[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
WE WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL.IT'S TUESDAY, APRIL 26TH, 2022.
LET'S START OFF WITH AN INVOCATION LED BY MAYOR PRO TEM AMY SABOL.
>> FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS OF BRINGING US TOGETHER TODAY.
THOUGH WE MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THIS MEETING HOLDS, WE KNOW THAT YOU DO.
AS WE BEGIN, LORD, LET US KEEP YOUR WORD IN MIND.
LEAD US INTO CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE FRUITFUL AND ENRICH OUR LIVES FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
WHEN WE ARE UNDECIDED, PLEASE LEAD US INTO YOUR WISDOM.
WHEN OUR OPINIONS MAY DISAGREE, HELP US TO REMAIN RESPECTFUL TO ONE ANOTHER.
I'M SORRY. MORE THAN ANYTHING, LORD, WOULD YOU HELP US BOTH TO SEEK YOUR WILL AND TO PURSUE YOUR GLORY THROUGH ALL THAT WE SAY AND DO.
>> AMEN. COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN, WILL YOU LEAD US IN ALLEGIANCE.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
>> THANK YOU FOLKS. BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'VE GOT ONE THING I'D LIKE TO SAY.
THIS AFTERNOON, THE CITY RECEIVED THE RESIGNATION IN WRITING OF COUNCIL MEMBER CINDY ALMENDAREZ.
NEXT UP, COUNCIL RECOGNITION, WE DO NOT HAVE OFFICER FLORES, IS THAT CORRECT? THIS EVENING.
[2. Conduct a public hearing and consider making a recommendation to rezone the property described as Lot 10R1 Block 6 Bedford Meadows Addition, from Heavy Commercial to Heavy Commercial/ Specific Use Permit/Indoor Amusement the property is generally located at the southwest corner of Harwood Road and Central Drive, more commonly known as 2815 Central Drive (PZ-SUP-2022-50031).]
NEXT UP, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF APRIL 2022, IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD.I THINK CHIEF WILLIAMS, I INVITE YOU TO THE PODIUM.
HERE'S PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE AND OUR GREATEST RESOURCE, AND WHEREAS EVERY CHILD DESERVES A NURTURING FAMILY AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO GROW INTO A HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WHEREAS CHILD ABUSE IS ONE OF OUR NATION'S MOST SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEMS AND THREATENS THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS IN TARRANT COUNTY, 6,511 CHILDREN WERE CONFIRMED AS VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT IN 2021; AND WHEREAS ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN PROVIDED TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES TO 2,497 CHILDREN IN 2021; AND WHEREAS FINDING SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE IS A COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY AND DEPENDS ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF ALL CITIZENS; AND WHEREAS EFFECTIVE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION, INVESTIGATION, AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS SUCCEED BECAUSE OF PARTNERSHIPS AMONG PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, MEDICAL SERVICES, AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NOW THEREFORE, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I MICHAEL BOYTER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND THE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2022 IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO WORK TOGETHER TO HELP REDUCE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT SIGNIFICANTLY IN YEARS TO COME.
I KNOW WE ALSO HAVE, I BELIEVE, SHELLIE VELASCO.
WOULD YOU LIKE COME UP AND SAY FEW THINGS? YOU'RE WITH ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN.
WELCOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
>> YES, I'M SHELLIE, WITH ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN.
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
AGAIN, APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.
OF COURSE, WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROTECT CHILDREN ALL YEAR ROUND, BUT APRIL HAS A SPECIAL FOCUS AND WE ARE PRIVILEGED.
MANY OF YOU WHO MIGHT BE AWARE OF US KNOW THAT WE PARTNER WITH YOUR FINE POLICE OFFICERS HERE IN THE CITY, AS WELL AS OVER 30 OTHER POLICE AGENCIES AROUND THE COUNTY.
WE'VE WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICES, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ALL PEOPLE THAT YOU THINK WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO HELP PROTECT KIDS.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AS CITIZENS OF BEDFORD.
I KNOW YOU PLACE A HUGE PRIORITY ON PROTECTING KIDS.
LIKE I SAID, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FINE FOLKS THAT WE GET TO WORK WITH EVERY DAY TO HELP PROTECT KIDS.
[00:05:16]
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE. NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF MAY 2022, AS NATIONAL AMBUCS VISIBILITY MONTH IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
WE WANT TO WELCOME GREG RUSK, THE PRESIDENT OF AMBUCS.
THANK YOU, SIR. GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> GREAT TO BE SEEN. [LAUGHTER]
THIS IS A PROCLAMATION FROM CITY OF BEDFORD.
WHEREAS MAY 2022, IS NATIONAL AMBUCS VISIBILITY MONTH, AND THIS OCCASION PROVIDES A FITTING OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF THIS FINE ORGANIZATION.
WHEREAS WITH THE MID-CITIES CHAPTER AMONG THE 167 CHAPTERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AMBUCS IS A LEADING NON-PROFIT VOLUNTEER SERVICE ASSOCIATION.
SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1922, THE ORGANIZATION HAS RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARDS ITS MISSION OF INSPIRING MOBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE.
WHEREAS NATIONAL AMBUCS VISIBILITY MONTH BRINGS TOGETHER VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION TO PARTICIPATE IN A HOST OF PROJECTS SUCH AS CONSTRUCTING WHEELCHAIR RAMPS, INSTALLING SAFETY GRAB BARS IN BATHROOMS, AND VISITING HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS.
WHEREAS IN ADDITION TO PROMOTING SERVICE ACTIVITIES, EACH AMBUCS CHAPTER CONTRIBUTES TO TWO NATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE AMTRYKE THERAPEUTIC TRICYCLE PROJECT, WHICH PROVIDES SPECIAL CYCLES IN THE HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN AND VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES, AND AMBUCS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THERAPISTS, A PROGRAM THAT AWARDS MORE THAN $200,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS EACH YEAR TO STUDENTS IN ACCREDITED THERAPY PROGRAMS. WHEREAS MEMBERS OF AMBUCS HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ENRICHING THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND FOR THEIR EFFORTS, THEY ARE TRULY DESERVING A PRAISE.
NOW THEREFORE, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I, MICHAEL BOYTER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD, AND THE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2022, AS NATIONAL AMBUCS VISIBILITY MONTH IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT ALL THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL AMBUCS VISIBILITY MONTH TO BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR WORK ON BEHALF OF DISABLED INDIVIDUALS AND THAT THEY BE EXTENDED BEST WISHES FOR SUCCESSFUL AND MEMORABLE SERVICE. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> IS THERE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY?
>> IF YOU ALL DID THE MATH, 1922 IS A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
THIS WHOLE INNOVATION HAS BEEN AROUND, WE'RE CELEBRATING.
IT WAS FOUNDED IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, MAY 1922.
WE HAVE IN AS FAR AS SCHOLARSHIPS GO, WE HAVE PROVIDED OVER $10 MILLION TO THERAPISTS BECAUSE ONE THERAPIST CAN HELP THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THEIR CHALLENGES.
WE JUST THANK YOU, SIR, AND APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN YOU.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN, GREG. GREAT TO SEE YOU.
LASTLY, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE WEEK OF MAY 15TH THROUGH 21, 2022, AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK AND SUNDAY, MAY 15TH, 2022, AS PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY.
ONCE AGAIN, WE WELCOME POLICE CHIEF JEFF WILLIAMS. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT READS, WHEREAS THE CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE DESIGNATED MAY 15TH AS PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY AND THE WEEKEND WHICH MAY 15TH FALLS AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK, AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF THE BEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT PLAYING A CENTRAL ROLE IN SAFEGUARDING THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF BEDFORD AND PROVIDE A VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE.
WHEREAS IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL CITIZENS KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, HAZARDS, AND SACRIFICES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, AND THAT MEMBERS OF THE BEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZE THEIR DUTY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE BY SAFEGUARDING LIFE AND PROPERTY, BY PROTECTING THEM AGAINST VIOLENCE AND DISORDER, AND BY PROTECTING THE INNOCENT AGAINST DECEPTION AND THE WEAK AGAINST DEPRESSION.
NOW THEREFORE, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I MICHAEL BOYTER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND THE CITY COUNCIL CALL UPON OUR CITIZENS AND ALL CIVIC AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO OBSERVE THE WEEK OF MAY 15TH THROUGH THE 21ST, 2022, AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK WITH APPROPRIATE CEREMONIES AND OBSERVANCES IN WHICH OUR PEOPLE MAY JOIN IN COMMEMORATING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PAST AND PRESENT, WHO BY THEIR FAITHFUL AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO
[00:10:02]
THE RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE RENDERED A DEDICATED SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.IN DOING SO, HAVE ESTABLISHED FOR THEMSELVES AN INVIABLE AND ENDURING REPUTATION FOR PRESERVING THE RIGHTS AND SECURITY OF ALL CITIZENS.
I FURTHER CALL UPON CITIZENS OF BEDFORD TO OBSERVE SUNDAY, MAY 15TH, 2022 AS PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY IN HONOR OF THOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO, THROUGH THEIR COURAGEOUS DEEDS, HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, AND SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY OR HAVE BECOME DISABLED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTY.
LET US RECOGNIZE AND PAY RESPECT TO THE SURVIVORS OF OUR FALLEN HEROES.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR THE RECOGNITION AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR SUPPORTING US.
I'D ASK, THIS IS STILL A TRYING TIME FOR POLICE OFFICERS, BUT IN BEDFORD WE TRULY FEEL THE SUPPORT OF OUR CITIZENS HERE.
OVER THAT WEEK, GIVE THEM A KIND WORD, GIVE A PAT OF THE BACK, IF YOU WAVE AT THEM, WAVE WITH ALL FIVE FINGERS.
[APPLAUSE] WE'VE GOT SOME OF THE SUPPORT STAFF HERE WITH US TO HELP RECOGNITION.
USUALLY THE GUYS THAT DO THE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES EVERYDAY.
EVERYONE CAN COME UP AND TAKE A PICTURE IF YOU DON'T MIND.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE. NEXT UP'S OPEN FORUM.
I HAVEN'T HAD TO READ THIS IN A LONG TIME.
OPEN FORUM. IN ORDER TO SPEAK DURING OPEN FORUM, A PERSON MUST FIRST SIGN-IN WITH CITY SECRETARY PRIOR TO THE REGULAR SESSION BEING CALLED TO ORDER.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED UPON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGN IN.
ANY PERSON NOT SIGNING IN PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE REGULAR SESSION SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK UNDER OPEN FORUM.
FURTHER, OPEN FORUM IS LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES.
SHOULD SPEAKERS NOT USE THE ENTIRE 30 MINUTES, COUNCIL WILL PROCEED WITH THE AGENDA.
AT THE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR MAY EXTEND THE TIME, ALLOTTED FOR OPEN FORUM.
THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO SIGNED UP FOR OPEN FORUM, SO I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MR. BOB COCHRANE. WELCOME, SIR.
>> THANK YOU. IN SPITE OF WHAT SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK I WILL NOT NEED 30 MINUTES.
ITEM 5, THE SMOKING RESOLUTION WHATEVER.
WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THE AGENDA, IT APPEAR HERE IT SAYS HAS A MORE RESTRICTIVE WELL, NO, WE DO.
OURS APPLIES TO FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS ONLY YOURS INCLUDES FOOD ESTABLISH EVENTS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE IN LINES SUCH AS RETAIL STORES, GROCERY STORES, WHATNOT.
BEING A REFORMED SMOKER FOR 39 YEARS NOW, AFTER SMOKING 30 YEARS, COMES CLOSE TO BEING RIGHT.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE RESTRICTIVE.
I MEAN, I REALIZE MOST RETAIL PLACES DON'T ALLOW SMOKING THESE DAYS, BUT NO REASON QUANTIFY IT.
FIRST OFF, AND I'M SURE THEY'RE OUT HERE SOMEWHERE, THE OLD TOWN DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE.
IT'S BEDFORD COMMONS NOT BEDFORD SQUARE.
THEY USE THAT TERM A COUPLE OF TIMES.
I'M SURE THE PLAN THEY SUBMITTED WILL NOT BE THE FINAL ONE, BUT COMPARING IT TO WHAT THE CITY PROVIDED, WHILE WE WENT OUT THROUGH THE RF EIS.
THERE'S TOO MUCH RETAIL ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF L-DON.
THERE'S TOO MANY TOWNHOUSES ON OUR SIDE.
THE AREA THAT THE CITY SHOWED IN THE MIDDLE, IT WAS GOING TO BE SPLASH PADS AND THIS AND THAT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH LOOKS TO BE EXTREMELY CONDENSED AND MY GUESS IS THAT GREEN SPACE AREA ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
I TRIED TO DO SOME OVERLAY OF THE PLAN WITH AERIAL SHOTS AND THERE'S A LARGE GROUP OF TREES ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF BEDFORD COMMONS AND IT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF WORK.
THOSE COULD BE SAVED BY MAYBE MOVING SOME OF THE PUBLIC SPACE AND WHATNOT INSTEAD OF KNOCKING THEM ALL DOWN TO BUILD A RETAIL STORE.
THERE'S A VERY LARGE TREE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BEDFORD ROAD RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
HOPEFULLY, THE TOWNHOUSES GOING THERE CAN BE DONE SUCH THAT TREE CAN BE SAVED.
[00:15:01]
WE GOT SOME FAMOUS TREES HERE.ON THEIR PLAN, THERE'S ONE AREA OF TOWNHOUSES THAT ONLY HAS ONE ENTRANCE SLASH EXIT.
I REALIZE FIRE DEPARTMENT LOOKED AT AND SAY THIS WON'T WORK, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT.
ITEM 12, PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
WELL, FIRST OFF, THEY COME IN AT 8.4 MILLION BUDGET ON SOMETHING THAT WE'VE KNOWN AND SAID FOR SOME TIME, WE HAVE A BUDGET A LITTLE UNDER SIX MILLION.
MAKES ME THINK THEY WANT TO PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION.
WE DON'T NEED A BLACK BOX THEATER.
THE MEETING ROOMS AND BOARDROOMS COULD BE COMBINED AND DIVIDED BY A KOREAN DIVIDERS INSTEAD OF HAVING A LARGE ROOM, A SMALL ROOM, A BOARD ROOM BECAUSE THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT AT ALL GOING TO MEAN IN USE AT ONE TIME.
I DEBATED SUGGESTING SOME COMBINING OF GREEN ROOM AND MEETING ROOMS AND MY WIFE, WHO I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW IS A PROFESSIONAL VOCALISTS AND THE HEAD THE REGAL OPERA COMPANY FOR 20 YEARS.
SHE SAID THAT THAT WON'T WORK.
BECAUSE FOR DRESSING ROOMS YOU NEED TO HAVE THINGS TO HANG THINGS ON, MEETING ROOMS YOU NEED TABLES, BUT IF WE WERE REALLY PRESSED FOR MONEY, THAT'S A PLACE WHERE SOMEBODY COULD FIGURE IT OUT, PUT A TABLE ON WHEELS, ROLL IT OUTSIDE WHEREVER.
>> WOW, GREAT JOB BOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP WE HAVE SOME ITEMS TO CONSIDER ABOUT CONSENT, SO WE HAVE CITY MANAGER JIMMY STATHATOS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
I HAVE A FEW THINGS IN ROB'S HAVING A TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY, SO THANK YOU, MOLLY, FOR HELPING HIM.
THE FIRST ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 22ND COUNCIL MINUTES, AND THEN THE NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDERED AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE 2021-3301 REGARDING PAY STRUCTURES IS PROVIDING THE SEPARABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BASICALLY, THIS IS A CLEANUP ITEM.
THIS WILL REPEAL THE ORDINANCE AND THEN IT WILL PUT ALL OF THOSE PAY ORDINANCES, TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT PAY, STANDBY PAY, AND SENTIMENTS CERTIFICATION PAYING DIFFERENTIAL PAY, INTO THE PERSONAL MANUAL, SO IT'LL ALL BE EASILY FOUND AND THERE'LL BE EASILY AMENDED IF NECESSARY.
THE FINAL ITEM IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT.
THIS HAS BEEN A COUNCIL GOAL FOR A WHILE, AND IT IS TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTRENCH YOUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH GARVER USA IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $152,417 TO PROVIDE DESIGN AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE REHABILITATION AND PAINTING OF THE TWO MILLION GALLON CUMMINGS ELEVATED STORAGE TANKS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK SHERYL TAYLOR.
SHERYL HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO GET THIS ON THE SCHEDULE AND GET IT ON THE AGENDA AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT MOVING FORWARD ON THIS AND THIS IS DESIGN.
THEN CLOSER TO THE END OF THE YEAR, WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION AND JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, WE'LL HAVE NOT PHASE IT BUT COORDINATE BECAUSE WE'RE LITERALLY GOING TO NEED TO DRAIN THE TANK DURING CONSTRUCTION.
THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS, BUT IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 2.
IT LOOKS LIKE COUNCIL JUST PUT THAT AS AN ORDINANCE LAST YEAR, SO WHY ARE WE VOTING TO CHANGE IT NOW?
>> BECAUSE THE PRIOR CITY ATTORNEY GAVE US DIFFERENT ADVICE AND SO WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MOST EFFICIENT TO HAVE ALL THE PERSONAL STUFF TOGETHER AND THE NEW CITY ATTORNEY REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT WE COULD DO THAT AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING IT BACK SO QUICKLY.
>> IT'S NOT A BUDGET ITEM, IT'S A.
>> NO, SIR, NO BUDGET IMPACT AT ALL.
IT'S STRICTLY ACADEMIC AND HOUSEKEEPING.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER COLDER.
>> MINE'S TO DO WITH WATER TANK.
ARE WE SOLICITING ANY ARTWORK FOR THE TOWER?
>> WELL, IT'S FUNNY YOU MENTIONED THAT, WE'RE GOING TO TALK WITH YOU ALL TO SEE WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE UP THERE, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO PUT OUR SIGNATURE ON IT SO IT SHOWS SOME FLAIR,
[00:20:05]
I MEAN, SOMETHING RESPECTFUL THAT Y'ALL LIKE THAT IS VERY VISIBLE FROM THE FREEWAY, SO YES MA'AM DEFINITELY.>> THANKS FOR THAT MS. COLDER.
ANYONE ELSE? WHAT'S COUNCIL'S PLEASURE? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE].
WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER COLDER, LET'S VOTE.
YOU HAD ONE JOB LIKE, [LAUGHTER] MY GOD, IT WORKED $400,000.
[LAUGHTER] WE GOT IT TO WORK. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU STAFF, THANK YOU COUNCIL.
GOOD LUCK SWIPING THE VOTES SO WE CAN DO THE NEXT ITEM.
NEXT UP, NEW BUSINESS. ITEM 4.
WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE ON THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS LOT 1 BLOCK 1 HARWOOD 121 ADDITION LOCATED AT 3501 HARWOOD ROAD, FROM HEAVY COMMERCIAL WITHIN THE MASTER HIGHWAY CORRIDOR OVERLAY, TO HEAVY COMMERCIAL WITHIN THE MASTER HIGHWAY CORRIDOR OVERLAY/ SPECIFIC USE PERMIT/ FULL-SERVICE GASOLINE SERVICE STATION WITH CONVENIENCE STORE.
I'LL GIVE YOU OUR PLANNING MANAGER, WEST MORRISON.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR 2,800 SQUARE FOOT CONVENIENCE STORE WITH GAS CELLS.
SITES LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF HARWOOD AND 121, PREVIOUSLY IT WAS A CONVENIENT STORE AS WELL.
IT WAS GRATEFUL TO BE IN SO IT DIDN'T REQUIRE THE SUP, THAT'S WHY SINCE THEY'VE TURNED IT DOWN AND CLEARING THE SITE, THAT'S WHEN THE SUP WAS FIGURED.
ALSO, THIS IS INTERNATIONAL HIGHWAY CORRIDOR OVERLAY, WHICH REQUIRES A SITE PLAN APPROVAL BY COUNCIL AS WELL, SO WE'RE REALLY KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE HERE.
EIGHT FUEL PUMPS, LOCATED IN THE OVERLAY.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA ON THE SITE, MAJOR CHANGES ON SITE.
ACCESS TO THE SIDE FROM HARWOOD RIGHT NOW THERE ARE TWO ACCESS POINTS THAT ARE MOVING DOWN TO ONE, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE DRIVEWAY OFF THE HARWOOD AND THEN THEY'RE KEEPING THE TWO ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD PROBABLY EARLY, SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK WITH THAT SITE JUST THE PROJECT GETS FASTER THAT WAY.
BUT IT'S 300 SQUARE FEET AND EIGHT FUEL PUMPS, SIZE 16, SIZES FOR CARS TO PARK THERE.
IF YOU ARE LIVING RIGHT HERE THIS IS WHAT THE BUILDING IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
IT IS GOING TO BE ALL OF OUR STANDARDS IN THE OVERLAY DISTRICT.
FULL OF MASONRY BUILDING, INCLUDING THE COLUMNS ON THE CANOPY AND THE TAPERED ROOF.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT SUPS, I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT WE ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT THE USERS IS COMPATIBLE, CONSIDERING THIS HAS BEEN A CONVENIENCE STORE OF GAS CELLS FOR ABOUT 30 OR MORE YEARS.
THE AREA HASN'T CHANGED TOO MUCH UNTIL THE FUTURE COUNTS, WHICH WE'VE GOT FUTURE SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, FURTHER TO THE EAST, FUTURE OFFICE WAREHOUSE, OFFICE SHOWROOM TO THE SOUTH THERE, AND THEN TO THE NORTH IS STILL FAST FOOD OR DRIVE THE RESTAURANT AND A SHOPPING CENTER.
WE DID PUBLIC NOTICE ON THE REQUEST.
FIVE ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED.
WE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE BACK IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THE REQUESTS.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED A VOTE OF APPROVAL ON THERE PUBLIC HEARING IN MARCH 2.
TONIGHT YOU'LL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING, TAKE COMMENTS.
YOU CAN ALWAYS APPROVE, APPROVAL CONDITIONS TABLE, OR DENY HOW YOU SEE THAT.
I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
>> VERY GOOD, COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING?
>> JUST TEAR IT UP [INAUDIBLE].
>> DON'T TOUCH THE MICROPHONE, THOUGH.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAID I HAVE TO COUNT NOW, COUNCIL OF A STATE
>> LANDSCAPING. WHAT DO YOU PLAN BECAUSE THAT'S VERY VISIBLE SPOT RIGHT THERE.
>> YES SIR, THE ORDINANCE REQUIRES A MINIMUM OF 20 PERCENT OPEN SPACE, LANDSCAPED AREA.
THEY ARE PROVIDING 32 PERCENT, 40 OF THAT 32 PERCENT IS GOING TO BE IN THE FRONT YARD.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG HARWOOD AND FRONT IN FRONT OF 121.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONTINUOUS ROW SHRUBS.
IT'S KNOTTY ROUND ON THE SHROUD WOULD BE PLANTED ALONG HARWOOD AND 121 FRESH SHRUBS, AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE 17 TREES, THE GOAL THERE IS TO TRY TO BLOCK AND SCREEN TO USE FROM THE RIGHT OF WAY.
>> WHICH SHOULD LOOK A LOT BETTER THAN IT HAS IN PAST [OVERLAPPING]?
[00:25:01]
>> THANK YOU, MR. STEVE, SO HOW MANY ACRES IS THIS BLUEPRINT?
>> IT'S JUST UNDER ONE ACRE I BELIEVE IT'S THICK.
IT'S JUST OVER ONE ACRE, I'M SORRY, 44,000 SQUARE FEET.
>> DID THE AFRICAN ALREADY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE PROCEED, SO THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING WE OPEN THIS UP FOR INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:26, ANYONE WHO HAS ANYTHING THAT WOULD LIKED TO ADD THIS CONVERSATION, PLEASE COME TO THE [INAUDIBLE] [SPANISH]
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS COUNCIL, AND ROGER GALAXY AND A BIT 4013 FAIRMONT COURT, FAIRMONT BILL IS.
WHEN THE FORMER GAS STATION CONVENIENCE STORE, IT WAS TORN DOWN AT.
WE'RE GOING TO GET SOMETHING KIND OF COOL ON THAT CORNER.
SO I INQUIRE AND WE'RE GOING BACK WITH BASICALLY WHAT WE HAD BEFORE,
[3. Conduct a public hearing and consider making a recommendation regarding an amendment to Appendix B, Zoning Ordinance Section 3.2.C(7)x entitled “Explanation of Uses – Tobacco Product Store”( PZ-AMEND-2022-500004).]
A GAS-PHASE INCONVENIENCE STORE.IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DRESS HERE BECAUSE OF THE HIGHLY OVERLAY DISTRICT WITH A PITCHED ROOF AND MORE LANDSCAPING BUT NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE AND DICE IT AS A GAS STATION INCONVENIENCE STORE.
A LOT OF US HAVE LIVED HERE LONG ENOUGH TO REMEMBER CENTRAL AND HARWOOD WHERE WE OVERPOPULATED WITH GAS STATIONS AND NOW ARE DOWN TO ONE.
IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, ROCK ISLAND OXYGEN IS GOING TO BE MOVING IN ACROSS THE STREET AND SPENDING AT LEAST $5 MILLION ON THAT FORMER WALMART BUILDING AND THAT SHOPPING CENTER AND UPSCALING IT.
THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE BRINGING IN CLIENTELE, THAT ARE GOING TO BE BUYING.
SOME CASES SIX-FIGURE MILITARY ITEMS, WHETHER THE POLIAN DUELING SWORDS OR ANYTHING IN THAT PARTICULAR WEAPON OR SO ON AND SO FORTH.
THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE COMPOSITION OF THAT AND I'M REALLY PLEASED, WITH ALL THE FOLKS AT THE CITY WHO WERE INVOLVED IN BRINGING THAT TO US.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO [INAUDIBLE].
THEY'RE JUST ANOTHER COMPANY, BUT WE'VE GOT ONE AT THE WALMART JUST OFF OF CHEESEBURGER.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE NOT THE AREA THEY'RE EVEN FARTHER UP THE ROAD IN GRAPEVINE OFF THE HALL JOHNSON.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION TO YOU, I THINK I KNOW THIS COUNCIL PRETTY WELL, KNOW ALL YOU KNOW ME.
WE'RE LOOKING TO MOVE THIS TOWN FORWARD.
LIKE IT OR NOT. WE'RE MOVING OUT OF THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE TO EVS.
JUST SAW THE CEO OF VOLKSWAGEN SAY BY THE YEAR 2030, WHICH IS ONLY EIGHT YEARS AWAY, 50 PERCENT OF THE CARS THAT THEY MANUFACTURER BE THE VOLKSWAGENS ARE ODD IS THEIR PORTION THEY HAD SOME OTHER HIGH-END CARS WILL BE EVS.
GM HAS STATED THEY WILL BE ALL EVS.
THAT'S ALL THE MANUFACTURER BY THE YEAR 2035.
FOR TODAY ACTUALLY TODAY ROLLED OUT THEIR NEW FORD F150 LIGHTENING PICKUP.
THEY'VE HAD TO INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTION AMOUNT BECAUSE OF THE DEMAND.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DRUG I OWN IT.
REGULAR CAR, BUT IF YOU'RE AWARE OF THE F150 IS THE TOP SELLING VEHICLE IN THE UNITED STATES, FORDS MAKING A COMMITMENT TO THIS.
THIS IS HAPPENING WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.
LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE, ARE WE GOING TO PUT IN A GAS STATION AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
THEN SO MANY YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, WE'LL BE TAKING IT OUT BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE THE TRAFFIC THERE, WHAT TRAFFIC BUT NOT THE DEMAND FOR GASOLINE.
I'VE BEEN IN HOME DEPOT AND LOWE'S OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I WALK IN BECAUSE OF YOU THAT KNOW ME, KNOW THE GARDEN SECTION ATTRACTS ME.
I WALKED THROUGH AND ALL THE MOTORS, ELECTRIC POWER, THEY HAVE A BATTERY WITH THEM.
YOU DON'T IMPORT GASOLINE IN THEM ANYMORE.
THINGS ARE CHANGING AND THE QUESTION GOES, WELL, WHAT COULD GO ON THAT CORNER? I REMEMBER I DON'T KNOW IF MS. COLVIN REMEMBERS IT, BUT SHE SAID WHEN THE 7-ELEVEN WAS GOING IN, ARE WE GOING TO GET A WINE BAR IN IT? AND THE REPRESENTATIVES SAID, NO THAT'S JUST A PROTOTYPE.
I THINK THIS IS CALLED THERE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT WE WEREN'T GETTING THAT. ON THAT CORNER.
COULD YOU PUT A COFFEE WINE BISTRO WHERE THEY WERE SERVING COFFEE AND ASSOCIATED PASTRIES WITH THAT IN THE MORNING AND WINE AND EVENING FOR SOME OF THESE HIGH-END CLIENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING IN PATRONIZING ACROSS THE STREET.
YOU KNOW, MY WIFE, SHE MENTIONED THE CORNER BAKERY.
THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT HOW MUCH PARKING DO WE HAVE? THERE'S A LOT NORTH OF IT.
WELL, IT'S COLORED IT WAS GREEN GRASS AND IT'S OWNED BY THE BURGER STREET RESTAURANT.
I CHECKED THAT OUT. YOU CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL PARKING THERE.
[00:30:02]
RECENTLY YOU'VE APPOINTED SOME NEW FOLKS TO P AND Z AND ONE OF YOUR REASONS FOR APPOINTING THEM WAS NOT JUST TO SAY, WELL, OKAY, IF IT'S HAVING A COMMERCIAL PASS IT THROUGH, WEST CAN DO THAT.HE KNOWS, HE KNOWS WHAT'S MP3, MP4, SERVICE, COMMERCIAL, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
YOU'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE THIS CITY.
YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE THE CITY FORWARD FROM YEARS OF MEDIOCRITY AND YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THAT BEFORE AND I PUT IT IN WRITING.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DENY OR AT THE LEAST TABLE THIS SO MAYBE YOU CAN DISCUSS IT A LITTLE MORE IN THE FUTURE AND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH THAT CORNER.
I REALIZED MURPHY BOUGHT IT, BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN A BUSINESS, YOU TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RISK.
I WOULD THINK THAT CORNER WOULD BE HIGHLY MARKETABLE.
THEY WOULD SELL IT IF THEY COULDN'T BUILD A GAS STATION AND CONVENIENCE STORE.
I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER IT AND DO SOMETHING BETTER.
BECAUSE IF WE END UP DOING IT EIGHT OR TEN YEARS FROM NOW, THERE'S NOT THE DEMAND AND THEY'RE MOVING OUT.
I WISH YOU'D TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, SOME MATTER, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:31.
>> LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN MYSELF [LAUGHTER] AT THE TIME THAT THE SOUTHERN 11 REPRESENTATIVES CAME TO US WANTING TO PUT THAT BUSINESS ON THAT CORNER, THERE HAD JUST BEEN A HUGE NEWS ARTICLE OUT OF THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS WHERE THE NEWEST 711 LOCATING IN DALLAS, WAS GOING TO HAVE A WINE BAR.
OF COURSE, I ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO HAVE ONE IN OUR LOCATION HERE AND WAS DENIED.
ANYWAY, THAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THAT.
I JUST THOUGHT WE SHOULD HAVE WHAT DALLAS HAS. THANK YOU, ROGER.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
OKAY. COUNCIL, ANY THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, MOTIONS.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THIS FANCY SYSTEM HERE.
>> THANK YOU. I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING, ROGER, THE FUTURE IS MOVING ON.
IT'S MOVING TOWARDS ELECTRICAL VEHICLES, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE.
THEREFORE, THERE ARE A LOT OF CARS THAT ARE STILL USING GASOLINE THEY DO NEED THE CONVENIENCE OF HAVING TO HAVE THAT FUEL TYPE PROVIDED FOR THEM.
IT HAS BEEN A GAS STATION IN THE PAST.
I GUESS MAYBE WE CAN HELP [INAUDIBLE] ADD A WINE BAR, I DON'T KNOW.
I REALLY DON'T SEE A REASON THAT WE SHOULD DENY THIS.
I'D LOVE TO [LAUGHTER] IN SOME ASPECTS TO SAY YES, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THERE, A BISTRO OR WHATEVER, BUT NOBODY HAS COME FORWARD WANTING TO PLACE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I KNOW ANDREA AND WES WORKS VERY HARD AND TIRELESSLY TO GO OUT AND SOLICIT BUSINESSES TO COME HERE.
EVEN STILL AGREEING WITH WHAT YOU SAID, I'M IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE SUP.
>> WES. THANK YOU, MS. COLDER.
YOU'RE SAYING IT'S A LITTLE OVER AN ACRE?
>> WHAT IS THE BEST USE OF ONE ACRE ON THE HIGHWAY CORRIDOR?
>> TYPICALLY IN THIS SITE YOU'RE LOOKING AT A COFFEE SHOP, CONVENIENCE STORE, SOMETHING TO THAT NATURE.
IT'S THE BEST USE GIVEN THE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION, EVERYTHING IT MAKES SENSE.
>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A BRICK-AND-MORTAR FAST FOOD, CAN YOU PUT IT ON AN ACRE?
>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A SIT-DOWN CASUAL RESTAURANT, CAN YOU DO THAT ON AN ACRE?
>> CAN YOU PUT AN OFFICE BUILDING ON AN ACRE?
>> YOU CAN. IT'S GOING TO BE A SMALL OFFICE BUILDING WITH PARKING REQUIREMENTS, [INAUDIBLE] REQUIREMENTS, AND EVERYTHING BUT IT WOULD BE SMALLER ONE.
>> I KNOW THE APPLICANT WAS PLANNING TO BE HERE. WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT, COUNCIL? GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS. THANKS FOR COMING.
COUNSEL, YOU GOT TO MAKE A MOTION HERE TO EITHER APPROVE OR DENY OR TABLE.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER COLDER, DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
[00:35:05]
A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.THAT'S UNANIMOUS SIX ZEROS SO THAT WAS ONLY A $200,000 VOTE SINCE WE'VE USED THIS THING TWICE SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL, THANK YOU, STAFF.
APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO'S UP ON THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE INPUT, MR. GALLENSTEIN.
ITEM 5, WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 82, OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
SECTION 82-73, FOOD PRODUCTS ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD CODE OF ORDINANCES.
PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE OF ALL ORDINANCES, PROVIDING A SEPARABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING A PENALTY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON HOW WE GOT HERE TONIGHT.
WE'VE RECENTLY HAD SEVERAL INQUIRIES REGARDING RESTAURANTS, SMOKING ESTABLISHMENTS, HOOKAH LOUNGES, WHAT HAVE YOU NOT.
[RECOGNITION OF PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MEMBERS]
THAT PROMPTED STAFF TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH INTO OUR REGULATIONS AND WE FOUND, I GUESS A DEAN IS A LOOPHOLE IN OUR CURRENT REGULATIONS.IN 2014, THERE WAS A SMOKING ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED AND IT'S CLEAR BY LOOKING AT THOSE DOCUMENTS, THE GOAL WAS TO PROHIBIT SMOKING IN RESTAURANTS.
BUT WE BUILT IN A 50 PERCENT EXEMPTION FOR RESTAURANTS THAT GET 50 PERCENT OR MORE OF THEIR SALES FROM ALCOHOL SALES.
THE CAVEAT SAYS OR ZONING ORDINANCE SAYS YOU CAN BE A RESTAURANT IF YOU GET 75 PERCENT OR MORE OF YOUR SALES FROM ALCOHOL SALES.
THAT'S THE LOOPHOLE THAT WE'VE FOUND IN THERE, IS THAT SOME RESTAURANTS ARE GETTING IN AND THEY CAN SMOKE OR THEY MAY BE ABLE TO ALLOW SMOKING BUT THEY'RE REALLY NOT A RESTAURANT AT THAT POINT THERE REALLY A BAR AT THAT POINT, BUT THEY'RE MEETING THE DEFINITION OF A RESTAURANT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TONIGHT AND WE'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT BUT REAL QUICK WHAT'S THE PROPOSAL IS FOR TONIGHT IS THAT THE OWNERSHIP ALLOWS SMOKING IN RESTAURANTS ONLY IF 50 PERCENT OR MORE OF ITS SALES COME FROM ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND IT HAS A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY RECEIVED PRIOR TO TODAY, TODAY OR PRIOR, AND IT ALLOWED SMOKING PRIOR TO TODAY.
IT REALLY GRANDFATHERS IN EVERYTHING THAT'S EXISTING TODAY THAT YOU CAN DO SMOKING AS LONG AS YOU MEET THOSE THREE CAVEATS.
IT ALSO, IN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THIS, WE FOUND THAT OTHER CITIES HAD A BIGGER DISTANCE BETWEEN WHERE SMOKING ON THE PATIO IS ALLOWED IN RELATION TO THE PRIMARY ENTRANCE OF THE RESTAURANT SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO INCREASE THAT FROM 10 FEET TO 25 FEET.
TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON WHAT WE RESEARCHED, WE LOOKED AT THE FOLLOWING CITIES AND SEE WHAT THEY DID AS FAR AS HOW THEY REGULATED SMOKING.
ONE CAVEAT I WANT TO MAKE HERE, WELL, FIRST, THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT AND WE PUT THE DETAILS IN YOUR BACKUP.
BUT HURST OR EULESS DOES SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN EVERY CITY.
THEY ALLOW IT IN RESTAURANTS, BUT IF YOU'RE IN A SERVICE LINE OF SOME SORT, THEY DON'T ALLOW IT IN SERVICE LINE.
IF YOU'RE IN A CLOSE-KNIT AREA, THEY WOULDN'T ALLOW IT THERE BUT THEY ALLOW AT TABLES AND IT'S UP TO THE PROPER OWNER TO ALLOW IT AS WELL.
HURST, THEY PROHIBITED WITHIN 20 FEET OF ANY TYPE OF INSURANCE, AND THEN ALLOWED IN CERTAIN OTHER CAVEATS, ALSO GAVE SOME EXEMPTIONS TO HOURS OF OPERATION AS WELL.
COLLEYVILLE JUST RUN DOWN THE GIMMICK REAL QUICK.
THEY PROHIBITED IN RESTAURANTS THAT HAD A CAPACITY OR WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS.
ONE OF THOSE BEING IF THE CAPACITY IS 25 OR LESS THEN THEY WOULD ALLOW IT.
AGAIN, THE PROPERTY OWNER COULD CHOOSE NOT TO AND THEN IT WAS A BAR, SO IF THEY HAD ALCOHOL SALES ASSOCIATED WITH THEIRS AS WELL.
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS, AND ALSO SAID YOU'VE GOT TO BE WITHIN 25 FEET OF THE ENTRANCE IF YOU'RE GOING TO ALLOW ON PATIOS.
ONE THING I WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE IN YOUR BACKUP, IT SAID THAT GRAPEVINE PROHIBITED FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.
AFTER DOING SOME MORE RESEARCH AND THIS IS PURELY MY FAULT, THE WAY GRAPEVINE IS WRITTEN IS A LITTLE QUIRKY, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, SO WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED.
WE NOW THINK GRAPEVINE ALLOWS SMOKING IN RESTAURANTS BASED ON WHAT WE DETERMINED IN THEIR ORDINANCE TODAY.
SOUTHLAKE COMPLETELY PROHIBITS IT AND KEEPS THE 20-FOOT DISTANCE FROM ANY ENTRANCE.
[00:40:04]
THEN COPPELL, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT THE LAST TIME THAT THIS CAME UP IN A DISCUSSION, COPPELL ALLOWS IT ONLY WITH CERTAIN BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS MADE.SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A RUNDOWN OF WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
WE ALSO SURVEYED EXISTING RESTAURANTS.
WE CALLED SOME, WE LOOKED ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE, WE LOOKED ON THEIR GOOGLE REVIEWS, WE DID ALL OF THAT DO A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.
ONLY FOUR RESTAURANTS ALLOWED INDOOR SMOKING AND THEN WE HAD ONE THAT ALLOWED IT ON PATIO ONLY.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA AS TO WHAT THIS WOULD AFFECT IN OUR CURRENT RESTAURANTS.
ALSO, I KNOW THERE WAS A PUBLIC COMMENT MADE ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, THIS SECTION IS ONLY FOR FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.
WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SECTION IN THE ORDINANCE THAT ADDRESSES SMOKING IN OTHER PUBLIC PLACES SO SMOKING IS NOT JUST ALLOWED ANYWHERE OTHER THAN FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS, IT'S JUST WEREN'T AMENDING THIS SECTION ONLY TONIGHT.
>> COUNCIL, COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, WE'LL GET USED TO THE SYSTEM. I'M SURE.
WITH THIS, RESTAURANTS THAT OBTAIN OVER 50 PERCENT FROM ALCOHOL SALES, CURRENTLY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE GRANDFATHERED INCORRECT UNDER THAT CO, CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
IS THERE ANY REASON WHY OR ANY SITUATION WHERE THAT CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY WOULD THEN BE CHANGED OR THEY HAVE TO GET A NEW ONE? IT'S TIED TO THE BUSINESS AND THE LOCATION, CORRECT?
HOWEVER, IF OWNERSHIP CHANGES, THAT TYPICALLY REQUIRES A NEW CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
THOSE ARE REALLY THE BIG ITEMS OF OWNERSHIP OR IF THEY CHOOSE TO RELOCATE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> OF COURSE. NEW LOCATION OBVIOUSLY YES, SIR.
>> I WASN'T AWARE THAT CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP WOULD TRIGGER A NEW CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY YES, SIR.
>> I FOUND IT INTERESTING MENTIONING COPPELL AND HOW WE'RE ALLOWING SMOKING BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO X, Y, AND Z, AND IT IS STRICTLY AS POSSIBLE.
THEN LAST TIME WE BROUGHT THIS UP, I MENTIONED IN FACT I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? I HAVE A FEELING THAT BEDFORD IS ON AN ISLAND, AS IT WERE.
LOOKING AROUND TO SEE YES, YOU'RE RIGHT IT IS ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT YOU DO SEE SOME TRENDS IN THERE.
TALKING ABOUT SOUTHLAKE, IT'S PROHIBITED 20 FEET OF ANY ENTRANCE OR EXIT.
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, PROHIBITED IN ANY FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS UNLESS IT IS AN OUTDOOR PUBLIC PATIO AREA, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE MIRRORING I'M ASSUMING IS NORTH RICHLAND HILLS.
>> RIGHT. ESSENTIALLY, IF THE ORDINANCE SETS BEFORE WE WERE PASSED, IT WOULD PROHIBIT IT OR ALLOW IT IN PATIOS, FOR INSTANCE, BUT YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE THAT 25-FOOT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PATIO AND THE PRIMARY ENTRANCE.
>> GOT YOU. FOR ME, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT WE SHOULD MAKE IT AS RESTRICTIVE AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK THAT WITH THESE RESTAURANT OWNERS, THIS IS TOUGH BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE.
THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE PATRONS THAT COME AND VISIT.
FOR ME, THIS IS PERSONAL AS WELL BECAUSE I'VE LOST FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY WERE SMOKERS.
THIS IS A HARD ONE, I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF OUR BUSINESSES AND ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH.
FOR ME, I'M OKAY WITH THESE, I'M GLAD WE ARE TIGHTENING THIS UP, MAKING IT A LITTLE MORE RESTRICTIVE.
IN ANTICIPATION OF NEW BUSINESSES, I THINK WE NEED TO REVISIT THIS THOUGH IN THE FUTURE JUST TO BUCKLE IT DOWN EVEN MORE TO MAKE IT PERHAPS EVEN A LITTLE MORE RESTRICTIVE.
IS THAT NEXT WEEK? NO. IS IT A YEAR FROM NOW? PROBABLY NOT BUT I THINK SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.
SEEING AS OTHER CITIES ARE ARGUING AT SOUTHLAKE, NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, PERHAPS WE SHOULD EMULATE THAT.
BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, I'M GOOD WITH THESE CHANGES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. COGAN. MAYOR PRO TEM STABLE? [NOISE] THERE YOU GO.
YOU'RE SAYING IF SAY BIGGS SELLS, THE SMOKING DOES NOT GO WITH BIGGS?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'LL BE THE OWNERSHIP.
THAT'S WHY THIS IS WRITTEN TODAY.
>> IF THEY WERE TRYING TO SELL THE PROPERTY TO ANOTHER OWNER THAT WANTS TO HAVE SMOKING, HE WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO GET IT.
>> THE WAY THAT OWNERS RAFT IS WRITTEN. YES, MA'AM.
>> WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? BECAUSE IT WAS JUST CONVOLUTED OR IS IT ALSO BECAUSE OF
[00:45:03]
WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP SOMETHING OUT THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT? [LAUGHTER]>> I THINK IT COULD BE A COMBINATION.
BY LOOKING AT PAST RECORDS, I DON'T THINK THE INTENT OF THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE 2014 ORDINANCE.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS THEIR INTENT.
I WASN'T HERE BUT READING EVERYTHING, IT SEEMS LIKE THEIR GOAL WAS TO PROHIBIT SMOKING IN RESTAURANTS.
I THINK THAT THEY BUILT INTO 50 PERCENT RULE BASED ON A TABC RULE.
THAT TELLS ME THAT THEY WERE THINKING OF MORE OF A BAR OR NIGHTLIFE ESTABLISHMENT RATHER THAN JUST REFER TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT.
AGAIN, THAT'S ALL OUR EDUCATED GUESS BECAUSE WE WEREN'T THERE.
BUT THEN THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT ARE ON A COUPLE OF PLACES THAT WANTED TO DO HOOKAH LOUNGES OR OTHER OF USES THAT WE MAY NOT WANT IN THAT AREA.
WE MAY NOT WANT A HOOKAH LOUNGE IN A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT.
>> DOES THIS RESTRICT VAPING ALSO?
VAPING IS CONSIDERED SMOKING, SO IT DOES AFFECT THAT.
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER AMENDMENT AND IT'S GOING FOR P&Z TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO TIGHTEN THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.
WE DO HAVE A HOLE IN THERE, THAT'S GOING TO BE A SEPARATE AGENDA ITEM.
>> BUT VAPING WOULD BE ALLOWED IN THE SAME RESTAURANTS THAT AUTHORIZE SMOKING NOW?
>> THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MS. STABLE. COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.
>> YOU HAVE LISTED FIVE BARS, PLUS RESTAURANTS, AND YOU HAD MENTIONED YOU HAD VISITED THEIR WEBSITES TO SEE IF THERE ARE.
DID YOU CONTACT ALL THE RESTAURANTS BECAUSE THERE COULD BE SOME THAT DON'T HAVE A WEBSITE, AND ALLOW SMOKING.
WE DON'T KNOW AND THEY ARE NOT ON THIS LIST.
>> IF WE COULD NOT FIND A WEBSITE OR A GOOGLE REVIEW OR A FACEBOOK PAGE THAT SPECIFICALLY SAID THEY ALLOWED SMOKING, WE CALLED.
>> I THINK IT WAS A TOTAL OF A 112 THAT WE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, 112 IS WHAT WE TOUCHED BASE WITH, SOME SORT OF WAY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. STEVES. WE HAVE MULTIPLE OPTIONS HERE.
ONE IS TO APPROVE AS WRITTEN WITH THE CHANGES, WE CAN GO STRICTER, WE CAN GO LIGHTER OR WE CAN DO NOTHING. CORRECT?
>> COUNCIL, WHAT IS YOUR ALL'S PLEASURE? I'LL BE ASKING BUT THERE'S A SIDE OF ME INTERESTED IN GETTING STRICTER RIGHT NOW.
ONLY BECAUSE I KNOW SEVERAL BUSINESSES THAT OPENED UP WITH THE INTENT TO HAVE SMOKERS.
I THINK IT'S BEAR AT THIS POINT.
I MEAN, THIS WAS DONE BACK IN 2014.
THEY WOULD NOT HAVE OPENED HAD THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO CLUMP DOWN ON THEM.
I JUST HAPPENED TO KNOW, THEY DON'T CARE IF A NON-SMOKER WALKS IN OR NOT.
[LAUGHTER] THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT, JUST DON'T COME IN.
I'M NOT REALLY IN FAVOR OF GRANDFATHERING TYPICALLY BUT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A BAIT AND SWITCH, I THINK WE JUST LEAVE.
>> ARE YOU OKAY WITH [OVERLAPPING] INCREASING THE DISTANCE, THE 10-25?
>> YOU SEE SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE HYSTERICAL BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ENFORCE THEM.
[LAUGHTER] YOU GOT A POLICE OFFICER STANDING OUTSIDE, BUT I SUPPOSE IT'S A GOOD RECORD.
>> I'M ASSUMING THAT'S A BUILDING INSPECTION ISSUE.
IF WE HAD A COMPLAINT, LET'S SAY AND IT'S GOING TO BE PRIMARILY COMPLAINT-DRIVEN OR SOMEBODY COMPLAINS THAT PEOPLE ARE SMOKING TOO CLOSE TO THE FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE, WE'D GO OUT AND WE ESSENTIALLY MEASURE THE PATIO DISTANCE AND IF WE OBSERVE SMOKING, THEN WE WILL DEAL WITH PROPERTY UNDER THAT ONE TIME.
>> DOES THIS ONLY DEAL WITH RESTAURANTS, THAT'S IT?
>> THIS ONE IS UNDER THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT SECTION.
>> HOW MANY DIFFERENT SMOKING ORDINANCES DO WE HAVE? BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED.
>> FORGIVE ME. WE HAVE UNDER CHAPTER 82 AND THIS IS GETTING MORE DETAIL THAN YOU WANT.
BUT UNDER CHAPTER 82 THERE'S ARTICLES WHERE IT SAYS SMOKING.
YOU HAVE A HANDFUL OF SECTIONS IN THERE.
ONE SECTION IS ENTITLED PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN PUBLIC AREAS, WHICH THAT DEALS WITH VARIOUS PUBLIC AREAS.
ONE IS THE ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, SECTION 73 DEALS WITH SPECIFICALLY FOOD PRODUCT ESTABLISHMENT.
[00:50:07]
THEN IT GOES INTO POSSESSION OF TOBACCO BY MINORS.IT'S ALL COMBINED IN ONE ARTICLE, IT'S JUST DIFFERENT SECTIONS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN, I'M SORRY.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. MAYOR MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE INTERESTED IN MAKING PERHAPS EVEN MORE RESTRICTIVE.
MY QUESTION IS FOR BRYN THOUGH, IS THERE A WAY WE COULD FUTURE DATE IT? IF YOU'RE GOING DOWN THAT PATH TO MAKE IT STRICTER, SO THAT'S NOT IMMEDIATE OR PERHAPS IN THE FUTURE?
>> YES. YOU COULD ESSENTIALLY ESTABLISH A FUTURE COMPLIANCE DATE.
THE RULE WOULD BE ADOPTED IMMEDIATELY BUT THE ORDINANCE WOULD PROVIDE THAT COMPLIANCES REQUIRED FOR SIX MONTHS, FOR EXAMPLE.
>> IS THERE A LIMIT ON THAT TIME?
IT JUST IS UP TO THE COUNCIL ON HOW MUCH TIME HE WANT TO AFFORD THE BUSINESSES TO REACH COMPLIANCE.
OBVIOUSLY, UNDERSTANDING THAT ADULT BEING AN IMMEDIATE BAND TONIGHT AND HAVING CODE ENFORCEMENT GO UP TOMORROW AND SHUT RESTAURANTS DOWN IS PROBABLY NOT PRACTICAL.
I'M INTERESTED IN ENTERTAINING THAT IF [OVERLAPPING] I BROUGHT THAT ISSUE UP TO.
>> ONE THING I JUST ASK FOR TONIGHT TOO IS THAT WE'RE SETTING A HARD DATE WITH THIS ORDINANCE, SO THERE'S NO NEW RESTAURANTS COMING IN, YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SMOKING.
WE'RE CAPPING IT ESSENTIALLY IF WE APPROVE AS WRITTEN.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER AGAIN.
>> I GUESS, I WOULD NEED TO BE EDUCATED.
WHY WOULD WE PASS AN ORDINANCE TONIGHT AND THEN.
SORRY. WHY WOULD WE PASS AN ORDINANCE TONIGHT AND THEN PREDATE IT?
>> THAT WOULD BE COUNCIL'S DECISION.
>> I'M SPECULATING TO GIVE THEM TIME TO ADJUST.
>> EXISTING DISTANCE WITHIN THAT LITERALLY WAS OPEN TO NEW RESTAURANTS COMING IN.
>> WELL, NO, BECAUSE WE'RE APPROVING TONIGHT THAT NO NEW RESTAURANTS WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
>> PLUS AN EXTENSION FOR EXISTING.
>> EXISTING. WELL, LET'S TRY TO SAVE MARCO? YES, MAYBE NO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH BRYN. I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF YOU KNOW, COUNSEL COGEN.
I LOST MY FATHER TO LUNG CANCER.
MY FIRST YEAR OF PHARMACY SCHOOL.
BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALMOST STRANGE THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
I DON'T HAVE TO SIDE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM STABLE.
A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY THE FIVE THAT WE HAVE.
IF I DON'T WANT TO SMELL SMOKE, I DON'T GO TO THAT BUSINESS.
BUT THEY STILL HAVE MANY AS CUSTOMERS THAT THEY NEED TO OPERATE AND MAKE THEIR LIVING.
BUT THERE ARE PLACES THAT I GO BECAUSE OF WHATEVER THE ENVIRONMENT IS.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE CHILDREN, YOU DON'T GO TO CHUCK E. CHEESE.
IF YOU DO YOU GO TO CHUCK E. CHEESE [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] VERSUS [OVERLAPPING]
>> FOR YOUNG KIDS YOU GO TO A CHUCK E. CHEESE ME.
BUT IF YOU'RE OLDER, YOU'RE GAMES YOU GO TO DAVID BUSTERS.
DAVID BUSTERS HAS ALL DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> ON THE MARKETPLACE. THAT'S WHAT YOU SAY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE A FAVOR OF ANYTHING MORE, WHY AFFECT THE BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE? IF THEY'RE BEING PATRONIZED BY FOLKS AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE PATRONIZED BY FOLKS AND IF NOT THAT'S NOT.
>> JUST FOR OUR BENEFIT, THEN IF WE APPROVE AS WRITTEN, WHAT ARE THE CHANGES? CAN YOU SPECIFY AGAIN?
>> THEY TOOK MY SCREEN DOWN. JUST A SECOND.
LET ME GO BACK TO THAT. I'LL DO BETTER WITH A THANK YOU.
YOU ARE CHANGING YOUR ALLOWING SMOKE.
RIGHT NOW, SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN RESTAURANTS, THAT'S HEALTHY BECAUSE AN ALCOHOL PERIOD.
YOU'RE CHANGING IT TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THE SAME EXEMPTION OF THE 50 PERCENT ALCOHOL SALES, BUT ALSO THEY HAVE TO BE OPERATING PRIOR TO TODAY AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE ALLOW SMOKING PRIOR TO TODAY.
THEN YOU'RE CHANGING THE 10 FEET,
[00:55:03]
25 FEET DISTANCE FOR PATIO TWO PRIMARY.>> THERE IS GETTING STRICTER WITH HIS ORDINANCE BY THESE CHANGES?
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MAYBE PRO TEM AND ALREADY, I THINK THIS IS THE WAY TO GO.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I BROUGHT IT UP ONLY JUST ENTERTAIN TO SEE WHERE EVERYONE'S APPETITE WAS FOR IT.
I THINK GETTING STRICTER IS THE RIGHT MOVE HERE.
I'M GLAD THAT WE WERE GOING AHEAD AND MOVING FORWARD AND DOING THAT.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AND I STILL LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE, WE COME BACK AND LOOK AT THIS BEFORE AS IT IS RIGHT NOW. THUMBS UP FOR ME.
>> VERY GOOD. ANYONE WILLING TO MAKE MOTION?
>> FIRST ONE? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS WRITTEN FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CAGLIARDI, CORRECT AND A SECOND ONE, COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER.
[OVERLAPPING] LET'S VOTE. I WANTED TO JUMP INTO THE SCREEN.
[BACKGROUND] OKAY. THAT'S UNANIMOUS, SIX ALL.
THANK YOU, SAM, THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION, COUNCIL.
MOVING ALONG, ITEM 6, WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF OLD TOWN DEVELOPMENT, LLC IS THE NAME OF THE MASTER DEVELOPER FOR THE BEDFORD COMMONS MIXED-USE PROJECT.
THIS IS THE AREA GENERALLY LOCATED BETWEEN BEDFORD ROAD, L. DON DOTSON, EM BILGER JUNIOR BOULEVARD AND PARKWOOD DRIVE AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PROCEED WITH NEGOTIATION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH SAME, SO WE HAVE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR ANDREA ROY.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCIL, GOOD EVENING.
WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR FINDINGS AS A RESULT OF OUR REQUESTS THAT WE SUBMITTED AFTER THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
WE DID A REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST, WHICH IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, AND MOST PEOPLE MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH IS MORE LIKE AN RFP OR RFQ.
SIMILAR TO A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
WE DID THIS WITH THE INTENT TO SEEK OUT A MASTER DEVELOPER, TO WHOM WE THEN CAN CONTINUE THE RELATIONSHIP AND MOVE FORWARD ON A MORE CONTRACTUAL BASIS AS WE WORK TOWARDS SOME PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THAT GROUP TO DEVELOP THE BEDFORD COMMONS MIXED-USE PROJECT.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE DID GO AHEAD AND ISSUE THE RFEI, AND GENERALLY WHILE NOT REQUIRED TO, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DID CAPTURE AND REACH OUT TO EVERYONE THAT DID HAVE AN INTEREST AND WAS QUALIFIED FOR RESPONSE.
WE DID ADVERTISE THIS IN THE STAR TELEGRAM TWO SUNDAYS IN A ROW.
IT WAS POSTED ON VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS OF OURS.
WE ALSO DID DIRECTLY NOTIFY 14 DEVELOPERS THAT WE EITHER, AND I SAY THAT WE, I REALLY MEAN WE, HAD PERSONALLY THOUGHT WOULD BE A GREAT FIT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, AND THEN WHEN THEY'RE DONE IN OTHER AREAS, THEN I ALSO INCORPORATED FOLKS THAT HAD SHOWN AN INTEREST IN THE PROJECT SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE WITH THE CITY.
AT THE END OF THAT DAY, WE HAD THREE SUBMISSIONS FROM THREE DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT TEAMS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM BROADSWORD INVESTORS WHO'D PARTNERED WITH PATHWAY MULTI-FAMILY LLC, ALSO RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM RUSSELL GLENN WHO PARTNERED WITH PAGE ARCHITECTS TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE, AND ALSO RECEIVED A SUBMITTAL FROM OLD TOWN DEVELOPMENT WHO HAD PARTNERED WITH GFF ARCHITECTS.
AS A RESULT OF LOOKING THROUGH THOSE, AND AGAIN, IN ORDER TO REALLY LOOK AT THEM WITH A NEUTRAL EYE WE DID APPLY SOME STANDARDS, SCORING SYSTEM AND REALLY LOOKED AT FOUR PRIMARY AREAS.
THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE, THEIR VISION AND DEVELOPMENT APPROACH, THE FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM CAPACITY AND A REPUTATION.
I THINK IN YOUR PACKET, I DID ATTACH MY FULL EVALUATION.
I PROVIDED MY COMMENTS AND NOTES JUST SO YOU ALL CAN SEE WHERE I WENT, WHY I SWORE THEM CERTAIN WAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
JUST AN EFFORT FOR YOU ALL TO SEE WHERE THE THINKING WAS AND WHERE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME DEFICIENCIES AND SOME SURPLUSES BASED ON THOSE CATEGORIES.
AFTER GOING THROUGH ALL THAT, ESSENTIALLY, WE CAME DOWN TO OLD TOWN DEVELOPMENT BEING THE RECOMMENDED MASTER DEVELOPER, BASED ON THEIR SUBMITTAL, THEIR PROPOSAL, THE EXPERIENCE OF THE TEAM, WHAT THEY'VE DONE PREVIOUSLY, THE UNIQUE CAPACITY OF THEM TO OFFER A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A BOUTIQUE AS THEY INDICATED APPROACH TO THIS.
IT'S NOT JUST A 1,200 ACRE MASTER DEVELOPMENT TYPE OF A THING.
WE NEED SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO LOOK AT THIS SITE, UNDERSTAND ITS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES,
[01:00:03]
AND REALLY LOOK AT IT DIRECTLY.THIS IS NOT A COOKIE-CUTTER TYPE OF A DEVELOPMENT.
WITH THAT, STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WORKING WITH OLD TOWN DEVELOPMENT.
AGAIN, JUST TO GIVE YOU ALL A BRIEF SUMMARY, AND FOR ANYBODY THAT ISN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE BEDFORD COMMON SITE.
ESSENTIALLY IN THE RFEI, WE DID INDICATE THAT WHAT WE ENVISION AS A CORE AREA, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN REALLY GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY.
DEVELOPER COULD COME IN AND REALLY GET GOING ON THAT INITIAL 21 ACRES RIGHT AWAY.
THEN AGAIN, WHERE I WOULD CALL THE CORE AREA PLUS PERIPHERY WOULD MAYBE BE A PHASE 2 WHICH IS THE EXPANDED AREA WHICH OBVIOUSLY INCLUDES THE PROPERTY WE'RE LOOKING SITTING ON, AND THE OTHER CITY FACILITIES.
THIS IS WHAT WAS SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND AGAIN, A BIG PIECE OF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR WAS SOMEBODY THAT WOULD COME IN AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALREADY WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF EVALUATING WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE ON THIS SITE AND WHAT WAS THAT INTEREST.
WE HAVE A CHOSEN PLACE, IT IS TIED TO THIS CONCEPT PLANS.
WE REALLY NEEDED SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND LOOK AT THIS CONCEPT PLAN, AND SIMPLY BUILD FROM IT.
WE DIDN'T NEED SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND REINVENT THE ENTIRE THING.
WE NEEDED SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND UNDERSTAND AND REALLY BUILD OFF FROM THIS.
AGAIN, ULTIMATELY, THAT'S WHERE WE LANDED WITH OLD TOWN DEVELOPMENT.
HERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT SOME SAMPLINGS OF THEIR PROJECTS.
AGAIN, GFF ARCHITECTS, LEADER IN THE DFW AREA, PROBABLY NATIONALLY AS WELL, VERY WELL-KNOWN ARCHITECTURE FIRM, THAT WILL LEND THEIR SERVICES HERE.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE MODIFIED AND THIS IS ALL CONCEPTUAL.
WHERE THINGS WILL LAND, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL TREES OVER THERE.
WE PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO LOSE SOME, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS CONCEPTUAL RIGHT NOW AND THIS IS OLD TOWN'S CONCEPTUAL PLAN FOR THE SITE.
AGAIN, THEY LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENT PHASES AS WELL, AND ULTIMATELY THEY WERE THE GROUP TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AS FAR AS OUR RECOMMENDATION.
IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS FORMALLY NAMING OLD TOWN AS THE MASTER DEVELOPER, AND WE WILL THEN GO AHEAD AND HAMMER OUT A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY, AND OLD TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO YOU HOPEFULLY OUR NEXT MEETING AND YOU CAN APPROVE THAT, WHICH WILL REALLY OUTLINE THE TERMS OF OUR INITIAL ARRANGEMENT.
IT WILL BE LATER THAT WE WOULD THEN BRING FORWARD FORMAL INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THIS IS THE FOUNDATION FOR THAT.
THAT REALLY SAYS WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START THAT PARTNERSHIP AND MOVE DOWN THE ROAD.
JUSTIN WITH OLD TOWN IS HERE IF YOU'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS AND I'M AVAILABLE.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, ANDREA.
MAYOR BOYTER AND SABOL. YOU'RE AGREE, NO? [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M ALIVE. [LAUGHTER] YOU LOOKED AT ALL THE THREE COMPANIES, AND YOU EVALUATED THEM EACH.
I NOTICED ONE OF THE HOT TOPICS AND SOME OF THEM THEY WOULD MENTION MULTI-FAMILY AND THAT'S ALWAYS A HOT TOPIC AROUND HERE.
BUT WHEN YOU TALKED TO ALL THREE OF THEM, THEY CAME TO KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT AS A COMMUNITY.
WHAT I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT LATELY IS THEY'RE TENDING TO COME INTO A SINGLE FAMILY HOMES BUT THEN, INVESTORS ARE COMING IN AND TURNING THEM INTO RENTALS.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT ANY OF THOSE COMPANIES COULD GIVE US LEEWAY ON THAT SO THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO US BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR COMMUNITY HAD IN MIND?
>> ARE YOU SAYING WITH THE OTHER SUBMISSIONS, THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN?
>> DID ANY OF THEM MENTIONED THAT AS A POSSIBILITY, BECAUSE I COULD JUST SEE US GETTING SUCKED INTO THAT, THINKING WE'RE GOING TO GET PRIVATE HOMES AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN AN INVESTOR COMES IN, PURCHASES ALL THE BUILDINGS AND THAT BECOMES A RENTAL COMMUNITY.
>> EACH OF THE OTHER TWO GROUPS OUTSIDE OF OLD TOWN DEVELOPMENT HAVE VERY SPECIFIC MODELS AS WHAT THEY DEVELOP.
MOST OF THEM ARE EITHER VERY MUCH STANDARD MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPERS AND HAVE MAYBE DONE SOME ALTERNATIVE THINGS, OR THEY ARE ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT SPECIALIZE IN THESE SINGLE-FAMILY RENTAL COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS THEIR MODEL, NOT TO SAY THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE WILLING TO MODIFY THAT FOR US, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT THAT'S THEIR STRONG SUIT TO THE DEGREE THAT BOTH OF THEM INDICATED THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO A DENSER ENVIRONMENT, THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO AN AFFORDABLE RENTAL ENVIRONMENTS WHICH BASED ON THE PLAN DOES NOT QUITE ALIGN WITH WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
BUT I WOULD IMAGINE MOST OF THESE GROUPS DO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY, BUT WHEN I'M TALKING TO A MULTI-FAMILY BUILDER, I DON'T SEE THEM DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT.
>> ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH LOSING THE OTHER DEVELOPER WAS THAT WE FOUND LOTS OF HOLES IN OUR ORDINANCES.
IS THAT NOT SUCH A BIG ISSUE NOW BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY OWN THE PROPERTY,
[01:05:03]
OR DO WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT OUR ORDINANCES AND SAY, LOOK, THIS NEEDS TO MATCH ACROSS THE CITY OR EVEN BEFORE THE DEVELOPER COMES IN?>> I THINK WE'VE HAD CONTROL BY OWNING IT.
THAT REALLY GIVES US THE ULTIMATE CONTROL.
AGAIN, THE WAY THAT WE'VE WORDED THIS, EVEN AS TONIGHT, EVEN THE MOU THAT I HAVE DRAFTED.
IF WE WANT TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND IT'S NOT LINING UP, WE ARE DONE.
BUT IT GIVES YOU THE ULTIMATE CONTROL AND ALSO THAT TOURS CONCEPT PLAN.
WE SOLD THIS PROJECT TO THE OTHER TAXING ENTITIES BASED ON THAT PLAN.
WE CAN'T SCRAP IT AND START OVER.
THAT GIVES US A REALLY GOOD FRAMEWORK THAT WE HAVE TO PRETTY STICK IN, WE'VE GOT TO STICK TO THAT.
>> WAS GFF THE ARCHITECTS THAT WE USED WITH DAVID PATTER?
>> I REMEMBER HE COULD HAND DRAW VERY WELL.
I THINK THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE QUESTIONS? JUST FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS HERE.
[NOISE] COUNCIL AND THE CITY MAINTAINS CONTROL THIS PROJECT GOING FORWARD.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER WITH ALL THE MASTER DEVELOPERS THAT WE PICK TO CREATE THAT VISION TOGETHER.
>> AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T HAVE TO SETTLE FOR APARTMENTS, WE DON'T HAVE TO SETTLE FOR SOMEBODY TO COME TELL US, HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO AND YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE IT.
>> JUSTIN'S HERE. IS JUSTIN WANTS TO COME UP TO THE MIC? [OVERLAPPING] JUSTIN, WHAT IS IT THAT OLD TOWN DOES WELL?
>> I THINK OUR CORE COMPETENCY IS REALLY CREATING UNIQUE EXPERIENCES.
THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS TENDED TO DO THAT IS BY PARTNERING WITH REALLY HYPER-LOCAL BUSINESSES AND DINING ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE DESTINATION AND EXPERIENTIAL-ORIENTED.
TO NOT CREATE A LOCATION, BUT TO CREATE A DESTINATION.
WE'VE DONE MULTI-BUILDING, MULTI-BLOCKS DEVELOPMENTS BEFORE, BUT WE'VE NEVER HAD AN ENTIRE SITE LIKE THIS GOING IN.
WHAT I SEE US DOING HERE, WHAT WE HAVE DONE BEFORE, BUT WE JUST DID IT BY A BRAIL AS WE WENT ALONG, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE A COHESIVE DEVELOPMENT THAT WORKS TOGETHER, YOU NEED CONNECTIVITY, YOU NEED WALKABILITY, AND YOU REALLY WANT TO SET A PRECEDENT.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO PROACTIVELY GOING INTO THIS DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE MASTER-PLANNED, IT'S GOING TO BE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.
ON TOP OF THAT, I THINK THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE I HAVE IS THAT MY PLANS HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH MR. [INAUDIBLE] 'S PLAN REVIEW AND I'VE GOT ALL HIS NOTES.
[LAUGHTER] SO I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO JUST SAIL RIGHT THROUGH WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THIS THING PERMITTED.
>> YOU SAY THAT NOW, BUT IT'S STILL EARLY.
[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] THIS IS 30 ACRES.
IS IT BIG ENOUGH TO GET SOMETHING UNIQUE AND SPECIAL?
>> YEAH, 30 ACRES IS BIGGER THAN DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH.
>> IS THERE ANY REASON FOR US TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN'T DO SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE WITH THIS PROPERTY?
>> NOBODY'S GOING TO TELL ME WE CAN'T.
>> HAVE YOU EVER FORCED A COUNCIL TO DO SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO?
>> I'VE NEVER FORCED A COUNCIL TO DO ANYTHING THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'D BE INTRIGUED THAT I HAVE, AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO JUST VOICE MY THOUGHTS HERE IS, I THINK THE RELATIONSHIPS YOU HAVE, THE ABILITY TO DO UNIQUE BOUTIQUE-TYPE THINGS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN.
WE CLEARLY WANT SOMETHING WILD, WE WANT SOMETHING SPECIAL, WE WANT SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T EXIST AROUND HERE.
THAT WAS OUR HOPE AS WE WERE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS BEFORE WE [INAUDIBLE] GOING DOWN THE TOURIST PATH.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, WE WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE RESIDENTS.
WE KNOW THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT THE RESIDENTS DO NOT WANT HERE, SO WE WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THAT.
[INAUDIBLE] 'S CRITIQUING YOU RIGHT NOW.
[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] THE THOUGHT IS TO FIND SOMEONE WE CAN PARTNER WITH TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND CREATE THAT SORT OF A CONCEPT.
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO THAT.
>> VERY MUCH. CERTAINLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
>> MAKE A MOTION? [BACKGROUND]
>> COUNCIL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE]?
>> THANK YOU. I JUST PUT MY TWO CENTS AND THIS IS VERY, VERY EXCITING.
I STARTED GETTING INVOLVED BACK IN THE APARTMENT DAYS AND THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE AN AWESOME PROJECT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS ONE OF MANY NEW PROJECTS IN BEDFORD. THANK YOU, SIR, I'M EXCITED.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, SIR. COUNCILMAN [INAUDIBLE].
[LAUGHTER] I TOLD YOU I WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING.
[BACKGROUND] THIS IS A REALLY SPECIAL, SPECIAL PROJECT.
[01:10:10]
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING NOW THAT YOU'VE PRESENTED, NOWHERE COMES CLOSE TO WHAT THEY'RE REALLY WANTING.THE TOWNHOMES, I SERVED ON PLANNING AND ZONING WHEN WE PUT IT IN PLACE THE CODES, AND ORDINANCES THAT FIT FOR BEDFORD COMMONS.
THEN WE TURNED AROUND AND HAD A DEVELOPER COME AND THEY REALLY COULDN'T MATCH WHAT WE DID.
WE PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
NOW WE'VE GOT TO GO BACK AND REVAMP ALL OF THAT AND MAKE IT TO WHERE SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU CAN BRING TO US, WE CAN BRING TO LIGHT.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO REPLANNING AND ZONING, YOU KNOW THAT, AND SOME ORDINANCES WILL HAVE TO BE CHANGED AS COUNCILMAN [INAUDIBLE] HAS MENTIONED.
BUT I'M JUST HOPING THAT YOU REALLY LISTEN.
WORDS COME OUT BUT PEOPLE SOMETIMES JUST REALLY DON'T HEAR.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR A LARGE COMPLEX OF TOWNHOMES, ESPECIALLY FACE-FRONTING WITH GARAGES.
ALL OF THESE SHOW GARAGES ON THE FRONT, DRIVEWAYS IN THE BACK.
YOU NEED INGRESS AND EGRESSES, MR. [INAUDIBLE] MENTIONED AND YOU DO NEED THAT SOMETHING SPECIAL, THAT WOW.
JIMMY'S CONVINCED ME THAT YOU'RE IT.
[LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] HE HAS, SO WITH THAT, MY BLESSINGS.
THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. BUT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOUR FEET TO THE FIRE.
>> WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER. [APPLAUSE] JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE BASICALLY LOOKED AT WHAT YOU GUYS HAD LAID OUT IN BEDFORD COMMONS AND WE DESIGNED WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD WANT TO DO BASED ON THOSE CRITERIA.
OBVIOUSLY, WHEN YOU HAVE 20, 30 ACRES, YOU NEED RESIDENTIAL, THEY'RE JUST FOR ECONOMICS. IT JUST MAKES SENSE.
BUT WE WEREN'T GOING FOR LARGE-SCALE, HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, WE WERE GOING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S SMALLER SCALE, LOWER-DENSITY, CONNECTED TO WALKING TRAILS, AND VERY PEDESTRIAN AND WE'RE NOT MARRIED TO ANY OF THAT.
WE'RE MARRIED TO DELIVERING A GREAT EXPERIENCE, SO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD CAN GO SOMEPLACE, AND WHERE THERE'S A CIVIC GYM WHERE THEY CAN CONNECT AND GET A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE THE CITY LIMITS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
>> I RECOGNIZE THAT THE EI DOESN'T HAVE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC DRAWINGS, SITE PLANS, AND EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO BE DONE.
BUT YOU HAVE A UNIQUE COMMUNITY SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO THIS.
BUT ALONG WITH THAT, THERE'S A LOT OF IMPACT UPON THAT COMMUNITY.
SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU WILL REACH OUT TO THEM, THOSE IN THAT COMMUNITY, WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM.
MR. [INAUDIBLE] 'S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.
MAKE SURE THAT WHEN IDEAS COME FORTH, THAT THEY'RE INCLUDED, THAT THEY'RE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE TO HELP MAKE THIS A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WELL, I THINK THAT'S THE FEELING OF THIS COUNCIL, AND THIS ADMINISTRATION, IS THAT WE WANT TO BE PROACTIVE IN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND REACHING OUT AND HAVING TOWN HALLS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BECAUSE HERE RECENTLY, WE'VE REALLY BEEN MAKING AN EFFORT TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A PART OF OUR GAME PLAN IN CERTAIN TOPIC GOING FORWARD.
NOT JUST THIS, BUT OTHER THINGS.
WERE YOU MAKING A MOTION OR WERE YOU MAKING A COMMENT?
>> COUNCILMAN [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I GUESS TO SUMMARIZE, COUNCIL [INAUDIBLE], DON'T SCREW IT UP.
I TALK TO PEOPLE, EVEN TODAY, YOU GO AROUND BEDFORD, TO MENTION TO SOMEONE ABOUT BEDFORD COMMONS AND THEY'LL BE LIKE THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN, AND HERE WE ARE.
[BACKGROUND] SO THIS IS EXTREMELY EXCITING.
FOR ME THOUGH, ONE OF MY BIG THINGS, AND AS JIMMY HAS POINTED OUT, YOU SAID THAT YOU ARE THE GUYS TO DO IT, TO DELIVER ON WHAT OUR VISION IS AND SO I'M PUTTING MY FAITH IN HIM, I'M PUTTING MY FAITH IN YOU.
BUT FOR ME, ONE OF THE ISSUES IS I NEED TO KNOW, ARE YOU MARRIED TO THESE OFFICE BUILDINGS THAT YOU'VE PUT IN THAT MASTER PLAN?
>> I'M NOT MARRIED TO ANYTHING.
>> GOOD. [LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR.
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THE FUTURE IS THERE.
I DON'T SEE IT, GIVEN THE PANDEMIC, GIVEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN.
[01:15:05]
I DON'T THINK OFFICE BUILDINGS WILL BE [INAUDIBLE].I KNOW WE'LL HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS LATER, BUT THAT'S JUST MY TWO CENTS.
[OVERLAPPING] IT'S GOING TO BE DRIVEN HIGHLY OFF OF THE DEMAND FOR THE PROJECT.
EVERY SINGLE THING I'VE EVER GOTTEN INTO HAS CHANGED BASED ON THE BUSINESSES THAT WE ATTRACT TO THE PROJECT AND WE DESIGN THE PROJECT AROUND THOSE BUSINESSES.
SO I'M NOT MARRIED TO ANYTHING, EXCEPT FOR DELIVERING A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
>> THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE] TABLE? [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE].
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SECOND THAT MOTION? [LAUGHTER].
>> OKAY. WE HAVE A SECOND TO APPROVE, CORRECT? WE HAVE A SECOND FROM [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER] LET'S VOTE.
GOD, [INAUDIBLE] IS SETTING UP THE WHOLE THING.
HE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE IT BUT HE'S SNEAKY.
ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S UNANIMOUS SIX-ZERO.
WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU STAFF, THANK YOU COUNCIL.
THE WORST COUNCIL MEMBER, COGAN, DON'T SCREW IT UP, JUSTIN.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO QUICKLY CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION.
IS THAT FAIR? VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [NOISE].
>> ITEM 7, WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE TECHNICAL AND SEAL DOLLAR COST PROPOSALS FROM WEAVER AND TIDWELL LLP FOR INDEPENDENT AUDITING SERVICES FOR THE SAY OF EVERY TEXAS AND WE GIVE YOU FINANCE DIRECTOR MARIA [INAUDIBLE].
>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR PROPOSAL FOR INDEPENDENT AUDIT SERVICES.
AS OF THE END OF LAST FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2021.
OUR CONTRACT FOR INDEPENDENT AUDIT SERVICES EXPIRED.
WE WERE REQUIRED TO SOLICIT LOCAL FIRMS TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE IN THE FUTURE.
WE ACTUALLY ISSUED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, AN RFP.
THAT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL WAS ACTUALLY ADVERTISED, FEBRUARY THE 13TH, IN THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM AND BY MARCH THE 15TH, WE HAD SIX QUALIFIED FIRMS THAT HAD ACTUALLY OFFERED THEIR SERVICES TO THE CITY.
I'LL EXCEL. SIX FIRMS ARE VERY GOOD FIRMS. STAFF GOT TOGETHER, OUR CFO CARROLL RIGGS, OUR ACCOUNTING MANAGER, KIM ROBINSON, FINANCIAL ANALYST, WAS WHICH IS STEPHANIE AND MYSELF, WE REVIEWED THOSE PROPOSALS.
AFTER OUR REVIEW OF THOSE PROPOSALS, WE ACTUALLY PRESENTED THOSE PROPOSALS TO OUR AUDIT COMMITTEE.
AFTER PRESENTING OUR DECISIONS TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE WE RECEIVED A UNANIMOUS VOTE FROM THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ACCEPTING THE TOP PROPOSAL.
WHAT WE LOOKED AT AS WE REVIEWED THOSE PROPOSALS WAS ACTUALLY THE TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS OF EACH OF THE FIRMS. WE WANTED TO DETERMINE IF THE FIRMS THAT HAD PRIOR EXPERIENCE OR HOW MUCH PRIOR EXPERIENCE THEY HAD ACTUALLY HAD WITH CITIES.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH FIRM MET THE MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS OF THE RFP THAT WE ISSUED.
WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE EXPERIENCE THAT THE AUDIT TEAM WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CITY AND THAT'S THE AUDIT TEAM, THAT'S THE PARTNER AND THE STAFF THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE WORKING ON THE AUDIT IN THE UPCOMING YEARS.
WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE APPROACH THAT WOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE AUDIT FIRM.
WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE FIRM'S CAPACITY TO MEET OUR TIMELINES AND OVERALL, WHICH FIRM COULD PROVIDE THE BEST PAYE TO THE CITY FOR THE BEST COURSE.
THE SIX FIRMS THAT WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED BIDS FROM WAS WEAVER AND TIDWELL, PATTILLO BROWN AND HILL, MCCONNELL JONES, BKD, IKE BAILEY, AND WHITLEY PENN.
AGAIN, AFTER WE PRESENTED THE PROPOSALS TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, WE RECOMMENDED TO THE COMMITTEE THAT BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE WITH WEAVER AND TIDWELL AND BASED ON THE PRICING THAT WEAVER AND TIDWELL PROVIDED AT 289,000 FOR THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD THAT THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ACCEPT THAT PROPOSAL AND THEY DID.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING OUR PROPOSAL TO YOU ALL TONIGHT TO SAY THAT BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE WITH WEAVER AND TIDWELL AND BASED ON THEM MEETING ALL THE CRITERIA THAT WE PRESENTED IN THE PROPOSAL, THEY PROVIDED THE BEST PRICING AND THE BEST SERVICE OVERALL TO THE CITY.
[01:20:05]
JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND REGARDING WEAVER AND TIDWELL, WEAVER IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TEXAS-BASED FIRM WITH APPROXIMATELY 600 PROFESSIONALS, WITH OFFICES IN FORT WORTH, DALLAS, HOUSTON, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, CONROE AND MIDLAND.THEIR AUDIT CLIENTS CONSISTS OF 35 TEXAS CITIES OF WHICH 12 ARE A COMPARABLE SIZE TO BEDFORD.
THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED GREAT PERFORMANCE NOT ONLY IN BEDFORD, BUT ALSO THE CITIES OF SOUTHLAKE, SICONAL AND NULLUS.
THE TEAM MEMBERS ASSIGNED TO BEDFORD ACTUALLY HAVE A COMBINED 61 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THE TEAM THAT WILL BE ASSIGNED TO OUR AUDIT FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS HAVE A LOT OF SPECIFIC LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS.
THEREFORE, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE ACCEPTANCE OF WEAVER AND TIDWELL'S PROPOSAL FOR AUDIT SERVICES FOR FISCAL YEARS SEPTEMBER 30, 2022, 2023, AND 2024, WITH TWO ONE-YEAR OPTIONS FOR RENEWAL.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU MARIA. WHY THREE PLUS ONE AND ONE?
>> WE HAVE A POLICY, WHERE IS WE TRY TO TAKE THESE CONTRACTS OUT FOR FIVE YEARS.
>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE WEAVER WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE AGREEMENT?
>> THEY DID. THEY ACTUALLY OFFERED ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
THERE WERE A LOT OF ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING OUT THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
THEY OFFERED IN THEIR PROPOSAL AND A LOT OF THE FIRMS DID THE SAME.
THEY OFFERED TO ASSIST US WITH THAT.
WE PAID ATTENTION TO THOSE EXTRA SERVICES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING TO THE CITY IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIRED SERVICES [OVERLAPPING].
>> DESPITE THAT THEY WERE LOWEST THEY PROVIDED ADDITIONAL VALUE TO US?
>> DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY LOWEST THEY PROVIDED ADDITIONAL VALUE TO US[OVERLAPPING].
>> YES, SIR. THEY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL VALUE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT IN 355 HOURS.
THEY'VE GOT THE BEST TIMING OF ANY FIRM AND THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY COMPLETED OUR AUDIT WITHIN THE TIME SCHEDULED HOURS.
>> COUNCIL. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ON MY SCREEN. MR. GAGLIARDI.
>> OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN, LET'S VOTE.
[INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, STAFF. THANK YOU, MARIA.
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 8. WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS FOR ROAD RESURFACING SERVICES, WHICH AMENDS THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT BY REPLACING FORESTRIDGE DRIVE WITH NORTHRIDGE DRIVE.
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY OF TEXAS TO SIGN SUCH AMENDMENT AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SHERYL TAYLOR.
>> GOOD EVENING. THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WITH TARRANT COUNTY WAS TO REPAVE HARWOOD ROAD AND FORESTRIDGE DRIVE.
WE'RE WAITING ON THE ORDER OF A MANHOLE SO WE CAN REPLACE THE SANITARY SEWER LINE RIGHT ACROSS FORESTRIDGE.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE COMPLETED IN TIME TO HAVE THE COUNTY PAVE IN MAY.
RATHER THAN MISSING OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO SAVE US SOME MONEY ON PAVING THE STREET, WE REPLACED FORESTRIDGE WITH NORTHRIDGE DRIVE.
IT IS ON THE WEST END FARWOOD ROAD AND WE'VE JUST RECENTLY DONE SOME UTILITY WORK OVER THERE SO IT CLEANS UP THE ROAD.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT IS IT'S RIGHT AT THE HEARST CITY LIMIT LINES, SO IT MAKES THE BEDFORD SIDE LOOK A LITTLE BIT NICER.
[LAUGHTER] THE COUNTY HAS RECENTLY OFFERED THAT LATER ON IN THE SUMMER, THEY MAY HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME BACK AND DO FORESTRIDGE FOR US AT THAT TIME.
WE WILL NEED TO BRING BACK THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO DO IT.
OR WE DO HAVE A MISCELLANEOUS ASPHALT CONTRACT WITH RHINOS ASPHALT THAT WE CAN UTILIZE TO PAY FORESTRIDGE.
THAT'LL BE LATER ON THIS SUMMER.
>> WE'RE SAYING THERE'S NO FISCAL IMPACT WITH THIS DECISION?
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN AND WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI. LET'S VOTE.
ONCE AGAIN, THAT IS UNANIMOUS AT ZERO.
THANK YOU, CHERYL. THANK YOU, SAM. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
OUT OF NINE, WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY, BUT FOR TEXAS APPROVING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT APPROPRIATION PLAN, AND RECOGNIZING AND APPROPRIATING EXPENDITURES WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022, CORONA-VIRUS LOCAL PHYSICAL RECOVERY FUNDED BUDGET, CITY MANAGER, JIMMY STATHATOS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
I'M EXCITED BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM BEFORE.
[01:25:03]
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED, AND WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THIS NEXT MONTH WE'RE GOING TO BRING A RESOLUTION FORWARD THAT WILL BASICALLY ALLOW US TO DESIGNATE THE REST OF OUR FUNDS, SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS AS REPLACEMENT FUNDS THROUGH THE US TREASURY.PER COUNCIL DIRECTION, WE WANT TO FIND WAYS TO REINVEST IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO.
A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS PARTNERING WITH NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY FOR FENCES THAT ARE ON ARTERIAL ROADS, SHOPPING CENTERS THAT NEED SOME LOVE AND ATTENTION.
WE'RE JUST WANTING TO DO THINGS THAT ADD VALUE TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND ADD VALUE TO THE RESIDENTS, AND SO STAY TUNED FOR MORE TO COME.
BUT AS YOU-ALL KNOW YOU-ALL HAVE DONE PAST VOTES THAT HAVE AUTHORIZED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE POLICE STATION, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS.
YOU'VE JUST DONE SO MUCH, MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT EMPLOYEES AND RESIDENTS, AND SO THANK YOU.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR THIS TRANCHE ARE, I'LL READ THEM, IT'S IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M GOING TO READ IT JUST TO SPECIFY FOR ANYONE THAT'S WATCHING WHAT THE DOLLARS ARE GOING FOR.
THIS IS ALL FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THIS POINT.
FURNITURE FOR THE RECORDS, PROPERTY AND CID, AND IT'S $25,790, PATROL RIFLE LOCKERS, $20,160, PROPERTY ROOM UPDATE, $15,200.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE BUILDING IS VERY ANTIQUATED AND SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S A LOT OF UPDATES AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.
CRIME SCENE ROOM UPDATE, AREA UPDATE, $33,500, DOOR CONTROL SECURITY IMPROVEMENT, $11,000 EXPANDABLE WALL REPLACEMENT IN $19,420.
TECHNOLORRY, YEAH. I'M AN AGGIE, BUT I THINK THAT'S TECHNO LORRY.
DON'T SAY ANYTHING, MR. BRESNAHAN, SO $13,980, AN ICE MAKER WITH WATER, $8,760.
PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICER UNIT RESTRUCTURE, $53,190, TELESTAFF SCHEDULING SOFTWARE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, $43,920.
THE ONLY OTHER ITEM AT THIS TIME IS AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S FOR REPLACEMENT FOR 40 DELL DESKTOPS AND 60 LAPTOPS, AND IT'S THROUGH GCS AND IT'S FOR A $128,728 AND THE TOTAL IS $373,648.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION UNLESS ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I FELT LIKE YOU DIDN'T TAKE A BREATH.
>> I FEEL LIKE I DIDN'T TURN BLUE.
>> DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING IN LAC RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING ON DOWN THERE?
>> YES, SIR, AND IF THE CHIEF IF ANYWAY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC WHAT WE WERE DOING.
>> ABSOLUTELY. IF IT'S OKAY I'LL REFER TO THE CHIEF, BECAUSE HE'S LIVING AND BREATHING EACH DAY.
I KNOW THAT THEY WERE VERY HAPPY THINGS THAT ARE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU ARE LIVING IN A BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION?
>> THANKS YOU-ALL WERE ABLE TO GET A WAY TO GET RID OF THE HOME DEPOT BUCKETS THAT THEY CAN PUT OUT EVERY TIME IT RAINS, SO AS A SEGUE, CHIEF?
>> IF YOU LOOK AT POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE ESSENTIALLY TAKING IT AND THE OCCUPIED SIDE.
I CAN EXPLAIN TO YOU; WE HAVE A JAIL SIDE, WE MOVED OUR JAIL SERVICE OVER TO THE CITY VIEWERS LAST YEAR.
ALL THE OFFICES ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE AND WORKSPACES ARE ESSENTIALLY GET A FACE LIFT.
LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT EVERY TIME IT RAIN WE PUT OUT HOME DEPOT BUCKETS, THE ROOF IS DONE.
WE HAD AN ICE RAIN, NO WATER CAME THROUGH THE ROOF.
FIRST, WE'VE BROKEN INTO THREE PHASES, OUR PATROLS SECTION IS ALMOST DONE, THEY SHOULD BE MOVING IN NEXT WEEK.
WE HAD OLD FURNITURE, WALKING AROUND WITH A GUN BELTS AND WORKING THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THE DESK GET CHIPPED AND THEY WOULD FALL APART.
THE CHAIRS WERE WAY WELL PASSED UP, PROBABLY 15 YEARS PAST THEIR USABILITY, SO ALL THAT'S BEING BEING REDONE.
WE'RE WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH.
SOME OF THE STUFF THAT'S ON THE LIST HERE IS JUST ITEMS THAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD LIVE WITHOUT, STARTED LOOKING AT IT, FUNCTIONALITY, CRIME SCENE, TRIED TO GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE SPACE, THEY HAD MORE EQUIPMENT THAN THEY USED TO, THE PROPERTY AND RECORDS SECTION.
YOU START GETTING THEY'RE MOVING THINGS AROUND THE FLOOR AND JUST FALLING APART.
IT'S THE OLD COMMERCIAL VINYL TILES.
IT IS NOW SO [INAUDIBLE] IT'S JUST CHIPPING UP AND FALLING APART, SOME OF THOSE THINGS GOING EITHER.
WE HAVE ONE WATER FOUNTAIN IN THE ENTIRE BUILDING, SO TRYING TO BE ECO-FRIENDLY.
WE WERE PUTTING IN, ESSENTIALLY, IT'S AN ICE MACHINE THAT WE CAN FILL OUT [INAUDIBLE] THAT BUILDING SCULPTURE THREE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND GIVE THEM FRESHWATER, SO WE'RE NOT HAVING TO DISPOSE OF SO MANY WATER BOTTLES.
THE OPERATIONAL THING DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS LIST IS OUR SERVICE OFFICERS PROGRAM.
RIGHT NOW, THOSE ARE TWO CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS ON IN THE SESSION.
WE LOOKED AT THEM AND WE CAN GET A LOT MORE USE OUT OF THEM AND THE CITIZENS GET A LOT MORE USE OF THEM IF WE PUT THEM ON THE STREETS.
[01:30:01]
WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE, THEY'RE MORE VISIBLE, THEY'RE HELPING US TO SECURE CRIME, AND INSTEAD OF YOU CALLED IN A REPORT, THEY CAN ACTUALLY COME TO YOU AND YOU CAN DO THE REPORT AT YOUR HOUSE.THEN THE LAST ONE IS OUR TELESTAFF SOFTWARE.
OUR SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK ON A 24-HOUR BASIS.
IT'S HARD FOR US TO REJECT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE WORKING AT WHAT TIME.
IN THIS SOFTWARE, I CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE WORKED ON JULY 4TH.
IF I NEED TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH OFFICER SO AND SO HAS WORKED THIS LAST YEAR, HOW MUCH THEY'VE BEEN SICK, HOW MUCH THEY HAVE FOR VACATION, I CAN DO THAT AT A SNAP SO WE CAN HAVE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU FIGURED OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AVAILABLE TO RESPOND DEPENDING TO THE FIELD?
>> OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
YOU'RE LIVING IN A WAR ZONE [LAUGHTER] IN THAT BUILDING, SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS ALREADY [OVERLAPPING].
WE'RE HOPING TO BE DONE OCTOBER, NOVEMBER TIME FRAME.
THE GOAL IS TO HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE AND LET THE CITIZENS AND EVERYONE COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK WHAT'S GOING ON.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE TAJ MAHAR, BUT IT'S GOING TO LOOK REALLY NICE WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, SIR.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, CHIEF. JIMMY, THAT BEING SAID, WE'VE ALREADY ALLOCATED $5 MILLION DOLLARS OF THE AQUAFUNDS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I'LL HAVE A FULL ACCOUNTING NEXT WEEK.
I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN THAT.
>> IS IT? OKAY. AGAIN, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE AGAIN THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND IT?
>> IT'S CHANGED A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE OUR NEXT TRANCHE IS COMING IN AUGUST, SO SOME IS AT THE END OF 24 AND SOME IS ACTUALLY IN 25.
BUT BY DESIGNATING IT AS REPLACEMENT REVENUE, THEN YES, SIR. THANK YOU.
>> VERY GOOD. OKAY, COUNCIL, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
COUNCILMEMBER [INAUDIBLE], WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMEMBER [INAUDIBLE] WHO'S LOVING THIS NEW SYSTEM.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF. THANK YOU, JIMMY.
WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MEMBERS TO BEDFORD CITIZENS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
WE HAVE CITY SECRETARY MICHAEL WELLS.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE CITIZENS BOARDS COMMISSIONS.
BASED ON THE INTERVIEWS THAT WERE HELD LAST WEEK, THERE IS ONE CHANGE FROM THE DRAFT RESOLUTION THAT I SENT EARLIER.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND READ THE NAMES OF WHO IS BEING POINTED FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, IN PLACE 1, BRUCE EMERY FOR AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022, AND A FULL-TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
ROGER GALLENSTEIN IN PLACE 2 FOR AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.
PLACE 3, TOM JACOBSON, AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.
TODD CARLSEN, PLACE 4, AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023, NICHELLE DAWKINS, PLACE 5, AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022, AND A FULL-TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
STEVE ADO, PLACE 6, AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022, AND FULL-TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
BRIAN HENDERSON, PLACE 7, AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022, AND FULL-TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
KATE BARLOW, PLACE 8 ALTERNATE, AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.
DANIELLE STELLRECHT, PLACE 9 ALTERNATE, AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022, AND FULL-TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
FOR THE STREET IMPROVEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, PLACE 1, [INAUDIBLE] SCHULTZ, AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023, AND [INAUDIBLE] IN PLACE 3, AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022, AND FULL-TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, WHICH ALSO SERVES ON THE BUILDING STANDARDS CONDITION.
JESSE OWENS, PLACE 3, AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2022, AND FULL-TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.
RANDY YOUNG'S PLACE 4, AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2022, AND FULL-TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.
TOM BRESNAHAN, PLACE 5, AN EXPIRY TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.
WE HAD THIS RESOLUTION TAKING EFFECT MAY 1ST AS PLANNING AND ZONING ACTUALLY HAS A MEETING LATER THIS WEEK AND WE FELT THAT PROBABLY THE CURRENT MAKEUP SHOULD BE A PART OF THAT MEETING AS OPPOSED TO LAUNCHING YOU FOLKS AT THE VERY LAST SECOND.
JUST REAL QUICK, I WANT TO SAY WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE LAST WEEK, WEEK AND A HALF, THAT WE WERE BLESSED THAT WE HAD QUITE A NUMBER OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES COMING FORWARD.
I JUST FEEL EXCITED THAT WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE WILLING TO COME FORWARD.
WE HAD TOO MANY PEOPLE FOR TOO FEW SEATS AVAILABLE,
[01:35:04]
SO THERE WERE SOME HARD DECISIONS THAT WE HAD TO MAKE.I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SELFLESSNESS, WANTING TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE CITY.
THIS IS A RESULT OF WHAT COUNCIL WAS CONSIDERING THAT NIGHT.
COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS? MAYOR, [INAUDIBLE]
>> I KNOW, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY BAD.
I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT RUTH WAS HAVING WITH THE PUSHING THE BUTTON.
I'M GLAD THAT WE HAD A LOT OF QUALIFIED PEOPLE TOO.
P&Z WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING A LOT OF ABSENTEEISM AND WE'VE JUST GOT A FANTASTIC GROUP OF PEOPLE TO WORK THROUGH THESE HUGE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE GOT COMING FORWARD.
THERE ARE SOME THAT HAVE ENGINEERING ABILITIES, ARCHITECTS, URBAN PLANNERS.
IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING TO HAVE THOSE PEOPLE WITH US AND THEY ALL WERE CAPABLE OF READING SITE PLANS AND INSTRUCTION WILL BE MINIMAL, AND I THINK THAT THEY'VE GOT A GOOD VISION FOR WHAT OUR CITY IS.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY THIS EVENING, SIR.
>> I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE TURNING MY LIFE AROUND BY [OVERLAPPING] ACCIDENT.
>> THAT'S FINE. NEW FANGLED EQUIPMENT.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS, THOUGHTS, DESIRE? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER.
A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
THIS IS APPROVED AS DETAILED HERE. LET'S VOTE.
ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S UNANIMOUS, 6-0.
THANK YOU, STAFF. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO IS PART OF THIS PROCESS.
WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE GOING FORWARD HERE.
ITEM 10 IS THE JUDICIAL BOARDS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
ITEM 11 IS THE ADVISORY BOARDS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION TO RECEIVE COUNCIL DIRECTION REGARDING CHANGES TO THE CITY'S BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
ONCE AGAIN, CITY SECRETARY, MICHAEL WELLS.
AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, WE DID PUT THE QUASI-JUDICIAL BOARDS TO BED FOR NOW.
WE'RE FOCUS MORE ON THE COMMUNITY BOARD COMMISSION AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF COUNSEL THAT MET AND PRESENTED THEIR FINDINGS EARLIER THIS YEAR HAD SOME PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES.
WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FULL COUNCIL WAS ON BOARD WITH THESE CHANGES BEFORE WE PAY BRENT TO WRITE OUT SOME ORDINANCES.
WHAT WE HAD ATTACHED IN THE PACK, IT WAS A RED LINE OF SOME OF THE CHANGES, WHICH INCLUDES LIMITING THE TERM OF THE CHAIRPERSONS TO TWO TWO-YEAR TERMS. ALTHOUGH WE NEED CLARIFICATION [BACKGROUND] WHETHER IT'S IN A CUMULATIVE THAT THEY CAN ONLY SERVE FOR, WELL, THEY SAY FOUR YEARS OR IS IT TWO CONSECUTIVE TWO YEAR TERMS. OTHER CHANGES ARE THE SELECTION OF THE SECRETARY BY THE STAFF LIAISON IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHAIRPERSON, DELETING THE LANGUAGE REGARDING THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMISSION AND REMEMBERING THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS, CHANGING THE NUMBER OF MEETINGS TO SIX PER YEAR, CHANGING THE NAMES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AUDIENCE TO ADVISORY BOARDS, CHANGING THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS TO THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD TO FIVE, AND OTHER CHANGES WERE CONSISTENCY AND CURRENT PRACTICE.
WE NEED MOST DIRECTION REALLY ON THE COMBINING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD AND THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION SUCH AS HOW MANY MEMBERS, WHAT THEIR GOAL, THEIR PURPOSE IS, AND THAT KIND OF THING BEFORE WE CAN MOVE ON FOR ANY ORDINANCE CHANGES.
>> SURE. BASICALLY, THE BULLET POINT'S ON THE AGENDA ITEM, CORRECT? PLUS THE PARK AND BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION? OKAY. VERY GOOD. THAT'S IT.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, MICHAEL? THAT'S IT? THE VERY FIRST BULLET POINT WAS YOU NEED JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE DIRECTION ON LIMITING THE TERMS OF CHAIRPERSONS TO TWO TWO-YEAR TERMS. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER TO DO THAT CONSECUTIVE TERMS? THAT'S A YES OR NO.
>> CONSECUTIVE. TWO CONSECUTIVE TERMS. SEEMS TO BE AN EASY ONE.
THE SELECTION OF THE SECRETARY BY THE STAFF LIAISON IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHAIRPERSON.
ARE WE IN AGREEMENT ON THAT? OBJECTIONS? [BACKGROUND] EXCITED? NO? GENERAL AGREEMENT ON THAT.
DELEGATING THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMISSION AND REMEMBERING THE FOLLOWING SESSIONS.
SOME OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS HERE IS ALLOW THE EVENTS THAT CAC USED TO DO, THE STUFF THAT HAD A REAL HEAVY STAFF INVOLVEMENT THAT ALWAYS THE STAFF CAN CONTINUE TO DO THIS.
[01:40:02]
PERHAPS, WE DIDN'T NEED AN ADVISORY BOARD BECAUSE OF THAT.>> I GOT TO TELL YOU, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MARGARET HALL THIS AFTERNOON.
SHE'S A LITTLE UPSET ABOUT US DOING AWAY WITH THE CAC.
>> I MISSPOKE MARGARET, I APOLOGIZE.
SHE SAID THAT WAS DISTURBED BECAUSE WE HADN'T REALLY TALKED TO HER ABOUT DOING AWAY WITH IT, BUT WE'RE JUST DOING AWAY WITH IT.
I DON'T KNOW, MARGARET, IF YOU'RE PREPARED NOW TO SAY SOMETHING OR IF YOU'D WANT TO WAIT.
BECAUSE WE COULD PROBABLY, CAN WE TABLE THIS DECISION?
>> WE CAN TABLE THIS [INAUDIBLE].
>> SO THAT SHE HAS TIME TO VERBALIZE WHAT SHE THINKS ABOUT THIS DISCUSSION.
I'D BE WILLING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT TOO MARGARET JUST TO SEE WHAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHY DID YOU SAY THAT WE WANT TO BRING BACK ANY FORMAL LANGUAGE UNTIL FURTHER MEETING?
>> YEAH. I MEAN, I'LL JUMP IN. I AGREE.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
I'M A LITTLE LEERY OF JUMPING ON THIS.
>> I THINK PROBABLY IN SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF WE WERE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ASSIGNMENT TO OFFER.
>> RIGHT NOW WE DO AND THAT MAY NOT BE THE PERFECT SITUATION, BUT EVEN LIKE SHE SAID THAT WE HELD HER UP, SHE WAS GOING TO APPLY FOR A JUDICIAL POSITION.
>> SHE DIDN'T BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GIVE HER RELEASE, DC, AND SO THAT THEY'RE STUCK OR IN NEUTRAL.
SO I APOLOGIZE, MARGARET, VERY MUCH.
>> TABLE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM SO WE CAN COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT FURTHER.
OKAY. CHANGING THE NUMBER OF MEETINGS TO SIX PER YEAR.
IS THAT A MANDATORY OR IS THAT JUST A SUGGESTION? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHEN WE'RE DOING THAT, WE THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A MINIMUM.
BUT THEY DID NEED HIS SCHEDULE THEM AT THE FIRST MEETING, LIKE IF THEY FELT THEY NEEDED MORE MEETINGS.
BUT THAT WOULD BE THE MINIMUM.
>> A GROUP LIKE [INAUDIBLE] WHO HAS WORKDAYS AND STUFF LIKE THAT WOULD EXCEED THAT.
THAT'S NOT A NO TO THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO. SOME OF THEM DON'T NEED TO MEET THAT OFTEN, SIX IS WHAT WE RECOMMENDED.
>> JUST A STANDARD RECOGNITION.
HOW DO WE GO WITH THAT? WE'RE GETTING ON IT.
>> MOST EVERYBODY THAT WE SPOKE WITH WAS, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY THAT DISAGREED WITH LOWERING THE NUMBER BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THEY REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING AND IF THEY NEEDED TO MEET MORE FREQUENTLY, THEY HAD LEAD WAY TO DO IT.
>> YEAH. I MAKE A PASS THROUGH ALL THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAD ON THAT WAS, WAS THIS AN OBLIGATORY SET NUMBER, I.E, THE [INAUDIBLE]? [OVERLAPPING] EVEN THE PAST SCORE WAS IN THE WORLD ARE TRYING TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN SPECIAL EVENTS AND STUFF WE HAVE GOING SO MIGHT EXCEED IT AS WELL.
>> YOU CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO MEET. GO AHEAD.
>> CHANGING THE NAMES OF THE RESPECTIVE BODIES TO ADVISORY BOARDS.
>> WE DIDN'T THINK VERY WISE AT ALL.
WE THOUGHT THAT THE REASON BEING IS LIKE SEVERAL OF OUR ADVISORY ALREADY, LIBRARY ADVISORY AND WE THOUGHT SOME OF THEM, THAT'S ALL THEY REALLY WANTED TO DO IS BE ADVISORY.
WHY NOT SWITCH THEM ALL TO ADVISORY? THEN THAT SAYS TO EVERYONE THAT IT'S MORE OF LIKE YOU ARE ADVISING THE COUNCIL OR ADVISING THE CITY AS TO WHAT WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH.
I DON'T THINK IT'S VERY CONTROVERSIAL AT ALL.
>> ANY OBJECTION? EVERYTHING GOOD? OKAY. ADVISORY BOARDS IT IS.
CHANGING THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD TO FIVE.
>> THAT WAS REQUESTED BY THE STAFF LIAISON.
>> SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN IS WHAT I HEARD.
OTHER CHANGES FOR CONSISTENCY AND CURRENT PRACTICES.
>> THE SECTION IS LABELED BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES AND SOME PLACES IT SAYS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND SOME OTHER PLACES HAS BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES.
JUST FOR CONSISTENCY PURPOSES.
[OVERLAPPING] AND THEN FOR THE PRACTICES IS REGARDING ACTUALLY THE ATTENDANCE POLICY WHERE IT SAYS THAT ONCE A MEMBER MISSES TWO MEETINGS WITHIN WHATEVER YEAR THE BOARD MEETS, THAT I SEND A LETTER TO THEM.
WHAT I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN DOING BECAUSE I'LL SEND A LETTER TO THEM, THEY'VE ALREADY HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEIR CHAIRPERSON.
I BASICALLY CHANGED IT TO IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHAIRPERSON WHO SAYS YES, GO AHEAD AND SEND THEM A LETTER, WE NEED TO GET THE BALL ROLLING ON THIS OR I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO THE PERSON, SO WE DON'T NEED TO SEND A LETTER [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S A KINDER, GENTLER APPROACH.
>> MR. MAYOR, EXCUSE ME [INAUDIBLE] AN ADVISORY BOARD.
>> WE'RE NOT INTENDING IT TO BE.
WE'VE GOT THAT IN A QUASI-JUDICIAL, SO THAT WAS THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
[01:45:04]
WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT GENERAL TWEAK IN LANGUAGE FOR CONSISTENCY, CORRECT? [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] THE LAST THING IS ABOUT COMBINING BEAUTIFICATION AND PARKS, CORRECT?>> WELL, THERE WAS ONE OTHER THING THAT WE SUGGESTED AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IS WE THOUGHT THAT THE STAFF LIAISON SHOULD PROBABLY RUN THE MEETING BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME BEFORE [INAUDIBLE] AND I WERE THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE VISION.
WELL, STAFF AT BETTER KNOW OUR VISION AND SO I THOUGHT THAT'S A BETTER WAY TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION AND THE WORK CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
>> THAT BEING SAID, THERE'LL STILL BE A CHAIR, THIS WILL BE HIS SECRETARY.
>> CHAIR WOULD STILL TAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE OTHER MEMBERS.
>> COUNCIL THOUGHTS ON STAFF LIAISON RUNNING MEETINGS, WE'RE HAVING FEELINGS ON THAT?
>> NO MAJOR OBJECTIONS TO THAT.
>> THEN COMBINING BEAUTIFICATION AND PARKS.
>> I HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA, BUT NOW I'M HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M GETTING BLASTED ON THAT ONE [LAUGHTER].
>> I CAN'T SEE HOW, YEAH, I WAS ALL FOR IT AT THE BEGINNING, AND THEN TAKING A LOOK AT IT THAT I DON'T SEE A WAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
OR A REASON TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, I GUESS YOU CAN SAY.
>> THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO TABLE THAT FOR US TO GET CREATIVE.
>> I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WAS HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH DON HENDERSON.
THE MAN HAS WORKED HARD PULLING THESE MAYBE IF WE GO FORWARD AND LEAVE THEM SEPARATE IF THEY MAY CONJUNCTIVELY OR SOMETHING AND HE CAN GO FROM ONE MEETING TO ANOTHER MEETING.
BUT HE'S STRETCHED AND SO WHEN SPEAKING THAT WITH THE CHAIR, PEOPLE OF BOTH NOW, THEY WEREN'T HIGHLY OBJECTIONABLE TO IT.
BUT YET EACH WANTS THEIR OWN AUTONOMY, RIGHT?
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GIVE THEM BOTH, BUT A LOT OF THIS WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT DON, AND WITH AN AGREEMENT WITH EVERYBODY SAID, HE REALLY SPENDS A LOT OF TIME WITH THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
>> BUT I DO THINK ONE THAT WILL HELP DON IS THAT IF HE RUNS THE MEETING, HE WILL HAVE FULL CONTROL [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'LL SAY THIS AND AGAIN, I CIRCULATED IN AND UNLESS THE BOARDS, BOTH THOSE GROUPS HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR DON.
HE WOULD CONTROL THE ROOMS. THEY WOULD APPRECIATE HIM, [INAUDIBLE] IN THEIR CONVERSATION.
>> CAN WE COME BACK TO THIS AND FILL A LITTLE BIT MORE CREATIVITY INTO IT? THERE'S SOMETHING HERE, MAYBE WE JUST HAVEN'T WORKED THROUGH, BUT THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S RICHARD'S AS WELL. ARE YOU ALL OKAY WITH THAT?
>> WE COME BACK TO THAT ONE, MICHAEL?
>> JUST FOR A CLARIFICATION, DO YOU WANT US TO PUT AN ORDINANCE FOR THE OTHER CHANGES ON THE NEXT MEETING AND THEN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION [OVERLAPPING]
>> COME BACK AND DO ANOTHER ONE LATER.
WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND, JIMMY? SOME OF THESE WE'RE GOOD WITH, SOME WE WANT TO COME BACK TO.
>>I LIKE MICHAEL'S IDEA, JUST TO PUT THOSE TO BED AND THEY'LL HELP YOU OUT NARROW THE FOCUS IF THAT'S OKAY.
>> WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT, COUNCIL? ANY OTHER THOUGHTS BEFORE WE SEND MICHAEL ON? WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BACK TO US.
I HOPE WE'VE GOT SOME MORE CLARITY AND WE'RE NARROWING THE LIST.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, THANK YOU, SETH. ITEM 12.
DISCUSSION AND RECEIVE COUNCIL DIRECTION REGARDING THE SCOPE OF BRW ARCHITECTS AGREEMENT TO DESIGN THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
MAY I START, MAYOR? THANK YOU.
>> PUT THIS ON BECAUSE WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, WE'VE HAD THE SUB-COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT THE COUNCIL APPOINTED.
I'D LIKE TO CALL GARY JOHNSON, THE PROJECT MANAGER, UP WHILE I'M TALKING IF THAT'S OKAY, GARY.
BASICALLY, WE'RE AT THE POINT TO WHERE WE NEED TO NARROW DOWN THE FOCUS SO WE CAN DECIDE WHAT YOU ALL WANT TO DO IN TERMS OF SCOPE.
THIS WILL HELP US COME UP WITH A SCOPE AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK WITH THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT, AND THEN WE'LL ALSO COME BACK WITH DIFFERENT FUNDING OPTIONS.
AS YOU ALL RECALL, $5.5 MILLION WAS SET ASIDE FOR THE PERFORMING ART CENTER.
BUT ONCE WE STARTED GETTING INTO IT AND LOOKING AT WHAT THE CITY'S NEEDS ARE, THE CITY'S WANTS VERSUS THE BUDGET, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON COUNCIL'S BEHALF, BUT MY FEELING BASED ON COUNCIL FEEDBACK IS, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE BUDGET,
[01:50:03]
BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT WILL BE USEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE FOR THE CITY.WE DON'T JUST WANT TO TO CHECK THE BOX AND SAY, "HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE TO SPEND? LET'S BUILD THIS," AND THEN IT MIGHT NOT MEET THE CITY'S NEEDS OR DESIRES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT EXCEEDING THAT, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDING OPTIONS THAT WE'LL PRESENT TO HELP BRIDGE THAT GAP DELTA WISE.
THEN THE OTHER THING WE'RE GOING TO DO, AND AGAIN, THIS HAS TO BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL, IS WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE DO A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER RISK APPROACH.
I'VE DONE THAT WITH ALMOST EVERY PROJECT IN MY CAREER, WE'RE DOING IT WHICH GENERATIONS PARK.
AS YOU ALL KNOW AND JUST MORE OF FOR PUBLIC EDIFICATION, IN THE MIDDLE OF DESIGN, A CONTRACTOR WILL BE BROUGHT ON BOARD SO THAT WAY, IT CAN BE VALUE ENGINEER TO WHERE YOU'RE NOT CUTTING CORNERS, BUT YOU'RE SAYING, "DO WE REALLY NEED THIS TYPE OF MATERIAL WHEN THIS IS JUST AS GOOD AND IT'S A LOT CHEAPER?" OR RIGHT NOW, STEEL AND IT'S PROBABLY A BAD EXAMPLE, THE LAG TIME ON STEEL DELIVERY AND THE SURPLUS IN TERMS OF COST IS THIS, HOW ABOUT THIS? IT'S A WAY TO REALLY CONTROL COSTS TO WHERE THE CITY AND THE TAXPAYERS GET MORE FOR THEIR MONEY.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, GARY JOHNSON HAS BEEN A PROJECT MANAGER, HE'S ALSO A PROJECT MANAGER FOR GENERATIONS PARK, DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
GARY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, ANY COMMENTS YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD? JUST INTRODUCE BRW IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
>> WELL, I'LL SAY JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS AND INTRODUCE BRW.
AS WE'VE SEEN GOING THROUGH THE MEETINGS AND DOWN ON THESE, AND I THINK WE SAW SOME DIRECTION OF NOT SO MUCH OF A MEETING SPACE, BUT MORE FOCUS ON THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER GIVING THE ARCHITECTS DIRECTION THAT WAY IF WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT.
IT WOULD HELP IF WE HAD, AS JIMMY SAID, SOME DIRECTION ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BUDGET BECAUSE PART OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT IS BASED ON WHAT THE PROJECT COST IS.
THE MORE OF THE COSTS THERE IS BASED ON THEIR AGREEMENT.
ALTHOUGH WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK SOMETHING, WE'RE ASSUMING THE PERCENTAGE LOSE, THIS IS GOING TO WORK.
THE BIG THING IS [NOISE] COST ESCALATION.
FROM ALMOST A YEAR AGO WHEN WE WERE MEETING TO TODAY, THE COST HAS ESCALATED.
THEY'RE WORKING ON IT NOW AND SAY HOW MUCH HAS IT ESCALATED, 10 PERCENT, 12 PERCENT, 15 PERCENT? WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION IS RISING EVERY MONTH.
THE LONGER [NOISE] WE DELAY, THE LESS BUILDING WE'RE GOING TO GET FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU GUYS DECIDE TO SPEND.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS GOING AND GET A CONTRACT AND AGREEMENT PLAYS WITHIN AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN.
THEY'LL TAKE SOME PEOPLE ON FIELD TRIPS AND LOOKS SOME STUFF AND GET THINGS GETTING ROLLING SO THAT WE CAN GET UNDER CONTROL.
JIMMY WAS RIGHT ON GETTING THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER ON BOARD EARLY ON FOR THE DESIGN AND THEN THEY COME IN AND GIVE US THAT ADVICE ON WHAT THE PROCESS THIS IS RIGHT NOW WITH THE PRIZES, THAT IS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL INTRODUCE GREG REYNOLDS WITH BRW AND HE'LL HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY ABOUT SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD AND WHAT DIRECTION THAT THEY REALLY NEED.
>> GREG, YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR TOY BOX WITH YOU.
[LAUGHTER] WITH THE LITTLE BOXES.
>> CITY MANAGER, MAYOR, COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE BEEN BACK INTO THIS ROOM.
I'M DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET STARTED WITH THE INTERVIEW.
YES, I THINK GARY EXPLAINING JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ABOUT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
JIMMY, I APPRECIATE THE INTRODUCTION AS WELL.
WE'VE BEEN DOWN THE PATH WITH THE COMMITTEE, WITH YOU IN TERMS OF PRESENTATIONS, AND ALSO WITH THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF OUR VARIOUS PRESENTATIONS THAT WE DID.
THERE'S SOME GREAT INPUT FROM ALL DIFFERENT ANGLES COMING AT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, JUST LOOKING AT THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL, BUT ALSO AT THE PARK ITSELF AS WELL AS WHERE THE NEW PERFORMING ART CENTER WILL BE.
I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON A LOT OF THAT.
WE'RE JUST AT THE BEGINNING THOUGH.
THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE IS JUST WORDS ON PAPER AT THE MOMENT, NOTHING IS WRITTEN IN STONE BY ANY MEANS, BUT IT IS A MATTER OF GIVING US DIRECTION IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH WE FEEL THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO PUT FORWARD TOWARDS THIS PROJECT IN TERMS OF BUDGET.
THEREFORE, THEN WE CAN TRULY REFINE THE PROGRAM MORE GREATLY.
AT LEAST, MR. COCHRAN, EARLIER TODAY HAD A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRAM.
ALL THAT IS FLUID AND FLEXIBLE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WE JUST HAD ENOUGH TO PUT DOWN JUST TO GET A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT DIRECTION THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO GO AND THAT GAVE US SOME OF THE DIRECTIONS IN TERMS OF HOW WE'VE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT.
FROM HERE, WE WAIT WITH BATED BREATH AND SO LONG AS WE HAVEN'T EXTENDED ALL THE DOLLARS, THE TECHNOLOGY TONIGHT, WE STILL HAVE A FEW HOURS LEFT I THINK TO VOTE WITH.
WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH, AS GARY SAID, BRINGING FORTH A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW FUTURE COUNCIL MEETINGS. THANK YOU.
[01:55:03]
>> THANK YOU, GREG. APPRECIATE THAT.
JIMMY, WHAT IS IT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR TONIGHT FROM COUNCIL?
>> THERE ARE THREE SCOPE CONTENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IF YOU ALL ARE GRAVITATING TOWARDS ANY OF THOSE OPTIONS OR VARIATION OF ANY OF THOSE OPTIONS.
BECAUSE WE'D LIKE TO COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING, IF POSSIBLE, WITH AN AGREEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD.
ONE SHALLOW BRIEFED ON THE FINANCE OPTIONS ON WHICH OPTION HE WANTS, SO WE CAN JUST GET GOING DOWN THE ROAD.
>> THAT BEING SAID, I DO WANT TO ADD THAT WE HAD SOME TOWN HALL MEETINGS ABOUT THIS AND I THINK THEY WERE EXTREMELY PRODUCTIVE.
THE INTERACTION WITH THE RESIDENTS, WITH OTHER POTENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS, I THINK WAS INVALUABLE.
IT REALLY HELPED ME NARROW WHERE MY HEAD IS ON THIS.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ON THAT AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS FOR THEIR INPUT.
YOU DON'T WANT US TONIGHT TO NECESSARILY DWELL ON THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS OR YOU DO YOU WANT US TO DWELL ON DOLLAR AMOUNTS?
>> I DO WANT YOU TO DWELL ON THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS, BUT I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE OPTIONS [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT BEING SAID, WE CAN CONSTRUCTIVELY GOING FORWARD, TAKE SOME OF OUR NEW OBSERVATIONS ON WHAT WE WANT AND APPLY THEM TO THESE CONCEPTS THAT WILL MOVE THE NUMBERS OVER DOWN.
>> YES, SIR. MAY I GIVE AN EXAMPLE, PLEASE? IF YOU LOOK AT ONE OF THE OPTIONS LIKE THE LARGER OPTION, THERE ARE TWO GOOD-SIZED MEETING ROOMS. THEY CAN BE USED FOR ART EXHIBITS, SOMEWHAT HAVE YOU.
IT MIGHT BE A MATTER OF YOU ALL SAYING, "WELL, WE WANT TO STAY WITHIN HIS BUDGET, BUT LET'S HOLD OFF ON [NOISE] THIS MEETING ROOM." IT'S A COMBINATION BY REALLY MORE SCOPE THAN DOLLARS.
>> THEN YOU'RE ALSO SAYING WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF CASH TO DO ANYTHING WE WANT TO DO AT ANY LEVEL? [LAUGHTER]
>> YES, SIR. BASED ON COUNCIL DIRECTION, WE BOUGHT A LOT OF BITCOINS.
[LAUGHTER] COUNCIL, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> IS THAT HOW WE GET PAID AS WELL FOR THE BITCOIN? [LAUGHTER]
>> OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST TO REITERATE, THE LAST MEETING WE HAD IN OUR WORK SESSION AND EVERYBODY CAME AND SPOKE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TOOK AWAY WITH FROM WRITING DOWN EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS WERE THAT WE NEED TO BE LASER-FOCUSED.
ORIGINALLY, WE THOUGHT MAKING THIS PROJECT VERY FLEXIBLE WAS THE RIGHT PATH FORWARD.
AFTER HAVING NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS AND MEETINGS, PEOPLE SAID, NO, YOU NEED TO BE GOOD.
YES, BEING A JACK OF ALL TRADES, YOU NEED TO BE A MASTER OF ONE AND THAT IS MAKING IT A PERFORMING ART CENTER, MAKING IT NOT ONLY JUST A GOOD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BUT A GREAT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
FOR ME ALSO ANOTHER THING THAT EXCITES ME IS THE LANDSCAPING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SITE AND IMPROVING THE CYCLE OF WATER FEATURES.
THE ART THAT WE CAN TO PUT THERE.
DOES THAT LIMIT US ANY OPTIONS THAT WE CHOOSE FOR ENHANCING THE SITE AT ALL, CRAIG?
>> NO. THAT WAS ALL COUNCILMAN COGAN.
I THINK THE SITE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THE COMMITTEE SAID, YES, IT'S A PERFORMING ART CENTER, IT'S ALSO A DESTINATION FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND PERHAPS EVEN BEYOND AND THAT WE WILL NOT LIMIT BY WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND THOSE DECISIONS WE'RE MAKING HER TODAY.
>> FOR ME, THE THING THAT DRAWS ME TO THIS IS COMPLETELY ENHANCING THIS SITE.
MAKING IT LIKE YOU SAID DESTINATION BECAUSE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BEDFORD COMMONS AND SO HAVING PEOPLE MAKING A SEAMLESS APPROACH WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST GO FROM BEDFORD COMMONS STRAIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD TO OUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THEN TO OUR LIBRARY, AND ATTRACTING PEOPLE THERE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE HUGE. HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE THERE? THAT'S SITE ENHANCEMENT FROM WHAT I CAN TELL.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INVEST IN THAT SITE ENHANCEMENT, WATER FEATURES, PICNIC TABLES, EVERYTHING THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN DO TO DRAW PEOPLE TO THAT AREA BECAUSE IT IS A SPECIAL PLACE.
>> THAT'S MY TWO CENTS, THANK YOU.
>> TO PIGGYBACK THAT, MY THOUGHT IS YOU LOOK AT THE SITE WHICH IS ALL THE GREEN SPACE AND EVERYTHING.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A BLANK CANVAS AND ADD DIRECTION AND FLOW TO THAT SITE TO COMPLIMENT WHATEVER WE DO WITH IT.
THAT CAN ALSO SUPPORT ANY SPECIAL EVENTS WE'RE HAVING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S A NEAT OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DO SOME NEAT, I THINK, VISUALLY PLEASING THINGS THAT PEOPLE WILL APPRECIATE WITH.
ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL OF MEMBER, STEVE.
>> I'M LOOKING AT THE BOOK LIKE YOU PUT TOGETHER WELL,
[02:00:02]
LAST YEAR, LAST SEPTEMBER.[NOISE] THE HIGH-END WAS 10 MILLION, THEN NINE MILLION, WAS 8.5.
>> I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.
>> IT WAS LAST YEAR. THE PRICES HAVEN'T CHANGED THAT WE HAVE HERE.
WE KNOW EVERYTHING'S CHANGED SINCE LAST YEAR.
WHAT IS THE PRICES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW?
>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT WE WANT.
>> THE NEXT MEETING WE'RE TALKING HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND IT.
>> WELL, THIS IS EARLY IN THE PROCESS AS CRAIG IS SAYING.
I'M JUST GOING TO SPEAK UNTIL SOMEONE ELSE TELLS ME NOT TO.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK WE ARE AT THE CONCEPT STAGE.
I LEARNED A LOT IN THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
I LEARNED WHAT TO LASER FOCUS ON AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
MY CONTEXT OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TODAY THAN IT WAS BEFORE.
I SEE REDUCING SOME OF THESE FUNCTIONALITIES THAT WE'RE ORIGINALLY THINKING AND THAT WILL IMPACT THE PRICE GOING FORWARD.
FOR ME, I FOUND MYSELF FOCUSING ON WHAT THE END RESULT'S GOING TO BE HERE, WHICH IS MORE NARROW THAN THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY.
BUT THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION.
SOUNDS LIKE MR. COGAN AGREES WITH THAT TOO.
>> TONIGHT WE'RE [OVERLAPPING] GOING TO FOCUS ON [INAUDIBLE].
>> FUNCTIONALITY IS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION TODAY.
BUT WITH THAT THE PRICE FALLS, WHICHEVER DIRECTION WE GO AS A GROUP.
>> ON THIS LIST, IT SAYS BALLROOM.
DIDN'T WE DECIDE THAT THAT WAS NOT NECESSARY? THAT WAS TO BE OVER AT THE [OVERLAPPING] GENERATIONS PARK.
[NOISE] THEN WE'VE GOT EXTRA MEETING ROOMS, ONE FOR 60, AND ONE FOR 40, AND ONE FOR 16 PEOPLE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE LIBRARY IS USED, BUT THEY'VE GOT MEETING ROOMS THAT WILL HOLD THOSE ITEMS. DO WE REALLY NEED THOSE AT THAT LOCATION? WILL WE BE BETTER OFF WITH A LARGER SPACE THAT CAN HANDLE MORE PEOPLE? RIGHT NOW THE ROOM WE'RE TALKING AT WILL SEAT 140 PERFORMERS.
I THINK I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU EARLIER, JIMMY, IS IT? I THINK THE TARGET WAS AROUND 200,225 SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HIT THE SWEET SPOT OF WHAT THE CONSULTANT TOLD US A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
>> YESTERDAY, I MENTIONED THAT TO THE CONSULTANT.
LIKE THE MIDDLE AND THE LARGER OPTION OR 160.
WE WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT IF WE WANT TO INCREASE THAT TO 200, WHAT IT WOULD BE.
THE BALLROOM SAID THAT WAS BEFORE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE IT LIKE JIMMY'S PLAN, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE FOCUS ON FOR CONVENTION TO HAVE LUNCHEONS, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT A LOT OF THEM, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM COULD BE AT GENERATIONS PARK AT THE CENTER.
BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING ULTIMATELY ALL WITH DESIGN.
>> I THINK THAT WAS ONE THING THAT CONCERNED US AS WE WERE DESIGNING ALMOST THE SAME THING IN BOTH SPACES AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO DUPLICATE OURSELVES.
I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY HELP OUR COURSE.
>> I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> LIKE HOW CLOSE DO YOU WANT US TO GET.
IF I SHOT YOU A FIGURE LIKE SAYING 10 MILLION, BASE IT ON 10 MILLION, MAY IT GO LOWER? AS A COURSE, IS THAT EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT? BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU 15, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU 20.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN WE'RE GOING FROM EIGHT TO 10, THAT'S TWO MILLION.
>> I THINK MAYOR BRUTEN IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT MEMBER COGAN SAID, IS THAT THERE ARE ELEMENTS THAT WE HAD IN THE PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT WE'VE DECIDED THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO NOW BASED UPON THE INPUT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.
WE'VE ALSO SAID THAT FINE, PERHAPS SOME OF THE DOLLARS WE CAN USE TOWARDS INCREASING THE PERFORMING ARTS FACILITY, THE HALL ITSELF, THE PERFORMANCE SPACE, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE 200 INDIVIDUALS IN THERE.
I THINK THERE'S SOME SAVINGS THAT WE CAN ACCRUE THROUGH SOME OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN REALLOCATE SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS TOWARDS INCREASING THE SIZE AND PERFORMANCE SPACE.
WITH THAT, YES, I THINK AT YOUR $10 MILLION AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD TARGET TO BE AT AND OBVIOUSLY THROUGH THE VERY FIRST STAGES OF THE PROJECT, WE'LL WORK TO REFINING THAT AND AS GARY SAID, WHEN THE SEA MARK COMES ON BOARD, WE'LL BE ABLE TO REFINE IT EVEN FURTHER.
I SAY THE ONE FLEXIBLE POINT YOU HAVE IS THE PARK ITSELF.
THAT'S AN AREA WHERE DOLLARS COULD BE ADDED TO AT ANY GIVEN POINT ALONG THE WAY AND EXPANDED OR CONTRACTED FROM WHEREVER WE WANT TO START FROM.
>> IF WE WERE SO LUCKY, [LAUGHTER].
I'M WITH MR. COGAN AND I THINK THE GREEN SPACE IS GOING TO BE A DRAW.
>> I THINK IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING?
[02:05:02]
I WOULD THINK THAT IF THE COUNCIL WAS TO SAY 10 MILLION FOR THE WHOLE SITE PLAN PLUS THE BUILDING, THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE THIS A PLEASANT PLACE TO BE, WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE GREEN SPACE.[LAUGHTER] I JUST PUT MY NECK OUT THERE, DIDN'T I? [LAUGHTER] BUT THAT'S WHAT I ALSO THINK.
I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, WE JUST CAN'T POP A BUILDING THERE WITHOUT HAVING SOME IDEA OF WHAT THE SITE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE LIKE.
>> [NOISE] YOU'RE OUT. YOU WERE GREEN FOR A SECOND NOW YOU'RE RED. COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN.
>> I'LL THROW MY NECK OUT THERE WITH YOU.
[LAUGHTER] BUT HERE'S THE THING, LET'S LEARN FROM MY HISTORY.
FOR BOYS MESH TENSION PARK WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THAT PROJECT MOST OF US WEREN'T ON COUNCIL AT THE TIME.
WE UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES THERE.
WE UNDERESTIMATED, DIDN'T WE?, HOW MUCH THAT PROJECT WAS GOING TO COST AND THEN WE HAD TO START CUTTING.
WITH THIS YOU'RE GOING TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION.
IF WE START LOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO GET AT THE END? THAT'S JUST WHAT I'M GOING TO THROW OUT THERE BECAUSE WE NEED TO LEARN FROM OUR LESSONS OF THE PAST. THANK YOU.
>> BUT WHERE DOES THE EXTRA MONEY COME FROM? I'M SORRY.
>> THAT'LL BE PRESENTED AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDING OPTIONS THAT WILL MAKE UP THE DEAL SO THAT Y'ALL CAN CHOOSE FROM.
>> WELL, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO WAIT FOR THAT.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT FUNDING'S AVAILABLE TO US BEFORE WE GO AND OBLIGATE OURSELVES TO SOMETHING. WOULD WE NOT?
>> WELL, IT'S UP TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, BUT THE REASON I WOULD RECOMMEND NOT WAITING IS BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T OBLIGATE YOU, THIS JUST SAYS, THIS IS WHAT THE COUNCIL'S GOAL IS, AND THEN THAT GIVES US TIME TO SEE IF WE CAN MEET THOSE GOALS WITH THE EXISTING FUNDING OPTIONS.
IF IT COMES BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING THAT WE CAN'T GET THERE, THEN OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD NOT EXPECT Y'ALL TO VOTE ON A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS UNTIL WE KNOW WHERE Y'ALL WANT TO BE, WE CAN'T PROPERLY SHOW YOU HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE. YES, MA'AM.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU CANDIDLY, ARPA FUNDS ALONE, YOU COULD PAY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT ANY OF THESE OPTIONS ARE, PERIOD, IT'S JUST A TRADEOFF BASED ON ANY OTHER ARPA PROJECTS YOU WANT TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CAFETERIA PLAN OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH, BUT ANYWAY.
>> JIMMY, WE CAN STRUCTURE OUR AGREEMENT THE SAME WAY.
THEY COULD ACTUALLY REFLECT THAT, SO WHEREVER YOU DECIDE THEN YOU COULD ACTUALLY VOTE ON WHEREVER THAT IS AND JUST ADJUST IT ACCORDINGLY ON THE FLY.
>> BUT WE WOULD NEVER EXPECT YOU TO CONSIDER SOMETHING IN TERMS OF VOTING IF IT WASN'T PAID FOR ON THE FRONT END, I PROMISE.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHERE IT'S GOING TO COME FROM.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, I SHOULD HAVE LED WITH THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING IT'S NOT COMING OUT OF MY POCKET.
I THOUGHT THAT I HAVE HERE IS THAT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCOVERY PROCESS BY AGREEING TO ANY OF THESE THREE OPTIONS.
WE'RE NOT SETTING THE BUDGET TODAY, BUT WE'RE GIVING A BASELINE TO WORK FROM TO GO TAKE THE NEXT STEP, WHICH IS TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT IN SPECIFICITY IN THIS PROJECT.
SO IT MAY MOVE THAT NUMBER DOWN.
BECAUSE COMING OUT OF THE TOWN HALL, I LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE PROBABLY DON'T NEED IN THIS.
WE'VE GOT A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF BRINGING THAT NUMBER DOWN RATHER THAN GOING UP.
>> IF WE WERE TO GO THAT ROUTE.
>> BUT WE'RE NOT COMMITTING TO SPENDING $10 MILLION BY THIS DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.
>> WELL, WITH THAT SAME LINE OF REASONING WHEN WE SAY WE GOT TO PUT IT AT 10 MILLION AND FIND OUT HOW TO GET THERE, WHY COULDN'T SHE PUT IT AT EIGHT AND A HALF OR NINE AND SEE HOW MUCH FURTHER WE COULD GO UPWARDS.
WHY DO YOU START HIGH AND THEN ATTEMPT TO WORK DOWN?
>> FOR SOME OF THE REASONS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH WAS LESSONS FROM THE PAST.
>> WE DO THAT, AGAIN, LESSONS FROM OUR PAST HAVE SHOWN US THAT OVERTIME AS WE WAIT AND WE DELIBERATE PRICES GO UP, AND AS THE PRICES GO UP, THEN THE COST OF EVERYTHING ELSE DOES, AND SO THEN YOU START LOSING THINGS OVERTIME.
>> YOU'RE TALKING TWO WEEKS, RIGHT?
>> GREG, ARE YOU GOING TO BE OFFENDED IF WE SELECT
[02:10:01]
THE $10 MILLION OPTION AND THEN WE GET INTO NEGOTIATIONS? DO WE RECOGNIZE WE WANT AN EIGHT MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT.>> IT'S THE COUNCIL'S PREROGATIVE.
>> MAYOR, MAY I SPEAK, PLEASE?
>> THAT WAS THE REASONS THAT Y'ALL JUST STATED.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS, WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO SAY, WE DON'T WANT THIS, WE DO WANT THIS, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO PICK LIKE CARPET COLORS.
BUT I THINK THAT'LL HELP BECAUSE CANDIDLY, WE WANT TO SPEND THE LEAST AMOUNT POSSIBLE TO GET THE BEST PROJECT.
I KNOW Y'ALL DO TOO, I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD.
I DON'T WANT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO THINK THAT IT'S A BLANK CHECK.
WE'RE JUST GIVING DRONE DIRECTION I'M GOING TO COME BACK ON SPECIFICITY ON THE AGREEMENT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE'RE GOING TO AGREE WITH A INITIAL CONCEPT AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK FROM HERE.
>> IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU GUYS? DON'T WRITE A CHECK.
[LAUGHTER] ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT BEFORE WE RELEASE? THANK YOU, GREG. THANK YOU, GARY. YOU'RE LOOKING SHARP, GARY.
[LAUGHTER] ITEM 13, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS.
I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE ANY REPORT, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY HOW ABOUT THAT HARWOOD ROAD.
JIMMY STATHATOS, CITY MANAGER.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. ONE FOLLOW-UP THING.
TWO WEEKS FROM NOW IS GOING TO BE A BIG MEETING AND WE'LL BRING THIS ITEM BACK, BUT IT'S A BIG DISCUSSION, BIG OBLIGATIONS.
OBVIOUSLY TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU NEED.
IF Y'ALL AREN'T READY THEN THEN WE PUSH IT OFF, BUT THE ITEM THAT'S A LITTLE MORE TIME-SENSITIVE IS DEGENERATION SPARK MANAGEMENT IN TERMS OF WHETHER THE CITY MANAGERS THERE OR THE YMCA, WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT TO WHERE WE NEED TO DECIDE BECAUSE WHOEVER IS GOING TO OPERATE IT, NEEDS TIME TO ORDER EQUIPMENT, ORDER FURNITURE, AND ALSO STAFF UP.
WE'LL HAVE AT THE NEXT MEETING ON THE 10TH, WE'LL HAVE THE RESULTS FROM THE RFP, AND THEN RECOMMENDATION WITH AN AGREEMENT, OR A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CITY TO OPERATE IT, BUT THAT'LL BE THE NEXT MEETING.
I JUST WANTED TO FORESHADOW BECAUSE IT WASN'T READY TO GO THIS TIME, BUT IT IS TIME-SENSITIVE.
THE ONLY OTHER ITEM THAT I WANTED TO MENTION IS, THANKS TO OUR NEW CFO AND HER STAFF, WE'RE UPDATING OUR PURCHASING POLICY TO TIGHTEN UP A LOT OF THINGS, AND THAT WILL BE COMING TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OR FUTURE MEETING.
MAYBE MAY ATTEND, BUT I MIGHT BE A LATER ONE, BUT I THINK WE'RE IN GREAT SHAPE, THERE ARE JUST SOME THINGS WE NEED TO BUCKLE DOWN.
>> YEAH AND THANK YOU. DEFINITELY BIKE THE BLUE, WE'RE PLANNING ON MAY 10TH, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ONE OF THE PRESENTERS IS AVAILABLE, IT COULD GO TO MAY 24TH IF THEY'RE OUT OF TOWN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JIMMY. COUNCIL, WE NEED TO REAL QUICKLY CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 551.001 TO DISCUSS AN ITEM RELATED TO SECTION 551.074.
IT'S 8:13, WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. ARE WE GOOD? IT'S 8:29, WE JUST CONVENE A QUICK EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ACTION TO TAKE AS A RESULT.
COUNCIL, WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
WE HAVE A SECOND. [LAUGHTER] MAYOR PRO TEM OPPOSES.
WE HAVE A SECOND TO ADJOURN FROM COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN.
THAT [OVERLAPPING] SHOULD BE UNANIMOUS.
[BACKGROUND] LOOKS LIKE THAT'S UNANIMOUS, WE'RE ADJOURNED AT 8:30.
THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.