Feb 17, 2022 Town Hall Meeting

[00:00:01]

GOOD. OK, AT SIX O'CLOCK, I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE, THIS IS THE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH

[CALL TO ORDER / GENERAL COMMENTS]

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME.

AGAIN, I'LL MAKE THE COMMENT THAT CLEARLY Y'ALL DON'T HAVE A LIFE JUST LIKE WE DON'T HAVE A LIFE IF YOU'RE UP HERE ON THURSDAY NIGHT.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO REACH OUT AND GET INPUT AND SOLICIT YOUR OPINION, YOUR IDEAS GOOD OR BAD.

THIS IS ANOTHER IN A CONTINUATION TO DO THAT.

SO ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT Y'ALL ARE TAKING THE TIME TO COME GIVE US Y'ALL'S FEEDBACK. SO TONIGHT, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THIS CONVERSATION IS THAT IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A FREE FLOW CONVERSATION I BELIEVE.

WE'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY.

WE ALSO HAVE WE HAVE HAD AN ARCHITECT WHO'S BEEN ASSISTING WITH JUST KIND OF CONCEPTS, IDEAS OF POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT, WHAT TO DO AND WHAT THOSE POSSIBILITIES ARE.

I WILL SAY THAT THERE WHAT WE WHAT I BELIEVE IS GOING TO BE PRESENTED TONIGHT IS REALLY JUST A SET OF IDEAS OF WHAT THOSE POSSIBILITIES ARE, JUST BASED ON CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE ARCHITECT AND OTHER MEMBERS OF STAFF AND OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

NOTHING THAT'S GOING TO BE SHOWN TONIGHT IS PERMANENT, BUT WHAT THE MY UNDERSTANDING AND JENNY, YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS TO SPUR CONVERSATION. THIS IS TO GIVE US SOMETHING IN THE WAY OF A LAUNCHING POINT TO SEEK NEXT STEPS AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.

SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT.

[Presentation and discussion regarding the Performing Arts Center.]

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

AS THE MAYOR SAID, IF EVERYTHING HAD BEEN DECIDED, WE WOULDN'T NEED TO MEET TONIGHT.

SO WE WANT SINCERE FEEDBACK.

THIS IS A RESULT.

IF ANYONE WAS AT THAT COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WAS A COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WAS ASSEMBLED THAT MET WITH THE CONSULTANTS, THE ARCHITECTS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT SEVERAL TIMES TO KIND OF GO THROUGH MANY STREETS TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS THE BEST FIT AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS BASED ON FEEDBACK.

BUT AGAIN, IT WAS TO ESTABLISH A DIALOG.

THE ENTIRE COUNCIL DID NOT BLESS IT OR PROVE IT OR ANYTHING.

IT WAS A MATTER OF TO GET THE BALL MOVING AND PROVOKE CONVERSATION.

I WANT TO.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TO KIND OF SET THE TABLE THAT I THINK ARE VERY CRITICAL AS A FOUNDATION.

AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER. I'LL HAVE BRW, THE ARCHITECTS COME FORWARD FOR THE PRESENTATION. OK, I'M GOING TO READ THIS JUST IN CASE EVERYONE CAN'T SEE IT.

I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE FUNDS THAT THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING IN TERMS OF HOW AND HOW TO ALLOCATE WERE APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN 2017.

AND SO I WANT TO READ THE ACTUAL WORDING THAT WAS ON THE BALLOT.

AND PARDON ME, IF YOU'RE CLOSE ENOUGH TO READ IT, I JUST DON'T WANT TO.

I WANT EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE WE ALL HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION TO OPERATE ON.

SHALL THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS, BE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OF THE CITY IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $70 MILLION FOR PERMANENT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND PUBLIC PURPOSES? TO WIT, CONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING, RENOVATING AND EQUIPPING PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES, INCLUDING BALL FIELD IMPROVEMENTS, AQUATIC CENTER IMPROVEMENTS, MULTIPURPOSE EVENT FACILITIES, IMPROVEMENTS AND OTHER RELATED IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE.

THIS INCLUDES THE ACQUISITION OF LAND THEREFOR SUCH BONDS TO MATURE SARAH SERIALLY OR OTHERWISE OVER A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 40 YEARS FROM THEIR DATE, TO BE ISSUED AND SOLD IN ONE OR MORE SERIES AT ANY PRICE OR PRICES.

AND TO BEAR INTEREST AT ANY RATE OR RATES, WHETHER IT'S FIXED, FLOATING VARIABLE OR OTHERWISE, AS SHALL BE DETERMINED A MOTION WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME OF ISSUANCE FOR SALE OR SALE OF THE BONDS, AND WHETHER AD VALOREM TAXES SHALL BE LEVIED UPON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE CITY.

SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE ANNUAL INTEREST AND PROVIDE A SINKING FUND TO PAY THE BONDS AND MATURITY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND AND STATE THAT BECAUSE WHILE NOTHING HAS BEEN DECIDED, PART OF THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DISCUSSIONS IS TO HAVE AT LEAST A MULTI-PURPOSE VENUE THAT CAN BENEFIT THE WIDEST VARIETY OF RESIDENTS.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE USED AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.

AND SO THE BROADER THE TARGET OF BENEFICIARIES, IF YOU WILL.

HOPEFULLY, THE MORE IT'S UTILIZED, QUITE FRANKLY.

AGAIN, ULTIMATELY, ALL THOSE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

BUT I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT THE BACKDROP IS FOR SOME OF THE THOUGHTS GOING FORWARD. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE REVENUE SOURCES.

WE ALREADY HAVE FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS GIVE OR TAKE IN AND IN SAVINGS, AND I SAY

[00:05:03]

I MEAN, THERE'S SOME ACCRUED INTERESTS.

WE SPENT SOME MONEY ON THE ARCHITECT TO GET US TO THIS POINT, SO IT'S GIVE OR TAKE FIVE AND A HALF MILLION. SO WE ALREADY HAVE THAT MONEY SET ASIDE IN THE EVENT THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO DO SOMETHING UP AND ABOVE THAT IN TERMS OF INCREASE THE SCOPE, MODIFY SOMETHING, ANYTHING THAT WOULD INCREASE THE COST OVER THAT AMOUNT.

THESE ARE VERY AND AGAIN, THESE ARE POSSIBILITIES.

THIS IS NOT A FORMAL RECOMMENDATION OR A MAYOR AND COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT.

I SIMPLY WANTED TO GIVE SOME POTENTIAL REVENUE STREAMS THAT COULD BE USED IF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS SO CHOOSE.

HOTEL MOTEL FUNDS, WE OBVIOUSLY COLLECT HOTEL MOTEL FUNDS EVERY YEAR ON HOTEL STAYS.

AND SO IT COULD BE A MATTER OF SETTING ASIDE CASH EACH YEAR.

IT COULD BE A MATTER OF USING SOME OF THOSE ANNUAL REVENUES TO BACKSTOP ANY BONDS THAT WERE ISSUED ONLY FOR HOTEL MOTEL FEES.

I MEAN, IT WOULDN'T AFFECT PROPERTY TAXES.

OBVIOUSLY, TERS FUNDS WITH TERS DISTRICTS, YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE TERS FUNDS OUTSIDE OF THE TOURIST BOUNDARIES IN MANY CASES.

BUT REGARDLESS, THE COUNCIL COULD EXPAND THE TERS THAT AND I WON'T GET TOO FAR IN THE WEEDS. THERE'S A TERS FOR THE BEDFORD COMMONS.

IT'S CALLED THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE.

SO BASICALLY THAT MEANS ANY IMPROVEMENTS OR ANYTHING THAT THAT MONEY IS USED ON IS ONLY PAID IN TERMS OF THE TAXES ARE ONLY PAID BY THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE WITHIN THAT BOUNDARY.

AND SO ANYONE IN HERE THAT DOESN'T ALREADY LIVE IN THE TERS, WHICH IS HIGHLY LIKELY ANYONE DOES IS NOT GOING TO BE PAYING FOR ANY OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.

IT'S STRICTLY THE MONEY THAT'S GENERATED WITHIN THAT AREA ACROSS THE STREET, THE FIRE STATIONS IN THERE, BUT IT'S NONTAXABLE.

BUT THAT AREA 80, 100 ACRES GIVE OR TAKE.

SO TERS FUNDS CAN BE USED ARPA FUNDS, THAT'S THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS.

THOSE ARE FUNDS THAT WERE GIVEN BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ALL LOCAL ENTITIES, COUNTIES AND CITIES THAT CAN BE USED FOR COVID RELATED.

IT WAS BASICALLY COVID FUNDS PART TWO.

WELL, FIRST OFF, THIS COULD BE JUSTIFIED FOR MANY REASONS.

FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE THAT AREA IS PARK AREA, SO PARK STUFF QUALIFIES.

BUT ALSO WE'RE ABLE TO USE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DISCRETION ON WHAT WE CAN USE THAT MONEY FOR.

UP TO THIS POINT, THE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL HAVE USED A LOT OF THE FUNDS.

I SAY A LOT OF THE FUNDS, THE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED, WHICH IS MINUSCULE COMPARED TO HOW MUCH WE HAVE HAS BEEN USED BECAUSE CANDIDLY, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS HAD SUBSTANDARD EQUIPMENT AND SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY THEY HAD WAS ANTIQUATED.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF PULL BACK THE CURTAIN ON SOME OF THE ALLOWABLE USES.

GRANTS, GRANTS ARE ANOTHER THING NOW.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY THROW GRANTS AROUND AS IF IT'S GOING TO BE THE END ALL, BE ALL.

THE REALITY IS IT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET, BUT IT IS ANOTHER REVENUE SOURCE AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY NO GUARANTEE.

AND THEN SURPLUS GENERAL FUNDS THE CITY HAS CONTINUOUSLY OUTPERFORMED IN TERMS OF WE'VE SPENT LESS AND WE'VE COLLECTED MORE IN TERMS OF LIKE SALES TAX, FOR EXAMPLE, ESPECIALLY.

AND SO WE ALWAYS HAVE SURPLUS FUNDS THAT CAN BE ALLOCATED.

AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ENDORSING THAT RECOMMENDING, BUT FOR ANYONE THAT SEES WHAT THE FUNDS WE HAVE VERSUS THE COSTS OF SOME OF THE SCOPE OF THE SCOPES OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS, I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK, WELL, WHY WOULD WE EVEN LOOK AT ANYTHING ABOVE FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS? WE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT.

WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE DONE IN PHASES, BUT AGAIN, MY JOB IS TO GIVE THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OPTIONS.

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE BRW.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S DREW OR WHO WILL BE SPEAKING TONIGHT, BUT IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME FORWARD WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.

WELCOME GUYS, LONG TIME, NO SEE.

HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING GOOD.

YOU KNOW, WITH BRW ARCHITECTS.

AND ANDREW ROBERTSON WITH BRW ARCHITECTS, AND WE'RE SWITCHING PRESENTATIONS.

OH GREAT, THANK YOU.

SO YES, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO TALK TO EVERYONE IN THIS DIRECTION.

SO I'LL START WITH WHERE WE BEGAN AT IDENTIFYING THE PURPOSE AND THE VISION FOR THIS PROJECT AND THE PURPOSE AS IT WAS DETERMINED, IS FOR, LIKE JIMMY SAID, MULTI-USE IN THE SENSE THAT WE WANT TO ACCOMMODATE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES, POTENTIAL MUSIC CONCERTS, VISUAL ART GALLERIES, EVENT SPACES, MAYBE A CONFERENCE CENTER AND OUTDOOR AMENITIES.

AND THEN THE OVERALL VISION FOR THE SITE, SO THIS IS BEYOND JUST A SINGULAR BUILDING, BUT LOOKING AT HOW WE COULD LEVERAGE THE SITE.

WE REALLY WANTED TO IDENTIFY THIS AS A CULTURAL ARTS IDENTITY.

SO IT'S A DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER PARK, PROJECT OR PARK WITHIN THE CITY.

[00:10:05]

AND WE WANTED TO COMPLEMENT THE FUTURE BEDFORD COMMONS SERVE AS A REVENUE GENERATOR AND BECOME A DESTINATION WITHIN BEDFORD.

AND SO WE KIND OF BOILED DOWN THESE THREE GOALS AS A CATALYST, ENERGY AND CULTURAL SHOWPIECE. SO OUR STRATEGY IS TO ACHIEVE SUCH A VISION ARE BROKEN DOWN HERE INTO KIND OF THREE MAJOR PARTS.

ONE IS PERFORMANCE VENUES, AND SO THERE'S A SERIES OF POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES THERE, INCLUDING CONFERENCE CENTERS AND DIFFERENT PERFORMING ARTS VENUES AND BLACK BOX THEATERS.

OUTDOOR GATHERING SPACES.

SO WE WANT THIS SITE TO BE USED NOT JUST ON A SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE, BUT HOW CAN IT BE UTILIZED BY THE CITIZENS AND OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY ON A DAILY BASIS, YEAR ROUND? WE DON'T WANT TO ONLY LIMIT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR USE JUST ON ONCE A WEEK TYPE OPPORTUNITIES. WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT SITE.

AND AGAIN, AS A UNIQUE SITE, AN OPPORTUNITY, WE WANTED TO INJECT ART AND ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT, SO AGAIN, AS A CULTURAL ARTS IDENTIFIER, WE WANT THIS TO BE UNIQUE IN THAT ASPECT. SO THEN WE BREAK THAT DOWN INTO SOME INSPIRATION IMAGES TO SHOW HOW THAT STRATEGY MIGHT BE EXECUTED IN A PERFORMING ARTS VENUE.

WE ARE SEEING IT AS SERVING MULTIPLE PURPOSES, SO ONE COULD BE A SPACE COULD BE TRANSFORMED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

HERE YOU'RE SEEING MORE OF A KIND OF A BANQUET SET UP, BUT THAT CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO A DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE SPACES.

AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE PERFORMANCE VENUES, WE CAN YOU SWITCH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE VENUES, WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THEATER AND MUSIC AND DANCE AND FILM.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

AND SO HOW DO WE MAKE THE BEST USE OF THIS SPACE THAT WE'RE PLANNING THAT BENEFITS THE CITY AS A WHOLE? AND SO AT THEIR CORE, A LOT OF THESE PERFORMANCE SPACES ARE ESSENTIALLY HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS. WE'RE TRYING TO ISOLATE SOUND FROM THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE, AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HEAR NOISE BLEED BETWEEN SPACES OR HAVE NOISE COME IN FROM THE OUTSIDE. WE WANT GOOD ACOUSTICAL SPACES FOR WHATEVER KIND OF PERFORMANCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. BUT WHEN WE START TO TALK ABOUT THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF PERHAPS MUSIC VERSUS DANCE VERSUS THEATER, THERE'S SOME MORE UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS THAT COME INTO THOSE TYPES OF SPACES. SO HOW DO WE PROVIDE THE MOST FLEXIBILITY FOR THESE PERFORMANCE VENUES AND WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH ADJUSTABLE ACOUSTICS, WHETHER THAT'S CURTAINS, WHETHER IT'S ACOUSTICAL BANNERS, WHETHER IT'S ACOUSTICAL WALL PANELS THAT ARE FLEXIBLE, WE CAN START TO TUNE THE SPACE FOR DIFFERENT PERFORMANCES, WHETHER IT'S THEATER OR MUSIC.

WHETHER IT'S LIGHTING AND PROVIDING THE MOST FLEXIBLE LIGHTING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH DIFFERENT RIGGING WITHIN THE SPACE, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE PROVIDE THE MOST FLEXIBLE SPACE FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD? SOME OF THAT COMES IN, I THOUGHT SHE STILL HAD IT, SORRY.

SOME OF THAT FLEXIBILITY COMES IN WITH RETRACTABLE SEATING, AND SO YOU CAN GO FROM A FROM A PERFORMANCE SPACE TO A GALLERY SPACE AND ACCOMMODATE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.

RETRACT THE SEATING AND IT BECOMES A BANQUET HALL AS WELL, SO THE RETRACTABLE SEATING WILL PROVIDE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY FOR THE SPACE.

TRADITIONALLY, PERFORMANCE SPACES HAVE BEEN MORE OPAQUE INTERNAL SPACES WITHIN BUILDINGS.

THE TREND IS MORE BRINGING IN MORE NATURAL LIGHT AND DAYLIGHTING INTO THESE TYPES OF SPACES. SO THE IMAGE YOU SEE HERE, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF INTRODUCTION OF GLAZING INTO THESE SPACES. AND WE CAN AGAIN, WHEN I TALK ABOUT SOUND BLEED FROM THE OUTSIDE, WE CAN TREAT THESE THESE WINDOWS WITH CERTAIN GLAZING TO STOP THAT SOUND FROM COMING INSIDE THE BUILDING. WE CAN TREAT THE LIGHT THE DAYLIGHTING WITH MOTORIZED BLACKOUT SHADES WITH LIGHT SEALS. IN THIS IMAGE, YOU SEE ACOUSTICAL CURTAINS THERE THAT ARE KIND OF STACKED BEYOND THE WINDOW THAT WILL ALSO HELP WITH SOME OF THAT LIGHT BLEED INTO THE SPACE.

SO THIS STARTS TO SHOW SOME OF THAT FLEXIBILITY OF THE SPACE WITH THE WITH THE SEATING DEPLOYED. AND THEN AGAIN, HOW THAT SPACE CHANGES ONCE THE SEATING IS RETRACTED.

SO BEYOND THE PERFORMANCE VENUES, THERE COULD BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONFERENCE CENTERS.

AND AGAIN, SERVING MULTIPLE PURPOSES CAN BE A DESTINATION FOR ENTITIES OUTSIDE BEDFORD.

[00:15:02]

SO HOW CAN WE ACTIVATE THAT WITH AN EVENTS LAWN SCALED AT DIFFERENT LEVELS TO ACHIEVE DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES? A GREAT PLACE TO JUST HANG OUT THERE COULD BE AN IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCE, LIKE YOU CAN SEE HERE IN THE BACKGROUND WITH A MUSICAL ACT AND PEOPLE JUST WALKING AROUND AND HANGING OUT.

WE CAN LOOK AT A LARGER EVENTS LAWN THAT'S YOU'VE GOT SOME GREAT TREES ON THE SITE THAT WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

KEEP THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN BECAUSE THEY ARE UNIQUE TO THE SITE.

CREATE GREAT SHADE OPPORTUNITIES.

AND THEN, AS I MENTIONED AS A CULTURAL ARTS IDENTITY, WE NEED TO INJECT ART THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT SO IT CAN BE LIKE HERE WE SAY, MORE INTIMATE MOMENTS, A DIFFERENT SCALE ALONG THE TRAIL, THROUGHOUT THE SITE.

WE COULD DO, WE COULD IMAGINE A LARGE BEACON THAT BECOMES THAT IDENTITY, A VISUAL IDENTITY FROM THE STREET, DIGITAL ART INTEGRATION THAT BECOMES INTERACTIVE AND KIND OF TAKES ON A DIFFERENT LIFE AT NIGHTTIME.

SIGNAGE AND BRANDING IS REALLY IMPORTANT, SO YOU'VE GOT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT ON AN OLD BEDFORD ROAD AND AGAIN, ACTIVATE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ON THAT STREET.

AND THAT SIGNAGE CAN BECOME A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, IT CAN BE VERY PLAYFUL, CREATE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY ON THIS SITE.

AND THEN AS I CALL THE INSTAGRAM MOMENTS, EVERYBODY LIKES TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THEMSELVES FOR WHATEVER REASON.

SO LET'S GIVE THEM A GREAT BACKGROUND AND THEY CAN TAG THIS SITE IN YOUR CITY.

SO I THINK IT'S A REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY.

ENGAGE, AGAIN KIDS OF ALL AGES LIKE TO DO THIS, SO LET'S GIVE THEM A SPACE TO DO IT.

IT'S A DRAW TO COME GET YOUR PHOTO TAKEN THERE AGAIN, ACTIVATING THAT SITE, DAY AROUND YEAR ROUND. EVERYBODY LOVES FOOD AND FOOD TRUCKS ARE A GREAT WAY AGAIN TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE SITE SO THEY CAN BE SCHEDULED EVENTS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AREA, THE LAND AREA THAT YOU HAVE.

AND THERE CAN BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SET OF SETUPS FOR THAT TO BE, YOU KNOW, LARGE SCALE OR SMALLER SCALED.

AND I MENTIONED WALKING TRAILS THROUGHOUT.

THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT TO BEDFORD COMMONS, SO HOW CAN WE KIND OF BRIDGE THESE TRAILS COMING FROM THIS SITE AND BEYOND? WE'RE SHOWING DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCENARIOS, SO PICNIC GROVES AGAINST SEATING UNDERNEATH THE TREES.

THEY CAN BE FLEXIBLE.

YOU CAN ADAPT THEM AS YOU SEE FIT WITH A LARGE GROUP OR SMALL GROUP.

OUTDOOR ROOMS, GREAT SPOTS FOR JUST SOME SEATING WHERE PARENTS CAN SIT AND CHILL WHILE THE KIDS GO NUTS ON THE EVENT LAWN.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WANT TO ACCOMMODATE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FAMILIES AT THIS SITE WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN.

PLAYGROUND DOES NOT JUST HAVE TO BE JUST A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT SITTING ON A PAD, IT CAN BE VERY INTERACTIVE AND AGAIN, A DRAW BEYOND JUST THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOODS.

HERE, LIKE AGAIN, THIS IS CLYBOURNE PARK, SUCH A MAJOR PARK, BUT THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT BRINGING PROGRAMING TO THE PARK SO THAT THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON.

SO IF THERE'S A SCHEDULE AND THINGS HAPPENING, IT'S A DRAW TO BRING THE COMMUNITY OUT.

FAMILY GAMES THAT YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A LITTLE CART IN THE BACKGROUND TO KIND OF CHECK OUT GAMES THAT BRINGS A LOT AGAIN, KIDS OF ALL AGES, ADULTS AND KIDS LIKE PLAYING OUTDOOR GAMES AND THIS GIVES THEM A VENUE TO DO THAT.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WATER FEATURES AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORMATS, HAVING THAT NOISE CREATES KIND OF A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE ALTOGETHER, CAN BLEED OUT SOME OF THE TRAFFIC NOISE AND ALSO CREATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS.

WE WANT PASSIVE ENVIRONMENTS AND ACTIVE ENVIRONMENTS ON THE SITE.

AND THEN HERE WE SAY EXHIBITS, BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR SITE HAS A HISTORY AND IT WOULD BE GREAT TO TELL THAT HISTORY THROUGH ART AND EXHIBITS.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS BLENDING ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THIS SITE IS TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

TELL THE HISTORY THROUGH ARTWORK ALONG THE TRAIL.

PERHAPS THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN IMPLEMENT THIS IN THE BUILDING AND ON THE SITE ITSELF.

AND OF COURSE, WE ARE IN TEXAS.

WE NEED SHADE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO IMPLEMENT SHADE, BUT IT'S AGAIN A WAY TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO USE THIS SITE YEAR ROUND, AND IT'S A DRAW TO JUST HANG OUT AND ENJOY THE COMPANY AND SOCIALIZE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS.

THANK YOU. SO OUR EARLY PROGRAMING EFFORTS WE REALLY TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT WHAT THIS PERFORMANCE VENUE WANTS TO BE, IT'S GOING TO BE THE JEWEL OF THIS BUILDING,

[00:20:03]

THERE'S A BUNCH OF ANCILLARY SPACES THAT SUPPORT THE PERFORMANCE AS WELL.

BUT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS ON WHAT THIS PERFORMANCE VENUE WANTS TO BE.

SO A LOT OF OUR DISCUSSIONS OCCURRED AROUND WHAT THE TYPE OF PERFORMANCE IS AND WHAT THE SEATING CAPACITY REALLY WANTS TO BE, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S GOING TO DRIVE THE BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER SPACES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, LIKE CHRIS MENTIONED, THE CONFERENCE CENTER, ANY KIND OF CONFERENCE ROOMS THAT MIGHT GO WITH THAT TO SUPPORT THE BUILDING AS WELL AND DRIVE MORE TRAFFIC TO THE SITE.

BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE VENUE ITSELF.

AND SO WE LOOKED AT SEVERAL OPTIONS TRYING TO DETERMINE DIFFERENT SEATING CAPACITIES, WHETHER IT'S A PERFORMANCE, A NUMBER OF FIXED SEATS FOR A PERFORMANCE OR WHETHER IT'S A BANQUET STYLE SEATING ARRANGEMENT OR A CABARET SEATING ARRANGEMENT.

TAKING A LOOK AT THOSE AND TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE SOME OPTIONS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE AS FAR AS THE THE MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE AND GETTING THE MOST VALUE FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD.

SO WE LOOKED AT THREE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND PRIMARILY THE BIGGEST CHANGE BETWEEN THESE IS REALLY THE PERFORMANCE SPACE AND THEN SOME OF THE ANCILLARY SPACES.

WHEN YOU GET TO THE LARGER ONE, YOU MIGHT START INCLUDING A TICKET BOOTH AND ADDING CONCESSIONS, AGAIN STARTING TO GENERATE SOME OF THAT REVENUE BACK TO THE BUILDING WHEN YOU WERE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THOSE FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE WITHIN THE BUILDING.

I MENTIONED THIS IS WE ARE LOOKING BEYOND JUST THIS KIND OF A FIRST PHASE OF ONE BUILDING, BUT ALSO TO THE SITE IN FUTURE PHASES.

SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO LIMIT OURSELVES WITH WHATEVER WE COULD BUILD RIGHT NOW AND NOT THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE, WHAT IT COULD BECOME.

AND SO WE JUST STARTED WITH I CALLED KIND OF A MASTER PLAN IDEA CONCEPT TO THINK ABOUT HOW THIS ENTIRE SITE COULD BE DEVELOPED.

THIS IS NOT HOW IT'S GOING TO BE, BUT HOW IT COULD BE DEVELOPED SO THAT WHEN WE IMPLEMENT A PHASE ONE, WE'RE NOT BOXING OURSELVES IN TO LIMIT WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

SO LOOKING AT POTENTIAL BUILDINGS AND SITE AMENITIES, FUTURE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF WANT TO THROW IT ALL OUT THERE JUST TO GET IT ON PAPER AND THEN TO SEE WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE THREE DIMENSIONALLY.

THIS IS NOT ARCHITECTURAL, THIS IS THE DIAGRAM, BUT IT'S HELPFUL TO KIND OF SEE HOW THAT RELATES IN SPACE RELATIVE TO THE CONTEXT AROUND IT, INCLUDING THE LIBRARY.

SO WE WANT THIS SITE TO ENGAGE WITH THE LIBRARY SITE.

THEY SHOULD NOT BE TWO DIFFERENT SITES.

SO HOW CAN WE BRIDGE THAT GAP AND REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS, THIS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY AS A OLD BEDFORD [INAUDIBLE].

I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

WE'RE HEARING THAT WE CAN'T HEAR YOU AS WELL, SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE.

AND IT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED THAT WE GET A LARGER MIC STAND.

SO WE NEED TO. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN JUST LIKE POINT IT UP A LITTLE MORE.

YEAH, SURE. AND CAN YOU START YOUR PRESENTATION OVER? NO, I HAVEN'T.

I'M JUST NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR.

THANK YOU. AND SO THAT IS PERFECT TIMING BECAUSE WE'RE NOW AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. OH, PERFECT.

BRILLIANT. THAT IS THAT IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

AGAIN, IT IS, LIKE WE SAID, JUST EARLY CONCEPTS, JUST IDEAS AT THIS POINT AND TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT SCOPE IS FOR THAT NEXT STEP FORWARD.

OK, GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND MAYBE COUNCIL IF YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS OR SOME INTEREST, AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN KIND OF TURN IT OVER TO YOU GUYS FOR Y'ALL'S INPUT.

KIND OF A BLUNT QUESTION, WHO IS BRW AND WHAT DO YOU DO AND HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE? HIT THE MIKE.

OK, SO BRW IS A LOCAL ARCHITECTURE FIRM, STARTED IN 1984.

WE RESIDE IN UPTOWN DALLAS.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE COMMUNITIES IN NORTH TEXAS AND ACROSS THE STATE FOR THIRTY SEVEN YEARS NOW.

THIRTY EIGHT YEARS ALMOST.

WE FOCUS ON PRIMARILY PROJECTS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, SO FOCUS ON SOME MUNICIPAL PROJECTS ON EDUCATION AND PROJECTS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON PERFORMING ARTS VENUES ACROSS THE STATE FOR DIFFERENT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

SO THAT IS KIND OF BRW.

WE'RE ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY PERSON FIRM LOCATED IN FOUR OFFICES, THREE HERE IN TEXAS AND ONE IN CALIFORNIA.

SO HAVE YOU WORKED ON PROJECTS SIMILAR IN SCOPE TO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE? ABSOLUTELY. SO TWO PROJECTS WE'VE JUST FINISHED A MUSIC BUILDING DOWN IN KINGSVILLE, TEXAS, FOR TEXAS A&M, HAD A 600 SEAT PERFORMANCE HALL, ONE HUNDRED SEAT RECITAL HALL,

[00:25:01]

WE FINISHED THE PROJECT THERE IN COLLEGE STATION.

ANOTHER MUSIC INTENSIVE BUILDING JUST COMPLETED A PROJECT OUT IN LUBBOCK THAT WAS A BLACK BOX THEATER AND MULTIPLE REHEARSAL SPACES THAT SUPPORT THAT BLACK BOX THEATER AS WELL.

SO YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, IN THE PUBLIC SETTING IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

CORRECT. WHY DO THESE COMMUNITIES DO THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS? WELL, I THINK AND I'VE GIVEN, YOU KNOW, NOTICE OF THESE QUESTIONS, SO I RECOGNIZE YOU HAVE. I THINK MICROPHONE.

I THINK THE ARTS ARE CERTAINLY A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, A LOT OF FOCUS GOES INTO FUNCTIONALITY OF SPACES, BUT ARTS AND PERFORMING ARTS IS SUCH A VITAL PART THAT BALANCES OUT THE DAILY ACTIVITIES OF OUR LIVES.

IT'S PART OF A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DO.

AND SO PUTTING A FOCUS ON THAT REALLY KIND OF BRINGS THAT BALANCE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

OK, COUNCIL, YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ANY INPUT, ANY THOUGHTS BEFORE WE OPEN THIS UP FOR THE FOR THE AUDIENCE? WOW, WE GOT A QUIET COUNCIL TONIGHT.

[PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS]

YES, SIR. OK, SO THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING AVAILABLE HERE.

YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

LET'S BE RESPECTFUL OF TIME.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. EVERYONE MAY WANT TO TALK OR NO ONE MAY WANT TO TALK.

BUT EITHER WAY, LET'S BE RESPECTFUL THAT LET'S LET'S PUT A LITTLE BIT OF A FILTER ON THE LINK THAT WE OCCUPY THE MICROPHONE THIS EVENING.

BUT IF YOU COME UP, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

AND THIS GENTLEMAN NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION, HOWEVER, BUT I THINK OFFICIALLY I'M SUPPOSED TO BE BOB COCHRAN 2252 BEDFORD CIRCLE.

I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR A LITTLE OVER FIFTY FOUR YEARS TO A VOCAL PERFORMER, AND AS SUCH I HAVE BEEN TO AN UNTOWARD IS THAT THE RIGHT WORD? NUMBER OF VOCAL AND PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTATIONS.

I DON'T RECALL EVER BEING THE ONE WHERE THERE WAS NOT A STAGE OF SOME KIND, AND EVERYTHING WE'VE SEEN HAS NEVER SHOWN THE STAGE OF ANY KIND.

INITIALLY, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS RETRACTABLE SEATING, I THOUGHT, OH GREAT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FANCY BASKETBALL COURT.

BUT I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND THIS RETRACTABLE SEATING CAN BE REALLY FANCY.

I MEAN, IT'S UPHOLSTERED, IT HAS ARMS, IT'S CUSHIONED.

IT LOOKS NICE. BUT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO LOOK AND SEE IF WE COULDN'T HAVE A RETRACTABLE STAGE OF SOME KIND BECAUSE PERFORMANCES ARE DONE.

I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE ELEVATED AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN PERFORMING.

OR ARE WE? YOU'RE NOT AIMING. THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT FOR THE TIME BEING.

SO I'M CURIOUS, GENTLEMEN.

I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE IN THE BIZ.

STAGES. WHAT ARE YOU SEEING NOWADAYS? SO I MEAN, I KNOW I KNOW EVERY FACILITY ISN'T THE SAME.

BUT SO THIS WOULD BE A LOT LIKE PERHAPS A BLACK BOX THEATER, RIGHT, WHERE THE WHAT YOU BRING IN PORTABLE PLATFORMS AND CHAIRS AND YOU SET THAT UP AND AND YOU HAVE AND YOU HAVE YOU HAVE YOUR YOUR PERFORMERS ON OR THERE'S THERE'S A THAT THE ALTERNATE WOULD BE AGAIN TO BRING IN SOME OF THAT PORTABLE STAGING.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE PORTABLE STAGING IS THEN YOU HAVE TO FIND SOMEPLACE TO STORE IT WHEN IT'S NOT IN USE. SO WHEN YOU'RE IN BANQUET MODE OR WHEN YOU WANT TO HAVE AN ART GALLERY SET UP, THEN YOU HAVE TO FIND SOME PLACE TO STORE THE SEATING AND THE AND THE PLATFORMS FOR THE STAGE AND THE SEATING.

SO THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE RETRACTABLE SEATING, IS IT ALL COMPACTS VERY NICELY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO STORE IT SOMEWHERE.

THE PORTABLE STAGING, IF THAT'S THE DESIRE, THAT'S CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY.

AND YOU CAN AND YOU CAN CONFIGURE THE PORTABLE STAGING HOWEVER YOU LIKE, BUT THEN THAT PROVIDES YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THE PERFORMERS UP.

BUT AGAIN, AS YOU SAW FROM SOME OF THE IMAGES, IT'S JUST KIND OF A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO LOOKING DOWN AT THE STAGE VERSUS Y'ALL BEING DOWN AT FLOOR LEVEL, LOOKING UP AT PERFORMERS. IT'S KIND OF THE INVERSE APPROACH, AND IT'S A LOT LIKE WHAT YOU'D SEE IN A BLACK BOX THEATER. OK, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

PLEASE COME UP AND MY NAME IS REBECCA ANDREWS, I HAVE LIVED IN BEDFORD FOR ALMOST FIVE

[00:30:06]

WOW. THAT WENT ON, YOU KNOW, BACK THEN.

ANYWAY, SO BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

I'M HAPPY TO BE. NOVEMBER 2007.

THAT WAS THE ONE. NOT THAT I REMEMBER THAT.

NOTHING THAT BURNED IN ANYBODY'S MEMORY, RIGHT? I HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF BEING INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS.

I HAVE STARTED SEVERAL YOUTH THEATERS AND VARIOUS PLACES WHERE I'VE LIVED, NOT HERE, BECAUSE THE ARTISAN DOES A GREAT JOB OF THAT, AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S A NEED HERE, BUT I HAVE PERFORMED IN A LOT OF MULTIPURPOSE PLACES.

AND BASICALLY, WHAT I WILL SAY IS NO, PLEASE, NO, PLEASE, PLEASE NO.

IT'S NOT A GOOD.

IT'S NOT A GOOD ENVIRONMENT FOR PERFORMING IN ANYTHING, WHETHER THAT'S AN ORCHESTRA CONCERT, WHETHER IT'S A CHOIR CONCERT, WHETHER IT'S WE'VE DONE MUSICALS.

WE DID PERFORM A MUSICAL ONCE IN A BASKETBALL COURT, AT A COMMUNITY CENTER BECAUSE WE NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF AUDITORIUM SPACE IN THE CITY WHERE I GREW UP.

AND WE DID, WE HAD A PORTABLE STAGE AND THEN WE HAD CURTAINS AND WE HAD TO BLACK OUT ALL THE THE WINDOWS ON THE TRACK THAT WAS ABOVE THE BASKETBALL COURT.

IT WAS HORRIBLE. THE NEXT TIME WE DID A SHOW, WE DID IT IN A MULTIPURPOSE ROOM OFF OF OUR LIBRARY. WE HAD A BIG, BIG MULTIPURPOSE MEETING ROOMS THAT HAD BIG, TALL WINDOWS.

ALSO, IT WAS NOT GREAT.

IT HAD THE THE RETRACTABLE SEATING, SO WE PULLED OUT THE SEATING.

IT WAS IT WAS DECENT, RETRACTABLE SEATING, BUT IT WAS STILL JUST IT JUST FEELS SUBPAR.

THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. IT FEELS LIKE.

IT WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT. IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE, I MEAN, YOU SPEND ALL OF THESE HOURS REHEARSING AND REHEARSING AND BUILDING A SET AND DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND THEN YOU COME AND YOU PERFORM PERFORMANCE, SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, MY GRANDMA'S BACKYARD KIND OF FEEL. SO YOU WANT WHEN YOU WHEN YOU PUT THAT MUCH EFFORT INTO SOMETHING, YOU WANT IT TO FEEL SPECIAL.

AND I FEEL LIKE IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER HERE, ANYTHING FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN BEDFORD, WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL SPECIAL WHEN THEY PERFORM IN IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT AND IS THE IRVING ART CENTER AUDITORIUM.

IT'S ABOUT A 250 SEAT AUDITORIUM.

MY KIDS HAVE PLAYED IN THE LONE STAR YOUTH ORCHESTRA OUT THERE, AND IT'S AN EXCELLENT LITTLE AUDITORIUM THAT HAS JUST REALLY BASIC.

BUT THEY DO THEATER PRODUCTIONS IN THERE.

THEY DO YOUTH THEATER OR YOUTH ORCHESTRAS.

I WAS JUST ACTUALLY LOOKING AT WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING RIGHT NOW, AND IT LOOKS LIKE COLLEYVILLE, A COLLEYVILLE PRIVATE SCHOOL IS ACTUALLY DOING A MUSICAL THERE.

SO THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REVENUE FOR US IS IF WE HAD AN AUDITORIUM SPACE THAT WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL, THAT THE LOCAL PRIVATE SCHOOLS, THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN AUDITORIUMS, LOCAL HOME SCHOOL GROUPS, ANY I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY GROUPS, LOCAL DANCE STUDIOS THAT I THINK ARE MOSTLY USING THE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUMS. THOSE AUDITORIUMS ARE WAY TOO BIG FOR AN INTIMATE COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE.

I'M A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE SYMPHONY HEB, WHICH IS OUR COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA HERE, AND ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'VE HAD IS TRYING TO FIND A PERFORMANCE SPACE THAT IS SMALL ENOUGH FOR OUR LITTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA.

WE PERFORM MOSTLY FOR OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WHERE WE COULD PERFORM. WE'VE MOSTLY BEEN WE'VE BEEN HOPPING AROUND.

IT'S BEEN KIND OF FUN. I DID HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS, THOUGH, BECAUSE I WAS, WELL, I WASN'T HERE, BUT I WATCHED THE WHOLE LIKE TWO AND A HALF HOURS OF THE TOWN HALL MEETING FOR THE THE GENERATIONS PARK COORDINATING THING WITH THE YMCA.

SO SORRY ABOUT THAT.

IT WAS FUN. I WATCHED IT ON LIKE TIME AND A HALF OR DOUBLE TIME.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. IT WAS FUN.

WELL, I MEAN, I WAS BEING REAL.

YOU WERE ENTERTAINED. YES.

YES, I WAS ENTERTAINED.

AND I LIKE I SAID, I WATCHED IT ON DOUBLE TIME, SO I DID NOT SIT THE TWO AND HALF HOURS.

IT WAS MORE LIKE AN HOUR OR SO.

NO COMMERCIALS. BUT YEAH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS CURIOUS TO KNOW IS IF THE CITY HAS PLANS ALREADY FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO GENERATE REVENUE IN THIS SPACE.

LIKE WHAT? WHAT ARE THE PLANS? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SINCE WE KIND OF PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE WITH THE REC CENTER, WE NEED TO REALLY HAVE A PLAN FOR GENERATING REVENUE.

AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO DRIVE WHAT WHAT WE BUILD.

IF OUR PLAN FOR REVENUE IS RENTING OUT AUDITORIUM SPACE, WE NEED A KILLER AUDITORIUM.

IF OUR PLAN FOR REVENUE IS A CONFERENCE CENTER, THEN WE NEED TO DO A CONFERENCE CENTER, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT PLANNED FIRST.

LIKE, WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WHERE IS THE REVENUE COMING FROM BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO END UP HAVING TO FARM OUT OUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TO SOMEBODY ELSE AS WELL, LIKE OUR REC CENTER IS HAPPENING WITH THAT.

THE THE BLACK BOX THEATER IDEA IS KIND OF COOL, BUT REAL SPECIFIC.

THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT USE A BLACK BOX THEATER IS A THEATER.

THAT'S IT. THAT'S THE ONLY PEOPLE.

AN ORCHESTRA IS NOT GOING TO USE A BLACK BOX THEATER.

A DANCE COMPANY IS NOT USING A BLACK BOX THEATER.

NOBODY'S USING IT EXCEPT FOR A THEATER.

SO THAT DEFINITELY, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF LIKE A IT DOESN'T REALLY FIT INTO THE WIDEST USE POSSIBLE THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT WE WANT TO MAKE THIS REALLY USEFUL FOR EVERYBODY TO DO ANYTHING. AND IT SEEMS LIKE AS FAR AS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITY AND AND A CONFERENCE CENTER, THEY'RE KIND OF THE SAME THING.

[00:35:02]

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WITH REVENUE GENERATING IS ART CLASS.

I MEAN, THIS IS AN ART CENTER.

SHOULDN'T WE HAVE ART CLASSES? I KNOW AT THE AT THAT MEETING THE TWO AND A HALF HOUR ONE ABOUT THE GENERATIONS PARK, THE SENIORS WERE VERY CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A KILN.

SO THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO PUT ART STUDIOS AND ART CLASSES FOR KIDS, FOR ADULTS, FOR AND THAT'S DEFINITELY A REVENUE GENERATING THING.

BUT THEY HAVE TO BE KIND OF DEDICATED ART SPACES.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, LIKE ART SPACES CAN'T REALLY BE MULTIPURPOSE.

I MEAN, I HAVE WE REHEARSE ACTUALLY FOR THE SYMPHONY IS REHEARSING RIGHT NOW IN THE CENTRAL ARTS LOCATION, AND IT'S I MEAN, WE WOULDN'T PERFORM THERE.

IT'S DEFINITELY AN ART SPACE, WHICH IS GREAT.

IT'S GREAT FOR WHAT IT IS, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE IT A PERFORMANCE IN ARTS WHERE THERE'S PAINT ON THE FLOOR AND ON THE WALLS AND ON LITERALLY EVERYTHING.

BUT THAT'S ALSO, I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED IS THOSE ART SPACES.

AND AND DEFINITELY A REVENUE GENERATING THING HAVING HAVING SPACES WHERE WE CAN DO THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A THEATER.

THE OTHER THING THAT COMES UP WITH BUILDING A THEATER OR AN AUDITORIUM IS MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT GREEN ROOM SPACE AND BACKSTAGE SPACE FOR YOUR PROPS, FOR YOUR SET, FOR YOUR PERFORMERS.

YOU KNOW YOUR ORCHESTRA. YOU DON'T WANT COMING UP OUT OF THE SEATS.

YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE BACK BEHIND, WHICH KIND OF I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT AND IN THE RIGHT PLACE, BUT I WANT MAKE SURE THAT I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME EXPERIENCE IN PERFORMING ARTS SPACES, BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I'VE SEEN IN SOME PERFORMING ARTS SPACES WHERE YOU HAVE A REALLY NICE STAGE AND A REALLY NICE AUDITORIUM AND LITERALLY NO PLACE TO GO BACKSTAGE.

SO THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO LOOK AT, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT BACKSTAGE AREA AND ALSO STORAGE.

STORAGE SPACE FOR YOUR PROPS, YOUR INSTRUMENTS YOU'RE IN.

FOR EXAMPLE, WITH A THEATER, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS THAT YOU DON'T MOVE BECAUSE THEY'RE REAL BIG AND YOU JUST STICK THEM IN A CLOSET SOMEWHERE AND THEN YOU PULL THEM OUT FOR REHEARSALS AND YOU PULL THEM OUT FOR THE CONCERT.

AND THAT'S KIND OF THAT'S KIND OF HOW THAT WORKS.

SO. AND THEN SIMILARLY, WITH WITH THEATER, IF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN A SHOW FOR, YOU KNOW, A WEEK OR TWO, YOU NEED TO HAVE SUFFICIENT SPACE TO PUT YOUR PUT THINGS IN, PULL THEM BACK.

IF IT'S AN ART CENTER AND YOU NEED SPACE FOR YOUR PROPS AND AND SET FOR THE THEATER, THEN ALSO HAVING KIND OF A SHOP RIGHT WITH WOODWORKING THINGS WHICH COULD ALSO BE USED AS AN ART CENTER FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO ART THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF HANDS ON TYPE ART. SO IT COULD KIND OF DOUBLE FOR THOSE THOSE BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

I THINK THE OH, PARKING A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED PARKING.

I KNOW THIS ISN'T LIKE A BUT DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE.

MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH PARKING FOR WHATEVER IS HAPPENING HERE, WHATEVER WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING FOR THERE.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, REBECCA, WITH YOUR GROUP, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN PERFORMING THE LAST YEAR OR SO? WELL, SO YOU ACTUALLY STARTED IN THE FALL OF 2019.

THAT WAS OUR FIRST CONCERT.

WE PERFORMED THAT CONCERT AT I SHOULD REMEMBER EXACTLY SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS LIKE COVID, SO MY COVID BRAIN WAS LIKE, WHAT? BUT YOU'VE BEEN MOVING AROUND? YEAH, WE REHEARSED AT SHADY OAKS BAPTIST CHURCH AND PERFORMED AT ANOTHER OH WHAT? ON OLD BEDFORD ROAD, KIND OF IN HURST.

IT'S ANOTHER ANOTHER CHURCH DOWN THERE.

ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WAS A MEMBER OF THAT CHURCH, AND SO WE WERE ABLE THE SPACE WAS HORRIBLE. IT DID NOT WORK WELL, BUT WE MADE IT WORK BECAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY GAVE IT TO US FOR FREE. THE FOLLOWING SEMESTER WE STARTED OR CONCERT, WE STARTED REHEARSING AT HURST JUNIOR HIGH BECAUSE OUR CONDUCTOR WAS THE ASSISTANT BAND DIRECTOR AND THE PERFORMING ARTS GUY WITH HEB ISD, HIS NAME.

AND MARK CHANDLER, YEAH, SO HE HE GAVE US PERMISSION TO USE THE BAND, THE BAND THERE AND THE BAND ROOM FOR REHEARSALS, AND THEN WE WERE GOING TO WE PLANNED TO PERFORM IN THE CAFETERIA THERE. NOBODY WANTED TO DO IT, BUT IT WAS AVAILABLE.

IT WAS RIGHT. IT WAS RIGHT THERE WE COULD.

WE GOT WE HAD A KEY. OUR GUY HAD A KEY, YOU KNOW.

SO THAT WAS KIND OF THE PLAN.

BUT THEN COVID SHUT US DOWN ANYWAY.

SO WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT CONCERT EVER.

WE JUST STARTED UP THIS LAST FALL AND OUR PERFORMANCE WAS AT THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS ON OVER THERE, ACROSS FROM THE MALL, ON THE 820.

OH, ON THE OTHER SIDE, YEAH, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MALL THERE.

AND THEN RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A PERFORMANCE VENUE FOR OUR CONCERT THAT WILL BE IN APRIL. BUT YEAH, WE'VE BEEN LIVING ON.

WE HAVE YEAR ROUND PERFORMANCES.

WE DO TWO JUST TWO CONCERTS A YEAR, JUST IN THE SPRING AND IN THE FALL.

WE'RE REALLY WE'RE TRYING.

WE'RE TRYING TO BE KIND OF JUST A AN ACCESSIBLE ORCHESTRA FOR ANYBODY, NOT SOMETHING LIKE A HEAVY TIME COMMITMENT. LIKE THERE'S THERE'S LOTS OF REALLY AMAZING COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS AROUND HERE, BUT NONE ARE FOR YOUR MOM AND DAD THAT YOU KNOW YOU'RE THE MOM OF FIVE KIDS THAT JUST NEEDS AN OUTLET FOR HER INSTRUMENT.

[00:40:01]

A COUPLE OF THESE DO.

YOU MIGHT RESPOND OR KIND OF RESPONDING TO A COUPLE OF HER, HER CURIOSITIES HERE.

YEAH. WELL, YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF IT IS SEMANTICS, I THINK, BECAUSE WHENEVER WE WHENEVER I TALK ABOUT MULTI-USE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BASKETBALL COURT, YOU WATCH TO SEE YOU SAW THIS.

THE BASKETBALL COURTS AT THE AT THE CENTER ARE ALSO STRAIGHT FOR PICKLEBALL AND VOLLEYBALL. AND SO I THINK ANY TYPE OF MULTI-USE OR WHAT HAVE YOU ARE GOING TO BE KIND OF CONGRUENT USES.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE, IN MY OPINION, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS JUST SO INCOMPATIBLE, YOU KNOW? BUT AGAIN, IT'S VERY EARLY.

SO I JUST DON'T WANT I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED LIKE A GYM.

I PROMISE TO BE LIKE, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE LIKE BASKETBALLS WHILE, YOU KNOW. BUT FORTUNATELY, THEY DIDN'T PUT A PICTURE WITH A BASKETBALL GOAL.

YES. BUT YOU KNOW, THE REVENUE, YOU'RE RIGHT.

A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON ON THE DIRECTION WE GO.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT A CONFERENCE CENTER, YOU KNOW, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY WORK WITH A CONSULTANT TO SEE WHAT THE PRICES ARE AND IN TERMS OF THE INDUSTRY.

SO YEAH, WE HAVE A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE TO DO, OBVIOUSLY.

AND BUT YOU'RE YOU MAKE SOME GREAT POINTS AND SOME THOUGHT PROVOKING COMMENTS.

SO I APPRECIATE IT. AND I REALLY THINK THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS CONVERSATION AND THE CONVERSATION THREE WEEKS AGO WAS THOSE THINGS WERE DECIDED BACK IN 2017.

AND THE NEAT THING WITH THIS COUNCIL, WITH THIS STAFF, IS WE RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE ERRORS OF THOSE WAYS. AND SO THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT DUE DILIGENCE.

SO I THINK I HATE TO SPEAK FOR EVERYONE, BUT I KNOW IT'S OUR INTENT TO GET THIS RIGHT.

SO AS WE CAN DIAL IN AND GET THE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, THEIR THOUGHTS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN ALSO GET INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT WHAT WOULD THEY LIKE TO SEE IN THIS FACILITY.

WE CAN THEN TAKE THAT AND BEGIN CRUNCHING NUMBERS ABOUT, OK, WHAT IS THE END RESULT HERE? WHAT IS IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE? AND PART OF THE THING WAS THE REVENUE SLIDE THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IS THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP PAY FOR THIS FACILITY ALSO LIES IN THESE OTHER SCENARIOS, LIKE HOTEL MOTEL TAX BEING A PART OF IT, IT COULD BE THAT THIS COULD SUPPORT THE HOTEL COMMUNITY HERE, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY, BUT THE HOTEL COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THERE IS WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT PROPRIETORS AT DIFFERENT HOTELS ABOUT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE THAT'S NOT BEING SERVED BY A LARGE FACILITY LIKE THE HURST CONFERENCE CENTER AND THEN A ROOM IN A HOTEL.

AND SO THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES HERE THAT IF WE CAN FIND THAT SWEET SPOT.

THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION.

HOW MUCH MARKET RESEARCH HAVE WE DONE FOR FOR THIS FACILITY? THERE'S A CONFERENCE CENTER, THERE'S PAT MAY CENTER.

THERE'S SO MANY MULTIPURPOSE USE FACILITIES.

DO WE REALLY NEED ANOTHER ONE? BUT IF THERE'S I MEAN, AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE HAVE SOME HELP, SOME EXPERTISE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THEY'RE SEEING AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN THE PROCESS, IF THIS IS A TEN STEP PROCESS, WE'RE AT TWO.

YEAH, RIGHT. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND THE CONVERSATION THREE WEEKS AGO.

SO I KNOW FOR SURE.

YES, SIR. ALSO, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE LOOKING AT IT, YOU KNOW, VERY SPECIFICALLY, BUT ALSO IT'S VERY EXCITING BECAUSE IT'S PART OF A BIGGER PICTURE, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT BEDFORD COMMONS.

THAT'S VERY, VERY CLOSE TO LAUNCHING.

WE'VE GOT PLANS TO REACTIVATE OR ACTIVATE BEDFORD ROAD.

WE'VE GOT THE OBS THAT'S BECOMING IT'S A LOT MORE UTILIZED.

AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE HAVING FOOD TRUCKS, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BISTROS, IT'S GOING TO BE SUCH A COOL AREA.

SO WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

BUT A LOT OF IT'S GOING TO FEED OFF EACH OTHER, NO PUN INTENDED.

BUT ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION ABOUT THE REVENUE SOURCES IS THAT IN ORDER TO USE CERTAIN FUNDS LIKE HOTEL MOTEL FUNDS, WE HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN.

USES OR CERTAIN THINGS ON THERE THAT PASS THE LITMUS TEST IN TERMS OF WHAT THOSE FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR. SO I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT, BUT THAT'S ALL PART OF OUR DUE DILIGENCE. SO. THANKS, REBECCA.

HUH? AND ONCE AGAIN, SOMEONE WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.

OH, WELL, YEAH, BUT GIVE US YOUR NAME, WE'RE RELATED.

I'M PAM COCHRAN, AND I'VE LIVED IN THIS CITY FOR 40 YEARS.

I THINK SO. APPARENTLY YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR FIFTY THREE YEARS, SOMETHING YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. I WAS 12.

LOVELY PRESENTATION AND ALL THOSE POINTS I AGREE WITH.

I HAVE, I HAD AN OPERA COMPANY THAT WAS IN THIS TOWN FOR 20 YEARS, AND I DIDN'T PERFORM IN THIS TOWN VERY MUCH BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A PLACE TO PERFORM.

SO I ENDED UP GOING UP TO COLLEYVILLE AND PERFORMED THERE, AND AT THE END I DID DO BEDFORD THE BEDFORD OLD BEDFORD SCHOOLHOUSE.

AND BUT IT WAS JUST A STRUGGLE CONSTANTLY TO FIND A PLACE THAT WE COULD, COULD BE AND

[00:45:05]

AND I STILL HAVE A CHOIR THAT SINGS SO OUR NEEDS AREN'T QUITE AS MUCH AS I WOULD HAVE HAD TO FOR OPERA.

THE BASIC THING IS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT A PERFORMING GROUP IN A SPACE, IF IT'S ACOUSTICALLY NOT ANY GOOD, WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME.

WE'LL FIND SOMEPLACE THAT IS GOOD.

I'LL GO TO MARTIN METHODIST CHURCH BECAUSE THE ACOUSTICS ARE REALLY GOOD.

I'LL GO TO THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GRAPEVINE BECAUSE THE ACOUSTICS ARE REALLY GOOD. YOU CAN YOU CAN NAME ANY NUMBER OF PLACES, AND I'LL SAY WE'LL NEVER PERFORM THERE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, AFTER WE'VE PERFORMED IN THEM.

SO UNLESS THOSE UNLESS THIS PLACE IS GOING TO HAVE GOOD ACOUSTICS, WE'RE NOT COMING, YOU KNOW, AND SO IF AND THIS CITY, I REALLY BELIEVE YOU WANT THE ARTS TO BE HERE.

BUT IF YOU STUB YOUR TOE ON THIS, IT'S GOING TO JUST NOT BE THERE AGAIN.

SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO GET THAT RIGHT FIRST.

OR WE WON'T COME. YEAH.

YOU KNOW, SECOND THING IS IT GOT TO HAVE A LITTLE STAGE, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, YOU GET UP ON THE STAGE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE SINCE WE WERE FIVE YEARS OLD IS GET UP ON THE STAGE.

SO IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL, ALL THE STUFF AROUND THAT MAKES IT GOOD AND GIVES US THAT EXPERIENCE THAT WE WANT TO HEAR.

AND IT'S THE SOUND.

IT'S THAT SOUND.

SO IT GOT TO GET IT RIGHT, GUYS.

SO, GENTLEMEN, CAN YOU ADDRESS ACOUSTICS? IS THIS SOMETHING YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, I'LL SECOND THAT.

ABSOLUTELY. SO IS IT FAIR FOR US TO EXPECT TO HAVE GOOD ACOUSTICS? OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCES, MUSIC IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THAN THEATER, RIGHT? AND SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GOOD ACOUSTICS FOR MUSIC, YOU'RE CONTROLLING LOUDNESS WITH YOUR VOLUME AND ABSORPTION IN THE SPACE, YOU'RE SHAPING THE ROOM SO THAT YOU'RE HAVING REFLECTIONS OF SOUND THROUGHOUT THE SPACE SO THAT THE AUDIENCE CAN HEAR EVERYTHING SO THE PERFORMERS CAN HEAR EVERYTHING.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REVERBERATION TIME.

SO, YOU KNOW, CHORAL GROUPS LIKE A LOT OF REVERB JAZZ, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH.

SO A LOT OF THAT WE CAN CONTROL WITH, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE ADJUSTABLE ACOUSTICS.

A LOT OF IT WE CAN CONTROL WITH, WITH ACOUSTICAL SHELLS TO PROJECT SOME OF THAT.

SOME OF THAT SOUND ENERGY FROM THE ENSEMBLE OUT INTO THE INTO THE AUDIENCE SPACE.

SO WHAT WE CAN CONTROL WITH ADJUSTABLE ACOUSTIC REFLECTORS ABOVE ANY KIND OF PERFORMANCE AREA THAT PLATFORM STAGE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN START TO ROTATE ACOUSTICAL ELEMENTS THAT START TO PROJECT THAT SOUND BACK TOWARDS THE AUDIENCE.

SO THERE ARE SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT AND PROVIDE THAT GOOD SOUND FOR A MUSICAL ENSEMBLE VERSUS MAYBE THE SPOKEN WORD ON STAGE WHERE IF THERE'S A LECTURER OR A BANQUET SPEAKER THAT'S UP THERE, WE DON'T WANT THAT SAME REVERBERATION TIME.

WE WANT IT REALLY SHORT.

WE WANT THE ROOM MORE DEAD AND DRY.

SO I THINK THERE'S THERE'S CERTAINLY WAYS AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOOD ACOUSTICAL ENVIRONMENTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, SOUND BLEED, WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS. SO IF WE SIT HERE AND WE'RE QUIET NOW, WE CAN HEAR THE HVAC SYSTEM RUNNING AND IN AND PERFORMANCE VENUES, WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.

AND SO THE THAT AFFECTS THE MUSICIANS ABILITY TO HEAR CRITICALLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE ENSEMBLE ITSELF.

IT ALSO IMPACTS HOW THE AUDIENCE PERCEIVES THE PERFORMANCE AS WELL.

SO UNDERSTANDING HOW THE BACKGROUND NOISE OF THE SPACE IMPACTS THE PERFORMANCE IS SOMETHING WE ALWAYS TAKE A LOOK AT.

LET ME ASK YOU SO WE ARE NOT BUILDING A BASS PERFORMANCE HALL.

ALL CORRECT.

SORRY. IS IT FAIR THAT GIVEN THE SIZE AND THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE POTENTIALLY CAN DO WITH THE FUNDS AVAILABLE THAT WE HAVE? CAN WE EXPECT TO HAVE GOOD ACOUSTICS IN THIS BUILDING? ABSOLUTELY. OK.

YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'LL WORK WITH AN ACOUSTICIAN AND A THEATRICAL PLANNER.

THOSE WORDS ARE WAY OVER MY HEAD.

BUT YEAH, ACOUSTICAL ENGINEER.

OK, SO TO SPEAK, WHO WE'VE WORKED WITH ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS HERE RECENTLY AS WELL, WHERE WE WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF ACOUSTICIANS, BUT WE'LL WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM TO

[00:50:04]

SO ABSOLUTELY, WE'LL WE'LL ACOUSTICS IS A PRIORITY FOR THESE TYPES OF SPACES.

SO IN THE REAL WORLD WITH WHAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW ARE VERY MANY PEOPLE DOING PORTABLE STAGES. UM, WE DID ONE FOR, AND THE ONES THAT WE'VE DONE OR HAVE BEEN MORE PURPOSE BUILT FOR MUSIC OR THEATER WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FLEXIBILITY, WE DID DO A PORTABLE STAGE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

SO IT IS IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S IN OUR WHEELHOUSE.

IT'S JUST, YEAH, THEY'RE MORE PURPOSE BUILT FOR A SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THANKS.

COME ON. ANYONE ELSE? COME ON.

ONCE AGAIN, A YOUNG LADY WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.

HI, I'M JEANETTE COOK.

THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER FOR US TONIGHT.

APPRECIATE IT. IT'S A GREAT PLAN.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND NO DOUBT THERE IS A NEED IN OUR AREA FOR THIS TYPE OF FACILITY FOR PERFORMANCES AND REHEARSAL AREAS, NO DOUBT.

BUT THIS IS MONEY THAT WE'VE TAKEN FROM GENERATIONS PARK, WHICH THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY $5 MILLION WOULD BUILD LOTS OF TENNIS COURTS AND LOTS OF SKATE PARKS.

IT WOULD ALSO REFURBISH THE TRAIL ON CHEEK SPARGER, WHICH IS A PARK.

SO IF WE BUILD THIS COMMUNITY CENTER OR CONFERENCE CENTER OR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, IT'S NO LONGER A PARK AND OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL IS A PARK IS DESIGNATED AS A PARK BECAUSE YOU ALL CHANGED IT TO THAT A YEAR OR SO AGO.

ALSO, I FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD REALLY DETRACT FROM THE HISTORIC FEEL OF THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL AREA. NOW I DO LIKE THE NEW BUSINESSES ALONG BEDFORD ROAD, I THINK THAT'S REALLY A GREAT ADDITION, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO I FEEL LIKE AGAIN WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER, WE'RE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED FIXING THE GENERATIONS PARK DEBACLE.

AND HERE WE ARE, WE'RE TRYING TO JUMP INTO ANOTHER PROJECT RIGHT AWAY.

I JUST THINK WE'RE RUSHING THINGS.

WHO'S GOING TO OPERATE THIS FACILITY, WHATEVER IT IS, WHO'S GOING TO OPERATE IT? IS THERE ANYONE ON STAFF, AS JIMMY SAID AT A PREVIOUS MEETING THAT KNOWS HOW TO OPERATE SUCH A FACILITY IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT KNOWS HOW TO RUN A RECREATION CENTER? DO WE HAVE ANYBODY THAT KNOWS HOW TO RUN A CONFERENCE CENTER OR A THEATER CENTER? SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE THOUGHT OF AHEAD OF TIME RATHER THAN AFTER THE FACT.

AND IN ALL DUE RESPECT, WE'RE AT STEP TWO.

SO THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE DOING THIS RIGHT NOW AND THERE ARE LESSONS FROM WHAT WE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE APPLYING TO THIS AND THIS IS A PART OF THE GIVE US INPUT.

GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS.

SO THAT WAY WE CAN WE CAN INCORPORATE THIS AS WE TAKE THESE NEXT STEPS.

RIGHT, WELL WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LONG PLANNED JOURNEY FOR THE ARTS, YOU KNOW [INAUDIBLE] AND WE HAD THIS VISION FOR FOR THIS YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

SO THIS IS A LONG JOURNEY, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD ONE ON A SMALLER SCALE.

I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO GO TOO BIG.

I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD OF OURSELVES.

OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL, YOU ALL SPENT MONEY TO RENOVATE, TO PUT BATHROOMS IN UPSTAIRS FOR THE AUDITORIUM AREA.

THAT WAS. THAT'S AN AUDITORIUM.

IT HAS A STAGE. IT HAS SEATING.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE BACKSTAGE AREA.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANY GOOD BACK THERE, BUT THAT THAT IS ITS PURPOSE.

THAT IS EXACTLY ITS PURPOSE IS TO BE AN AUDITORIUM.

SO WHY AREN'T WE USING IT FOR ITS PURPOSE? UNTIL WE FIND THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND THE RIGHT PLACE TO DO IT, I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO DO IT.

CAMPUS WEST CERTAINLY WOULD BE MORE ACCESSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO DRAW PEOPLE INTO THE CITY, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY ACCESSIBLE. BIG, MAIN, MAIN INTERCHANGE OF THE HIGHWAY THERE.

SO I THINK THERE'S OTHER BETTER PLACES TO DO THIS THAN RIGHT HERE AT OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL AND WE HAVE THAT BEAUTIFUL MUSIC PARK.

AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE MUSIC PARK.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE IT'S KIND OF BE, YOU KNOW, FRUIT BASKET TURNOVER AND IT'S MUMBO JUMBO. I DON'T SEE ANY REAL CONTINUITY HERE FOR OUR OUR PLAN IN THE LONG TERM. OK, OK, PERFECT.

[00:55:03]

YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, THOUGHTS ON THAT.

YEAH. ONE THING I MEAN, I JUST I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE THAT WHILE WE'RE WORKING ON GENERATIONS PARK AND I WOULDN'T CALL IT A DEBACLE, NO OFFENSE.

I WOULD JUST CALL IT MAYBE SOME POOR PLANNING IN THE PAST THAT WE'RE FIXING ON THE FLY, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AND UNDER BUDGET.

SO I DEFINITELY WOULDN'T CALL IT A DEBACLE.

NO OFFENSE. I JUST WANTED PUBLICLY IF I DIDN'T ADDRESS IT, THEN IT WAS ALMOST LIKE SILENCE IS CONSENT.

BUT WE, I MEAN, WE CAN DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AT ONCE.

I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU LIKE THE WHOLE CITY RESUME RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WE'RE EMBARKING. IT'S ALREADY UNDERWAY, A VERY AGGRESSIVE STREET CAMPAIGN.

IT'S A A MASTERPLAN AND WE ARE DOING 40 STREETS MORE THAN HAVE BEEN DONE IN FOREVER.

AND THEN WE'RE DOING ALL THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES.

WE'VE RECEIVED EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO COMPLETELY REVAMP BROWN TRAIL.

WE'RE RENOVATING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER.

WE'RE ANALYZING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BRING ALL THREE FIRE STATIONS UP TO THE MODERN TIMES. AND SO WE ARE WE'RE NOT A ONE TRICK PONY.

SO I DON'T WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL LIKE WE CAN ONLY FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE'RE DOING A DISSERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS AND WE DON'T WANT TO EVER PUT ANYONE ON THE BACK BURNER.

THAT BEING SAID, YOU MS. COOK, YOU ASKED SOME GREAT QUESTIONS.

A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON WHAT WE WANT TO BE WHEN WE GROW UP, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GETTING FEEDBACK NOW BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT'S A MULTI-USE VENUE, PERFORMING ARTS VENUE OR WHAT HAVE YOU, WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE ON STAFF.

BUT IF THERE'S IF WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A SIX TO NINE MONTH DESIGN PERIOD AND THEN YOU LOOK AT A YEAR FOR CONSTRUCTION, WE'LL HAVE TIME TO TO RAMP UP. AND THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF MUNICIPAL FACILITIES DO THAT ARE IN PERFORMING ARTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. AND SO REST ASSURED, WE'LL GET THERE.

BUT IT'S ALL GOING TO BE BASED ON DUE DILIGENCE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS. BUT IT WOULD BE IT WOULD ALMOST BE IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US TO GO TO THE FOURTH QUARTER WITHOUT GETTING PUBLIC INPUT AND DECIDING WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

AND SO I ASSURE YOU, WE'RE ALL OVER IT AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THIS NOW.

NOTHING HAS BEEN DESIGNED.

THIS IS A RESULT OF THE FEEDBACK FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEE.

AND SO I MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO FEEL LIKE THERE WERE SOME SMOKE-FILLED ROOM, CLANDESTINE WORK DONE, EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR.

AND I'M ALMOST DONE, I PROMISE, BECAUSE I NEED TO TAKE A BREATH IS BEFORE YOU.

BUT IT'S ALL EDITABLE, SO I'LL QUIT TALKING ABOUT WHAT EDITABLE, I'M AN AGGIE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S REALLY A WORD, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I'LL MAYBE GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THERE.

WOULD YOU MIND COMMENTING ON WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO KICK OFF ON THE MASTER PARK AND TRAIL PLAN? YES, THANK YOU.

WE YOU ARE RIGHT, THE MICROPHONE.

MOLLY RUTH IS RIGHT.

WILL YOU TRADE SEATS WITH ME.

I'M JUST JOKING. INSIDE JOKE.

WE OK RIGHT NOW.

THE CITY'S MASTER PLAN.

DEEP INSIDE JOKE.

YES. YES. YOU PROBABLY GOT IT BECAUSE YOU WATCHED THAT YMCA MEETING.

BUT ANYWAY, THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE, THE CITY'S MASTER PARKS AND TRAILS PLANS HAS EXPIRED, AND SO IT'S OUT OF DATE RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR A FEW REASONS.

FIRST OFF, IT'S PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE WE WANT TO APPLY FOR SOME SIGNIFICANT GRANTS.

WE'RE TALKING TO OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR PARK GRANTS FOR THIS FALL.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN UPDATED PARK MASTER PLAN AND ITS PARKS AND TRAILS AND EVERYTHING.

I JUST SAY PARKS MASTER PLAN, BUT IT'S ALL ENCOMPASSING.

AND SO THAT'S KICKING OFF MARCH 1ST, SIX O'CLOCK.

WE HAVE A BOARD OR A COMMITTEE AND IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

IT'LL BE TELEVISED.

BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE ANALYZING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PARKS AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT TRAILS WE WANT TO LOOK AT.

OK, WHAT ARE THE WHAT THE PARKS ARE AND WHAT TYPE OF PARKS THEY SHOULD BE? AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY TO GO IN WITH THE THOUGHT OF WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT, BUT WE WANT TO LOOK AT OK, WHETHER IT'S CENTRAL PARK OR GENERATION'S PARK AND NESMITH GENERATION'S PARK, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF ON AUTOPILOT RIGHT NOW.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO PUT A BIG SOCCER COMPLEX AT CERTAIN PARKS.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE GOING TO PUT A BASKETBALL.

THE CITY RECEIVED A GRANT.

THANK YOU MS. COOK AND THE PARKS BOARD AND PARK STAFF AND COUNCIL FOR NANCY LIEBERMAN KLINE, A BASKETBALL COURT, AND IT WAS GOING TO BE PLACED AT STROMAE JONES PARK.

AND IT WAS IT WAS NOT WELL-RECEIVED BY THE RESIDENTS THAT THERE'S SOME TOPOGRAPHICAL CHALLENGES. I SAY ALL THIS TO SAY THAT THE ANALYSIS IT'S GOING TO BE DONE FOR THE MASTER PLAN IS GOING TO COVER A LOT OF THAT STUFF.

WE WANT TO LOOK AT CONNECTIVITY TO WHERE WHEN YOU'RE ON A TRAIL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET OFF THE TRAIL AND CROSS THE STREET.

SOME AREAS YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BECAUSE OF JUST SOME GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTRAINTS, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT STUFF.

BUT WE ALSO WILL IDENTIFY WHERE THE DEFICIENCIES ARE.

[01:00:03]

AND I SAY DEFICIENT IN TERMS OF THEY HAVE.

I'M SORRY, I'M ALMOST DONE MAYOR, BUT THEY HAVE AMENITIES AND THERE ARE STANDARDS LIKE X AMOUNT OF TENNIS COURTS PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS OR, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND SO THINGS THAT WERE DEFICIENT IN OR WE JUST DON'T MEET THOSE STANDARDS WILL BODE WELL FOR US WHEN WE'RE APPLYING FOR GRANTS BECAUSE THE MONIES WILL HELP US BRIDGE THAT GAP.

SHE'S LIKE, HOG THE MICROPHONE, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ASKED.

AND SO ONE THING I THINK SHE HAD AN INTERESTING POINT HERE DO AS WE LOOK AT POTENTIALITY FOR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, DO WE HAVE STAFF IN PLACE RIGHT NOW? TO MANAGE OR MAINTAIN A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

WE HAVE STAFF THAT CAN MANAGE IT, BUT CANDIDLY, IT DEPENDS ON THE COMPLEXITY IN TERMS OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE.

I THINK IF WE GET MORE COMPLEX, WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE SURE A LOT OF CITIES WILL HAVE A THIRD PARTY, NOT THE YMCA, BUT THEY'LL HAVE A THIRD PARTY THAT WILL MANAGE IT AGAIN BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR EXPERTISE.

SO BUT I KNOW WE HAVE CAPABLE STAFF WITH MANAGERIAL SKILLS AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT CAN RUN IT, BUT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF ONCE WE GET FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE BEST EQUIPPED TO RUN IT.

SO I MEAN, YOU'VE YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS WORLD FOR A LONG TIME.

ARE WE TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS TO EVALUATE AND CREATE A BUSINESS PLAN FOR A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER? YES, SIR.

WE REALLY ARE. BECAUSE AS, IS IT JESSICA? REBECCA. REBECCA.

OH YEAH. I WAS GOING BY YOUR MIDDLE NAME.

BUT ANYWAY, I'M JUST KIDDING.

THAT SOUNDED CREEPY, I WAS JUST KIDDING.

BUT UM YOU KNOW, UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT THE USE IS, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REVENUE STRUCTURE, IF YOU WILL.

AND SO IT'S ALL VERY METHODICAL AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO A LOT OF STUFF FOR PRACTICE.

AND, YOU KNOW, GET ALL THESE RATE STRUCTURES FOR A CONFERENCE CENTER AND THEN WE COME BACK AND NOT DO A CONFERENCE CENTER.

SO I THINK WE'RE YEAH, WE'RE BEING VERY SAFE TO SAY WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT DUE DILIGENCE NOW THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS TO DO THAT DUE DILIGENCE SO THAT WE MAKE A SMARTER DECISION.

SORRY FOR INTERRUPTING. YES, SIR.

OK. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. DID I GET ALL YOURS? THAT'S MAYBE OK.

ALL RIGHT, GREAT ANYONE ELSE? SIR, PLEASE COME ON UP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

I SAW YOU BACK THERE. I KNEW YOU WANT TO COME UP.

THANK YOU. THIS HAS FOOD STAINS ON IT, YOU REALIZE THAT? WELL, IT WAS PROBABLY JUST LEANING ON IT SO.

MY NAME'S RICK BLAIR, I AM ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORS.

WELCOME, SIR. ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF ARTISAN CENTER THEATER, WE'RE 55 FEET OUTSIDE OF YOUR CITY LIMIT. NOT THAT I MEASURE THAT ALL THE TIME.

WE OPENED IN 2003 IN NORTH HILLS MALL, THEN MOVED OVER TEMPORARILY TO THE BEDFORD TO THE SHOPPING CENTER AT BELLAIRE PLAZA.

WE'VE BEEN THERE TEMPORARILY SINCE 2005.

WE OPENED WITH SIX THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF THEATER SPACE.

WE NOW HAVE 28000 SQUARE FEET GROWING.

WE NOW PROBABLY ARE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS AT 28000 SQUARE FEET IN PERFORMING ARTS.

WE DO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

OUR LEASE IS UP IN TWO YEARS, SO I'M HERE VERY CANDIDLY BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO HANDLE THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.

SO I BROUGHT YOU SOME FAST FACTS, AND SINCE YOU ARE IN PART TWO OF A 10 PART INVESTIGATION, I'LL GIVE YOU SOME FAST FACTS TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE MOST BLATANT ONE THAT'S UP ON THE SCREEN HERE WILL BE PARKING.

YEAH, WE CURRENTLY USE THREE ACRES OF PARKING ON A WEEKEND AT OUR THEATER, WITH 1500 PEOPLE COMING. SO JUST THAT ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO WEEKEND EVENTS, YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THINGS LIKE THAT.

YES, PARKING WILL BECOME AN IMPORTANT THING.

I'M VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT JIMMY SAID ABOUT THE TIRZS.

I THINK IF YOU ARE A PART TWO OF THIS, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH SEVERAL CITIES OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS OF EXPLORING A TIRZ THAT'LL ENCOMPASS NOT JUST BEDFORD, BUT THE ENTIRE REGION AND PERFORMING ARTS.

THERE IS NO PERFORMING ARTS VENUE IN NORTH TARRANT COUNTY.

THE CLOSEST THING YOU'LL FIND IS CASA MANANA OF ANY SIZE OR OF ANY NOTE.

[01:05:06]

WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT AFTER THE FACT? AND HOW SUSTAINABLE ARE YOU? ARTISAN CENTER THEATERS RECEIVED NEARLY ZERO FUNDS FROM OUR BEGINNING.

IT'S BEEN BUTTS IN SEATS IS HOW YOU DO IT.

AND TO MAKE THAT FUNCTION AND TO MAKE YOU SUSTAINABLE, YOU NEED TO HAVE CAPACITY.

AND THERE'S IT'S NOT A DIFFICULT THING TO EXPLAIN OR TO SHARE WITH YOU.

I KNOW IT INTIMATELY BECAUSE I PERSONALLY HAVE INVESTED ABOUT 100000 A YEAR TO KEEP THE THEATERS SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE CAPACITY AND CAPACITY IS TRIGGERED, USUALLY AT MINIMUM OF 200 UP TO 300 SEATS.

IF YOU START TO GO TO THAT LEVEL, THEN YOU GET ENOUGH ATTENDANCE THAT YOU CAN COVER THE OVERHEAD THAT'S INVOLVED IN SUSTAINING THE BUSINESS OR YOU HAVE TO DO OTHER THINGS.

WE HAD TO DO OTHER THINGS, SO WE DO OVER 300 PERFORMANCES A YEAR TO ROTATE PEOPLE AND WE DO TWO DIFFERENT THEATERS WITH A MAIN STAGE AND A CHILDREN'S THEATER.

WE AGGRESSIVELY GO FOR GRANTS AND OTHER WAYS TO MAKE AND TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, WHICH IS SUCH A CRITICAL THING.

SO WE HAVE FOUND THAT IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WHAT'S HELPED US THE MOST IS GETTING INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THIS IS A REAL ISSUE WITH A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHEAST TARRANT COUNTY.

THEY DO NOT FOCUS ON EDUCATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.

AND IF ANY OF YOUR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, YOU'LL YOU'LL BE HEARING ABOUT THIS.

I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, IT'S GOING TO GET MUCH WORSE.

WELL, YOU SAY THAT, BUT THE KELLER ISD HAS SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLION DOLLARS IN ARTS.

THEY HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM FOR PERFORMING.

BISD, IS THE ONE WE WORK WITH THE MOST.

I THINK THEY HAVE SOME OF THE GREATEST TALENT GOING, YEAH, BUT WE ARE SEEING RUMBLINGS IN SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERSHIPS THAT ARE GOING TO THEIR PRINCIPALS RIGHT NOW SAYING THAT OUR BUDGETS ARE BEING CUT.

AND I HAVE YET TO HEAR A SCHOOL SAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET RID OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM FIRST.

AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE AS THIS ISSUE BECOMES MORE PREVALENT AND SINCE YOU'RE IN STEP TWO, I'M JUST GIVING YOU A 10 YEAR PLAN.

ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU SEE THIS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, CONTINUE TO GET WORSE.

AS A GRANDPARENT OF 18 CHILDREN AND AS A LEADER OF A THEATER.

YOU'RE A GRANDPARENT OF 18 CHILDREN? AND THREE GREAT GRANDCHILD.

MY GOSH. SO WE ARE SEEING MANY MORE PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR ALTERNATIVE PLACES TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN IN THE PERFORMING ARTS, DANCE AND THOSE THINGS.

SO AS YOU CHART TO BUILD THIS EQUATION, THINK ABOUT THAT IS I LOVE SOME OF REBECCA'S COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP.

WELL, THAT WAS YOUR COMMENT. BUT ARE YOU GOING TO BE A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OR DO YOU WANT TO BE MORE THAN THAT? I'M STILL DEALING WITH THE RAMIFICATION THAT I'M NOT GROWN UP YET BASED ON HIS COMMENT.

BUT I BELIEVE THE LOCATION IS PERFECT.

I MEAN, ARTISAN HAS PROVED THAT BEING IN THE MID CITIES IS A GREAT LOCATION TO BE.

I'M NOT INTIMIDATED BY YOU BECOMING A COMPETITOR.

YOU'VE BEEN A COMPETITOR FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

MY WIFE WAS THE PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF ON STAGE IN BEDFORD FOR TWO YEARS.

NO KIDDING. PROBABLY BEFORE EVERYBODY HERE WAS BORN, BUT IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

AND SO WE'VE SEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE IT CONTINUE TO GROW.

BUT WE WANT TO OFFER THE EDUCATION OF WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH.

I WOULD INVITE THE CITY COUNCIL ANYBODY INTERESTED TO COME OVER TO ARTISAN AND WE'LL GIVE YOU A TOUR JUST AS ONE SMALL, MAYBE NOT THAT SMALL EXAMPLE.

WE HAVE OVER 100000 COSTUMES JUST TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORT, AND THAT ALONE TAKES 10000 SQUARE FEET. SO START AGAIN AS REBECCA AND PAM AND SOME OTHERS HAVE POINTED OUT, THE STAGE IS ONLY THE FINAL IMAGE THAT THE AUDIENCE SEES WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE CURTAIN,

[01:10:05]

BUT I WOULD INVITE ANYBODY TO COME TO THE THEATER.

WE'LL GIVE YOU A GUIDED TOUR.

NOTHING LIKE WALKING THROUGH WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT IN A THEATER AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO WALK INTO.

WE'VE HAD TO LIVE IT INTIMATELY AND WE ARE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS. WILL WE BE ABLE TO STAY IN HURST? I DON'T KNOW. WE'VE ENTERTAINED ALL IDEAS.

SO YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR LEASE IS UP IN TWO YEARS, SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT ALL POSSIBILITIES OF A PERMANENT HOME.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE A 28000 SQUARE FOOT? CORRECT.

WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

BUT IF YOU GO WITH WHEN WE STARTED WITH 120 SEATS.

OKAY. AND YOU CAN'T CHARGE ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE THAT SUSTAINABLE.

SO AS A CITY COUNCIL, YOUR DECISION AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FACE OBVIOUSLY WITH YOUR VOTERS IS HOW MUCH DO WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE OVERHEAD OF THE THEATER? WE HAVE 12 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES.

OUR ANNUAL BUDGET IS 1.4 MILLION.

THAT'S A SMALL THEATER, HONESTLY.

SO YOU JUST DO THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES.

WE DO THEATER ON A MAIN STAGE.

WE DO THEATER ON THE CHILDREN'S THEATER.

WE HAVE SEVERAL ACTING ACADEMY CLASSES, DANCE CLASSES.

SO ON THE SURFACE, SOME OF THE DIFFERENCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MUSIC, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONFERENCE SPACE, SOME OF THOSE THINGS, WHICH GIVES US OTHER REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF.

WE RENT OUR SPACE OUT, BUT IT'S NOT CONSISTENT AND YOU CAN'T, WE'VE RENTED OUT, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO DECIDE, DO WE WANT TO GO INTO COMPETITION WITH HURST.

YOU KNOW, WITH THEIR CONVENTION CENTER, COULD WE MATCH THAT AS YOU KNOW, THEY SPEND $18 MILLION JUST ON A CONVENTION CENTER.

YES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME MATCHING THAT.

WELL, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL HOTELIERS AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE THAT HURST IS NOT SERVICING.

RIGHT, THERE'S A NICHE. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE 15000 PEOPLE DOWN THERE TO GO DO SOMETHING, THAT'S A GREAT SPACE TO DO THAT.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THAT.

NO, YEAH. SO I'M JUST GIVING YOU THESE IDEAS.

OK, GREAT. AND IF YOU'RE IN PART TWO OF IT, WE OFFER A TOUR OF OUR FACILITY AND COME SEE WHAT TWENTY EIGHT THOUSAND SPACE LOOKS LIKE.

THE ACTUAL THEATERS ARE ONLY 4000 SQUARE FEET AND 3000 SQUARE FEET, SO THIS THEATER SPACE IS SMALL AS COMPARED TO THE ALL OF THE WHAT WE CALL THE SUPPORT YOU KNOW COMPLEX THAT GOES WITH IT, BUT AS SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT TALK TONIGHT WILL TELL YOU, HAVING A SPACE TO PERFORM WITHOUT A PLACE TO REHEARSE MAKES IT JUST ABOUT IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT ON COSTUMES OR BUILD A SET.

WE HAVE 4000 FEET JUST DEDICATED TO PROP AND SET BUILDING.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT GOES ON TO PUT ON A SHOW.

THAT'S ALL I JUST WANTED WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YEAH. PLEASE COME ON UP.

HI, THERE, MY NAME IS KIT.

I'M A RESIDENT OF BEDFORD HAVE BEEN FOR A LONG TIME OFF AND ON, NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW LONG, AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT ATTEND BEDFORD HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY, SO I FEEL LIKE I'M ESPECIALLY INVESTED IN WHAT WE BECOME WHEN WE GROW UP.

I ALSO, I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS CONVERSATION, EVERY TIME SOMEBODY HAS BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE ORIGINAL INTENTION OF THIS CENTER, WHICH AS IS AS A PERFORMING ARTS VENUE AND NOT NECESSARILY A CONFERENCE CENTER, YOU KEEP BRINGING UP THE TOPIC OF HOTELS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU EVEN USE THE PHRASE HOTEL COMMUNITY, WHICH I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT, HOTELS ARE NOT A COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE AN INDUSTRY, WE ARE A COMMUNITY.

I APOLOGIZE, I AM NOT TRYING TO BE CONFRONTATIONAL.

I'M NOT TRYING TO PARSE.

WHAT I AM TRYING TO POINT OUT IS THAT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IN THE PLANS WE HAVE SO FAR FOR THIS SPACE, IT'S SORT OF DESIGNED OUT AS MORE OF A TOURIST TRAP OR SOMETHING TO LURE PEOPLE INTO BEDFORD WHEN WE'RE ALREADY HERE.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF HAVE CHOSEN TO EITHER RELOCATE TO OR STAY IN BEDFORD BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS ARE SO INCREDIBLE.

THIS IS SUCH A FANTASTIC PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY.

THERE'S A LOT OF DRAW.

YEAH. I WOULD LOVE TO BE CERTAIN THAT MOVING FORWARD, THE PURPOSE OF THIS CENTER IS TO FACILITATE ACCESSIBLE, ACCESSIBLE BEING THE MAIN THING HERE, YOU KNOW, ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC ARTS FOR EVEN LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN THE AREA.

[01:15:01]

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE'RE KIND OF FOCUSING MORE ON HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE UP MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN ASKING FOR? NOBODY HERE ASKED FOR A CONFERENCE CENTER.

NOBODY HERE ASKED FOR AN INCREDIBLY VERSATILE, MULTI-USE SPACE THAT WE CAN RENT OUT TO THIRD PARTIES AND HAVE RUN BY THIRD PARTIES.

WHAT WE WANT IS TO MAKE PERFORMING ARTS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO OUR COMMUNITY AS IT EXISTS AND AS IT WILL GROW IN PLACE.

SURE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

AND THAT'S WHERE THIS CONVERSATION STARTED.

RIGHT. THE SOME OF THE AND AGAIN, WE'RE EARLY IN THE PROCESS, BUT PART OF THE DUE DILIGENCE IS FIGURING OUT WHAT DO WE WANT.

WHO DO WE WANT TO BE WHEN WE GROW UP, LIKE YOU SAID.

AND THEN AS WE MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, THEN THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE PUT THE BUILDING BLOCKS TOGETHER TO PAY FOR IT? AND SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT HOTELS OR JIMMY TALKED ABOUT HOTELS IS THAT'S A THAT'S A PIECE THERE THAT COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO DO THAT.

BUT THE WHOLE CONVERSATION BEGAN WITH WE WANT A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, NOT A CONFERENCE CENTER. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS DILUTING THAT IDEA, AND I AGREE WITH WHAT REALLY EVERYBODY ELSE HERE HAS SAID.

IF WE FOCUS ON CREATING A FANTASTIC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, FOCUS ON HAVING ENOUGH CAPACITY, THAT IT WILL MAINTAIN ITSELF OVER TIME, THAT REALLY SOLVES ALL THESE PROBLEMS, DOESN'T IT? YEAH. THE MORE WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DILUTING ITS USE DOWN INTO AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, PERFORMING ARTS CENTER CAN INCLUDE THEATER, DANCE ORCHESTRA, JAZZ WITHOUT CONTINUING TO LIKE ADD IN CONFERENCE CENTER, A SEPARATE BLACK BOX, AN OUTDOOR STAGE WHICH I CAN SEE BEING PROBLEMATIC WITH HOUSES ALL THE WAY AROUND THIS SITE.

YOU KNOW, OK, VERY GOOD, NO, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHT.

SURE. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING ON THE HOTELS.

IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DESIGN IT OR ADD ALL THESE AMENITIES FOR THE HOTELS.

THE ISSUE IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS, THOSE ARE JUST THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

BUT AFTER THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS HERE, HIS BUDGET'S ONE POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS.

IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO USE STATE HOTEL MOTEL REVENUES, THE PERCENTAGE OF SEVEN PERCENT THAT HOTELS THAT PEOPLE PAY WHEN THEY STAY IN A HOTEL, IT HAS TO BE USED ON ALLOWABLE EXPENSES. AND SO I DON'T THINK AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. NO ONE IS SAYING WE WANT TO BUILD THIS AS AN AMENITY FOR THE HOTELS.

BUT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO USE SOME OF THE HOTEL MOTEL REVENUES TO OPERATE IT, WE HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE EARLY IN THE STAGES, BUT WE CAN'T.

I CAN TELL YOU, YOU LOOK AT THE ONE POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS, THAT'S A THAT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF OF WHAT IT COSTS TO GENERATE THE WHOLE GENERATION'S PARK, THE CENTER AND EVERYTHING. AND SO FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER OPERATING THAT WHOLE THING ALMOST AT A DEFICIT BECAUSE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO CHARGE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR ALL THE SEATS, THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER REVENUE SOURCE FOR OPERATIONAL COSTS AND THAT NEEDS TO BE HOTEL MOTEL FEES.

THAT'S JUST, IF NOT, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE SO COST PROHIBITIVE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO COME TO.

BUT THAT'S WHY IT'S IN THE EQUATION.

SO IT'S NOT FOR THE AMENITIES.

WE JUST WANT TO LEGALLY BE ABLE TO USE THAT REVENUE STREAM TO PROVIDE THE AMENITIES TO YOU ALL, IF YOU WILL, AND TOO ALL BEDFORD RESIDENTS.

AND WE ALSO WANT PEOPLE TO COME FROM OUT OF TOWN, QUITE FRANKLY, AND SHOP AT THE RESTAURANTS AND THEN GO HOME AND THEY GENERATE THE SALES TAX THAT WE CAN USE ON YOUR STREETS. SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT'S WHY WE TALK ABOUT HOTELS AND MOTELS.

BUT YOU KNOW, ANYWAY.

SO I GUESS I DON'T WANT TO GET OUT THERE AND SPEAK ON Y'ALL'S BEHALF ON THIS, BUT THE NUMBER ONE REASON WE'RE DOING THIS IS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER CORRECT? DO YOU ALL AGREE WITH THAT? I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S MY FEELING.

YOU ALL AGREE WITH IT? OKAY.

YEAH, THANK YOU KIT, WE APPRECIATE IT.

COME ON. WHO'S THIS STRANGER? MY NAME IS BOB FREEMAN, AND I DON'T KNOW [INAUDIBLE] I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE SEVENTY TWO, HOWEVER LONG THAT IS.

I JUST RECENTLY RETIRED.

I WORKED FOR A CITY AND I'M NOT ASHAMED TO SAY IT.

I WORK FOR THE CITY OF EULESS FOR 40 YEARS AND ALL I REALLY WANT TO SAY.

I THINK THIS IS GREAT.

I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EIGHT TO $10 MILLION FOR ONE REAL SMALL SECTION OF THAT, AND I OFTEN WONDERED WHEN I WORKED FOR THE CITY THAT I WORKED FOR.

IF SOMEBODY REALLY WANTS IT, WHY ISN'T CAPITALISTS TAKING OVER? WHY AREN'T THERE PEOPLE HERE AND CITY PARTNER WITH THEM, BUT COME IN AND SAY, HEY, WE'LL BUILD THIS CENTER, WE'LL DO THIS, WE'LL DO IT RIGHT, WE'LL RUN IT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE REVENUE OFF OF IT.

AND IT WORKS NOTHING AGAINST THESE GUYS.

I'VE BUILT SEVERAL BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF EULESS, AND THEY MAKE A LIVING.

[01:20:02]

BUT IT'S NOT THAT THEY CAN'T DO IT, AND IT'S NOT THAT IT WON'T DO THERE, BUT LUBBOCK SITS BY ITSELF.

RIGHT? COLLEGE STATION, TO A LARGE DEGREE, SITS BY ITSELF.

YOU SIT IN THE MIDDLE.

DISCOVER THE CENTER.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE REASON DISCOVER THE CENTERS THERE, BUT YOU SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF HURST, EULESS, BEDFORD, COLLEYVILLE, SOUTHLAKE, GRAPEVINE AND I CAN TELL YOU, BECAUSE I'VE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

HURST CONFERENCE CENTER AIN'T MAKING MONEY.

THEY MAY BE BREAKING EVEN.

THEY MAY BE MAKING A LITTLE BIT.

THEY'RE NOT PAYING.

THEY'RE NOT REDUCING TAXES IN THE CITY OF HURST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CONFERENCE CENTER.

CITY OF EULESS HAS A GOLF COURSE WITH A CONFERENCE CENTER THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH DRAW THAT THEY ACTUALLY SPENT ANOTHER BOND DEAL TO ENLARGE THAT.

I WILL TELL YOU THEY'RE NOT MAKING MONEY OFF THAT.

THEY'RE NOT LOSING MONEY, BUT THEY'RE NOT REDUCING THE TAXES FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF EULESS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CONFERENCE CENTER AND THEY FIT A NEED THAT HURST, SOMEBODY SAID EARLIER, DOESN'T.

HURST HAS A REALLY NICE BIG CONFERENCE CENTER IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO TAKE THEIR BUSINESS OF ONE HUNDRED, TWO HUNDRED, THREE HUNDRED.

THEY CAN GO TO EULESS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE CHEAPER FOR THEM THAN TO GO AND HAVE ALL THAT SPACE THERE.

BUT THEY DON'T MEET ALL THE NEEDS.

SO I GUESS MY PURPOSE OF WITHOUT WHEN YOU RETIRE, YOU'VE GOT TO BE REAL CAREFUL THAT YOU DON'T BECOME NEGATIVE. I'M NOT NEGATIVE, AND I'M GOING TO BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT AS OF THE 6TH OF THIS MONTH, I TURNED 65 AND I'VE APPLIED FOR MY SENIOR FREEZE.

AND AND TO SOME DEGREE, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A SAY BECAUSE MY TAXES ARE GOING TO BE MANAGEABLE. THAT'S NOT TRUE.

WELL, TO SOME DEGREE, I ALSO HAVE A VERY GOOD PENSION, BUT YOU NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT.

I APPRECIATE WHAT JIMMY SAID ABOUT A WHILE AGO IS THAT YOU'RE JUGGLING A BUNCH OF THINGS AND WE GOT GREAT THINGS COMING.

I HATE THE STREETS OF BEDFORD AND THE ONLY CITY IN THIS AREA THAT I THINK IS WORSE IS FORT WORTH. AND AS MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER AND I SAID JUST YESTERDAY, I'M PRETTY SURE BEDFORD IS RIGHT UP THERE NECK AND NECK WITH FORT WORTH.

NOT FOR LONG. NOW, IF WE'VE GOT SOMETHING COMING, THAT'S GREAT.

I WON'T CALL IT GENERATION PARK BECAUSE I GREW UP AT BEDFORD BOYS RANCH, WHICH I LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO BEDFORD BOYS RANCH.

MY KIDS WENT TO DANCES AT BEDFORD BOYS RANCH.

WE'VE FED MANY A DUCK BEFORE ANYBODY TOLD US THAT YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO FEED BREAD TO DUCKS AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE.

YEAH. AND I THINK IT'S LOOKING BEAUTIFUL.

I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DEALS AND SHAME ON ME.

WHEN YOU WORK FOR ANOTHER CITY, YOU TRY NOT TO GET YOU CAN'T CROSS OVER BECAUSE IT CAUSES PROBLEMS. EITHER WAY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE ONE THING THAT I TOLD THE CITY OF EULESS BEFORE LONG BEFORE I LEFT AND JIMMY AND I ACTUALLY KNEW EACH OTHER 40 PLUS YEARS AGO.

DID YOU REALLY KNOW HIM WHEN HE WAS THERE? WHEN HE WAS AN INTERN? OH MY GOD.

YEAH. HE WASN'T ANY BETTER LOOKING THEN.

THANKS A LOT, BOB. I WAS THINNER, A LITTLE THINNER.

WOW. WHO WASN'T? THE THE WAY THESE CITIES ARE GOING TO SURVIVE IS WE'VE GOT TO QUIT SAYING, OK, IF HURST HAS A CONFERENCE CENTER, HURST HAS A THEATER IF HURST, HAS THIS, OR BEDFORD OR EULESS HAS IT OR WHAT WE GOT TO HAVE IT.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THAT.

IF THERE WAS ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THIS, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THERE'D BE A LOT MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE HERE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE 50 PEOPLE HERE, THOSE ARE THE ONES OF US THAT GREW UP GOING TO THINGS LIKE THIS. IT'S NOT THE NEXT GENERATION THAT DOES EVERYTHING ON FACEBOOK AND THAT KIND OF STUFF. SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE LOOK AT THAT.

I LOVE THE WHOLE IDEA OF THAT OUTDOOR.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO SIT IN THE OUTDOOR, EXCEPT FOR THERE'S PROBABLY A MONTH IN APRIL AND MAYBE A MONTH IN SEPTEMBER.

BUT THE REALITY IS YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO DO THAT.

YOU DIDN'T GO THE PICKLED BEER THING BACK IN NOVEMBER.

IT'S TOO TOO HOT.

YEAH, WE HAVE SOME GREAT VENUES HERE, BLUES FESTIVAL AND WHATNOT THAT ARE GREAT BECAUSE THEY'RE UNIQUE AND THEY BRING EVERYBODY IN FOR THREE DAYS.

I MIGHT GRIPE ABOUT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THE MUSIC'S TOO LOUD AT MY HOUSE SOMETIMES, BUT IT'S A GREAT VENUE FOR THREE DAYS.

BUT IF YOU HAD THAT EVERY DAY, YOU'D BE YOU JUST WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE HAPPY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE LADIES I THINK SAID IT CORRECTLY.

THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO LIVE.

YEAH, AND I DON'T I'M NOT REAL ENTHRALLED IN BRINGING MORE TRAFFIC INTO BEDFORD.

[01:25:07]

I LIKE THE RESTAURANTS WE HAVE.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE BETTER RESTAURANTS HERE.

I KIND OF LIKE FOOD TRUCKS, BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT MY FOOD TRUCKS TO COMPETE WITH MY RESTAURANTS AND YOU GO TO ANY OF OUR RESTAURANTS TODAY, THEY ALL GOT HIRING SIGNS AND HALF THEIR TABLES ARE CLOSED.

HOW DO WE SUPPORT THAT? AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO TRY TO SUPPORT YOUR DEALS WITH MONEY.

AND AS JIMMY'S ONE OF HIS MENTORS AND ONE OF MY MENTORS, TOM HART, WAS THE FIRST PERSON I EVER TALKED ABOUT IS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO BE GENERAL REVENUE NEUTRAL OR GENERATE REVENUE AS A CITY. OUR JOBS, INITIALLY WHEN I STARTED 42 YEARS AGO WORKING FOR A CITY WAS TO PROVIDE THE BASIC SERVICES POLICE, FIRE, SEWER, WATER STREETS.

THEN YOU TOOK THE EXTRA TO PROVIDE A LITTLE LIBRARIES AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

I'M NOT AN ARTS GUY AND I'LL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU.

I HAVE A SIGNIFICANT OTHER THAT DRAGS ME TO BASS HALL.

SOMETIMES I SLEEP THROUGH THE EVENT AND SOMETIMES I ENJOY THE EVENT.

AS I'VE GOTTEN OLDER, I HAVE HEARING AIDS.

HALF THE PEOPLE TALKING UP HERE, I CAN'T HEAR.

HALF THE TIME AT BASS HALL, WHICH HAS GREAT ACOUSTICS.

OH MY GOSH. YEAH, I CAN'T HEAR.

SO THEY HAVE A REALLY GREAT THING THAT PUTS THE WORDS UP ON YOUR IPHONE SO THAT YOU CAN SIT AND FOLLOW ALONG WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWN THERE.

I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT ALL THAT.

HERE LATELY, I'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS OF WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO THE BASICS.

IF YOU'VE GOT A FOOTBALL TEAM TO BE A WINNING FOOTBALL TEAM, THE DALLAS COWBOYS GOT TO FIGURE OUT FIRST, THERE'S A FOOTBALL AND THEN THERE'S PLAYS AND YOU'VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY, RIGHT.

AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF IS NICE AND NEAT, AND IT'S FUN, AND IT MAKES JERRY JONES LOOK COOL, BUT HE CAN'T WIN A FOOTBALL SEASON.

SO BOB, ARE YOU GOING TO SIT HERE AND BE A PROPONENT THAT THE OWNER NEEDS TO FIRE THE GENERAL MANAGER? NO.

WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS I THINK THIS IS GREAT, AND IF WE CAN PULL THAT OFF, I'M ALL FOR IT. I THINK THE PARK IS LOOKING GOOD.

I THINK CITIES HAVE TO HAVE STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT THE FIRST THING YOU GOT TO SAY IS, DO WE REALLY HAVE A NEED FOR IT? YEAH. HOW MANY PEOPLE AND I USED TO TELL MY BOSS ALL THE TIME YOU GET 10 PEOPLE ON NEIGHBORHOOD NEXT DOOR THAT'S RAISING CANE ABOUT SOMETHING IN A CITY OF 60000 PEOPLE WITH ANOTHER HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DRIVE THROUGH EVERY DAY.

YEAH, THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE BECAUSE I'D GO KICK A DOG AND FIND 10 OR 15 PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT ME KICKING A DOG, RIGHT? SO IT'S NOTIT'S NOT AN ISSUE IF YOU CAN'T GET BUT 50 PEOPLE TO CARE ABOUT THIS.

YEAH, AND THEY'RE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUR AGE.

YEAH. NOT THAT WE ALL DON'T WANT WHAT WE WANT, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL OF US IN THIS ROOM AIN'T PAYING ANY MORE TAXES THAN WHAT WE'VE ALREADY PAID, RIGHT.

AND I'M NOT A BIG I DON'T WANT TO SOUND NEGATIVE.

I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT JIMMY AND Y'ALL PROVIDE GREAT SERVICE TO ME FOR WHATEVER IT IS I PAY, YOU KNOW, THE FIVE OR SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR I PAY ON MY HOUSE, THE MAJORITY OF IT, VERY LITTLE OF THAT GOES TO THE CITY OF BEDFORD.

AND FOR THAT, I GET POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION, FAIRLY DECENT STREETS.

BUT I GOT TRASH TRUCKS THAT COME TWICE A WEEK.

I GOT WATER EVERY TIME I TURN THE FAUCET.

I GOT SEWER EVERY TIME I FLUSH IT.

I GOT PARKS TO GO TO WHENEVER IT REOPENS.

AND SO I GET GREAT VALUE OUT OF THAT MONEY.

BUT TAXES KEEP GOING UP AND WE'VE GOT TO THINK OF A WAY TO BE SMARTER.

I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY STARTED DOING THAT WITH SOME THINGS OF WHY DOES EACH CITY HAVE THEIR OWN JAIL? YEAH, IT MAKES NOT, IT'S EXPENSIVE TO RUN A JAIL.

WHY DOES EACH CITY HAVE THEIR OWN ANIMAL CONTROL? IT'S EXPENSIVE TO RUN THOSE TYPE OF DEALS.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE ALL OF US HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND START SAYING IT'S TIME TO START LOOKING AT THE WHOLE IN OUR AREA.

WE HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAUSE IT SERVED BASICALLY THREE MAIN CITIES AND THEN FORT WORTH AND BIRDVILLE.

AND IN EULESS, WE STRUGGLED A LITTLE BIT WITH GRAPEVINE COLLEYVILLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A CERTAIN PART OF THAT. SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

THIS IS A GREAT DEAL.

IF WE HAD ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, I'D SAY, BUILD IT TOMORROW.

YEAH, FOR EIGHT OR $10 MILLION.

I'M NOT THINKING YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO BUILD MUCH IN TODAY'S DOLLARS.

SO THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO US WHEN YOU SAY EIGHT TO $10 MILLION AND WE SEE THE PRETTY PICTURE, BUT Y'ALL KNOW THE REALITY IS THAT'S TEN TIMES THAT EIGHT TO $10 MILLION, IF YOU EVER HAD THAT WHOLE THING.

BASS HALL MONEY. UNLESS JERRY JONES COMES IN AND DECIDES HE WANTS TO.

[01:30:04]

UNLESS HE WANTS TO COME INVEST.

LET ME SAY THIS, BOB.

THE NEAT THING THAT WE HAVE WITH THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE AT CITY HALL NOW IS THAT WE'RE EXPLORING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH OUR SISTER CITIES TO PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, TO LOOK FOR THOSE [INAUDIBLE] OF COSTS.

AND THIS IS NO DIFFERENT.

THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE GOING FORWARD ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY IT WORKS OR IS GOING TO WORK IN THE FUTURE. AND I SAY THAT IF SOMEBODY THAT'S VERY I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO WORKS FOR THE CITY OF HURST AND HAS WORKED THERE FOR 17 YEARS.

I HAVE A DAUGHTER IN LAW THAT WORKS FOR Y'ALL AND HAS DONE THAT FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS, 11 OR 12 YEARS. GREAT JOB, BY THE WAY.

THANK YOU. I HAVE A SON THAT ORIGINALLY WORKED FOR JIMMY IN ROANOKE FOR EIGHT OR NINE YEARS AND THEN WENT TO GRAND PRAIRIE TO WORK FOR TOM HART OUT THERE.

AND HE LOVES THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE.

BUT I ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT STANDALONE CITIES ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FUNCTION BECAUSE TAXPAYERS ARE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO WANT TO FUNCTION THAT WAY.

WE'VE GOT TO COME OUT WITH A BETTER WAY TO DO BUSINESS AND OVERALL.

SO AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

I JUST HAD LUNCH WITH LORETTA AND CHRIS JUST THIS WEEK, AND SO I KNOW THERE'S THINGS THAT WE'RE STILL DOING.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL HOPE H-E-B GROCERY STORE COMES IN UP THERE.

AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THEY MAY NOT ABSOLUTELY KNOW, BUT IT WOULD ACTUALLY SIT IN BOTH CITIES. AND WE'VE ALREADY GOT AN AGREEMENT THAT'S GOING TO SHARE THAT REVENUE THAT COMES UP. THOSE ARE THE GREAT THINGS THAT MAKE, THAT I THINK ARE WHAT'S GOING TO PUSH THE CITIES FORWARD NOW.

I'M GETTING OFF THE SUBJECT HERE.

THIS CAN BE A GREAT VENUE.

I DON'T LIVE FAR FROM THERE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PAY FOR IT.

OKAY, SO OKAY. THE ONE LAST THOUGHT THAT I HAD.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ANYTHING ELSE ON IT.

IN MY MIND, IF WE, TWO THINGS, ONE, WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF GETTING THIS WRONG BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN AIRPORT OR A SHOPPING MALL TO HELP BACK STOP US BEING IRRESPONSIBLE YEAH, BUT THEN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR IS BRAGGING ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE 100 PERCENT OCCUPANCY. WELL, IF YOU WERE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, YOU WE KNOW WE'RE ON, WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, BUT SEE, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY. SO WE HAVE TO BE SMART AND WE HAVE TO GET THE NUMBERS RIGHT.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE DOOMING OURSELVES TO SERIOUS MISTAKES THAT GO FORWARD 20 YEARS FROM NOW.

SO THAT'S ONE THOUGHT.

TWO, IF DONE RIGHT, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT SUPPORTS THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AS WELL.

THE THOUGHT IS, THIS IS FOR BEDFORD.

THIS IS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

IS THIS FOR OUR COMMUNITY? BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS THAT IF DONE RIGHT, THIS IS SUPPORTIVE OF OUR RESTAURANTS, OF OUR SHOPS, THINGS LIKE THAT EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A SUCCESSFUL VENUE LIKE THIS.

THAT'S KIND OF THE HOPE. AND MAYOR, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE I WOULD TELL YOU THAT EULESS, WHICH WAS USELESS FOR A LARGE PART OF MY CAREER.

AND TOM HART CONVINCED HIM TO BUILD A GOLF COURSE AND SAY THEY WILL COME.

PUT THEM ON THE MAP. PUT THEM ON THE MAP.

AND SO THINGS CAN CHANGE THAT.

THIS CAN CHANGE, I WOULD TELL YOU AND I HATE SAYING THIS, BUT SOME OF YOUR ART STUFF THAT YOU'RE DOING NOW OR WHATNOT AND JIMMY'S, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE YOUNG LADY, BUT WHOEVER'S DOING ALL THE MEDIA WORK AND STUFF LIKE THAT IS CHANGING THE WAY CITIZENS LOOK AT Y'ALL AND LOOK AT THE CITY.

CHANGING HOW I LOOK AT Y'ALL AND HOW I LOOK, OTHER THAT WAS RAISED IN EULESS, ALL OF HER LIFE.

AND NOW NO, ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT AND UNDERSTAND.

I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO KEEP JUST RECOGNIZING AND UNDERSTANDING THAT IF IT'S THAT GREAT, IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH, THERE NEEDS TO BE A THEATER BECAUSE WE PROMISE THAT WITH THE $70 MILLION BOND. YEAH.

AND I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND.

I DO AGREE THAT IT WAS A DEBACLE BECAUSE THE DEBACLE WAS GIVE US THE MONEY AND WE'LL BUILD IT RIGHT. AND THAT'S SOME OF THAT'S SOME OF WHERE THE DISTRUST COMES FROM.

YOU HAVE TO PASS IT THEN THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, WELL, WE THINK WE HAVE THIS PLAN.

NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THE REAL WHAT WE'RE REALLY GOING TO DO WITH IT.

THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT DEAL IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

I'VE TAKEN UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME.

I NEED TO BE MORE INVOLVED.

I'M RETIRED NOW SO I'M NOT GOING TO DRIVE AROUND AND PICK ON THINGS BECAUSE I WORK FOR THOSE KIND OF CITIZENS WAY TO [INAUDIBLE], BUT I WILL OFFER MYSELF TO BE HERE TO AND TO

[01:35:05]

I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU.

50 PEOPLE.

SHOOT ME A NOTE. 50 PEOPLE IS NOT THE 50000 PEOPLE THAT CALL BEDFORD HOME.

SHOOT ME A NOTE TALKING ABOUT YOU WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED.

WE'LL SEE. PLEASE COME ON.

I THINK THIS LADY BACK HERE WAS, YEAH, YEAH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

GOOD EVENING.

FORGIVE ME, I AM NOT A PUBLIC SPEAKER.

OH, YOU'RE FINE. I'M SWEATING ALREADY.

DO YOU MIND GIVING US YOUR NAME? ANGIE, ANGIE WELCOME.

WE APPRECIATE IT. IT'S JUST US.

SO NO PROBLEM.

NO PROBLEM. OK, SO I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF BEDFORD TWENTY ONE YEARS.

MY LITTLE BOY BACK THERE, HE GOES TO STONEGATE.

I'VE HAD TWO GIRLS GO THROUGH STONEGATE, CENTRAL AND BELL, AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO REMEMBER THAT 17, I'M SORRY.

YOU'RE FINE. NERVOUS.

NO, DON'T BE NERVOUS.

IT'S JUST WE'RE NOBODY.

17 OF THE 20 HEB ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE TITLE ONE.

HE GOES TO STONEGATE.

WE LIVE IN THE BEL AIR, BROWN TRAIL BEDFORD ROAD.

OK, THIS IS REAL CLOSE TO WHERE WE ARE.

THIS WOULD BE FANTASTIC FOR US.

BUT WE CAN'T MAKE THIS COLLEYVILLE.

WE CAN'T BUILD IT SO BIG THAT THOSE TICKETS, I CAN'T TAKE HIM TO PAY FOR IT.

AND THEN HE GETS TO SEE COLLEYVILLE COME TO BEDFORD AND GET WHAT HE DOESN'T GET.

AND NOT JUST THE SEATS FOR THE PERFORMANCE, BUT THESE KIDS, THIS GENTLEMAN WAS SAYING, IF PERFORMING ARTS ARE KIND OF GOING AWAY IN THE ELEMENTARY OR IN SCHOOLS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE THIS FOR FREE AT HERE.

THE CLASSES AND TO BECOME PART OF THIS, IT'S GOING TO COST THE PARENT TO PUT THEIR CHILD IN IT, AND IF IT'S TOO BIG, WE CAN'T PUT OUR KIDS IN IT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OTHER CITIES COMING AND USING OUR FACILITIES, AND WE'RE NOT DOING OUR KIDS.

THIS IS OUR NEXT GENERATION.

THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO USE IT.

HE MAY OR MAY NOT BECAUSE HE'S ALREADY ALMOST IN JUNIOR HIGH.

IT MAY NOT BE DONE BY THEN, BUT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE FOR OUR KIDS.

AND WE'RE NOT RICH IN BEDFORD OVER HERE.

THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

YEAH, PLEASE, IF YOU DON'T MIND. NO, THANK YOU.

AND WE TOTALLY AGREE.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON THE COUNCIL'S BEHALF, BUT I KNOW THAT'S, NOT TO BRING UP THE YMCA, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE WERE LOOKING, YOU KNOW, AT THE YMCA BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE FOR RESIDENTS.

IF THE YMCA OPERATES IT AGAIN, WE'RE EARLY IN THAT DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE.

BUT MY POINT IS WE WANT TO MAKE EVERYTHING AFFORDABLE FOR RESIDENTS.

I MEAN, YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR A LOT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS TO HELP BRING DOWN THE COST BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY IT AND THEN TELL THEIR FAMILIES, TELL THEIR FRIENDS. SO FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, AND I CAN TELL YOU THE COUNCIL'S VISION AND DIRECTION IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOUR REQUEST HAS BEEN.

SO. AND THEN AS WE'VE JUST HAD LOOSE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE WORLD IS, IT'S ABOUT GIVING PREFERENCE TO BEDFORD RESIDENTS.

IS IT NOT? A HUNDRED PERCENT. I MEAN, BOTH FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A COST OF A TICKET OR THE COST TO RENT THE FACILITY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S ABOUT KIND OF BEDFORD FIRST.

ABSOLUTELY, AVAILABILITY, COSTS, RESERVATIONS, EVERYTHING.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT WAS GREAT.

AND ONCE AGAIN, A LOCAL CELEBRITY.

YEAH. MARGARET HALL, 44 MORROW.

WELL, I SORT OF AGREE WITH BOB, AND I THINK SOME OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS GREW INTO THIS MONSTROSITY.

I MEAN, I REMEMBER HOW CHAMPNEY HAD THIS GREAT IDEA OF OF THIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND ALL THIS OUTDOOR STUFF.

AND NOW WE'VE GOT ALL THIS STUFF.

WHERE ARE PEOPLE GOING TO PARK? I MEAN, I THINK THIS HAS GONE WAY OVER THE TOP.

I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP IT SMALLER.

WE NEED TO WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND LIKE THESE PEOPLE SAID, MAKE IT FOR THE THE CITY, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.

YES, WE NEED A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

[01:40:01]

AND SO IS THE ON STAGE STILL GOING TO BE IN THAT OTHER BUILDING? I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY MENTION THAT I HOPE ON STAGE IS STILL GOING TO BE AROUND.

AND IF YOU HAVE A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU NECESSARILY DO HAVE TO HAVE A STAGE BECAUSE I GO TO CIRCLE THEATER AND ARTISAN THEATER AND STAGE WEST AND ALL THOSE AND MOST OF THOSE DON'T HAVE A STAGE.

THEY USE A CENTRAL AREA AND THEN THE SEATING IS AROUND IT.

BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE FOR PROPS AND STUFF.

AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY IF YOU'RE JUST IF YOU'RE RENTING THIS OUT OR HAVING LIKE CONCERTS AND SPECIAL PERFORMANCES AND MAYBE LIKE A PLAY THAT RUNS FOR A MONTH OR SO, THAT'S ONE THING. AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO THEY COULD FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

IT WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT YOU WOULD HAVE DIFFERENT EVENTS OCCUR. BUT I'M ASSUMING THAT WE STILL HAVE ON STAGE ON AN ONGOING BASIS SOMEWHERE AROUND HERE, RIGHT? RIGHT.

YES.

WE HAVE YES, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH ONSTAGE TO USE THE SECOND FLOOR OF OBS.

SO I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT NOT HAVING THAT AGREEMENT GOING FORWARD.

THE ANNUAL OR BIANNUAL CONTRACT IS COMING UP, BUT THAT'S JUST BECAUSE THERE'S AN EXPIRATION DATE.

OKAY. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON THE COUNCIL'S BEHALF, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS EVER HAD ANY INTENT OF WHETHER ON STAGE OR ANYONE HAVING THEIR HOME BASE, IF YOU WILL, AT THE NEW CENTER. IT WILL BE OPEN TO EVERYONE EQUALLY.

RIGHT, IT WOULDN'T BE LIKE THE ARTISAN LIKE HE WAS SAYING.

YOU WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE AN ONGOING THING WITH THE, YOU KNOW OKAY, OKAY.

WELL THEN, BUT I DO THINK THAT YOU'VE GONE OVER THE TOP AND EXTENDED THIS WAY GREATER.

I AGREE WITH SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.

YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THE CITY AND YOU ADD TO IT LATER, BUT DON'T MAKE IT INTO THIS MONSTROSITY NOW, MAKE IT FOCUS ON THE OUTDOOR STUFF AND THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT LET'S NOT HAVE ALL THIS OTHER STUFF GOING ON AND ON FOREVER.

I THINK IT'S GONE BALLISTIC.

IN FAIRNESS, IS THAT NOT WHAT WE WERE ALL DISCUSSING WAS PHASING THIS.

IF THE DIRECTION IS TO HAVE THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERFORMANCE VENUES.

IT WAS Y'ALL'S PERSPECTIVE THAT THAT'S DONE OVER TIME, IT'S NOT ALL DONE AT ONCE.

YES. IS THAT WHAT I HEARD FROM YOU, GENTLEMEN BEHIND MARGARET? YOU'RE NODDING YOUR HEAD? I THINK YOU NEED TO START A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME AND SEE HOW IT GOES AND FOCUS ON SOME OF THAT OUTDOOR STUFF AND MAKE IT ALL FIT TOGETHER.

OK. OH, GREAT.

REAL GOOD POINTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS LINDSAY POLITO.

I'VE BEEN IN BEDFORD FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS.

A LOT OF WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS REITERATION, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST ONE PERSON THAT THINKS THOSE THINGS.

OH, THAT'S GREAT. BUT I HEAR A LOT OF THINGS LIKE, LET'S KEEP IT SMALL, KEEP IT LOCAL.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE'RE ASKING FOR THINGS THAT ARE INCONGRUENT.

WE WANT IT TO BE AFFORDABLE, BUT ALSO WE WANT IT TO NOT BRING IN OUTSIDE TRAFFIC.

I THINK THE MAIN THING THAT EVERYONE HAS SAID IS WE WANT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

I AGREE WITH THAT.

IF A CONFERENCE CENTER BRINGS AN OUTSIDE TRAFFIC THAT BRINGS AN OUTSIDE REVENUE, THEN THAT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE IT WILL GIVE US OUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

MM HMM. PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY TOUCHED ON, IS IT COMPETING WITH OTHER THINGS? IS IT BRINGING SOMETHING THAT HURST DOESN'T ALREADY HAVE? BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT. IT ALSO HELPS IT BECOME FEASIBLE TO FUND IF IT'S DIFFERENTIATED. AND HONESTLY, THE GENTLEMAN FROM THE ARTISAN CHANGED A LOT OF WHAT I HAD TO SAY. I DIDN'T REALIZE, I MEAN, I HAD DONE A LITTLE BIT OF THEATER AS A KID, SO I KNEW THAT IT TAKES MORE SPACE.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT TOOK THAT MUCH SPACE, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IF WE WANT A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. ALSO, HE MENTIONED THAT THEY'RE MOVING.

I DON'T KNOW IF WHAT'S PUBLIC PARK, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS YOU HAVE CONSIDERED.

THEY HAVE SHOWN THAT THERE IS A DEMAND FOR THAT PERFORMANCE VENUE, THAT PERFORMANCE THAT THEY'RE OPERATING IN THE RED FROM BASICALLY ALL SALES.

THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING FOR ANY SORT OF ARTS ORGANIZATION BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT OFTEN PROFITABLE. SO IT'S AN INTERESTING RESOURCE THERE TO TALK THROUGH.

AND THE SIZE, I THINK, IS TRICKY BECAUSE THIS LOOKS FANTASTIC.

BLACK BOX THEATER THAT SEATS NINETY NINE PEOPLE IS NOT GOING TO BE PROFITABLE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CHARGE THAT MUCH FOR TICKETS.

YOU'D HAVE TO CHARGE FIFTY DOLLARS A TICKET FOR IT TO MAKE MONEY JUST BASED ON WHAT THE MAN FROM THE ARTISAN SAID.

THIS PARTICULAR SPACE ISN'T DRAWN TO SCALE.

I THINK THOSE FOOD TRUCKS ARE SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN MY MINIVAN.

[01:45:02]

OUR SPACE IS TIGHT.

WE NEED TO BE VERY EFFICIENT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CONSIDER THINGS LIKE TRAFFIC AND PARKING. THOSE SPACES ARE CURRENTLY USED AS OVERFLOW PARKING FOR OUR LARGE EVENTS, WHICH WE LOVE. SO THOSE SORTS OF THINGS NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AS WE USE UP THAT SPACE AND BRING MORE, HOPEFULLY LARGER EVENTS INTO OUR CITY AND MORE OPTIONS.

SO YES, LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF REITERATION OF THE PARKING AND THE TRAFFIC FLOW AND THE FUNDING. MY OWN PERSONAL LITTLE SIDE NOTE OUTDOOR PARKS ARE GREAT ATTRACTION.

AS A MOM OF FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN, WE REGULARLY WILL DRIVE 30 MINUTES TO GO TO A NEW PARK OR SPECIFICALLY A BETTER SPLASH PAD.

THIS MAY NOT BE THE SPACE FOR IT BECAUSE THAT IS A SMALL SPACE OVER THERE BY THE LIBRARY, BUT THAT DOES BRING TRAFFIC INTO OUR CITY, WHICH BRINGS REVENUE INTO OUR CITY.

DO YOU MIND IF I ASK WHERE YOU LIKE TO GO?.

OUR REGULARS ARE GRAPEVINE, BECAUSE PARR PARK IS CLOSE TO BEDFORD AND IT HAS A GOOD SPLASH PAD. WE GO TO BICENTENNIAL PARK IN SOUTHLAKE, WHICH IS HUGE IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A MONSTROSITY. WE'VE DRIVEN UP TO FRISCO FOR FRISCO COMMONS.

WE'VE GONE DOWN TO GRAND PLAY ESCAPES IN GRAND PRAIRIE, THE NEW ONE THAT'S IN PHASE TWO, I THINK OF ITS SEVEN PHASES REALLY.

SO WE'VE WE'VE GOT AROUND A BIT.

THERE'S ANOTHER ONE IN WHERE WAS IT? I THINK WAS NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT THAT HAS A REALLY GREAT SPLASH PAD OVER THERE.

COPPELL OR SOMETHING? YEAH, THE COPPELL AREA.

THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE THOUGHTS.

AND SOMEONE WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN A WHILE.

HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? JOSH [INAUDIBLE] WELCOME JOSH.

YEAH SO WORKING WITH THE CITY AND WORKING WITH THIS WHOLE PROCESS IN THE FINE ARTS THING, I WENT FROM BEING A SIMPLE SPRAY FOAM INSULATION COMPANY TO A ARTS NONPROFIT JUST FROM BEING INVOLVED IN THIS CITY.

SO IT'S BEEN A BIG, LONG RAY CHAMPNEYS JOURNEY FROM WHAT HE WAS HIS VISIONS WERE, AND UH VISUAL ARTS IS KIND OF LIKE BEING NEGLECTED ON THIS ASPECT, AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF DO NEED A COMPONENT OF THAT.

THERE IS THE PLACE WHERE WE NEED SOME, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE TRINITY ARTS GUILD CHILDREN'S SHOW COMING UP RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S KIND OF COOL TO SEE THAT. BUT IT WOULD ALSO BE COOL TO SEE THAT IN A MORE MUNICIPAL SETTING BECAUSE IT DOES MEAN A LOT TO SOME OF THESE KIDS.

JUST LIKE THE SIGNAL BOXES WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CARRY WITH THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID, YOU KNOW, I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD AND NOW MY ARTWORKS ON A SIGNAL BOX.

SO IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER.

ALSO, THAT JUST HAS A TREMENDOUS IMPACT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEATER IS KIND OF LIKE FOOTBALL WHERE EVERYONE, NOT EVERYONE CAN PLAY FOOTBALL AND NOT EVERYONE CAN BE IN THE PLAY, BUT EVERYONE CAN BE.

EVERYONE CAN MAKE SOMETHING, AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT JUST NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED. THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

SO AND YOU KNOW, I'LL BE THE LAST TO BE THE LAST THING I SAY BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S GONE LONG ENOUGH. OH, ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL ROGER GALLENSTEIN, 4013 FAIRMONT COURT, I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK BECAUSE I TOLD MAGGIE IS GOING TO BE HOME BY EIGHT O'CLOCK FOR DINNER.

SEVEN FORTY EIGHT SIR. I'VE GOT TO GO QUICK.

YOU KNOW, CLEAR BACK IN 2014, I TALKED ABOUT BEDFORD NEEDS A DESTINATION.

WE KNOW THE WHOLE HISTORY OF THAT CAME BACK 2016, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAD SOME FOLKS THAT THOUGHT WHAT IS TODAY ARE GOING TO BE BEDFORD COMMONS WAS GOING TO BE BETTER FOR APARTMENTS. WE PUT A NAIL AND A STAKE IN THE HEART OF THAT, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. WE'VE GOT A CONCEPT PLAN.

I SEE THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS, AND LET'S BE REAL HONEST, I'M ACTUALLY OLDER THAN THE GENTLEMAN FROM EULESS.

AND LUCKY, MY TAX HAS BEEN FROZEN FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT IT'S ABOUT THIS LADY SITTING HERE AND THE YOUNGER FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE.

THEY'RE GOING TO INHERIT THIS CITY AND MR. COGAN WHO'S SITTING THERE.

AND LET'S BE REAL HONEST ALSO.

CITIES OR ANY KIND OF ENTITIES, IF THEY DON'T MOVE FORWARD, THEY SLOWLY DIE.

AND FOR YEARS WE SUFFERED UNDER THE CONCEPT OF MEDIOCRE.

GOOD WAS GOOD ENOUGH, AND IT'S NOT.

AND LET'S ALSO BE REAL HONEST, WE HAVE A CHANGE.

WE HAVE A NEW MAYOR, A NEW CITY COUNCIL, THE NEW CITY MANAGER.

WE HAVE COUNCIL PEOPLE WHO GET IT.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE PARTICULARS BECAUSE IT'S WAY BEYOND MY SCOPE OF KNOWLEDGE OF ACOUSTICS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

BUT I AM ON THE RECORD FOR SAYING WE NEED A PERFORMANCE ARTS CENTER.

IN FACT, LIZ CAMPBELL QUOTED ME IN THE STAR TELEGRAM A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND I ACTUALLY INVITED HER TO THE MEETING THIS EVENING.

BUT SHE HAD A COUPLE OF CONFLICTS, BUT I SEE THE LAWNED AREA.

I REMEMBER PATTI DIOU AS THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE LEVITT ARLINGTON, SAYING I DIE TO HAVE THAT SIZE OF LAWN FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DOWN IN ARLINGTON.

I'M TIRED OF TAKING MY FRIENDS WHO LIVE IN CARROLLTON AND ARLINGTON, AND IN THE CASE OF THE ARLINGTON PEOPLE GOING TO LEWISVILLE OR IN CASE OF THE CARROLLTON PEOPLE GOING TO

[01:50:03]

AND FOR THE YOUNGER FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY, I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DIE OFF, YOU KNOW, OUR [INAUDIBLE] GOING MORBID HERE, ROGER.

I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE FACTS, SO.

IS IT BECAUSE THE BENGALS LOST? IS THAT WHY YOU'RE GOING? IT'S INTERESTING, YOU SAY, O'CLOCK.

GOT TO GO. THEY HAVE A SAYING GOING AROUND, I THINK SOME OF YOU NOW KNOW I'M A NATIVE OF CINCINNATI AND AND WE HAVE IT'S BEEN ROUGH.

THE LAST TIME THE BENGALS WERE IN THE SUPER BOWL WAS EIGHTY NINE, AND MAGGIE AND I WERE LIVING IN THE INDIANAPOLIS AREA, BUT THEY HAD A SAYING AND SPREAD AROUND THE CITY AND IT SPREAD AROUND THE TEAM.

AND AS I'VE LEFT YOU WITH THE TERM DESTINATION THAT THEY USED IN THEIR PRESENTATION, I SAW IT ON THE SLIDE.

BUT WHAT THE CITY OF CINCINNATI SAID AND WHAT THE BENGALS SAID, OK, THEY DID LOSE, BUT THEY SAID, WHY NOT US? AND I'M SAYING THAT TO ALL OF YOU, WHY NOT US AS A CITY OF BEDFORD? AND THERE'S NO REASON WE CAN'T BE.

AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT SO I CAN GET HOME AND AND KEEP MY WIFE HAPPY.

THANK YOU. THANKS, ROGER.

SAY HI TO MAGGIE.

MR. WINTERS. GOOD EVENING.

I KIND OF HAVE A STAKE, I GUESS, ON BOTH SIDES.

GIVE US YOUR NAME. OH, MICHAEL WINTERS.

YES, SIR. I'M A RESIDENT FOR ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, 16, 17 YEARS.

PLUS I'M ALSO THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR ONSTAGE.

SO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT SIZE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE THAN NINETY NINE SEATS AS A PERSON WHO DEALS WITH BUDGETS AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS PER PERFORMANCE AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, I AGREE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE THAN 99 SEATS TO MAKE IT BENEFICIAL FOR ANY GROUP TO COME IN.

I LOVE THE FACT THAT ART IS GOING TO BE INSTALLED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.

I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

AND LIKE HE SAID, HE'S ALREADY GONE.

ANYBODY CAN DRAW, YOU KNOW, AND CREATE THINGS.

AND I LOVE HOW Y'ALL WANT TO MAKE THIS KIND OF A FULL ARTISTIC SPACE.

I MEAN, PERFORMING ARTS IS MY LOVE, OF COURSE.

YOU KNOW, THEATER, DANCE, PERFORMANCE, SINGING, OPERA, ORCHESTRA.

ALL OF THAT IS MY LOVE.

BUT IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO PULL IN THE ARTS AND TO SEE BIG SCULPTURES LIKE Y'ALL HAD TALKED ABOUT TO HAVE LIKE ONE BIG SCULPTURE ICON THAT INSPIRES PEOPLE.

THAT'S NOT ONLY GOING TO INSPIRE ARTISTS TO CREATE PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS OR WHATEVER, BUT IT MAY EVEN INSPIRE PEOPLE TO CREATE MUSIC AND DANCE, SO YOU JUST NEVER KNOW, SO THE FACT THAT YOU ALL WANT TO DO ALL OF THIS AND THE FACT THAT THIS COMPANY HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THAT, THAT WAS WHAT I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT.

PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS ARE HARD TO GET RIGHT.

WHEN BASS HALL WAS FIRST OPENED, THEY HAD TO CUT OUT A STEEL GIRDER TO GET THE VERY FIRST SHOW IN.

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THEY HAD TO CUT OUT A GIRDER TO GET IT TO GET THE BIG ANGEL IN.

SO THE FACT THAT YOU ALL ARE REALLY WANTING TO DO THIS RIGHT MAKES ME VERY EXCITED AS AN ARTS PERSON, BUT ALSO AS A CITIZEN OF BEDFORD.

I LOVE THIS LITTLE TOWN.

YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN GARLAND AT THE GARLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO A CONFERENCE CENTER/ART CENTER BECAUSE THEY DID IT.

IT TOOK THEM A WHILE TO GET THERE, BUT THEY DID IT.

SO JUST KEEP GOING FORWARD.

AND I THINK FROM ALL THE ARTISTIC PEOPLE IN BEDFORD WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

GREAT, GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU. OK.

ANYONE ELSE? I BELIEVE THAT WAS BOB COCHRAN, 52 YEARS. NO, I MAY BE THE LAST ONE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE PERFORMING ARTS.

AND THE MULTIPURPOSE THING IS WE'RE TAKING MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING AND TRYING TO SHOEHORN PERFORMING ARTS INTO IT.

AND MAYBE WE OUGHT TO DO IT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

START WITH PERFORMING ARTS AND THEN YOU CAN SHOEHORN WHATEVER ELSE FITS IN THERE.

OK. THE HORSE AND CART THING.

YES, SIR. THAT'S IT.

GOOD POINT. GOOD POINT.

OK. ANYONE.

HEY, I JUST NOW REALIZE YOU'RE HERE, OK? ANYONE ELSE? LAST CHANCE? SEVEN, FIFTY FIVE.

[01:55:01]

OK, OK.

WHY DON'T WE CLOSE THAT MICROPHONE.

GENTLEMEN, DO YOU HAVE ANY ANY FINAL THOUGHTS HERE? I GUESS MY QUESTION TO YOU GUYS.

WHY SHOULDN'T WE DO THIS? DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE RIGHT STEPS HERE, DUE DILIGENCE WISE? GRANTED, WE PAY YOU.

NOT ENOUGH. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

YES, I THINK YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THE RIGHT STEPS.

WE'RE VERY EARLY AND I THINK YOU TRIED TO STRESS THAT.

BUT GETTING THE COMMUNITY'S INPUT AND THOUGHTS ON IT, THIS IS WHEN WE NEED TO DO IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST YET.

WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

WE WANT THE FEEDBACK EARLY.

WE WANT TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT STEPS.

SHARE IT AGAIN.

GET FEEDBACK. THAT PROCESS IS HOW WE CAN ENSURE IT'S THE RIGHT ANSWER FOR BEDFORD.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS THIS KIND OF A FACILITY, THIS KIND OF A VENUE? FROM ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN A PART OF WITH THAT COMMITTEE AT THE BEGINNING, IT SOUNDS LIKE ABSOLUTELY, YES.

OK, ALL RIGHT.

MAYOR PRO TEM SABOL.

WE DID EARLY ON HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESEARCH DONE.

WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THAT COMPANY OUT OF NEW YORK? YEAH, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT THE WHOLE DAY.

OH NO, HERE WE GO.

OH, WELL, BUT HE ACTUALLY HE WAS FROM HERE.

HE WAS FROM HERE.

DUNCAN WEBB. AND HE THEY DID A HUGE ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMING ARTS OR WHERE PEOPLE COULD EVEN PERFORM IN THE AREA.

AND WE'VE GOT THE STATISTICS ON THAT.

AND IT'S VERY LIGHT HERE.

THERE'S HARDLY ANY PLACE TO DO.

AND HE EVEN INCLUDED CHURCHES, WHICH IS NOT IDEAL FOR PERFORMING.

SO IT WAS QUITE EXTENSIVE.

AND HE WENT, I THINK, 20 MILES OUT.

AND SO THERE WAS A NEED, AND HE DID A LITTLE STUDY AS FAR AS LIKE, HE THOUGHT WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO A THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY OR THREE HUNDRED SEAT FACILITY IF IT WAS COMPLETELY PERFORMING ARTS. I KIND OF REMEMBER THAT, AND HE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PERFECT NUMBER.

BUT WE ARE.

WE'RE DOING DUE DILIGENCE.

WE'RE STARTING KIND OF OVER AGAIN BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT, FIVE YEARS AGO.

SO BUT I DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S WORDS TONIGHT.

IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT EVERYBODY THINKS.

SOME OF THEM, I ALREADY KNOW WHAT THEY THINK, BUT IT'S KIND OF NICE TO HEAR OTHERS THAT DON'T USUALLY STAND UP TO THE MIC AND TALK TO US.

BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT THANKS FOR THAT, COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER.

I WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN SABOL SAID, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO HEAR ALL OF THE INPUT FROM THE VARIOUS GROUPS CITIZENS AS TO HOW THEY FEEL.

AND WE DID DO DUE DILIGENCE WE DID HAVE MR. WEBER GROUP, IT WAS A LARGE GROUP THAT DID A STUDY ON PERFORMING ARTS, BUT WITH THAT THOUGH, MY PERSONAL TAKE ON THIS IS THAT IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND THE PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED AND YOU LOOK ABOUT HOW WE GO ABOUT OUR DAILY LIVES TODAY.

FOR MOST OF US, IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO, TWO YEARS AGO, AND HOW MANY OF US ARE LOOKING TO THE AUDIENCE? AND I SEE PEOPLE WITH MASK ON AND I SEE PEOPLE WITHOUT MASK.

SO WE ALL HAVE OUR PREFERENCES ON HOW WE ARE NOW EXPOSING OUR NOT EXPOSING OURSELVES TO BEING AROUND A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT IN TIMES PAST AND IT'S KIND OF DIED AWAY WAS AN OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER TO WHERE PEOPLE WERE MORE HAD THE ABILITY TO SPACE THEMSELVES OUT AND WHETHER THAT INCLUDED CONCRETE SEATING, WHETHER IT WAS A SLOPING TYPE AMPHITHEATER.

BUT WE'VE LOOKED AT HOW SOME OF THEM CAN BE BUILT THAT CAN BE ENCLOSED AND THEN OPENED UP AGAIN TO HAVE OUTDOOR SPACE AND USAGE.

SO THAT'S JUST IT'S.

IT'S AN INTERESTING EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN, NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, BUT LIKES BEING SAID TONIGHT.

THIS IS JUST A PRELIMINARY STARTING OF WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE AND WHAT THE CITIZENS, MAINLY THE CITIZENS OF BEDFORD, WANT.

AND IT REALLY KIND OF SEEMS LIKE THEY DO WANT THAT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT HAS THAT

[02:00:02]

BUT SO I JUST WANT TO SAY TO EVERYBODY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

THANK YOU FOR THE INPUT AND JUST STAY TUNED BECAUSE IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING, JUST THE BEGINNING. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THAT MS. CULVER.

[INAUDIBLE] COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING TIME ON THIS CHILLY THURSDAY TO COME OUT AND AND SPEAK WITH US AND AND GIVE US YOUR OPINIONS.

BECAUSE I'LL BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M THE ONLY ONE UP HERE, BUT I'VE ACTUALLY CHANGED MY THINKING A LITTLE BIT ON THIS QUITE A BIT, QUITE HONESTLY THINKING.

FIRSTLY, WHEN I CAME IN, I WAS THINKING, YEAH, MULTI MULTI-USE FACILITY IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO GO. BEING FLEXIBLE, BUT KNOWING THE INFORMATION INPUT FROM, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M HEARING HERE IS PERHAPS IT'S NOT THE BEST WAY.

PERHAPS WE HAVE TO BUILD THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

CLEARLY THERE'S AN INTEREST.

CLEARLY THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT.

AND SO WE NEED TO PUT THAT FOREFRONT THAT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

SO THAT'S THAT'S ONE THING.

AND ANOTHER THING THAT'S BEEN REITERATED AND KEPT WRITING IT DOWN IS EACH PERSON STARTED TALKING WAS PARKING.

SO THAT IS A BIG ASTERISK RIGHT THERE.

PARKING, I HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT ACCOMMODATES EVERYBODY.

SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY.

AND JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE LISTENING TO YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. COGAN.

JIMMY, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING? AND I'LL SAY THIS KIND OF TOUCHING ON A LITTLE BIT WHAT YOU SAID.

I THINK THESE DISCUSSIONS, THE TOWN HALL WE HAD HERE ON YMCA, WE'VE HAD TOWN HALLS OVER AT OBS WITH SENIORS.

I THINK THESE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN GREAT BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE HELPED US TO GO DOUBLE BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE THAT WE WE'VE REVIEWED CERTAIN THINGS OR THAT WE MAY NEED TO TWEAK SOME OF OUR THOUGHTS AND SOME OF OUR DUE DILIGENCE.

SO I THINK THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY PRODUCTIVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME OUT OF Y'ALL'S SCHEDULE.

THIS IS AN ONGOING DISCUSSION.

SO WE WILL WE WILL LOOK AT NEXT STEPS.

SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

GOT 8:02.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.