* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
          [00:00:01]
          THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. 
          I WANT EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY STAND UP, RIGHT? STAND UP NOW. 
          CITY OF GARLAND, PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER. 
          WOULD YOU PLEASE PUT THIS PROBLEM COME OUT TONIGHT TO, IT'S A GOOD THING YOU SEE THIS MANY PEOPLE COME OUT TO A TOWN HALL TO TALK ABOUT THEIR DISTRICT. 
          MY NAME IS ED AND I, YOUR DISTRICT CITY COUNCIL. 
          IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU THIS EVENING AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH YOU. 
          I DO HAVE SOME PRELIMINARY THINGS THAT I WANT TO SAY THIS EVENING AND YOU WILL IN ME. 
          I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND THANK GOALS OF YOU WHO JOINED US THIS EVENING. 
          HONORED TO BE ACD BY OUR MAYOR THIS EVENING. 
          MAYOR, PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER. 
          WE HAVE FELLOW MEMBERS OF OUR CITY COUNCIL HERE. 
          OUR CITY MANAGER MIKE BES IS HERE. 
          MIKE. 
          AND BEING THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE IN SHOW IS OUR STAFF HARLEM CITY STAFF ONCE YOU GIVE THEM ALL. 
          TONIGHT'S TOWN HALL IS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, COMMUNICATIONS, AND SHARED VISION. 
          OUR GOAL IS PROVIDE YOU WITH MEANINGFUL UPDATES ON WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM, WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER, AND THE WORK THAT STILL LIES AHEAD OF US AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE DISTRICT THREE AND THE STATE OF GARLAND FORWARD. 
          ON A PERSONAL NOTE, THERE IS REALLY NO WHERE OF PRIVILEGE THAN BEING ENTRUSTED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY. 
          THIS POSITION DEMANDS A GREAT DEAL. 
          THE HOURS ALONG THE DECISIONS CARRY REAL WEIGHT AND THE WORK FOLLOWS YOUR OWN MANY TIMES WELL BEYOND THE MEETINGS THAT YOU SEE ON A REGULAR BASIS. 
          MY WIFE SAID, AMEN. 
          , WHEN YOU FIRST GET ON THE COUNCIL, THE LEARNING CURVE CAN FEEL STEEP SOMETIMES LIKE STANDING IN FRONT OF AN OPEN WATER PIPE AND TRYING TO TAKE IN AN OVERWHELMING STREAM OF INFORMATION WHILE STILL ATTEMPTING TO BREAK IT. 
          THE ACRONYMS TAKE AT LEAST TWO YEARS TO LEARN. 
          YET WITH TIME GUIDANCE FROM EXPERIENCED COLLEAGUES AND THE SUPPORT OF HIGHLY SKILLED, COMMITTED STAFF, YOU BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM AND FIND YOUR FOOT THAT TEAMWORK IS WHAT MAKES EFFECTIVE LOCAL GOVERNANCE POSSIBLE. 
          BUT I'M GRATEFUL TONIGHT FOR EVERY BIT OF IT. 
          GRATEFUL IN THE EARLY MORNING AND LATE NIGHTS, GRATEFUL FOR THE HARD CONVERSATIONS. 
          AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE VERY COMPLEX, GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO SIT ACROSS FROM RELATIVES WHO HAVE CONCERNS AND TO ACTUALLY BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES. 
          YOU SEE, WHEN YOU LOVE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE, WHEN DISTRICT THREE IS NOT JUST A MAP BOUNDARY, BUT A COMMUNITY OF REAL FAMILIES, REAL NEIGHBORS, AND REAL STORIES, THIS WORK IS NOT. 
          SACRIFICE IS AN HONOR, IS A PRIVILEGE, AND IT IS OF PLEASURE. 
          YOU SEE, I DID NOT SEEK THIS OFFICE TO BUILD A RESUME. 
          I SOLD IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S  AND I LOVE THIS CITY. 
          AND EVERY DAY THAT I SERVED HIGH GROSS PROGRAM AS A RESULT OF IT, EARLY IN MY TENURE, I CONDUCTED A SCRAP ASKING DISTRICT THREE RESIDENTS WHAT THEY EXPECTED FROM THEIR COUNCIL REPRESENTATION. 
          THE RESPONSES WERE CANDID, THOUGHTFUL, AND X AMOUNT DIFFICULT TO HEAR, BUT THEY WERE EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND HOW BEST TO SERVE YOU. 
          RESIDENTS TOLD ME THEY WANTED MORE UPSCALE RESTAURANTS. 
          DO YOU REMEMBER RETAIL, HOTEL AND DESTINATION LOCATIONS? THEY WANTED A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WOULD RETURN THEIR TELEPHONE CALLS WHEN THEY CALLED. 
          MM-HMM  YOU REMEMBER? YEAH. 
          THEY WANTED TO FEEL THE SOFTBALL AND WAS RECEIVING A FAIR SHARE OF INVESTMENT ATTENTION. 
          AND SOME EXPRESSED A PAINFUL SENTIMENT THAT SOFT GOWIN WAS THE ARMPIT OF GOWIN AND THAT WE WERE NOT GETTING OUR JUST DUES. 
          DO YOU REMEMBER? YEAH. 
          AMEN. 
          THESE COMMENTS SHAPE THE STANDARDS THAT I'VE TRIED TO LIVE UP TO DURING MY TIME IN THIS OFFICE. 
          WHY WE NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERY DECISION? I BELIEVE WE HAVE MADE REAL AND MEASURABLE PROGRESS TOGETHER BY ADDRESSING ALL THAT COME BEFORE US. 
          [00:05:01]
SO TODAY, JUST FOR THREE SPANS. 
          AS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS IN THIS AREA, VOLUME, YOU KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF IF NOTHING ELSE, YOU SEE THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE TRAFFIC AND ALL OF THAT STUFF IS TAKING PLACE. 
          WE'RE SEEING CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT IN SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING, MULTI-FAMILY COMMUNITIES, TOWNHOMES AND LEASE USE PROJECTS. 
          ALONG WITH THIS GROWTH, THE CITY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN UPGRADING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, WATER AND WASTEWATER CAPACITY TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS TO ENSURE WE'RE ALL PREPARED NOT ONLY FOR TODAY'S NEEDS BUT FOR THE DEMANDS OF TOMORROW. 
          THESE EFFORTS ARE GUIDED BY LONG RANGE PLANNING INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE GET VISION GO AND LAND THE I 30 CARD TO COUNT THE STUDY. 
          A KEY FOCAL POINT OF OUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT HERE YOU WILL IS THE HORRIBLE AREA ALONG LAKE . 
          HAR POINT REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A VIBRANT DESTINATION THAT COMPLIMENTS GARLAND'S HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SQUARE, WHILE EXTENDING RECREATIONAL, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES ALONG OUR SHORES WITH REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS THE EXPANSION OF INTERSTATE 30 AND THE PLANNED EXTENSION OF PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH GARLAND HAS INCREASINGLY POSITIONED AS A STRATEGIC HUB CONNECTING COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE DALLAS FORT WORTH METRO BANKS, EVEN AS A FULLER DEVELOPED CITY WITH LIMITED BLOOM TO EXPAND OUTWARD GARLAND CONTINUES TO GROW THROUGH AWFUL REDEVELOPMENT, SMART LAND PLAN AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS, PARTICULARLY ITS SOUTH AND ALONG THE LAKESIDE, FLORIDA. 
          YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THIS EVENING HOW COMPAR CORPORATIONS AND RETAIL TAKING A RENEWED INTEREST IN RALEIGH FUTURE COMPANIES, INCLUDING HIGH SOUGHT AFTER GROCERS LIKE HEB, LIKE HEB,  COMPANIES THAT IN THE PAST TALKED TO US BUT DIDN'T REALLY LOOK AT US. 
          THAT LEVEL OF ATTENTION REFLECTS THE WORK THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS CITY HAVE PUT INTO PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. 
          RATHER THAN WAITING FOR IT TO HAPPEN. 
          WE'LL BE DISCUSS DISCUSSING TONIGHT SEVERAL IMPORTANT TOPICS AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING UPDATES ON PUBLIC SAFETY FROM OUR POLICE AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, REGIONAL ISSUES INVOLVING DART INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, THE FUTURE VISION FOR SOUTH LAKE, UH, LAKEVIEW HARBOR POINT. 
          AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT DART AGO, WHAT VERY PRIVILEGE AND GLAD TO HAVE A DUST TONIGHT, RANDALL SURROUND WITH BRIAN TO STAND UP TODAY EVERYONE AND TAKE A LOOK AT YOU. 
          SO THOSE WHO DUNNO YOU'S THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE DOOR BOARD AND WE ARE JUST GLAD TO HAVE WITH US THIS EVENING. 
          SO BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY EXPLAIN HOW THE TONIGHT'S TOWN HALL IS GONNA OPERATE AS USUAL TO ENSURE WE'RE RESPECTFUL AT EVERYONE'S TIME AND ABLE TO COVER ALL THE TOPICS ON THE AGENDA, WILL NOT BE TAKING QUESTIONS DURING THE PRESENTATIONS. 
          EACH PRESENTER WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES TO ADDRESS YOUR TOPICS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROGRAM, WE'LL HAVE STAFF POSITIONS AROUND THE ROOM. 
          I'LL REMAIN FRONT HERE WHERE EACH DEPARTMENT AND PRESENTER WILL BE AVAILABLE TO SPEAK THE RESIDENTS INDIVIDUALLY AND ANSWER QUESTIONS IN GREAT DETAIL. 
          THIS FORMAT ALLOWS YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT, HAVE A MORE PERSONAL CONVERSATION, AND RECEIVE ANY INFORMATION THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO YOUR QUESTION WITHOUT HAVING A LONG DISCUSSION. 
          I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO STAY WITH US AS WE GO THROUGH. 
          NORMALLY IT TAKES AT LEAST LESS HOUR, HOUR, 15 MINUTES TO GET THROUGH EVERYTHING AND AT THAT POINT WE'LL STOP THE QUESTIONING NEXT. 
          SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND NOW LET US BE IN OUR PROGRAM AND I WANT TO BEGIN OUR PROGRAM BY BRINGING A VERY SPECIAL PERSON FORWARD. 
          JUST LET HIM WELCOME YOU AND GREET YOU, BUT YOU PUT YOUR HAND TOGETHER NOW. 
          WELCOME LITTLE THANK YOU, SIR. 
          I THINK THE REASON THAT ED MAKES EVERYBODY STAND AT BE IS JUST WANTS A OVATION. 
           GOOD YOU. 
          YEAH. 
          BUT THANK YOU, UH, FOR INVITING ME HERE TODAY AND I'M GLAD TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. 
          AND I KNOW THERE A LOT OF EXCITING INFORMATION AND A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING NEW ORLEANS. 
          SO I'M, UH, INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT EVERYONE HAS TO SAY AS WELL. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          AND THEN I WANT TO ALSO 
          [00:10:01]
BRING BEFORE US, UH, A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON WHO WAS JUST RECENTLY ELECTED, SELECTED ASSIGNED DESIGN POSITION. 
          OUR NEW CITY MANAGER, WHICH PUT YOUR HAND TOGETHER NOW FOR THANK YOU. 
          UH, I WANT TO START BY INTRODUCING MYSELF. 
          I MET SOME OF YOU AT THE PRIOR, UH, COMMUNIC MEETING THAT COUNCILMAN MOORE HAD. 
          UH, I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS AND THAT ONLY MATTERS TO THE EXTENT THAT I'VE WORKED IN A NUMBER OF POSITIONS AND IT GIVES ME A GOOD INSIGHT INTO THE ORGANIZATION TODAY. 
          AND I WANNA MAKE SOME COMMITMENTS TO TONIGHT. 
          AND MY COMMUNITY TONIGHT IS TO BE TRANSPARENT, TO LEAD THE ORGANIZATION WITH, WITH, UH, TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF DRAW KNOW THAT I'M A GOOD FINANCIAL STEWARD, THAT WE'RE GOING BE A GOOD FINANCIAL STEWARD OVER THE UNITED FATHER. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED IN MY PREDECESSORS CITY MANAGER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING A CITY MANAGER DOES IS TO LISTEN, IS TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE WHO PAY TAXES HERE, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. 
          AND IT'S, UH, NICE LIKE TONIGHT THAT GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT HEAR PRESENTATION SAY. 
          AND THEN HOPEFULLY I'LL HAVE TIME AFTERWARDS TO LISTEN TO YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS AND REACTIONS. 
          APPRECIATE WARM, WELCOME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GO AHEAD AGAIN, YOU KNOW, 30 DAYS AGO I'M GONNA, THE 38TH THINGS WERE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE TONIGHT, . 
          AND SO WHAT I WANT TO DO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GONNA RUN FORTH A COUPLES SOME OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE OF. 
          WE WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES ON WHERE WE'VE COME FROM, LIKE I SAID, 30 DAYS AGO WITH MUCH DIFFERENT THAN IT'S NOT, WE'RE ALL BE PRESENT TODAY. 
          IT RELATES TO THE NEED HELP PATHWAY SITUATION. 
          SOME OF YOUR MAY NOW, NO, BUT SOME OF YOU DO KNOW THAT WE COME WRONG WAY. 
          SO WITH THAT, WE'VE ASKED MIKE THAT, PHILLIP OR ON AND KIND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOLY POWER AND IT RELATES TO THAT SITUATION AND GIVE US SOME UPDATES ON WHERE WE ARE PRESENT AND OPEN. 
          PUT, SIR. 
          GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. 
          MY NAME IS , ONE OF THE ASSISTANT MANAGERS WITH THE CITY OF ARLAND. 
          APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND DISCUSS, UH, EMPTY PATHWAYS. 
          VERY, UH, BRIEF PRESENTATION AS COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE STATED THAT THERE ARE QUESTIONS AFTER, AFTER THE FACT. 
          I BE HAPPY TO, UH, TO ADDRESS THOSE. 
          BUT, UH, JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A, A QUICK UPDATE AND JUST A REMINDER THAT MD PATHWAYS, UH, WAS A TELEHEALTH, UH, SERVICE THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2025 THAT WAS GOING TO PROVIDE A, UH, TELEHEALTH SERVICE THROUGH A UTILITY BILL, UH, PAYMENT THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO EVERY WATER BILL WITHIN THE CITY OF GARLAND, UH, IN FEBRUARY. 
          AND THIS COMES FROM MOORE SAID ABOUT 30 DAYS AGO, THAT CONTRACT WITH THE PATHWAYS WAS CANCELED. 
          AND SO THAT IS THE LEARN INITIATIVE THAT'S IN. 
          SO AS WE, UH, WE TALK ABOUT, THERE WAS A LOT OF, UH, COMMUNITY INTERACTION. 
          THERE WAS A LOT OF COUNT, UH, COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT LED TO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY ATTORNEY. 
          SO THE CONTRACT WAS BUILT WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PULL OUT OF THE CONTRACT IN THE EVENT THAT THAT WAS NEEDED. 
          AND AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER, THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY AS WELL AS THE CITY COUNCIL, THAT CONTRACT WAS, UH, TERMINATED. 
          I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, THAT NO HOUSEHOLD OR NO UTILITY BILL WAS EVER BILLED AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROGRAM. 
          SO THOUGH IT WAS INITIATED, IT NEVER FULLY WENT LIVE AS A PROGRAM. 
          I DID ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT AT, UH, AT THE, UH, START OF THIS PROGRAM, UH, IT WAS GOING TO BE ADDED TO THE UTILITY BILLS. 
          THE CITY COUNCIL THEN DISCUSSED ADDING, ADDING THIS AS A, UM, ITEM TO BE VOTED ON, UH, FOR, UH, THE COMMUNITY TO, TO VOTE ON AN APPROVAL OF A, A TELEHEALTH SERVICE. 
          AND SO SINCE THAT CONTRACT HAS BEEN CANCELED BY THE CITY MANAGER, THAT ISSUE IS NOW MOOT. 
          AND SO THERE'S NO LONGER GOING TO BE AN ELECTION RELATED TO, UH, A TELEHEALTH PROGRAM. 
          SO THERE'S NO COST ASSOCIATED WITH AN ELECTION, AND AN ELECTION WILL NOT BE HELD FOR THAT ITEM ON, UH, MAY 2ND. 
          UH, I DID WANT TO, UH, STAY ON BEHALF OF STAFF AND THE STATE COUNCIL. 
          UH, WE APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY BEING INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS AND PROVIDING INPUT AND FEEDBACK, UH, WHERE, UH, BROUGHT US WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY AND 
          [00:15:01]
BEING ABLE TO, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD AND AGAIN, WITH THE CONTRACT GAVE US THAT ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO, TO CANCEL AND, AND, AND MOVE FORWARD. 
          UH, A QUESTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE DID, UH, REQUEST THAT WE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON, THERE WERE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM. 
          SO IF YOU WERE FOLLOWING THIS ITEM, THERE WERE SOFTWARE UPDATES THAT WERE NEEDED FOR THE PROGRAM. 
          AND SO WE DID INITIATE THOSE, UH, SOFTWARE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS AND, UH, THOUGH WE DID NOT FINISH THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AS RELATES TO JUST ADDING THE, THE LINE ITEM THAT WERE COSTS ASSOCIATED. 
          SO, UH, AS IT RELATES TO THE SOFTWARE, OUR CIS SOFTWARE, THERE WAS ABOUT $43,000 WORTH OF COSTS, UH, JUST UNDER $6,000 RELATED TO, UH, BILL INSERTS THAT WENT INTO, UH, UTILITY BILLS WITHIN THE CITY AND ALSO THE ONLINE BILL SYSTEM. 
          THERE WAS ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF, UH, BILLS THERE. 
          BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST SUPPORT TO COME OUT OF THIS PART OF THE PRESENTATION THAT THE PATHWAYS THIS, UH, CONTRACT IS, HAS BEEN CANCELED. 
          IT'S NOT MOVING FORWARD. 
          AND, UH, THAT'S THE, THAT I HAVE. 
          I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I WANT YOU AS THE STAFF COME FORWARD TO TRY AND REMEMBER NAMES AND FACES. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TRY TO DO IN THE DISTRICT IS WHEN YOU CALL WITH QUESTIONS, WHATEVER THAT CONCERN MIGHT BE, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I CAN'T JUST GO THROUGH A CRYSTAL BALL AND GET THE ANSWER FOR YOU. 
          THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW, SPEAK WITH THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TO REFER TO, GIMME THE INFORMATION THAT I NEED IN ORDER TO CONVEY BACK TO YOU. 
          SO REMEMBER THE NAME AND REMEMBER, UH, WHAT THEY DO, WHO THEY ARE, SO THAT WHEN YOU SITUATIONS, YOU HAVE CONCERNS, YOU CAN CALL ME. 
          NOT JUST OUTTA 10, YOU'RE GONNA END UP WITH ONE THEM ANYWAY. 
          SO THEY, SO MUCH WERE COMING. 
          I SAY AGAIN, 30 DAYS AGO THINGS WERE DIFFERENT. 
          30 DAYS AGO WE WERE FACING SOME REAL SITUATIONS, SOME REAL ISSUES. 
          SO THERE'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE WANNA BRING BEFORE YOU, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE FUTURE. 
          I'M BRING TOGETHER, I'M BRING BEFORE YOU NOW, MARK MATT WATSON AND MATT'S GONNA BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT DART. 
          YOU RECALL, WE'VE JUST COME THROUGH THE DARK SITUATION, THE DARK CONCERNS, AND MANY OF YOU WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WE'RE GONNA LOSE DARK AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN SO AND SO FORTH. 
          WE HAVE ALWAYS GONE, ALWAYS BEEN A SUPPORT OF OUR OF DARK, BUT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH SOME TRANSITIONS. 
          WE HAD TO GO THROUGH SOME SITUATIONS IN ORDER TO BE WHERE WE ARE YOU TONIGHT. 
          AND I THINK THAT ONCE YOU HEAR, BUT MATT HAS TO SAY, YOU'LL BE VERY HAPPY THAT WE DID GO THROUGH ONCE ONE OF THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS AND HERE TONIGHT TALK ABOUT DART AND, UH, DART AS THE CHAIRMAN CAN ATTEST TO, HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF TURMOIL OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT THEN THERE'S STILL MORE TO BE TO COME WITH, UH, GETTING THINGS RESOLVED. 
          AND I WANTED TO SHOW YOU KIND OF AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE'RE AT AS WE SIT HERE TODAY. 
          SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE FAR RIGHT PART OF THE SLIDE ON THE BACKGROUND, SO MANY OF Y'ALL ARE AWARE THAT MANY OF THE CITIES WE BECAME A LITTLE UPSET WITH REALLY THREE THINGS, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH DART. 
          ONE WAS SERVICE LEVELS, ONE WAS, UH, THE FUNDING SHARE. 
          SO EACH CITY IS 1% OF THEIR SALES TAX TO DART. 
          AND SOME OF THESE CITIES LIKE PLANO, WHO HAVE HAD MASSIVE EXPANSIONS, HAVE BEEN GROWING DART. 
          AND THEN AFTER COVID, AS RIDERSHIP WAS DECREASING WITH DART, THESE CITIES WERE STARTING TO WONDER IF IT WERE GIVING TOO MUCH MONEY. 
          ANOTHER PIECE THAT A LOT OF THE CITIES WANTED TO TALK THROUGH WAS WHAT WE CALL GOVERNANCE. 
          AND IT'S THE BOARD STRUCTURE. 
          SO CURRENTLY DALLAS HAS A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES ON THE BOARD. 
          IT'S A 15 MINUTE BOARD, AND, AND DALLAS HAS THE MAJORITY GOOD FOR US. 
          SO WHAT WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING IS THAT IN ORDER TO GET A RESOLUTION, SIX CITIES OF THE 13 WENT FORWARD AND CALLED FOR AN ELECTION TO WITHDRAW FROM GAR. 
          WHICH IF ALL THOSE SIX CITIES WERE TO LEAVE, THEY'RE LISTED THERE. 
          ADDISON, FARMER'S BRANCH, HIGHLAND PARK, IRVING, PLAINWELL, MERCY PARK, GAR SPEECH WOULD LOOK VERY BELIEVE. 
          HOWEVER, DARWIN WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE CITIES. 
          WE, WE STAYED IN A POSITION WHERE WE WANTED US TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO DISCUSS THOSE THREE THINGS. 
          FUNDING, FAIRNESS, SERVICE LEVELS, AND TRYING TO GET LOCAL CONTROL TO THE SUBURBAN CITIES. 
          SO WE DID SIT AT THE TABLE AND TALK, BUT WE WERE NEVER ANTICIPATING OR WANTING TO LEAVE DART BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT'S TO OUR COMMUNITY. 
          SO I HAVE 'EM BOLDED 'CAUSE AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO DART'S COMPROMISE AND DART, DART HAS DONE IT A FABULOUS JOB IN CONJUNCTION WITH RTC AND MANY, THAT MANY OF THE MANY CITIES TO COME TO THE RESOLUTION TO GET SOME OF THESE CITIES TO PULL BACK ON THEIR ELECTION. 
          SO BACK OVER 
          [00:20:01]
TO THE UH, RIGHT. 
          AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE BOWL RIGHT NOW, ADDISON HIGHLAND PARK AND UNIVERSITY PARK ARE THE THREE CITIES THAT ARE STILL LOOKING TO HAVE AN ELECTION ON MAY 2ND. 
          BUT FARMERS BRANCH, IRVING AND PLANO HAVE PULLED THEIR ELECTIONS BACK 'CAUSE WE HAVE COME FORWARD WITH A COMPROMISE. 
          THAT'S BOARD PASSED ON FEBRUARY 11TH, THE 1401 VOTE. 
          AND REALLY WHAT THAT LOOKED TO DO WAS TO GIVE SOME FUNDING BACK TO ALL CITIES, WHICH WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR. 
          REGARDLESS, WHAT THAT MEANS IS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WE'LL GET ABOUT $25 MILLION BACK FROM DART TO DO MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          SO IT'S A VERY GOOD THING FOR GARDEN. 
          CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? AND WE'VE ALSO AGREED, UH, WE'VE ALL ALSO AGREED TO A GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE WHERE DALLAS HAS EVEN AGREED TO REDUCE THEIR BOARD MEMBERSHIP DOWN TO 45%. 
          AND EACH CITY WILL GET A VOTE, ONE VOTE IN IN THE DART BOARD MEMBERSHIP. 
          HOWEVER, THIS WILL TAKE A, A STATUTORY CHANGE WHILE GUILTY THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH WILL BE NEXT YEAR. 
          BUT WE DO HAVE AN AGREEMENT AND PRINCIPLE FOR THAT. 
          AND I MENTIONED THE SALES TAX REFUND. 
          I MENTIONED FIVE YEARS, 25 MILLION. 
          SO REALLY WHAT THIS IS, IS THE WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE IS, THIS IS KIND OF A STOP GAP TO GET US FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AND WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FIVE YEARS AND REALLY AT SIX IS EVERY SIX YEARS THESE CITIES CAN COME BACK TO HOLD AN ELECTION AGAIN. 
          SO THE INTENT WAS TO BUY TIME, HAVE A COMPROMISE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER. 
          AND UH, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS TRYING TO GET A NEW REGIONAL COMMUTER RAIL AUTHORITY, WHICH WILL PROVIDE MORE MONEY FROM ALL THE ADDITIONAL COUNTIES THAT ARE SURROUNDING DALLAS TO HELP FUND AND SUPPORT DARK AND RAIL LINES AND TRANSPORTATION WITHIN THE DALLAS AREA. 
          SO IT'S A VERY GOOD THING FROM THE, OUR PERSPECTIVE AS GUARD STAFF. 
          SO WHAT'S NEXT? MAY 2ND, THERE IS STILL AN ELECTION WITH THOSE THREE CITIES. 
          IT'S ADDISON UNIVERSITY PARK, AND HIGHLAND PARK AND DARK HAS BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB OF HAVING PUBLIC HEARINGS. 
          IF YOU GO TO THEIR WEBSITE, YOU CAN FIND THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND FIND THEIR DOCUMENTS. 
          'CAUSE THEY HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT THE SERVICE LEVEL IMPACTS WILL BE AT THESE CITIES. 
          UH, THE ELECTION, THE VOTERS SAY THAT WE WANT TO PULL OUT OF THESE ELECTIONS OR PULL OUT OF DAR, I'M SORRY. 
          BUT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS FOR GARLAND RESIDENTS IS NOT A HUGE CHANGE. 
          THERE IS A RESTRUCTURING THAT WILL HAVE TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WHAT IF ALL THREE OF THOSE CITIES WIN THEIR ELECTIONS AND PULL OUT A DART? AS SOON AS THOSE VOTES ARE COUNTED, DART STOPS GOING TO THAT CITY. 
          THEY DO NOT STOP WITHIN THAT CITY. 
          SO WHAT THAT MEANS FOR US IS THERE'S A COUPLE OF ROUTES. 
          THERE'S ONE IN DOWNTOWN, THERE'S ONE OFF OF FOREST LANE THAT GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO ADDISON. 
          SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THOSE WILL HAVE TO BE REROUTED. 
          SO A COUPLE OF THE ROUTES THAT GARLAND RESIDENTS RIDE, IF YOU'RE GOING OUT TOWARDS ADDISON OR IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TO HIGHLAND PARK OR IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TO UNIVERSITY PARK, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REROUTED. 
          SO THAT IS REALLY THE BIG IMPACT RIGHT NOW FOR DARLAND IF THERE'S A SUCCESSFUL, SUCCESSFUL ELECTION. 
          BUT AS FAR AS THE RAIL LINES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE IT. 
          IT JUST WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP AT ADDISON UNIVERSITY PARK OR HIGHLAND PARK 'CAUSE THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE MEMBERS. 
          SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW. 
          SO WE'RE ALL NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THAT MAY 2ND ELECTION TO SEE HOW THAT HAPPENS. 
          AND AS WE'RE DOING THAT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A STRONG PARTNER WITH DART. 
          WE WILL CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE WITH ALL THE OTHER MEMBER CITIES. 
          UH, HOPEFULLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WE CAN GET THAT GOVERNANCE CHANGED AND THEN HOPEFULLY LONG TERM WE CAN GET A DART IN ALL THE MEMBER CITIES AND THAT'S SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. 
          SO THAT, THAT'S REALLY IT, UNLESS WE'LL DO THAT. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          AND JUST TO REALLY LET YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE, ANYTIME YOU'RE ABLE A BOARD CHAIR TO COME AND BE WITH YOU ON A THURSDAY EVENING, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. 
          BUT I WANT TO SAY BEFORE HE COMES TO YOU THAT WE HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH HIM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT WATCH HIM AS HE HAD TALKED, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THROUGHOUT BEEN VARIOUS BOARD MEETINGS, SO ON AND SO FORTH ABOUT HIS PRESENCE. 
          IT TAKES A TEAM TO DO WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED AS FAR AS DARS CONCERNED, BUT IT ALSO TAKES A STRONG LEADER. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOUND THIS YOUNG MAN TODAY. 
          A VERY STRONG LEADER, LOVES PEOPLE AND MORE WORTHY WANTS TO SEE THIS REGION BE SUCCESSFUL. 
          WHILE MATT WAS TALKING, ONE OF THE THINGS SAID, AND 
          [00:25:01]
UH, MATT TALKED ABOUT THE MONEY, HE SAID THE CHECKS IN THE MAIL. 
          , WHICH BOARD CHAIR RANDALL. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          GOOD. 
          EVERYONE, UM, START WITH A QUICK STORY. 
          SO ON OCTOBER 28TH OF LAST YEAR, UM, I WAS ELECTED BOARD CHAIR OF OUR BOARD. 
          I HAD ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OF EXPERIENCE, UM, ON BOARD. 
          I WAS AN ACTUALLY LEAST TENURE, UH, MEMBER OF OUR BOARD AT THE TIME. 
          AND WE HAD A GREAT CELEBRATION. 
          I LAID OUT A VISION PLAN FOR, FOR US FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. 
          AND THE VERY NEXT MORNING AROUND 9:00 AM I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM A MAYOR OF ONE OF OUR CITIES. 
          AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE NUMBER PROGRAM IN MY PHONE ACTUALLY. 
          AND I ANSWERED THE PHONE. 
          HE SAYS, THIS IS MAYOR SO AND SO, I HEARD YOUR NAME OR CHAIR LAST NIGHT. 
          I SAID, YES, SIR. 
          HE SAYS, JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW NEXT WEEK WE'RE TAKING THE BOAT TO LEAVE DARS . 
          SOME OF YOU ALL REMEMBER, UH, ESPN USED TO KIND OF DO A SERIES CALLED, UH, HARD KNOCKS. 
          THEY RIGHT. 
          KIND OF WELCOME TO THE DARK. 
          UH, BUT MAYOR HENDRICKS WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE MAYORS. 
          UM, AND SO, UH, THE GENTLEMAN THAT CAME FORWARD, WE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF KIND OF FRAMING WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. 
          AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF MY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IS ALWAYS TO CONFIDENCE IN, IN WHERE WE ARE AS AN AGENCY AND WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD. 
          I THINK, UM, THERE HAS BEEN A LONG, UH, ROAD THAT HAS LED US TO THIS POINT. 
          UM, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND THE BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO, UM, ALWAYS TAKE, UH, ADVICE AND, AND SEEK COMPROMISES WITH OUR CITIES. 
          UH, WITHOUT YOU, WE ARE NOTHING. 
          UM, DART HAS ASSISTED FOR 43 YEARS IN HIS CURRENT, UM, STATE, AND WE HAVE MADE GOOD ON ALL THE PROMISES TO THE VOTERS IN 1983. 
          WE'VE BUILT ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UTILIZING ALL THE RIGHT OF WAYS THAT WE HAD FOR 13 CITIES AT THE TIME. 
          AND I THINK NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE NEXT 40 YEARS THAT ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE? AND THAT'S A SUSTAINABILITY MODEL VERSUS A INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDING MODEL. 
          AND THAT'S OKAY, RIGHT? EVEN THE STRUCTURED STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO THE GOVERNANCE, UM, THOSE CHANGES ARE OKAY, CHANGE SOMETIMES IS NEEDED, RIGHT? UM, AND SO I JUST WANT TO COME OUT AND, AND THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN MOORE FOR HIS SUPPORT. 
          HE SERVED, SERVED TOGETHER ON THE RTC. 
          UM, I THINK ONE OF THE VERY FIRST MEETINGS HE CAME UP TO ME AND, AND WELCOMED ME TO, TO THAT BOARD AND, AND RTC WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL, UM, IN SUPPORTING SOME OF THE, UH, FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR US TO GET THIS, UM, PLAN PUT TOGETHER. 
          UM, AS STATED, IT IS A SIX YEAR SORT OF STOP GAP, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S EVEN NEVER BEEN CONSIDERED EVEN TO THAT DEGREE. 
          AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD, WE'RE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. 
          UH, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE SERVICES NOW, BECAUSE WE'VE DEALT WITH THE GOVERNANCE, WE'VE DEALT WITH THE FUNDING, AND NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH THE SERVICE, UM, THAT THE SERVICE MEETS THE NEEDS OF THIS CITY. 
          AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CITY IS DIVERSE AMONGST THE DISTRICTS AND AMONGST, UH, VERSUS, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE CITY. 
          AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT AND, AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO. 
          UM, UNFORTUNATELY I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO IT, BUT I DID. 
          LOOK, UH, WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR ME TO GET HERE TONIGHT ON, DO I LIVE DOWNTOWN IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS? ONE BUS RIDE ON THE NUMBER 2 49 WOULD'VE TAKEN ME 15 MINUTES TO GET FROM MY HOME TO THIS PLACE RIGHT HERE. 
          AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE TRANSIT OPTIONS, SOME PEOPLE ARE TRANSIT DEPENDENTS, RIGHT? BUT THAT WOULD'VE BEEN AN EIGHT MINUTE WALK FROM MY HOME TO THE BUS STOP AND THE BUS STOP WOULD'VE DROPPED ME OFF FOUR MINUTES FROM, FROM THIS PLACE HERE. 
          THAT'S WHAT ORIGINAL CONNECTIVITY IS, AND THAT'S WHAT THE COUNSELOR WAS JUST REFERRING TO. 
          SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENSURE THAT YOU DIDN'T GET AROUND WITHIN YOUR CITY, BUT THAT YOU CAN ALSO GET TO OTHER CITIES. 
          UM, INDIVIDUALS LIKE MY FATHER, HE LIVES AROUND THAT. 
          HE'S 90% BLIND, 100% DEPENDENT ON DARK. 
          HE CANNOT GET AROUND EACH AND EVERY DAY. 
          AND SO EVERY TWO WEEKS HE HAS TO GO TO PLANO TO GET A SHOT. 
          IT IS IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO GET TO PLANO, WHAT HE NEEDS TO GET TO PLANO. 
          AND SO, UM, WHETHER YOU ARE A NON-USER OF TRANSIT, INFREQUENT USER OF TRANSIT, OR A TRANSIT DEPENDENT, WE ALL BENEFIT FROM TRANSIT. 
          UM, EVERY BUS THAT CONTAINS THAT CAN HAS A CAPACITY OF 50 PEOPLE OR EVERY TRAIN WITH 250 PEOPLE. 
          THAT'S ONE LESS CAR ON THE ROAD. 
          ONE LESS CAR ON THE ROAD MEANS YOU GET TO YOUR JOB. 
          ONE LESS CAR FASTER. 
          ONE LESS CAR ROAD MEANS THAT PACKAGE THAT YOU HOPING IT GETS HERE BY CHRISTMAS SO THAT YOUR CHILD OR GRANDCHILD CAN HAVE A BREAK CHRISTMAS MORNING, IT GETS HERE THAT MUCH FASTER. 
          ONE LESS CAR MEANS THE, UH, OZONE AND THE, AND THE AIR QUALITY ATTAINMENT IS THAT MUCH BETTER WITH ONE LESS CAR ROAD. 
          SO THAT'S THE VALUE OF DART. 
          REGARDLESS IF WE ARE A MEMBER CITY, 
          [00:30:01]
A NON-MEMBER CITY, WE ALL ARE BENEFITING FROM THIS AGENCY AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A SALES TAX MODEL THAT, THAT, THAT CREATES THE REVENUE FOR IT. 
          WE HAVE A CHECK IN THE MAIL FOR 25 MILLION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          25 CHECK IS, UH, CHRISTINA. 
          CHRISTINA, I GO AHEAD AND JUST SAY YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU TAKE BECAUSE I COULDN'T, THE LAST PIECE THAT I DO JUST WANNA SAY, UH, TO YOU, RANDALL, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR TALKING TIME AND WE WITH YOU THE FUTURE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ANOTHER ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN ON THE MAIN LINE IN THE GRAPEVINE, SPRING CREEK FOREST PRESERVE. 
          REMEMBER THAT ONE? OKAY, WELL, CHRISTINA, HE IS GOING TO COME AND TALK TO US NOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR CURRENT STATUS AS FAR AS THAT PROGRAM IS, AND KIND OF GIVE US SOME UPDATES BEFORE WE GO INTO THE FUTURE. 
          CHRISTINA, PLEASE. 
          HI, I'M CHRISTINA. 
          I'M ONE OF THE ENGINEERS IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT. 
          I'M ONE OF SEVERAL PEOPLE AT THE CITY THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. 
          UM, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS TOPIC, UM, LAST YEAR, UM, THE CITY HAS AN AMAZING RESOURCE, LONG TIME BREAK, A GREAT NATURAL RESOURCE AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO ACCESS THE SEWER LINE, UM, TO INSPECT IT, DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FORESTED AREA, TON CREEK. 
          SO THE CITY HAS CONTRACTED WITH KILLING HORN, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, UM, WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT THE DAMAGE IS, AND HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD. 
          UM, SO THE CURRENT STATUS OF THIS IS, UM, THERE ARE KIND OF TWO MAIN PARTS TO THIS STUDY WE'RE TAKING RIGHT NOW. 
          ONE IS TO LOOK AT THE FOREST AND THE DAMAGE, AND ONE IS TO LOOK AT THE SEWER LINE, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THAT. 
          UM, SO FOR THE FOREST, THEY COMPLETED THE FIELD WORK TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE, AND THEY DID PRESENT THESE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS TO OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUP. 
          UM, YOU'VE BEEN ENGAGING WITH DALLAS COUNTY WHO OWNS SOME OF THE PROPERTY IN THAT AREA, THE SPRING CREEK FOREST PRESERVE, WHO DOES A LOT OF THE MAINTENANCE AND THE PROGRAMMING AND REALLY TAKES CARE OF THAT AREA, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AND OUR WATER DEPART. 
          UM, SO THEY DID PRESENT THE FINDINGS. 
          WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THE DAMAGE, HOW IT'S BEEN GROWING BACK, REGENERATING ON ITS OWN AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HELP THE FOREST REPAIR. 
          AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE WORKING ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS WHAT THEY FOUND IN THAT ASSESSMENT. 
          AND WE DO HAVE A STAKEHOLDER MEETING SCHEDULED FOR EARLY NEXT MONTH, UM, WITH THE PRESERVE AND THE COUNTY AND PARKS AND WATER, UM, TO LOOK AT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, GET FEEDBACK, SEE IF WE CAN GAIN CONSENSUS AMONG ALL GROUPS ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE FOREST. 
          AND THE OTHER PORTION OF THAT IS THE SANITARY SEWER ASSESSMENT. 
          UM, SO THAT LINE IS ABOUT 50 YEARS OLD. 
          IT'S A CONCRETE SEWER LINE, IT RUNS RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPRING CREEK. 
          IT'S HARD TO ACCESS, UM, IT HASN'T BEEN LOOKED AT. 
          AND SO I DON'T KNOW, I THINK YOU, IT HASN'T BEEN LOOKED AT. 
          UM, SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE CONDITION OF THAT LINE IS. 
          UM, AND SO PART OF THAT CAN BE HORN SCOPE. 
          WOULD WE HIRED UP BASE BY CLEANING. 
          THEY WERE RUNNING CAMERA DOWN THE ENTIRETY OF THE SEWER LINE AND WE'RE DOING IT ALONG THE ENTIRETY OF THE SPRING CREEK FOREST. 
          WE WE'RE CALLING IT THE FORESTED AREA, BUT IT REALLY INCLUDES THE PRESERVE, UM, FRED HARRIS AND HALF PARK. 
          SO PRETTY MUCH ALL ALONG SPRING CREEK, JUST WEST OF SHILOH TO GEORGE BUSH. 
          UM, SO THEY ARE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE THAT FIELD WORK BY THE END OF APRIL. 
          UM, ONCE THEY GET THAT, THEN THEY'LL HAVE TO PROCESS THAT DATA AND THEN THE CONSULTANT WILL REVIEW IT TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE SEWER LINE. 
          DOES ANY WORK NEED TO BE DONE TO IT? IF SO, WHAT IS, WHAT LEVEL OF EFFORT HAS TO BE DONE? UM, THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, UM, IF RELOCATION IS VIABLE. 
          UM, IT IS, IT'S GONNA BE TOUGH, BUT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THAT OPTION. 
          UM, SO OUR NEXT STEPS IN THIS, AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF THE ASSESSMENT PHASE WE'RE IN. 
          UM, SO THE NEXT STEPS IS AGAIN, FIRM UP THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, GAIN CONSENSUS, AND THEN START TO MOVE TO ACTION ITEMS, UM, ONCE THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP IS GOOD WITH IT. 
          AND THEN TO DEFINE THE SCOPE, SCALE AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE SANITARY THROUGH 
          [00:35:01]
REHABILITATION. 
          UM, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PIPE IS LIKE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WORK IS GONNA BE REQUIRED. 
          UM, AND SO WE DON'T KNOW THE COST IMPLICATIONS THAT OF THAT YET AND HOW QUICKLY WE CAN DO IT. 
          ONCE WE HAVE THOSE PIECES OF INFORMATION, THEN OUR STEP WILL BE TO COORDINATE HOW DO WE GET THAT WORK DONE WHILE MINIMIZING ANY FUTURE DAMAGE TO THE RESERVE. 
          AND ALSO HOW DO WE IN THE FUTURE MAKE SURE WE CAN ACCESS AND MAINTAIN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THESE STAKEHOLDERS. 
          UM, SO THAT IS WHERE WE'RE AT. 
          I GUESS THAT THE GOOD WAY TO SIGN THAT UP IS WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO ASSURE THAT OUR HEART PRESERVE KIDS PRESERVE AND WE GET IT BACK TO WHERE IT LONG BEFORE AND ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN IT IN SUCH A MANNER AND IT CONTINUES TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT EVENT OUR ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM. 
          A VERY IMPORTANT FOR THAT'S FOR YOU. 
          WROTE UP OKAY WITH THIS, AT THIS POINT I WANT TO BRING UP CHIEF MARK LEE. 
          YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSION AS IT RELATES TO THE EMS SERVICES OR MEDICAL SERVICES, THAT THIS IS THAT COMPONENT OF THE PRIOR DEPARTMENT THAT WHEN YOU HAVE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OR HEART ATTACKS OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO COME OUT AND TAKE CARE OF YOU. 
          AND LET ME SAY THIS, WE HAVE A VERY GOOD SUCCESS RATE AS IT RELATES TO THAT INCIDENT, BUT WE ARE RIGHT NOW TAKING A LOOK AT MAYBE THERE'S SOME ALTERNATIVES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BRING IN THAT CAN DO VERY SAME THING WITHOUT HURTING OUR SERVICES. 
          BUT THERE ARE THE DISCUSSIONS BEEN TAKING PLACE ON THAT AND I WANT YOU TO GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES THIS EVENING AS IT RELATES TO WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT. 
          SO WILL PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER AND WELCOME CHIEF MARK. 
          THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. 
          IT'S AN HONOR TO COME FOR YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MOORE APPRECI, YOUR INVITATION. 
          YES, SIR. 
          UH, EMS SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS. 
          THE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS, UH, BEEN HERE EMS SERVICE PROVIDER, UH, SINCE THE MID 1970S AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. 
          UH, RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO CHANGES BEING CONSIDERED ON THE ACTUAL EMS SERVICE DELIVERY PIECE OF IT. 
          UM, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS THE STAFFING AND SCHEDULING OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO WORK 50 TO SIX HOURS PER WEEK. 
          THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE OF THE EARLY SIXTIES, UH, 1960S FOR THE YOUNGER FOLKS IN THE ROOM. 
          UM, THE, THE SCHEDULE IS, WAS ESTABLISHED BASED ON SCIENCE. 
          THE SCIENCE SAID THAT A FIREFIGHTER BEFORE WORKED 24 HOURS ON AND 24 HOURS OFF. 
          AND ON THE, UNDER THAT SCHEDULE, THEY FIGURED OUT THEY WERE INHALING TOO MUCH CARBON MONOXIDE AND, UH, THEY COULDN'T GET IT ALL BACK OUT OF THEIR SYSTEM BEFORE THEY RETURNED TO WORK TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. 
          SO THEY ADDED A THIRD PLATOON TO WORK 24 HOURS ON 48 HOURS OFF THE CALL. 
          VOLUMES HAVE CONTINUED TO ESCALATE OBVIOUSLY SINCE THE SIXTIES. 
          THE, THE URBAN FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THE INNER RING SUBURB FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAVE SEEN EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IN THEIR, THEIR CALL VOLUMES. 
          UM, THE, THE CURRENT CALLS PER YEAR THAT THE GARMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT ANSWERS ARE ABOUT 30,000 CALLS WE TRANSPORT, UH, AROUND 18 OR 19,000 PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL EVERY YEAR. 
          UM, COVID CHANGED OUR WORLD IS ALL THAT WE ALL ARE WELL AWARE AND IT CHANGED THE FIRE SERVICE WORLD AS WELL. 
          UH, PEOPLE BECAME MORE, EVEN MORE DEPENDENT ON EMS SERVICES, UH, AT TIMES AS A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER, UH, BECAUSE IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO GET INTO OUR CR DOCTORS AND MORE, AND PEOPLE WHEN THEIR HEALTH IS BOTHERING 'EM, THEY GET, THEY GET SCARED, THEY GET NERVOUS AND WANT KNOW IF THEY'RE GONNA BE OKAY. 
          SO WE HAVE TRAINED YOU TO CALL 9 1 1 AND WE'LL RESPOND AND WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN FOR YOU. 
          SO WITH ALL OF THAT, THE SCIENCE IS NOW SHOWING THAT OUR CORTI SAW LEVELS, UH, THE NIGHT BEFORE WE GO TO SHIFT START TO INCREASE WHEN WE GET TO WORK. 
          OUR CORTISOL LEVELS ARE ON A SCOPE LIKE THIS AND WHEN WE GET OFF WORK, WE'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THEY CAME DOWN IN THE SAME FASHION. 
          THEY DON'T, THEY TRICKLE BACK ON. 
          SO WE'RE DETERMINED THAT THE CORTISOL LEVELS, THE TESTOSTERONE LEVELS, AND MANY OF THE OTHER BODIES, NATURAL ENZYMES DO NOT RETURN TO NORMAL IN 48 HOURS. 
          IT TAKES UP TO SEVEN TWO HOURS. 
          SO WE'RE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT AND EXPLORING OPTIONS AND WAYS THAT WE CAN ADD A FOURTH PLA NOW YOU'RE 
          [00:40:01]
LIKE, GOLLY, YOU GONNA ADD ANOTHER GROUP OF FIREMEN, YOU'RE GONNA INCREASE, YOU KNOW, AND ONE MORE GROUP THAT'S GONNA BE EXTENSIVE. 
          YES, IT WOULD BE. 
          SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND REMAIN FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. 
          YOU HONOR, COUNCILOR MOORE, YOU HEARD CITY MANAGER BE BOTH ADDRESS BEING FISCAL AND FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE, BEING TRANSPARENT. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT. 
          BEING HUNDRED PERCENT TRANSPARENT, MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET GOOD CARE. 
          MY JOB IS ALSO MAKE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDING THAT CARE ABLE TO SURVIVE A CAREER IN FIRE SERVICE. 
          BUT I CAN'T OVER YOU BECAUSE I LIVE HERE TOO. 
          AND, AND THAT, THAT, THAT DOESN'T WORK. 
          IT, IT TRULY IS. 
          SO WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT EVERY WAY THAT WE CAN, EVERY OPTION THAT'S OUT THERE, HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF MY PEOPLE AND REMAIN FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TO ALL OF YOU? SO, UM, OVERTIME REDUCTION IS ALSO BEING CONSIDERED. 
          UH, WE ARE RUNNING THROUGH A CYCLE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE SEEING SOME REALLY LARGE CLASSES, FIREFIGHTERS AND, AND WE WANT TO TAKE SOME OF GARLAND'S BEST. 
          SO WE TAKE THEM STRAIGHT OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL. 
          THEY SO CHOOSE AND PASS OUR, OUR OUR STUFF TO GET CERTIFIED. 
          UH, WE, WE WANT THEM ON OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND UM, BUT IT TAKES ME 21 MONTHS TO TRAIN THEM ALL THE WAY TO PARAMEDIC. 
          AND SO AT 21 MONTHS WE RUN SHORT, WHICH CREATES A LOT OF OVERTIME. 
          SO WE'RE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH MATT WATSON AND ALLISON AND MR. BETS AND HOW CAN WE REDUCE OUR OVERTIME EXPENDITURES? AND WE'RE LOOKING AT OPTIONS ON THAT AS WELL BECAUSE WE BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL. 
          SO THAT'S ALL WE THANK YOU. 
          I GOTTA GO THIS WAY. 
          OKAY. 
          AS I LISTENED TO THE CHIEF SPEAK AGAIN, I THINK VERY IMPORTANT, AND I BRING THAT PEOPLE WROTE IN THE DECISIONS BEFORE YOU JUDGE, YOU SHOULD HEAR THE STORIES. 
          CHIEF, HOW LONG HAS THE, UH, HAS THAT UH, COMMITTEE BEEN MEETING NOW? HOW LONG HAS THAT COMMITTEE BEEN MEETING? OH, THE COMMITTEE'S BEEN MEETING FOR SEVEN MONTHS. 
          SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS. 
          SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS. 
          AND I SAY THAT TO YOU BECAUSE NO DECISION, NO DECISION, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT IS TAKEN AWAY. 
          A LOT OF CRITICAL THINKING GOES INTO IT BEFORE WE MAKE ANY DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO. 
          MOST OF THE TIME, MOST OF THE TIME. 
          BUT I THINK IT VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU GET AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT IS TAKING PLACE. 
          AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE AT THIS POINT, IT IS JUST A DISCUSSION. 
          IT'S JUST A DISCUSSION STAGE. 
          YOU MAY WANT TO, AFTER THIS MEETING IS OVER WITH, YOU MAY WANT TO GET WITH HIM AGAIN AND JUST GET ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU WANT HAVE AS IT RELATES TO QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTLY. 
          THE NEXT ISSUE, HERE WE GO. 
          CRIME, WE GOT A CRIME REPORT EVERY, EVERY MONTH I THINK IT IS. 
          WE GOT A CRIME REPORT THAT RELATES TO OUR DISTRICTS AND WHAT'S TAKING PLACE IN THOSE DISTRICTS. 
          AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WE BRING BEFORE YOU THE EXPERT ON CRIME, SOMEONE THAT CAN TELL YOU WHERE WE ARE BY WAY OF WHAT'S TAKING PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY AS IT RELATES TO CRIMINALITY. 
          AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER PERSON TO DO THAT THAN TO BRING BEFORE YOU THAN HEAD OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH MEANS WELCOME JEFF BRYAN TALKING CHESTER. 
          NOW YOU ALL RECENTLY HAD ANKLE SURGERY, SO NOT UNIFORM TONIGHT, BUT FOR THE RECORD I CAN STILL BE THE FIRE CHIEF SURGERY. 
          ALRIGHT, I WANNA START BY INTRODUCING SOME OF MY STAFF THAT'S HERE. 
          I'M GONNA START WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT STAFF AND THEN GO FROM THERE. 
          THE MOST IMPORTANT STAFF I'VE GOT ARE THE TWO ON THE LEFT SIDE. 
          OFFICER HILL AND OFFICER CARS. 
          YES SIR. 
          THOSE ARE YOUR NPOS. 
          ALRIGHT, LIEUTENANT IS THE MPO SUPERVISOR, BRAND NEW CAPTAIN, CAPTAIN AM AND ON THE FAR RIGHT, CAPTAIN THOMAS. 
          AND THEN SLATE WOODLEY IS ONE OF OUR PATROL SUPERVISORS AND WE HAVE ANOTHER M-T-O-N-P-O PRUIT, IF YOU REMEMBER, HE GOT PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT, SO NOW HE'S A PATROL LIEUTENANT. 
          AND I SAY THEY'RE THE MOST IMPORTANCE. 
          AND THE REASON I SAY THEY'RE THE MOST IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE IF YOU CALL 9 1 1, IT'S NOT THE POLICE CHIEF THAT SHOWS UP AT YOUR ACTS. 
          IT'S NOT A POLICE CAPTAIN THAT SHOWS UP YOUR ACTS 
          [00:45:01]
AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. 
          IT'S NOT ME PATROLLING YOUR STREETS, THAT'S WHO'S PATROLLING YOUR STREETS. 
          MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THEIR JOB IS SUCCESSFUL, BUT THEY ARE THE ONES DOING THE JOB. 
          AND SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THEM AND WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO GET TO KNOW THEM, PLEASE DO. 
          ALRIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT CRIME. 
          UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT THE GARLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT PUBLISHES AN ANNUAL CRIME REPORT EVERY YEAR. 
          WE PUT IT ON OUR WEBSITE, WE PUT IT ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. 
          I BROUGHT THAT WITH ME TODAY, BUT IF YOU LIKE A COPY, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE AND SEE IT. 
          LAST YEAR IN 2025, WE SAW ONE OF THE GREATEST REDUCTIONS IN CRIME WE'VE SEEN IN THE CITY SINCE I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE FOR 30 YEARS. 
          WE SAW A REDUCTION, WE SAW A REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIME OF 24.3% AND A REDUCTION IN PROPERTY CRIME AND 28.8%. 
          AND IF THE FIRST QUESTION YOU WOULD PROBABLY ASK IS WHY THIS CRIME GOING DOWN? AND I'LL SAY ONE, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE AWESOME , BUT THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT GO INTO CRIME. 
          WE ALL, WE SEE A CYCLICAL CRIME, UH, WAVE. 
          IF YOU LOOK OVER TIME AND WE'RE SEEING A REALLY GOOD DOWNTURN IN CRIME CURRENTLY, I LOOKED AT COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE'S DISTRICT AND WE'RE SEEING A 14% IN ADDITION TO THAT DECREASE IN CRIME. 
          SO FAR THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, WE ARE SEEING AN UPTICK IN CRIME IN YOUR DISTRICT, IN BURGLARY OF BUILDINGS, WHICH IS YOUR STORAGE SHEDS, YOUR GARAGES. 
          SO LOCK THOSE GARAGES, LOCK THOSE STORAGE SHEDS. 
          I'M ALSO HERE TO TELL YOU OUR WORK IS NOT DONE. 
          WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH WHAT I'LL CALL QUALITY OF LIFE CRIMES, THINGS THAT MAKE YOU NOT FEEL SAFE IN YOUR HOUSE. 
          GUNSHOT SERVICES, LOUD CARS RACING, WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THAT. 
          RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO TASK FORCE GOINGS. 
          WE HAVE ONE TASK FORCE AND BOTH THESE OFFICERS HAVE WORKED THIS TASK FORCE DEALING WITH THE RACING. 
          AND SO, UM, IT'S ONCE A WEEK WE PULL 'EM FROM THEIR REGULAR ASSIGNED DUTIES AND THEY, WE PICK THE AREA. 
          I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING ON CENTERVILLE AND WE'RE ADDRESSING THE RACING IN THE LOUD CAR. 
          BUT IT IS, IT IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. 
          GUNSHOTS ARE ALSO VERY DIFFICULT. 
          UH, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO SOLVE BECAUSE WE GET THE PHONE CALL. 
          I HEARD GUNSHOTS, THE SOUTH OF ME, THREE OF 'EM, GO GET 'EM. 
          IT'S HARD. 
          BUT WE NEED YOUR EYES AND EARS AND WE NEED YOUR PHONE CALLS BECAUSE WE TRACK ALL THOSE PHONE CALLS AND EVERY TIME WE CALL AND WE FIND A SHELL CASING, WHAT WE DO IS WE COLLECT THAT SHELL CASING, WE PUT IT INTO A SYSTEM CALLED VINS, WHICH IS LIKE A FINGERPRINT SYSTEM FOR GUNS. 
          AND WE TRACK THAT AND WE TRACK EVERY TIME THAT THAT SINGLE GUN IS FIRED. 
          AND WHEN WE COME ACROSS THIS GUN AND WE'VE SOLVED A LOT OF CRIME THIS WAY, WE CAN LINK THAT SHELL CASING TO THAT GUN. 
          SO PLEASE KEEP CALLING ON, ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES, BUT UH, THAT'S A BIG HIGH LEVEL OF YOUR CRIME. 
          I ENCOURAGE YOU AGAIN, WHEN WE'RE DONE TO MAKE SURE TO GET TO KNOW YOUR NPOS. 
          IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT'S ALL THEIR JOB IS, IS TO SOLVE THOSE ONGOING ISSUES. 
          SO PLEASE GET TO KNOW THEM. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          SO WE HAVE A DECREASE IN LINE IN WHAT, JUST FOR THREE, RIGHT? YEAH, PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER. 
          OKAY, NOW WHAT ARE WE, AGAIN, YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF INFORMATION, ALL OF INFORMATION, VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS REALLY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT THIS HR THINGS ABOUT ATTEMPTING TO CONVEY TO YOU. 
          THE ANSWERS ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE BEEN ASKING. 
          AND YOU MAY REMEMBER NOT VERY ON THE GOAL. 
          WE WERE PRETTY DEEP INTO CONVERSATIONS, BUT THE PROFESSIONAL SOFTWARE LEAGUE AS IT RELATED TO BRINGING SOFTWARE TO GROW, WELL, SOME THINGS HAPPEN THAT THAT DID NOT GO THROUGH, BUT WE ARE STILL THINKING A LOT BECAUSE WE OWN THE LAND AND WE'RE LOOKING AT, THERE ARE GOING TO BE ECONOMIC FACTORS IN THE FUTURE THAT SINCE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GROW OUT, WE ARE GONNA BE GROWING UP. 
          BUT THE OTHER THING IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN THE WAY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT BRING PEOPLE TO OUR COMMUNITY TO SPEND DOLLARS HERE WITH US. 
          AND WHEN THEY GET HERE, TO BE ABLE TO EVEN SAY, LOOK AROUND AND SAY MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO LIVE HERE, BUT THE KEY IS GETTING THE GEAR. 
          SO WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT SOCCER AS IT RELATES TO WHAT WE WANNA DO WITH THAT MAN. 
          AND I WANT TO BRING FOR YOU TONIGHT OUR, HE'S REALLY OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ANDY HEER, TO TALK TO US ABOUT WHY SOCCER IS STILL IMPORTANT TO US AND WHY WE LOOKING AT DOING MORE SOCCER WITH THE MANLY. 
          ANDY, YOU WILL, 
          [00:50:01]
ANDY, ER PLEASE. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          UH, A LOT OF FAMILIAR FACES HERE. 
          WE'RE AGAIN, CHECK BRACKET. 
          UH, SO, UH, CAPTAIN MOORE REALLY HIT A LOT OF THE GREAT HIGH POINTS AND THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK HERE, SO I'LL TRY TO STAY HIGH LEVEL, BUT, UM, YOU MIGHT RECALL OR SAW THE NEWS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE, THE HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT HERE, UM, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE SOME LAND UP HERE, UM, RELATED TO ORIGINALLY THE STADIUM PROJECT. 
          THIS WOULD'VE BEEN THE TRAINING AND THE YOUTH COMPLEX. 
          WE DID A STUDY, UH, UH, A MARKET STUDY, UM, THAT INDICATED A HUGE POTENTIAL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE MARKET. 
          IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, THIS IS ON GEORGE BUSH AND HOLFORD ROAD, GEORGE BUSH BEING ON THIS SIDE RIGHT HERE, HOLFORD THIS WAY, NAME AND FOREST THIS WAY WOULD BE EXTENDED AND CONNECTED. 
          UM, THAT'S A SUPER HIGHWAY FOR A LOT OF COMMUNITIES TO THE EAST THAT DRIVE RIGHT BY THIS SITE TO GO PLAY SOCCER SOMEWHERE ELSE. 
          THEY'RE PLAYING EVERYWHERE. 
          BUT HERE, UM, AT ALL THE DIFFERENT LEVELS, WE HAVE A GREAT FACILITY FOR RECREATION LEVEL. 
          WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, THE COMPETITIVE LEVEL. 
          SO, UH, LONG STORY SHORT THAT THE, THE COUNCIL AND THE STAFF STILL REALLY FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT, UM, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR, UH, BRINGING FAMILIES AND KIDS, UH, THROUGH SOCCER. 
          IT'S GROWING IN, IN POPULARITY AND, AND PARTICIPATION EVERY YEAR. 
          AS YOU KNOW, UH, DALLAS IS ONE OF THE HOST SITES FOR THE FEE FOR WORLD CUP. 
          AND THAT THAT'S HUGE. 
          IT, EVERY TIME I'VE SEEN A WORLD CUP COME TO AMERICA, THE IT JUMPS IN POPULARITY AND IT STAYS THERE. 
          AND SO WE THINK THAT IT'S JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW. 
          THEN ON TOP OF THAT, TWO YEARS LATER, I BELIEVE WE'RE HOSTING, UH, THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP. 
          SO THAT'S GONNA BE HUGE. 
          AND, AND ACTUALLY THE AMERICANS, UH, WOMEN'S TEAM BETTER ANYWAY, SO THAT SHOULD BE PRETTY COOL. 
          , UM, DOESN'T WANT TO WIN AT ALL. 
          SO, UH, ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE IS THAT WE'VE GOT, UM, A LARGE, WHAT WE CALL THE SHOW PITCH HERE WITH SOME STADIUM SEATING OR SOME BLEACHER SEATING FOR LARGE GROUPS. 
          UH, THIS WOULD BE ARTIFICIAL TURF FOR, UH, INCREASED USAGE. 
          THESE WOULD BE SYNTHETIC TURF AS WELL. 
          SO YOU GOT FOUR SYNTHETIC AND FOUR NATURAL TURF FIELDS. 
          UH, THAT'S THE PERFECT COMBINATION FOR THE HIGHER END SOCCER, UH, LEAGUES THAT ARE OUT THERE REALLY PREFER THE NATURAL TURF FIELDS. 
          UM, BUT, BUT YOU CAN'T PLAN ON WHEN IT RAINS. 
          SO THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY. 
          IT'S ALSO JUST RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER WHEN YOU GO DOWN NAMAN FOREST FROM WINTERS PARK, WHICH HAS SEVERAL OTHER SOCCER FIELDS. 
          SO IT'S A PERFECT DYNAMIC. 
          UM, SO WE'VE DESIGNED THIS TO REALLY BE NOT JUST A A, A SEA OF SOCCER FIELDS, IT'S REALLY MORE OF A PARK SETTING. 
          AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME REALLY NEAT THINGS HERE. 
          THIS IS A SALL COURT OR A MINI PITCH. 
          IT'S CONCRETE BY THE SIZE OF A TENNIS COURT. 
          IT HAS, UH, LIGHTS AND GOALS AND, AND SIDE FENCE ON IT. 
          THIS IS MEANT TO BE KIND OF A PARK SETTING. 
          YOU CAN SEE THE KIND OF THE, THIS IS A PLAZA AREA. 
          IT'S KIND OF GOT THE SOCCER, THE OLD SOCCER BALL, UH, OCTAGON PATTERNS. 
          THE WHOLE IDEA HERE IS, IS THAT IT SERVES AS A DYNAMIC, UH, COMPONENT OF WHAT WE HOPE TO BE A FUTURE, UH, PROJECT DEVELOPMENT UP HERE. 
          SO WE'RE, UM, WE JUST, UH, SELECTED AND ARE WORKING THROUGH NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT FOR A THIRD PARTY OPERATOR TO HELP, UH, REALLY, UH, MAXIMIZE THE USE OF IT. 
          AND, AND YES, IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE, THE YOUTH AND SOCCER, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? WHEN YOU PUT A LOT OF BODIES HERE EVERY WEEKEND, EVERY NIGHT, AND YOU BRING IN WORLD CLASS REGIONAL, UH, TOURNAMENTS, THEY GOTTA GO EAT SOMEWHERE. 
          THEY GO SHOP WITH THINGS THEY FORGOT. 
          AND SO UP AND DOWN GEORGE BUSH, THERE'S ALL THAT THAT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, HAD RIGHT THERE. 
          SO WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO BRING IN HERE, AND WE'RE GONNA, UH, PROBABLY DO REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ON THAT 14 ACRE, THAT'S A SEVEN, ABOUT A SEVEN ACRE AND ANOTHER SEVEN ACRE COMMERCIAL TRACK. 
          WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IS BUSINESSES THAT ARE COMPLIMENTARY AND GO ALONG WITH IT. 
          SO WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE A HOTEL. 
          WE WOULD LIKE TO BE REALLY AMBITIOUS AND TRY TO FIND A WAY TO GET A CONVENTION HOTEL THAT'S KIND OF IN THAT MEDIUM SIZED RANGE. 
          UM, WE'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE SOME OFFICE SPACE IN HERE THAT MIGHT HOUSE SOME THINGS RELATED TO, UH, SOCCER BUSINESS, UH, RESTAURANTS, RETAIL, MIXED USE. 
          THERE MIGHT BE SOME MULTIFAMILY HAPPENING IN HERE. 
          SO WE WANTED TO SEE THAT APPEAR TO BE ONE, UH, CONTIGUOUS, UH, ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THAT LOCATION. 
          SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED. 
          WE'RE HOPING TO START CONSTRUCTION, UH, IN THE FALL. 
          WE'RE ABOUT 60% DESIGN SET RIGHT NOW, SO WE ARE MOVING QUICKLY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND NOW WE'RE GONNA TURN OUR ATTENTION TO A VERY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE. 
          ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, WE HELD A TOWN HALL OVER AT THE, UH, RECREATIONAL CENTER AT, UH, OTTAWA FOR THE RESIDENCE OF THE EASTMAN HILLS AREA. 
          IT HAD TO DO WITH THE SITUATION THAT HAS OCCURRED THERE AT THE RELATES TO THE OLOGY OF THE LAND THAT'S BEING RAISED THERE AND THE DIFFERENT JURIES 
          [00:55:01]
THAT ARE TAKING PLACE. 
          IF YOU'VE GONE DOWN REFUGE AND, UH, GONE TO JUST ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE HOUSES THERE AND THE POINT OF AFFECTION THERE AND LOOKED UP, YOU PROBABLY HAVE SEEN WHAT LOOKS LIKE A MOUNTAIN. 
          IT IS, IT IS, IT IS JUST ATROCIOUS. 
          IT'S CRAZY. 
          HOWEVER, NOT BEING AN ENGINEER, OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU SEE PLANS AND THE PLANS ARE PUT BEFORE YOU, YOU REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT CONFIGURATION IS GOING TO BE AND HOW IT'S GOING TO LOOK UNTIL IT HAPPENS. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED AFTER COMING ON COUNCIL IS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AS I STATED WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, I STOOD UP FOR BELIEVE. 
          THIS IS NOT A PART-TIME JOB. 
          THIS IS NOT A PART-TIME JOB. 
          THIS JOB IS A FULL TIME JOB AND IT TAKES A LOT TO CHANGE. 
          IT TAKES A LOT OF STUDY, IT TAKES A LOT OF GETTING THERE. 
          MIDNIGHT HOURS, IT JUST TAKES, IT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT OUTTA YOU. 
          AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW HOW OLD I'M, BUT I'M PROBABLY OLDER THAN MOST PEOPLE. 
          AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TRULY HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS THING RIGHT HERE IS THE MUSCLE. 
          AND YOU'RE EITHER USING IT OR YOU LOSING IT. 
          AND I WANNA SAY TO YOU THAT I CHOOSE TO USE MINE AND I THANK GOD FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND TO BE PART OF, BUT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. 
          AND I SAY THAT TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA ASK AT THIS POINT, OUR SYSTEMS MANAGER COMES TO US BECAUSE AFTER WE SAW THIS, WE KNEW THAT THERE WERE PARTES. 
          THERE ARE, UH, ZONING REGULATIONS. 
          THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO. 
          AND ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO A PROPERTY OWNER. 
          ONCE A PERSON OWNS A PIECE OF PROPERTY, A PIECE OF LAND, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO THAT YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT BY ALL. 
          BUT AS A RESULT OF STILL RECOGNIZING, UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS TO COME FIRST, PEOPLE AREN'T BEING HAVE TO COME FIRST. 
          WE HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH PAUL TEAM, WITH PHIL AND WHAT HE'S GOING COME BEFORE YOU AND TALK ABOUT YOUR TONIGHT IS WHAT WE INTEND TO DO AND WHAT THE PLANS THAT WE'RE TEAM TO, TO ESTABLISH AT THIS POINT AS IT RELATES TO THAT SITUATION. 
          SO IF YOU WILL, AGAIN, I'M SITTING AT TOGETHER HANDS WHO ACTUALLY MEETING, I GOT WHAT I SAID EARLIER, THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB OF THE CITY MANAGER IS TO LISTEN. 
          I MET AND I STAYED AROUND AFTER THAT MEETING FOR AN HOUR. 
          AND I TALKED TO THE MEN WHEN WERE THERE. 
          AND AS MR. MOORE SAID, WE LOOKED AT THAT AREA, LOVE YOU, AND IT'S A CHURCH. 
          I USED WORD USED TO WORD RIDICULOUS. 
          IT'S RIDICULOUS. 
          AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT DEVELOPMENT WAS SET IN STONE LONG BEFORE MR. MOORE WAS ON THE COUNCIL. 
          THAT DEVELOPMENT WAS SET IN STONE AND WAS APPROVED. 
          THE, THE DESIGN FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT WAS APPROVED YEARS BEFORE THAT. 
          AND THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THAT, BOUGHT THAT WITH THE RIGHTS TO BUILD WHAT IT WAS THAT THEY HAD DEVELOPED, THAT THEY HAD DESIGNED IN PRIOR DEVELOPMENT. 
          SO THEY HAD WHAT THEY CALL DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS. 
          THEY HAD DEVELOPMENT. 
          AND SO THE PEOPLE WHO UH, DESIGNED THAT HAD THE RIGHT TO AND THAT PROPERTY AND HAD THE RIGHT TO BUILD WHAT WAS DESIGNED, THEY WERE GIVEN THAT RIGHT BY THE CITY COUNCIL LONG AGO. 
          AND THEY SET OUT . 
          WELL, THE PURPOSE OF THAT MEETING WAS, UH, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY RECOGNIZED THAT THE RESULT THAT NOBODY ANTICIPATED WHEN THEY SAW THE DRAWINGS WAS ATROCIOUS OR RIDICULOUS. 
          AND FOLLOWING THAT MEETING, AFTER I TALKED TO A NUMBER OF YOU AFTER MEETING, MR. MOORE PULLED ME ASIDE AND SAID, CAN WE SEE WHAT WE CAN DO? WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO IT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT THAT THEY DO IT. 
          AND SO I, UH, SET UP A MEETING FOLKS AND I ASKED THEM TO ME TO TALK, MR. AND I SAID, AND I TOLD HIM THAT WHAT I JUST SAID NOW, I SAID, YES, YOU MAY HAVE A RIGHT AND I UNDERSTAND THE LAW GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO DO THIS. 
          DOESN'T, YOU TOLD US YOU WANNA BE A GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNER, BE THAT'S NOT THIS. 
          WHEN WE REACH A SOLUTION, HE SAID, I UNDERSTAND. 
          WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. 
          WE WANT WORK WITH YOU. 
          AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF WORKING ON AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM. 
          WE REMOVE THE FIVE HOMES THAT ARE AT THE BACK OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT CREATE A VERY DRAMATIC FLU AND THEN RE SLOPE THAT HILL SO THAT THOSE HOMES WOULD BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. 
          SO IT WOULD TAKE THIS, THE HILL FROM A 41 TO A MORE, MUCH MORE GENTLE ROLL AND THEN PUT GRASS AND TREES ON. 
          SO IT JUST LOOKED LIKE A GENTLE HILL INSTEAD OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. 
          NOW, 
          [01:00:02]
WE DON'T HAVE A DEAL YET. 
          I DON'T WANT TO SET HIM HIS EXPECTATIONS, BUT THE PUL PULTE FOLKS HAVE AGREED TO WORK WITH US ON, AND WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE. 
          WE HAVE SOME DETAILS TO WORK OUT, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD SOLUTION FOR THAT COMMUNITY. 
          AND IT SHOWS SOME GOOD FAITH. 
          AND I, I HAVE TO TAKE MY HAT OFF TO FOLKS AT PULTE. 
          THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. 
          THEY HAVE AN ABSOLUTE THOUGHTFUL RIGHT TO BUILD WHAT THEY WERE GONNA BUILD. 
          AND I TOLD THEM, HEY, YOU WANNA BE A GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNER. 
          WE WANT YOU TO BE A GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNER. 
          AND BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR SOMETIMES MEANS MAKING, TAKING CARE OF YOUR NEIGHBORS AND NOT HAVING THEM FACE. 
          I SAID, I'VE DRIVEN THEM THREE TIMES NOW, AND EVERY TIME I DRIVE DOWN THAT STREET, I SAY THE SAME THING. 
          THAT'S RIDICULOUS. 
          AND COUNCILMAN MOORE SAYS, IT'S ATROCIOUS. 
          IT'S ATROCIOUS AND RIDICULOUS. 
          AND SO I THINK THAT VERY SHORTLY, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UH, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM TO REMOVE THOSE FIVE HOMES AND GIVE SOME RELIEF TO THOSE PEOPLE AGAIN, WILL BE PERFECT. 
          NO, I THINK IF YOU LIVE IN THAT AREA AND YOU ONCE HAD A NICE VIEW OF THE GOLF COURSE, YOU PREFER TO HAVE THAT, GIVEN THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT WAS SET A LONG TIME AGO, IS GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE RIGHT TO PUT THOSE HOMES THERE, BUT THEY'RE TO REMOVE THOSE HOMES. 
          SO THAT DOESN'T VIEW, I THINK WE GET THAT DONE. 
          AND MR. MOORE ASKED THAT I WORK HARD AND THE STAFF WORK HARD WITH ME TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE. 
          THAT'S NEWS. 
          I'M GRATEFUL, GRATEFUL, THE FACT THAT YOU ALL CAME TO THAT MEETING AND YOU WERE WILLING TO STAY AFTERWARDS AND TALK TO ME AND TELL ME WHAT YOUR CONCERNS WERE BECAUSE IT LET ME THEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THEM AND EXPRESS THOSE CONCERNS TO THE DEVELOPER AND TELL 'EM YOU WANT, WE WANT, LET'S WORK ON THIS TOGETHER. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          WELL, I'M JUST GONNA HOLD RIGHT THERE. 
          I GONNA SAY THANK YOU. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS QUITE TOO OFTEN WE THINK THE WORST OF ONE ANOTHER. 
          SOMEONE SAID EARLIER THAT I LIVE HERE, MATTER OF FACT, MANY OF OUR STAFF LIVE HERE HAVE A LAST NAME THAT WE WANT TO SEE IF ANYTHING TAKING PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN YEARS AGO. 
          I THINK THE GREATEST THING THAT GOD HAS GOING RIGHT, RIGHT NOW, AFTER YOU SEE A PROGRAM LIKE YOU'VE SEEN TONIGHT, EVERY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HAD, EVERY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME TYPE OF WAY THROUGH OUR WORKING TOGETHER, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE IT. 
          AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS GOING HAVE TO GO FORWARD. 
          WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BEGIN TO BELIEVE IN ONE ANOTHER, TO TRUST ONE ANOTHER AND TELL A DIFFERENT STORY. 
          WE GET ON FACEBOOK AND WE HAVE NEXT DOOR AND WE THROW, LISTEN TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT NEGATIVITIES AND PEOPLE BEING SOLD AND WE BUY INTO IT. 
          AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW TONIGHT THAT IS NOT WHO WE, OKAY? THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL REPORT. 
          OKAY, NOW, HOW MANY OF YOU WERE AT THE, UH, RIBBON LANE? THE BROWN, THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY OF WIN GEORGE PARK YOU DAYS AGO? ALRIGHT, VERY GOOD. 
          WELL, 20, THAT'S RIGHT. 
          22 YEARS AGO, MY WIFE AND I MOVED INTO THIS COMMUNITY AND THE REALTOR TOLD US THEY'RE GONNA PUT A PARK THERE . 
          AND 22 YEARS LATER WE ARE HAVING A PARK. 
          THEY'RE, I ASK NOW, WOULD YOU PLEASE GO BACK ONCE AGAIN AND TALK TO US ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT PARK AND WHERE WE GO TOGETHER? THANK YOU. 
          HERE WE GO. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          SO AGAIN, HIGH LEVEL, EVERYBODY PROBABLY KNOWS WHAT THIS IS. 
          UH, I'LL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY THIS PARK, YES, IT'S BEEN IN A MASTER PLAN FOR QUITE SOME TIME. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF MASTER PLANS THAT HAVE PLANS THAT HAVE NO MONEY. 
          UM, THIS PARK AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE COME TO FRUITION WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL 2019 BOND PROGRAM, UH, OR THE 2004. 
          UH, BUT WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT WHEN THERE WAS SOME FEDERAL AR FUNDS AVAILABLE, UH, COUNCILMAN MOORE, UH, UH, RECOGNIZED THAT THIS WAS A NEED TO ADVOCATED FOR THOSE EXPENDITURES. 
          UH, MUCH LIKE SOME OTHER PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. 
          AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW THIS ONE CAME ABOUT. 
          UM, AS YOU PROBABLY HAVE PARTICIPATED 
          [01:05:01]
IN, WHEN WE HAD OUR CONSULTANTS AND OUR STAFF DOING, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT MEETINGS, UH, THE, THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE WAS, IS IT'S NEAR A VERY PEACEFUL PART OF THE LAKE. 
          LET'S LEAVE IT NATURAL, LET'S LEAVE IT PASSIVE. 
          LET'S NOT MAKE IT OVERLY ACTIVATED. 
          NO LIGHT BALL FIELDS, NO DRAG STRIPS, NO, UH, ANYTHING THAT MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. 
          UM, SO THIS IS, THIS IS, THAT HAS THAT, UH, PRODUCT. 
          AND SO WHAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS, IS UM, YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN, WE'VE GOT SURVEY STAKES OUT THERE. 
          WE'VE GOT A CONTRACTOR WITH A NOTICE TO PROCEED. 
          I NOTICED TODAY HE IS GOT HIS, UH, CONSTRUCTION FENCE UP AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE PUTTING IN THEIR S FENCE TOMORROW. 
          UM, AND SO ONCE THAT'S IN, THEN THEY CAN START TURNING DIRT. 
          THEY GET THEIR PERMIT TO MOVE FORWARD. 
          UM, SO AGAIN, A REALLY BEAUTIFUL OPEN LAWN AREA, UM, PLAYGROUND, UH, WHICH IS RIGHT HERE. 
          RESTROOM, OFF STREET PARKING. 
          YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE, A GREAT DEAL OF TRAILS OVER HERE. 
          THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF, UH, WILDFLOWER AND, AND NATIVE GRASSES THROUGHOUT HERE. 
          THESE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS. 
          THAT'S WHAT THOSE COLORS REPRESENT. 
          UM, AND THEN YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVER WATER EXPERIENCE RIGHT HERE WITH THIS HORSE BOARDWALK. 
          UM, WE ORIGINALLY HAD ONE IN THE PLAN. 
          IT HAD ANOTHER SHORT ONE RIGHT HERE. 
          UM, THIS PROJECT CAME IN ON BID DAY, ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF OVER BUDGET. 
          AND SO IN ORDER TO BRIDGE THAT GAP, WE HAD TO CUT A FEW THINGS, NOT NOTHING MAJOR. 
          UM, AND THEN WE WENT AND FOUND SOME OTHER FUNDS, UH, TO MAKE THAT WORK. 
          SO, UH, WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING IT HAPPEN, UM, UNDER CONSTRUCTION. 
          OKAY, I GOTTA MOVE. 
          GOTTA MOVE. 
          BE THE LIGHTS ON. 
          OKAY, SOMEBODY ASKED THIS QUESTION, WHY IN THE WORLD THEY PUT DOWN BIG UGLY POLES DOWN? ANYBODY? YOUR TURN. 
          COME ON, PLEASE WELCOME OUR CEO OF TPNL. 
          CAROLINE, WOULD YOU? NOW BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE YES, THOSE WERE NOT BEAUTIFUL. 
          I HAVE SOME TRANSMISSION ENGINEERS WITH DISAGREE, DISAGREE . 
          SO, UM, UH, AS COUNCILMAN MOORE SAID, MY NAME'S DARYL PINE. 
          I'M THE CEO OF GARDEN POWER LIFE. 
          UH, AS CHIEF BRIAN, HE MENTIONED THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM FOR HIM. 
          I'M GONNA MENTION THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE ROOM FOR ME, MR. ERIC CARTER, WHO IS OUR TRANSMISSION SERVICES MANAGER. 
          SO, UH, ERIC, CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? SO JUST REMEMBER THAT, REMEMBER ERIC, REMEMBER THAT SPACE. 
          YOU HAVE QUESTION SO YOU CAN ASK ERIC . 
          SO I'VE GOT A BRIEF PRESENTATION. 
          UH, JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, THE WHAT, THE WHY AND WHERE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR POLE REPLACEMENT PROJECT THAT'S ON WIN JOYCE ROAD. 
          AND SO THERE'S REALLY TWO TYPES OF POLES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS REPLACING FOR THIS PROJECT. 
          UH, THE FIRST ARE THE TRANSMISSION POLES. 
          THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE LARGER TALLER POLES THAT I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN MOORE CALLED UGLY . 
          UM, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE DISTRIBUTION POLES, WHICH ARE GOING TO BE YOUR SHORTER, SMALLER POLES. 
          AND BEFORE WE GET INTO THE YI THINK IT'S, IT'S GOOD TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS, BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. 
          SO THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, IF YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS SOMETHING LIKE A, A INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FOR ELECTRONS, YOU'VE GOT ELECTRONS THAT ARE CROSSING THE STATE FROM GENERATION FACILITIES THAT MIGHT BE TENS TO 50 TO A HUNDRED PLUS MILES AWAY. 
          AND THOSE ELECTRONS HAVE TO FLOW THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE GRID. 
          OUR SYSTEM IS JUST A PORTION OF THAT, UH, A GRID ASSOCIATED WITH ERCOT. 
          AND ULTIMATELY, UH, THAT GRID, EVEN THOUGH WE OWN AND OPERATE OUR PORTIONS, ULTIMATELY THAT OPERATION UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF ERCOT AND FROM A REGULATORY STANDPOINT IS UNDER THE PUBLIC UTILITY MISSION IN TEXAS. 
          SO THAT'S MORE LIKE AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. 
          YOU COME DOWN TO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. 
          THINK OF IT MORE LIKE YOUR RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHERE THE ELECTRONS NOW ARE GOING TO INDIVIDUAL HOMES OR INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES. 
          THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THAT WE ARE THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. 
          SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT CONSTRUCT BETWEEN THE TWO. 
          AND THAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE GET TO THE Y OF, UH, DOING THIS PROJECT. 
          SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? UH, WE REPLACED 
          [01:10:01]
19 WOOD TRANSMISSION POLES. 
          WE REPLACED THOSE WITH STEEL POLES. 
          WHY WE WERE OUT THERE. 
          WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF UPGRADING THE STRUCTURES TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY IN THE FUTURE. 
          UH, THAT'LL BE IMPORTANT WHEN I TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WIDE. 
          THEN ALSO WHILE WE'RE THERE, WE'RE REPLACING 26 OF THE WOODEN DISTRIBUTION POLES WITH TALLER DISTRIBUTION POLE. 
          NOW THE WHY OF THE PROJECT, SO IF YOU GO BACK, OH, IT BEFORE MY TIME WITH, UM, WITH GPL, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN 2012, THE GL BEFORE THAT TIME, UH, GPL MADE A, A MOVE TO STOP USING UH, WOOD POLES ON ITS NEW TRANSMISSION LINES. 
          AND THE REASON WHY THEY WERE LOOKING AT CHANGING THAT PROCESS IS, DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER 2018 OR 2018 WOOD IS NOT AS STRONG AS STEEL. 
          AND SO PART OF THE INITIATIVE WAS TO START USING STEEL POLES RATHER THAN WOOD POLES. 
          WE'VE EXPANDED THAT INITIATIVE TO NOW GO IN AND TRY TO REPLACE ALL OF THE WOOD TRANSMISSION POLES WITH STEEL. 
          AND SO IF YOU LOOK FROM AN INDUSTRY STANDARD, THIS IS WHAT THE PRICE NOW IS IN PARTICULAR WITH YOUR LARGER TRANSMISSION LINES, UH, WHICH THE WIND JOIST PROJECT IS ONE OF YOUR LARGER TRANSMISSION LINES. 
          YOU WANT TO GO WITH STEEL BECAUSE YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SYSTEM IS RELIABLE. 
          GO BACK TO THE ANALOGY OF THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. 
          IF WE HAVE A SITUATION AT THE RIGHT TIME OF YEAR AND A WE HAD A TRANSMISSION EVENT LIKE WE DID IN 2018, WE CAN HAVE PROBLEMS ON THE GRID. 
          AND THE WAY YOU SOLVE THAT PROBLEM ON THE GRID, YOU CAN'T MOVE THOSE ELECTRONS, IS YOU TURN PEOPLE'S POWER OFF. 
          SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE A RELIABLE GRID. 
          THIS IS PART OF THE HARDENING THAT WE'RE DOING. 
          THE OTHER THING THAT WE DID IS WE WENT AND INCREASED THE CAPABILITY OF THE LINE THAT'S OUT THERE AND BE ABLE TO HANDLE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY. 
          EXCUSE ME, IN THE FUTURE, EVEN THOUGH WE, UH, FROM AN ACCOUNTING PERSPECTIVE, WE USE 50 YEARS FOR THE LIFE OF THOSE, THOSE, UH, TRANSMISSION POLES, THE REALITY IS THOSE POLES MAY BE OUT THERE 75 TO A HUNDRED YEARS OR OR LONGER. 
          AND WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO IN A FEW YEARS AND REPLACE THOSE POLES. 
          AND I'M SURE YOU DON'T WANT US TO GO OUT THERE IN A FEW YEARS AND HAVE TO REPLACE THOSE POLES. 
          SO WE'VE UPGRADED THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE, UH, FOR FUTURE LOAD, FUTURE GROWTH IN AND AROUND THE AREA. 
          AND THE REASON WHY IT'S IMPORTANT IN AND AROUND THE AREA, AGAIN, THIS IS TRANSMISSION. 
          IT HAS MORE OF A REGIONAL EFFECT THAN A LOCAL EFFECT. 
          AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING, UH, IS GROWTH IN GARLAND, BUT ALSO AROUND GARLAND. 
          AND BECAUSE OF GROWTH AROUND GARLAND, JUST LIKE YOU HAD TO DO WITH THE INTERSTATE 30 OR UH, 6 35, WE'VE HAD TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY TO HANDLE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING FROM VARIOUS AREAS THROUGH THE, THROUGH THOSE ROADWAYS. 
          WE'VE HAD TO DO THE SAME THING WITH THE TRANSACTION SIDE. 
          UH, THE OTHER THING'S NOT ON HERE. 
          WE ARE GOING WITH THE TALLER WOODEN POLES ON THE DISTRIBUTION SIDE BECAUSE THAT'S A REQUIREMENT. 
          UH, WHEN THOSE POLES WERE ORIGINALLY PUT IN, THEY MET THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL SAFETY CODE. 
          UH, BUT AT THE TIME NOW WHEN WE'RE REPLACING THAT CODE HAS BEEN UPDATED AND TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT CODE, WE'RE HAVING TO GO WITH A LITTLE BIT TALLER, UM, UH, POLES THERE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER. 
          UH, AS FAR AS WHERE WE ARE TO DATE, WE'VE COMPLETED 85% OF THE PROJECT. 
          THIS SLIDE WAS PUT TOGETHER A FEW DAYS AGO. 
          UH, SO IT'S INCORRECT NOW. 
          MY UNDERSTANDING IS ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION POLES HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE AND ALL OF THE OVERHEAD WORK IS DONE ON THE TRANSMISSION SIDE. 
          SO EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS WE'RE STILL REPLACING POLES ON TRANSMISSION, THOSE ARE COMPLETE. 
          THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE LEFT IS THE DISTRIBUTION, UH, COMPONENTS. 
          UH, WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BEING FINISHED WITH THE DISTRIBUTION LINES. 
          THEN ONCE WE'RE FINISHED WITH THE UH, DISTRIBUTION SIDE, WE'LL COME IN, UH, WE'LL START DOING THE CLEANUP AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES WE SHOW HERE THROUGH MAY. 
          OUR HOPE IS IT'LL BE DONE BEFORE THEN. 
          BUT THE OLD SAYING, I READ IT FOR YOU TO BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AND SORELY DISAPPOINTED 'CAUSE I CAN'T CONTROL THE WEATHER. 
          WE'RE GONNA SAY MAY, BUT AGAIN, THE HOPE IS TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE BEFORE THEN AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AFTER THE PRESENTATIONS. 
          WE, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WHEN SICK AND WE LISTEN TO A PRESENTATION LIKE THAT, ALL WE CAN DO IS SAY WHAT? OKAY, ALRIGHT. 
          WITH THAT YOU WANNA BRING UP NOW, UH, ARE YOU GONNA DO IT TONIGHT FOR US OR, 
          [01:15:03]
ALRIGHT. 
          OKAY, NOW GET TOOK THE GOOD STEPS. 
          ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          I WAS GOING TO BRING UP THE QUOTE BECAUSE THIS YOUNG MAYBE IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT, OUT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE COMING TO, WHEN YOU HEAR US TALK ABOUT THE AGVS AND, UH, THE POWER POINTS AND ALL THAT, EVEN THE, UH, SOFTWARE, WHEN YOU GIRLS TALK ABOUT THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, KO SHOOTER IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO IS TRULY INVOLVED. 
          BUT THERE'S ANOTHER GUY THAT'S SITTING RIGHT ALONG THE SIDE, HER THAT SHE, SHE KIND REPORTS HIM , BUT HE, AS YOU WILL SEE, CONSTANTLY CALLS ON HIM TO EXPLAIN TO US WHAT'S TAKING PLACE AND WHAT'S GOING ON. 
          WHAT'S TAKING PLACE AT AR COUNTY, WHAT IS THE FUSION? WELL, WE CAN'T GROW OUT. 
          WE HAVE TO GROW UP. 
          THERE ARE ONE OTHER PLACE WE CAN GROW, WE CAN GROW INTO THE WATER AND WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR LAKE WR WITH THAT FROM ASK NOW, ANDY WOULD PLEASE COME ONCE AGAIN AND TALK TO US ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR POINT. 
          YOU JUST APPROVED $30 MILLION, I BELIEVE IN THE BOND FUND FOR US TO BEGIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE. 
          SO WITH THAT, WE NEED MOVE A ABOUT WHAT'S TAKING PLACE ONCE AGAIN. 
          AND, UM, SO I'M GLAD COUNCIL MOORE KIND MENTIONED THAT ACOS DEPARTMENT, UM, IS ONE OF MANY DEPARTMENTS. 
          A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS ARE A LOT OF FOLKS BEHIND THE SCENES WORKING ON THINGS. 
          WE'VE GOT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE'VE GOT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. 
          YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THE  PRESENT ON THIS TOPIC BEFORE. 
          YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN ME PRESENT ON THIS TOPIC BEFORE. 
          WE'VE GOT OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY AND HOUSING. 
          WE HAVE SO MANY, UH, DEPARTMENTS THAT WORK ON PROJECTS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT MOST PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF. 
          UM, THIS ONE'S A VERY LARGE AND VERY AMBITIOUS, UH, FUTURE FAKE FACING PROJECT. 
          UM, AND, AND JUST FOR ORIENTATION SAKE, YOU KIND OF IN, IN THIS IMAGINARY SPACE, YOU'VE GOT BASS PRO SHOP KIND OF OVER HERE. 
          WE'VE GOT AN EXISTING TRAIL COMING THROUGH HERE RIGHT NOW TO ABOUT RIGHT HERE. 
          THIS IS A PLANNING EXERCISE THAT BASICALLY RECOGNIZES THAT THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THAT GARLAND HAS ABOVE SOME OF THE OTHER LAKE CITIES. 
          WE HAVE THE MOST SHORELINE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING WITH. 
          VERY EXPENSIVE, VERY TIME CONSUMING, BUT WE HAD TO BE AMBITIOUS FOR A COUPLE REASONS. 
          UM, A LOT OF THE HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE HERE, YOU KNOW THIS, BUT MOST OF OUR MULTIFAMILY, WE, YOU HAVE TOGETHER THE AVERAGE AGE OF OUR MULTIFAMILY JUST UNDER 50 YEARS OLD. 
          MANY OF 'EM ARE 60 YEARS OLD. 
          UM, AND SO AT SOME POINT THAT MEANS THEY'VE GOTTA BE REVITALIZED OR MAYBE TAKEN DOWN AND REPLACED. 
          THE OTHER ISSUE IN THIS AREA IS, UM, WITH THE EXTENSION OF GEORGE BUSH JUST OFF THE PAGE, THAT WILL ALWAYS, UM, STIMULATE SOME TYPE OF DEMAND FOR DEVELOPMENT. 
          SO WHAT THE CITY, UH, WOULD BE SMART TO DO IS GET AHEAD OF IT AND HAVE A PLAN. 
          SO IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE CITY'S GOING DOWN HERE AND BUYING EVERYTHING UP AND DOING THIS, IT JUST MEANS THAT IF A DEVELOPER COMES IN AND WANTS TO BRING SOMETHING IN, WE HAVE A FRAMEWORK TO EITHER ACCEPT IT OR NOT. 
          AND SO YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF MIXED USE RELATED THINGS. 
          AND WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IS YOU'VE GOT A MIX OF USES FROM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S MULTI-FAMILY, MAYBE IT'S TOWN HOMES, MAYBE IT'S SINGLE FAMILY, IT'S RETAIL, IT'S FOOD AND BEVERAGE, IT'S ENTERTAINMENT, IT'S COMMERCIAL, IT'S OFFICE, A LOT OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT OF THAT VARIETY TO MAKE A VIABLE, UH, ECONOMY. 
          UM, BUT THE ONE I'M KIND OF MOST EXCITED ABOUT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING, WE'VE SELECTED KIMMI HORN AS A DESIGN CONSULTANT. 
          UM, WE ARE WORKING ON THAT 30 MILLION COUNCIL MOORE, UH, MENTIONED IS A, A BOARDWALK THAT WILL START RIGHT HERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE END OF THE RESTAURANTS AND GO ALL THE WAY AROUND UNDERNEATH I 30 AND THEN CONNECT OVER HERE TO JOHN PAUL JONES. 
          AND THAT'S GONNA BE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO JUST COME DOWN HERE. 
          UM, AND THE REASON WHY THAT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS, IS WE THINK IT'S A CATALYST TO START BRINGING PEOPLE DOWN TO EAT AT THESE RESTAURANTS, WHICH WE'RE ALREADY DOING QUITE WELL. 
          BOROUGH'S DOING FINE, BUT IT'LL BE OTHER PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME AND JUST GET ON THE WATER OR SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT BEING ON THE WATER. 
          WHETHER IT'S A POND OR AN OCEAN. 
          EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE BY THE WATER AND THEY WANNA PAY A PREMIUM FOR THAT VIEW. 
          SO WE HOPE THAT THAT WILL BE STEP ONE FIRST DOMINO. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, THIS COULD TAKE 15, 20, 30 YEARS TO COME TO FULL FRUITION, BUT, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL LOOK BACK AT THAT TIMEFRAME AND THINK THAT THIS COUNCIL AND STAFF MADE SOME GOOD CHOICES, UH, FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE AT THAT TIME. 
          SO, UM, THAT, THAT'S THIS PROJECT IN A NUTSHELL. 
          THEY'RE A DREAM. 
          THEY'RE A DREAM. 
          YES. 
          OKAY, MOVING RIGHT ALONG. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANDY. 
          ALRIGHT, NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO, UH, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT A EB, YOU HEARD ABOUT E WHERE ARE WE PRESENT WITH HEB? LET'S TALK ABOUT IT'LL DO. 
          SO HEB WHERE, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT? YES. 
          SO, UH, WE MAY THE, UH, PUT THIS ON 
          [01:20:01]
A, ON A WORK SESSION A FEW WEEKS AGO, UH, LETTING FOLKS KNOW THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH AGREEMENTS, UH, WITH HEB FOR, UH, AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE, UH, TO HELP BRING THAT TO FRUITION. 
          UM, SO IN A NUTSHELL, WE AS THE CITY AND, UH, THE LEGAL TEAM, THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM, THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM IS IN LOCKSTEP AND HAVE AN AGREEMENT READY TO GO WITH HEB. 
          THAT'S A DONE DEAL. 
          WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IS WAITING ON SOME THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL. 
          THERE'S SOME THIRD PARTY AGREEMENTS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN THAT WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN. 
          SO THAT, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THEY'RE BUYING THAT LAND THAT HAS SOME CONDITIONS RELATED TO IT THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO NEGOTIATE OUT. 
          AND SO WHEN THAT'S DONE, THEY WILL HAVE THEIR AGREEMENT WITH THE SELLER READY TO GO. 
          THEY WILL COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL. 
          WE WILL ASK THEM TO REVIEW AND APPROVE, UH, THAT THREE 80 AGREEMENT IS WHAT WE CALL THAT A CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT WITH INCENTIVES TO HELP THEM GET THAT DEVELOPED. 
          AND THEN ONCE THAT'S DONE, THEY CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY. 
          UM, AND THEY'VE GOT A COUPLE OF YEARS TO START CONSTRUCTION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THOSE POTENTIAL BENEFITS. 
          SO VERY EXCITED. 
          UM, LOVE HEVI, I HAVE ONE NEAR WHERE I LIVE AND I DRIVE PAST TWO OLDER GROCERY STORES TO GET TO THE E. 
          SO I, THAT'S HAPPEN, I PROMISE. 
          ALRIGHT, STAND UP, UP. 
          I WANT YOU TO TURN TO THE PERSON ON YOUR LEFT. 
          TURN THE PERSON ON YOUR RIGHT, CHECK THE HAND AND TELL, I'M SO BAD YOU'RE HERE. 
          I WANT YOU TO BE FULLY AWAY FROM THIS. 
          I WANT YOU TO BE FULLY AWAY FROM THIS. 
          AND YET I DO. 
          I I DO THIS PURPOSEFULLY. 
          I DO THIS PURPOSELY. 
          I A LOT OF EXPLANATION AT YOU FOR THE REASON OF I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE A TOWN HALL IS NOT A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE GONNA WORK OUT THE PROBLEMS. A TOWN HALL IS A PLACE WHERE WE WANT TO GIVE YOU THE INVITATION, WE CAN WORK PROBLEM AS WE GO. 
          NOW WE'RE GOING TALK ABOUT VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE AS WE GO THROUGH THE, I THINK IT'S THE NORTH ELECTIONS AND WHAT ARE WE CALLING DELIVER DELIVERS. 
          YEAH, SURE. 
          YEP. 
          AMY . 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I'M YOUR CULTURAL ARTS DIRECTOR, AMY, I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE TONIGHT. 
          AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SO MUCH OF WHAT GARLAND IS DELIVERING THAT, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THIS VERY QUICKLY SO WE CAN GET TO SOME OF THE IMPORTANT FINANCIAL STUFF. 
          UM, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS ABOUT RESULTS, OKAY? GARLAND DELIVERS IS ABOUT RESULTS. 
          IT'S ABOUT REAL PROJECTS, IT IS ABOUT REAL, UH, REAL IMPACTS AND REAL IMPROVEMENTS. 
          AND THE FIRST THING, AND WE GOT TO HEAR ABOUT THIS TONIGHT, OUR LOW CRIME WEIGHT, OUR LOWERING CRIME WEIGHT RATE, I MEAN AMAZING. 
          BUT WE HAVE ALL OF THESE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES THAT HAVE COME ONLINE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. 
          AND IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OUR NEW ANIMAL SHELTER, UH, LAST YEAR, 8,000 ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED. 
          WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF GREAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, PROGRAMS FROM VACCINE CLINICS, UM, YOU KNOW, TO ALL TO A DOG TRAIL AROUND THE, UH, ANIMAL SHELTER. 
          AND OF COURSE TOO, WE'VE GOT SOME NEW FIRE STATIONS THAT HAVE COME ON BOARD AND WE'RE, WE'RE PLACING FIRE STATIONS IN PLACES WHERE THEY ARE CLOSER TO THE CITIZENS THAT THEY SERVE. 
          SO THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY TERRIFIC. 
          WE HAVE A SUN CITY STATIONS CENTER. 
          IS THAT RIGHT? CHEAP. 
          YEAH. 
          YES. 
          OKAY. 
          SO THAT'S, I GUESS WAS LIKE, YEAH, WELL IT'S, IT'S, UM, REALITY BASED TRAINING. 
          IT IS, IT IS TO HELP MAKE SURE OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS HAVE THE, THE BEST SKILLS POSSIBLE TO HELP WITH THEIR SERVICE. 
          SO, AND THEN OF COURSE, DOWNTOWN, THE ENERGY THAT THAT'S HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN IS JUST AMAZING. 
          IF YOU CAN LOOK AROUND AND THAT'S WHERE IS PACKED ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, ALL NIGHT LONG AND THROUGH THE DAYS, IT'S PRETTY EXCITING. 
          WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT BUSINESSES, UH, HOPE EVERYBODY'S HAD A CHANCE TO, TO VISIT THE, UM, FORTUNE, SUN AND TAINO AND LOCKWOOD DISTILLERY. 
          UM, JUST A COUPLE TO NAME THE FEW WHICH BE COMING SOON. 
          UH, WE'LL ALSO HAVE, UH, UPDATES TO OUR GRANVILLE ARTS CENTER. 
          SO WE'RE, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT INVESTMENT. 
          THAT IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          GRANVILLE ARTS CENTER BRINGS THOUSANDS OF VISITORS, UH, TO GARLAND. 
          WE SERVE OUR CITIZENS AND BEYOND. 
          AND OF COURSE WE'RE THE COWBOY HAT CAPITAL IN TEXAS, RIGHT? WE LOVE OUR BIG, THE BIGGEST COWBOY HAT IN TEXAS, IN DOWNTOWN. 
          UM, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ROADWAYS, RIGHT? THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO EVERYONE. 
          DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE 2000 MILES OF ROADWAYS, UH, IN THE CITY OF GARLAND? AND SO IF YOU WERE GONNA DRIVE FROM GARLAND TO SEATTLE, 
          [01:25:01]
THAT'S 2000 MILES. 
          UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, LOTS, OUR BOND PACKAGE THAT PASSED THIS LAST YEAR, UH, THANK YOU GARLAND VOTERS, A LOT OF INVESTMENT IS GOING TOWARDS OUR STREETS. 
          AND YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AND SEE HOW YOUR STREET IS BEING IMPACTED IF YOU GO TO GROW GARLAND UH.COM AND YOU CAN GET IN THERE AND TAKE A LOOK AND SEE REAL, UH, REAL LIFE UPDATES ON THE STREETS. 
          UM, THE OTHER THING ARE PARKS WE GOT TO HEAR ABOUT. 
          SO, AND THE WIND, JOYCE AND HARBOR POINT, I MEAN SO MANY INCREDIBLE THINGS HAPPENING, BUT YOU GOTTA KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THIS IS NOT JUST ONE INITIATIVE. 
          I KNOW TONIGHT IS ABOUT DISTRICT THREE, BUT THIS IS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS AT 26 PARKS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE JUST ALSO CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF THE BOB DAY TENNIS CENTER AND THAT CENTER THAT, I MEAN, IS A FANTASTIC FACILITY, BUT AGAIN, IT'S ALSO ATTRACTING TOURNAMENTS THAT WILL BRING PEOPLE TO GARLAND TO HELP SPEND MONEY. 
          SO INCREDIBLE AMENITIES FOR OUR CITIZENS AND ATTRACTING VISITORS AS WELL TOO. 
          UM, THE OTHER THING, IT'S SUMMER, IT'S GETTING HOT OUTSIDE. 
          SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO COOL OFF. 
          AND SO, YOU KNOW, GREAT SPLASH PADS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF GARLAND. 
          WE CANNOT WAIT TO HOPE IT SURF AND SWIM. 
          IT'S GONNA WOO. 
          AND GUESS WHAT? THERE'S DISCOUNTS FOR RESIDENTS, OKAY? SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO, UH, JUST BE A GARLAND CITIZEN TO A ENJOY SERVANT SWIM, BUT YOU GET A DISCOUNT WHEN YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF GARLAND AND IT'S GOT A WAVE POOL. 
          SO REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH, UH, SER SWIM. 
          UM, THE OTHER THING TOO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE REALLY, UH, INVESTING IN OUR LIBRARIES. 
          SOUTH LIBRARY IS COMING SOON. 
          WE'RE GONNA HAVE A FEW UPDATES TO SOUTH LIBRARY, BUT I HOPE EVERYBODY'S HAD A CHANCE TO SEE CENTRAL. 
          AND IT'S MORE THAN JUST BOOKS AND LEARNING. 
          IT IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PODCAST SPACES AND COOKING KITCHENS AND IT, IT'S A PLACE OF CONNECTION. 
          SO, UH, GREAT, GREAT THINGS HAPPENING WITH OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM AS WELL. 
          UM, AND I THINK THAT REALLY GIVES US KIND OF A GREAT OVERVIEW OF WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HEARD FROM YOU THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND WE HAVE DELIVERED. 
          SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA BRING MATT UP, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND HE'S GONNA TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S COMING UP. 
          THANK YOU AMY. 
          WE ALWAYS BRING AMY TO TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT AND, UH, WANNA RECOGNIZE SINCE WE'RE RECOGNIZING STAFF, OUR CFOS IN THE BACK OFFICE, . 
          SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT IS OUR, UH, TAX, UH, NOVEMBER TAX RATE, UH, UH, A REDISTRIBUTION FROM OUR DEBT SERVICE TO OUR O AND M PORTION OF OUR TAX RATE. 
          SO I, I'M GLAD THAT SHE'S HERE 'CAUSE WE'RE STILL WORKING HARD. 
          SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP IT BRIEF BECAUSE WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT THE NUMBERS. 
          UM, BUT I WILL SAY THAT AGAIN, THANK YOU AMY, FOR AROUND CITY HALL. 
          ME AND ALLISON ARE KNOWN AS JUNE AND BLOOM . 
          SO WE'LL GET TO UH, THIS PART OF IT, BUT I WANTED TO KICK IT OFF 'CAUSE BACK TO THE CARLAND DELIVERS. 
          WE ARE DELIVERING A LOT OF PROJECTS BUT WE ARE ALSO DELIVERING A LOT OF SERVICES FOR LESS. 
          IF YOU LOOK AT THIS CHART, THIS IS PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX PER CAP OF ALL THE AREA CITIES AND HOW MUCH, UH, EACH ONE OF THESE CITIES BRINGS IN PER PERSON. 
          AND YOU CAN SEE RICHARDSON BRINGS IN ABOUT $1,000 AND $61,068 PER A PERSON GAR BRINGS IN 488. 
          WE ARE ABOUT 40% BELOW THE AVERAGE OF THESE CITIES. 
          AND WHAT THAT EQUATES TO, IF WE WERE JUST AN AVERAGE CITY, WE WOULD HAVE $90 MILLION MORE IN OUR GENERAL FUND. 
          SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE BACK AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND ALL OF OUR PARTS WORKERS, THEY ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB 'CAUSE THEY HAVE LESS STAFF BUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK. 
          SO MOVING ON, WHAT, GETTING INTO THE TAX RATE OF REDISTRIBUTION THAT WE WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH IN NOVEMBER, I WANTED TO TALK REAL BRIEFLY ABOUT HOW OUR TAX RATE IS STRUCTURED. 
          IS HEAVILY DO, UH, UH, GOVERNED BY THE STATE. 
          SO WE HAVE AN OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE TAX RATE, WHICH FUNDS OUR POLICE OFFICERS, ALL THE STAFFING, ALL THE PARTS DEPARTMENTS, ALL THE FUEL, ALL THE MAINTENANCE AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT KEEP DAILY OPERATIONS GOING. 
          AND THEN WE HAVE OUR DEBT SERVICE PORTION OF OUR TAX RATE, WHICH FUNDS ALL THOSE FUND THINGS. 
          AMY JUST TALKED ABOUT IT, IT IS BUILDING THINGS. 
          SO THINK OF THIS SIDE AS YOUR MORTGAGE, THIS IS DEBT AND THE OTHER SIDE IS OPERATIONS AND JUST GETTING ON WITH DAY-TO-DAY LIFE. 
          SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS DO A SWAP FROM THE DEBT SERVICE SIDE. 
          SO IN 2019, A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS YOU SAW FROM THE 2019 BOND PROGRAM AND THE VOTERS WERE SO 
          [01:30:01]
GRACIOUS TO GIVE US SIX AND A HALF CENTS ON THE DEBT SERVICE SIDE TO CONSTRUCT ALL THOSE AMAZING PROJECTS. 
          AND IN FACT, WE ALMOST, UH, CONSTRUCTED ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF NEW INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS CITY, WHICH IS AMAZING. 
          SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO TODAY, OUR TAX RATE BECAUSE OF NEW LIMITATIONS FROM THE STATE, WHICH CAPS OUR TA, OUR REVENUE GROWTH ON OUR OPERATIONS SIDE AT 3.5% PER YEAR ENFORCED US DOWN THE TAX RATE AT THE TAX BASE IS GROWING FASTER THAN THAT. 
          WE'VE ACTUALLY DROPPED OUR TAX RATE ABOUT 10% OF OUR 8 CENTS. 
          WE'RE SITTING AT ABOUT 69 CENTS PER $100 IN VALUATION TODAY. 
          WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IN NOVEMBER IS JUST REBALANCE THE RATE AND MOVE ROUGHLY 3 CENTS FROM THE DEBT SERVICE SIDE STATE LIMIT, NO PORTION OF THE TAX RATE. 
          IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS FOR AN ELECTION. 
          BUT WHAT THIS DOES IS PROVIDES US THE MONEY TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE AND POLICE AND FIRE AND ALSO TO OPERATE ALL THOSE WONDERFUL FACILITIES YOU JUST SAW WITH THE NEW SERVE AND SWIM, WHICH IS BIGGER WITH ALL OF PULFORD HOLFORD, UH, REC CENTER, ALL THOSE PROJECTS WHICH HAVE OPERATIONAL COSTS. 
          WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE VOTERS TO REBALANCE THAT AND MOVE IT UP. 
          AND ONE IMPORTANT THING IS WHEN WE REBALANCE AND WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, SO I'M SHOWING A FLAT 69 CENTS, BUT WE, WHAT WE WILL BE WORKING ON WITH CITY COUNCIL IS TO REDUCE THAT SUM AS WELL. 
          SO WE WILL ASK, STILL HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS TO MOVE FROM THE DEBT SERVICE 3 CENTS TO THE M AND O SO THAT WE CAN FUND THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS. 
          BUT WE ARE ALSO WORKING REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW TO FIGURE OUT A WAY WE CAN REDUCE THE DEBT SERVICE SUM. 
          SO THE ENTIRE TAX RATE GOES DOWN. 
          AND AN IMPORTANT, AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS IS WHEN YOU SEE THIS ON THE BALLOT AND WITH THE TEXAS LEGISLATION, WHAT'S CALLED SENATE BILL TWO, IT'S GOING SAY THAT THIS IS A TAX INCREASE AND IT'S GONNA SAY THAT BECAUSE IT IS ON THE M AND O SIDE 'CAUSE WE'RE GOING OVER THE THREE POINT HALF PERCENT. 
          BUT WHAT WE'RE TELLING YOU HERE IS OUR GOAL IS TO GIVE YOU A TAX RATE AND MOVE IT DOWN. 
          WE'RE AT THE BARE MINIMUM, KEEP IT FLAT. 
          SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND. 
          THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT MORE DISCUSSIONS ON THIS. 
          SO AGAIN, WE'RE STILL BREAKING ON THE NUMBERS, BUT WE WANTED TO ROLL IT OUT TO Y'ALL SO YOU CAN START THINKING ABOUT IT AND AS YOU HEAR MORE AND MORE ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE A, A BIG INITIATIVE FOR US AS WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD. 
          NOW WHAT DID HE, OKAY, WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING NOW IS WHAT OF THAT HE BROUGHT PROFESSIONALS. 
          THAT YOUNG MAN WENT THOSE NUMBERS. 
          HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. 
          OKAY, IT TAKES ME A LITTLE TIME. 
          OKAY? I BEEN, I MET WITH YOU MAN ABOUT THESE NUMBERS. 
          UH, TWO, WHAT I DO UNDERSTAND AND THAT'S THE REASON I COME TO YOU TONIGHT TO SAY TO YOU, UH, THE MAYOR CAME UP WITH A REAL GOOD ACRONYM FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CALL, SWAP AND DROP MAYOR, SWAP AND DROP. 
          THAT'S A VERY GOOD WAY TO PUT IT, OKAY? BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU KNOW WHAT MAN THINK THAT WHAT WE MAY WANT TO DO AND EVEN THOUGH A VIDEO OF YOU WITH DIFFERENT, PUT IT ON THE WEBSITE SO WE CAN COME. 
          BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THIS INFORMATION TIME AND TIME AGAIN BEFORE WE GET TO THE VOTING OF IT. 
          AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT'S TAKING PLACE. 
          THE STATE HAS TRULY CAUSED US SOME REAL CONCERNS AS RELATES TO HOW WE DEAL WITH OUR TAXES. 
          AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WILL MAKE US DO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, YOU WE'LL HAVE TAX GO OVER THERE. 
          THIS IS THE TAX INCREASE. 
          BUT BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND IT, YOU'LL RECOGNIZE IT'S NOT A TAX INCREASE AT ALL. 
          BUT BECAUSE THE LEGAL RAMIFICATION, WE HAVE TO WITH THAT LANGUAGE MONEY. 
          BUT I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT OUR COUNCIL AT THIS POINT, WE UNDERSTAND IT AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING ATE THAT YOU I CAN'T DO THAT. 
          WE VERY GOOD. 
          OKAY, VERY GOOD. 
          WE ARE RECOMMENDING AND SUGGESTING THAT WE ALL VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE INDIA IS THE FUTURE. 
          EVERYTHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HERE TONIGHT, EVERYTHING OUT, EVERYTHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THE PROBLEM STILL COMES DOWN TO CAN WE FUND IT, CAN WE FUND IT? IT'S EASY FOR US TO GO OUT AND BUILD A BUILDING FOR RECREATION, UH, FACILITIES IN THE LIBRARY. 
          IT'S A ONE TIME EXPENSE, BUT THE EXPENSE OF MAINTAINING IT, WHERE IS THAT MONEY COMING FROM IF WE ARE IN FACT 0.5% ON OUR OWN SIDE? NOW I SAY THAT 
          [01:35:01]
WAY TO YOU, HOPEFULLY I DO UNDERSTAND IT AND I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND IT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE WERE ALL TOGETHER, GO TO THE POLL AT BOTH THIS THING INTO EXISTENCE WITH THAT, THE LIFE IS NOT FLASHED. 
          , YOU'RE STILL HERE WITH US. 
          WE HAVE GIVEN YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION TONIGHT. 
          I'VE GOT ABOUT TWO MORE PAGES OF STUFF THAT I NEED TO READ NO TONIGHT. 
          EXACTLY RIGHT. 
          WHAT I'M GOING TO DO AT THIS POINT IS STATE, I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU CAME OUT TONIGHT. 
          I CAN'T GIVE YOU SALES, GIVE YOU SALES. 
          EVERY PERSON THAT IS PRESENTED HERE TONIGHT, THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO BE AROUND THIS ROOM. 
          ONE OF YOU, YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE JUST WALK UP TO 'EM, ASK YOUR QUESTIONS. 
          THEY'LL EVEN ANSWER IT RIGHT NOW OR THEY'LL GET BACK WITH YOU WITH THE INFORMATION. 
          I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO STAND UP HERE AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ALL OF YOU. 
          UM, AS MY COUNSELOR WOULD SAY, YOU SEE THIS SMILE IS JUST CONTAGIOUS, BUT IT'S EVEN BETTER IF YOU COME UP AND GO THROUGH RIGHT IN YOUR FACE. 
          OKAY, . 
          SO WITH THAT, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. 
          GOOD NIGHT. 
          GOD BLESS.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.