Feb 06, 2024 City Council on 2024-02-06 2:00 PM

[00:00:01]

GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THIS MEETING OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL.

[WORK SESSION]

ON FEBRUARY 6TH, 2024.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.

I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

AND, QUICK SHOUT OUT TO LAGRONE ACADEMY, WHO, MADE MY SHIRT AND PRINCIPAL BORLAND.

AND THEY'RE DOING AMAZING WORK OUT THERE, SO I JUST WANTED TO, SUPPORT THEM.

GOT TO REP THE BRAND.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING TODAY.

BECAUSE I JUST THINK THEY'RE DOING AMAZING THINGS, AND THEY HAVE THEIR NEW, SALON THAT'S OPEN.

AND SO YOU CAN GO THAT'S MORE PUBLIC FACING.

YOU CAN WALK IN, WALK STRAIGHT IN.

THEY HAVE MANICURES, PEDICURES, ALL THOSE THINGS.

SO THEY'RE REALLY A GREAT ASSET FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR DENTON ISD.

AND SO I COMMEND THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.

THE ALL THE THINGS FIRE TRAINING PROGRAM, POLICE TRAINING IT.

SO IF YOU IF YOU'VE NOT HEARD OF LAGRONE ACADEMY, LOOK THEM UP AND GET YOUR IT'S A FREE STANDING CAMPUS SO YOU CAN BE THERE ALL DAY.

THE STUDENTS CAN. SO IT'S REALLY GOOD WITH THAT.

THE, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY.

COMMENTS. THAT TAKES US TO, CONSENT AGENDA.

[A. Meeting Questions, Responses & Handouts]

ONE WHERE I'LL NEED A PRESENTATION LATER, BUT I DO DID NOTICE IN, ITEM Q THAT WE'RE WE'RE CHANGING OUR OUR PATHWAY TO IMPLEMENTING THESE AEDS.

AND I WONDER IF STAFF COULD REALLY BRIEFLY KIND OF DISCUSS THE VISION, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE VERY MOVING CEREMONY THAT THAT HAPPENED WITH THE DURRELL FAMILY? HOW THIS DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT GOING AHEAD.

WE'RE GOING AHEAD IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

SO I WONDER IF STAFF MIGHT COMMENT TO THAT.

YEAH. CHRISTINE TAYLOR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SO THIS BID WE HAD GONE OUT FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS OUT ON THE MARKET.

THE RESPONSE WE RECEIVED HAD THAT ADVERTISING AND ADVERTISING COMPONENT AND THE ADS.

AND AFTER STAFF CONSIDERATION, WE WEREN'T INTERESTED IN HAVING ADS IN THE PARK THAT HAD COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING AS PART OF THEM.

SO THE OPTION THAT YOU SAW IN THE PARK, WE WERE ABLE TO DO OUTSIDE OF A CONTRACT, AND THEN WE'LL BE LOOKING TO BRING BACK A LONG TERM CONTRACT AS WE EXPAND THE NETWORK IN THE PARK SYSTEM. I APPRECIATE THAT CLARITY.

THANK YOU. WELCOME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GREAT. TAKES US TO OUR FIRST WORK SESSION ITEM.

GET THERE. AND THAT'S ITEM A ID 231860.

[A. Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding City Council Priorities and Key Focus Areas for the City of Denton. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]

GOOD AFTERNOON. AMY CASTLE, CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER I'M HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE ON THE CITY'S ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY AND SHARE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE SINCE YOU WERE LAST UPDATED IN AUGUST.

SO HERE'S THE CITY'S KEY FOCUS AREAS, CREATED BY COUNCIL IN JULY OF 2022.

THESE ARE THE FOUNDATION OF THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PLAN AND SOLIDIFY COUNCIL'S VISION OF HOW WE ARE, TO BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY IN THE FUTURE AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT.

SO TO ENSURE THAT THE STRATEGIC PLAN CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE PROVIDED MULTIPLE UPDATES TO COUNCIL ALONG WITH QUARTERLY REPORTS, AND LAUNCHED THE PUBLIC FACING DASHBOARD SINCE THE PLAN WAS CREATED.

SO TAKING A LOOK AT THE FIRST KEY FOCUS AREA, A MAJORITY OF THE 36 INITIATIVES THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH THIS KEY FOCUS AREA ARE ON TRACK, AND OVERALL PROGRESS IS AT 33%.

I WANT TO NOTE THAT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE OVERALL PROGRESS, THAT IS FOR INITIATIVES THAT ARE ACTIVE IN THE CURRENT YEAR, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE INITIATIVES THAT WERE COMPLETED IN THE PRIOR YEAR, WITH A FOCUS ON BECOMING THE EMPLOYER OF CHOICE.

IN 2023, WE ROLLED OUT NEW VALUE STATEMENTS.

WE MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CITY'S HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN, EXPANDED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, AND AND ADOPTED AN INCLUSION POLICY.

WE ALSO WORKED WITH THE DENTON ISD TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS HERE WITH THE CITY OF DENTON TO ENSURE QUALITY OPERATIONS AND SERVICES.

SIGNIFICANT WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO MEETING THE CITY'S INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NEEDS.

SO LOOKING AT THE CURRENT YEAR, WORK HAS ADVANCED IN THE AREAS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

[00:05:01]

WHILE THE BULK OF THE WORK WAS IN FACT COMPLETED IN 2023, THERE WERE A FEW ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS THAT NEEDED TO BE COMPLETED, AND THOSE ARE NOW DONE.

WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY NEEDS.

WE ARE IMPLEMENTING YEAR TWO OF OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC PLAN, AS WELL AS THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DEMONSTRATING ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE.

PARKS RECEIVED ACCREDITATION BACK IN OCTOBER AND NOW THEY ARE PURSUING ADDITIONAL ACCREDITATIONS.

WE ARE GOING TO BE CONDUCTING THE COMMUNITY SURVEY THIS YEAR, AND THAT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, WHERE WE'RE DOING WELL, AND THEN WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US FOCUS ON FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

ENHANCE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MOBILITY, LOOKS AT SUPPORTING STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES AND ENSURING A HIGH STANDARD OF DEVELOPMENT.

SO MOST OF THE 27 INITIATIVES THAT ARE LINKED TO THIS KEY FOCUS AREA ARE ON TRACK, AND PROGRESS IS AT 41%.

IN 2023, WE DEVELOPED THE ROADWAY FUNDING STRATEGY AND WE OBTAINED FUNDING FOR ROADS THROUGH THE DENTON COUNTY TRIP BOND PROGRAM.

WE ALSO ADOPTED A NEW POLICY TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES AND PROVIDE SUFFICIENT GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT IN OUR TJS.

SO HIGHLIGHTING A FEW OF THE 27 INITIATIVES IN THIS KEY FOCUS AREA, WE WILL BEGIN IMPLEMENTING THE 2023 BOND PROGRAM THIS YEAR, INCLUDING RUE DEL MINGO, FIRE STATIONS FIVE AND SIX, AND THE ANIMAL CARE AND ADOPTION CENTER.

THE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN IS NOW COMPLETE, AND IT LOOKS AT OUR FUTURE SERVICE GROWTH AND APPROPRIATE FACILITY REQUIREMENTS THROUGH 2040, AS WELL AS HOW WE CAN GO ABOUT ADDRESSING SOME OF OUR MORE IMMEDIATE NEEDS.

WHILE COMPLETION OF THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN.

WITH THAT COMPLETED, WE ARE NOW PROCEEDING WITH PHASE ONE OF IMPLEMENTING THAT MASTER PLAN.

WE'RE WORKING TO SECURE A GRANT FROM THE FAA FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AIRPORT MASTER PLAN.

AND WITH THE RECENT OPENING OF THE NEW POLICE HEADQUARTERS, WE ARE NOW COMPLETE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES.

THAT WAS A COUNCIL PRIORITY DATING BACK, I BELIEVE, TWO YEARS AGO, AND THAT WORK IS NOW COMPLETE.

LASTLY, WE'RE EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR A NEW MUNICIPAL COMPLEX WITH DESIGN AND CONCEPT DRAWINGS.

UNDER FOSTER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY.

MOST OF THE 13 INITIATIVES THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH THIS KEY FOCUS AREA ARE ON TRACK, AND PROGRESS AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR IS AT 48%.

IN 2023, WE LAUNCHED A GRANT PROGRAM FOR LANDLORDS WHO LEASE TO LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS FOR REPAIR AND REHABILITATION OF 1 TO 4 UNIT DWELLINGS. WE ALSO OPENED THE LOOP 288 FACILITY TO ENHANCE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.

WE ARE CONTINUING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN.

THAT STRATEGIC PLAN IS NOW 58% COMPLETE.

BECAUSE THAT WAS IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PLAN WAS IDENTIFIED AS A COUNCIL PRIORITY.

IT ACTUALLY HAS ITS OWN PLAN CASCADE, SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT EACH OF THOSE PIECES OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN ARE MOVING FORWARD.

WE'VE DONE THE SAME WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGIC TOOLKIT THAT IS ON TRACK WITH PROGRESS AT 26%.

FOR THAT PLAN, WE'RE EXPLORING AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE OPTIONS AND JUST LAUNCHED THE TWO YEAR PILOT OF THE DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.

AND THEN WITH THE CONTINUED FOCUS ON THE DOWNTOWN, WE ARE CONDUCTING THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN.

SO FOR STRENGTH AND COMMUNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE, WE'RE LOOKING AT PRESERVING COMMUNITY, CHARACTER AND THE IDENTITY OF DENTON WHILE STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY.

AMENITIES INITIATIVES ARE MOSTLY ON ON TARGET FOR THIS PARTICULAR KEY FOCUS AREA, WITH A FEW MINOR DISRUPTIONS.

BUT PROGRESS AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR IS AT 45%.

AND 2023, WE UPDATED THE LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE CREATED A STORY WALK AT FRED MOORE PARK.

WE OPENED AN ESPORTS GAME.

GAME ROOM AT DANIA, AND WE ALSO LAUNCHED THE MOBILE MOBILE PARKS UNIT THAT ENCOURAGES OUR RESIDENTS TO GET OUTSIDE, ENJOY NATURE AND EXERCISE THAT IS ALSO USED AS OUTREACH FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND ALSO TO REACH THE UNDERSERVED POPULATION.

WE REDEVELOPED THE MCKENNA PARK PLAYGROUND AND EXPANDED THE HARTLEY FIELD MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL, ADDING NEARLY A MILE TO THAT TRAIL.

THIS YEAR, WE'LL BE CONDUCTING THE SOUTH RIDGE HISTORIC SURVEY TO IDENTIFY SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC PROPERTIES WITHIN THE SOUTH RIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD.

[00:10:02]

AND THEY'RE ALSO REDESIGNING THEIR DENTON PUBLIC LIBRARY TO GO, WHICH IS THEIR OUTREACH SERVICE.

IN OCTOBER. YOU MAY RECALL, WE HELD THE GRAND OPENING FOR THE NEW TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL CENTER.

AND THEN LASTLY, THE AQUATICS MASTER PLAN IS NEAR COMPLETION AND WILL BE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

FOR SUPPORT HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITIES.

THIS FOCUSES ON ENHANCING THE SAFETY OF THE TRAVELING PUBLIC AND BUILDING PUBLIC SAFETY CAPACITY.

ALL 11 INITIATIVES THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH THIS KEY FOCUS AREA ARE ON TRACK, AND AS OF THE FIRST QUARTER, WE ARE AT 19% COMPLETION.

TO ENHANCE SAFETY OF THE TRAVELING PUBLIC, WE UPGRADED MORE THAN 9000 STREET LIGHTS TO LED AND 2003.

WE ALSO CONDUCTED A CITYWIDE SPEED STUDY TO ENHANCE TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ENABLE DATA INFORMED DECISIONS.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION ON FIRE ACCREDITATION INTERNATIONAL AND THE PD IS IS SORRY.

POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHO WAS ACCREDITED IN 2022, CONTINUES TO NOW PURSUE RE-ACCREDITATION.

I BELIEVE THAT ACCREDITATION LASTS FOR FIVE YEARS AND SO THEY'RE NOW WORKING TOWARDS RE-ACCREDITATION.

IN ADDITION, BOTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE PUT INITIATIVES IN PLACE IN 2024 THAT FOCUS ON THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THEIR STAFF.

PD, POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'M SORRY I QUIT. I WILL QUIT SHORTHANDING THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO ENHANCE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY EXPANDING STAFF PROGRAMING AND OUTREACH.

AND LASTLY, THE CITY WILL BE REPLACING ITS EXISTING CAD RMS TO BETTER MANAGE PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS.

THE LAST KEY FOCUS AREA IS PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

MOST OF THE 15 INITIATIVES ALIGNED WITH THIS PARTICULAR KEY FOCUS AREA ARE ON TRACK, AND PROGRESS AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR IS AT 34%.

SO IN 2023, THE CITY EARNED TREE LINE USA.

THAT'S A DESIGNATION FROM THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION.

WE CREATED A WILDLIFE CORRIDOR MAP TO PROMOTE RETENTION OF ESSENTIAL ECOSYSTEMS AND HABITATS.

WE ALSO PLANTED TREES IN NORTH LAKES DOG PARK, AND THAT WAS DONE WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM WELLS FARGO AND THE DENTON PARK FOUNDATION TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. WE UPDATED THE GREEN SENSE PROGRAM AND INSTALLED LED DARK SKY COMPLIANT LIGHTING AT OUR ATHLETIC FIELDS.

THIS YEAR, WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK TOWARDS COMPLETION OF THE ONE WATER MASTER PLAN.

WE'VE COMPLETED A PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY AND ARE CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT THE COMPREHENSIVE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN.

WE'RE CREATING A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND CREATING A CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN TO MOVE THE CITY TOWARDS ACHIEVING NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050 AND EXPANDING THE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN NETWORK, AS WELL AS THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE FLEET.

INFRASTRUCTURE. SO WHEN LOOKING AT THE PLAN AS A WHOLE, APPROXIMATELY 67% OF OUR INITIATIVES ARE ON TRACK AND OVERALL COMPLETION OF THE ENTIRE PLAN IS AT 37%.

YOU'LL NOTE THAT WE HAVE THE SIX KEY FOCUS AREAS, 13 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES, AND WE NOW HAVE 129 INITIATIVES THAT ARE DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH COUNCIL'S KEY FOCUS AREAS.

SO WE CREATED A NUMBER OF TOOLS AGAIN TO ENSURE THAT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN MOVES FORWARD.

WE'VE GOT THE STRATEGIC PLAN DASHBOARD WHICH WILL BE ONE YEAR OLD I BELIEVE, ON MARCH 7TH.

SO THAT'S COMING UP.

WE HAVE OUR COUNCIL PRIORITIES REPORT, WHICH YOU WILL GET AN UPDATED REPORT, THIS FRIDAY THAT IS SPECIFIC TO ONLY THOSE ITEMS THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED AS YOUR PRIORITIES.

AND THEN WE ALSO CONTINUE TO BUILD PERFORMANCE SCORECARDS FOR EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT WE RELEASED THE AIRPORT SCORECARD JUST LAST WEEK, AND WE HAVE A FEW MORE LINED UP IN THE HOPPER AND READY TO GO SO THAT WE CAN START SHARING THE STORY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR WORK USING DATA.

ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

AND IF WE CAN PULL THAT DOWN SO I CAN SEE.

YES. THANK YOU.

WE'LL SEE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

THANK YOU. I WANT TO FIRSTLY, THANK YOU ALL, ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS HEADED BY SARA HENSLEY, AND ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT PEOPLE YOU KNOW ARE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE THAT WE PAY, THE PEOPLE THAT WE EXPECT FOR, TO TAKE CARE OF US.

THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE ENTRUSTED, TO LISTEN TO US AND HELP US AND TRY TO, YOU KNOW, JUST KEEP US WRANGLED

[00:15:07]

I JUST WANT TO JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.

JUST. AND I MEAN THAT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART BECAUSE I JUST CAME UP HERE TO GO TO SCHOOL.

I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO BE HERE FOR 40 YEARS.

I HAD NO IDEA.

BUT I KNOW THAT THE PLACE THAT I CHOSE TO LIVE IN MY LIFE, IT HAS GIVEN ME SUCH JOY TO JUST BE HERE AND KNOW THAT I CAN BE SAFE HERE AND GROW. GROW MY FAMILY HERE.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

AND THEN I WANTED TO, NOTE THAT THERE'S 129, PROJECTS ONGOING BASED ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU ALL HAVE TOLD US TO LOOK AT AS A AS A COUNCIL.

WE HEARD YOUR VOICE.

WE PASSED THAT INFORMATION ON TO THE PEOPLE AND THE CITY LEADERS AND RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE HAVE LISTENED TO US, AND THEY HAVE JUST STARTED MAKING THINGS WORK FOR US.

AND THEN I WANT TO TELL THE COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST YOU'RE IN YOUR WHEN YOU START, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THINKING ABOUT USING ALL MY MONEY, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LOOK AT ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, TO HELP YOU BE COMFORTABLE HERE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO EXPECT GROWTH.

WE HAVE TO EXPECT WE'VE BEEN SAYING WE WAS GROWING.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE NATION.

AND SO WHEN WE WERE EXPECTING ALL OF THIS GROWTH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE COMING BEHIND THAT, THAT'S WHAT'S PUSHING US FORWARD.

SO, I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL PEERS.

YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS CAN SEE THIS BIG PICTURE VIEW.

WE'RE JUST KIND OF OVERSEEING THINGS.

WE COULD SEE MORE THAN WHAT THE AVERAGE CITIZEN COULD SEE.

YOU KNOW, I'M ONE OF THOSE AVERAGE CITIZENS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST HAVE THIS PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO SEE A BIT MORE.

AND SO WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO DO OUR BEST HERE AND JUST AND DOING IT FOR THE RIGHT REASON.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU.

SO OKAY, NOW I KNOW I JUST SAY IT TOO MUCH.

THANK YOU MAYOR FOR INDULGING ME.

AND LET ME DO THAT. I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE, THE, ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE AND THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX.

I HEARD THAT WE WERE KIND OF WORKING ON THAT FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, FOR THE PEOPLE.

I LIKE TO KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THAT BECAUSE WE NEED IT.

BUT I WAS ABLE TO WALK IN CERTAIN AREAS AND REALIZE THAT WE WERE STARTING TO STACK, EMPLOYEES AND TURNING, CONFERENCE ROOMS INTO OFFICES IN CUBICLES, AND THINGS ARE STARTING TO GET TIGHT.

CAN YOU ALL GIVE US JUST A TINY BIT OF INSIGHT ON HOW WE'RE DOING? IN TERMS OF SPACE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE TYPE STUFF? WE'RE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS. I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, WE'RE WE'RE MAKING DO.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE ROOM.

SO I THINK THE FACT THAT COUNCIL AGREED TO GIVE US SOME MONEY SO WE COULD DO SOME PRELIMINARY DESIGNS, WE HAVE CRAMMED ABOUT AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN WITH.

AND ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T KNOW ALL THIS UNTIL KASEY TOLD ME TODAY.

BUT SOME OF OUR STAFF THAT ARE IN FINANCE ARE NOT ABLE TO BE HOUSED HERE.

THEY'RE OUT IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE SPACE FOR THEM.

SO THE TRUTH IS, UNTIL WE GET SOME OTHER BUILDING, WE WILL BE, SORELY HURTING FOR SPACE.

AND WE'VE HAD TO TAKE OFFICES AND CUT THEM INTO TWO AND SAW THAT IT'S IT'S NOT THE MOST DESIRED SITUATION, BUT BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS WE'RE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY TAKING THE TIME TO LOOK AT WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHERE IT COULD BE, WHERE GOVERNMENT CENTER COULD GO, HOW IT WOULD BE, SEEN BY THE PUBLIC AS BEING A HAVING AREAS FOR THEM TO MEET AND OTHER THINGS.

SO WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO BRING SOMETHING BACK IN THE, IN THE FUTURE.

THAT GIVES YOU SOME IDEAS OF WHAT IT COULD BE.

AND AND THEN GO FROM THERE.

AND THEN THE RENTAL REPAIR GRANT PROGRAM IS THAT FOR, PEOPLE THAT ARE LIKE, THEY OWN HOMES AND THEY WANT TO FIX THEM UP, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO RENT SOMETHING VERY QUICKLY.

HEY. AFTERNOON, DANNY SHAW, COMMUNITY SERVICES.

YES, MA'AM. IT'S FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE LANDLORDS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OPENING UP A HOME.

ALLOW THEM TO DO THE REPAIR IN EXCHANGE FOR AFFORDABILITY.

OH, GREAT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. THE AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE OPTIONS.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WELL, RIGHT NOW, THAT'S JUST THE TWU FUNDING THAT YOU'VE ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET.

BUT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IT IN A PRESENTATION TODAY AS WELL.

OKAY, GREAT. AND THEN EXPANDING THE MENTAL HEALTH STAFF FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

OH, YES. SEAN, DANNY, I KNOW YOU NEED A MENTAL HEALTH, FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HOW IS THAT COMING ALONG FOR US? ARE WE ADDING ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBERS? FRANK, DO WE HAVE ANY? I MEAN, I KNOW THAT I THINK YOU ALL KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

I THINK EITHER TO RETREAT OR EVEN IN A COUNCIL MEETING, THAT IT'S NOT WE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, WHETHER IT'S FIRE, POLICE, EMERGENCY SERVICES, EMS, HAVE THE THE SERVICES THEY NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE, PARTICULARLY IN THE JOB THAT THEY DO.

[00:20:01]

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL SEE COME THROUGH AS THE NEXT BUDGET PROCESS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION. I'M DONE.

THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. FRANK, ANY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AS, FIRST I WANT TO I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS QUESTIONS THAT LED TO THE BIG REPORT.

I, I APPRECIATE THAT I AND IF IT WAS IN IT WAS IN THE SUMMARY REPORT, AND I MISSED IT.

I APOLOGIZE, BUT I FOUND IT EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN, IN GOING THROUGH THIS ITEMS, INDIVIDUAL, THINGS.

AND I NOTICED ON ON KEY PRIORITIES THREE, FOUR AND SIX, WE HAD A NUMBER OF ITEMS WHERE THERE REALLY HASN'T BEEN ANY ACTIVITY OR WE'VE OTHERWISE INDICATED THAT WE NEED TO HAVE FUTURE DISCUSSIONS.

NOT I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO BELABOR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, BUT, CAN WE GET A FEEL FOR WHEN WHEN SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE LIKELY TO COME BACK BEFORE COUNCIL? YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IF IT'S IF IT'S A, IT'S A YEARLY PRIORITY, IT'S GOING TO BE WITHIN A YEAR.

BUT BUT GET, GET A BETTER FEEL FOR WHERE WE ARE ON ON SOME OF THOSE FOR THREE, FOUR AND SIX.

SO YOU'RE SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE PRIORITY REPORT? YEAH. THERE WAS A NUMBER OF I JUST NOTICED THAT WHEN WE DID THE REPORTS, THERE WAS A FAIR NUMBER OF THOSE PRIORITIES THAT HAD LIMITED ACTIVITY OR NO ACTIVITY OR SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTIONS. OR, YOU KNOW, THERE WASN'T ANY ANY ITEMS REPORTED, THE WAY THE OTHER ITEMS HAD HAD SUCCESS STORIES. SO I, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST I'M TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF THE SCHEDULE AND SEE WHERE WE ARE.

I'VE ASKED AMY TO BRING THOSE UP IF SHE COULD.

I ACTUALLY, I CANNOT LOG INTO THE SYSTEM TO BRING THEM UP FROM HERE, I DO APOLOGIZE, SPECIFICALLY, I BELIEVE, THOUGH, THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT. WELL, I MEAN, I CAN GIVE YOU.

LET'S SEE.

I DON'T HAVE THAT LINK UP ANYMORE EITHER.

STRATEGIC APPROACHES TO LAND ACQUISITION.

SO, THE ONES I NOTED THAT HAD HAD HAD LIMITED DISCUSSION, BUT AND AND THIS IS NOT EXCLUSIVE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T REVISITED TINY HOMES IN A WHILE.

LAND ACQUISITION, THE LARGE SCALE ENERGY, WE'RE KIND OF LAGGING ON THE CAP.

SO THERE'S I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO PICK ON ANY ONE OF THOSE.

I JUST KIND OF WANT TO GET A FEEL FOR WHAT OUR SCHEDULE IS LIKE.

SO ON THE TINY HOMES, IF YOU RECALL, AND I MAY BE INCORRECT.

SO, DANNY, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE THAT WE PROVIDED INFORMATION JUST RECENTLY TO COUNCILMEMBER MELTZER.

BUT THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT TINY HOMES, AND IT WAS DECIDED AT THE TIME THAT THAT WAS COMING OFF THE LIST.

AM I RIGHT OR WRONG? YES, MA'AM.

I BELIEVE THAT ONE. WE SHOULD HAVE MARK COMPLETED.

SO IF IT'S NOT, IT'S A MISS ON OUR PART.

BUT AND THEN BECAUSE IT HASN'T COME BACK AROUND.

SO IF YOU HAVE SOME DIRECTION IN THE FUTURE AND THEN LAND ACQUISITION.

I KNOW GARY'S BEEN LOOKING AT THAT FROM A PARKS AND RECREATION POINT OF VIEW.

AND THEN FROM A DEVELOPMENT POINT OF VIEW, AS WE MEET WITH AS OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES MEETS WITH DEVELOPERS, THAT'S AN ONGOING EFFORT WITH LAND ACQUISITION FOR BECAUSE THEY KNOW TO NOT JUST, AS GARY DOES, FOR ACQUISITION OF PARK LAND.

WHEN A DEVELOPER COMES IN, THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS.

WHAT OTHER ONES WERE THEY? BECAUSE THESE ARE ON OUR RADAR.

466465 SORT OF FOUR SIX WAS THE SERVICE GAPS AND IDENTIFYING, AMENITIES AND RESOURCES.

I, I, I'M NOT TRYING TO NECESSARILY GET INTO THE WEEDS ON THOSE.

IT WAS MORE WHAT IS STAFF ENVISIONING FOR A FUTURE SCHEDULING ON THESE ITEMS. BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO AND I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO DO PRIORITIES.

BUT YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE WE ON KEEPING OUR ENTIRE LIST ON TRACK? SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE PROBABLY NEED TO ADD IN HERE, QUITE FRANKLY, AND WE WILL DO, IS WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITY, IN LOOKING AT REGIONAL GAPS AND SERVICES, THAT GOES BACK TO TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

WHEN LIBRARIES PRESENTED THEIR INFORMATION ON WHERE THE BEST LIBRARY WOULD BE LOCATED, IT WAS LOOKED AT FROM A GAP ANALYSIS POINT OF VIEW AND WHERE WHERE RESIDENTS ARE THAT YOU KNOW THAT WHERE THE HEAVIEST USED LIBRARY IS, WHICH IS THE SOUTH BRANCH, BUT ALSO WHAT'S THE BEST LOCATION NOW THAT THE GROWTH IS HAPPENING SOUTH, WHAT WE NEED TO DO

[00:25:05]

AND AS FOOD DESERTS ARE CONCERNED, YEAH.

THAT IS OH MAN.

IF I DEALT WITH THAT ONE BEFORE, IT IS IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT FROM A DEVELOPMENT SERVICES POINT OF VIEW.

AND WHEN WE PERMIT AND WHEN COUNCIL LOOKS, I'LL BE HONEST, WHEN COUNCIL LOOKS AT THE DEVELOPMENT WHERE IT'S OCCURRING, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE LOOK AT THOSE AREAS THAT SEEM TO BE TOO FAR AWAY FROM, EITHER WALKABLE BUS OR BIKEABLE, FOOD OPPORTUNITIES.

AND I'M NOT COUNTING FAST FOOD MARKET TYPE THINGS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT, FOOD SECURITY ITEMS THAT ARE HEALTHY AND HEALTHY CHOICE OPTIONS.

SO WE HAVE SOME WORK TO PUT TO PUT ON THAT ONE AND ADD THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE.

YOU SAID SOMETHING, THE SIX THREE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CAP BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE LONGER WE WAIT ON THAT, THE MORE EXPENSIVE EVERYTHING GETS. SO THAT ONE AND THEN SIX FOUR AND SIX FIVE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'D HAD ANY DELIVERABLES ON THOSE YET.

NOT NOT YET, BUT THE CLIMATE, IT'S THE CREATE CLIMATE ACTION ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN.

THERE IS AN UPDATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT FROM JANUARY, AND JUST HIGHLIGHTING THAT THEY PRESENTED THAT PLAN TO COUNCIL, IN OCTOBER.

AND THEN THEY'RE WORKING CURRENTLY TO ADDRESS THE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL THAT WERE RECEIVED AS PART OF THAT PRESENTATION.

OKAY. WELL, THEN THEN I GUESS, YOU KNOW, I, I FEEL LIKE I'M KIND OF BOUNCING AROUND.

I GUESS WHAT I'M GOING TO REQUEST IS MAYBE, SOME FEEL FOR SOME CRUDE MAPS THE WAY WE DO WHEN WE, WHEN WE OUTLINE OUR WORK SESSION OR JUST SORT OF SOME, SOME CRUDE ETAS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE Q1, Q2, Q3 IN TERMS OF WHEN WE THINK WE MIGHT GET TO THESE ITEMS JUST SO THAT WE MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, I WE CAN DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE ABOUT NOT LETTING YOU KNOW, CANS GET KICKED OR SLIPPED OR, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, OTHERWISE TRACKING OUR PRIORITIES AND I DON'T.

I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE.

I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A PEJORATIVE WAY.

SARA. I'M NOT. I JUST I JUST MEAN THAT.

MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP KEEP IT ON THE KEEP OUR EYES ON THE BALL, KEEP OUR EYES ON THE BALL.

SO AND THAT'S WHY IT'S INCLUDED IN THESE REPORTS.

SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T SEE SOMETHING MOVING YET IN THE FIRST QUARTER, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT SOMETHING WON'T BE COMING.

WE HAVE IT ON ON HERE SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR EYE ON IT.

WE CAN DEVELOP APPROACHES.

I DID WRITE THESE DOWN BECAUSE THERE ARE THERE IN MY MIND THERE IS SOME LANGUAGE WE CAN PUT INTO SOME OF THESE, WHICH ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS.

DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE A WHOLE COMPLETE PLAN.

I WILL SAY FROM A PREVIOUS JOB, I WORKED EXTENSIVELY ON DEALING WITH FOOD DESERTS AND IN A IN A SOUTHEAST PART OF TOWN, WHICH WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO BECAUSE WORKING WITH THE, WORKING WITH THE MAJOR FOOD CORPORATIONS, THEY WILL NOT COME TILL THE THE ROOFTOPS ARE THERE.

AND SO IT'S A MATTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, HAND IN HAND WITH THE NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND WITH OUR PLANNING AND PLANNING STAFF AND OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF TO RECRUIT THOSE KINDS OF, FOOD BUSINESSES SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A BIGGER FOOD DESERT SITUATION, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE THING TO HAPPEN IN A COMMUNITY.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S MY GENERAL CONCERN.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? COUNCILMAN MELTZER. IT JUST, JUST A BRIEF APPRECIATION.

SO, IT'S GREAT THAT IT'S NOW BECOME SORT OF A STANDARD PRACTICE TO GET COUNSEL TOGETHER ON A LIST OF PRIORITIES EARLY IN THE SESSION, AND TO HAVE THIS DEGREE OF TRACKING AND AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND FEEDBACK IS GREAT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ALL SQUEEZE 129 ACTIONS INTO YOUR TOP TEN LIST, BUT, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING THAT UNFOLD.

YEAH. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I WOULD, I WOULD JUST DO YOU HAVE A DEFINITION OR A SOMETHING THAT I CAN SOURCE AND FORGIVE ME IF I MISSED IT ON, SOME DISRUPTIONS.

WHAT WHAT KIND OF IS CAPTURED IN THERE? SO SOME DISRUPTION JUST MEANS THAT THERE'S THERE'S BEEN SOME ROADBLOCKS ALONG THE WAY THAT MAY DELAY THE TIMELY COMPLETION.

SO IF SOMETHING IF IT'S IF IT'S YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A PLAN OUT THERE AND IT'S JUST WAITING TO GET SOMETHING BACK FROM A CONSULTANT OR IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ROADBLOCK, WE WOULD MARK IT TO JUST SHOW THAT IT MAY NOT BE COMPLETED IN THE ORIGINAL TIMELINE.

GOT IT. OKAY.

AND THEN I WOULD JUST SAY, IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW SOME SORT OF METRICS TO KNOW IF SOMETHING'S READY TO GO. AND JUST KEEPS GETTING BUMPED, RIGHT? SO THERE'S TWO MINUTE PITCHES.

THERE'S STUFF THAT GETS PUSHED TO THE BOTTOM, AND IF IT'S I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A WAY TO DISCERN THIS IS READY TO GO, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A SLOT FOR IT.

[00:30:08]

AND WE DON'T HAVE A CALENDAR SPACE FOR IT.

I THINK WE HAVE 37 WEEKS THAT WE MEET, AND I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT CONFLICT POINT IS SO THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE INCUMBENT UPON THE CITY MANAGER TO THEN SAY, HAVE THAT MATRIX AND SAY, HEY.

IF THIS GOES HERE, THIS THEN DROP THE PRIORITY DROPS OFF.

RIGHT. OR WHAT'S BEEN SCHEDULED MOVES.

BUT I THINK TO TO DO THAT THE I NEED VISIBILITY INTO WHAT'S READY TO GO AND HAS NO SPACE OR WHAT'S QUEUED UP AND WAS REPLACED.

SO THAT'S JUST WHATEVER.

HOWEVER YOU CAPTURE THAT IN YOUR AND AGAIN, GREAT WORK.

I NOTED THE BIRTHDAY COMING UP ON MARCH.

WHAT WE'LL DO SOMETHING FOR MY BIRTHDAY IS THE EIGHTH, SO.

OKAY. YEAH. THERE YOU GO.

THEN WE'LL JUST DO BOTH.

BIG PARTY. YEAH.

PUT THAT ON THE CHART.

YEAH. NO.

OKAY. VERY GOOD.

WELL, CAN I JUST SAY YES, I KNOW YOU WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY THAT DOES THIS, YOU KIND OF DON'T LOOK AT IT IN THAT WAY.

BUT SINCE AMY'S BEEN HERE AND I WILL TELL YOU, SHE REALLY IS A SHE CRACKS THE WHIP ON THE DEPARTMENTS.

I HOPE YOU FIND THIS VERY HELPFUL, BECAUSE IT'S WE'RE ABLE TO PACKAGE ALL OF THOSE INITIATIVES AND GIVE YOU UPDATES AS TO WHERE WE ARE ON THINGS, BUT ALSO WE DO DASHBOARDS.

IT'S AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC ROADS, WHEN IT COMES TO THE WORK WE'RE DOING AND HOMELESSNESS AND PARKS AND RECREATION AND FIRE AND POLICE.

AND SO, I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE IT, BECAUSE IT'S A TOUGH JOB, AND SHE'S NOT JUST DOING THIS HERSELF.

SHE'S HAVING TO WORK WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO GET THIS INFORMATION AND THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE AND THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS IT.

SO I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK ON OUR DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.

BUT, IT'S NICE TO HAVE A DASHBOARD, AND IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO TELL PEOPLE TO GO LOOK AT SOMETHING.

AND THERE THE METRICS ARE SO THEY CAN SEE HOW WELL THEIR MONEY'S BEING SPENT, HOW WELL WE'RE DEVELOPING OUR PARKS, HOW WELL WE'RE BUYING LAND ON AND ON AND ON.

YEAH. NO, COULD NOT AGREE MORE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

THAT TAKES US TO ITEM B ID 232233 RECEIVE REPORT WHOLE DISCUSSION AND GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING PROPOSED

[B. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding proposed City of Denton outdoor hydration stations. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 1 hour]]

BLESS YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL GARY PACKAN, DIRECTOR OF PARKS RECREATION.

TODAY, HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT PUBLIC HYDRATION STATIONS.

AS A REMINDER, ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, THIS WAS A TWO MINUTE PITCH BY MAYOR PRO TEM PRESENTED A REQUEST FOR A WORK SESSION ITEM TO CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC HYDRATION STATIONS WITH INITIAL SHORT TERM GOAL OF TRIPLING THE NUMBER OF STATIONS ACROSS DENTON.

FROM A CURRENT CONDITION STANDPOINT.

WE HAVE 56 FOUNTAINS WITHIN THE PARK SYSTEM.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF WHAT WHAT THEY TYPICALLY LOOK LIKE.

WE DO WINTERIZE THOSE TYPICALLY FROM NOVEMBER TO MARCH SO THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE.

SO THAT IS JUST FOR WINTER FREEZE AND DAMAGE CONCERNS.

AND THEN ADDITIONAL ACCESS.

OUR EXISTING CITY FACILITIES HAVE ANOTHER 29 FOUNTAINS THAT ARE LOCATED INSIDE OUR BUILDINGS THAT DO HAVE BOTTLE FILLERS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE ARE ONLY AVAILABLE DURING OPERATING HOURS.

FROM A PICTORIAL STANDPOINT.

HERE'S A MAP OF WHERE THOSE ARE LOCATED, BOTH IN RED AND BLUE DOTS.

THE BLUE DOTS BEING THE PARK LOCATIONS AND THE RED DOTS BEING THE CITY FACILITIES.

ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY'RE GEOGRAPHICALLY SPREAD OUT.

SO POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES WE COULD UPGRADE 56 OR EXISTING PARK FOUNTAINS.

WE DO HAVE APPROXIMATELY TEN THAT ARE PLANNED FOR FUTURE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ON THE HORIZON.

AND THEN SIMILAR WITH THE CITY FACILITIES, WE HAVE POTENTIALLY TO ADD 11 TO EXISTING FACILITIES AND THEN FOUR THAT ARE PLANNED IN NEW FACILITIES THAT THE CITY HAVE ON

[00:35:02]

FROM AN UPGRADE STANDPOINT.

HERE'S AN IMAGE OF WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE.

THESE DO HAVE YEAR ROUND OPERATIONS.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

AN OPERATION THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

SAME LOOK AND FEEL, SAME COMPANY.

THEY DO HAVE BOTTLE FILLER UNITS.

THEY DO HAVE DOG BOWLS.

THEY HAVE AN OPTION FOR SOLAR LIGHTING IF WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT.

AND THEY HAVE SENSORS THAT TEST THEIR AVAILABILITY.

FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, WE HAVE ONE TIME EXPENSES TO UPGRADE.

THOSE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1.1 MILLION IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, ANOTHER $52,000 FOR ONGOING MAINTENANCE, A TOTAL ONE POINT, A LITTLE OVER $1.1 MILLION. ESTIMATED CAPITAL COSTS INCLUDE EQUIPMENT, CONSTRUCTION IMPACT FEES AND METER TAP FEES.

ESTIMATED OPERATING COSTS INCLUDE WATER USAGE, REPLACEMENT PARTS REPAIR, VANDALISM, THAT TYPE OF THING.

STAFF. INSTALLATION STAFF.

TIME FOR INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION AND REPAIR.

FROM THE FACILITY STANDPOINT, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS WHERE THEY COULD GO.

CIVIC CENTER. EMILY FOWLER OBVIOUSLY WOULD MAYBE NOT PUT THOSE IN THE SAME PARK, BUT ONE OR THE OTHER.

CITY HALL, EAST FIRE STATIONS, NORTH BRANCH LIBRARY.

A FEW OF THE EXAMPLES TOTAL THERE FOR THE 11 WOULD BE ABOUT $61,000 FOR ONE TIME AND ONGOING COSTS, AND THEN FOR THE NEW PLANNED ONES WOULD BE ANOTHER $22,000, FOR A TOTAL OF $84,000.

FROM A SUMMARY STANDPOINT AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.

IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, WE'D RECOMMEND A PILOT PROJECT OF ONE PARK FOUNTAIN AND THEN ONE EXTERIOR FOUNTAIN ON THE CITY FACILITY.

NORTH LAKES OR SOUTH LAKES PROBABLY BEING THE PREFERRED LOCATION AND THEN POTENTIALLY ONE HERE IN QUAKERTOWN.

THOSE ARE OUR THREE HIGHEST USED PARKS.

COST WOULD ROUGHLY BE AROUND $20,000.

THEN CONSIDER THE CAPITAL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS IN THE UPCOMING UPCOMING BUDGET PROCESS TO UPGRADE A POTENTIAL 16 FOUNTAINS PER YEAR OVER FIVE YEARS.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE MATRIX BELOW, WE'VE TAKEN THOSE INITIAL COSTS AND THEN ADDED 5% COMPOUNDED ANNUALLY IF WE DID IT IN FIVE YEAR INCREMENTS. ASSUMING THAT THE COST OF EQUIPMENT, STAFF, TIME AND ALL THAT WOULD BE GOING UP WITH INFLATION.

SO THERE'S SOME ASSUMPTIONS THERE THAT TOTAL COST IS ABOUT $1.4 MILLION OVER THE TERM.

THAT WOULD GIVE US 81 WATER FOUNTAINS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE PARK SYSTEM YEAR ROUND, AS WELL AS ATTACHED TO CITY FACILITIES.

AND WITH THAT I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND.

THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, WATER FOUNTAINS IN THE PARK HAVE COME A LONG, LONG WAY.

I REMEMBER WHEN THEY TOOK A PIECE OF OF A CLAY PIPE AND TURNED IT ON ITS END AND FILLED IT FULL OF CONCRETE, AND THAT WAS A WATER FOUNTAIN.

AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT.

YOU COULD PUT FINGERS OVER THREE OF THE FOUR HOLES AND SPRAY IT ACROSS THE STREET.

ARE ARE THE INDOOR ONES I PRESUME ARE ARE COOLED, REFRIGERATED WATER? WHAT ABOUT THE OUTDOOR? THE OUTDOOR ONES ARE JUST GROUNDWATER TEMPERATURE.

OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU.

THAT'S MY QUESTION. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER MELTZER? YEAH. AS FAR AS THE REPLACEMENT ONES, WOULD YOU WHEN WOULD THEY ORDINARILY BE REACHING END OF LIFE ANYWAY? LIKE WHAT WOULD THE SORT OF PACE BE OF REPLACEMENT, YOU KNOW, HAD WE NOT HAD THIS QUESTION NOT BEEN ASKED? THE ONES WE HAD, WE'VE ACTUALLY REPLACED THE OUTSIDES OF THEM MORE FREQUENTLY THAN, THAN NOT.

IT WILL HAVE THEM REPAINTED.

THEY'LL FADE, THEY'LL START PEELING.

WE'LL TAKE THEM APART AND SEND THEM OFF AND HAVE REPAINTED THE INDOOR ONES.

WE JUST CONSTANTLY KIND OF REPLACE THE PARTS AT SOME POINT IN TIME, NOW 15 YEARS OR SO, DEPENDING ON IT.

IF THEY GET DAMAGED BY VANDALISM, THEN WE'LL TAKE THEM OFF AND COMPLETELY REPLACE THEM.

BUT WE TRY TO LIMP THEM ALONG AS LONG AS WE CAN.

AND TYPICALLY IT'S JUST PIPING HERE, YOU KNOW, A VALVE HERE TYPE OF THING.

IT'S NOT LIKE THEY JUST COMPLETELY FALL APART.

JUST TO, YOU KNOW, OFFER SOME INITIAL REACTIONS.

I COULD BE WRONG.

I THINK THAT THE DEMAND IS NOT SO MUCH LIKE THAT.

THERE BE MORE TIME ACCESS, LIKE DURING COLD MONTHS, BUT MORE PLACES.

SO THE YOU KNOW, MY I'M GOING TO LISTEN TO THE REST OF THE CONVERSATION.

BUT MY INITIAL REACTION IS UPGRADE THE EXISTING LOCATIONS AS IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO DO SO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE MORE COMPELLING PART OF WHAT YOU'VE SHOWN IS THE ADDING AN EXTERIOR PART WHERE YOU'VE ONLY GOT INTERIOR NOW, AND THAT AND I WOULD VERY MUCH BE INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO DO WHAT SOME CITIES DO AND HAVE THEM AT STREET CORNERS WHERE THE SIDEWALKS ARE CITY PROPERTY TO AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S UTILITIES RUNNING NEARBY AND SO ON.

[00:40:03]

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD. I THINK I'M GOING TO BE SEEING WHAT SOME PEOPLE ARE THINKING, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT OUT LOUD.

THE ADVENT OF ADDING THE, PUBLIC FOUNTAINS TO OUTSIDE AND.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

I CERTAINLY DO RESPECT YOUR POINT OF VIEW AND AND AGREE WITH YOU IN SOME WAYS, BUT FOR SOME REASON, I'M JUST WATCH WATCHING SOMEONE PUT A BUCKET UNDER THERE AND DECIDE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO, TAKE THEIR BATH OUT THERE AND HANGING OUT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO DISCOURAGE AND, YOU KNOW, GIVE PEOPLE WATER BOTTLES.

AND NOW THAT'S GOOD.

AND THEN WE HAVE FOUNTAINS WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE THEIR OWN PERSONAL WATER BOTTLES, WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO USE THE PLASTIC ONES.

THAT'S GOOD.

BUT THEN THERE'S THIS ELEMENT IN OUR SOCIETY, THAT JUST KIND OF LEANS TOWARDS, THE REALITY OF WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE.

AND WHAT WE'RE FACING, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS I'M TRYING TO BE SAY THIS REALLY NICELY.

I'M DOING MY I THINK I'M DOING A PRETTY DECENT JOB.

THERE IS, YOU KNOW, HOW HOW DO WE GET AROUND THAT? HOW AM I GOING TO BE, WRAPPING MY HEAD AROUND THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A WOULD BE AN UNSANITARY, PROCESS FOR JUST THE GENERAL PUBLIC. HOW DO WE HOW DO WE ADD THAT TO THE CONVERSATION AND BE OKAY WITH THAT? THAT'S WHERE I AM.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE SANITATION OR IS IT MORE? YES. YOU KNOW, I MAY WANT SOME WATER.

I MAY NEED SOME WATER.

AND. AND THEN I WATCHED EARLIER, SOMEBODY DECIDED THEY WAS GOING TO JUST CHOOSE SOME WATER AND TAKE A BATH IN THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST KIND OF STUFF THAT THAT JUST HAPPENS LIKE THAT, THAT WILL THAT DOES HAPPEN EVEN INSIDE OF A BUILDING, ON A REGULAR BASIS. YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE THEM WE HAVE PEOPLE COME IN HERE AND DO THAT IN OUR SINKS.

IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, WHEN YOU'RE HAVING OUT OUTSIDE, WATER FOUNTAIN, BOTTLE FILLER, MAYBE A DOG BOWL, WHICH I THINK IS KIND OF NEAT.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME MISUSE.

THERE'S JUST THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE WATER FOUNTAIN POLICE.

AND SO THAT IS GOING TO BE THAT IS AN ISSUE NO MATTER WHERE YOU PUT IT IN A PARK, ON A CORNER, WHEREVER IT IS.

SO JUST KNOW THAT THAT'S THE THAT WILL HAPPEN AND IT'S PART OF IT.

OKAY. OKAY.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. NO, I APPRECIATE THE THE THE WORK AND THE BUDGET AND THE PLANNING THAT WENT INTO THIS AND THE THE PROJECTIONS OUT A NUMBER OF YEARS.

I KNOW I INITIALLY WAS PROPOSING, A TRIPLING, WHICH SO WHAT IS THAT ABOUT 153 OR SO? BUT I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE IDEA OF DOING, SOMETHING IN THE HIGH 80S, OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS, IS A IS A REASONABLE FIRST STEP.

I DO I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERNS THAT THAT 1 OR 2 IS GOING TO BE STATISTICALLY RELEVANT, JUST FROM JUST THE VAGARIES OF OF WHO USES WHAT, WHERE, AT WHAT TIME.

SO, YOU KNOW, I MIGHT CONSIDER SOMETHING MORE LIKE A CIVIC CENTER OF FRED, MORE A NORTH LAKES, A SOUTH LAKES AND SORT OF HAVE FOUR.

AND THEN, THE OTHER THING I WONDERED IS, AND I BROUGHT THIS UP IN THE PITCH IS, PARTNERSHIPS.

DID YOU LOOK INTO, YOU KNOW, EXTERNAL PARTNERS, WHETHER THAT BE OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, LIKE, LIKE THE COUNTY OR, OR OTHER BUSINESSES WHERE WE COULD IN VARIOUS WAYS.

AND I LEFT IT NEBULOUS AT THE TIME ON PURPOSE, INCENTIVIZE, COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS IN SOME UNSPECIFIED WAY TO TO GET SOME MORE.

DO WE DO WE EXPLORE THAT.

SO BUILDING CODE REQUIRES THAT, OCCUPANCY LOAD OF 15 OR MORE REQUIRE A WATER FOUNTAIN.

THE CODE DOES NOT PROHIBIT BUILDING OWNERS FROM ADDING DRINKING FUNDS FOR PUBLIC USE.

IT'S IT'S REALLY UP TO THOSE BUSINESSES.

RIGHT. AND SO THIS IS WHERE I WAS SAYING, IF COULD WE DID WE EXPLORE, OPTIONS WHERE WE PARTNER WITH SOMEBODY ELSE, TO GET THE INSTALLATION OF EXTERNAL WATER FOUNTAINS AT THEIR LOCATION THROUGH SOME SORT OF SHARED PARTNERSHIP COLLABORATION.

WE DID LOOK AT A NUMBER OF FACTORS AS WE WERE RESEARCHING THIS PROJECT.

[00:45:01]

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, HOW WELL THE PRODUCT IS GOING TO HOLD UP.

SO OUR INITIAL THOUGHT IS TO PILOT THE PROGRAM SO WE CAN SEE BEFORE REACHING OUT TO PARTNER AGENCIES IF THIS IS WHAT IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE.

THIS IS WHAT WE UNDERSTAND THE ANNUAL COST TO BE, WHAT THE MAINTENANCE LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WELL THE PRODUCT HOLDS UP.

SO OUR FOCUS WAS IF WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT, LET'S WORK ON THE YEAR ROUND FOUNTAINS WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE STAFF OUT IN THE PARKS WHO MAINTENANCE THEM.

AND THAT'S ALREADY PART OF OUR DAY TO DAY.

NO, I THINK THAT THAT'S FAIR TO GIVE.

GIVE POTENTIAL PARTNERS SOME NUMBERS.

THEN THEN I, I GUESS WHAT I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND WE DO IS, IS NOT TO BUT BUT FOR, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, DISTRIBUTE THEM IN LOCATIONS THAT WOULD MATCH OUR DENSITIES AND USE, AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, MAYBE WORK TOWARDS SOME ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS SO THAT, THAT, I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE MY DIRECTION GOING FORWARD.

I, I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE THE REST OF COUNCIL HAS TO SAY.

CITY MANAGER, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF IS THAT THIS WOULD BE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS BECAUSE WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE THE DOLLARS SET ASIDE FOR THIS, WHETHER IT'S 2 OR 4.

SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THIS BE AN ITEM PLACED IN THE BUDGET SO THAT COUNCIL CAN DECIDE WHEN WE HAVE ALL THE OTHER PRIORITIES THERE, THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO PICK FROM OTHER ITEMS. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNSELOR WATTS.

I'M WORKING REAL HARD TO TAKE A BIG, DEEP BREATH.

WHAT PROBLEM ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE WITH THE MILLION DOLLARS? OKAY, THAT'S ENOUGH SILENCE.

I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ASK MY QUESTIONS JUST TO SUMMARIZE.

SO, GARY, JUST SO THAT I UNDERSTAND ACCORDING TO YOUR HANDOUT OR YOUR, YOUR YOUR PRESENTATION.

YES, SIR. THE EIGHT, THE 81 ADDITIONS.

SO THAT 81 IS COMPRISED OF WHAT AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS.

SO THAT IS UPGRADING OUR CURRENT 56 FOUNTAINS IN OUR PARK SYSTEM.

OKAY. ADDING TEN NEW FOUNTAINS IN NEW AREAS AS WE GROW THE PARK SYSTEM.

OKAY. AND THEN ADDING 15 EXTERIOR FOUNTAINS TO EXISTING CITY BUILDINGS.

OKAY, SO IT LOOKS TO ME, BASED UPON THOSE NUMBERS, THE 56 ARE ALREADY EXISTING.

AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO UPGRADE THEM, WHICH THEY MAY NEED UPGRADING ANYWAY, BUT IT WILL PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL, ASSETS TO THOSE FOUNTAINS WITHIN THE CITY FACILITIES YEAR ROUND ACCESS.

THAT'S. IS THAT INSIDE OR OUTSIDE? NO, THOSE ARE OUTDOORS.

WE CURRENTLY WINTERIZE OUR FOUNTAINS, SO THESE ONES WOULD BE YEAR ROUND ACCESSIBLE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WINTERIZE THEM, ALTHOUGH IT IS UNKNOWN AND HOW WELL IT'S GOING TO FUNCTION.

SO THOSE 56 ARE ONES THAT ARE OUTSIDE? YES, SIR. OKAY.

AND THERE AREN'T EXISTING, SO YOU'RE JUST UPGRADING THEM TO BE YEAR ROUND INSTEAD OF SEASONAL, CORRECT? OKAY, SO THE TEN NEW FOUNTAINS, AS YOU DEVELOP YOUR PARK SYSTEM, AS YOU DEVELOP PARKS, THOSE WOULD NATURALLY GO THERE AS WELL.

I MEAN, WE'RE NOT YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO BE TOLD ON THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PARK SYSTEM.

YOU GOT TO PUT A WATER FOUNTAIN THERE.

IS THAT IS THAT RIGHT? IS THAT JUST A NORMAL PART OF THE PROCESS OR.

NO, I MEAN, WE WE MAKE DECISIONS ON WHERE TO PUT WATER FOUNTAINS, WHERE WE THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE GEOGRAPHICALLY USED THE MOST, WHERE THERE'S GATHERING SPOTS WHERE PEOPLE WOULD TEND TO GATHER OR HANG OUT FOR VARIOUS RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

OKAY. SO THEN REALLY, THE NET NEW, I MEAN, OUTSIDE OF THE 24 HOUR INSTEAD OF SEASONAL, IT'S NOW 365 IS ABOUT 15 EXTERIORS THAT YOU'RE ATTACHING TO, I PRESUME, THE SIDE OF ONE OF THE CITY FACILITIES, TYING INTO THE PLUMBING, EITHER, CLOSE TO A FOUNTAIN OR SOME LINE THAT'S CLOSE TO THE EXTERIOR WALL.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO BE HONEST, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THIS HUNT.

IF WE WANT TO DO THIS, BUT AT THE TUNE OF $1 MILLION, I DON'T KNOW THE PROBLEM WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.

AND WE JUST SPENT AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT FOCUSED PRIORITIES AND 129 INITIATIVES.

AND THEN SOME WERE TALKING ABOUT WHY ARE SOME NOT GETTING DONE OR WHY ARE THEY NOT MOVING AS FAST.

I'LL TELL YOU WHY THEY'RE NOT MOVING AS FAST, BECAUSE WE CONTINUALLY PILE ON THESE THINGS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION COULD PROBABLY TAKE CARE OF ON ITS OWN.

AND SO, AS THE MAYOR SAID, THINGS ARE GOING TO NATURALLY GET PUSHED DOWN.

[00:50:01]

AND SO WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHY IS THIS NOT GETTING ATTENTION, IT JUST SORT OF SURPRISES ME.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT PROBLEM WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE IF WE.

NOW, MAYBE SOME OF Y'ALL HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF EMAILS THAT PEOPLE ARE STRANDED SOMEWHERE AND THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO WATER.

I'M NOT GETTING THOSE.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS, ESPECIALLY THE WAY THAT STAFF HAS LINED IT OUT IN THE BUDGETARY PROCESS OVER FIVE YEARS, SO THAT THIS BECOMES JUST ANOTHER COUNCIL PRIORITY THAT HAS TO BE DECIDED EACH BUDGET CYCLE.

LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE OR MOST EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

SO I'M OKAY WITH IT.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I MEAN, IF WE NEED TO ADD TEN NEW FOUNTAINS, TO NEW DEVELOPMENT, IF WE WANT TO ADD ONLY 15, I HAVE A FEELING THAT THOSE EXTERIOR ONES, I GUESS. GARY, WHAT? WHAT KIND OF STANDARD? WOULD IT TAKE? I MEAN, LET'S SAY YOU UPGRADE, WE GET 2 OR 3 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AND WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, 10 OR 15 OF THESE 56 THAT ARE UPGRADED.

THEY'RE FAILING. THEY'RE FAILING NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF EITHER FREEZE, BUT THEY'RE FAILING BECAUSE OF VANDALISM.

THEY'RE FAILING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ABUSING THEM.

AT WHAT POINT? DO WE MAKE A DECISION TO SAY, OKAY.

THIS ISN'T WORKING. I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE THEM LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE RISK THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE REASONS I JUST STATED.

SO AT WHAT POINT IS A DECISION MADE THAT, OKAY, WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS ONE OFFLINE DURING THE WINTER OR.

PERMANENTLY BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES ON THE GROUND.

YEAH. AS AS TECHNOLOGY CHANGES, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD LOOK FOR CONTINUOUS WAYS TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE WITH NEW EQUIPMENT, THAT TYPE OF THING. SO WHILE WE TRY TO USE THE SAME WATER FOUNTAIN, SO WE HAVE THE SAME PARTS IN PLACES, IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO PUT IN A BETTER ASSET, THAT WOULD SERVICE BETTER AND FUNCTION BETTER, WE'LL DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT REGARDLESS WHETHER IT'S A WATER FOUNTAIN OR SOMETHING ELSE.

SURE. SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR THOSE BEST PRACTICES AS AN ORGANIZATION.

IF IT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY CONSTANTLY STICK ROCKS AND STICKS AND MULCH DOWN THE WATER FOUNTAINS.

SO IT'S IT'S NOT SELF-SUFFICIENT.

IT'S A CONSTANT MAINTENANCE CHECKING ON IT.

DURING THE WINTER, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THIS THIS WINTER WHERE IT'S 70, 70 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND WE GET CALLS AND WHY THE WATER FOUNTAINS AREN'T WORKING.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SO WE ANSWER THAT.

BUT THEN THE NEXT WEEK IT'S TEN DEGREES.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

IF WE COULD GET TO A POINT WHERE WINTERIZATION IS HELPFUL, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT OUR PRACTICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN JUST TO WINTERIZE THEM.

SO WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY FUNCTION WHEN THE WHEN THE WEATHER'S BETTER.

OKAY. THANK YOU GARY. THANK YOU MAYOR.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN. MCGEE. SO MY QUESTION IS I'M STAFF RECOMMENDED DOING ONE AS A PILOT, ONE IN EACH LOCATION, ONE IN THE PARK AND ONE ON A CITY FACILITY.

SO ONE OF EACH TYPE.

OKAY. I HEARD MAYOR PRO TEM SAY FLOATED FOR AS A PILOT.

WHAT DOES THAT DO TO TO THE NUMBERS? WELL, I THINK MAYOR PRO TEMS GOAL WAS TO KIND OF GET A BETTER SAMPLE OF OF THE FUNCTION AND HOW IT'S GOING TO USE BE USED.

I IF I'M INCORRECT, PLEASE, PLEASE SAY SO.

BUT FROM A COST STANDPOINT, IT WOULD IT WOULD APPROXIMATELY DOUBLE THE COST.

SO WE'D GO FROM 20 TO $40,000.

OKAY. SO IT'S A COST THING.

OKAY. MR. CITY MANAGER, I'M CURIOUS. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE WORKED HARD WITH YOUR STAFF PARTICULARLY.

AND DURING THE THE HIGH HEAT TIME.

LATE, LATE SPRING, SUMMER, EARLY FALL TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S WATER FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY.

I KNOW YOU'VE INSTRUCTED YOUR STAFF MEMBERS TO CARRY WATER.

YES. ANY IDEA WHAT THE COST OF THAT IS? I'LL ACCEPT. I DON'T KNOW, I'M JUST CURIOUS.

HOW MUCH IS THIS CITY ALREADY SPENDING TO MAKE SURE RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO WATER WHO NECESSARILY DON'T? SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE KNOW THE COST, BUT WHAT WE DO IS STAFF THAT HAVE THE CITY VEHICLES OR THEY'RE GOING AROUND TO OTHER LOCATIONS, CARRY WATER IN THEIR VEHICLES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, SO THAT IF SOMEBODY IS, YOU KNOW, IN NEED OF WATER, THEY GIVE IT, POLICE AND FIRE ALWAYS CARRY WATER ON THEIR VEHICLES, SOMETIMES MORE DIFFERENT FROM WATER. THEY MAY CARRY OTHER TYPES OF, THIRST QUENCHING, YOU KNOW, BETTER FOR HYDRATION AND THINGS I DON'T.

[00:55:07]

I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WHAT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS AND AND WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS RIGHT NOW.

SO WHETHER IT'S 2 OR 4, YOU ALL NEED TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO SPEND.

AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DO THAT SO THAT YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER THE OTHER THINGS THAT'S GOING TO BE UP AGAINST THIS DURING A BUDGET PROCESS TO SAY, IS THIS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS? BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY BUDGET YEAR.

IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE A TIGHT BUDGET YEAR, AND YOU'LL HAVE CHOICES THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE ON WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? FOUNTAINS, OTHER THINGS.

APPRECIATE THAT. MARY, ARE YOU TAKING DIRECTION NOW? ARE WE GOING TO HEAR FROM OTHER FOLKS? YEAH. NO. YEAH, YOU CAN GIVE DIRECTION NOW.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK STAFF HAS PUT IN ON THIS PITCH.

I KNOW THIS ISN'T THIS WASN'T EASY.

AND I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THAT IS UNTESTED.

I'M FINE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OF OF JUST ONE ON ON ON EACH.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNSELOR? MELTZER? CAN ANYONE SPEAK TO WHETHER THE THE I MEAN REALLY KIND OF TO COUNCIL MEMBER WHAT'S, FIRST QUESTION, CAN ANYONE SPEAK TO WHETHER THE ISSUE WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE IS ACCESS IN MORE PLACES OR ACCESS DURING OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR? FROM FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE WERE TRYING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH PROVIDING ADDITIONAL ACCESS YEAR ROUND.

SO I SEE THAT I SEE THAT, BUT BUT WHAT WHAT ARE WHAT ARE YOU HEARING IS THE NEED OR ARE YOU HEARING THAT THERE ARE BOTH NEEDS? NO, NO, WE'RE NOT THAT.

NO, WE ARE NOT HEARING THAT.

THIS IS FROM A TWO MINUTE PITCH.

THIS IS NOT. THIS IS NOT.

I TOOK I TOOK THE PITCH TO BE TALKING ABOUT MORE POINTS OF ACCESS.

THIS IS NOT THIS IS NOT STAFF'S DRIVEN EFFORT HERE.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO AS THE PITCH WAS GIVEN TO US AND SAY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, HERE'S WHAT WE RECOMMEND.

AND WHEN WE STRUGGLED WITH IT, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, BECAUSE IN A, IN A PERFECT WORLD, IT WOULD BE, JUST IDEAL THAT BUSINESSES WOULD CHIP IN AND ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS WALK IN AND SAY, I HAVE MY OWN BOTTLE.

WOULD YOU PLEASE FILL IT UP OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE? BUT AND THERE'S A NONPROFIT THAT'S PROVIDING WATER AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

AND I'LL EVEN SAY THIS, I TALKED TO THIS NONPROFIT AND SAID, LET'S WORK OUT SOMETHING.

COME UP WITH A CUP THAT IS IDENTIFIED BY ALL THE BUSINESSES THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR CUP FILLED, BUT THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THAT.

AND I SAID, I'LL WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND THEY DID NOT DO IT.

SO THIS WAS ANOTHER, I THINK, A YEOMAN'S ATTEMPT TO TO HAVE MORE ACCESS TO WATER.

BUT I WILL SAY WE'RE OUT THERE PROVIDING WATER, OUR FACILITIES.

IF SOMEONE WENT TO A FIRE STATION 24 OVER SEVEN AND THEY NEEDED WATER, WE WOULD PROVIDE IT.

SAME THING WITH THE SUBSTATION, SAME THING.

AND I THINK I REALLY BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF OUR BUSINESSES WOULD.

BUT, I THINK IT'S WHETHER YOU WANT TO MOVE DOWN THIS WAY.

AND WE CERTAINLY CAN DO IT IF IT'S APPROVED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE'LL DO WHATEVER THE COUNCIL DIRECTS US TO DO.

BUT FROM A FROM TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO, WE WE WERE JUST TRYING TO ANSWER IT THE BEST WAY WE COULD WITH WHAT WE BELIEVED MIGHT BE THE BEST MOVE FORWARD.

YEAH. WELL, THE I THINK THAT'S A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE IDEA THAT, THAT BEING SAID, I MEAN, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT GROUP HAS DONE SOMETHING LIKE A QUARTER OF $1 MILLION WORTH OF WATER THAT APPARENTLY THIS WATER NEEDED IN PLACES THAT IT ISN'T NOW, AND IT'S LIKE THE MOST EXPENSIVE WAY TO DISTRIBUTE IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M SYMPATHETIC TO THE IDEA THAT THERE MIGHT BE A NEED FOR OUR CHEAPER WATER TO BE MADE AVAILABLE IN MORE PLACES.

I JUST HAVEN'T HEARD THAT ISSUE, THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT IN THE NON HOT WEATHER.

AND MOST OF THE MONEY IS IN THIS ACCELERATING THE REPLACEMENT.

SO I THINK I'M KIND OF WHERE I STARTED THAT I DON'T REALLY SEE PUTTING THAT MONEY IN TO UPGRADES SOONER THAN YOU WOULD OTHERWISE.

SO YOU KNOW, YOU WILL OVER THE COURSE OF, YOU KNOW, OF TIME.

ANYWAY, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

I RESPECT THAT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS AND, YOU KNOW, AND ALSO SEEING IF THERE ARE OTHER KEY PLACES WHERE YOU SEE LOTS OF WATER IS BEING DISTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE WHO APPARENTLY NEED IT.

IF THERE'S A MORE EFFICIENT WAY TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE SHOULD BE OPEN TO LOOKING AT THAT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

AND IF IF DESPITE HAVING NO MONEY, YOU HAVE A WAY TO DO TWO NOW AND YOU FEEL, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T STAND IN YOUR WAY.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER BURKE? I, AM GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF US TRYING, YOU KNOW, TRYING OUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CITY, STARTING WITH TWO.

ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR PRO TEM.

[01:00:04]

I THINK THERE'S, LOTS OF HIDDEN COSTS.

AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILOR MCGEE BRINGING UP THE COST OF THE CITY, WHICH I REALIZE THAT IT'S IT'S IT'S CHALLENGING TO ASSESS, SINCE YOU BUY WATER FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

HOW MUCH OF THAT RATIO OF THAT WATER IS IN YOUR VEHICLES? GIVEN OUT BY THE POLICE AND WHATNOT? I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO TO FIND GRAIN IT, BUT BUT COUNCILOR MELTZER'S POINT THAT THIS IS THE THE MOST EXPENSIVE WAY OF DELIVERING WATER.

I DO THINK THERE IS A NEED FOR, SOME, SOME WINTERIZED ACCESS, BUT I AGREE WITH HIM THAT WE MOSTLY JUST NEED MORE ITEMS AND MORE BROADLY DISTRIBUTED.

AND THE THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE IS, NOT HAVING EMERGENCY PERSONNEL RESPOND TO HEAT STROKE, PARTICULARLY IN THE SUMMER. BUT ANYTIME YOU GET YOU CAN GET DEHYDRATED IN THE WINTERTIME.

SO THE ISSUE IS, HOW MUCH OF OUR BUDGET DO WE SPEND ON THE MOST EXPENSIVE DISTRIBUTION METHOD POSSIBLE? AND HOW MUCH OF OUR, TIME OF OUR STAFF, IS SPENT ON COMPENSATING FOR THAT, EXPENSIVE METHOD WHEN WE COULD BE, ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO DO MORE SELF SERVE.

SO I APPRECIATE THE COUNSELOR SO FAR THAT THAT ARE AGREEING TO THE PILOT.

THANK YOU. COUNSELOR.

WHAT'S. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. YEAH. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM AGREEING TO THE PILOT FOR ONE MAJOR REASON.

AND THAT IS IT'S IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH MEANS ALL THE COUNCIL GETS TO DECIDE ON THE PRIORITIES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.

SO I WANT TO ADDRESS THE MAYOR JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS REAL QUICKLY.

AS FAR AS THE COST OF WATER THAT PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL IS PASSING OUT, THAT'S IRRELEVANT BECAUSE THEY'RE PASSING IT OUT WHERE THOSE PEOPLE ARE.

WE'RE CREATING THESE HYDRATION STATIONS.

THAT MEANS PEOPLE HAVE TO GET THERE, BE ABLE TO GET THE WATER.

SO AS FAR AS WHAT WATER IS BEING PASSED OUT IN CITY TRUCKS OR FIRE STATIONS OR FIRE TRUCKS OR POLICE CARS, THAT'S MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, SO THAT THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY PLAY WITH THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, BECAUSE WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO TAKE THE WATER OUT OF THOSE VEHICLES IF WE PUT THIS, THIS IF WE IMPLEMENT THIS PROCESS. AND SECONDLY, FOR THE NONPROFIT THAT'S SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY PUT IN THESE WATER BOTTLES WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

WELL, AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TRAVEL.

TO GET TO ONE OF THOSE HYDRATION STATIONS.

SO LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE WE CANNOT PUT A WATER FOUNTAIN EVERYWHERE.

WE THINK SOMEBODY IS GOING TO WANT TO JUST GET A DRINK OF WATER.

AND SO THAT THAT WHOLE LINE OF REASONING AND RATIONALE SOMETIMES FALLS A LITTLE SHORT.

BUT JUST UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE STILL HAVE TO GET TO THESE PLACES.

AND WE'RE INCREASING THEM BY.

ABOUT 1510 FOR NEW FACILITIES AND, OR 25 AND 15 FOR.

OVER. HOW BIG IS OUR CITY? I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY SQUARE MILES IT IS.

SO MY REAL OKAY WITH THE PILOT, 100% OKAY WITH IT BECAUSE OF THE TRUST, THE PROCESS.

I TRUST THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THE COUNCIL CAN MAKE A DECISION BASED UPON ALL THE OTHER NEEDS, IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, MY DIRECTION IS, YES, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS THAT STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED, IN THAT REGARD.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? SO MY MY MY THOUGHTS ARE THESE FIRST MISS, MISS CITY MANAGER.

I'D LIKE TO SEE, KIND OF ON THESE ISSUES.

MAYBE A GRAPHIC THAT SHOWS A HOUSE AND THEN SHOWS THE, INCREASES PROJECTED.

RIGHT. BECAUSE WHAT I'VE LISTED JUST FROM MEMORY, WASTEWATER FEES ARE GOING UP, ELECTRIC BILLS ARE GOING UP.

SOLID WASTE, I THINK, JUST WENT UP.

OBVIOUSLY TAXES ARE GOING UP AS FAR AS PROPERTY TAXES.

ATMOS GAS, YOU KNOW, IS MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO ASK FOR SOME SORT OF INCREASE.

AND THEN THERE'S JUST A GENERAL MAINTENANCE COST FOR HOME.

I SAY THAT TO SAY, I JUST WANT TO LOOK AT IT IN A HOLISTIC STANDPOINT, TO SAY, THESE ARE HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BEARING THIS INITIAL AND THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS PER SE THAT WOULD ROLL INTO THE CITY TAX DOLLARS OR THE CITY GENERAL BUDGET THAT WOULD THEN GO.

BUT JUST TO KIND OF HAVE THAT VIEW OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE ASKING FAMILIES TO ABSORB AS FAR AS COST AND HAVE THAT IN CONTEXT AS A REMINDER. SO THAT'S JUST ONE THING FOR ME.

THEN, YOU TOUCHED ON IT BRIEFLY, GARY, BUT MAYBE IF WE COULD GET AND IT'S NOT FOR NOW, BUT JUST MAYBE IN A IN A FRIDAY REPORT.

THINK IT'S IMPORTANT YOU TOUCHED ON THE ONE GRAFFITI AT THE PARK JUST ON ROCKS.

RIGHT. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM PARKS PERSPECTIVE SOME SORT OF SUMMARY OR TRACKING OF THE DAMAGES THAT ARE OCCURRING, BECAUSE

[01:05:09]

IT'S NOT JUST YOU CAN PUT SOMETHING THERE AND IT GOES UNHARMED.

AND THAT GOES TO STAFFING COSTS TO THEN, YOU KNOW, GO BACK OR MORE STAFF TO MAINTAIN THOSE.

SO WE'D LIKE TO KIND OF GET A FEEL FOR THAT.

THEN I IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE HEAR IN STAFF'S LOOKED INTO THIS CERTAINLY ON THE ADA ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES TO PUT TO BED, PLACING THEM IN CERTAIN YOU HAVE TO DO AN ENTIRE STUDY.

YOU CAN'T JUST PLACE SOMETHING IN YOUR RIGHT OF WAY WITHOUT AN ENTIRE STUDY.

MY UNDERSTANDING. BUT IF I'M WRONG, PLEASE TELL ME.

BUT MAYBE. MAYBE THAT'S A LEGAL STAFF REPORT.

BUT I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THAT IN CONTEXT, BECAUSE PEOPLE LISTENING TO THIS MEETING SAY, YEAH, JUST STICK IT IN THE CORNER.

WELL, YOU CAN'T, I COULDN'T EVEN GET PARKING SPACES PAINTED ON A STREET BECAUSE IT LACKED THE ADA STUDY.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE SO THAT SO THAT THE CITIZENS DON'T HEAR IT WRONG OR THINK OVERSIMPLIFY THE CHALLENGES BEFORE US WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ISSUE.

AND THEN, I DO MISS CITY MANAGER THINK IT IS PRUDENT TO, AS WE HAVE NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT MAY BE A WAY TO ABSORB THAT AS THE CITY IS DEVELOPING. MAYBE THAT'S ONE OF THE COMMENTS.

WE TALK ABOUT BIKE RACKS.

WE TALK ABOUT, HEALTHY FOODS, THAT SORT OF THING.

MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

CAN YOU ADD X, Y, Z OR WATER STATION SO THAT THAT BECOMES PART OF THAT TALKING? I THINK IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE TO THROW OUT A NUMBER OF $200,000 OR ANY NUMBER WITHOUT RECEIPTS, SO I CAN'T ADOPT THAT NUMBER.

IF STAFF EVER SEES RECEIPTS FOR THOSE WATER COSTS AND WANTS TO FORWARD THOSE ON, I'M HAPPY TO CONSIDER THOSE.

BUT AS A FIDUCIARY OF THE TAXPAYER MONEY, I'M JUST NOT GOING TO ADOPT A NUMBER WITHOUT THE BACKUP OR DATA TO SUPPORT IT.

SO I DISMISS THAT JUST BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE DATA TO TO SUPPORT THAT.

AND THEN I ALSO ASK US TO THEN THOSE THAT ARE ADVOCATING FOR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, THINK ABOUT THIS.

IF YOU LOOK AT ELM STREET, ON THE EAST SIDE, YOU HAVE A WATER COOLER ON THE THAT'S IN THE HEAT ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STREET, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET YOU HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DISPERSING AND, WELL, PLACEMENT, WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT. THAT THAT WATER COOLER THAT'S REAL CLOSE TO THE RIGHT OF WAY, IS NEEDS TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

IF THERE'S A CITY FACILITY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET WHERE YOU CAN GO IN AND GET COLD WATER, YOU KNOW, OR IF YOU'RE TELLING ME IT'S GETTING MAXIMUM USE AT NIGHT.

OKAY. I JUST NEED TO SEE THAT DATA.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THERE'S TWO.

WE'RE DUPLICATING EFFORTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.

AND SO I WOULD JUST WANT THAT THAT IF PLACEMENTS ARE A PRIORITY THEN LET'S MAKE IT A PRIORITY.

AND THEN I, I DON'T AGAIN, DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT, BUT YOU TALK ABOUT YOU DIDN'T CAPTURE THE BUSINESSES THAT OFFER WATER BETWEEN JUPITER HOUSE, BETWEEN, BETH MARIE'S BETWEEN.

I MEAN, THERE'S A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES.

JUST HAVE A WATER COOLER IN THE FRONT THAT I NOTED THAT I PASSED ALONG A FEW TO THE CITY MANAGER, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER ACCOUNTING OF THAT WATER ACCESS.

AND THEN I'M JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO, TO, RAISE THIS ISSUE.

AND IT'S BEEN CONSISTENT WITH ME.

SO THIS TWO MINUTE PITCH PROCESS, I'M JUST FOR FOREGONE CONCLUSION OR FOR, FOR FORECASTING.

WE HAVE. TO CHANGE IT.

WE JUST HAVE TO ADD A REQUIREMENT TO IT AND AND CLEAN IT UP.

THE REQUEST BY THE TWO MINUTE PITCH IS TO TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF WATER STATIONS.

THAT'S ABSENT THE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW MANY WATER STATIONS WE HAVE, OR THE REQUEST WAS INTENTIONALLY TO ADD 255 255 WATER STATIONS COMBINING OUTSIDE AND OUTSIDE OR JUST OUTSIDE TO TAKE THAT NUMBER UP TO 168.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE INTENT.

I THINK THAT'S JUST THROWING THINGS OUT THERE AND NOT DOING THE DUE DILIGENCE OR WORK TO TO THEN INFORM THOSE REQUESTS.

AND SO THEN WE HAVE THIS, KIND OF YES, TRIPLE SOUNDS GOOD, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T QUANTIFY THAT.

SO THE TWO MINUTE PITCH PROCESS, I THINK IT THE ORDINANCE CALLS FOR CLEAR DIRECTION.

AND I THINK WE'RE MISSING THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND THIS IS EVIDENCED BY I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE THAT WOULD SUPPORT 255 WATER STATIONS AS, AS THE GOAL.

THAT'S JUST NOT THAT'S NOT STEEPED IN REALITY.

THAT'S 85 TIMES THREE.

255 SOMEBODY CHECKED MY MATH.

56 OUTSIDE.

THREE TIMES 168 SO THAT AND THAT'S THE REQUEST FROM AND SO JUST THAT THAT ROUND NUMBER, JUST GRABBING INFORMATION AND THROWING IT OUT THERE, I JUST I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR ANYONE.

[01:10:02]

WE'LL JUST LOOK AT IT AT THE, AT THE BUDGET SESSION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

THAT TAKES US TO ITEM C, WHICH IS ID 24186.

[C. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding Naloxone (Narcan) distribution and education. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]

DISTRIBUTION AND EDUCATION.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS KENNETH HEDGES. I'M THE FIRE CHIEF, SO I'M HERE FROM THE TWO MINUTE PITCH FROM LAST COUNCIL MEETING IN REGARDS TO POSSIBLE DISTRIBUTION THROUGH A NONPROFIT OF NARCAN HYDROCHLORIDE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE GENERIC NAME.

AND EVERYBODY GOES BY THE BRAND NAME, WHICH IS NARCAN.

VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION WITH JUST A FEW FACTS, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION.

SO RIGHT NOW I WON'T KIND OF GO OVER.

WHERE IS NARCAN LOCATED CURRENTLY? IN THE CITY. DIDN'T FIRE DEPARTMENT.

EVERY FIRE TRUCK, AMBULANCE STAFF VEHICLE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY POSSESSES TWO DIFFERENT TYPES.

WE HAVE THE INJECTABLE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY MORE POTENT DOSE WE'VE BEEN USING FOR 30 PLUS YEARS.

STAFF VEHICLES ACTUALLY CARRY THE NASAL BRAND AS WELL, WHICH IS A HIGHER MILLIGRAM.

IT IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS FAR AS THE ENTRY ROUTE.

SO FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES USE I'VE ROUTE DEN PD.

EACH DENTON PD OFFICER HAS BEEN ISSUED NARCAN, SO THEY DO HAVE THAT IN THEIR POSSESSION.

SIA DENTON.

RIGHT NOW THERE IS AROUND 90 PLUS 80 CABINETS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE ROLLING OUT THE IMPLEMENTATION AND TRAINING OF NARCAN IN EACH BOX STARTING IN FEBRUARY AND CONTINUE INTO MARCH.

WE DID CONTACTED ICE-T RIGHT NOW.

ALL CAMPUSES STATED THAT NURSES DO HAVE NARCAN ISSUED TO THEM, AND THEY HAVE IT IN THEIR POSSESSION UNIT DEPLOYED TO ALL THEIR AID CABINETS, AND THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY CARRIES TWOO.

THEY'RE WAITING FOR A BACKSTOP, WHICH THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THAT TO BE ISSUED TO THE AID CABINETS.

AND CURRENTLY THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE AN IMPOSITION.

ONE THING I DIDN'T HAVE IN CTC DOWNTOWN CAMPUS ADJACENT TO CENTRAL FIRE STATION STATED THEY DO HAVE NARCAN AT THE SECURITY DESK.

SO AS WE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS ON HOW COULD THIS BE DISTRIBUTED? ONE OF THE PRIMARY ROUTES WAS LOOKING AT NONPROFIT RESEARCH THAT REVEALED THAT AUSTIN, THIS IS THEIR PRIMARY CHOICE OF DISTRIBUTION, IS TO RELY ON A 500 1C3.

WE JUST THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PARTNERSHIP WITH USING RECOVERY RESOURCE COUNCIL.

CURRENTLY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE AGREEMENT WITH THEM EVERY MONTH TO GO OUT AND REVIEW OVERDOSE CALLS.

AND A TEAM WITH OUR HOT TEAM PARAMEDIC AND THEIR COUNSELORS ACTUALLY GO AND KNOCK ON ADDRESSES THAT WE RAN ON OVERDOSES AND TRY TO INTRODUCE THAT PERSON TO A TEAM OF COUNSELORS. SO TALKING WITH RECOVERY RESOURCE, PREPPING FOR THIS MEETING AS WELL.

THIS IS JUST SOME BASIC FACTS.

THEY'VE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR OVER 76 YEARS IN THE METROPLEX, A LOT LARGER ORGANIZATION THAN I EVEN IMAGINED.

ALSO, PHYSICAL OFFICES IN DALLAS FORT WORTH.

AND THEY DO HAVE A SATELLITE OFFICE IN SERVED IN.

I DID CONFIRM THEY DO HAVE STAFF THERE FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

THEY SERVE 21 COUNTIES AND OVER 110 STAFF MEMBERS WHEN FULLY, STAFFED.

SO WHEN I ASKED THEM ABOUT ATTENDING SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE CITY OF DENTON TO ACTUALLY NOT JUST PASS OUT NARCAN, BUT TO EDUCATE, THEY WERE VERY WILLING TO AND THEY ACTUALLY ALREADY DO THIS WITH DALLAS FIRE RESCUE.

WE DID HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF EVENTS.

AND FOR 2023, WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH PARKS DEPARTMENT.

THEY GAVE US STATISTICS, AND THERE WAS OVER 86 DIFFERENT EVENTS FOR 2023.

SO THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EVENTS.

SO I DON'T THINK WE COULD PROBABLY EXPECT ONE NONPROFIT TO COVER EVERYTHING.

WE COULD IDENTIFY THE ONES THAT ARE CERTAIN LEVELS AS FAR AS XLARGE EVENTS, WITH CERTAIN AMOUNT OF VENUE AND PATRONS ATTENDING AS WELL.

THAT IS MY BRIEF PRESENTATION BECAUSE I KNOW WE WON'T WORRY ABOUT DISCUSSION, SO I WILL STOP SHARING MY SCREEN AT THIS POINT.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

AND THAT'S WHAT I REQUESTED THIS, YOU KNOW, AS A RESULT OF THE TWO MINUTE PITCH TO THEN, SAY WHAT I COULDN'T SAY BECAUSE YOU ONLY GET ONE MINUTE, I.

COUNCILWOMAN. ESSER. AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A CANDID CONVERSATION BECAUSE STAFF DOESN'T REALLY STAFF IS JUST KIND OF TAKING NOTES.

THIS IS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN US TO GIVE DIRECTION.

AND I'LL BE HONEST, I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR TWO MINUTE PITCH AT ALL.

I UNDERSTAND THE NEED.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE REQUESTING.

IT DIDN'T REQUEST AN ORDINANCE.

IT DIDN'T REQUEST.

[01:15:01]

AND THAT'S THE REASON, IF YOU LOOK ON LINE 15 OF THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, I EMAILED THIS VERY QUESTION FIVE MONTHS AGO AND WAS SATISFIED WITH THE ANSWER THAT THEY PROVIDED.

AND IT'S PROGRESSED TO THE POINT TO NOW WHERE THAT STAFF, WITHOUT PROMPTING, CHANGED THEIR OPINION TO SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO ADD IT TO THE ADDS INITIAL LIKE INITIAL IN SEPTEMBER.

WE'RE GOING TO WE HAVE IT ON US.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE IT THERE.

FAST FORWARD FIVE MONTHS LATER WITHOUT A TWO MINUTE PITCH.

THEY SAY, YES, WE'RE GOING TO ADD IT TO THE ADDS.

AND SO STAFF'S FULLY CAPABLE OF IN MY MIND, WORKING THIS PROGRESS, WORKING THIS SUCCESSFULLY.

SO I JUST AND AND I'M OBVIOUSLY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY DOCUMENTED REQUESTS BEFORE SEPTEMBER THAT THAT EMAIL I SENT. AND IF THERE IS THEN SEND THAT TO ME.

BUT SO I'M OBVIOUSLY I'M ALL IN FOR HELPING.

I JUST NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING WHAT WHAT IS IT YOU'RE ASKING FOR? AN ORDINANCE? AS JUST AS YOU'VE SHOWN.

FIRST OF ALL, I'M SO PLEASED THAT WE'RE BOTH ON THE SAME PAGE AS FAR AS IDENTIFYING THE NEED, AND IN OUR APPRECIATION FOR EVERYTHING STAFF HAS DONE.

AND AS YOU DEMONSTRATED, NOT EVERYTHING REQUIRES AN ORDINANCE.

NOW, I DON'T PERSONALLY FEEL AT LIBERTY TO, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALLY POINT STAFF TO WHAT TO DO.

YOU KNOW, DIRECTION COMES FROM THE BODY.

SO I DID ASK WHAT WHAT ALL WE WERE DOING THAT CAME OUT IN THE ESSER AND THERE WERE, ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE, REFLECTED IN THAT ICER.

AND SO MY REQUEST PERFECTLY FULFILLED, GIVEN THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL, WAS TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO PURSUE ONE OF THOSE, WHICH IS TO PARTNER WITH A NONPROFIT AND FACILITATE, THEM HAVING DISTRIBUTION OF FESTIVALS.

SO I AM, VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CHIEF HAS IDENTIFIED SUCH A GOOD PARTNER.

AND, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP CONNECT THE DOTS, LET THEM SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE, WHAT'S THEIR, POINT THEM TO THE RIGHT POINTS OF CONTACT.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THEY OPERATE IN A WIDE AREA.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FOCUS THEY'VE HAD ON DENTON IN IN THIS REALM BEFORE, BUT I.

I SUPPORT IT. OKAY.

AND THEN. BUT HELP ME UNDERSTAND, THE FESTIVALS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE POLICE AND FIRE THERE THAT HAVE THAT ON, HAVE IT ON THEIR PERSON.

AND THE PROTOCOL IS TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S BETTER TO HAVE A.

FESTIVAL GOER WITH NARCAN AND MAYBE OR MAYBE NOT HAVE THE TRAINING TO FOLLOW THAT UP VERSUS POLICE AND FIRE THAT ARE AT EVERY FESTIVAL APPLY ADMINISTERING THAT AND THEN BEING ABLE TO TAKE THE SUBSEQUENT STEPS.

SO AND UNDERSTANDING IT'S 22% IS THE NUMBER THAT STAFF PROVIDED OF OF THE TIMES, OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TIMES THAT SOMEONE THOUGHT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING OVERDOSE AND NARCAN WAS ADMINISTERED, ONLY 22% OF THAT WAS WAS ACTUAL ACTUALLY TRUE.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE, HAS THE TRAININGS.

BUT HELP ME UNDERSTAND.

EVERY FESTIVAL IN THE CITY OF DENTON FIRE AND POLICE ARE THERE WITH NARCAN.

WHAT ROLE DOES THE NONPROFIT PLAY IN THAT? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S NOT THE CASE THAT ONLY IT'S TRAINING.

ALWAYS GOOD, BUT IT'S NOT THE CASE THAT CIVILIANS CAN'T ADMINISTER NARCAN.

IN FACT, IT'S AVAILABLE WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION AT DRUGSTORES NOW, NOT ONLY TO EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.

SECONDLY, AND IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THAT, IT'S, IN MY OPINION, IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO RESPOND IN THE CASE OF A FIRST AID NEED, FOR OPIOID OVERDOSES.

AND THAT AND AS EXPRESSED IN THE PITCH, I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE TO THE POINT WHERE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THAT IS AS WIDESPREAD AS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER EXISTS. I DON'T IF EVERYBODY HERE FEELS CAPABLE OF DOING IT, BUT WE ALL KNOW IT EXISTS.

SO THE EDUCATION COMPONENT IS A GOOD PART OF WHAT THE NONPROFIT DOES AND WOULD DO IN THESE SETTINGS.

THIRDLY, AS WE READ IN THE STAFF REPORT, THERE ARE NOT THERE ARE NO NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES TO THE APPLICATION OF NARCAN WHEN IT TURNS OUT NOT TO BE ACTUALLY AN OPIOID OPIOID OVERDOSE.

THAT'S PART OF WHY THEY USE IT, LIKE TO COVER THAT BASE, BECAUSE THERE ISN'T THERE ISN'T A REASON NOT TO DO IT.

[01:20:06]

AND I'LL TAKE YOUR POINT.

LET'S START AT THE END.

NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.

TRUE. IF THERE'S NO NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR ADMINISTERING IT.

AND IF THEY'RE NOT EXPERIENCING OVERDOSE.

THAT'S TRUE. MY CONCERN IS THIS.

SOMEONE IS EXPERIENCING AN OVERDOSE.

NARCAN DOES WORK MOMENTARILY AND I FORGET THE STATISTICS, BUT THEY RESPOND, RIGHT? THAT PERSON, THEN THE LAY PERSON THINKS THEY'RE OKAY AND DOESN'T MANDATE THAT THEY SEEK EMERGENCY ATTENTION BECAUSE THE PERSON POPS UP.

HEY I'M GOOD. THANKS.

APPRECIATE IT. ON THEIR MERRY WAY, THEY GO.

POLICE FIRE CAN'T FOLLOW THEM.

THEY COLLAPSE LATER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET.

AND THAT'S. AND I THINK YOU MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT I SAID FROM AN EMERGENCY STANDPOINT.

AND CHIEF, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

DID NOT DID I NOT READ THAT? IT'S EVEN IF YOU ADMINISTERED A NARCAN, THEY THEY NEED TO SEEK EMERGENCY, HEALTH CARE IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER.

ABSOLUTELY. ACTUALLY, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE.

IT'S GOING TO BE GOING INTO THE CITY AID CABINETS.

SO THERE'S TWO DOSES OF NARCAN.

THERE'S A CHECKLIST, A CARD TO FOLLOW.

THIS IS IF SOMEBODY IS UNCONSCIOUS, ADMINISTER ONE DOSE OF NARCAN.

WAIT TWO MINUTES.

IF NO RESPONSE, OBVIOUSLY CALL NINE ONE, ADMINISTER SECOND DOSE.

BUT THE BIG COMPONENT IS THIS HAS A VERY SHORT HALF LIFE.

SO IT'S GOING TO LAST.

SOME OF THE MEDICATIONS ACTUALLY CAN LAST FOR 24 HOURS PLUS AS WELL.

SO YES YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE EMERGENCY CARE FOLLOW UP.

YEAH. AND SO THAT'S THAT'S THE DAMAGE IF SOMEONE DOESN'T KNOW THAT INFORMATION.

AND I TAKE YOUR POINT ABOUT EDUCATION AND IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION THAT'S GREAT.

LET'S PIVOT TO THAT.

BUT THEN I ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU ENVISION THE CITY MANDATING TO FOR EXAMPLE, JAZZFEST.

WHO IT'S NOT OUR FESTIVAL.

IT'S A PUBLIC FESTIVAL, BUT IT'S NOT.

THEY RENT THE PARK.

AND SO I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MECHANISM DO YOU SEE YOU LEVERAGING TO THEN DICTATE TO A PRIVATE RENTER? WHO AND WHO CAN HAVE A BOOTH THERE.

YEAH. OKAY, SO, FIRST OF ALL, YOU'VE PERFECTLY, UNDERSCORED THE VALUE OF THE EDUCATION COMPONENT BECAUSE IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU ADMINISTER IT, THAT'S TO BUY SURVIVAL TIME UNTIL EMERGENCY SERVICES ARRIVE.

NOW, TURN THAT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

IF YOU SAY, I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE GENERALLY AWARE OF THAT, I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE IT READILY AVAILABLE.

I'M ONLY GOING TO POINT PEOPLE TO 911.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM IS THAT PEOPLE DIE WHILE WAITING FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES TO COME.

IT'S TO BUY THAT SURVIVAL TIME UNTIL THEY COME.

SO YOU DO NEED, AS YOU REALLY ILLUSTRATED PERFECTLY, THAT EDUCATION COMPONENT.

SECONDLY, YOU'LL FIND NO INSTANCE OF MY USING THE TERMS OR THE CONCEPTS OF MANDATE OR DICTATE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I TALKED ABOUT PARTNERING AND FACILITATING, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M FOR.

OKAY. SO I HAVE COUNCILWOMAN WHAT'S.

YEAH. THIS MUST BE.

THIS MUST BE A BAD DAY FOR ME.

BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED.

WHAT I'M HEARING, WHICH I SUPPORT.

IS THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.

FOR THE CITY.

JUST AS A FACILITATOR, NOT AS SOMEBODY WHO'S INVOLVED, NOT AS A PARTNER, NOT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS ANY KIND OF DUTY OF CARE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT OUTSIDE OF, YOU KNOW, POLICE AND OR PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONDERS.

TO TO TRY TO HOOK UP.

NONPROFITS THAT ARE, CAPABLE AND EXPERIENCED.

AND THE CHIEF FEELS ARE, YOU KNOW, QUALIFIED.

TO PROVIDE SOME OF THIS COVERAGE AT SOME OF OUR FESTIVALS.

SO WHAT I'M NOT HEARING IS THAT THE CITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED AS A CITY TO DO OUTSIDE OF TRYING TO CONNECT TWO PEOPLE TOGETHER OR GROUPS TOGETHER TO REALLY PROVIDE A.

PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFIT, AND IF THEY CAN PROVIDE THE EDUCATION, IF THERE'S THINGS WE CAN PUT IN OUR UTILITY BILLS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATION, LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THEY'RE GOING TO SEE.

BUT I'M NOT HEARING THAT THE CITY IS BEING ASKED REALLY TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN TO BE A FACILITATOR.

AM I WRONG? WHAT AM I MISSING? YEAH, THAT'S TRUE. WE'RE NOT ASKING.

WE'RE NOT ASKING TO BUY A PRODUCT.

I THINK YOU'RE WE'RE NOT ASKING TO.

YEAH, YEAH. NO, I THINK I THINK YOU'RE SPOT ON.

OKAY. SO.

OKAY, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE OF THESE EXAMPLES.

WHERE WE'RE SPENDING THIS TIME.

[01:25:02]

OF CONTINUING THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND MAIER, I UNDERSTAND I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN AND I THINK THAT'S THAT'S ONE THING I DON'T WANT THE CITY TO BE INVOLVED IN IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE SOME TYPE OF LIABILITY HANGING OUT THERE BECAUSE WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DO WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO BECAUSE WE WE WEREN'T ASKED TO DO ANYTHING.

SO, THOSE ARE JUST MY THOUGHTS.

SO IF IF THE CITY IS NOT GOING TO HAVE TO PROVIDE IT, MONITOR IT, BE OUT THERE STAFFING IT, WE'RE NOT REALLY BEING ASKED TO CREATE A POLICY OR TO PROVIDE STAFF TIME.

I'M NOT REALLY QUITE SURE.

I'M OKAY WITH THE DIRECTION OF FURTHER EXPLORATION OF HOW CAN WE, PROVIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND POSSIBLY ADDITIONAL, PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY? OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. MAYOR. YEAH.

COUNCILMAN HOLLAND AND MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU.

WHEN COUNCILOR MELTZER MADE THE MADE THE PITCH, I SUPPORTED THIS AT A HIGH.

AT A HIGH PRIORITY.

IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PITCH WAS TO PROVIDE NARCAN TO ALL FIRST RESPONDERS, TO CITY VEHICLES, TO EVERYBODY, TO HAVE TO HAVE AS MUCH, AS MUCH NARCAN ON THE STREETS AS AS POSSIBLE.

IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE.

THE STAFF WAS ALREADY DOING THAT.

CHIEF, IS THERE A PLACE WHERE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE NARCAN AVAILABLE THAT WE OUGHT TO.

I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY AROSE AS FAR AS THE CITY BUILDINGS WITH AEDS.

IT'S JUST ADDING ANOTHER TOOL.

ADD WAS THE FIRST TOOL THAT REALLY KIND OF CAME UP AND BECAME PUBLIC.

NARCAN IS THE NEXT ONE. I THINK ONE THING I ALSO WANT TO REINFORCE ALSO IS NARCAN IS JUST ONE TOOL.

SO IS CPR AND RESCUE BREATHING.

SO YOU MENTIONED HEIMLICH.

EVERYBODY ELSE SHOULD KNOW CPR AND RESCUE BREATHING JUST AS MUCH AS THEY NEED TO HAVE NARCAN IN POSSESSION AS WELL.

SO IT'S LIKE A ACCUMULATION OF TOOLS.

IT'S NOT JUST ONE SINGLE ONE THAT ADDRESSES EVERYTHING.

IT SEEMS TO ME THEN THAT THAT WE'VE ALREADY GOT THE, THE THE HARD, THE HARD HEAVY LIFTING HAS ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF.

WE SIMPLY NEED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AND MAYBE HAVE HAVE, HAVE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OR MEMBERS OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS GO OUT TO, KIWANIS CLUBS OR ROTARY CLUBS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, ANY PLACE WHERE WE CAN GET HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS, ANY PLACE WHERE WE CAN GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO SIT TOGETHER AND EXPLAIN THAT, THAT WE'VE ALREADY GOT THIS STUFF.

AND HERE'S WHAT YOU DO SHOULD SHOULD THE NEED ARISE.

I THINK I'M, I APPLAUD THE, FIRST RESPONDERS FOR ALREADY TAKING LIKE I SAY, THE HEAVY LIFTING HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.

WE JUST NEED TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THE HEAVY LIFTING HAS BEEN DONE AND HOW TO DO IT, AND WHEN TO DO IT, AND CALL 911.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I THINK YOU CAN HEAR FROM THE CONVERSATION THAT THAT, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT TALKING PAST EACH OTHER, BUT ALL 100% IN AGREEMENT.

AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED, CPR.

IF IF, IF THIS WERE A, HEY, LET'S LET'S HAVE A PROACTIVE EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO MAKE SURE THAT AS MANY CPR CLASSES ARE POSSIBLE WERE HELD THROUGHOUT THE CITY THROUGH, YOU KNOW, RED CROSS, THROUGH THE FIREFIGHTERS, THROUGH THE WHATEVERS, YOU KNOW, THE REC CENTERS, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY ARGUMENT.

WE'RE LIKE, WHAT A GREAT IDEA.

LET'S HAVE CPR CLASSES.

THIS IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE ARGUING IS, YES, WE HAVE THE RESOURCES.

YES. LET'S LET'S GET THEM OUT INTO THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS.

LET'S GET THEM THE TRAINING.

LET'S MAKE IT A PRIORITY IN THE WAY WE'RE MAKING VISION ZERO A PRIORITY.

AND OTHER KINDS OF REDUCE THINGS TO ZERO PRIORITY.

SO I GUYS LET LET'S ALL TAKE YES FOR AN ANSWER THAT WE THINK THIS IS VALUABLE AND WE ALL SHARE THOSE GOALS.

I DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT WHAT WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT, TO BE HONEST.

MAYBE SOMEBODY COULD CLARIFY, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, JUST MAYBE TALKING PAST EACH OTHER.

WELL, GUYS AND GALS ONE.

BUT THEN TWO, I WOULD SAY IT'S, EXAMPLE DISD PREFERRED PARTNERSHIPS.

WE COULD BE NO ONE WOULD MAKE A TWO MINUTE PITCH FOR THOSE THINGS.

YOU IDENTIFIED MY MY PRIMARY CONCERN, AND I COULDN'T SAY IT THEN BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE ONE MINUTE IS THIS IS NOT A TWO MINUTE PITCH.

THIS IS AN EMAIL AND A CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

THAT'S WHAT I DID.

SO I'M UPSET.

OR IF THERE'S ANYTHING TROUBLING OR ANYTHING TO LEARN FROM THIS, IT'S THAT, THAT WE CAN NOT.

EVERYTHING'S A TWO MINUTE PITCH.

NOT EVERYTHING REQUIRES 30 MINUTES IN A CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO DISCUSS.

[01:30:05]

AND SO THAT IS YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

WE DON'T DISAGREE. WHAT I CAN'T SAY WHAT I NEED TO SAY.

AND THE TWO MINUTE PITCH, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAD READ IT ONE WAY.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO READ INTO IT.

THERE'S IT'S JUST IT IS A REQUIREMENT IN THAT ORDINANCE THAT IT BE CLEAR.

AND SO TO YOUR POINT, THE ANSWER IS I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS IS NOT A WORK SESSION TOPIC IF WE HAVE ORDINANCES AND POLICIES.

IF IT'S A IT'S ALREADY A PRIORITY FOR THOSE RESPONDERS.

AND UNDERSTAND I'M THE ONE THAT REQUESTED CPR TRAINING FOR THE COUNCIL.

AND BECKER SHOWED UP AND DID THAT FOR US.

SO BUT THAT DIDN'T REQUIRE A TWO MINUTE PITCH.

SO THAT'S TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

THAT IS MY CONCERN THAT WE WE TOOK 30 MINUTES OF STAFF TIME AND THIS ENTIRE PROCESS TO LAND THAT I THINK GREAT IDEAS, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT IN THIS FORMAT.

I THINK IT'S GREAT TO PUT OUT STUFF IN THE IN THE UTILITY BILLS.

I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT AGAIN, SHOUT OUT TO LAGRANGE ACADEMY, THEIR FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM.

THEY WERE JUST PRACTICING CPR LAST WEEK.

AND SO THEY PUT OUT A VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

HEY, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

FIRE DEPARTMENT'S GREAT ABOUT PUTTING OUT.

AS MUCH AS I HATE TO SAY GOOD THINGS ABOUT DAVID BOOTS, THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE PUTTING OUT GREAT INFORMATION AS WELL.

SO, ANYWAY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR TAKEAWAYS FOR STAFF? COUNCIL MEMBER. BYRD. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE ARE REQUESTING A TWO MINUTE PITCH, YOU KNOW, OUR PITCHES ARE COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THEY DON'T KNOW.

AND THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO SPEAK FOR THOSE FOLKS.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, RESPECTFULLY SPEAKING TO, TO THE MAYOR DIRECTLY, IN MY, MY, MY OBSERVATION, YOU KNOW, OF THE TWO MINUTE PITCH IS FOR US TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, AND THAT IS TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS PROBABLY NOT REALLY A TWO MINUTE PITCH.

IT'S OKAY.

IT'S OKAY, FOR US TO GAIN MORE KNOWLEDGE.

AND IF IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE THING THAT CAN HAPPEN THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE ARE EVEN ASKING FOR A TWO MINUTE PITCH, WE MIGHT WANT TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT FROM CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IN THIS REGARD THAT THIS DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A TWO MINUTE PITCH TYPE PITCH.

WELL, BUT WE COULD DO IT THAT WAY.

SO POINT OF, IF WE ARE GOING TO.

I'M SORRY. I'M JUST GIVE ME ONE MOMENT.

I'M SORRY, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE RAISED THE ISSUE THAT THIS IS NOT A TWO MINUTE CONVERSATION.

THE CITY ATTORNEY AGREED AND CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.

SO THEY THEY HE'S TAKING AN ISSUE WITH THAT.

THE CITY ATTORNEY'S, ECHOED THAT.

SO BACK TO YOU. OKAY.

SO, YEAH.

SO I, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO JUST LAY THAT OUT THERE LIKE THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE EDUCATED AS WELL.

WE JUST NEED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S NOT A TWO MINUTE PITCH, TELL US IT'S NOT REALLY A TWO MINUTE PITCH.

INSTEAD OF US GOING THROUGH THROUGH THIS ROUTE.

AND I JUST DON'T WANT US TO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, OR EVEN TO THINK THAT WE'RE BEING DISPARAGED, FOR DOING SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY ASKED FOR US TO DO, THAT'S WHAT TO SPEAK FOR THEM AND ASK QUESTIONS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCILMAN MCGEE? THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND MISS BYRD, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE.

THAT WAS NOT. NOT AT ALL DIRECTED AT YOU.

I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S WHY I SUPPORTED IT.

IT ALL GOT SUPPORT.

I THINK THIS CONVERSATION IS VERY WORTHY OF BEING OUT IN PUBLIC.

SO, SARA, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WORKING TO SCHEDULE THIS.

CHIEF, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME.

A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION IN HERE THAT I'M SURE MANY OF US DIDN'T KNOW, AND ALSO THOSE TRACKING ALONG.

I ALSO GREATLY BENEFITED FROM THE QUESTIONS THAT MR. WATTS WAS ASKING. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE ALL LEARNED SOME STUFF HERE TODAY.

JOB WELL DONE. THANK YOU STAFF.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. GREAT.

THAT TAKES THANKS CHIEF.

THAT TAKES SOME ITEM D ID 232454 RECEIVE REPORT WHOLE DISCUSSION.

[D. Receive a report, hold discussion, and give staff direction regarding the Child-Care Facility Property Tax Exemption authorized in Senate Bill 1145. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 45 minutes]]

PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION AUTHORIZED IN SENATE BILL 1145.

[01:35:21]

MAYOR AND COUNCIL DANNY SHAW.

COMMUNITY SERVICES.

THIS PRESENTATION TODAY IS FOR A COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION THAT'S NOW ALLOWABLE FOR ELIGIBLE CHILD CARE FACILITIES.

IN THE RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, LEGISLATORS DID TAKE UP THE ISSUE OF CHILD CARE ACCESS BECAUSE TEXAS LOST NEARLY A QUARTER OF ITS CHILD CARE PROVIDERS BETWEEN MARCH 2020 AND SEPTEMBER OF 2021, LEADING TO MORE CHILD CARE DESERTS AND MORE AREAS WITHOUT SUFFICIENT ACCESS TO CHILD CARE SERVICES.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY, A LACK OF CHILD CARE ACCESS DOES NEGATIVELY IMPACT EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING, OUR OWN ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PARENTS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

AND BASED ON THE STATE'S ANALYSIS, THIS COST THE TEXAS ECONOMY OVER $9 BILLION ANNUALLY RELATED TO WORKFORCE PRODUCTIVITY.

THIS ALSO RESULTS IN LOWER TAX REVENUE DUE TO DECREASED EARNINGS AND INCREASED PUBLIC SPENDING ON PUBLIC SERVICES FOR FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO FIND AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE.

LEGISLATORS RESPONDED WITH SENATE BILL 1145 TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE THROUGH PROPERTY TAX RELIEF REFORM FOR ELIGIBLE CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.

AND THEN SENATE BILL 1145 DID CHANGE THE TAX CODE TO ALLOW THIS PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN CHILD CARE FACILITIES.

AND ON NOVEMBER 7TH, VOTERS DID APPROVE PROPOSITION TWO, WHICH AMENDED ARTICLE EIGHT BY ADDING A SECTION TO AUTHORIZE THIS AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE TAX CHECK.

CHILD CARE FACILITIES. EXCUSE ME.

THIS DID TAKE EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST.

AS DEFINED BY THE LEGISLATION, THIS EXEMPTION MUST FIRST BE ADOPTED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNING BODY.

IF IT IS ADOPTED, IT SPECIFICALLY APPLIES TO A CHILD CARE FACILITY THAT IS LICENSED BY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION TO CARE FOR A CHILD WHO IS NOT RELATED TO THE OWNER OR THE OPERATOR OF THE FACILITY, AND THE QUALIFYING CHILD CARE PROVIDER MUST BE A PART OF THE TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM, AS WELL AS HAVING 20% OF THOSE CHILDREN, THEY'RE RECEIVING SUBSIDIZED SERVICES.

IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM, IT IS A QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM THAT'S RUN BY THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION.

IT IS ADMINISTERED TO PROVIDE AN ENHANCED QUALITY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

IT FOCUSES ON HIGHER STANDARDS FOR CHILD CARE FACILITIES.

IT DOES HELP WITH TRAINING FOR THOSE PROVIDERS, AND IT GIVES INFORMATION TO PARENTS TO FIND HIGH QUALITY CHILD EDUCATION.

IF, IF COUNCIL DOES DECIDE TO ADOPT THE EXEMPTION.

EXCUSE ME, I SKIPPED A BIT.

IF COUNCIL ADOPTS THE EXEMPTION, OWNERS OF THE QUALIFYING PROPERTIES THAT MEET THE CONDITIONS UNDER THE LIMITATIONS THAT ARE DESCRIBED HERE ON THE SLIDE ARE ENTITLED TO THE EXEMPTION BY CLAIMING AN EXCUSE ME BY SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED TOO, IF IF ADOPTED, COUNCIL WOULDN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO THEN REVOKE THAT EXEMPTION AFTER ADOPTION.

SO FINANCE PROVIDED SOME ANALYSIS USING PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA FROM THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

THIS ANALYSIS LOOKS AT THE FISCAL IMPACT OF ADOPTING SUCH AN EXEMPTION.

THEIR ANALYSIS FROM PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA SHOWS THAT THERE ARE NINE CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN THE CITY THAT ARE ALSO ENROLLED IN THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION'S TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM THAT ARE ALSO LICENSED WITH HHS.

SO THE TOTAL TAXABLE VALUE FOR THOSE NINE PROPERTIES IS 6.7 MILLION.

USING FINANCES STRAIGHT LINE ANALYSIS, WHICH THEY'RE HERE IF YOU NEED TO ASK ANY HARD QUESTIONS, TO IMPLEMENT THE EXEMPTION AT 50% OF THE ASSESSED VALUE, THE CITY'S REVENUES WOULD DECREASE DECREASE BY $18,872 ANNUALLY.

IF THE IF THE COUNCIL ACTUALLY DECIDED TO HIRE THAT AND DO A 75% EXEMPTION, THOSE THOSE REVENUES WOULD DECREASE BY $28,309 ANNUALLY. AS I MENTIONED, THIS WAS INFORMATION THAT'S PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.

CITY DOESN'T HAVE ANY ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROPERTIES THAT MAY AFFECT THEIR VALUATIONS OR EXEMPTIONS IN FUTURE YEARS.

IT'S JUST GENERALLY INFORMATION THAT WAS AVAILABLE THAT WE COULD SEE.

SO NOW WE'RE SEEKING DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION AT 50%, ADOPTED AT A HIGHER VALUE ABOVE 50%, OR DO NOT PROCEED WITH IMPLEMENTATION.

I WILL NOTE THE BOLD UP THERE IS STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE ADOPT IT AT 50%.

AND SO I'LL PULL THE PRESENTATION DOWN AND TAKE QUESTIONS.

GREAT. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND.

MAYOR PRO TEM THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

I LIKE I LIKE THE THE PROPOSAL.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD ONE AND AND I LIKE THE CONCEPT BUT BUT I'M NOW I'M LOOKING FOR THE PROBLEM WITH IT.

[01:40:04]

WHAT WHAT WHAT KIND OF MECHANISM IS TO DETERMINE THAT THAT THE THAT THE USER, MOM AND DAD DON'T PAY AS MUCH IN CHILD CARE AS THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THE HAD THE FACILITY NOT GOTTEN THE EXEMPTION? WELL, THERE'S NOT A MECHANISM THAT WE CAN VERIFY THAT THEY DO.

THE APPLICATION TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT WOULD BE LIKE AN AFFIDAVIT THAT THEY'RE SIGNING, THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING THAT BENEFIT.

RIGHT. SO IF THEY'RE THE THEY'RE THE OWNER AND THE PROPERTY OWNER, THEY'RE GETTING THE TAX EXEMPTION.

AND THEN THEORETICALLY THEY WOULD PASS THAT DOWN TO THE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UTILIZING THE SERVICES.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER PROVISION THAT IF THE PROPERTY OWNER IS RENTING TO A CHILD CARE CENTER, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT IN THE LAW THAT SAYS THEY HAVE TO PASS THAT, THAT VALUE BACK DOWN TO THE PEOPLE THEY'RE RENTING TO.

SO THERE IS THAT IN, IN THE LAW.

OKAY. AND, AND THEY HAVE TO DO IT AT, AT AT WHAT, AT WHAT RATE A DOLLAR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE EXEMPTION THEY'RE GETTING, IT HAS TO BE A 1 TO 1.

YEAH. IN THE LAW FOR THAT.

OKAY. AND IS AND IS THIS.

IS THIS A FACILITY THAT THAT IDENTIFIES ITSELF AS A CHILD CARE FACILITY? AND I CAN'T THINK OF AN EXAMPLE OF OF A NAME, OF AN EXAMPLE, BUT BUT A BUSINESS WHO, WHO'S WHOSE STRUCTURE IS STRICTLY FOR CHILD CARE AS OPPOSED TO AN IN-HOME CHILD CARE FACILITY.

IT COULD BE AN IN-HOME, BUT THERE'S A PROVISION IN THE LAW THAT ALSO, IF THEY'RE ALREADY RECEIVING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, IT DOESN'T QUALIFY HERE EITHER.

SO THEY WOULDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE EXEMPTION.

OKAY. AND DOES THE FACILITY HAVE TO OPERATE 12 MONTHS A YEAR TO RECEIVE THE RESEARCH THAT I'M NOT SURE IF I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT SPECIFICALLY.

BUT AGAIN, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS THEY'RE ALREADY HAVING TO BE LICENSED BY THE STATE THROUGH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

SO THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS THERE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE MEETING TO EVEN HAVE THAT LICENSE.

AND WITH THE TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM, AGAIN, IT'S IT'S LIKE AN ACCREDITATION PROGRAM.

SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE MEETING.

I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ONE OF THEM SPECIFICALLY, BUT THEY ARE ALREADY BEING EVALUATED BY TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES WHO ARE ESSENTIALLY LICENSING THEM.

OKAY. SO SO WE'RE JUST WE'RE GOING TO RELY ON THE MARKET, DEMANDING THAT BECAUSE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN COMPETITION FOR THE SAME CUSTOMER, FOR THE SAME MOM AND DAD LOOKING FOR A CHILDCARE PLACE FOR THEIR CHILD, WE'LL JUST RELY ON THE MARKET TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY LOWER THEIR PRICES, LIKE THEIR COMPETITORS WERE LIKELY TO LOWER THEIR PRICES.

WELL, YES, WE WOULD.

WE WOULD DEPEND ON THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN THE MARKET, WOULD, YOU KNOW, DEPEND ON THE MARKET TO DEMAND THAT IF THEY AREN'T DOING THAT, THAT'S THE ONLY FEATURE ABOUT THIS, THAT, THAT, THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT REMEMBER ALSO THE REALLY THE BIGGEST INTENT OF THIS WAS TO CREATE MORE CHILD CARE CENTERS, RIGHT? AND NOT TO JUST USE THOSE EXISTING ONES.

SO THE GOAL WOULD BE THAT PEOPLE WILL SEE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EXEMPTION AND THEN BECOME A CHILD CARE PROVIDER TO FILL IN SOME OF THOSE MISSING GAPS AS WELL.

SO THAT'S A PART OF THE PROGRAM.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION.

SURE. MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I HAD I WANT TO PLAY OFF, COUNCILOR HOLLAND'S QUESTIONS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ENDED UP, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE RIGHT NOW THE IDEA ISN'T THAT.

OR LET ME PUT IT A DIFFERENT WAY.

IS THERE A MECHANISM SIMILAR TO THE RENT REQUIREMENT THAT WE COULD IMPLEMENT TO GET TO WHAT COUNCILOR HOLLAND WAS SAYING? THERE DOES NOT EXIST ANY MECHANISM TO TIE THE TAX ABATEMENT TO LOWER FEES.

NOW, REMEMBER, YOU'RE NOT CONTROLLING IT.

ALL YOU'RE DOING IS APPROVING THE AD VALOREM THAT AT THAT POINT IT GOES RIGHT TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AND THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL AFTER THAT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO ANSWER MY SECOND QUESTION.

THAT THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A MECHANISM, BUT I'LL ASK IT ANYWAY.

CAN WE? YOU SAID THAT THE MINIMUM STANDARD WAS 20% SUBSIDIZED, ACCREDITED.

AND THEN, THE MINIMUM ABATEMENT WAS 50%.

BUT WE CAN HAVE ANY ABATEMENT ABOVE THAT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO HIT THE MINIMUM, A MINIMUM OF 50%.

BUT YOU COULD SAY ANYWHERE UP TO 100% IF YOU WANTED AND CAN.

IS THERE A MECHANISM WHERE WE COULD TIER THAT IN ORDER TO INCENTIVIZE? NO. SO WE CAN'T SAY LIKE 20% GETS 50%.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, I'LL MAKE UP A NUMBER FOR, FOR 40, 50%, SUBSIDIZED GETS 75%.

THERE'S THERE'S NO TIERING SYSTEM.

I DON'T SEE THAT POSSIBLE AGAIN, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TAKING THE APPLICATION.

IT'S GOING STRAIGHT TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

SO WE WON'T EVEN SEE WHO'S APPLYING FOR IT.

I MEAN, WE CAN SEE IT ON THE BACK END WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, OTHER DOCUMENTATION FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

OR WE COULD ASK THAT, BUT WE WE ARE NOT IN THE PROCESS.

YOU'RE JUST APPROVING THE EXEMPTION.

AFTER THAT. EVERYTHING HAPPENS THROUGH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

ALL RIGHT. SO MY MY LAST COMMENT IS IS IS $38,000 IN THE SCHEME OF OUR, OUR 1.8 OR 9,000,000,009.

[01:45:09]

1.9 BILLION BUDGET.

AND I KNOW MOST OF THAT'S DME, BUT BUT REGARDLESS, IT IS IT IS A IT IS A PITTANCE IN ORDER TO.

SO YOU KNOW, I'M, I WOULD ALMOST FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH 100%.

I'M NOT SAYING I'M NOT GIVING THAT DIRECTION BECAUSE I HAVE ONE LESS QUESTION.

IS THERE A DOWN? WHAT IS THE DOWNSIDE? TO GIVING A FULL 100% FOR YOU ALL.

IT'S JUST THE TAX, THE TAX REVENUE THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE RECEIVING.

THAT'S IT. SO THAT ADDITIONAL $18,000 A YEAR, BECAUSE THE 18,050% IS THE BASE THAT IF WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM, WE'VE GOT TO DO 18,000.

THAT'S CORRECT. SO REALLY WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT 40,000.

WE'RE LOOKING AT JUST AN ADDITIONAL 20,000.

SO NOW AT THE CURRENT CONDITIONS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR, THOUGH IN THE FUTURE THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE MORE CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, WHICH WOULD BE THE GOAL.

RIGHT. YOU SAID YOU WANT TO EXPAND.

SO EVEN IF WE DOUBLE OR TRIPLE, IF WE TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF PRODUCTS THAT ARE OUT THERE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, 100,000 A YEAR IF WE TRIPLED AND AND HONESTLY FOR I'M NOT AGAIN I'M, I, I'M I GUESS I'M SORT OF SAYING I'M FOR IT AT LEAST 75%.

IF ONLY YOU KNOW, IF NOT MORE.

I'LL GO TO THE WHATEVER THE COUNCIL'S CONSENSUS IS.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A THIS IS SMALL POTATOES IN ORDER TO TO LEVERAGE THE MARKET.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER WATSON? ANY COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

YOU HAD SAID THAT ONCE.

THE COUNCIL.

APPROVES THIS.

IT'S I MEAN, IT'S JUST LIKE HE JUST GOES OFF INTO NEVER, NEVER LAND.

WE. YOU SAID WE CANNOT, UNDO IT, NUMBER ONE.

SO MY QUESTION BECOMES WHO IS AUDITING? B CHILD CARE FACILITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE STILL IN COMPLIANCE.

AND THE MAIN, THE MAIN, COMPONENT OF COMPLIANCE, WHICH IS THE WHOLE THRUST OF THIS EXEMPTION, IS THE 20% SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE REQUIREMENT.

WHO WHO WHO'S GOING TO MONITOR THAT? BECAUSE I GUESS LET ME, LET ME ASK MY FIRST QUESTION.

OF THE SIX THAT WE'VE, I THINK YOU SAID SIX.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT.

RIGHT. NINE.

OKAY. LET'S SEE.

AND DO DO WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE AT 20, AT LEAST 20% OF SUBSIDIZED? DO THEY MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS? WE DON'T KNOW. THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S NOT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA.

WE DON'T KNOW. BUT TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THE TEXAS RISING STAR, YOU CAN ASSUME, BECAUSE MOST OF THE INCENTIVE IN PARTICIPATING IS THAT THAT IS, THAT YOU GET SUBSIDIES FROM THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION FOR THOSE CLIENTS WHO QUALIFY.

SO YOU CAN ASSUME THAT THERE'S PROBABLY SUBSIDIZED, FOLKS WHO ARE USING THAT PROGRAM IF THEY'RE TEXAS RISING STAR CERTIFIED.

SO IF THAT WENT AWAY OR THEY'RE THEY LOST THEIR HHS LICENSING, THOSE FOLKS WOULD BE MONITORING THEM ON THAT LEVEL.

BUT THERE'S I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANYTHING IN THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT THAT WOULD BE MONITORING IT SPECIFICALLY, OTHER THAN THE AFFIDAVIT BEING THE LEGAL DOCUMENT TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE. OKAY.

SO I HAVE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I HAD MY LEAVE OF ABSENCE, I WAS PRETTY DEEP INTO THIS ISSUE, BOTH ON A LOCAL AND A SEMI REGIONAL LEVEL, TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, SORT OF GET MY FEET WET AND REALLY DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH.

SO THAT'S WHY I ASK ABOUT THE 20%, BECAUSE, THE LEGISLATURE SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT.

BUT YET IN THE TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM, YOU SAID, I THINK WE CAN ASSUME THAT CERTAIN CRITERIA HAVE TO BE MET.

AND I AND I AGREE WITH THAT.

HOW DO WE FIND OUT IF, I GUESS I JUST I'M FOR THE PROGRAM.

THIS IS MY ONLY CONCERN.

WHO'S WHO'S AUDITING IT? BECAUSE TO ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE.

LOOK, FOLKS, LAST YEAR.

THIS REGION OF 14 COUNTIES HAD TO SEND BACK CLOSE TO $30 MILLION THAT WAS EARMARKED FOR SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE WHO WERE WILLING TO, PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO THOSE FAMILIES THAT NEED THAT SUBSIDY.

SO, I MEAN, I DON'T MIND SPENDING THE MONEY.

THIS ISN'T A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.

IN FACT, IF EVEN IF YOU DO THE 30, THE FULL 100% AND YOU HAVE NINE FACILITIES AND LET'S SAY THEY'RE ALL EQUALLY WEIGHTED, THAT'S, WELL, NOW I GOT TO DO A DIFFERENT, BECAUSE I DID IT BY SIX.

I THOUGHT THERE WERE ONLY SIX.

SO YOU GOT 38, THOUSAND DIVIDED BY NINE.

[01:50:05]

AND I'M PRESUMING THAT'S A YEAR.

WHICH IS LESS THAN $400 A MONTH, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD TRACK IT.

THEY PASS THOSE SAVINGS ALONG TO TO THEIR, THEIR CLIENTELE SIMPLY BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, I MEAN, AND 20 BUCKS OR 30 BUCKS IS 20 OR 30 BUCKS TO PEOPLE.

THAT'S THAT'S IMPORTANT.

SO THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN IS HOW DO WE.

AND SO WHAT I ALSO HEARD YOU SAY, WHICH I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT, IS IF YOU HAVE MORE OF THESE FACILITIES COME ONLINE, THIS ORDINANCE AUTOMATICALLY KICKS IN.

WE DON'T WE'RE NOT HAVING TO GO BACK AND APPROVE PEOPLE WHO WHO MEET THOSE QUALIFICATIONS.

NO, THEY WOULD BE AGAIN, THEY WOULD BE APPLYING DIRECTLY TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT ONCE YOU APPROVE THE TAX EXEMPTION.

AND I JUST TO POINT OUT TO YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION, WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS IS THE REQUIREMENT THAT THEY'RE TEXAS RISING STAR CERTIFIED.

SO FOR FOR YOUR CONCERN ABOUT NOT ENOUGH PROVIDERS COMING ONLINE, MAYBE THIS WILL INCENTIVIZE THEM TO TO JOIN THAT PROGRAM AND OFFER SUBSIDIES AS WELL.

SO THAT IS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GET CHILD CARE WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO CHANGE IT OR IT'S ALREADY THAT WAY.

I HAVE TO CONFIRM THAT.

BUT I THINK THERE WAS SOME, CONNECTION BETWEEN BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE THE SUBSIDY AND YOU HAD TO BE PART OF THAT TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM, AND THAT THAT MAY BE INCORRECT, BUT, YEAH, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, AS MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, GOING, TO THE HUNDRED PERCENT, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO, IF IT GETS 1 OR 2 CHILDREN WHO NEED SUBSIDIES INTO A CHILD CARE FACILITY.

YOU KNOW. WHAT IS IT? I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT PEOPLE PAY THESE DAYS FOR.

I MEAN, IT'S 1000 TO 13, $1,400 A MONTH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S A LOT. BUT MY ONLY CONCERN IS, LIKE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY.

HOW ARE WE ENSURING THAT THE REQUIREMENTS THAT.

WE'RE ISSUING THIS UNDER STAY IN PLACE.

AND FOR ME, IT'S, I GUESS EITHER ONE, THE TEXAS RISING STAR.

IF YOU LOSE THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF STUFF.

SO I'M MY SUPPORT IS JUST GO TO 100%, 100%.

AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO FIGURE ALL THAT OUT IF WE SEE THAT IT BECOMES A PROBLEM.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN. BYRD. JUST A ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM.

IS THIS THE PRE-K PROGRAM THAT I'VE HEARD THROUGH THAT'S TAKEN UP BY THE UNITED WAY, PROGRAM? NO, THAT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT WAS FUNDED THROUGH A DIFFERENT SOURCE, BUT SIMILAR IN ITS GOALS.

OKAY. TO PROVIDE HIGHER QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH TRAINING OF THE PROVIDERS AND ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY AND COLLECTIVE RESOURCES.

WELL, AND I ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE, SINCE IT'S JUST NOT CLEARLY EVIDENT HERE RIGHT NOW, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST NOT RESEARCHING THE RISING STAR, YOU KNOW, JUST WHAT KIND OF WHAT AGE KIDS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING THOSE IN PRE-K.

YEAH, IT'S THE PRE-K PEOPLE.

I'M SORRY. THOSE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, YOUNGER, YOUNGER, YOUNGER.

THE COULD BE ANYONE FROM THE WHATEVER, LIKE THREE YEARS OLD.

3 OR 4 YEARS. YEAH. YEAH.

OKAY. I WROTE A FIVE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YEAH. OKAY.

SO I, I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE 100%.

AND I ALSO WANT TO, FOR US TO BE MINDFUL OF WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT OUR CHILD CARE DESERTS, WE'RE GENERALLY TALKING ABOUT LOW INCOME AREAS. SO THE CHALLENGE.

OKAY. AND I, I DO UNDERSTAND, OKAY, THAT THIS WHEN WE PUT THIS IN HERE, OUR HANDS ARE OFF AND THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE HANDED OFF TO SOMEONE ELSE.

I GOT THAT.

OKAY. BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR LOW INCOME AREAS, WILL YOU ALL BE ABLE TO SEE THE DATA OF THE LOCATION OF THESE CHILD CARE AREAS? BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT DATA ALREADY BASED ON THE WORK WE'RE DOING WITH THE DENTON COUNTY WORKFORCE ACCESS LEADERSHIP TEAM.

THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WAS SORT OF ALLUDED TO.

SO THAT THAT'S A CONSTANT FOCUS OF THAT GROUP RIGHT NOW.

SO EVERYTHING ABOUT CHILD CARE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE INCREASE CHILD CARE ACCESS IN THE COMMUNITY, SO THAT'S HAPPENING ON THAT SIDE.

IN ADDITION, WE GIVE GRANTS TO OUR, YOU KNOW, TO THREE OF THOSE PROVIDERS, WHO ARE HELPING WITH, WITH SUBSIDIES AND SUPPORT TOO.

SO WE'RE WE'RE HITTING IT.

WE'RE JUST STILL ABLE TO LOOK AT IT.

SO YOU ALL ARE ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. SO, YOU ALL ARE ALREADY, HAVE THIS, CHECKLIST, IN FRONT OF YOU TO KNOW

[01:55:01]

SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE DIRECTING, I MEAN, THAT WOULD THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE INTERESTING TO KNOW BECAUSE, I MEAN, IF WE GOT A CHILD CARE CENTER OVER HERE IN SOUTH RIDGE AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE BIG FINE, WHATEVER.

AND THEN WE HAVE A LITTLE CHILD CARE OVER HERE IN SOUTHEAST DENTON.

YOU KNOW, WHERE WHERE THERE IS A, I DON'T KNOW, SOME SORT OF DESERT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE EAST SIDE, SOUTHEAST AREA.

YEAH, WE HAVE THAT DATA NOW.

SO YOU ALL HAVE THAT DATA.

AND SO I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE APPLYING BECAUSE WE WANT MORE PEOPLE TO FILL IN THE DESERT.

THAT'S THE THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND HERE.

THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST MY QUESTION BECOMES THEY'RE GOING TO APPLY, IT'S COMING TO YOU ALL.

NO, NOTHING COMES TO US OKAY.

SO NOTHING COMES TO IT.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. SO WE CAN WE CAN EVALUATE WHAT HHS, WHO'S BEING LICENSED BY THE STATE AND WHO'S PARTICIPATING IN TEXAS.

RIGHT. SO WE HAVE THAT DATA, OKAY.

YOU HAVE THAT DATA. OKAY.

AND SO THEN, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 100%, WHICH I, YOU KNOW, I THINK IS GREAT, TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO DO THIS.

IT WILL BE.

IT WILL BE JUST.

THAT'S ALL THEY WERE SAYING.

IS THAT OKAY? WE'RE DOING 100%.

I MEAN, WE'RE NOT EVEN HAVING ANY CONVERSATION AS TO WHERE THIS IS GOING, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE WAY OVER HERE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, THE GUY OR PEOPLE WITH THE BIG HOMES AND ALL OF THAT. AND THEN YOU GOT THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE, WHERE IS THE SO COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD THEY HAVE TO MEET A CERTAIN CRITERIA.

SO IT, MOST LIKELY YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THESE DAYCARES ARE IN AREAS WHERE THEY'RE SERVING THOSE THAT NEEDED THE MOST.

YEAH. BUT ONCE YOU AS COUNCIL DECIDE WHAT YOU CHOOSE HERE, 50, 75, 100, WE WILL DO SOME KIND OF ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SAYS WE HAVE THE COUNCIL HAS, PASSED THIS OR AGREED TO DO THIS, WHICH WOULD HOPEFULLY THEN GET SOME OF THESE, OTHER MAYBE DAYCARES, NOT REALLY DAYCARE, BUT AREAS WHERE THEY MIGHT GO AND BE A PART OF THE TEXAS STAR PROGRAM AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR IT.

TAKE PEOPLE THAT MEET THAT CRITERIA SO THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE GETTING INTO, A BETTER AFFORDABLE DAYCARE SITUATION.

AND SO IT'S REALLY WE DON'T SEE IT, WE DON'T MANAGE IT, WE DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT.

BUT IT'S IT'S AN EFFORT.

IT'S KIND OF IF YOU WANT TO RELATE IT TO WHAT YOU DID AS A BODY FOR THE BEZOS ACADEMY, IT'S, SIMPLY GIVING THAT HAND UP TO HELP SO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN QUALIFY AND GO TO AFFORDABLE DAYCARE.

I'LL GO WITH MY, PEERS AND JUST GO WITH 100%.

I THINK THAT'S JUST GOING TO PUSH US EVEN FASTER AND QUICKER.

AND THE NEEDIER PEOPLE WILL GET WHAT THEY NEED.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.

I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS.

IF WE CAN SUPPORT THIS AT 100%, I THINK THAT'D BE PREFERABLE.

OKAY, THEN WE HAVE FOUR.

YEAH, WE HAVE ONE, TWO THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

OKAY OKAY OKAY.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

YES. NO. AND I THINK IT'S IT IS A.

IRRESPECTIVE OF THE.

I THINK. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT JUST IRRESPECTIVE OF HOW SOMEONE'S.

PERCEIVED. YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T SEE.

STRUGGLES. YOU CAN'T SEE.

PEOPLE THAT THAT ARE SINGLE PARENTS, TWO PARENT HOUSEHOLD.

I MEAN, THOSE THINGS ARE JUST NOT KNOWN OFTENTIMES.

SO JUST TO HAVE A BLANKET, OPPORTUNITY FOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS IS SPOT ON WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION AND THE CHALLENGES THEY'RE FACING TRYING TO FILL THIS GAP.

SO WE COME ALONGSIDE OF THEM AND HELP.

SO VERY SUPPORTIVE AND, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE IT IS WHO THEY SERVE.

AS FAR AS I MEAN, AND I'M READING THE CRITERIA FOR TEXAS RISING STAR, THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

AND THEN MAYBE IT ALSO GETS PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, THAT AREN'T REGISTERED TO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT PROGRAM OR SIGN UP.

MY, MY ONE QUESTION IS THIS IF YOU HAVE A CHURCH THAT'S THAT'S TAX EXEMPT, THEY'RE ALREADY TAX EXEMPT.

RIGHT. AND SO IS THERE ANY INCENTIVE THERE'S NOT INCENTIVE TO LEVERAGE THEIR BUSINESS OR THEIR BUILDING PER SE IN THIS SCENARIO.

[02:00:06]

OKAY. GOT IT. I WAS JUST HOPING THERE WAS A WAY TO KIND OF NOT DOUBLE DIP, BUT A WAY TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE.

HEY, IF YOU HAVE A PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PARTNER WITH YOUR LOCAL CHURCH AND THEN MAYBE THERE'S A BENEFIT THERE.

BUT I'M TRACKING WITH, YOU KNOW, BUT I APPRECIATE SARAH'S COMMENTS BECAUSE IT IS OUR PLAN TO PROMOTE THIS HEAVILY THAT WE'VE ADOPTED IT.

WE'D ALSO LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ENCOURAGE OTHER TAXING ENTITIES TO MAYBE LOOK AT THIS TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFIT IN THE COUNTY.

SO WE'LL EDUCATE THAT WAY.

BUT WE WANT TO EDUCATE THAT THIS PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION IS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDERS SO THAT WE ENCOURAGE THAT INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION.

SO I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS.

GREAT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. WELCOME BACK.

YOU HOPE YOUR CONFERENCE AS WELL.

YES IT WAS. THANK YOU. AWESOME.

GREAT. OKAY.

WELL THAT TAKES US TO OUR LAST ITEM BEFORE OUR MEETING.

[1. Closed Meeting:]

SO WE'LL SET THE ROOM AND I'LL READ THIS.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW AT 4:01 P.M., CONVENE IN IN A CLOSED MEETING TO DELIBERATE THE CLOSED MEETING ITEM SET FORTH ON THE AGENDA, WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEM A ID 24263.

CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS ON THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.071.

AND WE'LL TAKE A LIKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK, COME BACK AT FOUR, TEN, LET'S SAY JUST AFTER AND TAKE UP THAT ITEM FOR TEN.

YES. BLESS YOU.

[AFTER DETERMINING THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT, THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, 215 E. MCKINNEY STREET, DENTON, TEXAS AT WHICH THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED:]

IT IS 630 AND TODAY IS THE 6TH OF FEBRUARY 2024.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, SO I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS, PLEDGES TO THE UNITED STATES AND TEXAS FLAG.

PLEASE STAND WITH ME IF YOU'RE ABLE.

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE. 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.

THANK YOU. AND THEN WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

[2. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS]

IF YOU CAN MEET ME DOWN AT THE PODIUM THERE AND WHOEVER'S WITH YOU, AND I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

AND THEN ALSO AFTER THAT, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ONE, JUST A.

EVERYBODY WITH YOU. I HAVE MY BROTHER AND I HAVE MY HUSBAND.

OKAY. FRIENDS SCATTERED.

AND THEN. YOU'RE HERE TO.

SEE THIS. NO THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY, THEY'VE GOT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO.

I'M SO SORRY. DO YOU HAVE OTHERS? ANYONE WANT TO COME DOWN? MOM, YOU WANT TO COME DOWN AND STAND WITH.

SURE. YES, SURE.

OH. YES.

WE'RE GOING TO GET A CITY HALL.

THAT'S SAFER.

OH, SORRY. ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, MOM. WELL, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO.

YOU WANT TO SHARE OR TELL US BEFORE WE GET STARTED? BECAUSE ALL I HAVE TO DO IS READ.

BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO.

TO SPEAK. SURE.

WELL, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, THIS IS THANKS FOR SOME OF THE VOLUNTEERING THAT I'VE DONE ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP BOARD.

AND AS YOU KNOW, CITY SERVICES CAN ONLY WORK WITH FUNDING FROM EITHER PROPERTY TAXES OR SALES TAX.

WE'VE GOT THOSE TWO MECHANISMS. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE INVOLVED IN INTENTIONAL, NOT ONLY WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS, BUT ALSO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH HOW DO WE GET THOSE TAX DOLLARS AND WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR OUR CITIZENS THAT IT'S NOT JUST PROPERTY TAX OR JUST SALES TAX, BUT THAT WE HAVE A GOOD COMBINATION AND WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN. SO I LOVE OUR CITY.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.

MY DAD SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL AND MOM WAS SAYING, THIS BRINGS BACK OLD MEMORIES.

AND SO, I JUST LOVE MY TOWN AND I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

AND I'M GLAD THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE TO VOICE THEIR OPINION AND SHOW WHY DEMOCRACY IS SO IMPORTANT, THAT EVERYONE'S INPUT MATTERS.

AND SO IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU. GOT IT. THANK YOU.

YES. SORRY. YES.

THANK YOU. MOM, YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING? ANY STORIES WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? NO, NO. BUT NO.

DO YOU HAVE. I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU.

ARE YOU GOOD? OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE.

OKAY. WELL. VERY GOOD.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OH, YES. YES.

SHE'S FANTASTIC.

I'M A OKAY.

WELL, HERE WE GO. THERE'S A PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME.

GREETINGS. WHEREAS WE ARE HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE JILL JESTER FOR HER SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP TO THE DENTON BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

[02:05:02]

SO THAT'S TEARS AND HAS SERVED AS CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF BOTH BOARDS DURING HER TENURE.

AND WHEREAS, JILL PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT TO DENTON THROUGH COUNTLESS VOLUNTEER HOURS IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF DENTON, THE DENTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, THE DENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE GROUP OF SMALL LARGE BUSINESSES.

AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF DENTON IS GRATEFUL TO JILL FOR HER SELFLESS GOVERNANCE AND KINDNESS TO THE CITY OF DENTON, INCLUDING HER UNMATCHED CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

NOW, THEREFORE, I.

GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO FORMALLY CONVEY THE COMMUNITY'S SINCERE AND WARM APPRECIATION OF JILL JESTER AND HER IN HER IN A PERMANENT MANNER.

BY READING THIS PROCLAMATION INTO THE OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DENTON, AND FORWARD TO HER A TRUE COPY THEREOF.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY OF DENTON, ON THIS SIXTH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2024, DO HEREBY OFFICIALLY EXTEND ITS THANKS TO JILL JESTER FOR HER SUCCESSFUL TENURE AS CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, WESTPORT AND WEST PARK TOURS NUMBER TWO BOARD.

IF WE CAN GIVE HER A HAND, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. THANK.

OKAY. OKAY.

GOOD EVENING, AARON CARTER WITH THE DENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND AS WELL AS THE DENTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK JILL FOR HER COUNTLESS HOURS AND DEDICATION TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF DENTON.

I KNOW THAT SEVERAL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE HERE TONIGHT, AND PAST MEMBERS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP BOARD, JILL HAS CONTRIBUTED HER ENERGY SERVICE AND HER LONG TERM SUPPORT OF DENTON.

AND SO, JILL, ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ON BEHALF OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP BOARD, CURRENT MEMBERS AND PAST MEMBERS AND FUTURE MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIRELESS SERVICE.

WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF DENTON.

THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. SO WE'LL GET A PICTURE ONCE I GET THIS CUP BACK IN.

THINK, THERE WE GO.

OKAY, HERE WE GO.

SLIDE ON HERE. OKAY.

SLIDE IN THE WHOLE ROOM.

YEAH, YEAH. NO, DON'T DO THAT, MOM.

YEAH. PRACTICALLY WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU.

PRACTICALLY. PRACTICALLY.

AND. YEAH.

SO, MARTY, I WANT TO START IT.

ARE YOU GOOD? OKAY. ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

OKAY. WE ALL IN? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO GET UP HERE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YEAH. NO, YOU SQUAT IN THERE.

YEAH. HERE WE GO. YOU HELP ME.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT. OKAY.

THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL.

AND I REALLY, TRULY APPRECIATE IT.

AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING UP HERE.

BEST OF LUCK, EVERYONE. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH.HUH.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE SALVATION ARMY.

THERE WE GO. COME ON UP.

HEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I NEED TO HIT YOU UP FOR A PITCHER.

YOU HAVE A PICTURE YOU TOOK OF THE THREE OF US? OH, YEAH? YEAH. CAN YOU CAN YOU EMAIL THAT TO ME? SO YOU TELL ME. YES YES YES.

YEAH. ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU WOULD PLEASE. AND THEN I SO I WILL LET YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US WHAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING.

GREAT TO SEE YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO SO MY NAME IS DAVID FESER AND I'M A DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST WITH THE SALVATION ARMY FOR DENTON AND COLLIN COUNTIES.

AND I WANT TO EXTEND MY, EXTEND THE REGRETS FOR CAPTAIN SHELLY HOOD, WHO'S THE LOCAL COMMANDER HERE IN DENTON.

SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT. SHE'S STILL RECOVERING FROM COMPLICATIONS FROM SURGERY THAT SHE HAD A FEW, A LITTLE BIT AGO.

SO, BUT I'M HERE TO REPRESENT, SO WE'D LIKE TO.

NUMBER ONE, WE CAME BECAUSE BACK DURING DECEMBER, WE HAD THE MAYOR'S CHALLENGE, WHICH TOOK PLACE OVER 13 COMMUNITIES IN COLLIN AND DENTON COUNTIES.

AND WE COME TO THANK ALL THE MAYORS.

SO WE WANT TO APPRECIATE YOUR VOLUNTEERISM AND GETTING YOUR TEAM TOGETHER TO COVER THE DAY AT, AT SAM'S CLUB ON THAT PARTICULAR, THAT PARTICULAR DAY OUT THERE.

SO TO LET YOU KNOW.

SO WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT DENTON.

SO YOUR KETTLE SO RAISED $1,000.

SO EVERYBODY GIVE THEM A HAND.

SO AND HIS TEAM A HAND BECAUSE IT WASN'T JUST THE MAYOR THAT YOU HAD THE POLICE CHIEF OUT THERE AND FIRE AND EVERYBODY.

SO IT WAS OUT THERE. SO, 285 WAS RAISED ONLINE AND 700 WAS RAISED AT THE KETTLE ITSELF.

SO, YEAH. SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

SO, NOW THE, THE, THE THING THAT I FIND VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE I'M, I LIVE IN AUBREY, SO I HAVE A VERY AND MY DAUGHTER'S

[02:10:04]

SO I AM SO I HAVE A SO I HAVE A HEART FOR THIS TOWN.

SO OVER THE REST OF THEM.

SO WITH ONLY THREE MAYORS, IT WAS YOU.

IT WAS HICKORY CREEK AND IT WAS CROSSROADS.

SO ONLY THREE MAYORS, YOU ALL BEAT ALL THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WHO, LIKE PLANO, HAD THEIR ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL OUT RINGING AND Y'ALL WIPED PLANO OUT. Y'ALL RAISED.

Y'ALL RAISED TWICE.

WHAT PLANO DID, THE THREE OF Y'ALL SO.

AND YOU BEAT EVERYBODY ELSE BY $1,000.

SO LEWISVILLE AND MCKINNEY.

SO WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE.

SO AND I'M I'M HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO BRAG ON THAT ON THAT FACT.

SO WITH THAT SO, WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION.

AND WE ALSO HAVE AN HONORARY BILL THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU.

SO YEAH. SO AND YOU CAN DISPLAY IT HOWEVER YOU WOULD LIKE.

GO AHEAD. AND YEAH. SO YES.

AND AND SO SO AND SO NEXT YEAR IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE SO IF YOU, IF YOU HAPPEN TO TO RECOMMIT WHICH WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS COMING TO ASK YOU IS THAT YOU COULD DO IT NEXT YEAR.

SO YEAH. SO YOU CAN YOU CAN TAKE THAT BILL AND THEY'LL HEAR YOU.

YEAH, THEY'LL HEAR YOU ALL ACROSS TOWN.

SO WITH THAT ONE, THAT ONE JUST SO LOUD.

SO AND WE JUST WANTED TO JUST SAY HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THE VOLUNTEERS THAT YOU GOT TOGETHER FOR BEING ABLE TO HELP OUT AND RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE THE WORK, ESPECIALLY THE HOMELESS WORK THAT WE DO HERE IN, IN DENTON.

SO LAST YEAR, THE SALVATION ARMY PROVIDED 185,000 MEALS, THROUGH ITS PROGRAM AND, OVER 3000 MEALS JUST THROUGH THE SHELTER ITSELF WITH, WITH THE HOUSING.

SO WE WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, AND TO, TO BE ABLE TO HELP US OUT SO WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO IT IF IT'S IF IT WASN'T FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU STEPPING UP TO VOLUNTEER AND THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WE HAVE COME DOWN AND HELP OUT.

SO WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, SIR.

OH, THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.

CAN WE GIVE THEM A HAND FOR THEIR SERVICE? THANK YOU. YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I DO WANT TO BEFORE WE DO THAT I DO WANT TO ASK SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO VOLUNTEER OR GET PLUGGED IN OR WHAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR THEM TO, GET, GET SIGNED UP TO VOLUNTEER OR HELP THE SALVATION ARMY? YEAH. SO YOU CAN JUST GET AHOLD OF THE LOCAL SALVATION ARMY HERE IN DENTON SO YOU CAN JUST GOOGLE THE SALVATION ARMY OF DENTON COUNTY, OR THE CITY OF DENTON, AND IT'LL IT'LL GIVE YOU THE NUMBER WHERE YOU CAN LOG IN AT.

SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO KETTLES.

SO, YOU CAN JUST GO TO SALVATION ARMY, SALVATION ARMY, USA, SALVATION ARMY, ORG AND JUST FILTER BY THE MUNICIPALITY AND IT'LL TAKE YOU RIGHT DOWN TO US, AND YOU CAN GET IN CONTACT WITH BRIDGET, OUR VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, OR MARY OR MYSELF TO, TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUT IN OTHER WAYS.

SO WE JUST REALLY APPRECIATE IT, SIR.

YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

AND THEN YOU HERE WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE.

HERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU AGAIN.

I SURE APPRECIATE IT. YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

YOU TOO. ALL RIGHT.

GOT IT. OH, YEAH.

OH, MAN.

BACKSLASH. YES.

GOOD. AND THERE.

YOU MAY OR MAY NOT USE THAT DURING OUR WORK SESSION.

RIGHT. IT'S AWESOME.

THAT IS AWESOME.

OKAY. THANK YOU AGAIN.

OKAY. AND THAT TAKES US TO.

OUR, PRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.

[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 THE 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 NONSCHEDULED 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 NONSCHEDULED 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.

[02:15:07]

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.

REMIND EVERYONE THE CLAPS, THE CHEERING, THOSE SORT OF THINGS ARE WE'VE WE'VE HAD.

COUNCIL PROCEDURES AGAINST THAT.

AND SO I'M ASKING YOU TO RESPECT THAT PROCESS AS WE TRY TO CALL THE NEXT PERSON, MAKES IT EASIER FOR THEM TO BE HEARD.

THEY CAN THEN HAVE THEIR ENTIRE FOUR MINUTES AND WE'LL MOVE THROUGH THIS, ORDERLY THAT WAY, THE FIRST AND THERE'S SEVEN REGISTERED SPEAKERS, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS, DEB ARMATURE.

IF YOU CAN COME UP AND GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

MY NAME IS DEB ARMENTOR AND I LIVE AT 2003 MISTY WOOD LANE IN DENTON.

I COME BEFORE YOU HERE TODAY AS A JEW, A MEMBER OF JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE, A FORMER DENTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND A PROUD RIVER TO THE SEA PERSON, AS ONE OF YOU HAS CALLED US.

I URGE YOU TO JOIN THE GROWING NUMBER OF CITY COUNCILS IN TEXAS AND NATIONWIDE, PUTTING CEASE FIRE RESOLUTIONS ON THEIR AGENDAS FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED IN DIVERSE WAYS.

SOME OF YOU ON THIS DAIS HAVE SAID THAT IT'S NOT THE JOB OF CITY COUNCIL TO ISSUE SYMBOLIC RESOLUTIONS TELLING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHAT TO DO.

TELL ME WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE I SAT UP THERE WITH YOU ON THIS DAIS NOT LONG AGO, WHEN FOUR OF US PASSED A SYMBOLIC MEDICARE FOR ALL RESOLUTION EXPRESSING OUR BELIEF ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO WE REPRESENTED, THAT OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT DEPRIVE PEOPLE OF THEIR RIGHT TO HEALTH AND LIFE. WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN? WHY IS IT NO LONGER APPROPRIATE FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE A SYMBOLIC STAND TO OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR HEALTH AS A HUMAN RIGHT, WHEN OUR NATION AND OUR CITY IS FUNDING AND SUPPLYING WEAPONS TO AN APARTHEID FOREIGN GOVERNMENT THAT IS LITERALLY BOMBING HOSPITALS.

NOT TO MENTION MURDERING TENS AND THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS, MAIMING AND ILLEGALLY DETAINING TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE.

WHY IS IT WORTHWHILE TO TAKE A STAND AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AGAINST, SAY, SHOOTING FIREWORKS OVER THE HEADS OF THE ANIMALS AT OUR ANIMAL SHELTER? BUT DRAW THE LINE AT USING YOUR PLATFORM AND POWER ON THIS DAIS TO STAND UP AGAINST SUPPLYING BOMBS TO SHOOT OVER THE HEADS OF PALESTINIANS IN GAZA.

BOMBS BUILT RIGHT NEXT DOOR IN FORT WORTH AT ELBIT SYSTEMS. I'M A LITERATURE PROFESSOR AT UNT, WHERE I REGULARLY TEACH A COURSE ON LITERATURE IN THE HOLOCAUST.

I TEACH THAT COURSE BECAUSE I WANT EVERYONE TO REMEMBER THE 6 MILLION LIVES LOST WHILE THE WORLD WATCHED IN SILENCE SO THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM HISTORY RATHER THAN REPEATING IT.

I CONSIDER IT MY DUTY AS A JEW, AS A WORLD CITIZEN, AS AN AMERICAN, AND AS A HUMAN BEING, TO PRESERVE THE PAINFUL MEMORY OF THE HOLOCAUST SO THAT IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN TO ANYONE.

IN THE HOLOCAUST, ENTIRE NATIONS WERE COMPLICIT IN ETHNIC CLEANSING AND GENOCIDE, WHILE SMALL COMMUNITIES, VILLAGES, POCKETS OF SANITY AND SANCTUARY WITHIN THOSE NATIONS.

TOOK IT TOOK A STAND.

REAL AND SYMBOLIC.

AGAINST IT AND THEIR COMMUNITY LEADERS STOOD WITH THEM.

I'M ASKING, WHY CAN'T YOU? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS A MYRA.

RAZZLE. RAZZLE.

THANK YOU AND CORRECT ME WHERE I'M WRONG.

BUT IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR GRANTING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS, DENTON CITY COUNCIL TODAY.

IT'S MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING IN FRONT OF COUNCIL.

AND THANK YOU ALL WHO CAME HERE.

SORRY. SO YOU GOT IT. SO THE PEOPLE WATCHING CAN'T HEAR YOU IF YOU TURN AWAY FROM THE MIC.

I'M SORRY, BUT. AND IF YOU GIVE YOUR NAME, PLEASE.

I'M SORRY. AND IT STARTED. SURE.

MY NAME IS AMIR RASOOL.

I AM A PROUD PALESTINIAN AMERICAN AND A RESIDENT OF DENTON.

AND TONIGHT, I IMPLORE YOU TO ADOPT THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION FOR PALESTINE THAT'S PLACED BEFORE YOU.

[02:20:05]

AS A CHILD, I WAS LEFT TO WONDER HOW ORDINARY GERMAN CIVILIANS COULD STAND BY AND ALLOW THE GENOCIDE OF 6 MILLION JEWS TO HAPPEN.

I QUESTIONED THE COLDNESS OF HEARTS THAT COULD TURN AWAY, AND THE SOUNDNESS OF MINDS THAT COULD BE SO NUMB TO THE TRUTH.

BUT IN RECENT TIME, MY EYES HAVE WITNESSED SUCH A BETRAYAL OF HUMANITY, A CHILLING ECHO OF THE PAST AND AN INSULT TO THE DEATH OF ALL INNOCENTS, PRESENT AND PAST.

BEFORE DELVING FURTHER, I WISH TO ADDRESS COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO BELIEVE THAT THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE FALLS OUTSIDE OF THIS COUNCIL'S SCOPE.

I FIND THAT INTERESTING AND AS DEB MENTIONED, AS THE COUNCIL HAS A HISTORY OF SUPPORTING FEDERAL INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE MEDICAL FOR ALL RESOLUTION.

DESPITE THIS, I AM HAPPY TO ADDRESS HOW THIS CONFLICT IMPACTS DENTON AND WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.

I IMAGINED YOU, OUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES, UNDERSTOOD THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT RELATIONSHIP IN BRINGING ABOUT BROADER CHANGE. HOWEVER, IT WAS FOOLISH OF ME TO BELIEVE THIS AFTER SEEING SOME OF YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

DO NOT WORRY THOUGH.

AS AN EDUCATOR IN THIS CITY, I AM HAPPY TO TAKE THE TIME TO ENLIGHTEN YOU ALL ON WHAT YOUR ROLE IS AND WHY IT IS NOT AS SMALL AS YOU ARGUE WHEN IT IS IN YOUR FAVOR TO DO SO. OFTEN WHEN A LOCAL BUDGET FALLS SHORT, WE DEPEND ON FEDERAL GRANTS TO PAY FOR CRUCIAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.

MEANING WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CHOOSES TO ALLOCATE OUR TAX DOLLARS TO THE GENOCIDE OF 25,000 CIVILIANS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF GAZA, THE AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES DIMINISHES.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT THIS IS NOT A DENTON ISSUE.

IT ABSOLUTELY NEGATIVELY IMPACTS EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY.

DESPITE BEING PROUD TO BE HERE AS A VOICE FOR MY PEOPLE, I MUST SAY I AM TRULY DISGUSTED THAT I HAVE TO RATIONALIZE A FUNCTIONAL ROLE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THE MURDER OF 11,500 CHILDREN AS RELEVANT ENOUGH FOR YOU TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER.

I AM DISGUSTED THAT I HAVE TO FRAME IT AS A LOCAL ISSUE FOR YOU TO CARE.

YOUR COMPLICITY IN THIS WILL BE REMEMBERED.

OUR CHILDREN WILL FIND THEMSELVES, AS I DID, WONDERING HOW WE STOOD BY AND DID NOTHING FOR THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE, WONDERING HOW NO ONE COULD MUSTER UP THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AGAINST THE HORRIFYING ACTIONS OF ISRAEL.

HOW WE KNOW HOW YOU STOOD BY AND LET THIS HAPPEN.

TO CONCLUDE MY STATEMENT, I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

WE WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR PALESTINE, AS PALESTINIANS FIGHT EVERY DAY TO FIND ANY REMAINING SHRED OF HUMANITY IN US.

I WILL MAKE IT MY PERSONAL MISSION TO ORGANIZE AND DENTON AND ENSURE THAT NOT A SINGLE VOTE GOES TO ANY OF YOU WHO DECIDE THIS IS NOT A CAUSE WORTH STANDING UP FOR.

OUR PETITION STARTED SMALL, BUT IT'S NOW 600 SUPPORTERS.

BUT LOCAL ELECTIONS, THE KIND THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE CITY, ARE OFTEN WON OR LOST ON SMALL MARGINS.

THE DAYS OF LIBERALS LEVERAGING BLACK, BROWN AND QUEER VOTES ARE OVER.

OUR COALITION WILL GROW AND WE WILL NOT FORGET ABOUT WHICH REPRESENTATIVES SUPPORTED US AND WHICH DID NOT.

WE WILL NOT STOP FIGHTING UNTIL PALESTINE IS FREE, STARTING WITH THIS CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. AND THAT TAKES US TO JUSTIN.

I'M SORRY. YEAH. JUSTIN WEISS, DO I HAVE ANY MORE TIME ON THAT? YOU HAVE 25 SECONDS.

SURE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK US QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THIS.

WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM YOU ALL.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

JUSTIN WEISS.

YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME. YOU'LL HAVE, FOUR MINUTES.

HELLO. MY NAME IS JUSTIN WEISS.

I'M. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO ADOPT A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION FOR THE ATROCITIES BEING COMMITTED AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IN GAZA.

UNDOUBTEDLY, YOU HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE VIOLENCE AND BLOODSHED, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT FOR YOU, LIKE ANY REASONABLE, HUMANE PERSON, THIS WOULD BE ENOUGH TO CALL FOR CESSATION OF VIOLENCE. NOW, YOU, LIKE SOME OTHER REPRESENTATIVES, MAY BE OF THE OPINION THAT THE CIVILIANS OF GAZA DESERVE ALL THE BRUTALITY BEING SERVED TO THEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT, FIRSTLY, COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT IS A WAR CRIME UNDER ARTICLE 33.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE THE OPPOSITION POLITICIAN TO THE GENEVA CONVENTION, WE CAN HELP YOU CAMPAIGN FOR THAT.

SECOND HALF OF GAZA'S POPULATION IS CHILDREN.

IF YOU'VE GOT KIDS IN YOUR LIFE, TAKE A MOMENT AND PLEASE CONSIDER THE MORALITY OF IF THEY WERE SUDDENLY AND AGGRESSIVELY EXPLODED, TRAUMATIZED AND DISPLACED

[02:25:01]

WOULD THAT SEEM JUST TO YOU? FINALLY, YOU MAY BE A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF ISRAEL AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, HAVE YOUR MIND ALREADY MADE UP.

YOU MAY THINK THAT CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE IS SOMEHOW MAKING THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACK PERMISSIBLE, OR SAYING THOSE DEATHS DON'T MATTER.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

THE 1200 KILLED ON OCTOBER 7TH DO MATTER.

WHICH IS WHY THE 25,000 IN GAZA MATTER.

I WILL NOT SANCTION THE DEATH OF 1200 COLONIZERS, AND THEREFORE WILL NOT SANCTION THE DEATH OF 25,000 GAZANS.

I'D LIKE TO CLOSE BY URGING YOU TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION FOR WHICHEVER REASON RESONATES WITH YOU.

THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT GO AWAY.

WE AND OTHERS WILL CONTINUE TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST YOU AND PUT PRESSURE ON SHOULD YOU CHOOSE NOT TO STAND WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THIS ON THE NEWS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUR DAILY LIFE.

IF YOU THINK YOU CAN ZONE OUT AND WAIT FOR THIS TO ALL BLOW OVER.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE DEAD WRONG.

WE KNOW THAT THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL'S ADOPTION OF THIS MAY SEEM FUTILE, BUT WE MUST STAND AS A UNITED FRONT TO SHOW OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE WORLD THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER TO VIOLENCE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT TAKES US TO JORDAN LACHANCE.

I AM RELINQUISHING MY SPOT.

OKAY. GOT IT.

OKAY. THAT TAKES US TO.

WELL. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THAT TAKES US TO JOE HARGIS.

H A R G I S.

YES. IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

YEAH. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS JOE HARGIS.

I AM HERE AS A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS AND ON BEHALF OF DALLAS ANTI-WAR COMMITTEE, AS I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY, I KNOW THAT I WILL HAVE SOMEWHERE TO SLEEP TONIGHT.

I KNOW THAT I WILL HAVE FOOD TO EAT TONIGHT.

I KNOW THAT MY ELECTRICITY WILL WORK.

MY FAMILY WILL ALL BE WAITING FOR ME WHEN I GET HOME, AND MY HOUSE WILL NOT CRUMBLE IN ON ITSELF.

AND I KNOW THAT AS ALL OF YOU BEFORE ME SIT, YOU INTUITIVELY UNDERSTAND THAT THE SAME WILL BE TRUE FOR YOU.

YET AS I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY, THE CHILDREN IN GAZA HAVE NO SUCH ILLUSIONS.

THE ONGOING ONSLAUGHT HAS FORCED A TERRIBLE REALITY ONTO THEM.

THE REALITY THAT THEIR LIVES, THEIR HOPES, THEIR DREAMS AND EVERYTHING THEY HOLD DEAR LIES IN THE BALANCE.

THOUSANDS OF BOMBS TUMBLE DOWN ONTO HOUSES, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, MOSQUES AND CHURCHES ALIKE.

U.N. OFFICIALS HAVE REPORTED THAT 100,000 PEOPLE IN GAZA HAVE BEEN KILLED, INJURED OR GONE MISSING.

THAT'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT NUMBER.

THAT IS, IN FACT, ONE OUT OF EVERY 20 PEOPLE IN THE GAZA STRIP.

WE NEED TO THINK OF THESE LIVES AS REAL HUMANS.

NOT NUMBERS, NOT STATISTICS, AND NOT WHAT SOME WOULD CYNICALLY CALL COLLATERAL.

COLLATERAL. OF COURSE, THAT WOULD BE UNIQUELY 50% CHILDREN.

RIGHT NOW IN GAZA, IT'S JUST PAST 2 A.M..

COULD WE SLEEP THROUGH THE CRYING OF CHILDREN, THE SOUNDS OF BOMBS DROPPING OVERHEAD AND BUILDINGS CAVING IN ON THEMSELVES? OF COURSE NOT.

HOW COULD WE EXPECT THE PEOPLE OF GAZA TO DO SO? HOW SHOULD WE EXPECT OURSELVES TO STAY SILENT ON SUCH MATTERS, INDIFFERENT ON SUCH MATTERS, AND STILL HOLD OUR HEADS HIGH? TO PUT IT FRANKLY, CALLING FOR AN END TO THIS SENSELESS MASSACRE WHICH HAS MURDERED OVER 10,000 CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE SOME INSURMOUNTABLE TASK.

IT SHOULDN'T BE UP FOR CONTENTION.

IF WE VIEW THE PEOPLE OF GAZA, THE MEN, WOMEN AND MOST IMPORTANTLY CHILDREN IN THEIR INJURY AND STARVATION AS HUMANS, THIS SHOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT TO PASS.

TO ARGUE AGAINST THE END TO THE KILLING IS ONLY SOMETHING SOMEONE CAN DO.

IF THEY SEE THOSE MOTHERS, FATHERS AND CHILDREN BEING BOMBED AND THINK OF THEM AS SOMETHING LESS THAN HUMAN.

AND LET ME BE CLEAR.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN GAZA.

NOBODY IN THIS ROOM CAN CLAIM IGNORANCE TO THE SITUATION.

FINALLY, SOME MAY SAY THAT PASSING RESOLUTIONS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE TRAPPED AND BESIEGED PEOPLE OF GAZA DOESN'T DO ANYTHING.

THOSE WHO SAY THIS HAVE NOT SEEN THE VIDEOS OF GAZAN CHILDREN, FACED WITH THEIR OWN MORTALITY, ASKING THE WORLD TO AT LEAST REMEMBER THAT THEY EXISTED, THAT THEY LIVED IN KHAN YUNIS, IN RAFAH, IN GAZA CITY, A LAND ONCE DOTTED WITH TOWNS AND CITIES AND CARPETED IN LUSH OLIVE AND ORANGE GROVES, THAT THEY WERE A PEOPLE WHO LOVED THE SEA, EVEN IF THE OCCUPIERS DIDN'T ALLOW THEM TO FISH IN IT, THAT THEY WERE A PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLED TO SURVIVE.

AND, LIKE AN OLD, GNARLED TREE ATOP A MOUNTAIN, RESISTED THE BATTERING WINDS UNTIL THEIR LAST MOMENTS.

AGAIN, THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS STAND WITH THEM.

I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY OF DENTON AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE AND MORE THAN WILLING TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE, THE CHOICE TO VALUE LIFE, AND THE RIGHT TO LIVE IT OVER SOME TWISTED IDEA OF A HOLY WAR WHERE IT IS DIVINELY ORDAINED TO DESTROY WHAT THE AGGRESSORS CALL HUMAN ANIMALS, HUMAN ANIMALS WHO ARE CHILDREN,

[02:30:07]

I BELIEVE THAT MY FAITH IS PLACED IN THE RIGHT HANDS, AND I HOPE YOU DO TOO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THAT TAKES US TO JESSE REISNER.

J A C O X.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THAT TAKES US TO CARA STUART.

KARA STEWART.

KARA STEWART.

OKAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THAT TAKES US TO DIMA KADER.

KADER, IF YOU COME DOWN AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

DIMA. CUTTER. I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU. CUTTER. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR. MAYOR. MY FATHER GREW UP IN PALESTINE, BUT I GREW UP HERE IN DENTON.

AS A CHILD, I WOULD OCCASIONALLY SPEND SUMMERS IN PALESTINE.

I REMEMBER WITNESSING THE OCCUPATION, BUT I SAW IT THROUGH A CHILD'S EYE.

I REMEMBER TRAVELING, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE ROADS WHICH WE AS PALESTINIANS COULD NOT TRAVEL ON THAT WOULD GET US TO OUR DESTINATION IN A FRACTION OF THE TIME, WITHOUT CHECKPOINTS OR SOLDIERS WITH MACHINE GUNS.

I JUST REMEMBER ENJOYING THE LONG CAR RIDES WITH MY COUSINS.

I REMEMBER PLAYING IN OUR GRANDFATHER'S OLIVE ORCHARD, RUNNING THROUGH THE TREES.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT HALF OF THE ORCHARD HAD BEEN DEMOLISHED, BULLDOZED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE SETTLEMENTS AND THE BARRIER WALL.

MY CHILDHOOD HERE IN DENTON WAS GOOD TOO.

IT WAS FILLED WITH LOVE AND WARMTH AND SECURITY.

I WAS SAFE.

THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID FOR THE CHILDREN OF GAZA RIGHT NOW.

AS WE SPEAK, THERE ARE CHILDREN IN OVERBURDENED HOSPITALS HAVING LIMBS AMPUTATED WITHOUT ANESTHESIA.

AID WORKERS HAVE HAD TO COIN A NEW ACRONYM TO DESCRIBE A GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC WC, MSF WOUNDED CHILD.

NO SURVIVING FAMILY.

I SPEAK TODAY FOR THOSE CHILDREN, FOR THEIR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS AND UNCLES WHO CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEM.

I'M ALSO AN AUNT TO FOUR BEAUTIFUL PALESTINIAN AMERICAN CHILDREN, AND THEIR FAVORITE PLACES IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD ARE EUREKA PARK, BETH MORRIS, AND ATOMIC CANDY.

THEY ARE DETONATES AND THEY ARE PALESTINIANS.

YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE PALESTINIANS.

I WANT MY NIECES AND MY NEPHEWS TO BE PROUD OF THEIR DENTON, AND I WANT TO BE PROUD OF MY DENTON.

I SPEAK SO MUCH OF THE CHILDREN BECAUSE IT'S THEIR FACES AND THEIR CRIES THAT I CANNOT GET OUT OF MY HEAD.

THEY HAVE HAD THEIR CHILDHOOD RIPPED FROM THEM.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT REPAIR, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN OUR SMALL COMMUNITY IS PASS A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION.

IT'S TOO LATE FOR 11,500 GAZAN CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED, BUT IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR THE NEARLY 1.2 MILLION CHILDREN STILL BESIEGED IN GAZA. THEY DESERVE TRIPS TO THE PARK, ICE CREAM SHOPS AND CANDY STORES, JUST LIKE OUR CHILDREN DO.

I ASK THAT THE CITY OF DENTON PASS A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN MAKE AN IMPACT.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS RESOLUTION MAY SEEM OUT OF THE SCOPE OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT DENTON IS NO LESS CULPABLE THAN CHICAGO, ATLANTA, SAN FRANCISCO, DETROIT, ALL OF WHICH HAVE ALREADY PASSED CEASE FIRE RESOLUTIONS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CITY COUNCILS.

48 OTHER CITY COUNCILS HAVE PASSED SIMILAR CEASE FIRE RESOLUTIONS, AND I URGE DENTON CITY COUNCIL TO JOIN THEM.

I URGE DENTON TO STAND ON THE SIDE OF PEACE AND JUSTICE, AND I URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS TODAY AND PASS THIS RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THAT TAKES US TO AND IT'S MARLA KAYE.

ABU ES OR HYPHEN S H E.

IF YOU COULD HELP ME OUT. I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT WRONG.

SO IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND THEN YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES, IT IS MALAK ABU-AYSHA.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE DENTON DENTON CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS MALAK. I'M A US CITIZEN, BORN AND RAISED IN TEXAS.

BUT I MAINLY STAND BEFORE YOU AS A PROUD PALESTINIAN AMERICAN.

GROWING UP, I WENT TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND AS ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS DO IN THE UNITED STATES, WE WOULD STAND AND EVERY SINGLE MORNING WE WOULD SAY, 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.

[02:35:01]

IT HAS BEEN 122 DAYS.

WAIT, I APOLOGIZE THAT INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.

75 YEARS AND 122 DAYS SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, THERE HAVE BEEN 31,000 DEAD, 1.9 MILLION DISPLACED AND HOMELESS. THAT'S ABOUT 85% OF GAZA'S POPULATION, 67,500 WOUNDED, 55% OF THE POPULATION FACE ACUTE HUNGER. WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE THE BIGGEST VICTIMS IN THIS GENOCIDE.

AT LEAST 130 CHILDREN ARE KILLED EVERY DAY IN GAZA.

IF YOU ATTENDED ONE FUNERAL A DAY FOR ALL THE FOR ALL THE PALESTINIANS MURDERED, IT WOULD TAKE YOU OVER 27 YEARS.

I WILL NOT CALL IT A WAR.

I WILL CALL IT FOR WHAT IT IS A GENOCIDE.

OUR PEOPLE ARE NOT NUMBERS.

THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS.

THEY ARE THE EXACT SAME AS YOU AND I.

I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING EVERYTHING UNFOLD FROM OUR SCREENS HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD, AND I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO CLOSE THE VIDEO OR APP WHEN WE ARE SICK OF WATCHING THE ATROCIOUS ACTIONS THAT ISRAEL HAS BEEN COMMITTING.

SOCIAL MEDIA HAS A WAY OF SHOWING YOU, BUT AT THE SAME TIME DISCONNECTING YOU FROM WORLD EVENTS.

BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WE ARE NOT DISCONNECTED.

MY MOM IS FROM GAZA.

AS OF THE MOST RECENT UPDATE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED, WE NOW KNOW THAT OVER 40 PLUS MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY HAVE BEEN BRUTALLY MURDERED.

THE REST OF THEM DON'T HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD, FOOD TO EAT, WATER TO DRINK, OR MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

WHY IS IT THAT A TERRIFIED LITTLE SIX YEAR OLD GIRL HAS TO HIDE UNDER THE SEATS OF A CAR FROM THE ISRAELI MILITARY, WHILE THE REST OF HER FAMILY HAVE BEEN SHOT NEXT TO HER? WHY IS A LITTLE GIRL NAMED HIND ON THE PHONE WITH THE PALESTINIAN RED CRESCENT FOR HOURS, BEGGING FOR THEM TO COME HELP HER, BEGGING FOR AN AMBULANCE TO COME SAVE HER? WHY IS THIS LITTLE GIRL HAVING TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THE REST OF HER FAMILY ARE SLEEPING, AND THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BOTHER THEM? IT TOOK THREE HOURS FOR THE RED CRESCENT TEAM TO PLEAD WITH THE ISRAELI MILITARY TO LET THEM SEND A TEAM TO REACH HER.

WHEN THE TEAM REACHED THE ISRAELI CHECKPOINT, THEY WENT MISSING.

THE LAST WORDS FROM THIS SCARED LITTLE SIX YEAR OLD WERE I CAN SEE THE AMBULANCE LIGHTS.

THE CAR DOOR WAS OPENED AND THE LINE WAS CUT OFF FOR GOOD.

THE WHEREABOUTS, DEAD OR ALIVE FOR THE RED CRESCENT TEAM AND HIND ARE UNKNOWN.

WHY HAS THE WORLD STOOD BY AND STAYED SILENT? I IMPLORE YOU TO CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.

I URGE YOU TO SAVE THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

AND I BEG OF YOU TO SAVE THESE CHILDREN.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THAT, TAKES US TO, GREG JOHNSON.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS GREG JOHNSON.

I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT PALESTINE TONIGHT.

BUT THIS SECTION OF THE MEETING IS THE RIGHT TIME TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE NOT CITY BUSINESS.

IF THERE'S TIME AT ALL DURING THESE MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE NOT CITY BUSINESS, THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT TONIGHT.

YOUR JOB, WHEN IN THOSE CHAIRS, IS TO CONDUCT CITY BUSINESS, WHICH MEANS TO SPEND YOUR TIME TAXPAYERS MONEY ON TOPICS THAT ARE LEGISLATED AT THE CITY LEVEL. BASED ON MY RESEARCH AND CALCULATIONS, IT COST THE TAXPAYERS ABOUT $9,000 PER HOUR WHEN YOU MEET.

SO EVERY HOUR YOU SPEND TALKING ABOUT A TOPIC OUTSIDE OF YOUR PURVIEW, YOU WASTE AT LEAST $9,000 OF YOUR TAXPAYERS MONEY.

YOU HAVE LOTS OF STAFF MEMBERS HERE SITTING WAITING TO PRESENT A CASE.

ANSWER A QUESTION, TAKE NOTES, ENSURE OF OUR SAFETY.

THEY COULD BE HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES A LOT EARLIER.

IF YOU DIDN'T WASTE TIME TALKING ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN'T CONTROL, NOR DO THEY HAVE ANY EXPERTISE OR INPUT ON.

YOU HAVE BUSINESSES TRYING TO GET ON THE AGENDA SO THEY CAN GET THEIR BUILDINGS BUILT, GET THEIR BUSINESSES OPEN AND START PAYING YOU TAXES AND CREATING JOBS.

TODAY, IT TAKES NINE MONTHS OR LONGER TO GET THROUGH A ZONING CASE.

OUR PLANNING STAFF GETS BEAT UP.

THE CITY LOSES PROJECTS TO OTHER CITIES BECAUSE OF THE REPUTATION WE HAVE FOR BEING SO SLOW.

YOU'RE EARNING THAT REPUTATION FOR YOUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT WHEN YOU WASTE TIME AND LIMIT THE NUMBER OF SPOTS ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE YOU'RE SPENDING TIME AND CREATED TIME CONSTRAINTS WHILE WASTING TIME TALKING ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN'T EVEN GOVERN.

SO LET'S LIST A FEW.

FRACKING. IT COST THE TAXPAYERS THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF WASTED LEGAL FEES.

TO WHAT END? Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT ONE, RIGHT? EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO DIE, BUT THEN NOBODY DID.

[02:40:01]

IT IS A STATE CONTROLLED ISSUE.

ABORTION. REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU STAND ON IT PERSONALLY, IT IS A STATE CONTROLLED ISSUE.

MEDICAID FOR ALL.

FEDERAL ISSUE.

WHAT FLAGS WE FLY AT CITY HALL.

WE'RE IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THAT'S A PRETTY EASY ONE TO FIGURE OUT.

BUT YOU WASTED TIME ON THAT ONE.

MARIJUANA. THOSE WERE FUN MEETINGS, CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU JUST GOT US SUED BY THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS AGAIN.

FRACKING 2.0.

NOW YOU'LL WASTE MORE TAXPAYER MONEY DEFENDING SOMETHING THAT'S INDEFENSIBLE.

IT IS A STATE CONTROLLED ISSUE.

IT WAS REQUESTED THAT YOU HAVE A SESSION ON REMOVING GENDER IDENTIFICATION FROM PUBLIC RESTROOMS. PLEASE PUT THAT ONE ON THE AGENDA SO THAT ALL YOUR CITIZENS CAN SEE HOW EACH OF YOU VOTE ON THAT TOPIC.

BUT YOU'LL HAVE WASTED MORE TIME.

I HEAR COMING TO A FUTURE MEETING NEAR YOU, AS THE PROPOSAL TO USE TAXPAYER MONEY TO PUT FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS IN MEN'S RESTROOMS. THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TO ALL YOUR CITIZENS, I'M SURE.

WHAT'S NEXT WEEK? UN PEACE ACCORD.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT MORE MONEY FOR THE UKRAINE, MAYBE WORK IN A LITTLE KIM JONG UN WHILE WE'RE AT IT.

I BET YOU ALL COULD CRAFT A RESOLUTION THAT HAVE THAT GUY SHAKING IN HIS SANDALS.

WHAT'S MY POINT? MY POINT IS, I URGE YOU TO LEAVE YOUR PERSONAL POLITICAL OPINIONS REGARDING NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL ISSUES AT THE DOOR WHEN YOU COME IN HERE AND TO DO THE JOB THE CITIZENS OF DENTON EXPECT YOU TO DO TO GOVERN CITY LEVEL ISSUES, MAKE DECISIONS WITH 100% OF YOUR CITIZENS IN MIND.

STOP WASTING YOUR TIME, YOUR STAFF'S TIME, YOUR CITIZENS TIME, AND YOUR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS ON ISSUES THAT HAVE NO CONTROL THAT YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. IT'S CLASSY BACK THERE, ISN'T IT? IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL ISSUES, RUN FOR THOSE OFFICES.

BUT WHILE YOU'RE IN THOSE CHAIRS, PLEASE FOCUS ON WHAT YOU'RE PUT THERE FOR.

AND THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THAT THAT, CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS TAKES US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

MAYOR PRO TEM.

I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS LISTED.

COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD. I SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER WATTS I'LL SEE YOU HIGH AND THEN EVERYONE ELSE WILL VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

AND THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO TAKES US TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

[A. Hold a public hearing and consider the adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas, renaming the section of West Prairie Street between South Welch Street and Bernard Street to Dever Boulevard; providing for severability and an effective date. THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED TO WITHDRAW THIS ITEM INDEFINITELY. (SRN22-0002, Prairie Street Renaming, Karina Maldonado).]

SO ASRN220002 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.

SO THAT TAKES US TO ITEM BHL230002.

[B. Hold a public hearing and consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton designating the property located at 314 Marietta Street, legally known as Block 1 Lot 4 of the West Oak Addition, a Historic Landmark under Section 2.9.4 of the Denton Development Code; providing for a penalty in the maximum amount of $2000.00 for violations thereof; providing a severability clause and effective date. (HL23-0002c, Historic Landmark Designation of 314 Marietta Street, Cameron Robertson) The Historic Landmark Commission recommends a favorable determination (5-0) and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends a favorable determination (6-0). (HL23-0002c, Historic Landmark Designation of 314 Marietta Street, Cameron Robertson)]

HERE COMES. MAYOR.

HERE COMES CAMERON NOW.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMERON ROBERTSON, HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER.

LET ME GET MY PRESENTATION UP.

IS IT SHARING? DO Y'ALL SEE IT ON YOUR SCREENS? YOU DON'T. OKAY.

WHICH WAY IS THIS ONE? THANK YOU SO MUCH. THERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU. THANKS.

SO TONIGHT IS A REQUEST FOR A HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION.

I'M GOING TO BE BRIEF, JUST TO PROVIDE YOU ALL SOME BACKGROUND ON WHAT A HISTORIC LANDMARK IS AND WHY IT'S A BENEFIT TO DESIGNATE YOUR PROPERTY.

AND THEN I'LL GET INTO THE REQUEST.

SO TONIGHT'S REQUEST SPECIFICALLY IS A BUILDING.

AND THE BUILDING IS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT, HAS ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL.

CURRENTLY WITHIN THE CITY OF DEN, WE DO HAVE 64 LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION DESIGNATIONS, WHICH IS VERY SMALL COMPARED TO THE OVER

[02:45:03]

CURRENTLY, THE DESIGNATION PROCESS IS A THREE STEP PROCESS.

AS IT IS A ZONING ACTION, IT DOES REQUIRE REVIEW BY THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, PLANNING AND ZONING, AND CITY COUNCIL.

SOME OF THE BENEFITS ARE BOTH PROPERTY OWNER BENEFITS AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT JUST TWO OF THE MAIN ONES PROPERTY OWNER BENEFITS.

IT DOES ALLOW YOU TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE LOCAL HISTORIC TAX EXEMPTION, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS, IS THAT IT ALLOWS FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AS WELL AS BRINGS PRIDE AND AWARENESS.

SO MOVING ON TO THE REQUEST, IT IS FOR A MINIMAL TRADITIONAL STYLE RESIDENCE WITHIN THE WEST OAK AREA HISTORIC DISTRICT.

THE PROPERTY IS PROPOSED FOR A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USE.

THE PROPERTY, THOUGH FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS, WAS USED AS A RENTAL PROPERTY, SO STAFF WAS LOOKING AT THE 13 CRITERIA IN DC SECTION 2.9.4 B FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION IN REGARDS TO THE REQUEST FOR TONIGHT AT 314 MARIETTA, IT MEETS CRITERIA ONE, TEN, 11 AND 12, WHICH I'M GOING TO COVER NEXT.

LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT CRITERIA ONE, THE PROPERTY, AS I STATED, IS A MINIMAL TRADITIONAL STYLE RESIDENCE WHICH WAS COMMON DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND THE 1940S, SPECIFICALLY AFTER WORLD WAR TWO.

THESE PROPERTIES WERE MEANT TO BE VERY SIMPLE.

THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ARCHITECTURAL STYLE, DESIGN TO THEM.

THEY'RE VERY ECONOMICAL.

THEY WERE MASS PRODUCED AND THEY HAVE A VERY SMALL FOOTPRINT.

SO WE SEE A LOT OF THOSE NORTH OF UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS.

MOVING ON TO APPROVAL CRITERIA TEN, THE LA LECHE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL GROUP, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

THEY DO ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR BREASTFEEDING FOR WOMEN.

DENTON'S FIRST LA LECHE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL GROUP.

THEY HOSTED THEIR MEETINGS HERE IN THE 1960S.

AND ONE OF THE RENTERS WHO LIVED THERE FROM APPROXIMATELY SIX, 1968 TO 1977, WAS THE ORIGINAL LEADER OF THAT GROUP. LOOKING AT APPROVAL CRITERIA 11.

THERE WERE TWO VERY, PROMINENT SIGNIFICANT FAMILIES WHO LIVED THERE AND WERE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY AT 314 MARIETTA THAT CONTRIBUTED NOT ONLY TO DENTON, BUT THEY ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS AND THE LARGER NORTH TEXAS EDUCATION SYSTEM.

AND THEY OWNED MORE THAN ONE PROPERTY ON MARIETTA STREET, WHICH KIND OF TALKS ABOUT THAT STORY OF DEVELOPMENT IN DENTON DURING THE 20TH CENTURY.

AND THEN LASTLY, LOOKING AT APPROVAL CRITERIA 12.

AS I STATED, IT TELLS THE STORY OF DEVELOPMENT IN DENTON, ESPECIALLY NORTH OF THE UNT CAMPUS.

AND AS I STATED IN THE PAST, CRITERIA, IT DOES HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH PERSONS AND EVENTS, EVENTS OF SIGNIFICANCE.

STAFF ALSO LOOKED AT CONSISTENCY WITH THE 2019 HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN, AND THAT DENTON 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, OF WHICH IT MEETS.

TWO OF THOSE GOALS ALSO, WHICH WAS PROVIDED IN YOUR BACKUP PACKET.

THERE WAS A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPROVED BY THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION IN NOVEMBER OF 2023.

HOWEVER, STAFF DOES NOT FEEL THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS DETER FROM THAT REQUEST.

THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU ALL TONIGHT.

THE NEW ADDITIONS THAT THEY'VE PROPOSED TO ADD, DOES MEET THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES, AS WELL AS MEETS OUR WEST OAK AREA DESIGN STANDARDS.

IN ADDITION, THEY ARE LOOKING TO RESTORE AND REHAB THE CURRENT RESIDENCE.

STAFF DID DO PUBLIC OUTREACH.

AND IN RESPONSE, WE RECEIVED TWO IN FAVOR.

SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST FOR A HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION AT 314 MARIETTA.

AND I'M FREE TO STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY, QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? SEEING NONE.

IT IS A PUBLIC. YEAH.

THERE'S GOT TO BE A.

YEAH. I WON'T DO IT.

YEAH. DURING THE TEN MINUTE PRESENTATION, IT WAS HARD TO DO IT.

NO, SORRY. OUT OF LOVE.

OUT OF LOVE.

MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THE COMPUTERS DIDN'T UNTURN BLACK.

HEY, I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAD THAT SAME PROBLEM.

CAMERON, I, I'M REALLY GLAD YOU MADE THAT POINT ABOUT THE THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE IN THE PUBLIC SOMETIMES WORRY THAT HISTORICAL DESIGNATION, LOCKS THEM INTO AN OLDER OR BLIGHTED, STYLING CAN CAN YOU JUST REAL BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO, IN A HISTORICAL DESIGNATION? BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THAT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE'S NO CHANGE.

[02:50:05]

SO IN THE INSTANCE OF THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, THEY WERE LOOKING TO DO A NEW ADDITION.

THAT NEW ADDITION DID ALLOW FOR THE UNDERWENT REVIEW BY THE WEST OAK AREA DESIGN STANDARDS, WHICH ARE IN OUR DENTON DEVELOPMENT CODE, WHICH DOES ALLOW FOR NEW ADDITIONS.

IT JUST NEEDS TO MEET KIND OF THAT MASSING AND STYLE AND BE COMPLEMENTARY TO THE MAIN STRUCTURE.

BUT ALSO, THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR STANDARDS PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR NEW ADDITIONS, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO OUR CODE, SAYING THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SIMILAR MASSING MATERIAL AND BE COMPLEMENTARY. BUT ALSO YOU'RE ABLE TO DECIPHER BETWEEN WHAT IS ACTUALLY OLD AND WHAT'S NEW.

NO, I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION.

I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE PRESERVATION AND MODERN HOME AT THE SAME TIME.

CORRECT? I APPRECIATE THAT, THANK YOU.

OF COURSE. COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND.

TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

WHAT WHAT, WHAT WAS THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE ORIGINAL OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE? 750FT².

AND WHAT IS THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE ADDITION? THE ADDITIONS APPROXIMATELY, I BELIEVE, AROUND 3000FT².

SO, WHAT IS THAT? FOUR TIMES THE SIZE? YES. THE ADDITION IS ROUGHLY FOUR TIMES THE SIZE.

DID DID ANYBODY KNOW THAT WAS A HISTORIC BUILDING WHEN THEY ADDED FOUR TIMES THE SIZE ON THE BACK OF IT? YOU CAN'T LOOK AT THE SMALL BUILDING WITHOUT SEEING THE BIG, BIG BUILDING.

CORRECT. SO STAFF DID WORK THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

SO ORIGINALLY THE APPLICANT DID WANT TO DEMO THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE, BACK IN JULY, AND STAFF WORKED WITH THEM OVER A SERIES OF MONTHS TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MINIMAL TRADITIONAL STYLE TO NOT ONLY DEN, BUT THE LARGER NATION.

LOOKING, LIKE I STATED AT THE GREAT DEPRESSION IN A VERY POPULAR STYLE AFTER WORLD WAR TWO FOR SOLDIERS RETURNING FROM WAR.

AND SO WE WENT THROUGH THAT EDUCATION PROCESS, AND THEY WANT TO UTILIZE IT AS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.

SO THEY HAVE A GROWING FAMILY AND A 750 SQUARE FOOT FAMILY OR HOUSE FOR, YOU KNOW, A FAMILY OF FOUR.

PLUS, SAY YOU THROW SOME ANIMALS IN THERE, SOME PETS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SOME IN-LAWS, VISIT 750FT² ISN'T GOING TO GET YOU A LOT.

SO WE DID LOOK AT ZONING.

IT DOES COMPLY WITH ZONING.

IT DOES APPLY WITH OUR DESIGN STANDARDS.

SO ADDING THE ADDITIONAL 3000 SQUARE FOOT WAS NOT AN ISSUE.

OKAY. OKAY.

TELL ME. TELL ME WHO MR. HALL AND MR. SHEPHERD WERE.

SO SUZY SHEPHERD, SHE WAS THE ORIGINAL BUILDER AND OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH WAS BUILT CIRCA 1940.

SHE, HER SONS WERE VERY PROMINENT IN THE NORTH TEXAS REGION FOR THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

HER HUSBAND ACTUALLY TAUGHT AT, TEXAS A&M COMMERCE.

SO THEY HAD A LOT OF INFLUENCE IN THE NORTH TEXAS REGION.

AND THEY ALSO WERE RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS IN DENTON AND THE HALL FAMILY.

THE HALL FAMILY OWNED A PRINTING PRESS UNTIL THE 1940S IN DENTON, AND THE SONS WERE INVOLVED AT UNT WITH I MIGHT PRONOUNCE THIS WRONG, THE YUCCA, YEARBOOK.

AND SO THEY'RE INVOLVED WITH THE PRINTING OF THE YEARBOOK FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND THEY ALSO OWNED MULTIPLE RENTAL PROPERTIES IN DENTON.

SO ONCE AGAIN, KIND OF THE TRANSITION FROM SINGLE FAMILY TO RENTAL TELLS A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY OF DENTON IN THAT MR. HALL'S INITIALS.

MR. HALL'S INITIALS, DID YOU REFER TO HIM AS A BY INITIALS? IT WAS IN THE BACK OF PACKET.

I APOLOGIZE. I DON'T KNOW THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

THAT'S OKAY. I MEAN, WE'RE REFERRING TO THIS GUY.

I THOUGHT J.D.

HALL JR.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

OKAY. AND SO HE HE TAUGHT AT A&M COMMERCE OR WHAT WAS.

OH, NO. MISS SUZY SHEPHERD'S HUSBAND.

HE WAS IN THE 1940S.

I SEE, I SEE, AND THEN THE HALL FAMILY.

SO MISS SHEPHERD'S HUSBAND TAUGHT IT AT THAT TIME.

EAST TEXAS STATE? YES, I GUESS RIGHT. YES.

OKAY. OKAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

OF COURSE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? SEEING NONE. IT IS A O COUNCILMAN.

WHAT'S. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

REFRESH MY MEMORY.

SO IF THEY GET THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION, THERE IS SOME KIND OF TAX PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

[02:55:01]

CORRECT? CORRECT.

OKAY, SO THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANY TYPE OF TAX EXEMPTION OR ABATEMENT ON THE 3000FT² THAT THEY'RE ADDING.

THAT'S GOING TO BE JUST TAXED AT ITS REGULARLY ASSESSED VALUE.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE DENTON COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MONEY OR WHAT THE VALUE IS GOING TO BE, BUT THAT WILL BE UP TO THE COUNTY.

OF WHERE THEY'RE TAKING THE MONEY FROM.

OH, NO. FOR THE. YEAH, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ADDITION.

SO THIS IS MY NOT A CONCERN.

BUT IT'S A REALLY QUESTION THAT I HAVE BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS AN HISTORIC.

YOU'RE ASKING US TO TO DESIGNATE PART OF THE BUILDING AS HISTORIC, WHICH THEN DOES ALLOW FOR SOME TYPE OF TAX RELIEF, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, WHICH, I MEAN, THAT'S BEEN OUR TRADITION AND OUR POLICY FOR FOR MANY YEARS.

BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THAT THE, THE ADDITION.

SHOULD RECEIVE THAT, AND I'M SURE IT'S NOT.

BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS HOW THAT'S DIVIDED UP 750FT² AND THE 3100FT².

WE NEED TO WE NEED TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT BECAUSE, I'M CERTAINLY ALL FOR THE DESIGNATION AND THE CORRESPONDING TAX RELIEF ON THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE THAT IS BEING DESIGNATED AS HISTORIC.

BUT 3000FT² AT.

$150 A FOOT.

450,000 BUCKS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND, IT'S NEW.

IT'S NOT HISTORIC.

SO. BEFORE I REALLY HIT THE BUTTON.

I NEED TO HAVE SOME ANSWERS.

AS FAR AS THAT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO BE CONSIDERED AS ONE HISTORIC PROPERTY WHICH INCLUDES THE ADDITION.

SO OKAY, I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND I JUST DID WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THEY HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR HIS TAX HISTORIC TAX EXEMPTION BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE TO BE DESIGNATED.

IT WOULD GO IN FRONT OF YOU ALL AS CITY COUNCIL, AND PRIOR TO THAT, IT WOULD GO IN FRONT OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION.

IT DOES HAVE TO, CALL THE WAY IT QUALIFIES IT.

IT HAS TO INCLUDE MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT TO YOUR PROPERTY.

SO THAT'S HOW IT'S DEFINED ON OUR APPLICATION IS THAT IF YOU MAINTAIN YOUR PROPERTY, BUT YOU ALSO CREATE AN IMPROVEMENT TO YOUR PROPERTY, IT DOES QUALIFY FOR THE TAX EXEMPTION. SO I DID WANT TO CLARIFY THAT OKAY.

SO MY QUESTION IS A LITTLE PREMATURE THEN.

IS THAT RIGHT? I MEAN IF THAT'S NOT I WAS GONNA SAY YEAH.

UNTIL AFTER WE.

YEAH. UNTIL AFTER THE DESIGNATION TAKES PLACE OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR OKAY.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? OKAY, IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND IF SOMEONE WOULD CARE TO SPEAK, YOU CAN COME DOWN AND SPEAK.

SEEING. NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS ARE.

WHAT? YEAH.

COME ON. YES! AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THIS IS THE APPLICANT.

OKAY. VERY GOOD.

SO AFTERWARDS YOU'LL NEED TO FILL OUT A CARD FOR ME, PLEASE.

BUT JUST AFTER. AFTER THE FACT.

SO IF YOU CAN GIVE ME YOUR NAME, YOU CAN JUST SIT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

PERFECT. IF YOU'LL GIVE ME YOUR NAME AND YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS TRAVIS RIGSBY.

I'M THE APPLICANT.

I APPRECIATE YOU ALL HAVING ME HERE.

MY WIFE AND I APPLIED FOR THIS, HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION.

WE DID WE DID, LIKE, THE THE TAX INCENTIVE, BUT WE PLAN ON LIVING THERE AS THIS.

THIS HOUSE WAS ACTUALLY RENTED OUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND WE WERE JUST.

WE'RE EXCITED TO ACTUALLY GIVE BACK TO THE, THE, THE LEGACY OF THIS HOUSE, THE HISTORY AND RAISE OUR FAMILY THERE.

LIKE CAMERON SAID, I HAVE A DAUGHTER A YEAR AND A HALF, AND WE HAVE ONE ON THE WAY.

AND SO WE'RE A GROWING FAMILY.

THIS IS WHY THE ADDITION IS BEING BUILT OR WILL BE BUILT.

AND, WE JUST WANTED TO GROW OUR FAMILY AND DENTON I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS.

I GOT MY, THAT'S RIGHT.

I GOT MY DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.

I WENT TO A POST-GRAD BIBLE SCHOOL, MET MY WIFE THERE.

WE CAME BACK, AND WE JUST LIKE TO HAVE OUR FAMILY HERE AND WOULD WOULD APPRECIATE THE THE APPROVAL OF THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION.

SO. OKAY.

VERY GOOD. LET ME SEE.

IS THAT A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT? JUDGE. YES.

OKAY. TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I DIDN'T TURN IT OFF, BUT, BUT I DO.

YES. GO RIGHT AHEAD. YEAH.

THANK YOU. SO.

[03:00:03]

I MEAN, I GET THAT, I GET THAT, BUT.

WHICH CAME FIRST? THE THE HISTORIC.

THE FONDNESS FOR THE HISTORIC.

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OR THE THE NEED FOR A BIGGER HOUSE.

REALLY? WHAT CAME FIRST IS, SIR, I MET A CHRISTIAN CLUB ON CAMPUS.

AND THAT CLUB I PARTICIPATED IN HOME MEETINGS.

THEY HAD ME OVER FOR BIBLE STUDIES.

THEY FED ME WHILE I WAS IN COLLEGE.

IT WAS A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

I'M FROM MIDLOTHIAN, TEXAS, NOT TOO FAR AWAY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO DO THE SAME WITH MY HOME AND I.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'S JUST RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS.

SO THAT'S WHAT CAME FIRST THEN.

OKAY, WELL, WHAT CAME SECOND? THE THE BUILDING LIKE THE LOCATION CAME SECOND, THEN THE BUILDING OF THE ADDITION ON THE THE BACK END OF THAT HOUSE.

I THINK YOU'VE SPOILED.

I THINK YOU HAVE SPOILED THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOUSE WITH THE ADDITION.

BECAUSE I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN SEE THE HISTORIC HOUSE WITHOUT SEEING 3000FT² BEHIND IT.

RIGHT? WELL, WE WE WERE.

WOULD YOU AGREE? I MEAN, I'M LOOKING AT THE AT THE RENDERING HERE, RIGHT? NO, SIR. ACTUALLY, I DON'T AGREE.

ADMITTEDLY, I THINK THAT WE'RE ADDING A LOT OF VALUE TO THE PROPERTY.

I DO BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY, BUT WE WENT THROUGH THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES.

WE WE ABIDED BY THE RULES.

AND WE'RE BUILDING SOMETHING THAT IS GROWING WITH, IN LINE WITH 2024.

AT THAT TIME, IT WAS A SMALLER HOUSE.

AT THIS TIME, IT'S A BIGGER HOUSE.

WE HAVE TWO CARS.

WE MIGHT BUY ANOTHER CAR FOR OUR DAUGHTER DOWN THE ROAD.

AND I ABSOLUTELY GET THAT.

I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.

WE'RE MAKING HISTORY, BUT IN THIS SENSE AND BUT I BUT I THINK, I THINK THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN SMEARED WITH THE WITH THE ADDITIONS.

OKAY. WELL AND CAMERON, IF YOU IF YOU CAN COME UP I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING I PICKED UP ON THAT THAT I NEED TO CLARIFY BECAUSE THIS MAY GO TO COUNCILMAN HOLLAND'S QUESTIONS, OR AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, NOT TO CHANGE THAT POSITION, BUT JUST TO ADD LIGHT TO IT.

IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY SAY, LET ME GET IT RIGHT.

TRAVIS. RIGHT. THEY WERE GOING TO TEAR IT DOWN, CORRECT? YEAH. YES.

NO. ORIGINALLY.

ORIGINALLY. YEAH.

YES. OKAY. SO ORIGINALLY THEY'RE GOING TO TEAR IT DOWN.

YES. SO THE ANSWER COUNCILMAN HOLLAND'S QUESTION IS I THINK THAT STAFF SAID, HEY, THERE'S ANOTHER WAY AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO TEAR IT DOWN.

CORRECT. RIGHT. SO THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF IT DIDN'T MATTER.

IT WAS GOING TO GO AWAY.

BUT STAFF SAID, HEY, YOU CAN THERE'S A BOTH AND SOLUTION.

AND THEN THAT'S HOW WE GET HERE.

YES. GOT IT. SO IT'S NOT TRAVIS'S FAULT, THAT, THOSE TWO ARE SET UP THAT WAY.

IT'S IT'S STAFF WORKING WITH TRAVIS AND TRAVIS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TO HEAR THAT OUT.

TO THEN KIND OF FIND A A A MIDDLE GROUND.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS I WAS MAKING THAT AND NO ONE.

AND I'M DISAPPOINTED NO ONE MENTIONED THE PROXIMITY TO MR. CHOPSTICKS, BUT IT'S OKAY.

THAT'S THAT'S THE BIGGEST OFFENSE.

BUT I'LL LET THAT SLIDE THIS ONE TIME, OKAY? IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE ELSE CARE TO SPEAK? PLEASE COME DOWN.

SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD. WHAT I'M THINKING OF IS THE, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOUSE, THE HISTORY, THE STORY BEHIND THE HOUSE.

AND, YOU KNOW, JUST THE IDEA OF US EXPECTING CHANGE.

CHANGE IS COMING.

AND WE DON'T LIKE IT SOMETIMES.

WELL, WE DON'T LIKE IT ACTUALLY MOST OF THE TIME, BUT IT'S HERE AND THAT'S WHAT IT DOES.

THAT'S WHY IT'S AMONGST US.

SO WITH ME, I'M THINKING ABOUT WHEN SOMEONE DRIVES PAST THAT HOME AND THEY SEE THAT HISTORICAL DESIGNATION, THEY'RE SEEING THE STORY AND NOT NECESSARILY THE FACILITY IN IT OF ITSELF.

SO THERE'S A THERE'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL STORY BEHIND JUST THAT HOUSE BEING IN ITS SPACE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE I AM IN MY HEAD.

SPACE, I HEAR YOU, AND I HEAR YOU, CAMERON.

AND I JUST WANTED TO JUST CLARIFY.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT, THAT I LIKE TO STOP AND SEE THE HISTORICAL DESIGNATIONS, YOU KNOW, AS YOU'RE RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEY SAY THERE'S SOMETHING

[03:05:06]

BUT THERE WAS A STORY THERE AND THAT HELPS YOU GET INTO THE MINDSET OF, YOU KNOW, WHY WE HAVE THOSE THINGS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY LITTLE $0.02.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THAT TIME.

OKAY. VERY GOOD.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS, COUNSELOR.

WHAT'S. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST NEED TO.

AND IF I CAN'T GET AN ANSWER, THAT'S FINE.

BUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AT LEAST FROM A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE BY STAFF, IS THAT.

WITH HISTORIC STRUCTURES, YOU CAN DO IMPROVEMENTS IN THINGS SUCH AS THAT.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE SO THAT I CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.

THAT THIS ADDRESS IS 314 MARIETTA.

AND THAT'S THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION THAT'S BEING REQUESTED.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY, SO IF SOMEONE HAS A 750 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE AND THEN THEY BUILD SOMETHING THAT'S FOUR TIMES THAT SIZE ON THE BACK OF IT, IS IT STAFF'S POSITION THAT THAT IS AN IMPROVEMENT THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT HISTORIC DESIGNATION? THE TOTALITY OF IT WOULD BE, THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION THAT IT'S NOT JUST.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS UNUSUAL, OKAY? I MEAN, THIS IS UNUSUAL IN THAT IT STARTS OUT AS ONE PROPERTY AND THEN BECOMES ANOTHER BY ADDING TO IT ALMOST FOUR TIMES ITS SIZE.

SO IS IT STAFF'S POSITION THAT, THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION, TOGETHER WITH ALL OF ITS BENEFITS, APPLIES TO WHATEVER IS ON 314 MARIETTA.

SO IF THAT HOUSE APPRAISED THE 750 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE APPRAISED FOR $200,000, CURRENTLY YOU ADD 3000FT².

IT NOW APPRAISES FOR 650,000.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT IT'S NOT STAFF'S POSITION? THAT SOUNDS TOO. WHO ADVERSARIAL WOULD IT THEN BE THE POSITION THAT.

THE TAX EXEMPTION.

WOULD BE ON THE ENTIRE VALUATION.

IT DOESN'T MATTER. THE CITY. THE COUNTY IS ONLY GOING TO EVALUATE IT AS ONE ASSESSED VALUE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SPLIT IT UP.

IT'S GOING TO BE ONE ASSESSED VALUE FOR THAT ADDRESS.

SO WOULD THAT MEAN THAT THAT TAX EXEMPTION APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE, ASSESSED VALUE.

SO IF IT'S 50%, OURS IS WHAT, $0.55 PER 100.

SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT OH, GOSH.

WHAT IS THAT SOMEBODY DO THE MATH.

IS THAT, 3000 OR SOMETHING DOLLARS OR OR IT'S NOT 30, BUT, SO.

HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WOULD WORK.

SO IT WOULD BE APPLIED TO THE PROPERTY AS A WHOLE.

SO IF THE PROPERTY OWNER WERE TO SAY, GET THE DESIGNATION TONIGHT, APPLY FOR THE HISTORIC TAX EXEMPTION TOMORROW, GO IN FRONT OF HLC WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH AND THEN COME TO CITY COUNCIL WITHIN THAT MONTH AS WELL.

YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE 750FT².

IF THE PROPERTY OWNER DECIDES TO COME A YEAR DOWN THE ROAD AFTER THEY'VE MADE THEIR IMPROVEMENTS AND THEY'VE BEEN PASSED BY HLC, AND THEN THEY COME IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL, IT WOULD, IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE THROUGH THAT ENTIRE PROPERTY WITH THAT ADDITION.

SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHEN THE APPLICANT DECIDES TO COME FORWARD WITH THAT HISTORIC TAX EXEMPTION.

AND THAT'S FOR EVERY PROPERTY.

SO YOU ARE ABLE TO REAPPLY AFTER EVERY TEN YEARS.

SO THERE ARE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE MADE ADDITIONS OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS AND HAVE COME TO HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION THAT ARE POTENTIALLY COMING IN FRONT OF YOU ALL IN THE FUTURE. OKAY, SO YOU SAID SOMETHING.

I JUST NEED A LITTLE CLARIFICATION ON.

I'M SORRY, MAYOR. YOU SAID THAT WE WERE APPLYING FOR THE HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION ON THE 750 SQUARE FOOT HOME TONIGHT.

YES IT IS.

NO, NO NO, NO, HE HADN'T.

THEY HAVE NOT APPLIED.

WE'RE AHEAD OF THE CURVE, SHE SAID IF THEY APPLY BEFORE, BASICALLY IF THEY APPLY BEFORE THE ADDITION, THEN IT'S THE ORIGINAL HOUSE THAT'S CONSIDERED.

IF THEY APPLY AFTER THE ADDITION, IT'S THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.

BUT NO APPLICATION HAS BEEN THAT WHATEVER THAT ENTIRE PROCESS HASN'T STARTED.

CORRECT. SO SO WHAT ARE WE DOING TONIGHT? JUST DESIGNATING THAT THAT SEVEN THAT HOUSE IS IS HISTORIC REALLY WHAT YOU'RE WHAT WE'RE DOING IF IF Y'ALL JUST CLOSE CLOSE YOUR EARS.

IT REALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS TRYING TO SAVE THIS HOUSE.

BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU TRAVIS IS GOD FEARING MAN.

[03:10:01]

OKAY. Y'ALL CAN LISTEN AGAIN.

YOU HAD A FLOOR.

THAT'S FINE. I MEAN THIS IS YEAH I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU MAYOR. YES I'VE GOT WHAT I NEED.

MAYOR PRO TEM. I THINK WE ALL THE SENSE THAT I CAN GET FROM EVERYONE'S CONVERSATION IS WE ALL WANT TO GIVE THE HISTORICAL TAX DESIGNATION TO THAT 750.

AND HONESTLY, THE MAYOR MADE THE MOST SALIENT POINT THAT THIS THING WOULD BE TORN DOWN.

THAT WAS THE THAT WAS THE THE SELLING POINT FOR ME.

BECAUSE THAT THAT PRESERVATION OF THAT PIECE, REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME OF THE BACKYARD, MEANS WE PRESERVE THAT PIECE, THAT THAT WAS EXCELLENT NARRATIVE, AND I COMPLETELY BUY INTO THAT.

I THINK I'M TRYING TO GET AROUND.

I THINK COUNCILOR WATTS IS THE SAME WAY.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO INHIBIT THIS DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE TRYING TO BE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER HISTORICAL PROPERTIES THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US AND WILL COME BEFORE US.

AND THE WORRY MIGHT BE.

THAT AN ENTIRE HOUSE IS SOMEHOW CONSIDERED AN IMPROVEMENT.

SO CAN YOU ALLAY OUR FEARS ON THAT? SO I WILL STATE THAT THIS IS THE ONLY MINIMAL TRADITIONAL STYLE HOME THAT IS UP FOR DESIGNATION.

THERE ARE NO PRIOR STRUCTURES THAT ARE MINIMAL TRADITIONAL STYLE HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED.

SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF PROPERTIES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DESIGNATED ARE OAK HICKORY HISTORIC DISTRICT HOMES, WHICH ARE THOUSANDS OF SQUARE FEET.

THERE ARE MANSIONS OF OUR DENTON HOMES.

WE DO HAVE SOME BELLE AVENUE HOMES, WHICH MY APOLOGIES.

WITHIN OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT, THE BELLE AVENUE HISTORIC DISTRICT DOES HAVE SOME LOCAL DESIGNATIONS, AND AS WELL.

AND WITHIN THE WEST OAK AREA HISTORIC DISTRICT, THERE'S ONLY ONE HOME THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AND THAT IS A TUDOR REVIVAL.

AND THEY HAVE A REAR ADDITION AS WELL.

SO A LOT OF THESE ARE MUCH LARGER SQUARE FOOTAGE.

WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH ANYTHING REALLY UNDER 1000FT².

WHEN I'VE LOOKED AT THE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DESIGNATED.

SO THIS IS JUST A TOTALLY DIFFERENT KIND OF STYLE.

IT'S IT'S NEW.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S I'M EXPERIENCED, THAT'S NEW, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL PROBABLY HASN'T SEEN IN THE PAST.

SO IT'S WE'RE ALL GOING THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.

SO IF I COULD PARAPHRASE A LITTLE BIT AND YOU TELL ME IF I'M RIGHT.

OKAY. THE THE ADVANTAGES, THERE MIGHT BE SOME UNUSUAL FEATURES TO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT.

BUT THE ADVANTAGE OF TO TO THE HISTORICAL CULTURE OF DENTON PRESERVING AN EXAMPLE THAT THERE IS NO OTHER EXAMPLE THAT WE HAVE REALLY, MIGHT BE WORTH SMOOTHING OVER SOME OF THESE IDIOSYNCRASIES.

WOULD THAT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT'S FAIR? ALL RIGHT. THEN THEN THEN, THEN I'M PREPARED TO MOTION.

I ALREADY HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE IF THE MAYOR WOULD ACCEPT THAT.

CERTAINLY. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THEN THEN I'LL MOTION APPROVAL.

COUNCILMAN MELTZER, IT'S NOT A PERFECT SITUATION, BUT I THINK IT'S GIVEN THE OPTIONS, I.

I SUPPORT IT AND WILL SECOND.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSION.

I'LL JUST SAY I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE FOR I WANT I WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF OF STAFF TRYING, INTERVENING, SAYING, HEY, WE CAN SAVE THIS HOUSE.

AND I WANT TO SUPPORT THAT IDEA.

BUT ALSO I PICK UP ON WHAT YOU SAID, EVEN IF HE APPLIES FOR THE 750, THE SMALLER ORIGINAL HOME.

NOW, TEN YEARS FROM NOW, HE CAN TURN BACK AROUND AND GET IT EXTENDED.

AND SO WE'RE NOT I'M NOT I'M COMFORTABLE.

I'M NOT, CREATING ANYTHING NEW.

AND ALSO IT AND IT ALSO PROBABLY HELPS US START TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO HANDLE THOSE.

AS YOU TALK ABOUT THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING BEFORE US.

SO IT KIND OF IS A PRIMER AND A REMINDER THAT, HEY, THESE THINGS ARE COMING.

DO WE WANT TO HAVE POLICIES AROUND THOSE OR POSITIONS AND GIVE FEEDBACK NOW SO THAT WE HAVE A BETTER FOUNDATION TO HANDLE THOSE WHEN THEY COME, AND THE FUTURE, THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE? SO TO THAT, I THINK WHATEVER STAFF WANTS TO BRING BACK, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS AROUND THAT TO GET IN FRONT OF THAT, THAT'D BE GOOD.

SO THAT THAT'S MY THOUGHTS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE?

[03:15:02]

EVERYONE ELSE SAW IT ON THE SCREEN.

THAT PASSES 5 TO 2.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PROJECT.

THAT'S THAT TAKES US TO, SO OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS I MENTIONED, A WAS WITHDRAWN.

[D. Hold a public hearing and consider approval of a resolution of the City of Denton supporting The Quad at Denton LLC’s 9% housing tax credit application to Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for proposed new construction of the Quad Apartments to provide affordable rental housing; committing to provide fee reductions in an amount of $500.00; and providing an effective date.]

[F. Hold a public hearing and consider approval of a resolution of the City of Denton supporting Legacy Oaks Seniors, LP’s 9% housing tax credit application to Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for proposed new construction of the Legacy Oaks Senior Living Apartments to provide affordable rental housing; committing to provide fee reductions in an amount of $500.00; and providing an effective date.]

[C. Hold a public hearing and consider approval of a resolution of the City of Denton supporting Denton Affordable Housing Corporation’s 9% housing tax credit application to Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for proposed new construction of the Stella Haven Apartments to provide affordable rental housing; committing to provide fee reductions in an amount of $500.00; and providing an effective date.]

[E. Hold a public hearing and consider approval of a resolution of the City of Denton supporting Cairn Point Carroll, L.P.’s 9% housing tax credit application to Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for proposed new construction of the Cairn Point Carroll Apartments to provide affordable rental housing; committing to provide fee reductions in an amount of $500.00; and providing an effective date.]

WE HAVE ONE PRESENTATION.

SO THAT'S C IS ID 24048.

HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DENTON SUPPORTING DENTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORPORATION, NOT CORPORATIONS 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT APPLICATION TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR A PROPOSED NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THE STELLA HAVEN APARTMENTS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE RENT, RENTAL HOUSING AND THEN ALSO ITEM E, ID 24050, HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DENTON SUPPORTING KAREN.

IS THAT HOW YOU SAY THAT? I DON'T SEE A I ARE IN POINT CAROL LP 90% HOUSING TAX CREDIT APPLICATION TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR THE PROPOSED NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THE, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

KAREN POINT CAROL APARTMENTS.

IS THAT RIGHT? HOW DO YOU SAY THAT? KAREN POINT CAROL, I BELIEVE.

YEAH, THAT'S IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME TO BE CALLED KAREN, MISTER MAYOR.

NEVER MIND. MR. PORTER, CAN I JUST GOT CONFUSED.

WE'RE WE'RE DROPPING A D AND F.

THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT THEY'VE BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE BY THE BRAUN, AND WE'RE ONLY KEEP WE'RE ONLY DOING C AND E, IS THAT CORRECT? C AND E THAT IS CORRECT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

THAT'S MY INQUIRY. YES OKAY.

OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS LEAH ATKINSON.

I SERVE ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES TEAM HERE AT THE CITY.

TODAY WE'RE GOING OVER, AS MENTIONED, TWO 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT APPLICATIONS FOR RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS STILL A HAVEN APARTMENTS.

JUST SOME QUICK BACKGROUND ON THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS LIHTC.

THIS PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF APPLICATIONS THE 4% TRACKED NONCOMPETITIVE AND THE 9% COMPETITIVE TRACKED.

BOTH OF THE APPLICATIONS REVIEWING TODAY ARE 9% COMPETITIVE.

TDCJ DOES RANK THOSE 9% APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY THE DEVELOPERS, AND THEY ARE AWARDED POINTS IF THEY HAVE SUPPORT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS US TONIGHT, CITY OF DENTON DOES HAVE HOUSING TAX CREDIT POLICY AND AN APPLICATION PROCESS WHICH WAS APPROVED IN 2018, WHICH WE ARE FOLLOWING TODAY.

IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THIS IS NOT A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH EITHER OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.

THIS IS SPECIFICALLY A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THEIR APPLICATION TO SEEK FUNDING WITH THE STATE.

ALL DEVELOPMENTS WILL STILL GO THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS AS NORMAL.

FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT.

THIS IS LOCATED AT 3300 SUNDOWN BOULEVARD IN DENTON, TEXAS.

YOU CAN SEE HERE IT'S AT THE CORNER OF SUNDOWN BOULEVARD, THAT CURVY STREET AND TEASLEY LANE.

ILLUSTRATED HERE IS THE TWO MILE RADIUS MAP, WITH THE RED CIRCLE BEING THE TWO MILE RADIUS AND, RED PINS BEING OTHER AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THAT TWO MILE RADIUS.

WITH SUNDOWN IN THE MIDDLE.

THIS IS A MAP OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT.

IT'S SITTING AT JUST 1.7 ACRES, IS CURRENTLY ZONED AS MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT IS APPROPRIATE HERE.

DUE TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH DENTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORPORATION, WHICH IS OUR COMMUNITY'S COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.

THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BE SUBJECT TO A 50% CHODO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.

THIS IS A ESTIMATE OF THE UNIT BREAKDOWN AS PROPOSED.

THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BE TARGETING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO EARN BETWEEN 30% AND 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE A MIX OF ONE, TWO AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS FOR APPROXIMATELY 90 UNITS IN TOTAL.

YOU CAN SEE ESTIMATED RENTS AND APPROXIMATE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE UNITS HERE AS WELL.

OPTIONS BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY ARE TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AS PRESENTED, TO NOT APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, OR TO POSTPONE TO A DATE CERTAIN TO ALLOW FOR FURTHER

[03:20:06]

I DO BELIEVE THE DEVELOPER IS HERE TODAY.

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPER SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THEIR APPLICATION FOR STATE FUNDING, GO AHEAD AND YES, AND THEN DO THE NEXT ONE.

OKAY. AND CAN YOU CAN YOU GIVE THE DEFINITION.

WHAT DOES THAT STAND FOR.

YEAH THAT'S A COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.

THE ONLY ONE IN THE CITY OF DENTON AT THE MOMENT IS DENTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORP.

THANK YOU. AND YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE OTHER ONE.

YES, I AM GOING TO DO THE OTHER ONE.

FORGIVE ME. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE.

NO WORRIES. NO.

YEAH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

CAUSE EVERY DAY HERE IS A NEW ADVENTURE.

SO IT'LL JUST BE LIKE, FEEL LIKE YOU'RE.

IT'S LIKE GROUNDHOG DAY.

YEAH. IT IS. YEAH.

HECK, YES. ALL RIGHT.

THE SECOND PRESENTATION TODAY IS KAREN POINT.

CAROL. I FOR THE INTEREST OF TIME AND RESPECTING PEOPLE'S.

I WILL NOT BE READING THE BACKGROUND SLIDE AGAIN.

THIS IS A MAP OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S ON CARROLL BOULEVARD, JUSTLY NAMED.

IT IS ALSO NEXT TO STRADA DRIVE AND FANE STREET.

THIS IS A REHABILITATION OR RENOVATION PROJECT FOR THE DENTON REHABILITATION CENTER.

THIS IS THAT TWO MILE RADIUS MAP WITH THE, AGAIN THE RED CIRCLE BEING THE TWO MILE RADIUS AND OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THAT RADIUS BEING INDICATED BY YELLOW PINS. THE LITTLE MARK IN THE MIDDLE IN RED IS KAREN POINT.

THIS PROJECT IS UNDER JUST UNDER FIVE ACRES.

IT IS CURRENTLY ZONED AS R6, SO IT WILL REQUIRE REZONING FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT.

AND THIS DEVELOPMENT DOES INTEND TO PAY FULL PROPERTY TAXES.

THIS IS SPECIFICALLY A SENIOR DEVELOPMENT.

SO IT'S TARGETING SENIORS BETWEEN 30% AND 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

IT WILL BE 90 OFFICIAL EFFICIENCY UNITS.

THE DEVELOPERS WANTED TO ITERATE THAT.

THEY DO NOT HAVE SPECIFIC SQUARE FOOTAGE OUTLINED JUST YET, BUT THEY INTEND FOR NO UNIT TO BE SMALLER THAN 500FT².

AS BEFORE, OPTIONS TODAY ARE TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AS PRESENTED, TO NOT APPROVE THAT SUPPORT, OR TO POSTPONE TO A DATE CERTAIN AGAIN.

FEBRUARY 20TH WOULD NEED TO BE THE DATE FOR FURTHER DELIBERATION.

AND NOW I BELIEVE THAT'S EVERYTHING AND THE DEVELOPERS SHOULD BE IN THE ROOM.

OKAY. DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR.

OKAY. JUST ONE. MAYOR PRO TEM.

YEAH. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A WELL I'LL ASK IT TO TO BOTH PROBABLY, BUT DEPENDS ON WHAT STAFF SAYS.

THIS APPLICATION FOR TAX CREDIT THE, THE AND I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS ALREADY, BUT ALL THE STANDARD PRE-DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WILL GO ON ANY OF OUR CITY STANDARDS, TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS, TREE CANOPY, ALL THAT WILL BE APPLIED.

AND IF THEY ARE FOUND UNABLE TO MATCH THOSE REQUIREMENTS, THEN THE APPROVAL STILL WILL NOT GO AHEAD.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. THIS IS ENTIRELY SEPARATE FROM THIS THAT PROCESS.

I, I WILL SAY ON ON LET ME ASK THE MAYOR THIS, MR. MAYOR, HOW DO YOU WANT TO HANDLE THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS? YEAH, I CALLED THEM BOTH.

SO YOU CAN YOU CAN BOUNCE BETWEEN BOTH BETWEEN THEM.

YEAH. PLEASE. OKAY.

SO I WILL SAY FOR ITEM ITEM C, LOOKING I KNOW THE CONCEPT PLAN IS MERELY A CONCEPT PLAN.

AND IT'S SUBJECT TO THE CHANGE AND THE GUIDANCE FROM STAFF.

I WORRY GREATLY THAT THE THEY WILL HAVE TROUBLE REACHING OUR PRESERVATION GOALS.

THEY MAY HAVE TROUBLE GETTING TO OUR, TRAFFIC STANDARDS, BUT THAT SEEMS MORE LIKELY. BUT I THINK IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I'M.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT I NEED TO SAY.

NO, YOU'RE GOING TO FAIL NOW, IN MY OPINION.

SO I'M OKAY WITH THAT ONE.

ON THE KAREN POINT, I THINK THIS IS ALREADY THIS IS ALREADY A SENIOR FOCUSED DEVELOPMENT. IT'S AN ADAPTIVE REUSE.

THERE'S GOOD SAM TO THE WEST AND A NURSING HOME TO THE EAST.

THERE'S SERVICES 100 YARDS AWAY AT THE KROGER.

SO I FEEL LIKE THIS IS, IF THEY FOLLOW THROUGH ON THEIR DEVELOPMENT, IF THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY SAY AT THE PRICE POINTS, THEY SAY THIS, THIS IS THIS PUTS

[03:25:08]

SO, I GUESS, I YEAH, I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO TACITLY BE UNLESS I HEAR SOME NEW INFORMATION FROM FROM SOMEBODY ELSE ON COUNCIL THAT'S PERSUASIVE.

I'M, I'M LEANING TOWARDS.

YES ON BOTH. OKAY.

COUNCILMAN. HARLAN. THANK YOU.

IS THERE A RELATION BETWEEN KAREN POINT AND.

STELLA HAVEN.

NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

NO OTHER THAN THEY'RE BOTH 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT APPLICATIONS, BUT IT'S JUST JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT THEY COME.

OH, THESE THESE TWO COME TONIGHT.

THE APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF TEXAS IS TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS IS DUE THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH.

SO OUR APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THESE RESOLUTIONS OPENS IN DECEMBER.

SO THIS WAS A TIMED APPLICATION PROCESS OKAY OKAY.

BUT THERE'S NO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE TWO.

NO NOT DEVELOPERS OKAY.

THE THE KAREN POINT PROPERTY IS THAT IS THAT VACANT AS WE SPEAK? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION FOR THE DEVELOPER.

YEAH, I BELIEVE IT IS.

HE JUST BUILT A NEW ONE.

IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND THEN.

SURE. VAL DELEONE WITH THE VECINO GROUP REPRESENTING, KAREN POINT.

CARROLL. CURRENTLY, THE PROPERTY IS IS NOT VACANT, BUT WILL BE WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.

THEY'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED A NEW FACILITY WHERE THOSE RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO BE MOVING TO.

SO, IF WE WERE TO RECEIVE AN AWARD, THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, AND AT THAT POINT, THE PROPERTY WOULD, WOULD BE VACANT.

YES. OKAY. AND AND IN ITS CURRENT USE, IT IS A NURSING HOME.

CORRECT? OKAY.

NOT AN ASSISTED LIVING CENTER, A NURSING HOME.

YEAH. SO I DO KNOW THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING SOME MEDICAL SERVICES THERE.

TO WHAT LEVEL OF, OF SERVICES THEY'RE PROVIDING.

SO I THINK IT'S CALLED A REHAB CENTER, SO I'M NOT SURE.

OKAY, OKAY. DISTINCTION IN THOSE WOULD BE AND WITH IT AND IF IT'S DEVELOPMENT WENT AS, AS YOU'D LIKE IT TO GO, WHAT WHAT WOULD HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT.

SO IT WOULD BE INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING.

THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S FINE.

OKAY. AND TO BE CLEAR, I MADE A NOTE HERE.

THANK YOU SIR. TONIGHT WE ARE NOT FOR ZONING, ONLY FOR FUNDING FROM STATE.

ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ZONING.

YES. THIS IS JUST SUPPORT FOR THEIR FUNDING APPLICATION.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? SEEING NONE. THEN I'M GOING TO CALL UP.

OH, COUNCIL. WHAT'S.

HE'S MUTED. HE'S TRYING.

ALL RIGHT. YEAH.

THIS IS JUST A COUPLE OF GENERAL QUESTIONS.

ON THE APP.

FIRST OF ALL, I GUESS THERE WERE A COUPLE MORE THAT WERE COMING BEFORE US AND THEY WERE WITHDRAWN.

IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT.

AND WERE THEY WITHDRAWN NOT TO COME BACK? OR DO WE KNOW WHAT THE WHAT THE PROSPECT IS? I MEAN, WHAT WHAT THE DISPOSITION IS.

SURE. YES.

THESE ARE REALLY COMPETITIVE APPLICATIONS.

THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED THE COMPETITIVE TRACT, IF YOU'LL FORGIVE ME.

AND SO ALL THREE OF THE DEVELOPMENTS PULLED EARLY BECAUSE THEY FELT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

ONE DID INDICATE THEY WERE COMING BACK LATER FOR A 4%.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO I GUESS JUST GENERALLY BECAUSE I WHEN I HEAR 9% AND 4%, I THINK SOMETIMES I CONFLATED THE PSC STATUTE WITH THE 9%.

SO IF SOMEONE IF STAFF COULD TELL ME WHAT ARE THE STATE AND OR FEDERAL REGULATIONS, IF THEY APPLY AND THEY GET AWARDED, WHAT KIND OF STANDARDS? JUST GENERAL STANDARDS. I DON'T NEED TO KNOW, ARE REQUIRED FOR THE HOUSING, FOR THE UNIT MIX AND THE AFFORDABILITY.

I MEAN, IS IT A FORMULA OF AN AVERAGE? IS IT, WHAT EXACTLY? BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TO MEET SOME KIND OF CRITERIA FOR AFFORDABILITY.

AND SO HOW DO THEY HOW DOES THE STATE MANDATE THAT AND OR FEDERAL REGULATIONS IF THEY APPLY? SO THE QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN FROM THE STATE DICTATES HOW THEY APPLY FOR THE APPLICATION AND MAKE APPLICATION BASED ON UNIT MIX.

AND THAT'S THEY'RE WORKING TOWARDS SCORING POINTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO IF IT'S APPROVED, THEN TDCA LOCKS IN WHAT THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO IN THAT APPLICATION.

IF THEY'RE AWARDED THE POINTS THROUGH A LAND USE RESTRICTION AGREEMENT THROUGH THE STATE.

IF YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF THE UNIT MIX, IT VARIES DEPENDING ON WHERE THE THE DEVELOPMENT IS LOCATED AND WHAT THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO RECEIVE THROUGH THE POINTS.

[03:30:09]

IT'D BE HARD TO GO THROUGH THAT FULL MIX.

NO NO, NO, THAT'S FINE. I THINK THAT HELPS ME.

SO WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS THAT ON THE STATE APPLICATION, THEY HAVE TO PUT A PROPOSED UNIT MIX AND AFFORDABILITY MIX, AND THEN THAT SOMEHOW GETS MEMORIALIZED WITH PROBABLY SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THE LAND USE RESTRICTION SO THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AND CAUSE, I MEAN, SO THEY HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY, BUT NOT TO THE POINT OF THEY'RE TOTALLY CHANGING THE WHOLE THING.

I MEAN, CORRECT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING FROM OKAY, WELL THAT'S HELPFUL.

YEAH. BECAUSE THEY'RE AND THEY'RE MONITORED ON THAT LAND USE AGREEMENT ANNUALLY TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MAINTAINING THAT MIX.

SO, OKAY, FOR THE 15, 30 YEARS, WHATEVER THAT AGREEMENT IS.

OKAY, SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS.

IN THE PRESENTATION.

I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS LETTER OF CONTRIBUTION.

IS THAT STILL APPLICABLE TO THESE TWO PROJECTS? YOU KNOW THE YES OR NO.

THIS IS JUST A KIND OF A NICE BONUS THAT WE DO, BECAUSE IT GETS THEM AN EXTRA POINT ON THE APPLICATION.

IF THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTION IS $500, IT JUST HELPS THEM BE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE PROCESS.

IT'S IT'S REALLY JUST PERFUNCTORY FOR US TO DO THAT.

ALL RIGHT. SO TO TO BASICALLY REITERATE WHAT COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND SAID WAS THAT THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT.

THEY'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH OUR REGULAR DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES.

MAYOR PRO TEM SAID.

AND IF THEY DON'T MEET THE TRAFFIC STUDY, IF THEY DON'T MEET PRESERVATION, IF THEY DON'T MEET, WELL, THEN THEY EITHER HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO DO IT OR. THEY DON'T GET APPROVAL.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

YES. OKAY, SO MY LAST QUESTION IS ON THE EFFICIENCY PROJECT.

AND IT'S PROBABLY FOR THE APPLICANT.

IT'S A REAL QUICK, REAL QUICK, EASY QUESTION.

HE'S ON HIS WAY DOWN. OKAY, NO.

NO WORRIES. WHEN I HEAR EFFICIENCY.

SORRY, SIR. BOTH APPLICANTS ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU.

CLARIFY WHICH. OKAY.

THANK YOU. YEAH, SURE.

YOU BET. SO WHEN I HEAR EFFICIENCY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN IMAGE IN MY MIND AS FAR AS WHAT'S OUT THERE IN THE MARKET.

AND THAT EFFICIENCIES TYPICALLY DO HAVE KITCHEN FACILITIES.

WILL THESE HAVE KITCHEN FACILITIES LIKE STOVE, REFRIGERATOR I MEAN THEY'LL BE FULLY INDEPENDENT.

IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING? YES, SIR. THAT'S. EXCUSE ME.

VAL DELEON AGAIN.

YES, SIR. THAT'S CORRECT. SO FULL KITCHEN FACILITIES.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL FOR ME, MAYOR. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

SO WE HAVE BOTH APPLICANTS.

SO WE'LL CALL THEM UP.

THEY CAN HAVE THEY'LL HAVE TEN MINUTES FIRST OF WHICH IS SO WE'RE GOING BACK TO ITEM C.

AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING JUST IN CASE I DIDN'T.

SO THE APPLICANT IS MEGAN.

AND I'LL LET YOU SAY YOUR LAST NAME.

I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT.

I DON'T WANT TO MESS IT UP.

AND YOU'LL HAVE TEN MINUTES, AM I? YES. YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS MEGAN LASH. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF ROSA INDUSTRIES, AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING A CROSS DEVELOPMENT.

AS MORRIS AND, YOUR OWN DENTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION, DAC THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT AND THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THIS DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.

AND BEING ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT SERVICES AND SERVING THE DENTON RESIDENTS, OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE A COLLABORATION OF WOMEN OWNED FIRMS, AS WELL AS, FOLKS THAT REALLY LOVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND WE'VE BEEN DOING WORK IN TEXAS FOR OVER TEN YEARS.

AND WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE A DEVELOPMENT HERE IN DENTON, AND IT'S BEEN ABOUT TEN YEARS SINCE WE, DID ONE AND WE WERE TRYING TO DO ONE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE BACK IN THIS AREA.

THE STELLA HAVEN DEVELOPMENT WOULD CONSIST OF 88 TO 90 UNITS SERVING FAMILIES THAT ARE MOST IN NEED.

AND THE TWO APPLICATIONS THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT, ARE TWO OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE APPLICATIONS IN THIS ROUND.

DIDN'T COMPETE AGAINST THE ENTIRE METROPLEX ALL THE WAY FROM SHERMAN DOWN TO MESQUITE AND MANSFIELD, AND THERE WERE OVER 50 APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED.

AND THE TWO THAT YOU GUYS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OF SUBMITTING, OF SUPPORTING TONIGHT IN OUR FINANCING PROCESS ARE TWO OF THE TOP TEN IN THE STATE.

SO THAT GOES TO SHOW YOU THE NEED THAT IS SORTED THROUGH THE STATE.

THAT PART OF OUR SCORING, A LARGE PART OF OUR SCORING HAS TO DO WITH DISPERSION.

AND ALL OF OUR TWO SITES ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE IN THIS PROCESS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THESE AREAS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PURSUING.

OUR SITE WILL HAVE ON SITE AMENITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

WE WILL SERVE, ONE, TWO AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS.

SO WE WILL BE TARGETING FAMILIES AS WELL.

[03:35:01]

AND PART OF THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IS BEING DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE LIBRARY AND THE SCHOOL, AND THIS BEING A GREAT LOCATION FOR RESIDENTS TO ATTEND THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.

I DID, COUNCIL MEMBER BECK, LOOK VERY CLOSELY.

WE'RE GOING TO PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION.

WE KNOW THAT DENTON IS VERY, VERY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR TREE PRESERVATION IN THE CITY OF DENTON.

I ACTUALLY COME FROM A LONG LINE OF ARBORIST AND NURSERYMAN.

MY WHOLE FAMILY RAISES TREES.

SO WE I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE.

I ACTUALLY DUG UP TREES ON MY OWN PROPERTY THIS WEEKEND BEFORE I MOVED.

SO, WE WILL BE LOOKING CLOSELY AT THAT.

WE WILL FOLLOW ALL THE GUIDELINES.

OUR SITE, DOES ALLOW FOR OUR PROPOSED USE, AS FAR AS THE ZONING GOES.

BUT WE WILL BE PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY.

QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT.

COUNCILMAN. WHAT'S.

REAL QUICK.

YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THESE ARE THE TWO TWO COMPETITIVE APPLICATIONS.

THERE IS A QUESTION ASKED, IS THERE ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO APPLICATIONS? AND YOU MENTIONED THEM SORT OF TOGETHER, OR IS THAT BECAUSE ARE.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY EITHER CONSULTANT, BUT WHY DID YOU SAY THE TWO? IS IT JUST SORT OF, THAT'S JUST A FACT.

AND THAT'S ALL IT IS? IT'S JUST A FACT. JUST SAY.

I MEAN, THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER APPLICATIONS IN DENTON THAT HAVE SINCE NOT MOVED FORWARD, BUT THE TWO THAT ARE REMAINING, DO HAVE A CHANCE.

WE WE HAPPEN TO LIVE IN THE SAME CITY, BUT THERE'S NO THERE'S NO CONNECTION AT ALL.

I'M JUST TRYING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN GENERAL.

YEAH. BECAUSE IT'S IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

BUT IT IS AN IMPRESSIVE THAT, THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE TWO GOOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS IN A CITY WHEN THERE'S MANY CITIES THAT ARE LEFT ON THAT LIST WITHOUT GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY, SINCE THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDING.

SORRY. YEAH.

NO, NO. IS JACOB I CAN'T SEE THE PEOPLE IN THE GALLERY.

IS JACOB THERE? HE IS.

THE. HEY, JAKE.

JUST WANTED TO SAY HELLO. JACOB.

CHRIS WATTS, THANK YOU FOR DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB.

OKAY. COUNCILMAN.

MCGEE. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. HAVE YOU DONE MANY OF THESE AFFORDABLE PROJECTS? YES, SIR. WE HAVE COMPLETED OVER 30 OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS UTILIZING THE SAME FUNDING SOURCE.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE COMPETITIVE NATURE WHEN YOU GET TO THE STATE LEVEL, HOW DOES THAT PROCESS WORK? SURE. THERE'S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDING EVERY YEAR.

AND REGION THREE, WHICH IS THE THE DFW REGION, HAS THE MOST APPLICATIONS ON ANY GIVEN YEAR.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY 8 TO 10 PROJECTS THAT WILL GET FUNDED THIS YEAR.

WE THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ABOUT EIGHT.

SO IN THE WHOLE REGION, IN THIS WHOLE REGION AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR, THERE'S 50 APPLICATIONS YEARS BEFORE THERE WERE ALMOST 70.

AND SO, IT'S HIGHLY COMPETITIVE.

IT'S THERE ARE MANY CITIES THAT, YOU KNOW, TRY FOR THIS FUNDING AND FRANKLY, CAN'T BE COMPETITIVE FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

PART OF WHAT MAKES DENTON COMPETITIVE IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE PROXIMITY TO SOME OF YOUR SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, THERE'S AREAS THAT ARE DEEMED HIGH OPPORTUNITY FROM THE STATE LEVEL, AND THERE ARE POCKETS OF DENTON THAT STILL DO NOT HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

CAN YOU SPEAK GENERALLY ABOUT THE SCORING CRITERIA? SURE. HOW DOES THAT WORK? SURE. ONE OF THE SCORING CRITERIA IS DISPERSION THAT I'VE KIND OF MENTIONED, LIKE POCKETS OF DENTON THAT DO NOT.

SO IT'S THE CENSUS TRACK THAT WE'RE WITHIN, AND ALL OF THE CENSUS TRACKS AROUND US DO NOT HAVE, THIS TYPE OF SPECIFIC AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IS PART OF IT.

IT ALSO LOOKS AT PROXIMITY TO AMENITIES SUCH AS A SCHOOL, A LIBRARY, A PARK.

IT ALSO LOOKS AT, YOU KNOW, THE JUST GENERAL PROXIMITY OF GOOD THINGS AROUND IT WHERE PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO LIVE AND BE ABLE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, LIVE CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WORK.

WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT JOBS AND THE PROXIMITY TO, WORKING JOBS OR JOBS FOR OUR RESIDENTS WITHIN THE AREA.

WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT A ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD ADJACENT TO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE, REACHING OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH SOME OPINIONS ABOUT THESE.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO, HIGHER INSTANCES OF CRIME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IF IF THIS COMPLEX IS BUILT? SURE. AND I WANT TO START BY SAYING WE HAD, WE'VE BEEN TRYING SINCE EARLY DECEMBER TO HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING AND REACHING OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

REPRESENTATIVE FINALLY HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING SET UP TONIGHT, AND IT WAS CANCELED BY THE ORGANIZATION LAST MINUTE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT AS OF TODAY.

FOR TO GET TO YOUR ANSWER ON CRIME, WE SEE THIS COMMENT ALL THE TIME.

AND IT IS IMMEDIATE CONCERN THAT APARTMENTS BRING CRIME.

THE THE FOLKS THAT WE ARE SERVING ARE JUST LIKE YOU AND I.

THEY JUST WANT A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

THEY WANT A PLACE THAT THEY CAN FEEL PROUD OF AND, AND BE, YOU KNOW, HAVE A SAFE PLACE FOR THEIR FAMILY.

[03:40:03]

WE STAY ON TOP OF ALL OF, WE HAVE BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR EVERY RESIDENT THAT LIVES THERE.

EVERY ADULT THAT LIVES AT OUR PROPERTY HAS TO GO THROUGH THE BACKGROUND CHECK AND, AND GO THROUGH A PRETTY EXTENSIVE PROCESS.

WE HAVE METHODS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THE RESIDENCE, THE UNITS ARE REGULARLY CHECKED SO WE CAN SEE IF THERE'S NOT IF THERE'S AN EXTRA ADULT THAT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, LOOKS LIKE THERE'S EVIDENCE OF AN ADULT THAT MIGHT BE ON THE LEASE.

SO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, PROVEN METHODS TO HELP, THIS PROCESS AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE GOOD COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BUILDING QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I JUST HEARD YOU SAY YOU'VE YOU STARTED REACHING OUT IN DECEMBER.

YES, SIR. AND YOU GOT NO RESPONSE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FROM THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION THAT WE WERE GIVEN CONTACT INFORMATION FOR.

WE FINALLY GOT CONTACT IN MID JANUARY AND SET UP A MEETING FOR JANUARY 31ST.

AND THEN THE TIME WAS NOT GIVEN TO LIKE WE COULDN'T, THEY COULDN'T QUITE COMMIT TO A TIME.

AND THEN WE FINALLY SET A MEETING.

AND THEY REQUESTED TODAY.

AND THEN RIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE MEETING, IT WAS CANCELED.

SO YOU'VE NOT ACTUALLY SPOKEN TO ANYONE IN THE IN THE OTHER THAN JUST THE COMMUNICATION OF TRYING TO GET THE MEETING SET UP? NO. OKAY. NOT FOR THE LACK OF TRYING.

WE HAVE BEEN EMAILING ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

SURE. YOU ALSO SAID EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE A BACKGROUND CHECK.

WHO LIVES THERE? IS THAT A FEATURE OF THIS TYPE OF PROJECT? WOULD THAT APPLY TO BOTH PROJECTS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING TONIGHT OR THAT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU DO IT.

IT APPLIES TO MOST OF THE DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR INDUSTRY.

OKAY. DOES THAT APPLY TO BOTH OKAY.

HE'LL COME UP AND DO THAT.

YEAH. SO OKAY, HE ANSWERED.

I'M GOOD. WHAT OTHER NORTH TEXAS CITIES HAVE YOU DONE? WORK IN? ARLINGTON, GRAND PRAIRIE? A LOT IN FORT WORTH.

WE HAVE SEVERAL PROPERTIES IN FORT WORTH.

DALLAS. IRVING EVER HAD A PROBLEM WHEN WHEN YOU'VE BEEN AWARDED THE PROJECT, HAVE YOU EVER HAD IT THE MATH NOT WORK OUT AND THEN NOT IT NOT GO THROUGH FOR ANY REASON? I MEAN, I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT KNOCK ON WOOD, NO.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHEN WE'VE HAD A ZONING CASE NOT BE SUCCESSFUL.

BUT WE'RE WE'RE PRETTY DETERMINED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE BEST COMMUNITY FIT FOR THE PROPERTY.

WE HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY.

SOME OF THE FORT WORTH NEIGHBORHOODS CAN TELL YOU.

I MEAN, I CAN GET A TEXT FROM THEM, AND I RESPOND RIGHT AWAY AND I'M ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, BE REALLY ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE A SMALL, SMALLER ORGANIZATION.

WE'RE NOT A BIG FIRM OUT OF, YOU KNOW, OUT OF STATE.

WE ARE LOCAL TO THE AREA.

WE HAVE STAFF HERE IN THE DFW METRO.

SO WE'RE VERY PERSONABLE. AND WE, WE LIKE TO PUT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE OUR NAMES ON THE PROPERTY.

WE'RE ACTUALLY THE OWNERS.

AND LAST QUESTION, MAYOR, IF I MAY.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO? YOU KNOW I'M GOOD. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. I'M GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THIS APPLICANT, PLEASE? MAN. COUNCILMAN HOLLAND.

MISS LASH, I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU. THE RENT RANGE.

ONE BEDROOM.

THE RANGE IS FIVE 580 TO 1547.

TELL ME HOW THAT HOW THAT WORKS.

THAT IS BASED ON THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME OF THE RESIDENTS.

SO THE RANGE THAT THAT THE ENTIRE PROGRAM TARGETS IS BETWEEN 30% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND 60% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

THERE ARE TIMES THAT WE CAN LOOK AT DOING A HANDFUL.

AND WHEN I SAY A HANDFUL, LIKE A SMALL HANDFUL OF 80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME UNITS, THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME OF DENTON IS, I'LL HAVE TO LOOK IT UP, BUT IT'S AROUND 90,000.

IT'S DENTON COUNTY, NOT THE CITY.

AND SO WE HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ARE MAKING, 30%, 50% OR 60% OF THAT AREA MEDIAN INCOME, AND DEPENDING UPON WHICH, WHICH ONE THEY FALL CATEGORY THEY FALL INTO IS HOW THEIR RENT IS ADJUSTED.

OKAY. AND DO I ASSUME THAT THE HIGHEST NUMBER IN EACH CATEGORY IS MARKET RATE? NO, SIR. THE HIGHEST NUMBER IN EACH CATEGORY IS EITHER 60% AMI OR 80% AMI.

HOW AM I BEING AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

SORRY. OKAY. AND THEN.

AND THEN DO YOU EVER CHARGE MARKET RATE.

NO. AS DANIELLE MENTIONED, THERE'S ACTUALLY A LAND USE RESTRICTION THAT GOES ON THE PROPERTY AND WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO CHARGE MARKET RATE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? SEEING NONE. THANK YOU.

AND THEN MR. VAL. DE LEON.

MY CLOSE. ALL RIGHT.

YOU'LL HAVE. IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE TEN MINUTES.

SURE. VAL DE LEON, REPRESENTING, KAREN POINTE CARROLL.

SO, THIS IS A PROPOSED, ADAPTIVE REUSE OF AN EXISTING, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY.

[03:45:07]

YOU KNOW, THE BUILDING WE THINK MAY HAVE SOME HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE.

SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THE HISTORIC CONSULTANT TO, GET THE BUILDING LISTED ON THE LIST OF HISTORIC PLACES.

AFTER THE DISCUSSION EARLIER THIS THIS EVENING, I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE, PLANNING ON PAYING FULL PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE PROPERTY.

SO, THAT'S THAT'S IN OUR NUMBERS NOW, AND IT'S BAKED IN.

SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE REQUESTING, A WAIVER ON.

SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE ANTICIPATING, BETWEEN 90 AND 88 UNITS, BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING TO GET THE BUILDING LISTED ON THE, LIST OF HISTORIC PLACES, THERE'S A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS ON KIND OF WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO, MEANING WE HAVE TO LIVE KIND OF WITHIN THE INTERIOR CORRIDORS OF THE BUILDING.

THE BUILDING FACADE HAS TO REMAIN, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY AS IT IS NOW.

SO THE THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE, ABOUT AS, AS MUCH AS A NEW CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT, BUT MOSTLY JUST BECAUSE A LOT OF THE, SUB WORK AND PROFESSIONALS THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, JUST TAKE MORE CARE THAN A TYPICAL, YOU KNOW, NEW CONSTRUCTION BUILD.

SO WE HAVE A PREDEVELOPMENT MEETING SCHEDULED WITH STAFF TOMORROW MORNING.

AND WE'LL BEGIN THE ZONING PROCESS, HERE THIS WEEK AS WELL.

BUT I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT.

COUNSELOR. WHAT'S. SO ARE YOU GOING TO, ON THESE EFFICIENCIES? YOU'RE ARE YOU GOING TO STAY WITHIN THE FOOTPRINT OF THE OF WHAT'S THERE CURRENTLY? YOU KNOW, THE ROOMS THAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW, ARE YOU BASICALLY GOING TO JUST REMODEL THEM, RECONSTRUCT THEM AS FAR AS IF YOU'RE PULLING SHEETROCK DOWN, BUT THEY'LL STAY IN THAT SAME FOOTPRINT? OR ARE YOU HAVING TO REALLY RECONFIGURE THE THE ENTIRE INTERIOR? SURE. IT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT, GUT REHAB.

SO THE, THE THE THE CURRENT FACILITY OPERATES, I THINK, AT 110 BEDROOMS, ESSENTIALLY.

SO WE'RE KIND OF RECONFIGURING WITHIN THOSE CORRIDORS, AND WE THINK THAT WE CAN GET TO 88 UNITS, HITTING AT THE VERY MINIMUM 500FT² OF, EFFICIENCY UNIT. AND YEAH, AS WE GET KIND OF MEASURED DRAWINGS, WHICH ARE IN PROCESS NOW, WE'LL BE ABLE TO KIND OF FLESH OUT WHAT THOSE EXACT UNIT SIZES ARE, BY MARCH 1ST.

OKAY. HAVE, JUST CURIOUS.

I DON'T KNOW THE AGE OF THAT BUILDING.

DO YOU KNOW THE AGE? SURE. SO IT'S IT'S A IT'S A UNIQUE BUILDING IN THAT IT WAS BUILT IN THE ORIGINAL PIECES.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A LIKE A STAR SHAPE WAS BUILT IN 1969.

AND THEN THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONS THAT ARE ON THE EAST AND WEST PORTION OF THE BUILDING.

THE PIECE ON THE WESTERN SIDE WAS BUILT IN 1995.

AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER ADDITION, IN.

OH. EXCUSE ME. THE WESTERN EDITION WAS, I THINK 85 AND THE EASTERN WAS 95.

SO THERE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A SLAM DUNK TO GET HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE ON THE BUILDING JUST BECAUSE OF THOSE NEW ADDITIONS TO THE BUILDING.

BUT WE'VE GOTTEN SO FAR GOOD FEEDBACK FROM OUR HISTORIC CONSULTANT ON SOME PRECEDENT, FOR, FOR THINGS LIKE THAT, WITH THE WITH NEW ADDITIONS ON THEM.

OKAY. SO AND LAST QUESTION, MAYOR.

SO DURING THE CONSTRUCTION, YOU OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE DIFFERENT WINGS THAT ARE BUILT AT DIFFERENT TIMES, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IN THE OLDER STRUCTURES AS, AS I'VE DONE SOME DEVELOPMENT IN TOWN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT LEAD BASED PAINT AND ASBESTOS AND ALL THAT.

SO, SO I GUESS THAT'S PART OF YOUR KIND OF DUE DILIGENCE OR YOUR, YOUR, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE PROJECT AS FAR AS WHAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED CONSTRUCTION COST WISE AND SOME OF THOSE OLDER WINGS.

THAT'S CORRECT. WE WE MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BUDGET FOR ANY KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION FOR LEAD, LEAD BASED PAINT, ASBESTOS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER ACTUALLY HAD A PHASE ONE DONE, I THINK, IN 2022.

AND IT CAME BACK, YOU KNOW, PRETTY CLEAN.

I THINK THERE'S JUST A FEW INSTANCES THAT WERE CLEANED UP SINCE.

OKAY. THAT'S IT. MAYOR. THANK YOU.

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THIS APPLICANT? YES. GO RIGHT AHEAD.

YES, SIR.

I'M STILL NEED TO CLARIFY THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE INDEPENDENT SPACES ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR OWN KITCHEN.

OR IS THERE A KITCHEN WHERE THEY WILL GO TO BE SERVED IF THEY WANT TO? RIGHT. YES, MA'AM.

EACH UNIT WILL HAVE ITS OWN KITCHEN.

[03:50:02]

SO IT HAS A, A TOILET AND A SINK, BUT NO SHOWER.

SO WE'RE ADDING IN ALL OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, A BATHROOM, YOU KNOW, FULL SHOWER TUB, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND A FULL KITCHEN WITH WASHER DRYER CONNECTIONS AS WELL.

SO IT'LL BE SNUG.

BUT YEAH, WE THINK WE CAN GET IT DONE.

AND ALSO PARKING.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOME PARKING MINIMUMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT HERE LATELY.

HAS THAT HAVE YOU ALL CONNECTED WITH ALL OF THAT YET? YEAH. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL PROBABLY DISCUSS WITH DEVELOPMENT STAFF TOMORROW MORNING, OUR PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETING.

BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK WE'RE AT, I WANT TO SAY IT'S AROUND 110 SPACES FOR 88 UNITS.

SO THERE MAY BE A SMALL PARKING WAIVER, BUT I THINK THERE'S ALREADY SOMETHING IN CURRENT DENTON CODE THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF A REDUCTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY WITH NOT HAVING TO ADD ANY MORE PARKING.

WHAT OTHER KIND OF, AMENITIES THAT MAY HAVE, BRING SOMEONE TO, HAVE INTEREST IN LIVING HERE? DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL AMENITIES? SURE. SO THE THE BUILDING ITSELF WILL HAVE A LOT OF KIND OF INTERIOR CORRIDOR SPACE FOR, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY ROOMS, COMMUNITY KITCHEN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MEETING SPACES. AND WITHIN THE CURRENT DESIGN, THERE ARE A COUPLE EXISTING COURTYARDS THAT WILL GET RELANDSCAPED WITH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GAZEBOS, SEATING AREA.

AND I THINK RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ANTICIPATED A LIBRARY AND A SMALL BUSINESS CENTER.

AND FOR, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE THAT DOES, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU KNOW, ALL OVER THE STATE, THIS IS IT'S A IT'S A GENEROUSLY SIZED SITE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT FIVE ACRES WITH SOME EXISTING GREEN SPACE ON THERE ALREADY.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME MORE OUTDOOR AMENITIES FOR RESIDENTS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SURE.

COUNCILMAN. MCGEE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

HOW MANY OF THESE HAVE YOU DONE? A LOT OF EXPERIENCE DOING AFFORDABLE PROJECTS AND WHATNOT.

CORRECT. SO, VECINO GROUP IS THE KIND OF PARENT COMPANY.

THE AFFILIATE IS THE KAREN POINT CAROL LP.

IT'S THE KIND OF SINGLE USE ENTITY THAT WE USE TO DEVELOP.

BUT THE DEVELOPER IS THE CASINO GROUP.

THEY'RE WE'RE BASED OUT OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

WE HAVE, I WANT TO SAY, 33 DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE FOUR, IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.

WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, OUR FIRST GRAND OPENING FOR, OUR OUR FIRST DEAL IN AUSTIN THAT'S COMPLETED AND LEASING UP IN AUSTIN TOMORROW MORNING.

SO I'LL BE HEADING BACK TONIGHT TO, TO GET THERE FOR THAT.

BUT SO THIS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DEVELOPING ACROSS THE STATE, BUT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, FOUR DEVELOPMENTS, ALL IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

OKAY. HAVE YOU DONE THIS IN ANY OTHER NORTH TEXAS CITIES THEN? NO, SIR. SO THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST WHEN YOU IN THE PAST, WHEN YOU'VE APPLIED FOR THE TAX CREDIT, HAVE YOU ALWAYS DONE THE DEAL SO THAT THE QUESTION MAKES SENSE? YEAH. OKAY. YEAH.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, AT OTHER KIND OF DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES THROUGHOUT MY CAREER.

I THINK I'VE BEEN DOING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR, YOU KNOW, 15 YEARS OR SO.

SO I HAVE, YOU KNOW, WORKED WITH, YOU KNOW, OTHER DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

BUT YES.

SO I'VE NEVER BEEN A PART OF ANY DEAL THAT JUST HASN'T, LIKE FINISHED OR PLACED IN SERVICE, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.

SO YES. RIGHT. OKAY.

WE'RE BEING ASKED TO OFFER A LETTER OF RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE DO THAT, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A GREAT CHANCE IN ORDER TO GET THE PROJECT GREENLIT BY THE STATE SO WE CAN BRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO OUR RESIDENTS.

THAT'S WHY, OF COURSE, THAT'S THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING.

YES. SO, YEAH, THE TRACK RECORD FOR MYSELF AND FOR VECINO GROUP, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY DEALS THAT HAVE, ONCE AWARDED, TAX CREDIT AWARD.

WE'VE NEVER HAD TO GIVE TAX CREDITS BACK.

WE'VE NEVER, YOU KNOW, NOT PERFORMED WHAT WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THAT, COUNCILMAN WATTS? MAYOR, I DIDN'T HAVE A QUESTION.

I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

ONCE YOU GET TO THAT POINT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MY INTENTIONS KNOWN.

OKAY. GOT IT.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO ITEM C FOR THOSE TRACKING ALONG.

AND THERE'S A PERSON THAT WISH TO SPEAK AND THAT IS.

DO I DO THIS? NO NAME.

MEMBER OF SUNDOWN RANCH.

IS THAT? SHE IS THE FIRST TO GO INCOGNITO.

[03:55:01]

I'M KIDDING. I DIDN'T FILL OUT THE CARD.

OKAY, WELL. COME ON. YES, YES, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, SO YEAH, YOU CAN AND THEN WE'LL FILL IT OUT AFTERWARDS.

OKAY. SO VINCE BOYER OKAY.

OKAY. SO RESPECTED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

HONORABLE AND PLEASANTLY HUMOROUS.

MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN.

WHAT'S, GOOD TO SEE YOU LOOKING AND SOUNDING SO STRONG NOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO PULL UP THE SATELLITE IMAGE, OF THE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

YES. SOMEBODY CAN SOMEBODY.

IT'S THE THE WHICH, YOU'RE SPEAKING TO, YOU KNOW, THE ADDRESS.

THE STELLA.

YEAH. THE CLOSER ONE.

THERE YOU GO. CLOSEST.

THAT ONE. YEAH. PARDON ME.

I NEED TO MAKE SURE I'M SCREEN SHARING.

YEAH. THANK YOU. OOPS.

OH, YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. YEAH. THANKS.

SO, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE PROPOSAL IS 90 APARTMENTS AND TWO, THREE STORY BUILDINGS WITH BASEMENT GARAGES ON ABOUT A TWO ACRE PLOT.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF SUNDOWN RANCH SUBDIVISION FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS.

RAISED MY THREE KIDS THERE.

THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC IN SUNDOWN RANCH WILL GREATLY IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IN PARTICULAR, THE MAIN AREA FOR OUR CHILDREN.

IN SUNDOWN, TO PLAY IN IS ABOUT A BLOCK DOWN FROM THIS, PROPOSAL.

AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN TRAFFIC IN, ALONG SUNDOWN BOULEVARD AND RIGHT THERE AT TEASLEY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

EVEN WITHOUT THE ADDITION OF WHAT I'M ESTIMATING MIGHT BE ANOTHER 150 DRIVERS.

SUNDOWN BOULEVARD IS ALSO USED AS AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE ROUTE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND SO WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASED TRAFFIC THERE CAUSING FURTHER COMPLICATIONS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND THE INTERSECTION, IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED TO PULL OUT A TEASLEY, PULL OUT OF, SUNDOWN ONTO TEASLEY AND CROSS OVER.

IT'S ALREADY PRETTY HARD TO GET OUT OF THERE DURING ESPECIALLY DURING RUSH HOURS.

AND, THERE'S BEEN A HIGH NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS THERE.

THE PROJECT INDICATES THAT IT WILL BE GEARED TOWARDS FAMILIES, TOWARDS FAMILIES, AS TWO THIRDS OF THE UNITS WILL BE 2 OR 3 BEDROOMS. AND THE PHOTOS AND THE PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL THAT I'VE SEEN, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE OFFICIAL STUFF, BUT SHOW A PARK AND A SWIMMING POOL ON THE PROPERTY.

AND, NOW I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

OUR CITY REALLY NEEDS MORE OF IT.

AND I DON'T WANT TO JUST BE NIMBY LIKE, NOT IN MY BACKYARD.

IN FACT, I PERSONALLY WAS KIND OF.

MY NEIGHBORS DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT I WAS KIND OF EXCITED WHEN I HEARD THAT THERE MIGHT BE A NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX NOT FAR FROM MY HOUSE.

I ENVISIONED GETTING TO GO DOWN THERE AND WELCOME THE NEW NEIGHBORS, AND SEE HOW I COULD SUPPORT THEM IN BUILDING A TRULY VIBRANT AND UNIFIED COMMUNITY, CONNECTING WITH EACH OTHER AROUND THEIR POOL, IN THEIR SPACIOUS COMMUNITY ROOM AND IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK ON THEIR PROPERTY, CHATTING, PLAYING CHECKERS, AND WATCHING THEIR KIDS PLAY TOGETHER.

BUT I'M NOT SEEING THOSE IN THIS DEVELOPMENT OR THIS.

YEAH. FROM WHAT I'M SEEING, I DON'T SEE A LOT OF GREEN SPACE.

I SEE SOME TREES, BUT I DON'T SEE PARK AREA.

I'M NOT SURE HOW BIG THE COMMUNITY ROOM WOULD BE, BUT GATHERING PLACES ARE A BIG PART OF WHAT BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND SAFE PLACES FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY.

THE APPLICATION ALSO STATES THE EXISTENCE OF A PUBLIC PARK.

I THINK IT SAYS POINT TWO MILES AWAY, BUT I CAN'T FIND ONE.

AND I'M NOT A DEVELOPER OR ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE PRIVATE SUNDOWN RANCH PARK.

I COULD BE WRONG ON THAT.

SO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OF 550 HOMES JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS PUBLIC HEARING LAST NIGHT, AND WE ALREADY HAVE.

I LEFT HIM OVER THERE 163 OVER 160 SIGNATURES OPPOSING THIS DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS BEEN REACHING OUT A LOT SINCE WE NEIGHBORS JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT 24 HOURS AGO.

SUNDOWNERS ARE FRIENDLY, WELCOMING PEOPLE, AND MANY OF US ARE RENTERS AS WELL, SO IT'S NOT REALLY A HOMEOWNERS VERSUS RENTERS.

I GUESS I HAVE TO STOP. YEAH OKAY.

YEAH. THAT'S YOUR THAT'S YOUR TIME.

SORRY. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. YES.

I DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS.

YEAH, YEAH.

DOC? YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE SPEAKER?

[04:00:01]

THE THE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU SAID USES SUNDOWN.

IS THAT WHAT I UNDERSTOOD? THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTOOD.

NO. IS THAT WHAT I UNDERSTOOD? THAT IS WHAT I HAVE UNDERSTOOD.

WELL, HOW IS HOW DOES THAT WORK? I DON'T SEE HOW THAT WORKS.

I DON'T KNOW.

OKAY. OKAY. DON'T DON'T TRUST ME ON THAT.

IT'S IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WAS TOLD.

YEAH. OKAY.

THANK YOU. AND AND I HAVE THE THE PETITION HERE.

OKAY. DO YOU.

YOU CAN GIVE IT TO THE STAFF.

THEY'LL MAKE A COPY, GET IT BACK TO YOU, OR SCAN IT IN FOR US, IF THAT'S OKAY.

YES, THEY'LL THEY'LL SCAN IT IN AND THEN, GET IT BACK TO YOU.

YES. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. THEN NEXT SPEAKER, NATHAN GOLDSMITH.

IF YOU CAN COME UP WITH YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE SOME AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WILL SHOW UP ON THAT CLOCK.

FOUR MINUTES. THREE MINUTES.

FOUR. OKAY.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS NATHAN GOLDSMITH.

NOT FROM SUNDOWN.

WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE COMMUNITY? SUNDOWN RANCH. SUNDOWN RANCH? I AM FROM. I AM FROM, SOUTHRIDGE.

SO THE, THE TRAFFIC SITUATION THAT THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE MENTIONED IS GOING TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE.

WITHIN 300 FOOT OF THAT ENTRANCE IS, IS TEASLEY, LILLIAN MILLER, WIND RIVER, WHATEVER IT'S CALLED.

THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC GOING ON THERE.

WE KNOW THAT AT PENNSYLVANIA AND TEASLEY, WE'RE ALREADY HAVING A LOT OF CONCERNS OF THE TRAFFIC AND EXITING THERE.

BUT I'VE NOTICED MANY TIMES OF GOING OVER TO MARCO'S PIZZA, THE AMOUNT OF ACCIDENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THAT, SUN DOWN RIVER AND TEASLEY, INTERSECTION THERE, AND THAT'S WITHIN 300FT OF THAT.

AND AND I DO APOLOGIZE.

I WAS AN ADVOCATE IN DALLAS, FOR, FIVE YEAR PERIOD OVER GETTING LOWER INCOME HOUSING AS A 10% INTO NEW DEVELOPMENT.

ONE OF THE FUNNY THINGS I WAS THINKING ABOUT, AND, AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT YOUR QUESTION WAS, SIR, ON THE ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT IF WE COULD GET THAT MAP BACK UP.

YEAH, I THINK IT'S STILL CLOSE BY.

BUT IF I'M NOT ON DENTON FIRE RESCUE.

YEAH. BUT BUILDING THE, THE APARTMENTS.

CAN SOMEONE PULL UP THE PRESENTATION AGAIN, PLEASE? AND THANK YOU. SO SORRY.

YEAH. OF COURSE. SO THEN IT'S RIGHT THERE.

SO EVERYTHING'S ABOUT PERMEABILITY.

ALSO, ONE OF THE CONCERNS HERE.

MAYBE NOT TOO TERRIBLY BAD IS GOING TO BE HOW THE, GIVE ME JUST A SECOND.

THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IT SO WE CAN ALL SEE WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING.

SORRY. GOOD.

I'M GOOD. I HAVE MY TIME BACK.

YEAH. NO, HE'S. NO.

IT'S GONE FOREVER.

BUT IT WOULD BE THE ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE TRUCK.

THE THE ONE WITH THE BIG LADDER ON THERE TO GET INTO A FOUR STORY BUILDING.

THAT'S GOING TO PROBABLY BE MOST LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION AS WELL.

SO, I REALLY HOPE THAT THEY CAN GET HOUSING FOR THESE PEOPLE.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT NONE OF US IN SOUTHMONT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS EITHER.

WE'RE ALREADY DEALING WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC ISSUES, BUT I THINK IT WAS 88, NOT 90 RESIDENTS THAT WERE GOING TO BE THERE.

AND THAT IS A VERY DENSE POPULATED AREA.

AND I WOULD ASK THAT IF, IF IT IS MORE, MORE DENSE.

EXCUSE MY GRAMMAR HERE THEN THE ONES THAT WERE JUST BUILT BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD WALMART.

HOW HOW COMPACTED THAT'S GOING TO BE, FOR THAT, FOR THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY RIGHT THERE.

BUT I DO IT'S GOING TO BE FOUR STORIES.

AND THEN WHAT WE HAVE COMING ON WITH THAT IS GOING TO BE THE AMOUNT OF HEIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK LIKE THE THE OPENING OF, 2001 SPACE ODYSSEY WITH A BIG PILLAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE ONE STORY, TWO STORY HOMES WITH A CONDENSED PROJECT THAT'S BEING BUILT THERE.

AND IT'S IT'S A LITTLE CONCERNING OF WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT I THINK THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, WITHIN THE RADIUS OF THAT, PROBABLY NEED TO BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I APPRECIATE IT.

THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING. SO IF EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T FILL OUT A CARD, YOU CAN COME DOWN AND SPEAK, BUT YOU'D HAVE TO FILL OUT A CARD AFTERWARDS.

YEAH. YOU CAN COME ON DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

AND YOU CAN FILL OUT THE CARD AFTERWARDS, PLEASE.

AND THANK YOU. THIS IS ON THE PROPERTY, OF TEASLEY, RIGHT? THAT'S OKAY. PERFECT.

OKAY. MY NAME IS LISA RUX.

I LIVE ON SUNDOWN ROAD, AND I'VE OWNED THAT HOUSE FOR FOUR YEARS NOW.

I ALSO OWN A BUSINESS IN BEN OAKS COURT, ON THE SIDE RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE THIS IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED.

[04:05:07]

SO IT'S KIND OF DANGEROUS.

WHAT IN REGARDS TO WHAT HE WAS SAYING ABOUT FIRE TRUCKS COMING THROUGH THERE? SINCE I DO LIVE ON SUNDOWN, THEY COME RIGHT BY MY HOUSE ALL THE TIME AS A CUT THROUGH.

THE FIRE TRUCKS DO CUT THROUGH WHERE THEY'RE GOING AFTER THAT.

I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE.

BUT THEY DO COME THROUGH THERE A LOT.

I LIVE RIGHT THERE.

I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.

MY QUESTION ALSO IS TO YOU ALL IS WHERE WHERE IS WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO COME OUT AT ON THIS APARTMENT BUILDING? ARE THEY GOING TO COME OUT WHERE THEY ENTER AND EXIT ON TEASLEY? ARE THEY GOING TO CUT THROUGH AND BE BLOCKING SUNDOWN, WHERE IT'S VERY BUSY BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE RANCHMEN AND WE HAVE SUNDOWN TO GET OUT OF OUR SUBDIVISION UNLESS WE GO BACK THE BACK WAY THROUGH UNICORN LAKE.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET IN AND OUT OF THERE.

SO IF THEY'RE GOING TO CUT THROUGH WHERE THIS IS TO COME OVER TO SUNDOWN AND THEN COME OUT ON TEASLEY, IT IS GOING TO BE A MESS. SO.

THAT WAS WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.

OKAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE IT.

YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

OKAY. YES.

IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND THEN YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES AND THEN YOU CAN FILL OUT A CARD AFTERWARDS.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.

MY NAME IS KATE BEAN.

I LIVE IN SUNDOWN RANCH.

MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT IS I.

I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I LOOKED AT THE THEIR WEBSITE AND TO SEE WHAT THEY DO.

I LOVE WHAT THEY DO.

THEY WORK WITH THEIR RESIDENTS AND PROVIDE SOME REALLY, NECESSARY SERVICES.

MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT JUST DOESN'T EVEN SERVE THEIR RESIDENTS.

WELL, WE'RE TALKING 90 UNITS IN LESS THAN TWO ACRES.

THERE'S NO YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS.

THERE'S VERY MINIMAL GREEN SPACE.

REALLY? YOU CAN'T CALL THIS WHAT'S AROUND IT? GREEN SPACE.

AND THEN PARKING. THERE'S NOT EVEN ENOUGH PARKING HERE.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO. SO THEIR RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PARK AT THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AROUND OR DOWN SUNDOWN BOULEVARD.

I, AND, THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THIS APPLICATION, I WOULD SAY I WOULD ASK THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD NOT GIVE SUPPORT FOR THIS APPLICATION, BECAUSE I KNOW THE IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY AROUND THIS DOES NOT SUPPORT IT.

I'M SURPRISED AS WELL.

I THINK ALL OF US WERE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR ASSOCIATION SINCE DECEMBER.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL TAKE TO OUR MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO ASK.

BUT, JUST DUE TO THE DENSITY OF THE POPULATION, OF HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT IN SUCH A SMALL SPACE AND PARKING AND TRAFFIC, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU NOT SUPPORT THEIR APPLICATION.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AGAIN, IT'S, YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE FOR THE SPEAKER.

FOR THE FOR THE DEVELOPER.

OKAY. WAIT TILL AFTER.

YES. OKAY. ANY.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO, ANYONE ELSE CARE TO SPEAK? YES. COME ON UP. YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

HELLO. MY NAME IS TONY SCHAEFER, AND I'M THIS MAP I LIVE.

ON MUSTANG DRIVE AND SUNDOWN IMMEDIATELY WHERE THAT BUILDING WILL BE STANDING.

PROBABLY 65FT INTO THE INTO THE AIR.

AND PERSONALLY, I HAVE ABOUT A HALF.

HALF ACRE WHERE MY HOUSE IS.

AND YOU'RE.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 1.7 ACRES.

WITH 90 UNITS, WHICH IS ROUGHLY, WHO KNOWS, MAYBE 200 PEOPLE.

THAT'S A HUGE DENSITY OF PEOPLE IN ONE SPACE, AND THERE'S NO PARKING FOR THAT.

THEY'RE EVEN UNDERNEATH IF THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD THAT UNDERNEATH.

I WILL SAY THAT I ONLY HEARD ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY AS WELL, AND I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN MY BACKYARD, IT'S IN MY FRONT YARD.

BUT IT ALSO IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WERE, ARBORISTS WITHIN.

AND THERE'S THERE'S PROBABLY 30 OVER 100 YEAR OLD OAK TREES SITTING WHERE THAT IS AND THAT THOSE WILL BE GONE.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ARBORIST COMMENT WAS ABOUT, BUT THOSE TREES WON'T BE THERE ANYMORE.

AND THE DENSITY OF THAT WILL REQUIRE.

PARKING AND IT WILL BE IN THE STREETS, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

[04:10:02]

I RAISED MY KIDS THERE.

IT'S NO FURTHER FROM THAT WALL TO THAT WALL.

60FT IN THE AIR THAT I'LL BE LOOKING AT.

I'LL NEVER SEE A WESTERN SUNSET AGAIN.

NOW, THAT'S A PERSONAL ISSUE.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S TRYING TO HAPPEN, BUT THAT IS A MASSIVE DENSITY OF PEOPLE IN ONE SPOT, AND IT'S UNPRECEDENTED.

THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER APARTMENTS AROUND IT, AND THERE ARE NONE ANYWHERE NEAR THAT.

THAT WILL BE A STANDALONE.

AS THE OTHER SPEAKER SPOKE ABOUT.

IT'S A BIG TOWER STICKING UP.

ANYWAY, I'M OPPOSED TO THAT, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT WOULD BE GIVEN CONSIDERATION TO NEIGHBORS WHO, WHO ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND, THEY HAVE A BLUE CARD FOR YOU TO FILL OUT FOR ME, PLEASE.

AND THANK YOU. IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYONE CAN SPEAK. IF YOU CARE TO COME ON DOWN, YOU GOT TO GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

OKAY. HI, COUNCIL.

NICE TO SEE YOU ALL. MY NAME IS MAX DAVIS.

I'VE LIVED IN DENTON FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW, AND FOR THOSE FOUR YEARS I'VE BEEN A RENTER.

AND LIVING IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES, HONESTLY, IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

TO WORK HERE, YOU KNOW, TO LIVE MY LIFE AND BE WITH MY FRIENDS HERE.

SO I THINK APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE AWESOME.

WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS IN NORTH TEXAS AND IN TEXAS AND IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I THINK THAT YOU ALL SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND YEAH, I HAVE A CARD FOR YOU.

OKAY. IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

IF YOU CARE TO SPEAK ON EITHER OF THOSE ITEMS, YOU CAN.

YES. COME ON. AND SO YEAH.

AND YOU JUST COME DOWN CLOSE AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD IF YOU GIVE YOUR NAME.

AND THIS IS ON THE THE, SUNDOWN RANCH.

PERFECT. IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND THEN YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

MY NAME IS TAMMY STARK, AND I LIVE IN SUNDOWN RANCH, AND I'VE BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS NOW.

MY CONCERN ON THE SAFETY ISSUE, MY BACKYARD IS TEASLEY.

SO WE'VE GOT THAT SOUND BARRIER RIGHT BEHIND OUR FENCE.

NOW, WHEN THEY BUILT THE SOUND BARRIER, THEY NEVER CLOSED IT OFF AT EITHER END LIKE THEY SAID THEY WOULD.

SO WHAT IS TO STOP THESE OTHER PEOPLE, THE TEENAGERS OR WHATEVER, MOVING INTO THESE APARTMENTS FROM GATHERING DOWN THERE BEHIND THAT SOUND BARRIER IN BETWEEN THE FENCE AND THAT SOUND BARRIER WHERE OUR HOUSES ARE.

SO BECAUSE IT'S OPEN ON EITHER END, SO ANYBODY CAN WALK ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH IT WITH NO PROBLEM, AND NOBODY'S STOPPING THEM AND NOBODY QUESTIONING THEM.

SO WHAT IS TO STOP, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THAT FOR HAVING PEOPLE CONGREGATING BACK THERE BEHIND THAT FENCE? THAT IS MY CONCERN, AND IT'S BEEN A CONCERN SINCE WE MOVED IN AND THEY WERE PROPOSING ALL OF THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE ADDING ALL THESE EXTRA PEOPLE, UNLIKE THE ONE SPEAKER SAID WHO WORKS OVER IN BEN OAKS, THEY ALREADY HAVE PEOPLE CONGREGATING OVER THERE AND PASSING THROUGH WHAT IS TO PREVENT THEM FROM DOING THINGS THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING IN THAT AREA WHERE WE ALL LIVE.

THAT IS JUST A CONCERN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND IF YOU COULD FILL OUT THAT CARD FOR ME, PLEASE.

AND THANK YOU. WHAT'S THAT? OH. I'M SORRY.

GIVE ME ONE MORE. TAMMY, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

PLEASE. AND THANK YOU.

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER. MCGEE.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. YOU MENTIONED TEENAGERS GATHERING.

GATHERING TO DO WHAT? ANYTHING. THEY COULD GO OUT THERE, THEY COULD PARTY.

WHAT IF THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING ILLEGAL? WHAT IF THEY'RE CAMPING OUT? WHAT IF THEY'RE TRASHING THE PLACE AND WE DON'T KNOW IT? THAT IS A CONCERN.

IT COULD BE TEENAGERS, IT COULD BE YOUNG ADULTS, IT COULD BE ANYBODY.

THEY'RE GOING TO SIT THERE AND LOOK AT THAT AS A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BE HIDDEN.

THERE'S NO CAMERAS, THERE'S NO SECURITY.

SO WHAT'S TO KEEP THEM FROM TRYING TO NOT GET INTO TROUBLE, OR PEERING OVER ALL OF OUR FENCES TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BACKYARDS? I APPRECIATE THAT. COULD ANYONE DO THAT RIGHT NOW? YES. LIKE I SAID, IT'S OPEN AT EITHER END WHERE RAJCHMAN IS AND WHERE THE FENCE STARTS.

RIGHT THERE, PAST THOSE BUSINESSES BY THE BANK.

IF ANYONE COULD DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

HAVE YOU RAISED THAT CONCERN BEFORE? IT WAS RAISED NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN THEY WERE GETTING READY TO BUILD THAT SOUND WALL AND NOTHING WAS DONE.

THE CITY WAS TOLD. WE WERE TOLD BY THE CITY AND AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY.

THEY WERE GOING TO CLOSE IT OFF.

AND THEY SAID, WE CAN'T BLOCK IT BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO IT FOR WHATEVER REASON FOR UTILITIES AND SUCH, WHICH I UNDERSTAND.

BUT THAT WALL'S BEEN UP FOR PROBABLY A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS NOW, AND IT'S STILL COMPLETELY OPEN.

[04:15:05]

SO IF THIS IS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN, WILL THE CITY OR SOMEBODY PLEASE STEP IN AND CLOSE THAT OFF LIKE WE WERE TOLD THEY WERE GOING TO WHEN THEY BUILT IT? THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU MAYOR.

OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY, CLINT, IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

CLINT WAS. GOOD EVENING, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS CLINT WEST, AND I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY NOT ONLY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE DENTON AREA HOUSING COALITION, THE DAC BOARD, BUT ALSO AS A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY THAT I CALL HOME AND LOVE.

FOUNDED OVER 25 YEARS AGO BY THE VISIONARY LENNY MCADAMS, THE DENTON AREA HOUSING COALITION HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADVOCATING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

TODAY, I AM HONORED TO CONTINUE HER LEGACY BY CHAMPIONING THE STELLA STELLA HAVEN PROJECT.

THE STELLA HAVEN PROJECT REPRESENTS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES WE FACE.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AS WE ALL KNOW, ACCESS TO SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF ANY COMMUNITY.

IT IMPACTS EVERYTHING FROM ECONOMIC STABILITY TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND EDUCATION.

DAC HAS BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING ALONGSIDE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT THE STELLA HAVEN PROJECT NOT ONLY MEETS, BUT EXCEEDS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS PROJECT IS NOT JUST ABOUT CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS, IT'S ABOUT CREATING HOMES WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CAN LIVE.

FURTHERMORE, THE STELLA HAVEN PROJECT IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION AND PROGRESS.

BY EMBRACING THIS PROJECT, WE'RE NOT ONLY ADDRESSING THE IMMEDIATE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, BUT ALSO SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS THAT PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND SUSTAINABILITY.

I URGE EACH OF YOU TO SUPPORT THE STELLA HAVEN PROJECT.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, ENSURING THAT EVERYONE IN OUR CITY HAS A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY. AND AGAIN, IT'S A IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO IF YOU CARE TO SPEAK, YOU CAN COME DOWN.

SO YOU GIVE YOUR NAME. YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MILES WALKER.

I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE DENTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORPORATION.

I JUST WANTED TO COME UP HERE AND EXPRESS MY SUPPORT VERY BRIEFLY, AND THANK THE CITY FOR ALWAYS BEING SUCH A GREAT PARTNER TO DAC.

OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A LOT OF GREAT PROJECTS AND MAKE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR MORE PEOPLE.

AND TONIGHT, THIS IS ANOTHER ACTION ITEM THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THAT CAN CONTINUE OUR MUTUAL MISSION OF TRYING TO PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MORE PEOPLE IN THE CITY THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT. SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

YEP. IF YOU GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

HEY EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JACOB MOSES.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DENTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORPORATION, WHICH IS YOUR COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION TASKED TO HELP THE CITY MEET ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS.

MY COLLEAGUE MEGAN GOT INTO A LOT OF THE DETAILS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT ITSELF, BUT I'LL JUST SPEAK TO THREE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH TOGETHER, SOUTH HAVEN IS UNIQUE IN THE WAY IN WHICH HELPS THE CITY MEET ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS.

THE FIRST IS THE AFFORDABILITY ITSELF.

THIS IS IMPLIED IN A TAX CREDIT PROJECT.

PERHAPS A FEW UNITS SET ASIDE 80% AMI SELL HAVEN TAKES THAT AFFORDABILITY DEEPER 80% AMI BAND TO 60, 50 AND 30%.

AMI IN ADDITION TO WE'LL HAVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WITH LOCAL CONTEXT THAT WILL ACT AS THE CO PROVIDER OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AS A HAVEN, USING ITS EXISTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NONPROFIT AND PHILANTHROPIC ECOSYSTEM HERE IN DENTON TO STRENGTHEN THE RESILIENCY OF ALL THE HOUSEHOLDS THAT MAY LIVE HERE.

AND THEN LASTLY, AND WHAT TICKLES ME AND MY COLLEAGUES MOST, IS THE PROSPECT OF DAC.

YOU'RE GETTING TO BE IN A LAB TECH DEAL.

IT'S AN EXCITING MOVE FOR US AS YOUR ONE AND ONLY CHODO A WAY FOR US TO INCREASE OUR INTERNAL CAPACITY TO HELP YOU ALL MEET YOUR GOALS, TO DEVELOP MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO VERY EXCITED TO PROGRESS TOWARDS THAT AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. OKAY.

OH, COME ON DOWN.

GIVE YOUR NAME. YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES, IS THERE? IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S LOOKING TO SPEAK, IF YOU CAN COME DOWN CLOSER SO WE CAN, KNOW AND WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALONG.

SO. HI, MY NAME IS CHARITY KRIEGER.

I HAVE BEEN A PROUD RESIDENT OF DENTON SINCE 1999 AND LOVED THIS CITY AND RAISED MY FAMILY IN IT.

AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF SUNDOWN RANCH FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS, AND MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THIS APARTMENT BEING ON TEASLEY AND SUNDOWN IS THAT THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING TO INCREASE FROM HAVING SO MANY FAMILIES IN THAT SPOT RIGHT THERE MAKES COMING OUT ONTO TEASLEY,

[04:20:07]

IT'S ALREADY INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

THE TWO EXITS FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND ONTO TEASLEY INCLUDE THE NORTHERN ONE AT SUNDOWN AND THE SOUTHERN ONE AT RANCHMAN.

AND RANCHMAN IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS TO COME OUT OF BECAUSE OF THE SOUND WALL.

THE VISIBILITY IS VERY, VERY LIMITED.

AND THERE'S ALSO A SLIGHT BEND ON TEASLEY IN THAT AREA.

SO TRYING TO LOOK FOR TRAFFIC ON YOUR LEFT TO NOT PULL OUT IN FRONT OF SOMEONE, IT'S JUST VERY DANGEROUS AND VERY DIFFICULT.

WHICH MAKES SUNDOWN THE BETTER CHOICE.

HOWEVER, DURING SCHOOL HOURS, THE TURN ON TEASLEY TO GO ONTO TEASLEY, WHERE THE TWO SCHOOLS ARE FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BEING A SAM HOUSTON FOR ELEMENTARY AND MCMATH, YOU HAVE TO KEEP GOING DOWN TEASLEY TO GET TO MCMATH FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

SO TWO SCHOOLS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU HAVE TO GO THAT WAY.

AND IF YOU TURN RIGHT ONTO TEASLEY AND THEN CROSS ALL THE LANES AND TURN LEFT ONTO TEASLEY, THE LINE FOR THAT LIGHT BACKS UP PAST OUR EXIT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AT SUNDOWN. SO I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT BEING NAVIGATABLE AT ALL WITH THE ADDITION OF ANOTHER 80 TO 90 UNITS WITH CHILDREN IN THEM.

I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WORKING OUT AT ALL.

AND SO THAT IS MY MAIN CONCERN.

AND THEN MY SECOND CONCERN WAS ALREADY, SUBMITTED BY ONE RESIDENT.

AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT IS THE ADVERTISEMENT OF THERE BEING A PARK AND A POOL.

AND IT VERY CLEARLY LOOKS TO ANYBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE LIKE THAT'S REFERENCING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS PARKING POOL, WHICH IS PRIVATE, BECAUSE WE PAY FOR THAT AND WE MAINTAIN THAT. AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD SERIOUS CHALLENGES WITH OTHER, APARTMENT AREAS, ATTEMPTING TO USE OUR STUFF AND ABUSE OUR STUFF.

AND SO IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR NEIGHBORS TO, TO MAINTAIN THAT WITH THE ADDITION OF SO MANY COMING IN SUCH A SHORT PROXIMITY.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND, SO YOU CAN COME ON UP.

YES. YES, CERTAINLY.

SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAND.

MY NAME IS CHARLIE SCHAFFER.

CHARLIE SCHAFFER. OKAY.

AND I'M IN OPPOSITION TO THIS PROJECT.

I WANT TO BE FOREFRONT AND SAY I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ANYONE.

I THINK THAT EVERYONE DESERVES THE RIGHT TO HAVE THAT.

I THINK I MAY BE STEPPING ON THE LAST ONE BECAUSE I WAS FILLING IN MY CARD, BUT, WE WE HAVE A HIGH RATE OF CHILDREN WALKING FROM SAM HOUSTON INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THE SAME ON THE OTHER SIDE INTO SOUTH RIDGE.

AND, WHEN WE PUT OUR FENCE UP AT MUSTANG DRIVE, RIGHT ACROSS FROM WHERE THIS IS GOING TO BE, THERE WAS A BIG CONTINGENCY ON THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE CONCERNED KIDS WERE GOING TO GET HURT BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA WITH FOOT TRAFFIC.

AND AND YOU'RE GOING TO ADD MORE FROM THIS FACILITY, I ASSUME.

AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON A, AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT'S ALREADY PLANNED AND ZONED.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT THE SPACE FOR ALL THE KIDS NOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO IF THEY'RE NOT, IF THEY'RE NOT AHEAD OF IT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE BEHIND OF IT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT SOME SORT OF PORTABLE OR OTHER ALTERNATIVE CLASSROOM FOR THE KIDS.

MY HUSBAND SAID THIS IS A VERY DENSE PROJECT.

THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT IN A VERY SMALL SPACE.

I'M HARD PRESSED TO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT CHILDREN THERE THAT ARE GOING TO RIDE THE BUS TO DENTON HIGH SCHOOL ON BONNIE BRAE, AND WE CAN'T GET CLOSER TO THAT FOR THOSE KIDS. THAT'S A LONG HAUL FOR A DAY GOING AND COMING BACK.

IF YOU IF YOU'RE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION TO GET YOUR KIDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH TRAFFIC OF THE CHILDREN WALKING TODAY.

I WANT PEOPLE TO BE OKAY AND COMFORTABLE.

I WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE.

AND I WANT THE CHILDREN AND THE PEOPLE IN THE IN BOTH FACILITIES, MY HOME AND THEIRS TO BE SAFE.

AND THAT'S THAT'S MY THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. FOR ME, COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND.

YES, YES.

THANK YOU. MA'AM.

ARE YOU OPPOSED TO THEM MAKING APPLICATION FOR FUNDING? I HEARD IT ONE GENTLEMAN SAY THAT HE'S NEVER BEEN DENIED THE PROCESS PAST GETTING FUNDED.

I BELIEVE IT WAS MAYBE THIS GENTLEMAN.

I DON'T KNOW, HE SAID EVERY YOU.

I BELIEVE YOU ASKED EVERY TIME THEY'VE GOTTEN PAST THIS FUNDING, THEY'VE GOTTEN THROUGH.

SO FOR ME, THAT'S LIKE AN OPEN DOOR.

IT'S NOT AN OPEN DOOR.

SO, SO A LITTLE A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION.

SO THEY ALL APPLY FOR CREDITS, AND THEN, PRECIOUS FEW ARE SELECTED.

ONCE SELECTED, THEY WERE BOTH COMMUNICATED THAT THEY GO FORWARD.

BUT THAT SELECTION PROCESS IS THE COMPETITIVE PART WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE FALL OUT.

AND SO IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE.

[04:25:01]

BEFORE THEY GET TO THAT PHASE TO MOVE FORWARD, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK AND THEY'D DO A TRAFFIC STUDY AND MORE DETAILED INTO THE DESIGN, THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

SO IT'S A TWO STEP PROCESS.

ONE, IT'S JUST TO APPLY TO GET THE TAX CREDITS, YOU KNOW, AND SIMPLY SAID THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS WISE YOU HAVE A GOOD YEAR.

TAX CREDITS HELP.

YOU HAVE TO PAY LESS RIGHT.

SO THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE THEY THEY BENEFIT FROM THOSE TAX CREDITS.

AND THEN SO IF THEY WIN THOSE TAX CREDITS THEN THEY COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL.

AND WE TALK ABOUT DETAILS HOW MANY WHAT PARKING ALL THOSE THINGS.

BUT NO NO I DON'T I FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEHIND BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET THIS INFORMATION UNTIL YESTERDAY.

SO I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALREADY BEAT.

YES. AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE UNFAIR AS A TAXPAYER, TO ALREADY BE BEAT IN A SYSTEM THAT, IS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE FOR ALL OF US, NOT JUST NOT JUST THE LOWER INCOME OR THE HIGHER INCOME OR ANYONE ELSE.

IT'S FOR EVERYONE START TO FINISH.

YEAH. NO. AND I THINK YOU'RE ON TIME.

IT IS GOOD TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD EARLY AND OFTEN.

RIGHT. AND HAVE THOSE THINGS SET, SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS AND HAVE THAT FEEDBACK.

SO I APPRECIATE IT. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME COMING UP WITH THIS.

THANK YOU. NO PROBLEM.

OKAY. IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

YEAH. MY NAME IS EMILY AQUIN AND I ALSO LIVE IN SUNDOWN RANCH.

YOU CAN BASICALLY SEE MY HOUSE IN THIS SATELLITE IMAGE AS WELL.

AND I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE FORUM TO EXACTLY ASK QUESTIONS, BUT I, I'M ALSO BIG PROPONENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO WHEN THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORRY ABOUT THE TRAFFIC, IF WE FAIL, LIKE IF WE GET THE CREDIT, THAT'S VERY COMPETITIVE AND THEN WE FAIL THE TRAFFIC, AREN'T WE WASTING DENTON'S OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD? WHAT WE NEED. WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S BOTH PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE SAME THING THAT WE NEED IT, BUT IT JUST SEEMS BACKWARDS TO ME LIKE IT.

IT REALLY HONESTLY, THE TRAFFIC MIGHT NOT PASS HERE.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ZONING, BUT IT REALLY CONCERNS ME.

AND SO WE'RE DOING IT IN THE WRONG ORDER IF WE DO IT THIS WAY, POSSIBLY, I DON'T KNOW.

AND THERE'S ALSO, LIKE THE OTHER RESIDENTS HAVE SAID, LOTS OF REALLY NICE TREES ON THIS PROPERTY.

SO I DON'T REALLY SEE THEY'RE VERY TALL.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD MOVE THEM.

AND THEN SO THAT WAS LIKE, I ACTUALLY WANT THAT AS A QUESTION, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF WE FAIL THE TRAFFIC AND THE TREES.

AND THEN ALSO MY OTHER QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR US TO BUY THIS HOUSE TEN YEARS AGO.

IT WAS VERY HARD FOR US TO AFFORD IT.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HISTORICALLY, WITH THESE OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PROPERTY VALUES OF THE SURROUNDING HOUSES, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO MAKE MY FAMILY'S DECISIONS BASED ON UNDERSTANDING HOW THIS NORMALLY WORKS.

SO THAT'S EVERYTHING I HAVE TO SAY IS MOSTLY QUESTIONS.

GOT IT. YEAH. SO I'LL ASK, WHO'S THE RIGHT STAFF PERSON FOR IT? OKAY. SO, DANIELLE BARNEA, SHE'LL SHE'LL GET YOU HER CARD AND SHE CAN, SPEAK TO THOSE, SHE'LL HELP YOU WITH SOME OF THOSE ANSWERS, FROM HER EXPERIENCE. AND THEN THAT WAY, I'LL GIVE YOU A BETTER FEEL FOR FOR HOW THAT WORKS.

AND I THINK THE OTHER QUESTION TO YOU, THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, IT'S REALLY A MATTER OF INTERPRETATION.

RIGHT. AND SO YOU'RE HOWEVER YOU READ IT IS, IS GOING TO BE RIGHT.

YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AND SAY THAT IF IT DOESN'T FAIL, IT'S I MEAN, IF IT DOESN'T PASS THE TRAFFIC, IF IT MOVES FORWARD AND FAILS THE TRAFFIC OR DOESN'T MAKE, THAT'S A LOST OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S FAIR TO SAY. OR YOU COULD SAY.

BASED ON PRE, YOU KNOW, EARLY NUMBERS.

I MEAN, I TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD.

THEY DO THIS A LOT, RIGHT? SO I TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD THAT THEY FEEL LIKE IT WILL IT'LL MAKE AS FAR AS THOSE STUDIES I MEAN THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THAT AND ALL THAT SUBJECTIVE.

SO IT'S YOU'RE REALLY, NOT A SUCCINCT ANSWER AS FAR AS ONE THAT'S RESOLUTE.

BUT BUT I THINK IT IS.

YOU'RE FAIR TO INTERPRET IT EITHER WAY.

BUT BUT THEY'LL GET YOU THE OTHER ANSWERS AND A FEEL FOR THAT PROCESS BETTER, SO THAT WHEN THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, YOU'LL GO IN INFORMED.

AND SURE, OTHER QUESTIONS WILL COME OUT OF THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

AND IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

SANDY NORTON, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS MAYOR PRO TEM WHO SAID HE DIDN'T THINK THAT IT WOULD PASS THE TRAFFIC OR MR. HOLLAND. SOMEBODY MADE THE COMMENT.

AND SO BASED ON THAT, I WOULD URGE.

COUNCIL TO NOT GIVE THAT EXTRA POINT FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT LIKELY TO PASS.

[04:30:02]

SAM HOUSTON IS, WHICH WAS NOT ADDRESSED.

SECOND GRADE APPARENTLY IS RUNNING 22 STUDENTS TO ONE TEACHER, WHICH IS AT MAX.

SO LET'S PUT IN 90 MORE UNITS.

AND OVERFILL OUR SCHOOLS.

A NEW PROBLEM.

THE PARKING IS A TERRIFIC PROBLEM FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS. THIS COMPLEX GOES IN RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT ALREADY HAS ENOUGH OF AN ISSUE GETTING THROUGH THAT.

TEASLEY. LILLIAN.

MILLER. INTERSECTION.

HENCE THEY OFTEN I LIVE ON SUNDOWN.

I'M THE FIRST HOUSE AFTER THAT DEVELOPMENT.

THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CUTS THROUGH OUR SUBDIVISION TO AVOID THE INTERSECTIONS AT 35.

THE INTERSECTION AT TEASLEY AND THEN EXITS, PROBABLY OUT BY THE MOVIE THEATER.

WHICH IS EFFICIENT FOR THEM.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THEM DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS PROBABLY SAVING SOMEBODY OUT ON I 35, BUT SUDDENLY WE HAVE ALL THE OVERFLOW PARKING AND THAT IMMEDIATE AREA THAT THEY'RE CUTTING THROUGH.

AT AN INTERSECTION THAT'S HAD MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS SINCE THE STRIP CENTER HAS GONE IN ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE LIBRARY.

AND, IF IT'S NOT GOING TO PASS.

WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE STANDARDS FOR DENTON.

I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE GIVING IT A POINT.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OH, IS THERE A QUESTION FOR THIS? I'M SORRY. SANDY, THERE'S A QUESTION.

HI. COUNCIL MEMBER. MCGEE. HI.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

IF THIS PROJECT IS ABLE TO PASS A SUCCESSFUL TRAFFIC STUDY, WOULD YOU SUPPORT IT THEN? I THINK IT'S MORE THAN TRAFFIC.

IT'S THE SCHOOL.

IT'S THE PARKS THAT THEY TALK ABOUT THAT DON'T EXIST.

I THINK THAT THEY BUILD UP SOMETHING THAT'S NOT THERE.

IF THE PROJECT IS ABLE TO PASS THE SUCCESSFUL TRAFFIC STUDY, AND I TRUST WE HAVE AN AMAZING SCHOOL BOARD IN TOWN, I TRUST THEY'LL MAKE PROVISIONS FOR THE CHILDREN, IF THAT'S ALL GOOD, AND THEY MEET OUR DEVELOPMENT CODE STANDARDS, WOULD YOU SUPPORT IT THEN? YES, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT AS AS MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL HAVE SAID THAT IT WILL.

I APPRECIATE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WHO SAID THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T DONE THOSE THINGS.

SO HENCE, I URGE YOU, DON'T GIVE THEM AN EXTRA POINT TO ONLY FAIL.

I APPRECIATE THAT. WOULDN'T WOULDN'T YOU LIKE US? WOULDN'T YOU RATHER US APPROVE THIS? AND LET'S SEE IF THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND ACTUALLY MAKE IT, BECAUSE THEN IF THEY ACTUALLY MAKE IT, YOU JUST SAID YOURSELF YOU WOULD APPROVE OF IT, CORRECT? I THINK THAT IF THE PROPOSAL HAD MORE POSITIVES THAN NEGATIVES, I WOULD BE BEHIND IT 100%.

I BELIEVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THIS IS A VERY DENSE AREA THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE PICTURE, THERE'S NO GREEN SPACE FOR THAT COMMUNITY.

WHERE ARE THEY GOING? SOUTHLAKE IS IS A MILE, ALMOST A MILE AND A HALF AWAY, THE NEAREST PUBLIC PARK FOR THEM.

OUR COUNCIL HAS A COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT IN THE CITY OF DENTON IS WITHIN A TEN MINUTE WALK OF A PARK OR A GREEN SPACE.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS PROJECT MEETS THOSE SPECS.

SO GIVEN THAT, WOULD YOU BE SUPPORTIVE? I DON'T THINK IT MEETS OUR SPECS.

OKAY. FAIR ENOUGH.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. VERY GOOD.

OKAY. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? OKAY. GIVE YOUR NAME.

YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES. CHRISTINE BRAY, I'LL SAY THAT I AM A STRONG PROPONENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I BELIEVE THAT I CAN SAY THAT FAIRLY, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR PROBABLY EVERY SINGLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT PROPOSED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO.

I FEEL LIKE EVERY TIME I COME UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT PROPOSED APARTMENTS, WHAT I TYPICALLY WIND UP HARPING ON IS ASPECTS OF OUR DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEMS LISTED.

FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THAT TEASLEY.

WELL, EVERY LANE OF TRAFFIC CAN SUPPORT ABOUT 1900 CARS PER HOUR.

TEASLEY IS SEVEN LANES.

THAT WORKS OUT TO GIVE OR TAKE 13,000 CARS PER HOUR.

I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT 150 CARS MAY BE GOING OUT ONCE A DAY.

WOULD HAVE THAT STRONG OF AN IMPACT ON THIS.

AND I WOULD REMIND THE COUNCIL OF WHEN A FORMER, AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER CAME AND SPOKE BEFORE COUNCIL, THIS IS THE ONE THAT WAS GOING IN, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE THE QUICK STOP OR THE QUICK AND GO OR SOMETHING.

[04:35:01]

THAT DEVELOPER SAID THAT THEY VERY RARELY HAVE MUCH PARKING DEMAND FOR THEIR UNITS BECAUSE THEIR UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE.

AND POOR PEOPLE TYPICALLY HAVE 0 OR 1 CARS PER HOME.

SO THE IDEA THAT THERE WOULD BE JUST IMMENSE TRAFFIC FLOWING OUT OF THAT.

I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE VERY GENEROUS AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS THAT THIS IS MEETING.

IT'S NOT JUST MEETING A 60 OR 80%, WHICH IS VERY TYPICAL FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S DOING, I BELIEVE, 30 AND 50 AS WELL.

IN TERMS OF GREEN SPACE, ONE TIME I ATTENDED A FORUM WITH A CITY COUNCILOR.

IT WAS HELD AT NORTH BRANCH LIBRARY.

AS WE WERE ALL GETTING OUT AFTER THAT, IT WAS AROUND 8 OR 9 P.M.

AND IT WAS WINTER. SO THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN AND I NOTICED A WOMAN PULL UP IN HER MINIVAN WITH HER DAUGHTERS IN THE BACK SEAT, AND SHE PARKED THE CAR AND DIDN'T GET OUT, AND I NOTICED HER BEGINNING TO SET UP FOR THE NIGHT.

SHE WAS HOMELESS.

SHE WAS LIVING IN HER CAR.

THAT IS, FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE ALTERNATIVE TO NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.

I WONDER HOW MUCH GREEN SPACE HER MINIVAN HAD IN IT.

DENTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, SAID IN A MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL LAST YEAR THAT THEY HAD APPROXIMATELY 500 HOMELESS CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT ON ANY GIVEN DAY, AND THOSE CHILDREN ROTATE, SO THAT IS MORE THAN 500 CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS WITHIN DENTON ISD EVERY YEAR. FOR ME, IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DENTON.

IT IS VERY COMMON.

I AM A LITTLE BIT OF A WEIRDO ABOUT THIS.

I LIKE WATCHING HOUSING PROJECT PROPOSALS IN VARIOUS CITIES.

IT IS INCREDIBLY COMMON FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS TO HAVE MANY COMMENTERS COME OUT OPPOSING THEM, SAYING THAT THEY SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT NOT THIS.

WE HAVE TO LET AFFORDABLE HOUSING GO SOMEWHERE.

NO MATTER WHERE IT GOES, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PROBLEMS THAT CAN BE POINTED TO.

HOWEVER, I CAN POINT TO HOMELESS PEOPLE, FRIENDS OF MINE WHO ARE ON THE VERGE OF HOMELESSNESS, WHO HAVE BEEN HOMELESS.

A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE WHO GREW UP HOMELESS FOR MUCH OF THEIR CHILDHOOD, AND I KNOW THE IMPACT THAT HOMELESSNESS HAS, AND I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS GREATER THAN TRAFFIC. REGARDING TRAFFIC IN GENERAL.

IT TURNS OUT THAT WHEN YOU ONLY BUILD LIKE THREE THROUGH STREETS IN AN AREA, OR WHEN YOU ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO BUILD, PROJECTS, SUBURBS THAT ONLY HAVE 1 OR 2 EXITS OUT ONTO THE STREET, THEN YES, TRAFFIC DOES BECOME A PROBLEM.

SO I BELIEVE WE COULD DO BETTER AT ADDRESSING THAT.

ALISON MAGUIRE PITCHED THAT AT THE PRIORITIES MEETING.

IN SUMMER OF 2022.

AND ALLOWING MORE OR REQUIRING MORE EGRESS WHEN DEVELOPERS BUILD PROJECTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND I'LL INVITE MEGAN UP THE APPLICANT.

IF YOU COULD COME UP. I HAVE A QUESTION.

OR AT LEAST WANT TO HAVE YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

WE'RE WAY AHEAD OF OUR WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AS FAR AS THIS CONVERSATION, BUT DO WANT YOU TO.

IT CAME UP A NUMBER OF TIMES, PARK GREEN SPACE.

I MEAN, NOT GREEN SPACE POOL OR JUST PARK COMMENTS.

CAN CAN YOU CAN YOU CLARIFY WHICH PARK YOU'RE REFERRING TO? AND I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP.

I DON'T KNOW THE TIMING, BUT THAT LIBRARY IS MOVING, SO I KNOW THAT MUCH BECAUSE A BOND PASSED.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW YOUR TIMING OF WHEN THINGS MOVE FORWARD.

I'M ASSUMING IT WILL BE BEFORE THAT LIBRARY MOVES, BUT THAT LIBRARY IS MOVING.

BUT SO I JUST WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD AS SAYING, HEY, WE SAID SOMETHING.

AND THEN IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO POOLS COMMUNITY, HOW DOES THAT WORK? SURE. AND OUR TEAM WAS RACKING OUR BRAIN OF WHERE THE POOL COMMENT CAME FROM.

BUT OR THE IMAGE CAME FROM IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS PART OF OUR COMPLETED PHOTOS FROM ANOTHER APPLICATION THAT WE USE AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF OUR COMPLETED PROJECTS, AND WHAT IS NOT SHOWN ON THIS KIND OF REALLY ROUGH SCHEMATIC SITE PLAN IS THE COMMUNITY COURTYARD THAT'S IN THE CENTER OF THE PROPERTY.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DEPICT ALL LEVELS, LEVELS OF, YOU KNOW, THE 3D VERSIONS OF WHAT'S WITHIN THIS BUILDING.

BUT IN THE CENTER OF THIS BUILDING THAT YOU SEE, THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT POCKETS OF AREAS THAT WE CAN CREATE WITH GREEN SPACE WITHIN THE BUILDING, ON TOP OF THE PODIUM.

WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH THIS IN OTHER URBAN AREAS.

AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, AN AMENITY TO THE RESIDENT, AND IT GIVES A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY THAT OFTEN THEIR PARENTS CAN LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND SEE THEM IN THIS AREA.

THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, THEY ACTUALLY COUNT THE SCHOOL, PLAYGROUND AS A PARK.

[04:40:01]

THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE COUNTING.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REFERENCING AS PART OF THE POINT.

TWO MILES. OKAY.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

OKAY. SO.

LET'S TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME.

WE'RE ON ITEM C, SO I WILL TAKE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR MOTION, ETC.. COUNCILMAN.

WHAT'S. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR STAFF ON ITEM C.

IS THAT ZONED FOR APARTMENTS BY RIGHT PENDING THAT THEY MEET ALL THE DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA.

FORGIVE ME. ARE YOU SPEAKING OF THE STEEL HAVEN OR THE KAREN POINT? OH, STELLA HAVEN.

I'M SORRY. STELLA HAVEN IS ZONED FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT AT THIS TIME.

DOESN'T REQUIRE AN SUP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE REVIEWED THIS WITH PLANNING.

AND THAT WAS WHAT THEY SAID.

OKAY. YEAH.

WELL, MAYOR, I'M. I'M READY TO, MAKE A MOTION ON ITEM C, OKAY.

APPROVAL. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

YEAH. NO, YOU CAN GO RIGHT AHEAD.

YES. I HEAR GO.

MAYOR. COUNCILOR WATTS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

MAKE YOUR MOTION. YEAH, YEAH, I MOVE, FOR APPROVAL FOR ITEM C, IS THERE A SECOND? UNDER THE PUBLIC HEARING? IS THERE A SECOND? MAYOR PRO TEM. I STILL HAVE MY CONCERNS, BUT I'M WILLING TO GO THROUGH THE ANALYSIS, SO I'LL SECOND.

OKAY. DISCUSSION.

COUNCILOR HOLLAND. THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU REITERATE THAT THAT THE SPEAKING OF THE STELLA HAVEN IS IS CURRENTLY, AS WE SPEAK, ZONED FOR MULTIFAMILY? CORRECT. THIS IS MULTI-USE NEIGHBORHOOD OR MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOOD? MY APOLOGIES. OKAY.

MIXED USE. FORGIVE ME. I'M NOT PLANNING TEAM.

OKAY. SO THERE'S NO THERE'S NO ZONING SITUATION NECESSARY.

CORRECT. AS IT STANDS. OKAY.

AND FURTHER THIS IS NOT FOR THIS IS WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ZONING.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, APPLYING FOR FUNDING FROM THE STATE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCILWOMAN MCGEE.

MR.. STAFF. AND AND THE REASON THAT THEY ARE APPLYING FOR FUNDING FROM THE STATE IS SO THAT THEY CAN PASS THE COST SAVINGS ON TO REGULAR WORKING PEOPLE, RIGHT? YES, SIR. OKAY.

SO AN APARTMENT COULD GO HERE ANYWAY.

THAT IS CORRECT, SIR. AS IN, THE PERSON WHO OWNS THE LAND CAN START BUILDING AN APARTMENT TOMORROW.

AND THEY DON'T NEED ANY COMMUNITY SUPPORT FROM THIS COUNCIL OR ANYTHING.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT WOULD BE CORRECT.

COUNCILMAN MCGEE I APPRECIATE THAT.

I'M I WILL DEFINITELY BE SUPPORTING THIS.

AS YOU CAN TELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE BEEN HERE AND WE'VE HEARD PEOPLE COME BEFORE US AND SAY, WE WANT THIS, BUT NOT HERE.

WELL, THEN WHERE? BECAUSE WE ALL LIVE SOMEWHERE, RIGHT? AS THE ONLY PERSON UP HERE WHO LIVES IN AN APARTMENT.

THIS HITS HOME WITH ME BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT ME.

YOU'RE SAYING THAT REGULAR WORKING PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO WORK SIX DAYS A WEEK DON'T SHOULDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME LIVE NEXT TO YOU.

SO WHY CAN'T WE COME LIVE NEXT TO YOU? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY NOW IN TERMS OF DISCRIMINATION IS HOUSING.

IT'S HOUSING.

IN 2014, THE WASHINGTON POST DID AN ARTICLE THAT SAID THAT 75% OF WHITE FOLKS IN THIS COUNTRY DON'T HAVE A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH A PERSON OF COLOR.

AND WHEN YOU BREAK THAT DOWN, IT GOES BACK TO HOUSING.

WE LIVE IN HOMOGENIZED COMMUNITIES.

AND BECAUSE WE LIVE IN HOMOGENIZED COMMUNITIES, WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY AROUND THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND WE DON'T GET OUT TO FORM DEEP AND MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE. OFTEN TIMES, THOSE DEEP AND MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE IS WHAT MAKES THIS WHAT MAKES THIS CITY SPECIAL? IT WHAT MAKES THIS CITY SPECIAL FROM ALL THE OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN THIS CITY.

I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT MAKES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY AND LIVE WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE.

THIS IS FOR REGULAR WORKING PEOPLE.

IT WILL BE LUDICROUS OF ME.

IT WILL BE INAUTHENTIC FOR ME TO SAY THAT I'M GOING TO VOTE NO BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE HAS IT, BUT NO ONE ELSE IS ALLOWED TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT.

GUYS. THAT'S WRONG.

GOING FORWARD.

WE STILL HAVE. WE STILL KNOW THAT THESE TWO PROJECTS STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE DENTON DEVELOPMENT CODE.

THEY HAVE TO MEET OUR STANDARDS, AND OUR STANDARDS ARE HIGH FOR A REASON, BECAUSE OUR RESIDENTS DEMAND THE VERY BEST PRODUCT POSSIBLE.

I BELIEVE THIS COUNCIL SHOULD GIVE THESE RESIDENTS, TO GIVE THESE DEVELOPERS A CHANCE TO MEET OUR STANDARD AND PROVIDE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, PEOPLE WHO GO TO WORK SIX DAYS A WEEK AND WORK 12 HOURS A DAY.

[04:45:02]

THIS IS WHAT DENTON NEEDS AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME THING.

THANK YOU MAYOR. YOU ALL.

YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS ALREADY LEVERAGED ITS PRINCIPLES.

AND ONE OF THEM IS BEING TRANSPARENT.

WE SAY THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE INCLUSIVE.

WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO HAVE HIGH FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

AND WE SAID A COUPLE OF MORE THINGS I CAN'T THINK OF JUST RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO DO IS CONCENTRATE ON THE AREA OF INCLUSIVITY.

AND I'M ALWAYS SEEMED LIKE I'M ALWAYS KIND OF CONCENTRATING ON THAT AREA.

BUT THAT MEANS THAT, THAT MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, REALLY WEALTHY PEOPLE LIVE HERE.

THEY'RE WEALTHY PEOPLE THAT SHOP HERE.

THERE'S WEALTHY PEOPLE THAT PLAY HERE, THERE'S COLLEGE STUDENTS, THERE'S MEDIUM INCOME STUART PEOPLE.

THERE ARE RETIRED SENIOR PEOPLE.

THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A SENIOR, LIVING VILLA PLACE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SENIORS THAT WANT TO LIVE, MOVE HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT SENIOR CITIZENS CONNECTION.

OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS IT'S JUST A GREAT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I WORKED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I PUT MY KIDS THROUGH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE HAVE, HOMELESS PEOPLE.

THEY WANT TO LIVE HERE IF YOU WANT TO BE HOMELESS.

I ALWAYS SAID IF I WAS HOMELESS, I WANT TO LIVE IN DENTON BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE PLACE TO BE BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH GREAT SERVICES HERE.

WE'RE VERY CARING CITY.

BUT IT'S JUST ALWAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS ABOUT CONNECTING APARTMENT COMPLEXES WITH CRIME.

AND LOW INCOME PEOPLE.

AND THEN YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT LOW INCOME PEOPLE.

THEN WE STARTED LUMPING THE BLACK PEOPLE AND THE MINORITY PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT EVERYBODY THAT'S LOW INCOME AS JUST MINORITY AND BLACK PEOPLE AND OTHER BLACK PEOPLE IN OTHER PEOPLE.

SO THERE'S THE TRAJECTORY OF WHY IS IT THAT WE DON'T WANT OH, IN THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING AROUND ALL OVER THE PLACE.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA OF HOW OFTEN WE HEAR THAT.

AND OUR KIDS, WE HAVE GOOD KIDS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THEY WANT TO DO GREAT THINGS AND THEY DO GREAT THINGS.

WE HAVE UNIVERSITIES.

WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT CANNOT AFFORD 1815 $1,300 RENT.

THEY'RE ALL LUMPED UP TOGETHER IN THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING A PLACE TO LIVE.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY, WHICH, BY THE WAY, I THINK HE ANNOUNCED HIS, RETIREMENT TODAY, SPECIFICALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD THE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR 2500 STUDENTS.

AND THEY THOSE STUDENTS HAD TO GO AND LIVE SOMEWHERE THEY COULDN'T LIVE ON CAMPUS.

THERE WASN'T ENOUGH SPACE.

AND SO THAT PUSHES THEM OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THESE PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING.

THEY'RE VISITING OUR, OUR OUR FREE FOOD, YOU KNOW, LOCATIONS.

THAT'S HOW HARD THEY'RE STRUGGLING.

AND I WANT US TO COME TO THE MINDSET IN THIS CITY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE ARE KIND OF LIKE A MIDDLE CLASS CITY.

WE HAVE A HUGE BUDGET, BUT WE STILL ARE REALLY KIND OF LIKE MIDDLE CLASS TYPE PEOPLE.

THAT MAKES US VERY UNIQUE.

IT MAKES US A VERY UNIQUE COMMUNITY.

HOW BEAUTIFUL WE ARE AND HOW MUCH WE TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER IN THESE INSTANCES.

AND I'M JUST THE FRUSTRATION LEVEL WITH ME IS WHEN I HEAR THAT.

THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE LIVING IN APARTMENTS.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST SOUNDS JUST SO TERRIBLE TO ME.

SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, RENT IS 13, 15, 18, 2000, $3,400 FOR A THREE BEDROOM PREMIUM APARTMENT.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR SOME PEOPLE.

YOU DO NOT YOU MORTGAGE PEOPLE.

Y'ALL DON'T PAY THAT MUCH MONEY FOR YOUR MORTGAGE.

AND THESE PEOPLE GOT TO COME UP OFF THIS MONEY.

THESE PROFESSIONALS, THEY'RE OUT THERE THAT ARE NURSES AND ENGINEERS AND ALL OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING AND WORKING IN THESE SPACES.

THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PAYING THE PRICE TO LIVE IN THE APARTMENTS.

NOT ALL OF THEM ARE JUST OLD, POOR PEOPLE.

SO WE NEED TO GIVE THOSE FOLKS A BREAK.

IF YOU'RE BRINGING HOME $2,500 A MONTH, YOU MAKE YOU KNOW YOU'RE GROSSING $4,800 A MONTH BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS 65, $75,000 A YEAR JOB, AND YOU'RE ONLY BRINGING HOME 25, $2,700 OF THAT, AND YOUR RENT IS 13, 14, $1,500.

[04:50:02]

AND WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

BUT ANYWAY. OKAY, I'M GONNA I'M GONNA GET OFF MY MY HEART SO I CAN HEAR THIS.

SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS JUST, SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE WE NEED THE HOUSING.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK, MAYOR.

I REMIND PEOPLE IT IS 918, AND WE HADN'T EVEN GOT TO OUT OF PUBLIC HEARINGS.

SO, IF IF IF YOU DON'T, DON'T DO IT FOR ME.

DO IT FOR STAFF. THAT HAS TO BE HERE AT EIGHT IN THE MORNING.

RIGHT. SO LET'S, LET'S, LET'S TRY TO.

TRIM BACK THE SOLILOQUIES.

COUNCILWOMAN. ESSER.

YEAH. IF IT WERE IF IT WERE ENTIRELY UP TO ME, WE'D BE GOING BY THE PRINCIPLE OF OF GRADUAL TRANSITIONS AND SCALING HOUSING 100% ON BOARD WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCLUDING THEIR, IT'S THE DENSITY IS THE QUESTION.

BUT IT IS ZONED FOR APARTMENTS.

NOW, THAT SAID, I'LL SUPPORT THEM, TRYING TO GET THE CREDIT AND THEN I, YOU KNOW, I PLEDGE TO YOU I'LL BE ON THE LOOKOUT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE OTHER GATES THAT WE ARE WATCHING FOR DOES THE TRAFFIC MAKE SENSE? YOU KNOW, IT'S THE SCHOOL QUESTION ANSWERED.

IS THE GREEN SPACE AND THE TREE PRESERVATION MEETING EVERYTHING WE, AS A COMMUNITY WANT? THANK YOU. OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I JUST I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.

I'M LOOKING UP MY ZONING.

AND I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN DO IT BY.

RIGHT. AND I UNDERSTAND, THE POINTS MADE.

I'M JUST GOING TO BE WHEN YOU SEE A RED BOX AROUND MY NAME, I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHY.

HERE'S WHY.

TEASLEY LANE IS IS I'M AHEAD OF MYSELF.

BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO FORECAST THAT.

I AM. I'M ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE HAWK ON THAT ON THE TRAFFIC STUDY.

IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO'S LIVING THERE.

YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT AND YOU HAVE DRIVEWAYS GOING OUT ON.

YOU HAVE TWO DRIVEWAYS GOING OUT ON TEASLEY.

I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE TECH STOCKS GOING TO ALLOW THAT RIGHT NEXT TO THAT MIDDLE LANE.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GONE THROUGH ANY EVALUATION.

AND SO YOU HAVE TWO EXITS ON THE TEASLEY.

THEN YOU HAVE THAT CENTER LANE THAT GOES ACROSS.

AND THEN YOU GO UP TO TEASLEY AND WIND RIVER WHERE IT'S SIGNALIZED.

SO I HAVE SOME SERIOUS DOUBTS.

AND NO ONE CAME IN HERE AND SAYING, HEY, WE TALKED TO TXDOT.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S TROUBLING FOR ME, JUST FULL DISCLOSURE, IS SUNDOWN RANCH HOME ASSOCIATION IS THE MOST ACTIVE HOME ASSOCIATION I HAVE SEEN.

I GO THERE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, KNOW HIM VERY WELL.

AND SO TO SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIVE OR THAT THEY DIDN'T RESPOND, REALLY, I UNDERSTAND TO BE TRUE.

I TAKE YOU AT YOUR WORD, BUT IT STRIKE ME STRIKES ME AS VERY ODD.

SO OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE THOSE RECORDS THAT'S FOR Y'ALL TO WORK OUT.

AND I'M CERTAIN WHEN YOU GO MEET WITH THEM, THEY'LL WANT TO SEE THOSE EMAILS AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT HAPPENED.

BUT I'LL JUST TELL YOU, THAT'S TRULY UNIQUE BECAUSE I'VE SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS GOING THERE, PLUS ON NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AND OTHER EVENTS, AND IT IS THE MOST PLUGGED IN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THAT I'VE SEEN IN THE CITY.

SO FOR FOR THOSE REASONS, JUST TO JUST UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, UNDERSTAND THE CITY AND GUARANTEE ANYTHING, GUARANTEEING ANYTHING.

BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR IN WHERE I STAND AND THE EVALUATION.

AND I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HEARD YOU SAY, I TALKED TO TEXT, WE TALKED TO TXDOT, AND THEY'RE OKAY WITH THE TWO CURB CUTS BECAUSE ABSENT THAT, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

SO I JUST I NEEDED TO HEAR THAT AND I DID NOT.

SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M A NO AT THIS PHASE.

BUT WE'LL SEE HOW THAT I DON'T THINK THAT HURTS YOUR YOUR CHANCE OF MOVING FORWARD.

BUT IT DOES.

I JUST NEED TO COMMUNICATE THAT.

SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS I SAW YOU.

HI. OKAY, LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

AND THAT PASSES SIX ONE.

THAT TAKES US TO ITEM E.

ANY QUESTIONS OR I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

MAYOR PRO TEM. I DIDN'T MEAN TO JUMP IN FRONT OF THE QUESTION.

I PURPOSELY JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE QUESTIONS.

MAYOR PRO TEM, AND I THINK THIS IS AN ADAPTIVE REUSE, SO IT MATCHES THE AREA.

MATCH IS GOING TO NEED SOME OF THIS.

A MOTION TO APPROVE COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER.

YEAH, I SECOND FOR THE SAME REASONS MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSION.

SEEING NONE COUNCIL MEMBER.

I'LL SEE YOU. RIGHT.

LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

PASSES SEVEN ZERO.

TAKES US TO INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATIONS.

[A. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton ordering an election for Place 5, Place 6, and Mayor to Place 7 to be held on May 4, 2024, and if required, a runoff election to be held on June 15, 2024; prescribing the time, manner, and conduct of the election in accordance with a Joint Election Agreement and Contract for election services with the Elections Administrator of Denton County; and providing an effective date.]

[04:55:01]

A RUNOFF ELECTION TO BE HELD ON JUNE 15TH, 2024.

THAT'S A GOOD LIST. OH, LISTEN.

SHARE SCREEN.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR JESSE SALAZAR, CITY SECRETARY.

I'M HERE FOR ITEM 24 174, CALLING THE MAY 24TH, 2024.

EXCUSE ME. MAY 4TH, 2024 GENERAL ELECTION.

THE GENERAL ELECTION WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 4TH, 2024 TO DECIDE COUNCIL PLACES FIVE, SIX, SEVEN BEING THE MAYOR.

WE WILL CONTRACT WITH DENTON COUNTY TO ADMINISTER THE ELECTION AT A LATER DATE.

WE WILL HAVE THE CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY.

GIVE US THE ESTIMATE FOR THE ELECTION.

KEY DATES. EARLY VOTING WILL BE APRIL 22ND THROUGH THE 30TH.

CANVASING IS SCHEDULED ON MAY 14TH, AND IF THE RUNOFF IS NEEDED, WE WILL HAVE IT ON JUNE 15TH.

DISTRIBUTED IN THE PACKETS TO YOU.

LAST FRIDAY WAS THE LOCATIONS, BOTH EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY.

I WON'T GO THROUGH EACH LOCATION, BUT THEY'RE HERE BEFORE YOU.

AND THAT'S THE PRESENTATION, SIR.

OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

AND CAN YOU PULL THAT DOWN SO I CAN SEE? MAYOR PRO TEM, THESE ARE THE SAME POLLING PLACES THAT WE'VE BEEN USING FOR A LITTLE BIT.

THEY'RE NOT REALLY MOVING, SO I'M GOING TO MOVE.

APPROVAL. COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSION.

SEEING NONE COUNCILWOMAN ICU.

HI. OKAY, LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

OH, GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

OH. NO WORRIES.

YEAH. SO, IT'S.

JOE. ZONING, I MEAN.

VOTING LOCATIONS, SAME AS BEFORE.

WE HAVE A MOTION. SECOND.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND.

SEVEN PASSES, SEVEN ZERO.

ITEM B IS ID 232406.

[B. Consider a final reading and adoption of an ordinance granting to Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC, a non-exclusive electric power franchise for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, and using an electric delivery utility system in the City of Denton; prescribing the relationship and relative rights between grantee and others with respect to construction in the city and location of facilities; providing for enforcement of the franchise; prescribing the duties, responsibilities, and rulemaking authority of the City Manager and the City with respect to administration of this franchise; reserving to the governing body of the City the right to set charges and rates of grantee; regulating the construction work done by the grantee in the City; addressing the joint use of poles, trenches, and ducts in certain instances; addressing relocation of facilities; providing for compensation to the City from the grantee for the franchise privilege; requiring certain records and reports and providing for inspections and preservation thereof; providing for enforcement of the franchise; providing for assignment of the franchise; providing for indemnity and insurance; providing for term, renewal, effective date, and acceptance of this franchise; addressing conformity with applicable laws, City charter and City code; providing for good faith effort; providing for the repeal of the existing franchise ordinance no. 2012-359 to Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC, its predecessors and assigns, and finding that the meeting at which this ordinance is passed is open to the public; and providing an effective date.]

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL RYAN ADAMS, DIRECTOR OF AIRPORT.

SO THIS IS THE THIRD READING OF THIS ORDINANCE WITH ENCORE.

THAT WOULD EXTEND OUR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH THEM FOR AN ADDITIONAL 20 YEARS.

YOU'VE SEEN THE PRESENTATION TWICE BEFORE, IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO FOREGO THAT, AS STAFF IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE REPRESENTATIVES FROM ENCORE HERE.

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ENCORE, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO TO RESPOND TO ANYTHING.

THANK YOU. GOT IT.

OKAY. ANYONE NEED TO SEE THE PRESENTATION AGAIN? YES. SO ARE WE.

REGARDLESS OF HOW THIS PRESENTATION AND QUESTION COMES OUT, THE IDEA IS WHATEVER MATERIALS ARE GOING TO BE SHOWN, AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO TO VOTE.

FINALLY, BECAUSE THE OTHER TWO TIMES WE DID NOT VOTE, IS THAT CORRECT? WE DID VOTE THE LAST TWO.

OKAY. THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. SO, SEEING NO ONE THAT'S INDICATING THEY WANT TO SEE THE PRESENTATION.

THAT'S GOOD. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

SEEING NONE.

THEN I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

MAYOR PRO TEM. I THINK THIS IS THIS PROCEDURAL.

SO I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.

OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND? COUNCILWOMAN. BYRD. I'LL SECOND.

OKAY. WE WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSION.

[05:00:04]

I WAS TALKING TO.

I SAW MY FRIEND LISA STANLEY'S POST, THAT YOU FINALLY GOT HER.

SO SHE'S WITH THE WITH THE SCHOOL THERE IN LITTLE ELM.

IT'S THEIR EAST CAMPUS. WHAT IS IT? IT'S, CHILDREN.

IT'S COLLEGIATE ACADEMY THERE.

SO, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, SHE SHE SAYS GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU.

NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, BUT ENCORE RELATED.

SO, WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

COUNCIL MEMBER. I'LL SEE YOU.

HI. HI. OKAY, LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO.

TAKES US TO ITEM C, ID 24078.

[C. Consider adoption of an Ordinance of the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation, authorizing the approval of a first amendment to a contract between the City of Denton and the Denton Chamber of Commerce, amending the contract approved by the City Council on September 27, 2022 and extended through September 30, 2024 by consent of both parties, in the not to exceed amount of $125,000, said first amendment to provide additional funding to provide for a program to promote economic development, providing for the expenditure of funds therefore; and providing for an effective date (providing for an additional first amendment expenditure amount not-to-exceed $25,000, with the total contract amount not-to-exceed $150,000). The Economic Development Partnership Board recommends approval (10-0).]

EXTENDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024 BY CONSENT ON BOTH PARTIES.

OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M CHRISTINE TAYLOR, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HERE WITH AARON CARTER, THE DENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT.

WE'RE GOING TO RUN THROUGH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONTRACT.

OH, MAYBE.

ON OUR SIDES. WE'RE GOING TO RUN THROUGH QUICKLY THE BACKGROUND OF OUR AGREEMENT FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP.

AARON IS GOING TO RUN THROUGH THE ANNUAL REPORT.

THEN WE'LL TALK THROUGH OUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND DISCUSSION AND NEXT STEPS.

SO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE DENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ENTERED INTO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT IN 1986.

THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AGREEMENT, THE CITY PROVIDES FUNDS ANNUALLY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION BUDGET FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT INCLUDES VARIOUS ACTIVITIES THAT WE WORK TOGETHER ON, ON GENERATION ACTIVITIES, MARKETING ACTIVITIES AND THE SMALL BUSINESS HOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT CENTER. OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE CHAMBER HAS EVOLVED, CONTINUING TO IMPROVE BY INCLUDING SPECIFIC GOALS FROM THE STRATEGIC PLAN DELIVERABLES, METRICS ALONG WITH ENHANCED CLAUSES REGARDING FINANCIAL REPORTING, INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS AND 20 1920.

THE CHAMBER APPROVED A NEW FORMAT FOR THE AGREEMENT, ALLOWING THE INCORPORATION OF A WORK PLAN, WHICH PROVIDES BOTH ENTITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SPECIFIC DETAILS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RELATED TO THE ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE FUNCTIONS.

THE EXISTING AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE IN WAS APPROVED AND 22, 22, 23 AND THEN ALLOWED FOR A ONE YEAR OPTIONAL RENEWAL, WHICH WE DID RENEW EARLIER THIS YEAR.

SO THE AGREEMENT IS GOOD THROUGH 2324.

LAST SUMMER. DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE DENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REQUESTED A $50,000 SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING INCREASE FOR TO INCREASE THE MARKETING BUDGET AND WHAT THEY WERE SEEING ON THE MARKET FOR STAFF SALARIES.

THIS SUPPLEMENTAL WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.

AFTER THAT SUPPLEMENTAL WAS APPROVED, WE GOT NOTICE AARON AND I BOTH THAT WE BOTH WERE GOING TO HAVE KEY VACANCIES IN OUR DEPARTMENTS.

SO WAYNE EMERSON, THE DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, AND THEN THE DENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, WHO WAS DAN ROSENFELD, BOTH BECAME VACANT.

THESE VACANCIES REALLY ALLOWED AARON AND I THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE THE EXISTING AGREEMENT AND FOCUS ON WERE THERE BETTER WAYS TO REALIGN THE PROGRAM DUTIES THAT FIT BOTH OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS BETTER? SO KEY CHANGES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TONIGHT INCLUDE SHIFTING BUSINESS RECRUITMENT AND MARKETING FROM THE CHAMBER TO THE CITY, AND THEN SHIFTING BUSINESS RETENTION FROM THE CITY, BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION TO THE CHAMBER.

THIS ALIGNS WITH OUR STRENGTHS.

THE CHAMBER HAS A VERY GOOD PULSE ON THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND THAT BUSINESS RETENTION IS A VERY GOOD COMPLEMENT TO THEIR SKILL SET.

TO ACCOMMODATE THIS CHANGE THE AMENDMENT, WE ARE ONLY SEEKING TO ADD $25,000 FROM THAT 50,000 THAT WAS APPROVED FOR THOSE STAFF SALARIES.

THE REMAINING $25,000 WILL STAY WITHIN THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR MARKETING EFFORTS.

I'M GOING TO PAUSE AND PULL DOWN MY PRESENTATION, AND AARON'S GOING TO RUN THROUGH THE ANNUAL REPORT.

OKEY DOKEY.

CHRISTINE AND I ARE ABOUT THE SAME HEIGHT, SO THAT WORKS PERFECTLY.

AND THAT DOESN'T OFTEN HAPPEN.

GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, COUNCIL.

[05:05:01]

MY NAME IS.

OKAY, WE'LL GO AGAIN.

GOOD EVENING, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS AARON CARTER, AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE DENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

IT IS 935, AND MY BEDTIME IS PROMPTLY 9:00.

SO WE'LL JUST SEE HOW THIS GOES, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU ALL.

BUT I'M ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE TONIGHT WE I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.

IT'S ACTUALLY TOMORROW IS HIS FIRST DAY.

SO, TO BE FRANK, WE'LL SEE IF HE JUST SHOWS UP FOR WORK TOMORROW AFTER WHAT HE'S EXPERIENCED TONIGHT.

BUT, JAMIE ADAMS IS WITH US.

HE'S BEHIND ME. HE IS OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.

HE'S COMING TO US FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS.

SO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE WILL GET HIM ONBOARDED AND ADJUSTED TO THE JOB.

AND AS THE CITY HIRES THE NEXT DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO GET THE BALL ROLLING AGAIN.

BUT AS CHRISTINE SAID, WE WILL RUN THROUGH THIS.

ACTUALLY, THIS WAS A REALLY GREAT TIME TO LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING, JUST REALLY QUICKLY FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, IS A WORKFORCE CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE SEEING ON THE REGULAR BASIS.

2.8 PEOPLE MOVED TO NORTH TEXAS EVERY MINUTE.

SO WHILE WE'VE BEEN IN HERE, APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 64 PEOPLE HAVE RELOCATED TO NORTH TEXAS.

SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE MATH OF HOW WE TALK ABOUT WAYS THAT WE ARE ATTRACTING AND RETAINING PEOPLE TO THIS COMMUNITY.

SO JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE TALK ABOUT IT AS WORKFORCE ATTRACTION AND HOUSING.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT.

SO JUST FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, IT'S DEFINITELY ON OUR FOREFRONT.

BUT THE MISSION OF THE DENTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP IS TO EXPAND THE CITY'S TAX BASE AND SUPPORT THE CREATION OF JOBS THROUGH TARGETED MARKETING, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, AND STAKEHOLDER EDUCATION.

JUST FOR THE FOLKS BEHIND ME, WHICH HAVE DRASTICALLY DECREASED OVER TIME.

NOT SURE WHY? THIS IS VERY EXCITING.

I HAVE 12 SLIDES NOW.

WE ARE DOWN TO 11 AND THE LAST SLIDE IS.

THANK YOU. SO DOING THE MATH.

THAT'S ONLY TEN LEFT. HERE WE GO.

THE DENTON'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP PLAYS SIX STRATEGIC ROLES IN OUR COMMUNITY MARKET.

DENTON'S ASSETS ASSET SERVICE A PUBLIC PRIVATE CONNECTOR BROKER.

NEW BUSINESS INFORMATION, NAVIGATE PERSPECTIVES, PROSPECTS, CONVENE INDUSTRY PLAYERS, AND SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS.

WE ARE DOING THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME, EACH AND EVERY DAY, IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY.

AND THE TEAM AT THE CITY ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, BIG BUSINESS, AND YOU ALL PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN DOING THAT WITH US.

AS A REMINDER, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO RAISE 125,000 FROM THE COMMUNITY.

FUNDS DO NOT COME FROM GENERAL CHAMBER MEMBERSHIPS.

I JUST WANT TO REPEAT THAT AGAIN.

FUNDS DO NOT COME FROM GENERAL CHAMBER MEMBERSHIPS.

SUPPORT IS RAISED SPECIFICALLY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.

TO DATE, WE HAVE 130 BUSINESSES THAT INVEST IN THE PARTNERSHIP, AND AT THE TIME OF OUR CONTRACT RENEWAL LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 97 INVESTORS IN THE PARTNERSHIP, WHICH MEANS FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, WE HAVE GROWN COMPANIES IN ALL OF THE CITY'S STRATEGIC GROWTH AREAS.

ARE REPRESENTATIVES REPRESENTED.

SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU SEE ME UP HERE AND YOU SEE ME TALK AS ERIN WITH THE CHAMBER, AND THEN YOU ALSO SEE ME TALK.

AND I PUT ON MY MAYBE DIFFERENT LOOKING GERARD MAIER COWBOY HAT MIGHT BE THIS TIME CHARTREUSE GREEN, WHICH IS THE EDP COLOR.

BUT CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP IS NOT THE SAME AS EDP INVESTMENT, SO IT IS NOT COMMINGLED FUNDS.

AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU REALIZE THAT AND JUST REMEMBER IT AS WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS TONIGHT RUNNING CHRISTINE.

HERE WE GO. LAST YEAR'S GOALS, WE ACCOMPLISHED ALL FIVE THAT WERE SET OUT IN FRONT OF US.

REVAMPED DIGITAL AND VIDEO MARKETING, CREATE NEW COMPANY TOOLKIT, ORGANIZE INDUSTRIAL ROUNDTABLE, REFRESH EDP WEBSITE AND COMPLETE MARKETING COLLATERAL.

BUILD OUT STOP ME AT ANY TIME, BUT WE ARE ON A TIME CLOCK HIGHLIGHT.

WE HIGHLIGHT DENTON'S TO NATIONAL AUDIENCES.

OBVIOUSLY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO RETAIN BUSINESSES HERE AND HELP THEM GROW, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT DENTON ON A NATIONAL FOOTPRINT.

YOU HAVE THIS PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF YOU.

IT WAS IN YOUR PACKET. BUT WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH OUR WORKFORCE PARTNERS.

THEY ARE INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO DENTON ISD, UNT, TWU.

WE WORKED ON A VIDEO SERIES.

YOU'LL SEE A SNAPSHOT OF THAT GOING FORWARD.

IN THE FIRST MONTH OF OUR REDESIGNED WEBSITE.

WE GARNERED 6000 USERS.

POST THAT LAUNCH, WE REDEVELOPED OUR MARKETING TOOLKIT FOR OUR REAL ESTATE AND OUR COMPANY COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND WE SHARED IT WITH OVER 200 PLUS POTENTIAL COMPANIES IN THE

[05:10:03]

WE LAUNCHED A BUSINESS BLOG PLATFORM OF WHY DENTON.

IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHY DENTON WORKS FOR YOU.

WHY DIDN'T WORK FOR SOMEBODY ELSE? IT'S NOT THE SAME. AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN CAPTURE THAT AUDIENCE.

THAT IS A SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF THAT.

WHAT WHICH I JUST DISCUSSED.

WE HOST QUARTERLY FORUMS OUT OF THE FOUR WE HOST WITHIN THE.

CONTRACTED YEAR I'M DISCUSSING.

WE HAD 430 ATTENDEES.

EDUCATE. OUR GOAL IS TO EDUCATE OUR KEY STRATEGIC LEADERS SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FOLKS IN OUR MAJOR INVESTORS MARKET SUCH AS ARE THOSE IN OUR EDUCATION WORKFORCE, SUCH AS THOSE IN THE CITY, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DIALOG IS CONSTANTLY BEING EXCHANGED BETWEEN THOSE THAT ARE MAKING THE WORK HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT ARE GROWING OUR MARKET.

THE THEMES THAT WE HAD THIS PAST YEAR INCLUDED THE FUTURE OF WORKFORCE, DENTON COPANO REAL ESTATE PANEL.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAD A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND THE FUTURE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NORTH TEXAS.

WE ALSO WERE VERY PROUD TO PRESENT AND ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON A PLANT MANAGER AND HR ROUNDTABLE.

AT THE TIME OF THIS PRESENTATION, WE HAD HOSTED TWO PLANT MANAGER ROUNDTABLES CONVENING LEADERS OF 3000 PLUS DENTON.

EMPLOYERS ADDRESS CRITICAL TOPICS SUCH AS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH I JUST DISCUSSED, EMPLOYEE TRANSPORTATION, WHICH IS BIG.

WE DON'T PICK THE TOPICS, WE LET THEM CHOOSE THE TOPIC.

IF I CAME INTO YOUR WORKFORCE AND TOLD YOU WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, THAT WOULD NOT BE NEARLY AS BENEFICIAL.

WE ALSO INITIATED AN HR ROUNDTABLE, COLLABORATING WITH UNT CAREER CENTER AND NORTH TEXAS SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS SHRM. WE CREATED NEW BUSINESSES WITH WE CONNECTED NEW BUSINESSES WITH CRITICAL RESOURCES, SOMETHING THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD TO PARTNER WITH, SPECIFICALLY THE CITY, IS THAT WE PUT THE NEW BUSINESS TOOLKIT IN THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY EMAIL.

SO WHEN SOMEONE APPLIES FOR A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, THEY ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE NEW BUSINESS TOOLKIT.

SO IT'S HOW CAN WE MAKE DOING BUSINESS IN DENTON THE MOST FEASIBLE AND THE EASIEST AND THE BEST? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR, RIGHT? HOW CAN YOU DO BUSINESS BEST IN DENTON, AND HOW CAN WE BE A GREAT RESOURCE FOR YOU? AND THIS IS A LONG SLIDE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH IT ALL, BUT YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

WE SERVE TO BE AN ACCESS POINT AND FUEL GROWTH.

IF YOU HAVE A CHALLENGE, IT'S LISTED ON THE LEFT.

IN THE MIDDLE WAS AN EDP EFFORT.

AND THE RESULT? WE ARE HERE TO BE A CONVENER AND A CONDUIT TO ACCESS POINTS TO RESOURCES.

AND WE DID SECURE MAJOR ECONOMIC DRIVERS.

ONE THAT I THINK WOULD BE OF MAJOR INTEREST TO THIS BODY WOULD BE THAT WE DID RECEIVE 181 LEADS, WHICH LED TO APPROXIMATELY JUST SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 1,000,000FT² OF NEW INDUSTRIAL LEASES.

SO WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, WHETHER IT IS THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHETHER IT IS THE DALLAS REGIONAL CHAMBER OR THE FORT WORTH CHAMBER, WHICH IS A LEAD GENERATION SOURCE OF IT. THE GOVERNOR, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY OF DENTON BECAUSE IT IS A TRUE PARTNERSHIP TO SOURCE, PLACE AND FIND HOMES FOR BUSINESSES HERE IN DENTON BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO DO BUSINESS THAN HERE IN THE CITY OF DENTON.

DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR YOU'RE JUST REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? OKAY, GOOD.

OH MY GOSH. WELL ME TOO.

OKAY. AND THEN, OF COURSE, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE DO FUND THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. PEOPLE THINK WE MIGHT ONLY WORK WITH BIG BUSINESS, BUT THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE CASE.

WE ALSO SUPPORT AND FUND THE SBDC.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE THAT OUT OF THAT PAST YEARS RESOURCE, IT DID BRING A CAPITAL INFUSION OF JUST UNDER $40,000.

AND WE ARE VERY PROUD TO SERVE EVERY ASSET, EVERY ASPECT OF BUSINESS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH PEOPLE LIKE STOKE, AND SO WE BRING EVERYTHING FROM THE ENTREPRENEURIAL TO THE VERY BIGGEST OF BUSINESS.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH YOU NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR BUSINESS, BUSINESS PATH.

AND LIKE I SAID, 12 SLIDES, THE 12TH BEING THE LAST, WE ARE A PARTNERSHIP.

THE EDP EXISTS DUE TO THE THE INVESTMENT FROM OUR MAJOR INVESTORS, FROM OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FROM THE CITY OF DENTON AND FROM EACH OF YOU.

SO WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP.

IT HAS BEEN A JOY TO LOOK AT THE CONTRACT WITH CHRISTINE AND THE TEAM AND SAY, WHAT CAN WE BE DOING BETTER TOGETHER, REALIGN AND AND LOOK AT OUR SKILL SETS AS A TEAM AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO BEST NEXT. SO WE DID BRING THIS TO EDPB.

IT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE RE-ENGAGEMENT.

JAMIE'S ON BOARD. SUPER EXCITED TO GET HIM RUNNING.

WE'LL BRING HIM AND MEET SOME PEOPLE TOMORROW AT WAKE UP WEDNESDAY NICE AND EARLY.

SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO BETTER, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

BUT WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU.

[05:15:09]

JUST POINTING OUT THE MAJOR ONES THAT WE DID SWAP ARE THE BUSINESS RECRUITMENT AND ATTRACTION WILL FALL TO THE CITY'S LEAD ALONG WITH MARKETING, AND THE CHAMBER WILL HELP US WITH THEIR PULSE ON THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND FOCUS ON BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION.

WE WILL. WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

AGAIN, THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING AGREEMENT THAT IS FOR THIS ENDS THIS YEAR.

AND WE WILL WORK ON METRICS AND THEN BRING BACK AN ADDITIONAL AGREEMENT IN THE FALL.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AND A MOTION COUNCILMAN MELTZER.

YES, AARON, JUST AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL NOW THAT YOU'D BE FOCUSING ON IF THIS PASSES ON RETENTION, WHAT ARE THE THE MAIN KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE COULD BE DOING BETTER AS A COMMUNITY TO RETAIN BUSINESSES, SMALL AND BIG BUSINESSES.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

ONE I THINK WOULD BE, WELL, NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS REALLY, NOW THAT WE'VE DELINEATED AND WE ARE TAKING OVER THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY, AND CHRISTINE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS, WE'RE NOT DOING DUPLICATIVE WORK.

SO THAT WAS SOMEWHAT HAPPENING BEFORE.

WE BOTH HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT.

SO INSTEAD OF OUR TEAM GOING OUT AND THEN THE CITY TEAM GOING OUT AND THEN OUR TEAM GOING OUT, IT'S ONE CONSTANT CONVERSATION.

SO IN TURNING IT OVER TO JAMIE, WHO WILL START TOMORROW, HAVING THAT CONTINUAL CONVERSATION, WHAT IS KEEPING YOU UP AT NIGHT? WHAT SERVICES DO WE NOT HAVE THAT WE COULD OFFER? WHAT IN OUR FOUR SERVICE AREAS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN? COULD WE BE BETTER SERVING YOU? AND THEN ARE THERE THINGS THAT THE CITY DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE IN THE CITY, BEING THE CITY AT BROAD RESOURCES SERVICES, WHATNOT? AND THEN HOW CAN WE BETTER CONNECT YOU TO THOSE RESOURCES TO KEEP YOU HERE? AND NOW WE KNOW THERE'S SOME THINGS WE WE CAN'T DO, RIGHT? BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO CONNECT THEM TO THOSE RESOURCES.

AND NOW, BECAUSE WE WON'T, OUR TEAM WON'T HAVE A CONVERSATION AND THE CITY TEAM WON'T HAVE A CONVERSATION, AND WE WON'T BE TAKING SO MUCH OF THE BUSINESS OWNER'S TIME.

THAT'S A BETTER BUSINESS PLAN AND THAT'S A MORE STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY.

SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE AN ACCOUNT RELATIONSHIP KIND OF.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE DO.

THAT'S OUR STRENGTH AS A BUSINESS ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IS GOING IN, HAVING TARGETED CONVERSATIONS, COMING BACK OUT AND HAVING THOSE VERY, TARGETED CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY.

AND SO INSTEAD OF THEN CHRISTINE'S TEAM GOING IN AND DOING THE SAME THING, AND THEY'RE LIKE, I JUST THINK I TOLD JAMIE THAT LAST WEEK, WE'RE CUTTING THAT OUT.

AND SO I THINK THIS WILL BE A MUCH STRONGER FOREFRONT.

AND THEN I KNOW THAT MAYOR PRO TEM BECK HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT REPORTING.

AND SO THAT WILL CHANGE OUR REPORTING METRICS, BECAUSE CHRISTINE'S TEAM WON'T BE SAYING, WELL, I HEARD THIS, AND THEN WE'LL BE SAYING, WELL, I HEARD THIS.

AND SO IT WILL REALLY STREAMLINE TO SAY WE USE HUBSPOT.

IT IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF CRM TOOL THAT IS OUR STRENGTH AS WELL.

WE'RE VERY GOOD AT HUBSPOT.

WE'RE VERY GOOD AT CHAMBER MASTER, AND SO WE WILL TAKE BACK FULL OWNERSHIP OF THAT.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I LOVE A DATABASE.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CHRISTINE AS WELL, IF I MAY, MAYOR.

CERTAINLY. YEAH.

JUST AS YOU NOW BEGIN TO FOCUS ON THE RECRUITMENT SIDE, ARE YOU, ARE YOU STILL CONFIDENT IN THE GUIDANCE OF THE ADOPTED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABLE DENTON, CREATIVE DENTON, CONNECTED DENTON AND SO ON? YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WE FEEL THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS STILL VERY VIABLE FOR SEVERAL OF THOSE CATEGORIES.

THERE WAS A BIG EMPHASIS ON RECOVERY COMING OUT OF COVID.

SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO REVISIT, BUT THOSE CREATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE DEFINITELY ARE ASSETS WE HAVE THAT WE NEED TO BE OUT AND MARKETING.

AND THE ONLY OTHER PIECE I WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE BUSINESS RETENTION.

WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS THAT DATA.

ARE YOU RENTING? HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO BE THERE? DO YOU OWN IT? SEVERAL IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, YOU KNOW, WHEN BUSINESSES GO OUT, WE'RE HEARING ABOUT IT AS THEY'RE HAPPENING AND WE REALLY BOTH FELT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT BEFORE WITH OUR TOOLS WE COULD HAVE HELPED YOU WITH PRIOR TO GETTING TO THAT POINT.

SO REALLY, THE DATA IS WHAT WE FEEL IS MOST IMPORTANT ON THE BUSINESS RETENTION PIECE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU BOTH HAVE, YOU KNOW, MY SUPPORT AS YOU ENTER INTO YOUR NEW AREAS OF FOCUS, MAYOR PRO TEM.

HATS OFF TO. I DID AT 10 P.M..

THERE WE GO. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO I APPRECIATE THE THE SEGUE, STRAIGHT FROM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF MY COMMENTS, THAT I SENT IN EARLIER MATERIALS AND THEN, AND THE FOCUS ON THE DATA.

AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT COMING OUT OF THIS BLIND FOR MY CRM WORK.

[05:20:01]

BUT THE, WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GO THROUGH THE MATERIAL AND, AND.

YOU KNOW, YOU ALL MAY NOT LIKE HOW WHAT YOU KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO COME ACROSS ON THIS ONE.

BUT SOMETIMES CRITIQUE IS UNCOMFORTABLE.

AND THE DATA, WHEN I WAS TRYING TO EVALUATE OUR PROGRESS AND WHERE WE WERE AND SOME OF THESE SAME THINGS THAT YOU'VE JUST ADMITTED, I HAD A HECK OF A TIME WITH THE ORIGINAL BACKUP, AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR FOLLOW UPS.

YOU KNOW, CAN I CAN I SEE THE THE Q4 REPORTS? CAN I CAN I SEE SOME OTHER MATERIALS BECAUSE IT I COULDN'T REALLY, YOU KNOW, A LOT A LOT OF IT WAS REALLY SPARSE.

ONE PAGERS, ONE PAGERS FOR A MONTH OF ACTIVITY, FOUR PAGERS, WITHOUT TRENDS, WITHOUT TREND ANALYSIS, WITHOUT SORT OF MEASURABLE DATA AND DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS.

I COULDN'T TELL IF WE WERE GOING UP OR DOWN OR WHAT OUR TREND LINES WERE OR, YOU KNOW, IT JUST SORT OF WAS.

AND, THIS, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO TELL, YOU KNOW, ARE WE DOING PROACTIVE RECRUITMENT METRICS? SO I'M, I TRUST THE REALIGNMENT THAT STAFF IS, IS PUTTING TOGETHER.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A, THERE'S A TIME, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A HICCUP, AND YOU'RE NOT SURE WHERE THE VECTORS WERE GOING IN, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD TIME TO STEP BACK AND REEVALUATE.

SO I HAVE TO ADMIT, HONESTLY, A FAIR BIT OF CONCERN BECAUSE I JUST COULDN'T TELL IN WAYS THAT THIS BODY IS SUPPOSED TO SET POLICY.

I COULDN'T SEE THE DIRECTIONS THAT WE WERE HEADED.

ANECDOTALLY, I CAN TELL FROM INTERACTING WITH THE CHAMBER, THEY DO A FABULOUS JOB OF BUSINESS, RETENTION IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT BUSINESSES SEEM LIKE A VITAL COMPONENT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YES, SIR.

BUT I WAS GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, I'M GOING TO BASICALLY JUST PUT, PUT YOU ALL ON NOTICE, ESPECIALLY THE CHAMBER THAT THAT I CAN'T TELL WHERE WE'RE GOING. AND IT MAKES ME WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE.

AND IT MAKES ME WORRY ABOUT OTHER ANCILLARY PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, LIKE SECOND CHANCE HIRING OR OTHER THINGS WHERE I CAN'T TELL WHERE WE'RE GOING.

SO I GUESS MY DIRECTION IS I'M FINE WITH THE EXTENSION.

YOU KNOW, I'M FINE WITH THE REALIGNMENT.

I THINK THOSE ARE PROBABLY GOOD THINGS, BUT I REALLY HOPE YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR FOR FOR BETTER REPORTING, GOING FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, AND SO I, I GUESS BECAUSE I TRUST STAFF, I'M GOING TO UNCOMFORTABLY SUPPORT, THE, THE SUPPLEMENT, BUT BUT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I SHOULD BE SUPPORTING THE SUPPLEMENT OR NOT, TO BE FRANK.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT JAMIE DOES KNOW THAT THIS IS A SECURE JOB OPPORTUNITY, SO THAT'S EXCITING.

BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT, AS CHRISTINA AND I HAVE DISCUSSED, ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS HISTORICALLY ARE ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE VEST.

SO AS A SO I PLAY BOTH ROLES I AND AS A, AS A REMINDER FOR THE ENTIRE BODY.

THE CHAMBER IS THE EIN.

SO THE CHAMBER IS THE 500 AND 1C6 AS THE BODY.

THE BOARD IS THE GOVERNING BODY.

AND THERE ARE FOUR LINES OF BUSINESS.

THERE'S THE CHAMBER AND THEN THERE'S DISCOVER DENTON AND THEN THERE'S THE EDP, AND THEN THERE'S THE VISITOR CENTER AND THE CHAMBER.

SO JUST TO BE CERTAIN, ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS BY NATURE ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE VEST WE ARE NOT GOOD AT.

SO IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I BOTH LIKE I BOTH THIS, CHAMBER PEOPLE ARE LIKE, LET ME SHARE EVERYTHING WITH YOU.

I'M SO EXCITED TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS ARE LIKE, THIS IS MINE, I DON'T SHARE.

WELL, I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT.

BECAUSE IT'S PERSONAL PROJECTS AND WE OFTEN SIGN NDAS AND WE'RE WE'RE WE DON'T DO THAT.

WELL, WHAT'S VERY INTERESTING IS WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US, WHICH IS WE'RE BOTH GETTING NEW STAFF.

AND SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE THIS CLEAN SLATE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A SURPRISE.

IT WOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE PRIZE TO CHRISTINE.

I SAID, LET ME TAKE THIS ONE BECAUSE IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY, BUT I'M THE ONE THAT'S DEFENDING THE WORK THAT WE DO TONIGHT, NOT CHRISTINE.

IT'S NOT A SURPRISE TO ANY OF OUR TEAMS THAT THE LAST TWO DIRECTORS WE HAD DID NOT PERFECTLY WORK TOGETHER.

AND SO WE HAVE THIS REALLY BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE TWO NEW PEOPLE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO NOT HOLD THINGS CLOSE TO THE VEST BECAUSE IT'S A PARTNERSHIP.

IT'S NOT A IN MY OPINION.

JAMIE REPORTS TO THE CHAMBER AND THE NEW DIRECTOR WILL REPORT TO THE CITY.

AND A PARTNERSHIP TRULY MEANS TWO INDIVIDUALS, TWO ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN UNISON TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IN DENTON DATA CAN ALWAYS BE STRONGER.

SUPPORTED DATA CAN GROW.

WE CAN SHOW YOU BETTER DATA.

AND YOU AND I AGREE ON THAT.

[05:25:02]

I AGREE WITH YOU.

WE ARE IN WE ARE IN AGREEMENT, WHICH IS SOMETIMES RARE FOR US.

SO WE SHOULD PROBABLY CELEBRATE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

MAYOR PRO TEM AND. WITH FIGURATIVE CHEERS AT THE DAIS.

SO WE ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.

SO I WOULD SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT CRITICISM AND CRITIQUE IS NOT HARD.

THAT IS THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GROW AS AN ORGANIZATION.

BUT I THINK WALK WITH US AS WE ENTER INTO THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY.

AND AND INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL THIS OPPORTUNITY, LET US JOIN US IN EDPB WATCH US PERFORM AND THEN WALK WITH US IN THAT OPPORTUNITY.

WALK WITH US INTO THIS NEW CHAPTER.