Aug 16, 2021 Work Session

IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO GIVE THIS PRESENTATION.

IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE GHFC APPEARED BEFORE COUNCIL FOR UPDATING THE PRESENTATION.

AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT BEING HERE TONIGHT TO DO THIS.

I WANT TO THANK PRESIDENT ADAMS FOR JOINING ME.

I'LL TAKE ALL THE EASY QUESTIONS AND I'LL GIVE ALL THE HARD QUESTIONS TO HIM.

IF YOU ALLOW ME, MR. MAYOR, I'M GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN, WE HAVE A BRIEF POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.

WE WANT TO SHOW THE COUNCIL, GO AHEAD SIR.

AND AS YOU WELL KNOW, MR. MAYOR, I AM TECHNOLOGICALLY CHALLENGED, SO.

I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT BECAUSE I WAS THINKING IT.

YES, IT WAS TRUE AS YOU WELL KNOW.

SO GIVE ME A MOMENT HERE.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO WE CAN GET STARTED HERE.

GARLAND HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION WAS CREATED APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS AGO UNDER SECTION UNDER THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL PROPERTY CODE ARTICLE [INAUDIBLE] I BELIEVE WE ARE.

THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, GIVEN VARIOUS DUTIES OF WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO AND THEN OTHERS THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO.

AND SO WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS TONIGHT IS THAT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, AS YOU RECALL, I JOINED THE ORGANIZATION OCTOBER 1ST OF 2020, AND WE'VE HAD SOME STUNNING TIME THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE [INAUDIBLE] GOOD THING.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO SERVE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS OF GARLAND RESIDENTS.

WE HAVE A DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR PURCHASES WE DO, NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS.

WE ARE VERY ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN AFFORDABLE SENIOR AND WORKFORCE HOUSING.

AND NOW WE'RE WORKING ALSO IN DOING REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS, FUNDING REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTS.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO REDUCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOME INFILL HOUSING THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU LATER.

AND ALSO GIVING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO OUR LOCAL NONPROFIT AGENCIES, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF GARLAND, AS WELL AS GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR ASSISTANCE INCOME QUALIFIED FAMILIES.

WE HAVE A FIVE MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

BOARD MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

IN FACT, I BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE ENTERTAINING INTERVIEWS TONIGHT FOR ONE OF THE TERMS THAT WILL BE ENDING ON AUGUST 31.

OUR BOARD MEMBERS TOOK OFFICE IN SEPTEMBER OF EACH YEAR AND SERVE A SIX YEAR TERM.

CURRENTLY, DALE ADAMS IS OUR PRESIDENT.

OUR VICE PRESIDENT IS DELORES ELDER-JONES, TONY TORRES IS THE BOARD SECRETARY AND GENAI WALKER-MACKLIN IS OUR BOARD TREASURER.

AND PETER ROMANYAK IS THE DIRECTOR AT LARGE.

AS YOU LOOK AT THESE PHOTOGRAPHS HERE, WE LIKE TO SAY THERE ARE THREE THORNS BETWEEN TWO ROSES AND THE BOARD HAS BEEN WORKING VERY WELL TOGETHER AND WE'RE JUST TICKLED TO DEATH OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON.

SO FIRST OF ALL, TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, WE'RE VERY EXCITED AND VERY HAPPY, PROUD ABOUT THIS.

WE HAVE TWO PROGRAMS. OUR FIRST IS CALLED OUR MCC/DPA PROGRAM, THAT IS OF MORE MORTGAGE CREDIT CERTIFICATE AND DOWN PAYMENTS ASSISTANT PROGRAM.

THE MORTGAGE CREDIT CERTIFICATE ALLOWS THE PURCHASE OF UP TO TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR IN TAX CREDITS EACH YEAR FOR THE FULL TERM OF THEIR LOAN.

THESE ARE SET ASIDE FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS AND ARE PROVIDED.

THIS PROGRAM IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO FOLKS WHO WANT TO PURCHASE HOMES IN THE CITY OF GARLAND.

COMING WITH THE MCC PROGRAM, NOT ONLY IS THE MORTGAGE CREDIT CERTIFICATE THAT THEY GET FOR EACH YEAR, THEY MAINTAIN THEIR MORTGAGE, BUT THEY ALSO GET ASSISTANCE FROM LOANS THAT WE PROVIDE.

IT IS THE SECOND LANE.

IT HAS ZERO INTEREST.

THERE ARE NO FEES IF IT'S REPAID WITHIN THE FIRST THREE YEARS.

THERE ARE VARIOUS FEES ALONG THE WAY IF IT'S NOT PAID WITHIN THREE YEARS.

BUT THE MORTGAGE, THE SECOND MORTGAGE IS NEVER DUE UNLESS THE PURCHASER SELLS REFINANCES OR GETS TO THE END OF THE MORTGAGE AT THAT 30 YEARS.

WE ISSUE BONDS TO FUND THIS PROGRAM AND WE SPEND GHFC FUNDS DIRECTLY TO FUND THESE

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LOANS.

WELL, HERE'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

SINCE WE STARTED THE PROGRAM IN 2012, WE HAVE NOW PROVIDED ASSISTANCE FOR ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT GARLAND FAMILIES TO PURCHASE THEIR FIRST HOMES.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS OF LOANS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

GHFC HAS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED SEVEN HUNDRED AND FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS INTO THIS PROGRAM FOR THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE LOAN.

SO WHAT'S VERY INTERESTING TO ME IS AS I STARTED DOING RESEARCH ON THIS PROGRAM IS THAT OF THOSE HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT FAMILIES THAT WE'VE GOT SO FAR, NINETY THREE PERCENT OF THEM ARE STILL IN THEIR HOMES TODAY.

AND THIS GOES BACK.

THE PROGRAM STARTED IN 2012.

ANOTHER INTERESTING FACT I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

IN THE NINE YEARS SINCE IT'S BEEN STARTED, THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE FORECLOSURE ON SOMEONE ON THEIR HOUSE.

SO THIS IS A VERY VALUABLE PROGRAM, PARTICULARLY THE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS AND GARLAND.

AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO PROVIDE IT.

RIGHT NOW.

IT LOOKS LIKE FROM 2020, THE AVERAGE PURCHASE PRICE FOR A HOME THAT WAS THE FAMILY RECEIVED DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE ALONE WAS ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

WE ARE CURRENTLY GETTING READY TO ISSUE AN ADDITIONAL TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS IN BONDS FOR OUR HOME AND AROUND THE PROGRAMS. WE DID A SERIES IN 2013 AND WE DID ANOTHER TEN BILLION SERIES IN 2020 THAT'S BEEN USED.

AND NOW WE'RE UPPING FROM THE ORIGINAL BILLION DOLLAR ISSUE.

THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY ISSUE A TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS WITH THE BONDS FOR THE DPA PROGRAM.

THIS WILL ALLOW US TO FUND ANOTHER APPROXIMATELY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NINETY AND A HUNDRED ADDITIONAL LOANS FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS IN GARLAND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

YOU CAN SEE OVER THE YEARS THAT THE PROGRAM HAS HAD VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LOANS THAT HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO BE USED.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WENT UP DRAMATICALLY IN 2020 AND WE PROJECTED A LARGER NUMBER IN 2021.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DECIDED TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF THE BOND ISSUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO ISSUE NEXT TO PROVIDE THESE LOANS.

IN ADDITION, WE PARTICIPATED IN A STATEWIDE PROGRAM THAT'S CALLED THE SETH 5 STAR PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE PROGRAM WE OFFER AND ATTRACTS A DIFFERENT BORROWER.

THIS PROGRAM IS NOT LIMITED TO FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS.

ANYBODY WHO'S PURCHASING A HOME IN THE CITY OF GARLAND CAN PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM IF THEIR INCOME QUALIFIED AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM THIS DOWN PAYMENT PROGRAM IS NOT A FORGIVABLE LOAN.

IT'S ACTUALLY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT BRANCH OF THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT ARE PROVIDED.

SO THIS HAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT COST TO IT.

YOU DON'T GET THE BENEFIT OF THE MORTGAGE CREDIT CERTIFICATE.

SO WHEN SOMEONE IS LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE, WE HAVE BOTH PROGRAMS DEPENDING UPON WHAT THEIR NEEDS MIGHT BE SPECIFICALLY TO THEIR PURCHASE.

IN ADDITION, WE ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND SINGLE FAMILY BOATS IN REHABILITATION AS WELL AS SOME PENDING NEW CONSTRUCTION I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU HERE .

1929 DELMAR IS A IN DISTRICT TWO THAT WE PURCHASED AND DID A COMPLETE BACK TO THE STUDS RENOVATION.

THE SMALL PICTURE AT THE TOP OF YOUR SCREEN.

YOU CAN SEE THAT HOW NEATLY THE KITCHEN WAS ORGANIZED WHEN WE PURCHASED THE HOME AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS ACROSS THE CENTER SHOW WHAT THE HOME LOOK LIKE AFTER WE FINISHED THE REHAB ON THIS.

THIS REHAB WAS COMPLETED IN 2020 AND WAS SOLD TO AN INCOME QUALIFIED FAMILY HERE IN GARLAND.

925 LESA LANE IS AT HOME IN DISTRICT SIX THAT WE DID A RENOVATION ON BACK IN 2018 AND 19.

AGAIN THIS HOME WAS SOLD TO A FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER IN GARLAND, WHO ALSO USED OUR MCC/DPA LOAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

MANY OF YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THE HOUSES THAT VERITEX BANK DONATED TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP PROJECT THAT WE DID WITH THE CITY OF GARLAND, WITH HABITAT FOR

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HUMANITY WITH VERITEX BANK.

VERITEX DONATED THE THREE HOUSES GHFC AT THAT POINT IN TIME OWNED TWO LOTS OVER ON 6TH STREET, 601, AND 605 6TH STREET.

WE DONATED THOSE LOTS TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO MOVE TWO THOSE THREE HOMES TOO FOR REHABILITATION AND EVENTUAL RESALE TO [INAUDIBLE] WERE SOLD TO VETERAN FAMILIES HERE IN GARLAND.

AND IN ADDITION TO DONATING THE TWO LOTS FOR HABITAT TO RELOCATE THOSE [INAUDIBLE].

WE ALSO PAID FOR THE COST OF RELOCATION.

WE CAN SEE ONE OF THE HOUSES GOING THERE DOWN BY THE SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE INTRINSIC THE MAP ONE OF THEM WAS MOVED.

SO NOT ONLY ARE WE DOING THINGS OURSELVES, BUT WE'RE ALSO PARTNERING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY [INAUDIBLE] TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE FUNDS TO OUR AFFORDABLE NEEDS NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE ALSO OWN TWELVE TOWNHOME LOTS IN THE FOREST COVE TOWNHOME COMMUNITY.

THIS COMMUNITY IS IN DISTRICT EIGHT.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY WITH THESE LOTS.

ONCE THEY WERE PURCHASED, WE HAD TO DO FLOODPLAIN RECLAMATION.

WE HAD TO DO VARIOUS ENGINEERING WORK.

WE HAD TO GET UTILITIES TO THE LOTS.

AND WE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT UNBEKNOWNST TO US AND OTHERS THE COMMON AREAS, INCLUDING THE ROADWAY AND OTHER TRACTS OF THE COMMUNITY, HAVE BEEN FORECLOSED ON BY A BANK THAT WAS EVENTUALLY TAKEN OVER BY THE FDIC.

AND WE SPENT ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS WORKING FOR THIS JOURNEY TO GET A TITLE TO ALL THE COMMON AREAS.

BUT WE ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED THAT LAST WEEK.

SO WE DON'T KNOW YET HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS TRACT THAT WE HAVE OF THE TWELVE LOTS TEN ARE DEVELOPABLE AND THE BOARD NOW THAT WE HAVE TITLE TO ALL THE PROPERTY AND CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH DEVELOPMENT.

WE'LL BE LOOKING AT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD THERE.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE DRAWINGS AND PLANS FOR TOWNHOMES AND ARE STILL LOOKING AT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, FROM THE TIME I WAS IN COUNCIL, I WORKED AS LONG AS I COULD TO GET THE OLD ABANDONED NURSING HOME AT 1922 CASTLE DRIVE DEMOLISHED AND REPURPOSED.

WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE GHFC WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO BUY THIS LAND AND THE FACILITY EARLIER THIS YEAR AND THROUGH A CDBG GRANT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AWARDED TO US.

WE WERE ABLE TO DO THE ASBESTOS ABATEMENT AND THE DEMOLITION OF THE PROPERTY.

IT'S A TWO POINT THREE ACRE SITE ALONG BRADFORD CREEK, WHERE WE ARE NOW TRYING TO WORK WITH BOTH THE CITY OF GARLAND AS WELL AS THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IN DETERMINING HOW WE BEST TO REDEVELOP THIS.

WE ENVISION THIS TO BE AN AFFORDABLE SENIORS POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD.

GISD BOTH FACULTY AND STUDENTS AT THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTER ARE WORKING WITH US AND HELPING US WITH DESIGN AND LAYOUT OF THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS DESIGN OF THE HOMES.

THIS IS BEEN LONG, LONG JOURNEY FOR ME PERSONALLY.

IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY FOR THIS PROPERTY AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET RID OF THE EYESORE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SOME EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES HERE.

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED 1130 MEANDERING WAY, WHICH IS A VACANT LOT IN DISTRICT ONE THAT WAS THE RESULT OF A HOME THAT HAD BEEN BURNED THERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

WE HAD JUST RECENTLY WORKED WITH [INAUDIBLE] KING AND HER TEAM AND [INAUDIBLE] HER GROUP ENTERED TO A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE CITY OF GARLAND GHFC AND LINE CONSTRUCTION, TO CONSTRUCT A HOME HERE.

WE ENVISION THIS BEING A HOME DESIGN TO NOT ONLY BLEND WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BEING A ONE STORY CONSTRUCTION, BUT ALSO AN ARCHITECTURAL STYLE THAT'S SIMILAR TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND WE'RE DESIGNING THIS FOR HOPEFULLY A HOME FOR A LOCAL VETERAN.

WE HOPE TO START CONSTRUCTION SOMETIME BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.

GHFC RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS LOT THIS IS AT 802 ALAMO LANE, IT'S A FORTY THOUSAND SQUARE

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FOOT LOT IN DISTRICT EIGHT THAT HAS AN ABANDONED CHURCH STRUCTURE THAT'S ON THE LOT WE ARE LOOKING TO CLEAR THE LOT WE'VE JUST FINISHED THE ASBESTOS STUDY.

THEY'RE BEGINNING THE ABATEMENT PROGRAM SHORTLY.

THIS LOT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO BE SUBDIVIDED INTO FOUR LOTS THAT WE ENVISION FOUR HOMES TO BE CONSTRUCTED THERE.

AGAIN, AFFORDABLE HOMES, HOMES THAT WILL BLEND WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARCHITECTURALLY AND BRING FOUR NEW HOMES TO THIS CORNER IN DISTRICT EIGHT.

WE ARE ALSO PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF GARLAND FOR THIS HOME AT CREEKRIDGE LANE, IN DISTRICT THREE.

THIS IS A HOME THAT'S BEING REHABBED.

IT'S SUSTAINED SOME SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING THE WINTER STORM EARLIER THIS YEAR, GHFC, HAS AGREED TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND IS CONTRIBUTING TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE REPAIR RENOVATION.

WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL BE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR A GREAT VETERAN'S DAY CELEBRATION THAT THIS HOME BEING SOLD TO A VETERAN FAMILY HERE IN GARLAND.

WE ALSO DO NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT IMPROVEMENT.

NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT GRANTS EXCUSE ME.

RECENTLY WE DID A FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANT RIDGEWOOD PARK IN DISTRICT FOUR FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR ENTRYWAY.

WE ALSO ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH NORTHLAKE ESTATES IN DISTRICT ONE FOR HOPEFULLY BEING ABLE TO HELP THEM WITH THE SIGN TOPPER PROGRAM.

THEY'RE ALSO WORKING WITH MR. BOLLINGER AND HIS TEAM THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY.

SO WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT HOW EVERYONE WORKS TOGETHER TO BRING THIS IMPROVEMENT TO NORTHLAKE ESTATES.

WE'RE ALSO PARTNERS IN EIGHT MULTIFAMILY COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE GARLAND, AS WELL AS SOME OUTSIDE GARLAND THAT I'LL SHARE WITH YOU HERE, THE FIRST ONE I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU IS THE CESERA.

MANY OF YOU KNOW, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS PRIMROSE PRIMROSE PARK.

THIS IS [INAUDIBLE] IN DISTRICT EIGHT.

THAT IS 100 PERCENT SENIOR LIVING.

WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY SINCE 2005.

THERE ARE TWO HUNDRED AND FOUR UNITS SET ASIDE ALL FOR SENIORS.

IT IS ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE THAT ALL RENTS AND RESIDENTS AND MUST QUALIFY FOR 60 PERCENT OR LESS.

AMI TO BE ABLE TO RESIDE HERE.

HOMETOWNE IS A COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE A PARTNER IN ON CASTLE DRIVE.

THIS ALSO IS A SENIOR COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY UNITS THERE.

IT LIKE CESERA IS ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE.

FIVE HUNDRED SEVEN UNITS ARE SET ASIDE FOR 30 PERCENT OR LESS AMI 50 PERCENT AMI SET ASIDE AND 45 PERCENT OF THE UNITS OTHER HALF OF THE UNITS ARE 60 PERCENT AMI FOR INCOME QUALIFICATIONS.

SAVANNAH AT GATEWAY WAS OUR FIRST VENTURE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, THIS COMMUNITY IS IN PLANO, OFF SHILOH ROAD.

IT ALSO IS A SENIOR COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY TWO UNITS THERE.

IT IS A MIXED INCOME COMMUNITY.

80 PERCENT OF THE UNITS ARE SET ASIDE FOR LESS THAN 60 PERCENT AMI AND 10 PERCENT FOR MARKET RATE.

WE ALSO HAVE A VERY ACTIVE VETERANS PROGRAM HERE OF WHERE A NUMBER OF OUR AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE BEING SET ASIDE FOR THE VETERANS, SOME HOMELESS WHO ARE REENTERING, HAVING HOUSING.

AND WE'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE HERE WITH THE VA IN TRYING TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR VETERANS.

NEXT IS [INAUDIBLE] CITY SQUARE LOFTS IT IS IN DISTRICT TWO.

WE'VE BEEN A PARTNER IN THIS COMMUNITY SINCE LAST YEAR, 2020, IT CURRENTLY HAS ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX UNITS OF AFFORDABLE AND MARKET RATE UNITS.

20 PERCENT OF THE UNITS ARE SET ASIDE FOR LESS THAN 50 PERCENT, AMI, 40 PERCENT FOR LESS THAN 60 PERCENT AND 40 ARE MARKET RATE.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS WAS AN OLD BANK BUILDING THAT WAS ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECT.

[00:25:01]

THIS PROJECT WON THE 2020 REDEVELOPMENT EXCELLENCE AWARD FROM NALHFA, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCIES AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT BEING PARTNERS IN THIS COMMUNITY IN DOWNTOWN GARLAND.

ONE90 FIREWHEEL IS ON CAMPBELL ROAD IN GARLAND, THIS IS IN DISTRICT ONE.

THIS IS A NEW COMMUNITY THAT WAS BUILT IN 2020.

TODAY, WE HAVE TWO PHASES, A TOTAL OF FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THREE RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

52 PERCENT OF THE UNITS ARE SET ASIDE FOR RESIDENTS OF 80 PERCENT OR LESS AMI AND 40 PERCENT FOR EXCUSE ME, 48 PERCENT ARE MARKETPLACE.

WE RECENTLY BECAME PARTNERS IN LEGACY RIVERSIDE IN THE LAST YEAR.

THIS IS TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY FOUR UNITS OF SENIOR HOUSING IN FORT WORTH.

THIS WILL BE NOT ONLY OUR SENIOR IT'S ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE FOR RESIDENTS AT LESS THAN 60 PERCENT AMI.

AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY IS THE MURDEAUX VILLAS SECOND TO LAST I'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE.

SO MUCH EXCITEMENT GOING ON.

MURDEAUX VILLAS IS AN EXISTING PROPERTY IN SOUTH DALLAS.

WE BECAME A PARTNER IN THIS COMMUNITY EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THERE ARE TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY UNITS.

IT IS 100 PERCENT AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES OF LESS THAN 60 PERCENT AMI.

THIS IS GOING THROUGH A MASTER REHABILITATION PROGRAM THAT WILL ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A MUCH NEEDED UPGRADE TO IT'S EXISTING PLAT.

AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU IS ONE THAT WE'RE JUST IN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING ON ITS CALLED THE ENCLAVE AT FRANKFORD.

THIS ALSO IS IN DALLAS.

IT WILL BE NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY UNITS.

AND AGAIN, A MIXED USE PROJECT OF WHERE 51 PERCENT OF THE UNITS WILL BE AFFORDABLE, AT EITHER 60 OR 80 PERCENT AMI AND 49 PERCENT AT MARKET RATE.

BEFORE I MOVE, I'D LIKE TO MENTION TO YOU IS THAT WHILE GHFC CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON GARLAND PROPERTIES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN GARLAND, WE'VE HAD THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER IN DEVELOPMENTS OUTSIDE THE CITY.

AND WE VIEW THESE VEHICLES AS PURELY INVESTMENTS WHERE ANY PROFITS OR FEES THAT WE MAKE FROM THESE PARTNERSHIPS OUTSIDE THE CITY OF GARLAND, THE RESULTS OF OUR REVENUES FROM THOSE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THOSE ARE BEING PUT BACK IN THE GARLAND EITHER TO [INAUDIBLE] OUR ABILITY TO PURCHASE THESE VARIOUS LOTS OUR ABILITY TO DO THESE REHABILITATIONS, OUR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GREATER COMMUNITY AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN SOME OF THE GRANTS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, GHFC HAS PROVIDED FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GRANTS TO THE CITIZENS OF GARLAND THROUGH THE CITY'S CURRENT PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC FAIRS, WINTER STORM RECOVERY EFFORTS, THE MINOR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THE SINGLE FAMILY CRITICAL REPAIR PROGRAM.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR BOARD IS REALLY EXCITED.

ALSO, COUNCIL MEMBER IS OUT OF THIS FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANT THAT WE'VE MADE TO THE CITY THIS YEAR.

MS. WOODARD AND MR. BOLLINGER AND THEIR VARIOUS TEAMS HAVE ALREADY AWARDED EITHER MONEY, MONEY SPENT OR YET TO BE SPENT ON APPROVED PROJECTS, OVER FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THOSE FUNDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED.

THESE ARE ALL TO PROPERTY OWNERS WHO MEET THE AFFORDABLE INCOME QUALIFICATIONS.

OF THE FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THERE ARE THIRTY FIVE DIFFERENT PROJECTS BEING COMPLETED WITH THOSE FUNDS ON TWENTY NINE DIFFERENT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.

OF THOSE TWENTY NINE PROPERTIES, 1TWELVE OF THOSE HOMEOWNERS ARE ELDERLY, THREE OF THEM ARE DISABLED, AND ONE IS A VETERAN SINGLE.

WE ALSO COMMITTED ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THIS YEAR TO THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT

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SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF US PRESENTING THE FIRST FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLAR CHECK EARLIER THIS YEAR.

AGAIN, I'M EXCITED THAT OUR BOARD IS IS EXCITED TO KNOW THESE FUNDS ARE BEING USED IN OUR COMMUNITY ALREADY.

OF THIS FIRST ROUND OF GRANTS, THE FOUNDATION HAS AWARDED FORTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS TO 14 STUDENTS FOR ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS IN ENGINEERING OR ARCHITECTURE.

OUR ONLY CAVEAT WAS TO THE FOUNDATION IS THAT WE WANTED RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION BUILDING TRAITS TO BE THE FOCUS OF OUR FUNDING.

SO FROM AN ACADEMIC STANDPOINT, I HAD SAID ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING SCHOLARSHIPS.

IN ADDITION, SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN GIVEN FOR PROFESSIONAL TRADE SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR ELECTRICIANS, FOR TECHNICIANS AND FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION.

WE ALSO HAVE HAVE GIVEN SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GRANTS FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO BUY TOOLS FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY APPLY THEIR TRADES.

AND ONCE ONCE THEY COMPLETE THIS PROGRAM, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THE TECH CENTER AND THEIR VALUABLE TRADES AND PROGRAMS. LAST I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU IS THAT FOR THE GARLAND COMMUNITIES OF WHICH WE ARE PARTNERS, WE PROVIDE A RENTAL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

WE'VE ALLOCATED SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS THIS YEAR FOR THAT ASSISTANCE SO FAR, BUT WE HAVE ACTUALLY PAID A LITTLE BIT OVER TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR ELEVEN SENIOR RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS EIGHT FAMILIES AND FOUR OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN GARLAND.

I'M GOING TO FINISH TALKING AND HERE'S OUR CONTACT INFORMATION, WE'RE ONLINE AT GARLANDHFC.ORG.

FEEL FREE TO CHECK US FROM THE WEB AND CONTACT US BOTH FOR NEIGHBORHOODS AND LOOKING FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR FOLKS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR NONPAYMENT ASSISTANCES.

WE CAN REFER YOU TO ONE OF OUR MORTGAGE COMPANY, MORTGAGE LENDERS, AND FOR ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OF BEING ABLE TO HELP FOLKS IN NEED.

ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THE CARES PROGRAM IS I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TO PAINT APPROXIMATELY 10 HOUSES THIS YEAR OF FOLKS WHO WERE IN CODE VIOLATION FOR THEIR CONDITIONS OR HOMES WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE THOSE REPAIRS.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS THERE.

AND SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AND MAYBE COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND I'M SURE MR. ADAMS WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AS WELL IF ANYBODY ASKS HIM.

LET'S SEE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

GOOD EVENING, THE HONORABLE.

AND THIS IS AN EASY QUESTION.

YOU ASK FOR THE EASY ONES.

ONE IS THAT BECAUSE THAT CONSTITUENT ASKED ME, DOES YOUR AGENCY DO ANY WORK OR FINANCING FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE A VACANT LOT AND WANTS TO PUT A MOBILE HOME ON THAT LOT? [INAUDIBLE] WITH THAT, I WAS ASKED THAT QUESTION.

SO I SAID [INAUDIBLE] ASK YOU.

MR. DEPUTY MAYOR TEM, THAT'S A NEW ONE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S EASY, BUT IT'S A NEW ONE SO.

I WAS ASKED IT.

AND I THOUGHT YOU'RE HERE AND YOU'RE THE EXPERT SO I THOUGHT I'D ASK YOU.

SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THE CITY OF GARLAND [INAUDIBLE] ALLOWS FOR MANUFACTURED HOUSING, BUT OUR GOAL IS TO HELP PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THE CITY GARLAND IN ANY WAY WE CAN ASSIST BY DOING THAT.

AND SO I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT WE, SIR, BUT I CERTAINLY CAN TELL YOU THAT WE CANNOT.

AND IF SOMEONE HAS A QUESTION.

ASK THEM TO GIVE US A CALL AND WE'LL TALK TO THEM AND HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

SIR, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? I WILL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE DONE SOME GREAT THINGS AND ARE INVOLVED IN SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS FROM YOUR PRESENTATION THAT I'M PROBABLY THE MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS THE PROPERTY ON ALAMO.

IT IS IN MY DIRECT PATH BETWEEN MY HOUSE AND CITY HALL, AND I HAVE DRIVEN PAST

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THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF TIMES.

AND I ALWAYS LOOK AND IT'S JUST YOU KNOW THAT CHURCH HAS BEEN SITTING THERE EMPTY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

IT IS THAT IS A HUGE PIECE OF PROPERTY, REALLY.

WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT YOU SAID YOU CAN GET WHAT FOUR LOTS OUT OF IT.

WITH IT THAN WHAT IT HAS BEEN FOR AS LONG AS I CAN.

I CAN REMEMBER.

SO I'M DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT THAT ONE.

BUT I THINK YOU SAID WE'RE VERY WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR EFFORTS ALONG THIS WAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OTHER VACANT TRACTS, QUITE FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO BUY AN EXISTING HOME AND DO A REHABILITATION IS ALMOST FINANCIALLY AN IMPOSSIBILITY RIGHT NOW.

SO TRYING TO FIND SOME VACANT TRACTS OF LAND WHERE WE CAN PARTNER WITH OTHER AGENCIES, WITH HABITAT, WITH THE CITY AND BRING FORTH AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

AND IT'S JUST IT'S JUST AN EXCITING TIME.

AND SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY OUT LOOKING FOR MORE FAMILIAR LAND IN THE CITY OF EITHER BEING ABLE TO RETROFIT SOMETHING AND OR JUST FIND SOME EMPTY LOTS TO BUILD UP.

SO.

VERY GOOD, SIR.

I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE GOT ANYBODY IN THE QUEUE MR. BRADFORD YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK DAVID FOR BASICALLY OPENING UP THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME GREAT THINGS COME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF THE SYNERGY BETWEEN THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS.

AND WE ARE VERY, VERY EXCITED ON THE CITY SIDE TO BE WORKING WITH GHFC IN A PRODUCTIVE WAY.

AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR OPENING UP THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND KNOW THAT MORE GREAT THINGS ARE TO COME.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY TO ALL OF YOU THAT WE HAVE A BOARD AT GHFC THAT TRULY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING TO THE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS, WHETHER THAT IS THROUGH REHAB DOLLARS, THROUGH THE PROGRAMS THAT EXIST IN THE CITY [INAUDIBLE] WHATEVER IT IS, THESE FIVE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT THERE FOR THEIR RESUME'S.

THEY ARE THERE.

THEY TRULY WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

AND YOU KNOW, MR. MAYOR, THE DEFINITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS BECOME QUITE DEBATABLE.

AND SO AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO LOOK AT UNACHIEVABLE ABILITIES TO BUY HOMES IN THE CURRENT MARKETPLACE, WE'RE TICKLED THAT, THAT WE CAN HELP THEM AND LOOK FORWARD TO MORE MORE WORK WITH THE CITY AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS AND GARLAND.

IT'S JUST AN EXCITING TIME FOR ME AND GHFC AND I COULDN'T BE MORE BLESSED WITH THE BOARD THAT HAS BEEN MORE SUPPORTIVE AND WANTING TO DO WE INPUT DOLLARS WHERE THE NEEDS ARE IN OUR CITY SO WE'RE EXCITED.

I PROMISE YOU WE WON'T WAIT ANOTHER FOUR YEARS BEFORE WE COME BACK WITH AN UPDATE [INAUDIBLE].

ALL RIGHT, SIR, YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID THIS TO YOU BEFORE.

I CERTAINLY MISS HAVING YOU ON THIS COUNCIL.

BUT I THINK YOU I THINK YOU'VE ENDED UP IN THE RIGHT SPOT AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR UPDATE.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF YOUR PROJECTS COMING THROUGH.

ALL RIGHT, THAT WILL MOVE US TO ITEM FOUR B INTERVIEWS FOR GARLAND HOUSING FINANCE

[4B. Interviews for the Garland Housing Finance Corporation]

CORPORATION, GARLAND HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

NOTIFY THE CITY THAT DELORES ELDER-JONES TERM OF OFFICE EXPIRES OCTOBER EXCUSE ME, AUGUST 31ST WE POSTED WE POSTED THE OPENING.

WE DID RECEIVE THREE APPLICANTS OR DELORES ELDER-JONES APPLIED FOR

[00:40:01]

REAPPOINTMENT AND TWO OTHER APPLICATIONS.

WE WILL DO INTERVIEWS HERE TONIGHT.

I SEE TWO OF THEM HAVE JOINED US, DELORES ELDER-JONES AND JULIUS JENKINS.

I DO NOT SEE ELIZABETH BLACKWELL IN THE QUEUE, BUT WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD AND I'LL TAKE THEM IN THE ORDER THEY'RE LISTED ON THE AGENDA.

FIRST UP WILL BE DELORES ELDER-JONES.

MA'AM, THIS IS YOUR TIME TO.

TO TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO TELL US.

IS THAT REALLY NECESSARY MAYOR I THOUGHT YOU WE'RE GOING TO ASK ME QUESTIONS.

ANYWAY I AM SO DELIGHTED TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON AND I WOULDN'T BE REAPPLYING FOR THIS POSITION IF I HAVE NOT COME INTO THE TOWN WHERE I AM HAVING, BELIEVE IT NOT SO MUCH FUN.

I MEAN, IT IS TAKEN ME THIS TIME TO REALIZE SOME OF THE POSSIBILITIES THAT GARLAND HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION CAN DO FOR THE CITIZENS OF GARLAND.

AND I'M JUST ENJOYING WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AND I KNOW WE'RE DOING WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO, AND THAT IS ASSISTING AND PROVIDING DECENT, SAFE, SANITARY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE CITIZENS OF GARLAND.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO US DEVELOPING AN OASIS, MAYBE STARTING IN SOME AREA, AND IT SPREADS OUT TO OTHER AREAS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU RENOVATE AREAS, YOU WHEN OUR COMPANY GOES IN TO FIX UP A HOUSE, TOTALLY REHAB APARTMENT COMPLEX, WHAT HAPPENS IS THE NEIGHBORS START TO SWEEPING UP AND CLEANING UP AND DECIDE, WELL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO TO OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT A PEACEFUL COMMUNITY.

I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO SPEND WELL I DON'T WANT TO BRING THE AGE CARD, BUT LET'S FACE IT, I DON'T HAVE TOO MANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE YOU GUYS SO [INAUDIBLE].

NO, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO STAY ON THE BOARD BECAUSE AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE SERIOUSLY, I CREATED THE FACEBOOK PRESENCE THAT WE HAVE WELL MOST OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE THAT WE HAVE, BECAUSE I WANTED US TO BE THE KIND OF AGENCY AND BOARD THAT THE CITIZENS KNOW ABOUT.

THE MAYOR AND I MET ONE TIME AT A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE WHERE I'M ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE ON THE BOARD WHO IS RETIRED.

AND I HAVE THE TIME TO GO OUT AND SPEAK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS AND TELL THEM WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.

AND I'VE EVEN MADE PRESENTATIONS TO THE NEIGHBORS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS.

I REALLY, REALLY I WOULD GIVE UP IF, YOU KNOW, IF I HAD THE CHOICE.

BUT GIVEN MY BACKGROUND IN HOUSING, I REALLY, REALLY AM ENJOYING WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

I'M SO DELIGHTED TO BE ON THIS BOARD.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE FELT ALL OF THIS TO MY BONE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN THE HONORABLE DAVID GIBBONS WAS PRESENTING, I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES BECAUSE I LOOK AT ALL THIS GOOD STUFF WE'RE DOING NOW.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THINGS THAT I HAD PROPOSED A LONG TIME AGO, BUT THEY NEVER DID COME TO FRUITION.

AND NOW IT IS COMING TO FRUITION.

AND I'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF IT RIGHT NOW SO THAT WE CAN SEE IT THROUGH.

VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD.

WE'LL OPEN IT UP, COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS APPLICANT REAPPOINTMENT, I SHOULD SAY.

ALL RIGHT, I SEE NO ONE IN QUEUE, THANK YOU, MA'AM.

NO MORE QUESTIONS.

I GOT NOTHING.

OK, CAN I ADD ONE THING? YOU CERTAINLY MAY.

OK, WE ARE MEMBERS OF NALHFA AND TALHFA.

TALHFA BEING THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS AND NALHFA BEING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THEIR MAGAZINES AS YOU KNOW, I DO TAKE PICTURES AROUND PLACES AND EVERYBODY KNOWS ME FROM GARLAND, THEY KNOW GARLAND AND THEY KNOW THAT GARLAND REPRESENTS AND MY PICTURES ALL OVER THAT OF THEIR WEB SITES.

AND WHEN THEY DO THINGS SO I REPRESENT GARLAND, NOT JUST IN GARLAND, BUT OUTSIDE THE AREA TOO.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WE ARE THE PLACE THAT WILL SET THE PRECEDENT AS IT RELATES TO HOUSING AND FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY FOR THE NATION.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN BE THE COUNTRY, THE I'M SORRY, THE CITY, THE LEADS AND SO THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER CITIES CAN FOLLOW.

JUST LOOKING THROUGH ATTENDEE'S AGAIN.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

BLACKWELL ONLINE WITH US, SO WE WILL MOVE TO JULIUS JENKINS.

[00:45:06]

MR. JENKINS.

THERE YOU ARE, COUNCIL.

GO AHEAD, SIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

REALLY QUICKLY, I WANT TO THANK OUR BOARD MEMBER ELDER JONES, FOR HER LEADERSHIP.

I MUST ADMIT, AFTER LISTENING TO BOTH HER INTRODUCTION AND THROUGH LISTENING TO MR. GIBBEN'S PRESENTATION, I WAS INCREDIBLY TOUCHED BY THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE.

VERY BRIEFLY, I AND I THINK ALL OF YOU WOULD SAY THAT GARLAND IS A INCREDIBLY UNIQUE CITY WITHIN THE NORTH TEXAS AREA IN THAT WE ARE THE ONLY CITY WITH A 60 PERCENT HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE AND A CITY THAT HAS A GENERAL PROPERTY VALUE OF ROUGHLY, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE 19 CENSUS ONE HUNDRED SIXTY ONE THOUSAND.

WE ARE, AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID, THE LEADING AFFORDABLE AND DIVERSE CITY.

WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW CITIES IN NORTH TEXAS THAT ARE THAT IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE EVERYONE TOWARDS THE AMERICAN DREAM.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT ANYONE HERE BELIEVES THAT TONIGHT, I AFTER LISTENING TO THE PRESENTATION OF MRS. ELDER-JONES, I WOULD LIKE AS AND I HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION AS I'M GIVING IT BACK TO YOU.

THERE'S NO ONE ELSE HERE TONIGHT AS AN APPLICANT.

IF SHE IS THE ONLY ONE AND SHE HAS BEEN DOING THIS GREAT WORK, I WOULD WITHDRAW MY APPLICATION AND ALLOW HER IF THE COUNCIL AGAIN, IF THAT'S WHAT IS GOING ON, TO CONTINUE IN THAT GOOD WORK.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SHE WILL DO ANOTHER SIX YEARS WORTH OF FANTASTIC WORK.

AND I APPLAUD ALL OF HER EFFORTS AFTER LOOKING AT HER SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE AND PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE CITIZENS ABOUT THE WORK THAT THE GARLAND HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IS DOING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THIS IS ACTUALLY UP FOR FORMAL CONSIDERATION AT OUR REGULAR MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT.

AND AGAIN, LOOKING THROUGH I DON'T BELIEVE I DON'T SEE THE OTHER APPLICANT ONLINE WITH US, BUT OBVIOUSLY COUNCIL HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THEIR APPLICATION.

SO WE WILL TAKE THIS UP FOR FORMAL CONSIDERATION TOMORROW NIGHT.

UNLESS ANYONE ELSE HAS ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD, WE WILL MOVE ON.

I THANK YOU, I THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME HERE THIS EVENING.

COUNCIL, WE WILL MOVE ON TO NOW TO ITEM FOUR C COVID-19 BRIEFING.

[4C. COVID-19 Briefing]

JASON, I'M SURE YOU'RE OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

I AM.

I'LL ASK MISTIE TO SHARE HER SCREEN.

THANK YOU, MISTIE.

AND IF WE CAN GO ON TO THE FIRST SLIDE, WE'LL COVER THE IMPACTS TO YOU.

GARLAND, MISTIE IF WE CAN GO.

THERE YOU GO.

AND, MAYOR, I'M GOING TO TRY TO RUN THROUGH THIS FAIRLY QUICKLY.

I KNOW WE'VE GOT QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION TO DISCUSS DURING THIS ITEM, SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO RUN THROUGH THIS FAIRLY QUICKLY.

AGAIN, A VERY FAMILIAR SLIDE TO DATE.

AS OF THIS MORNING, WE HAD THIRTY ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY TOTAL CASES.

ABOUT SIXTEEN HUNDRED OF THOSE, ALMOST SEVENTEEN HUNDRED ARE ACTIVE.

SO THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES.

AND WHEN YOU SUBTRACT OUT THE FOLKS THAT HAVE RECOVERED AT LEAST JUST UNDER SEVENTEEN HUNDRED ACTIVE CASES AS OF THIS MORNING, WE DO STILL CONTINUE TO SEE DEATHS TRICKLE IN.

WE'RE UP TO FOUR HUNDRED AND SEVENTY DEATHS UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL SAY THAT THE DEATHS ARE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.

AND CERTAINLY THAT DOESN'T DIMINISH THE LOSS OF LIFE.

BUT FOR FOLKS WHO ARE BOTH VACCINATED AND GENERALLY HEALTHY, IT HOPEFULLY WILL GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE THAT THAT OUTCOME IS PROBABLY UNLIKELY IN YOUR CASE IF YOU ARE GENERALLY HEALTHY AND CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE VACCINATED.

THE OTHER THING ABOUT THIS SLIDE THAT I'LL POINT OUT IS THE ACCELERATION OF CASES HAS SLOWED FAIRLY SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST WEEK.

THE BAD NEWS IS WE STILL HAVE ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX CASES PER DAY OVER THE LAST SEVEN DAYS ON AVERAGE.

THE GOOD NEWS, AS I SAID, IS THAT THAT IS AT LEAST NO LONGER TRENDING UPWARD FOR THE TIME

[00:50:01]

BEING.

NOW, OF COURSE, CERTAINLY NOT PREPARED TO SAY THAT THE DELTA WAVE IS BEGINNING TO WANE, BUT THE SLOWDOWN AND THE NUMBER OF CASES IS CERTAINLY WELCOME COMPARED TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS WHEN WE'VE HAD A FAIRLY RAPID INCREASE.

SO PERHAPS, PERHAPS GOOD NEWS ON THE HORIZON THERE, MISTIE IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT STAFF IMPACTS.

THE STAFF IMPACTS THAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE GRAPH ON THE NEXT SLIDE HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY FLAT OVER THE PAST WEEK.

RIGHT NOW OR AS OF AS OF LAST FRIDAY, WE CAPTURE A SNAPSHOT OF THE STAFF IMPACTS EVERY FRIDAY.

SO THIS GRAPH REPRESENTS WHERE WE STOOD AS AN ORGANIZATION ON FRIDAY.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS STILL OUT.

AND AGAIN, THE GRAPH YOU SEE HERE IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE GRAPH.

TWO SLIDES PRIOR THAT ACCELERATION AND STAFF IMPACTS HAS REALLY SLOWED DOWN.

AND CERTAINLY I'LL BE HAPPY IF THAT CONTINUED IN A DOWNWARD TREND.

MISTIE IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

JUST VERY QUICKLY, WANTED TO ADD THE INFORMATION, PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT MOST OF YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH, THE NUMBER OF, I GUESS, THE VACCINATION STATUS OF THE COUNTRY.

ALMOST TWO HUNDRED MILLION AMERICANS, ONE HUNDRED NINETY EIGHT PLUS MILLION AMERICANS HAVE RECEIVED ONE DOSE AND ALMOST ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY MILLION AMERICANS HAVE RECEIVED BOTH DOSES OR THE SINGLE DOSE OF THE JOHNSON JOHNSON VACCINE.

SO OVER 50 PERCENT FULLY VACCINATED.

OF COURSE, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE THAT'S A GLASS HALF EMPTY GLASS HALF FULL SCENARIO.

IT'S GREAT THAT WE'VE REACHED THAT THRESHOLD, BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

I WILL SAY THAT THE MOST RECENT DALLAS COUNTY NUMBERS HAVE GARLAND AT FIFTY THREE PERCENT VACCINATED RATE.

NOW THAT'S INDIVIDUALS 18 YEARS AND OLDER, BUT OUT OF THAT POPULATION FOR THE CITY OF GARLAND.

FIFTY THREE PERCENT OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

MISTIE IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, VACCINES ADMINISTERED.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WE'RE NOT CERTAINLY NOT SEEING THE NUMBERS THAT WE WISH WE WOULD SEE.

WE VACCINATED AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC AND POP UP EVENTS OVER THE LAST WEEK.

WE VACCINATED TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN INDIVIDUALS.

AGAIN, THE SAME SCENARIO, GLASS HALF EMPTY, HALF FULL, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

WE'RE GLAD TO SEE THOSE TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN INDIVIDUALS COMING TO GET VACCINES.

WE CERTAINLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SERVE MORE AND WOULD LIKE TO DEFINITELY SERVE MORE.

MISTIE IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

VACCINE EVENTS.

I'M NOT GOING TO READ THIS WHOLE SLIDE TO YOU, BUT TO THE POINT OF THE SLIDE IS THAT WE'RE WE'RE REALLY WORKING HARD TO NOT ONLY PROVIDE VACCINES TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS THEM IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC, BUT TO ALSO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE VACCINE EVENTS.

NOW, ALL OF THESE EVENTS ARE LISTED ON OUR VACCINE INFORMATION PAGE.

THERE'S A PROMINENT LINK ON THE HOMEPAGE OF THE CITY OF GARLAND WEBSITE.

SOME OF THESE EVENTS ARE CLOSED EVENTS.

THEY'RE LISTED NONETHELESS.

FOR INSTANCE, HATCO, THAT'S A CLOSED EVENT, BUT IT'S NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

IT'S REALLY TARGETING THOSE EMPLOYEES AT THAT PARTICULAR COMPANY.

BUT WE LISTED ON THE WEB PAGE TO LET OTHERS KNOW IF YOU ARE A IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR COMPANY, YOUR PLACE OF WORK MIGHT LIKE AN OFF SITE EVENT.

WE OFFER THAT WE WILL COME TO YOUR PLACE OF WORK TO VACCINATE INDIVIDUALS.

SAME THING WITH SENIOR LIVING CENTERS, NOT NECESSARILY AN EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT AGAIN, A LOCATION THAT WE'RE HAPPY TO GO TO TO PROVIDE VACCINES TO REALLY ANY POPULATION THAT NEEDS THEM.

YOU SEE AN EVENT THERE ON THE SCHEDULE FOR AUGUST 27TH AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX AND AT THE ANNUAL NAACP BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT WHERE THAT'S TYPICALLY A BIG EVENT FOR BACK TO SCHOOL VACCINES AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE A BIG EVENT FOR COVID VACCINES AS WELL.

THEN AT THE BOTTOM, YOU SEE SOME STATISTICS FROM RECENT POP UP EVENTS.

WE HAD AN EVENT AT THE DART PARK AND RIDE AT THE LAKE RAY HUBBARD LOCATION LAST WEEK.

WE HAD EIGHTEEN INDIVIDUALS VACCINATED THERE, PERHAPS LESS OF A TURNOUT THAN WE

[00:55:02]

HOPED.

BUT I THINK THAT OPENED THE DOOR TO OTHER EVENTS THAT OTHER DART LOCATIONS IN GARLAND THAT MAY PROVE FRUITFUL.

SO WE'RE HAPPY TO GO OUT TO THESE EVENTS.

AS I SAID THE EVENTS ARE ALL LISTED ON THE VACCINE INFORMATION PAGE AND YOU CAN ALSO FIND THE CONTACT INFORMATION IF YOU WANT TO HOST ONE OF THESE EVENTS AT YOUR LOCATION WE'RE HAPPY TO COME OUT.

WE'VE GOT THE RESOURCES TO DO IT AND WANT TO VACCINATE AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.

IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF BREAKDOWN BY LOCATION.

I WILL SAY THAT THIS IS PROBABLY A BIT SKEWED BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE THE THE THE MASS VACCINATION CLINIC.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE BULK OF THE VACCINES PROVIDED AT THAT EVENT.

BUT BUT IT ALSO DOES ILLUSTRATE THAT WE WE HAVE A ROBUST TURNOUT AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC AT POP-UP CLINICS.

SO, AGAIN, WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE VACCINE AT ANY VENUE.

IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE MISTIE.

SO BOOSTER SHOTS, I KNOW THAT I BELIEVE THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN BASS AND COUNCILMAN COUNCIL LADY MORRIS, I BELIEVE, ASKED ME ABOUT COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS OVER THE WEEKEND.

THIS HAS BEEN CERTAINLY NATIONAL NEWS SATURDAY.

ACTUALLY, DURING THE BUDGET WORK SESSION, WE GOT THE GUIDANCE THAT WE WERE WAITING FOR TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THESE SHOTS AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC.

SO AS OF THIS MORNING, I THINK ABOUT NINE OR TEN O'CLOCK WE STARTED OFFERING THE COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS FOR THOSE THIRD DOSES.

NOW, THESE BOOSTER SHOTS ARE ONLY INDICATED FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE HAD BOTH DOSES OF EITHER THE PFIZER OR THE MODERNA VACCINE.

THEY'RE NOT INDICATED FOR THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE.

AND AND I WILL SAY THAT WE EXPECT THE RECOMMENDED GROUP TO RECEIVE BOOSTER SHOTS TO EXPAND OVER TIME.

I REALLY EXPECT THAT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

BUT AT THE MOMENT, THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ESSENTIALLY FOLKS THAT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE THAT HAS SUPPRESSED THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM, WHETHER IT'S TAKING IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT DRUGS FOR CANCER TREATMENTS, ORGAN TRANSPLANTS, PERHAPS AN ADVANCED OR UNTREATED HIV INFECTION.

I WON'T READ THROUGH THIS SLIDE.

AND WE HAVE LINKS ON OUR WEB PAGE TO A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE CDC PAGE THAT REALLY LAYS OUT WHO THESE BOOSTER SHOTS ARE FOCUSED AT OR FOCUSED ON THE GROUPS THAT THEY'RE FOCUSED ON.

BUT NONETHELESS, WE'RE OFFERING THEM AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC ON AND IT'S ON THE HONOR BASIS, THE HONOR SYSTEM.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PROVE TO US THAT YOU MEET ANY OF THESE CATEGORIES, WE'RE REALLY NOT EVEN GOING TO ASK YOU WHICH CATEGORY YOU MEET.

WE HAVE A AN ATTESTATION FORM, SO IF A PATIENT SIMPLY FILLS THAT OUT, I'M GOING TO ATTEST THAT THEY HAVE ONE OF THESE CONDITIONS THAT MAKES THEM ELIGIBLE FOR A BOOSTER SHOT THAT WE WILL VACCINATE THEM.

SO PLEASE DON'T THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO DISCUSS YOUR SPECIFIC SCENARIO WITH US.

YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO INDICATE THAT YOU FALL INTO ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES AND WE WILL PROVIDE A BOOSTER SHOT.

ONE THING I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED A FEW SECONDS AGO, BUT WE'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR THE BOOSTER SHOTS FOR A WHILE.

WE'VE SEEN THESE COMING DOWN THE PIKE AND THE NEXT BIG EVENT AND HOPEFULLY THE LAST BIG EVENT IN TERMS OF VACCINES IS WHEN KIDDO'S UNDER 12 BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINES.

SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT HAPPENING EARLIER THAN THE FIRST PART OF OCTOBER.

CERTAINLY WE HOPE THAT IT HAPPENS THEN.

BUT NO EARLIER THAN LIKELY, NO EARLIER THAN THEN.

WE ARE HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MAKING PLANS TO RAPIDLY ADMINISTER VACCINES WHEN THAT AGE GROUP HAS OPENED UP.

WE ANTICIPATE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN DEMAND, PROBABLY A SHORT LIVED INCREASE, I DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING COMPARED TO WHAT WE SAW IN THE LATE WINTER, EARLY SPRING IN TERMS OF MASS VACCINATION EVENTS.

BUT CERTAINLY WE ANTICIPATE A BIG, SHORT LIVED BUMP IN DEMAND ONCE THE VACCINES ARE EXPANDED THEN TO KIDDO'S.

SO JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE PREPARING FOR THAT AS WELL.

MISTIE IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE VARIANCE.

I WOULD I WOULD BE LYING TO YOU IF I TOLD YOU THAT THAT WAS ENOUGH OF AN EXPERT ON VIROLOGY TO BE ABLE TO REALLY DISCUSS THESE VARIANTS.

THE MAIN POINT OF THE SLIDE IS JUST TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THERE ARE A HOST OF

[01:00:01]

VARIANTS OUT THERE.

VARIANTS ARE EXPECTED.

THERE ARE A NATURAL PART OF VIRAL EVOLUTION.

SOME VARIANTS LIKE DELTA ARE MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN OTHERS POSE GREATER THREATS.

YOU'LL SEE HERE THE CATEGORIES THAT THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION CLASSIFIES VARIANTS THERE ARE FOUR THAT ARE CONSIDERED VARIANTS OF CONCERN.

DELTA PROBABLY HAS CERTAINLY BEEN MOST PROMINENT AT THE MOMENT.

AND AND THOSE ARE VARIANTS OF CONCERN BECAUSE THEY PERHAPS ARE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE OR HAVE OTHER CHARACTERISTICS, PERHAPS CAUSE WORSE CASES OF DISEASE OR WORSE OUTCOMES.

AND THEN YOU HAVE VARIANTS OF INTEREST, WHICH ARE CERTAINLY VARIANTS THAT CONTINUE TO BE STUDIED MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T THAT THEY ARE STILL SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE VACCINE OR [INAUDIBLE] THE WORST OUTCOME.

SO, AGAIN, IT DIDN'T REALLY INTEND TO GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL ON ANY OF THESE VARIANTS THE POINT OF THE SLIDE IS JUST TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THERE ARE A HOST OF VARIANTS OUT THERE, A LITERAL GREEK ALPHABETIC SOUP OF VARIANTS, AND THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE VARIANTS IN THE FUTURE.

AND WE, AS THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSION WILL CONTINUE TO OBSERVE THOSE AND STUDY THEM AND MANAGE THE RESPONSE AS BEST WE CAN.

MISTIE IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND AT THIS POINT, MAYOR, I WILL KICK IT OVER TO BILL GASE TO TALK ABOUT WASTE WATER TESTING AS IT RELATES TO COVID-19.

LET ME JUST BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR DOWN, WE JUST MAKE SURE.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR JASON? OK, COUNCIL MEMBER BASS.

YES, JASON, I APOLOGIZE IF I MISSED IT, DID YOU SAY FOR THE VACCINE BOOSTERS, DO THEY HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT OR CAN THEY JUST SHOW UP AT THE HEALTH CLINIC? I FAILED TO MENTION THAT.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING THAT QUESTION.

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY.

WE PROVIDE THOSE ON A WALK IN BASIS, BOTH AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC AND AT POP UP EVENTS.

SO ANYWHERE WE PROVIDE VACCINES, FOLKS CAN CAN WALK UP AND GET BOOSTERS.

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY.

JASON, I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT YOU'RE DOING TO KEEP UP WITH THIS IT REALLY MEANS A LOT .

MAYOR PRO TEM HEDRICK.

WHEN YOU GET A POSITIVE TEST RESULT IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, DID THAT INFORMATION ALSO INCLUDE WHICH VARIANT OF COVID WAS TESTED? GREAT QUESTION.

QUICK QUESTION, JASON.

NO, THE VARIANT DETERMINING WHAT VARIANT AN INDIVIDUAL IS INFECTED WITH REQUIRES MUCH MORE IN-DEPTH LABORATORY TESTING.

SO AT LEAST CURRENTLY THE RAPID TESTS DON'T THEY DON'T DRILL DOWN TO WHAT VARIANT AN INDIVIDUAL IS INFECTED WITH.

TYPICALLY, SAMPLES ARE TAKEN FOR VARIOUS TESTS, CERTAINLY ON ANY COVID-19 RELATED DEATH, SERIOUS ILLNESS.

FOLKS THAT END UP IN INTENSIVE CARE CAN PROBABLY EXPECT TO BE HAVE TO HAVE A SAMPLE SEROTYPE TO DETERMINE WHAT VARIANT.

AND THERE IS ALSO A AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, A RANDOM PROCESS TO TEST SAMPLES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO HELP ASSESS THE OVERALL RATES OF THE DIFFERENT VARIANTS, I CAN'T THINK OF THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR, BUT TO GET BACK TO THE POINT OF YOUR QUESTION, THE RAPID TEST THAT YOU'RE SEEING OR EVEN THE STANDARD LABORATORY TESTS, THE PCR TEST FOR POSITIVE NEGATIVE ON COVID 19, THOSE DON'T DRILL DOWN AND TELL YOU WHAT TYPE OF VARIANT YOU'RE AFFECTED WITH.

I JUST GIVE YOU A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.

OK, THANK YOU.

OK, AND JASON, JUST ONE MORE QUESTION FOR ME ON THE BOOSTER'S.

I SAW THE INFORMATION ON BASICALLY WHO QUALIFIES, BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY INFORMATION OR MAYBE I'VE MISSED IT IS AS FAR AS, LET'S SAY SOMEBODY HAS ONLY BEEN FULLY VACCINATED FOR MAYBE 30 DAYS.

IS THERE A TIME TIMING ISSUE BETWEEN SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN FULLY VACCINATED FOR SIX MONTHS OR SIX WEEKS FOR THE THIRD ONE? IS THERE ANY GUIDANCE THERE? THERE IS GUIDANCE.

THAT'S ANOTHER VERY GOOD QUESTION.

[01:05:03]

YOU ALL HAVE GOOD QUESTIONS TONIGHT THE GUIDANCE IS 28 DAYS AFTER THE SECOND DOSE.

SO AT LEAST 28 DAYS AFTER THAT SECOND DOSE, IT'S OPEN ENDED.

SO IF YOU GOT YOUR SECOND DOSE, WHAT, SEVEN MONTHS AGO, I THINK IS THE EARLIEST THAT SOMEBODY COULD HAVE BEEN COULD HAVE GOTTEN THEIR SECOND DOSE OF PHIZER ANYWAY, OPEN ENDED.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LONG IT'S BEEN, AS LONG AS IT'S BEEN AT LEAST 28 DAYS.

THEN AGAIN, IF YOU MEET THOSE QUALIFYING CRITERIA, THEN YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT THIRD BOOSTER DOSE.

OK, VERY GOOD.

I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD.

HI, THIS IS BILL GASE I'M THE MANAGING I'M THE DIRECTOR OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT.

THANKS, JASON, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THANKS, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR TESTING OF THE WASTEWATER INFLUENT FOR COVID-19.

SO, MISTIE, CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

ALL RIGHT, EARLIER IN THIS SUMMER, WE PARTICIPATED IN PART OF THE WASTE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WASTE WATER SURVEILLANCE PROJECT THAT'S BEING FUNDED BY THE HEALTH (HHS) CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC) AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH.

AND THE SAMPLING TIME FRAME IS STARTED IN EARLY JUNE AND THE LAST SAMPLES WILL BE SENT TO BIOBOT ANALYTICS LATER THIS WEEK AND EVERYTHING.

SOTHIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT BIOBOT IS DOING UNDER THE AUTHORIZATION FROM THE OUR UNCLE SAM, AND THEY'RE USING THEIR PROPRIETARY METHOD.

THEY'RE TESTING THE WASTE WATER INFLUENT AND THEY'RE COVERING APPROXIMATELY 30 PERCENT OF THE US POPULATION.

SO THEY'RE GETTING SAMPLES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND EVERYTHING.

SO CURRENTLY, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS GRAPH AND IN JUNE THROUGH JULY, OUR LEVELS WERE RELATIVELY LOW COMPARED TO THE COUNTY COVID CASES.

AND THEN AT THE END OF JULY AND IN AUGUST, WE SEE A LIFTING OF THE CURVE.

THEY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DON'T REACT AT ONE POINT THEY LOOK AT THREE TO FIVE DATA POINTS TO LOOK AT A TREND AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAD ONE ANOMALY SPIKE JUST DONE THE VARIANCE OF THE METHOD THERE.

EVERYBODY SHEDS THE AMOUNT OF COVID DIFFERENT AND THE NORMALIZATION FACTOR THEY USE AS A FECAL MATTER MARKER THAT THEY LET'S CALL PMMOV.

IT'S A PEPPER MILD MOTTLE VIRUS THAT I GUESS EVERYBODY SHEDS, BUT IN DIFFERENT QUANTITIES.

SO SOMETIMES PEOPLE COULD BE SHEDDING A LOT OF THESE VIRUSES OR THE COVID AND EVERYTHING.

SO THEY DO A MULTIPLICATION FACTOR TO SORT OF NORMALIZE, TO TAKE CARE OF ANY DILUTION FACTOR.

SO IF WE HAD A HEAVY WEEK OF RAIN AND A LOT OF RAIN WATER GET INTO OUR WASTEWATER SYSTEM, THAT WOULD TEND TO, IF WE JUST LOOKED AT THE COVID VIRUS, WOULD TEND TO SHOW US DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT IN THE SYSTEM.

SO THIS IS SORT OF TO HELP NORMALIZE THAT, TO TAKE ANY VARIANCES OF THAT.

AND THEY'RE PULLING THEIR DATA ACROSS THE NATION USING A ONE THE SAME SOURCE FOR ALL THEIR DIFFERENT SAMPLES.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE EVALUATING ALL THIS DATA AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO ANALYZE THE DATA.

WHAT WOULD IT BE GOOD FOR? RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE SAYING THIS IS A GOOD INDICATOR.

SO IT SORT OF CONFIRMS OUR CASE COUNTS.

SO I REMEMBER WHEN I SENT ONE OF THESE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO TO JASON SAID, YEAH, THEY'RE SEEING THE SAME THING.

WE'RE SEEING A LITTLE UPTICK IN THE WASTEWATER AND WE'RE SEEING THE UPTICK AT THE AT THE CLINIC.

SO THIS IS SORT OF AN INDICATOR THAT WE'RE HELPING TO COLLECT DATA SO SOME PEOPLE CAN DEVELOP ALGORITHMS AND DO FANCY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS TO HELP US GUIDE ON WHAT ANY ACTIONS WE NEED TO DO IN THE FUTURE ARE ON THIS.

WE RIGHT NOW, WE'LL BE PARTICIPATING THROUGH THE END OF THIS WEEK AND BIOBOT IS HOPING THAT THE CDC WILL DO ANOTHER FURTHER STUDY AFTER THEY ANALYZED ALL THIS AND HOW THEY CAN TWEAK IT FURTHER.

SO THAT'S YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MISTIE.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION, IS THAT DATA IS THERE ANY ANY WAY, ANY GEOGRAPHY TO THAT, LET'S SAY CAN YOU DRILL DOWN FAR ENOUGH TO DETERMINE, I'D SAY, WHAT AREA OF THE COUNTY

[01:10:05]

OR WHAT AREA OF A CITY? IS THERE ANY CONCENTRATION PATTERNS THAT CAN BE REVEALED FROM YOUR DATA? IS IT OR IS IT PRETTY GENERIC ACROSS THE BOARD? IT'S SORT OF GENERIC ACROSS THE BOARD.

THE CASE DATA THAT'S ON THAT GRAPH IS FOR DALLAS COUNTY.

IT'S NOT NARROWED DOWN.

WE WOULD THEN HAVE TO GET WITH WITH JASON.

BUT AS EVERYBODY GETTING REPORTED RIGHT I DON'T KNOW.

BUT OUR DATA IS FOR OUR DUCK CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

AND SO THAT'S FROM OUR DUCK CREEK SEWER SHED.

SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE A LITTLE BIT OF RICHARDSON, A LITTLE BIT OF DALLAS, HALF OF THE TOWN OF SUNNYVILLE AND, YOU KNOW, THE SOUTH AND WESTERN PART OF GARLAND AND EVERYTHING THAT HALF OF THE CITY.

SO THE ROWLETT CREEK PLANT WOULD BE WE WOULD THAT SEWER SHED IS THE NORTH PART TO THE TO SOME OF THE EASTERN PART OF GARLAND, TO THE CITY OF SACHSE AND THE CITY OF ROWLETT.

SO THIS DATA, IT'S OUR DUCK CREEK SEWER SHED.

SO IS THAT PART OF GARLAND WITH SUNNYVALE CITY, A LITTLE BIT OF CITY OF DALLAS AND A LITTLE PORTION OF RICHARDSON.

SMITH VERY GOOD, COUNCILMEMBER MORRIS.

OH, SORRY, I DIDN'T REALIZE MY VIDEO WAS STILL OFF.

I WASN'T BEING MYSTERIOUS ON PURPOSE, SO.

WELL, THANK YOU, MR. GASE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I HAD CALLED AND SPOKE AND ACTUALLY ASKED WES A MILLION QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS LAST MAY IN 2020 BECAUSE I WAS READING ABOUT THIS AND HOW IN SOME CASES IT COULD PREDICT, IT COULD PREDICT IN ADVANCE DIFFERENT KINDS OF DISEASES AND WHEN THEY WOULD SPIKE.

SO WITH THIS AND WITH THE CONCEPT BEHIND IT IS THAT ULTIMATELY WHAT WHAT WE WOULD HOPE TO SEE FROM THIS IS TO HAVE THIS BE PREDICTIVE? THAT IS WHAT THE CDC IS LOOKING AT AND HOW PREDICTIVE THIS KIND OF TESTING CAN BE AND EVERYTHING AND HOW SPECIFIC OF THE DATA THAT THEY CAN LOOK TO AND EVERYTHING, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW A PREVIOUS PILOT ONLY LOOKED AT THE VIRUS.

SO THEY HAD DATA GOING ALL OVER THE MAP AND THEY'RE SAYING NOW THEY CAN DO IT TO A FECAL MARKER.

IS THAT APPROPRIATE? AND NOW THEY'RE DETERMINING IF THEY HAVE THE APPROPRIATE FECAL MARKER.

SO IT'S ALL NEW SCIENCE, PART OF USING A FECAL MARKER TO HELP NORMALIZE THIS.

SO THEY'RE HOPING THAT THEY CAN AND THEN IT WILL BE A MATTER OF, OK, HOW MANY DIFFERENT VIRUSES THEY'RE GOING TO START LOOKING AT AND WHAT WOULD BE THE WHAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE GENERAL THEN LOOK AT FIRST BEFORE YOU NARROW IT DOWN MORE SPECIFIC.

AND I HAD I HAD UNDERSTOOD IN DISCUSSING THIS BEFORE THAT HIS KIND OF TESTING CAN CAN SHOW COFFEE USE AND VARIOUS DRUGS.

YEAH.

AND IT'S A FASCINATING FIELD.

BUT DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT THIS THE NATIONWIDE SAMPLING IS SAMPLING ABOUT 30 PERCENT? IS THAT WHAT I HEARD OF THE COUNTRY'S WASTEWATER FACILITIES? THIS PROJECT THERE AT BIOBOT IS THE PROJECT IS TO COVERING ROUGHLY 30 PERCENT OF THE UNITED STATES POPULATION.

THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THIS.

AND IT LOOKS INTERESTING.

AND I HOPE THIS TURNS OUT TO BE A TOOL, A PREDICTIVE TOOL THAT CAN REALLY BE VALUABLE TO US IN THE FUTURE WITH ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? I'VE SEEN A FEW PEOPLE POP IN AND OUT OF THE QUEUE, SO I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK.

OK, I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE, AND I WILL JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE ON THIS AND.

MAYOR? YES, SIR.

WELL SEE YOUR HANDS UP AND THEN YOU WERE OUT, SO I DON'T GO AHEAD.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I THINK I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY.

IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE GRAPH AS IF IN AUGUST, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE WASTE WATER NUMBERS WENT UP THE FIRST IN THE FIRST WEEK THERE.

AND THEN THE VERY NEXT WEEK, THE CASE STUDY NUMBERS WENT UP TO INDICATE THAT THE TEST IS IN.

WELL, IT HAS SOME VALIDITY, IT WOULD APPEAR, AND THAT IS IT WENT UP A WEEK BEFORE THE CASE, NUMBERS WENT UP THE WEEK AFTER AND PIKE SPIKED TWICE IT WOULD APPEAR.

[01:15:05]

IS THAT WHAT I'M READING? IS THAT WHAT IT'S SAYING HERE? THAT WOULD BE ONE WAY YOU CAN INTERPRET IT.

I KNOW BIOBOT HAS WARNED US THAT SAYING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE WASTEWATER TESTING HAS A LOT OF VARIANCE, DEPENDING UPON HOW MUCH THE POPULATION IS SHEDDING AND THEN HOW MANY PEOPLE WHEN THE PEOPLE GO IN FOR THEIR TEST, THAT BIG SPIKE YOU'LL SEE LIKE THE DAY BEFORE ON THE TESTING RESULTS, THERE'S NOTHING REPORTED.

SO THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A CONGLOMERATE OF OVER THE WEEKEND RESULTS CAUSING THAT BIG TESTING SPIKE.

SO AND THE INFLUENCE SPIKE COULD BE CAUSED BY, YOU KNOW, THE VARIANCE IN HOW MUCH OF THE FECAL MARKER WAS SHEDDED BY THE POPULATION VERSUS THE VARIANCE OF THE COVID THAT WAS BEING SHED, PLUS A DIFFERENT VARIETY OF ISSUES [INAUDIBLE] THEY ALWAYS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TAKING ONE POINT AND EVERYTHING.

THEY JUST TRY TO LOOK AT THREE TO FOUR POINTS.

SO YOU COULD JUST SORT OF YOU JUST IGNORE THAT ONE.

YOU COULD SEE THAT IT IS A SLOWLY RISING TREND FROM FROM JULY.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING FIELD OF STUDY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

THANK YOU SIR, ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, BILL, THANK YOU.

AND I GUESS IT'S SAFE TO SAY AT THIS POINT THAT COVID HAS NOW TRULY TOUCHED EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.

I THINK IT'S MY TURN, IT'S MISTY.

SO WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR HOSPITAL CAPACITY.

A COUPLE OF RECENT STATISTICS BASED OFF OF THE CDC INFORMATION FOR FULLY VACCINATED AMERICANS AND COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS.

SO JUST UNDER FOUR FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE PER HUNDRED THOUSAND HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

AND THEN ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT SORT OF THAT SAME INFORMATION, AND YOU CAN TELL THAT THESE VACCINATED PLUS HOSPITALIZED NUMBERS TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO COME TOGETHER BECAUSE THIS ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE MILLION IS THE NUMBER FROM LAST WEEK.

SO A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED SIXTY THREE MILLION AT THE TIME THAT THEY POSTED THIS STATISTIC.

AND AT THAT POINT, SIX THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY NINE OF THOSE HAD REPORTED OR REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR THESE AND WE'VE ASKED FOR THESE NUMBERS ON A REGIONAL AND COUNTY SCALE.

BUT SO FAR WE CAN ONLY GET THEM NATIONALLY.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO A POINT WHERE THE HOSPITALS START TO HAVE A WAY TO REPORT THESE NUMBERS TO US.

AND WE CAN COMPARE THESE BOTH AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL AND THEN ALSO AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, BUT FOR NOW, NATIONAL LEVEL.

SO THIS IS WHAT THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES DASHBOARD LOOKS LIKE.

THIS IS THE HOSPITAL PAGE AS YOU DRILL DOWN INTO THAT DASHBOARD.

JUST AS A REMINDER, WHEN WE LOOK AT HOSPITALS STATEWIDE, THEY'RE DIVIDED GEOGRAPHICALLY INTO A TRAUMA SERVICE AREAS.

SO WE'RE IN TRAUMA SERVICE AREA E, WHICH IS RED ON THE MAP.

JUST TAKING YOU ACROSS THE GRAPHIC, I THINK THEY TRY TO FIND AS BUSY OF A PICTURE TO SHOW YOU AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT'S A LOT TO LOOK AT ON THE LEFT SIDE, THE THE ELEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY ONE NUMBER THAT IS CURRENTLY IN TEXAS HOSPITALS, ALL CONFIRMED COVID-19 SO THAT STATEWIDE.

AND THEN IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT, IT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU THOSE STATISTICS FOR THE TRAUMA SERVICE AREA E.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT NUMBER OF LAB CONFIRMED COVID-19 PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR E, IT'S TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE.

SO THAT'S JUST COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.

THEN IF YOU LOOK IN THE MIDDLE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE MY MOUSE MOVING, BUT THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COVID-19 PATIENTS COMPARED TO HOSPITAL CAPACITY.

SO THAT'S CAPACITY, MEANING TOTAL NUMBER OF FIELD BEDS AND EMPTY BEDS.

SO WE TAKE ALL THE BEDS IN THE HOSPITALS AND THEN COMPARE THAT TO THE NUMBER OF COVID-19 PATIENTS.

YESTERDAY, WE WERE AT SEVENTEEN POINT EIGHT, NINE PERCENT.

SO ANYTHING OVER FIFTEEN PERCENT EARLY ON WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A HIGH HOSPITALIZATION RATE.

SO WHAT I DID OVER ON THE RIGHT, SORRY FOR ALL THE RED IT'S KIND OF BRIGHT, BUT THE HIGHEST CAPACITY SO FAR THAT WE'VE SEEN OF COVID-19 PATIENTS VERSUS TOTAL CAPACITY IS TWENTY SEVEN POINT SEVEN FIVE.

THAT WAS BACK IN JANUARY.

AND THEN ACTUALLY TODAY'S NUMBER IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN YESTERDAYS, ABOUT A PERCENT AND HALF, I GUESS, NINETEEN POINT SEVEN FIVE.

SO THESE DASHBOARD'S ALWAYS RUN ABOUT A DAY BEHIND AND IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT ORANGE.

[01:20:05]

YOU'LL SEE A DIFFERENTIATION WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DALLAS COUNTY NUMBERS.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M POINTING IT OUT HERE.

THE PERCENT OF ALL IN PATIENTS WITH LAB CONFIRMED COVID IS TWENTY TWO POINT ONE FIVE PERCENT.

SO IF YOU TAKE ALL THE PATIENTS AND JUST LOOK AT THE LAB CONFIRMED COVID, IT'S TWENTY TWO PERCENT.

SO THAT'S FOR TRAUMA SERVICE AREA E.

AND THEN THIS SLIDE, WE BROKE DOWN THE DALLAS COUNTY NUMBER.

SO WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT DALLAS COUNTY NUMBERS SPECIFICALLY SINCE MAY 24TH OF LAST YEAR.

AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THE BLUE LINES HERE ARE THE COVID-19 PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED, THE NUMBERS.

SO WE HAD A COUPLE OF SPIKES.

THE FIRST SPIKE THAT WE REALLY SAW WAS BACK IN JULY OF LAST YEAR OUR HIGHEST NUMBER WAS EIGHT HUNDRED AND THIRTY ONE COMPARED TO THE SPIKE THAT WE SAW IN JANUARY, OUR HIGHEST NUMBER WAS TWELVE THIRTY FOUR.

AND THEN NOW TODAY'S NUMBER WAS EIGHT AERO NINE.

SO THOSE ARE THE BLUE NUMBERS.

AND THEN IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE LINES AGAIN TRYING TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES, THE ORANGE IS THE PERCENT OF ALL IN PATIENTS WITH COVID THE RED IS THE PERCENT OF TOTAL HOSPITAL CAPACITY WITH COVID.

SO AT THE SAME SPIKES YOU CAN SEE IN JULY WE WERE OF LAST YEAR, WE WERE BACK AT TWENTY THREE PERCENT.

IT WENT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE IN JANUARY, DECEMBER AND JANUARY ACTUALLY.

AND THEN FINALLY, TODAY'S NUMBERS.

WE WERE AT SEVENTEEN POINT THREE ONE FOR PERCENT OF COVID PATIENTS, AND THEN TO COMPARE IT TO THE TSA NUMBERS, FIFTEEN POINT NINE ONE.

SO IN THE REGION THERE AT JUST OVER TWENTY TWO PERCENT.

AND THEN FOR US IN DALLAS COUNTY, IT'S AT FIFTEEN POINT NINE ONE PERCENT.

AND THEN LUCKILY, WE HAVE ATTORNEYS HERE BECAUSE WITH ALL OF THE INTERESTING ORDERS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW, INSTEAD OF ME TRYING TO MUDDLE THROUGH IT, MIKE BETTS SO GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO TO DO THAT.

SO IF YOU WANT TO STOP MAYOR, WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS.

IF THEY HAVE IT ABOUT HOSPITALIZATION, OTHER THAN THAT I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MIKE.

YEAH.

LET'S SEE BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR OFF, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISTIE ON THE INFORMATION SHE'S COVERED.

I SEE NO ONE IN THE QUEUE MR. BETTS AND COUNCIL GOOD EVENING.

DIDN'T THINK I'D BE BACK HERE TALKING ABOUT COVID ISSUES AGAIN IN MY CAREER, BUT HERE WE ARE.

SO IN JULY 29TH OF THIS YEAR, GOVERNOR ABBOTT ISSUED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER 38 GA 38.

AND AMONG OTHER THINGS, [INAUDIBLE] PROHIBITED MASKS MANDATES.

IT ALSO ELIMINATED, [INAUDIBLE] ALL EXECUTIVE ORDERS THE GOVERNOR HAD ISSUED EXCEPT FOR EXECUTIVE ORDER [INAUDIBLE] AND EXECUTIVE ORDER 13.

EXECUTIVE ORDER [INAUDIBLE] RELATES TO THE TRANSPORT OF IMMIGRANTS BY NON-LAW ENFORCED PERSONNEL.

AND THAT WAS STAYED BY THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT [INAUDIBLE] A EXECUTIVE ORDER ABOUT A JAIL POPULATION.

SO THAT THAT DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT ANYTHING THAT WE DO.

IT'S GOT TO DO WITH RELEASING PEOPLE BOND AND LETTING THEM OUT, NOT HAVING TRIALS.

AND THE ONLY REASON I DO THAT IS BECAUSE THAT LEAVES THE EXECUTIVE ORDER 38, ESSENTIALLY THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT IT'S NOW TO COVER COVID AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, ESSENTIALLY, AND IN CERTAIN WAYS THAT NOBODY COULD REQUIRE A MASKED MANDATE, NO [INAUDIBLE] AGENCY COULD REQUIRE MASK MANDATE OR COMPEL VACCINATIONS AND A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS.

AND THE RESULT OF THAT, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MET AND THE COUNTY JUDGE PUT A RULE SAYING THAT EVERYBODY WEAR A MASK DOWN AT COMMISSIONERS COURT AND COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] DID NOT TO WEAR A MASK AND WAS EXCLUDED FROM BEING.

AND HE TURNED AROUND AND HE [INAUDIBLE] JUST REAL QUICK WE'RE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING ON YOUR END, BUT WE'RE GETTING WE'RE GETTING SOME STRANGE AUDIO FROM YOU.

IF THERE'S WE'RE IT'S GETTING SOME SKIPPING, I'M NOT CERTAIN WHAT I CAN DO IS ANY BETTER.

WELL, SO FAR.

SO IF THAT HAPPENS AGAIN I CAN TRY TO SWITCH MICROPHONES, THAT'S THAT'S ALREADY IMPROVED RIGHT THERE.

SO JUDGE JENKINS PUT THE NO MASKS IN PLACE IN HIS COURTROOM OR IN THE

[01:25:04]

COMMISSIONERS COURT.

COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] SHOWED UP WITHOUT A MASK.

THEY EXCLUDED HIM.

HE SUED JUDGE JENKINS.

JUDGE JENKINS SINCE THEN SOUGHT OUT A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER.

HEY, MIKE, YOU GOT AN ECHO I THINK AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A BANDWIDTH ISSUE OR A MICROPHONE ISSUE, I'M GOING TO CHANGE MICROPHONES.

GIVE ME ONE SEC, OK.

HOW IS THAT, MICROPHONE ANY BETTER? THAT IS EXCELLENT.

YES [INAUDIBLE] I'VE CHANGED MICROPHONES.

OK, VERY GOOD.

SO ANYWAY, COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] SUED JUDGE JENKINS, JUDGE JENKINS THEN TURNED AROUND AND SUED THE GOVERNOR AND SOUGHT A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER RESTRAINING THE GOVERNOR FROM ENFORCING ORDER 38, PROHIBITING MASK MANDATES THAT WENT TO THE DALLAS DISTRICT COURT AND THE DALLAS DISTRICT COURT GRANTED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER.

RESTRAINING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER 38.

THE GOVERNOR THEN APPEALED, BUT IN THE INTERIM, WHAT HAPPENED IS THE FIRST THING JUDGE JENKINS DID AFTER THE RESTRAINING ORDER WAS ISSUED IS HE ISSUED AN ORDER ON THE 11TH OF AUGUST BASICALLY IMPOSING THE SAME VERY SIMILAR TO THE MASK ORDER HE HAD LAST TIME, WHICH REQUIRES K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS TO WEAR MASKS, REQUIRES COMMERCIAL ENTITIES TO CREATE A HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY THAT REQUIRES, AT A MINIMUM, UNIVERSAL INDOOR MASKING, AND THAT REQUIRES FACE COVERINGS IN DALLAS COUNTY BUILDINGS.

SO HE PUT THAT ORDER IN PLACE.

THE CASE GETS APPEALED TO THE DALLAS COURT OF APPEALS.

THE DALLAS COURT OF APPEALS CONTINUES TO RESTRAIN GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND THEN GOVERNOR ABBOTT PETITIONS TO THE SUPREME COURT AFTER THE COUNTY SORRY, AFTER THE COURT OF APPEALS RULED JUDGE JENKINS ISSUED A SECOND ORDER.

THE SECOND ORDER WAS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE FIRST ORDER, EXCEPT IT ALSO INCLUDED PROVISIONS FROM THE HEALTH AUTHORITY UNDER CHAPTER 81 REQUIRING PRE K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO WEAR A MASK AS A RESULT OF THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES ORDER THAT BE DONE, WELL, THEN THE SUPREME COURT THIS WEEKEND HAS STAYED THE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER.

BUT THE PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS PENS AT THE SUPREME COURT AND THE TEMPORARY INJUNCTION HEARING IS SCHEDULED TO GO FORWARD IN DALLAS COUNTY AUGUST THE 24TH.

SO AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, THE SUPREME COURT HAS STAYED GRANTED EMERGENCY RELIEF TO THE GOVERNOR, SAYING THAT THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER WILL STILL BE OPERATIVE DESPITE THE DALLAS COURT OF APPEALS ORDER SAYING THAT IT WASN'T JUDGE JENKINS THEN IN RESPONSE TO THAT.

PUT OUT ANOTHER ORDER TODAY, A THIRD ORDER IN THE LAST FOUR DAYS AND THIS ORDER SAYS THE SAME THING IS THE LAST ORDER, BUT IT TOOK OUT THE THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE.

SO THE FIRST TWO ORDERS HAD A THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE FOR PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T COMPLY, REALLY, THE BUSINESS ENTITIES THAT DIDN'T COMPLY BY DEVELOPING A HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN AND POSTING IT AT THEIR BUSINESS.

AND HE TOOK THE THOUSAND DOLLAR ORDER OUT, THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE OUT AND STILL HAS HIS ORDER IN PLACE AND SINCE HIS ORDER IS LAWFUL, BUT THERE'S NO PENALTY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ONE.

SO WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW IN DALLAS COUNTY IS THE JUDGE HAS AN ORDER IN PLACE.

IT'S NOT CLEAR THE EFFECT OF THAT ORDER BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER SAYS YOU CAN'T HAVE MASK MANDATES, BUT THE CURRENT ORDER THAT HE HAS OUT HAS NO PENALTY FOR ENTITIES THAT DON'T COMPLY WITH HIS ORDER.

AGAIN, IF YOU READ THE COUNTY ORDER VERY CAREFULLY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE COUNTY ORDER DOESN'T TECHNICALLY REQUIRE PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS.

IT REQUIRES BUSINESS OWNERS TO POST THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES A REQUIREMENT THAT PEOPLE WEAR MASKS AND POST IT CONSPICUOUSLY AT THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS.

THERE'S NOTHING IN THE ORDER THAT SAYS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BUSINESSES IF PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO COME IN WITHOUT A MASK.

THERE HASN'T BEEN IN ANY OF THE THREE ORDERS, BUT EVEN IF THERE WAS STILL NOW NO PENALTY FOR IT.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

WE'RE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER STILL IN PLACE ORDER 38 THAT SAYS THAT NOBODY CAN

[01:30:05]

MANDATE OR REQUIRE MASKS.

AND WE'RE WITH THE COUNTY ORDER THAT THAT PURPORTS TO REQUIRE MASKS WITHOUT A PENALTY AND MAINTAINS THE ORDER IN PRE-K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS AS A RESULT OF THE HEALTH AUTHORITY FINDING THAT IT'S NECESSARY.

AND AGAIN, THERE'S NO PENALTY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

OK, SO I'M GOING TO ASK, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS AND COUNCILMAN MORRIS.

AND THANK YOU, MR. BETTS FOR TAKING US DOWN A VERY CONFUSING GARDEN PATH.

SO JUST TO REITERATE WHAT YOU SAID, I BELIEVE A MOMENT AGO, THE IF ONE WERE TO ASSUME THAT THE ORDER BY JUDGE JENKINS IS IN OPERATION RIGHT NOW, EVEN WITHOUT A FINE THE ACTUAL REQUIREMENT I'M STAYING OUT OF THE WHOLE SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION.

THAT'S CORRECT.

CORRECT.

WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION AND SO I'M NOT EVEN WILLING TO TO GO.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE KEEP ASKING THAT QUESTION AND I KEEP TELLING THEM WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION FOR THAT.

SO BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND AS FAR AS COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES AND THE ORDER OR ORDERS BY JUDGE JENKINS, THE ORDERS DON'T ACTUALLY ORDER THE BUSINESS OWNERS TO MAKE PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THEIR BUSINESSES OR WHO WORK THERE WEAR MASKS.

THE ORDER IS JUST REQUIRING THAT THEY POST THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROMINENTLY, POST THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN THAT THEY'VE COME UP WITH AND POST A REQUIREMENT THAT PEOPLE WEAR MASKS.

IS THAT CORRECT? SO I'LL READ YOU THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE IS PRETTY MUCH THAT.

IT SAYS IT SAYS FROM THE DATA'S EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT'S VAGUELY DECIDED TODAY, COMMERCIAL ENTITIES IN DALLAS COUNTY PROVIDING GOODS OR SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC MUST DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY.

AND THE POLICY MUST, AT A MINIMUM, REQUIRE UNIVERSAL MUST REQUIRE, AT A MINIMUM, UNIVERSAL INDOOR MASKING.

AND THEN IT SAYS THE POLICY MUST BE POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS LOCATION AT THE BUSINESS TO PROVIDE NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS OF THE REQUIREMENTS.

BUT NO PLACE IN THAT LANGUAGE DOES IT ACTUALLY SAY THAT THE OWNER NEEDS TO DO ANYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T COME IN WITHOUT A MASK.

OK, SO IT IS NOT A BUSINESS OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO TO LEGALLY WHERE THEY'RE BEING FORCED TO DENY ENTRY TO PEOPLE WITHOUT MASKS OR TO EXCLUDE OR EJECT PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THEIR BUSINESS PLACE AND ARE NOT WEARING MASKS, THAT'S NOT A LEGAL REQUIREMENT ON THEIR PART.

THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE JUDGE'S [INAUDIBLE] ORDER.

OK, ALL RIGHT.

BUT AS ALWAYS, WITH PRIVATE BUSINESSES, A PRIVATE BUSINESS HAS EVERY RIGHT IN THE WORLD TO MAKE THEIR OWN POLICIES AND REQUIREMENTS AND TO ENFORCE THEM AS THEY SEE FIT.

CORRECT.

ABSOLUTELY, THEY CAN TELL PEOPLE THEY HAVE TO WEAR A SHIRT IN THE STORE OR SHOES IN THE STORE OR A MASKS IN THE STORE, AND THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY LIKE WITH REGARD TO THAT.

THERE'S NO LAW THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM DOING.

OK, AND ONE LAST QUESTION.

SO IF TOMORROW ANOTHER ORDER COMES OUT AND JUDGE JENKINS ADDS THE THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE BACK IN, THE FINE, IF IT'S PRESENTED IN THE SAME WAY THESE PREVIOUS ORDERS HAVE BEEN THE FINE WOULD BE FOR NOT HAVING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY, INCLUDING A WRITTEN REQUIREMENT OF A UNIVERSAL ENDORSEMENT, ASKING FOR NOT HAVING THAT PROMINENTLY POSTED, THAT WOULD BE THE TRIGGER FOR THE FINE.

IT SEEMS TO ME THE WAY THAT THIS IS WRITTEN, YOU WOULD BE EITHER NOT HAVING THE POLICY OR NOT POSTING IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE BECAUSE THAT'S THE REQUIREMENT.

RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BOY, EVERY DAY'S A NEW DAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH? THANK YOU.

AND IT'S A GOOD SEGUE INTO THE QUESTION I WAS GOING TO ASK, SINCE THIS IS CHANGING EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES TWICE A DAY.

I'M GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS THE CITY ENFORCING AND JUST SAID

[01:35:03]

WE'RE NOT ENFORCING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW AND WE MAY NOT IN THE FUTURE.

THIS REALLY IS A COUNTY AND A STATE THING.

I GUESS THAT'S THE QUESTION, IS THE CITY ATTEMPTING TO ENFORCE ANY OF THESE RULES IN ANY WAY? WE ARE NOT.

WE DID NOT ENFORCE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S PRIOR ORDERS.

WE TOLD BUSINESSES TO, OUT OF CONCERN THAT THEY COULD CALL THE COUNTY SHERIFF OR THE COUNTY CONSTABLES.

THEY CAN ENFORCE THE COUNTY'S ORDERS, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND THE CITY MARSHALS TO NOT ENFORCE THE COUNTY, AS I ENFORCE THE COUNTY'S ORDERS AND I HAVE NO INTENTION OF DOING SO.

AND AS IT STANDS WITH EMPLOYMENT LAW, DO ANY OF THESE VARIOUS MANDATES AND ORDERS AFFECT THE ABILITY OF PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS TO REQUIRE ANY ACTIONS FROM THEIR EMPLOYEES IN REGARDS TO MASKS? PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES COULD REQUIRE ITS EMPLOYEES TO BE MASKED AND COULD TERMINATE THEM OR DISCIPLINE THEM FOR REFUSAL TO COMPLY.

THOSE AREN'T LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS WHAT'S LIMITED BY THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.

OK, NOW PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES SUCH AS THE CITY OF GARLAND ARE DIFFERENT.

AND WHERE DO WE STAND ON THAT? WELL, UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, NO GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO REQUIRE MASKS IN ITS FACILITIES, AND SO A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYER, UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, COULD NOT REQUIRE ITS EMPLOYEES TO WEAR MASKS AS THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER [INAUDIBLE].

IS IT SPECIFICALLY IN RESPONSE TO COVID OR IS THAT ALL MASKS IN GENERAL? I MEAN, TO BE ACCIDENTALLY ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS TO PUT ON A BREATHING APPARATUS? I MEAN, HOW WELL IS THIS THING WRITTEN? GIVE ME ONE SECOND, IT SAYS NO GOVERNMENT, NO GOVERNMENT ENTITY, INCLUDING COUNTY, CITY, SCHOOL, DISTRICT, PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY AND NO GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL MAY REQUIRE ANY PERSON TO WEAR A FACE COVERING OR MANDATE ANOTHER PERSON, WEAR A FACE TIME FRAME PROVIDED, HOWEVER, AND THEN THE EXCEPTIONS ARE FOR STATE SUPPORTED LIVING, TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS.

SO IF WE HAD A STATE SUPPORTED LIVING STANDARD, GOVERNMENT OWNED HOSPITAL, GOVERNMENT OPERATED HOSPITALS, WE COULD CONTINUE TO REQUIRE FACE COVERINGS.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS, SO NONE OF THE EXCEPTIONS WOULD APPLY TO US.

SO QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU DO NOT LIMIT IT JUST TO COVID, IT WOULD BE SIMPLY SAID, YOU CAN'T REQUIRE A PERSON AS THE GOVERNMENT TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS EXCEPT FOR THE LIVING CENTERS, HOSPITALS AND THE JAILS.

GREAT.

OK, PROBABLY BROADLY WRITTEN, AND HE PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN MIND.

GOT IT.

I HOPE THAT FOLKS WILL TAKE IT IN THE CONTEXT WITH WHICH IT WAS INTENDED.

BUT OK, I THINK THAT COVERS ALL THE QUESTIONS I RECEIVED.

AND I APPRECIATE IT, MIKE.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

YES, SIR.

ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR MR. BETTS? I SEE NO ONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE.

CORRECT.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT ITEM 4D, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION

[4D. Consider a Resolution "Encouraging" not "Mandating" Mask Wearing at City-Owned Facilities]

ENCOURAGING, NOT MANDATING MASK WEARING AT CITY OWNED FACILITIES.

AND DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMS? THANK YOU.

I GUESS THIS IS A PROPER SEGUE, I WILL NOT MAKE ANY COMMENTARY ABOUT THIS.

THIS AGAIN, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

AND I BASE THIS ON INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE REPEATEDLY INFORMATION AND ADVICE THAT WE REPEATEDLY AND CONSISTENTLY RECEIVED FROM JASON AND HIS TEAM AND OUR HEALTH OFFICIALS.

THAT'S ESSEMTIALLY WHAT I'M BASING THIS ON.

AND THE SECOND POINT IS, I'M BRINGING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE THIS, WHEN I SAY COUNCIL, MEANING ALL THE COUNCILS.

THE COUNCIL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO TO SET THE TONE FOR THE CITY.

THIS GOES BACK TO WHETHER IT WAS KATRINA.

THROUGH THE TORNADOES OF 2016 AND 2019, THE TERRORIST ATTACK, THE WINTER STORM AND WE'VE HAD OUR SHARE.

NOW WE'VE GOT, WHAT I BELIEVE IS A HEALTH CRISIS.

[01:40:01]

I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK TO OR GET IN THE WEEDS OF HOW SOME ARE TRYING TO COVER THIS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO BASED ON THAT INFORMATION AND OUR TEAM, I WANT TO, AGAIN, COMMEND JASON AND HIS TEAM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY WERE DOING AND THE SPEED WITH WHICH THEY'RE DOING IT.

NEVER HAD THEM TO SAY NO TO THE REQUESTS.

SO I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS RESOLUTION, AGAIN, IS SIMPLY SETTING THE TONE.

WE WERE ELECTED TO SERVE AND PROTECT THE WELFARE AND HEALTH OF THIS CITY, AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS IS PART OF DOING THIS.

SUCH A RESOLUTION, I BELIEVE, IS NOT IN, IT WOULD NOT BE IN VIOLATION OF ANY DIRECTIVES THAT HAVE BEEN SET.

BUT I THINK RATHER, I THINK IT'S PRUDENT FEEDBACK AND TALKING TO MY CONSTITUENTS.

THE QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED REPEATEDLY.

SOME HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY COVID.

AND I MAY HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE I SAT ACROSS THE TABLE WITH A CUP OF COFFEE FROM THE LADY WHOSE HUSBAND HAD A BREAKTHROUGH CASE.

AND HER LAST WORDS TO ME WERE COUNCILMAN YOU ALL DO SOMETHING.

WHAT ARE YOU ALL GOING TO DO? SO DO SOMETHING FOR US LOCALLY.

SO THAT'S THE CATALYST BEHIND THIS REQUEST, I THINK IT'S PROPER AND APPROPRIATE AND AGAIN, I WAS IN TWO OF OUR CITY FACILITIES TODAY, NO ISSUES, NO PROBLEMS. PEOPLE WERE MOVING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS.

AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT THIS RESOLUTION WOULD CHANGE THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT THIS RESOLUTION WOULD, AGAIN, FROM COUNCIL'S PERSPECTIVE, SET A POSITIVE TONE THAT WILL COMPLEMENT WHAT OUR ADVICE AND WHAT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT TEAM HAS BEEN DOING NOW FOR OVER A YEAR AND PUTTING IT ALL ON THE LINE.

AND I JUST FEEL THAT IT'S INCUMBENT ON US AS COUNCIL.

WE'VE TAKEN SOME ACTIONS IN THE PAST WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE, AND I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO DO IT AT THIS TIME TO COME TOGETHER AND TO SUPPORT A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING.

AS WE STATED IN THE TEXT OF THIS RESOLUTION, THAT'S THE INTENT AND THE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OF ME, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER, BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

OK, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH? THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I SECONDED THIS ITEM COMING FORWARD TO THE GROUP AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MAKES A GREAT POINT THAT YOU SET THE TONE AND THE CULTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION.

AND WE WANT IT TO BE ONE OF PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND TRYING TO LOOK OUT FOR THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE WORKING NEXT TO.

I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY'S TIRED OF LISTENING TO THIS TOPIC AND THEY PROBABLY HAVE THEIR MIND COMPLETELY MADE UP ON MASKS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

AND WHATEVER YOUR PREFERENCE OR POSITION IS, I KNOW THAT YOU CAN FIND SOMEBODY VERY CONVINCING ONLINE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR POSITION.

AND I DON'T AIM TO CHANGE THAT.

GARLAND HAS BEEN PREEMPTED AT EVERY TURN WHEN IT COMES TO ANY FORM OF POLICY OR ENFORCEMENT.

AND I EXPECT THAT TREND TO CONTINUE AS WELL, WHICH IS WHY THIS IS THIS IS VERY MUCH A SUGGESTION AND VERY MUCH JUST A STATEMENT OF PREFERENCE BY THE COUNCIL.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO WADE INTO THE STATEWIDE LEGAL BATTLES OR MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES ON THE NEWS.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICAL THEATER AT ALL.

AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT OUR COUNCIL'S GENERALLY STAYED OUT OF THAT.

WE SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON PPE FOR BOTH OUR GENERAL STAFF AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR NON COVID REASONS.

AND LOOK, IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT, BECAUSE IT WORKS.

IT'S JUST LIKE BODY ARMOR OR GLOVES OR GLASSES.

IT'S SO YOU CAN GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILY HAPPY AND HEALTHY WITH LESS RISK ON THE JOB AND THEN THE GUY NEXT TO YOU CAN, TOO.

SO I'D LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO RESPECTFULLY ASK OUR CITY EMPLOYEES TO MASK UP WHEN IT MAKES SENSE TO.

YOU, IF YOU'RE OUTDOORS BY YOURSELF.

OBVIOUSLY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

BUT IF YOU'RE SITTING IN A CUBE FARM WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE FIVE FEET AWAY FROM YOU OR A COUPLE OF FEET AWAY FROM YOU, THEN MASK UP.

MASKS ARE PART OF OUR DEATH DEFENSE.

THERE'S THREE WAYS YOU FIGHT ANY DISEASE OR ANY INTRUDER IN GENERAL.

FIRST, YOU KEEP THEM FROM GETTING IN THE DOOR IN MASKS AND DISTANCING AND HANDWASHING ARE THE THINGS THAT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN PREACHING TO US FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW.

SECOND, YOU HAVE A SYSTEM FOR DEALING WITH THEM ONCE THEY GET IN THE DOOR, AND THAT'S VACCINES AND THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT.

[01:45:01]

AND THEN THE THIRD IS TO KEEP THEM FROM LEAVING AND KIND OF INFLICTING THEMSELVES ON YOUR NEIGHBOR, MASKS AND DISTANCING AND HANDWASHING.

NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE PERFECT.

NO ONE EXPECTS THEM TO BE.

ALL OF THIS IS ABOUT MITIGATION AND DELAY AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM IN THE HOSPITAL FOR EVERYBODY IF THEY NEED IT.

SO, WITH ALL THAT SAID, WHILE THE COUNTY IN THE STATE BATTLE IT OUT ON WHO GETS TO CONTROL LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THEN THEY JUST CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH, HOPEFULLY HERE AND JUST ASK OUR EMPLOYEES TO MASK UP IF THEY'RE ABLE TO HELP THEIR COWORKERS RIDE IT OUT.

AND LET'S GET THIS THING OVER WITH.

VERY WELL, VERY WELL STATED, MAYOR PRO TEM HEDRICK? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, I DISAGREE WITH THIS POSITION OF REQUESTING A MASKING WAR, AND I JUST, TOO MANY UNKNOWNS ABOUT WHETHER MASKS ARE EFFECTIVE LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH SAID THERE'S PLENTY OF STUDIES SHOWING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WHETHER MASKS ARE EFFECTIVE DATA COMING OUT OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

SWEDEN, FOR INSTANCE, HE MENTIONED HIMSELF THAT THERE'S THREE MEASURES.

THERE'S MASKS, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND HANDWASHING.

YET ONLY ONE OF THOSE MASKS IS PART OF THIS RESOLUTION.

YOU KNOW, WE COULD EASILY HAVE A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING VACCINES.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S BEEN DOING ALL ALONG.

UNFORTUNATELY, MASKS ARE THE ONES IN THIS CASE THAT'S BEEN SINGLED OUT.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, AND AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH SAID ON HIS OWN, YOU FIND PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES ON THE ONLINE BATTLING IT OUT, I'D RATHER COUNCIL STAY OUT OF THAT ARGUMENT COMPLETELY.

AND I CAN'T SUPPORT A RESOLUTION LIKE THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER VERA? I AGREE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO STAY OUT OF ALL THIS.

OK, THANK YOU, SIR.

AND LET'S SEE, COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I MEAN, I WOULD GLADLY SUPPORT ALL THREE IF WE WANT TO PUT UP SIGNS ENCOURAGING VACCINES AND HAND WASHING AND MASKS AND ALL OF IT, THEN GREAT, LET'S DO ALL OF IT.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I THINK AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION.

AND I MEAN, NONE OF THIS IS NEW AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO RETREAD OLD GROUND, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SAY CAN PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GET VACCINES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN, I MEAN, THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO END THIS PANDEMIC TO GET PEOPLE TO MASK.

AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY ANY LEGITIMATE SCIENCE THAT SUGGESTS THAT MASKS DON'T HAVE ANY EFFECT.

ALL YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE VARIOUS, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THESE VARIOUS SPIKES, PEOPLE START TO MASK UP.

THEY START TO WASH HANDS, THEY START TO DISTANCE AND THE SPIKES HAVE GONE DOWN.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S A BIG STRETCH TO ENCOURAGE MASKS AND TO REALLY FOLLOW WHAT THE CDC SAYS AND AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD THERE.

I MEAN, AS A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, I THINK WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S OUT THERE.

WE NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR THE BEST HEALTH OF OUR RESIDENTS.

AND SO I SUPPORT, AGAIN, NOT REQUIRING ANYTHING.

THESE ARE JUST WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT COMES TO A POLICY LEVEL DISCUSSION TO COUNCIL, BUT HERE WE ARE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SUPPORT THAT.

BUT I DO ALSO SUPPORT ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINES AND TO WASH THEIR HANDS AND ENGAGE IN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

SO, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST FOUR TIMES THE SIGNS, LOOK FOR A LOT OF SIGNS.

COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'VE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT IN MY MIND HOW TO SAY THIS WITHOUT IT TAKING FOREVER.

I DON'T WANT IT TO TAKE FOREVER, BUT I DO FEEL THAT TO BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR ME TO SAY IT.

LAST FRIDAY, I HAD A MEETING, 12 O'CLOCK MEETING WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE, A GROUP OF COWORKERS, AND WE WERE GOING TO DISCUSS SOME ISSUES THAT I FELT WAS, THAT WE ALL FELT WERE IMPORTANT TO US.

I WALKED INTO THE RESTAURANT AND AS USUAL, I HAD MY MASK ON.

I THINK THAT WITH THE CLIMATE THAT WE'RE IN PRESENTLY, IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS OF WHERE WE KIND OF WANT TO LEAVE IT TO EVERYBODY.

YOU WEAR IT OR YOU DON'T WEAR IT, BUT IT'S THE CHOICE.

IT'S UP TO YOU.

FOR ME, MY CHOICE HAS BEEN TO WEAR THE MASK.

[01:50:02]

SO I WALKED INTO THE RESTAURANT AND FOUND THE PEOPLE, I THOUGHT THE PEOPLE THAT I WANTED TO TALK WITH.

I SAT DOWN WITH THEM.

AND AS I WALKED IN, THE UNFORTUNATE THING, NOT FOR ME ANYWAY, I LOOKED AROUND AND NOBODY IN THIS RESTAURANT HAD A MASK ON, NO ONE.

AND THE TABLE OF GUYS THAT I SAT DOWN WITH, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A MASK EITHER.

AND I THINK TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WE HAVE BECOME SOMEWHAT COMFORTABLE.

WE'VE COME TO THE POINT THAT ALL OF US HAVE HAD THE TWO SHOTS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

BUT I SAT DOWN AND I BEGAN TO TALK AND AS I TALK, LOOKING AROUND, I BEGAN TO FEEL MYSELF OUT OF PLACE.

I TRULY BEGAN TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

AND SO I TOOK MY MASK OFF AND I SAT, AND WE CONTINUED TO TALK AND THEN FIGURED OUT I WAS AT THE WRONG TABLE.

AND I GOT UP AND MOVED OVER TO THE TABLE WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AND CONTINUED MY DISCUSSION.

AND AFTER THAT, WE HAD A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION AND I WENT HOME.

AND THE NEXT THING HAPPENED, IS I GOT A CALL AND THIS CALL SAYS, YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, OF COURSE, I NEEDED TO SELF IMPOSE CRITERIA OF NOT GOING OUT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, BUT WHAT DID I DO THAT? I THINK I DID THAT REALLY BECAUSE I FELT THAT I WAS OUT OF PLACE.

AND I THINK THAT WHAT COUNCIL AND PRO TEM IS ASKING AND WHAT COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS IS ASKING, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD AT LEAST SAY SOMETHING.

WE SHOULD GIVE PEOPLE PERMISSION.

I GUESS THAT'S IT.

IT WOULD HELP THEM TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE AS A GOVERNMENT, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES YOU WILL FEEL OUT OF PLACE, BUT WE DON'T FEEL OUT OF PLACE AT ALL AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

AND SAYING, YES, THAT'S ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS, LET'S ENCOURAGE THEM.

LET'S GIVE THEM PERMISSION TO BE DIFFERENT.

LET'S GIVE THEM PERMISSION THAT IF EVERYBODY ELSE DOESN'T HAVE A MASK ON, IT'S OK.

YOU CAN PUT YOURS ON.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD VIOLATE THE CONDITIONS OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS SAYING AT ALL.

BUT I DO FEEL THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND I THINK THAT WE AS A BODY, WE AS A GOVERNING BODY, WE'RE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO KIND OF SET THE STAGE.

AND SO FOR ME, YES, I WOULD ENCOURAGE IT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD IDEA TO AT LEAST GIVE OUR PEOPLE THE CHOICE, BUT ENCOURAGE THEM TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS I AM PRONE TO BE MORE ENGINEERING THAN PRAGMATIC, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF DOING SUCH A RESOLUTION AND THINKING, OK, HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL THIS ACTUALLY INFLUENCE TO DO ONE THING DIFFERENT THAN THEY'RE DOING NOW? AND I THINK THE REALISTIC ANSWER IS PROBABLY NOT MANY.

SO FROM A PRACTICAL VIEWPOINT, I DON'T SEE THAT THIS WILL NECESSARILY ADVANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AMONG AT OUR CITY FACILITIES OR AMONG OURSELVES.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, I PUT ON MY MASKS AGAIN SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A SPIKE.

I HAVE FRAGILE, MEDICALLY FRAGILE FAMILY MEMBERS.

AND SO I WEAR MASKS NOW IF I'M AROUND OTHER PEOPLE OR INDOORS AT EVENTS, AND I DON'T REALLY CARE IF ANYBODY ELSE DOES OR NOT, BUT I DO.

AND I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THAT AND ALSO THINKING ABOUT WHAT COUNCILMAN MOORE WAS JUST DESCRIBING, SOME OF THE PEER PRESSURE TYPE THINGS.

IF OUR, IF WE HAD MORE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WERE ACTUALLY WEARING MASKS, WOULD THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CITIZENS WHO COME IN TO PARTICIPATE AT OUR CITY FACILITIES? WOULD IT MAKE THEM FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE? WOULD IT MAKE THEM BE LESS CAUTIOUS? WOULD IT MAKE THEM PARTICIPATE MORE? I DON'T THINK THERE'S A REALLY CLEAR ANSWER TO THAT.

SO OVERALL, WILL IT DO HARM TO ENCOURAGE OUR EMPLOYEES TO WEAR MASKS AND WASH THEIR HANDS AND REALLY TO OBSERVE ALL COVID PRECAUTIONS? WHAT WILL IT DO HARM TO DO THAT? I DON'T THINK IT WILL DO HARM, BUT I ALSO HONESTLY DON'T THINK IT WILL MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AND DO ANY GOOD EITHER.

SO TO ME, THIS IS I WOULD PROBABLY BE OK EITHER WAY.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF US ON COUNCIL ARE IN FACT, IN REAL LIFE DEMONSTRATING THAT WE'RE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO TO KEEP OURSELVES SAFE, OUR FAMILIES SAFE AND OTHERS SAFE, AND THAT WE'RE NOT OUT THERE BEING CARELESS.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND I'M CERTAINLY TRYING TO DO THAT.

AND AS FAR AS I'VE SEEN, ALL OF YOU ARE, TOO.

SO THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS.

[01:55:15]

I'M GOOD EITHER WAY WITH THIS.

THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMS? SO THANK YOU, MAYOR.

MY FINAL COMMENT ON THIS, HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL GOES IS FINE.

I STAND BY MY RECOMMENDATION ON THIS, WHO IT'S GOING TO IMPACT, WHOSE MIND IT'S GOING TO CHANGE? THAT IS NOT BEEN THE DRIVER.

I BELIEVE IN THAT SAYING THAT ONE OF OUR, I THINK, LEADERSHIP, EVERYTHING RISES AND FALL ON LEADERSHIP, AND I REFERENCED IN MY OPENING STATEMENT HOW WE MET THE CHALLENGE.

AND AGAIN, THE LANGUAGE AND DISCUSSION WAS CAREFULLY PICKED TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS.

AND I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS.

I HAD SOME DISCUSSION LAST WEEK WITH A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM WHO HAS BEEN IN THE TRENCHES ADMINISTERING VACCINES TO FOLKS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT, AS WE KNOW, FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF AND TAKING RISK ON THEIR FAMILIES.

AND I WAS THE ONE WHO SAID TO THEM, THEY SAID, COUNCILMAN, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS POP UP AT THIS PLACE.

AND I SAID TO THEM, WELL, YOU REALLY MAYBE JUST THINK ABOUT DOING THAT BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY WON'T GET THAT MANY PEOPLE.

AND THIS TEAM MEMBER SAID TO ME, COUNCILMAN, IF WE ONLY GET TWO, THAT'S TWO MORE THAN WE HAD AND THAT RESONATED WITH ME.

SO HOWEVER THIS GOES.

MY THING IS, AGAIN, TO ENCOURAGE AND THIS IS BASED ON, I'M BASING IT ON THE MEDICAL FOLKS, THE FOLKS WHO KNOW THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GOTTEN WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK AND THE REQUESTS THAT I'VE GOTTEN FROM FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN PERSONALLY AND THEIR FAMILIES IMPACTED THAT WE'VE COVID.

WHEN THEY SAID TO ME, COUNCILMAN, YOU ALL DO SOMETHING AND IT'S COUNCILMAN SMITH SAID, RATHER THAN FOCUS ON THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE AND THOSE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE AND GETTING IN THAT POLITICAL BATTLE, WHICH I CHOOSE NOT TO DO, THE REQUEST THAT MY CONSTITUENTS ASKED ME WAS TO DO SOMETHING.

AND THAT COMMITMENT I'M GOING TO HONOR BECAUSE I TOOK THAT OATH TO SERVE AND PROTECT, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE IN UNIFORM, THAT WE TOOK THAT OUT, BUT HOWEVER THIS GOES, YOU KNOW, THAT'S FINE.

BUT MY CONVERSATION WITH THAT TEAM MEMBER, IT REMINDED ME, BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBERS AND THEY SAID THIS IS WORTH DOING COUNCILMAN.

EVEN IF WE ONLY GET TWO PEOPLE VACCINATED, IT'S BEEN WORTH WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND THEY DID IT OUT IN 103 DEGREE HEAT FOR THREE HOURS.

SO IF THEY COULD DO THAT, I AS ONE CAN CERTAINLY ISSUE A NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR TIME.

I HAVE NO ONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE ON THIS ITEM.

I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE SUPPORTING US ENCOURAGING PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S STAFF OR VISITORS TO OUR CITY OWNED FACILITIES.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE STAYED PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH THAT MESSAGE FROM THE BEGINNING OF, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT JASON HAS REPEATED TO US OVER AND OVER AS COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN SAID.

DO I THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE ANYBODY'S BELIEFS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER? NO, BUT I THINK THE ENCOURAGEMENT ASPECT OF IT AND I WILL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, WE ALL WORE MASKS FOR A LONG TIME.

WE ALL GOT TIRED OF IT.

AND IT IS KIND OF A HARD HABIT TO GET BACK INTO.

IT'S KIND OF A FRUSTRATING THING IS KIND OF A DISHEARTENING THING FOR ME BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME AND I WILL STOP.

COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN? I'M MUTED, AREN'T I? SORRY, MAYOR, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

NO JUST GO AHEAD.

NO, BUT JUST TO FOLLOW IN WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I MEAN, THIS IS THE SURGE OF THE DELTA VARIANT, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHEN WE FIRST CAME BACK IN PERSON.

YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD THE DELTA VARIANT BRING US.

AND IT'S A TRANSMISSIBILITY R FACTOR THAT'S FAR HIGHER THAN WHAT'S BEEN OUT THERE.

AND I THINK IT SHOWS THE DEGREE IF THE COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THE SERIOUSNESS OF IT.

AND IF ONE PERSON PUTS ON A MASK, IF ONE PERSON, I MEAN, HOW MANY LIVES DO WE HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LOST, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY HUNDREDS IN GARLAND ALREADY? HUNDREDS OF, OVER SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND IN THE UNITED STATES? HOW MANY, YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE?

[02:00:02]

IF ONE PERSON PUTS ON A MASK AND WE REDUCE THE TRANSMISSION, THAT'S A GOOD THING.

AND CLEARLY, THE TRANSMISSION IS A CONCERN AND AN ISSUE BECAUSE LOOK WHERE WE ALL ARE TONIGHT.

WE'RE ALL AT HOME.

WE'RE ALL REMOTELY ON ZOOM, AND IT'S BECAUSE THE RESURGENCE OF THIS VIRUS AND THE DELTA VARIANT IS SERIOUS AND IT IS SIGNIFICANT.

IT'S SIGNIFICANT TO ALL OF US, WHETHER YOU'RE VACCINATED OR NOT.

AND SO I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER ARGUMENT THAN FOR THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO AT LEAST SAY SOMETHING THAN THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALL SITTING AT HOME TONIGHT AND NOT AT CITY HALL.

MAYOR PRO TEM HEDRICK? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

AND I AGREE WE ARE COMPLETELY TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY AND THAT'S WHY I GOT VACCINATED.

AND THEN OUR OWN STATISTICS TONIGHT WITH ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES VACCINATED, THAT THERE'S BEEN JUST OVER SIX THOUSAND CASES HOSPITALIZATIONS AFTER BEING VACCINATED.

THAT'S POINT .

0038 PERCENT.

I MEAN, THAT IS THAT RIGHT THERE TELLS YOU THAT THE PENDING PANDEMIC ENDED AS SOON AS PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING, VACCINATIONS, NOT NECESSARILY ONLY SIMPLY PICKING OUT THIS MASKS.

I'M HAPPY TO ENCOURAGE VACCINATIONS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND CERTAINLY I DO, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'VE DEMONSTRATED AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE.

BUT I CAN FIND PLENTY OF DATA, FLIPPING THAT PARADIGM ON THE HEAD, WHERE THE MASKS MAY ACTUALLY BE HARMFUL.

I'VE SEEN MY OWN KIDS THAT WERE DIRTY MASKS ALL DAY AND COME BACK AND IT'S FILTHY AND SPIT FILLED AND IT'S JUST DISGUSTING AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME THING IN THEIR LIVES, THE MASKS THEY HAVE.

IN MEDICAL SCHOOL DOCTORS ARE TAUGHT TO SAFELY WEAR MASKS AND THEY'RE ONE TIME USE AND THEY DON'T, THEY'RE NOT WORN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE DAY.

PEOPLE TOUCHING THEIR FACES ALL THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

IT'S JUST WE HAVE NOT BEEN TRAINED PROPERLY TO USE MASKS AND EVEN CLOTH MASKS IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THE N95.

THERE'S JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT VARIABLES THAT HAVE BEEN AS FAR AS THESE MASKS GO, AND I DON'T THINK A BROAD ENCOURAGEMENT OF MASKS IS NECESSARILY EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING THE TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE FACTORS INVOLVED THERE, BUT THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH? MAYOR PRO TEM MAKES A GREAT POINT, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE US ADJUST THIS, THE LANGUAGE OF A RESOLUTION LIKE THIS TO INCLUDE HAND SANITIZER AND VACCINATIONS.

I THINK IT'S A WISE MOVE.

VACCINES ARE THE, AS MANY OF US HAVE SAID, ARE THE WAY TO END THIS THING.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM TO POTENTIALLY JOIN ME IN AMENDING THAT LANGUAGE AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING THAT INCLUDES VACCINATIONS.

AND, MAYOR PRO TEM [INAUDIBLE] SAID HAND SANITIZER.

BUT I LOVE TO HAVE THAT IN AS WELL.

JUST HAND WASHING, I THINK, IN GENERAL, BASED ON YOUR COMMENTS.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMS, YOU'VE HEARD THE SUGGESTIONS? I ACCEPT THOSE SUGGESTIONS, MAYOR, AND I'M WILLING TO AMEND IT TO ENCOURAGE VACCINES AND USE OF HAND SANITIZER PER THE MAYOR PRO TEM'S SUGGESTION, I ACCEPT THAT.

OK, AND I CAN CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT, BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE MESSAGE THAT WE'VE HAD FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW.

SO, WITHOUT GETTING US INTO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, SO.

THE ITEM IS CONSIDERED A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING, NOT MASK MANDATING MASK WEARING AT CITY OWNED FACILITIES, BUT THE AMENDED LANGUAGE TO THAT WOULD BE TO ENCOURAGE MASK WEARING BUT INCLUDING THE MASK, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGING VACCINATIONS AND HAND WASHING, HAND SANITIZER.

OK, AND IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION, AT THIS POINT, IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT RESOLUTION WITH THOSE AMENDMENTS? ACTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY STILL HAS THEIR HANDY DANDY VOTING PADDLES, BUT ALL IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED? OK.

LOOKS LIKE, YES, I COULDN'T FIND MY PADDLE, SIR.

THAT LOOKS THAT LOOKS UNANIMOUS, SORRY, MR. BRADFORD I'M NOT SURE WHO'S WORKING ON THE LANGUAGE OF THAT RESOLUTION, BUT WE'LL GET THAT AMENDMENT, GET THAT AMENDED LANGUAGE IN THERE.

COUNCIL, WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT RECESS.

WE'LL TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS.

LET'S HAVE EVERYBODY BACK AT 8:15, PLEASE, 8:15.

THERE WE GO.

[02:05:15]

IT IS AUGUST 16TH, 2021, WE ARE COMING BACK FROM RECESS AT THE WORK SESSION FOR THIS EVENING AND WE ARE AT ITEM 4E, 2019 BOND PROGRAM STATUS UPDATE.

[4E. 2019 Bond Program - Status Update]

AND LET'S SEE, I'M NOT SURE WHO'S LEADING UP ON THIS ONE.

MR. MAYOR, I BELIEVE LAURA DUNN IS GOING TO GIVE THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

YES.

IT'S BEEN TRADITION FOR US TO PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH THE QUARTERLY UPDATE ON OUR PROGRESS WITH THE 2019 BOND PROGRAM.

SO WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO CONTINUE WITH THAT TRADITION.

WITH ME TONIGHT FROM THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE ARE RICK ALCERON, OUR DIRECTOR, CALLIE TANNER, AND SEAN GASPERICH.

AND WHILE THE PMO IS PRESENTING TONIGHT, DELIVERING THE BOND PROJECTS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT STAFF IN MANY DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, SUCH AS FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION, PARKS AND REC, ANIMAL SERVICES, POLICE, FIRE, LIBRARY, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE THANK ALL OF THEM.

ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FIRM, AE COMM, AS WELL AS STAFF FOR ALL THEIR HELP IN COMPILING THE UPDATE YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE.

TONIGHT, WE'RE TAKING A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT APPROACH IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.

SINCE WE WERE ORIGINALLY PLANNING TO MEET FACE TO FACE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 18 MONTHS, WE PREPARED A PRESSIE HIGHLIGHTING PROGRESS ON A HANDFUL OF OUR PROJECTS THROUGH IMAGES AND VIDEOS.

AND WE'VE DONE OUR BEST TO ADAPT LAST MINUTE FOR OUR MOVE TO ZOOM.

AND I WILL SAY THAT DEPENDING UPON EACH INDIVIDUAL'S INTERNET SPEED, BANDWIDTH, SOME OF THE IMAGES AND VIDEOS THAT WE'RE SHOWING TONIGHT MAY APPEAR A LITTLE FUZZY OR LAG AT TIMES ON YOUR END, SO JUST PLEASE STICK WITH US AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS.

I'M GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN HERE.

OK, CAN EVERYONE SEE MY SCREEN? YES, WE'RE GOOD.

OK, SO IN TERMS OF THE FORMAT OF THE PRESSIE, THE GRAY CIRCLES THAT YOU'RE SEEING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN LIST THE PROJECTS AND PROPOSITIONS THAT WE WILL BE TOUCHING ON TONIGHT.

FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PROJECTS IN THE BOND PROGRAM, THERE'S A HANDOUT THAT'S ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA ITEM INDICATING THE STATUS OF EACH PROJECT.

SO AS A REMINDER, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE HANDOUT OR YOU CAN ALSO VISIT THE WEBSITE BUILDGARLAND.COM FOR UPDATES ON THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.

FIRST UP IS THE ANIMAL SHELTER AND THE ADOPTION FACILITY IN DECEMBER OF 202, WE BROKE GROUND ON THE NEW FACILITY.

BY APRIL, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE SITE PREP AND UTILITY WORK COMPLETE WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE FOUNDATION WORK.

WITHIN A FEW SHORT MONTHS, CONSTRUCTION WENT VERTICAL AND THE BUILDING IS REALLY STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE.

IN JULY, OUR TEAM CAPTURED A VIDEO THAT WILL GIVE YOU A CLOSER GLIMPSE OF THE ACTION AS THE VIDEO PLAYS ON THE EXTERIOR, YOU'LL NOTICE SOME SLIGHT PAVING THE FRONT FACADE AND THE ROOFING IS REALLY STARTING TO COME ALONG.

YOU'LL ALSO SEE THE BEGINNINGS OF THE DOG RUN CANOPIES ON THE EAST AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

IT'S THEN GOING TO TRANSITION TO THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE BEGINNINGS OF ALL THE HVAC WORK, AS WELL AS THE BLOCK WALLS AND WINDOWS FOR THE CANINE ADOPTION ENCLOSURES.

HOPEFULLY, EVERYONE COULD SEE THAT CONSTRUCTION IS TRACKING FOR COMPLETION IN SPRING OF

[02:10:01]

'22.

ON JANUARY 13 OF THIS YEAR, WE HOSTED OUR FIRST EVER BUILD GARLAND DAY WITH A RECORD NUMBER OF CELEBRATION OF FIVE NEW PROJECTS.

SINCE THEN, THE PROJECTS HAVE CONTINUED TO ADVANCE.

SO LET'S SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THEN.

THE FIRST STOP ON BUILD GARLAND DAY WAS THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR BOB HALL PARK PLAYGROUND, WHICH IS ONE OF 25 PARKS INCLUDED IN THE PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.

WITH AN OVERALL FOCUS ON ADVENTURE AND FITNESS, BOB HALL PARK WILL PROVIDE CURIOSITY, PROVOKING STRUCTURES AND INCLUSIVE PLAYING OPTIONS TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, FITNESS AND MOBILITY FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PROGRESS PICTURES, THE PLAYGROUND IS IN THE HOMESTRETCH WITH A FEW FINISHING TOUCHES.

IT WILL BE READY TO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SOON.

SO STAY TUNED TO SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THE OPENING.

UP NEXT, COUNCIL VISITED THE FUTURE SITE OF THE POLICE AND PROPERTY EVIDENCE BUILDING FOR ANOTHER GROUNDBREAKING.

HERE ARE SOME PROGRESS PHOTOS FROM THIS PAST QUARTER SHOWING HOW CONSTRUCTION HAS ADVANCED FROM PREPARING THE SITE AND FORMING THE FOUNDATION TO NOW GOING VERTICAL WITH THE CMU WALLS.

NEXT, WE'LL SHOW YOU A QUICK VIDEO OF THE PROGRESS AS OF JULY.

YOU'LL SEE HOW THE STRUCTURAL STEEL AND METAL ROOF DECK ARE STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE.

WITH CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE FACILITY WILL BE COMPLETE BY SPRING OF '22.

ON BUILD GARLAND DAY, THERE WAS A THIRD GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY, THIS TIME FOR RICK ODEN PARK, ONE ADDITION THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THE 46 THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT SKATE PARK, WHICH WILL BE THE SECOND LARGEST SKATE PARK IN TEXAS.

SOME OTHER AMENITIES WILL INCLUDE RESTROOMS AND A PICNIC PAVILION, A FOOD TRUCK PLAZA, A NEW PLAYGROUND, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, TRAILS, A BASEBALL FIELD, PAVING IMPROVEMENTS AND GENERAL INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES TO NAME A FEW.

SINCE APRIL, THE PROGRESS PICTURES SHOW HOW THE SKATE PARK IS REALLY COMING ALONG.

THE VIDEO YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE CAPTURES A VIEW OF RICK ODEN PARK FROM MILLER ROAD LOOKING TOWARDS THE TENNIS COURTS TO THE SOUTH, AND THEN PARTWAY THROUGH THE VIDEO, THE DRONE WILL ROTATE AND THEN FOCUS IN ON THE SKATE PARK.

SO RICK ODEN PARK WILL BE BUILT IN PHASES WITH THE SKATE PARK BEING IN THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH IS SLATED TO OPEN IN THE SUMMER OF '22.

COUNCIL ALSO CELEBRATED THE FUTURE HOME OF FIRE STATION NO.7 NEAR PLEASANT VALLEY AND FIRE WHEEL PARKWAY, WITH A SIGN RAISING.

THIS IS ONE OF THREE FIRE STATIONS IN THE BOND PROGRAM CURRENTLY IN THE QUEUE TO FOLLOW STATION SIX AND ONE.

THE PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN THE PREDESIGNED PROGRAMING PHASE, WITH DETAILED DESIGNS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN MID '23.

WE ALSO CELEBRATED A SIGN RAISING FOR THE WALNUT CREEK BRANCH LIBRARY, WHICH WILL BE EXPANDED UPON RELOCATION TO HOLLABAUGH PARK NEXT TO THE REC CENTER.

DESIGN IS UNDERWAY ON THIS PROJECT UNTIL SPRING OF '22.

SO NEXT UP, WE HAVE PROPOSITION D FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION PROJECTS.

[02:15:03]

THE AUDUBON REC CENTER IS GOING TO BE OPENING SOON.

HERE ARE A FEW PICTURES CAPTURING OUR PROGRESS ALONG THE WAY.

THE REC CENTER HAS GROWN BY ALMOST TEN THOUSAND SQUARE FEET, PROVIDING A NEW RECEPTION AREA AND A BRAND NEW FITNESS CENTER.

LOOKING AT HOW SOME OF THE FINISHES ARE COMING ALONG ON THE RENOVATIONS, SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT AUDUBON ARE, IT HAS THE LARGEST FITNESS ROOM IN THE GARLAND SYSTEM AND IT'S THE FIRST WITH AN EXPANDED FITNESS AREA.

THERE ARE TWO LARGE MULTIPURPOSE ROOMS ALLOWING FOR LARGER RESERVATIONS, AND IT'S THE HIGHEST RESERVE FACILITY OF ALL THE REC CENTERS.

AND HERE, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A SNEAK PEEK OF THE FACILITY.

RENOVATIONS ARE UNDERWAY AT THE GALE FIELDS REC CENTER, WHICH IS FROM THE 2004 BOND PROGRAM, IT WILL HAVE A REFRESHED MULTIPURPOSE ROOM AND GAME ROOM WITH UPDATES AND THE RECEPTION AREA AND KITCHEN.

THE INTERIOR WILL HAVE NEW FINISHES AND WOOD FLOORING IN THE GYM.

AN OUTDOOR COVERED PATIO AND NEW LANDSCAPING WILL ENHANCE THE USAGE AND BEAUTIFICATION OF THE REC CENTER.

GALE FIELDS IS ANTICIPATED TO REOPEN IN OCTOBER.

AS PART OF THE PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, WE ARE INSTALLING NEW PLAYGROUNDS AT 25 PARKS THAT ARE MORE THAN 20 YEARS OLD.

WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THREE OF OUR PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT PROJECTS AT BOB HALL PARK, LOU HUFF PARK AND DOUGLAS PARK WILL BE OPENING SOON WITH OAKS BRANCH PARK FOLLOWING.

THE LOU HUFF PARK MAY BE CLASSIFIED AS TRADITIONAL PLAY, BUT IT'S COLORFUL AND UNIQUE ELEMENTS ARE ANYTHING BUT PLAIN.

SOME OF THOSE UNIQUE ELEMENTS INCLUDE AN INTERACTIVE TWO STORY SPINNING GLOBE STRUCTURE, A ZIP LINE COURSE AND OTHER MOTION ELEMENTS.

THE ARTISTIC THEME OF DOUGLAS PARK PLAYGROUND INCLUDES A GEOMETRIC HIVE OF EXPLORATIVE PLAY THAT DRIVES THE IMAGINATION AS GRASSY LAWN AREAS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GAMES AND PICNICS.

OTHER PLAY FEATURES INCLUDE A ROPE CLIMB, HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE ROLLER SLIDE AND SWINGS.

NATURE THEMED OAKS BRANCH PARK FEATURES PLAYGROUND STRUCTURES DESIGNED TO BLEND SEAMLESSLY WITH ITS MARSH LIKE GREENBELT SURROUNDINGS, PERFECT FOR PICNICS ON THE GRASSY LAWNS.

FUTURE VISITORS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO ENJOYING A BUTTON LOOP, A CLIMBING TUNNEL, TRADITIONAL SWINGS AND A ROUNDABOUT ONCE THIS PARK IS COMPLETE.

WATSON PARK IS A 7.4 ACRE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IN DISTRICT SIX, AND IT'S CURRENTLY IN THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PHASE.

THE CONCEPTUAL SITE DESIGN YOU WERE SEEING FOCUSES ON THE ELEMENTS WITHIN THE PARK, INCLUDING A [INAUDIBLE] COURT, SOCCER FIELD, SPLASH PAD, REVITALIZATION OF THE EXISTING PAVILION AND BASKETBALL COURT, A PLAYGROUND, A PICNIC AREA AND BENCH STATIONS.

PATHS THAT ARE WIDE ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO COMFORTABLY PASS BY EACH OTHER.

A PERMANENT RESTROOM BUILDING, LED LIGHTING, PARKING AND MORE.

DESIGN IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE ON A GRANT AGREEMENT BEFORE ADVANCING TO CONSTRUCTION.

THE HOLFORD RECREATION CENTER IS CURRENTLY IN THE EARLY EARLY DESIGN PHASE, WE ARE SHOWING YOU SOME VERY PRELIMINARY SKETCHES OF WHAT HOLFORD REC CENTER AND AQUATIC FACILITY MAY LOOK LIKE, BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL MORE STEPS TO TACKLE BEFORE WE GET TO A SOLID CONCEPTUAL DESIGN.

SO DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH WHAT YOU SEE QUITE YET.

SOME OF THE DESIGN GOALS INCLUDE CREATING MORE AND LARGER SPACES FOR THE REC CENTER PROGRAMING AND EVENTS, CREATING SHARED SPACE BETWEEN THE REC CENTER AND AQUATICS FACILITY THAT WILL SERVE TO BENEFIT BOTH.

A FOCUS ON CREATING VIEWS OF THE PARK AND INVITING ACCESSIBILITY TO THE REC CENTER AND AQUATICS FACILITY FROM THE PARK.

LOOKING AT THE OTHER VIEWS OF THE FACILITY, IT'S PLANNED TO BE A TWO STOREY

[02:20:02]

BUILDING COVERING ABOUT 30 THOUSAND SQUARE FEET WITH A GYM, FITNESS CENTER, MULTIPURPOSE ROOMS AND A KITCHEN.

THE AQUATIC CENTER WILL HAVE AN ARRAY OF FEATURES FOR MULTIPLE AGE GROUPS, SUCH AS AN ACTIVITY POOL WITH ZERO DEPTH ENTRY LAP LANES, SHADE A POOL HOUSE WITH CONCESSIONS AND A PARTY ROOM.

DESIGN IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETE IN SPRING OF '22.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE PROPOSITION A FOR SOME OF OUR STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.

WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING JUST A FEW OF THE PROJECTS WHERE YOU WILL BE SEEING CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

NAAMAN SCHOOL ROAD BETWEEN BRAND AND STATE HIGHWAY 78 OR LAVONNE IS BEING RECONSTRUCTED FROM A TWO LANE ROADWAY INTO A FOUR LANE DIVIDED STREET WITH A TRAIL.

THIS PROJECT WILL ALLEVIATE ROAD CONGESTION WHILE PROVIDING TWICE THE NUMBER OF TRAVEL LANES IN EACH DIRECTION.

IT ALSO INCLUDES A NEW BRIDGE OVER SPRING CREEK TO ELEVATE THE ROADWAY ABOVE THE HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN.

HERE YOU CAN SEE THE CONCEPTUAL RENDERING OF THE DESIGN, WHICH IS ABOUT 90 PERCENT COMPLETE.

IN THE FALL, FRANCHISE UTILITY RELOCATIONS WILL BEGIN IN ADVANCE OF BIDDING FOR CONSTRUCTION LATER THIS YEAR.

THE ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION IS ANTICIPATED TO START IN SPRING OF '22.

I THINK WE'VE ALL EXPERIENCED A MOMENT OR TWO WHERE WE'VE BEEN STUCK IN AN INTERSECTION FULL OF CARS AND TRAFFIC JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE MOVING ANYWHERE.

THE BOTTLENECK IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES 12 INTERSECTIONS WHERE WE WILL BE WIDENING AND ADDING ADDITIONAL TRAINING MOVEMENTS TO HELP MOVE CARS THROUGH THOSE INTERSECTIONS.

THE MAP ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THE 12 LOCATIONS THAT ARE PART OF THE BOND PROGRAM, SPANNING FOUR DESIGN PHASES OR PACKAGES.

INTERSECTIONS NUMBER SEVEN AT BUCKINGHAM AND PLANO AND INTERSECTION NUMBER 12 AT BROADWAY AND I-30 ARE IN PACKAGE ONE, THEREFORE, THEY'RE FIRST UP IN THE QUEUE.

AT BUCKINGHAM AND PLANO, WE WILL BE ADDING RIGHT TURN LANES TO NORTHBOUND PLANO ROAD AND EASTBOUND BUCKINGHAM.

WE WILL ALSO BE ADDING ADDITIONAL LEFT TURN LANES TO EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND BUCKINGHAM.

AT BROADWAY AND I-30 A RIGHT TURN LANE IS BEING ADDED TO NORTHBOUND BROADWAY, CONNECTING TO THE I-30 SERVICE ROAD.

FOR BOTH OF THESE INTERSECTIONS, EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO OBTAIN THE RIGHT AWAY AND CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

SO NEXT UP, WE HAVE DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS TECHNICALLY PART OF TWO PROPOSITIONS WITH A, FOUR STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION, AS WELL AS D, FOR PARKS AND REC.

AND WHILE OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THE REDESIGN OF THE SQUARE, ANOTHER KEY PROJECT IS IMPROVING 14 BLOCKS OF STREETSCAPES IN THE CORE OF DOWNTOWN BETWEEN AVENUE A, FIFTH, WALNUT AND GLENBROOK.

THE DOWNTOWN URBAN DESIGN STANDARDS THAT YOU SEE PICTURED ON THE RIGHT WILL BE APPLIED TO EACH BLOCK, ENHANCING THE PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, CREATING A COHESIVE BLOCK TO BLOCK CONNECTIVITY.

WE RECENTLY WRAPPED UP THE DETAILED DESIGN PHASE, SO I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME UPDATED IMAGES OF WHAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO IN DOWNTOWN, SPECIFICALLY ON THE SQUARE.

SO THIS IS A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE SQUARE FROM THE INTERSECTION OF STATE AND FIFTH NEAR CITY HALL, LOOKING TO THE SOUTHWEST TOWARDS SIXTH AND MAIN.

STARTING IN THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE IMAGE, WE'LL WORK OUR WAY AROUND COUNTERCLOCKWISE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE KEY FEATURES.

SO PATIOS OR SMALL SEATING GATHERING AREAS THROUGHOUT THESE ARE THOSE SPACES DESIGNED FOR MOMENTS OF PEACEFUL REFLECTION, GATHERING OF SMALLER, MORE INTIMATE GROUPS, AND SOCIALIZING WITH OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

A RECREATIONAL EVENT LAWN THAT'S FLEXIBLE FOR DAILY USE AS WELL AS SPECIAL EVENTS AND URBAN WATER FEATURE AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY INTO THE IMAGINATIVE PLAY AREA, A SHADED PAVILION INTENDED FOR IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCES AND SMALLER PROGRAMS OR EVENTS.

WE ALSO HAVE A TREE HOUSE FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES NESTLED IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER AND A 15 TO 20 FOOT PROMENADE SWEEPING THROUGH THE SQUARE.

THAT'S WIDE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE SEATING VENDOR TENTS OR EVEN A TEMPORARY ART EXHIBIT.

A TEMPORARY STAGE WILL BE BROUGHT IN FOR THOSE LARGER SPECIAL EVENTS AND SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST, A GATEWAY FEATURE.

I'LL SHOW YOU A CLOSE UP HERE SHORTLY.

FROM THIS VIEW, YOU'D BE STANDING AT THE INTERSECTION OF SIXTH AND MAIN LOOKING TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST OR CITY HALL.

AS YOU ENTER THE SQUARE FROM THIS CORNER, YOU WILL SEE THE TREE HOUSE WITHIN A

[02:25:03]

LARGER PLATE AREA THAT'S INTENDED TO INSPIRE THE IMAGINATIVE PLAY FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES.

AND IN THE BACKGROUND TO THE LEFT, YOU CAN SEE MUSICAL CHIMES, THE URBAN WATER FEATURE, AS WELL AS THE PAVILION.

HERE WE ARE STANDING AT THE MIDBLOCK CROSSWALK ON STATE STREET, LOOKING TOWARDS THE SOUTHWEST AT SIXTH AND MAIN.

SO IMAGINE YOURSELF SITTING HERE IN THE PATIO AREA WITH THE STARLIGHT ABOVE SOME LIVE MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND FROM A SMALL BAND THAT'S PLAYING UNDER THE PAVILION AND A VIEW TO PEOPLE IN THE IMAGINATIVE PLAY AREA.

AND NOW FOR THAT CLOSE UP, I'VE BEEN PROMISING YOU OF THE GATEWAY FEATURE.

AS YOU APPROACH THE SQUARE FROM THE INTERSECTION OF MAIN AND FIFTH LOOKING TOWARDS THE NORTHWEST OR THE PLAZA THEATER, THIS WILL BE THE VERY DISTINCTIVE VIEW AT DUSK.

AS AN ENTRY FEATURE TO THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE, YOU'LL SEE ABOUT 40 TO 50 VERTICAL STRUCTURES OF VARYING HEIGHTS RANGING FROM SIX TO SIXTEEN FEET TALL.

AND THESE ACRYLIC FORMS WILL BE AN ARRAY OF COLORS AND HAVE INTEGRATED LIGHTING THAT CREATE TWO REALLY UNIQUE EXPERIENCES.

THE DAYTIME EXPERIENCE WILL PLAY ON THE TRANSLUCENCY OF THE COLORED ACRYLIC PANELS AND THE SHADOWS, AND AT NIGHT THEY WILL APPEAR WITH A GLOW OF VARYING COLORS AND INTENSITIES OF LIGHT.

THIS REALLY WILL BE THAT INSTAGRAMABLE MOMENT IN DOWNTOWN, AND IT WILL BE THE BACKDROP FOR MANY SELFIES TO COME.

THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING THE STREETSCAPES, IS CURRENTLY IN THE BIDDING FOR CONSTRUCTION PHASE WITH THE ANTICIPATION THAT COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER A BID AWARD IN OCTOBER, FOLLOWED BY A GROUNDBREAKING SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME CONTINUE VISITING DOWNTOWN AS WE MAKE THIS VISION BECOME A REALITY AND COME SEE OUR PROGRESS IN THE MAKING.

AND SINCE WE'VE PURCHASED LAND TO RELOCATE FIRE STATION NUMBER SIX LAST YEAR, WE'VE HIRED A DESIGN TEAM, COMPLETED THE PROGRAMING PHASE, AND WE ARE NOW IN THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN PHASE, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN TO SHARE.

SO EMBRACING THE ENERGY OF DOWNTOWN GARLAND, THE NEW FIRE STATION SIX IS ORGANIZED AROUND A TOWN SQUARE CONCEPT, A CENTRAL LANDSCAPED COURTYARD SERVES AS AN EXTENSION OF THE LIVING QUARTERS, OFFERING A PLACE TO RELAX, SOCIALIZE AND EXERCISE.

INSPIRED BY GARLAND MID CENTURY MODERN AUTOMOBILE SHOWROOMS, SOARING ROOF PLAINS AND LARGE EXPANSES OF GLASS.

BUT THE APPARATUS ON DISPLAY TO REFLECT AND CELEBRATE GARLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT'S READINESS, RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCE.

THE TWELVE THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY INCLUDES THREE APPARATUS BAYS AND SUPPORT AREAS, LIVING QUARTERS, A KITCHEN, DAYROOM, A FITNESS ROOM AND A MEZZANINE.

IT WILL ACCOMMODATE A CAPTAIN AND SIX FIREMEN.

BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE ANTICIPATE WRAPPING UP DETAILED DESIGN ON THIS PROJECT.

AND THAT INCLUDES, OR CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION FOR TONIGHT.

I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT IN CASE YOU MISSED ANY OF THE VIDEOS OR THE PICTURES, PNR IS GOING TO BE PUSHING OUT SOME PROJECT SPECIFIC UPDATES OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

SO THERE'S ANOTHER CHANCE FOR YOU TO CATCH IT IF YOU MISSED IT.

AND WITH THAT, WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

YOU CAN UNSHARE YOUR SCREEN FOR ME THERE.

FANTASTIC UPDATE, YOU KNOW.

LOVE SEEING ALL OF THEM AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE ALL OF THEM IN PERSON, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE DONE.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS ITEM.

AND THAT'LL BE GREAT FOR US TO HAVE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN PUSH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THAT'S A HUGE PART OF KEEPING EVERYBODY CONNECTED ON THIS.

I DON'T SEE ANY ONE IN THE QUEUE, SO THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE IN KEEPING US UPDATED.

I APPRECIATE IT.

AND THAT WILL MOVE US TO ITEM 4F, DISCUSSION OF CITY EVENT CELEBRATING

[4F. Discussion of City Event Celebrating Juneteenth]

JUNETEENTH.

AND.

COUNCIL MEMBER MORRIS, YOU HAVE A, GO AHEAD.

YEAH, I WAS KIND OF EXPECTING IS ANDY HESSER NOT HERE? I DON'T KNOW.

YES, HE'S HERE.

OK, WELL, I WILL BE GLAD TO KICK IT OFF.

AND HE, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT HE WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD TO THIS, BUT I'M SURE ALL OF COUNCIL IS AWARE OF JUNETEENTH AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DIFFERENT CHURCHES AND GROUPS HAVE BEEN CELEBRATING

[02:30:01]

IN GARLAND FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

BUT MORE AND MORE CITIES ARE MAKING IT A CITY WIDE CELEBRATION BECAUSE IT IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DATE AND IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT DATE IN TEXAS.

SO IN WORKING WITH NAACP, THEY HAVE RESPONDED THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR CIRCLE 10 CHURCHES AND TWO OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE VERY INTERESTED IN ENGAGING IN THIS AND HELPING FORM IT.

AND I HAVE HEARD FROM COUNTLESS OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, THEY ARE VERY ANXIOUS TO WORK WITH PARKS, TO CRAFT A UNIQUELY GARLAND EVENT FOR JUNETEENTH.

I KNOW AND TALKING WITH ANDY HESSER EARLIER, HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS AND OTHER CITIES, WHICH IS WHY IF HE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING, I WOULD BE GLAD TO HEAR HIM SAY IT.

BUT THE QUESTION BEFORE US TONIGHT IS, DO WE AS A COUNCIL WANT TO LOOK AT MOVING FORWARD WITH A PROSPECTIVE JUNETEENTH FOR 2022, IN WHICH CASE IT NEEDS TO BE ROLLED INTO BUDGETING AND EVERYTHING ELSE, SO.

OK, VERY GOOD.

MITCH, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YES, SIR.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY I THINK ANDY'S ON THE PHONE AS WELL, BUT I KNOW ANDY AND I AND DANA AND OF COURSE COUNCIL MEMBER MORRIS HAVE ALL BEEN DISCUSSING THIS.

AND OUR TEAM, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM WILL BE HAPPY TO REACH OUT TO THOSE CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND SIT DOWN WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT EXACTLY, AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER INDICATED, A LOT OF THEM, THEY'VE BEEN HAVING SMALLER INDIVIDUAL EVENTS AT EACH OF THE CHURCHES AND THE LOCATIONS.

BUT WE'LL BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND SEE OVERALL WHAT TYPE OF LARGER EVENT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.

AND THEN WE WILL DO THE SAME THING THAT WE DO.

OF COURSE, OUR SPECIAL BUSINESS TEAM DOES ALL THE TIME TO SEE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT SUCH AN EVENT GOING INTO NEXT SUMMER, NEXT YEAR.

SO I KNOW ANDY'S ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW.

HE WASN'T A COMPUTER, BUT OUR TEAM HAS DISCUSSED THIS AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH THOSE THOSE CHURCHES AND THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP.

AND I BELIEVE I SEE SOMEWHERE IN HERE WE HAVE THE HONORABLE RICKY MCNEAL.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF HE IF HE'S JUST HERE LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSION OR IF HE HAD ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT, I WOULD CERTAINLY GIVE HIM A MOMENT.

WE'VE HAD TWO FORMER DISTRICT ONE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH US THIS EVENING.

I THINK WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, HONORABLE MCNEAL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE ADD? GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.

IT IS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU EACH ONE OF YOU THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND IT WAS GREAT SEEING THE HONORABLE DAVID GIBBONS EARLIER [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, VERY, VERY MUCH.

MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.

JUST WANTED TO SAY WE WERE APPROACHED BACK IN THE SPRING, I BELIEVE IT WAS, TO CONSIDER SOME THOUGHTS AROUND THIS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD DEFINITELY, AS WE INDICATED, WE WOULD DEFINITELY BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT SUCH AN EVENT OF A HISTORIC DATE.

SO DEFINITELY, AS A CITY PREPARES TO START THE GROUNDWORK, JUST LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN ASSIST AND WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER BATES MENTIONED EARLIER AND ALSO COUNCIL LADY MORRIS.

I THINK I MAY HAVE SHARED THOSE WITH YOU ALREADY, BUT WE DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PART IN HOW WE CAN ASSIST.

WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO TODAY TO BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST AND TO SHARE OUR INPUT.

THE ONLY, I WOULD JUST WANT TO, AS MR. BATES MENTIONED, THE ONE THING THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO BE SENSITIVE AROUND IS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY HAD WITHIN THE CITY.

AND SO PART OF THAT TEAM, WE WOULD DEFINITELY SHARE THAT.

WE DEFINITELY SHOULD BE CONSIDERATE AND SENSITIVE TO SOME OF THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL EVENTS THAT MAY GO ON.

AND INDIVIDUALS MAY CHOOSE TO DO SOME THINGS INDEPENDENTLY, THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE TRADITIONALLY OVER THE YEARS.

SO WE JUST NEED TO BE AWARE THAT SOME OF THOSE MAY, SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS MAY OR MAY CONTINUE TO WANT TO HAVE THOSE INDEPENDENTLY, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY SHARE OUR INPUT AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND BE WILLING TO ASSIST.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[02:35:01]

VERY GOOD, SIR.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

AUBIN? OK, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

IT ALL SOUNDS VERY INTERESTING, I'VE GOT YOUR BASED ON WHAT MR. MCNEAL SAID OR COUNCIL MEMBER, HOWEVER, SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS THE HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBER FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER MCNEAL.

I'M A LITTLE THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM HOW WE HANDLE A LOT OF OTHER EVENTS IN THE CITY.

AND SO I WANT TO ADD ONE HAND, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONSISTENT IN THAT REGARD IN AND ALSO, ON THE OTHER HAND, MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T AS A CITY JUMP IN AND OCCUPY THE SPACE THAT HAS LONG BEEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALREADY BEEN PROGRAMED BY CHURCHES AND BY OTHER FOLKS.

AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT IN THAT.

IN FACT, IN MOST OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU KNOW, MLK DAY, LABOR DAY, YOU KNOW, CINCO DE MAYO, WHICH IS NOT A FEDERAL HOLIDAY, BUT PART OF THE IMPORTANT CULTURAL CELEBRATION THAT THE CITY STANDS IN SUPPORT OF THOSE EVENTS.

WE SUPPORT THE NAACP AND THEIR WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH MLK DAY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND SO I WONDER IF THAT'S A, IF THAT'S THE BETTER WAY FOR US TO GO, THAT IF THE NAACP OR SOMEONE WANTS TO COME FORWARD AND THEY PUT TOGETHER THE EVENT, WE SUPPORT IT, AS OPPOSED TO THIS BEING, FOR WHATEVER REASON, FOR THIS HOLIDAY CITY EVENT, OR ARE WE NOW GOING TO GO AND FLIP AND SAY, YOU KNOW, NOW THE CITY RUNS MLK, NOW THE CITY RUNS LABOR DAY, NOW THE CITY RUNS THESE OTHER DAYS.

AND SO I'VE JUST GOT SOME CONCERN THERE.

AND I DO ALSO WANT TO MAKE PARTICULAR CONCERN THAT WE'RE NOT OVERRUNNING WHAT OTHER GROUPS, WHAT OTHER GROUPS ARE DOING OR OCCUPYING THE SPACE THAT MAY NOT BE THE BEST PLACE FOR THE CITY TO BE IN.

I DO AGREE THAT WE SHOULD CELEBRATE.

WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE AND I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO CELEBRATE MAY NOT EVEN BE THE WORD.

YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THAT I KNOW OR AT LEAST I'VE READ THAT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME PEOPLE THIS IS A VERY SOLEMN HOLIDAY.

IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT REALLY MUCH OF A CELEBRATION WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT TOOK TWO AND A HALF YEARS FOR THE NEWS TO GET THERE.

AND IT TOOK OVER WELL OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS SINCE THAT TO EVEN BEGIN TO HAVE TRUE COMPENSATIONS ABOUT JUSTICE.

SO, YOU KNOW, AND IT REMINDS ME, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOMEBODY OR SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER IF YOU WERE ON THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME, WE HAD A WINTER RETREAT THAT WAS ON DECEMBER 7TH.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A FACILITATOR OF THE RETREAT WHO STARTED IT OFF BY SAYING THAT PEARL HARBOR DAY, WHICH WAS LIKE, YEAH, NOT REALLY HOW THAT WORKS.

AND SO I'VE GOT A LOT OF CONCERNS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT I'M OPPOSED TO THE IDEA AT ALL, BUT I THINK FOR A LOT OF OTHER PIECES , THAT WE NEED TO WORK OUT IN TERMS OF THESE ISSUES CONSISTENTLY AND WHATNOT.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND GOOD EVENING TO ANOTHER [INAUDIBLE] FROM DISTRICT ONE.

VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU.

JUST TO PIGGYBACK SOMETHING COUNCILMAN AUBIN SAID AND [INAUDIBLE] IS STILL ON THE LINE.

IF [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU'RE RECEPTIVE TO THIS, I WOULD SUGGEST THIS.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHICH WHICH COMMITTEE AT THIS POINT, BUT IT'S ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

[INAUDIBLE] BUT WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS, IS THAT WE ROLL THIS OVER INTO COMMITTEE AND COUNCILMAN MCNEAL YOURSELF AND AND THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING OR TALKING TO COUNCIL LADY MORRIS ABOUT THIS, THAT YOUR INPUT IS PROVIDED THROUGH THAT COMMITTEE IN ORDER TO SHAPE THE FRAMEWORK ON REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE NOT REALLY CLEAR ON THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND TO ADDRESS THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO HAVE OBSERVANCES, I USE THAT TERM.

I DON'T USE CELEBRATION WHEN I TALK ABOUT JUNETEENTH FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS AND ROLL THAT INTO COMMITTEE AND GET THAT INPUT AND THEN BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL, FOR CONSIDERATION AND CITY SUPPORT.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE WAY IT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST AND I THINK WE CAN GET THERE AND THAT WILL ASSURE US IN HAVING, YOU KNOW, THE GRASSROOTS SUPPORT THAT WE NEED THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A AN EVENT, A COMMUNITY EVENT SUPPORTED BY THE CITY, NOT A CITY EVENT SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY.

IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE ON THE LEAD.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION AS TO HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

[02:40:05]

AND AGAIN, AS I SAID, MR. MAYOR, I'M NOT SURE WHICH COMMITTEE WOULD IN SERVICES OR COMMUNITY SERVICE, BUT WE LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHICH ONE AND WE WORK THROUGH THAT WITH COUNCILMAN, MCNEAL AND THE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES AND GET THAT INPUT AND THEN COME BACK WITH SOME DEGREE OF STRUCTURE OR DIRECTION IS WHAT WILL OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN WE CAN BETTER DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF CITY SUPPORT THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR WHATEVER EVENT THAT IS PLANNED.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.

MR. MAYOR, THAT'S MY COMMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE RICKY MCNEAL.

SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YES.

I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN, MAYOR PRO TEM, B.J.

WILLIAMS THAT WE DO NEED TO PUT THIS INTO COMMITTEE.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO PUT OFF HERE THAT I TRULY BELIEVE, THOUGH, THAT THE CITY SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE LEAD AS IT RELATES TO ANY OF OUR FEDERAL HOLIDAYS.

IN THIS COMMITTEE DISCUSSION, I WOULD EVEN LIKE TO SEE US NOT JUST LOOK AT JUNETEENTH.

I'D LIKE TO SEE US TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF OUR FEDERAL HOLIDAYS.

I WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A FOCUS, THE RIGHT FOCUS HERE.

AND THAT IS SINCE IT'S A FEDERAL HOLIDAY AND THE CITY SHOULD BE THE ONE, AS I THINK THAT DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MITCH BATES, HAS ALREADY STATED, I THINK THAT RECREATION, PARKS AND RECREATION SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD WITH THAT.

THEY SHOULD BE THE THE FOUNDATION BY WHICH WE ESTABLISH THE PROGRAMS AND THEN, YES, BRING IN ALL OF OUR PARTNERS FROM THE COMMUNITY TO FIGURE OUT, IN FACT, HOW WE CAN ASSIST THEM AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THAT DAY A SPECIAL DAY.

MY CONCERN BECOMES, IT SEEMS THAT SOMETIMES THERE MAY BE SOME HOLIDAYS OR THERE ARE PARTICULAR GROUPS THAT ARE IN CHARGE OF THOSE WHERE THEY THINK THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF IT, IN CHARGE OF THOSE DAYS IN SUCH A MANNER THAT SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE MAY HAVE PROBLEMS THERE.

I THINK THAT THIS BODY, WE ARE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE'RE THE ONES WHO KNOW THE THE WE SHOULD IN A WAY, KNOW THE PROPER WAY TO GO ABOUT PUTTING THESE THINGS TOGETHER IN SUCH A MANNER THAT REPRESENTATION IS GOING TO BE EQUAL TO EVERYONE.

AND SO THAT'S THE IMPETUS THAT I WANT TO PUT INTO THIS THING, IS THAT WE DO SEND IT BACK TO COMMITTEE, BUT NOT JUST TAKING A LOOK AT JUNETEENTH, THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF OUR HOLIDAYS TO ESTABLISH A MANNER BY WHICH PARKS AND RECREATION, THEY CAN PUT THINGS OUT THERE, BRING THE GROUPS TOGETHER, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A CELEBRATION THAT IS COMMEMORATIVE OF THE CITY AND NOT NECESSARILY ANY ONE PARTICULAR GROUP.

THANK YOU, DEBORAH.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER MORRIS, SORRY.

OK, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT MY ASSUMPTION IN THIS WAS THAT, IF WE IN GENERAL LIKED THE IDEA OF A CITYWIDE JUNETEENTH, I DIDN'T SEE THIS BEING SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COUNCIL OR COUNCIL COMMITTEE WOULD MICROMANAGE DETAILS.

I SAW THIS MORE AS SOMETHING WHERE PARKS AND ANDY WOULD REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS WHAT HE HAS DESCRIBED TO ME THAT HE'S DONE IN THE PAST WITH OTHER SIMILAR EVENTS AND TALK TO EVERYBODY AND HAVE THAT BE, HAVE THAT BEING WHERE THAT GOES ON.

THIS IS THIS IS BOTH A A THIS IS A SOLEMN OBSERVANCE.

IT HAS TO BE DONE RIGHT.

I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT FEEL QUALIFIED TO SAY WHAT RIGHT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD.

SO I GUESS I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT SENDING THIS TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE, BUT I HAVE NO CONCERNS ABOUT SAYING LET THIS BE.

IF WE LIKE THE OVERVIEW OF THE EVENT, SEND IT TO PARKS AND LET THERE BE A REACH OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE THE MAJOR PLAYERS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS BE THE ONES WHO PUT IN THE IDEAS AND PUT FORTH THOSE IDEAS AND WORK THROUGH THEM WITH PARKS.

SO THAT WAS MY THOUGHT.

AND I'M OPEN TO TO HAVING SOMETHING ELSE DONE.

BUT I DO AGREE THAT IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS, I THINK THAT THE CITY SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD AS FAR AS THE ENABLING AND PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK.

BUT THE COMMUNITY ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE WHO COMES IN AND HELPS PUT TOGETHER THE COMPONENTS.

SO, AGAIN, I'M OPEN TO HOWEVER THIS WORKS, BUT THERE ARE ENOUGH CITIES AND MOST OF THE CITIES AROUND US NOW ALREADY ARE SPONSORING CITYWIDE JUNETEENTH PROGRAMS

[02:45:04]

TO HONOR THAT DAY AND TO HONOR THAT OBSERVANCE AS AN ANNUAL EVENT.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO THAT.

SO THANK YOU, MAYOR.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMS? YEAH, JUST BRIEFLY, I DON'T HAVE EITHER WAY AND IF COUNCILMAN MCNEAL IS STILL ON THE LINE, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM HIM AS FAR AS HIS PREFERENCE.

AND IF HE WANTS A CITY CONTACT, I KNOW THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS.

IF THEY PREFER TO USE THAT KIND OF CONTACT AS BEST AS COUNCIL LADY MORRIS INDICATED AND USE THAT AS A POINT OF CONTACT, THAT'S FINE.

OR WHETHER WHICHEVER ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS WORK.

BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT WHATEVER THE END PRODUCT ON THIS LOOKS LIKE AND I SAID I THINK COUNCILMAN WOULD AGREE, LOOKS LIKE THAT IT WOULD BE REFLECTIVE OF THE WISHES OF THE COMMUNITY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY, NOT THE WISHES OF THE CITY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S MY CONCERN.

SO, MAYOR, IF IT'S APPROPRIATE TO HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MCNEAL.

YES.

ON HIS PREFERENCE RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM HIM.

YES, SIR, I AM DEFINITELY AS IF THIS ISSUE IS REFERRED BACK TO TO PARKS AND REC, THAT THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.

GO AHEAD.

WE CAN DEFINITELY WORK WITH ANDY AND SUPPORT HOWEVER WE CAN TO BE ABOVE TO BE OF ASSISTANCE.

SO, YES, THAT WOULD WORK FOR ME.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, SIR.

GOT A COUPLE MORE PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH? THANK YOU.

QUICK QUESTION, DO WE HAVE FUNDING EARMARKED FOR THIS EVENT IN THE NEXT OPERATING BUDGET? I DIDN'T SEE A BREAKDOWN OF SPECIAL EVENTS YET, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AT LEAST HAD SOME IDEA OF HOW WE WOULD FUND THIS.

MR. BRADFORD? WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING SET ASIDE FOR THIS SPECIFIC EVENT.

HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE SOME EXCESS FUND BALANCE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS DISCRETION TO ALLOCATE.

PLUS, IN THE END, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT AN AMOUNT THAT IS SO LARGE IT COULDN'T BE OVERCOME.

OK, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ALL GENERALLY IN FAVOR OF PROCEEDING WITH SOMETHING AND I'M OK, YOU KNOW, JUST FUNDING SOMETHING, KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT LATER, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE DOLLARS WERE THERE AND WE NEEDED TO BE.

THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN? THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK AND SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE ON THE FACT THAT I THINK THIS OUGHT TO GO THROUGH.

WE OUGHT TO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE CONSISTENCY ON HOW WE DEAL WITH THESE OTHER HOLIDAYS, THESE OTHER FEDERAL HOLIDAYS.

IT WOULD SEEM THAT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE'D NORMALLY SEND TO ASE AND NOT TO PARKS.

IF WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK AFTER WE'VE AFTER WE'VE IDENTIFIED WHAT THE POLICY'S GOING TO BE.

I MEAN, THE MONEY.

YES, SET IT ASIDE BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHO IS KIND OF BEHIND THE EVENT, WHETHER IT'S A COMMUNITY EVENT WITH CITY SUPPORT OR A CITY EVENT WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT, THERE'LL BE BE FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

BUT I THINK RATHER THAN SENDING THIS TO PARKS, THE PROCESS SHOULD BE FOR IT TO GO TO ASE FIRST AND CONSIDER THESE OTHER CELEBRATIONS THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN AND MAKE SURE WE'RE CONSISTENT.

I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE.

GREAT DISCUSSION AND A LOT OF VERY GOOD POINTS THAT I COULDN'T WRITE DOWN IF UP A COMMUNITY EVENT SPONSORED BY THE CITY OR A CITY EVENT SPONSORED BY THAT.

THAT IS A VERY GOOD THAT IS A VERY GOOD POINT IN ALL THIS.

AND I DO THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER CELEBRATIONS IN THE CITY AND IN WHAT WHAT OUR WHAT OUR INVOLVEMENT SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T BE.

AND SOME OF THEM, BECAUSE THERE'S YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAINLY OTHERS OUT THERE.

SO I TELL YOU WHAT, AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE IT TO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

BUT I WOULD ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, MOVE INTO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO LOOK AT IT IN CONTEXT WITH THE OTHER HOLIDAY CELEBRATION TYPE EVENTS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DO WANT MR.

[02:50:05]

HESSER, MR., MCNEAL TO COME TOGETHER TO KIND OF START LAYING THE GROUNDWORK, IF YOU WILL, FOR WHAT THIS JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION COULD BE.

I DON'T WANT JUNETEENTH TO GET CAUGHT UP IN COMMITTEE.

I WANT THEM TO GET TOGETHER AND KIND OF LAY OUT, KIND OF GIVE US THE SCOPE, GIVE US THE SCALE OF THIS AND COME BACK TO US WITH THAT.

SO IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT? NO.

ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD.

MITCH, YOU'RE IN THE QUEUE.

NO, SIR, I GUESS THAT WAS FROM EARLIER, SO WE GOT IT SO.

VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, EXCUSE ME, THAT MOVES US TO ITEM 4G ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

[4G. Administrative Services Committee Update]

COMMITTEE UPDATE.

WELL, MOSTLY WE JUST BROUGHT THIS BACK BECAUSE THERE WAS A DESIRE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE, AMENDED THE EXCUSE ME, THE POLICY THAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH, THE LAST WORK SESSION, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DEFER TO COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN FOR AN AMENDMENT ON, I BELIEVE, POINT FOURTEEN.

OK, COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN, GO AHEAD.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH POINT IS WHICH, BUT AND I DON'T KNOW AT WHAT LEVEL WHEN YOU TAKE FORMAL ACTION ON THIS OR NOT, BUT THIS GOES BACK TO FURTHER THOUGHT ON THE NAMING POLICY.

AND AS WE SEE TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON, I REALLY DO FEEL THAT THE NAMING POLICY OUGHT TO BE FOR THE NAMES TO BE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO VOTED ON THE CIP THAT INITIALLY FUND THE PROJECT AND NOT FOR WHOEVER IT HAPPENS TO BE PRESENT AT THE GROUNDBREAKING.

AND ALTHOUGH I RESPECT OF THE VARIOUS THINGS, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF OUT THERE, BUT I THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE PRIMARY PIECE IS THAT WHO'S WHO'S VOTING ON THIS STUFF BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE BULK OF THE COUNCIL WORK IS COMPLETE.

ONCE WE'VE GOTTEN UP TO THAT POINT AND WE VOTED AND I WOULD SAY ON THE FIRST FUNDING FOR IT, BUT IF SOMEONE WANTED TO SPLIT HAIRS BETWEEN CONSTRUCTION FUNDING AND OTHER TYPES OF FUNDING, I GUESS WE COULD.

BUT BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO JUST SAY ON THE FIRST FUNDING, AS OPPOSED TO JUST BY THE TIME YOU GET TO THE GROUNDBREAKING, USUALLY THE GROUNDBREAKING BRADFORD PROJECT HAS ALREADY BEEN STARTED, BUT IT'S ALSO GENERALLY ALL BEEN DESIGNED AND COMPLETE.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING MORE FOR US TO DO EXCEPT TURN A SHOVEL.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THAT.

AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL JUST GET A STRAIGHT UP VOTE ON IT.

COUNCIL, YOU'VE HEARD THE AMENDMENT AND AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT NUMBER POINTED HIS OR WHATEVER, I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE SORT OF HAD THIS DISCUSSION PREVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IT'S AS APPROPRIATE AS ANY OTHER SITUATION.

I, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PROBABLY SPLIT IT TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT WAYS.

WHO WAS, WHO VOTED FOR IT? WHO CONTINUED VOTING FOR THE ADDED ON THINGS, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO THE INCEPTION OF IT IS PROBABLY JUST AS VALID AS THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE STANDING OR SITTING IN THESE CHAIRS THE DAY IT OPENS OR WHATEVER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.

SO, COUNCIL, IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT AMENDED LANGUAGE OR IDEA, I THINK IT'S MORE IDEA THAN LANGUAGE.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JUST AS I REMEMBER THAT DISCUSSION AND COUNCILMAN AUBIN, OR COUNCILMAN SMITH.

THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT TO COUNCILMAN AUBIN'S POINT.

AND THEN HE SAID, COUNCILMAN SMITH, HELP ME WITH THIS.

THEN THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER, YOU DIDN'T USE THE TERM PLAQUE OR RECOGNITION FOR FOLKS WHO CAME LATER.

I REMEMBER THAT.

AND IN THE DRAFT LAST WEEK, IS THAT A PART OF THIS AMENDMENT? CAN YOU OR COUNCILMAN AUBIN KIND OF CLARIFY ME ON WHAT THAT DIVIDE IS BETWEEN THOSE TWO ON THAT? I BELIEVE IT WAS SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

YEAH.

WITH SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

[02:55:01]

SO IT'S JUST A PART OF WHAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING COUNCILMAN AUBIN OR COUNCILMAN SMITH.

BECAUSE WHEN I WOULD GO AHEAD.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE CHANGE ANY ASPECT OF THE SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS.

I THINK THERE'S RECOGNITION THAT CHOOSING SOME POINT IN TIME.

I THINK MY GOAL WAS TO CHOOSE A POINT IN TIME WHERE YOU'RE MOST LIKELY TO GET THE MOST, WE'RE LIKELY TO CHAPTERED THE MOST RELEVANT, BUT THEN YOU'LL STILL HAVE SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS.

THEY MIGHT JUST BE DIFFERENT SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS BECAUSE YOU'VE MOVED THE LOCUS OF TIME OF WHEN YOU GET TO PRIMARY NAMES UP ON IT.

BUT I'M NOT TRYING TO CHANGE ANY OF THAT.

AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH CAN KIND OF MAYBE GIVE A LITTLE MORE GUIDANCE ON THE.

HE'S GIVEN THE THUMBS UP.

COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE.

I'M KIND OF LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS RIGHT NOW.

SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING AT THIS POINT, DAN, IS THAT WE WANT TO DO IS THE PLAQUE WITH THE NAMES ON THE PLAQUE WOULD BE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY VOTED ON WHO DID THE UPFRONT WORK.

ARE WE STILL DOING SOMETHING IN THE WAY OF THE CONTRIBUTORS? IS THEY'RE STILL, SMITH, COUNCILMAN SMITH, OR ARE WE STILL DOING SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES? OK, I'VE GOT HIM IN THE QUEUE COMING UP.

OK, HANG ON.

READY FOR ME, MAYOR? YES, SIR, GO AHEAD, YES, SIR.

THERE IS STILL I THINK WE CALLED IT SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS.

IT CAN BE WHATEVER WE WANT TO CALL IT.

THERE'S TWO AREAS.

AND WHAT I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN AUBIN IS PROPOSING IS JUST WE CHANGE THE CITY COUNCIL LISTED FROM THE CITY COUNCIL WAS THERE.

WHO WAS GOING TO BE THERE AT THE GROUNDBREAKING DATE TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT VOTED FOR THE FUNDING THAT'S IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT COUNCIL POLICY AND WOULD TAKE US BACK TO THAT.

BUT WE STILL LEAVE A SECTION OPEN FOR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS WITH, WE ALL THINK IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A SPOT TO LIST THOSE PEOPLE THAT REALLY MAKE PROJECTS HAPPEN, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT ON THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME OR IF THEY, YOU KNOW, ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

SO THIS IS A FAIRLY SIMPLE CHANGE, DOES NOT AFFECT THE SPECIAL OR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR SECTION AT ALL.

ALL RIGHT, I'M SORRY, MR. BRADFORD YOU OPEN YOUR MIC.

YEAH, AND I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE THE WISE THING AND JUST KEPT IT CLOSE.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING SUGGESTED IS, IS THE THE FIRST YEAR THAT FUNDING IS APPROVED IN THE CITY, WHETHER THAT'S DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION OR LAND PURCHASED, BUT THE FIRST YEAR FUNDING IS APPROVED IN THE CIP FOR THAT PROJECT WOULD DETERMINE THE COUNCIL NAMES THAT APPEAR.

IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECT? COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN? THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.

IF SOMEONE THINKS THAT IT'S YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT I WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS A BRIGHT LINE DATE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS SOMETIMES APPEAR VERY EARLY IN THE CIP OR VERY LATE.

SO BUT I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE EASIEST ONE.

RATHER THAN TRYING TO DETERMINE, WELL, YOU KNOW, YES, IT FIRST APPEARED FOR DESIGN IN 2017, BUT, YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION FUNDING WASN'T APPROVED UNTIL THE 2019 CIP.

AND I DON'T REALLY WANT STAFF TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND SPLIT THOSE HAIRS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY WAS APPROVED WHEN, BUT I THINK THE FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE CIP IS PROBABLY THE EASIEST WAY, BUT TOTALLY OPEN TO SUGGESTION.

IF MR. CITY MANAGER THINKS THERE'S A BETTER WAY.

NO, I THINK THAT IS FINE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR.

THE WAY THAT WE ARE PROGRESSING ON THE BOND PROGRAM AND THE WAY THAT WE HAVE PERFECTED OUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT.

THOSE TWO ARE HAPPENING IN CLOSE ORDER, WHEREAS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, LOTS OF TIMES DESIGN WOULD HAPPEN IN THE PROJECT WOULD BE DORMANT FOR FOUR TO FIVE YEARS SOMETIMES.

AND SO I THINK THAT IN THIS CASE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ARE GOING TO BE NECK AND NECK.

THE FACT THE COUNCIL PREAPPROVE, THE TAX RATE INCREASES GO.

WE GO ALONG WITH THIS SINCE THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED AGAIN, I DON'T SEE US

[03:00:03]

ENCOUNTERING THE KIND OF DELAYS THAT WE DID.

SO THAT WILL WORK FINE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CLEAR.

COUNCIL MEMBER MORRIS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I AM STILL IN FAVOR OF WHAT COMMITTEE ACTUALLY DECIDED, WHICH IS THE GROUNDBREAKING DATE FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT I'M A GROUNDBREAKING DATE.

IT'S A SINGLE DAY.

IT IS ONE DAY ALL THE PEOPLE ARE THERE.

IT'S A FINITE DAY AND TIME AND SPACE.

AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CAPTURING A MOMENT THAT SEEMED LIKE A MUCH EASIER, LESS FUSSY, LESS COMPLICATED MOMENT TO CAPTURE, THEN ALL OF THESE OTHER FUNDING THINGS AND I THINK COUNCILMAN MOORE HAD SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED BEFORE.

WELL, WHAT ABOUT A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE, THEY MAY VOTE, THEY MAY VOTE TO FUND IT, BUT THEY MAY NOT BE THERE TO WALK IT THROUGH THE LONG AND MESSY PROCESS.

THERE'S NOT A PERFECT PLACE THAT CAPTURES EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW.

AS MR. BRADFORD POINTED OUT, THE FUNDING AND GROUNDBREAKINGS ARE COMING QUICKLY.

SO IT'S NOT AS MUCH OF AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

BUT I AM STILL LEANING TOWARD SAYING A GROUND BREAKING DATE GIVES YOU A FINITE DAY AND TIME.

YOU CAN ANTICIPATE IT.

THE GROUNDBREAKING IS PLANNED, YOU KNOW A DATE, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU YOU DROP YOUR PIN.

I DON'T CARE.

I DON'T GIVE A FLIP ABOUT EVER BEING ON ANYBODY'S PLAQUE OR JUST THAT IS ONE OF THE LEAST IMPORTANT THINGS I CAN THINK OF IN MY LIFE FOR MANY YEARS.

BUT AS FAR AS SIMPLICITY, A GROUNDBREAKING DAY STRUCK ME AS BEING MORE SENSIBLE AND EASY TO DETERMINE.

AND THAT WAS THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION AT THE TIME.

AND I'M STILL PRONE TO THAT.

SO I'LL JUST STOP THERE.

IT'S NOT A BIG, HUGE DEAL.

SO THANKS.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE CLEARED THE QUEUE ON THIS.

COUNCIL, YOU'VE HEARD THE DISCUSSION AND ON THE PROPOSED AMENDED LANGUAGE, OUR DIRECTION FOR THIS ITEM.

AND SO BASICALLY WE WILL JUST AND COUNCIL LADY MORRIS IS IN FAVOR OF THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGES PROPOSED, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET A QUICK CONSENSUS VOTE ON MOVING FORWARD ON THE AMENDED LANGUAGE.

COUNCIL? COME ON, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT THOSE PADDLES OUT THERE.

LETTING THEM GETTING DUSTY ON SHELVES, LOOKS TO BE EIGHT TO ONE WITH COUNCIL LADY MORRIS IN OPPOSITION.

ALL RIGHT, MR. BRADFORD, I THINK YOU GOT WHAT YOU NEED.

ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS OUR LAST ITEM IN THAT SECTION.

WE ARE NOW TO ITEM FIVE, DISCUSS APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

[5. Discuss Appointments to Boards and Commissions]

COUNCIL MEMBER BASS, YOU HAVE A LIST OF APPOINTMENTS FOR TOMORROW NIGHT.

WE'LL TRY TO TAKE THEM ALL AT ONE.

AND SO I'LL CALL ON YOU TO ENTER THEM INTO THE RECORD, PLEASE.

AND THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM SIX AND ITS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.

[6. Announce Future Agenda Items]

ARE THERE ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS OUT THERE? DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

MY FUTURE AGENDA ITEM IS A WRITTEN REQUESTING A WRITTEN BRIEFING ON THE THE HUB PROGRAM, THE HISTORIC YOU DRIVE BUSINESSES FROM PROCUREMENT, A WRITTEN BRIEFING THAT I'D LIKE FOR STAFF TO BE PRESENT IN THE FUTURE.

[INAUDIBLE].

OK, I'LL SECOND THAT MR. BRADFORD GOT THAT ONE.

ALL RIGHT, ANY, LET ME SEE HERE, COUNCIL LADY MORRIS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANTED TO SEND A COMMITTEE AND I'M TRYING TO THINK THIS PROBABLY CSE ADDING A COMMERCIAL SIGN FACADE IMPROVEMENT TO OUR OTHER FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

OK, I DIDN'T ARRANGE IN ADVANCE TO GET A SECOND, SO I WILL.

I WILL JUMP IN THERE FOR THAT.

AND I ALSO WANTED TO DESCEND TO COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION.

I WILL SECOND.

COMING UP WITH AN ALTERNATE SET OF RULES FOR NEIGHBORHOODS BUILT

[03:05:06]

PRE 1980 REGARDING WHAT HOW THEIR FRONT DRIVEWAYS ARE ALLOWED TO BE ENLARGED.

IT'S SOMETHING I TALK TO MIKE BETTS ABOUT, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE WORKED OUT IN DETAIL.

IS THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PROBABLY? SOUNDS VERY DEVELOPED AND SERVICES TO ME OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD AND WE HAVE THE SECOND BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMS. OK, VERY GOOD.