[00:00:05]
          GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO THIS MEETING OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL. TODAY IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, 2025. IT IS 2 P.M. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, SO I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. FIRST THING ARE QUESTIONS. WELL. BEAR WITH ME. I'M SORRY. WE DON'T HAVE TO LET ANYONE SPEAK ON THIS. 
          PARTICULARLY ON THIS QUESTION. ON THE ISLAND FOR NOW, BUT I THINK WE JUST NEED TO KEEP THIS AS. IT WAS SO NICE OF YOU. IT'S. AN EMERGENCY. THANK YOU VERY, VERY. PAUL. I TOLD HIM TO ORDER SOME OF THOSE MORE OF THOSE CHICKEN STICKS. WELL, GUESS WHAT? THEY SENT THE WRONG ONE. 
          THEY DIDN'T SEND THE SUGAR FREE. SO I'M VERY UPSET MYSELF. SO I SENT FOR ANOTHER BATCH AND MAKE THEM SUGAR FREE. SO IT WAS ABOUT TO RAGE. YOU GUYS. YES, I'M VERY UPSET ABOUT IT. YES, YES, I HAVE GOT IT UNDER CONTROL. YOU CAN DO IT IN THE LAST WEEK. I THINK IT'S SO LOUD WHEN YOU TRY IT AGAIN. SO LOUD. OKAY. CAN WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT OPENS THOSE FOR ME? WHEN YOU GET IN, I'LL CALL FOR THE LOUD. DURING THE PRESENTATION. THE OTHER DAY. MY. GIVE THEM A MINUTE TO SAY SOMETHING. MAYBE IT WAS OTHER THAN I HAD OTHER PEOPLE THERE. I THINK SOMEONE MAKE SOME NOISE FOR THE PEOPLE. ACTUALLY, ONE OF OUR PARALEGALS THOUGHT WE WOULD MAKE SENSE. SO SHE'S THE NEWEST ONE. IF THERE'S A QUESTION WE NEVER DID, WE JUST. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO I'VE BEEN MADE AWARE. 
          THERE'S SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK, AND I'M GOING TO RESERVE THAT FOR IF WE GET INTO QUESTIONS THERE. I JUST DON'T WANT TO I DON'T WANT TO START A PRECEDENT. SO I'M GOING TO BE MINDFUL WHEN WE COME TO THAT ITEM. AND I'M BEING AMBIGUOUS ON PURPOSE. IF THERE'S IF THERE'S QUESTIONS THAT ARISE THAT THAT MAKE SENSE, WE'LL TAKE THAT UP. IF THERE'S A SOLE SOURCE OF ANSWERS FOR THOSE QUESTIONS. BUT AND I'M GOING TO BE VERY, VERY NARROWLY, NARROWLY TAILORED ON THAT EVEN. BUT WITH THAT THE FIRST. SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS. THAT TAKES US TO OUR. THAT TAKES US TO LET ME GET THERE. SO CITIZENS COMMENTS AND THERE'S REQUESTS FOR 
          [2. Requests for clarification of agenda items listed on this agenda for public hearing and individual consideration.]
CLARIFICATION ON AGENDA ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. SO ANY IC OR PUBLIC HEARING. QUESTIONS. SEEING NONE. I WILL NOTE THAT THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL COME BACK TO US. AND THEN, MR. CITY ATTORNEY, DID YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT ITEM, THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, DOES THAT REQUIRE ACTION OR NOT? ACTION. OKAY. GOT IT. AND SO THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING JUST FOR NOTES WON'T NEED WON'T REQUIRE ACTION. IT'S JUST A READING. AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO THE IC ITEMS SEEING NO QUESTIONS. THAT WILL THEN TAKE US TO OUR FIRST WORK SESSION WHICH IS ITEM THREE A. 
          OH. REPRESENTING FROM DISTRICT THREE. YEAH. MAYOR, I APOLOGIZE IF I'M THE SLOW LEARNER HERE, BUT SO I GOT BECAUSE YOU GAVE US PLENTY OF ADVANCE NOTICE THAT WE WOULD NOT BE USING THIS TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, WHICH WAS THE PRACTICE IN THE PAST. BUT IS THIS NOT THE TIME TO REQUEST THAT INDIVIDUAL ITEMS BE PULLED FROM CONSENT FOR SEPARATE VOTES? THAT IS CORRECT. AND THAT WAS GROUPED IN THAT STATEMENT TWICE. I TOLD YOU, I'M THE SLOW LEARNER OF THE GROUP, SO I OKAY, SO BUT THAT CAN BE DONE FROM THE I'M ASKING CITY ATTORNEY, CAN THAT BE DONE FROM THE FLOOR DURING THE MEETING? WELL, BY WAY OF A MOTION. BUT IT'S POSSIBLE. I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS JUST ADMINISTRATIVELY, HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THE PERSON IS THERE THAT CAN ACTUALLY ANSWER THE QUESTIONS OR RESPOND TO ANY OF THE INPUT THAT YOU HAVE ON THOSE ITEMS TO BE PULLED? SO THAT'S THE CHALLENGE WITH NOT DOING IT NOW OR NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO DO NOW IS TONIGHT WHICH STAFF MEMBER IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE THERE TO KNOW THAT WHAT YOUR QUESTION IS, SO THEY CAN RESPOND TO YOU? IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT AN ITEM THAT YOU'RE 
          [00:05:04]
PULLING. YEAH, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ASKING QUESTIONS, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT HAVING A SEPARATE VOTE. YEAH. WE HAVE ONE. WELL AND THERE'S TWO THAT ARE ALREADY PULLED. THERE'S B AND K THAT ARE ALREADY PULLED. THEY ARE. YEAH. SO I ASSUME THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SHOOTING AT ANYWAY. SO YEAH I WAS AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW THAT AND FOR WHAT IS IT NOW. THIRD TIME YOU'RE CLARIFYING THE PROCEDURE. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. WORK SESSION REPORTS ITEM THREE A ID TWO FOR TWO. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE. THANKS TO RECOGNIZE ME. ARE WE REGULAR OR ARE WE SPECIAL CALLED TONIGHT. I'M SORRY. IT'S A IT'S A REGULAR MEETING. WE START AT 630 AND. 
          YEAH, IT'S REGULAR CALL. APPRECIATE IT. WORK SESSION REPORTS ITEM THREE A ID 242663. 
          [A. Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding City Council Priorities and Key Focus Areas for the City of Denton.
    [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]
RECEIVER REPORT. HOLD. DISCUSSION REGARDING CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND KEY FOCUS AREAS FOR THE CITY OF DENTON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AMY CATHOLIC CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER WE'RE GOING TO START OUT TODAY'S PRESENTATION WITH A VIDEO HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE CITY'S MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAST FISCAL YEAR. I WILL THEN FOCUS THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION ON SOME OF THE WORK BEING CARRIED OUT THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND POINT OUT A FEW ITEMS FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR THAT WE WANT TO GIVE A BIT MORE ATTENTION TO. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE WHACKED. REFLECTING ON THE CITY'S COLLECTIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR PROGRESS AS A COMMUNITY. AS WE TAKE STOCK IN FISCAL YEAR 20 2324. DENTON'S STEADY GROWTH PRESENTED CHALLENGES, BUT OUR WORKFORCE WAS DETERMINED TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS AND DELIVERED AMAZING RESULTS. WE AIM TO COMPLETE PROJECTS UNDER THE CITY COUNCIL'S KEY FOCUS AREAS, A POSITIVE INDICATOR THAT WE ALIGN GOALS WITH COMMUNITY INTERESTS. THE FOUNDATION FOR THE CITY OF DENTON STRATEGIC PLAN IS SIX LONG TERM KEY FOCUS AREAS. PURSUE ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP. ENHANCE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MOBILITY. FOSTER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY. STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. SUPPORT HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITIES. PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. OUR DEDICATION TO ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE SHINES THROUGH IN OUR EFFORTS TO ENHANCE EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING, IMPROVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND STREAMLINE SERVICES. WE IMPLEMENTED A LONG TERM EMPLOYEE BENEFIT STRATEGY TO SUPPORT OUR WORKFORCE AND ATTRACT COMPETITIVE APPLICANTS. THE 2024 COMMUNITY SURVEY GATHERED VALUABLE FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS, GUIDING DECISIONS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR CITY CITYWIDE. COMMUNICATIONS WERE STRENGTHENED TO IMPROVE TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY THROUGH INITIATIVES AND INVESTMENTS IN DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT PLATFORMS, INCREASING INFORMATION SHARING, PUBLIC FACING DEPARTMENT SCORECARDS NOW SHARE DATA VISUALIZATION FOR BETTER DECISION MAKING. THE 311 CALL CENTER EXPANDED OPERATIONS TO 24 OVER SEVEN, HANDLING INQUIRIES ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS. RECRUITED A BILINGUAL MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST TO HELP SHARE THE CITY'S STORY. BY THE NUMBERS 71% INCREASE IN JOB APPLICATIONS WITH 20,160 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, 62,668 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS ENGAGED WITH US ONLINE, 51,456 PEOPLE VISITED DISCUSS DENTON, A 27% INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. WE'VE INVESTED IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND MOBILITY TO MEET DENTON'S GROWING NEEDS. VOTERS APPROVED A COMPREHENSIVE 2023 BOND PROGRAM, RESULTING IN 291 MILLION FOR PUBLIC PROJECTS. REHABILITATED. THE MAIN RUNWAY AT THE DENTON ENTERPRISE AIRPORT SECURED $195 MILLION IN STATE WATER IMPLEMENTATION FUND FOR TEXAS TO IMPROVE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, LAUNCH THE ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT MAP TO SHOWCASE ONGOING PROJECTS. ENHANCING TRANSPARENCY. UPDATED THE DENTON DEVELOPMENT CODE TO ALIGN WITH STATE LAW AND PROMOTE HIGH QUALITY GROWTH, IMPROVED AQUATIC FACILITIES, AND ADOPTED A STORMWATER MASTER PLAN TO ADDRESS LONG TERM NEEDS. BY THE NUMBERS DELIVERED $65.7 MILLION IN COMPLETED CAPITAL PROJECTS. REPAIRED 44,110FT■!S OF SIDEWAL, AND 111.6 LANE MILES OF CRACKED SEAL. DENTON CONTINUES TO PRIORITIZE ECONOMIC VITALITY AND AFFORDABILITY FOR FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES ALIKE. LAUNCH THE TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO BOOST TOURISM AND 
          [00:10:02]
ECONOMIC GROWTH. SUPPORTED THE BEZOS ACADEMY PRESCHOOL TO PROVIDE FREE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. APPROVED A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR ELIGIBLE CHILDCARE FACILITIES SUPPORTING FAMILY STABILITY. CREATED THE DENTON PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION TO DIVERSIFY OUR HOUSING OPTIONS. BY THE NUMBERS $76.9 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT INCENTIVES, 438 JOBS CREATED OUR COMMUNITY FOCUSED INITIATIVES CELEBRATE DENTON'S UNIQUE CHARACTER WHILE ENHANCING PUBLIC SPACES AND AMENITIES. ADOPTED THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN AND SOUTHEAST DENTON AREA PLAN TO GUIDE LONG TERM GROWTH. RENOVATED LIBRARY BRANCHES, ADDING NEW STUDY ROOMS AND INCLUSIVE SENSORY CERTIFICATION. ENHANCED PUBLIC ART WITH MURALS, SCULPTURES AND DISPLAYS CELEBRATING DENTON'S CULTURE. OPEN A NEW TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL CENTER AT NORTH LAKES PARK. WE REVITALIZED AND ENHANCED THE CARL YOUNG SPLASH PAD, BEGAN PILOTING A DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM TO HELP BUILD AND MAINTAIN A CLEAN, SAFE AND THRIVING DOWNTOWN. LAUNCHED 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN, WHICH BROUGHT IN CLOSE TO 150,000 VISITORS TO OUR CITY. BY THE NUMBERS, THREE OUT OF FOUR RESIDENTS RATE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN DENTON AS GOOD OR EXCELLENT, EXCEEDING THE US AVERAGE 480,934. LIBRARY VISITORS WITH OVER 1 MILLION MATERIALS CHECKED OUT, 999,484 VISITORS TO PARKS FACILITIES. WE'VE STRENGTHENED PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE THROUGH STRATEGIC INITIATIVES. OPEN FIRE STATION NINE AT DENTON ENTERPRISE AIRPORT, CONSTRUCTED PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES, INCLUDING A NEW POLICE HQ. LAUNCHED A BLOCKER TRUCK TO PROTECT EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ON ROADWAYS, INSTALLED OUR FIRST SAFE STATION AT SOUTH LAKES PARK. BY THE NUMBERS 14,812 EMS CALLS AND 414 FIRE CALLS RESPONDED TO THIS YEAR. 94,321 CALLS HANDLED BY POLICE DISPATCH 88% RESIDENTS RATE THEIR OVERALL FEELING OF SAFETY IN DENTON HIGHLY, SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE THE US AVERAGE OF 66%. DENTON REMAINS COMMITTED TO PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES AND ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. ADOPTED THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050. PUBLISHED A WILDLIFE CORRIDOR MAP TO GUIDE CONSERVATION EFFORTS. EXPANDED RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES WITH A 100 MEGAWATT SOLAR POWER PROJECT. PILOTED A COMMERCIAL ORGANICS COLLECTION PROGRAM TO DIVERT FOOD WASTE AND SUPPORT RECYCLING. BY THE NUMBERS $986,421 IN GREEN SENSE REBATES PROCESSED 27.46%. RESIDENTIAL WASTE DIVERTED FROM LANDFILL. MANY OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE RECOGNIZED AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS, INCLUDING AWARDS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, SUSTAINABILITY AND FINANCIAL EXCELLENCE. AS WE LOOK BACK ON THIS INCREDIBLE YEAR, WE THANK THE RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYEES WHO MADE THESE ACHIEVEMENTS POSSIBLE. WORKING TOGETHER, THE CITY OF DENTON'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES HAVE BEEN REACHED. SUCCESSFULLY CREATING A DENTON WE CAN ALL BE PROUD TO CALL HOME. OUR. SO I WANT TO THANK MARKHAM, PARTICULARLY BILLY MATTHEWS AND STEVE FORSYTHE, FOR PUTTING THE WORK IN AND HELPING CREATE THIS AMAZING VIDEO THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY. SO HERE ARE OUR SIX KEY FOCUS AREAS. THERE ARE OVER 100 INITIATIVES BEING CARRIED OUT IN ORDER TO MOVE THESE KEY FOCUS AREAS FORWARD. IN ORDER TO SUPPORT DENTON AS AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE, HUMAN RESOURCES WILL BEGIN IMPLEMENTING ASPECTS OF ITS STRATEGIC PLAN THIS YEAR. IN ADDITION, WE ARE CONDUCTING AN EMPLOYEE SURVEY IN ORDER TO GAIN ACTIONABLE FEEDBACK IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHAT WE ARE DOING WELL AND WHERE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN ENGAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION. THE 311 CALL CENTER WILL CONTINUE TO BE EXPANDED AND IS SET TO LAUNCH THREE DIGIT DIALING LATER ON THIS YEAR. TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE OPERATING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, WE'RE PURSUING ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, AND WE'VE HIRED A NEW GRANTS MANAGER IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OUR PROCESSES IN RELATION TO THE GRANT MANAGEMENT FUNCTION. WE'RE ALSO 
          [00:15:03]
MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR I.T. STRATEGIC PLAN. I BELIEVE THAT'S NOW IN YEAR THREE. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF MAJOR PROJECTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW THAT ARE ALL AIMED AT STRENGTHENING OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR ABILITY TO USE DATA AS AN ASSET. SO A LOT OF WORK GOING ON IN TERMS OF SOFTWARE REPLACEMENTS AND IMPLEMENTATIONS THIS NEXT YEAR. SO WHEN COMPARING OUR SERVICES TO THAT OF OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, THE CITY OF DENTON SCORES HIGHEST. SO I REALLY HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THAT'S RELATED TO THE FACT THAT THIS ORGANIZATION, AT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL, WITH EVERYTHING WE DO, CREATES A POSITIVE AND MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO THE NEWLY WE HAVE A NEWLY CREATED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES DIVISION, AND THEY ARE TASKED WITH IMPLEMENTING OUR MOBILITY PLAN AS WELL AS OUR ADA TRANSITION PLAN, ALONG WITH OTHER KEY TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW YEARS. UPDATES TO THE DENTON DEVELOPMENT CODE WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS NEXT YEAR IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE STAY CURRENT AND CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW, DENTON 2040 AND WITH POLICY DIRECTIVES, WE'RE ACTIVATING OUR 2023 BOND PROJECTS CONTINUE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AT OUR AIRPORT, WHICH IS THE BUSIEST GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE'RE MAKING EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CITY'S WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO MEET THE GROWTH OF DEMAND. AND THEN LASTLY, WE'RE CONTINUING TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW CITY HALL TO BETTER SUPPORT MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS. SO NOT ONLY DID WE EXCEED $65 MILLION IN COMPLETED CAPITAL PROJECTS LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY EXCEEDED THAT TOTAL THIS FISCAL YEAR. TO GROW DENTON'S ECONOMIC VITALITY, WE'RE CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH IS NOW 72% COMPLETE. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES TO INCLUDE DIVERSE BUSINESSES IN THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT PROCESS. WE'LL BE PROGRESSING OUR HOUSING PLAN TO POSITIVELY IMPACT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND FAMILY STABILITY THROUGH A $15 MILLION IN FUNDING AS PART OF THE 2023 BOND PROGRAM, AND THEN TO ADDRESS ONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S MOST SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS. WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS OPTIMIZING SERVICES AND REALLOCATING SERVICES AND RESOURCES IN ORDER TO BETTER SUPPORT THE UNHOUSED. 
          WE'RE ALSO ACTIVELY GATHERING DATA FROM ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION SO THAT WE CAN BE WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THE WORK THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING TOGETHER IN ORDER TO MITIGATE ISSUES RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS. SO IN ADDITION TO THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SAW IN THE PRESENTATION, WE ALSO PROVIDED $650,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE, OVER $1 MILLION IN FUNDING RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS. AND THEN WE'VE ASSISTED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICES AND THROUGH ALL SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED AT OUR SHELTER. FEEDBACK FROM OUR 2024 COMMUNITY SURVEY INDICATED THAT PRESERVING DENTON'S CHARACTER AND IDENTITY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR RESIDENTS. BOTH THE DOWNTOWN AND SOUTHEAST DENTON AREA PLANS, WHICH ARE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR, ARE REFLECTIVE OF THIS. IN THE COMING MONTHS, WE'LL BE FINALIZING AND BEGINNING TO IMPLEMENT OUR BRANDING STUDY FOR A MORE REPRESENTATIVE AND EFFECTIVE BRAND PRESENCE. LASTLY, WE'RE ENHANCING SEVERAL LIBRARY, PARKS, FACILITIES AND AMENITIES THROUGH THE 2023 BOND PROGRAM. VISITORS AT OUR PARKS AND LIBRARIES INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY LAST YEAR. THE NEWLY OPENED TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL CENTER AT NORTH LAKES PARK HAS PROVED TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL. IT'S EXTREMELY POPULAR AND WELCOMED OVER 95,000 VISITORS LAST YEAR. WE'RE ALSO SEEING A HIGH LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR DOWNTOWN AMBASSADORS AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO QUALITY OF LIFE, RESIDENTS RATE DENTON AS A PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, RAISE CHILDREN AND RETIRE VERY FAVORABLY. SO TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF THE TRAVELING PUBLIC WILL BE INITIATING VISION ZERO. AND AGAIN, THAT WILL BE DONE BY THAT NEWLY FORMED TRANSPORTATION DIVISION TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY. WE'LL BE RENOVATING FIRE STATIONS FIVE AND SIX, INSTALLING SAFETY CAMERAS AT KEY LOCATIONS. AND I BELIEVE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECENTLY DID AN UPDATE ON THAT PROJECT FOR YOU. 
          WE'LL ALSO BE ENHANCING ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY POLICING EFFORTS. SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ONE MORE TIME THIS NUMBER, THE NUMBERS AROUND OUR RESIDENTS FEELING OF SAFETY. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE NUMBERS IS HIGHER AND IN MANY INSTANCES SIGNIFICANTLY 
          [00:20:02]
HIGHER THAN BOTH THE TEXAS AND THE US BENCHMARK AVERAGES. RIGHT? DEFINITELY. IN 2025, STAFF WILL BEGIN CHAMPIONING THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AS WE WORK TOWARDS ACHIEVING NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050. WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE ELECTRIC FLEET AND INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPLEMENT THE COMPREHENSIVE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, WHICH INCLUDES THAT COMMERCIAL ORGANICS PILOT PROJECT THAT YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO. AND THEN WE'LL ALSO BE OPTIMIZING OUR ENERGY RESOURCES. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO POINT OUT ON THIS SLIDE IS THAT WHEREAS EACH YEAR YOU WOULD EXPECT THE LIFE AND THE CAPACITY AT THE LANDFILL TO GO DOWN, WE ACTUALLY ADDED 3.3 YEARS OF LIFE TO OUR LANDFILL LAST YEAR. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S A GOOD THING. RIGHT? EXACTLY. 
          THAT THAT IS AN AMAZING THING. AND THAT'S REALLY DONE AND ACHIEVED THROUGH STRONG MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND STRATEGIC APPROACHES TO HOW WE ARE MANAGING OUR LANDFILL. SO THAT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE STORY TO BE ABLE TO TELL. SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING ON THIS SLIDE, BUT THIS IS REALLY JUST A GLIMPSE OF ALL OF THE AWARDS AND THE RECOGNITION THAT DEMONSTRATE OVERALL OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND THE PURSUIT OF PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE HERE AT THE CITY OF DENTON. SO AS A REMINDER, YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON ACROSS THE CITY THROUGH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN DASHBOARD. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF FROM DISTRICT THREE. THANK YOU. WOW. 
          THAT WAS QUITE A TOUR. IT SEEMS LIKE SOMEBODY'S APPLYING FOR A JOB OR SOMETHING. JUST ONE LITTLE DETAIL THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE INSIGHT INTO THIS, YOU KNOW, RIGHT AT THE MOMENT, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK ACCOUNTS FOR THE 18% INCREASE IN PARK VISITORS YEAR OVER YEAR? AND PART TWO OF THAT QUESTION IS, COULD WE NOT HAVE GOTTEN 516 MORE VISITORS TO MAKE IT AN EVEN MILLION? WELL, GARY AND I HAD A TALK BEFORE THIS, SO THOSE ARE THE VISITORS THAT ARE. I'LL BRING IT IN. GARY. SO THOSE ARE THE VISITORS AT OUR PARK FACILITIES, WHICH IS COUNTED BY DOOR COUNTERS. BUT GARY HAS DATA THROUGH OUR PLACER AI THAT PUTS IT AT 1.2 MILLION. 1.2. YES. BUT ANY ANY THOUGHTS ON I MEAN, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE. ANY THOUGHTS ON WHAT WHAT PROGRAMING DROVE THAT OR. YEAH, THAT'S NOT JUST LIKE A LITTLE TREND. THAT'S A VERY NOTICEABLE. GARY PARK AND DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THINK IT WAS OUR STAFF THAT ARE DOING A GOOD JOB EXPANDING OUR PROGRAMS. WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF SPECIAL EVENTS THAT HAVE INCREASED, SO IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. PEOPLE WANT TO GET OUTDOORS, BE MORE HEALTHY MENTALLY. WELL, BE IN OUR PARK SYSTEM AND USE OUR PARKS. I MEAN, EVERY IF YOU LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD THAT'S ONLINE, JUST PLUGGING THAT. WHAT AMY IS DOING, YOU COULD SEE A TREND IN ALL OF OUR FACILITIES, WHETHER IT'S THE DOOR COUNTERS, OUR PROGRAMS, OUR RENTALS, THEY'RE ALL GOING UP. OBVIOUSLY, THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW. SO MORE PEOPLE IN OUR PARKS, MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANKS. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT TWO. THANK YOU. FIRST, LET ME JUST SAY YOU CAN SEE THAT THE STAFF WRIT LARGE HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK. AND I, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, OFTEN STAFF DON'T GET THE CREDIT FOR ALL THE EFFORTS THAT THEY DO. 
          AND THEN I SLIDE 13. I'M JUST LIKE, I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE DROPPING THAT. WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING DEMAND RESPONSE PUBLICLY. SO I'M I'M ECSTATIC THAT THAT'S A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR US IN TERMS OF OUR ENERGY PROFILE. I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS. I REALLY LOVE THAT. 
          WE'VE HAD A FOCUS ON GRANTS AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL. DO DO WE HAVE ANY STATISTICS ON ON THAT THAT WE COULD SEE? MAYBE NOT OBVIOUSLY TODAY BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE TO GATHER THEM. BUT ON THAT SORT OF WHERE WE ARE IN INCREASING OUR OUR GRANT APPLICATIONS YEAR TO YEAR, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY GET THAT TO YOU. PERFECT, PERFECT. AND THEN I, WANT I THINK IT WAS SLIDE FOUR. YOU KNOW, WE'RE RANKING WAY ABOVE SOME OF OUR COMPARABLES. BUT. YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY WANTS TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE INSTITUTIONAL EXCELLENCE OR WHATEVER. OUR KEY PRIORITY TITLE WAS ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE. THANK YOU. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT 
          [00:25:03]
I'M JUST CURIOUS IN TERMS OF FORWARD THINKING, WHAT WHAT DO WE THINK ARE THE BARRIERS TO GETTING THAT NUMBER OUT OF WHATEVER, 69, 70% HIGHER? WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO WE THINK THE BARRIERS ARE TO GETTING THAT TO BE A HIGHER NUMBER? WHICH DATA POINT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? SLIDE FOUR WE HAD THE QUALITY OF THE CITY OF DENTON. I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT WHERE WHERE ARE WE WHERE WHAT AREAS DO WE THINK WE CAN FOCUS ON TO GET THAT NUMBER UP A LITTLE? I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE IT AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE. YEAH. YES, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. YEAH. SO YOU KNOW THAT'S OUR YOU KNOW WE'RE WE'RE RATING OURSELVES AND WE'RE WE'RE YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THE FED THE STATE THE COUNTY. THAT'S ALL. THAT'S EXCELLENT I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE. AND WE SAW IT IN TERMS OF MORE SATISFACTION WITH OUR ROADWAYS, WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. PEOPLE ARE NOTICING THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. I THINK HAVING HAVING MARKHAM ON BOARD TO CONTINUALLY TELL OUR STORY AND TELL OUR STORY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND GET THE WORD OUT THERE AND LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING AND REALLY SHARING THOSE SUCCESSES WITH THE COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO HELP ESCALATE THAT. AND CONTINUING TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY AND ADDRESSING THE SPECIFIC CONCERNS THAT THEY'RE BRINGING FORWARD. 
          OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YEAH, YEAH. AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN GET MORE SPECIFIC ITEMS IN THE FUTURE, THAT'D BE LOVELY. I DO HAVE I HAVE TWO MORE REQUESTS AND THEY'RE REAL FAST. AND THAT IS IN FUTURE REPORTS. COULD WE GET AN ESTIMATE ON YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS. YOU JUST MENTIONED THEM IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. COULD WE GET AN ESTIMATE ON THE RATIO. THAT'S THAT'S BOND AND NOT BOND FUNDED. AND THEN WE HAD A LOT OF PROGRESS ON OUR HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE TOOLKIT. BUT IT WASN'T CLEAR TO ME HOW MANY OF THOSE THAT WE'D HIT IN TERMS OF THE ITEMS IN OUR TOOLKIT, JUST THAT WE'D DONE BETTER. BUT LIKE, WHAT WERE THE ONES THAT WE HAD DONE BETTER ON? ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT ONE ACTUALLY HAS ITS OWN PLAN CASCADES. YOU CAN GO IN THAT AND SEE IT. EVERY LEVEL OF THAT PLAN, THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE. SO WE'LL GET THAT OUT THERE. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S ALL MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX? THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE QUICK COMMENT. YOU KNOW, WE TALK A LOT IN HERE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER. WE TALK ABOUT IT EVERY TIME, BUT IT'S REALLY NICE TO CELEBRATE THE VICTORIES OF THE PAST YEAR OF SO MANY PEOPLE, NOT ONLY STAFF MEMBERS, BUT ALSO CITIZENS THAT COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS WORK, AS WELL AS OUR COUNTY AND STATE PARTNERS. AND ONE THING I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT WAS THE 71% RISE IN JOB APPLICATIONS TO WORK AT THE CITY OF DENTON, SINCE I THINK 2023. IS THAT WHAT IT WAS OR 2013, 2022, I THINK. OKAY, YEAH, BUT I MEAN, THE CITY IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT STREETS, WE TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND MECHANISMS, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE, AS IS HOW OUR CITY IS PERCEIVED. AND IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE THAT MAKE THE DAY TO DAY DECISIONS, THAT PRODUCE THE WORK PRODUCT, THAT RESPOND TO CITIZENS REQUESTS. AND OUR REPUTATION AS BEING A GREAT PLACE TO WORK IS SOMETHING THAT HAS DEFINITELY IMPROVED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. AND I'M THAT IS ONE THING I THINK WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, AND HOW OUR CITY WORKS IS THE QUALITY AND CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING HERE. AND SO I DO COMMEND ALL OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO GET US TO THAT POINT. AND THAT NUMBER RIGHT THERE REALLY STRUCK ME. AND JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK. THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT ONE. YOU KNOW, YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME SAY NUMEROUS TIMES HOW OVERLY EXCITED I AM TO KNOW THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR US ARE HIGH QUALITY FOLKS. THEY ARE CARING. THEY DO. YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR JOBS. AND I'M ALWAYS IT'S ALWAYS VERY EASY FOR ME TO COMPLIMENT YOU ALL BECAUSE I CAN SEE IT. I'M AN INSIDER AND I CAN SEE IT AND I CAN AND I CAN SHARE IT. 
          DEFENSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO ANYONE TALKING ABOUT MY CITY MANAGER AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS AND THE FIRE CHIEF AND THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT WATER. AND BUT I WILL SAY THAT I DID START OUT HAVING A FASCINATION FOR OUR LANDFILL. ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT LANDFILLS. AND NOW IT HAS JUST MOVED ON TO WATER AND THE QUALITY, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST ALL THERE. IT'S LIKE WE'RE THE WHOLE PACKAGE. WE ARE THE WHOLE PACKAGE. AND SO THANK YOU ALL 
          [00:30:06]
FOR DOING YOUR VERY BEST TO HELP US TO BE SAFE. SAFETY IS FIRST. THAT'S MY BACKGROUND AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT. SO THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL FOR JUST ALLOWING ME TO FEEL SAFE AND ALLOWING ME TO BRAG ON MY CITY. I'VE RAISED MY CHILDREN HERE. I'VE GONE TO SCHOOL HERE. 
          I PLAN TO JUST STAY HERE. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THIS IS VERY IMPRESSIVE. PARKS. 
          MY HUSBAND WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT PARKS. JUST I THINK YESTERDAY WE WERE TOOLING AROUND THE CITY AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THESE PARKS ARE ALWAYS SO CLEAN. YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'M NOTICING THAT OUR PARKS ARE CLEAN AND AVAILABLE. SO PARKS AND REC, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THAT. I DON'T THE ONLY THING THAT I'M I'M MISSING HERE AND TELL ME IF IT'S IF IT BELONGS HERE IS THE WORK OF OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM. WE DO HAVE A MUNICIPAL JUDGE HERE. I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HEAR ABOUT SOME STATISTICS THAT'S GOING THAT WAY. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME PROGRAMS THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY, TO KIND OF GET PAST SOME THINGS. SO IF WE CAN ALSO ADD THAT OR I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ISR OR WE WANT TO PUT IT IN THE VIDEO, HOWEVER YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT GENTLEMAN NEEDS TO HAVE US TO LOOK OVER HIM AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE FOR US. LOOKING FORWARD TO TALKING MORE ABOUT THE HOUSING PLAN. VERY EXCITED. GET VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR UNHOUSED SITUATION. I KNOW THAT THERE'S A CONVERSATION TO BE HAD. BRANDING STUDY. I KNOW THAT WE HAD WORKED ON THAT OR BEGAN THAT PROCESS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, MAYBE A YEAR OR SO AGO. SO I'M GLAD TO FIND THAT. 
          FIND OUT THAT THAT'S MONTHS LONG, RATHER THAN LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER FEW YEARS. 
          SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHERE ELSE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE? WHERE WHERE ELSE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE, REALLY? SO THANK YOU AND THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON IT. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE THEN FOR I'LL BE QUICK. MAYOR, OUR CITY CLERK I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, PARTICULARLY, MISS JESTER, AND I THINK IT'S DUE TO THE WOMAN SITTING NEXT TO YOU IF SHE DOESN'T REMIND ME. REVEALING, OH, I'M SORRY. TO YOUR LEFT. IF, SIR. IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M GOING TO REVEAL WHAT YOU TOLD ME. OUR VERY FIRST CONVERSATION. OKAY. WHEN I CAME IN TO GET MY APPLICATION, YOU TOLD ME. YOU SAID YOUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THIS CITY THE EMPLOYER OF CHOICE, RIGHT? YES. SO TO THAT, I SAY WELL DONE. I THINK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE MORE THAN ACCOMPLISHED THAT. SO WE'RE ALL SUPER THANKFUL TO HAVE YOU US THERE IN THE SHIP. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT VISION ZERO. IS THAT POSSIBLE? I KIND OF JUST I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE BASED ON MY RESEARCH. VISION ZERO WAS PASSED IN 2022, I BELIEVE, RIGHT BEFORE I JOINED THE BODY. SO CAN YOU JUST KIND OF TALK ME THROUGH WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE FIRST PHASE AND WHAT THE SECOND PHASE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE? AND I ASK THIS QUESTION BECAUSE IT'S TIMELY. WE SEE THAT WE'RE STILL NOT THERE YET IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, FATALITIES HERE IN THE, IN THE CITY, ON, ON ROADWAYS AND WHATNOT. SO JUST KIND OF TALK ME THROUGH WHERE WE ARE, PLEASE, MA'AM. SURE. SO VISION ZERO, OUR PHASE ONE WAS COMPLETED. WE'RE MOVING INTO PHASE TWO, WHICH IS REALLY THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, VISION ZERO'S GOAL IS TO ELIMINATE TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND SEVERE INJURIES BY 2040. SPECIFICALLY FOR CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ALSO. AND SO WE HAD A TASK FORCE KICKOFF JANUARY 15TH, WHERE WE BROUGHT TOGETHER MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS. SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS SAT ON THAT SIT ON THAT TASK FORCE, AND THEY ARE CHARGED WITH KIND OF REVIEWING THAT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ACTIONABLE NEXT STEPS. SO WE'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE INTERVENTIONS AND SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY PROJECTS TO HELP ELIMINATE TRAFFIC FATALITIES. OKAY. HOW LONG DO WE KNOW HOW LONG EACH PHASE IS GOING TO LAST. LIKE HOW LONG ARE WE PROJECTING PHASE TWO TO LAST? I'M NOT I'M NOT QUITE SURE IT'S OKAY. SURE. COUNCILPERSON JESTER, COUNCILPERSON BYRD AND I ARE BOTH ON THAT. WE HAD THE KICKOFF MEETING THAT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED ACROSS THE BOARD WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM TXDOT. OF COURSE, CITY COUNCIL CITIZENS, OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE TRAFFIC STUDIES. I BELIEVE IT WILL BE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. WE HAVE MEETINGS EVERY OTHER MONTH AND THAT WE'RE COMING TOGETHER WITH OUR VISION STATEMENT. SO WE ARE JUST KICKING OFF. BUT I BELIEVE WITHIN THE YEAR IS WHEN WE PLAN TO BE FINISHED AND ON TO THE NEXT PHASE, WHICH WOULD BE APPLYING FOR SOME OF THESE GRANTS THAT THIS IS A PREREQUISITE FOR. BEFORE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH ASKING FOR SOME OF THOSE GRANTS, I HOPE THAT. HOPE THAT HELPS. PERFECT. 
          [00:35:05]
THIS IS EXCITING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANKS. MAYOR. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR. THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO I WANT TO SAY HOW PLEASED I AM THAT SOUTH ELM STREET AND SOUTH LOCUST STREET GOT SQUARED AWAY. I KNOW THAT WAS A COLLABORATIVE. YEAH. THANK YOU. THAT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE STATE AND EAGLE DRIVE TO NOT TO NOT TO SHORT EAGLE DRIVE. BUT NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, SOUTH ELM AND SOUTH LOCUST ARE SORT OF A COMMON DENOMINATOR. AND WHATEVER, WHEREVER YOU LIVE AND WHEREVER YOU'RE GOING, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON THAT. AND I'VE HEARD SO MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT THAT. SO, SO I APPRECIATE APPRECIATE THE, THE NOW THERE'S A WHOLE LOT HAVING SAID THAT, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE TO BE DONE. BUT BUT I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. COULD WE TALK ABOUT THE AMBASSADORS PROGRAM JUST FOR A MOMENT, PLEASE? I'D LIKE TO THIS THIS WAS SUCH AN OUT OF THE OUT OF THE BOX PROGRAM WHEN IT STARTED. AND I'D LIKE TO I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SLIDE THAT'S ON? GO AHEAD. SORRY I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS. SO THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM OR CHRISTINE TAYLOR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES WHO IS ADMINISTERING THAT PROGRAM. WE DID IT AS A PILOT, TWO YEAR PILOT PROGRAM TO WORK ON A CLEANER DOWNTOWN, A SAFER DOWNTOWN, A MORE VIBRANT DOWNTOWN, AND LOOKING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCE. SO WE ARE APPROACHING THE SECOND YEAR. WE HAVE AMBASSADORS THAT PROVIDE COVERAGE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND WE HAVE A CLEANING TEAM AND A HOSPITALITY TEAM WITH A LARGER AREA THAN THE PROPER DOWNTOWN SQUARE PROPER IN WHICH THEY'RE DOING HOSPITALITY ESCORTS, SAYING HELLO, DIRECTING PEOPLE WHERE TO GO. WE HAVE THE CLEANING TEAM WHO DOES THE EXTRA POWER WASHING THE LITTER PICKUP, THE REMOVING GRAFFITI AND STICKERS FROM THE AREA AND ALL TOWARDS THAT VIBRANT DOWNTOWN FEEL. SO WE ARE PROVIDING AN UPDATE TO COUNCIL, I BELIEVE NEXT MONTH ON HOW THAT PROGRAM IS GOING AND THEN HOW THE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING ON ESTABLISHING A LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT PROGRAM. EXCELLENT. I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. AND ONE MORE THING, PLEASE. THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CAN CAN YOU CAN YOU TOUCH ON EARMARKS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN SOMETHING THAT THAT THAT THE CITY IS DOING THAT I CAN SAY, OH YEAH, LOOK, LOOK AT THAT. THAT'S THAT'S A GOOD PROJECT TOWARD AS WE GO TOWARD WHAT IS IT, 20, 2040, 2050? I BEG YOUR PARDON? I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN ANSWER THAT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT. OH, IS SOMEONE HERE? NOPE. WELL, YEAH. GREEN SENSE IS ONE OF THEM. WE HAVE A COUPLE, LIKE ON THE EV REGISTRATIONS, PROMOTING OUR SIMPLY SUSTAINABLE FRAMEWORK TIES TO A LOT OF IT. OUR MAJOR FOCUS ARE FROM MICHAEL JONES. MAJOR FOCUS IS GOING TO BE ON FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION HAVE THE LARGEST IMPACTS. AND SO WHEN THEY IMPLEMENTED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING FORWARD HOW TO MEASURE. I CAN'T THINK OFFHAND RIGHT NOW EXACTLY WHAT THOSE MEASURES ARE, BUT WE CAN PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE. WHAT ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES? ARE WE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES? YES, AND WE'VE COMMITTED TO THAT WITH OUR OWN FLEET. AND THEN LOOKING AT WHAT FUNDING SOURCES ARE AVAILABLE BEYOND LOCAL FUNDING TO INCENTIVIZE A FLEET OR REBATES ON EVS. OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. 
          MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND, WE WILL BE RECEIVING OUR OUR VERY FIRST ELECTRIC FIRE ENGINE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND WILL BE THE FIRST ONE IN THE STATE TO HAVE A EV FIRE TRUCK. 
          SO THAT'S PRETTY BIG. LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. 
          [B. Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding the City of Denton’s potential support for the housing tax credit applications of NRP Lone Star Development LLC, Palladium Fallmeadow Denton, Ltd., Denton Affordable Housing Corporation, and OM Housing, LLC to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for proposed new construction to provide affordable rental housing. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 60 minutes]]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. YES. THAT TAKES US TO ITEM B ID 25266 RECEIVE REPORT. WHOLE DISCUSSION GIVES HOLD A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CITY OF DENTON'S POTENTIAL SUPPORT FOR HOUSING TAX CREDIT APPLICATIONS OF NP NP LONE STAR DEVELOPMENT LLC, PALLADIUM PALMETTO DENTON LIMITED, DENTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORPORATION, ET AL. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL CHRISTINE TAYLOR, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. I'M OVER THE COMMUNITY SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WE ARE GOING THROUGH SOME STAFFING CHANGES AND RESTRUCTURING. SO I'LL BE PRESENTING THIS PRESENTATION TO YOU TODAY. SO THE HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE LARGEST FUNDING PROGRAMS FOR AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOMES. THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH FEDERAL TAX CREDITS AND ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. IN 2018, THE CITY ADOPTED A FRAMEWORK IN WHICH TO LOOK AT THESE APPLICATIONS. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF APPLICATIONS THAT DEVELOPERS CAN APPLY FOR TO HELP THOSE PROJECTS COME TO FRUITION. THERE IS A 4% HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, WHICH IS NONCOMPETITIVE 
          [00:40:02]
AND ALLOWS THE DEVELOPER TO REDUCE THEIR FEDERAL TAX BURDEN BY THE PROPORTIONAL RATE OF ELIGIBILITY. ELIGIBLE UNITS IN THE DEVELOPMENT. TO COMPETE FOR YOUR APPLICATION FOR THE NONCOMPETITIVE 4%, IT REQUIRES A RESOLUTION FROM THE COUNCIL OF NO OBJECTION. THE SECOND CATEGORY IS THE COMPETITIVE CATEGORY CATEGORY, WHICH IS A 9% TAX CREDIT, AND IT REQUIRES A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM THE MUNICIPALITY. SO WE HAVE ONE APPLICATION TO GO THROUGH TODAY ON THE NONCOMPETITIVE, AND THREE WERE LISTED IN THE BACKUP FOR THE COMPETITIVE PROGRAM, AND ONE HAS WITHDRAWN IN BETWEEN POSTING THE BACKUP AND TODAY'S PRESENTATION. SO WE WILL RUN THROUGH EACH ONE. OUR POLICY, ADOPTED IN 2018, OUTLINES THE TIMELINE. IT IS A VERY SHORT WINDOW. THE APPLICATIONS COME OUT IN DECEMBER TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND THE ELIGIBILITY, THE SCORING CRITERIA. THEN THEY HAVE A LIMITED TIME TO GET THEIR APPLICATION INTO THE CITY IN JANUARY. OUR POLICY OUTLINES THAT WE WILL HAVE A WORK SESSION WITH THE COUNCIL. SO YOU ARE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT EACH OF THE DEVELOPMENTS AND THEN HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE RECEIVING A VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION. IF WE ARE SUPPORTING WITH NO OBJECTION OR GIVING SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT. SO HERE'S A RECAP OF THAT TIMELINE. ON DECEMBER 1ST, THE PROGRAM PLAN AND SCORING CRITERIA WAS RELEASED. ON JANUARY 7TH, DEVELOPERS SUBMITTED THEIR REQUEST TO THE CITY REQUESTING A RESOLUTION OF THE SUPPORT FOR THEIR PROJECT. TODAY, WE ARE HOLDING THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AND WE ARE GOING TO NOTICE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS IN BETWEEN NOW OR THIS WEEK, AND HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR EACH OF THE DEVELOPMENTS ON FEBRUARY 18TH, AND THEN THE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE TO THE STATE ON FEBRUARY 28TH. SO IT IS A VERY QUICK TIMELINE FROM WHEN THE PROGRAM PARAMETERS ARE RELEASED TO THE TIME THAT THE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE. DEVELOPERS WILL BE NOTIFIED IN JULY OF THIS YEAR IF THEIR PROJECT WAS SELECTED AND IF THEY RECEIVED THE AWARD AND DETERMINED TO MOVE FORWARD. THEN THEY BEGIN THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS, MEETING ALL THOSE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR DEVELOPMENT CODE TO PROCEED. OKAY, SO WE UTILIZE THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. HOUSING IS CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE IF A IF A LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD, WHICH WE ARE CONSIDERING, 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, CAN LIVE IN A HOME WHILE SPENDING ONLY 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING. OUR HUD DATA THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT SHOWS THAT INDICATES THAT 47% OF OUR HOUSEHOLDS IN DENTON ARE LOW INCOME. SO THIS HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM IS A COMMITS. IT PROVIDES THE DEVELOPER THE ABILITY TO OFFSET SOME OF THEIR CAPITAL FOR PROVIDING THE HOUSING UNITS. THE FIRST PROJECT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT IS ROSELAND VILLAGE, WHICH IS APPLYING FOR A 4% TAX CREDIT APPLICATION THROUGH THE STATE. THEY ARE SEEKING FROM THE CITY A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. IT'S A DEVELOPMENT BY NRP GROUP, AND THEY'VE PARTNERED WITH THE DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. IT WILL BE 297 UNITS, WITH THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES PROVIDING UNITS BETWEEN 30 AND 70% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME. THE PROJECT OR THE AREA THAT THEY'RE WANTING TO DEVELOP IS CURRENTLY ZONED AND ALLOWS FOR MULTIFAMILY AS OF THE END. AS OF JANUARY 31ST, THE DEVELOPER HAD NOT CONDUCTED NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH, AND SINCE THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THIS PROPERTY WOULD BE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPT, MEANING THAT AROUND $543,000 A YEAR IN EXEMPT PROPERTY TAXES. 
          WE HAVE THE BREAKDOWN OF THEIR UNITS OF THAT 297 AND HOW MANY UNITS PER BEDROOM, AND AM I CATEGORY THAT THEY PLAN. SO IT IS 100% OF THEIR UNITS WOULD BE AFFORDABLE. WE CAN PAUSE ON EACH ONE AND ASK QUESTIONS. WE SHOULD HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF THE DEVELOPERS HERE ALSO, AND OR WE CAN PROCEED UNTIL THE END. YEAH. LET'S PROCEED TO THE END AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK. YES. 
          INDIVIDUALLY. OKAY. MOVING INTO THE FIRST 9%, ONE IS PALLADIUM DENTON WEST LIVING. THEY ARE LOCATED NEAR PALMETTO STREET AND GARDEN VIEW. THEY ARE APPLYING FOR THE 9%. THE COMPETITIVE TAX CREDIT APPLICATION. THEY ARE SEEKING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE CITY. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE 81 HOUSING UNITS THAT FALL BETWEEN THE 30% AND 80% AM I AND 39% UNITS AT MARKET RATE. THAT IS ONE OF THE PREFERENCES IN OUR POLICY. IF THEY HAVE A MIX OF AFFORDABLE AND MARKET RATE UNITS, THEY ARE PRELIMINARILY RANKED 29TH IN THE REGION BY THE PROGRAM, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE FAIRLY COMPETITIVE IN GETTING THIS AWARD. AND THEY THIS DEVELOPER HAS HOSTED A 
          [00:45:01]
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING ON JANUARY 15TH AT NORTH BRANCH LIBRARY, AND THEIR ZONING IN THAT AREA CURRENTLY ALLOWS FOR MULTIFAMILY. THE SECOND ONE FOR THE 9% COMPETITIVE IS MCADAMS HAVEN. THEY'RE LOCATED IN THE AREA OF LINDSAY AND BERNARD STREET. THEY, TOO, ARE SEEKING THE 9% COMPETITIVE APPLICATION AND THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY. THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH DENTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ALSO, THEY ARE 84 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING HOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS EXITING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AND EARNING ALSO EARNING THE INCOME BETWEEN 30 AND 60 AM I THEY ARE TENTATIVELY RANKED THIRD IN THE REGION. THEY HAVE RECEIVED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT, HAVE NOT CONDUCTED NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH, AND THEIR ESTIMATES SINCE THEY WON'T BE ON THE TAX ROLLS, IS 141,000 PER YEAR IN EXEMPT PROPERTY TAXES. I DIDN'T MENTION PALLADIUM. THE PRIOR ONE WILL BE ON. THE TAX WILL BE ON THE TAX ROLL. TV TERRACE IS THE APPLICATION THAT WAS PULLED, SO WE WON'T COVER THAT ONE. SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTIONS. EACH APPLICATION WAS ASSESSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR HOUSING TAX CREDIT POLICY AT THE CITY AND ITS STATED GOALS. THERE ARE SIX PREFERENCES. AND SO WE'VE OUTLINED HERE FOR EACH OF THE REQUEST HOW THEY ALIGN WITH THOSE PREFERENCES. SO ROSELAND VILLAGE AGAIN THAT IS SEEKING THE NONCOMPETITIVE 4% ALIGNS WITH OUR POLICY BECAUSE OF THEIR DISTANCE FROM OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS. PALLADIUM WEST MEETS TWO OF THOSE SUPPORTIVE PREFERENCE AREAS. THEY WILL BE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES ON ON THEIR PROPERTY. AND THEY DO HAVE A MIX OF MARKET RATE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THEIR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. MCADAMS HAVENS IS MEETING ONE OF THOSE PREFERENCES BY PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, SO WE CAN POSE FOR OR PAUSE FOR ANY QUESTIONS TO MYSELF OR DEVELOPERS WHO ARE HERE DEVELOPERS, REPRESENTATIVES. BUT MOVING FORWARD IS WILL POST FOR WILL NOTIFY THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. ON THE 18TH. WE'LL HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING THE EVENING ON THE 18TH, AND THAT NIGHT IS WHEN A RESOLUTION WOULD BE VOTED ON IF COUNCIL IS IN SUPPORT. SO THIS PURPOSE, JUST SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, IS JUST FEEDBACK IN PREPARATION FOR THAT PUBLIC HEARING. CORRECT. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED BETWEEN THE WORK SESSION TODAY AND THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 18TH, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE THE DEVELOPER THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. PERFECT. OKAY, SO NO DIRECTION, JUST QUESTIONS COMMENTS TO FUEL THAT CONVERSATION. GREAT. THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT SIX. 
          THANK YOU COUNCILPERSON JESTER I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, BUT CAN WE START WITH CAN YOU TELL ME THERE ARE SOME THAT INDICATE THEY PAY PROPERTY TAXES AND SOME WHERE IT'S NOT INDICATED? IS IT SAFE TO ASSUME THE EXCLUSION MEANS THAT THE CITY OF DENTON WOULD NOT BE COLLECTING PROPERTY TAXES FROM THOSE DEVELOPMENTS? IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. SO AND THAT IS THE ROSELAWN AND MCADAMS I NEED TO CHECK ON ROSELAWN. PALLADIUM IS THE COMPETITIVE APPLICATION WHICH WILL BE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES. MCADAMS HAVEN HAS PARTNERED WITH DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY SO THEY WILL NOT IT WILL BE TAX EXEMPT. AND IS MCADAMS THE ONLY ONE BEFORE US THAT IS EXEMPT? ROSELAWN MAY BE ALSO. OKAY, I THOUGHT SO. YES, YES. ROSELAWN HAS PARTNERED WITH DENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AND MCADAMS HAVEN. SO PALLADIUM DENTON LIVING WEST OUT OF THE THREE BEING CONSIDERED WILL BE THE ONE ON THE TAX ROLL. OKAY. AND TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT THE MAYOR WAS ASKING, WHICH WAS VERY HELPFUL. AND THE OTHER QUESTION I WANTED TO CLARIFY. SO THESE REQUESTS, AS FAR AS A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION, RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS NECESSARY TODAY FOR THEIR TIMELINE TO APPLY. IT WILL BE NECESSARY BEFORE THE DEADLINE ON THE 28TH. TODAY AT THE WORK SESSION, WE'RE JUST GATHERING FEEDBACK, BUT WHEN WE HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 18TH, WE WILL BE ASKING TO VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION OR SUPPORT SO THAT THEY CAN SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION. IT IS REQUIRED FOR THEIR APPLICATION. 
          ALL RIGHT. AND IT IS UNDERSTOOD YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT EACH OF THESE, IF THEY HAVE NOT HELD AT LEAST ONE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, DO INTEND TO BEFORE WE MEET AGAIN AND DECIDE THIS, HOST NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AREA ARE NOT GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN. AND WE HAVE VERY VOCAL CITIZENS ABOUT WHAT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD LOOK LIKE, CAN CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT AT ALL? OR I CAN ASK THEM TO SPEAK TO IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND THAT. THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOTICING FOR THE PUBLIC MEETINGS ALSO, IS TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE AWARE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND COME IN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION. THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE THE PUBLIC MEETING. BUT WE 
          [00:50:02]
HAVE COMMUNICATED THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT. AND IF THAT IS SOMETHING COUNCIL IS DESIRING TODAY, THE DEVELOPERS ARE HERE AND WE CAN MESSAGE. WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. OKAY. AND JUST MY LAST REQUEST IS THAT IF WE CAN BE NOTIFIED OF THOSE, BECAUSE IF I CAN MAKE THOSE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE AT THOSE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. REPRESENTATIVE TWO AND THEN FIVE AND THEN ONE. I'M JUST GOING TO CONFIRM THAT THIS IS JUST OUR OUR LETTERS OF SUPPORT OR LETTERS OF NO OBJECTION TO THE TAX REBATE APPLICATION, NOT THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT THAT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE, EITHER P AND Z, IF THERE'S NO ZONING INVOLVED OR COMING TO COUNCIL IF THERE'S ZONING INVOLVED. BUT THOSE ARE THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS, CORRECT? YES. THIS IS FOR THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THEM TO APPLY FOR THE TAX CREDIT APPLICATION, SEPARATE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT. EACH DEVELOPMENT, IF THEY'RE AWARDED, WILL GO THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, WHICH REQUIRES A SERIES OF APPROVALS TO MEET THE DEVELOPMENT CODE. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE. CHRISTINE, CAN YOU TELL ME. CAN YOU SAY WHICH ONE OF THESE IF GIVEN? IF AWARDED, THE CREDITS FROM THE STATE CAN BUILD BY RIGHT BASED ON ZONING. YES. WE LISTED THAT. 
          WE SHOULD HAVE LISTED THAT ON EACH SLIDE. I APOLOGIZE, ROSELAWN IS CURRENTLY ZONED TO ALLOW FOR MULTIFAMILY PALLADIUM WEST. YES. CURRENT ZONING ALLOWS MULTIFAMILY. MCADAMS HAVEN IS ZONED. IT'S NOT. IT'S ZONED M R AND SO THEY CAN WITH I THINK SOME SPECIFIC USE PERMIT THERE IT WAS MR. SO I NEED TO LOOK AT THAT ONE. IT'S JUST NOT STRAIGHT OUT MULTIFAMILY. SO WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS WHICH ONES IF WE GIVE SUPPORT FOR THESE, LET'S SAY WE GET SUPPORT FOR ALL OF THEM. WHICH ONES POTENTIALLY WOULD NOT HAVE TO COME BACK BEFORE COUNCIL IF THEY'RE AWARDED THE CREDITS? THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO ASK. MCADAMS HAVEN MAY BE THE ONLY ONE. I MAY DEFER TO MATT TO ANSWER THAT. IF THEY'RE ZONED MULTIFAMILY, THAT WOULD NOT REQUIRE COUNCIL APPROVAL. IF THEY'RE NOT CHANGING THAT. THAT'S CORRECT. YES. AND THEN ENGINEERING WOULD BE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED. SO POTENTIALLY MCADAMS HAVEN IS THE ONLY ONE THAT COUNCIL WOULD POTENTIALLY VOTE ON. EVERYTHING ELSE IS MEETING CURRENT ZONING AND WOULD JUST GO THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. OKAY. YOU MENTIONED THE REQUIREMENT TO HOLD A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING. 
          MAYOR, I KNOW WE'RE NOT YOU'RE NOT TAKING DIRECTION, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN IS TRYING TO WORK WITH ENCOURAGING THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING AND TO MISS JESTER'S POINT STAFF MAKING COUNCIL AWARE SO THAT WE CAN IF WE SO THAT IF WE DESIRE TO WE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT. OKAY. AND MAYOR, CAN I ASK A QUESTION OF THE DEVELOPER FROM MCADAMS? CERTAINLY. PLEASE. AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR MCADAMS HAVEN. THANK YOU. AND MAYOR, I'LL BE QUICK. NO PROBLEM. HI. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. SO QUESTION CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW THE TAX STRUCTURE WOULD WORK ON THIS, PLEASE? WHENEVER I FIRST PUT IN THE APPLICATION FOR THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE CITY, AT THAT TIME, I THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD BE TAX EXEMPT ON THIS PROPERTY BECAUSE WE ARE ON SOME OF OUR OTHER PROPERTIES, BUT BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURING ON A TECH DEAL, WE ACTUALLY DO NOT GET THE FULL EXEMPTION. TAX EXEMPTION ONLY ALL PROPERTIES THAT ARE ACQUIRED OR BUILT BY HOUSING AUTHORITY AT THIS TIME ARE TAX EXEMPT. DOES THAT MEAN YOU'LL BE PAYING FULL FREIGHT OR PARTIAL FREIGHT? HOW DOES THAT WORK AS A AS A CONDO OR COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION? THEN WE GET A 50% 50% TAX RATE. OKAY, I THINK I'M GOOD. THANK YOU MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT ONE. I JUST HAVE TWO QUESTIONS HERE. THE QUESTION IS PRIMARY QUESTION IS HOW LONG ARE THE TAX EXEMPTIONS BEING PROPOSED HERE. IS THIS LIKE HOW LONG IS THIS. IT'S A TEN YEAR PROGRAM. IF THEY'RE AWARDED. AND THEN THE REQUIREMENT TO KEEP THE RATES AFFORDABLE FOR 30 YEARS OR 30 YEARS, GREAT. THE OTHER IS THE MCADAMS HAVEN GROUP. I, I'M JUST SO EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US, WE AS A CITY, MAKING STRIDES IN HOUSING, BEING AFFORDABLE. THIS GO BACK TO THAT OTHER OTHER SLIDE THAT YOU HAD THAT RIGHT THERE, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR 
          [00:55:05]
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN EXACTLY? I'LL LET THEM SPEAK OF WHAT EXACTLY FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT THEY'RE THINKING. BUT OUR DEFINITION IS THAT THERE IS DEDICATED SPACE AND PROGRAMING TO HELP IN THE THOSE WHO WILL BE LIVING IN THE HOUSING. SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY'LL HAVE ALL OF THOSE SERVICES THERE AT THE SPACE. I DON'T THINK HOUSING SPACE. DOES THAT MEAN I'LL LET THEM ANSWER WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT? YEAH, THAT'LL BE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS. SO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS IT'S SET UP. SO THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS. IT'S SET UP TO NOT CHARGE THEM RENT MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME SO THAT IT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE PLANNING FOR BETWEEN 4000 AND 6500FT■!S F COMMUNITY LIVING SPACE. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH MAS, CURRENTLY WITH SOLUTIONS OF NORTH TEXAS MASTER GIVING GRACE UNITED WAY, SO WE ARE BASICALLY PARTNERING WITH ALL THE AGENCIES, WHICH WE ALREADY DO IN OUR CURRENT HOUSING HERE IN DENTON. BUT WE'VE SEEN THAT SOME PEOPLE AREN'T SUCCESSFUL WHEN WE'VE MOVED THEM FROM HOMELESSNESS INTO SOME OF OUR HOUSING, BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST NOT QUITE READY FOR THAT. SO OUR GOAL IS, IS THAT PUTTING EVERYTHING UNDER ONE ROOF WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND THEN A SEPARATE SUPPORTIVE SERVICE PIECE TO SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUALS WILL HELP THEM BECOME MORE SUCCESSFUL IN HOUSING. OKAY. I THINK THAT'S THAT THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THAT'S ALL I HAD. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIVE? DISTRICT THREE. YEAH. THANK YOU. DO WE KNOW ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO MAP O, YOU KNOW, SORT OF. INDEX WHAT THE DALLAS METRO BRACKETS ARE AGAINST WHAT IT WOULD BE IF IT WAS JUST DENTON. AND MY SUSPICION IS THAT FOR AMI. FOR AMI, YES. MY SUSPICION IS THAT THE WHOLE BRACKETS WOULD, YOU KNOW, ALL THE BRACKETS WOULD BE LOWER HERE SO THAT THIS SORT OF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT AS DALLAS METRO THING, YOU KNOW, WOULD EXAGGERATE HOW AFFORDABLE YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY GOING OR HOW DEEP INTO, YOU KNOW AMI YOU ARE GOING MUST HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO JESSE AND I CONVERSATION. WE HAD THAT THIS MORNING AND STARTED TO CALCULATE IT HONESTLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT, BUT AGREED. 
          THERE'S SOME WORK TO DO IN OUR METHODOLOGY. OUR ROUGH CALCULATIONS THIS MORNING SHOWED ABOUT A $10,000 DIFFERENCE AND AMI BETWEEN THE METRO AND DENTON. BUT YEAH, WE CERTAINLY CAN DO THAT AND FOLLOW UP ON THAT, BECAUSE WE AGREE THAT THE METROPLEX VERSUS DENTON,ING TO F THAT'S THE CASE AND I SUSPECT YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT WE HAVE A SORT OF A DIFFERENT ACTION STANDARD FOR WHAT, YOU KNOW, WOULD REALLY MERIT OUR EITHER NON NON-OPPOSITION OR SUPPORT. RIGHT. BECAUSE IF IT'S REALLY NOT A IT'S LIKE IN OTHER WORDS, IT SHOULD REALLY BE PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND MAYBE IT IS, BUT I CAN'T TELL BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT DALLAS NOT DENTON. CORRECT. OKAY. SO I'M INTERESTED IN THAT. I'M ALSO GOING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE COMMUNITY MEETINGS HAPPEN BEFORE IT COMES TO US, AND TO KNOW WHEN THOSE ARE. AND I'M PARTICULARLY NOTING THAT WITH THE ROSELAWN VILLAGE, THAT WAS ONE OF THE CASES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN NONE YET. AND I'LL JUST POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, I THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY THAT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT NOW FEELS KIND OF BESIEGED BY THE AMOUNT OF MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT THAT'S HAPPENING, THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING JUST OF ANY KIND, JUST INTENSITY OF CONSTRUCTION. AND I THINK INTENSITY IS THE WORD. AND I'LL ADD ANOTHER OBSERVATION. THE SMALL AREA PLAN FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WAS DONE, I THINK 20 YEARS AGO. I THINK THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF WE HAD AN UPDATED SMALL AREA PLAN THERE WHEN THESE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES COME AROUND SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HAVE A, YOU KNOW, HAVE A PRESENT DAY CONTEXT TO LOOK AT IT THROUGH. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE WRAP UP? OKAY. MY NOTES ARE THESE FULL DISCLOSURE I'M GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME SUPPORTING ANY OF THEM BECAUSE THE STOCK WE HAVE ON HAND IS A LOT. AND WE DON'T HAVE THE CONTROLS TO MANAGE. YES, IT'S AFFORDABLE, 
          [01:00:13]
BUT IT HAS TO BE AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE AND THAT'S GOOD AND RIGHT. BUT I'M FOCUSED ON DENTON AND WE CAN'T CURTAIL THIS TO DENTON. RIGHT. AND SO WE'RE SO LEWISVILLE, CARROLLTON, FRISCO, MCKINNEY ARE NOT AFFORDABLE. AND WE JUST SAY DENTON TAX DOLLARS AND DIDN'T INTEREST. WE WORK HARD AND THEN JUST PULL ALL THAT TOWARDS DENTON. I JUST I'D RATHER CONTINUE TO WORK TO TRY TO SUPPORT DENTON FAMILIES AND GET CREATIVE THAT WAY. SO THAT'S THAT'S MY PROBLEM WITH THIS METHODOLOGY IN THE CURRENT STATE OF WHERE WE ARE AND BUILD OUT UNDERSTANDING THAT, HERE'S HERE'S MY FEEDBACK. I'M GOING TO ECHO WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SAID. YEAH, IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING YET, WE HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE LIKE, OH, WELL, THEY'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. WE WON'T TALK TO THE COMMUNITY. AS I'M LOOKING AT THAT, THAT THAT'S A PROBLEM, RIGHT? LIKE, DON'T DON'T MAKE US DO YOUR WORK. RIGHT. BECAUSE AND WE'VE SEEN THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILLS UP THE CHAMBERS. AND IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO GO TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT YET YOU'LL SUBJECT US TO THAT, THAT'S NOT A GOOD THAT'S NOT A GOOD TEAMMATE, IN MY ESTIMATION. AND THAT GOES FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. THEY'RE ALL PUBLIC. THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS, AND THEY CAN GET OUT THERE AND TALK TO PEOPLE JUST AS WELL. AND SO TO THAT END, MY ASK, IS THAT IN A FOLLOW UP, SEND ME THOSE EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR THOSE THAT SERVE ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND I'M HAPPY TO EMAIL THEM. SO JUST GIVE ME A WORD DOC WITH THOSE EMAILS OR SOMETHING, OR EMAIL WITH THAT IN THE BODY, AND I'LL EMAIL THEM THAT TO THAT EFFECT. 
          PICKING UP ON THE CUSTOMIZATION. THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR ME AS WELL. AS FAR AS A FOCUS ON KIND OF THE DENTON SIDE OF THINGS AS FAR AS THE NUMBERS, BUT ALSO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IN ADDITION TO THAT IS SO JUST LIKE YOU HAVE, IF YOU GO BACK, JUST ANY OF THOSE SLOTS. YEAH. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IN ONE VIEW IS WHAT YOU PROVIDED ON THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, RIGHT OVERLAID INTO THIS. SO FOR EXAMPLE AREA AREA INCOME FOR LET'S SAY ONE PERSON 30% ONE BEDROOM. RIGHT. SO THAT 30% COLUMN ONE BEDROOM I KNOW THAT THAT YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON HAS HAS TO MAKE IF IT'S 30% HAS TWO, 23,000 PER YEAR. RIGHT. SO I'D HAVE KIND OF A VISUAL OF THOSE NUMBERS OF WHAT THAT RENT LOOKS LIKE. RIGHT. EXACTLY. YEAH. SO I CAN KIND OF GET A FEEL FOR OKAY. AND JUST A REMINDER RIGHT. THAT THAT IS SO THEN I CAN KIND OF GO THROUGH AND DO THE MATH 23,000 PER YEAR. 
          HOW MUCH IS THAT. WHAT KIND OF JOB IS THAT. WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THAT SORT OF THING. SO JUST IT HELPS ME ANALYZE THAT. AND THEN BACK TO THE CUSTOMIZATION, BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT I MEANT TO SAY. WE HAVE THE LANDMARK DEVELOPMENT AND THE COLE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE PAYING IN SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS. WHAT IS OUR STRATEGY PLAN? HOW DOES THIS HOW DO THESE GO TOGETHER? RIGHT. IF WE'RE IF WE'RE KIND OF TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO IT, WE HAVE THESE DOLLARS. I MEAN, THEY'RE MOVING DIRT, RIGHT? SO ONE OF THEM IS LANDMARKS MOVING DIRT. THEY'RE GOING TO START. THAT'S GOING TO START. THAT PROCESS IS GOING TO START IN THE OUT YEARS. BUT HOW ARE WE CUSTOMIZING THESE PLANS THIS THIS ANALYSIS WITH THESE DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING IN AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THERE. ARE THEY COMPETING INTERESTS. DO THEY GO TOGETHER. 
          JUST KIND OF A MORE I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT STORY BETTER, GIVEN THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE OF THOSE DOLLARS COMING IN. AND THEN. I, I WILL BE AND THIS IS JUST FOR STAFF THIS IT WON'T COME BACK BEFORE THIS. BUT WHAT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN IS ADDING TO OUR EVALUATION A KIND OF A BONUS FOR TAKEOVERS. RIGHT. SO WE HAVE APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE INEFFICIENT, VERY SPRAWL, VERY MUCH SPRAWL ALL OVER THE PLACE. DON'T HAVE THE, THE I MEAN, I CAN'T IMAGINE THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN UPDATE A SYSTEM. RIGHT. AND SO SOME OF THESE LEGACY APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE PULLING IN CURRENT DAY RENTS, BUT NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE TRENDS. I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THOSE US BEGIN TO START TALKING ABOUT TAKING OVER SOME OF THOSE, LIKE INSTEAD OF FILLING IN A BRAND NEW OPEN SPACE. WHAT? HOW CAN WE GET CREATIVE IN TAKING THE OWSLEY ADDITION AND UPGRADING, ADDING HEIGHT VARIANCES AND, YOU KNOW, NOT DISPLACING PEOPLE? HOW DO WE GET CREATIVE THERE? BUT BUT ALL THAT TO SAY, NOT FOR THESE, BUT JUST IN THAT ANALYSIS, I'D LIKE US TO START DEVELOPING SOMETHING THAT SAYS, IF YOU'RE BUILT IN THE 1960S, HOW ABOUT WE WORK TO GET YOU INTO THE 2000, RIGHT? AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, 
          [01:05:03]
BUT THAT THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING FOR ME AS FAR AS THAT EVALUATION MATRIX. AND THEN. I, A PART OF THAT, THAT EMAIL AND I'LL JUST DO IT ON MY OWN IS TO GET A SUMMARY OR A KIND OF FEEL FOR THOSE HOUSING LIKE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY DID SOME EVALUATION. RIGHT. WHAT ARE THEIR NOTES? WHAT ARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THAT. SO THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF ANOTHER THING I WANT TO ELICIT FROM THEM. AND THEN I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR MCADAMS HAVEN, IF I COULD PLEASE. SORRY WHY THEY'RE WALKING UP HERE. I DID WANT TO JUST NOTE TO A COUPLE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD. WE PLAN TO RELOOK AT THIS POLICY AND BRING BACK WHAT ARE OUR PREFERENCES. ARE ARE THOSE STILL THE SAME AS 2018? BUT ONE OF THEM DOES EXIST ON THE ACQUISITION REHAB OF EXISTING INTO AFFORDABLE. SO THAT'S A PREFERENCE. BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY VETTED OUT OUR OTHER PRIORITIES OF THOSE PREFERENCES. OR ARE THOSE STILL THE PREFERENCES OF THE COUNCIL. YEAH THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOUR YOUR HOUSING OFFERS. MY QUESTION IS THIS IF SOMEONE DOES AND YOU INTERESTING. YOU MENTIONED IT BEFORE I ASK THE QUESTION, BUT IF SOMEONE DOESN'T SUCCESSFULLY STAY IN THE HOME, WHAT'S THAT FOLLOW UP AFTERWARDS OR OKAY, THEY'RE NOT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO STAY IN THE HOME THERE IN DENTON SOMEWHERE. WHAT DOES THAT FOLLOW UP OR KIND OF RECONNECTION? TRY TO REBUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP SO THAT THEY CAN REENTER THE HOUSING. ARE YOU TRACKING WITH ME? IF SOMEONE'S UNHOUSED NOW, THEY'RE HOUSED, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THAT DIDN'T WORK THAT TIME OR THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE. WHAT'S THAT? WHAT'S THAT OUTREACH LOOK LIKE AFTER THAT TO THEN TRY TO REHABILITATE AND GET THEM BACK IN HOUSING. DO YOU CURRENTLY WHAT WE DO IN OUR HOUSING AND WE PLAN TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS IS SO WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN OUR HOUSING FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, WE CONNECT THEM WITH ANY RESOURCE THAT WE KNOW OF THAT'S IN IN THE AREA. BUT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN ONE TO AVERT EVICTION. SO EVEN IF WE HAVE TO FILE A EVICTION ON SOMEBODY, IF THEY LEAVE THE UNIT AND, YOU KNOW, SIGN OVER THAT THEY'RE VACATING THE UNIT, THEN AT THAT POINT WE WON'T ACTUALLY FILE OR WE WON'T ACTUALLY WILL CANCEL THE COURT CASE, SO THAT THAT IS NOT AN ADDITIONAL BARRIER TO THEM. LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAVE CURRENTLY ON STAFF, WE HAVE A SOCIAL WORKER THAT IS OUR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND SO SHE IS CONSTANTLY REACHING OUT TO ANYBODY WHO IS 30 DAYS BEHIND. FIGURING OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM GET CAUGHT UP. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE A PROGRAM THAT WE CAN GET THEM INTO? CAN WE MAYBE BRING FOOD BOXES THAT MONTH FROM FOOD PANTRIES SO THAT THEY HAVE MORE MONEY FROM TO PAY TOWARDS THEIR RENT, YOU KNOW, ANY TYPE OF ANY TYPE OF THING THAT WE CAN FIND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WE STAY ON THOSE. AND WE'RE VERY INVOLVED WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS OF THE HOMELESS COALITION. RIGHT. AND THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH SOLUTIONS NORTH TEXAS. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THEY'RE DOING AMAZING WORK AND THEY HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM AND IT PROVEN SUCCESS. BUT IF I'M I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I, I PICKED UP ON WHAT I'M SHOOTING AT IS SO NOT SUCCESSFUL. DO YOU PLUG THEM INTO THOSE. TRY TO CONTACT THEM. 
          BECAUSE WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS HALF OF OUR CITY HAS SAID, HEY, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOMELESS POPULATION, RIGHT. AND SO AGAIN, USING THE SAME EVALUATION, SOMEONE FROM MCKINNEY COMES TO DENTON BECAUSE WE HAVE SERVICES THERE NOW IN YOUR HOUSING UNITS. AND THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY'RE UNSUCCESSFUL. NOW, HAVE THIS MCKINNEY RESIDENT IN DENTON THAT HAD A HOUSE THAT'S NOW UNHOUSED. DO WE FOLLOW UP WITH THAT? DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION FOLLOW UP WITH THAT UNHOUSED PERSON FROM MCKINNEY AND SAY, LET'S GET YOU BACK ON TRACK? OR ONCE THEY'RE UNHOUSED, YOU FOCUS BACK ON, WE GOT TO FILL THIS UNIT. WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE IN. Q WHAT IS WHAT IS THAT PERSON THAT LEAVES YOUR HOUSING FOR WHATEVER REASON? AND THIS IS UNSUCCESSFUL, RIGHT? NOT THAT THEY LEFT AND UPGRADED, BUT THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THEY LEFT YOUR HOUSING. WHAT'S THAT AFTER SERVICE LOOK LIKE? SO WE HAVE SEVERAL RESIDENTS THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH AFTER THEY'VE LEFT THE UNIT AND CONNECTED THEM WITH DIFFERENT RESOURCES. WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD SOME FAMILIES THAT WE'VE CONNECTED WITH SOME SHELTERS IN DALLAS BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE SPACE IN THE SHELTERS. SO I MEAN, WE ARE FOLLOWING UP TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY WITH THEM AND TRYING TO GET THEM CONNECTED WITH WHAT THINGS THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS IF YOU'RE ASKING, YOU KNOW, DO THEY STAY HERE AND THEN END UP IN THE SHELTER? YOU KNOW, IT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN, BUT BUT THIS IS THE LOWEST BARRIER HOUSING OUT THERE. AND I HAVE INDIVIDUALS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE THREE MONTHS BEHIND ON RENT. AND IN ANY OTHER 
          [01:10:01]
HOUSING THEY WOULD BE ON THE STREETS. BUT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY CONNECT WITH DIRECTORS THAT HAVE A PROGRAM THAT CAN HELP THEM GET CAUGHT BACK UP, AND THEY'RE GOING TO STAY HOUSED. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE DO ALL DAY, IS DIVERSION AND DIVERTING PEOPLE FROM HOMELESSNESS, BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS ULTIMATELY FOR PEOPLE TO GET HOUSING AND GET STABILITY AND INTEGRATE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. OUTSTANDING. THAT'S THAT'S GOOD WORK. I SURE, SURE APPRECIATE THAT. AND THAT THAT GIVES ME A GOOD FEEL FOR HOW THE PROCESS WORKS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YEAH. OKAY. WELL THEN CHRISTINA, I THINK THAT'S THAT'S IT FOR ME. SO BUT SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THOSE THOSE ARE JUST THAT THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTIONS AND KIND OF GIVES FULL DISCLOSURE WHEN WE CIRCLE AROUND TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO GREAT. 
          THANK YOU. AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE RECEIVED AND WHAT WE'RE REVISITING ON THE POLICY AND STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT SO THAT WE COULD LEVERAGE THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS. GOT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. GREAT PRESENTATION. THANKS TO ALL THE THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE OKAY. THAT TAKES US TO ITEM C ID 
          [C. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the future, potential use of the homestead located at the former Evers property on 2900 N. Elm St. 
    [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 25 minutes]]
242544 RECEIVE REPORT WHOLE DISCUSSION. GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING THE FUTURE POTENTIAL USE OF THE HOMESTEAD LOCATED AT FORMER EVERS PROPERTY ON 2900 NORTH ELM STREET. GOOD AFTERNOO. 
          MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL GARY PECK AND DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT JEFFERSON NORTH ELM DEVELOPMENT. IT'S LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF EVERS PARK. THERE'S A MAP HERE ON THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THAT'S LOCATED. THIS PROJECT WAS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL BACK LATE LAST YEAR. THE PROPERTY IS BEING REDEVELOPED INTO 450 MULTI-FAMILY UNITS. AS PART OF THAT DEVELOPMENT, PARK DEDICATION IS REQUIRED AT 2.42 ACRES. THE DEVELOPER IS GIVING US 10.2 ACRES, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN IT'S REQUIRED. THE PROPERTY INCLUDES A HOME, A GARAGE, AN OUTBUILDING AND TWO BARNS. DEVELOPMENT FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT IS A LITTLE OVER $780,000. THAT'S BASICALLY DEDICATED FOR OUTDOOR PARK AMENITIES AND SERVICE AREA. SEE, THAT IS IN YOUR AGENDA. THAT'S THAT KIND OF NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF THE CITY. THE CITY HAS RECEIVED PUBLIC INTEREST IN PRESERVING THE HOMESTEAD. WE HAVE HAD SOME PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REGARDING THIS PROJECT. WE HAD A PROPERTY WALK WITH A SELECT GROUP OF INTERESTED PARTIES BACK IN NOVEMBER, AND THEN MOST RECENTLY WITH DENTON COUNTY IN JANUARY. PUBLIC MEETING WE HAD HELD AT THE CIVIC CENTER ON NOVEMBER 21ST OF LAST YEAR. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER BECK WAS PRESENT. THAT WAS AT THE CIVIC CENTER, AND THE NOTES FROM THAT MEETING ARE ON THE AGENDA AS WELL. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE DID CREATE A DISGUSTING PAGE TO PROVIDE SOME COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC. WE HAVE WORKED WITH CAMERON ON THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION AND CONSULTED THEM ON THE PROJECT. THE HOUSE IS NOT PRESENTLY DESIGNATED, BUT IT IS ELIGIBLE AND CAMERON CAN ASK SOME ADDITIONAL ANSWER. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY. WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH DENTON COUNTY AND CONSULTED THEM ON THIS. AS I MENTIONED, THEY HAD A SITE VISIT ON JANUARY 17TH. PARKS SPECIFICALLY HAS NO DEDICATED FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION. SO THAT'S THAT IS A CHALLENGE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT. SOME SPECIFICS ON THE DEVELOPMENT. YOU COULD SEE THE PROPOSED FUTURE CITY PARK IN RELATION TO THE TOTAL PROPERTY. 
          IT IS ADJACENT TO AN EXISTING CITY PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN LEASED TO THE BOY SCOUTS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. WE HAVE A LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR THEM TO USE THAT PROPERTY. THE DEVELOPER PUT TOGETHER A REALLY GENERAL CONCEPT THAT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY ANYBODY, HAS NOT BEEN THE PARK BOARD, HAS NOT NECESSARILY BEEN TO THE COMMUNITY JUST TO KIND OF GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT PROPERTY COULD LOOK LIKE. THE DEVELOPMENT IS REQUIRED TO PRESERVE THE TREES AS PART OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO PUT IN A SIDEWALK SLASH TRAIL AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH WOULD BE ALONG WINDSOR AND THEN 77. THAT IS AN EXPENSE THAT THEY WILL BEAR. SOME GENERAL PROPERTY PHOTOS OF THE BUILDINGS. THERE'S ADDITIONAL PHOTOS ATTACHED TO YOUR AGENDA WITH A POWERPOINT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL. THE HOMESTEAD, A FOUR CAR GARAGE, A COUPLE BARNS AND AN OUTBUILDING AND A GRAVEL ROAD GOING UP TO THE TOP OF THE HILL. 
          SOME KEY POINTS. WORKED WITH FACILITY MANAGEMENT TO GET SOME ESTIMATED COSTS, A FEASIBILITY STUDY REVIEW AND PROVIDE ESTIMATES ON KIND OF WHAT WOULD BE NEXT STEPS. IT'S APPROXIMATELY $50,000 RENOVATION TO THE HOMESTEAD TO ACCOMMODATE USE OF THE PUBLIC AT A VERY MINIMAL $600,000. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS, SUCH AS A PARKING LOT, 
          [01:15:01]
UTILITIES, ALL THE OTHER BUILDINGS THAT ARE ON PROPERTY THAT IS JUST GETTING THAT BUILDING UP TO SPEED, AND ALSO DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES THAT COULD GO INTO THE BUILDING IF IT WAS DECIDED, AS WELL AS JUST A GENERAL PUBLIC FACILITY. MAINTENANCE COST OF ABOUT $10,000. KEY POINTS IN REGARDS TO CURRENT FACILITIES. EVERS PARK IS LOCATED DIRECTLY TO THE NORTH. IT IS AN ACTIVE PARK, SPORTS FIELDS WITH A PLAYGROUND AND PARKING. 
          ACQUISITION OF THIS PROPERTY DOES NOT INCREASE OUR TEN MINUTE WALK, WHICH IS A MAJOR GOAL THAT WE LOOK AT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR PROPERTY. NOW IT DOES ADD TO AN EXISTING PROPERTY, SO THAT'S A POSITIVE AS WELL, BUT IT DOES NOT INCREASE AND IMPROVE THAT TEN MINUTE WALK FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AS PART OF OUR PLANNING FOR NATURE EDUCATION, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO INPUT THAT THE PARKS, RECREATION TRAIL SYSTEM MASTER PLAN AND THE CLEAR CREEK MASTER PLAN BOTH CALL FOR A NATURE CENTER AT CLEAR CREEK. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING OUR ATTENTION FOR THE FUTURE. WE DO HAVE FUNDING PLANNED FOR A CLEAR CREEK MASTER PLAN THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE FUTURE. AND THEN FROM A PRIORITY STANDPOINT, AS KIND OF JUST MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE OTHER AREAS IN DENTON THAT ARE GREAT IN NEED OF PARK ACCESS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT TEN MINUTE WALK. WE'VE BEEN LAND BANKING PROPERTIES OVER THE YEARS, AND THOSE PROPERTIES HAVEN'T BEEN DEVELOPED YET, SO THEY WOULD BE A HIGHER PRIORITY WHEN WE'RE BUILDING OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN TO ALLOCATE FUNDING, GO AFTER GRANTS, BECAUSE THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AREN'T CURRENTLY BEING SERVED AT ALL. SO AS A RECOMMENDATION, AS PART OF THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT, WE DO NEED TO HAVE A DEVELOPER AGREEMENT THAT OUTLINES WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE HOMES, THE HOME AND THE BUILDINGS THAT DOES NEED TO BE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL BEFORE ANY PLANS CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT. SO THAT IS A NEXT STEP OF IMPORTANCE. PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF RECOMMENDS DEMOLITION OF THE PROPERTY, WHETHER IT'S FULL OR PARTIAL DEMOLITION. AN ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY WILL BE COMPLETED BY JPI IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IF DEMOLITION DOES OCCUR, THEY WILL ASSUME THE ABATEMENT BY THE DEVELOPMENT. WE WOULD REPOSITION REPURPOSE PORTIONS OF THE HOMESTEAD TO AN OPEN AIR PAVILION OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE BASED ON COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, AND THIS RECOMMENDATION DOES NOT INCLUDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT I JUST MENTIONED IN REGARDS TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. 
          $600,000 ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE. NOW, WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE HAD COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE COUNTY. AS I MENTIONED, THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE PROPERTY. THEY DID REACH OUT TODAY AND THEY ARE INTERESTED IN POTENTIALLY ACCEPTING THE HOUSE. A LOT OF DETAILS STILL NEED TO BE WORKED THROUGH IN REGARDS TO THE FEASIBILITY, LOGISTICS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. THAT DOES NOT CHANGE THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE SENSE THAT WE FEEL MOVING FORWARD, THAT IT'S NOT A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US, NOT THAT WE'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF HISTORICAL HOMES OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, JUST BASED OFF ALL THE RESOURCES WE HAVE AND THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY SET FORTH WITH ALL OF OUR PLANS, THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN, THAT FOCUS AND THAT PRIORITIZATION. NOW, IF THE COUNTY CAN STEP IN AND HELP WITH THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THEY COULD ADD IT TO THE HISTORICAL PARK, BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME DETAILS TO WORK THROUGH ON THAT. 
          SO THAT JUST CAME UP THIS MORNING. AND WITH THAT I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR TO ANY QUESTIONS OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE FROM PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THE CLOCK. WE FINISH UP THIS THING EARLY. 
          SO IT'S NOT MINUTE FOR MINUTE, BUT BE MINDFUL. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. GARY IS THERE THERE'S A THERE'S A FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEMOLITION. IF WE CHOOSE NOT TO GO WITH THE DEMOLITION, WE GET WE GET A FEEDBACK IN LIEU OF DEMOLITION. IS THAT CORRECT? AS PART OF THE DEVELOPER AGREEMENT? THAT HAS NOT BEEN THAT WOULDN'T BE A PROFIT TO US. THAT'S AN EXPENSE THAT THE DEVELOPER IS WILLING TO BEAR. AS PART OF THAT. IF WE DECIDE THAT WE WANT TO MOVE TOWARDS DEMOLITION, THEY WILL PAY FOR THE ABATEMENT AND THE PHASE ONE AND DEMOLITION. IF WE DECIDE WE WANT TO HOLD ON TO THE PROPERTY AND CHOOSE OTHERWISE TO DO WITH IT AT A LATER POINT IN DATE, THEY WILL STILL DO THE PHASE ONE SURVEY, BUT REMEDIATION. AND THEN IF WE DECIDE TO DEMOLISH DEMOLISH IT AT A LATER DATE, THEN THAT WOULD BE ON US. SO WHAT? WHAT? I GUESS WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THAT QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE WHAT IS THE TIME CRITICALITY, THE URGENCY OF US MAKING THIS DECISION NOW VERSUS SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES. 
          THERE'S A COMMUNITY AGENCY POTENTIALLY INVOLVED, A CHARITY. THERE'S NOW THE COUNTY. WHAT'S WHAT'S THE PRESSING URGENCY NOW OF CAN WE NOT JUST SORT OF MOTHBALL THAT PROPERTY WHILE WE 
          [01:20:01]
SEE WHERE THE DOMINOES ARE GOING TO FALL AND IF THEY THEY FALL, WE DEMOLISH. AND IF THEY, YOU KNOW, IF NOTHING WORKS OUT THAT WE DEMOLISH AND GO BACK TO PLAN A VERSUS LETTING SOME OF THESE THINGS KIND OF WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS. WHY THE URGENCY? WELL, JPI WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD ON THEIR THEIR PROJECT AND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT HAS TO BE EXECUTED. NOW, WE COULD WORK IN THE DETAILS INTO THE DEVELOPER AGREEMENT ON THAT. BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR CONSTRUCTION. IF WE DECIDE THAT WE WANT TO MOTHBALL IT AND MAKE A DECISION, THEN THOSE LIABILITIES WILL BE ON US TO MAKE AT A FUTURE DATE. I'M I'M COMFORTABLE. I THINK I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THIS. MY I'M JUST GOING TO LEAD WITH DIRECTION TO GIVE THE MAYOR HIS SHORT TIME. AND I'M RECOMMENDING THAT THAT WE TAKE TAKE POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY AND MOTHBALL IT WHILE WE LET THESE PIECES WORK THEMSELVES OUT. AND BARRING THAT, IF YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE SOME HEARTBURN ABOUT THAT, THAT WE POSTPONE THIS A LITTLE BIT. I UNDERSTAND THE, THE DEVELOPERS NEEDING AN AGREEMENT, BUT I THINK US TAKING POSSESSION OF THE HOUSE AND JUST KIND OF SITTING ON IT, IT IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE. READY. IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE UNUSED AND UNACCESSED AND NOT HARMING ANYTHING TO THIS EXTENT. RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE COMMUNITY NEEDS A LITTLE TIME SO THAT THAT WOULD THOSE WOULD BE MY SORT OF RANKED RECOMMENDATIONS AND DIRECTION. 
          ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT THREE. THANK YOU. FIRST QUESTION, I'M REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT THE COUNTY OPTION. ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT MOVING THE BUILDING ITSELF TO THE CURRENT COUNTY HISTORICAL PARK, OR WOULD THEY ALSO OR HAVE HAVE YOU EVEN DISCUSSED WHETHER THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SORT OF HAVING A SATELLITE BIT OF THEIR HISTORICAL PARK AND IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY PRESERVE IT ON SITE? I WOULD SAY THOSE DETAILS STILL NEED TO BE WORKED OUT. SO IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE. THE ORIGINAL DISCUSSION WAS POTENTIALLY MOVING IT TO THEIR LOCATION. YEAH. SO THERE'S NO DISCUSSION OF THE OTHER IDEA. SO OKAY. WELL THEN I'M DEFINITELY ALIGNED WITH THE IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, PRESERVING OPTIONS SO WE CAN HAVE THE FULL CONVERSATION. OTHERWISE YOU KNOCK IT OVER AND THEN YOU'RE OUT OF OPTIONS. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT FIVE. 
          GARY, LOOKING AT THIS OVER THE WEEKEND, WHAT DOES PARTIAL DEMOLITION LOOK LIKE? WELL, THERE WERE SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT LEFT, LIKE A FACADE UP IN PLACE TO KIND OF SEE WHAT WHAT THE BUILDING LOOKED LIKE MOVING FORWARD AND MAKE IT MORE OF AN ARCHITECTURAL PIECE OF ART AS A AS A CONCEPT. NONE OF THAT HAS BEEN FLUSHED THROUGH. SOME OF IT COULD BE JUST, YOU KNOW, TRY SAVING THE ROOF OR MAKING THE ROOF FROM THE PAVILION, THE SAME PITCH OF THE BUILDING TO KIND OF GIVE IT SOME OF THAT SAME LOOK AND FEEL AND THE SAME FOOTPRINT OF THE EXISTING BUILDING. DOES STAFF HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON FULL VERSUS PARTIAL? DO YOU ALL PREFER FULL? IF SO, WHY VERSUS PARTIAL? I WOULD SAY WE WOULD WANT TO WORK THROUGH THE COMMUNITY INPUT FIRST AND FLUSH OUT THOSE OPTIONS. BUT FULL WOULD BE BETTER JUST TO KIND OF START FROM SCRATCH. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A LESS EXPENSIVE. OKAY, I'M GOING TO LET THE CITY MANAGER SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL. OKAY. APPRECIATE THE FULL IS THE ANSWER. WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM GARY IS WE HAVE NO MONEY. WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE NO MONEY. AND WHEN WE SHARE WITH YOU THE BUDGET FORECAST, WE WILL NOT HAVE MONEY. WE CAN'T KEEP BUYING THINGS AND GIVING IT TO PARKS WITH NOT ADEQUATE FUNDING. YOU SAW YOU SAW THE SLIDE THAT SAID WHAT IT WAS GOING TO COST TO RENOVATE THE BUILDING. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ONGOING MAINTENANCE. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE HAVING STAFF TO KEEP UP WITH IT, THAT DOES NOT HAVE THAT HAS NO LIGHTING. ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO PROTECT A BUILDING IS NOT THERE TO PRESERVE SOMETHING. THIS IS THIS IS A STRONG RECOMMENDATION FROM FROM GARY, BUT EVEN A STRONGER RECOMMENDATION FROM ME THAT WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO TAKE ON INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NOT READY, COMPLETELY DONE. WE DID THIS WITH ROADS WHEN WE TOOK ON MCKINNEY, AND WE SHOULD HAVE HAD IT ALL FIXED UP BEFORE WE DID. A NONPROFIT GROUP DOES NOT HAVE THE FUNDING TO HELP MANAGE THIS. THE COUNTY IS WILLING TO LOOK AT IT AND MOVE IT, BUT THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO BUILD IT IS. I LOVE TO HAVE HISTORICAL PROPERTY AND I LOVE TO BE A PART OF THAT. BUT IT'S NOT HISTORICAL YET. AND FOR US TO SPEND MONEY TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT AND NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO MAINTAIN IT. AND I'M TELLING YOU WHAT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE THIS IS COMING TOMORROW. IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO THIS, I WILL MAKE HIM CUT OTHER THINGS TO DO THIS, BECAUSE I WILL NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT HIM IN DOING THIS. WE WILL BE MAKING SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REDUCTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, AND SO I 
          [01:25:03]
JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE FACING BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE WONDERFUL. WE HAD A POT OF MONEY, BUT WE DON'T. AND SO IF WE CHOOSE TO DO THIS, UNLESS THERE'S A MIRACLE OF A POT OF MONEY, IT'S AN UNFUNDED MANDATE AND WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT SOMETHING ELSE IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION BUDGET TO REDUCE. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT FIVE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I MEAN, I APPRECIATE THE HONESTY. I GUESS YOU CAN TELL WHERE I WAS LEANING. MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES BEFORE I GIVE DIRECTION. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT ONE. MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE HISTORICAL NATURE AND OF THIS FACILITY. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M THINKING, THAT IT IS PREPARED TO BE A HISTORICAL FACILITY. IS THAT IS THAT WHAT WHAT CHARACTER WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THE NATURE OF THIS FACILITY? BUT I'M ALSO TRYING TO CONNECT IT WITH THE WITH THE COUNTY AND WHETHER OR NOT IF IT'S MOVED ON COUNTY PROPERTY, IS IT THE FACILITY ITSELF OR IS IT JUST THE LOCATION. SO GOOD AFTERNOON, CAMERON ROBERTSON HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SO THE PROPERTY WAS SURVEYED BACK IN 1996 AS PART OF A CITYWIDE HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY. AT THAT TIME, IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY ELIGIBLE PROPERTY. SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN ALTERATIONS MADE TO THE RESIDENCE AT THE REAR OF THE FACADE OR AT THE REAR FACADE, SO THOSE ALTERATIONS HAVE DONE SOME CHANGE. IT HAS CHANGED THAT ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY, BUT IT DOES HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANCE IN TERMS OF JUST THE HISTORICAL VALUE THAT IT HAS. OKAY. AND SO IF THE IF THE STATE I MEAN, I'M SORRY, COUNTY COMES THROUGH AND IMMEDIATELY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE CHARGE OF THAT FACILITY, DOES IT STILL WOULD IT STILL BE HISTORICAL? I MEAN, IT JUST TAKING AWAY THE WHATEVER THEY'VE DONE TO MOVING IT. YEAH. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CRITERIA TO KEEP A FACILITY TO REMAIN HISTORICAL. AND YOU'RE NOTING THAT SOME THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE TO IT, THAT IT MAY HAVE KICKED IT OUT OF THAT PROCESS OR OUT OF THE BOX. IF THE STATE PICKS UP, PICKS IT UP, AND MOVES IT WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT, STILL BE HISTORICAL. IS OR IS IT JUST CONNECTED AGAIN TO THE LOCATION? SO THERE'S DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS IN TERMS OF HISTORICAL, IN TERMS OF WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT LAYERS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION. SO IF THE COUNTY STILL SEES IT AS HISTORICAL, IF THEY WERE TO MOVE IT TO THE COUNTY PROPERTY, THEN THAT'S FINE. YEAH, IT IS WHAT IT IS. BUT IT WOULDN'T BE OF CONCERN TO US AT THAT POINT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THOSE ANSWERS AND I WILL I WILL MAKE MY, YOU KNOW, DECISION KNOWN. I AM GOING TO GO WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. I THERE'S JUST SO MANY OTHER FACILITIES AROUND HERE THAT IS NOT GETTING THE KIND OF CARE THAT THEY NEED. YOU KNOW, BASED ON HISTORICAL. YEAH. CITY HALL WEST YOU KNOW FOR ONE. BUT I AM DEFINITELY GOING TO GO WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE THAT AREA, YOU KNOW, IT'S TIME TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT AREA. JUST JUST TO REITERATE, WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY. WE'LL WORK WITH JP DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND POTENTIALLY HELPING WITH THAT. BUT ULTIMATELY, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS DEMOLITION TO MOVE FORWARD. FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, WE'LL TRY TO WORK ON AN AGREEMENT ON ALL THE OTHER DETAILS. IF THAT DOESN'T KIND OF COME TOGETHER, THEN OUR RECOMMENDATION STILL WOULD BE FOR DEMOLITION OF THE PROPERTY. YEP. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT'S WHERE I AM. THANK YOU. 
          REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR. THANK YOU. THERE'S NO FACILITY LIKE THAT IN THAT SECTION OF TOWN. IT'S HISTORIC, I GUESS IT'S HISTORIC, BUT IT'S MORE HISTORIC WHERE IT SITS THAN IF IT GETS PICKED UP AND MOVED ACROSS TOWN. I DON'T I DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S AN URGENCY TO THIS. 
          I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. I'D LIKE TO I'D LIKE TO WAIT ON THIS FOR, SAY, 30 DAYS AND SEE IF SEE IF SOME KIND OF FUNDING, SOME KIND OF ALTERNATE SITUATION COULD BE DEVELOPED AND GIVE US A LITTLE TIME TO THIS, THIS THING ALL SEEM TO BUBBLE UP QUICKLY. AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE IT JUST A 
          [01:30:02]
LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO, TO SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE. ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE. GO AHEAD. I APPRECIATE MR. HOLLAND'S WORDS. I TEND TO BE IN AGREEMENT. IS THAT ONE BE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, BUT WHAT DOES WHAT DOES DELAYING TO TALK TO THE COUNTY DO TO THE DEVELOPER? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY I'M GOING TO ASSUME THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO GO AHEAD AND GET A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND. DOES THIS OUR DECISION TODAY PREVENT THEM FROM BEGINNING CONSTRUCTION? THEY WE NEED TO EXECUTE A DEVELOPER AGREEMENT WITH ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT THE LAND MOVING FORWARD AND WHO'S GOING TO ACCEPT THE LIABILITIES FROM THAT LAND. OKAY. SO THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THE DESIGN AND GET APPROVALS TO MOVE FORWARD. SO HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO WORK THE COUNTY ANGLE. PARDON ME. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ANGLE CURRENTLY. WELL I MEAN WE'RE TALKING WEEKS OR MONTHS. I DON'T I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS KIND OF THING TAKES. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING. SO LET ME JUST SAY THIS. GARY'S BEEN WORKING. GARY'S BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH THIS, I DON'T HE'S NOT A HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER, AND HE'S SPENT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF STAFF TIME TAKING TOURS, HOLDING PUBLIC MEETINGS, DOING ALL THIS STUFF TO TRY TO GET TO A RESULT. HE'S DONE A FACILITY ASSESSMENT WITH STAFF. HE'S LOOKED AT WHAT WOULD BE NEEDED. YOU HAVE THE COST. THIS IS NOT AN OVERNIGHT SITUATION. THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE FOR THE HOUSING, THE HOUSE AND THE GARAGE AND EVERYTHING TO BE PRESERVED AND THAT IS A WONDERFUL THING. THE PROBLEM IS THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO MOVE ON HIS PROJECT. AND SO IF THE CITY WANTS TO BUY IT OR PUT THE MONEY INTO IT TO FIX IT UP, IT STAYS WHERE IT IS. BUT THE DEVELOPER WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE OUT OF THE WAY. QUITE FRANKLY, THE COUNTY'S OFFERED TO MOVE IT, POSSIBLY, BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR NOT. 
          AND SO I JUST ASK CHRISTINE, 30 DAYS MAY BE MANAGEABLE FOR US TO HOLD THE DEVELOPER OFF, BUT ULTIMATELY THE COUNTY WOULD NEED TO ANTE UP WITH THE MONEY TO MOVE IT. YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN ABOUT IT LOSES ITS CHARACTER BECAUSE IT IS. IT'S A HOMESTEAD. SO IF YOU MOVE IT OVER TO THE OTHER PARK, MY BIGGEST CONCERN, AND I'M JUST SAYING THAT IT'S COUNCIL'S DECISION, IS THERE IS NO MONEY AND IT'S AN UNFUNDED MANDATE. AND IT ALSO PUTS GARY IN A POSITION OF HAVING TO MAINTAIN AND MANAGE A BUILDING AND OUTBUILDINGS THAT HE DOESN'T USUALLY HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE DOING. IT'S USUALLY A HISTORICAL FACILITY, MUSEUM AND OTHER THINGS THAT DO THAT. AND SO I'M TRYING TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND, AND BE HONEST ABOUT WHERE WE ARE FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT. AND I'M BEING VERY CLEAR, I HATE TO HAVE TO ANNOUNCE IT HERE. IT IS NOT A GOOD BUDGET NEXT YEAR AT ALL. AND SO TO SAY THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN IT AND MANAGE IT AND PUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BACK IN IT LIKE WE'LL NEED FOR SECURITY AND LIGHTING, THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT IS WHAT I SAID, WHICH IS TO MAKE OTHER ADJUSTMENTS, OTHER PLACES. IF THAT'S THE DESIRE OF COUNCIL, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY DO THAT. BUT IT I NEEDED TO SHARE THAT WHAT WE'RE FACING HERE AND THAT THIS IS HE'S GONE OUT OF HIS WAY HERE AND SPENT HOURS HOURS AWAY FROM HIS JOB THAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IN PARKS AND RECREATION TO GO. AND CAMERON'S BEEN THERE TOO, SO THIS IS NOT AN OVERNIGHT SENSATION HERE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND HE HAS WORKED HARD TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT ANOTHER OPTION. HE'S CALLED THE COUNTY. HE'S CALLED THE COUNTY. HE'S CALLED THE COUNTY. HE'S WAITED ON THE COUNTY. SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT WE CAN COUNT ON THE COUNTY. I JUST WANT US TO BE REAL CLEAR. 
          SO WHEN YOU ASK WHY WE DON'T HAVE MONEY IN PARKS AND RECREATION, WHY CAN'T HE BUILD HIS TRAIL? WHY CAN'T WE ADD MORE STAFF? I'M COMING BACK TO THIS BECAUSE THAT IS THE TRUTH. 
          REPRESENTATIVES, HAVE YOU HAD THE FLOOR? I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS, MADAM CITY MANAGER. 
          AND LET ME SAY, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE. CAMERON. I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS AS WELL. GARY AND SARAH, I UNDERSTAND YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF PARKS AND RECORDS. I AGREE, PARKS AND REC, I AGREE WITH THAT. MY JOB IS TO RESPOND TO THE PEOPLE, AND THIS IS WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME TO CHECK INTO. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO 30 DAYS. IF 30 DAYS IS WHAT WE NEED, CAN WE REVISIT THIS CONVERSATION IN 30 DAYS AFTER WE HAVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER FROM THE COUNTY? YOU JUST NEED TO GIVE YOUR DIRECTION AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE MAJORITY LEAD. SO IT'S JUST WHAT DO YOU WANT? OKAY, I'D LIKE TO REVISIT THIS CONVERSATION AT OUR PERHAPS OUR 1ST MARCH MEETING AFTER WE'VE SPOKEN TO THE COUNTY. AND THEN I'LL BE HAPPY TO GIVE FURTHER DIRECTION. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU'VE ALREADY DONE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT THREE. YEAH, I, I HEARD EVERYTHING YOU ALL SAID. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY ADVOCATE THAT WE BUY IT. I WAS KIND OF A NON-SEQUITUR, HONESTLY. I MEAN, AND IT JUST CAME UP THIS MORNING, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE COUNTY IS ACTUALLY INTERESTED. SO I THINK WE'RE 
          [01:35:04]
INTERESTED BECAUSE LIKE THEY DO THIS SORT OF THING, IT IS IN THEIR WHEELHOUSE AND THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED. SO THAT'S THAT'S ON THEM. THAT DOESN'T THAT TAKES A BURDEN OFF OF CITY OF DENTON. 
          DO WE NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM? LIKE AS FAR AS I KNOW, NONE OF THIS IS IN THE PATH OF WHAT THEY WANT TO BUILD. DO WE NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE IT SO THAT THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO WITHOUT WAITING ON US? I MEAN, ULTIMATE? WELL, THAT COULD BE WRITTEN IN THE DEVELOPER AGREEMENT. ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THE LIABILITY OF THE BUILDINGS TO DECIDE WHETHER, IF WE'RE GOING TO MOTHBALL IT, THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, THE REMEDIATION TO GET THAT CLEANED UP, AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FUTURE, THE $600,000 IS LOW, LOW END. SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT, MUCH, A LOT MORE TO INVEST IN THAT PROPERTY MOVING FORWARD. I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE PERSON HERE ADVOCATE DOING WHAT YOU JUST SAID. I'M ASKING IF WE CAN SEVER THE TWO PARTS OF THE CONVERSATION SO THAT THEY CAN PROCEED AND LEAVE THIS TO BE DECIDED LATER. I MEAN, THE IDEA OF LIKE THAT, THIS SOMEHOW IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, HAS TO BE DECIDED BEFORE THEY DO THAT. IT DOESN'T SEEM PHYSICALLY TRUE, RIGHT? IT DOES NOT. IT'S NOT IN THEIR WAY AT ALL. SO WHY CAN'T WE NEGOTIATE THAT? NO THAT'S TRUE. THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE PARCELS. EXACTLY. THE GARAGE BUILDING RIGHT NOW A PORTION OF THAT BUILDING IS ON THEIR PROPERTY. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO WORK THROUGH. 
          OKAY. BUT IT BOILS DOWN TO WHETHER WE'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE LIABILITY FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES FOR, FOR LIKE UNTIL UNTIL YOU MAKE THE DECISION. YEAH. IF WE IF WE SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO MOTHBALL THE BUILDING FOR TWO YEARS, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO REMEDIATION. AND IF WE DECIDE TO DEMOLISH IT OR BUILD IT, THOSE ARE LIABILITIES THAT WE'RE ACCEPTING. SO THERE'S A THERE'S OKAY. BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS, NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE TO TAKE ON ALL THESE OTHER THINGS. I WOULD JUST SAY MY RANK, ORDER, PRIORITY OR HIERARCHY OF OUTCOMES WOULD BE COUNTY. COUNTY LOVES THE IDEA OF HAVING A REMOTE PART OF THEIR HISTORICAL PARK. THAT'S MAYBE IT'S A WORKING FARM OR WHATEVER. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T CARE IF IT BECOMES A COUNTY PARK, YOU KNOW, AND THEY THEY DEVELOP IT. 
          I MEAN, THAT THAT COULD BE AN AWESOME OUTCOME, MAYBE SEE WHAT THEY THINK. SO THAT WOULD BE LIKE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME TO ME. I'M NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS IDEA OF MOVING IT. I REALLY JUST DON'T HAVE AN OPINION. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT RESONATES WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PRESERVATION FOR THE REASONS THAT COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND CITES FURTHER DOWN THE LIST. I DON'T THINK IT WAS DESCRIBED QUITE THE WAY I WOULD ENVISION IT. IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING SHORT OF JUST KNOCKING IT DOWN BECAUSE IT'S IN THE WAY WOULD BE PRESERVE THE STREET FACING FACADE IN SOME WAY THAT IS LIKE IN AMBER. MAKE A ROOF TO A PAVILION THAT FOLLOWS THE ROOF LINE, AND THEN IT'S BASICALLY AN OUTDOOR PAVILION, BUT THE STREETSCAPE LOOKS THE SAME. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WAY DOWN THE LIST WOULD BE, YEAH, HECK WITH IT. KNOCK IT DOWN. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT SIX. COUNCILPERSON JESTER. AND THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY DIRECTED TO YOU, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A FEW OF MY POINTS SINCE I'VE NOT GIVEN DIRECTION JUST YET. OBVIOUSLY, THE IT'S ABOUT THE COST. I MEAN, THAT'S THE MAJOR BARRIER, THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT BUDGETED AT THIS TIME. WE ARE LOOKING AT CUTS FOR NEXT YEAR. 
          WE RAISED TAXES THIS PAST YEAR. THERE'S CITY HALL WEST AND OTHER AREAS THAT WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO DEVELOP ALSO. AND I BELIEVE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC. SO I HOPE IT'S OKAY FOR ME TO READ. BUT TODAY ON THE DENTON RECORD-CHRONICLE FACEBOOK POST ABOUT THIS MATTER, SOMEONE NAMED MIKE READ SAID WE OFFERED IT TO THE CITY FIRST. OF COURSE, THERE WAS NO MONEY. THEY WANTED US TO GIVE IT TO THEM. THESE FOLKS HAVE NO ALL CAPS CLUE ABOUT THE COST OF UPKEEP ON 100 PLUS YEAR OLD HOUSES. I KNOW I LIVED THERE 20 PLUS YEARS AND HE SAYS PLUS WE REALLY GUTTED THE HOUSE WHEN WE LEFT LOL. SO FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF DOING THIS ON OUR OWN. SECOND, THE LOCATION IS AN ISSUE. IT IS CLOSE TO EVERS PARK. IT DOESN'T HELP IN OUR WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN DIRECTION FOR AS FAR AS HAVING A PARK EVERY TEN MINUTE WALK. HOWEVER, THE PUBLIC INTEREST HAS BEEN LARGE. THERE'S BEEN PETITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED. A LOT OF EXPERTS IN THE HISTORICAL AREA IN DENTON ARE IN FAVOR OF TRYING TO PRESERVE IT. I KNOW PEOPLE ARE REALLY TRYING. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE TRYING DESPERATELY TO SAVE IT. SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF LET'S HOLD FOR 30 DAYS, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT IS NOT NO ONE'S GETTING WHAT THEY WANT. NO ONE'S NOT GETTING WHAT THEY WANT. I MEAN, GETTING, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BUT I'M JUST SAYING MY DIRECTION WOULD BE TO PLEASE ASK FOR GRACE WITH THE DEVELOPER, 
          [01:40:08]
THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO HOLD UP PROGRESS INDEFINITELY. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR SO LONG, BUT WITH THE INTEREST THAT'S OUT THERE, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A CHANCE TO SEE IF THE COUNTY HAS INTEREST. IF THERE'S SOME OTHER KIND OF NONPROFIT THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED. I LOVE THE IDEA OF A NATURE PRESERVE. I MEAN, THAT'S WONDERFUL. HOWEVER, WE JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT ON OUR OWN RIGHT NOW. SO I'M JUST SAYING, IN GENERAL, I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE, BECAUSE I DO LOVE PRESERVING DENTON'S HISTORY WHERE WE CAN AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF IT PRESERVED. HOWEVER, I'M NOT GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON TAKING THIS ON ON OUR OWN. IT'S JUST NOT MANAGEABLE, IS WHAT I'M SEEING. SO THAT IS MY DIRECTION. AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, SO TO WRAP UP MY THOUGHTS. I'LL LIST THE ISSUES. I'LL START WITH THAT. MY CONCERNS 50% OF THE CITY OF DENTON SAID THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOMELESSNESS. 
          THIS THIS WOODED AREA. AND GARY HOW MUCH DO YOU SPEND ON VANDALISM AND JUST PARKS NEXT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE DIFFERENT PARKS. I MEAN, I MEAN, WHAT'S THE ROUND NUMBER BUDGET FOR THAT? I COULDN'T TELL YOU GIVE YOU A NUMBER, BUT IT'S A LOT. YES. IT'S A REGULAR OCCURRENCE ALL ACROSS THE NETWORK WIDE ACROSS THE CITY. YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER VANDALISM WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKS. AND SO I HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT EXTRA SENSITIVE IN THIS AREA BECAUSE THERE'S A BOY SCOUT PARK RIGHT NEXT DOOR. AND JUST THREE MONTHS AGO, SEVEN YEAR OLD WALKING, WALKING ON A NATURE TRAIL IN NORTH LAKES PARK GETS CLOTHESLINED BY SOMEBODY AND THAT PERSON GETS ARRESTED. AND WE'RE PROCESSING THROUGH THAT. BUT WE THESE ARE VERY REAL THREATS TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR SAFETY CONCERNS THAT HAVE TO BE MEASURED IN, YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS. I CAN'T BE COMFORTABLE MAKING DECISIONS IN A VACUUM ASSUMING THAT THOSE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN AND THOSE CHALLENGES DON'T PRESENT THEMSELVES ON A HEAVILY TREED LOT NEXT TO A BOY SCOUT PRESERVE WHERE WE COULD HAVE ENCAMPMENT ISSUES OR PEOPLE HIDING ISSUES. AND SO THAT FACTORS INTO MY DECISION AND THE ADDITIONAL COST, ADDITIONAL CONCERNS AS I AM RESPONDING TO THE SURVEYS WE HAD FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK, THEN WHO CAN ANSWER? AND FORGIVE ME, Y'ALL ANSWERED MY QUESTION, BUT I THINK I ASK A BAD QUESTION. SO WHO CAN SPEAK TO WHO CAN SPEAK TO THE HOME OWNERSHIP COMPONENT OF THIS? WHO'S BEST EQUIPPED FROM STAFF TO TALK ABOUT HOME? WHO? WHO'S OWNED THIS HOME? I MEAN, HERE'S HERE'S THE THING I DON'T I NEED SOMEONE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY, HOW DID THIS BECOME THE CITY'S PROBLEM? BECAUSE AS I LOOK, SINCE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, IT HAS BEEN. IT'S BEEN UNTIL 2023, I THINK IT'S BEEN OWNED BY A INDIVIDUAL. THE REEDS. YES. YEP. THAT'S CORRECT. WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR? WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR THEM TO GET? HAVE IT HISTORICALLY PROTECTED LIKE A HOMEOWNER CAN HAVE THIS DONE. CORRECT. HOW LONG WHEN WAS THIS HOUSE BUILT. SO THE MAIN PORTION OF THE HOME WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1900S. SO EARLY 1900S TILL 2023, IT COULD HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY PROTECTED ANY TIME IN THERE. YES, THAT IS CORRECT. 
          WHY WAS IT NOT? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THAT THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I STRUGGLE RIGHT? AT ANY POINT IN TIME, THIS PRIVATE THAT RIGHT OF PRIVATE FAMILY. WHAT IS THAT COST TO IT DOESN'T COST ANYTHING. CURRENTLY. WE DO NOT CHARGE AN APPLICATION FEE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. RIGHT. SO WHEN THEY WHEN DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH IT SOLD FOR. NO. BUT EITHER WAY, BEFORE THEY SOLD IT THEY COULD HAVE SAID EVEN AT THE END RIGHT FROM 1900 TO 2023, AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE, WHEN THEY'RE AGREEING TO SELL THE PROPERTY, THEY COULD HAVE SAID, HEY, GIVE US 30 DAYS TO HISTORICALLY PROTECT THIS BEFORE WE SELL IT TO YOU. THAT IS CORRECT. SO I, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND THE PASSION. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY THE PASSION WHEN THE CITY GETS INVOLVED. WHERE WAS THE PASSION FROM 1900 TO 2023. AND I'VE NOT I'VE LOOKED I'VE NOT FOUND A GOOD ANSWER TO THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A GOOD SOURCE FOR THAT. AND I, I HAVE TO ASSUME IF I RESEARCHED 
          [01:45:03]
THE COST, THE AVERAGE HOME SINGLE FAMILY HOME FOR IN THE CITY OF DENTON SELLS FOR AROUND NUMBERS $300,000. IN THAT NORTH PART OF TOWN, YOU CAN GET A SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON A MUCH SMALLER LOT FOR HALF $1 MILLION. THEY'RE SELLING ABOUT $400,000, PLUS ALL THE PROPERTY. RIGHT. 
          LET'S LET'S ASSUME I JUST DON'T. I HAZARD TO GUESS IF I FOUND THE NUMBER FOR WHAT IT SOLD FOR, IT DIDN'T SELL FOR THE PRICE OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. SO WHOEVER SOLD THIS, I'M ASSUMING, SOLD IT AT A AT A PREMIUM. I COULD BE ABSOLUTELY WRONG, BUT EITHER WAY, IT'S, YOU KNOW, HALF A MILLION FOR A HOUSE ON ON THREE QUARTER LOT IN THAT AREA. SO THIS IS A LOT LARGER THAN THAT. 
          SO IT'S AT LEAST MY, MY GUESSTIMATION NORTH OF A MILLION BUCKS. SO I JUST STRUGGLE WITH THAT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF, IF EVERYONE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT IT BEING HISTORICALLY PROTECTED FROM 1900 TO 2023, WHAT HAPPENED? SO I MEAN, I'M OUTSIDE LOOKING IN BECAUSE I, I WOULD SAY CERTAINLY, LET'S PUT AN END TO IT BY AGREEING, IF THE COUNTY CAN'T MOVE, THEN WE DEMOLISH IT. 
          BUT I'M HAPPY. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE DIRECTION IS. Y'ALL BEEN KEEPING NOTES JUST AS WELL AS I. I'LL RECONCILE IT IN A MINUTE. BUT WHAT I'LL SAY IS THIS, GARY, MY ONLY NUANCED ADDITION TO THIS WOULD BE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT ABATEMENT COST WOULD BE. AND SEE IF THE DEVELOPER WOULD AGREE TO PUT THAT MONEY INTO MOVING IT. WHOEVER WANTS IT CAN HAVE IT. 
          AND INSTEAD OF ABATING, ASK THE DEVELOPER TO AGREE IN THAT AGREEMENT TO PAY A HOUSE MOVER AND PUT IT WHEREVER THEY WANT TO BE. IF THE NONPROFIT WANTS IT, TELL US WHERE TO PUT IT. IF THE COUNTY WANTS IT, TELL US WHERE TO PUT IT RIGHT. THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS I DON'T FOR SAFETY CONCERNS, FOR COST CONCERNS, FOR THE FACT THAT IT WAS UNDER PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. 
          THEY NEVER HAD THE FAMILY NEVER HAD TO COME TO THE CITY OF DENTON TO EVER DO ANYTHING TO HISTORICALLY PROTECT THIS FOR THE PAST. I DON'T I'M NOT GOOD AT MATH. FROM 1900 TO 2023, THEY COULD HAVE DONE THOSE THINGS. AND SO NOW THAT WE'RE INVOLVED, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S WAIT, THIS IS HAPPENING FAST. IT'S NOT. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME FOR THEM TO DO THAT, TO PRESERVE THAT THAT COMPONENT BECAUSE THAT IS THAT IS AN UNSOLVED THAT IS A WE NEED TO ANSWER FOR THAT. BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN IT HADN'T BEEN IN CITY POSSESSION. THAT'S CORRECT THAT LONG. SO THAT'S MY DIRECTION IS TO TAKE THAT MONEY IN MY DIRECTION IS I'D BE COMFORTABLE WITH DEMOLISHING IT. 
          BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT'S THAT CONCERN. SO I WOULD SAY REACH OUT TO JPI UNDERSTAND THAT HOUSE MOVING COST BECAUSE NO MATTER WHO TAKES IT RIGHT, LIKE THE COUNTY TAKES IT WHATEVER JPI INSTEAD OF ABATEMENT, ARE YOU WILLING TO APPLY THAT TO MOVING IT? AND LET'S LET'S GET THAT COST. GET THAT BALL ROLLING IF YOU WILL, SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE. AND SO BETTER SAID, SOMETHING CAN BE WRITTEN IN THE DEVELOPER AGREEMENT. AND THEN WE CAN PHASE THAT. BUT AND I HAVE AN IN ADDITION JUST SO I HAVE A CLEAR RECORD I HAVE THE CONCERNS AS I'VE LISTED. I ALSO HAVE THE CONCERNS OF A PORTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE HOUSES IS TO THE SOUTH OF 77, AND I'M HESITANT OR NERVOUS ABOUT ADDING ANY FEATURE THAT PULLS THAT SOUTH SIDE OVER TO SEVEN ACROSS 77, WITHOUT BEING VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT THAT. NOW THERE'S A SIGNAL LIGHT THERE AT THE CORNER, BUT WE'RE WE'RE ADDING A SIGNAL LIGHT AT DISCOVERY PARK FOR THAT VERY REASON. RIGHT. PEOPLE THAT OTHER SIDE DEVELOP. AND SO I JUST WANT TO BE INTENTIONAL AND BE MINDFUL AND GO THROUGH THE RIGHT PROCESS FROM A TRAFFIC STANDPOINT, BECAUSE WE'VE NOT EVEN ADDRESSED THE CONCERN ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING TO AND FROM THE LIBRARY IN THAT SIDE WITH JPA. WHEN THEY CAME BEFORE US AND ASKED FOR THE PROPERTY, THEY STILL HAVE TO WORK ON THAT. SO THERE'S SAFETY CONCERNS THAT I THINK TAKE A PRECEDENT OVER WHAT TO DO WITH A HOUSE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY PROTECTED OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS, AND THE HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED THERE OPTED NOT TO, THAT THAT IS THEIR CHOICE. AND I RESPECT THAT. BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO. BUT SO THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I LAND. SO BASED ON THAT, I THINK THERE'S MAJORITY THAT SAYS 30 DAYS, THERE'S NOT MAJORITY THAT SAYS INDEFINITE WAIT. AND THERE'S AND THERE'S SUPPORT. THERE'S JUST I MEAN IT'S LIKE, WELL, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO ACCOUNT FOR THE STAFF 
          [01:50:01]
RECOMMENDATION. BUT SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE THAT'S THE GIST OF IT. IT'S 30 DAYS. WE WORK WITH JPI THE COUNTY AND GET YOU ANSWERS WITHIN 30 DAYS. SO YOU GUYS SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. 
          YEAH. AND I'D BE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BUT I'D BE I'D BE ALL FOR GIVING YOU DIRECTION ALSO TO DEMOLISH IT AFTER 30 DAYS. SO WE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK. RIGHT. THAT'S THAT'S THE WHOLE THING BECAUSE HERE'S ANOTHER WORK SESSION. HERE'S ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, ALL THE EMOTION BACK. 
          I'D RATHER GIVE CLEAR DIRECTION SO PEOPLE KNOW AND THEY CAN UNDERSTAND AND THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD. BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT DIRECTION TODAY. SO WHAT WE HAVE IS 30 DAYS AND THEN YOU'D HAVE TO COME BACK. THANK YOU, MISS CITY MANAGER. ANYTHING THAT'S GOOD. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT. 
          YEAH. YEAH, I'M HEARING THE MAYOR AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN GET BEHIND AS WELL. I KNOW IT SOUNDED A BIT LIKE, HEY, JUST DEMOLISH IT AND KEEP IT MOVING. BUT IF THE MAJORITY IS IN THAT, IN THAT, YOU KNOW, LIGHT, THEN I'LL CERTAINLY LIKE TO STEP IN THERE AS WELL. SO JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. OKAY. 
          [D. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction on two-minute pitch request for:
1)	Implementation of a Fair Chance Hiring Ordinance 
[Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU GARY. THANK YOU CAMERON. ALL RIGHT. THAT TAKES US TO OUR WORK SESSION D. ID 25019 RECEIVE REPORT, WHOLE DISCUSSION. GIVE STAFF DIRECTION ON TWO MINUTE PITCH. AND THERE YOU GO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL CHRISTY FOGLE CHIEF OF STAFF HERE TO FACILITATE THE TWO MINUTE PITCH FOR THIS AFTERNOON. AS A REMINDER, THE REQUESTING COUNCIL MEMBER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO DESCRIBE AND JUSTIFY THE REQUEST, AND THEN THE REMAINING COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE A MAXIMUM OF ONE MINUTE EACH TO PROVIDE THEIR RESPONSE. AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. SO ONCE AGAIN, I RISE TODAY TO BRING FAIR CHANCE HIRING BACK TO BACK TO THIS COUNCIL. THIS IS NOW THE THIRD TIME THE THIRD SWING WE'RE TAKING AT THIS. SO LET'S GO. SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO PROHIBIT INQUIRY ABOUT AN APPLICANT'S CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION PRIOR TO MAKING A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT, UNLESS LAW ALREADY REQUIRES AN EARLIER INQUIRY DUE TO A JOB THAT MIGHT INVOLVE SOMETHING LIKE NATIONAL SECURITY OR PUBLIC SAFETY, OR THE HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION MATERIALS, STUFF LIKE THAT. AS YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DONE THIS FOUR ADMINISTRATIONS AGO, AND IT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ENCOURAGED BY THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, AS WELL AS THE EEOC. 
          YOU KNOW, I'VE RUN FOUR CAMPAIGNS NOW, AND IN ALL FOUR OF THOSE, I HAVE PLEDGED TO BE A VOICE FOR WORKING PEOPLE. THIS IS THAT I'M VERY PROUD TO BE A REGULAR BLUE COLLAR WORKER, AND I'M VERY PROUD EVERY DAY TO GO TO A JOB WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE SOME MISTAKES IN THE PAST, LIKE WE ALL HAVE. BUT THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT AMERICA IS THAT AMERICA IS NOT ONLY THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY, IT'S ALSO SUPPOSED TO BE THE LAND OF SECOND CHANCES. AND I THINK WORKING ON THIS, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AFFIRM BOTH OF THOSE. THIS IS SOMETHING WIDELY PRACTICED ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. WE KNOW THAT HISTORICALLY, THIS WAS A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT THAT WAS STARTED BACK IN 2004. SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST FLY BY THE SEAT OF YOUR PANTS. THAT JUST POPPED UP. RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT 45 CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT ARE DOING THIS, A GROWING NUMBER OF STATES. AND I ALREADY MENTIONED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, THIS IS ABOUT REDUCING DISCRIMINATION IN THE HIRING PROCESS. THAT'S IMPORTANT. SO I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO PUT US ON A COURSE THAT WE CAN HAVE A DELIBERATIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT, AN ORDINANCE THAT APPLIES TO THE CITY AND A POLICY FOR US AS WELL. THANK YOU. MAYOR. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE. REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT TWO. YEAH, WE CAME TO THIS BECAUSE. AN ALTERNATIVE THAT WASN'T REALLY AN ALTERNATIVE NEVER CAME TO PASS. 
          ACTIONS WERE REALLY NEVER TAKEN ON THAT AT ALL. SO I WAS SUPPORTED TWO YEARS AGO. I WAS SUPPORTED A YEAR AGO. I WAS SUPPORTED SIX MONTHS AGO. I'M STILL SUPPORTIVE. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT THREE. APPARENTLY I'M WRONG. I THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE COME BACK WITHOUT ANOTHER WORK SESSION OR ANOTHER PITCH BEING REQUIRED. ANYWAY, I SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT ONE I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION ON. WE'RE GOING TO BE FACING SOME TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE VERY APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME. OKAY. REPRESENTATIVE FROM 
          [01:55:05]
DISTRICT SIX, COUNCILPERSON JESTER, THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE SHOWS IT IS INCONCLUSIVE. AND THERE ARE STUDIES FROM TEXAS A&M, UNIVERSITY OF OREGON AND OTHERS THAT SAY THAT IT ACTUALLY NEGATIVELY AFFECTS BLACK AND HISPANIC LOW SKILLED WORKERS. I THINK IT'S AN UNNECESSARY BURDEN ON OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND IS NOT BUSINESS FRIENDLY. I THINK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD GO IN WITH EYES WIDE OPEN ON WHO THEY'RE GOING TO HIRE. AS SOMEONE THAT DOES HIRE PEOPLE, I'M ALL FOR SECOND CHANCES, BUT NOT FOR THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENING IN SMALL BUSINESS. 
          THANK YOU. WHEN NOT NECESSARY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR I HAVE SPOKEN TO A GOOD MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A HIRING, A HIRING POSITION, PEOPLE WHO MAKE THOSE KIND OF DECISIONS, AND EVERY ONE. NOW, I DON'T MEAN TO SAY THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO EVERYONE. I CERTAINLY HAVE NOT. I'VE SPOKEN TO A LOT AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. WHEN I MENTIONED SECOND CHANCE HIRING, THEIR FIRST REACTION IS TO CHUCKLE. IT'S SO IT'S SO INAPPROPRIATE FOR A CITY TO TAKE THIS POSITION. I'VE SAID BEFORE THAT THE THAT THE PERSON DOING THE HIRING IS OR SHOULD BE THE EXPERT IN WHO AND HOW THEY HIRE. I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR MY COLLEAGUE BRANDON, BUT THIS IS BUT THIS IS WRONG HEADED AND IT'S NOT THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS. I'M OPPOSED TO IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. LET ME GET BACK TO IT. I'LL JUST SAY I'M I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY CAPTURED IN FEDERAL LAW. 
          AND THIS WE DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION IN THAT AREA. THIS DOESN'T DO ANYTHING AND DIFFERENT THAN WHAT FEDERAL LAW IS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO INVESTIGATE OUR BUSINESSES. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AND I ENCOURAGE AND I JUST IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IN THIS FORMAT, WE CAN'T HAVE THE DISCUSSION. BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT THAT'S HAPPENED AT THE CHAMBER. I'M NOT MAKING EXCUSES, BUT YOU DO. IF THERE'S AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, YOU SHOULD PET IT. THERE'S A LOT THAT'S HAPPENED BETWEEN THE CHAMBER AND DISCOVER DENTON DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, AND THAT'S UNDENIABLE. IF THAT'S THE ROOT OF THE ISSUE. THAT'S NOT FOR ME TO SAY, BUT IT IS FOR ME TO SAY THERE HAS BEEN TO NOT TO DENY THAT. AND SO I DON'T SUPPORT IT IN THAT. AND I WANT TO SAY THIS, THIS WHETHER IT PASSES OR NOT. I'VE LIVED IN DENTON ALL MY LIFE. I'M SO PROUD OF DENTON. DENTON IS A SECOND CHANCE CITY. THERE'S SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HIRED AND BUSINESSES STARTED BASED ON SECOND CHANCES. SO I, I REBUKE THE FACT THAT THIS IS WHAT MAKES DENTON A SECOND CHANCE. CITY. DENTON IS A GREAT CITY AND IT'S BEEN A SECOND CHANCE CITY. 
          THAT'S WHY I SIT HERE, BECAUSE I HAVE THAT. IT'S THEY'RE FORGIVING AND OPEN TO NEW THINGS. SO THANK YOU. DENTON. DENTON BUSINESSES DENTON BUSINESS OWNERS. YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE YOUR ANSWER. YES WE WILL. STAFF ON AN ISR TO DELIVER TO THE REQUESTING COUNCIL MEMBER TO DETERMINE NEXT STEPS. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND LET ME GET TO THE. OH, YOU GAVE THAT TO ME. I GOT IT. AND DINNER IS HERE IN CASE THAT. OKAY, I'M GOING TO 
          [1. Closed Meeting:]
CALL THE CLOSED SESSION THING AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A BREAK. SO THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW AT 4 P.M, CONVENE IN CLOSED MEETING TO DELIBERATE THE CLOSED MEETING ITEMS SET FORTH ON THE AGENDA, WHICH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ITEM A ID 25226. CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071. ITEM B ID 25246. CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 AND ITEM C, ID 25252. CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071. AND SO WE WILL TAKE 15 MINUTES TO GRAB FOOD. COME IN HERE AND THEN WE'LL GET THE CLOSED SESSION STARTED. SO WE'LL BE AND WELCOME BACK TO THIS MEETING OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL. IT IS 459 ON THE FOURTH STEAL AND WE'RE BACK IN OPEN SESSION. AND I'M GOING TO CALL ONE ITEM AND THAT'S ITEM A, ID 25226. AND LET'S SEE, I, I WILL LET ME SEE WHAT PART OF THIS CAPTION TO READ. OKAY Y'ALL. DID YOU MISS THAT. OH YEAH. LET ME LET ME SEE. SO COUNCIL IS NOW AT 4:59 P.M, RECONVENED IN CLOSED SESSION, AND THE CITY COUNCIL WILL TAKE NO ACTION. WILL TAKE WILL NOW TAKE ACTION ON 25.-226. AND YEAH. BUT I WAS LOOKING AT THE CAPTION HERE IF THERE'S ANYTHING TO READ THERE, BUT IT'S ALL KIND OF ALL CLOSED SESSION 
          [02:00:06]
STUFF, SO OKAY. WELL THEN I'LL JUST I'LL CONTINUE ON AND SAY I'LL MOVE APPROVAL FOR RELEASE OF THE DOCUMENTS FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST C002002. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULING FROM THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL. IS THERE A SECOND REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT THREE? I'LL SECOND. 
          OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR HUDSPETH, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM MELTZER. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN PASSES. UNANIMOUS. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR WORK SESSION, AND WE WILL RECONVENE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 630 FOR OUR 
          [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:]
GOT IT. YEAH. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THIS MEETING OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL. IT IS 6:30 P.M. TODAY IS FEBRUARY 4TH, 2025. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, SO I'LL CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER. FIRST THING ON TODAY'S TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS OUR 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. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU. AND THEN WE HAVE WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVE A 
          [2. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS]
PRESENTATION FROM THE UNITED WAY. SO IF YOU'RE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNITED WAY, YOU CAN MEET ME AT THE PODIUM THERE. THANK YOU. HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING? VERY WELL, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU, MR. GARY. IT'S ALWAYS FUN HANGING OUT WITH THE KIDS. IT'S ALWAYS MR. GARY IS WHAT THEY CALL YOU. SO IT'S JUST HABIT. BUT ANYWAY, I DIGRESS. HELLO? HELLO. SO I'LL LET YOU TELL US WHO WHO'S HERE, WHAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING, THAT SORT OF THING. WELL, WE HAVE SOME OF THE CITY OF DENTON'S FINEST EMPLOYEES. I'M GARY HENDERSON, CEO OF UNITED WAY OF DENTON COUNTY. AND EVERY YEAR WE GO INTO WORKPLACES LIKE THE CITY OF DENTON. APOLOGIZE FOR MY VOICE. IT'S LARYNGITIS. NO ONE'S GOING TO DIE. WE GO INTO WORKPLACES AND WE ASK EMPLOYEES TO CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION THROUGH THE PAYROLL DEDUCTION PROCESS. AND THE KEY THING ABOUT PARTNERING WITH UNITED WAY OF DENTON COUNTY IS THEIR DONATIONS. SUPPORT GRANTS TO 18 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING DENTON AND DENTON COUNTY. THIS GROUP, LED BY CHRISTINE AND I WANT TO JESSE, DID YOU LEAD THE GROUP? I JUST WANT TO THANK THESE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE THEIR WORK GENERATED AN 86% INCREASE IN DONATIONS, 86%. AND GET THIS, A 542% INCREASE IN EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION. EMPLOYEES GIVING TO THE CAMPAIGN. SO LET'S JUST PASS THE MIC, EVERYBODY, YOUR NAME AND THE ROLE YOU PLAYED IN THE CAMPAIGN. MY NAME IS JESSE CANNON, AND I HELPED AS A COMMITTEE MEMBER. CHRISTY FOGLE, ALSO A COMMITTEE MEMBER, CHRISTINE TAYLOR, EXECUTIVE SPONSOR. AND WE HAD A VERY SMALL CAMPAIGN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND DECIDED TO JUST JUMP BACK IN AND MAKE A BIG SPLASH, AND IT WAS WAY MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN WE ANTICIPATED. SO WE HAD A GREAT COMMITTEE. MEGAN GILBREATH, ALSO A COMMITTEE MEMBER, AND JUST DOING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT JESSE NEEDED. JAMIE LINDSAY, COMMITTEE MEMBER, MEGAN DAVIDSON, COMMITTEE MEMBER COLE CARPENTER, COMMITTEE MEMBER AARON SKINNER, COMMITTEE MEMBER. AND FRANK DIXON, BOARD MEMBER. BOARD MEMBER WITH THE UNITED WAY OF DENTON COUNTY. SO MAYOR, AT OUR GALA TWO WEEKS AGO, THE CITY OF DENTON, THANKS TO THE WORK OF THIS COMMITTEE AND THE GENEROSITY OF CITY EMPLOYEES, WAS AWARDED OUR RISE UNITED WARD AWARD FOR THE 2024 CAMPAIGN. SO CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR, COUNCIL. 
          CITY MANAGER, HENSLEY, STAFF AND THE EMPLOYEES WATCHING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY. 18 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES 
          [02:05:01]
GENEROSITY. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE IT. YES, SIR. AND SO BEFORE WE DO GET A PICTURE WITH EVERYONE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW WHAT WHAT'S A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET PLUGGED IN, GET UP TO SPEED WITH? UNITED WAY IS DOING IF THERE'S PEOPLE WATCHING THAT WANT TO KIND OF HELP VOLUNTEER, DO WHATEVER, WHAT DO THEY DO? YEAH, GO TO UNITED WAY DENTON.ORG. THERE'S TWO REALLY KEY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT NOW. ONE IS OUR VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OPERATING AT NORTH BRANCH LIBRARY, THE UNITED WAY OFFICE IN DENTON, AND LIBRARIES ACROSS DENTON COUNTY. BUT NUMBER TWO ARE WOMEN. UNITED GROUP IS REALLY PUSHING EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY. SOME OF OUR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT COVID REALLY SUFFERED IN THEIR THIRD GRADE READING ACQUISITION, AND IT'S CARRYING THEM INTO FOURTH GRADE, FIFTH GRADE. AND WE WANT TO OUR WOMEN UNITED GROUP WANTS TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY, BEFORE COVID, WE WENT INTO SCHOOLS AND WE VOLUNTEERED. 
          WE READ TO KINDERGARTNERS AND FIRST GRADERS AND SECOND GRADERS. WE DONATED BOOKS TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN SO THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR FIRST BOOK AND ENJOY THAT. 
          THAT JOY OF LEARNING TO READ. SO UNITED WAY DENTON.ORG VOLUNTEER VIDA IS TAX PREPARATION LITERACY IS READING TO SOME OF OUR YOUNG YOUNG CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. VERY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT SO IMPACTFUL FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE IT. CAN WE GIVE HIM A HAND AGAIN? OH MY GOSH. COME ON. IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN. HERE WE GO. GIVING IT UP. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU. YES, SIR. THANK YOU THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NEVER PHOTOBOMBING THE PICTURE, DO YOU? AND I'LL TRY NOT TO, BUT THIS TIME I DIDN'T HIDE. YOU AND JILL ARE GOING TO BE IN THE PICTURE. THAT'S TWO. 
          AND YOU TWO. YOU'RE OUT OF IT. YEAH. OKAY, IF WE COULD PLAY. LET'S SEE. PLAY THE VIDEO FOR 
          [3. PRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC]
ADDRESSING COUNCIL. THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED RULES OF PROCEDURE, INCLUDING A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT APPLIES TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. THESE RULES WERE ENACTED TO PROMOTE AN ORDERLY PROCESS AND TO PRESERVE DECORUM. SPEAKERS WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO GIVE A SCHEDULED REPORT AND FOUR MINUTES TO GIVE AN OPEN MIC REPORT. A BELL WILL RING WHEN TIME HAS EXPIRED. IF THE REMARKS ARE NOT CONCLUDED BY THAT TIME, THE SPEAKER WILL BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING IF THE SPEAKER DOES NOT CEASE AND A SECOND REQUEST IS MADE, THE MAYOR MAY REQUEST TO HAVE THE SPEAKER REMOVED FROM THE CHAMBER. SPEAKERS SHOULD NOT APPROACH THE DAIS. IF A SPEAKER HAS MATERIALS FOR THE COUNCIL, PLEASE NOTIFY THE CITY SECRETARY IN ADVANCE FOR SCHEDULED REPORTS. THE COUNCIL MAY INITIATE DISCUSSION OR ASK QUESTIONS FOR 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. IS TRACY DUCKWORTH. YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME. YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. MY NAME IS TRACY DUCKWORTH. I'M WAY BETTER KNOWN AS MAMA T. 
          THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT HELPED ME AND SUPPORTED ME IN THIS AND CAME HERE TO SUPPORT ME 
          [02:10:08]
TONIGHT. I'M SORRY I'M SO EMOTIONAL. THIS ORIGINALLY STARTED BECAUSE I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. HOW ABOUT MISS KIMBERLY POLLOCK, A 57 YEAR OLD LADY THAT DIED IN MACK PARK, AND IT WAS COLD. HE WAS JUST NOT COLD ENOUGH TO KICK IN THE INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY. AND THIS LADY CAME INTO MY LIFE IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE I GOT PHONE CALLS FROM MY PEOPLE, HYSTERICAL BECAUSE SHE WAS OUTSIDE BY HERSELF IN THE COLD, OR WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE COLD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET BEDS AT THE SHELTER. THE INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY KICKS IN AT 32 DEGREES. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. I'VE NEVER SAID WHEN I WAS HOMELESS ON THESE STREETS IN THE POURING RAIN WHY THAT WASN'T CONSIDERED INCLEMENT WEATHER. I'VE BEEN ON THE STREETS, SITTING THERE WATCHING MY PHONE WITH MY PEOPLE, WATCHING OUR PHONES, AND THE TEMPERATURE IS 38 DEGREES, 39 DEGREES, AND WE'RE FREEZING AND PRAYING THAT IT DROPS TO 32 SO WE COULD GO BACK INSIDE. AND FOR ANYBODY WHO SAYS THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH BEDS AND WHATNOT, I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING JUST SOME ARTICLES OUT OF THE PAST. DENTON RECORD. CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER ARTICLES. THIS IS THE ONE RIGHT HERE WHERE THEY JUST DID THE PIT COUNT. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT JUST HAPPENED. AND IT SAYS UNITED WAY OF DENTON COUNTY. YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS ARE NOT TOTALED YET, BUT THEY'RE EXPECTING IT TO BE AROUND THE SAME AS LAST YEAR. AND THE COUNT OF BEING ABOUT 518 PEOPLE. OKAY, THEN HERE'S THIS WHERE IT SAYS AT THE AT THE LOOP SHELTER, THE ONLY BUILDING THAT THERE IS FOR THEM, AND THERE'S 133. I MEAN, ALL THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE NEWSPAPER. THERE ARE 133 EMERGENCY BEDS AND 172 EMERGENCY BEDS DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, DAILY AVERAGE OF 155 GUESTS SEEKING SHELTER. OKAY. 
          AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER 32 BEDS IN THE ENHANCED SHELTER. I'M TOO EMOTIONAL TO DO THE MATH, BUT THAT IS NOT ADDING UP TO ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT THE PIT COUNT IS. SO THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH BEDS ACCORDING TO LIKE THE NUMBERS. AND THEN EVERYBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT WHERE'S THE MONEY FOR OVERNIGHT WARMING CENTERS GOING TO COME FROM? I DON'T WANT TO PAY MORE TAXES. THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER. OKAY. IS ANYBODY AWARE OF THE $120 MILLION REMODEL Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO DO ON THIS BUILDING THAT THE BOND COMMITTEE? BOND COMMITTEE TURNED DOWN AND Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO GET PAST ANYWAY, PEOPLE CAN'T PAY THEIR RENT. NO WONDER THEY'RE TURNING THAT DOWN. WE'RE THE ONES THAT GO OUT THERE AND TAKE SUPPLIES TO THE HOMELESS. WE'RE THE ONES THAT TAG EACH OTHER ON FACEBOOK. WHEN WE SEE A HOMELESS PERSON OUT THERE WITH NO COAT, NO BLANKET ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE COMMUNITY IS REACHING IS OUT HERE BEFORE THE SNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THE HOMELESS ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOMELESS ARE TAKEN CARE OF. WE WANT OVERNIGHT WARMING CENTERS FOR THEM. THAT'S WHEN IT'S THE COLDEST. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND I'M EMAILING EVERYBODY. 
          EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT. NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA. OKAY. GET HIM. 
          TO HANG TIGHT. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO DO THINGS DECENT IN ORDER OR WE'RE GOING TO START EXCUSING PEOPLE THAT DON'T ALLOW THE OTHER PEOPLE TO SPEAK. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. BUT THE NEXT PERSON CAN'T HEAR ME CALL THEIR NAME IF WE'RE STILL CLAPPING. SO IF WE COULD HOLD THAT, THAT'D BE MUCH APPRECIATED. IF NOT, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE BECAUSE I HAVE TO KEEP THE DECORUM. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PASSION AND YOUR SUPPORT. I UNDERSTAND, BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THE MEETING. SO THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA HARRINGTON. COME AND GIVE YOUR NAME. YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES. 
          [02:15:02]
HELLO. OKAY. LET ME JUST SEE IF I CAN GET THIS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE PARK THAT YOU'RE ACQUIRING AT 2900 NORTH ELM STREET. I KNOW THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT IT TODAY IN THE WORK SESSION, AND I JUST WANTED TO OFFER A DIFFERENT VISION FOR THE PROPERTY. I SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND WE HEARD THAT THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN WAS, WHERE ARE THE FUNDS GOING TO COME FROM? SO SINCE THAT TIME, ME AND SOME OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FORMED A NONPROFIT. SO THIS IS OUR PROPOSAL FOR THAT PARK. THIS IS OUR BOARD FOR THE NONPROFIT. 
          IT'S ME AND MY SISTER. WE'RE BOTH BUSINESS OWNERS. AND THEN MY GOOD FRIEND ERICA GONZALEZ, WHO HAS WORKED IN NONPROFITS FOR 20 YEARS. SHE KNOWS A LOT ABOUT GRANTS. ME AND MY SISTER BOTH KNOW A LOT ABOUT RUNNING AN ORGANIZATION, SO WE HOPE THAT MAYBE WE COULD COME UP WITH THIS NONPROFIT, TRY TO FIND SOME FUNDING, AND THEN MAYBE BE ABLE TO SAVE THE HOUSE ON THAT PROPERTY, AND ALSO SEE OUR VISION FOR THAT PROPERTY COME TO PASS. WE'VE GARNERED A LOT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT. WHEN I EMAILED THIS PRESENTATION TO YOU GUYS, WE HAD 425 SIGNATURES. 
          THAT IS NOW WELL OVER 500 SIGNATURES AND WELL OVER 200 COMMENTS AS WELL THAT I WILL BE EMAILING TO ALL OF YOU, ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, SOME INFORMATION ON WHERE MOST OF THAT SUPPORT IS COMING FROM BY AREA CODE. SO OUR VISION FOR THE PROPERTY IS TO PRESERVE THE HISTORICAL IEVERS FARM AND CREATE A GATHERING PLACE THAT SUPPORTS SUSTAINABILITY, PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND BUILDS COMMUNITY. IT'S ALSO TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR COMMUNITY'S CULTURAL AND AGRARIAN PAST. THIS IS IDEALLY HOW WE'D LIKE TO SEE THE PROPERTY BE USED WITH A WILDFLOWER AREA, A NATURAL HABITAT, AND THEN ALSO KEEPING THE HISTORIC HOME ON THE PROPERTY ITSELF. THIS IS JUST SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IT BE USED AS A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND ALSO NOTING THAT THIS HISTORIC HOME WAS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS BACK IN 1996. IT NEVER GOT THAT DISTINCTION, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT COULDN'T GET IT. NOW WE ALSO WANT TO SEE SOME GARDENS, DEMONSTRATION GARDENS IN THE BACK AND A NATURAL HABITAT AS WELL PROTECTED NATURAL HABITAT. IT CAN BE DONE. IT'S BEEN DONE IN MANY TOWNS ALL ACROSS TEXAS. 
          THE BLUEPRINT WE'D LIKE TO FOLLOW IS REALLY THE HERB FARM IN BOERNE, TEXAS. IT'S A WONDERFUL FACILITY, A KIND OF A CROWN JEWEL OF THAT AREA. AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T DO IT HERE IN DENTON. THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF THE FARM HOUSES THERE. WE WANT TO SEE WILDFLOWER MEADOW PROTECTED BECAUSE IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR POLLINATORS. WE ALSO WANT TO SEE AN AREA PROTECTED FOR NATURAL HABITAT, SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE AREA. AND THE HISTORIC HOME ITSELF WOULD BE A REALLY UNIQUE SPACE THAT WOULD PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT COULD BRING IN LOCAL VISITORS, AS WELL AS MANY LIVING OUTSIDE OF DENTON, BENEFITING LOCAL BUSINESSES. THE COMMUNITY GARDEN IT'S A GREAT WAY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON GARDENING. IT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL PLACE FOR THE, YOU KNOW, MASTER GARDENERS TO COME IN AND POSSIBLY HELP US DO SOME BEDS, SOME DEMONSTRATION GARDENS, SOME COMMUNITY GARDEN OPPORTUNITIES. THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE. WHO IT BELONGED TO, THE EVERS FAMILY. THE EVERS FAMILY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR TOWN'S FOUNDING YEARS. THEY ESTABLISHED FIRST WATER AND ELECTRIC COMPANIES IN DENTON. THERE'S STILL EVERS HARDWARE ON THE SQUARE ITSELF. YEAH. IT'S JUST IT'S THEY'RE VERY CONNECTED TO OUR TOWN'S HISTORY. WE WANT TO SEE THIS PRESERVED. THE FARMHOUSE WAS PURCHASED IN THE EARLY 1900S. IT'S OVER 120 YEARS OLD. AND THE. YEAH, THEY WERE BIG PECAN FARMERS. ANYWAY, I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME, BUT I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING. BUT THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'LL SEND THAT THE. YES. 
          SEND IT ALL TO YOU. AND ALSO ALL OF THE NEW SIGNATURES AND COMMENTS WE HAD FOR THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY PUT THEM ON OUR WEBSITE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS PETRA KELLY. IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES. HI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PETRA KELLY AND I RESIDE, WORK, GO TO SCHOOL AND RAISE A CHILD HERE IN DENTON, WHERE I'VE LIVED FOR OVER TWO DECADES. I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE LACK OF OVERNIGHT INCLEMENT WEATHER. CENTERS AT LEAST TWO AND HOUSED DENTON RESIDENTS DIED LAST MONTH FROM FREEZING TEMPERATURES, INCLUDING KIMBERLY POLLACK, WHO WE'VE HEARD ABOUT TODAY, WHOSE DEATH WAS PREVENTABLE. ONE WEEK AGO, A 
          [02:20:05]
HOUSELESS ENCAMPMENT CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED DURING FRIGID TEMPERATURES, ENDANGERING NOT ONLY OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, BUT ALSO EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THE CITY'S DESIGNATED WARMING AND COOLING CENTERS, AS THEY'RE CALLED, PROVIDE BRIEF ACCESS TO INDOOR RESTROOMS AND WATER, FORCING PEOPLE BACK INTO EXTREME CONDITIONS. WITHIN MINUTES, MANY OF OUR UNHOUSED MUST RISK EXHAUSTION AND EXPOSURE WHILE CARRYING ALL OF THEIR BELONGINGS ACROSS TOWN TO ACCESS THESE CENTERS, ONLY TO GO BACK INTO THE ELEMENTS OR WORSE, THESE SITES CLOSE AT NIGHT WHEN THE COLD IS MOST DANGEROUS. IN REALITY, THESE CENTERS DO NOT ADDRESS WARMING OR COOLING, BUT SIMPLY ALLOW THE FEW MOMENTS OF RESPITE THAT A BATHROOM BREAK MIGHT ALLOW. WE REQUEST THE FOLLOWING ONE TO PASS AN INCLEMENT WEATHER ORDINANCE THAT ACCOUNTS FOR WIND CHILL, HEAT AND UV INDEX TWO. ESTABLISH LEGITIMATE INCLEMENT WEATHER CENTERS AT MLK REC CENTER AND THE CIVIC CENTER THAT ARE OPEN 24 OVER SEVEN AND THREE. PROVIDE TRAUMA INFORMED TRAINING FOR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO ENSURE HUMANE INTERACTIONS. I RECOGNIZE BUDGET CONCERNS, BUT DENTON ALREADY SPENDS FUNDS REACTING TO HOUSELESSNESS THROUGH EMERGENCY RESPONSE DISPLACEMENT EFFORTS AND PREVENTABLE CRISES. I PROPOSE I PROPOSE REDIRECTING THESE EXISTING EFFORTS TOWARDS REAL SOLUTIONS, AND URGE COUNCIL TO EXPLORE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HONOR THESE REASONABLE REQUESTS. THE ACHIEVEMENT, DISCUSSED EARLIER DURING THE UNITED WAY'S AWARD CEREMONY KICKING OFF THIS MEETING DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PEOPLE OF DENTON SEE A GAP IN SERVICES AND WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, OR ELSE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE MADE RECORD CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WE ARE NOW CELEBRATING. COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE OBVIOUSLY READY TO MOBILIZE, BUT WE NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT. DENTON HAS NONPROFITS, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND FAITH BASED COMMUNITIES, ALONG WITH TWO MAJOR UNIVERSITIES WITH PROFESSIONALS TRAINED IN CRISIS INTERVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. THESE INSTITUTIONS ALREADY OFFER INTERNSHIPS AND SERVICE LEARNING IN PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL WORK, AND PUBLIC HEALTH. WHY AREN'T WE LEVERAGING OUR RESOURCES? HOUSELESSNESS IS NOT A DISTANT ISSUE. IT ALREADY AFFECTS YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES. 
          MANY DENTON RESIDENTS, INCLUDING PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THIS BUILDING, ARE JUST ONE ACCIDENT OR MISSED PAYCHECK AWAY FROM CRISIS. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD WITH COMPASSION AND COMMON SENSE TO ENSURE NO MORE LIVES ARE LOST TO PREVENTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES. WHILE THE REMOVAL OF TWO CITY OFFICIALS MAY FEEL LIKE ACCOUNTABILITY, IT IS NOT A SOLUTION AND IT DOES NOT ABSOLVE CITY LEADERS OF NEGLIGENCE OR APATHY IN ADDRESSING THIS CRISIS. PUNITIVE MEASURES DON'T SAVE LIVES, AND POLICY IS NOTHING WITHOUT ACTION. IF THE ARGUMENT IS THAT HELPING OUR HOUSELESS STRAINS RESOURCES, THE REALITY IS INACTION ALREADY DOES THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS GEORGE FERRY. 
          GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN. MY NAME IS GEORGE FERRY. I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO. I AM A SOCIAL WORKER. I WANT TO START BY SAYING I SERVE ON THE DENTON COUNTY HOMELESS COALITION. I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE DENTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORP, AND I'M ALSO A PROUD BOARD MEMBER OF PRIDE DENTON, LONGTIME RESIDENT OF DENTON OVER 20 YEARS. I THINK I SHOULD START BY SAYING OFF OF WHAT PETRA JUST SAID IS THE NUMBER ONE SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH. IS HOUSING, RIGHT? IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PLACE TO STAY WITH SHELTER THAT IS SAFE AND HEALTHY, THAT IT DOESN'T PROTECT YOU FROM THE OUTSIDE, WHETHER IT AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH INDEFINITELY. 518 PEOPLE WERE COUNTED LAST YEAR IN THE PIT COUNT TO WHAT MAMA T SAID, AND THERE ARE MORE THIS YEAR THAT WERE COUNTED. AND I KNOW BECAUSE I WAS THERE FROM 6:30 A.M. TO 10 P.M. ON THAT DAY, COUNTING PEOPLE MYSELF IN LEWISVILLE, I HAVE DONE A COAT DRIVE FOR TWO YEARS IN THE CITY OF LEWISVILLE FOR CHILDREN. WE HAD 800 LAST YEAR AND 2000 THIS YEAR. NEEDS ARE INCREASING, RIGHT? WE'RE SEEING THIS TIME. OVER TIME, DATA IS SHOWING US RIGHT BEDS 180. OUR DAILY BREAD 20. GIVING GRACE 40 DENTON COUNTY FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY 40. SALVATION ARMY DENTON 14. JOURNEY TO DREAM AND A FEW AT CUMBERLAND, TOTALING ABOUT 300. BUT IN THE COUNTY WE HAVE OVER 500 AS OF LAST YEAR THAT NEED A BED. SO WE'RE BEHIND, RIGHT? WE SEE THIS DATA IS SHOWING THAT WE'RE BEHIND. IT WAS SAID IN A WORK SESSION TODAY, AND I APPRECIATE IT BEING SAID THAT DENTON, THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY IS COMMITTING TO IS COMMITTED TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR UNHOUSED. THAT WAS SAID BY OUR MAYOR. AND I'M PROUD THAT YOU SAID THAT BECAUSE 
          [02:25:03]
WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING OUR UNHOUSED, UNSHELTERED NEIGHBORS, AND WE ARE CONCERNED FOR THEIR HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING. THAT'S WHY MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF US VOTED FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UPLIFT THE VALUE OF THAT COMMITMENT, AND WE REALLY DO PUT MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS. ONE SOLUTION I PROPOSE, POTENTIALLY, IS LOOKING INTO THE LEGALITY OF A PUBLIC HEALTH USING CDBG. SO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT MONEY FOR THE POTENTIALITY OF EXTENDING THE SHELTER HOURS. CDBG-CV. I WONDER IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. I ALSO WANT TO UPLIFT THAT WE SPEND LOTS OF MONEY ON LOTS OF THINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND IF THIS IS A CONTINUING NEED, AND WE'VE NOW HAD PEOPLE DIE IN OUR CITY BECAUSE OF THIS, THAT WE SHOULD EXTEND THAT BUDGET AND HAVE SOME EMERGENCY FUNDS TO HELP WITH THAT. SO AGAIN, THE DEMANDS THAT ARE BEING ASKED OF ARE TO PASS AN INCLEMENT WEATHER ORDINANCE THAT ACCOUNTS FOR WIND CHILL AND HEAT, UV INDEX OPENING A 24 OVER SEVEN WARMING AND COOLING CENTER AT MLK REC CENTER IN THE CIVIC CENTER, PROVIDING SPECIALIZED, TRAUMA INFORMED TRAINING FOR STAFF TO PREPARE THEM TO INTERACT WITH FOLKS WHO ARE UNHOUSED. AND LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO URGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO YOUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. YOU ALREADY HAVE STREET OUTREACH BEING DONE BY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE GIVING GRACE. MAYBE IT'S TIME TO PARTNER, GIVE THEM MORE OF THAT CDBG GRANT MONEY, OR GRANT MONEY THAT THE CITY ALLOCATES ALREADY ANNUALLY, INCREASING THAT TO HELP KIND OF SHOULDER THE WEIGHT OF THESE ADDITIONAL HOURS BEING ASKED OF YOU. BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT CITY STAFF MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE ON THAT LABOR, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO THAT WORK. I'M LITERALLY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. SO REACH OUT TO YOUR CHANNELS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SAMUEL FRAGA ESCALANTE. ALL RIGHT. HELLO, COUNCIL AND MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS IN THE ROOM. MY NAME IS SAMUEL FRAGA ESCALANTE. I'M ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS FOR DENTON FOR DIVERSITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. SO I'VE LIVED IN DENTON FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS NOW. 
          I'M A HOMEOWNER. I'M AN ALUM OF UNT, GOT TWO DEGREES FROM THERE. I'M A FORMER TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, A SOCIOLOGIST BY TRADE, AND MOST RECENTLY I WAS A NATIONAL CONSULTANT FOR NGOS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WORKING ON SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITIES. SO IN I WANTED TO TAKE SOME TIME TODAY TO SPEAK ON WHAT PETRO GEORGE AND MAMA T JUST SPOKE ABOUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. SO I JUST WANT TO OFFER UP MY $0.02. SO MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION BASED ON YEARS OF WORKING, LIKE I SAID, WITH COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS, ALONG WITH MY EXPERIENCE LIVING IN DENTON THESE MANY YEARS, IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO HOMELESSNESS, OFTEN THE CITY, ITS LEADERS, WHOEVER YOU KNOW, ARE THE MOVERS AND THE SHAKERS. WE LACK A COHESIVE, CLEAR VISION ACROSS ALL STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED FOR HOW WE WILL TREAT AND CARE FOR THOSE WITH THE GREATEST NEED. AND SO THINGS LIKE HAS BEEN MENTIONED, OUR BUDGET. THAT'S OUR MORAL DOCUMENT, OUR ACTIONS. THEY REFLECT OUR VALUES. AND OFTEN IT SHOWS THAT EVEN WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS, THE CITY, ITS NONPROFIT PARTNERS, OTHER STAKEHOLDERS HAVE MORE TO DO TO EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, AS YOU HEARD. SO THE PROBLEM WE OFTEN RUN INTO IN WORKING WITH THESE ISSUES RELATED TO HUMAN SUFFERING IS THAT WE'RE OFTEN NOT ALIGNED ON OUR VALUES IN THIS WORK. AND TOO OFTEN IN DENTON, I'VE SEEN FOLKS THAT EVEN WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS, THEY DEEP DOWN SEE UNHOUSED FOLKS AS A PROBLEM AND AS UNDESERVING. BUT AS 2025. AND WE KNOW THAT THE BOOTSTRAPS MENTALITY JUST DOESN'T WORK. IT'S DELUSIONAL NOW TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEHOW WE CAN DISAPPEAR UNHOUSED FOLKS BY PUTTING THEM IN OUR JAILS, THAT WE CAN DISINCENTIVIZE THEM TO COME TO OUR CITY, AND THAT WE CAN WORK AROUND THE EDGES OF THE PROBLEM AND EXPECT OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS TO GO AWAY. BUT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, SOMEONE ENDING UP ON THE STREETS IS A POLICY FAILURE. AND THAT FAILURE IS LIKELY NOT THE CITY'S FAULT, BUT THE CITY CAN AND SHOULD USE, CAN AND SHOULD RISE TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF CARING FOR ITS RESIDENTS, REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY ENDED UP HERE. THINGS LIKE WE MENTIONED, LIKE OUR DAILY BREAD AND OTHER SHELTERS ARE NOT THE SOLUTION. ULTIMATELY, THEY'RE STRETCHED FURTHER THAN THEIR CAPACITY AND EXPERTISE ALLOWS THEM TO. NOR IS THE SOLUTION TO THE PATCHWORK OF JUST THE SOCIAL SERVICES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. THESE HAVE BEEN A SERIES OF STARTS AND BAND-AIDS TO ISSUES THAT GO BEYOND WHAT THE CITY AND ITS PARTNERS HAVE THE POWER TO STOP. SO OBVIOUSLY, WE CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS WRIT LARGE THROUGH JUST WHAT THE CITY CAN DO, OF COURSE. BUT BY PASSING, AS YOU'VE HEARD, FOLKS ASK, FOR AN ORDINANCE TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE BY DEPLOYING OUR 
          [02:30:03]
RESOURCES OF WARMTH, WATER AND SHELTER DURING LIFE THREATENING WEATHER, WE SIGNAL THAT WE AS THE CITY, ACTUALLY CARE BECAUSE WE DO WHAT WE SHOULD, NOT JUST WHAT'S SIMPLE OR EASY, OR WHAT PUTS MAKES OTH FOLKS COMFORTABLE. NOW, AS YOU HEARD MAMA T SAY, I SPENT TWO DAYS BEFORE, DURING AND DURING THE COLD SNAP DISTRIBUTING SUPPLIES TO UNHOUSED FOLKS ACROSS THE CITY. AND IT WAS TERRIFYING TO BE OUT THERE NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE COLD, BUT BECAUSE FOLKS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THAT MENTAL HURDLE OF NOT HAVING ADEQUATE FOLKS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT REALLY CARE AND ARE WANT TO SEE THEM SURVIVE AND THRIVE. AND GOING FORWARD. WE NEED PROACTIVE, EXPANSIVE WORK TO CARE FOR OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS. WORK THAT, AGAIN, HAS A COLLECTIVE VISION, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE COPS CAN PULL ME OVER TO TELL ME THAT I SHOULDN'T HELP A NEIGHBOR THAT'S HOMELESS. WHERE IS THE FREEDOM IN THAT? WHERE IS THE CARE? WHO IS THAT HELPING? SO I'M HERE TO STAND WITH MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS, TO SAY THAT THAT'S NOT WHO WE ARE, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THAT BECOME THE FACE OF DENTON. SO PLEASE PASS AN ORDINANCE TO CREATE THE INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY THAT GOES BEYOND FAHRENHEIT. WEATHER OPENS UP OVERNIGHT HEATING AND COOLING CENTERS, AND LET'S STAFF BE EQUIPPED WITH TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH BUTTON. YOU CAN COME NOW AND GIVE YOUR NAME. YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES. HELLO, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SARAH BUTTON. I'M HERE TODAY AS A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT TWO, SOMEONE WHO IS A CAREGIVER TO MY ELDERLY MOTHER AND SOMEONE WHO IS ALSO RAISING A TEEN NEPHEW AND ALSO AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN. I PREVIOUSLY PREVIOUSLY LIVED IN DENTON FOR 15 YEARS AND I'M HAPPY TO BE BACK. HOWEVER, I TRULY URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO PLEASE ADOPT A POLICY TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT OVERNIGHT WARMING CENTERS AND COOLING CENTERS ARE AVAILABLE, READILY AVAILABLE EVERY YEAR, AND BASED ON WIND CHILL AND HEAT INDEX, AND NOT JUST FAHRENHEIT TEMPERATURE, WE HAVE ALREADY LOST TWO LIVES THIS WINTER TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER THAT IS HEARTBREAKING AND DEEPLY CONCERNING. HOW MANY MORE LIVES WILL WE HAVE TO LOSE BEFORE WE CAN SEE A CHANGE? NO ONE IN THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD FREEZE TO DEATH OR DIE FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION OR DEHYDRATION. WHEN THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE. THIS WEEK I LEARNED THAT OUR COMMUNITY TENNIS CENTER HAS AN INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY, A TENNIS CENTER. YET WE DO NOT HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE FOR OUR WARMING AND COOLING CENTERS. SO HERE WE ARE ASKING FOR A POLICY TO BE PUT IN PLACE FOR OVERNIGHT WARMING AND COOLING CENTERS. COUNCIL. OUR SHELTERS CANNOT MEET THE DEMANDS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. THEY ARE NOT SUFFICIENT AS THEY ARE NOT OPEN OVERNIGHT, NOR DO THEY ALLOW FOLKS A SAFE SPACE FOR LONGER THAN A BATHROOM BREAK OR A DRINK OF WATER. FINALLY, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED, TRAUMA INFORMED TRAINING TO PREPARE STAFF TO INTERACT WITH THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. COUNCIL, I URGE YOU TO ACT AND TO NOT LET ANY MORE PEOPLE SUFFER. WHEN WE HAVE THE POWER TO PROVIDE REAL, LIFE CHANGING SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS WENDY MCGEE. CAN YOU GIVE YOUR NAME? YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I AM A CITIZEN OF THIS DENTON COMMUNITY, BUT I'M ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT OUR DAILY BREAD. AND I WANTED TO BE HERE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE INCLEMENT WEATHER EVENT THAT WE HAD DURING JANUARY, WHICH SEEMED LIKE MOST OF THE ENTIRE MONTH, I THINK 20 DAYS OUT OF THE 31 WE WERE UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER. I WANT TO JUST KIND OF SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY WAS HAPPENING AT THE SHELTER AND THE COLLABORATIVE RESPONSE ACROSS THE CITY AND AMONG OTHER SHELTERS AND STREET OUTREACH. SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE WE WERE THERE, WE WERE PART OF IT. WE WERE LIVING IT EVERY DAY. SO I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE FACTS. WE DID WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE CITY OF DENTON WITH STREET OUTREACH AND THE SALVATION ARMY DAILY. WE DID REPORTING AND CHECK IN ON WHAT KIND OF BED AVAILABILITY WE HAD, ANY CHANGES THAT WE WERE MAKING TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE FOLKS DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CITY HELPED US. THEY PROVIDED PLOWING FOR OUR PARKING LOT TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE OUT THERE. THEY ALSO BROUGHT US COTS SO THAT WE COULD ADD ADDITIONAL BEDS TO SHELTER PEOPLE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. ONE NIGHT, WE TRANSPORTED TEN PEOPLE FROM OUR WITH OUR VAN TO THE SALVATION ARMY BECAUSE THEY HAD OPEN BEDS, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE COULD ALLOW FOR 
          [02:35:05]
MORE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO COME INTO THE SHELTER AT OUR DAILY BREAD. INTERNALLY, WE MOBILIZED. 
          WE HAD OUR LEADERSHIP GROUP GET TOGETHER THE FIRST WEEK OF INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE FIRST DAY BEFORE IT STARTED, WE MOVED 16 PEOPLE FROM EMERGENCY SHELTER TO TRANSITIONAL SHELTER TO ALLOW FOR MORE ROOM. WE DETERMINED HOW MANY MATS WE HAD AND HOW MANY COTS WE COULD ADD. IT WAS A TOTAL OF 65 ADDITIONAL BEDS, COTS. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. WE ALSO EVEN TRIED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD STAFFING AVAILABLE, SO WE HAD ADDITIONAL STAFF STAY OVERNIGHT BECAUSE WE KNEW WE'D HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING AND WE NEEDED TO BE SAFE. AND THEN WE HAD STAFF THAT HAD VEHICLES THAT COULD NAVIGATE THE SNOW SO THAT WE COULD GO AND PICK UP PEOPLE IF WE HAD TO, IF THEY COULDN'T GET TO WORK. SO THERE WAS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT INTERNALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BRING PEOPLE IN AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO SHELTER. THEY CAN EAT AND THEY CAN GET ALL THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET. JUST SOME NUMBERS AND DATA DURING THAT TIME. NO ONE WAS TURNED AWAY FROM THE SHELTER DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. NOT A SINGLE PERSON. I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE HERE TO UNDERSTAND THE AVERAGE INCLEMENT WEATHER BEDS THAT WE FILLED WERE 47. WE HAD 65. OKAY, THAT WAS AVERAGE. TAKING THOSE 20 DAYS AND THEN AVERAGING THEM OUT ON WHAT KIND OF CAPACITY WE HAD. ONLY ONE NIGHT DID WE HIT 65 BEDS, AND WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GETTING CLOSE TO 65, WE WERE COUNTING HOW MANY SLEEPING BAGS WE HAD AND WHERE WE COULD PUT FOLKS. ONLY ONE NIGHT DID WE HIT THAT 65 MARK AND WE DIDN'T GO OVER AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO TURN ANYONE AWAY. THE HIGHEST OCCUPANCY DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY, WE HAD 252 PEOPLE OVERNIGHT IN THE SHELTER, AND THEN THE HIGHEST OCCUPANCY FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER BED WAS 65. AND THAT WAS JUST ONE NIGHT DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY. THE LOWEST BED COUNT WE HAD WAS 168, AND THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER. I WANT TO SAY THAT THERE IS A COORDINATED EFFORT THAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND TO TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND TO BRING SERVICES TO FOLKS. I DON'T KNOW THAT OPENING OTHER LOCATIONS IS THE BEST SOLUTION. I THINK POURING IN TO THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE POURING INTO THE SHELTER THAT WE HAVE HERE, AND SALVATION ARMY AND STREET OUTREACH AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE IN THOSE LOCATIONS IS PROBABLY THE BEST APPROACH. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. THAT COMPLETES THAT SEGMENT OF OUR AGENDA. TAKES US 
          [4. CONSENT AGENDA]
TAKES US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. I'LL TAKE A MOTION. BUT FOR ITEMS B AND K WHICH HAVE BEEN PULLED REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO, I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT FOR ITEMS B AND K REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE, SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR EVERYTHING, BUT FOR ITEMS B AND K, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN. AND THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO. OKAY, SO ONLY ONE OF THOSE THAT REQUIRES 
          [B. Consider a nomination/appointment to the City’s Planning & Zoning Commission.]
ACTION IS B K K IS GOING TO COME BACK TO US. IT'S GOING TO GET REWORKED. SO I'LL CALL ITEM B. 
          IT'S ID 25136. CONSIDER NOMINATION OF APPOINTMENT. CITY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THE APPROVAL OF THE PERSON FOR THIS FOR THIS POSITION ON ITEM B. OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX? COUNCILPERSON JESTER SECONDS. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY ANY DISCUSSION. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR. MAYOR. AS AS YOU KNOW, EACH EACH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL IS, IS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPOINT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. A FEW WEEKS, A LITTLE, A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO WEEKS AGO, ERICA GARLAND WAS PRESENTED BY BY THE DAIS AS A NOMINEE FOR THE AIRPORT BOARD. AND IT WAS PASSED. AND DURING THE DISCUSSION, I REMEMBERED THAT I HAD AN OPENING ON THE PLANNING 
          [02:40:02]
AND ZONING COMMISSION, AND I THOUGHT, GOLLY, ERICA GARLAND WANTS TO SERVE ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. AND I HAVE AN OPENING ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. WHAT COULD BE MORE PERFECT? AND THAT'S SINCERELY. THAT'S THE ONLY THOUGHT THAT I HAD ON THIS. 
          I CONTACTED MISS GARLAND. SHE DID NOT CONTACT ME. I CONTACTED HER AND SAID, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SERVE ON THIS, KNOWING THAT THAT SHE HAD BEEN TURNED DOWN, TURNED DOWN BY THIS BODY ONCE BEFORE FOR P AND Z? AND SHE WAS ENTHUSIASTIC IN HER IN HER WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THIS. SO THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING THERE'S NOTHING SCARY OR OR BACK HANDED OR BACK ALLEY ABOUT THIS. I HAVE AN OPENING ON PLANNING AND ZONING. ERICA GARLAND WANTS TO SERVE ON PLANNING AND ZONING. SHE'S OBVIOUSLY QUALIFIED BECAUSE THIS BODY APPROVED HER TWO WEEKS AGO AT OUR LAST MEETING. SO I'M I'M MOVING THAT. OH, AND BY THE WAY, I GOT AND I THINK EVERYBODY ON THE, ON THE DAIS GOT A NOTE FROM PLANNING AND ZONING CHAIRMAN ERIC PUGH. PRUITT. PRUITT. THANK YOU. PRUITT. AND THE CRUX OF HIS MESSAGE WAS PLANNING AND ZONING CAN'T FUNCTION BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE ON PLANNING AND ZONING TO MAKE A QUORUM. SO HERE AGAIN, LET'S LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS. I GOT A HOLE ON MY PLANNING AND ZONING NOMINATION. ERICA GARLAND IS WILLING TO SERVE ON PLANNING AND ZONING AND PLANNING AND ZONING IS UNDER UNDERSTAFFED. THEY NEED MORE PEOPLE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PERFECT THE PERFECT COMBINATION. SO I I'M PLEASED TO HAVE MADE THE MOTION AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE VOTE. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN. THAT FAILS. FOUR THREE TAKES US TO OUR. PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND ITEM A HAS BEEN PULLED. THAT TAKES US TO ITEM B. I'D 25170 CONDUCT THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, REGARDING ADOPTION OF THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DENTON AND DENTON COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 16. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CHARLIE ROSENDAHL. I'M THE BUSINESS SERVICES MANAGER FOR THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY IS FOR A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE DENTON MUD. NUMBER 16. AS A REMINDER OF MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT IS A SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO A DEVELOPMENT. YOU CAN SEE HERE THE HISTORY WE HAVE WITH THE MEADOWS MUD. WE RECEIVED AN INITIAL POSITION IN APRIL OF 2020. WE'VE HAD TWO AMENDMENTS TO THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. THE LAST AMENDMENT WAS APPROVED ON JANUARY 7TH BY CITY COUNCIL, AND IT INCLUDED THIS AMENDED STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. HERE YOU CAN SEE THE CONCEPT AND TOTAL LAYOUT FOR THE MUD ITSELF, INCLUDING THE AREA IN PURPLE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE ADDITIONAL ACREAGE THAT WAS ADDED TO THE PROPERTY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE AMENDED STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT TO INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL AREA THAT WAS APPROVED IN THE JANUARY 7TH DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. AS A REMINDER, THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, AND THERE'S A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING WITH ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE PLAN FOR FEBRUARY 18TH. THIS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT ALLOWS FOR A LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEXATION FOR US TO COLLECT SALES TAX. 50% OF THAT SALES TAX WOULD BE REMITTED BACK TO THE MUD. AND THEN IN ADDITION, THE AMENDED STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT ALLOWS FOR FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION. THERE'S NO ACTION NEEDED ON THIS ITEM TODAY. THIS ITEM WOULD COME BACK ON FEBRUARY 18TH, AND I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF. AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AGAIN. NO ACTION. RIGHT. NO ACTION. YES, SIR. BUT ANY ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OKAY. SEEING NONE IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING. IF ANYONE CARES TO SPEAK, YOU CAN COME DOWN AND SPEAK. JUST HAVE TO FILL OUT A CARD AFTERWARDS. 
          SEEING NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND WHEN WILL THIS COME BACK TO US? 
          [02:45:01]
THIS WILL COME BACK ON THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 18TH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. 
          [A. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas authorizing the execution of a Development Agreement with TCCI Sanctuary, LLC, Sanctuary Municipal Utility District No. 1 of Denton County and Sanctuary Municipal Utility District No. 2 of Denton County relating to the Sanctuary Development, encompassing approximately 836.02 acres of land located south of US 380, east of George Owens Road and north of Old Stoney Road, within Division 2 of the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Denton, Texas; and providing an effective date.]
          [B. Consider approval of a resolution of the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas consenting to the addition of certain land into Sanctuary Municipal Utility District No. 1 of Denton County.]
          [C. Consider approval of a resolution of the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas consenting to the addition of certain land into Sanctuary Municipal Utility District No. 2 of Denton County.]
          [D. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas (“City”) authorizing the execution of a Utility Service Agreement with TCCI Sanctuary, LLC (“Owner”) and Sanctuary Municipal Utility District No. 1 of Denton County (“District”) concerning retail water service by the City to future customers within approximately 273.03 acres of land generally located south of US 380, east of George Owens Road, and north of Old Stoney Road (“Property”); wastewater ownership; sale of groundwater rights; and other related matters; and providing an effective date.]
          [E. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas (“City”) authorizing the execution of a Utility Service Agreement with TCCI Sanctuary, LLC (“Owner”) and Sanctuary Municipal Utility District No. 2 of Denton County (“District”) concerning retail water service by the City to future customers within approximately 562.99 acres of land generally located south of US 380, east of George Owens Road, and north of Old Stoney Road (“Property”); wastewater ownership; sale of groundwater rights; and other related matters; and providing an effective date.]
THAT CONCLUDES ITEM B TAKES US TO OUR FIRST INDIVIDUAL ITEMS FOR CONSENT CONSIDERATION. FIRST IS ITEM A ID 242177. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH TCC SANCTUARY, LLC, SANCTUARY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER ONE OF THE OF DENTON COUNTY AND SANCTUARY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER TWO OF DENTON COUNTY. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CHARLIE ROSENTHAL, BUSINESS SERVICES MANAGER. THIS IS A JOINT PRESENTATION FOR THE FIRST FIVE INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION ITEMS. OKAY. LET ME CALL THOSE. OKAY. ITEM ITEM B IS ID 242178. 
          CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, CONSENTING TO ADDITIONAL ADDITION OF CERTAIN LAND INTO SANCTUARY. MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER ONE OF DENTON COUNTY. ITEM C, ID 242179. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, CONSENTING TO ADDITION OF CERTAIN LAND INTO SANCTUARY. MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER TWO AND ITEM D, ID 25109. 
          CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A UTILITY SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH TCI SANCTUARY, LLC AND THEN ITEM E, ID 25110. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE DENTON OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF UTILITY SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH TCC SANCTUARY, LLC AND SANCTUARY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER TWO OF DENTON COUNTY. AND IS THAT. YES, THAT'S ALL OF THEM. RIGHT. MAKING SURE. OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. SO THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL IS THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WATER AGREEMENTS AND CONSENT TO A REQUEST TO ANNEX ADDITIONAL ACREAGE INTO THE SANCTUARY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTS NUMBER ONE AND TWO. SO, AGAIN, A MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT IS A SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING FOR DEVELOPMENTS. WE DO HAVE A POLICY RELATED TO THESE TYPES OF DISTRICTS THAT OUTLINES OUR GOALS, CONSIDERATIONS AND CONDITIONS FOR CREATION. HERE'S THE BACKGROUND ON THESE MUDS. IN PARTICULAR, WE RECEIVED INITIAL APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS FOR CONSENT TO CREATE IN 2022. AND THEN THE T-C-E-Q ORDERED THOSE CREATIONS. AFTER NO ACTION BY CITY COUNCIL IN 2023. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPER OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ON DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND PROVIDING WATER SERVICES TO THESE DEVELOPMENTS, AND WE RECEIVED A PETITION IN OCTOBER TO BRING ADDITIONAL ACREAGE INTO THESE TWO MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTS. THE ITEMS BEFORE YOU TODAY ARE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS FOR SANCTUARY, MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER ONE AND TWO, AND THEN UTILITY SERVICE AGREEMENTS FOR EACH, AND THEN RESOLUTIONS OF CONSENT FOR THOSE CONSENT PETITIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED TO US. YOU CAN SEE HERE THE CONCEPT PLAN. SO THIS IS NEAR 156 AND 380. IT IS JUST WEST OF THE DENTON MUD NUMBER 16. THE ITEM THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. OVERALL, WE'RE LOOKING AT 3154 RESIDENTIAL LOTS. AND YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN THERE ON THE RIGHT AND 5.9 ACRES OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. THEY'RE PLANNING TO START CONSTRUCTION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2025, WITH COMPLETION WITH THE FIRST HOMES BEING CONSTRUCTED IN 2027 AND A TOTAL 12 YEAR BUILDOUT. SO SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THESE AGREEMENTS INCLUDE US PROVIDING WATER SERVICES THEY WOULD HAVE TO CONSTRUCT TO OUR CITY OF DENTON WATER STANDARDS, AND THEY WOULD ALSO BE SUBJECT TO WATER CONSERVATION STANDARDS AS WELL. WE WOULD RETAIN THE GROUNDWATER RIGHTS FOR THESE, AND THEN THEY WOULD USE THE CITY OF DENTON WATER WASTEWATER. THEY WOULD CONVEY OVER TO THE EXISTING PLANT AT THE DENTON MUD NUMBER 16. BUT WE WOULD RETAIN THE WASTEWATER EFFLUENT RIGHTS SO THAT WE CAN USE THOSE FOR SERVICE FUTURE SURFACE WATER. THEY WOULD BUILD THE CITY OF DENTON ROADWAY STANDARDS AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO ADJACENT ROADWAYS. WE DO HAVE SOME LOT DIMENSIONS AND MINIMUM HOME SIZE STANDARDS. WE WOULD HAVE GAS WALL SETBACKS AND THE OPTION TO PROVIDE SOLID WASTE SERVICES. AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO ENTER INTO A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. AND THIS WOULD PROVIDE CONSENT TO THE ANNEXATION PETITIONS THAT WE 
          [02:50:01]
RECEIVE FROM THEM FOR ANNEXING LAND INTO THE MUD, NOT INTO THE CITY. SO THIS IS THE RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSENT TO ANNEXATION. THE AREAS IN BLUE AND ORANGE ARE WHAT THEY PETITIONED THE CITY FOR. IT WOULD BRING 186 ACRES FROM MUD NUMBER TWO INTO MUD NUMBER ONE, AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL 25 ACRES INTO MUD NUMBER ONE. SO WITH THAT, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. THIS WOULD BE FOR THOSE FIVE ITEMS THE MAYOR LISTED PREVIOUSLY. AND THEN THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BRING THOSE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS BACK IN FRONT OF THIS BODY. AND I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OKAY. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE. YEAH. THANK YOU. JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO MIGHT BE HEARING THIS SORT OF THING FOR THE FIRST TIME, COULD YOU COMMENT ON THE RANGE OF OPTIONS? THREE DEGREES OF FREEDOM, IF YOU WILL, FOR NOT JUST THIS CITY COUNCIL, BUT ANY CITY COUNCIL IN RELATION TO A MUD IN ANY YOU KNOW. YEAH. IN RELATION TO A MUD. YEAH. SO THE, THE, THE MUDS ARE REQUIRED TO PETITION CITIES IF THEY'RE IN THEIR ETJ AND THEN THE CITIES HAVE THE OPTION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT PROVIDING SERVICES TO THEM. AND THEN ULTIMATELY, IF THE CITY CHOSE NOT TO ACT AS IN AS WAS THE CASE WITH THIS IN THEIR INITIAL PETITIONS, THEY CAN STILL PETITION TC TO BE CREATED AND STILL ARE STILL ABLE TO DEVELOP. SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT AND THEY CAN DEVELOP, OR WE CAN NOT DISCUSS IT AND THEY CAN DEVELOP GENERALLY. GENERALLY, YES. YEAH. OKAY. I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE TO EVERYONE. THANKS. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BECK. 
          THE QUESTION I HAD CHARLIE WAS. I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SORT OF IN AN AREA WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE BEST REGIONAL WATER AND WASTEWATER ARRANGEMENTS THAT WE CAN FOR OUR REGION. TAKE TAKE IT A NOT AS A CITY APPROACH, BUT A REGIONAL APPROACH. BUT I DID HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT WHAT CAUSED THE REALIGNMENT OF THE THREE PARCELS, THE ADDITION AND THEN THE SWAP BETWEEN 1 AND 2? WHAT WHAT NECESSITATED THAT? WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THAT. YEAH, I THINK IT HAS A IT'S A FINANCING CONSIDERATION. BUT WE DO HAVE THE DEVELOPER IN THE AUDIENCE THAT CAN SPEAK TO EXACTLY THE NEED FOR NEEDING TO SWAP THOSE PROPERTIES AROUND. IF YOU'RE CONFIDENT THAT'S THE ANSWER. THAT'S FINE WITH ME THAT I JUST WAS CURIOUS. WHAT YOU KNOW WHY? WHY ARE WE PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRS A LITTLE BIT THERE? YEAH. ALL RIGHT, I APPRECIATE IT. 
          THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE. HEY, CHARLIE. SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. BEFORE I JOINED THIS BODY, COUNCIL PASSED AN ORDINANCE ABOUT THE GAS WELLS SETBACK. SO ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE TO COMPLY IN THE ETJ, THEY'RE CHOOSING TO CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. SO IF THE WELL IS CAPPED, THEY CAN GO WITHIN THAT 200 FOOT RANGE, RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. DO WE EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE? I DON'T HAVE ANY INDICATION THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THIS POINT. IF WELL CAPPED, HOW MUCH CLOSER CAN THEY GO. AND I MEAN AS CLOSE AS THEY WANT TO SEND THE ETJ. RIGHT. I THINK THERE'S A MINIMUM I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DISTANCE, BUT THERE IS A MINIMUM DISTANCE AWAY THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE EVEN IN THE J. I YEAH, I WOULD HAVE TO FIND THE ANSWER ANSWER AND GET BACK WITH YOU. THANKS, CHARLIE. THANKS, MAYOR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX, COUNCILPERSON JESTER, IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THIS HAS BEEN ORDERED BY EC TO BE CREATED, AND CONSIDERING THAT WORKING WITH THEM FOR WATER INSTEAD OF THEIR DRILLING WELLS, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY REACH OUR AQUIFER, WHICH WE DO NOT WANT DRAINED, I MOVE APPROVAL AS PRESENTED. THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR. MAYOR I SECOND ID 242177. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. THIS IS FOR ITEM A JUST SO AND WE'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH EACH OF THEM INDIVIDUALLY. BUT THIS IS ITEM A WE HAVE A MOTION. AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION. SEEING NONE. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN. 
          THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO. THAT TAKES ME TO ITEM B I'LL TAKE A MOTION REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX. COUNCILPERSON JESTER MOVES AS PRESENTED. THANK YOU. AND YEAH THERE YOU GO. 
          REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR, SECOND ID 242178. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN. AND THIS IS 
          [02:55:05]
FOR B. THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO TAKES US TO ITEM C REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX. COUNCILPERSON JESTER I MOVE THAT WE PASS ID 242179 AS PRESENTED. THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE. DISTRICT FOUR THE SECOND OF ID 242179. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION QUESTION FOR STAFF. SEEING NONE LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN. AND ITEM C PASSES 7 TO 0. TAKES US TO ITEM D REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX. COUNCILPERSON JESTER I MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM D AS PRESENTED. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR. SECOND ITEM ID 25109. 
          THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? OOPS. LET'S VOTE ON ITEM D. THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO. THE FINAL ONE IS ITEM E. I'LL TAKE A MOTION REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX. ALL RIGHT. FIVE FOR FIVE. COUNCILPERSON JESTER I MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM E AS PRESENTED REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR. LET'S KEEP THIS PARTY GOING SECOND. YEAH. THE TRAIN SECOND. ID 25110. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. SEEING NONE. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN. THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO. TAKES US TO 
          [F. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation, authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Bond Equipment Company, Inc., through the Buy Board Cooperative Network Contract No. 723-23, for the purchase and repair of Battle Motors Refuse Trucks for the Fleet Services Department; providing for the expenditure of funds therefor; and providing an effective date (File 8721 - awarded to Bond Equipment Company, Inc., for one (1) year, with the option for four (4) additional one (1) year extensions, in the total five (5) year not-to-exceed amount of $18,690,000.00). The Public Utilities Board recommends approval (6 - 0).]
ITEM SIX F ID 25180. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, A HOME RULE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH BOND EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC. THROUGH THE BY BOARD COOPERATIVE NETWORK CONTRACT NUMBER 72323. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. TOM GREEN, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES AND FLEET SERVICES, THE CITY OF DENTON FLEET SERVICES DEPARTMENT REMAINS, REPAIRS, MAINTAINS AND PURCHASES VARIOUS TYPES OF REFUSE TRUCKS, CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, AND UTILITY VEHICLES. REFUSE TRUCKS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT'S OPERATION, PROVIDING WASTE COLLECTIONS FOR BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, INCLUDING TRASH, RECYCLING, AND YARD WASTE. THE PROPOSED CONTRACT SUPPORTS THE REPAIR, MAINTENANCE AND PURCHASING OF VARIOUS REFUSE TRUCKS AND SPECIALIZED UTILITY VEHICLES FOR THE CITY. SERVICES. THE REPAIR SERVICE ALLOWS FOR THE CONTRACT TO PROVIDE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE PERFORMANCE FOR DEPARTMENTS LIKE SOLID WASTE, ELECTRIC AND FIRE. ALL VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT ACQUISITIONS WILL BE PROCESSED THROUGH THE CITY'S BUDGETING PROCESS. THE CITY WILL ONLY PAY FOR SERVICES RENDERED AND IS NOT OBLIGATED TO PAY THE FULL CONTRACT AMOUNT UNLESS NEEDED. THE CHARTS HIGHLIGHT THE CONTRACT'S ESTIMATED COST BREAKDOWN BY FISCAL YEAR, THE PROJECTED ACQUISITION SCHEDULE, BASED ON THE ADDITIONS AND REPLACEMENTS OF ASSETS, AND THE UTILIZATION RATE BY FUND AND ACQUISITION AND SERVICES, ALL OF WHICH WILL BE ROUTED THROUGH THE CITY'S BUDGETING PROCESS. OKAY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO? THANK YOU. TOM. SO WE HAVE AND I KNOW THE MAYOR HASN'T CALLED IT, BUT I'M GOING TO REFERENCE THE NEXT TIME A LITTLE BIT. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TWO ALMOST IDENTICAL ITEMS, ONE FROM BOND AND ONE FROM TIPS. IS THAT WHAT'S GOING ON. SORT OF 18 MILLION FROM ONE AND 19 MILLION FROM THE OTHER. YES. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT INDUSTRIAL POWER HAS AN INCREASED CAPACITY FOR SERVICE INTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S ASSETS AS WELL. THAT'S WHY YOU'LL SEE A SMALL INCREASE IN DIFFERENCE FROM THIS CONTRACT TO THE OTHER. BUT THEY ARE INTENTIONAL THAT THEY ARE INCREASING OUR BUYING CAPACITY FOR REFUSE TRUCKS BY DIVERSIFYING OUR BRANDS FROM THE MANUFACTURING TYPE. SO I THINK I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT LET ME REPHRASE IT. AND YOU MAKE SURE I'M SAYING THE RIGHT THINGS. WE'RE SIMPLY GIVING OURSELVES TWO VENDORS RATHER THAN ONE, TO BUY THESE VARIOUS KINDS OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT TRUCKS. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR. THANK YOU. HOW MANY GUESSTIMATE HOW MANY MILES? ANNUALLY A FIRE TRUCK RACKS UP A REFUSE TRUCK AND A UTILITY TRUCK. WELL, THOSE ARE USUALLY BASED OFF OF HOURS. OKAY. RATHER THAN MILES, I DON'T I DON'T THINK IN TERMS OF HOURS. YEAH. MAINLY FOR THAT IS BECAUSE A LOT OF TIME IS SPENT IDLING AT THE SITES OR UTILIZING THE TOWS ON THE VEHICLES, RATHER THAN DRIVING MILES WITH THAT BROAD RANGE. I'M HAPPY TO GET THAT ANSWER FOR YOU AND BRING IT BACK TO THE TABLE. BUT TO SPECULATE RIGHT NOW WITH THE RANGE OF HOURS PER VEHICLE, I DON'T HAVE THAT DATA WITH ME. OKAY, OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. OF COURSE. ANY OTHER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF SEEING NONE. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX. COUNCILPERSON JESTER MOVES APPROVAL AS OKAY. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT 
          [03:00:03]
TWO. SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN. THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO TAKES US TO ITEM G, ID 25181. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 
          [G. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation, authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Industrial Power, LLC, through The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) Cooperative Program Contract Nos. 230405, 230802, and 230803 for the purchase and repairs of truck and trailer parts for the Fleet Services Department; providing for the expenditure of funds therefor; and providing an effective date (File 8722 - awarded to Industrial Power, LLC, for one (1) year, with the option for four (4) additional one (1) year extensions, in the total five (5) year not-to-exceed amount of $19,477,500.00). The Public Utilities Board recommends approval (6 - 0).]
OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS HOME RULE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH INDUSTRIAL POWER, LLC THROUGH THE LOCAL PURCHASING SYSTEM. 
          COOPERATIVE PROGRAM CONTRACT NUMBER 230405 AND 230802 AND 230803 FOR PURCHASE OF REPAIRS OF TRUCK AND TRAILER PARTS FOR THE FLEET SERVICES DEPARTMENT. GOOD EVENING AGAIN. THE FIRST SLIDE IS THE SAME AS THE OTHER. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIRST PRESENTATION AND THIS IS THAT THIS CONTRACT ALLOWS ADDITIONAL SERVICING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ACQUISITIONS. IN THAT MANNER, THE CONCEPT IS STILL THE SAME. WE'RE HERE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AND PURCHASE THESE VEHICLES FOR THE CITY SERVICES. THE CHARTS HIGHLIGHT THE CONTRACTS ESTIMATED COST BREAKDOWN BY FISCAL YEAR, THE PROJECTED ACQUISITION SCHEDULE BASED UPON OUR ACQUISITIONS AND REPLACEMENTS OF ASSETS, AND THE UTILIZATION RATE BY OUR FUND. OKAY. AND DOES THIS EXPEDITE THE LEAD TIME THAT WE NEED? SO WHAT'S THE LEAD TIME ON ESPECIALLY SPECIFICALLY FIRE HERE. SO NEW TRUCK TWO YEARS. WHAT IS THIS. SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THIS IS THIS IS FOCUSED ON THE SERVICING. WE PURCHASE OUR FIRE ASSETS FROM CITIZENS. MARTIN. 
          HOWEVER WE COULD PURCHASE, SAY A BLOCKER TRUCK FROM THIS MANUFACTURER. AND INSTEAD OF HAVING AN 18 TO 24 MONTH LEAD TIME, THAT TYPE OF VEHICLE, IF IT'S ON THE LOT, COULD BE PURCHASED WITHIN OUR STANDARD PROCUREMENT TIMELINE, WHICH COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 2 WEEKS. GOT IT. THREE DAYS. TWO WEEKS. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OF COURSE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH TRUCKS HAPPILY MOVE APPROVAL. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO. I'LL SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN. PASSES 7 TO 0. THANK 
          [H. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton ordering an election for Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4 to be held on May 3, 2025, and if required, a runoff election to be held on June 7, 2025; prescribing the time, manner, and conduct of the election in accordance with a Joint Election Agreement and Contract for election services with the Elections Administrator of Denton County; and providing an effective date.]
YOU, THANK YOU. TAKES US TO OUR FINAL ITEM. ITEM H ID 25186. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON ORDERING AN ELECTION FOR DISTRICTS ONE, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR TO BE HELD ON MAY 3RD, 2025 AND IF REQUIRED, A RUNOFF ELECTION TO BE HELD ON JUNE 7TH, 2025. YES. 
          SO, LAWRENCE ODEN, CITY SECRETARY, HERE WE ARE AGAIN TONIGHT. HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO ORDER THIS ELECTION FOR SATURDAY, MAY 3RD, 2025. IT IS OUR GENERAL ELECTION FOR COUNCIL DISTRICTS ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR. AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE DENTON COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR TO RUN THE ELECTION FORMALLY. KEY DATES APRIL 22ND THROUGH APRIL 29TH. 
          FOR EARLY VOTING. CANVASING DATE IS SET FOR MAY 13TH AND A RUNOFF IF NECESSARY. JUNE 7TH. OUR EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS HAVE CHANGED TO INCLUDE THE DENTON WESLEY FOUNDATION LOCATION. 
          OTHERWISE THEY ARE THE SAME AS PRESENTED. I WILL POINT OUT THAT LAST TIME TEXAS WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY WAS A TO BE DETERMINED. IT IS NOW CONFIRMED AS AN EARLY POLLING LOCATION. 
          AND THEN WE HAVE OUR ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS AGAIN, INCLUDING THIS TIME THE DENTON WESLEY FOUNDATION. JUST A NOTE, THE TEXAS WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY IS NOT A LOCATION BECAUSE IT'S IN THE SAME PRECINCT AS THE DENTON CIVIC CENTER, AND WE CHOSE THAT LOCATION FOR THE POLLING FOR ELECTION DAY ITSELF. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. QUESTIONS. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY SECRETARY. I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE FEEDBACK THAT WE PROVIDED YOU LAST TIME THAT THAT YOU JUMPED ON, WENT OUT AND ARRANGED AND TALKED TO THOSE FOLKS. YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD THE CONCERNS THAT THE DAIS BROUGHT TO YOU. AND IT MEANS A LOT THAT THAT YOU RESPONDED TO THOSE CONCERNS. SO I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, SAY THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THOSE. YOU'RE WELCOME. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE, I TO ECHO THE REMARKS OF DOCTOR BECK, THANK YOU FOR JUMPING IN AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING RESPONSIVE. 
          AND ALSO, MR. CITY MANAGER, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO 
          [03:05:03]
IN FRONT OF THE SCENES AND ESPECIALLY WHAT YOU DO BEHIND THE SCENES. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE? FIRST I WANT TO SAY WE'RE ENGAGED IN COLLECTIVE DECISION MAKING HERE AND THAT THIS IS EXACTLY HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK. AND YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY EVERY INDIVIDUAL CAN'T POSSIBLY BE EXPECTED TO KNOW EVERY HISTORY OF EVERY GRIEVANCE, OR EVEN TO REALIZE THAT WESLEY FOUNDATION ISN'T RUN BY, YOU KNOW, UNT. SO IT'S TOGETHER. WE GOT TO A GOOD RESULT. AND I THINK YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB. AND THAT'S WHY I'M MOVING APPROVAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO. I'M HAPPY TO SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? WELL, I JUST WANT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF IT AND EMAILING WEEKS AHEAD OF LAST WEEK TO SAY, IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS LIST, SEND IT TO ME IN ADVANCE. THAT'S THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO GET TO. WE'RE NOT THERE YET. 
          IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS. BUT I FROM ME TO YOU, SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING PROACTIVE AND RESPONDING REACTIVELY TO THE LACK OF PROACTIVE FEEDBACK. SO THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH US. 
          AND I KNOW THAT MUST BE THAT'S GOT TO BE CHALLENGING TO SAY. LET ME KNOW IN ADVANCE. AND YOU DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING. AND THEN IN LIVE IN A MEETING WHICH WE TRY TO AVOID THAT HAPPENS. SO I'M NOT IT'S NOT GOOD TO IGNORE THAT THAT MISS ON OUR PART. AND SO FROM FROM ME TO YOU. THANK YOU. AND WE'LL GET IT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN. AND THAT 
          [7. CONCLUDING ITEMS]
PASSES SEVEN ZERO TAKES US TO CONCLUDING ITEMS. ANY REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR. THANK YOU. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH SOME KEY CLUB MEMBERS FROM DENTON HIGH SCHOOL. NOW, IF YOU LOOK ON THE SCREEN THERE THAT THAT IS MCKENNA PARK. 
          CAN YOU READ THAT SIGN? CAN YOU READ THAT SIGN? WELL, I COULDN'T READ IT EITHER. AND SO MY KEY CLUB KIDS WORKED ONE MORNING, ONE SATURDAY MORNING RECENTLY. AND THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW. WHAT ABOUT THAT? WOW. AND I WAS VERY VERY PROUD OF THEM. WE SPENT THE WE SPENT TILL ABOUT 1:00 THAT THAT AFTERNOON WORKING ON THAT. AND THAT'S WE TAPED IT OFF. GARY PATTON GAVE US PERMISSION TO DO THIS. WE DIDN'T JUST HEAD OVER THERE AND START START PAINTING. WE TAPED IT OFF AND BROUGHT LADDERS AND SECURED AND NOBODY GOT HURT. AND I GOT A LITTLE PAINT ON MY SHOES, BUT IT WAS. BUT IT WAS QUITE A DAY AND I WAS SHOW THEM THE SIGN AGAIN. I WAS UNBELIEVABLE. ISN'T THAT COOL? AND IT WAS INVISIBLE BEFORE SO AND THAT AND THAT'S MY FIRST THING. THERE IT IS NOW. 
          NOW LAST WEDNESDAY, LAST WEDNESDAY IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, UNDER MY DRIVEWAY, SIX FEET UNDER MY DRIVEWAY, MY SADDLE CLAMP BROKE. A LOT OF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT A SADDLE CLAMP IS. I DIDN'T EITHER. A SADDLE CLAMP IS WHAT TAPS INTO THE TEN INCH WATER MAIN THAT RUNS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, AND IT WAS SPEWING WATER, AND IT WAS KIND OF MAKING A MESS. AND SO I CALLED THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT AND THEY SENT SOME NICE PEOPLE OUT AND THEY SAID, WE THINK WE KNOW WHAT THIS IS. WE THINK THIS IS A SADDLE CLAMP. THEY EXPLAINED TO ME WHAT A SADDLE CLAMP IS, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU AFTER THE MEETING. ANYWAY, THEY SAID WE'LL BE OUT TOMORROW MORNING AT 830 AND START WORKING ON THIS. BY GOLLY, THURSDAY MORNING AT 830 ON THE DOT. THEY WERE OUT THERE WORKING ON THIS, AND I HAD AS MANY AS EIGHT UTILITY PEOPLE, YOUNG MEN WORKING ON THIS WITH SOME FANCY EQUIPMENT, AND EVERYBODY WAS PROFESSIONAL AND COURTEOUS AND ON TIME. AND THEY KNEW HOW TO WORK THEIR, THEIR, THEIR SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT. AND MY DRIVEWAY IS IT'S NOT REPAIRED, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE BUT IT'S NICE AND DRY. AND I JUST WANTED THEM TO KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE I WANTED TO SAY HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH. OF COURSE, EVERY DAY SHOULD BE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, EVERY DAY SHOULD BE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. AND WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING THE PRINCIPLES OF KWANZAA EVERY DAY. AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO SAY THAT MANY MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE MEMBERS, HAVE REACHED OUT TO MANY OF US ON THIS DAIS. 
          THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR STATE AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. I 
          [03:10:04]
WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE HEARD. YOUR VOICE IS RESPECTED AND YOU ARE LOVED IN THIS COMMUNITY. THE CITY OF DENTON, AS I KNOW WE ALL BELIEVE IS THE GREATEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE AND MAINTAIN A FAMILY. SO THIS BODY WILL CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR YOU AND AFFIRM ALL OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. AND WE THANK YOU FOR ROCKING WITH US AND LIVING HERE AND CALLING THIS PLACE HOME, JUST LIKE THOSE OF US UP HERE WHO LOVE THIS CITY CONTINUE TO DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX, JUST A QUICK THANK YOU TO FIRE STATION SIX. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I HAD TO CALL 911 AND HAVE THE PARAMEDICS COME OUT FOR A FAMILY MEMBER. AND THEY WERE THERE WITHIN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND WERE SO PROFESSIONAL AND REASSURING, AND I HAD SUCH CONFIDENCE IN THEM. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ALSO TO THE DENTON SCHOOL FOUNDATION FOR PUTTING ON A GREAT GROUNDHOG GALA AND RAISING SOME GOOD FUNDS. I DID ACCIDENTALLY WAVE TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FRANK DIXON. THEY DID THINK IT WAS A LIVE AUCTION BID. LUCKILY I WAS NOT THE WINNING BID, BUT IT WAS VERY CLOSE. AND SO NO MORE WAVING. NO MORE WAVING. EVERYONE. NOT DURING LIVE AUCTIONS. AND THANK YOU ALL. REPRESENTATIVE. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT ONE. AS MEMBER HOLLAND WAS SPEAKING, IT BROUGHT TO MIND THAT WE JUST YOU ALL PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THAT ENGAGED DENTON APP ON YOUR PHONE. THAT APP IS WHAT HELPS US MAINTAIN OUR CITY IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MOMENT, SO THEY CAN COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT EVERYTHING. SO DON'T FORGET TO PUT THE ENGAGE DENTON ON YOUR ON YOUR PHONE. I USE IT AS I'M TOOLING AROUND AND DRIVING AROUND AND LOOKING AT THINGS. I JUST PUT IT IN AND THEY'RE SO RESPONSIVE. ALONG WITH THAT. ALSO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED DISCUSS DENTON AND THAT IS DISCUSSED DENTON.COM. THAT IS WHERE WE THE CITY PUTS IN, YOU KNOW, LARGE SCALE PERTINENT INFORMATION FOR YOU ALL TO STAY AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE BIG SCALE. WE SAW A VIDEO EARLIER TODAY IN OUR WORK SESSION SPACE, AND IT WAS GIVING US SOME GREAT DATA, YOU KNOW, ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO US. 
          I'M HOPING THAT THAT WILL SHOW UP ON A CITY WEBSITE AT SOME POINT. I'M LOOKING BACK THERE AT OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE WORLD TO SEE HOW WE'RE DOING HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY. IT MADE ME SO PROUD TO SIT THERE AND WATCH THE VIDEO AND JUST SEE HOW WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO SEE IS. SO YOU ALL PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO THE. DISCUSS DENTON.COM AND ENGAGE DENTON. I AM STILL WORKING ON THE QUAKER TOWN PROJECT THAT CAME UP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THERE IS STILL A GREAT MOVEMENT TO TELL THE STORY OF QUAKER TOWN. IF YOU ALL HAD NOT HAVE. DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. PLEASE LOOK IT UP. QUAKERTOWN, TEXAS. DENTON, TEXAS. QUAKERTOWN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. IT'S A GREAT STORY BEHIND THAT, AND IT'S IN OUR CITY. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'RE SITTING IN QUAKER TOWN RIGHT NOW. SO YOU ALL PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THAT. IF YOU HAVE ANY EXTRA FUNDS. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR FUNDING, FUNDRAISING TO COMPLETE THAT DOCUMENTARY, SO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. 
          REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO. THANK YOU. I WANT TO CONTINUE THE VEIN OF THANKING THE STAFF. THEY THEY LEARNED ABOUT AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT OF A DISABLED GENTLEMAN WHO LOST HIS LIFE AT, AT UNIVERSITY AND THE TRANSPORTATION AND STREET STAFF GOT OUT THERE AND PUT A BRAND NEW PEDESTRIAN CALL BOX WITH SPEAKERS TO REALLY IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THAT INTERSECTION. 
          AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUICK TURNAROUND ON THAT TO ADDRESS THOSE KINDS OF NEEDS WHEN THEY WHEN THEY CROP UP. SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL THAT THEY GOT THAT TAKEN CARE OF SO QUICKLY. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT IS TO NETTIE SCHULTZ. ELEMENTARY IS THE LAST REMAINING ELEMENTARY IN THE WHOLE DENTON ISD THAT DOES THEIR SCIENCE FAIR. THERE'S NO OTHER, AND I COULDN'T BE PROUDER TO REPRESENT NETTIE SCHULTZ. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU, THEY'RE THERE. 
          THEY'LL BE DOING THAT OVER THIS SPRING SEMESTER WITH AN OPPORTUNITIES TO GO SEE THE KIDS PROJECTS LATER AT THE END OF THE SPRING, BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER WHEN WE GET THE FINAL DATES, 
          [03:15:03]
I'LL LET YOU ALL KNOW. BUT I COULDN'T BE PROUDER THAT THIS, THIS ONE SCHOOL IN OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT IS MAINTAINED AND KEPT ON WITH THEIR FOCUS ON SCIENCE AND SCIENCE FAIR. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. ANYONE ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, I'LL WRAP UP WITH THESE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, HAPPY BIRTHDAY EARLY. I'M A COUPLE OF DAYS EARLY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING IN A COUPLE OF DAYS FOR MY FATHER IN LAW, ROBERT CASTRO. HIS BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP, SO I WANT TO WISH HIM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THEN I WANT TO THANK CITY STAFF AND EVERYONE AT MLK FOR LAST WEEK OR EARLIER THIS WEEK. IT ALL RUNS TOGETHER. THE BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM WAS FANTASTIC, REALLY HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT. SO THANK EVERYONE THAT PULLED THAT TOGETHER AND ALL THOSE. 
          PARTICIPANT. THE SPEAKER WAS GREAT. THE BLACK FILM FESTIVAL WENT OFF AND THAT WAS A GREAT ADDITION TO THE CITY OF DENTON. THANK EVERYONE THAT MAKES THAT POSSIBLE. SO 11TH YEAR AND TRULY HAVING A GREAT IMPACT AND BRINGING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO DENTON TO EXPERIENCE DENTON AND WHOSEVER IDEA, IT WAS FOR THE HEARTS AROUND TOWN IS GREAT. SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO MAKE DENTON UNIQUE AND WELCOMING AND STAND OUT. AND SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF THOSE THINGS. RUBBER GLOVE, IF YOU DID NOT KNOW THE MUSIC VENUE WON A AWARD FOR THEIR LIVE MENU LIVE MUSIC VENUE. SO I WANT TO SAY CONGRATS TO EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT ORGANIZATION. IT'S HARD EARNED. 
          AND THEN CHRISTI AND STAFF HELPED ME GO DOWN TO AUSTIN. I MEAN, CHRISTI KNOWS IF YOU IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ANYONE THAT KNOWS EVERYONE IN AUSTIN, IT'S CHRISTI. AND IT WAS. BUT IT WAS GREAT TO GO DOWN AND TALK TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO DENTON AND ADVOCATE AND CONTINUE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. AND SO I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN GREAT HANDS, HAVING SEEN IT FIRSTHAND. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HELPED PULL THAT TOGETHER. AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND, I'M SO IMPRESSED. I THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK AT MCKENNA PARK. 
          THAT'S REALLY THE KEY. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE FOCUS IN ON THE MEETINGS, THE VOTES, THOSE SORT OF THINGS. 
          BUT MATTERS NOT. MORE IMPORTANT IS HOW WE SERVE. RIGHT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE THERE AND IMPACTING OUR CITY IN A VERY REAL WAY. THOSE THINGS, YOUR FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND TANGIBLE CHANGES ARE REALLY CRITICAL. AND THAT'S THE PART OF SERVICE THAT'S REALLY GREAT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN LAST BUT BUT VERY IMPORTANT, YOU IF YOU DON'T KNOW HER YOU SHOULD KNOW. SO GOT TO AND I GOT TO GO TO TWO BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND SHE HOSTS A WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY. SHE'S AMAZING. SO MISS MISS CLARK IS A TREASURE FOR THE CITY OF DENTON. 
          SHE TURNED 97, SO I GOT TO GO TO BOTH HER BIRTHDAY PARTIES. AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW, SHE. SHE PHYSICALLY LIVED IN QUAKERTOWN BEFORE THEY MOVED THOSE HOUSES. SO IT'S JUST. WHAT AN AMAZING HISTORY. WHAT AN AMAZING LADY. AND SHE JUST CONTINUES TO AMAZE ME EVERY TIME I SIT DOWN AND TALK TO HER AND JUST LEARN A LITTLE MORE. SO GRATEFUL FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE AGAIN, AND GRATEFUL FOR EVERY DAY THAT I GET TO CATCH UP WITH HER AND VISIT AND JUST SAY HELLO. SHE'S TRULY A TREASURE FOR THE CITY. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN TO MISS CLARK AND AT 747 WILL CONCLUDE TONIGHT'S
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.