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OK, I'VE GOT SIX O'CLOCK, I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BEDFORD
[CALL TO ORDER/GENERAL COMMENTS]
CITY COUNCIL, IT'S TUESDAY, JANUARY 25TH, 2022.THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING THIS EVENING.
WHY DON'T WE START OFF COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.
WOULD YOU MIND LEADING US IN AN INVOCATION THIS EVENING? BLESS THIS MEETING TODAY, AND ALL THOSE PRESENT WELL AS THOSE LIVES OF THOSE WE ENCOUNTER AFTERWARD, PLEASE GUIDE OUR HEARTS AS WE GATHER HERE TONIGHT, ALLOW US TO GROW CLOSER AS A GROUP AND STRONGER AS A COMMUNITY IN GOD'S NAME.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN.
WILL YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES PLEDGE] VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. OK, WE DO HAVE A FEW ITEMS UNDER COUNCIL RECOGNITION THIS EVENING, SO
[COUNCIL RECOGNITION]
WHY DON'T WE START WITH AN AWARD PRESENTATION TO THE WINNERS OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOX CONTEST AND THE PAINTED CROSSWALK CONTEST? AND SO I'LL GIVE YOU A CULTURAL ARTS MANAGER, KRISSI ODEN .I AM SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT TO YOU THE WINNERS OF OUR FIRST TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOX CONTEST, AS WELL AS OUR FIRST PAINTED CROSSWALK CONTEST.
BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS WERE SO MUCH FUN, AND WE'VE HAD SUCH AMAZING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY LOVE SEEING THESE PUBLIC ART PIECES OUT THERE.
SO I LIKE I SAID, I'M HONORED TO GET TO HIGHLIGHT THESE ARTISTS TONIGHT.
AND IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO HIGHLIGHT LOCAL ARTISTS TOO.
AND MAN, DO WE HAVE A TON OF TALENTED PEOPLE IN AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A REALLY BRIEF OVERVIEW, THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOX CONTEST HAD TWO THEMES THAT PEOPLE COULD SUBMIT ON.
THEY WERE LOCAL INSPIRATION AND CELEBRATING CULTURES.
WE HAD OVER 40 SUBMISSIONS FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOX CONTEST THIS ROUND, SO WE WERE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS SHOW EACH OF THE DESIGNS AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THEIR DESIGN AND THEN PRESENT OUR WINNERS WITH THEIR AWARDS.
SO FIRST UP, WE HAVE DANIELLE TEAGARDEN.
DANIELLE IS THE ART TEACHER AT BELL MANOR ELEMENTARY.
HER DESIGN WAS INSPIRED BY THE BEDFORD LANDMARK SHE PASSES DAILY ON HER DRIVE TO WORK, AND THIS BOX IS LOCATED REALLY CLOSE TO US AT THE INTERSECTION OF FOREST RIDGE DRIVE AND BEDFORD ROAD. SO, DANIELLE, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP? [APPLAUSE] DESIGN IS BEAUTIFUL.
KRISSI, DO YOU MIND WHEN YOU'RE DONE, MAYBE WE CAN ALL COME UP AND TAKE PICTURES? ABSOLUTELY. YES.
IF I CAN OPERATE THIS NEXT, WE HAVE MIDCITIES MONTESSORI, SO THIS WAS DESIGNED BY A GROUP OF STUDENTS AT MIDCITIES MONTESSORI.
STUDENTS DREW INSPIRATION FROM THE THEME CELEBRATING CULTURES BY DRAWING THE FACES OF PEOPLE THEY SEE AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
EACH INDIVIDUAL IS UNIQUE, CELEBRATING THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THIS BOX IS LOCATED AT THE BLUE QUAIL COURT IN HARWOOD ROAD INTERSECTION.
JODI'S DESIGN IS DESCRIBED AS A STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION OF THE POSITIVE INTERACTIONS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THIS BOX IS LOCATED AT RAVENSWOOD DRIVE AND BEDFORD ROAD.
AREN'T THESE GORGEOUS? THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
NEXT, WE HAVE JOSELINE ROWLEY.
JOSELINE IS A SEVENTH GRADER IN BEDFORD, AND SHE DREW MUSIC AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS BECAUSE OF THE BANDS AND ORCHESTRAS IN BEDFORD THAT INSPIRE HER.
SHE HOPES HER DESIGN INSPIRES OTHERS TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT AS WELL.
THIS BOX IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF MARTIN DRIVE AND HARWOOD.
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[APPLAUSE] AND UP NEXT, WE HAVE KYNLEE JARRETT.KYNLEE, A FIVE YEAR OLD WHO LIVES IN GRAPEVINE, WAS INSPIRED BY THE SUMMER SHE SPENDS AT HER NAN'S HOUSE IN BEDFORD.
IN HER DESIGN SHE INCLUDED SHAPE SHE SEES IN SNAILS, SHELLS, RAINBOWS AND WATER FROM NAN'S POOL. THIS BOX IS LOCATED AT MARTIN DRIVE AND CUMMINGS DRIVE.
[APPLAUSE] LET'S GIVE HER ANOTHER. [APPLAUSE] OH, I LOVE IT, I LOVE THE ARRAY OF AGES THAT WE HAVE WITH THESE BOXES, I THINK IT'S AMAZING.
ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT THE AWARD.
OH, I'M SO SORRY, WE HAVE TWO ARTISTS THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT.
CLIF BECK, CLIF IS A BEDFORD RESIDENT WHO WAS INSPIRED BY THE BIRDS HE SEES IN THE BACKYARDS OF BEDFORD HOMES.
THIS BOX IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF MURPHREE DRIVE AND L DON DODSON DRIVE, SO THAT'S [INAUDIBLE]. [APPLAUSE] AND THEN JACOB WIANT, HE IS A STUDENT OUT OF STATE, SO HE WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE WITH US.
BUT HE'S FROM BEDFORD AND THIS IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF CENTRAL DRIVE AND CENTRAL PARK BOULEVARD.
JACOB'S WORK REFLECTS THE INHERENT CONNECTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE WITH ONE ANOTHER THAT CAN BE SEEN IN ALL COMMUNITIES.
YES. [APPLAUSE] AND NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR DECORATED CROSSWALK, SO OUR WINNER FOR THIS WAS AXEL REYNOLDS.
ART STUDENTS AT BEDFORD JUNIOR HIGH WERE CHALLENGED TO CREATE A DESIGN FOR A PAINTED CROSSWALK THAT WOULD BE INSTALLED JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM THEIR SCHOOL.
SO I MET WITH THEIR ART TEACHER, PETER SEBASTIAN, I THINK, IN EARLY OCTOBER, AND WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING HIS STUDENT, HIS ART STUDENTS WORK ON DESIGNS FOR THIS BECAUSE IT'S THEIR CROSSWALK. IT'S RIGHT THERE.
HE WAS SUPER EXCITED AND HE JUST MADE IT PART OF THE CURRICULUM, SO I THINK HE HAD ALL THE STUDENTS SUBMIT A DESIGN.
THE TRICKY THING ABOUT THIS IS IT COULDN'T BE OVER FIVE COLORS AND IT HAD TO BE VERY SIMPLE YET POWERFUL.
AND SO SOMETIMES THOSE PARAMETERS CAN BE TRICKY TO WORK WITH FROM ALL OF THOSE SUBMISSIONS. AXEL'S DESIGN WAS CHOSEN AS THE WINNER.
SHE SAID HER INSPIRATION CAME FROM A SONG THAT SHE WAS LISTENING TO WHILE SHE SKETCHED OUT HER DESIGN. THE CROSSWALK IS LOCATED AT CAROLYN DRIVE AND BROWN TRAIL AND AXEL IS HERE WITH US.
[APPLAUSE] YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB.
WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE A VIDEO ABOUT THE CROSSWALK.
THAT INCLUDES AN INTERVIEW WITH AXEL AND SOME FOOTAGE OF US PAINTING THE CROSSWALK.
IT TOOK US TWO DAYS TO PAINT IT.
IT WAS. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN AND WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE COME BY WHILE WE WERE PAINTING AND THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WE HAD SOMEBODY FROM GEORGIA STOP AND SAY SHE WAS TAKING THIS PROJECT BACK TO HER CITY BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO DO IT THERE.
SO AND WE'VE GOTTEN TONS OF FEEDBACK ON THIS.
WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF AXEL, AND.
SO KRISSI DO YOU MIND IF WE TAKE A PICTURE WITH EVERYONE? YES YES, SO WINNERS, PLEASE COME UP SO WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE.
YES, SO YES, LET'S DO ALL THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOX WINNERS FIRST AND THEN WE'LL DO AXEL.
[00:10:41]
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING COLOR TO OUR TOWN.
THANK YOU, KRISSI, FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THIS WAS A FANTASTIC PROJECT, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE OF THESE COMING FORWARD.
COUNCIL, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY COMMENTS, ANY THING YOU LIKE TO SHARE? COUNCIL MEMBER ALMENDAREZ.
SORRY. SO I ACTUALLY HAVE KIDS THAT GO TO BEDFORD JUNIOR HIGH, AND SO I GET THE JOY TO SEE THAT CROSSWALK EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IN DISCUSSION FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND IT'S SO EXCITING TO SEE IT EXECUTED AND HOW BEAUTIFUL IT MAKES BEDFORD.
SO IT'S IT'S AWESOME TO SEE THE COLOR ALL OVER.
IT'S GREAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WE DO IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE. AND MORE TO COME CORRECT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER. OK, NEXT UP, WE HAVE EMPLOYEE SERVICE RECOGNITION.
I DO NOT HAVE THE LIST IN FRONT OF ME.
SO WHY DON'T WE START WITH POLICE CHIEF JEFF WILLIAMS? POLICE CHIEF MURPHREE.
YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE JEFF WILLIAMS. NO, I DON'T, NO.
OH GOSH. SO I'LL BE PINCH HITTING FOR HIM.
YOU GET THE A-TEAM TONIGHT, SO DON'T DON'T TELL HIM I SAID THAT THOUGH.
YEAH. I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT BEFORE.
AND I JUST GOT A TEXT FROM HIM.
SO, COUNCIL, MR. MAYOR, I APPRECIATE IT. I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF FRIENDS HERE WITH ME TO RECOGNIZE.
SERGEANT CRUMP HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM TCU CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO SAY GO BAMA ROLL TIDE AT THAT POINT BUT, WOW.
WON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST HIM NOW.
SERGEANT CRUMP IS A MASTER PEACE OFFICER.
HE STARTED WITH US IN JANUARY OF 1997.
HE SERVED WITH US AS AN INVESTIGATOR IN CID.
HE WAS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER IN PATROL.
HE'S GOT OVER HIS CAREER 17 LETTERS OF COMMENDATION.
HE WAS THE 2002 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AND LIFESAVING AWARDS IN 1999 AND 2002.
HE WAS PROMOTED TO CORPORAL IN 2008.
AND NOW HE SERVES US AS THE SERGEANT IN OUR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, SERGEANT.
[APPLAUSE] TWENTY FIVE YEARS, YOU HAVEN'T DONE THIS [INAUDIBLE]? SERIOUS [INAUDIBLE].
CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.
ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. JUST HANG AROUND AND WE'LL GET THE GROUP PHOTO.
ALL RIGHT. UP NEXT, WE HAVE LIEUTENANT DAVID SMITH.
LIEUTENANT SMITH IS HE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM UTA AND KIDS THAT WENT TO A&M OR STILL GO TO A&M. I HAVE ONE STILL THERE.
YOU KNOW? SO DAVID IS A MASTER PEACE OFFICER AS WELL.
HE STARTED IN 1992 AND HE HAS SERVED IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY CAPACITY THERE IS TO SERVE, I THINK, IN PATROL, TRAFFIC, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.
HE'S DONE IT ALL. HE HAS NINE LETTERS OF COMMENDATION.
HE WAS 1996 OFFICER OF THE YEAR AND A LIFESAVING AWARD IN 2000, AND HE WAS PROMOTED TO CORPORAL IN 1996, SERGEANT IN 1997 AND LIEUTENANT IN 2000.
AND HE CURRENTLY SERVES US IN PATROL AS OUR ONE OF OUR TWO PATROL LIEUTENANTS.
EXCELLENT. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
[00:15:09]
WAIT, WAIT A MINUTE, CHERYL.WESLEY LAYFIELD BEGAN HIS CAREER AT THE CITY OF BEDFORD IN JANUARY OF 2012 AS A MAINTENANCE WORKER WORKING CLOSELY WITH WATER BUILDING.
AFTER TWO YEARS IN THE POSITION, HE WAS PROMOTED TO WATER QUALITY, WHERE HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING DAILY WATER QUALITY THROUGHOUT BEDFORD SYSTEM IN MARCH OF 2020. HE WAS PROMOTED TO HIS CURRENT ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALISTS.
HE WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, [INAUDIBLE] ISD SCHOOL DISTRICT, BEDFORD RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
HE EDUCATES THE COMMUNITY ON A WIDE RANGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS, INCLUDING THE CITY'S FATS, OIL AND GREASE PROGRAM, AND HE ALSO COORDINATES WITH THE TEXAS REGIONAL WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD ON WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS.
YOU MAY RECOGNIZE WES FROM COMMUNITY EVENTS WHERE HE PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.
HE'S USUALLY THE ONE WITH THE BEST GIVEAWAYS, AND EVERYBODY'S ALWAYS CROWDED AROUND OUR TABLE. YOU MAY HAVE ALSO SEEN HIM DRIVING AROUND TOWN IN THE COLORFUL VEHICLE.
IT TAKES A LOT TO GET PEOPLE TO GATHER AROUND THE PUBLIC WORKS TABLE, SO.
YEAH. WHILE COVID FORCED MANY OF THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS TO GO VIRTUAL, WES HAS REMAINED ACTIVE IN SEEING THAT THE COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS CONTINUE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING ON ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS.
FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU'RE SIGNED UP FOR THE CITY'S NEWS AND EVENTS EMAILS, YOU WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION LAST WEEK OF AN UPCOMING BACKYARD COMPOSTING VIRTUAL WORKSHOP THAT'S BEING HOSTED BY THE TEXAS REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT.
WES'S FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB IS ENGAGING WITH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
HE LOVES GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SEEING THEM AT VARIOUS GARDENING AND RAIN BARREL EVENTS.
HIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND PASSION FOR HIS WORK MAKE HIM A TRUE ASSET TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. CONGRATULATIONS TO WES ON 10 YEARS WITH THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
[APPLAUSE] MIC] WHILE WE'RE UNDER A COUNCIL RECOGNITION, I DID WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS.
RECENTLY, THE APPARENTLY THERE'S AWARD PROGRAM OUT THERE FROM ENGAGING LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS IS THE ELGL NETWORK, AND EVERY YEAR THEY SELECT THE TOP 100 LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFLUENCERS AND THEY CREATE A LIST AND THESE ARE PEOPLE FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROGRAM, ELGL NETWORK ASK FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE INCREDIBLE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS WHO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES WORK.
AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, NO ONE FROM THE CITY OF BEDFORD STAFF HAS EVER WON THIS AWARD BEFORE.
HOWEVER, THIS YEAR WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE NOMINATED AND BOTH WON, SO I WANTED TO.
IF YOU DON'T MIND COUNCIL, I WANTED TO READ THE NOMINATION AND LET YOU KNOW WHO WON, BUT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHEN I READ IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHO NOMINATED THIS PERSON, BUT HERE'S THE NOMINATION LETTER.
AFTER AN EXTENSIVE INTERVIEW PROCESS OVER EIGHT MONTHS, JIMMY STATHATOS WAS SELECTED AS THE BEDFORD CITY MANAGER, EFFECTIVE 13 MONTHS AGO.
FOR YEARS, THE CITY HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY A VIRTUAL STEPPING STONE FOR WANNABE CITY MANAGERS WITHOUT EXPERIENCE.
FROM DAY ONE JIMMY WAS THE MOST EXPERIENCED CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY HAD EVER HIRED.
HE TOOK A CHANCE TO COME OVER TO BEDFORD FROM A BIGGER CITY WITH MORE ECONOMIC RESOURCES THAN OURS. HE CAME ON BOARD WITH A DETERMINATION TO HELP US TURN AROUND THE FORTUNES OF BEDFORD AND WAS FEARLESS IN MAKING THE HARD CHOICES NECESSARY IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF CITY HALL.
IN HIS 13 MONTHS ON THE JOB, HE HAS FOUND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SAVINGS.
BROUGHT IN PEOPLE FROM THE OUTSIDE AT ALL LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION, STEERED THE ORGANIZATION TOWARDS A CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRIC APPROACH, WORKED WITH COUNCIL BETTER THAN ANYONE BEFORE HIM, AND EMBRACED A COMPLETE OVERHAUL TO HOW THE CITY IS GOING TO REPAIR STREETS AND GET CONTROL OF ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUTURE.
HE HAS NOT ONLY MET MY EXPECTATIONS AS CITY MANAGER, BUT HAS EXCEEDED IT IMMENSELY.
[00:20:05]
JIMMY STATHATOS IS A MAN OF CHARACTER AND COMPASSION AND IS THE TYPE OF CITY MANAGER THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO FOLLOW.JIMMY STATHATOS HAS BROUGHT TRUST BACK TO THE CITY OF BEDFORD ORGANIZATION.
NO ONE HAS A BAD THING TO SAY ABOUT HIM, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE HIM AS MY CITY MANAGER.
YOU'D BE A FOOL NOT TO GIVE HIM THE TRAEGER AWARD.
HE IS CHRIS TRAEGER, EXCEPT FOR THE HEALTH CONSCIOUSNESS THING AND THE GOOD LOOKS, AND HE WILL NOT LIVE TO BE 150.
SO THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS AN AWARD THAT THEY THAT THEY CAME UP WITH.
THEY'RE CALLING IT THE CHRIS TRAEGER AWARD.
APPARENTLY, HE'S A CHARACTER ON THE PARKS AND REC TV SHOW, AND HE'S A FICTIONAL CHARACTER WHO BECAME THE CITY MANAGER OF A SMALL TOWN.
AND SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT HIM WAS HE'S AN EXTREMELY POSITIVE PERSON WHO'S CONSTANTLY UPBEAT AND ENERGETIC, AND HE'S COMMITTED TO IMPROVING LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO MAYBE THAT PUTS SOME OF THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS JIMMY STATHATOS FOR WINNING THE ELGL AWARD.
WE DO. WE HAVE ONE OTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO ALSO WON THIS AWARD NOW, ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION THAT WE'VE EVER HAD ANYONE FROM THE CITY WIN THESE BEFORE, SO THIS IS A BIG DEAL. SO THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL, YOU'LL PROBABLY FIGURE OUT WHO THIS IS.
THIS IS HER NOMINATION LETTER.
MOLLY FOX HAS ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING THINGS FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD IN THE SHORT PERIOD THAT SHE HAS BEEN WITH US.
OUR CITY WAS ALWAYS CHALLENGED IN COMMUNICATING WITH THE RESIDENTS.
TRUTHFULLY, WE WERE AWFUL AT IT.
RESIDENTS HAD COME TO EXPECT LITTLE FROM THE CITY.
MOLLY CAME TO US AND IT WAS LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.
SHE'S BUILT A COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT THAT EVERYONE HAS NOTICED.
DAILY, I GET COMPLIMENTS ABOUT THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE TO TELL OUR STORY TO THE MASSES. THE CITY OF BEDFORD HAS MADE A CULTURAL CHANGE IN HOW IT APPROACHES GOVERNING.
THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT MOLLY ENGAGING WITH OUR RESIDENTS.
THESE WORDS CANNOT COME CLOSE TO EXPLAINING THE IMPACT THAT SHE HAS HAD IN BEDFORD.
THERE'S NO BETTER PERSON QUALIFIED FOR THIS RECOGNITION THAN MOLLY FOX.
[APPLAUSE] SO WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL NOMINATED THESE TWO PEOPLE, THEY HAD NO IDEA HOW BIG OF A DEAL THIS IS, BUT APPARENTLY IT IS.
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT MOLLY CAME IN 12TH OUT OF 100 ON THIS LIST, SO THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE RECOGNITION. SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR THAT.
OK, NEXT UP, WE'VE GOT A PRESENTATION.
[PRESENTATIONS]
IT'S GOING TO BE A PRESENTATION BY THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO AND RECEIVE COUNCIL DIRECTION ON ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY OF CHARTER.SO I GIVE YOU THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON TONY COMPARIN.
HELLO. WELL, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE SLIDE.
BEDFORD REVIEW. THE BEDFORD REVIEW CHARTER COMMISSION FOR 2021 THROUGH 2022.
OUR DUTIES RESOLUTION TWENTY POINT TWENTY ONE POINT FIVE NINE FIRST WAS TO INQUIRE INTO THE OPERATION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT UNDER THE CHARTER PROVISION AND DETERMINE WHETHER ANY SUCH PROVISION REQUIRED REVISION.
THE PURPOSE AND RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY DEEM DESIRABLE TO HELP ENSURE THE COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER AND STATE LAW.
NUMBER THREE, THE PURPOSE IF IT DEEMS DESIRABLE.
THE AMENDMENTS TO THIS CHARTER TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVE APPLICATION OF THE CHARTER TO THE CURRENT CONDITIONS AND REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND PRESENTATIONS IS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, IF ANY, TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
WHICH WE DID. OUR PROCESS, THE COMMISSION MEMBERS WERE GIVEN A COPY OF THE CURRENT CHARTER AND ASKED TO REVIEW THE DOCUMENT FOR ANY CHANGES NEEDED.
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REVIEWED THE CHARTER FOR ANY STATE LAW CHANGES OR LEGAL CLARIFICATIONS.
ALL MEETINGS WERE OPEN FOR PUBLIC INPUT.
EACH SECTION, OUR PROCESS, EACH SECTION WAS RECOMMENDED FOR EACH SECTION THAT WAS RECOMMENDED FOR A CHANGE WAS DISCUSSED, THEN THE MOTION FOR RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE AND SECONDED. WHEN WE HAD FURTHER DISCUSSION AND THEN VOTED, FINALLY, WE VOTED TO PLACE THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BALLOT FOR TO PLACE ON HOLD FOR FUTURE DISCUSSIONS.
CHANGES WERE RECOMMENDED TO FIVE SECTIONS OF THE CHARTER.
FURTHER TWO NEW SECTIONS WERE RECOMMENDED TO BE ADDED.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
LEGAL CLARIFICATIONS, UPDATE CHARTERED TO COMPLY WITH CURRENT STATE LAW.
[00:25:02]
ADDITIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO THE SECTIONS AND PROTECTION OF TORT CLAIMS AGAINST THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL PERSONS.WE HAVE I THINK WE GOT QUITE A FEW MEMBERS OUT HERE, OUR MEMBERS, AND IF THEY WOULD GO ALL STAND, BE RECOGNIZED SO WE CAN SEE THEM.
TOM BRESNAHAN, MARY ANN CALLAWAY, SHENANDOAH CRONIN AND NICHELLE DAWKINS.
TREASURE FORD. YVONNE GARCIA, MARTY GEER.
JESSE OWENS, RICHARD SPENCER, ALAN WOOLEN.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY MANAGER, AND MICHAEL WELLS, OUR CITY SECRETARY, WAS WITH US.
VERY GOOD. THANK Y'ALL. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT TOO.
[APPLAUSE] WE HAD ABOUT FIVE OR SIX MEETINGS, AND THEY LASTED ABOUT TWO HOURS PLUS EACH TIME. ARE YOU BRAGGING ABOUT THAT OR ARE YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT? YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE THAT DID IN THE PAST, BUT IT WAS WE WERE TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH IT SO WE CAN GET IT DONE TONIGHT.
SO I CAN GET THIS ON THE BALLOT.
RECOMMENDED THE PROPOSITIONS FROM THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL TO BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT ON THE MAY 2022 BALLOT.
PROPOSITION ONE, I THINK WE'LL DO IS GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THESE AND THEN IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THE END, WE CAN ANSWER THEM, SO WE CAN SAVE THE TIME.
PROPOSITION ONE, WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS IS THE FIRST LINE WILL BE THE CURRENT WHAT'S IN THE CHARTER. RED LINE WE CROSSED OUT.
BLUE WE'RE ADDING, WHITE WAS ALREADY IN THE CHARTER.
SO WE'RE SCRATCHING THE COUNCIL MEMBER SHALL SERVE WITHOUT PAY OR COMPENSATION PROVIDED.
THE MAYOR OF BEDFORD SHALL RECEIVE A MONTHLY STIPEND IN THE AMOUNT OF $300 PER MONTH, AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL RECEIVE A MONTHLY STIPEND IN THE AMOUNT OF $200 PER MONTH. ADDITIONALLY, THEY SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSE THE UNNECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR OFFICE DUTIES WHEN APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
AND THEN THE REASON SECTION SHALL SECTION 2.04 OF THE BEDFORD HOME RULE CHARTER BE ADMITTED TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION AND ADD THAT THE MAYOR OF BEDFORD SHALL RECEIVE A MONTHLY STIPEND IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MONTH AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL RECEIVE A MONTHLY STIPEND AMOUNT OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MONTH.
THEN THIS PASSED BY A VOTE OF NINE TO TWO AND.
WE WILL HAVE COMMENT THE WAY THE CHARTER WORKS IS IF ANYBODY DID NOT APPROVE, THEN THAT INDIVIDUAL COULD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK OR RATHER A POSITION PAPER, AND DOROTHY IS GOING TO SPEAK AT THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS ONE, THIS ONE PROPOSITION, WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND OUR REASONS AND THE REASONS THAT WE DISCUSSED WERE ABOUT COMPENSATING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY AND THE CITY, COUNCIL MEMBER HAS TWO SIGNIFICANT PURPOSES.
FIRST, SERVING THE CITY OF BEDFORD AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL HAS BEEN DEEMED A COMMUNITY SERVICE. HOWEVER, SERVING THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE AN INDIVIDUALS EXPENSE.
WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE INSIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES THAT THE WORKING CLASS CITIZENS, OLD AND YOUNG, CAN BRING TO THE TABLE.
INSTEAD OF PREVENTING CAREER POLITICIANS, NOT PAYING ELECTED OFFICIALS SIMPLY RESULTS IN THE EXCLUSION OF A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION FROM PURSUING ELECTED OFFICE.
THEIR LIVING SITUATIONS MIGHT NOT ALLOW THEM TO SERVE DUE TO PERSONAL EXPENSES.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE ATTRACTING THE BEST PEOPLE WE CAN TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
IF THAT MEANS OFFERING MINIMAL COMPENSATION TO OFFSET PERSONAL EXPENSES THAT WILL DRAW TALENTED CANDIDATES FROM A DIVERSE CULTURE, SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS, THEN IT'S PUBLIC MONEY WELL SPENT.
PROPOSITION ONE IS NOT A COMPENSATION INCENTIVE TO RUN FOR OFFICE, BUT RATHER A SET AMOUNT OFFSET PERSONAL EXPENSES AND NOT TO DESENSITIZE SOMEONE FROM RUNNING FROM OFFICE.
BUT SECOND, AND MORE AND FOREMOST, COMPENSATING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS IS ALSO RECOMMENDED FOR LEGAL REASONS.
CURRENTLY, IF AN OFFICIAL AND THE CITY IS SUED UNDER A COURT CASE, THEN THE OFFENSIVE, THEN THE OFFICE HOLDER MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO LEAVE THE COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, IF AN OFFICE HOLDER IS COMPENSATED, THEN THE CASE IS DISMISSED AGAINST THE INDIVIDUAL. LAW PROTECTS INDIVIDUAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING CITY EMPLOYEES, FROM TORT CLAIMS FOR ACTIONS INCLUDING PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY AND DEATH COMMITTED IN THEIR SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT.
AS A RULE GOVERNING ENTITY SUCH AS THE CITY ARE ENTITLED TO SOVEREIGN OR GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY THEIR ACTIONS.
AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, THE CITY CHARTER PROHIBITS MEMBERS AND THE CITY COUNCIL MAYOR FROM
[00:30:03]
BEING COMPENSATED. SO WE'LL TAKE SOME QUESTIONS AT THE END.WE HAVE A PROPOSITION TWO NOW.
PROPOSITION TWO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
SECTION 3.07 WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS THE CITY ATTORNEY SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO OR REMOVED FROM OFFICE BY A MINIMUM OF FOUR AFFIRMATIVE VOTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
SHALL SECTION 3.07 OF THE BEDFORD HOME RULE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY SHALL BE APPOINTED OR TO REMOVE BE REMOVED FROM CITY BY A MINIMUM OF FOUR AFFIRMATIVE VOTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL RATHER THAN A MAJORITY.
PROPOSITION THREE, MUNICIPAL JUDGE.
HERE WE SCRATCH THE FIRST PART AND THEN WE INSERTED WHAT'S IN BLUE.
THE MISS, WHAT WE ARE SUGGESTING TO OMIT IS THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE SHALL BE A QUALIFIED VOTER OF THE CITY WHO HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR AND A COMPETENT PRACTICING ATTORNEY.
AND SHALL HOLD NO OTHER PUBLIC OFFICE, EXCEPT THOSE ALLOWED BY THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION OR STATE LAW. WE WERE RECOMMENDING THE CHANGE OF THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE.
SHALL BE A COMPETENT PRACTICING LAWYER WHO IS EITHER A QUALIFIED VOTER WHO HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR, OR WHO MAINTAINS OR IS EMPLOYED AT A LAW OFFICE WITHIN THE PHYSICAL STREET ADDRESS LOCATED IN TARRANT COUNTY.
SHALL SECTION 8.02, THE BEDFORD HOME RULE CHARTER BE AMENDED, PROVIDES THAT THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE SHALL BE A COMPETENT PRACTICING LAWYER WHO WHO EITHER IS A QUALIFIED VOTER WHO HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY FOR THE LAST YEAR, OR WHO MAINTAINS OR IS EMPLOYED AT A LAW OFFICE WITHIN THE PHYSICAL STREET ADDRESS LOCATED WITHIN TARRANT COUNTY.
PROPOSITION FOUR PROCEDURE FOR REMOVAL OF MUNICIPAL JUDGE, SECTION 8.02 THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE DESIGNATION.
THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE SHALL BE ELECTED OR APPOINTED AS DETERMINED BY THE CITY, BY THE CITY COUNCIL. THE TERMS FOR THREE YEARS, IF ELECTED OR IF APPOINTED FOR TERM DEFINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. IF APPOINTED, THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE SHALL SERVE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAY BE REMOVED AFTER NOTICE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AT A PUBLIC HEARING. AND THIS ONE PASSED UNANIMOUS.
I'M SORRY SAME THING, SUMMARIZED.
SHALL SECTION 8.02 OF THE BEDFORD HOME RULE CHARTER BE ADMITTED TO PROVIDE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE DISCRETION TO REMOVE A DULY APPOINTED MUNICIPAL JUDGE AFTER NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD IN A PUBLIC HEARING.
HAVEN'T READ THIS MUCH SINCE I WAS IN SCHOOL, GEEZ.
I TALK A LOT, THAT'S DIFFERENT.
AGAIN, WHAT'S IN WHITE IS CURRENTLY THE COMMISSION DECIDED THAT WE DID NOT NEED THE BOTTOM PORTION WILL READ BECAUSE OF REDUNDANT.
UPON ADOPTION OF THE MASTER PLAN BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
NO SUBDIVISION, STREET PARK OR ANY PUBLIC WAY, GROUND OR SPACE, PUBLIC BUILDING OR STRUCTURE OR PUBLIC UTILITY, WHETHER PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY OWNED, WHICH IS IN CONFLICT WITH THE MASTER PLAN, SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY UNTIL AND UNLESS THE LOCATION AND THE EXTENT THEREOF HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO AND APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION.
IN CASE OF DISAPPROVAL, THE COMMISSION SHALL COMMUNICATE ITS REASONS TO THE COUNCIL, WHICH WILL HAVE THE POWER TO OVERRULE SUCH DISAPPROVAL AND UPON SUCH OVERRULING, THE COUNCIL SHALL HAVE POWER TO PROCEED.
WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING BE REMOVED IS THE WIDENING, NARROWING AND RELOCATING, VACATING OR CHANGING THE USE OF ANY STREET ALLEY OR PUBLIC WAY OR GROUND OR SELL OF ANY PUBLIC BUILDING OR REAL PROPERTY SHALL BE SUBJECT TO SIMILAR SUBMISSION AND APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
AND FAILURE TO APPROVE MAY BE SIMILARLY OVERRULED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
SHALL SECTION 9.04 BE AMENDED TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE WIDENING, NARROWING, RELOCATING, VACATING OR CHANGE IN USE OF ANY STREET ALLEY OR PUBLIC WAY OR GROUND OR THE SALE OF ANY PUBLIC OR REAL PROPERTY SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE COMMISSION AND APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND FAILURE TO APPROVE MAYBE OVERRULED BY THE COUNCIL.
[00:35:01]
AGAIN, WE APPROVE THIS ONE UNANIMOUSLY.GEE, I DON'T KNOW. BRYN, DID YOU HAVE ANY INPUT IN THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? YEAH. HOW DID YOU KNOW? THAT'S NOT EVERYDAY CONVERSATION.
WE CAN COME BACK TO THAT. [LAUGHTER] THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
WE'VE STILL GOT TWO MORE TO GO.
EXACTLY. THE BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR THE FOLLOWING THREE ITEMS HAVE NOT YET BEEN DEVELOPED, MEANING BRYN HAS HAD NOT A CHANCE TO GO THERE AND ACTUALLY MAKE IT PRESENT HOW WE PUT IT ON THE BALLOT FOR CHANGE.
BUT IN GENERAL TERMS, SECTION 2.03 QUALIFICATIONS.
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL BE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY, WHO HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS OF THE CITY FOR AT LEAST ONE CONTIGUOUS YEAR.
PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED, AND SHE'LL HOLD NO OTHER PUBLIC OFFICE, EXCEPT FOR THOSE ALLOWED BY THE CITY, BY THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION OR STATE LAW, IF A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL SHALL CEASE TO POSSESS ANY OF THESE QUALIFICATIONS OR SHALL BE CONVICTED OF A FELONY, THE OFFICE SHALL IMMEDIATELY BE BECOME VACANT.
THIS SECTION, A COUNCIL PERSON SHALL FORFEIT THEIR OFFICE IF THEY ARE CONVICTED IN ANY COURT BY A CLASS A OR B MISDEMEANOR, OR A CRIME INVOLVING MORAL TURPITUDE OR FAILS TO ATTEND THREE CONSECUTIVE REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WITHOUT FIRST BEING EXCUSED BY THE COUNCIL. OH, I'M SORRY.
THIS IS THIS, THIS IS THIS IS A NEW SECTION 2.22.
THERE'S NOT A SECTION [INAUDIBLE] POINT TWO TWO.
WE'RE THINKING IT GOES IN SECTION TWO.
IN THE LAST ONE, I THINK, IS SECTION POINT 2.21.
SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF PUT THERE AT THE END AT 2.22.
THEN THE THIRD OR THE SEVENTH.
I THINK THE LAST ONE WE HAVE IS A NEW SECTION PROCEDURE FOR EXPULSION AND FORFEITURE OF OFFICE. AND A LOT OF THIS WE TOOK FROM OTHER CITY CHARTERS AND INCORPORATED INTO OURS AND BRYN HAS A HAS THE TASK OF REVIEWING ALL THESE POINTS AND TRYING TO PUT IT IN SOME TYPE OF LANGUAGE.
IF Y'ALL DO PROCEED TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT.
TO MAKE IT WORDS, KIND OF CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT.
BUT ANYWAY, IT'S KIND OF LONG.
THE COUNCIL SHALL EMPLOY THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE WHEN THERE IS AN ALLEGATION THAT A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL HAS FORFEITED HIS OR HER OFFICE OR IS SUBJECT TO EXPULSION FROM OFFICE PERSON TO THE TERMS OF THIS CHARTER.
THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED WHEN A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL IS CONVICTED OF ANY COURT OF A FELONY OR A CLASS A OR B MISDEMEANOR PROCEDURES SHALL BE AS FOLLOWS.
A, A WRITTEN SWORN COMPLAINT MUST BE FILED BY A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL AND PRESENTED TO THE MAYOR. IF THE COMPLAINT IS MADE AGAINST THE MAYOR, THE COMPLAINT SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT SHALL BE PRESENTED TO THE CHARGE MEMBER OF COUNCIL.
THE COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING SO THAT THE COUNCIL MAY DECIDE IF THE COMPLAINT SHOULD BE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNCIL RULES OF THE PROCEDURE.
THE MAYOR PRO TEM SHALL SERVE AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER IF THE MAYOR IS CHARGED BY THE COMPLAINT. C, WITH SUPPORT OF A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE COMPLAINT SHALL BE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA AND THE COUNCIL SHALL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING RELATED TO THE COMPLAINT. THE INDIVIDUAL CHARGED BY THE COMPLAINANT SHALL BE NOTIFIED OF THE DATE SET FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING RELATED TO THE COMPLAINT.
D. AFTER CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF AT LEAST THREE FOURTHS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BE REQUIRED TO FIND THE CHARGED COUNCIL PERSON GUILTY OF THE ALLEGATIONS, AS CHARGED IN THE COMPLAINT, AND TO FIND THAT THE COUNCIL PERSON HAS FORFEITED HIS OR HERS OFFICE OR IS EXPELLED FROM HERE, FROM HIS OR HER OFFICE, AND ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE CHARTER.
LASTLY, E, IF THE CHARGED COUNCIL PERSON IS FOUND NOT GUILTY, THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY ENTER THE JUDGMENT ACCORDINGLY.
IF THE COUNCIL PERSON FORFEIT HIS OR HERS OFFICE OR IS EXPELLED FROM HIS OR HER OFFICE, THE COUNCIL PERSON SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR REELECTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR OFFICE FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS AFTER THE DATE FOR THE EXPULSION.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR REPORT AND I THINK WE CAN TAKE OPEN QUESTIONS.
WELL, DO YOU MIND IF I INVITE DOROTHY MCWHORTER? SHE ALSO SERVED ON THE COMMISSION.
I BELIEVE SHE HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT
[00:40:05]
WELCOME DOROTHY. GOOD EVENING.I LIVE AT 1600 MARTHA DRIVE 76022.
I'VE LIVED THERE ALMOST 50 YEARS.
GOOD EVENING. BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR.
AS A MEMBER OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, I VOTED AGAINST AN ITEM THAT IS BEING BROUGHT BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, TO BE SPECIFIC.
I VOTED AGAINST COMPENSATION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE PROPOSED COMPENSATION IS THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MONTH FOR THE MAYOR AND TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MONTH FOR EACH COUNCIL MEMBER.
THIS IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO BY THE LIBERAL BIG SPENDERS AS IT'S ONLY.
I AM NOT HERE THIS EVENING TO LOBBY YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL, BUT I AM REQUIRED TO BE HERE TO EXPLAIN WHY I VOTED THE WAY I DID.
LET ME MAKE THIS CRYSTAL CLEAR.
THROUGH THE YEARS, I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT MOST THINGS IN LIFE BOIL DOWN TO ONE OF TWO THINGS.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT IS MY TAX DOLLARS.
I'M GLAD IT'S NOT THE OTHER ONE DOROTHY.
THE CITY OF BEDFORD IS IN THE BUSINESS OF PROVIDING SERVICES.
I CONTRACT WITH YOU TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES.
FIRE, POLICE, WATER, STREETS AND SEWER.
I CANNOT PURCHASE THESE ITEMS FROM ANOTHER SOURCE, THEREFORE PUTTING THE COUNCIL ON THE PAYROLL WILL HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IMPACT ON IMPROVING THESE SERVICES, BUT WILL CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE A WASTE OF TAX DOLLARS, WHICH AFFECTS EVERY PERSON IN THIS CITY.
I ALWAYS ASK THE QUESTION, IS IT A NEED OR IS IT A DESIRE? IT COULDN'T BE MORE CLEAR.
IN THIS CASE, THIS EXPENDITURE OF TAX DOLLARS IS A DESIRE.
I DO NOT SUPPORT MY TAX DOLLARS BEING GIVEN TO MEMBERS OF ANY CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS OF MY POLITICAL PARTY.
I DO NOT PERSONALLY DONATE TO THEIR CAMPAIGNS, NOR DO I VOTE FOR THEM.
IN A NUTSHELL, THIS WASTE OF TAX DOLLARS IS NO MORE THAN A PLOY TO GET THE FEET IN THE DOOR TO EVENTUALLY HAVE OUR COUNCIL ON A YEARLY SALARY.
YOU WILL NOT ALWAYS BE IN THESE SEATS.
I HAVE ONE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION.
PEOPLE WHO DONATE THEIR TIME VOLUNTEER WHO DO GREAT THINGS.
WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE ON THE CHARTER REVIEW, THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE.
WHO HAVE DONE SOMETHING THAT IS OUTSTANDING, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.
NOW, I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU TOOK THE TIME TO READ THE MINUTES TO OUR MEETING. BUT I'M GOING TO PASS OUT COPIES, EXCERPTS FROM THE NOVEMBER THE 9TH MEETING, DECEMBER THE 14TH MEETING AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THIS BODY,
[00:45:02]
THERE'S ONE FOR ALL SEVEN OF THEM.THE ISSUE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, RATHER THAN READING THE WHOLE THING I'VE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW SO YOU CAN JUST GLANCE AT IT OR OR FOLLOW ALONG.
ON ANOTHER ISSUE, SECTION 2.11 OF THE CHARTER NOT TO INTERFERE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S APPOINTMENTS OR REMOVALS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT.
A RECENT INCIDENT IN THE CITY BROUGHT TO LIGHT SECTION 2.11 WAS IN NEED OF MORE CLARITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M GIVING YOU A COPY OF THE NOVEMBER NINE MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION.
BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COMMISSION.
THE FRONT DOOR TO ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING SECTION 2.11 WAS CLOSED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COMMISSION.
NOW, IF YOU WOULD LIKE FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS, COUNCILWOMAN SABOL ATTENDED THIS MEETING AND SHE CAN ENLIGHTEN YOU.
THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS MS. GARCIA AND DAWKINS ALONE, THEY OPENED THE BACK DOOR AT THE DECEMBER THE 14TH MEETING TO CHANGES THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE IN SECTION 2.11.
THEY TOOK THEIR RECOMMENDED CHANGES, THEIR BACK DOOR APPROACH AND MERELY ASSIGNED A NEW SECTION NUMBER TO THEM.
BUT THEY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT CREDIT BE GIVEN.
WHEN CREDIT HAS BEEN EARNED, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH MS. DAWKINS AND MS. GARCIA. I THANK YOU.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, DOROTHY.
ANYTHING TO ADD BEFORE WE QUESTIONS? NO I JUST WONDER IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.
SO COUNCIL, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND IS THAT WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF DECISIONS TO MAKE. WE DO NOT HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS TONIGHT.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND IS THAT WE PUT THIS BACK ON THE NEXT AGENDA AND THAT WE CAN TAKE THE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THEN TO TO THINK THROUGH THIS MORE THOROUGHLY.
AND THEN TONIGHT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS WITH THESE SPECIFIC ITEMS AND MAYBE THEIR CONSIDERATION.
BUT I THINK WE GET DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY NEXT COUNCIL MEETING AND THEN CHOOSE NEXT COURSE OF ACTION. BUT THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION.
YOU KNOW SUBJECT TO WHAT YOU ALL THINK.
SO MICHAEL WELLS QUICK QUESTION.
IS THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION ESSENTIALLY DISSOLVED AT THIS POINT? OR ARE THEY STILL ACTIVE? ARE THEY STILL IN FORCE? NO.
THEY ARE DISSOLVED, EFFECTIVE NOW.
COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN.
WELL, QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR CONSIDERATIONS AND HOW THEY GOT TO THESE THESE DECISIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND BRYN, JIMMY AND MIKE WERE IN ALL THE MEETINGS ALL THE TIME, SO THEY KNOW ALL THE DISCUSSIONS. I'M SO SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I MEAN, WE HAD TO HAVE THEM SOMEWHERE, SO WE GAVE THEM TO YOU.
DID ONE THING I DID HAVE OUT THAT.
JUST IN CONCLUSION, I DID SOME RESEARCH.
I HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT CITIES HERE IN THE NORTH TEXAS IN A COUPLE OF THEM OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE COMPENSATIONS ARE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, THAT MAY HAVE Y'ALL SOME TIME THAT YOU CAN HAVE WITH IT. THERE'S OTHER COPIES.
YOU MIGHT WANT IT. THE WE DISCUSS SOME [INAUDIBLE] AT OUR COMMITTEE MEETING WAS NOT IN THE REPORT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
FIRST, I'M GOING TO GO TO PROPOSITION NUMBER THREE.
[INAUDIBLE] WILL JUDGE ELIGIBILITY JUST ON A FEW.
DOES THE MUNICIPAL JUMP SHALL BE COMPETENT PRACTICING LAWYER WHO'S EITHER A QUALIFIED VOTER AND WHO HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR, OR WHO MAINTAINS OR IS EMPLOYED AT A LAW OFFICE WITH A PHYSICAL STREET ADDRESS LOCATED IN TARRANT COUNTY? THAT SECOND PART THERE.
WHY DID WE DECIDE TO ADD THAT SECOND? WELL, I THINK THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT WE MAY NOT ALWAYS HAVE A COMPETENT PERSON THAT LIVES
[00:50:03]
IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD. AND BY HAVING IT TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO LIVE AND BREATHE UNDER TARRANT COUNTY'S COUNTY JUDGE VERSUS DALLAS OR ANOTHER ONE THAT WE FELT LIKE IF WE DON'T HAVE A QUALIFIED PERSON IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD EVER, HOPEFULLY WE DO THEN AT LEAST YOU CAN GO OUT AND AT LEAST GET SOMEBODY THAT HAS AN OFFICE PRACTICING LAW IN TARRANT COUNTY.YEAH, OK. SO THAT ONE WAS JUST TO EXPAND OUR SEARCH JUST IN CASE WE, YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T FIND SOMEBODY WITHIN CITY LIMITS.
THE VERY BEST. WE WANT THE BEST PERSON.
THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY TO LIVE HERE.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
IT'S GOING TO BE JUST KIND OF GENERAL STATEMENT HERE.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR OVERALL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SERVING ON THIS COMMISSION.
WE HAD A GREAT, DIVERSE PEOPLE.
WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION OPEN AND THE WAY OUR WAY OUR COMMISSION WORKED WAS.
WE HAD A PROPOSITION THAT CAME UP AND WE VOTED ON IT.
AND IF IT PASSED, WE DIDN'T DISCUSS IT TILL THE NEXT MEETING.
SOMEBODY COULD RESEARCH, THINK ABOUT IT AND THEN VOTED ON IN THE SECOND TIME TO SEE IF WAS GOING TO BE PRESENTED. THE THE LAST MEETING, WE KIND OF GOT CRUNCHED AND DIDN'T DO THAT ON A COUPLE OF LAST PROPOSITIONS.
WE HAD TO VOTE ON THEM, THEN TAKE A LITTLE BREAK AND THEN COME BACK AND VOTE ON IT AGAIN.
SO I THINK IT WAS ABSOLUTELY A GOOD GROUP.
EVERYBODY WORKED WELL TOGETHER AND.
SEEN THAT THAT LAST MEETING, WE GO BACK TO IT.
SO THE LAST MEETING, WHAT WAS WAS AT THAT SECTION TWO, ATTORNEY. CORRECT? YES. BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE VOTED ON SECTION TWO POINT ONE, ONE OR TWO, TWO SOMETHING, 2.03 WHEN THESE CAME UP IN THE COMMISSION VOTED IT DOWN TWICE, BUT THEN IT CAME BACK UP.
I THINK IN THE SECOND OF THE LAST MEETING CAME UP UNDER SOME DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT DIDN'T FALL UNDER ANYTHING.
SO YOU HAD A DEADLINE, IS THAT THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.
NO, WE COULD WE COULD HAVE POSTPONED AND DID.
WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS MEETING, WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE GONE ONE MORE [INAUDIBLE] GET ON THE ON THE MAY BALLOT.
BUT WE. BUT IT WAS COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE.
PRETTY MUCH. SO, SO IF THIS WANTED TO BE TALKED ABOUT, THAT WAS BASICALLY THE MEETING TO DO IT. WE TOOK KIND OF A STRAW, THEN VOTED ON IT AND IT DID PASS WITH ONE PERSON ABSTAINING AND THE REST OF THEM VOTED ON IT.
SO I THINK IT WAS PRETTY WELL DISCUSSED AND AND BROUGHT OUT, AND WE PRETTY MUCH DISCUSSED IT PRETTY MUCH AND THOROUGHLY AND ALL AGREED THAT IT'S HERE.
HERE'S OUR POINT. WE LOOKED AT IT THAT WE'RE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS AND WITH BRYN, WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PART OF IT, AND I THINK HE'D LIKE [INAUDIBLE] NEED TO BE DISCUSSED AND THE COMMISSION IS COMING TO THE END.
IF WE PRESENTED IT TO YOU, THE COUNCIL, YOU ALL GET TO MAKE THE DECISION WHERE YOU WANT TO PUT ON THE BALLOT OR NOT.
AND ACTUALLY BRYN AND JIMMY HAVE MORE INPUT IN THAT SECTION, PROBABLY THAN ANYBODY HAS, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO RUN THE CITY, NUT WE BROUGHT IT UP, PUT IT IN YOU ALL'S COURT AND NOW THE BALL'S IN OUR COURT.
IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE. YEAH, YEAH, I GET IT.
I JUST FIND IT, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE CONCERNING THAT IT WAS THE LAST MEETING AND THEN THINGS, YOU KNOW, DO YOU FEEL THAT? IT CAME UP WITH THE FIRST MEETING THIS PROVISION WAS ACTUALLY STARTED WITH SECTION ONE TWO WHEN [INAUDIBLE].
THIS CAME UP AT THE VERY BEGINNING.
STRUCK DOWN TWICE AND BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE IN THE FINAL.
BECAUSE THERE BUT BECAUSE IT WAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT THE SECOND TO THE LAST MEETING AND WE SAID, LET'S PASS IT AROUND AND BRING IT UP THIS NEXT MEETING.
SO WE ALL THOUGHT ABOUT IT. BUT THEN THAT TOO, OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY, THAT TWO OR THREE WEEK PERIOD, I THINK THERE WERE SOME PROVISIONS THAT CAME UP THAT WASN'T THAT'S NOT ADDRESSED IN THE FIRST PART OF THAT SECTION.
SO SINCE WE VOTED DOWN, THE FIRST PART SECTION 2.03.
AND THAT' [INAUDIBLE] CAME UP IN WITH SECTION TWO.
WE TOOK A VOTE AND IT WAS UNANIMOUS THAT WE BRING IT BACK UP FOR FULL DISCUSSION AGAIN.
WE COULD HAVE VOTED DOWN AND SAID, NO, IT'S BEEN TABLED TWICE.
WE'RE GOING TO FORGET ABOUT WE BROUGHT IT BACK UP.
AND NOW THIS IS OUR RECOMMENDATION.
OKAY. SO YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAD ADEQUATE TIME TO DEBATE THE ISSUE, ALL SIDES BEING HEARD AND? I THINK WE HAD A GOOD TIME.
AND NOW THE PRESSURE IS ON YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER IT'S IT SHOULD BE IN THERE.
BUT SO BUT BRYN HAD A LOT OF GOOD POINTS ON THAT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
AND SO I THINK IT JUST NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THE COMMISSION THINKS THAT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING YOU ALL NEED TO CONSIDER.
YEAH, I JUST HAD A FEW CONCERNS WITH THAT.
THAT'S NOT FOR THIS MEETING, THOUGH.
THAT'S PROBABLY FOR NEXT MEETING IF WE CHOOSE TO BRING IT OVER THERE.
SOME SPECIFICS IN THE LANGUAGE.
I'LL GET IT FOR THAT. BUT I DO WANT TO ASK YOU THIS WHOLE, YOU KNOW, JUST GETTING YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS.
DID YOU FIND IT HARD TO MANAGE 13 PEOPLE ON THIS COMMISSION NOW? IT'S HARD WITH SEVEN OF US HERE TRYING TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A DECISION.
[00:55:01]
I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT.SO I DO WANT TO ASK YOU THE CHALLENGES, BECAUSE HERE'S THE THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSIONS IN THE CITY IN THE PAST AND THIS THIS IS NOT NEW FOR SOME PEOPLE. ARE WE DOING IT? LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY IS THERE A WAY WE COULD DO IT BETTER? THAT'S MY THING. YOU WERE. YOU WERE CHAIRPERSON.
AND FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD, YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB BEING THE CHAIRPERSON THIS TIME.
AND SO I'M COMING TO YOU ASKING, IS THERE A WAY TO DO IT BETTER? I THINK YOU PROBABLY NEED TO START THE PROCESS EARLIER.
I THINK WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE ALWAYS HAD IT ON A TUESDAY BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND THE THREE PEOPLE HAD TO JOIN US AND WE STARTED AT 4:30 AND WE GOT TO TRY TO GET THROUGH BY 5:45, THEN WE STARTED MEETING AT 4:15.
SO I THINK IT YOU NEED MORE TIME AND MORE DISCUSSION.
I THINK IF YOU'RE CHARGING CITIZENS TO REVIEW A PRETTY GOOD DOCUMENT, THEN WE'RE ALL NON ATTORNEYS AND REVIEW IT.
IT TAKES TIME TO GO THERE AND IT'S PROBABLY HARDER TO DO IT IN THAT HOUR AND A HALF, YOU KNOW, FIVE TIMES WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE LENGTH IT OUT.
BUT THE NICE THING ABOUT IT, IT ONLY TOOK FIVE TIMES AND WE CRUNCHED AND WE GOT IT DONE.
SO THAT'S TRUE. YEAH, THAT'S TRUE.
THAT'S TRUE. IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME, WE MIGHT HAVE HAD 12 PROPOSITIONS OUT THERE THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT. BUT BECAUSE OF THE TIME CONSTRAINT, WE ONLY CAME UP WITH.
SEVEN. DID YOU FIND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WAS LIKE ADDING TO THE ABILITY TO LIMIT DISCUSSION OR LENGTHENING THE DISCUSSION? DO YOU THINK IT WOULD FIND IT BEING CUMBERSOME THAT THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE, SO MANY OPINIONS? NO, IT COULD HAVE, BUT I THINK WITH THE GROUP WE HAD, I THINK THEY ALL RESPECTED IT. I HAD TO SOMETIMES BRING BACK TOGETHER AND SAY, WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THAT. AND SO I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE BEST CHAIRMAN, BUT I WAS PRETTY FIRM.
BUT I THINK WE WORKED THROUGH IT PRETTY TIMELY.
BUT IT COULD HAVE TAKEN A LOT.
IT COULD HAVE TAKEN MORE TIME.
BUT I THINK THE WAY YOU HAVE IT IS GOOD.
I THINK A DOZEN IS PROBABLY A GOOD NUMBER BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAD ONE OR TWO THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE MEETING. WE HAD TO DROPPED OFF.
SO I THINK IT WAS SOME GOOD INPUT.
YEAH. OKAY. SO GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, THAT'S FINE FOR WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THAT'S OK, STARTING IT EARLIER, THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER AND LENGTHENING THE MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOROUGH DISCUSSION AND DEBATE AND GETTING THE HOLIDAYS CAME INTO PLAY.
WE MIGHT HAVE MET ANOTHER ONE OR TWO TIMES, BUT THEN WE HAD DECEMBER AND THE HOLIDAY, SO PROBABLY STARTING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER SO YOU COULD WRAP IT UP BY DECEMBER 1ST WOULD PROBABLY BE BETTER. GOTCHA.
I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
SO IS THIS THE ONLY METHOD FOR US TO MAKE CHANGES TO OUR CITY CHARTER IS TO HAVE A COMMISSION AND THEN [INAUDIBLE] OF RESIDENTS CITIZENS AND THEN YOU'RE NOT TECHNICALLY REQUIRED TO HAVE A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
I MEAN, THAT IS TYPICAL IN MOST CITIES THAT I'VE SEEN, BUT IT'S NOT A LEGAL PRECONDITION TO COUNCIL PROPOSING MEASURES TO AMEND THE CHARTER.
SO JUST SAYING WE COULD HAVE ALL SEVEN OF US MET TOGETHER HERE ON COUNCIL AND THEN MADE THE DECISION AND? CORRECT. CORRECT.
GOTCHA. ARE YOU SUGGESTING A COURSE OF ACTION? I'M NOT. I'M IMPLYING.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT YOU'RE NUDGING A BIT.
THE PEOPLE THAT THAT SERVED ON THIS COMMISSION, I JUST WANT TO SEND A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. I MEAN, IT'S A JOB GOING THROUGH A DOCUMENT THAT'S THAT THICK.
YOU'RE ALL NOT LEGAL EXPERTS AND THEN BEING EXPECTED TO SET THE COURSE OF THE CITY AND MAKE THESE DECISIONS. I PERSONALLY WANT TO SEND OUT A THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU THAT SERVED ON THAT COMMISSION BECAUSE I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ME.
MY SPECIFICS COME DOWN TO QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THIS, NOT HOW YOU GOT THERE, BECAUSE I THINK YOU DID KIND OF A GOOD JOB.
SO I MAY HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
LATER, I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
OK, THANK YOU, TONY. THANK YOU.
YEAH. AND WHAT I HOPE IS THAT WE USE TONIGHT'S FORUM TO ASK TONY AND STAFF QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE DO THE DEBATE PORTION OF THIS IN THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
SO LET ME SAY THIS BEFORE I PASS OFF HERE.
I HOPE THAT YOU DIDN'T FEEL ANY NEED TO EXPEDITE THIS CONVERSATION OR SHORTEN THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY OBLIGATION TO GET THIS ON ANY PARTICULAR BALLOT.
BUT I THINK BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE, THIS IS OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE TO HOW WE GOVERN THE CITY. AND I THINK BECAUSE OF THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE TO THIS, THAT I HOPE AND I BELIEVE YOU ALL TOOK THE TIME TO THOROUGHLY REVIEW THE CHARTER AND TO DEBATE IT.
AND WE DID. WE HAD KNOWING THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT AND ON THE LAST MEETING WAS THE HOUR
[01:00:01]
AND A HALF SPENT SOLELY TO THOSE TWO PROVISIONS.SURE, WE DISCUSSED THOSE TOTALLY WEREN'T RUSHED.
WE WENT THROUGH THEM. AND THEN AFTER YOU BEAT A DEAD HORSE LONG ENOUGH TO KEEP TALKING, IT'S LIKE IT'S TIME TO TAKE A VOTE.
SO I FELT LIKE WE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO DISCUSS AND FULFILL THOSE LAST FEW SECTIONS IN THE LAST MEETING. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND MICHAEL [INAUDIBLE] I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT OR IT MAY BE BRANT.
OUR CHARTER SAYS THAT EVERY FIVE YEARS WERE TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES TO THE CHARTER; IS THAT CORRECT? IT DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A COMMISSION.
THAT'S CORRECT. EVERY FIVE YEARS AFTER A BASICALLY A CHARTER ELECTION, YOU'RE TO MEET AND DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT TO JOIN A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
SO IT SAYS APPOINT A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
IF WE WANT TO. OK, RIGHT? HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT THIS WAY.
CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. YES, SIR.
HAVE WE ALWAYS HAD THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THIS CHARTER? DOROTHY'S BEEN A PART OF QUITE A FEW OF [INAUDIBLE].
COUNCIL MEMBER ALMENDAREZ? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER? I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF THIS IS IMPORTANT TO TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION OR THE NEXT TIME WE MEET, BUT THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE, BRYN IS CONSIDERED AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNCIL WELL.
THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE IS EITHER APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL OR ELECTED BY THE PUBLIC.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS PRESENTLY HIS THREE YEAR TERM IS BASED UPON COUNCIL HAVING APPOINTED HIM. DOES THAT MAKE HIM AN EMPLOYEE OF THE? HE'S LIKELY AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, MUCH LIKE MY OFFICE.
SO. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE THAT WOULD HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING OVER THEIR DISMISSAL? I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY.
IS THERE A REASON WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE THAT IN THIS WRITING? SO THE REASON THAT THAT WAS PROPOSED IS TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT.
SO THIS THIS CAME UP AS A SCENARIO AND ANOTHER ONE OF MY CLIENT CITIES.
YOU CERTAINLY DON'T NEED TO HAVE THIS.
OK, SO BUT WHAT STATE LAW SAYS IS A MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE MAY ONLY BE REMOVED DURING THE PENDENCY OF HIS OR HER TERM FOR MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE UNLESS THERE IS AN ALTERNATE PROCEDURE PRESCRIBED IN THE CHARTER.
SO THIS CIRCUMSTANCE THAT AROSE IN ANOTHER ONE OF MY COMMUNITIES IS COUNCIL HAD A FALLING OUT WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE.
THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE WAS ALLEGEDLY INTENTIONALLY WITHHOLDING DOCKET TIME TO THE ALTERNATE JUDGES, CAUSING A CONFLICT, CAUSING A POLITICAL EMBARRASSMENT.
AND COUNCIL WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE BECAUSE IT DID NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE, BUT INSTEAD JUST A DISAPPOINTMENT WITH HIS PROFESSIONALISM AND THE WAY HE HANDLED HIS COURT.
THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMOVE HIM, AND HE WAS ABLE TO SERVE OUT THE REMAINDER OF HIS TERM, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS THIS UNSETTLED RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT JUDGE.
BUT HOW DOES THE PUBLIC HEARING, THOUGH, ALTER THAT? IT CREATES A PROCESS IN THE CHARTER THAT PAYS THAT COMPLIES WITH STATE LAW THAT YOU'VE.
[INAUDIBLE] COMPLIANCE FACTOR.
THAT'S RIGHT. YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY.
DECISION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MADE BY COUNCIL, SAY, TO DISMISS THIS PERSON.
THAT'S RIGHT, BUT IT CREATES AN AVENUE TO PROVIDE FOR DISMISSAL MIDTERM IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS. IN THAT EVENT, HE WAS ELECTED.
BUT IN YOUR EXAMPLE, HE WAS ELECTED.
HE WAS APPOINTED AND THEY COULDN'T REMOVE HIM? THEY COULD NOT REMOVE HIM.
THAT'S RIGHT. STATE LAW PROHIBITS REMOVAL UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ALTERNATE PROCEDURE IN YOUR CHARTER, IF YOU DO NOT.
THEY ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO COMMIT A FELONY OTHER MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BEYOND QUESTION.
BUT IF COUNCIL DOES NOT SEE EYE TO EYE WITH RESPECT TO THE PROFESSIONALISM OR, YOU KNOW, JURISPRUDENTIAL PHILOSOPHY IN DEALING WITH CITATIONS.
EXCESSIVE DISMISSALS, FOR INSTANCE, YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT CODE ENFORCEMENT MATTERS AND YOU HAVE A JUDGE THAT ROUTINELY DISMISSES CASES DOESN'T GET ALONG WITH STAFF.
THAT'S NOT MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE.
AND YOU WOULD BE STUCK WITH THAT JUDGE FOR THE ENTIRE THREE YEAR TERM UNLESS YOU HAD A PROCEDURE IN THE CHARTER.
AND GIVING HIM A PUBLIC HEARING WOULD ALLOW THAT PROCESS? CORRECT. IT'S ALL ESSENTIALLY.
THAT'S AN ALTERNATIVE PROCESS AND IT'S DUE PROCESS; RIGHT? YOU'RE AFFORDING THAT PERSON A HEARING AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.
[01:05:03]
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TONY.THANK EVERYONE FOR SERVING ON THIS COMMITTEE.
I KNOW THAT IT WAS, UM, LONG AND ARDUOUS, TEDIOUS AND.
YOU KNOW, ONE THING WITH BRYN AND JIMMY HERE IS WE USED TO THINK THAT THE CRAZIEST STUFF HAPPENED IN BEDFORD, BUT WE NOW KNOW IT DOESN'T.
ANY OTHER QUESTION? COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES? HEY, TONY, JUST.
WELL, THIS IS MORE FOR BRYN, I GUESS, BUT ON THE NEW SECTION PROCEDURE FOR EXPULSION OF FORFEITURE OF OFFICE SECTION D.
YES. WELL, IT SAYS AFTER CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AT LEAST THREE FOURTHS OF ALL. SO THREE QUARTERS OF SEVEN IS SO WE ROUND UP OR ROUND DOWN OR WHAT DO WE DO THERE? YOU WOULD ROUND UP AND I APPRECIATE YOU SEGUEING INTO THAT SECTION BECAUSE I DO, I THINK YOU'VE GOTTEN A SENSE THAT IT COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN SORT OF ALLUDED TO THIS.
THIS REALLY DIDN'T COME TO FRUITION UNTIL THE VERY LAST MEETING.
AND JIMMY AND I ARE, YOU KNOW, AS THE THE CLOCK WOULD RUN, WE'D HAVE TO DRIVE ACROSS THE STREET AND WE WOULD NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO STAY THERE.
SO IF I COULD, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THAT ITEM WAS TAKEN WHOLESALE FROM ANOTHER CITY FOR PURPOSES OF JUST PROMPTING DISCUSSION.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE LATENESS OF IT BEING CONSIDERED AFTER BEING DENIED A COUPLE OF TIMES, I WOULD TAKE THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION AS A RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU CONSIDER A CONCEPT RATHER THAN THE SPECIFIC WORDING.
THIS, THAT LANGUAGE IS APPROPRIATE FOR ANOTHER CITY.
I'M NOT, I'M CERTAINLY NOT SUGGESTING THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE AS WRITTEN FOR THIS CITY.
IT'S MERELY MEANT TO BE A RECOMMENDATION THAT COUNCIL CONSIDER SOME SORT OF PROCEDURE THAT, FOR INSTANCE, THE THREE QUARTER MAJORITY IS NOT GOING TO WORK FOR PURPOSES OF THIS CURRENT SECTION, THE CHARTER THAT PROVIDES FOR REMOVAL FOR INTERFERING.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE THAT SECTION SAYS BY MAJORITY VOTE.
SO YOU CAN'T HAVE CONFLICTING VOTING THRESHOLDS AND THE COMMISSION IS NOT RECOMMENDING AMENDING THAT LANGUAGE.
SO WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE REQUIREMENT FOR THAT.
YOU ALSO ONLY HAVE ONE PROVISION CURRENTLY IN THE CHARTER THAT PROVIDES FOR ACTIVE REMOVAL. RIGHT.
THE OTHERS ARE FORFEITURE OF OFFICE, AND YOU ALL SHOULD DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT A PROCEDURE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THOSE EVENTS OCCURRED OR TO SIMPLY TAKE THE POSITION THAT THOSE THINGS OBJECTIVELY OCCURRED AND YOU FORFEIT YOUR OFFICE AND THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE A VOTE.
CURRENTLY, THE LANGUAGE IN THOSE OTHER SECTIONS ACCEPTING GIFTS AND HAVING A FINANCIAL INTEREST IN A CONTRACT.
THOSE PROVISIONS, UNLIKE THE INTERFERING WITH THE CITY MANAGER, DON'T CONTEMPLATE IT COMING BEFORE COUNCIL FOR A VOTE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU NEED A PROCEDURE WHEN THEY DON'T PRESENTLY CONTEMPLATE A VOTE ANYWAY? SO THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT THAT THAT ONE IS GOING TO TAKE THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF WORK TO DECIDE IF YOU WANT A PROCEDURE.
DO YOU WANT IT TO JUST APPLY FOR INTERFERING WITH THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY MANAGER, SUBORDINATES? OR DO YOU WANT TO ALSO HAVE IT APPLY TO ANY OTHER INSTANCE WHERE THERE'S A FORFEITURE OF OFFICE SCENARIO? WELL, I HAD ONE MORE QUESTION, IT WAS ABOUT PROP ONE, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT I SAW THE DIFFERENT DOLLAR AMOUNTS FOR THE CITIES.
BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU, AS FAR AS LIABILITY, IS THERE A DOLLAR AMOUNT? COULD IT BE FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH? IT ARGUABLY COULD BE.
I MEAN, ESSENTIALLY THERE'S NOT A BRIGHT LINE LITMUS TEST.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU ALL THE BASIC BACKGROUND BEHIND THAT, THAT WAS BASED ON MY RECOMMENDATION, AND OUR FIRM RECOMMENDS IT TO ALL HOME RULE AND AND GENERAL LAW MUNICIPALITIES. AND TML HAS A PERIODICAL WHERE THEY RECOMMEND IT AS WELL.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE IMMUNITY FROM SUIT AND LIABILITY.
BUT THE TEXAS TORT CLAIMS ACT PROVIDES FOR A WAIVER OF IMMUNITY IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY AND THERE IS A TORT, WHICH IS A PERSONAL INJURY INCIDENT, RIGHT? DAMAGE TO PROPERTY PERSONS YOU COULD HAVE DEATH AND IMMUNITY IS WAIVED IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES AND LIABILITY IS SET AT CAPPED AT 250 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE, IF YOU ARE IN WHAT THE STATUTE SAYS IS IF YOU ARE IN THE PAID EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY, THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS.
[01:10:01]
THERE'S NO ANNOTATIONS DESCRIBING WHAT THAT MEANS.IF YOU WERE IN THE PAID EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY AND YOU WERE SUED WHERE I SEE THIS MOST TYPICALLY HAPPENING AND YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT OPERATE MOTOR VEHICLES ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOR INSTANCE, LET'S USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE.
A POLICE OFFICER HAD THIS CIRCUMSTANCE IN ANOTHER CITY.
THEY EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT WITHOUT TURNING THEIR LIGHTS AND SIRENS ON, AND THEY STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE, RIGHT? SO THAT VIOLATES DEPARTMENT PROTOCOL.
YOU POTENTIALLY HAVE LIABILITY IF THE PLAINTIFF SUES THE POLICE OFFICER PERSONALLY BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE TORT CLAIMS ACT ABOUT BEING IN THE PAID EMPLOYEE, WE'RE ABLE TO FILE A MOTION THAT AUTOMATICALLY DISMISSES THE POLICE OFFICER AS THE DEFENDANT.
AND THEN THE PLAINTIFF HAS TWO CHOICES EITHER TO ABANDON THE SUIT, WHICH TYPICALLY DOESN'T HAPPEN UNLESS THEY DON'T, THEY'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE RULES OR THEY'RE REQUIRED TO FILE THE CITY AS THE DEFENDANT ONLY.
WE'VE HAD SOME CASES WHERE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, WHERE COUNCIL MEMBERS, IN THEIR OFFICIAL CAPACITY, THEY'RE DRIVING FOR CITY BUSINESS STRIKE SOMEONE ELSE'S CAR WHILE THEY'RE DRIVING. AND WE'VE TRIED TO RAISE THAT.
THEY'RE NAMED AS A PERSONAL DEFENDANT IN THE SUIT.
WE TRY TO GET THEM DISMISSED IMMEDIATELY AS A MATTER, OF COURSE, AND THE HASSLE AND ALL THE REST OF YOU ARE VOLUNTEER, ET CETERA.
AND THE COURT HAS SAID THE STATUTE SAYS YOU'RE NOT PERMITTED TO BE DISMISSED UNLESS YOU'RE A PAID EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY.
REIMBURSEMENTS FOR EXPENSES DOES NOT, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE COMPENSATION, AND THEREFORE THEY WILL REMAIN A DEFENDANT IN THE SUIT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE LAWSUIT, INCLUDING ANY APPEALS.
SO IT'S ALWAYS MERELY RECOMMENDED IT DOESN'T DOESN'T CHANGE.
YOUR PERSONAL LIABILITY JUST ALLOWS YOU TO BE REMOVED FROM THE SUIT IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE OF THE CONVENIENCE IN THE STATUTE THAT PROVIDES FOR THAT PROCESS.
THANK YOU. AND OUR COMMISSION DISCUSSED A VARIETY OF BE $100 SHOULD BE TWO OR THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND WE FELT WE NEED TO COME TO THE YOU ALL WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE THOUGHT WAS FAIR.
AND THAT'S WHERE HE CAME UP TO THREE HUNDRED TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS OF YOU ALL'S COMPENSATION. YOU CAN CHANGE WHATEVER YOU WANT, BUT ALSO TALKING TO BRYN IS YOU CAN'T MAKE IT A DOLLAR BECAUSE THAT THEY COULD PIERCE THAT SHELL, THAT ALL YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS COVER YOURSELF.
SO IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS REASONABLE, SUBSTANTIAL.
AND THAT'S ONE REASON WE PUT TOGETHER THAT SHEET TO SEE WHAT OTHER ONES ARE DOING.
IF YOU'RE COMPENSATED IN THAT LINE, THEN OTHERS ARE YOU'RE PROBABLY COVERED THAT THAT WASN'T JUST TO PAY YOU A NOMINAL FIVE DOLLARS TO GO THERE AND BE PROTECTED, AND WE THOUGHT THAT WE THOUGHT WE'D GIVE YOU A RECOMMENDATION.
WE THOUGHT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED COMMISSION.
THAT WOULD BE A FAIR COMPENSATION FOR YOU ALL.
WELL, I KNOW WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEERS.
WE HAVE SOME VOLUNTEERS IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW THAT PUT IN MORE HOURS THAN THE COUNCIL, I THINK. AND SURE, YEAH, THAT WAS JUST THANK YOU.
AND ALSO, YOU WOULDN'T GET THAT UNTIL YOU'RE ELECTED THE NEXT TIME, NOT WHEN YOU'RE CURRENTLY BEING ELECTED. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PUT YOURSELF IN FOR A RACE RIGHT AWAY. OKAY. TONY ITEM TWO FOR COUNCIL MEMBER VOTES A MINIMUM ON THE CITY ATTORNEY ITEM, YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO ADDRESS A SITUATION WHERE WE MAY NOT HAVE A, WE HAVE LESS THAN SEVEN PEOPLE.
YES. UH-HUH. SO WE MAY ONLY HAVE FIVE PEOPLE AT 10 AND THREE VOTES WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS THAT.
YES. YEAH. SO BRYN, THESE TWO NEW ITEMS, YOU HAVE NOT HAD A MOMENT TO THOROUGHLY VET THOSE ITEMS. WELL, I HAVE, CANDIDLY, I HAVE VETTED THEM, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO MODIFY THE LANGUAGE THAT THE COMMISSION SENT TO YOU WITHOUT TALKING TO YOU FIRST.
AND THEN I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CLEAR DIRECTION HERE.
COUNCIL HAS THE RIGHT TO ADOPT THESE ITEMS AS WRITTEN, COUNCIL HAS THE RIGHT TO AMEND ANY SPECIFIC ITEM AS IT CHOOSES.
COUNCIL HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY NO TO ANY AND ALL ITEMS; CORRECT? WE HAVE ALL THOSE AT OUR DISPOSAL OR ADD ANYTHING ELSE.
YOU ADD ANYTHING OR ADD ANYTHING WE WANT.
OK. ANY? COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN? THANK YOU, MAYOR. TONY, I'LL LET YOU GO WITH A SECOND.
I WANT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEW SECTION.
I'M GOING TO SECTION B, THE FORFEITURE OF OFFICE.
I WANT TO KNOW YOUR COMMISSION'S THINKING ON THIS.
JUST SO I'M CLEAR ON IT FAILS TO ATTEND THREE CONSECUTIVE REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL WITHOUT FIRST BEING EXCUSED BY COUNCIL.
HOW DO WE SEE THAT GOING? SO IT SAYS BEING EXCUSED.
[01:15:01]
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A COUNCIL MEMBER AT THAT CASE? THERE WERE COMMISSION MEMBERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED.I HAVE NOT. NOT GOING TO APPEAR REGULARLY AT ALL THE MEETINGS AND THEY PRESENTED TO THE TO THE COMMISSION THAT THEY NEED A VEHICLE TO LET THE COUNCIL MAKE THAT DECISION.
THERE'S NOTHING WRITTEN. DOES IT GO THREE, FIVE, EIGHT? AND SO THEY THOUGHT BY PUTTING A NUMBER IN THERE, IT GIVES NOT YOU BEING A BAD PERSON, BUT WE HAVE THIS. SO IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO MISS, YOU JUST CALL GO, I GOT COVID AND I'M OUT FOR THREE WEEKS. I'M GOING ON VACATION FOR THREE WEEKS.
[INAUDIBLE] THREE MEETINGS AND YOU'RE NOT MEETING WITH EVERY OTHER WEEK.
SO THAT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU'VE BEEN OUT SIX OR EIGHT WEEKS OUT OF POCKET.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR FOR THE COUNCIL, BUT YOU ALL NEED THE POLICE AROUND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND IF THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
IT'S NOT. WE'RE JUST GIVING YOU A RECOMMENDATION.
YEAH, I JUST SEE THIS, I DON'T THINK IT WAS.
LET ME READ THIS CORRECTLY BEING EXCUSED BY THE COUNCIL.
I MEAN, WHAT IF? WHAT IF I'M NOT FRIENDS WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE AND PEOPLE JUST SAY, NO, NO, DAN, IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT YOU HAVE COVID.
DO YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS? YES.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
DO YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH EXCUSED ABSENCES IN YOUR CAREER PATH RIGHT NOW? OH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, EXCUSED ABSENCES.
WE HAVE A SUB. CAN I GET A PROXY VOTE FOR ME? I KNOW. UM, BUT UH, BUT NO, SO FOR THIS ONE.
I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHAT YOU GUYS THINKING WAS ON THIS BECAUSE WHEN I WAS READING IT, THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTION MARKS GOING, HOW DOES THIS WORK? AND I CAN SEE IF YOU'RE NOT.
IF YOU'RE NOT A VERY POPULAR COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU MAY, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY PAY FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET EXCUSED AND YOU NEED TO BE HERE, RIGHT? I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT MY OWN, YOU KNOW, ATTENDANCE PER SE AND I MISSED TWO MEETINGS, ONE FOR THE DEATH OF MY FATHER, ONE LAST MEETING BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF STOMACH BUG. BUT AND YOU KNOW, BETTER NOW.
BUT THAT ONE WITH THE EXCUSE, I JUST NEED SOME CLARIFICATION.
THERE IS THERE'S QUITE A FEW MEMBERS THAT ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.
AND THEN WE UNDERSTAND WE WERE CONVINCED AND WE THOUGHT, WELL, WHY NOT PUT IT IN AND LET THE OTHER SIDE? GOTCHA. GOTCHA.
APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, TONY. THANK YOU, MR. COGAN. I'LL EXCUSE YOU FOR THOSE QUESTIONS.
OK? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ON THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
YOU ALL DID SOME HEAVY LIFTING HERE.
IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A THANKLESS JOB, BUT IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT JOB WITH RESPECT TO THE CITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE FOR THAT.
SO OPEN FORUM, MR. WELLS. NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR OPEN FORUM.
SO NEXT UP, WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER SOME ITEMS FOR APPROVAL BY CONSENT.
[CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT]
CITY MANAGER JIMMY STATHATOS THANK YOU, MAYOR.THANK YOU. COUNCIL, THERE ARE TWO ITEMS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THE FIRST ITEM IS THE JANUARY 11TH, 2021 REGULAR MEETING COUNCIL MINUTES.
AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM IS TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A TWO YEAR AGREEMENT WITH HUB INTERNATIONAL IN THE AMOUNT OF FORTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO PROVIDE BENEFIT BROKERAGE AND CONSULTING SERVICES FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. THE CITY INITIALLY ENTERED INTO CONTRACT WITH HUB IN FEBRUARY OF 2017, AND SO THIS IS BASICALLY A RENEWAL.
IT'S AN INCREASE OF FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS OVER THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS APPROVED ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO. THANK YOU, JIMMY.
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, MOTIONS? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER, A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
OKAY. EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANYONE OPPOSED? OK, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU, STAFF. NEW BUSINESS ITEM THREE WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE
[3. Consider an ordinance authorizing amendments to the adopted annual budget of the City of Bedford, Texas for the fiscal period of October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022; providing for intra-fund and/or intra-departmental transfers; providing for investment of idle funds; and declaring an effective date.]
AUTHORIZING AMENDMENTS TO THE ADOPTED ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS, FOR THE FISCAL PERIOD OF OCTOBER ONE, 2021.THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022 PROVIDING FOR INTRA FUND AND OR INTER-DEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS, PROVIDING FOR INVESTMENT OF VITAL FUNDS AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND I SEE STRATEGIC SERVICES MANAGER MEG JAKUBIK.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO YES, TONIGHT WE DO HAVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN FRONT OF YOU.
THIS IS RELATED TO AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED BY THE STREET ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE 4B FUND.
THE AMENDMENTS WERE BROUGHT TO THE 4B BOARD AT THEIR MEETING LAST TUESDAY AND WERE APPROVED. BUT OF COURSE, AS IT DOES INCLUDE A BUDGET AMENDMENT, IT THEREFORE COMES TO COUNCIL NEXT AND SO ON.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR HERE.
ALSO, IF YOU'VE GOT SPECIFICS THAT I CAN'T ANSWER ABOUT THE PROJECTS, WOULD YOU? WOULD YOU MIND IF, JUST FOR THE RECORD, IF SHE JUST DETAILED WHAT THOSE ITEMS ARE?
[01:20:10]
SO WE'RE 4B. THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT WERE NOT ADDRESSED IN THE 4B BUDGET.YOU'RE BRINGING THOSE HERE TO US TONIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. THOSE ITEMS ARE SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR RESIDENTIAL STREET PAVING.
350 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE ENGINEERING OF TWO STREETS THAT ARE GOING TO BE RECONSTRUCTED. ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR STREET ASSESSMENT.
AND 520 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION OF WALTER STREET.
AND PARTICIPATION WITH THE TARRANT COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FOR A TOTAL OF ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND THESE ARE ALL ADDS TO THE 4B BUDGET.
AND SO WE ARE NOT COMPROMISING ANYTHING TO ADD THESE ITEMS. WE'RE NOT TAKING ANYTHING OFF THE LIST TO ADD THESE ITEMS TO THE LIST.
COUNCIL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, MOTIONS? WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER.
WE HAVE A FUNNY FACE TO THE SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
ANY COMMENTS? OK, LET'S VOTE EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY ONE OPPOSE? NO. OK, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
THANK YOU, MARY. THANK YOU, CHERYL. THANK YOU.
CHERYL AVENUE THANK YOU FOR THAT.
[4. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to utilize the City of Grand Prairie’s contract with Reynolds Asphalt and Construction Company in the amount of $1,050,000 for the 2022 Pavement Resurfacing Services Project through the Master Interlocal Cooperative Purchasing Agreement.]
OK. ITEM FOUR WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO UTILIZE THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE'S CONTRACT WITH REYNOLDS ASPHALT AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE 2022 PAVEMENT RESURFACING SERVICES PROJECT THROUGH THE MASTER INTER LOCAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT. AND WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CHERYL TAYLOR.OK, THIS ITEM IS FOR THE PAVING OF THE FISCAL YEAR 21-22 RESIDENTIAL STREETS AS APPROVED BY THE STREET IMPROVEMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, PER THE FIVE YEAR PLAN.
THESE ARE THE RESIDENTIAL STREETS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSED THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THE BLUE AND MAROON STREETS ON THE SCREEN ARE THE ONES THAT ARE LISTED FOR MELLON OVERLAY AND FOLD UP RECLAMATION THAT WILL BE, EXCUSE ME, THERE WILL BE REPAVED BY REYNOLDS ASPHALT WITH THIS CONTRACT.
OK, COUNCIL? ARE YOU GOING TO BE A FIRST? OK? WE HAVE A FIRST APPROVED COUNCILMAN GAGLIARDI, A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALMENDAREZ. OK, LET'S VOTE EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.
ITEM FIVE CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CITY MANAGER TO UTILIZE THE CITY OF NORTH
[5. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to utilize the City of North Richland Hills Water and Wastewater Repair Material Contract with Atlas Utility Supply Company in an amount not to exceed $111,000 through the Master Interlocal Cooperative Purchasing Agreement.]
RICHLAND HILLS WATER AND WASTEWATER REPAIR MATERIAL CONTRACT WITH ATLAS UTILITY SUPPLY CO. IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 111 THOUSAND DOLLARS THROUGH THE MASTER INTER LOCAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT.PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CHERYL TAYLOR.
THANK YOU. THIS ITEM IS TO ALLOW STAFF TO PURCHASE WATER AND WASTEWATER MATERIALS FROM ATLAS UTILITY SUPPLY COMPANY AT BID PRICES RATHER THAN PAYING RETAIL PRICES.
WE'RE PLANNING TO STOCK A SMALL AMOUNT OF INVENTORY TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AND BE PREPARED TO DO OUR DAILY WORK OR MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO BE REACTIVE.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BUY SUCH THINGS AS WASTEWATER PIPES, VALVE BOXES, GATE VALVES, MANHOLES AND FIRE HYDRANTS.
THAT TYPE OF THING. IN THE PAST, WE'D HAVE TO SCRAMBLE.
WE'D HAVE TO BORROW THIS STUFF FROM OTHER CITIES BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE IT IN STOCK.
IS THAT RIGHT? OR WE WOULD GO PURCHASE IT TO DO OUR WORK.
ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. YES, WE'D GO DOWN TO DOLLAR GENERAL AND GET WHATEVER WE NEEDED.
COUNCIL, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, MOTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN, A MOTION.
FIRST TO APPROVE. COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN.
CAN I MAKE A COMMENT? I'M GOING TO GIVE THE SECOND TO MAYOR.
OH, YOU HAD A COMMENT? YES, ALMOST.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHERYL, FOR BEING PROACTIVE AND NOT REACTIVE.
THANK YOU. AND IF WE COULD GET FIRE DEPARTMENT NOT TO HAVE TO BUY THEIR OWN HELMETS, THAT'D BE NICE, TOO. YEAH, STAFF.
OK, DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO APPROVE? I'D LIKE TO SECOND. SECOND FOR COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
ANY OPPOSE? [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
BACK IN THE DAY, I USED TO TALK ABOUT WE WOULD GET DUCT TAPE TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE REPAIRS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING.
WE'RE PAST THAT THOUGH, RIGHT? GOOD. GOOD. OK.
ITEM SIX CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS, APPROVING THE AMERICAN
[6. Consider a resolution of the City of Bedford, Texas approving the American Rescue Plan Act Appropriation Plan; and recognizing and appropriating expenditures within the Fiscal Year 2022 Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Budget.]
RESCUE PLAN ACT APPROPRIATION PLAN AND RECOGNIZING AND APPROPRIATING EXPENDITURES WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 CORONAVIRUS LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND BUDGET.THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL THERE'S THREE PRIMARY ITEMS. THE FIRST ITEM DEALS WITH IT IN TERMS OF SECURITY.
IT'S FIREWALL HARDWARE REPLACEMENT.
WE BASICALLY HAVE NOT HAD AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF PROTECTION, AS YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL BY
[01:25:04]
SOME OF THE SPAM AND PHISHING.SO THIS WILL BRING US UP TO SPEED WITH.
YEAH, NO ONE. ANSWER AN EMAIL FROM THE MAYOR OR FROM WHOEVER HACKED THE MAYOR'S ACCOUNT, NOT THE MAYOR, BUT DON'T ENCOURAGE ANYWAY.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE GOOD NOW, NO PRESSURE.
AND SO. THEY'VE BEEN HACKED FOUR TIMES.
WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION ON THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY NEEDED, IF NOTHING ELSE, TO BRING US UP TO WHERE WE SHOULD BE, QUITE FRANKLY.
THE NEXT ITEM IS STREET EQUIPMENT.
AND JUST TO MAKE SURE I DON'T BUTCHER THE NAME, IT'S THE ECONOLINE COBALT CONTROLLERS.
AND BASICALLY, IT'LL ALLOW US TO SYNCHRONIZE TRAFFIC SIGNALS BY USING THIS WEB BASED SYSTEM. AND IT'LL WORK WITH OUR ALERTING SYSTEM LIKE AN OPTIC FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR UPGRADE AND IT'S EXPANDABLE, IF YOU WILL, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN THE NEXT ITEM IS A STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY SERVICE AS PER COUNCIL'S DIRECTION. WE HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE INVOLVED WITH THE RESIDENTS, GETTING FEEDBACK, GETTING INPUT AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DO A LOT OF COMPREHENSIVE SURVEYS AND INCLUDING ONE ABOUT HOW TO SPEND ARPA FUNDS IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND BY AT LEAST HAVING THAT ONE, IT MAKES IT QUALIFY AS AN ARPA PROJECT.
BUT THAT'S THE THIRD ITEM, AND WE'VE GOT OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE'RE THIS CLOSE TO BRING TO YOU ALL, BUT WE'RE JUST VETTING THEM AND GETTING FINAL PRICING.
THOSE ARE ALL THREE FOR TONIGHT.
SO WHAT IS ARPA? ONCE AGAIN, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, IT WAS FEDERAL FUNDS, BASICALLY COVID FUNDS THAT WERE ALLOCATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE CITY.
I'M SORRY. SO THEIR USE IS SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED? YES, SIR, WE GET INSTRUCTIONS OR GUIDANCE BY THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, AND IT DEALS WITH EVERYTHING FROM EXPANDING PARK OPPORTUNITIES TO DEALING WITH BEING ABLE TO HAVE AN ADEQUATE PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE TO PANDEMIC TYPE LIKE COVID.
AND THEN ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS IS DEALING WITH IT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE WORD CYBERSECURITY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
OK, VERY GOOD. OKAY, COUNCIL, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER.
WE'VE GOT A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
LET'S VOTE. EVERYONE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANYONE OPPOSE? OK, THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, STAFF. ITEM SEVEN, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
[7. Consider a resolution of the City Council of the City of Bedford, Texas, ordering a general election to be held on Saturday, May 7, 2022 for the purpose of electing persons to City Council, Place 3 and Place 5, with a term to expire May 2025; authorizing a contract for election services with Tarrant County; and establishing the dates and times for early voting for such election.]
BEDFORD, TEXAS, ORDERING A GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 7TH, 2022, FOR[8. Mayor/Council Member Reports]
THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING PERSONS TO CITY COUNCIL PLACE THREE AND PLACE FIVE WITH A TERM TO EXPIRE MAY 2025.AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT FOR ELECTION SERVICES WITH TARRANT COUNTY AND ESTABLISHING THE DATES AND TIMES FOR EARLY VOTING FOR SUCH ELECTION.
EXCUSE ME, YES, MAYOR COUNCIL.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS ITEM IS TO FORMALLY ORDER THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR MAY 7TH, 2022 IN ORDER TO ELECT PERSONS TO PLACE THREE AND PLACE FIVE ON THE COUNCIL.
FILING FOR THOSE PLACES BEGAN LAST WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19TH, AND WILL RUN UNTIL FRIDAY, FEBRUARY THE 18TH.
EARLY VOTING BEGINS MONDAY, APRIL 25TH, AND WILL RUN THROUGH TUESDAY, MAY THE 2ND.
THE MAIN EARLY VOTING SITE IN BEDFORD WILL BE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, THOUGH VOTERS CAN VOTE AT ANY TARRANT COUNTY EARLY VOTING LOCATION.
ELECTION DAY WILL BE FROM SEVEN A.M.
TO SEVEN P.M. SATURDAY, MAY THE 7TH.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE MAIN ELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATION BEDFORD BE THE [INAUDIBLE] CENTER, AS IT HAS BEEN IN YEARS PAST.
AS WITH EARLY VOTING, VOTERS CAN VOTE AT ANY TARRANT COUNTY ELECTION DAY LOCATION, AND WE DID HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ABOUT WHY DON'T WE JUST HAVE EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY AT THE LIBRARY, AND THEY WERE NOT AMENABLE TO THAT.
THEY SAY THEY HAVE EVENTS OUT THERE FOR TO DRAW PEOPLE FOR FOR ELECTION DAY, SO THEY WERE NOT AMENABLE TO THAT CHANGE.
NOW, ONE KIND OF UNUSUAL THING ABOUT THE ELECTION THIS YEAR IS THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TWO STATE CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOTS, AND SO THE TARRANT COUNTY MAY OPEN UP ALL THEIR VOTES IN HER LOCATIONS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE LIBRARY.
SO WE MIGHT HAVE IT AT BOTH LOCATIONS.
I'LL PROBABLY FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION, ACTUALLY.
WE HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM TOMORROW.
QUESTIONS? OK. COUNCIL, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, MOTIONS? I'D LIKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? COUNCIL MEMBER ALMENDAREZ? SO BEING RECENTLY ELECTED AND WELL, NOT AS RECENTLY AS MR. STEVES, BUT WE DID ENCOUNTER SOME ISSUES WHEN DAN AND I WERE RUNNING.
[01:30:05]
AND I WAS WONDERING IF THOSE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AND WILL THERE BE CHANGES BECAUSE I REMEMBER IT WAS VERY VISIBLE WHEN WE'D GO TO VOTE.YOU COULD SEE EVERYBODY'S VOTE AS YOU'RE STANDING IN LINE WAITING.
SO WE WILL NOT BE UTILIZING THE SAME ELECTION PERSONNEL DURING THAT ELECTION.
WE HAD A BLESSING OF HAVING THE SAME ELECTION PEOPLE FOR A LONG TIME.
THAT'S CORRECT UNTIL MOST RECENTLY.
AND YOU SPECIFICALLY MADE SOME PHONE CALLS ON THAT.
YEAH, THAT THAT SHOULD NOT EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
THAT'S ALL I HAD. QUOTE UNQUOTE SHOULD NOT.
GOT TO PUT A QUALIFIER IN THERE.
ANYTHING ELSE? SO DID I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI? GIVE THE SECOND TO COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER.
OK, EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANYONE OPPOSED? OK, THAT'S UNANIMOUS AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.
I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO GO OVER.
JANUARY 20 SIX FROM 8-9:30 A.M.
JOIN BEDFORD POLICE OFFICERS ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26TH AT WOOD AND GRAIN BISTRO AT 1424 AIRPORT FREEWAY TO HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND ENJOY A CUP OF COFFEE.
MORNINGS WITH THE MAYOR. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH MAYOR BOYTER WILL PROVIDE SOME UPDATES ON CITY NEWS AND RESIDENTS CAN HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS ADDRESSED IN A ONE ON ONE DISCUSSION.
SMOOCHES WITH POOCHES JOIN BEDFORD PARKS AND REC AT THE BEDFORD BARK PARK 3200 MEADOW PARK DRIVE FROM 1-3 P.M.
ON SATURDAY, FEB. 12TH, FOR SMOOCHES WITH POOCHES.
THAT IS SO SAD TO MAKE ME SAY THAT SMOOCHES AND SMOOCHES WITH POOCHES WILL FEATURE VALENTINE PHOTO AREAS AND PET AND HUMAN GIVEAWAYS AND MORE.
I SEE THIS NOTE ON THE OK, SO WE'VE GOT MURDER MYSTERY DINNERS TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE AT TURNING POINT BEER AT 1307 BROWN TRAIL.
FEBRUARY 26TH IS GOING TO BE FROM 6-8:30 P.M.
FEB. 27TH WILL BE FROM 1:30-4.
THE CITY ON STAGE IN BEDFORD AND TURNING POINT BEER ARE TEAMING UP TO HOST THE FIRST MURDER MYSTERY DINNER.
MURDEROUS CROSSING, WRITTEN BY DAVID LANDAU AND PRESENTED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH CONCORD THEATRICALS.
TICKETS INCLUDE A FULL COURSE MEAL CATERED BY CAFE CECILIA AND TWO DRINKS.
OVER THE COURSE OF TWO HOURS PARTICIPANTS WILL BECOME SLEUTHS AS THEY TRY AND PUT TOGETHER CLUES TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF WHODUNIT.
I WANT TO SAY YUTES, YOU KNOW, MY COUSIN VINNY.
OK, MR. WHODUNIT, ALL WHILE ENJOYING A THREE COURSE MEAL.
THE THEME FOR THE EVENING IS 1920S AND ERA APPROPRIATE DRESSES.
I DO NOT HAVE 1920S DRESS, SO I DON'T.
WHERE AM I GOING TO GET 1920S DRESS? AMAZON. OK. TICKETS ARE $35 FOR INDIVIDUALS OVER 21 AND $20 FOR UNDER 21.
TO REGISTER, PLEASE GO TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE, WW.BEDFORDTX.GOV.
OK, THAT'S ALL I HAD ON THURSDAY.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS JIMMY STATHATOS.
[9. City Manager/Staff Reports]
THANK YOU. I WAS HOPING YOU WEREN'T GOING TO STEAL MY THUNDER, MAYOR, BUT AGAIN, IN THE SPIRIT OF CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT, WE'VE GOT THREE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE AND FOR US TO ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC.THURSDAY NIGHT WE HAVE A TOWN HALL MEETING TO DISCUSS OPERATIONS FOR GENERATION PARK, FOR THE CENTER AND THE AQUATIC CENTER.
IT'LL BE THURSDAY NIGHT IN THIS ROOM AT SIX O'CLOCK, SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME THAT WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION AND PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK.
THEN WE HAVE ON FEBRUARY 15TH, THAT'S A TUESDAY NIGHT AT SIX O'CLOCK.
WE HAVE ANOTHER TOWN HALL MEETING TO GATHER FEEDBACK ABOUT THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER PROPOSED PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
IT'D BE AN OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE REALLY AT THE END OF THE ROAD WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO GET FEEDBACK TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND ONE THING I WANT TO STRESS IS THAT IF YOU, YOU KNOW, THESE MEETINGS WILL BE TELEVISED, THEY WON'T BE ON FACEBOOK LIVE, BUT THEY'LL BE ON OUR WEBSITE.
IF YOU, YOU KNOW, WATCH THESE AND YOU HAVE FEEDBACK, SEND IN SOME FEEDBACK.
EMAIL ME, EMAIL MOLLY, EMAIL ONE OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
HOWEVER, WE CAN GET FEEDBACK SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO BE HEARD.
BUT IF YOU ARE, THEN IT WILL BE INSTANTLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE FEEDBACK CONSIDERED. SO ANYWAY.
AND THEN FINALLY, WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, MOST LIKELY THIS FRIDAY, THE CITIZEN SURVEY, THE FIRST ONE THAT'S BEEN DONE IN SEVERAL YEARS, WILL BE GOING OUT, AND I'M VERY EXCITED.
IT GATHERS INPUT FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF ASPECTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
[01:35:01]
AND SO PLEASE BE CANDID AND GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK BECAUSE WE WANT TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE YOU. SO THAT IS ALL I HAVE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.THANK YOU. OK, SO ALSO WE HAVE AN UPDATE AND FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSED MASTER DRAINAGE PLAN. YES.
THANK YOU, SIR. I GOT CARRIED AWAY WITH THE DATES THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE MAIN THING.
I WAS TRYING TO KNOCK THE OTHERS OUT FIRST.
YOU DID EXCELLENT AT IT. YEAH.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME.
THIS IS AN ITEM THAT COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES QUITE FRANKLY HAD REQUESTED.
IF YOU ALL REMEMBER, IF THE PUBLIC RECALLS DURING THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DRAINAGE IMPACT FEE, IF YOU WILL.
WE HAD TALKED ABOUT DOING A DRAINAGE STUDY, AND SO I'D LIKE TO ASK CHERYL TAYLOR, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, TO COME FORWARD.
WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ACTUALLY PULLING THAT FORWARD.
BUT BEFORE CHERYL BEGINS, I WANT TO SEE SINCE COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES HAD REQUESTED IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING BEFORE WE KIND OF KICK IT OFF, SIR.
NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT, BUT I THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS BECAUSE LAST MEETING WE HAD, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERNS AND ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA.
SO THANK YOU FOR MOVING IT AHEAD ON THE AGENDA.
CHERYL, IF YOU COULD, AS YOU ALL KNOW, CHERYL IS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER LICENSED BY THE STATE AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF AND BEDFORD RESIDENT.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DISCUSSIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE HAD BECAUSE THE DRAINAGE STUDY IS ACTUALLY IN A FUTURE FISCAL YEAR? BUT CAN YOU KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING IT FORWARD? AND THEN ALSO SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TO LOOK AT THE DRAINAGE CONCERNS, QUITE FRANKLY, IN THE RUSTIC WOOD SUBDIVISION IN TERMS OF THERE WAS A STUDY THAT WAS DONE IN TWO THOUSAND TWO AND THEN ALL KIND OF JUST SET THE TABLE FOR YOU.
THAT STUDY THAT THE CITY MANAGER WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS DONE IN 2002, IT EVALUATED THE CAPACITY OF THE CHANNEL THROUGH THERE AT THAT TIME, AND WHAT WAS DETERMINED WAS THAT THE CAPACITY OF THE CHANNEL ITSELF WAS SUFFICIENT FOR THE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.
SO IT WAS SIZED APPROPRIATELY AND THERE WAS ENOUGH CAPACITY THAT THE HUNDRED YEAR STORM WOULD STAY WITHIN THE CHANNEL BANKS.
TODAY, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE A DRAINAGE ENGINEER GO OUT AND DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CHANNEL ITSELF.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, FROM WHAT I FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, FROM THE DISCUSSIONS, FROM THE RESIDENTS, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY CAPACITY THE SIZE, THE THE ABILITY FOR THE CHANNEL TO HOLD THE WATER. IT'S MORE OF AN EROSION ISSUE.
HOWEVER, THERE'S I MEAN, WE COULD GO OUT THERE AND HAVE SOMEBODY ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT IT IS TRULY AN EROSION ISSUE.
MAYBE WHAT'S CAUSING IT AND SOME POTENTIAL OPTIONS FOR REDUCING OR I GUESS, REDUCING IT.
I MEAN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, IT'S A NATURAL CHANNEL.
AND IF WE WERE TO DECIDE TODAY THAT WE WANTED IT TO BE A CONCRETE CHANNEL, THAT'S NOT EVEN A POSSIBILITY.
THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS WOULD NOT ALLOW THAT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO AT THIS POINT.
BUT THERE ARE, I MEAN, THERE COULD BE SOME OPTIONS FOR REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF EROSION OR I GUESS REDUCING THE AMOUNT AND PREVENTING ADDITIONAL EROSION IN THE FUTURE.
WHEN THE CHANNELS ARE NATURAL, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.
THEY THEY DO ERODE EVENTUALLY, BUT YOU CAN DO.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PUT SOME SORT OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THERE TO SLOW IT DOWN.
SO THE 2002 STUDY, WAS THAT DONE IN HOUSE OR WAS THAT DID THAT INVOLVE A THIRD PARTY? IT WAS A THIRD PARTY ENGINEER.
OK. AND THEN SO ALL THAT WAS TO EVALUATE ITS ABILITY TO HANDLE A 100 YEAR FLOOD EVENT.
THAT WAS IT. OK, SO NOTHING WAS DONE OFF OF THAT STUDY.
THERE WAS NO ACTION CREATED AS A RESULT OF IT.
THE STUDY CONFIRMED THAT THE CHANNEL WAS SUFFICIENT.
SO IF WE WERE TO DO A THIRD PARTY ASSESSMENT, HOW LONG WOULD THAT TAKE? I WOULD SAY MAYBE AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS A FEW YEARS OUT TO DO MORE OF A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. WITH THE STORM WATER FEE THAT WAS DETERMINED BY LISTING SEVERAL PROJECTS AND THE DRAINAGE ASSESSMENT OR THE DRAINAGE STUDY WAS ONE THAT WAS PUSHED FURTHER OUT.
THE OTHER THREE PROJECTS THAT WERE IN THE EARLIER YEARS ARE ALL AFFECTED BY THE FEMA MAPS. THE FEMA MAPS ARE STILL PRELIMINARY, AND DEPENDING ON IF FEMA MAKES ANY CHANGES TO THE MAPS AND THE ELEVATIONS IT WOULD BE, WE WOULD BE A LITTLE EARLY IN TRYING TO GET
[01:40:05]
THOSE PROJECTS DONE BECAUSE THEIR DRAINAGE FLOWS ARE WAY HIGHER THAN OURS.AND IF WE WERE TO BUILD BASED ON THE FLOWS AND THE CALCULATIONS THEY HAVE TODAY, WE COULD POTENTIALLY BE OVER SIZING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUTTING A LOT OF MONEY WHERE WE DON'T NEED TO BE. SO BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO PUT THOSE OFF, WE COULD MOVE THAT DRAINAGE STUDY.
SO WE'VE ALREADY HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH FEMA.
THEY ARE COMING OUT WITH NEW MAPS? RIGHT. AND WE'RE STILL IN THE MUD.
WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF TALKING THROUGH THOSE FINDINGS.
RIGHT. STAFF IS SUBMITTED TO FEMA OUR CONCERNS WITH THEIR MODELING AND WITH THEIR MAPPING. AND WE ASK THEM QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED THAT WE WOULD LIKE CLARIFIED.
AND WHAT THEY'VE TOLD US IS, THANK YOU, WE'VE RECEIVED YOUR INPUT.
OK, CLASSIC RESPONSE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
OK, SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THAT PART OF THE MONEY THAT'S IN THE WATER BILL IS GOING TO BE PUT INTO DOING A MORE COMPREHENSIVE DRAINAGE STUDY OR A WASTEWATER STUDY THAT'S A FEW YEARS OUT.
SO BY US POTENTIALLY ASKING FOR LIKE A THIRD PARTY ASSESSMENT NOW OF THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF JUMP THE GUN A LITTLE BIT TO KIND OF GET A HEAD START ON SEEING WHAT WE HAVE.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A THIRD PARTY ASSESSMENT TO ASSESS THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF THAT WATERSHED OVER THERE.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY, COUNCIL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YOU'RE LOOKING FOR DIRECTION HERE? IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR, I WOULD.
WE WANT TO BRING THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO YOU ALL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL ARE AMENABLE TO THAT INSTEAD OF US JUST PUTTING ON AN AGENDA. SO WE'RE TALKING 30 DAYS WHERE IT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL OR WHAT DO YOU THINK, CHERYL? 30-45.
YES. THANK YOU. OKAY, EVERYONE IN AGREEMENT THERE.
I WOULD LOVE THE MOTION TO ADJOURN.
I'LL TAKE THAT AS WE NEED TO GO WITH THE STUDY.
MAYOR PRO TEM SABOL? CHERYL, HOW FAR OUT WITH THAT STUDY GO? IF IT'S THAT AREA OF THE CITY, WOULD IT JUST BE THAT CHANNEL? IT DEPENDS ON HOW LARGE THAT WATERSHED IS.
OK. WE'RE ESSENTIALLY TALKING NORTH OF HARWOOD.
WE'RE TALKING FOREST ROAD, CUMMINGS, TOO.
I BELIEVE IT'S COMING. SO IF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS AN ASSESSMENT OF THE AREA IN QUESTION AND WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE NEEDS IN THAT AREA.
OK, THEN, YES, THAT IT WOULD JUST BE THOSE SMALL LIMITS FOR THIS INITIAL ASSESSMENT, AND THEY WOULD JUST TELL US WHAT'S WRONG IF ANYTHING IS WRONG, AND THEN THEY WOULD TELL US HOW TO IMPROVE WITH THE STUDY.
OK. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS AS COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER, THIS IS THERE WAS A COMPREHENSIVE WATERSHED PLAN; RIGHT? A COMPREHENSIVE DRAINAGE DRAINAGE STUDY PLAN PLANNED FOR 2023.
SO THAT'S STILL GOING TO STAY ON THE BOOKS, CORRECT? IT IS. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS GOING TO DO IS MOVE UP THIS THIS PORTION OF IT JUST WANTING TO BE CLEAR ON IT? YEAH, THANKS. OK, WE GENERAL AGREEMENT.
I DON'T KNOW. COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO NEXT? I WOULD LOVE THE MOTION TO ADJOURN.
OK? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER.
EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OK, THAT'S YOU KNOW, 7-0.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, THANK YOU, STAFF.
WE ADJOURN AT 7:44.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.