[00:00:03]
GOOD EVENING FLOWER MOUND. THE TIME IS NOW 6 P.M.
[A. CALL TO ORDER ]
AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER. WE WILL START THIS MEETING TONIGHT WITH OUR INVOCATION WITH CHAPLAIN WAKEFIELD.SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RISE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGES.
IF YOU'D JOIN ME IN PRAYER. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AT THE START OF THIS EVENING JUST TO RECOGNIZE THE LOSS THAT IS FELT BY THE FAMILY OF PRIVATE ISABELLA GONZALES.
LORD, THE SERVICE AND THE SACRIFICE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GIVE OF THEMSELVES SO SELFLESSLY IS OFTEN SOMETHING WE TAKE FOR GRANTED. I ASK THAT TONIGHT AND MOVING FORWARD WITH INTENTIONALITY, WE WOULD SHOW OUR GRATITUDE, AND WE WOULD LOOK FOR WAYS TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO GIVE SO MUCH TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FREEDOMS ARE SECURE.
AND LORD, TURNING TO THE EVENTS OF TONIGHT, I ASK FOR CLARITY AND WISDOM.
I ASK THAT THERE WOULD BE AN ABILITY TO DISCUSS MATTERS WITH CANDOR AND WITH GRACE, AND THAT YOU WOULD JUST GIVE US THE THE MEN AND WOMEN IN CHARGE OF THESE DECISIONS FOR OUR TOWN, AN ABILITY TO SEE ALL OF THE PIECES AND MAKE WISE DECISIONS FOR THE MOVING, WHAT WE HAVE MOVING FORWARD IN THIS TOWN. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY.
AMEN. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS.
ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH PRESENTATIONS. AND WE HAVE, I THINK.
WE HAVE JILL. MAYOR THAT'S JUST THE TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY PRESENTATIONS.
OKAY. I WAS LIKE, WHY DOES THAT SAY? I THOUGHT WE HAD.
OKAY. I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ON THAT ONE. OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY.
[E. PUBLIC COMMENT ]
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS? JUST THAT ONE.GOT EVERYTHING ALL OVER. I HAVE ALL MY PAPERS EVERYWHERE.
OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE, THIS IS A TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND THIS IS A TIME TO DISCUSS ANYTHING THAT ANY ITEM ON THIS AGENDA THAT IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.
AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.
SO IT'S A FREE FOR ALL. ALL RIGHT. THE FIRST PERSON IS PATSY MIZEUR.
PATSY MIZEUR 1821 CASTLE COURT. FLOWER MOUND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SEE, IT'S THE COUNCIL'S CONTENTION, AS WELL AS OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, THAT WE MIGHT NEED A VATRE OR A VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE INCREASE ELECTION BECAUSE WE'RE EXPERIENCING A BUDGET SHORTFALL IN TOWN. THE SHORTFALL THEY WANT TO BLAME ON STATE BILL TWO OR SB TWO BACK FROM 2019.
YES, A BILL THAT WAS PASSED OVER SIX AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
AS A TAXPAYER, I BELIEVE SB TWO WAS WRITTEN FOR ME AND ALL OF THE TAXPAYERS IN FLOWER MOUND, AS WELL AS THE STATE OF TEXAS. SB 2 LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF TAXES A MUNICIPALITY CAN RAISE WITHOUT GOING TO THE VOTERS.
IF THIS COUNCIL COULD READ BETWEEN THE LINES OF SB TWO AND ITS LIMITATIONS, YOU SEE LIMITATIONS, I SEE OPPORTUNITY. YOU MIGHT HAVE REALIZED THE BEST WAY TO CIRCUMVENT OUR TOWN'S LACK OF TAX DOLLARS IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AT LEAST AUSTIN IS LIMITING FLOWER MOUND COUNCIL'S IRRESPONSIBILITY.
AND HERE IS THE IRRESPONSIBILITY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[00:05:07]
DAYCARE OUTSTANDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT'S DEFINITELY NOT SOLVING OUR PROBLEM IF THEY'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT VATRE.OUR GREAT STATE OF TEXAS IS CONSISTENTLY RANKED IN THE TOP FIVE STATES IN THE UNION FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT NOT HERE IN FLOWER MOUND. COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE YOU AWARE THAT BACK IN THE LATE 90S, OUR COUNCIL APPROVED THE TAXPAYERS FOOTING THE BILL FOR THE $30 MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AT LAKESIDE? YEP, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
AND JUST 12 SHORT WEEKS LATER, AFTER 30 YEARS, MARRIOTT CAME WITH PLANS FOR MARRIOTT RESIDENCE IN THE NUMBER ONE ALL SUITE HOTEL IN THE COUNTRY. EVERY PERSON IN THIS ROOM HAS PROBABLY STAYED AT A RESIDENCE INN, BUT THIS COUNCIL TURN MARRIOTT IN ITS $400,000 IN TAX REVENUE DOWN BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT AGAINST IT WANTED A BOUTIQUE HOTEL, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY PROMISED BY THE INITIAL DEVELOPER OF LAKESIDE, WHO IS NOW BANKRUPT, I WONDER WHY? YOU ALL MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THE RESIDENTS AT THAT MEETING.
THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS CALL FOR A HOTEL, NOT A BOUTIQUE HOTEL.
YOU SAVED THAT TIDBIT FOR THE NEXT MEETING SO YOU COULD SAY NO TO $400,000 IN TAX REVENUE.
YOU KNOW, FOLKS, A HALF TRUTH IS STILL A WHOLE LIE.
THIS VADER IS LIKE A TEENAGER BEGGING HIS PARENTS FOR A RAISE IN HIS ALLOWANCE AND THE PARENTS SAYING, IF YOU WANT MORE MONEY, GO GET A JOB. COUNCIL MEMBERS GO GET A JOB.
HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING. WE HAVE ANNIE. I CAN'T READ THIS LAST NAME.
ZIBASSI. IS THAT. IS THAT CLOSE? HI, I'M ANNIE LIBASSI AND I GO TO FOUNDERS CLASSICAL ACADEMY IN LOUISVILLE.
I'M GOING TO BE A SOPHOMORE NEXT YEAR. A MONTH OR SO AGO, MY DAD AND I WERE WALKING TO CHURCH.
WE CROSSED THE STREET RIGHT BEFORE THE INTERSECTION AT VALLEY RIDGE BOULEVARD AND BROWNING DRIVE.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS AREA, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO MARCUS, IS DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS, PEDESTRIANS AND BIKERS ALIKE. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE EVEN MORE EVIDENCE THAT THIS INTERSECTION IS DEADLY.
SINCE NOVEMBER 2ND, 2025. IN DECEMBER, ISHA MISHRA LOST HER LIFE AT THIS INTERSECTION.
SINCE THE INTERSECTION WAS INITIALLY WAS INITIALLY MEANT FOR CARS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEDESTRIANS AND BIKERS ARE WELCOME AND SAFE BY MAKING IT UNIQUE. WE COULD PAINT THE INTERSECTION WITH BRIGHT COLORS AND DESIGNS TO CATCH DRIVERS ATTENTION AND SLOW, AND SHOW THIS USED BY MANY PEDESTRIANS. ONE IDEA IS TO HOLD AN ART COMPETITION TO EMBELLISH THE STREET.
WE COULD INSTALL TEMPORARY SPEED BUMPS. WE COULD USE HAY BALES AT THE INTERSECTION TO MAKE THE ROAD NARROWER AND MAKE DRIVERS GO SLOWER, EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT RUFFLE SOME FEATHERS. A MORE PERMANENT IDEA IS TO ADD ANOTHER CROSSWALK THAT IS SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS, BECAUSE THERE'S A HILL THERE AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR PEDESTRIANS TO SEE OVER IT.
THESE COULD EVOLVE INTO MORE PERMANENT, PERMANENT SOLUTIONS AS ANNUAL ART CONTEST, PERMANENT SPEED BUMPS EXTENDING THE CURB AND ADDING LIGHTS FOR CROSSWALKS. PERSONALLY, I LOVE THE IDEA OF AN ANNUAL PAINTING CONTEST WHERE THE WINNER GETS TO HAVE THE WORK PAINTED, HAVE THEIR WORK PAINTED ON THE STREET. THANK YOU ANNIE.
HOW DO YOU SPELL YOUR LAST NAME? L I B A S S I.
I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A Z AND NOT AN L.
I APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD. AND THAT WAS VERY TOUCHING THAT YOU BRING THAT FORWARD.
THANK YOU. AND WE WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. OKAY. WE HAVE YOLI JOHNSON.
[00:10:09]
HELLO, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS YOLI JOHNSON AND I'M A RESIDENT OF FLOWER MOUND, AND I AM ALSO A SCOUTING VOLUNTEER.I'M HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE FLOWER MOUND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH SEVERAL FIREFIGHTERS LIKE JOHN DAVIS, TOM NICHOL, CAPTAIN JOE NESTO, AMONG MANY OTHERS, AS THEY ROLLED OUT A PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCOUTING AMERICA TO FORM A FIRE EMS EXPLORERS POST.
THE POST IS MADE UP OF 14 TO 20 YEAR OLDS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE FIRE EMS CAREERS, AND IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN REAL WORLD SKILLS IN THAT PROFESSION. WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING IN MID-APRIL AND ALREADY THEY HAVE BECOME FIRST AID CERTIFIED, LEARNING THINGS SUCH AS HOW TO IDENTIFY STROKE VICTIMS, DIABETIC EMERGENCIES, CHOKING, HEAT STROKE, HEAT EXHAUSTION, TOURNIQUETS AND SLINGS, AND EVEN INCIDENCE RESPONSE.
OUR EXPLORER CADETS WORKED RIGHT ALONG OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS PROFESSIONALS AT THIS YEAR'S INDEPENDENCE FEST, AND THEY HAD A BLAST SERVING THE CITY ALONGSIDE THEM.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE WERE ON THE LAKE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LEARNING WATER RESCUE TECHNIQUES, USE OF THE WATER CANNON, SONAR AND WATER DRONES.
THE TRAINING THEY ARE RECEIVING IS TOP NOTCH.
THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE DELIVERING EDUCATION AND MENTORING IN A WAY THAT NOT ONLY KEEPS THEM ENGAGED, BUT EAGER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FIRE EMS CAREERS.
THEY WELCOMED US INTO THEIR FIRE STATION HOME AND MADE US FEEL LIKE FAMILY.
THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH ME, CHIEF, TO CREATE THIS EXPLORER'S POST FOR OUR FLOWER MOUND YOUTH.
YOUR ENTHUSIASM IS CONTAGIOUS. I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT IT HAS TAKEN YOUR DEPARTMENT, AND LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE NICOLE WOODARD.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M NICOLE SMITH WOODARD.
THE CHAMBER SERVES, AS, YOU KNOW, AS A STRATEGIC GATEWAY TO FLOWER MOUND BUSINESS COMMUNITY, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 600 LOCAL EMPLOYERS INVESTED IN THE LONG TERM STABILITY, CHARACTER AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR TOWN.
WE ARE PROUD TO BE A FIVE STAR ACCREDITED CHAMBER BY THE US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, A DISTINCTION EARNED BY ONLY 3% OF CHAMBERS NATIONWIDE, AND WE ARE SUPREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE TOWN'S CONTINUED SUPPORT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR POSITIVE RESPONSE AND YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THE CHAMBER.
NOW, SINCE THAT TIME, THE CHAMBER HAS PARTNERED WITH THE TOWN AND SENT SURVEYS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THE RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY WITH YOU AT A FUTURE DATE.
WE'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME UPCOMING EVENTS. THE CHAMBER'S ANNUAL UNITY AND COMMUNITIES LUNCHEON.
THERE'S STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR THAT ON JULY 28TH.
THIS IS AN EVENT THAT WE PARTNER WITH THE HIGHLAND VILLAGE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND LOUISVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHERE OVER 300 AREA RESIDENTS WILL CELEBRATE THE INCREDIBLE NONPROFITS MAKING A MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I HOPE YOU HAVE THAT ON YOUR CALENDAR. THERE STILL MAY BE A FEW SEATS AVAILABLE AT ALSO NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP FLOWER MOUND ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED.
LEADERSHIP FLOWER MOUND IS THE CHAMBER'S PREMIER LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED LEADERS WHO WANT TO DEEPEN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF OUR COMMUNITY WHILE STRENGTHENING THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS. I GRADUATED FROM LEADERSHIP FLOWER MOUND IN 2016 AND CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT THE EXPERIENCE DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED MY TRAJECTORY OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AT THAT TIME TEN AND A HALF YEARS LATER.
WHEN WE EXPANDED OUR SPACE THIS YEAR OVER IN PARKER SQUARE, IT WAS OUR INTENTION TO PROVIDE SPACES FOR BUSINESSES TO COLLABORATE, PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE, AND EXPLORE ALL THE LOCAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE THREE BUSINESSES JUST THIS PAST WEEK MEET IN CHAMBER OFFICES TO PLAN THEIR STRATEGIC PLANS.
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP COUNCIL INFORMED.
WE SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU NICOLE.
OKAY. WE HAVE KRISTY ANDERSON AND SHE'S DOING A PRESENTATION.
[00:15:10]
HI, KRISTY ANDERSON, I LIVE HERE IN FLOWER MOUND.I'M A FORMER FIRST RESPONDER, OWNER OF DEEP IN THE HEART CPR AND A PARAMEDIC INSTRUCTOR TEACHING MONTHLY OVERDOSE PREVENTION CLASSES OVER AT THE CAC AND PET CPR TWO. ON SATURDAY, JULY 11TH, 7-ELEVEN SLURPEE DAY.
I ORGANIZED FLOWER MOUND INAUGURAL WALK FOR LIVES AT NICOLE'S FAIRY TREE IN GLENWOOD PARK, JUST WEST OF THE SENIOR CENTER. WALK FOR LIVES IS A NATIONAL UNITED AGAINST FENTANYL GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE THAT BROUGHT ABOUT 9000 PARTICIPANTS IN MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITIES ACROSS ALL 50 STATES, INCLUDING NINE HERE IN TEXAS.
AND THIS WAS THIS EVENT WASN'T ABOUT POLITICS.
IT WAS ABOUT NEIGHBORS, HONORING LOVED ONES, LEARNING HOW TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT, AND REMEMBERING THAT EVERY PERSON STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION IS SOMEONE'S CHILD, SOMEONE'S PARENT, SOMEONE'S SIBLING, OR SOMEONE'S BEST FRIEND. DESPITE THE HEAT, 28 RESIDENTS OFFICIALLY SIGNED IN, WITH MANY MORE ATTENDING FROM ROYSE CITY, ARLINGTON AND ALLEN.
JOINING US WERE AGENTS FROM THE DALLAS DEA, DENTON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, LOUISVILLE'S PARKS AND REC, AND SENATE REPRESENTATIVE BUMGARNER. WE CREATED SIDEWALK ART, PAINTED MEMORY ROCKS, LEARNED LIFE SAVING SKILLS, AND HANDED OUT FREE BOXES OF NARCAN. AND WE FINISHED WITH A HALF MILE MEMORIAL WALK BEHIND FLOWER MOUND ELEMENTARY, HONORING THOSE WE'VE LOST AND REMINDING FAMILIES THAT THEY NEVER HAVE TO WALK ALONE.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT, AND TO JANE GRAY AND GREG CREWS, WHOSE WILLINGNESS TO SHARE NICOLE'S STORY HAS TRANSFORMED GRIEF INTO HOPE AND HEALING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
NICOLE WAS ONLY 19 WHEN FENTANYL TOOK HER LIFE, YET HER LEGACY CONTINUES TO SAVE LIVES.
I SHARED INVITATIONS WITH THIS COUNCIL, POLICE FIRE PRESBY LISD SCHOOLS WINNING THE FIGHT AND CIVIC LEADERS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL RALLY AROUND. I HOPE NEXT YEAR WE'LL SEE MORE OF OUR TOWN COME OUT AND STAND ALONGSIDE OUR NEIGHBORS AFFECTED BY ADDICTION.
NOT BECAUSE IT'S MY EVENT, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS OUR TOWN.
FENTANYL DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ZIP CODES, CITY LIMITS, INCOME LEVELS, OR POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS.
OPIOID OVERDOSE AFFECTS FAMILIES EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN TOWN.
NEXT YEAR, I HOPE OUR WALK FOR LIVES IS EVEN STRONGER WITH MORE PEOPLE COMING OUT.
BECAUSE IF ONE CONVERSATION HELPS SAVE ONE LIFE, EACH STEP WE TOOK, EVEN IN THE JULY HEAT, IT WAS WORTH THE WALK. SO I GAVE YOU GUYS SOME HANDOUTS, SHOWING SOME PICTURES.
AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK OUT AND THANK THE FOLKS WHO CAME OUT TO SUPPORT TONIGHT.
THANK YOU KRISTY. YEAH. LET'S MAKE THIS A BIG EVENT NEXT YEAR.
WE GOOD? OKAY. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME DURING PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE I CLOSE IT? OKAY, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. DOES ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WISH TO MAKE ANY ANNOUNCEMENT?
[F. ANNOUNCEMENTS ]
I DO, YEAH, I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS.AND THE HIGHLIGHT OF THAT MEETING WILL BE A PRESENTATION ON THE HISTORIC FARMS IN FLOWER MOUND.
SO THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING TO LEARN ABOUT OUR FLOWER MOUND HISTORY.
AND THEN ON SATURDAY PARKS AND REC IS HOSTING COMMUNITY FIELD DAY AND SUMMER SOCIAL FROM 10 TO 2 AT HERITAGE PARK WITH FIELD DAY TYPE GAMES, FITNESS CLASSES, CREATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, FOOD TRUCKS, AND MORE.
SO IT'LL BE HOT, BUT COME OUT AND JOIN US. ALL RIGHT.
WELL, I'LL PIGGYBACK ON THAT ABOUT THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
THERE'S ANOTHER EVENT THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO ATTEND FROM JULY 27TH THROUGH AUGUST 12TH.
THE FLOWER MOUND CHAPTER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, OF WHICH MY WIFE IS A MEMBER, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DENTON COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION, WHICH OUR CHAIR OF OUR HISTORICAL COMMISSION IS A MEMBER, WILL HOST THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION EXPERIENCE AT THE DENTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE ON THE SQUARE MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN DENTON.
ADMISSION IS FREE AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE WHILE IT IS HERE IN DENTON COUNTY.
THE EXHIBIT OPENS WITH A PUBLIC CEREMONY AT 5 P.M.
[00:20:01]
ON MONDAY, JULY 27TH, AND WILL REMAIN ON DISPLAY THROUGH AUGUST 12TH.THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? I HAVE NONE. THAT WAS GOOD. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL GO ON TO THE TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT.
[G. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT ]
JAMES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. WE HAVE THREE ITEMS, THE FIRST OF WHICH, MAYOR, IF YOU CAN JOIN ME ON THE FLOOR FOR A SERVICE RECOGNITION.SO ONE OF THE GREAT PRIVILEGES I GET IS ONCE A MONTH, WE RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES THAT REACH CERTAIN MILESTONES, 15 YEARS OR GREATER AND FIVE YEAR INCREMENTS.
HE'S A SERGEANT IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S THE THAT'S THE HOT SPOT. SO SERGEANT JAHNKE WAS HIRED ON AS A POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT IN JULY OF 2006, HE WAS PROMOTED TO POLICE OFFICER IN DECEMBER OF 06' AFTER GRADUATING THE POLICE ACADEMY.
SO HE HAS AN EXCITING MILESTONE AHEAD. HIS SON AND HIS DAUGHTER IN LAW ARE EXPECTING.
SO HE'LL BE, HE'LL BE CELEBRATING HIS NEW ROLE AS A FIRST TIME GRANDFATHER IN NOVEMBER.
SO WE WISH YOU CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT ONE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR UPCOMING BECOMING A GRANDFATHER.
AND THANK YOU FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE TOWN OF FLOWER MOUND. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO JILL, COME ON UP. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JILL COME UP AND GIVE A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF OUR INDEPENDENCE FEST. AND AFTER THAT, I HAVE A BRIEF COMMENT AT THE DESK.
SO, JILL, YOU TAKE IT AWAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. LET ME JUST PULL UP MY POWERPOINT REAL QUICK.
I BELIEVE THAT'S IT. YES, THAT IS IT. ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR MOORE AND TOWN COUNCIL EMPLOYEES, AND ALSO TO THE TOWNSPEOPLE.
AND HERE I AM GOING TO SUMMARIZE OUR JULY 4TH CHILDREN'S PARADE AND INDEPENDENCE FEST, WHICH WAS A VERY EXCITING YEAR BECAUSE 250. ALL RIGHT, AT 10:15 A.M., OUR CHILDREN'S PARADE HEADED TO LEONARD AND HELEN JOHNS COMMUNITY PARK, PER USUAL. WE HAD ABOUT 2500 PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR PATRIOTIC GEAR AND THEY, AS YOU CAN SEE IN SOME OF THESE PHOTOS HERE.
OH, AND BY THE WAY, YOU GUYS WERE THERE AS WELL.
WE HAD SIX BOUNCE HOUSES AND INTERACTIVE DJ MAGIC SHOW, UNCLE SAM.
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. SO THANK YOU TO OUR 15 VENDORS, 50 PLUS STAFF WHO WORKED AT THE EVENT, AND OVER 100, YES, OVER 100 VOLUNTEERS WHO CAME OUT FOR A FANTASTIC MORNING.
LATER THAT EVENING, WE MOVE INTO OUR EVENING FESTIVAL, WHICH TOOK PLACE AT BAKERSFIELD PARK.
THAT KICKED OFF AT 5 P.M. FOR THE 250 ANNIVERSARY.
AND WE ESTIMATE THAT WE HAD OVER 29,000 GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE.
MAYOR CHERYL MOORE LED OUR PATRIOTIC CEREMONIES FEATURING A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR OUR MILITARY, A COLOR GUARD PRESENTATION BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE NATIONAL ANTHEM SUNG BY MARCUS HIGH SCHOOL ALUM JOHN LIDDELL.
[00:25:03]
THE FESTIVAL ALSO FEATURED 62 VENDORS. WE HAD 17 FOOD VENDORS.THERE WAS A MASSIVE KIDS, WE HAVE NEW ACTIVITIES INCLUDING NINJA PROJECT AND GO GAGA BALL.
YMCA'S GAMING TRUCK WAS BACK THIS YEAR AND WE HAD THE NEWLY CHRISTENED JIM ENGEL CAR SHOW.
EMERGENCY SERVICES REPORTED JUST 71 CONTACTS.
OVER TWO THIRDS OF THOSE WERE MINOR, AND ONLY 6% OF THEM, INCREDIBLY, WERE HEAT RELATED.
SO THANK YOU FOR STAYING HYDRATED AND HELPING LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER ON A HOT, HOT DAY.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT OUR BIGGEST EVENT IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THIS COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU TO OUR FANTASTIC SPONSORS INCLUDING KELLY FAMILY, MCDONALD'S, COSERV, MHS PLANNING AND DESIGN, CAFE SMILE STUDIO, PASCAL, F AND F CONCRETE, KIMLEY-HORN REPUBLIC AND MANY, MANY OTHERS.
WE ARE ALSO DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO OUR VOLUNTEERS.
AND FINALLY, THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE TOWN DEPARTMENTS, POLICE, FIRE, COMMUNICATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND REC. IT REALLY DOES TAKE EVERYBODY TO BE A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT PUTS THIS SHOW ON.
AND OF COURSE, THAT INCLUDES YOU, TOWN COUNCIL.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME PRESENT THIS EVENING.
JILL, YOU NEVER DISAPPOINT. YOU ALWAYS DO A GREAT PRESENTATION.
WELL THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. I AM PLEASED TO BE HERE.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE STATISTICS.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN ASKING. SO HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE? AND I HAD I ESTIMATED WAY, WAY LOWER. SO 29,000 IS AMAZING.
YES. SO WE ARE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE. WE REALLY ENJOYED IT.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. AWESOME. GLAD TO HEAR IT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, NO. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
SO THANKS, JILL. SO THE LAST ITEM I JUST WANTED TO SHARE IS, IS THAT IF YOU'VE BEEN TO OUR WEBSITE HERE IN PROBABLY THE LAST MONTH OR SO, YOU MAY NOTICE A INTERESTING LITTLE ICON IN THE CORNER THAT ASKS, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? AND THAT IS OUR AI CHATBOT ON OUR WEBSITE NAMED FLORA.
SO PEOPLE ASK THE QUESTION. I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE RECEIVE IS, WHAT ARE YOU? IT'S A BLUEBONNET. WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP IN THE THEME OF A FLOWER MOUND.
BUT THIS IS A GREAT APPROACH THAT WE'VE TAKEN BECAUSE WE'VE RECEIVED NUMEROUS QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FROM YOU AS A COUNCIL TO SAY, HOW CAN WE MAKE THE INTERFACE WITH OUR DEPARTMENT A LOT SMOOTHER? TYPICALLY, WE HAVE A SEARCH FUNCTION THAT WENT THROUGH GOOGLE, AND SOMETIMES IT'LL TAKE YOU TO THE RIGHT PLACE, SOMETIMES NOT. BUT WITH THIS CHATBOT, IT'S A LOT, A LOT MORE DIRECT AND TAKES YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO GO WITH THIS PROCESS.
AND ACTUALLY, THIS RELATIONSHIP WAS BORN OUT OF OUR CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER JP WALTON, GOING TO A CONFERENCE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND HE HAPPENED TO RUN INTO THE CEO OF A COMPANY CALLED POLYMORPHIC.
AND THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT IS, IS THAT THE CEO'S PARENTS ARE FLOWER MOUND RESIDENTS.
SO HE HAD A VESTED INTEREST IN TRYING TO DELIVER SOMETHING.
AND THAT MEANS THAT THROUGH THE CHATBOT, THE QUESTIONS WERE RESOLVED ALL THE WAY TO COMPLETION.
IT HAS A 4.3 OUT OF FIVE AI QUALITY RATING, WHICH IS THEIR INTERNAL METRICS FOR POLYMORPHIC TO IN FOR ANYTHING OVER FOUR IS CONSIDERED STRONG. SO SO FAR WE'RE GETTING STRONG FEEDBACK FROM IT, 99% USER SATISFACTION.
AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, IT CAN RESPOND IN HUNDREDS OF LANGUAGES.
AND IT'S ALREADY HAD FOUR NON-ENGLISH CONVERSATIONS, A COUPLE IN SPANISH AND ACTUALLY ONE IN KOREAN.
SO IT GIVES US A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY OF HOW FOLKS CAN INTERFACE WITH OUR WEB PAGE.
I THINK IN THE LONG TERM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO DO AT SOME POINT IS INTRODUCE SOME TYPE OF 311 SYSTEM INTO TOWN, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN HANDLE CUSTOMER WORK, WORK ORDERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
GET IT TO THE RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENTS. WE'RE A WAYS OFF FROM THAT.
YOU KNOW, GETTING A CRM, WHICH IS A CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TRY TO FIND A COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
[00:30:04]
AND SO EVENTUALLY WE CAN SET UP THE APIS WHERE THE CHATBOT CAN SPEAK TO OTHER SYSTEMS AND CREATE WORK ORDERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.WE WANT PEOPLE TO UTILIZE IT, PUT IT THROUGH ITS RIGORS.
I KNEW I KNEW WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK, BUT JUST ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO UTILIZE IT.
AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPRINGBOARD THAT INTO MORE DYNAMIC INTERFACE.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IS THAT A LOT OF FOLKS WANT TO CHECK OUT A BOOK, AND RIGHT NOW IT CAN'T INTERFACE WITH OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM, BUT EVENTUALLY WE WANT THAT FUNCTIONALITY WHERE SOMEBODY CAN START ON A CHATBOT ON A WEBSITE AND EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO GO TO THE LIBRARY'S SYSTEM IN ORDER TO CHECK OUT A BOOK.
PLEASE GO OUT THERE AND USE IT. AND I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A VERY INTUITIVE TOOL, MUCH BETTER THAN OUR SEARCH FUNCTION RIGHT NOW. SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT. SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT FLORA AND WHAT WE GOT GOING SO FAR? COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IF IF WE ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS, IF WE BREAK IT.
THEY CAN GO BACK AND SEE AND REVIEW EVERY CONVERSATION.
AND SO WHEN IT RUNS INTO AN ISSUE, WE'RE BACK THERE STUDYING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH IT.
SO WE DEFINITELY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE EVERY INTERACTION AND SEE HOW IT'S WORKING OUT.
PERFECT. THANK YOU. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF IT COULD HELP YOU SEARCH PAST AGENDA PACKETS MINUTES SO THAT YOU CAN FIND THINGS FROM YEARS AGO, AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT MEETING IT WAS IN. THAT CAN BE A PRETTY LENGTHY PROCESS. AND THE SEARCH FUNCTION THAT WE HAVE TODAY DOESN'T WORK. AND JP, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS, IS THAT IT'S THE PDFS, CORRECT? WE ACTUALLY MADE THAT CONNECTION WITH CIVIC CLERK.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THEM. WE HAD TO MAKE A SPECIAL CONNECTION WITH CIVIC CLERK TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE TOP THINGS ON OUR LIST BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS WAS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR COUNCIL, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL. AWESOME. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MAYOR? THOSE ARE MY THREE ITEMS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. DOES ANY COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE ANY AGENDA AGENDA ITEMS THEY WANT TO ADD? OKAY. THIS POINT. OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO COORDINATION OF CALENDARS.
[I. COORDINATION OF CALENDARS ]
JULY 30TH AND AUGUST 1ST IS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN RETREAT, RETREAT.CAN EVERYONE MAKE THAT? OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO CONSENT ITEMS.
[J. CONSENT ITEM(S) ]
WE HAVE CONSENT ITEMS J.1 THROUGH 4. I UNDERSTAND THERE MIGHT BE TWO ITEMS PULLED FROM THIS.YES, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEMS THREE AND FOUR PLEASE TO GET MORE DETAILS FROM STAFF ON HOW THE VERF, THE VEHICLE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND IS FUNDED AND HOW THE REPLACEMENT APPROVAL PROCESS WORKS.
THANK YOU. SO WITH THIS, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WITH FINANCES AND BUDGET BEING A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION, PEOPLE WILL OFTEN LOOK AT OUR CONSENT AGENDA AND SAY, MAN, Y'ALL ARE APPROVING A LOT OF VEHICLES.
AND HOW DOES THAT PROCESS WORK? SO MEG'S THE EXPERT.
I CAN, I CAN GIVE YOU A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW, BUT SHE CAN COME UP AND GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THAT SYSTEM WORKS. AND I THINK IT'S JUST GOOD TO EDUCATE. AND WE'VE STEPPED UP OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE MORE PICTURES TO GIVE, GIVE, GIVE PEOPLE WHO REVIEW THE PACKAGE. BETTER CONTEXT OF TYPE OF VEHICLES WE'RE ORDERING AND AND JUST WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU SAY, WOW, SOMETHING COSTS $250,000. AND THEN ONCE YOU SEE THE PICTURE, YOU KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT'S INVOLVED IN THAT.
SO MEG, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP AND WALKING THEM THROUGH HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.
CERTAINLY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO HAPPY TO PROVIDE THIS CONTEXT AND EDUCATION.
I WILL SAY, HAVING BEEN IN WORKED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, FLOWER MOUND IS VERY FORTUNATE WITH WHAT PREVIOUS STAFF AND PREVIOUS COUNCILS CHOSE TO DO ON VEHICLE REPLACEMENT. WE ALL KNOW VEHICLES THAT ARE EXCESSIVELY AGED REQUIRE HIGHER MAINTENANCE, ARE LESS FUEL EFFICIENT. AND SO MANY YEARS BACK, STAFF AND FINANCE WORKED THROUGH A SYSTEM WHERE BASICALLY VEHICLES ARE ESTIMATED ON A USUAL USEFUL LIFE. AND THEN EACH YEAR WE CALCULATE A TRANSFER OF THE PROPORTION OF THAT VEHICLE BASED ON HOW LONG WE EXPECT TO HAVE IT IN
[00:35:06]
SERVICE. SO OBVIOUSLY, A FRONTLINE TRUCK MIGHT BE 8 TO 12 YEARS.AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE BUDGET THAT'S APPROVED EACH YEAR.
SO EACH YEAR, THE VEHICLES THAT MEET THE ELIGIBILITY TO BE CONSIDERED ARE THEN EVALUATED BY FLEET TO ENSURE IS IT TIME TO REPLACE IT? COULD WE PERHAPS KEEP IT A LITTLE BIT LONGER, HAVE THAT USEFUL LIFE? AND SEVERAL THINGS COME INTO CONSIDERATION. WHAT ARE THE MAINTENANCE LOGS ON IT? HOW EXTENSIVELY USED HAS IT BEEN? AND COULD WE PERHAPS GET A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY IF WE WENT AHEAD AND MAYBE TRADED IT A LITTLE BIT EARLY, DEPENDING ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE MARKET.
THEN ONCE WE DETERMINE, YES, THESE ARE THE VEHICLES THAT MAKE SENSE, WE HAVE THE BUDGET DOLLARS IN OUR FUND, WHICH YOU CAN THINK OF AS A SAVINGS ACCOUNT. SO THAT MONEY IS SET ASIDE EACH YEAR.
I CAN SAY SPECIFICALLY, WE'VE HAD OUR MEETINGS FOR THIS YEAR.
I ALREADY KNOW OF TWO DEPARTMENTS THAT CAME IN AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'VE GOT AN F-150. WE DON'T NEED THAT BIG OF A TRUCK.
LET'S GET A SMALLER VEHICLE. IT STILL MEETS OUR NEEDS.
WE DO CALCULATE AN EXPECTED INCREASE IN PRICE.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, I THINK STAFF'S BEEN PRETTY SPOT ON.
I THINK EVERYONE CAN SAY COVID KIND OF THREW SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS OUT OF THE WINDOW, BUT THAT'S WHERE INTEREST EARNINGS, THAT'S WHERE THOSE PROCEEDS BACK HELP WASH TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY SO THAT WE KEEP OUR FLEET IN A VERY GOOD CONDITION.
WE ARE ROTATING THEM REGULARLY SO THAT WE'RE NOT REPLACING EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.
SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
THANK YOU MEG. AND ONE THING THAT I'LL JUST ADD IS, IS THAT IF SOMEBODY'S INTERESTED IN OUR FLEET PROGRAM, OUR FLEET MANAGER DID A PRESENTATION DECEMBER 15TH OF LAST YEAR.
IF YOU GO LOOK AT OUR ARCHIVES, IT'S A GREAT PRESENTATION.
WALKS THROUGH THE MECHANICS OF HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT ON WHEN THESE THINGS COME BEFORE ME, WHEN I'M REVIEWING THE AGENDA, THE FIRST THING I LOOK AT IS WHETHER IT'S A REPLACEMENT OR NOT.
AND THEN I LOOK AT THE AGE OF THAT REPLACEMENT.
AND TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT, WE HAVE AN ESCALATOR ON ON THE AGENDA.
AND IN OUR POLICY, IT'S TEN YEARS OR 7000 HOURS IS KIND OF THAT BASELINE TO EXAMINE IT.
BUT WHAT I DO APPRECIATE HERE IS THAT OUR DIRECTORS AND OUR SUPERVISORS, THEY DO HAVE HONEST CONVERSATIONS, AS MEG SHARED, IF THEY DON'T NEED SOMETHING THAT LARGE, WE'LL SCALE IT BACK.
AND SO I THINK WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH IT.
AND IT'S JUST A GOOD EDUCATION OF HOW THAT WORKS.
AND CERTAINLY, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL OR ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND WALK THEM THROUGH IT. SO WE DO, WE TALK ABOUT VEHICLES QUITE A BIT LATELY, AND HOW TO EXTEND THE LIFESPAN OF THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REPLACING THEM ON THE CORRECT SCHEDULE.
SO I GUESS THE OBVIOUS QUESTION, I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS. WHY IS THIS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA? WE HAVE OVER $300,000 IN VEHICLE PURCHASES. WHY IS IT A CONSENT ITEM AND NOT ON OUR REGULAR AGENDA? I MEAN, I THINK PART OF IT IS BECAUSE THIS IS AN ESTABLISHED PROGRAM.
AND IT'S AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THEM AS, AS PART OF THE CAPITAL PLAN THAT'S PUT FORWARD IN BUDGET.
THIS IS JUST THE SECONDARY TRIGGER REQUIRED BY STATE LAW BECAUSE THE PURCHASE EXCEEDS THAT $50,000 THRESHOLD PER OUR CHARTER PER PURCHASING REQUIREMENTS. AND CERTAINLY SOME PIECES OF EQUIPMENT DO GET MORE COSTLY.
BUT IT'S ROUTINE IN THE SENSE THAT THESE ARE A PLANNED BUDGETARY EXPENDITURE.
RIGHT. SO MY INTERPRETATION IS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
[00:40:04]
THAT WAS WHEN WE HAD OUR DISAGREEMENTS AND DEBATES.AND SINCE IT WAS IN THE BUDGET AND WE ALL VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT, WHEN THE ACTUAL PURCHASE COMES FORWARD, IT'S A CONSENT ITEM BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT IT IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN, WHICH IS GOOD, AND WE DO NEED TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT. IN THIS CASE, THE VEHICLE WAS, I THINK, A 2011, THE FORD.
SO THAT'S THAT GOT SOME PRETTY GOOD MILEAGE OUT OF THAT ONE.
SO YEAH, THESE ARE THESE SEEM LIKE WISE UPGRADES.
SO I THINK THAT GOING BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, THERE'S REALLY NOT A FORMAL POLICY, KIND OF THE INFORMAL POLICY WE HANDLE WITH THE AGENDA IS TYPICALLY ANYTHING THAT EXCEEDS $1 MILLION WE DON'T PUT ON CONSENT.
BUT IF THAT'S SOMETHING Y'ALL ARE DESIROUS OF DOING, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN EXPLORE.
BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING OUR LEVEL BEST TO DO IS THAT YOU'LL NOTICE OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, WE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION AND MORE BACKGROUND PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IF Y'ALL WANT US TO APPROACH IT A DIFFERENT WAY, WE CERTAINLY CAN.
BUT YEAH, THIS IS THIS IS THE PRICE OF DOING BUSINESS.
HOW THEY SHOW UP IN THE BUDGET, THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW UP AS DECISION PACKAGES.
IF IT'S A NEW VEHICLE THAT WE'RE ADDING, THAT'S WHY I GO AND LOOK AND SEE IF IT'S A REPLACEMENT.
THERE'S VERY FEW GROUPS THAT CAN ADD SOMETHING THAT WASN'T APPROVED IN THE BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE A DEPARTMENT LIKE, SAY, A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE THAT'S SEPARATE OF THE GENERAL FUND AND SOME OTHER THINGS WHERE THEY CAN USE THOSE SOURCES. YOU MIGHT HAVE A NEW VEHICLE, ADD SOME ALONG THOSE LINES, BUT TYPICALLY YOU'RE EITHER GOING TO SEE IT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS OR IT'S JUST PART OF US JUST REFRESHING OUR CURRENT FLEET STOCK, NOT NECESSARILY US GROWING IT. SO I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE CHANGE THE PROCESS.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD PROCESS. IF IF THIS CONFORMS TO THE BUDGET THAT WE APPROVED, THEN IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE IT AS A CONSENT ITEM, NOT A REGULAR. OKAY. SO AT THIS POINT, DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IF WE DON'T NEED TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THIS OFF OF THE CONSENT ITEMS, DOES ANYONE WISH TO MOVE TO APPROVE THESE? MAYOR, DO YOU WANT ALL FOUR CONSENT ITEMS OR DO YOU WANT TO HANDLE THE TWO SEPARATELY? WELL ALL FOUR.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'LL MOVE. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR AS PRESENTED. SECOND.
OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MAYOR PRO TEM SCHIESTEL.
AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS. AYE. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR.
AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER WERNER. AYE. OKAY. ALL FOUR CONSENT ITEMS PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO REGULAR ITEMS. JP WALTON WILL PRESENT ON THIS.
[K.1. Wireless Site Marketing Agreement - Consider approval of a Site Marketing Agreement with Diamond Towers V LLC to exclusively market wireless infrastructure and manage the development of new or expanded wireless communication infrastructure on specific Town-owned properties for a period of three (3) years, and authorization for the Mayor to execute same on behalf of the Town. ]
LAST YEAR WE HAD A DISCUSSION IN OCTOBER, WE LOOKED AT OUR CELLULAR COVERAGE.AND I KNOW HE'S GOING TO COVER THIS AGAIN ON THIS AGREEMENT.
THANK YOU MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL. JP WALTON CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER AND I AM HERE ON OUR FIRST REGULAR ITEM TONIGHT, WHICH IS A SITE MARKETING AGREEMENT WITH DIAMOND TOWERS.
SO THE MAYOR DID AN AWESOME JOB OF RECAPPING THIS.
REALLY WHAT THE GOAL OF THIS WAS, WAS TO PROVIDE COUNCIL WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT SERVICE LEVELS, SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES AND ADDITIONALLY SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVING COVERAGE IN SPECIFIC AREAS OF TOWN.
THAT NIGHT WE REALLY FOCUSED ON WEST FLOWER MOUND.
DIRECTION WAS TO KEEP ENGAGED WITH THE PROVIDERS ON OPPORTUNITIES.
SINCE THEN, WE'VE ENGAGED TWO DIFFERENT PROVIDERS.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE A REFERENCE MAP. WHAT YOU'LL SEE ON THIS MAP ARE A LOT OF DOTS.
THE RED DOTS ARE INDICATIVE OF SMALL CELL TOWERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY WITHIN TOWN.
IT'S THE BLUE WHICH ARE GOING TO BE THE TALLER MACRO TOWERS THAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY ALL OF THE AREAS, BUT THESE TWO SPECIFIC AREAS OUT WEST, ALSO NEAR THE LAKE, IS WHERE WE'VE HEARD THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGES.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE AREN'T POCKETS OUTSIDE OF THIS, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE TOWN ON AREAS THAT WE NEED TO PROBABLY LOOK AT. SO AGAIN, THIS IS A SITE MARKETING AGREEMENT.
[00:45:03]
AGREEMENT FOR DIAMOND TO MARKET THESE SITES. REALLY WHAT I SEE IT AS IS MAYBE A CHANGE TO A MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH BY THE TOWN TO TRY TO FILL IN SOME OF THESE CELL COVERAGE ISSUES. THIS PROVIDES A STRUCTURED, CENTRALIZED WAY FOR THE TOWN TO ENGAGE CARRIERS AND MANAGE THOSE REQUESTS TO IMPROVE COVERAGE MOVING FORWARD. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS DIAMOND WOULD MARKET SELECT TOWN OWNED SITES TO CARRIERS, AND THEN THEY WOULD ALSO COORDINATE INDUSTRY INTEREST ON OUR BEHALF.SO THEY GET TO GO OUT THERE, THEY GET TO MARKET THESE SITES.
THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT AUTHORIZE CONSTRUCTION OF TOWERS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE TOWN CAN ADD OR REMOVE SITES AT ANY TIME.
ANY NEW TOWER WILL STILL REQUIRE AN SUP IN FULL COUNCIL APPROVAL, SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IF A NEW TOWER IS GOING IN, THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS THAT IS HERE TODAY.
ALSO, ANY NEW LEASE OR ANY LEASE FOR A NEW TOWER WILL ALSO REQUIRE COUNCIL APPROVAL.
AND THAT WOULD BE SEPARATE. SO THAT WOULD BE AN SUP FOR THE ZONING.
AND THEN ALSO THAT LEASE AGREEMENT YOU'LL HAVE TO APPROVE BOTH.
SO THOSE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT TO COME IN FRONT OF YOU.
THE SMA DOES NOT OBLIGATE THE TOWN TO APPROVE ANY OF THOSE.
SO AGAIN ENGAGEMENT WITH CARRIERS CURRENTLY IS AD HOC.
IT INVOLVES MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS DEPENDING ON THE SITE.
REALLY, THEY COME TO US NOW AND THEY'RE ASKING ABOUT A CERTAIN SITE.
BUT DIAMOND'S INVOLVEMENT WOULD REALLY STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS.
IT WOULD REDUCE REPETITIVE NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO USE A LOT OF STAFF TIME FOR.
AND IT WOULD ALSO CREATE EFFICIENCIES FOR STAFF.
STAFF WOULD REMAIN FULLY INVOLVED IN SITE SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS.
THE RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT THAT TAKES PLACE AND ALSO THE LEASE TERMS THIS IS VERY HELPFUL FOR THE TOWN BECAUSE WE WOULD ONLY REALLY MANAGE ONE CONTRACT RATHER THAN MULTIPLE ALL WITH DIFFERENT TERMS. AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE KNOW THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR THE TOWN BUT FOR COUNCIL.
THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT WILL REMAIN A TOWN PRIORITY AND IS REQUIRED ON ANY FUTURE PROPOSALS.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE AN OVERVIEW FOR YOU, BUT WE ALSO HAVE DIAMOND TOWERS HERE TODAY.
WAIT BEFORE YOU STEP ASIDE. ON PAGE THREE WAS THAT WAS THAT LAKESIDE AND INCLUDED IN THAT PURPLE AREA? SO THIS PARTICULAR ONE, IT IS NOT. WE HAVE HAD LAKESIDE COMPLAINTS PREVIOUSLY.
WE SEE LESS COMPLAINTS FROM THAT AREA. MORE RECENTLY I WOULD THOUGH I DO BELIEVE ON THE NEXT PRESENTATION, HE'S GOING TO SHOW SOME MAPS THAT MAY SHOW YOU FROM THE DIFFERENT CARRIERS, WHAT THE CELL COVERAGE LOOKS LIKE IN TOWN.
THANK YOU SIR. GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
MY NAME IS TROY CURTIS. I AM THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WITH DIAMOND COMMUNICATIONS.
KIND OF LIKE WHAT JP SAID, WE ENGAGED WITH THE TOWN AFTER YOUR WORKING SESSION IN OCTOBER, KIND OF OUTLINED WHAT WE DO AS A TOWER COMPANY AND KIND OF SOME OF OUR SUCCESSES IN AND AROUND AREAS IN TEXAS.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU GUYS KIND OF A QUICK OVERVIEW. TRY TO KEEP IT BRIEF, BUT PLEASE, IF YOU GUYS DO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OVER ANYTHING I'M TALKING ABOUT, PLEASE FIRE AWAY.
JUST A QUICK BACKGROUND OF DIAMOND. WE WERE STARTED IN 2006.
WE HAVE TOWERS AND SITES IN ALL STATES. THE. THE NATIONAL PRESENCE, WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT ARE REMOTE FROM OUR OFFICES THAT WORK TO BUILD TOWERS ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. WE'RE MANAGEMENT CONTROLLED.
WE ARE, LIKE I SAID, A PRIVATE COMPANY. SO WE CAN'T BE SOLD.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE COMING IN HERE TO BUILD A TOWER TO THEN SELL IT OFF.
WE'RE ENGAGED WITH A LOT OF VERY DIFFICULT PLACES TO WORK.
[00:50:05]
WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.WE ARE BUILDING OUT INFRASTRUCTURE IN YELLOWSTONE, THE GRAND TETONS AND GLACIER NATIONAL PARK.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT BRINGING IN DUST THAT CONTAMINATES, YOU KNOW, ANY OF THE PLANT LIFE.
SO WE REALLY DO TAKE THESE THESE HARD SITES INTO CONSIDERATION.
AND, AND IT'S SOMETHING WE ENJOY DOING. WE REALLY HAVE FOCUSED, ESPECIALLY IN TEXAS.
WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO BUILD THREE TOWERS WITH FRISCO.
WE JUST WON THE THE BID TO BUILD OUT TOWERS WITH MCKINNEY.
WE WE LIKE TO THINK THAT GIVES US AN IDEA OF WHAT IT TAKES TO WORK WITH MUNICIPALITIES.
SO WHAT WE DID WE, WE SAW THE SAME WORK SESSION THAT YOU GUYS HAD WITH T-MOBILE AND AT&T.
WE STARTED TO, TO ENGAGE WITH TOMMY DALTON KIND OF LAY OUT WHAT WE DO AS A PROCESS.
AND BASICALLY WE'VE MET WITH THE CITY ABOUT TEN TIMES.
THE CITY STILL RETAINS ALL THE DECISION MAKING AND OVERSIGHT.
TONIGHT, ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR IS THIS MARKETING AGREEMENT ON SEVEN SITES.
LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, THE CITY CAN TAKE THOSE SITES BACK, ADD MORE TO IT, AND THEN WE STILL DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE ZONING AND ALL OF THE STEPS TO BUILD THESE TOWERS OUTSIDE OF THIS. THIS IS JUST GIVING DIAMOND A THREE YEAR RIGHT TO SAY, HEY, AT&T, T-MOBILE, VERIZON, HERE'S WHAT WE'VE GOT.
COME ON BOARD. LET'S, LET'S WORK THROUGH THIS.
SO QUICKLY, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU GUYS A COUPLE MAPS AND JUST KIND OF THE OVERVIEW.
WE PARTNERED WITH A COUPLE COMPANIES THAT THAT PROVIDE DATA TO US.
WHEN I SHOW YOU THESE MAPS, THE EASIEST WAY TO SAY IT IS.
GREEN IS GOOD. RED IS NOT SO GOOD. YOUR CELL PHONE IS CONSTANTLY PINGING TO THESE TOWERS.
WE'RE GETTING THAT INFORMATION TO PUT THESE MAPS TOGETHER.
BUT HERE IS KIND OF THE TOWN OVERVIEW AS A WHOLE.
THE GREEN KIND OF PAINTBALL SPLATTER SHOTS ARE WHERE USUALLY TOWERS ARE CURRENTLY.
THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SEE ALONG THE ROADWAYS, USUALLY THAT'S A TOWER WITH KIND OF ALL THREE CARRIERS, YOU'LL KIND OF SEE IT. AS YOU GUYS HAVE NOTED, THERE ARE LACKING COVERAGES IN AREAS IN AND AROUND KIND OF OLDER GROWTH PARTS OF TOWN THAT DID NOT BUILD OUT INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU KNOW, AS THE TOWN WAS GROWING, WE KIND OF TOOK THESE MAPS AS A HOLISTIC APPROACH.
OVERLAID CITY PROPERTIES ON ONTO THEM, KIND OF WORKED WITH TOMMY AND, YOU KNOW, WENT THROUGH AND SAID, HEY, THESE WON'T WORK AT ALL. LET'S NOT EVEN INCLUDE THEM TO BEGIN WITH. THAT'S HOW WE KIND OF LANDED ON THE SEVEN THAT THAT ARE ON THE AGREEMENT.
KIND OF WHERE THE BLUE DOTS ARE. IT DOESN'T ADDRESS ANY OF THE THE NEED RIGHT AWAY NEAR THE LAKE, BUT WE DO THINK THESE ARE A GOOD FIRST STEP. AND LIKE I SAID YOU KNOW, IF, IF THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANY PROPERTIES TO IT, WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK. SO THEN JUST KIND OF QUICKLY FLIPPING THROUGH VERIZON, T-MOBILE, AND THEN THE NEXT THING WE LIKE TO DO IS THEN WE CAN SHOW YOU, OKAY, SO WE HAVE FIRE STATION NUMBER TWO ON HERE.
THIS SITE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE REPLACING A COUPLE SMALL CELLS FOR AT&T.
I BELIEVE THEY TALKED TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THAT AND THAT WORKSTATION. SO ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SITES THERE, WE DO BELIEVE THAT THIS STILL IS A GOOD SITE THAT WOULD NEED A MACRO TOWER TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT STRESS OFF OF THE SMALL CELLS.
AND WHAT WE DID IS WE OVERLAID THE COVERAGE BEFORE A SITE WOULD BE BUILT.
AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE WOULD BE THE COVERAGE AFTER A SITE GOES ONLINE AT THAT FIRE STATION.
I KNOW THAT I'M NOT SURE WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER IT WAS, HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT TWO OF THE PARKS AND, YOU KNOW, COULD WE DO THIS ANALYSIS? WE SURE CAN.
I CAN PROVIDE THAT TO THE COUNCIL. WE JUST DID NOT HAVE IT PREPARED FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
[00:55:02]
HEY, IF WE DO PUT A SITE HERE, ONE, HERE'S WHAT THE CARRIERS ARE SAYING.THAT WAS MY LAST SLIDE. SO YEAH, THAT WAS THAT'S MY QUICK RUN THROUGH.
SO YEAH, PLEASE, PLEASE. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S VERY GOOD. SINCE I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT WIRELESS SERVICES, BUT I DO, I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT LAKESIDE AREA BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT THAT, THAT HAS BEEN AN AREA WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT AND I'VE EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF.
AND SO I WONDER IF WE DO NEED A MACRO TOWER OVER IN THAT AREA, BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE DON'T.
AND AS, AS WE EXPAND OVER THERE AS WE ARE THAT CONCERNS ME AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO, TO LOOK AT WHAT WE DID, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE, AS I STATED, WE KIND OF LAID OUT THE COVERAGE MAPS AND THE CITY OWNED PROPERTIES.
SO, I MEAN, WE NEED ABOUT 50 BY 50 OF GROUND SPACE.
TRY TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND PICK SITES THAT WE THINK WE CAN ACTUALLY GET NOT ONLY APPROVED, BUT ESTHETICALLY DOES NOT HAMPER, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE'S BACKYARD.
I WOULD TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT. AND SO THAT THAT PART OF TOWN IS VERY DIFFICULT.
I WOULD LOVE TO EVEN DISCUSS MORE IF YOU GUYS DO BELIEVE THERE IS, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING DOWN THERE.
SO THE TWO THAT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, AND I WOULD NOT SUGGEST YOU SPEND ANY TIME MARKETING, IS JAKE'S HILLTOP PARK AND WILKERSON PARK. JUST GIVEN THE PROXIMITY TO ALL THE HOUSES, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM IN THAT AREA.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE SAY IN AROUND LAMAR MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT THEY'RE HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. AND I THINK IF WE TRIED TO PUT A CELL TOWER THERE WITH THAT BIG FOOTPRINT CONSUMING A LOT OF THE PARK SPACE, IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T GET APPROVED. SO I WOULDN'T SPEND ANY TIME. IN FACT, I JUST TAKE THOSE OFF.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WHY ISN'T TWIN COVES PARK ON HERE? WHY ISN'T MURAL PARK ON HERE WHERE THEY SEEM TO BE RIGHT IN THE AREA OF THE MOST NEED, AND THEIR LARGE FACILITIES WHERE YOU PROBABLY COULD FIT IN A TOWER.
WHY IS THAT? SO WE DID LOOK AT AND THE FIRST PARK YOU MENTIONED, WE DID VET THAT WITH YOUR GROUP.
AND ACTUALLY IT WAS REMOVED FROM OUR INITIAL KIND OF CONVERSATIONS.
I WILL HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH AND FIGURE OUT WHY THE CITY ASKED TO, TO TAKE THAT ONE OFF.
BUT WE DID LOOK AT TWO OF THOSE PARKS. WE WOULD LOVE TO.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S THIS DOES ALLOW THE CITY TO ADD TAKE AWAY.
IF YOU IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH JAKE'S HILLTOP AND THE OTHER PARK THAT YOU KNOW, THAT IS. WELL, I WOULD, I WANT TO ADD TO THAT BECAUSE THERE IS PROBLEMS WITH CELLULAR COVERAGE OUT THERE.
AND THAT'S KIND OF CLOSE TO THAT. THAT IS PART OF THAT KIND OF LAKESIDE AREA.
YEAH. MURAL PARK AND YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE IN THE PARK AND THEY NEED CELLULAR COVERAGE, I THINK THAT'S HUGELY IMPORTANT. AND THAT. THAT ALSO MADE ME THINK OF ONE MORE THING.
I KNOW THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT FIRE STATION SIX, AND I FORGOT TO COVER THAT IN MY PRESENTATION. BUT THERE IS A PROPOSED TOWER FROM A DIFFERENT TOWER COMPANY UP THERE. I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE RIGHT OF WAY OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE ALSO ENGAGED WITH THE SCHOOL UP THERE TRYING TO GET A LEASE DURING THIS PROCESS AS WELL.
WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THAT ONE ON THERE. HOWEVER, IF YOU GUYS DO BUILD THE TOWER, OBVIOUSLY THE NEED FOR A SITE THERE WOULD NOT PROBABLY WOULD GO AWAY. BUT THESE, THESE TOWERS, LIKE YOU SAID, IF THEY CAN'T GET IT THROUGH THEIR ZONING AND DO NOT GET THE SUP, WE THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT LOCATION. WE ALSO THINK FIRE STATIONS DO DO WELL.
THERE'S ENOUGH LAND, THEY CAN GO BEHIND DUMPSTERS, THEY USUALLY HAVE ENOUGH AREA.
SO I KNOW THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS ASKED BEFORE.
AND JP WHILE YOU'RE UP HERE WHAT ABOUT ABERDEEN HILLIARD WHERE WE HAVE PLANS.
OKAY. YEAH. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO HIT ON TOO.
SO THAT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THERE, BUT I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO WITH A PARTNER TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT SITES. AND I DO, I WOULD SAY YOU ARE CORRECT THAT THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER AVAILABLE SITE.
WHAT ARE THE PROVIDERS WOULD WANT TO GO IN THAT AREA?
[01:00:01]
BUT YOU ARE CORRECT. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THIS WOULD BE AN AGREEMENT FOR ALL TOWN OWNED PROPERTIES.THERE'S ALWAYS THERE'S HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MEETINGS TRYING TO IDENTIFY THESE.
BUT I'M SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY TALK ABOUT THAT.
AND YES, COUNCILMEMBER, THAT WOULD BE A SITE THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE.
ALL RIGHT. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL JUST MAKE A STATEMENT. FOR FOR YOU DIAMOND AS A COMPANY AND THEN JP AND STAFF.
I'M THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THIS OR REQUESTED THE WORK SESSION LAST YEAR.
I LIVE OUT WEST AND EXPERIENCED THE LACK OF CELL PHONE.
A GOOD SIGNAL OUT THERE. SO FIRST OF ALL, THANKS TO STAFF FOR ENGAGING WITH DIAMOND.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS. I REALIZE THIS IS THE FIRST STEP AND SOME OF THESE SITES MIGHT CHANGE, MIGHT DROP OFF, MIGHT BE ADDED. OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS JUST FOR CITY OWNED PROPERTY, TOWN OWNED PROPERTY. OBVIOUSLY PRIVATE PROPERTY DOESN'T SORT OF, YOU KNOW, ANALYSIS OR PROCESS, BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT FIRST STEP. I'M, I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE ENTERING IN THIS.
HOW DOES DIAMOND GET REIMBURSED? HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY? IS IT JUST FROM. DO YOU OWN THE TOWER? DO YOU LEASE THE TOWER? HOW DOES THAT WORK? IS IT I KNOW THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REVENUE GENERATION FOR THE TOWN, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST KIND OF TALK THROUGH THAT, JUST A 30,000 FOOT, YOU KNOW, QUICK OVERVIEW.
SURE. NO. GREAT QUESTION. YES. SO IT IS HOW THIS AGREEMENT IS TAILORED.
IT'S A REVENUE SHARE MODEL. SO YES, FIAMOND DOES OWN THE TOWERS.
WE CHARGE THE CARRIERS RENT. AND IN THIS MODEL, THE REASON WE REALLY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH WITH CITIES ACROSS TEXAS IS WE ARE TRUE PARTNERS. SO THE MORE MONEY IN RENT WE GENERATE, THE HIGHER PERCENT OR IT'S NOT HIGHER PERCENTAGE, HIGHER DOLLAR AMOUNT YOU GET BACK TO THE TOWN.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A $2 MILLION A YEAR FOR EACH TOWER.
BUT IF YOU START GETTING THREE, FOUR, FIVE SITES, IT DOES COMPOUND AND GROW.
THE THE BEST PART ABOUT IT, AS YOU STATED, IT'S ZERO COST TO THE CITY.
IT IS A REV SHARE THAT IS RETURNED. WE GO THROUGH A LOT OF KIND OF THE INITIAL LANGUAGE OF WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, BUT WE STILL WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE LEASING. WE ALSO BUILT IN A LOT OF FLOORS.
SO WE GUARANTEE A, SO IT'S A REVENUE, BUT WITH A FLOOR.
SO THERE IS A THRESHOLD. A GUARANTEED MINIMUM.
CORRECT? CORRECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. SO THIS IS AN ITEM TO IF THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION, THIS IS AN ITEM TO MAKE A MOTION. SO WE HAVE THESE MODIFICATIONS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING.
I GUESS I KIND OF WANT TO GET SOME FEEDBACK. MAYBE.
TROY. MAYBE YOU'RE THE ONE WHO HAS TO GIVE ME THE FEEDBACK IS EXHIBIT A IN THE CONTRACT INCLUDES THE SEVEN SITES, AND I HAVE CONCERNS WITH TWO OF THEM. AND IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU BRING THEM FORWARD FOR JAKE'S HILLTOP PARK AND WILKERSON PARK, WE CAN JUST DENY IT. BUT I REALLY WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT YOU INTO A SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE OUT MARKETING A SITE JUST TO COME IN HERE AND GET DENIED.
WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR MANAGING THE PROPERTIES ON EXHIBIT A? CAN WE STRIKE OUT THE TWO RIGHT NOW AND MOVE FORWARD WITH WITH AN ABSENCE OF THAT, AND THEN COME BACK LATER AND ADD MORE IN? HOW DO YOU WANT TO HANDLE THAT? YES, SIR. THAT WOULD BE FINE. WE COULD STRIKE THOSE TWO.
I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES DRIVING AROUND. YOU'RE DROPPING CALLS. SO THAT FEEDBACK, ALONG WITH ASKING THE QUESTIONS, WHAT ABOUT THIS PARK? THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE LOVE. AND THEN YES, THEN WE WOULD ADD MORE, BUT WE COULD DEFINITELY MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. SO IT DOESN'T IMPEDE YOU SUBSTANTIALLY, IF WE MODIFY EXHIBIT A IN THIS MOTION AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND ADD MORE ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES AS WE IDENTIFY THEM.
OKAY. WELL, THAT'S A QUESTION IS IF ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES ARE ADDED, DOES THAT REQUIRE COUNCIL APPROVAL OR IS THAT AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION? CAN I CAN I CAN WEIGH IN ON THAT. IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU ALL.
WE'RE HAVING THAT DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW. I THINK THAT THAT MAKES SENSE. YEAH. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? ALSO, WHAT I WILL SAY TOO IS WHEN WE'VE ALREADY ENGAGED WITH THE CARRIERS, THEY KNOW I'M HERE TODAY. THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO COME TO US WITH THEIR NEEDS ONCE THIS IS ANNOUNCED.
[01:05:02]
AND I THINK THAT'D BE A GREAT TIME TO SAY, HEY, T-MOBILE IS LOOKING IN THIS AREA.DO YOU GUYS HAVE SOMETHING? AND SO THAT DIALOG WILL CONTINUE.
SO ON THAT YOU ARE CORRECT. COUNCIL MEMBER SCHIESTEL.
I'LL LET BRYN WEIGH IN ON THAT AND THEN YES, 100%, WE COULD DO THAT DIRECTION MOVING FORWARD.
SO I'M ASSUMING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR LOCATIONS THAT ARE CLOSE AS A REPLACEMENT, RIGHT TO THE HILLTOP. AND WILKERSON. YES, MA'AM.
I MEAN, WE IDENTIFIED THESE AREAS AS AREAS OF NEED.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF THAT PARK DOESN'T WORK, WE WILL DEFINITELY TRY TO FIND AN ALTERNATE.
LIKE I SAID, WE TRIED TO TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH AT THE BEGINNING, NARROWED IT DOWN TO THESE SEVEN.
BUT THEY'RE LIKE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE ARE THERE ARE A BUNCH OF, OF CITY OWNED PROPERTIES.
THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US THEIR FEEDBACK TOO. AND THIS WILL ALL JUST KIND OF MORPH.
AND LIKE I SAID, IT IS A TRUE PARTNERSHIP. SO JOHN, DID YOU SAY WELLINGTON WAS WHERE.
YEAH, THAT'S IN THAT AREA. WELL, WILKERSON'S I MEAN.
GOOD SPOT. WILKERSON'S BY FORESTWOOD. SO THAT WOULDN'T REALLY HELP.
WILKERSON I'M THINKING OF BY FORESTWOOD. RIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON WHICH PROPERTIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE I WAS CONFUSED. YES. NO, I WAS THINKING OF THE ONE THAT'S DEAD ENDS INTO OLD SETTLERS. OH. THAT'S BLUE. NO. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THAT? YOU KNOW, THE ONE, THE TREE ONE. THE GREEN ACRES.
GREEN ACRES, GREEN ACRES. NO NO NO, NOT THAT ONE.
NO. MAYBE NOT. 1171 AND OLD SETTLERS. WESTCHESTER.
WESTCHESTER. OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I KNEW. IT STARTED WITH THE W.
THAT'S. AND THERE'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PUT ONE THERE AS THAT PARK IS BEING DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED, SEEMS FAIRLY CLOSE. YEAH, I DON'T KNOW. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? TROTTER PARK? MIGHT HELP WELLINGTON A LITTLE BIT? I THINK. I DO KNOW AND MAYBE YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS, THAT SOME OF THE SITES THAT ARE ON HERE ARE ON HERE BECAUSE THERE IS INTEREST.
AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, I THINK NOT ONLY THIS CONVERSATION HERE TODAY BUT JUST LIKE YOU SAID AS WELL, CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PROVIDERS, WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS.
SO, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WE SAID HAS BEEN HYPOTHETICAL.
IF WE DO, YOU KNOW, SIGN AN AGREEMENT, THEN THAT CHANGES.
DO YOU THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO LEAVE THEM ON IN THE AGREEMENT WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE DO HAVE CONCERNS. AND IF THAT GIVES THEM THE FLEXIBILITY TO MAYBE HAVE A CREATIVE SOLUTION ON HOW TO DO A TOWER TO BRING IT BACK TO US, TO CONSIDER TO HELP FILL THAT NEED? THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT WE WERE DOING.
YEAH. SO I, I THINK, I THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TAKING THEM.
YEAH. SO I GUESS I'M, I'M SUGGESTING WE REMOVE JAKE'S HILLTOP PARK AND WILKERSON PARK BECAUSE, BECAUSE I JUST THINK THEY'D GET DENIED BECAUSE THEY'D COME AND THERE'D BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULDN'T WANT THEM. GIVEN THE FLEXIBILITY TO, TO ADD.
YEAH. THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD MORE. BUT I, MY CONVERSATIONS, THE PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN THE MOST ABOUT CELL COVERAGE ARE YOUR SIDE OF TOWN, OBVIOUSLY, NORTH SHORE, NORTH SHORE, THAT AREA IS VERY MUCH.
BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE ALONG THE MORRIS CORRIDOR GIVING.
YOU KNOW, THEY'VE HAD SMALL CELL TOWERS THERE EVERYWHERE, AND I THINK EVERYONE HAS PRETTY GOOD COVERAGE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BACKED UP BY YOUR DATA. I JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT FEEDBACK FROM ANYONE IN THOSE AREAS.
I MEAN, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT THAT THE CARRIERS TRY TO COVER MAJOR THOROUGHFARES.
THAT'S USUALLY NOT THE PLACES WHERE YOU'RE DROPPING THE CALLS. IT IS IN THE OLDER DEVELOPED AREAS NEXT TO THE LAKE, YOU KNOW, AWAY FROM MAJOR THOROUGHFARES, LIKE WHERE THOSE SMALL CELLS ARE.
THE, THE RANGE THAT THOSE SMALL CELLS GO OUT IS VERY NARROW.
YEAH. YOU BASICALLY NEED TO BE RIGHT, REALLY CLOSE TO THEM TO GET COVERAGE FROM THEM.
SO YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. CAN YOU REMIND ME HOW MUCH OF A FOOTPRINT DOES A CELL TOWER REQUIRE? THERE'S USUALLY LIKE A MASONRY WALL AROUND IT.
IT'S NOT SMALL. RIGHT. WE WE TRY TO GET 50 BY 50.
YEAH. THAT CAN BE CREATIVE. IT CAN BE A TRIANGLE.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED EACH CARRIER NEEDS ABOUT 250 TO 300 SQUARE FOOT ON THE SMALL END.
[01:10:08]
SO WE TRY TO PLAN FOR ALL THREE TO BE THERE BECAUSE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY OUR GOAL.IT MINIMIZES THE NUMBER OF TOTAL TOWERS YOU NEED IF ALL THREE CAN GO ON THERE.
SO WE TRY TO PLAN FOR THAT AS OUR BEST CASE SCENARIO.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE VERY WELL RECEIVED, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE SAME RESERVATION AT JEROME PARK WHERE YOU HAVE THE KAYAK AND YOU HAVE ALL THOSE SPORTS FACILITIES. IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO ME THERE. SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD JUST SIMPLY TAKE THOSE TWO OFF, REALLY, TO SAVE YOU THE TROUBLE OF GOING OUT AND MARKETING THEM AND FINDING OUT THAT IT DOESN'T GET APPROVED, BUT THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND ADD MORE, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE ABERDEEN PROPERTY, WHICH MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME. YEAH.
SOUNDS GOOD. YEAH. OKAY, LET'S GO AHEAD. SO WITH THAT I WILL MOVE A MOVE APPROVAL OF REGULAR ITEM ONE WITH THE MODIFICATION OF EXHIBIT A, REMOVING JAKE'S HILLTOP PARK IN WILKERSON PARK.
SECOND. OKAY. IF YOU COULD TAKE THE ROLL OR ACTUALLY, DO WE WANT TO ADD LANGUAGE THAT WILL BE ON A CONSENT AGENDA OR DOES THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED? I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THAT WAS ALREADY THE PROCESS, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO. THAT CAN JUST BE DIRECTION TO STAFF. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER WERNER.
AYE. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR. COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS.
[K.2. WWTP PTA Construction Agreement - Consider approval of a Construction Agreement with GDC Industrial, Inc. for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Preliminary Treatment Area improvement project, in the amount of $4,735,820.00; and authorization for the Mayor to execute same on behalf of the Town. ]
INDUSTRIAL FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.MAYOR, COUNCIL. MANNY PALACIOS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.
I KIND OF WANT TO SHOW YOU THE SCREEN WHERE IT'S LOCATED.
JUST TO THE BELOW, I GUESS TO YOUR LEFT IS KIND OF A DRONE PICTURE OF THE WHOLE FACILITY THERE.
SO JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE IT'S LOCATED. LITTLE INFORMATION HISTORY OF THE PTA.
SO PTA WAS CONSTRUCTED BACK IN 2000. IT'S OVER 25 YEARS OLD.
AND WHEN I SAY UNSCHEDULED, I MEAN IT'S NOT THIS IS NOT PRE, YOU KNOW, PRE-SCHEDULED WORK ORDERS.
SO BASICALLY PUMPS BREAKING DOWN. THERE'S SOMETHING BROKEN ON THE FACILITY.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRACKING FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.
AND OF COURSE PARTS ARE BECOMING OBSOLETE AND DIFFICULT TO REPAIR AND OR REPLACE.
THE BOTH MECHANICAL FINE SCREENS HAVE FAILED, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING WITH TEMPORARY REPAIRS.
YOU CAN SEE A PICTURE OF THE SCREENS. THIS HAPPENED LIKE A YEAR AND HALF AGO.
SO BASICALLY IT GOT DAMAGED. WE HAVE TWO SCREENS.
ONE OF THEM, ONE OF THEM BROKE DOWN FIRST AND OF COURSE, BAD LUCK.
SECOND ONE WENT DOWN. AND SO WE TRY TO DID EMERGENCY REPAIR THEM.
AND SO NOW THEY'RE KIND OF TEMPORARY ONGOING.
BELOW PICTURE KIND OF SHOWS YOU THE PIPING KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DETERIORATING CORROSION GOING ON.
SO WE THE SCREENS ARE ON HAND. PROJECT INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE GRID PUMPS AND MOTORS, REPLACEMENT OF THE DETERIORATED PIPES AND CHUTES, GRID REPLACEMENT, THE PLC, WHICH ARE THE CONTROLLERS AND THE ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES A METAL CANOPY OVER THE, OVER THE MECHANICAL SCREENS AREA.
THIS IS KIND OF PROTECTED MORE FROM THE ENVIRONMENT, FROM THE SUN AND, AND THE WEATHER.
LAST THING, WE'RE ADDING SOME SAFETY THINGS TO THIS PROJECT, THE H2S GAS DETECTION SYSTEM.
SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A ROOM IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FACILITY THAT HAS THE PUMPS AND, AND ALL THAT YOU KNOW, SHOOTS. SO WE WANT TO PUT SOME GAS DETECTION DOWN THERE FOR SAFETY FOR THE GUYS.
[01:15:01]
THIS IS JUST A SCREENSHOT OF, OF ONE OF THE PAGES ON THE CONSORTIUM PLAN TO THE SCREEN'S REPLACEMENT SHOWING YOU BOTH SCREENS.ON THAT PICTURE. SO THE PTA IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WAS APPROVED AS PART OF THE PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND IS PART OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT MASTER PLAN.
YOU CAN SEE HERE, IT'S KIND OF ALL KIND OF HIGHLIGHTING.
THE ONES IN NORWICH ARE OUR MASTER, OUR PROJECTS THAT ARE LABELED IN OUR MASTER PLAN.
AND OF COURSE YOU SEE THAT THE PTA IS, IS, IS PART OF THAT PLAN.
WE DID BID THIS PROJECT, SO WE ADVERTISED IT APRIL 11TH AND APRIL 18TH, 2026, AND WE RECEIVED SOME BIDS ON MAY 19TH, 2026, GDC INDUSTRIAL INCORPORATED SUBMITTED THE LOWEST QUALIFIED BID OF THE FOUR RESPONDING BIDDERS, FOR A TOTAL OF $4,735,820. FUNDING FOR THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE UTILITY DEPT, AND WE DO HAVE THE FUNDING AVAILABLE.
NEXT MONTH WE'LL PROCEED WITH THE NOTICE TO PROCEED.
HOPEFULLY WE'RE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION. THIS IS THIS CONTRACT OR PROJECT IS 120 DAYS.
SO WINTER 2028 WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION AND FINAL COMPLETION WILL BE SPRING 2028.
OF COURSE, LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, MATERIALS LEAD TIMES MAY CHANGE PROJECT SCHEDULE.
SO. WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
SO MANY. THE LAST TIME I VISITED THE WASTE TREATMENT PLANT, THEY WERE USING RAKES BASICALLY TO MANUALLY PULL THE SOLIDS OUT OF THAT PRESCREENING AREA BECAUSE THAT SYSTEM WAS BROKEN. AND WE I THINK SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WAS THAT IT WAS WE HAD GOTTEN IT FROM GERMANY AND IT WAS HARD TO GET PARTS NOW AND IT WAS A BIG HASSLE. ARE WE MOVING TO A MORE EASILY MAINTAINED SYSTEM THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THOSE PARTS ONGOING AND SOMETHING THAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LESS BESPOKE? YES, SIR. SO BASICALLY THE SCREENS, THEY'RE THEY'RE DIFFERENT RAKE STYLE SCREENS, WHICH THEY ARE MANUFACTURED IN THE USA OUT OF MICHIGAN.
AND OF COURSE, PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE PRETTY, YOU KNOW, HERE IN THE US.
THE PREVIOUS SCREENS WERE BOUGHT FROM HUBERT, WHICH WERE FROM GERMANY.
THAT'S ONE THING WE'RE LOOKING AT TOO, IS ONCE WE'RE ORDERING SOME, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THE PUMPS MATERIALS THAT THEY ARE MADE HERE IN THE USA AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND OF COURSE, CUSTOMER SERVICE TOO, AS WELL, BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S KIND OF EVEN THE US, WE KIND OF CHECK ON THE REFERENCES, CHECK ON THE MANUFACTURER. MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A GOOD, GOOD POSITIVE REVIEWS ON CUSTOMER SERVICE.
AWESOME. THANK YOU MAN. APPRECIATE IT MAN. COULD YOU GO BACK TO SLIDE SIX PLEASE.
SO THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LOWEST AND THE HIGHEST.
HAS GDC INDUSTRIAL DONE THIS KIND OF PROJECT BEFORE? YES, MA'AM. SO BASICALLY WE, WE CHECKED OF COURSE, FIRST THING WE DO IS WE CHECKED ALL THEIR CONTRACTS.
WE CHECKED THEIR SUBMITTALS. WE DID CHECK THE REFERENCES.
THERE WERE ALL POSITIVE REVIEWS. THEY ARE FROM ALVARADO, TEXAS.
SO NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS, THEY ACTUALLY DOING A PROJECT IN OBLIVION SANGER.
JUST NORTH OF US. SO I KNOW IT'S A, YOU KNOW, WE CHECKED THE REFERENCES, GDC AND I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S SO MUCH COMPETITION GOING ON, ESPECIALLY WITH WITH THIS KIND OF PROJECT, ESPECIALLY WITH UTILITY PROJECTS, THERE'S SO MUCH COMPETITION IS, YOU KNOW, THE PRICE IS GOING TO RANGE FROM HIGH TO LOW.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU NEVER, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.
SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
DO YOU ALL HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO SAY? IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION.
TO APPROVE REGULAR ITEM K.2 AS PRESENTED. SECOND.
OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MAYOR PRO TEM SCHIESTEL.
AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS. AYE. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR.
AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER WERNER. AYE. OKAY. K.2 ITEM PASSES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR WORK SESSION ITEM.
[L. WORK SESSION ITEM ]
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT REAL QUICK ON THIS.WE, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT A CULTURAL ARTS CENTER TO REVIVE THAT AREA OF, OF THE RIVERWALK.
AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW THAT OUR COUNCIL HAS A RESPONSIBILITY THAT IS REALLY DIFFICULT.
[01:20:06]
SO WE ARE FACING CERTAIN DECISIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT COULD AFFECT HOW CITIES ACROSS TEXAS COULD FUND ESSENTIAL SERVICES ALONG WITH INFLATION AND LOWER HOME SALES THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED.SO WE DON'T ANTICIPATE A TAX INCREASE THIS YEAR.
WE WENT IN 2025. WE SAW THAT THE LEGISLATURE WAS IMPACTING US ON A MUNICIPAL LEVEL, AND IN 2027, WE WILL CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD. WE DO NOT KNOW THE BILLS THAT ARE GOING TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME, BUT WE ARE CERTAIN THAT WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK AND FIGHT SOME OF THE BILLS THAT ARE GOING TO COME FORWARD.
MY CONCERN ABOUT THE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, AND I KNOW THIS IS A CONCERN OF OUR OUR COUNCIL AS WELL, IS THE TIMING OF THIS, AND STAFF AND COUNCIL HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY ON THIS.
AND SO I KNOW, JAMES, YOU HAVE A GREAT PRESENTATION.
I THINK IT COULD BE A GREAT. ADDITION, BUT WE DO HAVE TO LOOK AT THINGS AND SCRUTINIZE WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE DECISION THAT WE'RE MAKING, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TO A DECISION THAT WILL MAKE MOST PEOPLE CONTENT.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE THAT INTRODUCTION.
AND IF IT'S A GREAT PRESENTATION, IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY SUCCINCT ONE TONIGHT.
AND I'LL EXPLAIN WHY HERE IN A SECOND. SO JUST AS A RECAP, THESE ARE THE FOUR OPTIONS THAT THAT WE PRESENTED BACK ON THE SIXTH WHEN WE MET TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THIS. AND I'VE HAD OFFLINE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THESE FOUR CONVERSATIONS CAN BRANCH OFF TO 40 ALMOST JUST DEPENDING ON DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS YOU GO. BUT IN ESSENCE, WE TRY TO DISTILL IT DOWN TO FOUR PRINCIPAL DECISIONS THAT YOU CAN MAKE ABOUT THIS PROJECT. EITHER PAUSE IT AND WAIT, PUT IT ON A BALLOT AND SEND IT BEFORE VOTERS STOP IN THE PROJECT AND OR MOVE FORWARD AS ANTICIPATED, AND ISSUE THE TAX ANTICIPATION NOTES IN 2027 TO TARGET A 2029 OPENING.
SO ALONG WITH THAT, Y'ALL REQUESTED SOME SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR US.
SO A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION WAS ROUTED ABOUT THAT OPERATING MODEL.
AFTER THE FACT, WEB MANAGEMENT CAME IN AND DID A PRESENTATION, AND THEY SHOWED IN THEIR MODEL WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, AND I'LL CALL IT A DELTA, MEANING THAT THE REVENUES BROUGHT IN VERSUS THE OPERATING COST.
THERE WAS A DELTA OF AROUND $6 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR AND THEN OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, IT GETS DOWN TO ABOUT A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
AND SO A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION WAS ROUTED AROUND HOW DO WE BRIDGE THAT DELTA, ESPECIALLY OTHER THAN THE GENERAL FUND? AND SO DURING THE COURSE OF THE CONVERSATION WITH DUNCAN.
DUNCAN WEB MANAGEMENT. THE CONVERSATION WAS ROUTED ON.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES DOING IN HIS ANALYSIS? HE USED PROJECTS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT WERE SIMILARLY SITUATED US FROM SIZE, YOU KNOW, PROSPECTIVE CLIENT BASE AND WHO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE USE IT, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BUT THERE WASN'T A LOT OF LOCAL VENUES IN THAT COMP SET.
AND SO AS YOU SEE IN THE SUB BULLET THERE ON THE FIRST BULLET WE STARTED TO DO SOME ANALYSIS ON COPPELL, LEWISVILLE, GARLAND AND RICHARDSON. WE'RE NOT GOING TO PRESENT THOSE TONIGHT BECAUSE WE JUST GOT THE FEEDBACK BACK FROM DUNCAN, AND WE REALLY NEED TO VET THAT BEFORE WE START SHARING IT PUBLICLY. THE CHALLENGE IS, IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ALL ART CENTERS, THEY ALL OPERATE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY TO SITUATE IT IN A BUDGET DIFFERENTLY.
AND THE LAST THING WE WANTED TO DO IS PUT INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTEXT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME TIME TO GO THROUGH THAT. SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT TONIGHT, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME PRELIMINARY INFORMATION FOR THESE FOUR MUNICIPALITIES, AND WE CAN DRILL DOWN DEEPER AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEIR OPERATIONS.
ALSO, THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT HIS DATA SET WAS MORE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
THAT WAS THE DATA SET HE HAD AVAILABLE TO HIM.
AND THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW CAN WE MORE LOCALIZE THAT SPECIFICALLY TO FLOWER MOUND? AND AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE THAN A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GO AND VET. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. WHAT I DID WANT TO EXPOUND ON IN THE BOTTOM ON THE SLIDE THERE, THERE WAS A COUPLE OF APPROACHES THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE TO BRIDGE THAT DELTA OF 6 TO $500,000 OVER TIME.
AND THERE'S PRINCIPALLY TWO OPTIONS THAT I ALLUDED TO LAST WEEK.
IT'S VERY SPECIALIZED HOW WE CAN USE THAT REVENUE.
TYPICALLY, THE RULE OF THUMB I SHARE WITH PEOPLE IS HEADS IN BEDS.
YOU CAN TYPICALLY PAY FOR STUFF THAT WILL GENERATE HOTEL STAYS.
[01:25:05]
AND SOME OF THE INITIAL CONCERN THAT I SHARED ARE THE PERSPECTIVE THAT I SHARED AT THE LAST MEETING WAS, IS THAT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU COULD TARGET A SPECIFIC POSITION WHOSE SOLE JOB IS TO BOOK HOTEL ROOMS BASED UPON THE VISITATION TO THE FACILITY.NOW THERE'S ANOTHER OPTION THAT WE CAN TAKE, BUT IT'S A LITTLE RADICAL.
IF WE WANTED TO FULLY LEVERAGE THE HOT REVENUE THAT WE CAME IN, WE COULD REPOSITION THIS SPACE, SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT, WHICH IS MORE OF A CONVENTION FOCUS OF CONVENTION AND MEETING FACILITY.
AND I USE AN EXAMPLE IN ONE OF MY PRIOR STOPS IN ABILENE, THE ABILENE CONVENTION CENTER.
IT WAS CALLED THE CIVIC CENTER AT THE TIME HAD A VERY LARGE THEATER ON THERE.
THAT COULD BE A WAY THAT YOU COULD EASILY ALIGN WITH HOW WE'RE ALLOWED TO USE THE HOT REVENUE TO SAY THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THIS VENUE, THEIR SOLE FOCUS IS TO GENERATE BUSINESS IN THAT SPACE THAT GENERATES HEADS AND BEDS OR HOTEL STAYS.
THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT, THAT'S VERY DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. SO IT'S KIND OF A SNATCHING AT WILL AND TURNING IT HARD TO THE RIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE VETTED ALSO, TOO, BECAUSE OUR ANALYSIS TO THIS POINT WAS SOLELY ON A ART SPACE.
WE WOULD PROBABLY, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE WANTED TO GO, WE PROBABLY NEED TO BRING IN SOMEBODY TO GENERATE REVENUE SPECS ON A SPACE THAT'S MORE SPECIALIZED ON EVENT AND SMALL CONVENTIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
YOU KNOW, ADDITIONALLY IS IS THAT WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE FOOTPRINT? THE ONE THING THAT COULD BE CONSISTENT IS THE THEATER SPACE, BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REST OF THAT BUILDING? SO IF YOU WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATH, IT'S PRETTY RADICAL.
AND THERE'S SOME THINGS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT. BUT IF SPECIFICALLY WE WERE TRYING TO LEVERAGE ALL OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, THAT WOULD BE THE PATH THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SOME OTHER LOCAL EXAMPLES.
THERE'S SOME OTHER CITIES IN THE AREA THAT WERE SHARED THAT HAVE YOU KNOW, HOW THEY UTILIZE THEIR, THEIR, THEIR HOT REVENUE A LITTLE BIT MORE DYNAMICALLY.
SO WE JUST DO NOT HAVE A ROBUST HOTEL PRESENCE HERE IN TOWN.
AND SO WE NEVER HISTORICALLY HAD TO REALLY LEVERAGE THAT WAY.
SO WITH THAT ONE, THAT'S KIND OF AN EXTREME EXAMPLE.
IF WE REALLY WANTED TO FULLY LEVERAGE THAT HOT REVENUE.
BUT IT'S I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S A VERY FAR DEPARTURE IN WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT UP TO THIS POINT.
THIS ONE IS TRICKY BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TIRZ NUMBER ONE, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT IF THAT IS DISSOLVED, THAT REVENUE COMES OVER TO THE GENERAL FUND. AND CONCEIVABLY THERE COULD BE A MODEL IN WHICH WE BUILD THE FACILITY.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO OPERATE AT THE 75 PERCENTILE THAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S THE TIRZ NUMBER ONE FUND. BUT AGAIN, THE BIG CAVEAT WITH THAT IS THAT IF IT WASN'T DOING THAT, THAT MONEY COULD COME OVER TO THE GENERAL FUND. SO I FREELY ACKNOWLEDGE IT COULD BE SEEN AS 6 IN 1 HAND, HALF DOZEN IN THE OTHER IN THAT APPROACH. BUT AGAIN, WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT IT JUST STRAIGHTFORWARDLY AS HOW THE GENERAL FUND DIRECTLY WOULD NOT HAVE TO CARRY THAT DELTA. SO AGAIN, NOT THE GREATEST, NOT THE GREATEST IDEA.
IT'S A, IT'S A DECISION POINT, WHICH GENERATES SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW YOU APPROACH IT.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO AND THEY'RE NOT PERFECT.
THEY'RE NOT THINGS THAT WE'RE FIRED UP ABOUT NECESSARILY. BUT AGAIN, AS FAR AS THE EXERCISE AND LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE COULD DEAL WITH THAT DELTA, THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT WE COULD COME UP WITH. SO THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE.
REALLY WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS, IS THAT AS FAR AS A DECISION WITH THIS PROJECT, THERE IS THE ONLY TIME PARAMETER THAT CREATES PRESSURE HERE IS IF THIS GROUP IS DESIROUS OF PUTTING THIS ON A BALLOT IN NOVEMBER TO GO BEFORE THE VOTERS.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT CREATES A TIME CRUNCH.
AND SO OTHER THAN A DESIRE TO PUT IT ON NOVEMBER 2026 BALLOT, WE HAVE TIME.
AS YOU GO THROUGH THAT BUDGET AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO GIVE YOU A BROADER CONTEXT OF THE TOWN'S FINANCIAL STATE GOING INTO NEXT YEAR AND POTENTIALLY GOING OUT, IT CAN INFORM A FINAL DECISION AT SOME POINT DOWN THE LINE.
[01:30:03]
AND SO AGAIN, WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS, IS THAT LET'S GO TO THE FY 27 BUDGET PROCESS, GET A BETTER FEEL FOR HOW NEXT YEAR LOOKS.AND IT'S JUST REALLY, IF THERE'S A DECISION POINT WHERE WE WANT TO PUT IT IN NOVEMBER, WE NEED TO WE NEED THAT DIRECTION TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET WHAT OUR BOND COUNCIL WE GOT TO PUT TOGETHER BALLOT LANGUAGE AND GO THROUGH THOSE TRAPS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED TO CALL AN ELECTION ON AUGUST 17TH.
OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NO URGENCY TO MAKE A DECISION RIGHT AWAY.
SO THAT'S MY PRESENTATION. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. YEAH. THERE'S FOUR OPTIONS, RIGHT.
AND THE ONLY THERE'S ONLY ONE SUBSET OF ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS THAT'S A TIME CRITICAL PIECE.
AND THAT IS THIS THIS ELECTION, LIKE YOU SAID, THE BOND ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
BUT I AGREE WITH YOUR PROPOSAL THAT WE OR I AGREE WITH NOT TAKING THIS TO THE NOT HAVING AN ELECTION FOR THIS IN NOVEMBER AND CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION. WE HAVE A MORE SOLID PLAN IF WE WAIT.
SO. YEAH. I DON'T WANT TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
I KIND OF FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED. HONESTLY, I DO.
BECAUSE I THINK THE VOTERS NEED TO THEY WANT THE ART CENTER.
THEY HAVE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ACCEPT SOME, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN OUR SERVICE LEVELS, THEN THE VOTERS HAVE TO SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO ACCEPT A LITTLE BIT OF A HIGHER TAX BILL TO GET THIS ART CENTER, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE DECISION THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE. BECAUSE DOING IT WITHOUT THE VATRE, WHICH I JUST CAN'T SEE US APPROVING THIS ART CENTER AT THAT COST AND THEN TURNING AROUND AND DOING A VATRE SEPARATELY FOR, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD THE FEEDBACK. SO, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE A VATRE, THEN IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE STAFF IS GOING TO BE CARRYING THE WATER. LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ACCEPT THE, THE AUSTERITY THAT WOULD ACCOMPANY THAT, WHICH COULD BE VERY CHALLENGING. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF WE DID THE VATRE SEPARATELY, THEN THE PUBLIC MIGHT FEEL SOMEWHAT BETRAYED.
SO I DO KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE'RE HEADED THIS WAY.
BUT I THINK SINCE WE JUST DID A BOND ELECTION FOR THE CAC AND WE HAVE, WE KNOW OF ANOTHER ONE COMING FOR THE POLICE STATION THAT PUTTING THIS WITH TIMING THIS WITH THAT POLICE STATION CONVERSATION MIGHT MAKE MORE SENSE TO BRING ALL THAT TO THE VOTERS AT THE SAME TIME, GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE GAP BETWEEN THE LAST BOND ELECTION AND THE NEXT ONE. THAT'S MY TAKE.
SO SO WHY WOULD WE NEED TO MAKE THIS DIRECTION DECISION TONIGHT? CAN WE WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE SPR? SO I THINK IT'S TIME INTENSITY ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
BECAUSE TYPICALLY WHEN YOU PUT TOGETHER BALLOT LANGUAGE, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH YOUR BOND COUNCIL.
IT HAS TO BE VETTED ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS.
AND SO IF IS IT POSSIBLE. YES. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS, IS THAT I WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE IF Y'ALL HAVE A INKLING THAT THIS IS THE DIRECTION YOU MAY WANT TO GO, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS GEAR UP, PAY OUR BOND COUNCIL TO START DRAWING STUFF UP, AND WE MAY NOT DO IT.
SO LET'S JUST SAY THAT WE GO THROUGH CONVERSATIONS HERE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
YOU KNOW, GOING INTO EARLY AUGUST, YOU HAVE YOUR BUDGETS.
IF ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S WE CAN HAVE A WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY PROMISES, BUT WE CAN HAVE A REALISTIC CONVERSATION IF YOU WANT TO PIVOT.
BUT I THINK JUST REALLY FOR US AS FAR AS WHAT WE JUST NEED TO KNOW IS REALLY TONIGHT, IF Y'ALL FEEL THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO, WE NEED TO KNOW SO WE CAN GET ON A HORSE. OTHERWISE, IF NOT, YOU KNOW, WE WE HAVE TIME.
I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF PUTTING IT ON THE NOVEMBER.
I AGREE. COMPLETELY AGREE. SO, I SEE ENOUGH NODDING HEADS THAT THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S ALL I NEED.
AND SO AS WE SAID BEFORE IS, IS THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO VET SOME OF THESE OTHER ITEMS. AND AS WE SAID BEFORE, NATURALLY YOU GUYS WILL GET YOUR BUDGETS ON JULY 31ST, AUGUST FIRST ONE AND TWO, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE IT AT THAT POINT. AND AS WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, YOU'LL HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT'S WHAT'S COMING NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AND IT MAY INFORM HOW YOU WANT TO APPROACH IT. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU MAYOR. THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED.
[N. CLOSED MEETING ]
CODE CHAPTER 551, SECTION 071, 072, 074 AND 087.[01:35:01]
WE'LL BE BACK. GOOD EVENING. THE TIME IS NOW 9:10 AND[O. RECONVENE ]
WE ARE RECONVENING INTO OPEN SESSION. THERE IS NO ACTION TO BE TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THE CLOSED SESSION.SO AT THIS TIME, AT 9:10, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
GOOD NIGHT FLOWER MOUND.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.