* 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. [00:00:14] GOOD EVENING GARLAND, AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. TODAY IS MAY 12TH 26. 2026, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE TODAY SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT, NOT ONLY OF THE OUTGOING MEMBERS, BUT ALL THE INCOMING MEMBERS. IT IS THE TRADITION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO HOLD A PRAYER AND A, UH, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BEFORE OUR COUNCIL MEETING. YOU'RE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IF YOU SO CHOOSE, BUT YOUR PARTICIPATION WILL HAVE NO BEARINGS ON THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. TONIGHT'S PRAYER AND PLEDGE WILL BE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE. SIR, LET US PRAY. ETERNAL LORD OUR GOD. WE PAUSE NOW AT THIS SPECIAL MOMENT TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE BLESSINGS OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP WITHIN OUR CITY TODAY. WE HONOR THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHOSE TERMS OF SERVICE ARE ENDING. WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR COMMITMENT, THEIR SACRIFICE, AND WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF GARLAND. FOR EVERY CHALLENGE FACED EVERY DIFFICULT DECISION MADE AND EVERY EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN THIS COMMUNITY, WE EXPRESS OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE, BLESS THEM AS THEY TRANSITION INTO NEW SEASONS OF LIFE AND CONTINUED SERVICE. WE ALSO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE BEGINNING THEIR SERVICE ON THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. GRANT THEM WISDOM BEYOND KNOWLEDGE, COURAGE IN DIFFICULT MOMENTS, PATIENCE IN DISAGREEMENT, AND HUMILITY IN LEADERSHIP. FOR WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO NEED IT. HELP THEM TO LISTEN WITH OPEN HEARTS. LEAD THEM WITH INTEGRITY, AND ALWAYS SEEK WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF THIS GREAT CITY. LORD, WE ASK NOW THAT YOU WILL UNITE THIS COUNCIL AND PURPOSE EVEN WHEN OPINIONS DIFFER, THAT RESPECT GOD, CONVERSATIONS, WISDOM, SHAPE, DECISIONS, AND COMPASSION INFLUENCED EVERY ACTION. MAY THE WORK THAT WE DO PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC GROWTH, STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT BENEFIT EVERY FAMILY. IN GARLAND, WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THEIR FAMILIES, CITY STAFF, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND ALL WHO WORK DAILY FOR THE WELLBEING OF THE COMMUNITY. GUIDE THIS COUNCIL, PROTECT THIS CITY AND HELP US ALL TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO SERVICE, UNITY AND PROGRESS. AND WHEN YOU DO, LORD, WE'RE VERY CAREFUL TO GIVE YOU HONOR, TO GIVE YOU GLORY AND TO GIVE YOU PRAISE. AND ALL THAT WE ASK IN RETURN IS YOU GIVE US THE BLESSINGS AND YOUR NAME. WE PRAY. AND ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN TOGETHER DID SAY AMEN. JOIN WITH ME NOW IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY COMMITTEE ACT, JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYONE BEING HERE. IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE AT OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WE HAVE A LITTLE OFFICIAL BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF BEFORE WE GET TO THE FUN PART. SO WE'LL BEGIN WITH OUR ITEMS FOR [1. Consider Approval of an Ordinance Canvassing and Declaring the Results of the General Election for City Councilmember, District 5, held on May 2, 2026, and Issuing Certificates of Election to the Newly Elected Councilmembers, including those Councilmembers Declared Elected on February 17, 2026.] INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. OUR ITEM NUMBER ONE IS CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE CANVASSING AND DECLARING RESULTS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT FIVE, HELD ON MAY 2ND, 2026, AND ISSUING CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION FOR THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS DECLARED ELECTED ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026. ALRIGHT, MADAM SECRETARY THEN, ANY SPEAKERS SIGN UP FOR THIS ITEM? NO, SIR. THERE IS NOT. ALRIGHT, VERY GOOD. LOOKING FOR A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON. MA'AM. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, A MOTION APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUTTON IS SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BASS DISCUSSION. MADAM SECRETARY, YOU PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTE FOR THIS ITEM MAD, PLEASE APPROVE UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT THEN WE'LL MOVE ON [2. Conduct Swearing in Ceremony] TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, CONDUCT SWEARING IN CEREMONY. ALL [00:05:21] COME DOWN HERE FOR THIS ONE, IT RUNS FRONT. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WANNA BRING UP A, A SPECIAL GUEST WE HAVE WITH US TONIGHT. UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE RED BOWERS IS HERE AND SHE HAS A, UH, I ASSUME PROCLAMATION FOR OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS. MA'AM, IF YOU'D LIKE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. UM, COUNCIL MAYOR PROTI, UH, CITY MANAGER, UM, AND TO ALL THE CITY STAFF, UM, AND TO YOU THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF GARLAND AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS THAT ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE NEW MEMBERS, UH, THAT ARE ELECTED TO THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE OUTGOING MEMBERS, UH, FOR AND THANKING THEM FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP. SO I AM STATE REPRESENTATIVE RTA ANDREWS BOWERS, PROUDLY REPRESENTING HOUSE DISTRICT ONE 13. SOME OF YOU MAY BE MY CONSTITUENTS AND I WISH, UH, SEND GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU THOUGH. UM, TONIGHT IS A SPECIAL NIGHT AND I'M GRATEFUL MR. MAYOR, FOR YOU ALLOWING ME TO SHARE IN THIS MOMENT TO BE HERE IN THE CHAMBER, IN YOUR CHAMBER ON SUCH A SPECIAL OCCASION WHERE YOU SWEAR IN NEW MEMBERS. UM, I HAVE CERTIFICATES FOR THE MEMBERS ELECT, UH, IF THEY WILL COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE THEM. AS CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT JIMMY TRAN IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR ELECTION AND SWEARING IN TO GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. PLACE ONE ON THIS 12TH DAY OF MAY, 2026. AND I'LL REPEAT THIS ONCE, BUT IN WITNESS THEREOF, IN PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME, I HAVE HERE UNTO SET MY HAND AND SEAL OF OFFICE AT AUSTIN, TEXAS ON THE 12TH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR OF 2026. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT, IF YOU'LL STAY UP HERE WITH YOUR CERTIFICATE, I WANNA GET OUT OF Y'ALL'S WAY. THANK YOU. AND LET YOU, AND LET YOU CARRY ON. COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT JUSTIN CARAWAY, YOU'LL COME UP. THIS IS IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR ELECTION AND SWEARING INTO THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL PLACE TWO, CONGRATULATIONS. WE ALSO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT CHRISTINA ANO SHE'LL COME FORWARD. CONGRATULATIONS. SO PROUD. WHO? ALWAYS. NO, NO, NO. NOTHING AGAINST OUR MALE COLLEAGUES, BUT ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE A FEMALE. AMEN TO AMEN. AMEN. LOOK AT THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. SEEING WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP, IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE STEP FORWARD AND DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO SERVICE IN, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY. SO IF WE COULD HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT MARGARET LUCK, COME UP IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR REELECTION AND SWEARING IN TO THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL PLACE FIVE, THAT'S A HUGE FEAT WHEN YOU STAND UP AND YOU COMMIT TO SERVICE ONCE AGAIN. SO WE ARE SO GLAD TO SEE MARGARET, COUNCIL MEMBER LUCK, COME BACK ONTO THE COUNCIL. WE'RE ALMOST THERE. AND THESE MEMBERS, I THINK THEY'RE IN ORDER. BRIANNA, UM, BRIANNA ALEXIS IS HERE FROM MY STAFF. AND IF YOU'LL JUST WAVE, I, THIS COUNCIL MEMBER DID ME A SOLID SERVICE, UM, NOT ONLY IN HIS TIME OF LEADERSHIP, BUT WE WANTED TO REALLY TAKE A MOMENT TO LET SOME LIGHT SHINE ON THOSE MEMBERS THAT WERE TURNING OUT. AND ONE THING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JEFF BASS, IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD DID FOR ME IS HE PASSED THE TORCH. HE SAW ME OUT IN COMMUNITY AND HE SAID, STATE REPRESENTATIVE BOWERS, THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT JIMMY TRAN. AND I THOUGHT, WHAT IN THE WORLD THAT'S SO GREAT THAT HE SO PROUDLY SAID, THIS IS THE GUY WHO'S TAKEN MY PLACE, UM, AND I GET TO GO GOLF OR SIT ON THE ON THE [00:10:01] DOCK OF THE BAY. CONGRATULATIONS AND WAIT. DON'T LET ME, LET ME DO YOU PROUD AND SAY, IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP AS A MEMBER OF GARLAND CITY COUNCIL PLACE ONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ONE UP IS COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS BEARD, IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP AS A MEMBER OF GARLAND CITY COUNCIL PLACE. TWO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR DEDICATION. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED SO WELL IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A CONSTANT SUPPORT, A CONDUIT BETWEEN CONSTITUENCY AND A LEADERSHIP AT THE STATE LEVEL AND ALL ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FORWARD COUNCIL MEMBER BJ WILLIAMS IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR DEDICATED, LONG DEDICATED SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP AS A MEMBER OF THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL. I THINK NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE. AND IF YOU'LL STAY THERE, FINE. UM, GARLAND CITY COUNCIL PLACE FOUR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ALL THAT YOU HAVE MEANT TO THIS. YES. SO THANK YOU MR. MAYOR FOR ALLOWING ME THAT MOMENT AND FOR CITY, CITY OF GARLAND CITIZENS. THANK Y'ALL FOR GIVING ME A MOMENT TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL IN THIS VERY SPECIAL OCCASION. UM, AND I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. NEW GUYS HOW TO TURN? I KNOW. ACT LIKE YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA DO ONE BY. ALRIGHT. SO GO SIT DOWN. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE BOWERS, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE IN OUR CHAMBERS. ANYTIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE, THOSE RECOGNITIONS. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE DOWN THE LIST NOW AND WE'LL START WITH DISTRICT ONE AND COUNCIL MEMBER BASS. DON'T GO TOO FAR. I'LL ASK YOU TO COME BACK UP HERE. YEP. COUNCIL MEMBER BASS IS TRULY BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE BESIDE YOU AS A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL. AND SINCE JOINING THE COUNCIL IN 2021, YOU HAVE BROUGHT THE PERSPECTIVE OF DEDICATED SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS FIRSTHAND WHAT IT MEANS TO CREATE JOBS, SERVE CUSTOMERS, AND INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY. YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE GARLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP, GARLAND, HABITAT HUMANITY, AND THE CITIZENS FIRE CLUB REFLECTS A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO SERVICE. AND YOU HAVE BEEN MAKING GARLAND STRONGER THROUGHOUT ALL THAT WORK. TOGETHER WITH YOUR WIFE, HEATHER, AND YOUR SON PRESTON, YOU HAVE REPRESENTED THE VERY BEST AT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GARLAND FAMILY. THROUGHOUT YOUR TIME ON COUNCIL, YOU HAVE BEEN A STEADY VOICE FOR DISTRICT ONE AND A THOUGHTFUL ADVOCATE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. YOU'VE APPROACHED THIS ROLE WITH PROFESSIONALISM, HUMILITY, AND A GENUINE DESIRE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND ALWAYS WITH A GOOD JOKE IN HAND. JEFF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND YOUR SERVICE TO GARLAND. OUR CITY IS TRULY STRONGER BECAUSE OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND WE WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY NOTHING BUT SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN THE YEARS AHEAD. ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I HAVE PREPARED A 45 MINUTE SPEECH FOR THIS EVENING, . WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. OH, I'M SORRY. APPARENTLY IT'S FOUR TO FIVE . UM, I WILL BE READING FROM MY NOTES TONIGHT BECAUSE I KNOW MYSELF WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT IF I TRY TO FREESTYLE LIST, THERE'S A VERY REAL CHA CHANCE I'LL GET EMOTIONAL TOO. , IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING AND COMPLETELY LOSE MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT. UH, FOR THE PAST THREE TERMS, IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE HONOR TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF GARLAND. AND THE TRUTH IS NOTHING MEANINGFUL, NOTHING MEANINGFUL GETS ACCOMPLISHED BY ONE PERSON UP HERE ON THIS DAIS. NOT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, NOT ONE MAYOR, NOT ONE CITY MANAGER. REAL PROGRESS HAPPENS WHEN, UH, GOOD PEOPLE DECIDE TO SHOW UP. [00:15:01] UM, AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE EVERYONE HERE ON THIS DAIS. IT INCLUDES OUR FAMILIES AS WELL. AND I WANT TO START BY THANKING MY WIFE, HEATHER, WHO HAS SUPPORTED ME THROUGH COUNTLESS MEETINGS, LATE NIGHT CALLS, WORK SESSIONS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND MY DISCUSSIONS OF MORE ZONING CASES THAN ANYONE SHOULD EVER HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT. FOR OVER 20 YEARS, SHE'S BEEN MY PARTNER, MY SOUNDING BOARD, MY REALITY CHECK, AND MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER. AND NOW SHE WOULD ALSO LIKE ME TO FOCUS A LITTLE MORE ON MY JOB THAT ACTUALLY PAYS . UH, FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT KNOW. MY DAY JOB IS, UH, I OWN, UH, J UH, J BASS CONSTRUCTION. UM, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY SON WHO'S GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL AND HEADING OFF TO PURDUE UNIVERSITY. WATCHING OUR NEXT GENERATION STEP FORWARD GIVES ME A LOT OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, NOT JUST FOR MY FAMILY, BUT FOR GARLAND AS WELL. I WANT TO THANK THE MANY MAYORS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I HAVE SERVED WITH OVER THE PAST THREE TERMS, UH, CITY STAFF, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, AND THE MANY, MANY CITIZENS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME TO MAKE GARLAND BETTER. I WOULD START NAMING PEOPLE INDIVIDUALLY, BUT I KNOW I'D FORGET SOMEONE AND THEN I'D BE GETTING TEXT MESSAGES BEFORE I EVEN LEFT THE BUILDING. , UH, ONE THING I'M PROUD OF DURING MY TIME ON COUNCIL IS THAT WE WORK TO MAKE GARLAND BETTER. NOT JUST THROUGH BIG PROJECTS, BUT THROUGH PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT AFFECT PEOPLE EVERY DAY. AND SOMETIMES THAT, SOMETIMES THAT MEANT REMOVING OBSTACLES, UM, MAKING OUR PERMITTING PROCESS LESS FRONT LOADED SO PROJECTS COULD MOVE FORWARD MORE EFFICIENTLY OR CREATING NEW, NEW AMENITIES, UM, NEW AMENITIES POINT SYSTEM FOR MULTIFAMILY. SO THAT, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, FOR MULTIFAMILY IS FAIR TO, UH, LARGE AND SMALL. AND SOMETIMES IT MEANT PROMOTING QUALITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, WHETHER IT WAS SUPPORTING COLA FOR CITY EMPLOYEES OR MAKING SURE OUR SPLASH PADS ARE PROPERLY MANAGED, IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY, PAYING ATTENTION TO THE SMALL DETAILS THAT RESIDENTS MAY NEVER SEE INDIVIDUALLY. BUT ABSOLUTELY NOTICE COLLECTIVELY, I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED GARLAND BECOMES STRONGER WHEN PEOPLE BRING MORE THAN COMPLAINTS WHEN THEY BRING IDEAS, SOLUTIONS, VISION AND ENERGY, A WILLINGNESS TO VOLUNTEER AND HELP BUILD SOMETHING BETTER. AND I WANT TO THANK THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE INVESTED IN GARLAND AND TRUSTED THAT OUR CITIZENS WOULD SUPPORT THEM. THOSE INVESTMENTS MATTER, THEY MOVE GARLAND FORWARD. AND HERE ON THE DIOCESE, WE MIGHT, WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE AND BASED ON OUR VOTING SYSTEM, SOMETIMES WE MAY NOT EVEN KNOW HOW WE VOTED . BUT I TRULY BELIEVE EVERYONE WHO SERVES THE CITY DOES SO BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT GARLAND. AND, UH, BEFORE I LEAVE OFFICE, I STILL NEED AN ANSWER TO ONE IMPORTANT QUESTION. WILL PEOPLE CONTINUE MISTAKING ME FOR LIEUTENANT PEDRO BARO. AFTER TONIGHT, , TONIGHT I'M PASSING THE BATON TO JIMMY TRAN AND I DO SO WITH A LOT OF CONFIDENCE AND OPTIMISM. OPTIMISM. I'VE KNOWN JIMMY FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT DISTRICT ONE GARLAND AND THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE THAT HE CARES DEEPLY FOR THE CITY AND I KNOW THAT HE, UH, STEPPING INTO THIS ROLE, HE HAS THE RIGHT REASONS TO SERVE, TO LISTEN, AND TO MOVE GARLAND FORWARD. DISTRICT ONE IS IN GOOD HANDS AND GARLAND'S BEST DAYS ARE STILL AHEAD. AGAIN, NOT BECAUSE OF ANY ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL, NOT 'CAUSE OF ANY ONE PROJECT, NOT BECAUSE OF ANY ONE ELECTION, BUT BECAUSE THIS CITY IS FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO CARE ENOUGH TO SHOW UP, WORK HARD, VOLUNTEER, INVEST, LEAD, AND BELIEVE IN WHAT GARLAND CAN BECOME. THANK YOU TO THE CITIZENS OF GARLAND FOR TRUSTING ME TO SERVE. IT HAS BEEN TRULY ONE OF THE GREATEST HONORS OF MY LIFE. AND AS I SAID BEFORE, LET'S GET TO WORK. SO BEFORE YOU GO, WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS FOR YOU. WE HAVE MS. PLAQUE HERE, RECOGNIZING YOUR SERVICE. MAY, 2021 TO MAY, 2026. AND YOU MAY NOTICE WE'RE REPLACING OUR STREET SIGNS ALL OVER TOWN. I DO HAVE A STOP SIGN IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND SO I THINK I KNOW WHERE I'M GONNA PUT THIS. . ALRIGHT SIR. THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE GOING BACK UP TO THAT SEAT. OLD HABIT. YES, . BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMEONE NEW WHO'S ABOUT TO TAKE THAT SPOT. , COUNCIL MEMBER JIMMY TRAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME UP HERE, SIR. ALRIGHT, SIR, DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE FOR THIS SWEARING IN [00:20:02] YOU? JUST PLEASE INTRODUCE WHO, WHO IS UP HERE WITH YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND, UH, TODAY'S MY ELDEST SON WILL HELP ME TO ADMINISTER MY OATH AND WITH MY WIFE AND, UH, MY DAUGHTERS AND, UH, MY, MY YOUNGEST SON. THANK YOU. CLOSE TO THE MICROPHONE. MICROPHONE. ALL RIGHT. SO PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. REPEAT AFTER ME. AYE. JIMMY TRAN. AYE. JIMMY TRAN. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR DO SOLEMN SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE OF THE CITY OF GARLAND. OF THE CITY OF GARLAND. OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. AND OF THE STATE. AND OF THE STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HAPPY YOU, GOD. GOOD JOB. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CD'S MANAGERS, CD STAFF, RESIDENT OF GOS, FRIENDS SUPPORTERS WHO JOIN HERE AND AT HOME. UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND JOINING US TONIGHT, UM, IS A MEANINGFUL AND HISTORIC OCCASIONS. MY NAME IS . I'M HONORED AND HUMBLE TO BE SWORN IN AS THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME, UM, ALONG, BUT THIS IS FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS, THE SUPPORTERS, FRIENDS, COMMUNITIES AND LEADERS, AND EVERYONE THAT HELP ME WHERE I STAND TODAY. SO THERE IS A OLD VIETNAMESE SAYING, WHEN WE EAT THE FRUIT, WE REMEMBER, UM, WHO PLANTED THE TREES. SO I STAND HERE TONIGHT AND BECAUSE OF MANY PEOPLE THAT PLANTED TREES BEFORE ME FIRST, UM, THANK GOD FOR THE HEALTH, THE STRENGTH AND THE WISDOMS, UM, THAT GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OTHERS. I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU THE CITY, THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS COUNTRY THAT WELCOMES MILLIONS OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. FAMILY INCLUDE MINE. AND THANK YOU FOR OPEN ARMS THAT GIVE US FREEDOM, A LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES AND A PLACE TO GO HOME BECAUSE OF THAT SERVANTS COMMUNITY. AND NOW A CITY IS A WAY FOR ME AND FAMILIES THAT TO SAY THANK YOU TO REPAY, PAY IT FORWARD. UH, THAT'S A LOT OF, A LOT OF PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME THAT QUESTION, WHY YOU SERVE NEXT. I, I LIKE TO THANK YOUS TO MY WIFE AND, AND MY THREE CHILDREN, UH, ESPECIALLY MY WIFE. SHE FOR ALL THE DEDICATIONS AND SUPPORT, UM, SHE IS MY C-A-O-C-F-O, MY TEACHERS, UM, IT'S [00:25:01] HELPED ME TO BE A BETTER PERSON AND ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR PUT UP WITH ME AND ALLOW ME TO SERVE THE COMMUNITIES WHILE SHE DO A GREAT JOB AT HOME AND TAKE CARE. SO, UM, I KNOW THAT SHE'S NOT USED IN THE PUBLIX, BUT TODAY SHE WILL COME OUT AND SUPPORT AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL. UM, SO THANK YOU HONEY. AND ALSO THANK YOU MY SON THAT HE AGREED THAT ADMINISTER MY OATH. UH, YES, THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S BEEN FOR A LOT FOR OUR FAMILY AND ALSO TO THANK YOU. MY TWO YOUNGEST, UM, MY DAUGHTERS AND AND SON THAT, UM, SUPPORT ME. ENCOURAGE ME SOMETIME. THEY CHECK SPELLING FOR ME. I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, THEY HELP ME THE CORRECT PRONUNCIATION, CERTAIN WORDS THAT I NEED TO PRONOUNCE BETTER. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT AND ALSO I THANK YOU, MY FAMILY, ESPECIALLY MY PARENTS HERE TONIGHT. MY PARENTS-IN-LAW HERE TONIGHT. UH, THIS, LIKE MY BOTH PARENTS THAT THEY ARE SACRIFICE THEIR TIMES, THEIR YOUTH FOR, UM, OUR FAMILY. UM, THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF THE WARS, A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT BROUGHT OUR FAMILY HERE TOGETHER AND TOGETHERS. I REALLY APPRECIATE AND ADMIRE THEIR STORIES, UM, THAT BEEN THROUGH THE HARDSHIP AND SURVIVAL AND NOW THEY'RE HERE AND, UH, AND, AND BE HERE WITH ME. UM, I'M SO GLAD. UM, MAY BEEN, UM, TM , UM, THANK, THANK YOU. AND SO MANY PEOPLES, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW ME, BUT THEY ARE KEEPING THEIR HAND AND HELP ME AND SUPPORT ME. UM, THEY ARE HERE FROM ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS. UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY, BUT IT'S ALL I CAN PROMISE IS I WILL TRY MY BEST. I DO MY BEST WILL NOT LET HER YOU GOT DOWN. THAT'S MY WORD TO DO. AND ESPECIALLY, I WANT TO THANK YOU COUNCIL CHAP BASS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT HE ADVISES. AND MANDARIN WE MEET EVERY MONTH. AND, UM, I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CD, UH, BUT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, UM, AND ADVISE AND, AND HELP ME IN GUIDING ME TO FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT, BUT YOU ARE THE TRULY LEADERS BUILDER. UH, I KNOW YOU HAVE A GREAT DEDICATION FOR THE CD. UM, I WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON YOUR SUCCESS AND CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM YOU. UM, BUT YOU WILL NOT GO ANYWHERE. SO I STILL HAVE YOUR PHONE, , AND YOU KNOW, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ONLY ME, BUT AT FAR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SIR. AND ALSO VERY IMPORTANT AS THE THREE ADVISORS THAT BROUGHT ME HERE. I USUALLY JUST PLAY SOCCER AND THEN GO HOME. BUT THESE THREE ADVISORS, THEY ARE COACH ME, THEY LEADING ME AND ENCOURAGE ME FOR RUNNING TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE AND THEN RUN FOR THE COUNCIL. ONE STEP TO ANOTHER IS I'M HERE AND THANK YOU MR. WYNN, MR. THOMAS WYNN, AND MR. , HE'S NOT HERE WITH US. I THINK HE'S HAS THE HOSPITAL, UH, SO WE PRAY FOR, FOR HIM. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CITY, ALL YOUR WORK. I HOPE TO CARRY ON AND ENCOURAGE MORE VIETNAMESE AND ASIAN COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO FOLLOW YOUR FOOTSTEP. SO, SO [00:30:01] I'M GRATEFUL AND HONORED, UM, THAT YOU ARE SUPPORT ME AND HELP ME ALL THE WAY. AND NOW IS FOR US TO HAVE A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND AGAIN, I MENTIONED THIS IS LIKE, THANK YOU ALL. THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CHURCHES HERE WITH ME, ALL THE CHURCH FROM CMC MEMBERS IS WITH ME. UM, ALL THE COMMUNITIES OF FRIENDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL, FROM GALL EDUCATION FOUNDATION BOARDS, UM, FOR MY SOCCER, MY SOCCER TEAMS, , THEY ARE HERE. UH, THEY CANCELED THE PRACTICE TONIGHT. THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE WITH ME. UH, SO, AND THEN THE, AND THEN THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT ONE. BUT I WILL SAY THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY FOR MY LEADERSHIP TEAMS, STEFANS REYNOLDS, HE, THE CHAIRS BRIAN ROBINSON, CO-CHAIRS, UH, SARAH, UM, CAN FACE MY TREASURERS AND MANY ON OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ADVISOR TEAM. AND ALSO NOTICE THEY HAVE RESIDENT HERE WHO KNOW ME. I HAVE A CHANCE TO MET AND WHO HAVE NOT MET. SO WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORK WITH YOU AND LISTEN TO YOU AND MEET YOU AND LEARNS YOUR IDEA. AND HOW CAN WE MAKE GALLS A BETTER PLACE, A UNITED PLACE. AND I THINK THAT CHA GALLS HAVE CHALLENGE, BUT WE TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD AS STRONGER. AND THE CD OF GO FUTURE IS SO BRIGHT. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I'M HONORS, I'M HONORED TO BE YOUR NEXT GALA, CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BASS. YOU HAVE ONE FINAL DUTY HERE. NO, NO, NO. CHAIR IS YOURS, SIR. ALL RIGHT, MOVE ON NOW. DISTRICT TWO, COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD, IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN ME UP HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. WHILE YOUR TIME ON THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY SHORT, YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DECADES IN THE MAKING YOUR SERVICE THROUGH THE CHANDLER HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. YOUR THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS WITH THE GARLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOUR WORK WITH THE CITIZENS FIRE ACADEMY, YOUR YEARS TEACHING CPRS AND AMERICAN RED CROSS ALL DEMONSTRATE A REMARKABLE COMMITMENT TO HELPING OTHERS AND STRENGTHENING THIS CITY. YOU ALSO BROUGHT AN IMPORTANT PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE TO THE CITY COUNCIL THROUGH YOUR WORK, SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. WITH YOUR BACKGROUND AS A PSYCHOLOGIST, ALONG WITH YOUR EXPERIENCES AS A WIFE, MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, THOSE QUALITIES BROUGHT COMPASSION, WISDOM, AND COMMON SENSE TO OUR DISCUSSIONS. PUBLIC SERVICE IS ABOUT SHOWING UP FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND THAT IS SOMETHING YOU'VE DONE THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE. SINCE BEING SWORN IN LAST YEAR, YOU'VE SERVED DIFFERENT TWO IN THE CITY OF GARLAND WITH DEDICATION, CARE, AND INTEGRITY. CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOLUNTEER SPIRIT, YOUR KINDNESS, AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR GARLAND AND WISH YOU MANY JOYFUL YEARS AHEAD WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. OKAY, THIS IS GONNA BE SHORT 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA CRY . ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO REPRESENT YOU FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, IT'S BEEN FUN, BUSY, AND A LITTLE CRAZY. ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN TO HELP BUILD A BETTER AND STRONGER GARLAND. I KNOW THIS COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD THAT GOAL AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT EACH. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT EACH OF THEM ON THIS JOURNEY. I WILL MISS YOU, BUT I'LL STILL BE HELPING TO BUILD A BETTER, STRONGER GARLAND IN OTHER WAYS. [00:35:02] AND I KNOW I'M LEAVING DISTRICT TWO IN REALLY GOOD HANDS. JUSTIN'S THE BEST. NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH MY FAMILY, ESPECIALLY WITH LOGAN. I LOVE YOU ALL. THANK YOU. AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT TWO YEARS. OH, LOGAN'S GONNA LOVE THIS. . YOU DID. YOU GOT IT. COUNCIL MEMBER CARAWAY, IF YOU'D COME AND JOIN ME, SIR, YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE WHO, WHO YOU HAVE HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE GOTTA GIVE HONOR AND THANKS TO GOD FOR ALLOWING US ALL TO BE HERE. UM, ONE THING ABOUT THIS JOURNEY IS, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T DO THIS ALONE. I HAD COUNTLESS OF HELP, COUNTLESS SUPPORT. I CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH FOR MY BEST FRIEND IN THE BACK, COUSINS IN THE BACK, COUSINS AND FAMILY EVERYWHERE HERE. I APPRECIATE AND LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS. UM, TODAY GONNA DO THIS OATH, MY LOVELY GIRLFRIEND VALERIE, AND MY YOUNGEST SON, JUSTICE CARAWAY. YOU. I JUST WANNA THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT FOR ALLOWING ME THE HONOR TO STAND WITH YOU AS YOU'RE SWORN YET. SO, I, I ASKED YOU COULD I AND YOU SO GRACIOUSLY SAID YES, ABSOLUTELY. DO YOU JUSTIN CARAWAY SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT YOU WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT TWO OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL DO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY TO PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD, I DO. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. I DON'T HAVE A JIMMY TRANS SPEECH. MINE'S A LOT SHORTER. , YOU HAVE ALL THAT, RIGHT? RIGHT. . SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS I LOOK AT THE AUDIENCE AND SEE SO MANY FAMILIAR FACES AND FACES THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING, I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS AND HEARING FROM YOU, THIS IS A HUGE ROLE, A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. AND I'M UP FOR THE TASK. ALL I ASK IS THAT I HAVE YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR INPUT. IT'S IMPORTANT 'CAUSE I'M NOT IN THIS BY MYSELF. I'M HERE REPRESENTING YOU GUYS, BUT AS WELL, KNOWING THAT WE'RE BUILDING A STRONGER GARLAND TOGETHER. UH, ONE THING I NOTICED, I SEE THE LOVELY MS. ANN DIXON HERE. I SAID THIS BEFORE AT THE NAACP UH, FORUM THAT I SPOKE AT. WE'RE STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GREATNESS. AND I DO NOT TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. ONE THING ABOUT IT IS I WANT TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT TWO. MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WITH PRIDE, [00:40:01] HONOR, AND DIGNITY. WE ARE SOMETIMES FILLED LIKE THE FORGOTTEN COMMUNITY. BUT THAT ALL CHANGES. AND I PROMISE YOU THAT YOU WILL GET MY ABSOLUTE BEST OUT OF DISTRICT TWO. AND YOU'RE ALREADY MAKING FUN OF JIMMY. I KNOW. I GOTTA KEEP MY EYE ON YOU TWO DOWN THERE AT THE END THERE, . ALL RIGHT, MOVE ON NOW TO DISTRICT FOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. YOUR SERVICE TO GARLAND SPANS MANY YEARS IN MULTIPLE CHAPTERS OF LEADERSHIP FROM YOUR SERVICE ON THE PLAN COMMISSION FROM 2002 TO 2008, TO YOUR EARLIER TERMS ON THE CITY COUNCIL FROM 2012 TO 2018 AND YOUR RETURN IN 2020, YOU HAVE REMAINED A CONSISTENT AND PASSIONATE VOICE FOR DISTRICT FOUR AND THE ENTIRE, ENTIRE GARLAND COMMUNITY. YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN SHAPED BY A LIFETIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE, INCLUDING YOUR CAREER AS A SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, YOUR DEEP INVOLVEMENT WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE NAACP, OMEGA SCI-FI, YOUR CHURCH MOUNT SGA, MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. THOSE EXPERIENCES HELPED BRING BOTH WISDOM AND PERSPECTIVE TO THE WORK OF THIS COUNCIL. YOUR STORY FROM YOUR ROOTS IN LOUISIANA TO BUILDING A LIFE AND RAISING A FAMILY HERE IN GARLAND SINCE 1971, IS ALSO A PART OF THE STORY OF OUR CITY. IT REFLECTS RESILIENCE, DETERMINATION, AND A COMMITMENT TO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THROUGHOUT YOUR SERVICE, YOU HAVE CHAMPIONED PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY, AND FAIRNESS FOR ALL RESIDENTS. YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN AFRAID TO SPEAK UP FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU REPRESENT OR FOR THE VALUES YOU BELIEVE THAT MOVE GARLAND FORWARD. BJ, IN YOUR COUNCIL BIOGRAPHY, YOU DESCRIBED HOW YOUR GRAND, YOU DESCRIBED YOUR GRANDFATHER AS SOMEONE WHO KNEW HOW TO ADVOCATE, HOW AGITATE, PARTICIPATE, EDUCATE, AND NEGOTIATE WITH THOSE IN GOVERNMENT FOR THE GREATER GOOD. YOU ALSO DESCRIBED HIM AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED UNTIRING TO UPLIFT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH HE WAS BLESSED TO SERVE. AND I CAN SAY, AFTER THE, AFTER YOUR YEARS OF LEADERSHIP, YOUR ADVOCACY AND YOUR WAVERING COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY, I CAN SAY THAT HE'S LOOKING DOWN PROUDLY ON YOU TONIGHT. AND WE ARE ALL LOOKING PROUDLY AT YOU AS WELL. GARLAND IS BETTER BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE. AND TONIGHT WE SEND YOU OFF WITH DEEP APPRE, A DEEP APPRECIATION AND OUR VERY BEST WISHES FOR THE FUTURE ON THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR, FOR, UH, ALLOWING ME TO STAY UP HERE FOR A MOMENT. I JUST WANNA SAY TO EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT, UH, AS I WAS RIDING DOWN HERE AND THINKING ABOUT, WHAT, WHAT WAS I GONNA SAY? CAME MAKE MISS JIMMY TR SPEECH, THIS CARAWAY FELLOW OVER HERE. YOU KNOW, I KNOW SOME CARAWAY OVER IN DALLAS. I HOPE HE AIN'T, HE AIN'T NO . BUT SERIOUSLY, I THANK GOD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO SERVE THIS CITY HIS PEOPLE. AND I'D LIKE TO CONCLUDE BY SAYING TO NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY CHRISTINA, KEEP ONE THING IN MIND. IF YOU SHOW THE PEOPLE THAT YOU CARE, THEY'LL SHOW YOU CLEARING BACK. IF YOU SHOW THE PEOPLE THAT YOU CARE, IT'LL COME BACK TO YOU. REMEMBER THAT. AND YOU KNOW, MY GRANDFATHER SAID, [00:45:02] UH, LONG TIME AGO, AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT IT MEANT, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE EVERYBODY HAD A SAYING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT HE SAYS, TIME SHALL A SIGN. AND I'VE SERVED WITH A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYORS. MAYOR HEDRICK, YOU'VE, YOU'VE SHARPENED MY MIND. UH, MAYOR PRO, TIM, YOU'VE SHARPENED MIND. CHRISTINE, CHRISTY, YOU'VE DONE THE SAME THING, ELDER. AND HE KNOWS NOT WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT. YOU SHALL I ED MOORE? WHAT WAS I SAY THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES? I SOME GOOD TIMES. YOU'VE TAUGHT ME HOW TO SHOVE MY EYE. SO I APPRECIATE THAT LOVE AND THAT JOURNEY. AND NOW GOD HAS SAYS TO ME, WELL DONE THAT GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVICE. I DIDN'T DO EVERYTHING RIGHT, BUT YOU NEITHER . SO, BUT I GIVE ALL THE HONOR TO GOD FOR ALIGN ME THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE CITY OF GARLAND FOR THESE YEARS. AND I WON'T BE FAR AWAY. JUST PHONE CALLS AWAY. AND I'LL BE LISTENING AND I'LL BE WATCHING MAYOR HENDRICK FOR PROGRESS AS YOU MOVE ABOUT MOVING THE CITY AHEAD. AND AS I SAY ALL THE TIME, RUNNING AROUND THE FOLKS FROM AUSTIN AND SCO AND LEWIS FIELD AND UP THERE, THEY BRAG ABOUT BEING THE NUMBER ONE CITY GARLAND. IT'S THE NUMBER ONE CITY IN TEXAS. SO IT'S NOT GOOD NIGHT. 'CAUSE I'LL SEE YOU IN THE MORNING, BUT IT'S JUST FAREWELL THAT I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. THANK YOU, SIR. I DO HAVE THIS PLAQUE HERE FOR YOU AS WELL. SHE'S, SHE'S, WELL, MY WIFE IS HERE SOMEWHERE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT, SHE'S NOT A PUBLIC PERSON, SO YOU DON'T SEE HER THAT OFTEN. BUT I KNOW SHE'S HERE. AT LEAST I THOUGHT SHE WAS HERE. , WOULD YOU COME DOWN, PLEASE? MY DAUGHTER IS WORKING WITH THE PHARMACY PATIENTS AT PARKLAND, SO SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT, BUT SHE SAID HER HER REGARD AND WOW. DOROTHY, DID YOU COME DOWN, PLEASE, MR. MAYOR? YES, SIR. MY HUD FELT THANKS TO YOU FOR ALLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER TO HAVE HIS EXPRESSIONS. AND IT WILL BE GREAT INDEBTED TO YOU FOR REMEMBERING THIS. LOVE YOU. IF YOU WOULD ACCEPT AND THIS, AND, AND YOU GOT ONE OTHER THING TO DO. I I KNOW IT'S COMING. YOU CAN SIT THERE FOR A MOMENT, . OKAY. OKAY. BUT LET FIRST, BUT SHE, SHE WILL PULL THAT NAME. YES. AFTER, AFTER. YOU GOTTA GET HER SWORN IN FIRST THOUGH. YEAH. NOT TOO FAST. NOT TOO FAST. BUT COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU FOR MANY YEARS AS WELL. THANK YOU, SIR. THANKS. YOU ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER SANO, IF YOU JOIN ME UP HERE, MA'AM. OKAY. THAT'S REALLY, [00:50:05] LEMME GET MY PROPS. THANK YOU, HONOR. HONOR. OH MY DEAR, Y'ALL PROUD . PLEASE INTRODUCE US TO WHO YOU HAVE UP HERE. OKAY, SO HAVE, HAVE MY HUSBAND, MAURICIO, MY OLDEST SON, JACOB. OH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU KNOW, I NORMALLY DON'T NEED A MIC, BUT, OKAY. MY HUSBAND, MAURICIO, MY OLDEST SON JACOB, AND I HAVE MY MIDDLE DAUGHTER, CARISSA. I HAVE MY LITTLE ONE. ANA, SHE SAID NO. MM-HMM. DO NOT DO THIS TO ME. . UM, HOWEVER, I DO HAVE A BIBLE THAT MY DAUGHTER PASSED DOWN TO HER THAT WE WILL BE USING FOR THE SWEARING. SO IT MEANS A LOT TO ME. SO, CHRISTIANA, YOU'RE STILL UP HERE. SHE'S HIDING BEHIND A BOOK, BUT THAT'S OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. MY SON IS GONNA DO THE OATH TODAY. BE LEFT HAND, RIGHT HAND. OKAY. PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU CHRISTINA AVIANO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT YOU WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT FOUR OF THE CITY OF GARLAND, STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME, GOD. SO HELP ME GOD, I WILL MM-HMM . SO I FEEL REALLY BAD BECAUSE JIMMY, YOU DIDN'T TELL ME WE HAD TO GIVE A SPEECH. JIMMY. JUSTIN. OKAY. SO I AM A LITTLE UNPREPARED. HOWEVER, I I LIKE TO LET Y'ALL ALL KNOW THIS, THAT I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE. AND JUST AS JUSTIN SAID, AND JUST AS JIMMY SAID AND BJ, UM, PRONOUNCED, WE ARE HERE AND WE GIVE ALL GLORY TO GOD. I DO THE SAME THING. I GIVE ALL GLORY TO HIM. UM, I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING HUSBAND AS YOU SAW THERE. UM, AND MY, MY CHILDREN, I THANK THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT'S GONNA SACRIFICE IN THE END. THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TIME TAKEN AWAY FROM ME. UM, HOWEVER, MY HUSBAND, WHO I'VE BEEN MARRIED TO FOR 27 YEARS, I THINK HE'S GONNA ENJOY BEING TIME AWAY FROM ME. I THINK HE'LL, I I KNOW HE'LL ENJOY THAT. YOU KNOW WHAT, VIJ, HE'LL DEFINITELY ENJOY THAT. SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THANK MY TREASURER. SHE'S HERE TODAY. MS. EDNA RA. YOU KNOW, I TOLD HER YES. YES. LEMME GIVE HER A HAND. I TOLD FIVE YEARS AGO MY PLAN FIVE YEARS AGO, AND SHE SAID, WE'RE GONNA DO IT IN THREE. AND SHE INTRODUCED ME TO MR. UM, BJ WILLIAMS. SO THANK YOU. SHE GAVE ME THE MOTIVATION, THE DEDICATION TO DO WHAT I NEEDED TO DO. ABOVE ALL, I NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE, UPLIFTING PERSONS, PEOPLE WHO REALLY LOVE YOU. I'VE DONE THAT. MY BROTHER, MY SISTER-IN-LAW, MY MOM, GOD REST OF SOUL. MY DAD, I'VE BEEN UPLIFTED MY ENTIRE LIFE. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M HERE TO SERVE TODAY. OKAY? JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE NOT TO SERVE OURSELVES. OKAY? THAT'S NUMBER ONE. YET WE'RE HERE TO SERVE OTHERS. AND GARLAND, MY INTENT IS TO DO THAT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. OKAY? SO WITHOUT MY SPEECH BEING WRITTEN, I'M SO SORRY. I LIKE TO THANK ALL OF Y'ALL. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH Y'ALL. AND I THANK YOU BJ, SO VERY MUCH. IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO STEP IN THESE SHOES. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY SIGN, . I NEED A SIGN. SO THANK, ALRIGHT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. I'M DYLAN. I'M CHRISTINA. YES. IT'S A, IT'S A LITTLE, I'VE MET HER PROBABLY 20 TIMES NOW. . SHE HAS TO INTRODUCE HERSELF EVERY TIME THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE. SORRY. SEE, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS RIGHT. MR. WILLIAMS, YOU'RE GONNA STAY ON A LITTLE BIT LONGER, OKAY? OKAY. THERE WE GO. ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO GUYS. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. YOU WANT ME TO SAY ? ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. I DON'T WANNA SEE YOU IN THAT SEAT NEXT WEEK. YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT. YEAH. . YEAH. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE ONE MORE MAYOR PRO TIM LUCK IF YOU JOIN ME UP HERE. MA'AM, [00:55:06] I HAVE THE HONOR TO SERVE BESIDE MAYOR PRO TIM LUCK FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. YOU'RE ENTERING YOUR THIRD TERM, THIRD AND FINAL TERM FOR DISTRICT SPEECH FIRST OR SWEARING IN. MATT, THIS IS MY HUSBAND. MATT, I'VE NEVER MET YOU BEFORE IN MY LIFE. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ? WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE? WHAT'S GOING ON? YOU READY? I'M READY. RAISE YOUR RIGHT, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. I MARGARET LUCK. I MARGARET LUCK. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT FIVE, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT FIVE OF THE CITY OF GARLAND. OF THE CITY OF GARLAND. OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WILL AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS, THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. OF THE UNITED STATES. AND OF THIS STATE. AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU . THOSE TWO WORDS, DON'T FEEL LIKE ENOUGH TONIGHT. UH, BUT THEY ARE WHERE I HAVE TO START. THANK YOU TO THE VOTERS OF DISTRICT FIVE FOR PLACING YOUR TRUST IN ME. AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY, NOT FOR A SINGLE DAY OF THIS WORK. HAVE I TAKEN IT FOR GRANTED? YEARS AGO, I BOUGHT A HOUSE THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD'VE WALKED AWAY FROM. IT WAS CONDEMNED, IT WAS BROKEN. ON PAPER, IT DID NOT MAKE SENSE, BUT I LOOKED AT IT AND I SAW WHAT IT COULD BE, NOT WHAT IT WAS. I SAW THE BONES BENEATH THE DAMAGE. I SAW THE POSSIBILITY THAT WORK, HARD, WORK AND VISION AND PATIENCE COULD UNLOCK. THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT GARLAND. EVERY STREET THAT NEEDS WORK, EVERY CORRIDOR THAT HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD WAITING ON INVESTMENT, IT DESERVES. I DON'T SEE LOST CAUSES. I SEE STRUCTURES WORTH SAVING. I SEE C COMMUNITIES WORTH FIGHTING FOR. REVITALIZATION IS NOT A BUZZWORD TO ME. IT IS PERSONAL. IT IS THE SAME SPIRIT THAT TOOK A CONDEMNED BUILDING AND TURNED IT INTO A HOME. THIS ROLE HAS CHANGED ME. SERVING THIS DISTRICT, SERVING THE CITY HAS INSPIRED ME IN WAYS I COULD NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED. I CAME IN WANTING TO HELP. WHAT I DID NOT EXPECT WAS HOW MUCH I WOULD RECEIVE IN RETURN. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE MOST DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS I HAVE EVER MET. THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THIS CITY RUNNING AND SANITATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, UTILITIES, PLANNING, ENGINEERING, CITY MANAGEMENT. THEY SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE DAY AND TURN THE GEARS OF THIS CITY IN WAYS MOST RESIDENTS NEVER SEE. I SEE IT AND I AM IN AWE OF IT. I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING ALONGSIDE COLLEAGUES ON THIS COUNCIL WHO HAVE TOUCHED MY HEART. PEOPLE WHO SHARE IN THE SACRIFICE, WHO GIVE UP EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS AND PERSONAL COMFORT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE JUST AS I DO THAT THIS CITY IS WORTH IT. THAT KIND OF SHARED COMMITMENT CREATES BONDS THAT ARE HARD TO DESCRIBE AND VERY DIFFICULT TO FORGET IT. TONIGHT IS BITTERSWEET FOR ME. THIS IS MY LAST TERM. AND I FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THAT, NOT WITH DREAD, BUT WITH A KIND OF URGENCY THAT ONLY COMES WHEN YOU HAVE, WHEN YOU LEFT SOMETHING AND YOU KNOW YOUR TIME WITH IT IS FINITE. THIS CITY HAS GOTTEN INTO MY BONES SERVING. IT HAS BECOME PART OF WHO I AM. BUT HERE'S WHAT FILLS ME WITH HOPE. WE HAVE NOT BEEN STANDING STILL. THE SEEDS WE HAVE PLANTED TOGETHER ARE BEGINNING TO TAKE ROOT, JUST LIKE THAT CONDEMNED HOUSE, WHAT LOOKED LIKE A LOST CAUSE SHOWING SIGNS OF LIFE. I CAN SEE IT, I CAN FEEL IT. AND I BELIEVE WITH EVERYTHING IN ME THAT [01:00:01] THE BEST OF WHAT GARLAND CAN BE IS STILL AHEAD OF US TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING WHEN THE MEETING COMES INSTEAD OF DINNER, WHEN THE PHONE RINGS AT THE WRONG TIME, WHEN I HAVE TO SAY NO TO TIME WITH YOU, YOU HAVE NEVER MADE ME FEEL GUILTY FOR THAT. YOU HAVE MADE ME FEEL SO SUPPORTED AND TO MY HUSBAND. YOU KNEW WHAT THIS WAS WHEN I SAID YES TO IT, AND YOU SAID YES RIGHT ALONGSIDE ME. YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I DO THIS. YOU UNDERSTAND? UNDERSTAND WHY I SPEND THE HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. WHY I CARRY IT WITH ME WHEN I TRY NOT TO. WHY THE CITY LIVES IN ME THE WAY IT DOES. I'M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU. NONE OF THIS IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU. I LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH AND YOU ARE MY FAVORITE. DISTRICT FIVE GARLAND. I AM NOT FINISHED. THERE IS WORK TO DO AND I INTEND TO SEE IT THROUGH EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERY STREET, EVERY FAMILY THAT CALLS THIS CITY HOME DESERVES A REPRESENTATIVES WHO SHOW UP AND I WILL KEEP SHOWING UP AS WILL THEY. COUNSEL, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND WITH ME, GARLAND, THIS IS YOUR TEAM. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU AND WE WILL FIGHT FOR YOU. LET'S GET TO WORK. ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEW MEMBERS ON COUNCIL, THE RETURNING MEMBER AND SINCERE GRATITUDE TO ALL THOSE FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE CITY COUNCIL. WE'RE SO INDEBTED TO YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. LAST ITEM ON AND AGENDA TODAY IS CITIZEN COMMENTS. MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WISHING TO ADDRESS ISSUES NOT ON THE MEETING. JUDA MAY HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT COUNCIL IS PROHIBITED FROM DISCUSSING ANY ITEM NOT ON THE POSTED AGENDA. IF ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK, I ENCOURAGE YOU. PLEASE SIGN UP. THERE'S SPEAKER CARDS AT THE CITY. SECRETARY AND MADAM SECRETARY. I RECALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. ALRIGHT, IS EVERYONE, ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TONIGHT? . IT WOULD BE HER. . YEAH. ALRIGHT, WELL THEN SEEING NONE AT 8 0 2, WE ARE ADJOURNED. GOODNIGHT GARLAND. * 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.