[00:00:04]
>> FLOWER MOUNT. WELCOME TO OUR OCTOBER 21 REGULAR SESSION.
[A. CALL TO ORDER]
TONIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE CHAPLAIN MIKE LYLES LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION, IF YOU ALL WOULD STAND UP, AND THEN REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGES.>> WE PRAY. OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE COME BEFORE YOUR THRONE OF GRACE THIS EVENING, THANKING YOU FOR THE BOUNTIES OF LIFE THAT WE ENJOY HERE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL TOWN OF FLOWER MOUNT.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS MEETING, BLESS ALL THAT ARE A PART OF IT.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR TOWN STAFF AND FOR THE TOWN COUNCIL AS THEY WORK TOGETHER.
FATHER BLESS THEM WITH WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING AS THEY GUIDE OUR COMMUNITY DOWN IN THIS HISTORY.
FATHER, WE LOVE YOU, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS ALL THAT ARE PART OF THIS MEETING AND BLESS THIS MEETING TO YOUR SERVICE.
FATHER, WE LOVE YOU. BLESS US IN ALL THAT WE DO.
YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN OUR LIVES.
WITH YOU, FATHER, WE HAVE IT ALL.
WITHOUT YOU, WE HAVE NOTHING, SO WE CLING TO YOU EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES.
BLESS US AS WE SERVE YOU, WE ASK TO GET IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO RIGHT INTO SECTION D PRESENTATION.
[D. PRESENTATION(S)]
THIS IS THE ARTS MONTH PROCLAMATION, SO I'LL COME DOWN THERE.THIS IS A FUN PART OF THE NIGHT.
THIS IS OUR PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS, ART IS CENTRAL TO THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE STRIVE TO PROMOTE IN FLOWER MOUNT.
TOWN STAFF HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CULTURAL ARTS MASTER PLAN APPROVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL IN 2018 TO REFLECT THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF RESIDENTS AND GUIDE THE TOWN'S RESPONSE TO THE GROWTH OF THE ARTS AND CULTURAL SECTOR.
THE RECOGNITION OF THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ASSETS IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR RESIDENTS STUDY, PRACTICE, APPRECIATE, AND SUPPORT THE ARTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, SCHOOLS, AND BUSINESSES.
IT IS FITTING THAT WE TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE THE ARTS OF OUR TOWN TO HONOR OUR ARTISTS, AND TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO EVERYONE WHO PATRONIZES THE ARTS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I CHERYL MORE, MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF FLOWER MOUNT, TEXAS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR TOWN COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2024, AS ARTS MONTH.
DOES ANYBODY WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, LIBRARY SERVICES, AND THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION FOR HONORING THIS MONTH AS ARTS MONTH.
ART HAS ALWAYS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN CAPTURING AND EXPRESSING THE STORY OF OUR NATION.
I LIKE TO REALLY DO A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY WHEN I'M THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS.
I FOUND A FUN ONE THAT RONALD REAGAN SAID.
RONALD REAGAN SAID THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES TEACH US WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE CAN BE.
THEY ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SOCIETY, THE WINDOWS, TO OUR PAST, AND THE KEY TO OUR FUTURE.
HERE IN THE TOWN, OUR TEAM WORKS DILIGENTLY TO BOLSTER THE ARTS ECOSYSTEM.
THEY GIVE OUR COMMUNITY MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE AND ENGAGE IN ARTS AND HUMANITIES, AND THAT FOSTERS A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURAL DIVERSITY, AND THE SHARED HUMAN EXPERIENCE.
I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO TISH TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS MONTH.
>> WE WANT YOU ALL TO COME OUT AND HELP US CELEBRATE THE ARTS IN FLOWER MOUNT.
BEGINNING RIGHT ON NOVEMBER 1, I EXPECT SUBMISSIONS THAT OPEN FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOX PROJECT FOR 2025.
I'LL BE LOOKING FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, AS WELL AS STAFF FOR THOSE AMAZING DESIGNS.
WE'RE GOING TO WALK RIGHT INTO CHALK THE WALK,
[00:05:01]
WHICH IS ON NOVEMBER 2ND, WHICH IS A SATURDAY.THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NICE ARTIST MEET AND GREET AT THE SENIOR CENTER ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH.
THEN WE WILL HAVE THE ART PARTY AT THE LIBRARY, WHICH IS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH.
STOP BY AND SEE OUR NEW ART WALLS AT THE LIBRARY.
ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, WE'LL HAVE A LIVE PAINTING SESSION WITH BETH DILLY AT THE SENIOR CENTER.
>> DO YOU GUYS WANT TO COME IN FRONT OF THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> HOLD ON. WE HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT.
>> I'M SORRY. I CHAIR THE CROSS TIMBERS ARTISTS GUILD, AND WE'RE HAVING AN OPEN STUDIO TOUR, WHICH IS VERY EDUCATIONAL AND INTERESTING AND FUN, AND IT'S FREE.
THERE ARE 17 ARTISTS ON THE TOUR THIS YEAR, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE PRIZES FOR THE TOURISTS OF THE ARTS AS WELL.
IT'S SPONSORED BY THE BARTONVILLE STORE BECAUSE IT'S IN HONOR OF KATHLEEN HOUSE WHO STARTED THE TOUR 25 YEARS AGO.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ALL COME OUT.
DON'T HAVE TO BUY ANYTHING. YOU CAN JUST WATCH.
IT'S REAL FUN FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES. IT'S GREAT.
>> THANK YOU. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
I APPRECIATE IT. DID YOU GETE A PHOTO?
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO RIGHT INTO ITEM E. THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT.
[E. PUBLIC COMMENT]
THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK AND SAY ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY IN YOUR THREE MINUTES.THE FIRST PERSON THAT WE HAVE IS CHRISTIE ANDERSON.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS IF YOU WILL.
YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO DONATED TIME TO YOU.
JERRY GRAY, DONATED TIME TO CHRISTIE.
>> JANE GRAY. IF YOU NEED SIX MINUTES, YOU CAN HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
GOOD EVENING, TOWN COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CHRISTIE ANDERSON.
I LIVE AT 18:15 CHESTNUT COURT.
MAYOR PORT MILLER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GETTING BACK TO ME SO QUICKLY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SETTING UP THOSE MEETINGS WITH YOU TO DISCUSS FURTHER.
I KNOW FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, I'VE JUMPED IN HERE, PROBABLY MADE A MESS, BECOME A THORN IN YOUR EMAIL BOX, BUT I KNOW FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE THIS DIDN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE.
I'VE BEEN HAVING POLICE MEETINGS THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
I'M NOT LOOKING TO START PROBLEMS. ALL I'M WANTING TO DO IS HELP CHAMPION SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO.
I'M ADVOCATING FOR THAT TRANSPARENCY, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, AND THAT COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY APPROACH.
I SAT WITH WINNING THE FIGHT TODAY, AND WE'RE COLLABORATING ON A POSSIBLE FUTURE NO LOCK ONE TRAINING FOR HIGHLAND VILLAGES TOWN EMPLOYEES WITH THE TEXAS TARGETED OPIOID RESPONSE CURRICULUM.
I'D LIKE TO ASK IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN COMMIT TO DOING HERE IN FLOWER MOUNT.
I HAVE ENOUGH NARCAN FOR EVERYONE UP HERE TONIGHT AND LAST WEEK, THE CHIEF WAS RIGHT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF BEING ABLE TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET TO CVS DURING THE DAY AND BEING ABLE TO BUY A BOX.
BUT IT IS ABOUT HAVING THAT CONTINUED EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION WITH OUR PARENTS AND RESIDENTS BECAUSE 70% OF OVERDOSES HAPPEN AFTER HOURS AT NIGHT IN OUR HOMES.
I VOLUNTEER WITH A GROUP THAT PROVIDES THESE SIMPLE RECYCLED CARDBOARD BOX, WALL MOUNTED DISPENSERS.
IT SOUNDED LIKE AT LAST WEEK'S WORK GROUP MEETING THAT THERE IS APPETITE FROM FIRE TO INCLUDE THESE ALONGSIDE EACH TOWN MAINTAINED AED.
IT'S ABOUT AWARENESS, HAVING SOMETHING IN YOUR FACE TO HELP BEGIN THAT CONVERSATION WITH OUR RESIDENTS.
BECAUSE AT EACH CLASS I TEACH, PEOPLE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS.
WITH MY FRIEND IN THE EARLY '90S, IT WAS BLACK TAR HEROINE, CHIVA.
IN THE EARLY 2000S, I WAS OUT THERE ON THE STREET TREATING AND STREETING AS A MEDIC. IT WAS OXY.
PAST FEW YEARS AND CURRENTLY IT'S FENTANYL THAT'S HOOKING AND KILLING MEMBERS OF OUR TOWN, AND THE CHIEFS NUMBERS DIDN'T REFLECT THAT, BUT IT'S FOUR IN THIS LAST YEAR HERE ALONE.
[00:10:03]
THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT THEY WEREN'T AT SCHOOL WHEN THEY OVERDOSE, BUT THEY DID LEARN IT FROM THERE.MORE THAN THREE AND FIVE TEENS SAY THAT PRESCRIPTION PAIN RELIEVERS ARE EASY TO GET FROM THEIR PARENTS MEDICINE CABINET.
XYLAZINE, CARPETINLY, SUFENLY, THEY'RE THE DRUGS TO SHOW UP NEXT, AND IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT TOMORROW.
IT'S ALWAYS CHANGING AND THIS PROBLEM ISN'T GOING AWAY, AND KIDS AND RESIDENTS IN THIS TOWN WILL KEEP GETTING ADDICTED, HAVING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, KEEP GETTING ARRESTED AND WILL KEEP DYING.
ALL I WANT IS WHAT MY PARENTS WANTED WHEN THEY MOVED TO THIS TOWN FOUR DECADES AGO.
WHEN WE WERE AMONG THE FIRST THOUSAND PEOPLE HERE AND THAT'S A VOICE.
WE NEED THAT DEDICATED SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH BOARD COMPRISED OF OUR RESIDENTS, OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, OUR MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS TO EDUCATE, PROVIDE YOU AND THE TOWN WITH ACCURATE UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON THE SCIENCE OF ADDICTION, THE IMPACT OF SUBSTANCE USE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE BOARDS FOR ANIMAL, SERVICES, AND PARKS AND ALL THE IMPORTANT CAUSES.
BUT OUR RESIDENTS LIVES ARE JUST IMPORTANT, AREN'T THEY? I'VE LIVED HERE 43 YEARS AND GOD WILLING, I'LL STILL BE HERE ANOTHER 43 LONG AFTER YOUR SERVICE HERE IS DONE, BUT I ASK YOU TO PLEASE NOT KICK THIS TO START THE CONVERSATION.
TO BE THE COUNCIL THAT SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE WELL BEING OF OUR TOWN, TO PRIORITIZE OUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET, OUR PEOPLE.
THANKS FOR LISTENING AND I'LL BE BACK. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, CHRISTIE. WE HAVE GREG CRUZ.
IF YOU JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> MY NAME IS GREG CRUZ. I LIVE AT 3,300 DRUID WAY.
BEEN IN FLOWER MOUNT FOR ABOUT 16 YEARS.
YOU'LL MAY RECALL THAT WE WERE HERE ABOUT A MONTH AGO TO TELL YOU OUR STORY ABOUT NICOLE.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T TELL YOU WAS THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS A TRAFFIC STOP.
WE'RE NOT SAYING THIS TO POINT FINGERS AT ANYBODY.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE.
NICOLE HAPPENED TO BE PULL OVER OR ACTUALLY, TWO CITIZENS REPORTED ERRATIC DRIVING.
SHE WAS LATER VISITED BY FIVE FLOWER MOUNT POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS, AND THAT WAS ON APRIL 21ST.
SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THAT STOP IS THAT THEY STOPPED HER BECAUSE OF THE CALLS.
THEY DID PERFORM A SEARCH ON HER CAR, AND THAT WAS WITH HER PERMISSION.
THEY FOUND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA IN THE CAR.
THEY ALSO PERFORMED A FIELD SOBRIETY TEST, AND SHE PASSED.
BUT THEY CLEARLY TOLD US THAT THEY KNEW SHE WAS HIGH.
THAT WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT FROM THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE THAT HAD BEEN REVIEWED.
THEN WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT BY PD PERSONNEL THAT, IT'S NOT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S GOAL TO PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL, USERS IN JAIL, THAT THEY REALLY WANT TO PUT THE DEALERS IN JAIL.
I THINK BASED ON WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE NOT BEING MORE PROACTIVE IN PROVIDING SAFETY TO OUR CITIZENS? I THINK HAD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TAKEN HER AND GIVEN HER A NIGHT IN JAIL, THAT THINGS SHE COULD HAVE GOTTEN SOME HELP.
THERE'S THAT. I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CURRENT PROTOCOLS THAT ARE BEING I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, FIELD SOBRIETY TEST FOR ALCOHOL ISN'T THE SAME AS FOR DRUGS.
LAST THING IS REGARDING THE OPIOID FUNDS.
WHEN WE WERE HERE AT THE WORKSHOP, INDICATED THAT THERE'S SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDS IN THERE, AND APPARENTLY IT HASN'T BEEN SPENT, AND THAT'S FUNDS THAT HAVE COME FROM 2023 AND 2024.
WE'D LIKE TO SEE SOME MOVEMENT, SOME ACTION ON THAT.
THE FINAL THING THAT I'D LIKE TO ASK, WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS IN OUR LAST MEETING WAS I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT THE COUNCIL ENTERTAIN PUTTING TOGETHER A COMMISSION THAT WILL ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
[F. ANNOUNCEMENTS]
[00:15:01]
>> ON THAT NOTE, LET'S MOVE ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS?
>> I HAVE ONE. MY FAMILY AND I, WE GOT TO ATTEND THE ECTACULAR FAMILY CAMP OUT A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS AGO.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE PARK STAFF, ESPECIALLY KIMBERLY CHIC, FOR A GREAT JOB HOSTING IT AND THEN THE SUMMIT CLUB FOR HOSTING DINNER AND BREAKFAST. A GREAT EVENT.
WE ALSO JUST HAD DIWALI THIS PAST WEEKEND.
HAPPY DIWALI FOR ALL THOSE WHO CELEBRATE.
WE'VE GOT GREAT EVENTS COMING UP FOR THE TOWN.
I THINK WE HAVE WOOF-O-WEEN COMING UP NEXT AND THEN GROWING PUMPKIN PLUNGE AT THE CAC.
GO CHECK OUT OUR TOWN'S EVENTS, LOTS AND LOTS OF GOOD STUFF GOING ON. THANK YOU ALL FOR A GREAT JOB.
>> I'LL DELVE TOO INTO THE REMARKS ON DIWALI.
I HOPE IF YOU DIDN'T GET TO GO THIS YEAR, I HOPE YOU WILL TRY TO GET TO GO NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THEY PUT ON A SPECTACULAR SHOW AND THE FIREWORKS WERE EXCELLENT.
JUST ONES I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
THANKS TO PARKS AND REC AND ALL OF OUR STAFF WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THAT EFFORT DCICA. THANKS.
>> YEAH, JUST A REMINDER THAT EARLY VOTING STARTED TODAY AND EXTENDS THROUGH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1.
WE HAVE SIX LOCATIONS IN FLOWER MOUNT WHERE YOU CAN VOTE.
THESE ARE SOUTHWEST COURTHOUSE IN CANYON FALLS, THE CAC, FIREHOUSE STATION 2 ON SHILOH, THE COURTHOUSE ON KIRKPATRICK, THE LIBRARY, AND THE SENIOR CENTER, SO DON'T FORGET TO VOTE. THANK YOU.
>> I ECHO ALL OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMENTS ABOUT DIWALI, ESPECIALLY.
CHRIS MENTIONED IT, BUT WOOF-O-WEEN IS OCTOBER 23, AND IT'S 5:30 TO 7:30 AT THE HOUND MOUND, AND WE'LL BE THERE WITH OUR LITTLE DOG.
>> I'M GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT. THE DIWALI FESTIVAL WAS EXCELLENT, AND IT IS OCTOBER.
IT'S HINDU HERITAGE MONTH, AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE TAKE PRIDE IN ALL THE CULTURES IN FLOWER MOUNT.
ALSO MEALS ON WHEELS, I WENT TO THEIR FUNDRAISER THIS PAST WEEKEND.
THERE ARE VIDEOS OUT THERE OF ME DANCING.
DO NOT LAUGH AT THEM BECAUSE I'M NOT A DANCER.
BUT IF YOU CAN SUPPORT MEALS ON WHEELS, IT IS GETTING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON, THEY WOULD LOVE YOUR SUPPORT.
THAT'S IT. ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S GOOD. WE'LL GO RIGHT INTO THE TOWN MANAGER REPORT. JAMES.
[G. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. FOR OUR FIRST ITEM, IF YOU COULD JOIN ME DOWN ON THE FLOOR, PLEASE. SOME EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS.
THERE WE GO. WE LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY ONCE A MONTH TO RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES THAT HIT SERVICE MILESTONES 15 YEARS OR GREATER.
ACTUALLY 225 YEAR ANNIVERSARIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THIS EVENING.
FIRST, I'M ASK CAPTAIN KIRK LAMBERT TO JOIN ME UP FRONT.
THE MISS IS DEFINITELY WELCOME, SO PLEASE, COME ON UP.
JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON KIRK.
KIRK JOINED THE TOWN AND HE WAS HIRED ON OCTOBER 18, 1999 AS A FIREFIGHTER.
IN AUGUST OF 2010, HE WAS PROMOTED TO A FIRE APPARATUS OPERATOR AND THEN WE HAD A TITLE CHANGE TO FIRE ENGINEER ON OCTOBER 15 OF 2014.
SINCE MARCH OF 2015, HE HAS SERVED IN HIS CURRENT CAPACITY AS A FIRE CAPTAIN.
WHAT WE LIKE TO DO WITH THESE RECOGNITIONS IS I ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW A FUN FACT, AND KIRK HAS TWO COOL FUN FACTS IS ONE THAT HE ENJOYS TRAVELING AND HE LIKES CRUISING OF TWO DIFFERENT TYPES.
THE FIRST TYPE IS HE LIKES TO GO CRUISING ON A CRUISE SHIP.
BUT THE OTHER ONE IS HE LIKES TO CRUISE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON IS HARLEY DAVIDSON.
JUST A COOL RECOGNITION, SO KIRK ONE THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT IS THIS YOUR ENTIRE CHEERING SECTION HERE? WOW. FAMILY STAND UP.
GO AHEAD AND STAND UP. WE GOT A NEXT GENERATION OF FIREFIGHTERS HERE, AND SO IT'S REALLY COOL FOR YOUR FAMILY TO COME OUT, AND YOU WIN THE PRIZE SO FAR SINCE WE'VE DONE THIS.
YOU HAD THE BEST TIME. I'M SORRY, KIM.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD YOU GO FIRST.
[00:20:02]
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THE TOWN FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.I SHOULD HAVE HAD YOU GO FIRST.
WE HAVE KIMBERLY CHIC WITH US, AND SHE IS OUR RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS SUPERVISOR, BUT SHE STARTED ON OCTOBER 13, 1999, AS A PROGRAMS COORDINATOR.
SHE HAD A TITLE CHANGE IN 2006 AS A PROGRAM SUPERVISOR.
IN ACTUALLY JUNE OF LAST YEAR, SHE HAS HER CURRENT TITLE PROGRAMS COORDINATOR AND EVENTS SUPERVISOR.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER DREW REFERENCED, IF YOU'VE ENJOYED ANY OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HOLD HERE IN THE TOWN OF FLOWER MOUNT, KIMBERLY IS AN INSTRUMENTAL PART OF DOING THAT.
SHE DOES A GREAT JOB OF PUTTING A GREAT EVENTS FOR THE TOWN.
KIM'S FUN FACT, AND YOU HAVE SOME GOOD ONES. YOURS IS GOOD, TOO.
KIM IS ONE QUARTER CHEROKEE AND HER FATHER'S ONE HALF CHEROKEE.
KIM PARTICIPATED IN PAGEANTS FROM AGES 6-10-YEARS-OLD.
CAN YOU STILL DO THE PAGEANT WAVE AND ALL THAT? I GUESS NOT. KIM IS ALSO A JERSEY GIRL.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT ABOUT YOU.
I WONT TO HOLD THAT AGAINST YOU TOO MUCH, BUT KIM DOES AN AMAZING JOB.
LET'S GIVE KIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR 25 YEARS.
MAYOR, I HAVE TWO MORE QUICK ITEMS I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON IN THIS SPACE IS ONE, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF RECOGNITIONS FROM OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES GROUP IN REGARDS TO ARBOR DAY.
AS YOU KNOW, TREES ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE TOWN OF FLOWER MOUND.
IT'S SNR STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF RECOGNITIONS I WANT TO POINT OUT HERE THIS EVENING.
ONE IS THAT FOR TEXAS ARBOR DAY, WHICH IS THE FIRST FRIDAY IN NOVEMBER, THE TOWN IS CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF THE COLONY PARK TREE PLANNING PROJECT ON NOVEMBER 1 FROM 4:00 P.M. AT 10:15 COLONY STREET.
THIS PROJECT INCLUDED THE RECENT PLANNING OF 50 NEW TREES AND ADDITIONAL TWO POST OAKS THAT WOULD BE PLANTED ON THE FIRST.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A TREE SEEDLING GIVEAWAY AT THE EVENT WHERE RESIDENTS CAN GET FREE SEEDING ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.
IF YOU RECALL, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE PUT IN OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO INCREASE THAT GOAL OF INCREASING OUR TREE CANOPY HERE IN THE TOWN.
WE'VE IDENTIFY LOCATIONS THAT ARE UNDER TOWN CONTROL WHERE WE CAN PLANT MORE TREES AND INCREASE THAT TREE CANOPY.
ADDITIONALLY, ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, THE TOWN'S ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL TREE GIVEAWAY AND RECOGNITION OF ARBOR DAY, AND THE RECENT ACCREDITATION FOR WESTCHESTER PARK ARBORETUM THROUGH THE RECOGNIZED NATIONAL REGISTRY.
THE TREE GIVEAWAY, NOVEMBER 2 IS FOR A THREE GALLON SIZE TREES AND REQUIRES PRE REGISTRATION WHICH OPENS UP ON OCTOBER 26.
FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN GO TO AND I DON'T HAVE THE LINK.
IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, HOPEFULLY GET IT OUT THERE.
BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO SHARE THAT TWO FOLDS, JUST TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, BUT ALSO JUST AN INDICATION THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THAT GOAL OF INCREASING OUR TREE CANOPY AND THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF EVENTS THAT WILL GO TOWARDS THAT.
THE LAST ITEM, I DIDN'T HAVE IT ON MY AGENDA ORIGINALLY, BUT I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE ASSISTANT CHIEF WENDELL MITCHELL.
HE'S LIKE, GOD, DON'T CLOSE YOUR BOOK, CHIEF.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO DO ANYTHING, BUT WHAT I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT, AS MANY IN THE COMMUNITY ALREADY KNOW, ASSISTANT CHIEF MITCHELL HAS ACCEPTED THE JOB AS POLICE CHIEF IN CORINTH.
HE'S HERE TODAY SERVING FOR CHIEF KOLON, WHO IS AT A CONFERENCE.
[00:25:02]
BUT WENDELL HAS GIVEN 30 PLUS YEARS TO THIS COMMUNITY AND HAS SERVED EXTREMELY WELL.HE'S BEEN HE'S JUST BEEN AN INDISPENSABLE PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WENDELL GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE KNOW HE'S GOING TO SERVE CORINTH WELL, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO MISS HIM.
I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TAKE THIS TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE WENDELL SERVICE AND WISH HIM THE BEST OF LUCK WHEN HE TAKES ON HIS NEXT ENDEAVOR IN CORINTH.
I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SHINDIG FOR YOU ON FRIDAY FOR THAT.
IT WAS A SURPRISE PARTY, WAS IT? WELL, I JUST SCREWED IT UP. I APOLOGIZE.
BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE AND IF WE COULD JUST GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR CHIEF MITCHELL.
>> I CAN'T WAIT TILL THE PARTY.
>> WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 8, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
[H. FUTURE AGENDA ITEM(S)]
DOES ANYBODY ON COUNCIL HAVE ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS THEY WANT TO BRING FORWARD?>> I DO. I SAW A STORY WHERE A COMMUNITY IN NORTH CAROLINA HAD INSTALLED A MICRO CHIP SCANNING STATION IN A PUBLIC LOCATION SO THAT RESIDENTS COULD SCAN THE CHIPS ON LOST DOGS.
I KNOW ANIMAL SERVICES PROVIDES THIS SERVICE, BUT FOR TIMES WHEN THEY'RE CLOSED OR BUSY, THIS IS A QUICK SELF SERVICE STATION THAT COULD HELP LOST PETS FIND THEIR OWNERS MORE QUICKLY.
I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO EXPLORE COST, BENEFIT EVALUATION, PRACTICALITY, ETC.
>> YEAH, I JUST HAD ONE OF THE RESIDENTS SEND ME INFORMATION ON THAT TOO LAST NIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL GOT THAT EMAIL.
>> THEY'RE FAIRLY INEXPENSIVE, THE SCANNING STATIONS ARE.
>> IS THAT SOMETHING WE NEED TO DISCUSS IN AGENDA OR WORK SESSION OR IS THAT A BRING FORWARD AT YOUR DISCRETION THING?
>> I THINK THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION, IF I GET ENOUGH NODDING HEADS UP THERE, WE CAN BRING IT AT A FUTURE WORK SESSION.
I HAD A CHANCE TO DISCUSS THIS A LITTLE BIT WITH CHIEF KHAN.
HE FEELS THAT IT MERITS A SESSION WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT NECESSARILY PROS AND THE CONS.
THERE'S SOME INTRICACIES INVOLVED FOR SURE, BUT WE CAN START PUTTING THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO PURSUE.
THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE CAN DO AT A FUTURE WORK SESSION.
I GOT TO GO BACK AND LOOK, BUT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PUT ON NEXT MONTH'S WAR SECTION, WHICH IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 21.
>> THE OTHER THING IS, WE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING CONSOLVO, THAT AREA, LOOKING AT THE STREETS OVER THERE ON OUR AGENDA.
WE HAD APPROVAL OF THAT STILL.
>> SURE. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE ME, MARY.
IT'S NOT ON THE TOP OF MY MIND RIGHT NOW TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT MY NOTES, BUT IF WE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT, WE NEED TO BRING THAT FORWARD, SO WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.
>> THAT WAS ABOUT, IF I RECALL, IT'S JUST THE INGRESS EGRESS ON THAT PARTICULAR STREET WITH THE CONSTRUCTION.
>> YEAH. I'VE HAD SOME EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA ABOUT THE STREETS AND THE WEAR OF THE STREETS AND THE WIDTH OF THE STREETS.
IT'S HARD TO GET THROUGH WITH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, I THINK IT'S SUNSET NEIGHBORHOOD, SUNSET SUBDIVISION IN THE VERY BACK PAST CONSOLVO.
IT'S OFF OF SIMMONS IN CONSOLVO.
>> YES. I KNOW WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION.
IS THAT WHAT WE DISCUSSED THAT?
>> I THINK SOME RESIDENTS DIDN'T WANT IT, AND THEN SOME DO WANT TO LOOK AT THE ROADS AND HOW THEY CAN HELP THAT.
BUT I KNOW WE HAD SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVED THAT.
ARE WE STILL OKAY WITH LOOKING AT THAT?
>> OKAY. SEEING THAT THE HEAD NODS, WE'LL WORK TO GET IN THE AGENDA AND RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE STILL HAVE SOME CAPACITY, POTENTIAL NOVEMBER, BUT LET ME HUDDLE WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS.
IF WE'RE READY TO BRING THAT FORWARD, WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED.
I KNOW WE'RE BRINGING BACK THE OPIOID FUNDS AND WAYS TO UTILIZE THOSE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
BUT ALSO WHEN WE DO BRING THAT BACK UP, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH.
>> JUST INCLUDE THAT IN THERE. THANK YOU.
>> IS THAT IT? CO-ORDINATION OF CALENDARS.
[I. COORDINATION OF CALENDARS]
WE HAVE NOVEMBER 4 AND NOVEMBER 18 AS OUR REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS.[00:30:03]
CAN EVERYBODY MAKE THAT? SO CAN I. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM J, CONSENT ITEMS.[J. CONSENT ITEM(S)]
DOES ANYBODY ON COUNSEL HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANT TO REMOVE FROM THE CONSENT ITEMS? IF NOT, DOES ANYONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE?>> MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS, J 1 THROUGH 8 AS PRESENTED.
>> OKAY. TERESA, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE].
>> OKAY. CONSENT ITEMS J 1 THROUGH 8, PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
THE FIRST REGULAR ITEM TONIGHT IS THE ATMOS CITY STEERING COMMITTEE.
[K.1. Presentation regarding the Atmos Cities Steering Committee. ]
THIS MUNICIPAL COALITION IS ACTIVE IN THE GAS RATE MAKING REPRESENTS THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AND TONIGHT, MEG, YOU'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING?>> MAYOR, EXCUSE ME. I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS ITEM.
>> YEAH. ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO BE INTRODUCING THOMAS BROCATO FROM LOYD GOSSELIN, WHO IS ALSO THE ATTORNEY FIRM FOR ACSC, AND SO HE WILL BE PROVIDING SOME BACKGROUND AND HELPING UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE, AND OF COURSE, I'M AVAILABLE AS WELL IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR ME.
>> THANKS, MEG. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THOMAS BROCATO. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE TONIGHT.
I'M GOING TO DO A SHORT PRESENTATION AS MEG ALLUDED TO, DEALING WITH GAS UTILITY REGULATION, AND IT'S GOING TO BE DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS.
FIRST, I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.
I'LL MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH ABOUT THE HISTORY OF GAS REGULATION AND HOW CITIES FIT INTO THAT.
THEN I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ATMOS CITY STEERING COMMITTEE AND FINALLY, WE'LL COVER SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP IN THE MOST RECENT RATE REVIEW OR RM MECHANISM CASE.
IN 1890, THE LEGISLATURE CREATED THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS INITIALLY TO REGULATE RAILROADS.
IT IS THE OLDEST ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY IN THE UNITED STATES.
IN 1920, THE LEGISLATURE ADOPTED THE COX ACT.
THE COX ACT CREATED AN OIL AND GAS DIVISION WITHIN THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, SO IT GAVE THEM JURISDICTION OVER GAS UTILITY RATE MAKING.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE LEGISLATURE PRESERVED THE CITY'S AUTHORITY OR LEGAL JURISDICTION OVER RATES AND SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED WITHIN THEIR CITY LIMITS.
BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS IN A MOMENT.
YOU ARE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES IN YOUR OWN RIGHT AND THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE A ROLE IN THIS ENTIRE RATE MAKING PROCESS.
HISTORICALLY, UTILITIES WOULD COME IN APPROXIMATELY EVERY FOUR YEARS, FILE A RATE CASE, BOTH AT THE CITY LEVEL AND AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, THE CITIES WOULD REVIEW IT, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION WOULD SET RATES AND WE'D ALL GET ON DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT ABOUT 20 OR SO YEARS AGO, UTILITIES CAME FORWARD AND SAID, WE NEED MORE TIMELY COST RECOVERY.
WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE FILE A FULL RATE CASE AND THEN THE COMMISSION TAKES SIX MONTHS TO PROCESS IT IN ORDER TO BEGIN TO GET COST RECOVERY.
THAT'S WHAT LED TO THE ADOPTION IN 2003 OF WHAT'S REFERRED TO AS THE GRIP STATUTE, WHICH STANDS FOR GAS RELIABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.
YOU CAN SIMPLY THINK OF THAT AS A MINI ANNUAL EXPEDITED LIMITED ISSUE RATE CASE THAT'S FILED EVERY SPRING.
THE ATMOS CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE, WHICH YOUR CITY IS A MEMBER OF OPPOSED GRIP, WE ARGUED THAT IT WAS PIECEMEAL RATE MAKING, THAT YOU NEED TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF A UTILITIES REVENUES AND EXPENSES BEFORE YOU SET RATES AS HAD BEEN DONE FOR 83 YEARS PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF GRIP.
WE TOOK THAT TO THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT AND WE LOST.
THE SUPREME COURT SAID THAT THERE NEED NOT BE ANY CONTEMPORANEOUS SUBSTANTIVE REVIEW WHEN A UTILITY FILES A GRIP FILING, AND THAT THEY CAN DO THAT EVERY SPRING.
AGAIN, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT WHEN WE GET TO THE THIRD PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
BUT WE WERE NOT GOING TO TAKE OUR DEFEAT SITTING DOWN.
WE GATHERED ALL OF OUR CITIES UP AND WE SAT DOWN WITH ATMOS, AND WE SAID, WE DON'T LIKE GRIP.
WHAT ALTERNATIVES CAN WE AGREE TO? THE COMPANY WAS WILLING TO AGREE TO SOMETHING WE REFER TO AS THE RATE REVIEW MECHANISM OR RRM.
IT'S SIMILAR TO GRIP IN THAT UTILITIES COME FORWARD, ATMOS COMES FORWARD EVERY MAY,
[00:35:01]
MAKES A FILING WITH YOUR CITY AND WE HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW THAT.WE HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW THOSE FILINGS AND DISALLOW UNREASONABLE COSTS.
AGAIN, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL IN A MOMENT.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS MAJOR GAS UTILITIES IN THE STATE.
THE TWO LARGEST ARE ATMOS AND CENTERPOINT, ALSO TEXAS GAS SERVICE COMPANY.
ATMOS HAS TWO SERVICE AREAS IN THE STATE.
ONE IS CALLED THE MID TEX REGION THAT YOU'RE A PART OF.
IT GOES FROM JUST NORTH OF AUSTIN ALL THE WAY TO THE RED RIVER.
IT GOES FAR INTO WEST TEXAS AND THEN OVER INTO EAST TEXAS AS WELL.
436 CITIES, I BELIEVE, ARE IN THAT MID TEX DIVISION.
THEY ALSO HAVE A WEST TEX DIVISION THAT ENCOMPASS MOST OF THE PANHANDLE.
GAS UTILITY RATE MAKING GAS UTILITIES IN OUR STATE, THEY ARE FULLY BUNDLED, VERTICALLY INTEGRATED.
THEY'RE REGULATED BY CITIES AS WELL AS THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
THIS IS IN CONTRAST TO WHAT WE HAVE ON THE ELECTRIC SIDE WHERE YOU HAVE A RETAIL CHOICE, AND YOU DO NOT HAVE VERTICALLY INTEGRATED COMPANIES.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE ON ANOTHER NIGHT IF YOU LIKE.
BUT WE DO HAVE PIECEMEAL RATE MAKING AND I TALKED ABOUT THAT A MOMENT AGO.
ONE EXAMPLE IS GRIP, WHICH IS AUTHORIZED BY STATUTE.
ONE IS CALLED THE RRM, WHICH IS AUTHORIZED THROUGH AGREEMENT WITH THE UTILITY.
ANOTHER IS CALLED COSA, WHICH IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE RRM, WHICH IS DONE BY AGREEMENT.
THEN MOST RECENTLY, LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, OUR LEGISLATURE ADOPTED A NEW STATUTE THAT ALLOWS UTILITIES TO COME IN AND FILE TO COLLECT ENERGY EFFICIENCY COST AND YET ANOTHER RATE FILING.
FORTUNATELY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE.
AS I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, CITIES HAVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION OR ARE LEGAL AUTHORITY OVER RATES AND SERVICES WITHIN YOUR CITY LIMITS PURSUANT TO THE LAW.
NOW, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ATMOS CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE OR ACSC.
AS I MENTIONED, ATMOS HAS TWO SERVICE AREAS IN THE STATE, MID TEX, WEST TEX.
THE ATMOS CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE IS A COALITION OF CITIES THAT ARE IN THE MID TEX SERVICE AREA.
THERE'S 181 CITIES, THEY'RE LISTED HERE, SOME ARE SMALL, SOME ARE MEDIUM SIZED LIKE YOUR CITY, AND SOME ARE LARGE LIKE FORT WORTH AND OTHERS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, MOST OF THE MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS ARE A MEMBER OF THAT COALITION.
YOUR CITY, AS I MENTIONED, IS A MEMBER OF THE ATMOS CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE, YOU'RE ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ENCORE CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE, WHICH IS SIMILAR BUT ADDRESSES ELECTRIC ISSUES.
YOU ALSO PARTICIPATE IN AN AGGREGATION GROUP THAT I DO WORK FOR CALLED TCAP OR THE TEXAS COALITION FOR AFFORDABLE POWER.
YOU'RE A MEMBER OF ERCOT, WHERE WE HAVE CITY REPRESENTATIVES WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE MAJOR COMMITTEES OVER ERCOT.
THEN YOU ALSO ARE SERVED IN PART BY COSERV AND YOU PARTICIPATE WITH A COALITION THERE.
I'M YOUR OUTSIDE ATTORNEY FOR ALL OF THESE FIVE DIFFERENT GROUPS AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
SHIFTING BACK TO ACSC, THE COMMITTEE WAS CREATED IN 1990.
CURRENTLY, OUR INTERIM CHAIR PERSON, IS YOUR VERY OWN MEG JAKUBIK, WHO REPLACED JENNIFER RICHIE, WHO WAS FORMERLY THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF WACO.
DAVID JOHNSON WITH THE CITY OF ARLINGTON IS OUR TREASURER AND LUPE OROSCO WITH CITY OF KELLER SERVES AS THE SECRETARY.
THERE IS AN ASSESSMENT OR A MEMBERSHIP FEE.
YOU PAY ABOUT RIGHT AT $4,000 A YEAR, AND THAT'S BEEN THE SAME SINCE 2019.
WHAT DOES ACSC DO? THEY WORK TO ENSURE THAT GAS UTILITY RATES ARE CHARGED TO CITIES AND THE RESIDENTS ARE FAIR AND REASONABLE.
I TELL LEGISLATORS ALL THE TIME, WE WANT REALLY TWO THINGS.
WE WANT RELIABLE SERVICE, WE WANT THE GAS TO CONTINUE TO FLOW AND TO DO SO IN A SAFE MANNER, AND WE WANT TO NOT HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR GAS UTILITY SERVICE THAN IS REASONABLE.
WE WANT THAT NOT ONLY FOR OUR CITY ACCOUNTS, BECAUSE WE CONSUME GAS, AND WE KNOW THAT ULTIMATELY WHAT THE CITY PAYS FOR GAS SERVICE IS BORNE BY OUR TAXPAYERS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR RESIDENCES, AND THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOCATED IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE DON'T WANT BUSINESSES TO GO TO OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE OR OTHER STATES BECAUSE THEY CAN GET BETTER TERMS ON GAS SERVICE, FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR, WHO USE LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS, WHERE THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THEIR LOCATION.
WE PARTICIPATE IN PROCEEDINGS AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, AND THE COURTS, AND AT THE LEGISLATURE.
AS I NOTED, WE WANT TO HELP TO MAINTAIN SAFE AND RELIABLE UTILITY SERVICE AT REASONABLE RATES.
WE ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT SUPPORT RELIABLE GAS SERVICE, AS I NOTED.
WE ALSO WORK TO MAINTAIN REASONABLE FRANCHISE REVENUES FOR THE CITIES.
WE DO LOTS OF WORK ON FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS, ADDRESSING SUCH ISSUES AS INFRASTRUCTURE LOCATION, RIGHT AWAY MANAGEMENT, AND OF COURSE,
[00:40:01]
FRANCHISE REVENUES THAT UTILITIES PAY FOR USE OF CITY RIGHT AWAY.WE ARE THE ONLY CONSUMER ADVOCATES THAT WORK TO KEEP NATURAL GAS REASONABLE, AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT AS WELL.
THROUGH THE YEARS THE WORK OF ACSC HAS SAVED.
IT SAYS HERE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN UNREASONABLE CHARGES.
NOW I WANT TO SHIFT TO THE FINAL PART OF MY PRESENTATION.
AS I MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT AGO, IN 2003, THE LEGISLATURE ADOPTED THE GRIP STATUTE.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S REFERRED TO IN THE STATUTE AS A PERIODIC RATE ADJUSTMENT, IT'S BEEN REFERRED COMMONLY AS THE GRIP PROGRAM.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UTILITIES COME IN, AND BY THAT I MEAN, UTILITIES SUCH AS CENTER POINT TGS, ATMOS WEST TEX, AND EVEN ATMOS MID TEX, AND THEY MAKE ANNUAL FILINGS TO REFLECT INVESTED CAPITAL THAT THEY PUT INTO SERVICE IN THE PRIOR YEAR.
INCREASE IN RATES IS MANDATED UNDER GRIP IF INVESTMENT INCREASES, AND THAT OCCURS EVEN IF THERE ARE INCREASING REVENUES THAT WOULD OFFSET OR COVER THE COST OF THAT INVESTMENT.
GRIP, BECAUSE OF THE SUPREME COURT AND THE LEGISLATURE'S DECISIONS, GUARANTEES A ONE SIDED RUBBER STAMP APPROVAL.
THEY SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE SPENT.
AFTER SEVEN YEARS, THEY HAVE TO FILE A FULL RATE CASE AND AT THAT TIME, THERE CAN BE A SUBSTANTIVE REVIEW OF ALL OF THE EXPENDITURES, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT.
I WON'T GET INTO THE DETAILS OF WHY, BUT IN PART BECAUSE OF THE TIME LAG AND THE SHEER VOLUME OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT OPTION OR THAT ALTERNATIVE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE RRM, WHICH I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT NEXT.
ATMOS STILL MAKES GRIP FILINGS EVERY YEAR AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION FOR THOSE AREAS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF CITIES, THE ENVIRONS, OR IN THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE EXCEEDED OR GIVEN UP THEIR JURISDICTION TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, OR IN THAT HANDFUL OF CITIES WHO HAVE JURISDICTION, BUT HAVE CHOSEN TO STILL ALLOW FOR GRIP FILINGS, MEANING THEY'RE CITIES, THEY HAVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION, THEY'RE NOT IN THE ATMOS CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE.
NOW I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE RRM IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL.
AS I NOTED IN 2007, WE AGREED WITH ATMOS TO AN ALTERNATIVE TO GRIP, A CITY LEVEL CASE, WHICH MEANS IT'S NOT FILED AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION DOES NOT HAVE ANY REVIEW OF THE RRM, AND WE AGREED TO DO IT FOR THREE YEARS.
THAT WAS LATER EXTENDED IN 2010 AND WE STILL HAVE THAT IN PLACE TODAY.
IN 2017, WE MADE SOME TWEAKS TO THE TARIFF.
WE FELT LIKE THERE WERE SOME THINGS AFTER 10 YEARS THAT NEEDED TO BE IMPROVED, AND WE SAT DOWN WITH ATMOS AND WE AGREED TO THOSE CHANGES.
THE RRM APPLIES ONLY TO ATMOS RATES CHARGED WITHIN ACSC CITIES, SO ONLY THOSE 181 CITIES.
IT ALLOWS US TO VALIDATE COSTS, REVIEW COSTS, RECOVER OUR EXPENSES, AND AVOID LITIGATION OVER RATES, AND IT HAS PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS FOR ATMOS CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THERE'S A FIVE MONTH REVIEW PERIOD.
THEY FILE MAY 1ST, YOU HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH TO TAKE ACTION.
YOU JUST DID THAT RECENTLY, AND THOSE RATES GOING INTO EFFECT EACH YEAR ON OCTOBER 1ST.
IS IT PERFECT? NO. IS IT AN IMPROVEMENT OVER GRIP? YES. AS I SAY HERE, TYPICALLY FILED ACTUALLY MAY 1ST.
WE HAVE A TECHNICAL CONFERENCE WHERE WE SIT DOWN WITH THE COMPANY AND WE DISCUSS ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
WE RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THEM THROUGH THAT TECHNICAL CONFERENCE. WE CAN ASK DISCOVERY.
WE HAVE SIX SETS OF DISCOVERY THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE TWO CONSULTANTS WHO REVIEW THE FILINGS.
I THINK I'VE COVERED THE OTHER THINGS.
THE RRM PROCESS THAT WE'VE NEGOTIATED SOLVES OR ADDRESSES THE PIECEMEAL RATE MAKING PROBLEM BY ALLOWING US TO MAKE A REVIEW OF THE FILING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ALWAYS IN MY MIND WHEN I TALK TO CITIES AND THEY SAY, WELL, WHAT IF WE DIDN'T DO THE RRM? WELL, THE ANSWER WOULD BE QUITE SIMPLE, YOU WOULD HAVE GRIP, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
THAT GRIP FILING WOULD NOT BE REVIEWED.
THERE WOULD BE NO DISALLOWANCE OF ANY UNREASONABLE COSTS AND YOUR RATES WOULD BE HIGHER.
THIS CHART SHOWS, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS HERE.
IT SHOWS THE HISTORY OF THE RRM.
AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU'VE GOT THE YEAR, THE REQUEST, AND THIS IS ON A SYSTEM WIDE BASIS AND THE SETTLEMENT.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN EACH YEAR, THERE'S BEEN A REDUCTION,
[00:45:01]
SOMETIMES A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION, OTHER TIMES SMALLER REDUCTIONS, BUT A REDUCTION, NEVERTHELESS, IN EACH YEAR BETWEEN WHAT THEY ASKED FOR AND WHAT WE SETTLED ON.I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT ALL 16 OF THOSE FILINGS DID IN FACT SETTLE.
THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT AND I'LL GET TO IT IN JUST A MOMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US IS, HOW ARE WE DOING RELATIVE TO GRIP, NOT ONLY IN THE ENVIRONS, BUT ALSO FOR THAT OTHER GROUP OF CITIES REFERRED TO AS ATM, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT THE ACRONYM IS FOR.
BUT IT'S ANOTHER A SMALLER GROUP OF CITIES.
THEN DARR, THE CITY OF DALLAS DOES THEIR OWN THING.
IT'S CALLED THE DALLAS AREA RATE REVIEW MECHANISM OR DARR.
IT'S ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE RRM.
DALLAS FOR MANY YEARS, HAD A SPECIAL DEAL, LOWER RATES.
THEY LITIGATED THAT, THEY LOST.
THEY LIKE US, OPTED FOR A DIFFERENT APPROACH THAN GRIP, AND THEY HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE DARR.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US AGAIN TO KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING RELATIVE TO THOSE OTHER AREAS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, CURRENTLY, A TOTAL BILL ASSUMING 40 CCF PER MONTH.
THIS IS FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
IT'S HIGHER IN DALLAS, IT'S HIGHER IN THE GRIP CITIES, BOTH THE ENVIRONS AND IN THE ATM CITIES.
ATMOS PROVIDES THIS INFORMATION, WE VALIDATE IT EACH YEAR.
AGAIN, IT SHOWS THAT YOU PAID LESS FOR GAS UTILITY SERVICE BECAUSE YOU'RE IN AN ACSC CITY THAN YOU WOULD UNDER GRIP OR IF YOU WERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AS I NOTED, WHAT I JUST SAID IS ON THIS SLIDE.
YOUR CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, AND THE CITY ITSELF, PAY LESS FOR GAS UTILITY SERVICE BECAUSE YOU'RE A MEMBER OF ACSC.
OCCASIONALLY, I GET A QUESTION FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT SAYS, WELL, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF CITY COUNCIL DENIED THE RATE REVIEW MECHANISM RATE INCREASE? I HEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY, WE GET THESE EVERY YEAR.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT IN REDUCING IT.
BUT DO WE HAVE TO APPROVE THIS? WE DON'T REALLY LIKE HAVING TO APPROVE THIS, AND MY ANSWER IS, AND THIS IS WHY THEY HAVE ALL SETTLED.
ATMOS WOULD APPEAL THAT DENIAL TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION THAT SAYS OR THEY WOULD INITIATE IMPOSITION OF GRIP RATES OR BOTH, WHICH MEANS THEY WOULD LIKELY SAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE RRM ANY LONGER.
WE'RE GOING TO BACK AWAY FROM IT, WE'RE GOING TO START DOING GRIPS, AND WE'RE GOING TO ALSO APPEAL THIS ONE DIRECTLY TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
THOSE RATES WOULD GO INTO EFFECT, AND MOST LIKELY BECAUSE THE RAILROAD COMMISSION TENDS TO BE PUNITIVE, WOULD REQUIRE THE CITY TO PAY THEIR OWN EXPENSES FOR LITIGATING THAT MATTER.
THOSE WOULD BE SURCHARGED DIRECTLY BACK TO THE CITY, MEANING TO CITIZENS, CUSTOMERS WITHIN YOUR CITY LIMITS.
I KNOW I'VE COVERED A LOT OF GROUND AND SOME OF THIS IS PERHAPS FOREIGN TO YOU.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, I KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT YOU, I BELIEVE, CIRCULATED SOME NUMBERS TODAY, I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTIONS AS WELL.
I DON'T HAVE THOSE, BUT HOWEVER YOU WANT TO ADDRESS.
MR. PARDO, I APPRECIATE THAT PRESENTATION.
I'M NOT QUESTIONING OUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE ACSC, AND I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS THAT YOU'VE OUTLINED IS PROBABLY THE BEST WE CAN DO GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
I DID HAVE SOME SPECIFIC CONCERNS WITH THE RRM THAT WE WENT THROUGH THIS LAST TIME, WHICH I'LL GET TO, BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION FIRST, MORE GENERAL.
RISING UTILITY COSTS ARE A BIG PROBLEM. THEY'RE IN THE NEWS.
THERE WAS A BIG STORY IN THE STAR TELEGRAM ABOUT WATER RATES AND HOW OUTRAGEOUS THEY ARE? WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS INTERNALLY ABOUT OUR UTILITY RATES.
I THINK GAS COMPANIES WERE BAD ACTORS IN URI.
THEY MADE A LOT OF MONEY BY DECLARING FORCE MAJEURE AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE'S PIPES WERE BURSTING.
THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A TERRIBLE SITUATION AND MADE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT THE EXPENSE OF A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE GENERATING POWER.
I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT HAVE AN INTEREST IN TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS PROCESS.
DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY LEGISLATIVE ACTION IN 2025 ON GRIP? LET ME START BY SAYING, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOUR ASSESSMENT AND THE ASSESSMENT OF THE ARTICLE YOU REFERENCED, EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY READ THE DETAILS, BUT YOU'RE CORRECT.
UTILITY RATES HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY ACROSS THE BOARD, AND AT A FAR FASTER THAN EVEN SOME OF THE HIGHER INFLATION NUMBERS THAT WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT.
I KNOW THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY FOCUSED ON ELECTRIC RATES THIS PAST SUMMER,
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PARTICULARLY WITH THE PERFORMANCE OR THE FAILURES OF CENTERPOINT IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE BARREL.THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS INTERIM HEARINGS THAT WE PARTICIPATED IN, AND I DO EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE SOME LEGISLATION.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS CALLED UPON THE COMMISSION TO EVALUATE CENTERPOINT'S RATES.
I PAUSE OR YOU MAY DETECT A LITTLE BIT OF HESITATION IN MY VOICE ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE SOME DEGREE OF SKEPTICISM OF WHAT THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT ULTIMATELY DO ON THESE ISSUES, BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S AT THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR ATTENTION AT THE MOMENT, AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME BILLS, HOW THOSE END UP.
>> BUT I DO THINK THAT WE WILL SEE SOMETHING FROM THE LEGISLATURE TRYING TO ADDRESS OR REIGN IN SOME OF THESE CALLS.
>> IS THE ACSC INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS, LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY, PARDON ME, ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN?
>> SO LET ME JUST ASK YOU, LET ME GO OVER THESE REAL FAST, CAN WE START WITH THE R ONE, THE RESIDENTIAL.
WHEN THIS ITEM CAME BEFORE US, THOMAS, IT'S A CONSENT ITEM, LIKE YOU SAID, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH OBLIGATED TO APPROVE IT.
BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT THESE RATE COMPARISONS, SOME THINGS JUMPED OUT AT ME THAT SEEMED LESS SATISFYING BECAUSE FRANKLY, IT LOOKS LIKE THE RESIDENTIAL CONSUMER IS CARRYING ALL OF THAT VALUATION THAT YOU SHOWED ON SLIDE 17 WITH THE ADDITIONAL MONEY, THAT THE RESIDENTIAL SEEMS TO BE CARRYING THE MAJORITY OF THAT.
THIS FIRST ONE WAS RATE R RESIDENTIAL, WHAT WE SEE HERE IS THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING A 7% INCREASE IN AN AVERAGE BILL, BUT IT'S ENTIRELY CONSUMPTION CHARGE.
THE CONSUMPTION GOES FROM $0.48 TO $0.59.
THAT'S A 21% INCREASE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE WINTERTIME, YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAYING A HIGHER BILL, MUCH HIGHER THAN 7% BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE BULK OF YOUR CONSUMPTION.
SO THAT'S HOW THE RESIDENTIAL CONSUMER IS CARRYING THIS, MEG IF YOU CAN JUST ADVANCE ONE.
COMMERCIAL ON THE OTHER HAND, DOES MUCH BETTER.
THEY'RE ANTICIPATING A 3.5% RATE INCREASE, BUT THE CONSUMPTION PORTION IS ONLY UP 4%.
THEY'RE GETTING A MODEST INCREASE IN THEIR CUSTOMER CHARGE.
THE MORE THEY USE, THEY DO MUCH BETTER.
THEN THE NEXT ONE, INDUSTRIAL.
INDUSTRIAL, ON THE OTHER HAND SEEMS TO HAVE COME OUT THE WINNER IN THIS.
THEY PAY A SLIGHTLY, NOT SLIGHTLY, BUT A SOMEWHAT HIGHER CUSTOMER CHARGE, BUT THEIR RATES GO DOWN ACROSS THE BOARD.
I DON'T QUITE KNOW HOW LINES 38, 48, AND LINE 39, 49, IF THAT'S USAGE BASED, BUT THESE RATES ARE ALL DOWN.
THEY'RE DOWN 12%, 20%, AND 62%.
A HIGH USAGE INDUSTRIAL CONSUMER IS GOING TO PAY MUCH LESS THAN THEY DO TODAY.
HOW DID THE ACSC GO INTO THIS NEGOTIATION AND END UP MAKING THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS CARRY THE BRUNT OF THIS INCREASE?
>> FIRST, LET ME SAY INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS ALMOST ALWAYS WIN.
SECONDLY, LET ME SAY THAT IT'S SATISFYING TO KNOW THAT YOU LOOKED AT IT TO THIS DEGREE.
THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTIONS ARE THESE.
UNDER THE RM TARIFF, SECTION 4 THAT I HAVE HERE AND YOU CAN FIND IT ON ATMOS WEBSITE OR I CAN PROVIDE IT TO YOU.
IT SAYS THAT IN MAKING THE ANNUAL FILING, THAT THE COMPANY HAS TO USE THE METHODOLOGY ACCEPTED IN THE MOST PREVIOUS RATE CASE, THE FINAL ORDER FROM THAT PREVIOUS CASE, AND THAT THE REVENUE REQUIREMENT WILL BE APPORTIONED TO THE CUSTOMER CLASSES IN THE SAME MANNER THAT THE COMPANY'S REVENUE REQUIREMENT WAS APPORTIONED IN THAT FINAL ORDER.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS COST ARE ALLOCATED TO THE DIFFERENT CLASSES RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL IN THE SAME WAY THAT THEY WERE ALLOCATED IN THAT PRIOR CASE.
THE ALLOCATIONS TEND TO ALLOCATE MORE TO THE RESIDENTIAL CLASS BECAUSE THEY'RE BASED ON ALLOCATORS SUCH AS THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS, AND OF COURSE, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS OUT NUMBER COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL OR ON PEAK DEMAND AS OPPOSED TO AVERAGE DEMAND.
ALLOCATION IS INTENDED TO TO ASSIGN COSTS TO THOSE CUSTOMER CLASSES THAT CAUSE THE COST TO BE INCURRED, AND IT'S FOR THAT REASON THAT WE ADOPTED OR THE COMMISSIONER APPROVED THOSE ALLOCATION FACTORS IN THE PRIOR CASE.
THAT'S THE ANSWER TO A PART OF YOUR QUESTION.
AS TO THE CUSTOMER CHARGE, THERE'S LANGUAGE IN THE TARIFF THAT SAYS, FOR THE RESIDENTIAL CLASS, 50% OF THE INCREASE MAY BE RECOVERED IN THE CUSTOMER CHARGE.
HOWEVER, THE INCREASE TO THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER CHARGE SHALL NOT EXCEED $0.70 PER MONTH IN ANY SUBSEQUENT YEAR.
IF YOU'LL GO BY, IF I MAY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE CUSTOMER CHARGE WAS 22.25, IT'S NOW 22.95.
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THAT'S A $0.70 INCREASE AND THE REASON IT'S $0.70 IS BECAUSE IT WAS LIMITED UNDER THE LANGUAGE OF THE TARIFF.WHAT THAT MEANS IS ALL OF THOSE OTHER COSTS THAT ARE ALLOCATED TO THAT CLASS HAVE TO BE COLLECTED SOMEWHERE AND IT'S THROUGH THE CONSUMPTION CHARGE OR THE VOLUMETRIC CHARGE.
THAT'S WHY THAT INCREASE IS LARGER THAN FOR THE OTHER CLASSES.
THEN YOU MIGHT ASK, WELL, WHY WOULD YOU LIMIT IT TO $0.70? I WILL TELL YOU THAT WAS DONE IN 2017 MINDFULLY.
IN ORDER TO HELP SMALLER CONSUMERS, WHICH OFTENTIMES, BUT NOT ALWAYS ARE LOWER INCOME CONSUMERS.
IT ALSO MEANS BY PUSHING MORE DOLLARS TO THE CONSUMPTION CHARGE, YOU'RE SENDING WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE PROPER PRICE SIGNAL.
YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION, AND YOU DO THAT BY MAKING THE VOLUMETRIC CHARGE OR CONSUMPTION CHARGE HIGHER AND KEEPING THE CUSTOMER CHARGE LOWER.
SO AS PART OF OUR ADVOCACY, WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO PUSH FOR A LOWER FIXED OR CUSTOMER CHARGE BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT TENDS TO FAVOR SMALLER CONSUMERS, BUT IT BENEFITS EVERYONE BECAUSE YOU GET THAT SAVINGS EVEN BEFORE YOU CONSUME ANY GAS.
SO THAT'S A LONG WINDED ANSWER, BUT THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE GET TO THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE.
>> I UNDERSTAND YOUR EXPLANATION.
I'M NOT SURE I COMPLETELY IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MATH MIGHT BE DEBATABLE ON SOME OF THAT, BUT IS THAT TRANSPARENT? I WENT TO YOUR WEBSITE AND I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING.
I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT EXPLAINS HOW THESE ARE CALCULATED AT ALL.
NO, YOU WOULD NOT FIND IT ON THE ACS WEBSITE, YOU WOULD FIND IT ON ATMOS WEBSITE OR AS I SAID, IN FACT, I HAVE ONE COPY HERE.
I'M HAPPY TO LEAVE IT WITH YOU.
IN FACT, ALL OF THE DEFINITIONS, THE CALCULATIONS, IT'S ALL LAID OUT HERE.
I WILL ALSO SAY, WE MODIFIED THIS IN 2017.
IT DOESN'T HAVE AN EXPIRATION.
BUT IF WE FEEL AS THOUGH THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS THAT STILL AND COULD BE MADE, WE CAN GO BACK TO THE TABLE AND I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO ENTERTAIN ANY OF THOSE.
>> WELL, IF YOUR GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE REDUCE CONSUMPTION BY SKEWING IT TO THE I UNDERSTAND THE CUSTOMER CHARGE IS FIXED.
THE INDUSTRIAL CATEGORY, YOU'RE ENCOURAGING EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION.
IT SEEMS LIKE AS A GOAL, IT DOESN'T REALLY SEEM TO BE APPLIED EVENLY, AND I THINK THAT'S NOT GREAT, YOU SHOULD TREAT YOUR CUSTOMER CATEGORIES AS SIMILARLY AS POSSIBLE, I WOULD THINK.
>> HISTORICALLY, WE'VE BEEN I GUESS MORE CONCERNED, IF YOU WILL, ABOUT THE IMPACT ON RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS, SOMETIMES ARE BETTER ABLE TO ABSORB THAT DIFFERENCE.
THE REVENUE REQUIREMENT THAT'S ASSIGNED TO EACH CUSTOMER CLASS IS GOING TO BE COLLECTED.
IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF, ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT THROUGH A FIXED CHARGE OR A VOLUMETRIC CHARGE? WE HAVE HISTORICALLY IN OUR ADVOCACY PUSHED FOR THE RESIDENTIAL CLASS, LOWER FIXED CHARGE BECAUSE AGAIN, OUR FEELING IS IT BENEFITS ALL CUSTOMERS AND IN PARTICULAR BENEFITS LOW CONSUMPTION CUSTOMERS.
>> I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY GO THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS AND DETERMINE THAT A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER NEEDS A 7% INCREASE, BUT AN INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMER NEEDS A 1% INCREASE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO COLLECT THE AMOUNT.
FIRST, YOU HAVE THE REVENUE REQUIREMENT, WHICH YOU CAN THINK OF AS LIKE HOW BIG IS THE PIZZA, OR A ROUND PIE.
WE WORK THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY AND OUR SETTLEMENT SKILLS TO TRY TO REDUCE THAT.
THAT'S THE CHART I SHOWED YOU EARLIER WHICH SHOWS THE REDUCTION.
THEN ONCE YOU GET TO AN AGREED REVENUE REQUIREMENT, THEN THE NEXT STEP IS, HOW DO WE ALLOCATE IT TO THE DIFFERENT CLASSES? MEANING HOW BIG IS EACH CLASS AS SLICE OF THE PIZZA OR THE PIW.
THAT BECOMES A ZERO SUM GAME BECAUSE YOU'VE DEFINED THE REVENUE REQUIREMENT.
NOW IT'S JUST WHO DO WE COLLECT IT FROM? THAT'S DONE USING ALLOCATION METHODS THAT FOR PURPOSES OF THE RM WERE AGREED TO OR APPROVED IN THE PREVIOUS CASE.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS SIMPLE.
IF WE WERE GOING TO FIGHT OVER ALLOCATIONS IN AN RM, WE'D HAVE A FULL RATE CASE EACH YEAR, AND IT WOULDN'T BE AND THE UTILITY WOULD BE INCLINED TO GO BACK TO GRIP.
>> SO NEXT STEP THEN, IF WE WANTED TO RESOLVE THIS WOULD BE LEGISLATIVE ACTION ESSENTIALLY.
>> IT WOULD BE LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
BUT THAT'S PART OF THE QUESTION I DIDN'T ANSWER EARLIER.
I THINK IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD ENTERTAIN CHANGES TO GRP.
WE TRIED TO DO THAT MULTIPLE SESSIONS.
I THINK IN 2019 AND 2017 WITHOUT SUCCESS.
[01:00:06]
>> WOULD YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE CITIES SPEAKING UP AGAINST THAT?
>> WE WOULD NEED A LOT OF INFLUENCE, THIS IS NOT ALWAYS IN THE BEST.
>> INFLATION HAS CHANGED THE DYNAMIC.
MAYBE, I BELIEVE JUST FROM THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD THAT WATER IS GOING TO GET A LOOK THIS YEAR.
BASED ON OUR REPRESENTATIVES WHO LIVE RIGHT HERE IN FLOWER MOUND, THEY'RE NOT PLEASED ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL WATER BILLS.
WE'RE NOT PLEASED ABOUT THE RATES THAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO ADJUST.
I HAVEN'T HEARD THE SAME ABOUT GAS, BUT THE NUMBERS HERE ARE THE NUMBERS.
I CAN IMAGINE THAT WHEN THE WINTERTIME GAS BILLS START HITTING WITH UNDER THESE NEW RATES, THERE MIGHT BE SOME HEADS BEING SCRATCHED THAT THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR ANOTHER LOOK.
MAYBE IF NOT THIS CYCLE, AND CERTAINLY THE ONE THAT FOLLOWS THIS ONE.
THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL SAY JUST TO CLOSE THE LOOP ON IT.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOU, AND I THINK THAT GIVEN WHERE RATES ARE AND THE WAY THAT THEY'VE BEEN INCREASING, IT IS NOT AN INAPPROPRIATE TIME TO DO A DEEP DIVE INTO WHETHER GRIP IS THE BEST PATH FORWARD IN MY MIND.
>> I WANTED TO SAY FROM A LAYPERSON'S POINT OF VIEW, IT DOES SEEM A LITTLE BIT OF A SHELL GAME.
I UNDERSTAND THE CUSTOMER CHARGE.
IT'S THE MOST BASIC FLAT CHARGE, BUT YOU MUST HAVE CONSUMPTION.
THERE'S NO AVOIDING IT. YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION.
I THINK THE OTHER THING, IT'S HARD TO KNOW ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE PIZZA PIE UNLESS I KNOW THE ACTUAL TRUE CONSUMPTION, AND I WOULD JUST IMAGINE THAT INDUSTRIAL CONSUMPTION, COMMERCIAL CONSUMPTION IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A RESIDENTIAL INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL CONSUMPTION.
SO THAT EVEN IF IT'S A 1% INCREASE, THE ACTUAL DOLLARS MAY BE IN EXTREME EXCESS OF WHAT I WOULD SEE AS DOLLARS FOR MY BILL.
>> WELL, I CAN JUST SAY, MAYOR POTEM THAT MOST OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IN AN RMR GRIP IS INVESTED CAPITAL, PIPE IN THE GROUND.
IN FACT, THAT'S THE PHRASE THAT WAS USED WHEN GRIP WAS ADOPTED.
THIS IS ABOUT PIPE IN THE GROUND.
THE REASON WAS BECAUSE AT THE TIME AND I WON'T GET INTO ALL THE HISTORY.
LONESTAR GAS WHICH OWN THESE ASSETS BEFORE APMS AND HAD REALLY THEIR SYSTEM DETERIORATE, WHEN ATMOS TOOK IT OVER, THEY SAID, WE'VE GOT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY UPGRADING THAT.
IN ADDITION, THIS SERVICE AREA HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT GROWTH OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS.
MOST OF THAT GROWTH IS RESIDENTIAL.
WHEN YOU ALLOCATE COSTS, AGAIN, YOU WANT TO ALLOCATE IT TO THE CLASSES THAT ARE DRIVING THE EXPENSE AND THE ALLOCATIONS TEND TO PUSH MORE TO RESIDENTIAL BECAUSE THEY'RE DRIVING MORE OF THE GROWTH.
>> YOU DID SAY SOMETHING EARLIER.
IT WAS ABOUT AN INCREASE IN RATES ARE MANDATORY IF THERE'S ANY INVESTMENT.
EVEN IF THE REVENUE IS INCREASED, COMMENSURATE TO YOUR INVESTMENTS, AND ALSO IF EXPENSES ARE DECREASED, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO INCREASE THE RATES.
THAT JUST SEEMS DOWNRIGHT UNAMERICAN TO ME AS DOES THE PROCESS FOR OBJECTING TO THESE RATES.
IT'S LIKE, YOU CAN OBJECT, BUT WE'RE JUST GOING TO OVERRULE YOU OR THEN WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ATTORNEY FEES.
THAT JUST DOESN'T SET WELL WITH ME.
I TOOK THIS TO THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT, WE LOST.
THE LEGISLATURE DID WHAT THEY DID.
>> A POWERFUL LOBBY OUT THERE.
>> THANKS, EVERYONE. I APPRECIATE.
>> SO THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM K2.
[K.2. Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce annual update - Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce annual update.]
WE HAVE THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL UPDATE.RAY, DID YOU WANT TO COME UP FIRST, RAY WATSON? THERE YOU ARE.
I DIDN'T EVEN SEE YOU BACK THERE.
DON'T YOU USUALLY SIT ON THE OTHER SIDE?
>> SOMETIMES YOU'RE OVER THERE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S AVAILABLE.
MAYOR, COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE UP HERE.
WE ARE HERE TONIGHT WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO PRESENT THEIR OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR FOR THIS PAST YEAR, DEALING WITH THE MOU THAT WE DEAL WITH THEM EACH YEAR.
LORI WALKER WILL BE COMING UP TO PRESENT.
WITH THAT, I'LL BRING THE LORI UP HERE.
[01:05:09]
MY NAME IS LORI WALKER, AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR THIS EVENING.
I'M EXCITED TO SHARE ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR WITH THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER.
THANK YOU FOR THE PART THAT YOU PLAY.
IN MAKING THIS CHAMBER IN THIS COMMUNITY SO GREAT.
WE DO THIS ANNUALLY WHERE WE COME AND TELL YOU ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT THE CHAMBER IS DOING AND THEN TALK ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE TOWN.
I'M EXCITED TO DO THAT THIS EVENING.
OUR MISSION. THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING LOCAL BUSINESSES BY PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR NETWORKING, ADVOCACY AND RESOURCE SHARING.
WE STRIVE TO ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC VITALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN FLOWER MOUND AND SURROUNDING AREAS, FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE BUSINESSES CAN THRIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY'S GROWTH.
LAST WEEK WAS TEXAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WEEK IN TEXAS, AND SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE A VIDEO FROM OUR GOVERNOR.
>> THIS IS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT.
OCTOBER 14 THROUGH THE 18TH IS TEXAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WEEK.
THIS WEEK, WE HIGHLIGHT THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT OUR LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE DO TO ENSURE THAT TEXAS REMAINS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF AMERICA.
CHAMBERS HELPED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES THROUGH THE EXPANSION AND RETENTION OF COMPANIES IN TEXAS, AND THROUGH THE CREATION OF NEW JOBS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR INCREDIBLE WORKFORCE.
THANKS IN PART TO THE WORK OF CHAMBERS ACROSS THE STATE.
TEXAS HAS WON THE GOVERNORS CUP FOR THE MOST CORPORATE RELOCATION AND EXPANSION PROJECTS FOR A RECORD SMASHING 12 YEARS IN A ROW.
TEXAS IS THE HEADQUARTERS OF HEADQUARTERS WITH 52 FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES CALLING OUR GREAT STATE HOME, AND HAS BEEN THE BEST STATE FOR BUSINESS FOR AN AMAZING 20 YEARS IN A ROW.
I'M HONORED TO WORK ALONGSIDE OUR 3.2 MILLION SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN THEIR LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE TO HELP BUILD A BIGGER AND BETTER TEXAS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU AND WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON, AND MY GOD FOREVER BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.
THE GOVERNOR ISSUED A PROCLAMATION IN CELEBRATION OF TEXAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WEEKS.
IF YOU WOULD JUST INDULGE ME, FOR OUR VIEWERS AT HOME, I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT PROCLAMATION.
TEXAS ECONOMIC SUCCESS IS LARGELY A PRODUCT OF THE STATE'S ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, WHICH IS PERHAPS NOWHERE MORE APPARENT THAN IN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
TODAY, MORE THAN 90% OF TEXAS BUSINESSES ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, WHICH NUMBER MORE THAN 3 MILLION.
THESE ENTERPRISES EMPLOY NEARLY HALF OF ALL WORKING TEXANS, AND BY ADVANCING THE INTEREST OF SMALL BUSINESSES, WE WILL IMPROVE LIVES THROUGH OUR ENTIRE STATE.
LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE HELP ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS ACHIEVE THEIR LOFTIEST AMBITIONS, AND BY SO DOING, THESE CHAMBERS PRESERVE THE GREAT TEXAS MIRACLE.
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE CONNECT CITIZENS WITH VALUABLE RESOURCES, FOSTER GROWTH, AND PROMOTE COMMUNITIES INTERESTS.
THEY FACILITATE EXPANSION AND RETENTION EFFORTS WHILE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVING STANDARD OF LIVING.
THE LOCAL CHAMBERS ALSO ADDRESS ISSUES AND TRENDS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY.
OFFERING SERVICES TAILORED SPECIFICALLY TO LOCAL NEEDS.
A VITAL COMPONENT OF TEXAS ECONOMY, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BY CULTIVATING PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS, STRENGTHENING BUSINESS VISIBILITY, AND CREDIBILITY, AND CONDUCTING LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY.
THESE EFFORTS IN TURN SPUR JOB GROWTH, DEVELOP OUR WORKFORCE, AND DRAW US CLOSER TO THE BIGGER, BETTER FUTURE IN STORE.
COLLABORATION AMONG OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES HAS HELPED KEEP TEXAS THE UNRIVALED ECONOMIC ENGINE OF AMERICA.
INDEED, TEXAS HAS BEEN NAMED THE BEST STATE FOR BUSINESS, A RECORD SHATTERING 20 YEARS IN A ROW AND HAS WON THE PRESTIGIOUS GOVERNORS CUP PRESENTED TO THE STATE WITH THE MOST CORPORATE RELOCATION EXPANSION PROJECTS FOR 12 CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
[01:10:01]
AS THE HEADQUARTERS OF HEADQUARTERS, WE ARE THE CENTER OF OPERATIONS FOR AN ASTOUNDING 52 FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES, AND TEXAS IS ALSO THE TOP STATE FOR JOBS CREATED BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN, HISPANIC WOMEN, AND VETERAN OWNED BUSINESS OWNERS.EACH YEAR A WEEK IN OCTOBER IS SET ASIDE IN ORDER TO CELEBRATE THE IMPORTANT WORKS OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE THAT THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
BY SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP, THESE CHAMBERS BOLSTER THE SOCIAL FABRIC, CREATE LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES, AND FUEL ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
DURING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WEEK AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, MAY WE ALL WORK WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO UPHOLD THE STATE'S STATUS AS A POWERHOUSE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THEREFORE, GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT, THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 14 THROUGH 18TH OF 2024 TO BE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WEEK IN TEXAS, WHICH IS REALLY AN EXCITING THING.
WE GOT A PROCLAMATION FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND WE'RE VERY PLEASED ABOUT THAT.
WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RECOGNITION, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T CONTINUE TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS.
THE FLOWER MOUND, YOUR FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS IN NOVEMBER ACCREDITED WITH A FIVE STAR ACCREDITATION BY THE US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE FEAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR CHAMBER.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE AGAIN FOR THOSE AT HOME AND ALL OF US HERE TONIGHT, WHAT WE SHARED WITH YOU THEN AND WHAT WE SHARED WITH ALL OF OUR MEMBERS.
WE ARE THRILLED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE EXCITING NEWS THAT THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS RECENTLY ACHIEVED A FIVE STAR ACCREDITATION FROM THE US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN WASHINGTON, DC.
THIS PRESTIGIOUS RECOGNITION IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, STRONG LEADERSHIP, AND THE POSITIVE IMPACT WE HAVE MADE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ACCREDITATION WITH THE UNITED STATES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS A DISTINCTIVE PROGRAM THAT SETS THE STANDARDS FOR CHAMBER PLANNING AND ACKNOWLEDGES OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
OUT OF APPROXIMATELY 7,000 CHAMBERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, ACHIEVING ACCREDITATION WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS RARE AND PRESTIGIOUS, AND IT'S A TOTAL HONOR.
CURRENTLY, THERE ARE ONLY 146 CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE THAT HOLD THE ESTEEMED FIVE STAR ACCREDITATION, AND WE ARE PROUD THAT THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER HAS JOINED THIS ELITE GROUP, WHICH THAT IS APPLAUSE.
I HOPE ALL OF OUR PEOPLE AT HOME ARE APPLAUDING THAT.
IT'S 2%, 2% OF THE CHAMBERS AND RIGHT HERE IN FLOWER MOUND, WE HAVE DONE THAT.
ACCREDITATION PROCESS IS RIGOROUS.
IT'S A YEAR LONG JOURNEY INVOLVING NONE COMPREHENSIVE SECTIONS OF GOVERNANCE, FINANCE, HUMAN RESOURCES, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNICATIONS, FACILITIES, AND BENCH MARKING.
OUR STAFF INVESTED ENDLESS AND COUNTLESS HOURS FOR US TO EXCEED ALL OF THOSE STANDARDS THAT WERE SET FORTH BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
RECEIVING A FIVE STAR ACCREDITATION IS THE HIGHEST DISTINCTION IN THIS PROCESS, UNDERSCORING THE HIGH QUALITY EXPERTISE AND EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP DISPLAYED BY AN ACCREDITED STATE AND LOCAL CHAMBERS, AND WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THIS ACHIEVEMENT.
THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL DO, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT OUR SMALL AND LARGE BUSINESSES DO, AND OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL.
WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF SUCH AN EXCITING THING.
WE GET TO HOLD THE ESTEEMED HONOR OF FIVE STAR ACCREDITATION FOR FIVE YEARS.
BUT YOU CAN REST ASSURED WE WILL NOT LOSE A STAR IN THAT PROCESS.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THIS IS OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SLIDE IN OUR CHAMBER STAFF.
THEN AT OUR ANNUAL AWARDS, BANQUET, FORMER TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER, BEN BUMGARNER, AND OUR CURRENT STATE REPRESENTATIVE DID A GREAT PROCLAMATION WITH OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, KERRIGAN, WITH CBRE AND OUR PAST CHAIRMAN, JASON WALTER WITH THE CROSS TIMBER, YMCA AND OUR STAFF.
LET'S TALK ABOUT FLOWER MOUND BUSINESSES AT A GLANCE.
THERE ARE OVER 13,000 BUSINESSES IN FLOWER MOUND.
LOCAL BUSINESSES PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE ECONOMY OF FLOWER MOUND, TEXAS. JOB CREATION.
OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN FLOWER MOUND
[01:15:01]
PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS VARIOUS SECTORS.THIS EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS FAMILIES AND BOOSTS THE LOCAL ECONOMY BY INCREASING DISPOSABLE INCOME FOR RESIDENTS.
THE ECONOMIC MULTIPLIER EFFECT.
WHEN RESIDENTS SHOP LOCALLY, MORE OF THEIR MONEY STAYS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THIS CREATES A MULTIPLIER EFFECT WHERE LOCAL BUSINESSES PURCHASE FROM OTHER LOCAL SUPPLIERS, FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES REINVEST IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS, DONATIONS, AND PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL EVENTS.
THIS SUPPORT ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND FOSTERS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PRIDE AND COHESION. TAX REVENUE.
OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES CONTRIBUTE TO THE TOWN'S TAX BASE, WHICH FUNDS ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPROVEMENTS, BENEFITING ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
OUR CHAMBER INITIATIVES, I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR MOU PROGRAMS THAT WE DO WITH THE TOWN, AND THEN JUST OUR CHAMBER INITIATIVES THAT WE DO AS A WHOLE, JUST TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE ALL OF THE EXCITING THINGS.
ONE THING THAT WE DO DO THAT IS I THINK ALL OF YOU ALL WOULD AGREE, EVERYONE, MAYOR MORE, SHE IS NEXT.
BUT WE HOLD SEVEN GOVERNMENT 12@12 LUNCHES TO FACILITATE DIALOGUE BETWEEN OUR MEMBERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
THESE LUNCHEONS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO DIRECTLY ENGAGE WITH MEMBERS OF OUR TOWN COUNCIL OR THE MAYOR AND DISCUSS ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
OBJECTIVE OF THIS IS TO FOSTER COLLABORATION AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS, ULTIMATELY PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I HAVE HERE THAT I'M GOING TO GIVE TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, ALL OF OUR BUSINESS LEADERS THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THOSE THROUGH THAT. BUT I'LL JUST SHARE.
THESE OUR INVITATIONS THAT WE SEND OUT, AND I LOVE Y'ALL'S NEW HEADSHOTS, BY THE WAY.
BUT WE DO THOSE, AND I THINK EACH OF YOU WOULD AGREE IS YOU GET INTERESTING QUESTIONS AND EVERY LUNCH, THE GROUP WANTS TO KNOW ONE SECRET THAT THEY PROMISED THEY WILL NOT TELL ANYONE AND YOU ALL ARE VERY GOOD AT KEEPING SECRETS.
BUT THEY ARE A WONDERFUL PROGRAM THAT WE SHARE WITH THAT.
ANOTHER GREAT PROGRAM THAT WE DO WITHIN THE CHAMBER IS OUR WASHINGTON DC FLY-IN.
WE JUST WENT IN THE SPRING, AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR CURRENT MEMBER OF CONGRESS, CONGRESSMAN MICHAEL BURGESS, WHO HAS BEEN IN THAT SEAT FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS IS RETIRING.
HE HOSTED A GROUP OF BUSINESS LEADERS IN WASHINGTON.
THE FLY-IN WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO TRAVEL TO DC TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR BUSINESS INTERESTS.
PARTICIPANTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH LAWMAKERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND POLICY EXPERTS TO DISCUSS ISSUES THAT AFFECTED THEM.
SINCE IT WAS THE LAST ONE THAT CONGRESSMAN BURGESS DID, IT WAS ONE TO BE REMEMBERED, AND I KNOW ALL OF OUR LEADERS THAT WENT ON THAT TRULY ENJOYED THAT.
WE DO THE WASHINGTON DC FLY-IN ON THE OPPOSITE YEARS OF WHEN WE HAVE DENTON COUNTY DAYS, WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION.
WE WILL BE DOING THAT IN THE SPRING OF 2025.
THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE DENTON COUNTY DAY PROCESS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO FLOWER MOUND IN SEVERAL WAYS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BY HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ATTRACTIONS, THE CHAMBER HELPS ATTRACT INVESTMENT AND TOURISM TO OUR AREA.
THE EVENT PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS TO CONNECT WITH STATE OFFICIALS, FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS THAT CAN LEAD TO FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.
THEN COMMUNITY VISIBILITY, THE PARTICIPATION OF THE CHAMBER RAISES THE PROFILE OF FLOWER MOUND, SHOWCASING ITS STRENGTHS AND POTENTIAL TO A WIDER AUDIENCE.
WE JUST THIS AFTERNOON WITH DENTON COUNTY AND ALL OF THE CHAMBERS IN DENTON COUNTY HAD OUR FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT DENTON COUNTY DAYS.
THAT WILL BE THE FIRST WEEK IN APRIL, AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU ALL CAN JOIN US FOR THAT.
ANOTHER REALLY GREAT PROGRAM THAT WE DO AS A PART OF THE MOU WITH THE TOWN OF FLOWER MOUND IS OUR SHOP LOCAL PROGRAM.
IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO BECAUSE WE ALL LOVE TO SHOP ONLINE.
BUT BOY, DO WE LOVE KEEPING ALL OF THOSE TAX DOLLARS HERE? WE'VE STARTED A SHOP LOCAL PROGRAM AND I LOVE THIS INCREDIBLE LOGO THAT WE HAVE.
SHOP LOCAL FLOWER MOUND IS AN EXCITING INITIATIVE FORMED THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF THE TOWN OF FLOWER MOUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM
[01:20:01]
AND THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.OUR MISSION WITH THIS PROGRAM IS TO BOOST THE VITALITY OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY WHILE FOSTERING A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
BY ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, WE AIM TO CREATE LASTING ECONOMIC BENEFITS, PROMOTE UNIQUE SHOPPING EXPERIENCES, AND BUILD A CONNECTION WITHIN OUR TOWN.
IT IS GOING TO START, OUR SHOP LOCAL PROGRAM.
IT WILL BE THE FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER, STARTING FRIDAY, NOVEMBER THE 1,ST GOING THROUGH NOVEMBER THE 7TH.
WE HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF THE MARKETING THROUGH THAT.
WE'RE DOING THAT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, FACEBOOK, AND INSTAGRAM.
ALSO VIA E-MAIL, BOTH THE TOWN AND THE CHAMBER ARE SENDING OUT TO ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES IN TOWN.
TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THE SHOP LOCAL PROGRAM AND HOW TO PARTICIPATE.
WE WILL ALSO BE DOING AN ARTICLE OUT OR IT JUST CAME OUT IN OUR TOWN LIFE MAGAZINE, TALKING ABOUT THE SHOP LOCAL PROGRAM AND STAY TUNED NEXT WEEK.
OUR BANNERS ARE GOING TO GO UP AT THE MAJOR INTERSECTIONS.
THIS IS JUST A GREAT THING FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SHOP LOCAL PROGRAM.
THIS REALLY IS A NATIONWIDE PROGRAM TOO, BUT WE HAVE REALLY DIALED IT DOWN INTO SHOPPING LOCAL IN FLOWER MOUND.
BUT AS WE'RE ABOUT TO ENTER THE SEASON OF SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS, THIS IS A GREAT THING.
LAST YEAR, WE HIT ALL THE NEW BUSINESSES AND ALL THE BUSINESSES AND THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK, WE WILL BE GOING OUT AND THESE DECALS WILL BE GOING ON BUSINESSES DOORS AND WINDOWS TO JUST REALLY AGAIN, DIAL BACK INTO OUR RESIDENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOPPING LOCAL.
THIS IS THE SHOP LOCAL WEBSITE, WWW.SHOPLOCALFM.COM, AND WHAT WE ARE TELLING ALL OF THOSE BUSINESSES IS TO GO INTO THIS WEBSITE AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU PUT YOUR BUSINESS IN, AND THIS JUST GIVES YOU A LITTLE JUST A FEW THAT ARE IN THERE.
THERE ARE FIVE CATEGORIES, SHOP, DINE, PLAY, HOME, AND HEALTH.
WE FEEL LIKE EVERY BUSINESS CAN PICK ONE OF THOSE AREAS THAT THEY WANT TO PUT THEIR PROGRAM IN.
NOW, THIS WEBSITE IS CONSTANTLY UP AND PEOPLE CAN PUT IN DEALS AND VARIOUS THINGS, BUT WE REALLY DIAL IN ON THE DEALS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER, AND SO A MEMBER CAN GO IN AND THERE'S RAZZ ORTHODONTICS.
THEY'VE ALREADY DONE THEIRS FOR THIS TIME.
YOU CAN GET A $250 OFF OF YOUR COMPREHENSIVE BRACES OR ALIGNERS IF YOU START YOUR TREATMENTS WITHIN THIS YEAR.
THEN THE CLICK THERE WE'LL TAKE YOU STRAIGHT TO THE ORTHODONTICS WEBSITE.
THAT'S A REALLY GREAT BENEFIT FOR THE BUSINESSES.
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PUT IN, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE FROM JET'S PIZZA, BUY ONE SMALL PIZZA, GET ONE PIZZA FOR FREE, AND THAT WILL AS YOU CAN TELL, THEY'VE DONE JUST THAT OFFER JUST FOR THE SHOP LOCAL WEEK.
THIS IS THE INTERESTING PART OF THE SHOP LOCAL.
AGAIN, ANYONE LISTENING AT HOME AND WE ARE SENDING THIS OUT, WE ARE GOING TO DO A CALL TO ACTION OF OUR RESIDENTS DURING THE SHOP LOCAL WEEK, WHICH IS THE FIRST THROUGH THE SEVENTH AGAIN.
THE FIRST IS FRIDAY AND THAT'S GOING TO BE FASHION FRIDAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A HUGE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
WE WILL ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES TO CHECK IN AT THEIR FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK THEM TO TAKE PICTURES AND TO POST IT USING THE HASHTAG SHOP LOCAL FM HASHTAG, EACH DAY AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WILL TAKE ALL OF THOSE HASHTAGS THAT WE SEE FOR THE DAY, AND WE WILL DRAW A WINNER AND IT'S FOR $100 CASH.
YOU CAN SEE HOW TO PLAY EACH DAY, TAKE A PICK AT A LOCAL BUSINESS, CHECK IN AT THE BUSINESS, POST YOUR PHOTO, AND USE THE HASHTAG SHOP LOCAL.
THEN FOLLOW THE OUR SHOP LOCAL FACEBOOK PAGE EACH DAY THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE POST.
JUST TO RECAP THE REST OF THE WEEK, SATURDAY, DIY, DO IT YOURSELF SATURDAYS.
CHECK IN AT YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO DO HOME IMPROVEMENTS, LOWE'S HOBBY LOBBY, YOUR LOCAL NURSERY.
[01:25:01]
SELFIE SUNDAYS.THIS IS JUST YOUR DAY TO POST WHERE YOU'RE HANGING OUT IN FLOWER MOUND, AND WE REALLY ARE HOPING THAT'S IN OUR PARKS.
WE'RE HOPING THAT'S AT OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP.
WE REALLY THINK THAT THAT WILL BE A GREAT ONE AS WELL.
CHECK IN AT YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO HAVE FUN, THE GYM, WALKING, PLAYING GOLF.
TASTY TUESDAY, CHECK IN AT YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT.
WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY, CHECK IN FOR YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX.
THAT COULD BE SPA OR A NAIL SALON OR JUST HAVING DRINKS OR DINNER WITH FRIENDS.
>> WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO GRAB A DRINK, SONG VERSE, ANY OF OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND BARS.
I WILL TELL YOU ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS IS THE BUSINESSES GET INTO IT TOO, AND OUR MEMBERSHIP, PEOPLE THAT JOINED THE CHAMBER IN NOVEMBER REALLY GOES WAY WAY UP BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S BEING A PART OF THIS AND PLAYING SO IT IS JUST A LOT OF FUN.
>> IS THAT SPECIFICALLY FACEBOOK OR IS THAT ON ANY SOCIAL? CAN YOU DO IT ON?
WE ARE HOPING. CAN EVERYBODY SAYS, WE WILL POST AND WE WILL TAG, AND WE WILL HASHTAG? YES. I LOVE THAT.
ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP THAT WE DO AS PART OF OUR MOU WITH THE TOWN ARE OUR QUARTERLY BUSINESS WORKSHOPS.
THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER IS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING LOCAL BUSINESSES THROUGH CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
TO THAT END, WE HOST QUARTERLY BUSINESS WORKSHOPS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE INTERESTS AND THE NEEDS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
TWO OF THEM THAT WE HAVE DONE.
THE THIRD ONE THERE IS NEXT WEEK AND THEN WE HAVE ONE IN DECEMBER.
I WILL TELL YOU THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT BUSINESSES WANT TO KNOW, THAT THING THAT WE HOLD IN OUR HAND ALL DAY LONG OR THIS THING THAT WE WORK ON, IF WE KNEW HOW TO USE IT PROPERLY, OUR JOB WOULD BE SO EASY.
WE HAVE HAD A PACKED HOUSE HERE AT TOWN HALL FOR THOSE.
WE DO IT 9-11, BUT I AM NOT KIDDING.
I THINK THAT IF WE JUST SAID NINE TO WHENEVER, THEY WOULD STAY THROUGH LUNCH THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WE HAVE TO CUT IT OFF BECAUSE THE QUESTIONS ARE REALLY GREAT.
THANKS TO THE EXPERTS AND OUR PARTNERS AT MURRAY MEDIA THAT HELP US PUT THOSE ON, THEY HAVE THE TALENT AT THEIR TEAM IS REALLY GREAT.
WE TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME TO THESE TWOS BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY'RE OVERWHELMING.
WE SAID, WE HOPE YOU WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF NUGGETS OUT OF IT THAT YOU CAN APPLY TODAY INTO YOUR BUSINESS THAT WILL GET YOU SEEN AND GET YOU NOTICED.
THE FOURTH, THE ONE THAT I MENTIONED THAT WILL BE IN DECEMBER, WE HAVEN'T DONE THE INVITATION FOR THAT YET, BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE THE POWER OF INFLUENCING.
TEN YEARS AGO, INFLUENCERS, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS, BUT BUSINESSES ARE USING LOCAL AND AREA INFLUENCERS TO HELP THEM PROMOTE THEIR PRODUCTS, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO DRILL DOWN INTO WHAT THAT REALLY LOOKS LIKE FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND HOW THAT COULD BE SUCCESSFUL FOR YOU.
THESE WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE TAILORED TOPICS.
WE ACTIVELY SEEK FEEDBACK FROM OUR BUSINESS OWNERS TO IDENTIFY THE TOPICS THAT THEY WANT TO LEARN ABOUT, ENSURING THAT THOSE WORKSHOPS ARE BUSINESS, AND IT IS SOCIAL MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT IS THE ONE THAT WE HAVE. AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT OUR EXPERT TRAINERS.
EACH BUSINESS WORKSHOP FEATURES SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WHO BRING VALUABLE INSIGHTS AND PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE TO THE TABLE.
THESE EXPERTS ARE SELECTED BASED ON THEIR CREDENTIALS AND EXPERIENCE, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS, PROVIDING ATTENDEES WITH HIGH QUALITY TRAINING.
OTHER REALLY GREAT PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IS OUR BUSINESS DIRECTORY THAT IS ONLINE WITH OUR CHAMBER WEBSITE, THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE IT THERE, BUT IT'S ALSO ON THE TOWN.
I'M JUST GOING TO CLICK ON THIS. I HOPE IT WILL COME ON.
THIS WILL JUST SHOW YOU WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE. IT'S A REALLY COOL.
THE NUMBERS IDENTIFY OUR DIFFERENT SHOPPING AREAS IN TOWN, AND THEN WE DRILL DOWN INTO WHAT BUSINESSES ARE THERE.
IN THE TOWN AND SO IT'S A REALLY COOL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WITH THAT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT USES THAT.
CERTAINLY WHEN THEY'RE OUT ON THE RECRUITING FOR BUSINESSES TO COME HERE.
[01:30:02]
THE CHAMBER DID A RELAUNCH OF OUR LOGO AND AT THAT TIME, WE LOGOED EVERY EVENT THAT WE DO.I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL JUST A FEW.
THIS IS NOT ALL OF THE PROGRAMS, BUT WE DO, BUT I JUST THREW UP A FEW ON THERE AND YOU SEE THE GOVERNMENT 12 AND 12.
WE HAVE SPECIFIC LOGOS FOR EACH OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE RUN THROUGH THE CHAMBER.
OUR CHAMBER, WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN, AND THIS IS WHAT WE FOLLOW IN OUR BOARD MEETINGS, AND IT IS CATEGORIZED INTO THREE SECTIONS.
BEFORE WE LEAVE TODAY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE AWARE OF ALL OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS. OUR FIRST GOAL IS UNDER LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE.
WHAT FALLS UNDER THAT IS OUR ACCREDITATION, OUR GREAT AWARDS LUNCHEON.
WE DO THAT EVERY FEBRUARY, WHERE WE DO OUR BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, LARGE BUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESS, OUR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR, OUR VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR, AMBASADOR OF THE YEAR.
WE HAVE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT REPRESENT A CROSS SECTION OF ALL OF OUR BUSINESS ENTITIES IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE BOARD MADE UP OF A PAST CHAIRMAN, A CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, A VICE CHAIRMAN, A TREASURER, A SECRETARY AND TWO MEMBERS AT LARGE.
WE FOLLOW A SET OF BYLAWS AND POLICY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE THAT WE RUN OUR ORGANIZATION BY.
WE TALKED ABOUT DENTON COUNTY DAYS, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF YOU HERE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE INFORMATION, WHETHER IT'S ON THEIR GAS BILLS, WHETHER IT IS ON DURING THE ERC FUNDING.
NO TIME WAS IT MORE THAN COVID? WE HATE SAYING THAT WORD, BUT THE CHAMBER WAS INTRICAL AND DRILLING ALL OF THE INFORMATION DOWN AND THEN GETTING THAT OUT TO THE BUSINESSES.
ONE THING I'M VERY PROUD OF, WE PARTNERED WITH DENTON COUNTY DURING THAT TIME, AND WE DID AN OPEN FOR BUSINESS GRANT AND WHAT THE COUNTY SAID WAS THEY BASED OUR NUMBERS OFF OF POPULATION.
BUT OUR TEAM AT THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER CALLED EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS IN THIS TOWN.
WE BECAME EXPERTS AT THAT PROGRAM TO OPEN FOR BUSINESS GRANT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE COMMUNITY IN DENTON COUNTY GOT THE MOST MONEY FROM DENTON COUNTY FOR BUSINESSES WITH FLOWER MOUND, TEXAS, AND THAT IS A CREDIT TO JUST THE RESILIENCE OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE AT THE CHAMBER.
WE HAVE A LEADERSHIP FLOWER MOUND CLASS AND A JUNIOR LEADERSHIP CLASS.
I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN PART, AND COUNCIL MEMBER WARNER IS PART OF IT THIS YEAR.
WHERE THE FIRST COUPLE OF HOURS RUNS ON THE CALENDAR SCHOOL YEAR.
THE FIRST COUPLE OF HOURS IS REALLY INTENSE LEADERSHIP TRAINING BECAUSE WE ALL AS LEADERS, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO IMPROVE ON OUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
WE DO A COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WE DO A TOWN GOVERNMENT.
WE JUST HAD TOWN GOVERNMENT LAST WEEK.
WE DO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, WE DO EDUCATION, WE DO EMERGENCY SERVICES.
IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND THAT CLASS WILL GRADUATE IN MAY.
BUT THE JUNIOR LEADERSHIP CLASS.
WE ARE IN OUR THIRD YEAR AND THIS IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE TOWN OF FLOWER MOUND AND LISD AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 40 JUNIORS AND SENIORS FROM FLOWER MOUND HIGH SCHOOL AND FLOWER MOUND MARCUS HIGH SCHOOL THAT PARTICIPATE IN A CONDENSED DIVERSION OF OUR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.
IT'S TWO HOURS A DAY, IT'S AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY.
ANYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE FAITH IN OUR FUTURE, THEY NEED TO COME AND BE A PART OF THIS JUST WITH THESE 40 KIDS.
THESE ARE SHARP KIDS, AND THEY ARE LEARNING SOME INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP SKILLS FROM NETWORKING SKILLS.
THEY ARE IN OUR BUSINESSES AND LEARNING ABOUT LOGISTICS AND LEARNING ABOUT THEY WERE AT TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL AND LEARNING ABOUT NURSING AND THE PHARMACY PROGRAM THROUGH THE HOSPITAL.
I WISH THAT EVERY CHILD IN THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS COULD BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM.
PROFESSIONAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT.
THAT IS WHERE WE GO AND LEARN.
[01:35:02]
WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESSES.WE ARE PART OF THE NORTH TEXAS CHAMBER EXECUTIVE GROUP, PART OF THE US CHAMBER.
WE DO GREAT STAFF DEVELOPMENT TO LEARN FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
OF COURSE, WE TALKED ABOUT THE WASHINGTON DC FLY IN.
OUR SECOND GOAL IS OUR VALUE IN BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS.
THAT'S TO BUILD STRONG PARTNERSHIPS THE RELEVANT OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE.
THOSE ARE OUR HOSPITALITY ARMS. THEY ARE PART OF OUR RIBBON CUTTINGS FOR ALL OF OUR NEW BUSINESSES.
MANY OF YOU ALL ARE THERE WELCOMING THOSE BUSINESSES.
I WILL TELL YOU ALL NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO THAT BUSINESS OWNER THAN TO SEE OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE AND OUR MAYOR THERE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR OUR BUSINESSES BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT.
THEY HAVE PUT THEIR EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE INTO THIS BUSINESS AND SO THAT'S GREAT.
WE TALKED ABOUT OUR BUSINESS WORKSHOPS.
WE HAVE A GREAT EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
WE PARTNER AGAIN ON WITH THE JUNIOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.
EVERY MONTH, WE HONOR A TEACHER OF THE MONTH, A SCHOOL OF THE MONTH, AND A STUDENT OF THE MONTH, AND THAT IS GREAT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT 12 AND 12.
WE DO LEEDS NETWORKING COMMITTEE MEETINGS, THE SECOND AND THE FOURTH TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH.
WE DO IT RIGHT UP THE STREET AT THE KELLER WILLIAMS. BUSINESSES GET TO COME IN, GIVE A 32ND COMMERCIAL AND COLLABORATE AND NETWORK WITH EACH OTHER AND IT'S GREAT.
WE DO MONTHLY LUNCHEONS EVERY MONTH, FOUR OF THOSE MONTHS ARE JOINT LUNCHEONS THAT WE PARTNER WITH THE LOUISVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE HIGHLAND VILLAGE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.
IN FEBRUARY, WE DO OUR ANNUAL STATE OF THE CITIES, AND THAT IS WHERE OUR THREE MAYORS FROM OUR THREE COMMUNITIES GIVE A STATE OF THE CITY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.
IN JULY, WE DO OUR UNITIES AND COMMUNITIES.
WE HAD 47 NONPROFITS THAT WERE PART OF OUR UNITY AND COMMUNITY PROGRAM.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY IN THIS AREA, AND THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE.
OUR SEPTEMBER JOINT LUNCHEON IS OUR STATE OF EDUCATION, WHERE DOCTOR RAP FILLS US IN ON WHAT IS HAPPENING AS PART OF THE STATE OF EDUCATION AND SHE IS A ROCK STAR IN HER OWN RIGHT, AND EVERYONE LOVES THAT ONE.
THEN WE END THE YEAR OUT IN DECEMBER AND WE DO A HOLIDAY LUNCHEON AND COMING TOGETHER AND BEING GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AGAIN, WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE TOWN OF FLOWER MOUND AND CITY OF HIGHLAND VILLAGE, DENTON COUNTY, OUR STATE AND OUR FEDERAL ENTITIES, RIBBON CUTTINGS.
THEN THE FINAL THING, WE DO OUR SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS, BUT SCORE FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR.
SCORE IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.
IT STANDS FOR SENIOR CORP OF RETIRED EXECUTIVES.
EVERY THURSDAY, OUR FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER HOSTS PEOPLE COME IN FOR ONE HOUR TO GET BUSINESS COUNSELING.
I WILL TELL YOU, IT IS INCREDIBLE.
I POPPED IN ONE AND ONE OF THE RESTAURANTS WAS JUST WITH SCORE GOING OVER SOME NEW IDEAS FOR WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO PUT ON THEIR MENU.
FAR AND IN BETWEEN OF ALL THE THINGS THAT THE SCORE GROUP DOES.
THEN OUR FINAL GOAL IS OUR GROWTH AND STEWARDSHIP PROSPERITY.
THIS IS TO USE VISIONARY STEWARDSHIP OF THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBERS ASSETS, BOTH FINANCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
WE HELD OUR CLAY SHOOT IN SEPTEMBER. IT WAS REALLY EXCITING.
WE DID THAT AT NORTH LAKE SHOOTING RANGE AND IF YOU ALL DON'T KNOW, IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY.
ONE OF THE OWNERS, VINCENT HANCOCK, HE WON THE GOLD AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS IN SKEET SHOOTING, AND SO HE WAS THE HIT OF THE CLAY SHOT.
THAT'S THAT LITTLE EVENT THAT WE HAVE GOING ON ON ON SATURDAY NIGHT, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE THERE TO JOIN US.
A SOLD OUT EVENT OF 600 PEOPLE.
IT IS WONDERFUL. WE DO A GOLF CLASSIC.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE MEMBERSHIP UNDER THAT OUR MARKETING PIECE, WHICH IS OUR BUSINESS DIRECTORY, OUR ENS, AND ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT BUSINESS DIRECTORY, AND THEN THE SHOP LOCAL THAT IS UNDER THAT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE TOWN OF FLOWER MOUND ON BEHALF OF THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO ALL AND TO THE TOWN FOR YOUR UNWAVERING PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR SUPPORT.
YOUR COLLABORATION HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN FOSTERING GROWTH AND INNOVATION AND A THRIVING COMMUNITY.
TOGETHER, WE ARE MAKING FLOWER MOUND A PLACE WHERE BUSINESSES FLOURISH AND RESIDENTS ENJOY AN EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT,
[01:40:02]
YOUR COMMITMENT, AND YOUR CONTINUED SHARED VISION TO THE FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER.THANK YOU AND CERTAINLY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
BUT I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I AM STARTING MY 11TH YEAR AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER, BUT I HAD SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 12 YEARS PRIOR TO THAT.
I FEEL LIKE I'M THE LUCKIEST PERSON IN THIS TOWN BECAUSE I GET TO BE THE CHEERLEADER FOR THIS COMMUNITY THAT I LOVE SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL.
>> I WANTED TO SAY, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIVE STAR ACCREDITATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ADVANCING THE INTEREST OF SMALL BUSINESS AND HELPING US RETAIN BUSINESS BY CREATING A COMMUNITY TO HELP MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I THINK YOUR ENERGY AND THE TEAM'S ENERGY IS JUST AMAZING.
I JUST LOVE GETTING OUT THERE WITH YOU ALL.
YOU JUST PULL THESE BUSINESSES IN TO WANT TO BE TOGETHER AND I SEE A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES JOINING TOGETHER.
I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE THAT EVEN MORE.
I HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY JUST RECENTLY EMAIL ME AND I HAVE TO GIVE THEM YOUR INFORMATION TO GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET INVOLVED AND I'D LOVE TO SEE EVEN MORE PEOPLE GET INVOLVED WITH YOU BECAUSE ONCE THEY MEET YOU AND THE TEAM, IT'S A GREAT COLLABORATION.
>> WE LOVE WHAT WE DO. THANK YOU.
>> ARE YOU DOING THIS NEXT ONE? NO, YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS NEXT. YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS ONE.
ITEM 3 IS TAX NOTES SERIES 2024,
[K.3. Tax Notes, Series 2024 - Discussion and consideration of all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of the “Town of Flower Mound, Texas, Tax Notes, Series 2024” in the amount of $2,500,000.00, including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such tax notes.]
DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF ALL MATTERS INCIDENT AND RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE TOWN OF FLOWER MOUND, TEXAS TAX NOTES SERIES 2024.IN THE AMOUNT OF 2.5 MILLION, INCLUDING THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH TAX NOTES.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR NEXT SPEAKER, BUT I ALSO WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS JUST A LITTLE HEADS UP ON THIS.
THIS IS PART OF OUR NEW FINANCIAL STRATEGY.
THESE TAX NOTES IS THE CHEAPEST SHORTEST DEBT THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY ISSUE.
WHENEVER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING ANY ISSUE DEBT, THIS IS YOUR GOLD STANDARD.
WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS BY HAVING AN AMAZING BOND RATING, THE HIGHEST THAT'S POSSIBLE.
THIS IS PART OF THIS NEW FINANCIAL STRATEGY.
ANOTHER THING THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE WAS THE REFUNDING THAT WE DID THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.
THIS WILL HOLD OUR INS RATE FLAT, AND IF WE DO MOVE FORWARD WITH A BOND ELECTION, THIS WILL LET US DO THAT WITHOUT INCREASING THE TOTAL TAX RATE.
COUNSEL, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE JOHN MARTIN.
HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU THE DETAILS ON THIS.
>> EVENING COUNSEL, JOHN MARTIN WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES.
ALSO, TONIGHT IS MICHAEL MARTIN AND THEN BOB DRANSFEL WITH NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT, AND THE WINNING BIDDER, BRECK BRON FROM TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, HAS JOINED US TONIGHT, TOO, TO BE INVOLVED.
THE PROCESS WAS, AS YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET, THE MEMO THAT WAS WRITTEN, THAT WE ACCEPTED INDICATIONS FROM A VARIETY OF BANKS THAT LIKE TO BUY SHORT-TERM DEBT FROM HIGH-RATED TEXAS CITIES.
WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE GOT SOME GREAT BIDS IN FROM FOUR BANKS, WEBSTER BANK, AMG BANK, JP MORGAN CHASE, AND TEXAS CAPITAL BANK.
TEXAS CAPITAL GAVE US THE BEST INDICATION, SO WE NEGOTIATED WITH THEM WITH A RATE OF 4.09%.
REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE INVERTED YIELD CURVE WORLD THAT WE'RE LIVING IN TODAY WHERE SHORT-TERM RATES ARE ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN LONG-TERM RATES. IT'S KIND OF WEIRD.
BUT, AS JOHN SAID, WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS VERY QUICKLY.
IT'S A STRATEGIC MOVE, SOME PROJECTS WHILE KEEPING THE TAX RATE THE SAME, AND IT'S ONLY ABOUT AN 18-MONTH ISSUANCE.
ONE IMPORTANT ASPECT IS THAT THE NOTES ARE CALLABLE ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2025.
IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, WE'LL PAY THEM ALL OFF AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
THAT FIRST MATURE TWO MILLION THAT'LL BE DUE AND THEN ANOTHER 500,000 AND WE'LL JUST CALL IN RIGHT AT THE TAIL END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS.
AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO PUT ALMOST 2.5 MILLION AFTER YOUR COST EFFICIENCY IN
[01:45:05]
THE BANK FOR SOME GREAT PROJECTS THAT ARE SHORT-TERM TYPE MAINTENANCE, ONGOING TYPE PROJECTS, RATHER THAN THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO DO THAT, KEEPS IT OUT OF YOUR M&O OR GENERAL FUND SIDE FOR ONGOING NEEDS.>> ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? EVERYONE IS GOOD.
YEAH. WE COVERED THIS SO MANY TIMES, I THINK IN ALL OUR MEETINGS.
>> JOHN, CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN ONCE AGAIN WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE ON THIS SHORT-TERM DEBT THIS YEAR AND HOW THAT SETS US UP FOR THE FUTURE?
>> YES. BY ISSUING THE SHORT-TERM DEBT, IT ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN OUR INS RATES AND TO NOT LOSE GROUND ON IT.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST FLEXIBLE DEBT THAT WE HAVE, AND WE CAN ALSO CALL IT.
AS JOHN MENTIONED EARLIER, BEING ABLE TO CALL IT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT MEANS WE CAN CUT OFF THE INTEREST, BUT ALSO STOP IT FROM EXTENDING IN THE NEXT YEAR.
BUT THIS SETS US UP REALLY NICELY THAT IF YOU CALL AN ELECTION FOR GO BONDS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE ENTIRE COST OF THAT WITHOUT CHANGING YOUR TOTAL TAX RATE THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
>> I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF REGULAR ITEM K3 IS PRESENTED.
>> OKAY. CAN YOU TAKE THE ROLL?
>> DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CHISTE?
>> OKAY. ITEM K3 PASSES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
[K.4. Light fixtures - Gerault Park - Consider approval of the purchase and installation of new LED light fixtures for the Gerault Park, located at 1116 Gerault Rd - LED Lighting Retrofit project, from Musco Sports Lighting, LLC, through the Texas Local Government Purchasing Cooperative, in the amount of $1,126,321.00]
LIGHT FIXTURES IN GERAULT PARK. OKAY.>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, CHUCK JENNINGS PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS ITEM TONIGHT.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE TWO COMMA RULES.
WE GOT IT ON HERE AS A REGULAR ITEM, YOU'VE HEARD ME BEFORE TALK ABOUT BAKERSFIELD PARK.
WE'VE DONE GERAULT PARK, AND WE'VE CONVERTED OUR TENNIS COURTS AS WELL TO LED LIGHTS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LAST ONE WE'LL HAVE FOR A WHILE BECAUSE THE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT DON'T HAVE THESE IN YET HAVE THE MOST LATEST BEFORE LED TYPE LIGHTS.
THEY'RE THE GREEN ONES AND THE WARRANTY AND ALL THAT DOESN'T EXPIRE UNTIL 2031.
WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE BREAK BEFORE WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK AND UPDATE THOSE.
BUT THIS IS FOR GERAULT PARK AND THIS PARK WAS PUT IN IN 1998, SO THESE LIGHTS ARE GOING ON 26 YEARS, THESE FIXTURES AND THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'RE USING WHAT WAS BACK 26 YEARS AGO.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO HERE IS WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE ALL THE PARKING LOT LIGHTS WITH LED FIXTURES.
THAT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID AT BAKERSFIELD, IF YOU'VE DRIVEN THROUGH THERE, ALL THOSE PARKING LOT LIGHTS ARE UPDATED WITH THESE LED FIXTURES.
WE'LL BE DOING THE SAME THING AT GERAULT.
THEN WE HAVE TWO MULTIPURPOSE FIELDS AND THREE BALL FIELDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SWITCHING OVER.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE SAME POLES OR MUST-GO POLES, BUT WE'RE JUST GOING TO CHANGE OUT THE FIXTURES IN THESE.
ALL THESE ARE GOING TO DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE SPORTS THAT WE PLAY ON THESE FIELDS.
THEY'RE ALL GOING TO ALSO HAVE THE BALL TRACKING FEATURE ON THERE.
WITH THE LED LIGHTS, THEY'RE REALLY FOCUSED MORE DOWNWARD AND YOU HAVE A LOT LESS SPILL, A LOT LESS GLARE THAT WAY, BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO HAVE THESE ONES THAT PROJECT UPWARD, AND THAT HELPS YOU SO YOU DON'T LOSE TRACK OF THE BALL IF IT GETS UP OVER THE LIGHTS THAT ARE SHINING DOWN.
THE BALL TRACKING TECHNOLOGY AND IT HELPS.
AS FAR AS ENERGY AND MAINTENANCE, COSTS ARE GOING TO BE 50-85% LOWER, WHICH IS GREAT.
I MENTIONED THE SPILL, LOT LESS SPILL, LOT LESS GLARE, IF YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TODAY AND YOU LOOK OVER AT BAKERSFIELD AND COMPARE IT WHEN THE GERAULT LIGHTS ARE ON, IT'S A MAJOR DIFFERENCE.
ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THE LIGHTS AREN'T EVEN ON AT BAKERSFIELD FROM A DISTANCE.
THAT'LL BE ONE NOTICEABLE CHANGE RIGHT AWAY.
THESE HAVE A 25-YEAR WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.
IT TAKES CARE OF 100% OF OUR COSTS.
IF ANYTHING GOES OUT, EVEN LIKE CHIN CHAPEL, WE JUST GOT A CALL ABOUT A LIGHT GOING OUT AND THEY'LL COME REPLACE THEM AND FIX THEM ON THEIR DIME.
WE PAY FOR IT UP FRONT, BUT WE GET IT FOR 25 YEARS.
>> THEN THE PARKING LOT LIGHTS ARE ONLY A TEN-YEAR WARRANTY.
LET'S SEE AS FAR AS WHAT WE'RE GUARANTEED, WE'RE GUARANTEED A CONSTANT FOOT CANDLE ON THE FIELDS AND IN 30 FOOT CANDLES ON THE OUTFIELD IN MULTIPURPOSE FIELDS.
THAT'LL BE CONSTANT. I THINK I MENTIONED THAT AT SATURDAY NIGHT, THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL COMING BY THE WAY.
WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND YOU WERE UNDER THE LIGHTS THE GERAULT.
BUT ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT THIS IS AFTER THE FIREWORKS WERE OVER,
[01:50:03]
WE TRIED TO TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON YOU SAW A FEW JUST TOOK A LITTLE WHILE THEY HAD TO COOL DOWN BEFORE THEY'LL TURN BACK ON.HERE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE INSTANT ON AND OFF AS WELL.
THEN IT'LL ALSO CONTINUE TO BE PART OF THE CONTROL LINK CONTROL MONITORING SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT.
YOU CAN CALL IN FROM YOUR LAPTOP TO SCHEDULE, TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF.
YOU CAN PUT IN SCHEDULES IN CERTAIN TIMES AHEAD OF TIME.
IT'S REALLY NICE SYSTEM TO HAVE FOR STAFF TO CONTROL WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF.
AS WELL AS WE ALLOW OUR E SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS ACCESS AS WELL.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER SITE OVER AERIAL SHOWING YOU THE FIELDS THAT WE'LL BE DOING.
THE TWO MULTIPURPOSE FIELDS HERE.
WE'LL BE REPLACING THE LIGHTS HERE AND THEN THE THREE BALL FIELDS AND THE PARKING LOT.
JUST THIS PART OF THE PARKING LOT, THE CAC ALREADY HAS LED.
AS FAR AS THE BUDGET GOES, WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE CDC, WE ASKED FOR 1,000,250.
THE QUOTES CAME IN AT 1,126,000 IN SOME CHANGE, SO WE'RE UNDER BUDGET THERE.
IF WE GET APPROVED TONIGHT, WE'LL GET THE PO GONE, GET THAT ORDER, PUT IN, AND PROBABLY SOMETIME HOPEFULLY IN EARLY NOVEMBER AND WE'LL LOOK TO GET EVERYTHING HERE DELIVERED SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY AND THEN COMPLETE APRIL, MAY.
NICE THING ABOUT NMA 3 IS WHO THEY USE.
THEY DID ALL THE ONES AT BAKERSFIELD.
EVEN IF WE'VE ALREADY STARTED PRACTICES AND THINGS, THEY'LL WORK DURING THE DAY AND THEY'LL MAKE SURE IT'S PLAYABLE FOR THEM AT NIGHT.
WE'LL HAVE ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS WORKING; THEY'LL WORK ON ONE FIELD, SWITCH IT OVER, AND IT'LL BE READY THAT NIGHT.
THEY WORK WITH US, AND THERE'S REALLY NO DOWNTIME OR INCONVENIENCE WITH THE TEAMS. THAT'S ALL I GOT FOR THIS ITEM.
>> YOU SAID THERE'S A 50-85% LOWER COST.
WHAT'S THE BALLPARK SAVINGS ON THAT?
>> I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU AN ANSWER FOR THAT.
I COULDN'T. I'D BE MAKING SOMETHING.
>> IT'LL SAVE US A LOT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE REPLACING THE BULBS.
TO KEEP GOING HIGHER AND HIGHER IN PRICE AND YOU'LL GET BALLASTS THAT WILL GO OUT AS WELL.
YOU GOT TO BRING IN THE TRUCKS AND THOSE COSTS A LOT TO RENT THOSE TRUCKS.
WE'RE PAYING FOR THEM TO COME ON AND DRIVING THOSE ON THE FIELDS SOMETIMES CAN RUN THEM UP.
THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES THERE AND OF COURSE WITH ENERGY, YOU'LL SAVE A LOT BECAUSE IT'S RUNNING OFF LED, WHICH USES A LOT LESS ENERGY.
>> CHUCK, WE HAD THE WORK SESSION. I GUESS IT WAS LAST WEEK.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE ALL THE DAYS ARE MIXED UP, AND WE LEARNED ABOUT TEMPERATURE OF LIGHTS, AND THEN WE ALSO TALKED A LOT ABOUT DARK SKY COMPLIANCE.
WITH THAT BALL TRACKING TECHNOLOGY AND THE LIGHTS GOING UP, IT'S JUST LIKE LITERALLY DURING THE TIME WHEN A BALL WOULD BE HIT AND YOU NEED TO SEE IT OR IS IT ALL THE TIME?
>> NO, THEY'RE THERE, BUT THEY'RE ONLY TWO FIXTURES IT'S NOT WHOLE BUNCH.
>> OH, I SEE. OKAY. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WITH YOUR CONTROLS, YOU CAN TURN EVERYTHING OFF AT A CERTAIN TIME AT NIGHT WHEN THE PARK CLOSES OR WHATEVER.
>> YES. OR IF FOR SOME REASON, A LOT OF TIMES I'LL DRIVE BY CHIN CHAPEL ON THE WAY HOME AND I'LL SEE NO ONE THERE, AND MAYBE THEY LEFT EARLY THAT NIGHT.
I JUST GET ON THE PHONE. HEY, CAN YOU TURN ALL LIGHTS OFF AT CHIN CHAPEL? THEN TWO MINUTES LATER, THEY'RE ALL OFF, SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE THAT.
>> PIGGYBACKING ON THAT CHECK.
WE HAD THAT LENGTHY WORK SESSION, THE PARKING LOT LIGHTS SPECIFICALLY.
WE ENSURE THAT THEY ARE COMPLIANT WITH THE STANDARDS THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING JUST SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PARKING LOT?
>> IF YOU DON'T MIND. APPRECIATE THAT. THANKS.
>> THEN, CHUCK, DID WE COMPARE OTHER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL? I KNOW THIS IS A BY-BOARD.
>> THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE USE THAT WE'VE HAD.
WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS WITH THEM.
THEY'RE LEADING THE INDUSTRY IN SPORTS LIGHTING, AND I WOULD SEE NO REASON TO TRY TO GO WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
THEY HAD THE BUY BOARD CONTRACT, SO IT'S BID ON AND PRICES SEEM FAIR.
BUT I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT OTHER ONES COMPARED TO MUSCO, THEY'RE JUST LIKE I SAID, THEIR HEADS ABOVE IN MY OPINION.
>> DID THEY GIVE THAT KIND OF WARRANTY TOO THAT 25 YEARS?
>> THEY PROBABLY TRY TO MATCH IT, BUT I COULDN'T TELL YOU FOR SURE.
>> THAT IS A GREAT WARRANTY. THEY BACK IT UP.
WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH THESE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WE HAVE THE SOFTBALL FIELDS AT BAKERSFIELD.
THOSE THREE FIELDS IN CHIN CHAPEL ONLY ONES WILL HAVE LEFT TO DO.
[01:55:02]
>> THAT'S GOOD. THEY MAY HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTION, BUT I'M READY TO MAKE A MOTION.
>> MOVE TO APPROVE REGULAR ITEM K4 AS PRESENTED.
>> OKAY. TERESA, YOU WANT TO TAKE THE ROLL?
>> DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CHISTE.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY. ITEM K4 PASSES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
[K.5. SUP24-0005 - Back Nine Golf, Prairie Plaza Building 4 - Public Hearing to consider an ordinance granting Specific Use Permit No. 494 (SUP24-0005 – Back Nine Golf, Prairie Plaza Building 4) to permit an amusement and recreation (indoors) use. The property is generally located north of Cross Timbers Road and west of Long Prairie Road. (PZ recommended approval by a vote of 6 to 0 at its October 14, 2024, meeting.)]
THIS IS AN SUP 24-0005, THE BACK NINE GOLF PRAIRIE PLAZA BUILDING 4.THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE GRANTING THE SEP AND PERMIT AN AMUSEMENT PARK, AMUSEMENT AND RECREATION USE.
HERE IS THE GENERAL LOCATION FOR THE PROPERTY.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S NORTH OF CROSS TIMBERS AND WEST OF LONG PRAIRIE.
AND HERE'S A MORE DETAILED VIEW.
THE LAND USE FOR THIS PROPERTY IS OFFICE AND THE ZONING IS PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 150 WITH OFFICE USES.
WITHIN OFFICE ZONING, IT DOES REQUIRE AN SUP FOR INDOOR RECREATION.
THAT'S THE REASON THIS IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
HERE'S A VIEW OF THE OVERALL SITE PLAN.
THE AREA THAT'S BUBBLED IN RED, THIS IS THE SPECIFIC BUILDING WHERE THE USE WOULD BE LOCATED.
SO THE SUP IS SPECIFIC TO THAT BUILDING.
HERE'S SOME PHOTOS FROM THE SITE.
THIS IS LOOKING SOUTH AT THAT BUILDING, THEN LOOKING NORTH, EAST.
THIS IS LOOKING WEST ACROSS THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS 2499.
THE USE IS LIMITED TO THAT ONE BUILDING.
THERE'S MORE THAN ADEQUATE PARKING, ESPECIALLY BASED ON HOW THEY'RE PLANNING TO DEVELOP THIS SPACE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S ONLY FOUR BAYS LOCATED WITHIN THERE, BUT JUST TAKING THE GENERAL PARKING REQUIREMENT OR CALCULATION FOR INDOOR RECREATION, THERE'S STILL MORE THAN ENOUGH PARKING THERE.
THEY'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY CHANGES TO THE LANDSCAPE PLAN.
THIS WAS THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED LANDSCAPE PLAN.
THEY'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY CHANGES TO THE EXTERIOR ELEVATIONS EITHER.
AGAIN, THESE ARE THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED ELEVATIONS AND THOSE WILL STILL BE IN EFFECT AS WELL.
HOURS OF OPERATION, THEY ARE PROPOSING 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND ONSITE STAFFING IS NOT A REQUIREMENT OF THEIR BUSINESS MODEL.
THE OPERATIONS WILL BE COMPLETELY ENCLOSED IN THE BUILDING AND THERE IS NO ONSITE FOOD OR BEVERAGE SERVICE.
AGAIN, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY JUST HAVE THE FOUR BAYS, AND PEOPLE COME IN TO PLAY, AND THE APPLICANT CAN TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT, BUT THEY CAN JUST ENTER A CODE AT THE DOOR AND COME IN AND ACCESS THEIR BAY AND PLAY DURING THEIR TIME PERIOD.
THE PROPOSED SUP CONDITIONS WOULD BE ONE THAT IT'S LIMITED TO THE APPROXIMATELY 3,200 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING LABELED AS BUILDING 4 ON THE CONCEPT PLAN AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ENCLOSED IN A BUILDING COMPLETELY THAT IS TREATED ACOUSTICALLY SO THAT NOISE GENERATED BY THE ENTERPRISE IS NOT PERCEPTIBLE AT THE BOUNDING PROPERTY LINE.
THAT'S A REQUIREMENT FOR AN INDOOR RECREATION USE IN GENERAL WITHIN THE TOWN'S CODE.
AGAIN, HERE'S THAT CONCEPT PLAN OR SITE PLAN ONE MORE TIME.
THE CAPTION. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> LEXTON THIS BARELY SEEMS TO MEET THE INTENT OF INDOOR RECREATION.
HOW DID WE DETERMINE THAT THAT WAS THE CORRECT USE FOR THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS?
>> WELL, OUR DEFINITION OF RECREATION, I MEAN, IT IS A RECREATIONAL USE AND IT'S COMPLETELY ENCLOSED WITHIN THE BUILDING.
THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE A HEALTH RECREATIONAL FACILITY, AND THIS HAS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER STANDARD REQUIRES THAT SUP, SO EITHER USE COULD BE PERMITTED IN OFFICE, BUT IT WOULD REALLY BE ONE OF THOSE TWO.
I MEAN, GOLF IS A SPORT, BUT IT'S ALSO A GAME.
THEY DO ALLOW PEOPLE THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY MEMBERS TO USE THE FACILITY AS WELL.
THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS WE TRIED TO SEPARATE THOSE.
TYPICALLY, WHEN YOU HAVE A HEALTH CLUB, IT'S REALLY JUST MEMBERS.
YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMEBODY THAT GETS A FREE PASS FOR THE DAY, BUT IT'S NOT JUST, I WANT TO GO TO THE GYM TODAY.
I'LL GO AND WORK OUT TODAY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT.
IT'S MORE OF A MEMBERSHIP-BASED THING AND THIS DOES ALLOW PEOPLE TO JUST RENT THE FACILITY IF THEY WANT TO.
THAT'S WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION BETWEEN WHETHER
[02:00:02]
IT'S RECREATIONAL VERSUS TRULY A FITNESS FACILITY.>> IF THEY WERE SELLING GOLF CLUBS AND THEY HAD A PRO WHO WAS A TRAINING PROFESSIONAL AND A SIMULATOR, AND PEOPLE COULD COME IN AND TAKE A LESSON, WOULD THAT STILL QUALIFY AS AN AMUSEMENT RECREATION, OR AT THAT POINT, WOULD WE LOOK AT IT AS MORE OF A RETAIL AND THEN NOT REQUIRE THE SUP?
>> WE'D PROBABLY HAVE TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE BUILDING WAS BEING USED FOR WHAT USES BECAUSE WE WOULD TYPICALLY LOOK AT WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE BUILDING IS BEING USED FOR.
AGAIN, WE ALSO LOOK AT WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE AND SO IF IT'S CLOSED AND THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S MORE RESTRICTIVE AND THAT'S GOING TO A MAJORITY OF THE BUILDING.
WE WOULD TYPICALLY LOOK AT THAT FIRST.
I THINK IT JUST WOULD DEPEND ON HOW THEY WERE USING THE FULL SPACE.
>> I UNDERSTAND THE SUP FOR LIKE A CHUCKY CHEESE, BUT THIS HARDLY SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BOTHER ANYONE.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW WE CAME TO THAT DETERMINATION.
I APPRECIATE IT LEXTON. THANK YOU.
>> LEXTON, DOES STAFF HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT 24-HOUR OPERATION AT THIS LOCATION?
>> BASED ON THEIR DESCRIPTION OF HOW IT'S BEING USED, IT DOESN'T SEEM OVERLY CONCERNING.
IT'S NOT IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL, BUT IF IT ALL IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE BUILDING AND THEY'RE PUTTING IN THE ACOUSTICAL NOISE DAMPENING MATERIAL, THEN I THINK IT WOULD BE RELATIVELY LOW RISK ANYWAY.
I GUESS IF THERE WERE ISSUES WHERE THERE WERE LIKE PEOPLE USING IT FOR LOUD PARTIES OR SOMETHING, THEN IT COULD BECOME A CODE ENFORCEMENT OR A POLICE ISSUE AND WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THAT WAY.
BUT BASED ON JUST AS DESCRIBED, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WILL BE A PROBLEM.
>> SO THERE'S NO FOOD OR BEVERAGE THAT'S PROVIDED, BUT ARE MEMBERS ALLOWED TO BYOB?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO THE APPLICANT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCES THAT WOULD PROHIBIT ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
THEY MANAGE EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH ALCOHOL.
I'M THINKING THAT YOU COULD, BUT HONESTLY, THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT.
>> I GUESS I'M THINKING IF IT'S 247 OPERATION, AND SINCE THE STATE DOESN'T ALLOW US TO HAVE CURFEW ANYMORE, UNDER AGE PEOPLE COULD GO THERE, AND IF OTHER PATRONS ARE BRINGING THEIR OWN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, IT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY, SO TO SPEAK.
>> YEAH. DEFINITELY, YOU CAN ASK THE APPLICANT MORE ABOUT THEIR THOUGHTS ON THAT OR IF THEY HAVE ANY WAY TO PROHIBIT THAT.
IF IT WAS A CONCERN FOR THE COUNCIL, I THINK YOU COULD ADD ANOTHER CONDITION THAT ACTUALLY PROHIBITS FOOD AND BEVERAGES ON SITE OR WHETHER YOU JUST WANT TO BE FOR THE SALE OF IT OR THAT SORT OF THING.
I'M NOT SURE. BECAUSE AGAIN, WHILE IT'S NOT THEIR SPECIFIC MODEL TO SELL FOOD OR BEVERAGES, IF SOMEBODY ELSE TOOK OVER THE BUSINESS, THEY COULD, IF THERE'S NOT A SPECIFIC RESTRICTION ABOUT IT.
>> BUT IF THEY DID WANT TO SELL ALCOHOL, THEY'D HAVE TO GET A PERMIT FROM TABC. THAT'S CORRECT.
>> DO WE DO WE WANT THE APPLICANT TO COME FORWARD? YOU READY? OKAY.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL. I'M REGAN BLUTH.
I LIVE OFF OF 24 36 SOUTH VALLEY PARKWAY.
MY WIFE AND I JUST MOVED HERE ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO.
WE'RE STILL GETTING USED TO TOWN AND HEADING OVER THIS DIRECTION AS THIS GETS OPENED UP, HOPEFULLY.
I GUESS I'D OPEN UP BY SAYING NUMBER ONE, I HAVE NO DESIRE TO OWN A BAR EVER.
FOR US, WE'RE VERY CLOSE WITH THE FRANCHISES.
THIS IS A FRANCHISE, IT'S NOT OPENED NATIONALLY 33 LOCATIONS.
WE DON'T ADVERTISE IT AS I BRING YOUR OWN BEER.
THAT'S NOT ANY OF OUR ADVERTISING CASES, BUT WE DO TYPICALLY ALLOW PEOPLE TO BRING ALCOHOL IF THEY CHOOSE TO.
WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES ALONG THAT LINE AT ANY OF THE OTHER LOCATIONS SO FAR.
WE DO EMPLOY STATE OF THE ART, SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS AT ALL OF THE LOCATIONS.
IN ALL COMMON AREAS IN THE BAYS AND AT THE FRONT DOOR, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BOTH HEAR ANYTHING IN THE BAY AND TALK TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE BAY IF WE SEE ANYTHING THAT WE DON'T LIKE.
WE ARE VERY MINDFUL OF EACH LOCATION OF WHAT CAN OCCUR THERE.
AND THEN, AS I SAID, WE DO PROPOSE A 24/7 OPERATION.
WHAT THAT ALLOWS FOR US TO DO IS NUMBER ONE, ADVERTISE IT.
95% OF BUSINESSES BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 4:30 IN THE MORNING AND 11: 30 AT NIGHT.
OCCASIONALLY, SOMEONE HAS A BAD DAY,
[02:05:01]
THEY WANT TO THINK THROUGH SOMETHING, THEY GO AND THEY HIT A BUCKET OF BALLS.IT'S A REALLY SIMPLE THING THAT WAY.
WE DO LIMIT THE HOURS THAT NON MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO GO TO ANY OF OUR LOCATIONS.
TYPICALLY, THAT'S BETWEEN 7:30 OR EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND ABOUT 9:30 OR TEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
OTHER THAN THAT, IT WOULD JUST BE A MEMBER THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ENTER THERE.
THEN AS FAR AS ENTERING, EVERY INDIVIDUAL, YOU BOOK A TEA TIME LIKE YOU WOULD AT A NORMAL GOLF COURSE, YOU RECEIVE A BLUETOOTH KEY CODE IS LIKE APPLE TAP TO PAY.
YOU TAP THE DOOR UNLOCKS FOR HALF A SECOND FOR YOU AND THEN IT LOCKS RIGHT BEHIND YOU AS IT GOES.
THE LOCATION IS CONTINUOUSLY LOCKED, ALWAYS UNDER SURVEILLANCE.
>> IT SOUNDS COOL. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULDN'T WORK VERY WELL UNLESS IT'S AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS 24 HOURS A DAY FOR THE FEW WHO WANT TO GET A GAME IN, DURING AN UNUSUAL TIME, IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO ME IN THAT RESPECT.
SO IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE A WILD PARTY GOING ON.
AND YOU WOULD DEAL WITH THAT, I PRESUME?
>> YES. NO DESIRE TO RUN A CLUB OR A BAR, LIKE I SAID.
>> THE FACT THAT THERE IS THE CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE, THE WAY FOR THE TWO WAY COMMUNICATION THAT ELIMINATES ANY OF MY CONCERNS THAT I HAVE WITH IT.
>> ALL AGES ARE WELCOME TO BE MEMBERS, IS THERE A FAMILY MEMBERSHIP?
>> YEAH. TYPICALLY, WE WANT ANYBODY UNDER THE AGE OF MAYBE 16 EVIDENTLY TO HAVE AN ADULT WITH THEM, FOR THE MOST PART, WE DON'T TYPICALLY DO A FAMILY MEMBERSHIP.
THE MEMBERSHIP RANGES FROM INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN JUST GO BY THEMSELVES TO INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN BRING UP TO THREE PARTNERS AND PLAY AS A FOURSOME AND THEN CORPORATE MEMBERSHIPS FOR THAT SIDE OF THINGS, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO OFFER IT AS A BENEFIT TO THEIR EMPLOYEES OR WANTS JUST TO BUILD THE RIDE OFF SOME GOLF.
>> PROBABLY NOT TOO MANY UNDER 16 REALLY ARE GOING TO BE COMING UNLESS THEY'RE ON FOURSOME.
>> YEAH. UNLESS THEY'RE PLAYING FOURSOME.
REALLY, THIS ISN'T A TOP GOLF.
IT'S NOT A SPOT WHERE PEOPLE GO JUST TO RECREATIONALLY PLAY GOLF, 90% OF OUR CLIENTS ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE MORE SERIOUS ABOUT THE GAME AND ARE TRYING TO BETTER THEMSELVES IN IT.
>> AND MOST OF THE BAYS ARE LAID OUT WITH TWO SEATS AND A TABLE, IS THAT?
>> YEAH. THESE RENDERINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT OFF.
MOST OF THEM WILL HAVE TWO LOVE SEATS AND A TABLE.
SO IT'S AGAIN, UP TO ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE.
TYPICALLY, WE DO HAVE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS QUALIFIES.
WE DO TYPICALLY HAVE A MINI MARK LIKE A VENDING MACHINE ON SITE.
I DON'T THINK THAT QUALIFIES AS PROVIDING FOOD AND DRINK, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CLEAR. DON'T WANT TO RED.
>> IS THERE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT LEXIN? IS THAT OKAY? PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE WATER AT LEAST.
>> AT LEAST WATER OR A COLD COKE OR SOMETHING.
>> JUST FOR REFERENCE, VOLUME OVERNIGHT, HOW MANY GAMES DO YOU GUYS NORMALLY BOOK THROUGH NIGHT?
>> IT'S HARD TO TELL THE EXACT NUMBER.
SOME LOCATIONS ARE CLOSER TO LIKE A COLLEGE TOWN AND SO THEY MIGHT GET SIX OR SEVEN BOOKINGS IN A NIGHT.
I WOULD SAY AVERAGE A BOOKING EVERY OTHER NIGHT. IT'S REALLY NOT.
>> YEAH. I'M SURE IN FLOWER MOUNTAIN, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE.
>> IT WOULD BE THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN GO AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, BE LIKE, OH, THAT'S MIGHT.
>> YEAH, MAYBE REALLY IT'S MORE ABOUT MARKETING.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENT CARDS ON THIS? DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS THEY WANT TO MAKE ABOUT THIS? THEN I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS.
DOES ANYBODY WANT TO TALK FURTHER ABOUT IT OR MAKE A MOTION?
>> THAT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT IDEA, AND IT'S IN A GOOD LOCATION ON A BUSY ROAD AND IT'S IN ITS OWN BUILDING.
EVEN IF IT GETS A LITTLE ROUTY, PROBABLY WON'T BE TOO MUCH OF A PROBLEM.
>> IT'S A WAYS OFF THE ROAD TOO.
IT'S BACK. I THINK IT'S A GREAT CONCEPT, GREAT IDEA.
>> I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF REGULAR ITEM K5P AS PRESENTED.
>> OKAY. TERRY, TAKE THE ROLL.
>> DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SHESIL.
>> OKAY. ITEM K5 PASSES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
CONGRATULATIONS.WE'RE GOING TO GO TO K6,
[K.6. FM Creamery LLC Chapter 380 - Public Hearing to consider approval of a Chapter 380 Agreement with FM Creamery LLC for the economic development of Flower Mound, and authorization for the Mayor to execute same on behalf of Town.]
THE FLOWER MOUND CREAMERY LLC CHAPTER 380.THIS IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL, THE CHAPTER 380 AGREEMENT WITH THE FM CREAMERY LLC FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF FLOWER MOUND, AND AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE SAME ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN.
>> MAYOR, COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU.
[02:10:03]
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE COSTONE CREAMERY THAT IS LOCATED.LET ME PULL THAT UP ON THE HILLARD DEVELOPMENT AT 1450 LONG PRAIRIE.
AS YOU'LL REMEMBER, THIS IS A PROJECT WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF LANGUAGE FOR THE IMPACT FEES WHEN WE DID THE IMPACT FEE ADJUSTMENT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
THIS IS A BUSINESS THAT DOESN'T HAVE QUITE THE IMPACT THAT A NORMAL RESTAURANT WOULD HAVE.
SO THIS IS BASICALLY TRYING TO MAKE A FAIR STANDARD FOR THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS UNTIL WE CHANGE THOSE IMPACT FEES AGAIN.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO TYPES OF FEES.
AS FAST FOOD WITHOUT A WINDOW, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 24,000.
IF WE HAD THIS NEW FEE LANGUAGE, IT WOULD BE FAST CASUAL RESTAURANT.
SO THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE 12,799.
WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO YOU TONIGHT IS TO HAVE THEM PAY THE ENTIRE 24,521 AND THEN REBATE BACK TO THE 12,799 AS A 380 AGREEMENT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THAT DOES, BECAUSE THEY ARE PAYING IT UPFRONT, YOU BREAK EVEN YEAR ONE.
WE HAVE PUT A 380 AGREEMENT IN FRONT OF YOU THAT ACTUALLY REQUIRES THE COMPANY TO MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS AND TO BUILD OUT THE FACILITY BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GIVE THEM THAT GRANT BACK.
WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS.
>> RAY, THE INTENTION OF THE IMPACT FEES IS TO HAVE A NEW PLATTED DEVELOPMENT PAY THEIR WAY FOR THE COST OF SERVICES BEING CONNECTED, RIGHT?
>> THE INTENTION OF THE COUNCIL WAS TO COLLECT 100% OF THAT COST SO THAT RESIDENTS AREN'T BEING ASKED TO SUBSIDIZE DEVELOPMENT.
>> BUT YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY COLLECTING TOO MUCH IN THIS BECAUSE WE'RE CALLING IT A DRIVE THROUGH AND THEN [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THE LEGITIMATE TRAFFIC COUNT AND IMPACT ON THE ROADWAYS IS A LOT LESS WITH THIS TYPE OF FACILITY.
THIS IS JUST BASICALLY TRYING TO CORRECT THAT ISSUE AND WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT IN OUR NEXT IMPACT FEE DISCUSSION AS WE GET READY FOR THAT.
>> BASICALLY THE CATEGORY THAT REALLY FITS THIS BEST DOESN'T EXIST IN OUR CURRENT SCHEDULE.
>> AND IF IT DID, THIS WOULD BE THE AMOUNT WE WOULD BE LIKELY ASKING THEM TO PAY LEGITIMATELY SO THAT WE'RE STILL NOT SUBSIDIZING.
>> WE'RE NOT REALLY INCENTIVIZING EITHER.
WE'RE BASICALLY JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT OVERCHARGING THEM.
WELL, IT'S EASY TO SUPPORT THEM.
>> WELL, WE HAVE TO PUBLIC HEARING.
>> WE NEED TO OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENT CARDS ON THAT? AND AGAIN, DOES ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS? WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE. THAT I WANT TO SAY? WE'RE JUST GOING TO CLOSE THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO ALSO DELIBERATE IF YOU NEED TO DELIBERATE OR JUST MAKE A MOTION.
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM K6 AS WRITTEN.
>> I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. ITEM K6 PASSES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
[L. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS]
WE NOW HAVE ITEM L. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPOINTING MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE OUTSTANDING CITIZEN AWARD SELECTION COMMITTEE.
THIS IS JUST A COMMITTEE THAT'S GOING TO MEET PERIODICALLY JUST A FEW TIMES JUST TO DISCUSS THE APPLICATIONS OF THE OUTSTANDING CITIZEN AND EVERYBODY IS GOING TO ASSIGN SOMEBODY THAT THEY WANT ON THIS COMMITTEE IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY.
OKAY. YOU WANT TO START DOWN HERE, GAVI.
>> I'LL NOMINATE BETH SODERBERG, WHO'S ALSO ON OUR ANIMAL SERVICES BOARD.
>> I'M GOING TO NAME KEARNEY PREWITT.
>> I WILL NEED PHONE NUMBERS OR EMAILS FROM SOME OF THOSE FOLKS THAT I DON'T THINK I HAVE IN OUR DATABASE.
>> YOU'LL NEED KEARNEY TREITZ.
>> AND SOMEBODY ELSE, I THINK.
>> AND THEN THE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE WAS GOING TO BE.
[02:15:06]
>> MORGAN IS WILLING TO BE THE.
>> COULD REMEMBER HIS NAME. THAT'S ALL I NEED.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS QUICK.
[M. CLOSED MEETING]
NOW 8:15, THE TOWN COUNCIL IS CONVENING INTO CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 551, SECTION 071, 072, 074 AND 087.[N. RECONVENE]
AND THE TOWN COUNCIL IS RECONVENING INTO AN OPEN SESSION.AT THIS POINT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION.
>> I HAVE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PURCHASE PROPERTY AT 2311 ABERDEEN DRIVE AS A FUTURE SITE FOR A NEW FIRE STATION THREE AND TO NEGOTIATE FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY AND AUTHORIZATION OF TOWN MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY, TO PAY ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CLOSING IN ADDITION TO THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE PROPERTY, AND TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AT CLOSING ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN.
AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND MOTION?
I MOVE TO APPROVE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TOWN MANAGER'S CONTRACT PER DISCUSSIONS IN CLOSED SESSION.
>> TRESA, CAN YOU TAKE THE ROLL?
>> DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SHESIL?
GOOD NIGHT, FLOWER MOUND.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.