Jun 13, 2023 City Council

[00:00:01]

OKAY. 6:00.

WE WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S TUESDAY, JUNE 13TH, 2023.

APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL COMING OUT TONIGHT.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE SO MANY NEW FACES.

WHY DON'T WE START WITH AN INVOCATION I'D LIKE TO WELCOME FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS EVENING, REVEREND DAN COLEMAN.

HE'S THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD.

PLEASE, SIR. THANK YOU.

AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. LET'S ALL BOW OUR HEADS TOGETHER.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS GATHERING AND THIS.

FOR THIS FOR TONIGHT.

AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR OUR LEADERS IN BEDFORD ON EVERY LEVEL.

AND FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD JUST GIVE THEM WISDOM.

BRING DIRECTION BY YOUR SPIRIT TO THEM AS THEY DEAL WITH MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE TO THE CITY OF BEDFORD.

LORD, WE PRAY FOR BLESSINGS UPON EACH ONE THAT'S GATHERED HERE TONIGHT UPON THEIR FAMILIES.

WE PRAY, LORD, FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD.

WE ASK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND LORD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS AND WE GIVE YOU PRAISE IN JESUS NAME.

AMEN. AMEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN, WILL YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES? ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, FOLKS.

OKAY. THIS IS ALWAYS AN EXCITING TIME OF THE YEAR.

[INAUGURATION OF NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS]

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE, CAN I CAN I SAY ONE THING I LOVE TO DO YOU MIND, SIR? PLEASE? WELL, THANK YOU. SO FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW.

SO THIS IS MY SECOND, I'M ENTERING MY SECOND TERM OF OFFICE.

AND THE FIRST TIME I GOT SWORN IN, IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO IT WAS ALL DONE VIA ZOOM.

AND I WAS IN MY DINING ROOM ON A COUCH.

AND YOU HAD A HABIT BACK THEN.

I'M NOT WEARING PANTS. I THERE IS I WAS DRESSED LIKE A TELEVISION ANCHOR.

THAT IS CORRECT.

BUT BUT THE MAGIC WASN'T THERE.

SO THIS THIS IS GOING TO BE MAGIC WASN'T THERE? THE MAGIC WASN'T THERE.

SO THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TO BE SWORN ON, SWORN IN IN CHAMBERS.

SO THIS IS EXCITING. SO ANYWAYS, SO BEFORE WE BEGIN, YOU ARE WEARING PANTS.

YES. OKAY, GOOD.

YES. THANK YOU. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

YOU'RE VERY OKAY. SO WHAT WE HAVE THIS EVENING IS WE'RE GOING TO ADMINISTER A STATEMENT OF ELECTED OFFICER AND OATH OF OFFICE TO NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE SIX AND THE PRESENTATION OF THE CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION.

SO WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR CITY SECRETARY, MICHAEL WELLS.

ALL RIGHTY. WE WILL START WITH A STATEMENT ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICER.

SO IF YOU RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, PLEASE.

DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT YOU HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED, PROMISED TO PAY, CONTRIBUTED OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE OR PROMISE ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF VOTE AT THE ELECTION AT WHICH YOU WERE ELECTED? OR IS IT A REWARD TO SECURE YOUR APPOINTMENT OR CONFIRMATION, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE, SO HELP YOU GOD? I DO. AND HERE'S YOUR OATH OF OFFICE.

GOOD ANSWER. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT YOU WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER SIX OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS, AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF BEDFORD, SO HELP YOU GOD.

I DO. I WILL.

I WILL. AND I WILL DO.

CONGRATULATIONS.

SEEING. OH, NO, NO, NO.

OH, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE WE'VE HAD A BOW TIE IN THESE CHAMBERS, TOO.

YEAH, I GIVE YOU THE FIRST, BUT, UH.

OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO PRESENTATIONS.

[PRESENTATIONS]

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE DAIS OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, KAREN RIGGS, AND OTHERS AND OTHERS.

THIS DOES NOT LOOK LIKE JAMIE.

[00:05:03]

WEREN'T YOU BUSY? THAT WAS BEFORE THIS ONE GOT PUSHED BACK.

OH, I GOT IT. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

SO, YES, SO WE ARE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.

SO THIS IS FOR INVESTMENT QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31ST.

SO THE NEXT QUARTER JUST WILL BE ENDING THIS MONTH AND WE'LL BE DOING THIS PRESENTATION AGAIN.

SO BUT SO, YES.

SO AS OF MARCH 31ST, OUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO WAS 102 MILLION COMPARED TO 113 MILLION AS OF THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

NOW THAT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO OUR LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING WITH PHASE NEXT.

AND SO AS WE FINALIZE THOSE PROJECTS, YOU'LL SEE THAT THOSE CASH BALANCES GO DOWN.

SO WE PRESENTED THIS TO THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE IN MAY, ON MAY 2ND.

AND SO WE HAVE SOME REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES.

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED LAST QUARTER AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING A CHANGE IN THE MARKET AND WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE MARKETS AND WE'RE REALLY LADDERING THOSE INVESTMENTS TO REALLY DRIVE HOME THOSE INTEREST RATES LONG TERM. SO BUT TIM CAN GO OVER THE SPECIFICS OF OUR PORTFOLIO AND KIND OF WHERE WE LOOK, BUT WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY EXCITING INTEREST RATES COME IN.

SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO TIM.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

WELCOME BACK, TIM. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SO AS KAREN MENTIONED, YEAH, WE'RE REVIEWING THE END OF QUARTER 331 AND WE'RE JUST A FEW COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY FROM THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER.

BUT THIS IS TO LOOK BACK AT THAT QUARTER PERFORMANCE.

SO LOOKING AT THE CITY FUNDS, YOU CAN SEE THE PORTFOLIO GREW DURING THAT QUARTER BY ABOUT $5 MILLION.

TYPICAL THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

INCOMING OF PROPERTY, PROPERTY TAXES IS A BIG DRIVER OF THAT.

THE SWIRFT FUNDS WERE BASICALLY UNCHANGED.

A LITTLE MOVEMENT THERE.

NEXT SLIDE IS THE THE INTEREST OR THE ACTUALLY THE INTEREST RATES EARNED AS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.

SO JUST IN A THREE MONTH PERIOD, THE RETURN ON THE PORTFOLIO HAD INCREASED PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY, ABOUT 75 BASIS POINTS.

AND WE DID HAVE ANOTHER 50 BASIS POINT INCREASE BY THE FED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.

SO THAT DROVE A LOT OF THAT.

AND THEN OVERALL FOR THE OVERALL PORTFOLIO, THE INTEREST EARNINGS FOR THE QUARTER WERE CLOSE TO 1,943,000 AND PRETTY STUNNING COMPARISON TO THE QUARTER FROM THE YEAR PRIOR WHEN INTEREST EARNING WAS 149,000.

SO PRETTY SIGNIFICANT JUMP THERE.

AND THEN THIS IS A LOOK AT THE HOW THE CITY'S PORTFOLIO IS DOING AGAINST THE STANDARD BENCHMARKS OF THE THREE MONTH AND SIX MONTH TREASURIES AND THE TAX POOL.

SO AGAIN, THE CITY'S PORTFOLIO TENDS TO TRAIL THOSE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS VERY NORMAL IN SUCH A RAPIDLY RISING INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S REALLY UNPRECEDENTED.

WE'VE NEVER SEEN RATES RISE THIS QUICKLY.

AND AND THIS IS A LOOK AT THE YIELD CURVE.

AND SO, AGAIN, THE BLUE LINE IS THE MOST RECENT.

THAT WAS THE MARCH 31ST YIELD CURVE.

AND THE GREEN LINE IS WHERE IT WAS AT THE LAST AT THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.

SO, AGAIN, THE RATES WERE RAISED DURING THIS QUARTER.

SO THAT RAISED THOSE OVERNIGHT RATES UP TO NEAR 5%.

THE CURRENT THE FED RAISED THE RATES AGAIN THIS DURING THIS CURRENT QUARTER.

SO WE'RE NOW SITTING AT A RATE BETWEEN 5 AND 5 AND A QUARTER FOR OVERNIGHT RATES.

SO THAT BLUE LINE HAS GONE UP EVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE.

BUT IT'S ALSO DRIVEN THE LONGER TERM RATES DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE.

SO IT'S REALLY PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE LONG TERM RATES JUST BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY OF SUCH A HIGH INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT.

AND AGAIN, SO SPEAKING OF INFLATION, WHICH IS REALLY A BIG DRIVER FOR THE FED, TAKING THE ACTIONS THAT THEY HAVE, CONSUMER PRICE INDEX IS STILL CURRENTLY AT 6.4%. THE FED TARGETS A 2% INFLATION RATE.

SO WELL ABOVE THAT STILL.

AND AGAIN, THE FED'S BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE.

THEY RAISED THE RATES BY 25 BASIS POINTS IN MARCH.

THEY DID IT AGAIN ON MAY 3RD.

SO DURING THIS AGAIN THIS QUARTER.

AND THEY'RE STILL REMAINING HIGHLY ATTENTIVE TO THE INFLATION RISK.

SO EVERYBODY IS REALLY KIND OF WATCHING WHAT'S THEIR NEXT MOVE GOING TO BE? HERE'S JUST A SNAPSHOT AGAIN OF HOW RAPIDLY THE RATES HAVE RISEN GOING BACK TO JUST MARCH OF LAST YEAR.

SO I GUESS 15 MONTHS AGO, WE WERE SITTING AT BASICALLY 25 TO 50 BASIS POINTS AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT 5% TO FIVE AND A QUARTER.

SO REALLY SIGNIFICANT RATES OF INCREASE THERE.

THIS IS WHERE WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT LAST QUARTER.

SO THIS IS THE KIND OF THE EXPERTS PREDICTING ON WHERE THEY THINK RATES ARE GOING TO GO IN THE COMING MONTHS, WHAT THEY THINK THE FED IS GOING TO DO.

AND SO WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS THREE MONTHS AGO, EVERYONE WAS EXPECTING THAT RATES WOULD CONTINUE TO GO UP THROUGH ABOUT JULY AND THEN IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE YEAR, RATES WOULD BEGIN TO DECREASE.

THE FEELING IS THE FED IS GOING TO HAVE TO START PULLING BACK ON THIS A LITTLE BIT.

THEY'RE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PRETTY HARD AND THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO LET UP A LITTLE BIT.

SO THAT WAS THREE MONTHS AGO.

THIS IS A MORE CURRENT SEE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN WHAT THE MARKET'S ANTICIPATING THERE.

[00:10:06]

SO. WELL, ACTUALLY SOONER THAN THAT.

YEAH, REALLY THE LAST HALF OF THIS YEAR AND A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IF THIS DOES HOLD TRUE.

HERE'S JUST A QUICK LOOK AT WHERE INTEREST RATES CURRENTLY ARE.

THIS IS AS OF JUNE 2ND.

SO GOING OUT SIX MONTHS, 5.8% ON A CD IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

US AGENCIES AT 520.

NINE MONTHS, 567, 524, SO WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS KIND OF THE IMPACT OF THAT DOWNWARD SLOPING YIELD CURVE.

NORMALLY, THE LONGER YOU GO OUT FOR AN INVESTMENT, YOU EXPECT YOU'RE GOING TO GET A HIGHER RETURN FOR THAT.

THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE EVERYONE'S ANTICIPATING IN THE FUTURE THE RATES ARE GOING TO BE LOWER THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY.

SO JUST A COUPLE OF MARKET HIGHLIGHTS HERE.

FOURTH QUARTER GDP WAS STILL AT LEAST IT WAS POSITIVE, 2.6%.

EVERYONE IS REALLY EXPECTING KIND OF SUBDUED GROWTH FOR 2023 AND 2024.

AGAIN, A LOT OF IT IS THE THE HIGHER INTEREST RATES ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT IMPACT.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS REMAINED CONTINUE TO REMAIN STRONG AT THREE AND ONE HALF PERCENT.

THAT GIVES THE FED SOME LEEWAY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE RAISING RATES BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, TOO.

IF UNEMPLOYMENT STARTS TO GO UP, THAT'S REALLY GOING TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE FED TO LOWER THOSE INTEREST RATES BECAUSE THAT'S SUCH A KEY FACTOR.

THE CORE PERSONAL CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS ANOTHER MEASURE OF INFLATION, WHICH TAKES OUT FUEL AND FOOD.

IT'S UP 4.6%.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S STILL WELL ABOVE THE 2% TARGET.

HOME PRICES, SUCH A BIG PART OF THE ECONOMY STARTING TO SEE PRESSURE.

THESE HIGHER RATES ARE PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE HOUSING MARKET.

AND I KNOW FOR A WHILE I JUST KIND OF BECAME A THING FOR ME TO WATCH.

IT'S LIKE HOW MANY CONSECUTIVE MONTHS ARE HOME PRICES GOING TO CONTINUALLY GO UP MONTH OVER MONTH, OVER MONTH WITHOUT ANY RELIEF? WE FINALLY GOT THAT RELIEF.

SO THAT STREAK SNAPPED AT 131 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS.

SO WE WERE ONE MONTH AWAY FROM HITTING 11 STRAIGHT MONTHS OF PRICE INCREASES.

SO THE 30 YEAR MORTGAGE IS A 6.4%, WHICH IS ABOUT TWICE WHAT IT WAS JUST ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

SO THAT'S HAVING A BIG IMPACT ON THE HOUSING MARKET.

SO THE STRATEGY IS TO CONTINUE LADDERING THE MATURITY.

SO THE TRICKY THING IS THERE YOU'RE GIVING UP SOME YIELD, YOU'RE GOING OUT FURTHER ON THE CURVE, YOU'RE BUYING, YOU'RE GETTING CDS OR AGENCIES THAT ARE PAYING LESS THAN SHORTER TERM. BUT THE MIND OR THE THOUGHT BEHIND THAT IS GO AHEAD AND LOCK THESE RATES IN NOW BECAUSE THE ANTICIPATION, THE EXPECTATION IS RATES ARE GOING TO BEGIN TO DECLINE.

AND THEN THAT'S WHEN YOU DO WANT TO BE ABLE TO TIE THESE HIGHER RATES UP FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

SO ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU, TIM.

COUNCIL QUESTIONS.

COMMENTS. I DO WANT TO MAKE ONE COMMENT.

I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF SPENDING TIME WITH TIM AND KAREN AND A LOT OF OUR TEAM IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

I, HAVING DONE THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND AND LOOKING AT IT FROM THE NUMERICAL SIDE OF THE BENCH, I WANT TO SAY KUDOS TO YOU AND TO OUR FINANCE TEAM BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN VERY DILIGENTLY MAKING MOVES WITH THE CASH FLOW THAT WE HAVE AND WHERE WE'RE PARKING SOME OF THESE INVESTMENT VEHICLES.

THEY'VE BEEN MAKING VERY PRUDENT MOVES, WHEREAS IN THE PAST, I THINK WE WERE WE WERE RELUCTANT TO LEVERAGE THE AMOUNT OF CASH THAT WE HAD AVAILABLE AND THAT WE WERE PARKING IN DIFFERENT VEHICLES.

AND NOW WE'RE MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE AND WE'RE MUCH MORE SMARTER ABOUT HOW TO TIME THOSE MOVES AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO MAXIMIZE OUR INTEREST RETURN.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, THANK YOU FOR THAT, KAREN, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THEY'RE JUST DOING A FANTASTIC JOB TO MAXIMIZE OUR RETURN ON THE MONEY THAT WE'RE PARKING REGARDLESS.

SO GREAT BECAUSE AS WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEY DON'T GET AND THAT IS WITH YOUR GUIDANCE, TIM, I MEAN, JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT.

KUDOS TO THEM BECAUSE YEAH, THEY ARE THEY ARE ACTING ON IT.

SO AND WE'RE CLEARLY SEEING THE BENEFIT OF IT TODAY.

SO FOR SURE. OKAY.

COUNCIL, ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE IT.

WAS GOOD SEEING YOU. GOOD SEEING YOU GUYS.

OKAY. NEXT UP, WE DO HAVE OUR SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL REPORT.

ARE WE STILL GOING? OKAY, LET'S WELCOME OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, BRADY OLSEN.

YES, THANK YOU.

TWO BIG THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE NEXT FEW SLIDES.

ONE IS WE GENERALLY WANT TO TAKE IN MORE MONEY THAN WE'RE SPENDING.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT THROUGHOUT.

AND THEN. YEAH, WAIT, THAT'S THAT'S CRAZY TALK.

AND THEN THE SECOND PART IS THAT WE AS OF THIS REPORT WOULD BE HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR.

SO 50%.

AND GENERALLY YOU'D WANT THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE FUNDS TO BE SPENDING ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THEY WERE BUDGETED BY THIS POINT.

SOME ARE MORE CYCLICAL THAN OTHERS, BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHAT YOU'D BE WANTING TO LOOK FOR BIG PICTURE AS WE GO THROUGH THESE.

[00:15:07]

THEY'RE WHERE WE WANT THEM TO BE.

FOR PROPERTY TAXES.

WE'RE ALMOST ALL THE WAY TOWARDS OUR BUDGETED AMOUNT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR.

WE NORMALLY EXPECT THAT AS PEOPLE PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES BEFORE THEY GO DELINQUENT.

SALES TAX, WE ARE ALSO JUST REALLY ON TRACK RIGHT NOW.

AS OF THE LAST TIME WE'VE LOOKED AT IT, WE'RE ABOUT 4% OVER LAST YEAR.

SO OUR SALES TAX REVENUES ARE TRENDING WELL AS FOLLOWING THE GENERAL REGIONAL TRENDS.

UH, THIS WOULD ALSO COMPARE WHERE WE ARE THIS YEAR TO LAST YEAR.

WE DID DO THERE WAS AN ACCOUNTING PART OF THINGS FOR HOW WE HANDLE SALES TAX, WHERE WE TREAT THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF A FISCAL YEAR FOR THE FOLLOWING. SO WHENEVER YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE CHARTS, IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE WE'RE ABOVE WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR, BUT ON A STRICT MONTH TO MONTH COMPARISON, WE ARE THAT 4% ABOVE WHERE WE WERE TRACKING THE YEAR BEFORE.

EXPENDITURES. EXPENDITURES FOR ACTUAL VERSUS BUDGET.

EVERYONE IS AT ROUGHLY THAT 50% OR LOWER MARK.

SO OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ARE DOING A STRONG JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE THEIR EXPENDITURES ARE STAYING WITHIN OUR MEANS FOR THE YEAR.

AND THEN COMPARING THIS YEAR TO LAST YEAR.

JUST AS A GENERAL REMINDER, EVERY TIME WE LOOK AT THIS DEVELOPMENT, DID HAVE THAT LARGE CHURCH PURCHASE LAST YEAR.

SO THEIR NUMBERS ARE GOING TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT WONKY FROM LAST YEAR TO COMPARE TO THIS YEAR, BUT THEY ARE IN LINE FOR THE NORMAL EXPENDITURES.

IS THERE AN ACCOUNTING TERM? IT'S WONKY, BUT ONE OF THE BETTER ONES WE HAVE.

MOVING ON TO THE WATER AND SEWER FUND, WE ARE ON A STRONG TREND.

REVENUES ARE GOOD SO FAR.

WE DID MAKE IT A PAYMENT TO THE TRA EARLIER THAN WE NORMALLY DO.

SO SOME OF OUR EXPENDITURES DO LOOK A LITTLE BIT HIGHER IN THIS QUARTER THAN THEY DID PREVIOUSLY.

BUT THAT'S JUST COMES DOWN TO THE TIMING OF A PAYMENT.

THE OVERALL OPERATIONS ARE STILL STAYING IN LINE WITH WHAT WE'D EXPECT FOR THE YEAR.

I'VE GOING ON TO THE DEPARTMENT BASED EXPENDITURES, BUT THEY ARE STILL IN LINE WITH WHAT WE DISCUSSED.

AS SOME OF THE OTHER FUNDS, THE TOURISM FUND, WHICH IS FUNDED BY OUR HOTEL TAX, WE ARE CURRENTLY MISSING SOME SIGNIFICANT PAYMENTS FROM THREE HOTELS IN THE AREA, BUT WE ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING THAT.

WE SHOULD HAVE SOME ACTION ON THAT PRETTY SOON HERE.

BUT WE ARE WE ARE AWARE OF IT AND WE DO BELIEVE WE WILL RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS BY FISCAL YEAR END.

A STORMWATER IS ONE OF OUR STEADY FUNDS.

THEY CONTINUE TO BE ON TRACK WITH WHERE THEY WERE LAST YEAR TO WHERE THEY ARE THIS YEAR.

THEY'RE COMING UP UPON ONE OF THEIR BUSIER TIME TIMES OF YEAR, BUT EVERYTHING IS STILL ON ON TRACK FINANCIALLY.

THIS IS OUR SALES TAX FUND FOR STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE SPENDING A LITTLE A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN WHERE WE WERE, BUT WE'RE STILL ON GOOD TRACK.

WE SHOULD STILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITHIN OUR MEANS AND MEET OUR BUDGET.

AND THEN FINALLY OUR ARPA FUNDS.

THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE SPENT SO FAR.

WE'VE LARGELY HAVE THESE PLANNED OUT, THOUGH YOU STILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO ACT ON A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE REMAINING FUNDS.

ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.

THANKS, MR. MAYOR. SO YOU MENTIONED THAT WE PAID OUR TRINITY WATER PAYMENT EARLY.

WHAT WAS THE RATIONALE OR WHAT LED TO THAT? IT'S JUST BASED ON WHENEVER THEY BILL US.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES US A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GET TO US AND PROCESS THIS.

WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE ON A LITTLE BIT FASTER THAN USUAL, BUT IT'S KIND OF A MATTER OF WEEKS AS OPPOSED TO PAYING IT SIGNIFICANTLY EARLY.

OKAY. AND THEN FOR THE HOTELS THAT ARE DELINQUENT WITH THE THE TOURISM TAX, ARE THEY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE ALWAYS LATE OR IS THIS LIKE AN UNUSUAL. THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

CAN I MENTION THE I DON'T WANT TO MENTION THE COMPANY.

THE COMPANY THAT WE THE HOTEL THAT WE PREVIOUSLY HAD.

WE HAD TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION THEY'RE CURRENT, IF THAT HELPS, WITHOUT NAMING THEM.

SO. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. ANYONE.

COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.

A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE, ON THE SALES TAX, YOU SAID THAT WAS JUST AN ACCOUNTING ADJUSTMENT.

IS THAT WHY IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S DOWN AT THIS POINT IN TIME? YES, WE MADE THE ADJUSTMENT LATER IN THE YEAR.

SO IT'S NOT REFLECTING UNTIL THE THIRD QUARTER REPORT.

BUT YES, ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS, WE ARE WE ARE ABOVE WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.

[00:20:03]

ONE, DO WE HAVE TO SPEND THAT BY OR DEDICATE IT? DO YOU KNOW WHAT? I BELIEVE IT WAS 2024, BUT SOMEONE COULD CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

BELIEVE THE FIRST TRANCHE IS 2024 AND THEN THE SECOND TRANCHE IS 2025.

SO I THINK IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE HAVE TO HAVE IT OBLIGATED BY DECEMBER 24, BUT THEN SPENT BY DECEMBER OF 26.

YES, I BELIEVE SO.

GRAZI OKAY.

AND ON YOUR MISCELLANEOUS INCOME, ON ON THE SPREADSHEET YOU PROVIDED US.

SURE. IT SHOWS BUDGET AMOUNT 94,000, BUT THE ACTUAL IS 394.

THAT'S A BIG WHERE DO WE GET THAT? I MEAN, I'M NOT COMPLAINING, BUT IT'S A BIG JUMP OFF THE TOP.

YOUR HEAD. YEAH. OKAY, GREAT.

SO THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE CORRECTED IN THIS QUARTER.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT COME BACK DOWN.

SO WHAT HAPPENED WHEN OUR INSURANCE CAME IN WITH THE LOWER RATES, WHEN WE DID THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, WHAT THEY DID IS THEY GAVE US A ONE TIME CREDIT VERSUS CHANGING THE RATES. IN THAT ONE TIME CREDIT GOT CHARGED TO REVENUE.

AND SO I WANT TO SAY IN MAY, WE ALLOCATED THAT ONE TIME CREDIT OUT TO THE DEPARTMENTS BASED ON THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE EXPENDITURES.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE NEXT QUARTER CHANGE.

YES. ALL RIGHT. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD THING NOW, SO I WAS HOPING I KNOW THAT WOULD BE REALLY EXCITING.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT ON THE OTHER SIDE, THOUGH.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, BUDDY. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU, KAREN. SO NEXT UP, WE HAVE SOME ITEMS TO CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL BY CONSENT.

OH, I'M SORRY.

WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

SO WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

MR. COLBERT. YEAH.

DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON, SIR? PERSON SHOULD BE HEARD. SHOULD BE FIRST, SHOULDN'T THEY? SO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

OKAY. I'LL SPEAK.

OH. ARE YOU SLOWING DOWN? TOM? TOM COLBERT.

1925 CHARLESTON DRIVE.

WHO KNOWS HOW TO SPEAK INTO A MICROPHONE SO THAT THE PEOPLE THAT PAY THE TAXES CAN HEAR? YES, SIR. WE HEARD YOU.

YEAH, BUT THE REST OF THEM, THEY WERE OVER HERE TALKING NUMBERS, AND WE COULDN'T HEAR WHAT THEY WERE SAYING.

I GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU, SIR.

THIS BEDFORD CONNECTION FOR JUNE I RECEIVED ON JUNE THE 3RD.

GEE ON THE FRONT PAGE IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE FOURTH FEST.

THE 4TH OF JUNE IS NOT A HOLIDAY.

IT'S JULY.

MHM. AND EVERYTHING IN THEIR BACK PAGE IS JULY SENIOR DANCES.

JULY 10TH AND 24TH.

IF I HADN'T HEARD FROM SOMEBODY ELSE, I WOULDN'T HAVE GONE TO THAT DANCE ON JUNE THE 5TH AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE DANCE ON JUNE THE 19TH. IF SOMEBODY'S GOING OUT OF THEIR WAY TO TRY TO SHUT US DOWN.

NO. IS THIS BEING UNINTENTIONAL THAT THEY'RE DOING THIS TO US? NO. TOM, YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

NO, I DON'T.

SO WHAT DID YOUR PRIOR BEDFORD CONNECTION SAY? MY PRIOR BEDFORD CONNECTION WAS ON THE PRIOR 1ST MAY, AND THE DANCES WERE IN JUNE.

WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE YOU ENOUGH, BUT I'VE GOT ONE THAT SAYS JUNE IT CELEBRATING THE FOURTH FEST.

I THINK THAT'S JULY.

CORRECT. AND THEN ALL IT TELLS ME ABOUT THE DANCES IS JULY, WHEN I GOT A THING THAT SHOWS THAT THERE'S DANCES IN JUNE. WHAT'S THE DEAL? IT'S SOMEBODY GOING OUT OF THEIR WAY TO TRY TO STIFLE US.

WE WANT TO GIVE YOU AS MUCH.

INCIDENTALLY, THERE WAS 79 AT THAT LAST DANCE.

OH, THAT'S GREAT. THAT PAGE.

I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE.

YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO GET THE BEDFORD CONNECTION.

BEDFORD CONNECTION, SO.

NO, BUT IT'S ONLY CONNECTION WITH THE HIP HOP GANG.

YES. NO, THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE DO, I THINK, FOUR DIFFERENT CYCLES.

AND SO WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO LOOK OUT BECAUSE THE LAST THING WE'D WANT IS FOR YOU TO GET IT AND THEN IT TELL YOU ABOUT THE DANCES IN MAY.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE PUT IN THE CONTRACT FOR THE CENTER, EVERY FIRST AND THIRD MONDAY IS A DANCE HERE ON OUT.

SO REGARDLESS OF THE CONNECTION, LIKE CLOCKWORK, AND THEN JULY 4TH IS GOING TO BE JULY 4TH THIS YEAR.

YES. NOT JUNE 4TH, IT'D BE JULY 4TH FEST.

[00:25:04]

YES, SHE GO EASY ON HER, TOM.

YES, GO EASY.

MAKES ME WANT TO GO BREAK THE LAW.

SHE'S PART OF OUR GREAT FIRM.

SHE'S FILLING IN FOR BRYN, SO HE'S IN THE DANCE.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

THEY DO IT REPEATEDLY.

WELL, I'M SORRY, MAYOR JUNE.

REMEMBER? REMEMBER JUNE? THERE WAS A TIME AND THEY GIVE US JULY DANCES.

REMEMBER? THERE WAS A TIME WHERE WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING COORDINATED WITH THE PUBLISHING DATES ON THAT.

AND THE GOAL IS TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE AS IT DOESN'T DO YOU ANY GOOD IF YOU GET IT ON JUNE, WHATEVER.

AND AS A RETIRED PRINTER, I KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.

YEAH. IF YOU WANT TO TURN IN 2 OR 3 DAYS, YOU CAN GET IT TURNED IN TWO AND THREE DAYS.

NOT IN THIS CASE.

YOU WANT ME TO PROVE IT? YEAH. LET ME HAVE IT NEXT TIME.

I'LL GET IT TURNED FOR YOU.

GOD. HEY, TOM.

HAVE YOU BEEN MOLLY? HAVE YOU MET MOLLY? YEAH. I MEAN, THERE WAS A DAY, AND I THINK YOU'VE SEEN IT ALSO IN THE PAST WITH THE WATER BILL.

THERE WAS A TIME WHERE WE GOT OUT OF SEQUENCE ON THAT AND PEOPLE WEREN'T GETTING THEIR NOTICES IN ADVANCE.

SO ALL THIS IS, IS TO GIVE PEOPLE AS MUCH OPPORTUNITY AS POSSIBLE TO KNOW WHAT'S COMING.

SO, I MEAN, YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THE SCHEDULE.

SO WHAT ARE YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT? YES, I'VE ALREADY GOT THE DANCERS.

SO YOU'RE GOOD? YEAH.

OKAY. PROBLEM SOLVED.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOM. YOU'RE WASTING SPACE IN THIS THING IF YOU'RE PUTTING JULY IN HERE.

WE'LL STICK THAT ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR AND YOU'LL BE GOOD IN JULY.

IN JULY? EVERY DAY I HAVE JUST A DANCE.

I HAVE FAITH. WE WILL SEE YOU IN JULY.

TOM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR $0.02 ON THAT.

[CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT]

I'LL GIVE YOU CITY MANAGER JIMMY STATHATOS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL. THE ONLY ITEM WE HAVE CONSENT FOR CONSENT TONIGHT IS TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE MAY 23RD, 2023 REGULAR MEETING COUNCIL MINUTES.

OKAY. THANK YOU, JIMMY.

QUESTIONS. COMMENTS.

MOTION. I'VE.

COUNCIL MEMBER. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.

LET'S VOTE. DENIED.

OH, I'M SORRY. WELL, THEN I GOT IT TAKEN AWAY.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S UNANIMOUS. SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU.

STAFF THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO.

[PERSONS TO BE HEARD]

WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE DAIS MR. TIMOTHY STURM.

WELCOME, SIR. THANK YOU.

IT'S. SO I HAVE A SPEECH PREPARED TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE SIGN ORDINANCE.

I BELIEVE ALL OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE EMAILS FROM EARLY MAY WHERE WE WERE DISCUSSING AN ISSUE WITH THE SIGN.

IN THAT TIME, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO STUDY THE SIGN ORDINANCE AND KIND OF MAKE SOME OBSERVATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE THOSE WITH YOU TODAY.

SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THESE CONCERNS AND OBSERVATIONS ABOUT OUR CURRENT SIGN ORDINANCE AND ITS POSSIBLE MISALIGNMENT WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS. FIRSTLY, IT'S CLEAR THAT OUR COMMUNITY USES AND VALUES SIGNS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES, FROM SCHOOL PRIDE TO PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGES FROM SUPPORTING SOCIAL CAUSES TO ADVERTISING LEGITIMATE PERSONAL ENDEAVORS.

THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT MEDIUM FOR OUR FOR US TO COMMUNICATE, EXPRESS AND ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH WIDER AUDIENCES.

HOWEVER, OUR CURRENT SIGN ORDINANCE SEEMS TO INHIBIT SUCH ENGAGEMENT.

A KEY AREA OF CONCERN IS THAT IT APPEARS TO DETERMINE THE LEGALITY OF SIGNS BASED ON THEIR CONTENT, WHICH IS AT ODDS WITH OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

THE FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE OF ANY ORDINANCE IS TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES THAT HELP MAINTAIN HARMONY AND PROMOTE GROWTH WITHIN A COMMUNITY.

HOWEVER, WHEN THE ORDINANCE FAILS TO REPRESENT THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF ITS COMMUNITY, IT MAY INADVERTENTLY STIFLE THE VERY GROWTH AND HARMONY IT AIMS TO PROTECT.

I BELIEVE WE FIND OURSELVES IN THIS SITUATION WITH OUR CURRENT SIGN ORDINANCE.

A RECENT EXAMPLE FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE SERVES TO ILLUSTRATE THIS POINT.

I PUT A SIGN UP ON MY PROPERTY TO AID IN REHOMING OF PUPPIES, AND DESPITE THE SIGN CAUSING NO HARM AND RECEIVING SUBSTANTIAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT, IT WAS DEEMED ILLEGAL UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE.

THIS INCIDENT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ORDINANCES PURPOSE AND ITS ALIGNMENT WITH COMMUNITY VALUES AND NEEDS.

FURTHERMORE, I'VE NOTED APPARENT DISCREPANCIES IN HOW THE ORDINANCE IS ENFORCED.

ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ORDINANCE HAS OFTEN BEEN INCONSISTENT, CONTRIBUTING TO CONFUSION AND A SENSE OF UNFAIRNESS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

SEVERAL SIGNS POSTED ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY SEEMS TO VIOLATE THE ORDINANCE, YET THEY ARE ALLOWED TO STAND.

FOR INSTANCE, COLLEGE AND SCHOOL SPORTS SIGNS SEEN IN MANY YARDS ARE CONSIDERED ARE NOT CONSIDERED ART DUE TO THE INCLUSION OF A LOGO.

[00:30:01]

A COMMENDABLE EFFORT NONETHELESS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH ORDINANCE.

MOREOVER, THERE ARE OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE SIGNS INTENDED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, LIKE THE SLOW DOWN SIGN ON BROWN TRAIL, WHILE WELL-INTENTIONED, TECHNICALLY FALLS FOUL OF THE ORDINANCE AS IT IS A TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE IN VIEW FROM THE ROAD.

THE SAME COULD BE SAID ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION TRAILER, WITH ITS BRANDING AND ADVERTISEMENT VISIBLE FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY THAT IS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE CITY'S NEW CAMPUS WEST PROPERTY, WHICH, ACCORDING TO OUR ORDINANCE, IS ONLY PERMITTED WHEN BEING ACTIVELY LOADED OR UNLOADED.

FURTHER EVIDENCE SUGGESTING OUR SIGN ORDINANCE IS OVERLY STRICT HAS BEEN SEEN IN THE COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE.

THE NOTICEABLE ABSENCE OF THRIVING SIGNAGE COMPANIES, COUPLED WITH THE HIGH RATE OF FAILURE AMONG RECENT ONES, INDICATE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS STIFLING ENTREPRENEURIAL GROWTH IN THIS SECTOR.

EASING RESTRICTIONS CAN HELP STIMULATE LOCAL BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE CITY.

THESE EXAMPLES ARE NOT TO POINT FINGERS, BUT RATHER TO EMPHASIZE THE POTENTIAL MISALIGNMENT OF THE ORDINANCE WITH OUR DAILY PRACTICES AND COMMUNITY ETHOS.

IT'S CLEAR THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE COME TO ACCEPT AND EVEN APPRECIATE THESE TYPES OF SIGNS, DESPITE WHAT THE ORDINANCE CERTAINLY ALLOWS.

THE ORDINANCE IN ITS CURRENT FORM DOESN'T FULLY REFLECT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS OR VALUES.

THESE SIGNS, OFTEN SEEN AS VIOLATIONS, ARE IN FACT IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION TOOLS FOR US AS RESIDENTS.

THEY HELP US BOLSTER COMMUNITY SPIRIT, RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT PRESSING ISSUES AND AID IN PERSONAL ENDEAVORS.

THEREFORE, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO PROPOSE THAT WE CONSIDER REWRITING THE SIGN ORDINANCE.

WE NEED A MORE BALANCED, INCLUSIVE AND CLEAR ORDINANCE, ONE THAT ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO FREELY EXPRESS THEMSELVES WHILE MAINTAINING ESTHETIC HARMONY AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT REWRITING AN ORDINANCE IS NO SMALL TASK.

IT REQUIRES CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

HOWEVER, IF WE APPROACH THIS COLLABORATIVELY AND WITH THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN MIND, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CREATE AN ORDINANCE THAT SUPPORTS OUR RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND TRULY SERVES OUR COMMUNITY.

IN THE PROCESS OF REVISITING THE ORDINANCE.

I URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL SIGN ASSOCIATION.

THEY OFFER EXTENSIVE GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HELP DRAFT COMPLIANT AND LEGAL SIGN ORDINANCES POTENTIALLY EASING THIS COMPLEX TASK.

I URGE THE COUNCIL TO VIEW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY, EQUALITY AND FOSTER A STRONGER SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A CHANCE TO CREATE A SIGN ORDINANCE THAT MATCHES THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF OUR CITY AND SET A POSITIVE PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE ORDINANCES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE OUR CITY LEGISLATION TRULY REPRESENTATIVE OF ITS PEOPLE.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, MR. STERN.

THE ONLY THING THAT COMES TO MY MIND RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE ENGAGING IN SOME EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THE MASTER PLAN AND ALSO A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF OUR CODES AND ORDINANCES. IS THAT THE VALID WAY TO PUT THAT? WOULD YOU MIND TALKING ABOUT WHAT THAT ENTAILS AND WHY WE'RE GOING ABOUT THAT THAT REVIEW RIGHT NOW? YES, SIR. IT'S BASICALLY MAKING SURE THAT OUR ORDINANCES ARE WHERE WE WANT TO BE AND THAT THEY REFLECT WHEN IMPLEMENTED, THE VISION OF THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY AND THEN ALSO THE MASTER PLAN, MAKING SURE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE ULTIMATE ZONING FOR DIFFERENT AREAS IS REFLECTED IN THE MASTER PLAN.

SO THAT WAY WHEN THE COUNCIL MAKES ZONING DECISIONS OR WHEN THEY'RE PRESENTED WITH ZONING REQUESTS, THEY CAN LOOK AT THE MASTER PLAN TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE ACTION ON THE INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS WHEN BROUGHT TO FRUITION, GET THEM CLOSER TO MIRRORING THE MASTER PLAN.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL IT'S NOT FOR THE SLIGHT OF HAND.

IT'S A IT'S AN EXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR.

IT'S A TIME CONSUMING ENDEAVOR.

AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL AND STAFF I KNOW LAST YEAR THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THE CITY.

IN SOME SITUATIONS WE HAVE ORDINANCES OR WE HAVE ITEMS AS A PART OF THE MASTER PLAN THAT HADN'T BEEN ADDRESSED FOR DECADES.

SO NOT TO SAY THAT THIS IS IN RESPONSE OR IN ANTICIPATION OF SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS, BUT I THINK THE COUNCIL HAS RECOGNIZED THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO REVIEW SOME OF THOSE CODES AND ORDINANCES. SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

IS THERE ANY MATERIAL SOMEWHERE I CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT? SO THAT PROCESS HAS ALREADY BEGUN.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD SEVERAL COUNCIL MEETINGS ABOUT THAT AND WE'VE GOT A CONSULTANT WHO'S ALREADY WORKING ON THE MASTER PLAN.

STAFF ITSELF IS WORKING ON DOING THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE CODES AND ORDINANCES, CORRECT? WELL, KIND OF, YES.

ON THE MASTER PLAN, ON THE ORDINANCES, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT STEP TO HAVE A FIRM.

BUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS STAFF HAS BEEN BRINGING FORWARD A LOT OF CHANGES BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE ONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S GLARING OMISSIONS OR NEEDS. BUT BECAUSE OF THE THE THE CAPACITY THAT WILL BE NEEDED, BOTH OF THEM ARE VERY, VERY INTENSIVE LABOR WISE, COST WISE.

AND IF WE DID THEM SIMULTANEOUSLY, IT WOULD ALMOST BE LIKE MASTER OF ALL TRADES JACK.

I MEAN JACK OF ALL TRADES, MASTER OF NONE.

AND SO BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE MEETINGS THAT ARE WE'LL HAVE MEETINGS ADVERTISED ONLINE THAT ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN.

AND WE HAVE THROUGH OUR OUR WEBSITE NOTIFY ME THAT YOU CAN SIGN UP TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN MEETINGS ARE ADVERTISED AND THAT WAY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO KNOW EXACTLY

[00:35:07]

PERFECT. I APPRECIATE THAT.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, JIMMY.

APPRECIATE THAT. NEW BUSINESS ITEM THREE.

[3. Public hearing and consider a resolution approving a site plan to renovate the drive-through and parking area for an existing Starbucks facility in accordance with the Heavy Commercial Zoning District and with the Master Highway Corridor Overlay District Development Standards. The property is generally located on the south side of Airport Freeway, approximately 260 feet east of Central Drive, commonly known as 2200 Airport Freeway. (SITE-23-1)]

A RESOLUTION APPROVING A SITE PLAN TO RENOVATE THE DRIVE THRU AND PARKING AREA FOR AN EXISTING STARBUCKS FACILITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HEAVY COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT AND WITH THE MASTER HIGHWAY CORRIDOR OVERLAY DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THE PROPERTY IS GENERALLY LOCATED ON.

THE SOUTH SIDE OF AIRPORT FREEWAY, APPROXIMATELY 260FT EAST OF CENTRAL DRIVE, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 2200 AIRPORT FREEWAY.

AND WELCOME TO THE DYESS, OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, WES MORRISON.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I THINK EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR WITH THE LOCATION.

THIS IS THE STARBUCKS LOCATION THERE AT AIRPORT FREEWAY, JUST EAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF CENTRAL DRIVE.

A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE PROPERTY.

PROPERTY WAS ZONED IN 2005 FOR STARBUCKS AND IT'S GONE THROUGH SOME PLATS AND WHATNOT SINCE THAT TIME, BUT HAS NOT GONE THROUGH ANY MAJOR RENOVATIONS OR UPDATES. AND THE APPLICANT APPROACHED STAFF EARLIER THIS YEAR ABOUT DOING AN INTERNAL REMODEL AND STAFF TOOK THAT TIME TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE NEEDS ON THE EXTERNAL ASPECT.

AND WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE TRAFFIC AND SOME OF THE CIRCULATION ISSUES WE'VE HAD WITH THIS SITE.

SO BIG THING THAT I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IN WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS BECAUSE ANY CHANGE TO A SITE PLAN THAT'S IN THE MASTER HIGHWAY CORRIDOR OVERLAY REQUIRES YOUR APPROVAL.

SO I'LL JUST GET RIGHT TO THE SITE PLAN.

THE BIG CHANGE I THINK EVERYBODY'S GOING TO CARE ABOUT IS GOING TO BE THE THE REORGANIZATION OF THE DRIVE THRU.

YOU'LL NOTICE NOW IF YOU'RE AT THE SITE, THEY'VE GOT SOME CONES SET UP FOR TO KIND OF GUIDE PEOPLE HOW TO GO.

THIS NOW PERMANENTLY PUTS IN A CURB WITH SOME LANDSCAPE FEATURES THAT TRY TO SCREEN THAT DRIVE THROUGH AND NOW GETS ALL THE DRIVE THROUGH TRAFFIC COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY WITH THAT PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

WE ALSO DID A PUBLIC NOTICE AND WE'VE RECEIVED NO COMMENTS IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THE REQUEST.

I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

OKAY. WERE THERE ANY CONCERNS AT P AND Z? NO. OKAY. OKAY.

COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE START THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY, LET'S OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:38.

ANYONE OTHER THAN TOM CULVER IS WELCOME TO COME UP AND EXPRESS ANY OPINIONS OR.

TOM. YOU CAN COME UP TOO IF YOU WANT.

OKAY. DID YOU SEE? LYDIA'S IN THE AUDIENCE? I DID.

THIS IS HER FIRST. WOW.

VERY FIRST. AREN'T YOU A ROCK STAR? YEAH. CAME TO SUPPORT DR.

ROB.

I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO YOUR LAST MEETING.

YEAH, I WATCHED ON THE INTERNET ALL THE TIME.

OH, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT WATCHES.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

ALTHOUGH I DO LIKE THE NEW CHAIRS.

I HAVE BEEN TO ONE, TOO. THEY'RE VERY NICE.

THEY'RE HARD TO GET OUT OF.

YEAH. YEAH.

OKAY. THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:30.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE CLOCK TICK OVER.

SO, COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS NOW? OKAY. ANY FINAL? OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE IT.

OKAY. WE HAVE A FIRST. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.

LET'S VOTE. OKAY.

VERY GOOD. THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

SO THANK YOU. COUNCIL THANK YOU.

STAFF THANK YOU, WES.

NEXT UP, ITEM FOUR.

[4. Consider a resolution approving and authorizing publication of notice of intention to issue certificates of obligation, Series 2023a, in the principal amount not to exceed $17,000,000, for the purpose of paying for street, parks/greenspace, fire-fighting facility, renovation to an existing animal shelter, and water/sewer improvements.]

SERIES 2023 A.

IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $17 MILLION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING FOR STREET PARKS, GREEN SPACE FIRE FIGHTING FACILITY RENOVATION TO AN EXISTING ANIMAL SHELTER AND WATER SEWER IMPROVEMENTS.

AND SO WELCOME BACK TO THE DAIS, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

YOU'RE NOT KAREN, BUT WELCOME BACK.

BRADY OLSEN YES, WE DID DISCUSS THIS ISSUE AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING HERE TO PROVIDE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT.

THIS ACTION WOULD BE PROVIDING NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING ISSUING THIS DEBT.

TONIGHT'S ACTION DOES NOT OBLIGATE YOU TO ANYTHING.

IT ONLY STARTS THE PROCESS AND LETS US KNOW, LETS THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING THIS.

THE SECOND PART OF THIS, AS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING, THE $17 MILLION IN COS WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE HAVING ANY IMPACT ON OUR EITHER OUR WATER RATES OR OUR PROPERTY TAX RATES. AND THEN LASTLY, ANY PROJECT THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING TO FUND WITH THIS WOULD ALSO HAVE TO GO BEFORE YOU INDIVIDUALLY AS THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE.

SO YOU'RE NOT COMMITTING TO ANY INDIVIDUAL PROJECT THIS TIME AS LONG AS IT FALLS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT WE DISCUSSED.

AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE MORE DETAILS AND BETTER COSTS AT THE TIME OF MOVEMENT ON THOSE PROJECTS.

[00:40:04]

THAT'S ALL YOU GOT? THAT'S IT.

THAT'S ALL YOU GOT? HAPPY TO TALK MORE IF YOU WANT ME TO.

OKAY. OKAY.

WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE, COUNCIL? OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS WRITTEN FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.

OKAY, WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN.

LET'S VOTE. OKAY.

ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S UNANIMOUS. SO THANK YOU.

COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.

UH, LET'S SEE.

NEXT. THANK YOU, BRADY.

ITEM FIVE, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO UTILIZE THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS CONTRACT WITH DOUBLE D CONTRACTING AND GARRETT SHIELDS

[5. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to utilize the City of North Richland Hill’s contract with Double D Contracting and Garrett Shields Infrastructure, through the Master Interlocal Cooperative Purchasing Agreement, in an estimated amount of $750,000, for the 2023/2024 Concrete Sidewalk, Accessibility Ramps, Concrete Street Panels, Driveway, and Curb and Gutter Reconstruction at Various Locations Project.]

THANK YOU. THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT ALLOWS US TO ADD TWO MORE CONCRETE CONTRACTORS TO OUR STREET PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO BE MORE PROACTIVE IN GETTING THE STREETS, THE CURBS, THE GUTTERS, VALLEY GUTTERS AND SIDEWALKS DONE THIS FISCAL YEAR AND COMING UP THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. SO I FEEL LIKE WE'VE KIND OF STARTED OUT A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE SLOW, AND THIS WILL GIVE US A CHANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ALL THOSE PROJECTS DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

SO, CHERYL, IS THERE SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT THE CITY OF BEDFORD DOES WITH SIDEWALKS THAT OTHER CITIES DO NOT DO? THE CITY OF BEDFORD REPAIRS SIDEWALKS IN FRONT OF RESIDENCES.

THAT IS NOT TYPICALLY DONE IN OTHER CITIES AND DO NOT CHARGE THE RESIDENT FOR IT, AND WE DO NOT CHARGE THE RESIDENT FOR IT.

THAT'S CORRECT. OUR COMMUNICATION STAFF EVEN PUT.

A LINK ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO REPORT SIDEWALK REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

AND THAT IS A LIST THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON ALL THE TIME.

AND WHY DOES THE CITY OF BEDFORD DO THAT? THROUGH THE KINDNESS OF OUR HEARTS.

RIGHT? THE CITY OF BEDFORD.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. THROUGH THE KINDNESS OF OUR HEARTS.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.

ON THE PROJECTS. YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO KNOW IF BEDFORD ROAD AND BY 157 ON THE LIKE THE WEST SIDE JUST PAST THAT DENTIST OFFICE WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS.

BEDFORD ROAD.

BEDFORD ROAD. LIKE, SAY, IF YOU'RE HIGH SCHOOL AND WALKING HOME FROM TRINITY AND YOU WALKING DOWN BEDFORD ROAD, YOU HAVE A SIDEWALK BY CVS, AND THEN THE SIDEWALK ENDS.

YOU GOT YOU GOT A SPOT THERE WHERE? NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD ON BEDFORD ROAD.

BEFORE WE GET TO 157.

NO ONE OVER THERE, RIGHT? IT'S JUST IT'S ON THE BEDFORD SIDE.

IT'S WHERE EVERYONE USED TO PUT THEIR POLITICAL SIGNS UNTIL THEY BUILT THOSE BUILDINGS.

HELP ME OUT. CHICKEN EXPRESS ON THE OTHER SIDE.

OTHER SIDE, SIDE OF THAT NORTH SIDE OF CVS.

SO ALONG THE SIDEWALK JUST ENDS.

YOU HAVE A SIDEWALK THAT RUNS ALL THE WAY DOWN BEDFORD ROAD.

BUT THAT ONE SPOT RIGHT THERE.

OKAY. I JUST WONDER IF THAT'S ON YOUR LIST BECAUSE I HAD PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT IT AND WE CAN LOOK AT THAT INTERSECTION.

THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER SECTION.

LAST YEAR WE ADDED A LOT OF WE ADDED SIDEWALKS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BEDFORD ROAD, WEST OF RELIANCE AND THEN THE EAST SIDE. BUT FOR SOME REASON WE HAVE A GAP THERE.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE THAT THAT'S PLANNED.

BUT WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT. 157 IN BEDFORD ROAD.

YEAH, IT'S JUST BEDFORD ROAD JUST A LITTLE BIT PAST CVS.

THERE'S A DENTIST THERE AND THEN IT JUST STOPS.

THAT'S A SIDE PIECE. THAT'S THAT'S THE PART THAT I THAT WE ARE DOING.

I THOUGHT YOU MEANT 157, BUT YEAH, THERE IS, THERE IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.

150 NO, IT'S JUST BEDFORD ROAD.

THERE IS THAT GAP BEFORE THE DENTIST OFFICE.

WE ARE PLANNING TO LOOK AT THAT ONE THIS FISCAL YEAR.

OH. OH, GREAT. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. DONE. PROBLEM SOLVED RICH.

GOOD JOB. BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO A WALKING BRIDGE OVER BY DENNIS.

THAT'S NICE. THAT'S REALLY GENEROUS.

THAT'S TAKING SIDEWALKS TO ANOTHER LEVEL.

OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCIL. OKAY.

WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.

OKAY. WE HAVE A FIRST APPROVED.

WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.

LET'S VOTE. HOW'S THE WATER PRESSURE OVER AT YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS? NOT BAD. OKAY, GOOD.

OKAY, THAT'S UNANIMOUS. SEVEN ZERO.

SO THANK YOU. COUNCIL THANK YOU.

STAFF THANK YOU, CHERYL.

NEXT UP, ITEM SIX. WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MCADAMS IN AN

[6. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to negotiate and execute a professional services agreement with McAdams in an estimated amount of $28,000 for conceptual engineering services associated with the proposed location of the Central Fire Station and Training Facility at 2130 and 2140 L. Don Dodson Drive.]

[00:45:02]

ELDON DOTSON DRIVE.

WELCOME BACK. OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ANDREA ROY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCIL.

I'VE GOT AN ITEM HERE FOR THIS EVENING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

A ENGINEERING CONTRACT FOR MCADAMS TO LAY OUT PRELIMINARY DESIGN ON OUR PROPERTY HERE.

IF YOU ALL RECALL, I THINK IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF NOW THAT WE PURCHASED THE WESTERN PORTION OF THIS OUTLINE PROPERTY HERE.

WE HAD OWNED THE LITTLE OVER FIVE AND A HALF ACRES NEXT TO OUR PARK BUILDING FOR SOME TIME AND THEN ACQUIRED THE WESTERN PORTION A LITTLE UNDER ONE AND ONE HALF ACRES, JUST LIKE I SAID, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

SO WE'VE GOT A NICE SEVEN ACRE SITE NOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT SHADED LIGHT BLUE THERE COMING INTO THAT IS FLOODPLAIN.

SO THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN LOOKED AT, CONSIDERED, BUT WE'VE NEVER REALLY OFFICIALLY KIND OF DUG IN AND AND LAID IT OUT TO SEE WHAT CAN AND CAN'T BE BUILT THERE.

SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT FOR A POTENTIAL LOCATION FOR A NEW CENTRAL FIRE STATION AND THE TRAINING FACILITY THAT WOULD ACCOMPANY THAT.

SO I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL.

SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO GET FOR $28,000? WE'LL GET A CONCEPTUAL LAYOUT AND CONFIRMATION OF KIND OF WHERE ANY OF THE CONCERNS MAY LIE AS FAR AS BIG EXPENSIVE ITEMS, AS FAR AS MAJOR RELOCATIONS OR LACK OF SERVICE THAT COULD EXIST IN THAT AREA.

THERE IS A 50 FOOT PIPELINE EASEMENT THAT DOES FALL THROUGH THERE AS WELL.

WE DO BELIEVE THAT IT CAN STILL BE LAID OUT APPROPRIATELY.

YOU ARE ALLOWED TO PAVE OVER THAT.

WE CANNOT PUT A STRUCTURE OVER IT, BUT WE CAN DO PAVEMENT OVER THAT.

SO IT'LL GIVE US A VIABLE PLAN OR IT WILL TELL US THAT WE NEED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE.

IF THE EXPENSE IS ON UTILITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE TOO HIGH.

HOW LONG FOR THEM TO PUT THIS TOGETHER? IT WON'T TAKE VERY LONG AT ALL.

I'M THINKING A COUPLE OF MONTHS, MAX.

AND THEN WHAT WOULD THE NEXT STEPS BE? WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO YOU AND EXPLORE OPTIONS.

ON MOVING FURTHER INTO FULL DESIGN ON THAT, IF THAT WORKS.

ARE YOU'VE DONE SOME PRELIMINARY LOOKS OUT THERE? YOU'RE NOT ANTICIPATING ANY ISSUES? NO. WE BELIEVE WE CAN LAY.

IT'S A SEVEN ACRE SITE, YOU KNOW, FIRE STATIONS THAT ARE IN THIS RANGE AS FAR AS 19 TO 21,000FT² ARE ON PROPERTIES HALF THE SIZE. SO WE CAN DEFINITELY LAY IT OUT.

WE MAY HAVE TO GET A LITTLE CREATIVE.

AND AGAIN, THERE IS FLOODPLAIN PRESENCE, SO THAT WHOLE BACK PORTION LIKELY WILL NOT WILL NOT REALLY BE FACTORED IN OTHER THAN PROVIDING SOME NICE OPEN SPACE, POSSIBLY.

IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THAT SITE AND THAT LOCATION IS NOT A GOOD, IS NOT A OPPORTUNITY FOR RETAIL? NO. NO, SIR.

IS THERE BEEN ANY INTEREST IN THAT LOCATION FOR ANYTHING? THERE HAS BEEN SOME INTEREST IN PROBABLY INDIVIDUAL OFFICE SUITES.

SO YOUR DENTIST, YOUR DOCTOR, YOUR INSURANCE AGENT, THERE HAS BEEN SOME POTENTIAL INTEREST ON THE PROPERTY FOR THAT.

BUT AGAIN, THERE'S OBSTACLES.

AND WITHOUT THE TWO PROPERTIES COMBINED, WHICH REALLY ALLOWS US TO DO SOMETHING HERE, IT'S REALLY NOT FEASIBLE WITHOUT THEM COMBINED.

AND WE HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY BUYING THAT ONE AND A HALF ACRES.

THAT WAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR US LAST YEAR.

OKAY. COUNCIL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A MOTION? YES, SIR. UM, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.

SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO.

LET'S VOTE.

OKAY. AND AGAIN, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

SEVEN ZERO. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. STAFF THANK YOU, ANDREA.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE ITEM SEVEN.

[7. Discussion regarding an Advisory Board for Seniors and an Advisory Board for YMCA/Bedford. **This item requested by Councilmember Dawkins.]

THIS IS AN ITEM REQUESTED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS, SO I'D LIKE TO OFFER YOU THE MICROPHONE, MA'AM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

SO I PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA, REVIEWING THE PROGRESS THAT WE MADE IN OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION THAT WE HAD ON OCTOBER 25TH, 2022.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE AGREED TO AS A COUNCIL WAS TO.

PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZENS TO VOLUNTEER AND COUNCILMAN STEVES SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED ABOUT REINSTITUTING THE SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD.

I AM THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, SO I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PREVIOUS HISTORY OF PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS ON ADVISORY BOARDS, BUT I HAVE OBSERVED THAT WE HAVE A RECORD INTEREST OF PEOPLE WANTING TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY AND PEOPLE WANTING TO GET INVOLVED.

WE HAD TWO AND A HALF DAYS OF INTERVIEWS LAST FALL FOR OUR ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

[00:50:07]

AND SO GIVEN THAT WE PUT THIS VOLUNTEERING AND ADDITIONAL ADVISORY BOARD OPPORTUNITIES ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, I THINK NOW'S THE TIME FOR US TO LOOK AT THE DISCUSSION ABOUT ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

AND I CALLED OUT THE SENIOR CITIZENS BOARD, GIVEN THAT RICK STEVES MENTIONED IT BEFORE AND WE HAD A CITIZEN TALK ABOUT TALK ABOUT IT RECENTLY.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE YMCA BOARD, I DID WATCH BACK OUR MEETING IN OCTOBER AND THAT WASN'T SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED.

I THINK IT WAS A MASTER PARKS PLAN.

BUT I KNOW WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE CITY OWNERSHIP OF THE CENTER AND YMCA MANAGEMENT, HAVING AN ADVISORY BOARD GIVES US A BETTER SAY ON WHAT GOES ON WITH THE CENTER.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY GIVEN THAT A LOT OF CITIZENS ARE INTERESTED IN HOW THE MANAGEMENT IS MOVING FORWARD.

THAT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN OFFER TO THE CITIZENS THAT HAVE A GREATER VOICE.

AND SO THAT THAT IS THE DISCUSSION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, AND I'LL PASS IT ON TO MR. MAYOR. GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION.

MR. STATHATOS, CAN YOU KIND OF GIVE US AN UPDATE HERE? YES, SIR. YES, SIR.

YES, SIR. AND IT'S TIMELY BECAUSE AT THE NEXT MEETING WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE.

WE'RE PERFORMING OR PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE ON THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION, THE YMCA.

I NEED TO CHECK ON THE TIMING.

I KNOW THAT WE WERE WAITING BECAUSE THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED IN THE AGREEMENT YOU ALL CAN MAKE FOR I BELIEVE IT'S FOUR NOMINATIONS TO SERVE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE WHEN THOSE NOMINATIONS COME UP.

SO WE JUST NEED TO CHECK IN ON TIMING.

SO THAT'S ALREADY DONE. IT'S JUST IT'S CYCLICAL.

BUT WE'LL WE'LL GET WE'LL BE READY WITH THE DATES ON THE OTHER ONE.

WE HAD MET BEFORE THIS LAST YEAR AND YOU ALL HAD TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WERE EITHER GOING TO BE COLLAPSED, ENHANCED, COMBINED AND ALL THAT STUFF. AND SO OBVIOUSLY AT ANY TIME YOU ALL CAN ADD THOSE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT DATES FOR AN SPS FOR THIS FALL.

AND SO IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S DISCUSSED THEN OR IT COULD BE OBVIOUSLY DISCUSSED AT ANY TIME.

BUT AS COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS MENTIONED, THAT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING ITEMS. SO YEAH, I THINK TO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

MICHELLE, I THINK WE'RE JUST REALLY BLESSED.

WE'VE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT ENDEAVORS HERE.

AND THEN JUST AS AS COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS JUST SAID WE HAD.

AN AMAZING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO APPLIED FOR OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN THE DESIRE OF THE COLLECTIVE COUNCIL THAT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE INVOLVEMENT IN THE CITY AND WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE MORE ENGAGED IN A LOT OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON HERE.

SO THESE ARE ITEMS THAT ESSENTIALLY WE DID IDENTIFY IN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION THAT WOULD HELP KIND OF ENCOURAGE CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT AND TO HELP KIND OF CONTINUE THE GROWTH.

SO YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT WOULD BE A VALUABLE ENDEAVOR FOR US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION IN AN UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETING ABOUT COUNCIL'S DESIRE TO KIND OF PRESS FORWARD ON SOME OF THIS.

YOU'LL GET AN UPDATE ON THE YMCA BOARD.

SO I GUESS THEN THE ONLY QUESTION IS THE TIMELINESS OF POSTING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT WE'RE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THAT AS YOU CONSIDER THAT.

BUT I THINK IN AS MUCH AS THIS COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN ENGAGEMENT, I MEAN, THESE ITEMS CLEARLY HELP GET US THERE AND AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THESE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE TO BE A PART OF IT AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.

THANK YOU. JIMMY, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS FROM COUNCIL ON THAT? WELL, JUST TO SUMMARIZE, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO SERVE ON A BOARD RELATED TO THE YMCA.

AND THERE'S FOUR, FOUR SPOTS THAT WE CAN PEOPLE CAN APPLY FOR.

AND THEN MR. STATHATOS WILL BRING AN UPDATE FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN SO WE CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION WHEN IT COMES IN REGARDING SPECIFICALLY THE SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD.

AND SOME OF THIS, I'LL JUST SAY THIS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ISN'T ANYONE WHO'S CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'VE CONDUCTED THIS CONVERSATION.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SOME PRETTY HIGH FLYING THINGS HERE THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

KNOW IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THINGS THAT ARE OUT FRONT, BUT IT'S KIND OF IT'S A SCENARIO WHERE THE DUCK IS ON THE WATER AND IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING'S PEACEFUL ABOVE THE WATER LINE. BUT BELOW WE'RE PRETTY BUSY.

AND THE NEAT THING IS THAT HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, I THINK THE FRUITS OF ALL THIS LABOR ARE GOING TO COME OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME BIG PROJECTS STARTING TO TURN DIRT AND A LOT OF ACTIVITY STARTING TO TAKE PLACE.

THAT'S TAKEN SOME TIME TO GET TOGETHER.

BUT THOSE WERE ALSO PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THIS YEAR.

I KNOW WE AS A COUNCIL HAD BIG DREAMS FOR WHAT WE WANTED TO GET ACCOMPLISHED.

WE STILL GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT, SO I AM SURE THE CITY MANAGER WANTS TO HELP US GET THOSE THINGS ACCOMPLISHED.

[00:55:07]

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HOLDING IT TO THE NEXT ONE.

BUT IT WAS PRETTY DAUNTING WHEN I LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS THAT COLLECTIVELY HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.

I MEAN, HONESTLY, NOT TO BRAG, BUT I THINK A LOT OF CITIES WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT OVER TWO YEARS.

SO TO YOUR POINT, SO WE'RE EXCITED.

BUT COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS YOU'RE CORRECT, THAT WAS MY TAKEAWAY AS WELL, MA'AM.

SO THANKS. SO YOU HAD HER WORKING ON THAT ALL DAY KNOWING IT WASN'T ON THE AGENDA? YES, SIR. IT'S HOW I ROLL.

OKAY. SO. YEAH. SO, ALL RIGHT.

ANYTHING ELSE WRONG? YOU'RE GOOD. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR THAT.

NEXT UP, WE'VE GOT ITEM EIGHT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS ANYONE.

OKAY, ITEM NINE, CITY MANAGER, STAFF REPORTS.

[9. City Manager/Staff Reports]

FOR MOLLY. YES FOR MOLLY.

CAN YOU ALL BRING YOUR THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR UP? DO YOU ALL NEED HELP? WHERE DO YOU WHERE DO YOU WANT? CAN YOU BRING HIM UP LIKE ON THE DAIS? IS THAT OKAY? THEY, TAMIO, TAMIO IS THERE STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION AND MOLLY JUST KIND OF LET YOU KNOW THE PRESENCE WE HAVE.

MOLLY IS PRESIDENT ELECT OF THE STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION AND SO I THINK THAT SPEAKS VERY HIGHLY OBVIOUS OF HER TALENTS.

AND IT'S GREAT FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND HER AND ABBY AND TIM HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

I KNOW WHEN I WAS FIRST HIRED, ONE OF THE BIG MARCHING ORDERS FROM THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL WAS TO FIX OR IMPROVE OUR COMMUNICATION EFFORTS.

AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT IT'S ALMOST EMBARRASSING AND EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES.

THESE TWO EMPLOYEES, ALONG WITH TIM, WON EIGHT STATEWIDE AWARDS.

IT'S INTERESTING.

I WAS TELLING MOLLY ON LINKEDIN, FACEBOOK, A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES, THEY WERE BRAGGING ABOUT WE WON TWO AWARDS, WE WON FOUR, WE WON FOUR AWARDS.

AND I WAS LIKE, WE WON AS MANY AS ALL OF Y'ALL PUT TOGETHER.

AND AND IT WAS I MEAN, WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE WON MORE, BUT I THINK THEY FELT SORRY FOR SOME OTHER CITIES.

BUT BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS HONOR BECAUSE THESE ARE THEIR PEERS.

AND SO EVERYONE'S HARDER ON THEIR PEERS BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THINGS DONE.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

I KNOW YOU ALL WORK NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU COMMUNICATIONS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT I GET THE MOST COMPLIMENTS ABOUT AND HAVE EVER SINCE Y'ALL STARTED WORKING YOUR MAGIC. AND SO IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AS WELL AS TIM.

SO THANKS. SO.

ALL RIGHT, I.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW I GET TOO SENTIMENTAL ABOUT THESE THINGS, BUT THIS HAS BEEN A PROCESS AND THIS DISCUSSION GOES BACK YEARS THAT WE FELT WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB AS AN ORGANIZATION, COMMUNICATING WITH THE RESIDENTS AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY AND ENGAGING THE RESIDENTS IN THE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CITY.

BUT WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY KNOW HOW TO GET THERE BACK IN THE DAY.

AND SO WHEN WHEN JIMMY AGREED TO BECOME CITY MANAGER, THIS WAS A MAIN TOPIC FOR US THAT WE WANTED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING.

AND MOLLY WAS A HUGE STEP FORWARD FOR US.

AND I REMEMBER TALKING TO YOU VERY EARLY, IF NOT BEFORE DAY ONE, THAT WIN ALL THE AWARDS YOU WANT WERE GOING TO FIND A TROPHY CASE FOR THEM AND WE'RE GOING TO SHOW THEM OFF.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I JUST COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING BECAUSE YOU ALL I DON'T SAY VERY OFTEN, BUT WHEN I FIRST STARTED ON COUNCIL, MR. PARKER WILL KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT AND I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION NAMES, BUT I HAD A CITY MANAGER WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY SAID THAT IF THEY DO THEIR JOB WELL, THEY MAKE THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY LOOK GOOD.

AND YOU GUYS LIVE AND PRACTICE THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE JUST DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB.

I KNOW YOU'RE DOING IT DESPITE JIMMY, SO THIS IS ALL FOR YOU.

AND THEN I AM MORE THAN HUMBLED TO ACCEPT ON BEHALF OF THE ACADEMY TO ACCEPT MY AWARD, TOO.

YEAH. SO, NO, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, GUYS.

WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.

OKAY, THAT BEING SAID, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ITEM TO CONVENE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE A MOTION MOTION TO TO ADJOURN FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.

WE HAVE A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN SECONDS.

[01:00:02]

OKAY. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 7:00.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.