[00:00:15] GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE MAY 17 2021 WORK SESSION FOR THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GET UNDERWAY WITH OUR AGENDA. THE FIRST ITEM TONIGHT, ITEM ONE, IS PUBLIC COMMENTS ON WORK SESSION ITEMS. AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON WORK SESSION ITEMS THIS EVENING. BUT I WILL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE CALL IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE WORK SESSION ITEM, USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE. ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, CONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA. [2. Consider the Consent Agenda] THIS WILL BE FOR TOMORROW NIGHT. I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY ITEMS TO BE PULLED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY, BUT OBVIOUSLY, I'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE IF THERE'S IF THERE'S AN ITEM YOU WANT NOW OR IN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, YOU CAN LET US KNOW. THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE THE APPROPRIATE STAFF AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON IT. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN ARE YOU? I'M TRYING, MAYOR. I SAW YOUR HAND MOVING, I WASN'T SURE WHAT--THEY UPDATED ZOOM, AND I CAN NO LONGER FIGURE OUT HOW TO RAISE MY HAND. OH, THERE IT IS. THEY MOVED THINGS AROUND ME. I'M GETTING TOO OLD FOR CHANGE. [CHUCKLING] I AM GOING TO PULL. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DISCUSS IT TONIGHT, BUT I DO TEND TO PULL THE ITEM ON THE PARKING. I THINK IT'S ITEM SIX JUST FOR A SEPARATE VOTE TOMORROW. OK. OK, WE WILL MAKE NOTE OF THAT. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM [3. Written Briefings:] THREE, WRITTEN BRIEFINGS. ITEM 3A, TXDOT CLICK IT OR TICKET GRANT MAY 2021. ITEM 3B COVID-19 IMMUNIZATION GRANT. ITEM 3C, WHOLESALE WASTEWATER CONTRACT CITY OF ROWLETT. ITEM 3D, SALE OF PROPERTY, 1130 MEANDERING WAY. ITEM 3E, SALE OF PROPERTY 504 CLARK STREET. OK, AND THE LAST ONE ITEM, 3F 2020-21 BUDGET AMENDMENT EXCUSE ME, NUMBER FIVE. OK, ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR VERBAL BRIEFINGS UNDER ITEM FOUR. [4A. COVID-19 Response Update and Further Actions] ITEM 4A COVID-19 RESPONSE UPDATE AND FURTHER ACTIONS. AND AS WE HAVE FOR MANY PREVIOUS NIGHTS, JASON, LEAD US OFF. OK, THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN. I'LL ASK MISTIE TO SHARE HER SCREEN. THE, OF COURSE, THE REPORT THAT I'M ABOUT TO GO OVER IS VERY FAMILIAR TO YOU ALL. AND I'LL I'LL GO AHEAD AND SPOIL THE ITEM AND TELL YOU THAT NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE LAST TIME. SO I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH THIS REALLY QUICK. OF COURSE, OUR COVID-19 CASE COUNT HAS SLOWLY DRIFTED DOWN. WE'VE BEEN BELOW 20 NEW CASES PER DAY OVER THE PAST WEEK. WE ONLY HAD FOUR NEW CASES TODAY. SO THAT'S THE LOWEST COUNT. I'M TEMPTED TO GO BACK AND LOOK TO THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAD A COUNT THAT LOW. I BET IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR OR MORE. BUT ANYWAY, WE JUST SURPASSED TWENTY EIGHT THOUSAND TOTAL CASES OVER THIS PAST WEEK. WE'RE AT TWENTY EIGHT THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED THIRTY, AS YOU SEE THERE IN BLUE ON THE RIGHT, JUST BELOW THAT TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTEEN HAVE RECOVERED. SO THE LION'S SHARE OF THOSE CASES HAVE RUN THE COURSE OF THE DISEASE, AND THEY'VE RECOVERED, BY THE WAY, THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT NINETY SEVEN POINT FIVE PERCENT OF TOTAL CASE COUNTS RECOVERED. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE DEATHS THAT TRICKLE IN. I BELIEVE WE ADDED THREE LAST WEEK FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY EIGHT, WHICH LEAVES US WITH TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOUR ACTIVE CASES. SO THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT HAVE RECENTLY BECOME INFECTED AND HAVE NOT YET MET THE END OF MONITORING CRITERIA. IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, MISTIE. WE'LL TALK ABOUT EMPLOYEE IMPACTS, THESE CONTINUE TO REMAIN AT VERY LOW LEVELS. [00:05:03] WE'VE GOT THREE EMPLOYEES THAT REMAIN EXCLUDED BECAUSE OF POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST, AND WE HAVE ONE EMPLOYEE THAT'S EXCLUDED BECAUSE OF HIGH RISK CONTACTS. SO A TOTAL OF FOUR EMPLOYEES EXCLUDED AS OF FRIDAY. AND THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE A GRAPH OF THAT, WHICH, AGAIN, HAS BEEN VERY CONSISTENT OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, VERY LOW LEVEL, LOW STAFF IMPACTS AS A RESULT OF EXCLUSIONS FOR COVID-19. AND IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE VACCINES THAT WE'VE ADMINISTERED TODAY. NOW, THESE ARE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VACCINES THAT WE'VE ADMINISTERED. YOU SEE ABOUT JUST OVER SEVENTEEN THOUSAND FIRST DOSES, ALMOST FIFTEEN THOUSAND SECOND DOSES. WE'VE GOT REALLY GOOD PARTICIPATION ON SECOND DOSES, WHICH IS GREAT. AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE ANYWHERE FROM ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY TO TWO HUNDRED FOLKS A DAY OR AT LEAST OVER THE PAST WEEK AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC. AND MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE HAVE BEEN SECOND DOSES. SO WE CONTINUE TO GET PRETTY GOOD PARTICIPATION ON THE SECOND DOSES, BUT WE STILL DO HAVE FIRST DOSE FOLKS COME IN FOR THEIR FIRST DOSE AND I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT ONE SLOT LEFT. BUT I'M GOING TO PASS THE PRESENTATION TO MISTIE AND LET HER TALK ABOUT THE MASS VACCINATION. YES, SIR, SO QUICKLY, A LARGE PORTION OF THE VACCINATIONS THAT JASON DISCUSSED BEING DISTRIBUTED WERE MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE PARTNERSHIP WITH GISD BECAUSE THEY ALLOWED US TO USE HOMER B. JOHNSON STADIUM. SO THE UNIQUE FOOTPRINT OF THE STADIUM PROVED TO ALLOW FOR A VERY EFFICIENT THROUGHPUT. ONE THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE AT MOST OTHER LOCATIONS. THIS WAS PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH AN AVERAGE ON SITE TIME BEING ABOUT 30 MINUTES FOR EACH OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TO GET VACCINES. ALL IN ALL, WE CONDUCTED 16 MASS VACCINATION EVENTS AT HBJ. THE FIRST ONE BEING ON JANUARY 21ST, THE LAST ONE BEING THE WEEK BEFORE LAST, WHICH WAS MAY 5TH. WE JUST FINISHED DEMOBILIZING FROM THE SITE ON FRIDAY, AND THEN WE'LL BE CONDUCTING A SITE REVIEW WITH GISD AS SOON AS THEY HAVE TIME JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN RETURNED EXACTLY THE WAY THAT THEY EXPECTED IT TO SO THAT WE COULD CLOSE THAT LOOP THERE. BUT AS FAR AS TOTAL SERVED AT THE SITE, JUST UNDER TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND WAS THE COUNT THAT INCLUDED CITIZENS. OF COURSE, ONCE WE BECAME A HUB, REMEMBER ORIGINALLY WHEN WE STARTED, WE DID REGISTRATIONS FOR CITIZENS AND GARLAND, ROWLETT AND SACHSE ONCE WE BECAME A STATEWIDE HUB THAT WE HAD TO ALLOW FOR CITIZENS STATEWIDE, WHICH WE HAPPILY WERE ABLE TO DO. WE INCLUDED CITY STAFF FROM ALL THREE CITIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENTS AS FAR AS STAFFING GOES, AND THEN ALSO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF. THE NUMBER THERE IS AT LEAST SEVENTEEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY NINE DOSES THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOL STAFF. AND THE REASON WE SAY AT LEAST, IS BECAUSE WE DID NOT ACTUALLY START COUNTING THE ISD STAFF SEPARATELY UNTIL MARCH 5TH, WHICH IS WHEN THE TEACHERS BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR PRIORITIZATION BASED ON THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES' GUIDANCE. SO THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED COUNTING THOSE NUMBERS. SO WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO HAND IT OVER TO JASON OR BACK TO THE MAYOR OR COUNCIL FOR ANY QUESTIONS. VERY GOOD, I THINK YOU CAN SHARE FOR ME. ANY QUESTIONS FOR JASON OR MISTIE? COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JASON, WITH THE EXPANSION OF VACCINES GOING INTO THE YOUTH NOW, ARE WE PLANNING ANY EVENTS AROUND THAT? AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD, ONLY PFIZER HAD BEEN APPROVED FOR THAT. AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE'D GOTTEN ANY PFIZER SUPPLY OR IF WE'RE STILL MODERNA. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT, BECAUSE I ACTUALLY HAD THAT IN MY NOTES TO MENTION AND SPED RIGHT THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, SO THE ANSWER IS YES, WE HAVE ORDERED PFIZER AND WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY YET. BUT WE'VE HAD THE OFFER TO BE ABLE TO BORROW SOME FROM DENTON COUNTY. SO WE MAY ACTUALLY GET THAT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS IF WE DON'T RECEIVE OUR ORDER FROM THE STATE. OF COURSE, PFIZER IS CHALLENGING BECAUSE OF STORAGE REQUIREMENTS NOW THAT THOSE STORAGE REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN, I GUESS, LIGHTENED MAY BE THE BEST WAY TO SAY IT, IT CAN BE KEPT IN A REGULAR REFRIGERATOR FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS NOW. SO WE'RE GOING TO START KEEPING SMALL AMOUNTS OF DOSES ON HAND FOR THOSE FOR THAT NARROW WINDOW OF TEENAGERS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PFIZER, BUT NOT MODERNA. [00:10:01] WE JUST CONFIRMED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TODAY TO DO A AN EVENT TARGETING KIDDO'S WITHIN THAT AGE RANGE ON LOOKING AT MY CALENDAR HERE ON JUNE 5TH. SO, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST, I GUESS, WIDESPREAD EVENT WE'LL HAVE IT OFFERED AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC PRIOR TO THAT DATE. BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE DATE WHERE WE REALLY TARGET THE KIDDOS IN GISD. AND AS I SAID, THE INTENTION IS TO KEEP AT LEAST A SMALL AMOUNT OF PFIZER ON HAND FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, AT LEAST UNTIL PERHAPS THE TIME WHEN MODERNA BECOMES APPROVED FOR THAT SAME AGE RANGE. AND I THINK, DID I COVER ALL OF YOUR QUESTION THERE? ARE WE GOING TO GO THROUGH A SIMILAR SIGN-UP PROCESS FOR YOUTH, OR IS THIS JUST GOING TO BE CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT KIND OF THING? OR HOW DO YOU ENVISION THAT? WELL, RIGHT NOW, IT'S FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, WALK-IN BASIS. THE EVENT ON THE 5TH WILL ALSO JUST BE SHOW UP AND WE'LL GET YOU A VACCINE. IF WE HAVE REALLY GOOD PARTICIPATION, WE'LL SCHEDULE ADDITIONAL DRIVE-THRU EVENTS TARGETING THAT AGE RANGE. WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE 5TH BECAUSE A LOT OF THE MAJOR SITES HAVE HAD PFIZER AVAILABLE FOR, WELL, REALLY SINCE THE BEGINNING. AND THEY'VE SERVED A LOT OF THE YOUNG ADULTS IN THAT AGE RANGE THAT HAVE BEEN SEEKING THE VACCINE. SO WE'LL SEE WHAT RESPONSE WE GET ON THE 5TH. IF WE GET A REALLY GOOD RESPONSE, WE'LL SCHEDULE MORE EVENTS, BUT AS I SAID, IT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE AT PUBLIC HEALTH WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT ANY TIME DURING OUR NORMAL HOURS OF OPERATION. ALL RIGHT, WELL, MY TEENAGE DAUGHTERS HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, JASON. JASON, 'GOT AN E-MAIL TODAY ABOUT AN UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENT, CAN YOU BRIEFLY GO OVER THE CALENDAR OF COMMUNITY SITES, EVENTS THAT YOU SHARE WITH COUNCIL FOR THE PUBLIC THAT MAYBE VIEWING AND LISTENING TO US. CAN YOU RUN OVER THOSE RIGHT QUICK, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY. GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT TO PULL THAT UP ON MY SCREEN. WHILE I'M DOING THAT, OF COURSE, FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, WE HAVE THE CAPACITY NOW TO SEND OUT STAFF TO OFF-SITE EVENTS. SO IF ANY ORGANIZATION HAS BOTH A VENUE AND AN EVENT WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE A REASONABLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE NEEDING A VACCINE, WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SEND FOLKS OUT. AND PROVIDE VACCINES AT THOSE EVENTS. THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE EVENT OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND WHERE REVACCINATED, I THINK, ABOUT TWO DOZEN PEOPLE. SO THE WEB PAGE THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, SIR THAT'S ON THE COVID-19 WEB PAGE. YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF LINKS. BUT IF YOU HIT ON THAT COVID-19 LINK ON THE MAIN WEB PAGE, YOU CAN GET TO OUR VACCINE EVENT CALENDAR FAIRLY QUICKLY. AND ONCE YOU FIND THAT, IF YOU NOTICE ON THE TOP, RIGHT, THERE'S A CONTACT FOR OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR, DIANA BEELER. SHE'S MANAGING THOSE EVENTS. SO FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO MAY WANT TO TRY AND SCHEDULE SOMETHING, THERE'S A LINK THERE FOR DIANA'S EMAIL. JUST GET IN TOUCH WITH HER AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO SCHEDULE. IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE UPCOMING, JUST REAL QUICKLY, WE'VE GOT AN EVENT ON MAY 22ND. ACTUALLY, WE HAVE TWO EVENTS ON MAY 22ND, WHICH IS THIS SATURDAY. ONE AT SHALLOW CHURCH, OF COURSE THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND ANOTHER ONE AT THE SAIGON MALL THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THERE ARE A FEW CLOSED EVENTS THAT ARE LISTED ON THE SITE AND BY CLOSED EVENT, I MEAN, AN EXAMPLE HERE IS A LONG TERM CARE FACILITY. THEY'VE ASKED US TO COME OUT AND PROVIDE SOME DOSES FOR SOME RESIDENTS AND STAFF THAT HAVE NOT YET HAD ACCESS FOR WHATEVER REASON, PERHAPS NEW RESIDENTS OR STAFF. BUT THAT'S CONSIDERED A CLOSED EVENT. WE DON'T REALLY INTEND FOR THE PUBLIC TO COME TO THAT SITE BECAUSE IT IS A LONG TERM CARE FACILITY. WE'VE GOT TO THE NATION'S REFUGEE OUTREACH EVENT ON SATURDAY, JUNE 5TH. AND THEN WE'VE GOT ANOTHER CLOSED EVENT, THE SECOND FRIDAY, JUNE 11, FOR ONE OF THE LARGER BUSINESSES. THEY'VE ASKED US TO VACCINATE STAFF. SO THAT'S JUST A SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE UPCOMING EVENTS THAT WE HAVE. AND AGAIN, WE'VE GOT ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO HOLD MORE OF THESE OFFSITE EVENTS. SO ANYBODY OUT THERE DO YOU HAVE AN ORGANIZATION WITH BOTH A VENUE AND AN EVENT? [00:15:03] AND LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE INTERESTED AND WE'LL WORK YOU INTO THE CALENDAR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER VERA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JASON, AREN'T YOU HAVING ONE THIS SATURDAY? YES, SIR--ON DAIRY STREET. I'M SORRY, DID YOU ASK IF WE'RE HAVING ONE ON DAIRY? YEAH, ON THE NAACP? NO, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT ON OUR SCHEDULE. THE TWO THAT WE HAVE THIS SATURDAY ARE SHILOH CHURCH, WHICH IS IN THE FORTY SEVEN HUNDRED BLOCK OF SATURN ROAD AND OF COURSE, SAIGON MALL. I THINK I WORKED WITH YOU, SIR, TO SCHEDULE THE ONE AT SAIGON MALL. SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT ASSISTANCE. IF YOU HAVE A CONTACT WITH THE NAACP --I THOUGHT IT WAS AT THAT ACADEMY ON DAIRY STREET. MAYBE I'M WRONG. I THOUGHT IT WAS MAY 22ND. JASON WILL CHECK ON IT. OK, THANK YOU. OK. RIGHT. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR JEFF OR FOR MISTIE? WE WILL MOVE ON TO MR. BRADFORD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. A COUPLE OF CHANGES WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE AND IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, ONE OF THOSE IS TO FOLLOW THE CDC GUIDELINES WITH RESPECT TO MASK, WE ARE LOOKING AT MAKING THOSE OPTIONAL INTERNALLY. WE ARE ENCOURAGING THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS. AND THEN SECOND, AND VISITING WITH THE MAYOR, WE ARE LOOKING AT STARTING IN PERSON COUNCIL MEETINGS BEGINNING IN JULY. AND SO OUR FIRST COUNCIL MEETING BACK IN CITY FACILITIES WOULD BE JULY THE 5TH. TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SOME SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SOME CAUTION, WE WOULD START WITH HAVING BOTH THE WORK SESSION AND THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. WE STILL HAVE THE PLEXIGLASS SHIELDS IN PLACE. WE ALSO HAVE THE EVERY OTHER ROW SECTIONED OFF TO PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE SPACE, AS WELL AS TEMPERATURE KIOSK THAT THOSE VISITING CAN CAN GO THROUGH TO CHECK THEIR TEMPERATURE. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE. BUT AGAIN, THE SCHEDULE IS TO BEGIN MEETING IN PERSON AGAIN IN JULY. THIS WOULD ALSO APPLY TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY CHANGES IN THE ALMOST YEAR SINCE WE'VE MET IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. AND SO WE WILL LIKELY HAVE AN EARLY START TO OUR FIRST WORK SESSION SO THAT WE CAN GET YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW TOUCH SCREENS. AND MAYBE THIS TIME WHEN YOU PRESS VOTE, THE SYSTEM WILL ACTUALLY REGISTER EVERYONE'S VOTE. THEY WE HAVE ALSO COMPLETED THE TECHNOLOGY INSTALLATION REQUIRED SO THAT CITIZENS CAN CONTINUE TO TESTIFY OR SPEAK AT THE OPEN MIC THROUGH ZOOM. WE DO HAVE THAT CAPABILITY IN PLACE. WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IN PLACE YET IS THE ABILITY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING WITHOUT BEING AT THE MEETING. AND THERE'S SOME COMPLEXITY TO THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MASTER YET. SO YOU CAN ALL LOOK FORWARD TO BEING TOGETHER SOON. AND MAYOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT? NO. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE JULY DATE, HONESTLY, I WAS WANTING TO DO IT EARLIER, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO GET THROUGH THE DISTRICT THREE ELECTION CYCLE AND GET, SO BY THE TIME WE DO THAT, THEN THERE'S ONE MEETING AND IT'S LIKE, IT BASICALLY TURNED OUT TO [00:20:03] WHERE ESSENTIALLY JULY 4TH IS SORT OF A CLEAN BREAK, YOU KNOW, TO START THE NEW COUNCIL WILL BE SEATED BY THEN, AND SO THAT'S WHEN WE WILL PICK UP FROM THERE. AS FAR AS THE OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS COMING BACK, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OF THEM AND THEY ARE READY TO COME BACK TO START MEETING IN PERSON. SO IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A GOOD TIME FOR US TO START THAT, AND AS BRYAN AND I WERE DISCUSSING IT THE OTHER DAY, YOU KNOW, AS HE SAID, WE WILL MEET, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW BOTH MEETINGS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US SOME ISSUES BECAUSE THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR WHEN WE OVERLAP WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION. SO WE'LL HAVE TO WORK THAT OUT AS FAR AS MONDAY. YOU KNOW, USUALLY, HONESTLY, WHEN THERE'S AN OVERLAP WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IT'S USUALLY OUR FAULT. IT'S BECAUSE WE MOVED OUR MEETING, NOT THEY MOVED THEIRS. SO WE'LL LOOK AT THOSE THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, BUT STILL MOVING, STILL MOVING TOWARDS THAT. AND THEN, I GUESS WE WILL, YOU KNOW, AS IT PROGRESSES, YOU KNOW, AS THE YEAR PROGRESSES, WE WILL LOOK AT IS THERE, I'M GUESSING AT SOME POINT THERE WILL BE A TIME OR A FEELING THAT WE CAN GO BACK TO USING BOTH ROOMS, USING THE WORK SESSION ROOM AND THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND I'M GUESSING THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN IT WILL SEEM NATURAL THAT THE PLEXIGLASS DIVIDERS CAN COME DOWN, BUT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NOT SETTING ANY DATES TO THOSE OR TIME PERIODS. WE'RE JUST GOING TO START GETTING BACK TO MEETING IN PERSON AND GOING FROM THERE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, BRYAN. THANK YOU. THAT IS ALL FOR ME. OK, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. BRYAN, CAN YOU SHARE WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR THE CHANGES THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, MASKS OPTION, THOSE CHANGES? WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION, EFFECTIVE DATE, PLEASE? WE WERE GOING TO MAKE THAT EFFECTIVE TOMORROW. TOMORROW? YES, SIR. OK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OK. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR MR. BRADFORD? OR ANYTHING THAT'S UNDER THE COVID-19 UMBRELLA. ALL RIGHT, I SEE NONE. AND THAT WILL MOVE US TO ITEM 4B, GARLAND CULTURAL ARTS MASTER PLAN PRESENTATION. [4B. Garland Cultural Arts Master Plan Presentation] MR. HESSER, THERE YOU ARE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, AND COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER BASS, CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME. GOOD TO SEE YOU. HOPE TO MEET YOU SOON IN PERSON. WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TONIGHT THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE CULTURAL ARTS MASTER PLAN THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED OVER A YEAR AGO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PROVIDING SOME FOCUS AND DIRECTION ON THE COMMUNITY'S CULTURAL ARTS ASSETS, PROVIDING SOME FOCUS AND ADDITIONAL PURPOSE TO THAT. AND SO WE FEEL THAT WHAT WE PRESENT TONIGHT, MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN, AS WE INVITED COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS STAGES, PROVIDE DIRECT INPUT. THERE'S ALSO BEEN A CONCERTED, LARGE EFFORT TO INCLUDE AS MANY PUBLIC INPUT OPPORTUNITIES THAT REFLECT THE DIVERSE MAKEUP OF GARLAND. AND HOPEFULLY WE HAVE ACHIEVED THAT. THERE CLEARLY WERE SOME CHALLENGES RELATED TO THE COVID, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE FEEL THAT WE HAD SOME GREAT RESULTS, EXCELLENT FEEDBACK, PROVIDED MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT BASED ON THEIR LEVEL OF COMFORT. SO WITH THAT, I WILL INTRODUCE OUR CONSULTANTS WITH CIVIC ARTS DR. LYNN OSGOOD AND BEN MARTIN, AND THEN WE'LL KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH A HIGH LEVEL PRESENTATION OF WHAT YOU MAY HAVE SEEN KIND OF IN PHASES AND PIECES. AND THEN WE ALSO PROVIDED EVERYONE, I BELIEVE IN YOUR BOX ACCOUNT, YOU SHOULD HAVE A COMPLETE COPY OF THAT. WE WILL NOT COVER THAT ALL TONIGHT. BUT CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. OK, VERY GOOD. LYNN, IF YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR SCREEN AND WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, AND I'LL HAVE BEEN THEN SHARE THE SCREEN. YEAH, THANK YOU, ANDY AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT. IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY. IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY THROUGH COVID. WE BEGAN RIGHT BEFORE COVID BEGAN AND THEN MOVED INTO THE PIVOT, AS EVERYONE DID, THAT WE [00:25:03] JOINED YOU HERE RIGHT WHEN EVERYTHING WAS SPIKING. SO IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL TO BE BACK WITH YOU WHEN THERE'S WHEN YOU ARE THINKING OF COMING BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. AND SO WE HOPE THAT THIS PLAN CAN BE PART OF THAT REEMERGENCE OF GARLAND BACK INTO OUR NEXT NORMAL. AND SO WHAT WE'LL DO TONIGHT IS WE'LL PRESENT THE PLAN, AS ANDY SAID, AS AN OVERVIEW. AND BUT WE'RE VERY GLAD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DELIVERED THE DRAFT TO YOU. AND WE'RE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. SO, YEAH, SO JUST TO ORIENT EVERYONE, WE'LL GIVE THE QUICK, COMPLETE OVERVIEW, SO EVERYONE'S ORIENTED. SO MYSELF AND BEN MARTIN, WE ARE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, CIVIC ARTS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND WE FOCUS ON CULTURAL PLANNING AND ALSO WORK ON DOING NATIONAL TRAININGS AROUND THE PRACTICE OF CREATIVE PLACEMAKING WHICH IS ART SPACE PLACEMAKING. AND SO WERE WERE VERY THRILLED TO BE WORKING WITH YOU ALL HERE. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING TONIGHT IS GOING OVER THE CULTURAL PLAN, TALKING IN GENERAL ABOUT SOME INTERSECTING WITH TRENDS AND CULTURAL ARTS PLANNING, BECAUSE WE REALLY SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PLAN AS REALLY A MERGING OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THEN MEETING THAT WITH NATIONAL PRACTICES TO FIND THAT MIDDLE ROAD OF BRINGING BOTH INNOVATION AND THE STRENGTHS AND THE DESIRES OF THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL BE PRESENTING WHAT EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AND HOW THAT HAS SHAPED UP INTO VISIONS, GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THEN ALSO TALKING ABOUT HOW IN OUR EXPERIENCE, HOW THE KINDS OF OUTCOMES THAT WE KNOW THAT THESE TYPES OF ACTIONS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING AND WHAT THEY CAN BRING ABOUT. SO JUST TO GROUND OURSELVES OF WHY A CULTURAL ARTS PLAN, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOOD TO RECOGNIZE THAT CULTURAL PLANNING IS NEW IN MUNICIPAL PRACTICE. WE ARE URBAN PLANNERS BY TRAINING. I TEACH AT UT IN THE URBAN PLANNING DEPARTMENT. AND BUT THE IDEA OF REALLY STEPPING BACK AND AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT SAYING WE WANT TO CONSCIOUSLY REALLY HARNESS THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, THE CAPACITY OF OUR CREATIVE SECTOR TO MEET ALL OF OUR LARGER CIVIC GOALS IN A COORDINATED EFFORT. AND THAT'S WHAT A CULTURAL PLAN DOES. IT REALLY LOOKS VERY BROADLY, VERY BROADLY AT THE DEFINITION OF ARTS. SO IT'S NOT JUST VISUAL ARTS. IT'S NOT JUST THEATER, BUT IT'S A BROAD UNDERSTANDING OF ARTS AND CULTURE AND HERITAGE AND BRINGING THAT ALL TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT CAN MEET LARGER GOALS AND THEN AND BRING THEM DOWN INTO RECOMMENDATIONS. AND SO THE REASON THAT WE DO WHAT WE DO, THAT WE LOVE WHAT WE DO IS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT CULTURAL PLANNING IS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT'S EFFECTIVE AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT GETS AT DEEPER LEVELS. IT IS ABLE, IN HARNESSING THE CREATIVE SECTOR, THE CREATIVE RESOURCES OF THE COMMUNITY. THE CITY IS ABLE TO MAKE VERY CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT DECISIONS ABOUT HOW IT'S GOING TO FOSTER A VIBRANT COMMUNITY, BOTH FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS, AND WHAT WE LOVE AND GARLAND IS THAT THE ALREADY CAPACITY THERE FOR WHAT WE ALWAYS THINK OF AS THE HUB AND SPOKE. IT'S THE DOWNTOWN, IT'S THE VISITORS, IT'S THE ECONOMIC VITALITY. BUT THEN AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF ENERGY THAT'S ALSO GOING INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, TOO, AND ALL OF THAT IN CELEBRATION OF LOCAL CULTURES AND HERITAGE AND REALLY FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND A LARGER SENSE OF CIVIC PARTICIPATION, WHICH WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO ENGAGE IN THE ARTS ACTUALLY ARE MORE INCLINED TO BE CIVICALLY ORIENTED AND PARTICIPATE CIVICALLY. SO WE KNOW FOR IN GARLAND, I THINK THAT GARLAND IS AT A VERY SPECIAL SPOT RIGHT NOW. IT'S AT THIS POINT OF HAVING BUILT FOR MANY YEARS, MANY DECADES, A REALLY STRONG BASE, AND NOW IT'S READY TO GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL. SO IF WE LOOK AT WHERE GARLAND IS RIGHT NOW, IT ACTUALLY HAS ALL THE BUILDING BLOCKS. SO ON ONE LEVEL, IT'S IF WE LOOK AT BIG ART DAY, WE CAN SEE A VIBRANT BASE OF PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN CREATED, PARTICULARLY WITH GARLAND ISD, WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE THE ART STAFF THERE IS REALLY INCREDIBLE. HAVING WORKED WITH MANY ISDS ACROSS THE NATION, GARLAND HAS A VERY SPECIAL STAFF THERE. GARLAND ALSO HAS A VERY STRONG BASE OF PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, AS WE CAN SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN 506 ART. IT HAS A VERY STRONG BASE OF CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS AND NOT ONLY AN INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY [00:30:04] OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT FOLKS HAVE ACTUALLY ORGANIZED AND ARE ALREADY DOING DIFFERENT CELEBRATIONS. WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO BRING THEM TOGETHER. THEY WANT TO CELEBRATE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, AND THEY WANT TO CELEBRATE THE LARGE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY AND THE EVENTS THAT THEY DO IN THE DANCES AND THE MUSIC. AND FOLKS ACTUALLY WANT TO BRING THOSE TOGETHER SO THAT THERE'S A MUTUAL SHARING OF CULTURES AND HERITAGE. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS ALREADY A STRONG START TO REALLY FOSTERING THE VISUAL ARTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH MURALS AND PUBLIC ART. AND I THINK WE'RE GARLAND REALLY STANDS OUT IS IN WHAT IT IS DOING IN TERMS OF NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVEMENT IN THE ARTS FOR A CITY ITS SIZE GARLAND IS DOING MORE WORK THAN THAN WE SEE IN I WOULD SAY MOST CITIES ITS SIZE, BY THE WAY THAT IT IS ABLE TO CONSCIOUSLY AND TACTICALLY START ENGAGING COMMUNITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PIECES OF WORK RIGHT WHERE THEY LIVE. SO THAT, AGAIN, IT'S THAT HUB AND THAT SPOKE. IT'S THE DOWNTOWN, BUT IT REACHES OUT ACROSS THE CITY. SO WHAT WE SEE AS THE CORE OF THE FOUNDATION AND THE STRENGTH THAT GARLAND BRINGS TO THE TABLE IS STRONG PERFORMING ARTS FACILITIES AND CORE NONPROFITS, AGAIN, THAT ARE OUTSIZED FOR A CITY TYPICALLY ITS SIZE, ALREADY STRONG IDENTITY OF MAKERS AND CREATORS, NOT JUST THE ARTS. AND SOMETIMES WE EVEN OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, WE EVEN HESITATE TO CALL IT JUST THE ARTS BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH BROADER THAN THAT. AND GARLAND HAS A CORE IDENTITY OF MAKERS AND THAT'S SOMETHING TO REALLY HOLD ON TO. IT'S GOT STRONG CIVIC INVOLVEMENT AMONG CREATIVES, MORE SO THAN WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER PLACES. AND THAT'S SOMETHING TO REALLY TO HARNESS AND TO HOLD INCREDIBLE CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND A HUGE ORIENTATION TOWARDS FAMILY AND YOUTH. I THINK WE'VE MENTIONED TO YOU ALL OUR FAVORITE MOMENT IN THIS WHOLE PLANNING PROCESS WAS THE FOCUS GROUP WE HELD WITH YOUTH WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HELPED FACILITATE THAT MEETING THEMSELVES AND HEARING THEM TALK ABOUT THEIR OWN PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AS THEY'VE BEEN CULTIVATED THROUGH PROGRAMS AT THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER DIRECTLY UNDER PATTY'S TUTELAGE , AND THAT GARLAND ISD WERE REALLY DEEPLY TOUCHING TO BEN AND I, BUT ALSO TO EVERYONE THERE. SO IT'S REALLY IT'S A BEAUTIFUL [INAUDIBLE]. SO I PROMISE I WON'T EXPLAIN THIS WHOLE DIAGRAM, BUT IT'S IN THE PLAN AND I BRING IT UP JUST TO SHOW THAT HAS WE ARE THINKING IN CIVIC ARTS AS WE ARE THINKING OF THE CREATIVE SECTOR, THE CREATIVE ECONOMY, CULTURAL VITALITY, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL POLICY, THAT WE REALLY ARE VIEWING IT AS A VERY COMPLEX INTERSECTION. THE ANALOGY I LIKE TO GIVE IS THAT CULTURAL PLANNING IS NOT LIKE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AT ALL. WE CAN'T ANTICIPATE ALL THE OUTCOMES AT THE BEGINNING, BUT WE LOOK AT IT MORE LIKE ECOLOGICAL PLANNING. WHAT ARE THE BASIC PARTS OF THIS NATURAL WHOLE THAT ADD UP THIS ECOLOGY, REALLY THIS CREATIVE ECOLOGY? HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE THOSE STRENGTHS, SEE THE DIRECTION THAT THEY'RE GOING, AND THEN HELP THAT TO HAPPEN EVEN MORE? AND IN CONNECTION WITH EACH OTHER? SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO PASS IT TO MY COLLEAGUE, BEN, WHO'S GOING TO LEAD YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THE AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOWED. THANK YOU, LYNN. SO EVERYTHING THAT LYNN HAS PRESENTED UP TO THIS POINT IS REALLY THE FOUNDATION THAT WE BUILT THE PLANNING PROCESS OFF OF. AND SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH WHAT THAT PLANNING PROCESS WAS. AND WE SPLIT THE PLANNING PROCESS INTO THREE PHASES, DISCOVER, ENVISION AND DEVELOP. THE DISCOVER PHASE OCCURRED EARLY ON IN THE PROJECT MID 2020. AND THIS IS WHERE WE REALLY KIND OF GOT TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY, ESTABLISHED OUR WORK PLAN, MADE THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE FOR COVID-19 IN TERMS OF REALLY MOVING, UNFORTUNATELY MOVING A LOT OF THIS ENGAGEMENT VIRTUAL. WE ASSEMBLED OUR GROUP OF COMMUNITY AND STAFF ADVISORS THAT WALKED WITH US THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROJECT FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERSPECTIVE FOR THE STAFF ADVISORS AND THEN FOR THE COMMUNITY ADVISORS REALLY REPRESENTING A DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES AND BRINGING THAT DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES INTO THE PLANNING PROCESS. AND THEN WE DID OUR DATA HOMEWORK, OUR RESEARCH. WE CONDUCTED WHAT WE CALLED A SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS, WHERE WE LOOKED AT DEMOGRAPHICS AND [00:35:01] GARLAND THE CREATIVE ECONOMY, THE CREATIVE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, ASSETS IN THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER POLICY AND PLAN DOCUMENTS THAT TOUCHED ON CULTURAL ARTS IN SOME WAY. THE ENVISION PROCESS REALLY IS OUR ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, AND WE HAVE JUST A SLIDE OR TWO THAT GOES INTO A LOT MORE DETAIL ON THIS. BUT THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS, REALLY FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END, WE HAD OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONVERSATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT, SO THE VISION FOR A CULTURAL ARTS AND GARLAND GOALS AND ACTION ITEMS IN SUPPORT OF THAT VISION AND THE DRAFT PLAN THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DELIVERED IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY'S MEETING, WHICH WILL BE REALLY ENVISION AND DEVELOPED PHASES, ARE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE COVERING FOR THE REST OF THIS PRESENTATION. SO THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, AS I SAID, REALLY LASTED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE PLANNING PROCESS WITH WITH MANY INVITATIONS FOR FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS TO PARTICIPATE IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FORMS. ANDY SPOKE TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES EARLIER OF OF DOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DURING COVID-19. AND SO WE ATTEMPTED TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS OF ENGAGING AND REALLY DOING A LOT OF REACHING OUT THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS AND NETWORKS TO POOL PEOPLE INTO THE PLANNING PROCESS. SO THAT STARTED AT THE VERY BEGINNING, AS I MENTIONED, WITH A COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP MADE UP OF FOLKS REPRESENTING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES IN THE COMMUNITY, FROM EDUCATION TO DIFFERENT CULTURAL GROUPS TO ARTISTS AND CREATIVES THEMSELVES, THE PRIVATE SECTOR REALLY TO KIND OF GROUND TRUTH AS WE MET SEVEN TIMES WITH OUR COMMUNITY ADVISERS PERIODICALLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE PLANNING PROCESS. AND WE WOULD BRING OUR PROGRESS TO THEM AND LEARN THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WERE REPORTING BACK. AND IT REALLY HELPED US TO HAVE AN AVENUE FOR COURSE CORRECTION AND GROUND TRUTHING THAT WAS BASED IN THE COMMUNITY ITSELF AND FOLKS WHO DEDICATED THEIR TIME, ENERGY AND SERVICE TO CULTURAL ARTS AND GARLAND. WE ALSO DID A SIMILAR ACTIVITY SIX TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE PLANNING PROCESS WITH A GROUP OF STAFF ADVISORS. SO THAT WE REALLY WERE MAKING SURE AS WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT THIS WAS GOING TO WORK ADMINISTRATIVELY AS WELL. WE CONDUCTED 14 ONE HOUR LONG INTERVIEWS WITH STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE CREATIVE SECTOR. AGAIN, THESE WERE FOLKS RECOMMENDED BY OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP, RECOMMENDED BY STAFF AND OUR STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS, AGAIN, REPRESENTED A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES, DIFFERENT CULTURAL AND HERITAGE BACKGROUNDS, REALLY, TO GET A SENSE, A BROADER SENSE, KIND OF THE NEXT RIPPLE OUT IN THE POND FROM THE COMMUNITY ADVISERS OF THE TYPES OF ISSUES AND THINGS THAT FOLKS WORKING IN THE CREATIVE SECTOR WERE WRESTLING WITH. WE EXPANDED THAT EVEN FURTHER WITH THREE FOCUS GROUPS IN THE FALL. CORE CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS OF WHICH WE HAD EIGHT PARTICIPANTS. THESE ARE THE DOWNTOWN NONPROFITS, THE LONG RUNNING ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE LIFTED UP CULTURAL ARTS AND PERFORMANCE IN GARLAND FOR MANY YEARS. THEN, WITH CREATIVES THEMSELVES, WE HAD A FOCUS GROUP WITH ARTISTS AND CREATIVES TALKING ABOUT THEIR PERSPECTIVE, THEIR NEEDS, THEIR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE AND GARLAND OF SUPPORTING THEIR WORK AND OTHERS LIKE THEM. AND THEN, AS LYNN MENTIONED, OUR YOUTH CREATIVE FOCUS GROUP, WHERE WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF WORKING WITH TWO YOUTH FACILITATORS, ONE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND ONE COLLEGE AGE, WHO WE TRAINED UP TO FACILITATE THAT MEETING THEMSELVES, WHICH WAS A REALLY WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR US AND WE HOPE A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR THEM AS WELL. WE PUT A COMMUNITY SURVEY IN THE FIELD AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AND GOT TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THREE RESPONSES ON RESIDENTS IN GENERAL, FOLKS THAT LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN GARLAND THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON CULTURAL ARTS ACTIVITIES. THEY LIKE TO SEE HOW MUCH THEY PARTICIPATE, WHERE THEY PARTICIPATE AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF, SO WE HAVE THAT IN THE FIELD FOR I BELIEVE IT WAS ALMOST TWO MONTHS AND GOT A FAIR AMOUNT OF RESPONSES THERE, A LARGE AMOUNT OF RESPONSES THERE. CONCURRENTLY, WE HOSTED THREE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON THIS PLAN AS IT REALLY WAS STARTING TO TAKE FORM FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THESE HAD TO BE DONE VIRTUALLY. AND SO WENT THROUGH A ROBUST OUTREACH PERIOD WHERE WE WORKED THROUGH NETWORKS IN GISD [00:40:06] AND THE CHAMBER THROUGH ALL OF OUR CONTACTS IN THE PRIOR ENGAGEMENT THAT I JUST DESCRIBED A MOMENT AGO, WE DID SPANISH OUTREACH AND VIETNAMESE OUTREACH, INCLUDING A VIETNAMESE TRANSLATED ARTICLE ON THE ENGAGEMENT'S IN THE NORTH TEXAS VIETNAMESE NEWSPAPER. AND ONE REALLY AMAZING THING THAT WE GOT TO DO IN THESE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS IS WERE ABLE TO INVITE SEVEN ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS TO PARTICIPATE AND SHARE ABOUT THEIR WORK, SHARE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE OF CREATING IN GARLAND. SOME OF THESE CREATIVES PRODUCED NEW WORK LIKE LESLIE MONTENA, A VISUAL ARTIST IN THE UPPER LEFT, AND MOSES UVERE, A RAPPER AND PERFORMER WHO PRODUCED A NEW MUSIC VIDEO THAT PREMIERED AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING. BOBBY OROSCO, A PIANIST WHO PLAYS IN GARLAND FREQUENTLY DOES A LOT OF WORK IN GARLAND, HE PERFORMED LIVE AT ONE OF THESE EVENTS, AND CULLIN LASSITER, WHO HAS DONE A LOT OF VISUAL ARTS WORK WITH MURALS OF THE CITY, ACTUALLY TALK THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AN ARTIST WORKING WITH THE CITY AND TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ON THESE SORTS OF PROJECTS. AND SO WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS IS THE STRENGTHS ARE ECHOED, WHAT WE LEARNED FROM FROM OUR EARLIER RESEARCH THAT WE ALREADY KIND OF TALKED ABOUT ABOVE. AND REALLY THIS IS WHERE WE HEARD ABOUT THE STRONG HISTORY OF CULTURAL LEADERSHIP, THE STRENGTH OF THE PERFORMANCE VENUES AND NONPROFITS, THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH, DIVERSITY, THE CIVIC MINDEDNESS OF ARTISTS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FESTIVALS AND EVENTS. AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HEARD WERE REALLY AROUND THEME OF CONNECTIVITY KIND OF CONCERN THAT SOME GROUPS OF CREATIVES ARE A LITTLE SILOED OR PERHAPS YOUNG PEOPLE WERE NOT AWARE OF ALL THE EXTRACURRICULARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. SO JUST REALLY OPPORTUNITIES TO BREAK DOWN SOME OF THOSE COMMUNICATION ISSUES AND BRING MORE PEOPLE TOGETHER IN AND AROUND THE ARTS. AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT FOLKS IDENTIFIED ARE REALLY IN TWO AREAS AROUND BUILDING UP STRUCTURES TO SUPPORT ALL THIS WITHIN THE CITY, ONE, AND THEN JUST WORKING TO ACTIVATE THE COMMUNITY TO BRING MORE PEOPLE IN TO BRIDGE BUILD AND BUILD MORE OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WILL BRING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE INTO ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE FACILITATED THROUGH CULTURAL ARTS. WE TOOK ALL OF THAT AND FUNNELED IT INTO THE VISION AND GOALS OF THE PLAN, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT NOW. SO THIS IS REALLY KIND OF THE ENGINE OF THE PLAN HERE. AND SO THE VISION, WHICH WAS THEN AGAIN, LIKE MANY THINGS BROUGHT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP SHAPE AND RESPOND TO IS THAT GARLAND CULTURAL ARTS SECTOR GROWS FROM STRONG COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS AND PROVIDES RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ACCESS TO CREATIVE EXPERIENCES AND EXPRESSION. THE CITY OF GARLAND STRIVES TO BUILD A REPUTATION AS A REGIONAL CULTURAL DESTINATION, TO BE A TRAINING GROUND FOR ALL FORMS OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND TO NURTURE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS GROUNDED IN DIVERSITY, FAMILY AND YOUTH. AND IN ORDER TO ENACT THAT VISION, WE BROKE IT DOWN INTO SIX GOALS AND ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PLAN CAN BE FOUND UNDER THESE GOAL CATEGORIES. THOSE ARE TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES, AS LYNN SAID, IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS AND DOWNTOWN FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO GROW OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH, BOTH EXTRACURRICULAR AND IN SCHOOL, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GISD. TO CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT DIVERSITY AND HERITAGE, THE MANY CULTURES THAT MAKE GARLAND HOME AND THE RICH CREATIVE HERITAGE AND HISTORY THAT IT HAS TO SUPPORT AND ATTRACT ARTISTS AND CREATIVES, BOTH THOSE WHO CURRENTLY LIVE AND WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO MAKE. TO FOSTER COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS OF MANY DIFFERENT KINDS AMONG CREATIVES, AMONG CREATIVE ORGANIZATIONS, WITH THE CITY AND OTHER PARTNERS AND WITH NEW TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE SEE EMERGING AS NATIONAL TRENDS, AND NUMBER SIX, TO OPTIMIZE MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS, REALLY TO WORK WITH ALL OF THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE SYSTEMS WITHIN THE CITY TO SUPPORT ALL OF THAT WORK. SO WE WON'T GO OVER ALL OF THESE TODAY, BUT WE HAVE A VISION, THE SIX GOALS, EACH OF THOSE GOALS IS SUPPORTED BY THREE STRATEGIES, AND EACH STRATEGY IS SUPPORTED BY A SERIES OF ACTION ITEMS, WHICH MAKES UP NINETY FOUR ACTION ITEMS IN TOTAL, WHICH ARE ALL FEATURED IN THE PLAN YOU HAVE RECEIVED, TRYING TO PUT IT ON ONE SLIDE, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IMPRESSION OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS ONE BY ONE HERE, BUT WE ATTEMPTED TO REALLY FILL OUT A [00:45:07] LOT OF STRONG, ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT STAFF AND PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN SEIZE ON IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO ADD VITALITY TO THE CITY OF GARLAND THROUGH CULTURAL ARTS. AND I'M GOING TO PAUSE HERE FOR A MOMENT TO PASS BACK TO LYNN FOR THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. LYNN, DID YOU STILL WANT TO PAUSE HERE FOR A MOMENT FOR QUESTIONS? YEAH, I JUST WANT TO YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO GO TOO FAR WITHOUT LETTING YOU ASK ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. MY NEXT PART IS JUST TO INTRODUCE YOU. WE HAVE A TOP 10 LIST. THE 10 MOST IMPORTANT ACTION ITEMS THAT WE RECOMMEND AND TALK ABOUT THE BEGINNING, REALLY, THE KICKOFF PROJECT AND SO BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I JUST I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TOO FAR WITHOUT LEAVING SOME BREATHING ROOM FOR ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT. I DON'T HAVE ANYONE QUEUED UP FOR QUESTIONS AT THE MOMENT. OK, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD. WE'LL GIVE YOU THE TOP 10 AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP. OK, SO THE BIG THING FOR GARLAND IS REALLY FIGURING OUT IT'S SORT OF, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, A LOT OF THE DESIRE THAT WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE IS TO CREATE CONNECTIONS. AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS, IS BASICALLY SMOOTH OUT THE PIPES INTERNAL TO THE CITY AND GET AND MAKE SURE THAT AS ART, PARTICULARLY VISUAL ART AND PUBLIC ART, COMES DOWN THE MUNICIPAL PIPELINE, THAT EVERYONE IS ALIGNED. AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A NEW PRACTICE BECAUSE TRADITIONALLY THAT CAN BE JUST ONE BODY WHO HOLDS IT, BE IT THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS OFFICE OR IN CITIES SUCH AS GARLAND, THE ARTS COMMISSION. BUT BECAUSE GARLAND IS REALLY PUSHING THE EDGE OF PRACTICE. AND WE DO SEE THIS IN PARALLEL WITH MANY CITIES ACROSS THE US OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WANTING TO DO PUBLIC ART AS WELL. TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS, IN THIS CASE, NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY. WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND WHAT WE HAVE WORKSHOPPED WITH BOTH THE ARTS COMMISSION AND THE CITY STAFF IS A STREAMLINED AND LINEAR PROCESS WHEREBY EVERYONE FOLLOWS THE SAME PROCESS FOR PUBLIC ART CREATION. IT CAN BE BY THE ARTS COMMISSION OR BY A SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD DEPARTMENT. THE KEY THING IS THAT YOU WANT A YOU DON'T YOU DON'T WANT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND COMMISSIONS FOLLOWING DIFFERENT PROCESSES BECAUSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE INVOLVED, THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED. AND AS WE KNOW, THEY SEE THE CITY AS THE CITY. SO THERE NEEDS TO BE ONE CLEAR PATH. AND I THINK AFTER WE WORKSHOP, WE HAD A, AS ANDY CALLED IT, A TABLETOP EXERCISE WHERE WE BROUGHT LOTS OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS TO THE ARTS COMMISSION AND TO STAFF. AND WE PLAYED WITH LOTS OF IDEAS. AND WE HAVE WITHIN THE DOCUMENT YOU'LL FIND A VERY CLEAR PROCESS WHEREBY ESSENTIALLY THE MAIN IDEA IS THAT WE CREATE AN ARTIST POOL AND THAT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE ARTS COMMISSION CAN ACCESS THAT ARTIST POOL, THAT ARTIST ROSTER. AND THEN THERE'S LOTS OF SORT OF PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL STUFF OF HOW THAT'S ALL CREATED. THOSE ARE THE TWO--AND THEN AND THEN WITH THAT, SO THAT'S WHAT WE RECOMMENDED FIRST, GET THOSE GET GET THOSE WHEELS TURNING AND GET THAT PROCESS GOING. AND THEN WHEN THE CITY IS READY, WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT IT CONSIDER A PERCENT FOR OUR PROGRAM, PERCENT FOR OUR PROGRAMS ARE WHERE HALF A PERCENT TO TWO PERCENT OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARE DESIGNATED FOR PUBLIC ART. WE HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN CITIES ARE READY, IT IS THE MOST SUSTAINABLE AND STABLE FUNDING MECHANISM AND CREATES A LONGEVITY OF THE ARTS INVESTMENT THAT OTHER, JUST SAY, HOT FUNDING ALONE CANNOT COVER. SO WHEN THE CITY IS READY, WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT. AND SO AND THE REASON THAT WE RECOMMEND THAT THESE PUBLIC ARTS PURCHASE IS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 30 YEARS. SO, THE PROCESS THAT WE RECOMMENDED TO STAFF AND THE PUBLIC ART PROCESS, THE PERCENT FOR ART, AGAIN, ARE BASED ON TRIED AND TRUE PRACTICES THAT THE TIRES HAVE BEEN KICKED MANY TIMES OVER, AND THERE'S A REALLY GOOD NETWORK OF PROFESSIONALS SO THAT THOSE GARLAND STAFF THAT ARE STARTING TO WORK IN THIS WITH THE TYPES OF PROCESSES WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD, THEY HAVE TREMENDOUS NETWORKS ACROSS THE NATION THAT THEY CAN ACCESS. AND WE HOPE WE'VE SET THEM UP TO BE COLLEAGUES TO THOSE FOLKS. THE THIRD TOP PRIORITY THAT WE RECOMMEND IS THE TO DEVELOP A PLAN AND SECURE FUNDING FOR NON RENTAL PROGRAMMING FOR THE CITY OF GARLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. [00:50:03] GARLAND HAS INCREDIBLE FACILITIES. AND RIGHT NOW THE AND THE REALLY GOOD. IT HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB AT BRINGING NEW AND INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCES TO THEM AND REALLY HARNESSING THEIR STRENGTH AT BEING AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO RENT THEM OUT AND TO USE THEM FOR DIFFERENT CULTURAL AND FAMILY FESTIVALS, AND WE THINK THAT GARLAND IS READY TO BRING EVEN MORE NON RENTAL PROGRAMMING, THINGS THAT COULD REALLY ATTRACT A REGIONAL AUDIENCE. IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THEN BECAUSE GARLAND IS REALLY READY TO POSITION ITSELF REGIONALLY AND HARNESS ITS FACILITIES TO BRING IN NEW TYPES OF PROGRAMMING. AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE PLAN ARE ONE STAFFING RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE CITY HIRE A ONE FULL TIME CONSULTANT TO HELP WITH GRANT WRITING. THIS WOULD BE UNDER ANDY'S ROOF, UNDER PARKS AND REALLY HELP TO FIND THAT FUNDING THAT COULD BRING DIFFERENT PARTNERS TOGETHER, CREATE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND REALLY HARNESS THE FULL CAPACITY OF THE FACILITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY. THE NEXT FOUR AND FIVE REALLY GO TOGETHER, AS WE'VE SPOKEN A NUMBER OF TIMES OVER THIS PRESENTATION, THAT HUB AND SPOKE, WE'RE INVESTING IN DOWNTOWN SQUARE PROGRAMMING, AND THE PLAN HAS A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC IDEAS FOR THAT, WHICH REALLY LOOK, AS WE'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE, THEY WANT TO BRING DIFFERENT KINDS OF FESTIVALS TOGETHER AND THEN ALSO INVESTING AT THE SAME TIME. AND SIMULTANEOUSLY, IT'S NEVER ONE OVER THE OTHER OF INVESTING IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHILE CONTINUING THE WORK THAT NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY IS DOING. NUMBER SIX STANDS SORT OF ON ITS OWN. AND AS WE'VE MENTIONED, THE THIS IDEA THAT IF WE WANT TO CREATE CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO CREATE CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE CITY AS WELL. AND THERE ARE MANY FOLKS IN MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF GARLAND WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ENGAGING THESE IDEAS. AND WE KNOW THAT ARTS IS NEVER STRONG IF IT'S SILOED. IF IT'S THAT ONE LITTLE THING ON THE SIDE THAT YOU CAN FLICK OFF. BUT WHEN ARTS IS INFUSED INTO WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS DOING IN TRANSPORTATION AND DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT IS DOING, THAT'S WHEN THEN THE FULL POWER OF THE ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS COMES FORWARD. AND THAT MEANS A COORDINATED EFFORT BY STAFF. AND SO WE RECOMMEND PULLING TOGETHER A WORKING GROUP THAT COULD REALLY HELP THESE EFFORTS MOVE ALONG ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE RECOMMEND ALSO THAT THE CITY OF GARLAND, SECURE A STATE OF TEXAS CULTURAL DISTRICT DESIGNATION FOR DOWNTOWN GARLAND, THE STATE OF TEXAS, IS REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A VERY STRONG CULTURAL DISTRICT PROGRAM. NOT ALL STATES DO. TEXAS DOES. AND WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT IT GO FOR THAT DESIGNATION. THERE IS SOME LEGWORK IN GETTING THAT DESIGNATION, BUT IT ALSO COMES WITH A LOT OF TECHNICAL HELP THAT COMES BEHIND IT FROM THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS. EIGHT AND NINE GO TOGETHER. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DESIRE BY BY STAFF AND OTHER FOLKS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THINGS HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO EITHER A PROGRAM THAT WOULD GO, A MOBILE PROGRAM THAT WOULD GO TO DIFFERENT AREAS WITHIN THE CITY OR POP UPS AND BOTH DOWNTOWN AND IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT THOSE THAT THE POLICIES SUPPORT, THAT STAFF IS ABLE TO HOLD THE ENERGIES THAT, FORGIVE THE PUN, ARE POPPING UP WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THEN JUST TO CONTINUE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEGUN AS THE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE ALREADY FUNDAMENTALLY THERE BUT THAT WE KNOW ARE REALLY AT THE WHERE ARE MUNICIPAL ARTS SUPPORT IS GOING. IT HAPPENS IN TERMS OF PARTNERSHIP RELATIONSHIPS. WHEN THE CITY OF GARLAND GOES OUT FOR GRANTS, THERE REALLY ARE, WHETHER IT'S NATIONAL, WHETHER IT'S THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ART OR STATE FUNDING, MOST FUNDERS ARE PRIVATE, PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS. MOST ARE LOOKING RIGHT UP FRONT TO UNDERSTAND WHO ARE YOUR PARTNERS? WHO'S WORKING WITH YOU? IS THERE A DIVERSITY OF PARTNERS THAT IS OUTSIDE THE ART THAT ARE COMING TO THE TABLE AND REALLY CREATING THE MOST EFFECTIVE INVESTMENT OF DOLLARS? AND SO JUST CONTINUING WITH THOSE AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT IDEAS AND WAYS WITHIN THE PLAN THAT THOSE CAN BE DEVELOPED. AND SO WE KNOW EVERY GOOD PLAN HAS A KICK OFF PROJECT. SOMETHING THAT REALLY EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF THE PLAN ITSELF AND THERE IS ALREADY ONE [00:55:06] UNDERWAY, WHICH IS THE EVOLUTION OF BIG ART DAY, WHICH WHICH WE KNOW IS A LOCAL FAVORITE INTO A BIG ART DAY AND ART WALK. AND IT'S REALLY, AGAIN, IT'S AMPLIFYING WHAT IS ALREADY THE GOODNESS OF BIG ART DAY. BUT IN DOING THAT, CREATING NOT JUST AN EVENT, BUT ALSO A TRAIL THAT EXPANDS THE UNDERSTANDING OF DOWNTOWN TO INCLUDE THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE, BUT ALSO THE LIBRARY AND THE LANDMARK MUSEUM, CITY HALL AND THE ART CENTER, AND BRINGING A LARGER VISCERAL EXPERIENCE OF THE AREA AND ONE WHERE YOU COULD ACTIVATE ISD STUDENTS, LOCAL PERFORMERS, BUT ALSO BRINGING OUT ARTISTS TO BE VENDORS OF WHAT THEY CREATED. THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF MAKERS IN GARLAND CREATING A VENUE THAT LETS THEM COME TO THE FOREFRONT AND INTERACT WITH PEOPLE. AND WE KNOW THAT THIS BIG ART DAY, AND THE ART WALK REALLY TAP IN ON ALL THE GOALS THAT ARE EMBEDDED WITHIN THE REPORT, THE IDEA OF AMPLIFYING DOWNTOWN, THE IDEA OF TEMPORARY ACTIVATIONS AND COLLABORATIONS ACROSS THE CITY, EXPANDING THE FESTIVALS AND SUPPORTING CREATIVES, EXPANDING A REGIONAL TOURISM FOOTPRINT, WHICH GARLAND IS REALLY READY FOR, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND GETTING THOSE CONVERSATIONS REALLY, REALLY GOING AND BUILDING THE ALTERNATIVE NETWORKS THAT WE KNOW THAT HAPPENS, JUST LIKE GOOD ARTISTS KNOW WHEN YOU MAKE SOMETHING TOGETHER, WHEN YOU CREATE SOMETHING TOGETHER. SO WHAT WE ENVISION IS THE OUTCOMES OF THESE EFFORTS IS, IS THAT THERE WILL BE AN ENHANCED STAFF COORDINATION. WE KNOW THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING AND WE HOPE THAT THE PLANNING PROCESS HAS FACILITATED THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO GROW IN THEIR CONNECTIONS, A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC ART POLICY, ONE THAT IS AGREED, BUT BETWEEN COMMISSION AND STAFF AND I THINK WERE THERE. PILOT PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY STARTING. NEW AND EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THOSE. WE IMPACT FOR THE ARTS COMMISSION, WE ARE ADVISING THEM THAT THEY ACTUALLY CHOOSE A NUMBER OF PRIORITIES WITHIN THE PLAN AND COME TO COUNCIL EVERY YEAR TO SAY, LIKE, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON. WE HAVE A PLAN, WE HAVE A ROADMAP. WE KNOW THAT AT ANY ONE YEAR WE CAN DO X AMOUNT. THIS IS WHAT OUR WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON AND COME BACK TO YOU THE NEXT YEAR AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE DID AND THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING AGAIN. MAYBE WE NEED TO RINSE AND REPEAT. MAYBE WE CAN EXPAND THE VISION FROM WHERE WE'VE BEEN WORKING AND JUST CONTINUE TO ALIGN DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS WITH THE PLAN GOALS SO THAT THERE'S A LARGER COHERENCY TO THE MUNICIPAL EFFORTS. AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP AND, BEN, YOU CAN, YEAH, THERE YOU GO. AND WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. GOOD. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT FOR THAT REPORT. JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. ON YOUR SLIDE, YOUR SLIDE THAT SAYS WHAT WE HEARD. YEAH, I THINK IN THE CHALLENGE SECTION OF THAT SLIDE, ONE OF THE COMMENTS WAS. I'VE SAID, AND I'M PARAPHRASING IT HERE, THAT SOME FOLKS SAID IT WAS NOT FOR THEM. IF I REMEMBER THAT SLIDE CORRECTLY. YEAH, NO, THAT'S CORRECT, SIR. OK. ALL RIGHT. MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU THINK AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO SEE EXPANDED IN THE REPORT. HOW CAN WE USE OUR CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY TO BEGIN TO IMPROVE THE CONNECTIVITY ISSUE? WHERE MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, YOUR TOP 10 THAT YOU HAVE. HOW CAN WE CAN WE BETTER UTILIZE MOBILIZE THAT TO ADDRESS THE DISCONNECT, IF YOU WILL, OF THAT COMMENT? AND I KNOW SOME FOLKS FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON DOWNTOWN. BUT HONESTLY, YOU HAVE SOME FOLKS WHO LIVED IN THIS TOWN WHO VERY SELDOM COME TO DOWNTOWN. I MEAN, THAT'S NOT A NEGATIVE; THEY JUST DON'T. SO ANY THOUGHTS ON LOOKING AT OUR CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE? WE'VE GOT PARKS AND RECS AND WE'VE GOT FACILITIES ALL OVER THE CITY AS TO HOW WE CAN UTILIZE WHAT WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO PROMOTE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAVE AND ADDRESS, [01:00:08] AND I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING, THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR IS NEIGHBORHOOD PENETRATION. YEAH. HOW CAN WE USE OUR CURRENT STRUCTURE TO PROMOTE NEIGHBORHOOD PENETRATION AND ACCESS? AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE AND WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IN OUR EXPERIENCE IS THAT WHEN A CITY HAS ASSETS SUCH AS GARLAND DOES LIKE THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OR OTHER PLACES OR JUST THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE, THAT THE GENERAL ORIENTATION OF WELCOME, THE WONDERFUL IS NOT QUITE ENOUGH, THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE ACTIVE CREATION OF OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE STAFF CREATES SOMETHING LIKE THE BIG ART AND ART WALK. WE'RE ACTIVELY SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON YOUTH BECAUSE YOU INVOLVE THE KIDS AND THE PARENTS COME OUT AND AUNTS AND UNCLES COME OUT AND SUDDENLY PEOPLE ARE TOGETHER AND PEOPLE WANT TO COME TOGETHER. BUT IT'S JUST A GENERAL ORIENTATION OF WELCOME. LIKE I SAID, IS WONDERFUL, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY IN SAYING WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS TOGETHER, THAT SYNERGY ACTUALLY HAPPENS. AND SO I THINK THE CITY IS ALREADY DOING IT WITH THAT KICKOFF PROJECT OF BIG ARTS DAY, WHICH IS NOT ONLY BUILDING ON THE YOUTH COMPONENT AND WITH THE ISD, BUT ALSO BRINGING IN MANY CULTURAL GROUPS AND IN AN EXPANDED UNDERSTANDING OF DOWNTOWN. AND SO IN THIS CASE, IT'S THE ENERGY OF BRINGING THE NEIGHBORHOODS INTO DOWNTOWN. I THINK I CAN ALSO SEE ANOTHER WORK AT ACTIVE PROGRAMMING IN THIS IDEA OF MOBILE ARTS PROGRAMMING THAT WOULD THEN BRING IT ACTIVELY OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE SOME RELATIONSHIPS THAT DEVELOP IN THE BIG ARTS DAY THAT WILL ALLOW FOR THAT FERTILITY. AND THAT'S WHY WE RECOMMEND IS THE ONE STAFFING RECOMMENDATION THAT IT BE A CONSULTANT WHO CAN HELP WITH GRANT WRITING SO THAT STAFF HAS THE RESOURCES THEN TO BE ABLE TO GET BEHIND AND SAY LET'S MAKE THIS TOGETHER. AND WHAT IS BEING MADE IS INTENTIONALLY, INTENTIONALLY POOLS MANY FOLKS TO THE TABLE. OK, THANK YOU. MY SECOND AND LAST QUESTION IS WE HAVE YOU REFLECTED IN YOUR REPORT, WE HAVE HISTORICALLY OUTSTANDING INVOLVEMENT OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND CULTURAL EVENTS. I USE THE TERM FINE ARTS, THAT COVERS THE WHOLE UMBRELLA. I THINK YOU'RE THE EXPERT ON THAT; I'M NOT, BUT FINE ARTS, HOW CAN WE INTEGRATE THOSE ACTIVITIES, THOSE EVENTS INTO THE FABRIC OF THE CITIES, AGAIN, TO EMBRACE THE CONNECTIVITY ISSUE? FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS SPONSORING MAJOR EVENTS IN THIS CITY EVERY YEAR. THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS. SO HOW CAN WE BETTER PLUG IN THOSE EVENTS? WE HAVE FESTIVALS, WE HAVE PARADES. WE HAVE JUST A NUMBER OF EVENTS THAT ORGANIZATIONS PARTNERING WITH THE CITY AND PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE VERY WELL KNOWN. SO HOW CAN WE BETTER INTEGRATE THOSE KIND OF ACTIVITIES INTO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE? SO JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND SO TAKING THE SORT OF THE EXISTING COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT'S REALLY GOOD AT COMING TOGETHER FOR EVENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE PLUGGED INTO THIS LARGER PLAN OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO GET OUT INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO BRING NEW PEOPLE TOGETHER IN NEW WAYS. AM I GETTING AT YOUR QUESTION? CORRECT, YOU ARE. OK. YEAH. AND I THINK IT WORKS ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LEVELS, AGAIN, WITH THAT INTENTIONALITY. I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HYBRIDITY, AND BY THAT, WHAT I MEAN, AS YOU WERE SAYING, LIKE THERE ARE LIKE THE TRADITIONAL THE FINE ARTS. WE'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BOTH ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALIKE, THAT WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE CITY SPONSOR SORT OF SAY SOMETHING GOING ON WITH, SAY, A SYMPHONY COMING TOWN AND LOCAL RAPPERS THAT WOULD ALSO BE PERFORMING AT THE SAME TIME, AND THE CELEBRATION OF MUSIC, BOTH REGIONAL AND LOCAL, AS A WAY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. AND I THINK WHAT WE GENERALLY FIND IN THAT CAPACITY TO NETWORK AND TO BRING OUT INTO [01:05:04] COMMUNITIES, USUALLY, WHAT WORKS WELL IS THOSE MASHUPS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WITH CULTURAL PRODUCTION, IT'S ALL ABOUT PERSONAL INVITATIONS. SO WHO ARE YOU INVITING TO BE THERE TOGETHER AND HOW CAN YOU CREATE CELEBRATIONS THAT HOLD UP BOTH THE TRADITIONAL AND THE NEW TOGETHER SO THAT YOU HAVE THE KIDS AND AN OLDER GENERATION COMING TOGETHER IN ONE WAY? AND THAT'S ONLY THROUGH JUST INTENTIONAL PROGRAMMING AND THEN CREATING THE CAPACITY WITHIN THE CITY TO GET IT OUT, WHICH IS ALREADY HAPPENING. SO AS NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY WORKS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO NOT JUST DO VISUAL ARTS, BUT TO DO EVENTS AS WELL. AND SO THAT AS THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER EXPANDS ITS PROGRAMMING, THAT THOSE PIPELINES ARE THERE SO THAT THE CONNECTIONS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS PERHAPS ARE VISITING TROOPS CAN GO AND PERFORM IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OR VICE VERSA. LOCAL PERFORMING TROOPS CAN GO AND HAVE A WORKSHOP WITH THE VISITORS WHO ARE COMING THERE. AND I THINK ALL OF THAT GETS AT THAT THING THAT WE HEARD RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. IT'S ALL THERE IN GARLAND. WHAT'S NOT THERE IS THE CONNECTIONS. AND SO HOW CAN THESE PLANNING EFFORTS CREATE THE CONNECTIVITY, THE PIPELINE, THE CLARITY, SO THAT THOSE CONNECTIONS JUST HAPPEN MORE FLUIDLY? [INAUDIBLE] THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. EXCUSE ME. BECAUSE WE'RE SMITH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. DOCTOR OSGOOD, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE ON THIS. AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS MASTER PLAN WAS GOING TO BE HOW DO WE GET THE ART OUT OF THE CORE OF THE CITY AND GET IT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I LOVE THE FOCUS THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT ON THAT. I SEE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE IN THE PLAN, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW WE'RE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IT. AND, YOU KNOW, THE ONE BIG TAKEAWAY FROM YOUR MASTER PLAN THAT I'VE SEEN THAT I DON'T SEE IN OTHER MASTER PLANS IS NOT WHAT YOU'VE TOLD US WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF. YOU SHOWN US HOW IT'S WITHIN BUDGET, BUT YOU ALSO PUT TOGETHER POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ON HOW WE GET THERE AND HOW WE IMPLEMENT AND HOW WE MAINTAIN IT, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT IT INTO IT AND GET IT GOING TO BEGIN WITH, THAT MAINTENANCE HAS A WAY OF CREEPING UP ON YOU, INVITING YOU WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO CUT YOUR BUDGET IN AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THE DURABILITY OF THE TYPE OF WORK THAT YOU'VE SUGGESTED. AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO A LOT OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS WAS TALKING ABOUT, WAS REALLY GETTING THINGS INTO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, GETTING THEM OUT OF THE URBAN CORE AND JUST HAVING THAT DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL ART OFFERING THAT I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, HAS I THINK IT SNUCK UP ON US AND WE'VE MISSED A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES THERE. SO I APPRECIATE YOU TYING IT ALL TOGETHER FOR US AND GIVING US A PATH FORWARD. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, JUST SOME GENERAL COMPLIMENTS. SO I'LL I'LL GET OFF THE MIC. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR FOLKS HERE ? IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE CLEARED THE QUEUE. ANDY, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL THAT YOU WANTING TO ADD? YES, SIR. I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER, SMITH AND WILLIAMS' COMMENTS. I THINK THEY'RE HITTING RIGHT ON. THE CRUX OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS THAT FOR SO LONG, AND RIGHTFULLY SO, THE ART HAS BEEN CONTAINED IN FOUR WALLS OF A FACILITY. THERE'S ROOM FOR IT TO GROW OUTSIDE THAT FACILITY. AND SO WHAT A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IS, IS THE STAFF BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE EXISTING RESOURCES TO INTEGRATE INTO EXISTING EVENTS, SUCH AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY HAS A MOBILE PROGRAM, RECREATION DIVISION HAS A MOBILE PROGRAM THAT HAS RESOURCES TO GET OUT AND HAVE EVENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, LIKE A BLOCK PARTY OR STREET PARTY EVENT, LIKE THE BIG ART DAY, FOR EXAMPLE, STARTED OUT AS A SIMPLE QUESTION FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE PUT THAT EVENT IN AUDUBON PARK AND WAS EXTREMELY WELL ATTENDED IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE REC CENTER. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEGUN THE DISCUSSIONS AND COLLABORATING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS. LIBRARY, ANOTHER ONE IS AN EXCELLENT PARTNER TALKING ABOUT WHERE CAN WE TAKE ART OF ALL KINDS INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO IT'S NOT JUST IN ONE LOCATION. THAT'LL BE AN EXCELLENT SEGUE TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM TO ELABORATE ON AS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT'S WORKING [INAUDIBLE]. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, ANDY. ALL RIGHT, I THINK WE HAVE ROUNDED OUT THE TOPIC, I WILL JUST SAY THANK YOU, DR. [01:10:05] OSGOOD AND BEN, FOR THE WORK. ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS WAS ONE OF YOUR YOUTH FACILITATORS. AND I CAN TELL YOU SHE'S BEEN VOLUNTEERING AND WORKING IN THE ARTS HERE IN GARLAND FOR CONSIDERING HOW YOUNG SHE IS AT 20, SHE'S BEEN WORKING AND VOLUNTEERING IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME. AND SO BY EXTENSION, I AM VERY TUNED IN TO OUR ARTS PROGRAMS HERE IN GARLAND. SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK AND WHAT THAT, YOU KNOW, AS SHE CONTINUES TO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK, THAT SHE CAN GROW ALONG WITH THE PROGRAMS HERE IN THE CITY. SO, THAT WILL MAKE ME AND HER MOTHER VERY HAPPY. WONDERFUL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND WITH THAT, I THINK WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM. ALL RIGHT, THAT MOVES US ONTO ITEM 4C, SPECIAL EVENTS UPDATE. [4C. Special Events Update] MR. HESSER. EVERYBODY ABLE TO SEE THIS, OK? YES. ONE ADDITIONAL THING THAT I'LL POINT OUT THAT WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT IN HERE AS WELL, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT GIVES US AN ENORMOUS ADVANTAGE GOING FORWARD THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE UNTIL THE PLAN WAS WRITTEN IS THE NOTION OF CREATING THIS ARTIST POOL. KIND OF INFORMALLY CREATED AN ARTIST POOL BY DISCOVERING PEOPLE JUST THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AND WE'VE INCORPORATED THEM IN WAYS SUCH AS ART CONTESTS TO HELP CREATE LOCALLY GENERATED ART FOR VISIT GARLAND T-SHIRTS AND OTHER MERCHANDISE OR OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE CAN ENGAGE LOCAL ARTISTS. SO ONCE THE ART COMMISSION SELECTS A DEEPER POOL OF OF ARTISTS, THAT WILL GIVE US SOMEBODY THAT WE CAN GO TO RIGHT AWAY AND ENGAGE. IF A PROJECT FALLS IN OUR LAP, WE HAVE A ROLODEX AND WE CAN GO AND SEEK THESE FOLKS OUT. SO AND A LITTLE BIT THAT'S KIND OF INCORPORATED THIS YEAR. SO WHAT I WAS JUST GOING TO DO KIND OF GIVE COUNCIL A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE SINCE THE LAST KIND OF COUNCIL DIRECTION OR THE URGING OF COUNCIL AS WE KIND OF GOT TO THE POINT WHERE EVERYONE WAS COMFORTABLE GETTING BACK TO SOME TYPE OF SPECIAL EVENT. I THINK THE DIRECTION OR GUIDANCE WAS YES, BUT LET'S KEEP IT TO A DULL ROAR KIND OF THING, SO WE LOOKED AT OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THINGS THAT WERE ALREADY BUDGETED IN A WAY THAT DID A COUPLE OF THINGS, ALLOWED FOLKS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IF THEY WERE COMFORTABLE DOING SO WITH ALL THE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE THAT ARE APPROPRIATE, BUT ALSO TRY TO STRETCH OUT IN PARTICULAR [INAUDIBLE] THAT YOU'LL SEE, HEAR AND READ THE CITY BUDGET AND EVENTS, PUTTING THOSE ON A THURSDAY NIGHT AND THEREFORE, TWO THINGS SOMEWHAT CONTROLLING THE CROWD, AS WELL AS EXTENDING THE POSSIBLE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR DOWNTOWN RATHER THAN JUST A BIG DAY, SATURDAY. SUNDAY, SOMETIMES WHEN THE EVENTS ARE REALLY LARGE ON A FRIDAY, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT GET A BALANCE DEPENDING ON THE RETAIL OR THE RESTAURANT. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TEST THIS OUT AND SEE HOW IT GOES ON A THURSDAY GIVES THEM AN EXTRA DAY OF CUSTOMERS. SO THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE HERE THAT ARE LISTED THAT ARE NOT OUR TYPICAL BUDGETED SPECIAL EVENTS, SUCH AS ASSISTING WITH ANIMAL SERVICES FOR SOME MOBILE EVENTS OUT OF THE DOG PARK. AND THEN WE HAVE, AS YOU SEE HERE, JUNE 3RD, 10, 17 AND 24 IS OUR MADE FRESH AND LOCAL LIVE ON THE SQUARE. SO WE HAD TWO JAZZ EVENTS AND TWO SOUNDS OF SUMMER EVENTS BUDGETED. SO WE TOOK THAT AND KIND OF SPREAD IT OUT, SMOOTHED IT OUT WITH FOUR SIMILAR EVENTS WHERE YOU'VE GOT KIND OF A JAZZ AND MOTOWN, KIND OF A BLUES AND COUNTRY ACT FOR THE BALANCE OF WHAT WE HAD FOR THE BUDGET. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THESE THAT WERE KIND OF NEEDING TO HONOR WHEN THEY WERE CANCELED. LAST YEAR, WE WERE KIND OF TRYING TO HONOR A COUPLE OF THOSE CONTRACTS AND ROLL THEM INTO THIS YEAR. AND SO THIS IS WHAT WE'VE GOT COMING UP IN JUNE. THERE'S A VARIETY OF OTHER EVENTS. THESE, WE HAVE RECRUITED OR HAVE COME TO US OR THAT WE ARE PARTICIPATING WITH. OBVIOUSLY, THE URBAN MARKET, SOME GOLF TOURNAMENTS THAT ARE ON THE HORIZON. WE BID ON, AND WON THE SPIKE BALL, TEXAS GRAND SLAM. AND IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN SPIKE BALL, BUT WE'VE GOT THAT TEXAS TOURNAMENT IN WINTER PARK, GARLAND AMATEUR RADIO CLUB FIELD DAY IS HAPPENING. AND THEN AS IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD DFW ASIAN AMERICAN SOCCER TOURNAMENT, WHICH HAS GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY AND IS REALLY DRAWING A LOT OF OUT-OF-STATE FOLKS. AND, OF COURSE, THE LABOR DAY PARADE. [01:15:02] SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE BIG ART DAY, SO THE IDEA OF THE BIG ART DAY WAS TO TRY TO MOVE IT AROUND TOWN, NOT TO HAVE IT IN THE SAME PLACE. SO WE STARTED AN AUDOBON. IT SEEMED APPROPRIATE RIGHT NOW TO PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION STARTING FOR DOWNTOWN. LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET A NICE BALANCE. THE IDEA WITH BIG ART DAY IN AND THE ART WALK WILL ALSO COINCIDE WITH THE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION WINE WALK, WE WOULD LIKE TO STATION SOME OF THESE ARTISTS THAT WE FOUND IN THIS PROCESS AND DO A WALK FROM THE SQUARE UP PAST THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, DOWN THE TRAIL TO THE MUSEUM, TO THE LIBRARY AND BACK TO THE SQUARE, AND LET THESE ARTISTS FEATURE WHAT THEY DO. THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE GARLAND GUZZLER, WHEELS OF HOPE AND THEN DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. SHOULD CONSTRUCTION OR ANY OTHER ACTIVITY IMPACT THAT OR THESE GOING DOWN THE LIST, WE'RE PREPARED TO ENGAGE A BACKUP LOCATION. IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL RELATED TO DOWNTOWN ACTIVITY. AND THEN I BELIEVE THIS IDEA WAS KIND OF KICKED AROUND SOME TIME AGO WITH WHAT TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS ON THE SQUARE, SO WE HAVE HAD TENTATIVE, NOT FIRM CONVERSATIONS WITH ONCE THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE IS OUT OF ORDER FOR THE CHRISTMAS EVENT. IT'S POSSIBLE THAT FIREWHEEL COULD BE A FANTASTIC PARTNER FOR THIS. TENTATIVE INDICATIONS ARE POSITIVE AS WE WORK OUT THE LOGISTICS AND THE BUDGETS. BUT THAT ALSO MIGHT BE A NICE POSITIVE ECONOMIC BALANCE FOR THEM IN THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. SO THAT IS BEING WORKED OUT AS WE SPEAK. SO ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? UN-SHARE YOUR SCREEN FOR M. ANDY, I WILL TELL YOU, LAST YEAR, LAST SPRING, SUMMER, DURING THE REAL PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC, WHEN ALL PROFESSIONAL SPORTS WAS CANCELED, WERE OFF. BUT WHEN I TURNED THE TELEVISION ON, I INSTINCTIVELY TURNED TO ESPN OR FOX SPORTS LOOKING FOR MY FIX. AND I DISCOVERED SPIKE BALL ONE DAY AND THE FIRST COUPLE OF MINUTES OF WATCHING IT, I WAS LIKE, ALL RIGHT, THEY'RE JUST MAKING THIS UP AS THEY GO; THERE'S NO WAY THIS IS AN ACTUAL ORGANIZED SPORT OR EITHER THAT. AND STILL, MY THEORY IS THIS WAS A FRATERNITY THING THAT SOMEBODY WAS DOING ONE AFTERNOON, BUT IT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO US HOSTING A SPIKE BALL TOURNAMENT, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT. YES, ABSOLUTELY, THE DFW ASIAN AMERICAN SOCCER TOURNAMENT THAT WAS HELD IN 2019 BUT CANCELED LAST YEAR HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY FROM WHAT IT WAS THAT FIRST YEAR. SO THESE ARE ALL VERY GREAT. IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE STARTING TO GET THOSE EVENTS TURNED BACK AROUND AND IN PERSON. AND I KNOW LOTS OF FOLKS HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT THE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEIR MINDS MAY HAVE NOT GONE TO CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES YET, BUT IT WON'T TAKE LONG. SO IT'S GOOD THAT WE ARE ALREADY GETTING THOSE PLANS IN THE WORKS. IS DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANDY ON ANY OF THESE EVENTS? AND I GUESS THE--GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN SMITH. MAYOR, THIS IS JUST A QUESTION FOR YOU, BUT DUE TO QUORUM ISSUES, CAN WE RESTRICT CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM ATTENDING THE GUZZLER? I BELIEVE SO. I JUST WANT TO STAY LEGAL, SIR. WE CAN CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WE CAN PROBABLY DO THAT. ANDY, JUST CURIOUS, YOU MENTIONED GOING BACK TO CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS ON THE SQUARE. DO WE HAVE A I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT TAKES MONTHS UPON MONTHS UPON MONTHS OF PLANNING AND ADVERTISING. SO WHEN DO WE THINK WE WILL BE FIRM AS FAR AS A FIREWHEEL SITE? I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE GOT THAT EXACT DETAIL FOR YOU TONIGHT, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ONGOING MEETINGS WITH THE STAFF AND THEIR FOLKS. SO LET ME GET THAT OUT TO YOU AND THE REST OF COUNCIL, BECAUSE, YES, YOU'RE CORRECT, IT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF TIME TO GET THIS PLANNED. AND STAFF IS MEETING INTERNALLY AND WITH THOSE FOLKS AS WELL. SO THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD APPROPRIATELY. AND I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THERE WILL BE NO ISSUES. BUT [INAUDIBLE] IT'S IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY DO A LOT OF PROMOTION BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE INSTINCTIVELY GOING TO COME TO THE SQUARE FOR CHRISTMAS ON THE SQUARE. AND SO WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT WORD OUT WAY AHEAD OF TIME. ABSOLUTELY. OK. MAYOR PRO-TEM NICKERSON. THANK YOU, I JUST APPRECIATE ALL THE PLANNING YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING, AND ANDY, YOU'RE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB, A LOT OF THIS, BUT I NOTICED ON THE LIST OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR [01:20:06] EVENTS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING DOWN IN SOUTH GARLAND. SO I'M THINKING MAYBE WE COULD, I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT WE NEED TO PLAN POTENTIALLY FOR SOME THINGS TO DO, MAYBE AT THE BASS PRO AREA WHEN WE COMBINE EVENTS DOWN THERE THAT MIGHT HELP THE BUSINESSES ON THAT END OF TOWN AS WELL, AND MAYBE COMBINE IT WITH SOMETHING LIKE MAYBE A FUTURE IRONMAN CONTEST ON THE LAKE OR A KAYAKING CONTEST DOWN THROUGH THERE IN THE FUTURE, WHEN WE WHIP WINDSOR PARK INTO SHAPE, THEN WE CAN TIE ALL OF THAT TOGETHER. SO I DON'T KNOW, JUST LONG TERM, BUT KEEP IT IN MIND. I THINK THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY THERE. AND WE ABSOLUTELY AGREE. AND I THINK THE STAFF HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SPREAD. I MEAN, WE REALLY VIEW THIS AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE KIND OF OPPORTUNITY. IN A LOT OF WAYS WE MAY HAVE EVENTS THAT FOCUS ON ONE DEPARTMENT OR ANOTHER, BUT IT'S REALLY A CBB AND VISITER KIND OF THING. SO WE HAVE ALREADY HOSTED SEVERAL; WE HAVE SEVERAL MORE COMING THIS YEAR OF FISHING TOURNAMENTS. WE'VE HAD LADY BASS ANGLERS, WE'VE HAD KAYAK FISHING TOURNAMENTS. SO WE'VE DONE, OH, PROBABLY BETWEEN FOUR AND SIX EVENTS JUST AT BASS PRO ALONE. WE WERE HAVING SOME DISCUSSIONS PRIOR TO COVID WITH AN OUTFIT TO DISCUSS A TRIATHLON. IT COMES WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WITH TRAFFIC. SO I DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMITMENTS TODAY ON THAT. BUT YES, WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY EXPLORED THOSE BECAUSE PARTICULARLY AS I-30 DOES ITS THING AND THE TRAILS START TO COME TOGETHER AND ACCESS IS BETTER AND SMOOTHER. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTH GARLAND. YEAH, I THINK WITH THAT NEW RV PARK DOWN THERE ON THE END OF THE LAKE AND WE'RE IMPROVING THE JOHN PAUL JONES PARK AND SORT OF THE VIEWS DOWN THAT COASTLINE. AND THEN WHEN WE WRAP THE TRAILS IN CONNECT, THE BASS PRO CONNECTION UNDERNEATH THE FREEWAY MAKE IT SAFER FOR THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF LONG TERM OPPORTUNITIES DOWN THERE. SO I APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING US IN MIND. YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT WE HAD LAST SPRING AND WE'VE HOSTED BEFORE WAS THE RADIO-CONTROLLED SAIL BOAT RACES THAT WILL TELL YOU I WAS OUT THERE. I MEAN, THIS WAS IN THE ABSOLUTE I THINK, PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC, WHERE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WAS SHUT DOWN. AND THEY HAD THE EVENT OUT THERE, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLE WHEN YOU CONSIDER IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE WINDIEST COLD DAYS THAT WE HAD LAST SPRING. AND THESE GUYS ARE OUT THERE WITH THESE RELATIVELY SMALL, LIGHTWEIGHT, REMOTE CONTROLLED SAIL BOATS RACING THEM OUT THERE. BUT I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HOST THAT EVENT, ESPECIALLY DURING A TIME WHEN THERE ARE NO OR LESS RESTRICTIONS, BECAUSE EVEN THAT EVENT, UNDER ALL THE COVID THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON, DREW PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO PARTICIPATE. SO I WOULD DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE THAT WOULD COME THROUGH AGAIN. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE HONORABLE COUNCILMAN FROM DISTRICT THREE STOLE MY THUNDER. ANDY, I WANT TO PUT IN A PLUG. YOU KNOW, WE DOWN HERE, EVEN WITH OUR CONSTRUCTION, WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE STATE OF THE ART SOFTBALL FACILITIES DOWN HERE AND SOCCER FIELD. SO IF WE CAN THINK OF SOME THINGS, SOME ACTIVITIES, TO USE THAT SPACE, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR CONSTRUCTION TO BE COMPLETED, THAT'S CERTAINLY OPEN ALSO. EVERY TIME I PASS THERE, I MEAN, I JUST SEE I SEE TONS OF KIDS AND TONS OF FAMILIES OUT THERE IN THIS SOCCER AREA AND DURING SOFTBALL SEASON, YOU CAN'T GET DOWN [INAUDIBLE]. SO JUST KIND OF KEEP THAT IN MIND AND SEE WHAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE, BECAUSE FOLKS ARE YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HERE, THEY USE OUR FACILITIES. SO, JUST TO ECHO ON PREVIOUS COMMENTS, ANDY, JUST KEEP THIS IN MIND AND SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH CREATIVELY FOR THAT AREA FOR AUDUBON. THANKS. YES, SIR. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT, LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE CLEARED THE QUEUE ON THIS ITEM. ANDY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. AND WE WILL, COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM 4D LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. [4D. Legislative Update] THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND, WELL, THIS IS GOING TO GO PRETTY QUICK, SO THE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO WORK ON EVERY NON-WORK SESSION MONDAY, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING FROM [01:25:03] THE TWO LISTS OF COUNCIL STRATEGIC GOALS THAT Y'ALL HELPED US PUT TOGETHER. ONE LIST FOR THE CITY AND ONE FOR GPNL. THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE REGULAR SESSION. IT ENDS ON MAY 31ST. A COUPLE OF DATES TO KEEP IN MIND. WE'VE GOT NEXT WEDNESDAY, MAY 26THH IS THE LAST DAY FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER ALL BILLS. AND NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 30TH IS THE LAST DAY FOR THEM TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS. NOW, IN TRUE LEGISLATIVE FORM, ALL OF THE BILLS THAT WE CARE ABOUT ARE COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE AND MOST OF THE ONES WE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT HAVE ALREADY FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE. SO I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING CONCRETE OR DEFINITE FOR YOU TONIGHT. WE WILL LIKELY HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION FOR REDISTRICTING IN SEPTEMBER, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY FIRM DATES ON THAT EITHER. WE SHOULD HEAR ABOUT THAT SOON. THE NEXT DATE THAT YOU'LL HEAR FROM OUR COMMITTEE WILL BE JULY 5TH. WE'LL GIVE YOU THE WRAP UP OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, PLUS A LIST OF EVERYTHING THE GOVERNOR SIGNED. AND STAFF WILL HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO TACKLE FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO ABOUT THAT. TO GET INTO THE SPECIFIC BILL LIST, I'M GOING TO GO IN HAND THIS OVER TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY, BRAD NEIGHBOR. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE THEM AFTERWARDS. BRAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO SAY SPECIAL THANKS TO LAURA DE LA VEGA TO TAKE ON THIS MEETING MUTED AND INVISIBLE TO YOU THE WAY I THINK SHE LIKES THINGS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT HER WORK'S NOT IMPORTANT. WE WERE LOOKING AT NEARLY 9000 BILLS THIS SESSION. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A NEW RECORD, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF BILLS AND THEY HAVE TO BE SORTED THROUGH AND LAURA DOES THAT KIND OF WORK FOR US. ABOUT A QUARTER OF THOSE WERE SOMEHOW AFFECTED MUNICIPALITIES. AND THEN AMONG THOSE WE HAVE TO DREDGE THROUGH AND FIND A PARTICULAR INTEREST TO GARLAND. THAT'S A LOT OF WORK. THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF WORK AND IN ATTENDING THE LUCKILY THE SESSION, VIA ZOOM IN CONFERENCE CALL, A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WHERE DIFFERENT CITIES GET TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF THESE BILLS AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO WORK, HOW THEY CAN BE MADE BETTER, WORKABLE IF WE CAN AMEND THEM. AND AGAIN, I THANK LAURA FOR HANDLING UP ALL ABOUT. A LOT OF BILLS, SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM ALL AND NOT THAT WE'VE BEEN TRACKING [INAUDIBLE] THE END OF THIS SESSION. I ALWAYS LIKED THE WORDING THERE. AND IT'S WHEN BILLS DIE AND IT'S A GOOD THING AS USUALLY AS I'VE EXPLAINED BEFORE, WHAT HAPPENS IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS THESE BILLS GET FILED IN AND THEY BUILD KIND OF A PYRAMID. THIS BIG STACK OF BILLS. AT THIS POINT IN A SESSION ONLY THAT TIP OF THE PYRAMID CONCEIVABLY IN USUAL OPERATIONS ONLY THE TIP OF THE PYRAMID, THAT TOP OF THE PILE, THOSE BILLS ARE GOING TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR HIS POTENTIAL SIGNATURE. [INAUDIBLE] ARE GOING TO TIME OUT. AS FAR AS THE BILL THAT WE PROACTIVELY PURSUED, AND THAT'S VETERANS HOUSING BILL, THAT BILL IS BEING HEARD ON WEDNESDAY OVER ON THE SENATE SIDE. SO WE SUCCESSFULLY MADE IT OUT OF THE HOUSE SIDE, HAS TO GO TO THE SENATE FOR CONCURRENCE. WE HOPE NOT AMENDMENTS. SO WE HOPE IT DOESN'T TURN OUT AND DIE OVER THERE. IF ALL IS WELL, IT'LL BE SENT BACK. THEY HAVE CONCURRING VOTES. WITHOUT ANY CHANGES, THERE'S NOTHING MORE TO BE DONE THAN TO APPROVE IT AND SEND IT ON TO THE GOVERNOR. THE BILLS THAT WE'VE BEEN TRACKING WITH CONCERN ARE AMONGST THOSE, THERE IS ONE HB 1869 AND THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN REFERRING TO AS THE CO'S BILL OR THE SHORT TERM DEBT. THE PROPONENTS OF THIS BILL KIND OF THEY REFER TO IT AS THE NONVOTER APPROVED DEBT BILL. AND THE IDEA IS TO PENALIZE THE USE OF DEBT, THE FORMS OF DEBT THAT WE USE ANY MAJOR CITY USES. BUT THOSE FORMS OF DEBT THAT DON'T GO TO A BOND, TYPE VOTE, THAT DON'T GO TO THE VOTERS [01:30:06] FOR APPROVAL. VERY QUICKLY, THE REASON WE USE THOSE IS BECAUSE IT GIVES US FLEXIBILITY. AND THE EXAMPLE THAT WE'VE SENT DOWN TODAY TO BE PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE, IT WAS OVER ON THE SENATE SIDE FOR DEBATE. THE EXAMPLE, WE USE TODAY WAS THE FIRE TRUCK THAT WE HAD DEMOLISHED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO RESPONDING TO, I THINK IT WAS DOING SOME BLOCKING OF TRAFFIC UP ON SIX THIRTY FIVE. IT GOT STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AS I UNDERSTAND TOTAL, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ONE POINT TWO MILLION DOLLARS. WELL, IT WOULD BE FINE IF THAT WAS A SCHEDULED ITEM TO BUY THROUGH BOND ISSUES. AND WE HAD THE VOTERS APPROVAL FOR THAT KIND OF THING. AND WE TRY TO DO THAT. BUT THOSE UNFORESEEN LOSSES WE HAVE TO MAKE UP SOMEHOW SO THEY COULD BE INSURED, WELL, NOT REALLY. WE DON'T GO TO PROGRESSIVE TO COVER THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU CAN COVER THEM OUT OF RESERVES. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. PULL OUT OF RESERVES AND THE PROBLEM WITH RESERVES, IS THAT TOO MUCH RESERVES IS ALSO A BAD THING. TOO MUCH RESERVES RAISES A LEGITIMATE QUESTION ON THE PART OF THE TAXPAYERS. ARE WE BEING TAXED TOO MUCH THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO BUILD UP THESE RESERVES. SO WE SENT OUR COMMENTS ON THAT BILL AS IT CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE AND IT WAS OVER IN THE SENATE TODAY. AS IT CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE, IT CAME OUT IN A FASHION THAT WE COULD LIVE WITH BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WHOLESALE WIPE OUT OR MAKE UNWORKABLE, THESE OTHER FORMS OF DEBT. IT DID HAVE CARVE OUTS FOR THINGS SUCH AS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OR THESE LARGE ITEMS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE. AND SO IF IT STAYS SOMEWHERE IN THE FORM THAT IT CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE AND THEN WE CAN LIVE WITH IT. I HAVEN'T HEARD, WHICH IT'S TOO EARLY TODAY AS TO WHAT THAT SENATE COMMITTEE HAS DONE WITH THAT BILL. THE COMMUNITY ADVOCACY BILL AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, THE PROPONENTS OF THAT CALL IT TAXPAYER FUNDED [INAUDIBLE]. OF COURSE, IT'S NO SUCH THING, BUT THAT'S HOW IT'S BEEN ADVERTISED IN THE FORM THAT CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE AND NOW BACK OVER TO THE SENATE, THE FORM THAT IT'S LAST CIRCULATION WE CAN LIVE WITH, TOO, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SILENCE THE PEASANTRY, WE AS THE PEASANTRY CAN STILL GO BESIEGE THOSE IN AUSTIN, AND TELL THEM OUR SIDE OF THE STORY AND HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE MEANS TO GET OUR MESSAGE ACROSS IN THE PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT, BUT WE HAVE HEARD DIFFERENT STORIES, OF COURSE, THERE'S LOTS OF RUMORS, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN, AND EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT STORY OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON A BILL. BUT I BELIEVE THAT REASONABLE MINDS ARE CONTROLLING DOWN THERE. AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL COME OUT WITH SOMETHING THAT IS WORKABLE FOR TAXPAYER FUNDED ENTITIES, NOT JUST US, BUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS, THE UNIVERSITY THAT INTERACT IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. AND WE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION AS FAR AS INTERACTING IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS GRACEFULLY WITH RESPECT TO LEGISLATION THAT AFFECTS HOW WE OPERATE HERE AS A CITY. VERY QUICKLY, ON THE DEFUNDING BILL, POLICE DEFUNDING, WE HAVEN'T TAKEN A POSITION ON THOSE TO BE CLEAR TO THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT A BIG FUNDING CITY. OF COURSE, THERE'S A CATCH. WE HAVEN'T EXPRESSED ANY WISH TO DEFUND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT MANY OF THESE BILLS CAPTURED ANY CITY WITH A POLICE DEPARTMENT, INDEED ANY CITY WITH [01:35:03] A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. AND BEAR IN MIND THAT IN GARLAND, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR CITY MARSHALS AND OUR FIRE MARSHALS. THOSE ARE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE LAW IS SET UP, THEY'RE THREE SEPARATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE CITY. SOME OF THESE BILLS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE DECREASE JUST ONE PHYSICIAN IN THE CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A FUNDING AGENCY AND SEPARATE THE VARIOUS PENALTIES THAT THESE BILLS WERE PROPOSING. IT APPEARS THAT THOSE BILLS ARE LEVELING OUT IN A SENSE, WHERE IT'S NOT JUST A [INAUDIBLE] CITY THAT AT ALL CITIES, MAY HAVE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS OR WHATEVER THAT AFFECT THEIR POLICE AGENCIES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. AND IT'S MORE DIRECTED AT THOSE CITIES THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR STAND UP AND AT LEAST SAY THEY WERE GOING TO DEFUND IN SOME RESPECT THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT. ON ENERGY BILLS, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THEM RUN AROUND, THESE ARE THE BILLS THAT RELATE TO GPNL, THERE'S STILL A WEATHERIZATION BILL THAT MEANS THE HARDENING OUR SYSTEM TO WITHSTAND WEATHER. REMEMBER, WE'RE WELL WEATHERIZED AS WE ARE. OUR CONCERN THERE IS THAT IF IT COSTS MORE TO COMPLY WITH THIS STATUTE, IF IT COMES OUT, IF THIS BILL BECOMES LAW, WELL, THAT WILL IMPACT OUR RATEPAYERS. AND WE FEEL THAT WE'RE ADEQUATELY WEATHERIZED AND WOULD RATHER NOT BE IMPACTED BY THAT LEGISLATION. AND SECURITIZATION IS A TERM THEY'RE USING TO DESCRIBE A LOAN FUND. THERE'S STILL A BILL AND IT'S BEING WIDELY DEBATED ABOUT SECURITIZATION OF THE COST OF THE WEATHER EVENT BACK IN FEBRUARY. THIS SECURITIZATION FUND WOULD BE A LOAN FUND ADMINISTERED THROUGH OR UNDER PUC, AND IT'S VERY TIGHTLY CONTROLLED. WE DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO TAP INTO THAT. THERE ARE A LOT OF UTILITIES OUT THERE OR PARTICIPANTS AT THE TEXAS ELECTRIC MARKET THAT MAY HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY WERE CLEARLY TEETERING ON BANKRUPTCY. THE SECURITIZATION FUND WOULD PROVIDE A POOL OF MONEY FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT FOR LIQUIDITY OR OTHER PURPOSES RELATED TO THAT WEATHER EVENT. THE COST OF THAT WEATHER EVENT. OUR ONLY CONCERN THERE WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOOR WAS SHUT TO US. NOT THAT WE INTEND TO USE IT, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY. THAT ONE IS OVER IN SENATE BUSINESS AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE, I UNDERSTAND, AND IT CAN BE COMING UP QUITE SOON, IF NOT THIS WEEK. AND WE'LL BE MONITORING THAT ONE AS WELL. THERE'S STILL SOME KIND OF TROUBLING BILLS OUT THERE. YOU REMEMBER LAST SESSION WE HAD A NEW LAW PUT UPON US THAT HAD WHAT WE CALL THE SHOT CLOCK IN THERE ARE SOME OTHERS THAT RESTRICT CONSTRAIN WHAT WE DO WITH RESPECT TO BUILDING MATERIALS, WERE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE AND AT LEAST LESSEN THE CONSTRICTIONS OF THOSE LAWS. INDEED, THOUGH, IT APPEARS THAT THERE'S A MOVEMENT AFOOT TO TIGHTEN THOSE THINGS UP IN SOME OF THE BILLS THAT RELATE TO THAT OR MOVING THROUGH. WE'RE HOPING, THOUGH, THAT BECAUSE OF THE LATENESS IN WHICH THEY'VE BEEN PICKING UP SPEED, THAT THEY'LL EVENTUALLY BE TIMED OUT. THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER BILL THAT WE'VE WORKED AGAINST THAT WOULD PROVIDE WHAT WE CALL SUPER PREEMPTION AND CUT CITIES OUT OF REGULATING THINGS LIKE DOOR TO DOOR SALES, SO LONG AS [01:40:06] THE SALESPERSON HAD A STATE LICENSE FOR WHATEVER. MY EXAMPLE HAS BEEN, COSMETOLOGY, I WANT TO GO DOOR TO DOOR SELLING MY NAIL SALON SERVICES AND I HAD A COSMETOLOGY LICENSE UNDER THESE BILLS, I'D BE ABLE TO DO SO. WE THINK THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT COULD BE QUITE TROUBLING. AND WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING, FIGHTING AGAINST THAT, STILL ALIVE. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY RUN INTO THAT TIMEOUT FACTOR BEING TIMED OUT ON THOSE BILLS AS WELL. WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'LL STOP AND TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS Y'ALL MAY HAVE FOR ME. VERY GOOD, SIR. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMITTEE OR FOR MR. NEIGHBOR? I SEE NONE. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE, ANNOUNCE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. [5. Announce Future Agenda Items] ANYONE HAVE ANY--THERE WE GO, COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. PREVIOUSLY, I ASKED LEGAL TO LOOK AT OUR TREE ORDINANCES AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM. WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE OPTIONS, AND I'D LIKE FOR US TO MOVE THAT ISSUE TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SO THEY CAN WORK WITH THE PARKS BOARD ON THAT ISSUE AND BRING US SOMETHING BACK. IF THAT'S OK. IT'S GOOD AND WE HAVE A SECOND, BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEDRICK. THANK YOU, SIR. THAT'S ALL AHEAD. VERY GOOD. ANY, EXCUSE ME, ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL OR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, OBVIOUSLY, IF SOMETHING COMES UP BETWEEN NOW AND THEN OR NOW AT OUR NEXT MEETING OR WHATEVER, WE DO HAVE A PROCESS FOR YOU TO GET THOSE ITEMS RECOGNIZED. SO WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX. [6. Council will move into Executive Session] COUNCIL WILL MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER SECTION 551.087 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE REGARDING COMMERCIAL OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT THE CITY HAS RECEIVED FROM A BUSINESS PROSPECT THAT THE CITY SEEKS TO HELP LOCATE, STAY OR EXPAND IN OR NEAR THE TERRITORY OF THE CITY. AND WITH WHICH THE CITY IS CONDUCTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS OR TO DELIBERATE THE OFFER OF A FINANCIAL OR OTHER INCENTIVE TO A BUSINESS PROSPECT RELATING TO ONE A COMMERCIAL PROJECT LOCATED GENERALLY SOUTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF SOUTH JUPITER ROAD AND WEST MILLER ROAD. THE SECOND ONE, A COMMERCIAL PROJECT LOCATED GENERALLY NORTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF WEST KINGSLEY ROAD AND SOUTH JUPITER ROAD. ALSO, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 551.071 AND 551.087 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE REGARDING ATTORNEY CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MATTERS RELATING TO THE GARLAND PUBLIC FACILITIES CORPORATION AND A REVISED PROJECT PLAN TO DEVELOP A 300 UNIT HOUSING FACILITY AT SATURN ROAD AND MARKETPLACE DRIVE IN GARLAND, TEXAS COUNCIL. I BELIEVE EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE LINK TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. I KNOW WE WERE HAVING ISSUES GETTING SOME OF THOSE LINKS OUT. BUT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THAT. IF NOT, PLEASE CONTACT RENEE OR ELISA. AND IF WE COULD HAVE EVERYBODY BACK ONLINE AT EIGHT O'CLOCK, PLEASE. EIGHT PM. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.