[00:00:03]
[CALL TO ORDER/GENERAL COMMENTS]
OKAY.I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12TH, 2021.
UH, IT IS GREAT TO SEE SO MANY, UH, FRIENDLY AND FAMILIAR FACES IN THE AUDIENCE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT THIS EVENING.
UH, LET'S GET STARTED WITH AN INVOCATION.
WE WANT TO WELCOME BACK JOSEPH CARTWRIGHT.
BRING THIS MEANING STRAIGHT TO THE LORD.
WE COME TO YOU THANKING YOU THAT OUR CITY IS PROSPERING LORD IN JEREMIAH 29 8, AND WORK TOWARDS THE PROSPERING OF THE CITY AS LORD.
I THANK YOU FOR THIS MAYOR AND THIS COUNCIL THAT ARE DOING THAT.
I ASK YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE WISDOM THAT THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND THE TIMES IN WHICH WE'RE LIVING.
FATHER GOD, AS YOU KNOW, YOU ARE WATCHING THROUGHOUT THE EARTH AND YOU'RE SEEING HOW THINGS ARE DEPRESSING ECONOMICALLY.
AND A LOT OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
I ASK YOU TO KEEP YOUR HAND OVER OUR CITY, THAT WE WOULD PROSPER IN THE MIDST OF A DOWNTIME.
LORD, WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH GAS, GOING UP WITH GROCERIES, GOING UP WITH EMPTY SHELVES.
I THANK YOU THAT WE HAVE A CITY THAT CARES ABOUT ITS CITIZENS, AND WE WILL CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER, BUT WE NEED YOUR WISDOM TO KNOW HOW TO CONTINUE TO PROSPER.
AND THE DAYS IN WHICH WE LIVE, LORD, I PRAY FOR WISDOM FOR THIS COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY GOD, AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS AND FOR US AS CITIZENS TO CONTINUE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD AND TRUE, AND HOLY AND NOBLE AND PURE AND OF GOOD REPORT, LORD.
AND I KNOW LORD, AS THEY TURN TO YOU, THAT THAT WILL BE THE VERY THING THAT WILL COME OUT OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO AS THEY GOVERN US.
FOR EVERY CITY WORKER, GOD, I PRAY THAT YOUR HAND WOULD REST HEAVY AND BLESSING UPON THEM AS WELL.
LORD, WHETHER THEY ARE CLEANING COMMODES SOMEWHERE OR MOWING GRASS OR LORD, IF THEY'RE A SECRETARY AND AN OFFICE SOMEWHERE, WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING, I THANK YOU THAT THEY DO IT UNTO YOU FOR YOUR GREAT GLORY AND YOUR GREAT NAME.
GOD, WE TRUST YOU WITH OUR CITY.
THANK YOU, JOE COUNCIL MEMBER COGEN.
WILL YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES? THANK YOU EVERYONE.
[COUNCIL RECOGNITION]
WE'VE GOT A ONE ITEM UNDER COUNSEL RECOGNITION.WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST, 2021 AS NATIONAL FAMILY LITERACY DAY.
AND WE'RE BLESSED THIS EVENING TO HAVE A FEW INDIVIDUALS FROM THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND ALSO WANT TO WELCOME DONNA MOORE.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO READ THE PROCLAMATION FIRST.
SO A NUMBER OF US WILL KNOW DONNA FROM THE LIBRARY.
SHE DOES GREAT THINGS AT THE LIBRARY AND SHE KIND OF KEEPS PEOPLE LIKE ME IN CHECK OVER THERE.
THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS NATIONAL FAMILY LITERACY DAY ESTABLISHED BY THE 103RD CONGRESS IN 1994 AND NOW MARKING ITS 27TH ANNIVERSARY ON NOVEMBER 1ST, 2021 HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF READING AND LEARNING FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND EMPHASIZE THE IMPACT THAT PARENTS HAVE ON THEIR CHILD'S LEARNING.
AND WHEREAS THIS DAY IS CELEBRATED ACROSS AMERICA EACH YEAR AND FOCUSES ON SPECIAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS THAT SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER FAMILIES AND BUILD A NATION OF READERS.
AND WHEREAS LITERACY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WILL OBSERVE NATIONAL FAMILY LITERACY DAY BY HOLDING READ-A-THON MONS BOOK DRIVES WORKSHOPS AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES AT SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS TO ENCOURAGE LITERACY.
AND WHEREAS AS MANY AS ONE IN SIX ADULTS, STRUGGLE WITH READING AND WRITING AND BY LEARNING TO READ, INDIVIDUALS CAN GAIN SELF RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE AND STRIVE TOWARD GOALS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ACHIEVABLE.
AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IS A NONPROFIT NONPOLITICAL VOLUNTEER WOMEN'S SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING PATRIOTISM, PRESERVING AMERICAN HISTORY AND SECURING AMERICA'S FUTURE THROUGH BETTER EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
AND WHEREAS EDUCATION BEING ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
[00:05:01]
IS COMMITTED TO INCREASING LITERACY BY PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING LITERACY PROGRAMS. NOW THEREFORE LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I, MICHAELWE, WE LOVE PRESENTING THIS TO YOU.
THANKS MIKE, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE FOR HONORING OUR REQUEST.
UH, I MUCH APPRECIATE THAT, UH, LITERACY FEEDS OUR HAITIAN, UM, MISSION, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THREE TOP ONES THAT WE HAVE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE ONE QUOTE FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON, WHICH WOULD BE SO APPROPRIATE TODAY.
IT SAYS IF A NATION EXPECTS TO BE FREE AND IGNORANT AT THE SAME TIME, IT EXPECTS WHAT NEVER WAS.
IT NEVER WILL BE WHERE THE PRESS IS FREE AND EVERY MAN IS ABLE TO READ THEIR AND THEIR ALONE.
THOMAS JEFFERSON, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HELPING US PROMOTE LITERACY.
HEY MICHAEL WELLS, DO WE HAVE ANYONE FOR OPEN FORUM? WE DO NOT.
AND I DON'T SEE OUR OPEN FORUM GUY OUT THERE.
SO NEXT UP WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS.
[Presentation on the BedfordROCKS Trail Program.]
UP.WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE BEDFORD ROCKS TRAIL PROGRAM, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TONIGHT TO HAVE MARTY GEAR, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION AND OTHER WELCOME BEAUTIFICATION MEMBERS.
WE'VE BEEN BUSY PAINTING ROCKS.
UH, WE STARTED PAINTING ROCKS AFTER WE WENT BY ANOTHER CITY'S PARK THAT HAD A LOT OF ROCKS THAT WERE PAINTED BY CITIZENS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY.
AND WE WERE OVERWHELMED AND WE SIT, I DIDN'T SAY THAT, BUT ONE OF OUR MEMBERS DID BONNIE, BONNIE COOPER SAID THAT AND HER HUSBAND SAID, SURE, I'LL HELP.
UH, WE COULDN'T DO WITHOUT GARY.
AND KAREN SAYS, OKAY, WHATEVER YOU GUYS WANT TO DO.
SO WE STARTED A CAMPAIGN AND WE ALSO HAD SOME HELP FROM SANCHEZ WHO CAME WITH THE IDEA OF HOW WE COULD INCORPORATE THAT WITH KINDNESS DAY.
SO KNOWING THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS COMING UP IN THE FALL EVERYWHERE, UH, ONE OF THE EVENTS WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS THE FALSE SWEEP, WHICH IS OCTOBER 23RD ON A SATURDAY MORNING.
AND THAT AFTERNOON WE HAVE, UH, ANOTHER ROCK PAINTING CLASS.
AND IT'S ALSO AT THE LIBRARY ALONG WITH A BEER AND BROUGHT.
SO, UH, I'M GOING TO LET, UH, YVONNE TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND WHAT OUR PLAN IS, AND WE'D LOVE TO SEE ALL OF YOU PAINTING A ROCK.
SO I'M GOING TO LET YVONNE SANCHEZ TO TAKE IT FROM HERE.
WE, THE COMMISSION HAVE ORGANIZED FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES TO PAINT ROCKS WITH KIND AND POSITIVE MESSAGES FOR THE BEDFORD ROCKS TRAIL PROJECT.
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WE HAVE HELD THREE CLASSES SO FAR AND HAVE HAD AROUND 67.PEOPLE ATTEND AT THE BEDFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE CLASS IN WHICH WE PROVIDE THE ROCK AND PAINT AT THE BEER IN BRONX ON OCTOBER 23RD, FROM THREE TO 4:30 PM OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY WITH THAT BEING SAID TONIGHT, WE HAVE A FEW ROCKS FOR EACH OF YOU TO HELP US WITH OUR PROJECT.
ALSO, IF ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND ONE OF OUR PAINTING PARTIES, YOU CAN PAINT YOUR OWN ROCK, BIG ROCKS.
THANK YOU FOR COMING ON A FRIENDLY NIGHT, AS OPPOSED TO AN UNFRIENDLY NIGHT, THAT ONES FROM A DISTANCE, MY ROCK LOOKS GREAT FROM ACROSS THE ROOM.
SO IF THERE'S ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND ANY NOVAR PAINTING PARTIES, YOU CAN PAINT YOUR OWN ROCK AT HOME AND DROP IT OFF AT THE LIBRARY BETWEEN NOW AND SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, THEN AT NOON ON WORLD KINDNESS DAY, WHICH IS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, EVERYONE IS INVITED TO TAKE A PILE OF PAINTED ROCKS AND SPRINKLED THEM AROUND THE DIXON NATIVE AREAS OF THE TRAIL.
BEGINNING AT THE LIBRARY ONCE COMPLETE IT, EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO STROLL THE LIBRARY GROUNDS AND LOOK AT ALL THE BEAUTIFUL CREATIONS AND POSITIVE MESSAGES.
ALSO MAKE NOTE THAT THAT DAY IS WHEN THE LIBRARY WILL BE HOSTING THEIR BEDFORD CHRISTMAS EVENT.
THANK YOU, YVONNE OR MARTY, WOULD YOU MIND RECOGNIZING THE OTHER MEMBERS WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCES, BONNIE COOPER AND KAREN JACOBSON AND SPOUSE AND SPOUSE, TOM AND GARY.
WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL DOING THAT.
[Presentation by Craig Reynolds with BRW Architects and Jimmy Stathatos, City Manager, regarding the Performing Arts Center.]
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY CRAIG REYNOLDS WITH BRW ARCHITECTS AND JIMMY STEPHANO CITY MANAGER REGARDING THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.ALL RIGHT, GREG, THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL.
I'M GOING TO YIELD TO A GARY JOHNSON, BUT I JUST WANT TO KIND OF SET THE TABLE.
BASICALLY THE COUNCIL SET, UH, ESTABLISHED A COMMITTEE, A SUBCOMMITTEE WHO HAS BEEN MEETING REGULARLY WITH, UH, BRW WITH, WITH GARY WHO'S THE PROJECT MANAGER AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS.
AND SO THIS PRESENTATION IS A CULMINATION OF THOSE, EXCUSE ME, OF THOSE MEETINGS AFTER THIS, THE NEXT STEP IN OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO HAVE A PUBLIC UNVEILING.
WE WERE THINKING MORE SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES LIKE ONSITE OR SOMETHING TO WHERE RESIDENTS CAN LOOK AT, WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEING PROPOSED OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
UM, AND WE JUST, YOU KNOW, CANDIDLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COUNCIL SAW IT AHEAD OF TIME BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER IS SHARED, UH, OFFICIALLY WITH THE PUBLIC HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OR A CONSENSUS OR WHATEVER.
UM, WHAT HAVE YOU OF THE COUNCIL? AND SO JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS A RESULT OF THOSE MEETINGS.
NOTHING IS CHISELED IN STONE, NO PUN INTENDED MARTY, IF SHE ALREADY LEFT.
BUT, UM, ANYWAY, THAT BEING SAID, GARY, DO YOU MIND COMING FORWARD AND INTRODUCING OUR SPEAKERS, PLEASE, SIR.
UM, IT'S IT'S THEIR SHELTER OUT.
THEY HAVE THEIR POWERPOINT, THEIR PRESENTATION READY, AND I THINK MOST USER RECEIVED A BOOK IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
IT KIND OF GIVES YOU A GOOD, SOME GOOD OUTLINES OF, OF THE PROJECT.
I WANT TO THANK THE STEERING COMMITTEE, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCILMAN GAGLARDI OF THE HARD WORK THEY'VE PUT IN THE MEETINGS.
THEY'VE DONE THE INPUT THEY'VE GIVEN, UH, TO GET US TO THIS POINT OF, OF WHERE WE'RE AT, UH, ON THE PROJECT.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'LL LET CRAIG REYNOLDS INTRODUCE HIS STAFF AND GET STARTED WITH THE PRESENTATION.
OKAY, CRAIG, YOU'RE GOING TO WOW.
US TONIGHT, RIGHT? WE'LL WORK ON THAT.
I'M NOT CHECKING OUT THROUGH THE ROCKS ACTUALLY IS THE SECOND TIME WE DO HAVE ROCKS.
[00:15:04]
WE SHOULD HAVE JIMMY.MY NAME IS CRAIG REYNOLDS, THE BRW ARCHITECTS I'M JOINED THIS EVENING.
UH, AARON FISHER ALSO OF OUR FARM AND CHRIS SANO BEHIND HIM.
THEY'RE BOTH PLANNERS AND DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTS WITH BRW.
WELL, THIS HAS BEEN AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY, A GREAT TIME FOR THE CITY.
WE'RE RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF COURSE OF GENERATIONS PARK AND WHAT GREAT WORK HAS BEEN HAPPENING THERE AT OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL, A WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL SITE THAT HAS ALL TYPES OF HISTORY HERE ON THE CITY, AS WELL AS A LOT OF ACTIVITY THERE ON SITE.
AND OF COURSE ALSO IN BETWEEN BETWEEN GENERATIONS PARK AND BEDFORD COMMONS AREA AND THE SITE THAT WE SIT ON HERE TONIGHT.
SO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WE'VE HAD THE STEERING COMMITTEE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE THOUGHTS AND PROCESSES OF WHAT WE'LL BE SEEING TONIGHT.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM FROM MY MIND OR FROM CHRIS'S MIND OR AARON'S MIND.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BY ALL THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN ORDER TO BRING FORWARD WHAT THIS SITE REALLY WANTED TO BE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT BE THE BEST POSSIBLE VENUE, THE BEST POSSIBLE DESTINATION FOR THOSE CITIZENS HERE IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND BEYOND JUST AS LONG AS I CAN OPERATE THIS, WE WILL TRY TO, THERE WE GO.
WHAT WE STARTED WITH WAS THREE WORKSHOPS.
THE FIRST ONE OF THOSE WAS A, WHAT WE CALL OUR VISIONING WORKSHOP.
IT'S WHERE WE DISCUSS THE DESIGN PROCESS, OUR PRECEDENT EXAMPLES.
AND WE WILL GO THROUGH THIS, UH, THE WORKSHOP NUMBER TWO, WHICH HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BAY.
THIS WAS MORE TAKING SOME OF THOSE IDEAS AND THOSE THOUGHTS THAT WE LOOKED AT IN THE FIRST WORKSHOP AND STARTING TO PULL THOSE TOGETHER AND TO WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN ON THIS PARTICULAR SITE.
AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY DID BRING RESIN, UH, SOME RESIDENTS TO THE, THOSE THAT WERE IN THE ROOM AND WHAT THIS SITE WANTED TO BE AND COULD BE FOR US.
WORKSHOP THREE WAS IN PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER, STARTING TO PUT TOGETHER WITH THE CONCEPTUALLY WOULD BE A, A CONCEPT FOR WHAT THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS WOULD BE, HOW THOSE COULD BE ARRANGED ON THE SITE.
WHAT IT WOULD MEAN WHAT THE VARIOUS PIECES WERE.
WE STARTED LOOKING AT THE POTENTIAL COST FOR SOME OF THIS AND WHERE THAT WOULD TAKE US.
AND WE'LL GO THROUGH ALL THOSE ITEMS HERE THIS EVENING, ROBIN, VERY QUICK SUCCESSION, JUST TO MAKE SURE HIS REPUTATION PRECEDES US.
YOU'VE REACHED THE ARCHITECT COMMUNITY WORKSHOP.
NUMBER ONE, AS WE STARTED ERA AGAIN, JUST STARTING, JUST TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT WE HAD ON THE SITE.
WHAT MAKES UP THE SITE, OBVIOUSLY A VERY HISTORICAL SITE DATING BACK TO THE EARLY PART OF THE LAST CENTURY HERE IN ALL THE ELEMENTS AND WHAT IT MEANT HERE FOR THE CITY WHERE WE'RE LOCATED HERE ON THE PARK AND, AND THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS AREA YOU SEE CIRCLED IN YELLOW, THE GENERATIONS PARK AND BEDFORD IN BETWEEN, AND THEN IN LIGHT BLUE, WHAT YOU CAN BARELY DISTINGUISH HERE IS WHERE THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL SITE IS.
AND OF COURSE THE LIBRARY IS ON PART OF THE SITE WRAPS AROUND TO BEDFORD ROAD AND THEN ON, AROUND TO THE CORNER THERE WHERE THE VALERO STATION IS THAT MAKES UP OUR SITE, YOU'RE BLOWING IN A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE, TO THE PROPERTY.
UM, THE OBS THEY'LL BEDFORD SCHOOL, WHERE IT IS OFTENTIMES WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS THERE DURING THE HOLIDAYS, A WONDERFUL EVENT, UH, THE LIBRARY, THERE IS CERTAINLY A PREDOMINANT ELEMENT THERE, BUT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE EVEN MORE ACTIVATED BY THE SIDE, AND THEN ALL THE WONDERFUL PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE THERE IN PARKLAND OPEN SPACE THAT WE CAN DEVELOP INTO MORE OF A DESTINATION FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, JUST TAKING A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE THERE ON THE SITE AND THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL, A BEAUTIFUL TREE.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE KNOW IS SOMETHING THAT'S JUST CRITICAL TO ANY OF THESE KINDS OF SITES IN ANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES IS THE LANDSCAPE THAT EXISTS THERE.
OF COURSE, TREES THAT HAVE BEEN ON SITE LONG BEFORE ANYBODY HAS EVER SET FOOT ON THIS EARTH, AS IT WILL GREAT TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THOSE ELEMENTS THAT WE HAVE ON EACH SITE.
AND THE PURPOSE FOR THIS PROJECT, WE HAD A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
AND AGAIN, THESE WERE JUST IDEAS THAT WE STARTED OUT WITH THE ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCES, THE POSSIBILITY OF MUSIC, CONCERTS, VISUAL ART GALLERY EVENT SPACES, CONFERENCE CENTER, OUTDOOR AMENITIES, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT LENGTH AT EACH OF THESE WORKSHOP MEETINGS.
AND THEN WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT WHAT IS SUCCESS GOING TO MEAN? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US HERE IN BEDFORD? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO EACH OF YOU? WHAT DOES THAT GOING TO MEAN TO OUR CITIZENS OF BEDFORD? WELL, ONE BRING USAGE TO THE OBS.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S A WONDERFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY.
IT'S A WONDERFUL OLD BUILDING.
IT'S NOT BEING UTILIZED TO THE EXTENT THAT IT COULD BE.
SO WE LOOKED AT WHAT WE COULD DO FOR THAT CULTURAL ARTS IDENTITY.
CAN THIS BE THE CULTURAL CENTER, THE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD ABSOLUTELY CAN SOMETHING THAT WE STUDIED AT LENGTH ENERGETIC.
THAT'S ONE THING IT'S NOT TODAY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LOOKED AT.
HOW CAN WE ENERGIZE THIS SITE TO
[00:20:01]
WHERE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT, WELL, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS WEEKEND? THEY THINK ABOUT, WELL, LET'S GO DOWN TO THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWN THERE.WHETHER IT BE A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE, A DEVON DEMONSTRATION THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING IN AN ART GALLERY, THAT MIGHT BE SOME OTHER TYPE OF ACTIVITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN OR OUR ELDERLY HERE IN THE CITY CATALYSTS FOR OLD BEDFORD ROAD.
WE LOOKED AT THIS AS A INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
WHAT WE HAVE HERE, WHAT CAN WE DO ALONG HERE TO WHERE THIS SITE IS NOT JUST AN EXTENSION OF OTHER STRIP SHOPPING CENTERS ALONG THE WAY, NOT TO DEMEAN ANY STRIP SHOPPING CENTERS, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO HERE TO FURTHER ACTIVATE THE ZONE THAT WE'RE IN TO REALLY BRING SOME LIFE IN THE DESTINATION, COMPLIMENT BEDFORD COMMONS.
THAT'S STILL PEACE TO BE IN THE FUTURE, BUT CAN THIS BE THE LINK BETWEEN THE BEDROOM AND COMMONS AND PARK A REVENUE GENERATOR? CERTAINLY SOMETHING NOT NECESSARILY OUR FIRST AND FOREMOST THOUGHT, BUT STILL OKAY WITH WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
THIS CAN'T BE A, AGAIN, A, AN ANCHOR TO THE CITY BUDGET.
IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN HAVE A REVENUE POSSIBILITIES HERE ON SITE AND A DESTINATION.
THIS HAS TO BE ONE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING OUR CHILDREN TO BRAILLE, TO BRING OUR VISITORS, TO OUR RELATIVES THAT COME IN TOWN TO VISIT WHAT A GREAT THING, AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO TO GO DOWN TO THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
SO OUR PROJECT GOALS, CATALYST, THIS HAS TO BE A CATALYST FOR OTHER CITY ACTIVITIES, OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE AREA, A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, A CATALYST FOR RETHINKING AND REMEMBERING WHAT BEDFORD IS AND WHAT IT MEANS ENERGY.
WE HAVE TO CREATE ENERGY ON A SITE.
YES, THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PLANNING, ALL THE ELEMENTS THAT WE ADD TO THE SITE, IT'S GOT A GREAT ENERGY TO WHERE PEOPLE REMEMBER AND THINK ABOUT, HEY, LET'S GO DOWN OVER THE WEEKEND IN THE EVENINGS, PERHAPS WALK THE SITE, PERHAPS SEE WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE, A PLACE WHERE THERE WAS ACTIVITY AND CERTAINLY A CULTURAL SHOWPIECE FIRST AND FOREMOST, THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT US HERE TO BEGIN WITH.
THAT'S THE ORIGINAL FUNDS CAME FROM, LET'S SEE WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO BE A CULTURAL SHOWPIECE WORKSHOP.
SO I WILL LEAD US THROUGH, UH, THE EXERCISES THAT WE DID FOR WORKSHOP NUMBER TWO.
AND WE WANTED TO START WITH WHAT INSPIRATION COULD BE.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT, LIKE CRAIG SAID, WHAT ARE THE PURPOSES OF THIS PROJECT, WHICH WE OUTLINED.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? MAYBE MORE TANGIBLE, AGAIN, A MULTI-PURPOSE VENUE.
ONE THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY JUST FIXED FOR ONE PURPOSE, BUT HOW CAN WE UTILIZE THAT TO LEVERAGE THE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE NOT ONLY THE DAY, THE WEEK IN THE MONTH, UH, BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SO THAT MIGHT INCLUDE A BLACK BOX THEATER FOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, UH, ART GALLERIES AND OTHER ART INCUBATOR OPPORTUNITIES, POTENTIALLY A CONFERENCE CENTER TO BRING THAT TYPE OF LIKE IN REVENUE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING, UH, CONFERENCING TO THIS SITE, UH, TO SERVE FOR MEETING PURPOSES.
I THINK WE'VE KIND OF FIGURED OUT THIS MAY NOT THE RIGHT SCALE.
UH, BUT THEN BEYOND TO THE SITE, THAT'S A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU HAVE THAT'S UNDERUTILIZED.
SO HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE THAT AND EVENTS LAW, AND THAT CAN BE PROGRAMMED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, UH, ART INTEGRATION TO BRING KIND OF THAT INSTAGRAM MOMENT.
SO PEOPLE, UH, CITIZENS WANT TO COME AND GET THEIR PHOTO.
IT'S A, IT'S A WAY TO ACTIVATE THE SITE TO ALWAYS HAVE ACTIVITY THERE.
FOOD TRUCKS ALWAYS BRING A GOOD CROWD OF IF THERE'S SOMETHING TO EAT, HE CAN HANG OUT.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THE SPACE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
AND JUST A FEW OTHERS UP TRAILS, PICNIC GROVES, UM, OUTDOOR ROOMS, WATER FEATURES, AND THINKING ABOUT SHADE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO, THESE WERE THE IDEAS THAT WE DEVELOPED AND THEN WE WANTED TO COME UP WITH A, UM, AN INSPIRATIONAL IMAGE TO KIND OF GET, MAKE SURE THINKING THE RIGHT WAY, UM, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT COULD BECOME.
SO A MULTI-PURPOSE VENUE COULD BECOME A DAY LIT SPACE.
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE, UH, JUST WINDOWLESS, SO IT COULD HAVE A REALLY NICE ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER, BUT STILL PROVIDE THAT FLEXIBILITY.
THIS EXAMPLE SHOWS, UH, RETRACTABLE SEATING.
SO IF IT IS A CERTAIN TYPE OF PERFORMANCE THAT NEEDS TIERED SEATING, BUT THEN YOU COULD PUSH THE SEATING BACK TO BECOME A FLAT FLOOR ENVIRONMENT, TO SERVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT POTENTIAL PERFORMANCES.
HERE'S ANOTHER, A SIMILAR OPPORTUNITY, BUT SHOWING THE INTEGRATION OF DAYLIGHT AND VIEWS WERE SET ON THIS REALLY NICE PARK.
SO HOW CAN WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT NATURE AND INJECT IT INTO OUR BUILDINGS? THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT SITE INTEGRATION.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS OPENING UP TO THE PARK.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT AND OPERABLE WALL OF GLASS THAT COULD OPEN, LITERALLY OPEN UP TO THE PARK.
AND THEN AS THE BLEACHERS KIND OF PUSH BACK, NOW IT BECOMES A FLAT FLOOR SPACE THAT CAN BE UTILIZED IN MUCH DIFFERENT WAYS.
[00:25:03]
ART GALLERIES, MAYBE IT'S IN THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL.ART COULD BE INTEGRATED THROUGHOUT ANY NEW FACILITIES AS WELL CONFERENCING CENTERS.
THAT AGAIN ARE MULTI-PURPOSE CAN SERVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT MEETING SIZE OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDE, UH, FOR BANQUETS AS WELL AS, UH, CONVENTION TYPE, UM, EXHIBITS.
AND THEN THE SITE INTEGRATION.
AGAIN, THE HUGE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU HAVE IN AN EVENTS LONG BECOMES THE KIND OF THAT MEETING SPACE.
SO, UH, GIVING AN APPROPRIATE SCALE FOR WHAT THAT MEANS AND HAVING PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ALLOWS IT TO BE USED MORE REGULARLY AND INVITE CITIZENS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AMENITY THE CITY COULD PROVIDE, AND THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT SCALES AND WHAT THE FURNITURE COULD LOOK LIKE TO BE LIGHTWEIGHT AND MOVE AROUND SO THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL CAN KIND OF CUSTOMIZE THEIR EXPERIENCE.
INTEGRATION OF ARTWORK AGAIN, IS GOING TO BRING A LOT OF ACTIVITY.
UM, IT IS, WE TALKED ABOUT THE CULTURAL ARTS IDENTITY OF THIS SITE, SO THAT HELPS A BRAND, THIS SITE IN AN INAPPROPRIATE WAY THAT DISTINGUISHES ITSELF FROM BEDFORD COMMENTS OR GENERATIONS PARK.
AND THAT CAN MEAN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND SO WE'RE JUST, AGAIN, TRYING TO GET SOME IDEAS GOING, SEE WHAT IT COULD BECOME.
UH, BRANDING, LIKE I MENTIONED IS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S A BIG DRAW, UM, AND ALSO GIVES THAT UNIQUENESS THAT I THINK EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR AND NOT JUST THE SAME, UH, SITUATION AND EVENT ACTIVITY.
IT CAN ALSO START TO INFORM THE TYPE OF ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPEN THERE, OBVIOUSLY AS A PERFORMING ARTS VENUE, THAT SEEMS TO BE THE RIGHT SLANT FOR IT IS JUST, HOW CAN WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT? MAKE IT A UNIQUE DESTINATION.
LIKE WE SAID, IT'S GOTTA BE HAVING UNIQUE CHARACTER TO, UH, BE A DRAW.
I MENTIONED INSTAGRAM MOMENTS.
EVERYBODY LIKES TO TAKE THEIR OWN PICTURE FOR WHATEVER REASON.
AND IF THERE'S A GREAT BACKDROP TO DO THAT, THAT'S JUST GOING TO BE AN, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER EXCUSE TO COME TO THE SITE IN AN IMAGE OF FOOD TRUCKS, WHICH BRINGS A GREAT CROWD WALKING TRAILS BECAUSE OF THE, THE EXPANSE OF THE SITE AND OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LIBRARY SITE AS WELL.
WE CAN CREATE TRAILS THROUGHOUT ENCOURAGES ACTIVITY, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, ALSO PLACES TO KIND OF CREATE LITTLE ZONES TO JUST HANGING OUT AND YOU CAN CREATE SOME LEVEL OF PRIVACY, BUT ALSO FOR PEOPLE WATCH BECAUSE THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO, UH, BRING PEOPLE TO YOUR SITE.
THERE'S A PLAYGROUND THERE TODAY.
WE CAN LOOK AT ENHANCING THAT MAKING AGAIN A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THAT BECOMES A DESTINATION TO DRIVE, TO GET TO THIS PARTICULAR PLAYGROUND, BECAUSE IT IS SO SPECIAL.
AGAIN, I MENTIONED PROGRAMMINGS OFFERING FREE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OPEN TO CITIZENS IS A GREAT WAY TO ACTIVATE THE SITE, OUTDOOR GAMES, JUST KIND OF AN EASY WIN.
EVERYBODY LIKES TO DO IT ON KIDS AND ADULTS.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO INTEGRATE THAT BRINGS THE NOISE ELEMENT OR KIND OF SOFTEN THE TRAFFIC NOISE AS WELL AS JUST CREATE THAT ENERGY THROUGHOUT THE SITE.
AND THEN BECAUSE OF ITS HISTORIC NATURE OF THE SITE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE USERS ABOUT THAT.
AND THAT CAN BE VERY ARTISTICALLY DONE THAT THROUGH AN EXHIBIT THROUGHOUT WHETHER IT'S THE WALKING TRAILS OR INSIDE THE BUILDINGS, JUST CHAIRS OR THE HISTORY OF THE SITE, ISN'T IMPORTANT IN ANY KIND OF MESSAGING THAT WE WANT TO DELIVER ALONG THOSE LINES ALSO HELPS US TO BRAND IT.
AND AGAIN, WE'VE GOT A HASHTAG THAT MEANS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, THE WAY TO CREATE A VISUAL IDENTITY AND AGAIN, SEE PEOPLE ON THE SITE BECAUSE IT HAS A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO HANG OUT IN THE NIGHTTIME SCENE.
THE FESTIVE LIGHTING IS A HUGE DRAW.
IT BRINGS TO A NATURAL ENERGY TO THE SITE.
AND AGAIN, THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND JUST TO MORE TIME WITH A LOT OF ACTIVITIES AND THROUGH THE NIGHT AS WELL, WE'RE GETTING, YOU SAID WE CAN IMPLEMENT MANY OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THAT FED INTO, SORRY, ERIN WORKSHOP THREE.
WE CIRCLED BACK TO THIS LIST, CREATING
[00:30:01]
AN ENERGY AND FINDING, EVEN CELEBRATING CULTURE, LOOKING AT BOTH THE PROJECT PURPOSE, WHICH IS THOSE GOALS.AND THEN THE PROJECT VISION, WHICH HAS THAT DEFINITION OF SUCCESS.
AND THESE SORT OF ALL THE THINGS LIKE THE OBSTACLE FOR PERFORMANCE, THE CONTENTS OR INDIVIDUAL REASONS CONFERENCE.
AND IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT PURPOSE, WE HAVE TO ALIGN OURSELVES WITH THE VISION OF BRINGING TO THE SITE, UH, TEA, PRESUMABLY SOMETHING THAT CREATES ENERGY, THAT ENERGY, AND THEN DEVELOPING A CAPITALIST, NOT JUST FOR THE ROLE TO SORT OF KNOW WITHIN THE CITY AND IN REVISITING THIS WEEK, TAKE THESE THESE GOALS AND THESE PURPOSES.
AND THERE ARE DEFINITIONS OF SUCCESS.
AND WE STARTED TO ALIGN THEM TOGETHER AS A GROUP WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
IF THESE TERMS IT'S IN OUR HEAD ABOUT PROJECT STRATEGIES, WHETHER THE NAME MULTIPURPOSE VENUE, THE BLACK BOX THEATER IN THE PERFORMANCE SENSE, OR WHETHER THESE ARE OUTDOORS AMENITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS THESE EVENT LAWNS AND LOTS OF EXCITING LIGHTING AND WALKING TRAILS TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THE PIECES OF ART OR ALONG THE FOOD TRUCKS.
AND WE THEN HAD THE EXCITING PART OF TRANSLATING THOSE THAT WE NOW ARE FAMILIAR WITH INTO PIECES THAT WE GOT TOGETHER AND MOVED AROUND ON THE SITE TO UNDERSTAND HOW ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS GET INTEGRATED INTO THIS SITE AND DEVELOP THE STORY THAT WE WANT TO TELL THIS COLLECTIVELY.
SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE, WHAT THE GOAL IS AND HOW EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUAL PIECES COME TOGETHER AS WE SAW IN EXAMPLES, BUT FOR THIS SPECIFIC SITE AND FOR THIS SPECIFIC CITY, AND CRAIG WILL TALK THROUGH SOME OF THE NUMBERS AROUND THAT.
NOT SURE HOW THOSE IMAGES GOT ON THEIR SIDE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, WE'LL WORK ON THAT TECHNOLOGY BUDGETS.
SO WHAT DID WE TAKE A LOOK AT? WE TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT THE BASE BONES ELEMENTS WERE OF THIS.
WE LOOKED AT THE MULTI-PURPOSE VENUE AND WE FELT THAT THE MULTI-PURPOSE VENUE DOES SUIT US BETTER PERHAPS THAN JUST A DEDICATED BLACK BOX, BECAUSE IT GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DOING A VARIETY OF NOT ONLY THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES, BUT MUSICAL PERFORMANCES, LECTURING, BANQUETS, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND YET STILL COULD ACHIEVE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS OF ENTERTAINING OF USING, OF RENTING THE FACILITY AND THAT STANDPOINT, SOME OF THE MEETING ROOMS. AND WE ALSO ADDED ONTO THIS WHERE AN ELEMENT WHERE THIS COULD BECOME EVEN MORE OF A VENUE, EVEN THOUGH, EVEN DURING THE ADEQUATE PERFORMANCES, THE OPPORTUNITIES OF HAVING THOSE MEETING ROOMS AND BEING ABLE FOR THEM TO DOUBLE AS DRESSING FACILITIES AND OTHER TYPES OF STORAGE PROPS AND SO FORTH ARE VERY ADVANTAGEOUS.
SO IT GAVE US A MULTI-PURPOSE VENUE WITH THE MAJOR ONE FLAT FLOOR AREA WITH REMOVABLE SEAT OR NOT REMOVABLE OR RETRACTABLE SEATS, AS WELL AS THOSE MEETING ROOMS THAT WE'D HAVE THE OTHER ELEMENTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AS, AS, AS PART OF THIS.
AND YOU SEE WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DEVELOP A BUDGET IS WE TAKE EACH OF THE MAIN ELEMENTS THAT WE HAVE AND BREAK IT DOWN INTO EVERY COMPONENT, WHETHER IT BE THE RESTROOMS, THE GATHERING SPACES, THE MAIN FLAT FLOOR AREA, THE STORAGE ROOMS, THE MECHANICAL ROOMS, EVERY SINGLE SPACE IN THE BUILDING.
AND EACH ONE OF THOSE HAS A UNIQUE COST TO THAT KIND OF ELEMENT FOR US FROM A SQUARE FOOT STANDPOINT.
AND SO IF WE HAVE X NUMBER OF SEATS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE ON THE BLEACHERS, IF WE'RE TRYING TO SEAT SO MANY PEOPLE IN A BANQUET SEATING FOR TRYING TO SEE X NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN A LECTURE TYPE FACILITY THAT STARTS DICTATING TO US ALL THE OTHER ELEMENTS, HOW LARGE THE RESTROOMS NEED TO BE, HOW LARGE THE MEETING ROOMS NEED TO BE, HOW LONG IS THE, HOW LARGE THE MECHANICAL ROOMS NEED TO BE.
SO AT SOMEWHAT CAN BE SQUEEZED AND EXPANDED DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE WE ACTUALLY WANT TO PUT IN THE ROOM.
SO HERE IN WHAT WE CLASSIFIED HERE AS OUR BASELINE MODEL IS OUR $8.4 MILLION BUDGET.
SO THAT ONE, WE DID ALLOCATE SOME OF THE COSTS TO SOME OF THE SITE WORK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT A LOT OF IT IS FOCUSED JUST ON THE BUILDING BECAUSE WE FELT WELL, THE BUILDING IS SOMETHING THAT WHAT WE BUILD TODAY IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS.
THE SITE ELEMENTS THAT WE PUT IN TODAY CAN BE ADDED TO OVER TIME, BUT IT IS CRITICAL FOR US TO DESIGN THE ENTIRE SITE AT THIS TIME.
SO WE'LL KNOW WHERE WE'RE HEADED DOWN THE ROAD.
AND AGAIN, WE SAID, OKAY, IF WE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY THAN WHERE WE STARTED, LET'S SAY, WELL, LET'S GO AHEAD AND CREATE AN INCREASE THE SIZE OF A MULTIPURPOSE ROOM AND ADD ANOTHER MEETING ROOM.
IT GIVES US A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF GUESTS WE CAN HAVE IN THE BUILDING, GIVES US A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF RENTAL WITH THAT EXTRA MEETING ROOM, WE FELT THAT THAT WAS MONEY WELL SPENT.
IF WE ADDED THAT EXTRA DIDN'T INCREASE THE SITE, THE ELEMENTS ON THE SITE, THE AMENITIES ON THE SITE, BUT JUST THE BUILDING
[00:35:01]
HERE.WE WENT TO A, A SLIGHTLY LARGER BUDGET.
IF WE WANTED TO, AGAIN, LARGER MULTIPURPOSE.
IN THIS CASE, WE DID HAVE THE DRESSING ROOMS IN HERE, LARGER DRESSING ROOMS IN THIS CASE INCLUDES A TICKET BOX OFFICE CONCESSIONS AND ADDITIONAL SITE IMPROVEMENTS TO TAKE IT UP TO HERE.
AND YOU SAY, WELL, OKAY, HERE ARE THE THREE ONES, WHICH ONE SHOULD WE DO? WHERE SHOULD WE GO? WELL, THERE'S A VARIETY OF WAYS TO DO IT WITH OUR INITIAL BUILDING COST.
AND WHEN WE PUT SOMETHING OUT FROM OUR STANDPOINT OUT TO BID TO CONTRACTORS, WE'LL SAY, OKAY, THIS IS OUR BASELINE MODEL THAT WE HAVE, BUT WE ALSO ALWAYS INCLUDE WHAT WE SAY ARE ALTERNATE BID ITEMS AS A COST, WHICH BE ADD ON ITEMS. WE CAN LIVE WITHOUT THEM, BUT THEY COULD ALSO BE ITEMS THAT SHOULD THE BIDS COME IN FAVORABLY.
WE CAN MAKE THEM OPTIONAL TO WHERE WE ASK OUR CONTRACTOR TO HOLD THE COST OF THAT UNTIL ANOTHER BUDGET CYCLE COMES THROUGH.
AND IF THAT HAPPENS TO BE A SIDE ITEM, THOSE WOULD BE ELEMENTS.
IT'D BE VERY EASY TO ADD IN ANOTHER BUDGET CYCLE.
SO THAT'S SOME OF THE ELEMENTS AS WE GO FROM 8.4 TO NINE TO 10, IS THAT THOSE COULD ACTUALLY BE PHASED AND FUNDED AT DIFFERENT TIMES IF THEY NEEDED TO BE NOW, EVEN AT THE 10 MILLION, WE DON'T TAKE THE ENTIRE SITE.
THAT'S, DOESN'T WRAP AROUND ALL THE WAY TO, IN FRONT OF THE, UH, FRONT OF THE LIBRARY.
YES, IT DOES GET US FOR THE MOST PART FROM THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL DOWN TO THE, DOWN TO THE STREET, PERHAPS EVEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS BEHIND THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL, BUT IT'S PRIMARILY FOCUSED IN THAT AREA.
BUT AGAIN, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE US TO DESIGN THE ENTIRE PROPERTY SO THAT WE'LL KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING IN THE FUTURE AND KNOW WHAT THE OBJECTIVES ARE.
CERTAINLY SOME OF THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS THAT ERIN JUST TOOK US THROUGH.
IT DID SHOW ELLER ELEMENTS ON THE SITE THAT EVEN TOOK CARE OF SOME OF THE PROPERTY THAT WAS THERE, JUST SOUTH OF THE LIBRARY, PARKING LOT TO SHOW HOW THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED IN THE FUTURE TO FURTHER ENERGIZE THE SITE, BRING ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY.
AND YES, AS CHRIS WAS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE FOOD TRUCKS OR WHAT A PHENOMENON WE'VE SEEN IN THAT REGARD, YES, THEY CAN BE ADMINISTERED.
THEY CAN BE USED AND THEY CAN BE TO OUR BENEFIT FROM THAT STANDPOINT, AS WELL AS A WHOLE OTHER INDUSTRY FOR A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE.
AND YES, DO THEY ACTIVATE AN AREA IT'S AMAZING WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN MANY COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY TODAY.
AND THEN JUST TO SEE KIND OF A MASTER PLAN OF WHAT, WHAT THAT, HOW THAT LAYS OUT ON THE SITE.
AGAIN, LIKE CRAIG SAYS, THE, WHAT WE'RE SHOWING IN THE BUDGETS DOES NOT ACCOMMODATE ALL OF THIS, BUT WE WANT TO CONSIDER THE ENTIRE SITE TO KNOW WHAT FUTURE PHASES COULD DO.
UM, WHETHER OR NOT THEY GO DOWN THAT ROAD.
WE WANT TO PLAN AS WELL AS WE CAN TO ACCOMMODATE FUTURE EVOLUTIONS.
AND SO THIS IS FROM THE EXERCISE THAT AARON SHOWED US, UH, MOVING THE, ALL THE PIECES AROUND, UH, THE CHARRETTE PROCESS OF MOVING THE PIECES AROUND ON THE SITE PLAN.
UM, WHEN WE KIND OF REORGANIZED IT, WHAT IT ULTIMATELY BECAME WAS THIS, WHICH, UH, SHOWS THE EVENT LAWN THAT IS, UM, ON ACCESS WITH THE, THE MAIN FACADE OF THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL.
SO THAT IS A SERIES OF LAWNS TO GRIT.
GET A NICE SCALE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, OUR EXISTING PARKING LOT THAT WE COULD MAYBE ALLOW THAT TO BE THE FOOD TRUCK ZONE.
SO AGAIN, YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE THAT TRANSITION FROM THE, GETTING YOUR FOOD AND THEN GOING OUT TO THE LAWN TO EAT OR WATCHING IT OR PARTICIPATE IN AN EVENT.
AND THEN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THOSE LAWNS IS THE PRIMARY CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS.
AND WE'RE SHOWING AGAIN, KIND OF A MASTER PLAN IDEA THAT COULD INCLUDE A CONFERENCE CENTER, THE MULTIPURPOSE BEING YOU, UH, THE LOBBY AND BLACK BOX ALONG WITH SUPPORT SPACE.
SO FOR ALIGNING KIND OF THE WEST EDGE OF A SITE WITH WE'RE FRAMING THE EVENT LONG, UM, AND ALLOWING, UH, VIEWS KIND OF INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE MULTIPURPOSE VENUE, LIKE WE SHOW THOSE INSPIRATION IMAGES THEN TO THE FAR NORTH OF THE, UM, OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL, WE'RE SHOWING A MORE INTIMATE EVENT LAWN THAT COULD SERVE A DIFFERENT PURPOSE.
SO YOU'RE CREATING ZONES THAT CAN BE VERY FLEXIBLE AND USE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS.
OF COURSE, WE'RE ACCOMMODATING OVERFLOW PARKING.
AND THEN AS WE KIND OF SPILL OUT TOWARDS, UH, BEDFORD ROAD, UH, THINKING ABOUT WHAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT COULD BE THAT SUPPORTS THIS BIGGER VISION OF THE CAMPUS, UM, WHETHER THAT IS A BOUTIQUE RETAIL OR, UM, OTHER TYPES OF, UH, ACTIVITIES TO ENGAGE ALSO WITH THE LIBRARY, BECAUSE THAT'S A REALLY, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOME SYNERGY WITH THE LIBRARY, BRING THOSE ACTIVITIES OUT TO THE SITE AND REALLY, AGAIN, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ENTIRE SITE.
AND THEN JUST TAKING THIS AS A, AGAIN, THIS IS A DIAGRAM, VERY SIMPLE, BUT LOOKING AT WHAT THAT KIND OF FEELS LIKE IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL SCALE, THIS STARTS TO, UM, SHOW WHAT THAT SCALE LOOKS LIKE ON THE SITE.
YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BABY PEOPLE ACTIVATING THE SITE, UH, WITH TRAILS AND CIRCULATION, PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION THROUGHOUT THE SITE.
AND IT REALLY, UH, EVOKES THE IDEA OF THIS VERY ENERGETIC, UH, SITE THAT CAN BE USED THROUGHOUT THE DAY
[00:40:01]
AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.AND THAT'S THE CONCLUSION OF OUR THREE WORKSHOPS.
AND, UM, I GUESS WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS.
SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS KIND OF A DIRECTION, UH, A POTENTIALITY OF IDEAS THAT WE KIND OF WORKSHOP TOGETHER.
WE DO NOT HAVE A FINAL PRODUCT, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
WE, UM, YOU GENTLEMEN ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SIDE AFTER ALL THIS PROCESS.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED OR THAT YOU'VE SHOWN UP HERE THAT YOU BELIEVE IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THIS SITE? IF I WERE TO ASK YOU AS A SKEPTIC, THAT'S A PRETTY BROAD BRUSH STROKE.
DO YOU BELIEVE ALL THAT STUFF IS ATTAINABLE ON THE FOOTPRINT OF THIS PROPERTY? OKAY.
MAYOR, I BELIEVE WITH EACH ELEMENT THAT WE DISCUSSED IN THE WORKSHOPS THROUGH THAT DISCUSSION AND THE DEBATE THAT WE HAD WORKING ON THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS AND PIECES, AGAIN, AS CHRIS SAID, NONE OF THIS IS SET IN STONE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A LOT OF ROOM TO GO GROW, BUT WITH EACH ONE OF THESE ELEMENTS, WE HAVE A COMPLETE FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
NOW, THE ARRANGEMENT OF THEM ON THE SIDE OF IT, WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT AT LENGTH.
AND YES, THERE ARE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE TO DEAL WITH, BUT WITH WHERE WE HAVE THE ELEMENTS TODAY, WE FEEL THAT WE'LL ACCOMMODATE THAT IN THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE WORKSHOP GROUP WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE KEYED ON THAT WAS NOT PRACTICAL FROM THE, OF A GOAL OR A VISION OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ACCOMPLISHED HERE THROUGHOUT THE VISIONING SESSION? WE THREW OUT A LOT OF IDEAS AND SOME OF THEM WERE ULTIMATELY DISMISSED BECAUSE OF CONVERSATION THAT WAS HAD AND REALIZING THAT'S MAYBE NOT THE RIGHT FIT FOR THE CONCERT HALL.
I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A POTENTIAL AS A PERFORMING ART CENTER.
HE COULD POTENTIALLY, UH, HOLD A CONCERT HALL, BUT THEN THROUGH DISCUSSIONS AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT OTHER AMENITIES ARE NEAR BEDFORD AT, MAYBE IT WASN'T THE RIGHT FIT FOR SCALE.
SO THAT I THINK WE KIND OF ELIMINATED SOME OF THOSE THAT JUST DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT.
UM, SO WHAT WE ULTIMATELY ENDED UP WITH IN THE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE SHOWING TONIGHT, I THINK WE ALL FELT COULD BE ACCOMMODATED, IT'D BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID TO THAT I THINK WE SHOULD PICK UP ON IS THIS CAN BE PHASED.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE ALL AT ONCE THAT WE CAN ADD PEACE BUILDING BLOCKS TO THIS THAT'S.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO PLAN FOR TODAY.
SO IT WAS ONE WORD, GARY, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT ALSO HERE ON OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY.
LET'S THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS TODAY, MOVING FORWARD.
SO THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PLACE TO ACCOMMODATE FUTURE PHASES OF WHAT WE MIGHT DO.
SO TONIGHT WE JUST WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.
WE JUST WANT TO HAVE KIND OF A, A FEEDBACK ON THIS ANTICIPATING THAT THE NEXT STEP IS LET'S LET'S ENGAGE THE PUBLIC INTO THESE IDEAS AND WHAT THEY THINK IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.
COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI, SINCE IT WAS SO SILENT, UM, THIS IS, THESE ARE EXCITING DAYS IN BEDFORD.
YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY RESIDENTS AND IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD SOMEONE FIVE OR, I MEAN, EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO THAT ALL OF THESE POSSIBLE REDEVELOPMENT OPTIONS ARE HAPPENING FROM GENERATIONS PARK TO, UH, BEDFORD COMMONS, TO THE, UH, THE PERFORMING ARTS VENUE.
IT, THEY WOULD HAVE QUESTIONED YOUR SANITY CAMPUS, WEST BROWN TRAIL.
IT JUST KEEPS IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.
IT, THIS IS A VERY EXCITING TIME AND, AND GETTING TO BE A PART OF THIS WAS, IT WAS VERY EXCITING.
AND THIS, THIS REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO REALLY MAKE BEDFORD A TRUE DESTINATION.
WE ARE IN THE CENTER OF A 7 MILLION PLUS POPULATION METROPLEX, AND THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO, TO BRING FOLKS IN.
AND THIS IS, THIS IS VERY EXCITING.
I, I SEE THE CITY AS A JIGSAW PUZZLE.
AND THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE TAKE THIS JIGSAW PUZZLE AND HOW DO WE ACTIVATE THE CITY? AND IT MEANS PUTTING THESE PIECES IN A PARTICULAR ORDER SO THAT THEY FIT TOGETHER AND THEY'RE COMPLIMENTARY OF EACH OTHER, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE STEPS POTENTIALLY TO HELP MAKE THIS CITY A DESTINATION, BUT IT MEANS ACTIVATING THE CITY.
IT MEANS CREATING ENERGY AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT DON'T EXIST AROUND US.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS AND THIS, THIS TYPE OF PROJECT HELP GETS US THERE.
UM, BUT IT'S GONNA NEED TO HAVE THAT DEGREE OF UNIQUENESS.
IT'S GONNA, IT'S GOING TO NEED TO HAVE FOCUS AS TO WHAT WE HOPE TO GET ACCOMPLISH AND, AND THE METHODOLOGY TO GETTING THERE.
AND, AND I KNOW THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORKSHOPS THAT WE'VE HAD, THAT WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER, I'VE BEEN PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK THAT BRW HAS DONE ON THIS.
I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN CREATIVE.
YOU'VE BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THE IDEAS THAT WE'VE HAD.
[00:45:01]
WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT WE WANTED, BUT WE KNEW WE WANTED SOMETHING THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD HELP TO HELP BRING THE CITY ALIVE EVEN FURTHER.AND, AND I THINK YOU ALL HAVE COME A LONG WAYS TO HELPING US KIND OF FIGURE OUT A PATH.
THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE CLOSE THIS OUT? SO COUNCIL REMEMBER KOGAN, THANK YOU.
MA'AM UM, I'M, THIS TAKES ME BACK TO WHEN I FIRST CAME ON COUNCIL ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, UH, ONE OF THE FIRST, MOST CONTROVERSIAL THINGS THAT I HAD TO DEAL WITH, AND SOME OF US WHO WERE ON COUNCIL AT THE TIME WAS WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS PROPERTY.
IT WAS ABOUT QUITE HONESTLY TEARING DOWN THAT BUILDING.
UM, AND I REMEMBER AT THE TIME, AND THIS JUST, JUST CAME TO MIND RIGHT NOW.
I REMEMBER AT THE TIME I MENTIONED, I SAID, HOLD ON TO THAT THOUGHT.
I SAID, THIS SITE IS UNIQUE AND WE CAN MAKE IT UNIQUE.
UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I SAID, JUST HOLD ON BECAUSE THIS MAY BE A DESTINATION POINT FOR OUR CITY.
UM, AND I THINK PEOPLE SCOFFED AT IT AT THE TIME.
UH, BUT THERE ARE THOSE OF US WHO WERE ON COUNCIL WHO SAW THAT VISION, SAW THAT WHAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME.
UM, SO THIS, THIS EXCITES ME OBVIOUSLY.
UM, UM, I'M VERY PLEASED AT THIS.
UM, ONE THING THAT I WILL PUT MY 2 CENTS IN, UM, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE BUILDING FOR SURE.
UM, A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT ONE THING THAT I LIKE A LOT IS THE SITE INTEGRATION, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE THOUGHT OF TO MAKE THIS JUST AN EXPERIENCE FOR BEING THERE.
UM, I'VE SAID THIS MULTIPLE TIMES, WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC RIGHT NOW, AS SOON AS THIS IS ALL OVER, PEOPLE ARE GONNA WANT TO GO OUT, THEY'RE GOING TO ENJOY THINGS.
UH, AND SO I DON'T WANT US TO LIMIT OURSELVES ON THE SITE DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A GOOD, HARD LOOK AT MAKING THESE ART MOMENTS, INSTAGRAM MOMENTS, GETTING PEOPLE TO THIS SITE, UM, AND, AND ENJOYING IT, A PLAYGROUND, THESE SORTS OF THINGS, A WATER FEATURE.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO GET PEOPLE TO THIS SITE TO ACTIVATE IT.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT THAT IN INVESTED, UH, THINKING THAT BECAUSE IF WE MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY AND WE DON'T HAVE THOSE ELEMENTS THERE, I DON'T KNOW IF THE SITE IS GOING TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT COULD BE, BUT THAT'S MY TWO THOUGHTS.
ESSENTIALLY YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE I THINK ABOUT THE, THE LAWN RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, WE JUST HAVE KIND OF A BLANK CANVAS, BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOMETHING AND BRING THAT ALIVE, BRING THAT LAWN KIND OF INTO FOCUS TO WHERE IT'S KIND OF A VENUE ON ITS OWN, RIGHT? AND THEN IF YOU CREATE A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WITH A VENUE THAT YOU OPEN UP THE WINDOWS AND YOU CAN HAVE PERFORMANCES THAT PLAY OUT TO THE LAWN, THAT COMPLETELY THE CONTEXT OF WHAT THAT SITE BECOMES.
UH, I LOVE THE THOUGHT THAT WE HAD AND, AND, AND I'LL GIVE CREDIT TO BRW IS HOW YOU'RE ACTIVATING THE SITE BY CREATING ENERGY FOR PEOPLE FLOW THROUGH THE SITE AND THAT YOU CREATE, YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE FLOWS BY CREATING MANY LITTLE DESTINATIONS THERE THAT DON'T CURRENTLY EXIST RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THOSE TREES THERE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO, BUT PEOPLE DON'T USE IT WELL.
WE'VE GOT TO CREATE A REASON FOR THEM TO COME OUT AND USE IT.
THE PANDEMIC SHOWED US WHAT THE FUTURE IS.
THE PANDEMIC IS TO CREATE A LIVELY ENVIRONMENT THAT'S FRIENDLY AND THAT PEOPLE WANT TO, TO COME OUT AND BE A PART OF, AND THAT'S THAT OUTDOOR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
AND WE'VE GOT A GREAT SITE HERE THAT WE'VE GOT POTENTIAL TO DO THAT WITH AND ACTIVATE THE OTHER PARTS OF THAT SITE TOO.
SO THANK YOU, MS. COGAN COUNTS.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT WE'VE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT'S AROUND US.
I WAS JUST RECENTLY AT CLEAR FORK, AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE CLEAR FORK AROUND US, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SHOPPING AREA.
I'M TALKING ABOUT PRESS CAFE, THE ACTIVITY THAT WAS GOING ON THERE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE AS ALL THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE STATED.
AND I THINK THE REST OF US RECOGNIZE IS TO MAKE A REALLY A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY, BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THIS AROUND HERE CAPELL COMES THE CLOSEST, I THINK, UM, OTHERWISE YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE GROVE OR GO OVER INTO FORT WORTH, DOWN TO PANTHER ISLAND, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN THE CENTER, UH, I KNOW THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MILEAGE DISTANCE THAT SOMEONE'S WILLING TO TRAVEL.
AND I KEEP THINKING THAT MAYBE THAT CAN BE EXPANDED A LITTLE BIT BY WHAT WE OFFER HERE, BUT THE INTEGRATION OF IT AS, UH, COUNCILMAN KOGAN AND THE MAYOR, AND, UH, COUNCILMAN GAGLIARDI HAVE MENTIONED ALL OF THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS HERE AND TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE UNDER DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE WITH THE BEDFORD COMMONS AND THE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY THAT IS CONNECTED TO THAT.
I THINK WE HAVE A WIN-WIN HERE AND I TOO WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE HERE AND WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO US.
THANK YOU, MS. KOLBER, MAYOR PRO TEM STABLE.
[00:50:01]
WANT TO SAY FROM THE DAY THAT WE STARTED WORKING TOGETHER, I APPLAUD YOU BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS FROM DAY ONE.IT WASN'T JUST THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL.
IT WAS HOW IT WAS GOING TO HOOK UP TO GENERATIONS PARK.
IT WAS WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE COMMENTS.
AND, UM, AND EVEN THE LIBRARY.
I REMEMBER WE EVEN HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THAT LIBRARY COULD OPEN UP.
THERE COULD BE, UH, CONCERTS IN THAT AREA BECAUSE THAT WHOLE SIDE OF THE LIBRARY IS ABLE TO OPEN UP TO THAT EVENT LAWN.
AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GREAT BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS SAID WE NEEDED A BRANDING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND I THINK YOU GOT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONE THING THAT I FELT, UM, SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER ARCHITECTS, YOU KNOW, THAT WERE WHERE WE, UH, INTERVIEWED, UM, A LOT OF WORK TO DO HERE.
AND I, I THINK YOU, WE, WE SORT OF NAILED IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON MONEY BECAUSE WE'D HAD, WE'D BEEN PRESENTED THINGS IN THE PAST TOO, THAT WE JUST HAD NO IDEA.
AND SO THEY WERE, THEY WERE THEORIAL AND, BUT I I'M GLAD WE DO HAVE, WE WERE ABLE TO COUNSEL AN IDEA OF WHAT ALL THIS MIGHT ENTAIL.
UH, SO IT'S NOT SO MUCH OF A SHOCK, BUT, UM, I, I THINK YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.
I I'VE BEEN GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH YOU ALL, SO THANKS SO MUCH.
I, UM, I WANT TO GO OVER ONE MORE THING HERE, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS PROJECT AND IT WAS WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT DEFINING SUCCESS.
I THINK THESE ARE SO APPROPRIATE GIVING, GIVEN KIND OF WHERE WE'VE COME FROM AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
WE I'VE BEEN ON A NUMBER OF COUNCILS AND IN THIS COUNCIL, UH, IN PARTICULAR, WANTS TO SEE THAT SITE UTILIZED.
UM, I THINK I COULD SAY SAFELY THAT WE FEEL LIKE IT JUST HASN'T BEEN, AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A LACK OF VISION.
SO IN LIGHT OF THAT, WE'RE GOING TO ACTIVATE THAT SITE.
IT, WHETHER WE WANT TO GET INTO, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE FACE OF BEDFORD AND, AND WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF BEDFORD OR THEY THINK OF A PICTURE OF BEDFORD, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO THEY THINK OF? THERE'S QUITE A FEW PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO BELIEVE THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL IS THE BACKDROP TO THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
SO REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU BELIEVE THAT OR NOT, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, YOU KNOW, TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
UM, SO WHEN WE, WHEN YOU THROW UP THIS SLIDE ABOUT DEFINING SUCCESS, BRINGING USAGE, THAT SIDE IS A CONVERSATION THAT'S COUNCIL HAS HAD NUMEROUS TIMES A CULTURAL ARTS IDENTITY.
I MEAN, CLEARLY THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE.
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO, WHO, WHEN THEY THINK OF BEDFORD OUTSIDE OF BEDFORD, THEY THINK OF BLUES FEST.
WELL, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO THAT THOUGHT THAN JUST BLUES FEST.
IT'S ABOUT, THERE'S A CON THERE THERE'S A REAL ACTIVE ARTISTIC COMMUNITY IN THIS AREA.
WHO'S JUST LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE ITSELF AND, AND, AND TO, TO KIND OF COME OUT OF THE DARKNESS AND, AND SHOW WHAT WE HAVE HERE THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I, I LOOK AT THIS SIDE AGAIN AND I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
I LIKE THE THOUGHT OF BEDFORD BECOMING A CIRCUS, THAT THERE IS STUFF GOING ON, AND THAT YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE IN ARLINGTON AND IRVING AND GREAT BOND WANTING TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN BEDFORD THIS WEEKEND.
I MEAN, I, THAT'S JUST THE THOUGHT THAT I HAVE, MAYBE THAT'S A CRAZY THOUGHT, BUT THAT'S, THAT LENDS ITSELF TO BEDFORD BEING A DESTINATION.
AND I KNOW THE ENTIRE COUNCIL BELIEVES IN THAT ENERGY, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEING A CATALYST ROAD, BEDFORD ROAD, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTIVATE PARTS OF TOWN AND CREATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, PROGRESS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ON SOME OF THESE STREETS AND BEDFORD ROAD IS RIGHT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN WHEN BEDFORD COMMONS HAPPENS, WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER HAPPENS COMPLEMENTING BEDFORD COMMONS, THIS IS A GREAT COMPLIMENTARY PIECE TO IT BECAUSE BEDFORD COMMONS COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE AN AMPHITHEATER.
IT CAN HAVE ENTERTAINMENT, VENUES, OR RESTAURANT VENUES THERE THAT THERE'S ACTIVITY GOING ON, OR THERE COULD BE A FAMILY EVENTS GOING ON THERE.
SO TO TIE IT INTO SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON BED FOR SCHOOL, AND TO TIE IT INTO OUR LIBRARY WITH SUCH GREAT PROGRAMMING AT THAT LIBRARY AND SUCH GREAT SUPPORT, IT'S JUST A NATURAL EVOLUTION, UH, OF A THOUGHT PROCESS FOR US REVENUE GENERATOR.
I MEAN, THAT'S THAT, WASN'T THE PRIMARY THOUGHT ON THIS, BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS WE HAVE SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY TO ACTIVATE, UH, REVENUE SILOS HERE.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU PUT IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH HYPER COMMENTS AND THEN A DESTINATION THIS COUNCIL OF TIME AND TIME, AGAIN, TALKS ABOUT WE, THERE'S ONE THING WE CANNOT SCREW UP AND IT'S OUR, WHERE WE'RE GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED.
AND, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN CREATE PROGRAMMING AND WE
[00:55:01]
CAN CREATE A REASON FOR PEOPLE TO WANT TO COME TO BEDFORD AND COME OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOP HERE AND EAT, AND DRINK OR SEE ENTERTAINMENT, WHATEVER.SO THIS SITE, THIS SITE IS SPECIAL, BUT IT'S ALSO SPECIAL BECAUSE IT HA IT HOLDS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FUTURE TO REALLY KIND OF ACCOMPLISH A LOT OF THE GOALS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS ASKED FOR AND BEEN THINKING ABOUT.
AND, UM, THIS IS A PROCESS YOU'RE HELPING US GET THERE IN THIS PROCESS.
I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
NEXT STEPS ARE, LET'S GET INPUT.
LET'S THROW THIS OUT THERE THAT WE HAVE IDEAS.
WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW OUR IDEAS.
THEN WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT? THEN WE'LL COME BACK, THEY'LL COME BACK AND SHARE ALL THE FEEDBACK AND GET SOME DIRECTION AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SCOPE THAT WE WANT IN THE FIRST FACE.
UH, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
SEEING, AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE FACE TO FACE KIND OF NIGHT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL HERE, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING UNIQUE AND, AND THAT'S NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED, ESPECIALLY IN BEDFORD, AS WE'RE SO USED TO DOING THINGS THE SAME OLD WAY, BUT, UH, THIS COUNCIL, UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE VISION TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL, UNIQUE, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE RESIDENTS.
I KNOW I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING OUT THERE AND SHOWING THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR OF YOUR EFFORT AND CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION.
AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHERE THIS CAN GO.
AGAIN, CORRECTING US ON PHASES.
WE'RE GOING TO REFER TO THOSE NOW AS TIERS, T I E R S.
[CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT]
NEXT UP WE HAVE SOME ITEMS TO CONSIDER ABOUT CONSENT.I GAVE YOU CITY MANAGER JIMMY'S PHOTOS.
UM, THE ONLY CONSENT ITEM IS THE, UH, IT'S THE MINUTES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 28TH, REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING.
COUNSEL, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DIRECTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM COUNCIL MEMBER KOVAR A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI, EVERYONE IN FAVOR.
AND YOU WANT TO POST, HEY, WE'RE HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY TONIGHT.
SO WE'RE DOING THE VOICE VOTES.
DON'T MAKE ME THROW A ROCK AT YOU.
[2. Consider an ordinance amending the stormwater drainage charges and monthly stormwater system fees by amending Ordinance No. 16-3182; providing a repealing clause; providing a severability clause; and declaring an effective date.]
ITEM TWO NEW BUSINESS.CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE STORMWATER DRAINAGE CHARGES AND MONTHLY STORMWATER SYSTEM FEES BY AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 16 DASH 3 1 8 2, PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
AND WITH THE EXCITING NEWS AS FINANCE DIRECTOR, MARIA JOINER, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL TONIGHT, WE HAVE ROCKS.
DID I MENTION THAT WE HAVE ROCKS? SO YOU NEED TO GO EASY ON IT.
WHEN YOU SAY SHE HAD ROCK OUT.
THE ITEM I PRESENTING TO YOU TONIGHT IS TO ADOPT CHANGES TO THE CITY STORM WATER DRAIN RATES AS DISCUSSED DOING OUR AUGUST 12TH BUDGET WORK SESSION DURING THE AUGUST 12TH BUDGET WORK SESSION, THE COUNCIL REVIEWED AND DISCUSSED OUR STRONG ORDER RATES.
THIS ONE ACTUALLY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST ABLE FUNDS IN THE CITY.
HOWEVER, THIS FUND DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE ON UPCOMING UPCOMING CAPITAL NEEDS.
THE FONDA ACTUALLY AVERAGES ABOUT 1.6 MILLION A YEAR, AS FAR AS REVENUES.
AND WE SPLIT ABOUT 1.5 MILLION A YEAR IN THAT FUND.
SO EACH YEAR WE'VE BEEN COMING OUT WITH A NET INCOME OF ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND, A HUNDRED THOUSAND, 150,000 A YEAR.
THIS, UH, LAST YEAR THAT WE JUST COMPLETED, WE'RE AT ABOUT 170.
WE'RE THINKING WE'RE GOING TO END THE YEAR AT ABOUT 175,000.
THE FUND BALANCE IN THAT FUND IS ABOUT 94%.
SO ONE BALANCE WISE REVENUE EXPENDITURE WISE, THE FUND IS EXTREMELY HEALTHY AS FAR AS THE AVAILABILITY TO GO FORWARD AND TAKE ON ADDITIONAL CAPITAL NEEDS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING THIS RATE INCREASE.
CURRENTLY THE RESIDENTIAL ACCOUNTS ACTUALLY PAY FOUR 50 PER MONTH AND ACCOUNTS FOR RESIDENTS 65 AND OLDER.
THEY ACTUALLY RECEIVE A DISCOUNT OF $4 PER MONTH.
COMMERCIAL CHARGES OF BASED ON A CALCULATION OF THEIR SIZE AND IMPERVIOUS AREA MULTIPLIED BY THE STANDARD RESIDENTIAL ACCOUNT RATE OF FOUR 50.
THE PROPOSED 50 CENTS INCREASE WILL PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY $185,000 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO THE FUND ANNUALLY.
AND THIS REVENUE WILL GO TOWARDS DEBT SERVICE FOR THE DEBT THAT WE'RE GOING TO ISSUE TO COVER ABOUT THREE PORT FOR ME AND THEN PROJECTS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
THE LARGEST PROJECT ON THIS LIZ IS ABOUT 2.3 MILLION
[01:00:01]
FOR CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS FOR STATE HIGHWAY 180 3.BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE A STORM WATER DRAINAGE STUDY AT 500,000 INCLUDED IN THESE PROJECTS, WHICH WILL GIVE US A BETTER IDEA AS TO OUR NEEDS IN THE FUTURE.
AND GOING FORWARD AS TO FUTURE RATE INCREASES, OUR PREVIOUS INCREASE THAT WE HAD TO THE STORM WATER WAS ACTUALLY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2016.
WE INCREASED THE RATE BY A DOLLAR PRIOR TO THAT.
WE, FOR 15 YEARS WE ACTUALLY MAINTAIN THE SAME RATE.
SO FROM 2001 TO ABOUT 2016, WE HAD THE RATE OF THREE 50.
WE BUMPED IT UP, UH, A DOLLAR TO FOUR 50, AND NOW WE'RE PROPOSING THAT WE BUMP IT UP ANOTHER 50 CENTS.
WE HAVE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH OUR CONSULTANT, NO GIN STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS TO REVIEW THE STRUCTURE, RATIONAL ORDER RATE.
OUR UPCOMING CAPITAL NEEDS IN TO REVIEW OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
TONIGHT I HAVE WITH YOU, CHRIS ECKERT, THE CFO FOR A NEW JURY FOR NEW GEN STRATEGIES.
AND HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF HIS, UM, STUDY OF OUR STONEWATER RATES.
I'M GLAD THEY ARMED YOU THIS EVENING.
SO I WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME GOING THROUGH THE POWERPOINT THIS EVENING.
CAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A, YOU'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE.
AGAIN, YOU SIT AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TONIGHT, WE ARE TREATING DRAINAGE AS AN ENTRY PRICE.
I SAY THAT EVERY TIME, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RUN IT LIKE A BUSINESS AND MAKE SURE THAT REVENUE ON OUR SIDE, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.
AND I'M NOT IMPLYING THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING IT, BUT IT IS A GREAT REMINDER FOR EVERYONE.
I WILL ALSO REMIND YOU THAT I SAY THIS ABOUT THIS CHART EVERY TIME.
THIS IS NOT AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON WHEN WE'RE COMPARING TO OTHER COMMUNITIES, BUT YOU CAN SEE WHERE YOU STAND RIGHT NOW, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE WITH THIS, UH, WITH THIS COMPARISON GROUP, WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL SIDE BEFORE I AM PLEASED TO SEE THIS CHART BECAUSE IT IS PUTTING THE COST OF DRAINAGE, UH, ONTO THOSE PROPERTIES THAT IS PRODUCING THE RUNOFF IS PRODUCING THE DRAINAGE.
UH, SO I'M VERY PLEASED WITH HOW YOU HAVE STRUCTURED YOUR DRAINAGE UTILITY.
AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THE FUND IS HEALTHY.
THE FEES THAT ARE GENERATED RIGHT NOW ARE SUFFICIENT FOR CURRENT ACTIVITIES.
THEY ARE NOT PROJECTED TO BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, THE CAPITAL ITEMS THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE FUND GOING FORWARD.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THAT CAPITAL PLAN LOOKS LIKE.
AGAIN, 7.6, $7 MILLION ESTIMATED OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, REALLY FOCUSING RIGHT NOW ON THE FIRST THREE YEARS, $3.5 MILLION NEEDED IN THREE YEARS.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE COME UP WITH A FUNDING PLAN FOR THAT 3.5 MILLION.
UH, WE ARE RECOMMENDING A 50 CENT INCREASE IN THE FEE.
SO 50 CENTS A MONTH ON EVERY HOME, $6 A YEAR FOR EACH HOME GENERATES SUFFICIENT REVENUE TO PAY $3.5 MILLION IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS GOING FORWARD.
AND AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST FEE INCREASE IN FIVE YEARS, UH, ON THE DRAINAGE SIDE.
UH, SO AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT TURNS OUT TO IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF THE FEE GENERATION.
UH, SO AGAIN, WE ARE RECOMMENDED A 50 CENT INCREASE PER SINGLE FAMILY UNIT PORT PER RESIDENTIAL HOME.
YOU CAN SEE THAT DOES BUMP YOU UP SLIGHTLY IN YOUR COMPARITOR GROUP DOES NOT REALLY CHANGE YOUR RELATIVE POSITION.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE CHART HERE, BUT AGAIN, WITH THAT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
SO CHRIS, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU SEE THINGS LIKE IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE WE'VE INCREASED THIS, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT? IS THAT NORMAL, UH, FOR DRAINAGE, UNFORTUNATELY, YES.
UH, THE, WE, WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF CITIES THAT ARE LOOKING AT THEIR DRAINAGE FEES FREQUENTLY, UH, UPDATING THEM FREQUENTLY.
BUT ALSO WHEN WE START TO LOOK AT DRAINAGE UTILITIES, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL NEEDS ON THE DRAINAGE SIDE.
UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD IS DOING RIGHT NOW, RELATIVE TO STORM WATER, MAINTENANCE, STORM, WATER MANAGEMENT, AND ALL THE FOCUS THAT THEY'RE PLACING AND ALL THE FUNDING THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING FOR STORM, WATER, MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT RIGHT NOW, UH, IT REALLY TELLS US WE NEED TO BE SPENDING MORE TIME ON OUR STORMWATER UTILITIES.
SO AGAIN, WHILE IT'S, WHILE IT'S NOT SURPRISING, UH, IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS ATTENTION ACROSS THE STATE RIGHT NOW.
SO WHEN YOU MAKE THE COMMENT THAT YOU LIKED WHAT YOU SEE WITH RESPECT TO OUR COMMERCIAL RATES.
WHAT YOU'RE REALLY SAYING IS YOU LIKE HOW WE BALANCE THE RATES? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT BETWEEN THE TWO, BETWEEN THE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND HOW YOU'VE BALANCED, THE RATE, YOU ARE CHARGING A FEE BASED ON HOW COSTS ARE INCURRED
[01:05:01]
EFFECTIVELY, THE WAY YOU'VE STRUCTURED, YOUR DRAINAGE UTILITY, YOU ARE CHARGING THOSE THAT CAUSE RUNOFF MORE.AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE RUNNING OUR BUSINESS.
THOSE THAT ARE CAUSING THE COST TO BE INCURRED IN MY OPINION, SHOULD PAY THE COST.
SO WHY ARE WE PUTTING EMPHASIS ON THE 2.4 MILLION ON THE 180 3, THAT THE 3.5 MILLION OF YOUR LIST THAT YOU HAD? THE 180 3 PART WAS 2.4 MILLION, CORRECT.
SO GOING BACK THE COST OF THE 180 3 DRAINAGE.
THE TRIBUTARY COVERT IMPROVEMENTS, AH, TOTAL COST OF CAPITAL SIDE.
I MEAN, I, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHY ARE WE, HOW DO WE DETERMINE THAT AS BEING THE PRIORITY? I WAS SIMPLY STATING MIRROR THAT THAT WAS OUR LEAD LARGEST PROJECT ON THAT LIST THAT WE HAVE THERE.
AND THE OTHER PARTY WAS THE ACTUAL STUDY ITSELF.
SO I WASN'T SEEING THAT IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHER PROJECTS, BUT IT WAS JUST THE MOST EXPENSIVE ONE THAT WE HAVE ON THE LIST THERE.
I'M GOING TO BACK THIS UP FOR JUST A SECOND THEN.
IS THERE A LIST OF PRIORITIES WITH RESPECT TO THE STORM WATER DRAINAGE? I KNOW WE HAVE, YES, SIR.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WAS UPDATED.
I KNOW WE LOOKED AT IT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
UM, I KNOW THAT WITH THE DRAINAGE STUDY, THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE THEY'LL REEVALUATE AND HELP US DETERMINE WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF THE NEED.
I KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE ON HERE, SIR, THEY'VE BEEN ON THIS LIST FOR LIKE FIVE YEARS NOW.
SO THEY'VE BEEN ON THE LIST FOR A WHILE.
SO I THINK THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AREAS IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
AND CHERYL IS HERE ALSO MAYOR.
CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE DRAINAGE STUDY AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO EXP, WHAT KIND OF RESULT WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT FROM THAT? OR WHAT KIND OF A PRODUCT WE WILL GET FROM THAT STUDY? HEY CHERYL? YES, SIR.
SO I'VE ASKED THAT SAME QUESTION, WHICH IS WHY IT'S IN THE SECOND YEAR.
UM, I DIDN'T HAVE THE RESPONSE THAT I RECEIVED ON THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY WAS THAT THE POINT OF THE STUDY WAS TO PRIORITIZE THESE PROJECTS FOR US.
AND WE KIND OF PRIORITIZE THEM INTERNALLY OURSELVES.
I CAN GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND WHY WE PUT THEM IN THE ORDER THAT THEY'RE IN, IF YOU'D LIKE THAT.
BUT WE LEFT THE DRAINAGE STUDY IN THE SECOND YEAR, SO THAT IF THERE IS A NEED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE HAD THE OPTION OF DOING IT SOONER THAN LATER.
SO HOW EXTENSIVE OF A STUDY IS THAT GOING TO BE? DEPENDS ON WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
I'VE YET TO GET A RESPONSE ON WHAT I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT WE WANT IT TO BE FOCUSED ON.
I MEAN, I'LL SAY RIGHT NOW THAT IS CRITICAL.
THAT DRAINAGE STUDY IS CRITICAL, BUT IS THE PLAN TO, WITH ALL THE RAINS WE'VE GOTTEN, IT'S REVEALED A LOT OF ISSUES.
SO, AND JUST TO CLARIFY THIS, THE SCOPE AND EVERYTHING, IT KIND OF STARTED BEFORE CHERYL TOOK OVER.
AND SO, UH, WE WILL DEFINITELY GET YOU AN ANSWER THOUGH.
SO THE STUDY ITSELF WILL BE COMPREHENSIVE IN THAT IT'LL, IT'LL LOOK AT ALL THE STORMWATER TRIBUTARIES ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND $500,000 WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SURVEY ALL OF THE TRIBUTARIES IN THE CITY AND REMODEL EVERYTHING.
NO, I DON'T REALLY LIKE REMODELS A DIFFERENT DEAL, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE A CONSULTANT COME OUT FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY AND HAVE THEM EVALUATE WHAT WE HAVE.
WE CAN GIVE THEM PLANS AND, AND THEY CAN GIVE US A PRIORITIZATION LIST.
HOWEVER, I'VE SEEN A PRIOR, UM, DRAINAGE STUDY THAT STAFF HAS TOLD ME LITTLE TO NO PROJECTS ON THAT LIST HAD BEEN COMPLETED.
WE NEED A LITTLE, I MEAN, I GUESS I NEED A LITTLE MORE DIRECT.
YOU'RE JUST A BUNDLE OF JOY SHOW.
SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FOR $500,000 DURING THE STUDY OR A STORMWATER STUDY BEFORE WE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BRING THE SCOPE TO Y'ALL SO WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH CONVERSATION ABOUT, WE NEED TO GET AN UPDATED SCOPE.
UM, I MEAN AN UPDATED PROPOSAL AND EVERYTHING FROM AN ENGINEERING FIRM.
AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S STILL VERY, HEY, SORRY TO DIGRESS.
YOU'RE HITTING A SENSITIVE SUBJECT.
ONCE WE ISSUE THE BUZZ, THE 3.5 MILLION, WE DO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE THAT STUDY FROM YEAR TWO TO YEAR ONE, TO EXPEDITE THAT.
YEAH, BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY, YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THE FUNDING FOR IT.
THAT'S REMEMBER, STEVE, WHEN WAS THE LAST STUDY DONE? THE LAST ONE THAT I RECALL SEEING 1968, 2011 OR 12, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THAT TO ADD ONTO THAT THOUGH DID NOT.
SO WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT JANUARY LITTLE, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL.
SO HE PAID FOR A STUDY AND WE DID NOTHING WITH
[01:10:01]
IT.I SAY LET'S, DON'T DO THAT AGAIN.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ACT ON POTENTIALITY OF INCREASING STORMWATER RATE FROM FOUR 50 TO FIVE, CORRECT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE INCREASE IN FORFEIT.
THANK YOU, CHRIS MOTION TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALMOND HEIRS.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK, HOW OFTEN DOES THE STUDY NEED TO TAKE PLACE? GOOD QUESTION.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE FULL DRAINAGE SYSTEM STUDY? YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FINANCIAL STUDY, UH, BOTH FULL DRAINAGE, FULL SYSTEM STUDY, FULL SYSTEM STUDY.
I WANT TO KNOW THIS, UM, DEPENDING ON HOW EXTENSIVE THIS, THE INITIAL STUDY IS, I WOULD SAY BY 10 YEARS.
AND YOUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE ACTUALLY TAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH THOUGH.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO APPROVE THE 50 CENT INCREASE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, STEVE.
SECOND SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER COGEN.
UH, LET'S VOTE EVERYONE IN FAVOR.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONTINUED CONVERSATION AT A LATER DATE
[3. Consider a resolution of the City of Bedford, Texas approving the American Rescue Plan Act Funding Appropriation Plan; and recognizing and appropriating Phase I within the Fiscal Year 2021 Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Budget.]
ITEM THREE, WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION, THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS APPROVING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING, APPROPRIATION PLAN AND RECOGNIZING AND APPROPRIATING PHASE ONE WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2021, CORONA VIRUS, LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND BUDGET.AND I'LL GIVE YOU CITY MANAGER JIMMY'S TO THOUGHTS.
UM, AS MENTIONED, THIS IS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING.
THIS IS PHASE ONE, THE CITY RECEIVED AROUND APPROXIMATELY $6.2 MILLION AND WILL RECEIVE ANOTHER TRAUNCH OF $6.8 MILLION NEXT YEAR.
AND THERE ARE, UH, PARAMETERS IN WHICH WE NEED TO OPERATE IN OBVIOUSLY FOR THESE FUNDS.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING EVERYTHING TO, TO COUNCIL EXPLICITLY TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL APPROVE OF IT.
AND SO THE FIRST LIST WE HAVE ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS DIRECTORS, CHIEFS HERE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, THERE'S A DESCRIPTION THAT OUTLINES EVERYTHING.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, OBVIOUSLY LET US KNOW.
UM, I'LL TELL YOU THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROCESS.
THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE REALIZED ONCE WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT WE WERE GOING TO RECEIVE THE FUNDS, EVEN BEFORE WE HAD THE FUNDS IN THE BANK, WE STARTED IDENTIFYING THE CRITICAL NEEDS THAT WERE APPLICABLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MENTIONED THE CUMMINS WATER TOWER THAT A LOT OF Y'ALL HAVE ASKED ABOUT.
WE SHOULD KNOW BY THE END OF OCTOBER AT THE LATEST WHETHER OR NOT THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD WILL ALLOW US TO USE SWIFT FUNDS IF THEY DON'T.
AND WE THINK THEY WILL SAY YES, BUT IF THEY DON'T, THEN WE'LL COME BACK WITH A REQUEST FOR FUNDS TO HELP WITH THAT PROJECT.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A HIGHLY REQUESTED REPAIR AND A MAKEOVER.
SO ANYWAY, OTHER THAN THAT, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU ALL PROJECTS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS, OR ANYTHING, LET US KNOW.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH OTHER CITIES TO KIND OF SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
UM, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF GRAY AREA IN THE PARAMETERS.
AND IF THERE ARE SOME CREATIVE WAYS TO MEET OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES NEEDS THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE THOUGHT OF FIRST I'M, I'M FINE WITH BORROWING THEIR IDEA.
SO BASICALLY TONIGHT, ALL YOU WANT US TO DO IS TO PROVE THE FACT THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ACCEPTING THE FUNDS AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE THEM.
UM, ACTUALLY I, I WOULD LIKE FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER APPROVING THE 12 PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE.
AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
WE WILL HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN APPROPRIATE THE REMAINING FUNDS.
IF Y'ALL APPROVE ALL OF THESE, WE'LL STILL HAVE AROUND Y'ALL WILL STILL HAVE AROUND $4.7 MILLION.
WHEN WOULD YOU COME BACK TO COUNCIL? UM, I DON'T WANT TO, HONESTLY, PROBABLY A MONTH BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO NICKEL AND DIME.
Y'ALL NO PUN INTENDED, BUT UM, YEAH, I MEAN, I'M THINKING WITHIN A MONTH WE HAD SOME PROJECTS THAT WERE CLOSE, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A LOT OF SPECIFICITY BEFORE WE PUT AN EDGE.
SO CAN WE TALK ABOUT ARPA-E PHONES? WHAT THAT IS? WHAT'S OUR OBLIGATION.
IT WAS A LOT FUNNY BEFORE I SAID IT.
CAN WE STRIKE THAT FROM THE MINUTES IT'S IT'S HOUSE MONEY? YES, IT IS.
AND IT'S FUN TO SAY CORONA VIRUS FUNDS AND IT'S FUNDS THAT ARE FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES, WHETHER IT'S RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, BROADBAND, PUBLIC SAFETY, HELPING IN TERMS OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
[01:15:01]
FOR THE PANDEMIC.UM, AND IT'S VERY, VERY BROAD WITHIN THOSE PARAMETERS.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT IT CAN BE USED FOR THAT IF YOU PUSH THE ENVELOPE, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT, UH, I MEAN, WE JUST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY LEGALLY.
AND SO WE HAVE UNTIL I THINK THE END OF 20, 24 TO DECLARE WHAT THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR.
AND I BELIEVE THE END OF 25 TO ACTUALLY SPEND ALL THE FUNDS.
AND SO, UM, THIS WILL, YOU KNOW, GIVE US A LOT IN HIS BAY.
IT WAS PER CAPITA JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW KIND OF HOW THE AMOUNT WAS DETERMINED.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
SO DO WE HAVE TO PAY IT BACK? NO, SIR.
IT'S IT'S UH, YOUR TAX DOLLARS AND ACTION.
SO I'M GOING TO GIVE CREDIT TO COUNCIL MEMBER COLVER, THE WATER TOWER.
WHY WOULD WE DO SWIFT FUNDS RATHER THAN DO ARPA FUNDS? BECAUSE SWIFT FUNDS WE HAVE TO PAY BACK.
HERE'S WHY, AND I'M JUST GOING TO BE CANDID.
WE'VE GOT, I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE CREDIT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
NOW, WELL, BECAUSE WHAT BEDFORD DID AND I'M NOT BEING NEGATIVE, I'M JUST CALLING IT WHAT IT IS.
BEDFORD ISSUED A LOT OF SWIFT FUNDS THAT STAFF HAD REQUESTED Y'ALL ISSUE.
AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF FUNDS THAT WE'VE ALREADY BORROWED IN THE BANK THAT WE DON'T HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMPLETELY TIED TO THOSE FUNDS.
SO WE'RE PAYING INTEREST ON THESE FUNDS.
SO I THINK IT MAKES MORE SENSE.
SO THIS IS A JUMPING OFF POINT.
YOU'VE IDENTIFIED 12 PROJECTS THAT WE CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH RIGHT NOW.
COUNCIL QUESTIONS, COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER KOGAN.
UM, SO THE SECOND ALLOCATION, UM, WILL THEN ALSO HAVE THE SAME DEADLINES AS THE FIRST, AS IN, WE HAVE TO DECLARE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE USING IT FOR BY THE, UH, 2024, AND THEN USE IT BY 2025 AS THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, AS OF RIGHT NOW, THOSE DATES ARE ACTUALLY BASED ON BOTH TRONCHES, BUT I'LL TELL YOU THE GUIDANCE HAS BEEN VERY, UM, FLUID.
AND SO IT COULD DEFINITELY, IT COULD CHANGE NEXT WEEK, QUITE FRANKLY, BUT THOSE ARE THE GUIDELINES BASED ON THE FULL $12.2 MILLION IT BEFORE YOU CAN READ IT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON ONE ON ITEM 11.
I THINK THAT IS, I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA.
SO PEOPLE, PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF WHAT THAT IS.
SO BASICALLY THE, THEY PUT UP BIG, PUT A LOCK BOX ON THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN GET TO.
SO IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, ELDERLY OR YOU NEED CARE AND YOU NEED PEOPLE TO GET IN THAT, I MEAN, THAT'S, I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT ON THERE.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING.
I ALSO HAVE, UH, UH, I WOULD LIKE THE DEFINITION OF TRAUNCH TRAUNCH.
DO YOU WANT TO USE IT IN A SENTENCE PLEASE? YES.
CAN I HEAR THAT IN A SENTENCE, BUT I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S CONSIDERATION.
I DON'T WANT TO GUILT ANYONE TO ANYTHING, BUT THE, THIS WILL FILL A LOT OF CRITICAL NEEDS, QUITE FRANKLY, THAT WE DIDN'T, UH, THAT WE WERE, WE DIDN'T HAVE FUNDS FOR IN THE BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR.
SO FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, LET ME JUST READ THESE 12 MAY PUT HIM STABLE.
SO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHEREVER WE HAVEN'T APPROVED IT YET, BUT YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THE, THE AMBULANCE READY TO GO FOR APPROVAL.
IS THAT WHAT THAT IS? UH, YES.
MA'AM THERE IS LIKE A SIX TO NINE MONTH LAG PERIOD.
SO WE'RE, WE WOULD BE ORDERING IT, BUT WE WOULDN'T TAKE DELIVERY FOR AWHILE, EITHER THAT OR THE, UH, THE MODULAR REBOUND AND WERE ANY OF THESE THINGS, UM, UH, PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET, BUT WE JUST DID NOT MOVE.
DO YOU SEE WHERE THEY BUDGET ITEMS AND YOU JUST, YOU PUT THEM TO THE SIDE BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT THEY, WEREN'T NOT THAT IMPORTANT FOR THIS COMING YEAR? WELL, CANDIDLY, I KNEW THAT THESE WERE OUTSIDE OF THE RESOURCES WE HAD AVAILABLE, BUT WE KNEW THAT THE COVID FUNDS WERE COMING.
SO THEY WERE, THEY WERE SET ASIDE.
SO FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, WE'VE GOT 12 PROJECTS LISTED TOTALING ABOUT 1.5 MILLION, A SERVER VIRTUALIZATION PROJECT.
WHAT IS THAT IT'S UM, AND I'M SORRY FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WHAT WAS PROVIDED COUNSEL, IF THAT'S OKAY.
MIRROR, UM, BASICALLY A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
THE EXISTING SERVER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE CITY IS ANTIQUATED AND IT'S NOT WELL-DESIGNED TO BE RESILIENT.
UH, SO WE ARE PROPOSING USING SERVER VIRTUALIZATION, WHICH HAS BEEN AN INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
AND BASICALLY IT ALLOWS US TO BUILD A CLUSTER OF HOST SERVERS.
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD FOR A LIBERAL ARTS GUY EACH WITH YES, ONOMATOPOEIA NOW, EACH WITH THEIR REDUNDANT COMPONENTS THAT ACT AS BACKUP RESOURCE TO, FOR EACH OTHER.
UM, AND OUR IT DIRECTOR LEVI MILLER IS HERE AS WELL.
IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
PD, DESKTOP REFRESH PROJECT, UH, AGAIN, UM, WE HAVE, UH, COMPUTERS THAT ARE IN GREAT NEED OF BEING UPDATED AND THIS WILL GET THEM ALL ON THE SAME SYSTEM AND IT
[01:20:01]
WILL, UH, PROVIDE NEW ONES THAT WILL BE A LOT MORE RELIABLE.AND IT'LL BASICALLY ALLOW FOR 85 DESKTOPS AND LAPTOPS, AMBULANCE MODULAR, REMOTE.
UM, THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD AN AMBULANCE THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE.
AND SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO, AND WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE CHASSIS.
SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BUY A NEW BOX TO PUT ON THE CHASSIS AND IT'LL SAVE US A LOT OF MONEY BY SALVAGE AND THE CHASSIS, BUT THE AMBULANCE WILL BE JUST AS EFFECTIVE AS A NEW ONE, AMBULANCE 2022 FORD CHASSIS.
UM, WE HAVE AN AMBULANCE THAT IT'S FUNCTIONAL.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO CALL 9 1 1, BUT IT IS IN GREAT NEED OF BEING REPLACED.
AND SO THIS WILL REPLACE IT AND PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, AN UPDATED FLEET FIRE STATION STUDY PROPOSAL.
WE HAVE, UH, THREE FIRE STATIONS OBVIOUSLY, AND THERE ARE THINGS, THERE ARE SOME PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS LIKE PARKING AT STATION TWO.
UM, THINGS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS WE'VE RECRUITED ADDITIONAL OR IN THE PIPELINE.
AND SO WE DON'T HAVE A SEGREGATION OF SLEEPING QUARTERS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED OUR STATION.
AND SO THIS CONSULTANT WILL COME IN AND SAY, OKAY, THIS CAN BE DONE.
THIS CAN BE DONE, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
AND IF THERE ARE SOME MAJOR ISSUES THAT JUST CAN'T BE ACCOMPLISHED, WE WANT TO LET Y'ALL KNOW.
SO IF THAT MEANS, DO WE WANT TO LOOK FOR A FUTURE, UH, STATION SITE OR DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE DO OR WHAT HAVE YOU, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T ASK YOU TO SPEND FOR AN EXPENSIVE BAND-AID OKAY.
FIREFIGHTERS THERMAL IMAGERS 20.
AND AGAIN, I'LL JUST READ IT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANY CRITICAL COMPONENTS OUT, BUT IT'S THERMAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS REVOLUTIONIZED FIREFIGHTING AND GREATLY IMPROVED FIREFIGHTERS SAFETY.
AND IT'S, ALONG WITH THAT, IT'S IMPROVED THEIR ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH KEY FIREGROUND, GROUND ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS SEARCHING FOR VICTIMS AND A LOW VISIBILITY ENVIRONMENT.
THIS TECHNOLOGY HAS CONTINUED TO IMPROVE AND THE LATEST GENERATION OF DEVICES ARE LIGHTER, SMALLER, AND THEY PROVIDE GREAT GREATER PICTURE CLARITY THAN THE PREVIOUS MODELS.
THE BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT DESIRES THAT EVERY STEP POSITION HAS ACCESS TO AN IMAGER WHEN ENTERING A SMOKE-FILLED ENVIRONMENT, THIS PURCHASE WOULD ACCOMPLISH THAT AND PROVIDE GREATER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE ENGAGING IN FIREFIGHTING ACTIVITIES.
SO DO YOU HAVE THAT MEMORIZED? THANK YOU.
UH, NSPA STANDARD FIRE STATION BOOTS.
WE CAME TO THE, WE'VE GOT SOME FIRE PERSONNEL THAT ARE WEARING BOOTS.
THEY DON'T MEET, UH, THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF STANDARDS.
AND SO THIS WOULD PROVIDE BOOTS, UH, FOR EVERYONE AND THE BOOTS ARE EASILY CLEANED AND THEY HAVE A NON POROUS SURFACE FIREFIGHTERS, LIGHTWEIGHT GEAR.
I SOMEHOW KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT.
UM, THIS, THIS WILL PROVIDE BASICALLY AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF PROTECTION FROM POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION.
WHEN PRIMARILY WHEN WE'RE RESPONDING TO EMS CALLS, IT'S A LOT MORE EASILY CLEAN THAN STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTING GEAR.
AND IT'S A LOT COOLER IN WEATHER AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAD BENEFITS TO HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE OF OUR STAFF, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS IT'S PRETTY COMMON THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
SO IT'D BE NICE TO KIND OF UPGRADE FIRE HELMETS, UH, YES, FIRE HELMETS.
THIS IS A WAY TO STANDARDIZE OUR GEAR AND BASICALLY, UM, THE, THE KIND OF, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE BEST WAY TO PUT, I'LL JUST READ IT.
THE CURRENT HELMET SUPPLIED TO NEW FIRE.
THE CURRENT HELMET SUPPLIED TO NEW FIREFIGHTERS IS A LOW COST MODEL THAT WEIGHS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THE OTHER MODELS ON THE MARKET.
SO THIS ONE WILL BE A LOT LIGHTER.
THE ONES THAT HAVE NOW GONE FROM A DOLLAR GENERAL STORE WITH THE GROUPON.
AND, UM, SO ANYWAY, MANY FIREFIGHTERS HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY PURCHASED LIGHTER HELMETS WITH THEIR OWN RESOURCES BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND SO, UM, AND AGAIN, IT BE NICE TO HAVE STANDARD EQUIPMENT.
SOME THIS MAKES ME THINK OF THE HOLSTERS THAT THE GUNS DID NOT FIT.
I TOLD HIM WHEREVER CHIEF WILLIAMS IS THE HELEN.
MEDICAL VAULTS AND KNOX BOX KEY SECURE.
REMEMBER GETTING THERE? I WAS TALKING ABOUT, SORRY, THIS IS GOOD.
ONE OF MINE I TRUST FOR SOME TIME AS WELL.
SO IF THESE ARE NOW OUTDATED, THAT'S OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WILL THOSE BE REPLACED? UH, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THE MEDICAL KNOCKS BOXES THAT ARE IN THE AMBULANCES TO KNOCK UP OUR NARCOTICS.
AND THEN THE KEY SECURES ARE THE ELECTRONIC DEVICES THAT RELEASE THE KEYS TO UNLOCK THE BOXES.
WE'RE NOT, NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT BOXES INDIVIDUALLY, MISS LETTUCE.
BUT NOW, SINCE I HAD YOU HERE, IF I COULD ASK, UM, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A WAITING
[01:25:01]
LIST FOR THOSE AND HAVE WE SECURED MORE? DO WE HAVE ANY, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE ON THAT WAITING LIST? NOW I WOULD DEFER TO THE FAR MARSHALL FOR THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANOTHER ITEM.UM, WE HAVE, UH, I BELIEVE SIX OR SEVEN RIGHT NOW THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
WE'VE GOTTEN SOME TURNED BACK IN AND WE'VE HAD ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO BUY FOUR MORE THROUGH THE, UH, DISTANCE FIRE ACADEMY, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.
THEY JUST PURCHASED SOME FOR US.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT SOME EXTRAS, BUT YOU KNOW, WE NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FROM DAY TO DAY.
WE NO LONGER HAVE A WAITING LIST.
TAMMY TRIES TO STAY ON TOP OF THAT AND SHE WILL CALL PEOPLE, DO WE HAVE ONE? WE'VE GOT ONE.
DO YOU NEED IT? SOME ARE TURNING THEM DOWN.
SOME ARE NOT, OH, THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF DOING A, UH, A DEAL NOW WHERE IT'S, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF A NECESSITY BECAUSE BEFORE WE JUST HAD PEOPLE CALLING AND ASKING FOR THEM, SO WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE THEM FOR THE MORE CRITICAL OR URGENT TYPE REQUEST.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST FIREFIGHTERS, SMALL TOOLS BRIEFLY.
UM, AGAIN, THESE ARE ITEMS LIKE, UH, WATER CUTTERS.
IF FIREFIGHTERS GET INTO A TOUGH SITUATION, THEY NEED TO DISENTANGLE THEMSELVES.
AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE CITY.
UM, ALL THE STAFF HAS HAD TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN.
WELL, BUT Y'ALL CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
NO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO THAT.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT BEING SAID, THIS WILL ALSO NOT ONLY PROVIDE WE'RE EMBARRASSING.
WOULD THAT HELP? I MEAN, CRAIGSLIST, HERE WE COME.
UM, AND SO EVERYONE WILL ALSO HAVE THE SAME EQUIPMENT, SO IT'LL, IT'LL STANDARDIZE IT AND PROVIDE IT SOME.
SO THOSE 12 ITEMS COMES TO 1.5, THREE, $1 MILLION.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 1.5 FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER, A SECOND ONE COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI, EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
BUT WE CAN GET YOU SOME REAL FIRE HELMETS.
OR WE GO TO BIG LOTS AND GET MORE FIRE HELMETS IF YOU WANT.
[4. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, LLC for the purchase of one replacement ambulance, being a 2022 Ford F550 Type I ambulance, one Knox Key Secure system, and one Knox MedVault in the amount of $392,988.]
ITEM FOUR.WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER.
SO THERE'S MORE TO COME ON THAT, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
WE STILL HAVE 3.7 MILLION AGO.
SO I'LL GIVE YOU A CHIEF WALKER OR CHIEF WILLIAMS. CHIEF WAVES.
SO YEAH, I'VE ALREADY, UH, I'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THE, THAT IN THE HARPER FUNDS, BUT SO THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE 2009 UNIT IS, UM, ABSOLUTELY PAST ITS, ITS ITS USEFULNESS.
WHEN OUR FLEET HAS GOT WELL OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY THOUSAND HOURS ARE ON THE, ON THE MOTOR ITSELF AND IT'S BECOME SOMEWHAT UNRELIABLE.
UH, THIS WEEKEND IT WAS PLACED IN A RESTAURANT LAWN SERVICE AND IT, IT BROKE DOWN.
SO WE HAD TO GET, WE HAD TO CALL, YOU KNOW, MAINTENANCE SAND FROM THE CITY SHOP AND COME WORK ON IT ON SUNDAY.
SO IT'S REALLY, IT'S, IT'S TIRED.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ONLY CHANGE THE LOAD ON YOUR MOTOR SO MANY TIMES BEFORE YOU NEED TO BUY A NEW CAR, BUT IT'S A REAL AMBULANCE.
IT'S NOT, WHEN YOU GET IT, IT'S NOT, WHEN YOU GET A TOYS R US, THAT ONE KID CAN GET INTO, RIGHT.
IT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT PLASTIC.
IT ISN'T REALLY MUCH, BUT, BUT IT'S ALSO OUTDATED.
LIKE OUR, OUR NEW ANALYSTS HAS HAD THE POWER LOAD CARD SYSTEM TO SAVE OUR EMPLOYEES BACKS AND STUFF.
THIS 2009 DOES NOT CAUSE IT JUST, IT'S STILL ALL, IT DOES NOT HAVE THE KNOX, UH, NARCOTICS SECURING VOLT IN IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S SO OLD.
SO IT'S OUTDATED AND IT'S JUST, UH, IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALMOND, DORIS COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN.
MA'AM UM, SO THIS NEW, UM, THIS NEW ONE'S GONNA RE OBVIOUSLY REPLACED 2009, SHE HAS A NINE.
IT'S GOING TO BE IN RESERVE STATUS.
THAT WAS JUST ONE OF, ONE OF ME PRETTY MUCH.
MY QUESTION IS WHAT'S HAPPENING TO IT.
WHAT, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH IT? WE'LL STILL HAVE TWO ON RESERVE AND THEN THREE ACTIVE.
SO RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE FOUR BECAUSE OF THE ONE THAT WE HAD THE FIREARM, UM, IT'S
[01:30:01]
THEY ARE WORKING ON IT ACTIVELY.Y'ALL APPROVE THAT MONEY IN JULY.
SO THEY THEY'VE ALREADY TAKEN IT.
THEY'RE WORKING ON THE BOX AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
UH, BUT YES, THIS WILL BE A NEW ONE.
NOW THIS ONE WON'T BE WELL, THEY'RE BACKED UP BECAUSE OF THE CHIP PROBLEM AND ALL THAT.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT A 12 TO 14 MONTH DELIVERY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL GONNA HAVE THIS ALL DAY ALMOST FOR A YEAR, BUT WE'RE STILL, WE STILL HAVE TWO IN RESERVE CURRENTLY IN THREE WE'LL HAVE MORE.
ARMANDAREZ A MOTION TO APPROVE.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND COUNCIL MEMBER ARMANDAREZ WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN, EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANYONE OPPOSED? OKAY, VERY GOOD.
I'M JUST OVERWHELMED WITH THAT
[5. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with A&M Construction and Utilities, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $3,076,712 for the SWIFT 21-12 West Pipeline Road Water and Sanitary Sewer Replacement between Arwine Cemetery Road and Raider Drive project.]
ITEM FIVE.LET'S CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH A AND M CONSTRUCTION AND UTILITIES INC.
IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,076,712 FOR THE SWIFT 21 DASH 12 WEST PIPELINE ROAD, WATER AND SANITARY SEWER REPLACEMENT BETWEEN OUR WINE CEMETERY ROAD AND RAIDER DRIVE PROJECT.
UH, AND I GIVE YOU CHERYL TAYLOR, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
ALRIGHT, HERE'S A LOCATION MAP SHOWING THE LIMITS OF THAT PROJECT.
OUR WINE CEMETERY ROAD IS WITHIN THE CITY OF EULAS TO THE WEST AND RAIDER DRIVE IS TO THE EAST.
YOU'LL NOTIFIED THE CITY OF BEDFORD IN 2020 THAT THEY WILL BE RECONSTRUCTING PIPELINE ROAD ALONG THESE LIMITS.
THE CITY OF BEDFORD OWNS AND MAINTAIN MAINTAINS WATER AND SANITARY SEWER LINES WITHIN THE ULAS RIGHT AWAY PRIOR TO THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ROADWAY, THE CITY WILL RELOCATE OVER 7,400 LINEAR FEET OF WATER PIPE AND OVER 5,500 LINEAR FEET OF SANITARY SEWER PIPE, INCLUDING ANY RELATED APPURTENANCES SUCH AS VALVES, METER BOXES, MANHOLES, ET CETERA.
CITY OF EULAS WILL FOLLOW SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
WHAT THE ROADWAY PROJECT WEST PIPELINE ROAD PROJECT WAS ADVERTISED IN THE FORT WORTH STAR TELEGRAM ON AUGUST 22ND AND AUGUST 29TH.
WE WERE S UH, BIDS WERE OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 16TH AND WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF EIGHT BITS FROM CONTRACTORS RANGING IN PRICE FROM JUST OVER 3 MILLION TO NEARLY $4 MILLION, HALF ASSOCIATES.
THE DESIGN ENGINEER FOR THE WEST PIPELINE ROAD PROJECT REVIEWED THE BID TABULATIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.
THE LOW BIDDER WAS A AND M CONSTRUCTION AND UTILITIES INC WOULD HAVE BID OF 3 MILLION, $76,712.
IF APPROVED THE WATER LINE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE PAID FROM SWIFT 2015 CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION BONDS.
AND THE SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE PAID FROM 2012 COMBINATION TAX AND REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
AND THE UTILITY REPAIR FUND HALF ASSOCIATES PROVIDED A RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT A AND M CONSTRUCTION AFTER CONTACTING THREE CITIES WHERE THEY WORKED ON SIMILAR PROJECTS.
UM, WHAT'S THE EXCUSE ME PROJECTS WITH SIMILAR IN SIZE AND SCOPE CITIES OF WAXAHACHIE, GARLAND AND PLANO ALL PROVIDED FAVORABLE REFERENCES FOR ANAM CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TIME FOR THIS PROJECT IS 270 DAYS.
IF APPROVED THIS EVENING, THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS WILL BE EXECUTED AND SENT BACK TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR APPROVAL AND RELEASE OF THE FUNDS TO THE CITY FOR CONSTRUCTION.
SO WE ANTICIPATE, UM, CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN SOMETIME AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
THIS EVENING IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH A AND M CONSTRUCTION AND THEN UTILITIES INC IN THE AMOUNT OF 3 MILLION, $76,712.
BUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SWIFT 2112 WEST PIPELINE ROAD, WATER AND SEWER REPLACEMENT PROJECT BETWEEN OUR ONE CEMETERY ROAD AND RIGHT.
SO WE'VE USED ANM BEFORE, CORRECT? THEY HAVE THEY'VE DONE, I BELIEVE THREE OTHER PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY OF BUFFALO.
SO YOU MADE THE COMMENT THAT THESE ARE FROM 2015 SWIFT FUNDS.
THIS IS THE FIRST DRUG, THOSE OF THAT, UM, SWIFT LOAN.
SO WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT OF THE 2015 SWIFT FUNDS? 30,000,030 MILLION.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST ONE OF THE 2015.
THIS IS THE FIRST DRAW FOR THAT.
SO THERE'S STILL MONIES REMAINING IN THE 2015 AVAILABLE TO US EVEN AFTER THIS PROJECT FROM THE 2015.
COUNCIL, UH, WITHOUT ANY DISCUSSION, WE HAVE A MOTION TO ONE QUESTION, CHERYL.
[01:35:01]
SO YOU LIST AS DRIVING THIS, THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT SAID WE'RE DOING THE ROAD.SO THEN THAT FORCES US TO DO WHAT'S UNDERNEATH IT.
DOESN'T FORCE THE CITY TO DO IT.
IT'S A GOOD TIME TO GO AHEAD AND, AND REPLACE ALL OF THOSE OLD PIPES AND ASSUME THAT THOSE ARE, UM, THE QUALITY OF THAT IS ON THAT SURVEY THAT WE NEVER DID ANYTHING WITH.
THEN THE SURVEY THAT WE PAID FOR THAT YEAH, IT WAS ALL THAT ON THERE, LIKE WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH IT.
THE STORMWATER WOULD BE DRAINAGE THAT THEY WOULD GET BRENT INCLUDED IN THAT SHE'S SMILING.
I MUST HAVE APPROVED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI A SECOND ONE COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER, EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[6. Mayor/Council Member Reports]
ITEM SIX, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS.UM, THIS IS A BUSY TIME FOR OUR LIBRARY THIS MONTH.
UM, SO TOMORROW, UH, THE PUMPKINS ARE ARRIVING AT 9:00 AM AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE NEED FOR SOME VOLUNTEERS.
UH, SO THEY NEED SOME VOLUNTEERS HELP UNLOAD THE TRUCK, GET THE PUMPKIN'S, UH, READY FOR, FOR OUR PUMPKIN PATCH, WHICH IS GOING TO BE STARTING ON THURSDAY, THE 14TH, GOING TO HALLOWEEN ON THE 31ST.
I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE THAT, UM, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SUPPORT YOUR LIBRARY ON INSTEAD OF GOING IN AND BUYING YOUR PUMP IN SOMEWHERE ELSE.
BIG BOX REAL RE RETAILER COMPANY SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY IS A GOOD WAY TO DO IT.
THE BEER BRONSON MORE IS COMING BACK AND IT'S GOING TO BE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23RD FROM THREE TO 9:00 PM.
ANYONE ELSE?
SO FOR THE FIRST TIME, AFTER TWO YEARS, IT'S GOING TO BE HELD THE MOVIE TAB ON OCTOBER 27TH AT SIX 30.
IT'S A WEDNESDAY AND WE HOPE LOTS OF RESIDENTS CAN ATTEND.
[7. City Manager/Staff Reports]
OKAY.I HAVE A FEW ITEMS. UM, THERE'S A MUSICAL COLLABORATION CELEBRATION IS THAT OBS THE SATURDAY FROM TWO TO NINE, LOTS OF ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD, LOTS OF FUN.
HOPE EVERYONE COMES TO OTHER THINGS.
THE RESTAURANT SURVEY WERE THE RESULTS IN MID NOVEMBER.
WE'LL RELEASE THAT IT'LL SHOW THE TOP 20 REQUESTS, THE RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS THAT OUR RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BEDFORD AND WE'RE KICKING OFF THE RESIDENTS.
AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETED THIS FALL.
AND SO I WANT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK OUT, THERE'LL BE A COMPONENT.
OBVIOUSLY PARTS OF IT WILL BE SENT TO THE RESIDENTS BASED ON STATISTICAL SAMPLES, BUT ALSO FOR PEOPLE THAT, SO
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
WE DO HAVE TO DISCUSSING EXECUTIVES.IF WE'RE GOING TO CONVENIENTLY CLOSE THE SESSION TO DISCUSS AN ITEM RELEVANT TO THEIR SECTION 5 5 7 5 1 7 5 7.
WE JUST CONVENED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ACTION TO TAKE COUNCIL MEMBER KOGAN.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN? DO WE HAVE A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER? ARMANDAREZ SECOND.
EVERYBODY IN FAVOR, SAY AYE, THANK YOU FOR THAT.