[ LEGISLATIVE PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
[00:00:09]
JANUARY 20TH, 2026 REGULAR MEETING OF THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. IT IS THE TRADITION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE INVOCATION AND RECITAL OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF OUR MEETING, LED BY ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL WHO WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE, IF YOU SO CHOOSE, BUT YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN EITHER OR BOTH. YOUR DECISION IS STRICTLY A MATTER OF YOUR OWN CHOICE, AND WILL NOT AFFECT THE DECISIONS TO BE MADE BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL IN ANY MANNER. TONIGHT'S INVOCATION AND PLEDGE WILL BE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE. SIR, LISTENING. THANK YOU. FOREIGN. ALL RIGHT. WE ENTER INTO YOUR PRESENCE WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS AND HONEST SPIRITS. THANKFUL FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AND MINDFUL OF THE WEIGHT THAT THESE RESPONSIBILITIES CARRY. WE THANK YOU TONIGHT FOR THIS CITY, FOR EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERY HOUSEHOLD, EVERY VOICE, BOTH HOPEFUL AND CONCERNED. LORD, IN YOUR MERCY, HEAR OUR PRAYERS. HEAR YOUR PEOPLE. WE ACKNOWLEDGE, OH GOD, THAT ALONG THIS JOURNEY RELATIONSHIPS WILL BE STRETCHED, TRUST TESTED, AND UNDERSTANDING CHALLENGED. IN THE WORDS OF SOLOMON WHO PRAYED, WE ASK THAT YOU GRANT US DISCERNING HEARTS AND WISE MINDS TO KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG AND GOVERN WITH INTEGRITY. FOR HONESTY REVEALS PAIN. BRING HEALING, FOR ATTENTION HAS FORMED THROUGH DIFFICULT DECISIONS. FOR SOME FEEL LIFTED AND OTHERS BURDENED. TEND THE FRAGILE PLACES GOD MEND WHAT IS STRAINED AND RESTORE WHAT HAS BEEN BROKEN. MAKE US WHOLE AGAIN. GIVE US LISTENING EARS.
OH GOD, NOT JUST TO HEAR WORDS, BUT TO UNDERSTAND LIVED EXPERIENCES. GRANT US PATIENCE AND HARD CONVERSATIONS AND HUMILITY WHEN WE MUST PAUSE, RECONSIDER, AND GROW. TEACH US GOD HOW TO LISTEN. WE ASK YOUR WISDOM IN THIS SEASON WISDOM FOR DECISIONS THAT AFFECT HOMES, FAMILIES, AND FUTURES. REMIND US THAT LEADERSHIP IS NOT MERELY AUTHORITY, BUT ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT MOVEMENT. ALONG WITH PEOPLE. ORDER OUR STEPS, WE LIFT BEFORE YOU THE CONCERNS THAT WEIGH OUR COMMUNITY. TONIGHT, TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH PATHWAYS, TAX DECISIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, EMERGENCY SERVICE, LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS, AND INCOMING NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR FEAR SEEKS TO DIVIDE. WE ASK THAT YOU BRING CLARITY FOR FRUSTRATION HARDENS HEARTS. SO UNDERSTANDING LEAD US TOWARD UNITY ROOTED IN TRUTH, FAIRNESS, AND THE COMMON GOOD. SO AS WE STAND IN THE LONG SHADOW OF DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING TONIGHT, REMIND US THAT JUSTICE IS NEVER CONVENIENT, FREEDOM IS NEVER CHEAP, AND LOVE IS NEVER PASSIVE. LET US BE MEASURED BY HOW WELL WE LISTEN AND HOW FAITHFULLY WE SERVE. SO TODAY, LORD, WE ASK NOT ONLY FOR BETTER OUTCOMES, BUT FOR BETTER RELATIONSHIPS. RESTORE EMPATHY WHERE FRUSTRATION HAS TAKEN ROOT. STRENGTHEN COMMUNICATION WHERE MISUNDERSTANDING REMAINS.
HELP US TO SEE ONE ANOTHER NOT AS OPPONENTS, BUT AS NEIGHBORS BOUND BY SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND SHARED HOPE. YOU HAVE GIVEN US A SACRED GIFT OF CHOICE, AND OUR CHOICES LEAD TOWARD DIVISION. TEACH US TO BE QUICK TO CHOOSE WHAT HEALS, RESTORES, AND UNITES. LET OUR DECISIONS SERVE NOT EGOS OR FEAR, BUT THE WELL-BEING OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY ENTRUSTED TO YOUR CARE. GUIDE US, OH GOD, AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD ALL SAID TOGETHER. AMEN. 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. WELCOME AGAIN, EVERYONE, TO OUR
[ MAYORAL PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS OR OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, BUT I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SCOUTS THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY. I[ CONSENT AGENDA]
APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE TONIGHT. OUR FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.ALL ITEMS UNDER THE SECTION ARE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY A SINGLE MOTION OF COUNCIL
[00:05:03]
WITHOUT DISCUSSION. COUNCIL HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW EACH OF THESE ITEMS AT A PREVIOUS WORK SESSION, AND APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE EACH ITEM. I WILL ANNOUNCE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, TO REQUEST THAT ANY ITEM BE REMOVED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. OUR FIRST ITEM ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 6TH, 2026 REGULAR MEETING. ITEM NUMBER TWO IS APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING BIDS TWO A GARLAND SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER FITNESS EQUIPMENT. TWO B IS EROSION MITIGATION AT EDEN DRIVE. TWO C IS GPL FIREWHEEL TEMPORARY SUBSTATION INSTALLATION. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS. A PUBLIC HEARING WAS PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONING CASE. COUNCIL APPROVED THE ZONING REQUEST AND INSTRUCTED STAFF TO BRING FORTH THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE THREE A IT'S CASE NUMBER Z 2538 JERRY W COOK IN DISTRICT FIVE COUNCIL.I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO ASK YOU AT THE WORK SESSION IF THERE'S ANY ITEMS YOU WISH TO BE PULLED, BUT IF YOU WISH TO BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY, LET ME KNOW NOW. I SEE NONE. IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO HAVE AN ITEM PULLED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY? ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, MOTION TO ACCEPT AND APPROVE A MOTN BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO APPROVE AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BASS. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE PREPARE TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM? ITEM PSES UNANIMOUSLY. MOVING ON TO ITEMS FOR
[a. Public Hearing on the 2026 Capital Improvement Program (CIP)]
INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATIONS. ITEM NUMBER FOUR A IS. HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? YES, SIR. WE DO. ALL RIGHT. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM, DAVID SWABY? ALL RIGHT, MR. SWABY, YOU'RE UP. GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR. THANK YOU. WITHOUT SLOBBERING, I DO WANT TO APOLOGIZE. I'VE HAD MY FIFTH CANCER SURGERY ON MY TONGUE. SO IN LIEU OF THE INABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU GUYS THROUGHOUT, MY DAUGHTER ADRIAN HERE IS GOING TO SPEAK ON MY BEHALF. I'M DAVE SWABY. I LIVE AT 1115 HUGHES COURT IN WYLIE, TEXAS, AND HAVE BEEN A WONDERFUL CITY EMPLOYEE WITH THE CITY OF GARLAND FOR THE LAST 44. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT. FROM THE TIME I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, I KNEW I WANTED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER. LIFE EVENTUALLY BROUGHT MY WIFE AND ME TO GARLAND WITH VERY LITTLE MONEY, A BABY ON THE WAY, AND A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY. IN 1981, GARLAND GAVE ME MY OPPORTUNITY IN THIS CITY, GAVE MY FAMILY A FUTURE. AS MY CAREER PROGRESSED, I WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT. LATER ASKED TO HELP BUILD GARLAND'S FIRST EVER GANG UNIT. DURING THAT TIME, I LEARNED SOMETHING CRITICAL ENFORCEMENT ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH. ONE NIGHT, I STOPPED A STOLEN VEHICLE FILLED WITH JUVENILES. ONE OF THOSE KIDS, AS I SPOKE, BROKE DOWN CRYING. A WEEK LATER, I WAS INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING WHERE THAT SAME CHILD WAS THE SUSPECT. THAT MOMENT CHANGED ME. I REALIZED WE NEEDED TO REACH KIDS BEFORE THEY FELL, BEFORE THE GANGS, BEFORE THE VIOLENCE AND BAD DECISIONS TOOK HOLD. IN 1995, ANOTHER GARLAND OFFICER AND I, BOTH BOXERS, ASKED THE CHIEF IF WE COULD START A BOXING PROGRAM. WE WERE GIVEN $625 AND TOLD TO FIND A PLACE. WE STARTED WHEREVER WE COULD.WE BORROWED GYMS, CHURCHES, SPACES, ANYWHERE THAT WOULD OPEN A DOOR. WE KEPT GOING BECAUSE THE KIDS KEPT COMING. THE GARLAND POLICE BOXING GYM WAS NEVER JUST ABOUT BOXING. IT BECAME A SECOND HOME FOR THE KIDS WHO DIDN'T HAVE ONE. A PLACE WITH STRUCTURE, DISCIPLINE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, COACHES WHO SHOWED UP EVERY DAY AND REFUSED TO GIVE UP ON THEM. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, WE HAVE SERVED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
TODAY, WE ARE THE LARGEST AMATEUR BOXING GYM IN THE COUNTRY, BUT WHAT MATTERS MOST IS NOT OUR SIZE, IT'S OUR IMPACT. KIDS STAYING IN SCHOOL, AVOIDING GANGS, LEARNING RESPECT, CONFIDENCE AND SELF-CONTROL. KIDS WHO FINALLY HAD AN ADULT IN THEIR CORNER, THE COACHES INSIDE OF THIS GYM, MANY OF THEM VOLUNTEERS, HAVE CHANGED LIVES SIMPLY BY BEING CONSISTENT, PRESENT AND INVESTED. WE UNDERSTAND THAT FACILITIES, AGE, WALLS CHANGE, BUILDINGS NEED UPDATES AND WE ARE OPEN TO CHANGE. BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR YOU CAN CHANGE THE
[00:10:02]
WALLS, BUT PLEASE DON'T CHANGE WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE OF THEM. WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE OF THIS GYM IS PREVENTION, MENTORSHIP, PUBLIC SAFETY BEFORE IT EVER BECOMES A POLICE CALL. THE NEED FOR THIS PROGRAM HAS NOT GONE AWAY. IF ANYTHING, IT HAS GROWN. SUPPORTING THE GYM IS NOT AN EXPENSE. IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN GARLAND'S YOUTH, FAMILY AND FUTURE. GARLAND GAVE ME A START.THIS GYM HAS GIVEN TENS OF THOUSANDS A CHANCE. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE TODAY OR WHAT BROUGHT ALL OF US TOGETHER IN THIS MOMENT, BUT I BELIEVE IT MATTERS. I BELIEVE THERE'S A LARGER PLAN UNFOLDING, ONE THAT'S BIGGER THAN ANY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT. MY QUESTION TO THE COUNCIL IS SIMPLE WILL YOU BE A PART OF IT? WILL YOU STEP INTO SOMETHING BIGGER THAN US AND HELP US SHAPE WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR THOSE TO COME AFTER US? THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ONE SECOND. MAYOR PRO TEM OFFICER. COACH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TONIGHT. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE YOUTH IN OUR CITY. I HAVE PERSONAL FRIENDS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN YOUR PROGRAM, AND IT WAS LIFE CHANGING FOR THEM AND THEY WEREN'T EVEN BAD KIDS. AND AND REALLY, LIKE, I JUST THE THINGS THAT YOU DO FOR, FOR YOUR KIDS AND HOW MUCH YOU CARE FOR THEM. IT'S IT'S I JUST THERE AREN'T WORDS TO DESCRIBE HOW APPRECIATIVE I AM FOR THE WORK THAT YOU D FOR YOUR ENTIRE TEAM. I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GIVE TIME AT THE GYM AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANKOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCILMEMBER DUTTON, YOU DONE MADE ME CRY.
YOU CAN'T RUN AWAY NOW. OH, YOU MAY START SLOBBERING AGAIN. WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY DITTO.
I. SUPPORT YOU GUYS 100%. WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE IT HAPPEN TYPE OF THING. AND I LOVE SEEING YOU GUYS OUT IN THE AUDIENCE. WE'VE GOT SOME OF OUR BOXERS, A COACH, WE'VE GOT SHEENA, WE'VE. I MET CHAZ GETTING MY OIL CHANGED. HE STILL DID IT EVEN AFTER I SAID A COUPLE OF CHOICE WORDS WHEN I SAW THE PRICE. HE SAID. HE SAID I BOXED AND I WAS LIKE, WHERE? AND WE'RE BESTIES NOW, SO. BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. AND THE HEART AND SOUL THAT YOU POUR. THANK YOU. AND I THINK THIS WAS EXPRESSED EARLIER BY SHEENA, BUT THIS IS BECOMING A NATIONAL PROJECT WITH ALL THESE AREA CHIEFS COMING TO THIS CITY NOW TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE, BECAUSE THEY NOW WANT TO DO IT, AND IT'S BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO START GUNS AND HOSES IN GARLAND, AND EVERY POLICE OFFICER AND FIREFIGHTER HAS TO COME TO OUR CITY TO BE EVALUATED. AND THAT BEING SAID, THEY'VE ALL NOW GONE BACK. I HAVE CARROLLTON, CELINA, LEWISVILLE. YOU KNOW, ALLEN'S ALREADY STARTED AS WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR. AND I WANT GARLAND TO BE THE RECOGNIZED CITY. WE I'VE BEEN HERE 44 YEARS, GUYS. WE'VE WE'VE MISSED THE BASEBALL GAME A FEW TIMES. I WANT TO BE IN THE FINALS. AND I THINK YOU GUYS ARE THAT THAT GROUP. I THINK GOD PUT US IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER FOR A REASON. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. MADAM SECRETARY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES, SIR. MA'AM. MY APOLOGIES. IS YOUR NAME ADRIAN SWABY? OKAY, OKAY.
THANK YOU. RG SANTOS. SIR, IF YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. DENNIS SANTOS, 1605 BELTLINE ROAD, APARTMENT 110 GARLAND, TEXAS 75044. ALL RIGHT, I GET A LITTLE BIT EMOTIONAL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY POPS BEEN KNOWING HIM FOR A A VERY LO TIME. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. COUNCIL. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE GARLAND STREET GYM, A PLACE MANY CONSIDERED THEIR SECOND HOME. AS YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW, GARLAND GYM RANKS AMONG THE TOP FIVE GYMS IN THE NATION AND HOLDS THE 15TH POSITION FOR BOXING MATCH WINS AND LOSSES.
THIS REFLECTS OUR ACTIVITY, PRESENTATION AND NUMEROUS BOXING TOURNAMENTS, WHICH WAS EARNED A SPOT ON THE PRESTIGE LIST. THAT'S NOT HARD CONSIDERING WE HAVE OVER 150 KIDS DAILY AT THE GYM AS THE NUMBER OF KIDS IN IN IN INTERESTED IN JOINING THE GYM
[00:15:05]
CONTINUES TO GROW, IT'S CLEAR THAT THE FACILITY NEEDS EXPANSION TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE. A SIGNIFICANT RENOVATION WOULD HELP US BETTER ORGANIZE AND SUPPORT THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF YOUNG ATHLETES, BUT THERE ARE MANY SPORTS THAT BENEFIT KIDS. TODAY, I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE EXPERIENCE WE HAD WITH BOXING. I'M PROUD. I'M PROUD TO BE THE THIRD GENERATION OF BOXING COACHES WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE GYM, EARNING A CHAIR ON THE SOUTHWESTERN BOXING ASSOCIATION BOARD. IT'S CLEAR THAT AS LONG AS WE KEEP THIS TRADITION ALIVE, THIS GYM IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR. AFTER 28 YEARS AT THIS GYM, I FOUND MYSELF COACHING THE KIDS OF FORMER BOXERS FROM THIS PROGRAM, OFTEN WHEN THEIR WIFE, OFTEN WHEN MY WIFE AND I ARE OUT, WE BUMP INTO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS BOXING PROGRAM AND I INTRODUCED HER TO THEM AFTERWARDS. SHE USUALLY LOOKS AT ME AND SAYS, I BET HE OWNS THE BUSINESS TO. THAT'S THE KIND OF REPUTATION WE'VE BUILT HERE. OUR GOAL ISN'T JUST TO CREATE CHAMPIONS IN THE RING. WE ALSO WANT TO FOSTER GREAT INDIVIDUALS AND CULTIVATE SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. TO WRAP THIS UP, I WANT TO SHARE A QUICK STORY. LAST WEEK WE HAD ONE OF OUR OLD COACHES COME INTO THE GYM AND HE SAID. I WANT, I WANT TO BRING A KID HERE. SO HE WAS TELLING THIS TO MY WIFE, I WANT TO BRING A KID HERE. HIS NAME IS AARON. AND I SAID, I SAID, OKAY, AND SHE WAS TELLING ME THIS. AND I SAID, WELL, AARON, I REMEMBER AARON. AARON IS MIGUEL'S SON, BUT MIGUEL'S THE ONE WALKING INTO THE GYM ASKING FOR THIS. AND HE SAID, AARON WANTS TO COME BACK HOME. AND I SAID, OKAY. SO HE CAME IN THE NEXT DAY AND I SAID, HEY, MIGUEL, WHAT'S GOING ON? I THOUGHT AARON WAS YOUR SON. HE'S LIKE, HERE'S MY SON, BUT HE WANTS TO COME BACK HOME. HE WANTS TO COME BACK HERE. HE DON'T WANT TO GO TO OTHER GYMS. SO THERE YOU GO, GUYS. WE'RE DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY, SO PLEASE HELP US. THANK YOU. SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, ALEX ESPINOSA? NAME? ADDRESS? FOR THE RECORD, SIR, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALEX ESPINOSA. I LIVE I LIVE AT 2713 LARRY DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS. 75041I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT MY WHOLE LIFE. I GREW UP HERE, WENT TO SCHOOL ALL THE WAY FROM ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL, GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL HERE. I'VE BEEN BOXING AT THE BOXING GYM. MY PARENTS BROUGHT ME MY LITTLE BROTHER AND MY OR MY LITTLE BROTHER, MY BIG SISTER TO THE BOXING GYM WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD. AND I'VE BEEN HERE EVER SINCE. I'VE GONE TO WIN THE 2023 NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPIONSHIP, WHICH THEN QUALIFIED ME FOR THE OLYMPIC TRIALS, WHERE I UNFORTUNATELY LOST THE FINAL. SO I WAS ONE FIGHT AWAY FROM BECOMING AN OLYMPIAN. BUT THAT'S JUST PART OF WHAT I HERE TO TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I'VE BEEN BLESSED ENOUGH TO HAVE ACCOLADES IN THE SPORT, THAT'S NOT EVEN THE BEGINNING OF WHAT THIS GEM STANDS FOR. AND WHAT OFFICER SWABY AND ALL THE COACHES HERE STRIVE FOR. YOU SEE, THE GYM IS BIGGER THAN BOXING. EVER SINCE I WAS A KID, I HAVE NEVER ONCE HEARD THE GYM SAY WE ARE HERE, HERE TO BUILD CHAMPIONS, BUT RATHER ALWAYS SAY WE'RE HERE TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN KIDS LIVES AND THE REAL STORY OF WHAT THE GYM STANDS FOR. PEOPLE LIKE MY LITTLE BROTHER, WHO IS NOW A ALUMNI AT TEXAS TECH. HE IS THERE PURSUING A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT AND IS ON BOARD TO BECOME HOPEFULLY THE FIRST DOCTOR IN OUR FAMILY. PEOPLE LIKE MY FRIEND JASON, WHO CAME HERE BROKEN FROM A BROKEN HOUSE AND IS NOW A TRUCK DRIVER AND DONATES HIS TIME TO THE BOXING GYM. YOU SEE THE GYM. THE BOXING GYM IS WAY BIGGER THAN JUST BOXING, AND I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE ALL HOPE WE CAN. Y'ALL CAN HELP TOUCH COUNTLESS MORE LIVES OF KIDS WHO ARE IN NEED. SO MANY COACHES WHO DONATE THEIR TIME, WHO DONATE TRAVELS. I'VE BEEN BLESSED ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL THIS WHOLE COUNTRY JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE FOR US WITH THE GYM CONTINUES TO STRIVE, AND I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, ASK FOR HELP JUST TO, YOU KNOW, HELP US RESTRUCTURE AND HELP US TOUCH MORE KIDS[00:20:04]
LIVES SO THAT YOU KNOW, THE FUTURE POLICE OFFICERS AND FUTURE FIREFIGHTERS OF THIS CITY, YOU KNOW, COME OUT OF GARLAND POLICE NINTH STREET GYM. SO YES, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU ONE SECOND, SIR, ONE SECOND, COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS. GOOD EVENING SIR. GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE YOU DOING, SIR? THANK YOU FOR SPREADING THE SPIRIT OF THE SOUTH. RIGHT, RIGHT. NOT ONLY LOCALLY, BUT YOU. YOU, AS YOU STATED, YOU'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND YOU CAME WITHIN AT ONE FIGHT. WON TWO OLYMPICS. YES, SIR. AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND HAVE DONE FOR THIS CITY. WE'RE PROUD OF YOU. AND YOU GOT THE SUPPORT AND.OFFICER AND HIS DAUGHTER AND ALL OF THEM INVOLVED IN THE GYM THAT WE LOOKED AT GYM LAST WEEK, I THINK IT WAS. AND WE KNOW WHAT THE NEEDS ARE OVER THERE. AND REST ASSURED, YOU HAVE SUPPORT NOT NOT ONLY INTANGIBLE BUT TANGIBLE. AND YOU WILL SEE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KEEP SPREADING THE WORD. THANK YOU SIR, I TRULY CAN'T PUT TO WORDS HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR Y'ALL TO ALLOW ME TO BE HERE, Y'ALL. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MAYOR. DON'T GO ANYWHERE YET, COUNCILMEMBER DUTTON. THANK YOU FOR COMING. COULD YOU GIVE US MAYBE AN IDEA OF WHAT LIFE WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR A LOT OF THE KIDS THAT GO TO THE BOXING GYM, IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE BOXING GYM, RIGHT. YOU KNOW, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'VE. I'VE GOTTEN TO THE POSITION NOW AT THE GYM WHERE THEY SEE ME AS A BIG BROTHER. I'M NO LONGER THE LITTLE KID AT THE GYM. I'M ONE OF THE OLDER ONES, ONE OF THE ONES THAT ARE IN CHARGE OF LEADERSHIP. AND A LOT OF THESE KIDS COME UP TO ME AND TELL ME ABOUT THEIR HOME TROUBLES AND THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING ON AT THEIR HOUSE, AND HOW THE GYM IS THEIR THEIR SAFE SPOT. HOW IS THE SPOT WHERE THEY CAN COME AND GET AWAY FROM ALL THEIR PROBLEMS, AND WHERE THEY SEE THE COACHES THERE AND THE OLDER PEOPLE THERE AS ROLE MODELS AND AS EXAMPLES OF WHAT THEY WANT TO BE LIKE AND WHAT LIFE THEY DON'T WANT TO LIVE. AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A GOOD POSITION TO WHERE I CAN ENCOURAGE THE KIDS TO STAY AT THE GYM AND TO CONTINUE WITH SCHOOL AND SWING THEM THAT THERE'S BETTER OPPORTUNITIES THAN TO GO TO GANGS AND INTO DRUGS AND INTO OTHER STUFF THAT'S EASILY ACCESSIBLE IF YOU GO LOOKING FOR IT. BUT WE LIVE IN A CITY WHERE WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES HERE. THE BOXING GYM PROVIDES, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD KIDS WHO GO ON TO BECOME JAILERS. THAT MY SISTER, SHE'S AN EMT, JUST FINISHED PARAMEDIC SCHOOL AND IS NOW GOING TO BE A FIREFIGHTER. SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF KIDS THAT WE HELP AND THAT THE GYM HELPS AND THAT WE ENCOURAGE THEM NOT TO. LIKE I MENTIONED, WE DON'T WE'RE NOT HERE. I'VE NEVER HEARD IT. WE'RE HERE TO BUILD CHAMPIONS, BUT WE'RE HERE TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND YEAH. AND ARE YOU ALLOWED TO BOX IF YOU DON'T PASS YOUR SCHOOL? NO, YOU ARE NOT. IF WE HAVE A TUTOR, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A TUTOR AT THE BOXING GYM. IF NO ONE IS PASSING THEIR CLASSES, THEY WE FORCE THEM TO GO TO TUTORING AND MAKE SURE THEIR GRADES ARE PASSING. IF NOT, THEY MAY NOT COMPETE OR NOT EVEN TRAIN UNTIL THEY ARE PASSING THEIR CLASSES.
AND THAT'S BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID. I GREW UP ALWAYS KNOWING IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, NO, I NEED A PASS BECAUSE I NEED A BOX. I NEED A PASS BECAUSE I NEED A BOX. AND, YOU KNOW, SUBCONSCIOUSLY THAT KEEPS YOU IN LINE AND KEEPS YOU IN CHECK. AND IT KEEPS YOU DISCIPLINED BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO BOX. SO YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. AND THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED TO BE A GOOD, SUCCESSFUL PERSON. AND WHAT'S UP WITH 2028? I WILL BE AN OLYMPIAN IN 2028. YEAH YOU WILL. THANK YOU ALEX. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WELL BEST OF LUCK FOR YOU AND WE'LL BE WATCHING. THANK YOU SIR THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYONE I'M SECRETARY. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? YES, SIR. THIS IS OUR FINAL ONE. CHAZZ WALKER. ALL RIGHT, SIR, NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. HELLO, COUNCIL MAYOR, MY NAME IS CHARLES WALKER. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
901 MELISSA LANE, GARLAND, TEXAS 75040 I'VE ONLY BEEN BOXING ONLY FOR THREE YEARS, BUT I'VE ONLY BEEN AT THE GYM FOR ABOUT FOUR. I'VE ONLY MET ONE GUY AT MY JOB. I WORK FULL TIME AT TAKE FIVE OH COUNCIL, BUT I'M JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE STORY OF ME. MY BROTHER
[00:25:02]
WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL HERE AT GARLAND CENTRAL GARLAND. THE ONLY GARLAND HE WENT TO THE NFL, MADE A NAME OF GARLAND. BUT FOR ME, I PLAYED BASEBALL. I WASN'T AS BIG AS MY BROTHER, BUT IT KEPT ME IN LINE. BUT AFTER THAT, I HAD MY DAUGHTER AND I RETIRED, AND I DIDN'T. I DIDN'T HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO BUT TO BOX. BOXING SAVED ME AND KEPT ME OUT OF JAIL. I'M 28, SO WHEN I TELL YOU THAT IF I DIDN'T NEVER MEE COACH RG AND COACH PAT, I WOULD BE IN JAIL PERSONALLY DUE TO THEM. I AM GETTING READY TO FIGHT AND I FIGHT NOT ONLY FOR MY FAMILY BUT ALSO FOR THE CITY.THIS THIS BOXING GYM MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME. I'VE BEEN HOMELESS COUNTLESS, COUNTLESS OF TIMES, BUT MY HOME IS THIS GYM THROUGHOUT ME WORKING 40 50 HOURS EVERY WEEK I GO TO THIS GYM EXCITED, BEAT DOWN, TIRED BECAUSE THAT'S MY HOME. EVERY DAY I COME TO THIS GYM, I ENJOY SEEING KIDS BEING DISCIPLINED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE. WE DON'T. SO SEEING A LOT OF KIDS, HUNDREDS OF KIDS EVERY DAY COME TO THIS GYM. UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT DISCIPLINE, HARDSHIP AND STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE IS VALUABLE. AND I WOULD LOVE TO BRING MY DAUGHTER TO THIS GYM. SHE'S ABOUT TO BE THREE AND SHE'S STRONG AS AN OX. SHE CAN LIFT A 15 POUND WEIGHT LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW, SO WHATEVER THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, PLEASE, LET'S GET IT DONE. I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE. ME AND ALEX AND I AND ALL THE OTHER ADULT BOXERS WOULD LOVE TO PUT GARLAND ON THE MAP. NOT JUST HERE IN AMERICA, BUT ALL AROUND THE WORLD. IT'S A G FOR A REASON. LET'S BE BIG G, NOT LITTLE G. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC? AND WITH THAT, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN WE'LL
[b. Consider a request by The Owl LP, requesting a variance regarding a distance less than the 300 feet minimum separation to Lifewell Church and Iglesia Comunidad Cristiana de Fe from an establishment that sells alcoholic beverages. The site is located at 519 West State Street. (District 2) (File B&W 25-03)]
MOVE ON NOW TO ITEM FOUR B ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION IS CONSIDER A REQUEST BY THE OWL LP REQUESTING A VARIANCE REGARDING A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE 300 FOOT MINIMUM SEPARATION TO LIFE. WELL CHURCH AND IGLESIA COMUNIDAD CRISTIANA FOR AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT SELLS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. THE SITE IS LOCATED AT 519 WEST STATE STREET IN DISTRICT TWO. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AL RAYMOND, MANAGING DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. THE CASE BEFORE YOU IS A REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE REGARDING A DISTANCE LESS THAN 300FT. MINIMUM SEPARATION TO LIFE. WELL CHURCH AND IGLESIA COMUNIDAD CHRISTINA DE FE FROM AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 519 WEST STATE STREET. IT'S IN DISTRICT TWO. THE APPLICANT IS AL LP AND IT'S IT'S IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT. STAFF REACHED OUT TO IGLESIA COMUNIDAD CHRISTINA DE FE AND LIFE WELL CHURCH AND NEITHER EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST OF THE VARIANCE.HOWEVER, TAVERN ON THE SQUARE AND GENERATOR, COFFEEHOUSE AND BAKERY WERE GRANTED DISTANCE VARIANCES FROM THE SAME CHURCHES BY CITY COUNCIL IN 2018 AND 2017, RESPECTIVELY.
THIS IS JUST PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, POLICE RECORDS SHOW OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, EIGHT ALCOHOLIC RELATED INCIDENT REPORTS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA OF 519 WEST STATE STREET, AND THAT IS THERE FOR YOUR YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE DISTANCE EXHIBIT. AND AS YOU CAN SEE 519 IS THE PROPOSED RESTAURANT ESTABLISHMENT AND 296FT TO THE EAST, IF YOU WILL, IS IS A CHURCH AND 222FT KIND OF SOUTH OF THAT ACROSS THE STREET IS IS THE LIFE CHURCH. THE UDC REALLY
[00:30:12]
REFLECTS THE STATE'S REQUIREMENTS FOR DISTANCES. SO AND I'LL KIND OF READ THIS JUST TO POINT OUT, JUST TO ESTABLISH A COUPLE OF POINTS. AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT SELLS OR SERVES ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY NOT BE LOCATED NEAR THAN. AND WE HAVE IT CIRCLED 300FT OF A CHURCH, PUBLIC SCHOOL OR PUBLIC HOSPITAL. AND IN SECTION B OF THIS 2.55 IN IN MEASUREMENTS OF THE DISTANCE, THE MEASUREMENT OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ESTABLISHMENT WHEN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE SOLD IN THE CHURCH OR PUBLIC HOSPITAL SHALL BE ALONG A PUBLIC STREET, I'M SORRY, ALONG PROPERTY LINES OF THE OF THE STREET FRONTS AND FROM DOOR TO DOOR AND IN THE DIRECT LINE ACCESS ACROSS INTERSECTIONS. AND THAT IS KIND OF WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE. AND PRIOR EXHIBIT. THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE SITE. IT'S COMING OUT OF THE GROUND, AS YOU CAN SEE. RESPONSE LETTERS. WE SENT OUT 103 NOTICES WITHIN THE 400 FOOT RADIUS AROUND THE PROPERTY. TWO WERE RETURNED IN FAVOR, ONE IN OPPOSITION, AND THE OPPOSITION BASICALLY STATED THAT WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER VENUE ON THE SQUARE SELLING ALCOHOL. AND ALL OF THIS WAS IN YOUR PACKET, OF COURSE. AND THAT'S THE PRESENTATION. AND I STAND BY FOR QUESTIONS. WE DID REACH OUT TO THE APPLICANT. I'M NOT SURE IF HE'S HERE OR ANY REPRESENTATIVE IS HERE AND THAT THE APPLICANT. SO VERY GOOD. I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, COUNCILMEMBER DUTTON, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, YOU MENTIONED THE GENERATOR, WHICH IS BEN ROSALIND'S FOR MANY YEARS. BUT.THEY HAD AN ALCOHOL WAIVER SINCE A COFFEE SHOP. SO YES, A LITTLE CONFUSED. AND I, I'M NOT SURE QUITE WHAT IS SERVED THERE, BUT YES, THEY THEY WERE GRANTED A WAIVER. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS. YES, SIR. I, I RECALL READING SOMEWHERE IN YOUR PACKET THAT ONE OF THE MINISTERS HAD ONE OF THE CHURCHES ABORTION OBJECTION.
CAN YOU THAT'S IN THE NEXT CASE. NEXT CASE. OKAY. I'LL WAIT. SORRY. THANK YOU SIR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON THIS ITEM? MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU CALL THE APPLICANT UP? YES, SIR.
MISS LUTHER. I NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES FOR PRESENTATION.
FABULOUS. HELLO, COUNCIL MAYOR. WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU. MY NAME IS RAY PHILLIPS. LUTHER.
ADDRESS IS 331 OAKWOOD TRAIL. AND THAT'S IN FAIRVIEW, TEXAS. 75069I HAVE A PRESENTATION.
IT'S JUST NOT PRESENTLY GOING TO PLAY ON YOUR COMPUTERS. A LITTLE BIT OF A TECHNOLOGY GLITCH THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING, BUT REALLY HERE, MORE FOR YOUR QUESTIONS THAN ANYTHING. I THINK THERE'S THREE KEY POINTS I'D LIKE TO MAKE. AND THEY'RE EXTREMELY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU'VE HEARD US TALK ABOUT ABOUT THE OWL. THE FIRST POINT IS REALLY AROUND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. I TOOK THE TIME TO LOOK AT OUR CURRENT ESTABLISHMENT, WHICH MANY OF YOU HAVE VISITED. THANK YOU. THE STICKS ICE HOUSE, AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY HOSTED 211 EVENTS FOR CHURCHES OVER THE FOUR YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS PROXIMITY TO CHURCH, I ACTUALLY SEE IT AS A WIN. WE ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I IMAGINE THAT YOUTH GROUPS, THAT CHURCH GATHERINGS WILL LIKELY HAPPEN.
AND IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT'S IDEAL THAT IT'S IN WALKING DISTANCE. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY, I GOT VERY OVERWHELMED HEARING ABOUT THE BOXING GYM. WE ALSO GIVE BACK.
THAT WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE LIKELY. ONE OF THE FIRST INITIATIVES IS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS BOXING GYM AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING, BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE A VERY FAVORABLE IMPACT ON YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. MANY MOMS AND DADS TELL ME THAT THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE A FIRST JOB THAN AT OUR CURRENT LOCATION, THE STICKS. AND I ANTICIPATE THAT BEING THE VERY SAME THING WITH THE OWL, OUR EXISTING MANAGER. WE'VE ALREADY HIRED SOMEONE HERE, AND SHE'S ACTUALLY ALREADY BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY. STEPHANIE TALKING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL, TALKING TO THE SOCCER TEAM, TALKING TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SPORTS TEAMS, DIFFERENT NONPROFITS. I THINK THE LOCAL FOOD BANK ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE INVOLVED. SO THIS ISN'T JUST A RESTAURANT. AND YOU'LL SEE WE DON'T CALL OURSELVES A BAR. WE CALL
[00:35:03]
OURSELVES AN ICE HOUSE FOR A REASON. IT'S A COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE. AND WE DO HAPPEN TO SELL ALCOHOL. SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OPERATORS WHO HAVE REAL SAFEGUARDS. WE'RE NOT JUST GIVING PEOPLE ONE DAY OF TRAINING. WE ACTUALLY HAVE TECHNOLOGY ENABLED TRAINING, WHICH MANY RESTAURANTS DON'T.SO THEY ACTUALLY GET NEW RESPONSIBLE SERVICE OF ALCOHOL GUIDELINES, AND THEY GET TRAINED ON THAT ONE TIME PER MONTH THAT ACTUALLY PUSHES TO AN APP ON THEIR PHONE. WE ARE ACTIVELY TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOT TO SELL ALCOHOL, BUT TO SELL ALCOHOL RESPONSIBLY.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER RESTAURATEURS THAT GO TO THE LENGTHS THAT WE DO TO DO ROLE PLAYING SITUATIONS FOR OUR MANAGERS. SO IF SOMEBODY WAS TO COME IN AND TOXICATED, THIS ISN'T JUST HOPING AND PRAYING THAT THINGS WORK OUT. THIS IS ABOUT REAL TIME TRAINING TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH SITUATIONS THAT OCCUR ON THE PREMISES OF A LOCATION AT SERVES BEVERAGES. AND THEN THE THIRD THING THAT I WOULD TELL YOU. SO IN ADDITION TO OBVIOUSLY BEING COMMUNITY FIRST AND HAVING THE OPERATIONAL STANDARDS IS I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF ESTABLISHMENTS DOING THIS WELL IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THESE TWO LOCATIONS. SO WHILE MAYBE NOT 222FT, CERTAINLY WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE IMPACT, THE POSITIVE IMPACT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ON THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AND GARLAND AT LARGE FAR OUTWEIGHS ANY CONCERNS THAT MAY, MAY ARISE BY PROXIMITY TO THESE TWO LOCATIONS. I REACHED OUT AS WELL. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN IN DIRECT CONTACT, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN FRONT OF OPENING THE OWL ICE HOUSE, THESE HOPEFULLY WILL BE PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW ON A FIRST NAME BASIS, AND WE WILL BE SERVICING THEM IN OUR TOP STORY GATHERING AREA AND OUR BOTTOM STORY GATHERING AREA, AND I BELIEVE WILL BECOME FRIENDS AND LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PARTNER TO THEM IN CONTINUING THEIR EFFORTS TO TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY IN A FAVORABLE WAY AS WELL. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU, UNLESS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ME. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER? COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS? YES, YOU MENTIONED YOU YOU LOCATED BETWEEN THESE TWO BUSINESSES.
OKAY. ANY INTERACTION WITH THE LEADERS OF THESE TWO BUSINESSES? YEAH. SO I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS MAYBE A WEEK AGO, AND I ACTUALLY I HAVE A SON THAT HAD A RATHER UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT.
SO I DID REACH OUT, BUT IT WAS ONLY YESTERDAY MORNING. SO. SO YES, IN THE SENSE THAT I REACHED OUT BUT HAVE NOT ACTUALLY SAT DOWN FACE TO FACACE MEET WITH THEM YET. OKAY.
WITH NEITHER ONE OF THEM? NOT YET. NO, SIR. BUT HOPE TO FOR WITH BOTH. OKAY. HAVE YOU TALKED TO THEM? NO. I REACHED OUT VIA EMAIL TO LIKE THE GENERAL. LIKE WHAT I FOUND ON ON ONLINE. I DON'T HAVE A NAME OR ANYONE YET TO TO TALK TO. OKAY. AND TELL ME BRIEFLY ABOUT YOUR PROTOCOL FOR TRAINING. YEAH. SO, SO TYPICALLY THE NUMBER ONE PERSON WHO'S GOING TO ENCOUNTER SOMEONE WHO'S INTOXICATED IN A RESTAURANT AND BAR IS THE SERVER. SO THE FIRST THING THAT WE DO IS TALK ABOUT HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND ACKNOWLEDGE IF SOMEBODY HAS BEEN OVERSERVED OR IS ON THE VERGE OF BEING OVERSERVED. SO WE HAVE A TWO DRINK RULE, MEANING THERE SHOULD NOT BE MORE MORE THAN TWO DRINKS SERVED TO YOU WITHIN 90 MINUTES.
SPECIFICALLY IF YOU HAVE NOT PURCHASED FOOD. SO A LOT OF THAT'S HARD TO SOMETIMES MEASURE BECAUSE WE DO FAMILY STYL DINING. SO IF YOU'VE GOT FOR, YOU KNOW, FOUR TRAYS OF CHEESE FRIES IN FRONT OF YOU, HARD TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYOR HEDRICK IS THE ONE THAT'S EATING THEM. SO WE KIND OF HAVE TO USE, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME GOOD COMMON SENSE TO UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT THE TEAM UNDERSTANDS THAT THAT'S REALLY PROTOCOL. SO IT'S ABOUT NUMBER OF BEVERAGES FIRST. THEY'RE THEN INSTRUCTED THAT IF AT A POINT SOMEBODY IS PUSHING THEM TO ASK FOR AN ADDITIONAL BEVERAGE THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE PROTOCOL, THEY GET A MANAGER. AND A MANAGER AT THAT POINT CAN ASSESS CANDIDLY, SOMEBODY WHO'S, YOU KNOW, SIX FOOT TALL AND 250 POUNDS DOES HAVE A MUCH DIFFERENT TOLERANCE THAN SOMEBODY WHO'S 110 POUNDS AND FIVE FOOT TWO. AND SO WE TAKE ALL THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
THE MANAGERS GO THROUGH A MONTHLY TRAINING. SO THE MANAGER MEETINGS, WE TALK ABOUT RESPONSIBLE SERVICE OF ALCOHOL. WE HAVE OUR INSURANCE PARTNER COME IN AND SHARE STORIES THAT ARE UNFORTUNATELY VERY SCARY TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE AND THE WEIGHT AND THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT IS REQUIRED TO SERVICE ALCOHOL. AND THEN FROM A SERVER'S PERSPECTIVE, I MENTIONED WE HAVE AN APP CALLED SHIFTY. SHIFTY IS IT'S KIND OF A GAMIFIED APP FOR LEARNING FOR SERVERS, WHICH IS KIND OF PRETTY NEW IN OUR SPACE. SO EVERY MONTH WE CAN PUSH NEW LEARNING TO THEM. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO MONTHLY IS REALLY ENSURE THAT WE'RE REFRESHING AND ENSURING THAT THEY REMEMBER KIND OF WHAT OUR STANDARDS ARE FOR RESPONSIBLE SERVICE OF ALCOHOL. SO IT KIND OF STARTS WITH SEVEN DAYS OF TRAINING WHERE IT'S WOVEN IN. AND THEN WE CONTINUE WITH MONTHLY INFORMATION FOR BOTH THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND THE SERVERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. AND I
[00:40:01]
ASSURE YOU, IF THERE'S A PLATE OF CHEESE FRIES IN FRONT OF ME, I'M PROBABLY THE ONE EATING IT ALL. FOUR. OKAY, DEAL. MAYOR PRO TEM LUCK. HI. HI. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT AND TALKING ABOUT THE OWL. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT ESTABLISHMENT AND AND ACTUALLY EXPANDING UPON THE PROTOCOL THAT YOU GO THROUGH WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES IS QUITE ENLIGHTENING. I'VE WORKED IN RESTAURANTS BEFORE, AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU NO ONE HAS EVER GONE TO THOSE LENGTHS TO EVEN REALLY TALK ABOUT ALCOHOL SERVICE. SO IN THE ESTABLISHMENTS I WORK IN, THIS IS OF COURSE LIKE 20 YEARS AGO, BUT STILL I THANK YOU. I, I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO COME TO YOUR OPENING NIGHT. OH I APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH. ALL OF YOU WILL HOPEFULLY BE AT FRIENDS AND FAMILY WITH US. AND I CAN ASSURE YOU, DON, MIKE AND I, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PARENTS, WE'RE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND NOTHING WOULD EVER BREAK OUR SPIRITS MORE THAN BEING IRRESPONSIBLE IN THE SERVICE OF ALCOHOL. WE'RE CLEARLY AWARE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN IT IS CONSUMED, YOU KNOW, IN QUANTITY. AND SO IT IS IT IS A PRIORITY TO US. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE THINK OF AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. CANDIDLY, WHEN YOU HOLD A TABC LICENSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNCILMEMBER BEARD IRA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. OF COURSE. IN FACT, I GOT AN EMAIL TODAY. WHAT'S GOING ON WITH DALE'S HOUSE? WHY ISN'T IT GOING UP? WELL, THEY'RE DOING ALL THE UNDERGROUND STUFF FIRST. THAT'S RIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS VERBAL, I HAVE MADE SEVERAL LITTLE INCOGNITO TRIPS OUT TO THE STICKS JUST TO SEE HOW THINGS RUN OUT THERE. SO I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THAT. WE LOVE TO HAVE YOU DOWNTOWN. WE KNEW THAT THAT BUILDING WAS GOING TO BE A RESTAURANT. WE KNEW THAT BUILDING WAS GOING TO SERVE ALCOHOL. WE'RE JUST SO GLAD IT'S YOU THAT'S IN THAT BUILDING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNCILMEMBER BASS THANK YOU. RAY, JUST TO ECHO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID HERE TONIGHT, I, I GREW UP WORKING IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS OF DECADES OF EXPERIENCE AT EVERY LEVEL.AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT EVERY TIME YOU COME HERE, YOUR YOUR DILIGENCE AND YOUR PROFESSIONALISM IS TO BE COMMENDED. AND SO I THINK THAT YOU GUYS WILL BE A VERY VALUABLE, VALUABLE MEMBER OF OUR DOWNTOWN SQUARE. THANK YOU. CANNOT WAIT TO OPEN. WE ARE READY. SO I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO MEET STEPHANIE AS WELL. SHE'S GOING TO BE, I THINK, JUST A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE COMMUNITY. SHE'S A GARLAND RESIDENT. SHE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING STARTED AND LIKE I SAID, SHE'S ALREADY BEGUN BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WHICH WE'RE THRILLED FOR. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE NO OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? NO, SIR, WE DO NOT. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER BEARD, THIS IS IN YOUR DISTRICT. MA'AM, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE VARIANCE AS PRESENTED. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BEARD TO APPROVE AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? COUNCIL. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE? THAT ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[c. Consider a request by Glen Bros LLC., requesting a variance regarding a distance less than the 300 feet minimum separation to the Church of the Latter Rain from an establishment that sells alcoholic beverages. The site is located at 1456 Belt Line Road, Suite 127. (District 8) (File B&W 25-02)]
ON. NOW TO OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM FOUR. C CONSIDER A REQUEST BY GLENN BROTHERS, LLC REQUESTING A VARIANCE REGARDING A DISTANCE LESS THAN A 300 FOOT MINIMUM SEPARATION TO THE CHURCH OF THE LATTER RAIN FROM AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT SELLS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. THE SITE IS LOCATED AT 1456 BELTLINE ROAD, SUITE 127, IN DISTRICT EIGHT. THANKS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL RAYMOND, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. THE CASE BEFORE YOU IS A VARIANCE REGARDING A DISTANCE LESS THAN 300FT. MINIMUM SEPARATION TO THE CHURCH OF LATTER DAY RAIN. FOR AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 1456 BELTLINE ROAD, SUITE 127. THE APPLICANT IS GLENN BROS. LLC, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S LOCATED IN DISTRICT EIGHT. STAFF REACHED OUT TO THE CHURCH OF LATTER DAY RAIN, AND THE PASTOR EXPRESSED THAT THEY WERE NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUESTED VARIANCE. HOWEVER, WAYNE CITY, LOCATED IN THE SAME SAME SHOPPING CENTER, SUITE ONE 120, WAS GRANTED A VARIANCE FROM THE SAME CHURCH BY CITY COUNCIL IN 2015. THE APPLICANT ALSO PROVIDED TEN SIGNATURES FROM VARIOUS TENANTS WITHIN THAT SAME PROPERTY, INDICATING NO OBJECTION TO THIS VARIANCE REQUEST. AGAIN, THIS IS PROVIDED FOR YOUR INFORMATION. POLICE RECORDS SHOWINING SEVERAL ALCOHOL RELATD INCIDENT REPORTS IN THE[00:45:05]
SURROUNDING AREA OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THIS IS A DISTANCE EXHIBIT PRESENTED BY THE APPLICANT AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE THE NORTHERN RECTANGLE IS DAVID CIGARS. AND THE SOUTHERN SQUARE, IF YOU WILL, IS THE CHURCH OF THE LATTER RAIN. AND I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THAT THE SEPARATION DISTANCE FROM PRIMARY INTERESTS OF DAVE DAVID CIGARS TO THE PRIMARY INTEREST OF THE CHURCH. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS 70FT. AND LIKE BEFORE, AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT SALES, SALES OR SERVES ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY NOT BE LOCATED NEAR THAN THE 300FT OF A CHURCH, PUBLIC SCHOOL OR PUBLIC HOSPITAL. NOW WE GO TO B OF THAT SECTION AND IT READS FOR ESTABLISHMENTS LOCATED ON THE SAME PROPERTY AS THIS IS, OR WITHIN THE SAME RETAIL OR COMMERCIAL COMPLEX AS A CHURCH, PUBLIC SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, A PUBLIC HOSPITAL. FROM THE MIDPOINT OF THE ESTABLISHMENTS PRIMARY ENTRANCE TO THE MIDPOINT OF THE CHURCH OR PUBLIC SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL OR PUBLIC HOSPITALS. PRIMARY ENTRANCE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOWED YOU IN THIS EXHIBIT. HERE'S A PHOTO OF THE SITE. DAVE DAVID CIGAR. TO THE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE IS A IS IS AN I A FACILITY AND THE CHURCH IS OBVIOUSLY TO THE LEFT. THE CITY SENT OUT A 99 NOTICES WITHIN THE 400 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PROPERTY TO THE SURROUNDING AREA. ONE WAS RETURNED IN FAVOR AND TWO IN OPPOSITION. AND I WANTED TO, AS YOU ASKED, COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS, I WANTED TO READ ONE OF THE OPPOSITIONS WAS JUST I'M AGAINST IT. BUT THIS INDIVIDUAL, WHICH IS THE PASTOR FROM THE CHURCH, WROTE, WROTE SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO READ, AND THAT'S KIND OF SMALL. SO I READ FROM THIS. SAYS I'M THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF LATTER RAIN, AND WE STRONGLY OPPOSE HAVING THIS VARIANCE ONLY TWO DOORS AWAY FROM OUR CHURCH. WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS SHOPPING CENTER SINCE 1991, AND WE HAVE NEVER OPPOSED BUSINESSES. EVEN WHEN WE DISAGREED WITH THEM. WE DID NOT OPPOSE DAVID'S CIGARS, EVEN WHEN IT EVEN WHEN IT HUNG A MARIJUANA SIGN IN THE WINDOW AND IN PARENTHESES. THAT'S NOT THERE ANYMORE. THERE IS ONLY ONE BUSINESS BETWEEN US AND DAVE CIGARS. AND THAT DISTANCE IS ABOUT 30FT. AND WE'VE SHOWN IT'S IT'S REALLY 70 DOOR TO DOOR. I'VE PRESENTED THIS TO MY ADVISORY COUNCIL AND WE UNANIMOUSLY, UNANIMOUSLY AGREE THAT THIS IS TOO CLOSE TO OUR CHURCH. THEY'RE ALREADY BUSINESSES THAT SELL BEER AND WINE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCES OF DAVE CIGARS. AND AGAIN, WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS VARIANCE REQUEST. AND THAT'S THE PRESENTATION. AND I STAND BY FOR QUESTIONS. AND WE REACHED OUT TO THE APPLICANT. I'M NOT SURE IF THE APPLICANT IS HERE. GREAT. THANK GOD. COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON MY QUESTION PROBABLY IS MORE FOR THE APPLICANT. BUT SO FOR CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE THE REQUEST IS UNDER GLEN ROSS, DAVID CIGAR IS THE BUSINESS. YES. OKAY. AND IT'S OKAY. I WILL SAVE MY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT. OKAY. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER MORE.THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. TOTALLY DIFFERENT SITUATION, IT SEEMS. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS. STAFF DIDN'T MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THIS BECAUSE OF. IT'S REALLY UP TO COUNCIL, RIGHT? I WANTED TO SHOW. WELL AND LET ME, LET ME LET ME JUST MAKE THE POINT ON THIS SKETCH HERE. WING CITY IS ABOUT ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE SPACES FROM THE CHURCH THAT WAS GRANTED THE VARIANCE THAT WE READ IN THE PRESENTATION. SO IT'S IT'S REALLY WE LAY IT OUT FOR THIS BODY AND THIS BODY GETS TO MAKE THAT DECISION. STAFF DOESN'T MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. WHAT WAS THE POINT THOUGH THAT YOU WERE MAKING THERE WITH I WAS JUST MAKING THE POINT THAT IT
[00:50:03]
WOULDN'T BE BEYOND THE PALE BECAUSE THE VARIANCE WAS APPROVED IN 2015. OKAY, RIGHT.2015 VERSES 20 2611 YEARS AGO ROUGHLY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. FOR CLARIFICATION. IS THIS THIS IS PACKAGED ALCOHOL SALES OR IS THIS TO BE SERVED AT THE LOCATION? THAT I CANNOT ANSWER, BUT I'M SURE THE APPLICANT WOULD. OKAY. I'LL RESERVE THAT FOR HIM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. YES. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE PASTOR'S REASON FOR HIS POSITION THAT HE'S TAKEN ON THIS PARTICULAR REQUEST? DID YOU? I CAN ONLY SUMMARIZE WHAT WHAT I READ IS THAT HE FEELS IT'S TOO CLOSE. WELL, TWO THINGS. ONE, ONE, HE FEELS IT'S TOO CLOSE. AND TWO, AS HE STATED, THERE ARE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT SELL BEER AND WINE IN WALKING DISTANCE, SO IT'S NOT PARAMOUNT. ACCORDING TO HIS WRITING FOR DAVID CIGARS. SO HE WAS JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE VOLUME OF ALCOHOL SALES AROUND IT, AROUND THAT CHURCH. I WOULD PERCEIVE THAT. AND THEN THE THE CLOSE PROXIMITY. OKAY, OKAY, MAYBE I'LL SAY THAT FOR THE APPLICANT. YES, SIR. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCILMEMBER BASS, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION ON THIS STRIP HERE.
I'M GLAD YOU KEPT THIS PHOTO UP. THE LOOKING AT THE THE VERY TOP ON THERE THAT THAT'S A RESTAURANT ON THE TOP UP THERE. THAT'S I THINK IT'S A MEXICAN RESTAURA. YES. AND THEY SERVE ALCOHOL OKAY. AND THEN. OKAY, SO ASIDE FROM THE RESTAURANT THAT'S AT THE TOP OF THIS PICTURE AND WING CITY, I KNOW BABES DOESN'T HAVE ALCOHOL. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANY OTHER BUSINESSES SERVING ALCOHOL IN THAT STRIP? I WOULD LIKE TO SAY NO, BUT I DIDN'T RESEARCH THAT SO I COULD LOOK INTO THAT AND RESPOND BACK. NO, THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. SO WE ALREADY HAVE AT LEAST TWO TWO THAT ARE SERVING ON PREMISE CONSUMPTION. OKAY. YES. AND THEN I'LL I'LL SAVE THE REST OF MY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT AND THE AND TO PUT A PERIOD THE MEXICAN RESTAURANT ON THE END IS FOR FURTHER THAN 300FT. SO THEY DIDN'T GET A VARIANCE RIGHT.
YES. CORRECT. OKAY. YES. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON THIS ITEM. MAYOR PRO TEM? LOOK MISTER RAYMOND, THERE WAS A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT WENT INTO THIS CASE. IT LOOKS LIKE WE SAW FIVE YEARS OF POLICE REPORTING, AND.
BUT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY RESTAURANTS AROUND THE PROPERTY SERVE ALCOHOL. THAT'S A LITTLE I DON'T I DIDN'T DO THAT RESEARCH. I TRY TO THINK OF EVERYTHING AND I DIDN'T THINK OF THAT. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DID. THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON THIS ITEM? MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE APPLICANT UP? I DO NOT HAVE A SPEAKER CARD FROM THE APPLICANT, BUT WE WILL BE HAPPY TO GRAB ONE FROM HIM AFTER HE SPEAKS. ALL RIGHT, COME ON DOWN. GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES TO MAKE A PRESENTATION, BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU FILL AN APPLICANT CARD AFTER YOU SPEAK. HI. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS MC AND I'M A LOCAL. I'D LIKE TO CALL MYSELF A LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR IN GARLAND. I STARTED MY FIRST BUSINESS HERE IN GARLAND ROAD IN BUCKINGHAM ON BUCKINGHAM ROAD CALLED BUCKINGHAM BEER AND WINE. AND THAT'S HOW I STARTED MY EXPERIENCE MORE INTO THIS, THIS BUSINESS, HOW TO PROPERLY LIKE, WORK WITH THE CUSTOMER ON BEER AND WINE SALES AND AND. YEAH, SO I'D LIKE TO CALL GARLAND MY HOME. YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO REMEMBER. ROBERT JOHN HOGAN. HE PASSED AWAY ON MAY 2023. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL REMEMBER THAT HE ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST CITY EMPLOYEE. YOU KNOW, FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. THAT'S HOW I WOULD LIKE TO REMEMBER HIM IN THIS MOMENT. SO YEAH. AND THEN I HAVE TWO KIDS. THEY GO TO WALNUT GLEN AND AUSTIN ACADEMY HERE. SO I'D LIKE TO CALL GARLAND MY HOME. AND AND I LIKE TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, CONTRIBUTE MORE. TO THE CITY. SO COMING TO THE I STARTED THIS BUSINESS IN 2020 AND AND WHY AFTER SIX YEARS I'M HERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO APPLY BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW IS IS REALLY GOING, YOU KNOW, REALLY STRUGGLING. I'M REALLY STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY, THE AUTO TARIFFS AND ALL THOSE THE PRODUCTS ARE
[00:55:04]
BANNED THAT FROM CHINA. AND I HAVE TO LET GO. ONE OF MY EMPLOYEE YOU KNOW. SO NOW I'M THINKING LIKE HOW I CAN ADD MORE LIKE REVENUE IN THE BUSINESS. AND AND THAT'S HOW I COME UP WITH THE IDEA. AND ALSO MANY OF MY CUSTOMERS, THEY SUGGESTED LIKE WHY YOU DON'T ADD UP LIKE MORE REVENUE, LIKE A BEER AND WINE AND, AND COMING TO YOUR QUESTIONS LIKE THIS IS NOT ON SITE PREMISES. THIS IS LIKE GRAB AND GO. SO THE NATURE OF BUSINESS ITSELF, THIS ONE IS THIS WILL BE THE ONLY GRAB AND GO ON THE, ON THE CENTER. THE OTHER TWO ARE LIKE ON SITE PREMISES, LIKE THE CUSTOMER CAN DRINK OVER THERE AND AND YEAH, OTHER THAN THAT IT'S NOTHING.I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE A MILLION BUCKS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT FROM ADDING THIS ONE.
MAYBE IF I'LL ADD THAT ONE, I'M JUST ASSUMING MAYBE I'LL ADD LIKE 2 OR $300 A DAY PER SALES THAT BRINGS LIKE MAYBE FIVE, 6000, YOU KNOW, 6000, 7030, 30% MARKUP, MAYBE MAKE YOU MAKE LIKE TWO, 3000, 4000 MAX PROFIT AND THAT MIGHT, MIGHT HELP ME TO PAY THE EMPLOYEES OR, YOU KNOW, ALL THE OVERHEAD EXPENSES OR SO THAT I DON'T HAVEO, LIKE, SHUT DOWN THE BUSINESS OR LET OTHER EMPLOYEES GO, YOU KNOW, AND SO THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE REASON I WANTED TO ADD BEER AND WINE NOW AFTER SIX YEARS. SO I REACHED OUT, LIKE HUMBLY TO OUR PASTOR, I DO HAVE RESPECT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT MARIJUANA SIGN ON THE ON THE, ON THE OUTSIDE. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE PASTOR OR ANYBODY FROM THE CHURCH REACHED OUT AND ASKED HER TO REMOVE THAT OR OR OR MY EMPLOYEES, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY REMOVED THAT, LIKE, BECAUSE ALL OF THE ADVERTISEMENT COMPANY, THEY COME AND THEY TRY TO, YOU KNOW, LIKE PUT IT IN THE WINDOW AND YOU KNOW, SO WHEREVER IT'S MORE VISIBLE. SO I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT IF THAT'S THE CASE. SO SO YEAH I WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER, BUT OTHER THAN THAT I'M A SMALL ENTREPRENEUR, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO LEAVE, LIKE WITH MY STRUGGLE, YOU KNOW, DAY TO DAY WORK. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS HERE. COUNCILMEMBER DENTON, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT SOMETHING ABOUT PRODUCTS GETTING BANNED. YES. THOSE ARE LIKE SHOPS. SO WHAT IS GETTING BANNED? SOME OF THE LIKE THE VAPE LIKE MADE IN CHINA, YOU KNOW LIKE THOSE THOSE ITEMS. YEAH. SO HOW I MEAN ACCORDING TO THAT I'M GOING TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES FROM WHAT THE CHURCH IS OPPOSED TO. AFTER READING SOME OF THE REVIEWS. AND ONE SAYS THEY DON'T SELL CIGARS, BUT IF YOU NEED A CRACK PIPE, THAT'S WHERE TO GO. AND WHEN YOU LOOK UP THE PICTURE OF YOUR STORE, IT'S LIKE CRATE, WHATEVER IT'S CALLED. YEAH. SO WHAT IS THE MAJORITY OF YOUR SALES CURRENTLY? MAJORITY OF SALES. LIKE LIKE THE DRINKS AND CIGARS.
LIKE LIKE LIKE THE CIGARETTE LOADS, YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF THING. AND NOVELTY ITEMS. DO YOU SELL THC PRODUCTS? NOT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MA'AM.
COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SIR. IN RESPONSE TO THE PASTOR'S CONCERN, YOU READ IN THE PACKET IN YOUR PACKET, HE HE TYPED OUT A RESPONSE. HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SALES THAT CLOSE TO HIM IN RESPONSE. HAVE YOU TALKED TO HIM? AND IF YOU HAVE WHAT IS HIS FEEDBACK? WHAT WAS HIS HIS FEEDBACK REGARDING THE CONCERN? WELL, I REACH OUT VERY FIRST TIME AND HE SAID, LIKE LIKE WHENEVER I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING THE DOCUMENT TO THE CITY AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, YEAH, THIS COME ON IN AND ON AND I'LL JUST BRING THE LETTER AND I'LL SIGN IT.
BUT MAYBE I DON'T KNOW. ALL OF A SUDDEN HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND LATER ON HE JUST OPPOSED THAT. SO WE YOU YOU DROPPED YOUR VOICE. OH, OKAY. WELL, THE FIRST TIME I REACH OUT, YOU KNOW, AT THE TIME OF SUBMITTING THE DOCUMENT, I NEED A LETTER FROM, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE CHURCH AS WELL. AND HE WAS HE SEEMS OKAY AT THAT TIME. AND WHENEVER I REACH OUT TO HIM WITH ACTUAL LETTER AND THEN AT THAT TIME HE OPPOSED. SO AFTER THAT I DID NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO HIM AFTER THAT. AND YOU HAVEN'T HAD ANY CONVERSATION WITH HIM SINCE THEN? NO. THE THE WAY HE HAS RESPONDED ME WAS LIKE, I DON'T THINK LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE WOULD BE ANY, ANY BENEFIT FOR ME TO TALKING TO HIM. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T YOU DON'T SEE YOU DIDN'T SEE A NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH HIM. YEAH. THE WAY THAT HE HAS WROTE MEME ON THE TEXT, YOU KNOW, SO I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S A NO NO, NO VOTE. YEAH.E HIS POSITION WAS NO.
[01:00:01]
RIGHT. YEAH. HE RESPONDED ME LIKE I STRONGLY LIKE ON THE TEXT. LIKE THERE IS NO ANY WAY FOR YOU TO COME AGAIN WITH ME AND TALK TO ME LIKE THAT REGARDING ON THAT ISSUE. OKAY.ANY OTHER ANY OTHER RESPONSES FROM ANY OF THE OTHER SURROUNDING BUSINESSES? NO. AND THEN I REACHED OUT TO EVERYBODY. EVERYBODY IS LIKE, THEY'RE OKAY. LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M WANTING TO DO. SO THE PASTOR WAS THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL IN THAT COMPLEX WHO RESPONDED TO YOU ON A NEGATIVE NOTE, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, SIR. MAYOR PRO TEM LUCK. DO YOU SELL CIGARS AT YOUR LOCATION? OH, YEAH, WE DO. Y'ALL HAVE, LIKE, A HUMIDOR KIND OF THING. AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT I'M TRYING TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE HUMIDOR, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE HAVE A SMALL HUMIDOR, BUT NOT. I MEAN, SHOULD BE, I GUESS, YOU KNOW. YEAH. I MEAN, I GUESS WHEN I KIND OF THOUGHT THIS WAS COMING THROUGH, I.
WHAT I WAS THINKING WAS LIKE A CIGAR SHOP WHERE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY COULD GET LIKE A, LIKE, LOUNGE, LIKE SOMETHING TO GO WITH THEIR CIGAR AND, AND BUT I, I'M, I'M A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO THINK THAT A GRAB AND GO PLACE THAT. IT ALREADY ISN'T QUITE WHAT IT IS SAYING IT IS WILL SERVE THAT RETAIL CENTER IN A GOOD WAY. I DON'T I'M I'M HAVING TROUBLE SEEING THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT'S ALREADY THERE AND THEN ADDING AND THEN ADDING THAT ADDITIONAL SERVICE WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN TO GET THINGS THAT AREN'T CIGARS. YEAH, EXACTLY. AND THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S THE REASON LIKE I'M TALKING WITH SOME OF THE, THE HUMIDOR LIKE MANUFACTURER CURRENTLY RECENTLY, YOU KNOW, TO TO ADD LIKE HUMIDOR LIKE MORE LIKE, SO I'M JUST THINKING LIKE EVERY POSSIBLE WAY TO HOW I CAN ADD LIKE THE EVEN THE FISHING ROD, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF STUFF, LIKE BECAUSE MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE NEARBY, THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE KIND OF SERVICE, YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF PRODUCTS LIKE IN 7-ELEVEN IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. THEY DON'T SELL FISHING ROD AND THOSE ITEMS. SO I'M THINKING THOSE ARE ONE OF THE THINGS. SO DEFINITELY CIGAR WILL BE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I HAVE MANY PEOPLE WALK IN SO CIGAR LIKE, YOU KNOW, CALLED DAVID CIGARS. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, I USED TO HAVE THAT BEFORE, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I JUST MOVE OUT BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ANY DEMAND MOST OF SIX YEARS AGO AT THAT TIME. SO I HAVE TO REPLACE THAT WITH THE OTHER ITEMS, YOU KNOW, I SEE. OKAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU MA'AM. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE AND PRESENTING THIS TO US TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING IN DISTRICT EIGHT FOR SIX YEARS NOW. YOU MADE IT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO YOU'RE TRYING TO REINVENT THE BUSINESS SOMEWHAT. EXACTLY, YES. ARE YOU PLANNING ON RENAMING IT? POSSIBLY. OKAY. YEAH. AND MOST OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED. SO BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING IN DISTRICT EIGHT AND BEING IN GARLAND FOR ALL THESE YEARS. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW. INITIALLY I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH. AND AS THE CONVERSATION HAS PROGRESSED AND I NEED CLARITY. OKAY, SO YOU'RE ESTABLISHMENT IS NOT ONE THEN WHERE I WOULD COME TO GET A CIGAR, SIT DOWN IN A COMFORTABLE COUCH OR LOUNGE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, MAYBE HAVE A DRINK BECAUSE YOU DON'T SELL LIQUOR. EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT IT IS THAT YOU REALLY DO. OKAY. YEAH, THE THE LOUNGE WAS ON THE PLAN BEFORE, LIKE, BUT BECAUSE OF BEING RESPECTFUL TO THE NEXT TENANT, THE DOCTOR, THE EYE DOCTOR, LIKE, THEY, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO DO LIKE THE, THE SMOKE MIGHT GO AND WE DIDN'T HAVE PROPER THE SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ABSORBENT AND THE SMOKE ABSORBENT AND, AND THAT'S THAT'S THE REASON LIKE I DROPPED THAT PLAN BEING RESPECTFUL WITH HIM. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. BUT MY THING IS LIKE, PEOPLE COME, YOU KNOW, BEER AND WINE BECAUSE A LOT OF APARTMENTS IS RIGHT NOW BUILDING ACROSS THE TOWNHOMES, LIKE ACROSS THE STREET AND ON THE BEHIND THE ONE. AND I BELIEVE LIKE MORE POPULATION IS COMING DOWN THERE AND ADDING BEER AND WINE. PEOPLE COME IN, GRAB BEER AND WINE AND PLANNING FOR THE ADDITIONAL, LIKE THE CIGAR LIKE HUMIDOR AND AND AND SOME NOVELTY ITEMS THEY GRAB AND GO LIKE SO YOU KIND OF LIKE A PACKAGE STORE THEN WHERE THEY COULD ACTUALLY COME IN AND BUY BEER AND WINE. YES. THAT'S THE ONE PACKAGE. THAT'S THAT'S THE PLAN. THAT'S THE PLAN. BUT RIGHT NOW, THOSE TWO TENANTS, THEY'RE ON SITE, BUT MINE WILL BE OFF SITE PREMISES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. YES, SIR.
IN YOUR NOVEMBER 20TH LETTER TO THE CITY OF GARLAND, YOU. THERE'S A PARAGRAPH. LET ME
[01:05:05]
JUST READ THAT FOR THE RECORD. HERE WE MAINTAIN A PERFECT COMPLIANCE RECORD WITH ABC, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING ALL STATE AND CITY REGULATIONS RELATED TO ALCOHOL SALES. AND SO I'M CURIOUS, IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY SELLING ALCOHOL, HOW ARE YOU IN? HOW DO YOU HAVE A PERFECT COMPLIANCE RECORD WITH ABC? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. YEAH, I DO HAVE LIKE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WE DO. WE DO ALREADY SELLS BEER AND WINE, JUST LIKE BUCKINGHAM BEER AND WINE THAT THAT LOCATED ON A THAT LOCATED ON GARLAND ROAD IN BUCKINGHAM. WE DO HAVE A CIRCLE BEER AND WINE IN NORTHWEST HIGHWAY AND SATURN ROAD. WE DO HAVE LIKE OTHER IN 78 LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, FOOD MART. AND SO A COUPLE OF OTHER PLACES. SO AND ALL OF THOSE PLACES LIKE WE DO HAVE ENOUGH. I DO HAVE LIKE MY NAME, YOU KNOW AS WELL ON THE ABC AND THAT'S HOW IT CAME FROM.OKAY. WELL THAT MAKES SENSE. HOW MANY OTHER LOCATIONS DO YOU OWN SIR? WE OWN LIKE A IN THE SPRING. YOU KNOW, IN THE SPRING, ONE IN THE GARLAND. LIKE WE DO HAVE LIKE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR LOCATIONS. OKAY. SO SEVERAL AND ALL OF THOSE ARE ALREADY SELLING PACKAGED LIQUOR. YES THEY DO. SO YOUR STAFF IS EXPERIENCED. YES. WITH WITH THIS OPERATION? YES. HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE AT YOUR LOCATION HERE? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE EACH LOCATION. SO WE DO HAVE LIKE TWO, TWO EMPLOYEES. SO TWO FOR NOW AND YOU MIGHT ADD ANOTHER ONE. YEAH. AND I HAVE TO LET GO. THE ONE I HAVE TO LET GO. ONE IN THE DAVID CIGAR OKAY. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD I JUST WANTED I WAS I WAS UNCLEAR ON HOW YOU COULD HAVE A PERFECT COMPLIANCE RECORD. IF YOU'RE JUST STARTING SALES, YOU'RE NOT JUST STARTING. YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE OF THAT AT OTHER PLACES, INCLUDING SEVERAL INSIDE GARLAND. YES. OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCILMEMBER DUTTON, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CEO FOR THIS BUSINESS IS LISTED AS? ACTUALLY. DID I BRING IT? LET'S SEE HOW PREPARED I. DAVID CIGARS. IT WAS ISSUED ON 826, 2020, AS HE SAID. AND IT'S LISTED AS A CONVENIENCE STORE, A MERCANTILE.
VERY INTERESTING. THANK YOU. SO WHEN DID YOU STOP SELLING CBD? AND SO WE USED TO HAVE BEFORE, HONESTLY, I CAME STEP INTO THIS ONE WHEN I HAVE TO LET GO LIKE MANAGER LIKE LAST YEAR. AND SO I WOULD SAY LIKE 2020 LIKE END OF THE 2023. THAT'S WHEN YOU STOPPED SELLING. YEAH. CBD BECAE YOU HAD TO LET GO OF A MANAGER. EXCUSE ME. YOU SAID BECAUSE YOU HAD TO LET GO OF THE MANAGER. NO, NO, YOU HAVE TO LET GO MANAGER. AND THE NEW REGULATION IS COMING LIKE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE STATE, YOU KNOW, AND EVERYWHERE. SO. OKAY. OKAY. CAN I ASK YOUR CO IS LISTED AS A CONVENIENCE STORE WHICH SEEMS ODD. YEAH. SO AND I'D LIKE I TOLD YOU LIKE WE HAVE LIKE MORE GENERAL ITEMS LIKE GENERAL ITEMS LIKE SNACKS AND ALL THOSE DRINKS AND CIGARS, THOSE KIND OF ITEMS. AND SO AND THEN THERE WAS LIKE BECAUSE WE GOT TO GO WITH THE MARKET LIKE WHAT'S, WHAT'S MOST SELLING IN THE MARKET AND EVERYTHING AT THAT TIME. SO WE HAVE TO LET GO, CUT UP THE CIGARS LIKE THOSE THINGS. AND SINCE THE BUSINESS IS ALREADY A LIKE, YOU KNOW, REGISTERED UNDER LIKE THE CEO IS UNDER A CONVENIENCE STORE, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASON, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, ADDING BEER AND WINE MATCHES THE CEO. WHAT IS THE CURRENT CEO IN THE BUSINESS? SO. OKAY. SO YOU'RE A VAPE SHOP BASICALLY. NO, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL LIKE THE LIKE STORE LIKE NOVELTY. YOU KNOW LIKE NOVELTY IN C STORES. SO WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU DIFFERENT FROM 7-ELEVEN? THAT IS IN THE SAME PARKING LOT. DEFINITELY. IF NOT, LIKE I'LL ADDING LIKE BEER AND WINE WILL BRING LIKE MORE CONVENIENT, YOU KNOW, LIKE FOR THE PEOPLE.
PEOPLE. NOT EVERYBODY WANTED TO GO LIKE 7-ELEVEN. IT'S NOT CONVENIENT. THEY HAVE TO WAIT ON THE LINE AND EVERYTHING. AND WHEN THE NEW APARTMENT ON THE BACK AND THE TOWN OF BUILDING, I THINK THAT WILL BE MORE CONVENIENT FOR THEM TO JUST COME RIGHT IN FRONT OF THAT UNIT. DO YOU CURRENTLY STILL SELL THAT OR WHATEVER IT'S CALLED? OH NO, NO, NO, KRATOM.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY A PLACE INSIDE OF A SHOPPING CENTER THAT SELLS BEER AND ALCOHOL, WINE, WHATEVER. WHEN THERE'S A 7-ELEVEN RIGHT THERE AND YOU'RE TUCKED BACK. SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE YOU HAVE LIKE CORNER EXPOSURE. IT SEEMS A LITTLE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A VERY GOOD
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BUSINESS MODEL, IN MY OPINION. AND THAT'S WHY I TOLD YOU, LIKE, EARLIER, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, ME ADDING THE BEER AND WINE NOT INCREASE LIKE THE SALES DRASTICALLY. LIKE 1000 WITH 1000 OR 1500. 2000, LIKE I SAID, MAYBE EVEN IF I CAN LIKE ADD UP LIKE 2 OR $300 A DAY, THAT MIGHT HELP. MY SMALL BUSINESS MIGHT NOT WORK FOR 7-ELEVEN, BUT THAT MIGHT DEFINITELY WORK FOR ME AS AN INDEPENDENT MOM AND POP SHOP. I LIKE WHERE YOUR HEART IS AT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU MA'AM. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS SIR? THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS. SIR. GIVEN GIVEN THE THE DISTANCE AND EVERYTHING, YOU YOUR LOCATION, YOUR 70FT FROM YOUR DOOR TO THE CHURCH DOOR. RIGHT? WHAT? WHAT WOULD WHAT INFLUENCE WOULD IT HAVE ON YOUR BUSINESS IF THIS WERE NOT APPROVED? YEAH. I MEAN, I'LL HAVE TO ADD LIKE LIKE I SAID, I HAVE TO STICK ON MY PLAN, LIKE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ADDING, LIKE, MORE SUGAR AT THE DOOR. YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO JUST MOVE ON. RESPECT THE THE DECISION OF CITY COUNCIL. AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO MOVE ON AND TRY TO SEE, LIKE, WHAT ARE THE OTHER AVENUES I CAN ADD UP ON MY BUSINESS. SO BUT BEER AND WINE WILL BE LIKE, THAT'S MORE KNOWN PRODUCT IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THAT MIGHT BE EASIER TO. AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY YOUR ONLY PROPERTY. RIGHT. IT'S LIKE ONLY BUSINESS. YES, YES. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. THE OTHERS THAT YOU MENTIONED A WHILE AGO. YES.YOU GOT SEVERAL RIGHT. YES, YES. COUNCIL MEMBER AND SEVERAL OF THEM. AND SELL WINE AND BEER.
RIGHT? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER OKAY, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT.
COUNCIL. LAST CHANCE. ALL RIGHT, I SEE. NONE. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS SIGNED UP ON THIS ITEM? YES, SIR. WE DO. ALL RIGHT. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER, RUSSELL BOWLES? GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RUSSELL BOWLES. I LIVE AT 1409 WARWICK STREET, GARLAND, TEXAS, 75044. AND I AM THE PASTOR OF CHURCH OF THE LATTER RAIN AT 1456 BELTLE, SUITE 139. SO I AM THE ONE THAT OPPOSED THIS AND. I THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER A PRESENTATION OR SOMETHING, BUT CAN I SHARE MY HEART? FIRST, IT'S CONVENIENT THAT THEY USE THE TERM 70FT THERE, BUT WHAT THEY DON'T SHOW YOU IN THAT PICTURE IS THERE. THERE IS ANOTHER DOOR RIGHT NEXT TO THE OPTOMETRIST, WHICH IS THE DOOR MOST OF THE PEOPLE USE, AND IT'S MORE LIKE 30FT FROM HIS HIS ESTABLISHMENT. OUR CHURCH IS A REALLY A PRETTY YOUNG CHURCH. IT'S UNUSUAL BECAUSE I'M A PARDON THE TERM. I'M A GRINGO PASTOR AND I'VE GOT A MOSTLY HISPANIC CHURCH, BUT WE'RE A VERY YOUNG CHURCH, PROBABLY 50% OR MORE OF OUR PEOPLE ARE UNDER 30, AND PROBABLY 20% OF THEM ARE UNDER EIGHT. SO IT CONCERNS ME TO HAVE EVEN A GRAB AND GO OR WHATEVER, 30FT FROM WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ENTERING AND EXITING THE CHURCH. AND THE INFLUENCE THAT THAT COULD HAVE IN THE SHOPPING CENTER. AND IT IS SET BACK OFF THE ROAD. NOW, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE SPACE WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW SINCE 1999. AND IT'S TRUE, I HAVE NEVER OPPOSED ANYTHING. WHEN WHEN CITY WENT IN, HE CAME DOWN AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT AND WHAT HE WANTED TO DO, AND HE WANTED TO PUT IN A SPORTS BAR. AND I TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING THE DISTANCE AND THE RESPECT THAT I WOULD NOT OPPOSE IT. THE MAN FROM DAVID CIGARS SHOWED UP ONE WEDNESDAY NIGHT ASKING ME IF I WOULD OPPOSE HIM SELLING BEER AND WINE. AND I JUST HONESTLY, I JUST PUT HIM OFF. I PROBABLY
[01:15:04]
SOUNDED CONGENIAL, BUT MY WIFE CALLS ME A SOFT TOUCH. BUT THEN I TOOK IT AND I TOOK IT TO MY COUNCIL BECAUSE MY CHURCH IS RUN BY AN ADVISORY COUNCIL AND WITHOUT EXCEPTION, THEY THOUGHT THAT THE 30 FOOT SEPARATION WAS JUST TOO CLOSE TO HAVE OUR KIDS COMING IN AND OUT OF THAT DOOR, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM USE THAT DOOR. MATTER OF FACT, THE OTHER DOOR IS LAUGHINGLY CALLED THE PASTOR'S DOOR BECAUSE I'M ABOUT THE ONLY PERSON THAT USES IT, SO I DON'T WISH ANYBODY EVIL OR ANYBODY ILL. BUT THAT'S WHERE I STAND AND HONESTLY AND SHARE MY HEART. I'VE GOT KIDS TO CARE ABOUT AND WE'RE RAISING THEM. WE HAVE OUR CHURCH IS IN A SUNDAY SCHOOL. IT'S CALLED CHURCH OF THE FUTURE BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR FUTURE. AND MY JOB AS PASTOR IS TO PROTECT THEM AND GUIDE THEM AND TRY TO GIVE POSITIVE INFLUENCE FOR THEM. SIR, I'M HAVE TO ASK YOU TO SUM UP, SIR. VERY GOOD. I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU, COUNCILMEMBER DUTTON. HAVE YOU HAD ANY EXPERIENCES OR ISSUES WITH PATRONS OF DAVID CIGARS IN THE PAST? THE ONLY PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE HAD IS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONFRONTATIONS OUT IN FRONT OF DAVID CIGARS, PEOPLE SMOKING OUT THERE, BUT IT'S A SHOPPING CENTER, SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS CAN HAPPEN. I HAVE HAD NO CONFRONTATIONS WITH WITH THE OWNER, AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'VE WE'VE TALKED CONGENIALLY, BUT WHEN I TOOK TO MY COUNCIL. THEY WITHOUT EXCEPTION OPPOSED IT. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION OR NOT IN A, IN A WAY, IS IT SAFE TO SAY THEY WERE NOT OUTSIDE SMOKING CIGARS? YES. OKAY. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. AWESOME. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN AND GIVING US YOUR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. YES, SIR. WHAT? HOW BIG IS YOUR CONGREGATION? ON AN AVERAGE SUNDAY, JUST ABOUT 35, 35. OKAY. AND SO ALL THOSE UNDER 30 AND 20% CHILDREN. YES, SIR. YOU'RE YOU'RE WE MATTER OF FACTOUR CHILDREN, DURING PRAISE AND WORSHIP, GO UP IN FRONT AND DANCE. AND I'VE GOT ABOUT EIGHT CHILDREN, 6 TO 8 CHILDREN INVOLVED IN THE CHURCH. AND THEY'RE ALL VERY ACTIVE.OKAY. VERY GOOD. I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS OUT THERE, SIR. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SERVING AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU SIR. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. PASTOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT AND GIVING US YOUR YOUR $0.02 ON IT. AND I'M ECHOING WHAT WHAT WHAT COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS ALREADY SAID THAT WE THANK YOU FOR SERVING THE SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEING THERE. AND IT'S REALLY ALL I HAD TO SAY. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU SIR.
MAYOR PRO TEM LUCK. HELLO, SIR. HAVE YOU EVER WITNESSED PEOPLE LIKE LOITERING OUTSIDE OF THE SHOP OR IN FRONT OF YOUR ESTABLISHMENT AFTER EXITING? DAVID CIGARS AND GIVE THAT TO ME AGAIN, I MISSED SOMETHING. DOES ANYBODY LOITER AFTER VISITING DAVID CIGARS ON THE SIDEWALK OR IN FRONT OF YOUR ESTABLISHMENT? THERE'S BEEN SOME TRASH OUT THERE AND SUCH, BUT NOT NOT ANYTHING THAT I WOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT. LIKE I SAID, IT'S A SHOPPING CENTER.
AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ME IS A LAUNDROT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC BACK AND FORTH. YOU KNOW, I, I WOULDN'T SAY YES OR NO. I REALLY DON'T KNOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU BET. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? I SEE NONE. THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? YES, SIR. ONE MORE. ALL RIGHT. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, CARL C SMITH? OH, MY APOLOGIES. Y'ALL KNOW ME. SO CARL SMITH, 2216 RICH OAK DRIVE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL AND CIGARS. I HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY OVER THE WEEKEND THAT WAS WAS THEMED COGNAC AND CIGARS. SO THAT KIND OF SHOWS YOU THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT THAT.
[01:20:02]
BUT THAT PARTICULAR INTERSECTION ALREADY HAS TWO STORES THAT YOU CAN BUY WINE AND BEER YOU GO UP ABOUT. I DON'T KNOW ECTLY HOW FAR IT IS UP TO GLENBROOK. THERE'S ANOTHER PLACE UP THERE. MOST THE PEOPLE THAT GO INTO THAT SHOPPING CENTER ARE GOING TO BABES. THEY'RE TRYING TO HAVE A NICE FAMILY MEAL, AND I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED IN THAT AREA. WE'VE GOT OTHERS THAT FEEL THAT THAT NEED. SO THAT'S MY $0.02 WORTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SIR, HAVE YOU FILLED OUT A SPEAKER CARD? WE ASK YOU AFTER YOU'RE SPEAKING, IF YOU WOULD GO DO THAT, YOU CAN FILL ONE OUT. AFTER YOU. AFTER YOU'RE SPEAKING. YEAH. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SIMON MATTHEW. YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST LISTENING TO THIS. I LIVE IN 4 OR 502 BOBTOWN ROAD, GARLAND. SO DISTRICT THREE, DEFINITELY FAR AWAY FROM WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING. BUT I USED TO GO TO NORTH GARLAND, SO NORTH GARLAND IN WAYNE CITY IS LIKE FIVE MINUTES AWAY. SO I'VE BEEN HEARING THIS, THIS ISSUE. RIGHT. AND I'M REMINDED OF AN ISSUE THAT YOU GUYS HAD TO DEAL WITH IN NOVEMBER WHERE NR SOUTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL, THERE WAS A, I BELIEVE, A CONVENIENCE STORE THAT WAS 150FT AWAY OR SOMETHING. AND THEN YOU GUYS GAVE IT WAS A GRANDFATHERED ISSUE WHERE THAT GUY BASICALLY GOT HIS THE RIGHT OF WAY.
BASICALLY, HE WAS ABLE TO GET WHAT HE NEEDED TO BE DONE. NOW, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A CHUH IN THIS AREA VERY IMPORTANT, BUT I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THE DARE PROGRAM COMPLETELY FAILED, RIGHT? SO FOR ME, IT'S LIKE AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I USED TO HAVE A BUSINESS IN SOUTH GARLAND. MY PARENTS HAD A RESTAURANT AND GROCERY STORE RIGHT WHERE THAT PLANET FITNESS IS, RIGHT NEXT TO THE ALBERTSONS. AND SO I REMEMBER WHEN MY DAD FIRST BOUGHT THAT LOCATION, IT WAS A CHURCH, AND THEN THE CHURCH BASICALLY CLOSED DOWN, AND THEN A BAR AND A IT WAS LIKE A HISPANIC RESTAURANT AT THAT POINT. AND THEN WE BASICALLY TOOK OVER, AND THEN WE OPENED UP AN INDIAN RESTAURANT IN A GROCERY STORE. WHAT ALL I'M SAYING IS, WHAT IS ONE MORE CIGAR STORE GOING TO DO? NOTHING MUCH. IT'S 30FT AWAY. IT'S NOT GOING TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE. RIGHT NOW. THE CITY OF GARLAND NEEDS SALES TAX. RIGHT NOW. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE ARE FIGHTING A CRAZY BATTLE AGAINST FOR DART. SO YOU KNOW SALES TAX IS IMPORTANT AND CHURCHES ARE UNFORTUNATELY NOT TAXED. SO I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU OF THAT FACT. YOU KNOW, WHEN IN SOUTH GARLAND WHERE I LIVE RIGHT OFF I-30 AND BOBTOWN, I FOUGHT AGAINST THE QUIKTRIP, I WAS VERY ANGRY THAT THE QUIKTRIP WAS OPENED, BUT THE QUIKTRIP IS PROBABLY MAKING YOU GUYS A LOT OF MONEY IN SALES TAX. AND IF THAT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE CITY, MAYBE HAVING ONE MORE BUSINESS THAT HAS SOME MORE SALES TAX MAYBE IS IN YOUR BEST INTEREST.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR, DON'T GO ANYWHERE. WE HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM. LET THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, BUT THE THE PLACES THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT YOUR PARENTS TOOK OVER, THEY WERE RESTAURANTS, RIGHT? INITIALLY IT WASN'T A RESTAURANT. INITIALLY IT WAS A A CHUH. AND THEN LATER ON THE CHURCH CLOSED DOWN. AND THEN WE BASICALLY TOOK OVER. YES. MY CONCERN WITH THIS ISN'T SO MUCH THAT THERE'S A CHURCH NEARBY. HONESTLY, MY CONCN IS THAT THERE'S A CIGAR SHOP OPERATING UNDER THE GUY. WELL, THERE'S A A SOMETHING KIND OF, I GUESS A HEAD SHOP OPERATING UNDER THE GUISE OF A CIGAR SHOP. AND MY CONCERN IS THAT ONCE THEY START SELLING GRAB AND GO ALCOHOL, THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT THEY SELL THAT ARE GRAB AND GO ALCOHOL THAT AREN'T REALLY GRAB AND GO ALCOHOL. SO THAT'S THAT'S MY UNDERLYING CONCERN HERE IS THAT THEY'RE ALREADY KIND OF OPERATING OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDS OF WHAT I THINK THEY SHOULD BE DOING, WHICH IS SELLING CIGARS AND OR TOBACCO. AND THEN NOW THEY WANT TO DIVERSIFY. AND I'M A LITTLE WEARY OF WHAT THAT DIVERSIFICATION MEANS. RIGHT.
AND I WOULD SAY, RIGHT. LIKE WHEN MY DAD HAD HIS RESTAURANT, WE LITERALLY GAVE HALF THE RESTAURANT TO A CHURCH. EVERY SUNDAY I WOULD BE THERE. I WOULD PLAY THE PIANO TERRIBLY AND BUT YES, YOU KNOW, WE GAVE IT UP, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT WAS LIKE WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.
THAT WAS HIS ACT OF SERVICE. SO MAYBE THERE'S SOME WAY THAT THIS THESE TWO GENTLEMEN, THE
[01:25:06]
COUNCIL FOR THE CHURCH AND THIS, THE GENTLEMAN WITH THE BUSINESS, MAYBE THERE'S A WAY THAT THEY CAN COME TO AGREEMENT. RIGHT? LIKE I AGREE, MAYBE GRAB AND GO, GO, GO. BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WOULD BE IN LOUISIANA, IT'S 24 BY SEVEN LIQUOR. YEAH, BUT NOT HERE. YEAH, RIGHT. NOT HERE. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND, RIGHT. BUT WE STILL HAVE DAIQUIRI TO GO PLACES AROUND DALLAS. WE STILL HAVE IT IN GARLAND. SO TO ME, YOU KNOW, IF SALES TAX IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE ONCE AGAIN, AND THE CITY OF GARLAND PAYS 50 MILLION FOR SALES TAX, AND WE GET 150 MILLION FROM DART. AND WHEN FIVE CITIES ARE THREATENING TO LEAVE, MAYBE WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE MONEY.AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE MONEY IS QUITE IMPORTANT, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE LOSING PROPERTY TAXES, THANKS TO SEVERAL BILLS THAT WERE PASSED IN THIS LAST ELECTION CYCLE. RIGHT. WE'VE LOST. WE'RE GETTING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, RIGHT? RIGHTFULLY SO. I LOVE IT, BUT WE'RE LOSING SALES TAX EITHER WAY. AND WHETHER THAT'S COMING, COMING FROM THIS, THE CITY OR IT'S COMING FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE'RE STILL LOSING THAT MONEY. SO THIS WOULD BE A MAYBE 100,000. MAYBE IT'S LESS. MAYBE IT'S LIKE 15 GRAND, MAYBE IT'S TEN GRAND.
BUT THAT'S STILL MONEY THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. THANK YOU. DON'T GO ANYWHERE. SORRY, GUYS. I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE DISMISSED, COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS, GOOD EVENING, SIR. I KNOW ALL THAT HISTORY BECAUSE I'M FROM LOUISIANA. RIGHT. SO ALL THE BACK TO BACK STORY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN, I KNOW ALL OF THAT. I CAME TO GARLAND IN 1971, BUT MY FIRST HOUSE NEAR WHERE YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU HAD A CHURCH, AND THEN YOU SOLD THE CHURCH. I KNOW WHAT'S THERE NOW. OKAY. RIGHT. AND WAS THERE NOW. IT'S NOT NOT DESIRABLE. OKAY. AND I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME. THAT AREA IS STILL CHALLENGING. OKAY. SO THIS GENTLEMAN'S REQUEST IS AND THE EXAMPLES THAT YOU GAVE ARE LIKE APPLES AND ORANGES. OKAY. BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION AND APPRECIATE YOUR ILLUSTRATIONS AND APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR TESTIMONY. COME DOWN HERE TONIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE ONLY THING I'D HAVE TO SAY IS THAT IF YOU REALLY CARED ABOUT SOUTH GARLAND, LIKE I CARE ABOUT SOUTH GARLAND. I KNOW YOUR DISTRICT FOUR. SO THAT'S 635 CENTERVILLE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE TIF DISTRICT? WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING? WHY ARE WE NOT DEVELOPING SOUTH? MAYOR, THIS IS NOT. YES, SIR.
MR. ATTORNEY, THIS IS NOT RELEVANT TOPIC NOT RELEVANT. THIS IS NOT. NOT ON THE AGENDA ITEM HERE, SIR. APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN, SIR. ALL RIGHT, ONE MORE QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER DENTON. FIRST GRADERS. IF I TOLD YOU THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE $10,000, I'M GOING TO KEEP IT ALL TO MYSELF. BUT I'M GOING TO MAKE $10,000. BUT THE THE CAVEAT IS THAT IT COULD INCREASE THE CRIME RATE IN YOUR BACKYARD. WOULD THAT BE WORTH IT? OKAY, THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE WHEN QUIKTRIP CAME AROUND, MY MAIN CONCERN WAS WOULD LIZARD LUTZ BE AROUND MY AREA? RIGHT. I HOPE YOU KNOW WHAT THAT SLANG IS. AND I WAS CONCERNED. IN FACT, I ACTUALLY MESSAGED MR. MOORE BECAUSE I ACTUALLY TIMED THE TRUCK DRIVERS ONE DAY AND I SAT OUT THERE TO SEE HOW LONG WERE THEY REALLY THERE? THEY'RE STILL THERE FOR AN HOUR. WHEN QUIKTRIP PROMISED US 30 MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. AND MR. MOORE TOLD ME TO REACH OUT TO THE CITY OF GARLAND MARSHAL'S OFFICE. MR. CITY ATTORNEY, I'M. I'M WORKING TO FIND A CONNECTION HERE. I'M JUST NOT SEEING THE CONNECTION. IT'S NOT RELEVANT TO THE TOPIC AT HAND. THE RELEVANCY, MR. ATTORNEY, IS THAT IF YOU'RE ASKING ME WHETHER IS MORE CRIME GOING TO HAPPEN, AND WHAT I'M SEEING FROM WHERE I LIVE IS THAT CRIME HASN'T REALLY INCREASED. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BLAME US FOR? THIS IS JUST A BUSINESS. HE WANTS SOME MORE BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY IN A TRYING TIME WHERE BUSINESSES ARE FAILING. I'M CLOSING MY SECOND RESTAURANT RIGHT NOW. I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF CLOSING IT AND IT'S IN. IT'S IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS, RIGHT? I STILL HAVE MY RESTAURANT IN MESQUITE. I CLOSE MY BUSINESS IN GARLAND IN 2019, SO I'VE LEFT GARLAND, BUT I STILL AM A RESIDENT, RIGHT. SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ASK ME, IS CRIME STILL AN ISSUE FOR SURE? I STILL REMEMBER TWO TIMES WHEN THE CITY OF POLICE CAME OUT TO
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MY HOUSE AND TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES. ONE OF THE THINGS I ARGUED FOR WAS, MAYBE WE HAVE A POLICE ANNEX LIKE THE CITY OF IRVING DOES, BUT AT THAT TIME IT WAS LIKE, WE'D RATHER HAVE A WHAT WAS IT? THEY BUILT THE THE BOARD IN THE WHATEVER THEY BUILT IN FOREST LANE, RIGHT.THE, THE NEW ANNEX OR THE NEW EVIDENCE ROOM OR WHATEVER IT WAS AT THAT TIME. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCILMEMBER BASS, QUESTION FOR THE SPEAKER. THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, JUST I JUST WANTED TO REMIND HIM THAT ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU COULDN'T SAY BECAUSE THIS IS AN AGENDA ITEM, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS AFTER THE MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. NOW YOU'RE DISMISSED. THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, THIS IS YOUR DISTRICT, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR DENIAL OF THE REQUEST. MOTION TO DENY BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE FOR US? THE MOTION TO DENY IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OUR CITIZEN COMMENTS, I'M GOING TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS HERE. IMAGINE THE COMMENTS MAY GO ON AS WELL A LITTLE BIT LONGER. SO WE ARE IN RECESS. TEN MINUTE RECESS. WE ARE IN RECESS. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE BACK. WELCOME BACK TO THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE GARDEN CITY COUNCIL. WE'LL
[ CITIZEN COMMENTS]
MOVE NOW ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS CITIZEN COMMENTS. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER? YES, SIR. WE HAVE CHRISTOPHER DIMAS. AND THEN ON DECK WE'VE GOT TERESA. CARRIE. SIR. NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL AND MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE THAT AFFECTS EVERY ONE OF US, REGARDLESS OF AGE, INCOME AND BACKGROUND ACCESS TO MY FAMILY. I MEAN, ACCESS TO TIMELY MEDICAL CARE. AND NOW TELEHEALTH CAN BE PART OF A PRACTICAL SOLUTION. ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, RESIDENTS ARE STRUGGLING TO SEE A DOCTOR WHEN THEY NEED ONE. LONG WAIT TIMES FOR PHYSICIANS SHORTAGE OR SHORTAGES, LIMITED CLINIC HOURS AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS AND RISING COSTS ARE CREATING GAPS IN CARE FOR WORKING FAMILIES, SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND UNDERSERVED AREAS. THESE BARRIERS ARE NOT INCENTIVES. THEY ARE REAL OBSTACLES TO HEALTH AND WELL BEING. CHAP. TELEHEALTH IS A SERVICE THAT CAN CLOSE THE GAPS. TAP TELEHEALTH ALLOWS THE RESIDENTS OF GARLAND TO CONSULT WITH HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS THROUGH VIDEOS AND PHONE PHONE VISITS, OFTEN WITH MINUTES INSTEAD OF HOURS SPENT IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM OR WAITING WEEKS FOR AN OPPORTUNITY AT CLINICS. THIS MEANS SOMEONE WITH A SUDDEN ILLNESS OR CHRONIC CONDITION, OR A MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN. THERE IS AN ECONOMIC BENEFITS. TELEHEALTH.TELEHEALTH CAN LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES BY PREVENTING UNNECESSARY ER VISITS. WITH TELEHEALTH, FAMILIES DON'T HAVE TO MISS WORK FOR SIMPLE ILLNESS AND CHILDREN SUPPORTING ACCESS TO SUPPORTING ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH FOR RESIDENTS OF GARLAND CAN BE A COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES WITHOUT WITHOUT BUILDING NEW FACILITIES OR STRAINING EXISTING RESOURCES. THE NURSE. BUT MOST IMPORTANT, THIS IS EQUITY. ACCESS TO A DOCTOR SHOULD NOT DEPEND ON A PERSON'S ZIP CODE, MOBILITY, OR ABILITY TO TAKE TIME OFF OF WORK. TAP TELEHEALTH LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD BY BRINGING CARE DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE WHEREVER THEY ARE. AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT TELEHEALTH FOR THE RESIDENTS OF GARLAND. TO ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE USE OF
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VIRTUAL TELEHEALTH, TO EDUCATE THE RESIDENTS OF GARLAND ABOUT SERVICES DOING. DOING SO SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE. DO US ALL DOING AND RECEIVE MEDICAL GUIDANCE QUICKLY BEFORE A PROBLEM BECOMES EMERGENCY. TAP TELEHEALTH DOES NOT REPLACE IN-PERSON CARE. INSTEAD, IT SUPPORTS AND STRENGTHENS OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM BY HANDLING NON EMERGENCY VISITS. RASHES. I HAVE TO ASK YOU TO SUM UP, SIR, THREE MINUTES. TO SUM UP. PLEASE SUM UP YOUR COMMENTS IF YOU WOULD, SIR. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, TERESA CAREY, AND UP ON THE DECK, ETHAN NEWMAN. NAME AND ADDRESS.FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. MY NAME IS TERESA CAREY, AND I LIVE AT 256 SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE. ME DRIVE. I'M SORRY, IN GARLAND, TEXAS. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO SPEAK. I'M A HEALTH CARE WORKER SERVING THE COMMUNITY. I SEE FIRSTHAND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE CANNOT ACCESS TIMELY MEDICAL CARE. AND I'M HERE TO SHARE THAT. I AM HERE TO SHARE WHAT TELEHEALTH CAN DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. EVERY DAY, I ENCOUNTER PATIENTS WHO WAITED TOO LONG FOR MEDICAL CARE NOT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO, NOT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT HELP, BUT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET TO AN APPOINTMENT OR TO TAKE TIME OFF OF WORK OR LACK OF TRANSPORTATION. LIKE MYSELF, I RIDE THE DART TO WORK. BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR CLINIC, THE CONDITIONS HAVE OFTEN WORSENED, MAKING TREATMENT MORE COMPLICATED AND COSTLY. TAP TELEHEALTH HELPED BRIDGE THAT GAP. FROM A HEALTH CARE WORKERS PERSPECTIVE, VIRTUAL CARE ALLOWS PATIENTS TO BE EVALUATED EARLY BEFORE A MANAGEABLE, UNMANAGEABLE ISSUE BECOMES A CRISIS. SIMPLE INFECTIONS, MEDICATIONS, QUESTIONS, CHRONIC DISEASE. FOLLOW UP, AND CARE CAN BE HANDLED QUICKLY AND SAFELY THROUGH TELEHEALTH SERVICES. TAP TELEHEALTH ALSO EASES THE STRAIN ON FRONTLINE WORKERS. LIKE MYSELF. I WORK IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM AND I SEE IT EVERY DAY. OUR EMERGENCY ROOMS AND URGENT CARE CENTERS ARE OVERWHELMED WHEN NON-EMERGENCY CASES ARE REDIRECTED TO TELEHEALTH. IT ALLOWS IN-PERSON STAFF TO FOCUS ON CRITICAL PATIENTS WHO TRULY NEED HANDS ON TREATMENT THAT IMPROVES PATIENT SAFETY, REDUCES BURNOUT AMONGST HEALTH CARE WORKERS, AND INCREASES OVERALL EFFICIENCY. IMPORTANTLY, TAP TELEHEALTH DOES NOT REPLACE LOCAL PROVIDERS. IT COMPLEMENTS THEM. IT KEEPS PATIENTS CONNECTED TO CARE, ENCOURAGES AND PREVENT AND PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT, AND ALL, AND OFTEN DIRECTS INDIVIDUALS IN TO IN-PERSON SERVICES WHEN NEEDED.
BETTER INFORMATION AND BETTER OUTCOMES. FROM MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, TAP TELEHEALTH IS MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. IT'S ABOUT EQUITY, PREVENTION AND SMART USE OF RESOURCES. IT RECOGNIZES THAT HEALTH CARE HAS CHANGED AND OUR ACCESS MUST CHANGE WITH IT. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF GARLAND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE. DOING SO SUPPORTS PATIENTS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF GARLAND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE HEALTH SERVICES WE SERVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, ETHAN NEWMAN. AND ON DECK WE HAVE SIMON. MATTHEW. ALL RIGHT. NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ETHAN. ADAM NEWMAN SAID ADDRESS? YES, SIR. 217 SOUTH GARLAND AVENUE, APARTMENT 1221. GARLAND, TEXAS, 75040. MY NAME IS ETHAN ADAM NEWMAN. I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR IN GARLAND FOR ONLY ONE YEAR, BUT I HAVE SHOPPED HERE AND ENGAGED WITH PEOPLE HERE FOR MANY YEARS, WHICH FUELED MY INTEREST IN LIVING HERE FULL TIME. AND I'M HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. A GOOD PUBLIC SERVICE CAN HELP RAISE A COMMUNITY UP COLLECTIVELY AND IN UNBELIEVABLE WAYS. IT CAN EDUCATE. IT CAN HELP PEOPLE GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING, AND IT CAN HELP PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY. IT CAN ALSO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND HOW A GOOD PUBLIC SERVICE CAN BE PERCEIVED AS BAD. I MYSELF HAVE LIVED IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THE MINDSET WAS THAT PROGRAMS LIKE TAP TELEHEALTH MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THEY SPECIFICALLY NEED AND CAN
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FEEL POINTLESS, BUT I ASSURE YOU THIS PROGRAM IS A VALUABLE POTENTIAL. GOOD. IT IS NOT POINTLESS, AND THOUGH SOME MAY BE LUCKY ENOUGH NOT TO NEED IT, I AND MANY OTHERS BELIEVE IT IS WORTH THE SMALL PRICE TO MAKE SURE THAT FELLOW ISLANDERS GET ACCESS TO FREE, POTENTIALLY LIFE SAVING HELP THROUGH TELEHEALTH. I HAVE KNOWN PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO DECIDE BETWEEN GOING TO A DOCTOR AND PAYING THE CAR BILL, OR KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON, OR KEEPING THEIR KIDS FED. THEY PUT OFF GOING TO A DOCTOR SO LONG THAT THE SYMPTOMS OF HEALTH PROBLEMS END UP OVERLOOKED AND IGNORED, SOMETIMES FOR SO LONG, THAT IT BECOMES TOO LATE TO HELP. THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO COULD GET POTENTIALLY LIFE SAVING INFORMATION FROM REAL PHYSICIANS WITH REAL MEDICAL EXPERIENCE USING TELEHEALTH, WITHOUT THE WORRY OF WONDERING WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY. SORRY, WITHOUT WONDERING HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THE BILLS AFTERWARDS. EXCUSE ME. I JUST RECENTLY RENEWED MY LEASE IN GARLAND. I LOVE THIS PLACE, I REALLY DO. IT'S A FANTASTIC PLACE. I GO TO GARLAND CAMERA ALL THE TIME. IT'S MY FAVORITE STORE. IT'S FANTASTIC. PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE. AS A RESIDENT, I FEEL IF I HAVE, I FEEL AS IF I HAVE A DUTY TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY TO HELP THEM WHEN NEEDED. IF OTHERS DON'T FEEL THE SAME WAY. I UNDERSTAND TIMES ARE TOUGH RIGHT NOW, AND IT MAY SEEM LIKE EVERY CENT SAVED MATTERS MORE THAN EVER. FOR THOSE PEOPLE, YOU CAN EASILY OPT OUT BEFORE IT BEGINS IN AS LITTLE AS FIVE MINUTES. BUT I IMPLORE YOU, COUNCIL. MR. MAYOR, PLEASE LET THIS PROGRAM MOVE FORWARD. I AND MANY OTHERS WILL CONTRIBUTE GLADLY, KNOWING THAT WE ARE GIVING AND GETTING SOMETHING BACK THAT WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD GARLAND, GROW STRONGER AND HEALTHIER. A COMMUNITY IS A POWERFUL THING, AND KEEPING THAT COMMUNITY HEALTHY IS A NET BENEFIT FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER? SIMON MATTHEW. AND ON DECK IS ANDREA VILLATORO. BACK AGAIN. COUNCIL, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT MY SUPPORT FOR THE TELEHEALTH PROGRAM. AS YOU KNOW, GARLAND IS A CITY OF YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, BEFORE YOU START, O SIMON MATTHEW 4502 BOBTOWN ROAD, GARLAND, TEXAS 75043. DISTRICT THREE. SO, AS YOU KNOW, GARLAND IS A CITY OF 200,000 PEOPLE. WE LOST BAYLOR A COUPLE YEARS AGO. WE HAVE THE VA, BUT THE VA ONLY DOES ER STUFF FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD. AND I KNEW SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT WORKED AT BAYLOR GARLAND RIGHT BEFORE IT CLOSED. NOW TAP TELEHEALTH BASICALLY IS A PRIMARY CARE KIND OF SERVICE, RIGHT? THEY DO SOME PRIMARY CARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND IT'S A FLAT FEE, $6 A MONTH, YOU KNOW, AND FOR A FLAT FEE OF $6 A MONTH, IT'S NOT TOO CRAZY. PEOPLE LIKE MY MOM CAN CALL THIS SERVICE UP, RIGHT? SHE'S A DIABETIC PATIENT, AND SHE CAN BASICALLY GET SOME KIND OF HELP. INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO TO HER PCP, SHE CAN GET SOME ASSISTANCE WITH BASICALLY GETTING HER. I WOULD ASSUME HER MEDICINE MEDICATIONS REFILLED, RIGHT? AND SO INSTEAD OF PAYING 30 A MONTH OR 30 PER VISIT FOR HER COPAY, SHE CAN JUST GO HERE. SHE CAN CALL A SERVICE THAT SHE PAYS FOR NOW. AND, YOU KNOW, I USE SOMETHING CALLED THE CHICKEN INDEX, RIGHT? THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE BIG MAC INDEX THAT A LOT OF ECONOMISTS USE. MY CHICKEN INDEX USED TO BE A DOLLAR. EIGHT WAS THE COST OF A MCCHICKEN. NOW IT'S 239, 259. SO IT'S ABOUT 30 MCCHICKENS. RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT $72 A YEAR. 30 MCCHICKENS SOME PEOPLE, $72 IS A NORMAL MEAL AT CHILI'S, RIGHT AT MY RESTAURANT. THAT WOULD BE ABOUT FOUR CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA AND SOME NAAN RIGHT NOW IN MY LIFE DURING THE COVID CRISIS. RIGHT. I REMEMBER GOING TO THE CARENOW OFF I-30 NEXT TO WALMART, AND I REMEMBER, MAN, IT WAS SO PACKED, RIGHT? SO A SERVICE THAT CAN OFFER SOMETHING LIKE TELEHEALTH FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF GARLAND IS AMAZING. THAT MEANS YOU CAN SIT AT YOUR HOUSE WHILE YOU'RE SICK. YOU CAN CALL THE SERVICE UP, TELL THEM, HEY, I GOT A FEVER.YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO CARE NOW, YOU JUST HAVE TO GO TO TELEHEALTH. CLICK ON THE APP, CALL THEM UP ON THE PHONE, WRITE AN SMS AND YOU GET ACCESS INSTANTLY. SO I DON'T SEE WHY PEOPLE ARE. I'M IN THE COMMENTS ON THE GARLAND FACEBOOK WHATEVER PAGE, RIGHT? PEOPLE ARE ANGRY. THEY'RE LIKE, NO ONE TOLD US, OH, PEOPLE TOLD YOU. IF YOU LOOKED AT THE GARLAND CITY NEWS WEB, YOU KNOW, LETTER PEOPLE TOLD YOU MR. MOORE WAS ON HIS FACEBOOK TELLING ME, I KNOW SEVERAL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ON THEIR FACEBOOKS TELLING PEOPLE. SO I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE YOU AND THE MAYOR TO GET HARASSED BY THE PEOPLE SAYING YOU'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH. WHEN I THINK YOU WERE, I THINK THE PEOPLE WERE NOT LOOKING. AND IF THEY WEREN'T LOOKING, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING ON THAT. BUT I THINK THAT A SERVICE LIKE THIS IS A BOON WHEN PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING, WHEN INCOMES ARE NOT RISING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
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SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, SANDRA VILLATORO, AND ON DECK, JOE VILLATORO. AND NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. HELLO. MY NAME IS SANDRA VILLATORO, I LIVE IN 802 CLARISSA PLACE, GARLAND, TEXAS, 75040 I'VE LIVED HERE ABOUT. LET'S SEE, WHEN I WAS A KID, I LIVED HERE TILL I WAS 16 AND THEN MOVED TO CHICAGO, AND THEN I KIND OF CAME BACK HERE. AND DURING THIS WHOLE TIME I'VE WORKED IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 20 YEARS. AND LIKE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS FIELD, I'VE LIVED WITHOUT INSURANCE FOR ALL THIS TIME. I PROBABLY HAD INSURANCE WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, AND SINCE THEN I HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING. SO EVERYTHING I'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH HAS BEEN OVER THE TOP TO TRY TO EVEN GET SOME KIND OF CARE. I LIVE WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES, SO WHICH MEANS I GET SICK VERY OFTEN, MORE OFTEN THAN MOST PEOPLE. SO WHEN IT HAPPENS, I DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF JUST WAITING IT OUT. WELL, WITHOUT INSURANCE, I DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO JUST SIMPLY CALL A DOCTOR TO GO GET GUIDANCE OR, YOU KNOW, TO GO DOWN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO JUST TO GET SOME HELP. IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR ME TO GET BETTER WITHOUT ANY INTERVENTION.SO, YOU KNOW, IT COMES TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO WAIT TILL I GET SO SERIOUS THAT I HAVE TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, AND THAT HAS LEFT ME IN AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF MEDICAL DEBT. AND NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH IT REALLY DOES COST TO GET ANY KIND OF CARE, WHETHER IT BE FOR MENTAL ILLNESSES, FOR AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES OR ANYTHING.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. AND LIKE I SAID, I WORK IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY. WE DO NOT GET OFFERED ANY KIND OF HEALTH BENEFITS AT ALL. YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN. SO THAT MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT FOR US. AND AS A PERSON WORKING IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING YOU DAY AND NIGHT FOOD, YOU KNOW WHAT? RATHER, WHATEVER IT WILL BE, WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF HAVING INSURANCE AS AS EVERYBODY ELSE DOES OR MAY NOT, YOU KNOW. BUT WE ALL KNOW ONE PERSON THAT WOULD SAY, I'LL DEAL WITH IT LATER. YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE FINE. I'LL DEAL WITH IT LATER. BUT IN REALITY, WE NEVER DEAL WITH IT.
WE WAIT TILL THE LAST MOMENT TO WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO BE IN THE E.R. AND THEN IT'S REALLY BAD AND IT JUST ESCALATES, YOU KNOW, IT'S A NEVER ENDING BATTLE. B I REALLY DO LIKE THIS PROGRAM. AND WHAT THEY OFFER IS AMAZING. $6 IS VERY FEASIBLE. IT REALLY IS. AND IT'S JUST LIKE A MCDONALD'S HAMBURGER. IT REALLY IS. TRULY. AND I REALLY DO THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE HELPING A LOT OF PEOPLE. I'VE TOLD SO MANY PEOPLE ABOUT IT, AND THIS IS ALREADY A GREAT START BECAUSE I KNOW FOR ONE, I WILL BE USING IT IMMEDIATELY.
BUT I'M HERE ASKING FOR THE PARTICIPATION AND JUST THE KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS THAT WE COULD DO FOR OUR COMMUNITIES SO THAT WE CAN GROW STRONGER FOR FOR LIKE PEOPLE LIKE ME AND MANY OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, ACCESS LIKE THIS ISN'T A LUXURY, IT'S A NECESSITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, JOE VILLATORO, ON DECK, AMANDA MADDOX, YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS? FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. HI. MY NAME IS JOE VILLATORO. I STAY AT 802 CLARISSA PLACE, 7540. GOOD.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN GARLAND FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS NOW. I WORK FULL TIME IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY FOR A COMPANY THAT PROVIDES INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS TO HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS. EVERY DAY I PROCESS THOUSANDS, THOUSANDS OF MEDICAL CLAIMS. AND THROUGH THIS WORK, I SEE FIRSTHAND HOW MANY PATIENTS LACK INSURANCE AND THE OVERWHELMING, OVERWHELMING PRICES THAT ARE FORCED TO PAY FOR BASIC CARE.
DESPITE WORKING IN THE HEALTH CARE. I DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE MYSELF. MY EMPLOYER STOPPED OFFERING COVERAGE IN 2023 WHEN BUSINESS SLOWED DOWN. AFTER THAT, I ENROLLED THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, BUT THIS YEAR THE PREMIUMS BECAME UNAFFORDABLE AND I WAS UNABLE TO ENROLL. MY WIFE RECENTLY STARTED A NEW JOB, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL WE CAN ONLY AFFORD TO COVER HER AND OUR DAUGHTER ON HER EMPLOYER'S PLAN. I REMAIN UNINSURED. OUR SITUATION BECAME EVEN MORE STRESSFUL WHEN OUR SON RECENTLY LOST HIS BENEFITS. WE HAVE AN UPCOMING MEETING TO DETERMINE WHETHER HIS BENEFITS WILL BE REINSTATED, BUT AS OF NOW, HIS COVERAGE IS UNCERTAIN. THE LOSS OF COVERAGE HAS ALREADY HAD REAL CONSEQUENCES. OUR SON WAS SCHEDULED FOR AN MRI LAST WEEK DUE TO ONGOING BREATHING PROBLEMS, BUT WITHOUT INSURANCE,
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WE CAN. WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THE COST. WE ALSO CANNOT AFFORD TO ADD THEM TO MY WIFE'S PLAN, OR PAY FOR PRIVATE COVERAGE OUT OF OUR POCKET, AS WE BELIEVE HIS BENEFITS MIGHT CONTINUE OR NOT. I'M SHARING THIS BECAUSE IT REFLECTS A REALITY REALITY MANY WORKING FAMILIES FACE, EVEN THOSE OF US EMPLOYED IN HEALTH CARE CAN FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS. ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CARE IS NOT JUST A POLICY ISSUE, IT'S IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE HEALTH AND STABILITY OF FAMILIES LIKE MINE. I, I RECENTLY USED THE TELEHEALTH FOR MEDICAL USE, AND THE EXPERIENCE WAS FAST. IT WAS EASY, THE SIGN UP PROCESS WAS SIMPLE AND I WAS CONNECTED TO A PROFESSIONAL WITHOUT NO DELAY. I WANT TO SAY PROBABLY LIKE TEN MINUTES AND I WAS ALREADY TALKING TO SOMEBODY COMPARED TO THE URGENT CARE, WHICH I WOULD HAVE HAD TO WASTE MORE TIME AND FOR LONGER WAIT AND SPEND MORE MONEY. I BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO MY FAMILY AND OUR COMMUNITY. I STRONGLY SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROGRAM AND HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THE THE REAL IMPACT IT CAN HAVE ON THE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, AMANDA MADDOX, AND UP ON DECK, ADRIAN SEGURA. NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. AMANDA MADDOX, THREE FIVE, ZERO SIX CLOVER MEADOW DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS, 75043.I'VE LIVED IN GARLAND FOR 25 YEARS. I HOLD A DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AND AN MBA.
THESE SPECIFIC DISCIPLINES ARE DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THE MD PATHWAYS IMPLEMENTATION. WHILE THE GOAL OF EXPANDING HEALTH CARE ACCESS IS COMMENDABLE, THE CURRENT DELIVERY MODEL, WHICH IS USING AN AUTOMATIC OPT IN OF THE GARLAND UTILITY CUSTOMER, IS PROBLEMATIC FROM BOTH A TECHNOLOGY POINT OF VIEW AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT PERSPECTIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST A DIFFERENT APPROACH. INSTEAD OF USING THE GARLAND UTILITY SOFTWARE AS A BILLING ENGINE FOR A PRIVATE COMPANY NAMED PATHWAYS SHOULD FEATURE A STANDARD ENROLL NOW BUTTON ON THEIR OWN GARLAND SPECIFIC WEBSITE. AS FOR PRIVATE, FOR PROFIT ENTITY, THEY SHOULD MANAGE THEIR OWN CUSTOMER ACQUISITION BY UTILIZING THEIR OWN PAYMENT PROCESSOR FOR CREDIT CARD AND ACH TRANSACTIONS. BY DOING SO, MD PATHWAYS WOULD OWN THE COMMUNICATION WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS DIRECTLY, RATHER THAN INVOLVING THE GARLAND UTILITY.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT. IT IS VITAL THAT WE MAINTAIN A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN A PRIVATE, FOR PROFIT COMPANY AND OUR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. WHEN THE CITY AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLS RESIDENTS INTO A PRIVATE INTO A PRIVATE SERVICE, IT BLURS THE LINE BETWEEN PUBLIC GOVERNANCE AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. OUR UTILITY BILLING SYSTEM SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICES SUCH AS WATER, ELECTRICITY, SANITATION, RATHER THAN SERVING AS A COLLECTION TOOL FOR A THIRD PARTY VENDOR. OVER THE SEVEN YEAR CONTRACT, FEES ARE SCHEDULED TO SLOWLY INCREASE. THE CURRENT SET UP ENSURES THAT WHENEVER A RESIDENT HAS A BILLING QUESTION, THE BURDEN FALLS ON THE GARLAND UTILITY. CUSTOMER SUPPORT. THIS CREATES A SEVEN YEAR UNNECESSARY BURDEN FOR CITY STAFF. THE VENDOR SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS OWN BILLING, INQUIRIES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR THE DURATION OF THE SEVEN YEAR CONTRACT BY MOVING TO AN OPT IN MODEL THROUGH AN ENROLL NOW BUTTON ON THE VENDOR'S WEBSITE, WE ENSURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT WHO PAYS FOR THE SERVICE HAD MADE A CONSCIOUS, INFORMED CHOICE TO DO SO. THIS PROTECTS THE CITY AND ENSURES THAT THE VENDOR IS FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS OWN OPERATIONS, ITS OWN BILLING, ITS OWN CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS, AND ITS OWN TERMS AND CONDITIONS. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THIS CURRENT IMPLEMENTATION PATH OR RECONSIDER THIS CURRENT IMPLEMENTATION PATH, AND REQUIRE THIS PROGRAM TO FUNCTION AS A TRADITIONAL VOLUNTARY SERVICE THROUGH THE PRIVATE VENDORS WEBSITE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, ADRIAN SEGURA, UP ON DECK, HEATHER DUBROW. NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING TO EVERYBODY. I LIVE ON 1718 WEST WEST SIDE STREET IN GARLAND,
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TEXAS. 75 040. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT MD PATHWAYS. TO ME PERSONALLY, I'M THANKFUL THAT I HAVE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE. BUT TO ME, TIME IS VALUABLE. AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK TAP TELEHEALTH WILL BE BENEFICIAL. I WILL BE WASTING MORE IN GAS TO JUST GO SEE IT AT A CLINIC, TO JUST HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED TO ME. PEACE OF MIND. IT'S MORE VALUABLE. WHEN I CAN JUST HAVE THE APP ON MY PHONE AND JUST CALL THEM RIGHT AWAY. WHY NOT DO THAT NOW? THE OPTION TO OPT OUT. ASK FOR YOURSELF. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO WITH YOUR VALUABLE TIME? I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN BY OTHER CITIZENS, BUT LET THE COUNCIL MEMBERS DECIDE HOW THEY WILL INFORM THE PEOPLE, HOW TO OPT OUT AND ABOUT ANY REFUNDS. THEY ALREADY MENTIONED THAT. OKAY, SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE LOSING YOUR MONEY. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, JUST OPT OUT. YOU ALSO GOING TO GET A REFUND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT. I THINK THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ALREADY KIND OF TAP INTO IT. SO, YOU KNOW, JUST ASK FOR YOURSELF, WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY TIME? OPT OUT. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. TO ME. I ALREADY USED THE SYSTEM TWICE. I HAVE A TODDLER, HE'S A THREE YEAR OLD AND UNFORTUNATELY LAST YEAR HE HAD TO BE IN THE E.R. NOW FOR $6. I HAVE PEACE OF MIND AND I ALREADY ASKED TWO QUESTIONS. A PHONE CALL AWAY, $6. I WILL BE WASTING $6 IN SOMETHING. NOT NECESSARY. HOWEVER, THIS IS ABOUT HEALTH. AND LIKE I SAID, PEACE OF MIND. SO I URGE THE CITIZENS TO CONSIDER THIS. THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TOO AND TO FULLY SUPPORT AND TAP TELEHEALTH. THANK YOU SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER? HEATHER BROUGHT UP ON DECK DANNY STARNES. HI. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. 2518 SUNCREST DRIVE.LET'S START WITH SOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED EARLIER TODAY. AND I WANT TO SAY IT VERY CLEARLY. WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME TEAM. WE ARE GARLAND RESIDENTS AND WE ALL CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER AND WANT TO DO RIGHT BY EACH OTHER. EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES AND A TAXPAYER. WE HAVE THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO GET ON SOCIAL MEDIA. COME IN HERE, GO TO THE NEAREST RESTAURANT AND TALK ABOUT MATTERS OF PUBLIC CONCERN WITHOUT BEING ATTACKED OR BELITTLED OR CALLED LIARS. WE WERE CHALLENGED TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED, AND I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU ASKED ME TO DO. I HAVE WORKED AS A VOLUNTEER CONSUMER ADVOCATE ON REAL CALM FOR 20 YEARS. I DON'T MAKE A PENNY. I'VE WORKED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR ALL OF THOSE 20 YEARS, MANY, MANY TIMES. READ EVERYTHING I'VE POSTED. IF THERE'S ANY MISINFORMATION, YOU CORRECT ME AND LET'S OPEN UP A REAL FRIENDLY, WARM DIALOG AND LET'S GET THE FACTS OUT THERE SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS. THERE SHOULD BE NO ENEMIES HERE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE DIALOG WE HAVE GOING ON ABOUT THIS. LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. SUMMER WASPS HAVE PUT UP A WONDERFUL POLL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, THERE WERE 519 VOTES. ONLY 7% OF THE PEOPLE ON THAT FACEBOOK PAGE. AND THAT'S THE GARLAND GROUP WITH 62,000 MEMBERS. 7% SAID YES, 72% WERE A HARD NO ON THIS PROGRAM. HOW LONG IS THE CITY COUNCIL GOING TO KEEP PUSHING THIS DANGEROUS SERVICE DOWN OUR THROATS? LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SERVICE. THEY HAVE BEEN IN SEVERAL CITIES AND I MEAN VERY FEW. IT IS A COLLAPSING SCAM YOU ARE PUTTING US INTO. IN TEXAS. WE HAVE SIX CITIES CURRENTLY ACTIVE. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 31,000 TAXPAYERS APPROXIMATELY, WHICH MEANS ABOUT 10,000 BILLING UNITS. THERE ARE EIGHT SMALL CITIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT ARE IN THIS. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TAXPAYERS IS ABOUT 12,000. THAT'S ABOUT 4000 BILLING UNITS. MD HEALTH PATHWAYS NEEDS TO GO OUT IN THE REAL WORLD MARKETPLACE, USE THEIR OWN BILLING. AND THOSE OF YOU WHO SUPPORTED SUPPORT IT OUT ON YOUR OWN. IT SHOULD NOT BE IN THIS CITY, AND I AM BEGGING YOU TO GET THIS OUT IMMEDIATELY. IT IS A SCAM. THEY ARE NOT HAVING ANY MARKET REACH. THEY STARTED IN FERRIS WITH COVID FUNDS IN 2022 AND 2023.
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NO CITY SIGNED UP IN 2024. 11 OF THOSE TINY TOWNS I MENTIONED SIGNED UP IN 2025, ONLY THREE CITIES ENROLLED. IT IS COLLAPSING. THE OTHER CITIES ARE NOT PUTTING IT IN BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING THE FORCED ENROLLMENT AND THE HIDDEN CHARGE ON THE WATER BILLS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. PLEASE, LET'S GET A REAL DIALOG ABOUT THIS AND LET'S DO RIGHT BY OUR CITIZENS. PEOPLE WHO WANT IT CAN GET IT IN THE OPEN MARKETPLACE. AND I FULLY SUPPORT THAT. I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A CHOICE FOR ANYBODY. I WANT EVERYONE TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICE. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANKS. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, DANNY STARNES, UP ON DECK, SHIRLEY ROBERTS, DANNY STARNES, SIX FIVE, ZERO NINE FALLBROOK DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YOU KNOW, FOR ME, THIS HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT TELEHEALTH. IF AN ADULT WANTS TO BUY SOMETHING, I REALLY COULDN'T CARE LESS WHAT THEY WANT. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH TELEHEALTH. FOR ME, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC OPT IN ASPECT OF MD HEALTH PATHWAYS. TAP TELEHEALTH. I BELIEVE WE HAVE MANY ELDERLY CITIZENS WHO ARE NOT AS CONNECTED AS THEY USED TO BE, AND WHO WILL NEVER KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN SIGNED UP FOR THIS PROGRAM UNTIL THEY DISCOVER THEY CAN ONLY AFFORD MEDICINE OR FOOD, BUT NOT BOTH.THAT IS NOT HYPERBOLE. IT IS THE REALITY FOR MANY SENIORS LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES. I HEAR IT EVERY DAY. I SEE IT EVERY DAY. HERE'S HERE'S WHAT'S NEVER MADE SENSE TO ME. LET'S PUT SOME LOGIC INTO THIS. I SPENT MY LIFE BUILDING SOFTWARE. I HAD TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF LOGIC. SO LET'S GO THERE. I KEEP HEARING THAT THE CITY AND THE VENDOR WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO CONTACT EVERY RESIDENT TO NOTIFY THEM ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. IF THAT IS TRUE, THEN WHY NOT SIMPLY ASK RESIDENTS TO SIGN UP WHEN YOU CONTACT THEM? IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONTACT THEM ANYWAY, ASK THEM TO SIGN UP INSTEAD OF FORCE ENROLLING THEM. HOW DOES THIS HOW DOES THIS PROGRAM SUDDENLY, MAGICALLY BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE WHEN EVERYONE IS ALREADY BEING CONTACTED? THAT'S THE ACQUISITION COST ALREADY BEING PAID FOR, ALREADY BEING TAKEN CARE OF. AND I DO HAVE AN MBA ALSO, SO I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BUSINESS. SO WHERE ARE THE ADDITIONAL COSTS INVOLVED IN GIVING CITIZENS A CHOICE? IF THIS WERE OPT IN, THE CITY WOULD NEVER EVEN KNOW MY NAME AND I BET YOU I'D BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT. AND I COULDN'T CARE LESS WHAT ANOTHER ADULT CHOOSES TO PURCHASE WITH THEIR OWN FUNDS, WITH THEIR OWN FREE WILL, IN A FREE MARKET SYSTEM. THAT'S HOW WE'RE DESIGNED HERE IN THIS COUNTRY.
THERE'S ONE MORE CRITICAL POINT THAT HAS TO BE HEARD. THE CITY IS NOT LOCKED INTO THIS CONTRACT. YOU CAN CANCEL THIS AGREEMENT IMMEDIATELY FOR ANY REASON OR NO REASON AT ALL, WITHOUT PENALTY. THE CONTRACT ITSELF ALLOWS THIS. HERE IS THE EXACT LANGUAGE FROM THE AGREEMENT. SECTION 6.1 A EITHER PARTY MAY CANCEL THIS AGREEMENT WITHOUT PENALTY UP TO 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE PROGRAM LAUNCH DATE. WELL, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A PROGRAM LAUNCH DATE SET YET, SO WE'RE IN THAT WINDOW. YOU CAN CANCEL RIGHT NOW. SO I HAVE A COPY OF THE CONTRACT HERE. I WANT TO SEE IT. IT'S IN BLACK AND WHITE. BUT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S HOW WE SHOULD BE JUDGED. WHETHER WE DID THE RIGHT THING OR NOT.
CANCEL THIS CONTRACT AND RENEGOTIATE AN OPT IN MODEL. YOU'RE CONTACTING EVERYONE ANYWAY. PROTECT OUR ELDERLY CITIZENS WHO BUILT THIS CITY AND DESERVE TRANSPARENCY, CONSENT AND DIGNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, SHIRLEY ROBERTS, UP ON DECK? T.L. BARNES. FOR PART TWO HERE AND HERE. SHIRLEY ROBERTS, 2102, COUNTRY OAKS. I WANT TO APPLAUD THIS LADY THAT STOOD UP AND TOLD YOU ABOUT. LET THEM LET MD PATHWAYS CHARGE THEIR OWN PEOPLE. NOT ONLY COULD THEY DO THAT, IF THEY OPT IN, THEY WILL HAVE THE INFORMATION BECAUSE THE PATIENT WILL GIVE IT TO THEM. WE HAVE A CONTRACT THAT SAYS, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S HALF AND HALF, HALF APARTMENTS AND HALF RESIDENTS. BUT ON THE APARTMENT SIDE, OUR CONTRACT SAYS OUR ATTORNEYS, OUR ATTORNEYS AT OUR TAXPAYER MONEY CAN GO TO THE APARTMENTS AND NEGOTIATE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO PAY AFTER THE NEGOTIATION IS FINISHED, MD PATHWAYS IS GOING TO COME IN AND SAY, GARLAND, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BILL THEM.
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WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OVER. THAT'S THE WAY IT IS. IF THEY CAN IF WE OPT IN, THEY CAN JUST TAKE OVER. WE DON'T HAVE TO BUILD ANYBODY. I AM NOT AGAINST THIS PROGRAM. I AM NOT FOR SHOVING PEOPLE OUT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO USE IT. I AM FOR THAT. I WOULD SUPPORT YOU WITH THAT.JUST HAVE IT OPT IN. TO ANSWER A QUESTION THAT I WAS ASKED EARLIER TONIGHT. FOLLOW UP THAT QUESTION ABOUT PATHWAYS. THE COST OF PATHWAYS RUNNING THE PROGRAM, ALL THOSE CITIES THAT THEY OPT TO OR THEY OPTED OUT, BUT THEYOOK IN. THEY ALREADY KNEW HOW MANY PEOPLE, THEY ALREADY KNEW HOW MANY EMPLOYEES THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE TO SERVE THOSE PEOPLE. IF WE DO THE OPT IN, THEY WILL KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY'RE GOING TO SERVE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GUESS AT IT. YOU YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE, AND THAT'S HOW MANY YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE. IT SHOULDN'T COST THE REST OF US ALL THAT MONEY. THEY'RE HERE TO MAKE MONEY. I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT NOT SHOULDN'T BE ON THE BACKS OF SENIORS OR ANYBODY ELSE IN GARLAND. WE NEED AN OPT IN AND I WILL SUPPORT YOU. I WILL NOT SHOW UP HERE. YOU CAN SAY GOODBYE, SHIRLEY. AND AND SAYONARA. I. I THINK THAT'S ONLY GOING TO SAY IF I GOT A SECOND. I GOT 40S LEFT. HOLD ON. IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FOLLOW YOUR INFORMATION, YOU NEED TO INFORM THEM. INFORM THEM ON THE MEDIA THEY FOLLOW, NOT YOU. YOU ALL FOLLOW THIS CITY STUFF, BUT THEY DON'T. I KNOW YOU INTEND TO MAKE HUGE MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER THE LAUNCH, AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO COME TO US IN NOVEMBER AND YOU'RE GOING TO INFORM US OF THE NEW TAX INCREASE, WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO. YOU'RE GOING TO SEND OUT THOSE BEAUTIFUL CARDS THAT ARE GLOSSY.
WHY DON'T YOU SEND OUT THE GLOSSIES TO EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW? I KNOW I'M GOING TO GET ONE IN NOVEMBER. IT'S A DONE DEAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER? TEAL'C BARNES AND LOU PINTO GREEN OR UPENDO GREEN? I APOLOGIZE. NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. MY NAME IS TY. I AM A AN ADVOCATE OF GARLAND. I LIVE IN GARLAND. 7503 AREA I EXPERIENCED THE REAL QUICK. IF YOU COULD PLEASE ADDRESS JUST FOR THE RECORD AS WELL. 4 OR 5 FOUR ONE. THANK YOU MA'AM. YES, I USED THE IPAD. THE I USED THE TELEHEALTH. IT WAS VERY CONVENIENT. I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT WAS VERY DETAILED. I TOLD THEM THAT I, THAT I HAD A COLD, IT WAS VERY DETAILED, TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WAS ASKING ME IF I HAD AN ODOR, WHAT COLOR IT WAS. THEY EXPLAINED TO ME EVERYTHING FROM WHAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS. IT WAS JUST VERY GREAT. IT WAS VERY SUFFICIENT. IT WAS VERY EASY. I LIKE THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IF I DIDN'T HAVE ANY GAS OR I JUST WASN'T FEELING WELL TO EVEN GET IN THE CAR, I DID EVERYTHING FROM THE PHONE.
I GAVE THEM MY INFORMATION WHERE MY WHERE I GOT MY MEDICINE FROM. IT WAS JUST VERY CONVENIENT. I JUST APPRECIATE IT BEING ACCESSIBLE TO ME AND ME NOT HAVING TO LEAVE MY HOUSE IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO, AND I WAS PRESCRIBED DOXYCYCLINE AND ANOTHER ANTIBIOTIC THAT I COULDN'T PRONOUNCE, BUT IT WAS VERY SUFFICIENT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MA'AM. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER GREEN AND FINAL SPEAKER, CARL SMITH. I FORGIVE ME TODAY.
ALL RIGHT. JUST NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. MY NAME IS RHONDA GREEN. I LIVE AT 4344. TEXAS. AS YOU CAN SEE. I'M HERE STANDING ON THE FACT THAT I'M A COSMETOLOGIST. I'M IN BUSINESS FOR MYSELF. HEALTH CARE THAT I HAVE ACCESSIBILITY TO IS A BIT LIMITED. I PAID THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE OR I DON'T HAVE IT. SOME YEARS I HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FINANCE MY INSURANCE FROM YEARS IS ROCKY AND I HAVE TO FOREGO IT. AND THEN I'M IN THE KITCHEN WITH GRANDMA'S REMEDIES. I WAS SO FORTUNATE THIS TIME THAT MY SISTER TAKE INTRODUCED ME TO THIS WEBSITE AND THIS PORT. IT ACTUALLY CAME IN AND CLUTCH TIME AT THIS TIME FOR ME, AND I FEEL REAL GOOD ABOUT THAT. I GOT SICK AT THE PARADE ON SATURDAY FROM MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADE. I STARTED FEELING A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER. I STILL HAD TO PRESS THROUGH AND GO TO WORK. I CALLED IN MY PRESCRIPTION WHILE I WAS AT WORK. WHILE I CALLED IT, I USED
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THE APP WHILE I WAS AT WORK, AND MY PRESCRIPTION IS WAITING AT TOM THUMB FOR ME TO FEEL BETTER. I DIDN'T HAVE TO FOREGO MISSING THIS. THAT'S WHY I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I'M ALL FOR IT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MA'AM. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER? CARL SMITH. AND THEN WE HAVE TWO REGISTERED POSITIONS THAT ARE NOT TESTIFYING. MY NAME IS CARL SMITH, 2216 RIDGE OAK DRIVE. SCAM, DECEPTION, FRAUD, COLLUSION, SWINDLE, KICKBACKS, ELDERLY ABUSE, ILLEGAL OR, AMONG THE OTHER WORDS, THAT INCREASING NUMBER OF CITIZENS ARE BEING USING TO DESCRIBE THE ACTIONS OF THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. THE CITY ATTORNEY, FORMER CITY MANAGER, AND A SMALL GROUP OF STAFF PERFORMING IN THE WAY THEY HAVE PERFORMED IN EXECUTION OF AND ADOPTING OF THE AND THE ROLLOUT OF MD PATHWAYS. PEOPLE HAVE EQUALLY SAID THESE WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE ACTIONS OF MD PATHWAYS THEMSELVES. YOU SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED OF YOUR ACTIONS. SO FAR, AS OF JANUARY 16TH, 5042 HOUSEHOLDS HAVE OPTED OUT OF A DECEPTIVE PROGRAM THAT MANY HAVE NOT SEEN OR HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT. THAT NUMBER IS EVER INCREASING AND IS MORE CITIZENS HEAR ABOUT IT.HE NUMBER WILL CONTINUE TO GO THAT WAY. IT'S VERY STRANGE THAT THE NUMBER OF OPT OUTS ARE EVEN DECEPTIVE. ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, AND THIS PROGRAM WAS IF THIS PROGRAM WAS ABOVE BOARD, WHY IS IT THAT MD PATHWAYS WILL NOT SHARE THE NUMBER OF SIGN UPS ON THE FREE PILOT PILOT PROGRAM? HUNDREDS IS NOT AN ANSWER. OR DOES THE MAYOR JUST REFUSE TO GIVE IT TO US? I HAVE ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THAT NUMBER. THE WORST PART OF THIS IS THE FACT THAT SENIORS NOT ON THE INTERNET ARE GOING TO BE HAVE THIS SPRUNG ON THEM IN THEIR LIMITED BUDGETS THAT I THINK WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS ELDER ABUSE. AS FAR AS THE SERVICE OF THESE ELDERLY MAKING THE WRONG PHONE CALL 911 VERSUS MD PATHWAYS, IT COULD MEAN THEIR DEATH. WHO GETS SUED? FROM WHAT I SEE, NO ONE. THIS IS NOT THE CITY'S JOB TO DO. DO THE RIGHT THING. CANCEL MD PATHWAYS. YOUR VERY REPUTATION IS AT STAKE I GOOD, GOOD I GOT ANOTHER MINUTE. I FIND IT INTERESTING AND MANIPULATIVE THAT MD PATHWAYS HAS ORCHESTRATED ALL THESE SPEAKERS IN FAVOR OF IT ON THE SAME NIGHT AS THEY HAVE AN UPDATE. AND ON TOP OF THAT, COACHING THOSE DURING THE MEETING, WHICH I SAW PERSONALLY, AS FAR AS BULLYING, YOU HAVE A POSITION OF AUTHORITY AND YOU SIT THERE AND TALK DOWN TO CITIZENS. YOU ARE OUTWARDLY HOSTILE TO ANYONE THAT OPPOSES THIS, AND YOUR NICEY NICE WITH ANYBODY THAT AGREES WITH YOU. AND JUST FOR INFORMATION, THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE CITY PRESS ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE VOTE. AND THAT'S THE WAY A LOT OF US FIND OUR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO US. WE TRUST YOU WHEN WE VOTE FOR YOU. IF YOU HIDE INFORMATION BEFORE A VOTE, THEN HOW THE DEVIL ARE WE GOING TO KNOW WHAT TO DO? WHAT WILL YOU DO IS YOU NO LONGER GET THE TRUST. THANK YOU SIR. MADAM SECRETARY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? NO SPEAKERS. BUT KEVIN BUSBY REGISTERED A POSITION NOT TESTIFYING, AND HE'S FOR THE PROGRAM. AND D CENTAURI AND BOREN'S REGISTERED AND NOT TESTIFYING. AND HE IS FOR THE PROGRAM. VERY GOOD. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TONIGHT? SEEING NONE AT* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.