Apr 16, 2024 City Council on 2024-04-16 2:00 PM

[00:00:02]

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

[WORK SESSION]

IT'S 2 P.M.

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

I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS ON THE GREAT.

THAT TAKES US TO QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR STAFF.

[A. Meeting Questions, Responses & Handouts]

I THINK THAT'S THE ONE THAT DESCRIBES THE TRIP PROGRAM.

I DON'T NEED THAT PULLED.

BUT IF JUST WE COULD HAVE MAYBE A ONE MINUTE BRIEFING OF WHAT THAT PROGRAM IS AND HOW IT'S HELPING FUND SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE DONE.

I JUST MY REASON FOR PULLING IT WAS MORE PUBLIC YOU KNOW, JUST INFORMATION.

OKAY. YES.

PROCTER MAIER MEMBERS TRANSPORTATION SERVICES DIVISION.

THIS TRIP PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING TO MEMBER CITIES.

WE ARE DCTA.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PROGRAM TO HELP CITIES FIGURE OUT WHAT TRANSIT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS ARE NEEDED ON RELEVANT PROJECTS, AND THOSE ENHANCEMENTS COULD BE ADDED TO THE ONGOING PROJECTS VIA TRIP FUNDING.

THE, YOU KNOW, IN CURRENT PROGRAM, THERE ARE FOUR POINTS.

ROUGHLY $4.69 MILLION ARE AVAILABLE.

AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES LOOKED INTO SEVERAL PROJECTS.

WE RUN THE DIFFERENT CRITERIAS BASED ON STATISTICAL ESTIMATION, AND FOUND OUT THAT FOUR PROJECTS WOULD BE ON THE TOP PRIORITY FOR THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO GO FOR FOR THE TRIP PROGRAM.

THESE INCLUDED I THINK MCKINNEY I HAVE LISTED THOSE PROGRAMS IN THERE.

WE I THINK SOME OF THE KEY ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING ARE RIGHT.

TO THE GOING TO THE CORE OF EQUITY AND WALKABILITY, ENHANCEMENT OF WALKABILITY, AND PROVIDING ESSENTIAL MULTIMODAL MOBILITY ELEMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY.

AFTER PARTICULARLY AFTER COVID, THE SCENARIO FOR FIRST AND LAST MILE WHEN IT COMES TO MULTIMODAL PLANNING HAS SHIFTED TO GO ZONES AND GO ZONE NODES.

AND FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE TRYING TO COVER THE WALKABILITY PART OF CERTAIN PROJECT, THESE FOUR PROJECTS WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING FULL ACCESS TO THESE MULTIMODAL PROJECTS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU. NO, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, JUST TO BE CLEAR, I ALSO HAD ASKED FOR THIS TO BE PULLED, AND I ALSO DO NOT WANT IT TO BE PULLED ANYMORE.

OKAY. THANKS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

WELL, ON THAT POINT, I'LL BE JUST ONE SECOND.

JUST ONE COUNCILWOMAN.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A VERY CLOSE DEADLINE FOR THESE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE APPLICATIONS IN, BUT THAT IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE THAT OTHER KIND THAT OTHER PROJECTS MIGHT CONCEIVABLY BE SUBSTITUTED IN BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN THESE WOULD ACTUALLY.

OH, OKAY.

THAT IS A POSSIBILITY. YES.

OKAY. THANKS.

THANKS. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. OKAY.

TAKES US TO OUR FIRST WORK SESSION.

[A. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding Audit Project 038 - Franchise Fees Collections. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]

RECEIVE, REPORT WHOLE DISCUSSION AND GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING OUR AUDIT PROJECT.

038 DASH FRANCHISE FEES.

COLLECTIONS. HELLO.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MADISON RORSCHACH DENTON, CITY AUDITOR.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT OUR AUDIT OF THE CITY'S FRANCHISE FEE COLLECTIONS.

TO BEGIN, A FRANCHISE FEE IS CHARGED TO UTILITY COMPANIES THAT USE THE CITY'S RIGHTS OF WAY, TYPICALLY THE AREA AROUND A ROADWAY TO DELIVER THEIR SERVICES, SIMILAR TO PAYING RENT AND DENTON.

THERE ARE GENERALLY THREE DIFFERENT WAYS A UTILITY CAN BE AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE IN THE CITY'S RIGHTS OF WAY.

FIRST, THE UTILITY IS IS OWNED BY THE CITY.

SECOND, THE CITY HAS EXECUTED A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH THE UTILITY OR THIRD, THE UTILITY HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS.

DURING FISCAL YEARS 2022 AND 2023, THE CITY RECEIVED ALMOST $43.5 MILLION IN FRANCHISE FEE REVENUE, OVER 80% OF WHICH CAME FROM CITY OWNED UTILITIES, INCLUDING DENTON MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC DENTON WATER DENTON WASTEWATER, AND DENTON SOLID WASTE.

SPECIFICALLY, THIS AUDIT EVALUATED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FEE COLLECTION, MONITORING, AND FRANCHISE AGREEMENT MANAGEMENT.

SO I'LL START BY JUST DISCUSSING HOW THE CITY IS CURRENTLY MONITORING FEE FRANCHISE FEE PAYMENTS.

IN GENERAL, FRANCHISE FEES ARE EQUAL TO A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE GROSS REVENUE A UTILITY MAKES IN THE MUNICIPALITY, AS DESCRIBED IN EQUATION ONE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE. FOR CITY OWNED UTILITIES, THE CITY'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT CALCULATES THE FRANCHISE FEE AMOUNT DUE BASED ON EACH MONTH'S REVENUE AND TRANSFERS IT FROM THE UTILITIES FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND.

[00:05:03]

IN ADDITION, BASED ON THE AVAILABLE GUIDANCE, SOME REVENUE ACCOUNTS APPEAR TO BE EXCLUDED INAPPROPRIATELY.

MOST NOTABLY, REVENUES FROM THE RESALE OF RAW WATER.

FURTHER, THESE TRANSFERS ARE NOT ALWAYS POSTED.

IN A ON A ON A CONSISTENT TIMELINE.

THE CITY ALSO CURRENTLY HAS FOR AGREEMENT AUTHORIZED FRANCHISE UTILITIES INCLUDING COSERV GAS, ATMOS, COSERV ELECTRIC AND ENCORE.

PAYMENTS MADE BY ATMOS, COSERV ELECTRIC AND ENCORE ALL APPEARED TO BE ACCURATE AND TIMELY AS REQUIRED BY THEIR AGREEMENT.

COSERV GAS GENERALLY APPEARED TO SUBMIT PAYMENTS LATE, AND HAS PAID THE CITY ALMOST $340,000 MORE THAN EXPECTED.

PER THEIR MOST RECENT AGREEMENT, THOUGH IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS AGREEMENT EXPIRED ALMOST 15 YEARS AGO.

IN ADDITION GROSS REVENUES FOR THESE FOUR UTILITIES APPEAR REASONABLE BASED ON THE BASED ON LATERAL TREND AND MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS.

AND THERE DO NOT APPEAR TO BE SIGNIFICANT GEOGRAPHICAL GAPS IN THE ELECTRIC OR GAS SUPPLY OR SERVICE AREAS OF THE CITY.

HOWEVER, ALL OF THE UTILITIES APPEAR TO INCLUDE SERVICE POINTS OUTSIDE THE CITY'S LIMITS AND THEIR GROSS REVENUE CALCULATION.

AND THEN FINALLY, VIDEO AND CABLE PROVIDERS AND CERTIFIED TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS ARE AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE, WHICH GENERALLY REQUIRES THESE BUSINESSES TO REPORT THEIR ACTIVITIES. THE STATE THEN OFFERS REPORTS ON THESE ACTIVITIES TO THE MUNICIPALITY SO THAT THEY CAN BE VERIFIED TO SOME EXTENT.

SPECIFICALLY, THE CITY CURRENTLY RECEIVES PAYMENTS FROM THREE VIDEO AND CABLE PROVIDERS.

HOWEVER, PER THE STATE'S RECORDS, ONE POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT PROVIDER MAY NOT BE SUBMITTING PAYMENTS.

SIMILARLY, THERE IS AT LEAST ONE SIGNIFICANT CERTIFIED TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDER THAT HAS NOT SUBMITTED PAYMENTS BASED ON A COMPARISON OF CITY RECORDS TO AVAILABLE STATE REPORTS. THOUGH THIS MIGHT BE MAY BE DUE TO A CHANGE ENACTED BY THE 86 STATE LEGISLATURE THROUGH SENATE BILL 1152.

AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S NOT EVIDENCE THAT FINANCE HAS HISTORICALLY USED THESE REPORTS TO VERIFY THAT STATE AUTHORIZED BUSINESSES ARE SUBMITTING ACCURATE PAYMENTS.

BASED ON THEIR MANAGEMENT RESPONSES.

FINANCE WILL UPDATE AND CREATE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES TO GUIDE STAFF IN CALCULATING CITY OWNED FRANCHISE FEES AND VERIFYING AGREEMENT AND STATE AUTHORIZED PAYMENTS. IN ADDITION, THEY'LL REACH OUT TO THE STATE TO DISCUSS THE TWO BUSINESSES THAT SEEM TO HAVE NOT SUBMITTED THE REQUIRED PAYMENTS TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY POTENTIAL REVENUE THAT COULD BE GAINED THERE.

THOUGH THERE MIGHT NOT BE.

NEXT, THE CITY'S CHARTER AUTHORIZES THE CITY COUNCIL TO GRANT FRANCHISEES FRANCHISES TO UTILITIES OPERATING WITHIN THE CITY FOR NO LONGER THAN 20 YEARS AND FOR NO LESS THAN 2% OF GROSS REVENUE FOR THESE INVESTOR OWNED UTILITIES.

A CURRENT AGREEMENT IS REQUIRED TO LEGALLY OPERATE THEIR BUSINESS IN THE CITY'S RIGHTS OF WAY.

HISTORICALLY, THE CITY HAS HAD FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS WITH FIVE UTILITY COMPANIES, AS SHOWN ON THE TABLE ON THE SLIDE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, ALL OF THESE AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO ELAPSE FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR, AND CURRENTLY TWO OF THE CITY'S FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS ARE EXPIRED, ONE OF WHICH, AS I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, HAS BEEN INACTIVE FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS.

IN ADDITION, INFORMATION ON FRANCHISE AGREEMENT HISTORY WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE WHEN WE SPOKE WITH MANAGEMENT INITIALLY, AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHO A UTILITY SHOULD CONTACT IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO CREATE A NEW FRANCHISE AGREEMENT ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

BASED ON DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY STAFF, THIS IS GENERALLY BECAUSE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANAGING FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN UNCLEAR.

IN RESPONSE TO THIS AUDIT, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS CLARIFIED THAT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WILL NOT ONLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING FRANCHISE FEE COLLECTIONS, BUT ALSO MANAGING FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS.

THEY ALSO. THE AUDIT ALSO IDENTIFIED A FEW AREAS WHERE CITY AND INVESTOR OWNED FRANCHISE REVENUE FEE REVENUE COLLECTIONS CALCULATIONS COULD BE FURTHER ALIGNED THAT WE RECOMMENDED FINANCE THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT CONSIDER.

AND THEN IN SUMMARY, WE ISSUED TEN RECOMMENDATIONS, ALL OF WHICH THE DEPARTMENT AGREED OR PARTIALLY AGREED WITH.

AND BASED ON THIS RESPONSE, WE BELIEVE THE IDENTIFIED RISKS WILL BE APPROPRIATELY ADDRESSED AND WILL CONDUCT A FOLLOW UP REPORT REVIEW IN THE NEXT 18 TO 36 MONTHS.

SO ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

ANY QUESTIONS. COUNCILMAN.

HARLAN. THANK YOU.

THE THE AMOUNT PAID BY A COST OF $340,000.

IS IS THAT THEIR PAYMENT OR IS THAT THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT THEY PAID US MORE THAN WE WOULD EXPECT BASED ON THE AGREEMENT, THE RATE THAT THEY SAID IN THEIR AGREEMENT.

IS THAT TANTAMOUNT TO A LATE FEE? NO. IT'S MORE IT'S THEY I THINK I BELIEVE IT'S DUE TO THERE'S A FAVORED NATIONS CLAUSE IN THEIR AGREEMENT.

SO I BELIEVE THEY'RE JUST PAYING US WHAT THEY'RE PAYING EVERYBODY ELSE.

BUT THEIR AGREEMENT IS CURRENTLY EXPIRED.

SO THEY'RE PAYING US LIKE A 5% RATE WHERE THEIR AGREEMENT SAYS IT SHOULD BE LIKE 3.5 IS THAT.

THEY'RE PAYING US MORE THAN I HEAR YOU.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I AGREE.

OKAY, OKAY, OKAY.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? GREAT MAYOR PRO TEM.

[00:10:04]

COUNCILOR HOLLAND'S QUESTION.

BRINGS UP THE QUESTION. YOU CAN A SUPPLIER, A UTILITY VOLUNTARILY OVERPAY US? WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF OF AN OVERPAYMENT? AND WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT, SO I GUESS WE'RE IN A GRAY AREA, BUT I WOULD I WOULD DEFER TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY ON THAT QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO BASED ON THE AUDIT.

I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE AN ANSWER RIGHT NOW, NOR WOULD WE WANT TO PROBABLY HAVE AN ANSWER IN PUBLIC.

APPRECIATE YOU. OKAY.

ANY OTHER COUNCILMAN BYRD.

I'M JUST GOING TO SUSPECT, YOU KNOW, BASED ON, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS CONVERSATION HERE, I'M GOING TO SUSPECT BECAUSE THAT BECAUSE AN AGREEMENT WAS MADE SO LONG AGO AND WE'RE NOW, YOU KNOW, EXPIRED AND COSERV IS DOING ITS DUE DILIGENCE BY, YOU KNOW, PAYING THE AMOUNT THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY BE PAYING EVERYONE ELSE.

THAT COULD BE THE REASON FOR, YOU KNOW, THE OVERPAYMENT IS BECAUSE BACK IN 88, IT WAS I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT THAT WAS, BUT BACK IN 88 IT WAS, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY $0.34.

AND NOW HERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, 30 SOMETHING YEARS LATER OR 40 YEARS LATER, YOU KNOW, IT'S $2.29.

AND WITH THEM DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE IN MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE CONTINUING TO PAY EVEN WITHOUT A CONTRACT OR EVEN SOMETHING THAT'S EXPIRED, I CERTAINLY ADMIRE THAT.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THIS IS WHAT IT IS, BUT IT WOULD BE A GREAT ADMIRATION.

AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF COOPERATION AND CONNECTIVITY TO COSERV.

I KNOW THAT THEY'RE VERY, YOU KNOW, ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN WANTING TO BE HERE LIKE THAT, I CAN SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING.

SO I'M HOPING THAT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

AND, AND THEM NOT SAYING, OH, BY THE WAY, WE, YOU KNOW, HOW ABOUT YOU ALL WRITING US A CHECK BACK IF WE'VE BEEN OVERPAID ON SOMETHING.

SO THAT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS COMES OUT.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. TAKES US TO ITEM B ID 24112 RECEIVE REPORT HOLD DISCUSSION AND GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING

[B. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding potential subject matter to be discussed by a future Charter Review Committee. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 45 minutes]]

OH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL. CHRISTIE FOGLE, CHIEF OF STAFF.

TODAY WE'LL REVIEW THE CURRENT PROVISIONS IN SECTION 4.12 OF THE CITY CHARTER.

INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL ALL PROVIDE SOME INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATIONS AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.

AND THEN COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE.

QUESTIONING QUESTIONS WILL BE NOTATED AND ANSWERED THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS.

SO DIVING INTO SECTION 4.12 STATES THAT RECALL PETITION PAPERS SHOULD CONTAIN THE NAME OR NAMES OF THE COUNCILMAN WHOSE REMOVAL IS SOUGHT WITH CLEAR AND CONCISE STATEMENT FOR THE GROUNDS OF REMOVAL AT THE HEAD OF EACH PETITION.

THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF FIVE ELECTORS, WHO, AS A COMMITTEE OF PETITIONERS, SHALL BE REGARDED AS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CIRCULATION AND FILING OF THE PETITION. EACH SIGNER OF ANY PETITION PAPER WILL SIGN THEIR NAME AND INK OR INDELIBLE PENCIL, AND GIVE THEIR RESIDENCE BY STREET AND NUMBER OR OTHER DESCRIPTION SUFFICIENT TO IDENTIFY THE PLACE AND THE DATE THAT THEIR SIGNATURE WAS AFFIXED.

NO SIGNATURE TO SUCH PETITION SHOULD REMAIN EFFECTIVE FOR MORE THAN 45 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FILING OF THE PETITION.

THE SIGNATURES TO RECALL PETITION DO NOT NEED TO BE APPENDED TO ONE PAPER, BUT EACH SEPARATE PETITION SHOULD BE HAVE AN ATTACHED AFFIDAVIT OF THE CIRCULATOR CERTIFYING THAT THEY PERSONALLY CIRCULATED THE PETITION, AND THAT ALL SIGNATURES WERE APPENDED IN THEIR PRESENCE, AND THAT THEY BELIEVE THEM TO BE GENUINE SIGNATURES.

AND JUST AS A SIDE NOTE, THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE GENDERED LANGUAGE THAT STILL EXISTS IN OUR CHARTER.

AND AS WE DISCUSSED IN OUR INITIAL CHARTER REVIEW DISCUSSION ON FEBRUARY 20TH, ONE OF THE CHARGES TO THE COMMITTEE WILL BE MODIFYING ALL OF THE GENDERED LANGUAGE AND MAKING IT GENDER NEUTRAL.

SO THAT'S A PRETTY DENSE SECTION OF THE CHARTER.

SO JUST TO KIND OF BREAK IT DOWN TO BULLET POINTS, THE PETITION MUST BE MUST INCLUDE A CLEAR AND CONCISE STATEMENT FOR THE GROUNDS OF REMOVAL.

THERE SHOULD BE FIVE ELECTORS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CIRCULATING AND FILING THE PETITION.

EACH SIGNER WILL INCLUDE THEIR NAME, RESIDENCE, AND THE DATE SIGNED AND PIN OR INDELIBLE.

PENCIL SIGNATURES ARE ONLY VALID FOR 45 DAYS, AND THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE ON THE SAME PAPER.

[00:15:02]

THE COUNCIL DIRECTION SPECIFIED THAT WE DIG INTO THE GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL LANGUAGE, SO HERE ARE SOME CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC PROVISION.

THE NATIONAL CIVIC LEAGUE'S MODEL CITY CHARTER RECOMMENDS THAT PETITION SHOULD INCLUDE A STATEMENT NO MORE THAN 200 WORDS OF THE REASON FOR RECALL, AND THAT THE GROUNDS SHOULD RELATE TO AND AFFECT THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE OFFICIAL'S OFFICE AND BE OF A SUBSTANTIAL NATURE, DIRECTLY AFFECTING THE RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC.

ADDITIONALLY, A 2003 STUDY OF TEXAS CHARTERS FOUND THAT 36% OF TEXAS CITY CHARTERS REQUIRE A JUSTIFICATION OF SOME SORT.

MOST LIST INCOMPETENCY, MISCONDUCT, OR MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE AS THE JUSTIFICATION, AND A HANDFUL OF CITIES EVEN REQUIRE A HEARING TO DISCUSS ALLEGATIONS BEFORE SUBMITTING TO VOTERS.

JUST A QUICK LEGAL CONSIDERATION.

NOTE THAT MODIFYING THIS LANGUAGE WILL REQUIRE LEGAL REVIEW WITH THE LEGAL TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE CORRECT LANGUAGE IN PLACE.

SO WITH THAT COUNCIL CAN PROVIDE DIRECTION TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE TO MODIFY THIS SECTION THROUGH THE CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS, OR CAN PROVIDE NO DIRECTION TO THE CHARTER COMMITTEE.

SO TURN IT BACK TO YOU.

COUNCILMAN MELTZER. YEAH.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GOING BACK A SLIDE.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE STATEMENT NOT TO EXCEED 200 WORDS.

AND I LIKE THE IDEA OF LISTING INCOMPETENCY, MISCONDUCT, OR MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE AS THE JUSTIFICATION.

OKAY, MAYOR PRO TEM.

YEAH. I WAS PARTICULARLY KEEN ON GETTING GROUND OR HAVING THE, THE COMMITTEE LOOK AT THE GROUNDS COMMENTS AND HAVING THE COMMITTEE REVIEW WHAT THEY THOUGHT APPROPRIATE GROUNDS AND LANGUAGE.

I ALSO LIKED THE SORT OF BOILERPLATE THAT WE'RE SEEING.

I PERSONALLY AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN APPETITE FOR IT IN THE REST OF COUNCIL, BUT I ALSO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, IN THE COMMITTEE REVIEWING YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE THRESHOLDS FOR THE NUMBER OF SIGNERS AND AND THEN POTENTIALLY EXPLORE SOMETHING LIKE A CONCURRENT REPLACEMENT TYPE ELECTION WHERE IF YOU'RE YOU HAVE A RECALL AND AN ELECTION AT THE SAME TIME, SO YOU NEVER HAVE A GAP THAT THAT'S VERY EFFICIENT.

AND OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE USED IT AS A MECHANISM FOR AVOIDING DOWNTIME OR, OR EVEN COUNCILS.

BUT THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE THE CHARTER COMMITTEE REVIEW.

MR.. CITY ATTORNEY I DON'T IS THAT AN OPTION AVAILABLE TO US TO CHANGE THE ELECTION DATES AND HOW THAT'S PROCESSED TO FILL THOSE GAPS? I DIDN'T HEAR THE ELECTION DATES CHANGED.

I THINK WHAT HE WAS SAYING WAS YOU WOULD HAVE A RECALL ELECTION THE SAME DAY YOU WOULD BE VOTING FOR THE REPLACEMENT IF THE RECALL IS SUCCESSFUL.

SO IT'S KIND OF A CONDITIONAL ELECTION ON THE SAME DAY.

THAT'S CORRECT. SO THEN MAYBE I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

WOULD YOU'RE SAYING MAKE IT EFFECTIVE THE DATE OF THE NEXT ELECTION? SO IT'D HAVE NO EFFECT IF ULTIMATELY THE RECALL FAILED, THAT SUBSTITUTE ELECTION WOULD HAVE NO EFFECT.

YES, BUT IF THE RECALL WAS SUCCESSFUL AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS RECALLED, IT WOULD THEN ALLOW FOR THAT PERSON THAT WON THE SUBSTITUTE ELECTION TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE THEIR SEAT AND NOT HAVE A GAP IN TIME.

I'M SORRY. SO YOU'D HAVE SOMEONE RUN FOR THE SEAT ON THE ON THE CHANCE THAT IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR.

CALIFORNIA USES THAT MECHANISM.

AND IF THE SEAT DOESN'T COME AVAILABLE, YOU RUN A RACE TO NO AVAIL.

CORRECT. OKAY.

YEAH. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN.

WHAT? YOU KNOW, THIS BASICALLY HAS COME UP BECAUSE OF THE RECENT PAST WITH TWO RECALL ELECTIONS AND EVERYBODY HAVING AN OPINION ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE FOR, WHAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE FOR.

BUT ONE THING THAT'S CRITICAL IN THIS DISCUSSION IS THAT THE VOTERS, WHICH WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT, HOW IMPORTANT THE VOTERS ARE, THAT THE VOTERS, IF THEY GET UP ENOUGH SIGNATURES BASED UPON THE ORDINANCE, WHATEVER IT WINDS UP BEING, THAT THEY CAN ASK FOR A RECALL TO, TO LIST, TO, TO NARROW IT DOWN TO, WELL, INCAPACITY, MISCONDUCT OR MALFEASANCE, NUMBER ONE, UNLESS YOU HAVE SOME REALLY AIRTIGHT DEFINITIONS FOR THAT, YOU CAN ALMOST WORK

[00:20:02]

BUT IN THE END, IF SOMEONE'S NOT REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY AS THEY FELT THAT THEY SHOULD, I DON'T KNOW WHY THE VOTERS WOULD BE FORECLOSED FROM HAVING AN AVENUE TO SPEAK THEIR MIND ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE AS WE'VE ALL SAID AD NAUSEAM, THIS IS IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE VOTERS, THEN NOTHING REALLY MATTERS WHETHER IT'S AGAINST THE LAW, WHETHER IT'S FOR THE LAW.

SO I THINK IT'S FINE THE WAY IT IS.

WE IT'S HAPPENED THREE TIMES.

AND AT LEAST THE TIMES THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WHICH IS 14 YEARS, IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT THE TWO THAT HAD OCCURRED WERE, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY KIND OF OUT THERE.

SO AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED SURROUNDING THOSE.

SO I THINK IT'S FINE THE WAY IT IS JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT USED THAT OFTEN.

BUT IN THE END, THE VOTERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO DECIDE AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME THAT, HEY, THIS REALLY ISN'T PANNING OUT THE WAY I WANT IT TO PAN OUT.

AND SO THEREFORE, LET'S LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROCESS THAT WE HAVE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE HEARD.

SO AND AS FAR AS HAVING THE ELECTION FOR THE SEAT, IF THERE'S A RECALL ON THE SAME DAY AS THE RECALL ALL DUE RESPECT TO CALIFORNIA, IF THAT'S HOW THEY WANT TO DO IT, THAT'S FINE.

THAT JUST I MEAN, THAT JUST CREATES A MESS.

I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE RUNNING, SPENDING MONEY ON A CONTINGENCY, SO I COULDN'T SUPPORT THAT.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN HARLOW? VIRTUALLY.

WORD FOR WORD OF WHAT? COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS SAID.

I LIKE THE CHARTER THE WAY IT IS.

AND I PARTICULARLY DO NOT LIKE THE, THE THE MODEL THAT'S THAT'S OFFERED FROM CALIFORNIA.

DO NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER. YEAH, I CAN AGREE WITH NOT TO EXCEED 200 WORDS.

BECAUSE I WOULD DEFINITELY WANT THIS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS TO THE POINT AND DEFINITIVE.

MY MY CONCERN IS THE LISTING, THE INCOMPETENCY, THE MISCONDUCT AND MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THOSE THINGS.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO YOU KNOW, TO CONDITIONALLY APPROVE THAT JUSTIFICATION IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE LAID OUT WITH SOME BOUNDARIES ON IT.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, ANY ONE OF US COULD SAY THAT WE'RE INCOMPETENT AND WE'RE HAVING SOME MISCONDUCT AND WE ARE MALFEASANCE IN OUR DEPARTMENT. BUT WHAT'S THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT? SO THAT ALSO GOES ON TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING THAT IN FRONT OF OURSELVES.

THE CITY COUNCIL, A HANDFUL OF CITIES ARE REQUIRING A HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THE ALLEGATIONS.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OTHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT UNDERMINING ONE ANOTHER WHEN WE'RE SITTING HERE ON THE SEATS AND WE'RE DOING THE WORK FOR THE VOTERS, AND THE VOTERS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE TELLING US ABOUT OURSELVES, WE NEED TO BE TOLD ABOUT OURSELVES, AND SO WE CAN STAY MINDFUL AND OPEN TO WHAT THEY'RE HEARING. BUT WE'VE ALSO GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EDUCATING THE VOTERS WHEN THEY'RE DISAGREEING WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.

SO, YEAH, WE CAN MODIFY THE LANGUAGE.

I'M ALL FOR THAT AS WELL.

AND THEN YEAH.

AND SO THE, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING STAYS TO WHICHEVER OFFICE THAT IS.

SO THAT'S MY, YOU KNOW, MY $0.02.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED THERE.

YES. GOT IT? YEP. COUNCIL MEMBER.

MCGEE. I'M I'M DEFINITELY FOR MODIFYING THE LANGUAGE.

ALSO. SO OPTION ONE OBVIOUSLY PUT ME DOWN FOR NOT TO SAY 200 WORDS.

GROUNDS FOR RECALL.

ALSO. YEAH. INCOMPETENCY.

MISCONDUCT. STANDS THE HEARING.

THANK YOU. CHRISTY. OKAY.

COUNCILWOMAN. ALISON. WAIT.

WAIT A MINUTE. OKAY.

YEAH. COUNCILWOMAN.

YEAH. WE TOUCHED ON SOME THINGS THAT WERE RELATED, BUT WERE NOT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL.

I JUST WANTED TO TEE UP ANOTHER WHICH COULD SAVE TIME IN THE COURTS AND IN SOME FUTURE WORLD WHICH WOULD BE TO DEFINE LESS

[00:25:09]

OKAY. MR. CITY ATTORNEY.

WELL, YEAH, I'M GOING TO SKIP THAT.

HELP ME UNDERSTAND.

THE CITY SECRETARY IS THE ULTIMATE.

QUESTION, IS THE CITY SECRETARY THE ULTIMATE DECISION MAKER ON THAT REVIEW AND THAT PETITION FOR ITS MEETING? THE REQUISITE ELEMENTS.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

UNDER OUR CHARTER RIGHT NOW, THE CITY SECRETARY DOES THAT REVIEW OF PETITIONS, VALIDITY OF SIGNATURES AND ALL THAT REVIEW.

SO OKAY, SO THAT'S WHO'S TASKED WITH INTERPRETING WHATEVER LANGUAGE WE PUT BEFORE THEM TO THEM, MAKE SURE IT FITS WHATEVER THOSE GUIDELINES AND MOVE IT FORWARD. I MEAN, ULTIMATELY IT DEPENDS ON WHAT COUNCIL PUTS FORWARD HERE.

BUT YES, I WOULD THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING RIGHT NOW IS YOU'LL PUT IF STANDARDS GET PUT IN PLACE, THE CITY SECRETARY IS THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO BE MINISTERIALLY, THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO REVIEW THOSE AND SEE IF THOSE CHECKBOX, THOSE BOXES ARE CHECKED.

GOT IT. AND THEN ONCE THAT PROCESS MOVES FORWARD HELP ME UNDERSTAND IS THAT THEN IT'S IS THERE A REVIEW OR A APPELLATE APPEAL PROCESS TO THAT DECISION, OR IS THAT DECISION FINAL.

TYPICALLY THAT DECISION IS FINAL.

PERFECT. YEAH. OKAY.

YEAH. THEN FOR ME I'M GOING TO SAY THE CHARTER AS IS.

AND I WANT TO CALL THE VOTERS ATTENTION TO THIS.

THIS IS LIKE A CHILLING EFFECT TO THAT PROCESS.

IT THERE SHOULDN'T BE SOME SORT OF POLL TAX OR POLL QUESTIONNAIRE.

IF THE CITIZENS FEEL IT'S NECESSARY AND THEY WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATH, IT'LL BE SUCCESSFUL OR NOT.

CASE IN POINT, WE HAD A COUPLE HERE, BUT THEN IN DALLAS THEY WERE UPSET WITH THE MAYOR AND THAT DIDN'T MAKE RIGHT.

SO EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE A BARRIER FOR THE CITIZENS TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD.

AND SO THIS THIS ADDS A BARRIER THAT IS SUBJECTIVE.

THERE'S NO LEVEL OF DEFINITION THAT'S GOING TO THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE QUESTIONED.

AND SO THEN YOU'RE JUST COMPLICATING THINGS FOR THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, ALL BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO, AGAIN, PREVENT THE CITIZENS FROM EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT ON WHO THEY WANT TO REPRESENT THEM.

AND FURTHERMORE, THERE'S AN ELECTION AFTER THAT.

SO IF ANYONE ON COUNCIL IS PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMEONE BEING REMOVED AND THEY OR NOT BEING REMOVED, THEY CAN THEN VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME, THEIR ENERGY, DONATE TO THOSE CAMPAIGNS AND ADVOCATE FOR THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT WAY.

AND NONE OF THAT PUTS A CHILLING EFFECT ON PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO EXERCISE THEIR THEIR RIGHTS TO PETITION THEIR GOVERNMENT.

SO WITH THAT, I'M FINE WITH IT AS IS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT GIVES THE ACCESS WE NEED, AND IT DOESN'T MAKE THIS BODY THE KIND OF REGULATOR OF WHAT HAPPENS OR TRYING TO CONTROL DESTINIES OR THERE'S JUST IT MUDDIES THE WATER FOR ME SO THAT THAT'S WHERE I FALL.

SO THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AROUND.

IT STARTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER, MAYOR PRO TEM.

I JUST WANTED TO LEND SUPPORT TO THE IDEA OF DEFINING THE THE RETROACTIVITY VERSUS PROACTIVITY OF THE ELECTION CYCLE.

SO I SUPPORT THAT AS WELL AND HOPE OTHERS WILL AS WELL.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE. COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT ABOUT WHO CAN SIGN A PETITION.

I THINK THAT'S A THAT'S WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION ALSO, SO PLEASE PUT ME DOWN FOR THAT AS WELL.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. THANK YOU.

THAT TAKES US TO ITEM C.

[C. Receive a report, hold discussion, and give staff direction regarding requiring working air conditioning in rentals and prohibiting HOAs from disallowing air conditioners. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 45 minutes]]

RECEIVE REPORT WHOLE DISCUSSION.

GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING REQUIRING WORKING AIR CONDITIONING IN RENTAL AND PROHIBIT PROHIBITING HOAS FROM DISALLOWING AIR CONDITIONERS.

AFTERNOON. MAYOR AND COUNCIL DANNY SHAW, COMMUNITY SERVICES.

TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION RELATED TO A TWO MINUTE PITCH.

WE'RE REGARDING PROS AND CONS AND OPTIONS FOR REQUIRING WORKING AIR CONDITIONING AND RENTALS AND PROHIBITING HOAS FROM DISALLOWING AIR CONDITIONERS.

[00:30:09]

THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE DOES REQUIRE WORKING AIR CONDITIONING IF IT'S PROVIDED, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CONDITIONS IN THE CODE RELATED TO THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH IT HAS TO MAINTAIN IF IT'S PROVIDED.

IF IT'S IT'S EFFECTIVE DURING MAY THROUGH OCTOBER.

SO IT IS THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS.

AND THEN IF IT IS NOT BEING REPAIRED OR MAINTAINED, THERE ARE SOME CONDITIONS IN THE CODE THAT REQUIRE THAT AS WELL.

AS FAR AS WHO WAS IN THE DISCUSSION WE WANT TO HAVE WITH WITH THEM, THEY DO HAVE THE POWERS AND CERTAIN AUTHORITIES THAT ARE GRANTED TO THEM THAT ARE OUTLINED, USUALLY IN WHAT THEY CALL THEIR COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS.

AND THERE ARE SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES THAT GIVE THEM WITHIN THAT.

SO THOSE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THOSE CARS.

THEY CAN PUT IN THINGS LIKE RELATED TO THE APPEARANCE, SOME ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES, LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS, MAINTENANCE STANDARDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEY'RE ALSO AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT ASSESSMENTS SO THEY CAN COLLECT REGULAR DUES AND FEES FROM FOLKS WHO ARE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY CAN ALSO USE THOSE FEES TO COVER THOSE GENERAL SHARED AREAS LIKE MAINTENANCE AND LANDSCAPING OF COMMON SHARED AMENITIES.

AND THEY CAN PLACE LIENS ON HOMEOWNERS WHO DO NOT PAY THESE FEES.

THERE'S SOME ARCHITECTURAL CONTROLS THAT THEY CAN DO WITHIN THEIR AGREEMENTS THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT THEY GET APPROVAL, OR AN HOMEOWNER HAS TO GET APPROVAL IF THEY WANT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THEIR PROPERTY.

TO MOSTLY TO, I GUESS, ADDRESS THE UNIFORM APPEARANCE AND THOSE PROPERTY VALUE CONCERNS THAT HOA TYPICALLY HAVE.

THEY CAN ALSO ESTABLISH OTHER RULES AND REGULATIONS BEYOND THAT THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE MEMBERSHIP.

THEY HAVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CLAUSES, TYPICALLY IN THEIR HOA REQUIREMENTS.

THEY CAN IMPOSE FINES IF PEOPLE AREN'T MAINTAINING OR PAYING CERTAIN THINGS, AND THEY CAN TAKE LEGAL ACTION.

SO SPECIFIC TO THIS DISCUSSION, THOUGH, THAT CAME UP BECAUSE OF WINDOW UNITS, I DID WANT TO JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHY THOSE THINGS ARE TYPICALLY IN PLACE, SO THEY CAN ENACT THINGS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE ESTHETICS, THE HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND THE PLACEMENT OF AIR CONDITIONING UNITS. USUALLY THOSE RESTRICTIONS COME IN IN ABOUT FOR CONCERNS AROUND PROPERTY DAMAGE, SO IMPROPER INSTALLATION COULD CREATE PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE UNIT OR THE NEIGHBORING UNIT.

THERE'S SOME PERSONAL INJURY CONCERNS.

IF IT'S NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY AND IT FALLS ON SOMEONE, THEN THERE'S ISSUES THERE.

IF IT'S ALSO IF IT'S NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY, ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL HAZARDS THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE NOISE COMPLAINTS IS A COMMON ONE FOR WINDOW UNITS.

AND THEN NEIGHBORHOOD ESTHETICS ARE GENERALLY THE REASON HERE TOO AS WELL, ESPECIALLY FOR MOBILE HOME COMMUNITIES WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE THE COMMUNITY SEEM, YOU KNOW, NOT LIKE IT HAS WINDOW UNITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I DID WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S AVAILABLE WITHIN THE CITY.

SO THAT FOLKS KNOW THE CITY DOES HAVE A RENTAL INSPECTION PROGRAM THAT DOES ALLOW US TO DO INSPECTIONS OF RENTAL UNITS IF IF THERE'S VIOLATIONS THAT EXIST.

AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.

AC SO IF THE LANDLORD ISN'T PROPERLY MAINTAINING THE AC, WE CAN GO IN AND ENSURE THAT THAT'S BEING MAINTAINED BASED ON OUR CODE.

TENANTS CAN REPORT THOSE ISSUES TO US THROUGH COMPLAINT, SEVERAL WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN DO THAT.

AND JUST A LITTLE BIT OF DATA.

YOU SAW THIS WHEN WE DID A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, BUT SPECIFIC TO AC UNITS.

ABOUT 12% OF OUR CASES IN 22, 23 WERE RELATED TO MAINTENANCE OF AC UNITS.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT NEED HELP.

OUR MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE FOR INCOME QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLDS.

SO IF THEY NEED ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR HVAC, AC, HEATING, WHATEVER, THEY CAN APPLY TO US.

IN 22, 23, WE ASSISTED 19 HOUSEHOLDS.

IT WAS OUR BIGGEST, BIGGEST ISSUE IN THE SUMMERTIME OF LAST YEAR AS WELL.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CITY THROUGH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS, LIKE THE GREEN SENSE REBATE.

AND THEN COG HAS SOME FEDERAL TAX EXEMPT INCENTIVES FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR EFFICIENCIES.

AND THEN WE HAVE A NEW TOOL THAT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH, BUT WE DID PARTNER WITH DENTON COUNTY AND THE CITY OF LEWISVILLE FOR FIND HELP DENTON COUNTY.

SO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR HELP CAN JUST GO IN THERE AND IDENTIFY IF THERE'S A PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO THEM, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT ASSISTANCE NEED IS.

SO WITH THAT, OUR DISCUSSION FOR TODAY IS DOES COUNCIL WISH TO IMPLEMENT A POLICY REGARDING MANDATORY INSTALLATION OF AIR CONDITIONING IN ALL RENTAL PROPERTIES? AND DO YOU WANT TO ESTABLISH A POLICY THAT PROHIBITS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS FROM FORBIDDING THE INSTALLATION OF AIR CONDITIONING UNITS? OKAY. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS FOR STAFF.

[00:35:01]

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. DANNY, HOW DO WE DEFINE WORKING AC? AND IT GOES TO THE POINT THAT I MADE IN MY QUESTIONS TO STAFF.

YEAH. IN THE CODE, IT HAS A SPECIFIC TEMPERATURE.

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE HAS TO REACH.

SO IT HAS TO BE 20 DEGREES COOLER THAN IT IS OUTSIDE OR 81 DEGREES, WHICHEVER ONE IS WARMER.

AND HOW WHEN WE RELY ON ON WHAT TO DETERMINE IF THAT IS BEING MET OR NOT.

SO THE IF THERE'S A COMPLAINT THAT COMES IN, OUR RENTAL INSPECTION OFFICER WILL GO INTO THE UNIT.

AND THEN HE HAS A TOOL THAT MEASURES THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ROOM.

I WILL. I WILL COMMENT THAT I THINK AS I SORT OF ALLUDED TO IN THE QUESTIONS TO STAFF, THAT WE'RE MORE AFTER AMBIENTE PROPER, HEALTHFUL LIVING CONDITIONS, WHICH IS WHY WE REQUIRE HEAT IN THE WINTER TIME AND COOLING IN THE SUMMER.

AND AS MUCH AS I, WE WOULD ALL PROBABLY LOVE OUR SUMMERS TO BE LIKE TODAY AND NOT LIKE WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BECOME.

I THINK JUST LIVING IN THIS LATITUDE IS THIS THIS IS JUST A HEALTH ISSUE.

SO I THINK WE'RE WE MUST I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF STARTING WITH REQUIRING AIR CONDITIONING.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF OVER TIME, WE COULD GET TO MORE OF AN AMBIENT CONDITIONS DEFINITION OF THINGS.

BUT I WOULD START HERE.

AND THEN I DEFINITELY THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE SETTING THAT AS A HEALTH REQUIREMENT THAT AN OVERWHELMING WHATEVER HOLIDAYS SAY ABOUT THAT, AS LONG AS BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ASPECT.

COUNCILWOMAN. WHAT'S. I THOUGHT THEY WERE ALREADY REQUIRED.

OF COURSE, I CAN'T IMAGINE SOMEBODY LIVING IN A PLACE WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING.

BUT SOME PEOPLE LEASE PROPERTIES WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF COST.

BECAUSE OF THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY SAFER.

SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WITH THE CONCEPT.

BUT WHY ARE WE LIMITING THIS TO JUST RENTAL PROPERTIES? BECAUSE IF IT'S REALLY A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE, THERE'S PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR HOMES THAT MAYBE DON'T PUT AIR CONDITIONING IN THERE.

AND SO SOMEHOW THEY CAN HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE TO BE UNSAFE WHERE OTHERS CANNOT.

WELL, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

SO I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS PREDICATED ON HEALTH AND SAFETY, IT NEEDS TO BE ACROSS THE BOARD.

BECAUSE AND ADDITIONALLY, WITH THOSE WHO OWN THEIR HOMES, WE DO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT HELP WITH IF THEY NEED TO PURCHASE AN AIR CONDITIONER OR THINGS SUCH AS THAT, YOU KNOW, OR REPAIR.

SO THERE IS THAT HELP FOR THE HOMEOWNER IF THAT'S THE REQUIREMENT, WHEREAS THERE'S REALLY NOT THAT HELP FOR THE RENTER BECAUSE THEY DON'T AND, AND OR THE LANDLORD. IT'S JUST A COST THAT EITHER GETS ABSORBED OR PASSED ON.

WHERE DO THEY TAKE.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT YOU SAID THAT ABOUT HOW THEY MEASURE THE TEMPERATURE.

SO IT'S 20 DEGREES BELOW THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE THAT IF IT'S COOLING TO 20 DEGREES OF THE AIR OUTSIDE, IT'S DEEMED TO BE OPERATING ACCURATELY OR FUNCTIONING WELL.

AND THAT IS THE STANDARD.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU GO TO BUY A UNIT, AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT, THAT'S THE STANDARD.

YOU KNOW, THEY SAY, LOOK, I MEAN, IF YOU IF IT'S 110 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND YOU SET THE THERMOSTAT TO 70, UNLESS YOUR HOUSE IS VERY WELL INSULATED, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET DOWN THERE. SO IS THAT TEMPERATURE MEASURED FROM THE GRILL OR THE ACTUAL AC UNIT, OR WHERE IS THAT TEMPERATURE TAKEN? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT COULD BE DIFFERENT WHEREVER IT'S TAKEN.

YEAH. AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO OUR RENTAL INSPECTION OFFICER, HE GENERALLY TAKES IT A FEW FEET OFF OF THE FLOOR.

BUT DIFFERENT POLICIES COULD DICTATE WHERE IT'S TAKEN AS WELL TO HELP MAKE THAT MORE CLEAR.

SO IT COULD BE TAKEN FROM THE GRILL.

WE DON'T SPECIFY WHERE THAT'S TAKEN AND ANYTHING THAT WE DO.

ALL RIGHT. AND SO IS THAT REQUIREMENT.

LIKE LET'S SAY YOU'VE GOT A THREE BEDROOM HOUSE OLDER HOME.

IT DOES NOT HAVE CENTRAL AIR.

AND SO YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE WINDOW UNITS.

IF THIS IF THIS MOVES FORWARD.

SO IS THAT DOES THAT ROOM DOES THAT TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT EXIST FOR EVERY ROOM.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE ROOMS THAT HAVE THE ACS AND THEY ARE OPERATING PROPERLY, BUT ONE DOESN'T FOR SOME REASON BECAUSE THEY CAN PUT FANS IN AND MOVE IT AROUND.

AND HOW IS THAT DETERMINED? OR IS IT JUST OKAY IF IT'S RIGHT HERE?

[00:40:03]

YEAH. WE DON'T SPECIFY THAT IN OUR CODE.

SO OUR INSPECTION OFFICER WOULD LOOK AT IT IN THE ROOM WHERE THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU'D WANT TO CONSIDER AS YOU WERE DISCUSSING ANY POLICY.

OKAY. SO IT'S SUBJECTIVE.

YES, SIR. IN THE SENSE OF OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. YEAH. AND AS FAR AS PROHIBITING HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS FROM FORBIDDING THE INSTALLATION OF AIR CONDITIONING UNITS, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT AN HOA WOULD EVEN FLOAT THAT IDEA THAT YOU CAN'T PUT THIS IN WHEN IT'S 110 DEGREES OUTSIDE.

BUT ANYWAY, SO I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

BUT I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, WE JUST NEED TO DO IT ACROSS THE BOARD.

WELL, REMEMBER THIS CAME UP BECAUSE MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY WAS REQUIRING THAT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LEASE LAND EVEN THOUGH THEY OWN THE UNIT.

SO THAT'S WHERE THIS REALLY CAME FROM.

YEAH. AND SO THIS ADDRESSES EVEN THAT SORT OF KIND OF WE DID NOT BECAUSE SPECIFIC OF THE TWO MINUTE PITCH WAS THE HOA SPECIFICALLY.

OKAY, SO LET ME BACK UP THEN.

I'M NOT. SO IT CAME.

IT AROSE OUT OF A MOBILE HOME PARK WHERE THE PEOPLE OWNED THE UNITS.

IS THAT RIGHT? BUT LEASED THE LAND.

THAT WAS THE ARTICLE IN THE PAPER THAT SPURRED THIS.

AND THEN WITH PEOPLE CONTACTING US WITH COMPLAINTS THAT THEIR MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY WAS FORCING THEM TO REMOVE THEIR WINDOW UNITS.

YES, THAT'S WHAT THIS.

SO THIS WOULD PREVENT THAT FROM OCCURRING.

I WILL DEFER TO LEGAL.

I THINK MAYBE THERE'S A WORD MISSING HERE.

NUMBER TWO, I THINK SPEAKS TO.

ARE YOU GOING TO FORBID HOAS FROM FORBIDDING THEM FROM PUTTING IN WINDOW AIR CONDITIONING UNITS? THAT WAS THE GIST OF THE PITCH.

AND THE UNDERLYING ISSUE IS, DO YOU WANT TO PREVENT HOAS FROM ENFORCING THAT RESTRICTION ON THEIR PROPERTIES WITHIN HOA? AND IT'S NOT JUST MOBILE HOME. THERE'S THERE'S COMMUNITIES ALL OVER AND DENTON WHERE THEY SAY YOU CAN'T PUT IN A WINDOW UNIT.

THIS SPEAKS TO DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT SPECIFICALLY AND SAY THAT HOA HOA RESTRICTION IS NO LONGER VALID, THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO PUT IN A WINDOW UNIT, A WINDOW UNIT. SO I GUESS THAT'S A GOOD THAT'S THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

SO THEN IN THE OTHER PART WHERE IT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE MANDATORY AIR CONDITIONING UNITS, AIR CONDITIONING IN ALL ALL RENTAL UNITS AT LEAST FOR NOW.

THEN WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE THAT KIND OF DISTINCTION BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO PUT IN CENTRAL HEATING AND AIR OR CENTRAL AIR UNITS IN EVERY RENTAL UNIT THAT THE MINIMUM STANDARD IS, I GUESS EITHER A WINDOW UNIT OR A SWAMP COOLER QUALIFY FOR THAT.

I GUESS IF IT MEETS THE AIR CONDITION, IF IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE UNDER THE TEMPERATURE, THAT'S A GOOD DISTINCTION.

YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD DISTINCTION.

GOOD CATCH, MR. CITY ATTORNEY. COUNCIL MEMBER, HARLAN.

ONCE IN A WHILE, MY MY COLLEAGUE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT A SWAMP COOLER IS, SO WE'RE.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN.

WHAT'S BRINGS UP SOME INTERESTING POINTS.

AND I HADN'T THOUGHT OF OF OF ALL OF THOSE THAT HE MENTIONED, BUT WHAT COMES TO MIND IS WHO WHO PROVIDES THE AIR CONDITIONER FILTER FOR THESE REQUIRED AIR CONDITIONING UNITS.

I, I HAVE A COUPLE OF RENTAL PROPERTIES, AND I REQUIRE AIR FILTERS TO BE CHANGED EVERY MONTH, AND IT RARELY HAPPENS.

SO EVEN WITH MY BEST, WITH MY BEST EFFORTS, THAT'S THAT'S A DIFFICULT THING.

AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO MANDATE THAT, THAT THAT THE, THAT THE RENTAL UNIT MUST HAVE HAVE AN AIR CONDITIONING.

THERE'S, THERE'S A WHOLE THIS IS VERY, VERY VAGUE TO ME AND AND UNMANAGEABLE.

I'M A FIRM NO ON NUMBER ONE AND A FIRM NO ON NUMBER TWO.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILWOMAN MELTZER. MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS.

DIRECTIONS. I BELIEVE THAT THE DISTINCTION WITH RENTAL VERSUS OWNERSHIP, WHICH WAS INTERESTING AND MAY DEFINITELY MAYBE THINK A LITTLE. IT'S IT'S DEGREE OF CONTROL, RIGHT? IF I'M A RENTER AND MY LANDLORD JUST DOESN'T WANT, DOESN'T WANT TO PUT IT IN AND DOESN'T WANT ME TO PUT IT IN, I HAVE LESS CONTROL OVER THAT, YOU KNOW, VERSUS OWNERSHIP I'M OPEN TO. IT'S AN INTERESTING POINT.

I MEAN, IT ABSOLUTELY IS ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY.

SO I'M OPEN TO HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER THAT BELONGS IN CODE OR WHATEVER.

BUT BUT THE REASON TO FOCUS ON RENTERS IS DEGREE OF CONTROL.

AND ON NUMBER TWO, I TAKE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S POINT.

WE WE WANT THE WORD WINDOW IN THERE.

BUT IF YOU, YOU KNOW, IF WE NEED TO INSERT SOMETHING AFTER HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS, HOAS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT MOBILE HOME PARKS WHERE THE LAND IS LEASED AND THE UNITS ARE ARE OWNED.

[00:45:02]

ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE GOT SOME BYRD? I JUST REALLY CAN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THE IDEA OF HAVING RENTING SOMETHING, A SPACE FOR SOMEONE, AND THE TYPE OF SUMMERS THAT WE HAVE IN THE TYPES OF WEATHER THAT WE HAVE LEADING UP TO THOSE SUMMERS WHERE THEY WOULD NOT WANT TO CONSIDER HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THEIR RENTERS, THAT I JUST CAN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THAT.

SO YES, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO IMPLEMENT A POLICY REQUIRING MANDATORY INSTALLATION OF AIR CONDITIONING IN ALL PROPERTIES.

AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS CAME THROUGH I WAS THINKING ABOUT AIR CONDITIONING UNITS, YOU KNOW, VERSUS AIR CONDITIONING PERIOD OF THE INSTALLATION OF AIR CONDITIONING IN IN HOMES RIGHT NOW IS JUST TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.

IT IS HIGHLY EXPENSIVE TO EVEN JUST REPLACE YOUR OWN OLD AIR CONDITIONING UNIT.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WINDOW UNITS.

AT LEAST THAT COULD BE DONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR JUST FOR THE SAKE OF ME THINKING ABOUT WHERE THAT WHERE, WHERE, WHERE, WHEN THE COMPLAINT COMES IN AND WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS, IS BEING CHECKED.

I WOULD ALSO INCLUDE CHECKING IT CLOSE TO THE THERMOSTAT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S THE AREA THAT'S GIVING YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S IF YOU HAVE A WHOLE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT VERSUS A RENTAL UNIT.

SO AND I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST CHECKING IT AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE IN THE AIR BECAUSE THE HEAT RISES.

SO YOU KNOW, THERE WE GO ON THAT.

BUT YEAH LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO NUMBER ONE.

AND THEN THERE'S A COUNCIL WISH TO ESTABLISH A POLICY THAT PROHIBITS THE HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, BACK TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY POINT.

I WOULD BE FRUSTRATED IF I SAW ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS.

I LIVE IN A REALLY NICE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SAW AIR CONDITIONING UNITS HANGING OUT, YOU KNOW, AT MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.

I'M CONSIDERING MY PROPERTY VALUES AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, WE DO CONSIDER THOSE THINGS.

BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS COULD DO A BETTER JOB IN SOLICITING ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY.

IF THERE IS A PROGRAM OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP CITIZENS WITH THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THEN THE HOMEOWNERS, I PUT THAT ON THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS.

IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE FORBIDDING THE INSTALLATION OF AIR CONDITIONING UNITS.

SO WITH THAT BEING ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, YES, I DO WISH THAT WE WISH TO ESTABLISH A POLICY THAT PROHIBITS HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS FROM FORBIDDING THE INSTALLATION OF AIR CONDITIONING UNITS.

AND I ALSO WOULD THINK THAT WE WILL PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR THEIR HOMEOWNERS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF YOU KNOW, FROM A COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THE CITY.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS, THEY TAKE A LOT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THEY GIVING TO HELP THE CITIZENS IN THEIR COMMUNITY? AND THIS WOULD DEFINITELY GO ALONG THOSE LINES OF GIVING SOME HELP BACK TO SOMEONE THAT MAY BE HAVING A BIT OF TROUBLE KEEPING THEIR, THEIR, THEIR HOME COOLED.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILWOMAN MCGEE.

DANNY, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BACK TO US.

WE APPRECIATE THE WORK ON THIS.

YES AND YES.

ABSOLUTELY. AND MISS CITY MANAGER IN ADVANCE OF THE SUMMER MONTHS, IF THERE IS A WAY THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF CAN CONTINUE TO PUT OUT THE INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE.

YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

WELL DONE. SO MR. CITY ATTORNEY.

QUESTION ABOUT TO PICK UP WHERE COUNCILOR HOLLAND LEFT OFF ENFORCEMENT.

IS THAT COMPLAINT DRIVEN BY THE RESIDENT OR WHAT IS THAT? WHAT DO YOU ENVISION? HOW DO WE HANDLE THOSE THINGS? TRADITIONALLY, I THINK THAT'S TYPICALLY OUR PROCESS IS COMPLAINT DRIVEN BY TENANTS.

OKAY. NUMBER OF UNITS FOR THIS IS COMPLAINT DRIVEN.

WE DO PROACTIVE AND COMPLAINT DRIVEN ENFORCEMENT.

BUT FOR THIS IT'S 100% COMPLAINT DRIVEN BY THE TENANTS OKAY.

AND THEN MR. CITY ATTORNEY HOA RULES WHO GOVERNS THOSE.

BECAUSE IF IT'S THE STATE THEN IT SAYS AND IF I SLIDE FIVE SAYS THEY CAN IT FALLS UNDER ESTHETICS.

THEY CAN THEY CAN REGULATE THOSE.

[00:50:04]

I THINK KIND OF THE SHORT ANSWER IS THAT.

YEAH, THE THE STATE ALLOWS FOR CONTRACTS.

AND THERE'S ALSO THE ABILITY FOR HOA'S TO ENFORCE THEIR RESTRICTIONS.

THE STATE HAS THE AUTHORITY ALSO TO AND THEY HAVE IT FROM TIME TO TIME GONE BACK AND SAID, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO STOP YOU FROM ENFORCING CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS, WHETHER IT'S RAINWATER COLLECTION, SOLAR PANELS, THEY HAVE DONE THAT IN A NUMBER OF CASES.

THIS WOULD BE US AFFIRMATIVELY TAKING THE SAME TYPE OF ROLE AS A HOME RULE CITY.

WE HAVE THE SAME AUTHORITY AS THE STATE AND US SAYING, WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO FORBID WINDOW UNITS IN YOUR HOMES.

AND SO IT'S US FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY REASONS, TAKING AIM AT CERTAIN SPECIFIC PROVISIONS AND SAYING THERE'S A REGULATORY REASON WHY WE THINK THAT SHOULD NOT BE ENFORCED. OKAY.

SO THEN TO PICK UP ON THAT, THEN HEALTH AND SAFETY REASONS.

ARE WE DISADVANTAGED IN THAT ARGUMENT IF WE SAY ONLY FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES? BECAUSE IF IT'S HEALTHY TO COUNCILMAN, WHAT'S POINT IF WE'RE TAKING THE POSITION THAT IT'S HEALTH AND SAFETY, BUT WE'RE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT SEGMENTS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY, DOES THAT WEAKEN OUR ARGUMENT? I HEAR YOUR POINT.

I DON'T THINK IT DOES COMPLETELY.

I MEAN, THE THE LAW ALLOWS FOR US TO GO AT A SITUATION AND NOT SOLVE ALL THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS IN ONE SWOOP.

WE CAN GO AT IT IN 1 IN 1 PHASE, WE CAN LOOK AT IT AND SOLVE SOME PROBLEMS. IT DOESN'T REQUIRE US TO SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AIM AT SOMETHING.

SO THERE IS ABILITY TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO GO FOR RENTALS, WE DON'T NECESSARILY GO DO HOMEOWNERS RIGHT NOW DON'T NEED TO EVER POTENTIALLY.

BUT YOU COULD BUILD SOME JUSTIFICATIONS WHY WE THINK THE RENTAL SITUATION NEEDS ADDITIONAL REGULATION THAT DOESN'T OTHERWISE REQUIRE IN HOMEOWNER SITUATIONS UNDER THE GUISE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY.

SURE. REALLY.

I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT BECAUSE I YEAH, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THAT THEN.

OKAY. YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS.

YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR? I BEG YOUR PARDON FOR TAKING TWO BITES.

IT I REMEMBER THIS WHEN IT CAME UP, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE MONTH, BUT I REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH THE MAN WHO OWNED THIS PARTICULAR MOBILE HOME.

HE HAD LIVED IN THE MOBILE HOME FOR NUMBERS OF YEARS, AND HIS AIR CONDITIONER HAD NOT WORKED IN 18 YEARS.

SO IT WASN'T IT WASN'T LIKE THE AC JUST WENT OUT, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK HE'D LIVED THAT WAY FOR 18 YEARS.

I TALKED TO THE GUY.

I THINK THAT I THINK THAT AT LEAST OUGHT TO ENTER INTO THIS DISCUSSION.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, THEN YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

ASSUMING THAT YOU WERE FOR.

YES. FOR BOTH.

OKAY, THEN.

YES. SO WE'LL BRING SOMETHING BACK TO YOU.

OKAY. AND JUST FOR STAFF, STAYING WITH THE WITH THE THE RECENT PROCESS.

WHATEVER QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, BRING THOSE BACK AND WE'LL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

DON'T I DON'T I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE DRAFTED BY STAFF.

I THINK THOSE IF THERE'S UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, BRING THOSE BACK AND WE'LL HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AT THE DAIS OR AT THE WORK TABLE, WHATEVER YOU CALL THIS.

AND THEN.

MOVE IT FORWARD THAT WAY.

DOES THAT DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I'LL WORK WITH TMO TO WHAT'S THE BEST ROUTE FOR THEM BASED ON MEETINGS.

RIGHT. YEAH OKAY.

GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES ITEM C TAKES US TO ITEM D ID 24710

[D. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding proposed amendments to the Hunter Ranch Improvement District’s Operating and Project Agreements. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 1 hour]]

GIVE STAFF DIRECT DIRECTION REGARDING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE HUNTER RANCH IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT OPERATING AND PROJECT AGREEMENTS.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL CASSIE OGDEN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

HERE TO GET DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL REGARDING POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE HUNTER RANCH AGREEMENTS.

JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW.

WE HAVE SOME PROPOSED TERMS THAT THE HILLWOOD DEVELOPERS APPROACHED THE CITY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO TALKING ABOUT THE TERMS OF THEIR AGREEMENT AND, AND SOME CHANGES.

WE'LL GO OVER THE AGREEMENT STRUCTURE AND THEN SOME OF THE PROPOSED BENEFITS TO THE CITY, AND THEN TRY TO GET COUNCIL DIRECTION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS. SO, AS YOU ARE AWARE HUNTER RANCH IS APPROXIMATELY 3167 ACRE MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY.

[00:55:01]

I'VE ANDREW TOLD ME EARLIER, I THINK IT'S ABOUT 500, ACTUALLY, ABOUT 500 COMMERCIAL ACRES NOW IS BEING PROPOSED IN HUNTER RANCH.

AND THIS IS A MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

THERE WAS A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY 2019.

THE STATE APPROVED THE LEGISLATION IN JUNE 2019, AND THEN CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE RESOLUTION APRIL 7TH, 2020.

SO THE CITY OF DENTON HAS TWO SEPARATE AGREEMENTS.

IT'S THE PROJECT AGREEMENT AND THEN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT.

AND WITHIN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT THAT THERE ARE DISTRICTS OF THE THE THE HUNTER AND COAL RANCH CAN BOTH DIVIDE INTO FOUR DISTRICTS FOR A TOTAL OF EIGHT DISTRICTS.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE SPECIFIC TO HUNTER RANCH.

SO JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE OPERATING AGREEMENT.

SO YOU CAN SEE THERE'S DEFINITIONS.

AND ONE OF THE PROPOSALS IS TO AMEND THE TAX RATE ALONG WITH THE CONCEPT OF THE REGIONAL DISTRICT, THE SUPPLEMENTAL PROJECTS.

SO BASICALLY THE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND THEN THE MAX DEVELOPER REIMBURSEMENT.

SO THE BOND CAP WITHIN THE PROJECT AGREEMENT, THERE ARE CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHANGES TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT.

AND SO THE PROPOSED TERMS RIGHT NOW, THE CURRENT THE CURRENT CONTRACT CONTEMPLATES A 55 CENT TAX RATE.

SO THAT INCLUDES THE 49 CENT BENCHMARK TAX RATE CAP.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN BETWEEN DEBT AND THE O AND M, AND THEN A SIX CENT CONTRACT TAX THAT GOES TOWARDS THE CITY'S PORTION OF OFF SITE IMPROVEMENTS, WITH A BOND REIMBURSEMENT CAP OF 350 MILLION.

THE PROPOSAL IS TO INCREASE THE BENCHMARK TAX RATE FROM $0.49 TO $0.71.

AND THEN ALLOW EXCUSE ME, TO ELIMINATE THE BOND REIMBURSEMENT CAP AND ALLOW THE BENCHMARK TAX RATE TO CONTROL THE REIMBURSEMENT CAP.

SO ESSENTIALLY REMOVING THE $350 MILLION CAP.

ADDITIONAL PROPOSALS.

SO CURRENTLY THE DEVELOPER IS REIMBURSING DEVELOPER REIMBURSEMENT IS LIMITED TO THOSE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE DEFINED IN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT.

THEY'RE BASICALLY A REGIONAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT OR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

AND THEN THE DISTRICT MAY SUBDIVIDE INTO FOUR DISTRICTS AND WITH EACH DISTRICT BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

THE PROPOSED TERM CHANGE TO THOSE IS A COMPLETION OF A DEFINED IMPROVEMENT PROJECT UNLOCKS ADDITIONAL QUALIFIED PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. SO A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR.

SO ONE KIND OF REGIONAL PROJECT UNLOCKS DOLLARS FOR WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND THEN ALLOW FOR THE CREATION OF A REGIONAL DISTRICT RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCING THE REGIONAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

AND SO PART OF THE CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CITY SIDE IS OBVIOUSLY THE FUNDING CONTRIBUTIONS.

SO THOSE WOULD INCREASE.

YOU CAN SEE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCREASE FROM 1.5 TO 3 MILLION.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT THE CITY WOULD IS ASKING FOR IS A TIMING COMMITMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION BEGINNING.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S IT'S AS A BENEFIT TO THE CITY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION TO START EARLIER SO THAT THAT IS BEING CONTEMPLATED IN THE AMENDMENT AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL RIGHT OF WAY FOR A WASTEWATER PROJECT INCREASING THE PRESERVATION AND THEN PLUGGING AND ABANDONING TWO GAS WELLS.

SO WITH THAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THE FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS.

WE ARE UPDATING ASSESSED VALUES AND LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS.

WE'RE UPDATING OUR CAPITAL PLAN ASSUMPTIONS AND ESTIMATES AND THEN OUR OPERATING COSTS FOR THE CITY.

BUT WE DID WANT TO GET COUNCIL'S GAUGE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE AMENDMENTS.

IF COUNCIL SAYS YES TODAY, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS, WILL CONTINUE UPDATING THE NUMBERS AND THEN BRING YOU THE RED LINES ALONG WITH THE FISCAL THE UPDATED FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS ON MAY 7TH.

[01:00:01]

AND THE DEVELOPERS ARE ALSO HERE IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS AND DIRECTION.

ANY QUESTIONS? MAYOR PRO TEM. AM I CORRECT IN ASSUMING THAT REGIONAL IS JUST THE THE HUNTER RANCH WRIT LARGE AND NOT THE THAT NOT NOTHING EXTENDING BEYOND HUNTER RANCH, JUST HUNTER RANCH IN THE IN THE LARGER REGIONAL DISTRICT.

RIGHT. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

OKAY. AND THEN I WILL ASK AS WE, AS WE GO THROUGH THE DISCUSSION, IF, IF THE COUNSELORS THAT WERE HERE WOULD WOULD MIND EDUCATING SOME OF US THAT WEREN'T HERE ABOUT WHAT THE RATIONALES WERE FOR, WHY THEY CHOSE THE PARTICULAR STRUCTURES THAT THEY CHOSE AT THE TIME.

I WENT BACK AND REVIEWED SOME OF THE VIDEO, AND I'M A LITTLE UNSURE.

AND SO I IT JUST IS A COURTESY.

DON'T FEEL COMPELLED TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

DO YOU HAVE DIRECTION? I WOULD LIKE I'D LIKE TO HOLD DIRECTION UNTIL THE REST OF THE DIALOG, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.

ANYONE ELSE, COUNCILMEMBER BURKE? YES. PLEASE GO FORWARD TO REEVALUATE THE FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS USING ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PRESENTED THERE, BUT ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, INCLUDING SOME SIGNIFICANT AND SOME SERIOUS THOUGHT IN ADDITION TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PIECE ON THAT.

AND I APPRECIATE US BEING ABLE TO SAY YES TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I KNOW THAT THAT HAS IMPACTED THE NUMBERS, BUT IT'S ALSO GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AN INCLUSIVE CITY AND WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR VERY BEST, NO MATTER HOW LARGE IT GETS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A ROOF OVER EVERYONE'S HEAD.

SO THANK YOU ALL TO THE GROUP, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE CITY FOR FOR CONNECTING THAT PIECE FOR US.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNSELOR WATTS. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. MAYOR PRO TEM, I WAS HERE DURING THIS, BUT I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHEN YOU SAY HOW THE STRUCTURES WERE IDENTIFIED.

WHAT? YOU'RE ACTUALLY REFERRING TO.

THE CAN I RESPOND, MR. MAYOR? YES. NO.

I JUST MEANT SORT OF WHY THEY WERE STRUCTURED AT THE SENSE AND AND AND THE PROJECT LEVELS THAT WHAT WHAT COMPELLED YOU TO ADOPT THAT AT THIS TIME SUCH THAT WE NEED WE POTENTIALLY NEED CHANGES TODAY.

WELL JUST REAL BRIEFLY ON THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT.

I MEAN, THAT WAS I CAN'T REMEMBER THE TIME FRAME THE NEGOTIATIONS OCCURRED.

I MEAN, IT'S SIX MONTHS A YEAR.

IT WAS A LONG TIME REALLY, REALLY HAMMERED OUT.

SO IT WAS AT THE TIME, THE SNAPSHOT, THE SNAPSHOT OF THE PICTURE OF THE ECONOMICS AT THAT TIME.

THIS IS JUST HOW IT PLAYED OUT.

BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS 2019, WASN'T IT? YEAH. 2019.

SO THAT'S BEFORE EVERYTHING JUST WENT CRAZY.

SO MY TAKE ON THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR REALLY.

SO IF WE TOOK $0.49.

IN 2019, AND WE ADDED THE INFLATION FACTOR THAT TYPICALLY HAS BEEN APPLIED TO, NOT THE CPI THAT THE GOVERNMENT PUTS OUT.

BUT WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED AS A CITY INCREASE IN IN COSTS.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU TAKE THAT AGREEMENT WE HAD WHEN YOU APPLY INFLATION TO THAT WHOLE THING.

THAT'S REAL INFLATION FOR CONSTRUCTION COSTS, MATERIALS, ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

IT'S GOING TO COME UP TO ABOUT THAT.

SO IN SOME SENSE, BASED UPON THE SNAPSHOT WE HAVE NOW, THAT'S ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF WE WERE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THIS NOW BASED UPON THAT, THAT BASELINE.

BECAUSE WHEN WE UPDATE OUR CAPITAL, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON UPDATE CAPITAL PLAN ASSUMPTIONS AND ESTIMATES FOR DEL CITY.

BECAUSE THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN TO US.

ABSOLUTELY. WE'LL LOOK AT IT AND IT'LL GO, OKAY, WELL, IT'S GOING TO COST MORE.

HOWEVER, WHAT I WANT TO ENSURE IS THAT THE COST ESTIMATE IS BASED.

WE'RE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES THAT WE'RE NOT ADDING PROJECTS TO THIS.

I MEAN, IF WE WANT TO, THAT'S FINE, BUT WE'RE NOT INCLUDING THEM IN THE NEW ESTIMATES.

IT'S SIMPLY WHAT WE HAD ON THE GROUND AT THE TIME.

WHAT ARE THOSE ADDITIONAL COSTS BASED UPON THAT? BECAUSE ALSO WE ALL FOCUS ON COST, AND RIGHTLY SO.

BUT LOOK AT ASSESSED VALUES 2019.

YOU KNOW THOSE ASSESSED VALUES NOW? I MEAN, HOUSES THAT WERE ASSESSED AT 170,000 190,000IN 2019 NOW ARE PROBABLY 250 TO 275.

AND THOSE ARE STARTER HOMES.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE HIGHER END HOME.

SO I'M OKAY WITH THIS BECAUSE I JUST I ONLY SEE THIS AS SORT OF A RESET BASED UPON THE ECONOMY THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS,

[01:05:10]

THEY INCREASE THE I THINK IT WAS THE GREEN SPACE OR SOMETHING.

I CAN'T PARK OR PRESERVATION.

PRESERVATION. I BELIEVE THEY'VE TAKEN TWO.

IT SAYS PLUG AND ABANDON TWO GAS WELLS.

ARE THOSE GAS WELLS OR PAD SITES IN IN ITS ENTIRETY AFTER GAS WELLS.

OKAY. GAS WELLS. BECAUSE I KNOW THOSE GAS WELLS ARE CONTAINED WITHIN A GAS WELL PAD SITE, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN HAVE MULTIPLE AND I GUESS THAT MEANS IF YOU'RE ABANDONING OR YOU'RE PLUGGING SOME ON A PAD SITE.

I GUESS THAT'S A QUESTION I HAVE.

IF YOU ARE, IF THERE'S A IF ONE OF THESE GAS WELLS THAT GETS PLUGGED AND ABANDONED IS PART OF A GAS WELL PAD SITE THAT COULD HAVE OTHER GAS WELLS DRILLED, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THERE'S A FORGOING OF ANY PARTICULAR EXPANSION OF THAT BECAUSE OF THIS PARTICULAR CONDITION? YEAH. GOOD QUESTION.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL ANDREW PIPER WITH HILLWOOD.

OUR PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO PLUG AND ABANDON AND RELINQUISH THOSE PAD SITES FROM OUR AVAILABLE.

OKAY. YEAH.

ALLOWANCE. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. GOOD. THANK YOU. WE WOULD HAVE TO FILE WITH THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.

YES. AND DO ALL THE FORMALITIES.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND SO THEY THEY'RE DOING THAT.

THEY'RE INCREASING THE PRESERVATION.

NOW, TO BE CLEAR, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCREASE, I BELIEVE THAT'S FUNDED AS BONDS ARE ISSUED AND IT'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM EACH BOND, WHICH IS IT COMES TO, I BELIEVE, THE CITY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM.

SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT THERE ARE I MEAN, THERE MAY BE AFFORDABLE HOUSES BUILT OUT THERE, BUT THIS MONEY IS GOING INTO DIRECTLY INTO THE CITY'S PROGRAMS. RIGHT.

WHAT ELSE WAS THERE UP THERE? WELL, LET ME JUST SAY THIS.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, TO ME, I JUST SEE THIS SORT OF AS ALL RISING BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY.

BUT WHEN I LOOK AT WHO'S PROPOSING THIS AND I LOOK DOWN, I 35 AND I SEE ALLIANCE AND I SEE I SEE PECAN SQUARE, THE, THE HOUSING RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN OUT THERE LOOK.

THERE'S NO ONE IN OUR CITY DEVELOPING ANY KIND OF RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS THAT WOULD EVEN COME CLOSE TO THIS.

MOST OF THEM.

THEY DON'T HAVE VERY MANY AMENITIES.

IF THEY HAVE AN AMENITY CENTER, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S OKAY.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD DEVELOPERS, BUT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE.

AND SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT PECAN SQUARE AND SOME OF THE OTHER HILLWOOD DEVELOPMENTS ARE ALMOST AT THE SAME TAX RATE LEVEL AS BEING ASKED, AND I DIDN'T I DON'T HEAR AN UPROAR FROM PEOPLE.

I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY UPROAR IN PECAN SQUARE OF PEOPLE SAYING, OH MY GOSH, MY TAXES ARE TOO HIGH BECAUSE OF JUST THE AMENITIES THAT ARE PROVIDED.

AND IT'S PEOPLE'S CHOICE.

I MEAN, IF THEY WANT TO DO THAT, THEN.

SO I DON'T REALLY SEE THIS AS SOMETHING REALLY MAJOR.

I SEE IT AS WE HAVE TO COME IN AND READJUST BECAUSE WHEN WE DECIDED THIS, INTEREST RATES WERE 3%, NOW INTEREST RATES ARE 9%.

TRIPLE, TRIPLE.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, I MEAN, NOBODY HAS SAID THIS TO ME, BUT I'M.

I WASN'T BORN YESTERDAY.

IF THERE'S NOT SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY, THIS CAN'T GET DONE.

IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE.

I MEAN, THERE'S JUST NOT THE MONEY TO DO IT.

NOW, THEY MIGHT PUT SOMETHING ON THE GROUND, I DON'T KNOW.

AND IT'LL BE IT'LL BE SOMETHING THEY CAN BE PROUD OF.

BUT WE WANT TO BE PROUD OF IT, TOO.

AND I THINK THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE ALONG THE I 35 CORRIDOR FROM DENTON TO FORT WORTH.

LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED ON THE DALLAS LEG.

LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED UP NORTH.

IT'S ALL INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE.

PRIME I-35 FRONTAGE NOW IS GONE FROM THOSE FROM FROM THAT PARTICULAR OUR INVENTORY HERE IT'S WIDE OPEN.

SO WE WANT A CORPORATE CAMPUS AT SOME POINT.

I TRUST THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PROBABLY WORK AS HARD AS ANYBODY TO DO IT.

YOU WANT RETAIL, YOU WANT GROCERY STORES, YOU WANT ALL THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

THIS IS LIKE A BLANK SLATE.

SO I'M REAL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.

I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE A BIG ASK, BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THIS IS JUST THE INCREASE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED.

I MEAN, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK AT OUR CITY HALL.

WEST WENT FROM $8 MILLION, REHABBED 4 OR 5, SIX YEARS AGO TO 18 MILLION.

[01:10:02]

YEAH, YEAH. SO IT'S JUST THE IT'S THE SIGN OF THE TIMES.

AND THE TRUTH IS, PEOPLE ARE STILL BUYING.

AND I THINK THAT PECAN SQUARE, THEY'RE STARTING NEW PHASES.

HARVEST IS STARTING. IT'S JUST IT'S INCREDIBLE.

SO I'M GOOD WITH THIS.

I THINK THEY'VE REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB IN TRYING TO.

THEY'RE GOING TO ASK FOR SOMETHING. THEY'RE TRYING TO GIVE US SOMETHING BACK THAT THAT WE HAVE INDICATED IS IMPORTANT TO US.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT GOOD FAITH.

SO I'M OKAY WITH MOVING FORWARD ON THIS.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO COME OUT IN THE END THAT IT'S GOING TO BE EITHER THE SAME, OR WE MIGHT EVEN MAKE MORE BECAUSE OF THE ASSESSED VALUES THAT ARE GOING UP.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, THE PECAN SQUARE TAX RATE IS $0.71.

SO THE SAME AS WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR HERE.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN. HELLO. I THINK IT'S AN EXCITING PROJECT.

AND IT'S GOT ALL THE AMENITIES THAT THAT, THAT ANY COMMUNITY WOULD WOULD BE EXCITED TO HAVE UP TO AND INCLUDING FIRE STATIONS, SCHOOLS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

I'M REAL EXCITED ABOUT IT.

I WANT TO PROCEED. OKAY.

ANY. COUNCIL MEMBER.

ESSER. I WAS HERE BACK THEN AND THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS, AND AND THIS I FOUND THE ORGANIZATION TO BE NOTHING BUT PROFESSIONAL, ACCOMMODATING, LISTENING AND TRYING TO MEET OUR OBJECTIVES.

I APPRECIATE THE INCLUSION OF A CONSERVATION ELEMENT.

AND FOR ME, IF IT IF THIS INCLUDES PRESERVING THE ENTIRE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA ON THE IRREPLACEABLE PILOTS KNOB, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF LANDMARKS HERE.

THAT IS ONE. THEN I'M FOR IT.

IF IT DOESN'T, I'D SAY, YOU KNOW, TRY A LITTLE HARDER AND DO THAT.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT ANYONE? OH, NO. WHAT? WELL, YES.

OKAY. GO AHEAD.

MAYOR PRO TEM. I APPRECIATE THAT, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. HERE I READ THE BACK OF MATERIALS.

AS I SAID EARLIER, I WANTED TO GET PEOPLE'S VIEWS TO PUT THE CONTEXT INTO WHAT I WAS SEEING IN THE BACKUP. I'M IN GENERAL, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BUY THESE HOMES KNOW THE PRICES OF THESE HOMES, SO I'M NOT TOO BENT OUT OF SHAPE ABOUT IT.

THE QUESTION THAT THE THE CONCERN WAS, THE ONE THAT I PUT IN THE BACKUP IS THE ONE I'M, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THE THE RELEASING THE IMPACT FEES AS ELIGIBLE PROJECTS BECAUSE I, I KNOW THAT THAT THAT IS GENERALLY USED TO SUPPORT THE PROJECTS OF THE CITY, BUT IT ALSO HAS A SECONDARY EFFECT OF LIMITING SPRAWL. BUT BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T GENERALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PROPOSAL AS IT IS.

SO I'LL JUST GIVE DIRECTION OF.

YES. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILOR MCGEE.

ANDREW, ARE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT.

DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE KNOB OR NOT? LET'S LET'S GET THROUGH IT.

YEAH. OKAY.

I'M I'M A YES. ALSO MY QUESTION THE ADDITIONAL RIGHT OF WAY, WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR FOR FOR THAT IF, IF YOU HAVE ALREADY ENVISIONED THEM YET, YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF RIGHT OF WAY THAT THEY'RE, THAT THEY'RE GIVING OUT WATER, WASTEWATER.

IT'S FOR OUR WASTEWATER LINE.

THE NEW WASTEWATER LINE.

OKAY. THAT'S A GREAT PROJECT.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY NEEDS, SO I APPRECIATE THIS.

I'M FOR THIS BECAUSE OF THE TRANSPARENCY ASPECT.

FOLKS DON'T BUY A HOME BEFORE THEY KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL PRICE IS GOING TO BE.

SO I'M MORE THAN FINE WITH THAT GREAT PROJECT.

SO THANK YOU ALL THE TEAM VERY MUCH.

OKAY. YEAH.

SO I'M SUPPORTIVE FOR FOR THIS REASON I DID AND THIS IS TERRIBLE MATH, BUT I THINK I'M CLOSE.

SO THE DEVELOPMENT'S 3000 ACRES TOTAL.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT 141 ACRES.

THAT'S ABOUT 5% OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

THEY'RE THEY'RE SETTING ASIDE FOR PRESERVATION.

UPLAND PRESERVATION.

AND THEN THE THING THAT THAT IS INTERESTING AND IT MAY NOT HAVE THE IMPACT ON EVERYONE, AS I UNDERSTAND.

BUT SO AGAIN, MY ROUGH MATH, THE CITY OF DENTON'S 1100MI², THAT CONVERTS TO 64,000 ACRES AND THEY'RE SETTING ASIDE 141 ACRES.

THAT'S, YOU KNOW, POINT 2% OF THE TOTAL CITY'S SPACE IS PRESERVED OUT HERE IN THIS ONE DEVELOPMENT.

AND IT GIVES US WHAT WE NEED, WHICH IS CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS IN DENTON TO GRADUATE FROM TWU, NCTC, TRADE SCHOOLS, ETC., AND HAVE CORPORATE JOBS.

[01:15:04]

WHY DON'T WE SAY GET THE BUSSES OFF THE ROAD AND JUST HAVE THEM EVENTUALLY WORK IN DENTON? THAT THAT SOUNDS REALLY COOL AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO JUST THAT AMONGST THE OTHER THINGS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO FRAME IT WRONG. SO, ANDREW, I WOULD ASK YOU TO TALK ABOUT NOT ONLY JUST THE SETTING ASIDE THE NOLS, THE ALL THE DIFFERENT POCKET PARKS AND THE THING, AND JUST KIND OF GIVE US A TOUR OF THOSE PARKS.

AND WHILE HE'S TALKING, THINK ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES THE CITY TO DEVELOP THESE THINGS THAT WILL, WILL JUST AND AND TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC ACCESS.

SURE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

SO OUR, OUR PRESERVATION REQUIREMENT IS REALLY BASED ON THE THREE KNOBS THAT ARE CENTRAL AND VISIBLE FROM THE HIGHWAY.

THOSE ARE HIGH POINTS ON THE PROPERTY BLENDED.

RIGHT NOW OUR PRESERVATION PERCENTAGE IS 55% MINIMUM.

THAT THAT WOULD BUMP UP TO 65%.

NOTE, THE ADDITIONAL 35% THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO IMPACT STILL IS SUBJECT TO TREE MITIGATION.

SO THERE WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL PRESERVATION JUST IN TREE MITIGATION, PER PERKINS CODE.

OUR LAND PLAN REALLY IS BASED AROUND THESE KNOBS.

WE'VE PUT A LOOP ROAD AROUND THESE KNOBS.

AND WHICH CREATES REALLY THIS 350 PLUS ACRE PARK DISTRICT AND THAT, THAT REALLY ENCAPSULATES ALL OF THESE UPLAND HABITATS.

SO WE REALLY ENVISION EMBRACING THESE KNOBS, EMBRACING THIS NATURE, MAKING AN AMENITY AN ASSET REALLY TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO OUR WHOLE LAND PLAN IS BASED AROUND THESE TREES, THESE, THESE CANOPIES IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

NOW, WHILE THOSE ARE THE MOST VISIBLE NATURAL ASPECTS, WE ALSO HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF LOWLAND HABITAT.

SO WHEN YOU COMBINE THE LOWLAND HABITATS AND THE UPLAND HABITATS, GAS WELL, SETBACKS, ETC., CLOSE TO 1000 ACRES OF THE 3000 ACRES IS REALLY UNDEVELOPABLE AND REALLY WON'T BE TOUCHED.

SO WHETHER YOU WANT TO CALL IT PRESERVATION OR JUST UNTOUCHABLE PROPERTY, ABOUT A THIRD OF THE PROPERTY IS UNDEVELOPABLE.

SO WE REALLY ENVISION, YOU KNOW, CONNECTING THE UPLANDS AND LOWLANDS WITH GREAT TRAIL CONNECTIVITY.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT NATURAL TRAILS, WE'VE GOT PAVED TRAILS, SOFT SURFACE TRAILS.

IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY A ONE OF A KIND EXPERIENCE UP HERE IN DENTON OPEN NOT ONLY TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUT TO, TO DENTON HEIGHTS AND ALSO THE GREATER NORTH TEXAS REGION.

SO, YEAH, SO THAT THAT LAST POINT I JUST WANT TO FOCUS IN ON IS, IS THERE A PARK OR A GREEN SPACE OR ANYTHING? THAT WOULD BE.

YES, SIR. WELL, HOW HOW DO YOU DIVIDE WHAT'S PUBLIC ACCESS? WHAT'S PRIVATE ACCESS? YEAH. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT'S NOT YOU KNOW, PHOBE ACCESS CONTROLLED IS REALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MANAGE THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF OPEN SPACE OUT THERE, AND WE DO NEED TO TO MANAGE IT APPROPRIATELY.

WE NEED SECURITY, ETC..

BUT WE, WE INVITE REALLY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND ENJOY IT.

AND WE THINK PEOPLE WILL COME OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY IT.

WE'LL ACTUALLY WANT TO LIVE THERE AS WELL.

SO OKAY.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

ALL RIGHT. SO, CASSIE, YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED.

YES. OKAY. GOT IT.

TELL BRIAN WE MISSED HIM.

OKAY. AND APPRECIATE ALL HIS WORK.

GOOD TO SEE Y'ALL. THANKS FOR IT. APPRECIATE YOU.

YEAH. THANK YOU. AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY TO MY FRIEND, GO, GO, MINERS. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, NOW WE'RE READY.

OKAY, THAT TAKES US TO ITEM E, WHICH IS ID 24082.

[E. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction on pending City Council requests for: 1) Request for a Work Session to discuss establishing a Community Benefits Ordinance 2) Request for a Work Session to discuss guidelines for individual Council Member discussions with developers and businesses. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]

YES. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

JESSIE KENT, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER.

AND I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE OUR PENDING TWO MINUTE PITCH ITEMS. SO AS A REMINDER FOR THIS WORK SESSION, UP TO SEVEN REQUESTS WILL BE REVIEWED PER MEETING.

ONE PER COUNCIL MEMBER.

STAFF WILL INTRODUCE EACH REQUEST.

THE REQUEST AND COUNCIL MEMBER WILL HAVE UP TO TWO MINUTES TO DESCRIBE AND JUSTIFY THEIR REQUEST.

REMAINING COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL THEN HAVE A MAXIMUM OF ONE MINUTE EACH TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND INDICATE THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE USE OF CITY STAFF.

TIME TO RESPOND TO THE REQUEST.

STAFF WILL RESPOND TO ALL REQUESTS WHERE A CONSENSUS OF AT LEAST FOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IS ESTABLISHED, AND THE CONSENSUS OF SIX COUNCIL MEMBERS IS REQUIRED FOR A RESOLUTION OR ORDINANCE TO BE PLACED ON A FUTURE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA PRIOR TO A WORK SESSION.

ON THE REQUEST, THE COMMITTEE WILL ASSIST IN SCHEDULING ITEMS AND AS A GUIDELINE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU CAN NOTE THAT YOUR SUPPORT FOR

[01:20:07]

THE FIRST REQUEST IS A REQUEST FOR A WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY BENEFITS ORDINANCE, AND I PROMISE I WILL NOT READ THE REQUEST IN TOTALITY THIS TIME.

I WANT TO, BUT I WON'T.

SORRY. OKAY.

COUNCILMAN NELSON. YEAH.

THANK YOU. ACKNOWLEDGE RIGHT OFF THE BAT THAT SOMETIMES WE DO SEE NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE COMING BEFORE COUNCIL WHEN THERE'S A PROJECT AND SAYING, THIS IS AWESOME.

WE'RE THE DEVELOPER, SO LISTEN TO US SO.

WELL, WE ARE AND THEY THANK COUNCIL.

THAT'S NOT. THAT'S SORT OF THE EXCEPTION.

WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS A TOOL THAT COULD BE USEFUL SOME OF THE TIME IN SOME PLACES, NOT EVERYWHERE.

BUT IT'S AN OPTION TO CREATE MORE SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.

AND THE IDEA IS THAT IF WE OFFER THE DEVELOPER SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO THEM, THAT THEY WOULD THIS THIS COULD MOTIVATE THEM TO SEEK OUT A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH A DULY CONSTITUTED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

AND THE WHAT'S IN IT FOR THE DEVELOPER THAT IS ON OFFER HERE FOR A WORK SESSION.

LIKE TO SEE, DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? DOES THIS WORK IS TO OFFER THEM A FASTER PATH TO APPROVAL BY ALLOWING DEVELOPERS WHO COME TO THE CITY WITH A SIGNED COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ALLOWS THEM TO SUBMIT THEIR WHAT USED TO BE CALLED THE SITE PLAN.

WHAT'S IT CALLED NOW? ZONING COMPLIANCE PLAN SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE CIVIL ENGINEERING STEP.

AND THAT IN AND OF ITSELF DOING THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY INSTEAD OF SEQUENTIALLY WHICH IS LIKE A BIT OF A RISK ON THEIR PART TO SAY WE THINK THIS IS GOING TO WORK.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE WE'RE WILLING TO SUBMIT THEM TOGETHER, CAN SAVE THEM SIX MONTHS.

AND IF YOU'RE BORROWING MONEY TO DO A PROJECT, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS IS IS VERY TANGIBLE.

SO IT DOESN'T INVOLVE ANY CITY MONEY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT IT'S A VERY MATERIAL INCENTIVE TO DEVELOPERS.

AND WHAT IT OFFERS POTENTIALLY IS THE CHANCE FOR NEIGHBORHOODS TO GET IN, GET IN EARLY AND HAVE THAT GOOD DIALOG TO SO THAT EVERYONE GETS ON THE SAME SIDE SO THAT THEY SO THAT THERE ARE BENEFITS THAT THEY SEE TO WHATEVER THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IS INSTEAD OF PLAYING IT ALL OUT, YOU KNOW, NECESSARILY IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, FOR INSTANCE THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE REQUIREMENTS SO THAT WHATEVER IS.

THAT'S YOUR TIME. OKAY.

THANKS. ALL RIGHT.

LET ME GET OUT OF THE WAY, BUT BEFORE I GO.

SO WHERE'S STAFF? DO YOU HAVE STAFF'S RESPONSE THERE? IF NOT, I CAN JUST PULL IT UP.

I DO. IT'S ON THE SCREEN.

OKAY. WELL, YEAH.

WAIT AND SEE. NO, THAT'S.

SO THERE'S A MEMORANDUM.

SO HERE WE GO.

I DON'T HAVE A COPY OF IT ON THE PRESENTATION, BUT IT IS INCLUDED IN THE MATERIALS.

YEAH. LET ME GET THERE, I THINK LET ME SEE.

BEAR WITH ME. THERE IT IS.

CONCLUSION. BEAR WITH ME.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

LET'S USE THIS ONE. OKAY, YEAH I CAN'T.

THIS HAS SO MANY QUESTIONS.

I JUST WOULD ASK MY PEERS TO THINK ABOUT THE PAINFUL STEPS WE'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH TO GET DETAILS JUST TWO WEEKS AGO.

THIS HAS ALL THE SAME QUESTIONS AND I'LL READ.

STAFF DOES NOT SUPPORT A FAST TRACK OPTION FOR DEVELOPERS.

IT. THAT'S WHO'S GOING TO BE EXECUTING IT.

AND WHY IS WHY SHOULD THIS COUNCIL CONTINUE TO IGNORE STAFF'S REQUEST? AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HOW THAT HAPPENS.

AND WHY CAN'T WE WORK WITH STAFF TO FIND SOMETHING THEY CAN SUPPORT VERSUS GOING HEAD ON WITH THEM FOR THE SECOND TIME? I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, BUT WE'LL SEE HOW THE VOTE TURNS OUT.

BUT THERE'S SO MANY GAPS IN THIS, SO MANY DETAILS MISSING.

THIS ISN'T A TWO MINUTE PITCH.

THIS IS AN IDEA THAT'S UNVETTED.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY SUPPORT THIS.

IT'S A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS TO US IN THOSE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS IS THAT WHENEVER WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF, OF, OF, OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT COMING IN THE COMMUNITY DOES COME FORWARD AND THEY DO TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND EVERYONE CAN SPEAK ON THIS PROJECT.

YOU KNOW, FOR THEIR TO GET THEIR TIME IN.

AND THEN IF WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE DEVELOPER HASN'T DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE SEND THOSE DEVELOPERS BACK, AND THEN THAT FORCES THEM TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY.

[01:25:03]

REMEMBER, THEY CAME THROUGH AND WE HAD TO SEND IT BACK.

COUNCIL MEMBER BECK DID A GREAT JOB IN CONNECTING THAT GROUP WITH THAT DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEN WHEN THEY ALL CAME BACK, EVERYBODY WAS SINGING PRAISES ABOUT EACH OTHER.

SO IT DOES HAPPEN KIND OF ORGANICALLY ANYWAY.

AND THAT'S WHERE THOSE GROUPS THAT, YOU KNOW, DO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND SPEAK WITH US.

WE SAW THAT OVER ON LILLIE AND MILLER.

YOU KNOW, APARTMENT COMPLEX WANTED TO COME IN.

COMMUNITY SAID, NO WAY.

AND THEY COME IN AND FORCES AND TOLD US AND THEN WE HAD TO SEND IT BACK.

SO IT'S JUST KIND OF HAPPENING ALREADY.

BUT I DO THINK THE BEST PART OF THIS PITCH IS THAT WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HAVE THAT DONE ALREADY BEFORE IT COMES TO THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

IF OUR DEVELOPERS ARE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO ANYWAY, THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO SIT THERE FOR SO LONG.

AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO SEND IT BACK TO THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY.

I'M OVER ON MY TIME.

YEAH, YEAH, I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I FORGOT WHERE WE WERE. I FORGOT WHAT PROCESS WE WERE.

NO, NO ONE MINUTE THING, BUT, YEAH, AM I DONE? YES, I THINK I'M DONE.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR PRO TEM. YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE LOTS OF IDEAS THAT ARE THAT ARE NASCENT.

AND THIS IS BEYOND NASCENT.

AND THE IDEA IS THAT WE FLESH IT OUT OVER TIME WITH THE HELP OF STAFF AND BRING IT BACK AND HAVE OTHER WORK SESSIONS.

I THINK THE RANDOM SORT OF NATURE OF THE PROCESS ABSOLUTELY NEEDS A LITTLE CODIFYING.

AND SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF FIGURING OUT A WAY TO CODIFY BETTER, MAKE IT SMOOTHER, STREAMLINE IT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE TO IRON OUT ALL THE DETAILS RIGHT NOW.

WE COULD IRON THEM OUT IN THE FUTURE.

SO THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF HAVING AN IDEA AND BRINGING IT FORWARD.

SO I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT WORKING WITH TRYING TO WAY TO HAVE A WIN WIN FOR BOTH THE DEVELOPERS AND THE COMMUNITY.

COUNCILOR HOLLAND. I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT THAT DEVELOPERS OUGHT TO JUST GOOD BUSINESS TO GET IN FRONT OF THIS PROJECT AND VISIT WITH NEIGHBORHOODS AND, AND LANDOWNERS THAT THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS.

BUT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF CREATING AN ORDINANCE FOR IT.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILOR MCGEE. YEAH, I I'LL BE CONSISTENT.

I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA.

I STILL THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I DON'T LOVE THE IDEA THAT STAFF PREMATURELY WEIGHED INTO THIS.

I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN THIS COUNCIL PROVIDE DIRECTION BEFORE STAFF DID SO, BUT.

TOO LATE. JUST GET WITH HIM OFF OFF OFFLINE.

BUT I I'M WITH YOU.

WELL, I THINK FROM A FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT.

LET ME, LET ME NOT NOT FROM THE CITY MANAGER WHO CAN SPEAK TO THE POLICY OF THE TWO MINUTE PITCH AND STAFF'S RESPONSE.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN THERE SINCE THE SINCE THE BEGINNING.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CLEAR RECORD.

THIS ISN'T NEW.

RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. SO SINCE THE BEGINNING STAFF HAS A COMMENT OR A RESPONSE TO A TWO MINUTE PITCH.

I'M SORRY THAT THAT THE STAFF IS ALWAYS PROVIDED A COMMENT OR THAT'S MY QUESTION.

WE ALWAYS HAVE PROVIDED A BACKUP INFORMATION.

THE THE I THINK SCOTT NEEDS TO CORRECT SOMETHING BECAUSE GO AHEAD CHRISTINE, BUT THEN STOP NEEDS TO CORRECT SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE WAS A MEETING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER, AND I THINK THERE'S SOME MORE INFORMATION HERE.

AND I DON'T WANT THAT NOT TO TO BE SHARED.

CHRISTINE TAYLOR, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER I THINK THE ONLY POINT I WANTED TO CLARIFY IS A QUESTION CAME IN PREVIOUSLY ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CPOS AND CBAS, AND STAFF WEIGHED IN BY PROVIDING AN INFORMAL STAFF REPORT, WHICH WAS A REQUEST.

SO THE INFORMAL STAFF REPORT WENT OUT TO ALL OF COUNCIL, WHICH PROVIDED SOME GUIDANCE ON PROCEEDING WITH THE TWO MINUTE PITCH.

SCOTT. I MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED, AND I'VE BEEN CONFUSED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.

AS WE'VE TALKED CVA, CBO I WILL SAY JUST TO THE POINT, THE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS PREVIOUS WAS KIND OF DEALING WITH, I THINK, THE LAY OF THE LAND AT THE TIME.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT I DID MEET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER AND ONE OF OUR LOCAL DEVELOPERS AND TINA FERGUSON'S OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR, AND WE TALKED AND WALKED THROUGH WHAT IT IS THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.

WE CAN SUPPORT BEING BEHIND THE CONCEPT.

WE CAN STAND BEHIND THE PATH OF OF BEING ABLE TO WHEN WE USE THE TERM FAST TRACK, IT HAS DIFFERENT MEANINGS, BUT WE CAN EXPEDITE SOME OF THE PERMITTING PROCESS, MEANING ALLOWING FOR SOME DUAL REVIEWS AND SOME OTHER PIECES TO ENCOURAGE SOME PUBLIC INPUT.

[01:30:02]

I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S REFINEMENT.

AND AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS, WE MAY BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A BETTER PRODUCT OR AN OPTION THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE OUT THERE.

SO I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT OUT.

AND I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PAST AS IT'S RELATED TO THE TOPIC, AND I THINK THE CONFUSION SURROUNDING THE TOPIC.

I WILL TELL YOU, I AM NOT SUPPORTIVE OF MANDATING CERTAIN THINGS, AND THAT'S WHAT THAT PREVIOUS ORDINANCE WAS DOING AND THE CONCEPTS BEHIND IT, OR HOW THEY WERE UNDERSTOOD BY PLANNING STAFF.

SO WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

OKAY, COUNCILWOMAN. WHAT'S.

WELL, THERE WE GO.

THAT I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS AS IT'S PRESENTED ONLY BECAUSE IF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WHAT IS IT DOING THAT WE'RE NOT DOING? IT'S NOT MAKING IT MANDATORY.

WE'RE NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH THEN GIVES, OR THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO TAKE SOME KIND OF PREDETERMINED ACTION.

IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, THIS IS WHAT THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO DO WHICH THEN SHIFTS ANY TYPE OF LEVERAGE.

WHEREAS THEN IF YOU SAY, WELL, IF WE'RE GOING TO FAST TRACK IT, WE'VE TRIED IT.

I MEAN, FOR, FOR A DEVELOPER TO SAY IT'S GOING TO GET US THERE IN SIX MONTHS.

NUMBER ONE, IF WE IF WE'RE GOING TO SAY WE CAN DO THAT FOR SOMEONE WHO'S WANTING TO DO THIS, WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT FOR JUST OUR NORMAL? I MEAN, WHAT KEEPS US FROM THAT PROCESS OF SAYING, HEY, IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE THROUGH QUICKER, THAT NEEDS TO BE THE GOAL FOR EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THIS.

SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD CONCEPT BECAUSE IT'S WANTING TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS TO TALK WITH NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT THAT'S WHAT WE ALREADY DO.

WE'VE SEEN EXAMPLES OF THAT WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS OR SO.

YOU KNOW, ONE, THE OUTCOME WAS ONE WAY.

ONE, THE OUTCOME WAS THE OTHER.

PLUS YOU HAVE AN ISSUE OF IT CAN ONLY BE HAPPENING WITH AND THAT'S YOUR TWO.

OH THAT'S IT.

YEAH. YEAH. BECAUSE I GOT STARTED LATE.

OH SO YOU WERE AT 45 OKAY.

ALL RIGHT 15 SECOND HEAD START IS WHAT YOU GOT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, SORRY, MAN, YOU GOT MY.

SORRY. I'M. I'M TIME KEEPING.

I'M NOTE KEEPING.

IT'S ALL THE THINGS. OKAY.

YES. WHAT WHAT DID I TEACH YOU ABOUT MY OWN TIME? OH, YEAH. PLEASE KEEP ME STRAIGHT.

HECK, YES. OKAY.

JESSE. NEXT ITEM, SIR? YES. ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT ITEM IS A REQUEST FOR WORK SESSION.

DISCUSS GUIDELINES FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER DISCUSSIONS WITH DEVELOPERS AND BUSINESSES.

SET MY OWN CLOCK, PLEASE.

SO I START ONCE I START TALKING.

YEAH, YEAH. GIVE YOURSELF A SENTENCE OR TWO.

NO. OKAY, HERE WE GO.

YEAH, I'M JUST REQUESTING A TWO MINUTE PITCH FOR A WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS GUIDELINES FOR SELF-GOVERNING OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH DEVELOPERS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS.

THIS IS SOLELY BORNE OUT, AND I'LL FORGET TO HIT SET.

THIS IS SOLELY BORNE OUT OF A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE AT A POLITICAL FORUM ABOUT A CONVERSATION WITH HEB, AND THEN WHEN THE CITY MANAGER ASKED FOR JUST SOME INFORMATION, THE RESPONSE WAS NO COMMENT, WHICH SORT OF SURPRISED ME.

NOW SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THIS IS A POLITICAL PLOY, THAT SOMEHOW I'M TAKING SOME POLITICAL STUNT.

I DIDN'T MAKE THE COMMENT, I DIDN'T MAKE IT PUBLIC.

BUT FOR THAT, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

I MEAN, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE RECOGNIZE CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE A TEAM WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S EXECUTIVE STAFF OR THE STAFF IN GENERAL WHETHER WE LIKE EACH OTHER OR NOT.

THAT'S NOT THE POINT. THE POINT IS WE'RE HERE TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD AND FOR BETTERMENT OF OUR CITIZENS.

AND SO ANY INFORMATION WE HAVE REGARDING CONVERSATIONS WITH ONE OF THE MOST DESIRED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS THAT WE'VE KNOWN FOR PROBABLY DECADES IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SHARED.

SO WORDS MATTER.

I MEAN, WORDS MATTER.

AND I THINK THERE'S JUST LIKE WE HAVE GUIDELINES ON NOT TALKING TO DEVELOPERS BETWEEN MOTIONS TO RECONSIDER WHEN WHEN AN ORDINANCE IS PASSED AND THE MOTION CAN RECONSIDER.

TIME IS RUNNING.

WE HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT YOU CAN'T TALK TO THEM, AND I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE US IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE INDIVIDUAL EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS, THAT WE HAVE SOME GUIDELINES ABOUT WHO WHO IS THE INFORMATION SHARED WITH AND WHO NOT, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY AND TRYING TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SOME OF IT MAY BE CONFIDENTIAL.

SO I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE TO DO THIS.

BUT WHEN I HEARD THIS COMMENT, WHEN I WHEN I THEN SAW THE RESPONSE, I THOUGHT, IN MY 14 YEARS I DON'T THINK I MAY HAVE HAPPENED.

[01:35:02]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ANY, ANY ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR PRO TEM.

I'M A LITTLE.

I'M A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF WEARY THAT THAT WE HAVE LOTS OF FOLKS WITH KNOWN LUCRATIVE AND BROAD DEVELOPMENT DEALINGS THAT THAT SEEM TO BE WANTING TO, YOU KNOW, DURING AN ELECTION SEASON, WANT TO WEAPONIZE ON THE PRETEXT OF REFORM.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO IN IN THE STRANGEST PLACES, YOU GET THE NUCLEUS OF A GOOD IDEA.

SO I'M, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS PITCH AT THIS TIME.

I DO SUPPORT THE TOPIC IN GENERAL.

AT SOME FUTURE POINT, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AN ICER TO GET THE BOARD OF ETHICS TO TALK ABOUT BEST PRACTICES, BRING THIS BACK BEFORE US AND AND TALK ABOUT WHERE WHERE WE SHOULD GO, WHAT WE SHOULD DO.

DETERMINE AT THAT FUTURE POINT ONCE WE GET THAT REPORTING.

BUT BUT I, I CAN'T I CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SUPPORT THE YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE'LL BE PROTESTS, BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT THE SORT OF POLITICAL THEATER THAT I THINK IS GOING ON HERE. SO I'M A NO.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER.

YEAH, I'M PRETTY MUCH IN THE SAME SPOT.

I'M VERY OPEN TO TALKING ABOUT THE TOPIC.

I THINK THAT THE YOU KNOW, WORDS DO MATTER.

I THINK THE LANGUAGE OF THE.

PITCH AS PRESENTED WAS OUT OF ORDER.

I THINK IT WAS UNSEEMLY.

I THINK IT'S POLITICAL.

SO I'D SAY LET'S COME BACK AT IT AGAIN WITHOUT THAT AT A DIFFERENT TIME.

AND I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THE SUBJECT.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER.

YEAH. I'M NOT. I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PARTICULAR PITCH HERE.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE GET PHONE CALLS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

WE GET TEXT MESSAGES, WE GET EMAILS.

PEOPLE ARE READY TO TALK TO US.

PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINTS.

PEOPLE HAVE PROGRESS.

PEOPLE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE HITTING US.

AND WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS THOSE THINGS WITH THOSE PEOPLE.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU KNOW WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM THAT SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING THAT'S UNTRUE OR SOMEONE IS JUST SAYING SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DIVULGE WHERE THEY GOT THE INFORMATION FROM, YOU KNOW, WHICH COULD BE NOT TRUE OR NOT.

SO I'M NOT REAL SURE WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM.

SO UNTIL WE CAN AGREE TO, YOU KNOW, BE REMINDED THAT WE SPEAK TO EVERYONE ON WHATEVER LEVEL AND IN WHATEVER TOPIC THAT THEY LIKE TO AT THE TIME.

SO YEAH, HERE WE GO.

OKAY. NO. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILOR HOLLAND. I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING A CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSING THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAD.

I THINK IT'S REMARKABLE THAT.

AND I'M GOING TO AND I'M GOING TO LIKEN THIS TO BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL.

I GOT A GOOD LOOKING GIRLFRIEND, BUT THE BEST LOOKING GIRLFRIEND IS OVER THERE, AND I'M GOING TO.

AND I'M GOING TO TALK UGLY ABOUT THE GIRLFRIEND I GOT IN HOPES THAT OF THE GIRLFRIEND OF ONE.

WE HAVE LOTS OF FINE MERCHANTS IN TOWN THAT ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S I THINK WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE GOT.

AND IF SOMEBODY ELSE COMES IN TOWN, MAYBE WE CAN ASK THEM FOR A DATE TO.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER. MCGEE. MAN.

I'M GONNA PRAY FOR YOU. I'LL PRAY FOR YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. YEAH.

OKAY. TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD.

MACK CAN WE TALK ABOUT PRAYER AT THE CITY? COUNCILMAN JUST KIDDING.

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

RIGHT. NO, I'LL JUST SAY FROM FROM MY PART, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NOT SUPPORT FOR IT TO MOVE FORWARD.

I WOULD WELCOME THE CONVERSATION JUST BECAUSE I WAS THERE.

SO IT HAPPENED. THERE'S A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE THAT CAN TELL YOU IT HAPPENED.

THAT'S THAT'S NOT IN DISPUTE.

BUT I THINK THERE'S A DUTY TO BE TRANSPARENT TO OUR CITIZENS THAT DIDN'T MISS.

AND TO THOSE THAT MENTION POLITICS, YOU JUST GOT TO BE NAIVE OR NOT AWARE.

BUT WHEN I WHEN I RAISE ISSUES ALL THE TIME, THAT'S THE ANSWER I GET.

WHEN I GET WHEN I RAISE THE ISSUE OF A SIMPLE VOTE ON MAYOR PRO TEM, IT'S POLITICS.

I'M LIKE, SO IT HAPPENS AT EVERY TURN.

[01:40:03]

THAT'S NOT A INNUENDO.

THAT'S NOT A RUMOR. THAT'S AN ANSWER TO A SPECIFIC QUESTION.

SO TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO ERADICATE THAT OR WORK AROUND THAT, I'M ALL FOR IT.

AND LET'S, LET'S START EVERY DAY BECAUSE IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY.

SO THAT FAILS.

ANYTHING ELSE? NO.

THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY, GREAT.

SO WE'LL SET THE ROOM FOR THE CLOSED SESSION.

[1. Closed Meeting:]

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW AT THREE.

I THINK MY TIME IS A LITTLE ALL DIFFERENT THAN THAT, BUT WE'LL GO WITH IT AT 3:42 P.M., CONVENING IN A CLOSED MEETING TO DELIBERATE THE CLOSED MEETING ITEM SET FORTH ON THE AGENDA, WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEM A ID 24678.

DELIBERATION REGARDING REGARDING CERTAIN PUBLIC POWER UTILITIES.

COMPETITIVE MATTERS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.086.

CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.071 AND ITEM B, ID 24796.

CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 FIVE MINUTES.

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

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

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

AND THE FIRST THING ON OUR AGENDA IS PLEDGES TO THE UNITED STATES AND TEXAS FLAG.

PLEASE STAND WITH ME IF YOU'RE ABLE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE. THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

OKAY. WE HAVE A FEW PROCLAMATIONS.

[2. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS]

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

YOU WANT TO TELL US WHAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING? SURE. ALL RIGHT.

EACH WEEK OR EACH YEAR IN APRIL, WE RECOGNIZE ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL WEEK.

AND IT IS TO RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORKING FOLKS FROM THE ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHO PUT IN HOURS EVERY DAY, 24 HOURS A DAY, TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY CALLS WITHIN OUR CITY.

THEY PROVIDE FOR ANIMAL WELFARE AND COMMUNITY WELFARE, NOT ONLY AT THE SHELTER, BUT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

AND SO TAKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THEM.

THIS LAST YEAR, IN FISCAL YEAR 23, WE DID CLOSE TO 5400 INTAKES.

WE HAD CLOSE TO 3000 ADOPTIONS AND CLOSE TO 7000 SERVICE CALLS.

SO I WANTED TO TAKE A TIME TO APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.

DOES ANYONE? YES.

HI, I'M BAILEY COLSON AND I'M THE LEAD CSR.

MY NAME IS RAMON OROZCO.

I'M A SENIOR ANIMAL SERVICES SPECIALIST.

MY NAME IS BELINDA HAWKINS AND I RETIRED AFTER 20 YEARS WITH THE CITY OF DENTON, AND I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE BACK WORKING OVER WITH ANIMAL SERVICES.

AND I'M THE NEW PART TIME ADMIN.

MY NAME IS MINDY HENRY.

I'M THE INTERIM ANIMAL SERVICES MANAGER.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE OSORIO AND I'M A CSR.

MY NAME IS NICOLE HEYER AND I'M THE ANIMAL SERVICES FIELD SUPERVISOR.

MY NAME IS ALEXIS HODAK.

I AM AN ANIMAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER.

MY NAME IS CRAIG TURNER.

I'M A SENIOR ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER.

MY NAME IS BRENDA KLEVIN.

I'M ALSO AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER FOR.

THANK YOU. AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO COME OUT AND VOLUNTEER OR LEARN MORE ABOUT, WHAT DO THEY DO TO SIGN UP, TO VOLUNTEER OR LEARN MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING, THEY CAN GO TO OUR CITY WEBSITE. WE HAVE INFORMATION ON HOW TO VOLUNTEER, HOW TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT, AND THEN ALSO HOW TO DONATE TO OUR AMAZON WISH LIST.

IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, IT'S ON THERE ALSO.

GOT IT. SO.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SERVICE COST.

SO. SO HE CAME OUT TO MY HOUSE AND I HAD A I HAD A POSSUM IN THE GARAGE AND I WAS TERRIFIED.

[01:45:01]

IT WAS IT WAS A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

AND THEN SO HE MADE IT.

HE HE MADE IT SO EASY.

I CALLED AGAIN TALKING ABOUT SERVICE COST.

SO AND THIS WAS A FEW YEARS BACK.

SO I CALLED HIM LIKE, HEY, THERE'S ANOTHER POSSUM IN THE BACKYARD.

THEY'RE LIKE, IT LIVES THERE.

I WAS LIKE, OH MAN. SO SO I LEARNED POSSUMS BELONG IN OUTSIDE.

LITTLE LATE LEARNER, BUT NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN.

RIGHT. SO SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ALL Y'ALL DO.

AND IF YOU DO, GO VOLUNTEER.

IT'S AN AMAZING SYSTEM AND THAT THAT YOU LEARN A LOT.

AND THERE'S RABBITS.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF GREAT FUTURE PETS FOR YOU THERE.

SO I CAN'T RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH.

OKAY, SO I HAVE A PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME.

GREETINGS. WHEREAS THE NATIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL ASSOCIATION HAS DESIGNATED THE SECOND FULL WEEK OF APRIL EACH YEAR AS NATIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL APPRECIATION WEEK.

AND WHEREAS, ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL PROFESSIONALS DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF AT RISK AND HELPLESS ANIMALS, AND WHEREAS ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL PROFESSIONALS WORK TO RESCUE AND PROTECT ANIMALS FROM INJURY, DISEASE, ABUSE AND STARVATION.

AND WHEREAS FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT THE NATION TAKE THIS TIME TO RECOGNIZE, THANK AND COMMEND ALL ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL PROFESSIONALS FOR THE DEDICATED SERVICE THEY PERFORM AND FULFILLING THE COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST AND MOST EFFICIENT LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.

NOW. FOR NOW, THEREFORE, I.

GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY DECLARE AND PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF APRIL 14TH THROUGH THE 20TH, 2024 AS ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL APPRECIATION WEEK.

IF WE GIVE THEM A HAND. OKAY, SO WE'RE SPOT IN FOR 50 HERE.

OH, THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT, YOU GOT US. WE GOT A SQUEEZE.

YOU'RE GOOD. OKAY, HERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL GET BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE IN CHARGE. HEY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I SURE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YES.

FOR SURE. HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. HEY. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR SURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE YOU DOING ALL RIGHT? HAVE A GREAT EVENING. THANK. OKAY.

AND THEN IF YOU WERE HERE FOR NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, IF YOU CAN JOIN ME.

WE'LL SLIDE OVER HERE A LITTLE BIT.

ALL RIGHT.

HEY, HOW ARE YOU? GREAT TO SEE YOU. YEAH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

YES. PLEASURE'S MINE.

YEAH. THAT'LL WORK.

OH, GIVE HER A HAND.

COME ON DOWN. ALL RIGHT.

YES. OKAY.

I'M CHERYL. THERE YOU GO. NO, I WAS GOING TO SAY WHO'S GOING TO.

WHO'S GOING TO TELL US? I WASN'T SURE WHICH ONE.

WHICH ONE OF Y'ALL WAS TAKING THE LEAD? OKAY. HI, I'M CHERYL WRIGHT, AND THIS IS THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER COMMITTEE HERE.

AND THIS EVENT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE ON MAY THE 2ND EVERY MAY.

AS APPOINTED THAT DAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE AT THE AMPHITHEATER OUT AT THE NEW.

DO THEY STILL CALL IT THE NEW ADMINISTRATIVE COURTHOUSE? IT'S A BEAUTIFUL VENUE THERE.

AND WE WILL HAVE MUSIC TO BEGIN WITH.

AND THEN WE'LL BEGIN TO PRAY OVER THE SEVEN AREAS OF INFLUENCE, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL COME AND JOIN US AND BE THERE.

AND THESE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WORK HARD TO, TO MAKE THIS EVENT HAPPEN.

AND WE'RE PROUD THAT THEY DO THAT.

OKAY. ANYONE EVERYONE ELSE WANT TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES OR YOU WANT TO SAY HELLO? I'M HER ASSISTANT. OKAY.

ROBBIE WRIGHT, I'M HER HUSBAND, CAROLYN MILLER, MARTIN MEEHAN, CATHERINE BELL, JEAN CARROLL, JIM MILLER, THELMA JACKSON, SHIRLEY HARRIS.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

AND WHAT A WHAT A GREAT GROUP.

THEY VOLUNTEER IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS, ENTIRE GROUP AND THEN COME TOGETHER AND WORK ON THIS, I APPRECIATE IT.

I'M GOING TO CALL OUT ONE BECAUSE SHE'S KIND OF MY NEIGHBOR.

SHE'S UP THE HILL FROM ME. BUT BUT SISTER BELL HERE, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO BELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THAT'S THE NAMESAKE FOR THAT SCHOOL.

SO SHE'S DONE GREAT SERVICE.

YES. YEAH.

[01:50:02]

OKAY. IT'S A PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME.

GREETINGS. WHEREAS THE NORTH DEPARTMENT, THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER WAS FIRST DECLARED IN 1775, WHEN THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS APPEALED TO THE COLONIES TO PRAY FOR WISDOM AND FORMING THIS NATION.

ON MAY 5TH, 1988, PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN SET FORTH THE THE FIRST THURSDAY OF MAY OF EACH YEAR AS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS GREAT NATION, MANY CITIZENS AND LEADERS HAVE HAD TO RELY ON THE POWER OF PRAYER AND THE FAITH IN GOD.

AND WHEREAS THERE WILL BE A CITYWIDE GATHERING ON MAY 2ND IN THE AMPHITHEATER AT THE DENTON COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE COURTHOUSE ON THE LOOP, 288 AT NOON, AT WHICH TIME PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO PRAY AND PRAY FOR THE SEVEN CENTERS OF INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT LEADERS OF ALL LEVELS OUR MILITARY, THE MEDIA, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, EDUCATION, CHURCHES AND FAMILIES.

AND NOW, THEREFORE, I GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY DECLARE AND PROCLAIM THE SECOND DAY OF MAY 2024 AS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER DAY IN DENTON. IF WE CAN GIVE THEM A HAND.

NO SLIDE IN FOR FOR A PICTURE HERE.

I KNOW YOU'RE GREAT RIGHT THERE.

GOT ONE SLIDE. THAT'S GOOD.

SO WE'LL SLIDE UP A LITTLE BIT THERE AND THEN WE'LL SLIDE THEM IN.

HOW ABOUT THAT. I CAN GET MY.

WHAT YOU GOT THERE? OKAY, THERE WE GO.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE IT.

YES. GOD BLESS YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU.

WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

YOU'RE THE BEST ASSISTANT I KNOW, MA'AM.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE ONE MORE.

AND THIS IS THE.

MAKE SURE I GET THIS RIGHT.

SO THIS IS REDBUD CAPITAL OF TEXAS DAY.

THERE WE GO. YEAH.

HEY. HI.

OKAY. THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT. I'M AUTUMN NATALIE.

I'M THE PROGRAM AND EVENTS MANAGER FOR PARKS AND RECREATION.

AND WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE 30 YEARS AS THE REDBUD CAPITAL OF TEXAS.

IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, DENTON IS THE REDBUD CAPITAL OF TEXAS.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT TREE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT HAS A LONG HISTORY, AS YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT IN THE PROCLAMATION, BUT I'LL LET MY COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AS WELL.

MEGAN DOWDY, RECREATION SUPERVISOR MEGAN THOMAS, PROGRAM AREA MANAGER I'M NOT A MEGAN, BUT I'M GARY PACKAN, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.

RAMIR MARTIN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. OKAY.

AND DO YOU SO I'LL READ SOME OF THIS, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT'S NOT IN HERE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW, PLEASE.

SURE. SO OUR 30TH ANNUAL REDBUD FESTIVAL IS THIS SATURDAY AT THE DENTON CIVIC CENTER.

IT'S FROM 1 TO 7 P.M..

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU. WE HAVE FREE TREES.

WE HAVE WORKSHOPS.

WE HAVE SEVERAL VENDORS.

IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT EVENT.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

GOT IT. SO CAN I PICK UP LIKE A PALM TREE OR NO.

OH, THERE WE GO.

OKAY. GOT IT.

FANTASTIC. NO.

OH THAT'S AWESOME I'M EXCITED.

OKAY, WELL. VERY GOOD.

WELL, IT'S A PROCLAMATION TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME.

GREETINGS. IN 1994, THE 73RD LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS RECOGNIZED DENTON AS THE REDBUD CAPITAL OF TEXAS FOR ITS MAGNIFICENT REDBUD TREES THAT HERALD THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING EACH YEAR.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DENTON HAS A LONG, DISTINGUISHED HISTORY, AND PART OF THAT HISTORY IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REDBUD TREE.

AND WHEREAS THROUGH THE YEARS DENTON CITIZENS HAVE HELD ANNUAL FESTIVALS, CROWNED A REDBUD QUEEN, AND IDENTIFIED TRAILS LINED WITH REDBUD TREES.

AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF DENTON IS CELEBRATING ITS 33RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR AS A TREE CITY IN THE IN USA THROUGH THE NATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION, AND WHEREAS, KEEP DENTON BEAUTIFUL HAS DISTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY 25,000 REDBUD TREES AND SEEDLINGS TO RESIDENTS IN CELEBRATION OF ARBOR DAY.

NOW, THEREFORE, I. GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY DECLARE AND PROCLAIM THE 20TH DAY OF APRIL 2024 AS REDBUD CAPITAL OF TEXAS DAY.

IF WE CAN GIVE THEM A HAND. AUDIENCE.

[01:55:07]

YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WITHOUT A JACKET.

YEAH. NO.

HERE WE GO. YES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL.

ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THERE YOU GO. HI.

THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING. THANK YOU.

AMEN. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GIVE YOU A HARD TIME.

HEY, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU.

OKAY IF WE COULD PLAY THE VIDEO FOR ADDRESSING COUNCIL.

[3. PRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC]

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.

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM MAKING ABUSIVE, PERSONAL, IMPERTINENT, PROFANE, OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS.

ANYONE WHO VIOLATES THE COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE MAY BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM THE CHAMBER.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

COPIES OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CITY SECRETARY.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER, MELINDA PRESTON.

GOOD EVENING.

IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR NAME AND THEN YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

OKAY. MY NAME IS MELINDA PRESTON.

I REALLY WANTED TO COME AND JUST SAY GREAT JOB.

WHAT A GREAT JOB YOU GUYS DO IN THIS CITY.

LAST WEEK YOU TALKED ABOUT THE THEATER AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO BRING TO THE CITY AND THE REVITALIZING OF THE DOWNTOWN.

IT'S EXCITING TO SEE.

NOW MY FAMILY, I HAVE FAMILY WHO LIVE HERE.

SO WE COME TO YOUR FARMER'S MARKET ON SATURDAYS, AND Y'ALL HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB WITH THAT FARMERS MARKET.

NOT ONLY CAN YOU GET PLANTS, CAN YOU GET FOOD? CAN YOU GET YOU GET MUSIC? AND IT IS A ON MY GRANDKIDS.

COME EVERYBODY. IT'S A TIME TO HAVE FUN, EAT, ENJOY FAMILY TIME TOGETHER.

AND Y'ALL HAVE JUST DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.

SO IT'S SOMETIMES IT'S A HARD JOB TO BE ON TO HAVE YOUR JOB.

CITY COUNCIL MAYOR I JUST WANT TO SAY WELL DONE.

SO Y'ALL HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB IN DRAWING PEOPLE IN ON THE WEEKENDS, AND WE'RE PART OF IT.

THERE'S A LOT OF THEM THAT COME DOWN THERE.

IT'S ALWAYS PACKED OUT, BUT Y'ALL HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY WELL DONE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THEN NEXT SPEAKER IS TAD PRESTON OUT OF TOWN.

GOT IT. THANK YOU.

AND THEN JUSTIN WEISS.

HEY, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE ISSUE.

MY NAME IS JUSTIN WEISS.

I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE ISSUE OF ADOPTING A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION AT A LOCAL LEVEL FOR THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA.

NOW, WE'VE ALREADY HEARD THE REPUBLICAN PERSPECTIVE FROM THE PEOPLE FROM FRISCO LAST WEEK.

THEIR COUNTERPOINT TO RECAP, ALL OF YOU AND EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM IS QUOTE, NO, ACTUALLY, YOU SHOULD DO NOTHING.

WHICH IS THE REPUBLICAN PLAYBOOK CLASSIC.

SO WHETHER IT BE HEALTH CARE, LGBTQ RIGHTS, WORKERS RIGHTS, EDUCATION, YOU NAME IT, THERE IS A FIXATION ON BLOCKING, INSTALLING TO PREVENT ANY KIND OF CHANGE.

HECK, ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE ISSUE OF INTEGRATION IN SCHOOLS, THE OPPOSITION REMAINS OBSESSED WITH RETAINING THE STATUS QUO.

AND NOW WHEN WE ASK YOU, THE PEOPLE WE VOTED FOR, TO TAKE A MEANINGFUL AND PROGRESSIVE ACTION, YOU PUT THE WALL UP AND TAKE YOUR CUES STRAIGHT FROM THE STUBBORN CONSERVATIVE PLAYBOOK FOR THE DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL MEMBERS.

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR REPUBLICAN COUNTERPARTS?

[02:00:04]

AND YOU CAN DENY THAT IN YOUR HEAD ALL YOU WANT.

BUT FOR A LOT OF VOTERS, THIS IS A BIG ENOUGH ISSUE THAT YOU ARE INACTIVE.

ON, THAT YOU ARE SEEN AND WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE SAME AS THEM WHEN THAT BALLOT IS IN THEIR HANDS.

IF THAT COMPARISON HURTS YOU, SHOW US YOU'RE DIFFERENT.

IF YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS CITY COUNCIL'S BUSINESS, THAT'S FINE.

BUT THEN WHY HAVEN'T WE SEEN YOU AT THE MARCHES? WHERE WERE YOU FOR THE LAST PROTEST? CAN YOU SHOW US THE CORRESPONDENCES YOU'VE HAD WITH STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO AMPLIFY OUR COLLECTIVE CRY TO STOP THIS GENOCIDE? AND WHEN I SAY ARE. I DO, OF COURSE, INCLUDE YOU.

I'VE BEEN TO SOME OF YOUR CAMPAIGNING EVENTS, AND I'VE HEARD HOW YOU CLAIM TO BE REGULAR WORKING PEOPLE LIVING IN SINGLE BEDROOM APARTMENTS OR HOLDING DAY JOBS, AND IN A LARGER GEOPOLITICAL CLIMATE, I SUPPOSE I COULD BELIEVE YOU.

YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS DOING IS WRONG, AND WE HAVE STRENGTH THROUGH THE UNITY OF THE PEOPLE.

SO I ASK YOU, ARE YOU THE PEOPLE OR ARE YOU THE PROBLEM? I CAN ACCEPT THAT YOU THINK THIS ISN'T CITY BUSINESS, THOUGH.

I SEVERELY DISAGREE WITH YOU, OF COURSE, BUT I CANNOT ACCEPT THAT YOU'RE SIMPLY DOING NOTHING AND THEN STILL CLAIMING TO BE PROGRESSIVE.

YOU SAY THIS IS A STATE OR FEDERAL ISSUE.

WELL, WE CAN'T BE DRIVING DOWN TO AUSTIN OR OUT TO DC EVERY TWO WEEKS.

AND, YOU KNOW, CHANGE HAPPENS AT HOME AS PEOPLE WHO GET ELECTED ON TENS OF VOTES, YOU KNOW THAT.

SO SHOW US YOU ARE THE PROGRESSIVES YOU CLAIM TO BE.

YOU CAN TAKE IT UPON YOURSELF TO AMPLIFY THIS MESSAGE TO STATIONS ABOVE YOU AND PARTICIPATE IN RESISTANCE.

BUT WE DON'T SEE YOU DOING THAT EITHER.

THAT'S WHY YOU ARE JUST ANOTHER COG IN THE CAPITAL P POWER MACHINE, SAME AS THE REPUBLICANS, THE LOBBYING GROUPS, THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH IS ATTEMPTING TO SILENCE US WITH FEAR TACTICS.

YOU'RE NOT NORMAL OR WORKING CLASS.

YOU'RE THE WALL THAT WE ARE GOING TO TEAR DOWN.

THINK YOU'RE NOT.

THINK YOU'RE DIFFERENT.

WE'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN YOU SHOW US.

COUNCIL. YOU HAVE THE DEAD AND WOUNDED TO ANSWER TO PEOPLE FOR WHOM FEAR WAS THE LAST THING THEY KNEW.

BEFORE WE HAD TO WITNESS THE LIFE.

LEAVE THEIR EYES THROUGH THE SAFETY OF OUR PHONE SCREENS.

DO YOU THINK YOU CAN BELIEVE YOURSELF WHEN YOU MEET IN DREAMS AND TELL THEM WHY YOU ARE DOING NOTHING TO STOP THEIR LOSS? I HOPE THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE SEEN HAUNT YOU THE SAME AS THEY DO ME.

PLEASE CHOOSE NOT TO FAIL THEM AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

MAYBE THAT ONE. OKAY.

AND THEN THAT TAKES US TO SUSANNA STRANGE.

GREAT. YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS SUSANNA.

STRANGE. AS OUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES, YOU HAVE REPEATEDLY CONVEYED TO YOUR COMMUNITY THAT PASSING A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION WOULD MERELY BE SYMBOLIC, HAVE LITTLE TO NO IMPACT, AND IS UNRELATED TO LOCAL ISSUES.

SO TODAY I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH HOW THIS QUOTE FOREIGN AFFAIR DIRECTLY IMPACTS OUR LOCAL DENTON COMMUNITY.

HERE ARE THE FACTS.

AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, OUR PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO SHOW, THROUGH HIS ACTIONS AND WORDS, THAT THE US WILL FULLY SUPPORT ISRAEL'S GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

ON MARCH 27TH, 2024, GREG ABBOTT ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TARGETING SPECIFIC PALESTINIAN ADVOCACY AND SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR FREE SPEECH ON PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES.

HE DID THIS UNDER THE GUISE OF PROTECTING THE TEXAS JEWISH COMMUNITY.

HOWEVER, I WILL SHARE AN EXCERPT NOW FROM THE JEWISH VOICE OF PEACE'S STATEMENT REGARDING GREG ABBOTT'S ORDER.

CRITICISM. QUOTE, CRITICISM OF ISRAEL.

CALLS TO END THE OCCUPATION AND SUPPORT FOR PALESTINIAN LIBERATION ARE NOT ANTI-SEMITIC.

TARGETING PALESTINIAN ADVOCACY, INCLUDING CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT MANY JEWS ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN, DISTRACTS FROM THE REAL ACTS OF ANTI-SEMITISM, SUCH AS NUMEROUS NAZI BANNER DROPS ACROSS TEXAS THAT ABBOTT FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER DANGEROUSLY AND INACCURATELY FRAMES ADVOCACY FOR PALESTINE AS ANTI-SEMITIC.

WHILE NOT ONCE MENTIONING THE RAMPANT RISE OF ANTI-ARAB RACISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA THAT HAS OCCURRED ACROSS TEXAS SINCE OCTOBER 7TH.

END QUOTE. SO NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW THIS AFFECTS OUR LOCAL DENTON COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE CARE ABOUT, RIGHT? OUR LOCAL DENTON COMMUNITY.

THREE WEEKS AFTER OUR GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, UNT IS HOSTING ISRAEL WEEK TOMORROW, UNT IS HOSTING A Q&A SESSION WITH SOLDIERS FROM THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES, ALLOWING ATTENDEES TO HEAR FROM IDF SOLDIERS WHO DIRECTLY TERRORIZE, DEHUMANIZE

[02:05:04]

HERE WE ARE.

AND INTO TEXAS, FAR REMOVED FROM WHERE THIS, QUOTE, FOREIGN AFFAIR IS HAPPENING.

AND YET WE ARE PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR THE GROUP RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS.

OKAY, YOU MIGHT ARGUE THAT THIS IS ONLY A CAMPUS ISSUE.

HOWEVER, EVENTS ON THE GLOBAL, NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL HAVE PROFOUND EFFECTS ON OUR COMMUNITIES.

OUR PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY IS NOT ONLY TRAUMATIZED BY THE GENOCIDE OF THEIR PEOPLE IN GAZA, BUT THEY ARE ALSO SUBJECTED TO TERROR AND TRAUMA IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH THE SUPPRESSION OF THEIR VOICES AND OUR GOVERNMENT'S OUTSPOKEN SUPPORT FOR A GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGN.

IF YOU DO NOTHING, IF YOU SAY NOTHING.

GUESS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION AND ASSAULTS WILL INTENSIFY AGAINST OUR LOCAL PALESTINIAN AND ARAB COMMUNITIES.

PASSING A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION WILL POSITIVELY AFFECT YOUR CONSTITUENTS LIVES AND THEIR SAFETY WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY.

THEY WILL KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND THEIR VOICE ISN'T SILENCED.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS MALAK.

MALAK ABU SAYS I'M CLOSE.

SAYS. BUT I KNOW IT'S MY LOT.

YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME. YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

IT'S MALAK ABU GHOSH.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE SOME QUOTES FOR YOU FROM CHILDREN IN GAZA.

A SEVEN YEAR OLD BOY SAID, I LIVE ALONE.

MY ENTIRE FAMILY WAS MARTYRED AND I WAS SHOT.

MY ONLY WISH IS TO BE WITH THEM IN HEAVEN.

A LITTLE GIRL SAID, WE CAME TO WISH YOU A HAPPY EID, BUT ALSO TO ASK WHY WE DON'T HAVE ANY DECORATIONS OR FESTIVITIES.

A YOUNG BOY.

THIS ISN'T EID.

THIS IS SADNESS.

IT IS NOT EID. IF IT WAS, MY FATHER WOULD BE HERE AND MY UNCLE WOULD STILL BE WITH US.

IF IT WAS EID, WE WOULD BE HAPPY.

WE WOULD BE IN OUR HOMES AND WE WOULD BE VISITING OUR AUNTS.

IF IT WAS BURIED, YOU WOULDN'T BE RECORDING ME TO SHOW PEOPLE HOW MY LIFE IS.

A YOUNG GIRL BRAVELY ADDRESSED JOE BIDEN BY SAYING, WE ASK ALL THE WORLD, WHY ARE WE KILLED? EVEN ON EID DAY? WE ARE NOT NUMBERS.

WHERE ARE OUR HUMAN RIGHTS? WHERE ARE OUR RIGHTS TO EDUCATION? LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN, WE WANT A BEAUTIFUL LIFE TO WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE TO BE KILLED IN THIS DISGUSTING WAY? MR. BIDEN, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BECAUSE YOUR GIFTS TO THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION ARE KILLING INNOCENT CHILDREN.

ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10TH, 2020, FOR MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD CELEBRATE EID AL-FITR.

EID IS A TIME FOR FAMILY AND CELEBRATION WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO THANK GOD FOR THE STRENGTH AND PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY OF BEING ABLE TO FULFILL AND FAST THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN ON EID.

FAMILIES VISIT FAMILIES, FRIENDS VISIT FRIENDS.

CHILDREN RECEIVE MONEY FROM THEIR PARENTS AND UNCLES.

EVERYONE WEARS NEW CLOTHES.

IT IS A TIME OF REJOICING FOR PEOPLE TO GET TOGETHER AND ENJOY FOOD AND DRINKS, AND GIFT EACH OTHER ITEMS. AS I CELEBRATED WITH MY FAMILY LAST WEEK, I COULD ONLY SIT BACK AND WATCH WHILE REMEMBERING THE CHILDREN IN GAZA.

THE CHILDREN IN GAZA THAT DON'T MATTER TO YOU.

THE CHILDREN THAT DIDN'T CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND DIDN'T CELEBRATE EID.

THE CHILDREN THAT DON'T HAVE PARENTS OR FAMILIES ANYMORE, AND THAT PARENT AND THE PARENTS THAT LOST THEIR KIDS.

THESE PEOPLE ARE RESILIENT.

THEY MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT THEY HAVE, AND THEY CONTINUE TO THANK GOD, REGARDLESS OF THE LIFE THEY ARE LIVING.

DO YOU HAVE KIDS? BECAUSE SURELY IF YOU DID, YOU WOULDN'T BE OKAY SITTING THERE SILENTLY WHILE CHILDREN IN GAZA ARE BEING MURDERED, BURIED UNDER RUBBLE, OR EVEN ORPHANED? I HOPE ONE DAY YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ASK YOU ABOUT THIS ONGOING GENOCIDE, AND YOU'LL HAVE TO LOOK THEM IN THE EYE AND SAY YOU DID NOTHING.

THAT YOU STAYED SILENT AND THAT YOU DIDN'T CARE ABOUT 13,000 CHILDREN BEING MARTYRED.

AND I HOPE THEY GROW TO BE BETTER PEOPLE THAN YOU ARE.

I AM DISGUSTED BY YOUR SILENCE, AND I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING.

YOU WON'T HAVE MY VOTE AND YOU WON'T HAVE THEIRS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS SIDNEY SCHOELL.

HRN HRN.

SYDNEY. OKAY.

IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

HELLO. HI, MY NAME IS SYDNEY SCHALLHORN.

SO GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.

I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEED FOR A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION FOR THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA.

SO FIRST, I'D LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT MOMENTS FROM THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT WAS HELD HERE TWO WEEKS AGO.

TWO WEEKS AGO, YOU COULD PROCLAIMED THE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.

[02:10:02]

THE MOST VULNERABLE SUBSETS OF THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE.

ON THAT NOTE, AS OF MARCH 14TH, 2024, A MINIMUM OF 12,300 CHILDREN IN GAZA HAD DIED IN THE PRECEDING FOUR MONTHS, COMPARED WITH 12,193 GLOBALLY BETWEEN 2019 AND 2022.

NOW, I WANT TO REITERATE A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE FOR YOU.

FIRST, THESE NUMBERS ARE OUTDATED BY MORE THAN A MONTH.

SO THE ACTUAL DEATH TOLL OF CHILDREN IN GAZA HAS MOST CERTAINLY RISEN SINCE THEN.

NUMBER. TWO MORE CHILDREN HAD DIED IN GAZA ALONE IN FOUR MONTHS THAN IN GLOBAL CONFLICTS ACROSS THE WORLD.

IN FOUR YEARS.

WHAT A FASCINATING NUMBER.

FURTHER. NUMBER THREE.

STAY WITH ME HERE.

I'M GOING TO DO SOME MATH.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT ALWAYS FUN.

SO FOUR MONTHS, THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 120 DAYS IF WE TAKE AN ESTIMATION OF 30 DAYS OKAY.

SO IF YOU DIVIDE 12,300 CHILDREN BY 120 DAYS, THAT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN 102 CHILDREN PER DAY.

NOW, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS.

I COULDN'T, BUT I TOOK A MOMENT.

AND I COUNTED THE FOLDING CHAIRS IN THIS ROOM.

YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BELIEVE THIS.

I REALLY, HONESTLY WAS SHOOKETH MYSELF, BUT I COUNTED THE FOLDING CHAIRS IN THIS ROOM, AND THERE ARE 102 FOLDING CHAIRS IN THIS ROOM.

SO FOR A MOMENT, I WANT YOU TO LOOK IN THOSE FOLDING CHAIRS, AND I WANT YOU TO PICTURE A CHILD'S FACE.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT IS THE COUNT OF CHILDREN THAT DIED IN GAZA EVERY DAY OVER THAT PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS, IF WE AVERAGED IT ACROSS THAT TIME.

NOW. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'M SO STOKED.

I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE SHOWING SUPPORT FOR PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE.

BUT NOW, WHERE'S YOUR SUPPORT FOR STOPPING THE MURDER OF CHILDREN? AFTER OUR SILENT PROTEST LAST MEETING, ONE OF YOU STATED ON THE RECORD THAT YOU APPRECIATE ACTIVISM AS THAT IS WHAT BRINGS ABOUT CHANGE.

SO THIS CAME AFTER A CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE AS NOW, SOME NOT ALL OF YOU ARE STRUGGLING TO LOOK US IN THE EYE.

WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS THAT YOU ARE MAYBE STARTING TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S EXCELLENT.

NOBODY SHOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING IN A NATION THAT IS FUNNELING MONEY AND WEAPONS TO ANOTHER NATION THAT IS INCITING A GENOCIDE, AND THIS MONEY AND THESE WEAPONS ARE GIVEN WITH ABSOLUTELY NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

SO I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO FEEL DISCOMFORT, BECAUSE I CAN CERTAINLY PROMISE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP COMING HERE AND SPEAKING TO YOU.

WE WILL NOT GROW TIRED OF STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU AND DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR INACTION AND YOUR ALLOWANCE FOR THESE CRIMES TO CONTINUE.

NOW, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS THE FRANKLY RIDICULOUS ASSERTION THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT RELEVANT AT A LOCAL LEVEL.

YOU'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.

ON MARCH 27TH, 2024, GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER GAY 44.

I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT LET ME REVIEW IT FOR YOU.

OKAY. THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER SAYS THAT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN TEXAS MUST REVIEW THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH POLICIES TO STOP STUDENTS FROM SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THIS GENOCIDE.

IT SPECIFICALLY NAMES SOME STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE THE PALESTINIAN SOLIDARITY COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE, AS NEEDING TO BE DISCIPLINED FOR VIOLATING THESE POLICIES.

WILL YOU CONTINUE TO PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND ALLOW FOR OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OUR FREEDOM TO CONGREGATE, TO BE IN RESTRICTED? I'D LIKE TO KNOW. THANKS SO MUCH.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JANE TORI.

J A N E T O R I E.

YEAH. HELLO.

HI. IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JANE TORY AND MAIER HUDSPETH AND HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I APPLAUD YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO SIT HERE AND TAKE ALL THE THINGS THAT COME TO YOU ON THE OPEN MICS.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT BEFORE, SO I'M IMPRESSED THAT Y'ALL DO THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE GROWTH OF DENTON IN THE EARLY 90S.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED COMING TO DENTON, I SAW A BILLBOARD SOMEWHERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE, BUT IT SAID EXPERIENCE THE DENTON RUSH MINUTE.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED QUITE A BIT SINCE THEN.

I MOVED HERE IN 1996 AND RAISED MY SONS HERE, AND I APPRECIATED THE WAY THAT DENTON WORKED TO MAINTAIN A COMMUNITY ATMOSPHERE, AND I LOVE THAT THERE WERE LOTS OF PARK LIKE, UNDEVELOPED AREAS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FEELING THAT DENTON VALUED FRESH AIR AND GREEN PLANTS AND OPEN SPACES, AND DIDN'T FEEL THE NEED TO TURN EVERY AREA INTO A BUSINESS OR RESIDENCE. AND I SAW SOME EVIDENCE OF THAT STILL TODAY WITH THE REDBUD FESTIVAL AND THAT.

[02:15:03]

THE PLAN SEEMS TO BE TO HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE LIVING IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

THE HOUSES ARE CLOSE TOGETHER AND THE RESIDENTIAL ROADS ARE NARROW AND CROWDED WITH CARS PARKED ON THEM.

OUR APARTMENTS ARE FILLING SPACES THAT ONCE HELD FIELDS AND LIVESTOCK AND WILD FLOWERS.

AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT DEVELOPERS ARE BEING COURTED AS IF THEY HAD THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITIZENS IN MIND, WHEN TRULY THEY'RE REALLY ABOUT PROFITS AND ADDING MORE POPULATION TO OUR ALREADY STRAINED SERVICES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE HERE TO TEXAS, AND THAT DENTON IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, AND IT'S A COMPARATIVELY AFFORDABLE.

AND I PROPOSE TO YOU THAT YOU PLACE A MEMORIAL MORATORIUM ON ALL RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT UNTIL THE CITY HAS CAUGHT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE, MAINTENANCE OF THE CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE.

EVERY ELECTION, WE HEAR CANDIDATES SAY THAT THE ROADS ARE A HUGE PRIORITY IN DENTON, AND WE ALL KNOW THEY NEED ATTENTION.

I DON'T SEE THAT THEY'RE REALLY TREATED AS A PRIORITY, THOUGH.

CONSTRUCTION SEEMS TO BE SLOW AND NEVER ENDING.

AND SO WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO PROMOTE MORE PEOPLE MOVING TO DENTON AND NEEDING THE CITY SERVICES WHEN THE CITY IS FAILING TO ADEQUATELY TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE? WE HEAR ABOUT THE NEED FOR BIKE LANES, BUT THE CURRENT CONDITION WITH THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF OUR ROADS, HOW CAN WE HAVE BIKE LANES? I'VE HEARD THAT THERE'S AN INTEREST AMONG THE CITY PLANNING TEAMS IN REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT AND CREATING A SO-CALLED 15 MINUTE VILLAGES, AND I HAVE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE UNDERLYING GOALS OF BOTH OF THOSE TERMS AS I UNDERSTAND THEM.

BUT I WOULD THINK THAT IF THOSE ARE REALLY GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE CITY PLANNERS, THAT THE IDEA OF NEW A NEW DEVELOPMENT MORATORIUM WOULD, WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.

I MEAN, HOW CAN LONG TERM GOALS MOVE FORWARD WHEN NEW IMPORT APARTMENTS, HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND OFFICE PARKS ARE BEING BUILT AT A BREAKNECK PACE? WHILE ROADS, UTILITY SERVICES AND WHAT MOST WOULD CONSIDER BASIC CITY SERVICES ARE KIND OF OVERWHELMED.

SO I ASK YOU TO GIVE HONEST CONSIDERATION TO MY PROPOSAL FOR A MORATORIUM ON ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT UNTIL THE ABOVE CONCERNS ARE COMPLETELY ADDRESSED. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I APPRECIATE IT.

THE LAST SPEAKER IS DONNA SMITH.

IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

HI, I'M DONNA SMITH, AND I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR.

AND SERIOUSLY, ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THAT YOU THAT YOU DO LITERALLY EVERY DAY.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP A TOPIC JUST BECAUSE IT'S THIS WEEK.

SO APRIL 15TH WAS JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, AND EVERYBODY WHO'S EVER FILLED OUT INCOME TAX KNOWS WHAT APRIL 15TH IS.

AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND, WHETHER YOU FILLED OUT YOUR TAX RETURN IN FEBRUARY, MARCH OR APRIL OR YOU'RE HOPING TO FILL IT OUT THIS WEEK AND IT'S AN ISSUE, FINANCIAL PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW ARE KIND OF AN ISSUE.

GASOLINE. I FILLED UP MY TANK YESTERDAY WAS $3.21 A GALLON, AND I PASSED BY A COUPLE OF PLACES THAT IT WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER. SO, I MEAN, IT'S EXPENSIVE.

YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS JUST TO FEED A COUPLE OF PEOPLE PER WEEK.

SO THINGS HAVE REALLY GONE UP.

NOT THAT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, BUT AS AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL TRYING TO WATCH OUR BUDGETS.

YOU WATCH YOUR BUDGET AT HOME IF YOU'RE AT WORK, YOU HAVE YOU'RE TRYING TO CUT THE BUDGET DIFFERENT PLACES.

SO IT IS IMPORTANT.

SO ONE OF THE ISSUES I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP IS THAT I THINK THERE IS A CUT THAT YOU GUYS COULD MAKE, AND IT'S NOT PER SE REGARDING THE BUDGET, BUT A NUMBER OF MONTHS AGO THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE THAT WE DID PASS AND IT WAS TO DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA.

THE RESULT OF THAT IS THAT THERE IS A LAWSUIT THAT IS AGAINST DENTON TEXAS, ALONG WITH FOUR OTHER CITIES.

SO AT SOME POINT, OUR ATTORNEY, WHO DOES A GREAT JOB AND OTHER ATTORNEYS THAT WE EMPLOY WILL HAVE TO DIVERT THEIR

[02:20:03]

SO IN LINE WITH THAT, I'M ASKING THAT WE REPEAL THAT ORDINANCE AND SAVE OUR TAX DOLLARS.

I WORK HARD, YOU ALL WORK HARD.

WE PAY INTO THE TAX SYSTEM.

YOU GUYS, I KNOW BECAUSE I DO ATTEND MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

Y'ALL TRY TO BE FRUGAL.

I GIVE YOU THAT AND TRY TO MANAGE THE WAY OUR MONEY IS SPENT.

BUT THIS PARTICULAR THING COULD COST TENS OF THOUSANDS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT COULD PUSH A MILLION JUST BECAUSE, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT ANY DOLLARS THAT ARE SPENT FIGHTING SOMETHING THAT WE COULD REPEAL.

I WOULD SAY PLEASE CONSIDER DOING THAT.

AND SO I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THAT CONCLUDES THAT PORTION TAKES US TO OUR FIRST ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

[A. Consider approval of a resolution of the City of Denton confirming the appointment of Jessica Robledo as Interim Chief of Police of the City of Denton Police Department beginning on April 16, 2024; and declaring an effective date.]

THREE PALESTINE.

THREE PALESTINE.

YEAH.

EXCUSE ME. SORRY. THREE MILES.

DONE. THAT'S IT.

THERE. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS SARA HENSLEY.

I'M THE CITY MANAGER, SAID INTERIM CITY MANAGER.

THAT'S SCARY.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE WITH YOU AND INTRODUCE SOMEONE THAT I HOPE YOU WILL APPROVE BY VOTE.

HER NAME IS JESSICA ROBLEDO.

SHE HAS 34 YEARS OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.

SHE HAS A PERSONAL DEDICATION TO LEADING WITH EXCELLENT SHE MENTORS AND SHE LEADERSHIP.

SHE DOES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WITH FOR ALL THE PEOPLE SHE LEADS, NOT POLICE OFFICERS BUT ALSO STAFF.

SHE IS A TRUE COLLABORATOR, A TRUST BUILDER, A PROBLEM SOLVER.

SHE IS COMMUNICATIVE AND WORKS ACROSS DEPARTMENT LINES TO FOSTER A TEAM ENVIRONMENT.

SHE'S ALSO A COMMUNITY FOCUSED AND BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS IN ALL AREAS.

HER PEERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE HAVE SENT ME NOTES.

SOME OF THEM, SOME THEY SUM IT UP AS SHE BRINGS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AS A POLICE EXECUTIVE AND DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE OF THE PROFESSION.

HER DEDICATION TO FOSTERING THE GROWTH OF FUTURE LEADERS IS UNPARALLELED.

I HEARD FROM THE CHIEF FROM WACO, THE CHIEF FROM PAST CHIEFS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT HAVE WORKED WITH HER ACROSS THE STATE.

I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO YOU, ONLY OTHER TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A CHANGE IN REPORTING STRUCTURE.

SHE, THE NEW CHIEF, WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO ME AND I WILL ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS, SO I'LL SIT DOWN AND LET THEM DO THEIR THEIR SPEAKING AND THEN IF IT'S APPROVED, THE JUDGE IS HERE TO SWEAR IN.

THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.

FIRST SPEAKER IS HUGH COLEMAN.

IF YOU CAN COME UP AND GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

SO YOU GOT A YEAH.

THANK YOU. SHERRY.

MAIER. COUNCIL.

MRS. HENSLEY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO COME SPEAK TO YOU.

I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU. I'M SURE MISS ROBLEDO WILL DO A GOOD JOB, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO KIND OF JUST CUT IN AND TELL YOU ALL THAT.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET ON THE AGENDA TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND THAT'S JOE SKILES PARK.

AND I WANTED TO COME AND PERSONALLY THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING THE WALKING PATH ON THERE AND REMODELING THE PARK.

I HAD DOGS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND THEY ALL GROANED BEFORE THEY EVER WANTED TO GO OVER THERE BECAUSE THE GO HEADS WERE SO BAD.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN 26 YEARS THAT I'VE EVER APPEARED BEFORE YOU, AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME IN MY OWN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU PROBABLY DON'T HEAR THIS ENOUGH, BUT I THINK YOU ALL DO A GOOD JOB WITH OUR TAXES.

[02:25:05]

HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD TO SAY I'M FROM THE CITY OF DENTON.

WE'VE ALWAYS HAD GOOD POLICE, GOOD FIRE AND GOOD PARKS, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO COME ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO HEAR SOME POSITIVE THINGS.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF NEGATIVE THINGS GOING ON IN THE WORLD, AND PEOPLE WANT YOU TO, YOU KNOW, POINT YOUR ATTENTION ON THINGS THAT REALLY DON'T MATTER LOCALLY.

BUT I AM VERY HAPPY THAT YOU ALL ARE FOCUSING ON THINGS THAT MATTER TO OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE RESIDENTS AND PAY TAXES LIKE OUR POLICE, FIRE, AND PARTICULARLY OUR PARKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BECAUSE THE POLICE DO MONITOR THAT PARK AND MAKE SURE YOU FEEL SAFE.

SO YES. THANK YOU. SPOT ON.

YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. SECOND SPEAKER IS STEVEN DILLENBURG.

HEY, Y'ALL DOING VERY WELL.

IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

YEAH. SO I DON'T.

WHO IS OUR INTERIM POLICE CHIEF? IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

HELLO. YEAH, MY NAME IS STEPHEN DILLENBURG, 1004, ABBOTS LANE.

WE NEED A POLICE CHIEF WHO'S WILLING TO SAY THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD.

SUCH AS PUTTING IN A METAL DETECTOR HERE.

CREATED A MONOPOLY ON FORCE FOR THE CITY OF DENTON VERSUS ITS PEOPLE.

WHY THAT HAPPENED IS A CURIOSITY TO ME.

WHEN THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION SAYS MONOPOLIES AND PERPETUITIES ARE CONTRARY TO THE GENIUS OF FREE GOVERNMENT, AND AS SUCH SHALL NEVER BE ALLOWED.

SO Y'ALL ARE DOING A MONOPOLY.

YOUR POLICY CREATED A MONOPOLY, AND THAT IS ANTI.

NOT JUST UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BUT AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION.

IT GOES IN DIRECT CONTRADICTION TO WHAT THE CONSTITUTION TELLS Y'ALL YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO.

WE NEED A POLICE CHIEF WHO WILL UPHOLD THEIR OATH TO OUR PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THAT TYPE OF STUFF DOESN'T HAPPEN.

WE NEED A POLICE CHIEF THAT IS WILLING TO SAY THAT.

WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT IT'S NOT ANTI-SEMITIC TO CALL A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO BOMBED FOUR REFUGEE CAMPS IN TWO DAYS WHAT THEY ARE, BECAUSE THE DICTIONARY CALLS THEM THAT WHICH IS A TERRORIST. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC? HOW ABOUT ELECTION FRAUD? HOW ABOUT ME BEING DISINVITED FROM THE ONLY CANDIDATE FORUM AT UNT PRIOR TO THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE? BECAUSE YOU ALL DIDN'T WANT STUDENTS TO HEAR MY OPINIONS ON OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM, THAT IT STARTED BEING CALLED HIGHER LEARNING IN THE 70S SO WE COULD BE CHARGED THROUGH THE TEETH FOR IT, BUT IT'S FREE IN THE REST OF THE WORLD.

WE GET 100 K IN DEBT AS OUR WELCOME INTO A SOCIETY THAT WE DON'T HAVE JOBS THAT CAN PAY US, THAT AFFORD HOUSES.

IT WAS $63,000 TO AFFORD A HOUSE AS YOUR INCOME WHEN YOU STARTED IN POLITICS OR 2024, IT'S 105,050 OUT OF 56 PAGES ON TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION DON'T HAVE JOBS THAT PAY THAT MUCH MONEY.

HE SHOULD BE UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR DENTON THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.

YOU IN THAT SEAT HAVE A UNIQUE ABILITY TO SUE FOR US AND YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT.

THE STATE OF TEXAS GRANTS YOU THAT AUTHORITY.

AND IT TAKES IT TAKES IT AWAY FROM US.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CARES.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO VALUES DECENCY.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO WILL NOT LOOK AT THIS PICTURE, WHICH IS.

IT'S. MY SISTER IN LAW WAS DEAD.

MY BROTHER'S WIFE.

SHE WAS 37 WHEN SHE GOT TO DIE FROM A CURED ILLNESS.

CANCER MEBENDAZOLE ELICITS A POTENT ANTI-TUMOR EFFECT.

THAT'S YOUR TIME ON HUMAN CANCER CELL LINES, BOTH IN VITRO AND IN VIVO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THOSE ARE ALL IMPORTANT STATS FOR FUTURE OFFICERS TO KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO LIVE HERE AND THE WORK HERE, AND WE'RE RECRUITING THEM.

SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE STATS.

AS IT RELATES TO THE CHIEF AND THE VOTE WE'RE HAVING.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IF I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

MAYOR PRO TEM, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

IS THERE A SECOND, COUNCILMEMBER BURKE? I'LL SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

NET PASSES SIX ONE.

JUDGE.

[02:30:16]

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

SO RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

I JESSICA ROBLEDO I, JESSICA ROBLEDO, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS.

CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS.

AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE AND THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES, THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF THIS CITY.

I FURTHERMORE SOLEMNLY SWEAR.

I FURTHERMORE SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED, PAID, OFFERED, OR PROMISED TO PAY, OR PROMISED TO PAY, CONTRIBUTED OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE.

CONTRIBUTED. PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR VALUABLE THING, ANY MONEY OR VALUABLE THING, OR PROMISED OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE, ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OF EMPLOYMENT AS A REWARD TO SECURE MY EMPLOYMENT.

A REWARD TO SECURE MY. SO HELP ME GOD, SO HELP ME.

CONGRATS, CHIEF.

THANK YOU.

IN CITY CENTER. I'LL GET YOU A COPY BACK.

AS THEY SCAN IT IN. HERE WE GO.

CONGRATS AGAIN. OKAY, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE COMMENTS OR YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

IT'S UP TO YOU. I WOULD, IF THAT'S OKAY.

BY ALL MEANS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

THANK YOU TO MY BELOVED FAMILY.

WHO CONTINUES TO SUPPORT AND SACRIFICE TIME AWAY FROM ME SO I CAN COME HERE TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE.

THANK YOU TO MY NEW FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES THAT ARE HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU TO CITY MANAGEMENT AND COUNCIL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THIS AMAZING COMMUNITY.

I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT THE LORD ORDERS OUR STEPS.

AS WE STRIVE TO ACHIEVE OUR DRIVEN PURPOSE IN LIFE.

SO WITH THAT SAID, I AM HUMBLED AND I AM HONORED TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU AND THE AMAZING DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MY PASSION IS TO INSPIRE, MOLD, MENTOR AND GROW PEOPLE.

SO THEY CAN BE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS.

I'VE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO SERVICE.

AND THE SERVICE OF OTHERS, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

A QUOTE THAT KEEPS ME BALANCED IS FROM ALBERT EINSTEIN.

AND IT SAYS.

IN THE MIDDLE OF DIFFICULTY.

LIES OPPORTUNITY.

OUR POLICING PROFESSION IS IN A CHALLENGING STATE WHICH AFFECTS RECRUITING AND RETENTION OF GOOD OFFICERS.

AS OFFICERS, WE SHOULD STRIVE TO BECOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.

IT'S CALLED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WE HAVE TO BRIDGE THE GAPS OF COMMUNICATION AND EMBRACE OUR DIVERSITY TO BECOME ONE HAVE ONE MISSION, ONE MISSION, ONE COMMUNITY. WHEN PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND KNOW THAT THEIR POLICE ARE SERVING WITH GOOD INTENTIONS.

THEY WILL MEET US IN THE MIDDLE DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES.

POLICE, IN TURN NEED THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

AND WE SHOULD EARN THEIR TRUST AT EVERY CALL AND WITH EVERY TASK THAT WE MAKE.

AND IT'S THROUGH THESE VITAL CONNECTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE CAN COMBAT ANY ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THIS COMMUNITY.

MY PRIORITIES TO MEET ALL THESE CHALLENGES HEAD ON, CREATE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN OUR CITY AND AGENCY TO INSPIRE A TEAMWORK MENTALITY AND A POSITIVE, RESPECTFUL WORK LIFE AND ENVIRONMENT.

OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES OUR BEST.

IT STARTS AT THE TOP.

IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THAT TAKES US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[5. CONSENT AGENDA]

[02:35:02]

I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

MAYOR PRO TEM, I MOVE APPROVAL OF CONSENT AS SHOWN.

COUNCILMAN WATTS. SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO TAKES US TO OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.

[A. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton adopting Standards of Care for recreational care programs administered by Denton’s Parks and Recreation department pursuant to Texas Human Resources Code Section 42.041(b)(14); and providing an effective date. The Parks, Recreation, and Beautification Board recommends approval (4-0).]

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON ADOPTING STANDARDS OF CARE FOR RECREATIONAL CARE PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY DENTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO TEXAS HUMAN RESOURCES CODE, SECTION 42.

051B, SECTION 14, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

TURN IT OVER TO STAFF. GREETINGS, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND ESTEEMED CITY STAFF.

MY NAME IS RAMIR MARTIN AND I, REPRESENTING OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HERE.

BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE STANDARDS OF CARE, WHICH IS OUR RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE OF AN ORDINANCE, THE ADOPTION OF THE STANDARD OF CARE, WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR OPERATIONS OF OUR RECREATION CARE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THE STANDARDS OF CARE IS OUR BASELINE STANDARDS, BY WHICH A CITY OF THE DENTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT OPERATES OUR CITY OF RECREATION CARE PROGRAM.

AS YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE NO MAJOR CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR.

THE MINOR CHANGES ARE TO DATES.

WHAT YOU SEE IS CHANGED FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

THE SECOND IS THE PHONE NUMBERS TO OUR CONTACT INFORMATION AS WELL AS SITE CHANGES.

BECAUSE OF THE DCID HAS CHANGED AND HAS SOME SITES GOING INTO CONSTRUCTION THIS YEAR, AND WE'VE CHANGED OUR LOCATIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

SEEING NONE.

AND THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT CARES TO SPEAK, YOU CAN, YOU DON'T.

YOU CAN FILL OUT A CARD AFTER THE FACT.

IS THERE ANY SPEAKERS? SEEING. NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS.

I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

COUNCILOR HOLLAND. I MOVE THE PASSAGE OF COUNCILMAN BYRD.

I'LL SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

YES. OKAY.

GOT IT. ALL RIGHT.

AND. OH, SORRY, I THOUGHT.

I THOUGHT I'D VOTED, AND THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO.

I DO HAVE.

HOW CLOSE ARE THEY? OKAY, WELL, LET ME SLIDE DOWN BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT THING.

YEAH. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

HOLD ON. OH, YOU ALREADY GOT IT.

WHAT'S THAT? BUT REMEMBER TO UNITE, GROW AND PLAY AND PLAY ON PURPOSE.

I GUESS THIS IS HIS FIRST TIME.

YES. JASON.

OH, YEAH.

SO WE HAVE. WE HAVE AN ELEPHANT SO THAT YOU REMEMBER OUR PRESENTATION TO US.

WITH US. AND SO YOU CAN ALWAYS WRITE BACK.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL, I'M WITH YOU, MAN.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GONNA OPEN UP, BUT IT CAN OPEN UP A BOTTLE FOR YOU.

THERE YOU GO. BUT I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PROVIDE YOU KNOW, AN EXCELLENT DEPARTMENT.

HOW SWEET. THAT'S AWESOME.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I APPRECIATE THAT.

YES. ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

$25 TONIGHT? YEAH, LESS THAN $25.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU I APPRECIATE IT.

OH, DON'T FORGET YOUR YEAH, YEAH, WE'LL DO THAT.

I NEED TO CLEAR THE SCREEN. GOOD JOB.

GOOD JOB. I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO CLEAR THE SCREEN.

YEAH, THEY'LL GET IT.

YOU'RE FINE, YOU'RE FINE, YOU'RE FINE, YOU'RE FINE.

WAY. COOL. WHAT DID HE GIVE YOU? YEAH. OH.

IT'S AWESOME. LIKE A BOTTLE OPENER.

YEAH. THAT TAKES US TO ITEM B, WHICH IS

[B. Hold a public hearing and consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas amending the Denton Development Code’s land occupancy process; amendments include but are not limited to: Table 2.2-A: Summary of Development Review Procedures and Section 2.5: Development Permits and Procedures; providing for a penalty in the maximum amount of $2,000.00 for violations thereof; providing a severability clause and an effective date. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval of the request. Motion for approval by Commissioner Villareal and second by Commissioner Smith. (DCA24-0002b, Land Occupancy, Julie Wyatt)]

LAND OCCUPANCY PROCESS.

AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

GOOD EVENING. I'M JULIE WYATT, PRINCIPAL PLANNER.

AND THIS IS DCA 20 4-0002B LAND OCCUPANCY.

SO THIS PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU IS TO AMEND THE DENTON DEVELOPMENT CODE TO ADD A NEW PROCESS.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

IN THE DEHEN DEVELOPMENT CODE, SUBCHAPTER TWO OUTLINES THE PROCEDURES FOR ANY PROCESS FOR DEVELOPMENT.

THINGS LIKE ZONING, COMPLIANCE PLANS, REZONING PLATS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE SEE THROUGH THE COURSE OF DEVELOPMENT.

[02:40:07]

AND THIS SITUATION MOST OFTEN OCCURS WHEN THERE ISN'T A BUILDING OR SOME OTHER HORIZONTAL IMPROVEMENT THAT WOULD TRIGGER SOME OTHER REVIEW PROCESS WITHIN SUBCHAPTER TWO. EXAMPLES OF THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A FOOD TRUCK PARK, OR MAYBE A CONVERSION OF AN EXISTING PARKING LOT TO STORAGE OR DISPLAY FOR INTERNET AUTO SALES, SOMETHING LIKE SELLING STORAGE SHEDS.

SO IT HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME.

THIS WOULD NOT INCLUDE REGULATIONS RELATED TO TEMPORARY USES OR SPECIAL EVENT PERMITTING.

THIS IS RELATED TO SOMEBODY WHO WOULD WANT TO APPLY TO OCCUPY A PIECE OF PROPERTY.

BUT THERE WASN'T WOULDN'T BE A BUILDING THAT THEY WOULD BE OCCUPYING.

SO RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT HAVE A PROCESS TO REVIEW THAT TO ENSURE THAT USE WOULD COMPLY WITH OUR ZONING REGULATIONS OR MAYBE PARKING REGULATIONS, LIGHTING, NOISE, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS THAT WE TYPICALLY LOOK AT WHEN SOMEBODY COMES TO THE CITY TO DEVELOP A PIECE OF PROPERTY.

SO THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU IS, IS TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS TO REVIEW THE USE OF LAND TO ENSURE THAT OUR REGULATIONS ARE BEING APPLIED EVENLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

WE ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE CERTAINTY FOR ANY BUSINESS OWNERS OR PROPERTY OWNERS.

BEFORE THEY BEFORE THEY WOULD OCCUPY THE LAND, BEFORE THEY WOULD SPEND ANY MONEY OR MAKE ANY INVESTMENTS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE ASSURANCES THAT THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

IT ALSO, THIS PROPOSAL WILL ASSURE SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ANY GIVEN USE WOULD BE PERMITTED.

AND IF THIS IS APPROVED, IT WOULD FOLLOW OUR ESTABLISHED CCO PROCEDURES.

HOW WE'RE ANTICIPATING THIS MOVE FORWARD.

SO THIS THIS DDC AMENDMENT HAS GONE FORWARD TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.

THEY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 7 TO 0, AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL TO ADD THIS PROCEDURE SO THAT WE CAN REVIEW THESE PROJECTS.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

GREAT. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

MAYOR PRO TEM JULIE, THIS IS FOR ANY LAND USE, IMPROVED OR UNIMPROVED.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

VERTICAL STRUCTURE. NON VERTICAL STRUCTURE.

WHAT WHERE WHERE ARE WE INSERTING IN ON THIS REALLY WHEN WE THERE ISN'T A STRUCTURE.

SO RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT HAVE YOU KNOW IF THERE IS A STRUCTURE THEY GET SOMETHING CALLED A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

AND SO THAT'S HOW WE REVIEW IF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO OCCUPY A TENANT SPACE OR A BUILDING, BUT IF THERE'S NOT A BUILDING TO OCCUPY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROVISION OR ANY PROCESS WITH WHICH TO REVIEW THAT OCCUPANCY OF THE LAND.

THIS WOULD REALLY JUST INSERT INTO THAT ESSENTIALLY BE A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FOR THAT LAND.

AND AND THE UNDERLYING ZONING WOULDN'T ALREADY REGULATE THAT COMPONENT.

IT DOES. AND THAT IS THE KEY FACTOR.

AND THAT'S THE THING THAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT, IS THAT TO MAKE SURE ANY USE OF THAT LAND WOULD BE ALLOWED WITHIN THE ZONING DISTRICT THAT GOVERNS THAT PROPERTY.

AND SO THIS IS TO SPACKLE IN THE GAP OF I HAVE A ZONING SET OF CHARACTERISTICS, BUT I HAVE NO MECHANISM FOR INITIATING A REVIEW PROCESS.

CORRECT? CORRECT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY HAD THIS PROCESS IN OUR 2019 DENTON DEVELOPMENT CODE WITH SOME SUBCHAPTER TWO CHANGES.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE ACTUALLY PULLED IT OUT.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY JUST KIND OF PUTTING IT BACK.

SO WE ONCE HAD THIS KIND OF PROCESS, BUT NOW BUT WE TOOK IT OUT.

NOW WE'RE REALLY JUST ADDING IT BACK IN.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU JULIE I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.

AM I CORRECT IN ASSUMING THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO ADD ANY SIGNIFICANT TIME TO THE PROCESS? IT, IT SHOULDN'T AND IT REALLY WOULD FOLLOW THAT ESTABLISHED CO PROCESS.

SO THE WE'VE ALREADY BEEN MEETING WITH OUR ADMIN FOLKS AND OUR PLANNING TECHS TO, TO SLOT IT IN TO HOW WE APPROACH CODES.

SO THAT AND THERE IT'S PRETTY MUCH LIKE CLOCKWORK.

SOMEONE WOULD NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION TO FILL OUT THAT CO APPLICATION.

IT WOULD BE REVIEWED HAVE AN INSPECTION OF THE PROPERTY AND THEY'D BE ABLE TO GO FORWARD IF IT MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS.

THANK YOU JULIE. SURE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? SEEING NONE IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO IF YOU CARE TO SPEAK, YOU CAN COME DOWN AND SPEAK ON IT AND FILL OUT A CARD AFTERWARDS.

SEEING NO MOVEMENT, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNCILMAN, WHAT'S MOVE TO APPROVE? IS THERE A SECOND? MAYOR PRO TEM.

YEAH, I'LL MOVE TO A SECOND.

OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

IN THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU.

THAT TAKES US TO ITEM C Z.

[C. Hold a public hearing and consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas, regarding a change in the zoning district and use classification from Public Facilities (PF) district to Residential 7 (R7) district on approximately 1.143 acres of land generally located at the southeast intersection of Bonnie Brae Road and Riney Road in the City of Denton, Denton County; adopting an amendment to the City’s official zoning map; providing for a penalty in the maximum amount of $2,000.00 for violations thereof; providing a severability clause and an effective date. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted [7-0] to recommend approval of the request. Motion for approval was made by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Commissioner Thaggard. (Z23-0008b, Bonnie Brae Rezoning PF to R7, Angie Manglaris).]

[02:45:01]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL SEAN JACOBSON, ASSOCIATE PLANNER.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT Z 20 3-0008B THE BONNIE BRAE REZONING.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR REZONING ON 1.15 ACRES FROM A PUBLIC FACILITY ZONING TO A RESIDENTIAL SEVEN, ZONING OR SEVEN.

THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF BONNIE BRAY AND ROMNEY ROAD.

IT'S CURRENTLY VACANT.

IT'S PASTURE LAND.

IT'S A FUTURE. LAND USE IS SPLIT BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD, MIXED USE AND MODERATE DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.

AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO ALIGN THE ZONING OF THIS PROPERTY WITH THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH OF IT, WHICH IS ALSO R SEVEN AND UNDER THE SAME OWNERSHIP.

THIS PROPOSAL DOES ALIGN WITH THE POLICIES, GOALS, AND FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

IT ALSO ALIGNS WITH THE PURPOSE STATEMENT OF THE R7 ZONING DISTRICT.

AND AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE AREA OF THIS PROPERTY ALONG THE BONNIE BRAE CORRIDOR, AS DETAILED IN YOUR BACKUP.

THE ZONING IS NOT EXPECTED TO GENERATE ANY ADVERSE SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL, INFRASTRUCTURE OR FISCAL IMPACTS.

WE DID DO THE STANDARD NOTIFICATIONS AND RECEIVED ONE RESPONSE IN SUPPORT.

THE APPLICANT DID NOT HOLD A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, BUT DID MAKE AN EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO INDIVIDUALS SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS.

SO WITH THAT, STAFF DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

THIS MEETS OUR OVERALL CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL FOR ALL PROPOSALS, AS WELL AS OUR SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR ZONING CHANGES.

AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID VOTE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL 7 TO 0.

THAT IS MY PRESENTATION.

HAPPY TO STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED.

THANK YOU. OKAY. AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ONE QUICK QUESTION. GET OUT OF THE WAY.

SO IF WE IF THIS WAS IF THE RADIUS WAS BIGGER AND YOU AND YOU INCORPORATE THE DENTON HIGH SCHOOL, DO WE MAKE THEM GO TO LUNCH AT HIGH SCHOOL AND TALK TO THE STUDENTS ABOUT IT? YOU KNOW, I BET THEY COULD LEARN A LOT.

YEAH, WE MAY DO THAT.

SENATOR. HEY, YOU GOT TO GO TO LUNCH AT DHS.

OKAY. MAYOR PRO TEM HAS A QUESTION.

YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SEAN, DO WE HAVE A FEEL FOR.

I MEAN, AND THE ANSWER MAY BE ZERO.

OTHER PUBLIC FACILITIES THAT ARE PRIVATELY OWNED.

FOR THE MOST PART, PUBLIC FACILITIES ARE OWNED BY GOVERNMENTS.

IT'S SO JUST TO BACK UP.

YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY RARE THAT WE HAVE A PROPERTY ZONED PUBLIC FACILITY, PRIVATELY OWNED.

GENERALLY THAT ZONING IS FOR PROPERTIES OWNED NOT BY PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS.

DO WE DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER THAN THIS PROPERTY RIGHT NOW? DO YOU KNOW, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE MAY BE SOME OUT THERE THAT HAVE CHANGED HANDS, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY SMALL NUMBER.

ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE THAT, SEAN.

THANK YOU. IT'S FORSHADOWING THAT'S WHY WE ZONED IT THAT WAY.

GIVE THEM A HEADS UP. ANY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU CAN COME DOWN AND SPEAK IF YOU'D LIKE, AND FILL OUT A BLUE CARD AFTERWARDS.

ANY ANY. ANYONE CARE TO SPEAK ON IT? COME ON DOWN. IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND THEN YOU CAN FILL OUT A CARD AFTERWARDS.

PHILIP BAKER.

HI. YOUR HONOR. HEY. HOW ARE YOU, SIR? I WAS GOING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

WE? I REPRESENT RAZOR INVESTMENTS.

WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY? I ACQUIRED IT FROM THE CITY IN A TRADE FOR A UTILITY EASEMENT.

AND AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, THERE WAS NO CONSIDERATION TO CHANGING THE ZONING ON IT.

AND I INHERITED THE ZONING.

SO THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO MAKE IT A ZONING CLASSIFICATION THAT'S USEFUL TO AN OWNER LIKE RAZOR.

OTHERWISE IT'S IT'S NOT.

YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE PF BELONGS ONLY TO CITY CITY PROPERTY.

SO JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ON HOW IT CAME ABOUT, I DOUBT THAT MANY OTHERS, BUT IT WAS A TRADE THAT DM DIDN'T WANT IT AND THEY WANT AN ELECTRICAL EASEMENT FROM US. SO WE WE JUST ENGAGED IN A TRADE.

OF OUR PROPERTIES.

GOT IT. APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

HOW IT CAME ABOUT. SO THANK YOU.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION.

OKAY. SO I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNCILMAN. WHAT'S. MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE MAYOR PRO TEM SECOND.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS, JOHN.

THAT TAKES US TO OUR ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

[A. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, A Texas Home-Rule Corporation (“City”), amending the City’s Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan previously adopted by the City Council in Ordinance No. 19-863 enacted on April 16, 2019, providing an effective date. The Public Utilities Board recommends approval (4-0).]

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, A TEXAS HOME RULE CORPORATION, AMENDING THE CITY'S WATER CONSERVATION AND DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN, PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE NUMBER 19, DASH 863, AND THAT WAS ENACTED APRIL 16TH, 2019.

[02:50:02]

SURE. TAKE YOUR TIME.

ALL RIGHT. I AM HALEY SALAZAR ON BEHALF OF DENTON WATER UTILITIES.

I'M HERE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE UPDATES MADE TO THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN.

THE CONSERVATION PLAN IS ACTUALLY A TWO PART DOCUMENT, AND IT'S COMPRISED OF OUR CONSERVATION FRAMEWORK THAT DETAILS HOW WE MAKE THE MOST OF OUR EXISTING WATER RESOURCES, AS WELL AS OUR DROUGHT MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH IN THE EVENT WE NEED TO IT DETAILS HOW WE DO MORE WITH LESS.

THIS PLAN IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD AS WELL AS THE TCU, AND THEY REQUIRE MUNICIPALITIES AND WATER PROVIDERS SUCH AS THE CITY OF DENTON, TO NOT ONLY HAVE AND MAINTAIN THIS PLAN, BUT TO UPDATE IT ON A FIVE YEAR CYCLE.

THIS YEAR, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED AN UPDATE TO OUR CONSERVATION PORTION OF THE PLAN, WHICH IS GOING TO HAVE US JOIN THE REST OF DFW BY IMPLEMENTING A TWO DAY A WEEK IRRIGATION SCHEDULE.

AND TO CLARIFY, THIS IS IN ADDITION TO OUR EXISTING SUMMER WATERING ORDINANCE.

SO FAR, WE HAVE PUT OUT AN INFORMAL STAFF REPORT PRESENTED TO PUB.

WE'RE HERE TODAY ALL AN EFFORT TO HAVE THIS DOCUMENT APPROVED AND SUBMITTED TO THE TC AND TX DB BY THE MAY 1ST DEADLINE.

THE PLAN IS NOT ANYTHING NEW.

WE'VE HAD PRIOR VERSIONS OF THE PLAN APPROVED IN 2005, NINE, 14 AND 2019, BUT INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WE'VE ACTUALLY NEVER HAD TO ENACT OUR DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN.

WE'VE NEVER HIT THE CRITERIA, BUT WE HAVE COME VERY, VERY CLOSE.

IN 2014, AT THE END OF OUR HISTORIC DROUGHT OF RECORD, OUR LAKE LEVELS GOT VERY LOW AND WE WERE LITERALLY A DAY WITHIN ENACTING THE PLAN.

AND THE NEXT DAY, THE FIRST OF THE RAINS THAT MADE UP OUR HISTORIC 68 INCH 2015 RAINFALL HAPPENED.

SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

THAT RAISED OUR LAKE LEVELS, BUT WE ALSO BECAME VERY CLOSE TO ENACTING THE PLAN LAST SUMMER WHEN OUR HISTORIC HEAT WAVE ALSO BROUGHT WITH IT HISTORIC DEMANDS.

AND SO WE ARE EXPERIENCING POPULATION GROWTH.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE'RE DIVIDING OUR EXISTING WATER SUPPLY AGAINST A GROWING POPULATION.

WEATHER VARIABILITY IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMON.

SO IT'S NO LONGER A SITUATION OF IF, BUT WHEN.

WE'LL LIKELY NEED TO LEAN ON OUR DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN DOCUMENT WHAT WILL KEEP US FROM HAVING TO ENACT IT, OR AT LEAST DO.

EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER LIES WITHIN THE CONSERVATION PORTION OF THE PLAN.

AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE WE USE EVERYDAY STRATEGIES TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE, AND THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT IRRIGATION SCHEDULE.

AND OUR HOPE IS THAT WE DO WE DO THIS IN SUPPORT OF OUR CFFA TO SUPPORT SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND ENSURE THAT WHILE OUR POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW, WE CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THIS GROWING POPULATION WATER SECURITY.

ONE OF THE REALLY NEAT THINGS ABOUT THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PORTION OF THE PLAN IS IT CLEARLY ARTICULATES THE CAUSATION OF A DROUGHT SCENARIO AND THE CRITERIA WE HAVE TO HIT TO BE CONSIDERED IN A DROUGHT SCENARIO.

SO THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT COULD HAVE US BE IN WHAT'S CONSIDERED A DROUGHT SCENARIO SUPPLY LOW LAKE LEVELS, DEMAND HIGH CUSTOMER DEMAND AS WELL AS OPERATIONAL.

OPERATIONAL IS OFTEN A UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCE THAT INCLUDES THINGS SUCH AS ACTS OF TERROR AS WELL.

ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE GOT THE DIFFERENT REASONS WE COULD BE IN DROUGHT, AND WE CATEGORIZE THE SEVERITY OF EACH REASON INTO MILD, MODERATE OR SEVERE.

AND BASED ON WHERE WE FALL WITHIN THAT MATRIX, WE HAVE A DETAILED LIST OF STRATEGIES READY TO BE EMPLOYED TO TELL US HOW WE MAKE THE BEST OF THAT SITUATION.

SO AS PART OF THE UPDATE ON THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PORTION OF THE PLAN, WHAT WE DID IS WE IDENTIFIED ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT ACTION ITEMS ASSOCIATED TO WHERE WE WOULD FALL ON THAT MATRIX, AND WE SAT DOWN AND IDENTIFIED THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED.

AND WE WALKED THROUGH A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY KNEW THEY WERE ON, ON THE HOOK FOR THESE ITEMS. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE PROCESSES IN PLACE AND A PATHWAY FORWARD TO ENACT ANY OF THESE MEASURES.

SO IT WASN'T A SCRAMBLE. WE WERE READY AND READY TO GO IF WE FOUND OURSELVES IN THIS SCENARIO.

SO WE ARE AGAIN RECOMMENDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A YEAR ROUND WATERING SCHEDULE.

IT IS ADDRESS BASED.

THE REASON IT'S ADDRESS BASED IS THAT IS HOW THE MAJORITY OF THE METROPLEX CURRENTLY HAS IMPLEMENTED THEIR OWN IRRIGATION SCHEDULES.

WE DO WORK REALLY HARD WITHIN OUR REGION C, WHICH IS OUR WATER PLANNING AREA TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY.

[02:55:04]

HOWEVER WE HAVE AN INFORMATIONAL CAMPAIGN THAT WE'RE READY TO BEGIN MAY 1ST, AND WE WANT TO ISSUE GUIDELINES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO THE PUBLIC. THIS IS A CHANGE.

AND SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO GIVE CITATIONS.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A THREE YEAR GRACE PERIOD FROM 2024 TO 2026 WHEN IN LIEU OF A CITATION, WE'RE GOING TO ISSUE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, WE'RE GOING TO PARTNER WITH THE PUBLIC, AND WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE WHY BEHIND WHY WE'RE ASKING THEM TO CHANGE.

AND YES, WE DO HAVE A PATHWAY TO FIND SOMEBODY IF IT BECOMES ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

BUT A FINE ISN'T GOING TO ADD MORE WATER TO OUR SUPPLY SYSTEM.

SO WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE TO.

AND COME 2027, WHICH WILL BE YEAR FOUR OF THE PLAN, WE PLAN TO HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE WE GIVE TWO EDUCATIONAL WARNINGS AND THIS WILL ALL BE DOCUMENTED.

BUT WE GIVE WE GIVE TWO WARNINGS FOLLOWED BY A FINE.

AND THIS IS PER WATER YEAR.

SO WE DO RECOMMEND THAT WE CAN ADOPT THE ORDINANCE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AMENDING THE PLAN AS PROPOSED.

AND AGAIN, WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A CHANGE.

SO WE HAVE A COUPLE STRATEGIES IN PLACE TO HELP PARTNER WITH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS CHANGE.

ONE, IF YOU ALL HAVEN'T SEEN IT ALREADY, WE HAVE A GREAT WEBSITE.

IT'S WATERWISE DENTON. COM AND IN ADDITION TO THE FREE CLASSES WE OFFER ON IRRIGATION CONTROL AND CONSERVATION AND JUST GENERAL WATER WISE TIPS, WE ALSO POST OUR RAINFALL AND OUR DAILY WATER USAGE AND OUR DAILY WATER USAGE AS IT RELATES TO OUR DROUGHT TRIGGERS.

WE WE POST AN UPDATE THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SO THE PUBLIC HAS THE EXACT SAME DATA THAT WE HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING OUR WATER DECISIONS.

WE'RE ALSO ADDING A COMMUNITY CONSERVATION ENGAGEMENT FULL TIME EMPLOYEE, AND THEY WILL BE THE ONE REALLY CHAMPIONING THE EDUCATION COMPONENT DURING THIS GRACE PERIOD.

AND THEN THE ENFORCEMENT BEGINNING IN 2027.

WE'VE PARTNERED WITH OUR SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT AS WELL, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT CLASSES AND OTHER MATERIALS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC WITH.

AND ADDITIONALLY, AS A CITY, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON OUR ALTERNATIVE SUPPLY STRATEGY.

SO WE'VE GOT A WE'RE BUILDING A WATER PORTFOLIO, INCLUDING ALTERNATIVE SUPPLIES.

AND I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT ON ONE OF THEM, WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF REINVESTMENT IN OUR REUSE SYSTEM.

NORMALLY WATER GOES TO THE WASTEWATER PLANT.

IT'S CLEANED TO A VERY HIGH STANDARD AND DISCHARGED INTO THE LAKE.

WE'RE SEEING HOW WE CAN STRATEGICALLY USE THAT WATER AND INSTEAD OF DISCHARGING IT, REALIZING THAT FOR NON-POTABLE PURPOSES SUCH AS IRRIGATION OR INDUSTRIAL USES, SO THAT WE'RE NOT CUTTING INTO OUR POTABLE SUPPLY.

SO WE'VE GOT SOME EXCITING UPDATES COMING DOWN THE LINE WITH THAT.

BUT THE POINT IS, WE'RE NOT JUST ASKING THE PUBLIC TO MAKE A CHANGE.

WE'RE DOING A LOT INTERNALLY AS WELL.

AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, PENDING BUDGET APPROVAL, WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER PLANS IN PLACE TO OFFER A TURF BUYBACK, IRRIGATION SENSORS AND RAIN BARRELS TO HELP FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE PUBLIC.

THROUGH THROUGH THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING THE IRRIGATION SCHEDULE.

SO THAT SAID, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER THEM.

OKAY, I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.

DO YOU HAVE I'M LOOKING AT THE WEBSITE NOW AND SO QUICK GLANCE I DIDN'T I DIDN'T SEE IT.

BUT DO WE HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO I REALLY LIKE OUR BILL, OUR WATER BILL UTILITY BILL, BECAUSE IT HAS A LITTLE BAR GRAPH AND IT JUST SAYS, YOU KNOW, HERE'S WHERE YOU WERE LAST YEAR. HERE'S WHERE WE ARE THIS YEAR.

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR ON THE WEBSITE THAT SAYS KIND OF OVERALL USAGE? HERE'S WHERE WE ARE. OR IS THERE SOMETHING SIMILAR THERE? SO WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING YET, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME DESIGNS READY TO INSTALL, KIND OF A, A FRIENDLY COMPETITION.

AND JUST REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE AREAS THROUGHOUT TOWN WHERE WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE REALLY GRAVITATE TOWARDS ADOPTING THE IRRIGATION SCHEDULE.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY CLEAR TO SEE WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR DATA, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE AS MANY SPIKES IN DEMAND.

IT'S GOING TO BE MORE LEVELED OUT.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SHARE AND CELEBRATE WITH OUR RESIDENTS.

OKAY. AND IF THERE IS SOMETHING AGAIN JUST OVERALL USAGE.

CITY OF DENTON. HERE'S WHAT WE SAW IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR.

HERE'S WHAT WE SEE IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT. JUST THE OVERALL SIR.

YEAH I'D LOVE TO SEE JUST THAT SNAPSHOT.

WE CAN HAVE THAT UP THERE THIS WEEK AND THEN CARRY IT GOING FORWARD.

GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. THANKS.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THE I MENTIONED THIS IN THE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, BUT FOR FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD SINCE WE'RE ON VIDEO, CAN CAN YOU RE EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOUNDATION WATERING AND ANY DISCREPANCIES WITH, WITH HOSE THAT THAT WERE IN THE ANSWERS? FOR THE PUBLIC? YES, SIR.

SO STARTING WITH FOUNDATION WATERING, WE DO NOT CONSIDER THAT IRRIGATION.

AND SO WE WE ARE ALL FOR THE PUBLIC WATERING THEIR FOUNDATION AND MAINTAINING THEIR PROPERTY.

WE ASK THAT THAT IS UTILIZES A SOAKER HOSE OR OR HAND WATERING IS FINE.

BUT THAT IS NOT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM GOING TO BE REGULATED WITH THE IRRIGATION SCHEDULE.

[03:00:01]

I'M SORRY. UNTIL WE ATTEMPT TO REGULATE FOUNDATION WATERING.

AND EVEN THEN, WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO IT ON A DAILY BASIS JUST WITHIN A TWO HOUR TIME FRAME.

AS FAR AS THE HOSE GO THAT IS A FANTASTIC QUESTION.

SO LUCKILY, I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO SHOW A HIDDEN SLIDE, IF THAT'S OKAY.

OH, I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WORKS.

SOMEWHERE IN HERE, I'VE GOT DOCUMENTS THAT LAY OUT THE REST OF THE METROPLEX, AND WE'VE GOT PROBABLY ABOUT 25 OTHER CITIES WITHIN DFW THAT HAVE ALREADY HAVE A TWO DAY A WEEK IMPLEMENT SCHEDULE IN PLACE.

MANY OF THEM HAVE ALREADY PARTNERED WITH THEIR HOSE TO, TO KIND OF HELP EDUCATE.

AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, YOUR LAWN DOESN'T NEED ANY MORE THAN AN INCH OF WATER A WEEK.

AND I KNOW THAT MIGHT BE HARD TO BELIEVE THINKING ABOUT AUGUST, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA AND SO DO OTHER CITIES AS WELL, SHOWING THAT THAT'S TRUE.

THE HOSE.

WHAT WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY.

THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES.

WHEN WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT. HAITIAN TO PARTNER WITH THE OAS AND EDUCATE THEM AS WELL.

THERE'S BEEN SOME CHANGES TO THE TEXAS PROPERTY CODE.

I THINK IT'S 202.007 OR 4.

BUT IT IS INCENTIVIZING CONSERVATION MEASURES, AND THAT SECTION IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FIND SOME OF THE PROTECTION WE NEED SHOULD THE EDUCATION COMPONENT NOT WORK.

BUT WE CAN POINT TO A LOT OF OTHER CITIES WITH WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PARTNERED WITH THEIR HOAS.

EXCELLENT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS, COUNCILMAN HOLLAND, THANK YOU.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD KIND OF A KIND OF A SMUG NESS WHEN I TALK TO MY FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN THE METROPLEX.

OH, YOU'RE ON WATER RATIONING.

WE DON'T DO THAT IN DENTON.

SO ANYWAY, WE'LL GET.

I GUESS WE'LL GET USED TO THAT AS WELL.

TELL ME WHAT TURF BUYBACK IS.

IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

THE TURF BUYBACK PROGRAM IS GOING TO HELP US COST SHARE WITH OUR RESIDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO ELIMINATE IRRIGATING THEIR TURF, BUT MAYBE DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY THE MEANS TO DO THAT.

SO THERE IS GOING TO BE A APPLICATION AND CRITERIA CHECKLIST.

AND AGAIN THIS IS ALL CONTINGENT ON BUDGET APPROVAL.

SO WE WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS YET.

WE'VE ASKED FOR THEM.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE WHERE SOMEBODY CAN APPLY TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK I'D LIKE TO GET RID OF SOME OF THIS IRRIGABLE AREA OF MY FRONT YARD.

HERE'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN THAT PLACE IN LIEU OF THAT.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HELP FINANCIALLY, HAVE THEM KIND OF ACTUALIZE THAT PLAN.

REPLACE GRASS WITH A DROUGHT RESISTANT PLANT, FOR EXAMPLE.

YES, SIR. IT COULD BE THAT IT COULD BE KIND OF MULCH CHIPS.

WE'RE NOT BEING TOO STRICT WITH WHAT EXACTLY IT HAS TO BE, BUT WE DEFINITELY ARE GOING TO ASK FOR A DESIGN THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND ENSURE THAT IT IS IT IS TRULY IN THE SPIRIT OF THE PROGRAM TO HAVE US PARTICIPATE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN. WHAT'S. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. WELL, AS ONE OF MY LAST COUNCIL MEETINGS, I WANT TO SAY IT AGAIN.

I'VE SAID IT PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT.

I BELIEVE OUR CODE REQUIRES THAT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS BE PUT IN.

I KNOW FOR MOST COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND MOST SINGLE FAMILIES, IF I IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IS THAT IS THAT CORRECT OR AM I WAY OFF ON THAT? I THINK, BUT IF IT DOES, I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT WHOLE POLICY.

BECAUSE, MADAM CITY MANAGER, I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE WE'VE NOW GOT A PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE DE IRRIGATE THEIR LAWNS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE EXPENSIVE.

THEY THEY REQUIRE A LOT OF MAINTENANCE.

AND I BELIEVE IF I'M CORRECT, IRRIGATION IS THE LARGEST USE OF WATER.

YES, SIR. THAT THAT ANYBODY, EITHER A BUSINESS OR A PERSONAL HOUSEHOLD COULD DO SO.

I'VE NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT IF IT'S THERE.

SO I WOULD JUST SAY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT IF WE'RE REALLY SERIOUS BECAUSE I MEAN, LOOK, I'VE GOT AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM.

I'M NOT GOING TO IRRIGATE AN ACRE.

I MEAN, WHEN IT GETS ABOUT JULY OR AUGUST, IT CHANGES A DIFFERENT COLOR BECAUSE WATER IS SO EXPENSIVE.

I MEAN, AND SO ANYWAY, I JUST I PUT THAT OUT THERE ONE LAST TIME THAT SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY TO CONSIDER.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER.

MCGEE. I MOTION APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.

COUNCILMAN. SECOND.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND BEFORE WE VOTE.

BEFORE WE DO, I'M GOING TO COME DOWN BECAUSE IT'S ON ON TOPIC SO THAT I CAN.

I JUST WANTED TO. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY WELCOME AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON YOUR PRESENTATION.

WE HAVE AN ELEPHANT, SO YOU'LL REMEMBER YOUR FIRST PRESENTATION TO US.

AND THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[03:05:01]

WE'RE GOING TO PITCH IT REALLY QUICK. IS THAT ALL RIGHT? I GOT TO ORDER MORE ELEPHANTS.

I'M RUNNING OUT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. YEAH, I'M GONNA GET.

WHATEVER. I LOVE THE WATER.

OKAY, LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO TAKES US TO ITEM B, ID 24668.

[B. Consider approval of a resolution of the City of Denton, Texas, authorizing and approving the creation of Denton Public Facility Corporation, a public facility corporation, pursuant to Chapter 303 of the Texas Local Government Code; approving the articles of incorporation; approving the initial bylaws for the corporation; and providing an effective date.]

APPROVING ITS INITIAL BYLAWS FOR THE CORPORATION.

EVENING. MAYOR AND COUNCIL DANNY SHAW, COMMUNITY SERVICES.

WE'RE BACK HERE TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE DENTON PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION AS PROPOSED.

JUST AS A QUICK REMINDER, IT'S A SHORT PRESENTATION, BUT JUST A REMINDER, THIS WAS RELATED TO A TWO MINUTE PITCH, AND COUNCIL DID HEAR A WORK SESSION PRESENTATION ON MARCH 19TH TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONSIDERATION OF THIS TODAY.

THIS IS JUST WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.

WE'VE PREPARED THE BYLAWS AND CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION DOCUMENTS FOR YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.

THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE FOR YOU TO APPROVE TONIGHT, IF YOU ARE SO AMENABLE.

AND WE WOULD THEN SUBMIT THOSE DOCUMENTATION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR APPROVAL.

SO TONIGHT, JUST LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A COUPLE OF ACTIONS WE NEED.

IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION, WHICH THEN ACCEPTS THOSE FORMING DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED, AND THEN WE WOULD APPROVE AND IT WOULD APPROVE THE SUBMISSION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

AND THEN THE SECOND ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE BYLAWS TO BE ADOPTED BY THE INITIAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AS IN THE ARTICLES TODAY.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

ANY QUESTIONS? MAYOR PRO TEM. I THOUGHT I HAD IT, BUT THEN THE RESPONSES FROM FROM STAFF CONFUSED ME A LITTLE BIT.

CAN WE CLARIFY? OKAY, SO THE BOARD IS THE SEVEN OF US.

INITIALLY IT COULD BE NOT THE SEVEN COUNCILORS IN THE FUTURE IF THAT'S HOW IT'S REORGANIZED BY THE BYLAWS.

AND THE ONLY PART OF CONFUSION THAT I REALLY HAD WAS IF ONE OF THE WHAT IS IT? WHAT ARE WE CALLING IT? THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE GOVERNING BOARD TURNS OUT LEAVES WHATEVER IS VACANT.

THAT'S THE PART WHERE I GOT CONFUSED, AND I THOUGHT I UNDERSTOOD IT TO MEAN THAT THE NEXT PERSON APPOINTING TO THE GOVERNING BOARD COULD MAKE THE NEXT NOMINATION.

BUT I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BY THE RESPONSES FROM STAFF.

SO COULD YOU CLARIFY THAT A LITTLE BIT? YEAH. THE INTENT IS THAT WHEN THE NEXT PERSON WAS ELECTED, OR IF SOMEONE WAS RECALLED AND THE NEXT PERSON WOULD, WOULD TAKE THAT POSITION, THEN YOU WOULD REPLACE THAT.

WE DID LEAVE FLEXIBILITY THOUGH, IN HERE, JUST IN CASE.

IN THE FUTURE, YOU WANTED TO BE ABLE TO APPOINT AND NOT JUST AUTOMATICALLY BE COUNCIL, BUT WE HEARD CLEAR DIRECTION FROM YOU.

RIGHT NOW THE INITIAL BOARD IS COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE.

SO UNLESS THE THE BOARD, THE GOVERNING BOARD CHOOSES LATER TO DO DIFFERENTLY.

I APPRECIATE THAT CLARITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. SURE.

COUNCILMEMBER WATTS.

YEAH. SO AND THAT WAS A QUESTION I HAD BECAUSE I THOUGHT WHEN WE DISCUSSED IT, OF COURSE, YOU'VE CHARACTERIZED IT AS INITIALLY THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD BE THE BOARD.

I THOUGHT EVEN BACK TO OUR LAST DISCUSSION.

WHEN WAS THAT? LAST MAY OR SOMETHING OR.

YEAH. YEAH, THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT WAS MADE AS, HEY, THE WHOLE COUNCIL SHOULD BE THE BOARD, RIGHT.

SO THE APPOINT I GET THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR.

IF THERE'S A KIND OF STRANGE THING, SOMEBODY'S SEAT GETS VACATED FOR ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT REASONS, RIGHT? BUT I REALLY STRUGGLE WITH THE COUNCIL NOT BEING THE BOARD IN GENERAL.

I MEAN, THAT SOMEHOW WE COULD ALL APPOINT SOMEBODY AND THE BOARD WOULD BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE COUNCIL.

AND THEY I MEAN, I THINK WE THE COUNCIL STILL HAS TO APPROVE ANYTHING, I BELIEVE.

YES, THAT THAT THEY DO.

RIGHT. SO YOU HAVE THE APPROVAL PROCESS IN THERE.

OKAY. AS WELL AS FILLING WHEN IT'S FILLING VACANCIES.

SO RIGHT NOW IN THE ARTICLES YOU HAVE THE INITIAL BOARD ARE ALL SEVEN OF THE MEMBERS.

AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE THAT FORMATION MEETING WHERE YOU WILL THEN ADOPT THE OFFICIAL BYLAWS FOR WHICH YOU CAN STIPULATE THERE AS WELL.

OKAY. SO WHEN THE BYLAWS, WHEN THE INITIAL BOARD MEETS WHOEVER'S HERE THEN IF THEY WANTED TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE STRINGENT UPON THAT, THE BOARD IS IT CONTAINS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IS MADE UP OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, EXCEPT THESE EXCEPTIONS FOR A SEAT VACANCY DUE TO WHATEVER.

THEN THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THAT THEY COULD DO.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT HERE.

THEY CAN DO IT.

THAT'S HOW WE DRAFTED THEM.

SO THAT YOU HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY NO MATTER WHEN.

WELL, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS COMING BACK BEFORE THE COUNCIL, I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE REALLY FELT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, ESPECIALLY NOW

[03:10:07]

SO WITH THE $15 MILLION BOND APPROVAL NOW, I WILL SAY SOMETHING WAS MENTIONED IN THE LAST MEETING THAT THERE WAS AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S ALREADY COME AROUND TO TRY TO GET SOME OF THAT MONEY.

WELL, WE NEED TO USE THAT ALL WITHIN OUR CONTROL.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY I REALLY ADVOCATE FOR THIS, BECAUSE IT GIVES US A LOT OF CONTROL AND, AND THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WITH THE DEVELOPER BECAUSE, LOOK, I MEAN, THIS ISN'T IF WE DON'T PASS THIS, THIS ISN'T GOING TO HARM ME.

IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HARM COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HARM COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND AND MAYOR PRO TEM BECK.

BY NOT HAVING THIS TOOL AND THIS CONTROL OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT POLICY, IT'S REALLY GOING TO HURT THE PEOPLE. EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE, BUT THAT WORK THEIR ASSES OFF ALL THE TIME IN 1 OR 2 JOBS, TRYING TO PUT A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

AND I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM THAT WOULD TAKE ALL THEIR ASPIRATIONS, ALL THEIR IMPORTANT DECISIONS, BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL, THAT THEY WANT TO ACHIEVE IN THEIR LIFE OR FOR THEIR FAMILY'S LIFE, AND BUNDLE IT UP AND HAND IT OFF TO SOMEBODY ELSE AND SAY, YOU DO THIS FOR ME.

I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE MUCH SAY OVER IT, IF ANY AT ALL.

IN THE END WE JUST WE DON'T DO THAT, AND WE'RE DOING THAT NOW.

THIS ISN'T A COMPETITION.

IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT ANY TYPE OF CRITICISM OF ANY ORGANIZATION IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IT'S JUST SIMPLY SAYING, WE HAVE TALKED FOR YEARS THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES IN IN THIS CITY.

AND AS POLICY MAKERS, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO REALLY PUT OUR ACTIONS BEHIND OUR WORDS.

SO I JUST REALLY ASK PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR THIS.

I KNOW THERE WAS SOME OBJECTIONS IN THE LAST WORK SESSION IN THAT REGARD.

BUT I THINK IN THE END, WE, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE'RE HURTING.

IF WE DON'T PROVIDE THIS TOOL, WE'RE HURTING THE 50% OF HOUSEHOLDS IN THIS CITY THAT STRUGGLE.

AT LEAST WE WE HURT THE BLUE COLLAR WORKER.

WE HURT THE SINGLE MOTHER, THE SINGLE FATHER.

AND IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER.

I MEAN, I WON'T SAY THE APARTMENT BUILDING, BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT ONE OF THE ADS FOR ONE OF THESE NEW APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT WAS BUILT TWO BEDROOM, ONE BATH OR TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATH APARTMENT, NICE.

GOOD FINISH OUT.

I MEAN, I'M SURE IT'S REALLY NICE $2,100 A MONTH.

IT'S CRAZY. A ONE BEDROOM, $1,700 A MONTH, A STUDIO WHICH IS JUST A BIG ROOM, $1,500 A MONTH.

SO I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE REALLY OWN THIS ISSUE.

WE HAVE A CHANCE TO DO IT HERE WITH THIS TOOL.

THE CITIZENS GAVE US A GREAT TOOL IN SOME FUNDING THAT WE CAN REALLY USE TO STRETCH THOSE DOLLARS TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY.

SO I'M ALL FOR THIS, AND I'VE BEEN FOR IT FOR A LONG TIME.

AND TO END IT ON A IT'S NOT LIKE I'M SAYING A BAD NOTE, BUT TO REALLY GIVE A SENSE OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

THE CITY OF LEWISVILLE WANTED TO DO A PROJECT WHERE THEY REMODELED, REHABBED AN EXISTING BUILDING, AND SO THEY WORKED WITH A. AGENCY HERE IN THE COUNTY THAT DOES THAT SOMEHOW THAT FELL THROUGH.

SO THEY HAD TO GO OUTSIDE THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THEM WAS THE REASON THAT THEY STOOD UP THEIR OWN PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION.

I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE I GET THE THE STORY RIGHT OR WHO WHO IT IS.

BUT ANYWAY, SO THEY DID THEIR FIRST PFC PROJECT DOWNTOWN LOUIS, DO YOU KNOW THE NAME OF IT? I'VE GOT IT WRITTEN DOWN, I ACTUALLY DON'T.

OKAY. YEAH, IT'S IN MY I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT IT IN MY TEXT, BUT IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT.

AND IT WAS THEIR FIRST ONE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THEIR DESTINY IN THIS REGARD.

WELL, IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT THAT PROJECT WAS NOMINATED THIS YEAR AS A FINALIST IN THE BEST REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION IN DFW BY THE DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, THE CITY OF LEWISVILLE DID NOT DO IT FOR THOSE ACCOLADES.

THEY DID IT TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY THAT NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT WHAT A WHAT A.

SECONDARY PRIZE IF JUST TO BE NOMINATED.

SO THESE PROJECTS ARE NOT SECOND RATE.

[03:15:02]

SO I JUST REALLY JUST HOPE THAT THIS PASSES BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED.

AND COMBINE THAT WITH THE COMMUNITY'S MESSAGE FROM THE BOND PROGRAM, I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SO, OH, IT'S CALLED THE STANDARD, I THINK IN OLD TOWN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YEAH. SO OKAY.

THANK YOU MAYOR I APPRECIATE IT.

SURE. AND I'M GOING TO TAKE CHAIR'S PRIVILEGE.

I HAVE THE I DIDN'T REALIZE IT, BUT THE THE ONE OF THE MY ONE OF THE APPOINTEES TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES HERE.

SORRY. I'M GOING TO NORMALLY HAVE TO FILL OUT A CARD IN ADVANCE TO SPEAK, BUT I'M GOING TO SKIP THAT FOR A SECOND.

AND, SHREDDER, YOU CAN COME DOWN AND IF YOU.

HOW MANY? WHAT'S THE SPEAKING TIME? FOR I SEE THREE.

YEAH. IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE THREE, THREE MINUTES.

HELLO, MY NAME IS SHARITA LEE.

I AM ON THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, APPOINTED BY MAYOR GERARD HUDSPETH.

AND I CAME SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THIS CONVERSATION WOULD BE HAPPENING TONIGHT.

AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE.

EVERYTHING THAT COUNCILMAN WATCH JUST SAID.

WE ARE ALREADY DOING THIS WORK AND WE'RE USING PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY THAT KNOW THIS INDUSTRY IN AND OUT TO DO THIS WORK.

I WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME QUICK NUMBERS.

WE HAD A MEETING EARLIER TODAY.

FROM 2022 TO 2024.

DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, THROUGH THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, HAS BETWEEN 2022 AND 2024.

WE APPROVED AND CLOSED TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL 1504 AFFORDABLE UNITS TO THE CITY OF DENTON BETWEEN 2023 AND 2024.

WE HAVE APPROVED, BUT NOT CLOSED.

SO THEY'VE BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

WE JUST NOT HAVE CLOSED ON THESE PROJECTS.

AN ADDITIONAL 647 UNITS WILL BE ADDED.

AND IN OUR PIPELINE THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, AN ADDITIONAL 982 UNITS TO BE ADDED.

IF YOU ADD ALL OF THOSE UP SINCE 2022, THE DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, HAS APPROVED OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF APPROVING AN ADDITIONAL 3133 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THE CITY OF DENTON.

WE ARE DOING THIS WORK.

WE ARE DOING IT WELL.

WE HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVOCATE.

JUST LAST WEEK WE WERE IN WASHINGTON, DC AND ADVOCATING WITH OUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES FOR MORE FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHILE I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WANTING THIS, I JUST DON'T SEE THE NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE AN AGENCY THAT KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING, HAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE, HAS THE STAFFING TO MAN SOMETHING LIKE A PSC BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE A PSC.

I JUST DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE IN THE CITY OF DENTON.

I THINK A COLLABORATION WOULD WORK BETTER.

YEAH. SO IS THAT YOU? OKAY, SO WE GOT A COUPLE.

ANY QUESTIONS? GOT A YES.

COUNCILMEMBER WATSON YEAH I APPRECIATE THAT I REALLY DO AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION ON THAT.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF HISTORY WITH THIS ISSUE.

AND THE COLLABORATION IS NOT IS NOT AN ISSUE.

THE ISSUE IS AND I APPRECIATE YOUR STATS BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS YOU'RE BUILDING A LOT OF AFFORDABLE UNITS, PROBABLY SOME OF THE TAX BASED UNITS.

MY WHOLE REASON FOR THIS IS WHAT YOU JUST POINTED OUT, AND THAT IS AT LEAST I'VE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM EITHER STAFF OR ANYBODY ELSE ABOUT.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY COMING TO THE CITY TO SAY, WHAT KIND OF NEEDS DO YOU HAVE FROM THE AFFORDABILITY PERSPECTIVE AS FAR AS PERCENTAGE OF AMI? AND SO WHEN I HEAR, QUITE FRANKLY, THAT THERE'S 3000 UNITS AND THERE'S 1500 UNITS AND THERE'S A DESIRE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY.

I'VE NOT HEARD ANYTHING.

AND THAT'S ONE OF MY MAIN REASONS, IS NOT TO SAY Y'ALL AREN'T DOING A GOOD JOB, YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.

BUT IT'S ALSO TO SAY THAT WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTROL OVER EXACTLY HOW THE DEVELOPMENT IS STRUCTURED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WHAT WE KNOW FROM OUR SURVEYS AND FROM THINGS SUCH AS THAT.

AS FAR AS THE AMOUNT OF UNITS FOR DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES OF AMI.

SO THE VERY FACT THAT YOU'RE SAYING YOU GOT 4000 UNITS EITHER ON THE GROUND OR IN DEVELOPMENT, AND THERE'S BEEN NO KIND OF COMMUNICATION, TO

[03:20:07]

WE HAD NO SAY.

WE MIGHT GIVE SOME SUGGESTIONS, BUT IN THE END WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT WHATSOEVER.

SO MY MY DESIRE FOR THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY IS DOING A POOR JOB AT ALL.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S BEEN CHARACTERIZED AS THAT BY SOME, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE, IT'S TO SAY.

YOU HAVE YOUR NEEDS AS AN ORGANIZATION? YES, BOTH FINANCIALLY AND MISSION WISE.

AND WE HAVE OURS FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE.

SO THE VERY FACT THAT THERE'S THAT MANY APARTMENTS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED UNDER THESE, THESE FCS OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY OUTSIDE OF A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT OR NON SUPPORT, IT'S IT'S THE VERY REASON WHY I'M SAYING WE DO NEED IT, NOT BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE DOING A BAD JOB, IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE FINAL SCHEME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS.

PLUS WE CAN USE SOME OF THOSE FEES TO HELP ALSO SUPPLEMENT SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS, BECAUSE ALL THOSE THAT YOU MENTIONED COME OFF THE TAX ROLLS, PRETTY MUCH MOST OF THEM, MOST OF THEM COME OFF THE TAX ROLLS, ALL THE TAX ROLLS.

SO AS I SAID, IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT ME.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT PEOPLE UP HERE.

IF WE DON'T HAVE SOME OPTIONS, THEN I THINK THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE SAY, AND THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE INPUT IS THAT EACH ONE OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR, WHO IS ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

WELL, AND SO WE ARE I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A GREATER NEED FOR COLLABORATION.

ABSOLUTELY. BUT I THINK BEFORE ADOPTING A NEW PFC, THAT COLLABORATION SHOULD AT LEAST TRY TO SUSS ITSELF OUT BEFORE THIS.

LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR.

THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

I WAS MAYOR FOR SIX YEARS.

I KNOW, AND SO I GOT TO A POINT.

THE THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THE NOTION THAT THE MAYOR CONTROLS THE BOARD.

ABSOLUTELY. ALL THE MAYOR DOES IS APPOINT THEM.

AND THAT BOARD IS FULLY INDEPENDENT FROM THE CITY OF DENTON AFTER THAT APPOINTMENT IS MADE.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE JOB THAT THE MAYOR DOES IN APPOINTING THE BOARD, AND THAT AFTER THAT, YOU ALL ARE RIGHTLY SO CHARGED TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR THE DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THAT WAS THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

COUNCILOR. COUNCILOR MELTZER.

YEAH. FIRST OF ALL, I.

I GIVE GREAT CREDIT TO THE BOND COMMITTEE AND TO THE VOTERS FOR PUTTING FUNDING IN PLACE TO ACTUALLY FUND AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGY.

BUT, DANNY, YOU MUST HAVE SENSED THAT MY QUESTION WAS COMING FOR YOU.

I JUST FIGURED IT LOOKED A LITTLE EMPTY UP HERE.

YEAH, YEAH. I HONESTLY DON'T REMEMBER, BUT I SUSPECT THAT YOU WILL HAVE THIS COMMITTED TO MEMORY.

WAS ADDING A PFC ONE OF THE ITEMS RECOMMENDED IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOOLKIT? NO, IT WAS A TOOL WE BROUGHT FORWARD EARLY ON TO TRY TO SUPPLEMENT SOME WAY TO BRING REVENUE, BUT IT WAS NOT.

IT'S NOT IN THE ORIGINAL.

I MEAN, WAS THAT WAS IT, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERED AND REJECTED OR JUST NOT CONSIDERED OR.

NO, IT IT JUST WASN'T CONSIDERED AT THE TIME.

WE LOOKED AT OTHER TOOLS WHICH ARE STILL AT OUR DISPOSAL AND WE'RE CONSIDERING.

SO HOUSING FINANCE CORP.

AND OTHER TOOLS WERE AVAILABLE.

HOUSING TRUST FUND, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

YEAH YEAH, YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I, I'M, I REMAIN JUST MY ONLY REAL ISSUE BECAUSE I SHARE THE GOALS OF THE VOTERS AND OF THE BOND COMMITTEE. IT'S REALLY JUST THAT I, I HAVE NOT FELT A FEELING OF CLARITY ABOUT THIS WHOLE QUESTION ABOUT THE DUPLICATION OF THE DA, AND I UNDERSTAND, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER WHAT'S FOR, YOU KNOW, SORT OF.

DOING HIS BEST TO ADDRESS THAT.

BUT MY MY POINT OF VIEW IS MORE LIKE THE LAST SPEAKER.

SO I'M LISTENING STILL AND I'M AND I'M AND I'M AND I'M LISTENING STILL THROUGH THIS DISCUSSION.

SO AND AND THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOOLKIT AT LEAST IS LIKE A QUESTION LIKE WHY WOULDN'T THEY HAVE WHY? IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THEY OUGHT TO HAVE SUGGESTED IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS SO ON TARGET FOR US.

YEAH, WE PUT DATA IN THERE ABOUT THE FCS, JUST THAT THEY WEREN'T BEING WIDELY USED AT THE TIME THAT WE DID THE THE ORIGINAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

THANKS. COUNCILWOMAN HAALAND.

THANK YOU. TO TO TO FOLLOW UP ON COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER'S QUESTION I JUST I JUST AM

[03:25:07]

I DIDN'T GET HER NAME. I BEG YOUR PARDON, BUT IS THIS GOING TO BE A DUPLICATION OF EFFORT AND AND AND ARE WE GOING TO BE ARE WE GOING TO BE COMPETING FOR FOR PROJECTS? I DO NOT BELIEVE IT'S A DUPLICATION.

IT'S ANOTHER TOOL THAT WE COULD ADD TO OUR TOOLBOX.

THAT IS A TOOL THEY ALSO HAVE.

SO I DON'T SEE IT AS A DUPLICATION OR COMPETITION.

IT WOULD BE IF DEVELOPERS WANTED TO COME FORWARD AND WORK WITH THE CITY ON A DEAL AND SOME OF OUR INCENTIVES TO BE COMBINED WITH IT, OR JUST HAVE A PFC WITH US VERSUS THEM.

I GUESS THAT'S AS MUCH AS I COULD SAY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL AND WOULD AND WOULD A WOULD BE DEVELOPER SHOP BOTH BOTH PLACES AND, AND AND YOU KNOW, MAKE A PRESENTATION TO TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND WITH, WITH THE PFC.

I GUESS THEORETICALLY WE DO WE WOULD HAVE DEAL TERMS AND THEY WOULD HAVE DEAL TERMS. SO IF THEY CAME TO US SO SO IT WOULD IN FACT, I MEAN, IT'D BE A COMPETITION TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

RIGHT. BUT WE WOULD BE SETTING THE TERMS FOR OURSELVES.

OKAY. AND WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

I'M GOING TO SAY THE CHALLENGE.

WELL, THE CLEAR QUESTION BEFORE ME IS.

DO I WANT TO? TAKE THE CITY OF DENTON VOTERS.

THE SET ASIDE $15 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

THEY VOTED TO APPROVE THAT WHICH WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO.

THEN DO I WANT TO TAKE THAT $15 MILLION AND ENTRUST IT TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT? AND THE ANSWER IS NO.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DEAL TERMS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN TO SAY.

AND I THOUGHT THIS BODY WAS IN LOCKSTEP WITH THAT, THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR TAXPAYER MONEY AND WE DON'T WANT TO WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND CAST IT OFF ON OTHER PEOPLE. I FORGET THE TOPIC, BUT THAT I REMEMBER THAT NARRATIVE LIKE, HEY, NO, WE'RE WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.

IT NEEDS TO STAY HERE.

I FORGET WE'RE REORGANIZING SOMETHING AND WE AND THAT WAS THE THAT WAS THE NARRATIVE.

NOW WE'RE TALKING $15 MILLION AND WE'RE LOOKING TO AND I'M ASK, DO I WANT TO BE OKAY WITH THAT, GOING TO ANOTHER ORGANIZATION IRRESPECTIVE OF THE GREAT WORK THEY'RE DOING? AND THE ANSWER IS NO, BECAUSE WHAT I DO ENJOY IS WHEN SOMEONE EMAILS ME AND SAYS, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? I CAN EMAIL BACK AND GET AN ANSWER.

I CAN EMAIL THE CITY MANAGER, I CAN EMAIL DM.

THE ONLY THING, THE ONLY PERSON I CAN EMAIL AND GET THAT ANSWER QUICKLY IS ATMOS ENERGY.

I DON'T WANT TO ADD TO THAT LIST OF PEOPLE I CAN'T GET A QUICK, QUICK ANSWER FROM, AND SO I'M NOT WILLING TO TAKE THE TAXPAYER MONEY.

I'M NOT WILLING TO VOTE TO TAKE THE TAXPAYER MONEY AND GIVE IT TO A SEPARATE GOVERNMENT ENTITY AND SAY, I HOPE YOU MANAGE THIS WELL.

I HOPE ALL GOES WELL.

AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I THAT'S WHY I'M IN QUEUE TO TO SECOND THE MOTION, BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT RESPONSE.

I BELIEVE I HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE VOTERS WHEN I GET THAT EMAIL THAT SAYS.

WHY DID YOU. WHY DID YOU APPROVE THIS? AND WHEN CITY STAFF UPDATES THAT DASHBOARD THAT TRACKS EVERY BOND DOLLAR.

I'M I'M PERSONALLY WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT VERSUS YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S SOME OF THE ORGANIZATION.

I'M WAITING FOR AN EMAIL BACK.

I HOPE TO UPDATE YOU SOON THAT THAT DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH ME.

AND I AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS INITIALLY WHEN IT CAME ABOUT.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT MISSIONS TO TALK TO ABOUT THE DUPLICATE EFFORTS.

THE CITY OF DENTON CAN FOCUS IN THE MIDDLE.

ATTAINABLE HOUSING FOR ALL LEVELS.

THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WORKING CLASS FAMILIES, ALICE HOUSEHOLDS, ETC.

VERSUS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT'S FOCUSED ON EXTREMELY LOW WAGE EARNERS, ETC. THAT'S THEIR FOCUS.

THAT'S THEIR MISSION. I CAN'T PULL UP THE MISSION STATEMENT, BUT THAT'S THEIR MISSION.

SO WE CAN STEP ABOVE THAT AND PARTNER ALMOST AND SAY, OKAY, WELL, WE'LL COVER THE MIDDLE.

IF YOU'RE COVERING THAT LOWER END OF THE SPECTRUM, LET US COVER THE MIDDLE AND MAKE SURE WORKING FAMILIES CAN MAINTAIN AND BE IN DENTON AND STAY IN DENTON. AND THEN WE'LL WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL LEVELS COVERED.

AND AGAIN, NONE OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE GREAT WORK THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS DOING.

IT'S MORE JUST SAYING, WE GOT TO SUPPLEMENT.

THERE'S THERE'S PEOPLE STRUGGLING AT ALL LEVELS AND THERE'S PLENTY OF WORK TO BE DONE.

BUT THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS CRITICAL FOR ME.

I CANNOT VOTE TO TO GIVE OUR CITY 15 MILLION OF OUR TAXPAYERS.

[03:30:09]

SO THAT THAT'S MY THAT'S MY WORLD VIEW ON WHAT'S BEFORE US.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I, I'VE KIND OF GONE OVER THE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MEETINGS WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR, I DON'T KNOW, KIND OF A YEAR OR MORE.

I GET THE IDEA OF HAVING A TOOL IN OUR TOOL KIT.

I CAN'T QUITE GET OVER THE IDEA THAT OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT, SORT OF WE HAVE A DUPLICATE EFFORT AND WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, SORT OF ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT AND AND THAT'S FINE.

LIKE, I YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE HYPOCRITICAL.

I'M A BIG GOVERNMENT GUY, SO I WOULD BE HYPOCRITICAL IF I DIDN'T EMBRACE BIG GOVERNMENT TO SOME DEGREE.

BUT IT DOES FEEL LIKE WE'VE CROSSED THAT THRESHOLD TO WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE A THING, AND WE HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CONTRACTS THAT GO TO OTHER GOVERNMENT BODIES ALL THE TIME.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL KINDS OF PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE THAT THAT WE, WE, YOU KNOW, EITHER COLLABORATE WITH OR CONSULT WITH OR CONTRACT WITH.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE THAT I THINK WE WOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT OVERSIGHT.

BUT AND IT WASN'T CLEAR IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT THE VOTERS VOTED FOR HOUSING.

IT WASN'T CLEAR TO ME THAT THEY VOTED FOR A PFC.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT WAS IN THE DESCRIPTION AT ALL.

SO I I THINK IT WOULD BE LIKELY I'M NOT SURE WHERE I'M GOING TO VOTE, TO BE HONEST, UNTIL WE GET DOWN TO THE FINAL GREEN RED BUTTON, BECAUSE I, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT IT IT DOES.

IT JUST HAS AN ODD RING TO ME, AND I AND I, I DON'T KNOW, I'M KIND OF THINKING ON THE DYAS.

I APOLOGIZE, MR. MAYOR.

NO, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND.

WHO ARE WE GIVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO WITHOUT A CONTRACT? LIKE, WHAT OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY ARE WE GIVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO? SOMEBODY INFORMED ME. AND WHAT THAT IS? WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? HE'S RIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. RIGHT.

LET'S NOT JUST THROW OUT CRAZY THINGS.

I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

I SAID WE GIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PEOPLE ON CONTRACTS AND CONSULTING, SO.

NO, I DIDN'T SAY WE DIDN'T.

WITHOUT CONTRACT, YOUR EXACT WAS WHERE WE GIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT WE PARTNER WITH AND SOME KIND OF WAY, AND I'M DEVIATING THERE.

BUT YOU SAID WE GIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN RESPONSE TO MY CONCERN THAT WE'RE GIVING $15 MILLION TO A GOVERNMENT AGENCY WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, AND THAT'S NOT ACCURATE. AND AND THAT THAT WON'T BE BORE OUT UNTIL TOMORROW.

BUT I IMPLORE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WAS SAID.

AND I JUST WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

IF WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH SOMEONE, WE CAN HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

A SEPARATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY LIKE A DCTA OR A HOUSING AUTHORITY WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.

WE'RE NOT SIGNING A CONTRACT WITH THEM.

WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR JUST ARBITRARY REASONS.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

WE GIVE MONEY TO PEOPLE WITH CONTRACTS TO PURCHASE STUFF OR TO LEASE STUFF, THAT SORT OF THING, NOT TO PERFORM.

THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

SO I'LL BE I'LL BE WATCHING THE VIDEO STRAIGHT AWAY WHEN IT GETS POSTED TONIGHT AND I'LL, I'LL HAVE THE EXACT WORDS, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THERE'S A CLEAR RECORD OF WHAT I SAID, THE RESPONSE, ETC..

SO COUNCILWOMAN.

A LOT OF INTERESTING POINTS BEING RAISED.

IS IT BEYOND THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY? DANNY, FOR US TO COLLABORATE AND TO HAVE A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH DA ON A PROJECT IS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD PREVENT THE CITY FROM EVER HAVING A CONTRACT RELATED TO A PROJECT EXECUTED JOINTLY? NO. OH MY QUESTION.

INTERESTING. COLLABORATION.

COLLABORATION. JUST ANSWERING ON THE FACTUAL.

NO. THERE'S NOTHING THAT PROHIBITS US FROM ENTERING INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH AN ANOTHER ENTITY THAT'S PROHIBITING US FROM DOING THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER. BYRD. OH.

YEAH. THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING.

BUT MY QUESTION IS THAT IF.

A DEVELOPER.

IS OFFERING.

YOU KNOW, AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET'S PUT UP ANOTHER APARTMENT COMPLEX, AND WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES HERE THAT COULD

[03:35:06]

WHICH WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WOULD ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL FROM THE DEVELOPER FIRST, YOU KNOW, AND SO BUT THE MAYOR HAS HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND AND HOPEFULLY MAYBE THIS IS, IS, IS A PART OF A CAVEAT IS THAT.

THE HOUSING FOLKS WOULD BE WORKING WITH THE LOWER, LOWER ECONOMIC SITUATION.

AND THIS PARTICULAR THIS OTHER GROUP HERE WOULD HANDLE THE HIGHER END, YOU KNOW, SITUATION.

HOW IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT REALLY WORK OUT IF WE CAN YOU JUST KIND OF GIVE US A KINDERGARTEN LEVEL? SURE. EXPLANATION.

YES. HYPOTHETICAL. BECAUSE IN THEORY, THE WELL, IN FACTUAL FACTS, THE PFC ONLY REQUIRES 50% OF THE UNITS TO BE AFFORDABLE AT 80% OR BELOW, EXCEPT FOR WITH THE CHANGES. RIGHT. SO WHAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THOSE DEALS I CAN'T ANSWER.

SO SO IN A HYPOTHETICAL, WE COULD SAY WE COULD WORK OUT AN MOU AND DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT THAT WOULD ONLY BE IN HYPOTHETICAL.

THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT BOTH PARTIES WOULD COME TO THE TABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT OUR GOALS WITH THE PFC ARE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THOSE ARMY NEEDS, AND THAT INCLUDES THE DEEPER AFFORDABILITY AS WELL AS WORKFORCE, RIGHT.

AND ENSURING THAT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF UNITS WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR OUR RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE.

AND FOR US TO HAVE A PFC, WE WOULD CONTROL THAT.

WE DON'T CONTROL WHAT THE DEAL IS THAT THE THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY DOES WITH DEVELOPERS.

SO I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THOSE MINIMUM ARMY REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR THEM.

FOR THEM, UNLESS WE WERE TO ENTER INTO AN ENGAGEMENT AND A CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY.

SO THAT IS JUST HYPOTHETICAL.

AND SO WE REALLY WON'T KNOW THAT UNLESS WE APPROVE THIS, TO SEE HOW THAT IS GOING TO ACTUALLY WORK OUT IF WE DO THAT.

SO THE QUESTION NOW BECOMES, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PUBLIC AND OURSELVES IS DO WE GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THIS? AND THEN WE SIT DOWN WITH THIS OTHER GROUP AND FIGURE OUT MOU WISE, WHICH WHO WOULD MANAGE WHAT WHENEVER IT COMES IN, OR WE SAY NO TO THIS AND CONTINUE TO DEPEND ON OUR, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS HOUSING GROUP THAT WE HAVE ALREADY TO HANDLE AND MANAGE ALL OF THE ATTAINABLE HOUSING SITUATION IS THAT IS THAT WHAT IS THAT WHERE WE'RE THINKING? WELL, I COULD TELL YOU THAT IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION YOU GAVE US, WE AS STAFF WOULD MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO DO THAT WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

BUT THEY ARE AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY, SO I CAN'T TELL YOU AND GUARANTEE THAT THEY WOULD COME TO THE TABLE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH US.

AND SO WE HAVE EFFECTIVELY.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S EFFECTIVELY OR NOT, BUT WE HAVE COME AND COME TO KNOW THAT APPARENTLY THIS WOULD NOT BE A PART OF A DISCUSSION IF WE WERE PLEASED WITH THE WHAT WE WERE ABSOLUTELY PLEASED OR THE EXPECTATION LEVEL WAS BEING MET BY THIS HOUSING AUTHORITY.

YOU KNOW, IF THAT EXPECTATION HAD BEEN MET, THEN WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION.

SO APPARENTLY THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S AMISS THAT WOULD BRING FORTH THE, THE, THE, THE APPROVAL OF THE PFC.

SO, YOU KNOW, AND THEN IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

I'M NOT SAYING YES OR NO RIGHT NOW, BUT JUST WANTED TO JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BRING A LITTLE BIT OF SIMPLICITY TO IT, YOU KNOW, AS TO WHICH DIRECTION THAT WE WOULD, MIGHT WANT TO GO.

YEAH. AND AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

I'M UNABLE TO ANSWER WHAT THOSE DEALS LOOK LIKE FOR THEM TO KNOW AT 100% TAX EXEMPTION, WHAT PERCENTAGE IS AFFORDABLE AND WHAT'S BEING OFFERED TO THE RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE? OKAY, COUNCILMAN WATTS, I'M SHOCKED.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THERE'S TIMES TO BE NICE AND SOMETIMES THERE'S TIMES NOT TO BE NICE BECAUSE THIS IN NO WAY, IN NO WAY IS MAKING ANY MESSAGE ABOUT THE DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.

NOW, IT'S BEEN CAST THAT WAY, THAT PEOPLE HAVE USED THAT AS AN EXCUSE THAT THIS ISN'T NEEDED.

SO NOW I'M HEARING COMPETITION IS BAD.

COMPETITION IS BAD.

SO YOU KNOW WHO LOSES IN THAT.

I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE WORKING THEIR ASSES OFF TRYING TO PUT A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT CRITICIZING.

THE DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.

BUT WHEN I HEAR THAT THERE ARE 3000 UNITS IN DEVELOPMENT AND 1500 UNITS ON THE GROUND, THERE

[03:40:02]

AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY TAX DOLLARS THAT IS.

SO I REALLY QUESTION SOMETIMES WHEN YOU WHEN YOU HAVE THE PURSE AND YOU THINK SOMEONE'S COMING IN TO TAKE PART OF THAT PURSE, I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE GOING TO GRIP IT A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY THIS IS.

SO THIS NOTION THAT THERE'S NO NEED IS, IS, IS SHALLOW, THIS NOTION THAT THERE'S NO NEED.

AND TO SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE COMPETITION.

BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, FOLKS, NOBODY ON THIS DAIS CAN HAS ANY IDEA WHAT THE ARMY LEVELS ARE FOR ANY OF THOSE 3000 APARTMENT UNITS THAT ARE IN DEVELOPMENT.

ANYBODY. DOES ANYBODY KNOW FROM THE DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY WHAT THE ARMY LEVELS ARE? FOR THOSE YOU'RE WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, MA'AM.

OF COURSE I UNDERSTAND.

I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT.

I WOULD TOO, BUT I DON'T I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

SO DO. DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW MUCH TAXES WE STAND TO LOSE? THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY ACCESS TO OR ANY CONTROL OVER WHERE THAT MONEY IS SPENT, WITH 3000 UNITS BEING DEVELOPED.

ANYBODY ON THIS DAIS, ANY STAFF MEMBER KNOW? BUT I DON'T SEE ANY RAISING OF HANDS.

THAT IS MY POINT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ONLY 1 OR 2 OF US ON THE DAIS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES YOU GET MORE WITH COMPETITION AND THAT WE CAN HAVE CONTROL OF OUR DESTINY.

TO PUT IT IN THE HANDS AND TO SAY WE DON'T NEED IT, TO SAY IT'S COMPETITION, SO FORTH AND SO ON, THAT JUST DEFIES LOGIC.

SO, AS I SAID, I PUT MY BEST FOOT FORWARD AND THE PEOPLE THAT WILL SUFFER FROM THIS KIND OF TERRITORIAL KIND OF OWNERSHIP INSTEAD OF LOOK HISTORICALLY.

THE DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY CAME TO ME WHEN I WAS MAYOR AND ASKED, WILL YOU PRESENT A POLICY THAT WILL REQUIRE.

EVERY DEVELOPER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO COME THROUGH THE DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.

GIVE THEM RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

YOU KNOW WHAT I SAID AS MAYOR? ABSOLUTELY I WILL.

ABSOLUTELY I WILL.

AND WE DID.

WE BROUGHT IT BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND WE SAID, HEY, WE JUST WANT TO KNOW SOME THINGS.

THIS MONEY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING UP.

HOW HOW CAN WE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO USE IT FOR.

HELP US UNDERSTAND.

BUT TO GIVE UP TOTAL CONTROL OF ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT POLICY POSITIONS, IT'S JUST IRRESPONSIBLE.

SO THE VOTE'S GOING TO BE WHAT IT IS.

BUT TO TO TO COUCH IT IN TERMS OF IT'S COMPETITIVE OR IT'S NOT NEEDED.

AND THEREFORE THERE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NO SAY IN THESE HYPOTHETICAL CONTRACTS AND ALL THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

GOOD LORD. I MEAN, COME ON, WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT GOES.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO THE PARTIES ARE.

AND WE TRIED IT ONE TIME.

AND TO KNOW. I MEAN, I GOT TO TELL YOU, I'M ANGRY.

I'M ANGRY THAT SOME OF THE RATIONALE UP HERE IS THAT WE DON'T NEED IT.

SO FORTH AND SO ON, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

AND I HEAR THERE'S 3000 UNITS, APARTMENT UNITS FOR FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

TO BE EITHER AFFORDABLE OR NOT.

AND WE HAVE ZERO SAYING THAT WE HAVE ZERO KNOWLEDGE OF HOW MUCH THAT TAKES OFF THE TAX ROLLS.

YOU GUYS DO WHAT YOU WANT.

HONESTLY. BUT IN THE END, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND.

NOT GOING TO WORK.

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY 30, 45, 50, 65% AMI ARE IN THESE CONTRACTS.

YOU'RE ONLY REQUIRED TO HAVE, WHAT IS IT, 50% OF WHAT, 50% AT 50? LESS THAN 80%.

YEAH. WELL THAT'S THE ORIGINAL.

AND THEN WITH THE ADDITIONS, THE AMENDMENTS TO IT BASED ON THE LEGISLATION, IT'S 10% HAVE TO BE I'M SORRY.

I'M NOT GOING TO. NO THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT. SO THEY DID ADD SOME 50%.

IF YOU WANT TO GIVE UP THAT CONTROL OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THAT COULD COME BACK TO THE CITY AND THE CITY TAXPAYERS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS. AND YOU WANT TO GIVE UP THAT TOTAL CONTROL OF HOW THOSE UNITS ARE STRUCTURED, WHAT THE RENTS ARE.

YOU KNOW, WE COULD WE COULD HAVE A SAY IN THAT.

HAD AT IT. BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE I THINK ONE OF THE WORST DECISIONS.

AND WE'RE SAYING WE DON'T CARE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE DON'T CARE ABOUT TAKING MATTERS INTO, YOU KNOW, TAKING OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANY MORE, MR. MAYOR. IF THE VOTE'S GOING TO BE WHAT IT IS.

OKAY. COUNCILMAN HOLLAND.

[03:45:03]

COUNCIL MEMBER. WATTS AND THE MAYOR MAKE EXCELLENT POINTS.

AND AND I HAVE SAID A TRILLION TIMES I'M A MARKET GUY.

COMPETITION IS GOOD, COMPETITION IS GOOD.

AND THAT MAKES THAT RISES, RAISES, RAISES EVERYBODY.

I THINK THAT'S GOOD.

AND THE MAYOR'S POINT OF THE COUNCIL BEING IN CHARGE OF SPENDING $15 MILLION IS, IS IS WELL MADE WITH ME.

I WILL SUPPORT THIS.

COUNCILWOMAN MCGEE. WE HAVE $15 MILLION VOTER APPROVED BOND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IF A PFC WERE NOT TO EXIST, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THAT MONEY? THE SAME THING. IT'S NOT LIKELY THAT WE'LL USE THESE FUNDS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PFC.

SO WHAT WE PLAN TO DO FOR IT, WHICH WILL COME TO YOU IN MAY AND DISCUSS WITH YOU WHAT THOSE PRIORITIES ARE FOR YOU ALL, AS WELL AS WHAT WE RECOMMEND.

OKAY. IF A PFC WERE TO PASS TONIGHT AND WE STARTED GETTING PROJECTS IN, DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE STAFF TO HANDLE THEM? YES.

OKAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU. DANNY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? APPRECIATE YOU AND STAFF AND YOUR EXPERTISE AND LOTS OF INFORMATION.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

COUNSELOR WATSON. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I'LL SECOND.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSION.

LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

AND THAT PASSES FIVE TWO TAKES US TO FOUR.

WAS IT? FOR.

THIS. OKAY.

WELL, OKAY.

OH. ALL RIGHT.

CAN WE VOTE AGAIN? I GUESS SO.

ALL RIGHT, I DON'T KNOW. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU MISSED? THE BUTTON. WHAT'S WHAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON? OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS WAS A MOTIONER.

I'M THE SECONDER.

WE'LL DO IT AGAIN.

SO I'M LAGGING BEHIND BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE.

I SHOULD SAY THIS.

DENNY. LET'S CONTINUE.

MISS CITY MANAGER, LET'S CONTINUE TO REACH OUT RIGHT.

AND LET'S HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

BRING BACK THAT INFORMATION ON HOW WE CAN, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY.

BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE.

AND. SORRY, JESSE HERE'S, HERE'S A CREDIT'S DUE.

WE HAD A JOINT SESSION WITH WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, AND WE MADE A SUGGESTION ABOUT VIDEOTAPING THEIR, THEIR MEETINGS, AND THEY ADOPTED THAT.

THEY ADOPTED THAT. SO SO WE'VE WORKED WELL IN THE RECENT PAST TOGETHER.

AND I WANT THAT TO CONTINUE.

I DON'T I DO WANT TO DISMISS THIS KIND OF.

DIVISIVE KIND OF LOOK AT THINGS.

I DO WANT US TO JUST KNOW WHERE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.

NO, WHERE WE CAN'T, BUT IT'S JUST KIND OF SHAPE IT IN A POSITIVE WAY.

LIKE, HERE'S WHAT WE CAN WORK ON TOGETHER.

ABSOLUTELY. AND I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW WE HAVE OUR FIRST MEETING SCHEDULED WITH THEM ON A COUPLE OF PROJECTS, SO.

YEAH. YEAH. EXCELLENT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND THAT PASSES FOR THREE.

TAKES US TO ITEM C, OUR LAST ITEM BEFORE CONCLUDING ITEMS.

[C. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation (“Denton”) providing for, authorizing, and approving the execution by the City Manager of the Power Purchase Agreement (“PPA”) between Denton and Yellow Viking Development One, LLC (“Yellow Viking”); authorizing the acceptance and approval by the City Manager of the Letter of Credit, or other credit support issued on behalf of Yellow Viking, further securing the obligations of Yellow Viking to Denton for the benefit of Denton; approving the execution of such other and further related documents deemed necessary to effectuate the transactions allowed under this agreement by the City Manager, which are incident to or related to the PPA; finding that that the purchase of capacity and energy made by Denton under the terms of the PPA are in the public welfare; authorizing the expenditure of funds; determining that specific information contained in documents involved in this transaction pertain to a “Competitive Electric Matter” as set forth under the provisions of §551.086 and §552.133 of the Texas Government Code, as amended; allowing the public to inspect and reproduce the PPA as redacted; and providing an effective date. The Public Utilities Board recommends approval (3-1).]

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, A TEXAS HOME RULE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION PROVIDING FOR FOR AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE EXECUTION BY THE CITY MANAGER OF A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN DENTON AND YELLOW.

YELLOW VIKING DEVELOPMENT ONE, LLC.

GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER TERRY NOLTE, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER AT DME.

I WANT TO COME TO YOU THIS EVENING, TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE YELLOW VIKINGS SOLAR POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT, WHICH WE ARE SEEKING YOUR APPROVAL ON A YELLOW VIKING DEVELOPMENT ONE IS A PROJECT BEING DEVELOPED BY OSAKA GAS USA.

IT'S THEIR INITIAL PROJECT IN TEXAS.

THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS AROUND THE THE US AND NORTH AMERICA.

THIS PROJECT IS A 204 MEGAWATT PROJECT.

OUR SHARE OF THE PROJECT WILL BE 100MW.

[03:50:02]

IT'S GOT A GUARANTEED COMMERCIAL OPERATION DATE IN EARLY 2027.

IT WAS THE EVALUATED LOWEST COST OPTION TO US UNDER RFP NUMBER 8271.

THE CRITERIA WE USE IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THESE POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS ARE THE PRICE, THE CONGESTION COSTS, WHICH IS AN ADJUSTMENT TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE OFFERS ARE PUT ON ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD EXPERIENCE THE DEVELOPER STATUS OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE FIT WITHIN OUR PORTFOLIO.

YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT THERE WE DID RECEIVE 59 DISTINCT OFFERS FROM 17 RESPONDENTS AND THE THREE THAT ARE IN THE RED BOX.

THERE WERE THE YELLOW VIKING OFFERS.

IT WAS THE LOWEST EVALUATED PRICE.

THIS FIT INTO OUR PORTFOLIO.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE BLUE LINE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTED ANNUAL.

ENERGY SERVED TO DME CUSTOMERS.

THE RED LINE REPRESENTS THE AMOUNT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS THROUGH LONG TERM POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND PURCHASE AGREEMENTS, TRADING AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO LINES IS FILLED WITH SHORT TERM TRANSACTIONS.

THE REASON FOR THIS NEED FOR THIS IS THE EXPIRATION OF ONE OF OUR INITIAL CONTRACTS WITH WHITETAIL.

A DEFAULT OF ANOTHER SOLAR PROJECT CALLED SAMSON SOLAR, WHICH WAS A 75 MEGAWATT CONTRACT.

THIS IS AN INTERIM STEP WE WILL BRING TO YOU LATER THIS YEAR.

DENTON RENEWABLE RESOURCE PLAN REVISION TO ADDRESS THE LONGER TERM NEEDS OF THE DENTON MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC POWER PORTFOLIO TO MAINTAIN 100% RENEWABLE.

THE MAJOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS HERE.

IT'S A 15 YEAR CONTRACT.

IT'S A FIXED PRICE FOR THE ENTIRE TERM.

IT HAS BASICALLY MARKET WHAT WE CONSIDER MARKET OR STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THESE TYPES OF AGREEMENTS.

THERE IS A PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE IN THE PRE-COMMERCIAL OPERATION DEVELOPMENT PRE-COMMERCIAL OPERATION DATE PERIOD AND ANOTHER AMOUNT THAT IS POSTED FOR SECURITY POST COMMERCIAL OPERATION DEVELOPMENT.

THIS THIS CONTRACT HAS VERY TIGHT FORCE MAJEURE PROVISIONS.

AND IT ALSO HAS SOME INTERESTING, HIGHLY NEGOTIATED PROVISIONS DEALING WITH CHANGE IN LAW.

WE ARE UNDER WE'RE CURRENTLY IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE ERCOT MARKET RULES ARE CHANGING RAPIDLY, AND THIS CONTRACT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH PARTIES UNDERSTAND WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR NEW REQUIREMENTS SHOULD THEY BECOME APPLICABLE TO THIS FACILITY.

AND SO WE NEGOTIATED THREE TIERS OF COST SHARING OR OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE COSTS.

SO WE, WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THIS, THIS AGREEMENT.

I WILL STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

ANY ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE COUNCILMAN WATTS.

MOTION TO APPROVE. COUNCILMEMBER.

MAYOR PRO TEM BECK SECOND.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN. THANK YOU.

TERRY. YOU'RE WELCOME.

THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO.

THAT TAKES US TO CONCLUDING ITEMS.

[8. CONCLUDING ITEMS]

THANK YOU. I WENT TO THE DEDICATION AT SAINT MARK'S THIS PAST WEEKEND.

BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL SANCTUARY.

LOTS OF STAINED GLASS.

IT'S A IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE OF WORSHIP.

AND I COMMEND THE THE PARISHIONERS AT SAINT MARK'S AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO FATHER GEORGE AND AND ALL THE AND ALL THE STAFF THAT MADE A MADE A REALLY, REALLY BIG IMPRESSION ON ME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANY ANYONE ELSE? ANY ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILWOMAN. BYRD. I WANTED TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THE QUAKER TOWN PARK DOCUMENTARY, AND THERE IS STILL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR YOUR BUSINESS TO DONATE TO THE MAKING OF THAT DOCUMENTARY.

AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WORKING WITH THE DENTON BLACK FILM FESTIVAL.

BUT I ALSO WANTED TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME DISCUSSION ON THE QUAKER TOWN PARK.

I DON'T KNOW, I GOT A BRAIN FREEZE THERE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THE QUAKER TOWN PARK DESIGN, I THINK IT WAS.

[03:55:07]

AND THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW AT THE CIVIC CENTER AT 6 P.M., I BELIEVE.

IS THAT 6 P.M.? LET ME LOOK AT MY CALENDAR.

I AM LIKE MY CALENDAR, BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY BE THERE.

AND THAT IS ALSO GOING TO INCLUDE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE QUAKER TOWN MEMORIAL.

SO TO, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, KEEP THE HISTORY, THE HISTORY OF THAT COMMUNITY STILL CENTER IN FRONT OF WHY WE CALL QUAKER TOWN PARK QUAKER TOWN PARK.

SO I'M EXCITED FOR THAT.

AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD FOR US TO ALL PARTICIPATE IN THAT EFFORT.

YOU KNOW, FOR THIS HISTORICAL MOMENT.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YEAH. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT EARTH DAY AND REDBUD FESTIVAL ARE THIS WEEKEND.

WE ARE. WE JUST HAD A PROCLAMATION ON IT.

SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF OUR CLAIMS TO FAME IN OUR, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR LOCAL CELEBRATION OF EARTH DAY.

THERE'S THERE'S NUMEROUS EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH EARTH DAY OTHER THAN REDBUD FESTIVAL AT UNT AT TWU.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK THOSE OUT.

THERE'S A COUPLE MORE POLITICAL FORUMS COMING UP THIS WEEK.

IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH OF US TONIGHT.

THERE'S THERE'S STILL MORE CONVERSATION YOU CAN HAVE WITH US GOING ON, OR AT LEAST THOSE WHO ARE UP FOR REELECTION.

AND AND THEN SPEAKING OF THAT EARLY VOTING STARTS NEXT WEEK ON THE 22ND.

SO PLEASE, YOU KNOW, HIT THE POLLS.

OKAY. ANYONE? ANYONE ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? LET'S SEE HERE. THERE'S ONE THING I WAS GOING TO CHECK.

SORRY. MAKE SURE I GOT IT RIGHT.

OKAY. GOT IT.

OKAY, SO ON THE 19TH OF THIS MONTH, THERE'S THE HABITAT VILLAGE.

GROUNDBREAKING. THAT'S DUNCAN STREET, WHERE THEY HAVE SEVERAL ACRES WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO THEY'RE GOING TO DO GROUNDBREAKING.

THEN THEY'RE GOING TO PUT A VILLAGE OF HABITAT HOMES THERE.

SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT, THAT'S THE 19TH, THEN THE 20TH IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH IS HAVING A GALA, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT.

THAT'S THAT'S GOING ON THE 20TH AND THEN REFLECTING BACK ON THE 13TH.

THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT EVENTS BETWEEN EASTSIDE HAD THE MASTERS KIND OF THEIR GOLF THEME AND BERMUDA TRIANGLE HAD EACH OF THOSE PEOPLE PARTICIPATED.

IT'S REALLY NEAT EVENT, AND I THINK THEY RAISED SOMETHING LIKE $5,000 FOR FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY.

SO THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE.

THERE'S A BLACK WEALTH SEMINAR, AN IMPACT DAY AT SAINT ANDREW'S CHURCH THERE ON LACEY, AND SO I WAS ABLE TO GO THERE.

AND THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT HELPED ME PULL TOGETHER A PROCLAMATION FOR THAT TO TOUCH A TRUCK EVENT WENT OFF GREAT.

IF EACH YEAR THAT'S A FANTASTIC EVENT.

THANKS TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT SPENT THEIR SATURDAY THERE AND HELPING THE KIDS.

JUST HAD A BLAST. SO THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE.

SERVE DENTON HAVE THEIR GALA AND THAT WAS GOOD TO LEARN WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THE IMPACT THEY'RE HAVING ON OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEN THERE IS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL, AND THAT'S KIND OF AN AFRICAN DRUMMING AND AND HOW THEY COMMUNICATE.

AND THAT WAS IT. VAUTMANS CONCERT HALL.

AND SO I WAS ABLE TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO THEM.

AND THAT WAS ALWAYS A GREAT PROGRAM.

AND THEN LOOKING FORWARD AGAIN.

SO FOR 22 I THINK THAT'S MONDAY DOCTOR JOHN SPENCER BAIN THE SECOND UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY.

HE'S DONE AMAZING THINGS FOR OUR CITY FOR UNT.

AND SO HE'LL BE MISSED.

AND SO CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY, HIS FRIENDS.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE IMPACT HE'S HAD IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.

AND HE'LL BE CELEBRATING HIS CELEBRATION OF LIFE IS AGAIN A FOR 22.

AND I THINK THAT'S AT 10 A.M.

THERE AT THE MURCHISON, IS THAT RIGHT? WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT? I'M DRAWING A BLANK, BUT IT'S IT'S ON FACEBOOK THERE.

THE CONCERT HALL WHERE THEY DO THE OPERA AND EVERYTHING, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M DRAWING A BLANK, BUT THEN THE.

AND LASTLY FOR 25, WE ARE DOING GROUND BREAKING FOR THE, FOR THE BEZOS ACADEMY BUILDING THERE ON TWU CAMPUS.

REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I HAVE A I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CALL IT A TWEET.

STILL I HAVE AN EX A TWEET OR WHATEVER YOU SEND IT, YOU CALL IT OUT TO JEFF BEZOS.

I INVITED HIM TO DENTON.

WE'LL SEE IF THAT WORKS OUT.

I'M STILL HOLDING OUT HOPE TILL THE DAY PASSES AND HE'S NOT THERE, BUT UNTIL THEN, WE'LL SEE IF HE FLIES INTO DENTON TO CELEBRATE WITH US EITHER. SO WITH THAT, AT 849 WE'LL CONCLUDE TONIGHT'S MEETING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.