[CALL TO ORDER/GENERAL COMMENTS]
[00:00:07]
OKAY, EVERYONE, I'M NOT GOING TO GAVEL BECAUSE TECHNICALLY WE GAVELED AT 5:30.
SO I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE REGULAR PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
LET'S MOVE RIGHT ON TO AN INVOCATION LED BY MAYOR PRO TEM AMY SABOL.
SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY, SPIRIT OF JUSTICE.
HELP THEM AS LEADERS TO NOT ASK FIRST, HOW DO WE FIX THIS? BUT WHAT DO WE NEED TO LEARN? HOW MIGHT WE NEED TO CHANGE? AND TO WHOM DO WE NEED TO LISTEN? REMIND THEM BECAUSE WE ALL FORGET FROM TIME TO TIME, ESPECIALLY IN THE NOISYNESS OF WHAT PASSES FOR POLITICAL DEBATE TODAY, THAT THEY ARE NOT ONLY LEADERS BUT ALSO SERVANTS, AND THAT IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND OURS TO SERVE THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL.
REMIND THEM THAT NO MATTER WHERE WE LIVE, EVERYONE IS OUR NEIGHBOR, OUR SIBLING, AND THAT THROUGHOUT THE AGES PROPHETS HAD CALLED THE LEADERS OF THE PEOPLE TO RESPECT AND PROTECT THE LEAST OF US AMONG US OUR CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, THE POOR, THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY, THOSE WHO HAVE NO HOMES, THOSE WHO ARE ILL IN BODY, MIND OR SPIRIT. THE STRANGERS AND IMMIGRANTS IN OUR MIDST, THOSE WHOSE LIVES ON THE MARGINS, THOSE WHO ARE ALONE, THOSE WHO ARE FORGOTTEN, GRANT THEM AND US THE WISDOM AND COURAGE TO KNOW AND TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD AND TRUE.
COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN, WILL YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES? ALLEGIANCE] ALL RIGHT.
[COUNCIL RECOGNITION]
NEXT, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS UNDER COUNCIL RECOGNITION.AND WE HAVE CULTURAL ARTS MANAGER KRISSY ODEN.
HI. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
IT IS MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE OUR TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOX AND PURPLE HEART DESIGN WINNERS TONIGHT.
AS A REMINDER, THIS IS OUR SECOND ROUND OF SIGNAL BOX WRAPS.
WE HAD ABOUT 30 SUBMISSIONS AND WE CHOSE SIX WINNERS FOR OUR CELEBRATING CULTURES AND LOCAL INSPIRATION DESIGNS. AND THEN WE HAD A SPECIAL TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOX FOR OUR PURPLE HEART DESIGNATION.
THAT WAS REALLY SPECIAL TO US.
SO WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THOSE WINNERS TONIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO SHOW THEIR DESIGN UP HERE.
WE'LL CALL THEM UP HERE AND GIVE THEM THEIR PRIZE.
SO, CHRISSY, DO YOU MIND IF COUNCIL TAKES PICTURES AFTER WE FINISH THE OTHER COUNCIL RECOGNITION? DO YOU MIND THAT, MOLLY? NO. YEAH.
WE ASKED FOR PEOPLE TO SUBMIT DESIGNS THAT INTEGRATED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL INTO THEIR SUBMISSION.
THIS BEAUTIFUL BOX IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF CENTRAL AND L DON DODSON.
[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, DON'T LEAVE. LET'S TAKE PICTURES.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE JUANITA GARCIA.
THIS BOX IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF MURPHY DRIVE AND HARWOOD ROAD, AND JUANITA .[APPLAUSE]
[00:05:04]
OKAY. NEXT, WE HAVE CUC MAULDIN LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF BEDFORD ROAD AND BROWN TRAIL.AND I'M NOT. OH, YOU ARE HERE.
CINDY'S DESIGN IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF FOREST RIDGE DRIVE AND SHUMAC LANE.
HEY. [APPLAUSE] NEXT IS DORIS HARBER, LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF BEDFORD ROAD AND MARTIN DRIVE.
DORIS' DESIGN WAS INSPIRED BY HER NEIGHBORS.
LISA AND AVA BEACH, THIS MOTHER DAUGHTER DUO, CREATED A TRAFFIC BOX DESIGN THAT REFLECTS DIFFERENT CULTURES WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY. THIS BOX IS LOCATED AT SHADY BROOK DRIVE AND HARWOOD ROAD.
[APPLAUSE] YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME. ALL RIGHT, AND LASTLY, WE HAVE JENNIFER WADE.
JENNIFER IS AN HEB ISD ART TEACHER.
SHE CREATED A DESIGN THAT WAS INSPIRED FROM THE FIRST NIGHT LIVING IN HER NEW APARTMENT.
ON HER WAY HOME FROM THE STORE, SHE LOCKED EYES WITH A WILD FOX.
SHE SAID THERE'S A SENSE OF CALMNESS THAT COMES WITH HAVING A SENSE OF COUNTRY INSIDE THE CITY.
IT WAS THEN THAT MY HUSBAND AND I TRULY FELT LIKE WE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE AND THAT WE WERE HOME.
THIS FOX IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF FOREST RIDGE DRIVE AND HARWOOD ROAD.
[APPLAUSE] Y'ALL WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A PICTURE NOW? YOU GOOD NOW, [INAUDIBLE]? CHRISSIE, THOSE WERE GORGEOUS.
THEY REALLY WERE. SO WE DO HAVE TWO PROCLAMATIONS, THREE PROCLAMATIONS THIS EVENING.
AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OFFICER DEIDRE SPEARS TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION.
THREATENING THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH, PROSPERITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND WHEREAS, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES MUST BE MADE AWARE OF WHAT THEY CAN DO TO PREVENT THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS AND COWORKERS FROM BEING HARMED BY DRUGS, VIOLENCE AND OTHER CRIME.
AND WHEREAS, CRIME PREVENTION INITIATIVES MUST INCLUDE SELF PROTECTION AND SECURITY.
[00:10:01]
BUT THEY MUST GO BEYOND THESE AND PROMOTE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER FOR ALL AGES AND DEVELOP POSITIVE EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. AND WHEREAS, ADULTS MUST INVEST TIME, RESOURCES AND POLICY SUPPORT IN EFFECTIVE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR YOUTHS AND TEENS MUST BE ENGAGED IN DRIVING CRIME FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES.AND WHEREAS, EFFECTIVE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS EXCEL BECAUSE OF PARTNERSHIPS AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT, OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, CIVIC GROUPS, SCHOOLS, FAITH COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS AS THEY HELP TO NURTURE COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY AND INSTILL PRIDE.
NOW THEREFORE, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I, MICHAEL BOYTER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND THE CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2022 AS CRIME PREVENTION MONTH IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND URGE ALL CITIZENS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AND BUSINESSES TO INVEST IN THE POWER OF PREVENTION AND WORK TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD. SO THANK YOU DIEDRE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR US? NO, I DON'T.
NO, I REALLY I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, FOR THE SUPPORT OF COUNCIL.
AND THANK YOU GUYS WHO COME OUT HERE VERY OFTEN TO SUPPORT THE CITY AND MAKE YOUR INPUT KNOWN.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, DEIDRE, FOR BEING HERE TO ACCEPT.
PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, AMERICA'S NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME WAS INTRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TOWN WATCH, A NONPROFIT CRIME PREVENTION ORGANIZATION IN 1983.
AND WHEREAS, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO HEIGHTEN CRIME AND DRUG PREVENTION AWARENESS, GENERATE PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL ANTI-CRIME PROGRAMS, STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOOD SPIRIT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND SEND A MESSAGE TO CRIMINALS THAT ORGANIZED AND FIGHTING BACK.
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I'M MICHAEL BOYTER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD, AND THE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 4TH, 2022, AS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS OF BEDFORD TO SUPPORT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT BY HOSTING AND PARTICIPATING IN NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES.
OH, WE HAVE MONIQUE HERE TONIGHT.
OKAY. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 2022 AS NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD, AND WANT TO WELCOME OFFICER MONIQUE HALL TO ACCEPT THIS. WE'VE GOT THE DYNAMIC DUO HERE TONIGHT.
WHEREAS THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS DEDICATED TO BRINGING AWARENESS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND WHEREAS, NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH WAS FIRST DECLARED IN 1989.
AND. WHEREAS, THE DAY OF UNITY WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 3RD, 2022.
AND WHEREAS, THE COMMUNITY IS ENCOURAGED TO WEAR PURPLE ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, 2022, TO SYMBOLIZE PEACE, COURAGE AND SURVIVAL AND PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS.
AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF BEDFORD AFFIRMS ITS SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO ARE VICTIMS, SURVIVORS AND WITNESSES TO THE VIOLENCE BY OFFERING SUPPORT AND PROVIDING RESOURCES TO PREVENT RECIDIVISM AND PROMOTE HEALING.
NOW THEREFORE, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I'M MICHAEL BOYTER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD, AND THE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2022 AS NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AND BUSINESSES TO INVEST IN THE POWER OF PREVENTION AND WORK TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD OR..
I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THE JOB THAT I DO, BUT I TRULY LOVE HELPING THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS.
THEY CAN REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO ME OR CALL ANY OF OUR OFFICERS AND I'LL GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM.
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO FOR FOR THE PEOPLE IN BEDFORD.
DO YOU MIND IF WE TAKE PICTURES NOW MOLLY? [APPLAUSE] ONE MORE.
[00:15:08]
MIC] OKAY, ROB, YOU LOOK GREAT IN THOSE PICTURES, BY THE WAY.OKAY OPEN FORUM, WE HAVE NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP FOR OPEN FORUM.
OK NEXT UP, WE DO HAVE PERSONS TO BE HEARD.
[PERSONS TO BE HEARD]
WE HAVE THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE REQUESTED TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.I WANT TO START WITH BARBARA POSTMA.
MY NAME IS BARBARA POSTMA, AND I LIVE IN FLOWER MOUND.
NOT A BEDFORD RESIDENT, BUT I TEACH CERAMICS AT THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS.
THE SENIORS WERE TO BE AT OBS TEMPORARILY.
NOW IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE STAYING HERE.
AND HOW CONFUSING IS THE CENTER FOR A NEW NAME? WHAT ABOUT CALLING IT AT LEAST THE RANCH OR SOMETHING AS OPPOSED TO A SENIOR CENTER CENTER? IT'S KIND OF CONFUSING WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THEM IN THE SAME CONVERSATIONS.
AS SENIORS ARE THERE FIVE DAYS A WEEK, A SIDEWALK INSTALLED, MEMORY BRICKS ARE SLICK AND UNEVEN, MOVE THEM ELSEWHERE AND THEY'LL LAST LONGER. AND I HAVE SOME PICTURES I WOULD LIKE TO HAND OUT, IF I MAY.
SURE. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BRICKS THAT WERE DEDICATED SOME TIME BACK IN THE BACK.
TO SHARE TWO AND TWO. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH.
I HAD NO IDEA HOW MANY I NEED.
AND THAT'S THAT PICTURE THAT SHOWS WATER COMING OUT THIS WAY.
IT COMES DOWN AND IT DIRECTLY HITS THOSE MEMORY BRICKS AND IT'S WASHING OUT THE WATER, THE DIRT UNDERNEATH THEM, WHICH IS MAKING THEM EVEN MORE UNEVEN AND UNSTEADY. AND THEY'RE SLICK TO WALK ON EVEN IN THE DRY DAYS WHEN IT'S NOT RAINING.
AND IF YOU SEE THE OTHER TWO PICTURES, THEY LOOK KIND OF FUZZY THERE.
THAT'S HOW MUCH WATER IS COMING OUT OF THAT DOWN SPOUT DIRECTLY ONTO THE SIDEWALK.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY HURT, BUT IT'S GETTING WORSE.
AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A HANDRAIL INSTALLED.
YES, MA'AM. AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY, VERY HANDICAPPED THAT WOULD LIKE TO USE THE BUILDING.
THE CLASSROOMS AT OBS ARE NOT IDEAL FOR CLASSES.
THERE IS NO ELECTRICAL OUTLETS IN THE WALLS.
THEY ARE RAISED CIRCLES THAT ARE A HALF INCH RAISED AND THEY'RE COVERED.
THEY COVER THE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS IN THE FLOOR.
AND THEY'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOMS AND THERE'S ONLY A COUPLE OF THEM.
I'M ON MY KNEES TO DO THAT AND IT'S NOT FUN TO GET BACK UP.
THE CLASSROOMS, OH, WE NEED A SINK.
THERE'S JUST CHANCES OF IT BEING SPILLED AND SLICK, YOU KNOW THE REST.
AND THIS, I UNDERSTAND, WAS IN THE NEW BUILDING.
[00:20:02]
SO BUT NOW THAT WE ARE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE MOVING IN THERE, WE'RE GOING TO BE STAYING AT OBS.AND SO SOME OF THE PIECES ARE TOO WET TO BE TRANSPORTED HOME OR THEY'RE LEFT IN A CABINET BECAUSE WE ARE DOING CERAMICS, WE'RE PAINTING WITH PAINT AND IT CAN'T BE TRANSPORTED AND SMUDGED AND WE KEEP THEM IN ROLLING CABINETS BECAUSE THESE CABINETS HAVE TO BE MOVABLE IN CASE ANOTHER SPECIAL EVENT WANTS TO COME IN AND USE ANY OF THE FOUR LOWER CLASSROOMS. SO SOME PIECES ARE VERY FRAGILE AND COULD GET BROKEN WHEN ROLLING THE CABINETS.
SO WHEN IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME STORAGE SPACE THAT WE CAN CALL OUR OWN? THE CITY OF BEDFORD SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR NEW RESTROOMS UPSTAIRS THAT ARE ONLY USED OCCASIONALLY FOR THE THEATER GROUP.
MOST OF THE DOOR LATCHES DOWNSTAIRS BATHROOMS DON'T WORK.
THEY DON'T LATCH THEY HAVE TO BE JIGGLED OR JUST GIVE UP AND CHANGE TO ANOTHER STALL.
AND THEY ARE USED BY THE SENIORS ALL WEEK LONG.
FIX THE AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER THAT'S ON THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING.
ANOTHER HANDICAPPED DOOR OPENER ON THE OUTSIDE WOULD BE NICE, TOO.
THE ONES THAT YOU JUST PUSH AND THEY AUTOMATICALLY OPEN.
THOSE ON WALKERS HAVE TO GRAB THE HANDLE, PULL IT OPEN, STEP BACK, PULL IT OPEN FURTHER.
YOU GET THE DRILL OVER AND OVER UNTIL IT'S OPEN.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE CARRYING BOXES OF EQUIPMENT, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME THING.
STEP BACK. AND SO WE'D LIKE SOMETHING AND THEY HAVEN'T WORKED AND THEY DON'T WORK THE ONE IN THE INSIDE, BECAUSE WE TRIED IT THE OTHER DAY. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE USE OF A MICROWAVE.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A SHORTAGE OF SHORTAGE OF OUTLETS AVAILABLE OR A REASONABLE PLACE TO PUT ONE EVEN.
WELL, I USE THAT ONE OCCASIONALLY.
BUT YOU JUST LOVE HAVING AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE RIGHT BY THE SINK, RIGHT.
SO I HAVE TO UNPLUG IT EVERY TIME I LEAVE THE ROOM TO GO GET ANOTHER PIECE TO DO.
OUR SENIOR CLASS, OUR SENIOR CENTER, THE OLD ONE, HAD THREE KILNS.
NOW ONLY ONE IS LEFT AND IS BEING INSTALLED AT THE Y OR THE CENTER FOR THEIR USE.
WE NEED A KILN INSTALLED FOR OUR OWN USAGE.
THERE IS A SHED WITH ELECTRICAL HOOKUP.
A KILN NEEDS TO BE 12 TO 18 INCHES AWAY FROM A WALL.
A GOOD VENT SYSTEM WILL COOL IT DOWN.
STAFF HOOKED UP EVERYTHING AT THE OLD CENTER.
THEY WOULD KNOW HOW TO DO IT AGAIN, SURELY, AND MAKE THAT FEASIBLE.
NOW, SOME OPTIONS THAT WE HAD COME UP WITH TO IF THESE CHANGES CAN'T BE MADE.
UPDATE OBS WITH PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED ITEMS FOR A MINIMAL USAGE TO MAKE IT APPROPRIATE.
TRADE BUILDINGS WITH THE YMCA, THEY RUN THE NEW CENTER AND THE CITY RUNS A CENTER, SENIOR CENTER OUT OF THE OLD YMCA BUILDING JUST KIND OF TRADE AND YOU GUYS CAN DO THE BUDGET AND MONEY ON THAT I'M SURE.
FEES AND RATES COULD BE ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY.
THE PERFORMING ARTS, WHICH IS THE THEATER GROUP TO US, HAS A FINISHED STAGE UPSTAIRS.
MANY DOLLARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SPENT ON MODERN AND BEAUTIFUL BATHROOMS UPSTAIRS.
WHY NOT MAKE OBS THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ARTS CENTER? IT'S HISTORIC.
IT HAS FOUR ROOMS FOR ARTWORK TO BE DISPLAYED.
BUILD THEIR BUILDING, OUR SENIOR CENTER.
MAKE IT FOR SENIORS AND CLASSROOMS FROM THE START.
NOW, I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S PRIVATE.
BUT WHAT ARE WE, CHOPPED LIVER, YOU KNOW, OR BUILD A NEW BUILDING FOR THE SENIORS TO USE? PARKING UP CLOSE COVERED UNLOADING ZONE DROP OFF AREA SHOULD BE COVERED.
BUT THOSE THAT DRIVE THEMSELVES STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO WALK.
FROM THE PARKING LOT TO THE DOOR.
WE'VE SEEN THE NEW PLANS AND CAN'T TELL YOU HOW FAR IT SEEMS TO BE TO WALK FROM THE PARKING LOT TO THE DOORS FOR ANYBODY THAT'S ON A WHEELCHAIR, THEY'D HAVE HELP.
BUT ANYBODY WALKING OR DRIVING THEMSELVES, IT'S JUST A LONG WAYS.
[00:25:04]
THEY'RE TIRED BEFORE THEY WOULD EVEN GET INTO THE BUILDING.AND WE KEPT MENTIONING THAT DURING THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, BUT IT SEEMS PRETTY WON OUT OVER PRACTICAL OTHER TOWNS BUILT AND MAINTAINED A SEPARATE SENIOR CENTER, AND ON YOUR LIST OF RATES YOU LISTED CERTAIN CITIES RECREATION CENTERS, BUT YOU FAILED TO MENTION THE SENIOR CENTERS BECAUSE THOSE WEREN'T ON AN EQUAL LEVEL.
BUT THE SENIOR CENTERS OF KELLER, CARLTON, IRVING AND MANSFIELD ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN KILNS AND AS A SENIOR CENTER THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WE DON'T.
THEY HAVE BIG CLASSES AND OURS IS GROWING.
MY CONTRACT WAS FOR THE THREE YEARS WHILE THE NEW CENTER WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
SO THE CERAMIC CLASS MAY HAVE A TEACHER AND A PLACE TO MEET, BUT SINCE I'M NOT TAKING PIECES HOME FOR THE NEXT YEAR, THEY REALLY WON'T HAVE A CLASS BECAUSE THEY WON'T HAVE ANY PLACE LOCALLY AND THERE IS NO PLACE LOCALLY, A SHOP OR ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD TAKE THE PIECES TO, TO BE FIRED.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. OKAY, BARBARA, THANK YOU.
YOU TOOK FIVE PAGES? NO, THAT WAS GREAT.
MR. STATHATOS, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? YES, SIR. THE MAIN THING IS THE THE BRICKWORK IN TERMS OF REMOVING THE BRICKS AND PUTTING IN HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY AND THE GUARDRAIL, THAT'S ALL GOING TO BE IN JANUARY.
WE ALREADY HAVE THE BIDS, BUT IT WAS A MATTER OF BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE MAJOR DISRUPTION TO THE ENTRANCE, WE'RE WANTING TO FIND THE BEST TIME IN TERMS OF WHEN UTILIZATION ISN'T AS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S GOING TO BE JANUARY.
BUT THOSE ARE ABSOLUTELY FORTHCOMING.
WE ALREADY HAVE MONEY ALLOCATED AND EVERYTHING.
WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT DOING ANOTHER SINK.
WE CAN LOOK AT OBVIOUSLY THE LATCHES.
WE'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT THE LATCHES.
I THINK YOU MADE A COMMENT ON FACEBOOK OR SOMEONE MADE A COMMENT ON FACEBOOK ABOUT IT.
YEAH. AND SO, YOU KNOW, TODAY I WAS TOLD WE COULD KIND OF BAND-AID IT OR FIX IT RIGHT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO FIX IT. RIGHT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, ONCE WE KNOW ABOUT THINGS, THEN WE CAN FIX IT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT IT'S ABOVE MY PAY GRADE.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S NEEDED FOR A KILN, IT'S NOT JUST MY UNDERSTANDING.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE FORGOTTEN MORE ABOUT CERAMICS THAN I KNOW.
I WILL TELL YOU, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON THE COUNCIL'S BEHALF.
AND SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL'S BEHALF, BUT I DO THINK THAT LET ME JUST SAY IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED OFTEN TIMES THAT IT WOULD BE IDEAL TO HAVE A STANDALONE SENIOR CENTER.
LET'S SEE, PEOPLE CAN LEAVE STUFF OVERNIGHT AT OBS.
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT HOME.
LET'S SEE THE AUTOMATIC DOOR, THE MICROWAVE, ALL THAT STUFF.
SO ANYWAY, IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.
AND SO I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN SENIORS THAT ARE USING THE ACTIVITIES, THE AMENITIES AT THE OBS ARE SUDDENLY GOING TO BE CHARGED MORE THAN THEY WERE BEFORE. THAT'S I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTOOD THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
[00:30:07]
CONSULTANT BASED ON THE BUSINESS PLAN.AND THEY'LL ALSO ACCOMMODATE ANYONE THAT WANTS TO SIGN UP WITH SILVERSNEAKERS OR ANY TYPE OF INSURANCE PROGRAM THAT ACCOMMODATES THAT TO WHERE IT CAN GREATLY DEFRAY, IF NOT DIMINISH THE OVERALL COST FOR THE USER.
THAT BEING SAID, IT'S OPTIONAL.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY FOR EVERYONE TO COEXIST.
AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ADD VALUE.
YES, I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE NOT HAVING A COST INCREASE AT OBS, AT LEAST RIGHT NOW.
WE WILL NOT BE GOING DOWN TO THE NEW CENTER.
BUT IF YOU LOOK LIKE YOU LIVE IN FLOWER MOUND, IF YOU LOOK AT THE RATES FOR THE CAC, THE COMMUNITY ACTIVITY CENTER FOR SENIORS, AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMENITIES THAT THIS CENTER HAS VERSUS THE FLOWER MOUND ONE, I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT THE BANG FOR THEIR BUCK.
AND IF THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WHETHER THEY'RE SENIORS OR NOT, SENIORS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING SOME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY, THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR HAVE MADE SURE THAT YMCA OFFERS SOME FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY FOR PEOPLE, THAT IT CANDIDLY, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE A LOT OF FINANCIAL NEED.
THERE IS AN I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T SAY THIS PUBLICLY, BUT THEY DID.
AND THEN IF THERE IS A GREATER AMOUNT OF NEED THAT CAN BE DEMONSTRATED THROUGH SOME TYPE OF WHETHER IT'S A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM OR WHAT HAVE YOU, THEN THAT NEED IS EVEN GREATER, THAT COST REDUCTION IS EVEN GREATER.
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO USE IT.
BUT AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I WAS THERE WHEN WE BUILT THE THE SENIOR CENTER IN FLOWER MOUND.
I GUESS WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A KILN THERE AND IT GOT AXED.
WELL, IT WASN'T MY IDEA, BUT SO NOW WE KNOW TO THEM, SEE? SO BEDFORD'S NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A KILN.
NO, I'M JUST KIDDING. NO, I'M KIDDING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN FLOWER MOUND.
YOU'RE KILLING IT IN CLASS, THOUGH.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING ANYWAY, BECAUSE WE ARE SAFETY HAZARDS.
I KNOW, BUT VENT, SPECIAL WALL, IT'S UP OFF OF THE FLOOR, SO IT'S NEVER TOUCHING ANYTHING FLAMMABLE.
IT WAS IN A CLOSET AT THE OLD SENIOR CENTER WITH VENTS AND EVERYTHING.
AND IT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE THAT CONSTANT PEOPLE WOULDN'T BE WALKING THROUGH IT.
OH, LET ME JUST SAY THIS TO ADD MY $0.02.
I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A WORK IN PROGRESS HERE BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT WE HAD DISPLACED SENIORS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED AT GENERATIONS PARK AT THE BOYS RANCH, THAT CONSTRUCTION, EVERYTHING. WE DID SEE THE OPPORTUNITY IN OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL THAT WE COULD GRANTED WE HAD TO GET THROUGH COVID AND SOME OF THAT, BUT IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO START BACK UP RATHER THAN DO NOTHING. WE FOUND A PLACE TO START UP SOME ACTIVITIES.
TO BE HONEST, OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE A SENIOR CENTER 120 YEARS AGO.
IT JUST WASN'T. AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT..
I DON'T SEE HOW ELEMENTARY KIDS STOOD THERE.
BUT YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S JUST HOW IT IS.
AND BUT BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'VE GOT SOME CHALLENGES WITH THAT FACILITY.
NOW, ONE THING THAT COUNCIL STAFF HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT RECENTLY IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR AN ASSET AUDIT IN THIS CITY BECAUSE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FACILITIES THAT ARE EITHER AGED OR THAT ARE THEY HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR USEFULNESS.
AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND SEE WHAT IS WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF THE CITY NEED TO LOOK LIKE FROM A STANDPOINT OF US ACCOMMODATING THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS? SO I THINK THIS IS A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.
THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT GET RESOLVED BY DECEMBER 31ST BECAUSE THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE IN CONSIDERATION AND WE AND WE HAVE A DEGREE OF WE HAVE TO RESPONSIBLY FIND A WAY TO PUT ALL THESE PIECES TOGETHER, THIS JIGSAW.
BUT I KNOW THAT COUNCIL HAS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST FOR US TO ADDRESS SOME SORT OF SOLUTION TO THE SENIOR CENTER ISSUE, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANY OF US BELIEVE THAT THE FINAL ANSWER IS AS IT EXISTS RIGHT NOW.
SO AND I KNOW WE'RE HAVING A STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION NEXT MONTH.
I'M SURE I KNOW IT'S ON MY TALKING POINTS.
FIND A WAY TO ACCOMMODATE BETTER SOME OF THESE NEEDS.
BUT IT'S GOT TO BE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE OVERALL PLAN FOR THE CITY.
[00:35:02]
YEAH. BUT WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE.WE WANT YOU ALL TO HAVE A HOME.
WE WANT YOU TO HAVE A HAPPY PLACE.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE IN THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS THAT WE JUST CAN'T, AND THE KILN MAY BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE AREN'T OTHER SOLUTIONS TO THIS.
THAT HAVING THE CENTER IN THE ACTIVITIES AND THE ACCESSIBILITY FOR SENIORS, FOR THE CENTER IS COMPLEMENTARY TO THE PROGRAMING THAT'S BEING CONDUCTED AND WILL BE CONDUCTED AT OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL GOING FORWARD.
CORRECT? YES, SIR. AND THERE'S NOT AN OBLIGATION TO JOIN THE CENTER WITH THE Y PROGRAMING.
BUT YOU CAN CONTINUE, WE CAN CONTINUE TO USE THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL WITH THE CURRENT STUFF.
AND WE CAN FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT MORE, MORE USABLE, MORE USER FRIENDLY, I GUESS.
ALL RIGHT. SO WORK IN PROGRESS.
I HAVE MY LIST. NO, THANK YOU, BARBARA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL WITH SUGGESTIONS AND THINGS.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
NEXT UP, UNDER PERSON TO BE HEARD.
WELCOME BACK TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AVOIDING THESE CHAMBERS.
YES, MA'AM. I TYPICALLY DON'T UNLESS I'M ASKED SOMETHING SO.
I WON'T BE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS..
MAYOR BOYTER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS WYNETTE GRIFFIN AND I LIVE AT 3808 CAMBRIDGE CIRCLE WEST IN BEDFORD.
I DID. I HAVE TRIED TO STAY AWAY FROM THIS PODIUM AND THIS ROOM, BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I FEEL REALLY STRONGLY THAT THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF AND PREPARED TO ACT ON COUNCILWOMAN SABOLS FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS OF THE BEDFORD CITY CHARTER.
SECTION 211 OF THE CITY CHARTER STATES AND I QUOTE, IN REGARD TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND EXECUTIVE DUTIES UNDER THE CITY MANAGER, THE COUNCIL AND ITS MEMBERS SHALL DEAL SOLELY THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, AND NEITHER THE COUNCIL NOR ANY MEMBER THEREOF SHALL GIVE ORDERS TO ANY SUBORDINATES OF THE CITY MANAGER, EITHER PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY.
WILLFUL VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING PROVISION OF THIS CHARTER BY ANY MEMBER SHALL CONSTITUTE OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT AND SHALL AUTHORIZE THE COUNCIL BY A VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF ITS MEMBERSHIP TO REMOVE SUCH VIOLATING MEMBER FROM THE COUNCIL, IF FOUND IN VIOLATION AFTER PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEREBY CREATE A VACANCY IN THE PLACE HELD BY SUCH MEMBER, END QUOTE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHARTER PROVISION IS TO STREAMLINE THE WORKING OF THE STAFF AND THE COUNCIL SO THAT INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT SEEKING OR SENDING STAFF MEMBERS IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS TO COMPLY WITH THEIR SPECIFIC REQUESTS.
IN FACT, WHEN I RECEIVE A TEXT OR A PHONE CALL FROM A BOARD MEMBER, IT'S UNSETTLING.
AND I WOULD SUBMIT THAT THE SAME IS TRUE FOR BEDFORD EMPLOYEES HEARING FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER.
TO SUPPORT THIS THEORY, I SPOKE TO A FORMER EMPLOYEE AND DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY WHO SAID HE FREQUENTLY RECEIVED REPORTS FROM A DIRECT REPORT OF HIS COMPLAINING ABOUT COUNCILWOMAN SABOL'S CONTACTS WITH THIS EMPLOYEE.
THE FORMER EMPLOYEE SAID THAT WHILE THESE MAY NOT BE TECHNICALLY HAVE BEEN DELIVERED AS DIRECTIVES, QUOTE, [INAUDIBLE] YOU KNOW THE GAME, YOU HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THEIR REQUEST. WE HAD TO SPEND TIME TO ADDRESS HER CONCERNS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS GET WHAT THEY WANT, END QUOTE.
OVER 1000 PAGES OF EMAILS WERE READ AND EXAMINED DATING BACK TO 2017.
EXCUSE ME. THAT REVIEW RESULTED IN OVER 95 DOCUMENTED VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION OF THE CHARTER.
IN MY OPINION, SOME OF THEM WERE SERIOUS VIOLATIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING.
AND I QUOTE, I WANT THE TAX INCREASE.
WE NEED SOME STATISTICS TO COUNTERACT THE NAYSAYERS.
[00:40:07]
INQUIRIES LIKE THIS TO MR. BOSSERT, WHO WAS THE CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME, BECAUSE I'M A REBEL.SOMEONE WHO'S NOT A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH DISPATCH FOR A SIMILAR COMPLAINT.
AGAIN, THIS DID NOT GO THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, BUT DIRECTLY TO HARTNETT.
AN EMAIL TO MEG JAKUBIK STATING I WANT IT MANDATED FOR FUTURE IN-PERSON MEETINGS FOR THE CAC.
NO REMOVING EVEN WHEN TALKING.
NOT A SERIOUS, BUT EXHIBITING A PATTERN OF DIVERTING STAFF RESOURCES AND ATTENTION.
A REQUEST FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO CHECK THE WATER METER FOR HER HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
A REQUEST FOR ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER TO PROVIDE THE NAMES OF CATERERS FOR AN EVENT SHE WAS PLANNING.
REQUESTS FOR STAFF TO SHARE PREVIOUSLY OBTAINED EMAIL ADDRESSES TO HER ART ORGANIZATION, AND A REQUEST TO CORRECT SPELLING ON THE WEBSITE FOR AN ORGANIZATION SHE'S INVOLVED WITH. ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD HAVE TO AGREE THAT A REPEATED AND FREQUENT PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS WOULD FIT THE VIOLATION, FIT THE DEFINITION OF WILLFUL VIOLATION.
IN THE CASE OF COUNCILWOMAN SABOL, A NUMBER OF THESE VIOLATIONS BEGIN WITH HER MAKING A STATEMENT THAT SHE KNOWS SHE'S NOT FOLLOWING POLICY, BUT SHE CONTINUES TO DIRECT THE STAFF REGARDLESS. IRONICALLY, IN RESPONSE TO THE RESIGNATION OF ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER IN REGARD TO THE SAME ISSUE, COUNCILWOMAN SABOL POSTED A STATEMENT ON FACEBOOK THAT READ IN PART. QUOTE THE CITY COUNCIL HAS RULES AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO FOLLOW CALLED THE CITY CHARTER.
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO INSTRUCT, GIVE ORDERS OR INVOLVE OURSELVES WITH CITY STAFF.
WE ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO EMAIL AND SPEAK TO OUR CITY MANAGER.
WE WERE GIVEN TRAINING ON THE RESPONSIBILITY WHEN WE WERE ELECTED.
THE CHARTER IS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR COUNCIL IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
THAT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS WHAT I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO DO.
I ASK YOU TO HOLD COUNCILWOMAN SABOL ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS OF THE CHARTER.
I RECENTLY MET WITH MAYOR BOYTER AND HE HAS FOLLOWED THROUGH AS PROMISED.
HE PLACED THE ITEM ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 13TH.
HOWEVER, I'M NOT PRIVY TO THE RESULTS OF THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A PROCESS THAT NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED, BUT I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO CONSIDER THE INFORMATION THAT IS PRESENTED IN LIGHT OF BOTH THE LANGUAGE AND THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF THE CHARTER AND DO WHAT IS REQUIRED, AND THAT IS TO REMOVE MS. SABOL FROM OFFICE.
IT'S CERTAINLY WITHIN THE COUNCIL'S SCOPE TO RECOMMEND TO VOTERS A CHANGE IN THE CITY CHARTER.
HOWEVER, AS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR CITIZENS, YOU ARE EACH EXPECTED TO UPHOLD EXISTING LAWS, NOT THE ONES YOU WISH WERE ENACTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
I HAVE A FOOTBALL GAME TO GO TO.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE ONE MORE INDIVIDUAL, TONY COMPARIN.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING HE'S NOT HERE THIS EVENING, BUT HE HAS A STATEMENT.
IT'S THIS LETTER FROM MR. COMPARIN SAYS, MY NAME IS TONY COMPARIN.
I LIVE AT 3842 BROOKSIDE DRIVE, BEDFORD, TEXAS 76021.
PLEASE ACCEPT MY WRITTEN STATEMENT TO BE READ AT THE SEPTEMBER 27TH BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I CHAIR THE 2021-22 BEDFORD CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
[00:45:07]
AND THREE, PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER TO IMPROVE EFFECTIVE APPLICATIONS.ONE OF THE SECTIONS THE COMMISSION DISCUSSED AT LENGTH WAS THE SECTION 2.11 NOT TO INTERFERE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S APPOINTMENT OR REMOVALS FROM INTENSE DISCUSSIONS PERTAINING TO SECTION 2.11.
PROCEDURES FOR EXPULSION OR FORFEITURE OF OFFICE.
I HAVE READ THE 90 PLUS FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING AMY SABOL.
SECTION 2.11 IN THE CITY CHARTER STATES, THE COUNCIL AND ITS MEMBERS SHALL DEAL SOLELY TO THE CITY MANAGER, AND NEITHER THE COUNCIL OR ANY MEMBER SHALL GIVE ORDERS TO ANY SUBORDINATES OF THE CITY MANAGER, EITHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATELY.
THE FOLLOWING IS A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE ALLEGED MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS.
ASK MR. STATHATOS, CITY MANAGER, AND ANDREA ROY, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, ABOUT THE CORNER OF 121 IN HARWOOD, WHERE MURPHY OIL INTENDS TO PLACE A GAS STATION, DID NOT GIVE AN ORDER AS DEFINED IN THE CITY CHARTER.
JUNE 20TH, 2017, THROUGH APRIL 18, 2022.
INQUIRES AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON WITH INQUIRIES, QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS.
IT ALLEGATIONS WERE NOT BROUGHT UP AGAINST THEM.
SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE MOTIVES OF THE PERSONS BRINGING FORTH THESE THESE LIKE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST AMY SABOL? IS THERE TRUE CONCERN FOR OUR CITY AND THE BETTERMENT OF BEDFORD AND UNIFYING CITIZENS? OR IS THEIR INTERESTS PERSONAL IN NATURE AND SAY IT ABOVE THE 2021-22 CHARTER COMMISSION RECOMMENDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE THIS ONE BEFORE YOU? AND IF I WOULD, IS A QUESTION, INQUIRY OR VIOLATION.
OK. THANK YOU, MR. WELLS. NEXT UP, WE HAVE ITEMS TO CONSIDER BY
[CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT]
CONSENT. AND I GIVE YOU CITY MANAGER JIMMY STATHATOS.THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
THE FIRST FOUR ITEMS, IT'S NUMBER TWO, BUT THERE'S A THROUGH D.
IT'S SEPTEMBER SIX, 2022 SPECIAL SESSION, SEPTEMBER 13TH SPECIAL SESSION, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2022 REGULAR MEETING AND THEN SEPTEMBER 19TH AND 20TH 2022 SPECIAL SESSIONS.
THE NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER NINETY EIGHT, ARTICLE ONE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING SECTION 98-1 REGARDING THE SALES OF USED PERSONAL PROPERTY. IN OTHER WORDS, GARAGE SALES.
THIS ACTION IS TO UPDATE THE EXISTING GARAGE SALE ORDINANCE TO REMOVE THE GARAGE SALE PERMIT FEE AND TO ADOPT A GROUP NEIGHBORHOOD SALE FEE OF $25 TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO UTILIZE THEIR OWN SIGNS IN LIEU OF CITY ISSUED SIGNS AND TO LIMIT THE SIZE OF THE GARAGE SALE SIGNS.
THESE CHANGES, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY'S NEW ONLINE PERMITTING SYSTEM, WILL ALLOW RESIDENTS TO APPLY AND OBTAIN THEIR GARAGE SALE PERMIT ONLINE, ELIMINATING THE NEED TO COME IN TO CITY OFFICES.
I APOLOGIZE ENTITLED SCHEDULE OF FEES FROM THE BUILDING AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
[00:50:02]
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKING PERMIT, TREE REMOVAL FOR COMMERCIAL AND THEN FIRE MARSHAL SHORT TERM RENTAL ANNUAL INSPECTION.THE NEXT ITEM IS FOR LIBRARY PURCHASES.
IT AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE LIBRARY, PRINT AND MULTIMEDIA MATERIALS, PRIMARILY USING THE STATE OF TEXAS SMART BUY CONTRACT WITH VARIOUS VENDORS AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 225,000.
THIS ITEM IS TO AUTHORIZE US TO USE THE $225,000 IN THE FUNDING OF THE MATERIALS ABOVE.
THAT NUMBER THAT I REFERENCED OF THE $187,820 THAT ARE BUDGETED WILL COME FROM GRANTS AND DONATIONS.
THE NEXT ITEM IS FOR AN ITEM THAT WE DISCUSSED DURING THE BUDGET.
THE ANNUAL BUDGET SESSION IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF BEDFORD, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION AND ACCEPTANCE OF FISCAL YEAR 2023 GRANT APPLICATION TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION FOR FUNDING TO PURCHASE BULLET RESISTANT SHIELDS THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 BULLET RESISTANT SHIELD GRANT PROGRAM.
THERE IS NO MATCH REQUIRED FOR THE 63,000 GRANT.
AS MENTIONED, IT WILL PROVIDE US WITH 14 BULLET RESISTANT SHIELDS IN THE EVENT THAT WE ARE SELECTED.
THAT IS THAT CONCLUDES CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, JIMMY.
COUNCIL. ANY THOUGHTS? COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.
ON ITEM NUMBER THREE, WE'RE GETTING RID OF THE GARAGE SALE SIGNS, BUT WE HAD A LINE ITEM IN OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR $3000 FOR A NEW GARAGE SALE SIGNS SO WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THAT THE 3000? I HAVE ANDREA COMING UP HERE, BUT I KNOW PART OF IT WAS IN CASE Y'ALL DIDN'T APPROVE THIS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAD FUNDS.
WE CAN DEFINITELY REALLOCATE THOSE.
ANDREA, IS THERE ANY OTHER CLARITY YOU WANT TO PROVIDE? THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. WE WEREN'T IN A POSITION TO ELIMINATE IT QUITE YET UNTIL THIS HAD GOTTEN THROUGH AND FINAL.
SO WE'RE CERTAINLY AMENABLE TO REALLOCATING THAT..
FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO WITH IT. ABSOLUTELY.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI SECONDS.
LET'S VOTE. AND ONCE AGAIN, OUR TECHNOLOGY YES, OUR TECHNOLOGY HAS FAILED US RIGHT NOW.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THE YES BUTTON.
I'M NOT GETTING ANYTHING COMING UP ON MY SCREEN, SIR.
CAN WE WILL IT TO HAPPEN? YES. OKAY, EVERYONE FAVOR, AYE.
OKAY. THAT'S UNANIMOUS. SEVEN ZERO.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.
THANK YOU, JIMMY. NEXT UP, WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS ITEM SEVEN.
[7. Consider an ordinance approving a resolution authorizing the issuance, sale, and delivery of Trinity River Authority of Texas (Tarrant County Water Project) improvement revenue bonds, and approving and authorizing instruments and procedures relating thereto.]
WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY OF TEXAS, TARRANT COUNTY WATER PROJECT IMPROVEMENT REVENUE BONDS, AND IMPROVING AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING INSTRUMENTS AND PROCEDURES RELATING THERE TO.SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP TO THE DAIS PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CHERYL TAYLOR.
AND MATTHEW, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME.
IT'S A JALBERT. JALBERT? MR. JALBERT. THANK YOU.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU GET AWAY. GOOD EVENING.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY PROVIDES WATER TO THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
SO MY PREVIOUS PERSON THAT WAS IN THIS POSITION, PATTI CLEVELAND.
[00:55:02]
AND WE SERVE BASICALLY THE CITIES OF COLLEYVILLE, BEDFORD, NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, EULESS AND GRAPEVINE.SO WE PROVIDE MOST OF THE DRINKING WATER FROM THERE.
IT STARTED A BACKUP AND SERVICE BACK IN 1974, SO ONE OF THE ORIGINAL CITIES WAS BEDFORD AND EULESS.
SO THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND EULESS WERE THE ORIGINAL CUSTOMER CITIES TO THE SYSTEM.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO USE OUR OUR OLD PUMP STATION AS BACKUP.
NOW WE HAVE ONE COMBINED PUMP STATION FOR SUPPLYING THE RAW WATER TO THE PLANT.
SO JUST KIND OF GIVE AN UPDATE ON SOME OF OUR CURRENT CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
SO WE ARE ADDRESSING A LOT OF AGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SYSTEM.
LIKE I SAID, IT WAS INSTALLED BACK IN 1975.
SO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR PUMPING AND OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT A NEW RAW WATER TRANSMISSION ALIGNMENT STUDY AND THEN FINISHING UP THOSE IMPROVEMENTS I MENTIONED ON OUR JOINT USE PUMP STATION WITH THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, ETC.
THIS IS THE ACTUAL TREATMENT PLANT.
SO THIS IS BASICALLY TAKES ALL THE THE WATER THAT WE PUMP FROM THE LAKE.
SO THIS IS A VERY VITAL, CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR TREATMENT PROCESS.
SO LOOKING AT I KNOW IT SAYS HERE FY 2023.
BUT ACTUALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR RESOLUTION TODAY IS ON OUR SELL FOR BONDS FOR FY 2022.
LIKE I SAID, THIS PIPELINE, WE'VE ONLY GOT ONE PIPELINE AND IT PARALLELS CERTAIN AREAS, BUT THE CAPACITIES ON ONE SIDE IS NOT AS BIG TO WHERE IF I HAVE A PIPELINE GO OUT OF SERVICE, I CAN'T PUSH ALL THE FLOW.
AT THE TREATMENT PLANT. THIS IS JUST IDENTIFIED SOME OF THE VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS LIKE I MENTIONED.
AND THAT HELPS WITH SOME OF THE TASTE AND ODOR ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE FEATURE PROJECTS HERE THAT I JUST MENTIONED, THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
I KNOW EARLIER THIS SUMMER WE HAD AN ISSUE AT THE PLANT WHERE WE ACTUALLY LOST ONE OF OUR LINES AND SO WORKED REAL CLOSELY WITH CHERYL, LETTING HER KNOW THAT WE WERE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO GET THAT FIXED.
AND WITH THAT, OPEN UP ANY QUESTIONS.
ANYBODY HAS ANY. OKAY, MATTHEW, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT.
SO IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT THE RECENT PRICE INCREASES, THAT THIS IS WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING? YES, SIR. A LOT OF THAT. SO THE WAY YOU'RE THE WAY THAT OUR ARE STRUCTURED, OUR OUR RATES IS BASICALLY AS THE DEBT SERVICE AND THE O&M.
AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU DO SEE THERE WAS AN INCREASE ON THE DEBT SERVICE SIDE.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU DID SEE AN INCREASE WAS DUE TO DUE TO THE CIP SIDE OF IT.
AND HOW MANY CITIES ARE YOU SUPPLYING.
SO COLLEYVILLE GRAPEVINE, EULESS, BEDFORD, THAT WAS IT.
FIVE. AND WHERE DOES BEDFORD RANK AS FAR AS VOLUME? AS FAR AS VOLUME, I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME AT THE MOMENT BUT..
WHILE WE HAVE. IT'S AN UPPER SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING YOU COME DOWN VERY OFTEN.
WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGES IS TAKING PLACE IN YOUR WORLD THAT MAYBE WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE RESIDENTS TO KNOW? I MEAN, SUPPLY CHAIN, THINGS OF THAT NATURE? YES. SO SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THIS POSITION, IT'S BEEN VERY EYE OPENING, SEEING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE DO FACE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH SUPPLY CHAINS.
[01:00:08]
JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THE BIGGEST ONE WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW IS COST OF CHLORINE.SO AT ONE POINT WE WERE PAYING ABOUT $0.09 PER POUND.
NOW WE'RE PAYING $0.99 PER POUND FOR CHLORINE.
SO OUR CHLORINE COSTS HAVE JUST SKYROCKETED.
THEY'RE STILL PLAYING CATCH UP TO THAT.
BUT AT SOME POINT WE LIKE TO REFER THAT AS SNOWPOCALYPSE.
SO THEY ARE STILL STRUGGLING, TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND ON THAT.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES.
THE OTHER CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE IS JUST THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO JUST KEEPING UP AND TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE INSTEAD OF REACTIVE, BECAUSE WHAT WHAT I HATE TO SEE IS DURING THE SUMMERTIME WHEN WE'RE PUSHING, WE PUSHED ABOUT 85 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY AND THEN IT GOT UP TO ABOUT 90 WHEN WE GOT UP TO THE REALLY DRIVE TO PURCHASE THIS YEAR.
SO JUST KEEPING UP WITH THAT PACE, THAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE.
SO REALLY STUPID QUESTION WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS TONIGHT? THEN I GUESS WE CAN'T SELL BONDS.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MATTHEW OR CHERYL? ANY COMMENTS? ANY SUGGESTIONS? ANY INTEREST IN TAKING ACTION.
A MOTION TO APPROVE. A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.
WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.
LET'S VOTE. AND WE HAVE A GREEN YES BUTTON.
THANK YOU, MICHAEL. ALL RIGHT, MATTHEW.
YOU SHOULD BE PLEASED. THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
SEVEN ZERO. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, STAFF. THANK YOU, MATTHEW. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
SO LET'S MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT.
[8. Consider a resolution appointing members to Bedford’s Citizen Boards and Commissions.]
WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MEMBERS TO BEDFORD CITIZENS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR CITY SECRETARY, MICHAEL WELLS.
AND I APOLOGIZE AHEAD OF TIME IF I BUTCHER ANY OF THESE NAMES.
SO FOR THE PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION, PLACE FOUR KATE BARLOW, PLACE FIVE, DANIEL STAUBRIC, ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS/BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION, PLACE ONE, SEONG SANG, PLACE TWO, APRIL WHEELER, PLACE SIX ALTERNATE, STEPHANIE YARBROUGH, PLACE SEVEN ALTERNATE, DAVID HATLEY, ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY BOARD, PLACE ONE, VETERINARIAN SUSAN REED, PLACE FOUR, ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION, MICHELLE WATSON.
PLACE FIVE, GENERAL PUBLIC, KAREN KILLION, BEAUTIFICATION ADVISORY BOARD, PLACE ONE, YVONNE GARCIA, PLACE TWO, KAREN JACOBSON, PLACE THREE, RACHEL ISERMAN, PLACE FOUR PATTI SINCLAIR, PLACE FIVE, ANDREW WOOLEN, PLACE SIX, MISTY MALLORY, PLACE SEVEN, RENEE CHAPEL, PLACE EIGHT, SHEILA COWDREY, PLACE NINE, GLENN MIZELL.
PLACE FOUR, LESLIE HUNTINGTON, PLACE FIVE, LINDA GRADO, ETHICS COMMISSION, PLACE SEVEN, RAYMOND HAGLER . LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD, PLACE ONE, DANIEL MENDOZA, PLACE TWO, MARGARET CAROL, PLACE THREE, JANET KEY, PLACE FOUR, JOY DONOVAN BRANDON, PLACE FIVE, LAURIE IRVIN.
PLACE SIX, SUSAN HAMPTON, PLACE SEVEN, TERRY CLIFFORD, PLACE EIGHT, MOLLY BAHANDRA.
PLACE NINE, RACHEL FELTON BURGER.
AND THEN PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD.
PLACE ONE, TERRY LEWIS, PLACE TWO, SAM FAIRCHILD, PLACE THREE, LYNN GRADO, PLACE FOUR, DOUGLAS ALBACK, PLACE FIVE, ALTON STAUBACH OR STOCKTON I'M SORRY.
PLACE SIX, HEATHER LOPEZ VALADE.
PLACE SEVEN, DONNA HANSON, PLACE EIGHT, MEGAN GIRARD AND PLACE NINE MARGUERITE JONES.
YES, SIR. DID YOU DO THE PLANNING AND ZONING AND ZBA? OK. DID YOU ANNOUNCE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ON PLANNING AND ZONING?
[01:05:01]
OH, SO BECAUSE THIS LAST ROUND OF INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENTS WAS MOSTLY FOR THE ADVISORY BOARDS AND NOT THE QUASI JUDICIAL.AND THERE WAS NOT REALLY A PUSH FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING APPLICATIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR USUAL COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT GETTING APPLICATIONS IN, AND THEN AT A LATER TIME DO INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENTS FOR THE TWO OPEN SPOTS IN PLANNING AND ZONING.. IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
OKAY. THANK YOU FOR GOING THROUGH THAT LIST, BECAUSE YOU SAVED ME FROM BUTCHERING NAMES.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.
SO THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE WHO WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND POSITIONS FOR.
THANK YOU FOR WANTING TO BE A PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE PART OF IT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE ANOTHER OPENING IN P AND Z OR TWO OPENINGS.
WE ALSO ANTICIPATE AS COUNCIL DELIBERATES GOING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, WE ANTICIPATE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME MORE BOARDS OPENING UP SOME KIND OF AD HOC SPECIAL COMMISSIONS THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, WHICH IS GOING TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS TO GET INVOLVED.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THOSE POSSIBILITIES.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO EITHER APPLIED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ON A COMMISSION OR ANYONE WHO STILL HAS THAT INTEREST IN GETTING INVOLVED TO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT WE SEE MORE OPPORTUNITIES COMING.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL, THANK YOU STAFF FOR THAT.
THESE WERE DIFFICULT DECISIONS THIS TIME AROUND, SO WE HAD A GOOD PROBLEM.
NEXT UP, ITEM NINE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER.
OH, WE NEED TO TAKE A MOTION ON. SO WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE, COUNCILMAN? WE HAVE A MOTION APPROVED FROM COUNCILMEMBER FARCO.
SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
LET'S VOTE. OKAY, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
SEVEN ZERO. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, STAFF. NEXT UP, LET'S HAVE ITEM NINE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, COUNCIL, ANYTHING.
ALL RIGHT. ITEM TEN, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF REPORTS.
AT THIS POINT. AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NEW TONIGHT, SIR.
OKAY, VERY GOOD. THANKS. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE DO HAVE AN ITEM 12 UNDER NEW BUSINESS WITH COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
[12. Deliberation regarding possible Charter amendment election measures, including Section 2.11 of the Bedford City Charter. **Item requested by Mayor Boyter]
SO, BREN, THE WAY THIS IS WORDED, CAN WE HAVE A CONVERSATION TO HELP COUNCIL AND TO TO DO TO HAVE A QUESTION AND ANSWER DISCUSSION TRANSPARENTLY ABOUT SECTION 2.11 OF THE CITY CHARTER? ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY.I KNOW THERE'S A GOOD DEAL OF AMBIGUITY AND MISUNDERSTANDING.
SO, I MEAN, I REALLY SEE THIS.
MY HOPE WAS THAT THIS ITEM WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A TRANSPARENT CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE FOCUSING ON TO POSSIBLY LOOK AT SCENARIOS THAT ARE VALID OR INVALID.
I ALSO WANT TO USE THIS DISCUSSION IN OUR EXECUTIVE DISCUSSION TO EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT COUNCIL BELIEVES THIS ISSUE IS WITH RESPECT TO POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS AND HOW SERIOUSLY WE'RE TAKING IT.
I ALSO I THINK WHEN WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS IN THE EXECUTIVE, THEY'RE VERY SPECIFIC AND THEY'RE ABOUT THEY'RE ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS FOR PUBLIC EDIFICATION.
THIS IS A SITUATION THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS DEAL WITH.
BUT FROM THIS INFORMATION, IT WILL GIVE INSIGHT TO THE COUNCIL AND GIVE INSIGHT TO THE RESIDENTS AS TO THE THINGS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO CONSIDER AND THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE EDUCATED ON TO GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE.
YES, SIR. AND THEN I ALSO HOPE TO SOME DEGREE THAT ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE OR THE RESIDENTS MAY HAVE, THE COUNCIL OR THE RESIDENTS OR THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY MISCONCEPTIONS THAT MAY BE OUT THERE CAN CAN BE CLARIFIED AS A RESULT.
SO ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU DON'T MIND ENGAGING WITH ME, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
[01:10:03]
HAPPY TO. YES, SIR.COUNCIL, ARE YOU OKAY? FIRST TO ME, MICHAEL WELLS, WOULD YOU MIND READING US ONCE AGAIN? I KNOW DR. GRIFFIN READ THIS, BUT WOULD YOU MIND READING A SECTION 2.11 OF THE CITY CHARTER? SECTION 2.11, NOT TO INTERFERE IN CITY MANAGER'S APPOINTMENTS OR REMOVALS.
YES, SIR. NEITHER THIS COUNCIL NOR ANY OF ITS MEMBERS SHALL DIRECT REQUEST THE APPOINTMENT OF ANY PERSON TO OR HIS REMOVAL FROM OFFICE BY THE CITY MANAGER OR BY ANY OF HIS SUBORDINATES. HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MAY CONSULT AND ADVISE WITH THE CITY MANAGER, MAKE INQUIRY TO THE CITY MANAGER REGARDING THE APPOINTMENTS OR REMOVALS AND MAY EXPRESS HER OPINION IN REGARD TO THEIR TO.
REGARD TO ADMINISTRATIVE AND EXECUTIVE DUTIES UNDER THE CITY MANAGER.
THE COUNCIL AS A MEMBER SHALL DEAL SOLELY THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, AND NEITHER THE COUNCIL NOR ANY MEMBER THEREOF SHALL GIVE ORDERS TO ANY SUBORDINATES OF THE CITY MANAGER, EITHER PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY.
WILLFUL VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS OF THIS CHARTER BY ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL SHALL CONSTITUTE OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT AND SHALL AUTHORIZE THE COUNCIL BY VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF ITS MEMBERSHIP TO REMOVE SUCH VIOLATING MEMBER FROM THE COUNCIL IF FOUND IN VIOLATION AFTER PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEREBY CREATING A VACANCY IN THE PLACE HELD BY SUCH MEMBER. VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU. SO, BREN, IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION? THIS SOLIDIFIES THE MANAGER COUNCIL FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY INDIVIDUAL POWERS IN AND OF THEMSELVES.
AND SO THIS IS A SOMEWHAT OF A PUNITIVE MEASURE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THAT CONCEPT.
SO I'M CURIOUS. MICHAEL WELLS DO YOU KNOW WHEN THIS WHEN THIS WAS MADE EFFECTIVE, THAT PROVISION IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE ORIGINAL 1966 CHARTER, BUT IT'S BEEN AMENDED SINCE THEN.
THESE I'M CURIOUS TO MICHAEL AND TO BREN, WHAT IS THE COUNCIL'S OBLIGATION WITH RESPECT TO REVIEWING THE CHARTER? SO REVIEWING THE CHARTER IS AN OBLIGATION THAT'S SET FORTH CURRENTLY IN THE CHARTER THAT IT IS REQUIRED TO BE REVIEWED EVERY SO MANY YEARS.
IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT A CHARTER ELECTION BE CONDUCTED.
SO IT DOES SPECIFY HOW FREQUENTLY? MICHAEL MAY HAVE THAT.
IS IT FIVE? IT'S FIVE YEARS AFTER A CHANGE TO THE CHARTER.
AFTER A CHANGE, AND IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT THAT'S CORRECT.
YES, SIR. DO WE KNOW HOW FREQUENTLY THE CHARTER HAS BEEN REVIEWED? I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN OBVIOUSLY WHAT THE ORIGINAL CHARTER THAN IT WAS 1977, 1993.
AND THEN JUST RECENTLY, LATE LAST YEAR.
EARLY THIS YEAR. THAT'S JUST A GUESS.
OR DID YOU KNOW THAT? I SORT OF KNEW THAT.
SO WE KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN REVIEWED FOUR OR FIVE, SIX TIMES SINCE THE ORIGINAL DATE.
HOW OFTEN HAVE THERE BEEN AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE GONE TO BEDFORD VOTERS? EACH TIME, EXCEPT FOR THIS LAST ONE.
AND I'LL COME BACK TO THIS LAST ONE.
ARE THERE ARE THERE OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER THAT GOVERN? HOW COUNCIL OPERATES OR HOW THE CONDUCT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THERE ARE PROVISIONS THAT DICTATE RULES OF PROCEDURE AND HOW THE MEETINGS ARE CONDUCTED.
THERE ARE ALSO THERE'S ALSO AN ETHICS ORDINANCE THAT'S NOT IN THE CHARTER.
AND SO THAT WOULD ALSO GOVERN THE CONDUCT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE ETHICS ORDINANCE? THE ETHICS ORDINANCE IS, IN MY OPINION, AN ATTEMPT TO MIRROR SOME OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS SET OUT BY STATUTE AND IN SOME INSTANCES TIGHTEN THEM.
FOR INSTANCE, THE PROHIBITION AGAINST RECEIVING UNSOLICITED GIFTS UNDER STATE LAWS $50 AND THE ETHICS ORDINANCE REDUCES THAT TO $25. IS THERE ANY DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ETHICS ORDINANCE AND SECTION
[01:15:04]
2.11? THERE REALLY ISN'T.THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE INSULATED MATTERS.
SO THE ETHICS ORDINANCE IS OVERSEEN BY AN ADVISORY COMMISSION, WHICH IS THE ETHICS COMMISSION.
BUT THAT COMMISSION SPECIFICALLY UNDER THAT ORDINANCE IS THEIR JURISDICTION IS LIMITED TO REVIEWING MATTERS THAT IMPLICATE THAT ORDINANCE AND NOT THE CHARTER ITSELF.
AND YOU WERE A PART OF THOSE MEETINGS? YES, SIR. WOULD YOU GIVE US.
WOULD YOU GIVE US A YOUR RECOLLECTION OF KIND OF THE FINDINGS OF THAT COMMISSION? THE COMMISSION FOCUSED ON SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THEY FELT IT WAS PRUDENT TO RECOMMEND REVISIONS FOR COUNCIL TO DISCUSS, FOR INSTANCE, CERTAIN MEASURES RELATED TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT, JUDGE, RESIDENCY, ETC..
SECTION 2.11 WAS ONE OF THE SECTIONS WHERE THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DELIBERATION, BUT THE COMMISSION WAS UNABLE TO REACH ANY SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION OTHER THAN TO MOVE IT FORWARD AND SUGGEST THAT COUNCIL ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE LACK OF RULES OF PROCEDURE THAT WOULD GOVERN THE PROCESS THAT'S CONTEMPLATED BY THE REMOVAL LANGUAGE IN THIS SECTION.
AND THEY KIND OF HAD AN 11TH HOUR RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL WITH RESPECT TO 2.11.
OKAY. WELL, THAT THAT 11TH HOUR RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT.
WAS THERE A CONSENSUS TO DO THAT? THAT'S MY RECOLLECTION.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. WAS THERE, WHAT WAS THEIR FINAL RECOMMENDATION ON 2.11? MICHAEL, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
MY RECOLLECTION WAS THAT THE RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR COUNCIL TO DEVELOP A SET OF RULES THAT WOULD GOVERN THIS PROCESS WITHOUT ANY SUBSTANTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND PERHAPS YOU HAVE A BETTER RECOLLECTION THAN I DO.
THANK YOU MAYOR, HAVING SERVED ON THIS COMMISSION, I ACTUALLY DEVELOPED THE PROCESS.
SO BASED ON THEIR RULES OF CONDUCT OR PROCEDURE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, THE COMMISSION WAS ENTITLED FOR, I THINK, TWO ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE A PROVISION.
AND THE COMMISSION WASN'T ABLE TO REACH A CONSISTENT CONSENSUS IN THOSE TWO ATTEMPTS.
SO I WROTE A SEPARATE PROCEDURE RELATED TO FORFEITURE OF OFFICE WITH SUPPORT FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WHO ALSO SERVED ON THE COMMISSION, AND WE PRESENTED THAT TO THE COMMISSION.
SO WE WERE NOT ABLE TO REACH A CONSENSUS AND REVISING SECTION 2.11, WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET A MAJORITY IS SPELLING OUT THE FORFEITURE OF OFFICE PROCEDURE.
WE COULDN'T GET IT ON THE BALLOT IN TIME.
AND THEN UP TO THIS POINT, I KNOW WE WERE ONE PERSON DOWN, WHICH YOU HAPPEN TO FILL THAT SEAT NOW.
SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THIS IN AT THAT MOMENT.
I'M CURIOUS, BREN, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS? I'VE BEEN PRACTICING SINCE NOVEMBER OF 99.
HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN REPRESENTING CITIES? SINCE JANUARY OF 2000.
WELL, THANK YOU. THE LIGHTING.
WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS YOUR JOB FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD? MY JOB? I REPRESENT THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION THROUGH, BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHICH IS THE CITY COUNCIL.
OKAY, SO GIVEN THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 20 PLUS YEARS, YOU REPRESENT OTHER CITIES OTHER THAN BEDFORD? YES, SIR. DO YOU?
[01:20:05]
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION? WHAT IS YOUR IMPRESSION OF OUR SECTION 2.11? MY OPINION IS THAT IT IT LACKS SOME DETAIL THAT MIGHT BE CONSTRUCTIVE AND HELPFUL.YET IT IS CONSISTENT WITH CITY CHARTERS FROM OTHER HOME RULE CITIES THAT I HAVE SEEN IN MY EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS THERE IS A GENERAL SUMMATION OF WHAT'S PROHIBITED AND THE CONSEQUENCE AND A GENERAL ABSENCE OF PROCEDURES TO IMPLEMENT THAT CONSEQUENCE.
COUNCILWOMAN DAWKINS WHAT WERE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS DURING THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE.
CAN YOU ELABORATE? ARE YOU ASKING FOR ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS? WELL, NO, NO, BECAUSE YOU SAID SO YOURSELF.
YEAH. YEAH. SO I PULLED UP THE MINUTES THAT I WROTE RELATED TO THIS PROCEDURE WHERE BASICALLY IT WAS TO ADD A SO INSTEAD OF REVISING SECTION 2.1, WE CAME UP WITH A SECTION NUMBER, SECTION 2.33 OR WHATEVER WENT FOLLOW THE REST OF THE PROVISIONS AND ARTICLE TWO THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD EMPLOY A PROCEDURE IF THERE'S AN ALLEGATION THAT WAS OR FORFEIT.
AND SO THE PROCEDURE WASN'T REQUIRED IF IT WAS OBVIOUS THINGS THAT SOMEONE HAD TO FORFEIT THEIR OFFICE, LIKE IF THEY WERE CONVICTED OF A FELONY OR OTHER PROVISIONS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING.
IF THE CLAIM WAS MADE AGAINST THE MAYOR, THE COMPLAINT WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT SHALL BE PRESENTED TO THE CHARGE MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL.
THE COMPLAINT SHALL BE BROUGHT FORTH TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING SO THE COUNCIL CAN DECIDE IF THE COMPLAINT SHOULD BE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE.
THE MAYOR PRO TEM SHOULD SERVE AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER IF THE MAYOR IS CHARGED BY THE COMPLAINT.
INDIVIDUAL CHARGED BY THE COMPLAINT SHALL BE NOTIFIED FOR THE DATE SET FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AFTER THE CLOSING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF AT LEAST THREE FOURTHS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BE REQUIRED TO FIND THE CHARGE COUNCIL PERSON OR THE MAYOR GUILTY OF THE ALLEGATIONS AS CHARGED IN THE COMPLAINT, AND THEY SHALL FORFEIT THEIR OFFICE OR BE EXPELLED IN ACCORDANCE TO THE TERMS OF THE CHARTER.
IF THE COUNCIL PERSON OR MAYOR FORFEITS HIS OR HER OFFICE OR IS EXPELLED FROM HER OFFICE, THIS PERSON SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR REELECTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR TWO YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF FORFEITURE EXPULSION.
SO THAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PROCEDURE SPELLED OUT.
GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT, IT'S HELPFUL.
BREN, ARE THERE ANY OTHER STATE OR FEDERAL RULES OR LAWS THAT COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF AS WE DISCUSS SOME OF THESE ALLEGATIONS? SO THE ONLY SUGGESTION I WOULD PROVIDE IS THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING THAT THE ACCUSED MEMBER OF COUNCIL BE PROVIDED AND AFFORDED DUE PROCESS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE WITNESSES SWORN IN SO THAT THEY PROMISED TO TELL THE TRUTH.
OKAY. SO HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A PART OF ANOTHER CITY THAT HAD A CHARTER VIOLATION ALLEGATIONS? YES, SIR. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT WITHOUT GOING INTO SPECIFICS? I CERTAINLY CAN.
SO THERE WAS AN ALLEGATION THAT A MEMBER OF COUNCIL IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY.
ACCEPTED, TOOK EXECUTIVE SESSION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION, AND SHARED IT WITH A POTENTIAL RECIPIENT OF THAT INFORMATION.
AND THEN ALSO ASKED ONCE THE INFORMATION WAS SHARED, ASKED IF HE COULD FINANCIALLY INVEST IN THE BUSINESS THAT WAS INTENDED TO RECEIVE THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
[01:25:01]
THAT'S ALL I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.OKAY. SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND INTERPRETING 2.11, IT DOES NOT PROVIDE US WITH CLEAR GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PROCEED WHEN WE HAVE.
THESE THESE TYPES OF ALLEGATIONS IN TERMS OF PROCEDURE, THAT'S CORRECT.
THE ARE THERE STATE OR FEDERAL GUIDELINES OR REGULATIONS THAT DICTATE HOW WE PROCEED WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
OTHER THAN THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY.
THE PUBLIC HEARING SHOULD BE POSTED ON THE AGENDA IF WE ARE GOING TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND THE ITEM SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO PUT THE PUBLIC ON GENERAL NOTICE OF THE TOPIC TO BE DISCUSSED.
ARE THERE WITH YOUR I MEAN, THIS IS YOUR OPINION BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE SEEN AND WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED, ARE THERE BEST PRACTICES ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS? SO WHAT I CAN DO IS JUST SHARE MY EXPERIENCE THAT I THOUGHT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE, AND THAT IS IF WE ARE GOING TO INVESTIGATE. NUMBER ONE, THE CHARTER PROVIDES A LEGAL MENTAL STATE OF MIND, WILLFUL VIOLATION.
THAT'S A LEGAL TERM OF ART, COUPLED WITH THE REQUIREMENT, CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT THE ACCUSED COUNCIL MEMBER BE AFFORDED DUE PROCESS. MY RECOMMENDATION FOR A ROBUST, THOROUGH, DUE PROCESS ORIENTED REVIEW WOULD BE TO HAVE OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL PERFORM THE INVESTIGATION, MAKE SURE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF COUNSEL OR STAFF THAT ARE INTERVIEWED REGARDING THE ALLEGATIONS BE SWORN IN, THAT THE TESTIMONY BE RECORDED, AND THAT A FINAL REPORT BE AFFORDED TO COUNCIL.
BUT THAT CAN DEVOLVE INTO A CHAOTIC SCENE AT A COUNCIL MEETING WITH WITNESSES, ALL WAITING, AND THEN SEVEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ALL WANTING TO ASK QUESTIONS AT THE SAME TIME.
THE THIS IS, IN YOUR OPINION, AS THIS COUNCIL LOOKS AHEAD TO ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS.
WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION BASED ON YOUR INTERPRETATION OF 2.11? WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION IS PERFORMED.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S SUFFICIENT.
FOR INSTANCE, IF THE ALLEGATIONS ARE BASED ON EMAILS, TO SIMPLY LOOK AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE PAGE AND INFER WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A CHARTER VIOLATION, THERE'S ALWAYS A CONTEXTUAL ELEMENT.
THERE'S ALWAYS ADDITIONAL EMAILS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ASSOCIATED THAT MIGHT PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT.
WE SHOULD INQUIRE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IF THERE IS A DIRECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A COUNCIL MEMBER AND A MEMBER OF STAFF, WHETHER THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RECEIVED THE CONSENT OF THE THEN ACTING OR IN PLACE CITY MANAGER.
HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO FIND A WILLFUL VIOLATION, YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THAT MEMBER OF COUNCIL DIDN'T SUBJECTIVELY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD PERMISSION.
WHETHER OR NOT LEGALLY THEY WERE ENTITLED TO HAVE THAT PERMISSION.
SO AS YOU READ 2.11, WHAT IS YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THE WORD WILLFUL? WILLFUL IS AN INTENTIONAL, NON ACCIDENTAL OR NAIVE ACT.
WHERE DOES THE CONCEPT OF INTENT COME INTO PLAY HERE? IT'S THE INTENT OF THE MEMBER OF COUNCIL, WHETHER OR NOT THEY KNOWINGLY DIRECTED A MEMBER OF STAFF WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IT WAS IMPROPER AND THAT THEY DISREGARDED THAT FACT FOR SOME ALTERNATE PURPOSE.
[01:30:08]
QUALIFICATIONS OF ITS MEMBERS.A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE REQUIRED AND POSTED AND GO THROUGH THAT.
IS THERE ANY GUIDANCE WITH RESPECT TO HOW THAT PUBLIC HEARING IS CONDUCTED? THERE IS NOT.
IS THERE ANY ANYWHERE ELSE? THERE IS ONE INSTANCE OF PRECEDENT, THANKS TO THE THOUGHTFUL RESEARCH OF YOUR CITY SECRETARY.
THERE IS A SINGLE INSTANCE WHERE A PROCEDURE WAS DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM.
SO AGAIN, NOTHING STATE OR FEDERAL, WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF.
CORRECT. OKAY. IN THE PORTION OF 2.11 IT SAYS SHALL AUTHORIZE THE COUNCIL.
WHAT IS YOUR INTERPRETATION OF SHALL? IT IS AN AUTHORIZATION.
IT JUST SIMPLY TRIGGERS THE AUTHORITY TO ACT ON THE REMOVAL OR NOT.
WHY DO YOU SAY THAT? I MEAN, WHAT LEADS YOU TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT AN OBLIGATION? BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN 2.11 THAT SAYS YOU SHALL REMOVE.
IT SAYS YOU IT SHALL AUTHORIZE YOU TO REMOVE AUTHORIZATION IS DISCRETIONARY.
AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING. AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING, THAT'S CORRECT.
JUST AS WITH A IF I CAN GIVE YOU A AN ANALOGY, A POLICE OFFICER PULLS YOU OVER FOR SPEEDING.
THE OFFICER IS AUTHORIZED TO PULL YOU OVER, BUT IS NOT REQUIRED TO ISSUE THE CITATION.
EVEN IF THE OFFICER CONCLUDES THAT YOU WERE, IN FACT, SPEEDING.
OKAY, SO IN 2.11, THERE'S A PORTION THAT SAYS GIVE ORDERS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU? TO ME, THAT MEANS PERFORMING IN AN EXECUTIVE MANNER, DIRECTING MEMBERS OF STAFF TO PERFORM.
YOU BRIEFLY TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER.
IS THERE ANY PORTION OF CITY CHARTER THAT ALLOWS A CITY MANAGER TO ALLOW COUNCIL TO WORK AROUND 2.11? THERE'S NOTHING. THERE'S NO EXPRESS AUTHORITY, NO.
IS THERE ANY BASED ON YOUR OPINION, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE WAY THAT GIVES GUIDANCE TO COUNCIL WITH RESPECT TO A TIMELINE HERE OF WHEN IT MUST ACT? THERE REALLY ISN'T.
THAT'S GOING TO BE AN EVIDENTIARY MATTER.
BUT THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT IT MUST CONCLUDE ITS INVESTIGATION WITHIN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS.
IS THERE ANYTHING IN YOUR INTERPRETATION THAT LIMITS THE EXPOSURE WITH RESPECT TO HOW FAR YOU CAN LOOK BACK? THERE IS NO LIMITATION.
OKAY. DO YOU MIND IF I JUST GIVE YOU SOME RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS? NOT AT ALL. WELL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS FIRST.
YOU TALK ABOUT THERE'S PRECEDENT.
MICHAEL WELLS, YOU DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT? YES, SIR. BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 1994, AN ALLEGATION WAS BROUGHT FORWARD TO COUNCIL, ACTUALLY BASED ON THE RESIGNATION LETTER OF A ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME, MAKING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE CHARTER.
THEY MET ACTUALLY A COUPLE OF TIMES TO TALK ABOUT KIND OF PROCEDURES.
THE OTHER TWO, THE MOTION CAME DOWN TO LET'S SEE HERE.
OF THE MAIN MOTION WAS THAT THE COUNCIL ACCEPT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS APOLOGY FOR UNINTENTIONAL VIOLATION OF ITEM SO MENTIONED AND THE RESIGNATION LETTER WITHOUT THE COUNCIL TAKES NO FURTHER ACTION AGAINST THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAPPENED TO BE PART OF THAT.
AND THEN FOR THE FIFTH VIOLATION, I MEAN, THEY HAD WITNESSES, THEY HAD FORMER CITY MANAGER.
[01:35:04]
THEY HAD YEAH, THEY HAD A PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, THE FORMER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WHO HAD THE ALLEGATIONS AND THEY COULDN'T AGREE THE THERE'S DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE WITNESSES.SO THEY FIGURED THERE WAS NO THEY COULDN'T MOVE FORWARD ON THAT VIOLATION OR THAT ALLEGED VIOLATION.
WHAT WAS THE FINAL MOTION THAT WAS APPROVED? THAT BASICALLY THE COUNCIL MEMBER, EXCEPT THE APOLOGIES OF THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION.
I GUESS MY QUESTION TO BREN IS WHY HAVEN'T WE HAD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THOSE ALLEGATIONS? WELL, THE TWO PRIOR INSTANCES INVOLVED COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT TENDERED THEIR RESIGNATION.
OKAY. SO IF IF IN FACT, THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS POSSIBLY A PRECEDENT FOR THIS COUNCIL, HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT IN YOUR OPINION? I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY RELEVANT.
IT'S IT'S NOT DETERMINATIVE OF THE PROCESS.
AND CANDIDLY, I SPOKE WITH MICHAEL EARLIER TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY STILL POSSESS THE RULES OF PROCEDURE THAT WERE DEVELOPED BY THE THEN CITY ATTORNEY, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THEM THROUGH NO FAULT OF HIS OWN QUITE SOME TIME AGO.
OKAY. RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS, YES OR NO? DID I JUST VIOLATE THE CITY CHARTER BY ASKING HIM TO READ 2.11? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
DO IF I RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM A RESIDENT AND I FORWARD IT TO A STAFFER AND ASK FOR HELP TO ADDRESS IT, THE CONCERNS.
IS THAT A VIOLATION? IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY.
THAT'S FOR THE COUNCIL TO DETERMINE.
BUT AGAIN, IT IS A WILLFUL VIOLATION.
YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY INTENDING TO CIRCUMVENT THE CITY MANAGER.
IF I EMAIL A STAFFER WHO HAPPENS TO BE A FRIEND OF MINE FOR ANY REASON, IF IT DOES NOT PERTAIN TO CITY BUSINESS, THEN IN MY OPINION, THE CHARTER IS NOT IMPLICATED.
IF I REACH OUT TO THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR AND I WOULD LIKE FOR HER TO RESERVE A ROOM AT THE LIBRARY FOR ME FOR PERSONAL USE, THAT AGAIN IS UP TO THE COUNCIL TO DETERMINE.
AND IT ALSO INVOLVES AN EXAMINATION OF YOUR SUBJECTIVE STATE OF MIND.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE CONTACTING A MEMBER OF STAFF AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY? BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO, YOU STILL ARE REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT IT WAS AN INTENTIONAL KNOWING, WILLFUL VIOLATION.
IF I IF I EMAIL ANDREA OVER IN BUILDING C AND I ASK HER TO PUT PLANTS AND FLOWERS IN THE LOBBY, THAT A VIOLATION? THAT MAY BE IT'S ALSO UP TO COUNCIL TO DECIDE ANDREA IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE CITY MANAGER STAFF AND SO COUNCIL NEEDS TO DECIDE WHETHER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS FALL WITHIN THAT SAME PURVIEW AND WHETHER THAT IS AN ELIGIBLE REQUEST.
THAT'S POTENTIALLY A VIOLATION.
THAT'S AGAIN, UP TO COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHETHER THAT'S A WILLFUL VIOLATION.
IF I'M A CITY COUNCIL LIAISON TO A PARTICULAR BOARD OR COMMISSION AND I EMAIL THE STAFF LIAISON, I THINK THAT'S FOR COUNCIL TO DECIDE. OBVIOUSLY, YOU ALL HAVE EACH BEEN ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AS LIAISONS.
AND IN MY OPINION, THE CHARTER SHOULDN'T BE READ IN SUCH A CONSERVATIVE MANNER THAT IT INTERFERES WITH YOUR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY SERVE AS A LIAISON TO THOSE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
IF I HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH A STAFFER, EMAIL A STAFFER THAT SOMEONE ELSE SHOULD BE FIRED ? THAT IS LIKELY A VIOLATION.
IF I INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF A STAFFER TO HELP GET THEM PROMOTED.
IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE EMAIL IS.
[01:40:04]
IF YOU I'M SORRY.IF I WALK THROUGH THE LIBRARY AND SAY HELLO TO EVERY LIBRARIAN.
BUT THAT SEEMS RATHER TRIVIAL.
OKAY, WHAT IF I ATTEND A PUBLIC EVENT AND I HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH A STAFFER AT THE PUBLIC EVENT? I WOULD FOCUS ON THE GIVING DIRECTION.
WHAT IF I ASK A STAFF MEMBER TO SEND OUT INVITATIONS TO MY BIRTHDAY PARTY, TO MY FRIENDS? THAT'S LIKELY A VIOLATION.
OKAY. WHAT IF I SEND OUT AN EMAIL TO A STAFFER AND I CARBON COPY THE CITY MANAGER? THAT'S AGAIN, SOMETHING FOR COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHETHER THAT'S A VIOLATION.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, IF EVERYONE WENT THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER FOR ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.
WHAT IF I GET EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS AND LET'S SAY WE GET AN EMAIL FROM ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, GET AN EMAIL FROM A RESIDENT, AND I RESPOND.
I FORWARD THAT EMAIL TO ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER DIRECTLY.
YOU'RE SAYING IT'S UP TO COUNCIL ON THAT? IT'S UP TO COUNCIL. BUT I WANT TO SHARE THIS.
SO THE PENALTY FOR A WILLFUL VIOLATION OF THE CHARTER, WHICH CONSTITUTES OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT AND PROVIDES FOR YOUR REMOVAL WILL IN FACT DISENFRANCHISE ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT VOTED TO ELECT THAT MEMBER OF COUNCIL.
AND SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS THIS SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR SEVERE INFRACTIONS.
THE ACCIDENTAL AGAIN, YOU STILL HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE WILLFUL VIOLATION, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES TO THE MEMBERS OF PUBLIC THAT INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTS AND WHO THEY VOTED FOR.
OKAY, SO I GUESS MY CURIOSITY IS WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS AHEAD OF US AS WE DISCUSS THIS AT THIS POINT? AND THERE'S VARIOUS SHADES OF OF OPTIONS HERE, BUT CANDIDLY, YOU COULD TAKE NO ACTION.
NUMBER TWO, YOU COULD PURSUE THE PATH THAT WAS PURSUED IN 1994.
THEY EVEN DISCUSSED REFERRING IT TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION, WHICH YOU ALL COULD DO, BUT THEY WOULD NEED TO HEAR IT DIRECT AS A DIRECTIVE FROM YOU, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WITHIN THEIR PURVIEW OR JURISDICTION UNDER THE ORDINANCE AND HAVE THEM PROVIDE YOU WITH AN OPINION AS TO HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN YOU HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE PROCESS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHICH INVOLVES A ROBUST REVIEW, INTERVIEWS UNDER OATH AND A RECOMMENDATION AND REPORT RENDERED BY A LICENSED ATTORNEY THAT'S NOT OTHERWISE BEHOLDEN TO THE COUNCIL.
COUNSEL, ANY MORE QUESTIONS? THOUGHTS. EVERYBODY AWAKE? NO. OKAY.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU BREN. I APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR FORTHRIGHTNESS THERE.
I'M SORRY IF I PUT YOU IN A POSITION.
NO, NO. WE DO HAVE SOME ITEMS TO CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
WHY DON'T WE TAKE A QUICK FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND LET'S MEET BACK IN EXECUTIVE.WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR PATIENCE HERE.
WE HAD A FEW ITEMS TO DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE.
[01:45:03]
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ACTIONABLE ITEMS. ONE, WE DISCUSSED AND REVIEWED THE CITY MANAGER BECAUSE HE HAD A TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH THE CITY.SO WE WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT? WE HAVE A SECOND. I'M GOING TO GIVE THE SECOND TO COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN JUST TO A VERBAL VOTE.
SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
AND I BELIEVE THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS A STATEMENT THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO READ.
AT THIS TIME, I WISH FOR IT TO BE KNOWN THAT I NEVER WILLFULLY INTENDED TO CIRCUMVENT THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY MANAGER OR INTERFERED WITH HIS DUTIES. I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THESE COMMUNICATIONS AND VOWED NEVER TO DO THEM AGAIN.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE APOLOGY AND DISMISS THE COMPLAINT WITH PREJUDICE.
SECOND, WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN.
LET'S VOTE. EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANYONE OPPOSED? ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU STAFF.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU.
MAYOR PRO TEM I DO WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT IN CONCLUSION THAT THE COUNCIL WISHES TO ACCEPT THE MAYOR PRO TEM STATEMENT AND APPRECIATE THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS ABOUT THE SANCTITY OF THE CITY CHARTER.
WITHOUT ALLOWING IT TO BE WHAT WE'RE SAYING.
WITHOUT ALLOWING IT TO BE REOPENED.
WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON AND FOCUS ON MOVING BEDFORD FORWARD.
THE COUNCIL AGREES TO EXPEDITIOUSLY MOVE FORWARD WITH CONTINUING THE WORK OF THE CITY OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION IN CLARIFYING PORTIONS OF THE CITY CHARTER AND POTENTIALLY ADDING LANGUAGE GOVERNING COUNCIL CONDUCT AND ETHICS.
SO WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI, I'D LIKE THE MOTION TO ADJOURN.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN. EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANYONE OPPOSED. WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 1104.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.