Aug 19, 2025 City Council

[ LEGISLATIVE PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

[00:00:07]

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 19TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. IT IS THE TRADITION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE AN INVOCATION AND RECITAL OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRIOR IN EITHER OR BOTH, AND YOUR DECISION IS STRICTLY A MATTER OF YOUR OWN CHOICE, AND HAS NO BEARING ON THE MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED HERE, AND WILL NOT AFFECT THE DECISIONS TO BE MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN ANY MANNER. IF YOU'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL IN THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN. TONIGHT'S PRAYER WILL BE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BESSE SUR. AS WE BEGIN TONIGHT'S MEETING, LET'S PAUSE TO REMEMBER WHY WE'RE HERE. WE ARE NEIGHBORS SERVING NEIGHBORS. ORDINARY PEOPLE ASKED TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL SHAPE THE CITY WE ALL CALL HOME. WE BRING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, AND WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE. BUT THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS. WHAT MATTERS IS THAT WE LISTEN, WEIGH THE OPTIONS, AND KEEP THE GOOD OF GARLAND AT THE CENTER OF EVERY CHOICE WE MAKE. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR CITY STAFF, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR BOARD MEMBERS, AND COUNTLESS VOLUNTEERS WHO KEEP THINGS MOVING FORWARD EVERY DAY. THEIR STEADY COMMITMENT INSPIRES US TO LEAD WITH THE SAME CONSISTENCY AND CARE. MAY WE APPROACH TONIGHT'S WORK WITH OPEN MINDS, STEADY HANDS, AND MAYBE JUST ENOUGH PATIENCE TO GET THROUGH THE AGENDA WITHOUT RUNNING OUT OF COFFEE AND SNACKS. YOU'LL JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE. 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.

WELL, GOOD EVENING, GARLAND, AND I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE TODAY FOR THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS. AND I WILL MAKE YOU A DEAL. I'M GOING TO BUMP THOSE UP IN THE AGENDA SO YOU GUYS CAN. GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE ALL THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS TONIGHT, BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO STAY. OF COURSE. TONIGHT WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROCLAMATIONS OR PETS OR OTHER POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCES, SO WE'LL JUST MOVE STRAIGHT INTO

[ CONSENT AGENDA]

[00:05:03]

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US? THAT ITEM IS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE THEN BACK

[3. Approve a Resolution Supporting the Foreign-Trade Zone Designation for Nobilia North America Inc.]

A REALLY QUICKLY WHEN YOU SEE THIS MAP SHOWING ON ORANGE, I GUESS IT'S IN RED IN THE MAP ON THE SCREEN, BUT IT IS ON AIRPORT FOREIGN TRADE ZONE. THIS IS A PRE-DESIGNATED AREA ALREADY 2400 ACRES ON AIRPORT. ALSO THE THEY HAVE JUST OUTSIDE THE REALLY NEIGHBORING THE ADJACENT TO

[00:10:03]

AGAIN, IT'S A COUNTY IS SERVED BY THIS DFW AIRPORT BOARD. SO THEY'RE THE O MANAGING. AND THIS PROJECT, THEY ARE DOING ALL THE COMPLIANCE FOR THESE PROJECT. SO TONIGHT THE REQUEST IS FROM NOBILIOR NORTH AMERICA. THEY ARE SEEKING THIS SUBMITTING FOREIGN TRADE ZONE APPLICATION.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY I FOUND OUT THEY ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THE LARGEST CABINET MANUFACTURER IN THE WORLD. THEY AGAIN, THEY'RE LEASING 45,000FT■S AT 3101 MARQUIS STREET, NUMBER 300. THIS BUILDING IS TOTAL IS 150,000FT■. BUT WE ARE DESIGNATING ONLY 45,000FT■S, WHICH IS? THEY ARE OCCUPYING. THEY'RE CURRENTLY HAVE A FIVE YEAR LEASE THROUGH MAY 2030. CURRENTLY, THEY HAVE A TWO FULL TIME PERSON. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE TEN PEOPLE BY END OF THIS THIS YEAR. AND WHEN FULLY OPERATED, THEY'RE. THEY LIKE TO BE 20 TO 30 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES. THE TOTAL PAYROLL OF THOSE EMPLOYEE GOING TO BE 1 MILLION TO 1.5 MILLION AND $5 MILLION MACHINERY EQUIPMENT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE TAXABLE BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY MACHINERY. IT'S IN THE BUILDING.

AND THEN ONE OF THE CONCERN OR MAYBE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE INVENTORY VALUE. WHAT THEY ARE BENEFITING IS ABOUT 1.5 TO $2 MILLION. SO NORMALLY THESE TARIFF IS ABOUT 20 TO 30% IF THAT THE TAXES THEY HAVE TO PAY, THAT IS THE AMOUNT THEY ARE POTENTIALLY BENEFITED WHEN THEY ARE IMPORTING SOME GOODS OR MATERIAL FROM OUTSIDE THE US. SO THEIR BENEFIT IS ABOUT 400,000 TO $600,000. ONE THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION, SINCE THIS IS INVENTORY TAX, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN TEXAS IS FREEPORT EXEMPTION. WE ARE GARLAND. HERE IS FREEPORT CITY MEANS ALL THE INVENTORY TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE GOODS OR MATERIALS. IT'S GOING SHIPPED OUTSIDE THE STATE WITHIN 175 DAYS. THAT INVENTORY TAX IS EXEMPT. SO IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. SO THEN THEIR CUSTOMER BASE RIGHT NOW 70% IS OUTSIDE OF STATE. SO WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE IMPACT TO THE CITY IS WE CAN KEEP IT. IT'S 30% OF, LET'S SAY, THE $2 MILLION BASE OF INVENTORY VALUE. THAT IS THE PORTION IT COULD BE IMPACTED. BUT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE STAYING IN TEXAS, SO WHICH IS ABOUT $600,000 VALUE MEANS $4,000 ANNUALLY TO THE CITY. THAT IS REALLY PROBABLY IMPACT TO THE CITY OF GARLAND. NOW, WHAT IS THE EXPANSION PLAN? SO WHEN THEY ALREADY HIRED SITE SITE SELECTORS AND THEY ARE ACTIVELY EVALUATING THE NEXT EXPANSION OPPORTUNITY, CURRENTLY THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE NORTH TEXAS REGION OR LOUISIANA. SO WHEN WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS OPPORTUNITY, THEY ARE SAYING THAT THIS IS REALLY FIRST OPERATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

THEY LIKE TO EXPAND THEIR MARKET IN THE US. THAT'S THE REASON THEY LOOK AT THE GARLAND LOCATION. IT'S REALLY THEY WERE SAYING IT'S STRATEGICALLY LOCATED NOW, WHAT THEIR EXPANSION PLAN IS ABOUT. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MILLION SQUARE FEET OF SPACE, 2000 EMPLOYEE AND 600 $600 MILLION EXPANSION. THAT'S THE INVESTMENT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. SO. SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS DEFINITELY I SEE THE IMPACT. HOWEVER WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT WE NEED TO WE NEED THEM TO LOCATE HERE. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS NEXT BIG EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES. SO I'M RECOMMENDING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE FOREIGN TRADE ZONE APPLICATION FOR THE NORTH AMERICA. WITH THAT, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT.

MAYOR PRO TEM LUCK. HOW MUCH DO WE LOSE IN SALES TAX REVENUE IF. I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE DOING MOSTLY WHOLESALE, BUT DON'T WE LOSE SOME SALES TAX REVENUE? IF THEY'RE NOT? IT CAN

[00:15:07]

MACHINERY. YES. OVER TEN YEARS. RIGHT. SO I MEAN THAT NUMBER WOULD GO DOWN. OH OF COURSE.

YEAH. WELL RIGHT. AT LEAST THE FIRST YEAR IS ABOUT 35, $30,000. SO ARE THEY CONSIDERING STAYING HERE? IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY IT'S REALLY DEPENDING ON THE WHAT'S AVAILABLE SPACES. YEAH.

BUT AGAIN THIS WE ARE WE ARE SUBMITTING SOME OPTIONS FOR THEM. IS THE FTC TIED TO THE BUSINESS OR TO THE LOCATION TO THE LOCATION AND BUSINESS. SO TO HAVE THEY HAVE TO BE BOTH THERE.

CORRECT. SO THIS RESOLUTION IS SPECIFICALLY FOR 35,000FT■S. IF THE SUITE NUMBER TWO NEXT TO THEM, THE RELOCATED EMPTY. AND THEN IF THEY WANTED TO EXPAND, THEY HAVE TO COME BACK TO US TO AMEND. AND WE HAVE TO ISSUE THE SUPPORT LETTER AGAIN. OKAY. CAN WE PLACE A TIME LIMIT ON THE FTC FOR FIVE YEARS WHEN THEIR LEASE EXPIRES? THAT IS REALLY WE'RE JUST NOT APPROVING DESIGNATION.

ACTUALLY. WE'RE JUST SUPPORTING. SO THE BOARD IS THE ONE APPROVING. WE ARE NOT AUTHORIZED ENTITY TO APPROVING THIS DESIGNATION. GOT IT. IS THERE ANY KIND OF I MEAN THEY'RE THEY'RE CREATING NOT VERY MANY JOBS. I MEAN IT IS SOME JOBS. BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S ONLY TWO RIGHT. YEP. AND THEY'RE THEY'RE HOPING TO BE AT 20 TO 30 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, WHICH I'M I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT WILL TAKE I DON'T I ASK THE QUESTIONS. THEY DON'T KNOW THAT YET SO I DON'T IT'S ARE THEY ARE THEY GIVING US ANYTHING FOR OUR SUPPORT. IS THERE ANY QUID PRO QUO? I GUESS WE CAN WE CAN ASK. HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED, THE NEIGHBORING CITY IS REALLY HAVE DESIGNATION AND THEN THEY'RE SUPPORTING NOW THAT'S REASON WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 45,000FT■S. IT IS 45,000FT■S, BUT SIGNIFICANT. ITS NOT THAT MUCH. IT IS NOT. AND THEN WE ARE EXPECTING 5 MILLION MACHINERY EQUIPMENT. YEAH IT'S NOT MUCH. HOWEVER IT'S ONLY 45,000FT■S. SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT WE ARE INDUSTRIAL CITY. HOW WE GREW IN GARLAND GREW. IT'S REALLY THE MESSAGE WE ARE SUPPORTING, YOU KNOW, MANUFACTURING AND IN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT WHAT WE HAVE. AND IT'SS REALLY MESSAGE IT'S REALLY TO SENDING OUT THE MARK INDUSTRIAL MARKET TALKING ABOUT OKAY, 45,000FT■S THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE BENEFITING 400,000 $400,000.

YOU HAVE TO SHARE THAT BENEFIT. THIS IS A PROGRAM IS EXISTING. THIS IS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND IT'S OTHER STATE CITY EVERYWHERE IS DOING IT NOW. YES, DEFINITELY. WE HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK. BUT AGAIN THEY CAN JUST FIVE YEARS LATER, IF THEY DON'T GET THE DESIGNATION, THEY HAVE CHOICE TO LEAVE, FIND ANOTHER LOCATION, AND THEN WE CAN MOVE ON WITH ANOTHER COMPANY. WE CAN.

YES. THANK YOU. MR. ENGLAND. YES. MR. MAYOR, JUST A QUICK COMMENT OR QUICK NOTE ON THE IDEA THAT WE COULD RECEIVE SOME KIND OF CONSIDERATION TO WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT. IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR A IN THIS CONTEXT TO SET UP A PAY FOR PLAY SCHEME FOR THE LETTER OF SUPPORT, WHAT THEY'RE GIVING TO THE CITY, THE CONSIDERATION THEORETICALLY, BY THIS TYPE OF FOREIGN TRADE ZONE IS THEY'RE GIVING US SOME EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZENS IN THIS CASE, 5 TO 30 AND ALSO SOME TAXES, BUT SOME TAXES, OF COURSE, WE WILL NOT BE RECEIVING. COUNCIL ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? IS THERE ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO ASK ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. THANK YOU AND BRIAN FOR THE CLARIFICATION ON THIS ONE. I THINK THAT THERE WERE QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS AS TO EVEN WHAT A FOREIGN TRADE ZONE WAS, AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT US, AND ALL OF

[00:20:06]

[c. Z 25-10 Garland ISD (District 1)]

ITEM 5CA PUBLIC HEARING WAS PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED FOR THE FOLLOWING CASE. COUNCIL APPROVED THE ZONING REQUEST AND INSTRUCTED STAFF TO BRING FORTH THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE. ITEM 5CZ 25 DASH TEN GARLAND ISD, DISTRICT ONE COUNCIL. DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? THANK YOU. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN DUTTON AND A SECOND BY JEFF BASS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER? COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS, YOU PUNCHED IN, DO YOU? OKAY. OH. WHAT IS THE MOTION? MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. THE ITEM IS PRESENTED. THANK YOU. AND I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BASS. TO ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. OH, I DID BEFORE THAT. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? I SEE NONE, THANK YOU. OKAY. NOW WHAT? OH, IT'S LIKE I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, 8 TO 0. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. EXCUSE ME, MAYOR PRO TEM. NOW WE'RE GOING TO BUMP UP ITEMS 12 THROUGH 18. THIS IS THE MOMENT ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. I'M SURE IT'S THE APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. I WOULD LIKE COUNCIL IF WE WOULD TAKE EACH COUNCIL MEMBERS APPOINTMENTS IN A BLOCK, AND WE COULD VOTE ON THOSE AS A BLOCK IF WE WISH. I'LL START WITH ITEM 12. MAYOR PRO TEM, IF YOU'D PLEASE READ THE MAYOR'S NOMINATIONS. YES. JOHN V BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT JENNIFER NGUYEN, COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION ARTHUR GREGG, COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION CHARLES LEONARD, COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION, GLENNA SAHARIA, COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION. BILL INGRAM, ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD. MITCH CARR, GARLAND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION DOROTHY WHITE, LIBRARY BOARD ROCHELLE RON, PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD, WAYNE DALTON, PLAN COMMISSION, DAVID PERRY, PROPERTY STANDARDS BOARD VINITA LOVELACE CHANDLER, SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION JAIR GARRIDO, TAX INCREMENT FINANCE NUMBER ONE, DOWNTOWN FOREST, JUPITER BOARD, PC MATTHEW, TAX INCREMENT FINANCE. NUMBER TWO, SOUTH BOARD PATRICK ABEL, TAX INCREMENT FINANCE. NUMBER THREE BOARD LENNY CASTRO, UNIFIED BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION. YOU'VE HEARD THE NOMINATIONS AND THEY REQUIRE A SECOND AS WELL. WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON. COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS, DO YOU IN THE QUEUE TO SPEAK. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING. NO. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE EACH EACH COUNCIL MEMBERS SEPARATELY VOTED

[00:25:03]

AND THAT ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT, MAYOR PRO TEM, YOUR NOMINATIONS, PLEASE. THANK YOU. RENEE. GRANADA, COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION, JASON. JASON SHANKS, TAX INCREMENT FINANCE NUMBER TWO, SOUTH FORK TYLER WILLIAMS, UNIFIED BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM LUCK AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. COUNCIL. ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE ITEM ON THOSE NOMINATIONS. MADAM SECRETARY PLEASE PREPARE TO VOTE ON THOSE. AND THAT IS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL GO NOW TO DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ORTT FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. DISTRICT EIGHT WOULD LIKE TO PROUDLY NOMINATE JOHN MCDONALD, BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. KIMBERLY BANKS, COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION. SHARONDA GREEN, ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD LUPITA TORRES, GARLAND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION, LEWIS MOORE LIBRARY BOARD, LIBBY ODOM PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD, BOB DUCKWORTH PLAN COMMISSION. DALE LONG, PROPERTY STANDARDS BOARD. AND GARRETT SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION JOSEPH SCHRADER, TAX INCREMENT FINANCE NUMBER ONE. JENNIFER ALMOND, TAX INCREMENT FINANCE. NUMBER TWO, TONY TORRES, TAX INCREMENT FINANCE. NUMBER THREE. AND CHIP CHIP GORDON, UNIFIED BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON. ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE NOMINEES? MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US. AND THOSE ARE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, OVER TO YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. THREE WOULD LIKE TO EXCITEDLY NOMINATE THE FOLLOWING PERSONS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. WESLEY JOHNSON, BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS STEVEN FLORES, COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION OLIVER TORRES ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD CHASE MILLER, ALL IN CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION CHANTEL JONES, LIBRARY BOARD. MATTHEW PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD STEPHANIE PEREZ, PLAN COMMISSION, CANYON, GERALD PROPERTY STANDARDS BOARD, LATONYA MONTGOMERY, SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION. PRECIOUS SEAL, TAX INCREMENT FINANCE NUMBER ONE. DOWNTOWN FOREST. JUPITER. MICHAEL LANDERS, TAX INSTRUMENT FINANCE NUMBER. INCREMENT FINANCE.

NUMBER TWO, SOFT BOARD JENNIFER PARKER, TAX INCREMENT FINANCE. NUMBER THREE BOARD. JANINE LEE, UNIFIED STANDARDS COMMISSION, BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS. ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE NOMINEES? COUNCIL SEEING NONE. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US.

AND THOSE NOMINATIONS ARE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU SIR. NOW ON TO COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS FOR YOURS. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I HAVE A SINGLE NOMINATION FOR THE UNITED BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION. IN THE PERSON OF JAMES ALTON HALL JUNIOR. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ONE NOMINATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM? MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US. AND THOSE ARE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILMEMBER DUTTON, ON TO YOU, MA'AM. I WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT BRUCE

[00:30:03]

AND THOSE ARE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WILL ROUND OUT WITH YOUR NOMINATION, SIR. THANK YOU. MAYOR, THIS IS MY FIRST APPOINTMENT TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS WHO'VE RETURNED, AND THREE OR 4 OR 5 THAT ARE BRAND NEW TO THE BOARDS. I WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS. MY NOMINEES ARE JOSEPH WILLOUGHBY, BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, JIMMY TRAN, COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION LAUREN BRUNS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD. CHIP VAN PELT, GARLAND CULTURAL ARTS, TERRY LIBRARY BOARD, DAVID PARRISH, PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD. MIKE ROSE PLAN COMMISSION. MARTHA MALEKU, PROPERTY STANDARDS BOARD KATHLEEN GARDNER, SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION TONY, BY TAX INCREMENT FINANCE NUMBER ONE, DOWNTOWN FOREST, JUPITER WARD DAMON WILSON, TAX INCREMENT FINANCE. NUMBER TWO, SOUTH BOARD NICHOLAS NICKS, TAX INCREMENT FINANCE. NUMBER THREE BOARD JOHN KRUDY, JUNIOR, UNIFIED BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE NOMINATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON. ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE NOMINEES? MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'D PLEASE PREPARE TO VOTE FOR THAT FOR THIS ITEM. AND THOSE ARE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR ALL YOUR NOMINATIONS. I ASK THAT IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE RECENTLY APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU PLEASE STAND IN THE AUDIENCE, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THE CITY OF GARLAND, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS FOR THIS COMING YEAR. ALRIGHT, WE'LL COME UP AGAIN. ALL RIGHT. EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING. OF COURSE. OR. BUT WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE READ THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES FOR US. YES, SIR. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. IS GIVEN TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY RATHER THAN TO QUESTION THE CITY COUNCIL ORR STAFF. THE CHAIR MAY CALL A SPEAKER OUT OF ORDER IF THE SPEAKER PRESENTS QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION THAT WILL UNDULY DELAY THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS AT THE MEETING, SPEAKER SHALL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE 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 MAY SEND THEIR COMMENTS. THANK YOU MA'AM, AND WE ARE PULLING ITEMS. NINE THE AMENDMENT TO CHAPTERS 26 AND 32 OF THE CODE ORDINANCES RELATED TO SHORT TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS, AS WELL AS ITEM TEN, AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 22, ARTICLE TWO OF THE GARLAND CITY ORDINANCE FOR FOOD AND FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS. AND A REMINDER, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEMS I ASK, THAT YOU PLEASE GO

[a. Public Hearing on the FY 2025-26 Proposed Annual Operating Budget]

[00:35:08]

GOOD EVENING. SIR. IF YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES, 3135 SOUTH SHILOH ROAD, GARLAND, TEXAS. MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL, OF COURSE. CITY MANAGER, GOOD TO MEET YOU. FOR THE FIRST TIME ON SATURDAY, WHICH WAS QUITE A MEETING FOR HOURS, IF I RECALL. MY NAME IS PHIL LATHROP. I'VE BEEN A BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNER FOR OVER 35 YEARS IN GARLAND. MY MAIN TOPIC TONIGHT IS TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE INCENTIVIZATION FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN THE BUDGET. I WAS UNDECIDED ON THIS TOPIC, PARTICULARLY WHEN I SAW THE MATH ON THE ICE HOUSE PROPOSAL ON THE TOWN SQUARE. I DISCUSSED THE PROPOSAL WITH MY DISTRICT FIVE REPRESENTATIVE, MAYOR PRO TEM MARGARET LUCK. SHE CONVINCED ME THAT THIS WAS NOT A HANDOUT, BUT A LONG TERM INVESTMENT FOR IMPROVING RETAIL OPTIONS FOR CITIZENS AND GENERATING TAX SALES DOLLARS. I ATTENDED THE SPECIAL MEETING ON SATURDAY AND LEARNED EVEN MORE THE IMPORTANCE OF SALES TAX DOLLARS STAYING AND COMING INTO GARLAND, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE COMPARED THEM TO CITIES THAT WERE IN SURROUNDING AREAS. SO THAT'S DEFINITELY A NEED HERE.

AND ALL THE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, I COULD CERTAINLY SEE THAT IT'S BEEN SORELY NEEDED. I GOT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY WITH THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER AND SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND I WAS ENCOURAGED TO LEARN I WASN'T THE ONLY PERSON WHO THOUGHT OF THIS WORKED WITH THIS SQUARE. IT WAS TIME TO LOOK AT OTHER HIGH PROFILE LOCATIONS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, ESPECIALLY MY PARK, SOUTH GARLAND, WHERE I'VE BEEN FOREVER, WHERE THE CLOSEST TO DALLAS, AND WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE 635 PROJECT, WILL BE IN A PRIME AREA FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THE SERVICES AND TAX MONEY WILL BRING IN. SO IN A GENERAL WAY, I'M NOT SPECIFYING ANY ONE THING, BUT I THINK WHEN I WAS CONVINCED THAT THE MONEY INVESTED IN BUSINESS, PARTICULARLY ON THAT ICEHOUSE PROJECT, BECAUSE I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE WITH THE MATH UNTIL MARGARET STRAIGHTENED ME OUT.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT, AS WE HEAR HERE TONIGHT. YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LOT OF GIGANTIC COMPANIES AND FTZS AND THAT SORT OF THING COMING IN. AND GARLAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN REFERRED TO AS INDUSTRIAL, AND I'M NOT SURE I AGREE WITH THAT. TOTALLY. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR GARLAND TO PRODUCE FOR THE CITIZENS OF MORE RETAIL BUSINESS AND MORE TAX DOLLARS THAN WE KNOW WHAT THAT ALL BOATS FLOAT. MORE OPTIONS FOR CITIZENS, MORE JOBS FOR CITIZENS, AND JUST A BETTER ENVIRONMENT WHEN WE GO DRIVE DOWN THE STREET. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ANY QUESTIONS? I BELIEVE SO, MAYOR PRO TEM LUCK. THANK YOU, MR. LATHROP. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN AND SPEAKING ON THE BUDGET. AND I THINK THAT OUR OUR GOALS FOR SOUTH GARLAND ESPECIALLY, ARE VERY CLOSELY ALIGNED. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MA'AM. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER? THANK YOU, SIR, FOR COMING DOWN. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? NO, SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. THEN WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE

[b. Public Hearing on Proposed FY 2025-2026 Tax Rate]

[7. Agreement with Pathways Physicians Texas, PLLC for Community Telehealth Services]

[00:40:01]

AND THAT IS WHAT IS WITHIN THE CONTRACT. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT DAYS THIS WOULD BE AVAILABLE AND WHAT THE HOURS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON HOW THIS WILL BE PAID FOR. AND SO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE MD PATHWAYS PROGRAM IS AN OPT OUT PROGRAM. SO IT IS ADDED TO WATER BILLS OR UTILITY BILLS. AND CITIZENS WHO DO NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SERVICE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPT OUT. HAS THIS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH COUNCIL? WE WANT TO MAKE THE OPT OUT PROCESS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HAVING A PHONE NUMBER ESTABLISHED, OR INDIVIDUALS COULD CALL IN TO OPT OUT OF THE PROGRAM, AND ALSO HAVING A WEB OPTION TO BE ABLE TO OPT OUT OF THE PROGRAM AS WELL. AND WE DO ALSO HAVE A ACROSS THE STREET AT THE DUCKWORTH BUILDING, A WALK IN PAYMENT CENTER THAT COULD ALSO ASSIST WITH WITH THE OPT OUT PROCESS AS WELL. IF COUNCIL CHOOSES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A MANDATORY CHARGE OR SERVICE. IF AN INDIVIDUAL OR CITIZEN DOES NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN IT, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPT OUT OF THE PROGRAM. AS DISCUSSED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP THAT MD PATHWAYS HAS WORKED WITH OTHER CITIES ON. EXAMPLES I PUT ON ARE THE CITIES OF HENDERSON, FERRIS, AND CRANDALL. NOT ONLY DID WE GET TO TALK TO THE CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM, BUT WE ALSO TALKED TO STAFF AT THESE LOCATIONS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO HEAR THEIR SUCCESSES AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY'VE ENCOUNTERED WITH THE WITH THE PROGRAM AND REALLY THE DRIVING FACTOR FOR THIS PROGRAM IS TO BRING COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT TO, TO COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST MEETING, NOT ONLY DOES TEXAS BUT GARLAND HAVE TRENDING NUMBERS THAT SHOW WHERE SOME OF THE HIGHEST IN THE IN THE COUNTRY AS IT RELATES TO BEING UNDERINSURED AND NOT HAVING INSURANCE AT ALL, WITH SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS BEING UP TO 25% OF INDIVIDUALS NOT HAVING INSURANCE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. SO, AS DISCUSSED LAST MEETING, THERE WERE KEY CONTRACT TERMS THAT THAT WERE DISCUSSED.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS, AND I WANT TO DEFINITELY STRESS THIS TO THE TO THE COUNCIL, WE HAVE A UTILITY BILLING SOFTWARE THAT NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED. AND WE CANNOT ADD THIS SYSTEM OR THIS PROGRAM TO OUR EXISTING SYSTEM UNTIL WE DO THE UPGRADE TO OUR SOFTWARE. SO WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW WITH OUR SOFTWARE PROVIDERS AS WELL AS OUR IT TEAM. SO IN ORDER TO GET THAT SYSTEM DONE AND BE ABLE TO ADD THIS TO A LINE ITEM, IT WILL BE SPRING TO LATE SUMMER, THAT OF NEXT YEAR, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ADD THIS PROGRAM. IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO DO THAT WITHIN THE TERM. IT IS A SEVEN YEAR AGREEMENT THAT IS ESTABLISHED. AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I'LL TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED ANNUAL FEE FROM MD PATHWAYS. ONE THINGNG THAT WE WANTED TO ENSURE IS THAT THERE IS AN INITIAL PERIOD WHERE THE COUNCIL COULD MAKE A DECISION IF

[00:45:05]

THERE'S ALSO A TERM WITHIN THE AGREEMENT THAT MD PATHWAYS, IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO MOVE FORWARD, WOULD BE THE SOLE PROVIDER OF A UTILITY BILL BASED TELEHEALTH PROGRAM WITHIN THE CITY. SO, AS WE STATED, THERE IS A MONTHLY FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ON THE UTILITY BILLS YEARS ONE AND TWO. THE FEE PROPOSED IS $6. YEAR THREE IS $7, YEAR FOUR IS EIGHT, AND YEARS FIVE THROUGH SEVEN IS $9. THE TOTAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM FOR YEAR ONE FOR T THETARTUP IS 163,000. AND JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THESE ARE COSTS THAT MD PATHWAYS WOULD BE FUNDING AS PART OF THIS THIS PROGRAM. SO WHAT WE'VE ASKED FOR IS A $50,000 A YEAR ALLOCATION TO SIT IN AN ESCROW ACCOUNT. THAT WAY, IN THE EVENT WE START THIS PROGRAM AND WE NEED ADDITIONAL STAFF, WE NEED ADDITIONAL I.T. SUPPORT. WE HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE TO BE ABLE TO FUND ANY AVENUES THAT MAY BE NEEDED. RELATED TO THAT, WE ALSO HAVE A LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR UTILITY FUNDS, AND WE ALSO WANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ADD TO THAT FUND. SO THIS WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 25,000 GOING ONGOING FOR THIS FOR THIS PROGRAM. WE ALSO, AS WE DISCUSSED, NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO ADD THIS LINE ITEM TO OUR SOFTWARE. WITHOUT THIS THIS COMING FORWARD, WE WOULD NOT NEED TO SPEND THE MONEY TO, TO ADD THIS LINE ITEM. AND SO WE HAVE QUOTES FROM OUR CURRENT SOFTWARE PROVIDER FOR 70,000 TO ADD THIS LINE ITEM. AND THERE WILL ALSO BE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE SOFTWARE BEING ADDED. I'M SORRY, THE LINE ITEM BEING ADDED TO THE SOFTWARE. AND SO WE'VE ASKED FOR AN 80,001 TIME UPFRONT COST TO PAY FOR THE IT NEEDS. AND THEN WE'VE ALSO ASKED FOR A ONE TIME $8,000 ALLOCATION FOR BILLING INSERTS TO HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. GOING BACK TO WHAT MD PATHWAYS HAS HAS AGREED TO FUND FOR US. THE FIRST IS UTILITY BILLING AGENT, WHICH WOULD BE A SIX MONTH POSITION THAT WOULD BE AGAIN FUNDED BY MD PATHWAYS. THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH BILLING COLLECTIONS, ASSIST WITH THE OPT OUTS, WHETHER THEY'RE VIA PHONE OR ONLINE, AND THEN CONTINUE TO HELP WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT WITHIN OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM. I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ASPECTS THAT WILL AID TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM, IF IT IS CHOSEN TO GO FORWARD, WOULD BE A COMMUNITY LIAISON. AND SO THE MD PATHWAYS FOLKS ARE HERE AND THEY CAN TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT WHAT THEY ENVISION IS A NINE MONTH PROGRAM WHERE A LIAISON IS MAKING THE ROUNDS TO SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND THE BENEFITS THAT CAN BE REALIZED FROM IT. AND AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE FUNDED BY MD PATHWAYS. AND WE ALSO HAVE REQUESTED FOR THREE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE CALL CENTER TO ASSIST WITH THE ADDITION OF PHONE CALLS FOR A SIX MONTH PERIOD THAT WILL ALSO BE FUNDED BY MD PATHWAYS. WE HAVE SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE HERE. I

[00:50:02]

AND I CAN TURN IT OVER TO THEM TO DISCUSS THAT. ON WHY THAT WORKS FOR THEIR THEIR BUSINESS, AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE INFORMATION ON THAT. SO I CAN TURN IT OVER TO THEM.

COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS, PLEASE. THAT'S OKAY. YES, SIR. SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU, BILL, AND GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. AS YOU KNOW, I'M BRIAN DAVIS. ALWAYS GREAT TO BE HERE IN THE CITY OF GARLAND. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO SORT OF GO BACK TO THE FIRST NIGHT I

[00:55:06]

WHEN I MET DOCTOR PARROTT. A DECORATED PHYSICIAN IN NORTH TEXAS. IS ONE CONGRESSIONAL AWARD FOR HIS HIS WORK AND HIS COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY DURING COVID. AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD WORKED IN GARLAND AT A HOSPITAL, BUT THAT HOSPITAL COULD NO LONGER OCCUPY GARLAND.

AND HE SAID THIS VERY CITY WAS THE MAIN REASON. THE MAIN IDEA BEHIND WHAT HE PUT TOGETHER. I JUST WANT TO RESET WHAT I HAD SAID MONTHS AGO, AND THAT IS OUR GOAL, IS TO PUT A DOCTOR IN EVERYBODY'S POCKET IN THE CITY OF GARLAND AND THE CITY OF GARLAND FOR $6 A MONTH, $72 A YEAR. IT COVERS TEN PEOPLE IN YOUR HOUSE. YOU CAN COMMUNICATE WITH A DOCTOR OR A NURSE PRACTITIONER WITHIN TWO MINUTES. EVERYBODY. KIDS, GET BACK TO SCHOOL QUICKER. YOUR 911 DISPATCH WILL BE REDUCED BY 20%. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE INSURANCE. FOR THOSE THAT DO HAVE INSURANCE, BETWEEN 8 TO $12 PER PRESCRIPTION THAT WE FILL, THAT IS A GAME CHANGER FOR THIS COMMUNITY. WE HAVE SEVEN DAY ACCESS, 365 DAYS A YEAR, AND WE'RE EVEN DOING IT FROM 7 A.M. TO 10 P.M. WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING AN HOUR EARLY. SO IF KIDS WAKE UP AND SICK AND NEED MEDICINE BEFORE MOM GOES TO WORK, OR MOM WAKES UP SICK OR DAD WAKES UP SICK, WE HAVE THE 7 A.M. START TIME. BUT WHAT HAPPENS? AND I HAVE TOLD YOU THIS THE WHOLE WAY IS THAT WHEN THIS LAUNCHES, THERE IS CONFUSION BECAUSE IT'S OUT THERE AND NO ONE KNOWS ALL THE FACTS YET. AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IN A IN A MINISTER ONCE TOLD ME, WHEN YOU'RE UNDERSTANDING IS ACTUALLY A MISUNDERSTANDING, YOU CAN MAKE CONCLUSIONS THAT ARE INACCURATE AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE WRONG. AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE EIGHT MONTHS TO EDUCATE YOUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE NOT PUTTING THIS ON THE WATER BILL TOMORROW.

WE HAVE EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE WE DO THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT YOU YOU ALL HAVE HAD MULTIPLE SESSIONS TO HEAR ABOUT THIS, BUT THEY HAVEN'T. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE DEDICATING RESOURCES TO BE OUT THERE AND TO BE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THIS. THE REALITY IS THAT MD HEALTH, WE HAVE TAKEN HEALTHCARE AND WE'VE MADE IT A PUBLIC GOOD. THE ECONOMICS OF HEALTH CARE ARE BROKEN, ESPECIALLY IN PARTS OF NORTH TEXAS. SO WE WE'RE FIXING THAT. WE'RE GIVING ACCESS TO THESE PHYSICIANS. YOUR STAFF DID A WONDERFUL JOB OF VETTING THE CITIES THAT USE THIS, AND EVERYBODY CAME. WE EVEN HAD A CITY MANAGER THAT WANTED TO COME SPEAK. EVERYBODY SAID THIS IS THE MOST USED CITY SERVICE IN OUR STATE, THE MOST USED MORE THAN PARKS, MORE THAN LIBRARY, MORE THAN POLICE, MORE THAN FIRE. I. OUR ENTIRE PROGRAM IS IN RESPONSE TO A HEALTH CARE CRISIS FOR CITIES LIKE GARLAND.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU'VE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF US. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT MORE THAN YOU'LL KNOW. THIS IS AND I'LL TELL YOU, THERE ARE LOTS OF BIG CITIES OUT THERE THAT ARE WATCHING YOU THAT ARE ASKING US HOW IT GOES TONIGHT. NOW, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SMALL CITIES THAT DO IT, BUT WE'RE HERE TO HELP. GARLAND AND GARLAND. AT OUR LAST MEETING, SOME ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID, I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN GARLAND WITH THIS. AND IN NORTH TEXAS AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST 48 HOURS. WE'RE STILL HERE. WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE IN THE TRENCHES. WILL YOU GET CALLS? YES. WILL PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTAND? YES. WILL PEOPLE BE CONCERNED? CERTAINLY. BUT THAT IS WHAT EVERY CITY THAT'S EVER LAUNCHED, A PROGRAM HAS GONE THROUGH. AND THROUGH EDUCATION AND AWARENESS, THOSE HAVE BEEN REMEDIED. I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS TODAY. COUNCIL HAS SET UP HERE 30, 40, 50. I DON'T KNOW HOW HOW HOW OLD IS GP? OLD 100. SOMEONE SAID THE ELECTRICITY WORLD, THE COMMUNITY OF ELECTRICITY IN NORTH TEXAS IS

[01:00:07]

SIR. SO, SIR. I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOU SPEAK, BUT I. I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO QUICKLY. ADDRESS. YES, HOW? YES, HOW? SO THAT THE DOCTOR CAN SPEAK. HOW DO YOU ENVISION GETTING THIS INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY? CAN YOU SUM THAT UP IN TWO MINUTES, PLEASE? I'VE HEARD THE BACKGROUND. SO CAN YOU OR SOMEBODY. SOME SIMPLE ANSWER IS THIS I WANT TO REALLY. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE OPT OUT. THERE'S TWO OPT OUTS. THERE'S A MANUAL OPT OUT. SO SOMEONE COULD COME TO ME TONIGHT AND SAY, OPT ME OUT. WE WILL. YOU CAN GO ONLINE. WE'LL SET UP A TEXT.

WE'LL SET UP A EMAIL. WE'LL SET UP HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT. WE DO IT ALL DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT THERE'S ALSO AN OPT OUT THAT'S AUTOMATIC AND THAT'S CALLED NOT PAYING THE $6. SO IF YOU JUST SIMPLY ALLOW YOUR CITIZENS TO HAVE THIS, THOSE THAT DON'T WANT IT WILL JUST PAY THEIR WATER BILL -$6. AND AFTER THREE MONTHS WE AUTOMATICALLY OPTIMIZE. IT CAN'T GET ANY EASIER THAN THAT.

WE WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE THIS. IF YOU HAVE. AND I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER BEARD'S DAUGHTER, SHE HAS INSURANCE. SHE HAS. SHE LIVES IN CRANDALL, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR CITIES. SHE GOT 4 OR 5 COMMUNICATIONS TELLING HER SHE COULD OPT OUT BEFORE IT EVER WENT ON A BILL, AND SHE DID BECAUSE SHE HAD FREE ONGOING TELEHEALTH. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T. SO IT IS AUTOMATIC OPT OUT FOR THOSE THAT JUST DON'T WANT TO PAY THE $6. AND THEN AFTER THREE MONTHS, WE'LL TAKE THEM OFF THE SYSTEM AND THEY CAN COME BACK ANYTIME. OKAY. HI, COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS, I I'VE GOT SOME PREPARED REMARKS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I USE THE TIME WISELY. SO. SURE.

PREFER TO ASK SOME TARGETED QUESTIONS. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE IF YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH THAT ONE OR THE ONE. THE CALLS I'VE GOT. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE OPT OUT PROVISION. AND HOW WILL YOU RIGHT NOW, HOW DO YOU ENVISION THAT WORKING AND GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT TO OUR PUBLIC SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THAT I'M NOT IF WE APPROVE THIS AND IT'S ROLLED OUT THAT OUR PUBLIC IS NOT TASKED WITH THE BURDEN OF OPTING OUT. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? WE HAVE A 13 POINT STRATEGY. WHERE, WHERE? IT'S ON IT, THEY ARE JUST OKAY, GREAT. THERE'S A 13 POINT TOUCH POINT STRATEGY TO CONTACT RESIDENTS IN GARLAND. SO THERE'S 13 DIFFERENT WAYS. AND WE CAN WE CAN GIVE YOU A DOCUMENT WHERE WE CONTACT GARLAND RESIDENTS INFORMING THEM THAT THIS SERVICE IS COMING. LIKE BRYAN MENTIONED. AND I THINK THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED THAT THIS WOULD NOT GO ON A WATER BILL UNTIL NEXT YEAR. THAT GIVES US TIME TO INFORM RESIDENTS THAT THIS IS COMING, AND THEY WOULD SIMPLY TO OPT OUT. THEY COULD CLICK A BUTTON, THEY COULD CALL, THEY COULD SEND BACK IN A FORM. THEY COULD CONTACT US DIRECTLY. THERE'S GOING TO BE AT LEAST FIVE DIFFERENT MECHANISMS TO MAKE THIS EASY. BUT LIKE BRYAN MENTIONED, THEY SIMPLY JUST DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE BILL. NOW, THE ANSWER, THE OPT OUT QUESTION. AND THOSE RESIDENTS PROBABLY WANT TO HEAR THIS. WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE AN OPT OUT? AND THAT THAT IS A VERY VALID QUESTION TO ASK. THAT'S THE QUESTION. THAT'S THE VERY VALID QUESTION TO ASK. AND IT COMES DOWN TO COST. FIRST OF ALL, NO ONE THINKS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH CARE TO THE MINUTE THEY NEED IT.

THAT YOUNG MOM WITH TWO KIDS THAT'S UP LATE AT NIGHT, KIDS ARE SICK. IF SHE DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THIS, IT'S TOO LATE AT THAT POINT TO SIGN HER UP. WE WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE ACCESS. IF WE DID THIS ON AN OPT IN BASIS, THAT $6 FEE WOULD BE A $60 FEE. IN ORDER FOR US TO GO OUT AND

[01:05:08]

TO THIS DAY I STILL SEE PATIENTS IN THE ER FROM, FROM YOUR COMMUNITY AND, AND I THINK WHAT YOU GUYS WOULD FIND WOULD BE HEARTBREAKING. THE YOUNG MOM THAT COMES ON LA AT NIGHT WITH HER, HER KIDS NEEDING SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE TREATMENT FOR STREP THROAT, THE DAY LABORER THAT WAITS THREE MONTHS TO GET THEIR DIABETES TREATED BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET PAID TO TAKE OFF WORK, AND THAT'S SIMPLE MEDICINE REFILL THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE THROUGH A SERVICE LIKE OURS TURNS INTO A HOSPITAL ADMISSION THAT MOM WITH THOSE TWO KIDS WALKS OUT WITH A $2,000 PER CHILD CHARGE FOR A SIMPLE STREP THROAT DIAGNOSIS THAT HAS TO END. WE ALL KNOW GARLAND NO LONGER HAS A HOSPITAL. YOU GUYS ARE FACING THREE BIG CHALLENGES. YOU HAVE LONG TRANSPORT TIMES OF YOUR EMS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, AND YOU HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ARE UTILIZING 911 BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION. WE CAN REDUCE THOSE. WE'VE SHOWN TO REDUCE THOSE IN THE COMMUNITIES. YOU HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IN YOUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE HEALTHCARE RELATED. THEY JUST SIMPLY NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR AND GET BACK IN SCHOOL. WE CAN CORRECT THAT. AND YOU'VE REALLY GOT HARD WORKING FAMILIES WITH NO ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. AND SO YOU'VE GOT A BIG PROBLEM TO FACE. AND YES, IS IT GOING TO BE CHALLENGING TO INFORM THE PUBLIC? ABSOLUTELY. BUT WE'RE UP FOR THAT CHALLENGE. WE'VE DONE IT. WE'VE WAITED TO CONTACT GARLAND TO MAKE SURE WE HAD OUR PROCESSES IN PLACE. JUST LIKE BRIAN MENTIONED. I BUILT THIS PROGRAM WITH GARLAND IN MIND THAT I KNEW FROM DAY ONE WE COULDN'T COME IN AND SERVE A CITY THIS SIZE. WE HAD TO BE PREPARED, AND WE'RE PREPARED TODAY. AND I THINK I LOOK AT COUNCILMAN BASS, HE SAID IT BEST, GARLAND. THIS DECISION IS ABOUT GARLAND'S IDENTITY.

GARLAND IS ABOUT NEIGHBORS SERVING NEIGHBORS. HOW NEIGHBORLY WOULD IT BE TO ALLOW YOUR NEIGHBOR TO ACCESS A DOCTOR THROUGH A SIMPLE TEXT MESSAGE? AND THIS PROGRAM MIGHT NOT BE FOR YOU. YOU MAY HAVE GREAT INSURANCE. YOU MAY HAVE ACCESS TO A DOCTOR, BUT INSTEAD OF CANCELING THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, WHY NOT BE NEIGHBORLY AND JUST SISIMPLY OPT OUT? GARLAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A COMMUNITY ABOUT NEIGHBORS SERVING NEIGHBORS, AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO SERVE YOUR NEIGHBOR THAN TAKING THE ONUS OF YOURSELF? IT IS. IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO CLICK A BUTTON OR MAKE THAT CALL, BUT IT PROVIDES ACCESS TO EVERYONE ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY. IF COUNCIL WERE TO SAY NO TODAY, COUNCIL WOULD BE MAKING A DECISION FOR EVERYONE. THAT SINGLE MOM, THE DAY LABORER, THEY'D BE SAYING, NO ONE CAN HAVE THIS. IF COUNCIL SAYS YES, THEY GIVE EVERYONE A DECISION, A VOTE PER SE, TO MAKE THAT DECISION INDEPENDENTLY. THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PRELAUNCH ACTIVITIES GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. YES. SO THE I'LL CALL IT WHAT IT IS THE OUTRAGE I'M SEEING ON FACEBOOK ABOUT THE OPT, ABOUT THE OPT OUT VERSUS OPT IN IS DID I HEAR YOU RIGHT THAT THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT, $6.

BUT IF THEY HAD TO OPT IN IT WOULD BE $60.10 TIMES THE COST. IS THAT DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY? THAT'S CORRECT. YES. OKAY. AND SO THAT YOU KNOW SO THAT HELPED I THINK THAT HELPS A LOT. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THAT THAT PUTS THAT COST ON PEOPLE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT IF THEY HAVE TO GO AND OPT IN. I MEAN, A LOT OF US HAVE GOOD HEALTH CARE AND SOME OF US HAVE MEDICARE. THAT'S ALL TAKEN CARE OF. ALL THAT. AND SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG POINTS THAT I THINK HAS GOTTEN MISSED, THAT WE JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN. THERE'S JUST A TON OF RUMORS ABOUT THEY CAN'T MAKE ME ENROLL IN INSURANCE IF I DON'T WANT TO BE. THERE'S A OF WHAT THIS IS AND WHAT THIS ISN'T. AND SO I FORESEE YOU GUYS COMING TO A LOT OF TOWN HALLS IN THE NEXT IN THE FUTURE HERE WHERE WE WOULD HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH LOTS OF QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN ALL THE OTHER WAYS THAT YOU WOULD REACH OUT TO THAT. SO AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE IT MAKE MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC IT'S NOT $6 FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, IT'S $6 FOR A FAMILY. AND YOU CAN SIGN

[01:10:01]

AND THAT WILL GIVE YOU A LOT OF DATA BEFORE WE EVER EVEN PUT ANYTHING ON A BILL. AND IT'S A HUGE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE 10,000. ONCE WE HIT 10,000, WE'VE GOT TO CAP IT. BUT 10,000 HOUSEHOLDS. SO IF THERE'S FIVE AND A HOUSEHOLD THAT'S 50,000 PEOPLE, OKAY. VERY GOOD. I THINK I THINK I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM. I THINK FOR, YOU KNOW, THE UNDERSERVED. AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE A LOT HERE IN GARLAND. IT'S BEEN DESIGNED AROUND GARLAND BUT TESTED ELSEWHERE TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD YOUR PROCESSES TOGETHER. I REALLY LIKED HEARING THAT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE RESEARCH YOU'VE DONE BEFORE YOU GOT TO THIS POINT. AND SO I THINK THE OUTREACH IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT, BUT DISPELLING THE RUMORS THAT ARE FLYING AROUND THE SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO GET ON, GET AHEAD OF SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP WITH THAT, YOU GUYS LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO THERE. OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON. HELLO. SO WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT FACEBOOK. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW THAT EVERYTHING THAT YOU READ ON FACEBOOK IS NOT ALWAYS THE TRUTH AND THE WHOLE TRUTH. OKAY, LET'S JUST GET THAT OUT THERE, OKAY? I'M NOT GOING TO CALL ANYBODY OUT BY NAME, BUT, YOU KNOW, OKAY. SO LET'S JUST SAY. AS AS THESE TWO GENTLEMEN HAVE MENTIONED, WE HAVE NO HOSPITAL AND 90% OF FACEBOOK WILL BE THE FIRST ONES TO REMIND US THAT GARLAND DOESN'T HAVE A HOSPITAL WORRY ABOUT OUR HOSPITALS. GUESS WHAT? THIS IS STEP NUMBER ONE TO HAVING A POSITIVE THING TO GET US A HOSPITAL. BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHY WE DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL? THAT'S BECAUSE BAYLOR WAS NOT MAKING A PROFIT FROM GARLAND.

BECAUSE WE HAVE. DALLAS COUNTY IS THE SECOND LEAST INSURED COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY. IN THE COUNTRY, OKAY. THE SECOND LEAST INSURED. THE REASON WHY WE DO NOT HAVE A HOSPITAL IS BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE INSURED PEOPLE TO MAKE IT PROFITABLE FOR A HOSPITAL TO BE HERE BECAUSE PEOPLE GET SICK. IT HAPPENS. IF I DON'T HAVE $250 TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GO TO CARE, NOW, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? AM I GOING TO SUFFER IN HOPE THAT I CAN TAKE A SHOT OF BRANDY AND CALL IT GOOD? OR AM I GOING TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND GET THAT PRESCRIPTION FOR AMOXICILLIN, GET ON MY GOODRX APP AND GO TO THE PHARMACY AND GET IT FILLED? BECAUSE GUESS WHAT, WE ARE WORKING CLASS CITY, PERIOD. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT INDUSTRIAL. WE ARE BLUE COLLAR WORKING CLASS CITY. SO YOU KNOW WHAT? IF MY OPTION IS TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM SO I CAN GET THAT PRESCRIPTION? THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, BECAUSE I STILL HAVE TO TAKE MYSELF TO WORK

[01:15:02]

SO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AS THEIR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY. THAT IS WHY YOU'RE AWAITING HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS. SO ON THAT SAME TOKEN, GUESS WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CALL 911? YOU'VE GOT A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. YOU GET TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. NOW, MIND YOU, WE DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL. SO YOU'RE GOING OUT OF CITY TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, RIGHT? SO NOW OUR AMBULANCE HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO COME AND GET YOU TO TRANSPORT YOU OUT OF OUR CITY. THAT AMBULANCE CANNOT LEAVE YOU AT THAT HOSPITAL UNTIL THEY HAVE A BED TO MOVE YOUR BODY TO. GUESS WHAT? WE'VE GOT AMBULANCES THAT ARE SITTING AT HOSPITALS.

WE ARE PAYING AN EMT AND A PARAMEDIC FOR OVER TWO HOURS TO SIT OUT OF CITY IN A HOSPITAL UNTIL THEY CAN GET YOU INTO ANOTHER BED. IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO MITIGATE THAT, I DO NOT SEE WHAT THE NEGATIVE IS. THIS IS MORE THAN A $6 CHARGE ON YOUR WATER BILL. OKAY, WE ARE ALL BUSY PEOPLE. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. IF YOU ARE A STAY AT HOME MOM, YOU'RE A WORKING MOM.

I WORK TWO JOBS ON TOP OF COUNCIL. I WILL FIND FIVE MINUTES IN MY DAY. IF IT IS THAT IMPORTANT TO ME TO MAKE THAT PHONE CALL AND TELL THEM, HEY, CAN YOU PLEASE LET ME OUT? OKAY? IT'S NOT THAT SERIOUS. IT IS A SIMPLE PHONE CALL. YOU CAN DO IT ON THE INTERNET. YOU CAN SEND AN EMAIL. YOU CAN SEND ME AN EMAIL. IF YOU WANT ME TO OPT YOU OUT. I WILL DO IT. OKAY? BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT. THE DAY THAT YOU GUYS CAME TO OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE MEETING. OKAY. AND I SHARED A STORY AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO SHARE THAT STORY WITHOUT BEING A CRYBABY. BUT HERE WE ARE. SO THE DAY, THE DAY THAT YOU GUYS CAME TO OUR MEETING, I TOLD YOU THE STORY ABOUT A NEIGHBOR WHO HAD BEEN ILL. STUPID. THIS IS WHAT EMOTIONS GET YOU. A NEIGHBOR THAT HAD BEEN ILL AND SHE DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE. THEY DID NOT HAVE A VEHICLE AND SHE ENDED UP PASSING AWAY. YOU GUYS REMEMBER THAT. HAD SHE HAVE HAD ACCESS TO THIS SERVICE? THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN HER OUTCOME. NOW, WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW IS THAT DAY AFTER THAT MEETING. I FOUND HER HUSBAND DEAD IN HIS HOUSE. $6, $6. ASK YOURSELF IF $6 IS WORTH SOMEONE'S LIFE. THAT'S WHAT I WANT EVERYONE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. $6 MIGHT JUST YOU OFF TO THE FACT THAT YOU'RE SENDING US EMAILS BECAUSE YOU'RE MAD THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO OPT OUT, BUT FOR ME, $6 IS WORTH YOUR LIFE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MA'AM. MAYOR PRO TEM LUCK. YEAH. I DO WANT TO GO OVER SOME, LIKE, SOME QUESTIONS I HAD. WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY INSURED? I KNOW THAT, I MEAN, I'M COVERED BY MY HUSBAND'S INSURANCE. ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE FOR TEN YEARS BEFORE THAT, SO I WOULD HAVE LOVED A SERVICE LIKE THIS WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE.

BUT EVEN NOW, IF I SCHEDULE A VIDEO APPOINTMENT WITH MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE, IT'S NOT IMMEDIATE. I MEAN, I STILL HAVE TO USUALLY WAIT A COUPLE OF DAYS TO SEE MY DOCTOR. SOMETIMES I CAN'T EVEN GET IN FOR LIKE A WEEK, AND THAT'S A 15 MINUTE VIDEO CALL. SO TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE BENEFITS YOU MAY HAVE FOR INSURED PEOPLE. AND ALSO, IF YOU'LL GO BACK TO THE TIME THAT YOU'LL BE SERVING PEOPLE, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THAT AGAIN BECAUSE THE, THE PRESENTATION THAT MR. URRUTIA HAD WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU SAID. SO THAT WE'LL START OFF THE TIME. THE TIME IS 7 A.M. TO 10 P.M. AND WHAT WE HAVE FOUND THAT COVERS 95% OF ALL REQUESTS,

[01:20:05]

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO BE THERE AT THE TOWN HALLS TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT. I'LL BE POSTING IT ON FACEBOOK. I'M SURE MY COHORTS WILL BE DOING THE SAME THING. THE CITY WILL BE DOING THE SAME THING. I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE THAT WILL BE LIVING IN GARLAND FOR THE NEXT EIGHT MONTHS WHO HASN'T HEARD ABOUT MD HEALTH PATHWAYS, SO I, I THINK THAT'S A PROMISE THAT ALL OF US INTEND TO KEEP FOR THE RESIDENTS OF GARLAND. BUT I ALSO WANT YOU TO ADDRESS LIKE WHO IS COVERED BY THIS? IT'S ANYBODY WITH A WATER BILL. YES. IT HASN'T BEEN TALKED ABOUT THAT EVEN A

[01:25:01]

AND SO GARLAND, BEING THE FIRST IN THE AREA OF SIZE TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WILL ACTUALLY SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BE ABLE TO ATTRACT EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF THAT. WHAT ABOUT APARTMENT COMPLEXES? HOW ARE YOU HANDLING MULTIFAMILY? GARLAND HAS THE LUXURY OF HAVING GPS AND A WATER UTILITY. AND A LOT OF THOSE UNITS ALREADY HAVE INDIVIDUAL BILLS. IF THEY DON'T, IF IT'S A MASTER METER, WE BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE'LL PROVIDE IT TO THE WHOLE COMPLEX FOR THE $6 A MONTH THE FIRST YEAR. SO IF YOU HAVE 300 PEOPLE IN A UNIT OR IN A IN A COMPLEX THAT HAS ONE MASTER METER, SO THE LANDLORD JUST BILLS EVERYBODY EQUALLY, THEIR COST FOR THE ALL 300 PEOPLE IS $72 FOR THE FIRST YEAR. NOW, IF THEY USE IT EGREGIOUSLY, WHICH WE HOPE THEY DO, WE WOULD ASK YOU IF WE COULD GO TO THAT LANDLORD OR THAT PROPERTY OWNER AND SAY, HEY, COULD WE FIGURE OUT A FAIR RATE BECAUSE WE HAD, YOU KNOW, 9000 TEXT ENGAGEMENTS WITH YOUR AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, BUT WE WOULD SEEK YOUR PERMISSION BEFORE WE WOULD ENGAGE, AND THAT WOULD BE AFTER THE FIRST YEAR. OKAY. AND THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR ABILITY, THE CITY'S ABILITY TO OPT OUT. WE AFTER THE PROGRAM COMMENCES, WE HAVE SIX MONTHS TO SAY THIS JUST ISN'T WORKING FOR US. SO AS A CITY, WE CAN OPT EVERYONE OUT AND SAY, YEAH, SORRY, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE OKAY, BUT IT'S NOT. AND COUNCIL HAS ASKED STAFF TO REPORT BACK ON THIS PROGRAM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WE'RE I MEAN, I HOPE TO RECEIVE AT LEAST A MONTHLY REPORT ON THE PROGRESS WHICH I ANTICIPATE WILL BE GREAT. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO GARLAND AND HELPING US PAVE, PAVE THE WAY FOR HEALTHCARE FOR THE MASSES, KIND OF I MEAN, &-PD I'M I'M JUST LUCKY THAT WE GET TO BE INCLUDED IN IT. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. BRIAN AND DEREK. IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT YOU ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, THE PLAN THAT YOU ARE PRESENTING, WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING FORTH. BUT OF COURSE, I WOULD FEEL SOMEWHAT RELUCTANT IF YOU WEREN'T. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE PUT IN YOUR LIVES INTO. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT I WANT TO FIRST QUESTION. HOW MUCH PUBLIC INPUT? HE YOU GOTTEN AS IT RELATES TO WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS ABOUT THE PLAN? IN OTHER WORDS, HAVE YOU BEEN TO ANY TOWN HALLS? HAVE YOU HAD ANY PUBLIC MEETINGS? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE AT THIS POINT TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC? WE ACTUALLY HAVE A GROUP OF GARLAND CITIZENS THAT WE'VE BEEN PILOTING THE PROGRAM WITH, AND THEY'RE HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AS WELL.

AND SOME OF THEM ARE QUITE POWERFUL. OKAY. WELL, MAYBE THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP ME TO CHANGE MY MIND, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, MY REAL CONCERN IS I WANT TO MAKE MY POSITION VERY CLEAR. AND I DON'T WANT TO RAMBLE AND GO THROUGH. I'M JUST GOING TO SAY. WHILE I RECOGNIZE THE INTENT OF EXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, REDUCING NON-EMERGENCY ER VISITS, AND PROMOTING COMMUNITY HEALTH, I CAN'T SUPPORT THE STRUCTURE AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE PLAN IS BEING INTRODUCED. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS. THE STRONGEST OBJECTION THAT I HAVE IS THIS PLAN IS NOT CONSTITUENT DRIVEN. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS I'VE GOTTEN CALLS TODAY. I'VE GOTTEN CALLS. MY CONSTITUENTS FEEL THAT THIS PLAN IS BEING FORCED UPON THEM. THEY FEEL THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, THE DEMOCRATIC WAY THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IS TO PUT THE PLAN OUT THERE, BRING PEOPLE IN, TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT, LET THEM BUY INTO IT, AND THEN NOT A OPT OUT PROGRAM, BUT AN OPT IN. AND AS YOU'VE ALREADY STATED, THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME TO OPT IN TO SOMETHING, BECAUSE IN SO DOING THAT WAY, I BELIEVE THAT THEY THEN ARE GOING TO FEEL THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY GOT TO SPEND THEIR TIME. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO STOP AND WASTE MY TIME, OR SPEND MY TIME OPTING OUT OF SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T ASK FOR TO BEGIN WITH? I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS, I

[01:30:04]

GOVERNMENT. WHEN YOU ALLOW THE ACTUAL RESIDENT TO BE IN CONTROL OF THAT DECISION. DO I WANT MY MONEY TO GO TO THIS SERVICE? IS IT VALUABLE TO ME? AND THAT SPORTS COMPLEX, WHICH JUST ONE OF MANY THINGS GOVERNMENT DECIDES ON THAT YOUR RESIDENTS AND CONSTITUENTS HAVE NO CONTROL OVER? THIS IS ONE WHERE THEY GET AN INDIVIDUAL VOTE AND GET TO OPT OUT IF IT'S NOT FOR THEM.

LET ME HELP YOU WITH SOMETHING, SIR. AND THAT DECISION WAS NOT ONE OF OUR BEST DECISIONS. JUST LIKE THE ICE HOUSE, NOT ONE OF OUR BEST DECISIONS, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE HERE THAT WE'VE HAD TO GO BACK AND REDO BECAUSE WE DIDN'T TAKE IT TO THEM FIRST, BECAUSE WE WERE NOT TRANSPARENT, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET IT FIRST. AND BY THE WAY, JUST LIKE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR ON FACEBOOK IS NOT TRUE, EVERYTHING YOU HEAR HERE IS NOT TRUE EITHER. I'M JUST SAYING TO YOU, SIR, THAT I DO AGREE. GOVERNMENT HAS ITS PLACE. GOVERNMENT HAS ITS PLACE, BUT IT IS NOT INFRINGING UPON ME AND MY RIGHTS. IT IS NOT FORCING ME TO DO THINGS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW

[01:35:07]

HI, GUYS. YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU, RIGHT? I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IN DISTRICT TWO. WE HAVE A LOT OF ELDERLY DISABLED. UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED PEOPLE THAT I CAN SEE THIS SERVICE BEING A GREAT ASSISTANCE FOR. AND WE ARE NOT FORCING THIS SERVICE ON ANYONE. WE ARE PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SERVICE. SO GIVING EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE, THEY CAN THEN CHOOSE, DO I WANT TO? YES, I GET IT FOR $6 A MONTH.

NO, I DON'T WANT TO. I MAKE A PHONE CALL OR CLICK A BUTTON ON THE INTERNET OR WHATEVER THE PROCESS IS. I HAVE EXPLORED THIS WITH WITH THE CITY OF CRANDALL, AS YOU KNOW. EVERYONE IN MY DAUGHTER'S NEIGHBORHOOD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM BEFORE IT WAS EVER ROLLED OUT. THOSE WHO CHOSE TO OPT OUT BEFORE IT EVER GOT IMPLEMENTED, OPTED OUT BEFORE IT EVER GOT IMPLEMENTED. SO I'M VERY I WAS VERY PLEASED TO HEAR WHAT THE NOW, I ONLY SPOKE TO A FEW PEOPLE AND I DID NOT GO KNOCK ON DOORS. I JUST TALKED TO FAMILY, FRIENDS. BUT IT'S WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PROGRAM? SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. I THINK THAT HAVING QUICK MEDICAL CARE AVAILABLE TO OUR CITIZENS, A MAJORITY PART OF THE PART OF THE DAY BEFORE SCHOOL, AFTER WORK, IN THE EVENINGS, RIGHT BEFORE BED, WHEN YOU GO TO KISS YOUR KID GOOD NIGHT AND REALIZE THEY HAVE A FEVER. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD OPTION. I PERSONALLY HAVE A TELEHEALTH PROGRAM. I LIKE MY TELEHEALTH, BUT I HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR IT, AND THEN I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE DOCTOR TO CALL ME BACK AT MY APPOINTMENT TIME. THE LAST APPOINTMENT TIME WAS AN HOUR AND A HALF AFTER MY APPOINTMENT TIME, AND I STILL HAD TO PAY A CO-PAY. NOW IT WAS CHEAPER THAN GOING TO THE OFFICE, BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY A CO-PAY AND THEY ASKED FOR THAT CO-PAY WHEN I MADE THE APPOINTMENT. SO IF I CAN HAVE THIS PROGRAM AND USE IT TWICE IN A YEAR. I'VE BENEFITED FINANCIALLY AND MEDICALLY, SO I WOULD RATHER HAVE IT AND NOT NEED IT THAN NEED IT AND NOT HAVE IT. AND AGAIN, I LIKE I THINK US AS A COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPATION TO OUR TO OUR RESIDENTS. I DON'T HAVE ANY REAL QUESTIONS, BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY ASKED Y'ALL ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT I NEEDED TO ASK, AND Y'ALL ALREADY ANSWERED ALL OF THOSE, AND IT IS IN RECORD. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND BEING PATIENT WITH US AS WE GET THIS PROCESS MOVING FORWARD. AND AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BASS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. APPRECIATE Y'ALL COMING TONIGHT.

APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. SO QUESTION IS IF SOMEBODY DOES GET THE BILL. AND YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE RECEIVED FROM CONSTITUENTS TODAY BASED UPON SOLELY WHAT THEY SAW ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT AN OPT OUT PROGRAM, WHICH, OF COURSE, WAS WHEN YOU GUYS VERY FIRST PRESENTED TO US. THAT WAS MY CONCERN AS WELL. BUT YOU'VEE ASSUAGED MY CONCERNS. AND SO NOW WE JUST NEED TO DO THAT FOR THE PUBLIC. SO LET'S SAY I AM A CITIZEN. I GET MY BILL, I NOTICE IT $6 HIGHER. I'M OUTRAGED OVER THE SIX BUCKS. HOW DO I GET MY $6 BACK? SO AS SPECIFIED IN THE CONTRACT, ANYONE THAT WANTS A REFUND DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS ON THEIR BILL. THEY HAVE UP TO 90 DAYS THAT THEY CAN GET A REFUND ON. AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY JUST CLICK A BUTTON, CONTACT YOU. THERE'S GOING TO BE 3 OR 4 DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT GARLAND CAN EITHER JUST SUBTRACT IT FROM THE NEXT MONTH'S PAYMENT TO US DURING THAT REFUND, OR UTILIZE THE ESCROW ACCOUNT TO PULL THAT FROM. I WOULD RECOMMEND THEY JUST PULL IT DIRECTLY FROM THE NEXT MONTH'S PAYMENT THAT'S DUE US. AND SO IT SHOULD BE VERY EASY AND LOW STRESS ON THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT. OKAY. SO FIRST MONTH I DON'T NOTICE IT. SECOND MONTH I DON'T NOTICE IT.

THIRD MONTH I NOTICE IT. IT'S NOW $18. THEN I AS A CITIZEN CAN NOT PAY THAT. YOU CAN YOU CAN

[01:40:06]

COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS. THANK YOU MAYOR. GENTLEMEN, I'M GOING TO ASK IF. MR. KEVIN SLAY, WOULD YOU JOIN THESE GENTLEMEN? AND PHILIP? YOU'VE YOU'VE REVIEWED THE CONTRACT. YOU'VE HEARD THE COMMENTS, MOST OF WHICH I AGREE WITH. YES, SIR. OKAY. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE A PART OF THE MAKEUP AS AS YOU GO FORWARD COMMUNICATIONS, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO THIS QUOTE, OPT OUT PROVISION. OKAY. WHAT IS YOUR WHAT IS WHAT IS YOUR OPINION. DO YOU IF YOU IF YOU HAVE ONE AND WHAT DO YOU SEE YOUR ROLE IN WORKING WITH THESE GENTLEMEN WENT FORWARD.

COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS, I HAVE SPENT A LITTLE TIME WITH THESE GENTLEMEN, AND PHIL AND I HAVE PARTNERED WITH OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT WORKING ON THE CONTRACT. AND I THINK WE'RE AT THAT TIME AND PLACE NOW, IF COUNCIL DECIDES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY GRAB A FEW OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND A FEW OF THEIR TEAM MEMBERS AND SIT DOWN AND START OUTLINING A PLAN OVER THE NEXT 6 TO 9 MONTHS IS HOW THIS PROGRAM ROLLS OUT, WHAT THE PROCESSES LOOK LIKE INTERNALLY. I DON'T SEE ANY MAJOR OBSTACLES. I YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'LL HAVE A FEW CHALLENGES. CERTAINLY THE OPT IN, THE OPT OUT QUESTION THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE CHALLENGE FOR THE DEPARTMENT. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT 15% OF 80,000 CUSTOMERS, THAT SCARES THE HECK OUT OF US. BUT KNOWING THAT GOING IN, WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREPARE AND PROVIDE THE SAME QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE WE'VE ALWAYS PROVIDED. WE'VE GOT A BILL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO BUILD ANSWERS TO A LOT OF QUESTIONS OUR CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TO HAVE. AND WE'RE JUST OVER TIME, WE WILL WE WILL EVOLVE AND LEARN AND TRY TO BUILD OUT A PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL WHEN IT DOES ROLL OUT. SO WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON IF THIS MOVES FORWARD. BUT I THINK I THINK WE'RE PREPARED FOR IT AND WE'VE GOT TIME TO PREPARE. LESLIE, DO YOU DO YOU SEE YOURSELF BEING A PART OF THIS TEAM, ATTENDING TOWN HALLS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, DIFFERENT VENUES TO GET THIS PROGRAM QUOTE OUT AND INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE OPT OUT PROVISION. ABSOLUTELY. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM OTT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WON'T TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME. MY COHORTS ARE PRETTY WELL TALKED GLOWINGLY OF THIS PROGRAM. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. I SAW MERIT IN THIS DISTRICT EIGHT HAPPENS TO BE THE PROUD ZONE OF OUR MEDICAL DISTRICT. WE HAVE THE VA, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE A FUTURE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL THAT WE THAT THAT STAFF AND MYSELF AND COUNCIL ARE DEDICATED TO MAKE THAT OCCUR IN THE FUTURE. BUT HEALTH IS A KEY PRIORITY FOR EVERY COMMUNITY. AND THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT FROM ONCE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT IT WAS,

[01:45:05]

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THAT MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE CRAFT ORDINANCES AND POLICY, WE TYPICALLY HAVE A VERY CONSERVATIVE WAY OF DOING THINGS AS TO AVOID LITIGATION IN THE COURT SYSTEM. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT ANY PART OF THIS CONTRACT, OR THE WAY THAT IT'S ROLLING OUT, OR THE SERVICES THAT IT WOULD PROVIDE, OR THE INFORMATION THAT MD PATHWAYS WOULD HAVE, EVEN THOUGH THE CITY OF GARLAND WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ANY REASON TO THINK THAT WE MAY BE SUED BY ANY ENTITY OR ANY PERSON OR ANYTHING? ARE WE ARE WE AT ALL PUT IN A LIBEL STATE BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM? THERE REALLY TWO ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION. BECAUSE I'M A LAWYER, I CAN'T ANSWER ONCE. THE FIRST ONE, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT MAY WE BE SUED BECAUSE OF THIS? CERTAINLY ANYBODY CAN SUE US AT ANY TIME. THE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION, WHICH I THINK WAS IMPLIED IN YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION, IS, WOULD THEY BE SUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF THE OPERATION OF THIS PROGRAM? NO, I DO NOT BELIEVE I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS PROGRAM. I DON'T SEE ANY WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY. THIS PROGRAM IS THIS COUNCIL IS WELL AWARE. SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY IS REALLY HOW WE AVOID THE FRIVOLOUS LITIGATION THAT MANY PRIVATE CORPORATIONS CANNOT AVOID. WE CERTAINLY HAVE SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY. I DON'T SEE ANY WAIVER OF THAT IN THIS. WE'RE NOT HANDLING PEOPLE'S AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, WE'RE NOT HANDLING PEOPLE'S MEDICAL INFORMATION.

THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION PROTECTED INFORMATION. SO NO, I DO NOT SEE ANY REAL THREAT OF OR EXPOSURE OF LITIGATION BECAUSE OF THIS CONTRACT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DOES THIS PROGRAM COVER ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT ARE ON MEDICARE? YES. IT COVERS ALL AGES. SO SOMEONE THAT IS I'M VERY UNFAMILIAR WITH THE PARTS OF MEDICARE. I JUST HAVEN'T REACHED THAT AGE YET WHERE IT HAS BECOME IMPORTANT. SO SOMEONE WHO HAS ALL THE PARTS, THEY COULD STILL BENEFIT FROM THIS.

THE BEAUTY OF THIS PROGRAM IS IT'S TOTALLY INDEPENDENT OF INSURANCE. SO YOU CAN USE IT WITH INSURANCE. WITHOUT INSURANCE, WE DON'T BILL YOUR INSURANCE. WE DON'T CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. THE ONLY REASON YOU MIGHT UTILIZE YOUR INSURANCE IS WHEN YOU PICK UP YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS. BUT WE HAVE FOUND THAT IS 80% OF THE TIME YOU GET THEM CHEAPER WHEN YOU PAY CASH THAN YOU DO WITH YOUR CO-PAY, BECAUSE THE PRESCRIPTIONS WE PRESCRIBE WITH THE DISCOUNT CARD THAT YOU PICK UP AT YOUR PREFERRED PHARMACY IS OFTEN LESS EXPENSIVE. DO YOU HAVE PARTNERS THAT OFFER THINGS LIKE MRIS OR X RAYS? WE DO, AND YOU GUYS ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO BE IN THAT AREA AND REGION YOU ARE IN. WE HAVE NEGOTIATED FOR OUR PATIENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA FOR VERY LOW COST IMAGING AND LABS. SO IF THE DOCTOR DEEMED IT NECESSARY THAT YOU

[01:50:05]

AND SO THERE IS A STANDARD PROTOCOL THAT YOU CAN DIAGNOSE STREP THROAT, WHETHER NEEDING ANTIBIOTICS OR NOT, BASED OFF A PICTURE. AND FIVE QUESTIONS OKAY. SO IT COULD BE A VIDEO CALL ON THE PHONE. YEAH. WE'RE CAPABLE OF DOING VIDEO AUDIO. BUT IN THIS CASE WITH STREP THROAT, WE MAY JUST ASK FOR A PICTURE OF THE CHILD'S BACK OF THEIR THROAT. JUST JUST TAKE A PICTURE AND TEXT IT TO YOU. SOMETHING LIKE THAT OKAY. BECAUSE THAT WAS YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT YOU YOU'VE GOT TO PHYSICALLY EXAMINE THEM A LOT OF TIMES. BUT THERE'S OTHER WAYS IN THE MODERN DAY AND AGE TO GET AROUND THOSE WHERE AN OLD TIME DOCTOR WOULD WANT TO SEE YOU IN PERSON, CORRECT. OTHER WAYS TO GO. IS THAT AND THAT'S CORRECT. IN ABOUT LESS THAN 3% OF OUR PATIENTS DO NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR PHYSICALLY 3% OF THE TIME. WE THINK YOU HAVE A CONDITION THAT REQUIRES MORE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, AND WE ACTUALLY THEN HELP CONNECT YOU WITH THAT DOCTOR. SO IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE, THAT'S EASY. WE CAN EASILY CONNECT YOU. IF YOU DON'T HAVE INSURANCE, WE DO FIND LOCAL RESOURCES THAT THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO FOLLOW UP IN PERSON. OKAY. VERY GOOD. THAT'S SOME GREAT ANSWERS THERE. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU MAYOR.

ANOTHER THING I JUST GO AHEAD BRIAN MENTIONED AND THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THIS THAT I SAW.

WE'RE NOT WE'RE WE'RE IMPARTIAL TO WHATEVER PHARMACY YOU WANT TO GO TO SO WE CAN TELL YOU WHERE THE DRUG IS, WHERE IT COST THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY. BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO TO CVS, WE'LL CALL IT CVS. IF YOU HAVE A LOCAL PHARMACY THAT IS A PRIVATELY HELD PHARMACY, WE'LL CALL IT IN FOR THAT. SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR. OKAY. SO IF YOU PRESCRIBE SOMETHING THEN AND THEN I SAY WELL I MY PHARMACY, I USE THE TOM THUMB GROCERY STORE AND HERE'S, HERE'S THE ADDRESS YOU WOULD CALL IT INTO THEM. IT'S THE PATIENT'S CHOICE. YEAH. TOTAL PATIENT'S CHOICE ON WHERE THE PHARMACY IS. ANOTHER GREAT PIECE OF INFORMATION. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCILMEMBER MORE. MR. MAYOR, I'M NOT ONE WHO JUMPS LIKES TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THESE CONVERSATIONS. SO I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE THIS VERY BRIEF. MY COMMENTS HAVE NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH THE GOOD OR BAD OF THE PROGRAM. YOU'VE ALREADY PROVEN THAT IT IS A VERY GOOD PROGRAM. MY COMMENTS HAVE EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE OPT IN AND OPT OUT. THE MANNER BY WHICH THIS PLAN IS BEING PRESENTED TO MY PUBLIC, THAT'S WHERE I FIND THE FAULT WITH IT, AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST IT. THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT COUNCIL, I IMAGINE WE HAVE SOME CITIZEN COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK FOR US TO TAKE A RECESS BEFORE WE START THE CITIZEN COMMENTS. I ASK THAT EVERYONE BE BACK HERE AT GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME BACK TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 19TH, 2025. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH OUR DISCUSSION OF ITEM SEVEN AGREEMENT WITH PATHWAYS PHYSICIANS TEXAS PLC FOR COMMUNITY TELEHEALTH SERVICES. CITY MANAGER, YOU HAVE A CLARIFICATION YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE FROM THE LAST ROUND OF COMMENTS. YES, SIR. MR. MAYOR, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND I'LL BE BRIEF. JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WERE WERE DISCUSSED. THE TERM UTILITY BILL AND WATER BILL WERE USED INTERCHANGEABLY DURING THE DISCUSSION. AND SO JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THIS WOULD BE BASED ON RESIDENTIAL UTILITY BILLS. SO AS A REMINDER TO

[01:55:02]

SIR, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. CHRISTIAN STEPHENS, 1226 TANAGER LANE IN GARLAND. I HAVE SEEN MUCH OF THIS MATERIAL BEFORE, HAVING BEEN AT SOME OF THE WORK SESSIONS, AND FROM THE VERY BEGINNING I'VE BEEN CONCERNED MOSTLY ABOUT THE SCALE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN THE SHORT TERM, I'M LOOKING AT 80,000 PEOPLE. 15% ARE GOING TO WANT TO OPT OUT, SO THAT'S 12,000 OPT OUTS. AND THIS THIS IDEA THAT ONE OF THE WAYS TO OPT OUT IS THAT YOU JUST DON'T PAY THE FEE. WELL, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON AUTOMATIC BILLING, AUTOMATIC DRAFT, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT REALLY AN OPTION FOR THEM.

AND I EXPECT THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP BETWEEN THOSE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO OPT OUT.

SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT 12,000 OPT OUTS. IF EVEN HALF OF THOSE ARE CALLS, THAT'S PROBABLY 6000 CALLS MOSTLY IN THE FIRST MONTH. AND SO I WONDER IF THREE PEOPLE STAFFED TO HANDLE THE EXTRA CALL VOLUME IS REALLY GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THAT. THAT INITIAL BOLUS OF CALLS LONGER TERM, GARLAND IS CONSIDERABLY LARGER THAN ANY OF THE OTHER TOWNS. SO THIS IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE SNAKE TRYING TO EAT THE KANGAROO KIND OF THING RIGHT THERE. I'M WORRIED, ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO GROW AND HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO ANSWER THE CALLS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET, JUST BASED ON GARLAND ALONE? AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S NOT JUST GARLAND THEY'RE SERVING. SO THEY'VE GOT ALL THESE OTHER SMALL TOWNS. WELL, I REMEMBER WHEN PRINCETON WAS A REALLY SMALL TOWN AND IT'S SEEING ALL THIS GROWTH. RIGHT. SO MY WORRY ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO SCALE, NOT JUST WITH GARLAND, BUT WITH ALL THEIR OTHER CUSTOMERS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT IF WE SIGN THIS DEAL, THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THEY'RE GOING TO USE THE FACT THAT THEY SIGNED GARLAND AS AN ADVERTISING THING TO GET OTHER CITIES GOING. SO I WORRY ABOUT THEM, THEIR CAPACITY TO GROW. SO LIKE YOU GUYS, TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. AND THEN LASTLY, THE IDEA THAT WE COULD BACK OUT OF THE DEAL, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS IN OR OR A COUPLE OF YEARS IN, I'D ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO DEVELOP SOME SUCCESS CRITERIA EARLY ON. SO BEFORE WE GET TO THOSE DECISION POINTS, HAVE SOME METRICS THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE IN MIND THAT SAY WE NEED TO HAVE THIS LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION, THIS AVERAGE SPEED OF ANSWER FOR A CALL THIS THIS AVERAGE HOLD TIME, SET SOME METRICS AND DO THAT GOING IN SO THAT WHEN THOSE DECISION POINTS COME YOU'RE NOT SUDDENLY TRYING TO DECIDE, WELL, IS THIS A GOOD DEAL OR NOT. AND THAT'S EVERYTHING I WANTED TO SAY, I THINK. THANK YOU SIR. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER? ALL RIGHT, I SEE NONE.

THANK YOU SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER? SO G. RODRIGUEZ? WELCOME. IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. SO.

RODRIGUEZ, 1215 BLANCO IN GARLAND, TEXAS. SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF MY EXPERIENCE WHILE USING THE SERVICE I. THROUGH THE SORRY, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. I WAS ABLE I WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH

[02:00:04]

ITLSO BRINGS WITH IT THE ABILITY TO SAVE LIVES. AND I'M NOT EXAGGERATING ABOUT THAT. I KNOW BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIFE THEY SAVED. JUST FIVE MONTHS AGO, I WAS AT WORK WHEN I STARTED TO HAVE TROUBLE BREATHING. LITERALLY THE DAY BEFORE, MY BOSS HAD TOLD US ABOUT THE PILOT PROGRAM WITH THE MD PATHWAYS. ABOUT THIS HEALTH SERVICE. I TRULY BELIEVED I HAD SOMETHING BENIGN AND NOT ANYTHING THAT REQUIRED ME TO CONTACT MD PATHWAYS. MAYBE STREP THROAT OR SOMETHING. AT THE WORST, I JUST DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT SERIOUS. BUT HE ENCOURAGED ME TO TEXT THEM ANYWAY. I DID THAT VERY SAME DAY AND AFTER RELING WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE VERY MINOR SYMPTOMS, THE PERSON THAT I WAS TEXTING WITH BECAME ALARMED AND IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE DOCTOR. DOCTOR PARROTT. HE CALLED ME DIRECTLY AND HE WAS ALSO IMMEDIATELY CONCERNED. HE INSISTED I GO TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. HE COULD HAVE MADE IT EASIER FOR ME, EITHER BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY CALLED THE HOSPITAL AND SPOKE TO A COLLEAGUE THERE, TOLD THEM MY NAME, MY SYMPTOMS AND TO EXPECT ME. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WHEN I GOT TO THE ER THAT I WAS GOING TO BE THERE FOR HOURS. AS IT HAPPENS, WHEN MOST PEOPLE GO TO THE ER. INSTEAD I WAS TAKEN BACK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND VERY QUICKLY. SOON AFTER THAT, PROBABLY WITHIN THE HOUR, I'D HAD X-RAYS AND MY BLOOD WORK TAKEN. AND IT PROVED THAT I HAD PNEUMONIA DIAGNOSIS. AND WHEN I HEARD THIS I BECAME VERY AFRAID BECAUSE 12 YEARS AGO I HAD A DOUBLE PNEUMONIA THAT TURNED INTO ARDS, WHICH IS ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME, AND I WAS IN A COMA FOR OVER A MONTH. AND HERE I WAS 12 YEARS LATER WITH THE SAME PNEUMONIA IN BOTH MY LUNGS. HAD I NOT GONE TO THE HOSPITAL WHEN I HAD AND GOTTEN DIAGNOSED AND TREATED EARLY? I MEAN, I JUST DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. I WORK AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, AND I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY. I KNOW WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE. ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IS THE HOPEE OF EVERYONE I SPEAK TO IN A PROGRAM LIKE THIS REALLY HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE A PROFOUND AND TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE, AND ONCE AGAIN, MAKE GARLAND A SHINING EXAMPLE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND A MODEL OF CITIES MODEL FOR CITIES ACROSS

[02:05:01]

PAMELA CHISHOLM. I LIVE AT 5415 VINEWOOD DRIVE IN GARLAND. AND MR. WILLIAMS HAS BEEN OUR PERSON FOR A LONG TIME. I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THAT MOST OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD WRITTEN DOWN MY LITTLE NOTES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED HERE. I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD PROGRAM, AND WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, I WENT TO LUNCH WITH A LOT OF LADIES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ALL GOT TOGETHER AT NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, AND I WAS TELLING THEM ABOUT IT, AND I HAD GONE ONLINE AND RESEARCHED IT, AND I WAS SO AMAZED AT IT, BECAUSE I DO HAVE A REAL HEART FOR SO MANY PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN GARLAND, THAT HAVE FOOD INSECURITY, MUCH LESS BEING ABLE TO GO SEE A DOCTOR. AND I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS SO WONDERFUL. AND AS I SHARED THIS WITH MY OTHER FRIENDS, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS WONDERFUL. AND THEY SAID, WELL, HOW DO YOU PAY FOR IT? AND I SAID, WELL, IT IS A CHARGE ON THE UTILITY BILL, BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT IT, YOU CAN OPT OUT. AND THEY ALL SAID, OH, YOU CAN OPT OUT. AND I THOUGHT, THAT'S SUCH A DIFFERENT RESPONSE THAN LOOKING AT SOCIAL MEDIA. AND I THOUGHT, HOW SAD IT IS THAT OUR CULTURE HAS BECOME WHERE BEING OFFENDED IS ALMOST ENTERTAINMENT. AND I WONDER IF MAYBE WHAT WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO DO WITH THIS IS TO TRY TO CHANGE THE FOCUS, AND WHICH I THINK A LOT OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO ABOUT. YES, YOU CAN, YOU CAN OPT OUT AND BUT LOOK AT WHAT IT DOES PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO I WOULD TELL ONE ANECDOTE THAT ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, MY SON CAME WITH OUR GRANDCHILDREN FROM AUSTIN ON A WEEKEND, AND JUST SHORTLY AFTER THEY GOT THERE, THE GRANDDAUGHTER SAID, MY EAR REALLY HURTS. AND SHE LAY DOWN AND DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE. AND IT'S THE WEEKEND, WHICH IS WHEN CHILDREN ALWAYS GET SICK.

AND SO WE ENDED UP. WE DO HAVE A FRIEND LIKE THIS DOCTOR WHO SPOKE TO US, FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT I WAS ABLE TO CALL AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET WHAT SHE NEEDED. BUT NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD A HORRIBLE WEEKEND WITHOUT THAT. SO. THERE ARE JUST SO MANY OF US THAT YOU ALL KNOW BETTER THAN I DO, EVEN THAT ARE HUNGRY, THAT NEED MEDICAL CARE. AND I WOULD LOVE FOR THIS TO BE AN OPTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MA'AM, MA'AM, DON'T GO AWAY YET. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS SLOW LEARNERS. THANK THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND GETTING WITH THE LADIES OF THE HOOD AND TALKING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND. IDENTIFYING CERTAIN AREAS OF NEED, NOT ONLY HEALTH BUT FOOD AND YEAH, THINKING ENOUGH OF THIS PROGRAM TO TAKE YOUR TIME AND COME DOWN HERE AND SPEAK ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. SO I APPRECIATE IT AND EXCELLENT TESTIMONY. AND FOR, FOR I'M SURE THAT THE AUDIENCE IS LISTENING.

APPRECIATE YOU TOO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, BOB CHISHOLM? AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. BOB CHISHOLM, 5415 VINEWOOD DRIVE. AND I'M MARRIED TO THAT LOVELY LADY YOU JUST HEARD. THANK YOU FOR HEARING US. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU SHARED. WE DID NOT KNOW WE'D BE HERE THIS LONG, BUT I'VE ENJOYED THE TIME HEARING IT. I'VE LEARNED A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN I THOUGHT I KNEW. WE'VE LIVED IN GARLAND FOR 23 YEARS IN THE SAME HOUSE. I'M A

[02:10:04]

IF YOU IF YOU PUT IT IN PLACE, THOSE WHO DON'T WANT IT DON'T HAVE TO USE IT. SO WHY AM I GOING TO PENALIZE THOSE WHO WANT IT BY NOT GIVING IT TO THEM? BECAUSE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT IT THAT DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT. SO I'M I HOPE YOU VOTE FOR IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER? SEE NONE. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, JOSE RICO? ADDRESS? FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. MY NAME IS JOSE RICO AND I LIVE AT 1508 STREET GARLAND, TEXAS, 75042. SO MY NAME IS JOSE RICO. I AM 25 YEARS OLD AND I LIVED IN GARLAND MY ENTIRE LIFE. I CURRENTLY WORK AT A PUBLIC SECTOR JOB, WHICH MEANS I'M ALWAYS BUSY. I'M ALWAYS IN MEETINGS. I'M ALWAYS IN PUBLIC POLICY BRIEFINGS, WHICH MEANS I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO TO THE ER, TO GO TO THE DOCTOR AND WAIT IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR AN HOUR. THERE'S ONE DAY WHERE I WOKE UP WITH AN ITCHY THROAT, WHICH GOT WORSE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT. I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS A MEETING, SO I SET UP AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT WITH MY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER. I HAD TO WAIT THREE HOURS THE SAME DAY AND WHEN THE TIME CAME, THEY JUST TOLD ME, JUST CRUSH UP SOME ADVIL, PUT IT IN A WATER BOTTLE AND DRINK IT. I WAS ASTONISHED, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY BECAUSE I JUST COULDN'T BREATHE, I COULDN'T EAT, I COULDN'T DRINK, I COULDN'T EVEN SPEAK. SO I MESSAGED THE HEALTH PATHWAYS AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES I GOT A RESPONSE. ME? AND I TOLD THEM MY SYMPTOMS. THEY ASKED ME QUESTIONS AND WITHIN 15 MINUTES THEY GAVE ME. THEY PRESCRIBED ME ANTIBIOTICS AND THEN WITHIN TWO HOURS THERE WAS A PRESCRIPTION AT A CVS PHARMACY RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM ME. THAT SAME DAY, I STARTED FEELING BETTER.

ANTIBIOTICS DID THEIR MAGIC, BUT I HAD TO TAKE THEM FOR TEN DAYS STRAIGHT AND I HAD TO WORK FROM HOME, WHICH I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY I STILL WORK, BUT I HAD TO MISS MEETINGS, POLICY BRIEFINGS, ETC.

[02:15:01]

BUT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IF IT WASN'T FOR THEM, I WOULD NOT BE IN GREAT SHAPE RIGHT NOW, WOULD NOT BE MY HEALTH, WOULD NOT BE 100%. AND IT'S JUST AWESOME KNOWING THAT I HAVE A DOCTOR IN MY PHONE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FROM 7 A.M. TO 10 P.M, SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE AND WHATEVER, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THEY'RE PROVIDING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER? SEE NONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER? CHRISTIAN SEGOVIANO. SORRY, IT'S CHRISTINA SEGOVIANO, 429 DORAL PLACE, GARLAND, TEXAS 75043. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I CAME IN FOR OBSERVATIONS ONLY HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS GOING ON. SO I'VE BEEN COMPELLED TO SPEAK AGAIN. I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I LOVE THE PROGRAM. I'M NOT AGAINST THE PROGRAM WHATSOEVER. I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

HOWEVER, I DO SUPPORT WHAT COUNCILWOMAN MOORE SAID. I FEEL THAT WE NEEDED MORE COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE. I DON'T HAVE FACEBOOK. I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS GOING ON. FACEBOOK IS NOT A NEWS SOURCE FOR EVERYBODY. I KNOW. I MAY LOOK YOUNG, BUT I'M NOT. SO FACEBOOK IS NOT A SOURCE F EVERYBODY, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE ADVISORY BOARDS. I'M ON ONE. I DIDN'T COME OUT HERE REALLY ADVERTISING. I FEEL BAD THAT I HAVE THE SHIRT ON, BUT HAD THIS BEEN PRESENTED AND GIVEN OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THEN THIS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT MORE AND WE WOULD HAVE COLLECTIVELY AS THE COMMUNITY OF WHAT DID Y'ALL SAY, 81 SO MANY PEOPLE WE WOULD HAVE COLLECTIVELY HAD A HAD A FAIR ADVANTAGE TO KIND OF GET SOME FEEDBACK AND, AND THE, THE TOWN HALLS AND WHATNOT. SO AND WE GOT TO REMEMBER SEEING A DOCTOR VIA TEXT MESSAGE OR, OR ON A COMPUTER SCREEN IS NOT HEALING US, RIGHT? THAT'S NOT SAVING US.

LIKE SHE HAD MENTIONED, SHE DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL. THAT'S WHAT SAVED HER. SHE DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL AND PAID FOR MEDICATION. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, IT'S THE PRESCRIPTION COSTS THAT ARE REALLY DAMAGING. A LOT OF US, MYSELF INCLUDED. IN AITION TO THAT, MY POOR GRANDMOTHER, SHE WOULD NOT KNOW HOW TO OPT OUT OF ANYTHING. IN FACT, I HAD A I HAD TO HELP HER NOT GET SCAMMED OUT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE LITTLE OPT OUTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, MY GRANDMA WOULD PROBABLY TEXT. OKAY. YES. HERE, I WANT TO OPT OUT, GIVE ME YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBERS AND THEN HER ACCOUNT WOULD BE $6,000 SHORTER. SO WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHO IS BEING FRAUDED THE MOST IS 60 AND OLDER. SO I HEARD MENTIONED THAT THE ELDERLY ARE THE ONES WHO USE THEM. HOWEVER, THEY MAY BE THE ONES TARGETED THE MOST AS WELL. SO JUST KIND OF KEEP ALL OF THOSE IN MIND. HEALTHCARE IS IMPORTANT, IT IS NEEDED, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE SEPARATION AND WE HAVE TO HAVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN ORDER TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN PLACE. I LOVE GARLAND, I LOVE TO SERVE HERE, TO BE ACTIVE, BUT WE JUST NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE VOICES AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL BEING HEARD. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MA'AM. COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS THANK YOU MAYOR. CHRISTINA. YES, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TONIGHT. GIVEN ALL THAT YOU'VE SAID, GIVEN ALL THAT YOU'VE HEARD. WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST? GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW? OKAY, I KN WHAT YOU SAID YOU'D LIKE TO SEE. YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROGRAM HAS NOT YET OFFICIALLY BEEN APPROVED, OFFICIALLY ROLLED OUT. SO WE'RE STILL IN THE FORMATIVE STAGE. SO AS A AS A CIVIC MINDED PERSON, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE OR WOULD YOU VOLUNTEER TO DO OR

[02:20:10]

WE NEED EIGHT DISTRICTS TO REPRESENT THESE DOCTORS AND SAYING, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED. WE NEED A VOTE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING VOICES NOT ONLY TO Y'ALL. Y'ALL REPRESENT US, MR. WILLIAMS. COUNCILMAN. HE REPRESENTS ME. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HE'S WEARING EACH OTHER'S EARS. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS BEING COMMUNICATED WITH EACH DISTRICT ACROSS THE BOARD. USE THESE ADVISORY BOARDS THAT WE HAVE THAT Y'ALL HAVE ELECTED US TO DO THAT, TO GO OUT AND SPEAK. WE HOST THINGS AT THE REC CENTER ALL THE TIME. WE HAD A TIRE COLLECTION THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR. EVERY WEEKEND WE WERE OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS SCOURING, PICKING UP TOWER TOWEL TIRES BECAUSE WE GOT THE WORD OUT THERE. NO ONE KNEW THAT YOU CAN'T PUT TIRES ON THE ON THE CURB, BUT WE TOLD THEM, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. YOU CAN'T PICK UP, YOU KNOW, THE GARBAGE MEN ARE NOT GOING TO PICK UP TIRES. WE JUST HAVE TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT AND THEN GIVE US, YOU KNOW, GIVE US THE, THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE, CHOOSE TO DO SO. I, I LIKE THE THOUGHT OF OPTING IN AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO COST MORE VERSUS OPTING OUT.

DON'T TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO. LET'S COLLECTIVELY DECIDE HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT. SO WITH THAT COMMA. SO WITH THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SITTING THERE, THE STAFF FROM MD.

PATHWAYS WITH MR. KEVIN SLAY. OKAY. SO WITH THEM SITTING BEHIND YOU. OKAY. YEAH. YEAH.

WHAT. OKAY. AND YOU YOU MADE SOME EXCELLENT SUGGESTIONS. BUT IF THIS PROPOSAL PASSED STILL NEED SOME INPUT. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT WORKING WITH THEM WHAT WILL YOU BRING TO THE TABLE TO HELP ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT? I WOULD DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM WITH ALL OF OUR, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT WAS MENTIONED A CRIME. WE HOST CRIME WATCH GROUPS. WE ARE NO NO NO NO NO NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU AND THE GROUP THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM TONIGHT, GIVEN EVERYTHING'S BEEN SAID AND YOU MAKE SOME EXCELLENT POINTS. OKAY. GIVEN ALL OF THAT, IF THIS PROPOSAL IS APPROVED TONIGHT. WHAT ARE YOU OR PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW, AND YOU GOT A LARGE NETWORK, WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO IN TALKING WITH THEM AND WORKING WITH THEM TO HELP DO THE THINGS, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AS NEEDED. YOU AS A PERSON.

YEAH. LIKE IF THEY ASKED ME TO HELP. YES. I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, THEY ASK YOU TO HELP. SO YES, I WILL. YES, I WOULD HELP IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT IF CITIZENS WANT TO OPT OUT OR INDIVIDUALS OF OUR COMMUNITY WANT TO OPT OUT, I, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO DO IT AND DO IT PROPERLY. AND IF THEY WANT TO STAY IN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF WHAT BENEFITS ARE PART OF THAT PROGRAM. LIKE WE JUST HAVE TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT, OKAY, THAT'S THAT'S THE THING. WELL, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SITTING BEHIND YOU. PHILIP AND THE MD PATHWAYS STAFFER IS SITTING BEHIND YOU. OKAY, SO BEFORE YOU LEAVE TONIGHT, OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING. OKAY, OKAY. YOU YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH WITH THAT GROUP. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. ONE SECOND. WE GOT A LATE PUNCHING COUNCILMEMBER MORE. YES. MR. MAYOR, I JUST WANT US TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE DEAL WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING BEFORE US, THAT WE DON'T STRONG ARM THEM IN ANY KIND OF WAY AND PUSH THEM IN ANY DIRECTION. THAT IS THE THING THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT. THE CHOICE. THE CHOICE IS IMPORTANT. NOT THAT WE PUSH A

[02:25:04]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, VICTORIA STEVENS? YES. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SPEAK, MA'AM. IF YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. SIR, MY NAME IS VICTORIA STEVENS. I LIVE AT 1226 TANAGER IN GARLAND. I HAVE BEEN A GARLAND RESIDENT SINCE THE EARLY 1990S. MY STEP GRANDFATHER WAS ONCE POLICE CHIEF IN GARLAND. SO MY FAMILY IN GARLAND GOES BACK A LONG WAY. AS FOR MYSELF, I VOLUNTEER A LOT. I'M A LAY EUCHARISTIC VISITOR. I VISIT HOSPICE PATIENTS. I DO DEATH AND DYING AND GRIEF WORK. I SPEAK TWO LANGUAGES. I USED TO SING AT SAINT BARNABAS BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I ARE BOTH BILINGUAL, AND WE MET SINGING IN THE SPANISH CHOIR. WE HAVE A NEW PASTOR AT MY CHURCH, AND HE KED US WHEN HE PREACHED THE FIRST SERMON. IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE ADVENT STARTED. THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE LITURGICAL NEW YEAR, HE SAID. FOR NEW YEAR'S, I WANT TO KNOW, WHAT'S YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION TO GOD? WHAT ARE YOU GIVEN TO GOD? HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. YOU HEARD FROM HIM. HE CAME UP AND TALKED TO YOU ABOUT METRICS, BUT HE DOES IT. SO METRICS ARE HIS THING. BUT HE WENT HOME AND HE CALLED HIS BOSS AND SAID, I WANT TO DO MEALS ON WHEELS. SO NOW EVERY FRIDAY WE DO TWO ROUTES HERE IN GARLAND, AND THEN WE DID THREE ON CHRISTMAS DAY. SO I SEE A LOT OF YOUR TERRITORIES. THE PERSON THAT CARISSA TALKED ABOUT THAT DIED, THE POLICE HAD NOTICED THERE WAS A WE MISSED YOU WHILE YOU WERE OUT WHEN WE CAME TO BRING YOU FOOD, BECAUSE WHEN SOMEBODY IN THIS TOWN DOESN'T COME TO THE DOOR, WE JUST LEAVE A POST-IT NOTE. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE COULD DO FOR GARLAND RESIDENTS. THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU HAVE AS TOOLS. BECAUSE I TALKED TO THE PEOPLE AT GPD, YOU HAD THIS LOVELY MEETING WHEN MAYOR LEMAY WAS LEAVING, AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CITY AREAS WERE REPRESENTED. AND SO THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT IF YOU'RE ON OXYGEN AND YOU NEED TO LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, LET US KNOW. LET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT KNOW. WE CAN PUT SOMETHING ON YOUR DOOR. LET US KNOW WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING. WE'RE MAKING ASSUMPTIONS OF WHAT PEOPLE WANT. AND I AGREE WITH MR. MOORE'S COMMENTARY. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY PEOPLE DON'T NEED HEALTH CARE. M DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER, WHO WERE GARLAND RESIDENTS, BOTH HAVE EPILEPSY AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE.

THEY HAD TO GO DOWN TO PARKLAND OR THEY HAD TO GO WITHOUT. AND MY DAUGHTER WOULD TEAR HER PILLS IN HALF BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T AFFORD THEM, AND THEN SHE WOULD HAVE SEIZURES. I KNOW WHAT THAT'S LIKE TO MAKE THAT DECISION, AND IT'S A TERRIBLE DECISION. WHAT WE'RE OFFERING IS A GOOD THING, BUT I DON'T KNOW. IT'S THAT IT'S THE RIGHT THING AT THIS MOMENT. I AM A RETIRED MUNICIPAL RISK MANAGER. I WAS A RISK MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF BAYTOWN WHEN THE AMERICANS WITH

[02:30:05]

SOMEBODY MUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR ME. I DON'T SEE ANY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER? OUR FINAL SPEAKER, MUHAMMAD JUNIOR. HELLO, SIR. NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

MUHAMMAD JUNAID, FIVE FOUR, ONE SIX BONFIRE DRIVE. SO, FIRST OF ALL, I AM 48. I SEE A REAL VALUE IN THIS PROGRAM AND. HEARING THE ALL. SO I AM FOR IT AND I SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM. I SEE A REAL VALUE IN THIS SCHEME AND TO DEVELOP THE CONSENSUS, AS MR. MOORE SAYS, THAT THAT IS A VALID POINT, THAT ALL THE RESIDENTS SHOULDLD HAV SEE IN THIS PROGRA. AND SO MY IDEA IS WHY DON'T WHY WE NOT CONDUCT AN OFFICIAL POLL AND GIVE ALL T THE RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT POLL, YES OR NO, FOR THIS PROGRAM. SO IN THAT WAY, ALL THE RESIDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST IT.

THEY WILL ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND SHOW THEIR, YOU KNOW, CONCERN ABOUT IT, YES OR NO. SO I THINK IF WE CONDUCT, I DON'T KNOW, THE LEGALITY OF CONDUCT AN OFFICIAL POLL, BUT IN A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE THERE ARE PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS THEY CONDUCT AND POLL ON DIFFERENT SUBJECT MATTERS. SO IF WE GO THAT ROUTE, IT WILL ALSO EDUCATE RESIDENTS WHEN THEY COME TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A POLL GOING ON, EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ACTIVELY, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, THEY WILL ALSO BECOME AWARE AND THEY CAN VOTE OUT. AND I'M SURE IF THAT OPPORTUNITY WILL BE GIVEN TO RESIDENTS OF GARLAND, 80% OF THE RESIDENTS WILL VOTE FOR IT. AND ONCE WE HAVE THE MAJORITY VOTE, ALL THE OPPOSITION AND YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST IT WILL BE GONE AND THERE WILL BE A MUTUAL CONSENSUS WOULD BE DEVELOPED. SO THAT'S MY IDEA TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD IF THAT CAN BE DONE OFFICIALLY. NOW, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THE LEGALITY OF CONDUCTING POLL WHETHER A CITY GOVERNMENT CAN DO THAT OR NOT DO THAT, BUT THAT I THINK CAN BE CONSIDERED AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER? I SEE NONE, THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, WE'VE

[02:35:03]

KHALID. AS FAR AS I HEARD, THIS PROGRAM IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. IT'S ACTUALLY A GROUP INSURANCE ACTUALLY. MY QUEION IS WHEN I CALCULATED LAST YEAR ITSELF, THE COMPANY WILL MAKE 81 HOUSEHOLD AROUND 5 MILLION USD, AND EVERY YEAR IT INCREASES $1 EACH. RIGHT. SO HOW MUCH CITY OF GARLAND IS GOING TO BENEFIT FOR THIS ONE QUESTION? AND ANOTHER THING, IF YOU'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT TODAY IS NOT RECEIVED A LOT OF CONSENSUS FROM THE PEOPLE. LIKE EDMOND SAID, WE NEED TO GIVE TIME TO TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND EXPLAIN PEOPLE TO LIKE, EVEN WAIT UNTIL 2026 FOR THE MAY ELECTION TO VOTE IN THE BALLOT. THIS MATTER IS VERY GOOD. MANY PEOPLE WILL BE BENEFITED, BUT WE SHOULD GIVE TIME AND PROCESS IS NEEDED. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO SAY THAT ANYBODY CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION HOW MUCH GARLAND GARLAND WILL GET BENEFIT AFTER. THANK YOU SIR. MR. MAYOR, IF I UNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION IS WHAT THE CITY OF GARLAND WOULD STAND TO BENEFIT FROM THIS MONETARILY, IT GOES BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT WE HAD UP, THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT $50,000 A YEAR ESCROW THAT CAN BE UTILIZED FOR PROGRAM SUPPORT, AS WELL AS THE 25,000 THAT WOULD GO TOWARDS OUR LOW INCOME UTILITY SUPPORT. SO BEYOND THAT, THERE IS NO OTHER FUNDING THAT IS GOING DIRECTLY TO THE CITY OF GARLAND. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. YOU HAVE YOUR MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT ONE MINUTE BECAUSE CONSIDERING THAT AMOUNT, I HEARD 5,000,001ST YEAR THAT AMOUNT. WHAT WE ARE GETTING IS VERY LOW. IT'S SINCE CITY OF GARLAND ENDORSED THIS PROGRAM, WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERABLY BENEFITED IF YOU'RE PARTNERING BECAUSE IT'S ONLY PARTNERSHIP RIGHT? PARTNER MEANS WE HAVE TO BOTH GET BENEFITED. THAT IS MY POINT. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER? SEE NONE. THANK YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT COUNCIL, ONE MORE TIME. I'LL ASK THE AUDIENCE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE IN THE QUEUE COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE THE COMMENTS ABOUT HOW WE HAVEN'T DONE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND HOW GETTING PEOPLE INVOLVED IS VERY KEY. I DON'T THINK ANY ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM WOULD ARGUE THAT STATEMENT. BUT PEOPLE DO ALSO HAVE TO REALIZE THIS IS IN ITS INFANCY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT. SO THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM THAT'S GOING TO GO TO WORK FOR FREE IF YOU I MEAN, ASIDE FROM VOLUNTEERING, WHATEVER. ALSO MD PATHWAYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. GERARDO HAS VOLUNTEERED AT GOOD SAM EVERY WEEK SINCE THE COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE MEETING. BUT TYPICALLY WE DON'T WORK FOR FREE. WE CANNOT EXPECT THEM TO WORK FOR FREE EITHER. IF YOU'VE PAID ATTENTION, THEY HAVE SAID THEY HAVE SEVEN MONTHS OUTLINED OF STRAIGHT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS INFORMED OF THE PROGRAM, THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS HOW YOU CAN OPT OUT IF YOU CHOOSE TO, SO THAT THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS LEFT FOR PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THEY'RE IN THE DARK. SO COMMUNITY OUTREACH, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THAT'S THAT'S BEEN THE PLAN FROM DAY ONE. THAT WAS EVERYONE'S BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT WE REACH EVERYONE. NOT EVERYONE IS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE END ALL, BE ALL. SO THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO IS SPREAD THE WORD, TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS, TALK TO YOUR PEERS, TALK TO YOUR COWORKERS. IF MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE INVOLVED ON A REGULAR, CONSISTENT BASIS, 90% OF US WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING NEW, BUT SOMEONE SAW IT ON FACEBOOK, AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE ARE IN A PUBLIC OUTRAGE. WHILE WE GREATLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S COMMENTS AND CONCERNS, TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THAT WE HAVE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE INSIDE, OUTSIDE, BACKWARDS, SIDEWAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION. AND THERE'S NOT A SINGLE ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM THAT HAS TAKEN THIS VERY LIGHTLY. SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT COMMUNITY OUTREACH, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. IT IS ALWAYS BEEN A PART

[02:40:07]

THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. MY COMMENTS ARE THAT I'D LIKE TO SAY AMEN TO COUNCIL LADY DUTTON. HER COMMENTS, AND I THINK ALL WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT AND IT'S TIME TO SHUT UP OR PUT UP AND VOTE. BUT I THINK AFTER WHATEVER, HOWEVER THIS GOES, I THINK EVERYBODY HERE RECOGNIZES THAT, THAT THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE AND WE CAN'T DO IT ALL. SO THE FOLKS THAT I'M LOOKING AT, OKAY, OKAY, WE EXPECT AND WE HOPE, WE'RE HOPING THAT WE SEE YOUR FACES AS, AS AS THIS CITY MANAGER AND THE DOCTOR AND ALL THE CITY STAFF THAT WE NOT ONLY SEE THEM IN THE NEXT 6 TO 9 MONTHS, BUT WE SEE YOU AND HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY MAKE THIS WORK. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCIL, I HAVE NOT YET CHIMED IN ON THIS ISSUE. I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE MOVE TO A MOTION. AND MYSELF. I SEE A COUPLE OF ISSUES WITH THIS. ONE MAJOR AND ONE MINOR, AND THE MINOR ONE. FIRST TO ME IS THE BILLING ISSUE. MD HEALTH PATHWAYS IS USING THE CITY OF GARLAND AS THEIR BILLING CONDUIT, WHEREAS OTHER SERVICES THAT OTHER TELEHEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN BILLING DEPARTMENTS AND BILLING GROUPS THAT ADD TO THEIR OVERALL COSTS. THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO DO THAT AS PART OF IT, WITH JUST A MINIMAL. $50,000 OR, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THAT FOR A YEARLY TO DRAW DOWN AGAINST AND THEN SOME OTHER, YOU KNOW, 200 OR 25,000 FEE FOR BILL ASSISTANCE. IT BOTHERS ME THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF YOU GET THE PHONE CALLS THAT I RECEIVE AS WELL ABOUT OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND BILLING ISSUES AND THAT SORT OF THING. AND I FEAR IT WILL JUST ADD TO THE ISSUES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE WHEN WE IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS. THAT'S THE MINOR ISSUE. BUT THE MAJOR ISSUE TO ME, IT REALLY IS. AND COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE HIT ON THIS IS THE OPT OUT. WE PROVIDE A LOT OF CITY SERVICES THAT ARE NECESSARY, AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW THEY'RE NECESSARY. WATER SERVICE, ELECTRICAL SERVICE, SEWER SERVICE, TRASH SERVICE THOSE ARE ALL PROVIDED BY THE PUBLIC UTILITY. THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT IS A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT WE'RE SUBSIDIZING HERE. I CAN'T THINK OF REALLY ANOTHER GOOD COMPARISON WHERE A PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE USED TO HELP AND PROVIDE FOR A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT HAS A PRIVATE PROFIT MOTIVE. ONE PART OF WHY WE HAVE GPL AND THE RATES ARE SO LOW IS BECAUSE THOSE REVENUE THAT WE RECEIVE GOES BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AND GOES BACK INTO KEEPING THE RATES LOW. I, I KNOW THAT THE LOW PRICE POINT IS LARGELY DUE TO THAT SUBSIDY THAT THAT WE'RE PROVIDING IN THE PROVIDING THE BILLING FOR THEM AND THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE A. A SCALE, A CERTAIN SCALE THAT THE WHOLE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS OPTED INTO THIS PROGRAM. AND WE KNOW THAT IF IT ONLY 15% OPT OUT, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T USE THE PROGRAM. AND I FEAR THAT THE

[02:45:01]

LET ME PUNCH YOU UP. THERE YOU GO. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL APPROVES THE PATHWAYS AS PRESENTED. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON AND A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL.

ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS ON THE MOTION? ALL RIGHT. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE? ONE SECOND, COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I THINK THE CITY MANAGER, I MEAN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND ALL THE FOLKS HEARD YOUR OBSERVATIONS. MAYOR. AND CAN YOU COME BACK UP, PLEASE? AND IN LIGHT OF THE MAYOR'S AND COUNCILMAN MOORE'S CONCERNS.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO CLARIFY? AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT WE'VE GOT TOWN HALLS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. OKAY.

BUT BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ONE ONE TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE THAT ALL THESE CITIZENS DON'T ARE NOT LOCKED IN AND THE PRICE POINT, THOSE, THOSE TWO AREAS. SO THE FIRST QUESTION, I BELIEVE IS HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE INFORMED OF THE PROGRAM? SO I CAN HAVE MD PATHWAYS TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. BUT JUST TO REITERATE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR IS THE COMMUNITY LIAISON POSITION THAT ACTUALLY GOES TO THE CHURCHES, THE SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY GROUPS.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS MEETING THURSDAY, WE HAVE A MEETING AS A CITY WITH WHAT WE CALL OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS GROUP. MEMBERS OF THE NAACP, LULAC, OTHER GROUPS SUCH AS THAT. AND THEY HAVE A PLAN PRESENTATION. SO THAT WOULD BE THE START OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. BUT I CAN TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR DIRK AND BRIAN, AND THEY CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO. DOCTOR, CAN YOU SHARE? YEAH, I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS, LIKE I EXPRESSED EARLIER. THE BIGGEST EFFORT WE PUT INTO THIS OUTSIDE OF OUR MEDICAL CARE IS OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THERE IS A 13 TOUCHPOINT STRATEGY WHERE IT TAKES 13 DIFFERENT TOUCH POINTS FOR A COMMUNITY THIS SIZE. TO REACH REACH THIS COMMUNITY, WE START WITH TRUSTED PASTORS. WE GO INTO THE SCHOOLS WE WORK WITH THE. THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF ATTENDANCE. SO THERE'S AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE THAT GOES HOME WITH THE KIDS WHEN THEY EMAIL OR TEXT IN THAT THE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE ABSENT, THAT, HEY, YOU NOW HAVE ACCESS TO A DOCTOR. WE GO TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK IT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO SEE THE MEMBERS, EACH COUNCIL PERSON DIRECTED TODAY. TODAY WE WOULD WORK THROUGH YOUR LEADERS WITHIN YOUR DISTRICTS BECAUSE EACH DISTRICT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND WE WOULD SHOW UP PHYSICALLY IN ATTENDANCE TO THOSE MEETINGS TO WORK THROUGH THEM. WE HIRE SOMEONE THAT'S IN THE COMMUNITY. ONCE THIS IS APPROVED TO BE OUR REPRESENTATIVE. BUT YOU DON'T JUST GET THAT ONE INDIVIDUAL, YOU GET OUR ENTIRE TEAM COMING OUT. AND THE BENEFIT IS THAT WE'RE LOCAL. WE ALL LIVE AROUND SURROUNDING OR WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY. AND SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE PHYSICALLY ON THE DAY TO DAY, BUT IT IS GOING TO TAKE WORK. OUR INITIAL LAUNCH WOULD BE A 10,000 FAMILY PILOT AT OUR COST PRIOR TO ANY, ANY BILL BEING SENT OUT, WE WOULD START IN OCTOBER. SIGN UP TEN, 10,000 FAMILIES WITHIN GARLAND. WE'D LET YOU AS INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS, DIVVY THOSE UP BETWEEN YOUR DISTRICTS SO WE COULD REACH EACH INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR DISTRICTS AND ALLOW THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO KIND OF BE OUR CHAMPIONS. TRY OUT THE SERVICE, LET OTHERS KNOW ABOUT IT. BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE

[02:50:01]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCIL, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE. THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? I SEE NONE COUNCIL OR. EXCUSE ME, MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM? ALL. THOSE IN.

AND THAT ITEM IS APPROVED 7 TO 2, WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE IN OPPOSITION.

[8. Request for Development Assistance from Lockwood Distilling Company]

THERE WE GO. I'M SORRY. OKAY, I FOUND MY PRESENTATION. GOOD EVENING AGAIN. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS PRESENTATION IS ALMOST THE SAME I PROVIDED YOU TWO WEEKS AGO, SO I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER THIS REALLY QUICKLY. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO BRING LOCKWOOD DISTILLING COMPANY TO GARLAND. IT'S IN DOWNTOWN. BEFORE WE GET TO THE PROJECT, I LIKE TO MENTION ABOUT HOW THIS PROJECT IS REALLY ALIGNED WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. OUR JOB IS GROWING GARLAND ECONOMIC BASE, AND THIS PROJECT IS IN DOWNTOWN SQUARE. SO WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE COMMERCIALLY THRIVING DOWNTOWN. SO ABOUT LOCKWOOD DISTILLING COMPANY TONIGHT WE HAVE A MR. EVAN RIGHT THERE. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION HE CAN HE IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION YOU MAY HAVE. BUT LOCKWOOD DISTILLING COMPANY IS A FAMILY OWNED DISTILLERY, CASUAL RESTAURANT WITH A CRAFT SPIRIT. THEY OPENED THEIR FIRST RESTAURANT IN RICHARDSON IN 2019. AFTER THAT, THEY EXPANDED TO ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS. ONE IS MCKINNEY, ONE IS IN FORT WORTH. YES, THIS IS

[02:55:03]

RENOVATION COST ON THE BUILDING IS ABOUT $300,000, AND OTHER INVESTMENT IS GOING TO BE OVER $700,000. THE PROJECT WAS 350,000. AND THEY STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH THE DOWNTOWN TEAM FOR UTILIZING THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROGRAM. BUT THERE IS SOME CHALLENGE. SO OUR WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION AND UTILIZING THIS CHAPTER 380 AGREEMENT, PROPOSED IENTIVE STRUCTURE, 350,000 CASH GRANT INCENTIVE 150,000 CASH INCENTIVE GOING TO BE PAID UPON RECEIPT OF CO. THEIR PLAN IS OPENING THEIR RESTAURANT BEFORE THE HOLIDAY. SO BEFORE THANKSGIVING TIME. SO ONCE THIS ONE IS APPROVED, THEY'RE GOING TO BE START WORKING ON THE RENOVATION. UP TO 200,000 PERFORMANCE BASED INCENTIVE OVER THREE YEARS REQUIRED TO OPERATE FOR A MINIMUM OF SIX YEARS AT LAST. LAST TIME I PRESENTED. WE ARE STILL IN NEGOTIATION, SO WE ARE THIS NOW IN AGREEMENT. THEY'RE GOING TO THEY AGREE TO STAY SIX YEARS. OF COURSE THEIR PLAN IS HERE FOR A LONG TIME, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOME CLAWBACK. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT INCENTIVE IS THEY RECEIVED. IF DEVELOPER DEFAULT. WE ARE WE HAVE A CAPABILITY TO GET THE MONEY BACK FOR THAT PORTION REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE BUILDING IN A MANNER THAT SUORTS THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION. THEY ALREADY STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION PERSON, AND I THINK THEY'RE IN AGREEMENT. SO THEY ARE REALLY COMFORTABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT RENOVATION REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING WALL MURA, AND IN SUPPORTING DOWNTOWN SQUARE EVENTS IN VARIOUS WAYS. THIS IS REALLY QUICKLY THE LAST SEVERAL PROJECT WE BROUGHT TO YOU THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, FORTUNATE SON. THE INCENTIVE AMOUNT IS $67.45 PER SQUARE FEET. OUR ICE HOUSE IS $53.85, AND THE LOCKWOOD DISTILLING COMPANY IS $70 PER SQUARE FEET. THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT IS DEFINITELY ACTIVATING VACANT SPACE BY INTRODUCING VIBRANT, LONG TERM RESTAURANT. ADDITIONAL DINING EXPERIENCE WE CAN BRING TO GARLAND ONCE THE THREE YEARS PASSED AND OR ONCE THE INCENTIVE AMOUNT IS PAID. WE CAN THEY CAN.

THEY'RE GOING TO BRING ADDITIONAL SALES TAX REVENUE TO THE CITY. WITH THAT, I AM HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS ITEM. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ONE SECOND. GIVE ME THE THREE SECOND COUNTDOWN. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THERE ARE TWO MURALS ON THE SIDE OF THAT BUILDING I BELIEVE. ARE BOTH OF THOSE PART OF WHAT WE'RE, I BELIEVE REQUIRING ONE. CORRECT. IT'S A BIG ONE ON THE. YES, IT'S A BLUE ONE. IT'S THE ONE. SO NOT THE NOT THE PEPPERONI PIZZA WINGS. CORRECT. THEY COULD DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH THAT IF THEY WANTED TO, BUT THE BIG BLUE ONE IS THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO STAY. OKAY.

I KNEW THERE WAS TWO. I WASN'T SURE BOTH WERE INCLUDED OR JUST THE ONE. SO I'M I'M LOVING THIS PROJECT. SO THANKOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? NO, SIR,

[03:00:03]

AND THANK YOU. HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? BUT COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PROPOSAL AS PRESENTED. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. AND A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US? AND THAT ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. ITEMS NINE AND TEN HAVE BEEN PULLED.

[11. Garland Housing Finance Corporation Appointment]

COUNCIL, LOOKING FOR A NOMINATION FOR AN APPOINTEE COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIAMS. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE JENNY WALKER. AM I SAYING IT RIGHT? NOMINATION FOR JENNY WALKER TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR G H C THANK YOU, SIR. AND COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER NOMINATION? YES. MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MOHAMMED JUNAID FOR THE GFWC. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A NOMINATION FOR MOHAMMED. JAMIE, LET'S TAKE THOSE. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? AND I'LL BE LOOKING FOR A SECOND FOR NOMINATION FOR JAMIE WALKER. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE A SECOND FOR NOMINATION FOR OTHER. NO. WILL WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? EXCUSE ME? MOTION NOMINATION AND A SECOND. JAMIE WALKER. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE ON THAT NOMINEE? THAT NOMINEE IS ACCEPTED UNANIMOUSLY. ALRHT, COUNCIL. MOVING ON NOW TO CITIZEN COMMENTS. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT? YES, SIR. JOHN. YARBROUGH. ALL RIGHT. DO NOT SEE HIM HERE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT? I DO NOT SEE ANYBODY ELSE. ALL RIGHT THEN, AT NINE, SIX OR. EXCUSE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.