Sep 12, 2023 City Council

[00:00:02]

OKAY. IT IS 6:00.

[CALL TO ORDER/GENERAL COMMENTS]

IT'S TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2023.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE SO MANY NEW YOUNG FACES IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.

FIRST UP, LET'S GET A LET'S HAVE AN INVOCATION.

I'D LIKE TO ASK PASTOR STEVES TO CONDUCT OUR INVOCATION.

PLEASE STAND. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER HERE THIS EVENING.

WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO ENSURE THAT WE ALWAYS WORK TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT OF FAIRNESS AND FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE ASK FOR YOUR INSPIRATION AND INSIGHTS.

MAY WE ACCOMPLISH GOOD THINGS AND MAY WE DISPLAY AN ATTITUDE OF COOPERATION AND RESPECT.

IN GOD'S NAME, WE PRAY.

AMEN. AMEN.

WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS THIS EVENING.

I'D LIKE TO ASK MAYOR PRO TEM COGAN TO INTRODUCE THEM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO TODAY WE HAVE CUB SCOUT PACK 817 DENS 6 AND 7 OUT OF GRAPEVINE, COLLEYVILLE.

THESE FIFTH GRADERS HERE CAME TO BASICALLY GET SOME OF THEIR MERIT BADGES.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY HAD TO DO WAS MEET WITH A PUBLIC OFFICIAL.

SO I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO MEET WITH THEM AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE AND SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO IT WAS IT WAS A PLEASURE MEETING WITH YOU, AND I WELCOME YOU GUYS.

PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GO AHEAD AND GET THE PLEDGES.

NORMALLY, THIS IS MY JOB.

SO YOU'RE STILL IN MY JOB TODAY, BUT IT'S OKAY.

I'LL HAVE IT. SO WE HAVE THE US FLAG OVER HERE AND THEN THE TEXAS FLAG IS RIGHT BEHIND ME.

. ALL RIGHT. GREAT JOB [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU, GUYS. DAN, YOU MAY BE OUT OF A JOB.

I THINK I MAY BE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE.

I CAN TAKE YOUR PLACE ON THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO CUB SCOUT PACK 817 DENS 6 AND 7.

SO NEXT UP, WE DO HAVE SOME COUNCIL RECOGNITION THIS EVENING.

[COUNCIL RECOGNITION]

SO TONIGHT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING TO YOU GUYS.

WELL, NOT INTRODUCING, REINTRODUCING BILL MACK.

HE'S A HE'S A CHIEF 25 YEARS WITH THE CITY OF BEDFORD.

SO BEFORE BILL STARTED WITH US, HE SERVED FOUR YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.

IN 1998, HE BEGAN HIS EMPLOYMENT HERE AS A DETENTION OFFICER.

AND LIKE MANY PEOPLE, HE PROGRESSED UP A YEAR LATER TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.

IN 2014, HE PROMOTED TO CORPORAL AND AGAIN PROMOTED TO SERGEANT IN 2017 AND I BELIEVE TWO YEARS AGO PROMOTED TO RIGHT AROUND TWO YEARS AGO, PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT.

SO DURING HIS TENURE HERE, HE'S BEEN A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, THE FIELD TRAINING COORDINATOR, SO RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAINING ALL OF OUR NEW OFFICERS THAT ARE COMING IN.

A MEMBER OF THE SWAT TEAM IS KIND OF WHERE I GOT TO KNOW HIM AT EARLY ON IS VERY INTO THAT AND VERY, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE THERE.

SERVED AS A TRAFFIC OFFICER.

SO YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HIM RIDE AROUND ON A MOTORCYCLE.

HE ALSO WAS AN INVESTIGATOR WITH CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND A FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR.

SO HE CURRENTLY HIS CURRENT ROLE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

HE'S IN OUR PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.

SO COMPLAINTS THAT COME IN, HE'S THE ONE THAT INVESTIGATES THOSE COMPLAINTS.

HE'S ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ACCREDITATION PROCESS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH WITH THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION.

SO HE'S A MASTER POLICE OFFICER CERTIFICATION WITH TCOLE.

HE'S GOT OVER 30 LETTERS OF COMMENDATION IN HIS FILE FROM HIS YEARS OF SERVICE.

SO REALLY, HE'S REALLY KNOWN FOR HIS HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS JOB KNOWLEDGE, HIS ABILITY TO TRAIN NEW OFFICERS.

AND JUST HE IS HE LOVES THE JOB OF POLICE WORK.

AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO HAVE HIM IN OUR SHOP HERE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO, BILL MACK, 25 YEARS OF SERVICE, LIEUTENANT [APPLAUSE].

25 YEARS CRAZY.

DID WE HAVE CONCRETE ROADS BACK THEN?

[00:05:05]

[PRESENTATIONS]

AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE DAIS OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, CARYN RIGGS, AND OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR, MARK LONG.

THE INFAMOUS MARK LONG.

SO WE DON'T HAVE A FORMAL PRESENTATION.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

WE DON'T HAVE A FORMAL PRESENTATION.

THIS IS JUST MORE OF AN UPDATE.

YOU KNOW, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WE GAVE YOU AN UPDATE KIND OF ON WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE'VE BEEN, WHERE WE'RE GOING.

AND THIS IS JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST 6 TO 8 WEEKS.

WE HAVE BEEN MEETING MARK AND I HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THE Y EVERY TUESDAY MORNING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF JUST TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE FACILITY, THE CLEANLINESS OF THE FACILITY, ANYTHING WE'RE SEEING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE AWARE OF.

AND I AM SO EXCITED.

IT'S BEEN SUCH A POSITIVE, POSITIVE OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAVE JUST MET WITH THE EXECUTIVES.

WE HAVE THE GREAT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TO REALLY ADDRESS THE SITUATION.

AND IT'S JUST BEEN A REALLY POSITIVE OUTCOME.

WE HAVE THE CLEANLINESS HAS BEEN IMPROVED.

WE HAVE NOW TWO CLEANING PEOPLE ON STAFF, A MALE AND A FEMALE TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH MALE AND FEMALE LOCKER ROOMS ARE CLEAN, TIMELY AND EFFICIENTLY.

THERE'S BEEN THERE WERE SOME ISSUES AROUND THAT ONE CORRIDOR WHERE THE KIDS WERE PICKING AT SOME STUFF, AND THAT CORRIDOR HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REPAINTED, LOOKS ALMOST BRAND NEW, IF NOT BRAND NEW.

I'M ALSO PLEASED TO REPORT LET ME PUT MY GLASSES ON SO I CAN READ.

AT THE END OF JULY, WE HAD 34,28 MEMBERS AT THE END OF AUGUST WE HAVE 3,596 MEMBERS. SO IN A MONTH WE GAINED 168 MEMBERS THAT'S REALLY EXCITING, REALLY EXCITING.

SO THE OTHER THING THAT I KIND OF WANT TO JUST TO PUT ON EVERYONE'S RADAR IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAROLANNE MENTIONED DURING OUR MEETING THIS MORNING WAS SHE WANTS TO DO COFFEE WITH CAROLANNE TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SWING BY THE Y, HAVE COFFEE WITH HER, GET TO KNOW HER, BRING THINGS TO HER ATTENTION, AND SHE'S GOING TO PUT THAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND DO IT ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON OR A THURSDAY MORNING OR THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST TO GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW HER BECAUSE SHE'S NEW TO BEDFORD SHE IS A BEDFORD RESIDENT. SHE MOVED HERE SHORTLY AFTER SHE GOT THE POST, SO THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF PUT ON YOUR RADAR, WE'VE MENTIONED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING BUDGET TALKS WHEN WE PRESENTED FINANCIALS TO YOU IN AUGUST, THERE WERE WE WERE OPERATING WITH ABOUT $170,000 DEFICIT.

AND THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ONE YEAR IN NOT EVEN A FULL YEAR IN.

AND AS WE GROW AND GET MORE MEMBERS, WE EXPECT TO SEE THOSE REVENUES INCREASE.

BUT THE CAVEAT OF THAT IS THAT $5 DISCOUNT WITH THAT 3,500 MEMBERS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN JULY, THAT DISCOUNTS COSTING US ABOUT $140,000.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KIND OF WANT TO DISCUSS AND SEE WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS WERE WAS MAYBE DOING A BIG MEMBERSHIP DRIVE IN THE FALL AND GETTING AS MANY PEOPLE IN WITH THAT $5 DISCOUNT AS POSSIBLE.

AND THEN MAYBE WE GRANDFATHER THEM IN AND THEN MAYBE IN JANUARY OF 24, WE LOOK AT POSSIBLY DOING AWAY WITH THAT DISCOUNT.

SO JUST SOMETHING TO KIND OF DIGEST AND THINK ABOUT SINCE WE'RE KIND OF SITTING WITH THAT DEFICIT RIGHT NOW.

SO IS THIS THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR US TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT? YES, PLEASE. AS WE APPROVE THIS BUDGET? YES. OKAY.

AND SO THAT'S JUST REALLY WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF KIND OF WHAT THOSE MEETINGS ARE AND KIND OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING.

I DIDN'T PUT TOGETHER ANYTHING FORMAL TONIGHT.

IT WAS MORE OF JUST AN UPDATE SO YOU GUYS COULD KNOW THAT WE'RE VISITING WITH THEM EVERY WEEK AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE VISITED TODAY, WAS IF THESE WEEKLY MEETINGS NEED TO CONTINUE AND WE AGREE, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THEM FOR THE TIME BEING UNTIL PROBABLY AT LEAST UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR SO.

SO REFRESH US, WHAT WAS THE GOAL WHEN WE ENTERED INTO THIS MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT? WELL, THIS THEY'RE EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD AND IT WAS ALSO TO SAVE THE CITY FUNDS.

AND WE HAD A MEMBERSHIP GOAL OF 2,700.

THAT WAS THE ANTICIPATION AT THE TIME.

AND THE CONCEPT IS THERE WAS A BREAK EVEN POINT HERE WHERE THERE WOULD BE NET ZERO COST TO THE RESIDENTS.

CORRECT. WHAT WE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE 3,400-3,500 MEMBER UNITS NOW, THEY DIDN'T ALL JOIN JANUARY 1ST.

THEREFORE, THE BENEFIT TO US IS KIND OF PRORATED.

SO IF WE PROJECT AHEAD A YEAR, WE NOW BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GETTING TO A NET NEUTRAL ZERO.

THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL.

ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE WITH THE YMCA, ALL THE CITY STAFF.

I MEAN, THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN GREAT AND IT'S AWESOME TO SEE THE RESPONSE OF THE YMCA.

I MEAN, WE WERE A TEAM AND THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE FORWARD IS TOGETHER.

I PERSONALLY AGREE WITH DOING A MEMBERSHIP DRIVE TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR AND THEN SUNSETTING THE $5 DISCOUNT A MONTH FOR THE, I GUESS THE START OF NEXT YEAR.

I THINK THAT'D BE A GREAT IDEA.

I THINK IT'D BE ANOTHER WE MAY SEE ANOTHER HUGE INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP.

[00:10:03]

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

SO, MISS RIGGS.

SO IF WE WERE TO RIGHT NOW, WE BUDGETED NOT TO HAVE THE DISCOUNT.

SO THAT'S NOT ANYTHING.

THE BUDGET YOU PRESENTED DIDN'T INCLUDE THE DISCOUNT, CORRECT? IT DID INCLUDE THE DISCOUNT.

IT DID? YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM.

AND SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GRANDFATHERING, JUST LIKE LOGISTICALLY SO A MEMBER WHO HAS BEEN GETTING THE DISCOUNT, IF WE DECIDE TO DO AWAY WITH IT IN JANUARY, THEN THEY WILL BE CHARGED THEIR REGULAR RATE, WHATEVER LEVEL THEY'RE AT.

RIGHT. SO THE IDEA IS IF YOU ARE A MEMBER NOW, YOU WILL THAT IS YOUR PRICE.

EVEN IF WE DO AWAY WITH THE DISCOUNT I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE GRANDFATHERING.

SO WE WOULD KEEP THAT CONSTANT AND THEN ANYONE WHO COMES IN STARTING JANUARY 1ST, THEY'RE AT THE THE MARKET RATES.

YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? SO THIS HAS BEEN AN ADVENTURE.

WITHOUT GETTING TOO DEEP IN IT, I THINK WE NEED TO THANK THE RESIDENTS.

THEY HELPED ALERT US TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS OUT AT THE CENTER.

SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO ASSISTED IN SOME OF THAT.

SO IT'S A GOOD TIME TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE INVOLVED.

CLEARLY, THE RESIDENTS TAKE PRIDE IN THAT FACILITY.

CLEARLY, THE CITY TAKES PRIDE IN IT.

CLEARLY, THE YMCA TAKES PRIDE IN IT.

THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP.

THERE WERE SOME REAL CONCERNS HERE.

CLEARLY, WE VALUE THIS PARTNERSHIP.

WE BELIEVE WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER GOING FORWARD WITH THAT.

AND I KNOW TIME AND TIME AGAIN TALKING TO THE RESIDENTS, THEY ARE THRILLED WITH WHAT HAS BECOME OUT THERE.

AND I KNOW WHEN WE WERE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS A FEW YEARS AGO, WE COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED A BETTER SCENARIO TAKING PLACE THAN WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. SO IT IS COMPLIMENTS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. SO WE'RE GOING TO DO REGULAR UPDATES, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, QUARTERLY.

YES. THAT THE PLAN.

OKAY. WE FIGURED THAT'S FREQUENT ENOUGH.

TELL THESE GUYS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME.

YEAH. IF WE FEEL LIKE QUARTERLY, WE DON'T KNOW THAT ENOUGH WILL CHANGE TO JUSTIFY MORE FREQUENT THAN QUARTERLY.

BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING Y'ALL WANT OR IF THERE'S ANYTHING COMES UP OUT OF THE QUARTERLY UPDATES THAT Y'ALL WANT TO REVISIT SOONER THAN THAT, WE'LL DO WHATEVER Y'ALL WANT.

VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. MR. WELLS, ANYONE SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS?

[PUBLIC COMMENTS ]

AND LET'S I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO READ THE SPIEL.

I'M GOING TO SAVE YOU TIME TONIGHT, TOM.

SO UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU'RE MR. TOM CULBERT. YES.

YOU HAVE 30 MINUTES, SIR.

YOU KNOW, AS YOU GET OLDER, DISASTER, THAT MAKES IT WORSE.

YOU KNOW MY BACKYARD HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

IT'S STILL COVERED IN BRICKS AND ROCKS WHERE THEY TOOK THE TURF AWAY.

WE'VE NOW HAD AN INCH AND A HALF OF RAIN AND NOW I GOT A MUD PUDDLE.

WHAT DO I GOT TO DO TO GET THE DADGUM THING FIXED? I DIDN'T DESTROY IT.

HAVE YOU MET JIMMY STATHATOS? I THINK WE'VE MET ONCE OR TWICE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'LL WAIT TILL YOU'RE FINISHED.

SIR. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A RHETORICAL QUESTION.

IT WAS A RHETORICAL QUESTION.

WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANT AN ANSWER YET OR IF YOU WANT ME TO WAIT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU. I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT IF OR WHEN THAT YARD OF MINE WILL BE REPAIRED THAT WAS TORN UP TO FIX THE SEWER OF THE GUY BEHIND ME.

RIGHT. THERE'S EXACTLY.

WELL, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL PUT IT IN THE BEDFORD CONNECTION.

I'M JUST KIDDING [LAUGHTER].

NO. GOD, NO.

IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, TALK ABOUT A GREAT INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT.

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME DISPUTE WITH YOU AND I DON'T WANT TO PUBLICLY WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT PRIVATELY OR WHAT HAVE YOU, BUT THE CITY FEELS CONFIDENT THAT WE RECEIVED YOUR CONSENT TO ENTER YOUR PROPERTY TO REPAIR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE PROJECT HAS NOT BEEN FINISHED YET.

AT THE VERY END OF ANY PUBLIC PROJECT, THE LAST STEP IS TO RESTORE EVERYTHING AS TO HOW IT WAS BEFORE ANY REPAIRS WERE MADE.

SO WE'RE NOT FINISHED.

WE'RE NOT ABANDONING YOU. WE'RE JUST NOT DONE YET.

WHAT PROJECT IS IT WE'RE HOLDING UP FOR?

[00:15:02]

IT'S THE IT'S, I BELIEVE, A SEWER LINE REPAIR FOR LIKE, AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT I THINK PRIMARILY SERVES YOUR NEIGHBOR BEHIND YOU.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF CHERYL IS.

I SAW HER. YEAH.

CHERYL, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, I THINK SHE JUST LEFT THE BUILDING.

YEAH, BUT CHERYL CAN TELL.

THERE SHE IS, CHERYL PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

CHERYL, IS IT A SEWER? CHATTANOOGA? IS IT A SEWER LINE OR A WATER LINE REPLACEMENT? HIS SEWER LINE COLLAPSED.

RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REPLACING.

AND SO I GET DAMAGED BECAUSE HIS SEWER LINE COLLAPSES.

YES, SIR. DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO GET A BACKHOE INTO HIS YARD? SIR THAT'S WHY WE GOT PERMISSION FROM YOU TO ENTER YOUR PROPERTY.

SHOW ME THAT.

I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO.

THERE AIN'T NO DADGUM PERMISSION FOR ME TO COME ON MY PROPERTY.

SO MY CURIOSITY IS HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE OUT THERE? IN THE LAST I HEARD, THE CITY'S EASEMENT IS DOWN THE UTILITY LINE, NOT 30FT INTO MY BACKYARD.

OKAY, WELL, CHERYL IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

CHERYL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO [INAUDIBLE].

MR. CULBERT, COULD CHERYL PLEASE SPEAK? SHE COULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

CHERYL SO THE SEWER LINE REPAIR HAS BEEN COMPLETED I CAN'T HEAR YOU. THE SEWER LINE WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED, BUT THE WEATHER HAS BEEN HOT.

SO IF WE WERE TO PUT ANY GRASS DOWN, IT WOULD HAVE DIE IF WITHOUT SOMEBODY OUT THERE WATERING.

SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IS THE WEATHER TO IMPROVE A LITTLE BIT.

SO IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, WE CAN COME BACK OUT AND WE CAN REGRADE FINE, GRADE IT BACK.

AND SO WE'LL FOLLOW UP BY MAKING IT RIGHT.

ABSOLUTELY. IT'S ON EVERYBODY'S LIST.

WE'RE ALL AWARE AND IT'S SOMETHING.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH TOM? HAVE YOU MET TOM BEFORE? YES. OKAY.

YES, SIR. HI, TOM.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? I CAN HEAR YOU.

YOU'RE SPEAKING INTO THE MIC.

BECAUSE I BOOSTED MY MIC SO YOU CAN HEAR ME.

CAN YOU HEAR HER? NO. YOU CAN'T HEAR HER.

SHE'S SPEAKING TO YOU.

THE MICROPHONE IS NOT CATCHING YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CHERYL. APPRECIATE THAT UPDATE.

OKAY, SO WE'RE GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, TOM. I APPRECIATE THAT.

YEAH, SURE. OKAY.

NEXT UP, WE DO HAVE SOME ITEMS TO CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL BY CONSENT.

[CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT]

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL. WE ONLY HAVE A FEW ITEMS ON CONSENT.

THE FIRST TWO ITEMS ARE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FOR THE AUGUST 10TH, 2023 WORK SESSION AND THE AUGUST 22ND 2023 REGULAR MEETING.

THE 3RD ITEM IS CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ARTICLE FOUR QUOTE UNQUOTE CURFEW OF CHAPTER 82 OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.

CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS.

PROVIDING THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE OF ALL ORDINANCES PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND ESTABLISH AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ONCE AGAIN, THE LEGISLATURE HAS CUT THE LEGS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND SO NOW CITIES ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO HAVE A JUVENILE CURFEW. AND SO THAT IS WHAT THIS WILL CODIFY TO RESCIND THE CURFEW.

OKAY, VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCIL? OKAY.

WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.

A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.

LET'S VOTE.

OKAY, THAT'S UNANIMOUS SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.

UNDER NEW BUSINESS, ITEM 3, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS, FOR THE FISCAL PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER

[3. Public hearing on the annual budget for the City of Bedford, Texas for the fiscal period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024; levying taxes for 2023 tax year.]

SO WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME BACK TO THE DAIS OUR STRATEGIC SERVICES MANAGER, MEG JAKUBIK.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

SO TONIGHT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR ADDITIONAL PROCEDURAL ITEMS THAT GO ALONG WITH THE BUDGET.

OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A MONTH AND A HALF AT THIS POINT.

THE BUDGET DOCUMENT WAS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST FOR ANYONE WHO WANTED TO MOVE THROUGH IT.

WE HAD OUR BUDGET WORK SESSION AND WE HAD OUR LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SETTING OUR NOT TO EXCEED TAX RATE AND SO FORTH.

AND SO TONIGHT WE COME TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

SO FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE, WE'RE GOING TO DO A VERY QUICK OVERVIEW.

THIS WILL SOUND VERY FAMILIAR TO ALL OF YOU AS HAVING SEEN IT.

[00:20:02]

IT IS ALWAYS CONTINUING AS WE LOOK THROUGH AT THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WE'RE OFFERING AND WHAT IT TAKES TO FUND THOSE, BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS THE OPERATIONAL PLAN AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE WORK OF ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL AND CERTAINLY NOT ME.

I HAVE A TEAM OF PEOPLE BEHIND ME, MOST OF WHICH DON'T EVER END UP COMING TO THESE MEETINGS, BUT CERTAINLY ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND PUTTING TOGETHER THESE BUDGET REQUESTS AND REALLY TRYING TO LOOK THROUGH THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS AND WHAT THEY'RE PRESENTING AND REQUESTING TO MAKE SURE IT'S REASONABLE AND IT'S ADEQUATE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES.

SO HERE WE HAVE OUR TAX RATE HISTORY, WHICH IS OF COURSE SPLIT INTO THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS SIDE AND OUR INTEREST IN SINKING, WHICH IS OUR DEBT SIDE.

AND WE ARE SEEING OUR DEBT RATE HAS BEEN GOING DOWN AS WE'VE BEEN MANAGING THAT DEBT.

AND AGAIN, DEBT IS NOT A FOUR LETTER WORD.

IT'S MUCH LIKE THE MORTGAGE ON YOUR HOUSE.

IT'S FOR INVESTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO LAST FOR MULTIPLE YEARS AND IT MAKES SENSE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FINANCING OPTIONS FOR THEM.

OKAY, SO I'VE HEARD YOUR PRESENTATION FOR TEN YEARS NOW, AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THAT.

SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT, BECAUSE THERE'S A MISNOMER OUT THERE AMONGST SOME RESIDENTS THAT WE CAN PAY CASH FOR EVERYTHING.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE CURRENT RESIDENTS TO PAY CASH FOR EVERYTHING BECAUSE THAT IS PUTTING THE BURDEN ON OUR CURRENT RESIDENTS WHO MAY NOT STILL BE HERE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THE FUTURE.

AND SO IT IS IN THE RIGHT SETTINGS, THE APPROPRIATE FINANCING FOR CAPITAL INVESTMENTS IN PARTICULAR, BUT EVEN FOR SOME OF OUR OUR EQUIPMENT WITH AN APPROPRIATE LENGTH NOTE, IT IS AN APPROPRIATE FINANCING TOOL AND ONE THAT SPREADS THE EQUITY OF THE COSTS TO THOSE WHO ARE BENEFITING FROM IT.

AND IT WORKS WHEN WE MANAGE IT RESPONSIBLY? CORRECT ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE OUR EXPENSE TRENDS, SO WE LOOK AT OUR OPERATING SIDE AND HOW OUR REVENUE IS GROWING, HOW OUR EXPENSES GROWING.

WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE OUR EXPENSES ARE GROWING FASTER THAN OUR REVENUE.

AND SEVERAL YEARS BACK WE WERE THAT WAS AND COUNCILS IN THOSE ERAS WERE FACED WITH MAKING DECISIONS BECAUSE OF THOSE DECISIONS AND BECAUSE OF THE DECISIONS THAT COUNCIL HAS CONTINUED TO MAKE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT OURSELVES ON A GOOD, SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL PATH WITH OUR OPERATING SIDE, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE AS WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET YEAR OVER YEAR.

THIS IS THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST.

YOU SAW IT IN CHART FORM AT THE BUDGET WORK SESSION.

IT'S JUST HERE WERE MOVED INTO GRAPHICAL FORM.

BUT YOU CAN SEE AGAIN, WE'RE EVEN WITH THE DECISIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL, WE STILL ARE MAINTAINING OUR OPERATING RESERVE ABOVE 20%, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES AND OUR REVENUE OR EXPENDITURES ARE IN LINE AND STILL GIVING US ROOM FOR THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T YET KNOW TO ANTICIPATE AS WE LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.

OKAY, WE DID GET ANOTHER MONTH OF SALES TAX, SO NOT QUITE WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, BUT OUR OVERALL PERCENTAGE FOR THE YEAR IS STILL IN LINE WITH OUR PROJECTIONS.

SO WE'RE WATCHING THAT. AND OF COURSE, WE DO KNOW WE HAVE BUSINESSES THAT WILL BE COMING ONLINE THAT WE VERY CONSERVATIVELY INCLUDED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET NUMBERS UNTIL WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE REAL PERFORMANCES BEFORE WE COMFORTABLY ADD THOSE BUDGET DOLLARS INTO OUR BUDGET PLAN.

SO REVENUES BY FUND.

OF COURSE, THE LARGEST FUND IS OUR GENERAL FUND.

IT HAS EVERYTHING THAT ISN'T LEGALLY REQUIRED TO BE PLACED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WATER SEWER FUND IS OUR NEXT LARGEST.

AND THEN WE HAVE A COUPLE OTHER OPERATING FUNDS WITH PERSONNEL, OUR TOURISM, OUR STORMWATER, AND THEN WE HAVE DEBT SERVICE AND ALL OF OUR MISCELLANEOUS FUNDS THAT ARE ESTABLISHED EITHER FOR LEGAL OR A SPECIFIC BUDGET PURPOSE, SUCH AS OUR MAINTENANCE FUNDS, SO THAT WE'RE SETTING THOSE CASH DOLLARS ASIDE.

AND THEN LOOKING AT EXPENDITURES BY CLASSIFICATION.

THIS IS OVERALL ALL FUNDS.

SO 41%, JUST OVER 41% IS PERSONNEL.

AND THEN WE HAVE ALL OF OUR OTHER EXPENSE CATEGORIES, OUR SUPPLIES, OUR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, OF COURSE, OUR PAYMENTS TO THE TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY FOR WATER PURCHASE AND SEWER TREATMENT.

SO LOOKING A LITTLE MORE SPECIFICALLY TO THE GENERAL FUND, THIS IS WHERE OUR REVENUE IS COMING FROM.

[00:25:05]

AND THEN FROM THERE, IT'S ALL OF OUR OTHER CATEGORIES, OUR CHARGES FOR SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDES OUR REVENUE FOR AMBULANCE, ANY OF OUR REVENUE THAT'S COMING IN ON OUR GENERAL FUND RECREATION SIDE, OUR LICENSES AND PERMITS, OUR FINES AND FORFEITURES.

SO AGAIN, LARGEST PORTION PROPERTY TAX, SALES TAX, THAT'S WHERE OUR BIGGEST BUDGET DOLLARS ARE.

AND THEN WHERE THE MONEY GOES.

AND AS COUNCIL IS AWARE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ONE TIME ITEMS IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, THIS IS LOOKING JUST AT THE ONGOING OPERATIONAL EXPENSES THAT ARE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. SO TWO THIRDS OF THE BUDGET ARE PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE AND FIRE, FOLLOWED BY ALL OF OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

OF COURSE, SOME OF THEM MAY NOT BE AS FAMILIAR TO PEOPLE.

SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDES OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TEAM AND INCLUDES HUMAN RESOURCES.

GENERAL GOVERNMENT IS CITY MANAGER OR CITY SECRETARY.

I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, YOUR OTHER DEPARTMENT NAMES ARE PRETTY SELF EXPLANATORY.

OKAY. SO LOOKING AT THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, THESE ARE OUR CURRENT OBLIGATIONS.

AND SO WE DO A FEW EVEN NEXT YEAR THAT ARE GOING TO BE ROLLING OFF AND FINISHING OFF.

THIS DOES INCLUDE THE ISSUANCE THAT WAS DONE IN AUGUST 2023 A.

AND SO THIS IS THE TOTAL ISSUANCES THAT ARE BEING PAID BY THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND SIDE OF OUR TAX RATE.

AND IF WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY, YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE THE SPIKE FOR SOME OF THE WATER AND SEWER.

WE'VE HAD THE SPIKE WHEN PHASE NEXT AND GENERATIONS PARK WAS DONE.

BUT WE ARE STAYING.

WE HAVE SOME DROPS AND WE ARE STAYING FAIRLY LEVEL.

AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT FOR FUNDING SOURCES INTO THE FUTURE ON THESE CAPITAL NEEDS.

OKAY. LOOKING INTO THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, WE HAVE OUR 4B FUND, WHICH IS OUR STREET IMPROVEMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S DOING STREET MAINTENANCE.

THERE IS NO PERSONNEL EXPENSES IN THIS FUND.

WE DO HAVE MAINTENANCE ON OUR STREETS.

WE DO HAVE SOME DEBT, SOME DEBT THAT WAS ISSUED THAT IS BEING PAID FOR OUT OF THIS FUND.

AND THEN WE DO HAVE ONE TIME CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING MANAGED IN CONJUNCTION AND WE DO PUBLIC WORKS DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF LOOKING AT OUR PROJECTS OVERALL, WHAT PORTION COMES FROM STREETS, WHAT PORTION COMES FROM WATER, SEWER.

OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT TO REFINISH A STREET AND THEN TURN AROUND AND DIG IT UP TO DO A SEWER LINE.

SO LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN COORDINATE THOSE PROJECTS AND THAT PLAN.

AND SO WE DO HAVE TWO LARGE ONE TIME PROJECTS IN NEXT YEAR'S 4B BUDGET.

TOURISM FUND, REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES.

OF COURSE, THE PRIMARY SOURCE FOR THIS FUND IS OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.

AND SO WE HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO SEE THE RECOVERY THAT THIS FUND HAS BEEN HAVING SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, YOU'RE SEEING MORE EXPENSES IN THE EVENTS AND CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.

SINCE WE DO HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF PERSONNEL HERE, MOSTLY ON THE CULTURAL ARTS SIDE.

AND THEN WE DID DO SOME BUDGET FLIPS, PARTIALLY JUST TO MAKE THINGS EASIER ON THE ACCOUNTING SIDE, WHERE INSTEAD OF SPLITTING PERSONNEL BETWEEN THE FUNDS, WE INCREASE THE TRANSFER BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND JUST BECAUSE ON THE PAYROLL SIDE IT WAS EASIER TO MANAGE THE ACCOUNTING.

AND SO THAT SO YOU'LL SEE THAT IF YOU'RE LOOKING IN THE HISTORY OF THE BUDGET NUMBERS THERE.

AND THEN INTO OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

WATER AND SEWER REVENUE IS PRETTY MUCH OUR WATER AND SEWER CHARGES AND THEN SOME BILLING FEES AND SO FORTH, BUT NOT MUCH ELSE IN THAT FUND.

THE LARGEST EXPENSE ON THIS SIDE IS OUR PAYMENTS TO THE TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY.

AGAIN, LIKE THE GENERAL FUND, THIS IS ONLY LOOKING AT THOSE ONGOING OPERATIONAL EXPENSES.

AND WE ARE PROPOSING RATE INCREASES.

THIS IS PARTIALLY DUE TO INCREASES FROM TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY, WHICH WE RECEIVE EVERY YEAR.

BUT ADDITIONALLY, WE DO HAVE OUR RATE CONSULTANTS REVIEW OUR EXPENSES.

AND SO GIVEN INCREASING COSTS, INCREASES IN PERSONNEL EXPENSES AND CAPITAL PROJECTS AND FUTURE CAPITAL NEEDS, WE ARE RECOMMENDING RATE INCREASES WHICH ARE ADDITIONALLY ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.

AND THEN STORMWATER FUND FUNDED BY STORMWATER CHARGES.

MAJORITY OF THAT BECAUSE OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, OUR ENGINEERING TEAM PROVIDE A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO STORMWATER.

SO IT DOES PAY THOSE FUNDS BACK FOR THAT.

SO THAT'S WHERE THAT ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD IS.

IT DOES HAVE DEBT, BUT THEN WE DO HAVE OUR STORMWATER TEAM THAT IS OUT CLEARING CREEKS AND THEN OF COURSE THEIR SUPPLIES AND NEEDS FOR THEIR OPERATIONS.

[00:30:06]

AND THIS WAS AGAIN REVIEWED BY OUR CONSULTANT AND THEY CONCUR THAT WE DO NOT NEED A RATE INCREASE AT THIS TIME.

SO MOVING INTO THE TAX RATE OUR 22-23 RATE WAS 0.495726 PER $100 VALUATION.

THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE WAS A LITTLE BIT BELOW THAT, BUT THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IS 9.5726 PER $100.

THAT IS THE RATE THAT'S RECOMMENDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND WAS PUBLISHED AS THE MAXIMUM RATE TO BE CONSIDERED THIS EVENING.

AND SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO ON THE AVERAGE HOME, WHICH WHICH WE DID SEE INCREASES IN OUR AVERAGE TAXABLE VALUE ON HOMES, THAT'S LOOKING AT JUST UNDER $1,500 A YEAR OR $123 A MONTH FOR THOSE SERVICES AND OF COURSE, SENIOR PROPERTIES THAT ARE UNDER THEIR TAX CEILING AND HAVE A TAX FREEZE.

WE'LL, OF COURSE, SEE NO INCREASE.

SO THE COMPARISONS YOU SEE ON A SENIOR PROPERTY HERE ARE FOR A NEWLY QUALIFIED PROPERTY AND THAT WOULD BECOME THEIR CEILING.

ARE THERE ANY EXEMPTIONS FOR RETIRING MAYORS? I NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, BUT I AM ALSO NOT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND IN CHARGE OF PUTTING IN THOSE EXEMPTIONS.

AND JEFF LONG'S NOT AROUND ANYMORE, SO I CAN'T ASK HIM.

I'M GOING TO MOVE ON, SIR.

SO LOOKING AT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICALLY ON THAT AVERAGE HOME IMPACT, SO THAT $123 A MONTH, WHERE IS YOUR DOLLARS GOING? HALF OF IT'S GOING TO POLICE AND FIRE.

SO, AGAIN, THAT'S $100 AND SO $35 A MONTH, $27 A MONTH, POLICE AND FIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AVAILABLE 24/7 H OLIDAYS INCLUDED, IF YOU EVER NEED THEM AND THEIR SERVICES.

AND I WOULD SAY FOR $4.61 A MONTH, I KNOW YOU CAN GET MORE VALUE THAN THAT OUT OF JUST A COUPLE OF VISITS TO THE LIBRARY A MONTH WITH THE SPECTACULAR PROGRAMS THAT OUR LIBRARY TEAM PUTS ON OUR PARKS AND REC TEAM.

SO THAT'S THE VALUE YOU'RE GETTING FOR YOUR TAX DOLLARS.

AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S LESS I WOULD SAY LESS THAN CABLE, BUT I THINK MOST PEOPLE HAVE CUT CABLE AT THIS POINT.

SO I DO KNOW IT'S LESS THAN MY PHONE BILL A MONTH FOR MY MOBILE PHONES.

SO AND SO AGAIN, REALLY QUICK HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW.

CERTAINLY, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.

BUT JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE WHERE WERE AT WHAT WE WENT THROUGH, WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT, ONE FOR BUDGET.

I'LL BE BACK UP FOR A QUICK SECOND FOR TAX RATE.

AND THEN BUT TONIGHT, WE DO HAVE ON THE AGENDA ALL OF THE ACTION ITEMS TO FINALIZE OUR BUDGET PROCESS FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

OKAY. VERY GOOD. OKAY.

IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNCIL DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY. SO PUBLIC HEARING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

WE DO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF MEG JAKUBIK IS GOING TO STAND BY TO HELP ASSIST WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

SO WHY DON'T WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:35.

ANYONE IS WELCOME TO COME UP AND ASK ANY QUESTION OR GIVE US RECIPES OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.

BRAD, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOME GOOD RECIPES.

YES. SOME FOR BEEF JERKY.

BEEF JERKY. OKAY.

OKAY. WE'VE NEVER HAD A BEEF JERKY RECIPE.

OKAY. ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'M LOOKING AT. I'M LOOKING AT JARON.

HE'S GOT NOTHING. THOUGHT FOR SURE.

OKAY. IT'S 6:36 LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MEG WHILE WE HAVE OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION? WOW, YOU GUYS ARE SO EASY THIS YEAR.

GOOD JOB. OKAY, MEG, YOU LIKE TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 4?

[4. Public hearing to consider the proposed 2023 tax rate. ]

UM, YES.

SO ITEM 4 IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE REQUIRED BY THE TAX CODE.

SO WE PULLED THE SLIDE BACK UP AGAIN.

RESIDENTS ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT TARRANTTAXINFO.COM, AND THROUGH THAT WEBSITE THEY CAN ALSO SUBMIT COMMENTS.

WE DID RECEIVE THREE SUBMISSIONS THIS YEAR.

TWO WERE IN FAVOR OF THE TAX RATE.

ONE DID REQUEST A DECREASE.

BUT THAT IS ALL I HAVE RECEIVED IN MY OFFICE.

AND SO WE DO HAVE THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE AGAIN, THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED AS 0.495726 PER $100 VALUATION, WHICH IS EQUAL TO THE VOTER APPROVAL

[00:35:03]

ONE THOUGHT HERE, JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE UP TO DATE ON THIS, CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE ONE TIME ITEMS THAT ARE IN THIS PROPOSED RATE? I MEAN, YEAH, IT'S PART OF THE THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

THE ONE TIME ITEMS REALLY ARE BEING UTILIZED PRIMARILY BY FUND BALANCE, BY FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS AVAILABLE.

AND EVEN WITH USING THOSE, WE STILL KEEP OUR FUND BALANCE ABOVE THAT 20% THRESHOLD FROM FINANCIAL POLICY, AND INTO THE FUTURE AS WELL.

CORRECT. OKAY.

OKAY. COUNCIL. COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

SO, MISS JAKUBIK, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE VALUE PROPOSITION OF US GOING WITH THE CURRENT TAX RATE AS OPPOSED TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE? WHAT INVESTMENTS OR VALUE THAT WE'RE GETTING BY KEEPING OUR TAX RATE THE SAME AS OPPOSED TO GOING WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE? SO A LOT OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE INCLUDED AND EVALUATED AND I MAY HAVE TO GET CARYN TO HELP REMIND ME, BUT IT WAS ALSO A LOT OF INVESTMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE COULD REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

SO IT DOES INCLUDE COMPENSATION PACKAGES FOR BOTH GENERAL EMPLOYEES AND A LITTLE BIT RICHER ON THE POLICE AND FIRE SIDE.

AGAIN, JUST LOOKING AT THE MARKET AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PAYING OUR EMPLOYEES FAIRLY AND THAT WE CAN RECRUIT COMPETITIVELY FOR OPENINGS.

SO THAT WAS A LARGE PORTION THAT GOES INTO WHAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL OPERATING FUNDS.

BEYOND THAT, WE THE DEPARTMENTS EVALUATE THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR PROGRAMS. NOW MY MIND IS BLANKING ON WHAT EXACTLY SPECIFICALLY WAS INCLUDED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, CYBERSECURITY PROTECTIONS WERE REQUESTED FROM THERE WAS ALSO SOME ASSISTANCE TO THE LIBRARY TO INCREASE SOME OF THEIR.

CORRECT. YES, WE DID INCLUDE PROGRAMING FOR THE LIBRARY.

WE INCLUDED MONIES TO CODE ENFORCEMENT OR NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES FOR REMEDIATION EFFORTS.

THOSE WERE SOME OF THE ONGOING THE MANNEQUINS ARE ONE TIME.

SO THAT'S COMING OUT OF FUND BALANCE.

BY AND FAR THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE DIFFERENCE IS COLA RAISES FOR ALL OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEN STEP RAISES FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES, CORRECT, BY AND FAR.

SO IN GENERAL, WE CAN SAY THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUR CITY FACILITIES AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR STAFF HAS WHAT THEY NEED.

YES, MA'AM. MAY I SPEAK ALSO TO VERY, VERY BIG THINGS THAT I THINK ARE VERY CRITICAL ARE A NEW FIRE STATION, BECAUSE IT'S THE ONE WE HAVE IS OUTDATED AND DILAPIDATED.

AND IT REALLY IT WASN'T BUILT FOR TODAY'S NEEDS, OBVIOUSLY.

AND SO ANYWAY, BUT IT'S A PART OF BEDFORD COMMONS.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

THE OTHER THING IS MUCH NEEDED RENOVATION EXPANSION TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER.

AND SO THOSE TWO ITEMS ALSO DIRECTLY AFFECT THE I&S PORTION OF THE TAX RATE.

I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW THAT, BUT JUST FOR PUBLIC EDIFICATION.

SO. OKAY.

AND WHAT WE FIND IS WE'VE GOT A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT PERSONNEL WISE.

ALL CITIES ARE STRAPPED RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE ALL LOOKING FOR TO FILL EMPTY POSITIONS.

THERE WAS A TIME HERE WHERE WE WERE NOT COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKETPLACE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, BUT NOW WE ARE.

AND SO WE HAVE WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED THE DYNAMIC WHERE WE'RE NOT GETTING AS POACHED AS MUCH TODAY AS WE WERE IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

IS THAT VALID? YES.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. SO STAFF HAS A PROPOSED NEW RATE TO MAINTAIN OUR EXISTING RATE OF 4.95726.

WHAT IS COUNCIL'S PLEASURE AS FAR AS THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT.

OKAY, LET'S IT'S 6:41.

ONCE AGAIN, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BRAD TO GET UP.

SEEING THAT HE IS NOT.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS? I SAW CHIEF WALKER MOVE.

WAS THAT AN INDICATION? OKAY. CHIEF WALKER IS AN APPROVAL OF THE TAX RATE.

OKAY, LET'S CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:42.

SO, COUNCIL.

WHAT IS YOUR DESIRE? WELL, WE HAVE TO MOVE ON TO THE OTHER ITEMS BECAUSE THOSE ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO BE ADOPTED IN A CERTAIN ORDER.

CAN WE JUST MOVE TO ITEM 11? I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST ITEM NUMBER 5.

[00:40:02]

[5. Consider an ordinance adopting the annual budget for the City of Bedford, Texas for the fiscal period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024; providing for intra-fund and/or intra-departmental transfers; providing for investment of idle funds; and declaring an effective date.]

AND MEG JAKUBIK.

AND SO WE HAVE THE BUDGET AS IT WAS PRESENTED AT THE WORK SESSION, THERE WAS NO REQUEST THAT STAFF RECEIVED TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED.

AND SO WE HAVE IT PRESENTED FOR YOU AS IT WAS PRESENTED BY STAFF.

AND SO CERTAINLY IF COUNCIL HAS ANY FURTHER DESIRE TO MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AVAILABLE FUNDING IF YOU WANTED TO PUT SOME MORE ONGOING INTO IT FOR ANY PROJECTS THAT COUNCIL SAW AS A PRIORITY THAT STAFF DID NOT ADDRESS.

BUT BEYOND THAT, IT IS AS IT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU AND WE HAVE HEARD NO REQUESTS FOR CHANGES AT THIS POINT.

COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF MS. RIGGS THAT WE CONSIDER THE GRANDFATHERING OF RATES FOR THIS YEAR BUT DISCONTINUE NEXT YEAR, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE PROPOSED BUDGET? DOES IT AT ALL? IT DOES NOT. THE MONEY IS IN THERE TO CONTINUE FUNDING THE DISCOUNT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE RESIDENTS THAT SIGNED UP UNDER THAT OFFER.

AND SO WE HAVE THE BUDGET DOLLARS TO COVER THAT.

THE DISCONTINUING DOES NOT TAKE AWAY THAT BUDGET NEED.

IT JUST MEANS FUTURE SIGNUPS WON'T ADD TO THAT BUDGET BURDEN.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.

I MEAN. COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO.

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO IS WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

WE'VE GOT A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE DISCUSSION.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS? OKAY. WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND.

LET'S VOTE. AND WE'RE APPROVING THE TAX RATE AT 4.95726.

THAT'S THE NEXT VOTE.

THIS IS JUST BUDGET. GOD BLESS.

CAN SOMEBODY TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONING OVER HERE? THINK I'M USUALLY THE ONE RUSHING IT ALONG? NO, WE CANNOT ADJOURN, ROB.

OKAY, MOVING ON TO ITEM 6.

OKAY. WE'RE MAYOR, YOU NEED TO VOTE STILL, SIR.

SO I JUST FEEL I FEEL LIKE I'M IN OUTER SPACE RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS NOW THE TIME.

OKAY, THAT'S UNANIMOUS. SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.

I'M GOING TO ASSUME WE'RE ON ITEM 6.

[6. Consider an ordinance levying taxes for the Tax Year 2023 for the City of Bedford, Texas; establishing the Ad Valorem Tax Rate of ____________ per one hundred dollars valuation; providing for the apportionment of taxes for interest and sinking and for general operating needs; providing penalties and interest for delinquent taxes; and providing an effective date.]

YES. SO THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE THAT WAS SET AT THE AUGUST 22ND MEETING WAS 0.495726 PER $100.

PLEASE DO NOTE ON THE COMMUNIQUE THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE REQUIRED FOR THIS PARTICULAR MOTION, BECAUSE THIS IS REQUIRED BY THE TAX CODE.

AND REMEMBER, THIS IS IN RELATION TO NO NEW REVENUE.

SO IF COUNCIL'S DESIRE IS TO PROCEED WITH THE PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT WAS VOTED ON AT AUGUST 27TH, 22ND, EXCUSE ME, THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVELY AN 8.37% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT MOMENT OF CHEER.

MAYOR PRO TEM COGAN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION.

I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.495726, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY AN 8.37% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.

I'M GOING TO GIVE THE SECOND TO COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO.

LET'S TOO LATE.

LET'S VOTE. SORRY, RICH.

IF YOU GET THE FINGER UP QUICKER, I CAN GIVE IT TO YOU.

OKAY, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.

ITEM 7. ITEM 7 IS A PROCEDURAL VOTE REQUIRED BECAUSE THE TAX.

[7. Consider a resolution to ratify the property tax increase as reflected in the FY 2023-2024 City of Bedford Program of Services (Budget).]

SO EVEN IF THE REVENUE AND WAS BECAUSE OF NEW CONSTRUCTION, THIS STILL WOULD BE A REQUIRED VOTE.

BUT THIS IS JUST RATIFYING THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE THAT WAS ADOPTED TO FUND THE BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED DOES HAVE A REVENUE INCREASE.

THIS IS A LINE ITEM THAT OUR OVERLORDS IN AUSTIN MADE US START DOING A FEW YEARS AGO.

CORRECT? OKAY.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL.

[00:45:01]

LET'S VOTE. OKAY, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

SEVEN ZERO. SO THANK YOU AGAIN.

COUNCIL THANK YOU. STAFF ITEM 8.

SO ITEM 8 IS OUR WATER RATES.

[8. Consider an ordinance amending the schedule of water rates by amendment of Section 1., Ordinance No. 2022-3351; providing a repealing clause; providing a severability clause; and declaring an effective date.]

WE DO HAVE CHRIS ECKERT WITH NEW-GEN HERE.

SHOULD COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO THE RATES? BUT THIS IS WHAT WAS PROPOSED AND DISCUSSED DURING THE BUDGET WORK SESSION AND THE PRESENTATION BY CHRIS AT THE AUGUST 8TH COUNCIL MEETING. OKAY.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS HERE? WOULD YOU MIND RECAPPING WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS? CERTAINLY. SO LET ME JUST.

UM, NO.

WELL, YEAH.

YEAH, WE COULD DO THAT.

SO THANKS TO AMANDA'S QUICK WORK, HERE IS THE WATER RATE SLIDE AS IT WAS PRESENTED.

SO WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE BASE RATE AND AN INCREASE IN THE VOLUME RATE.

VOLUME RATE, BOTH WATER AND SEWER IS PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY, BUT THIS OPTION DOES INCLUDE SOME CASH FUNDING FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE WATER AND SEWER FUND.

WE ARE LOOKING USING A SUMMER BILL.

SO WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO BE A WORST CASE SCENARIO ON THE INCREASES, THE AVERAGE IMPACT ON A RESIDENTIAL BILL BETWEEN BOTH WATER AND SEWER IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $8.75 LESS IN THE WINTER BILL WITH LESS WATER USAGE.

SO PLAIN AND SIMPLE WE'RE ANTICIPATING FUTURE NEEDS WITH RESPECT TO CAPITAL PROJECTS LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

CORRECT. OKAY. OKAY.

COUNCIL, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS? A BIG DISAGREEMENT.

ANYONE INTERESTED IN MAKING A MOTION? MAKE A MOTION TO.

OKAY. DO I NEED TO GIVE YOU ALL THE DATES TOO? THIS ONE DOESN'T HAVE THE IT'S JUST THE TAX RATE, ONE THAT HAS VERY SPECIFIC LET'S VOTE. OKAY.

AGAIN, THAT'S UNANIMOUS. SEVEN ZERO.

SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU.

STAFF MEG, DON'T GO AWAY.

ITEM 9, SEWER RATES.

AND THIS IS THE EXACT SAME THING AS THE PREVIOUS ITEM.

[9. Consider an ordinance amending the schedule of sewer rates by amendment of Section 1., Ordinance No. 2022-3352; providing a repealing clause; providing a severability clause; and declaring an effective date]

OKAY. I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE AND COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM I'M GOING TO GIVE THE SECOND TO COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.

LET'S VOTE. I CAN STILL HEAR YOU.

SO. YEAH.

OKAY, THAT'S UNANIMOUS. SEVEN ZERO.

SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.

MEG. THANK YOU.

TEN YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS.

I WANT TO SAY YOU HAVE REALLY COME A LONG WAY.

AS I REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED HAVING TO GET IN FRONT OF US, YOU WERE A DIFFERENT PERSON THEN THAN YOU ARE TODAY.

ALSO, EACH BUDGET, THE BUDGET, THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.

THE COMMUNICATION WITH COUNCIL, THE PRESENTATION, THE MATERIAL, THE GRAPHS, THE INFORMATION IS FIRST RATE.

WE KNOW OTHER PEOPLE IN THE AREA WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE.

YOU KNOW, TOM, WE DON'T HAVE TO FIX TOM'S YARD, RIGHT? WE CAN'T LEAVE THAT YARD.

SO, YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SUCH A TREMENDOUS JOB.

EVERYONE, I KNOW YOU'RE KIND OF THE FACE OF BUDGET FOR THIS CITY, BUT THE INFORMATION AND THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU GIVE TO COUNCIL IS JUST FIRST RATE AND IT'S NOTICEABLE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH [APPLAUSE].

YEAH. OKAY.

IT IS. IT'S MICHAEL WELLS TIME ITEM 10.

WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER TWO ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE FOUR BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.

[10. Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 2 – Administration, Article IV. – Boards, Commissions and Committees of the Code of Ordinances, City of Bedford, Texas with the addition of Division 6. - Senior Advisory Board. (Amended Item)]

WELL, YES, SIR. LOCAL CELEBRITY.

MR. WELLS. YES, SIR.

MAYOR. COUNCIL.

AS DISCUSSED AT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING, COUNCIL DID DIRECT STAFF TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE TO CREATE A SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD.

SO THE ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF YOU AS FAR AS MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS AND STUFF MATCHES PRETTY MUCH EVERY OTHER ADVISORY BOARD.

OBVIOUSLY, THE PURPOSE, AS DISCUSSED AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING, IS AS FOLLOWS TO ACT AS LIAISON FOR ALL SENIOR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY AND ADVISE THE CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF

[00:50:03]

TO SOLICIT INPUT AND ACT AS A PUBLIC FORUM FOR ISSUES THAT AFFECT SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE ADVICE BASED ON INPUT RECEIVED IN ORDER TO IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAMS, POLICIES AND SERVICES PROVIDED TO SENIORS.

TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS OF ACCESS FOR SENIORS AND CITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE, INFORM AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS. AND IF THIS IS APPROVED, COUNCIL OR STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE DO A CALL FOR APPLICATIONS USING OUR NORMAL COMMUNICATION CHANNELS WITH A DEADLINE FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER THE 6TH, AND THEN TO HAVE OUR BOARD AND COMMISSION INTERVIEWS FOR ALL BOARD COMMISSIONS ON THE OFF TUESDAY, THE THIRD TUESDAY OF OCTOBER, WHICH WOULD BE OCTOBER 17TH.

OKAY. VERY GOOD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK COUNCIL? THIS HAS BEEN A LONGER CONVERSATION THAN WE ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES, IT'S BEEN SINCE I THINK 2014 IS THE LAST TIME WE HAD THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD.

AND I THINK NOW WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE NEW SENIOR CENTER, IT'S TIME TO ESTABLISH THIS BOARD BACK UP.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS, YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS? YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMAN STEVES FOR BRINGING THIS AND MAKING THIS A PRIORITY FOR OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND FOR OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS AND TALKING TO US AND EMPHASIZING WHY THIS IS NEEDED.

AND SO IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH COUNCILMAN STEVES, WHO IS A MEMBER OF OUR BEDFORD SENIOR CENTER, TRYING TO GET THIS APPROVED.

WAIT, DID I JUST HEAR YOU SAID HE'S OLD? NO, I DID NOT.

I DID NOT SAY HE WAS OLD.

I SAID HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE.

YEAH.

THAT MEANS YOU'RE CHRONOLOGICALLY GIFTED, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE.

SO I DID WANT TO JUST IN RELATION TO THE OTHER BOARDS, JUST TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE APPLICATION PROCESS, BECAUSE I BELIEVE OUR INITIAL DEADLINE WAS THE SEPTEMBER 8TH.

SO WE HAVE ALL THOSE APPLICATIONS ON HOLD IN PREPARATION FOR THIS BEING AN ADDITIONAL ITEM.

SO WE'LL PUT A CALL OUT FOR THOSE.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE SWITCHED WHERE THEY APPLIED FOR BEAUTIFICATION, BUT NOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS BOARD.

SO THIS GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO CHANGE THE THINGS THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. OKAY.

I THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO? YES, I'D LIKE TO DEFER TO OUR SENIOR COUNCIL MEMBER OVER HERE IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, SIR? I WOULD. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE.

OKAY. DO WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS? OKAY, LET'S VOTE. OKAY, THAT'S UNANIMOUS AS WELL.

SEVEN ZERO. SO THANK YOU, CITY SECRETARY.

THANK YOU COUNCIL THANK YOU STAFF.

APPRECIATE THAT.

OKAY. ITEM 11 MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT?

[11. Mayor/Council Member Reports]

I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR THE GREAT JOB THEY DID FOR BEATS AND EATS.

I MEAN, IT WAS WE'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT GREAT REVIEWS.

YOU GUYS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND.

PEOPLE WERE AMAZED.

THE PARK WAS BEAUTIFUL THE NIGHT WHOEVER BROUGHT IN THE CLOUD COVER.

THANK YOU. EVERYBODY PRAYED.

IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT. I THINK THE COUNCIL HAD A GREAT TIME.

I THINK EVERYBODY WAS GOOD.

THE BANDS WERE AMAZING, BUT IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT FOR THE CITY AND I'D LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR ALL YOU GUYS DID.

GREAT JOB.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT STEVE.

ON THAT NOTE, CITY MANAGER STATHATOS, DO YOU MIND GIVING US A FEW WORDS ON BEATS AND EATS, PLEASE.

[12. City Manager/Staff Reports]

THIS IS HUNTER'S FIRST TIME TO THE DAIS, I BELIEVE.

WHILE THEY'RE GETTING SITUATED, I'D JUST LIKE TO MENTION BEFORE, AT A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, WE HAD PROMISED TO THE COUNCIL THAT WE WOULD COME UP WITH A TENANTS, BASICALLY A TENANTS BILL OF RIGHTS, IF YOU WILL.

AND IT IS ON OUR WEBSITE AND IT'S UNDER THE CODE COMPLIANCE SECTION.

SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, LET US KNOW.

BUT ANYONE THAT'S A RENTER PAYS SPECIAL ATTENTION TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE BEING PROTECTED.

IF NOT, WE CAN HELP.

AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT UNDER CITY MANAGER REPORT? CORRECT. OKAY. MR. LONG. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.

I DID WANT TO INTRODUCE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO DEFER WHAT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 2ND TO HUNTER, BUT I DID WANT HUNTER TO BE INTRODUCED TO THE COUNCIL AND ALSO OUR CITIZENS.

[00:55:01]

COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE I'M ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE TO BE A MEMBER AS WELL, SO I WON'T TELL YOU HOW OLD I AM, BUT I BARELY SQUEAK IN.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM FROM HUNTER BUT WANTED TO THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR YOUR FORWARD THINKING WHEN IT CAME TO THIS EVENT AND TRYING TO REIMAGINE IT. WE HAD A GOOD TIME WITH THIS AND I'LL PROBABLY STEP IN AT THE END BECAUSE I, AS YOU KNOW, LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT.

SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO HUNTER REAL QUICK AND INSTRUCT HIM ON I FORGOT TO DO THIS THE FIRST TIME I USED A POWERPOINT AND AMANDA LET ME KNOW.

HUNTER IS A ROOKIE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

YES. WELCOME, SIR.

YES, THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT BEATS AND EATS.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT.

I HAVE A QUICK VIDEO THAT OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM PUT TOGETHER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU ALL KIND OF HIGHLIGHTING WHAT HAPPENED.

HUNTER, WHAT IS YOUR POSITION? OH, I'M SORRY. I'M THE RECREATION MANAGER, SO I REPORT DIRECTLY TO TAKE CARE OF THE RECREATION.

NO, YOU'RE GOOD. OKAY.

WHY DID HE KICK MARK OFF.

[VIDEO] I'M GOING TO CLAP. [APPLAUSE] THAT WAS OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM THAT PUT THAT TOGETHER.

SO MOLLY AND HER TEAM, THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB WITH THAT.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE WITH SOME EVENT HIGHLIGHTS.

SO WITH WORKING WITH POLICE AND FIRE, WE ESTIMATED THAT THERE WERE BETWEEN 12,000 AND 15,000 ATTENDEES.

WE HAD 50 CAR SHOW ATTENDEES AND PARTICIPANTS.

WE GAVE OUT THREE AWARDS.

WE GAVE A MAYOR'S AWARD, AND THEN WE GAVE TWO CHIEF AWARDS, A POLICE CHIEF AND A FIRE CHIEF.

SO THAT WAS WELL RESPECTED.

THE SECOND LINE ITEM THERE, WE HAD 14 FOOD VENDORS AND 28 BUSINESS VENDORS THAT GENERATED REVENUE OF A LITTLE OVER $15,000 IN THEIR VENDOR BOOTH FEES.

SO THAT WAS A GOOD LITTLE BOOST.

SOME AMENITIES THAT WE HAD, WE WERE EXPECTING PLUS UNDER DEGREE TEMPERATURES.

WE GOT A LITTLE BREAK WITH THE SHADE, BUT WE HAD SHADE TENTS, COOLING STATIONS.

WE HAD A KID ZONE WITH ABOUT 15 INFLATABLES THAT THE KIDS REALLY ENJOYED.

THEY HAD A GOOD TIME WITH THAT.

THE VENDOR AND FOOD MARKET WENT REALLY WELL AS WELL.

TRAFFIC, LOGISTICS.

WE DID HAVE SHUTTLES RUNNING BACK AND FORTH FROM PENNINGTON FIELD THAT WERE WELL USED AND WERE VERY WELL RUN.

THANK YOU TO POLICE FOR HELPING MAKE SURE THAT THE SHUTTLES GOT TO AND FROM THE FIELD WITHOUT MUCH DELAY.

WE ALSO NOTICED FROM THE 4TH OF JULY EVENT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SIGNS, DIRECTIONAL SIGNS TELLING PEOPLE WHERE TO GO.

SO WE MADE SURE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DIRECTIONAL SIGNS THAT WE HAD AROUND THE CITY.

ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THE SPONSORS THAT WE HAD.

OBVIOUSLY, TEXAS HEALTH WAS OUR TITLE SPONSOR.

WE ENDED UP GETTING RIGHT ABOVE $36,000 IN CASH FROM SPONSORS, AND THEN WE HAD ABOUT $5,000 IN-KIND SPONSORSHIPS FROM RENTALS OF THE LARGE TENTS AND OTHER ITEMS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A BIG THANK YOU.

YOU CAN SEE THE LIST THERE, THE CITIZENS OF BEDFORD OBVIOUSLY, AND THEN COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO PUT ON SUCH A FUN EVENT.

CITY LEADERSHIP, OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS, THE YMCA, AND THEN US AND PARKS AND REC.

IT WAS DEFINITELY A TEAM EVENT.

WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT BY OURSELVES.

THE LAST COUPLE OF SLIDES ARE SOME PHOTOS THAT AGAIN, OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM GOT DAY OF JUST KIND OF SHOWING SOME OF THE FUN THAT PEOPLE HAD.

YOU CAN GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

AND THEN THE VERY LAST SLIDE, JUST A COUPLE OF CITIZEN COMMENTS THAT AS WAS MENTIONED, THERE WAS LOTS OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND JUST SOME OF THE FEW THAT WE PICKED.

THERE'S MANY, MANY MORE WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PUT ALL UP ON THE SCREEN.

BUT THAT'S MY PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME UP HERE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? CONCERNS. VERY GOOD HUNTER.

ANY COMMENTS? COUNCIL. AWESOME.

TURN IT BACK OVER TO MIKE.

THAT'S A UNIVERSAL THANK YOU AND GREAT JOB.

[01:00:03]

I LIKE TO GIVE SOME ADVICE.

OKAY. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT MY ADVICE IS GOING TO BE TO YOU.

[INAUDIBLE] MR. LONG WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT MY ADVICE WOULD BE TO HUNTER? WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO SAY IT? PLEASE, IF YOU DON'T MIND. HUNTER, DON'T SCREW IT UP [LAUGHTER].

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

GREAT JOB, HUNTER. GOOD JOB.

ALL RIGHT. ANY CLOSING THOUGHTS? I DON'T. IF I COULD.

IF I COULD. IF I COULD.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REALLY COOL THINGS IS, IS OVER MY 22 YEARS IN PARKS AND REC, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO A LOT OF THESE EVENTS.

AND NOT JUST BECAUSE I'M IN BEDFORD AM I GOING TO SAY THIS, BUT I HAVE NOT RUN AN EVENT OF THIS SIZE AND SCOPE AND IT GO AS SMOOTHLY AS IT DID.

AND THAT IS NOT A CREDIT TO ME.

IT IS 100% A CREDIT TO THE TEAM THAT MR. STATHATOS HAS IN PLACE HERE.

AND THE WORK WE DID, I THINK WE HAD FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS FROM WHEN WE KIND OF APPROVED THIS, THIS SHOW TO PULLING IT OFF, WHICH IS IS REALLY INSANE TO ME.

BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH THAT TEAM BEHIND US.

AND CHIEF WILLIAMS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS CHIEF WILLIAMS. HE SENT AN EMAIL SHORTLY AFTER THAT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAID AND IT KIND OF GRABBED ME WAS I WON'T READ THE WHOLE EMAIL, BUT HE SAID, WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL GOING ON AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE FUTURE.

AND I GRABBED HIM EARLIER AND I SAID, HEY, WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT BEATS AND EATS? OR WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT LIKE HOW COOL THIS OR JUST ME, THIS ME IS THAT WAS THAT ME? AND HE SAID BOTH [LAUGHTER]. BUT REALLY, OH HE'S RIGHT THERE.

I'M GOING TO LAY IT ON THICK NOW SO.

FUN TO WORK. WORK WITH EACH ONE OF THEM.

I WAS GOING TO DO AN ACADEMY AWARD THING AND THANK EVERYONE, BUT I WON'T DO THAT FOR THE SAKE OF TIME.

BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT THAT WE HAD A GREAT TIME DOING THIS EVENT.

WE FULLY EXPECT THE NUMBERS.

THEY MAY BE WHAT WE CALL PARKS AND REC NUMBERS, NOT NECESSARILY PUBLIC SAFETY NUMBERS, BUT COUNCILWOMAN SABOL IS LIKE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? NO, WE THINK AROUND 12 TO 15.

SO I MEAN, IT WAS A GOOD EVENT.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND THE CITIZENS, NUMBER ONE, FOR COMING OUT AND BEING A PART OF THAT.

SO I WILL GIVE MY TIME BACK.

GREAT JOB. VERY GOOD, MARK.

THANK YOU. SO THAT WAS A FAST FORWARD TO CITY MANAGER REPORTS.

WE DO HAVE ONE MORE ITEM UNDER MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS.

I'VE GOT A FEW REMARKS I'D LIKE TO SAY REAL QUICK.

BEING MAYOR OF BEDFORD HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING THING I HAVE EVER DONE.

THIS IS ALL THANKS TO YOU.

YOU THE RESIDENT HAD A VISION FOR BEDFORD.

I KNOW THIS BECAUSE WHEN I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU SHARED IT WITH ME.

THIS VISION, WITH ITS DIFFERENT IDEAS AND ITS DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, ALL CENTERED ON ONE THEME.

YOU BELIEVE THAT OUR CITY WAS CAPABLE OF DOING MORE FOR ITS RESIDENTS.

AFTER MAYOR GRIFFIN STEPPED DOWN IN 2019 TO RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE.

MANY OF YOU ENCOURAGED ME TO STEP UP AND TAKE MY TURN AT MAYOR.

IT WAS THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME, AND I HAVE BEEN HUMBLED EVER SINCE.

WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL THAT AGREED WITH YOUR VISION, WE SET OUT TO MOVE BEDFORD FORWARD.

REAL CHANGE ISN'T POSSIBLE WITHOUT GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACES QUICKLY.

COUNCIL WENT ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF BRINGING CHANGE BY SELECTING A NEW CITY MANAGER TO RUN OUR CITY.

AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THE FIRST DAY HE TOOK OFFICE, JIMMY STATHATOS WAS THE MOST EXPERIENCED CITY MANAGER THIS TOWN HAD EVER KNOWN.

HE IS ALSO THE BEST CITY MANAGER BEDFORD HAS EVER HAD.

I SHOULD KNOW.

I HAVE WORKED WITH SIX DIFFERENT ONES.

WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE SAME PAGE WE WERE OFF TO THE RACES.

BEDFORD HAS NEW LEADERSHIP AT ITS HIGHEST LEVELS POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, FINANCE, ANIMAL SHELTER, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CODE ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND CULTURAL ARTS.

WE STOPPED THE PERSONNEL DRAIN AND POLICE AND FIRE.

NEW LEADERSHIP FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY BUILDING, TRAINING PROCESSES AND RESTORING INTEGRITY.

PD'S GUNS ACTUALLY FIT IN THEIR HOLSTERS NOW, AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN GEAR.

WE FOUND THE MONEY TO PAY OUR EMPLOYEES BETTER AND IMPROVE THEIR BENEFITS.

OUR PAY IS NOW COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER CITIES, AND DESPITE THEIR THREATS, THEY AREN'T STEALING OUR PEOPLE LIKE BEFORE.

WE GOT CONTROL OF OUR FINANCES.

BEDFORD'S DEBT RATING RECENTLY WAS UPGRADED TO AA PLUS WE REFINANCED DEBT AT THE RIGHT TIME AND SAVED MILLIONS.

WE CHANGED HOW WE MANAGED OUR CASH TO MAXIMIZE REVENUE THROUGH CDS AND SECURITIES.

WE HAVE A CFO, NOT A MANAGER, AT THE HELM.

[01:05:01]

WE ELIMINATED 40 EMPLOYEE POSITIONS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AFTER CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF INCREASING YOUR TAX RATE 9 AND 8%, RESPECTIVELY.

WE BEGAN LOWERING THE RATE IN 2020.

WE REDUCE LAST YEAR'S EXPENDITURES BY $5 MILLION, WHICH RESULTED IN YOUR ACTUAL TAX BILL FROM THE CITY BEING LESS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

YOUR TAX RATE IS THE LOWEST IT HAS BEEN IN SEVEN YEARS.

WE FOUND THE MONEY TO REPLACE A VEHICLE FLEET THAT AVERAGED 12 YEARS OLD WITH NEW CARS AND NEW TRUCKS.

WE CHANGED HOW WE FINANCED STREET REPAIRS.

THE OLD WAY WASN'T WORKING AS A RESULT HARWOOD ROAD, BEDFORD ROAD, FOREST RIDGE, MCLEAN, SUMACH HOSPITAL PARKWAY AND SO ON HAVE BEEN REPAVED.

IN 2023 MORE ROADS WERE REPAIRED THAN EVER BEFORE AT 62.

WE FOUND MONEY FROM THE COUNTY TO REDO BROWN TRAIL SOON AND ALSO MONEY TO WORK WITH COLLIERVILLE TO WIDEN CHEEKS BARGER.

COUNCIL JUST AUTHORIZED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO CONDUCT OUR FIRST DRAINAGE SURVEY IN THE CITY IN DECADES.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF DEVELOPING A PLAN TO ATTACK OUR CITYWIDE RUNOFF ISSUES.

AFTER GRINDING TO A HALT, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAVE JUMPSTARTED WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS, WITH SIX SWIFT PROJECTS ABOUT TO START USING LOW, LOW COST STATE LOANS.

THIS DEPARTMENT IS NOW LED BY ENGINEERS.

WE HAD BEEN PUTTING OFF CLEANING AND REPAIRING THE CUMMINGS WATER TOWER BECAUSE OF THE ENORMOUS EXPENSE, BUT WE FOUND THE MILLIONS NECESSARY TO DO THAT.

WE CAME UP WITH A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN TO ANTICIPATE LARGE EXPENSES AND HAVE INVESTED MILLIONS IN AMBULANCES, FIRE TRUCKS AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT THAT WE STRUGGLED TO FINANCE IN THE PAST. BEDFORD HAS THE OLDEST CITY FACILITIES IN THE AREA.

LAST WEEK WE ISSUED CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CENTRAL FIRE STATION FIRE TRAINING TOWER AND FACILITY, THE PURCHASE AND REFURBISHMENT OF A SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER AND A REMODEL AND ENLARGEMENT OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER.

ALL OF THIS IS BEING DONE WITH NO NEW TAXES TO YOU.

WITH FURTHER SOUND MANAGEMENT, WE CAN SEE A TIME IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WHERE WE CAN BUILD A CITY HALL AND PAY CASH FOR IT.

WE PURCHASED PROPERTY ON BEDFORD ROAD AROUND CITY HALL AND AT WHAT WAS ONCE CALLED CAMPUS WEST IN ORDER TO ENSURE CONTROL OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FATE.

WE RESISTED THE URGE TO ALLOW APARTMENT DEVELOPERS AND USED CAR DEALERS FROM GRABBING THESE TRACKS AND TELLING US WHAT TO DO.

BEDFORD COMMONS IS ON THE CUSP OF BECOMING A REALITY.

WE COMPLETED THE NECESSARY STEPS IN ORDER TO BRING CONCEPTS TO LIFE.

WE CREATED THE CITY'S FIRST EVER TERS TO FINANCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BEDFORD COMMONS WITHOUT HAVING TO RAISE YOUR TAXES TO DO SO.

DIRT WILL BE TURNED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

WE'VE HIRED A THIRD PARTY CONSULTANT TO REVIEW AND REWRITE THE CITY'S DECADES OLD MASTER PLAN.

THIS WILL DICTATE THAT THE CITY RESEMBLES WHAT YOU WANT AS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND SHOPPING CENTERS TURN OVER.

WE LURED AN OUT-OF-STATE RETAILER TO RELOCATE ITS SALES AND CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TO BEDFORD, THUS ENSURING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF REVENUE AND TOURISM FOR BEDFORD IN THE YEARS TO COME. ROCK ISLAND AUCTIONS WILL OPEN BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

WE OVERHAULED THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WITH LIKE MINDED COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WANT FOR OUR CITY'S BUSINESS CLIMATE.

WE COMPLETELY TURNED OVER OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM.

WE UPGRADED OUR CODES AND ORDINANCES.

WE GOT STRICTER WITH OFFENDERS.

WE STARTED TAKING PEOPLE TO COURT AND WE STARTED SHUTTING DOWN CHRONIC OFFENDERS.

WE HAVE NEW PEOPLE AT THE HELM OF OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AND OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS.

AFTER COVID SHUT US DOWN, WE'VE BROUGHT BACK OUR SIGNATURE MUSIC FESTIVAL NOW CALLED BEATS AND EATS.

THIS EVENT WILL ONLY GROW BIGGER AND BETTER OVER THE COMING YEARS.

BETWEEN OUR LIBRARY AND THE EFFORTS OF OUR CULTURAL ARTS MANAGER, WE ARE HOSTING AND CONDUCTING MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES THAN EVER BEFORE.

WE HAVE MOVED SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN THE ROAD ON CREATING A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN BEDFORD TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND FULFILL A NICHE THAT DOESN'T CURRENTLY EXIST IN OUR AREA.

WE HAVE FOLLOWED UP ON THE DREAM OF SEVERAL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND BUILT A MIRACLE PARK AT CENTRAL DRIVE TO SERVE AS A HOME FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED CHILDREN TO PLAY TO THEIR HEART'S CONTENT.

WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH SPARKLING EYES TO BUILD ONE OF ONLY THREE SPARKLING EYE MUSICAL POCKET PLAYGROUNDS IN THE COUNTRY.

WE PARTNERED WITH THE NANCY LIEBERMAN CHARITIES TO BUILD A CENTRAL PARK DREAM COURT TO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR OUR YOUTH TO PLAY, MAKE FRIENDS, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE JUMP STARTED AND COMPLETED THE DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION AND OPENING OF GENERATIONS PARK AT BOYS RANCH AND THE CENTER.

AFTER STRUGGLING TO GET OFF THE GROUND, THE PARK AND CENTER WERE COMPLETED ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET.

WITH THE HELP OF THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE GRANT, WE'RE BEGINNING THE NECESSARY DESIGN AND ENGINEERING TO ADD OUTDOOR TENNIS COURTS, OUTDOOR PICKLEBALL COURTS, EXPAND THE DISC GOLF COURSE, ADD AMENITIES THROUGHOUT THE PARK, AND POSSIBLY THE CREATION OF A NEW SKATE PARK AT GENERATIONS PARK THAT WE COULDN'T INITIALLY AFFORD.

WE PARTNERED WITH THE YMCA TO MANAGE THE CENTER.

IN SO DOING, WE GET THE BENEFIT OF THEIR EXPERTISE WHILE SAVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR IN YOUR MONEY.

[01:10:07]

THIS MEANS WE ARE COMMITTING.

WE ARE COMMUNICATING WITH YOU LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

THEY ARE SINGULARLY DEVOTED TO TELLING YOU ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN BEDFORD THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA MAILERS AND OUR NEW WEBSITE.

YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE BEST OF BEDFORD.

WE NOW HAVE A COUNCIL THAT WORKS TOGETHER RATHER THAN AGAINST EACH OTHER TO FIX PROBLEMS. IT USED TO PAIN ME TO HEAR PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF BEDFORD MAKE FUN OF OUR POOR STREETS, OUR PERSONNEL AND DEPARTMENTAL ISSUES, AND THE DISCORD BETWEEN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITY OFFICIALS. NO MORE.

NO CITY AROUND US CAN HOLD A CANDLE TO WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS.

IT TRULY HAS BEEN AN HONOR.

IT TRULY HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO BE YOUR MAYOR DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

MOVING BEDFORD FORWARD WAS ALWAYS YOUR VISION, NOT MINE.

EVERYONE UP HERE WORKS FOR YOU.

AND WE KNOW THAT.

WE BUILT AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO LISTENING, COMMUNICATING, ADDRESSING PROBLEMS, AND GROWING THE CITY.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU WANTED.

THIS IS TRULY AN ORGANIZATION OF EXCELLENCE.

OUR SUCCESSES ARE YOUR SUCCESSES.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT I DON'T LIKE POLITICS AS USUAL.

TO ME, THE PROBLEM WITH POLITICS IS THAT TOO MANY PEOPLE RUN FOR THE WRONG REASON, AND THOSE WHO GET ELECTED STAY BEYOND THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.

THE PURPOSE OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE SHOULD BE TO FIX PROBLEMS AND NOT JUST HANG AROUND TO BE A PART OF THE IN-CROWD.

GET IN, FIGURE IT OUT, FIX IT, AND MOVE ON.

I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

AS WE APPROVE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

IT OCCURS TO ME THAT NOW IS A GOOD TIME FOR ME TO STEP ASIDE AND LET OTHERS PICK THE MANTLE FROM HERE.

YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US THAT LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR EFFORTS.

I WANT TO SAY WELCOME BACK TO THE CHAMBER, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER RUSTY SARTOR.

WELCOME BACK TO THE CHAMBER, FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROGER FISHER.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING BY TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, RUSTY, CINDY, NICHELLE, DAN, AMY, RICH, TOM, RUTH, STEVE, ROGER, AND ROB FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU FROM BOTH OUT FRONT AND FROM BEHIND.

THANK YOU TO JIMMY, ANDREA, CARYN, MICHAEL, LEVI, JEFF, BILL, MARIA, CHERYL, MOLLY, MARK, GARY, KRISSI, STEPHANIE, WES, DON, LAURIE.

AND EVEN BREN FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR ME AND FOR MAKING ME PROUD TO BE AT THE HEAD OF A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU TO LISA FOR HELPING ME BECOME MAYOR, MIKE.

LASTLY, THANK YOU TO THE RESIDENTS.

YOU MOTIVATED ME TO MOVE BEDFORD FORWARD.

AND ALONG THE WAY I FOUND OUT IT WAS THE MOST REWARDING AND SATISFYING THING I'VE EVER DONE.

PROUD IN THE RECOGNITION OF ALL OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND IN KNOWING THAT A NEW FOUNDATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR BEDFORDS' FUTURE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT I WILL BE RESIGNING AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD EFFECTIVE AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2023.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE A PART OF THE HISTORY OF BEDFORD AND I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAY IT FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH [APPLAUSE].

OKAY, WELL, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK TO DO.

WE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 551.001 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, WE NEED TO CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND DISCUSS AN ITEM PURSUANT TO

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

SO WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

OKAY. IT IS 7:50.

WE JUST CONVENED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ACTION AS A RESULT OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.

MR. MAYOR, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE AND MY HONOR.

IT IS MY HONOR TO HIT THE GAVEL ONE LAST TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT IS 7:50 [APPLAUSE].

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.