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[State of the City on January 29, 2025.]

[00:00:14]

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED HERE. AND FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU FOR COMING OUT THIS EVENING. I SAY THIS OFTEN AT OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS. A LOT OF TIMES IF YOU WATCH OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND YOU SEE THE CAMERAS LOOKING AT US, I'M ACTUALLY TALKING TO EMPTY CHAIRS A LOT OF TIMES. SO IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE IN THE SEATS. I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME INTRODUCTIONS. WE'VE GOT SOME SOME FOLKS HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. I WANT TO START BY INTRODUCING OUR CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT FROM DISTRICT ONE, JEFF BASS. DISTRICT TWO CHRIS BEARD, DISTRICT FOUR, BJ WILLIAMS. EXCUSE ME, DISTRICT FIVE, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MARGARET LUCK. DISTRICT SIX CARISSA DUTTON. SOMEWHERE I LOSE HIM IN THE CROWD. DISTRICT SEVEN DYLAN HEDRICK. AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, DISTRICT EIGHT CHRIS OTT RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME. WE DO ALSO HAVE SOME FORMERS WITH US. WE TEND TO CALL THEM FORMALLY HONORABLE. YOU LAUGH, BUT IT'S TRUE. FIRST UP IS ROBERT SMITH, WHO. AND DEBORAH MORRIS OVER HERE BESIDE, I DON'T SEE ANY OF THE OTHER FORMERS AROUND, BUT WE ALSO HAVE FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOE DRIVER HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. JOE. AND FROM OUR GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEE, DAPHNE STANLEY. THERE WE ARE. I LOSE, I LOSE EVERYBODY IN THE CROWD.

LET'S SEE HERE FROM OUR MUNICIPAL COURT, WE HAVE OUR PRESIDING JUDGE, JOHN SHELDON, HERE IN THE BACK. FROM OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CEO, PAUL MAYER. PULSE. PROBABLY THE ONE THAT'S MESSING UP MY MICROPHONE. AND FROM OUR CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM, WE HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER, JUDD REX, HERE ON THE FRONT. IF OUR DEPUTY ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER MITCH BATES, HERE SOMEWHERE. OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, ANDY HESSER. PHIL. THERE'S ANDY, PHIL, RUDY AND CRYSTAL OWENS. AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR CITY SECRETARY WITH US TONIGHT, JENNIFER STUBBS. I THINK SHE'S PROBABLY OUT FRONT. AND THEN ONE PERSON THAT I ALWAYS LOVE TO INTRODUCE IN PUBLIC BECAUSE HE HATES IT, OUR CITY ATTORNEY BRIAN ENGLUND. THANK YOU FOR MAKING HIM HATE IT EVEN MORE. AND WE HAVE LOTS OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEMBERS HERE, LOTS OF OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT AND SERVING THE CITY. AND MORE THAN IF YOU'RE NOT IN ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES, IF YOU'RE NOT FORMALLY HONORABLE OR YOU'RE NOT A BOARDS AND COMMISSION MEMBER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND YOU ARE JUST EVERY DAY. MR. AND MRS. GARLAND, TEXAS, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT. THANK YOU. BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING WAY MORE EXCITING THAN YOU CAN BE DOING TONIGHT AND COMING TO LISTEN TO ME. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT. AND LET ME JUST START BY SAYING THAT AFTER THE PRESENTATION, OUR DEPARTMENT TABLES WILL BE OPEN FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. IF YOU DIDN'T COMPLETE THE LOOP THE CIRCUIT, THEY WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AFTER AFTER WE'RE DONE AND THIS WILL START BEING REBROADCAST. IT'LL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE STARTING ON THE 29TH. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY INSOMNIA ISSUES, YOU CAN PULL UP MY VIDEOS AND WATCH ME. YOU KNOW ONE THING, AND I WANT TO THANK OUR PUBLIC AND MEDIA RELATIONS TEAM. THEY PUT THE PRESENTATION TOGETHER. THEY PUT THIS EVENT TOGETHER EVERY YEAR. SO I WANT TO THANK OUR PUBLIC AND MEDIA RELATIONS FOLKS FOR HOPEFULLY MAKING IT LOOK LIKE I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND HERE. AND I'VE STALLED LONG ENOUGH. AS MANY YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY LAST TERM. THIS IS MY LAST YEAR. THIS IS MY LAST FEW MONTHS IN OFFICE. SO. WOW.

[00:05:12]

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN BOOKED. ALMOST FORMALLY, BUT THIS IS THIS WILL BE MY LAST STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE FOR ME TO SERVE THE CITY OF GARLAND. AND I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE, BECAUSE DENIAL IS A WONDERFUL THING SOMETIMES. SO WE'LL GET STARTED. THE DAY I WAS ELECTED MAYOR IN 2019, GARLAND VOTERS ALSO OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS, APPROVING ALL EIGHT PROPOSITIONS ON OUR 2019 BOND PACKAGE. THAT WAS $423.7 MILLION, EIGHT SEPARATE PROPOSITIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, COMING IN AS MAYOR AS THAT WAS COMING IN HAS BEEN, NEEDLESS TO SAY, HAS BEEN A BLESSING TO COME IN WITH $423 MILLION TO SPEND ON YOU. OF COURSE YOU LIKE ME, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY IN THE PROCESS OF THAT BOND PACKAGE. WE'VE HAD A TORNADO. WE HAD A PANDEMIC, WE HAD A WINTER STORM THAT KNOCKED THE POWER OUT. AND THEN WE HAD ANOTHER STORM. BUT THIS LAST MAY, THOSE ARE JUST FOUR OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE FACED SINCE THAT PACKAGE WAS APPROVED IN 19. AND IF WE WERE EVER LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO STOP THAT PROGRAM TO BACK AWAY FROM THAT PROGRAM, I THINK LIFE GAVE US PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT. BUT WE AS A COUNCIL, WE'RE COMMITTED TO THIS PROGRAM AND TO COMPLETING IT. AND IN THE IN THE LAST CALL IT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS, WE HAVE RENOVATED DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE REPLACED MORE THAN A DOZEN OR TWO DOZEN ACTUALLY PLAYGROUNDS. WE'VE REFURBISHED REC CENTERS, WE'VE ENHANCED PUBLIC SAFETY. ALL OF THESE THINGS WE HAVE DONE THAT ALL. THANK YOU. THANKS TO YOU FOR APPROVING THE BOND PACKAGE IN 2019. SO THANK YOU. AND THIS MAY THIS COMING MAY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO DO IT AGAIN. MAYBE WHEN GARLAND VOTERS RETURN TO THE POLLS, NOT ONLY TO ELECT MY SUCCESSOR, THEY MAY ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON A FUTURE BOND PACKAGE. AND IN OUR NEW MAYOR WILL COME IN. WE'LL TAKE OVER JUST AS THE CITY OPENS UP TWO NEW LIBRARIES, A RECREATION CENTER AND AQUATICS FACILITY LIKE NONE THAT WE HAVE EVER SEEN HERE IN THE CITY OF GARLAND. THEY WILL ALSO GUIDE THE CITY TOWARDS THE DEBUT OF OUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM. BUT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD OFF ON TALKING ABOUT THAT.

SORRY, BUT JUST KNOW THAT OVER THESE LAST FIVE AND A HALF YEARS, WE HAVE HAD A RECORD NUMBER OF GROUNDBREAKINGS AND RIBBON CUTTINGS AND THEY ALL COME BACK TO THAT BOND PACKAGE.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT ON THAT. AND YOU KNOW, THE NEW BOND PACKAGE, YOU KNOW IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HELP GARLAND STAY COMPETITIVE. IT'S GOING TO HELP GARLAND CONTINUE TO BE THE GARLAND WE WANT T IT TO BE. AND MORE THAN ANYTHING IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE GARLAND FORWARD. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO OUR BOND PEOPLE AND YOU CAN CLAP FOR THAT ANYTIME. SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BREAK FROM ME FOR A SECOND, AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A VIDEO KIND OF RECAPPING THE LAST YEAR. IT'S A GREAT THING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE CITIZENS OF GARLAND, THE ABILITY TO PLAY ON A NEW FACILITY. WE ARE HERE TO WELCOME THE SPRING CREEK FOREST PRESERVE OF DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS, INTO THE OLD GROWTH FOREST REPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE IS A VIBRANT, GORGEOUS NEW MURAL IN DOWNTOWOWN GARLAND. BUT WHAT MAKES THIS SO UNIQUE IS NOT THE ART, BUT THE ARTIST. IN 2017, I BECAME THE WORLD'S FIRST BLIND MURALIST. I STARTED USING TECHNIQUES WHERE I COULD TOUCH AND FEEL, SO I COULD MAKE A LINE THAT I COULD FEEL AND JUST NAVIGATE THE CANVAS THE SAME WAY THAT I WOULD NAVIGATE A ROOM. SO WHEN BILLY AND HIS OLD GUITAR, 12 STRING AND THE TRUE. THERE IT IS TWO. AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES

[00:10:26]

AND OF THIS STATE SO HELP YOU GOD. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. WORK MY $8. HERE WE ARE TODAY AT BIG ART DAY. IT'S GARLAND SPRING CELEBRATION OF ART. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE AN ART WALK THAT'S HAPPENING DOWNTOWN WHERE YOU CAN GO FROM STORE TO STORE AND GALLERY AND GALLERY AND SEE ART AND MEET ARTISTS GOING ON. A VERY SUPERSTITIOUS. OH, THE DEVIL'S ON HIS WAY. WHAT REALLY BLESSES MY HEART IS THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY AFRICAN ARE CELEBRATING, BUT EVERYONE IS CELEBRATING. BUT SHE WEARS SHORT SKIRTS. ARE THERE T SHIRTS? SHE'S CHEER CAPTAIN AND I'M ON THE BLEACHERS. I'M DREAMING OF THE DAY WE WAKE UP AND FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. IT'S BEEN HERE THE WHOLE TIME. CHOKE THEM UP, OKAY. ONCE THEY TOUCH THE BALL, PRESSURE ON THEM. YES.

FROM. I'M A ROCK STAR. TAKING IT TOO FAR. TALKING TILL I SEE YOUR NAME. YOU'RE THE TOWN. THIS IS A HUGE DAY FOR US. WE HAVE BROUGHT 4TH OF JULY BACK TO DOWNTOWN. I'M HERE TO SAY. SPREAD THE MESSAGE. COME ON Y'ALL.

COULD THE GARLAND ANIMAL SHELTER PRODUCE THE FIRST PUP? CASA. FIVE DOGS GOT TO SHOW OFF THEIR ARTISTIC SKILLS TODAY AS STAFF MEMBERS POURED PAINT ON CANVAS AND SEALED THEM IN ZIPLOC BAGS, THEY COVERED THE OUTSIDE WITH PEANUT BUTTER. AND AS THE DOGS STARTED LICKING THE TREAT, IT SMEARED THE PAINT AND CREATED A UNIQUE DESIGN. THE. SO CONGRATS! AND HOPEFULLY, IF YOU WANT TO TASTE WHAT I THINK IS THE BEST PIZZA IN THE WORLD AND YOU'RE IN TEXAS, COME ON DOWN, FORTUNATE SON. ONE BITE THAT'S THE TOMATO PIE IS REALLY GOOD TO GO. WE JUST COMPLETED A RUNNING OF OUR GUZZLER OUR POINT FIVE K. MARATHON. SO COME ON AND TELL ME JUST HOW BIG CITY CAN FEEL THIS HOME. THIS IS ALL ABOUT HELPING GARLAND RESIDENTS LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DOWN HERE, BUT THERE'S A LOT. AND THEY'RE ALL SMILES AND HAVING A GREAT TIME AND WATCHING. COME AS YOU ARE FREE TO SEE IT. COME ON. WHO GOT FACE TIME? THIS IS OUR NINTH ANNUAL WHEELS OF HOPE. IT'S ACTUALLY OUR 10TH YEAR TO BE IN EXISTENCE, BUT WE TOOK A YEAR OFF FOR COVID. THIS AREA OF THE METROPLEX SEEMS TO BE LOADED WITH GREAT CARS, AND SO WE BRING TOGETHER THE COMMUNITY TO JUST CELEBRATE LIFE, CULTURE, FAMILY, AND THE MEMORIES ON THE ALTARS AND THE FOOD THAT'S RICH TO THE CULTURE. IN THE PERFORMANCES THAT THE STUDENTS PUT ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK AND ENERGY INTO. WE'RE GLAD TO SHOWCASE THAT HERE IN GARLAND AND FIRST PLACE, YOUR GARDENA NUMERO. UNO AND NEW AT MIDDAY HERE. GET READY FOR NEW FOOTBALL. A NEW FOOTBALL TEAM TO CHEER ON. THAT'S USL DALLAS. NOW, THE UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE MADE THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT AT 10:00 THIS MORNING, REVEALING THE NEW TEAM WILL BE BASED IN GARLAND AND START TO PLAY IN THE 2027 SEASON. NOW, TEAM OFFICIALS SAY THE CHOICE OF GARLAND IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT. GARLAND IS A SOCCER CITY.

I LOVE THIS EVENT. THE KIDS ARE AMAZING. COME DOWN TO CITY HALL, WE'LL GET TOGETHER. IT'LL BE

[00:15:03]

FUN. MAYOR, ARE YOU IN THERE? NO. REMEMBER WHEN WE SAID NO? DIE HARD. BUT IT'S A CHRISTMAS MOVIE. COURTNEY, I'M TELLING YOU, NO. DIE HARD. JUST DO IT NORMAL. GO AWAY FROM ALL OF US HERE AT THE CITY OF GARLAND. WE WANT TO WISH YOU HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND AN AWESOME 2025. AND YIPPEE KI YAY! OH, THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL, BUT THE FIRE IS SO DELIGHTFUL. AND SINCE WE'VE NO PLACE TO GO, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW. YOU KNOW. I ALWAYS IMAGINED MY LEGACY OF SERVICE WOULD BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? AS I'VE TOLD A LOT OF PEOPLE, I WILL TAKE IT BECAUSE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING FUN WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE. AND IF YOU'RE NOT HAVING FUN WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG. AND THEN YOU'LL END UP IN A CARDBOARD BOX IN YOUR OFFICE WITH A ZIPPO LIGHTER. I DON'T KNOW. WELL, OKAY, THAT'S GONE NOW, YOU KNOW, I WILL TELL YOU. I SAW THAT EARLIER. OBVIOUSLY I KNOW THE PRESENTATION, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN IT THAT BIG BEFORE. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ON MY PHONE, SO IT'S LIKE A VERY SMALL IMAGE. IT'S REALLY WEIRD WHEN IT'S THAT BIG, I WILL TELL YOU. ANYWAY, LET'S GET BACK TO BUSINESS HERE. AS YOU CAN SEE, 2024 WAS A VERY BUSY YEAR AND OBVIOUSLY THE VIDEO WAS FOCUSED A LOT ON OUR SPECIAL EVENTS, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE DID AS WELL. IS THERE A PLACE WHERE WE SEND ADORABLE PICTURES OF THESE GUYS? ONE OF THE GREATEST IS WITH OUR ANIMAL SERVICES. THEY PARTNERED WITH RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE TO COORDINATE MORE THAN 500 OUT OF STATE ANIMAL TRANSPORTS AND ADOPTIONS FAR BEYOND OUR LOCAL BOUNDARIES. 500 THAT IS AWESOME. THEY ALSO LAUNCHED THE SNIP AND TIP PROGRAM, A NEW ADDITION, A NEW INITIATIVE TO REDUCE THE STRAY CAT POPULATION BY PROVIDING FREE SPAY AND NEUTER AND EAR TIPPING SERVICES FOR COMMUNITY CATS. AND IT ALWAYS AMAZES ME THAT THERE ARE PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE STRAY ANIMALS THAT WE SEND THESE ANIMALS TO. IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM AND I'M GLAD WE FOUND IT. NEXT UP IS OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTED A NEW THIRD PARTY CREDIT CARD PROCESSOR, RESULTING IN A 20% REDUCTION IN CUSTOMER TRANSACTION FEES. AND WE ARE ALSO CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING CREDIT CARD PROCESSING MACHINES AT OUR DUCKWORTH BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET AND AT OUR UTILITY DRIVE THROUGH LOCATIONS, TO GIVE CUSTOMERS A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN PAYING THEIR UTILITY BILLS. AS FAR AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, GARLAND KIND OF RUNS THE GAMUT OF WE HAVE SOME VERY LARGE CORPORATIONS AND LOTS OF MOM AND POPS, AND THE CITY PARTNERED WITH KRAFT HEINZ ON $143 MILLION EXPANSION AND REVITALIZATION PROJECT THAT WILL CREATE 200 JOBS AND CERTAINLY HELP BOOST OUR TAX BASE. KRAFT HEINZ ALSO LAST YEAR CELEBRATED 75 YEARS HERE IN GARLAND, TEXAS, 75 YEARS IN GARLAND, TEXAS. AND THERE'S BEEN SOME NEW FACES AROUND TOWN, LIKE FORTUNATE SON, WHICH WE SAW IN THE VIDEO. AND WE'VE GOT SMITH'S SPOT BARBECUE, WHICH IS JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM JUST OFF THE SQUARE. AND THOSE TYPES OF BUSINESSES, AS YOU COULD SEE FROM SOCIAL MEDIA. AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE BRINGING PEOPLE TO GARLAND. YES, THEY ARE SERVING THE GARLAND COMMUNITY, BUT THEY ARE ALSO BRINGING PEOPLE TO GARLAND, AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK. IT'S VERY INTERESTING PROCESS TO WATCH. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THEM NOW. THE STREETS, SOMETHING THAT WE PROBABLY HEAR ABOUT MORE THAN ANYTHING IS STREETS. AND I LIKE TO THINK OF STREETS. I LIKE TO THINK OF STREETS AS A FACILITY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE BUILDINGS ATTACHED TO THEM, PARKS AND REC, LIBRARIES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T USE THE LIBRARY. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T USE THE PARKS. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T USE OUR REC CENTERS OR THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT USED A STREET

[00:20:02]

TO GET HERE. SO IT'S ALWAYS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY FOR US. AND SO THAT'S WHY I LIKE TO THINK OF STREETS AS A FACILITY. AND IN 2024, WE COMPLETED A CITYWIDE PAVEMENT CONDITION STUDY THAT ASSESSED MORE THAN 1000 MILES OF ROADWAYS AND THEN ASSIGNED A CONDITION SCORE TO EACH STREET AND ALLEY. AND WE ALSO HAVE ESTABLISHED A FIVE YEAR STRATEGY FOR OUR PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE.

STREETS ARE ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY FOR US, AND MOVING FORWARD. OUR GARLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT MADE HISTORY LAST YEAR WITH THE LARGEST POLICE ACADEMY IN OVER TWO DECADES. WE BASICALLY RUN ABOUT AN ACADEMY A YEAR. HONESTLY, ABOUT THE TIME ONE ENDS AND ONE BEGINS AND OUR RECRUITERS ARE WORKING COAST TO COAST FROM NEW YORK TO CALIFORNIA. EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN OUR RECRUITING OFFICERS. AND WE'RE AND WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING THE RESULTS OF THAT, THOSE PROGRAMS AND THAT EFFORT. MEANWHILE, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 30,000 EMERGENCY CALLS IN 2024, AVERAGING ABOUT 86 CALLS PER DAY. AND THAT'S OUT OF 11 STATIONS. OUR POLICE AND FIRE HERE IN GARLAND ARE ABSOLUTELY THE BEST OF THE BEST. THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB. ANOTHER SET OF FOLKS IS DOING FANTASTIC IS THE FOLKS AT OUR VISITS CENTER DOWNTOWN. LAST YEAR WE OPENED OUR VISITOR CENTER. IT'S IT HAD ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY LAST FALL IN ONE YEAR. IN ONE YEAR, IT WELCOMED MORE THAN 5000 PEOPLE FROM 17 COUNTRIES AND ALL 50 STATES, ALL 50 STATES. IF YOU HAVEN'T CHECKED IT OUT, IT'S RIGHT UP HERE AT THE CORNER OF FIFTH AND STATE. I WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT IS THE GO TO SOURCE FOR GARLAND INFORMATION. WE HAVE AN ASSORTMENT OF LOTS OF GARLAND T SHIRTS, WHICH IS MY ENTIRE WARDROBE. BASICALLY LOTS OF COOL GARLAND, TEXAS THEMED THINGS. AND OUR TOP SELLING ITEM LAST YEAR WAS GARLAND OPOLY. I SHOULD MENTION, IF YOU BUY A GARLAND OPOLY GAME THAT THE GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD IS FOR TERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT FOR REAL IT. YOU CAN'T SHOW THAT TO A COP AND SAY THE MAYOR SAID NO, IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. SO HONESTLY, CHECK OUT OUR VISITOR CENTER. THERE ARE SOME GREAT STUFF THERE. AND, AND, AND YOU CAN SHOW YOUR GARLAND PRIDE IN ALL THE GOSH, WHO KNOWS? I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW MANY DIFFERENT T SHIRTS WE HAVE IN 2024. WE OBVIOUSLY CONTINUED ON WITH OUR WHERE THE HEART IS PROGRAM THIS YEAR OR 24. WE WERE FOCUSED ON THE QUAIL CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD IN EAST GARLAND. RESIDENTS THERE DECIDED TO ENHANCE A SCREENING WALL WITH A COMMUNITY PAINTED MURAL, AND ALSO TO REPLACE SOME GRASS, WHICH WAS VERY HIGH MAINTENANCE WITH SOME HARD SCAPING BETWEEN THE RETAINING WALL AND THE FENCE LINE ALONG MILLER. THERE IS ALSO A GREEN SPACE IN THE WORKS AND THE MURAL IS ANTICIPATED TO BE READY THIS FALL, AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE GREEN SPACE WILL START SOMETIME THIS SPRING SUMMER. AND FOR 2025, OUR WHERE THE HEART IS PROGRAM WILL BE FOCUSED ON FREEMAN HEIGHTS, SO STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THAT. WE DID HAVE A NEW DEPARTMENT CREATION THIS YEAR, A NEW ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT. A SMALL BUT GROWING FAN BASE FOR THAT. AMBER THOMPSON IS THE DIRECTOR OF THAT DEPARTMENT. AND THIS IS A SISTER DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND WILL FOCUS ON PROACTIVE EDUCATION, INSPECTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES. ALSO. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR HOMELESS TASK FORCE AND REMEDIATING HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS. YOU CAN CLAP. YOU CAN CLAP FOR THAT.

ABSOLUTELY. MANUEL VIOLA IS IN THAT AREA RIGHT NOW. I SEE A LOT OF DEBRIS ON THE GROUND. I HEAR A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED EARLIER WE HAD THIS LITTLE STORM BACK IN MAY. I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR. WE HAD HURRICANE FORCE WINDS COME THROUGH WITH THAT STORM, AND WE HAVE BASICALLY LABELED IT HURRICANE GARLAND. WAKING UP TO THIS, IT'S EASY TO LAUGH ABOUT IT NOW, BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT AT THE TIME. WE SAW MORE DEBRIS COLLECTION POWER OUTAGES THAN

[00:25:03]

WITH ANY EVENT WE'VE EVER EXPERIENCED. ALMOST HALF OF OUR GFL CUSTOMERS, WHICH IS ABOUT 35,000 HOMES, LOST POWER. BUT WITHIN 12 HOURS, 80% OF THOSE HAD THEIR POWER RESTORED. NOW, WERE THERE ONES THAT WENT ON LONGER THAN THAT? ABSOLUTELY. AND THERE ALWAYS ARE IN POWER OUTAGES BECAUSE THERE ARE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE CAN'T ALWAYS FIX. LINES GET RIPPED OUT OF HOUSES, TREE LIMBS COME DOWN, BUT 80% HAD THEIR POWER BACK WITHIN 12 HOURS, WHICH IS PHENOMENAL. WHAT IS UNBELIEVABLE, REALLY, IS THE DEBRIS COLLECTION TOOK APPROXIMATELY 75 DAYS AND EXCEEDED THE COMBINED TOTALS OF THE TORNADOES THAT HIT GARLAND IN 2015 AND 19. THAT ONE STORM JUST I AN HOUR OF THAT STORM PRODUCED MORE DEBRIS AND DAMAGE THAN TWO TORNADO EVENTS. SERIOUS TORNADO EVENTS COMBINED. OUR SANITATION CREWS COLLECTED OVER 16,000 TONS OF DEBRIS. OUR CONTRACTOR CREWS COLLECTED AN ADDITIONAL 12,000 TONS. OUR LANDFILL RECEIVED MORE THAN 32 TONS OF DEBRIS, NOT ONLY FROM HERE IN THE CITY OF GARLAND, BUT WE ALSO ARE OPEN TO OTHER CITIES AS WELL. OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT RECORDED A TOTAL OF 1156 STRUCTURES THAT WERE DAMAGED, WITH 104 OF THEM BEING MAJORLY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. THAT MAY STORM. YOU KNOW, WE ARE A MATURE CITY, AND SO WE HAVE LOTS OF BIG TREES, AND THIS STORM WAS INCREDIBLY HARD ON THAT. JUST IN OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT ALONE, WE LOST HUNDREDS OF TREES ACROSS THE PATH OF THE STORM, INCLUDING OUR FIREWHEEL GOLF PARK AS WELL. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT CLEANUP, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE RESIDENTS FOR THEIR PATIENCE. SOMETIMES PATIENCE IS HARD TO COME BY, BUT WE UNDERSTAND, AND I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS FOR GETTING THAT MESS CLEANED UP.

THEY WORKED. THEY WORKED NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS THAT CAME THROUGH THAT PERIOD. I MEAN, THEY WERE NONSTOP, NONSTOP. AND SO I CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH. SO IN ADDITION TO A FULL YEAR OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, 2024 WAS ANOTHER AWARD WINNING YEAR AS WELL. AND THIS LIST THAT THESE LISTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE DON'T EVEN INCLUDE ALL THE INDIVIDUAL STAFF AWARDS. BUT JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW, WE HAD RECOGNITIONS FROM D MAGAZINE, DALLAS OBSERVER, THE DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL, THE TEXAS DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION, AND KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL. AND SOME OF THESE THESE AWARDS VARIED, YOU KNOW, FROM JUST PURE, PLAIN AND SIMPLE BRAGGING RIGHTS TO TROPHIES. BUT WE ALSO FROM ONE OF THOSE, WE GOT A GRANT FOR $310,000. AND THAT WAS FROM KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THE LIST, I MEAN. WE NEED BIGGER TROPHY CABINETS. WE DID SO WELL. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO US AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR STAFF AND DEPARTMENTS FOR BRINGING THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER. SO I STARTED OFF THE PRESENTATION TALKING ABOUT GARLAND'S 2019 BOND PROGRAM. IN 2024, WE HELD TWO BUILD GARLAND DAYS TO CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS OF THOSE REMAINING PROJECTS. I BELIEVE WE'VE HAD FIVE BILL GARLAND DAYS TOTAL, AND THIS IS WHEN WE GO OUT AND WE DO THE RIBBON CUTTINGS AND THE GROUNDBREAKINGS. IN MAY, WE HELD RIBBON CUTTINGS FOR A NEW SPLASH PAD AND FUTSAL COURT AT WATSON PARK, OVER 14,000FT■S OF NEW SPACE, INCLUDING A GYM AND WALKING TRACK AT HOLLABAUGH REC AND A NEW POLICE MUNITIONS FACILITY THAT ALLOWS FOR IMMERSIVE, REAL WORLD SCENARIO TRAINING FOR OUR OFFICERS. AND I WILL TELL YOU, THE COUNCIL DID PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THOSE SCENARIOS AND WE ARE NOT WE ARE NOT READY TO DO THAT JOB. WE DIDN'T DO WELL AT ALL, BUT OUR OFFICERS HAVE THAT AT THEIR DISPOSAL AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS AROUND USE THAT AS WELL. IN NOVEMBER, WE CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW FIRE STATION SIX. THIS IS IT WAS ON. HOLFORD IS NOW AT CAMPBELL AND 190, AS WELL AS A NEW HOME FOR OUR CITY STREET DEPARTMENT. NOW THAT MAY SOUND SILLY. WHY DON'T YOU BUILD A NEW OFFICE BUILDING FOR A STREET DEPARTMENT? IF YOU HAD SEEN THE PREVIOUS STREET DEPARTMENT FACILITIES, YOU WOULD SAY, I THINK THEY DESERVED IT. IT HAD

[00:30:07]

LONG. IT WAS PROBABLY 20 YEARS PAST ITS PRIME AT LEAST, AND SO WE REPLACED THAT FACILITY, WHICH GIVES THEM OBVIOUSLY A MUCH BETTER ENVIRONMENT TO WORK IN AND OUT OF AND COMMUNICATE AND MEET. WE ALSO BROKE GROUND ON TWO HIGHLY ANTICIPATED PROJECTS NAMED SCHOOL ROAD IS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO ADD LANES AND TO LIFT IT OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN. AND OUR NEW SURF AND SWIM IS UNDERWAY AS WELL. IT IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, SURF AND SWIM WAS FABULOUS. WE USED IT FOR DECADES, BUT THE NEW AND IMPROVED IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE LAZY RIVER. IT'LL STILL HAVE THE SURF SIMULATOR, WATER SLIDES, AQUATIC PLAYGROUND. I MEAN, IF YOU CAN SEE. YOU KNOW, I WISH I WOULD I WISH WE'D HAD THIS WHEN I WAS A KID, BUT IT WILL BE FANTASTIC. SO WHAT'S COMING IN 2025? WELL, I'LL TELL YOU MORE OF THE SAME. MORE GREAT STUFF IS COMING. FIRST, THE OPENING OF THE HOLLABAUGH REC CENTER, AN AQUATIC FACILITY WHICH WILL BOAST TWO GYMNASIUMS, A LOFTED WALKING TRACK, CHILDREN'S POOL, WATER SLIDE AND A LEISURE POOL. THE EXTERIOR FEATURES WILL INCLUDE NEW BASKETBALL AND PICKLEBALL COURTS AND ADDITIONAL PARKING, AND IT SHOULD OPEN MID 25. I HAD NOT SEEN INTERIOR SHOTS OF HOLFORD UNTIL TODAY, AND I'M READY TO CUT THE RIBBON AND LET'S GO. WE ALSO ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME NEW AND UPDATED LIBRARY FACILITIES THAT SHOULD OPEN MID-YEAR. THE NEW WEST GARLAND LIBRARY WILL HAVE STUDY ROOMS OUTFITTED WITH VIDEO CONFERENCING CAPABABILITIES, A DEDICATED MAKERSPACE, AS WELL AS AN OUTDOOR SPACE AND ART PLAZA.

THE REFURBISHED AND ACTUALLY REFURBISHED IS NOT REALLY THE RIGHT WORD. CENTRAL LIBRARY WILL BOAST A GRAND SOCIAL STAIRCASE AND A SLIDE. YOU HEARD ME SAY THAT A SLIDE IN A LIBRARY CAN'T WAIT. AND THE AUDITORIUM AND CHILDREN'S AREA IS ALSO BEING REVITALIZED. IT'LL ALSO INCLUDE A VIDEO PRODUCTION STUDIO AS WELL. NOW. AMAZING. THE LIBRARY REALLY, HONESTLY HAS BEEN STRIPPED DOWN TO ITS ABSOLUTE BONES. THOSE AREN'T THE ONLY PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE WORKS AS WELL. WE STILL HAVE TWO FIRE STATION RELOCATIONS AND OUR SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER ARE ALL IN CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN PHASE, SO THOSE WILL BE COMING ALONG OVER THE NEXT YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF. ALL RIGHT. BOY, THIS IS ALWAYS I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME. AND THIS IS ALWAYS LIKE THE TOUGHEST. SLIDE 635. YOU KNOW IT. YOU LOVE IT. YES. MAYBE SOMETIMES YOU DON'T.

THE COMPLETION OF TEXT DOTS 1.7 BILLION PROJECT IS FINALLY, FINALLY ON THE HORIZON. THIS.

PLEASE CLAP FOR THAT. IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD. THE 635 PROJECT HAS MADE GREAT HEADWAY IN DEVELOPMENT OF FRONTAGE ROADS AND SHIFTING MAIN LANE TRAFFIC ONTO NEW PAVEMENT, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE WESTBOUND SIDES BETWEEN LA PLATA AND JUPITER. THIS YEAR, CONSTRUCTION CREWS ARE GEARING UP FOR THE CROSS STREET CONSTRUCTION. THIS WILL. YOU'LL SEE THIS ALONG JUPER, GARLAND, SHILOH, NORTHWEST HIGHWAY AND CENTERVILLE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF U-TURNS. WILL WILL START TO COME IN. AS WELL AS CONNECTING ALL OF THOSE SERVICE ROADS. AND OBVIOUSLY ALL OF THIS IS BEING DONE TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW THROUGH THE 635 CORRIDOR, WHICH WE CAN ALL SAY IS HAS BEEN TERRIBLE. IT'S BEEN TERRIBLE OVER THE YEARS AND THIS HAS BEEN A VERY LONG PROJECT. IT IS IT IT WAS VERY LONG IN THE MAKING WHEN I GOT ON THE COUNCIL IN 2013, WE WERE STILL LOBBYING FOR THIS PROJECT. AND, AND SO NOW, QUITE A FEW YEARS LATER, WE IT IS FINALLY COMING TO A CONCLUSION. AND SO IT IS GOING TO HAVE A VERY DRAMATIC EFFECT ON THE AREA AROUND THE FREEWAY.

ON TO BETTER THINGS, OUR HOME IMPROVEMENT INCENTIVE REBATE PROGRAM IS ALWAYS A HOT TOPIC, AND THIS YEAR IS OBVIOUSLY NO DIFFERENT. THE APPLICATION PERIOD OPENED JANUARY 14TH, AND ORIGINALLY IN MY NOTES, I WAS GOING TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET THEIR APPLICATIONS IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT OUR FUNDING REACHED CAPACITY THIS YEAR IN RECORD TIME. A FEW YEARS

[00:35:06]

AGO WHEN WE STARTED THE PROGRAM, IT TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS TO GET ALL THE MONEY ALLOCATED. THE APPLICATIONS IN THIS YEAR, FOUR DAYS, FOUR DAYS, AND ALL OF THE PROGRAM WAS COMPLETE. AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING AND I, I, I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE THIS AND I, AND I HOPE THAT WE LOOK AT SOME WAY OF INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM, BECAUSE FOUR DAYS IN A CITY THIS SIZE IS, IS NOTHING. SO THE NEED IS CERTAINLY OUT THERE. YOU CAN LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT PROGRAM AT GARLAND NEIGHBORHOODS.ORG. SO YOU HEAR US SAY A LOT MOVING FORWARD, MOVING FORWARD, MOVING GARLAND FORWARD. OUR NEW COMPREHENSIVE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GARLAND FORWARD IS COMING SOON. WE KICKED OFF THE 20 MONTH PROJECT LAST FALL, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO'VE COME TO THE OPEN HOUSES AND PROVIDED US WITH INPUT. THE NEW PLAN COMING OUT THIS YEAR WILL ENSURE THAT OUR DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS REMAIN RESPONSIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND ALSO CONFIRM THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR CITY INVESTMENTS. SO CONTINUE. IF YOU'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROGRAM. THANK YOU. PLEASE CONTINUE. IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM, YOU CAN GO TO GARLAND FORWARD.COM. SO YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ME MENTION EARLIER AND YOU SAW SOME VIDEO. THAT WAS AN AWESOME GOAL I KICKED IT DID GET A LOT OF CREDIT FOR IT. I KEPT IT LOW. I KEPT IT LOW. MAINLY BECAUSE IF I KICKED TOO HIGH I WOULD PROBABLY FALL OVER. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE SOMEONE TO THE STAGE AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SOCCER. THIS IS MATT VALENTINE, USL, DALLAS. YOU MAY HAVE TO STAND OVER THERE. WE MAY HAVE TO STAND APART FROM EACH OTHER. SO.

WE HAD THE ANNOUNCEMENT A FEW MONTHS AGO ABOUT THE TEAM. THAT PROCESS STARTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021, AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY IT'S BEEN A VERY INTERESTING PROCESS. IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG PROCESS. SOMETIMES IT'S BEEN A VERY FRUSTRATING PROCESS, BUT IT HAS ABSOLUTELY BEEN WORTH THE EFFORT. USL, DALLAS, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THEM TO ANNOUNCE A NEW PROFESSIONAL MEN'S SOCCER TEAM COMING TO GARLAND. TONIGHT. WE'RE PARTNERING AGAIN TO SHARE SOME MORE EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS. AND OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS MATT VALENTINE, ONE OF THE USL DALLAS FOUNDERS. MATT, FOR ANYONE OUT THERE WHO DOESN'T KNOW, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE SNAPSHOT ABOUT USL DALLAS? YES.

SO THANKS TO ALL, FIRST OF ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE. SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED. USL DALLAS WILL BE THE DIVISION TWO PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM COMING TO THE NORTH. TEXAS COMMUNITY WILL BE THE 28TH TEAM KICKING OFF IN 2027. SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO CALL GARLAND HOME AND VERY GOOD. SO ALL RIGHT, SO WE'VE ANNOUNCED THE TEAM IS COMING WHEN THEY'LL START PLAYING I THINK. SO WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP. WELL THE NEXT STEPS TO BUILD OUR HOME. IT'S REALLY EXCITING. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ARCHITECTS AND THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S BEEN GRUELING BUT REWARDING PROCESS.

WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE, BUT WE'RE VERY, VERY CLOSE. SO THE NEXT STEPS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE OUR HOME IS GOING TO BE IN GARLAND. ALL RIGHT. SO TONIGHT I AM VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE CITY IS IN NEGOTIATIONS TO DEVELOP A NEW PROFESSIONAL AND YOUTH SOCCER COMPLEX. ITS MULTI-PURPOSE AMENITIES WILL INCLUDE THE USL DALLAS HEADQUARTERS, PRACTICE FIELDS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY SOCCER FIELDS, AS WELL A PUBLIC PLAZA AND UP TO A TEN 000 SEAT STADIUM. YEAH. SO, MATT, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO PU THIS? IF THEY IF THEY TAKE NOTHING AWAY FROM TONIGHT, THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY. HE ALSO HE DID FAIL TO MENTION THERE'S BEEN SOME DEVELOPMENT THERE. YES SOME VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY. BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOCATED AT PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH TURNPIKE AND HOLFORD ROAD. VERY GOOD. YES. THERE WILL BE

[00:40:05]

SOME ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE COMPLEX. SO MATT, THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE? YEAH, WE'VE GOT A FAN FORUM OF COURSE, IN THE SUN THIS THURSDAY AT 6 P.M. SO 6 TO 8 P.M. WE'VE HAD LOTS OF DEMAND. SO IT'S GOING TO BE FIRST COME FIRST SERVE. WE'RE SUPER EXCITED JUST TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE WORKING WITH AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RIGHT NOW IN GARLAND, BUYING CLEATS AND JERSEYS FOR ALL THE FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS. WE'RE WORKING ON A COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT WE'RE GOING TO START OFFERING HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR. SO WE JUST REALLY WANT TO BE INVOLVED. WE THINK THERE'S A TON WE CAN DO TO GIVE BACK, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE GARLAND SUPPORT US IN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER. EVERYONE'S BEEN FANTASTIC. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CAN WE TURN THAT MIC OFF JUST WELL THANK YOU MATT. LOOK FORWARD TO THURSDAY NIGHT. AND THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS TO COME A LOT. HE SAYS A LOT. IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR IT, THERE'S A LOT MORE INFORMATION COMING. OBVIOUSLY THE PROCESS IS STILL IN THE WORKS. ALL RIGHT. SO I THINK WE SHOULD END RIGHT THERE. HONESTLY I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO FOLLOW. BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THIS COMING YEAR. AND I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING AND THERE'S A TABLE HERE IN GARLAND IN MAY, GARLAND VOTERS COULD HAVE ANOTHER BOND ELECTION TO DECIDE UPON. I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT OUR BOND STUDY COMMITTEE TABLE. AND THIS EVENING, THE BOND STUDY COMMITTEE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVALUATING GARLAND'S FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGES OF MODEST PROPERTY VALUE AND SALES TAX BASES. LOW POPULATION GROWTH DUE TO BUILD OUT. THEY ALSO LOOKED AT POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT INCREASED REVENUE, ATTRACTIVE DESTINATIONS AND ENHANCED QUALITY OF LIFE. THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED FOUR PROPOSITIONS THIS TIME. ONE IS CITYWIDE, STREET AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS STREETS, ALLEYS, GATEWAYS AND CORRIDORS. ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THIS WILL HELP US WITH LAND ASSEMBLY, INCENTIVES, REVITALIZATION, REVITALIZATION FOR DESTINATIONS, AMENITIES, AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY PROGRAMS, MUNICIPAL FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS. AND THIS IS SPECIFIC TO THE GRANVILLE ARTS CENTER, WHICH IS BASICALLY JUST ACROSS FROM US MAKING IMPROVEMENTS THERE SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO BRING FABULOUS ENTERTAINMENT INTO THE CITY AND MAKE SOME UPDATES THERE. AND THE FOURTH ONE IS PARKS AND REC IMPROVEMENTS. THIS WOULD BE FOCUSED ON PUBLIC WATERFRONT ACCESS AT HARBOR POINT, AS WELL AS THE CONTINUATION OF OUR TRAILS PROGRAM. SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE HER THAT THERE WOULD BE NO TAX RATE INCREASE TO VOTERS IF THIS BOND IS PASSED. I'M GOING TO SAY THIS AGAIN FOR THE FOLKS IN THE BACK, THERE IS NO TAX RATE INCREASE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BOND PACKAGE. NICE. SO THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS THEY HAVE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL, COUNCIL HAS BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR THEM. AND WE WILL MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO THE BALLOT IN MAY. AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS FEBRUARY 4TH.

SO AGAIN, THERE IS INFORMATION OVER HERE ABOUT IT. THERE'S INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE SOME COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE, BUT LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE PUT IT ON THE BALLOT OR NOT. SO REGARDLESS OF THAT, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE IS A BOND ON THE BALLOT, GARLAND VOTERS WILL NEED TO CHOOSE THEIR MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR DISTRICTS THREE, SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT. DURING THE MAY 3RD ELECTIONS.

THERE YOU GO. JUST SOME IMPORTANT DATES. FEBRUARY 14TH IS THE LAST DAY TO FILE AN APPLICATION FOR A PLACE ON THE BALLOT. APRIL 3RD, THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR THIS ELECTION. APRIL 22ND. FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING APRIL 29TH. LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING AND THEN ELECTION DAY ITSELF IS MAY 3RD. POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7 A.M. TO 7 P.M, AND BALLOTS MAIL IN BALLOTS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY THAT DATE. SO I WANT TO WISH ALL THE CANDIDATES THIS YEAR THE

[00:45:03]

BEST, HAVING DONE IT SEVEN TIMES PREVIOUSLY. I KNOW IT IS A VERY STRESSFUL TIME. IT IS A VERY TRYING TIME. IT'S A VERY REWARDING TIME. SO I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, EAT YOUR WHEATIES AND GET OUT THERE AND KNOCK ON SOME DOORS. SO WE DO. PEOPLE STILL EAT WHEATIES? YES WE DO, I DON'T KNOW I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DO. ALL RIGHT. SO I KNOW WE'VE COVERED A LOT. AND REALLY THIS IS JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS. IF YOU WANT TO REALLY STAY TUNED OR STAY IN TUNE WITH THE CITY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS. YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM, AND YOU CAN GO TO OUR E-NEWS. YOU CAN GET SPECIFIC TYPES OF UPDATES SENT TO YOU. SO THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO STAY INFORMED. THE CITY'S WEBSITE IS ALWAYS THE HUB OF WHERE YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION, AND THEN IT BRANCHES OUT TO SOCIAL MEDIA. ALL RIGHT. SO AS WE START TO BRING THIS TO A CLOSE THIS EVENING, OUR FINAL ITEM IS THE ANNUAL MAYOR'S MAKE YOUR MARK AWARDS RECOGNITION. THIS RECOGNITION GOES TO THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE POSITIVE IMPACTS IN GARLAND. AND THIS YEAR, WE ARE HONORING SEVERAL GROUPS WHO HAVE MADE ABSOLUTELY MADE THEIR MARK ON GARLAND. SO PLEASE HELP ME CONGRATULATE OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AND CULTURAL ARTS TEAMS. AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE THOSE GROUPS UP TO THE STAGE. I KNOW THEY'RE KIND OF SCATTERED OUT A BIT. COME ON UP HERE. YOU GUYS SET THE STAGE UP. IF I COULD HAVE DANA AND YOUR TEAM AND AMY ROSENTHAL. GOOD JOB. YOU GUYS SET THE STAGE UP. YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET A CHANCE TO BE ON IT. I KNOW I'D LIKE TO WELCOME DANA LODGE, WHO IS OUR CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU EVENTS DIRECTOR, AND AMY ROSENTHAL, WHO IS OUR CULTURAL ARTS DIRECTOR. AND THIS IS JUST A SMALL SAMPLING OF THEIR TEAMS. OBVIOUSLY, THEY THEY ARE A SMALL ARMY OF FOLKS THAT THAT TAKE CARE OF THIS. AND I WILL TELL YOU OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, REALLY STARTING WITH THE RENOVATIONS TO THE SQUARE. GARLAND, WE WENT ALL IN ON LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, CULTURAL ARTS, PERFORMING ARTS, YOU NAME IT. AND I WILL TELL YOU, THAT HAS BEEN SO REFRESHING TO ME AS MAYOR, BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME IN THE DAILY ASSORTMENT OF BUSINESS, I INTERACT WITH CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND THE CITY SECRETARY. NOTHING AGAINST THOSE FOLKS. THEY DO GREAT WORK. THEY DO GREAT WORK. BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE RECENTLY WITH OUR CULTURAL ARTS AND OUR SPECIAL EVENTS HAS ALLOWED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME WITH THESE FOLKS, AND THEY ARE FUN. THEY HAVE BROUGHT THEY HAVE BROUGHT SHOWS TO THIS CITY. YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO CHRISTMAS ON THE SQUARE OR RED, WHITE AND YOU OR ANY OF OUR CONCERTS, WHETHER AT THE PLAZA ON THE SQUARE HERE IN THE ATRIUM NEXT DOOR AT THE GRANVILLE, THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT BRING THAT STUFF TOGETHER. IF YOU'VE BEEN ENTERTAINED, IT'S BECAUSE OF THEM. THEY HAVE BROUGHT US MULTIPLE MANY GRAMMY AWARD WINNING PERFORMERS. I THINK I LOST TRACK, I THINK FOUR DIFFERENT HALL OF FAMES WERE WERE WERE REPRESENTED IN SOME OF THE PERFORMANCES WE HAVE BROUGHT. WE HAVE BROUGHT NATIONAL TOURING ACTS AND WE HAVE BROUGHT MUSIC FROM PEOPLE, GROUPS, PERFORMERS THAT HONESTLY, YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF.

BUT THEY WERE SOMEBODY YOU SHOULD HEAR OF AND THEY HAVE BROUGHT ALL OF THAT TO US.

TICKETS. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR EVENTS ARE NOT TICKETED, BUT WE CAN TRACK HOW MANY PEOPLE COME TO EVENTS. BUT IN OUR TICKETED EVENTS, WE HAVE TICKET SALES, OBVIOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY, ACROSS THE METROPLEX, ACROSS THE STATE. AND WE'VE EVEN HAD TICKET SALES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR SOME OF THE SHOWS. COME, COME HERE TO GARLAND. FANTASTIC. THEY ARE BRINGING PEOPLE TO GARLAND.

THOSE PEOPLE COME HERE, THEY EAT AT RESTAURANTS. AND SOME OF THEM, YOU KNOW, THEY IF THEY'RE

[00:50:06]

FROM THE METROPLEX, THEY SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN GARLAND AND THEY COME BACK. THEY COME BACK TO THOSE RESTAURANTS. THEY COME BACK FOR THOSE OTHER SHOWS. AND THAT REALLY THE SQUARE HAS WON SEVERAL. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY AWARDS. BUT PART OF THAT ATTENTION THAT THE SQUARE HAS GOTTEN IS COMING FROM THE ARTS PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING PUT ON DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S GREAT. BUT IF NOBODY COMES HERE AND SEES IT, IT'S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL. AND SO A LOT OF THE RECOGNITION THAT THE SQUARE HAS RECEIVED REALLY IS DUE TO OUR CULTURAL ARTS FOLKS. SO LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A SMALL SAMPLING. HERE'S KIND OF A PICTURE OF THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES. YEAH. THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT ON AN EVENT DOWNTOWN. THIS IS THE PEOPLE THAT IT TAKES TO DO THAT. AND I SAY THIS EVERY TIME I TRY TO REMEMBER TO SAY THIS, EVERY TIME WE HAVE DOWN THERE THAT THESE FOLKS ARE HERE LONG BEFORE WE GET HERE. HOURS, DAYS, SOMETIMES. AND LET'S FACE IT, NOT ALWAYS IN THE BEST WEATHER CONDITIONS. THEY WORK MANY DAYS HOURS SO THAT YOU AND I CAN SHOW UP AND HAVE FUN. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR FUN AND THEN WE LEAVE. GUESS WHAT? THEY DON'T. THEY HAVE TO TAKE ALL OF THAT STUFF APART. SO THEIR THEY'RE THEY'RE HOURS AND HOURS AFTER, AFTER WE LEAVE. AND SO I WANT TO THANK AND WHAT YOU SEE IS A REPRESENTATION OF GOSH LET'S SEE I KNOW I'M GOING TO LEAVE SOMEBODY OUT. POLICE FIRE PARKS AND REC TRANSPORTATION.

SANITATION GETS INVOLVED AT SOME POINT. I MEAN, ALL OF THESE DEPARTMENTS, ALL OF THESE FOLKS HAVE TO COME TOGETHER JUST SO I CAN HAVE FUN. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE EVENTS, THOSE CONCERTS, THOSE PERFORMING ARTS IN THESE FACILITIES, CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY THINK ABOUT THE CONDITION OF SOME OF THOSE FACILITIES AND WHAT MORE WE COULD DO WITH THEM.

YOU CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT VISIT GARLAND, VISIT GARLAND, OR HANG ON GARLAND ARTS.COM, OR VISIT GARLAND TX.COM TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF THE EVENTS WE HAVE. I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM AND I WILL. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU. I SEE YOU FOLKS A LOT. I HAVE ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. IT MAKES WHAT IS OTHERWISE A FAIRLY BORING JOB OF BEING MAYOR. IT PROVIDES ME WITH SOME ENTERTAINMENT. AND SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU AND I'M SORRY.

I'M GOING TO STEP BEHIND YOU HERE. OH, YOU. COME ON, MISS, YOU BREAK IT, YOU BUY IT. LET'S SEE. CULTURAL ARTS. SPECIAL EVENTS. AND WE ALSO HAVE WE ALSO HAVE SOME DOCUMENTS BEHIND YOU THAT I HAVE DULY SIGNED, THANKING YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAMS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING TO MAKE YOUR MARK HERE IN GARLAND. AND IT'S ALLOWING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. GET OUT OF HERE. OKAY, BACK TO WORK. THIS IS MY SHOW. GET BACK TO WORK. I SAW THAT, I SAW THAT, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. AND, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR'S MAKE YOUR MARK AWARD IS ALWAYS A GOOD IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, PREVIOUS HONOREES DURING MY TIME AS MAYOR, THE HONORABLE LORI DODSON AND CARISSA DUTTON RECEIVED IT FOR THEIR EFFORTS ORGANIZING THE COMMUNITY DURING THE 2019 TORNADO. IT WAS LIKE, WHICH ONE WAS THAT? AND I MAY HAVE SOME OF THESE OUT OF ORDER, AND I APOLOGIZE. OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAMS FOR THE WORK THEY DID DURING COVID, THE GARLAND FOODIES FOR THE WORK THAT THEY ALSO DID DURING ALL THE SHUTDOWNS, AND SUPPORTING LOCAL RESTAURANTS. OUR JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE, OUR VERY FIRST

[00:55:02]

JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE, WHO HAD SET THE PATH FORWARD FOR THAT, FOR THAT EVENT. AND THEN OUR VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY CENTER AND VIA UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PAST RECIPIENTS.

THEY HAVE ALL IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. THEY HAVE ALL MADE AN IMPACT HERE IN GARLAND. I WANT TO THANK THEM. I'VE THANKED I'VE I THINK I'VE THANKED EVERYBODY AT THIS POINT, BUT I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT AND FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR US. AND YOU CAN CLAP. SO, SO SPEAKING OF CONCERTS, THERE IS ONE. I KNOW I TOLD YOU THAT MAKE YOUR MARK WAS THE FINAL THING, BUT I DO HAVE ONE MORE THING THIS EVENING. WE STILL HAVE OUR GIVEAWAY AND I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A CHANCE TO ENTER OVER AT THE BOND STUDY GROUP. WE ARE GIVING AWAY FOUR TICKETS TO THE BAND CONCERT PLUS, AND THAT'S THEY'RE GOING TO BE AT THE PLAZA PLUS $100 GIFT CARDS FOR DOS BANDERAS. NOW LET ME EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EASY BAND. ONE NIGHT I WAS LOST IN THE WORLD OF TIKTOK. I GOT DOWN A RABBIT HOLE THAT I JUST. I DON'T EVEN KNOW, FRANKLY, HOW I GOT THERE. AND SOME MUSIC STARTS PLAYING. NOW. I'M A NATIVE TEXAN. I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE INSTRUMENTATION I'M HEARING. I'M FAMILIAR WITH, WITH THE STYLE OF MUSIC. THIS, THIS, THIS NORTENO MUSIC IS COMING OUT OF MY PHONE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S A DIFFERENT MELODY THAT I KNOW. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS, BUT I'M LIKE, OKAY, I'LL WATCH. WELL, WHAT EASY BAND DOES IS THEY TAKE ALL OF THOSE SONGS YOU'VE HEARD ON THE RADIO THE CURE, THE CRANBERRIES, I MEAN, AND ALL THESE POP SONGS, AND THEY TAKE THEM AND THEY CONVERT THEM TO A NORTENO STYLE OF MUSI.

INSTRUMENTATION. THEY DO VERSES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND SO MY BRAIN IS STILL TRYING TO COMPREHEND THE CURE. AND THE MUSIC THAT I'M HEARING, AND, AND I, I GOT DOWN A RABBIT HOLE WITH THEM. I, I SEARCHED INTO THEIR INTO THEIR WEBSITE, LISTENED TO, I DON'T KNOW, PROBABLY AN HOUR'S WORTH OF MUSIC. AND THEN I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED OUR, OUR CULTURAL ARTS FOLKS. AND I WAS LIKE, WE HAVE GOT TO GET THESE PEOPLE TO GARLAND, TEXAS, AND WE HAVE DONE THAT. SO AND AMY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE AMY WENT. THERE SHE IS. HOW ARE WE ON TICKET SALES FOR EASY BAND? NOT MANY LEFT, SHE SAID. NOT MANY LEFT GOING FAST. SO THAT SHOW IS COMING UP VERY SOON. AND AGAIN GO TO CULTURAL ARTS, OUR WEBSITES AND LOOK AT WE BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE ONLY GREAT SHOW WE HAVE COMING. ■WE HAVE MANY, MANY MORE. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING ME HERE TONIGHT.

IT HAS IT HAS BEEN MY PLEASURE TO SERVE THE CITY OF GARLAND. I HAVE HAD MORE. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS RIDICULOUS, BUT I HAVE HAD A LOT OF FUN. GOVERNMENT IS NOT DESIGNED TO BE FUN. IT IS ACTUALLY ANTI FUN MOST OF THE TIME. BUT WITH YOUR SUPPORT, THE COUNCIL SUPPORT OUR CITY STAFF, IT HAS. I HAVE HAD A GREAT TIME. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME HARD TIMES BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MORE GOOD TIMES. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I AND I WANT TO CONTINUE. I WANT TO CONTINUE TO URGE YOU TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE CITY, SEEK OUT THE INFORMATION, SEEK OUT THE REPRESENTATIVES. MAYBE SOMEDAY GET YOUR NAME ON ONE OF THOSE BALLOTS. ALRIGHT, BUT GET INVOLVED. DON'T JUST SIT AT HOME AND COMPLAIN ON FACEBOOK. YEAH. DON'T JUST SIT AND DON'T TAKE EVERYTHING YOU SEE. AND I'M, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I'M LEAVING OFFICE. DON'T TAKE EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON NEXT DOOR AS THE TRUTH. BECAUSE TRUST ME ON THIS. IT'S NOT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE AN IMPACT, IF YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED. CITY HALL IS ABOUT A BLOCK FROM HERE. AND RATHER THAN THE MAYOR AND THE COUNTY, TALK TO EMPTY SEATS EVERY NIGHT.

IF A CROWD LIKE THIS SHOWED UP AT COUNCIL MEETINGS EVERY NIGHT, I GUARANTEE YOU YOU WOULD SEE A

[01:00:02]

NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE CITY OF GARLAND. SO PLEASE TAKE THAT TO HEART. CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CITY, AND I GUESS I HAVE ONE LAST THING TO SAY. AND THAT WOULD BE YIPPEE KI YAY! THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THERE IS OUR ENCORE. ENCORE! COME ON. TWO MORE YEARS. TWO MORE YEARS. I VOTE FOR THAT.

ALL RIGHT, GO HOME. COME ON. SCOTT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.