[00:00:07] WELL, GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 4TH, 2025 REGULAR MEETING OF THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. IT IS A CUSTOM AND TRADITION OF THIS COUNCIL TO HAVE AN INVOCATION AND RECITAL OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF OUR MEETING, LED BY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS. YOU ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IF YOU SO CHOOSE, BUT YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN EITHER OR BOTH, AND YOUR DECISION IS STRICTLY A MATTER OF YOUR OWN CHOICE AND WON'T HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE DECISIONS WE MAKE HERE THIS EVENING. TONIGHT, WE WILL BE LED BY MAYOR PRO TEM MOORE FROM DISTRICT THREE. SIR, WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME? MOST HOLY AND ALL, WISE GOD. LORD, WE ENTER INTO YOUR GATES WITH THANKSGIVING AND TO YOUR PRESENCE WITH PRAISE. WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH HEARTS OF GRATITUDE TO LIFT UP OUR ELECTE, ELECTED OFFICIALS, THOSE WHOM YOU HAVE PLACED IN SEATS OF RESPONSIBILITY. WE OFFER PRAYERS AND INTERCESSIONS FOR ALL WHOM HAVE PLACED IN AUTHORITY. YOUR WORD REMINDS US IN ROMANS 13 AND ONE THAT THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT THAT WHICH GOD HAS ESTABLISHED. AND WHILE WE MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND IT, WE STILL HEAR YOU SAYING FROM AFAR, TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART, WITH ALL THINE SOUL, AND LEAN NOT TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATH. SO WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LEADERSHIP IS A CALLING. WE ASK FOR YOUR DIVINE WISDOM TO LEAD, GUIDE AND DIRECT US IN EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE. REMIND US TONIGHT THAT WE ARE A NATION BUILT ON THE PREMISE AND THE PROMISE THAT ALL MEN, WOMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS ARE CREATED EQUAL AND THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. THESE WORDS CAME ON THE HEELS OF A NATION FLEEING OPPRESSION AND SEEKING TO BE LIBERATED, JUST AND FREE TO LIVE OUT THEIR LIVES UNENCUMBERED BY TYRANNY. YOU DESIRE THAT ALL THE PEOPLE BE SAVED AND COME TO A KNOWLEDGE OF TRUTH IN YOU. AND SO WE ASK TONIGHT, GOD, THAT YOU GIVE US CLEAN HEARTS, UNDERSTANDING HEARTS, EMPATHETIC HEARTS THAT WE MIGHT RENDER JUSTICE TO ALL THESE YOUR PEOPLE, THAT WE MIGHT DO GOOD AND NOT BAD, DO RIGHT AND NOT WRONG, AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE WILL BE JUDGED BY THE SAME MEASURE THAT WE JUDGE. WE ASK THAT YOU LEAD, GUIDE AND DIRECT US AS WE MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING PRESSING ISSUES LIKE IMMIGRATION. DI, CRT, CLIMATE CHANGE, HEALTH CARE, AND SO MANY MORE. LET US BE INSTRUMENTS OF YOUR PEACE, LORD, STRIVING FOR SOLUTIONS THAT UPHOLD THE DIGNITY AND WELL-BEING OF ALL PEOPLE. AND IN TIMES OF INTERNATIONAL TREASON AND TENSION. GRANT US THE COURAGE TO PURSUE DIPLOMACY AND THE WISDOM TO PROMOTE PEACE. GIVE US CLARITY IN MOMENTS OF UNCERTAINTY, COMPASSION FOR THOSE WE SERVE. LET OUR ACTIONS REFLECT YOUR LOVE AND YOUR TRUTH, SO THAT JUSTICE MAY ROLL DOWN LIKE A RIVER AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE AN EVER FLOWIN STREAM. PEACE AND UNITY MAY FLOURISH IN OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR CITIES, OUR STATES, AND THIS GREAT NATION AND WORLD. MAY OUR LEADERSHIP BRING HONOR, GLORY, AND POWER TO YOU AND BLESSINGS. AND WE ASK ALL OF THIS IN THE MIGHTY, POWERFUL, AND MATCHLESS NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS THE CHRIST. AMEN. AMEN. JOIN WITH ME NOW. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [ MAYORAL PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Mayor may present proclamations, recognize attendees or accomplishments, and make announcements regarding City events or other matters of interest to citizens including but not limited to listed items. There will be no Council discussion or votes on these matters. Pet of the Month] OKAY. WELL, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU. FOR THOSE OF YOU IN ATTENDANCE THIS EVENING, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE ACTUALLY TALKING TO FACES AND NOT EMPTY CHAIRS. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU IN. AND THIS IS AT OUR FIRST MEETING OF EVERY MONTH. OUR FIRST REGULAR MEETING IS PET OF THE MONTH. AND SO AND MOST OF THE TIME PET OF THE MONTH. I CAN HOLD THE PET OF THE MONTH. I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN DO THAT THIS EVENING. I WILL BRING HER UP FOR YOU GUYS OVER HERE SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOU. OH, YEAH. OKAY, I'LL BE IN [00:05:06] CHARGE OF THIS FOR A MINUTE. AWESOME. COOL. HELLO, GUYS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN. MY NAME IS ALBERTO MALDONADO. I AM A ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF GARLAND. AND TODAY I BROUGHT SOMEBODY VERY, VERY, VERY SWEET AND SPECIAL. SHE IS OUR PET OF THE MONTH AND HER NAME IS BESTIE. BESTIE IS A YEAR OLD AND SHE IS A DUTCH SHEPHERD MIX BECAUSE SHE IS A DUTCH SHEPHERD. I DO HAVE TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT SHE HAS A VERY THICK WEST GERMANIC ACCENT, AND SHE'S VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, BUT SPEND AN HOUR WITH HER, GET TO KNOW HER. SUBTITLES. UNFORTUNATELY, NO. SHE NO. A LOT OF THE COMMUNICATION WE HAVE IS A LOT OF POINTING AND TALKING. BUT LIKE I SAID, SPEND AN HOUR WITH HER. SHE'LL BE ABLE TO CONVEY HER WANTS AND NEEDS AS CLEAR AS DAY. SHE'S. WE'VE HAD HER SINCE DECEMBER. SHE'S BEEN IN HERE. AND SINCE WE'VE HAD HER IN THERE, SHE'S BEEN SPAYED AND SHE'S ALSO BEEN TESTED FOR HEARTWORMS AND SHE IS NEGATIVE ON THAT. SO THOSE ARE ALWAYS POSITIVES CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE SHE IS THE PET OF THE MONTH, HER ADOPTION FEE IS $25. AND THAT ALSO COVERS A WHOLE BUNCH OF LIKE STARTER GOODIES. AND AS WELL AS HER HEARTWORM AND FLEA PREVENTION MEDICATION. YEAH, HONESTLY, THE REASON I SAY SHE'S SUPER SPECIAL IS BECAUSE I SINCE I'VE SEEN HER IN DECEMBER, IT'S BEEN A DAILY RITUAL THAT I GO IN THERE, I SEE HER, I LOVE ON HER. SHE LIKE SEES ME. SHE STARTS PRANCING LIKE HER LIPS CURL UP. SHE GETS REALLY, REALLY HAPPY. AND AS MUCH AS I LOVE OUR ROUTINES, I THINK I WOULD LOVE IT MORE IF SHE WAS ABLE TO FIND HER FOREVER HOME. IF SHE'S JUST NOT YOUR TYPE OF STYLE, YOU KNOW, PLEASE COME CHECK US OUT. WE HAVE ALL SHAPES AND SIZES FROM 6 POUNDS TO 100 POUNDS. SO PLEASE GUYS, IF YOU CAN COME CHECK US OUT. WE'RE OPEN EVERY DAY BUT WEDNESDAY, 1130 TO 6 AND ASK FOR BESTIE. CHECK HER OUT. YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE HER TO DEATH. HER A NUMBER IS A278620. AND PLEASE GUYS ADOPT. DON'T SHOP. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU, BESTIE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. COME ON GIRL GOOD NIGHT GUYS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FOR. ALL RIGHT GOOD EVENING AGAIN. WE [ CONSENT AGENDA All items under this section are recommended for approval by a single motion of Council, without discussion. Council has had the opportunity to review each of these items at a previous Work Session, and approval of the consent agenda authorizes the City Manager or his designee to execute each item. The Mayor will announce the consent agenda and provide an opportunity for members of the audience, as well as Council, to request that any item be removed and considered separately.] WILL GO AHEAD AND GET INTO OUR AGENDA FOR THE EVENING. THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL ITEMS UNDER THIS SECTION ARE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY A SINGLE MOTION OF COUNCIL WITHOUT DISCUSSION. COUNCIL HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW EACH OF THESE ITEMS AT A PREVIOUS WORK SESSION, AND APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE EACH ITEM. I WILL ANNOUNCE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL, TO REQUEST THAT ANY ITEM BE REMOVED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY REQUESTS, BUT LET ME GO THROUGH THE AGENDA. ITEM ONE APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 21ST, 2025 REGULAR MEETING IN THE JANUARY 11TH, 2025 SPECIAL MEETING. ITEM TWO APPROVED THE FOLLOWING BIDS. ITEM TWO A HOLFORD ROAD USL PROJECT DESIGN CONTRACT. ITEM TWO BE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER AUDIO VISUAL TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE ITEM TWO C AUTOMATED F FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM AND ITEM TWO D GFL WILEY TO MALLARD TRANSMISSION LINE MATERIALS. ITEM THREE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE PROJECT SPECIFIC AGREEMENT WITH DALLAS COUNTY FOR RAILWAY ROAD CYCLE TRACK FROM GREENBELT PARKWAY TO RAKE LAKE. RAY HUBBARD. ITEM FOUR OPTIONAL REDEMPTION OF TAX. NOTES. ITEM FIVE A PUBLIC HEARING WAS PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED ON THE FOLLOWING ZONING CASE. COUNCIL APPROVED THE ZONING CASES, AND COUNCIL APPROVES THE FOLLOWING REQUEST AND INSTRUCTED STAFF TO BRING FORTH THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES. ITEM FIVE A IS CASE Z 24 DASH 35 KIMLEY-HORN IN DISTRICT ONE AND ITEM FIVE B SINGLE FAMILY HOME FOR, FOR, FOR FARHAN ZAKI AND MADIHA ZAKI IN DISTRICT ONE. AND THAT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANY OF THOSE ITEMS PULLED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY? SEEING NONE, MAYOR PRO TEM, MR. [00:10:06] MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM MOORE AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BASS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MADAM SECRETARY, YOU CAN PRAY THE VOTE FOR US, PLEASE. COUNCIL. AND DISPLAY THE VOTE. AND THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. MOVING ON TO OUR ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL [6. Hold a public hearing and consider approval of an ordinance adopting the 2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Hold a public hearing and consider approval of an ordinance adopting the 2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The 2025 Proposed CIP has been available for public inspection in the City's libraries and the City Secretary's Office and has been on the City's website since January 7, 2025.] CONSIDERATION. MADAM SECRETARY, COULD YOU GO OVER THE SPEAKER REGULATIONS FOR ME, PLEASE? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IS GIVEN TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY RATHER THAN TO QUESTION THE CITY COUNCIL OR STAFF. THE CHAIR MAY CALL A SPEAKER OUT OF ORDER IF THE SPEAKER PRESENTS QUESTIONS OR REQUEST FOR INFORMATION THAT WILL UNDULY DELAY THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS AT THE MEETING. SPEAKERS SHALL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON A FIRST COME, FIRST TO SPEAK BASIS, AS DETERMINED BY THE ORDER IN WHICH THE CITY SECRETARY RECEIVES THE SPEAKER'S INFORMATION. APPLICANTS ARE ALLOWED TEN MINUTES FOR PRESENTATIONS, AND ALL OTHER SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. WHEN THE PODIUM BUZZER SOUNDS, THE SPEAKER MUST END THEIR COMMENTS. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY? I THINK WE HAVE A COMMENT. A SPEAKER CARD FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHERS? NONE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. OKAY. IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO'S WANTING TO SPEAK, YOU CAN FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD OVER HERE WITH THE CITY SECRETARY. FIRST ITEM UNDER THIS SECTION IS ITEM SIX. EXCUSE ME. HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I WILL LOOK TO MAYOR PRO TEM MOORE. I BELIEVE THERE'S ALSO SOME YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED WITH SOME SPECIFIC WORDING FOR THIS MOTION. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I MOVED TO APPROVE THE 2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AS PRESENTED BY THE CITY MANAGER AND REVIEWED BY CITY COUNCIL WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES. INCREASE TO MUNICIPAL FACILITIES AND MISCELLANEOUS TAX SUPPORTED CIP 2025. APPROPRIATION BY 250,000 FOR THE STATE ENERGY CONSERVATION OFFICE GRANT IN THE EXISTING FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM AND THE ADDITION OF THE GATEWOOD DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT CIP PROJECT TO THE CIP FIVE YEAR PLAN. AND OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM MAYOR PRO TEM MOORE AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON TO APPROVE ITEM SIX AS PRESENTED. THE WORDING IS CORRECT, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU COMPARE THE VOTE FOR US, PLEASE. AND DISPLAY THE VOTE. AND THAT ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. [7. Hold a public hearing on the 2025 Proposed Bond Program Council will hold a public hearing to obtain comments regarding the 2025 Proposed Bond Program.] MOVING ON TO ITEM SEVEN, HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2025 PROPOSED BOND PROGRAM. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I WILL LOOK TO YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM, MOVE TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM MOORE TO. NO, WAIT A MINUTE. HANG ON. WE'RE NOT. NO ACTION THERE. SORRY. I WAS LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE. HANG ON. I TAKE IT BACK. RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM EIGHT, CALLING THE [8. Calling the 2025 General Election for May 3, 2025 Approve an ordinance ordering a General Election for the City of Garland to be held on May 3, 2025 for the purpose of electing a Mayor and one Councilmember to respectively represent Districts 3, 6, 7, and 8, providing for a run-off election if needed and providing for other matters relating to the conduct of the election. This item was considered at the February 3, 2025 Work Session.] 2025 GENERAL ELECTION FOR MAY 3RD, 2025. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? MAYOR PRO TEM MOVE TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM MOORE TO APPROVE WITH A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, MADAM SECRETARY. AND DISPLAY THE VOTE. EXCUSE ME. AND THAT ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. MOVING ON TO ITEM [9. Calling the 2025 Special Bond Election for May 3, 2025 Approve an ordinance ordering a Special Election for the City of Garland to be held on May 3, 2025 for the purposes of submitting to the voters four propositions authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for various permanent public improvements and public purposes, and providing for other matters relating to the conduct of the election. This item was considered at the February 3, 2025 Work Session.] NINE, CALLING THE 2025 SPECIAL BOND ELECTION FOR MAY 3RD, 2025. AND COUNCIL, MATT IS GOING TO MAKE A SMALL PRESENTATION TO US ON SOME OF THE WORDING ON ONE OF THE PROPOSITIONS, AND EVERYBODY'S GOT A COPY. SO THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, CITY COUNCIL. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR BOND COUNCIL AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PREPARE THE PROPOSITION LANGUAGE OVER THE LAST MONTH FOR THE UPCOMING BOND ELECTION THAT'S ASKED TO BE CALLED. I DID WANT [00:15:06] TO MAKE EVERYONE AWARE OF A SLIGHT CHANGE TO WHAT WOULD BE ON PAGE THREE, AND I'VE PASSED OUT THE NEW ORDINANCE TO EVERYONE. A SLIGHT CHANGE UNDER PROPOSITION B, AND THIS CHANGE WAS BASICALLY ADDED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FLEXIBILITY FOR CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS TO BUSINESSES. SO THE CHANGE IS UNDER WHERE IT STATES, GRANTS ASSOCIATED WITH COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, RETAIL, RESIDENTIAL, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROJECTS AND MIXED INCOME DEVELOPMENT. WE'VE ADDEDED BUSINESSES, PROFESSIONAL OR OTHER HUMAN SERVICE INSTITUTION DEVELOPMENTS TO THIS LANGUAGE TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY. SO I WOULD ASK THAT IF YOU ALL AGREE THAT WE APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AS AMENDED. VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS ITEM? THANK YOU. MATT. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? VERY GOOD. MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE UP. MOVE TO APPROVE WITH THE APPROPRIATE CHANGES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BASS. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, MADAM SECRETARY, YOU CAN PRAY THE VOTE FOR US, PLEASE. AND DISPLAY THE VOTE. AND THAT ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. AND THAT WAS OUR LAST ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT. WE HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR BOND STUDY MEMBER COMMITTEE MEMBERS WITH US HERE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME THAT YOU SPENT WITH ALL THAT. IT'S A IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION IN A, IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. SO WE APPRECIATE APPRECIATE WHAT [ CITIZEN COMMENTS Members of the audience wishing to address issues not on the meeting agenda may have three minutes to speak. However, according to the Texas Open Meetings Act, Council is prohibited from discussing any item not on the posted agenda.] YOU'VE DONE. MOVING ON. OUR NEXT ITEM IS CITIZEN COMMENTS. MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WISHING TO ADDRESS ISSUES NOT ON THE MEETING AGENDA MAY HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, COUNCIL IS PROHIBITED FROM DISCUSSING ANY ITEM NOT ON THE POSTED AGENDA. I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER. YES, SIR. ARTHUR. GREG. VERY GOOD SIR. IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD AND IF YOU CAN GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. YES. THANK YOU. I AM ARTHUR GREG. MY ADDRESS IS 2818 ANDREA LANE HERE IN GARLAND. 75040. GOOD EVENING TO MAYOR LAM AND ESTEEMED COUNCIL. I AM ARTHUR GREG. AS I SAID EARLIER, I'M A RETIRED HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR. I AM A 15 YEAR RESIDENT HERE IN THIS GREAT CITY OF GARLAND, AND I AM A 35 YEAR MEMBER OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INCORPORATED. AND SO I BROUGHT SOME OF MY ATTORNEY BROTHERS ARE KIND OF BACKED ME UP TONIGHT, AND WE ARE ALL RESIDENTS OF GARLAND. SO IF YOU WOULD STAND, PLEASE. ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INCORPORATED WAS FOUNDED ON DECEMBER 4TH, 1906 AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY IN ITHACA, NEW YORK. IT IS THE FIRST HISTORICALLY BLACK FRATERNITY FOUNDED FOR COLLEGE EDUCATED MEN. WE CURRENTLY HAVE SOMEWHERE AROUND 290,000 MEN MEMBERS, A DIVERSE GROUP OF MEMBERS HERE IN THE US A ABROAD. ABOUT 741 CHAPTERS, WHICH INCLUDE COLLEGIATES AND GRADUATE MEN. WE ARE THE FRATERNITY OF GREAT LEADERS SUCH AS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AND SUPREME COURT JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL, JESSE OWENS, AND OUR OWN FAVORITE, FORMER DALLAS COWBOY CHARLES HALEY. THE MISSION OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA IS TO DEVELOP LEADERS, PROMOTE BROTHERHOOD, AND TO PROVIDE SERVICE AND ADVOCACY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO WHICH BRINGS US HERE TONIGHT. WE'RE HERE TO DO THAT. WE'RE HERE TO DO THAT IN THE CITY OF GARLAND. SO BRIEFLY, WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THREE AREAS WHERE WE, THE MEN OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED, CAN ASSIST YOU IN THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING HERE TO MAKE GARLAND ONE OF THE GREATEST PLACES TO LIVE ON EARTH. SO FIRST, DEVELOPING LEADERS THROUGH THE MENTORING PROGRAMS THAT WE WORK WITH, OURS IS CALLED PROJECT ALPHA. IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH MARCH OF DIMES, AS WELL AS PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. PARTNERSHIPS WITH BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS, AND ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR BROTHERS WHO IS A LONG TIME RESIDENT HERE IN THE CITY OF GARLAND. BROTHER DALE LONG WAS A BIG BROTHER OF THE YEAR IN 1989. AND SO THAT'S OUR WAY IN DEVELOPING LEADERS FOR SERVICE THROUGH SERVICE, SERVING ON VARIOUS BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES TO ASSIST IN THE DECISIONS MADE AND WORK DONE FOR A GREATER GARLAND, AS WELL AS PROVIDING SERVICE WHEREVER WE'RE NEEDED, WHEREVER WE'RE NEEDED, AND HANDS WE'RE HANDS ON, BOOTS ON THE GROUND. AND IN ADVOCACY THROUGH OUR VOTER VOTELESS PEOPLE IS A HOPELESS PEOPLE, AN [00:20:05] INITIATIVE CENTERED AROUND IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AND VOTER EDUCATION. SO OUR WORK HAS ALREADY BEGUN INDIVIDUALLY HERE IN THE CITY THROUGH THE WORK OF SOME OF OUR BROTHERS, LIKE BROTHER BRIAN ROBERTSON, WHO SERVED ON THE GARLAND ISD CITIZEN'S BOND STEERING COMMITTEE, LIKE BROTHER RUBEN GRIFFIN, WHO SERVES ON THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AND LIKE BROTHER EUGENE WALKER, WHO IS A GRADUATE OF LEADERSHIP GARLAND, WE'VE PARTICIPATED IN THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR PARADE. EVERY YEAR. WE HAVE JUDGED THE PARADE A COUPLE OF YEARS. WE'VE EVEN USHERED AT THE PROGRAM AFTERWARDS, SO WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN THE WORK. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE A GREATER IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. SO AS I CLOSE, I'M NOT HERE TO ASK WHAT YOU COULD DO FOR ALPHA FOR US. WE'RE HERE TO SEE WHAT ALPHA CAN DO FOR YOU, WHAT ALPHA PHI ALPHA CAN DO FOR OUR CITY. AND THAT BEGINS FIRST. WE KNOW WITH BUILDING GREATER RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOU AND OTHER LEADERS HERE IN THE CITY. AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR OUR TIME, FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? SEEING NONE * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.