Link

Social

Embed

Disable autoplay on embedded content?

Download

Download
Download Transcript

[1. Public Comments on Work Session Items]

[00:00:09]

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE MARCH 15 2021 WORK SESSION FOR THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL.

THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT IS PUBLIC COMMENTS ON WORK SESSION ITEMS EXCUSE ME, IN COUNCIL AND IN STAFF AND IN THE FOLKS.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE SIGN UP TO SPEAK TONIGHT, FOUR OR FIVE, BUT ALL OF THEIR QUESTIONS ARE VACCINE RELATED.

SO I'M GOING TO HOLD PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL AFTER THAT AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE I'M THINKING THIS PRESENTATION MAY ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THAT ITEM.

THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM TWO IS CONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[2. Consider the Consent Agenda]

THIS WOULD BE FOR TOMORROW NIGHT.

I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUEST TO HAVE ANY ITEMS PULLED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S STILL TIME FOR THAT BEFORE WE CONVENE TOMORROW NIGHT.

THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM THREE, WRITTEN BRIEFINGS.

[3. Written Briefings]

OUT OF 3A AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ADA TRANSITION PLAN.

ITEM 3B MASTER AGREEMENT WITH DALLAS COUNTY FOR MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM.

ITEM 3C, 2019 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM, ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION APPLICATION RESOLUTION.

OK.

ITEM 3D REPEAL OF ARTICLE VI, CHAPTER 30 SIGN REGULATIONS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.

ITEM 3E MODIFICATION OF SINGLE STREAM RECYCLABLE MATERIALS, TRANSPORT, PROCESSING AND MARKETING AGREEMENT.

SORRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH? THANK YOU, MAYOR THIS IS ON ITEM 3E, I HAD A CONSTITUENT REACH OUT TO ME REGARDING THIS AND ASK IF WE BROUGHT OUR RECYCLED MATERIALS SORTING IN HOUSE .

IF WE WOULD BE ABLE TO COME OUT AHEAD ON THE PRICE OF WORKING WITH AN EXTERNAL ENTITY, AND WE PRESUME THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE THE SCALE TO MAKE THAT TO WHERE THE CITY WOULD COME OUT AHEAD, BUT I PROMISED THAT WOULD PITCH THE QUESTION.

WELL, WE WERE LOOKING AT IT TODAY.

OK, THANK YOU, SIR.

MY LIST SAYS THAT URIEL IS WITH US, BUT THERE HE IS.

IF YOU COULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR US, PLEASE.

YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE TRICKY IN THE SENSE, LET ME TURN ON MY CAMERA.

IT'S NOT WORKING.

THERE WE GO.

SO THE ISSUE HERE IS THE COST.

WE WOULD HAVE TO BUILD A FACILITY THAT WILL SORT OUT ALL THE COMMODITIES.

AND WHEN I TALK TO FCC OR CURRENT VENDOR, THEY SPEND 10 MILLION DOLLARS BUILDING THEIRS.

AND THAT'S JUST THE FACILITY AND THE EQUIPMENT, NOT COUNTING THE LAND.

WE DO NOT HAVE WE DON'T COLLECT THE VOLUME HIGH ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO BE COST EFFECTIVE.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S CINDY WITH A SQUEAKING TOY , BUT THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT AND THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE, SIR.

THANK YOU.

I ALSO WANT TO ADD WE WILL BE DOING AN ANALYSIS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING AN EXPANSION OF THE TRANSFER STATION IN THE RECYCLING CENTER.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO THE CONSULTANT AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT TO SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WORTH EXPLORING.

THEN I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET BACK TO YOU.

OK, THANK YOU, URIEL.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCNEAL? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, URIEL, WHAT'S THAT STUDY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO? CAN YOU GET A PROJECTION ABOUT THE ONGOING COST MAYBE AS WELL? I KNOW THE INITIAL START OF COST, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST GET SOME KIND OF PROJECTIONS ABOUT ONGOING COSTS TO ACCOMPANY THAT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU, I.

EXCUSE ME, ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR URIEL ON THIS SIDE? I SEE NONE.

THANK YOU, URIEL.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS OUR LAST ITEM ON THE WRITTEN BRIEFINGS.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR VERBAL BRIEFINGS.

AND FIRST UP IS ITEM 4A AND COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO JUST THIS IS GOING TO BE A SORT

[4A. COVID-19 Response Update and Further Actions]

OF A MULTIPART DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

I MEAN, FIRST THING, WE'LL HAVE OUR NORMAL UPDATES THAT WE GET FROM JASON AND FROM

[00:05:06]

MISTIE ON THE STATISTICS, ET CETERA.

AND THEN WE WILL DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THE VACCINATION LISTS, ET CETERA.

SO THE FIRST PART, JASON? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.

I'LL ASK MISTIE.

TO SHARE HER SCREEN AND WE'LL RUN THROUGH THE REPORT THAT I THINK I'VE JUST BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO.

SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE SLIDE AND THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF EXACTLY WHERE WE STAND IN TERMS OF PARDON ME, IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL PANDEMIC.

AS YOU SEE IN BLUE, THE TOP NUMBER THERE, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 26,832 CONFIRMED CASES.

SO THAT'S, AGAIN, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES FROM BEGINNING TO THIS AFTERNOON.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE CONSIDERED RECOVERED THAT THEIR END OF MONITORING CRITERIA AND ALMOST 26,000 AT THE END OF MONITORING CRITERIA, BY THE WAY, THAT REPRESENTS ALMOST 97 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL CASELOAD.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE LOST 352 GARLAND RESIDENTS TO COVID-19 RELATED FATALITIES.

THAT REPRESENTS A LITTLE OVER ONE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL CASELOAD, WHICH LEAVES THE ACTIVE CASES AT 522.

AND OF COURSE, THOSE ARE THE THE INFECTED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE STILL, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THEY'RE STILL IN THE ACTIVE PHASE OF THE DISEASE.

SO THEY'VE TESTED POSITIVE AND THEY'VE NOT YET MET THE END OF MONITORING CRITERIA.

THE GRAPH THAT YOU SEE THERE ON THE LEFT IS ALSO FAMILIAR.

IT DEPICTS THE THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES PER DAY BY COLLECTION DATES.

SO, AGAIN, IT'S THE DATE THAT A SAMPLE WAS COLLECTED AND SUBSEQUENTLY TESTED POSITIVE.

AND IT, IN MY MIND, THIS IS THE BEST GRAPH TO ILLUSTRATE TRENDS IN THE PANDEMIC.

YOU CAN SEE THE TWO DISTINCT WAVES THERE.

THE FIRST WAVE BEING THE ONE THAT WE EXPERIENCED IN EARLY SUMMER, JUNE, JULY 2020, AND THEN THE MUCH LARGER WAVE CLOSER TO THE RIGHT PART OF THE GRAPH, THE WAY WE EXPERIENCED OVER THE HOLIDAYS.

AND WE'RE BY NO MEANS DONE WITH COVID-19.

THE CASE NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED DRAMATICALLY, WHICH IS VERY GOOD.

CERTAINLY NOT TIME FOR A VICTORY LAP, BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY, WE HOPE THAT THE SECOND WAVE WAS THE WORST AND IT'S CERTAINLY IN OUR REARVIEW MIRROR.

WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME STAFF IMPACTS.

SO WE, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE TRACKED THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT WERE IMPACTED BY COVID, COVID-19.

BOTH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT TESTED POSITIVE AND THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE EXCLUDED DUE TO HIGH RISK.

THIS TABLE WAS JUST UPDATED TODAY AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD NUMBERS THIS LOW SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

AS OF TODAY, WE ONLY HAVE THREE CITY EMPLOYEES THAT REMAIN EXCLUDED FOR TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

EACH OF THOSE THREE INDIVIDUALS ARE EXPERIENCING OR HAVE EXPERIENCED LONGER TERM SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISEASE.

SO I SPOKE WITH OUR CITY CARE CLINIC STAFF THIS AFTERNOON AND THEIR LAST POSITIVE TEST FOR AN EMPLOYEE WAS ON FEBRUARY 10TH.

SO OVER A MONTH AGO, WHICH IS EXCELLENT NEWS.

WE DO HAVE ONE EMPLOYEE CURRENTLY EXCLUDED BECAUSE OF HIGH RISK CONTACT.

THAT HIGH RISK CONTACT DID NOT OCCUR AT WORK.

SO AS WE STAND TODAY, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF FOUR EMPLOYEES EXCLUDED, WHICH IS DEPICTED ON THE GRAPH ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND AGAIN, WHEN YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH AND THIS ILLUSTRATES WELL, THE YOU KNOW, THE DRAMATICALLY DOWNWARD TREND, AS YOU SAW ON THE FIRST SLIDE.

THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT HAVE AFFECTED CITY EMPLOYEES, BOTH POSITIVE CASES, EMPLOYEES THAT TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AND EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED DUE TO HIGH RISK CONTACT HAVE DROPPED DRAMATICALLY IN A SIMILAR FASHION TO THE CASE LOADS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE COMMUNITY.

IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE WHERE WE'LL TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT VACCINATIONS, SO THE DOSES, OF COURSE, WE RECEIVED DOSES THAT ARE THAT ARE DESIGNATED AS FIRST OR SECOND ROUND DOSES, THEY'RE DESIGNATED BY THE STATE AND ALLOCATED IN THAT FASHION.

OF COURSE, THE DOSES, AT LEAST FOR THE MODERNA VACCINE, WHICH ALL THE VACCINES THAT WE RECEIVED SO FAR HAVE BEEN MODERNA VACCINE, THE FIRST AND SECOND DOSES ARE

[00:10:01]

IDENTICAL.

AND I THINK WE DISCUSSED THAT AT PRIOR MEETINGS.

WE RECEIVED 9,500 FIRST ROUND DOSES AS OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AS OF CLOSE OF BUSINESS FRIDAY.

WE HAVE ADMINISTERED ALMOST 7,500 FIRST DOSES AND AS YOU SEE WE RECEIVED 5,000 SECOND ROUND DOSES AND HAVE ADMINISTERED THE LION'S SHARE OF THOSE 4,944.

I WILL REMIND YOU THAT IF YOU TRY TO DO THE MATH ON THE DOSES ADMINISTERED VERSUS DOSES RECEIVED, RECALL THAT MANY OF THE VIALS THAT ARE 10 DOSE VIALS, MANY OF THOSE VIALS HAVE AN EXTRA DOSE.

SO TYPICALLY THE TOTAL DOSES ADMINISTERED FOR FIRST OR SECOND ROUND SLIGHTLY EXCEEDS THAT NUMBER OF DOSES RECEIVED.

AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE OUR STAFF ARE VERY METICULOUS ABOUT THE DRAWBACKS.MIC] FINALLY, ON THIS SLIDES, YOU GET THE TOTAL RATIONS.

WE'VE EXCEEDED 120,000 TOTAL REGISTRATIONS.

NOW, I THINK MITCH IS GOING TO TALK HERE IN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME PURGING THAT WE'VE DONE TO THAT LIST.

THE CURRENT WAITING LIST IS DOWN TO JUST UNDER 48,000.

SO WE'RE STEADILY CHIPPING AWAY AT THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE WAITING FOR A VACCINE AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO GETTING TO THEM AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE THIS TALKS ABOUT OR ILLUSTRATES INFORMATION FOR THE EVENT THAT WE HAVE PLANNED ON THURSDAY, WE HAVE ABOUT 2,200 FIRST ROUND DOSES REMAINING.

THAT'S A ROUGH ESTIMATE BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE OR WE WILL CONTINUE.

WE GAVE FIRST ROUND DOSES TODAY.

SOME WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE SOME OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BUT WE SHOULD HAVE ABOUT 2,200 FIRST DOSES AVAILABLE FOR THIS EVENT.

THE HOURS OF OPERATION ARE FROM NINE TO 11 AND AS IN THE PAST EVENTS, REGISTRANTS HAVE NOT ONLY RECEIVED AN EMAIL INVITATION, BUT THEY'VE ALSO RECEIVED A TEXT AND PHONE CALL THROUGH THE EVERBRIGE SYSTEM.

AND OF COURSE, FOR THE SMALL NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT REGISTERED THROUGH OUR CALL CENTER, THOSE FOLKS WERE, WELL, RECEIVED PERSONAL CALLS.

I WILL SAY THAT SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT TODAY'S EVENT, WE DON'T HAVE SECOND ROUND DOSES BECAUSE RECALL THAT FOUR WEEKS AGO WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER STORM.

SO NOBODY WAS VACCINATED FOUR WEEKS AGO.

SO NOBODY IS DUE THIS WEEK.

WE ARE WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE MISSED THEIR SECOND ROUND DOSES OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THEM AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC THIS WEEK AND TRY TO CLEAN UP THAT LIST AS BEST WE CAN.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS THE LAST SLIDE.

AND MISTY, IF YOU CAN UN SHARE YOUR SCREEN.

MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES THE AT LEAST THE FIRST PORTION OF THIS TALK.

BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

OK, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS? THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU, JASON, AS ALWAYS, FOR PUTTING ALL THAT TOGETHER.

I HAD A QUESTION ON OUR WEBSITE.

I SAW THAT.

OUR NEXT IN LINE WAITLIST NUMBER WAS 27,000.

SOMETHING.

SO IS THAT 27,000? .

HAVE OUR INVITATIONS FOR THIS WEEK'S EVENT GONE OUT AND THEN SUBTRACTED FROM THE NUMBER? IS THAT HOW WE GOT 27,000 TO BE NEXT? SO THAT THE WAIT LIST AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S 27,525T.

THAT INCLUDES THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN INVITED FOR THURSDAY.

IT INCLUDES THEM OR THEY'VE BEEN DEDUCTED FROM IT.

WELL, I GUESS THEY KIND OF THINK OF HOW TO ANSWER, HOW TO ANSWER THIS BEST.

THEY.

THOSE, THAT'S THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE STRUCK OFF THE WAIT LIST.

SO INCLUDING THE FOLKS THAT ARE SET FOR THURSDAY'S EVENT AND INCLUDING THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN SERVED AT ALL OF THE PAST EVENTS, THEY MAKE UP THE TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND.

SO THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN SERVED TO DATE.

SO THAT'S A TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE OR THE NEXT NUMBER IN LINE? SO ON OUR WEBSITE, IT ALWAYS SAYS GIVE THAT NUMBER AND SAYS GAR NUMBER NEXT.

NEXT ON WAIT LISTS.

AND THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY'S LOOKING AT.

SO IS NUMBER 27,000, WHAT'S IT? IS THAT SOMEBODY HAS ALREADY GOTTEN THEIR INVITATION FOR THURSDAY? THAT IS THAT WOULD BE THE PERSON, THE FIRST PERSON THAT GETS THEIR INVITATION NEXT WEEK.

OK, SO THIS IS ALREADY DEDUCTED, THE ONES THAT HAVE GONE OUT THIS WEEK.

YES, MA'AM.

I'M SORRY.

SORRY.

[00:15:01]

THAT'S OK.

THAT'S OK.

THAT WAS REALLY MY ONLY QUESTION.

AND IT'S KIND OF EXCITING TO SEE THAT THE ACTUAL PEOPLE ARE STILL WAITING FOR SHOTS, IS DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, FORTY UNDER 48,000 BECAUSE I JUST REGISTERED TODAY.

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY I'VE BEEN ELIGIBLE AND I WAS LIKE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN THOUSAND SOMETHING.

I WAS LIKE, WELL BUT IT'S ENCOURAGING THAT I'VE GOT FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND PEOPLE INSTEAD OF ONE HUNDRED AND SOME ODD THOUSAND PEOPLE, SO.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND MAYOR, IF I MAY? I'M GLAD COUNCIL LADY MORRIS MENTIONED THAT.

I MEANT TO MENTION IT EARLIER DURING MY TALK.

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY THAT FOLKS OVER 50 ARE ELIGIBLE TO SIGN UP ON OUR LIST OR PRESUMABLY ANYBODY ELSE'S LIST.

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE.

I APPRECIATE COUNCIL LADY MORRIS BRINGING THAT UP.

AND I DID INTEND TO MENTION THAT EARLIER, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO SKIP OVER IT FOR THE NEW IN PUBLIC.

SO THANK YOU.

YES.

AND I REGISTERED TODAY AND I'M IN THE ONE HUNDRED NINETEEN THOUSAND.

SO YOU GOT THERE WAY BEFORE I DID SO.

ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS? THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU, JASON.

JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.

JASON, IS IT? THIS QUESTION CAME TO ME, IS IT POSSIBLE AT THE END OF THE WEEK AFTER THURSDAY TO POST INSTEAD OF A NEXT UP NEXT WEEK NUMBERS, I GET THE QUESTION WELL, MY NUMBER IS, JUST PICKING UP, MY NUMBER IS 41,617.

WHERE AM I ON THIS GROUP? IS THERE ANY WAY TO POST AFTER WE'RE DONE NEAR THE END OF THE WEEK? PROJECTED [INAUDIBLE] SORT OF A BAND OF NUMBERS EXPECTED FOR THE FOLLOWING SESSION? IS THAT DOABLE OR IS AND IS THAT PRACTICAL TO DO? I'VE JUST GOTTEN THAT QUESTION.

AND MITCH, I'M PAUSING, YOU LOOK LIKE.

YEAH, I CAN HANDLE THAT ONE.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.

OUR CHALLENGE IS AND I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN A MINUTE WHEN I GO THROUGH.

AND PART OF WHAT I'LL BE DISCUSSING IS OUR WAITING LIST AND THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO ARE NO LONGER NEED TO BE ON IT.

SO EVEN IF WE GAVE A RANGE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, SAY WE HAVE A THOUSAND DOSES FOR NEXT WEEK, IT'S NOT JUST THE NEXT THOUSAND NUMBERS UP THAT REGISTER BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE FOLKS HAVE ALREADY HAD IT.

SO WE DO TRY TO UPDATE PERIODICALLY THROUGH THE WEEK THE NEXT NUMBER UP.

BUT I CAN'T GIVE THE NEXT THOUSAND OR FIFTEEN HUNDRED OR TWO THOUSAND BECAUSE THOSE NUMBERS COULD RANGE OF THE NUMBERS REGISTERED.

I MEAN, IT COULD BE EIGHT OR TEN THOUSAND BEFORE WE GET TO THAT.

SO THAT'S BEEN OUR CHALLENGE BUT I WILL SPEAK TO YOUR, AS I DO MY PRESENTATION HERE IN A LITTLE BIT.

IT'LL EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE MORE CLEARER.

GREAT, THANKS, MITCH.

I DON'T WANT TO GET AHEAD OF YOU.

JASON? BACK TO YOU MY NEXT QUESTION I'VE GOTTEN.

WILL WE BE GETTING THE J&J VACCINE? THAT IS A MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION, SIR.

WE, SO I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF.

THE SHORT ANSWER IS, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE STATE, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES DID POLL ALL OF THE HUB PROVIDERS, WHICH, OF COURSE, GARLAND'S HUB.

AND HAS BEEN FROM THE BASICALLY VERY BEGINNING.

THEY POLLED ALL OF THOSE PROVIDERS JUST TO DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD ACCEPT JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE.

WE SAID ABSOLUTELY, YES, WE WILL ACCEPT THE VACCINE.

AND THERE IS A ONLINE SOFTWARE SYSTEM THAT ALL OF THE PROVIDERS UTILIZE TO ORDER VACCINES.

NOW, I CAN TELL YOU WE'VE ORDERED MORE THAN A THOUSAND VACCINES EVERY WEEK AND WE'VE NEVER GOTTEN MORE THAN A THOUSAND.

BUT WE CONTINUE TO ORDER THOSE AND WE ARE ORDERING THOUSANDS OF DOSES OF JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE, ALTHOUGH I CAN'T TELL YOU WITH ANY LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE WHEN THOSE MAY ARRIVE.

WHEN WE MIGHT START TO GET JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCNEAL? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

AND JASON, REAL QUICKLY, THIS MAY COME IN MITCH'S PRESENTATION.

THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATION HERE WITH THE LAB WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS ABOUT A BOOSTER BEING NEEDED WITHIN A YEAR OR SO.

HAVE YOU.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT OR YOU OR MITCH? WELL, I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION IN TERMS OF I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE PROVIDERS IN PARTICULAR MODERNA BECAUSE KNOW, AS I SAID EARLIER, AND AS YOU ALL ALREADY KNOW, THAT THAT'S THE VACCINE, THAT THE ONLY VACCINE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THUS FAR.

[00:20:04]

I KNOW THAT THAT MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF BOOSTER DOSES PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE VARIANTS.

AND OF COURSE, I'M SURE EVERYBODY WHO'S PAID ANY ATTENTION AT ALL TO COVID-19 RELATED NEWS KNOWS THAT THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF DIFFERENT VARIANTS OUT THERE.

A SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT, THE UNITED KINGDOM VARIANT.

THERE'S A [INAUDIBLE] VARIANT THAT WAS FIRST IDENTIFIED IN CALIFORNIA.

AND OF COURSE, THAT'S NORMAL.

YOU CAN KIND OF COMPARE THAT TO THE VARIATIONS WE SEE IN THE FLU VIRUS EACH YEAR, WHICH IS WHY WE HAD TO GET A FLU SHOT EVERY YEAR BECAUSE THOSE VIRUSES MUTATE AND SOMETIMES THE PRIOR VACCINES AREN'T AS EFFECTIVE AS THE NEW ONES.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, TO GET BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, NONE OF THE MANUFACTURERS HAVE ACTUALLY PRODUCED A BOOSTER SHOT THAT'S BEEN APPROVED FOR USE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF I WERE TO SPECULATE, I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT ALL FOR COVID-19 BOOSTERS TO BE OFFERED AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

NOW, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT THAT'LL BE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS OR MERELY ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS.

ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

BUT I'LL BE VERY SURPRISED IF THIS FIRST ROUND OF VACCINES IS OUR LAST ROUND.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR JASON BEFORE WE MOVE TO MISTIE? I SEE NONE.

MISTIE? WELL, SINCE WE CONSOLIDATED OUR PRESENTATION, IT JUST MADE IT EASIER FOR JASON.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

SO I WAS JUST HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

OK.

ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISTIE? ALL RIGHT, I SEE NONE.

SO NOW WE WILL MOVE TO SORT OF THE NEXT PART OF THIS DISCUSSION, TALKING MORE ABOUT VACCINATION EFFORTS, OUR WAITING LISTS AND POTENTIAL USE GISD EMPLOYEES.

AND I BELIEVE MITCH IS GOING TO LEAD THAT DISCUSSION.

HE'S GOT A PRESENTATION COUNSEL IN THOSE VIEWING OUR MEETING.

CAN YOU SEE THAT OKAY, MAYOR? YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHTY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

SO ONE LET ME APOLOGIZE UP FRONT.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A LENGTHY PRESENTATION.

I HAVE LOTS OF INFORMATION FOR YOU, BUT I WILL TRY TO MOVE THROUGH IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WHAT I LIKE TO, WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST.

I ACTUALLY HAVE BUILT IN SEVERAL PLACES WHERE WE CAN PAUSE FOR DISCUSSIONS, QUESTIONS, AND THEN THERE WILL BE SOME SOME POSITIONS, SOME SPOTS IN THERE WHERE WE WILL NEED SOME FINAL DIRECTION FROM A COUNCIL APPROVAL ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OR WHATEVER DIRECTION THAT COUNCIL CHOOSES TO TAKE.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT I'LL HAVE THAT BUILT IN FOR YOU AND.

YES, SIR.

ONE THING REAL QUICK, WHEN YOU GET, I WANT TO TAKE A PAUSE AFTER WE DISCUSS BULLET POINT NUMBER THREE SO WE CAN HAVE A, THERE'S KIND OF IT'S KIND OF A SEPARATE DISCUSSION AFTERWARDS.

SO IF WE CAN STOP IT AT THREE, WE CAN HAVE COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THAT POINT, SO.

ABSOLUTELY.

YES, SIR.

OK, ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS JUST A SLIDE OF AN UPDATE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKED ABOUT.

THIS IS STRAIGHT FROM OUR COUNCIL AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.

SO THESE ARE EACH OF THE BULLET POINTS THAT I'LL BE COVERING.

SO LET'S JUMP INTO INITIALLY DISCUSSION ABOUT VACCINATIONS.

THIS IS A REPEAT STRAIGHT FROM THE STATE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES.

THIS IS FROM THEIR WEBSITE.

JUST A REMINDER OF WHO'S ELIGIBLE.

AND OF COURSE, WE STILL HAVE OUR 1A GROUP THAT'S ELIGIBLE.

MOST OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED.

OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, OUR LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES.

1B IS PERSONS SIXTY FIVE OR OLDER, OUR SENIORS OR ADULTS WITH AT LEAST ONE CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITION, AN UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION.

SINCE THAT TIME, OF COURSE, WE HAVE ADDED IN THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF OR SO OUR SCHOOL AND LICENSED CHILD CARE PERSONNEL.

AND THEN AS JASON JUST MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO, AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE ADDED WHAT THE STATE CALLS GROUP 1C, WHICH IS PERSONS AGED 50 TO SIXTY FOUR.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE'VE ALREADY STARTED HEARING AND SOME OF YOU HAVE MAY HAVE SEEN SOME NEWS REPORTS ABOUT A GOAL TO HAVE ALL PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINES BY MAY 1ST.

THAT'S JUST A DISCUSSION.

NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY BEING DISCUSSED

[00:25:01]

AT BOTH THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL.

SO YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT OUR WAITING LIST ON OUR CITY OF GARLAND, OUR GARLAND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WEBSITE, OUR REGISTRATION LIST.

WE'VE HAD APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REGISTER SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN WE CREATED OUR LIST.

AS OF LAST WEEK, OUR WAITING LIST HAD EIGHTY THOUSAND NAMES STILL ON IT.

NOW, AND IN JUST A MINUTE, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE DO, HOW WE DO IT AND HOW WE COME UP WITH THE WAITING LIST.

AGAIN, A REMINDER THAT WE GET TYPICALLY 1,000 DOSES EACH WEEK FOR FIRST DOSES AND THEN EVENTUALLY, FOUR WEEKS LATER, WE'LL GET ANOTHER THOUSAND DOSES FOR SECOND DOSES.

SO THAT MEANS AT TIMES, SOME WEEKS, WE NOW HAVE TWO THOUSAND DOSES TO GIVE OUT AS A COMBINATION OF THE TWO.

INJECTIONS ALREADY MENTIONED, WHAT WE'VE GIVEN OUT SO FAR AND I WENT BACK AND INCLUDED THE 13,500 INCLUDED IS THAT FIRST THOUSAND THAT WE GAVE OUT TO THE 1A CANDIDATES WAY BACK IN LATE DECEMBER, EARLY JANUARY.

SO I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHO'S BEEN THROUGH OUR MVE, THAT'S MASS VACCINATION EVENT.

THOSE ARE OUR EVENTS ONCE A WEEK AT THE HPJ STADIUM.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THOSE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SEVEN EVENTS THAT WE'VE HOSTED SO FAR.

THE MAJORITY OF THOSE, THE VAST MAJORITY ARE GARLAND, ROWLETT AND SACHSE, WHICH AGAIN IS ALL THE MEMBERSHIP OF OUR GARLAND HEALTH AUTHORITIES FOR ALL THREE CITIES.

SO 60 PERCENT FOR GARLAND, 16 PERCENT ROWLETT, 13 FOR SACHSE AND THEN 11 PERCENT FOR ALL OTHER CITIES OUTSIDE.

AS A REMINDER, AS A HUB, AS A STATE HUB, ONCE WE BECAME A STATE HUB ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AFTER WE STARTED OUR PROCESS, WE'RE REQUIRED TO TAKE ANYONE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO THAT'S THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TO THE EVENT.

NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR DATABASE OF ALL THOSE ARE REGISTERED, YOU SEE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FIGURE.

NOW YOU WILL SEE THAT CITIES OUTSIDE OF OUR THREE CITY AREA, OUTSIDE OF THE GARLAND, ROWLETT, SACHSE AREA ARE THE MAJORITY.

FIFTY FOUR FIFTY FOUR PERCENT OF THOSE WHO ARE REGISTERED IN OUR DATABASE.

THESE ARE THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT ARE SUPPLIED BY THE APPLICANTS WHEN THEY REGISTER.

53 PERCENT ARE ANGLO OR WHITE, 13 PERCENT ASIAN, 12 PERCENT HISPANIC OR LATINO, NINE PERCENT BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

IT'S LESS THAN ONE PERCENT EITHER AMERICAN INDIAN OR PACIFIC ISLANDER.

AND THEN AS WITH ANY DATABASE, WE GIVE THE APPLICANTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER DECLINE TO ANSWER OR IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO, THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO.

AND SOMETIMES THEY CHOOSE THE CATEGORY.

OTHER THOSE COMBINED ARE 12 PERCENT.

I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT.

THIS GIVES YOU JUST TO BE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE DOTS HERE.

IT'S JUST A VISUAL PRESENTATION OF HOW MANY DIFFERENT PROVIDERS ARE IN THE NORTH TEXAS AREA.

YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT THE STATE ANNOUNCED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THAT THERE WERE SOME 80 HUBS.

AT ONE POINT THERE WERE SEVENTY EIGHT WENT UP INTO THE LOW 80S.

BUT NOW THEY DON'T USE THE WORD HUB VERY OFTEN.

THEY TALK ABOUT PROVIDERS.

SO PROVIDERS WOULD INCLUDE THE 80 OR SO HUBS, PLUS EVERY OTHER PROVIDER, EVEN ALL THE SMALL ONES.

ALL THE CVS LOCATIONS, ALL THE WALGREEN'S LOCATIONS, DOCTORS OFFICES, SOME HOSPITALS, SMALL HOSPITALS, BIG HOSPITALS, EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S NOT A HUB.

THERE ARE NOW 16 MORE THAN 1,600 OF THOSE STATEWIDE.

SO I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LOT OF DATA.

I WILL TELL YOU, THAT IS TOO MUCH TO PUT EVERY SPREADSHEET ON A POWERPOINT.

SO WHAT I DID IS I CUT IT DOWN.

AND WHAT THIS DOES, THIS SLIDE IS A SUMMARY OF THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS TO GIVE US A BETTER IDEA OF HOW MANY VACCINE DOSES ARE GOING OUT WEEKLY.

NOW, I CAN ONLY FIT ON HERE GOING BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY, THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 1ST.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE WERE SOME DOSES COMING OUT IN JANUARY AND THEN ACTUALLY AT THE VERY END OF DECEMBER AS WELL.

BUT THE TOTALS IN THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN OR THE TOTALS ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE END OF DECEMBER.

BUT AS YOU CAN SEE AS WE GO THROUGH HERE, THE NUMBER OF DOSES STATEWIDE GOING OUT HAVE GONE FROM SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND UP INTO THE NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND, UP TO ONE POINT FOR ONE POINT TO ABOUT ONE AND A QUARTER MILLION THIS WEEK, AND THEN ABOUT SEVEN POINT EIGHT MILLION TOTAL STATEWIDE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY WANT TO POINT OUT ON THIS SLIDE HERE IS THERE'S 254 COUNTIES STATEWIDE.

YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF COUNTIES REFLECTED HERE THAT RECEIVED DIRECT ALLOCATIONS FROM THE STATE OF VACCINES.

THE MORE IMPORTANT NUMBER TO ME, THE ONE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT MOST DON'T, IS THE NUMBER OF PROVIDERS.

THE HUBS, THE 80 OR SO HUBS ARE INCLUDED IN THESE NUMBERS.

[00:30:04]

BUT LOOK AT THE INCREASE HERE AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PROVIDERS.

AND THEN IN PARTICULAR LAST WEEK WHEN THEY SENT OUT A LARGE VOLUME OF DOSES TO THE NON HUBS IN ADDITION TO THE HUBS.

AND THEN YOU SAW THAT NUMBER.

YOU SEE THAT NUMBER HERE REFLECTS BACK DOWN.

AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOME MORE DATA HERE IN JUST A MINUTE.

THIS IS FOR THE HUBS IN DALLAS COUNTY ONLY, THERE ARE SIX HUBS IN DALLAS COUNTY, INCLUDING OUR GARLAND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DALLAS COUNTY HEALTH PARKLAND, UT SOUTHWESTERN, BAYLOR DALLAS HOSPITAL, AND THEN THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHERE THEY'RE DOING THEIRS.

AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

YOU CAN SEE THE VOLUME OF VACCINES THAT ARE ALLOCATED TO EACH HUB.

I KNOW I SEE THE CITY COUNCIL IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS.

MOST OF OUR CITIZENS ARE NOW.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE.

OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH EVERYONE AT THE STATE POSSIBLE, STATE REPRESENTATIVES, ALL THE COMMITTEES INVOLVED IN WHO ALLOCATES THE STATE COMMITTEE THAT ALLOCATES THE NUMBER OF VACCINES TO EACH HUB.

I KNOW OUR CITY STAFF HAS BEEN DOING THE SAME THING.

BUT WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT HERE IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE VOLUME AGAIN, WHAT WE REPEATEDLY HEAR FROM THE STATE IS THEY LOOK AT THE VOLUME GOING TO THE COUNTY, THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

I DON'T MEAN DALLAS COUNTY HEALTH.

I MEAN THE COUNTY OF DALLAS IN THE SIX HUBS FOR A SHORT TIME.

FOR THREE WEEKS, WE ACTUALLY HAD A FEDERAL SITE, THE FEMA SITE THAT WAS ALSO LOCATED AT FAIR PARK IN DALLAS COUNTY, THAT PROVIDED SOME LARGER VOLUMES THERE.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL VOLUME GOING TO DALLAS COUNTY, IT STARTED AROUND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND, WENT UP INTO THE FORTIES, NOW UP INTO THE 50S.

AND THEN THIS NUMBER RIGHT HERE, FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOUR THOUSAND HAS BEEN ALLOCATED IN DALLAS COUNTY.

OK, KEEP THAT IN MIND.

AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE, I'LL GIVE YOU SOME MORE INFORMATION.

NOW, RIGHT HERE.

THIS CALLER OR THIS ROW IN RED, THOSE ARE THE OTHER PROVIDERS.

THOSE ARE THE NON HUB PROVIDERS.

SO WHAT THESE NUMBERS HERE MEAN.

SO SIX OR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 11TH, THERE WERE SIX PROVIDERS, NON HUBS.

I GOT SEVENTEEN HUNDRED DOSES.

THE NEXT WEEK THERE WERE ONLY THREE, THEN 10, THEN 16.

SO YOU CAN SEE THESE NUMBERS INCREASING.

AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE HERE ALSO IS THE VOLUME OF VACCINES GOING TO THE OTHER PROVIDERS IS INCREASING DRAMATICALLY.

JUMPED AHEAD A LITTLE BIT TOO SOON.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE'RE GOING.

A LOT OF THE NEW VACCINES ARE GOING OUT TO THESE OTHER NON HUBS IN ADDITION TO THE VOLUME THAT CONTINUES TO GO TO ALL THE HUBS COMBINED.

SO 550,000 FOR DALLAS COUNTY.

IF YOU LOOK HERE, I JUST PICKED THE THREE OTHER LOCAL COUNTIES ONLY DID THE TOP FOUR, THE FOUR BIGGEST COUNTIES ADJACENT TO US.

SO WE HAVE COLLIN COUNTY HAS ABOUT 234,000.

DENTON COUNTY 167,000.

TARRANT COUNTY 431,000.

THAT'S A TOTAL FOR JUST THE FOUR COUNTIES HERE IN NORTH TEXAS OF ALMOST 1.4 MILLION.

AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THESE ROWS WHERE THE NON HUBS LOOK AT THE VOLUME THAT HAS STARTED GETTING TO ASSIGN THIS WEEK, NOT AS BIG A VOLUME IN THESE TWO COUNTIES, BUT LAST WEEK THERE WERE SIXTY FIVE NON HUBS THAT RECEIVED 8,900 VACCINES.

AND SOMETIMES MANY OF THOSE ARE ONLY GETTING ONE OR TWO HUNDRED.

SOMETIMES IT'S THE HOSPITAL THAT'LL GET A COUPLE OF THOUSAND.

IT VARIES AND THEY'RE NOT THE SAME PROVIDERS EACH WEEK.

THE STATE CHANGES THOSE FROM WEEK TO WEEK.

THE ONLY THING THAT ARE THE SAME EVERY WEEK ARE THE HUBS.

YOU CAN ALSO SEE THERE'S ONLY FOUR HUBS IN COLLIN COUNTY.

YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL THEY'RE GETTING EACH WEEK, PLUS THEIR PROVIDERS.

SAME THING FOR DENTON COUNTY ONLY HAS ONE HUB AND THEN YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEIR NON HUBS ARE GETTING.

AND IN TARRANT COUNTY HAS FOUR HUB, ACTUALLY THREE HUBS.

THE OTHER FEMA SITE WAS DOWN HERE, SO THREE HUBS IN TARRANT COUNTY.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE VOLUME HERE COMPARED TO WHAT DALLAS COUNTY IS RECEIVING.

SO A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS WE KEEP ASKING OF, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE IN GARLAND IF WE HAD MORE VACCINES.

, BUT WHAT WE CONSTANTLY HEAR IS IT'S GOING TO ALL OF THESE OTHER LOCATIONS AS WELL.

THAT'S BEEN OUR CHALLENGE.

THEY KEEP TELLING US AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT THEY ARE GETTING OUT MORE VACCINE, AND THAT IS TRUE OVER TIME.

IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE GOING TO OTHER LOCATIONS.

SO JASON'S ALREADY TALKED ABOUT A REMINDER WITH MODERNA, THE VACCINE THAT WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING.

OF COURSE, WE GET IT'S A TWO DOSE VACCINE.

WE GET THE FIRST DOSE FOLLOWED ABOUT 28 DAYS LATER BY A SECOND DOSE.

YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT US TALK ABOUT OUR WAITING LIST.

THE CHALLENGE WE'RE HAVING IS THE NO SHOW RATE.

THOSE WHO DON'T SHOW UP TO GET IT.

FOR A SECOND DOSES NOT A PROBLEM.

[00:35:02]

NINETY FIVE PERCENT GIVE OR TAKE FOR EACH OF OUR EVENTS WHERE WE'VE DONE SECOND DOSES.

PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP FOR THEIR SECOND DOSES.

HOWEVER, FOR FIRST DOSES, THE NO SHOW RATE HAS BEEN AS HIGH AS 84 PERCENT AT OUR LAST EVENT.

SO LET ME GIVE YOU SOME OF THAT DATA HERE.

SO THESE ARE FOR OUR SEVEN EVENTS THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST SEVEN WEEKS, REALLY EIGHT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO IT THE WEEK OF THE WINTER STORM.

YOU CAN SEE THE NO SHOW RIGHT HERE WAS ONLY 18 PERCENT FOR OUR FIRST EVENT, WHICH MEANS, OF COURSE, 82 PERCENT SHOWED UP TO GET THEIR DOSAGE.

AND THEN OVER TIME, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE NO SHOW RATE HAS INCREASED TO 25 PERCENT, THEN 33, THEN 49, THEN 62, THEN TO OUR LAST EVENT LAST WEEK WHERE IT WAS 84 PERCENT NO SHOWS.

NOW, LET ME DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS NUMBER RIGHT HERE.

THIS 16 PERCENT, ONE IN SIX, THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE IN SIX, SHOWED UP TO GET THEIR VACCINE.

NOW SECOND DOSES WASN'T A PROBLEM LAST WEEK BUT FIRST DOSES WAS.

LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU LET ME REMIND YOU WHAT WE DO EACH WEEK WHEN WE NOTIFY THOSE ON THE WAITING LIST.

OF COURSE, WE SEND OUT AN EMAIL FOLLOWED UP BY A TEXT MESSAGE FOLLOWED UP BY ROBOCALL THAT GOES TO THE SAME CELL PHONE NUMBER, WHICH IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE REMINDING THEM THAT THEIR TIME IS UP, THEIR TIME IS DUE, AND THEIR SCHEDULE FOR WHATEVER THE DATE THAT EVENT IS THAT WEEK.

IN OUR MESSAGING, WE ALSO ASK THEM IF THEY NO LONGER NEED IT, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

IN FACT, I THINK I'VE GOT THAT UP ON ONE COMING UP ON ONE OF THESE OTHER SLIDES.

BUT I WILL PROVIDE AGAIN, IT'S THERE IS AN EMAIL AND A PHONE NUMBER FOR PEOPLE TO CALL TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I GOT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I NO LONGER NEED THAT.

IN ADDITION, OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING UP WITH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGING, THE REST OF THAT TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO LET US KNOW WHEN THEY NO LONGER NEED THE VACCINE.

I WILL SAY JASON SAID THIS MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST MANY WEEKS.

WE'RE NOT LOSING VACCINES DUE TO NO SHOWS OR DELAYS.

WE CAN CARRY THEM OVER.

WHAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE WEEK IS FOR ANY DOSES THAT ARE LEFT OVER, WE CONTINUE ON WITH OUR WAITING LIST.

THE 1B CANDIDATES IS WHAT WE'RE ON AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN USING.

AND WE CONTINUE TO GIVE OUT, YOU KNOW, A FEW HUNDRED AT A TIME AT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC, GARLAND PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC.

THEY CONTINUE ON THE PROCESS AND WE KEEP DOING THAT UNTIL WE GET TO THE NEXT MASS VACCINATION EVENT THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

WE'VE EVEN BEEN HAVING CHALLENGES WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE COME IN TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC.

THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE, BUT ON ONE PARTICULAR DAY, I THINK THIS ONE WAS LAST WEEK, EITHER RIGHT BEFORE OR RIGHT AFTER OUR EVENT, WE NOTIFIED FIVE HUNDRED.

WE ONLY HAD SEVENTY NINE OUT OF FIVE HUNDRED SHOW UP, IF YOU REMEMBER THAT SIXTEEN PERCENT NUMBER.

THERE IT IS AGAIN.

SO PLEASE KEEP IN MIND AS WELL THAT WHEN WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS, WE SEE THESE TRENDS.

OTHER HUBS HAVE BEEN SEEING THE SAME KINDS OF TRENDS.

WE ANTICIPATE THIS, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WEEK HERE WHERE WE HAD ROUGHLY 50 PERCENT NO SHOWS WE FORECAST AND BROADCAST INTO THE NEXT WEEK, MORE THAN 50 PERCENT ANTICIPATING THAT WON'T SHOW UP.

SO WHEN WE SEND OUT THOSE NOTIFICATIONS AND WE'RE SENDING OUT 50 PERCENT MORE THAN VACCINES, WE HAVE, WE ACTUALLY DO.

WE KNOW OUR MESSAGING WORKS BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED.

LET US KNOW.

WE'LL HAVE THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY TO FOUR HUNDRED AND SAY, HEY, I NO LONGER NEED IT.

I GOT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE YOU CAN AND WHAT WE DO IS THEN WE GO AND INVITE AN ADDITIONAL THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY, FOUR HUNDRED, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS, TO STAY UP WITH OUR OVER INVITATION NUMBER, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING A NO SHOW.

RIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT'S ALL THE HUBS ARE DOING TO TRY TO WORK THROUGH THIS CHALLENGE.

OF COURSE, KEEP IN MIND THAT WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE IS MOST OF THE HUB, THE LARGE HUBS, I HAVE THE LARGE VOLUMES OF WAITING LISTS THAT FIGURED OUT.

THERE ARE SO MANY ON OUR LISTS THAT HAVE HAD IT ELSEWHERE THAT AND THERE ARE STILL MANY PEOPLE ON THERE THAT NEED IT.

IT'S GETTING TO THOSE PEOPLE.

IT'S FINDING THOSE PEOPLE IS A CHALLENGE.

AS A REMINDER, A STATE DATABASE FOR 29 MILLION PEOPLE FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS DOES NOT EXIST.

SO EVERY HUB, EVERY PROVIDER HAS HAD TO CREATE THEIR OWN DATABASE.

AND THEN THE STATE AND ALL HUBS, EVERYONE HAS BEEN PROMOTING, RIGHTFULLY SO, PLEASE REGISTER EVERYWHERE YOU CAN AND WHEREVER YOU CAN GET FIRST IS WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

OF COURSE, THE CHALLENGE IS, IS IF WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE REGISTERED, WHETHER IT'S AT FIVE HUBS OR 10 OR 15 OR 20 OR MORE, SOME OF THEM CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHERE ALL THEY REGISTERED.

SO THAT'S BECOME THE CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF THE HUBS.

[00:40:03]

HOW DO YOU MANAGE THESE WAITING LISTS? A LOT OF THEM ARE JUST TURNING OFF THEIR LISTS.

THEY JUST TURN IT OFF.

THEY DON'T USE IT.

SOME OF THEM CHANGE IT.

SOME GO TO A NEW LIST.

HOWEVER, DO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS HERE.

I THINK I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS.

SO AS OF LAST WEEK, OUR WAITING LIST WAS EIGHTY THOUSAND.

SO WHAT WE DID, EVEN THOUGH WE'D ALREADY BEEN SENDING OUT EMAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES AND ROBOCALLS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, OUR TEAM CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO USE THE SAME KIND OF SYSTEM.

SO WE SENT AN EMAIL AND A TEXT MESSAGE TO THEM SAYING, IF YOU NO LONGER NEED IT, RESPOND BY, WELL, THERE'S PRESS TWO OR WHATEVER THE WHATEVER IT WAS, WE DID HAVE LET ME BACK UP.

SO OF THE EIGHTY THOUSAND, WE SENT THOSE MESSAGES TO SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND.

THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE LIST THE LONGEST, THE OTHER FIFTEEN THOUSAND WERE THE MOST RECENT IN THE LAST TEN DAYS TO TWO WEEKS.

SO WE INITIALLY FOCUSED ON THAT SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND, OF THAT NUMBER, HALF SAID YES, TAKE ME OFF THE LIST.

SO THAT'S THE BULK OF THIS NUMBER CHANGING HERE, RIGHT HERE.

AND THEN KEEP IN MIND, WHEN YOU DO THE MATH ON THESE NUMBERS, IF I'D HAVE RUN THE NUMBERS LAST FRIDAY, THIS NUMBER RIGHT HERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE FORTY FIVE THOUSAND.

BUT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PEOPLE REGISTER SATURDAY, SUNDAY, AND EVEN TODAY WE'VE HAD OVER IT'S OVER TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE REGISTERED TODAY ALONE.

SO THIS, THESE NUMBERS KEEP ADJUSTING DAILY.

SO AGAIN, 50 PERCENT SAID TAKE ME OFF THE LIST, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

WE HAD SEE THIS NUMBER AGAIN, 16 PERCENT, ONE IN SIX, AROUND TEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SAID, YES, I STILL NEED IT.

KEEP ME ON THE LIST.

HERE'S OUR CHALLENGE.

A THIRD, ABOUT TWENTY TWO THOUSAND OF THEM, WHICH IS TWO OUT OF SIX.

THERE'S NO RESPONSE.

SO OF THE APPROXIMATELY FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND WE KNOW, TEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED ARE SAYING, YES, KEEP ME ON THE LIST.

WE HAVE NO RESPONSE FROM TWENTY TWO THOUSAND.

THE OTHER IS THE MOST RECENT FIFTEEN THOUSAND.

I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO THAT'S WHERE.

AND NOW THAT'S FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND OUT OF THIS AND REALLY THAT'S TWENTY TWO THOUSAND.

AND IN SOME OF THESE THE MOST RECENT FIFTEEN THOUSAND, THEY'VE PROBABLY HAD IT ELSEWHERE BY NOW, TOO.

SO OUR CHALLENGE IS NOT THIS TEN THOUSAND BUT THIS THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND.

DO THEY STILL NEED IT OR NOT? .

SO OUR PLAN FOR THIS WEEK, WE PLAN STARTING TOMORROW TO AGAIN SEND OUT NOTIFICATIONS TO THOSE THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND STILL ON THE LIST.

WE'RE NOT SENDING IT TO THE TEN THOUSAND WHO ARE ALREADY TOLD US THEY WANT IT.

OF COURSE THEY'RE ON THE LIST, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE REMAINING ON THE LIST THAT HASN'T CONFIRMED, WE PLAN ON SENDING OUT MULTIPLE NOTIFICATIONS.

OUR NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, THE POLL THAT RESPOND BY PRESSING TWO OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS, THAT ONLY WORKS FOR A 24 HOUR PERIOD.

SO WE'RE GOING TO START TOMORROW AND IT STARTS TUESDAY, CARRIES INTO WEDNESDAY.

WE'LL DO IT AGAIN WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY.

WE'LL DO IT AGAIN THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY.

WE'LL ONLY SEND IT TO THOSE WHO DON'T RESPOND.

IF THEY RESPOND AND SAY, TAKE ME OFF THE LIST, GREAT.

THANK YOU.

IF THEY RESPOND AND SAY YES, KEEP ME ON THE LIST.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

SO HOPEFULLY THOSE NUMBERS THAT THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND OR SO WILL GO DOWN OVER THOSE DAYS.

BUT OUR PLAN IS BY THE END OF THE WEEK, BY FRIDAY, BY THE END OF THE DAY, FRIDAY.

IF YOU STILL HAVEN'T RESPONDED, WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE YOU FROM THE LIST TO GET TO THOSE WHO DEFINITELY STILL NEED IT.

I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER WAY TO GET TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL NEEDING IT AND START DEALING WITH THOSE NO SHOW RATE OTHER THAN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

SO, AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE STARTING TOMORROW, DOING IT THE REST OF THIS WEEK, MULTIPLE TIMES TO GIVE ALL EVERYBODY AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO PLEASE LET US KNOW SO WE CAN GET IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT AND THOSE WHO WANT IT.

ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, THIS IS WHERE I'M GOING TO TRANSITION INTO THE NEXT CATEGORY, DEALING WITH ALLOCATIONS FOR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS.

I THINK THIS WILL STILL TIE IN WITH WHAT I JUST DISCUSSED.

SO I'LL CONTINUE ON A LITTLE BIT.

AND THEN ONCE I, THERE'S ONLY A FEW SLIDES ON THIS AND THEN I'LL PAUSE AT THAT POINT FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION, IF THAT'S OK.

VERY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS DIRECT QUOTES FROM TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES.

AND SOME OF THE WORDING IS IMPORTANT HERE.

SO I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO READ IT, I DON'T NORMALLY READ SLIDES, BUT I'M GOING TO READ THIS ONE.

U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTED STATES TO EXPAND VACCINE ELIGIBILITY TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE OPERATIONS.

AND THEN THEY QUOTE FROM THE DIRECTIVE, WHICH IS, IS THE DEFINITION THAT THEY GAVE US

[00:45:05]

AS THOSE WHO WORK IN PREPRIMARY PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS, INCLUDING TEACHERS, STAFF, BUS DRIVERS AND THOSE WHO WORK AS OR FOR LICENSED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, INCLUDING CENTER BASED AND FAMILY CARE PROVIDERS .

SO THAT'S A DEFINITION PROVIDED TO US.

THIS NEXT QUOTE IS DIRECTLY FROM THE AGAIN, FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES.

IN LIGHT OF THIS FEDERAL DIRECTIVE, ALL VACCINE PROVIDERS IN TEXAS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY INCLUDE THESE PERSONNEL IN VACCINATION ADMINISTRATION AND OUTREACH TO ENSURE THEY ARE ABLE TO BE IMMUNIZED.

THIS DIRECTION FROM THE CDC.

ACTUALLY JUST CAME OUT THIS AFTERNOON IN A PUBLICATION.

I JUST GOT IT.

I GET NOTIFICATION FROM CDC REGARDING VACCINES AND I GOT IT ABOUT FOUR O'CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON.

AND IT'S IN REGARD OF VACCINATIONS FOR TEACHERS, SCHOOL STAFF AND CHILD CARE WORKERS.

AND AGAIN, JUST BRIEFLY, PHARMACIES THAT ARE PART OF THE CDC'S FEDERAL RETAIL PHARMACY PROGRAM ARE GIVING COVID-19 VACCINATION PRIORITY TO ALL SCHOOL STAFF AND CHILD CARE WORKERS THROUGHOUT MARCH TO SUPPORT THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTIVE, PRIORITIZING VACCINATION OF TEACHERS, SCHOOL STAFF AND CHILD CARE WORKERS.

CDC CREATED A TOOLKIT TO HELP SCHOOL AND CHILD CARE ADMINISTRATORS AND DIRECTORS ENCOURAGE STAFF TO GET VACCINATED.

AND THEN AGAIN, IT GOES ON TO DEFINE BASICALLY WHO'S INCLUDED THERE.

THAT CAME OUT JUST THIS AFTERNOON.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON OUR PLAN SINCE TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS BECAME ELIGIBLE ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO.

AND OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING TO SEE WHAT HAVE OTHERS BEEN DOING HERE IN THE NORTH TEXAS AREA.

THERE ARE SOME THAT HAVE NOT YET STARTED.

THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THEIR PLANS.

BY NO MEANS IS THIS AN ALL INCLUSIVE LIST OF EVERY PLACE, BUT IT'S THE ONES THAT I CAN COMPILE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SMALLER ISDS OUT THERE THAT HAVE DONE SOME THINGS AS WELL.

BUT YOU CAN SEE HERE DALLAS ISD FOR DALLAS COUNTY, WHAT THEY'RE DOING AT PARKLAND.

THEY ARE PRIORITIZING TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS THAT FIT THAT DEFINITION.

BUT IN DALLAS COUNTY, THEY'RE ONLY DOING IT FOR TEACHERS THAT FIT THE 1B CRITERIA, EITHER OVER AGE 65 OR WITH AN UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION IN LIMITED ZIP CODES.

SO A VERY LIMITED PROCESS IN DALLAS COUNTY OR AT DALLAS COUNTY.

ARLINGTON, HOWEVER, ISSUED THEY HAD A ONE DAY EVENT AT THEIR HUB.

THEY'RE USING THE ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S THE HUB, ONE OF THE HUBS IN TARRANT COUNTY.

THEY ACTUALLY HAD THIRTY FIVE HUNDRED DOSES, BUT THEY HAD TWENTY SIX HUNDRED TEACHERS SHOW UP THAT DAY.

THEY DID THAT THIS PAST WEEK.

YOU CAN SEE WHAT DENTON ISD, THEY JUST HELD IT AT THE AT THE RACETRACK.

THEY HAD A SEPARATE DAY WHERE THEY ISSUED THIRTY FIVE HUNDRED DOSES TO DENTON ISD.

FORT WORTH ISD, THEY ARE WORKING WITH THEIR TARRANT HUBS IN A COMBINATION OF HUBS AND HOSPITALS TO WORK WITH THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THEY'VE ALREADY GIVEN OUT FOUR HUNDRED DOSES.

THEY HAVE PLANS TO GIVE OUT MORE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE DONE THIS PAST WEEK.

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME NUMBERS OUT IN THE NEWS MEDIA AND OTHER PLACES.

I'VE TRIED TO TRACK DOWN AS MANY AS I CAN AND VERIFY WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GIVEN OUT.

SOMETIMES THE NUMBER YOU'LL SEE, LIKE IN ARLINGTON, IT ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY SAID THIRTY FIVE HUNDRED, BUT THEY ACTUALLY GAVE OUT TWENTY SIX HUNDRED, THAT KIND OF THING.

SO I VERIFIED AS BEST I COULD.

YOU CAN SEE MESQUITE, IT WAS AT LEAST FOUR HUNDRED DOSES FROM WHAT I COULD UNDERSTAND, HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT.

MCKINNEY HAD SEVERAL HUNDRED THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER.

FORNEY HAD A FEW HUNDRED, SEVERAL HUNDRED.

THEY HAVE TWELVE HUNDRED EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.

NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE RECEIVED IT YET, BUT THEY ARE DOING THAT AND THEY'RE DOING IT THROUGH THE KAUFMAN COUNTY SITE.

IN ADDITION TO THOSE REGION 10.

REGION 10IS A VERY LARGE AREA, I WANT TO SAY.

WELL, IT'S ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SOMETHING SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN NORTH TEXAS, YOU CAN SEE THERE.

ONE HUNDRED TEN THOUSAND EMPLOYEES.

I THINK IT'S TEN COUNTIES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I KNOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOLKS WOULD KNOW, BUT THEY GAVE OUT TWO THOUSAND DOSES ON SATURDAY THAT WERE SUPPLIED TO THEM AND PARTNERED UP WITH ALBERTSON'S AND TOM THUMB ON THOSE DOSES.

SO THIS GIVES YOU JUST A SNAPSHOT.

IT'S NOT EVERYWHERE.

BUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE NORTH TEXAS AREA, THERE ARE SOME OTHERS THAT ARE STILL WORKING ON THEIR PLANS, OBVIOUSLY.

SO WHAT IS OUR PLAN, WHAT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION AND COUNSEL? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, OUR TEAM HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS WORKING NOT ONLY INTERNALLY HERE, BUT WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOLKS.

AND OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS LITERALLY FOR MONTHS, I GUESS WAY BACK

[00:50:01]

EARLY IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT OUR PLAN.

SO WE, SO OUR PLAN IS THIS SIMPLY TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE OUR WAITING LISTS.

WE WANT TO GET IT DOWN, THE FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND IS TOO MANY.

MY GUESS, COUNCIL, IT'S IN THE TWENTY TO TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND RANGE.

WE STILL NEED IT.

THAT'S ON OUR LIST.

PROBABLY ABOUT HALF, MAYBE A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF.

AND I HOPE TO BE ABLE AS A TEAM, WE HOPE TO GET THAT DOWN THIS COMING WEEK.

KEEP IN MIND, EVEN IF THAT WE'RE STILL ONLY GETTING A THOUSAND A WEEK, SO IT'LL STILL TAKE US A WHILE TO GET THROUGH IT.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE OTHER HUBS, ALL THE OTHER PROVIDERS IN THE NORTH TEXAS AREA THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP AS WELL, NOT JUST FOR OUR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS, BUT EVERYBODY THAT'S CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE.

SO WE'LL KEEP USING OUR WAITING LISTS.

SO 1A IS STILL ELIGIBLE FOR HEALTH CARE AND LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES.

BUT BY AND LARGE PART, MOST OF THOSE, IF NOT ALL OF THOSE, HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED.

IF SOMEBODY'S O1A AND THEY SHOW UP, OF COURSE THEY'RE STILL ELIGIBLE.

BUT REALLY, WHAT'S AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST RIGHT NOW IS THE 1B IS OUR SENIORS THAT ARE SIXTY FIVE AND OLDER, AND THEN THOSE ARE ADULTS WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.

THIS SHOWS 18 BECAUSE MODERNA REQUIRES YOU TO BE 18 ON SOME, YOU'LL SEE 16.

I THINK THAT'S PFIZER.

THAT'S 16 OR ABOVE, AGE 16.

SO AND THEN OF COURSE, NOW WE HAVE OUR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS ARE ELIGIBLE AND HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF AND THEN EFFECTIVE TODAY, OF COURSE, THOSE OVER AGE 50 ARE NOW ELIGIBLE.

SO WE WANT TO GO OFF OF OUR WAITING LIST.

HOWEVER, WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION IS, WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE USE A PORTION OF OUR NO SHOW DOSES FOR GISD STAFF.

AND LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO BECAUSE OF OUR PREVIOUS NO SHOW RATES, EVEN THOUGH WE ONLY GET A THOUSAND A WEEK, WE NOW HAVE TWENTY TWO HUNDRED DOSES, FIRST DOSES AVAILABLE THIS WEEK.

WHAT I'M RECOMMENDING TO YOU IS THAT WE USE SEVENTEEN HUNDRED DOSES FOR OUR EX, FROM OUR EXISTING WAITING LIST, WHICH IS 1B EDUCATORS, 1C, EVERYBODY THAT'S STILL ON THERE.

AND WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

IN FACT, WE ALREADY HAVE AN EVENT PLANNED FOR THIS THURSDAY AND WE'VE STARTED FORWARD WITH THAT NOTIFICATION PROCESS FOR THOSE.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS WE STILL HAVE FIVE HUNDRED DOSES LEFT OVER FROM NO-SHOW DOSES AND WE USE THOSE DOSES FOR OUR GISD PERSONNEL THIS WEEK.

WE WOULD USE A SIMILAR FORMULA MOVING FORWARD EACH WEEK, BUT IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY DOSES WE HAVE.

IF WE ONLY HAVE A THOUSAND DOSES AND PART, IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY NO SHOWS WE HAVE SOME WEEKS.

IT MAY ONLY BE A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOSES AND MAYBE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY, MAYBE TWO HUNDRED AND MAYBE THREE HUNDRED.

IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY NO-SHOW DOSES WE HAVE TO WORK TO PARTNER WITH GISD IN THAT REGARD.

ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN DEFINITELY OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION AND THEN ULTIMATELY.

YES, SIR? BRING YOUR PRESENTATION DOWN FOR ME, PLEASE.

YES, SIR.

COUNCIL, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO AT THIS POINT HAVE BEEN MONITORING OUR ONLINE LISTS AND FOLKS WHO'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

I CURRENTLY ONLY SEE THREE OF THEM IN THE QUEUE AND COUNCIL, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THEM SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT THOUGHTS AND THEN COUNCIL.

WE CAN THEN MOVE INTO OUR DISCUSSION.

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT? OK, THANK YOU.

AND TO OUR SPEAKERS, WHAT'LL HAPPEN HERE IS I WILL HAVE BEEN I CAN SEE WHO'S ONLINE WITH US.

I WILL ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME.

I WILL UNMUTE THE LINE ON OUR END OR OPEN THE LINE ON OUR END.

YOU'LL NEED TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.

AND IF YOU COULD GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

MY FIRST SPEAKER IS ROBERT SELDERS.

MR. SELDERS, HAVE OPENED UP THE LINE ON OUR END.

YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES, SIR.

GO AHEAD.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

ROBERT SELDERS, PRESIDENT OF GARLAND ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, WHEN THE CITY OF GARLAND AND THE GARLAND HEALTH AUTHORITY MADE THE REQUEST TO USE GARLAND ISD'S HPJ STADIUM, THE PARKING LOT TO SERVE AS ITS VACCINATION HUB AS A DEDICATED PARTNER, UNDERSTANDING THE CRITICAL NATURE OF THIS COLLABORATION, WE SUPPORTED THE CITY WITHOUT HESITATION.

WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT OUR TEACHERS AND ALL STAFF WERE FRONT LINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHOSE JOB ROLES ARE CRITICAL TO THE CONTINUED FUNCTIONING OF SOCIETY AND OUR

[00:55:04]

COMMUNITY, AND THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED AS SUCH FOR VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

WHEN THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GUIDANCE WAS INITIALLY PUBLISHED IN 2020.

AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT MANY OF YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY.

IN FACT, IF YOU HAVE SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN LEARNING FROM HOME, I KNOW THAT YOU DO.

SO WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DIRECTIVE AND GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S ORDER EARLIER THIS MONTH WERE ANNOUNCED TO MAKE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF IMMEDIATELY ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINATION ACROSS ALL VACCINATION PROVIDERS.

WE WERE ELATED AND RELIEVED THAT STAFF COULD FINALLY GET THIS IMPORTANT LAYER OF PROTECTION THAT THEY NEEDED.

AND WHEN THE CITY MADE AN INITIAL OFFER OF FIVE HUNDRED VACCINES AND A DEDICATED VACCINE SLOT FOR GARLAND ISD EMPLOYEES WAS INITIATED BY THE CITY, WE ACCEPTED IT IN GOOD FAITH.

OUR EMPLOYEES SCHEDULED AND RECEIVED WRITTEN CONFIRMATION FROM THE CITY THAT THEIR VACCINATION APPOINTMENT WOULD BE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10TH.

SOME HAD EVEN CANCELED VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS THAT THEY HAD ELSEWHERE.

AND THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN OR THE DISTRICT'S, THE CITY WITHDREW THE OFFER IT INITIATED PRACTICALLY SWEEPING THE RUG FROM UNDER OUR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF AT A MOMENT WHEN THEY HOPED TO BE ON THE PATH TO GAINING IMMUNITY FROM COVID-19.

WE ARE AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THIS PANDEMIC, AS WELL AS AGAINST EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES EXPOSED BY COVID-19.

THE CITY'S INITIAL OFFER WAS APPROPRIATE IN LIGHT OF UPDATED FEDERAL AND STATE SHOT ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES AND WOULD HAVE GONE A LONG WAY TOWARDS HELPING GARLAND ISD IN THIS SCHOOL YEAR WITH SOME ASSURANCE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO BARRIERS TO RETURNING TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND THE FALL OF 2021.

OUR MAIN SOURCES OF REVENUE ARE STATE FUNDING BASED ON STUDENTS, DISTRICT AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE AND LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES OR THE LOCAL PROPERTY TAX RATE.

WE ARE THE LARGEST EMPLOYMENT PROVIDER WITH FEDERAL AND STATE VACCINE ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY AND THE LARGEST PAYING CUSTOMER OF SERVICES IN THE CITY.

IT IS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL FOR THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF THE CITY AND FOR DISTRICT OPERATIONS FOR THE CITY AND THE DISTRICT TO WORK ON A PLAN FOR GARLAND ISD STAFF VACCINATION.

THIS IS BOTH URGENT AND NECESSARY, AND ALTHOUGH THE DELAY LAST WEEK HAS SET US BACK, IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO MOVE FORWARD.

THE INITIAL OFFER OF VACCINES SHOULD BE HONORED AS A MARK OF THE CITY'S INTEGRITY, THE LEGAL ELIGIBILITY OF STAFF TO BE VACCINATED, AND AS A REFLECTION OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE DISTRICT.

THANK YOU FOR PROPOSING A PLAN, BUT I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AND URGE THE CITY TO MAKE GOOD ON THE ORIGINAL OFFER AND THAT THEY DIRECT HEALTH STAFF TO WORK WITH THE DISTRICT ON PLANNING NEXT STEPS.

I SINCERELY HOPE THAT OUR CONVERSATION WILL BE TO PLAN THIS ENDEAVOR AND THAT MY NEXT VISIT TO A CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COLLABORATION IN GETTING THE CITY, THE DISTRICT, OUR STAFF, GISD FAMILIES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL SAFELY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

SORRY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JED REED.

MR. REED, I'VE OPENED THE LINE ON OUR END.

YES.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR.

GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

CITY MANAGEMENT STAFF.

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FIRST SHOT AT HPJ STADIUM, AND THE OPERATION WAS A SMOOTH, EFFECTIVE AND QUICK.

AND SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON THAT OPERATION.

I, TOO, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT EXTENDING THE VACCINATION OPPORTUNITY TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GARLAND ISD.

AS A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I BELIEVE THAT THE DISTRICT IS A KEY ELEMENT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE CITY AND THE TRI-CITY AREA, THAT THIS ACTIVITY WOULD ENCOURAGE A MOVEMENT TOWARDS A RETURN TO NORMALCY AND THAT WE ARE KEY FACTORS IN THE VIBRANT ECONOMIC REBOUND OF THE CITY.

SO I LOOK WITH ENCOURAGEMENT AT MITCH'S PLAN TO INCLUDE THE DISTRICT IN THE NO SHOW LIST.

I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO LOOK AT MEANS OF EXPANDING THOSE NUMBERS AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS, EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOTIFIED THAT THEY ARE ON THE LIST WHEN THEY SHOW UP AND THAT THAT SMOOTH, EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION WILL CONTINUE WITH THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT, AS IT HAS WITH OF ALL OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ARRIVED AT HPJ.

I MAY NOT HAVE GIVEN YOU MY ADDRESS AT THE BEGINNING, BUT IT'S JED REED, 1115

[01:00:05]

WINDING BROOK DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS.

I'M A RESIDENT OF THE OUTSTANDING DISTRICT ONE AREA REPRESENTED BY MR. O'NEILL.

I APPRECIATE THE OF THE CITY'S CONSIDERATION, THE TIME TO SPEAK AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR CITIZENS.

I KNOW THIS IS AN EVER CHANGING RULES AND EVER CHANGING COURT OF ACTIVITY.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR SERVICE AND ALSO YOUR COOPERATION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, SIR.

MY NEXT SPEAKER.

IS JOSH GARCIA.

YES, SIR.

GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WITH ALL MY PRIVATE HAPPINESS I WILL GIVE YOU.

MY ADDRESS IS FOR 029 MAYFLOWER DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS 75043.

AS Y'ALL MAY HAVE HEARD, GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS LIFTED THE MASK, FACE MASK MANDATE, I BELIEVE, LAST WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10TH.

AND I KNOW WE STILL HAVE TO REQUIRED AT, AS Y'ALL HEARD, THE RESTAURANTS AND SOME BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO STILL REQUIRE FACE MASKS AND IT'S NOT TIME TO PARTY AROUND.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE STILL NEED TO WEAR OUR FACE MASKS AND JUDGE, DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE JENKINS MENTIONED THAT.

I KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY IS FULLY VACCINATED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AS WE STILL, I KNOW WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THE HERD IMMUNITY, BUT AS WE AS WE GET CLOSER, WE STILL NEED TO CONTINUE WHERE MASKS [INAUDIBLE] WEAR MASKS, WASH OUR HANDS DAILY, AS ALWAYS, AND MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCE.

YOU KNOW, JUST TO PROTECT OUR SAFETY NET.

SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.

AND MR. MAYOR, I ALWAYS LIKE SEEING YOUR FACE ALL THE TIME IN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

SO I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

AND MY LAST SPEAKER THAT I HAVE IN THE QUEUE IS JENNIFER ERNST.

I'VE OPENED THE LINE ON OUR END, IF YOU CAN UNMUTE YOURSELF AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

JENNIFER ERNST, 705 MALIBU DRIVE.

WHEN THE PRESIDENT WAS SPEAKING I WAS YELLING IN THE BACKGROUND, PREACH! SO I'M 100 PERCENT IN WITH YOU.

TEACHERS OR FRONT LINE WORKERS AND THEY EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE CHILDREN AT HOME RIGHT NOW, BUT PLEASE VACCINATE OUR TEACHERS BECAUSE WE NEED THEM OUT OF OUR HOUSES.

BUT THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.

KIDS ARE GROSS AND THEY LIKE THINGS AND THEY DON'T CARE IF COVID EXISTS AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

AND I CANNOT IMAGINE BEING A TEACHER IN A CLASSROOM WITH A CHILD AND.

THEY DESERVE EVERY OUNCE OF RESPECT AND EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM TO GET THEM VACCINATED.

JUST GET THEM VACCINATED, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE HEROES OF THIS SITUATION.

THEY'RE THE ONES TAKING CARE OF OUR KIDS AND DOING THE BEST THEY CAN TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.

PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, JUST GET THEM VACCINATED.

MINE'S NOT EVEN SCHOOL AGE YET, BUT JUST GET THEM VACCINATED.

I'M JUST BEGGING YOU, BECAUSE IT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO THEM.

THEY'RE NOT NURSES.

THEY'RE NOT DOCTORS.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE NOT DEALING WITH CRITICALLY ILL, BUT THEY'RE DEALING WITH OUR MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN SOCIETY, WHICH IS OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE OUR FUTURE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

AND COUNCIL, THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER I HAVE ON THIS ITEM, BUT BRIEFLY, THE ONE SPEAKER WHO IS NOT WITH US AND I BELIEVE SOME OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS MENTIONED MITCH OR MR. BRADFORD, CAN YOU ADDRESS THE INVITATIONS THAT WERE SENT TO GISD STAFF THAT HAD TO BE RESCINDED? CAN WE CAN YOU BRIEFLY ADDRESS THAT ISSUE ONE OF YOU? YES, SIR.

AND I DON'T CARE WHICH ONE.

GOT IT.

SORRY, I WAS ADJUSTING MY SCREEN AGAIN.

YES, SIR.

ANY OF THAT CONFUSION COMES AT MY RESPONSIBILITIES, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE CITY.

I'M RESPONSIBLE NOT ONLY TO MAKE SURE WE GET OUR OPERATIONS HANDLED EFFICIENTLY, BUT I'M ALSO RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE WE COMMUNICATE CLEARLY.

SO IN OUR ENDEAVORS TO WORK THROUGH THIS, WE HAD A NEW GROUP OF THE TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS THAT WAS ADDED TO THE LIST, AND WE WORK THROUGH OUR CHALLENGES.

WE DID HAVE A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL AND WE HAD COMMUNICATED WITH THEM AND OUR PLAN HAD BEEN TO INCLUDE THEM IN OUR MASS VACCINATION EVENT LAST WEEK.

HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP ABOUT THE WORK,

[01:05:05]

WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE VACCINES TO EVERYONE ON THAT LIST, TO OUR 1A, OUR 1B CANDIDATES, YOU KNOW, OUR SENIORS, THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, OF COURSE, NOW THOSE WITH AGE 50, WE DELAYED THAT DECISION AND NOTIFIED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO DELAY THAT UNTIL WE COULD HAVE SOME FURTHER DISCUSSION AND FINALIZE OUR PLANS FOR MOVING FORWARD.

SO THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY.

OK.

MAYOR, I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND LET MITCH TAKE THE FALL FOR THIS.

THIS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY.

I HAD THE LAST SAY AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE JUST GOT OUT AHEAD OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS IS, THE COUNCIL HAS ALWAYS TAKEN THE VACCINATION IN THE PROCESS VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.

AND IN OUR RUSH, WE GOT OUT AHEAD.

AND WHEN I STARTED INFORMING COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION AND TO WEIGH IN TO THIS, BECAUSE IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION DECIDING WHO SHOULD GET VACCINATIONS BEFORE OTHERS.

AND SO WE ASKED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR ANOTHER WEEK TO ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO GET MORE INFORMATION AND TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.

SO IF ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WANTS TO BE ANGRY AT SOMEONE, THEY SHOULD BE ANGRY AT ME.

CERTAINLY NOT THE COUNCIL.

I APPRECIATE THAT, SIR.

BOTH OF YOU.

THIS HAS BEEN YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

WE HAD BEEN PRESENTED WITH A LOT OF VERY DIFFICULT CHOICES THAT HAVE TO BE MADE UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL, WE'LL MOVE TO COUNCIL.

COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN, I THINK YOU HAD POPPED UP FIRST.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION.

I APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU GENTLEMEN, I GUESS FALLING ON THE SWORD, SO TO SPEAK.

WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN REGARDING HOW MANY GISD FOLKS WERE GOING TO BE VACCINATED, I GUESS LAST WEEK OR WHATEVER ON THE 10TH.

IT WAS THE SAME.

IT WAS THE FIVE HUNDRED, THE FIVE HUNDRED NUMBER.

OK, SO FIVE HUNDRED.

AND THEN I GATHER THEN THAT SOMEBODY ON COUNCIL OBJECTED TO US DOING THAT.

IS THAT CORRECT? I THINK THE BEST WAY TO PHRASE IT IS THERE WERE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS .

SOMEBODY SAID WE OUGHT TO WAIT, NOT DO IT THIS WEEK AND DO IT THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

IS THAT I MEAN, I'M NOT TRYING TO GET YOU TO THROW COUNCIL UNDER THE BUS.

I APOLOGIZE.

BUT THAT'S CONCERNING TO ME.

AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE SEEN AS WE DO THESE BY ZOOM I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY MEETING LAST WEEK TO DISCUSS THIS AND GET IT RESOLVED.

THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE REGARDING THE PLAN GOING FORWARD, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT WITH RESPECT TO FROM STAFF'S PROPOSAL, IS THAT JUST FOR GISD OR IS IT ALSO FOR OTHER CHILD CARE PROVIDERS FOR, YOU KNOW, ILT AND FOR DALLAS KHAN ACADEMY, OTHER EDUCATORS IN THE CITY? SO NOT JUST EDUCATORS, BUT STAFF.

SORRY, MAKING SURE I WAS UNMUTED.

RIGHT NOW, OUR PLAN IS TO FOCUS WITH GISD WITH THIS FIVE HUNDRED AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, OF COURSE, ALL EDUCATOR, AS A STATE HUB REQUIRED TO TAKE AND WOULD TAKE ALL EDUCATORS THAT FIT THE DEFINITION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US.

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHERS THAT ARE REGISTERING THAT WOULD QUALIFY IN OTHER WAYS.

BUT OUR INITIAL PLAN WAS TO MOVE FORWARD FIRST WITH THE NO SHOW DOSES FOR GISD PERSONNEL, WHICH IS OF COURSE OUR THREE CITIES UNDER OUR GARLAND HEALTH AUTHORITY OF GARLAND, ROWLETT AND SACHSE.

OK, HAVE WE ALREADY SENT OUT NOTICES FOR THIS WEEK TO THE HOWEVER MANY FOLKS OR HOW MANY HAVE WE SENT OUT SO FAR? WE SENT OUT NOTICES FOR THE SEVENTEEN HUNDRED, THAT'S JUST STRAIGHT OFF OF OUR WAITING LIST AND THEN I'VE HELD OFF ON THE FIVE HUNDRED UNTIL WE GET SOME FINAL DIRECTION ON THAT, WHETHER IT'S TO PROVIDE IT FOR GISD OR WE COULD TAKE OTHER STEPS IF NEEDED.

OK, I GUESS COUNCIL MY TAKE ON THIS AS A PARENT OF, I HAVE FOUR KIDS, FOUR DAUGHTERS, ALL IN GISD, AND I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR

[01:10:01]

THEIR EFFORTS TO GET THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OPEN AND DO FACE TO FACE LEARNING THIS YEAR AT GREAT RISK TO THEIR OWN STAFF.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE, IN MY MIND, FRONT LINE WORKERS.

THESE ARE THE FRONT LINE WORKERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE EXPOSED TO COVID FOR THE LONGEST PERIOD OF TIME.

WE ARE NOT VACCINATING CHILDREN YET.

AND SO THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE EXPOSED TO UNVACCINATED PEOPLE ON A REGULAR BASIS AND AT A HIGHER PERCENTAGE THAN ANYBODY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF US HAVE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT RIGHT NOW.

PROBABLY NOT VERY MANY OF US.

TWO OR THREE OF US.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I GET ALMOST DAILY NOTICES FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF YET ANOTHER INSTANCE OF COVID, AND I KNOW THEY'VE HAD HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF INSTANCES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ALMOST EVERY DAY I GET A NOTICE FROM EACH OF THE GIRLS SCHOOLS ABOUT COVID EXPOSURES IN THESE SCHOOLS.

AND SO I FEEL THAT WE NEED TO JUMP ON THIS.

I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE REGISTERED.

I TAKE THE ACTIONS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AS EFFECTIVELY A REORDERING OF SOME OF THE PRIORITIES.

IN OTHER WORDS, THAT THE TEACHERS ALL ALONG SHOULD HAVE BEEN A TOP PRIORITY.

AND I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE.

AND WE HAVEN'T HAD MUCH OF AN ABILITY TO PRIORITIZE THAT BASED ON THE RULES THAT HAVE COME FROM THE STATE.

I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WANTING TO GET TEACHERS VACCINATED, AND SO I SHOULDN'T SAY JUST TEACHERS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE TEACHERS WHO ARE EXPOSED.

IT'S TEACHERS AND BUS DRIVERS, JANITORS AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE SCHOOL.

SO IT'S REALLY THE ENTIRE STAFF.

AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL IN PARTICULAR TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND FOR THEIR WORK.

AND SO AND I'M THANKFUL TO MR. SELDERS AND MR. REED FOR FOR THEIR INPUT ON THIS.

BUT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO GET ON TOP OF.

AND CANDIDLY, I WOULD VERY GLADLY HAVE SAID, GIVE US YOUR FIVE HUNDRED FROM LAST WEEK AND WE'LL DO ANOTHER FIVE HUNDRED FROM THIS WEEK AND WE'LL GIVE YOU 50 PERCENT OF OUR DOSES GOING FORWARD.

IF WE'VE ALREADY SENT OUT SEVENTEEN HUNDRED NOTICES, THEN AND I KNOW WE CAN'T DO THAT, BUT I SUPPORT PROVIDING THOSE VACCINES AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

I SUPPORT IN THE ONGOING WEEKS INSTEAD OF JUST GOING OFF THE NO SHOW LIST, THAT IN ONGOING WE PROVIDE 50 PERCENT OF THE AVAILABLE VACCINES PRIORITIZED TO FOLKS WHO WORK IN THE EDUCATION FIELD, CHILD HEALTH CARE FIELD IN GARLAND.

AND SO THAT'S MY TAKE ON THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER [INAUDIBLE].

NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I'VE GOT, MITCH, I'VE GOT SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU, BUT FIRST, MY TAKE ON THAT FIRST THING, I THINK THIS.

THERE WERE I THINK THE OVERARCHING ISSUE WITH THIS WHOLE THING IS US CONTINUING AND STRENGTHENING THIS PARTNERSHIP.

I THINK PRESIDENT SELDERS ADDRESSED THAT IN HIS COMMENTS.

I THINK THAT'S CRITICAL GOING FORWARD.

AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY AND I KNOW THE MAYOR DOES, AND ANYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL WHO DOESN'T AGREE WITH THAT.

THE DISTRICT HAS CERTAINLY DONE ITS PART AND OFFERING THE FACILITIES AND ADJUSTING THEIR SCHEDULES.

SO TO ME, BEYOND JUST AND I DON'T WHEN I SAY JUST, I DON'T MEAN TO MINIMIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE VACCINE.

BUT I THINK MORE OVERARCHING IS THAT WE FEEL THAT WE DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO STRENGTHEN AND NOURISH THIS PARTNERSHIP, LONG TIME PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE CITY.

AS THE MAYOR SAID, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS STUFF, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT ALL PERFECTLY.

SO STAFF IS STILL DOING A GREAT JOB.

BUT MITCH, MY QUESTIONS TO YOU ARE NUMBER ONE.

ARE WE ABLE, YOU OR JASON, ARE YOU ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE DISTRICT PERSONNEL TO WHOM THOSE INVITATIONS WENT OUT TO? AND IF SO, HOW MANY DO WE HAVE? MY SECOND QUESTION IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU HAD ON THE SCREEN MOVING FORWARD.

DOES THAT RECOMMENDATION REFLECT DISCUSSION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES? AND ARE THEY GOOD WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU BROUGHT FORTH TONIGHT?

[01:15:03]

AND CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE EXTENT OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? CERTAINLY, AS COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN INDICATED, IT'S TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS, ALL THE FRONT LINE WORKERS.

I MEAN, THE JANITORS.

AND WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS WHO WORK IN THE CAFETERIA, WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE MORE POPULAR THAN THEIR TEACHERS WERE, YOU KNOW, FOR NUMBER OF REASONS.

THE CAFETERIA WORKERS, THE CUSTODIAL STAFF, THE BUS DRIVERS.

SO THIS GROUP SHOULD DEFINITELY INCLUDE THOSE FOLKS.

SO ALL THOSE FOLKS INCLUDED.

MY NEXT QUESTION TO YOU IS GOING BACK TO, MITCH, THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED ON NO SHOW.

AND AGAIN, OUR PROTOCOL FOR NOTIFICATION.

COULD WE PUT SOMETHING OUT, WHETHER WE DO IT IN A ABBREVIATED CITY PRESS PUT SOMETHING OUT TO OUR PUBLIC REMINDING THEM OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU POSTED ON THAT.

I THINK THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK THE PROVISION THAT IF YOU DON'T RESPOND AND YOU WERE CONTACTED USING SOCIAL MEDIA, TEXT, EMAIL, ET CETERA, YOU WILL BE PURGED FROM THE LIST.

I THINK THAT THAT MESSAGE I THINK THAT WE NEED TO RESEND THAT MESSAGE OUT.

SO I'LL START WITH, IF YOU CAN START WITH MY FIRST QUESTION AND THEN GO FROM THERE.

I CAN REPEAT THEM IF I NEED TO.

BUT FIRST THING IS THE GROUP, THE FIVE HUNDRED GROUP, CAN YOU IDENTIFY THOSE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED THOSE NOTICES? YEAH, JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT'S THE FIVE HUNDRED FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, RIGHT, THAT YOU'RE? FROM THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS THEIR OWN LIST.

MY UNDERSTANDING AND OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.

THEY PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED A LIST OF SOME OF THEIR OWN ONE B PERSONNEL.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE WERE A NUMBER MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED ON THAT LIST.

SO THERE FIRST DEFINITELY THE FIRST FIVE HUNDRED, MAYBE MORE WOULD LIKELY BE 1B TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS.

SO I DON'T HAVE A LIST OF THERE.

I DON'T HAVE IT BEFORE ME, BUT WE'VE WORKED OUT A PROCESS WITH THEM TO KNOW WHO WOULD BE COMING.

SO THEY, THEY HAVE THAT LIST.

OK.

WE WOULD BE, IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PLAN, IF THIS PLAN IS APPROVED, THEN WE'LL BE WORKING WITH GISD STAFF AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOTIFIED FOR THIS UPCOMING EVENT FOR THOSE FIVE HUNDRED.

OK, AND CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU PUT FORWARD TONIGHT? IS THAT REFLECTIVE OF GISD INPUT DISCUSSIONS TO WHAT AND IF SO TO WHAT EXTENT? YES, SIR, IT IS.

WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS.

YOU KNOW, I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT.

I WILL TELL YOU, I'M SURE THEY WILL TAKE AS MANY AS THEY CAN GET.

THEY'VE GOT SOME SEVEN OR EIGHT THOUSAND EMPLOYEES.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO IS FIND A BALANCE THERE TO STILL WORK WITH THOSE ON OUR LIST, OUR SENIORS THAT ARE STILL ON THE LIST, THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, BUT AGREEING AND KNOWING THAT OUR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS ARE AN IMPORTANT GROUP.

AND AND WE, OF COURSE, HAVE HAD THE DIRECTION FROM OUR FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, AS WELL AS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES.

SO WE WERE TRYING TO FIND THAT BALANCE MOVING FORWARD AFTER THIS WEEK.

YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON NO SHOWS WE'LL END UP WITH A THOUSAND PLUS AND FOLLOWING WEEKS.

SO THAT'S WHY IN MY DISCUSSIONS LAST WEEK WITH THEM OR THE PREVIOUS WEEK I HAD LEFT IT AS UNDETERMINED.

WE WANT TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER TO THEM, BUT WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.

ALTHOUGH, I GUESS THAT'S UP FOR DISCUSSION AS WELL.

SO THAT'S BEEN MY DISCUSSION WITH THE DISTRICT TO DATE.

YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THEY WOULD TAKE AS MANY AS WE COULD GIVE THEM FOR THIS VENTURE, ALTHOUGH I DO THINK IT'S FAIR TO POINT OUT, AS I PRESENTED ON THE SLIDES, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN FOR ANY CATEGORY.

RIGHT.

WITH THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE'RE ALL HAVING HERE IS WE'RE ONLY GETTING A THOUSAND A WEEK FROM THE STATE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE HUGE VOLUME OF NOT ONLY TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS, BUT, OF COURSE, OUR SENIORS OUR THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS AND THE REST OF THEM.

IF WE HAD MORE DOSES, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT WE COULD DO, YOU KNOW, I STILL ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO WHETHER YOU'RE A TEACHER, YOU KNOW, ALL THE NOT, WHETHER IT'S ONE OF THE OTHER HUBS, WHETHER IT'S THE NON HUB'S.

THERE'S OTHER WAYS FOR, YOU KNOW, OTHERS TO GET THAT VACCINATED.

SO, AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT.

[01:20:02]

I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS.

THEY'VE UNDERSTOOD WHERE WE STOOD IN OUR DISCUSSIONS.

WOULD THEY LIKE MORE? ABSOLUTELY THEY WOULD.

MITCH, I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANKS FOR THAT RESPONSE.

BUT LET ME FOLLOW UP WITH MY QUESTION.

IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU PUT FORTH TONIGHT, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT WITHOUT ADVERSELY IMPACTING OUR GENERAL POPULATION.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I'VE HEARD AND SEEN TONIGHT, THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE GISD SITUATION AND STILL NOT HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON OUR GENERAL PUBLIC.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT WAS MY PLAN.

YES, SIR.

OK, OK, IF THAT'S CORRECT.

SO MY QUESTION IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU PUT FORTH TONIGHT, HAS THAT BEEN A RECOMMENDATION BEFORE TONIGHT? HAS THAT BEEN SHARED WITH AND DISCUSSED WITH THE FOLKS ON THE GISD'S SIDE? RECOGNIZING, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD A MAGIC WAND.

IF WE HAD ALL THE DOSES, THAT WE HAD TRUCKLOADS AND TRAIN LOADS AND WE COULD SCHEDULE EVERYBODY TOMORROW, WE COULD MAKE THIS GO AWAY QUICKLY.

BUT THAT'S NOT REALITY.

BUT TO BEGIN THE PROCESS AND THAT'S WHAT I TAKE YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO BEGIN THE PROCESS.

OK, SO THE RECOMMENDATION TO BEGIN THIS PROCESS OF FIXING IT.

MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, HAS THAT RECOMMENDATION BEEN SHARED WITH THE DISTRICT AND DID WE GET FEEDBACK FROM THEM TO BEGIN THIS PROCESS? WE'VE KIND OF LEARNING TO WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME, NOT FIX THE WHOLE THING, BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE.

BUT MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS REFLECTIVE OF THE DISTRICT'S, OF THE PARTNERSHIP INPUT, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU PUT THAT YOU AND STAFF HAVE PUT ON THE TABLE TONIGHT? IS THIS REFLECTIVE ALSO OF THE DISTRICT'S INPUT? THAT'S MY QUESTION ON YOUR RECOMMENDATION.

YES, SIR, IT IS.

OK.

OK, THAT'S OK.

THAT'S WHAT I THAT'S WHAT I THAT'S THAT'S A CRITICAL QUESTION.

OK, AND LASTLY, IF YOUR RECOMMENDATION WERE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL TONIGHT, WHAT NUMBER WOULD BE IN THE QUEUE FOR DISTRICT FOLKS FOR THURSDAY? WOULD THIS BEGIN THE PROCESS THURSDAY OR LATER? IT WOULD BEGIN THIS THURSDAY WITH THE FIVE HUNDRED FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

OK.

OK, ALL RIGHT.

OK, WELL.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE THING.

I GUESS WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS AND I'LL FINISH UP QUICKLY.

MAYOR, WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS IS, I DON'T.

I SUPPORT YOUR RECOMMENDATION, BUT I DO WANT TOMORROW IS.

WELL THIS IS A BILATERAL RATHER THAN A UNILATERAL RECOMMENDATION.

AND [INAUDIBLE] WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT YOU RECOMMENDED.

BUT YOU DIDN'T RUN IT BY US.

YOU DIDN'T TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

I JUST WOULDN'T BE SURE THAT IS PART OF THIS PARTNERSHIP THAT WE RECOGNIZE.

AND AGAIN, WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIX THIS IN ONE DAY.

AND I DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE ON THE DISTRICT, OUR PARTNERS IN THE DISTRICT EXPECT US TO.

BUT I THINK THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS.

BUT I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT THERE IS A BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS ON THESE THINGS, RATHER, YOU KNOW, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, TO CORRECT THIS.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED HAS HAPPENED.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIX IT.

SO THAT'S THE REASON FOR MY QUESTION.

AND I APPRECIATE IT, MITCH.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

YES, SIR.

EXCUSE ME, COUNCIL MEMBER HEDRICK? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE CITY MANAGER AND DEPUTY CITY MANAGER TAKING RESPONSIBILITY IN THE MISCOMMUNICATION WITH THE GISD TEACHERS.

AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO DEFINITELY IS MAKE THAT RIGHT BY GETTING THE FIVE HUNDRED NURSES OUT TO THOSE GISD TEACHERS THAT WE PROMISED.

I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN VERY GRACIOUS AND LET US USE THEIR FACILITIES AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET THAT CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY.

SO THURSDAY, I VERY MUCH SUPPORT GIVING THOSE FIVE HUNDRED DOSES OUT TO THEM.

BUT AFTER THAT POINT, MOVING FORWARD, I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS THE POINT OF DIVIDING UP THE POPULATION IN THE DIFFERENT GROUPS AS FAR AS WE HAVE THE HIGHEST RISK AT THE TOP.

SO I REALLY CAN'T SUPPORT MOVING TEACHERS UP THE LIST ANY MORE THAN THE GROUPS, THE AGE WE HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED.

AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT CORRELATIONS OF THE DISEASE, IT VERY MUCH CORRELATES WITH THE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND AGE.

SO I THINK WE'RE VERY MUCH RIGHT TO GET THOSE AGE GROUPS VACCINATED FIRST LIKE WE'VE BEEN DOING AND WHAT THE GUIDANCE HAS COME FROM THE STATE.

I KNOW MANY TEACHERS ALREADY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER, MYSELF IN GISD, AND HER TEACHER'S BEEN VACCINATED.

SO THOSE TEACHERS ARE FINDING VACCINATIONS IN OTHER PLACES.

[01:25:02]

AND EVEN BIDEN, WHEN HE MENTIONED THE PROGRAM, HE MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY THIS FEDERAL RETAIL PHARMACY PROGRAM, WHICH MR. BATES MENTIONED AS OTHER AVENUES.

AND THE DATA PROVES IT.

WHERE THOSE ALLOCATIONS AREN'T COMING TO US, THEY'RE GOING TO ALL THOSE OTHER PROVIDERS TO GET THOSE OUT.

SO, I MEAN, STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE ALSO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN 20, IF THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT TRANSMISSION IN THE SCHOOLS, THAT THOSE PEOPLE HAVE A SIXTY THREE PERCENT LOWER VIRAL LOAD THAN THOSE KIDS YOUNGER THAN 20 DO, THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION OLDER THAN THAT.

SO THERE ARE LOWER TRANSMISSION RISK TO THE TEACHERS.

I ALSO REACHED OUT TO DR.

LOPEZ AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THERE'S ONLY BEEN 13 PERCENT OF THE TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED TO HAVE COVID.

13 PERCENT WAS FROM CAMPUS EXPOSURE.

THE REST WAS FROM OUTSIDE.

87 PERCENT WAS FROM OUTSIDE CAMPUS EXPOSURE.

I MEAN, THERE'S SEVENTY ONE HUNDRED TEACHERS AND STAFF IN GISD, THIRTY FIVE OR NEARLY THIRTY SIX HUNDRED TEACHERS.

AND HE SAID THAT 955 OF THOSE TEACHERS HAVE HAD COVID THAT'S TWENTY SIX PERCENT OF THE TEACHERS HAVE HAD COVID, WHICH IS VERY SURPRISING TO ME.

THAT'S MORE THAN DOUBLE OF WHAT OUR GARLAND POPULATION WE'VE RECOGNIZED TO HAVE COVID ALREADY.

HE ALSO SAID THAT SEVENTY FIVE HUNDRED EMPLOYEES ARE NOW ON A WAITING LIST TO GET THE VACCINE AND ONE HUNDRED AND ONE HUNDRED, NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY NINE OF THOSE HAVE HIGH RISK CONDITIONS.

SO THAT FIVE HUNDRED THAT WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THAT KNOCK OUT A LARGE NUMBER OF THAT SEVENTEEN HUNDRED THAT ARE NOW ON A WAITING LIST TO GET VACCINE.

SO THAT WAS AS OF FRIDAY.

SO I IMAGINE EVEN IN THE PAST FEW DAYS THAT NUMBER HAS GONE DOWN.

BUT LIKE I SAID, I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT BUMPING THEM UP THE LIST AHEAD OF OTHER PEOPLE.

I REALLY DON'T WANT TO EXPLAIN TO A 65 YEAR OLD WHO'S BEEN WAITING TO GET THERE'S THAT 30 YEAR OLD TEACHER IS ABLE TO JUMP THE LIST AHEAD THEIRS.

YOU KNOW, I DO APPRECIATE THAT THEY'RE FRONT LINE WORKERS AND EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC, DOCTORS AND WOULD HAVE BEEN FRONT LINE AND THEY'RE STILL FRONT LINE WORKERS, GROCERY STORES.

A MONTH AGO, POWER PLANT WORKERS AND ELECTRICAL WORKERS WOULD BE A FRONTLINE WORKER THAT WE THOUGHT WAS MOST CRITICAL.

SO AS WE GET A COMPLEX SOCIETY, OUR NUMBER OF CRITICAL WORKERS JUST GROWS, EXPANDS EXPONENTIALLY AS WE LOOK IN A MODERN SOCIETY.

AND IN THE END, ALL WORKERS ARE CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO FEEDING THEIR FAMILIES.

SO I FULLY SUPPORT GETTING THE 500 OUT TO THE TEACHERS TO MAKE THAT RIGHT, BUT I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT BUMPING THEM UP IN THE LIST.

THANK YOU, MR. DEPUTY MAYOR.

PRO TEM MORRIS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YOU KNOW, I'VE SPOKEN IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO TO SEVERAL OF THE TRUSTEES, INCLUDING MR. SELDERS AND ALSO TO DR.

LOPEZ AND ALSO TO A LOT OF CITIZENS, BECAUSE THIS ISN'T AN EASY DECISION.

THIS IS COMPLICATED.

AND THERE IS NOT A WONDERFUL, RIGHTEOUS DECISION THAT YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, OH, WELL, OBVIOUSLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS THIS.

EXCEPT FOR THE RIGHT THING, OBVIOUSLY, TO DO MAKE UP THE FIVE HUNDRED ASAP THAT GOES ALMOST WITHOUT SAYING.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE KIND OF MY EXPERIENCE IN REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND I HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF TEACHERS.

I KNOW A LOT OF TEACHERS, I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF THEM.

AND WITH ONE EXCEPTION, THE TEACHERS WERE ADAMANT ABOUT NOT WANTING TO CUT IN LINE, WHICH I FOUND INTERESTING, PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY SAY IT TO THEIR KIDS ALL THE TIME AT SCHOOL, BUT.

HERE'S THE DEAL I HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT AND THIS IS BEFORE THIS CAME UP, I HEARD FROM A LOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN ON THE WAIT LIST FOR TWO MONTHS.

THEY ARE IN VARIOUS KINDS OF FRAGILE CONDITIONS, SOME OF THEM IN THEIR EIGHTIES, SOME OF THEM IN THEIR 70S, SOME OF THEM IN THEIR 90S.

AND THEY'RE CALLING AND SAYING, WHEN AM I GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE? AND ALL OF US GET ASKED THAT AND THERE'S NOT AN ANSWER.

STATISTICALLY.

PEOPLE 60 AND OVER THEY COMPRISE NINETY FIVE PERCENT OF THE COVID DEATHS, 60 AND OVER 95 PERCENT.

I PULLED UP OUR GARLAND STATS AND ACTUALLY I'M PRETTY PROUD OF US BECAUSE IN GARLAND 60 AND OVER, WHICH IS ONLY 80 PERCENT OF THE DEATHS HERE, WE'VE DONE BETTER BY OUR SENIORS IN THE CITY OF GARLAND THAN THE NATION AS A WHOLE OR THE COUNTY.

OK, SO I SHARE COUNCILMAN HEDRICK'S CONCERN WITH MAKING LARGE MOVEMENTS AND

[01:30:01]

SAYING, OH, WE'LL PUT THE TEACHERS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE.

BECAUSE THAT'S JUST FACTS, THAT'S JUST STATS, SO THAT IS A CONCERN, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE BALANCING CONCERN TO THAT IS AND I'VE READ A LOT ABOUT THIS AND I'M SURE ALL OF YOU HAVE TOO.

THERE IS SINCE CHILDREN HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL FULL TIME.

THERE IS SKYROCKETING AMOUNTS OF CHILD ABUSE AND I'M AWARE OF SOME OF THIS.

CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES HAVE SKYROCKETED.

SCHOOL IN-PERSON SCHOOL IS MORE THAN EDUCATION.

IT'S A LIFELINE FOR VERY, MANY CHILDREN IN OUR POPULATION.

AND SO I'VE BEEN WEIGHING THIS OUT AND SAYING, OK, OUR SENIORS, THEY'RE THE MOST LIKELY TO DIE IF THEY GET THIS WITHOUT QUESTION.

WITHOUT QUESTION.

YOUNGER PEOPLE CAN GET HORRIBLY SICK, AS WE'VE SEEN WITH MR. SELDERS.

THEY CAN GET HORRIBLY SICK.

AND, YES, SOME OF THEM DIE.

BUT STATISTICALLY, THE OVER 60 CROWD WAY, WAY, WAY MORE LIKELY TO END UP DEAD WITH THIS.

I CAN'T IGNORE THAT.

AND I ALSO CAN'T IGNORE THAT WITH TEACHERS US BEING ABLE TO VACCINATE TEACHERS, WHICH ONE WOULD HOPE MEANS BETTER, MORE ROBUST OPENING OF SCHOOLS, MORE IN-PERSON THINGS.

THERE'S AN EXPONENTIAL BENEFIT.

IF YOU HAVE TEACHERS IMMUNIZED, THEY ARE THE ONES IN THERE TEACHING CLASSROOMS. SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY REACHING OUT TO BOTH ENDS OF THE AGE THAT THE SENIORS AND THE CHILDREN.

SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU WHERE I ENDED UP.

I ASKED A LOT OF PEOPLE THE THERE'S A LOT OF CONTROVERSY OVER THIS, OBVIOUSLY.

A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SUGGESTED BASICALLY WHAT STAFF IS SUGGESTING, HAVING TEACHERS BE ON STANDBY, A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, NOT ALL THE STANDBY DOSES, BUT TO APPORTION A PERCENTAGE EACH WEEK THAT WOULD GO TO TEACHERS.

AND THAT SEEMED TO BE ONE OF THE MORE COMFORTABLE COMPROMISES THAT I HEARD DIRECTLY FROM PEOPLE, AT LEAST IN MY DISTRICT.

THE BIG DEAL IS FOR ME, WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO DO, IF WE'RE CHANGING THE RULES, WHICH WE ARE MIDSTREAM HERE, I MEAN, WE COULD WE COULD SAY, OK, SIXTY FIVE PLUS ALL GET FILTERED OUT, PULLED TO THE FRONT, AND THEN WE BLEND THEM WITH A PERCENTAGE OF TEACHERS.

WELL, THAT LEAVES ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE OUT, BUT THAT TAKES CARE OF OUR MOST LIKELY TO DIE AND OUR TEACHERS TO REOPEN SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF POSSIBILITIES NOW IF WE ARE UNDOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ALL ALONG, WHICH IS STRAIGHT DOWN THE LIST, WE'RE NOT JUMPING, WE'RE NOT SKIPPING, WE'RE GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE LIST.

WE CAN CONSIDER OTHER POSSIBILITIES AT THIS POINT.

BUT WHATEVER WE DO, AND THIS IS MY BIG CONCERN, WE NEED TO DO IT IN THE DAYLIGHT.

WE NEED TO ANNOUNCE IT.

PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW.

WE'VE BEEN ANNOUNCING ALL ALONG, OK, THEY ASK, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE LEFTOVER VACCINES FOR NO SHOWS? AND WE SAY WE CONTINUE DOWN THE LIST AND THEY COME INTO THE PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC.

SO WE GIVEN THAT INFORMATION OUT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

SO WHEN WE CHANGE THAT, WE NEED TO JUST TELL PEOPLE UP FRONT AND SAY, OK, WE'RE CHANGING OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES NOW.

THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING FROM THIS POINT ON.

SO I WILL STOP THERE.

I WILL SAY THAT I UNDERSTOOD FROM DR.

LOPEZ THAT IT'S ABOUT LIKE IN THE NATION THAT ONLY ABOUT HALF THE TEACHERS WE'RE ACTUALLY WANTING VACCINES AND THAT OPENS UP OTHER.

YOU KNOW, THAT OPENS UP OTHER ISSUES AND WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT, I AM GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE FEDERAL PHARMACY PROGRAM, WHICH I HADN'T HEARD OF SO MITCH I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT.

AND THAT IS VERY ENCOURAGING, THAT SOME AVENUES ARE BEING OPENED BESIDES US WITH OUR PUNY NUMBER OF VACCINES.

SO I AM OPEN TO CONSIDERING SOME ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING, LIKE I SAID, FILTERING OUT THOSE 65 AND OLDER AND PRIORITIZING THEM AND STREAMING IN TEACHERS WITH THEM.

I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF STAFFS RECOMMENDATION.

AND SO I'LL END THERE AND SEE WHERE WE END UP.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

MA'AM.

COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

FOR TRANSPARENCY SAKE, I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT I'VE GOT PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS

[01:35:03]

ON THE WAITING LIST AND MY WIFE'S A TEACHER, SHE'S GOT HER VACCINE THROUGH REGION 10 AND I'VE ALSO LOST TWO RELATIVES TO COVID.

SOMETHING I DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT MUCH, SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO DO THIS AND HAVE IT NOT BE PERSONAL, BUT I WILL DO MY BEST.

AS THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID, IF WE MADE A PROMISE, WE KEEP IT, PERIOD.

END OF DISCUSSION.

GET THE FIVE HUNDRED FOLKS GOING, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAD CANCELED THEIR POSITION ON OTHER LISTS BECAUSE WE HAD MADE THAT COMMITMENT AND THAT'S WHAT'S DONE IS DONE.

WE'VE BEEN AS A NATION, WE'VE BEEN MAKING THIS UP AS WE'VE GONE ALONG, DOING THE BEST WE CAN.

THE RULES HAVE CHANGED MANY TIMES IN MANY WAYS.

AND I DON'T CONSIDER THIS TO BE ANY MORE OR LESS IMPACTFUL THAN ANY OTHER CHANGE WE'VE MADE.

THE ONE THING I DON'T WANT TO DO IS I DON'T WANT TO WASTE A VACCINE.

AND IF WE GET TO THE END OF THE DAY AND WE'VE GOT SEVERAL DOZEN OR EVEN SEVERAL HUNDRED DOSES THAT ARE GOING TO GO BAD IF THEY SIT IN A CONTAINER FOR X AMOUNT OF TIME AND WE HAVE ONE BUILDING WE CAN GO TO AND WE CAN KNOCK OUT 50.

THAT'S A GREAT THING FROM A LOGISTICS PERSPECTIVE.

SO I SEE SOME MAJOR BENEFIT TO IT.

I KNOW AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT WATCHED THE HOW THINGS WENT IN NEW YORK CITY KNOWS THAT A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE ARE KIDS TAKING THINGS HOME OR YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING THINGS HOME BACK TO MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS.

AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE THOSE IN THE CITY.

AND SO I DON'T JUST WORRY ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO GET THE DISEASE AND THE IMPACT ON THEM, BUT I WORRY ABOUT WHO IT IMPACTS WHEN THEY BRING IT HOME.

SO, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN I I GET A DOZEN NOTIFICATIONS A DAY BETWEEN THE TWO SCHOOLS THAT MY DAUGHTERS ARE IN OF SUSPECTED CASES AND CONFIRMED CASES AND ALL THE REST.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND I SEND MY WIFE TO WORK OR SHE SENDS ME TO WORK, BUT MY WIFE GOES TO WORK EVERY DAY AND SHE WALKS INTO THAT ENVIRONMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH THAT BIG QUESTION MARK.

AND SHE'S NOT SOMEBODY WHO GETS TO WORK AT HOME LIKE I DO.

AND SO WE'RE TELLING HER YOU HAVE TO GO INTO THIS ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS.

WITH 20 OR 30 KIDS AROUND YOU FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY WHOSE FIRST CONSIDERATION AND CONCERN IS NOT HOW CLEAN THEY KEEP THEIR HANDS.

CUTTING TO THE POINT, I LIKE THE STAFF PLAN.

I WANT TO SEE US CARRY IT FORWARD, IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME FROM A JUST FROM CUTTING INTO THE NUMBERS STANDPOINT.

I KNOW THE NUMBERS ARE ON THE DECLINE AND I WANT TO KEEP THEM GOING THERE.

I KNOW THAT THE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT VACCINE GOING INTO OUR TEACHERS IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH IS NOT GOING TO BE AS GREAT AS IF WE GOT IT TO THEM IN JANUARY BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH TIME LEFT IN THE SCHOOL YEAR.

BUT LET'S SET ASIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR A MINUTE AND JUST START TALKING ABOUT DAYCARES, BECAUSE THOSE ARE GOING TO RAMP UP BIG TIME THIS SUMMER.

AND IF YOU THOUGHT IT WAS TOUGH TO KEEP KIDS CLEAN IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL, WAIT TILL THEY GET OUT ON THAT DAYCARE PLAYGROUND.

WAIT UNTIL YOU'VE GOT THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE CHANGING DIAPERS AND DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN A DAYCARE AND CLEANING UP EVERY BODILY FLUID KNOWN TO MAN.

I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO SEE OUR DAYCARE WORKERS GET ACCESS TO THIS, AND I WANT TO SEE IT HAPPEN IN A HURRY.

IF THEY'RE DEALING WITH INFANTS THEY'RE DEALING WITH ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT EVEN PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE NOT DEALING WITH.

SO.

JUST TO WRAP UP, LET'S GET THOSE 500 LET'S GET THEM DONE YESTERDAY, AND IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE OUR NO-SHOW DOSES AND GET THEM INTO OUR TEACHERS INTO OUR CHILD CARE WORKERS ARMS, I THINK THAT THAT'S A GREAT THING.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

THANK YOU SIR.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCNEAL.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

AND I THINK EVERYONE'S AWARE MY WIFE'S A TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS MY DAUGHTER.

AND MY DAUGHTER SHE TEACHES KINDER.

SO ALL THE ONES COUNCILMAN SMITH WAS JUST MENTIONING, SHE'S DEALING WITH THOSE.

AND IT'S JUST AN HONOR, THOSE OF YOU THAT REALLY FOLLOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, OBVIOUSLY, THEY'VE MADE GREAT INVESTMENT TO TRY AND PROTECT THEIR TEACHERS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES.

THEY ARE WEARING A MASK.

THEY'RE WEARING SHIELDS, THEY'RE HAVING GLOVES, THEY'RE SANITIZING.

SO YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT THE INVESTMENT THAT THE DISTRICT IS MAKING.

OBVIOUSLY I SUPPORT STAFFS PLAN.

THANK YOU, MITCH, FOR PULLING THAT FORWARD.

OBVIOUSLY, AS FAST AS WE CAN GET THAT PLAN OPERATIONALIZED, MR. MAYOR THAT'S WHAT I WOULD BE SUPPORTING.

IN ADDITION TO THAT.

BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE A COUPLE OF THINGS, MR.

[01:40:01]

MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME AN THE FIRST THING AND HOPEFULLY, OBVIOUSLY TEACHERS AND SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT ARE USED TO BEING THEY'RE USED TO ABSENCES AND BEING PRESENT.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ASK OUR TEACHERS TO BE PRESENT.

WE SHOULD NOT HAVE NOT ONE, NO SHOW IN RICKY MCNEAL'S OPINION, IF WE'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE THIS FOR OUR PARTNERS AND I LOVE GISD BECAUSE ALL MY CHILDREN HAVE GONE THROUGH THE DISTRICT.

SO WE WOULD ASK THAT THE DISTRICT WORK DILIGENTLY WITH THEIR STAFF AS SOON AS WE MAKE THAT AVAILABLE, THAT WE HAVE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT PARTICIPATION BY THE TEACHERS OR BUS DRIVERS OR WHOEVER GISD SENDS TO US THAT WE HAVE 100 PERCENT SUPPORT AND THAT THEY SHOW UP AND THAT WE SUPPORT THEM, OBVIOUSLY SECONDLY, THE COMMUNICATION PIECE, MR. MAYOR, IS CONCERNING ME.

I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN PEOPLE, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF MR. BRADFORD HAS DESIGNATED MITCH TO BE THAT CONTACT THAT MITCH AND MITCH ALONE DEAL WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COORDINATE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY.

SO IF MR. BRADFORD DOESN'T MAKE MITCH TO BE THAT CONTACT, MITCH HANDLES IT AND MITCH IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD REQUEST THE SAME OF THE DISTRICT THAT I'M DEALING WITH ONE PERSON AT THE DISTRICT.

AND I WOULD START WITH DR.

LOPEZ AND DR.

LOPEZ, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HANDLE THIS LET HIM HANDLE THAT AND EVERYBODY ELSE GET OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE WE START GETTING ALL THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN IN PLACE.

THEN WE START HAVING COMMUNICATION ISSUES AND THEN WE START HAVING SOME OF THE PREFERENCES.

SO I WOULD SAY DEFINITELY THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A GREAT STREAMLINED COMMUNICATION PROCESS.

AND THEN THIRDLY, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD RECOMMEND, OBVIOUSLY, IF WE DO THE FIVE HUNDRED THIS WEEK, I THINK GISD IS STILL ON SPRING BREAK THIS WEEK.

SO THAT 9:00 TO 11:00 A.M.

TIME SLOT WORKS THIS WEEK.

HOWEVER, IF WE CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD, WHICH I HOPE WE DO GO FORWARD IN VACCINATING A PORTION OF OUR GISD EMPLOYEES, THEN OBVIOUSLY THAT THURSDAY TIME SLOT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM.

SO WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IF THEY WANT TO OPEN UP THE TRIPLE C IN THAT WAY, WE COULD TRY TO HIT AS MANY AS ONE TIME AND GET THEM OUT OF THE WAY.

SIMILAR TO WHAT ARLINGTON DID.

THAT MAY BE AN OPTION, BUT I WOULD LEAVE IT UP TO STAFF TO COORDINATE THAT.

BUT JUST BEING COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT IF WE GET BEYOND THIS COMING THURSDAY WITH THE NEXT ALLOCATION OF OUR TEACHERS, THEN THE NORMAL WORKDAY MAY BE IMPACTED BECAUSE THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT, YOU KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN HAVING SOME CHALLENGES, GETTING SUBSTITUTES INTO THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE OF COVID.

BUT SO THAT'S ANOTHER CONSIDERATION IS IF WE CAN ASK THEM TO LEAVE DURING THE DAY, THEN WHO'S GOING TO BE THERE TO COVER THOSE CLASSES WHILE THEY'RE GONE? SO I WOULD ASK MITCH AS YOU COORDINATE THAT, THAT YOU GUYS COME UP WITH THAT SINGLE PLAN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE CCC, WHERE YOU DO AS MANY AS YOU CAN, THEN OBVIOUSLY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CONTROLS THOSE FACILITIES.

AND THEN FINALLY, ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

AND I DON'T TAKE IT AS ANYBODY JUMP IN LINE.

ANYBODY FIRE AND PD TO ME ARE FRONT LINE WORKERS.

AND I THINK IT WAS COUNCILMAN AUBIN MENTIONED EARLIER, COUNCIL MEMBER HEDRICK MENTIONED EARLIER.

YES, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW IN OUR MINDSET WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED FRONT LINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE GUIDANCE WE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE, DON'T WANT TO START CRITICIZING ANYBODY, BUT WE HAD GUIDELINES THAT WE HAD TO WORK WITHIN.

HOWEVER, NOW THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THE SHIP, THEN LET'S DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR PARTNERSHIP, BECAUSE I, FOR ONE, DON'T WANT ANOTHER CHILD GETTING FURTHER AND FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT LICENSED PROFESSIONAL IN FRONT OF THEM.

OBVIOUSLY, I TAKE GREAT, CAUSE WHEN WE SAY ARE WE GOING TO ALLOCATE A PORTION OF OUR ALLOCATION TO TEACHERS AND OTHERS IN FRONT OF OUR SENIORS.

OBVIOUSLY THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME KNOW I HAVE A GREAT AFFINITY FOR SENIORS.

AND THE THING THAT I WEIGHED WHEN I WAS CONSIDERING THIS IS EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE TO ALLOCATE SOME OF THESE RESOURCES FOR OUR SENIORS, OUR SENIORS ARE NOT BEING MANDATED TO GO TO WORK AND CARE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S CHILDREN.

AND SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT TO TRY TO MAKE AN EXCUSE, BUT IT'S JUST THE REALITY.

WE CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

YOU CAN'T MANDATE THAT TEACHERS BE THERE AND THEN NOT PROVIDE THEM THE PROTECTIONS THAT THEY NEED.

SO SENIORS MY NUMBER IS PUBLIC FEEL FREE TO GIVE ME A CALL AND WE CAN TALK THROUGH IT.

BUT THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU SIR.

AND MITCH JUST REAL QUICKLY, AND I KNOW FROM MY DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU AND THESE, IF WE MOVE THESE DOSES TO GISD ARE WE ADMINISTERING THEM OR ARE WE GOING TO OR IS GISD SCHOOL

[01:45:01]

NURSING STAFF ADMINISTERING THEM? YES, SIR.

THIS ACTUALLY TIES INTO ONE OF THOSE POINTS COUNCIL MEMBER MCNEAL WAS JUST MAKING.

WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DISTRICT AND THEN FOR THIS FOR THE LAST DISCUSSION AND WE UNDERSTAND THE TIMING FOR THEIR ISSUES.

SO THEY WERE WANTING TO DO IT AT THE EVENT WHERE WE ALREADY HAD STAFF THERE, BUT WE'VE HAD PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.

DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF DOSES, THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO DO IT, BUT THEIR REQUEST HAS BEEN TO DO IT AT THE EVENT WHEN WE ALREADY HAD THE STAFF THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.

THANK YOU.

YES SIR.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN.

THANK YOU MAYOR JUST WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK ON A FEW THINGS I WON'T TAKE MUCH TIME.

ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBER HEDRICK'S POSITION, BUT WE DO HAVE THERE'S BEEN A BALANCE HERE.

IT HASN'T BEEN JUST HIGHEST RISK.

IT HAS BEEN HIGHEST RISK, BUT ALSO CONSIDERING HIGHEST EXPOSURE IN GROUP 1A WAS WAS VERY MUCH OUR HIGHEST EXPOSURE.

ONE OF OUR HIGHEST EXPOSURE LIST, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, FIRST RESPONDERS AND NURSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THERE ARE MANY FOLKS WHO BELIEVE THAT WHEN THAT LIST WAS PUT TOGETHER AS PRESIDENT SELDERS MENTIONED, THAT FOLKS IN THE EDUCATION FIELD SHOULD HAVE BEEN AMONG THAT GROUP.

AND I AGREE WITH THAT, THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS IN DIFFERENT FRONTLINE POSITIONS AND WHATNOT AND YOU KNOW AS MR. HEDRICK'S SAID, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE ARE CRITICAL.

BUT THIS IS LESS ABOUT THE CRITICALITY AND MORE ABOUT THE HIGH EXPOSURE AND CANDIDLY, THE LOW NUMBERS OF WHAT'S COMING IN THROUGH THE DISTRICT OR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS EXPOSURE IN CLASS IS ONLY DUE TO THE ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE MEASURES THAT THE DISTRICT HAS TAKEN TO LIMIT SPREAD.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GAVE ME CONFIDENCE WHEN I GOT A NOTICE THAT ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS THAT HAD A DIRECT CONTACT WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY GO TO SCHOOL WHEN THEY'VE GOT THE EVERYBODY HAS FACE MASKS AND THEY HAVE FACE SHIELDS AND THEY HAVE PLEXIGLASS SHIELDS.

I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO TRY AND DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN, GIVEN THE HIGH RISK OF SPREAD TO MINIMIZE THAT AN THE DISTRICT HAS DONE A COMMENDABLE JOB.

AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT THE FACT THAT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN AS MANY INCIDENTS OF THE SPREAD AT SCHOOL SHOULD LIMIT US IN THAT REGARD.

I KNOW THAT THOSE KIND OF MEASURES MAKE IT MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TEACH, BUT WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE ALL OF THOSE MEASURES VACCINATED OR NOT THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

BUT I DO FEEL THAT AND WITH RESPECT TO THE PHARMACIES AND OTHER THINGS, I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS COMMITTED TO DIRECTING THE PHARMACY PROGRAM TO PRIORITIZE EDUCATION RELATED WORKERS.

AND THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL THAT WE SHOULDN'T.

I MEAN, TO ME, THAT'S A SIGNAL THAT WE SHOULD AS WELL.

NOT THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO DO IT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

THE BUT THE FINAL PIECE OF THAT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND I DON'T WANT TO [INAUDIBLE].

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD SPEND THE TIME.

AND I VERY MUCH AGREE WITH ALL OF COUNCIL MEMBER MCNEAL'S COMMENTS.

I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH AN [INAUDIBLE] THE LIST AND RESHIFT AND REORGANIZE AND THIS AND THAT.

THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALL THE FOLKS OVER SIXTY FIVE UP TO THE TOP AND ALL THE YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LOTS OF FOLKS WHO ARE ONE B WHO ARE YOUNGER, WHO ARE VERY, VERY VULNERABLE AS WELL.

BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLAN TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE HALF THIS LIST THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK, OR EVERY TIME SOMEBODY SAYS AND I ALSO SUPPORT WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS MENTIONED, I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE A CONFIRMATION.

WE SEND YOU AN EMAIL, AND THIS CONFIRMATION BUTTON.

YES, I'M SHOWING UP.

NO, I'M NOT.

IF YOU SAY NO, THEN YOU GO MAYBE WE'LL SEND YOU ANOTHER EMAIL NEXT WEEK OR IF WE GET NO RESPONSE.

BUT AFTER THREE STRIKES, YOU'RE OFF THE LIST.

BUT FOR EVERY PERSON WHO SAYS THAT WE MAKE AN INVITATION TO AND THEY SAY, NO, I'M HAPPY WITH VACCINATING SOMEBODY FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A MASSIVE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

I SPOKE TO DR.

LOPEZ TODAY.

A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT, THEY'RE FINDING I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO GET A VACCINE, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST HOP ONLINE AND YOU SEE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLACES, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET VACCINATED.

AND SO I DON'T THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING, YOU KNOW, TWO MONTHS JUST VACCINATING GISD FOLKS.

I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WE MAY BE FIVE HUNDRED.

IT MAY BE A THOUSAND.

WHEN I SPOKE TO DR. LOPEZ TODAY, HE DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE BECAUSE THEY HAD ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO GO GET VACCINATED THIS WEEKEND AT THE REGION 10 EVENT AND STUFF LIKE

[01:50:05]

THAT.

SO I THINK WE MAY BE JUST LOOKING AT ONE OR TWO WEEKS.

AND ALTHOUGH I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MCNEAL.

I'M VERY PROTECTIVE OF OUR SENIORS, AND I BELIEVE WE REALLY DO NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM IN EVERY RESPECT.

BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR A SMALL GROUP OF THEM, YOU KNOW, OR FIVE HUNDRED FOLKS OR SO A ONE WEEKS AWAY.

AND I THINK THAT IN THIS CASE, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOLKS WHO ARE EFFECTIVELY COMPELLED, I MEAN, THEY HAVE TO GO AND THEY HAVE TO TEACH OUR KIDS.

I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE GO AHEAD AND WE TAKE CARE OF THEM AND AND WE BALANCE THAT OUT.

WITHOUT MAKING IT TOO COMPLICATED, WITHOUT RE SHIFTING THE LIST.

IT'S LIKE LET'S JUST GIVE THE POLICY DIRECTION TO STAFF AND LET MITCH HANDLE IT AS HE DOES, BECAUSE MITCH YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OPERATIONALLY IN HANDLING THIS STUFF AS YOU HAVE FOR ALL THE OPERATIONAL STUFF YOU'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS.

THAT'S MY THOUGHTS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU SIR.

COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. YES, MAYOR I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO A COUPLE OF POINTS AND MITCH EXPLAINING THE RECOMMENDATION THAT HE SHARED WITH US WHEN THE QUESTION WAS RAISED, IF WE TOOK THE FIVE HUNDRED FOR THE NO SHOWS, WOULD IT IMPACT THE GENERAL POPULATIONS BEING [INAUDIBLE] AND HIS ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WAS NO.

AM I CORRECT MITCH.

WELL, I GUESS THERE'S A DELAYED IMPACT EVENTUALLY IF WE DIDN'T THIS WILL NOT PREVENT THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING OUR SENIORS, FROM GETTING THE VACCINATION DOSES.

IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, YES, SIR, BECAUSE OUR PLAN IS TO VACCINATE SEVENTEEN HUNDRED DIRECTLY FROM OUR WAITING LIST WHICH IS SENIORS AND THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS AND THEN OTHERS BEYOND THAT ON THE LIST AND THEN ALLOCATE A SEPARATE FIVE HUNDRED FOR GARLAND ISD.

SO IT RIGHT.

OK, ALL RIGHT.

BUT WE'LL STILL BE VACCINATING THE 1700.

YES SIR.

THAT'S CORRECT.

OK, OK, OK.

MAYOR I JUST WANTED YOU TO RAISE THAT FOR MESSAGING PURPOSES AND I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

AND THE OTHER THING IS MITCH HAS INDICATED THAT HIS RECOMMENDATION TO US IS REFLECTIVE OF INPUT AND DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GISD PERSONNEL AND THAT GIVES ME A LEVEL OF COMFORT.

AND I BRING THOSE POINTS UP BECAUSE AFTER MESSAGING, YOU KNOW, MESSAGING IS EVERYTHING.

AND WE ALL HAVE, YOU KNOW, MY SENIORS RANK NUMBER ONE AND I'VE GOT INPUT FROM THEM.

SO I DON'T SEE THIS AS ADVERSELY IMPACTING THEM.

AND CERTAINLY NOBODY WANTS TO.

BUT LIKE I SAID, I THINK WE CAN LEARN TO WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME.

AND WE'RE BEGINNING A PROCESS, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE YOU MAY FUMBLE THE BALL DOESN'T MEAN THE GAME IS OVER.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU COME BACK TO THE HUDDLE AND YOU START OVER AND THAT'S WHAT I SEE US DOING TONIGHT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM TONIGHT.

BUT I THINK MITCH'S RECOMMENDATION IS AN EXCELLENT START IN DIALOG WITH THE DISTRICT TO ADDRESS THIS.

SO I TOTALLY, SUPPORT YOUR RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT.

AND LASTLY, A POINT THAT COUNCILMAN MCNEAL MADE ON A COMMUNICATION PIECE I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THAT IF MITCH IS GOING TO BE THE ONE OR JASON OR WHOMEVER CITY MANAGER DESIGNATES CARRYING THIS BALL AS FAR AS THE COMMUNICATION PIECE, THEN MITCH WOULD BE THE PERSON COMMUNICATING WITH THE DISTRICT AND THEN THE INFORMATION SHOULD FLOW UP TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH RICKY, BECAUSE IF YOU'VE GOT FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT PLAYERS MAKE THAT CONTACT, IT'S GOING TO BE JUST LIKE THE MIXMASTER DOWNTOWN DALLAS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME CRASHES.

SO IF WE ADOPT THIS.

RIGHT.

AND THAT CAUSES COMMUNICATION BECAUSE WE HEAR WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR WHEN WE WIN ONE ON ONE.

SO I WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSE COUNCILMAN MCNEAL'S COMMENTS ON THAT WE CAN AND WE HAVE SEEN CLEARLY AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WHAT POLITICIANS, IF YOU WILL, GETTING TOO DEEP IN THE WEEDS WITH THE PROCESS CAN DO TO IT.

SO I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS APPROACH, THAT WE HONOR

[01:55:05]

THAT COMMUNICATION PIECE AND THAT MITCH IS THE GO TO PERSON AND AND WE DO THE POLICY PIECE AND LET HIM DO THE IMPLEMENTATION PIECE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU SIR.

ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, WE HAVE CLEARED THE QUEUE ON THIS ITEM, AND I THINK WE'VE HAD A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION AND MITCH I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.

I REALIZE THERE'S MORE TO COME.

BUT I'D LIKE FOR US TO SORT OF FINISH THIS PORTION OUT.

AND THE ONE THING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING THAT I'VE BEEN STRUCK WITH MOST OF LAST WEEK IS OUR NO SHOW RATE.

MAN THAT WAS VERY DISHEARTENING TO LEARN HOW I MEAN, I'VE SEEN THE NUMBERS.

I'VE KNOWN THE NUMBERS.

BUT LAST WEEK, REALLY HIT ME PRETTY HARD THAT TO OVERBOOK AND TO STILL HAVE SUCH A HIGH NO SHOW RATE WAS REALLY CAUSING ME A LOT OF STRESS THAT I NO LONGER HAD FAITH IN OUR LIST, YOU KNOW, AND THAT NUMBER.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THE STAFF'S EFFORTS OF GOING THROUGH THAT MULTIPLE WAYS, MULTIPLE TIMES TO TRY TO CLEAN IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

AND AND I THINK NOW WITH THOSE EFFORTS AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN TONIGHT AND WHAT WE'LL CONTINUE, MY FAITH HAS BEEN RESTORED IN THAT LIST.

I PUT A LOT MORE BACK INTO IT.

AND SO AND ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I'M A PART OF THE LIST, I CERTAINLY WANT TO KNOW THAT, THAT LIST IS ACCURATE AND THAT THAT LIST IS MOVING.

AND AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE PLAN THAT MITCH HAS BROUGHT FORWARD, I DO SUPPORT IT.

I TALKED TO DR.

LOPEZ LATE LAST WEEK AND JUST KIND OF HAD SOME REALLY OPEN, VERY FRANK DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM ON THIS.

AND I APPRECIATE HIS INPUT.

AND PRESIDENT SELDERS AND FORMER TRUSTEE REED AND THE CITIZENS AS WELL.

THERE IS NO EASY ANSWER HERE.

THERE IS NO RIGHT ANSWER.

AND AS I WAS DISCUSSING WITH MR. BRADFORD EARLIER, I HAVE YET TO SEE WHEN COVID HAS OFFERED US AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THERE IS A RIGHT ANSWER.

THIS HAS JUST BEEN A SERIES OF VERY TOUGH DECISIONS.

SO WITH THAT COUNCIL, I THINK THE RECOMMENDATION BEFORE US IS FOR THE PRESENTATION OR THE IDEA, IF YOU WILL, I HAVE LOST MY WORDS ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE PLAN THAT MITCH HAS PUT FORWARD AND I CERTAINLY AGREE THERE SHOULD BE ONE POINT OF CONTACT ON EACH END OF THIS CONNECTION WITH THE DISTRICT.

AND I THINK MITCH IS PERFECT FOR THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT IS ON THE OTHER END ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS END.

BUT I'M CERTAIN THAT THERE'S SOMEONE.

SO WITH THAT COUNCIL, I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.

I'D LIKE TO GET US A CONSENSUS VOTE ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS AS PLANNED.

COUNCIL MEMBER HEDRICK.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

CAN YOU HAVE MR. BATES PROVIDE HIS RECOMMENDATION, BRING THAT SLIDE BACK UP AGAIN, PLEASE.

SURE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

DOING IT RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, YOU JUST SAW THE SLIDE AN HOUR AGO.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT SAID.

[LAUGHTER] YEAH.

CAN YOU SEE THAT, MAYOR? YES, SIR.

SO, AGAIN, THE PLAN AS PROPOSED WOULD BE FIVE HUNDRED DOSES FOR GISD PERSONNEL THIS WEEK.

WE HAVE SEVENTEEN HUNDRED DOSES THAT WILL GO TO OUR EXISTING WAITING LIST FOR THE ONE B, OTHER EDUCATORS.

AND THEN 1 C ARE AT THE END OF THE LINE, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS KIND OF DOSE OF SEVENTEEN HUNDRED, THE VAST MAJORITY, ALMOST ALL OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE 1 B, EITHER OVER SIXTY FIVE OR UNDERLYING HEALTH CARE.

THAT'S, WHO'S AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD ASK COUNCIL TO GIVE ME THE LATITUDE TO ADJUST WEEKLY.

I WOULD DEFINITELY ALLOCATE A PORTION FOR GISD PART OF THAT DEPENDS ON IS IT A THOUSAND THIS NEXT WEEK? WILL THE STATE EVER GIVE US TWO THOUSAND OR THREE THOUSAND OR FIFTEEN HUNDRED? AND THEN I'VE ALSO GOT TO JUGGLE.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER RESULTS FROM OUR CITIZENS ON THE NO SHOW RATE FROM THE

[02:00:01]

MEASURES WE'VE ALREADY DONE, PLUS THE OTHER MEASURES WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS WEEK.

I DO ANTICIPATE THERE'S STILL TO BE NO SHOWS.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE.

AND I WOULD ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT OF LATITUDE THERE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE DISTRICT ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO SAY HERE'S HOW MANY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CARVE OUT FOR THE DISTRICT EACH WEEK.

VERY GOOD.

COUNCIL MEMBER HEDRICK IS THAT THE INFORMATION YOU WERE LOOKING FOR, SIR? YES, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

OK, ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, YOU'VE SEEN THE PLAN.

COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH SORRY.

JUST TO MAKE SURE BACK ON THAT LAST SLIDE, IT SAID, AS DEFINED BY THEN, IT GAVE THE GOVERNING BODIES.

MY QUESTION IS, I KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY COORDINATING WITH GISD.

BUT AGAIN, THE CHILD CARE FACILITIES, THE CHARTER SCHOOLS, PEOPLE THAT DON'T FALL UNDER THE GISD UMBRELLA, DO WE HAVE YOU KNOW ARE THEY INCLUDED IN THAT NO SHOW NUMBER.

AND DO WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION? CURRENTLY, I DON'T HAVE THEM IN THE PORTION ALLOCATED FOR GISD CURRENTLY THE OTHER NON GISD EDUCATORS AND ALL THE OTHER LONG LIST, THE DEFINITION THAT WOULD QUALIFY ARE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER FOR OUR LIST.

MY HOPE AND GOAL WOULD BE AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S ADDITIONAL DOSES OR WHATEVER TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE AS WE GO DOWN.

WE DO HAVE SOME REGISTERING WITH US, BUT WE DON'T HAVE WHERE THEY WORK.

WHEN SOMEONE REGISTERS, IT'S A CHECK BOX.

DO YOU QUALIFY AS ONE OF THE MANY DIFFERENT EDUCATOR LIST.

SO FROM OUR WEBSITE I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GARLAND ISD OR ANY ISD OR WHATEVER, AND I'M ABLE TO VERIFY THAT.

SO AS I THINK IT THROUGH, IT WOULD BE CHALLENGING OUTSIDE THE GISD LEVEL TO CREATE A SECOND LIST.

OK, BUT THE WAY THE SIGN UPS ARE, IF YOU'RE AN EDUCATOR, YOU'RE AN EDUCATOR AND THAT'S IT.

YES, SIR.

AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT RESTRICTING TO GISD, THE LIST IS THERE AND YOU CAN GET ON IT.

ABSOLUTELY.

IN FACT, ANY EDUCATOR UNDER THAT DEFINITION, WHICH IS A VERY BROAD DEFINITION WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS, COULD REGISTER WITH US JUST LIKE THEY COULD EVERY OTHER HUB OR SITE.

RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

OKAY MAYOR PRO TEM NICKERSON.

SO I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION FROM THE SLIDE AS WELL, AND I KNOW WE'VE GONE ON HERE AWHILE I'VE LISTENED VERY QUIETLY BECAUSE I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IT FOR BUT BUT I'M GOING TO GO ALONG WITH THE FIVE HUNDRED FIRST DOSES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO.

BUT HOW DO WE GET FEEDBACK MITCH FROM GISD IF THE NEXT THURSDAY WE ONLY HAVE THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THAT SHOW UP AND THEN THE NEXT WEEK WE SET ASIDE FIVE HUNDRED AGAIN AND WE ONLY HAVE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THAT SHOW UP.

SO WHEN DO WE KNOW THAT WE FEEL LIKE FROM GISD, FROM THE TEACHERS OR FROM THE EMPLOYERS OF GISD THAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE NOW WITH WHATEVER THEY'RE IN, WHAT POSITION THEY'VE TAKEN, WHETHER THEY WANT A VACCINE OR THEY DON'T, OR THEY'VE HAD THE CHANCE ELSEWHERE AND DECIDED TO GO THERE.

SO I MEAN, JUST AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN'S POINT AND I KIND OF AGREE WITH THAT TOO THIS THING IN MY MIND, JUST LISTENING TO THE NUMBERS MIGHT NOT LAST, BUT JUST TWO WEEKS AND IT COULD BE JUST THAT.

BUT IT COULD GO ON FOREVER IF WE DON'T DETERMINE HOW WE DECIDE TO ROTATE BACK OVER TO THE OTHER LIST AGAIN OR THAT PROCESS.

BUT THAT'S MY ONLY THOUGHT AS I LISTEN TO THIS GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, I GET IT ABOUT THE TEACHERS AND HOW THEY YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN.

AND I YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE CHILDREN NOW THAT ARE IN SCHOOL, BUT I'VE DEFINITELY HAD THEM.

AND I KNOW THE ROLES THAT THAT GO ON THERE ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

AND I WANT TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE WE CAN.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE HAD AN ONGOING PROCESS THAT HAD BEEN WORKING AS BEST AS WE COULD MAKE IT WORK ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

AND NOW WE GET A NEW EDICT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE TRYING TO RESTRUCTURE.

SO, AS I SAID, I'M FOR GOING FORWARD WITH THE FIVE HUNDRED DOSES.

BUT I DO THINK THAT GISD OWES SOME SUPPORT TO YOU TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR

[02:05:01]

REAL NEEDS ARE FOR THE FOLLOWING PERIODS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

AND SO YOU SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ADJUST THAT NUMBER IN MY MIND, AS YOU SEE FIT BECAUSE OF THE INFORMATION YOU'RE GETTING FROM THE DISTRICT AS BEST THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE IT.

SO ANYWAY, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS WAS THERE SO.

YES, SIR, WE'D HAD A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DISTRICT AND AS WE GO THROUGH EACH WEEK, WHETHER OUR [INAUDIBLE] ON WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY, OF COURSE, WE KNOW BY THE END OF THE DAY WHAT OUR NO SHOW RATE IS AND THE VOLUME AND THEN TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK IS WHEN WE GET NOTIFIED BY THE STATE ON OUR ALLOCATION FOR THE NEXT WEEK, WHICH IS THE FIRST STEP.

AND THEN I WAIT TO FINALIZE THAT DECISION BECAUSE ALLOCATION IS ONE THING, BUT ALLOCATIONS CAN SOMETIMES GET DELAYED.

WE WAIT TILL WE GET NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT BEFORE I FINALIZE HOW MANY DOSES DO WE HAVE NEXT WEEK FIRST DOSES AND SECOND DOSES.

SO ALONG THOSE LINES, WHEN I SEE EACH WEEK HOW MANY DOSES WE HAVE WORKING WITH JASON AND HIS TEAM AND MISTIE AND AND THEN WE COMMUNICATE WITH THE DISTRICT, THE DISTRICT HAS ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH OUR STAFF AS FAR AS THEY LIKE ANYBODY, JUST LIKE US, THE CITY STAFF, WE KNOW NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO WANT IT, BUT THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN COMPILING A LIST OF THOSE WHO DO WANT IT.

I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO TRY TO KEEP THAT UPDATED BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ANY NO SHOWS, MUCH LESS A WHOLE BUNCH OF NO SHOWS.

SO I THINK IN OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE ALREADY PREVIOUSLY HAD, AND I KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE GOING FORWARD, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO OUR VERY BEST TO PLAN FOR HERE'S HOW MANY DOSES WE HAVE AND STILL WORK WITH THEM ON HERE'S HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT THEY SAY THAT THEIR STAFF THAT ARE STILL WANTING IT AND NEEDING IT.

AND I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO JUGGLE THAT MORE SO EVEN BETTER THAN A GIANT LIST FOR ANYBODY IN THE STATE CAN SIGN UP SO.

WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT AND I DO APPRECIATE THE CHALLENGE GISD HAS IN TRYING TO DEVELOP THOSE KIND OF NUMBERS AND AS THEY CHANGE ALMOST WEEKLY.

SO I KNOW IT'S THERE, BUT I THINK, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH TIME THIS LAST YEAR.

AND EVERY ISSUE HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT DECISION.

BUT I WANTED THE CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT AT LEAST WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN MANAGE IT EFFICIENTLY SO WE CAN GET BACK TO MAKING SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THOSE MOST VULNERABLE AND STILL OUT THERE.

SO.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD, YOU'VE HEARD THE STAFF'S PLANS AND OBVIOUSLY MITCH IS THE CONTACT AND YES, THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO CHANGE AROUND A LITTLE BIT OVER THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND I DO THINK WE WILL CLEAR THROUGH GISD EMPLOYEES FAIRLY QUICKLY AND THEN WE CAN START ADDRESSING THE OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS, THE DAYCARE WORKERS, ET CETERA.

I THINK THAT AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS PROCESS, SO COUNCIL AS FAR AS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PLAN THAT YOU PRESENTED OR THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED, PLEASE VOTE.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER VERA I CAN'T SEE YOURS THERE IT IS.

ALL RIGHT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE EIGHT VOTES TO MOVE FORWARD, ONE OPPOSED WITH COUNCILMAN HEDRICK COUNCIL WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND WE'VE NOT EVEN CLEARED HALF OF THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM.

SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK.

LET'S HAVE EVERYBODY.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK RECESS.

LET'S HAVE EVERYBODY BACK AT 8:20, PLEASE 8:20.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING.

WE ARE COMING BACK FROM RECESS FOR THE MARCH 15, 2021 WORK SESSION FOR THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL.

WE ARE STILL ON ITEM FOUR 4A MITCH IF YOU CAN NOW PICK UP AT DIRECTION ON REOPENING, ET CETERA.

SIR.

CAN YOU SEE THAT? YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHTY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, HOPEFULLY, I THINK THIS NEXT SECTION WILL GO QUITE A BIT FASTER THAN THE LAST ONE.

THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE, BUT NOT AS MANY SLIDES.

SO AS I KNOW COUNCIL KNOWS, BUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT I'M SURE THEY'VE HEARD AS WELL.

GOVERNOR ABBOTT ISSUED A NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER GA34, WHICH TOOK EFFECT LAST WEEK, LAST

[02:10:01]

WEDNESDAY ON MARCH 10TH.

IN SHORT, IT IS A MULTIPAGE ORDER, BUT IN SHORT, IT STATES ALL COUNTIES NOT IN AN AREA WITH HIGH HOSPITALIZATIONS.

AND YOU MAY REMEMBER FROM OUR REGULAR UPDATES FROM MISTIE WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT IT ALL THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS, HIGH HOSPITALIZATIONS IN A TRAUMA SERVICE AREA FOR SEVEN DAY CONSECUTIVE DAYS OR MORE OF 15 PERCENT OR HIGHER.

THOSE ARE THE SAME NUMBERS THAT YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE TO DEFINE HIGH HOSPITALIZATIONS.

AT ONE POINT LAST WEEK, I THINK THERE WAS ONE COUNTY OUT NEAR EL PASO THAT WAS HIGH HOSPITALIZATION, BUT THAT WAS IT.

BUT IN ALL COUNTIES, NOT IN THOSE AREAS, IT STATES THAT THERE'S NO COVID-19 RELATED OPERATING LIMITS FOR ANY BUSINESS OR ESTABLISHMENT.

AND THEN INDIVIDUALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS AND MAINTAIN 6 FEET SOCIAL DISTANCING.

BUT NO PERSON MAY BE REQUIRED BY ANY JURISDICTION TO WEAR OR MANAGE THE WEARING OF A FACE COVERING THIS NEW ORDER OF 34 RESCINDS MOST OF THE GOVERNOR'S PREVIOUS ORDERS, AT LEAST THE ONES REGARDING FACE MASK AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND THOSE ARE LISTED BELOW.

SO AND COUNCIL YOU MAY REMEMBER WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, I THINK IT WAS LAST SUMMER AS WE GOT INTO THE MEAT OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN THIS ALL BEGAN.

NOW THIS IS THE REVERSE VERSION OF IT.

BUT WHILE BUSINESSES MAY ENACT A POLICY TO REQUIRE CUSTOMERS TO WEAR A FACE MASK, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES LIKE CITIES MAY NOT.

HOWEVER, AS A CITY POLICY OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS THAT ARE DOING CITY BUSINESS WILL CONTINUE LIKE WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST MANY MONTHS, AT LEAST FOR NOW.

EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR FACE MASKS OR FACE COVERINGS THAT UTILIZE SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES.

ALL THE USUAL HAND SANITIZER PPE BEYOND.

WE'VE ALREADY INSTALLED A NUMBER OF TEMPORARY KIOSKS AND WE HAVE HANDHELD SCANNERS AND THEN A NUMBER OF PLACES WHERE WE HAVE LOBBIES AND CITY FACILITIES AND IN SOME OTHER LOCATIONS WE'VE OVER THE PAST MANY MONTHS, WE'VE INSTALLED A NUMBER OF ACRYLIC SHIELDS THAT PROVIDE SOME MEASURE OF SAFETY BETWEEN THE CITIZENS, THE CUSTOMERS AND THE EMPLOYEES.

SO FROM AN EMPLOYEE STANDPOINT, WE WILL CONTINUE THOSE SAFETY MEASURES UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

HOWEVER, IN ANTICIPATION OF THESE INCREASED SERVICE LEVELS, AS THESE BUSINESSES AND ESTABLISHMENTS MOVE BACK TOWARD, SOME OF THEM ARE ALREADY AT 100 PERCENT CAPACITY.

SOME ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

WE DO ANTICIPATE ADDITIONAL NEED OF CITY STAFF BACK IN THE OFFICE.

IF YOU REMEMBER OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR POLICE AND FIRE, OF COURSE, HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WORKING AT 100 PERCENT THE WHOLE TIME.

OUR FIELD OPERATIONS FOR THE MOST PART, HAVE BEEN AT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT OUR OFFICE STAFF HAS BEEN LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF TWENTY FIVE PERCENT, OFTEN FAR LESS THAN THAT ONE OR TWO IN THE OFFICE, IN EACH DEPARTMENT AT A TIME AS FAR AS OUR OFFICE STAFF.

SO TO DATE, WHAT WE HAVE DONE EFFECTIVE TODAY, WE HAVE MOVED OFFICE STAFF BACK TO THE 50 PERCENT IN THE OFFICE AND 50 PERCENT STILL WORKING REMOTELY.

OUR CURRENT PLAN IS TWO WEEKS LATER ON MARCH TWENTY NINTH TO MOVE TOWARD SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT IN THE OFFICE AND TWENTY FIVE PERCENT REMOTELY, WITH ULTIMATELY LEADING TO APRIL 12TH, TWO WEEKS LATER, WHERE WE WOULD HAVE 100 PERCENT OFFICE STAFF BACK IN THE ACTUAL OFFICE.

OF COURSE, THERE MAY BE SOME EXCEPTIONS WE'VE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF LEAVE BANKS, LEAVE BALANCES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES IN UNIQUE SITUATIONS WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS OR OTHERS.

WE KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR STAFF HAVE KIDS, OF COURSE, SCHOOL AGE, BUT THEY MAY BE DOING CLASS WORK FROM HOME FOR THE REST OF THE SEMESTER.

WE HAD ALREADY IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF MEASURES AND HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEAVE BALANCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR, SAY, A SINGLE PARENT THAT HAS NO OTHER MEANS BUT TO STAY HOME WITH THEIR KIDS WHILE THEY'RE DOING CLASSES REMOTELY, THAT KIND OF THING.

SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MEASURES IN PLACE TO WORK WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AS THEY RETURN TO WORK IN A FULL DUTY CAPACITY OR IN THE OFFICE BACK TOWARD THE HUNDRED PERCENT LEVEL.

NOW OR BACK TO IF YOU REMEMBER LAST SUMMER, LAST FALL, A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES, WE HAD A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OUR CITY OPERATIONS.

SO FIRST WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME CITY FACILITIES, OUR CURRENT STATUS, AND THEN OUR THOUGHTS AND PLANS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO THE QUESTION BECOMES, OF COURSE, IF BUSINESSES AND ESTABLISHMENTS ARE OPENING

[02:15:03]

UP.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH AS A CITY, WITH OUR FACILITIES? WHAT DECISIONS DO WE MAKE? LIBRARIES ARE CURRENTLY AT 50 PERCENT CAPACITY RIGHT NOW.

AND YOU'LL SEE THE SAME QUESTION.

I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A FEW SLIDES FIRST, BUT YOU'LL SEE THE SAME QUESTION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, DO WE STAIRSTEP THAT UP TO SAME THING.

SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT AND THEN ONE HUNDRED PERCENT ON APRIL 12TH.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL, EITHER TONIGHT OR IN THE FUTURE AS WE REOPEN OUR CITY FACILITIES.

YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, OUR ARTS VENUES, THE ATRIUM IS CURRENTLY AT 50 PERCENT.

YOU KNOW, AT WHAT POINT DO WE INCREASE THAT? DO WE SAY FIFTY PERCENT? DO WE GO TO SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT OR ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AT SOME POINT? IF SO, WHEN IF YOU REMEMBER, OUR THEATERS ARE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT ANIMAL, SO TO SPEAK, BECAUSE OF THE SETUP.

IF WE FOLLOW THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE, THE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING, THAT TYPICALLY MEANS SKIPPING EVERY OTHER ROW AND THEN SKIPPING SEATS BETWEEN PARTIES.

IF WE FOLLOW THOSE GUIDELINES, WE CAN ONLY GET TO 30, THIRTY FIVE PERCENT CAPACITY FOR EACH OF THE THEATERS, INCLUDING THE PLAZA THEATER OR ANY OF THOSE HAVE THEATER SEATING, THOSE ARE SOME CHALLENGES FOR US.

OF COURSE, WE'RE ALREADY GETTING INQUIRIES FROM ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WANTING TO HOST EVENTS.

THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER HAS ELIMINATED THOSE RESTRICTIONS FOR BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EVENTS.

SO IT'S LEADING TO SOME DISCUSSION AMONG STAFF.

AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT MOVING FORWARD.

OUR PARKS, VENUES, OF COURSE, REC CENTERS, THE SAME KIND OF THING WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 50 PERCENT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LIMITED, YOU KNOW, BASKETBALL PROGRAMS AND OTHER PROGRAMS AND THERE ARE FREE PLAY KIND OF THINGS.

WE'VE HAD SOME STRUCTURED THINGS GOING ON, BUT IT'S BEEN ON A LIMITED BASIS.

AND OF COURSE, OUR SENIOR CENTERS ARE CLOSED.

OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR NOW IS TO HAVE THOSE REMAIN CLOSED AND THEN EVALUATE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, LOOKING AT WHAT OUR COVID STATISTICS ARE AND ALL THE REST OF THAT BEFORE WE MAKE THAT DECISION.

OUR SENIORS HAVE BEEN OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION.

SO WE'RE STILL AT LEAST OUR PLAN CURRENTLY IS TO KEEP THOSE CLOSED FOR NOW.

OOPS, I COPIED THAT TWICE.

SO REC CENTER, SENIOR CENTERS AND IN OTHER VENUES, GOLF COURSE IS STILL ALREADY OPEN.

TENNIS CENTER HAS BEEN OPEN.

THOSE OUTDOOR TYPE VENUES LIKE THAT, SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE IN THE PAST CAN GET TOGETHER [INAUDIBLE] AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, BUT IT OPENS UP TO MORE OF THE LESSONS, GROUP LESSONS, THAT KIND OF THING, QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN REALLY, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AS YOU KNOW, INTO THE SUMMER, I MEAN, WE HAVE OUR POOLS, WE HAVE OUR AQUATICS PROGRAMS DURING THE SUMMER.

TYPICALLY, THOSE ARE WHEN SCHOOL'S OUT IN THE JUNE, JULY, VERY EARLY PARTS OF AUGUST.

SO THERE'S A LITTLE MORE TIME THERE.

WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS IN THE PAST MANY OCCASIONS ABOUT THE MUNICIPAL COURT.

AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY GOVERNED.

THEY HAVE A SEPARATE ORDER, TEXAS SUPREME COURT ORDER, AND IT'S THROUGH THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY AN EXCEPTION RIGHT NOW.

ALL COURTS ARE STILL MANDATED TO HAVE A MASK ORDER TO EVERYBODY IN THE COURTS, HAVE A MASK IN THAT FACILITY.

SO AS OF JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, THAT WAS STILL OR ACTUALLY TODAY, I THINK STILL THAT'S STILL A STANDING ORDER.

SO OUR MUNICIPAL COURT, OUR JUDGES AND OF COURSE, OUR MARSHALS AND STAFF AND THE COURT STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE ORDERS AS GUIDED BY THE OCA AND THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT.

AND I'LL HIT THIS ONE JUST BRIEFLY, I MEAN, SPECIAL EVENTS AS WELL, AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER REMOVED ANY RESTRICTIONS FOR OUTDOOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO GET INQUIRIES FROM THE ALL THE DIFFERENT, WHETHER IT'S NONPROFITS OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD NORMALLY HOST AN OUTDOOR EVENT, WHETHER IT WOULD BE DOWNTOWN OR ANYWHERE.

SO THOSE QUESTIONS ARE STARTING TO COME TO US AND THEN WE'LL HAVE AN ACTUALLY FOR THIS PART FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

WE'D LIKE TO BRING THAT BACK TO YOU NEXT WEEK BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT CATEGORIES THAT GO INTO THAT.

WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GROUP ALL OF THAT TOGETHER.

SO WE HAVE THE EVENTS HOSTED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR OWN CITY SPONSORED EVENTS.

I KNOW COUNCIL IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH, OF COURSE, WHAT WE'VE DONE IN PAST SUMMERS WITH THE SUMMER CONCERTS AND THE MANY OTHER EVENTS THAT WE HOST AS A CITY.

[02:20:02]

AT WHAT POINT DO WE AS A CITY WANT TO HOST AND START SPONSORING OUR OWN SPECIAL EVENTS AGAIN, THIS SUMMER THIS FALL, HOW SOON? I MEAN, WE WOULD STILL NEED SOME LEAD TIME TO PLAN AND PREPARE FOR ALL OF THESE.

ALL OF THESE TAKES SOME TIME.

THEY CAN'T BE TURNED UP REAL QUICKLY IN A MATTER OF DAYS OR WEEKS.

TYPICALLY, THEY TAKE MONTHS.

SO THE SPECIAL EVENTS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE BRING BACK TO YOU NEXT WEEK FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

SO BUT MAYOR TO WRAP UP I MEAN, WE HAVE OUR STAFFING LEVELS.

WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED.

IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR ANY FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL.

AND THEN AS WE LOOK AT OUR CITY FACILITIES, OPENING UP THE DIFFERENT FORMS THERE, IF THERE IS ANY FEEDBACK OR DISCUSSION TONIGHT, WE WOULD BE OPEN TO THAT AS WELL.

SO AND WITH THAT MAYOR, I WILL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU SIR.

ONE OF OUR ATTENDEES AS REQUESTED TO SPEAK.

AND I JUST NEED TO REMIND YOU THAT DURING WORK SESSION, WE GENERALLY ONLY TAKE COMMENTS AT THE BEGINNING.

OBVIOUSLY, WE MODIFIED THAT A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT BECAUSE THE COMMENTS WERE TOWARDS THE VACCINE ISSUES.

SO LET ME GO FIRST WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

DO WE HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HIT GENERAL HERD IMMUNITY TYPE OF NUMBERS BECAUSE THAT KIND OF PLAYS INTO THE FACILITY'S OPENING DECISION FOR ME.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO DEFINE THAT, AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DEFINITIONS OUT THERE, BUT IF ANYBODY IS WILLING TO TAKE A WILD GUESS.

YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF JASON IS STILL ON.

I WILL TELL YOU FROM EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE HEARD, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS, WHETHER IT'S 60 PERCENT, 70 PERCENT, 80 PERCENT.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S A COMBINATION OF VACCINATIONS.

AND THOSE WHO HAVE HAD IT THAT HAD THE COVID ALREADY.

SO I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY THAT WE'RE CLOSE TO REACHING THAT POINT YET.

AND I SEE JASON POPPED UP.

THANK YOU, JASON.

IF YOU'VE HEARD ANYTHING ELSE, JASON.

HERD IMMUNITY.

WELL, YOU KNOW THAT I GUESS IN REGARDS TO HERD IMMUNITY, THAT'S TYPICALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU REALIZE AFTER YOU PASSED IT, IT'S REALLY HARD TO KNOW WHEN YOU GET THERE UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

AND WE'LL SAY THAT IN TERMS OF THERE SEEMS TO BE, WELL, I GUESS REASONABLY GOOD AGREEMENT THAT ABOUT.

THERE ARE ABOUT FIVE UNCONFIRMED CASES FOR EVERY ONE CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU EXTRAPOLATE THAT THE 11 PERCENT, THE GARLAND POPULATION THAT HAS TESTED POSITIVE, AND THEN WE MAY BE UPWARDS OF 55, 60 PERCENT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED AND HAVE A DEGREE OF IMMUNITY.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

SO DON'T KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY IS [INAUDIBLE] TO SAY THAT WE'VE HIT OR KNOW THAT WE'RE NEAR HERD IMMUNITY.

BUT CERTAINLY A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF GARLAND RESIDENTS HAVE A DEGREE OF IMMUNITY JUST THROUGH COVID19 EXPOSURES IF THAT HELPS.

IT DOES.

IT DOES.

AND I'M TRYING TO AVOID MAKING SOME SORT OF SUBJECTIVE TYPE OF DECISION ON WHEN TO REOPEN FACILITIES.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE A TARGET NUMBER IN MY MIND AND THEN BE ABLE TO TO BASE MY DECISION OFF OF THAT.

AND OF COURSE, THIS HAS BEEN A NUMBERS BATTLE SINCE DAY ONE, GETTING GOOD QUALITY DATA AND JUST GUARANTEEING ITS ACCURACY.

SO, I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE A SPRING BREAK BUMP THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT TO SEE.

BUT I'VE BEEN WRONG IN EVERY OTHER PREDICTION, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'D START NOW.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT EARLY TO FULLY OPEN UP OUR ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, BUT I HAVE HOPES FOR THE SUMMER.

I REALLY DO.

IF WE'RE SITTING TRULY TO A 70 PERCENT OR EVEN CLOSE TO SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT ON NATURAL IMMUNITY, WHICH I THINK IS A LITTLE HIGH THEN I DO HAVE SOME HOPE FOR THE SUMMER, BUT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS MAYOR, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HOP OFF THE MIKE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

[LAUGHTER] THE IDEA TRAIN LEFT THE STATION.

ALL RIGHT.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I MAY BE ON THE SAME TRAIN WITH COUNCILMAN SMITH, ALTHOUGH ONE CAN NOT

[02:25:04]

BE QUITE SURE AT THIS POINT.

I DO THINK WE SHOULD MOVE SLOWLY IN REOPENING AND JUST SEE WE'RE NOT IN A CONTEST.

BUT I GREATLY HOPE THAT THIS SUMMER WE'RE GOING TO SEE ALL OF OUR DOWNTOWN EVENTS AND OUR ENTERTAINMENT VENUES OPEN OR ALMOST ALL OPEN.

PEOPLE ARE ASKING, ASKING, ASKING.

THEY WANT THAT AND THEY'RE READY FOR IT SO THAT IT LOOKED LIKE A MODEST PLAN, THE REOPENING PLAN THAT MITCH SHARED.

IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS INCREMENTAL AND THAT IF THINGS START GOING SOUTH, IT CAN BE STOPPED AND REVERSED, WHICH IS, I THINK, WISE.

I AM NOT HEARING.

AND THAT THERE ARE A FEW THERE ARE SOME IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, WANTING EVERYTHING OPEN AND NO MASKS AND ALL THAT.

THEY ARE BY FAR THE TINY MINORITY.

SO PEOPLE WANT US TO BE CAUTIOUS.

SO I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION, AND THIS MAY BE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.

DID HE RUN AWAY ALREADY? THERE HE IS.

GO AHEAD.

THERE HE IS.

THIS IS ABOUT THE SENIOR CENTER.

I GET CONSTANT CALLS FROM PEOPLE AT THE SENIOR CENTER BEGGING US TO OPEN IT AGAIN.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ISOLATED, THEY'RE LONELY.

THEY'RE AT HOME.

THAT WAS THEIR WHOLE LIFESTYLE AND WHICH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE CONCERNS FROM THE START.

SO, MR. CITY ATTORNEY, IS IT EVEN LEGAL FOR US AS A CITY TO SAY AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE THAT WE WOULD REOPEN THE SENIOR CENTER BUT ATTENDEES WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED? IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE THAT HAD BEEN DEBATED IN OTHER CONTEXTS, ESPECIALLY THE MANDATORY VACCINES FOR EMPLOYEES AND THAT SORT OF THING.

AND THERE'S NO EASY ANSWER.

AND IT'S AN ANSWER THAT VARIES FROM STATE TO STATE BECAUSE THE LAWS ARE DIFFERENT.

BUT YOU COULD CONCEIVABLY SAY, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS FACILITY AVAILABLE TO YOU ON THE CONDITION THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED A VACCINE.

AND I THINK IN THAT CONTEXT, SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO ACCESS THE FACILITY IS GOING TO BE HARD PRESSED TO SAY, WELL, GEE, YOU OPEN IT UP, BUT YOU MADE ME GO GET A VACCINE.

WELL, NO, WE DIDN'T MAKE YOU COME TO THE SENIOR CENTER.

SO I THINK THE CHALLENGE THERE IS LESS THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER CONTEXTS.

THE POLITICS, I'LL LEAVE TO YOU.

I THINK THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE A LOT OF RESISTANCE TO MANDATING TO USE THE TERM LOOSELY VACCINATION IN ANY.

YEAH, AND I AM INCREDIBLY I MEAN, I WOULD DON'T WANT TO SEE VACCINES MANDATED, AND IT MAKES ME EDGY TO EVEN THINK ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT THE SO MANY OF THESE THINGS ARE BALANCING ACTS.

AND THE SENIORS AT THE SENIOR CENTERS, BOTH OF THEM ARE VERY ANXIOUS TO GET BACK THERE AND HAVE A LIFE AGAIN WITH FRIENDS.

AND SO TRYING TO THINK OF SOME WAY TO ACCELERATE THAT, THAT WAS REALLY THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF WOULD BE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, MAKE YOURSELF AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

BUT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE LEGALITIES ON THAT WERE.

SO THAT WAS REALLY MY BIG QUESTION.

A LOT OF THEM ALSO RIDE ON BUSES.

THEY GET PICKED UP AND SO THEY'RE ENCLOSED IN A BUS ON THE WAY TO ON THE WAY FRO ANYWAY.

NOT READY TO DO THIS NOW ANYWAY, BUT JUST LOOKING TO THE FUTURE AND HOPING WE CAN GET THE SENIOR CENTERS OPEN AGAIN SAFELY AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT WAS THE ONLY THOUGHT THAT CROSSED MY MIND.

SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, MAYOR.

MAYOR PRO TEM NICKERSON.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YEAH, I'M JUST GOING THROUGH THE LIST OF FACILITIES AND HOW THEIR PLANS ARE WITH WHAT MITCH WAS PROVIDING.

I MEAN, I THINK I'M KIND OF I HEAR TWO THINGS.

ONE, THE LIBRARIES, FOR INSTANCE, THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM OPEN MORE.

LOTS OF FOLKS THAT I'VE TALKED TO, SOME OF THE REC CENTERS.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW SOME OF THE REC CENTERS THERE AT 50 PERCENT OR SOMETHING.

I MEAN, ONE HUNDRED PERCENT IS NOT THAT MUCH MORE OPEN FOR USE OF, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THEIR WORKOUT ROOM AND ALL OF THAT.

AND THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF CLEANING EQUIPMENT, REAL REGULAR THERE.

SO IF I HAD TO THINK OF ANY TWO OTHER THAN THE GROUP THAT WAS PRESENTED HERE,

[02:30:04]

THEN I WOULD BE MORE IN FAVOR OF OPENING A LITTLE MORE, THAT WOULD BE THOSE TWO I'M STILL A LITTLE RELUCTANT ON THE SENIOR CENTERS, THE THEATERS WITH THEIR SOMETIMES THE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS STILL A LITTLE BIT RELUCTANT THERE, TOO.

SO BUT I THINK MITCH HAS PRESENTED A PRETTY GOOD PACKAGE ACROSS THE BOARD THAT GIVES US A START.

I JUST WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT THE LIBRARIES AND REC CENTERS A LITTLE HARDER.

SO THAT'S MY THOUGHTS.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU MITCH FOR THAT INFORMATION.

A COUPLE OF THREE THINGS RIGHT QUICK.

ONE, WHEN I HEAR THAT TERM HERD IMMUNITY.

IT MEANS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO MY THING IS, WHO'S GOING TO BE THE SACRIFICE IN THAT WHOLE PROCESS BUT THAT'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION.

MITCH I LIKED YOUR PRESENTATION RECOMMENDATION NOW THAT APRIL 12TH DATE.

I JUST FEEL THAT'S A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE.

APRIL 12TH, AND YOU HAD A QUESTION, [INAUDIBLE] IN TEXAS AND I CHECKED THIS THIS MORNING, TEXAS WAS ONLY 17 PERCENT OF THE TEXAS POPULATION HAVE RECEIVED THE FIRST DOSAGE AND ONLY NINE PERCENT HAVE RECEIVED BOTH DOSES.

SO WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT APRIL 12TH DATE AT LEAST.

AND WE ALL HAVE BEEN READING INFORMATION THAT AS OF MAY 1ST.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MORE AVAILABILITY OF VACCINE AND THEN THE POOL OF FOLKS, IT'S GOING TO BE OPEN UP TO EVERYBODY IF THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST WHAT'S OUT THERE.

IT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN.

BUT BUT WITH THAT.

BUT I JUST THINK THAT THAT APRIL 12TH DATE IS A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE FOR OPENING UP.

I DO AGREE WITH THE EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS.

YOU KNOW STAYING WHERE THEY ARE, THE REC CENTER, LIBRARIES AND REC CENTERS, AND I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF OPENING UP THE SENIOR CENTERS.

MY CONVERSATION WITH MOST OF MY SENIORS IS THEY WANT TO STAY HEALTHY, THAT THEY TALK ABOUT THE VACCINE IS STAYING HEALTHY.

ONCE WE ACHIEVE THAT, THEN WE CAN TURN CULTURAL ARTS THE SAME THING.

SO I THINK THAT MOVING FORWARD JUST MITCH IF WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WAS THERE A PARTICULAR REASONS OR DID YOU JUST KIND OF DROPPED THAT APRIL 12TH DATE IN THERE AND MY OTHER [INAUDIBLE] BEFORE YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION, AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS, PARTICULARLY LIBRARY STAFF, REC CENTER STAFF, SENIOR CITIZEN ALL OF THESE ARE INDOOR FACILITIES, I'D LIKE TO SEE US GET FEEDBACK FROM THE STAFF, GET INPUT FROM THE STAFF, BECAUSE WHILE WE WANT TO OPEN, WE WANT TO OPEN SAFELY.

AND I'M CONCERNED I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THE PUBLIC, BUT I ALSO WANT TO PROTECT OUR STAFF WHEN THEY GO HOME TO FAMILIES.

AND I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THERE'S A COMFORT LEVEL.

SO I'D LIKE TO SEE FOR THOSE FACILITIES US HAVE SOME FEEDBACK FROM OUR FRONT LINE WORKERS WHO ARE STAFFING AT THOSE FACILITIES.

SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO THOSE TWO POINTS? THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER SO ON THE LIBRARIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD INPUT FROM LIBRARY STAFF.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE READY TO GO AND MOVING TOWARD A HUNDRED PERCENT CAPACITY.

I WILL TELL YOU, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH LIBRARIES, EVEN WHEN WE'VE SET A CAP, EVEN WHEN IT WAS BACK TO TWENTY FIVE PERCENT AND NOW WE SAY 50 PERCENT.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN HITTING THE CAP AT ANY ONE TIME.

THEY HAVEN'T HAD TO RESTRICT TO THAT NOW THERE WOULD BE WITH ANY OF THESE FACILITIES THAT WE OPEN UP.

IT DOESN'T MEAN EVERY SERVICE THAT WE USED TO PROVIDE.

IF YOU REMEMBER YOU KNOW LIBRARIES, WE'RE STILL WE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COMPUTERS BECAUSE WE SPREAD THEM OUT, SOCIAL DISTANCING, THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT WITH LIBRARIES ITS MORE OF OFFERING MORE SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS.

IT'S NOT LIKELY WE WOULD OFTEN HIT THAT.

I MEAN, JUST OPEN THE DOORS AGAIN LIKE WE USED TO DO WITH THE 100 PERCENT LEVEL.

[02:35:01]

BUT IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM, THEY'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD TO GET BACK TO THAT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT CAPACITY IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT THE DATE HADN'T ACTUALLY BEEN SET YET.

I THREW OUT THE APRIL 12TH DATE, JUST AS AT THAT POINT IS WE COULDN'T REALLY OPEN UP ONE HUNDRED PERCENT CAPACITY AT ANY OF OUR FACILITIES UNTIL WE HAVE OUR STAFF BACK.

I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT ANY SOONER THAN APRIL 12TH.

OF COURSE, WE CAN DELAY IT LATER THAN THAT.

SO I THINK WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH LIBRARIES THAN WE DO IN SOME OF THE OTHERS.

REC CENTERS EVEN IF WE OPEN TO ONE HUNDRED PERCENT ONCE AGAIN, WE COULD BE AND THEN THE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN A BIT A LITTLE MORE CREATIVE IN HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE OPEN BASKETBALL PLAY WHERE EVERYBODY WHERE YOU JUST HAVE ALL SORTS, YOU COULD RESTRICT THOSE KIND OF THINGS VERSUS IF YOU HAD A TEAM PRACTICE THAT YOU COULD ALLOW OR THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

BUT AGAIN, THERE'S STILL THE OPTION OF HOW SOON DO WE GET TO THAT POINT BEFORE WE START ALLOWING THAT.

THE THEATERS IS THE ONE I REALLY STRUGGLE WITH.

IF YOU FOLLOW SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES, WE'RE GOING TO BE LIMITED TO THIRTY FIVE PERCENT OR SO, 30 THIRTY FIVE PERCENT SKIPPING EVERY OTHER ROW.

THAT ONE'S REALLY CHALLENGING FOR ME, YOU KNOW.

AND THERE'S BUT THE CHALLENGE IS WE'VE GOT MANY, MANY OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS WANTING TO HOST EVENTS AT OUR VENUES AND THEY'RE READY TO OPEN UP TO READY AND WILLING TO OPEN UP TO THE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT LEVEL.

SO EVEN IF WE SAID ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE NOT IF WE JUST FOLLOW SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES, THAT CREATES THE ISSUES FOR US.

I WILL TELL YOU ONE OTHER THING I NEED TO MENTION TO YOU.

GOLF COURSE, TENNIS CENTER I THINK THOSE ARE PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD.

THE COURT WE TALKED ABOUT.

BUT IF YOU REMEMBER FROM OUR DISCUSSION LAST YEAR ABOUT POOLS AND AQUATICS, YOU KNOW, THAT REQUIRES US TO HIRE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SUMMER HELP RIGHT.

WE'VE USUALLY ALREADY STARTED MONTHS AGO.

SO EVEN IF WE SAY AQUATICS AND POOLS WILL BE OPEN THIS SUMMER, IT WILL LIKELY BE ON SOMEWHAT OF A LIMITED BASIS.

STAFFING PERMITTED.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE'LL BE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THOSE KIND OF JOBS, BUT HOW QUICKLY CAN WE HIRE AND BE AT FULL CAPACITY? I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, IT'S UNLIKELY THAT WE CAN HIRE ENOUGH TO DO ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF WHAT WE USED TO DO IN THE AQUATICS AND THE POOLS IF WE CHOOSE TO DO THAT.

BUT IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT OPEN AND THEN I KNOW JUNE AND JULY AND AUGUST IS A WAYS AWAY, BUT IF WE'RE GONNA OPEN THIS SUMMER, I'M GONNA NEED TO KNOW EITHER NOW OR REAL SOON.

YOU KNOW, THE LONGER WE DELAY, IT REALLY RESTRICTS WHAT WE CAN DO THIS SUMMER WE WILL.

AND I'LL MENTION THIS AGAIN, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T ASK THAT QUESTION, BUT IN TWO WEEKS, WHEN WE COME BACK TO TALK ABOUT SPECIAL EVENTS, IT'S THE SAME THING WITH SPECIAL EVENTS.

I MEAN, WE CAN'T POP THEM UP IN A HEARTBEAT AND WE CAN'T SAY, OK, NEXT WEEK OR TWO WEEKS OR EVEN A MONTH FROM NOW.

THERE ARE SO MANY LOGISTICS THAT THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY DO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC IN JUNE AND JULY, WE NEED TO PLAN NOW.

WE NEED TO PLAN AND WE NEED A DECISION SOON, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST HOW FAR WE'RE GOING TO GO THIS SUMMER, BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE TIME TO PLAN IT.

IF WE WAIT TILL JUNE TO MAKE THE DECISION OR MAY TO MAKE THE DECISION.

WE MISS THE WINDOW.

WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET EVERYTHING COMPILED.

SO WE'LL SAVE THE SPECIAL EVENT TO TWO WEEKS FROM NOW WHEN WE COME BACK OR THE NEXT WORK SESSION.

THERE'S A LOT OF CATEGORIES THERE, BUT I JUST AND I STRUGGLE WITH THIS.

WE'VE GOT A PLAN HERE, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT KNOWING HOW FAR TO GO.

BUT IF WE DELAY SOME OF THESE THINGS, THAT MAKES THE DECISION FOR US, AT LEAST AS FAR AS HOW SOON WE CAN OPEN THEM UP.

SO I HOPE I HIT ALL YOUR QUESTIONS BECAUSE I RAMBLED ON THAT ONE SO.

YOUR MUTED SIR.

COUNCIMAN WILLIAMS, YOU'RE ON MUTE.

I'M SORRY, MITCH, AS WE OPEN UP WE IMPLEMENT GO FROM 50 TO SEVENTY FIVE TO ONE HUNDRED.

WILL, THE MASKING REQUIREMENT ARE YOU RECOMMENDING THE MASKING REQUIREMENTS STAY IN PLACE EVEN WHEN WE GO TO ONE HUNDRED PERCENT.

SO FOR OUR FACILITY, OTHER THAN THE MUNICIPAL COURT.

PARTICULARLY FOR OUR INDOOR OUR LIBRARIES, OUR, REC CENTERS THE PACK THOSE PLACES.

THAT'S ONLY FOR.

CITY HALL.

WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY ONLY FOR CITY EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS.

THAT'S ALL WE CAN MANDATE.

SO WE CAN NOT MANDATE OTHERS COMING INTO CITY FACILITIES OTHER THAN THE MUNICIPAL COURT, WHICH HAS A SEPARATE COURT ORDER.

BUT WE CANNOT MANDATE OTHERS TO WHERE IT'S CITIZENS OR WHOEVER TO WEAR MASKS.

I WAS MEANING FOR EMPLOYEES.

YEAH, I'M SORRY.

YES, SIR.

FOR RIGHT NOW, FOR THE TIME BEING, UNTIL WE DECIDE FURTHER, EMPLOYEES WILL

[02:40:01]

CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS IN CITY FACILITIES, SOCIAL DISTANCING, THAT KIND OF THING.

OK, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING TO CONSIDER AND I LEARNED THIS TALKING TO DR.

LOPEZ LAST WEEK, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL ANYMORE, SO I LOSE TRACK OF THE CALENDARS.

BUT THE GISD SUMMER IS GOING TO BE VERY SHORT.

I THINK THEY DON'T GET OUT OF SCHOOL UNTIL THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE AND THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST.

SO THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY QUICK SUMMER SO THAT THAT COULD PLAY INTO TO OUR ESPECIALLY OUR AQUATICS PROGRAMS AND SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAMS. SO WE MAY NEED TO WE WILL CERTAINLY NEED TO CONSIDER THAT.

YES, SIR.

LET'S SEE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCNEAL AND MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND YOU JUST STATED AND MITCH YOU TOUCHED ON IT A MINUTE AGO OUR AQUATICS PROGRAM, OBVIOUSLY AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY STUDIES OUT THERE ABOUT THE VIRUS IN WATER AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

I'M CERTAIN THAT YOU AND JASON ARE GOING TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE THERE.

BUT IF WE COULD JUST MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOME TARGETING INFORMATION THAT YOU GUYS COULD SHARE WITH US THERE REGARDING THE OPENING OF THE AQUATICS PROGRAMS. AND THEN SECONDLY, OBVIOUSLY, WHEN, YOU KNOW, AS BUSINESSES OPENS BACK UP, THEY'RE GOING TO PROBABLY THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF SOME OTHER ISSUES HAPPENING WITHIN THOSE PRIVATE BUSINESSES BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE MAY BE WEARING MASKS PEOPLE NOT WEARING MASKS.

SO IF YOU WOULD MITCH OR WHOMEVER YOU DESIGNATE, MAKE SURE THAT WE REACH OUT TO CHIEF BRYAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FRONTLINE GUYS ARE DEFINITELY ON THEIR TOES IN THAT REGARD, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TRYING TO PUT OUR STAFF IN BETWEEN THEIR PREFERENCES.

SO DEFINITELY LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE JUST GET THAT COMMUNICATION OUT TO THE CHIEF.

BRYAN.

YES SIR, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS, SO.

COUNCIL MEMBER HEDRICK.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND I SUPPORT REOPENING, I THINK IT'S A GREAT PLAN YOU PUT FORWARD AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT METRICS ARE YOU LOOKING AT TO MAKE THESE REOPENING DECISIONS? WELL, I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, I HAVEN'T BEEN USING WHEN WE TALK TO STAFF, A SET METRIC OF IF WE REACH THIS PERCENTAGE, THEREFORE THEN WE OPEN UP.

AND PART OF THAT HAS BEEN I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, HERD IMMUNITY, BUT EVERY VERSION OF THAT.

AND THEN WE LOOK AT OUR OUR COVID STATISTICS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS, OF COURSE, FATALITIES NOT ONLY IN GARLAND, WE LOOK DALLAS COUNTY, AND WE LOOK BEYOND.

AND THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT NUMBERS.

SO THE APPROACH WE'VE BEEN TAKING IS KIND OF AN EDUCATED COMBINATION OF THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT AS WE START OPENING BACK UP.

SO, I MEAN, I WISH I HAD A BETTER, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT AN EXACT HERE'S THE FORMULA THAT WE USE.

BUT EVERY TIME I TRY TO FIND THAT, I'VE LOOKED TO FIND THAT.

BUT EVERY TIME I LOOK, I LOOK TO SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER COUNTIES, OTHERS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST MODEL IS.

AND WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING TO DO IS TRYING TO COMPILE A CONGLOMERATE OF ALL THAT AND THEN PUT US WHERE WE FEEL IT'S AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE, BUT RESPONSIBLE TO OPEN UP AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE FOR NOW.

YEAH, AND I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I DO SEE ON EVERY SINGLE METRIC IT IS TURNING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I MEAN, JUST TO GIVE A SAMPLE THAT THE DALLAS COUNTY UNDER 10 PERCENT FOR POSITIVE TESTS WERE LESS THAN THREE HUNDRED FOR CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES DAILY.

THIS IS ALL COMING FROM LAST WEEK'S NUMBERS FROM DALLAS COUNTY UNDER TWO DEATHS DAILY.

HOSPITALS ARE NOT OVERWHELMED.

I MEAN, EVERY MEASURE THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THE PAST TIME AND EVEN THE, YOU KNOW, EVERYWHERE EVERYTHING'S TURNING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

YOU LOOK AT THE HERD IMMUNITY, WHAT MR. CHESSHER JUST SAID, IF THEY'RE THE CASE NUMBERS REALLY OF THAT, YOU KNOW, FIVE FOR EVERY ONE, YOU ADD THAT TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO VACCINATED.

AND WE'RE AT SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT RIGHT THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT GET HIGHER THAN THAT WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO GET VACCINATED.

YOU LOOK AT OUR SENIORS IN TEXAS OVER HALF OF OVER SIXTY FIVE HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED, WITH ONE AND A THIRD HAVE ALREADY HAD TWO DOSES.

SO WE ARE VERY QUICKLY GETTING TO THE PLACE WHERE EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO GET A VACCINATION CERTAINLY WILL OR WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID BY MAY 1ST, IT SHOULD BE OPEN UP TO EVERYONE AS WELL.

SO I FULLY SUPPORT PUSHING FORWARD FOR THIS SUMMER.

IF EVERYONE CAN HAVE BY MAY 1ST VACCINATED AND THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF BUILD IMMUNITY, THAT POINT END OF MAY, WE SHOULD BE READY TO REOPEN ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AND HAVE THESE

[02:45:01]

EVENTS HAVE CERTAINLY THE OUTDOOR PUBLIC EVENTS AVAILABLE.

I'D LOVE TO SEE MORE CONCERTS IN THE SQUARE FOR JUNE, JULY IF WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE.

AND I UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO SCHEDULE THOSE NOW.

AND IF WE'RE ABLE TO MEET THOSE, ALL THE METRICS THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANNING ON MEETING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR SURE, THEN LET'S PLAN FOR THAT.

THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

YES SIR.

COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN, I SAW YOU HAD A GUEST APPEARANCE THERE NEXT TO YOU REAL QUICKLY SO.

WE DO LIKE TO HAVE GUESTS HERE QUICKLY.

USUALLY IT'S A DOG, BUT, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET.

ANYWAY.

MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE THAT I CONCUR WITH COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS THAT WE AIRED TOWARDS THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE, I'D KIND OF LIKE TO LAG A FEW WEEKS ON EACH OF THESE METRICS THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN.

I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN, BUT THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE DOWN BEFORE AND THEN THEY GO BACK UP AND SO I KIND OF FEEL LIKE NOW'S NOT REALLY THE TIME TO LET UP ON THAT, PARTICULARLY IF WE'RE I GUESS I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.

I REALIZE THAT WE COULDN'T MANDATE MASKS WITH RESPECT TO OTHER BUSINESSES, BUT I DID NOT REALIZE WE COULDN'T RESTRICT MASKS WITH OUR OWN FACILITIES OR REQUIRE MASKS WITH OUR OWN FACILITIES.

ALTHOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US AT LEAST CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND MASKS WEARING, IF WE CAN ADAPT THE SIGNS TO, SAY, MASKS ARE RECOMMENDED BY THE CDC AND WE WEAR MASKS FOR YOUR PROTECTION.

BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL THE MASKING, YOU KNOW, I'D BE INCLINED TO KEEP THE NUMBERS AND STILL HOLD BACK ON THE PERCENTAGE OPEN.

I DO VERY MUCH WANT TO OPEN.

I VERY MUCH WANT TO HAVE OTHER EVENTS AND STUFF GOING ON.

YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS THAT I SEE REGARDING VACCINATIONS IN TEXAS STILL CONCERN ME.

AND I THINK NOW IS.

NOW'S NOT THE TIME TO LET UP.

AND I WOULD RATHER TRAIL BY A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T SEE ANY SPIKES AND THAT IF WE DO START TO SEE STUFF SPIKING, THEN WE CAN KIND OF KEEP THINGS LOW.

THAT'S MY CONCERN HERE MAYOR AND MY HOPE IS THAT WE'LL DO SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SIR.

ALL RIGHT, WE'VE CLEARED THE QUEUE ON THIS PARTICULAR BULLET POINT, I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE LAST YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS WHERE WE HAD REOPENING PLANS IN THE WORKS.

AND THEY WERE ALL VERY CAUTIOUS, VERY CONSERVATIVE PLANS.

AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE THAT AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, OPENING BACK SLOWLY AND JUST KIND OF GAUGING HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

I WILL TELL YOU THIS.

ON SATURDAY, WE HAD AN OUTDOOR EVENT HERE ON THE SQUARE URBAN FLEA MARKET.

AGAIN, COMPLETELY OUTDOOR EVENT ON A FAIRLY WINDY DAY.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO CAME DOWN FOR THAT WERE WEARING MASKS, NOT REQUIRED YOU'RE OUTDOORS, WASN'T REQUIRED TO WALK AROUND.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU, MOST OF THE FOLKS WHO ATTENDED HAD MASKS ON.

SO I THINK THE PUBLIC IS STILL PLAYING IT CAUTIOUS AS WELL.

SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IN THAT I THINK THAT IS A GOOD SIGN FOR US.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY, AGAIN, WE JUST NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE CAUTIOUS.

WE CERTAINLY WANT TO START GETTING THINGS OPEN.

DURING THAT SAME AFTERNOON, I HAD LUNCH AT ONE OF OUR DOWNTOWN SQUARE RESTAURANTS, AND THEY CAN'T WAIT FOR CITY EMPLOYEES TO COME BACK TO CITY HALL FOR THEIR BUSINESS.

AND SO THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE A SHOT IN THE ARM, SO TO SPEAK, FOR OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES TO GET OUR EMPLOYEES BACK DOWN HERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT APRIL 12TH DATE, I FEEL ABOUT THAT APRIL 12TH DATE, AS I HAVE FELT ABOUT A LOT OF THE OTHER DATES WE DISCUSSED WHEN APRIL 12TH GETS HERE, WE'LL SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.

BUT CERTAINLY WE DO NEED TO TALK ABOUT SPECIAL EVENTS AND PARKS AND REC TYPE PROGRAMING FOR THIS SUMMER BECAUSE WE ARE SORT OF AT A DROP DEAD DATE ON THOSE

[02:50:04]

THINGS ALREADY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY MID MARCH.

WE DO NEED TO DEFINITELY HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THAT.

MITCH THE LAST PART OF THIS OF THIS TOPIC IS THAT YOU OR IS THAT MR. NEIGHBOR.

FOR THE ZOOM MEETINGS FOR THE COUNCIL MEETINGS? YES.

YES.

WELL, I'LL BEGIN IT.

AND I KNOW MR. NEIGHBOR AND I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS AND OF COURSE, HE'LL HANDLE THE LEGAL QUESTIONS.

BUT FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BEEN HOLDING COUNCIL MEETINGS IN ZOOM FORMAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

THE QUESTION COMES UP, AT WHAT POINT DOES COUNCIL RETURN TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS? IF SO, WHEN.

YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ISSUED SOME SEPARATE ORDERS THAT TEMPORARILY MODIFY THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT TO ALLOW THAT.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR BRAD.

I KNOW HE AND I AND HIS TEAM HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THOSE ARE STILL IN PLACE NOW.

THERE IS SPECULATION THAT THOSE MAY BE ALSO RESCINDED AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

SO WE JUST NEED TO BE READY FOR IF AND WHEN THAT OCCURS.

AND THERE'S BRAD NOW.

THANK YOU, BRAD.

WHAT DID I MISS BRAD.

IF I CAN JUMP IN AND AGREE WITH YOU ON ANYTHING.

WE'RE STILL GOING MONTH TO MONTH, AS IT WERE, WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS GOING TO CONTINUE.

BUT I'LL ADD THAT THE LEGISLATURE SEEMS TO BE GOING BACK TO LIVE IN-PERSON HEARING.

AND IF YOU TAKE IT FROM THERE QUEUE THEY'RE LIKELY TO EXPECT THE SAME OUT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT FOR NOW, THOUGH, WE'LL STAY WITH ZOOM IF IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL UNTIL THE GOVERNOR NO LONGER ALLOWS THAT.

THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BILLS IF IT MAKES THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SESSION THAT WILL ALLOW MUCH MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH ZOOM MEETINGS THAN WHAT WE SAW UNDER THE EXISTING VERSION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS IN THAT REGARD.

OK.

OK, THANK YOU, AND WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I DO WITH MR. NEIGHBOR THAT WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL [INAUDIBLE] I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US.

THIS IN THE EVENT THAT NONE OF THOSE STUDENT BILLS MAKE ANY [INAUDIBLE].

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD.

[INAUDIBLE] I THOUGHT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH HAD MENTIONED THIS SOME TIME AGO.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD ON AT LEAST DOING THE [INAUDIBLE] ADOPTING THE PORTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WE NEED SO THAT UNDER THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT THAT PEOPLE CAN APPEAR REMOTELY.

I KNOW THAT'S A LITTLE IT'S NOT QUITE A ZOOM TYPE FORMAT TYPE THING, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST HAVE THAT IN PLACE FOR WHEN WE DO GET BACK TO MEETING.

I THINK WE SHOULD [INAUDIBLE] THAT CAN BE EFFECTIVE.

AND THEN IF SOMETHING ELSE COMES ALONG THROUGH LEGISLATURE, THEN THAT'S GREAT.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE EVEN AFTER WE START MEETING IN PERSON AGAIN.

I'D LIKE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE CITIZEN INPUT REMOTELY, EITHER VIA ZOOM OR PHONE OR HOWEVER WE WANT TO DO IT.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN A THAT'S BEEN A VERY GOOD THING THAT I'D BE INCLINED TO TAKE GOING FORWARD, REGARDLESS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH STATUS.

BUT AT LEAST FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR PEOPLE AS SOME PEOPLE WILL BE SLOWER THAN OTHERS TO GET VACCINATED.

AND FEEL COMFORTABLE GETTING OUT AGAIN, THANK YOU MAYOR.

THANK YOU SIR.

AND COUNCILMAN AUBIN, YOUR AUDIO IS KIND OF BREAKING UP A LITTLE BIT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST A CONNECTION ISSUE, BUT IT'S BEEN FINE ALL NIGHT.

BUT THEN IT WAS I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE MADE ANY ADJUSTMENTS OR ANYTHING, BUT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK.

BUT WE GOT WHAT YOU SAID.

OK, THANK YOU.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED HERE EXCEPT THE DOG WAS BARKING [INAUDIBLE].

NOW YOU'RE AUDIO'S BACK TO FINE.

SO [LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU SIR.

LET'S SEE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO JUST A PRACTICAL QUESTION, BECAUSE IF THIS GOES THE WAY EVERYTHING

[02:55:04]

ELSE SEEMS TO GO AT STATE LEVEL, THAT A DECISION CAN SUDDENLY COME OUT OF NOWHERE AND WE'RE HAVING TO TO PACK OUR BAGS AND MOVE FAST.

SO IS THE COUNCIL CHAMBER READY FOR US? I MEAN, THE LAST TIME THAT WE MET THERE WAS OVER THE TAX VOTE, WHICH I'VE NOW LOST TRACK OF EXACTLY HOW MANY MONTHS AGO THAT WAS.

AND WE HAD PLEXIGLASS AND WE WERE GOING TO BE GETTING TOUCH SCREENS.

IT HAS ALL THAT BEEN COMPLETED? IS THAT READY FOR US NOW? I THINK IT'S IN THE WORKS, BUT MITCH, YOU MAY KNOW MORE OF IT.

I KNOW.

I KNOW.

DAN WAS WORKING ON IT LAST WEEK, SO.

THE STAFF HAS STILL BEEN WORKING ON IT.

MUCH OF THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

I KNOW WE WERE LOOKING AT INDIVIDUAL TOUCH SCREENS FOR EACH STATION.

I DON'T THINK THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED YET, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.

OUR HOPE IS THAT WOULD BE COMPLETED SOON.

AND I KNOW WE'VE IN PAST MEETINGS MANY MONTHS AGO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE DUAL, DOING IT BOTH LIVE AND VIA ZOOM IS A CHALLENGE.

BUT WE'VE BEEN STAFF HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO TRY TO INCORPORATE BOTH, IF THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO DO.

THERE'S JUST SOME TECHNICAL CHALLENGES DOING THAT.

I KNOW THE I KNOW THE SCHOOLS LEARN THAT THE HARD WAY WHEN YOU HAVE A TEACHER TRYING TO TEACH IN PERSON TO TEACH KIDS.

AND, YOU KNOW, ON ZOOM, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY THE AUDIO.

SO ANYWAY, HAVING SAID THAT, WE'RE WORKING ON ALL THOSE THINGS.

MUCH HAS BEEN DONE.

IF FOR SOME REASON THE STATE THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS CHANGED AND WE HAD TO GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEETINGS IMMEDIATELY WHATEVER, WE COULD MAKE THAT WORK.

BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME MORE WORK TO DO.

OK, AND THE OTHER THING IS, I'M NOT POSITIVE IF COUNCILMAN AUBIN'S SUGGESTION ABOUT THE REMOTE MEETINGS, WHICH WAS AN ISSUE THAT WE DISCUSSED ON COUNCIL AND IT FAILED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IF HIS SUGGESTION IS TO BRING THAT BACK AGAIN FOR DISCUSSION, I WILL WHOLEHEARTEDLY SECOND IT AND VOTE WITH BOTH HANDS.

SO IT DOES SEEM WISE FOR US TO PULL THAT BACK UP RATHER QUICKLY AND CONSIDER IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW.

LIFE IS UNCERTAIN THE WAY WE'RE WORKING, IT IS A WHOLE NEW WORLD, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT LESS SCARY AND CONTROVERSIAL AT THIS POINT.

SO IF WE GET THAT ON FUTURE AGENDA AT THE END OF THIS MEETING, THEN I'M ON IT.

SO.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

I WAS JUST WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO CHIME IN WITH MY INFAMOUS.

IT'S BEEN ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT YEARS THAT WE MANAGED TO LIVE WITHOUT REMOTE MEETINGS.

BUT NOW WE'VE BEEN MEETING REMOTELY FOR A YEAR SO.

I GUESS I WILL I'M GUESS I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THAT THIS TIME.

SO IT FEELS LIKE WE'VE BEEN MEETING REMOTELY FOR ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT YEARS.

THAT'S VERY TRUE.

ALL RIGHT.

[INAUDIBLE] HEAR THAT YOU'VE BEEN MEETING REMOTELY FOR 128 YEARS.

[LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, LET'S SEE NOW.

WE DO NEED TO, MITCH AS PRESENTED A PLAN AS FAR AS SOME PROJECTED OPENINGS, RE-OPENINGS.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO IS OPPOSED TO THAT PLAN? AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S PART OF IT.

WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND REVISIT AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT PLAN? I SEE NONE.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MITCH.

ALL RIGHT, AT.

9:09.

WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO OUR SECOND AGENDA ITEM, THAT IS ITEM FOUR B GARLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESENTATION ON ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES.

[4B. Garland Chamber of Commerce Presentation on Assistance to Businesses]

MR. MAYER, I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE WITH US.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAD A LOT, A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT AS FAR AS COVID AND ALL THINGS IT BRINGS TO US.

AND SO NOW WE'D LIKE AN UPDATE WITH YOU ON HOW IS OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY DOING? WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THEM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK ALL OF YOU.

AND JUST LISTENING TO THE PAST THREE HOURS, ANYBODY THAT THINKS YOU ALL ARE OVERPAID IS RIDICULOUS.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

AND IT'S NOWHERE IN A ZIP CODE OF BEING EASY FOR WHAT YOU DO.

BUT I KNOW WE APPRECIATE YOU.

I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND TALK ABOUT, IN SPECIFIC WHAT WE DID WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AROUND

[03:00:02]

THE COVID PANDEMIC.

BUT IN A LARGER SENSE OF WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS, OUR LARGEST BUSINESS SECTION.

SO IF YOU'LL INDULGE US, WE'RE GOING TO STAY ABSOLUTELY WITHIN THE TIME FRAME THAT WAS ALLOTTED.

YOU ALL CAN EXTEND THAT AT THE END WITH ANY QUESTIONS AND THOSE OF YOU THAT ME, KNOW THAT ONE OF MY SUPERPOWER'S IS MEETING EXTENDERS.

SO SAVE YOUR QUESTIONS AND WE'LL DEAL WITH THOSE FOR JUST AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO TALK.

BUT CAN WE BRING UP THE SLIDE PRESENTATION OUT? I'LL INTRODUCE THE TEAM AS WE BRING UP THE PRESENTATION.

ALEX, YOU HAVE THAT? IS ONE OF YOU DOING IT OR WE OPERATING IT HERE? ALEX, I THINK YOU'RE DOING IT, AREN'T YOU? I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE.

THERE WE GO.

I GOT THE BUTTON.

I WILL.

JUST AS I WAS GOING TO SAY, I DON'T HAVE THE BUTTON.

I HAVE THE BUTTON.

[INAUDIBLE] IS VERY GOOD.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS SLIDE, THE GARLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE GARLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, GO BACK GO BACK JUST A SECOND ALEX TO THE OPENING SLIDE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WELL, SINCE 1995, WE'VE ENJOYED A THREE PART PARTNERSHIP AND WE TAKE THAT VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.

OUR JOB IN THAT PARTNERSHIP IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PIECE.

AND TONIGHT, THE PIECE OF THAT WHICH I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS THE SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE.

GO TO THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE.

AT THE END OF THIS, ALEX, GO AHEAD, THERE WE GO.

YOU'RE GOING TO YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM FOUR OF US TONIGHT, KARINA AND ALEX AND ANDREA, THANKFULLY, A LESS A LITTLE BIT FOR ME, BUT MY JOB IS TO SET THE STAGE FOR THIS.

BUT THE OTHERS' PRESENTATION, YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW ABOUT THREE OR FOUR THINGS.

ONE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT MISSION STATEMENT BEING LIVED OUT AND CERTAIN LEADERS, THE GARLAND CHAMBERS IS A TRUSTED UNIFYING SOURCE FOR SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS GROWTH.

WE DEFINE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS GROWTH AS GROWING EVERY BUSINESS, ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME.

THE BUSINESSES WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN THE SMALL BUSINESS TONIGHT.

YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF THAT MARKET GARLAND, WHICH IS SMALL BUSINESS, HOW WE SERVE THOSE FOLKS, OBVIOUSLY, WITH A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE PANDEMIC.

BUT REALLY, THE VALUE TO YOU AND TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS IS WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY, ALL DAY LONG, FOREVER AND EVER.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE INCLUDED ALL THESE OTHER PIECES IN HERE.

AND THE LAST PIECE THAT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS ISN'T ALL WE DO.

IT'S THE BIGGEST PIECE OF OUR MARKETPLACE, SMALL BUSINESS.

BUT WE DO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS FOR LEGISLATIVE AND TRANSPORTATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING AND EVENTS.

BUT DAY IN, DAY OUT, WHAT WE DO IS SMALL BUSINESS.

ALEX IS GOING TO TALK.

ALEX IS OUR RELATIONSHIP SPECIALIST.

HE'S, HIS TITLE SAYS BUSINESS AND MEMBERSHIP.

BUT HIS JOB IS TO PUT PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CAN SUCCEED.

HE'S ALSO OUR RESIDENT DEMOGRAPHER, OUR RESIDENT RESEARCHER, OUR RESIDENT NERD.

BUT IN A GOOD WAY.

HE'S A NERD WITH A PERSONALITY.

I'M GONNA LET ALEX KICK IT OFF.

HE'S GOING TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANDREA HERNANDEZ, WHO'S SMALL BUSINESS.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THE NITTY GRITTY OF HOW WE IMPACT MEMBERS WITH NUMBERS AND RESULTS.

THEN KARINA IS GOING TO COME AND TIE A BOW AROUND AT THE END OF THIS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS ALL IN ABOUT 19 AND A HALF MINUTES.

SO HANG ON, ALEX, TAKE IT AWAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, PAUL.

SO FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES, WE FIRST HAVE TO DEFINE IT.

GARLAND IS A SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S WHY WE THINK THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE CHAMBER REALLY WORKS.

WHAT WE HAVE PRESENTED IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW IS DATA THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE GARLAND LIBRARIES AND THE A-Z DATABASE.

WE RUN THIS AGAINST THE SBA TABLE OF SMALL BUSINESS STANDARDS WHERE YOU USE THEIR RESPECTIVE [INAUDIBLE] CODE.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE SEVEN THOUSAND OVER SEVEN THOUSAND LOCAL BUSINESSES WHERE NINETY ONE PERCENT IS SMALL.

WHAT WE OFTEN HEAR FROM OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY IS THAT THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE A SMALL BUSINESS.

THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE A MICRO BUSINESS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE ALSO PUT UP THAT HERE, WHERE YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE LESS THAN 20 EMPLOYEES ARE REPRESENTED BY OVER SEVENTY SEVEN PERCENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THE LAST TAKEAWAY IS, IS WHERE YOU CAN SEE THAT CHAINS AND FRANCHISES ARE ONLY 11 PERCENT OF THE BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.

SO WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT YOU WILL MEET IN GARLAND IS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER THAT OWNS THIS LOCATION IS A MICRO BUSINESS.

THAT'S OUR SMALL BUSINESS MARKET IN THE GARLAND BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

[03:05:05]

SO WHAT KIND OF BUSINESSES ARE THEY? HERE'S THE TOP CATEGORIES IN TERMS OF WHAT KIND OF INDUSTRIES ARE REPRESENTED IN GARLAND.

YOU CAN SEE THERE'S KIND OF TOP THREE AND THEN KIND OF STARTS TRAILING OFF.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE OTHER SERVICES AND TOPPING GARLAND IS GOING TO BE YOUR RELIGIOUS, AUTOMOTIVE, BEAUTY AND NAIL SALONS, FOLLOWED BY RETAIL AND TRADE AND THEN HEALTH CARE AND THEN, OF COURSE, RESTAURANTS COMING THERE IN FORTH.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF FOR Y'ALL TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT SMALL BUSINESS, THIS IS HOW WE DEFINE IT.

THIS IS HOW WE LOOK AT IT FROM OUR ORGANIZATION'S POINT OF VIEW.

SO HOW DO WE WORK WITH THEM? WHERE DOES THIS PIPELINE COME FROM? HOW DO WE GET A HOLD OF THESE GUYS? SO.

THE BIGGEST RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE IS WITH THE SBDC, SO THIS IS A SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING A COUNSELOR ONSITE IN OUR OFFICES AT THE CHAMBER SINCE 2012.

AND THIS COUNSELOR, SHE HAS PROVIDED FREE COUNSELING FOR ANY SMALL BUSINESS IN GARLAND.

SO THEY JUST CALL US, SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AND GET A CHANCE TO SIT AND TALK WITH THEM ABOUT STRATEGIC MOVES SO FOR EXAMPLE, THEIR BUSINESS PLAN OR WHERE TO PUT UP A LOCATION.

WE LIKE FOR BUSINESSES TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH SBDC COUNSELOR FIRST BEFORE THEY FIND THEIR LOCATION AND FILL OUT THEIR CO.

AND THAT WAY YOU CAN REALLY FIND THOSE SUCCESS STORIES.

WE HAVE TWO LOCAL SUCCESS STORIES HERE IN GARLAND THAT JUST THEY WORK FOR A LONG TIME WITH JUDITH COLLINS, OUR SBDC COUNSELOR.

I THINK ALL OF YOU KNOW WHO CARY HODSON WITH INTRINSIC IS AND [INAUDIBLE] WITH MORNING DEW MASSAGE.

BOTH OF THEM SPENT YEARS WITH SBDC BEFORE THEY EVEN STARTED THEIR BUSINESS AND OPENED UP THEIR BUSINESS AND LOCATION.

SO IF WE CAN'T GET HOLD OF THEM AT THE BEGINNING, WHAT WE OFTEN DO IS WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BUILDING INSPECTION.

SO WE UTILIZE CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN OR OCCUPANCY TO FIND OUT WHO ARE THE NEW BUSINESSES IN TOWN, WHO ARE THE STARTUPS.

WE SEGMENT THAT SO THAT WE CAN HELP THEM SPECIFICALLY WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR BUSINESS CYCLE.

IF WE SEE THAT SOMEONE IS EXPANDING THEIR BUSINESS, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR OTHER SERVICES THAN IF YOU'RE A STARTUP, WE REACH OUT TO THEM.

SO WE HAVE REACHED UP TO THE LAST TWO YEARS, OVER A THOUSAND CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT WAY FOR US TO CONNECT WITH THE SMALL BUSINESSES ONCE THEY COME TO GARLAND AND THEY HAVE THAT CO.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT THE CHAMBER ALSO DOES IS OUR ONE ON ONE CONNECTION WITH THE SMALL BUSINESSES HERE IN GARLAND.

THEY ALWAYS CALL US.

WE'RE ALWAYS READY TO ANSWER ANY OF THEIR QUESTIONS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE.

AND WE GET CALLS FROM SMALL BUSINESSES EVERY SINGLE DAY AT THE CHAMBER.

AND IT'S ONE OF OUR CORE STRENGTHS.

IF WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, WE KNOW WHO HAS THE ANSWER.

AND WE ALWAYS WELCOME SMALL BUSINESSES TO JUST CALL US AND ASK US THOSE QUESTIONS.

AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES IS FROM MY FAMOUS CEO, MR. PAUL MAYER.

HE SAYS THAT THERE'S NOT A SINGLE BUSINESS ISSUE THAT THE CHAMBER CAN'T HELP SOLVE.

WE MIGHT NOT SOLVE IT FOR YOU, BUT WE WILL FIND A SOLUTION, WILL CONNECT YOU WITH THE RESOURCE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO GET IT SOLVED.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT.

OF THE FIRST YEAR OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY HAVE A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF FAILING.

AFTER FIVE YEARS, IT'S 50 PERCENT.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET OUR BUSINESSES THAT HELP AND THAT SUPPORT AND HELP THEM BUILD THE FOUNDATION WITH WITH A SOLID BUSINESS PLAN.

AND THAT'S WHY WE THINK THAT SMALL BUSINESSES, IF WE JUST HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THEM, WE CAN HELP THEM SUCCEED.

WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GIVE IT OVER TO ANDREA AND SHE'S GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

THANKS, ALEX.

SO BUSINESSES NEED TO NETWORK, BRAND THEMSELVES AND EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS AN EVER CHANGING WORLD.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS CHART, THIS CHART HERE EXPRESSES ONE OF THE MANY COMBINATIONS FOR OWNING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

AND THE CHAMBER OFFERS PROGRAMS [INAUDIBLE].

SO AS YOU HEARD FROM ALEX, HE HOSTS A DIRECT CONNECT, WHICH IS OUR, THE CHAMBER'S NETWORKING EVENT ON THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH TO GIVE BUSINESSES THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND EXPAND THEIR REFERRAL NETWORKS.

WITH OUR UNIQUE EVENTS SET UP, ATTENDEES HAVE ONE MINUTE TO GIVE THEIR

[03:10:04]

ELEVATOR PITCH ON WHO THEY ARE, WHO THEIR UNIQUE AUDIENCE, AND HOW THE ATTENDEES AT THE EVENT CAN HELP WITH THEIR BUSINESS.

THIS EVENT BRINGS 40 PERCENT OF NEW BUSINESSES EACH MONTH, GIVING THE REGULAR ATTENDEES A CHANCE TO MEET NEW PEOPLE.

AND THEN THE NEXT BUCKET IS MARKETING.

BRANDING IS THE LIFE OF A BUSINESS.

A BUSINESS NEEDS TO BE PRESENT ONLINE, BUT ALSO THEY NEED TO BE PRESENT ON ANY BRANDING AWARENESS OPPORTUNITIES.

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY OFFER THAT THROUGH US.

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK IS NATIONALLY CELEBRATED ON THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY.

IN 2020 DUE TO COVID.

IT WAS POSTPONED, BUT WE STILL DECIDED TO CELEBRATE ANYWAY.

AND WHAT WE ASKED WERE BUSINESSES TO SUBMIT A ONE MINUTE VIDEO AND WE WOULD PUSH IT THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. SO THE VIDEOS ACTUALLY PERFORMED.

THEY WERE THE HIGHEST PERFORMING OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT FROM ANY OTHER PREVIOUS CHAMBER POST.

SO WITH THE SUCCESS, WE'RE PLANNING ON CELEBRATING SMALL BUSINESS WEEK THE SAME WAY THIS YEAR, ASKING BUSINESSES TO SUBMIT THOSE VIDEOS TO US AND WE'LL PUSH THEM THROUGH OUR PLATFORM.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IS ALSO NATIONALLY CELEBRATED BY AMERICAN EXPRESS, AND IT'S USUALLY ON THE BIGGEST SHOPPING WEEKEND OF THE YEAR.

SO IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, [INAUDIBLE] AND I WORK TO BRING NEW CUSTOMERS TO DOWNTOWN GARLAND ON THE WEEKEND AFTER THANKSGIVING.

THE FIRST YEAR WE DID THIS THAT WE'VE COLLABORATED WITH THE EVENT, WE BROUGHT ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ATTENDEES, WITH TWENTY TWO BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING.

LAST YEAR, WE BROUGHT ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FOR ATTENDEES, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS COVID.

SO IF ALL GOES WELL IN 2021, WE WANT TO EXPAND THIS EVENT AND INCLUDE BUSINESSES IN THE GARLAND AREA BY HOSTING A TENT WITH THEM ON THE SQUARE AND THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE AND PROMOTE THEIR PRODUCT AND SERVICES.

AND AS MENTIONED, THIS IS AN EVER CHANGING WORLD, SO THERE ARE ALWAYS NEW TRENDS AND CONTENT AVAILABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES EVERY DAY.

SO WE CREATED THE BOLD SPEAKER SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TEXAS SECURITY BANK, AND WE ARE PROVIDING CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN GARLAND.

SO ON THE FOURTH TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH, FROM EIGHT TO NINE, WE HOST A SPEAKER OR A PANEL AND THEY TALK ABOUT RELEVANT TOPICS TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

HOSTING THIS VIRTUAL IN 2020 AND NOW IN 2021 IS A GREAT ADVANTAGE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BECAUSE WE RECORD THE EVENT AND WE POST IT ON OUR WEBSITE AND ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

SO BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO TAKE AWAY HOURS OF THEIR TIME IN THEIR BUSINESS.

THEY CAN WATCH THIS AT THEIR OWN PACE AND THEY WILL STILL HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE BUSINESS CONTENT WE'RE PROVIDING.

NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE EXPANSION OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE.

THROUGH COVID WE ADAPTED AND WE TRIED TO EXPAND OUR INITIATIVES IN 2020.

AND SO ON THIS PAGE, WE'RE GIVING YOU SOME DATA ON OUR OUTREACH DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO DURING 2020, WE SENT OUT WEEKLY COVID NEWSLETTERS TO KEEP OUR BUSINESSES UP TO DATE WITH INFORMATION.

SO EACH WEEKLY EMAIL WAS SENT OUT TO ALMOST THIRTY EIGHT HUNDRED EMAILS.

THESE WEEKLY COMMUNICATIONS INCLUDED THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDERS, ACCESS TO PPE, PPE AND FACEMASKS, THE ESSENTIAL BUSINESS LIST THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY AND ANY OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION OR URGENT INFORMATION THAT WAS NEEDED TO BE COMMUNICATED.

WE ALSO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF OUR WEBSITE IN ADDING RELEVANT INFORMATION TO OUR HOME PAGE FOR EASY ACCESS.

IN 2020, WE HAD A TOTAL OF TWENTY THREE THOUSAND UNIQUE VISITORS ON THE GARLAND CHAMBER WEBSITE, AND WE I ADDED ON THERE THE SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES PAGE, WHICH RECEIVED A TOTAL OF TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIX VISITORS.

AND THEN ON TOTAL, OUR TOTAL WEBSITE PAGE VIEWS WERE SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY SIX.

WE ALSO PUSHED ALL OVER THE INFORMATION THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. IN TOTAL, IN 2020 OUR TOTAL OUTREACH WAS TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND NINETY.

AND SINCE STARTING IN 2021 WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER THIRTY TWO HUNDRED EMAILS THAT ARE ACTIVE IN RECEIVING THE GARLAND CHAMBER COMMUNICATION.

WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO WHAT WE DID DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE PANDEMIC, TOOK EVERYBODY BY SURPRISE AND THE CHAMBER TRIED TO ADAPT AND ASSESS AND RESPOND TO ALL THE NEEDS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

THROUGH SURVEYS, THE STAFF REACHED OUT TO BUSINESSES AND CONNECTED THEM WITH RESOURCES TO HELP WITH THEIR BUSINESS.

AS MENTIONED IN THE LAST SLIDE, WE SENT OUT THOSE WEEKLY COMMUNICATIONS.

WE ALSO PUBLISH ALL OF OUR RESOURCES ON OUR SMALL BUSINESS PAGE, ON THE WEBSITE, AND THEN WITH EACH EVENT INVITATION, WE ENCOURAGE THAT SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT IN ADDING THE LIST OF OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS.

THE BIGGEST OUR BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION IN 2021 WAS THE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF GARLAND IN THE CTS BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

I HAVE A LOT OF DATA POINTS HERE ON THE SLIDE ABOUT THE PROGRAM WHEN IT WAS UNDER OUR SUPERVISION.

SO HELPING WITH THIS PROGRAM ACTUALLY HELPED US FIGURE OUT WHAT BUSINESSES

[03:15:03]

REALLY NEED IN A TIME LIKE THIS.

WE FOUND THAT MANY BUSINESSES THAT WERE DENIED THE ASSISTANCE WAS DUE TO THEM NOT HAVING THE CORRECT DOCUMENTATION TO SUBMIT TO SHOW US THAT THEY QUALIFIED FOR THE PROGRAM.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE NOW HAVE TOPICS IN OUR BOTH CURRICULUM THAT WILL ATTACK THAT NEED AND REALLY REACH OUT TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND HELP THEM WITH THAT NEED, SUCH AS HOW TO PREPARE YOUR CASH FLOW AND YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

NOW, MOVING ON TO WHAT WE DID IN 2021 FOR THE SNOWSTORM, I MEAN, THAT DEFINITELY TOOK EVERYBODY BY SURPRISE.

SO WHAT WE HEARD FROM OUR BUSINESSES WERE THAT THEY DECIDED TO CLOSE THEIR BUSINESS, TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILY AND STAY WARM.

SO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA WAS A BIG CHAMPION FOR INFORMATION.

JUST IN THE ONE WEEK OF SNOWMAGEDDON, WE HAD A TOTAL SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH OF OVER 12,000.

SO WHILE REACHING OUT TO OUR BUSINESSES DURING THE WEEKEND [INAUDIBLE], WE FOUND THAT MOST OF THEM SHUT DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEY SUFFERED FROM BROKEN PIPES.

AND WHAT THEY NEEDED TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR OPERATION WAS JUST TO CLEAN UP AND GET THEIR LOCATION READY TO BRING IN CUSTOMERS.

SO THE CHAMBER'S VALUE AND STRENGTH COMES FROM ITS ABILITY TO QUICKLY COMMUNICATE WITH THE BUSINESSES.

AN EXAMPLE IS THE MAYOR'S MESSAGE.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET OVER SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUSINESS INDIVIDUALS TO OPEN AND READ THE MESSAGE FROM OUR MAYOR SO THAT EVERYBODY COULD BE PART OF THE SOLUTION WHEN IT CAME TO TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS IN OUR IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE CHAMBER ALSO SENT OUT A SURVEY TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

WE FOUND THAT MOST BUSINESSES HAD NOT TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

UNDER FIVE PERCENT OF THE BUSINESSES SURVEYED HAD TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF FEMA, SBA, ECONOMIC DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE OR THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE OR BUSINESS LIABILITY INSURANCE.

NOW, MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT SLIDE, OUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP, I MEAN, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND WORKING AND HELPING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, NOT JUST IN DOWNTOWN, BUT ALL OF THE AREA OF GARLAND.

WE'RE ALSO PARTNERED AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA RELATIONS DEPARTMENT AND SENDING OUT OUR INFORMATION TO DISTRIBUTE EITHER IN THE CITY PRESS OR THROUGH THE CITY'S SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM.

AND RECENTLY, THE GARLAND CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS HEARD FROM KAREN ARCHIBALD OF THE CITY LIBRARY SYSTEM, AND SHE SPOKE TO US ABOUT HOW LIBRARIES WANT TO OFFER MORE RESOURCES TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

OUR PLAN IS TO CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION WITH KAREN AND HER TEAM TO FIND WAYS TO PARTNER WITH THE GARLAND LIBRARIES.

AND I WILL HAND THIS OVER TO KARINA, WHO WILL COVER SOME NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS AND TIE IT ALL TOGETHER.

THANK YOU, ANDREA.

I THINK TONIGHT, IN YOUR VIEW, YOU'VE PROBABLY PICKED UP ON THE COMMITMENT THAT THE CHAMBER HAS ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP AND ALL ITS INITIATIVES.

AND REALLY, IF YOU IF YOU NOTICE EVER SINCE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1995, REALLY, WE HAVE STRENGTHENED THE FOCUS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND IT REALLY HAS BEEN NOTED IN THE PROGRESSIVE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND SO YOU HAVE A LIST THERE OF THESE NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS.

BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT TWO THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND THAT ONE IS THE SBDC.

ALEX MENTIONED THAT WE'VE HAD THE SBDC IN OUR OFFICE SINCE 2012, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL 2016 THAT THERE WAS AN ACTUAL AGREEMENT SIGNED TO FOSTER THAT RELATIONSHIP AND REALLY ENHANCE OR REALLY INCREASE THAT SERVICE TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND REALLY WE'VE COME CLOSE SINCE THAT PARTNERSHIP.

WE'VE HAD APPROXIMATELY TWO THOUSAND APPOINTMENTS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE ABOUT TWO HUNDRED UNIQUE CLIENTS THAT ARE SERVED IN THAT OFFICE AND THEN THE CHAMBER TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

THE LAST BULLET POINT, WE STARTED A GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH IN TOTAL WE AWARDED ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO SMALL BUSINESSES SUPPORTING IN THE AREAS OF MARKETING AND FIXED ASSETS.

SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

AND WE DEFINITELY WE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP AND COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE.

BUT I THINK THE TAKEAWAY IS, IS THAT WE LEARNED THAT AT THE CORE, WE'RE AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A PROCESS TO REACH BUSINESSES AND THAT THERE'S RESOURCES AND CONNECTIONS THAT THEY THINK THE CHAMBER CAN SERVE TO REALLY HELP A SMALL BUSINESS GROW AND BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO.

FROM THE FIRST THOUGHT ON THIS CHART, YOU SEE THE IDEA, HEY, I WANT TO OPEN A SMALL BUSINESS, I HAVE A THOUGHT OR I NEED TO FIND A LOCATION.

FOR I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE BEING VIABLE AND GROW MY BUSINESS, WELL AS THE CHAMBER.

WE'RE HERE TO HELP.

AND SO HOPEFULLY YOU HEARD THAT TONIGHT IN OUR PRESENTATION.

AND THAT IS THE LAST THE LAST SLIDE.

[03:20:04]

AND WE ARE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PRESENTATION OR WORK THAT OUR CHAMBER HAS BEEN DOING? COUNCIL MEMBER HEDRICK.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

I KNOW I MET WITH MR. MAYER EARLIER LAST WEEK OR LAST WEEK, I MET WITH HIM AND WE TALKED BRIEFLY ABOUT SOME OF THE EFFORTS THEY'RE DOING TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT MAY TYPICALLY NOT BE INVOLVED.

I KNOW MY DISTRICT HAS A LARGE VIETNAMESE POPULATION, AND I HOPE WE CAN SPEAK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT THE CHAMBER IS DOING TO REACH THOSE CERTAIN POPULATIONS THAT AREN'T TYPICALLY INVOLVED.

IS THAT THE QUESTION? THOSE WHO MAY BE UNDERSERVED OR HAVEN'T TRADITIONALLY BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CHAMBER'S ACTIVITIES? WELL, AND THAT GOES THROUGHOUT OUR WHOLE HISTORY.

AND WE WORK WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, ESPECIALLY THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY, THAT IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT TYPICALLY DOESN'T ASSOCIATE.

BUT WE'VE WORKED WITH JENNIFER [INAUDIBLE] AND OTHERS IN THAT COMMUNITY.

AS ALEX POINTED OUT, OUR WITH ALL THE PROGRAMS WE DO, THE BULK OF THE WORK IS ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS.

AND SO ANYBODY THAT CALLS US AND YOU ALL THIS IS A BIG PART OF THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT IS WE COUNT ON EACH OF YOU TO SEND PEOPLE TO US.

YOU HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS IN YOUR DISTRICTS AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.

AND IT'S A MATTER OF TRUST.

IT'S A MATTER OF YOU KNOW.

AND THE EXTENSION TRUST, YOU TRUST US, PEOPLE TRUST YOU.

AND BY EXTENSION, YOU GET THEM CONNECTED AND WE TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME.

IT'S A SMALL BUSINESS.

I THINK ONE OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS IS THERE'S AN ORGANIZED PROCESS AND WE HELP.

WE GET PEOPLE WHERE THEY WHERE THEY ARE, WHETHER IT'S A STARTUP, WHETHER IT'S ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES, LOCATIONS, MONEY, LOANS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

YOU LOOK AT OUR STAFF, THE LANGUAGES THAT WE SPEAK.

WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF NORWEGIAN CUSTOMERS, BUT ALEX IS CERTAINLY ABLE TO TALK TO THEM.

AND WE HAVE KARINA FROM A FROM A HISPANIC BUSINESS STANDPOINT.

SO IT'S A CHALLENGE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IN THIRTY TWO YEARS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF FOLKS AND BUILDING LOTS AND LOTS OF RELATIONSHIPS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, FROM THE NAACP OVER THE YEARS AND THROUGH THE VIETNAMESE ASSOCIATIONS AND [INAUDIBLE] AND ALL OF THE OTHERS, THE OUTREACH THAT THAT'S A BIG PIECE.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO DIFFICULT.

WE JUST FOCUS ON SMALL BUSINESS BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY ASPECTS OF THIS IS REALLY WHERE AND KARINA'S HAND IS UP.

AND SO SHE'S MUCH BETTER AT ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS.

I CAN SAY A LOT OF WORDS.

SHE ANSWERS LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

WELL, AND JUST THINK YOU PAUL, TO ANSWER SOME OF THAT QUESTION AND THE OUTREACH THAT WE DO IN THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE BUILDING INSPECTION DEPARTMENT AND PICKING UP [INAUDIBLE] REACHING OUT TO THOSE BUSINESSES.

WHEN WE DID THE ALLIANCE WITH THE SBDC, WE HAVE AN EXPANDED RESOURCE FROM WITHIN THAT THAT OFFICE THAT THERE'S SEVERAL LANGUAGES SPOKEN.

SO WHEN THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT COMES TO OUR OFFICE AND SAYS, HEY, I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH SOMEBODY THAT SPEAKS SPANISH OR THAT SOMEBODY THAT'S VIETNAMESE, WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THEM TO THAT COUNSELOR TO HELP THEM FACILITATE THE COMMUNICATION.

SO THERE IS WE CAN SERVE, I ALWAYS SAY WE CAN SERVE ANYBODY THAT COMES INTO OUR DOOR, WE CAN BECAUSE WE HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AND THOSE CONNECTIONS TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS.

WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE [INAUDIBLE] OF OCCUPANCY AND I'M LOOKING AT JIM OAK'S PICTURE THERE, THAT'S A LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH BUILDING INSPECTIONS, EVERY BUSINESS THAT COMES IN TO GARLAND GETS CONTACTED.

SO THAT'S THE PROACTIVE OUTREACH.

FOR THEM, IT'S DIRECTING THEM TO RESOURCES AND THEN IT'S RELATIONSHIP THAT EXISTS AFTER THAT.

BJ I SEE THAT YOUR HAND IS YOUR HANDS UP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK, ESPECIALLY WHAT YOU'VE DONE RECENTLY DURING THE SNOWMAGEDDON AS YOU TRY TO SO KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SIR.

COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, PAUL, AND YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR EXCELLENT PRESENTATION, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

[03:25:01]

ANY LESSONS LEARNED? I NOTICED IN YOUR PROCESS FOR THE LOAN APPLICATIONS AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES, I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES BOTH DURING THE STORM AND DURING COVID THAT MANY OF YOUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS DID NOT KNOW HOW TO ACCESS WHAT RESOURCES WERE AVAILABLE OR HOW TO ACCESS THOSE RESOURCES.

ANY PARTICULAR EXPERIENCES, ANY LESSONS LEARNED COMING OUT OF THOSE TWO THOSE TWO AREAS MOVING FORWARD FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND ASSISTING SMALL BUSINESSES WANT TO KNOW TO GIVE THEM MORE EXPOSURE TO WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AND HOW TO COMPLETE APPLICATIONS AND DO THE TECHNICAL STUFF THAT'S NEEDED.

ANY LESSONS LEARNED OUT OF THOSE EXPERIENCES PAUL? THANK YOU.

THE ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY.

AND ANDREA'S HAND IS GOING UP.

I WILL JUST TELL YOU THAT ONE OF OUR CORE STRENGTHS IS OUR IS OUR REALLY OUR ABILITY, BUT OUR COMMITMENT TO LEARNING AS WE GO.

ANDREA, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT? YES.

SO I KNOW THERE'S A ONE RESOURCE THAT'S ALSO IT'S PART OF SBA, BUT IT'S NOT WIDELY KNOWN IS SCORE.

SO SCORE IS RETIRED EXECUTIVE RETIRED ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE WANTING TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS START UP THEIR BUSINESS OR HELP THEM IN THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, EVEN IF IT'S FROM SELLING YOUR BUSINESS OR ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE.

SO THAT'S A THAT'S A RESOURCE THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT.

AND WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR GRANT IN 2017, IN 2018, WE REALLY PUSHED SCORE AS A RESOURCE TO HELP YOU BUILD YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT, HELP YOU BUILD THAT BUSINESS PLAN.

AND ANY PROJECTIONS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT SCORE, IT'S NOT WIDELY KNOWN.

SO THAT IS ONE THAT WE'VE LEARNED THAT WE PUSHED THROUGHOUT 2020 AS WELL.

JUST BECAUSE WHEN ALL THIS CARES ACT FUNDING OR ANYTHING THAT WAS FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, THE IDOL, THE PPE, YOU NEEDED THOSE DOCUMENTATION.

AND AS YOU SAW, I MEAN, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE MISSING A LOT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT APPLIED TO THE CRF ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE CORRECT DOCUMENTATION.

SO IT'S PUSHING SCORE WAS A REALLY HUGE DETAIL THAT WE LEARNED FROM OUR GRANT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH THROUGH 2020.

AND BJ, YOU KNOW, THE LEARNING PROCESS, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST FRUSTRATION WE HAVE IS, IS WE CAN AND IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A BRAG IF YOU CAN DO IT AND WE CAN LITERALLY HELP EVERYBODY OR ANYBODY, IF THEY'LL ASK US.

IT'S PEOPLE THAT ARE BETTER POSITIONED TO ASK THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO CAUSE THEM TO GROW.

WE LEARNED THAT DURING THE GRANT PROGRAM WE WERE REALLY FRUSTRATED WE.

I HAD HIGH HOPES THAT WE GO THROUGH HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN A HEARTBEAT, PEOPLE LOOKING FOR MONEY AND WHEN WE ONLY CAME UP WITH TWO HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.

AND WE LOOKED AT THE RESTRICTIONS.

YOU HAD TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE, HAVE A SET OF BOOKS THAT DEMONSTRATED THAT YOU HAD A TWENTY FIVE PERCENT LOSS OR ELSE YOU COULDN'T EVEN BEGIN THAT PROCESS.

AND SO THAT SPEAKS.

AND THIS IS PART OF WHAT ANDREA WAS SAYING EARLIER THAT SPEAKS TO A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.

OK, IF IF YOU CAN'T DEMONSTRATE THAT MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD SET OF BOOKS, THAT MEANS YOU'VE GOT TO YOU'VE GOT TO WORK ON THAT FUNDAMENTAL BUSINESS PRACTICE.

IF I COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND, I WOULD PUT JIM OAK IN CHARGE OF THE GATE AND HE WOULD NOT OPEN THE GATE TO LET ANYBODY COME IN FOR SECOND OCCUPANCY.

THAT DID NOT HAVE A SEAL OF APPROVAL FROM SOME SOURCE.

CHAMBER, SBA THAT SAID YOU WERE READY TO GO IN BUSINESS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERY SUCCESS STORY I CAN TELL YOU, TEN HORROR STORIES AND PEOPLE THAT SIGNED A LEASE, JUMPED IN THE MIDDLE OF IT AND AND WERE NOT PREPARED, LOST THEIR SAVINGS.

AND SO I KNOW THIS IS A LONG WAY AROUND OF ASKING YOUR QUESTIONS, BUT, YES, WE LEARNED EVERY TIME WE DO A LOT OF SURVEYS, WE DO A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

EVERY TIME WE HAVE A CONVERSATION, WE HAVE A WEEKLY MEETING, AN HOUR AND A HALF MEETING, STRUCTURED MEETING WITH THE STAFF EVERY SINGLE WEEK THAT GOES INTO EVERY ONE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

WE ARE TASKED AS A STAFF TO REACH OUT AT A MINIMUM OF ONE MEMBER PER STAFF PERSON PER WEEK.

WE'RE UP TO, WHAT ALEX? ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY OF THOSE CONTACTS SO FAR THIS YEAR.

WE TAKE THAT INFORMATION THAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THOSE THINGS.

SO THAT'S A THAT'S ANOTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITY THAT WE PLOW INTO THE SOLUTION [INAUDIBLE].

I WARNED YOU UP FRONT THAT MY ANSWERS AREN'T BRIEF.

I'M LOOKING AT THE MAYOR WHO'S GOING PAUL, THERE'S STILL OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

SO YEAH.

I BELIEVE KARINA HAS SOMETHING TO ADD.

YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED

[03:30:01]

THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AS WELL THROUGH THE GRANT PROCESS IS THAT WHEN COMPANIES DID APPLY AND THEY DID NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE THEY WERE MISSING DOCUMENTATION, THAT WAS UNDER ANDREA'S LEADERSHIP.

ONE OF THE STRENGTHS THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THEM TO MAYBE A CPA, YOU KNOW TO SOMEBODY THAT COULD HELP THEM HELP THEM GET THESE COMPILE THESE DOCUMENTS.

SO IT WASN'T JUST YOU DON'T QUALIFY.

YOU GOT DISCARDED.

YOU GOT THE HELP.

IF YOU NEED TO BE CONNECTED WITH SBDC ACCOUNTS.

YOU GOT CONNECTED WHILE WE WE'RE IN THAT TIME FRAME TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE TIME TO PROVIDE THOSE DOCUMENTS.

SO WE RESPONDED AND WE ALSO TRIED TO HELP GET THEM THAT RESOURCE THAT THEY THAT THEY NEEDED SO THEY COULD QUALIFY AND THEY COULD GET THE HELP.

MUCH BETTER.

WELL DONE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU BJ.

VERY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, WE APPEAR TO HAVE CLEARED THE QUEUE, IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAMBER STAFF? THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR UPDATE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE COLLECTIVELY.

ALL RIGHT, NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 4C.

[4C. Briefing/Update on CARES Funding Status]

BRIEFING UPDATE ON CARES FUNDING STATUS.

MR. WATSON.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

TONIGHT WE HAVE KAREN COOPERSTEIN, WHO'S OVER GRANTS AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF DALLAS.

AND SHE'S GOING TO PROVIDE A QUICK PRESENTATION OF TO KIND OF GO OVER A REVIEW OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE PARTNERED WITH THEM ON IN 2020 FROM OUR CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED FROM THE COUNTY AND THEN TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH COVID-19 FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATION ACT THAT WAS SIGNED IN LATE DECEMBER.

AND SINCE THE PARAMETERS ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT, WE WANTED TO PROVIDE WHAT THOSE DIFFERENCES ARE AND HOW YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM AND ALSO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ON THE OTHER PROGRAMS WE ARE OFFERING TO ASSIST IN RENTAL AND MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL SHARE MY SCREEN MAYOR AND TURN IT OVER TO KAREN.

THANKS, MATT, AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG EVENING ALREADY, SO I WILL TRY TO KEEP OUR PRESENTATION AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE.

OUR GOAL IS TO GIVE YOU CLARITY ON THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT GARLAND IS OFFERING TO ITS RESIDENTS AND GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO EFFECTIVELY FIELD QUESTIONS FROM ALL YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

SO IN TALKING WITH MATT AND LISTENING TO THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAD [INAUDIBLE], WHAT I THOUGHT WE WOULD DO IS DO A QUICK REVIEW OF THE LAST EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM WE PROVIDED IN 2020 AND THEN TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING CURRENTLY IN 2021.

I KNOW IT'S CONFUSING.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY COMING IN FROM THE GOVERNMENT, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S EASIEST FOR US TO DISTINGUISH THE TWO OF THEM BY THE ACTUAL CALENDAR YEAR THAT THEY WERE OFFERED.

SO LAST YEAR THROUGH THE CARES ACT, WE WERE AFFORDED SOME MONEY FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

WE OPENED THAT PROGRAM OFFICIALLY IN JULY AND THEN CLOSED IT IN NOVEMBER.

AND THAT WAS DUE TO THE COUNTY AND FEDERAL DEADLINE.

THAT WAS NOT DUE TO ANY OTHER REASON OTHER THAN THEY INITIALLY WHEN THEY STARTED THIS PROGRAM IN MARCH.

BEING OPTIMISTIC, I THINK ALL OF US THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE THE COVID WILL BE WRAPPED UP BY AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER AND WE WON'T NEED THE FUNDING THROUGH BEYOND THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT THE CASE AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

BUT LAST YEAR'S PROGRAM BASICALLY RAN FROM JULY THROUGH NOVEMBER.

THAT PROGRAM PROVIDED UP TO SIX MONTHS SUPPORT AS LONG AS THE RESIDENTS WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE A PROOF OF NEED.

AND THAT WAS FOR RENT OR MORTGAGE AND OR UTILITY ASSISTANCE.

THE PRIMARY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAD TO LIVE IN GARLAND, BUT YOU COULD NOT LIVE IN A FAMILY OWNED UNIT OR PUBLIC HOUSING.

YOU HAD TO BE ABLE TO PROVE SOME FORM OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DUE TO COVID-19 AND YOU HAD TO BE AT OR BELOW ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY PERCENT OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

SO IN THOSE COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE OVER SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN ASSISTANCE [INAUDIBLE] THE APPLICATIONS WE RECEIVED, WE RECEIVED OVER FOUR HUNDRED.

WE ONLY PROCESSED THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO DUE TO THE DEADLINE UPCOMING.

OUT OF THOSE, WE APPROVED ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF THOSE WITH AN AVERAGE ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO THE RESIDENT A LITTLE BIT OVER FORTY ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

AND JUST FOR A POINT OF REFERENCE, CATHOLIC CHARITIES WAS RUNNING PROGRAMS FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CITIES, AS WELL AS DALLAS COUNTY AND COLLIN COUNTY.

[03:35:02]

THE AVERAGE APPROVAL RATE WAS FORTY NINE POINT TWO FIVE PERCENT.

SO GARLAND WAS SLIGHTLY ABOVE THAT.

IN TERMS OF DECLINES, WHICH WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, WE DECLINED APPROXIMATELY 50 PERCENT OF THE CASES, TOO, AND NOT UNLIKE WHAT THE CHAMBER JUST PRESENTED TO YOU, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF FOLKS THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS TO US IN A TIMELY MANNER DESPITE MULTIPLE REQUESTS.

SO EVERY SINGLE CASE THAT COMES IN TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS ASSIGNED ITS OWN CASE MANAGER, AND THAT PERSON HAS DIRECT CONTACT IMMEDIATELY WITH THE APPLICANT.

AND THEIR JOB IS TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH CLIENT AND TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THEM ELIGIBLE IN WHATEVER WAY IS POSSIBLE AND WITH IT WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF THE GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS.

SO THEY WILL EMAIL THEM, CALL THEM, TEXT THEM.

THEY TYPICALLY GIVE THEM ABOUT SEVEN DAYS TO RETURN ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED.

AND THEY WILL GO BACK AND FORTH MULTIPLE TIMES TRYING TO GET THEM TO TURN THOSE DOCUMENTS IN.

AND THEN 40 PERCENT OF THE CASES, WE SIMPLY DID NOT GET THOSE DOCUMENTS BACK.

OTHER REASONS FOR DECLINES INCLUDED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY FORM OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

WE GOT PEOPLE THAT WOULD REMEMBER BACK IN 2020 THE TERMS OF THE ELIGIBILITY TERMS WHERE YOU HAD TO BE IMPACTED BY COVID AS OF MARCH 2020 OR LATER.

SO WE WOULD HEAR FROM PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN UNEMPLOYED SINCE AUGUST OF 2019 AND WANTED TO GET COVID RELIEF AND OBVIOUSLY PER THE ELIGIBILITY THEY WERE JUST QUALIFIED OR THAT THEY WOULD GIVE US BANK STATEMENTS OR INCOME STATEMENTS OR PAY STUBS THAT SHOW THEY WERE MAKING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY DURING COVID THAT THEY WERE MAKING BEFORE COVID.

SO OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS NOT A DECLINE DUE TO COVID.

THE NEXT CATEGORY ARE FOLKS THAT DID NOT QUALIFY.

THERE WERE SOME RESTRICTIONS ABOUT IF YOU WERE ALREADY RECEIVING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM ANOTHER AGENCY LIKE DALLAS COUNTY OR SALVATION ARMY OR SOMEBODY ELSE THAT YOU COULDN'T, QUOTE, DOUBLE DIP, AND THAT WAS TO PROTECT THE FUNDS FOR THOSE WHO HAD NOT YET RECEIVED FUNDS.

WE ALSO, OF COURSE, GOT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT DID NOT LIVE IN GARLAND, DESPITE THE PRESCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE THAT SAYS, DO YOU LIVE IN GARLAND? AND WE HAD A NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT LIVED IN SECTION EIGHT HOUSING, WHICH WERE NOT UNDER THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING.

AND THEN THE FINAL CATEGORY, THERE WERE SOME THAT WITHDREW THEIR APPLICATIONS.

WHAT WE WOULD HEAR IS THEY WANTED TO PURSUE FUNDING FROM ANOTHER AGENCY OR THEY HAD ALREADY LEFT THE APARTMENT OF THEIR OWN VOLITION.

AND SO THEREFORE, THEY DIDN'T THEY WERE NO LONGER SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM GARLAND.

SO.

ANY QUESTIONS ON LAST YEAR'S PROGRAM? I DON'T THINK I SEE ANY.

OH, WE DO, WE HAVE ONE.

COUNCILMAN MCNEAL.

[INAUDIBLE] GO AHEAD.

I'M SORRY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

MS. COOPERSTEIN.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

AND I GUESS AND I GUESS I'M HOPING I'M NOT BEING NAïVE HERE, BUT IF I'M THINKING COVID IMPACTED PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY LAST YEAR.

RIGHT.

AND WHAT TYPES OF HARDSHIPS WERE BEING CONSIDERED OR WHAT WOULD THOSE METRICS THAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT TO DETERMINE ACTUAL HARDSHIPS? SO THEY WERE ALLOWED TO PROVIDE US WITH INFORMATION EITHER THEY HAD REDUCED INCOME OR HOURS DUE TO BEING FURLOUGHED OR ACTUALLY BEING TERMINATED AS A RESULT OF COVID.

THEY COULD ALSO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY HAD INCREASED CHILD CARE EXPENSES.

SAY, FOR INSTANCE, SOMEBODY LOST THEIR JOB AND THE KIDS WERE OUT OF SCHOOL AND THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND A JOB, BUT THEY NEEDED TO PAY FOR CHILD CARE.

AND ALSO WE ACCEPTED ANY KIND OF MEDICAL, INCREASED MEDICAL EXPENSES DUE TO COVID.

I THINK EARLY ON THERE WAS A LOT OF GRAY AREA, TO BE HONEST.

I THINK AS YOU GET INTO NOVEMBER, I THINK CERTAINLY THIS YEAR NOW I THINK YOU CAN SAY WITHOUT ANY QUESTION, ALMOST EVERYBODY'S BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.

BUT I THINK EARLY ON THE RESTRICTIONS WERE PRETTY CLEAR ON WHAT IS AND ISN'T ACCEPTABLE.

AND SO PEOPLE ARE PROVIDING US PAYSTUBS.

AND THE PAYSTUBS HAD NOT CHANGED PRE COVID VERSUS DURING COVID AND THEY HAD NO ADDITIONAL EXPENSES, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO DECLINE THAT CASE.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? RIGHT.

AND SO I GUESS I GUESS THOSE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU DESCRIBED THAT THOSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN READILY AVAILABLE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, PAYSTUBS EVEN THOUGH MOST PEOPLE GET DIRECT DEPOSIT THESE DAYS, OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN GO OUT AND PULL DOWN A PDF OF THE PAY STUB.

SO THOSE DOCUMENTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN READILY AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS.

[03:40:01]

IT WASN'T AS IF THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE FROM 50 YEARS AGO THAT WAS IN, YOU KNOW, GRANDMA'S SHOE BOX UNDER THE BED SOMEWHERE.

NO AND WHEREVER WE COULD.

WE TRIED TO BE VERY WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON CLIENT SERVICE.

SO WE WOULD WORK WITH THEM.

WE WOULD PROVIDE THEM.

WE SAID, COULD YOU GO BACK TO YOUR EMPLOYER AND JUST GET THEM TO WRITE A LETTER THAT SAID YOU WERE TERMINATED BECAUSE OF COVID? AND THEY SAID, WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.

SO WE WOULD PROVIDE A TEMPLATE OF A LETTER THEY COULD ACTUALLY HAND DELIVER TO THEIR EMPLOYER.

HE WOULD SIGN IT AND THEY COULD TAKE A PICTURE WITH THEIR PHONE AND TEXT IT BACK TO US.

AND THEN WE WOULD UPLOAD IT.

WHERE WE DID GET INTO TROUBLE, WHERE PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY HAD BEEN COVID IMPACTED.

BUT WHEN WE ACTUALLY SPOKE TO THE EMPLOYER, THEY SAID, WELL, THEY WERE FIRED BECAUSE THEY JUST NEVER SHOWED UP.

[INAUDIBLE] INTERESTING.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO WALK A REALLY FINE LINE BETWEEN AND WE HAVE AMAZING CASE MANAGERS WHO ARE DOING GREAT WORK.

BUT WE HAVE TO WALK A FINE LINE BETWEEN STICKING TO THE REGULATIONS, TRYING TO BE UNDERSTANDING AND HELP PEOPLE GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GET, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE TRYING TO GAME THE SYSTEM.

AND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON THE HOOK, YOU'RE ON THE HOOK.

THE COUNTY IS ON THE HOOK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CHECK ALL THE BOXES.

RIGHT.

AND I TOTALLY CONCUR WITH YOU BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, KEEP UP WITH THE NEWS.

YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME HUGE CORPORATIONS THAT GAMED THE SYSTEM AS WELL.

SO DEFINITELY CONCUR WITH YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL TAKE OPPORTUNITIES AS THEY CAN.

I APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU HANDLED THAT WHEN YOU PROVIDED THEM THE TEMPLET, BECAUSE SOME YOU KNOW, SOME INDIVIDUALS NEED THAT ADDITIONAL CARE BY WHICH, OK, HERE'S A TEMPLATE TO FOLLOW.

HERE'S A MODEL TO FOLLOW SO THANK YOU FOR ADOPTING THAT AND ASSISTING.

WELL AND EVEN IF PEOPLE CAME TO US AND SAID, I DON'T I DON'T HAVE A FORMAL DOCUMENT, IF THEY COULD WRITE OUT IN THEIR OWN WORDS WHAT THE IMPACT WAS AND SIGN IT, BASICALLY SIGN A STATEMENT CERTIFYING THAT THIS IS REAL AND UNDERSTANDING THAT IF THEY SIGN A DOCUMENT SAYING IT'S REAL AND IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS NOT REAL, THAT THEY'RE SUBJECT TO PROSECUTION.

SO, I MEAN, WE REALLY I MEAN, I CAN'T EVEN SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE CASE MANAGER.

THEY GO EVERY MILE POSSIBLE TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THESE FOLKS ARE GETTING THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

SO NOW WE'RE IN 2021 AND THERE'S A NEW ROUND, THERE ARE NEW ROUNDS OF FUNDING.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS TAKING THE LEAD ON COVID RELATED RENT.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS RENT ONLY THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR IT WAS RENT AND MORTGAGE, RENT ONLY AND OR UTILITIES ASSISTANCE.

SECONDARILY, GARLAND HAS SALVATION ARMY, WHICH IS ABLE TO PROVIDE COVID RELATED MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS NON COVID ASSISTANCE AND THEN UNDER 1 ROOF AND TRANSCEND STEM ARE PROVIDED RENT, PROVIDING RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR CURRENTLY HOMELESS FAMILIES.

AND I DON'T KNOW, MATT, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANY OF THE OTHER THREE BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR PROGRAM.

NO, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT WHILE CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS NO LONGER DOING MORTGAGES, THIS IS JUST FOR THOSE LISTENING, THERE IS MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE STILL AVAILABLE FROM THE SALVATION ARMY.

THE PARAMETERS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES.

IT'S STILL 80 PERCENT OF MEDIAN INCOME, WHICH KAREN WILL TALK ABOUT IS THE PARAMETERS FOR THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES'S RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

AND THE ASSISTANCE IS LIMITED TO THREE MONTHS AT FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MONTH.

AND I ALSO WOULD ADD THAT FOR ANYONE LISTENING TO VISIT GARLANDTX.GOV AND CLICK ON RECOVERY RESOURCES TO SEE ALL OTHER AVAILABLE COVID-19 ASSISTANCE THAT WE HAVE.

SO YOUR CURRENT RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THIS IS 2021, IS BEING ADMINISTERED AGAIN BY OUR ORGANIZATION, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, IT'S RENT ONLY AND ALL UTILITIES.

SO THAT CAN BE THAT INCLUDES NOW WATER, PHONE, GAS, ELECTRIC.

AND UNLIKE THE OTHER PROGRAMS LAST YEAR AND SOME THIS YEAR THAT ARE THREE OR SIX MONTHS TO SUPPORT, THIS WILL PROVIDE UP TO 12 MONTHS OF SUPPORT AND THAT CAN BE IN ARREARS, MEANING WE CAN WIPE OUT YOUR RENT OWED FOR THE LAST YEAR OR CAN BE PARTIAL IN ARREARS AND PARTIAL CURRENT AND GOING FORWARD.

SO WE JUST OPENED THIS PROGRAM EXACTLY A MONTH AGO AND THIS WILL RUN THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, ASSUMING THAT WE EXPEND SIXTY FIVE PERCENT OF THE FUNDS BY THE SEPTEMBER

[03:45:01]

2021 DEADLINE.

THE CURRENT ALLOCATION IS SIX POINT THREE MILLION DOLLARS.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ARE DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR.

AGAIN, YOU NEED TO BE A GARLAND RESIDENCE, GARLAND RESIDENT AND YOU NEED TO HAVE PROOF OF A COVID-19 IMPACT.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS YOU NEED TO BE AT OR BELOW 80 PERCENT OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME AS OPPOSED TO ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY PERCENT.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO BE TARGETING A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT IS SLIGHTLY LOWER INCOME THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR, WHICH BRINGS SOME CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE AND WORKING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN COMPLETE THIS PROGRAM AND FILL OUT ALL THE PAPERWORK.

I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH THIS REALLY QUICKLY.

THE PROCESS IS THEY CAN GO WHAT WE HAVE PURCHASED A ZOOM GRANTS PLATFORM THAT MANAGES ALL OF THE APPLICATION INFORMATION ONLINE.

NOW, GIVEN THAT AND I'LL MENTION THIS LATER, WE CAN WORK WITH PEOPLE OVER THE PHONE AND WE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY AT YOUR CENTRAL LIBRARY TWO DAYS A WEEK TO HELP PEOPLE GO THROUGH THE APPLICATIONS.

BUT ESSENTIALLY THEY FILL OUT ALL THE PAPERWORK AND UPLOAD ALL DOCUMENTS AND HIT SUBMIT.

AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENS, OUR PROJECT MANAGER AND YOU HAVE A PROJECT MANAGER ASSIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO GARLAND AND NO OTHER CITY.

THEY WILL ASSIGN THAT APPLICATION TO A CASE MANAGER.

RIGHT THEN THE APPLICANT WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL THAT SAYS YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND IS BEING REVIEWED AND YOUR CASE MANAGER WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH YOU.

THE CASE MANAGER GOES THROUGH THE REVIEW OF ALL THE DOCUMENTS AGAINST ALL THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, AND THEN WE'LL CONTACT THE CLIENT DIRECTLY TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE MISSING AND YOU'RE MISSING SOME PAY STUBS OR I NEED I NEED A COPY OF YOUR LEASE THAT SHOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN YOUR APARTMENT OR WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

AND THEY WILL TRY BY PHONE, EMAIL AND TEXT MESSAGE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE CLIENT.

AND TYPICALLY, WE'LL GIVE THEM ABOUT SEVEN DAYS TO GET THOSE DOCUMENTS IN ORDER AND THEY WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH THEM DURING THAT SEVEN DAY PERIOD.

WE DON'T WANT TO DENY SOMEBODY BECAUSE THEY'VE TAKEN TOO LONG TO GET THE DOCUMENTS IN.

AND IF SOMEBODY COMES BACK TO US AND SAYS, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU SAID NO, BUT NOW I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTS AND IT'S TEN DAYS, WE'LL REOPEN THE CASE, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM IS WE CAN'T CARRY, YOU KNOW, 50 CASES FOR MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS AT A TIME AND STILL BE ABLE TO PROCESS NEW CASES.

SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY GET DENIED AND THEY COME BACK TO US.

ABSOLUTELY, WE REOPEN THE CASE AND THEN PROCESS THE CASE.

THE CASE MANAGER WILL PROVIDE A TRIAL DECISION FOR EITHER APPROVAL OR DENIAL AND THE AMOUNT.

AND THEN IT GOES TO AN APPROVER.

THE PROJECT MANAGER WHO WILL PROVIDE THE FINAL DECISION.

AT THAT POINT WE'LL NOTIFY THE LANDLORD AND THE CLIENT OF THE DECISION.

AND THEN A CHECK REQUEST IS CUT AND THE ACCOUNTANT CUTS THE CHECK WITHIN TWENTY FOUR HOURS.

THIS WHOLE PROCESS IN A PERFECT WORLD TAKES TWO TO THREE WEEKS.

IT GOES MUCH FASTER IF WE GET ALL THE DOCUMENTS.

IT GOES MUCH SLOWER.

IF IT'S CONSTANTLY GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CLIENT TO GET THE DOCUMENTS GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE LANDLORDS TO GET THE DOCUMENTS.

WE CAN DO THEM VERY QUICKLY IF WE GET A FULL APPLICATION SUBMITTED.

BUT I WOULD GUESS PROBABLY THAT'S NOT THE CASE MORE THAN FIVE OR 10 PERCENT OF THE TIME.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH THAT HAPPENS.

SO YOUR CURRENT STATS AND I PULLED THOSE PULLED THESE FOR YOU VERY EARLY THIS MORNING, SO I KNOW I ACTUALLY KNOW FOR A FACT THEY'VE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE'VE HAD 92 APPLICATIONS FULLY COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED.

WE'VE APPROVED FORTY SIX OF THOSE TO DATE.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, YOUR NUMBER IS OVER TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND AS OF RIGHT NOW.

BUT AS OF THIS MORNING, IT WAS ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY EIGHT THOUSAND.

TWENTY PERCENT OF THOSE ARE 80 PERCENT AMI OR BELOW AND 80 PERCENT ARE 50 PERCENT AMI BELOW.

I DON'T LIKE SEEING THESE STATISTICS OTHER THAN WE KNOW THAT WE'RE HITTING THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO BE TARGETING.

SO THAT'S GREAT.

THERE'S THIRTY SEVEN CASES IN PROCESS OF THIS BACK AND FORTH THAT I TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST SLIDE.

AND WE'VE HAD NINE DECLINE CASES SO FAR.

WE HAVE IN THE IN THE QUE 80 CASES THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN SUBMITTED.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN SOMEBODY OPENS A LOG IN AND THEY START PLAYING AROUND ON THE APPLICATION AND THEN MAYBE THEY UPLOAD ONE DOCUMENT AND THEY WANT TO COME BACK TO IT, THAT'S CALLED INCOMPLETE.

AND WE CAN'T ACTUALLY EVALUATE A CASE UNTIL THEY HIT SUBMIT.

BUT IN BUT IN THE INTERIM, WE'RE ABLE TO GO BACK AND EMAIL THEM AND SAY, HEY, DO YOU NEED HELP WITH THIS? CAN WE HELP YOU? DO YOU WANT TO COME MEET WITH US? WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU COMPLETE THIS AND HIT SUBMIT? SO JUST KNOW THAT THAT GROUP IS ALWAYS IN CYCLE.

OF THE DECLINE CASES.

[03:50:01]

AGAIN, THIS IS THIS IS TRACKING ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS WE SHOWED YOU FROM LAST YEAR, WE HAD FIVE THAT DIDN'T RESPOND TO REPEATED EMAILS.

WE HAD TWO WITHDRAW APPLICATIONS, ONE THAT LIVED IN MESQUITE INSTEAD OF GARLAND, AND THEN ONE PERSON WHO WAS CURRENT ON ALL OF THEIR RENT AND UTILITIES.

SO THEY'RE TECHNICALLY NOT ELIGIBLE.

SO THERE'S TWO FORMS OF DOCUMENTATION JUST TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS COMPLICATED FOR FOLKS TO APPLY AND WHY WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME WORKING WITH THE CLIENTS, THEY NEED TO PROVIDE PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION, THE PROOF OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND OCCUPANCY, BECAUSE THEIR AMI IS DETERMINED, HE AMI LEVEL IS DETERMINED ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THAT HOUSEHOLD.

SO ONE PERSON APPLYING FOR A HOUSEHOLD OF FOUR HAS A VERY DIFFERENT 80 PERCENT AMI THRESHOLD THAN SOMEBODY WHO'S A SINGLE PERSON OR SOMEBODY WITH SEVEN PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HOUSEHOLD WITH THEM.

WE NEED PROOF OF THEIR ANNUAL INCOME AND VERIFICATION THAT THE INCOME LEVEL MEETS THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

WE DO THIS IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.

THERE'S THEIR IRS FORM 1040, PAY STUBS, BANK STATEMENTS.

W-2S, 1099S.

WE ALSO NEED THE PROOF OF COVID IMPACT.

THAT COULD BE AN UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT LETTER, TERMINATION OR FURLOUGH LETTER FROM THE EMPLOYER.

AGAIN, WE CAN HELP THEM GET THAT FROM AN EMPLOYER.

THERE IS AN AFFIDAVIT THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO SIGN IS A SELF CERTIFICATION OF WHY THEY HAVE HAD A COVID IMPACT.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S A SIGNED DOCUMENT THAT WILL TELL US THAT THEY'VE READ IT AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE CERTIFYING THAT THEY WERE IMPACTED BY COVID AND THEY STATE THE REASON WHY.

AND THEN THEY SIGN THAT DOCUMENT.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WE NEED COPIES OF ALL OF THEIR PAST DUE BILLS, THEIR LEDGER FROM THE LANDLORD, ANY KIND OF EVICTION DOCUMENTS, IF THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE TEXAS EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM, THEIR UTILITY BILLS, ET CETERA.

SO ON THE LANDLORD SIDE, I THINK ONE OF THE THE CHALLENGES WITH THIS PROGRAM IS THAT PEOPLE SAY THE LANDLORDS CAN APPLY FOR THEIR TENANTS.

IN REALITY, THEY REALLY CAN'T, BECAUSE ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION THAT I JUST SHOWED YOU HAS TO BE ON THE APPLICATION.

SO THERE'S NO WAY FOR A LANDLORD TO APPLY FOR A RESIDENT.

THEY CAN HELP A RESIDENT APPLY.

THEY CAN HELP THE RESIDENT GET ALL THAT INFORMATION.

BUT AT A MINIMUM, THEY CAN HELP BY PROVIDING THE CURRENT LEASE, IDENTIFYING ALL THE HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.

THAT LEDGER STATEMENT THAT SHOWS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE MONTHS OF RENT THAT ARE PAST DUE, ALL THE LATE FEES, ALL THE UTILITY FEES, AND THEN WE NEED TO SIGNED W-9 FORM SO THAT WE CAN INITIATE PAYMENT DIRECTLY FROM US TO THE LANDLORD OR THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY.

AND THAT'S ALSO A REQUIREMENT.

WE'VE ACTUALLY RUN INTO A COUPLE FOLKS WHO DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE THAT.

I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE US WITH A W-9.

BUT WE'VE WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ASSOCIATE, THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OF GREATER DALLAS, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP DIRECTLY WITH SOME OF THE LANDLORDS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES ON OUR BEHALF TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION TO US.

THERE IS AN APPEALS PROCESS, SO IF YOU DO HEAR FROM A CONSTITUENT THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS NOT FAIR, IT WASN'T RIGHT, I WANT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY, THERE'S A PROCESS THAT THEY CAN GO THROUGH IF IT'S BASED ON INCOME ELIGIBILITY, WE CAN GO TRY TO RECERTIFY BASED ON WHAT THEY THEY PROVIDED US.

AND THEN WE'LL OBVIOUSLY INVOLVE THE CITY ON THAT.

WE HAVE WEEKLY CALLS WITH MATT TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE CALL GRAY CASES.

THOSE ARE CASES WHERE WE REALLY WANT TO DO OUR BEST TO PROVE THEM ELIGIBLE.

BUT THERE'S A QUESTION IN OUR MIND AND WE NEED VERIFICATION ON THE CITY'S PART.

SO THE CITY IS VERY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.

WE CAN ASK WE ASKED HOUSEHOLDS SUBMIT A WRITTEN COMPLAINT OR APPEAL TO OUR PROJECT MANAGER.

YOU KNOW WHAT DO YOU FEEL WAS WRONG IN THE DECISION? BECAUSE, AGAIN, IF THEY ARE DENIED, WE DO THEY DO GET AN EMAIL AND A CALL THAT SAYS YOU WERE DENIED BECAUSE X, Y AND Z.

AND THEN WE'LL REVIEW THE INFORMATION, WORK WITH MATT AND HIS TEAM AND PROVIDE A REVISED OR A FINAL DETERMINATION WITHIN 10 DAYS BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY FEELS LIKE THEY'VE BEEN WRONGED, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY GO BACK AND LOOK.

AND AGAIN, TO MY POINT EARLIER, IF THEY WERE DENIED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT RETURN THE DOCUMENTS IN TIME, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY REOPEN THE CASE AND PROCESS IT JUST AS WE WOULD WITH ANYBODY ELSE.

SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING FOR OUTREACH AND TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE, IT'S ON GARLAND'S WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA, CERTAINLY WE PUSH IT OUT WITH OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID DO IS WE SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY PARTICIPANT IN LAST YEAR'S PROGRAM, WHETHER THEY WERE APPROVED OR DECLINED, INVITING THEM TO APPLY AGAIN

[03:55:03]

BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN SOME FUNDING LAST YEAR, BUT NOW THEY'RE ELIGIBLE STILL IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT OR IF THEY HAVE CURRENT RENT THAT'S DUE, WE CAN HELP THEM.

AND FOR THOSE THAT HAD GOTTEN MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE, WE CAN REFER THEM TO SALVATION ARMY.

WE DID AN ORIENTATION AND TRAINING FOR LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY OWNERS THROUGH THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION VIA ZOOM ON FEBRUARY TWENTY FIFTH.

WE WERE ABLE TO KIND OF SORT OF DO A FIFTY THOUSAND FOOT LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS AND ANSWER ANY OF THEIR QUESTIONS.

AND WE DID THAT IN LATE FEBRUARY.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS IN GARLAND NOW FOUR TIMES A MONTH DOING FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS.

THIS HAS GROWN.

WE PURCHASED WE ARE THE LARGEST [INAUDIBLE], QUOTE UNQUOTE, RETAIL DISTRIBUTOR OF FOOD FOR THE NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK IN NORTH TEXAS.

SO WE HAVE THREE MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES AND A REFRIGERATED BOX TRUCKS THAT WE OWN AS CATHOLIC CHARITIES.

AND SO THOSE GO OUT TO 80 SOME ODD SITES A MONTH AND FOUR OF THOSE ARE IN GARLAND.

SO WE'RE GOING TO THE CESERA APARTMENTS, HOPE CLINIC, MONTCLAIR ESTATES AND GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC CHURCH.

EACH OF THOSE FOOD DROPS HAS ABOUT SIX THOUSAND POUNDS OF FOOD, SERVES ABOUT TWO HUNDRED TO THREE HUNDRED FAMILIES AT EACH DROP.

AND WE DO HAVE AVAILABILITY.

SO IF WE NEED TO INCREASE THAT.

WE CAN LOOK AT DOING THAT.

BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WE'RE ALREADY IN GARLAND AND WE USE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO HAND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM TO THEM.

AND THEN WE ALSO OFFER A HELPLINE, PHONE AND EMAIL WHERE WE CAN WALK PEOPLE THROUGH THE APPLICATION AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CASE MANAGER ON STAFF, ON SITE AT YOUR CENTRAL LIBRARY ON WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN, WE'LL HAVE A COMPUTER AND A SCANNER SO WE CAN HELP PEOPLE THROUGH THE APPLICATION.

SO HOW DO YOU ASSIST YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE RENTERS? KEY THING TO REMEMBER IS THE AMI INCOME LIMIT AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROCESS CAN TAKE TWO TO THREE WEEKS FROM SUBMISSION OF THE APPLICATION.

YOU CAN PROVIDE THE LINK TO THE APPLICATION.

AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE AN ACCESS TO A COMPUTER OR WI-FI, DIRECT THEM TO OUR HELPLINE OR HAVE THEM SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH US AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY.

AND IF YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE PROPERTY OWNERS, AGAIN, KEY ITEM, LANDLORDS CAN'T FILL OUT THE APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE TENANT WITHOUT ALL THE TENANTS REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AND THEN THE SAME THE REST OF THAT FOLLOWS THE SAME.

THEY HAVE TO BE INCOME ELIGIBLE PROCESS CAN TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS, GIVE THEM A LINK TO THE APPLICATION.

YOU KNOW, AND WHEN WE MET WITH THE APARTMENT OWNERS, WE SAID, IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN YOUR LEASING OFFICE AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP SOMEBODY ON A COMPUTER THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE A COMPUTER, YOU KNOW, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THE LANDLORDS GET PAID AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T GET EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES.

AND I THINK IT'S A WIN WIN FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

AND SO WE ALL JUST NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO ASSIST THOSE THAT ARE THAT ARE SEEKING SUPPORT.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM Y'ALL.

VERY GOOD AND IF YOU COULD, THERE WE GO.

COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU MS. COOPERSTEIN FOR YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

ONE, WOULD YOU SHARE YOUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE WITH US? CAN WE GET.

GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT, YOUR SCHEDULE.

YES, SIR.

I WILL SEND THAT I KNOW WE HAVE ONE COMING UP ON FRIDAY AND WE ONE ON THE TWENTY FIFTH.

I WROTE IT DOWN AND NOW I HAVE TOO MANY PILES OF PAPER ON MY DESK, SO.

OK.

YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO, IF YOU CAN SHARE THAT SCHEDULE WITH HIM I'D APPRECIATE IT.

ABSOLUTELY.

I'D BE PLEASED TO DO SO.

OK, MY, SECOND QUESTION IS, DO THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS IMPOSE ANY KIND OF PERFORMANCE MATRIX ON CATHOLIC CHARITIES REGARDING DISTRIBUTION OF THESE FUNDS? SO ANY KIND OF? COULD YOU EXPLAIN FURTHER? IS THERE ANY KIND OF PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT SAY DOLLAR AMOUNT, PERCENTAGE OF THE THE ALLOCATED AMOUNT HAS TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN A GIVEN INA GIVEN TIME IN A GIVEN CYCLE? UNDER THE CURRENT REGULATIONS, YES.

THERE IS A WELL, SO WHAT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES IS CLAW BACK THE FUNDS THAT ARE NOT USED.

SO IN THE CASE OF LAST YEAR'S PROGRAM, IF YOU HAD NOT EXPENDED FULLY EXPENDED THE FUNDS BY DECEMBER, BY THE END OF DECEMBER, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO RETURN THEM IN MOST CASES TO DALLAS COUNTY, WHICH THEN WENT BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND I WILL SAY IN MOST CASES, EXCEPT FOR GARLAND, WE HAD TO RETURN FUNDS

[04:00:03]

SIMPLY BECAUSE MOST OF THESE PROGRAMS GOT UP AND RUNNING IN JULY AND AUGUST AND YOU HAD BARELY TWO OR THREE OR FOUR MONTHS TO GIVE OUT ALL THE MONEY AND YOU SIMPLY COULD NOT GET THE MONEY OUT THAT FAST.

THIS TERM OF FUNDING, YOU NEED TO HAVE SIXTY FIVE PERCENT OF THE FUNDS COMMITTED, MEANING EITHER DOLED OUT OR READY TO DOLE OUT BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER, OR ELSE THEY CLAW BACK THE REMAINDER.

AND SO I THINK WHERE WE ARE THIS TIME AROUND, WE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

WE ALREADY HAVE THE CASE MANAGERS IN PLACE.

WE HAVE THE SYSTEM IN PLACE.

WE KNEW WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS WERE.

WE HAD BILINGUAL STAFF ON SITE AND IN OUR OFFICES AND ON THE PHONE.

WE KNOW WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE THING THAT BREAKS MY HEART EVERY DAY IS LISTENING TO EVERY CASE OF WHY PEOPLE ARE IN A SITUATION THEY'RE IN.

AND THEY COME THEY GO TO THE APPLICATION AND THINK, IF I JUST TYPE IN MY NAME AND MY ADDRESS AND WHAT I NEED, I'M GOING TO GET A CHECK FOR TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT LETTING US DO THAT.

AND SO IT'S FRUSTRATING US.

SO WE'RE PUTTING EVERY ASSET IN PLACE THAT WE CAN TO HELP PEOPLE THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND GET THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, YOU DID.

THANK YOU.

YES, MA'AM, YOU DID.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS, MR. MAYOR.

ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER MCNEAL.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU, MS. COOPERSTEIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANKS SO MUCH.

I KNOW IT'S A LATE NIGHT, BUT THANKS FOR COMING EXPLAINING THIS TO US.

AS YOU KNOW, AS WE RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM OUR COMMUNITIES, WE CAN DEFINITELY DIRECT THEM INTO WITH ACCURATE INFORMATION.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO US TO PROVIDE US THIS INFORMATION.

ABSOLUTELY HAPPY TO DO SO.

IT'S BEEN OUR PLEASURE TO WORK WITH GARLAND FOR THE LAST 10 MONTHS.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FINISHING OUT THE YEAR STRONG FOR TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.

VERY GOOD.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE CLEARED THE QUE.

MATT, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD OR BRING IT ALL IN? JUST LIKE TO THANK KAREN FOR PUTTING THE PRESENTATION TOGETHER AND MEETING WITH US TONIGHT.

YOU BET.

ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL, WE HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE WE PROBABLY NEED TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO WITH OUR EVENING.

SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK RECESS.

LET'S HAVE EVERYBODY BACK ONLINE AT 10:25 PLEASE.

10:25.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME BACK.

WE ARE COMING BACK FROM RECESS AT THE MARCH 15, 2021 WORK SESSION FOR THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL.

WE ARE AT ITEM 4D AMENDMENTS TO THE GARLAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REGARDING HOME

[4D. Amendments to the Garland Development Code (GDC) Regarding Home Occupations]

OCCUPATIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH.

DO YOU WANT TO START US OUT ON THIS? CERTAINLY MAYOR.

AND FIRST, LET ME THANK THE COUNCIL FOR HAVING THIS BACK.

I KNOW WE HAD MENTIONED IN THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO GET THIS THING MOVING FORWARD.

I HAD SOME TIME TO LOOK AT IT.

I HAD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL SET OF AMENDMENTS.

AND SO I WANTED TO BRING THAT BACK TO WORK SESSION INSTEAD OF JUST SPRINGING IT ON YOU GUYS ON THE DAIS TOMORROW.

AND REALLY, I CAN SUM THINGS MY AMENDMENTS UP INTO THREE PARTS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE THE ORIGINAL [INAUDIBLE] IN FRONT OF YOU OR JUST THE AMENDED COPY THAT WAS PRESENT IN THE PACKET.

BUT I'LL JUST GO SECTION BY SECTION REAL QUICK.

WE CAN KNOCK THESE OUT.

SECTION C SEVEN.

WE'VE GOT SOME DIFFERENT LANGUAGE IN THE VERY LAST PART OF THAT SENTENCE.

WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE CHANGED THAT LANGUAGE TO MATCH WHAT'S IN OUR NOISE ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW.

THE LANGUAGE THAT HAD BEEN SUGGESTED, I THOUGHT WAS A LITTLE TOO SUBJECTIVE AND LEFT TOO MUCH IN THE HANDS OF PERHAPS A NEIGHBOR THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SAME JUDGMENT AS ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS.

SO THIS JUST MIRRORS THE LANGUAGE.

IT'S IN THE NOISE ORDINANCE AND GIVES US A CONSISTENT STANDARD TO JUDGE THESE THINGS BY.

THAT ONE VOTE IS PRETTY TRIVIAL.

D FOUR, WHICH WAS MARKED ORIGINALLY AS LIMOUSINE OR TAXI SERVICE.

THIS IS ALREADY COVERED BY THE PARKING ORDINANCE.

SO THERE'S ONE REASON I WANTED TO TAKE IT OUT OF HERE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT

[04:05:01]

TWO DEPARTMENTS BOTH CODE AND THE MARSHALS TRYING TO ENFORCE THE SAME SET OF POLICIES AND POTENTIALLY TICKETING THE SAME VEHICLE FOR TWO DIFFERENT REASONS.

I REALLY FOR AN OCCUPATION THAT'S REALLY CONDUCTED AWAY FROM THE HOME, I THINK OUR PARKING ORDINANCE REALLY COVERS THIS WELL.

AND SO TO ELIMINATE THE ENFORCEMENT CONFUSION AND BECAUSE I THINK IT JUST DOESN'T REALLY FIT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE, I'VE ASKED TO REMOVE THAT.

THE LAST PIECE IS A LITTLE MORE, I DON'T WANT TO SAY SUBTLE, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE MORE TO IT.

THE WAY THAT I INTERPRETED COUNCIL'S CONCERNS GOING INTO THIS WAS THAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT ACTIVITY CONDUCTED IN THE HOME THAT WAS NONRESIDENTIAL IN NATURE AND ON A LOT OF ON SITE MATERIAL STORAGE.

AND I WANT TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THOSE ACTIVITIES AND A PERSON WHO'S JUST TAKING THEIR TOOLS OF THEIR TRADE TO A JOB SITE.

IF I PUT A HAMMER IN MY TRUNK AND BEFORE MOVING INTO A REMOTE SITE, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM STORING ALL THE ROOFING MATERIAL IN MY DRIVEWAY AND LOADING IT UP AT FIVE A.M.

EVERY MORNING.

AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS IF WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THIS PATH, I'D LIKE TO SEE COUNCIL START FROM A POSITION OF ENFORCING MATERIALS AND ON SITE JOB ACTIVITY.

AND THEN WE WE FEEL IT'S NECESSARY IN THE FUTURE WE CAN TO LOOK AT EXTENDING THE ORDINANCE TO TOOLS.

THE COMPARISON IS, YOU KNOW, I CAN LOAD A WEED EATER INTO MY TRUNK AND GO AND WEED EAT A YARD.

I CAN PUT A LAPTOP IN MY CAR AND GO CONFIGURE A SERVER.

TO ME, THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE IN THOSE TWO JOBS.

NOW, IF I HAVE A 30 FOOT TALL STACK OF SERVERS IN MY BACKYARD THAT I'M LOADING UP EVERY MORNING TO TAKE TO A JOB SITE, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE TOOLS THAT A PERSON USES TO DO A JOB THAT'S OFF SITE OR EXCUSE ME, I DO WANT TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN TOOLS YOU TAKE TO THE JOB SITE VERSUS EITHER MATERIAL STORAGE OR DOING THE JOB LITERALLY IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

AND I THINK IT LEAVES THE BULK OF THE ORDINANCE INTACT, WEAKENS THAT A LITTLE BIT AND PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT OF DELINEATION BETWEEN THOSE THINGS.

AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT MAYOR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

VERY GOOD.

MR. [INAUDIBLE] DO YOU HAVE YOU KNOW, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO ALL OF THAT? I'M JUST HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND WRITE WHATEVER Y'ALL ASK ME TO WRITE.

VERY GOOD.

COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENTS AND THE WORK ON THAT, I STILL HAVE SOME CONCERNS BECAUSE IT STILL DOESN'T SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I SEE, PARTICULARLY IF WE LIMIT THE STORAGE.

IF IT'S IF IT'S STILL IF IT'S WITHIN VIEW OF IT, I JUST THINK YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STORE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.

NOT JUST NOT JUST ONES THAT ARE IN THE PUBLIC VIEW, BUT YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STORE, SO YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STORE ONE HUNDRED FENCE PANELS IN YOUR BACKYARD.

I MEAN, THE 30 SERVERS, IF YOU CAN'T SEE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE BACKYARD, THAT'S OK UNDER THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

AND MY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IT'S THE IT'S NOT THAT IT'S NOT THE VISUAL PIECE OF IT THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.

IT'S THE LOADING OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THE LOADING OF THE FENCE PANELS THAT, YOU KNOW, 4:30 IN THE MORNING OR FIVE IN THE MORNING, AND THEN DRIVING THEM CLACKETY CLACK DOWN THE ALLEY.

SO.

YOU KNOW, I'D BE HAPPY WITH SOMETHING THAT'S PUT THAT IN SOME WAY SO THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE DECISION THAT COUNCIL CAME TO, THE DECISION CAME THROUGH LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, REGARDING VEHICLES AND WHERE VEHICLES COULD BE STORED OR SEEN.

BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, I THINK YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STORE THEM ANYWHERE ON SITE FOR THE OPERATION OF A BUSINESS.

I MEAN, YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD A BAG WALL AT YOUR HOUSE OR SOMETHING.

YEAH, I GET IT.

THAT'S BUT THAT'S A THAT'S A SHORT TERM SITUATION RELATIVELY.

BUT YOU'RE RUNNING A CONSTRUCTION.

AND I HAVE PEOPLE WHO RUN THESE KINDS OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES AT THEIR HOMES.

AND I MEAN, I GET A GUY WHO BOUGHT THE LOT NEXT TO HIM AND TOOK THE LOT, TOOK IT DOWN, PUT UP A BIG FENCE.

AND NOW HE'S YOU KNOW, HE STORES.

YOU KNOW, NOT JUST CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, AND THIS IS ANOTHER, STORES LIKE BACKHOES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

ALL KINDS OF STUFF BACK THERE.

SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT ONE INSTANCE OF THAT SHOULD MAKE US NECESSARILY CHANGE THE LAW.

BUT AT LEAST WITH REGARD TO MATERIALS, ANY OUTSIDE STORAGE, YOU CAN STORE THEM IN YOUR GARAGE, I GUESS, OR LOAD THEM IN YOUR GARAGE.

MAYBE.

I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I HAVE OR WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE FLORISTS.

YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A NEIGHBOR WHO'S A FLORIST WHO BRINGS US WEDDING ARRANGEMENTS.

[04:10:01]

AND, YOU KNOW, I SUPPOSE IF HE WAS DOING THEM OUTSIDE MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY BE A BAD THING, BUT IT WOULD BE CAPTURED BY THIS.

MAYBE THAT'S NOT CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND THAT BALANCE.

AND I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH'S EFFORTS TO FIND THE BALANCE THERE.

AND I APOLOGIZE, MR. SMITH, IF YOU COULD MAYBE PUNCH IT, WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT YOU INDICATED WAS A CHANGE? I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IT.

I APOLOGIZE, BUT I HAD A COMMENT ON THAT.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

SECTION C SEVEN WAS MIRRORING THE LANGUAGE FOUND IN THE NOISE ORDINANCE.

YEAH.

I MEAN, IF THE CITY ATTORNEY IS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, I ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE TO ME, THAT'S NOT A CLEAR, BRIGHT LINE EITHER, YOU KNOW, UNREASONABLY DISTURBED.

SO IS BECAUSE.

I MEAN, I GUESS IF WE ALREADY HAVE THE BLANKET BAN ON MATERIALS OR WHATNOT, THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO SAY IT DOESN'T UNREASONABLY DISTURB.

I MEAN, MY GUY WHO RAN A CABINET MANUFACTURING FACILITY, SWORE UP AND DOWN THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SMELLS WEREN'T BAD.

THE VARNISH I MEAN, HE HARDLY EVER USED ADHESIVES.

AND YET IF YOU TALK TO EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY WERE YOU KNOW, THEY WEREN'T VERY PLEASED WITH IT.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE ENFORCEABILITY.

AND IF MR. BARKER IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE ENFORCEABILITY OF THAT KIND OF PROVISION THAT WE DON'T GET JERKED AROUND ON TOO MUCH.

WE FREQUENTLY PROSECUTE NOISE VIOLATIONS IN MUNICIPAL COURT.

AND THE COURT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MAKING A DETERMINATION ON WHAT A PERSON OF ORDINARY SENSIBILITY, PERSONS OF ORDINARY SENSIBILITIES ARE.

AND SO THAT HASN'T REALLY BEEN AN ISSUE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COURT DOES DO IS THAT THEY IT TAKES THAT LANGUAGE IN IT.

AND WHAT THEY'VE TRADITIONALLY DONE, AT LEAST HISTORICALLY IN THE LAST 12 YEARS, IS THAT TERM NEIGHBORING PERSONS, THEY THINK THAT THEY'VE BEEN COVERED THAT TO MEAN YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE COMPLAINANT.

AND SO YOU CAN'T HAVE A SINGLE COMPLAINANT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SECOND ONE.

AND THAT'S REALLY NOT THAT HARD TO DO BECAUSE YOU CAN ALWAYS GET A, YOU KNOW, ROOMMATES OR A OR A HUSBAND AND WIFE OR WHOEVER MIGHT LIVE IN THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR IN THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR.

YOU CAN ALWAYS GET THEM TO PARTNER UP.

BUT THAT HAS ACTUALLY COME UP IN SOME OF OUR CASES WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO PROSECUTE THEM AND WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE COMPLAINANT.

SO THAT'S ONE WAY THAT THE COURT MAKES SURE THAT THEY PROTECT AGAINST THE SENSITIVE NEIGHBOR WHO WANTS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING.

OK, GREAT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO COUNCILMAN SMITH AND I HAD KICKED THIS FOOTBALL BACK AND FORTH AND THEN BRIAN ENGLAND AND I HAD KICKED THIS BACK AND FORTH AND THEN I THINK IT'S BEEN AROUND A LOT.

SO I AM I AM HAPPIER BY FAR WITH THE WAY IT IS NOW, BECAUSE THIS IS TIGHTER AND IT DRAWS A NET IN TIGHTER SO THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO ACCIDENTALLY CATCH PEOPLE WE DON'T WANT TO CATCH.

THAT'S THE BIG CONCERN ALWAYS IS FIRST, DO NO HARM.

I LIKE THIS VERSION OF IT A LOT BETTER.

SO QUESTION I HAVE FOR MR. BARKER THE REGARDING COUNCILMAN AUBIN'S COMMENTS ON D5 WHERE IN A ABOUT THE WITHIN VIEW FROM A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY WHERE WE LAST DISCUSSED THIS, MR. BARKER, YOU WERE I THINK YOU WERE THE ONE WHO BASICALLY SAID THAT IF IT WAS ANYTHING OTHER THAN EASILY VIEWED FROM A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, THAT WOULD KIND OF CAUSE A GREAT DIFFICULTY IN ENFORCEMENT AND PUT CODE IN A BAD POSITION.

BUT I'M DOING THAT FROM MEMORY AND I'VE SLEPT SINCE THEN.

SO DID YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR LANGUAGE? WELL, [INAUDIBLE] IT WILL CREATE INVESTIGATED SITUATIONS THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO PROVE.

WE NORMALLY DON'T GO LOOKING OVER FENCES.

SO IT COULD BE IN A BACKYARD AND WE NOT KNOW IT BECAUSE IT IS BEHIND PUBLIC VIEW.

WITHOUT PUBLIC VIEW FROM A RIGHT OF WAY.

SO, YES, IT WOULD CREATE SOME INVESTIGATIVE HURDLES FOR US.

OK, BUT TO ME, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, THAT THE PART THAT FOLLOWS, WHICH THIS IS ABOUT, SOME OF THIS IS ABOUT STORAGE, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT PARKING OR STAGING OF

[04:15:03]

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS OR A TRAILER OR MOTOR VEHICLE LOADED WITH CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS.

THE MINUTES.

WHAT WE HAVE SO MANY TIMES, CERTAINLY IN MY DISTRICT AND COUNCILMAN AUBIN'S DISTRICT IS YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN THE MORNING, YOU LOAD UP STUFF.

SO IF THEY START PUTTING ALL THE SHINGLES ON THE BACKYARD AND THEN THEY COME IN THE MORNING AND THEY LOADED IT ONTO THE TRAILER.

THAT STILL VIOLATES THIS, I'M ASSUMING, TO WHERE AT THAT POINT IF SOMEBODY CALLS AND SAYS THEY'RE OUT HERE LOADING ALL THIS STUFF, I CAN SEE IT FROM MY HOUSE.

IT'S IN VIEW THAT WOULD STILL BE A VIOLATION AT THAT POINT, CORRECT? YES.

IF WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT.

OK, RING VIDEOS CATCH SO MUCH OF THIS STUFF THESE DAYS.

SO I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN AUBIN AND IN THE FACT THAT IT WOULD BE IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR US JUST TO SAY IF WE COULD SAY AND IF WE COULD REASONABLY ENFORCE IT, TO SAY YOU CAN'T BE STORING A BUNCH OF STUFF AT YOUR HOUSE.

I AM COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO VOTE FOR THE LANGUAGE THAT'S IN HERE.

AND THIS IS CERTAINLY A LOT STRONGER THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

AND I WENT I WENT DOWN THIS AND JUST HAVE SPECIFIC HOUSES AND SPECIFIC LONG TERM PROBLEMS, SOME OF WHICH YOU'RE AWARE OF, THAT WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T VIOLATE OUR PREVIOUS ORDINANCE.

AND THEY DO VIOLATE THIS.

AND IT'S CLEAR ENOUGH, WHERE I THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

SO I AM CONTENT WITH THAT PART.

I'M HAPPY WITH HAVING TAXIS AND LIMOUSINES GET STRICKEN.

I'M HAPPY WITH THE NOISE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE COMING IN AND BEING MADE CONSISTENT.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION FROM A CONSTITUENT ABOUT SECTION B WHERE AND IT'S SECTION B THREE AND IT SAYS, SO ABOUT A HOME OCCUPATION IS PROHIBITED UNLESS AND AND IT SAYS IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OR SHIPMENT OF GOODS FROM THE RESIDENCE.

AND SHE DOES THINGS BY ETSY AND SHE SAID, DOES IT COUNT FOR THE.

LIKE FEDEX TRUCK COMING AND.

PICKING UP MY STUFF THAT I MAILED TO PEOPLE? AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THE ANSWER WOULD BE NO.

BUT.

IT OFFERS GOODS FOR GOODS FOR SALE, BUT NOT FOR SALE FROM THE PREMISES, THERE ARE GOODS FOR SALE RESIDENT INSIDE THE PREMISES, BUT IT'S SOLD BY MAILING IT.

SO, BRIAN, CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS? DOES THAT SAY WHAT WE NEED IT TO SAY? I THINK I THINK THE WHAT SUBSECTION B, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE TO READ SUBSECTION B ALONG WITH C IN THE AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES.

AND SO IF A HOME OCCUPATION OR A HOME SERVICE LIKE THAT DOES REQUIRE DELIVERY OR SHIPMENT OF GOODS FROM THE RESIDENCE, AS LONG AS SHE CAN MEET THE CRITERIA IN SUBSECTION C, WHICH IS PROBABLY NOT THAT DIFFICULT IN THE SITUATION YOU'RE DESCRIBING, THEN SUBSECTION B WOULDN'T EVEN BE, IT WOULDN'T EVEN APPLY.

THERE'S AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE THERE.

AND JUST FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE REQUIRES THAT THE PERSON BEING ACCUSED OF VIOLATING SUBSECTION B TO BRING UP THAT DEFENSE, BUT TYPICALLY IF OUR CODE OFFICERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE OUT IN A SITUATION INVESTIGATING IT THEN WHETHER IT'S THIS, WHETHER IT'S A HOME OCCUPATION VIOLATION OR ANOTHER ONE, ANOTHER VIOLATION IN THE CODE THAT HAS AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WRITE THAT CITATION IF THEY CAN POINT OUT THE AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES THAT, HEY, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT SUBSECTION C AND OUR CODE OFFICERS ARE REALLY GOOD WITH THAT.

THEY ARE.

AND I'M REALLY NOT CONCERNED THAT ARE ETSY AND YOUNG LIVING OIL AND ALL THESE.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GETTING COMPLAINTS.

LAST QUESTION AGAIN, AND I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS, BUT JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ASKED.

IN C4 WHERE IT'S TALKING ABOUT NO CHANGE IN THE OUTSIDE APPEARANCE, DA DA DA AND NO USE OF A SIGN, INCLUDING ANY SIGN ON A VEHICLE PARKED ON THE PREMISES OR ON AN ADJACENT STREET DIRECTING POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS TO THE RESIDENCE.

THEY WERE JUST CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT GO BACK AND CATCH, YOU KNOW, PLUMBERS TRUCKS THAT HAVE THE PLUMBING NAME ON THE SIDE.

AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, IT SAYS DIRECTING.

SO IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT REGULAR SIGN? WE WENT THROUGH THIS WITH THE PARKING ORDINANCE.

[04:20:02]

SO WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE WITH C4 UNDER THE TOWN OF GILBERT, BECAUSE IN ORDER TO ENFORCE C4 THERE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SIGN TO SEE WHAT IT'S SAYING AND THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SIGNS.

THE SUPREME COURT HAS SAID THAT'S THAT'S A VIOLATION RIGHT THERE.

AND SO SINCE YOU'RE HAVING TO LOOK AT THE SIGN ENFORCE IT, C4 PROBABLY SHOULD BE STRICKEN.

AND THE TRUTH IS, WHATEVER SIGN IS ON THE PREMISES, WHETHER IT'S A POLITICAL SIGN OR WHETHER IT'S JUST A TEMPORARY SIGN, IT FALLS UNDER OUR SIGN ORDINANCE AND NOT THAT.

AND SO WE PROBABLY SHOULD JUST STRIKE THAT AND JUST USE THE SIGN ORDINANCE.

SO DO WE STRIKE IT AFTER HOME OCCUPATION.

WHERE CAN WE LEAVE THERE'S NO CHANGE IN THE OUTSIDE APPEARANCE OF THE BUILDING OR PREMISES OR OTHER VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF THE CONDUCT OF THE HOME OCCUPATION PERIOD AND JUST STRIKE THE REST? I THINK WE CAN STRIKE THE ENTIRE THING BECAUSE IF YOU RECALL, BACK IN THE SIGN ORDINANCE, THE SIGN ORDINANCE ACTUALLY ADDRESSES, WHICH IS STILL QUESTIONABLE, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN STRICKEN YET.

IT DOES SAY THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE A SIGN FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS IN OUR SIGN ORDINANCE.

AND SO IT'S TECHNICALLY QUESTIONABLE, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN STRICKEN BY A COURT YET.

BUT IF YOU FOLLOW THE RATIONALE OF THE COURTS AND THE RECENT HOLDINGS, YOU COULD EXPECT THAT IT PROBABLY WILL BE STRICKEN IN THE FUTURE, SAYING THAT THERE'S NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN NONCOMMERCIAL AND COMMERCIAL MESSAGES.

AND I GUESS I WAS THINKING BEYOND JUST A SIGN, CHANGE IN THE OUTSIDE APPEARANCE OF BUILDING A PREMISES.

BUT I'M SITTING HERE TRYING TO IMAGINE RIGHT NOW WHAT WHAT BESIDES A SIGN.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD HAVE A BIG COOKIE IN THE WINDOW.

THAT'S NOT A SIGN.

JUST CHANGE IN THE OUTSIDE APPEARANCE THAT WOULD INDICATE A BUSINESS WAS THERE.

THERE ARE WAYS WITHOUT WORDS IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

WE COULD WE COULD DEFINITELY END THAT SENTENCE THERE AND NOT EVEN MENTION THE SIGN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE.

LIKE YOU SAID, MAYBE MAKE A FAÃ♪ADE OF YOUR HOUSE INTO THE SHAPE OF A COOKIE.

I DON'T I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY.

I'M THINKING OF WINDOW CLINGS MYSELF.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.

THE WINDOW CLINGS WITH NO WORDS, BUT AND THAT'S PROBABLY FAR FETCHED.

BUT PEOPLE DO.

PEOPLE DO THINGS SO.

SO MY PREFERENCE WOULD PROBABLY BE JUST TO STRIKE THE WHOLE PART OF THE SIGN, BUT LEAVE THE NO CHANGE IN THE OUTSIDE APPEARANCE OR OTHER VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF THE CONDUCT OF THE HOME OCCUPATION, BECAUSE THAT'S PEOPLE ARE CREATIVE.

I MEAN, AS WE DISCUSSED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, HAVING CARS PARKED WITH SIGNS THAT DON'T SAY FOR SALE.

THEY JUST IT'S A SIGN THAT SAYS A PHONE NUMBER.

AND SO IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY A CAR FOR SALE.

IT'S A CAR SITTING WITH SOMEBODY'S PHONE NUMBER WRITTEN ON THE WINDOW.

PEOPLE WIGGLE THROUGH EVERY LOOPHOLE THEY CAN FIND.

SO, ALRIGHT THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS.

I AM I AM HAPPY WITH THIS.

I'M HAPPY WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS.

I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN SMITH AND YOU BRIAN FOR THE WORK YOU PUT IN ON THIS, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THERE YOU GO, COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH.

AND JUST TO ADD I'LL BE HAPPY TO MODIFY MY PROPOSAL ON C4 BASED ON THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WAS JUST HAD.

OK, THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? BELIEVE IT IS UP FOR FORMAL CONSIDERATION TOMORROW NIGHT.

AND SO WE WILL WE WILL TAKE ACTION ON IT THEN.

ALL RIGHT.

WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 4E DISCUSS REESTABLISHING THE CITY'S

[4E. Discuss Re-Establishing the City's Membership in the National League of Cities]

MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AND I WAS SECOND ON THAT.

AND BASICALLY IN OUR LAST BUDGET CYCLE, WE DID NOT WE DID NOT FUND THE MEMBERSHIP FOR OUR NL SUPPORT THE NLC.

COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND I HAD A BUNCH OF, BUT TWO PAGES OF NOTES ON THIS, BUT IT'S LATE AND I'M NOT GOING TO I'M NOT GOING TO EVEN GO TO MY NOTES ON THIS, BUT I BROUGHT THIS FOR IT FOR TWO REASONS.

ONE, I THINK THE CITIES, CITIES AND CITIES AND HOME RULE ARE UNDER AND I'LL USE THE WORD ATTACK AT VARIOUS LEVELS.

AND NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IS MADE UP, OF COURSE, OF MAYORS AND COUNCILPERSONS, AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE PROBLEMS, BUT OUR PROBLEMS AS A CITY ARE

[04:25:07]

NOT UNIQUE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, PARTICULARLY ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, THAT WE HAVE A CREDIBLE SOURCE TO GET INFORMATION AND FOR MOBILIZATION WHEN AND WHERE IT'S APPROPRIATE.

AND FOR THAT REASON, I'M BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO RENEW OUR MEMBERSHIP THAT IS PROVIDED IN THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.

I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE A HISTORICAL ANY HISTORICAL ON THAT OTHER THAN JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, HAVING EXPERIENCED HAVING SERVED ON COMMITTEES.

NLC CERTAINLY HAS BEEN HAS MADE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR CITY WITH THE LBJ 635 PROJECT BRINGING NATIONAL ATTENTION TO IT.

AND I GUESS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THAT WAS GETTING A PERSONAL VISIT BY THE THEN SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION TO ACTUALLY DRIVE 635.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS.

BUT I THINK IT'S BUT I THINK BEYOND THAT I THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ONE, I THINK THEY'RE A CREDIBLE SOURCE THAT WE CAN LOOK TO FOR INFORMATION AND THINGS, THINGS ARE CHANGING RAPIDLY NOW.

AND I THINK NLC, WITH ITS HISTORY AND WITH ITS CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE MOSTLY MAYORS AND CITY COUNCIL PERSONS, IS THE PROPER VENUE FOR DOING THAT.

THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO WANT TO SAY THAT IT SHOULD THERE BE SOME CONCERN ABOUT AND I KNOW NLC'S JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, THEY'VE BEEN ALL VIRTUAL.

I KNOW FOR THE FOR THE LAST TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK ON COUNCIL AND I THINK EVER SINCE COVID, BUT IF THEY ARE IF THERE'S CONCERNS OR MOVING FORWARD REGARDING WHEN THEY DO WHEN THEY DO RETURN TO IN-PERSON CONFERENCES AND INFORMATION AND TRAINING SESSIONS, IF THERE IS CONCERN AMONG COUNCIL OF ATTENDANCE, AND I SUGGEST THAT COUNCIL CERTAINLY LOOK AT OUR INTERNAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND COUNCIL CAN SET CAPS, NUMBERS ON THE NUMBER OF PERSON, BOTH STAFF AND COUNCIL WHO WOULD ATTEND IF THAT'S A MATTER OF CONCERN.

BUT IN CLOSING, I JUST YOU KNOW, THE ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSE AND ITS RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND WITH AGAIN, WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WITH.

AND AS FAST THAT IS HAPPENING ON PARTICULAR ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, IMPACTING CITIES, I THINK THAT WE NEED THAT PARTNERSHIP AS A CITY AS WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS UNKNOWN TERRITORY.

SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M RECOMMENDING TO COUNCIL THAT WE RENEW OUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE NLC.

SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK ON COUNCIL, I GOT A NUMBER OF E-MAILS AND PHONE CALLS AND FORWARDED TO THOSE TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE CITY MANAGER.

SO WITH THAT MAYOR, THAT IS MY RECOMMENDATION.

THANK YOU.

AS I WAS SAYING IN OUR LAST BUDGET CYCLE, BUDGET REVIEW WE DID NOT.

THERE WERE SOME OTHER MEMBERSHIPS, ET CETERA, THAT WE DID NOT RENEW.

MR. BRADFORD AND I AND I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS AS FAR AS MEMBERSHIP GOES, IS IT? FOR LACK OF A BETTER WAY TO PUT IT, IS THERE A MID-YEAR MEMBERSHIP OR IS IT JUST KIND OF AN ALL OR NOTHING? DO YOU KNOW? I'M NOT FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH IT.

MAYOR, I'M NOT AWARE OF A MID-YEAR MEMBERSHIP OR A SIX MONTH MEMBERSHIP, BUT I JUST HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH NLC.

AND REMIND ME WHAT THE MEMBERSHIP TO THAT ORGANIZATION IS, THE COST.

DOLLAR WISE? YES SIR.

THE MEMBERSHIP ITSELF IS ABOUT FOURTEEN THOUSAND.

OK, VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN.

YOU'RE ON MUTE SIR.

EVERYBODY'S BEST DREAM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YOU KNOW, IN SOME REGARDS, I DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE REVISITING THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY DECIDED FOR THE BUDGET YEAR, SO I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME RETICENCE ON COUNCIL IN THAT REGARD.

ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU KNOW, I VOTED AGAINST LEAVING IN NLC AND I AND I FELT THAT

[04:30:03]

THE WAY IT WAS BROUGHT UP LAST YEAR WAS KIND OF I THINK IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE WE VOTED ON THE BUDGET ITSELF.

SO IT CERTAINLY CAME UP IN SUCH A WAY THAT THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY TIME FOR FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A FULL OR PREPARED DISCUSSION OF IT.

SO I'M HAPPY TO REVISIT IT AS OPPOSED TO KILLING IT OFF IN THE DARK OF NIGHT.

I REMAIN OF THE BELIEF THAT NLC MEMBERSHIP IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST YEAR THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING INWARD, BUT LOOKING OUTWARD AND LOOKING WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM, WHETHER THAT'S REGARDING COVID OR.

YOU KNOW, OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE REGARDING ELECTRIC OR OTHER THINGS.

AS YOU DID MAYOR, I RECEIVED A LONG EMAIL THAT I WILL NOT BELABOR COUNCIL WITH, BUT FROM FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN WILLIS.

WE SPOKE VERY HIGHLY OF NLC AND OF THE WORK THAT HE DID, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, JUST FOR VARIETY OF REASONS, IN PART COVID AND OTHER THINGS, I'VE ONLY ATTENDED TWO OF THE NLC EVENTS IN WASHINGTON.

MY FIRST TWO YEARS.

I FOUND THEM VERY HELPFUL.

MR. WILLIS ATTENDED QUITE A FEW OF THESE IN UC AND NLC UNIVERSITY AS A WAY TO EDUCATE HIMSELF AND LEARN HOW TO BE A BETTER COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE ALL YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T COME INTO THIS.

NONE OF US REALLY OR VERY FEW OF US REALLY COME INTO THIS WITH ANY EXPERIENCE IN THIS KIND OF GOVERNANCE.

AND SO I THINK THE TOOLS THAT ARE OFFERED BY THE BY THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AND BY THE NLC ARE EXTREMELY VALUABLE IN THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU CAN BUILD AND THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM PEOPLE BY DOING BY DOING THAT WORK AND ENGAGING IN THAT.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO EITHER.

EITHER JOIN, EITHER REJOIN THROUGH SOME FORM OF BUDGET AMENDMENT OR TO LET THE CITY MANAGER KNOW TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE BUDGET FOR THE COMING YEAR.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER HEDRICK.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

YOU KNOW, WHILE I DON'T DOUBT THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS THAT CERTAINLY MAY BE GAINED BY GOING TO THESE NATIONAL CONFERENCES AND THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY IS COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN JUST MENTIONED.

LARGEST THEMES IN NLC IS FOCUSED ON A FEDERAL LEVEL MORE THAN A STATE LEVEL.

SO I'M WONDERING IF WE'D BE BETTER FOCUSED ON FOCUS ON SPENDING THAT FOURTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ON MORE PERHAPS LOBBYING EFFORTS TO OUR STATE GOVERNMENT THAT SEEMS TO BE MORE DIRECTLY WOULD AFFECT US, CONSIDERING WHAT WE JUST HAD WITH THE ELECTRICITY CRISIS AND CERTAINLY ALL THE LEGISLATURE THAT'S GOING THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE, ALL THE PROPOSED BILLS ARE GOING TO STATE LEGISLATION RIGHT NOW.

SO JUST A QUESTION OF WHERE WE SHOULD PERHAPS SPEND OUR LOBBYING DOLLARS.

SO I CERTAINLY LIKE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THAT IF WE DO GO FORWARD WITH THAT, WHETHER WE SHOULD RATHER SPEND IT ON THE STATE LEVEL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

LET'S SEE HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE CLEARED THE QUEUE ON THIS ITEM.

I GUESS THE QUESTION FOR US IS.

DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH REJOINING THIS ORGANIZATION NOW OR DO WE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ANOTHER BUDGET CYCLE COMING UP.

I WILL BE HERE.

IT WILL, YEAH, I KNOW WE JUST APPROVED A BUDGET, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER ONE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, IT SEEMS LIKE.

SO I MEAN, I GUESS THE MOST IMMEDIATE QUESTION IS THERE IS THERE DESIRE ON THE COUNCIL TO REJOIN NLC AT THIS TIME? AND.

I'M GUESSING YEAH, SORRY, I'M A LITTLE SLOW ON THE UPTAKE HERE TONIGHT MAYOR, LET ME LET ME ASK A CLARIFICATION, YOU MENTION TWO THINGS, YOU MENTIONED THIS TIME AND YOU MENTIONED AS A POSSIBLE AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT THIS YEAR OR ARE ASKED TO BE INCLUDED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

IS THAT IS THAT CAUGHT UP WHAT YOU'RE SAYING OR [INAUDIBLE]? THAT'S SORT OF THE TWO CHOICES WE HAVE BEFORE US.

WE CAN, YOU KNOW, ONE DECISION OF REJOINING NOW OR WAITING TO DISCUSS THIS, IF THAT IS NOT SUCCESSFUL.

NOW, I CAN CERTAINLY BE BROUGHT UP DURING OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS FOR NEXT YEAR.

[04:35:05]

I GUESS THAT WAS I DID PROBABLY RUN THOSE TWO IDEAS OR SENTENCES TOGETHER, BUT THE IMMEDIATE DECISION WOULD BE REJOINING THE ORGANIZATION AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT NOW.

OK, WELL, WELL, EITHER WAY, I CERTAINLY I SUPPORT RETURNING NOW, BUT IF THAT'S NOT THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL, I DO INTEND TO BRING THIS BACK AS AN ITEM IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

AND I HAVE NO RESERVATIONS.

I KNOW THE BENEFITS.

AND JUST BRIEFLY TO COUNCILMAN HEDRICK'S POINT INFRASTRUCTURE.

EVERYTHING'S ON THE RISE AND SAID THAT THAT'S THE NEXT PIECE THAT'S COMING DOWN.

AND AS FAR AS POWER AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS, THERE'S NATIONAL LEGISLATION THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT ALL OF THAT.

SO AND THERE'S SOME THINGS GOING ON AT THE STATE LEVEL.

SO BUT ANYWAY, I KNOW WATCHING THINGS IS, YOU KNOW, THE BENEFITS OF COLLABORATING WITH OTHER MAYORS AND COUNCILMEN FROM A NATIONAL LEVEL IS VERY CLEAR.

AND THE IMPACT OF HAVING DONE THAT WITH 635 SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

HAD WE, I STRONGLY BELIEVE HAD WE NOT COLLABORATED, HAD WE NOT HAVE COUNCIL PEOPLE WORKING COMMITTEES AT THAT TIME, WE WOULD HAVE NOT HAVE GOTTEN THE ACCESS TO THE KEY PEOPLE WHO MADE THINGS HAPPEN, WHO THEN COLLABORATE WITH OUR STATE LEADERSHIP AND GOT THE DIRT FLYING FOR 635 WITHOUT THAT FEDERAL COLLABORATION.

SO BUT WHATEVER'S THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL, THAT'S FINE.

IF WE DON'T TONIGHT, THEN I CERTAINLY INTEND TO BRING THIS ITEM UP AGAIN BECAUSE I THINK IT IS WE CAN'T GO IT ALONE, NEITHER AT A STATE LEVEL AND NOR AT A FEDERAL LEVEL.

I JUST DON'T THINK WE CAN DO THAT.

I THINK WE'RE SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT.

I THINK IT'S AN ILLUSION IF WE THINK WE CAN.

BUT SO ANYWAY, MAYOR, THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

AND FROM THE BRIEF GLIMPSE I GOT OF EVERYONE'S VOTING, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WERE I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONLY TWO VOTES.

WELL, I DIDN'T I DIDN'T VOTE, I DON'T THINK.

OK, OK.

SO.

IT WAS 6 TO 3, WE VOTED OK.

[INAUDIBLE] OK.

I KNEW I SAW TWO, BUT I DIDN'T SEE SO.

SO AT THIS TIME, THERE IS NOT THERE IS NOT THE VOTES REQUIRED TO REJOIN THE ORGANIZATION NOW.

OK, ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL CERTAINLY WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS FOR OUR NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.

SURE.

ALL RIGHT.

OK, THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, THAT MOVES US TO ITEM FIVE, ANNOUNCE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.

[5. Announce Future Agenda Items]

IS THERE ANYONE WHO HAS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? MAYOR PRO TEM NICKERSON.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YES, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING BACK THE DISCUSSION ON OPENING UP WINDSOR PARK FOR THE SUMMER.

I WILL SECOND THAT.

THANK YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE, SIR? NO, SIR.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR A COUPLE ITEMS, THE FIRST ONE IS WHAT I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER THAT SO, I WOULD LIKE US TO REVISIT INSTITUTING THE NECESSARY ORDINANCES UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND TAKE ANOTHER WHATEVER ACTION WE NEED TO TAKE TO ALLOW FOR REMOTE ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS.

OK, AND THEN THE SECOND ONE I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT US REQUIRING I KNOW WE USE KNOX BOXES AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN REQUIRE APARTMENT [INAUDIBLE].

I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR REQUIREMENTS ARE.

AND I GUESS THIS IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TO LOOK AT HAVING REQUIRING KNOX BOXES.

THAT MIGHT ALSO INCLUDE TO ALSO INCLUDE A LIST OF APARTMENT WHEN IT INVOLVES AN APARTMENT COMPLEX TO INCLUDE APARTMENT VACANCIES OR SOME OTHER KIND OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPLEX AND, IF NECESSARY, MASTER KEYS IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD DEEM THAT USEFUL.

OK, ALL RIGHT, I WILL SECOND THAT ONE.

[04:40:02]

THAT'S ALL I HAVE THANK YOU SIR.

OK, ANY EXCUSE ME, ANY ADDITIONAL FUTURE AGENDA? I SEE NONE, BUT OBVIOUSLY, IF THERE IF SOMETHING COMES UP, AS YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTACT MYSELF OR MR. BRADFORD WITH YOUR SECOND TO HAVE AN ITEM BROUGHT FORWARD.

AT THIS POINT, WE ARE TO ITEM SIX.

[6. Council will move into Executive Session]

COUNCIL WILL MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FIVE FIVE ONE POINT ZERO SEVEN ONE AND FIVE FIVE ONE POINT ZERO EIGHT SIX OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE REGARDING ATTORNEY CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS AND COMPETITIVE MATTERS RELATING TO GP&L OPERATIONS IN THE RECENT WEATHER RELATED ELECTRIC CURTAILMENT EVENT.

AND ALSO THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FIVE FIVE ONE POINT ZERO SEVEN FOUR OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE RELATING TO PERSONNEL TO CONDUCT THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE MUNICIPAL JUDGES, THE CITY AUDITOR, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER.

AND SO COUNCIL, I BELIEVE THE LINK TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION HAS ALREADY BEEN SENT OUT.

THERE WILL ONLY EVEN THOUGH THE EXECUTIVE SESSION HAS TWO VERY DISTINCT TOPICS.

IT WILL JUST BE ONE LINK.

SO ONE MEETING LINK.

SO WITH THAT, WE WILL WE WILL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IF WE COULD HAVE EVERYBODY BACK ONLINE AT 11, 11:15, PLEASE.

THAT GIVES.

MAYOR, IF I CAN ASK IF ANYBODY HASN'T.

WE'VE WE'VE ALREADY HAD ONE OF THE OTHER ATTENDEES THAT DIDN'T GET THEIR ZOOM LINK.

SO IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT IT, JUST TEXT ME AND WE'LL RESEND IT AGAIN.

OK.

AND AGAIN.

LET'S TRY TO HAVE EVERYBODY BACK ONLINE AT 11:15.



* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.