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[Parks and Recreation Board Meeting on April 6, 2022.]
THE SIXTH 20 22 7 0 2.THIS IS THE MEETING OF THE GARLAND PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.
AND I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
FIRST ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
CHAIRMAN MOVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
I HAVE A MOTION FROM JERRY CARTER.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND FROM DAVID MOREHEAD.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND CITY OF GARLAND CODE OF ORDINANCE SECTION 25.05, A ONE DASH TWO.
THIS SAYS THE LEE WILLIAMS. OKAY.
GOOD EVENING PARK BOARD MEMBERS.
SO WHAT WE ARE DOING EVERY YEAR AS PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS, WE GO THROUGH, WE REVIEW OUR FEES, WE DO A BENCHMARK STUDY, AND THIS IS WHETHER WE DECIDE THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE THE FEES OR NOT.
IT'S JUST PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS EACH YEAR.
AND, UM, SO THIS YEAR WE ARE PROPOSING MAKING SOME CHANGES TO OUR ROOM RESERVATION FEES.
UH, SO I'LL KIND OF RUN THROUGH WHAT THOSE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE AND THEN GIVE YOU A RUNDOWN OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PRE MEETING AND THEN OPEN THAT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
SO, UM, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO CHANGE IS JUST THE NAME OF THE CLASSROOM.
WE WOULD LIKE TO JUST CHANGE THAT TO MEETING ROOMS. UM, WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO STANDARDIZE THE FEES.
AND SO CURRENTLY YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE A WEEKDAY AND A WEEKEND RATE, UH, DEPENDING UPON WHEN YOU RESERVE THE ROOM.
UM, THE WEEKDAYS, UH, THAT RUNS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY UNTIL FRIDAY AT 5:00 PM AND AT FRIDAY AT 5:00 PM, THAT STARTS THE WEEKEND, UM, RATES THAT YOU SEE HERE.
AND THEN IN THE RIGHT COLUMN, YOU'LL SEE THE PROPOSED FEES THAT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR THIS NEXT YEAR.
UM, GRANGER ANNEX, YOU'LL SEE, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE CURRENTLY.
IT'S A 40 75 AND WE'RE PROPOSING $125 PER HOUR.
REASON BEING IS ONCE THAT FACILITY DOES GET STARTED ON CONSTRUCTION AND GET COMPLETED, WE ARE CALLING IT THE MINI ATRIUM.
IT HAS SOME, IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL SPACE.
YOU WON'T HAVE TO WALK THROUGH A RECREATION CENTER TO GO TO YOUR EVENT, TO STANDALONE FACILITY.
UM, WE'VE ADDED SOME DIFFERENT THINGS WITH AB EQUIPMENT AND JUST THE LIGHTING, THE AESTHETICS OF IT'S GOING TO BE VERY NICE.
SO, UM, THAT IS THE RATE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CHARGE FOR THE GRINDER ANNEX.
AND YOU'LL SEE ONE CALLED AUDUBON TURF AND GILL FIELDS PATIO.
OBVIOUSLY THOSE ARE RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS.
AND, UM, SO WE ARE KEEPING THOSE IN LINE WITH OUR OTHER OUTDOOR SPACES THAT WE HAVE WITH HOLLABAUGH PAVILION.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE RATE INCREASES THERE.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO AWAY WITH HAVING TWO DIFFERENT FEES AND HAVE ONE, ONE FEE, WHETHER YOU, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME THAT YOU RENT THE SPACE, UM, AND TO GIVE YOU SOME JUST HISTORICAL INFORMATION PRE COVID IN THE WORLD, UM, FROM 2018 TO 2019, AND DURING THAT, THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE DID 46 WEEKDAY RESERVATIONS TOTAL FOR THE YEAR.
SO OUT OF SIX RECREATION CENTERS, WE DID 46 TOTAL.
AND, UM, CURRENTLY FOR THIS YEAR, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE CLOSED FOR COVID, THEN WE DIDN'T DO RESERVATIONS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING AND ALL OF THAT.
SO FROM OCTOBER THROUGH MARCH OF THIS YEAR, WE'VE DONE 29 WEEKDAY RESERVATIONS.
SO IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS IN HIGH DEMAND.
SO WE ARE PROPOSING JUST TO STANDARDIZE THE RATE.
AND, UM, SO YOU'LL SEE WHAT WE DID ON THOSE IS WE JUST ADDED ON THE, WE TOOK THE CURRENT WEEKEND RATE AND THEN INCREASED THOSE.
SO EVERYBODY HAS ALL OF THOSE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT THEY CAN LOOK AT IN THE PRE MEETING.
THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ON, SHOULD WE DO AWAY WITH THE WEEKDAY RATE, UM, BECAUSE IT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IF YOU DID HAPPEN TO RENT DURING THE WEEKDAY, UM, IT'S A DIFFERENT, UH, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT, MORE OF A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FOR THOSE USERS.
HOWEVER, UM, JUST DUE TO EITHER PROGRAM AVAILABILITY, TAKING UP, UM, SPACE IN THE REC CENTERS, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE SPACE TO RENT IT.
IT'S NOT HIGH DEMAND FOR OUR USERS.
SO, UM, WE, AS STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING JUST TO DO IT THE WAY WITH THAT WEEKDAY RATE.
SO I WILL OPEN THAT UP TO DISCUSSION, OR
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IF SOMEBODY FROM THE EARLIER MEETING WANTS TO START THAT OFF, UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS, THIS PROPOSED FEE THAT SUGGESTED BY THE STAFF.ACTUALLY, I HAVE A MOTION FROM DON KERNER WHO WAS SECOND I'LL SECOND SECOND FROM JONATHAN FERGUSON.
DO WE HAVE DISCUSSION? DO WE NEED TO TALK MR. CARTER? YEAH, THERE YOU GO.
UM, IS WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING NOW TO JUST DO AWAY WITH THE WEEKDAY FEE AND MAKE IT THE SAME FOR THE WEEKEND AND IT WOULD MAKE IT ALL SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
WE WOULD JUST HAVE ONE FEE INSTEAD OF TWO DIFFERENT RATES INSTEAD OF TWO DIFFERENT FEES.
AND THEN IN LOOKING AT THIS, UM, I WAS TRYING TO GO BACK TO MY NOTES THAT I HAD BEFORE WE STARTED THE FIRST MEETING, UH, ALL THE ONE OUTDOOR TURF AND GAYLE FIELDS PATIO.
UM, WE HAD THOSE, WE HAD THOSE DOWN AT THE, AT, AT THE LOW END AND THEN WE HAD THE HOLLYBURN PAVILION.
IS IT A, IS IT DIFFERENT THAN INDEPENDENCE, FREESTANDING PAVILION OUT THERE AND IT IT'S, IT'S OPEN.
IT'S A, FREE-STANDING WHERE THESE OTHERS ARE.
UM, AT AUTOBON YOU'VE GOT THE SIZE.
IS THIS THE SIDE PATIO THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT? ALL THIS AT BOTH FACILITIES, UM, WHERE YOU CAN ENTER, UH, THE AUDUBON AREA IS FENCED, BUT YOU CAN STILL ENTER FROM THE OUTSIDE IF WE UNLOCK THAT GATE.
AND THEN FIELDS IS CURRENTLY NOT FENCED.
AND THEN THE QUESTION THAT WE HAD IN YOU, YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF RESENTING.
THIS IS THAT, UM, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A $5 INCREASE, BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IS MADE A $5 OVER ALL OF THE WEEKEND FEES AND THEN MADE THE WEEKDAY FEES RISE TO THAT SAME LEVEL.
AND THEN THE QUESTION I WOULD ASK FOR IS FOR THE GROUP TO SEE IF THEY COMMENT ON IS, DO YOU THINK THAT BY HAVING THE SAME RATE ON, ON THE WEEKDAYS AND THE WEEKENDS WOULD MAYBE MAKE MORE PEOPLE GO TO THE WEEKEND, WHICH WOULD THEN MAYBE GIVE US WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM, IF WE WERE LUCKY, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M HOPING THAT ALL OF THE NEW FACILITIES ARE GOING TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THEIR USAGE.
NOW THEY, THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF REASON TO BE THERE IN THE PAST, UM, WHERE WE, WHERE WE'D GOTTEN TO THROUGH THE BAD TIMES AND EVERYTHING, BUT WE'RE COMING OUT OF THAT COMPLETELY NOW.
SO, UM, THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU THINK THAT THE WEEKDAY FEES SHOULD BE RAISED TO THE SAME AS THE WEEKEND FEES? I DO.
I'M MAKING THAT RECOMMENDATION.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE, UM, THE DEMAND DURING THE WEEK.
SO YOU'RE DOUBLING THE FEE, WHICH TO ME SEEMS YOU'RE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THOSE THAT ARE USING IT.
THE SENIORS THAT ARE THERE THAT WERE AT AUDUBON AND GATHERING FOR THEIR BRIDGE GAME.
SO I GUESS THAT'S KIND OF MY QUESTION AND I, I COULD UNDERSTAND IF YOU HAVE TO, UM, IF YOU HAVE A HIGH DEMAND THAT YOU WOULD RAISE THE FEES, SO THAT, THAT WOULD LOWER THE DEMAND.
BUT WHEN THE DEMAND HAS BEEN LOW AND IT'S GONE AND DOUBLING THE FEES SEEMS TO ME THAT WE HAVE IS THE GOAL JUST TO LEAVE THE MEETING ROOMS EMPTY AND AIRING.
CAN I CHIME IN ON THAT A LITTLE BIT? DO YOU MIND, I WANT TO MAYBE GO BACK A LITTLE BIT.
DOES EVERYBODY REMEMBER THE COST RECOVERY PYRAMID? DID WE COVER THAT SOME TIME AGO? SO SOMETHING TO MAYBE KEEP IN MIND IS THAT IN THAT COST RECOVERY PYRAMID, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE THINGS AT THE BOTTOM THAT ARE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AS COMPARED THAT WILL HAVE HIGHER SUBSIDY IS COMPARED TO THE THINGS AT THE TOP OF THE PYRAMID ARE GOING TO BE INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT.
SO RENTALS FALL UNDER THAT INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT AT THE TOP.
SO THAT MEANS IT BENEFITS ONLY THAT PERSON'S BABY SHOWER, WEDDING, WHATEVER, WHEREAS THE PROGRAMS, WHETHER THEY BE FOR SENIORS, YOUTH, WHATEVER MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF SUBSIDY.
UM, AND SO THE THINGS THAT ARE INTO INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT TEND TO BE TOTAL COST RECOVERY PLUS A LITTLE BIT.
IT MIRRORS THAT INTENTION, THAT CONSISTENCY ACROSS HOW WE PRICE, UH, AS WELL AS THE COST FOR OPERATING THE RENTAL DURING THE WEEK IS THE EXACT SAME STAFF WISE.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO RECOVER THAT COST FOR SOMETHING THAT IS AN INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT, WE'VE GOT TO RECOVER THAT REGARDLESS.
AND SO THIS FITS THAT PYRAMID IN THAT PHILOSOPHY, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT CONSISTENT.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO VARY A LITTLE BIT, BUT I THOUGHT I'D ADD THAT ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION ON HOW WE, HOW THAT RATIONALE GETS APPLIED TO A VARIETY OF FEES.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THE COUNCIL.
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WANT TO HAVE THEIR TOWN HALL MEETINGS.THAT'S NOT A PAID RESERVATION.
IF WE HAVE THE NON EXEMPT GROUPS THAT ARE MEETING THAT WE BRING TO YOU GUYS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, CRIME, WATCH GROUPS, THOSE THEY'RE NOT PAYING THESE FEES.
THIS IS FOR, I WANT TO COME IN AND DO A BABY SHOWER.
I WANT TO HAVE WELL, WE'VE HAD ALL KINDS OF THINGS AWAKE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
UH, HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE RATES? SO WE DID A BENCHMARK AND CAME UP WITH THE RATES BASED ON THAT WE LOOKED AT WHERE WE FELL WITH THAT BENCHMARK AND COMPARED TO 11 OTHER CITIES, DID ANY OF THOSE OTHER CITIES DO WEEKEND VERSUS WEEKDAY RATES? YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF RESIDENT NON-RESIDENT AND THEN THERE ARE SOME THAT HAVE AFTER HOUR FEES, WHICH I WOULD SAY THAT IS, UM, UM, THAT WAS CARROLLTON HAS AN AFTER HOURS FEE.
THERE'S SOME THAT DO DEPOSITS.
I MEAN, NO FAIR QUESTION, BUT JUST TO REITERATE, THERE WAS ONLY 40 OR SO RENTALS IN A YEAR SPANS.
SO PRE COVID IN THE WORLD SIX CENTERS, CORRECT? YEAH.
YOU HAVE SIX RE UM, RECREATION CENTERS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN RENT AND THIS IS NOT EVEN INCLUDING, CAUSE AT THE TIME WE WEREN'T EVEN DOING RENTALS AT, UM, THE SENIOR CENTERS.
UM, SO THERE WERE 46 TOTAL IN A YEAR.
AND SO THAT'S NOT EVEN ONE A WEEK.
SO JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT, I'M FOR EVERYTHING ON HERE, EXCEPT FOR GETTING RID OF THE WEEKDAY RATE IN THE CLASSROOM SETTINGS THAT AREN'T BEING RENTED.
NOW, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH, WITH GRANGER AND THAT HUGE INCREASE THERE FOR A HUGE, UH, DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT IS AVAILABLE THERE VERSUS JUST A GYM, LIKE SETTING WITH BATHROOMS THAT SOMETIMES WORK, UM, THE AUDUBON TURF, THE WEEKEND CROWD USING, CAUSE THAT'S WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE MORE MANAGEABLE.
UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ADD A, YOU KNOW, A NON-RESIDENT FEE BECAUSE AS RESIDENTS, WE ARE PAYING FOR THESE PUBLIC FACILITIES.
SO WE CURRENTLY DON'T EVEN DO THAT WITH, UM, ARE THOSE FEES.
SO THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, BASED ON HOW Y'ALL THE DIRECTION THAT YOU GUYS PROVIDE, WILL IT NEED TO BRING BACK SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE MAIN MEETING, IF THIS IS NOT OR REVISE, LIKE IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH KEEPING THE WEEKDAY RATE SO THAT THERE IS A DISCOUNT AND WE JUST DON'T DO THAT.
ARE THERE GROUPS THAT WANT TO COME IN ON THE WEEKENDS, BUT THEY CAN'T DO IT OR CAN THERE BE A PREFERENCE GIVEN TO RESIDENTS OVER NON-RESIDENTS? ARE THERE GROUPS THAT WANT TO COME IN ON ARE THEIR MEETING ROOMS THAT ARE POPULAR AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE TO GET SO OUR BOOKING, I MEAN THAT WE ARE HEAVILY UTILIZED, UM, FOR OUR WEEKEND RESERVATIONS BECAUSE ANYBODY CAN COME AND MEET THERE.
SO YOU HAVE POTENTIALLY, I JUST BELIEVE IF YOU HAVE A GARLAND CITIZEN THAT WANTS TO GO TO USE A GARLAND FACILITY TO HAVE A PARTY THAT THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN SOME SORT OF PREFERENCE OVER A NON RESIDENT.
AND IF THEY WANT TO COME DO THAT DURING THE WEEK WHERE IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE UP EXTRA PARKING SPACE AND IT'S NOT COMPETING WITH OTHER ACTIVITIES THEY'RE IN THE GYM OR SCHOOL PROGRAMS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A LOWER RATE AS THEY WOULD AT ANY PUBLIC FACILITY.
IT JUST KIND OF MAKES SENSE TO ME SIMPLIFYING THE RATES.
I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT CAUSE I JUST PERCEIVE THAT IT'S PENALIZE PENALIZING, THE GRAY HAIRED GROUP.
AND IF I COULD ADD TO THAT, I THINK WHAT'S CURIOUS ABOUT THAT IS, IS THAT WHEN IT WAS ALREADY AT THE DISCOUNTED RATE THAT DISCOUNTED RATE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO STIMULATE THE DEMAND, IT WAS, IT, IT DIDN'T INCREASE.
SO IT, THERE WAS NO DEMAND THERE EVEN AT THE LOWER RATE.
SO TYPICALLY WHEN YOU DO PRICING LIKE THAT, YOU'VE GOT SOME KIND OF DIFFERENTIAL PRICING FOR A REASON IT'S EITHER TO INCENTIVIZE USE AND IN NON-PEAK TIMES OR FOR WHATEVER BUSINESS PURPOSE YOU MIGHT HAVE.
SO IT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE IN GENERAL, YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THE BUILDING FULL OF PROGRAMS. AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THINGS SET ASIDE FOR RENTALS.
AND SO THERE'S A BALANCE THERE AND WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO RENT WOULD BE THE, WHATEVER THE FEES WE END UP WITH.
SO IT'S NOT THAT THE DEMAND FOR WEEKDAY W W WE DIDN'T PERCEIVE THAT WE WERE PENALIZING ANYBODY BECAUSE THE DEMAND'S NOT EVEN THERE.
I MEAN, 46 OVER SIX FACILITIES IS NEXT TO NOTHING.
IF IT'S THE SAME PRICE AS A WEEKEND, I WOULD, IT MIGHT, IT MIGHT NOT.
AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE COULD TRY AND REPORT BACK AND SEE, IT MAY NOT, IT MAY HAVE NO IMPACT CAUSE IT MIGHT BE.
AND WE COULD MAYBE DO DEEPER DIVE ON WHAT THOSE RENTALS ARE AND WHO THEY ARE.
WHAT KIND OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE PURPOSE OF THAT WAS, UM, IF IT'S, IF THEY ENDED UP IN THAT SPACE,
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BECAUSE AVAILABILITY ON THE WEEKEND DIDN'T EXIST, THEY TOOK THE SECOND BEST THING, POSSIBLY NOT BECAUSE IT WAS THEIR PREFERRED TIME.HOW MANY CENTERS ARE RE RENOVATING AND HAVING MEETING ROOMS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEY'VE BEEN IN THE PAST.
AND I HAVE MORE FACILITIES THERE NOW, ALBEIT ONE.
SO THERE'S MORE THERE FOR PEOPLE TO DO WHERE THEY MAY WANT TO COME NECESSARILY.
THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY MORE ROOMS, THEY'RE GENERALLY NICER ROOMS. SO THE ONES THAT'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL SPACE WILL BE PRETTY MUCH AUDUBON AND OFFERED.
IT'S AND IT'S GETTING EXPANDED.
SO, UM, BRADFIELD IS, WAS NOT IN THE BOND PROGRAM FOR, TO RECEIVE ANY CHANGES IT MIGHT IN THE FUTURE.
BUT, UM, SO THAT, THAT WAS THE RATIONALE FOR SIMPLIFYING THINGS.
NOW FOR THE NON-RESIDENT ISSUE, WE COULD CERTAINLY EXPLORE THAT.
I WOULD PUT OUT THERE FOR DISCUSSION THAT IT IS A MUCH MORE COMPLEX DISCUSSION THAN PROBABLY TONIGHT AND A RESIDENT COULD SIT THERE AND BE THE FACE OF THE PERSON THAT'S, UM, RENTING, I GUESS.
UH, AND IN EITHER WAY, THERE'S NO LIABILITY THAT FALLS UPON THE RENTAL RENTER ANYWAY IS SO IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.
NO, AND IT, AND IT, AND THERE'S ABSOLUTELY MANY CITIES DO RESIDENT NON-RESIDENT FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON.
SO YOUR PHILOSOPHICALLY, THAT ARGUMENTS MADE ALL THE TIME.
I JUST WANT TO BE DELICATE WITH THAT DISCUSSION FOR THE FACT THAT IT'S LOGISTICALLY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU START VERIFYING THOSE, THOSE ADDRESSES THAT IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
SO NOT THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE, IT'S JUST, IT'S A BIG DISCUSSION.
AND WHAT WOULD THAT RIPPLE EFFECT BE CITYWIDE? SO I FEEL LIKE THAT DISCUSSION MAY BE BROADER THAN JUST PARKS AND REC, MAYBE NOT, BUT IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A ROAD TO GO DOWN THAT IF THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE COUNCIL END UP GOING, THAT WE COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN.
IT'S JUST A, IT'S A BIG DISCUSSION JUST FROM PAST EXPERIENCE.
IT, SOMETIMES IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO ACTUALLY ASCERTAIN SOMEBODY RESIDENCY.
IT, IT TAKES TIME AT THE FRONT DESK FOR THEM TO BUY THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE.
MAYBE SOMEBODY LIKE ED COULD HELP ME ON THE MATH, BUT IF YOU, IF YOU TAKE SOMETHING FROM 30 TO 60 AND YOU'RE NOT RENTING IT, THAT, THAT, THAT WOULD ALSO DECREASE, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN BY HALF.
SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE GOAL IS JUST TO STANDARDIZE THE FEE RATHER THAN FILL THE ROOMS WITH, UM, PEOPLE AND HAVING THE PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
BUT I THINK SO, JUST MAKE SURE I'M CLARIFYING.
SO DURING THE WEEK DAY WEATHER, THAT THAT NUMBER IS LOW PROBABLY FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.
ONE THAT'S WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE HEAVIEST WITH HAPPENING WITH ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. SO THE SPACE MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE.
SO WHETHER I CHANGE THIS FEAR, NOT, AND YOU WANT TO COME IN AND RENT DURING THAT WEEK DAY, IT JUST MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE DUE TO KARATE'S IN THERE AND BALLY'S IN THERE.
AND SO I JUST DON'T MAY NOT HAVE THE SPACE, UM, OR IT COULD ALSO JUST BE, YOU KNOW, IT'S MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, BEFORE FIVE AND, YOU KNOW, REALISTICALLY, MOST OF PEOPLE DO THEIR EVENTS ON THE WEEKENDS.
AND SO THERE'S JUST NOT MUCH OF A DEMAND.
I WAS JUST THINKING THAT IF I WERE WORKING AT THE CENTER, THAT I WOULD RATHER TO SEE ONE OR TWO OF MY MEETING ROOMS, UM, USED DURING THE WEEK, RATHER THAN ALWAYS BUSY ON THE WEEKEND AND THE NOT UTILIZING, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOUR TIME'S MORE DIVIDED.
THERE'S JUST MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE AVILA AVAILABILITIES ON THE WEEKEND.
AND THERE'S MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE AVAILABILITY LATER.
THAT'S WHY RESTAURANTS DO HAPPY HOUR.
SO MAYBE YOU WOULD CONSIDER A, UH, RECREATION HAPPY HOUR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHERE AT A TIME THAT YOU DON'T NORMALLY HAVE PROGRAMMING, THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE RESIDENT OR THE USER.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE, AND I HEAR EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
AND WITH THE HOURS THAT THEY'RE OPEN, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A CLASS GO TILL EIGHT O'CLOCK CENTER CLOSES AT NINE, RIGHT? SO YOU DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF WHAT'S LEFT AND THAT, SO IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT, THAT'S WHY THE DEMAND, I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS THAT IF YOU DROPPED IT TO FREE, WE WOULDN'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE IN THE, IN THE NUMBERS, JUST BECAUSE OF THE COMBINATION OF AVAILABLE SLOTS AFTER WHAT'S LEFT OVER FROM PROGRAMMING, I WOULD SAY THAT IT LOOKS AWKWARD MAKING A HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH UNDER THE WEEKEND, THE WEEKDAY RENTAL.
AND SINCE YOU'VE DONE THE MARKET SURVEY AND THAT THESE PRICES ARE IN LINE, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY LET'S GO FORWARD WITH ONE.
AND HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT WHAT I'M HEARING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE OF HOW THE CITY FEES ARE DONE, WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE ORDINANCE OR JUST IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, YOU COULD TRY THIS OUT.
AND IF IT GOES IN A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE DIRECTION, WE CAN REACT TO IT A LOT QUICKER WITH THE PROPOSED WAY
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THIS MIGHT BE LOOKED AT.SO THERE'S NO HARM IN SAYING, OKAY, THE RATIONALE IS X, Y, AND Z.
LET'S MEASURE AND DOCUMENT HOW PEOPLE RESPOND TO IT.
AND THEN IF IT WORKS GREAT, IF IT DOESN'T REEVALUATE, WELL, LET ME ASK YOU DID BALT SPRINGS.
WERE THEY PART OF THE MIX? NO, THEY ARE NOT.
WHAT ABOUT PLANO? NO, LET ME LIST THEM FOR YOU.
RELIT MS. SKEETE DALLAS CARROLLTON, RICHARDSON, WILEY ROCKWALL, ALLEN LEWISVILLE, IRVING, AND FRISCO.
AND SO IT'S A BALANCING ACT BETWEEN ARE WE PRICING IT IN A WAY THAT MIRRORS THE VALUE OF THE NEW IMPROVED PRODUCT VERSUS STABILITY OF RESIDENTS TO PAY? SO YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE HIGH END.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE LOW END.
SO WE FEEL THAT SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE, LIKE WE WERE SAYING EARLIER, SOMETIMES, UM, PEOPLE WON'T TAKE SOMETHING FOR FREE BECAUSE IT HAS NO PERCEIVED VALUE.
IF IT'S TOO CHEAP, ONE-ON-ONE IT, WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.
SO THERE'S A HAPPY MEDIUM BETWEEN COST RECOVERY OF TRUE COSTS AND A PROFIT CENTER.
TO WHAT DEGREE IS IT A PROFIT CENTER? AND SO I FEEL LIKE WE TRIED TO STRIKE A HAPPY BALANCE BETWEEN NOT TOO MUCH AND NOT TOO LITTLE.
LET ME GIVE YOU SO MOSQUITO OUR NEIGHBOR AND THEY DO HAVE A RESIDENT NON-RESIDENT RATE IS PENDING, YOU KNOW, THE SIZE OF THE ROOM.
IT CAN BE FOR A RESIDENT 30 TO A HUNDRED DOLLARS AND NON-RESIDENT IS 50 TO 110.
SO THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT WHERE WE SIT CURRENTLY AND OUR PROPOSED FEES.
AND WE STILL AREN'T AT THEIR MAX.
I MEAN, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ANNEX, BUT I REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
THE MINI I LIKE THE MINI MINI ATRIUM.
THAT'S REALLY A GOOD NAME FOR THAT.
WELL, AND THAT'S NOT MY, THAT'S NOT MY POINT OF CONTENTION.
UH, MY QUESTIONING IS ONLY ON THE CLASSROOM PART IN, I GUESS YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION AS FAR AS THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WILLING TO GET TOGETHER, I GUESS, BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING TO OUTSOURCE THE SENIOR CENTER ACTIVITIES TO OTHER PLACES, BUT YEAH, FOR, FOR THE, FOR THE NEAR FUTURE, THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY BE AN IMPACT.
BUT TH THOSE FOLKS TEND TO BE DONE BEFORE FOUR O'CLOCK, BUT IT MAY MEAN OTHER THINGS GET DISPLACED BY DEFAULT, YOU KNOW, SOME CLASSES GET MOVED AROUND, SO IT, IT'S DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE.
AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY WHAT'S IN THE MIDDLE IN TERMS OF RENTAL AVAILABILITY, IT'S LEFTOVERS, BECAUSE PROGRAMMING IS TAKES THE PRECEDENCE.
CAUSE THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE THE BROADER COMMUNITY BENEFIT.
ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR MS. WILLIAMS. UM, AND AT ONE POINT IN TIME, YOU MENTIONED THAT A TWO HOUR MINIMUM.
WHEN, WHEN DOES, WHEN DOES THAT KICK IN? CAUSE THAT THAT COULD AFFECT, UM, WHAT MR. BISHOP IS TALKING ABOUT.
IF YOU HAVE A TWO HOUR MINIMUM ON A WEEKEND, MAYBE IN AN EVENING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AS OPPOSED TO A ONE HOUR THAT MIGHT AFFECT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE AND MOVE THEM BACK TO DURING THE WEEK WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE, WHAT WORKS ON THE TWO HOUR.
KATE, DO YOU HAVE THAT ONE PULLED UP? CAN YOU LOOK ON THE, I DON'T, I'M NOT RETAINING THAT AT THE MOMENT I RECALLING IT.
IT'S, UM, ONE HOUR WEEKDAYS AND I THINK IT'S TWO HOURS WEEKENDS, BUT IS THAT RIGHT? YOU WANT THE ORDINANCE OR DON'T LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE ORDINANCE IS ACTUALLY WRONG ASKING ABOUT THE EXISTING OR THE PROPOSED THE EXISTING OF THE HOUR VERSUS TWO.
I THINK IT'S ONE HOUR WEEKDAYS AND TWO HOURS WEEKEND.
WE'RE NOT MESSING WITH IT RIGHT THERE.
NEGATES, UH, UH, PART OF WHAT MS. BISHOP IS TALKING ABOUT WITH PEOPLE MOVING TO THE WEEKEND, IF THEY ONLY NEED AN HOUR, BUT THEY HAVE A TWO HOUR MINIMUM, THEN, THEN THAT WILL HELP THE LOAD ON, ON THAT SIDE.
AND, UH, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT CLARIFIED.
CAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN MY MIND.
WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT BEFORE, SO THANK YOU.
AND TO THAT POINT, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
EVEN WITH THE ACCOMMODATION OF GOING TO AN HOUR WINDOW, I CAN'T THINK OF AN EVENT THAT YOU COULD GET THERE, SET UP, HAVE THE EVENT TEAR DOWN, CLEAN UP BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THEIR RENTAL TIME.
IT'S JUST NOT PART OF THE, THE MARKET OF THOSE.
AND THEN THE WEEKENDS THEN DO THEY TEND TO GO LONGER THAN THAT? EVEN LIKE THREE HOURS, FOUR HOURS, THERE'S MORE COMMON THAN TWO.
IF I COULD JUST SAY, JUST FROM SPEAKING PROFESSIONALLY, I GUESS FROM WHAT I CURRENTLY DO, UH, DAVE REYNOLDS TEND TO BE BUSINESS MEETINGS.
LIKE A COMPANY JUST NEEDS TO, HEY, I NEED TO PUT TOGETHER A RETREAT FOR MY TEAM.
AND THOSE ARE THERE DURING THE DAY WHEN THERE'S LITTLE TO NO YOUTH PROGRAMMING OR ANYTHING THAT COULD TAKE IT UP.
UM, SO THOSE ARE KIND OF THE RENTALS I TEND TO SEE IN A NEIGHBORING CITY.
AND IT'S NOT, AND IT'S NOT, THEY DON'T TEND TO BE RESONANT.
THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU INCENTIVIZE, IF YOU, IF YOU LOOK AT THE OPERATIONS OF ANY FACILITY AND YOU'VE GOT PEAK TIMES AND SLOW TIMES, WELL, WHAT CAN I DO TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO FILL IN THAT SLOW TIME IT'S AVAILABLE EITHER I GOT TO PUT A PROGRAM IN IT OR I GOT TO RENT IT OUT.
IF I RENT IT OUT, WHO'S MY MARKET.
AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY, WE SEE THAT
[00:25:01]
AT THE ATRIUM, THAT'S A MARKET.WE GO AFTER IN THE ATRIUM TO FILL IN THE WEEKDAYS BECAUSE WEEKENDS ARE WEDDINGS AND AIR AND GET GUESTROOMS. SO IS THIS LIKE, SHOULD THIS BE MORE OF A MARKETING THINGS? AND SHOULD WE BE TALKING TO THAT CONVENTION AND VISITOR'S BUREAU THAT YOU HAVE SOME TIME AVAILABLE DURING THE DAY FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, I'M JUST THINKING OF WAYS TO BOOST THE FEES.
THE ONLY POSSIBLE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE THAT CAN COME DURING THE WEEK ARE EITHER RETIRED OR UNEMPLOYED AND THOSE ON THE WEEKEND, UM, MAY STILL FALL UNDER THAT, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE COMPETITION FOR THOSE PREMIUM TIMES AND HOURS.
I JUST SEEMS LIKE IF IT'S, IF IT'S NOT BEING FILLED AT 30 AND YOU RAISE IT TO 60 AND IT DISAPPEARS JUST ON THE CLASSROOM MEETING ROOM SLASH SECTION, THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I KIND OF HAVE THAT REALLY JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
AND I THINK WE TOTALLY HEAR THE CONCERN.
I THINK JUST THE CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR IS WHAT WE'RE GOING OFF OF BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DISTINGUISH WEEKDAY AND WEEKNIGHT ALSO.
SO YOU'VE GOT THAT'S DIFFERENT TIME SLOTS.
SO MOSTLY WE HOPE THERE'S PROGRAMS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
UM, BUT I, I DO, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF LET'S LOOK AT HOW THIS GOES, SEE WHAT THE BEHAVIOR IS.
IF WE SEE THINGS CHANGE WILDLY THAN WE CAN ADDRESS IT AT, AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
MOREHEAD, UH, AS, AS I SEE YOUR, YOU ALREADY HAVE A STANDARDIZED PHASE FOR THE GYM USE THAT IT IS CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WEEK.
AND ARE YOU SEEING ANY, UM, TIME USAGE DIFFERENTIAL, UM, WEEKEND VERSE EVENING VERSE WAKE DAY OR ANYTHING DOES THAT DOES HAVING A STANDARDIZED FAITH FOR THE GYMS? DOES THAT SEEM TO IMPACT WHEN IT IS USED? WELL, MOST OF THOSE RENTALS ARE PROBABLY ON THE WEEKEND BECAUSE THEY WANT A BIGGER SPACE.
SO A GOOD EXAMPLE IS PRE PRE AUDUBON BEING RENOVATED.
THEY WOULD RENT THE GYMNASIUM BECAUSE IT ALLOWED FOR MORE GUESTS FOR THEIR FACILITY.
AND SO THEN THEY, AGAIN, THEY, I MEAN THEY WANTED IT ON THE WEEKEND, SO THEY WEREN'T COMING IN DURING THE DAY.
SO NO NOW WE'RE NOT SEEING A CHANGE.
THERE IS IT POSSIBLE MAKE, UM, AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION TO REMOVE JUST THE CLASSROOM SIDE OF IT, CLASSROOM SLASH MEETING ROOM SIDE OF IT AND APPROVE ALL THE REST OF THESE, THE WAY THAT IT'S WRITTEN.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE, SO THE, THE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CLASSROOM OR A MEETING ROOM, IS IT SMALLER THAN A MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM? AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, SOME FACILITIES JUST HAVE MEETING ROOMS, SOME HAVE A MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM, LIKE AUDUBON HAS KNOW BIGGER ROOMS AND SAY BRADFIELD.
AND SO WHEN YOU JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT BETWEEN THE CLASSROOM AND THE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM, OR JUST THE CLASSROOM, UH, JUST WANTED TO REMOVE OUT OF THE SIX CATEGORIES THAT YOU HAVE, THE CLASSROOM IS THE FIRST CATEGORY THAT'S ON THERE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION, UH, TO REMOVE THAT AND, AND LEAVE THE REST OF THE WAY THAT IT'S LISTED, THE WAY THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING BY STAFF TO GO AHEAD AND SET THAT TO, UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY, I DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTION WITH THE REST OF IT CAUSE THEY'RE BIGGER ROOMS AND, UH, GOOD.
CAN I GET BACK TO MY ORIGINAL, THESE, WE, WE DISCUSSED THIS EARLIER AND LIKE DILLY SAID, THEY DID SURVEYS.
I TRUST THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THEIR FEES, THAT WHEN THEY SET THEIR FEES, THEY DID THEIR RESEARCH.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO RENT, IT THEY'LL PAY WHATEVER IT IS.
IF NOT, THEN THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T DO IT.
SO I'LL STICK WITH MY ORIGINAL MOTION THAT WE APPROVE, WHAT THE CITY, WHAT THE STAFF SUGGESTED.
AND, AND AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT, IF I COULD ADD JUST ONE OF THE, YOU COULD ALMOST CALL ALL OF THESE ROOMS, MULTIPURPOSE THE DIFFERENT SIZES THERE.
THEY'RE NOT CUSTOMIZED FOR ONE THING OVER ANOTHER.
SO WHETHER IT'S A PROGRAM OR A PRIVATE RENTAL, IT WILL, IT WILL TAKE ON WHAT THE SPACE DEMANDS.
SO IF A SMALL ROOM ACCOMMODATES A RENTAL AND IT'S AVAILABLE, THERE YOU GO.
IF IT NEEDS TO BE A BIGGER ROOM AND IT'S NOT AVAILABLE, HERE'S SOME ALTERNATIVES.
SO WE PUT THE IN CERTAIN ROOMS BASED ON THE SIZE AND RENTALS GO IN THERE BASED ON CERTAIN SIZES.
SO IT'S VERY, IT'S VERY FLUID WHEN SOMEBODY STANDING AT THE DESK LOOKING FOR AVAILABILITY AND SAID, WELL, I HAVE THIS ROOM AVAILABLE, BUT IT ONLY HOLDS 50 PEOPLE.
WELL, I HAVE A HUNDRED SAME THING WITH, WITH CLASSES.
SO IT'S, IT'S, UH, I GUESS BACK TO MY, KIND OF MY LEFTOVER ANALOGY, THAT'S TENDS
[00:30:01]
TO BE WIDE.A LOT OF RENTALS DO NOT HAPPEN IN WEEK NIGHTS.
SO WHAT'S A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO KIND OF WATCH THESE FEES AND HOW THIS WORKS OUT AND REPORT BACK TO US ON, YOU KNOW, HOW THE CHANGES, WELL, IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, THIS WOULD BE A PART OF THE BUDGET ADOPTION, AND THAT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO IF IT ALL WENT THROUGH, THESE WOULDN'T EVEN TAKE EFFECT UNTIL OCTOBER.
AND SO IF WE WANT TO CHANGE IT, IF WE WANT TO CHANGE IT, IT WOULD TAKE ANOTHER YEAR TO GET CHANGED BUDGET AND DEFER TO ANDY ON THAT ONE, POSSIBLY.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN TACKLED YET AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND THE COUNCIL LEVEL.
THERE'S THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THE FEE THEY DID A BIG FEE STUDY.
UM, AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE, WHETHER THAT STAYS IN AN ORDINANCE COMES OUT OF THE ORDINANCE.
UH, IS IT ONLY APPROVED IN THE BUDGET CYCLE? UH, ARE THERE CERTAIN PARAMETERS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE CITY MANAGER LEVEL TO APPROVE IT WITHOUT IT BEING THOSE, THOSE THINGS HAVE NOT BEEN DECIDED.
UM, BUT JONATHAN, I FEEL LIKE A YEAR YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT DATA, BUT YOU ALSO, WE, WE ALSO ARE GOING TO HAVE FACILITIES CLOSED.
AND SO A LOT OF THINGS IMPACT WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT HOLLABACK IS GOING TO BE CLOSED.
HOLFORD IS GOING TO BE CLOSED.
WE'VE GOT TO THEN MOVE THEIR PROGRAMS TO TRY AND KEEP THEM ALIVE AT OTHER FACILITIES, THE BEST THAT WE CAN ON TOP OF JUST MEETING WHATEVER CENTER THEY'RE AT AND THEY'RE MOVED TO THEIR NORMAL PROGRAMMING.
AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE WEIRD FOR AWHILE WHILE THE DATA MAY NOT EVEN BE ACTUALLY A REAL PICTURE, CORRECT.
THIS, THE CARTER, UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WANT TO COME IN TO THE BOARD FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING IT'S MOST OF US, WE DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE YOU WERE GOING.
YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB EXPLAINING IT.
AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE GO TO GO TO VOTE ON THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
AS IS, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? OKAY, SO DISCUSSION'S DONE.
WE HAVE A SECOND TO, TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL, REVIEW IT, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.
AND, UM, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR YOUR INPUT.
ON TO VERBAL BRIEFINGS, THE FIRST ITEM FISCAL YEAR 20 22, 23 PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET OPERATING BUDGET.
AND IS THAT YUKI OR DOES THAT MEAN EVERYBODY'S NAMES ON HERE EXCEPT THE LI UH, IN A NUTSHELL, UH, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING OUR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET TO THE CITY MANAGER.
UM, SO WE ARE HAVING STAFF MEETINGS TO ADDRESS ALL THE ISSUES THAT ARE, THAT ARE COMMON TO ANY TYPICAL BUDGET PROCESS PLUS THINGS THAT MIGHT BE NEW RELATED TO THE BOND PROGRAM.
SO, UM, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, KEITH TODAY MADE ME MEET FOR EIGHT HOURS STRAIGHT IN ONE ROOM TO DISCUSS ALL THE INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS.
AND WE'LL WRAP THAT UP THIS, THIS WEEK.
SO THAT THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND I THINK, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT GOES TO CITY COUNCIL IN EARLY AUGUST, UM, FOR ADOPTION, BUT THERE'LL BE MANY, MANY MEETINGS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN AMONGST STAFF AND AMONG CITY MANAGEMENT.
SO WE ARE ADDRESSING, UH, NEEDS.
I KNOW THERE'S ALSO SOME GREAT ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AHEAD OF ALL CITIES, UM, AS WE ALL KNOW, SO THOSE ARE GONNA TRY TO BE ADDRESSED IN TERMS OF INFLATION AND WE'VE GOT STAFFING CHALLENGES AS WELL.
SO THAT'S JUST THIS TIME OF YEAR THAT WE WRAP UP THE CIP BUDGET PROCESS, TAKE A BREATH AND START THE NEXT ONE IMMEDIATELY AFTER HEATH.
DID I MISS ANYTHING IMPORTANT? YEAH.
SO AT SOME POINT IN THE PROCESS, YOU GUYS COME BACK AND WE TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, AND THEN THE, BECAUSE THIRD, WE WILL PROVIDE YOU THE BUDGET.
WE DON'T HAVE A DATE YET FOR WHEN WE DO OUR COUNCIL PRESENTATION.
SO MOST LIKELY WE WILL COME BACK TO SANDBERG, UH, BASICALLY WHAT WE PROVIDED FIRST MEETING.
HOW, HOW ARE WE ON STAFFING PART BOARD? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, YOU BEAT ME TO IT, IT'S A CHALLENGE
[00:35:01]
FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS IN ALL CITIES RIGHT NOW.UM, GETTING PEOPLE HIRED IS DIFFICULT.
SALARIES ARE A COMPETITION FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN THE WORKFORCE IS, IS INCREASING.
SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO EMPLOY TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS RECRUITMENT, ADDRESS ANY SHORTFALLS AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY AVAILABLE.
SO, UM, ADDING FTES AS PART OF THAT STRATEGY, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SOME OTHER THINGS.
SO, UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE NEXT COUNCIL WORK SESSION IS PRESENTING.
AND I BELIEVE YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN THE BROADER VERSION OF IT IS THE PARK OPERATIONS MAINTENANCE PLAN AND THE KIND OF HOW THAT'S PUT TOGETHER AND THE MEASUREMENTS AND THE DATA WE USE TO ESTIMATE HOW MANY FTES IT TAKES TO MAINTAIN THE PARK SYSTEM AT A CERTAIN LEVEL.
UH, SO WE'LL PRESENT THAT AT THE WORK SESSION.
LOVE TO HAVE EVERYBODY THERE TO, TO SEE THAT.
CAUSE IT MIGHT DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE NOW IT'S STARTING TO TIE INTO THOSE BUDGET REQUESTS RELATED TO FTE.
SO WHEN IS IT A MONDAY, RIGHT FROM MONDAY WEEK.
UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE'LL, WE'LL PRESENT MOSTLY PARK OPERATIONS IN THAT CASE.
AND WE'LL SHOW THE MEASUREMENTS OF IF WE'RE SHORT X NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT SHORTFALL AND OVER HOW MUCH AMOUNT OF TIME? SO WE HAVE TWO THINGS IN THAT REGARD FOR PARK OPS IS PLAYING A LITTLE BIT OF CATCH UP, PLUS ALL THE NEW THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT AND ADDED.
SO WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A STRATEGY OF HOW TO DO THAT.
AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT ADDING STAFF, BUT IT'S A BIG COMPONENT.
UM, ANYTIME WE ADD NEW THINGS LIKE SPECIAL EVENTS, THAT'S ANOTHER CHALLENGE.
IT'S A DEMAND ON DIRECT STAFF TO PARK STAFF, SPECIAL EVENTS, STAFF, ALL TO KICK IN AND HELP WITH THOSE EVENTS.
UM, SO NEW EVENTS EQUALS, UH, NEW RESOURCES NEEDED.
SO WE'VE, WE'VE GOT SOME GROUND TO MAKE UP, BUT WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WILL BE COMPETING WITH EVERYONE ELSE.
THE DOWNTOWN THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF OUR COST.
UH, IT WILL, THEY GET IT COMPLETED, THAT'S ALL NEW THAT'S RIGHT.
AND SO OUR BUDGET WILL REFLECT THAT, UM, IT ADMINISTRATION HAS ASKED FOR NOT ONLY THIS YEAR'S GENERAL FUND NEEDS, UM, THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY, BUT WHAT IS OUR MASTER PLAN DURATION NEEDS? SO WHAT DOES THAT, NOW THAT WE'VE ADOPTED ALL THESE MASTER PLANS? WHAT, WHAT CAN WE PROJECT THAT WE MIGHT NEED IN THAT 2, 5, 10 YEAR TIMEFRAME, BOTH FROM A CONSTRUCTION STANDPOINT AND THE OPERATION STANDPOINT.
SO W WE'RE WORKING ON IS, AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHAT WE MET ON TODAY WAS, WAS ON THAT.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING, UM, ANDY, IT APPEARS THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS AND THAT YOU ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR, UH, FOR WHERE YOU'RE GOING, BECAUSE YOU ARE LOOKING OUT IN FRONT.
WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO LEAD THE WAGONS FROM THE BACK OF THE LAST WAGON, UH, AND NOT MEANING PARKS, BUT MEANING JUST MUNICIPAL WORK IN ITSELF.
AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ALREADY ANTICIPATING THE NEEDS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR THIS NEW ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO EXIST OUT THERE.
AND WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE STAFF TO DO THAT, THEN WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE OUT OF, OUT OF EACH OF THESE.
AND IF WE CAN GIVE YOU ANY SUPPORT WITH THAT, UH, WHEREVER THAT MAY BE, WE'D BE GLAD TO DO IT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE BUDGET OVER HERE? YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING, UH, ON TOPIC, IF THEY'RE NOT, DID YOU HAVE TO MENTION IT RIGHT NOW? PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT IF YOU THINK OF SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL IN YOUR DISTRICT OR THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT HEAR FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS OR YOUR, YOUR APPOINTEES CONSTITUENTS, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, NOW'S THE TIME TO LET US KNOW SO WE CAN INCORPORATE IT.
IF THERE'S JUST SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT YOU THINK MIGHT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR IT.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S ALWAYS A THOUSAND NEEDS AND ONLY A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO ADDRESS THEM ALL, BUT WE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THEM ON THE LIST AND THEN WE CAN PRIORITIZE THEM AND ROLL THEM OUT.
SO IF YOU SEE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE, HOW DO WE LOVE TO, HOW DO WE SUBMIT THAT TO YOU? JUST EMAIL IT, EMAIL ME, AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
IF IT'S NOT ADDRESSED AND SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALREADY PLANNING ON, THEN WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
YOU'RE MUCH BETTER RESPONSES TO BE ANTICIPATE, ANTICIPATING IT RATHER THAN REACTING TO IT.
IF I, IF I COULD, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH IS HERE WITH US, WHO IS THE ONE WHO HAS REMANDED THIS ISSUE TO PARK BOARD FOR DISCUSSION.
SO IF I COULD ASK HIM TO MAYBE GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF A PREAMBLE AND AN INTRODUCTION TO THIS TOPIC TO HELP US MAKE SURE WE'RE ON TASK.
UM, AND THEN MATT'S GOT A VERY DETAILED, UM, VIEWPOINT ON WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO LOOK AT.
IS THAT SHOWING UP ON THEIR SCREEN? YES, SIR.
[00:40:01]
GUYS, HOW'S IT GOING? IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY BACK TO THE MEETING OF HEARING THINGS ABOUT BUDGETS, BECAUSE I THINK I VOTED EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO EXTEND Y'ALL'S BUDGET.
ONE MORE YEAR TO CATCH UP, CATCH UP, CATCH UP, CATCH UP NOW, GET HERE.
ACTUALLY WHAT I, WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS ANYTHING WE FALL SHORT ON, ANDY'S GOING TO GO OUT AND DO PERSONALLY.
UH, WHAT I'M BRINGING YOU GUYS TODAY IS SOMETHING THAT IS KIND OF COMPLEX AND TOUCHES A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
AND ONE OF WHAT I'M HERE TONIGHT TO DO IS, IS LARGELY GET ADVICE.
UM, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT ISSUES.
UM, ONE IS A DEVELOPER ISSUE AND ONE IS A TREE AND VEGETATION ISSUE.
AND WHERE THESE ALL CROSSED OVER TOGETHER IS THAT, UM, WE HAVE A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS THAT GO UP ALONG OUR CREEK WAYS, UH, NEAR PARKS.
AND WE SEND THE POLICE OFFICERS TO GO IN AND CLEAR THOSE OUT.
AND WHAT WE FIND IS ANYWHERE WHERE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO THIN THE VEGETATION OUT A BIT, WE HAVE BETTER RESULTS.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF TRASH TREES.
UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF JUNGLE IN AND AROUND THE CREEK BANKS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS WE WOULD LIKE TO INCENTIVIZE SOME OF THESE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS TO GO THROUGH AND THIN THOSE TREES OUT FOR US.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE THERE THOUGH, IS THAT IF IT'S A LAND THAT'S ABOUT TO BE DEVELOPED, THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, THAT WE WOULD USUALLY BUILD A DEVELOPER FOR.
SO NOW WE GET INTO A POSITION WHERE WE'RE ASKING YOU TO REMOVE TREES FOR OUR BENEFIT, AND THEN WE WANT TO BILL YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE.
SO WE STARTED LOOKING AT THIS AND WE STARTED THINKING, OKAY, WELL, COULD THERE BE A PROCESS WHERE WE GO AND ASK PEOPLE TO THIN THESE TREES OUT WITHOUT ANY PENALTY? UH, WHAT WOULD THE HAUL OFF LOOK LIKE? WHAT TREES SHOULD BE SELECTED? UH, WHAT BANK EROSION, UH, SHOULD WE, SHOULD WE KEEP IN MIND? AND SO IT'S, IT'S THIS, THIS ODD CONFLUENCE OF ISSUES THAT, THAT WE'RE BRINGING TOGETHER.
NOW WE KNOW THAT EVENTUALLY THE ANSWER TO THIS WILL GO INTO OUR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT CODE, UH, WHICH IS PLAIN COMMISSION AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
BUT WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT TREES AND EROSION AND VEGETATION, I FELT WE'D BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T BRING IT TO, I DON'T KNOW, A BOARD THAT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH TREES.
AND THEN I THOUGHT, WELL, THEN I WAS THINKING, OKAY, WE'VE GOT DON KERNER, WHO IS THE MIX BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND PARKS.
NOW WE GOT TO HIT THAT GUY UP.
AND THEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS, TO, TO REMOVE THESE TREES, NOT JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, CAUSE WE'RE GOING TO ASK THEM TO DO WORK.
AND WE STARTED LOOKING AT WELL, DAVID PARISH HAS COME TO A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AND SAID, HEY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET NATIVE PLANTINGS, UH, THAT AREN'T INVASIVE IN SOME OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
AND WE KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME VALUE IN HAVING A CONVERSATION HERE WITH YOU GUYS, EVEN THOUGH Y'ALL, 'CAUSE YOUR, YOUR, YOUR SCOPE OF, OF YOUR COMMITTEE INVOLVES PARKS SOLELY AND THEN PUBLIC LAND.
UH, WE KNEW THAT YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION.
AND SO THAT'S REALLY, THAT'S REALLY WHY THIS IS HERE.
UH, SO LET ME TURN IT OVER TO MATT WHO, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD A PRESENTATION, BUT THAT'S AWESOME.
AND I'LL JUST SIT HERE AND LOOK PRETTY WELL.
WELL, I'M GLAD THAT ACTUALLY ADDED A LOT OF CLARIFICATION AND SOME OF IT I'LL HAVE TO KIND OF FILL IN ON THE SLIDE ON THE BACK END BECAUSE, UH, YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY ADDRESS, BUT DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THIS PRESENTATION.
SO THAT WAS SOME REALLY GREAT CLARITY.
AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE THAT'LL, THAT'LL HELP SPEED THIS WHOLE PROCESS UP.
AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT MY MOST FAVORITE THING IS, IS TREES.
AND BECAUSE I'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF TREE ORDINANCES OVER, OVER MY TIME.
AND, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE WORKED A LOT WITH.
I WANTED TO KICK OFF FIRST AND KIND OF JUST SHOW THAT GARLAND IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME, WE HAVE A TREE ORDINANCE ACTUALLY WITHIN OUR PARKS ORDINANCE.
AND SO, UM, AND I PULLED UP THE WRONG ONE.
THAT HAPPENS TO ME WITHOUT FAIL EVERY TIME, FIVE SECTION EIGHT WITH NEXT.
WHERE DID I PUT THAT? JIM DRIVE ONE SECOND.
THE TREES THAT HAVE BEEN THINNED OUT ON CENTRAL PARK HAVE HELD THE LIGHT.
WELL, WE KNOW WE'VE GOT THE LIST THAT THE TREE BOARD APPROVED OF, OF THE PREFERRED TREES, RIGHT? SO WE KNOW WE WANT TO TAKE OUT HACKBERRIES AND BRADFORDS AND THINGS THAT AREN'T REALLY GETTING CONTRIBUTE.
THEY JUST BEEN SHAVED UP WHERE YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THEM.
SO WHEN THE SOUTH SIDE OF CENTRAL PARK, THAT WAS A RESPONSE OF TWO THINGS, BUT PRIMARILY THAT FROM THAT AREA TO THE BRIDGE WAS AN
[00:45:01]
ONGOING ENCAMPMENT.AND SO WE WORKED WITH WENDY AND THE TASK FORCE TO, TO PROPERLY, UH, ADDRESS IT.
BUT ONE OF THOSE ISSUES, IT'S PROBABLY TWO, THREE ACRES, AND IT'S NOT A DEVELOPED PART OF THE PARK.
SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN GET RID OF THE BRAMBLES AND THE UNDERBRUSH, THE DEBRIS, THE TRASH THAT ALL COLLECTED FROM THAT ACTIVITY BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE STREET.
IT'S WHEN YOU COME INTO THE BALL FIELD.
SO WE WANTED VISIBILITY NEXT TO THE BALL FIELDS.
WE THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AROUND GROUPS OF CHILDREN.
SO THAT WAS THE PERFECT TASK THAT HELPED US ACHIEVE ALL OF THAT.
WHAT COMES WITH THAT IS, AND WE CAN DO IT CAUSE WE IT'S OURS.
WE NOW I WAS USING A PHRASE WHEN, WHEN YOU MOW IT THE FIRST TIME YOU JUST BOUGHT IT.
SO, UM, WE WILL BE MOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, WHATEVER'S APPROPRIATE TO KEEP THAT DOWN BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HELPS ACHIEVE THAT PURPOSE.
AND IT HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED SO FAR.
AND WE'VE DONE THAT IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PLACES.
WE ALSO DID A DUCK CREEK AND THERE'S SOME OTHER AREAS THAT WE HAVE TARGETED THAT WE WANT TO WORK ON.
IT DID NOT THE CORRECT VERSION.
DIDN'T SAVE TO MY FLASH DRIVE.
SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO KIND OF SHOOT FROM THE HIP ON THIS ONE, AS ANDY SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO WEAN IT.
UM, SO I AM GOING TO READ, UH, FROM THE PART'S ORDINANCE, WHAT THE TREE ORDINANCE PART FROM PARKS ACTUALLY IS OVER.
AND SO ONCE I GET TO THE RIGHT PAGE AND WE EVER CONTACTED COMPANIES THAT SELL FIREWOOD AND SAY, HEY, WE GOT A LOT OF TRADES HERE.
YOU CAN CUT THEM UP AND SELL, HUH? WE ACTUALLY TAKE IT TO THE EWS AND IT GETS TURNED INTO GOOD QUALITY MULCH.
AND WE REUSE A LOT OF IT AND WE ARE USING IT BECAUSE THEY DO PRODUCE A BETTER QUALITY MOST DON'T.
AND IT'S JUST BIG, GIANT CHUNKS THAT HAVE NO VALUE IN IT ACTUALLY WORSE.
BUT THEY D THEY, WHEN THEY FIRED IT BACK UP, THEY PRODUCE A GOOD QUALITY DOUBLE GROUND.
SO UNDERNEATH CHAPTER 25 IN THE PARK ORDINANCE, IT'S SECTION 25 DASH 12, UNLAWFUL TO DAMAGE PLANTS IN PARKS OR OTHER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
AND IT STATES THAT SHALL BE PROHIBITED TO DAMAGE CUT, CARVE, MARK, REMOVE TRANSPLANT BREAK PICK, OR IN ANY WAY INJURE DAMAGE OR TO FACE ANY PLANTS WHERE TURF WITHIN OR UPON ANY PARKS, BARCLAYS, GREENBELT, OR OTHER RECREATIONAL AREAS.
IT SHALL FURTHER BE PROHIBITED TO BRING IN ANY VEGETATION TO ANY PARK PARKWAY, GREENBELT, OR OTHER RECREATIONAL AREA OR FACILITY, EXCEPT BY PERMIT OF THE DIRECTOR OR DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION, PLANT SHALL BE DEFINED AND INCLUDED ANY VEGETATION, SHRUBS, BUSHES, TREES, VINES, HEDGES, GRASS FLOWERS, OR SEEDS THEREOF.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY PRETTY INTERESTING BECAUSE, UH, AS FAR AS I KNOW OF THIS AS THE ONLY CITY THAT WITHIN THEIR ACTUAL PARK ORDINANCE HAS SOMETHING THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES TREES.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY STUFF WITHIN OUR ORDINANCE.
IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND, AND WE'VE HAD THAT WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE UNLAWFULLY GO IN AND CUT DOWN TREES AND THEY GO IN AND THEY DEFACE TREES AND THEY DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IF WE'RE ABLE, EVER ABLE TO PROVE THAT THEY DID IT OR KEPT SOMEBODY IN THE ACTION, THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME, UM, SOME PURVIEW THERE.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY, IF THESE THINGS COME UP, WHAT THE TREE BOARD'S ACTUAL ROLE WOULD BE TO BE ABLE TO OVERSEE THIS KIND OF THING WHERE OUR ORDINANCE AND OUR CITY ORDINANCE IS ACTUALLY UNDER ARTICLE AS ACTUALLY ARTICLE ARTICLE FOR THE TREE PRESERVATION AND MITIGATION ORDINANCE.
AND THOSE WERE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.
SO YOU CAN, IT CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH THAT.
UM, IT'S ACTUALLY GOES A LITTLE BIT BETWEEN ARTICLE FOUR, WHICH IS THE TREE PRESERVATION AND MITIGATION ORDINANCE AND ARTICLE THREE, WHICH IS THE SCREENING AND LANDSCAPING ORDINANCE.
THEY KIND OF MIRROR EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT AND THEY TALK BACK AND FORTH A LITTLE BIT, UM, WHERE THIS ONE VARIES IS SOME CITIES ACTUALLY SAY, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE, UM, A DISPUTE, SAY OF A TREE SURVEY OR DISPUTE OF, OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT ACTUALLY GETS REFERRED BACK TO THE TREE BOARD.
UH, CITY OF GARLAND IS NOT RUN THAT WAY.
IT'S OVERSEEN BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
UM, SO ACTUALLY PURVIEW IN TERMS OF, AND I THINK IT WAS SMART.
AND SINCE IT HAS TO DO WITH TREES TO BE ABLE TO BRING IT BEFORE THIS BOARD, TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW ON IT.
UM, BUT ACTUALLY IN TERMS OF ANY TYPE OF OVERSIGHT OVER THE ACTUAL TREE PRESERVATION, WHEN IT COMES TO MITIGATION AND PRESERVATION AND TREE SURVEYS THAT GO INTO THE DEVELOPMENT ROLE ARCHERY BOARD, WHICH IS YOU GUYS HAVE LITTLE AUTHORITY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THAT LINE CLEAR THAT WAS IN THERE, UM, BECAUSE THAT VARIES FROM CITY TO CITY AND EVERY CITY DOES A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
UM, THE TWO MAIN AREAS THAT, THAT WE REALLY LOOKED AT IN, IN THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH MENTIONED ON WAS ONE, HOW DO WE LOOK AT, UM, TREES THAT ARE KIND OF LESS DESIRABLE AND, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD ORDINANCE.
AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHY IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED OR TOUCHED IN A REALLY LONG TIME.
IT REALLY HAS GREAT NUTS AND BOLTS.
THERE'S JUST A FEW THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TWEAKED.
AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED IS THE DEFINITION OF A PROTECTED TREE.
AND SO THE CURRENT, UM, DEFINITION
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OF A PROTECTED TREE STATES THAT, THAT ALL TREES THAT ARE WITHIN, UH, A LIST OF TREES THAT THEN IS FOUND WITHIN ARTICLE THREE, UH, IF THEY'RE SIX INCHES IN CALIPER OR GREATER OR PROTECTED, NOBODY MEASURES TREES IN TERMS OF WHEN YOU'RE OUT INTO OPENLY GROWN TREES AND CALIPER INCHES, CALIPER INCHES IS A STRAIGHT MEASUREMENT IN THE NURSERY INDUSTRY.THAT'S, WHAT'S USED BY THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY AND REASON IT'S USED JUST GOING DOWN A RABBIT TRAIL REAL QUICK, THE REASON THEY USE CALIPER INCHES BECAUSE IT'S MEASURED CLOSER TO THE GROUND SO THAT THEY CAN MEASURE LARGER TREES SO THEY CAN SELL YOU BIGGER TREES.
IT'S LITERALLY WHERE IT COMES FROM WHEN YOU'RE MEASURING WITHIN A STANDING TIMBER.
THE, THE, THE, THE NORM IS WHAT'S CALLED DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT DBH.
AND SO WHAT WE WOULD, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND, I ALSO DON'T LIKE LISTS WHEN IT COMES TO TREE ORDINANCES.
AND SO THIS THEN REFERS BACK TO A LIST IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE, UH, YOUR PROTECTED TREES.
SO WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IN THIS AVENUE WOULD BE THAT WE CHANGE THE PROTECTED TREES TO SAY RE MEANS ANY HEALTHY GROWING SELF-SUPPORTED WOODY PERENNIAL PLANT THAT HAS A MINIMUM DIAMETER OF AT LEAST SIX INCHES IN DBH, AND IS NOT CLASSIFIED AS AN UNPROTECTED TREE, UH, IN THIS ARTICLE.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST KIND OF TWEAK, UH, IS, IS CHANGING CALIPER TO DBH, DOING AWAY WITH THE TREE PROTECTED LIST, AND THEN ACTUALLY PUTTING SOME UNPROTECTED TREES IN THERE.
UM, THERE ARE TREES THAT ARE WAY LESS DESIRABLE THAN OTHERS.
I TRY NOT TO CALL SOME TREES TRASH, BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE TRASHY TREES.
AND SO WHAT WE LIKE TO USUALLY DO IS IDENTIFY SOME UNPROTECTED TREES.
AND SO WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT WE ALSO ADD, UM, A DEFINITION FOR UNPROTECTED TREES AND UNPROTECTED TREE WOULD MEAN THE FOLLOWING CALORIE PAIRS, ALL CULTIVARS, CHINA BERRIES, CHINESE TALLOWS, UM, IOX PCS, LIKE HOLLY'S, EXCEPT FOR YELLOW PAWN AND POSSUM HALL, ALL PALMS TREE OF HAM, TREE OF HEAVEN IN ATLANTIS, UH, AND OTHER SPECIES THAT ARE ON THE TEXAS A AND M UH, INVASIVE SPECIES LIST.
UM, AND SO THIS WOULD TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT, THAT YOU SEE, UM, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE SEE COMING UP THAT, THAT CAUSED THOSE SAFETY ISSUES AND CAUSE THOSE TYPES OF MEANS ARE THOSE INVASIVE SPECIES.
UH, AND SO BY MAKING THOSE UNPROTECTED TREES, THEN THEY CAN BE TAKEN DOWN NO MATTER WHAT THEIR SIZE AND THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCES WHATSOEVER.
UH, AND RIGHT NOW IN THE ORDINANCE, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT.
SO THIS NOW TAKES A WHOLE, WHOLE HOST OF TREES THAT ARE IN THERE AND MAKE SOME SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN, UH, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO PENALTY FOR TAKING THEM DOWN.
UM, THE NEXT SITUATION, THEN IT WOULD BE THEN TO W WE GOTTA, BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE DOES A REALLY GREAT JOB OF CERTAIN SPECIES, UM, HAVE A GREATER REPLACEMENT VALUE.
SO THEY'RE REPLACED TWO, YOU HAVE TO REPLACE TWO TO ONE, SOME ARE ONE-TO-ONE AND THEN SOME ARE POINT ESSENTIALLY 0.2, FIVE 75% OF WHAT THAT VALUE IS.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S VERY CONVOLUTED IN HERE IN THE LIST.
AND SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS KIND OF SIMPLIFY THAT.
SO IT'S A LOT EASIER BECAUSE THEN THAT MAKES IT EASIER WHEN A DEVELOPER COMES IN AND THEY DO THE TREE SURVEY, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR MITIGATION IS GOING TO BE AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MATCH THAT MITIGATION.
AND AN EASY WAY TO DO THAT IS ONE IS TO JUST CALL WHAT WE CALL SIGNIFICANT TREE.
SO YOU MAKE A DEFINITION FOR WHAT YOU WOULD CALL A SIGNIFICANT TREE.
SIGNIFICANT TREE WOULD BE A PROTECTED, HEALTHY TREE WHOSE AGE SIZE, UNIQUE TREE, OR A NATURAL AND HISTORICAL CHARACTER ARE SPECIAL IMPORTANCE TO THE CITY AND MEETS THE FOLLOWING SPECIES, INSIDES REQUIREMENTS, TREES OF THE FOLLOWING SPECIES, HAVING A MINIMUM DIAMETER OF 18 INCHES.
AND THAT'S KEY BECAUSE THAT'S A BIGGER TREE.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY, UH, UH, LARGE TREE AMERICAN ALBUM, SIBERIAN, ELM, SLIPPERY, ELM, CEDAR, ELM, SYCAMORE, CHITTUM WOOD, COMMON PERSON, AND EASTERN RED, CEDAR GREEN, AND WHITE ASH PECAN ALL OAKS, ALL WONG AND ALL WALNUTS.
SO THOSE ARE OUR MAJOR TREE SPECIES THAT WE HAVE AROUND HERE THAT ARE CONSIDERED OUR HIGH QUALITY TREES.
IF A TREE MET THAT CRITERIA, THOSE WOULD BE THE ONES THAT WE WOULD REQUIRE THE, UM, MET WITH A TWO TO ONE REPLACEMENT RATIO.
SO AGAIN, NOW WE'RE NOT PENALIZING SOMEBODY FOR TAKING OUT A SIX INCH, OH, WE'RE RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVE TO, THEY'RE GETTING CHARGED DOUBLE FOR THAT, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE ACTUALLY REPLACING, UM, MORE THAN, THAN WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY TAKING OUT.
BUT IF YOU GET TO THOSE LARGE, LARGE TREES, YOU CAN'T REPLACE THOSE TREES WITH ONE TREE.
SO IT TAKES SEVERAL TREES TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE THOSE.
SO AGAIN, THAT ALSO THEN PUTS THE PURVIEW TO SAY, HEY, WE REALLY, REALLY WANT TO TRY TO PROTECT OUR LARGER TREES.
UM, AND ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE UP FOR DEBATE.
SOME CITIES GO LARGER ON THOSE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE REPLACEMENT IS.
SOME PEOPLE CHARGE, SOME CITIES HAVE CHARGED MORE MONEY FOR LARGER TREES, SOME OF CHARGED LESS.
SO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS CAN BE, CAN BE, UM, PLAYED AROUND WITH, BUT IT'S REALLY DEFINING THE PURPOSES AS DEFINE THOSE TREES AND SAY THAT THESE TREES HAVE SPECIAL IMPORTANCE TO US.
UH, THE SECOND WOULD BE A CLASS ONE TREE.
THIS IS ANY TREES THAT ARE NOT OTHERWISE
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CLASSIFIED.SO THESE WOULD BE TREES THAT WE WOULD REPLACE IT, A ONE-TO-ONE RATIO.
AND THEN YOUR CLASS TWO TREES.
THESE WOULD BE TREES OF THE FOLLOWING SPECIES, ARIZONA ASH, WILLOWS,