[00:00:09] GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME, EXCUSE ME. [Call to Order] WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 3RD, 2021 REGULAR MEETING OF THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL IT IS A CUSTOM AND TRADITION OF THIS CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE AN INVOCATION AND RECITAL OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF OUR MEETINGS. YOU'RE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE. IF YOU SO CHOOSE, YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN EITHER OR BOTH. AND YOUR DECISION IS STRICTLY A MATTER OF YOUR OWN CHOICE. TONIGHT, WE WILL BE LED BY MAYOR PRO TEM HEDRICK FROM DISTRICT SEVEN. IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN ME IN PRAYER. [INVOCATION] O HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TODAY AS A GRATEFUL PEOPLE. WE THANK YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO GATHER HERE TODAY AND DO THE WORK OF THE CITY OF GARLAND. WE ASK TO GRANT THIS, GRANT THIS COUNCIL WISDOM AND ALLOW US TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR THE PEOPLE WHOM WE SERVE. WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU BLESS OUR STUDENTS AS THEY RETURN TO THEIR STUDIES. THIS WEEK WE YOU ASKED TO PROVIDE THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND STAFF GUIDANCE AND WISDOM TO BEST INSTRUCT AND CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN. WE PRAY THAT YOU PROTECT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AS THEY TIRELESSLY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. WE ASK YOU WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH THEM ALWAYS AS THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE THE MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES TO OUR CITY. WE PRAY ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR MOST HOLY NAME AMEN. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [Mayoral Proclamations, Recognitions and Announcements] THIS MONTH'S PET PRINCESS WE MET EARLIER. AMY, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER. SO HERE I HAVE PRINCESS. AND LET ME TELL YOU, SHE HAS THE CUTEST LITTLE TAIL WAG WHEN YOU TAKE HER OUT WALKING AND SHE LOVES TO GREET EVERYBODY AND LET HER TAIL JUST GO CRAZY. SO YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE THAT IN PERSON. BUT YEAH, PRINCESS IS AN EIGHT YEAR OLD STRAY THAT IS LOOKING FOR HER FOREVER HOME. SHE'S ALREADY SPAYED AND UP TO DATE ON HER VACCINES. SO SHE'S READY FOR A HOME WHEN YOU ARE. WINK, WINK, WINK. LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. I WAS GOING TO SAY WE HAVE ALL CITY EMPLOYEES, BIRTHDAYS, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, TEACHERS, SENIOR CITIZENS OVER 60, BUT THEY ALL GET A SPONSORED ADOPTION THROUGH US. SO NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO FIND YOUR FOREVER FRIEND. VERY GOOD. I THINK YOU HIT EVERYBODY. I THINK I DID. VERY GOOD. WELL THANK YOU, AMY. THANK YOU, PRINCESS. WE HAVE A LOT OF RECOGNITION'S TONIGHT, WHICH IS GREAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO PUT A LOT OF THINGS OFF AND WE'RE PLAYING A LITTLE CATCH UP TONIGHT, WHICH IS GOING TO GOING TO RUN US. THE NEXT THING WE HAVE IS GARLAND YOUTH COUNCIL GRADUATES SARAH COX AND HOMAERA MAHMOOD AT THIS. WE'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO COME FORWARD. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE GARLAND YOUTH COUNCIL, FOR THOSE, THE YOUTH COUNCIL'S MISSION IS THE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GIVE THEM A VOICE AND A SAY IN CITY GOVERNMENT, AND THEY ARE NOMINATED BY THE COUNCIL THEY SERVE DURING THEIR SCHOOL YEAR. AND WE HAVE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOW GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM TONIGHT. YOU GOT THE SCRIPT HERE, TOO. WE HAVE HOMAERA AND SARAH SARAH SERVED ON GYC DURING ALL FOUR YEARS OF HER HIGH SCHOOL AS MY APPOINTEE IN DISTRICT FIVE AND HOMAERA SERVED AS A DISTRICT SEVEN APPOINTEE DURING A VERY BUSY SENIOR YEAR. DURING THEIR TIME ON GYC LAST YEAR, BOTH SARAH AND HOMAERA PARTICIPATED IN A CANNED FOOD DRIVE BENEFITING GOOD SAMARITANS OF GARLAND HANDMADE VALENTINES AND VALENTINES AND MOTHER'S DAY CARD FOR OUR LOCAL SENIOR CENTER, AS WELL AS PARTICIPATED IN A TRASH BASH IN A VIRTUAL TEEN TOWN HALL. AND THAT'S REALLY JUST THE KIND OF THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT DURING A PANDEMIC. AND BEING ON THE GYC DURING A PANDEMIC IS REALLY IT'S A VERY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR THEM. [00:05:03] AND THE GYC IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE CITY AND HAVING THEIR ENGAGEMENT, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE A SKATE PARK GETTING READY TO BE BUILT RIGHT NOW IF IT WASN'T FOR THE WORK OF THE GYC TO KEEP THAT DREAM ALIVE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. SO WHILE MOST OF THE MEETINGS WERE HELD BY ZOOM, THAT DIDN'T STOP THEM AND THEIR PEERS FROM FINDING WAYS TO REMAIN INVOLVED, CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY EVEN DURING THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. AND SO WE'RE SO PROUD. AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZED OUR SENIORS WHO WERE GRADUATING. AND SO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. AS YOU COULD SEE, SARAH'S GOING TO UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS NEXT YEAR. OH [LAUGHTER] SHE'S GOING TO STAB ME RIGHT IN THE BACK. THERE'S GOING TO BE A MURDER RIGHT HERE ON COUNCIL. BUT I'LL LET YOU FINISH IT OFF, MAYOR. VERY GOOD. WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR SERVING THE CITY AND CONGRATULATIONS. WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR COLLEGIATE CAREERS. [APPLAUSE] WE HAD WE HAD THREE OTHERS WHO HAD GRADUATED, THEY COULDN'T BE HERE WITH US TONIGHT, JOANNE GONZALEZ, ANNA NGO, AND TIMILAA RADHAKRISHNAN SORRY AND I'M GOING TO I'M SORRY. I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT THAT NAME. BUT THEY SERVED, AS RICH SAID, DURING A VERY DIFFICULT YEAR. EVERYTHING WAS RESCHEDULED, UNSCHEDULED. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY STILL KEPT DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO. AND SO THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, NOW'S YOUR TIME. I WOULD NOT. I'M OK. [LAUGHTER] I'M GOOD. THEY'RE ALL GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, LADIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, READY FOR THE NEXT ONE? YES. AND, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME OF YOU THAT MAY NOT KNOW, SARAH IS THE DAUGHTER OF THE HONORABLE LAURA PERKINS COX, WHO HAS ALWAYS HAD SOMETHING TO SAY. AND SO THAT SHE HAS A CHILD THAT HAS NOTHING TO SAY AND HAS A PODIUM IS SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW. YES SO NOW WE HAVE SOME NEIGHBORHOOD RECOGNITIONS AND AGAIN, WE'RE SORT OF MAKING UP FOR MAKING UP FOR A YEAR. AND [INAUDIBLE] WILL CATCH UP. BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, NEIGHBORHOOD USA, ALSO KNOWN AS NUSA, IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT PROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS. FOR THE PAST 40 PLUS YEARS, THEY HAVE HELD AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE WHICH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES AND DISCUSS TIMELY ISSUES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER AS THEY INVEST IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. EACH YEAR, NEIGHBORHOODS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY APPLY FOR VARIOUS NUSA AWARDS, RECOGNIZING THEIR EXEMPLARY NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT EFFORTS DUE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING. OBVIOUSLY PUT IN PLACE BY COVID-19, WE WERE UNABLE TO CELEBRATE OUR 2020 NUSA AWARD WINNERS FROM GARLAND. SO THIS EVENING WE ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE 2020 AND 2021 MEMBERS, WINNERS AND FINALISTS AND WE'LL START OUT WITH THE 2020 WINNERS AND FINALISTS. THERE YOU ARE. WELL, I AM VERY PLEASED AND EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE THIRD PLACE WINNER FOR NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR WOULD BE TRAVIS COLLEGE HILL IF THE MOORE'S WILL COME FORWARD. THEY WON THE AWARD FOR THEIR ORIGINAL MUSICAL DRAMA, BECOMING GARLAND AVENUE, WHICH RECOUNTED THE HISTORY AND HUMAN INTEREST STORIES OF THE CITY AND OUR BACKGROUND IN A UNIQUE AND WONDERFUL WAY. I WAS PRIVILEGED TO ATTEND THE PERFORMANCE, THE LIVE PERFORMANCE IN 2019, AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL, HEARTWARMING PERFORMANCES THAT I HAVE BEEN TO IN MANY, MANY YEARS. SO, MAYOR, DO YOU WANT TO [INAUDIBLE] RECOGNITION FOR YOU. VERY NICE, VERY, VERY WELL-DESERVED, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] OK, [00:10:02] I THINK AND I THINK LAURA'S DOING PICTURES AS WE GO, OK? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, AND ANOTHER DISTRICT, TWO CELEBRITY WHO RECEIVED THE HONOR OF BEING DESIGNATED THE 2020 WHO'S WHO IN AMERICA'S NEIGHBORHOODS, THIS IS SHIRLEY WALKER KING. IF YOU WANT TO COME UP, THIS NATIONAL TITLE IS RESERVED FOR ONE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER NATIONWIDE WHO EXEMPLIFIES BEING A LEADER IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, COMMUNITY AND CITY. AND LET ME JUST TELL YOU ABOUT THIS LADY HERE. IF YOU CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT FROM HER WINNING THIS NATIONAL AWARD, SHE IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. SHE WON ALREADY WON A PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP AWARD HERE FROM THE CITY OF GARLAND. IN HER BACKGROUND IN HISTORY, SHE HAS TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY, PRETTY MUCH AROUND THE WORLD. AND I JUST ASKED WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE WINNING THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER AWARD IN THE ENTIRE NATION. SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE. YEAH, SHE INTERGALACTIC NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER. BUT SHIRLEY WALKER KING, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] YES, AS I WAS SCROLLING THROUGH SHIRLEY'S RESUME OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR PHONE, YOU SCROLL TO A SCREEN AND THEN ANOTHER ONE. SO CONGRATULATIONS. WE APPRECIATE IT. SO NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR 2021 WINNERS AND FINALIST, COUNCILOR ROBIN. I'VE TOTALLY LOST MY PLACE. OH, HERE WE ARE. FIRST, ONE WE HAVE IS FORREST OLIVER, WHO IS RECOGNIZED AS A FINALIST FOR WHO'S WHO IN AMERICA'S NEIGHBORHOOD. MR. OLIVER WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE GRASSROOTS NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER CATEGORY AWARD FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS AND BEING NOT JUST A GOOD NEIGHBOR, BUT A GREAT NEIGHBOR. HE'S ORGANIZED SERVICE PROJECTS FOR DISABLED NEIGHBORS GOES OUT OF HIS WAY TO WELCOME NEIGHBORS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND DURING STAY AT HOME ORDERS TO ENSURE HIS NEIGHBORS WERE OK AND MORE. [APPLAUSE] AND NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE ORCHARD HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. [APPLAUSE] AND IF YOU KNOW, IF YOU KEEP TRACK OF THESE THINGS YEAR TO YEAR OHNA IS HERE PRETTY MUCH EVERY YEAR FOR AN AWARD OF SOME SORT. AND I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE IT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD I LIVE IN. IT'S THE BEST. AND IT AND THIS IS SUCH A GREAT EVENT TO RECOGNIZE THIS, BECAUSE I WOULD MAKE IN MY AND I'M GOING A LITTLE BIT OFF SCRIPT HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT REALLY MAKE THIS CITY SPECIAL. AND IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE TONIGHT ARE FOLKS. THAT'S WHAT IT'S NOT. I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECIAL PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FOR THE CITY AND PEOPLE UP ON THE DYAS AND ALL THAT. BUT IT'S OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT REALLY MAKE THIS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, THAT I'M SO PROUD THAT WE GET TO DO THIS AND GET TO MEET THESE FOLKS EVERY YEAR. BUT ANYWAY, THE OHNA RECEIVED THIRD PLACE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER COMPETITION. THEIR QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER CONTAINED A COMBINATION OF HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORY AND CITY NEWS. THEIR COLLECTIVE EFFORT IN CONTRIBUTING ARTICLES HAS GIVEN THE NEWSLETTER A COMPREHENSIVE AND WELCOMING FEEL. I DID NOT WRITE THAT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT'S TRUE EVERY QUARTER. SO I GET THIS NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER THAT'S JUST CHOCK FULL OF ALL KINDS OF GREAT INFORMATION, NOT JUST ABOUT WHERE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS, BUT WHERE IT'S BEEN IN THE HISTORY OF IT. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WORK AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT GLUES OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, TALK ABOUT GOING OFF SCRIPT, I'M GOING TO GO OFF SCRIPT FOR A LITTLE BIT AND THEN I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO MAYOR PRO TEM HEDRICK. BUT THE NEXT GROUP UP IS FROM THE CAMELOT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND THAT'S WHERE I LIVE. SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DISPUTE A STATEMENT THAT WAS JUST MADE UP HERE OF THIS THE BEST THAT ORCHARD HILLS IS THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DISPUTE THAT A LITTLE BIT. YOU'RE WRONG EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. [00:15:01] BUT THE CAMELOT NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR 20 YEARS AND I HAVE SOME GREAT NEIGHBORS AND WE HAVE SOME OF THEM HERE TONIGHT. [APPLAUSE] I'M SO PROUD TO REPRESENT CAMELOT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND BEING PART OF MY DISTRICT, THEY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. THEY'VE REALLY BEEN PERSEVERING AND MEETING AND RESUMING, CONTINUING, HOLDING LOTS OF CAN DRIVE FOR GOOD SAMS AND EVEN HAD THE FIRST MONUMENT DEDICATED TO FIRST RESPONDERS AND COVID CODE VICTIMS. AND IT'S WE WERE AT THE DEDICATION EARLIER THIS YEAR. AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MONUMENT RIGHT IN THE MEETING OF THE STREET, OPENING RIGHT INTO CAMELOT. SO THEY RECEIVED SECOND PLACE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR THIS YEAR AND FOR THEIR DRIVE THROUGH FOOD DRIVE AND ICE CREAM SOCIAL. AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF THE FOOD DRIVE. YOU GET AN ICE CREAM TO GO WITH IT THERE. THEY LITERALLY HAD TONS OF NONPERISHABLE FOOD THEY COLLECTED AND CASH FOR GOOD SAMS OF GOOD SAMARITANS OF GARLAND. AND THIS COVID FRIENDLY EVENT CAUGHT THE EYES OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS USA AWARDS JUDGES. SO CONGRATULATIONS, CAMELOT. I'LL TAKE UP I'LL TAKE SOME OF SARAH'S TIME UP. SO I AM JOE THOMAS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION. I'D LIKE TO JUST MENTION TO THE REST OF OUR BOARD HERE IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT. THIS IS THE SECOND PLACE, NATIONAL AWARD OUT OF ABOUT SIX THOUSAND ENTRIES, THEY TOLD ME. SO WE THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY GOOD. I THINK THE TEAM'S IDEAS ABOUT TURNING FROM MORE OF A SOCIAL PROJECTS TO SERVICE PROJECTS, REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A SILVER LINING OF COVID, IF YOU WILL, THAT WE HAVE NOW. WE JUST COMPLETED OUR THIRD FOOD DRIVE LAST WEEKEND. WE GATHERED THIRTEEN HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN POUNDS OF FOOD ON THAT DRIVE AND SOME CASH ALONG WITH THAT, THE COMPLIMENTS TO DYLAN'S NEIGHBORHOOD, OAK RIDGE, STILL HOLDS THE DISTRICT SEVEN RECORD WITH FIFTEEN HUNDRED POUNDS. SO WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THAT. AND BUT WE FEEL LIKE THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY KIND OF TOOK OUR IDEA AND RAN WITH IT. AND THAT'S BEEN REALLY A GOOD THING FOR GOOD SAMARITANS, ESPECIALLY LAST YEAR WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE WERE IN NEED. AND SO I WANT TO I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL. AND DYLAN, LET ME INTRODUCE OUR SOCIAL CHAIR IS DIANA THOMAS AND MY BETTER HALF. AND JUST REAL QUICKLY, OUR BOARD IS BECKY THURMOND IS OUR VICE PRESIDENT, DEANNA DEGNER, OUR SECRETARY, BRENDA WILSON, OUR TREASURER. AND THEN WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES, RICK WILSON, RICK WILLIAMS, A FORMER COUNCILMAN WHO IS OUR PART OF OUR CODE COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE. REBA COLLINS IS OUR BEAUTIFICATION CHAIRMAN. CYNTHIA HOUCK IS OUR COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR. AND I'M SURE I'M LEAVING SOMEBODY OUT HERE, BUT I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE. IT WAS TRULY A TEAM EFFORT TO WIN THIS AWARD, AND IT'S A VERY NICE LITTLE PLAQUE. I'LL POSE FOR LAURA FOR A PICTURE FOR A MOMENT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SCOTT. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, IT IS WE HAVE ONE MORE, IF THAT WEREN'T ENOUGH, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE SCOUTS FROM TROOP 100 WHO ARE WITH US HERE TONIGHT. I BELIEVE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, AND IF I AM, CORRECT ME, THIS IS CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY. VERY GOOD. I'VE LEARNED A FEW THINGS OVER THE YEARS. SO THE SCOUTS FROM TROOP 100, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, THAT'S THE LAST RECOGNITION, I PROMISE. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING, THE FIRST ITEM [Consent Agenda] ON OUR AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL ITEMS UNDER THIS SECTION ARE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY A SINGLE MOTION OF COUNCIL WITHOUT DISCUSSION. COUNCIL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW EACH OF THESE ITEMS AT A [00:20:05] PREVIOUS WORK SESSION. AND APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT EACH ITEM. I WILL ANNOUNCE THE AGENDA AND GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE TO HAVE AN ITEM PULLED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. AT THIS TIME, I DON'T HAVE ANY REQUESTS, SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND READ THROUGH THE AGENDA. ITEM ONE, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 20TH, 2021 REGULAR MEETING. ITEM TWO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING BIDS. ITEM TWO A, DUCK CREEK EIGHTEEN INCH TO THIRTY SIX INCH INTERCEPTOR MAIN REHABILITATION PHASE TWO. ITEM TWO B, AVENUE SECOND THROUGH FIFTH STREET IN HASKELL DRIVE WATER AND WASTEWATER MAIN REPLACEMENT'S. ITEM TWO C WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT ON PLANTATION ROAD, INCLUDING HANOVER AND RICHLAND DRIVE. ITEM TWO D, SPENCER COOLING TOWER REPAIR. ITEM TWO E GP&L PHASE ONE TRANSMISSION LINE AS BUILT MODELING AND CLEARANCE VERIFICATION. ITEM TWO F GP&L QUEEN BESS TERMINAL AT KING MOUNTAIN SWITCH CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. ITEM TWO G, COLLEGE MANNERS, WASTE WATER AND ALI PAVING IMPROVEMENTS. ITEM TWO H NETWORK CABLING FOR ANIMAL SHELTER AND ADOPTION CENTER. ITEM THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED ON THE FOLLOWING ZONING CASES. COUNCIL APPROVED THE REQUEST AND INSTRUCTED STAFF TO BRING FORTH THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES FOR CONSIDERATION. ITEM THREE A IS Z 21-20 FOR BEAU DURHAM IN DISTRICT SIX. ITEM THREE B Z 18-19 FOR PANKAJ PATEL IN DISTRICT ONE. ITEM THREE C Z 21- 11 PM DESIGN IN DISTRICT ONE AND ITEM THREE D CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION THIRTY TWO AND THIRTY THREE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES PARKING ENFORCEMENT NEAR CONSTRUCTION. ITEM FOUR CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE MEDICAL DISTRICT PLAN. ITEM FIVE APPROVED BY MINUTE ACTION. THE NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY MATCHING GRANT SPRING T2021 APPLICATIONS. ITEM SIX APPROVED BY MINUTE ACTION THE TRAILS RECREATION CLUB NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY MATCHING GRANT APPLICATIONS. AND FINALLY, ITEM SEVEN CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE FOR ELECTRIC UTILITY DIRECT PURCHASE NOTES. THAT IS THE THAT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ITEM PULLED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY SEEING NONE. MAYOR PRO TEM HEDRICK. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM HEDRICK AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN VERA TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU COULD PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US, PLEASE. COUNCIL. AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BASS IS NOT PRESENT WITH US THIS EVENING. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU CAN DISPLAY THE VOTE, PLEASE. AND THAT ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. VERY GOOD. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU COULD GO OVER THE SPEAKER REGULATIONS, PLEASE. YES, SIR, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IS GIVEN TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY RATHER THAN TO QUESTION THE CITY COUNCIL OR STAFF, THE CHAIR MAY CALL A SPEAKER OUT OF ORDER IF THE SPEAKER PRESENTS QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION THAT WILL UNDULY DELAY THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS AT THE MEETING. SPEAKERS APPEARING IN THE CHAMBER WILL SPEAK FIRST AND THE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS WILL FOLLOW. SPEAKER SHALL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON A FIRST COME FIRST TO SPEAK BASIS AS DETERMINED BY THE ORDER IN WHICH THE SECRETARY RECEIVES THE SPEAKER'S INFORMATION FOR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, PLEASE USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE ON ZOOM. IF YOU ARE DIALING IN FOR AUDIO, YOU MAY PRESS STAR NINE IN ORDER TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE MODERATOR. ONCE THE LINE IS OPEN, THE SPEAKER MAY PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE, SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. APPLICANTS WILL BE ALLOWED TEN MINUTES WHEN THE PODIUM BUZZER SOUNDS, THE SPEAKER MUST END THEIR COMMENTS, VIRTUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE INFORMED BY THE CLERK WHEN THEIR TIME HAS ELAPSED. THIS EVENING MAYOR LEMAY WE HAVE TWO IN PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEMS TEN A AND THE AGENDA. AND WE HAVE TWO VIRTUAL SPEAKERS. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, MA'AM. OUR FIRST ITEM IS ITEM EIGHT. [8. Hold a Public Hearing Regarding the 2021-22 Proposed Budget] THIS IS THE CITY MANAGER'S PRESENTATION FOR THE PROPOSED 2021 22 BUDGET, WHICH IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITY CHARTER AND STATE LAW. MR. BRADFORD. THANK YOU. [00:25:05] MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM PLEASED TONIGHT TO PRESENT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE 21-22 FISCAL YEAR GARLAND CERTIFIED TAX BASE CONTINUED RECENT TRENDS OF STRONG GROWTH, REACHING EIGHTEEN BILLION IN 2021, AN INCREASE OF ONE POINT THREE BILLION OR SEVEN POINT SIX PERCENT. NEW CONSTRUCTION ADDED TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX MILLION TO THE TAX BASE, WHICH MARKS THE FIFTH YEAR OF EXCEPTIONAL LEVELS OF NEW INVESTMENT IN GARLAND. PROPERTY TAX REVENUES AND THE GENERAL FUND ARE PROJECTED TO INCREASE THREE AND A HALF MILLION AFTER A PROPOSED DECREASE OF ONE POINT TWO SIX CENTS AND THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATE AS A RESULT OF [INAUDIBLE] TWO SALES TAX GENERAL FUNDS. SECOND LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE, IS PROJECTED TO REACH THIRTY THREE POINT EIGHT MILLION, AN INCREASE OF FOUR POINT EIGHT MILLION FROM THE CONSERVATIVE LEVELS PROJECTED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. GENERAL FUND RESOURCES FROM ALL SOURCES ARE PROJECTED TO REACH ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE MILLION IN THE 21-22 YEAR, AN INCREASE OF FOURTEEN MILLION. THE PRIORITIES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET ARE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING DEFERRED STAFFING AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS, RESTORING ANNUAL EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION INCREASES AND ENHANCING PROGRAMS TO CAPITALIZE ON IMPROVEMENTS UNDERWAY AS PART OF THE 2019 BOND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THESE PRIORITIES. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES THREE ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS AND ONE POLICE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN, THE ADDITION OF AN ADOPTION SPECIALIST AND VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN TO SUPPORT THE NEW ANIMAL SHELTER FACILITY. ALSO INCLUDED ARE THREE FULL TIME DEPUTY MARSHALS FOR PARKING, ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY AT THE MAIN STREET MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND OTHER POSITIONS INCLUDE A HEALTH INSPECTOR, LANDFILLED, EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, TRAFFIC SIGNAL TECHNICIAN AND PARKS AND RECREATION POSITION. IN THE CITY'S UTILITIES AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT POSITIONS ARE BEING PROPOSED TO MEET GROWING CUSTOMER DEMAND, INCLUDING FOUR POSITIONS FOR TRASH AND RECYCLING SERVICES, THREE IN WATER AND ONE IN WASTEWATER. ALSO, PUBLIC HEALTH GRANT FUNDS WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO ADD SIX GRANT POSITIONS TO CONTINUE OUR COVID-19 RESPONSE EFFORTS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES ENHANCEMENTS TO PARK MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS TO SUPPORT ADDITIONS TO PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES UNDERWAY AS PART OF THE BOND PROGRAM AND TO RESTORE CUTS MADE IN PREVIOUS YEARS AFTER DEFERRING PAY INCREASES LAST YEAR. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES THE RESTORATION OF ANNUAL MERIT INCREASES TO HELP RETAIN AND ATTRACT EMPLOYEES IN THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE LABOR MARKET WE CURRENTLY FIND OURSELVES IN. FINALLY, TO MAINTAIN THE CITY'S ABILITY TO WEATHER UNEXPECTED FINANCIAL SHORTFALLS OR EMERGENCY NEEDS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET MAINTAINS THE ADDITIONAL 10 DAYS OF RESERVES ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR, WHICH IS ABOVE THE 30 DAY FUND BALANCE REQUIREMENT IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE CITY'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS BASED ON A TAX RATE OF SEVENTY FIVE POINT SEVEN CENTS, WHICH IS NOTED EARLIER, IS A DECREASE OF ONE POINT TWO SIX CENTS FROM THE CURRENT RATE FOR AN AVERAGE GARLAND HOME VALUED AT TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUAL CITY PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE UNDER FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR OR ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH FOR A HOMEOWNER 65 AND OLDER ANNUAL CITY TAXES ARE LESS THAN ELEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS PER YEAR, OR ABOUT NINETY DOLLARS A MONTH. AFTER APPLYING THE FIFTY SIX THOUSAND SENIOR EXEMPTION. YOU'LL RECALL THAT LAST YEAR THE COUNCIL APPROVED INCREASES IN BOTH THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND THE SENIOR EXEMPTION WITH RESPECT TO CITY UTILITIES. PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES A ONE DOLLAR RATE INCREASE FOR SEWER SERVICE AND A ONE DOLLAR INCREASE FOR TRASH COLLECTION. NO CHANGE IS PROPOSED FOR ELECTRIC WATER OR STORM WATER UTILITY RATES. THE PROPOSED COMBINED BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES THE GENERAL FUND, THE GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT SERVICE FUND, THE UTILITY FUNDS, THE OTHER ENTERPRISE AND GRANT FUNDS TOTAL EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN MILLION, AN INCREASE OF FORTY TWO MILLION FROM LAST YEAR'S APPROVED LEVELS. THE PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET TOTALS ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE MILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 14 MILLION IN CLOSING. [00:30:03] I BELIEVE THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS A FINANCIALLY SOUND PLAN THAT PROVIDES FOR A HIGH LEVEL OF VALUE AND SERVICES TO THE GARLAND COMMUNITY. I'D LIKE TO COMMEND THE CITY STAFF FOR THEIR DILIGENT WORK RELATED TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. AND I CANNOT OVEREMPHASIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN ESTABLISHING THE POLICY FRAMEWORK THAT CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE AN UNCOMPROMISING COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THE STRENGTH AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE CITY'S FINANCES AND THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY SERVICES. I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THE PROPOSED BUDGET WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. THANK YOU, SIR. AND YES, FOR THOSE WATCHING, WE WILL BE. THE BUDGET WILL BE ON OUR AGENDA FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS OR SO AS WE COME THROUGH REGULAR WORK SESSIONS. AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME SPECIAL SESSIONS SCHEDULED AS WELL WHERE WE WILL DO DEPARTMENT REVIEW AND DISCUSSIONS. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE ALL RECEIVED OUR VERY LARGE NOTEBOOKS THAT CONTAIN ALL OF THIS INFORMATION THAT WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH DURING THOSE MEETINGS. THIS WAS POSTED AS A PUBLIC HEARING, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS JUST MR. BRADFORD'S PRESENTATION. BUT AT THIS POINT, THE WAY IT WAS POSTED, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON TH IS ITEM AND OTHERWISE YOU CAN JOIN US EITHER LIVE OR VIRTUALLY FOR ALL OF OUR ADDITIONAL MEETINGS FOR THE BUDGET. SO SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NINE SUBMISSION OF APPRAISAL ROLE IN RATES FOR FY [9. Submission of Appraisal Roll & Rates for FY 2021-22 and Call for Future Public Hearings] 2021 2022 AND CALL FOR FUTURE PUBLIC HEARINGS COUNCIL. THERE'S SOME VERY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE READ. MAYOR PRO TEM HEDRICK. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I MOVE THAT THE PROPOSED 2021 TAX RATE OF SEVENTY FIVE POINT SIX NINE SIX FIVE CENTS PER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS A VALUATION WE DISCUSSED AT TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE COMMENT AT THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 26TH, 2021 AT SEVEN P.M. AT THE GARLAND CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 200 NORTH 5TH STREET IN GARLAND, TEXAS. AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE SCHEDULED AT A PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE 2021 TAX RATE. THE SECOND HEARING AND ADOPTION WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2021 AT 7 P.M. AT THE GARLAND CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 200 NORTH 5TH STREET IN GARLAND, TEXAS. VERY GOOD. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM HEDRICK THAT MEETS ALL OF THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. AND I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH. UNLESS THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU COULD PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US, PLEASE. AND COUNCIL. AND DISPLAY THE VOTE PLEASE. THAT ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM TEN, HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE WILL WE HAVE A ZONING CASE BEFORE US HERE THIS EVENING, ITEM TEN, A CONSIDER AMENDED A SPECIFIC USE PROVISION REQUEST BY [Items 10A & 10B] TEWELDE ABREHAM TO ADD PARKING SPACES FOR SEMI TRUCK TRAILERS. THIS SITE IS LOCATED AT 3877 MILLER PARK DRIVE IN DISTRICT SIX. THIS ITEM ALSO HAS A SECOND PART. ITEM TEN B IS TO CONSIDER A SITE PLAN REQUEST. SAME APPLICANT, SAME ADDRESS. MR. GUERIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO ADD PARKING SPACES FOR SEMI TRUCK TRAILERS. THIS REQUEST IS A REVISION TO THE SUP THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL IN 2018. HERE'S THE CASE INFORMATION. THE LOCATION IS 3877 MILLER PARK DRIVE. THE ACREAGE IS APPROXIMATELY THREE POINT FORTY TWO ACRES AND IT IS ZONED INDUSTRIAL. HERE'S THE GENERAL LOCATION OF THE SUBJECT SITE ON THE FAR WEST SIDE OF GARLAND. AND HERE'S A MORE SPECIFIC LOCATION MAP SHOWING THE SUBJECT PROPERTY OUTLINED IN THE TEAL COLOR HERE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS PROPERTY AND THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY IS THE COLOR PURPLE, WHICH INDICATES INDUSTRIAL ZONING. SO THE SUBJECT SITE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS IS ZONED INDUSTRIAL DIRECTLY TO THE WEST OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF DALLAS. THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IDENTIFIES THIS AREA FOR INDUSTRY THAT IS IN LINE WITH THE EXISTING ZONING AND THE EXISTING USES IN THE AREA. THIS USE OFFERS A SUPPORTIVE USE TO THE EMPLOYMENT INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT SECTOR. [00:35:07] HERE'S SOME PHOTOS. THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS ON THE TOP LEFT HERE AND SOME ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF NEARBY PROPERTIES. HERE'S A COMPARISON TABLE OF THE SUP APPROVED IN 2018, THERE WAS AN SUP ISSUED IN 2018 FOUR TRUCK BY STORAGE USE, IT WAS FOUR TWENTY SIX SPACES FOR TRUCKS, TRUCK PARKING. AND THE PROPOSAL THIS EVENING IS FOR AN ADDITIONAL THIRTY THREE SPACES FOR TRUCKS MAKING THE TOTAL OF FIFTY NINE SPACES. AND THE APPLICANT ALSO IS PROPOSING TO INCREASE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF AN ONSITE OFFICE BUILDING FROM SIX HUNDRED AND EIGHTY NINE SQUARE FEET TO NINE HUNDRED SQUARE FEET. SO THIS IS JUST SHOWING A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS SUP AND THE CURRENT PROPOSAL. THERE ARE NO GDC DEVIATIONS BEING REQUESTED HERE. HERE'S THE PREVIOUS APPROVED SITE PLAN FROM 2018 AND I'LL PULL UP THE PROPOSED HERE IN A LITTLE BIT. BUT THE PARKING SPACES AT THAT TIME, THE TWENTY SIX SPACES WERE IN THIS AREA HERE. THIS MAY BE HARD TO SEE, BUT THERE WAS AN INDICATION OF FUTURE PAVING HERE, INDICATING THAT THERE WAS AN INTENT PERHAPS FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING. BUT I'LL JUMP TO OH AND THIS IS THE OFFICE BUILDING DOWN HERE OUTLINE IN THAT COLOR. BUT HERE'S THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN THIS EVENING. WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED THE AREA THAT'S THE PRIMARILY THE ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES BEING REQUESTED. AND THERE'S THE OFFICE BUILDING DOWN THERE. THE SITE WOULD BE ACCESSED FROM MILLER PARK DRIVE. AND HERE'S A LANDSCAPE PLAN, THE APPLICANT WOULD BE PROVIDING LANDSCAPING PER THE GDC REQUIREMENTS. AND THE BILLING ELEVATION'S FOR THE SMALL OFFICE BUILDING ON SITE MEETS GDC REQUIREMENTS. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING THE SUP FOR A TIME PERIOD OF TWENTY FIVE YEARS, WHICH ALIGNS WITH THE SUP TIME PERIOD GUIDE, AS I SAID EARLIER, NO GDC DEVIATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED BY THE APPLICANT. STAFFS RECOMMENDATION IS APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST THE SUP AND THE PLAN AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION WAS APPROVAL AS WELL, WITH THE UNANIMOUS VOTE NINE TO ZERO OF THE SUP IN THE PLAN. AND THAT WAS FOR THE TWENTY FIVE YEAR TIME PERIOD PER THE APPLICANTS REQUEST. AS FAR AS MAIL OUTS, WE MAILED OUT TWENTY FIVE NOTIFICATION LETTERS FOR THIS CASE. WE RECEIVED ONE IN FAVOR AND TWO OPPOSED. THOSE TWO IN OPPOSITION WERE FROM THE SAME PROPERTY. AND MAYOR, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. VERY GOOD COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS ITEM. COUNCIL MEMBER VERA WILL DID DOES THE APPLICANT KNOW THAT THERE'S NO PARKING ON THE STREET? YES, SIR. WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION WITH HIM, BECAUSE THERE'S NO PARKING ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STREET. YES, SIR. OK, THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. THANKS, SIR. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? I SEE NOTHING. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE CARDS FOR THE APPLICANT? I DO. I HAVE A SPEAKER CARD FOR MR. TEWELDE ABREHAM, SIR, IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD. OK. THE THE APPLICANT IS HERE, IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? I SEE NONE. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM MADAM SECRETARY? NO, SIR, WE DO NOT. VERY GOOD COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER VERA, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER VERA AND THE SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU COULD PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US, PLEASE, AND COUNCIL. AND DISPLAY THE VOTE. THAT ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, SIR. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM ELEVEN, CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND [11. Consider appointments to Boards and Commissions.] COMMISSIONS. I HAVE SOME APPOINTMENTS TONIGHT THAT MAYOR PRO TEM HEDRICK WILL BE ANNOUNCING FOR ME, SIR IF YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND DO THAT. I'D APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS THE BOARDS OF COMMISSION INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING JOHN KAIWI TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, JENNIFER NGUYEN, CHARLES PICKETT, ELVIA FLORES, BASHIR ASHIMI [00:40:03] AND TIFFANY LAM TO THE COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION. TRAYC CLAYBROOK TO THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION, KEN RISSER TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD, BETTYE HAYNES TO THE LIBRARY BOARD, DON KOERNER TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, WAYNE DALTON TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. DAVID PERRY TO THE PROPERTY STANDARDS BOARD. SHIRLEY ROBNETT TO THE SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD. ALLAN STAFFORD TO THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCE NUMBER ONE DOWNTOWN BOARD. PATRICK ABELL, THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCE NUMBER THREE BOARD AND MARK TYLER TO THE UNIFIED BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD. THANK YOU, SIR. AND COUNCIL LADY MORRIS. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A COUPLE. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. YES, I'D LIKE TO APPOINT ISAAC ABU TO THE COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION, FELECIA FULLER TO THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION, DAPHNE DEAN TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD AND JOHN BALL TO THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCE NUMBER TWO SOUTH BOARD. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. YOU'VE HEARD THE NOMINATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND WE DON'T NEED A SECOND FOR THOSE. SO, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU COULD PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US, PLEASE. AND COUNCIL AND DISPLAY THE VOTE AND THOSE FOLKS ARE ALL APPOINTED. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM TWELVE, CITIZEN COMMENTS, PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS [12. Citizen comments.] ISSUES NOT ON NOT ON THE AGENDA, MAY HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS COUNCIL AT THIS TIME. COUNCIL IS PROHIBITED FROM DISCUSSING ANY ITEM NOT POSTED, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. MADAM SECRETARY, MAYOR LEMAY WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, ROBERT WHITWORTH. I'M SORRY TO ADD TWO VIRTUAL SPEAKERS. JUST IT'S A LOT TO KEEP TRACK OF OVER THERE. I REALIZE, MR. WHITWORTH, IF YOU COULD GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE, SIR ROBERT WHITWORTH, 2105 MEADOWVIEW DRIVE, VERY GOOD, BEEN THERE SINCE 84. IN MR. MORRIS DISTRICT. I LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO A WOODLAND BASIN PARK AND NATURE PRESERVE, IT BACKS UP TO MY BACKYARD, AS DO MANY HOUSES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THAT STREET. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HISTORICALLY HAS ALWAYS MOWED THIS AREA FOR DECADES, SO I NEED TO TAKE YOU BACK AND A LITTLE HISTORY TRIP. NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WHEN THEY MADE A DECISION NOT TO MOW THIS AREA, I WAS TOLD IT WAS TO SAVE ON GASOLINE. I TALKED TO THE CITY COUNCILMAN. HE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF DRAINAGE. I TOLD BOTH THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT I TALKED TO THAT IT WAS THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX FEET HIGH, THE VEGETATION AFTER A FEW MONTHS, I TOLD THEM IT WAS A SEVERE FIRE HAZARD AND THAT IT WOULD EVENTUALLY BURN. AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW? IT DID BURN. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU ALL REMEMBER IT OR SOME OF YOU WERE THERE, BUT IT STARTED IN EARLY AFTERNOON BURNED TILL DARK TWO FIRE DEPARTMENTS COULD NOT CONTAIN IT. THE CITY HAD TO CALL IN THE FOREST SERVICE WITH THE LARGE BULLDOZER TO GET CONTROL OF IT. NOW, THIS WAS CLASSIFIED AS A HORRENDOUS WILDFIRE. NOW, PRESENTLY, TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO, FOUR MONTHS AGO, THEY'VE ALSO PARDON ME AFTER THE FIRE THEY MOWED IT ON A REGULAR BASIS, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT NOW THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AGO, SOMEONE HAS COME UP WITH A DECISION. WE'RE NOT MOVING ANYMORE. IT IS VEGETATIONS IS NOW THREE, FOUR OR FIVE, SIX FEET HIGH IN PLACES. NOW, THIS PARK BACKS UP TO THE VERY BACKYARDS OF OUR HOMES. THE CITY GOT OFF LUCKY BECAUSE WHEN IT DID START LAST TIME, IT STARTED EARLY AFTERNOON, SO IT WAS NOTICED. BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, THERE ARE NO LIGHTS, THERE ARE NO STREETS, THERE IS NO TRAFFIC, [00:45:04] NO POLICE PATROLS IN THIS AREA. IT IS TOTALLY DARK. IF THIS HAD STARTED AT 2:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THEY WERE IN TROUBLE TILL THEIR BACKYARD WAS ON FIRE. SO I SAY AGAIN, IT IS FROM THREE TO SIX FEET TALL NOW. IT'S GETTING DRIER BY THE WEEK AND IT NEEDS TO BE MOWED. AND I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO SAY THIS AGAIN. IT WILL BURN. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. MADAM SECRETARY, OUR NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MR. GARCIA, THE LINE IS OPEN ON OUR END PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR LINE, I'M HERE. AND MR. GARCIA, IF YOU COULD GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. OF COURSE, JOSH GARCIA 4029 MAYFLOWER DRIVE DRIVE GARLAND, TEXAS 75043 COUNCIL AS YOU GUYS ARE ALL AWARE MAYOR SCOTT LEMAY IS NOW ARE OUR NEW PERCUSSIONIST FOR THE CITY OF GARLAND. THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT'S BECAUSE ON JULY 17TH HE WAS HE WAS INVITED TO A PARTY. AND I CAN TELL YOU, HE KNOWS HOW TO PLAY THE BONGOS. SO WHOEVER WANTS TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE CONGO'S OR THE BONGOS OR WHATEVER IT'S CALLED, PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WILL HOOK YOU UP WITH MAYOR LEMAY. I THINK HE'S HE PLAYS THE BEST SALSA DANCE. I WAS VERY HAPPY, ENTHUSIASTIC TO SEE. I THINK WE HAVE THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC MAYOR WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF GARLAND. SO THAT WAS REALLY AMAZING. AND NUMBER TWO, CITIZENS ARE NOT AWARE AND I'LL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON THIS SATURDAY, THE CITY OF GARLAND SPONSORING THE THE DOWNTOWN GARLAND SQUARE BACK TO SCHOOL BASH. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. WE ALSO HAVE A PIE FACE CHALLENGE. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR WILL BE IN [INAUDIBLE] FOR SURE. AND I CAN SAY I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE TO THROW A PIE FACE AT MAYOR SCOTT LEMAY AND THE GARLAND [INAUDIBLE] MORRIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH. SO BE READY FOR THAT. AND I ALSO CONSIDER THE OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THROW PIE FACE AT THE MAYOR. SO IF YOU GUYS DO THAT, I WILL GIVE YOU ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. FOR TO DO THAT SO PLEASE, PLEASE COME OUT AND JOIN THE CITIZENS, COME OUT, IT WILL BE A REALLY FUN DAY. AND THAT'S WHY I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE? MR. GARCIA WAS OUR FINAL SPEAKER. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE AT 7:48 WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.