[ LEGISLATIVE PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
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DECEMBER 16TH, 2025 REGULAR MEETING OF THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE ALL HERE IN OUR FESTIVE HOLIDAY ATTIRE, SO I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON AS WELL.
IT IS THE TRADITION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE AN INVOCATION AND RECITAL OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, LED BY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. YOU'RE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IF YOU SO CHOOSE, BUT YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN EITHER OR BOTH, AND YOUR DECISION IS STRICTLY A MATTER OF YOUR OWN CHOICE AND WILL NOT AFFECT THE DECISIONS TO BE MADE BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN ANY MANNER.
TONIGHT'S INVOCATION AND PLEDGE WILL BE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BASS, SIR. THANK YOU. MAYOR.
ACTUALLY, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO READ A STORY THAT I WROTE, TINSEL, THE CHRISTMAS T REX. HIGH ON A SNOWY HILL. PINE TREES SPARKLED UNDER MOONLIGHT AND SNOWFLAKES DRIFTED QUIETLY. THERE, TUCKED INSIDE A WARM CAVE LIVED SOMEONE VERY UNUSUAL. A GIANT T-REX NAMED TINSEL. TINSEL WASN'T LIKE OTHER T-REXES FROM LONG AGO. HE LOVED CHRISTMAS MORE THAN ANYTHING. EVERY YEAR HE DECORATED HIS CAVE WITH LIGHTS, HUNG STOCKINGS ON HIS FIREPLACE, AND WRAPPED PRESENTS FOR HIS FOREST FRIENDS. BUT TINSEL HAD ONE PROBLEM HIS TINY ARMS MADE IT HARD TO HANG ORNAMENTS ON HIS TALL CHRISTMAS TREE. ONE CHILLY EVENING, TINSEL ROARED OUT A CHRISTMAS SONG AS HE TRIED TO PLACE A SHINY STAR ON TOP OF HIS TREE. OH NO, HE CRIED AS THE STAR TUMBLED TO THE GROUND. I'LL NEVER FINISH IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A KNOCK AT THE CAVE DOOR. IT WAS WILLOW, THE WOODPECKER, BERRY THE BUNNY, AND SAMMY THE SQUIRREL CARRYING TINY BAGS OF DECORATIONS. WE'RE HERE TO HELP CHIRP. WILLOW, BURY THE BUNNY HOPPED UP TO THE TREE WITH HIS STRONG LEGS, PLACING ORNAMENTS ON THE BRANCHES. WILLOW. THE WOODPECKER FLEW HIGH AND FAST, STRINGING LIGHTS ALL AROUND, AND SAMMY THE SQUIRREL WITH HIS TINY CLAWS, TINY PAWS ADDED CANDY CANES TO EVERY BRANCH AS THE TREE SPARKLED BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER. ONLY ONE THING WAS MISSING. THE STAR, TINSEL SAID SOFTLY, HOLDING A GOLDEN STAR BETWEEN HIS TINY CLAWS. IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. HE CAREFULLY LIFTED THE BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN STAR. BUT NO MATTER HOW MUCH HE STRETCHED, HE COULDN'T REACH THE TOP. HIS TINY ARMS WOBBLED IN THE STARS. SLIP. I NEED HELP, TINSEL, ADMITTED WILLOW. THE WOODPECKER FLUTTED NEAR THE TOP OF THE TREE. I CAN GUIDE IT, BUT I CAN'T CARRY IT. BURY THE BUNNY THUMPED HIS FOOT. I CAN LIFT YOU, SAMMY, THE SQUIRREL SQUEAKED, AND I CAN STEADY THE STAR. BARRY CLIMBED ON TO A STURDY LOG. TINSEL GENTLY STEPPED ONTO HIS BACK. SAMMY HELD TIGHT TO THE STAR, AND WILLOW HOVERED ABOVE CALLING DIRECTIONS, LEFT A LITTLE UP STEADY WITH ONE FINAL STRETCH FROM TINSEL AND A CAREFUL PUSH FROM SAMMY, THE STAR SLIPPED PERFECTLY INTO PLACE. SUDDENLY, THE STAR BURST INTO A WARM GOLDEN GLOW, LIGHTING THE CAVE BRIGHTER THAN EVER BEFORE.
TINSEL EYES FILLED WITH HAPPY TEARS. THAT'S THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS, HE SAID. IT ONLY SHINES WHEN FRIENDS WORK TOGETHER. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY. JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ MAYORAL PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
GOOD EVENING AGAIN. EVERYBODY. AND I HAVE A STACK OF PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS HERE, AND I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO CELEBRATE ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN GARLAND.AND I WANT TO START OFF WITH THE ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITIES, 119TH NATIONAL FOUNDERS DAY. SO IF YOU GENTLEMEN WANT TO COME ON UP HERE. COME ON AROUND. YOU KNOW THESE GENTLEMEN, THEY CAME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING EIGHT MONTHS, NINE MONTHS AGO, AND THEY IMMEDIATELY ASKED, HOW CAN WE GET INVOLVED IN THE CITY? AND WE PUT THEM TO WORK PRETTY MUCH PRETTY QUICKLY. SO THEY'RE NOW SERVING ON VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND DOING VOLUNTEER WORK ALL ACROSS OUR CITY. SO I'M HAPPY TO TO HAVE THIS RECOGNITION OF YOU AND THE FOUNDERS DAY. SO 119TH FOUNDER'S DAY OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. WHEREAS ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, MEMBERS OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY PROUDLY CELEBRATED THEIR NATIONAL FRATERNITY'S 119TH FOUNDER'S DAY, HONORING THE PNCIPLES UPON WHICH THEIR BROTHERHOOD WAS ESTABLISHED AND WHICH CONTINUED TO GUIDE THEIR DEDICATION TO SCHOLARSHIP,
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LEADERSHIP, AND SERVICE. AND WHEREAS THE FRATERNITY HAS BECOME AN ACTIVE PARTNER IN ADVANCING THE WELL-BEING OF THE GARLAND COMMUNITY THROUGH MEANINGFUL CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT, THE FRATERNITY'S COMMITMENT TO CIVIC LEADERSHIP IS DEMONSTRATED BY PHI FRATERNITY BROTHERS. CURRENT CURRENTLY SERVING ON VARIOUS CITY OF GARLAND BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, CONTRIBUTING THEIR TIME, SKILLS, AND LEADERSHIP TO THE CITY'S GOVERNANCE AND FUTURE. AND WHEREAS, THROUGH EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY, THE FRATERNITY PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT'S PROPOSITION A AS PART OF THE GISD POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, AN EFFORT SUCCESSFULLY CHAIRED BY BROTHER BRIAN ROBINSON. AND WHEREAS, THE FRATERNITY HAS STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY SAFETY BY COLLABORATING WITH THE GARLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT ON SEVERAL IMPORTANT INITIATIVES AIMED AT BUILDING TRUST AND FOSTERING SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH VOLUNTEER SERVICE, THE FRATERNITY LOOKS FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR THE BIG EVENT IN MARCH 2026, CONTRIBUTING HANDS ON SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. AND WHEREAS, THE OF CITY GARLAND VALUES THE POSITIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP AND RECOGNIZES THE FRATERNITY'S LONG STANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO CIVIC INVOLVEMENT, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. NOW, THEREFORE, I. DYLAN HEDRICK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY, DO HEREBY EXTEND SPECIAL RECOGNITION IN HONOR OF THE 119TH FOUNDER'S DAY OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA, AND COMMEND THE ORGANIZATION FOR ITS DEDICATION TO SERVICE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP. GARLAND. WE'RE HERE. WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THE CITY. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO DO WHAT WE DO HERE IN THE CITY OF GARLAND. AND AT 119 YEARS HERE, HOPEFULLY 119 MORE YEARS WILL BE OUT THERE WORKING IN, IN THE CITY. SO IF YOU SEE US, JOIN US, PICK UP WHATEVER WE'RE DOING.WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU WORK WITH US. THANK YOU. OKAY. ONE. YES. CAMERA. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS FROM OUR GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD AWARD WINNERS. THIS IS AN ANNUAL AWARDS THAT WE GIVE OUT TO VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OVER THE PAST YEAR. I WANT TO START OFF WITH THIS IS OUR PUBLIC GARLAND PUBLIC SERVANT AWARD. COME ON UP, SIR. OFFICER MURPHY IS THE RECIPIENT OF THAT. I THANK YOU, SIR, FOR BEING HERE. YEAH. IN RECOGNITION OF GARLAND'S PUBLIC SERVANT AWARD. WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE CITY OF GARLAND OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY RECOGNIZES DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT, PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, THE GARLAND PUBLIC SERVANT AWARD HONORS CITY OF GARLAND EMPLOYEES WHO EXEMPLIFY THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PUBLIC SERVICE BY CONSISTENTLY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THEIR DUTIES WHILE DEMONSTRATING INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE PEOPLE OF GARLAND.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, I, DYLAN HEDRICK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OFFICER JORDAN MURPHY AS A RECIPIENT OF THE GARLAND PUBLIC SERVANT AWARD AND EXTEND SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR HIS EXEMPLARY SERVICE AND OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITIZENS OF GARLAND, TEXAS. I DIDN'T KNOW I WOULD HAVE TO SPEAK. THIS IS AN HONOR. ANY POLICE OFFICER WOULD TELL YOU THAT WE DON'T GET INTO THIS LINE OF WORK FOR ANY KIND OF
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NOTORIETY, TO GET ANY KIND OF AWARDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT IS AMAZING WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN TO BE REMINDED THAT PEOPLE DO CARE, AND PEOPLE DO SEE THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN, AND THERE'S NO GREATER HONOR THAN SERVING THE CITIZENS OF GARLAND. SO I'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNTIL I RETIRE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. CYNTHIA. YOU'RE NEXT. COME ON UP HERE. THE NEXT IS IN RECOGNITION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER AWARD WINNER. YOU'RE BECOMING A REGULAR UP HERE FOR THIS ONE. YEAH. IN RECOGNITION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER AWARD. WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE CITY OF GARLAND OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY RECOGNIZES NEWSLETTERS, E! NEWSLETTERS, AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLICATIONS WHO SERVE AS IMPORTANT TOOLS TO INFORM, INSPIRE AND ENGAGE RESIDENTS. ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN THE ONGOING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE AND INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S OUTSTANDING NEWSLETTER HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION AND FOSTERING NEIGHBORLY ENGAGEMENT, SHARING IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND STRENGTHENING THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND NOW, THEREFORE, I, DYLAN HEDRICK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE CAMELOT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AS THE WINNER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER COMPETITION AND EXTEND SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS IN CONNECTING AND INFORMING THE RESIDENTS OF GARLAND. I'D LIKE TO THANK NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY FOR CHOOSING US AGAIN THIS YEAR.I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT COMING TO THE AWARD CEREMONY. I PLAN TO COME. AND THEN I CHICKENED OUT WHEN THE WEATHER GOT SO BAD. JOE THOMAS ACCEPTED FOR ME AND WE WERE RIGHT HERE. SO PRETTY.
BEAUTIFUL. I REALLY DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS A CHANCE OF WINNING SINCE WE WON LAST YEAR, AND I WAS BOWLED OVER WHEN JOE SENT ME AN EMAIL AND SAID THAT WE HAD WON AGAIN. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. A FEW MORE HERE, TWO MORE. THIS ONE IS RECOGNITION OF WHO'S WHO IN GARLAND'S NEIGHBORHOOD AWARD. ALL RIGHT. HERE. COME ON UP. IT'S WHO'S WHO AWARD IS GIVEN TO A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL EVERY YEAR FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS. RECOGNITION OF THE WHO'S WHO IN GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD AWARD. WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE CITY OF GARLAND OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY RECOGNIZES NEIGHBORS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT, UPLIFT, AND ENHANCE THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, THE WHO'S WHO IN GARLAND NEIGHBORHOODS AWARD IS GIVEN TO CELEBRATE INDIVIDUALS WHO EXEMPLIFY WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR THROUGH LEADERSHIP, GOOD CITIZENSHIP, AND GENUINE DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY. AND NOW, THEREFORE, I, DYLAN HEDRICK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AMY NICHOLSON AS THE WINNER OF THE WHO'S WHO IN GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD AWARD AND EXTEND SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR HER EXEMPLARY SERVICE AND OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE RESIDENTS OF GARLAND, TEXAS. I DID NOT KNOW I WAS GOING TO SPEAK. I'M NORMALLY AN ORGANIZED PERSON, BUT I'LL SAY THANK YOU, I LOVE GARLAND, I'M NOT ORIGINALLY FROM HERE. I'M FROM DALLAS AND I WORK FOR GARLAND ISD. AND SO WE BUILT OUR FIRST HOME HERE, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE FAMILIES. AND SO I'VE LOVED BUILDING UP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND JUST GETTING TO MEET ALL THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZE FUN EVENTS. SO IF YOU HAVE A TODDLER, CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, REAL TODDLERS OF RIVERSIDE. WE'RE OPEN TO EVERYONE IN THE GARLAND COMMUNITY, SO THANKS AGAIN! AND DON'T GO TOO FAR AWAY. AND THAT REAL TODDLERS. ARE YOU AIMING FOR A REALITY TV SHOW WITH THAT KIND OF NAME? YEAH, YEAH. AND NOW IF THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTS TO COME UP, THIS IS FOR RECOGNITION OF GARLAND'S NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR. SHE MENTIONED RIVERSIDE ALREADY, AND THIS YEAR, OUR GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR IS THE RIVERSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD. IN RECOGNITION OF GARLAND'S NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR. WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE CITY OF GLAND OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY RECOGNIZES NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO CREATE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE VIBRANT, ENGAGED, AND SAFE. AND WHEREAS THE GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR AWARD RECOGNIZES ONE OUTSTANDING NEIGHBORHOOD WHOSE EFFORTS ALL YEAR ROUND DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT TO NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT, INCLUDING BOTH PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. AND NOW, THEREFORE, I. DYLAN HEDRICK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM RIVERSIDE RESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATION AS THE GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR AND EXTEND SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY CONTRIBUTIONS,
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COMMUNITY SPIRIT, AND ONGOING DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS. I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN EITHER. STEPHEN SHOULD BE TALKING. SO THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN RAN BY THE RESIDENTS. SO IT'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK. BUT I THINK OUR PREMIER EVENT AS A RESIDENT LED HOA WAS OUR SPRING FLING, WHERE WE HAD OVER 250 OF OUR RESIDENTS SHOW UP, AND IT WAS JUST A FANTASTIC WAY FOR US TO GET TO KNOW AND COMMUNICATE THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON. WE DO HAVE A NEWSLETTER WHICH WE PUT IN, AND WE HAD HOPED TO WIN BECAUSE WE PUBLISH IN LIKE THREE LANGUAGES, BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE TRY TO DO EVENTS THAT BRING EACH ONE OF THOSE POCKETS OF PEOPLE OUT TO MEET THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT YEAR AND WE HOPE TO BE BACK HERE AGAIN NEXT YEAR. THANKS. THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'LL GET TO GO ON TO THE SERIOUS BUSINESS. I ALWAYS LOVE DOING ALL THE RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS. IT'S REALLY FUN. MOVE ON. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS
[ CONSENT AGENDA]
OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS, AND ALL ITEMS UNDER THIS SECTION ARE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY A SINGLE MOTION OF COUNCIL WITHOUT DISCUSSION. COUNCIL HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW EACH OF THESE ITEMS AT A PREVIOUS WORK SESSION, AND APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE EACH ITEM. I WILL ANNOUNCE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, TO REQUEST THAT ANY ITEM BE REMOVED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 2ND, 2025 REGULAR MEETING. ITEM NUMBER TWO IS APPROVED. THE FOLLOWING BIDS TO A GPL FIREWHEEL SWITCH REBUILD ELECTRICAL MATERIALS TO BE TERM CONTRACT FOR STOP LOSS INSURANCE TWO C WIN JOYCE PARK.IMPROVEMENTS TO D GRANVILLE ART CENTER RENOVATION DESIGN SERVICES. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS OF CITY ATTORNEY, CITY AUDITOR, AND MUNICIPAL JUDGES. ITEM FOUR IS INVESTMENT POLICY AND INVESTMENT STRATEGY. ITEM FIVE IS WORKERS COMPENSATION CASH FLOW PLAN, CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT, AND ITEM SIX IS. A PUBLIC HEARING WAS PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED FOR THE ZONING CASES BELOW. CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE ZONING REQUEST AND INSTRUCTED STAFF TO BRING FORTH THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES SIX A IS CASE Z 2535 ZONE DEV IN DISTRICT FOUR AND SIX B IS CASE Z 2537 MISSION RIDGE CONSULTANTS IN DISTRICT SEVEN COUNCIL. IS THERE ANY ITEMS YOU WISH TO HAVE PULLED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY? ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ITEM POOL CONSIDERED SEPARATELY? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN BASS. THANK YOU. MAYOR. MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BASS AND A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM. LUCK. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? MADAM SECRETARY, YOU PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. AND THAT ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT, MOVE ON
[7. Hold public hearing on the following:]
NOW TO OUR ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IS GIVEN TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY RATHER THAN TO QUESTION THE CITY COUNCIL OR STAFF. THE CHAIR MAY CALL A SPEAKER OUT OF ORDER IF THE SPEAKER PRESENTS QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION THAT WILL UNDULY DELAY THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS AT THE MEETING, SPEAKERS SHALL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON A FIRST COME, FIRST TO SPEAK BASIS, AS DETERMINED BY THE ORDER IN[00:20:03]
WHICH THE CITY SECRETARY RECEIVES THE SPEAKER'S INFORMATION. APPLICANTS ARE ALLOWED TEN MINUTES FOR PRESENTATIONS, AND ALL OTHER SPEAKERSRS WILL BALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. WHEN THE PODIUM BUZZER SOUNDS, THE SPEAKER MUST END THEIR COMMENTS.THANK YOU MA'AM. IF ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK AND HASN'T FILLED OUT A SPEAKER CARD, PLEASE DO SO DOWN TO THE CITY SECRETARY. OUR FIRST ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION IS HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SOUTH GARLAND LAKESIDE AREA PLAN. THANK YOU. MAYOR. ON THE DECEMBER 1ST WORK SESSION, OUR CONSULTANT FOR THIS PROJECT, FREESE AND NICHOLS, THEY HAD PROVIDED AN IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL. COUNCIL HAD GREAT QUESTIONS. THEY HAD ANSWERED ALL THE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED AS WELL. TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO HAVE THE FORMAL PROCESS OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE VOTE FOR ADOPTION. IF COUNCIL WISHES TO MOVE FORWARD. PLAN COMMISSION HAD RECOMMENDED APPROVAL FOR THIS PLAN UNANIMOUSLY. THEY HAD ADDED TWO STIPULATIONS ONE FOR CONTINUOUS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND ONE FOR MEANINGFUL PROTECTION OF THE WINDSOR BAY PARK. AS THINGS DEVELOP AND REDEVELOP. AND BOTH OF THOSE THINGS HAVE MADE ITS WAY TO THE PLAN NOW. SO THE VERSION THAT YOU HAVE SEEN HAS THOSE STIPULATIONS INCORPORATED. AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TODAY. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? MAYOR HEDRICK, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SPEAKING, BUT WE DO HAVE A GENTLEMAN, ANDREW. MATIJEVIC. HE IS AGAINST THIS ITEM. VERY GOOD. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK, SIR? OKAY.
PLEASE COME ON UP THEN. YES. SIR. IF YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. FOR FOUR EIGHT JOHN GARLAND, TEXAS, NUMBER 206. TWO YEARS AND.
STAFF CARE TO. AND WE WILL ADJUST THE MICROPHONE. YES. I JUST NEED VIDEO. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO WORK.
FOR DELAY. I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE LAST ITEM ON. MY MEMORY. SERVES ME CORRECT. 23 YEARS IS ALMOST AS LONG AS COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS HAS BEEN SERVING HIS TIME TO THE CITY OF GARLAND, GOING BACK TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING DAYS. AND SO, COUNCILMAN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LONG TENURED VOLUNTEER SERVICE WITH THE CITY. AS THE STAFF. I'M NOT COMING UP YET, IS THERE? ANY NEEDS HELP? FOR THE COUNCIL? LET'S SEE. PRAISE GOD. OKAY, OKAY. IF YOU JUST WANT TO TURN IT AROUND AND THAT. YEAH, WE CAN SEE IT. IF YOU TURN IT, ROTATE YOUR SCREEN AROUND TOWARDS US, YOU CAN JUST SHOW THE COUNCIL. I'D APPRECIATE IT. VERY GOOD. I DON'T KNOW IF THE. I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT OUTSIDE. OKAY. OKAY. THERE IT IS. I THINK HE'S GETTING IT IN FOCUS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS DOCUMENT, WHILE IT'S CALLED A PLAN, THERE ARE SOME
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ELEMENTS THAT ARE CONSIDERED CONCEPTUAL ON IT. AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEKING TO SEEK CLARIFICATION ON TONIGHT IS WHICH PIECES OF THIS ARE ACTUALLY SET IN STONE AND WHICH ARE STILL CONCEPTUAL. THE VIEW THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN IS FOUR, FOUR, FOUR EIGHT ROAD NUMBER 206. AND ACCORDING TO THE PLAN, IN ORDER FOR YOU TO EXTEND MARVIN LOVE NORTH OF SHAHAR ROAD, YOU WOULD DESTROY THIS PROPERTY AS AS WELAS 46 OF MY OTHER NEIGHBORS PROPERTIES IN ORDER TO EXTEND MARVIN LOVE AROUND TO BASS PRO DRIVE. OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. AND IN HINDSIGHT, I KNOW IT WASN'T THE CITY'S INTENTION, BUT ASKING THE VOTERS TO APPROVE, YOU KNOW, A $75 MILLION BOND PACKAGE WHICH WAS GOING TO IMPROVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ONLY TO LATER LEARN THE DETAILS OF, OH, YOU JUST VOTED TO DESTROY YOUR OWN HOME. SO IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FEELS LIKE IT WAS UNINTENTIONAL. BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS SET UP ON OUR PART. SO OBVIOUSLY, IN ADDITION TO DESTROYING OUR HOMES THAT ARE ALREADY PAYING TAXES TODAY, CREATING MORE MULTIFAMILY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD COULD ACTUALLY RESULT IN LESS INCOME BECAUSE OF THE 100 YEAR LOOPHOLE THAT MOST MULTIFAMILY COMMUNITIES ARE GOING IN WITH THE 40% LOW INCOME EXEMPTION. THE OTHER TWO POINTS I HAVE REGARDING THE PLANET AS A WHOLE IS THE AS STAFF ELABORATED, YOU KNOW, WINDSURF BAY PARK SHOULD BE TOTALLY OFF LIMITS. YOU KNOW, THE STAFF SAID IN THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING THAT THE PLAN WAS NOT JUST TO REPLACE, YOU KNOW, INCOME THAT WOULD BE DONE AWAY WITH WITH THE GEORGE BUSH EXTENSION. BUT IT WAS ALSO TO INCREASE INCOME. BUT WE SEEM TO HAVE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW NORTH GARLAND IS TREATED AND SOUTH GARLAND IS TREATED. STILL, YOU'LL NEVER HEAR A CITY STAFF SAY, WELL, LET'S BULLDOZE HALF A FIREWHEEL, YOU KNOW, GOLF COURSE IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, TO RAISE CITY INCOME. OR THEY'LL NEVER SAY, HEY, LET'S PUT A CULVERT OVER LYNN CREEK SO WE CAN MAXIMIZE CITY INCOME. SO THERE STILL SEEMS TO BE SE SOME DEBATE ABOUT HOW WE'RE TREATED IN SOUTH GARLAND AND PROTECTING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. JUST BECAUSE YOU BUILD SOMETHING NEW DOESN'T MEAN IT'S BETTER QUALITY. IS THERE A PART OF THE PLAN I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IS IT SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THE BASS PRO PARKING LOT SHOULD BE SOLD OFF AND DEVELOPED IN A SIMILAR MANNER THAT HAS BEEN DONE DOWN HERE IN DOWNTOWN. WE DIDN'T OBJECT TO THAT BECAUSE IT WASN'T OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT TO OBJECT TO THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOW YOU'RE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU SIR. PLEASE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT. I SEE NO OTHER SPEAKERS. LAST CALL. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? THEN WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, SIR. THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME BACK, PLEASE? HAVING HAVING HEARD THE THOUGHTS AS COMING FROM THE CONSTITUENT, DO YOU HAVE ANY THING THAT YOU CAN SAY IN RESPONSE TO THAT? I WOULD SAY THIS IS A MULTI-DECADE PLAN AND IT IS NOT REALLY NOTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. IT IS REALLY AS DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES COME IN, WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE SET OUT ON THE PLAN. SO NO, THE CITY I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY INITIATIVE TO GO IN AND TAKE OVER ANY EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD OR CAUSE ANY HARM TO ANY EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE. IT IS REALLY A MULTI-DECADE 30 TO 50 YEAR PLAN AS OPPORTUNITIES COME. THANK YOU. I WANT TO RESPOND FIRST OF ALL BY SAYING, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH TO THE CONSTITUENTS FOR COMING IN AND AND EXPRESSING THE FEELINGS AND THE THOUGHTS AS IT RELATES TO WHAT'S GETTING READY TO TAKE PLACE, OR WHAT WE HOPE IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN THAT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. AND AS HE SHOWED THAT PICTURE, I RECALL WHEN I MOVED INTO EMERALD LAKE ESTATES 20 YEARS AGO, MOVING FROM THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, I REMEMBER EMERALD LAKES AT THAT POINT.THERE WERE THREE HOMES IN THE DEVELOPMENT, THREE HOMES IN DEVELOPMENT. I THINK I WAS THE THIRD HOME AND I MOVED TO IT BECAUSE I AM A AVID FISHERMAN. I LOVE THE WATER, I LOVE BEING OUT ON THE LAKE, AND I RECALL THE LOT THAT I GOT. I COULD STAND THERE AND LOOK OUT AND I COULD SEE ALL OF LAKE RAY HUBBARD. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. TWO YEARS LATER, WHEN ALL OF THE
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OTHER HOMES BEGAN TO BE DEVELOPED, GUESS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VIEW? I COULD NO LONGER SEE THAT LAKE. AND I GUESS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, I IT NEVER DAWNED ON ME THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN. BUT TO A CERTAIN, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT KNOWING THAT IT WOULD. BUT SINCE THAT TIME I CAN'T SEE THE LAKE ANYMORE. BUT I AM SO HAPPY AGAIN THAT I MOVED INTO THAT AREA, INTO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. WE NOW HAVE CLOSE TO 200 HOMES IN THAT AREA. NICE HOMES, NICE FAMILIES. I CAN STILL GO DOWN TO THE LAKE TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM IT. WE'RE GETTING READY NOW TO PUT IN WIND. JOYCE PARK, AS A RESULT OF THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE REALTORS PROMISED US. NOW, 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN THERE, RIGHT?? THE REALTOR PROMISED ME WHEN I MOVEDN THAT THAT PARK WAS GOING TO BE BUILT WITHIN THE NEXT 2 OR 3 YEARS. WELL, WE'RE 20 YEARS LATER NOW AND IT'S JUST GETTING READY. WE JUST FUNDED IT IS GETTING READY TO BE BUILT. BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS BEAUTIFUL. THE PARK IS GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY HEART OR MIND THAT GARLAND IS GOING TO BE BETTER FOR IT. I SAY ALL THAT JUST TO SAY TO MY NEIGHBOR, I FEEL WITH YOU. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AND YES, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT YOUR VIEW MAY BE CHANGED. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT BASED ON ALL THAT WE HAVE DONE AND ALL THE MONEY THAT WE'VE SPENT TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT AREA, THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING TO BE BETTER, WINDSURF BAY PARK IS GOING TO BE USABLE. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A SITUATION WHERE IT'S CLOSED ALL THE TIME, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING PRESENTLY IS TO ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE THE AREA. SO WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I CALL FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BASS COUNCIL. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US MOTION TO APPROVE THE AREA PLAN. THAT ITEM PASSES 8 TO 1, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON IN OPPOSISITION. NEXT ITEM ON OUR[ CITIZEN COMMENTS]
AGENDA IS CITIZEN COMMENTS. MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WISHING TO ADDRESS ISSUES NOT ON THE MEETING AGENDA MAY HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, COUNCIL IS PROHIBITED FROM DISCUSSING ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR TONIGHT? YES, SIR. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER, HEATHER DUBROW? WHAT DO YOU THINK, COUNCIL MEMBERS? I LIVE ON 2518 SUNCREST FRYE I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT MD HEALTH PATHWS AGAIN. I'M GOING TO SAY IT FLAT OUT.NO ONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OPTED IN. WHY WOULD I SAY THAT? HEALTH CARE.GOV NEVER ALLOWS ANYONE TO BE ENROLLED IN HEALTH CARE WITHOUT THEIR EXPLICIT CONSENT. IT IS FRAUD AND IT IS REPORTABLE. CHARGES FOR HEALTH CARE IN THE EXCHANGE MUST ALSO BE DONE WITH CONSENT. WE CAN'T DO IT IF HEALTHCARE.GOV DOESN'T ALLOW IT. HOW ARE WE SPECIAL FORCED ENROLLMENT OPT OUT IS NOT INFORMED CONSENT. LET'S DISCUSS THE CASE WITH THE FTC, WHICH HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ALREADY. THEY TOOK ACTION AGAINST TELEMEDICINE FIRM NEXMED. WHY THEY FAILED TO OBTAIN INFORMED CONSENT TO CHARGE THEIR CUSTOMERS. THEY PUBLISHED FAKE TESTIMONIALS CREATED BY HIRED INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYEES. WE'VE SEEN THAT THEY DISTORTED CUSTOMER REVIEWS BY FLAGGING NEGATIVE REVIEWS WITHOUT A BASIS, SELECTIVELY SOLICITING POSITIVE REVIEWS FROM SATISFIED CUSTOMERS. THE SETTLEMENT REQUIRES COMPETENT AND RELIABLE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT CLAIMS, WHICH WE ARE NOT GETTING FROM MD. HEALTH PATHWAYS PROHIBITS MISREPRESENTATIONS OR REVIEWS ARE TRUTHFUL OR FROM REAL CUSTOMERS. WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT.
THEY'RE FROM SHILLS. THEY REQUIRE THEM TO OBTAIN INFORMED CONSENT BEFORE BILLING CONSUMERS AND AUTHORIZATION. WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE. SO IF THE FTC IS NOT GOING TO ALLOW IT WITH THE OTHER TELEMEDICINE COMPANIES, WHY ARE WE DOING IT HERE? THE OTHER ISSUE I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT IS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY, MD HEALTH PATHWAYS WEEK ONE AND ONGOING WITH SCHOOL SYSTEM OUTREACH. SCHOOLS ARE LEVERAGED. THEY GO IN THE NURSES AND THE EVERYBODY'S INVOLVED, THE TEACHERS. WE' GETTING FLIERS AND ALL THIS OTHER NONSENSE.
IT'S IN WRITING. YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY HAVE ON THEIR WEBSITE. GARLAND ISD CONFIRMED IN WRITING THEY WILL NOT BE WORKING WITH THEM IN ANY WAY. THEIR RESPONSE TO ME AND I
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TALKED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. I WENT THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS. I DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE WE WERE COMMUNICATING CLEARLY. GARLAND ISD ISN'T WORKING WITH MD HEALTH PATHWAYS ON ANY PROJECTS, PERIOD. THEY'RE NOT WORKING WITH THEM, SO THE C CONTRACT TH MD HEALTH PATHWAYS, MD, PATHWAYS PHYSICIANS, TEXAS PLC, TELEHEALTH COLUMN, WHATEVER YOU WANT NEEDS TO BE CANCELED IMMEDIATELY. THIS PREDATORY BUSINESS MODEL THEY HAVE IS A TOTAL FAIL. OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE AND I THANK GISD FOR DOING THAT.PLEASE DO THE SAME FOR THE REST OF OUR GARLAND CITIZENS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, CARL SMITH. CARL SMITH, 2216 RIDGE OAK DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS. SHILOH AND BELTLINE. AFTER I SPOKE ABOUT THE TRAFFIC SITUATION, Y'ALL REALLY SPRANG INTO ACTION. YOU REMOVED THE ONE YOU MIGHT GET A TICKET SIGN AND THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY THERE.
BUT THE HORRIFIC TRAFFIC YOU LEFT THERE. ENOUGH OF THAT FOR NOW. 3397 HOUSEHOLDS HAVE NOW OPTED OUT OF MD PATHWAYS. AT THIS RATE, I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE SEND MD PATHWAYS ONLY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH. I WONDER HOW MANY HAVE OPTED INTO THE FREE PREVIEW. WHAT PUZZLES NUMEROUS PEOPLE IS WHY WOULD A COMPANY THAT HAD NEVER DONE BUSINESS WITH ANY TOWN OF ANY SIZE APPROACH A NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL PERSON TO TRY AND DO BUSINESS WITH OUR CITY? AND WHERE WAS THE BIDDING PROCESS? AND PLEASE TELL US WHO WAS CITIZEN ZERO THAT ASKED FOR THIS SERVICE, NOT TO MENTION THE STEALTH NATURE OF THE VOTE AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE BEFOREHAND. THERE IS A RUMOR GOING AROUND THAT CITY EMPLOYEES ARE FREE. WE'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR FALSE. AND WHY DO APARTMENTS WITH MASTER METERS NOT PAY $6 PER UNIT? AND NOW WE GET ALL THOSE FACEBOOK VIDEOS TELLING US HOW WONDERFUL MD PATHWAYS IS, WITH NO DESCRIPTION OF WHO THE PERSON WAS OR WHERE THEY LIVE.
IF IT WASN'T A SCAM, WOULDN'T THEY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES? ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO ANSWERS. CITY COUNCIL PERSONS WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS WILL NOT RESPOND.
AND LASTLY, DIFFERENT TOPIC. HOW RIDICULOUS IT SEEMS TO ME, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE, THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING, A SO-CALLED PUBLIC MEETING, AND THE SAME DAY VOTE. WHICH MEANS THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE CITIZENS SAY, YOU'VE ALREADY MADE UP YOUR MIND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS? ONE FINAL SPEAKER, SHIRLEY ROBERTS. HONESTLY, MY CAR IS NOT WORKING, SO I HAD TO TAKE UBER HERE AND I LEFT MY SPEECH IN THE CAR. SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WING IT TONIGHT. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO ZERO IN ON A SMALL LITTLE AREA. I WATCHED YOU JUST GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. OH, I'M SORRY. SHIRLEY ROBERTS, 2102 COUNTRY OAKS, ARLINGTON. I WATCHED YESTERDAY THE COUNCIL WORK SESSION WITH EXTREME TREPIDATION. I SAW A LOT. NOT A LOT, BUT I SAW SEVERAL OF YOU ALMOST SEEMED TO PANIC. WE WERE ASKING THE STAFF, WELL, WHEN CAN WE GET THE COMPUTER SET UP? THE STAFF WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT THEY WERE ALSO INVOLVED WITH 717 OTHER SYSTEMS, AND THEY WERE AFRAID OF LETTING DOWN ALL THE OTHER SYSTEMS BECAUSE THOSE OTHER SYSTEMS PERTAINED TO GETTING BILLS OUT AND PAYMENT COMING IN. AND IF PEOPLE I KNOW FROM FROM EXPERIENCE, WHEN PEOPLE DON'T GET THEIR BILLS RIGHT OR SOMETHING'S WRONG OR THE PAYMENT MESSES UP, THEY'RE UPSET. BUT WHAT THE MAIN PART IS, DOCTOR PARROTT WAS ASKED, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED IN TO THIS. ORIGINALLY, 10,000 WERE EXPECTED TO AND HOPED THAT THEY WOULD, HE SAID. HUNDREDS. AND LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAID, WE KNOW 3397 HAVE OPTED OUT. HUNDREDS IN, THOUSANDS OUT. YOU CANNOT ON 80,000 HOUSEHOLDS GET
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A GOOD FEEDBACK FROM HUNDREDS OF HOUSES. YET I FEEL YOU'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TRY AND SHOVE THIS THROUGH. IF YOU WERE DOING AN EXPERIMENT, A SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT, YOUR HUNDREDS OF HOUSEHOLDS ON 80,000 HOUSEHOLDS OR HUNDREDS OPTING IN IS NOT I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE LEFT OUT. IT WOULD BE LAUGHED AT. THAT IS UNREAL AND UNREALISTIC. HOW CAN WE EXPECT TO GET A GOOD FEEDBACK ON WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT, WHEN YOU'RE ONLY DOING HUNDREDS? AND THEY THEY TOLD HOW PATHWAYS WENT TO THE OLDER PEOPLE, OF WHICH I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND I APPROVE.I LOVE THAT THAT THEY WENT AND THEY GAVE THEM FOOD AND THEY DID BINGO. AND WHAT THEY DID, THEY TOLD THEM THE PROGRAM AND THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO SIGN UPUP SIGNED UP. THEY SIGNED THER CONSENT BEFORE THEY GOT A FREE TRIAL OF THIS. THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING PEOPLE SIGNED UP. IT'S A GIVEAWAY. IT'S FREE. WHY ARE YOU NOT SIGNING UP 10,000 PEOPLE? BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT IT. THAT'S MY BUZZER. IS THAT MY BUZZER? YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT, SO THOUGH I'M NOT TRYING TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO, I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING. I READ WHERE $20,000 COULD SEND OUT DOOR MAILERS TO 80,000 PEOPLE. I SUGGEST YOU TRY AND DO THAT AND SEE IF PEOPLE RESPOND. HUNDREDS, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE ARE JUST NOTHING TO BASE ANYTHING ON. SO SEND THOSE FLIERS OUT. LET'S SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE RESPOND. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MA'AM, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TONIGHT? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. AND IT'S 7 742. WE ARE ADJOURNE.
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GOOD EVENINE DECEMBER 16TH, 2025 REGULAR MEETING OF THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE ALL HERE IN OUR FESTIVE HOLIDAY ATTIRE, SO I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON AS WELL. IT IS THE TRADITION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE AN INVOCATION AND RECITAL OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, LED BY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. YOU'RE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IF YOU SO CHOOSE, BUT YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN EITHER OR BOTH, AND YOUR DECISION IS STRICTLY A MATTER OF YOUR OWN CHOICE AND WILL NOT AFFECT THE DECISIONS TO BE MADE BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN ANY MANNER. TONIGHT'S INVOCATION AND PLEDGE WILL BE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BASS, SIR. THANK YOU. MAYOR. ACTUALLY, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO READ A STORY THAT I WROTE, TINSEL, THE CHRISTMAS T REX. HIGH ON A SNOWY HILL. PINE TREES SPARKLED UNDER MOONLIGHT AND SNOWFLAKES DRIFTED QUIETLY. THERE, TUCKED INSIDE A WARM CAVE LIVED SOMEONE VERY UNUSUAL. A GIANT T-REX NAMED TINSEL. TINSEL WASN'T LIKE OTHER T-REXES FROM LONG AGO. HE LOVED CHRISTMAS MORE THAN ANYTHING. EVERY YEAR[00:50:05]
HE DECORATED HIS CAVE WITH LIGHTS, HUNG STOCKINGS ON HIS FIREPLACE, AND WRAPPED PRESENTS FOR HIS FOREST FRIENDS. BUT TINSEL HAD ONE PROBLEM HIS TINY ARMS MADE IT HARD TO HANG ORNAMENTS ON HIS TALL CHRISTMAS TREE. ONE CHILLY EVENING, TINSEL ROARED OUT A CHRISTMAS SONG AS HE TRIED TO PLACE A SHINY STAR ON TOP OF HIS TREE. OH NO, HE CRIED AS THE STAR TUMBLED TO THE GROUND. I'LL NEVER FINISH IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A KNOCK AT THE CAVE DOOR. IT WAS WILLOW, THE WOODPECKER, BERRY THE BUNNY, AND SAMMY THE SQUIRREL CARRYING TINY BAGS OF DECORATIONS. WE'RE HERE TO HELP CHIRP. WILLOW, BURY THE BUNNY HOPPED UP TO THE TREE WITH HIS STRONG LEGS, PLACING ORNAMENTS ON THE BRANCHES. WILLOW. THE WOODPECKER FLEW HIGH AND FAST, STRINGING LIGHTS ALL AROUND, AND SAMMY THE SQUIRREL WITH HIS TINY CLAWS, TINY PAWS ADDED CANDY CANES TO EVERY BRANCH AS THE TREE SPARKLED BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER. ONLY ONE THING WAS MISSING. THE STAR, TINSEL SAID SOFTLY, HOLDING A GOLDEN STAR BETWEEN HIS TINY CLAWS. IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. HE CAREFULLY LIFTED THE BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN STAR. BUT NO MATTER HOW MUCH HE STRETCHED, HE COULDN'T REACH THE TOP. HIS TINY ARMS WOBBLED IN THE STARS. SLIP. I NEED HELP, TINSEL, ADMITTED WILLOW. THE WOODPECKER FLUTTERED NEAR THE TOP OF THE TREE. I CAN GUIDE IT, BUT I CAN'T CARRY IT. BURY THE BUNNY THUMPED HIS FOOT. I CAN LIFT YOU, SAMMY, THE SQUIRREL SQUEAKED, AND I CAN STEADY THE STAR. BARRY CLIMBED ON TO A STURDY LOG. TINSEL GENTLY STEPPED ONTO HIS BACK. SAMMY HELD TIGHT TO THE STAR, AND WILLOW HOVERED ABOVE CALLING DIRECTIONS, LEFT A LITTLE UP STEADY WITH ONE FINAL STRETCH FROM TINSEL AND A CAREFUL PUSH FROM SAMMY, THE STAR SLIPPED PERFECTLY INTO PLACE. SUDDENLY, THE STAR BURST INTO A WARM GOLDEN GLOW, LIGHTING THE CAVE BRIGHTER THAN EVER BEFORE. TINSEL EYES FILLED WITH HAPPY TEARS. THAT'S THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS, HE SAID. IT ONLY SHINES WHEN FRIENDS WORK TOGETHER. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY. JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.GOOD EVENING AGAIN. EVERYBODY. AND I HAVE A STACK OF PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS HERE, AND I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO CELEBRATE ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN GARLAND.
AND I WANT TO STARTT OFF WITH THE ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITIES, 119TH NATIONAL FOUNDERS DAY. SO IF YOU GENTLEMEN WANT TO COME ON UP HERE. COME ON AROUND. YOU KNOW THESE GENTLEMEN, THEY CAME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING EIGHT MONTHS, NINE MONTHS AGO, AND THEY IMMEDIATELY ASKED, HOW CAN WE GET INVOLVED IN THE CITY? AND WE PUT THEM TO WORK PRETTY MUCH PRETTY QUICKLY. SO THEY'RE NOW SERVING ON VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND DOING VOLUNTEER WORK ALL ACROSS OUR CITY. SO I'M HAPPY TO TO HAVE THIS RECOGNITION OF YOU AND THE FOUNDERS DAY. SO 119TH FOUNDER'S DAY OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. WHEREAS ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, MEMBERS OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY PROUDLY CELEBRATED THEIR NATIONAL FRATERNITY'S 119TH FOUNDER'S DAY, HONORING THE PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH THEIR BROTHERHOOD WAS ESTABLISHED AND WHICH CONTINUED TO GUIDE THEIR DEDICATION TO SCHOLARSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND SERVICE. AND WHEREAS THE FRATERNITY HAS BECOME AN ACTIVE PARTNER IN ADVANCING THE WELL-BEING OF THE GARLAND COMMUNITY THROUGH MEANINGFUL CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT, THE FRATERNITY'S COMMITMENT TO CIVIC LEADERSHIP IS DEMONSTRATED BY PHI FRATERNITY BROTHERS. CURRENT CURRENTLY SERVING ON VARIOUS CITY OF GARLAND BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, CONTRIBUTING THEIR TIME, SKILLS, AND LEADERSHIP TO THE CITY'S GOVERNANCE AND FUTURE. AND WHEREAS, THROUGH EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY, THE FRATERNITY PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT'S PROPOSITION A AS PART OF THE GISD POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, AN EFFORT SUCCESSFULLY CHAIRED BY BROTHER BRIAN ROBINSON. AND WHEREAS, THE FRATERNITY HAS STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY SAFETY BY COLLABORATING WITH THE GARLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT ON SEVERAL IMPORTANT INITIATIVES AIMED AT BUILDING TRUST AND FOSTERING SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH VOLUNTEER SERVICE, THE FRATERNITY LOOKS FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR THE BIG EVENT IN MARCH 2026, CONTRIBUTING HANDS ON SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. AND WHEREAS, THE OF CITY GARLAND VALUES THE POSITIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP AND RECOGNIZES THE FRATERNITY'S
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LONG STANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO CIVIC INVOLVEMENT, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. NOW, THEREFORE, I. DYLAN HEDRICK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY, DO HEREBY EXTEND SPECIAL RECOGNITION IN HONOR OF THE 119TH FOUNDER'S DAY OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA, AND COMMEND THE ORGANIZATION FOR ITS DEDICATION TO SERVICE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP. GARLAND. WE'RE HERE. WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THE CITY. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO DO WHAT WE DO HERE IN THE CITY OF GARLAND. AND AT 119 YEARS HERE, HOPEFULLY 119 MORE YEARS WILL BE OUT THERE WORKING IN, IN THE CITY. SO IF YOU SEE US, JOIN US, PICK UP WHATEVER WE'RE DOING.WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU WORK WITH US. THANK YOU. OKAY. ONE. YES. CAMERA. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS FROM OUR GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD AWARD WINNERS. THIS IS AN ANNUAL AWARDS THAT WE GIVE OUT TO VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OVER THE PAST YEAR. I WANT TO START OFF WITH THIS IS OUR PUBLIC GARLAND PUBLIC SERVANT AWARD. COME ON UP, SIR. OFFICER MURPHY IS THE RECIPIENT OF THAT. I THANK YOU, SIR, FOR BEING HERE. YEAH. IN RECOGNITION OF GARLAND'S PUBLIC SERVANT AWARD. WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE CITY OF GARLAND OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY RECOGNIZES DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT, PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, THE GARLAND PUBLIC SERVANT AWARD HONORS CITY OF GARLAND EMPLOYEES WHO EXEMPLIFY THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PUBLIC SERVICE BY CONSISTENTLY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THEIR DUTIES WHILE DEMONSTRATING INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE PEOPLE OF GARLAND.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, I, DYLAN HEDRICK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OFFICER JORDAN MURPHY AS A RECIPIENT OF THE GARLAND PUBLIC SERVANT AWARD AND EXTEND SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR HIS EXEMPLARY SERVICE AND OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITIZENS OF GARLAND, TEXAS. I DIDN'T KNOW I WOULD HAVE TO SPEAK. THIS IS AN HONOR. ANY POLICE OFFICER WOULD TELL YOU THAT WE DON'T GET INTO THIS LINE OF WORK FOR ANY KIND OF NOTORIETY, TO GET ANY KIND OF AWARDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT IS AMAZING WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN TO BE REMINDED THAT PEOPLE DO CARE, AND PEOPLE DO SEE THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN, AND THERE'S NO GREATER HONOR THAN SERVING THE CITIZENS OF GARLAND. SO I'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNTIL I RETIRE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. CYNTHIA. YOU'RE NEXT. COME ON UP HERE. THE NEXT IS IN RECOGNITION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER AWARD WINNER. YOU'RE BECOMING A REGULAR UP HERE FOR THIS ONE. YEAH. IN RECOGNITION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER AWARD. WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE CITY OF GARLAND OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY RECOGNIZES NEWSLETTERS, E! NEWSLETTERS, AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLICATIONS WHO SERVE AS IMPORTANT TOOLS TO INFORM, INSPIRE AND ENGAGE RESIDENTS. ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN THE ONGOING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE AND INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S OUTSTANDING NEWSLETTER HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION AND FOSTERING NEIGHBORLY ENGAGEMENT, SHARING IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND STRENGTHENING THE SENSE OF
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COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND NOW, THEREFORE, I, DYLAN HEDRICK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE CAMELOT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AS THE WINNER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER COMPETITION AND EXTEND SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS IN CONNECTING AND INFORMING THE RESIDENTS OF GARLAND. I'D LIKE TO THANK NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY FOR CHOOSING US AGAIN THIS YEAR.I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT COMING TO THE AWARD CEREMONY. I PLAN TO COME. AND THEN I CHICKENED OUT WHEN THE WEATHER GOT SO BAD. JOE THOMAS ACCEPTED FOR ME AND WE WERE RIGHT HERE. SO PRETTY.
BEAUTIFUL. I REALLY DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS A CHANCE OF WINNING SINCE WE WON LAST YEAR, AND I WAS BOWLED OVER WHEN JOE SENT ME AN EMAIL AND SAID THAT WE HAD WON AGAIN. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. A FEW MORE HERE, TWO MORE. THIS ONE IS RECOGNITION OF WHO'S WHO IN GARLAND'S NEIGHBORHOOD AWARD. ALL RIGHT. HERE. COME ON UP. IT'S WHO'S WHO AWARD IS GIVEN TO A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL EVERY YEAR FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS. RECOGNITION OF THE WHO'S WHO IN GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD AWARD. WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE CITY OF GARLAND OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY RECOGNIZES NEIGHBORS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT, UPLIFT, AND ENHANCE THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, THE WHO'S WHO IN GARLAND NEIGHBORHOODS AWARD IS GIVEN TO CELEBRATE INDIVIDUALS WHO EXEMPLIFY WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR THROUGH LEADERSHIP, GOOD CITIZENSHIP, AND GENUINE DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY. AND NOW, THEREFORE, I, DYLAN HEDRICK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AMY NICHOLSON AS THE WINNER OF THE WHO'S WHO IN GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD AWARD AND EXTEND SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR HER EXEMPLARY SERVICE AND OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE RESIDENTS OF GARLAND, TEXAS. I DID NOT KNOW I WAS GOING TO SPEAK. I'M NORMALLY AN ORGANIZED PERSON, BUT I'LL SAY THANK YOU, I LOVE GARLAND, I'M NOT ORIGINALLY FROM HERE. I'M FROM DALLAS AND I WORK FOR GARLAND ISD. AND SO WE BUILT OUR FIRST HOME HERE, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE FAMILIES. AND SO I'VE LOVED BUILDING UP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND JUST GETTING TO MEET ALL THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZE FUN EVENTS. SO IF YOU HAVE A TODDLER, CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, REAL TODDLERS OF RIVERSIDE. WE'RE OPEN TO EVERYONE IN THE GARLAND COMMUNITY, SO THANKS AGAIN! AND DON'T GO TOO FAR AWAY. AND THAT REAL TODDLERS. ARE YOU AIMING FOR A REALITY TV SHOW WITH THAT KIND OF NAME? YEAH, YEAH. AND NOW IF THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTS TO COME UP, THIS IS FOR RECOGNITION OF GARLAND'S NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR. SHE MENTIONED RIVERSIDE ALREADY, AND THIS YEAR, OUR GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR IS THE RIVERSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD. IN RECOGNITION OF GARLAND'S NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR. WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE CITY OF GARLAND OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY RECOGNIZES NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO CREATE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE VIBRANT, ENGAGED, AND SAFE. AND WHEREAS THE GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR AWARD RECOGNIZES ONE OUTSTANDING NEIGHBORHOOD WHOSE EFFORTS ALL YEAR ROUND DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT TO NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT, INCLUDING BOTH PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. AND NOW, THEREFORE, I. DYLAN HEDRICK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM RIVERSIDE RESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATION AS THE GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR AND EXTEND SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY CONTRIBUTIONS, COMMUNITY SPIRIT, AND ONGOING DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS. I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN EITHER. STEPHEN SHOULD BE TALKING. SO THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN RAN BY THE RESIDENTS. SO IT'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK. BUT I THINK OUR PREMIER EVENT AS A RESIDENT LED HOA WAS OUR SPRING FLING, WHERE WE HAD OVER 250 OF OUR RESIDENTS SHOW UP, AND IT WAS JUST A FANTASTIC WAY FOR US TO GET TO KNOW AND COMMUNICATE THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON. WE DO HAVE A NEWSLETTER WHICH WE PUT IN, AND WE HAD HOPED TO WIN BECAUSE WE PUBLISH IN LIKE THREE LANGUAGES, BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE TRY TO DO EVENTS THAT BRING EACH ONE OF THOSE POCKETS OF PEOPLE OUT TO MEET THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT YEAR AND WE HOPE TO BE BACK HERE AGAIN NEXT YEAR. THANKS. THANK YOU.
[01:05:41]
ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'LL GET TO GO ON TO THE SERIOUS BUSINESS. I ALWAYS LOVE DOING ALL THE RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS. IT'S REALLY FUN. MOVE ON. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS, AND ALL ITEMS UNDER THIS SECTION ARE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY A SINGLE MOTION OF COUNCIL WITHOUT DISCUSSION. COUNCIL HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW EACH OF THESE ITEMS AT A PREVIOUS WORK SESSION, AND APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE EACH ITEM. I WILL ANNOUNCE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, TO REQUEST THAT ANY ITEM BE REMOVED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 2ND, 2025 REGULAR MEETING. ITEM NUMBER TWO IS APPROVED. THE FOLLOWING BIDS TO A GPL FIREWHEEL SWITCH REBUILD ELECTRICAL MATERIALS TO BE TERM CONTRACT FOR STOP LOSS INSURANCE TWO C WIN JOYCE PARK.IMPROVEMENTS TO D GRANVILLE ART CENTER RENOVATION DESIGN SERVICES. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS OF CITY ATTORNEY, CITY AUDITOR, AND MUNICIPAL JUDGES. ITEM FOUR IS INVESTMENT POLICY AND INVESTMENT STRATEGY. ITEM FIVE IS WORKERS COMPENSATION CASH FLOW PLAN, CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT, AND ITEM SIX IS. A PUBLIC HEARING WAS PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED FOR THE ZONING CASES BELOW. CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE ZONING REQUEST AND INSTRUCTED STAFF TO BRING FORTH THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES SIX A IS CASE Z 2535 ZONE DEV IN DISTRICT FOUR AND SIX B IS CASE Z 2537 MISSION RIDGE CONSULTANTS IN DISTRICT SEVEN COUNCIL. IS THERE ANY ITEMS YOU WISH TO HAVE PULLED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY? ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ITEM POOL CONSIDERED SEPARATELY? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN BASS. THANK YOU. MAYOR. MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BASS AND A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM. LUCK. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? MADAM SECRETARY, YOU PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. AND THAT ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT, MOVE ON NOW TO OUR ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IS GIVEN TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY RATHER THAN TO QUESTION THE CITY COUNCIL OR STAFF. THE CHAIR MAY CALL A SPEAKER OUT OF ORDER IF THE SPEAKER PRESENTS QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION THAT WILL UNDULY DELAY THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS AT THE MEETING, SPEAKERS SHALL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON A FIRST COME, FIRST TO SPEAK BASIS, AS DETERMINED BY THE ORDER IN WHICH THE CITY SECRETARY RECEIVES THE SPEAKER'S INFORMATION. APPLICANTS ARE ALLOWED TEN MINUTES FOR PRESENTATIONS, AND ALL OTHER SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. WHEN THE PODIUM BUZZER SOUNDS, THE SPEAKER MUST END THEIR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU MA'AM. IF ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK AND HASN'T FILLED OUT A SPEAKER CARD, PLEASE DO SO DOWN TO THE CITY SECRETARY. OUR FIRST ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION IS HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SOUTH GARLAND LAKESIDE AREA PLAN. THANK YOU. MAYOR. ON THE DECEMBER 1ST WORK SESSION, OUR CONSULTANT FOR THIS PROJECT, FREESE AND NICHOLS, THEY HAD PROVIDED AN IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL. COUOUNCIL HAD GREAT QUESTIONS. THEY HAD ANSWERED ALL THE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED AS WELL. TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO HAVE THE FORMAL PROCESS OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE VOTE FOR ADOPTION. IF COUNCIL WISHES TO MOVE FORWARD. PLAN COMMISSION HAD RECOMMENDED APPROVAL FOR THIS PLAN UNANIMOUSLY. THEY HAD ADDED TWO STIPULATIONS ONE FOR CONTINUOUS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND ONE FOR
[01:10:04]
MEANINGFUL PROTECTION OF THE WINDSOR BAY PARK. AS THINGS DEVELOP AND REDEVELOP. AND BOTH OF THOSE THINGS HAVE MADE ITS WAY TO THE PLAN NOW. SO THE VERSION THAT YOU HAVE SEEN HAS THOSE STIPULATIONS INCORPORATED. AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TODAY. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? MAYOR HEDRICK, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SPEAKING, BUT WE DO HAVE A GENTLEMAN, ANDREW. MATIJEVIC. HE IS AGAINST THIS ITEM. VERY GOOD. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK, SIR? OKAY.PLEASE COME ON UP THEN. YES. SIR. IF YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. FOR FOUR EIGHT JOHN GARLAND, TEXAS, NUMBER 206. TWO YEARS AND.
STAFF CARE TO. AND WE WILL ADJUST THE MICROPHONE. YES. I JUST NEED VIDEO. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO WORK.
FOR DELAY. I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE LAST ITEM ON. MY MEMORY. SERVES ME CORRECT. 23 YEARS IS ALMOST AS LONG AS COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS HAS BEEN SERVING HIS TIME TO THE CITY OF GARLAND, GOING BACK TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING DAYS. AND SO, COUNCILMAN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LONG TENURED VOLUNTEER SERVICE WITH THE CITY. AS THE STAFF. I'M NOT COMING UP YET, IS THERE? ANY NEEDS HELP? FOR THE COUNCIL? LET'S SEE. PRAISE GOD. OKAY, OKAY. IF YOU JUST WANT TO TURN IT AROUND AND THAT. YEAH, WE CAN SEE IT. IF YOU TURN IT, ROTATE YOUR SCREEN AROUND TOWARDS US, YOU CAN JUST SHOW THE COUNCIL. I'D APPRECIATE IT. VERY GOOD. I DON'T KNOW IF THE. I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT OUTSIDE. OKAY. OKAY. THERE IT IS. I THINK HE'S GETTING IT IN FOCUS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS DOCUMENT, WHILE IT'S CALLED A PLAN, THERE ARE SOME ELEMENTS THAT ARE CONSIDERED CONCEPTUAL ON IT. AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEKING TO SEEK CLARIFICATION ON TONIGHT IS WHICH PIECES OF THIS ARE ACTUALLY SET IN STONE AND WHICH ARE STILL CONCEPTUAL. THE VIEW THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN IS FOUR, FOUR, FOUR EIGHT ROAD NUMBER 206. AND ACCORDING TO THE PLAN, IN ORDER FOR YOU TO EXTEND MARVIN LOVE NORTH OF SHAHAR ROAD, YOU WOULD DESTROY THIS PROPERTY AS AS WELL AS 46 OF MY OTHER NEIGHBORS PROPERTIES IN ORDER TO EXTEND MARVIN LOVE AROUND TO BASS PRO DRIVE. OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. AND IN HINDSIGHT, I KNOW IT WASN'T THE CITY'S INTENTION, BUT ASKING THE VOTERS TO APPROVE, YOU KNOW, A $75 MILLION BOND PACKAGE WHICH WAS GOING TO IMPROVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ONLY TO LATER LEARN THE DETAILS OF, OH, YOU JUST VOTED TO DESTROY YOUR OWN HOME. SO IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FEELS LIKE IT WAS UNINTENTIONAL. BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS SET UP ON OUR PART. SO OBVIOUSLY, IN ADDITION TO DESTROYING OUR HOMES THAT ARE
[01:15:01]
ALREADY PAYING TAXES TODAY, CREATING MORE MULTIFAMILY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD COULD ACTUALLY RESULT IN LESS INCOME BECAUSE OF THE 100 YEAR LOOPHOLE THAT MOST MULTIFAMILY COMMUNITIES ARE GOING IN WITH THE 40% LOW INCOME EXEMPTION. THE OTHER TWO POINTS I HAVE REGARDING THE PLANET AS A WHOLE IS THE AS STAFF ELABORATED, YOU KNOW, WINDSURF BAY PARK SHOULD BE TOTALLY OFF LIMITS. YOU KNOW, THE STAFF SAID IN THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING THAT THE PLAN WAS NOT JUST TO REPLACE, YOU KNOW, INCOME THAT WOULD BE DONE AWAY WITH WITH THE GEORGE BUSH EXTENSION. BUT IT WAS ALSO TO INCREASE INCOME. BUT WE SEEM TO HAVE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW NORTH GARLAND IS TREATED AND SOUTH GARLAND IS TREATED. STILL, YOU'LL NEVER HEAR A CITY STAFF SAY, WELL, LET'S BULLDOZE HALF A FIREWHEEL, YOU KNOW, GOLF COURSE IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, TO RAISE CITY INCOME. OR THEY'LL NEVER SAY, HEY, LET'S PUT A CULVERT OVER LYNN CREEK SO WE CAN MAXIMIZE CITY INCOME. SO THERE STILL SEEMS TO BE SOME SOME DEBATE ABOUT HOW WE'RE TREATED IN SOUTH GARLAND AND PROTECTING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. JUST BECAUSE YOU BUILD SOMETHING NEW DOESN'T MEAN IT'S BETTER QUALITY. IS THERE A PART OF THE PLAN I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IS IT SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THE BASS PRO PARKING LOT SHOULD BE SOLD OFF AND DEVELOPED IN A SIMILAR MANNER THAT HAS BEEN DONE DOWN HERE IN DOWNTOWN. WE DIDN'T OBJECT TO THAT BECAUSE IT WASN'T OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT TO OBJECT TO THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOW YOU'RE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU SIR. PLEASE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT. I SEE NO OTHER SPEAKERS. LAST CALL. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? THEN WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, SIR. THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME BACK, PLEASE? HAVING HAVING HEARD THE THOUGHTS AS COMING FROM THE CONSTITUENT, DO YOU HAVE ANY THING THAT YOU CAN SAY IN RESPONSE TO THAT? I WOULD SAY THIS IS A MULTI-DECADE PLAN AND IT IS NOT REALLY NOTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. IT IS REALLY AS DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES COME IN, WE'RE GOINGNG TO EVALUATE HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE SET OUT ON THE PLAN. SO NO, THE CITY I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY INITIATIVE TO GO IN AND TAKE OVER ANY EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD OR CAUSE ANY HARM TO ANY EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE. IT IS REALLY A MULTI-DECADE 30 TO 50 YEAR PLAN AS OPPORTUNITIES COME. THANK YOU. I WANT TO RESPOND FIRST OF ALL BY SAYING, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH TO THE CONSTITUENTS FOR COMING IN AND AND EXPRESSING THE FEELINGS AND THE THOUGHTS AS IT RELATES TO WHAT'S GETTING READY TO TAKE PLACE, OR WHAT WE HOPE IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN THAT T IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. AND AS HE SHOWED THAT PICTURE, I RECALL WHEN I MOVED INTO EMERALD LAKE ESTATES 20 YEARS AGO, MOVING FROM THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, I REMEMBER EMERALD LAKES AT THAT POINT.THERE WERE THREE HOMES IN THE DEVELOPMENT, THREE HOMES IN DEVELOPMENT. I THINK I WAS THE THIRD HOME AND I MOVED TO IT BECAUSE I AM A AVID FISHERMAN. I LOVE THE WATER, I LOVE BEING OUT ON THE LAKE, AND I RECALL THE LOT THAT I GOT. I COULD STAND THERE AND LOOK OUT AND I COULD SEE ALL OF LAKE RAY HUBBARD. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. TWO YEARS LATER, WHEN ALL OF THE OTHER HOMES BEGAN TO BE DEVELOPED, GUESS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VIEW? I COULD NO LONGER SEE THAT LAKE. AND I GUESS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, I IT NEVER DAWNED ON ME THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN. BUT TO A CERTAIN, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT KNOWING THAT IT WOULD. BUT SINCE THAT TIME I CAN'T SEE THE LAKE ANYMORE. BUT I AM SO HAPPY AGAIN THAT I MOVED INTO THAT AREA, INTO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. WE NOW HAVE CLOSE TO 200 HOMES IN THAT AREA. NICE HOMES, NICE FAMILIES. I CAN STILL GO DOWN TO THE LAKE TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM IT. WE'RE GETTING READY NOW TO PUT IN WIND. JOYCE PARK, AS A RESULT OF THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE REALTORS PROMISED US. NOW, 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN THERE, RIGHT? THE REALTOR PROMISED ME WHEN I MOVED IN THAT THAT PARK WAS GOING TO BE BUILT WITHIN THE NEXT 2 OR 3 YEARS. WELL, WE'RE 20 YEARSS LATER NOW AND IT'S JUST GETTING READY. WE JUST FUNDED IT IS GETTING READY TO BE BUILT. BUT
[01:20:03]
THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS BEAUTIFUL. THE PARK IS GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY HEART OR MIND THAT GARLAND IS GOING TO BE BETTER FOR IT. I SAY ALL THAT JUST TO SAY TO MY NEIGHBOR, I FEEL WITH YOU. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AND YES, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT YOUR VIEW MAY BE CHANGED. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT BASED ON ALL THAT WE HAVE DONE AND ALL THE MONEY THAT WE'VE SPENT TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT AREA, THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING TO BE BETTER, WINDSURF BAY PARK IS GOING TO BE USABLE. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A SITUATION WHERE IT'S CLOSED ALL THE TIME, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING PRESENTLY IS TO ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE THE AREA. SO WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I CALL FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BASS COUNCIL. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US MOTION TO APPROVE THE AREA PLAN. THAT ITEM PASSES 8 TO 1, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON IN OPPOSITION. NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS CITIZEN COMMENTS. MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WISHING TO ADDRESS ISSUES NOT ON THE MEETING AGENDA MAY HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, COUNCIL IS PROHIBITED FROM DISCUSSING ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR TONIGHT? YES, SIR. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER, HEATHER DUBROW? WHAT DO YOU THINK, COUNCIL MEMBERS? I LIVE ON 2518 SUNCREST FRYE I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT MD HEALTH PATHWAYS AGAIN. I'M GOING TO SAY IT FLAT OUT.NO ONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OPTED IN. WHY WOULD I SAY THAT? HEALTH CARE.GOV NEVER ALLOWS ANYONE TO BE ENROLLED IN HEALTH CARE WITHOUT THEIR EXPLICIT CONSENT. IT IS FRAUD AND IT IS REPORTABLE. CHARGES FOR HEALTH CARE IN THE EXCHANGE MUST ALSO BE DONE WITH CONSENT. WE CAN'T DO IT IF HEALTHCARE.GOV DOESN'T ALLOW IT. HOW ARE WE SPECIAL FORCED ENROLLMENT OPT OUT IS NOT INFORMED CONSENT. LET'S DISCUSS THE CASE WITH THE FTC, WHICH HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ALREADY. THEY TOOK ACTION AGAINST TELEMEDICINE FIRM NEXMED. WHY THEY FAILED TO OBTAIN INFORMED CONSENT TO CHARGE THEIR CUSTOMERS. THEY PUBLISHED FAKE TESTIMONIALS CREATED BY HIRED INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYEES. WE'VE SEEN THAT THEY DISTORTED CUSTOMER REVIEWS BY FLAGGING NEGATIVE REVIEWS WITHOUT A BASIS, SELECTIVELY SOLICITING POSITIVE REVIEWS FROM SATISFIED CUSTOMERS. THE SETTLEMENT REQUIRES COMPETENT AND RELIABLE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT CLAIMS, WHICH WE ARE NOT GETTING FROM MD. HEALTH PATHWAYS PROHIBITS MISREPRESENTATIONS OR REVIEWS ARE TRUTHFUL OR FROM REAL CUSTOMERS. WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT.
THEY'RE FROM SHILLS. THEY REQUIRE THEM TO OBTAIN INFORMED CONSENT BEFORE BILLING CONSUMERS AND AUTHORIZATION. WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE. SO IF THE FTC IS NOT GOING TO ALLOW IT WITH THE OTHER TELEMEDICINE COMPANIES, WHY ARE WE DOING IT HERE? THE OTHER ISSUE I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT IS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY, MD HEALTH PATHWAYS WEEK ONE AND ONGOING WITH SCHOOL SYSTEM OUTREACH. SCHOOLS ARE LEVERAGED. THEY GO IN THE NURSES AND THE EVERYBODY'S INVOLVED, THE TEACHERS. WE'RE GETTING FLIERS AND ALL THIS OTHER NONSENSE.
IT'S IN WRITING. YOU CAN SEE GARLANAND ISD CONFIRMED INBSITE. WRITING THEY WILL NOT BE WORKING WITH THEM IN ANY WAY. THEIR RESPONSE TO ME AND I TALKED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
I WENT THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS. I DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE WE WERE COMMUNICATING CLEARLY. GARLAND ISD ISN'T WORKING WITH MD HEALTH PATHWAYS ON ANY PROJECTS, PERIOD.
THEY'RE NOT WORKING WITH THEM, SO THE CONTRACT WITH MD HEALTH PATHWAYS, MD, PATHWAYS PHYSICIANS, TEXAS PLC, TELEHEALTH COLUMN, WHATEVER YOU WANT NEEDS TO BE CANCELED IMMEDIATELY. THIS PREDATORY BUSINESS MODEL THEY HAVE IS A TOTAL FAIL. OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE AND I THANK GISD FOR DOING THAT. PLEASE DO THE SAME FOR THE REST OF OUR GARLAND CITIZENS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, CARL SMITH. CARL SMITH, 2216 RIDGE OAK DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS. SHILOH AND BELTLINE.
[01:25:06]
AFTER I SPOKE ABOUT THE TRAFFIC SITUATION, Y'ALL REALLY SPRANG INTO ACTION. YOU REMOVED THE ONE YOU MIGHT GET A TICKET SIGN AND THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY THERE. BUT THE HORRIFIC TRAFFIC YOU LEFT THERE. ENOUGH OF THAT FOR NOW. 3397 HOUSEHOLDS HAVE NOW OPTED OUT OF MD PATHWAYS. AT THIS RATE, I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE SEND MD PATHWAYS ONLY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH. I WONDER HOW MANY HAVE OPTED INTO THE FREE PREVIEW. WHAT PUZZLES NUMEROUS PEOPLE IS WHY WOULD A COMPANY THAT HAD NEVER DONE BUSINESS WITH ANY TOWN OF ANY SIZE APPROACH A NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL PERSON TO TRY AND DO BUSINESS WITH OUR CITY? AND WHERE WAS THE BIDDING PROCESS? AND PLEASE TELL US WHO WAS CITIZEN ZERO THAT ASKED FOR THIS SERVICE, NOT TO MENTION THE STEALTH NATURE OF THE VOTE AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE BEFOREHAND. THERE IS A RUMOR GOING AROUND THAT CITY EMPLOYEES ARE FREE. WE'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR FALSE. AND WHY DO APARTMENTS WITH MASTER METERS NOT PAY $6 PER UNIT? AND NOW WE GET ALL THOSE FACEBOOK VIDEOS TELLING US HOW WONDERFUL MD PATHWAYS IS, WITH NO DESCRIPTION OF WHO THE PERSON WAS OR WHERE THEY LIVE. IF IT WASN'T A SCAM, WOULDN'T THEY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES? ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO ANSWERS. CITY COUNCIL PERSONS WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS WILL NOT RESPOND. AND LASTLY, DIFFERENT TOPIC.HOW RIDICULOUS IT SEEMS TO ME, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE, THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING, A SO-CALLED PUBLIC MEETING, AND THE SAME DAY VOTE. WHICH MEANS THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE CITIZENS SAY, YOU'VE ALREADY MADE UP YOUR MIND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS? ONE FINAL SPEAKER, SHIRLEY ROBERTS.
HONESTLY, MY CAR IS NOT WORKING, SO I HAD TO TAKE UBER HERE AND I LEFT MY SPEECH IN THE CAR. SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WING IT TONIGHT. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO ZERO IN ON A SMALL LITTLE AREA. I WATCHED YOU JUST GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. OH, I'M SORRY.
SHIRLEY ROBERTS, 2102 COUNTRY OAKS, ARLINGTON. I WATCHED YESTERDAY THE COUNCIL WORK SESSION WITH EXTREME TREPIDATION. I SAW A LOT. NOT A LOT, BUT I SAW SEVERAL OF YOU ALMOST SEEMED TO PANIC. WE WERE ASKING THE STAFF, WELL, WHEN CAN WE GET THE COMPUTER SET UP? THE STAFF WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT THEY WERE ALSO INVOLVED WITH 717 OTHER SYSTEMS, AND THEY WERE AFRAID OF LETTING DOWN ALL THE OTHER SYSTEMS BECAUSE THOSE OTHER SYSTEMS PERTAINED TO GETTING BILLS OUT AND PAYMENT COMING IN. AND IF PEOPLE I KNOW FROM FROM EXPERIENCE, WHEN PEOPLE DON'T GET THEIR BILLS RIGHT OR SOMETHING'S WRONG OR THE PAYMENT MESSES UP, THEY'RE UPSET. BUT WHAT THE MAIN PART IS, DOCTOR PARROTT WAS ASKED, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED IN TO THIS. ORIGINALLY, 10,000 WERE EXPECTED TO AND HOPED THAT THEY WOULD, HE SAID. HUNDREDS. AND LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAID, WE KNOW 3397 HAVE OPTED OUT.
HUNDREDS IN, THOUSANDS OUT. YOU CANNOT ON 80,000 HOUSEHOLDS GET A GOOD FEEDBACK FROM HUNDREDS OF HOUSES. YET I FEEL YOU'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TRY AND SHOVE THIS THROUGH. IF YOU WERE DOING AN EXPERIMENT, A SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT, YOUR HUNDREDS OF HOUSEHOLDS ON 80,000 HOUSEHOLDS OR HUNDREDS OPTING IN IS NOT I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE LEFT OUT. IT WOULD BE LAUGHED AT. THAT IS UNREAL AND UNREALISTIC. HOW CAN WE EXPECT TO GET A GOOD FEEDBACK ON WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT, WHEN YOU'RE ONLY DOING HUNDREDS? AND THEY THEY TOLD HOW PATHWAYS WENT TO THE OLDER PEOPLE, OF WHICH I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND I APPROVE. I LOVE THAT THAT THEY WENT AND THEY GAVE THEM FOOD AND THEY DID BINGO. AND WHAT THEY DID, THEY TOLD THEM THE PROGRAM AND THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO SIGN UP SIGNED UP. THEY SIGNED THEIR CONSENT BEFORE THEY GOT A FREE
[01:30:06]
TRIAL OF THIS. THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING PEOPLE SIGNED UP. IT'S A GIVEAWAY. IT'S FREE.WHY ARE YOU NOT SIGNING UP 10,000 PEOPLE? BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT IT. THAT'S MY BUZZER.
IS THAT MY BUZZER? YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT, SO THOUGH I'M NOT TRYING TO TELL YO WHAT TO DO, I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING. I READ WHERE $20,000 COULD SEND OUT DOOR MAILERS TO 80,000 PEOPLE. I SUGGEST YOU TRY AND DO THAT AND SEE IF PEOPLE RESPOND. HUNDREDS, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE ARE JUST NOTHING TO BASE ANYTHING ON. SO SEND THOSE FLIERS OUT. LET'S SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE RESPOND. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MA'AM, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TONIGHT? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. AND IT'S 742. WE ARE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.