[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:29]
I NEED TO PUT MY MICROPHONE ON. WE'LL START WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS? OKAY. DOES ANYONE WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE START? OKAY. WELL, THEN WE'LL GO RIGHT INTO THE WORK SESSION.
[C. WORK SESSION ITEM ]
THE FOLLOWING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE HERE TO PROVIDE STATUS UPDATES FOR THE YEAR.THIS I LIKE THIS PART OF THE YEAR WHEN WE DO THESE UPDATES.
I ENJOY IT A LOT BECAUSE I USED TO BE ON A BOARD AND COMMISSION AND DO THESE UPDATES, SO I LIKED IT.
SO I WANT TO JUST THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO BE ON A BOARD AND COMMISSION.
I KNOW THAT IT'S VERY, VERY TIME CONSUMING, BUT IT SHOWS YOUR COMPASSION AND YOUR LOVE FOR THE TOWN AND HOW WE'RE DEVELOPING AND GROWING. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND EFFORT THIS EVENING.
AND DOES ANYBODY WANT TO SAY ANYTHING BEFORE WE GET STARTED? NO. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GET GOING. WE ARE GOING OUT OF ORDER.
WE'RE NOT GOING ALPHABETICAL LIKE WE NORMALLY DO, SO WE SORT OF MIXED IT UP.
SO FIRST IS PARKS, THERESA THOMASON. SHE'S GOING TO REPORT FOR US.
WHAT? RICK IS GOING TO JOIN ME? OH, RICK IS ALL RIGHT.
NO, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. COME ON. RICK. I'M HER BODYGUARD.
THAT HE IS. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL.
I SAID I'M THERESA THOMASON. I'M THE CHAIR FOR THE PARKS BOARD.
RICK KENYON, VICE CHAIR. AND WE ARE HERE TO GIVE YOU A PARKS BOARD UPDATE.
SO JUST A LITTLE REMINDER OF THE MAKEUP OF THE PARKS BOARD.
AND BEFORE I FORGET, BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST BOARD, IT IS THE BEST BOARD.
THE TOWN STAFF IS AMAZING AND THEY DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB, AND I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR ALL OF THE PROJECTS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T FORGET TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
OUR DUTIES. WE ADVISE THE TOWN COUNCIL ON THE POLICY MATTERS.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR CAMPS AND THAT IS RELATED TO THE CAMP PROGRAM UPDATING THE PARK REGULATIONS AND USE POLICIES AND RECOMMENDING ANY APPROVAL OF SPORTS CONTRACTS THAT COME ACROSS THE DESK AND APPROVING RENTALS THAT CHARGE FEES ON PARK PROPERTY.
I THINK WE JUST HAD ONE TWO MEETINGS AGO. YEAH.
SO THE CAVEMAN, THE TRIBE RUN IN THE FIVE K RUNS ARE EXAMPLES OF THOSE.
AND THEN WE RECOMMEND PARK NAMES TO TOWN COUNCIL.
AND OUR THREE WE USUALLY HAVE THREE PEOPLE VOLUNTEER TO MEET TOGETHER ON THAT RECOMMENDATION.
COME BACK TO PARKS BOARD AND THEN WE SEND IT YOUR WAY.
WE ASSIST WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OVERALL MASTER PLAN AND STUDIES THE PARKS RECREATION MASTER PLAN IN 26 IS COMING, AND WE JUST HAD A WORK SESSION AT OUR LAST MEETING.
ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL PARK MASTER PLANS.
WE'RE WORKING ON LEONARD AND HELEN JOHNS COMMUNITY PARK, WHICH YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO SEE MONDAY.
YES. PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO STAFF REGARDING TO THE DESIGNS OF TROTTER PARK AND POST OAK PARK ARE EXAMPLES OF THOSE, AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO STAFF AND CONSULTANTS REGARDING MODIFICATIONS.
THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WHICH LATER ON I GET TO SAY BOND, YAY! AND PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENTS. WE'D LIKE TO PROMOTE PARK USE AND PROGRAM PARTICIPATION.
THAT PICTURE TO THE RIGHT THERE EVERY YEAR AND WE NEED A NEW PICTURE, BUT IT'S MY FAVORITE ONE.
AND THAT'S THE CHRISTMAS PARADE. I'M STILL BALD, THOUGH.
WE PARTICIPATE IN RIBBON CUTTINGS AND GRAND OPENINGS.
MAYOR, YOU WERE THERE AT CANYON FALLS LAST JUNE AND WITH US AND PETERS COLONY PARK LATER THIS YEAR, VOLUNTEERS AT YOU KNOW, DOROTHY'S DASH AND ARTS FESTIVAL, INDEPENDENCE FEST.
[00:05:09]
AND CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL LAND DONATIONS OR PARK CREDIT OPTIONS.WE KIND OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE BEST FOR THE TOWN AND GIVE THAT RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL.
LAKESIDE, EAST MONARCH AND SOON EDEN RANCH ARE SOME POTENTIAL LAND DONATIONS OR PARK CREDIT OPTIONS THAT WE'VE DONE AND ARE GOING TO DO, AND THEN RECOMMENDING FEES IN LIEU OF THAT. MIGHT BE A PARK IS BETTER SERVED IN ANOTHER LOCATION THAN THE ONE THAT THEY'RE DOING, AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE CANYON FALLS VILLAGE THREE.
WE'RE TYING ALL OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER, THE STAFF AND THE BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE RESIDENTS AND WHAT THEY ARE WANTING. SO WE KIND OF CAPTURE ALL OF THAT AS WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS AND BRING THOSE TO YOU. SEE THE CIP PROJECTS IN THE WORKS OR THEY'RE RECENTLY COMPLETED GERAULT PARK AND WILKERSON PARK IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE SPORT LIGHTING, THE PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENTS AT RUSTIC TIMBERS AND NORTH SHORE PARKS, IMPROVEMENTS TO SPRING LAKE PARK, CONSTRUCTION AT PETERS COLONY, PARKER SQUARE, REPLACEMENTS AND ADDITIONS OF SOME OF THE SITE AMENITIES THERE AND THEN RICK'S FAVORITE.
I'D LOVE TO SEE US REPLACE MORE OF THOSE WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE PLEASING.
SO LOOKING AHEAD, WE HAVE KEY INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON COMPLETING THE MASTER PLAN FOR LEONARD AND HELEN JOHNS PARK AND PROVIDING INPUT DURING THE DESIGN PHASE, ATTENDING SOME CEREMONIES AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
PARK NAMING FOR NEWLY ACQUIRED PARKLAND. THE WEYBURN AND THE OAK RIDGE DEVELOPMENTS, AND THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR PETERS COLONY MEMORIAL PARK, AND THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TROTTER PARK.
WE ASSIST WITH UPDATING THE TOWN'S SYSTEM WIDE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN BY PROVIDING KIND OF THE VISION AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION FOR THAT LEADING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, REVIEWING DATA AND ASSESSMENTS, ADVISING DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTING AS A PUBLIC VOICE AND A POLICY ADVOCATE.
WE PROVIDE INPUT ON VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING UP FROM THE 2025 BOND PACKAGE.
SO YAY! I'M SORRY. THE EXPANSION AND RENOVATION DESIGN PHASE.
AND THEN LEONARD AND HELENS JOHN'S COMMUNITY PARK.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE FOR US. AWESOME.
ALL RIGHT. YEAH. A COUPLE THINGS. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOND PASSING.
I THINK. DO WE HAVE THE TENNIS SITUATION UNDER CONTROL NOW? DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TENNIS COURTS AT THE TENNIS? PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE PLEASED ON MONDAY NIGHT WHEN YOU SEE THE DESIGN THAT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GETTING TO ADDRESS TENNIS SIDE OF THINGS. I BELIEVE OUR SUPPORT LEVEL WAS EIGHT COURTS.
OKAY. AND WHEN TROTTER COMES ONLINE AND THEN AFTER YOU GUYS TAKE A LOOK AT THIS NEXT ONE, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE UP THERE, BUT CERTAINLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT A FEW MORE IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE'RE STILL GROWING.
OKAY. BUT YOU THINK THAT THAT WE'VE GOT ENOUGH COURTS THAT PROPOSE IT JOHNS PARK NOW THAT WE'RE YEAH, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PLEASED AND FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GETTING. YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT RIGHT. YEAH.
GREAT. SO THE OTHER GROUP THAT'S BEEN REACHING OUT A LOT IS THE, THE TACKLE FOOTBALL.
AND IT'S A BURGEONING TACKLE FOOTBALL LEAGUE. THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE TOWN DOESN'T HAVE ANY FACILITIES FOR THEM. I KNOW THERE'S SOME CONTRACTUAL THINGS THAT NEED TO GET WORKED OUT, BUT ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WAS PROPOSED IN THE BOND WAS A TURF FIELD.
SO OKAY, I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN ASKING I'VE BEEN ON THE PARKS BOARD FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS.
IS THAT RIGHT? I THINK IN YEAR ONE I'VE BEEN ASKING THAT WE DO THAT.
AND THE FIRST QUESTION I ASKED CHUCK TONIGHT WAS, WHEN DO WE BREAK GROUND? OKAY, THAT WAS MY QUESTION. SO IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO KIND OF PUT THAT TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE? BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IF THE CONTRACT IS GOING TO GET WORKED OUT.
SAYS YES. OKAY. IF THE CONTRACT IS GOING TO GET WORKED OUT WHEN THE CONTRACT IS WORKED OUT, MAYBE THEY CAN HAVE A FIELD READY TO GO NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT.
IT IS A TOP PRIORITY. OKAY. AND KEEP IN MIND ALSO THAT IT'S AN ALL PURPOSE FIELD SO, THE LACROSSE TEAMS WHO DON'T HAVE THAT SAME SORT OF LUXURY WILL ALSO BE IMPACTED POSITIVELY. AND ALSO THE SOCCER FIELDS WHEN THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, CANCEL GAMES.
THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE. AND MY HOPE IS, IS THAT THIS IS THE ONE THE FIRST OF MANY.
OKAY. BECAUSE THE MORE WE DO, THE BETTER IT'LL BE FOR ALL OF THE SPORTS.
MY KIDS WENT TO PRAIRIE TRAIL, AND I KNOW THERE'S THIS BIG EMPTY PARK.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE.
THAT PARK IS ACTUALLY LISTED TO BE MASTER PLANNED AGAIN.
[00:10:04]
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THAT. WELL, I KNOW WE USED TO DO BASEBALL OUT THERE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS COACHING FISA AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UPKEEP.BUT THERE'S A LOT OF POSSIBILITIES. I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR THAT TYPE OF FIELD, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT IT'S NOT A BIG SPACE.
RIGHT. IT'S A HUGE BUT IT'S FAIRLY LARGE, BUT IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND REALLY, I THINK THE BEST WAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A TURF FIELD IS TO HAVE LIGHTS.
SO YOU WANT TO GO TO A PARK WHERE THERE ARE LIGHTS SO THAT YOU CAN USE THAT.
SO THE MORE LIGHTED TURF FIELDS THAT WE GET, THE BETTER.
OKAY. I DO KIND OF LIKE HOW PRAIRIE TRAILS HAVE OPEN.
I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO JUNK IT UP WITH A BUNCH OF STRUCTURES.
I GUESS IT'S SORT OF A NEAT, WIDE OPEN AREA WHERE YOU COULD GET SOME PICKUP, SOCCER OR FOOTBALL, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS SOME IRRIGATION BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CRACKS.
AND THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH IS REALLY COMPREHENSIVE.
THERE'S A LOT OF INPUT FROM THE RESIDENTS, A LOT OF INPUT FROM EVERYBODY IN THE TOWN.
YOU FOLKS WILL BE, YOU KNOW, ASKED, THE BOARD WILL BE ASKED.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO DO A LOT OF THINGS, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY TAKE THE FEEDBACK AS IT COMES IN BEFORE WE SEND SOMETHING UP FOR YOU FOR YOUR REVIEW. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL DONE ON THE BOND. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THE BOND TOO. APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION NEXT.
CHRIS READ IS GOING TO PRESENT. HE'S THE CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN. CHRIS REED WITH THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS LONG AS THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
I'M PRETTY SURE PRETTY SURE WE'RE GOING FOR SHORTNESS HERE OR QUICKNESS.
OKAY. SO BASIC FEEDBACK FROM BASIC FEEDBACK FROM OUR YEAR IN THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE THOROUGHFARE PLANS. WE'VE HAD THREE MASTER OR THREE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH US FOR FIRST RANCH, THE MONARCH DIXON, AND THEN THE EDEN RANCH. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE WORKED ON, WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST TEN, 12 YEARS, 13 YEARS OR MAYBE IS THE SIDEWALK LINKS? SINCE WE'VE KNOCKED OUT ALL THE EASY STUFF YEARS AGO AND WE GOT INTO THE MORE DIFFICULT STUFF NOW, THE WE ASKED STAFF TO COME UP WITH A NEW SCORING MATRIX, WHICH HELPED US OUT.
AND IT'S THE SCORING MATRIX IS STILL IN PROCESS IN TERMS OF GETTING ALL THE LINKS ONTO IT.
BUT IT DID GIVE US WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE PRIORITY FOR THIS YEAR.
NEXT YEAR WE'LL HAVE A COMPLETE MATRIX OF IT.
I'M SORRY, CROSSWALKS, NOT SIDEWALKS, CROSSWALKS.
IT'S NOTHING SUPER COMPLICATED. ASSISTING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITH THE CROSSING GUARDS.
WE JUST BASICALLY GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK ON IT. IT'S MORE INFORMATIONAL FOR US. IT'S THERE'S NO VOTES FOR US TO DO ON IT RIGHT? WE JUST HELP OUT. STREET LIGHT PRIORITY, WHICH WE'VE ALSO CREATED A POLICY AROUND IT, OR WE'RE WORKING ON THE POLICY AROUND IT FOR THE TWO PLACES THAT WE WANT TO PUT THEM IN, EITHER THE RESIDENTIAL VERSUS THE ROADS. WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK THAT IN THE RESIDENTIAL PLACES, WE MIGHT NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE CONSISTENT.
AND SO THE POLICIES TO HELP US WITH THAT AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE PUTTING THEM IN WHERE WE WANT THEM TO. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? LIKE, ARE PEOPLE COMPLAINING THEY DIDN'T GET ONE OR THEY'VE HAD ONE? IT WAS IN THE MAY MEETING WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE LIGHT THAT WAS GOING IN, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE A CLEAR PATH ON HOW WE WERE GOING TO NOTIFY THE RESIDENTS THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED AND WHAT THE AFFECTED AREA WOULD BE.
[00:15:01]
SO IT ENDED UP BEING THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD VOTED ON IT AND THROUGH THE HOA AND REALLY IT I THINK IT AFFECTED THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE MOST AFFECTED BY IT NEARBY WERE SAYING THEY DIDN'T GET NOTIFICATION ON IT AND THEN THEY HAD I THINK HE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AS THEY WERE TRYING TO PUT IT IN, IS WHEN HE FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO PUT IT IN HIS FRONT YARD OR BETWEEN THE TWO HOUSES.YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT. SO TO HELP RELIEVE THAT, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S OCCURRED TO HELP RELIEVE THAT ISSUE, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO THINK OF A WAY TO DO A POLICY TO KIND OF MAKE IT CONSISTENT JUST FOR, FOR NOTIFICATION, NOTIFICATION. AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE LIGHTS A LITTLE BIT.
AND, AND WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE PUTTING LIGHTS IN THAT ARE NOT OVERBEARING TO THE HOMEOWNER.
SO IT'S NOT JUST BLASTING LIGHT INTO YOUR HOUSE.
IT NEEDS TO BE DOWNWARD ONTO THE STREET WHERE IT'S INTENDED.
AND THEN ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, WE'VE BROUGHT IT TO YOU IS WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO GO TO THE 3 K OR 4K LIGHTS.
SO THIS IS THE YELLOWISH LIGHTS VERSUS THE BRIGHT WHITE.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE LIKE THE BRIGHT LIGHT OR BRIGHT WHITE LIGHTS, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE HOUSES.
YOU WANT TO SOFTEN IT UP. SO AND THE UNDERSTANDING IS THESE LIGHTS LAST LONG ENOUGH TIME NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE LEDS, THEY EVEN THE 4K START OFF SUPER WHITE AND THEY'LL DIM DOWN AND BECOME A LITTLE MORE YELLOW OVER TIME, BUT EVEN THEN, THEY'RE STILL BRIGHT. YEAH, I'M A BIG ADVOCATE OF THE AMBER COLOR OF THE OLDER LIGHTS, SO I WOULD PREFER THAT WE TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT LOOK.
SO I'M ON BOARD WITH THAT 100%. YEAH. AND WE HAD A QUICK UPDATE ON THE DRONE DELIVERY STUFF.
SO LIKE WALMART OUT OF LEWISVILLE IS DRONE DELIVERING.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW FAR THEY'RE GOING LIKE TO OVER TO US OR NOT.
BUT YOU SEE IT, IT IS COMING. AND THEN WE HAD THE ONE COMPANY TALK ABOUT THEY WERE GOING TO DO I THINK THEY WERE DOING A, THERE WAS TALKS ABOUT A DRONE SERVICE CENTER DOWN IN LIKE THE LAKESIDE AREA.
SO YOU WOULD SEE THEM COMING IN AND OUT OF THE AREA.
SO WE JUST KIND OF TALKED ABOUT IT. WE'VE HAD A COUPLE WELL, SORRY, WE'VE HAD ONE STREET NAME CHANGE, WHICH IS KIRKPATRICK OVER ON GARDEN RIDGE NEAR VOYAGER OR TO VOYAGER.
AND THAT WAS JUST A KIND OF BECAUSE WE SAID, OKAY, NO MORE KIRKPATRICK THREE OR WHATEVER, THE BRIDGE. AND SO WE SAID, OKAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD.
THE TWO KIRKPATRICKS. YOU MEAN THE TWO KIRKPATRICKS? YEAH. WE WEREN'T GOING TO CONNECT THEM UP. SO WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND SINCE THAT PROJECT IS NOW OFF THE CIP THAT WE WERE GOING TO RENAME IT.
IT'S FOR SAFETY FIRE DEPARTMENT YOU KNOW EMS TYPE OF THINGS.
AND WE SO WE'VE KIND OF HAD A SET OF RULES AND RELY ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, TO HELP US TO MAKE SURE THOSE RULES ARE APPLIED.
SO WE DON'T LIKE THE SAME STREET CROSSING ANOTHER STREET TWICE.
BECAUSE WHICH INTERSECTION ARE YOU AT? TYPE OF THING? WE'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF CIP INPUT WHICH WE TALK ABOUT REGULARLY.
WE PUT TOGETHER A SUBCOMMITTEE TO TALK TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE, THE GOLF CART, AND THE DECISION THERE WAS THAT THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO JUST PUT A BUNCH OF ORDNANCE OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT A PROBLEM. AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GAVE US FEEDBACK THAT THE, THE, THE CURRENT LAWS, THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE AND IT GIVES THEM JUST ENOUGH.
OR THEY HAVE THE MECHANISMS TO CONTROL OR TO POLICE IT HOW THEY SEE.
SO IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE JUST LET IT BE. DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
WE'RE ASKING FOR FEEDBACK ON THE MICROMOBILITY RESULTS.
I KNOW THAT THERE WAS THE BIG CHANGE OR THE ORDINANCE THAT JUST WENT THROUGH, BUT ACTUALLY SEEING THE RESULTS, I HAVEN'T I WENT BACK AND WATCHED AS MUCH OF THE COUNCIL MEETINGS ON IT AND SO AND I, I MISSED IF THERE WAS ACTUALLY THE RESULTS PART OF IT. I KNOW THAT IT'S.
WHICH RESULTS? THE SURVEY. THE SURVEY RESULTS.
THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE. JP DO YOU KNOW IF THE THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE SOMEWHERE? IT IS ON OUR WEBSITE. BUT WE'VE ALSO TALKED AS WELL TO WE CAN COME TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION IN JUNE AND DISCUSS THOSE RESULTS AS WELL. YEAH. OKAY. SO WE'LL SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FULL JUNE MEETING THEN.
[00:20:04]
23, WE DID A TOUR. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO A TOUR OF THE DCTA.IT'S JUST TRYING TO GET THE TIME LINED UP AND US, GET A FACILITY IN THERE.
SO THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. NICE AND QUICK. ARE THEY DOING ANOTHER DCTA WORK SESSION? I KNOW I WENT TO ONE A COUPLE A FEW YEARS AGO TO UPDATE EVERYBODY ON THE DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY'RE DOING FOR CONNECTIVITY.
I DON'T KNOW OF IT RIGHT NOW. OKAY. I JUST DON'T KNOW.
AND IF THERE'S A NEWER TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC IN THE FUTURE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE DOING ANY WORK WITH THAT. FOR THE, I WANT TO SAY JUST THE ONE I NEED TO PUT IT BACK ON, MAKE IT PRETTY. OKAY. FOR THE INTELLECTS, FOR THE TRAFFIC CONTROL.
YEAH. WE'RE I THINK WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET SOME UPDATES ON THAT IN THE NEXT FEW MEETINGS.
YEAH. I'D LIKE TO CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING ACTIVE MONITORING, AND THEN WE HAVE TO ADJUST IT ON A CADENCE. BUT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE THE NEXT PHASE.
BUT WHAT ARE THE NEXT THINGS THAT GO AFTER THAT TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC? YEAH, I KNOW THAT WE THE SECTION THAT WE HAVE ALONG MORRIS AND IT'S KIND OF WE'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM IT.
AND THE IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, WE WERE KIND OF DELAYING IT TO ALLOW IT TO MATURE SOME MORE.
IT WHILE WE DID SEE SOME GAINS IN IT, I DON'T THINK IT WAS THIS LIKE PERFECT SOLUTION TO IT.
IT ACTUALLY STARTS CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE SIDE ROADS BECAUSE IT HELPS MORRIS MOVE GREAT.
AND THEN YOU GET STUCK LONGER TRYING TO GET ONTO MORRIS.
THE SEAT OF THE PANTS EXPERIENCE IS MUCH BETTER THAN IT USED TO BE, WHERE YOU'RE HITTING EVERY LIGHT RED AND PUNCH IN THE DASHBOARD AND THEN NOW YOU HIT THEM GREEN. FOR THE MOST PART, IF YOU DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT.
BUT I'M GOING TO ECHO WHAT CHRIS SAID AND SAY WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT ADAPTIVE, IT WAS LIKE 2018. WELL, IT'S 2025 AND WE HAVE AI EVERYWHERE.
AND IS THERE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TO LEVERAGE ALL THESE NEW, INCREDIBLE TECHNOLOGIES? IS THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TALKING ABOUT THAT? WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT SOME. I THINK THE ONE OF THE THINGS WAS IT MOVES REALLY SLOW IN TERMS OF THE TECHNOLOGY WHEN IT GETS ADAPTED INTO THIS TYPE OF SECTOR. RIGHT. YEAH. JUST KEEP HAVING THAT CONVERSATION.
YEAH. IT'S EASY TO SAY FROM A CORPORATE WORLD TO GO, OH, I'M GOING TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, RIGHT? YEAH. I THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT EVEN WHEN I WAS ON TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION. WE WERE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THAT. I KNOW YOU GUYS CONSTANTLY BRING IT UP, BUT YEAH, IT'S AN EXPENSE TO UPGRADE THAT TO.
BUT IT'S LIKE GET THE NUMBERS IN EVERY YEAR. YEAH.
YEAH. WELL AND I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S THINGS THAT THERE'S UH, IT'S A PRETTY BIG CHUNK OF MONEY.
EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT IT IT'S LIKE, OH WE NEED ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS. SALES GUYS HAVE NOTHING BUT TIME. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY IT. JUST MAKE THEM COME IN AND PRESENT TO YOU AND HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. LIKE, HONESTLY, LIKE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH ADAPTIVE.
WE HAD THE LADY CAME IN AND PITCHED IT AND IT WAS PRETTY GOOD.
AND THEN BY THE TIME WE BOUGHT IT, THE PRICE WENT UP, UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT YOU'RE JUST GETTING THAT SALES PERSON TO COME IN AND SHOW YOU THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, THEN YOU GUYS CAN ASK QUESTIONS WE COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, DEDICATE AN HOUR OR TWO. BUT DEFINITELY DO IT.
I REALLY LIKE I'LL GO BACK AND WATCH THAT MEETING I WANT TO SEE.
ABSOLUTELY. AND WE ARE INVESTING BECAUSE I THINK WAS IT THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR THAT WE ADDED CAMERAS ON THE SENSORS, MORE SENSORS. IT'S NOT THE ADAPTIVE PACKAGE, BUT IT'S ALL THE SENSORS THAT COULD ENABLE IT IF WE WANTED TO ADD THAT MODULE SORT OF A YEAH, WE'RE TRYING TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS TO BE UPGRADED.
ONE MORE THING, MAYOR. SO ONE THING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS ROAD COATINGS AND THE, THE TOP COAT, LIKE WITH THE ASPHALT TO TRY TO EXTEND THE LIFESPAN OF THE ROAD.
THE WE'VE GOT THE STREET CONDITION OR WHATEVER.
YEAH. THE LEVEL OF SERVICE LEVEL. YEAH. THAT'S COMING UP THIS NEXT YEAR.
[00:25:02]
IT'S NOT A LEVEL OF SERVICE. IT'S THE GRADE. RIGHT. THERE'S LIKE A SCORE. AND SO THE WE'VE GOT THAT COMING UP THIS NEXT YEAR TO START THAT PROJECT OR TO REDO THAT PROJECT.IT'S ABOUT ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS THAT WE DO IT.
AND SO SOME OF THAT COMES OUT IN THAT IN THAT SCORING.
SO I WENT TO ONE OF THOSE HTML CONFERENCES AND THERE WAS A THEY WERE PUSHING LIKE A, I DON'T KNOW, IT WAS LIKE A PLASTIC COATING OR SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE SAYING THAT THEY COULD EXTEND THE LIFESPAN OF YOUR CONCRETE. AND IF YOU CAN GET ANOTHER 5 OR 10 YEARS OUT OF IT, THE MAINTENANCE COSTS GO WAY DOWN. AND I THINK THAT THEY WERE DOING IT IN GRAPEVINE AND SOMEBODY WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT IT AND IT WAS KIND OF FALLING APART.
BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION COULD KIND OF DIG INTO THAT.
THESE TOPCOATS TO EXTEND, MAKE THEIR CONCRETE LAST A LITTLE LONGER, BECAUSE, MAN, IF THE COST OF CONCRETE REPLACING THESE ROADS IS I MEAN THAT BOND THAT PASSED. BY THE WAY, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE TRANSPORTATION BOND, EVEN A BIGGER, MORE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY THAN PARKS.
BUT IF WE CAN EXTEND THOSE THINGS OUT WITH SOME KIND OF ASPHALT COATING OR OTHER TOP COATING.
THEN WE'LL STRETCH THE DOLLARS QUITE A BIT FURTHER.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD TOPIC FOR THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TO LOOK INTO.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THIS SIDE? Y'ALL BEING QUIET TODAY.
WE ARE SO QUIET. WHY? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU CHRIS. ALL RIGHT.
SO WE HAVE ANIMAL SERVICES BOARD. NEXT PRESENTING IS BETH SODERBERG, THE CHAIR.
NOW I DO NOT HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. THAT'S OKAY.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, THE TALENT THAT YOU CHOSE LAST TIME. SO I'M GOING TO INVITE SHARON GENTRY ON UP, AND SHE'S A LEGEND IN OUR EQUINE. GET ON UP HERE, SHARON.
AND IF I'M MESSING UP YOUR TITLES, I WENT INTO YOUR FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS.
I WAS [INAUDIBLE] I STALKED YOU. SO, LORI, COME ON UP.
WE'VE GOT I MEAN, LOOK AT THE TALENT, GUYS THAT SERIOUSLY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME.
WE ALSO HAVE AMY TURNER, WHO CAN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
SO YOU JUST HAVE TO STAND UP HERE WITH ME FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER AS I WHIP THROUGH THIS.
IT'S NOT VERY LONG. I THINK I CAN BEAT TRANSPORTATION, ACTUALLY.
CHRISTINE HASTINGS AND HER TEAM CONTINUE TO RUN A FIVE STAR OPERATION.
THIS PAST YEAR WAS FILLED WITH SUCCESSFUL EVENTS SUCH AS THE EASTER EGG SCRAMBLE, DOGGY SPLASH, SCOUT TOURS AND VARIOUS FUNDRAISERS. A PARTICULAR HIGHLIGHT WAS THE SHELTER BIRTHDAY PARTY IN AUGUST, WHERE THE COMMUNITY WAS INVITED TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAYS OF ALL OF OUR SHELTERED ANIMALS, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE A FANTASTIC FAMILY EVENT.
ANOTHER INITIATIVE I WANT TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT IS THE TAILS FOR TAILS.
DOCTOR RACHEL HADIDI AND THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY, AND WE GIVE SPECIAL THANKS TO DOCTOR HADIDI, WHO CREATED THE CERTIFICATES THAT WE GAVE TO THE PARTICIPATING READERS, AND WE THANKED THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY FOR THEIR GENEROSITY.
IF YOU COULD HAVE SEEN THEIR FACES AFTER THEY READ THESE BOOKS, THE KITTENS AND THEY GOT THE CERTIFICATE, YOU WOULD JUST KNOW THAT WE HANDED THEM THE BEST GIFT EVER.
I MEAN, THEY WERE JUST SO EXCITED TO GET IT, SO IT JUST WAS HEARTWARMING.
BUT THIS PROGRAM DID MORE THAN JUST THAT. IT SHOWED THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE A COUPLE OF GOALS HERE.
IT BROUGHT FAMILIES TO BOTH THE SHELTER AND THE LIBRARY.
IT SHOWED HOW COLLABORATION CAN STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIP IS SOMETHING THIS BOARD IS EAGER TO EXPAND UPON.
[00:30:05]
TO HELP REALIZE THIS VISION, WE FORMED A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WILL PRESENT NEW RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD ON MAY 27TH.AND WE AND THEN TO YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND RECOMMENDATION SHORTLY AFTER.
SO THAT SUBCOMMITTEE I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF.
SO THESE GIRLS RIGHT HERE THE LEAD OF THAT SUBCOMMITTEE IS KELLY FURNACE.
AND THEN WE HAVE LORI APPLEBAUM ON IT AND KARINA VAN LOTT, AND THEY'VE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO DESIGN THOUGHTFUL NEW RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH I'VE NOT SEEN YET, THAT WILL HELP MOVE THIS BOARD INTO A NEW ERA.
DON'T LET ME DOWN WITH THIS, A NEW ERA. HERE WE GO.
THEIR PRESENTATION AGAIN IS ON MAY 27TH TO OUTLINE THIS VISION, AND I INVITE YOU TO TUNE IN.
AND YOUR SUPPORT MEANS A LOT. DOES THAT MEETING GOING TO BE JUST LIKE THE ACTION PLAN FOR THE YEAR? IT'S GOING TO BE, I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE I'VE NOT SEEN IT.
AND SO WE LOOK AT A RABIES REPORT AND THEN WE END A MEETING.
THAT'S IT. SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO BRING VALUE AND PURPOSE SO THAT THESE PEOPLE.
YEAH I MEAN THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO EXPAND THE BOARD AND JUST HAVE SOMETHING MORE INNOVATIVE.
YEAH. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO ATTEMPT IS TO BECOME AN ASSET AND NOT JUST, OH, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ON THE ANIMAL SERVICES BOARD NOW. YOU CAN JUMP TO ANOTHER BOARD. AND THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT IT'S BEEN. WE WANT IT TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAS PURPOSE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO STAY AND THIS TALENT. IF WE DON'T HARNESS THIS AND USE IT, IT WOULD BE A SHAME.
SO 27TH, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I WILL ALSO ASK FOR NAME BADGES AT ANOTHER TIME, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO BRING THAT. STOP ASKING FOR THOSE.
BUT SO, ADAM. HANG ON A SECOND. OKAY. THANK YOU.
YOU NEED NAME BADGES. AND YOU DON'T HAVE THEM.
WE'RE GETTING THEM. WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM NAME BADGES. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. AND I TOLD WE WERE TOLD AT ONE POINT THAT MAYBE WE WEREN'T READY FOR IT. WE WANT TO GO TO. SOMEBODY TOLD YOU WEREN'T READY FOR A NAME BADGE.
SO ANYWAY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. IS IT THE MAYOR'S? NO, NO, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. JUST DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
WE'RE GETTING WE'RE VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE. SO.
THANK YOU. SO, ADAM, I JUST WANT. IT'S NOT. I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO EVENTS THAT THE SHELTER PUTS ON, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO GO AS VOLUNTEERS OF THE SHELTER, WE WANT TO TRULY STAND OUT AS A BOARD.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO TODAY. AND WE CAN GO TO ALL THESE CHARITY EVENTS AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE EVENTS THAT THEY HOLD. WE'RE JUST ANOTHER PERSON THERE OR A VOLUNTEER, AND WE'RE NOT THE BOARD AND WE WANT TO BECOME THE BOARD.
I THINK OUR BIG STUFF IS THE 27TH. YES. AND I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM SPECIFICALLY TO CONSIDER CHANGES TO THE BOARD STRUCTURE SO THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THERE'S HIGHER ENGAGEMENT. BUT I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT THE ANIMAL SERVICES COMMISSION, THE ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, DOES SUCH INCREDIBLE WORK. I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A VERY ESTEEMED MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAD SEVEN SKUNKS LIVING UNDER HER HOUSE, AND THE ANIMAL SERVICES CAME IN AND RESCUED HER AND SAVED THE DAY.
AND SHE WAS DESPERATE. AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE WILDLIFE REMOVED OUT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
BUT OUR ANIMAL SERVICES TEAM WILL COME IN AND SAVE THE DAY.
OUR ANIMAL SERVICES AND THEY ARE TRULY GREAT.
YES THEY ARE. WE WANT TO BE A SUPPORTIVE ARM TO THEM, BUT A SEPARATE ENTITY AT THE SAME TIME.
YES, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I REALLY ENJOYED YOUR TALES TO TAILS IDEA. IT WAS WONDERFUL. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING VISIBILITY TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO IT. WE CAN DO MORE OF THAT TYPE OF.
ME TOO. WITH THESE GIRLS WE'RE GOING TO DO A LOT.
SO I WILL HAVE A POWERPOINT NEXT YEAR WITH A LOT OF.
I KNOW I WAS THERE WHEN THE CHILDREN CAME IN WITH THEIR LITTLE CERTIFICATES AT THE BOOK SALE, AND THEY WERE JUST BEAMING. THEY WERE SO PROUD OF THEMSELVES AND THE CERTIFICATES WERE ADORABLE.
THEY LOOKED SO OFFICIAL. IT WASN'T JUST, YES, THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL.
THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL. SO I THINK IT WAS A BIG SUCCESS.
IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE EXPAND.
SO ANYWAY, THANKS GUYS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE Y'ALLS NAME TAGS. DON'T BRING UP NAME TAGS.
PRESENTING FOR VETERAN'S LIAISON BOARD IS SY SIMONSON.
GOOD EVENING, SY SIMONSON. I'LL LET YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
CHARLENE MATTHEWS. THANK YOU. DREW GLASS. ALL RIGHT.
[00:35:03]
WE'LL BE AT.ALL RIGHT. WELL SINCE LAST YEAR, WE'VE GOT NINE MEMBERS NOW INSTEAD OF SIX, SO THANKS FOR THAT.
IT HELPS US SHARE SOME OF THE PAIN. SINCE LAST WE REPORTED LAST MAY WE DID MEMORIAL DAY LAST YEAR.
WE HELPED PLAN THE EVENT, AND OUR MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT COULD NOT MAKE IT, BUT A NEW VETERANS LIAISON BOARD MEMBER, RICH CROSS, WAS KEYNOTE SPEAKER. THAT WORKED OUT VERY WELL. WE DID THE FLAG RELAY, AND ONE OF THE NEW MEMBERS GAVE OPENING CLOSING REMARKS WITH THE MAYOR AS WELL.
SO THAT WAS A PRETTY GOOD. VETERANS DAY CEREMONY, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER WE HAD TO HAVE IT INSIDE AND OUR PLANNED MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT COULD NOT MAKE THAT TRIP. SO I WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THAT ONE.
SINCE THEN, IN 2004-2005, CHARLENE'S BEEN DOING A LOT OF STUFF WITH VETERANS AND RETIREMENT HOMES, AND I'LL TALK, YOU LET YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? YEAH. WE HOLD SOME VETERANS COFFEES AND TRY TO BRING THEM TOGETHER AS A GROUP AND TRY TO MAKE THEM FORM A LITTLE COMMUNITY WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. THEY MAY NOT KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SERVED. SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE TOWN TO GET SOME CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION FROM THE TOWN TO PASS OUT TO OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING, SKILLED LIVING AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES THAT THEY COULD FILL IN THE VETERAN'S NAME BRANCH OF SERVICE, HANG THAT OUTSIDE THEIR DOORS IN APPRECIATION AND A GESTURE OF GOODWILL FROM THE TOWN.
SO THAT WAS GOOD. AND THANKS FOR DOING A PROCLAMATION. EVERYTHING ON THAT. THAT WAS GREAT. UPCOMING.
WE GOT MEMORIAL DAY. WE'RE HOPING TO PLAN THAT EVENT.
WE GOT A GREAT SPEAKER CHARLENE GOT FOR US. DOUG PETERSON, HE'S A HELICOPTER PILOT FROM VIETNAM.
HE'S A TED TALK GUY, AND HE ALSO IS AN AUTHOR, SO IT'LL BE GREAT PROGRAM.
DREW'S GOING TO HELP PARTICIPATE IN THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN VETERANS POINT WILL HAVE ONE OF ITS BOOTHS, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME MILITARY MEMORABILIA OUT THERE AS WELL THAT GINGER AND I AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE DONATE FOR THAT FALL FESTIVAL THAT'S COMING UP.
DON'T KNOW THE SCOPE OF IT, BUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE CONSIDERING AS FAR AS GETTING SOME VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS THERE, MAYBE SOME STATIC DISPLAY DISPLAYS AND MAYBE GET A HOLD OF SOME RECRUITERS, MAYBE WE CAN ENLIST A COUPLE PEOPLE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
SO JUST IT ALL DEPENDS UPON WHAT THEY HAVE GOING ON.
BUT I THINK THAT'D BE A GREAT THING TO DO UP ON THE STAGE. AND THEN VETERANS DAY CEREMONY.
STILL WORKING ON THAT, TRYING TO GET DWIGHT BIRDWELL MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT, BACK DOWN TO DO THAT.
SO THE REASON THE FLAG AT VETERANS PLAZA, AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT AT THE END AS WELL. BUT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THE FLOWER MOUND AND THE MARCUS JROTC COLOR GUARDS ATTEND WITH ALL THE SERVICE FLAGS AND THEN BE PART OF THE CEREMONY AS WELL. SO WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THAT.
CHARLENE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE CERTIFICATES, BUSINESS CARD.
YOU KNOW, ALL OF US AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
AND THEN A LINK TO VETERANS POINT AS WELL. AND THEN CHALLENGE COIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH CHALLENGE COINS, AND I KNOW YOU ARE AND ADAM, YOU ARE AS WELL, BUT WE THOUGHT THAT THESE WOULD BE GOOD THINGS TO HAND OUT.
HOMETOWN HEROES, SPEAKERS AT VARIOUS VETERANS EVENTS THAT WE HAVE.
SO JUST THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX ON VARIOUS THINGS TO DO.
SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME SAMPLES. SO, VETERANS PLAZA, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ON THAT VETERANS PLAZA WE HAVE THAT YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE THE LIBRARIAN FLAGS OVER THERE.
SO WE'RE KIND OF DISCUSSING WHAT FLAGS TO HAVE THERE.
SO CURRENTLY ON THE US CODE, THIS IS PROPER. IF YOU HAVE THE STAFF THAT'S HIGHER.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN THAT THERE'S NO REAL GUIDANCE ON THAT.
LIKE I SAID, THE ONLY US CODE THERE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FLAG IN THE MIDDLE.
THE FLAG CODE FROM THE AMERICAN LEGION TALKS ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS. IF YOU GOT TWO, IF IT'S ONE FLAG OR TWO FLAGS OR ONE POLE OR TWO POLES, YOU HAVE A SMALLER POW/MIA FLAG UNDER THE AMERICAN FLAG.
WELL, WE DON'T HAVE TWO POLES. SO WHAT IF WE GOT THREE? WELL, TWO OPTIONS, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE WE WANT TO GO WITH.
[00:40:02]
THE POW ON THE LEFT AND THE STATE FLAG ON THE RIGHT.OTHER OPTION AND OTHER TOWNS HAVE DONE THIS, BUT LIKE I SAID, THERE'S NO REAL PROTOCOL WHERE YOU GO TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON IT, SO IT'S REAL CRAZY.
THE OTHER OPTION IS TO HAVE THE POW FLAG UNDER AND KEEP IT UNDER THE CURRENT DESIGN.
WHICH IS THAT JUST HAVE THE POW FLAG UNDERNEATH.
SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT. WE'LL GET WE GOT TIME TO WORK THAT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE ANY POLES OR ANYTHING. RIGHT. I WAS GOING TO SAY ONE GOOD THING IS IF THE PROTOCOL CHANGES THAT THEY'D HAVE TO BE FLIPPED.
YOU JUST PUT IT ON THE OTHER POLE. YEAH. SO IT WOULD BE EASY TO CHANGE.
WHICH ONE OF THE TWO IS BETTER AND WHAT MAKES SENSE? AND WE'RE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS ON IT. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT ONE OTHER THING. SO YOU SEE THESE LITTLE MEDALLIONS IN THE GRAY BRICK DOWN THERE? THAT'S EACH OF THE SIX SERVICE FLAGS. SO THEY'RE ALL RECOGNIZED AS WELL. SO WE'RE JUST THINKING, OKAY, WHAT ABOUT THE POW FLAG? MEANING IT'S A VETERANS PLAZA.
SO AND THAT IS THE GIST OF IT. VERY NICE. SUBJECT TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
I DIDN'T SEE INDEPENDENCE FEST AT THE ON THE LIST.
HAVE YOU EVER DONE ANYTHING FOR THAT? HAVE NOT.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN OR I KNOW IT'S A LOT, AND IT'S USUALLY VERY HOT.
YEAH, BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN CELEBRATION SO.
WE HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT THROUGH THAT, BUT WE CAN LOOK INTO SOME THINGS AS WELL.
WELL, MAYBE IT COULD BE SOMETHING CLOSER TO THE FIREWORKS TIME WHERE YOU ALL COULD COME UP ON THE STAGE OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, RIGHT BEFORE THE FIREWORKS FOR SOME RECOGNITION. AND. YEAH. YEAH.
AND I KNOW TRYING TO GET STATIC DISPLAYS, THERE'S GOING TO BE TOUGH BECAUSE THERE'S JUST A LOT OF TRAFFIC, SO IT'S A LOT I DON'T WANT TO INTERFERE WITH ALL THAT BECAUSE IT'S JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE. WE BRIEFLY TALKED IN A MEETING ABOUT HOLDING SOMETHING LIKE A SILENT FOURTH FOR THOSE WITH PTSD THAT CAN'T TAKE FIREWORKS.
I HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE EVENT FOR THEM. THAT SOUNDS WONDERFUL.
WELL, YEAH, FIREWORKS ARE A LITTLE LOUD FOR US SOMETIMES.
SURE, SURE. SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THAT'S ALL WE GOT.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE THE CULTURAL ARTS. ELIZABETH BRANNON IS THE VICE CHAIR.
NO. ELIZABETH COULDN'T MAKE IT. SHE'S HAVING SOME HEALTH ISSUES.
OH. I'M SORRY. BUT I'M RON MILLER. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION.
LET ME GET STARTED HERE. AND BEFORE I START, I WANT TO BORROW A PAGE FROM THE PARKS CHAIR AND RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE STAFF PEOPLE WHO HELP US ALL THE TIME, AND PARTICULARLY IN PUTTING THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER.
DOCTOR RACHEL HADIDI AND TRAVIS CUNNIFF AND TISH CARTER, SHE PROBABLY DOES MOST OF THE HEAVY LIFTING ON EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE. WE DO HAVE SIX REGULAR MEMBERS, TWO ALTERNATES.
WE MEET THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF THE MONTHS SHOWN.
WE HAVE PROBLEMS MEETING IN THANKSGIVING, AND CHRISTMAS SOMETIMES INTERFERES.
THEY NEED TO HAVE THE WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE TIME TO WORK ON THIS, THIS SERVICE. WE ARE AN ADVISORY CAPACITY TO THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE STAFF ON POLICY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE THE CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMS, THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, LIBRARY PROGRAMS, LOOKING FOR AREAS WHERE WE CAN PARTNER WITH OTHER PEOPLE ON ART RELATED SUBJECTS, AND PROMOTING THE LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURAL EVENTS.
WE ANNUALLY WORK WITH THE STAFF IN BASICALLY CONSULTING CAPACITIES FOR THE ANNUAL RECURRING PROJECTS LISTED THERE. THE ART DISPLAY THAT'S OUTSIDE ON THE WALL HERE.
THERE ARE ALWAYS SEVEN ARTISTS IN THE COURSE OF A YEAR.
THERE ARE THREE ARTISTS CHOSEN IN THE COURSE OF A YEAR FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOX ART.
AND THERE ARE LIBRARY ART WALL DISPLAYS THREE TIMES A YEAR.
[00:45:04]
AND WE WORK AND VOLUNTEER SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS THE ARTS FESTIVAL AT HERITAGE PARK, THE ART PARTY AT THE LIBRARY, AND WE OFTEN HELP JUDGE THE CHALK THE WALK, WHICH HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE YEAR.WE DO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS THAT HELP ENHANCE THE CULTURAL ARTS IN FLOWER MOUND, PARTICULARLY WHEN WHEN AN ART NEW ARTIST IS DISPLAYED. TISH NORMALLY SETS UP A MEET AND GREET IN THE IN THIS CASE IN THE LOBBY HERE, BUT IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
WE COME AND PEOPLE ENJOY MEETING THE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY MADE THE ART THAT'S ON THE WALL.
SOME OF THEM HAVE VERY INTERESTING STORIES TO TELL, THINGS THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO.
WE HAVE PERMANENT PUBLIC ART PROGRAM YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
AND WE NEED TO WE PLAN TO HELP THE STAFF IDENTIFY AND MAINTAIN SUITABLE LOCATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC ART, TO REVIEW AND RECOMMEND THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY APPLY TO PROVIDE THAT ART OR HOWEVER WE'RE GOING TO ACQUIRE IT.
WE HAVE NORMALLY FUNCTION IN SUBCOMMITTEES. WE DON'T.
WE TRY TO AVOID QUORUMS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. SO NORMALLY IT'S A SUBCOMMITTEE OF 3 OR 4 PEOPLE OR 2 OR 3 PEOPLE, AND THEY HELP LOOK AT AND EVALUATE THE ART THAT'S BEEN OFFERED FOR THE DISPLAYS ON THE WALLS AND JUDGE THE ART THAT'S BEEN SUBMITTED FOR THE SIGNAL BOX PROJECTS.
THE ENHANCED SUPPORT IS BASICALLY TRYING TO INCREASE THE PRESIDENT'S PRESENCE AND VOLUNTEERISM WITHIN THE LIBRARY AND THE COMMUNITY, AND THE CULTURAL ARTS AT THE CULTURAL ARTS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
JUST MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BETTER PUBLICIZED.
MORE PEOPLE COME. THEY HAVE GROWN ENORMOUSLY SINCE THE COMMISSION WAS FORMED.
THERE ARE EVENTS HAPPENING THAT WE NEVER HAD HAD BEFORE, AND THAT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS? HOW ARE WE DOING ON THE ART WALL OUT HERE FOR WHAT'S THE TURNOUT FOR THAT? ARE WE GETTING BETTER TURNOUT? YOU MEAN TO SEE IT OR TO SEE IT ON THE NIGHTS THAT YOU HAVE THE ARTIST HERE? THE NIGHTS THAT THEY COME. I'VE BEEN TO A FEW OF THEM, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.
I'VE BEEN TO A FEW AND I WOULD GUESS THAT WE RANGE BETWEEN 50 AND 100 PEOPLE.
OKAY, GOOD. AND THAT'S PICKED UP A LITTLE BIT.
YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. IT STARTED OUT IT WAS MORE LIKE 10 TO 20.
YEAH. THAT'S WHERE I SAW IT WHEN I'VE GONE, GONE TO IT.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S PICKING UP, WHICH IS GOOD.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP TO INCREASE THAT? IT HAS HELPED TO HAVE THE VARIOUS BOARD AND COMMISSIONS, THE WHAT DO YOU CALL THE OPEN HOUSE WHERE EVERYBODY COMES AND PRESENTS WHAT THEY DO? WE NORMALLY WIND UP SITTING RIGHT UNDER THE ART WALL, AND ALMOST EVERYBODY WHO COMES THROUGH THE DOOR COMES AND LOOKS AND TALKS TO US. AND WE, OF COURSE, DIRECT THEM AROUND TO THE ART WALL, AMONG OTHER PLACES, ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS. AND THE INTEREST IS INTENSE.
I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION OF HOW MANY APPLICATIONS YOU GET TO JOIN THE COMMISSION.
BUT FROM THE TRAFFIC THAT WE SEE, I SUSPECT IT'S PROBABLY QUITE A FEW.
AND SEVERAL OF US WERE AT THE ARTS FESTIVAL LAST WEEKEND, SO THE TURNOUT LOOKED REALLY GOOD.
OH YEAH, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD. IT GROWS EVERY YEAR.
AND WE'RE THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE CAN USE HOTEL TAX FOR THAT.
DO WE HAVE ANY SENSE OF WHEN WE MIGHT SEE SOME IDEAS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO COME FORWARD? I DON'T THINK WE PERSONALLY DO. THAT'S STILL, I THINK, WORKING WITHIN THE TOWN STAFF AND WE'RE KIND OF ON A HOLD WAITING FOR THE CALL TO COME AND HELP. YEAH, WE'RE KIND OF FEEL THE SAME WAY.
I KNOW IT'S VERY EARLY. THAT PRETTY MUCH FALLS IN THE SAME CATEGORY.
SO I WILL TELL YOU THAT MY ORIGINAL ASSIGNMENT WAS WITH THE PARKS WHEN IT WAS THE POWELL'S BOARD. AND LOOKING AT THE THE OUTGOING YEAR BUDGETS THAT YEAR, THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION WAS TEN YEARS IN THE FUTURE, AND THE NEXT YEAR IT WAS TEN YEARS IN THE FUTURE.
[00:50:06]
AND WHEN THE ARTS COMMISSION WAS FORMED, IT WAS TEN YEARS IN THE FUTURE.SO WE'VE MADE PROGRESS. OKAY. SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TEN YEARS IS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME WE'RE UNDER TEN YEARS NOW? SO I SURE HOPE SO. I HOPE TO SEE IT. YEAH. ME TOO.
OKAY. GREAT. WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE, WE'RE DEFINITELY PUTTING SOME RESOURCES INTO THE ARTS.
SO THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL ASKS AT THIS TIME FROM THE BOARD? I DON'T THINK SO RIGHT NOW. OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE. OKAY. NEXT IS THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
JACKIE NORELL IS THE CHAIR, SHE'S GOING TO PRESENT.
SIT BACK AND RELAX, PEOPLE. YEAH. WELL GOOD AFTERNOON.
GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO MY SLEEPOVER. AND BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I AM JACKIE NORELL.
BUT I WANT YOU TO TELL. I WANT TO TELL YOU JUST HOW DEDICATED THAT THIS BUNCH IS.
LITTLE DO YOU KNOW. BUT LAST NIGHT, JUST AFTER ADAM AND YOU WERE SWORN IN.
BETH'S DOG WAS SEVERELY BIT BY A SNAKE AND NEARLY KILLED.
AND THAT POOR LITTLE GENTLE BEN, I CALL HIM, AND YOU KNOW HIM.
HE'S DARLING, BUT HE MAY NOT SURVIVE. THEY'RE ALREADY AT $4,000 BILL.
THEY'RE PUTTING HIM UNDER ALL KINDS OF EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE TO TRY AND SAVE THE LITTLE GUY.
AND EVERYONE SHOULD JUST REALIZE SHE CAME WITH NOT A MINUTE OF SLEEP OR HARDLY A BITE OF FOOD.
AND IN HONOR OF ADAM, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT. I DRESSED LIKE A SKUNK TODAY.
I MEAN, I DID, BUT I WANT TO THANK THEM. I DID, I DID I MEAN, I LOOKED AT MYSELF WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IT, AND I WORE A SKUNK DRESS. WHAT WAS I THINKING? BUT ANYWAY, BACK TO THE ANIMAL COMMISSION. I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.
THEY REALLY HELPED US BECAUSE FOR FOUR MONTHS THEY DID LIVE UNDER OUR HOUSE.
AND ONE MORE THING I MIGHT SAY THAT MY HUSBAND WILL PROBABLY LEAVE ME HERE, AND IF NOT, HE'LL PROBABLY BE GETTING THAT KEY FROM THE GIBSON GRANT TO SHOVE ME IN THERE AND LEAVE ME BECAUSE HE'S JUST ABOUT HAD IT WITH ME PUTTING THIS TOGETHER TONIGHT.
AND, MAYOR, IF YOU GET MAD, I'M SO SORRY, BUT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE NOW.
OH, THAT'S NOT PART OF YOUR PRESENTATION. NO, THAT'S NOT EVEN STARTED YET.
SO MY MINUTES HAVEN'T STARTED YET. NO. SKUNK LADY IS NOT READY YET.
OKAY, SO FIRST OF ALL GOOD EVENING, ESTEEMED MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL, MY DARLING FRIENDS AND THE STAFF WHO PUTS UP WITH ME. AND I'M GOING TO READ MY REPORT TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT SHORTER.
THE HISTORICAL, THE FLOWER MOUND HISTORICAL COMMISSION PROUDLY CELEBRATES OUR ONE YEAR MILESTONE.
WE CELEBRATED IT ON MY BIRTHDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025.
ONE YEAR WE'VE ALREADY BEEN AT IT OFFICIALLY.
WE LOST OUR HASHTAG, THE TASK FORCE, AND WE BECAME A FULL COMMISSION.
AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU PUT US IN. WE'RE AND DEREK AS WELL PUT US IN.
AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU HAVE NO REGRETS.
AND OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE COMMISSION HAS LAID A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT FLOWER MOUND.
HERE IS A SUMMARY OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND INITIATIVES THAT HAVE SHAPED THE FLOWER MOUND HISTORICAL COMMISSION INTO A VITAL PART OF OUR TOWN'S CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL LANDSCAPE. TO BEGIN WITH, LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS CHAIR OF THE FLOWER MOUND HISTORICAL COMMISSION, MY PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE INCLUDED CREATING AND SETTING THE AGENDA FOR OUR MONTHLY RECORDED LIVE MEETINGS HELD HERE IN THE TOWN HALL, ORGANIZING EXTRAORDINARY SPEAKERS AND PRESENTATIONS FOR EACH SESSION FEATURING MANY GUEST SPEAKERS OF WHOM I WILL SUBMIT THE SPEAKERS NAMES AND TOPICS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. MAINTAINING ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH FLOWER MOUND HISTORICAL COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEE AND PROVIDING ONGOING SUPPORT TO THEIR CHAIRS AND MEMBERS SERVING AS CHAIR OF THE GIBSON GRANT LOG HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE OVERSEEING HISTORICAL RESTORATION AND PROGRAM PROGRAMING EFFORTS AS WELL.
THE STATE LEVEL PARTICIPATION. IN APRIL 2025, I ATTENDED THE SIX DAY TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION'S REAL PLACES CONFERENCE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, A PREMIER TRAINING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY FOR PRESERVATION LEADERS ACROSS THE STATE.
THIS INTENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE EVENT PROVIDED ADVANCED EDUCATION ON PRESERVATION, PLANNING, INTERPRETATION OF HISTORICAL SITES, ORAL HISTORY DOCUMENTATION, AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND LEGAL FRAMEWORKS RELATED TO HERITAGE
[00:55:09]
CONSERVATION. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN PIVOTAL IN SHAPING OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING EFFORTS AND BRINGING INNOVATIVE IDEAS BACK TO FLOWER MOUND.NOW I WILL GO INTO THE COUNTY AND LOCAL COLLABORATION.
I WAS APPOINTED BY THE HONORABLE JUDGE EADS. THE FLOWER MOUND HISTORICAL COMMISSION HAS OPERATED IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH CHUCK JENNINGS, OUR DEAR CHUCK JENNINGS, WHO WE COULD NOT HAVE REALLY GONE TO THE TO WHERE WE'VE GONE.
AND IT'S HIS WONDERFUL PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM.
WE HAVE SO MANY TO HARDLY EVEN NAME. WE'VE GOT WELL, NOW.
WELL, ALL OF YOU. I LOVE YOU ALL. OKAY. I'VE GOT TRAVIS AND JOHN AND KELLY, EVERYONE.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SO HARD TO NAME EVERYONE BECAUSE I CALL THEM ALL THE TIME, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE, AND I LOVE THEM. AND ALSO, PEGGY RIDDLE, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF DENTON COUNTY OFFICE OF HISTORY AND CULTURE.
PEGGY RIDDLE CURRENTLY SERVES AS OUR EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF OUR HISTORICAL GROUP AND THE COUNTY COMMISSION, ENSURING ALIGNMENT ACROSS ALL EFFORTS. THE GIBSON GRANT LOG HOUSE INITIATIVE.
IN THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2024, WE HAD 14 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED 432 HOURS BETWEEN OCTOBER 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2024. FOR THE SAME PERIOD, FOUR VOLUNTEERS ATTENDED VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION AND WE HAVE ONGOING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TOURING AT OTHER HISTORIC SITES, AS WELL AS CHAIR OF THIS GIBSON GRANT LOG HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE.
THE FLOWER MOUND HISTORICAL COMMISSION HAS SUCCESSFULLY ACQUIRED AND CURATED PERIOD APPROPRIATE FURNISHINGS AND MUSEUM QUALITY ARTIFACTS FROM OLD CITY PARK AND THE DENTON COUNTY COLLECTION STORAGE UNIT TO ENRICH ITS INTERIOR.
STEEPED IN HISTORY, RECREATING THE OLD SETTLERS WAY OF FAMILY LIFE.
EVENTS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS THERE. THE GIBSON GRANT LOG HOUSE CALENDAR OF EVENTS HIGHLIGHT.
WE HAD THE OLD SETTLERS CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION AND OUR PARADE WAS RAINED OUT.
WE HAD. WE DID HAVE IT RAINED OUT, BUT WE STILL WORKED AND PLANNED FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS CONSTRUCTING A THEMED FLOAT AND OUR RIGHT OUT THERE IN OUR FRONT OF OUR HOUSE, REQUIRING MONTHS AND MONTHS OF PLANNING AND VOLUNTEER HOURS.
AND EVERYONE SHOWED UP BEFORE, AFTER AND DURING THE RAIN.
I MEAN, WE JUST WE GOT DRESSED UP, WE WORKED, WE, YOU KNOW, WE DID EVERYTHING.
AND WE WERE SO DISAPPOINTED. AND I THINK CHUCK SAID THEY DREW STRAWS, WHO WAS GOING TO CALL ME AND TELL ME WE COULDN'T COME BECAUSE WE WERE READY, OH MY GOSH. OKAY. I'M BACK. AND THE OLD SETTLERS CHRISTMAS WAS A SMASHING SUCCESS.
THEY WERE THERE AND THEY WERE FROM FAR AND WIDE.
AND WE EVEN HAD AN OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS TREE WITH OLD FASHIONED POPCORN STRINGING FROM IT, TREE LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING. AND MARSHA, MARSHA, MARSHA EVEN MADE HANDMADE ORNAMENTS.
YOU WERE THE BIGGEST HIT. EVERYBODY LOVED YOU.
AND WHEN SHE CAME IN, SHE GOES, I'M SORRY I HAVE ON MY CIRCUS HAT. BUT IT WAS ADORABLE.
IT JUST COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE GREAT. IT WAS CHRISTMAS, IT WAS CHRISTMAS.
IT WAS CHRISTMAS. AND EVERYBODY WAS IN THE YULETIDE SPIRIT.
AND WE ALSO HAD WONDERFUL OUTDOOR EXHIBITORS IN FESTIVE ATTIRE, INCLUDING MR. AND MRS. CLAUS. YES, WE HAD THEM. I HAD TO FIGHT KELLY TO NOT WEAR THE MRS. CLAUS OUTFIT, BUT SHE LOOKED ADORABLE. SO ANYWAY, THEY LINED THE PROPERTY AND WE HANDED OUT.
THEY HANDED OUT AS WELL AS THE COMMISSION HANDED OUT DELICIOUS CHRISTMAS TREATS AND SARAH LEXIN, SHE REALLY WORKED HARD WITH ME ON THAT. AND CHUCK, WE GOT COOKIES AND POPCORN BALLS AND MEETINGS AFTER MEETINGS, AND I THINK IT WAS JUST A GREAT SUCCESS. AND NEXT, A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TIME IS COMING UP.
AND CHUCK REALLY WANTS ME TO MENTION THIS BECAUSE WE HAD TO CANCEL IT IN MAY, BUT WE HAVE OUR VERY OWN, OH MY GOSH, HISTORIC MARKER CELEBRATION JUNE 7TH, JUNE 7TH MAYOR AT 10 A.M..
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WE HAVE EXHIBITORS. WE HAVE EVERYBODY COME IN AGAIN, WE HAVE ARTISTS, AND WE'RE GOING TO CHURN BUTTER AND DO CORN AND EVERYTHING NEXT THE TRAINING AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT. ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS HAVE COMPLETED FORMAL TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS.DOCENT. VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. ORAL HISTORIES AND MUSEUMS AND COLLECTION MANAGEMENT.
AND THEN WHEN I GIVE ALL OF YOU YOUR REPORT, I'M GOING TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE APPENDIX.
NOW, THE MOST REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR WHOLE COMMISSION ARE THE SUBCOMMITTEES.
THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEES WERE ESTABLISHED TO ENCOMPASS THE VARIED BACKGROUNDS, AREAS OF NEED, AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE OF EACH COMMISSIONER.
THESE WORKING GROUPS FIERCELY FOCUSED ON EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, INDIGENOUS HISTORY FORMING THE BASIS OF EFFORTS TO PROTECT, PROMOTE AND INTERPRET THE HISTORY OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I WILL START WITH OUR PLACE TWO. SWEETIE BOWMAN.
SWEETIE IS OUR ARTIST AND FORMER UNT PROFESSOR WHO HAS LIVED IN FLOWER MOUND SINCE THE 1970S.
SHE GRACIOUSLY OFFERS HISTORICAL INSIGHTS AND NUMEROUS STORIES ABOUT THE TOWN'S PAST.
SWEETIE ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERISM, AND SHE BELIEVES IN EDUCATION THAT IT'S INSPIRING.
SHE, ALONG WITH HER ADORABLE HUSBAND, ALTON BOWMAN, WE ALL LOVE ALTON, DONATED THE ANTIQUE FLOWER MOUND HISTORICAL COMMISSION'S TRAVELING TRUNK, AND ALTON ADDED AUTHENTIC HANDLES AND AND A HAND-CARVED DISPLAY TRAY INSIDE THAT HE BUILT IN HIS SHOP.
AND HIS SHOP IS A 400 YEAR OLD BARN THAT HE GOT.
AND IT'S AN HISTORICAL BARN, AND HE HAS IT. AND IT'S SO CUTE.
AND IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO HIS CHICKEN COOP. ADAM SCHEER HE IS OUR PLACE.
THREE PARDON ME. I'M GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE A DRINK.
NOT A DRINK, DRINK. WELL. YES, MAYBE. NO, NO.
I'M GOOD, I'M GOOD. I WOULD REALLY LIKE A DRINK, DRINK.
ANYWAY, ADAM SCHEER, HE IS OUR PLACE THREE. WE LOVE ADAM.
HE'S ADORABLE. AND HE HAS A MASTER'S IN GEOLOGY.
HE EXCELS IN ARCHEOLOGICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS.
THROUGH HIS EFFORTS AS A SKILLED METAL DETECTOR.
AND HE HAS DUG ON EVERY INCH OF OUR PROPERTY.
AND IT'S AT THE GIBSON GRANT. YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE EXHIBITION ROOM.
HE HAS UNEARTHED REMARKABLE PIECES OF HISTORY BENEATH THE SURFACE.
HIS CONTINUOUS QUEST TO UNCOVER ANSWERS KNOWN ONLY TO OUR ANCESTORS ARE INVALUABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND AS ADAM APTLY STATES, THE ARROW IS POINTED UP.
NEXT WE HAVE MARSHA, MARSHA, MARSHA GAVIT, PLACE FOUR.
SHE HAS LED NUMEROUS PROJECTS FOR DECADES SUPPORTING THE TOWN, THE COUNCIL, ELECTIONS, AND RESIDENTS WHILE ADDRESSING MANY COMMUNITY ISSUES, WHETHER THEY WANTED HER TO OR NOT. MARSHA, MARSHA WAS HERE.
SHE WAS HERE, AND SHE WAS POUNDING THE PAVEMENT.
AND SHE HAS REALLY MADE SOME WAVES. AND WE ALL KNOW, YOU ALL KNOW YOU ALL KNOW WHAT A GREAT JOB MARSHA, MARSHA DOES. AND SO WITH THAT, SHE IS AN AVID RESEARCHER.
THAT IS WHY SHE REIGNS AS OUR PLACE FOUR. CINDY CLARK.
OKAY, CINDY. SHE HAS LED US THROUGH, I MIGHT MENTION THAT CINDY IS OF AMERICAN INDIAN DESCENT.
AND SHE'S GOING TO SHOW RIGHT NOW THIS IS ACTUALLY A MARKER TREE.
SHE WORKS. CINDY WORKS ON DEVELOPING ARCHEOLOGICAL LANDSCAPES.
IDENTIFYING MARKER TREES, WHICH THIS IS. THIS IS A MARKER TREE, FOLKS.
SHE WORKS ON DEVELOPING THESE ARCHEOLOGICAL LANDSCAPES, IDENTIFYING THESE MARKER TREES AND MAKING DISCOVERIES WITHIN THE CROSS TIMBERS FOREST FOR REAL. AS CHAIR OF THE ARCHEOLOGICAL, HISTORIC LANDSCAPE AND NATIVE PRAIRIE SUBCOMMITTEE, CINDY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING, DATING, AND AUTHENTICATING WHAT SHE HAS IN HER HAND, ORIGINAL INDIAN MARKER TREES.
THIS SUBCOMMITTEE HAS SUBMITTED SIX TREES. OH MY GOSH, SIX TREES IN FLOWER MOUND FOR CONSIDERATION TO MR. STEVE HAUSER, WHO IS THE BIG DOG OVER THERE AT TEXAS HISTORIC TREE COALITION.
HE'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. VIP, VIP. IDENTIFYING THESE TREES INVOLVES A LENGTHY PROCEDURE.
ONCE A TREE IS IDENTIFIED, IT THEN MUST BE ASSESSED AND DOCUMENTED BY GEO LOCATING THE TREE, IDENTIFYING THE SOIL, PHOTOGRAPHING IT, AND TAKING ITS MEASUREMENTS TO SUBMIT TO THE TEXAS HISTORIC TREE COALITION,
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AND THEY KNOW US BY HEART. TRUST ME. THEY KNOW US.WHEN WE CALL, THEY PICK UP THE PHONE. IDENTIFYING THESE TREES INVOLVES A LENGTHY PROCEDURE.
ONCE THIS TREE IS IDENTIFIED, IT MUST BE ASSESSED AND DOCUMENTED BY GEO.
LOCATING THE TREE, IDENTIFYING THE SOIL, PHOTOGRAPHING AND TAKING ITS MEASUREMENTS.
ONCE AGAIN SUBMITTED TO THE TEXAS HISTORIC TREE COALITION.
UPON SUBMISSION, MR. HAUSER REVIEWS THESE TREES TO DETERMINE IF THEY MEET ALL OF THE CRITERIA, AND IF THEY DO, HE SCHEDULES A VISIT. HE'S COMING HERE, FOLKS.
HE'S ON HIS WAY, AND IF NECESSARY, HE CONSULTS AN ELDER.
HE CONSULTS AN ELDER FROM THE COMANCHE TRIBE.
YES, THE COMANCHES ARE STILL AROUND HERE. SO ANYWAY, BACK TO THAT.
AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE HERITAGE PEOPLE THAT DID THIS.
SO IT'S REALLY NO ONE KNEW THIS UNTIL WE HAD A HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE CINDY A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
MR. HAUSER HAS INDICATED HE IS WORKING TO ESTABLISH A PRECISE CORRELATION WITH THE INDIAN TRIBE THAT IT IT ACTUALLY WAS BUILT BY OUR DESIGNED BY, I'LL SAY DESIGNED BECAUSE THEY WERE DESIGNERS BACK THEN THAT WAS HISTORICALLY PRESENT IN THIS AREA.
THIS TREE IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN USED TO MARK A TRAIL OR A SIGNIFICANT LOCATION ON THEIR WAY HERE, HORSEBACK OR HOWEVER THEY CAME, SUCH AS THE FLOWER MOUND ALTON.
AND THE TREE IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE MOUND.
WE CAN'T TELL YOU. WE'D HAVE TO KILL YOU UNTIL WE, YOU KNOW, REALLY GET IT. BUT NOT REALLY.
NOT REALLY. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO TELL YOU EVENTUALLY, BUT WE CAN'T YET.
OR CINDY WOULD SCALP US. SHE'S TOLD US SHE WOULD.
SHE WOULD. NEXT WE HAVE KATHY BLAIR, KATHY BLAIR'S PLACE SIX.
SHE IS THE CHAIR OF THE ORAL HISTORY SUBCOMMITTEE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU THERESA. OKAY.
THE TRANSCRIBING OF INTERVIEWS IS CREDITED BY THE DENTON COUNTY.
THEIR NEW POLICY IN PLACE WILL ALLOW ALL ORAL HISTORIES TO BE CATALOGED IN DIGITAL FORMAT.
THAT'S TRUE. AND NOT JUST THE ORAL AVAILABLE ONLINE STARTING WITH 001, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF OURS WITH SUMMARY INTERVIEW OF THE FLOWER MOUND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. AND IT'S THE OLDEST CHURCH IN THE COUNTY.
IT WAS 175 YEARS OLD WHEN WE ALL WENT TO THAT LITTLE CHURCH SERVICE BACK TO ALTON BOWMAN.
HE IS A LONGTIME BELOVED RESIDENT OF FLOWER MOUND, AND ALTON IS ALSO A VERY FAMOUS AUTHOR AND CHERISHED AND BELOVED HISTORIAN OF FLOWER MOUND. ALTON, WE LOVE YOU. NEXT, THE THIRD ORAL HISTORY WAS THE VARGAS FAMILY.
I WAS THERE, AND I'M TELLING YOU, IT WAS. IT WAS WONDERFUL.
SO THE VARGAS FAMILY THEY BEGAN THE CHRISTINA'S FINE MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN CUISINE.
AND IT IS STILL THE CORNERSTONE RESTAURANT OF WESTERN FLOWER MOUND.
TERRY CLARIDGE, OUR DARLING PLACE SEVEN. SHE IS THE CHAIR OF OUR EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE AND IS SPEARHEADING THE DEVELOPMENT AND LAUNCH OF THE FIRST EVER FLOWER MOUND HISTORICAL COMMISSION, THEN AND NOW TRAVELING TRUNK PROGRAM.
YES. IF YOU ALL TUNE IN TO OUR MEETING, YOU'LL SEE THAT TRAVELING TRUNK.
AND IF YOU COME, YOU CAN ACTUALLY PLAY WITH IT. WE HAVE ALL THE LITTLE TOYS IN IT.
SHE IS A MASTER EDUCATOR AND CREATING A DYNAMIC, HANDS ON EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO BRING LOCAL HISTORY DIRECTLY INTO THE COMMUNITY. THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES, NAMELY THE CHILDREN.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT EVERYWHERE. WELL, WE'LL TAKE YOU ANYWHERE YOU WANT, WANT, WANT US TO, AND IT WILL BE A HAS A MEANINGFUL CONTENT THAT FOSTERS A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR OUR SHARED HERITAGE. AND YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT ALL IS IN THERE.
AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GO EARLY TO THAT FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY SALE.
YOU CAN'T IMAGINE THE BOOKS I FOUND, AND THE EDUCATIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING LIFELONG LEARNING AND CIVIC LEADERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP THROUGH THE DESIGN OF AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM THAT CULTIVATES COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO ENHANCE HISTORICAL LEARNING AND EXPLORATION AT EVERY AGE BY UTILIZING PHOTOGRAPHS, ARTIFACTS, AND PERSONAL NARRATIVES. WE STRIVE TO CONNECT THE PAST AND THE PRESENT IN MANY SIGNIFICANT WAYS.
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THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO REACH A WIDER AND MORE DIVERSE AUDIENCE BY OFFERING FLEXIBLE OPTIONS TO EXPANDING BOTH OUR PUBLIC AND OUR PRIVATE PROGRAMING.OUTREACH EFFORTS WILL TARGET STUDENTS, SCHOOLS, CIVIC GROUPS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ENCOURAGING ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PRESERVATION AND DISSEMINATION OF FLOWER MOUND HISTORY.
THIS IS WHAT WE WE STRIVE FOR. WHEN WE DID THIS, WHEN WE FINALLY, AFTER 40 YEARS IN THE MAKING, WE DID IT. WE ACTUALLY DID IT. AND WE'RE HERE.
OKAY, I GOT TO COME DOWN. NOW WE'RE GOING TO CECILIA HOOD, OUR ADORABLE PLACE EIGHT.
SHE IS THE CHAIR OF THE FLOWER MOUND HISTORICAL COMMISSION CEMETERY SUBCOMMITTEE.
AND ALL OF YOU KNOW CECILIA. SHE IS OVERSEEING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PERIOD APPROPRIATE FENCE AT THE CEMETERY WITH VALLEY CREEK CHURCH'S HELP, THE HARRIS CEMETERY TOMBSTONES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED AS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT, BELONGING TO THE ORIGINAL MISSOURI EXPEDITION PIONEERS AND THE PETERS COLONISTS. FOLKS, WE'VE GOT PETERS COLONISTS BURIED LOCALLY, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'RE HERE.
THAT'S WHERE THEY CAME AND WHERE SHE'S ACTUALLY FINDING AND ABLE TO PLAN RESTORATION ON THE MISSING HEADSTONE PARTS, WORKING WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AS WELL AS THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
I MEAN, TRUTHFULLY, WE HAVE. AND NOW I WILL GO INTO BRIAN WILLIAMS, WHO IS ALSO ON THAT CEMETERY COMMITTEE, PLACE NINE. HE'S OUR BUDDY AND HE HAILS FROM THE PETERS COLONY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
IN BRINGING HIS EXTENSIVE EXPERTISE IN LOCAL HISTORY.
HE'S DARLING TOO, YOU ALL KNOW BRIAN. WHEN, WITH HIS EXPERIENCE INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE AND PLACES, BRIAN HIMSELF HAS BECOME A RENOWNED HISTORIAN.
HERE WE GO. WHEN PEOPLE LEARN THIS IS HIS QUOTE, IT'S ADORABLE WHEN PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT THE LIVES, STRUGGLES AND MILESTONES OF OUR TOWN. THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS A PART OF SOMETHING GREATER.
THAT'S US. THAT'S EVERY ONE OF US. YOU KNOW, SITTING HERE, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO LEAVE.
AND NOW WE HAVE PEGGY RIDDLE. PEGGY RIDDLE IS OUR PLACE TEN.
SHE SERVES AS OUR EX-OFFICIO. AND PEGGY WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING ALL OF THIS OFF THE GROUND.
SHE HAS OVER 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN MUSEUM SERVICES AND HISTORIC INTERPRETATION.
SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF DENTON COUNTY OFFICE OF HISTORY AND CULTURE AND IS AN EXPERT ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION, AND ONCE AGAIN SHE WAS A PART OF THE ORIGINAL WITH CHUCK JENNINGS.
OUR ADORABLE CHUCK OF GETTING THAT GIBSON GRANT HOUSE PUT TOGETHER AS WAS ALTON BOWMAN.
SOME OF THE RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE APPOINTED TO THIS HISTORICAL COMMISSION ARE ALSO VERY ACTIVE MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING VOLUNTEERING MONTHLY AT THE GIBSON GRANT LOG HOUSE FROM THE FLOWER MOUND NEW CENTURY'S LINE CLUB.
OUR DARLING JANVIER IS THE PRESIDENT TO BEING ACTIVELY INVOLVED.
I'M IN THAT TOO INVOLVED IN THEIR LOCAL CHURCHES, PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH I LOVE, THE LOCAL SCHOOL, PTA AND BOOSTER CLUBS, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, BIBLE STUDIES.
OH YEAH, WE ALL READ THE BIBLE AND OR OTHER SMALL GROUPS.
TOGETHER WE ARE BUILDING A LEGACY ROOTED IN KNOWLEDGE, CONNECTION, AND COMMUNITY PRIDE.
JOINING AND MAKING HISTORY COME ALIVE. ONE STORY, ONE ARTIFACT, ONE NEIGHBOR AT A TIME.
I'M AT MY CONCLUSION. HERE WE GO. OUR FIRST YEAR HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT WITH COMMITMENT, COLLABORATION AND A CLEAR VISION THAT WE CAN ENSURE NOW WE CAN. WE GOT A HISTORIC, WE HAVE A HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
IT'S ON THE COUNTY. IT'S ON THE STATE. IT'S ON EVERY LEVEL.
I GO TO AUSTIN ALL THE TIME AND THAT'S ALL I TALK ABOUT.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, WE ARE THERE AND WE ARE NOW DEMONSTRATING OUR COMMITMENT, COLLABORATION AND A CLEAR VISION BECAUSE ENSURING THIS WE ARE NOT ONLY CELEBRATED, BUT WE ARE EXTENDING OUR GRATITUDE TO EVERY COMMISSIONER, VOLUNTEER, TOWN PARTNER, TOWN COUNCILMAN, MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SUCCESSFUL YEAR BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST YEAR EVER IN THE HISTORY AND THE LITERALLY THE HISTORY OF FLOWER MOUND, I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT I DO HAVE THINGS THAT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, WE DO HAVE THE COLLECTIONS POLICY, THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONATED. AND THERE'S ONLY ONE ASK WE HAVE OF THE COMMISSION OR ACTUALLY COMMISSION HAS FOR YOU.
[01:15:04]
STARTING IN SEPTEMBER 2025. OUR STAFF LIAISON CONFIRMS THE AVAILABILITY.MAY WE HAVE THE COUNCIL APPROVAL TO MOVE THIS DATE TO TUESDAY? AND THERESA HAS APPROVED IT, BY THE WAY. YOU KNOW, FYI AND TOMMY.
SO, ANYWAY COULD MAY WE HAVE YOUR APPROVAL? I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR MOVING THAT? SO THEIR MEETING DATE AND TIME IS CODIFIED IN THE CREATION DOCUMENT OF THE COMMISSION.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF IF YOU ALL ARE ACCEPTABLE TO THAT.
IF THERE ARE NO CONFLICTS WITH OTHER BOARDS, WE WOULD BRING FORWARD A MODIFICATION TO THEIR RULES AND CHANGE TO THAT DATE AND TIME JUST AFTER WE CONFIRM. BECAUSE IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN A MINUTE SINCE I LOOKED AT THAT, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO CONFLICTS WITH OTHER BOARDS, BUT IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE. IF YOU ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PUT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA SO THAT IT JUST WHENEVER IT'S READY, IT CAN BE. AND YOU SAID IT WAS UNANIMOUS THAT IT WAS UNANIMOUS.
AND I'LL HAVE TO QUIT BECAUSE MY GRANDSON PLAYS FOOTBALL.
WE WILL PLAY FOOTBALL NEXT YEAR AT MARCUS ON THURSDAY.
SO BUT WE'RE ALL WE ALL WANT TO DO IT ON THURSDAY.
WE CAN'T HAVE THAT. SO GET THAT CONSENT ON. YOU'RE CHANGING IT FOR THE FOOTBALL.
YES. SO ANYWAY WITH THAT I'M SORRY I KEPT YOU HERE SO LONG.
YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN CONTINUE ON. BUT THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
CHRIS, ADAM MAYOR AND BRIAN, JANVIER, ALL OF THE STAFF, EVERYBODY HERE.
HE IS OVER THIS. HE IS OVER THIS. BUT THANK YOU.
I LOVE YOU ALL. WE DID IT. WE DID IT. THANK YOU.
I HAVE TO SAY, I WATCHED THE MEETINGS AND YOU HAVE SO MANY INTERESTING SPEAKERS.
I'VE BEEN JUST SO IMPRESSED WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT COMES FORWARD AT YOUR MEETINGS.
VERY FUN TO WATCH. GOOD. IT IS A GOOD MEETING TO WATCH.
AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
WELL DONE. IT'S GREAT. I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO DO SO.
I WROTE YOU ALL A LETTER, AND IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME THAT YOU SAID I COULD.
BECAUSE I WOULDN'T HAVE. IF YOU'D HAVE SAID NO, I MIGHT.
I MIGHT HAVE ARGUED A LITTLE, BUT I WAS JUST DELIGHTED AND SURPRISED.
AND THANK YOU. I'LL MAKE YOU PROUD. THANK YOU, JACKIE.
THANK YOU. OKAY. WELL. I THINK THIS IS THE LAST ONE.
YEAH. NO, TWO MORE. YEAH. SO WE HAVE THE SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE, AND PRESENTING IS MINDY BUMGARNER, CHAIR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO WITH SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE, WE MEET QUARTERLY.
WE HAVE FOUR ACTIVE MEMBERS RIGHT NOW. WE DO HAVE A VACANT SEAT THAT HASN'T BEEN FILLED.
AND WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE ON THAT ADDITIONAL IF WE CAN.
SO RIGHT NOW WE ACTUALLY HAVE UP ON THE FLOWER MOUND WEBSITE A FULL SCHOLARSHIPS AND VOLUNTEER LIST THAT'S EASY FOR US TO ALTER AD IF WE NEED TO, BUT IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PARENTS. WE ALSO ARE CLEANING UP THE CURRENT SCHOOL LIST A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WITH THE SCHOOL CLOSURES WE HAVE AND MSU, WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THOSE STILL LISTED.
A LITTLE BIT MORE CONFUSION NOW OUR CURRENT BOARD, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK INTO RIGHT NOW, IS ADDING A LITTLE ICON NEXT TO THE SCHOOLS THAT SAY IF THEY DO ANY TYPE OF SPECIAL NEEDS THERAPY.
OKAY, NOT EVERY SINGLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GIVES ABA THERAPY, SO SOMETHING THAT IF THAT PARENT'S LOOKING WHERE THEY WANT TO MOVE, MAYBE SOMETHING THAT MAKES IT EASIER, BUT ALSO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LISD PROGRAM WHERE THEY CAN GO TO ANY SCHOOL IN LISD AS LONG AS THEY HAVE GOOD ATTENDANCE AND A GOOD PASSING RECORD. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR OUR PARENTS.
SO THAT WAS JUST ADDED. WE'RE ABOUT TO BE ADDING IT.
SO WE'RE HAVING TO GO TO THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN PERSON AND TALK TO THEM AND GET A FULL LIST.
SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO JUST MAKE THAT A LITTLE BIT EASIER, BECAUSE IF WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME DOING IT AND THAT'S FOR PEOPLE, WE BROKE UP ALL THE SCHOOLS, THEN MAYBE WE NEED TO MAKE THAT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS HERE, TOO.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT ADDING AN ADDITIONAL RESOURCE FOR TEST PREP.
I THINK EVERY PARENT THAT HAS HAD A CHILD HERE HAS HAD THAT NIGHTMARE MOMENT WHERE THEY ASK YOU TO EXPLAIN CALCULUS TO THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL. I CAN'T DO IT FOR THE LIFE OF ME, AND YOUTUBE BECOMES THE BEST WAY TO DO IT,
[01:20:05]
WHICH ISN'T TOO HELPFUL. SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO JUST HAVE A LIST OF WHATEVER TEST PREP OPTIONS THEY HAVE HERE, AND ALSO WHAT SCHOOLS OFFER ADDITIONAL TEST PREP AFTER SCHOOL.WE ARE CURRENTLY ALSO LOOKING AT ADDING A BLURB TO THE WATER BILL THAT CAN ASK IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES COMING UP THAT PARENTS NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING, LIKE WHEN GRADUATION IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT. A TINY LITTLE BLURB, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WE ALL OPEN UP AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY JUST SCAN BY IT, BUT IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO OBTAIN. OUR NEXT MEETING IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR MAY 28TH.
IT'S ACTUALLY RIGHT IN HERE, AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO REACH OUT TO ALL OF THE PTAS IN TOWN.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO EVERY SINGLE PTA BOARD, AND WE ARE ASKING THEM TO COME IN.
THAT WAY WE CAN GET A CENSUS FROM THEM OF WHAT RESOURCES THEY NEED IN TOWN.
WHAT MAKES IT EASIER? WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO MOVE TO FLOWER MOUND WITH YOUR KIDS? IS THERE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO ENTICE A LITTLE BIT MORE AND HELP OUT? SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WOULD KIND OF HELP GUIDE US ON THE NEXT STEPS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND HOW WE CAN REALLY BRANCH OUT MORE.
AND WE THINK THE PTA WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO DO THAT.
I WAS WONDERING, SO DOES THE DOES THE ISD BOARD DO THEY KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE REACHING OUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNICATION IS THERE? YEAH. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH ALLISON LASOHN AND BUDDY BONNER AND LAURIE RAPP.
OH, PERFECT. THEY'RE VERY MUCH. I WANT TO KEEP THAT COHESIVE. LIKE, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT EVERYBODY'S DOING. YEAH. THAT'S GREAT. WE DID THAT BEFORE WE STARTED TALKING TO THE SCHOOLS TO GET PERMISSION TO KIND OF MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT STEPPING ON ANYONE'S TOES, BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A LIST ACTUALLY, AT THE MAIN BUILDING AT LISD OF WHAT SCHOOLS HAD, WHAT THEY WERE LIKE. WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU, BUT THAT MIGHT TAKE US A BIT.
WELL, THEY'RE DEALING WITH GRADUATION RIGHT NOW AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT LISD IS DEALING WITH FUNDING, AND WE DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE.
SO WE'RE KIND OF TAKING IT UPON OURSELVES, THEREFORE MEMBERS.
OH, COOL. GOOD. WILL YOU ALSO INCLUDE THE AISD, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL? WE DO. WE HAVE EVERY SINGLE ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY ON IT.
IT'S AISD. IT'S ALSO OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS, THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.
WE'VE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO ALL OF THEM, AND WE'RE HAVING THOSE LISTED TOO.
MINDY, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S BEEN PUBLICIZED IN THE STATE LATELY WITH THE EDUCATIONAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT, AND THE PEOPLE CALL THEM VOUCHERS. DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANY BENEFIT OR PLAN FOR US TO REACH OUT TO HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES? WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE HOMESCHOOLING GROUPS IN THE AREA.
AND WE'VE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO THEM. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF THEIR PARENT BOARD GROUPS.
THEY DON'T HAVE PTAS FULLY. SO WHATEVER PARENT BOARD GROUPS THEY HAVE, AND WE'VE ASKED 1 OR 2 OF THEIR BOARD MEMBERS TO COME JOIN AS WELL AS FOUNDERS AND ANY OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS QUORUM. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY NEW CONTACTS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD, MAYBE YOU COULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO APPLY FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AND THEN MAYBE FROM THAT POOL OF APPLICANTS, WE CAN TRY TO HELP FILL THAT VACANCY THAT YOU HAVE.
SO LIKE I SAID, WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM. BUT IF WE CAN FIND ANYBODY WITHIN THAT THAT IS WILLING TO STEP UP AND HELP, WE'RE ALWAYS MORE THAN HAPPY FOR IT SO WE CAN IN IN IN THE INTERIM LOOK AT THOSE APPLICATIONS AGAIN RIGHT.
TO TRY TO FILL THIS VACANCY. ABSOLUTELY. OUR FIRST STEP IS USUALLY TO ASK THE STAFF LIAISON.
THEY'RE KIND OF UNIQUE THAT I'M A STAFF CONTACT.
SO IF THEY HAVE A NEED FOR SOONER THAN LATER, YOU ALL CAN PRIOR TO THE AUGUST SEPTEMBER TIMEFRAME, IF THERE'S A NEED, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK IS A PRIORITY? IS IT A HARDSHIP RIGHT NOW? I WOULDN'T SAY WE'RE AT A HARDSHIP RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE A GREAT COMMITTEE WITH THE FOUR OF US.
WE'VE KIND OF BROKEN DOWN WHAT WE HAVE. WE FOUND IT WAS EASIER TO WORK TOGETHER THAN HAVING ONE BOARD MEMBER BE ELEMENTARY, ONE BE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, ONE BE HIGHER EDUCATION AND ONE BEING PRIVATE.
IT'S EASIER TO SPLIT THAT BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT JUST WHO HAS THE HIGHER EDUCATION VERSUS WHO HAS THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, OH GOSH. AND WHO GETS ELEMENTARY, THAT BECOMES INSANE.
WELL THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES BECAUSE THE WORK IS GREAT.
THE LIST IS GREAT. THE SPREADSHEET IS REALLY GOOD.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE KIND OF OUTPUT I WAS HOPING THAT THIS BOARD WOULD PRODUCE.
AND SO I'M VERY, VERY PLEASED TO SEE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.
IT'S GREAT. AND I GUESS THE ONE THING I'D LOVE TO SEE IS AFTER THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION SHAKES OUT, CAN YOU COME BACK AND KIND OF GIVE US AN UPDATE OF WHERE EVERYTHING LANDED? ARE THE TEACHERS GOING TO GET PAID? AND LIKE, IS THERE ANY KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THE,
[01:25:02]
THE LEGISLATURE SOMETIMES PUTS US IN A TOUGH SPOT, BUT NOTHING LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE SCHOOLS.THEY SEEM TO BE VERY CONSTRAINED WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR BUDGETS AND THEIR ABILITY TO RAISE TAXES. A PRIMER, MAYBE, ON WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT THE THEY'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN.
THAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT. YEAH, THERE'S I STILL I WAS IN THE NCL MEETING TODAY AND YEAH, THEY WERE TALKING STILL ABOUT SOME HOUSE BILLS THAT ARE GOING ON FOR THE SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW, THERE'S STILL SOME THINGS THAT ARE HAVEN'T BEEN SHOT DOWN YET.
WELL, TODAY IS ACTUALLY THE LAST DAY AS OF MIDNIGHT.
IF IT HAS NOT BEEN HEARD ON SECOND READING, IT WILL HAVE TO HOLD TO THE NEXT SESSION.
I'M NOT GOING TO LIE, I HAVE NOT LISTENED SO MUCH TO THE SENATE. I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE HOUSE BILLS. IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO CALL. IT'S NOT TOO LATE. NOT TOO LATE TO CALL AT TAM PARKER. IT IS OUT OF THE HOUSE. SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THEY ACTUALLY DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING CURRENTLY ON THE EDUCATION.
THOSE HAVE ALL BEEN PUSHED. THE HOUSE DID THEIR JOB, RIGHT.
SINE DIE IS ON JUNE 2ND. SO WE SHOULD HAVE THAT DONE BY THEN.
AND THAT WILL BE UP TO THE GOVERNOR IF WE HAVE ANY SPECIALS THAT COME BACK FOR SCHOOL.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE ARE NOTICING WITH THE BILLS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH.
WE ARE EXPECTING A RAISE IN CURRENT ALLOTMENT, BUT ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES I KNOW THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE IN THE METROPLEX IS HAVING NOT KIDS IN THE SEATS. WE HAVE A POPULATION THAT YOU DON'T HAVE AS MANY YOUNG FAMILIES IN THE AREA.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WITH THE ALLOTMENT RAISE, THINGS WILL GET BETTER AND OUR TEACHERS WILL GET PAID SOME MORE, BUT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFICULTY BECAUSE WE'RE AT ABOUT 20,000 STUDENTS LESS THAN WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTING.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO KEEP ALL THOSE BALLS JUGGLING AROUND.
YEAH, I'D APPRECIATE THAT IF YOU WOULD. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MINDY. ABSOLUTELY. ANY QUESTIONS? NO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMISSION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMISSION, I CAN'T SPEAK PRESENTING AS MARILYN LAWSON.
ALTON, ARE YOU ARE YOU PRESENTING TO TONIGHT? OKAY. HE'S GOING TO TALK AT THE END. THAT'S OKAY.
PLENTY OF TIME. YOU HAVE TIME. THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU.
OKAY. HI. HI. GOOD EVENING. I GOT TO TURN THE PAPER AWAY.
OKAY. THERE WE GO. OKAY. THIS IS TO FOLLOW UP ON OUR PURPOSE AND VISION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMISSION.
OUR RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PLAN FOR THE 2025 OR WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THE 2025 2026 INITIATIVES. OKAY. OF COURSE, TOWN OF FLOWER MOUND, YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR VISION STATEMENT IS? OUR PURPOSE IS TO THE PURPOSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMISSION IS TO ADVISE THE TOWN COUNCIL ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE CONSERVATION. I CAN'T EVEN TALK OF NATIONAL RESOURCES AND BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY.
THE DEFINE THE COMMUNITY CHARACTER OF FLOWER MOUND AND MAKE IT UNIQUE AND DESIRABLE COMMUNITY, WHICH I THINK WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB SINCE WE'RE THE NUMBER ONE CITY.
OKAY, SO OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE GREENWAYS PILOT PROGRAM, AND THAT WAS INITIATED IN THE FALL OF 2024.
AND WE'RE HOPING THAT IT WILL GROW AND CONTINUE.
AND THE NEXT ONE IS TREE PRESERVATION AND PLANTING INITIATIVES.
WE HAD A PUBLIC TREE PLANTING PROGRAM, OR WE HAVE COORDINATED WITH THE STRATEGIC SERVICES, PARKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. 50 TREES WERE PLANTED AT COLONY PARK, ACORNS TO OAKS.
[01:30:08]
AND THAT'S WHAT ALTON IS GOING TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT LATER.JUST INTRODUCE IT TO YOU. IT'S A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO GROW POST OAKS FROM ACORNS FOR FUTURE.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE TREE RECOGNITION PROGRAM, AND IT BEGAN IN 2013 TO RECOGNIZE SPECIAL TREES IN THE TOWN NOMINATED BY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. SO FAR, 47 TREES HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED.
AND. WHEN'S THE DEBT? WHEN'S THE DEADLINE? SO THE APPLICATIONS WILL BE DUE SOMETIME IN OCTOBER OR LATE SEPTEMBER, AND THEN WE'LL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION IN OCTOBER.
OKAY. GOT THAT. THANK YOU. WHAT'S THE BACKGROUND ON THAT MARILYN? WHAT IS THAT PROJECT? THAT PROGRAM? OH, THE TREE RECOGNITION.
SO IT'S TRYING TO PROMOTE OUR TREES AND KEEPING OUR TREES.
AND SO, IT WAS STARTED IN 2013 THAT PEOPLE CAN, IF THEY SEE A TREE THAT THEY THINK IS A BEAUTIFUL, GREAT TREE. THEN THEY CAN FILL OUT AN APPLICATION ONLINE IF THEY'D LIKE, AND THEY HAVE TO GET PERMISSION. IF IT'S NOT THEIR TREE, THEY HAVE TO GET PERMISSION TO, TO NOMINATE IT AS A TREE FOR RECOGNITION. AND, AND SO WHEN THEY, THEN WHEN THE TREES ARE TURNED IN AND THEN WE DECIDE WHAT WHAT'S THE DIFFERENT. WE USUALLY GO BY DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
BIGGEST TREE BEAUTIFUL MOST BEAUTIFUL TREE. AND THEN THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THE TREE ARE RECOGNIZED AT A MEETING AND GIVEN A CERTIFICATE AND ALSO A SIGN FOR THE BY THE TREE.
WE HAVE A LIST OF THE WINNERS IN THE PAST, RIGHT? YEAH. OKAY, GREAT. YES. WHERE DO YOU FIND THAT LIST? IT'S ON. IT'S ON THE WEBSITE. ONLINE. IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE HOMEOWNER.
IF IT'S A HOMEOWNER AND IT CAN'T BE A TOWN TREE.
OKAY. OH, SO IT CAN'T BE ONE OF THOSE INDIAN TREE MARKER TREES THEN.
WHY? NO, I'M JUST SAYING. OH. COULDN'T IT. OKAY, THIS CAN'T BE A TOWN.
NO, I REALLY THINK SO. OKAY. YEAH. VERY GOOD.
I ACTUALLY HAVE THE POST OAK GROVE RECOGNITION FROM YOUR LOVELY GROUP.
YES. AND I LOVE HAVING THAT. THANK YOU. SURE.
SEE. YEAH. SO YEAH, WE'VE NOMINATED A NUMBER OF NICE, VERY NICE TREES.
I TRIED TO AS A JOKE. I TURNED IN AN APPLICATION FOR MY CRAPE MYRTLES.
THEY DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. OKAY WHERE WAS I? SO WE ALSO HAVE I LOST MY PLACE. ANYWAYS. TREE PRESERVATION.
OKAY IN 2024, WE ALSO WE REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED ON 11 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FROM JANUARY 2024 TO APRIL 2025. TREE REMOVAL PERMITS AND OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT PLANS.
I HAVE TO SAY, IT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING FOR ME TO LOOK AT TREES AND HAVE TO HAVE TO RECOMMEND WHETHER WE SUGGEST THAT THE TREE IS REMOVED OR NOT REMOVED.
THAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF BEING ON THE ECC.
AND WE'VE ALSO REVIEWED THE CERTIFIED WILD HABITAT INITIATIVE.
I TALKED TO CHUCK ABOUT THAT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, I GUESS.
WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO HAVING THAT. YEAH, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
JUST I GOT MINE, I GOT MINE. YOU DID? YEAH. WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE IN FLOWER MOUND.
IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT. OKAY, SO WE HAVE, I HAVE THE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
SO WE HAVE OF SIX CATEGORIES. WE'VE FULFILLED FOUR OF THEM AND BUT WE STILL NEED A LOT ON THE
[01:35:12]
MY CERTIFICATION HABITAT POINTS. WHICH ONES THAT ONE? IS THAT CERTIFIED RESIDENTS CERTIFIED MULTIPLE HABITATS.OKAY. YEAH. SO IT'S YOU GOT YOURS DONE. OKAY.
DO YOU HAVE YOURS DONE? I WILL WORK ON THAT. OKAY.
BUT THE INTERESTING CHUCK TOLD ME, I ASKED CHUCK ONCE HOW MANY HOMEOWNERS ACTUALLY HAVE THAT CERTIFICATION? AND WE HAVE QUITE A FEW. WE HAVE 159 ACCORDING TO THIS OUT OF 300.
I WAS SURPRISED BY THAT. SO WE NEED 300 TOTAL FOR THAT GOAL TO BE MET.
300 POINTS. 300 POINTS. OKAY. AND ACTUALLY, IF WE GET SCHOOLS.
LEVELS OF POINTS, DIFFERENT LEVELS OF POINTS.
SO IF WE GET SCHOOLS, WE GET MORE POINTS. CAN YOU SEND US THAT POINT SYSTEM OR WHERE DO WE FIND THAT? THAT'LL DO THAT. WHERE IS THE APPLICATION THAT I CAN GET FIVE POINTS FOR? YOU KNOW ONE CERTIFICATION. I DON'T KNOW. IT'S.
YEAH. IT'S ON THE IS IT ON THE WEBSITE. IT'S ON THE WEBSITE I DID IT WAS REALLY QUITE EASY.
AND YOU GET A LITTLE SIGN THAT YOU CAN PUT UP IF YOU WANT TO.
PERFECT. YEAH. THEY'LL TRY TO SELL YOU A BUNCH OF SIGNS AND DIFFERENT THINGS TO PUT ON YOUR HOUSE.
YEAH, NOT LIKE AN LED SIGN. NO. WELL, LIKE, NO, NOT AN LED SIGN.
LIKE A, LIKE THOSE METAL SIGNS LIKE YOU PUT FOR YOUR KID PLAYING FOOTBALL.
YEAH. YOU DO GET A PAPER ONE. I WAS ALL EXCITED.
AND THEN I SAW IT WAS JUST A PAPER SIGN. I'M GOING TO LAMINATE MINE.
OR FOR THE MILLIONS LISTENING AT HOME, GO TO OUR WEBSITE AGAIN.
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE CERTIFIED WILDLIFE HABITAT.
SO YES. SO I EXPECT NEXT TIME I COME OUT THAT YOU'LL ALL BE THERE.
OKAY. NEXT. WELL, YOU HAVE TO DO CERTAIN ACTIVITIES TO BE CERTIFIED.
WE PROBABLY SHOULD PUT IT IN THE CHARTER TO MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT TO RUN FOR OFFICE.
THAT YOU HAVE TO. YOU TAKE THOSE SKUNKS AND PUT THEM IN YOUR YARD.
NO, I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SHELTER. YOU HAVE TO HAVE WATER.
AND, YOU KNOW, CREATE A PLACE WHERE ANIMALS AND BIRDS AND THINGS WANT TO LIVE.
BUT THEN I ALSO HAVE A DOG THAT CHASES EVERYTHING AWAY. SO THAT'S THE OTHER LIKE THAT, DOESN'T THEY? DON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST YOU, THOUGH. DOES MY OWL UNDER MY PATIO COUNT? HE VISITED ME EVERY DAY FOR A LONG TIME. YEAH, I KNOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME MORE THINGS TO IT TOO.
I HAD A SNAKE IN MY YARD. YEAH. OKAY. OUR 2025 EC INITIATIVES.
WE'D LIKE TO AGAIN EVALUATE THE TREE ORDINANCE TO SEE IF WE NEED TO UPDATE IT.
AND IT'S A. I KNOW WE HAVE TO BE A CAREFUL THING BECAUSE THE STATE HAS CERTAIN RULES AND WE WANT HIGHER RULES, BUT WE WANT TO. WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE TREE GIVEAWAY AND PLANTING.
PUBLIC PARKS AND ARBORETUM PLANTING. ARBOR DAY ACORNS TO OAKS AGAIN.
ALTON, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN IT COMES UP.
AND WE'LL BE DOING THE ANNUAL TREE RECOGNITION AGAIN.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE GREEN WASTE RECYCLING OPPORTUNITIES.
SORT OF LIKE IT'D BE NICE IF WE HAD SOMETHING.
WELL, THIS IS FOOD WASTE, BUT AT THE 4TH OF JULY.
WE SEE YOU, CHUCK. YOU CAN'T HIDE. ALSO, THE TOWN WE USED TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH LIVING EARTH THAT WE COULD DROP OFF, THAT RESIDENTS COULD DROP OFF, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S STILL SO I'M GOING TO LOOK INTO THAT TO SEE IF WE CAN STILL DO THAT. I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A TRUCK, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO DO, BUT IF YOU DO AND YOU COULD DROP OFF YOUR GREENWAYS, THAT LIVING EARTH. LIVING EARTH, I THINK, DID OUR AFTER THE STORM, DIDN'T THEY TURN OUR TREES INTO MULCH? DIDN'T LIVING EARTH DO THAT FOR US? I THINK SO THEY DID ASSIST ON THAT.
WHAT THEY DID? YEAH, I THOUGHT SO. YEAH. YEAH.
IF WE CAN'T GET THE GREEN WASTE GOING SOON. AND THAT REMINDS ME THAT THE PERSON FROM THE CULTURAL HE'S IS TEN YEARS IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, I THINK I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR, LIKE, HOW MANY YEARS?
[01:40:01]
20 YEARS. SO MAYBE SOMEDAY IT'D BE NICE. I DON'T THINK I'M SUPPOSED TO BE PUTTING THAT STUFF IN THERE, BUT. OKAY. SORRY. EVALUATE AND APPLY FOR BIRD CITY, TEXAS CERTIFICATION.THIS IS, LIKE, BRAND NEW, SO WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS.
WE KNOW IT'S SOMETHING LIKE THE HABITAT THING, BUT IT'S TO PROTECT THE BIRDS.
AND SO WE ARE THE STAFF IS STARTING TO LOOK INTO THAT TO SEE WHAT IS REQUIRED OF IT AND HOW WE CAN DO IT AND BE A BIRD CITY, TOO. AND CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION CERTIFIED WILD HABITAT, WHICH WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, AND WORK WITH STAFF TO MONITOR CERTIFICATION POINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THAT'S OUR. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. BUT ALTON IS GOING TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT ACORNS POST OAKS. ARE THE ARE THE SLIDES RIGHT THERE? THAT'S IT. OKAY. ANY IN MY HOUSE. ONCE I GET THERE, I'M ALL RIGHT.
EMPTY THAT OR OPEN IT. OKAY. HI. SORRY IT'S TAKING SO LONG TO GET HERE THIS EVENING. BUT THIS IS, I THINK, VERY IMPORTANT.
I WANTED TO MENTION ABOUT THE TREE RECOGNITION PROGRAM.
THAT WAS A SLIGHTLY DEVIOUS PROGRAM. WE WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO FIND OUT WHERE OUR REMARKABLE TREES ARE IN PRIVATE PROPERTIES AND ENCOURAGE THE RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE. AND IT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND WE'VE FOUND ABOUT 50.
THE TWO LARGEST POST OAKS IN TOWN, WHICH WERE 48 AND 49IN IN DIAMETER.
BUT THE WE'RE A PART OF THE CROSS TIMBERS AS WE ALL KNOW.
THERE WE ARE. RIGHT. IF I CAN GET IT RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S GRAPEVINE LAKE, AND THAT'S US IN THE EASTERN CROSS TIMBERS.
THEN THE WESTERN AND THOSE BLACK MARKS ARE THE OLD GROWTH FOREST, WHICH ALL OF THIS AREA WAS BLACK. OLD GROWTH FOREST.
IN 1832, WHEN WASHINGTON IRVING EXPLORED WITH THE ARMY PARTS OF THE CROSS TIMBERS. IT'S A GREAT BOOK. SO THE CROSS TIMBERS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE CROSS TIMBERS IS THE POST OAKS.
AND THE POST OAKS, UNFORTUNATELY, ARE THE ONLY THING, THE ONLY TREE THAT WE CAN'T REPLACE.
BUT IT'S THE THE TREE THAT IS THE ONE WE'RE LOSING THE MOST OF.
AND THESE SPECIMENS ARE 2 OR 300 YEARS OLD, NORTHERN INTO OKLAHOMA.
THEY GET TO BE FOUR, 500 YEARS OLD. WE BELIEVE THAT POSSIBLY CAME DOWN.
SO THEY'VE BEEN COEXISTING WITH THE NATIVE PRAIRIE FOR THE LAST 10,000 YEARS.
SO THEY'VE EVOLVED VERY SPECIAL NICHE IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THE POST OAKS, STOKES. THERE ARE SOME NEW BOOKS OUT WRITTEN BY ENTOMOLOGISTS THAT ARE TELLING US WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON. AND IT SEEMS THAT THE POST OAKS ARE THE KEYSTONE SPECIES.
THAT IS, EVERYTHING BUILDS ON THE POST OAKS. AND LIKE I SAY, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WE'RE LOSING THE MOST OF, BUT THE ONLY ONES WE CAN'T REPLACE FROM NURSERIES, IT'S NOT AVAILABLE.
THEY SAY, WELL, ACTUALLY, THE PROBLEM IS THEY'RE NOT PROFITABLE.
IT TAKES THEIR SLOWER GROWING AND THEY'RE TRICKY TO GROW.
SO WE STARTED A PROGRAM, THE ACORNS TO OAKS. THIS IS WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THAT.
HOW CAN WE GET AROUND THAT? SO THIS IS OUR ANSWER.
THIS GUY ACTUALLY, IF EVERYBODY CAN SEE. WE GERMINATED THIS LITTLE TREE IN DECEMBER.
WE GATHERED. AND THIS IS MYSELF AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE MASTER GARDENERS.
[01:45:01]
MASTER NATURALISTS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT KNOW PLANTS.HOW CAN THEY HELP US? AND SO THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS WE GATHERED AND REALLY, IN A COUPLE OF HOURS, IT'S NOT HARD. THOSE ARE 3000 ACRES, 1500 ACRES IN EACH BUCKET FROM TWO TREES ON OUR PROPERTY.
WE HAVE TWO ACRES. THE BACK ACRE HAS TEN LARGE POST OAKS.
SO IN THE MIDDLE BUCKET THERE GERMINATED. AND WHAT YOU DO IS YOU GATHER THE ACORNS AND YOU PUT THEM IN A BAGGIE, PLASTIC BAGGIE OF WET SAWDUST AND THROW IT IN THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR.
IN SIX WEEKS, THEY'RE SPROUTED. AND THEN YOU TAKE THIS SPROUT AND YOU PLANT IT THERE.
BUT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WAY WE'VE LEARNED IS YOU PUT THEM WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO LIVE.
THE NURSERIES AREN'T SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WHEN YOU WHEN YOU DO THIS, AND OUR PLANS ARE TO TRANSPLANT ALL OF THESE, AND YOU LET IT GROW UP TO THE SIZE THAT OF THE POST OAKS THAT WE FINALLY FOUND.
THERE'S A NURSERY IN MAHIA THAT SAYS THEY HAVE POST OAKS.
WE PUT THEM INTO THIS, THIS PROGRAM THAT WE MENTIONED IN THE PARKS WITH THE PARK DEPARTMENT.
AND I UNDERSTAND ONE OF THEM HAS EXPIRED. THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT THEY GET ROOT BOUND IN THESE A 90 GALLON CONTAINER. WELL, THAT'S NOT THE BEST CONDITION FOR THE POST OAKS.
THIS GUY SPENDS HIS WHOLE FIRST YEAR. THAT'S ALL HE'LL BE FOR A WHOLE YEAR, BECAUSE HE'S SENDING DOWN A TAPROOT AS DEEP AS IT CAN IN ONE YEAR. AND THE NEXT YEAR, THEY START LEAFING OUT.
SO LET'S SEE IF I GOT. OH, THERE WE ARE. THIS ONE ON THE LEFT.
SO WE TOOK THOSE ACORNS. WE SPREAD 300 OF THEM OUT TO THE MASTER NATURALISTS AND GARDENERS, AND THEY'RE IN POTS LIKE THIS. AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
AND THEN THE DISCOVERY THAT I MADE. THIS IS OUR BACKYARD.
THE OLD CORRAL. WE I PLANTED 300 OF THESE ACRES.
AND WE'VE GOT ABOUT A 90% THERE LIKE THIS IN ROWS NOW.
SO IT'S THE FIRST NURSERY OF POST OAKS THAT I KNOW OF IN FLOWER MOUND.
AND THEN THE ONE ON THE LEFT THERE IS A LITTLE GUY.
THESE ARE VOLUNTEERS. DIDN'T PLANT THAT. IT JUST CAME UP.
AND SEE ALL THE STAKES. THAT'S A FEW OF THEM.
AND SO WE HAVE A THOUSAND WITH THE 300 PLANTED AND 6 OR 700 VOLUNTEERS IN OUR ACRE BACKYARD. SO NOW I CAN'T MOW. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DISCOVERING, THAT THEY WILL COME UP.
NATURE WANTS TO RESTORE ITSELF. IT'S WE JUST HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND LET IT HAPPEN.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND IT'S IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
I THINK THAT WE CAN START A PROGRAM WITH THE HELP OF THE TOWN.
WHAT WE PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO DO IS DEDICATE A POSITION AS A MASTER GARDENER.
THE GARDENER IN CHIEF OF THE POST OAKS FOR THE TOWN.
THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET. BUT THIS PROGRAM, I THINK, WILL START TO REPLACE THEM.
SO WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. WE HAVE THOUSANDS.
WE'VE LOST 20% OF OUR POST OAKS SINCE SAY, 50 YEARS IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.
YEAH. WE'RE THE MOST SCENIC TOWN IN TEXAS. AND I SAY YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT 50 YEARS AGO.
BUT THE POSITIVE THING IS THAT WE CAN TAKE IT BACK THERE.
WE CAN WITH THIS PROGRAM. WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TO GET IT STARTED, TO KICK IT OFF.
AND SO WE PLANNED A THOUSAND A YEAR, AND THEN WE CAN BUMP IT UP.
THE ACORNS ARE FREE. EACH ONE OF THESE BIG POST OAKS WILL DO 4 OR 5000 ACORNS A YEAR
[01:50:07]
IN THE FALL. THE ANIMALS SPREAD THEM AROUND. WE'RE FULL OF SQUIRRELS IN OUR PLACE AND THEY PLANT THEM ALL OVER.YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY THAT THAT ACORN COULD GET OVER WHERE THEY'RE PLANTING THEM.
BUT WE'VE ALSO DISCOVERED THE BIGGEST DISTRIBUTOR OF ACORNS IS BLUE JAYS. BLUE JAYS EAT POST OAKS, ACORNS.
AND THEY'RE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED. THEY'VE EVOLVED ALSO OVER THE LAST 10,000 YEARS WITH THE POST OAKS.
THAT'S ALL THEY ALL THEY EAT IS ACORNS, AND THEY HAVE A GULLET SPECIAL THAT CARRY 4 OR 5 ACORNS AND THEN ONE IN THEIR MOUTH AND THEY FLY UP TO A MILE AWAY, WHICH IS THE SQUIRRELS DON'T DO THAT, BUT THE BLUE JAYS WILL SPREAD THEM MORE.
AND THE SPECIES HAS EVOLVED BECAUSE OF THE BLUE JAYS.
AND SO THIS IS NEW INFORMATION ALSO THE POST OAKS MORE THAN ANY OTHER PLANT, THEY HAVE 500 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF CATERPILLARS AND INSECTS THAT THEY HOST THAT WHAT DO BABY BIRDS EAT? THEY DON'T EAT SEEDS OR THEY EAT CATERPILLARS.
AND SO IF WE LOSE 20% OF OUR POST OAKS, WE'VE LOST 20% OF OUR CATERPILLARS AND THEREFORE 20% OF OUR SONGBIRDS AND ANYBODY THAT MARCIA GAVITT OTHERS THAT ARE AUDUBON PEOPLE THAT WATCH THE BIRDS. WE'VE ALL NOTICED THERE'S NOT AS MANY BIRDS AS THERE USED TO BE.
AND THIS IS PROBABLY WHY SO BUT POSITIVE THING IS THAT HERE'S AN ANSWER TO TURN IT AROUND.
AND THAT'S WHAT OUR PROGRAM IS. AND I THINK ULTIMATELY WHEN WE GET IT FIGURED OUT, WHEN WE'RE SURE THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND SEASON WE NEED A THIRD SEASON TO SEE THEY SAY THAT YOU CAN TRANSPLANT THESE IN THE DORMANT SEASON.
THEN THEY'LL STAY THERE DORMANT UNTIL YOU PUT THEM IN THE GROUND.
AND THEN THEY'LL PICK BACK UP. SO THAT'S OUR NEXT CHALLENGE FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE IT.
AND I, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WATCHED THE MEETING WHERE YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS.
AND I GOT SO EXCITED. AND WE HAVE BETWEEN MY PARENTS AND OUR POST OAKS, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW THAT THAT HAVE ACORNS, THAT DROP ACORNS, AND WE HAVE SOME PLACES THAT WE'D LIKE TO PLANT THEM.
AND I'M GOING TO CONVINCE MY HUSBAND NOT TO MOW BECAUSE HE IS THE BEST MOWER THERE IS.
WE'RE GOING TO CATCH A LOT OF FLACK ABOUT THAT. YEAH, RIGHT.
BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO PLANT THEM WHERE WE WANT THE TREE.
EXACTLY. AND THAT. THAT'S A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.
WE ENTER MEDIARY. WE JUST AND THEN THE NEXT STEP IS TO FIND OUT WHO NEEDS A TREE.
AND THESE ARE GOING TO BE FREE FROM THE TOWN BECAUSE THE ACORNS ARE FREE.
ALL WE NEED IS A SMALL STAFF TO GERMINATE THEM EVERY YEAR.
AND 300 YEARS LATER, YOU KNOW IT'S STILL THERE AT ALL.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE LONGEST LIVED PLANT IN IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS OF ANYTHING.
300 YEARS. THAT'S AMAZING. SO IT'S A IT CAN BE DONE, AND IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE.
DO WE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE TWO, OR DO WE JUST KIND OF USE THAT TERM FOR BOTH TYPES OF THE BLACKJACK IS LIKE THE SECOND MOST POPULOUS OAK IN THE CROSS TIMBERS, AND IT'S NOT AS DRAMATIC. IT'S NOT AS LARGE, IS ALL, BUT THEY'RE A BEAUTIFUL TREE, TOO. AND IT'S I THINK THE POST OAKS ARE A LOT MORE DRAMATIC.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF BLACKJACKS, BUT THEY'RE IT'S PROBABLY 20 TO 100 IN RELATION TO THE, JAKE CAN TELL US MORE SPECIFICALLY, I'M SURE, HE'S OUR EXPERT.
AND WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE OUR STAFF. THEY'VE BEEN GREAT.
WE'VE BEEN. WE'RE GOING ON, WHAT, 32 YEARS NOW?
[01:55:03]
THE ECC, FORMALLY THE TREE BOARD, AND I THINK IT'S.IT'S BEEN A REAL I THINK THE, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL THING THAT I'VE EVER DONE.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF LOSSES YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT LOSSES.
BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT WE WOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY IF WE HAD NOT HAD THE TREE BOARD.
IT IS, IT DOES WORK. BUT I THINK IF WE HAVE A WAY TO REPLACE OUR LOSSES, THEN FORT WORTH HAS A PROGRAM, AND THEY'RE REPLACING THEIR LOSSES WITH THE NATURAL GAS FUNDS THAT COME IN, AND. BUT THEY DON'T DO POSTDOCS. SO WE NEED TO DO POSTDOCS, AND WE'LL GET THERE.
AND THEY LIST A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS ABOUT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
BUT I BELIEVE THE REAL REASON WE'RE THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY IS BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU AND OUR STAFF AND OUR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. YOU ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR TOWN, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART BECAUSE YOU ARE MAKING SUCH A DIFFERENCE. WE WOULDN'T HAVE WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IF NOT FOR YOU ALL, SO THANK YOU.
DOES ANYONE, ANYBODY WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE? I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AGAIN FOR COMING TONIGHT.
I ENJOYED LISTENING TO ALL OF THE UPDATES, ALL THE INITIATIVES.
IT IS AMAZING. THANK YOU FOR STAYING THIS EVENING.
YOU GUYS DIDN'T HAVE TO STAY FOR THE WHOLE THING. AND YEAH IT'S 7:57, AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
GOOD NIGHT FLOWER MOUND. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.