Dec 13, 2021 Work Session

[1. Public Comments on Work Session Items]

[00:00:07]

WELL, GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 13, 2021 WORK SESSION FOR THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. WE WILL GET STARTED INTO OUR AGENDA HERE.

ITEM ONE IS PUBLIC COMMENTS ON WORK SESSION ITEMS. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO THIS EVENING? ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO CONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[2. Consider the Consent Agenda]

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY REQUESTS TO HAVE ANY ITEMS PULLED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY, BUT OBVIOUSLY IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING, YOU COULD LET US KNOW.

THAT WAY WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT STAFF HERE TO ANSWER.

AND MOVING ON TO WRITTEN BRIEFINGS.

[3. Written Briefings]

PARADE AND PROGRAM.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? OK. ITEM 3B CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE PARKS AND RECREATION CODE OF ORDINANCES REVISION DOG PARK, PARK HOURS PARKING.

COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN? SORRY. HERE WE GO. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ITEM.

DO WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM STAFF WHO CAN KIND OF KICK US OFF A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS ITEM IS AND HOW WE CAME TO BE HERE? AND I'VE ALSO HAD A REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH TO MOVE THIS ITEM TO COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

I'D PREFER TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS MY CONCERNS BEFORE WE SEND IT OFF TO COMMITTEE. YES, SIR.

SO IT IS AN EFFORT TO UPDATE THE CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATED TO PARKS AND A VARIETY OF AREAS, ONE RELATED TO THE DOG PARK.

THOSE RULES THAT HAD BEEN KIND OF RUN THROUGH THE PROCESS AT THE TIME OF ITS CONSTRUCTION HAD NOT MADE IT THROUGH THE CODIFICATION PROCESS INTO THE ORDINANCES.

SO WE FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME SO THAT ANIMAL CONTROL COULD HAVE A BASIS IN WHICH TO WRITE CITATIONS.

THE OTHER ONES WERE TO ADDRESS PARK HOURS.

PARK BOARD HAD EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, SO WE WERE TRYING TO GET TO THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THOSE ISSUES TO MAKE SURE THAT CONCERNS ITS SPECIFIC PARKS WORK ADDRESSED.

SOME OF THAT IS THROUGH THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR CONSIDERATION.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WAS AND HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR YEARS, AND I THINK EVERYONE IS AWARE OF IS THE PARKING BY HALF PARK AND CENTRAL ADJACENT TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS. AND SO HAVING STUDENTS PARK IN PARTICULARLY HALF PARK BY THE STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT IN THE HIGH SCHOOL PARKING JAM AT FULL OF THEIR CARS AND THEN NO PARK USERS OR TRAIL USERS CAN GET TO THE TRAIL AT ALL.

SAME SITUATION IN CENTRAL PARK.

IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

THEY CLOG UP ALL OF THAT PARKING AND IT PRECLUDES PEOPLE FROM BEING ABLE TO GET TO GRANGER ANNEX DURING THE DAY.

THE NEW PLAYGROUND AND THE BASKETBALL COURT.

SO THOSE WERE THREE CONCERNS THAT HAD BEEN FLOATING AROUND THAT MADE SENSE TO PUT TOGETHER AND HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH PARK BOARD AND STAFF ALL AT ONE TIME.

OK. YOU MENTIONED THAT THE RULES OF THE DOG PARK PREVIOUSLY WERE RUN THROUGH THE PROCESS PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT PROCESS THAT WAS? I CAN'T RECALL IT WAS BEFORE MY TIME, SO THERE WAS-- STAFF HAD BEEN ASKED TO PUT TOGETHER AN ORDINANCE, SO THEY USE KIND OF A MODEL ORDINANCE.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A UNIVERSITY RESOURCE THAT WAS USED FOR SOME OF THAT.

AND I BELIEVE I DON'T HAVE THE DATES AND IT MAY BE IN THE MINUTES OR I MEAN IN THE NOTES IT'D GONE THROUGH PARK BOARD AT SOME TIME TO LOOK AT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE RULES.

OK, BECAUSE THAT HAS NEVER COME BEFORE COUNCIL AND SO CORRECT.

WHICH CONCERNS ME A LITTLE BIT.

AND IN THE NATURE OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT THIS HAS COME ACROSS AS JUST A WRITTEN BRIEFING.

BUT OBVIOUSLY WE CAN KIND OF WALK THROUGH IT.

ON THE PARKING IF WE OR DO YOU KNOW? AND THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HERE IS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT GOES BEYOND JUST PARKS.

HAVE WE, DO YOU KNOW, OR DOES SOMEONE AT STAFF KNOW, HAVE WE REACHED OUT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR TO THE HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT THIS ISSUE? AND WHERE ARE WE ON THAT? NO RESPONSE. OK, BECAUSE HERE'S MY CONCERN IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THIS IS PUBLIC PARKING. SO I GUESS WE SAY WE'VE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS.

DO WE KNOW HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD AT CENTRAL PARK? I DO NOT KNOW OF A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OTHER THAN WHAT I KNOW THAT THE STAFF DEALS WITH ON A DAILY BASIS OUT THERE AND OUR OWN OBSERVATIONS, PARTICULARLY AT HALF PART, OK.

AND I GUESS PART OF MY CONCERN SPECIFICALLY IN THIS IS PROBABLY A MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE CENTRAL PARK IN THE PARKING AROUND THE GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL AREA IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS-- WE'RE NOT, WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS, WE'RE NOT SOLVING

[00:05:01]

I MEAN, THEY'RE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

AND WE'RE TELLING THEM THEY CAN'T USE PUBLIC PARKING.

AND I FIND IT A LITTLE IRONIC THAT THE COMPLAINT IS THAT I GUESS THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO USE GRANGER MIGHT HAVE TO WALK A LITTLE FURTHER OR DO WHATEVER IF THEY'RE OVER THERE USING THE RECREATION CENTER.

BUT WE'VE GONE AND WE'VE BANNED PEOPLE.

WE'VE BANNED, YOU KNOW, WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME.

WE HAD THIS ISSUE A YEAR OR TWO AGO WHERE WE INSTITUTED SOME PARKING BANS FOR THE BENEFIT OF VERY SPECIFIC RESIDENTS WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT PEOPLE PARKING IN FRONT OF THEIR PROPERTY. AND I WAS CONCERNED [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE.

GO AHEAD.

[INAUDIBLE] AM I BACK ON? THANK YOU. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IT THEN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE IN THIS COUNCIL HAS PROBABLY HAD SOME DISCUSSION WITH A RESIDENT SAYING, YOU DON'T OWN THE PUBLIC STREET IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE.

IN PUBLIC PARKING IS PUBLIC PARKING.

SO I'VE GOT MY CONCERN HERE IS THAT WE'RE JUST PUSHING THIS ISSUE AROUND AND WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY. MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS TO DEAL WITH OR PUBLIC SAFETY OR TRANSPORTATION? I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE NEED TO SOLVE, I THINK, THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM AS OPPOSED TO JUST-- AS OPPOSED TO JUST CONTINUALLY TELLING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, NO.

WELL YOU CAN'T PARK HERE AND YOU CAN'T PARK THERE AND YOU CAN'T PARK HERE EITHER.

AND SO I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT WE'RE JUST WE'RE NOT SOLVING THE UNDERLYING ISSUE.

AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY-- AND THAT'S NOT A CRITICISM OF PARKS AT ALL, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST ONE PIECE OF THIS PUZZLE.

BUT WE NEED TO REACH OUT AND WE NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE CONTINUING TO TELL PEOPLE THAT PUBLIC PARKING IS NOT PUBLIC IS PROBLEMATIC.

SO UNLESS THERE'S SOME OTHER SOLUTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPLY, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANTED TO SELL PEOPLE PARKING PASSES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I THINK JUST TARGETING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, I'M NOT PARTICULARLY A FAN OF . ON THE DOG PARK RULES, I HAVE A NUMBER OF ISSUES REGARDING THE DOG PARK RULES. THEY CONCERN ME GREATLY BECAUSE WHAT ARE WE DOING? THESE RULES THAT WE HAVE THAT NEVER CAME THROUGH COUNCIL, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO IN A NON ENFORCEMENT ROLE TO ENSURE, I MEAN, I'VE BEEN TO THE DOG PARK? I DIDN'T KNOW PRETTY MUCH ANY OF THESE RULES UNTIL I SAW A BUNCH OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ON FACEBOOK. AND MAYBE THAT'S ON ME.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT MAYBE WE DON'T DO A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF MAKING IT CLEAR.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S VERY CLEAR IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHICH PADDOCK IS FOR WHAT SIZE DOG.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS HERE THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN BRINGING MY NINE, YOU KNOW, MY KIDS AND MY DOG GO THERE.

I'VE BEEN BRINGING MY NINE YEAR OLD THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

AND NOW YOU SEE THIS WHOLE KERFUFFLE ONLINE ABOUT KIDS UNDER 10 SHOULDN'T BE IN THERE.

MY NINE YEAR OLD HANDLES A 100 POUND BLOODHOUND.

SO I'M PRETTY SURE SHE'S OK.

SO I'M VERY CONCERNED AS A GENERAL RULE THAT WE'RE TURNING THIS INTO SOME KIND OF, I GUESS IT WOULDN'T BE AN HOA, A DOA, A DOG PARK ASSOCIATION.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST AND THIS IS A PROBLEM WE'VE HAD COUNCIL JUST AROUND THE CITY IS THAT WE TAKE THESE RULES AND WE TURN-- IT'S LIKE WE'RE TURNING IT INTO A NANNY STATE.

AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO-- ARE WE ACTUALLY CONSIDERING WRITING TICKETS, CRIMINAL CITATIONS TO CHILDREN? NO, SIR. I MEAN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS IN THE ORDINANCE, ORDINANCE SAYS IF YOU'RE UNDER 12 AND YOU'RE AT THE DOG PARK WITHOUT AN ADULT, YOU'RE GETTING A TICKET.

IF SOMEBODY WRITES MY 10 YEAR OLD A TICKET OR MY 11 YEAR OLD A TICKET, I WILL BE VERY-- I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE ALONE.

IN ANY EVENT, I DOUBT.

BUT IF SOMEBODY WRITES THEM A TICKET, I WOULD BE VERY UPSET ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE HAVE RULES ABOUT NO TOYS, NO FOOD.

I MEAN, WE HAD AN EVENT THERE WHERE PEOPLE WERE DOING AGILITY AND OTHER TRICKS WITH THEIR DOGS AND THEY WERE GIVING THEM FOOD.

THE CITY WAS DOING THAT.

I JUST-- TURNING THESE THINGS INTO CRIMINAL OFFENSES JUST SEEMS LIKE A HORRIBLE IDEA. AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING ON THIS.

ON THE VACCINATIONS AND STERILIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF REGULATORY

[00:10:02]

AND AGAIN, I KNOW THIS IS IN PARK, SO I'M NOT TRYING TO THROW ROCKS AT YOU ALL AT ALL.

WHEN THAT CAME BEFORE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIONS WERE MADE TO THIS COUNCIL THAT WE WERE NOT GOING AROUND, YOU KNOW, CHECKING TO SEE IF ALL THE DOGS IN TOWN, YOU KNOW, HAD BEEN STERILIZED BECAUSE THAT WAS THE CONCERN OF THIS COUNCIL.

WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

AND MY RECOLLECTION, AT LEAST OF WHAT WE WERE TOLD WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE SHOWING UP AT PEOPLE'S HOUSES.

WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE DOING JUST RANDOM CHECKS OF DOGS IN PUBLIC AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT THAT IF SOMEBODY SHOWED UP AND THEIR DOG GOT LOOSE AND WE HAD TO SECURE THAT ANIMAL THAT WE WOULD CHECK THEN AND UNDER THAT LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCE, WE WOULD CONSIDER WRITING A TICKET. AND EVEN IN THOSE SITUATIONS WE LIKE, WE WOULDN'T UNLESS THEY HAD REFUSED IN SOME WAY. SO TO ME, THIS IS THIS KIND OF REGULATORY CREEP AND COUNCIL, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THIS.

I FEEL LIKE ACROSS MULTIPLE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE DEALT WITH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S THE SAME THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NOT TO RAISE THE ISSUE ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PARKING ENFORCEMENT OF VEHICLES WITH EXPIRED REGISTRATIONS, WHICH WAS COMPLETELY AGAINST WHAT WE HAD UNDERSTOOD, THE PURPOSE OF THAT PROGRAM WAS WHEN WE VOTED FOR IT, IT WAS FOR SAFETY RELATED ISSUES.

IT WASN'T FOR I THINK THIS CAR IS A NUISANCE OR I THINK THAT CARS-- PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND ENFORCING THE RULES.

AND EVEN THEN WE WERE TOLD, WELL, THAT RULE WOULD ONLY BE ENFORCED THIS WAY IF, YOU KNOW, IF WE THOUGHT THEY WERE SELLING VEHICLES AND IT'S LIKE.

AND THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE. AND THAT JUST COMES BACK TO HERE WHERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE'RE TOLD WE'RE ONLY GOING TO ENFORCE THIS STERILIZATION IN VERY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WRITING CRIMINAL CITATIONS TO PEOPLE AT THE DOG PARK.

NOW AND I'LL NOTE THAT OUR ORDINANCE, OUR STERILIZATION ORDINANCE ONLY REQUIRES THAT IF IT'S A GARLAND DOG, I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW YOU WOULD DETERMINE THAT, BUT IF IT'S A GARLAND DOG. AND SO NOW WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO IT'S SO NOW IT'S LIKE IF YOU'RE A GARLAND DOG OR IF YOU WANT TO BRING YOUR DOG FROM RICHARDSON OR FROM ROWLETT TO OUR DOG PARK, IT HAD BETTER BE STERILIZED.

AND SO I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CREEP ON THESE THINGS.

I THOUGHT THAT THE TOBACCO PROHIBITION I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S BROADER THAN WHAT THE COUNCIL.

YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL WENT THROUGH A VERY LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT SMOKING AND TOBACCO USE.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD A BUNCH OF HEARINGS WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES, AND WE ENDED UP WITH A NEGOTIATED RESULT THAT DID NOT BAR AS RULE TOBACCO FROM PARKS.

SO I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED.

I DON'T OPPOSE IT, BUT I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED TO SEE IT HERE AND AGAIN.

I WORRY ABOUT THESE THINGS THAT BECOME CREEP OR COME UP IN SOME OTHER WAY, AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE OTHER PROBLEMS ON THE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL.

HOW DO YOU ENFORCE THINGS LIKE AGGRESSIVE AND DANGEROUS DOGS? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE? MY CONCERN IS, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE AN ANIMAL OR DO WE HAVE SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET TO POST AN ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER AT THE DOG PARK CHECKING EVERY DOGS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY'RE NEUTERED OR NOT CHECKING WHETHER WHAT CONSTITUTES AGGRESSIVE? SOMEBODY SAYS THAT DOGS ARE AGGRESSIVE.

I MEAN, PART OF THIS IS JUST LIFE AT A DOG PARK DOG SOMETIMES GET CROSSWISE WITH EACH OTHER. IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S AN AGGRESSIVE DOG, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE RETALIATING AGAINST EACH OTHER, CAUSING ALL THESE OTHER PROBLEMS. AND THEN THE ONE THAT I FIND THE MOST INTERESTING IS THE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF DOGS.

BECAUSE FOR EVERYBODY WHO COMPLAINS AND I'VE SEEN THE DISCUSSIONS, OH NO, YOU CAN'T HAVE A TOY, BECAUSE IF YOU SHOW UP AT THE DOG PARK AITH A TOY FOR YOUR DOG, MY DOG MIGHT GET UPSET IF YOU SHOW UP AT THE DOG PARK WITH A TREAT FOR YOUR DOG, MY DOG MIGHT GET UPSET.

YET THE RULES ALSO REQUIRE THAT YOU HAVE VERBAL COMMAND OF YOUR DOG.

SO IT'S LIKE YOU'RE IN VIOLATION TO PAL BECAUSE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY TO YOUR DOG, YOU KNOW, LEAVE HIM ALONE.

IT'S NOT YOUR TOY AND THE DOG SHOULD JUST OBEY.

AND THEN NOW YOU'RE GETTING A CITATION.

AND SO I'M JUST.

AND BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE DOG PARK BETWEEN KIDS UNDER AGE, AND I HAVE A DOG THAT ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT EVER OBEY ME.

AND SO I JUST I FEEL LIKE WE'RE CODIFYING AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WELL, WE DON'T WANT BEST PRACTICES, BUT WE'RE CRIMINALIZING FAILURE TO MEET BEST PRACTICES.

AND IN MY MIND, WHAT IS A PARK FOR? WHAT IS A DOG PARK FOR, YOU KNOW, YOU LIVE IN AN URBAN AREA, YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE, YOU DON'T HAVE A BACKYARD BIG ENOUGH TO THROW A FRISBEE OR A BALL FOR YOUR DOG.

YOU CAN'T GO TO THE DOG PARK.

[00:15:02]

I MEAN, THERE ARE LOTS OF BALLS AT THE DOG PARK, AND THE DOGS ALL SEEM TO GET ALONG REASONABLY WELL. MAYBE I'M MISSING SOMETHING BECAUSE I'M NOT THERE ENOUGH, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT CRIMINALIZING IT JUST SEEMS TO DEFEAT THE ENTIRE PURPOSE.

SO ANYWAY, I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH THIS.

I KNOW THAT AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH SUGGESTED THAT THIS GO TO COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT, ALTHOUGH I MAY NOT BE HERE WHEN IT COMES BACK FOR COMMITTEE. SO I DEFINITELY WANT TO GET MY CONCERNS IN.

AND I'M JUST I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE REGULATORY CREEP AND ABOUT JUST BASICALLY US TURNING INTO SOME KIND OF NANNY STATE HOA FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS DOG PARK.

BUT I DO SUPPORT IT GOING TO-- I WOULD SPLIT IT TO VARIOUS COMMITTEES, SEND THE PARKING TO ONE AREA-- SEND THE PARKING TO ONE COMMITTEE AND SEND THE DOG PARK RULES TO ANOTHER OR WHATEVER. HOWEVER YOU WANT TO HANDLE IT.

THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL LADY MORRIS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL BE GLAD TO SHED LIGHT ON A FEW OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED.

HAS ANYONE REACHED OUT TO, FOR INSTANCE, GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL? AND THE ANSWER IS, OH HECK YES.

NUMEROUS TIMES REPEATEDLY.

AT SOME POINT WITH SOME SOMEWHAT OF HEAT, THE SITUATION AT GARLAND HIGH, THEY HAVE WAY AMPLE PARKING TO PARK EVERY STUDENT'S CAR, PLUS A LOT OF EXTRAS.

THEY HAVE AN AMPLE PARKING LOT.

THE PROBLEM IS THEY REQUIRE THAT ANY STUDENT WHO PARKS IN THEIR PARKING LOT PROVIDE THEM WITH PROOF OF A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE, A VALID REGISTRATION AND VALID INSURANCE.

BARRING THOSE THINGS, THEY WILL NOT LET THEM PARK ON THEIR BIG EMPTY PARKING LOT, WHICH IS WHAT PUSHES THEM OUT INTO SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.

I HAVE ASKED, I'VE SPOKEN TO DR.

LOPEZ, I'VE SPOKEN TO THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL, AND I AM JUST TOLD REPEATEDLY THIS IS THE POLICY GISD WIDE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT.

SO I DON'T SEE A LOT OF WIGGLE ROOM THERE, AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO FORCE THEM TO CHANGE THEIR RULES, TO ALLOW THEIR VERY LARGE PARKING LOT TO BE USED FOR THEIR OWN STUDENTS.

OUR PARKS, HALF PARK AND CENTRAL WE'RE NOT BUILT WITH GARLAND TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO ACT AS OVERFLOW PARKING FOR GISD ALL DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE COMING AND I'M TALKING ABOUT CENTRAL.

IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE COMING TO GRANGER AND HAVING TO WALK A LONG WAY.

IT'S PARENTS COMING TO THE PLAYGROUND, WHICH IS RIGHT THERE, AND THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THEM TO PARK AND UNLOAD THEIR KIDS WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT HIKE.

AND I HAVE NOT KEPT TRACK OF THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS A CONSTANT LITANY OF COMPLAINTS FROM PARK PATRONS WHO SAY, WHY ARE THESE CARS HERE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY WHERE I CAN'T EVEN GET OUT AT THE PLAYGROUND AND TAKE MY KIDS? IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLAYGROUND.

I CAN'T GET TO IT WITHOUT HIKING ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE PARK.

SO THAT'S PART OF IT.

JUST THE PARKING PASSES AT GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL COSTS TWENTY DOLLARS A YEAR.

THAT'S THE SUM TOTAL FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT.

BUT ACCORDING TO THE OFFICE STAFF AT GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL, AT LEAST THE PROBLEM IS THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS WHO WON'T PARK ON THE PARKING LOT PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL DO NOT HAVE A VALID LICENSE, REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE.

SO INSTEAD, THEY'RE PARKING ON THE STREETS OR IN OUR PARK.

SO THE DOG PARK AND I ALSO DON'T RECALL ANY PARTICULAR PROCESS WITH THE ORIGINAL RULES.

THEY JUST KIND OF APPEARED ON THE BIG PLAQUE WHEN THE DOG PARK WAS MADE.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THOSE EVER CAME ABOUT, AND I DON'T THINK COUNCIL WAS EVER CONSULTED, WHICH IS NEITHER HERE NOR THERE.

NONE OF US ARE EXPERTS ABOUT THAT.

I AM INTERESTED IN BEST PRACTICES AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL HAVE TAKEN SOME TIME AND LOOKED AT THAT.

IN READING OVER THE ORDINANCE BEFORE US.

I KNOW THIS WENT PAST THE PARKS BOARD ON NOVEMBER 3RD, SO LAST MONTH AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AND RECOMMENDED TO COME TO US FOR ADOPTION.

I SEE THINGS IN THERE AS COUNCILMAN AUBIN MENTIONED AND AS COUNCILMAN SMITH MENTIONED, I SEE SOME THINGS IN THERE AND I HAD MENTIONED SEVERAL OF THEM, INCLUDING TOYS, THAT IS-- I DON'T CARE IF THAT'S REALLY A BEST PRACTICE THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT PRACTICAL OR SENSIBLE

[00:20:03]

I'M ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE DOG PARK, SO I HAVE A VERY CLOSE VIEW OF THE USE OF THE PARK. IT'S VERY POPULAR AND PEOPLE LOVE IT.

SAYING NO TOYS, WHICH IS WHAT OUR ORIGINAL RULES WERE.

I WAS HOPING THAT THE RULES, WHATEVER WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WOULD NOT HAVE THAT BE A RULE. BUT I SEE THAT IT'S STILL THERE.

SO I CONCUR WITH THE NEED TO SEND THIS THROUGH COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND HAVE US HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AT IT.

I DO HAVE-- I DO KNOW THAT STERILIZATION IS A STANDARD REQUIREMENT AT MOST DOG PARTS AROUND HERE THAT I HAVE SEEN AND READ THE RULES OF.

IS THAT [INAUDIBLE] IS THAT ACCURATE? I LOOKED AT DALLAS, AT ARLINGTON AND FORT WORTH, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE STATISTICALLY IF IT'S-- HOW COMMON IT REALLY IS.

I'VE SEEN IT AND NOT SEEN IT IN VARIOUS PLACES, SO I REALLY DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD SPEAK TO THAT ADEQUATELY.

OK, WELL, IF THIS GOES TO COMMITTEE, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING IS, IS THAT IS THAT TRULY A STANDARD? AND IF IT'S NOT, THAT DOES SEEM BECAUSE OF THE OUT OF TOWN DOGS THAT DOES SEEM AWFULLY DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE.

MR. ENGLAND REGARDING THE QUESTION ABOUT GIVING CRIMINAL TICKETS TO CHILDREN, I READ OVER THE ORDINANCE A NUMBER OF TIMES THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN.

DOES THIS GIVE ROOM FOR US TO CRIMINALLY TICKET CHILDREN? IF THEY ARE IN THE PARK WITHOUT, LIKE UNATTENDED AND UNDER 12? THERE IS AN ISSUE OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR [INAUDIBLE] TRY AGAIN, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD TURN MY MIC OFF MR. MAYOR. [LAUGHTER] WOW.

BRAD WOULD BE VERY DISAPPOINTED.

THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH CRIMINAL LIABILITY ATTACHING TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 11.

AT THE AGE OF 12. YES, UNDER THIS ORDINANCE, BECAUSE THERE ARE CRIMINAL PENALTIES ATTACHED TO IT, THEY COULD BE ISSUED A CITATION NOW WHETHER OR NOT A ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER OR A POLICE OFFICER OR WHOEVER THE OFFICER IS OUT THERE ENFORCING THIS WOULD USE HIS DISCRETION AND PROPERLY IN DOING SUCH A THING.

THAT'S PROBABLY NOT LIKELY, BUT THE COUNCILMAN IS CORRECT.

YES, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES THAT [INAUDIBLE] A 12 YEAR OLD, I GUESS, IS WHAT OR UNDER THE AGE OF 12.

SO YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE LINE OF WHETHER OR NOT A CHILD CAN BE EVEN CRIMINALLY LIABLE AT THAT AGE. YOU'RE RIGHT AT THAT BORDER.

AND SO 11 YEAR OLD PROBABLY COULD.

HE PROBABLY COULD TECHNICALLY BE.

BUT WOULD HE? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DISCRETION OF THE OFFICER WOULD DO IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION. OK, WELL, I DON'T LIKE HAVING THINGS WRITTEN LEGALLY WHERE WE DEPEND ON THE DISCRETION OF AN OFFICER, I WOULD RATHER IT BE CLEAN AND CRISP.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE INTO COMMITTEE AND GO OVER AND ALSO BE ABLE TO LOOK STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES AND PICK AND CHOOSE.

THERE HAVE BEEN AND ANDY, YOU KNOW THIS WELL, AND SO DOES ART.

THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR TIGHTENED RULES AND FOR ENFORCEMENT FROM THE USERS AND THE PATRONS OF THE DOG PARK.

AND THESE ARE REAL LIFE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD PROBLEMS THEY HAVE RUN INTO, WHICH IS AND I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU AND ART AND I THINK YOU AND ART AND MR. ENGLAND HAVE HAD TRYING TO THRASH THESE OUT.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S RIPE YET, BUT IT'S A GOOD START AND IT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE NEED TO PURSUE AND GET IT WHERE IT.

WELL, WE'RE ALL HAPPY WITH IT.

FOR MYSELF AND AGAIN, HAVING TALKED TO COUNCILMAN SMITH EARLIER.

I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PARKING COMPONENT OF THIS FOR CENTRAL AND HALF.

AND KICKING THE OTHER THINGS BACK FOR FURTHER REVIEW.

SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE REST COUNCIL SEES THAT.

BUT THOSE WERE THAT WAS THE INFORMATION I HAD FROM WORKING WITH THIS BEFORE AND ALSO WORKING WITH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

SO IF ANYONE CAME UP WITH A WAY TO GET GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL TO CHANGE THEIR POLICY, WE WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH STUDENT PARKING.

SO THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. OK.

COUNCIL MEMBER BASS.

I'M JUST GOING TO MY PANEL IS FROZEN UP.

[00:25:03]

DOES IT WORK? IT DID WORK.

OK, WELL, I GUESS I'LL USE IT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE WITH RICH.

I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THESE TWO ITEMS SEPARATELY.

BUT I'D LIKE TO ECHO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER MORRIS SAID ABOUT COMMUNICATION WITH GISD RELATED TO THE PARKS THAT PARK IS I'VE GOTTEN NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS.

RICH I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY I'VE GOTTEN, BUT I HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST FOUR PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS FROM DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE PARKING SITUATION THERE.

AND THAT PARK IN PARTICULAR, I WAS TRYING TO LOOK.

I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY HOW MANY PARKING SPOTS THERE ARE, BUT I THINK IT'S 17 MAYBE IT'S NOT A LOT AND THERE IS NO OTHER PARKING NEARBY, EXCEPT FOR NAAMAN FOREST AND AGAIN, TO ECHO WHAT DEBORAH SAID THE GENERAL FEEDBACK IS THE KIDS PARK THERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY OR THEY DON'T HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION IN ORDER TO GET A PARKING PASS.

NOW, IN MY COMMUNICATION WITH GISD ABOUT THIS, THE RESPONSES I RECEIVED WAS THAT THE HALF PARK IS NOT GISD RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE IT'S NOT GISD PROPERTY.

I'VE ALSO TRIED TO GO THROUGH COMMUNICATE WITH SROS ABOUT IT, BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE STRICTLY ON THE GISD PROPERTY NOT THEIR HALF PARK.

SO I'VE TRIED TO LOOK AT THIS FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'VE COME UP HERE IS REALLY, THE BEST SOLUTION THAT I'VE SEEN IN COMMUNICATING ABOUT THIS.

BUT THERE'S GISD AGAIN, SINCE IT'S NOT ON THEIR PROPERTY, THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO GLADLY TELL YOU THAT EVERY TIME YOU ASK THEM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANKS, SIR.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMS, I BELIEVE YOU WERE TRYING TO GET IN THE QUEUE.

I'M FROZEN MAYOR.

THERE YOU GO. YEAH.

YOU'RE GOOD. I'M GOOD.

PUSHING BUTTONS. YOU'RE GOOD.

STILL BLUE SO ANYWAY. OK.

ALL RIGHT. OK, I'M STILL BLUE.

EXCUSE ME, I'M STILL BLUE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THE DOG PARK ISSUE, BUT ON THE PARKING ISSUE AND COUNCIL LADY MORRIS SAID SHE'S TALKED WITH SUPERINTENDENT AND SOME TOP [INAUDIBLE] IN GISD.

MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU KNOW, ANDY? MAYBE YOU CAN, AND MAYBE YOU DON'T.

WHAT? AND I DIDN'T HEAR ANYBODY SAY.

HAS AT GARLAND HAVE ANY OF THE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE DISCUSSIONS LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION.

THEY'VE GOT A CITY [INAUDIBLE]. THEY'VE GOT A STUDENT GOVERNMENT BODY OVER THERE.

DO WE KNOW WHETHER ANY OF THIS? THE MATTER. NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

NO, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WERE I'M GOING WITH THIS IS THE IMPACT THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT GISD JUST A SUGGESTION. IF IT GOES TO COMMITTEE, I THINK ON THIS PIECE, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND.

BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.

AND BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH THE SAME EXPERIENCE AT SOUTH ON SOME PARKING ISSUES AND WE DID INVOLVE STUDENT LEADERSHIP BECAUSE WE HAD WE GOT A HUGE PARKING LOT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. MANY OF YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT, HAD PROBLEMS ON BROADWAY FOR YEARS AND WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT.

AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE A FURTHER LOOK AT THAT PARKING PIECE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T QUITE TOTALLY BY WELL AND THE DISTRICT SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE RULES AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

SO THEY'RE FINE PARKING BECAUSE TECHNICALLY I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN AUBIN.

YOU KNOW, IT'S YOU KNOW, THE PARKING SPACES.

THAT'S PUBLIC, TOO.

AND I'M A LITTLE ANTSY ALSO ABOUT SAYING, WELL, YOU CAN PARK THERE, BUT YOU CAN'T.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION AS WE, I THINK, GO THE FURTHEST TO COMMITTEE.

I THINK THAT SOMEBODY I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU KNOW, AT STAFF LEVEL OR SHOULD ENGAGE GISD AT STAFF LEVEL AND INCLUDE SPECIFIC REQUESTS TO INVOLVE SOME STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND SEEKING A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I THINK POPULATIONS ARE VERY SIMILAR.

THE ECONOMICS ARE VERY SIMILAR WITH STUDENTS, AND I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, ARE NOT GETTING THE STICKERS TO PARK ON THE LOT IT ISN'T BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO, THEY DON'T CARE.

I THINK THERE ARE ALSO SOME ACADEMIC CONSIDERATIONS OF KIDS BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT COSTS TO PUT A TEENAGER ON YOUR INSURANCE.

[00:30:04]

SO IF YOU DON'T PUT JONNY ON YOUR INSURANCE, THEN YOU DON'T MEET THE GISD REQUIREMENT, CORRECT? IS THAT CORRECT.

YES SIR THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING. OK.

SO I'M GOING WITH THAT. I DON'T THINK IT'S I DON'T THINK STUDENTS ARE NECESSARILY NOT COMPLYING BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO COMPLY AND THEY WANT TO PARK FREE.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO INVOLVE THE FOLKS WHO ARE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED.

AND THIS ORDINANCE AND THE DISCUSSION AND WITH THE STUDENTS IN EVERY CAMPUS HAS STUDENT LEADERSHIP STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS.

SO I WOULD SUGGEST GOING TO THE PRINCIPALS AND REQUESTING AND INVOLVING THAT THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE BE INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSIONS AND NOT.

I BELIEVE THAT WE'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT IS WORKABLE, BUT TO SIMPLY SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T PARK HERE AND THIS IS THE LAW.

WE'RE GOING TO LAY THE LAW DOWN FOR YOU AND IT'S GOING TO IMPACT YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO TOW YOU AWAY.

I JUST I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT APPROACH BECAUSE IT ENTERED TODAY.

THE FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO BE MOST IMPACTED FOR WHATEVER REASON ARE STUDENTS, AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANKS, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN.

WE'LL TRY TO WRAP THIS UP.

YEAH, JUST VERY QUICKLY, MAYOR.

AND BY STROKE OF LUCK, WE HAVE OUR GARLAND YOUTH COUNCIL HERE TONIGHT.

SO I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE A JOB.

CONGRATULATIONS. BUT THAT IS THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED YOUR HELP ON BECAUSE WE CAN PUSH FROM ONE END. BUT YOU GUYS HAVE TO PUSH FROM THE OTHER.

AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING THE SITUATION ANY BETTER BY TELLING STUDENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A PARKING SPACE THAT WE'RE GOING TO WRITE THEM TICKETS BECAUSE THEY PARK IN AN AREA THAT IS PUBLIC PARKING.

AND AGAIN, AND I UNDERSTAND IT CAN BE A BURDEN ON THE NEIGHBOR BUT I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO FIND AN ANSWER OTHER THAN YOU CAN'T PARK HERE BECAUSE WE'VE DONE THAT, YOU KNOW? AND AGAIN, IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE BANNED THAT PARK AND I THINK IT'S ON AVENUE F IN FRONT OF THAT GUY'S HOUSE AND HIS LAND RIGHT NEXT TO GRANGER, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY HE WANTED IT. AND SO OF COURSE, THAT INCREASES THE PARKING BURDEN ELSEWHERE, AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO PUSH THE PROBLEM AROUND.

WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF HOW TO INTERACT WITH GISD BECAUSE GISD WANTS TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH US. SO MAYBE THIS IS A PRIME OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND DO SOME COLLECTIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING. AND SO I WOULD REALLY.

I REALLY ENCOURAGE THAT.

AND SO, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL OF THIS KIND OF GO BACK THROUGH, GO THROUGH OUR KIND OF NORMAL COUNCIL PROCESSES AND FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT WAY, THE BEST WAY ON ALL THESE ISSUES? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU. IF I COULD JUST I APPRECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK, AND I DEFINITELY THINK THAT GOING TO COMMITTEE WOULD BEAR A LOT OF FRUIT, I THINK.

YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS THAT THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT AND TRYING ISSUES FOR, YOU KNOW, PARK USERS AND NEIGHBORS AND STAFF, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW FOR SURE THAT WHEN CENTRAL PARK IS FULL OF THE STUDENT PARKING, IT'S TWO HOURS OF TRASH PICKUP IN THE MORNING AND ANOTHER TWO HOURS IN THE AFTERNOON.

SO THERE'S A VARIETY OF ISSUES AS FAR AS THE DOG PARK RULES GOES.

THAT WAS, AND IF IT DIDN'T COME THROUGH THE PROCESS CORRECTLY, THAT'S ON ME.

THE ISSUE WITH THE DOG PARK RULES IS IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT WE'VE GOT THESE RULES THAT NEVER GOT CODIFIED. SO WHEN WE CAUGHT THAT, IT FELT LIKE IT SEEMS LIKE THAT SHOULD GO TO COUNCIL TO BE PROPERLY APPROVED.

SO THAT'S WHY THAT'S HERE IS TO BE PROPERLY APPROVED.

NOW, SOME OF THE THINGS WE DISCOVERED IS MOST OF THOSE ARE ALREADY CODIFIED IN ANOTHER PLACE. THEY'RE JUST A LITTLE TRICKY TO FIND.

AND SO CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DID WHAT THEY DO TO ROUND UP ALL THOSE CODE REFERENCES UNDER ONE LOCATION, AS WELL AS WHATEVER CHANGES WERE EXPECTED.

SO WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HASH OUT SOME OF THESE OPTIONS.

AND AS MUCH FEEDBACK AS WE COULD POSSIBLY GET AND BRING SOME OF THESE TO SOME KIND OF POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE THEY ARE A REAL CHALLENGE.

VERY GOOD. WELL, I SPOKE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH EARLIER, AND AT THIS POINT, I THINK IT'S BEST WE TAKE ALL OF THESE ITEMS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES IF WE NEED TO SPLIT ONE OUT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE.

WE CAN ALWAYS SPLIT ONE OFF TO PUBLIC SAFETY OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

BUT AT THIS POINT, WE WILL BE MOVING THIS ALL OF THESE ITEMS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES.

SOUNDS GREAT. AND OBVIOUSLY WILL NOT BE FORMALLY CONSIDERING ANYTHING ON JANUARY 4TH.

CORRECT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU.

[00:35:01]

[4A. COVID-19 Briefing]

YEAH, BACK TO THE NORMAL ORDER OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, I'LL TRY TO RUN THROUGH THIS FAIRLY QUICKLY. SO THE PAST TWO WEEKS WE'VE HAD, WE'VE SEEN ABOUT 100 CASES PER WEEK INCREASE. SO THIS LAST WEEK, WE HAD A TOTAL OF THREE HUNDRED AND FOUR NEW CASES, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO, AS YOU SEE, JUST UNDER FORTY THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED.

THE WEEK OVER WEEK INCREASE IN CASES OBVIOUSLY MEANS THAT THE ACTIVE CASES HAVE TICKED UP TO ABOUT 515 DEATHS.

WE DID ADD, UNFORTUNATELY, SIX DEATHS OVER THE PAST WEEK, AND YOU CAN SEE THE FAMILIAR GRAPH THERE ON THE LEFT.

ALTHOUGH WE HAVE SEEN INCREASES WEEK OVER WEEK.

AS I SAID, I THINK THE GRAPH HELPS KEEP THAT IN PERSPECTIVE.

WE STILL ARE AT WHAT ARE VERY LOW LEVELS OF COVID IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHERE WE ARE AND THE PEAKS OF LAST FALL IN THE DELTA PEAK OVER THE MID-YEAR, 2021.

SO FOR STAFF IMPACTS, I THINK WE HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXCLUDED AS THE WEEK PRIOR. WE HAVE TEN TOTAL EXCLUSIONS, NINE FOR POSITIVE TESTS AND THEN ONE FOR A POSITIVE EXPOSURE. AND AS YOU'LL SEE, FOUR HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE TOTAL RECOVERED AND AGAIN, THE GRAPH ON THIS PAGE HELPS ILLUSTRATE, YOU KNOW, HOW THOSE STAFF IMPACTS COMPARE TO THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

VACCINES. WE CONTINUE TO SEE ROBUST DEMAND FOR VACCINES.

WE, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC ADMINISTERED ALMOST 1100 VACCINES LAST WEEK AND OVER A THOUSAND IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

SO EACH WEEK FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

SO THAT'S GOOD.

WE'VE SURPASSED 46,000 TOTAL VACCINES AND CERTAINLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO. IF YOU'RE UNVACCINATED, PLEASE GET VACCINATED.

IF YOU NEED THAT SECOND DOSE, PLEASE GET THAT SECOND DOSE.

AND WHENEVER YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THE BOOSTER DOSE, WE CERTAINLY STAND READY TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS.

VACCINE EVENTS. WE WRAPPED UP THE SECOND ROUND AT THE LOCAL SCHOOLS THIS LAST WEEK, WHICH WAS A BIG DRIVER IN THE VACCINE NUMBERS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

SO AT THIS POINT, WE'VE BEEN TO ALL OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS TWICE NOW THAT'S NOT TO SUGGEST THAT WE MAY NOT GO BACK AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE IF DEMAND REQUIRES THAT.

BUT GIVEN ALL OF THE KIDDOS IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET VACCINATED AND WE HAVE JUST A FEW EVENTS ON THE SCHEDULE I MENTIONED TO COUNCILMAN BASS, HE FORWARDED A POTENTIAL EVENT TO US AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND FOR ANY OF THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY KNOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS OR GROUPS THAT ARE IN NEED OR WOULD LIKE A POP UP EVENT AT THEIR SITE, WE STAND READY TO SERVE.

THAT GOES FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC AS WELL.

WE'VE GOT A PROCESS ON THE WEB PAGE, AN EASY PROCESS TO REQUEST A POP UP EVENT.

OMICRON DON'T KNOW MUCH MORE THIS WEEK THAN LAST WEEK.

OF COURSE, WE AS A YOU KNOW, SCIENCE IS STILL LEARNING ABOUT THIS VARIANT.

IT OBVIOUSLY HAS SPREAD SINCE LAST WEEK.

AS OF THIS MORNING, IT'S BEEN REPORTED IN 31 STATES AND YOU ALL IN THE VIEWING PUBLIC HAVE PROBABLY SEEN REPORTS THAT IT WAS DETECTED IN NORTH TEXAS.

CASES WERE CONFIRMED IN TARRANT AND COLLIN COUNTIES.

AND AT LAST REPORT, THERE WERE 38 TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN THE STATE.

SEVERAL OF THOSE HAD NO TRAVEL HISTORY, SO IT'S SAFE TO ASSUME THAT THE OMICRON VIRUS IS SPREADING IN THE COMMUNITY TO A DEGREE.

ONLY TIME WILL TELL YOU KNOW HOW MUCH SPREAD OCCURS, BUT I'M SAFE TO ASSUME THAT IT IS IN THE COMMUNITY AND I'LL TURN IT OVER MISTIE.

THANK YOU, SO JUST IN REVIEW.

JUST LIKE OTHER REPORTS, THIS GRAPH DEPICTS THE CASES OF COVID 19 PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS WITHIN DALLAS COUNTY.

SO WE STARTED ACTUALLY DOCUMENTING AND TRACKING HOSPITALIZATIONS BACK IN MAY OF 2020.

SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN THREE PRIMARY SPIKES ONE IN JULY OF 2020 AND THEN JANUARY AND

[00:40:02]

AND AS OF TODAY'S NUMBERS, WE HAD 204 REPORTED COVID 19 PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS.

THAT, COMPARED TO HOSPITAL CAPACITY, REPORTED CAPACITY TODAY WAS ALMOST 5000 BEDS, FOUR THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY ONE BEDS OUT OF THOSE TWO HUNDRED AND FOUR ARE COVID 19 PATIENTS. SO THE CAPACITY PERCENTAGE IS 4.12, WHICH IS DEPICTED BY THE RED LINE IN THE GRAPH. THIS IS ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THIS, BUT ALSO COMPARES IT TO THE TRAUMA SERVICE AREA. SO TRAUMA SERVICE AREA E IS NORTH TEXAS AND TODAY'S NUMBERS FOR TRAUMA SERVICE AREA E BEING THAT WHOLE AREA.

SEVEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THREE COVID PATIENTS MAKING THE PERCENTAGE OF COVID TO CAPACITY 5.84 PERCENT AND THEN AGAIN, THAT BOTTOM GRAPH SHOWING THOSE SAME DALLAS COUNTY NUMBERS THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED.

THE MAIN POINT OF THIS IS TO SHOW AND YOU CAN BARELY SEE IT NOW, WHICH IS GOOD.

BUT ON THE RIGHT IS THE 30 DAY INPATIENT TREND, AND THAT'S BEEN BELOW 10 PERCENT NOW FOR WELL OVER 30 DAYS.

AND THIS IS THE LAST WAY TO LOOK AT THIS, WHICH IS BY COUNTY.

LIKE LAST REPORT. WE STILL HAVE ONE COUNTY THAT'S ABOVE THE 15 PERCENT MARK, WHICH IS NOTED IN RED.

LAST TIME IT WAS JOHNSON COUNTY.

THIS TIME IT HAPPENS TO BE COOK COUNTY, BUT WE ARE STILL BELOW THE FIVE PERCENT OF ALL OF THE GREEN ARE BELOW 10 PERCENT, AND WE HAVE 12 NOW WITHIN THE TRAUMA SERVICE AREA THAT ARE BELOW 10. SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL FOR QUESTIONS.

VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS ITEM? I SEE NONE. THANK YOU.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT, THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 4B GARLAND YOUTH COUNCIL

[4B. Garland Youth Council Update]

THE ENTIRE FRONT ROW STANDS UP.

[LAUGHTER] GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU IN PERSON THIS EVENING AND GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF RECAP OF WHAT WE'VE HAD HAPPENING IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND JUST TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE COMING UP FOR THE SECOND PART OF THE YEAR. WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND DOING ALL SORTS OF EVENTS.

YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS YOUTH COUNCIL IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED AND THEY HAVE A DESIRE TO DO AS MUCH AS THEY CAN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO PULL UP THEIR PRESENTATION AND THEN I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THEM. LET'S SEE HAVE THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHTY. GREETINGS, COUNCIL AND MAYOR AND ALL ESTEEMED GUESTS.

CAN WE MAKE THE PRESENTATION GO FULL SCREEN? IS THAT POSSIBLE TO GET JUST MAKES IT EASIER FOR US TO SEE IT IN THE BROADCAST AS WELL? IS THAT A LITTLE BETTER, SIR.

MAYOR PRO TEM SAYS F5.

F FIVE.

OH, HANG ON. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE HAS ARRIVED.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE MEETING IN SO IT'S ON THE OTHER LAPTOP.

OH, SORRY.

I THINK IF I DID, IT'S.

THIS IS STILL THE PREVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE STILL SEEING IS STILL THE PREVIOUS IT'S GOING TO BE A POWERPOINT, OK? IT'S A PDF, SO.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN.

IT'S NOT LIKE ME. THERE YOU GO.

WHY DON'T WE GET IT BACK DOWN? THERE WE GO. IS THAT GOING TO CROP THERE OR IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT.

[00:45:04]

ALL RIGHT. AFTER ALL THAT, LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN.

I ALMOST APOLOGIZE FOR ASKING.

GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHTY.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND ALL ESTEEMED GUESTS.

I'M LEAH THARAKAN PRESIDENT OF THE GARLAND YOUTH COUNCIL, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.

FOR ONE, IT WAS REALLY REFRESHING TO HEAR THE DISCUSSION ABOUT GARLAND'S HIGH SCHOOL'S PARKING LOT. IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS AND HEARING THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET THE YOUTH INVOLVED TO TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES IS REALLY REFRESHING AND SOMETHING THAT I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO DO AT SCHOOL.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

SO, YEAH, JUST TO BEGIN, THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID THIS SEMESTER.

SO IN THE PICTURES, WE HAVE OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS DINNER, WE HAVE THE VOLUNTEER BOARD AND FAIR. AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR VIRTUAL INDUCTION CEREMONY THAT HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER. HELLO, EVERYONE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL TODAY.

TO START OFF IN AUGUST, WE HAD OUR VIRTUAL INDUCTIONS, WHICH WAS HELD ON AUGUST 17TH 2021. WE HAD PLANNED TO KEEP IT IN PERSON, BUT IN LIGHT OF COVID 19, WE DID HAVE TO MOVE TO OUR VIRTUAL PLATFORM.

HOWEVER, ALL PROCEEDINGS WENT WELL.

WE ALSO HAD OUR ELECTIONS DURING THE MEETING.

AS PRESIDENT, WE HAD LEAH THARAKAN ELECTED.

VICE PRESIDENT JOTHAM B.

SIMON, SECRETARY HAILEY GONZALEZ AND OUR HISTORIANS WERE HAILEY.

I'M SORRY, HEATHER MOODY AND JAIR DELGADO.

THEN WE MOVED ON TO OUR SEPTEMBER.

SO IN SEPTEMBER WE WERE ABLE TO HOLD OUR FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING, WHICH WAS VERY EXCITING. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER IN PERSON.

THEN, AS LEAH MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAD OUR VOLUNTEER BOARD AND FAIR.

DURING THE EVENT, MANY PEOPLE CAME UP AND APPROACHED US AND ASKED US WHAT WE DO AS A YOUTH COUNCIL AND WE WERE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO THEM.

HOPEFULLY, WE WILL SEE THAT THE FRUIT OF THAT IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS DURING NEXT TERM. FINALLY, OCTOBER, THIS WAS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE MONTH SO FAR.

WE WERE ABLE TO BEGIN OUR FIRST DRIVE, WHICH WAS A SOCK DRIVE.

THE SOCK DRIVE WE CALLED THIS OCTOBER, AND IT WAS LED BY OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE CHAIRMAN, JULIAN BROWN-GRIFFIN. WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO SOCKS, WHICH WAS MORE THAN WE INTENDED TO COLLECT.

OUR GOAL WAS ONE THOUSAND SOCKS.

WE WERE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

WE WANT TO THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO ALLOWED US TO COLLECT THIS MANY AND HELPED US IN OUR PROCESS.

WE DONATED ALL OF OUR DONATIONS TO THE HOPES NEW DOOR NEW BEGINNINGS CENTER.

HELLO, I'M HAILEY GONZALES.

I'M THE SECRETARY FOR GYC.

IN OCTOBER, WE HAD A COMMUNITY SERVICE MEETING, A COMMITTEE MEETING HERE AT ROSALIND'S TO TALK ABOUT A PROJECT THAT WOULD BE COMING FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICE, WHICH IS OUR TOY DRIVE, WHICH IS STILL IN MOTION AND WILL BE ENDING DECEMBER 17TH.

I BELIEVE OUR GOAL WAS ONE HUNDRED TOYS AND WE WERE GOING TO DONATE IT TO A LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICE AREA TO WHICH WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET THOSE OUT TO HOMELESS PEOPLE, CHILDREN AND SUCH.

WE ALSO HAD OUR VOLUNTEERING AT CAMELOT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PICNIC GIVEN TO US AS AN OPPORTUNITY BY ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE HAD SEVERAL OF OUR GYC MEMBERS GO OUT AND HELP SET UP THE EVENT, HELP MANAGE THE EVENT, AND IT WAS A GREAT TIME FOR THOSE WHO ATTENDED.

UNFORTUNATELY, I WASN'T ABLE TO BE THERE, BUT I HEARD A VERY GOOD, GOOD, GOOD FEEDBACK FROM IT AND I REALLY HOPED THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE.

WE ALSO HAD OUR IN-PERSON INDUCTION CEREMONY AT THE ATRIUM, WHICH MOST OF YOU WERE THERE.

IT WAS VERY LOVELY SEEING YOU GUYS.

IT WAS VERY LOVELY HAVING THAT INDUCTION IN PERSON.

AND CONTRARY TO OUR VIRTUAL RITUAL INDUCTION, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS TWICE, IT WAS BOTH WORTHWHILE AND MEANINGFUL.

WE ALSO HAD A JOINT SESSION WITH THE ROWLETT YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION RECENTLY, AND WITH THEM, WE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLE WAYS THAT WE COULD GET IN TOUCH WITH THE ROWLETT COMMUNITY AND SEE WHAT PROJECTS WE CAN COME WITH.

WE ARE LOOKING TO DO A VOTER REGISTRATION WITH THEM IN, I BELIEVE, APRIL.

AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT WILL BE COMING SOON, I BELIEVE.

[00:50:01]

HEARD, IT'S DONE WELL.

FROM GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL I'VE HEARD WE'VE HAD OVER LIKE 500 CANS.

WE HAVE YET TO COUNT THEM.

WE'RE HOPING TO DISPERSE THOSE SOMETIME OVER CHRISTMAS BREAK WHERE WE CAN ALL GET TOGETHER, COUNT THEM AND DISPERSE THEM AND HOPEFULLY GET THOSE TO SOME FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED. WE ALSO HAD OUR IN OUR ONE NOVEMBER MEETING, WE HAD MS. LAURA DE LA VEGA FROM THE OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY.

SHE CAME AND TALKED TO US ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS WE COULD HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTIES, WHAT EVENTS AND WHAT ACTIVITIES THAT WE COULD BRING TO OUR COMMUNITIES TO HOPEFULLY BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER.

WE ALSO HAD OUR ANNUAL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS DINNER WHERE WE WENT, AND WE WERE FORMALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE MAYOR AS WELL AS OTHERS COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS OF THE CITY OF GARLAND.

IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BE THERE.

WE HAD A LOT OF FUN. WE PLAYED SOME CASINO GAMES.

I PERSONALLY PLAYED BLACKJACK.

IT WAS QUITE FUN.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO WENT IT WAS QUITE INTERESTING TO FIND OUT HOW MANY COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS THAT CITY OF GARLAND ACTUALLY REALLY HAS AND HOW THEY INTERTWINE AND CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER AND HELP RUN THE CITY.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.

THAT ENDS THERE. ALWAYS HAVE A PAPER, [INAUDIBLE] I APOLOGIZE. AND SO THERE WAS DECEMBER, THE THING THAT WE LED THIS YEAR OR THIS MONTH WAS A TOY DRIVE, AS EXPLAINED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. THE TOY DRIVE DID START IN NOVEMBER.

HOWEVER, IT WILL END IN ABOUT A WEEK OR LIKE THE END OF THIS WEEK.

SO IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO DONATE, GO AHEAD.

[LAUGHTER] ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER.

AND IT WAS LED BY MR. DANIEL HERE. SO THANK YOU.

AND THEN THE TWO EVENTS THAT WE PARTICIPATE OR THE ONE EVENT THAT WE DID PARTICIPATE IN WAS ACTUALLY GOING CHRISTMAS ON THE SQUARE AND THE YOUTH COUNCIL ACTUALLY SET UP A BOOTH THERE. AND WE WERE WE GAVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BY HELPING KIDS MAKE CRAFTS AND LIKE LITTLE THINGS THAT THEY COULD TAKE HOME AS LIKE A MEMORABILIA WHILE ALSO GETTING THE WORD OUT THAT THE YOUTH COUNCIL DID EXIST.

ALSO, SOME OF OUR MEMBERS DID VOLUNTEER TO HELP AT THE SANTA LINE, AND SO WE EXERTED OURSELVES IN MULTIPLE THINGS WHILE THERE.

SO THANK YOU.

YEAH. SO JUST FOR A SUMMARY.

AS FOR THE THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO DO NEXT SEMESTER IN JANUARY, ACTUALLY, WE HOPE TO RUN A TEEN TOWN HALL. WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE THIS IN THE PAST.

SO IN MY SOPHOMORE YEAR, WHICH WAS THE YEAR 2020, WHICH WAS RIGHT WHEN COVID STARTED, WE ACTUALLY HAD RUN A TEEN TOWN HALL HERE IN THE CITY AND WE WERE ABLE TO DISCUSS COUNTLESS ISSUES THAT PLAGUE THE CITY'S YOUTH, SUCH AS VAPING, TEEN HOMELESSNESS.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE SPEAKERS FROM ALL ACROSS THE CITY AND IT WAS ACTUALLY A REALLY BENEFICIAL EVENT FOR THE YOUTH TO LEARN ABOUT THESE ISSUES BECAUSE I, FOR ONE, DID NOT KNOW THAT TEEN HOMELESSNESS ACTUALLY EXISTED.

IT'S KIND OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE IN MOVIES, BUT NOT REALLY THE THINGS THAT YOU UNDERSTAND. SO WE'D HOPE TO BRING THAT BACK THIS YEAR.

WE DID HAVE A VIRTUAL ONE LAST YEAR AND WE'D HOPE TO BRING IT IN PERSON THIS YEAR IF COVID DOES NOT INTERFERE.

SECONDLY, WE'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BLOOD DRIVE SHORTAGE ACROSS THE NATION WITH A BLOOD DRIVE, HOPEFULLY IN CITY HALL IN FEBRUARY, AND ALSO MAYBE PARTNER WITH THE HEART BECAUSE IT IS VALENTINE'S DAY.

SO WE'D LIKE TO DO A LITTLE SOMETHING IN ASSOCIATION WITH THAT.

AND IN MARCH, WE'D LIKE TO DO A FORM OF A FUNDRAISER RACE TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE MARCH OF DIMES FOR WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN, AS THAT IS A GOOD CAUSE.

[00:55:02]

AND WE'D ALSO LIKE TO HOST A TRASH BASH IN HONOR OF EARTH DAY.

SO WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR LETTING US BE HERE TODAY AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE THIS SEMESTER. AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'D LOVE TO ANSWER THEM OR ANY ADVICE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, WE'D LOVE TO ANSWER THAT.

WELL, VERY GOOD. WELL, FIRST OFF, THE GAMBLING WAS FOR AMUSEMENT PURPOSES ONLY.

[LAUGHTER] LET'S JUST BE VERY CLEAR ON THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT ENCOURAGING OUR YOUTH.

WE'RE NOT TAKING OUR YOUTH COUNCIL TO A CASINO BUT.

YET.

BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.

IT IS, OBVIOUSLY, YES, IT HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY SEMESTER, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL KIND OF FEELING THAT BUSYNESS BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING BACK TO DOING THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE PREVIOUSLY IN PERSON.

AND SO IT CERTAINLY HAS.

IT CERTAINLY DOES FEEL IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK, BUT IT IS VERY BUSY, YES.

AND SO THE PLANS THAT YOU'VE LAID OUT FOR YOUR NEXT SEMESTER, I THINK, ARE ALL PERFECT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU IN THOSE AND LOOKS LIKE WE DO HAVE A FEW FOLKS IN THE QUEUE. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT WITH YOUR GROUP.

TWO THINGS, RIGHT QUICK.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ALMOST MONTHLY UPDATES.

HEATHER ARE VERY THOROUGH.

KEEP THAT UP. THAT WAS VERY REFRESHING.

KEEP THOSE UP. SECONDLY, YOU MENTIONED THE TOY DRIVE.

HOW CAN WE OR THE PUBLIC WHO'S WATCHING YOU TONIGHT? HOW CAN WE DONATE? YOU MIND TELLING US HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THE TOY DRIVE.

YOU SAID IT ENDS IN ABOUT A WEEK, SO WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME.

SO CAN YOU TELL US HOW WHAT WE SHOULD DO, HOW WE CAN HELP, HOW WE CAN DONATE? ABSOLUTELY. SO WE'RE ACCEPTING ANY DONATIONS, SUCH AS STUFFED ANIMALS OR ANY TOYS THAT YOU CAN PURCHASE AT YOUR STORE, LOCAL STORES SUCH AS WALMART, TARGET, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

AND WE MAY HAVE A DONATION BOX ACTUALLY HERE IN CITY HALL ITSELF, LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE THE. MARSHALLS DESK.

OH, WE'VE GOT ONE AT. OK.

OK. GLAD IT WASN'T A SNAKE.

RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? LOOKS LIKE WE'VE CLEARED THE QUEUE.

HANG ON. COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE.

MAYOR. YEAH, JASON, AND TO ALL OF YOU, ESPECIALLY TO YOU, LISA, I'M JUST EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. IT'S GOOD TO JUST OBSERVE YOU, YOUR EXCITEMENT, YOUR ENTHUSIASM, THE VISION THAT YOU HAVE AS YOU GO ABOUT DOING THESE DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I JUST THINK I'M SPEAKING FOR ALL OF US UP HERE.

WE'RE JUST SO PROUD OF YOU AND WE JUST WANT YOU TO JUST CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE TRULY, AS I'VE SAID TO YOU IN THE PAST, YOU'RE THE ONES WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO IN THE FUTURE. YOU'LL BE SITTING HERE IN THESE VERY SEATS AND I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO YOU LISA I THINK THAT YOU'RE DOING A WONDERFUL, A MARVELOUS JOB WITH THEM.

JUST KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

WE'LL HOPEFULLY SEE YOU GUYS NEXT WEEK.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY TOO FOR JASON AND LEAH THEY'RE IN DISTRICT THREE, YOU ALL.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'VE CLEARED THE QUEUE AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT TONIGHT AND YOUR MONTHLY UPDATES THAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN SENDING US ARE VERY, VERY GOOD.

AND LIKE I SAY, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING NEXT SEMESTER.

ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. THAT WAS OUR LAST VERBAL BRIEFING.

WE ARE AT ITEM FIVE DISCUSS APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

[5. Discuss Appointments to Boards and Commissions]

NEXT IS ITEM SIX ANNOUNCE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.

[6. Announce Future Agenda Items]

SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT THAT.

SO I'D LIKE TO REFER THAT TO CSC FOR FURTHER WORK WITH US AND PARKS.

OK. IS THAT NOT ALREADY IN THE WORKS SOMEWHERE? MAYBE I. THEY SAID IT'S ALREADY IN THE WORKS MAYOR, I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT.

[01:00:02]

WAITING FOR STAFF WOULD RATHER THAN ASK FOR AN UPDATE.

MR. BRADFORD CAN YOU HELP ME OUT ON THIS ONE? OR MAYBE MR. BRADFORD PROBABLY KNOWS MORE ABOUT THIS THAN I DO.

RATHER THAN SENDING IT TO COMMITTEE, JUST WAITING FOR STAFF.

SURE, I'LL DEFER IT TO CITY MANAGER ON THIS.

GO AHEAD. I THINK IT'S ON.

I'M AFRAID I MAY CONFUSE THINGS MORE THAN HELP THEM.

WE DO HAVE SOME RESEARCH THAT WE'VE RUN ON SENIOR FEES AND OTHER CITIES.

SOME OF THOSE WERE BROUGHT FORWARD AS PART OF THIS PAST YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME QUESTIONS SINCE THE BUDGET WAS PASSED ABOUT ADDITIONAL RELIEF FOR SENIORS.

I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS IS REFERRING TO.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT OVERLAPPING THE THINGS HERE.

OK, VERY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. AND SO WE WILL REFER THAT, AND I'LL SECOND THAT AS WELL.

SO IT'LL GO TO COMMITTEE.

SORRY. THANK YOU MAYOR.

THANK YOU, SIR. ANY ADDITIONAL FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT COMES UP, OUTSIDE OF TONIGHT WE CAN CERTAINLY GET THAT MOVING FORWARD.

WITH THAT. WE ARE AT ITEM SEVEN.

[7. Council will move into Executive Session]

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 551.071 551 .087 551.072 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FOR THE PURPOSES OF ONE DELIBERATING AND DISCUSSING THE PURCHASE, LEASE OR EXCHANGE OF LOTS OR TRACTS OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED GENERALLY NORTH OF STATE HIGHWAY 190 AND EAST OF STATE HIGHWAY 78 AND MATTERS CONCERNING PRIVILEGE AND UNPRIVILEGED CLIENT INFORMATION RELATING THERETO.

ALSO TWO DELIBERATING AND DISCUSSING COMMERCIAL OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT THE CITY HAS RECEIVED FROM A BUSINESS PROSPECT WITH WHICH THE CITY IS CONDUCTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS RELATING TO A COMMERCIAL PROJECT GENERALLY LOCATED NORTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF SOUTH JUPITER ROAD AND MARQUIS DRIVE.

AND AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL LET'S WE SHOULD HAVE A WELL, GO AHEAD.

SINCE WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE PEOPLE HERE THIS EVENING, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A SHORT RECESS AND WE'LL BE BACK HERE AT 7:10.

AND SO AT THIS POINT, WE ARE IN RECESS.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.