled “Solid Waste”; providing severability, savings, penalty, and publications clauses; and providing for an effective date. The Public Utilities Board recommends approval (3-1).]

THAT TAKES US TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.

ITEM A ID 23386.

HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS.

REPEALING CHAPTER 24 TITLED SOLID WASTE OF THE CODE CODE OF ORDINANCES IN ITS ENTIRETY, ADOPTING A NEW CHAPTER 24 TITLED SOLID WASTE, PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, SAVINGS, PENALTY AND PUBLICATION CLAUSES AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

GOOD EVENING. I'M BRIAN BURNER, SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR WITH THE CITY OF DENTON.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, ALMOST A YEAR AGO, CITY COUNCIL ACCEPTED THE FINDINGS AND APPROVED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY OF DENTON'S COMPREHENSIVE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.

THE PURPOSE OF THE STRATEGY IS TO IDENTIFY EFFORTS THAT NEED TO BE DEFINED AND IMPLEMENTED TO PURPOSELY SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE CITY'S SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

ONE OF THE POINTS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED IS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE MULTIFAMILY AND COMMERCIAL RECYCLING CUSTOMER PARTICIPATION IN A WASTE DIVERSION PROGRAM.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, SOLID WASTE STAFF HAS BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING TO RESEARCH, DEFINE AND DEVELOP THE UPDATES TO CHAPTER 24 OF THE CITY OF DENTON CODE OF ORDINANCES, NOT ONLY TO MODERNIZE ITS TENANTS, BUT NOT TO NOT ONLY TO MODERNIZE THE TENANTS OF THE EXISTING CODE, BUT TO ENHANCE IT THROUGH THE ADDITION OF A COMPREHENSIVE DIVERSION.

ARTICLES. THE CDA WILL EXPAND OUR RECYCLING EFFORTS TO DIVERT WASTE MATERIALS AND EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE CITY OF DENTON LANDFILL.

OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, WE HAVE DEVOTED WE'VE BEEN DEVOTED TO OUTREACH AND WORKING WITH THE COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY SECTOR TO ANSWER QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROPOSED PROGRAM OF APPROXIMATELY 4040 COMMENTS RECEIVED IN THIS PERIOD, ABOUT ONE THIRD HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE ORDINANCE.

THE REMAINING COMMENTS AND CONCERNS.

THE REMAINING COMMENTS CONCERNED CONTAMINATION CONTAINER LOCATION COST, WHICH WE HAVE RESPONDED TO AT THE JUNE 27TH, 2023, CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION.

STAFF BRIEF STAFF PROVIDED A BRIEFING ON THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE THE COMMERCIAL DIVERSION.

WE'VE UPDATED THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS VOICES CONCERNED AT THAT MEETING.

I DO HAVE THAT PRESENTATION TONIGHT IF WE DO NEED TO REVIEW IT.

BUT FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE UPDATES TO THE CITY OF DENTON CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 24.

[03:35:02]

IF I CAN TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I WOULD LIKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE JJ TIPPS, WHO DID MUCH OF THE RESEARCH AND COMPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCES, AND BRANDY NEILL, WHO COORDINATED THE OUTREACH AND RESPONSE TO THOSE DRAFTS.

THEIR WORK TO GET US TO THIS POINT WAS VITAL AND IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS NOW OR AT THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

AND I WILL OPEN THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I THINK I MISSPOKE ABOUT ITEMS IN INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

SO IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU CAN SPEAK ON THIS. YOU JUST NEED TO FILL OUT A CARD AFTER THE FACT.

SO ABSENT THAT, ANY QUESTIONS OR STAFF SEEING NONE.

COUNCILWOMAN MELTZER.

YES, I'M GOING TO MOVE APPROVAL.

AND I'D JUST LIKE TO UNDERSCORE THAT THIS HAS BEEN SORT OF ON THE WISH LIST FOR AN AWFULLY LONG TIME.

MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTERS OF DENTON RECYCLING PROBABLY AREN'T AWARE THAT COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE THE SAME WAY THAT RESIDENCES ARE TODAY.

AND YOU'RE ALSO PROBABLY NOT AWARE THAT IT IS A WASTE STREAM THAT IS THREE TIMES BIGGER THAN WHAT'S COLLECTED AT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES.

SO THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD IN TERMS OF DIVERSION FROM THE LANDFILL.

THE BIG OBSTACLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONTAMINATION, AND IT WAS KIND OF A HARD NO FOR A LONG TIME.

AND OUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT TOOK ON THE CHALLENGE OF TRYING TO HAVE A BREAKTHROUGH ON HOW TO MANAGE THAT CONTAMINATION SO THAT THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.

SO WITH GREAT PLEASURE, I MOVE APPROVAL.

OKAY. MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU.

YEAH, I TOO AM GOING TO MOVE APPROVAL.

I THINK THAT AS COUNCILOR MELTZER SAID, WE'VE WE'RE STEPPING INTO A REALM THAT IS THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BEFORE AND IT'S A VERY NECESSARY PILOT PROJECT AND AND PATH FORWARD.

AND I LOOK HAPPY.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TO GETTING THIS NEW DIVERSION METHODOLOGY OFF THE GROUND AND HAPPY TO SECOND.

OKAY. DISCUSSION.

WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND.

I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING DISCUSSION.

BRIAN, I DO HAVE.

YES. WELL, HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.

YOU HAVE TO COME UP TO THE TO THE MICROPHONE IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO FILL OUT A CARD AFTERWARDS.

BUT GO RIGHT AHEAD. YEAH, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE I'M IN FAVOR OF RECYCLING.

I JUST WONDERED.

WILL I GET A NOTICE PERIODICALLY FROM I GUESS THE RECYCLING DEPARTMENT ABOUT DON'T USE DON'T PUT CERTAIN THINGS INTO THE RECYCLING BECAUSE IT SHOULDN'T BE THERE.

SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE THINGS THAT WE DO PUT IN THAT ARE WRONG? DOES IT GO THEN TO THE REGULAR LANDFILL OR DO WE SHIP IT OFF SOMEWHERE ELSE? I'LL LET I'LL LET BRIAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YES. AND THIS IS THIS IS FOCUSED ON COMMERCIAL, BUT THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO I'LL LET HIM SPEAK TO IT.

SO AND THAT'S THAT'S A FAIR POINT.

IF YOU CAN GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND THEN SPECIFICALLY ANSWER HER QUESTION.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, IS NOT ONLY TO MODERNIZE CHAPTER 24, WHICH COVERS THE BROAD SENSE OF THE WAY WE DO SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING, BUT ALSO ADD THAT COMMERCIAL DIVERSION ARTICLE, WHICH AGAIN WOULD REQUIRE NOT ONLY MULTIFAMILY BUT COMMERCIAL ENTITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF DENTON TO HAVE SOME SORT OF DIVERSIONARY PRACTICE RECOGNIZING THAT NOT EVERY INDUSTRY OR BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF DENTON, YOU KNOW, PRODUCES PAPER OR PLASTIC, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WE NORMALLY PICK UP CURBSIDE. THIS GIVES PEOPLE THE OPTION TO BASICALLY DEFINE THEIR OWN PATH.

SO IF YOU HAVE TEXTILE WASTE, FIND A PERSON TO RECYCLE IT.

RECYCLE THE TEXTILE.

IF YOU'VE GOT SCRAP METAL, WHO IS YOUR SCRAP METAL RECYCLER? THINGS THAT WE DON'T TAKE, BUT WE GET THAT METRIC BACK IN SO WE CAN SEE EXACTLY HOW IT'S BEING DIVERTED AND THEN WORK WITH YOU TO TRY TO STEP IT UP JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE.

YOU AS THE BUSINESS OWNER OR THE MULTIFAMILY TENANT OR THE DRIVER IN THIS ORDINANCE, ALL WE WANT IS THE INFORMATION.

SO AGAIN, YOU CAN DEFINE HOW IT'S DONE, WHEN IT'S DONE, WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST YOU.

BUT AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH YOU HAND IN HAND AS WE GO DOWN THE DOWN THE TRAIL SPECIFICALLY FROM FROM A TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION REGARDING WHAT HAPPENS RESIDENTIALLY CURBSIDE IF SOMETHING THAT IS NOT WITHIN OUR CITY OF DENTON PROGRAM IS PUT WITHIN THE WITHIN THE CART, THAT MATERIAL IS ACTUALLY PULLED OUT AT OUR MURPH THE MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY.

AND IT WILL BE LANDFILLED BECAUSE THROUGH THE FACILITY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION OR THE ABILITY TO RECYCLE THAT.

AND HOPEFULLY IT HASN'T CONTAMINATED A MUCH LARGER PIECE OF THE LOAD, WHICH WOULD THEN AGAIN CAUSE THAT MATERIAL TO BE LANDFILLED, TOO.

SO IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT, FIRST OF ALL, THE MATERIAL THAT'S PUT IN THE CART IS PROGRAMMATIC, AND THEN IT'S EMPTY, CLEAN, DRY AND LOOSE ONCE IT'S DONE THAT, IF YOU CAN DO

[03:40:05]

THOSE FOUR THINGS AND IT'S PROGRAMMATIC, WE'LL BE WE'LL BE GOLDEN.

INTERESTING POINT. FOUR YEARS AGO WE STARTED THIS PROCESS.

OUR CONTAMINATION RATE WAS CLOSE TO 78%.

FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, WE WERE AT 30%.

AND THAT IS REMARKABLE FOR THE CITY OF DENTON AND FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF DENTON TO HELP US REACH THAT GOAL.

WE STILL GOT A WAYS TO GO, BUT WE ARE.

WE'RE WELL ON THE TRACK.

COUNCILOR MELTZER.

YEAH, JUST TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY SINCE AT LEAST ONE PERSON IS LISTENING.

JUST TO REITERATE, I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, BUT LOOSE.

WHEN YOU SAY LOOSE, THAT MEANS NO PLASTIC BAGS IN THE RECYCLING, RIGHT? CORRECT. YOU KNOW, YOUR GARBAGE NEEDS TO GO IN A PLASTIC BAG DROPPED IN THE CART FOR TWO REASONS.

FIRST OF ALL, IT KEEPS YOUR CART CLEAN.

SECOND OF ALL, ANY OF THAT, THAT HAZARDOUS, YOU KNOW, BAD GOO, IT CONTAINS IT UNTIL IT GETS TO THE LANDFILL.

IF IT IF IT ARRIVES IN A BAG AT THE MURPH, THEY CANNOT SEE IN IT.

THEY DON'T KNOW IF IT'S HAZARDOUS MATERIAL CONTAMINATE IT CAN ENTER THE WASTE STREAM.

SO AGAIN, KEEP IT OUT OF THE BAG FOR RECYCLING IN THE BAG FOR GARBAGE.

OKAY. AND THEN SO MY QUESTION IS ON THE COMMERCIAL DIVERSION COMPONENT.

THE NEW COMPONENT, GIVEN THE SCENARIO OF SOMEONE, A COMMERCIAL CLIENT CONTACTS THE CITY OF DENTON SAYS PER NEW ORDINANCE, I WANT A RECYCLED CART WE'RE GOING TO CONTROL.

WE'RE GOING TO RECYCLE PAPER IN OUR OFFICE, RIGHT? SO THE CARTS AT NO COST OR NO, YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CART BECAUSE IT'S A SERVICE PROVIDED.

BUT BUT FROM AN OFFSET, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH PAPER YOU YOU'RE ABLE TO DIVERT OUT OF YOUR GARBAGE, YOU REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF GARBAGE, YOU INCREASE THE AMOUNT, THE RECYCLING.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT SHOULD BE NET ZERO.

OKAY, SO.

THAT. SO THAT POINT YOU'RE MAKING.

SO THERE'S A LEVEL OF WHICH SO IF YOU DIVERT IS THERE, THERE'S A LEVEL YOU HAVE TO DIVERT TO TO QUALIFY OR ANY ANY LEVEL.

LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A 15,000 SQUARE FOOT WAREHOUSE, BUT YOU HAVE A SINGLE OFFICE WITH TWO PEOPLE IN IT.

IF YOU TAKE THE YOUR YOUR WASTE PAPER AND YOUR PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES AND YOU TAKE THEM TO YOUR HOUSE AND DROP THEM IN YOUR CART, OR THAT IS COMPLIANT WITH WHAT WE'RE SHOWING, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR HERE AS LONG AS YOU REPORT IT AND THEN WE'LL WORK WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT'S LEFT IN YOUR IN YOUR WAREHOUSE, WHAT IS THERE ABLE TO DIVERT? HOW ARE YOU PASSING THINGS THROUGH? KNOW IF YOU'RE JUST RECEIVING AND THEN SHIPPING EVERYTHING OUT AND YOU DON'T PRODUCE ANY WASTE.

YOU ARE 100% GOLDEN AT THAT POINT.

AND SO THAT'S MY QUESTION ON THE REPORTING SIDE, IF A IF A BUSINESS OWNER SAYS, HEY, I DON'T HAVE TIME, JUST HYPOTHETICALLY, I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO THE REPORTING, IF I GET A CART, PAY FOR THE CART, CITY OF DENTON PICKS UP THAT CART, YOU DON'T HAVE TO REPORT.

THAT'S RIGHT. YES.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE GET THE WEIGHT.

WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'RE DOING.

SO AS A BUSINESS OWNER, THAT WOULD NOT BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

GOT IT. WHAT IF YOU'RE SHREDDING GUITAR? DON'T WORRY. DON'T ANSWER THAT.

COUNCILMAN MCGEE. TOO MUCH SCHOOL OF ROCK.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MY QUESTION.

WHAT'S REPORTING GOING TO LOOK LIKE? IT'LL BE A SIMPLE ONE PAGE ONLINE FORM, VERY SIMILAR TO SOMETHING LIKE A SMART SHEET.

YOU GO IN, PUT YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND THEN HOW MUCH MATERIAL YOU DIVERTED THIS LAST QUARTER BY WEIGHT OR BY VOLUME.

AND THE THIRD PARTY CONTRACTORS THROUGHOUT DFW WHO ALREADY DO THIS, WHAT'S THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE? SAME THING. THEY'LL HAVE A SIMILAR PROCESS TO FILL OUT WITH EACH CUSTOMER THAT THEY HAVE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

CORRECT. BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO BE PERMITTED WITHIN THE CITY OF DENTON TO BE A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR.

BECAUSE BECAUSE AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT THAT MATERIAL MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARING ON US, UNABLE TO TRACK IT.

SO IF IF FIRM X, Y, Y, Z IS PERFORMING A SERVICE FOR YOU, THEY NEED TO PERMIT WITH US.

SO FIRST OF ALL, WE KNOW THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THEN SECONDARILY, WE KNOW WHERE TO GO AND GET THE DATA FOR YOU.

THANK YOU, BRIAN. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NO OTHER QUESTIONS. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MELTZER, A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM BECK.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I'VE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING.

LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN. THAT PASSES 6 TO 0.

I THINK I SAID 7 TO 0 EARLIER.

HABIT TAKES US TO OUR NEXT PUBLIC HEARING IS ITEM B, WHICH IS A IS

[B. Hold a public hearing and consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas approving an Alternative Environmentally Sensitive Area Plan for a site generally located on the northwest side of the intersection of Interstate Highway 35W and Robson Ranch Road, in the City of Denton, Denton County, Texas; adopting an amendment to the City's official environmentally sensitive areas map; providing for a penalty in the maximum amount of $2,000.00 for violations thereof; providing a severability clause and an effective date. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-0-1 to recommend approval of the request. Motion for approval by Commissioner Smith and second by Commissioner Pruitt. (AESA23-0001b, Hunter Ranch Phase 1, Christi Upton)]

A230001B.

HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS APPROVING AN ALTERNATE ALTERNATIVE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA PLAN FOR A SITE GENERALLY LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 35 W ROBSON ROAD RANCH ROAD IN THE CITY OF DENTON, DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS.

[03:45:01]

AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

CHRISTIE UPTON AND I AM PRESENTING AN ALTERNATIVE ESSAY PLAN TODAY.

ESSAY IS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS PLAN.

THIS IS FOR HUNTER RANCH PHASE ONE.

THE OVERALL GENERAL IDEA OF THIS PLAN IS THAT HUNTER RANCH IS PROPOSING TO FILL IN 0.14 ACRES OF HERBACEOUS WETLANDS.

THEY WILL BE RELOCATING THOSE WETLANDS, THAT WETLAND, TO ANOTHER LOCATION CLOSER TO THE WATERWAY AND EXPANDING THE ACREAGE OF THAT WETLAND THAT THEY'RE RELOCATING.

AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS PLAN.

IN GENERAL, THE HUNTER RANCH IS FOLLOWING THE MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2019, AND THIS IS THE FIRST PHASE OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

DURING THAT PROCESS OF OF PROPOSING THE DEVELOPMENT, WE IDENTIFIED THAT THIS ISOLATED WETLAND EXISTS WITHIN THAT PHASE ONE AREA.

IT WAS LIKELY DEVELOPED FROM AN OLD STOCK POND THAT FAILED.

AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU'VE NOTICED THAT THERE'S A BRANCH HERE THAT FLOWS FROM THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH, ACROSS THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.

AND THIS FLOODPLAIN IS ALSO IN ITS NATURAL STATE AND THERE IS RIPARIAN VEGETATION WITHIN THAT FLOODPLAIN THAT SUPPORTS THE CHANNEL AND AND CREATES WETLANDS WITHIN THE FLOODPLAIN.

THE MITIGATION PLAN FOR THE REMOVAL OF THIS WETLAND IS TO EXCAVATE THE THE LAND ADJACENT TO THE FLOODPLAIN, THEN GO OVER TO WHERE THIS WETLAND CURRENTLY EXISTS.

THEY'RE GOING TO EXCAVATE THE THE PLANTS AND THE SOILS AND ALL THE ALL THE BACTERIA AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN THAT SOILS THAT CREATES THAT WETLAND CONDITIONS.

AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO TRANSPORT IT OVER TO THIS NEW LOCATION AND THEN ADD A SEED MIX TO SUPPORT AND TO EXPEDITE THE GROWTH OF THIS NEW WETLAND.

AND THE FINAL PRODUCT IS TO ACHIEVE A 60% VEGETATIVE COVER.

THERE WERE NOTIFICATIONS MADE AND THERE WERE NO RESPONSES TO THOSE NOTIFICATIONS.

AND WHILE A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE 200 FOOT AND 500 FOOT BUFFER AROUND THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS HUNTER RANCH'S PROPERTY.

SO THEY DID HOLD SOME INFORMAL MEETINGS WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND THERE WERE NO COMMENTS THAT CAME BACK FROM THOSE MEETINGS.

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS PLAN WITH THE PROPOSED MITIGATION AND WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE OUTLINED HERE AND IN YOUR BACKUP MATERIALS.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

CHRISTY SO. SO THIS THIS STARTED OFF AS A STOCK POND.

DO WE KNOW ABOUT ROUGHLY WHEN WHEN THIS WAS PUT IN? NO, NO, BUT BUT WITHIN THE LAST 100 YEARS KIND OF THING, RIGHT? CORRECT. YEAH, IT'S IT WAS IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY WAS CREATED FOR THE FOR THE STOCK AND HAS JUST KIND OF FAILED. AND IS NOW CREATED THESE WETLAND CONDITIONS WHICH MEETS THE CRITERIA OF THE WATER RELATED HABITAT.

AND THUS THE HUNTER RANCH DEVELOPMENT WAS REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THIS REGULATION.

AND GENERALLY WHEN WE HAVE A DEVELOPMENT THAT'S THAT'S RUNNING UP AND ABUTTING UP TO A FLOODPLAIN, THERE'S OFTEN CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IMPACTS ON THOSE RIPARIAN AREAS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S GENERALLY SO EXPANDING AND CREATING A LARGER BUFFER IS OFTEN ONE OF OUR MORE TELLING NEEDS.

IS THAT CORRECT? RATHER THAN, SAY, MAINTENANCE OF A SMALL STOCK POND? YEAH, I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

IN THIS CASE, I, I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IF WE WERE TO JUST REQUIRE HUNTER RANCH TO KEEP THIS IN PLACE AND THESE TWO LOTS NOT

[03:50:06]

BE BUILT, WHICH ENCUMBERS THIS WETLAND AND COVERS THOSE TWO LOTS, IT REALLY WOULDN'T BENEFIT ANYONE BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THAT WETLAND WILL GET HYDROLOGICALLY CUT OFF FROM ANY FLOW AND SO IT'LL JUST DRY UP AND IT WON'T BE A WETLAND ANYMORE AT ALL.

SO BY DOING THIS PROJECT WE WOULD BENEFIT FROM IT BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, WE ARE GETTING AN EXPANDED BUFFER OF THE WATERWAY AND AND GREATER PROTECTION AS WELL AS MORE INFILTRATION OR INFILTRATION SEQUESTERING OF POLLUTANTS BEFORE IT REACHES THE WATERWAY. YES.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT AND I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION THAT BACKUP IT'S IT'S CHALLENGING SOMETIMES TO CREATE WE'RE ACTUALLY CREATING ADDITIONAL WETLANDS GREATER IN SURFACE AREA THAN THERE WERE BEFORE.

AND I REALLY LIKE THAT THE DEVELOPERS HAVE TAKEN THE EXTRA STEP TO TO TRY TO MAINTAIN SOME OF THE THE CRITICAL BIOME AND MOVE IT OVER.

SO I SEE WE ALREADY HAVE A BUNCH OF MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR, BUT I'M GOING TO BE VOTING YES TO THIS.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? SEEING NONE. THAT IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO ANYONE CAN SPEAK ON IT IF THEY DESIRE TO JUST HAVE TO FILL OUT A CARD.

SEEING NO SUDDEN MOVEMENT. SEEING NO QUESTIONS, I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.

COUNCILWOMAN. MCGEE. SECOND.

THERE'S A MOTION BY MAYOR HUDSPETH SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MCGEE.

COUNCILMAN. MCGEE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY SAY I APPRECIATE THIS DEVELOPER TAKING THIS STEP TO DO THIS.

I HOPE THAT OTHER DEVELOPERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY FROM OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WHO COME IN OUR COMMUNITY TO DO WORK, I HOPE THAT THEY'LL BE TAKING NOTE THAT THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE APPRECIATE IN THE CITY OF DENTON WHEN DEVELOPERS TAKE, YOU KNOW, TAKE EXTRA STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT PROTECTING, PROTECTING THE LAND THAT WE ALL LOVE SO MUCH, SO APPRECIATE THIS DEVELOPER FOR DOING THAT.

GOT IT. ANY OTHER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. UH, I JUST.

I'LL SAY THE DEVELOPER AGAIN, THANK YOU AS WELL.

AND I'VE MADE PROMISES THAT THIS IS ALL GOING TO BE GOLF CART ACCESSIBLE, SO I NEED YOU TO COME THROUGH FOR ME.

ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT, LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

AND THAT PASSES SIX ZERO TAKES US TO.

LET'S SEE. WHAT AM I DOING? OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC HEARINGS.

TAKE US TO ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

[A. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton amending the Code of Ordinances, related to Chapter 2, titled “Administration,” Article XI, titled “Ethics,” to clarify gift disclosure requirements, add to the definition of conflict of interest recent offers of employment, clarify the process to submit business disclosures, and require the City Auditor to provide a copy of an Accepted Complaint to the Complainant; providing for findings of fact; providing severability; providing a repealer clause, providing codification; confirming proper notice and meeting; and providing for an effective date.]

AND OUR FIRST IS ITEM A, WHICH IS ID 231165.

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATED TO CHAPTER TWO TITLED ADMINISTRATION.

ARTICLE 11 TITLED ETHICS TO CLARIFY GIFT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS AND TO AND INTO THE DEFINITION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

RECENT OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT CLARIFY THE PROCESS AND TO SUBMIT BUSINESS DISCLOSURES AND REQUIRE THE CITY AUDITOR TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THE OF AN ACCEPTED COMPLAINT.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL IN MADISON, RORSCHACH DENTON CITY AUDITOR AND THE STAFF LIAISON TO THE CITY'S BOARD OF ETHICS.

I'M GOING TO GIVE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES THAT WILL BE MADE IF THIS ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ETHICS ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED.

I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT APPLY TO MOST CITY EMPLOYEES.

INSTEAD, IT JUST APPLIES TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THE FOUR CITY COUNCIL APPOINTED EMPLOYEES AND A FEW BOARDS AND CITY COMMISSIONS.

SO A QUICK REMINDER ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS AMENDMENT TO THE ETHICS ORDINANCE.

AFTER DEVELOPING 11 PROPOSALS OVER THE COURSE OF SEVEN MEETINGS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, THE BOARD OF ETHICS FORWARDED NINE OF THOSE TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION TO POTENTIALLY MODIFY THE ETHICS ORDINANCE AND THE BOARD OF ETHICS RULES OF PROCEDURE.

THESE PROPOSALS WERE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION ON APRIL 4TH, 2023, AND DIRECTION WAS TO RECEIVED TO AMEND THE ETHICS ORDINANCE BASED ON FOUR OF THOSE PROPOSALS. SO TODAY IS TO ACTUALLY JUST AMEND THE ETHICS ORDINANCE PER THE DIRECTION RECEIVED THAT DAY.

A QUICK SUMMARY OF THAT DIRECTION IS PRESENTED ON THE SLIDE, BUT IT WILL THE AMENDMENT TO THE ETHICS ORDINANCE WILL BASICALLY DO THE FOLLOWING.

ONE EXPAND THE GIFTS PROHIBITION TO INCLUDE GIFTS ACCEPTED BY A CITY OFFICIALS RELATIVE IF IT MIGHT INFLUENCE THE CITY OFFICIAL IN THEIR DUTIES, OR IF THAT IF A GIFT IS OFFERED BY A VENDOR.

TWO IT'LL CLARIFY THAT ANY GIFTS ACCEPTED BY A CITY OFFICIAL MUST BE DISCLOSED TO THE CITY AUDITOR.

EXCEPTIONS TO THE DEFINITION OF GIFTS PER THE ORDINANCE, SUCH AS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, DO NOT HAVE TO BE DISCLOSED.

THREE IT WILL EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST TO INCLUDE OUTSTANDING OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT FROM THE LAST 12 MONTHS.

FOUR IT WILL CREATE PROCEDURES REGARDING BY WHEN MANDATED DISCLOSURES SHOULD BE FILED AND DISTRIBUTED TO RELEVANT CITY OFFICIALS.

AND FIVE IT WILL REQUIRE THE CITY AUDITOR TO PROVIDE A COPY OF AN ACCEPTED COMPLAINT TO THE COMPLAINANT AND NOT AS WELL AS THE RESPONDENT AND THE CITY ATTORNEY.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE.

[03:55:04]

ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

SEEING NONE. I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

I MOVE APPROVAL. IS THERE A SECOND? COUNCILWOMAN. BYRD. SO.

OKAY. MOTION BY MAYOR HUDSPETH SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BYRD.

COUNCILMAN MELTZER.

YEAH. I'D LIKE TO FIRST OF ALL, GREAT APPRECIATION TO THE TO THE BOARD FOR THEIR WORK AND HAVING BEEN ON MANY SIDES OF ACTIONS THROUGH THEIR SOME OF THIS IS SO BLAZINGLY CLEARLY NEEDED LIKE THAT WHEN A COMPLAINT IS FILED THAT THE PERSON AGAINST WHOM IT'S FILED OUGHT TO GET A COPY OF IT.

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST SO CLEARLY A GOOD FIX.

I'D LIKE TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO ADD A CHANGE, WHICH IS TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE WHERE IT SAYS FRIVOLITY AND FRIVOLOUS WHEN A COMPLAINT IS FOUND.

IS NOT UPHELD TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE, TO NOT SUSTAINED OR WHATEVER THE RIGHT PART OF SPEECH IS FOR FRIVOLITY.

IT'S A SORT OF EXTRA EDGE TO IT.

YOU KNOW, THAT IMPLIES A KIND OF A CARELESSNESS OR AN ATTITUDE.

I MEAN, REALLY, THE FINDING IS JUST IT'S NOT SUPPORTED.

I THINK WHEN COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE OFFICER ARE FILED IN THEIR INTERNAL PROCESS.

I THINK THE FINDING, IF IT'S NOT SUPPORTED, IS NOT SUSTAINED.

SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT THAT PARALLEL LANGUAGE BE SUBSTITUTED SO THAT WE.

YES, CAN YOU REFER TO A SITE SO THAT WE HAVE A CLEARER RECORD JUST SO I CAN JUMP IN A LITTLE BIT? THIS REQUEST CAME THROUGH AS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FROM ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE THE MEETING, AND THE RESPONSE WAS AND THIS WERE VICTIMS SOMETIMES MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT THE GUIDANCE WAS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS BRINGING IT UP NOW.

WELL, WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT A MINUTE.

SO THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS THE FLOOR.

IF YOU JUST GIVE ME A SECOND.

THEN ON TOP OF THAT, CAN YOU GIVE US THE SITE SO THE THE SO THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT THE SAME THING? SURE. YEAH. THIS IS ON THE IS IT SECTION D? SECTION. OH, I THINK IT'S THROUGHOUT THE THROUGHOUT THE ORDINANCE.

OKAY. THEN GO RIGHT AHEAD.

YEAH. THROUGHOUT THE ORDINANCE. I THINK THE REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE WORD FRIVOLITY OR FRIVOLOUS TO NOT SUSTAIN WHAT'S ON THE TABLE.

SO THE CONCERN WE HAD AND WE GOT THIS QUESTION WAS AND THIS HAPPENS TO US FREQUENTLY ON OUR AGENDAS, WE ARE VERY SPECIFIC FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES ON WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE PUTTING IN, WHAT'S ON THE FLOOR, WHAT'S GOING TO BE CHANGED.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE WE'VE DESCRIBED IN CLARITY WHAT THOSE FOUR ITEMS THAT THE CITY AUDITOR HAS EXPRESSED AND DESCRIBED HERE TODAY. THIS COMPONENT IS OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE'VE POSTED FOR NOTICE.

AND SO THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT, I THINK, FRIVOLOUS AT THAT PRIOR TIME.

AND I THINK THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION THAT WILL BE GOING ON IN THE FUTURE.

BUT THERE'S IT'S OUTSIDE POSTING FOR TODAY TO PURSUE THIS THIS AMENDMENT.

YEAH. AND I JUST INTERRUPTED MAYOR, JUST TO SAY I THINK I MISUNDERSTOOD THE GUIDANCE FROM LEGAL.

SO I GOT IT.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE INSTRUCTING ME TO BRING IT UP IN THE CONVERSATION.

NOW. YOU MEAN AT SOME OTHER POINT I WITHDRAW MY COMMENT.

OKAY. COUNCILMAN. MCGEE.

SO I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION, BUT ARE YOU WITHDRAWING THE MOTION? YES. WAIT.

OH, I'M. OH, NO.

I STILL MOVE TO ADOPT, BUT WITHOUT THE AMENDMENT, IF I MAY.

WELL, WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.

SO YOU WERE MAKING AN AMENDMENT, ARE YOU? OH, YOU'RE RIGHT. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

ARE YOU STILL DOING YOUR AMENDMENT OR NOT? SO I WITHDRAW THE AMENDMENT.

OKAY, THEN I GUESS I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY THEN.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

MOTION BY MAYOR HUDSPETH SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BYRD.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

THAT PASSES SIX ZERO TAKES US TO ITEM B ID 231166.

[B. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton confirming the proposed amendments to the Board of Ethics’ Rules of Procedure as required by the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article XI, Section 2-227(k) to adopt reasonable rules for public comment during regular meetings; providing for severability; and providing an effective date.]

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON.

CONFIRMING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS.

RULES OF PROCEDURES REQUIRE REQUIRED BY THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.

CHAPTER TWO, ARTICLE 11, SECTION 2227, SUBSECTION K TO ADOPT REASONABLE RULES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT DURING REGULAR MEETINGS PROVIDED A SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

HELLO STILL MADISON RORSCHACH.

I'M THE CITY AUDITOR AND STAFF LIAISON TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS.

THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE BOARD OF ETHICS RULES OF PROCEDURE.

IT'S KIND OF A SEPARATE THING THAT THEY WANTED TO DO.

SO BRIEFLY, THE BOARD OF ETHICS GAVE DIRECTION IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR TO EXPLORE WAYS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE WITH THEM.

[04:00:04]

ON MAY 1ST, 2023, THE BOARD GAVE DIRECTION TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE ELECTRONIC COMMENTS ON REGULAR MEETING AGENDA ITEMS, AS WELL AS TO CREATE AN AGENDA ITEM FOR ALL REGULAR MEETINGS THAT WOULD ALLOW PRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, LIKE WE HEARD TONIGHT, ON ITEMS THAT ARE NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA.

BASED ON THIS DIRECTION, THESE EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE BOARD'S NEXT REGULAR MEETING ON AUGUST 7TH.

AS PART OF THAT, THE BOARD IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT REASONABLE RULES TO GOVERN THESE PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AS ALLOWED BY TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.

SPECIFICALLY, THE BOARD IS RECOMMENDING THAT IN-PERSON COMMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES AND THAT ONLY FIVE PRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BE ALLOWED PER REGULAR MEETING.

SO GOING FORWARD, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK AT A MEETING EITHER IN PERSON PRIOR TO THE MEETING BEGINNING, OR THEY MAY PRE-REGISTER BY EMAILING THE CITY AUDITOR. AND THEN THIS INFORMATION WILL BE COMMUNICATED ON THE BOARD OF ETHICS WEBSITE FOR ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE FUTURE.

AND SO SUMMARIZE THE CHANGES ON THE SLIDE.

BUT THIS IS JUST TO BASICALLY ADOPT THOSE TIMING AND PRESENTATION LIMITS.

SO I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

MAYOR PRO TEM MADISON THESE ARE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE RULES THAT WE THIS BODY FOLLOWS, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. OKAY. THAT'S GOOD.

THEN I'M HAPPY TO MOVE APPROVAL.

IS THERE A SECOND? COUNCILWOMAN MELTZER YEAH, I SECOND.

COUNCILMAN MCGEE. ARE WE JUST GETTING IN LINE OR WAS THERE HAS THERE BEEN ISSUES WITH FOLKS TALKING TOO LONG? PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS GOING ON TOO LONG? WELL, THIS WILL KIND OF BE THE FIRST TIME THAT IT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED AT ALL.

THEY JUST WANTED TO ADOPT THAT IN CASE OTHER BOARDS HAVE THAT JUST UNIFORM.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS ARE ALL THE SAME.

THREE DAYS.

YES. SO YOU'LL HAVE.

SO IF SOMEONE. YEAH.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S LINED UP JUST LIKE IT IS FOR.

NOT EXACTLY, BUT PRETTY SIMILAR TO WHAT GOES ON FOR COUNCIL.

GOT IT. AND DID THE I WAS.

I DIDN'T LISTEN TO THE MEETINGS OR.

SO I'M CURIOUS, WAS THERE A DISCUSSION ON.

HOW TO CONTROL THE CONTENT.

HOW TO YOU KNOW.

SO IF SOMEONE COMES IN AND TALKS ABOUT WHATEVER MARS THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED.

RIGHT. SO DID THEY WAS THERE A DISCUSSION AMONGST THE GROUP LIKE WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES OR WE THINK, YEAH, THERE WAS DISCUSSION, RIGHT? OR IF LIKE THE PRESENTATIONS ARE NOT REALLY IN LINE WITH WHAT THE BOARD IS DISCUSSING.

I MEAN, THEY CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND DECIDE TO GET RID OF THAT AGENDA ITEM STANDING AGENDA ITEM.

OBVIOUSLY ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC CAN SPEAK ON ANY AGENDA ITEM AT ANY TIME PER THE STATE LAW, BUT THE PRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, WHICH ARE THE NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA PREVIOUSLY, ITEMS THEY THEY CAN COME BACK AND GET RID OF THAT BASICALLY IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

AND AND DID YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION ON TOPIC? SO IT COULD BE I THINK I MEAN THEY DISCUSSED ETHICS BASED QUESTION TOPICS OR THERE'S A VETTING OF THAT OR NO, THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION OF LIKE, LIKE I WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO BE LIKE, THAT'S NOT RELATED TO THE BOARD.

BUT I THINK THE CHAIR WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SAY THAT'S NOT REALLY RELATED OR I DON'T THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON ETHICS CONCERNS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S RULES OR PROCEDURES AROUND IF SOMEBODY SHOWS UP AND DECIDES TO NOT TALK ABOUT ETHICS, WHAT THEY WOULD DO AT THIS POINT.

OKAY. SO.

HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW.

WHAT'S THE PLAN? I THINK THE PLAN IS JUST TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION IF SOMEBODY DOES THAT.

OKAY, WELL, BUT WE HAVE PURVIEW OVER EVERYTHING.

SO, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THAT'S THE TRICK IS YOU IF SOMEONE COMES AND TALKS TO YOU ABOUT DCTA, I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S NOT YOUR YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S ONLY THREE MINUTES. I GET IT. I'M NOT I'M NOT SAYING.

BUT I THINK I THINK WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

CERTAINLY. YEAH YOU CERTAINLY WILL.

YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I THINK WHILE THE MAYOR'S CAUTION IS CERTAINLY MERITED BECAUSE HE SERVED ON P AND Z LIKE I DID, AND WE BOTH SAW SOME INTERESTING PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS AT TIMES.

I THINK IT'S ENOUGH OF AN EDGE CASE THAT I STILL THINK THAT YOU'LL YOU'LL GET MORE VALUE OUT OF IT THAN YOU WILL GET DISTRACTION.

SO I'M I'M CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION THAT I MADE.

OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE THERE, THERE'S A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM BECK, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER.

[04:05:02]

LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

THAT PASSES SIX ZERO TAKES US TO OUR NEXT TWO ITEMS.

[C. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation, authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., for the design of Neighborhood 1B for the Capital Projects Department; providing for the expenditure of funds therefor; and providing an effective date (RFQ 7599-012 - Professional Services Agreement for design services awarded to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., in the not-to-exceed amount of $3,076,300.00). The Public Utilities Board recommends approval (4 - 0).]

[D. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation, authorizing the City Manager to execute a Construction Manager at Risk contract with Sundt Construction, Inc., for pre-construction services of Neighborhood 1B Improvements for the Capital Projects Department; providing for the expenditure of funds therefor; and providing an effective date (RFP 8225 - awarded to Sundt Construction, Inc., in the not-to-exceed amount of $267,000.00). The Public Utilities Board recommends approval (3 - 1).]

I'M GOING TO CALL BOTH BECAUSE THERE'S ONE PRESENTATION FOR C AND D, THAT'S ID.

C IS ID 231329.

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, A TEXAS HOME RULE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC FOR THE DESIGN OF NEIGHBORHOOD ONE B FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS DEPARTMENT, PROVIDING THE PROVIDING FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS THEREFOR AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

AND THEN ALSO AND THAT'S TOTALS 3,076,303 MILLION SEVEN $76,300.

AND THEN ALSO ITEM D ID 231330.

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS HOME RULE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK CONTRACT WITH SUNDT CONSTRUCTION, INC FOR PRECONSTRUCTION SERVICES OF NEIGHBORHOOD ONE B IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS DEPARTMENT, AND THAT TOTAL IS $267,000.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS SCOTT FETTIG, PROJECT MANAGER FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

THERE IS TWO PRESENTATIONS IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO GO THROUGH BOTH OF THEM FOR THESE ITEMS. SO WE'LL START WITH THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ONE B, WHICH IS PART OF THE 2019 BOND PROGRAM.

THIS IS FOR A DESIGN CONTRACT FOR THIS PROJECT.

SO A LITTLE BIT OF PROJECT OVERVIEW ABOUT THIS.

IT'S 25,000 LINEAR FEET OF ROADWAY, WHICH IS ABOUT 45 SEGMENTS OF RECONSTRUCTION.

THERE'S GOING TO BE APPROXIMATELY 10,000 LINEAR FEET OF WATER, MAIN REPLACEMENT, 16,800 LINEAR FEET OF WASTEWATER, MAIN REPLACEMENT.

WE WILL BE DOING SIDEWALK CONNECTIVITY ASSESSMENT WITH THIS PROJECT AS WELL AS STREET LIGHTING PHOTOMETRIC STUDY.

SO A LITTLE BIT ON THE SUMMARY HERE FOR DESIGN.

DESIGN SERVICES WILL BE A LUMP SUM FOR THE PRELIMINARY AND FINAL DESIGN.

IT'S JUST OVER $2 MILLION.

AND THEN THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL HOURLY SERVICES FOR ANYTHING FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT MEETINGS AND SUCH FOR JUST OVER A MILLION, WHICH BRINGS THE TOTAL FOR JUST OVER $3 MILLION. SO A PROJECT SCHEDULE WITH APPROVAL TODAY FOR THE DESIGN CONTRACT ALONG WITH THE CMAA.

WE EXPECT OUR FIRST CONSTRUCTION PACKAGES IN QUARTER ONE OF 2025.

THE PROJECT WILL BE PHASED DURING CONSTRUCTION AND MULTIPLE PHASES AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING A CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION QUARTER FOR 2026.

AND WITH THAT STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF DESIGN CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DENTON AND KIMLEY-HORN FOR THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF JUST OVER $3 MILLION. AND WITH THAT, OPEN UP WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

COULD YOU JUST TOUCH ON FOR THOSE TRACKING ALONG? WHAT PART OF TOWN THAT IS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T IT'S NOT INTERACTIVE MAP.

SO SO THIS WILL BE IN THE KIND OF THE NORTHWESTERN SECTION OF TOWN.

IF I CAN PULL THE MAP BACK UP HERE JUST A SECOND HERE.

SO CLOSER TO 288 ALONG SHERMAN, SOME OF THE STREETS IN THERE, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SEE HERE, BUT IT IS IN THE NORTHWEST SECTION OF TOWN UP CLOSER TO THE 288 LOOP.

OKAY. SO SHERMAN TO 88 AREA NORTHEAST STATION, THEY'RE KIND OF THAT PERFECT.

OKAY. JUST WANTED PEOPLE TO HAVE A FEEL FOR WHAT'S ABOUT TO GET TORN UP.

SURE. I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THAT RIGHT NOW. OH, MAN.

PEOPLE HAVE PTSD.

WE'RE GETTING STUFF DONE. IT'S FANTASTIC.

WE'RE MOVING ALONG QUICKLY. BUT YES, IT IS.

IT IS A LOT. KIDS ARE WATCHING.

SO YOU HAD TO SAY STUFF YOU CAN'T SAY.

YES. OKAY.

ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

MAYOR PRO TEM BECK. I MOVE APPROVAL EVEN THOUGH I'M GOING TO GET COMMENTS IN INSUFFERABLY FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS.

THERE YOU GO.

COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND DELIVERING MORE AND MORE, FASTER AND FASTER.

YES, I SECOND THE MOTION.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

THAT PASSES SIX ZERO TAKES US TO ITEM D, I'VE ALREADY CALLED IT.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU AGAIN.

SCOTT FETTIG, PROJECT MANAGER, CAPITAL PROJECT.

AND THIS IS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ONE B, THIS WILL BE THE DESIGN PHASE OF IT, WHICH IS CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK.

ALSO PART OF THE 2019 BOND PROGRAM.

[04:10:02]

PROJECT OVERVIEW 25,000 LINEAR FEET OF ROADWAY, APPROXIMATELY 45 SEGMENTS, 10,000 LINEAR FEET OF WATER.

MAIN REPLACEMENT 16,800 LINEAR FEET OF WASTEWATER.

MAIN REPLACEMENT SIDEWALK CONNECTIVITY ASSESSMENT, AS WELL AS STREETLIGHT PHOTOMETRIC STUDY.

SO DESIGN PHASE SERVICES.

THIS IS OUR THIRD SEAMER THAT WE WILL BE PUTTING OUT WITH THE 2019 BOND PROGRAM AND THE CONSTRUCTION PRE-CONSTRUCTION SERVICES IS 267,000.

THAT INCLUDES COST MODELING, CONSTRUCTABILITY REVIEW PROJECT SCHEDULE WITH APPROVAL TODAY FOR THE DESIGN AS WELL AS THE CMAA FIRST CONSTRUCTION PACKAGES QUARTER ONE, 2025 JUST LIKE BEFORE BE PHASING PROJECT DURING CONSTRUCTION WITH MULTIPLE PHASES AND THEN A ANTICIPATED COMPLETION QUARTER FOR 2026. WITH THAT STAFF RECOMMENDATION, THE APPROVAL OF A DESIGN PHASE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DENTON AND SUTTON CONSTRUCTION FOR THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF 267,000. WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION. CAN YOU GIVE JUST FOR THOSE TRACKING ALONG THE, YOU KNOW, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VERSION DEFINITION OF CAR SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW KIND OF WHAT IS THAT COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SURE.

SO WE SO WE BRING ON A FIRM THAT WILL BE WORKING WITH US TOGETHER AND THEY WILL BE THE MAIN THE MAIN CONTACT.

SO WE WOULD BRING THEM ON.

THEY'LL WORK WITH US AND THE DESIGN FIRM.

WE ALL THREE WORK TOGETHER FROM INITIATION OF PROJECT THROUGH DESIGN.

SO THAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO DO CONSTRUCTABILITY IT ALSO, YOU KNOW, IT SAVES US MONEY.

SO THEY'RE DESIGNING WITH US.

WE GET BETTER PRICING THAT WAY AS WELL.

AND THEN THEY THEY TAKE ON A LOT MORE RISK OF BEING INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT FROM START TO FINISH TO HELP US GET THROUGH THE PROJECT.

GOT IT. OKAY. MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND JUST AS A COMMENT, I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TODAY TO FOR THE PUBLIC TO TO MAKE SURE THAT ACRONYM SOUP IS IS WELL DEFINED AND BASIC DEFINITION.

SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR THE SEEMA.

I THINK IN GENERAL, THIS COUNCIL PREVIOUS COUNCIL IS BACK TO THE TIME WE ADOPTED.

THE METHOD HAS BEEN VERY PRO BECAUSE IT DOES LIMIT OUR RISK.

THAT'S THE INHERENT IN THE THING.

YET WE ARE OFTEN EXPOSED TO RISK AND COST OVERRUNS REGARDLESS.

AND SO I GUESS, WELL, I'M GOING TO PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, UNLESS SOMEBODY MOTIONS BEFORE ME MOTION TO APPROVE THIS, I GUESS I'M ASKING FOR TO SEE JOE.

DID IT ASK FOR CAUTIONS AND ASSURANCES THAT WE ARE GOING TO STICK TO THE AS MUCH AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE THAT THAT RISK STRUCTURE, BECAUSE IT DOES SEEM LIKE SOME OF OUR PREVIOUS CARS DID RUN TO SOME COST OVERRUNS.

SOME OF THOSE WERE UP CHARGES THAT WE AUTHORIZED.

ET CETERA. BUT I THINK THERE WAS SOME NERVOUSNESS AND AT LEAST ON MY PART AND ABOUT OUR PREVIOUS HISTORY ON THESE.

AND SO MAYBE ONE OF YOU COULD COMMENT ON ON, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH RISK IS THE SEYMOUR HANDLING VERSUS US? SURE. SO TREVOR CRANE, DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL PROJECTS, SO WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY SHIFTING THE RISK TO THE SEYMOUR.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE CORRECTLY ASSIGNING THE RISK TO THE THE PARTY THAT IS MOST CAPABLE OF ADDRESSING IT.

SO AS SCOTT WAS SAYING, WE'RE BRINGING ON THAT SEYMOUR AT THE BEGINNING TO WORK THROUGH DESIGN PROCESS TO HELP US WITH VALUE ENGINEERING, BRINGING UP IDEAS THAT THEY WORK THROUGH WITH, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE SEEN IN OTHER PROJECTS.

AND WE'RE IDENTIFYING RISK EARLIER AND WE'RE IDENTIFYING WHO IS THE BEST SITUATED TO HANDLE THAT RISK.

SO AND, YOU KNOW, OLD, OLD KIND OF WAY THAT YOU USED TO MANAGE PROJECTS WOULD BE YOU PUT ALL THE RISK INTO THE CONTRACT.

WELL, OF COURSE, THE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO SEE THAT RISK IN THAT CONTRACT AND THEY'RE GOING TO ASSIGN A VALUE TO IT AND THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THAT IN THEIR BID, THEIR BID COLUMNS. WELL, IF THAT RISK ISN'T REALIZED DURING CONSTRUCTION, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT MONEY NO MATTER WHAT.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE IDENTIFYING THOSE RISKS AND WE'RE USING THAT AS A AS A RESOURCE TO IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE RISKS ARE IN A PROJECT.

AND THEN WE'RE DETERMINING TOGETHER WHO IS BEST SITUATED TO WHO TO HANDLE THAT RISK IF IT SHOULD COME UP.

SO PRICE ESCALATION, THAT'S A HUGE RISK THESE DAYS.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE PUTTING IN A CONTINGENCY IN THERE THAT THE SEYMOUR IS ALLOWED TO USE.

IF PRICES GO UP, IF THEY DON'T GO UP, THEN THEY DON'T GET TO USE THAT.

AND WE'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT JUST BUILDING THOSE PRICE ESCALATIONS INTO A LUMP SUM COST THAT WE'RE NOW OBLIGATED TO PAY NO MATTER WHAT.

SO THAT'S REALLY THE THE BENEFIT OF A SEYMOUR IS THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM, A DESIGN TEAM, A TEAM, A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR AND THE CITY TO IDENTIFY WHAT THESE RISKS COULD BE.

AND REALLY, WE SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND WE START WE BRING IN THE MOST NEGATIVE PERSON THERE IS AND WE SAY, ALL RIGHT, WHAT COULD GO WRONG ON THIS PROJECT?

[04:15:05]

LET'S START THINKING ABOUT IT.

LET'S BRING ANYTHING UP.

AND THEN WE'RE WRITING IT ALL DOWN AND WE'RE ASSIGNING COSTS TO THOSE.

AND WE'RE SAYING, IF THIS THING HAPPENS, WHO IS THE BEST SITUATED TO HANDLE THIS RISK? AND IF IT DOES, AND IF IT'S US AS THE CITY.

MAYBE INSTEAD OF PUTTING A YOU KNOW, IF A CONTRACTOR WOULD HAVE BEEN ON SOMETHING, IT MAY THEY MAY SAY IT'S GOING TO COST SOME $2 MILLION TO DO.

WELL, WE MAY SAY, WELL, IF WE IF WE CAN MITIGATE THAT RISK ON THE FRONT END, IT WOULD ONLY COST US $500,000.

SO WE WOULD TAKE THAT $500,000 AND PUT IT ASIDE.

AND IF THAT RISK COMES UP NOW, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

BUT IF IT DOESN'T COME UP, WE GET TO KEEP THAT MONEY.

SO THAT'S REALLY THE GOAL BEHIND THE CEMARS TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO IDENTIFY THOSE RISKS AND IDENTIFY WHO'S THE BEST SITUATED TO ADDRESS THOSE RISKS IF THEY COME UP.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT CLARITY.

I THINK I DIDN'T HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING.

AND IF YOU'VE EDUCATED ME TONIGHT, I APPRECIATE THAT.

PERFECT. THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE.

COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 MINUTES LEFT OF DAYLIGHT TONIGHT.

WE COULD GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY.

I WOULD. I WOULD MOVE.

MOVE THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS SO DEDICATED, SO COMMITTED.

I LOVE IT. MAYOR PRO TEM.

I SECOND. OKAY.

MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND.

SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM BECK.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SITTING THIS VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

PASSES. SIX ZERO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[E. Consider approval of a resolution of the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas approving a Certificate for Design Consistency for a mural entitled “Greetings from Denton” located at 215 W Oak Street, which is within The Denton Square Overlay Zoning District in the City of Denton, Denton County, Texas; and providing an effective date. (DCC23-0001, 215 W Oak Street Mural Project, Cameron Robertson)]

TAKES US TO OUR LAST ITEM.

ITEM E, IT'S D CC 230001.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION OF THE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS APPROVING A CERTIFICATE OF DESIGN CONSISTENCY FOR A MURAL ENTITLED GREETINGS FROM DENTON, LOCATED AT 215 WEST OAK STREET, WHICH IS WITHIN THE DENTON SQUARE OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF DENTON, DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

GOOD EVENING.

CAMERON ROBERTSON, HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER.

SO THIS IS PROPOSED MURAL AT 215 WEST OAK STREET, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF CEDAR AND OAK.

THESE ARE THE EXISTING CONDITIONS OF THE EAST FACADE AS WELL AS THAT NORTH FACADE FACING WEST OAK STREET.

THE PROPOSED MURAL WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 8.5FT BY 13FT, AND IT WOULD BE PROPOSED ON THAT NORTHERN PORTION OF THE EAST FACADE FACING NORTH CEDAR STREET.

THE PROPOSAL DOES MEET THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL AND THE DENTON DEVELOPMENT CODE.

IT WOULD ADD VISUAL INTEREST ALONG CEDAR STREET AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURE ITSELF, AS WELL AS PROVIDE OR RECOGNIZE THAT HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND CONTEMPORARY ICONS OF DENTON.

IT DOES NOT.

THE 25% OF THE TOTAL AREA OF THE FACADE AS IT IS NOT ON THE SQUARE PROPER AND THE MURAL IS PROPOSED TO BE PAINTED ON EXISTING PAINTED BRICK.