[00:00:01]
>> [NOISE] TIME IS NOW SIX O'CLOCK.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
IT'S TUESDAY, JANUARY 9TH, 2024.
FIRST UP, WE HAVE INVOCATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RICH STEVES.
>> HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE GATHER HERE TONIGHT, WE ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM.
BLESS OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
GRANT US WITH PATIENCE TOWARDS EACH OTHER AND HELP US TO BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER'S INPUT.
MAY WE BE QUICK TO HEAR AND SLOW TO SPEAK.
WE'LL BE EVEN SLOWER TO TAKE OFFENSE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS WOULD LEAD US WITH THE PLEDGES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES, COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.
LET'S GO AT HAND, AND NEXT UP IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE HAVE NOBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS,
[CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT]
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO CONSIDER APPROVAL BY ITEMS BY CONSENT.GIVE YOU CITY MANAGER JIMMY STATHATOS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNSEL.
WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE ITEMS TONIGHT.
SORRY, I'M HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. THE FIRST ITEM IS TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION APPOINTING ONE OR MORE QUALIFIED PERSONS TO SERVE AS AN ALTERNATE JUDGE TEMPORARILY IN THE ABSENCE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS.
IT IS BEING RECOMMENDED THAT JUDGE LACY BRITTEN, WHO IS CURRENTLY THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE FOR THE CITY OF EULESS, SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY.
[NOISE] PARDON ME. THE OTHER ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH SUPERTECH AUTOMATION IN AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $59,525 FOR REPLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS AND SOFTWARE UPGRADES TO THE CITY'S SUPERVISORY CONTROL AND DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR WATER FACILITIES.
YOU'VE MAYBE HEARD IT CALLED SCADA, AND IT'S BASICALLY A WAY FOR US TO REMOTELY KNOW THE MEASUREMENT OF THE WATER TOWERS IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH WATER IS IN THE WATER TANK FOR STORAGE PURPOSES.
THAT'S ALL, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I DID HAVE A FEW.
DID WE HAVE A ASSISTANT MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE PRIOR TO THIS APPOINTMENT?
>> WE HAD BEFORE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE LAST TIME. MICHAEL.
>> THAT WAS JUDGE [INAUDIBLE], AND I BELIEVE HE RETIRED.
>> GOT YOU. I'M JUST CURIOUS ON THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.
I HAVE A SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER STEVE, SECOND.
THANK YOU, COUNSEL. THANK YOU, STAFF.
>> I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THE MINUTES WILL BE ON THE NEXT COUNCIL AGENDA FOR YOU ALL TO TAKE ACTION ON. THANKS.
[PERSONS TO BE HEARD]
>> NEXT WE HAVE PERSONS TO BE HEARD.
WE HAVE MR. SAL CARUSO, REQUESTS TO SPEAK TO COUNSEL REGARDING THE NEW SENIOR CENTER.
>> [NOISE] HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI.
I MUST SAY THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR CITY, AND THE FOLKS THAT YOU BROUGHT ON ASSEMBLED A GOOD TEAM. GOOD LUCK TO YOU IN THE FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE IT.
>> TONIGHT, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE NEW SENIOR CENTER.
I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR PROCEEDING AND BUYING THAT 14,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD FACILITY.
[NOISE] HOWEVER, I STOOD HERE MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO TO GET THAT BUILDING.
I ENVISIONED THAT WE WOULD HAVE WORKOUT EQUIPMENT IN THAT BUILDING AS WELL FOR THE SENIORS, BE PART OF THE NEW BUILDING.
IN SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH MARK LONG WHO, BY THE WAY, HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB,
[00:05:01]
ONE OF THE FOLKS THAT YOU OR SOME HIRED, SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS, EMAILS WITH MARK.I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR, HE SAID THAT I'M NOT SAYING NO TO WORKOUT EQUIPMENT, BUT WHAT HE DID SAY WAS THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE EQUIPMENT.
I MENTIONED THIS IS A 14,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, I THINK.
I LEFT SOME THINGS AT YOUR DESK THERE, AND THE SECOND PAGE IS EXACTLY THE SIZE AND THE DEPTH OF THE AVERAGE DIMENSIONS OF THE WORKOUT EQUIPMENT.
FIVE BIKES IN A ROW WITH SPACE AND TWO FEET BETWEEN MACHINES REQUIRE A SPACE OF EIGHT FEET, 18 FEET DISALLOWS FOR SLIGHTLY OVER TWO FEET IN BETWEEN.
FOUR TREADMILLS, FIVE RECUMBENT BIKES WILL EASILY FIT WITHIN A SPACE OF 17 FEET BY 18 FEET, FOR A TOTAL OF 306 SQUARE FEET, WHICH IS NOT A LOT OF ROOM.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED FOUR TREADMILLS, FIVE RECUMBENT BIKES.
I GO TO THE HURST SENIOR CENTER AND THEY HAVE PRECOR, WHICH IS THE TOP ONE THERE IN THE BRANDS ON THE TOP PAGE.
I USE THE RECUMBENT BIKE AND SO FORTH.
I THINK 350 SQUARE FOOT WITH IF YOU HAVE FREE WEIGHTS AND THE PADS THAT GO ON THERE AND SOME BENCHES, I THINK THERE WOULD BE PLENTY OF ROOM.
I KNOW YOU FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE AND FOR THE RENOVATIONS.
BEFORE YOU DO ALL THAT, I WANT TO SAY THIS TODAY BECAUSE BEFORE YOU GET EVERYBODY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE THOUGHT IS NOT THERE FOR IT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I CALL IT THE BLUEPRINT.
I KNOW IT'S NOT A BLUEPRINT, AND NO WORD ON HERE DOES IT SAY WORKOUT EQUIPMENT OR WORKOUT AREA, FITNESS AREA, IT DOESN'T SAY THAT.
I DON'T WANT THE SENIORS TO BE OVERLOOKED AGAIN.
I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE, WELL, WE CAN'T DO IT THIS TIME OR WE'LL TRY TO SQUEEZE IT IN A YEAR FROM NOW OR WHATEVER. WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE WORKOUT EQUIPMENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF SENIORS THAT CAN'T AFFORD THE YMCA.
MAYBE WITH THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, THEY'RE MAKING A LITTLE TOO MUCH.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER ALL SENIORS, ALL RESIDENTS, ALL SENIOR RESIDENTS TO HAVE THE FACILITY FOR THEM, NOT JUST FOR GAMES AND THAT EATING, WHICH IS IMPORTANT ALSO, THAT'S GOOD FOR THE SENIORS.
BUT I THINK THE WORKOUT EQUIPMENT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THAT BLUEPRINT, THERE'S A KITCHEN LIBRARY, THERE'S A SECTION FOR A BOOTH.
THERE'S A SECTION FOR, OF COURSE, THE OFFICES WHICH IS ABOUT 800 SQUARE FEET, JUST FOR THE OFFICES IN THE RECEPTION AREA, IN THE HALLWAY.
I ASKED MARK ABOUT THOSE FIGURES.
THERE'S A GAME ROOM, THERE'S THREE MULTIPURPOSE ROOMS THAT I CAN SEE.
I'M SURE WE CAN FIT WORKOUT EQUIPMENT SOMEWHERE WITHIN THAT 14,000 SQUARE FEET.
THOSE MEASUREMENTS I MEASURED A COUPLE OF THAT I GO TO AND THE MEASUREMENTS WERE RIGHT ON.
MARK ALSO SAID INSTEAD OF THE EQUIPMENT, JANELLE WOULD DO GROUP EXERCISE. THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S REALLY GOOD. I THINK YOU CAN HAVE BOTH.
THE GROUP EXERCISE SHOULD BE A COMPLEMENT TO THE WORKOUT EQUIPMENT.
AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO COMPARE HERS AND PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THAT, BUT THEY HAVE ALL THE GROUP EXERCISES AND THEY HAVE A LARGE, PROBABLY 1,000 PLUS SQUARE FOOT, WELL, MAYBE NOT THAT MUCH, BUT WORKOUT AREA.
IT'S ALWAYS BUSY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, THAT'S WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT THERE.
ALL SENIORS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
KEY THING HERE AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
[00:10:03]
I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE REGARDING THE SENIOR CENTER, YOU WOULD BE HARD-PRESSED TO FIND A LOCAL SENIOR CENTER THAT DOES NOT HAVE WORKOUT EQUIPMENT.JUST ABOUT EVERYONE HAS WORKOUT EQUIPMENT WHY CAN'T BEDFORD HAVE WORKOUT EQUIPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN A 14,000-SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING? LIKE I SAID, I DON'T WANT SENIORS TO BE OVERLOOKED TO NOT HAVE THIS EQUIPMENT.
I'VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL SENIORS ON THIS AND THEY AGREE THERE SHOULD BE THIS EQUIPMENT.
I ALSO POSTED A QUESTION ON BEDFORD'S VIEWPOINT WITH OVER 60 COMMENTS, ALL IN FAVOR EXCEPT FOR TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST HAVING EQUIPMENT.
THESE ARE SENIORS WHO RESPONDED AND THESE ARE RESIDENTS WHO RESPONDED AND PRETTY MUCH ALL THE AFFIRMATIVE EXCEPT FOR TWO.
AGAIN, THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY.
SENIORS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF.
YOU FOLKS CAME THROUGH AND TOOK CARE OF THEM IN THE PAST WITH THIS BUILDING AND I'M ASKING ONE MORE TIME TO HAVE THIS FOR THE SENIORS.
MY HOPE IS THAT ALL OF YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS AND DIRECT THE CITY TO SEE IF THE WORKOUT EQUIPMENT WILL BE PLACED IN THE NEW SENIOR CENTER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, SAL. I THINK THAT THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTS OUR SENIORS.
WE TOOK THAT STEP TO PURCHASE THAT BUILDING TO MAKE SURE THAT SENIORS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, IN THE PAST, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PARK RENOVATIONS, THEY WERE OVERLOOKED AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THEIR SENIOR CENTER GOT TORE DOWN DUE TO IT.
WE WANT TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT FOR THEM.
THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITIES THAT I KNOW THAT SENIORS WANT TO TAKE PART OF AND I KNOW THAT STAFF IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB TRYING TO CATER TO EVERY SINGLE NEED, AND EVERY SINGLE INTEREST THAT WE CAN TO FIT THAT BUILDING, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FITTING EXACTLY EVERYTHING AND EVERY NEED THAT WE CAN IN THAT BUILDING.
THE ASK ISN'T TOO MUCH AND I KNOW THAT MARK HAS SAID THAT IT'S NOT A NO, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND DEFINITELY TRY AND CONFIGURE SOME THINGS.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE CAN'T ADD IT LATER? I'D RATHER NOT LIKE YOU MENTIONED, I'D LIKE TO GET IT IN THIS TIME IF WE COULD BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IN THE FUTURE WE CAN'T ALSO MEET THOSE NEEDS BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL WANT TO MEET EVERY SINGLE NEED THAT WE CAN.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
[4. Public hearing and consider an ordinance to rezone the property described as Lot 2R01, Block 1 Bedford Centre from Heavy Commercial to Heavy Commercial/Specific Use Permit-Religious Facility and the property is generally located west of the Bedford Road and Tennis Drive intersection, commonly known as 209 Bedford Road. (SUP-23-19). The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval by a vote of 7-0-0.]
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS, AND THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS LOT 2R1, BLOCK 1, BEDFORD CENTER, FROM EVERY COMMERCIAL TO HEAVY COMMERCIAL SPECIFIC USE PERMIT RELIGIOUS FACILITY PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 209 BEDFORD ROAD, IS SUP 2319.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, WES MORRISON, HOPEFULLY MAKING HIS WAY UP HERE.
THERE HE IS. HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING, WEST? SORRY, I WAS HELPING PUBLIC.
>> NO, IT'S ALL GOOD. THIS IS A SUP REQUEST AS YOU STATED IN THE AGENDA CAPTION FOR 209 BEDFORD ROAD.
THIS IS A COMMON, PROBABLY, YOU'LL SEE OFTEN WITH SUPS.
I THINK IN THE PAST YEAR YOU'VE SEEN AN SUP FOR INDOOR AMUSEMENT FOR AN ARCADE AND NOW WE'VE GOT A RELIGIOUS FACILITY COMING IN.
APPROXIMATELY 2,000 SQUARE FEET SUITE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE SUITE CLOSEST TO BEDFORD ROAD.
SURROUNDING LAND USES ARE MULTIFAMILY TO THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH OFFICE BUILDING TO THE EAST, AND A CAR WASH TO THE WEST.
WE PUT AT LEAST A SON OF THE PROPERTY ADVERTISING THIS PUBLIC HEARING IN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, WE'VE NOTIFIED EIGHT PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET AND AS OF TODAY OR AS OF YESTERDAY, WE'VE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSED TO THE REQUEST.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF 7-0.
I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
>> WEST, WE'VE BEEN GETTING THESE NEXT COUPLE OF ITEMS TALKING ABOUT RELIGIOUS FACILITIES.
ACCORDING TO OUR ZONING, THEY COME IN AS SUPS WHICH REQUIRE THAT.
>> CORRECT. ALL RELIGIOUS FACILITIES WITHIN THE CITY, NO MATTER THE ZONING DISTRICT REQUIRE AN SUP.
THEY DO THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL.
[00:15:04]
IN THIS CASE, THERE IS NO ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL OR THE ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL THAT'S THERE THEY'RE ALREADY MEETING THOSE STANDARDS THAT ARE LAID OUT IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE.>> A LOT OF THESE TIMES THEY'RE IN THE SHOPPING CENTER SO THAT WE'RE SEEING IT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT IS PARKING FOR THIS, AND GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY ALWAYS NORMALLY HAVE THE PARKING.
>> CORRECT? THE WAY WE ANALYZE THE PARKING IS WE LOOK AT THE OTHER USERS IN THE SHOPPING CENTER.
OBVIOUSLY, THE SHOPPING CENTER WAS BUILT YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS BUILT WITH THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES THEY HAVE, AND I BELIEVE IF I WERE TO GO BACK, THIS PARTICULAR USE REQUIRES ONLY 17 PARKING SPACES BASED ON THE SEATS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SO THEY'RE WELL WITHIN THE RANGE.
>> GOT YOU. ABSOLUTELY. DO WE KNOW THE CONDITION OF THAT BUILDING? IS IT UP TO CODE?
>> THIS PARTICULAR SUITE I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH.
I DO KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES IN OTHER SUITES.
THEY'LL STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND GET A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY AND THAT'S WHEN WE'LL DO BUILDING AND FIRE INSPECTIONS IN THE BUILDING.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR WEST WHEN WE GOT HIM HERE? IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT.
WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:16.
IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK ABOUT THIS ITEM, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME.
I GUESS THIS IS THE POINT WHERE WE TALK ABOUT RECIPES, EVERYTHING ELSE.
GLAD TO SEE YOU WEARING A TIE AGAIN, WEST. APPRECIATE IT.
I THINK EVER SINCE I CAME ON YOU'VE BEEN WEARING A TIE.
>> TRYING TO BE CONSISTENT. APPRECIATE THAT.
I CAN SEE EVERYONE'S HAVING A MAD DASH TO THE MIC.
WITH THAT, GIVE IT SOME TIME. THERE WE GO. IT TURNED.
I'LL QUIT AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 06:17.
COUNCIL, WHICH PLEASURE? YES. GOOD MEMBER [INAUDIBLE] .
>> WEST IS THE APPLICANT HERE.
IS ANYBODY FROM THE CHURCH HERE?
>> WE HAVE APPROVED PROBABLY THREE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES TO GO INTO THAT SHOPPING CENTER.
>> ONE OPENED FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD.
WE JUST ON, THE USE IS GOING TO ESCAPE ME, THE ASSEMBLY.
I JUST COMPLETELY LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT, BUT IT WAS A SPECIAL EVENTS CENTER, I BELIEVE IS WHAT WE APPROVED.
THAT ONE, THE CEO, WE JUST APPROVED WITHIN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT I KNOW THAT HAVE OPENED.
>> THEY DID GET PERMISSION TO OPEN?
>> BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK.
>> MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE.
>> I HAVE A FIRST BY MEMBER [INAUDIBLE] TO APPROVE.
I SAW MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI WITH THE SECOND.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
[5. Public hearing and consider an ordinance to rezone the property described as Lot D, Shady Oaks East Addition from Service Commercial to Service Commercial/Specific Use Permit-Religious Facility and the property is generally located at the northwestern intersection of Brown Trail and Taylor Drive, commonly known as 2701 Brown Trail. (SUP-23-23). The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval by a vote of 7-0-0.]
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERED ORDINANCE TO REZONE PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS LOT D, SHADY OAKS EAST ADDITION, FROM SERVICE COMMERCIAL TO SERVICE COMMERCIAL SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.RELIGIOUS FACILITY AND PROPERTY IS GENERALLY LOCATED AT 2701, BROWN TRAIL.
WELCOME BACK TO THE MIC, WES MORRISON.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
VERY SIMILAR REQUEST, JUST A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT BROWN TRAIL 2701.
IT'S AN EXISTING OFFICE BUILDING.
THE REQUEST IS AGAIN FOR APPROXIMATELY USING 8,200 SQUARE FEET OF EXISTING SUITE SPACE FOR THE RELIGIOUS FACILITY.
AGAIN, PARKING IS IN COMPLIANCE.
THE SITE, JUST SO YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT, IS AN EXISTING OFFICE BUILDING.
OFFICE HAS SEVERAL USERS IN THERE, PRIMARILY THEIR WEEK DAY USERS, SO WE DON'T SEE ANY CONFLICT IN THE TIME FRAMES THAT THE TWO PLACES WILL BE OPEN AS FAR AS SURROUNDING LAND USES.
YOU'VE GOT A SHOPPING CENTER TO THE NORTH, ANOTHER RELIGIOUS FACILITY TO THE SOUTH, AND THEN VARIOUS OFFICE AND RETAIL USES TO THE EAST, AND THEN A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO THE WEST.
WE NOTIFIED 23 PROPERTY OWNERS AND PLACED A SIGN ON THE PROPERTY ON THIS ONE.
WE'VE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THE REQUEST AT THIS TIME, AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS 7:0.
I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, YOU HAVE?
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL WHILE WE GOT WES HERE? COUNCIL MEMBER CULVER.
[00:20:02]
>> WES, ISN'T THERE ALREADY A RELIGIOUS FACILITY WITHIN THAT BUILDING?
>> I BELIEVE IT'S THEIR OFFICES.
THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY PRACTICING RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLY TIMES AT THAT LOCATION.
I BELIEVE IT'S JUST THEIR OFFICES, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, FIRST ITEM.
WELCOME, SIR. GO AHEAD AND SAY YOUR NAME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SPENCER JACOBSON.
I'M THE PASTOR OF BEACON CHURCH AND A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
LIKE MANY CHURCHES AND MANY ORGANIZATIONS, WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT CONSIDERS OUR ACTIVITY AND OUR MINISTRY THROUGH OUR VALUES AND ONE OF OUR VALUES IS THE COMMON GOOD.
WE WANT TO WORK FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD BECAUSE HALF OF OUR MEMBERSHIP LIVES IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
WE LOVE SENDING OUR KIDS TO SCHOOLS IN BEDFORD.
WE LOVE GOING TO BEDFORD PARKS AND PATRONIZING BEDFORD BUSINESSES.
SOME OF OUR CHURCH MEMBERS ARE HERE THIS EVENING JUST TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR OUR CHURCH AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS AS WELL.
OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THINGS LIKE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT HOSTING BLOCK PARTIES AND CUL DE SACS.
WORKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE 6 STONES, WITH VARIOUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE CITY AND ADDITIONALLY, PARTNERING WITH THE CITY TO SUPPLY SOME CHURCH MEMBERS AS VOLUNTEERS FOR BEDFORD BEATS AND EATS.
BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, WHICH WAS JUST A WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF.
WE REALLY ENJOYED THAT EVENT AND ARE EXCITED ABOUT CONTINUING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE.
EVEN THOUGH WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED, WE ARE REALLY EAGER TO WORK WITH THE CITY FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT SPEAKING TO YOU.
OFTEN, AS THEY RELATE TO CITY GOVERNMENTS, CHURCHES HAVE A DESIRE TO TAKE AND TO RECEIVE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.
WE WANT TO RECEIVE, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE WE LOVE LIVING HERE AND WE LOVE BEING A PART OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
WE KNOW THAT THE CITY WORKS WITH CHURCHES FROM TIME TO TIME FOR VARIOUS EVENTS AND TO GET VARIOUS PEOPLE TO SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH PARKS OR WHOMEVER TO HELP OUT WITH DIFFERENT EVENTS, DIFFERENT NEEDS THAT EXIST IN THE CITY.
JUST TO BE CLEAR THOUGH, MY GOAL AS A PASTOR, AND HOPEFULLY THE GOAL OF EVERY PASTOR, IS FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW CHRIST.
MY STRONG DESIRE IN PARTNERING WITH THE CITY IN THESE DIFFERENT EVENTS IS NOT TO PROSELYTIZE OR EVANGELIZE, BUT TO DEMONSTRATE COMPASSION, CARE, AND INVESTMENT IN THE CITY.
WHEN WE SIGNED THIS LEASE TO MOVE INTO THIS SPACE AT PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD'S OFFICE BUILDING THERE TO THE SIDE IN THAT ANNEX, WE WANTED TO DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO THE CITY.
WE HIRED AN ARCHITECT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RENOVATE CORRECTLY AND GET EVERYTHING DONE AND UP TO CODE AND ACCORDING TO STANDARD, BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVEST IN THE CITY.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND THAT'S ALL I GOT, AND I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU, SPENCER. APPRECIATE THAT.
FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING BEDFORD AS YOUR HOME, AND BEING WILLING TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND HELPING BUILD OUR CITY, AND VOLUNTEERING AND HAVING THAT, IF I ASK, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THAT OFFICE?
WE'RE NOT MEETING THERE JUST YET.
WE GATHER IN AN ADJACENT CITY RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WERE VERY EAGER TO GET INTO BEDFORD.
IN FACT, THE ONLY PROPERTIES WE WERE LOOKING AT WERE IN BEDFORD.
>> GOT YOU. THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE?
>> YES, FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
WELL, THAT LEADS ME TO MY NEXT ONE, WHY BEDFORD?
>> WHY BEDFORD? I GUESS THE BETTER QUESTION IS WHY NOT?
WE MOVED OVER TO THE MID CITIES FROM COLLIN COUNTY IN 2017 BECAUSE I TOOK A JOB AT A CHURCH IN A NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY.
AS WE WERE LOOKING AT PLACES TO BUY A HOME, WE WERE RENTING A HOME, AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR A COMMUNITY TO BUY A HOME IN, WE WERE DAWN TO BEDFORD, WE SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE.
WE SAW THE ATTENTION THAT THE CITY WAS PAYING TO YOUNG FAMILIES LIKE US WHO WERE COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANTED TO BE HERE.
WE WANTED TO BE HERE FOR THE SCHOOLS, WE WANTED TO BE CLOSE TO OUR NEIGHBORS, AND WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITHIN FIVE MINUTES.
NOW ACTUALLY, WE HAVE A GOOD FRIEND OF OURS WHO THEY LIVE IN A NEIGHBORING CITY AND THEY JUST BOUGHT A HOME YESTERDAY, SO THEY'LL LIVE MUCH CLOSER.
[00:25:01]
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THAT'S WHY.>> I GOT THAT. THAT'S ALL THE REASONS THAT I THINK WE ALL LIVE HERE AS WELL.
>> THAT'S FANTASTIC. IT'S GOOD.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
>> COUNCIL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
I'M SORRY. I GOT TO CLOSE IT. SORRY, GOT CAUGHT UP.
LET ME GO AND CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT 06:25 UNLESS THERE'S SOMEBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE MIC AND SPEAK TO THIS ITEM.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE AT 06:25.
NOW I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
>> I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, FIRST BY COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO, I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEVE. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
WELCOME. LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM 6.
[6. Public hearing and consider an ordinance to rezone the property described as Lots 2 and 3 Block 1, First State Bank Addition from Planned Unit Development (Bedford Commons – Core Mixed Use Character Zone) to Planned Unit Development (Automotive Repair and Garage) and the property is generally located approximately 750 feet north of State Highway 121 on the east side of Parkwood Drive, commonly known as 1916 and 2000 Parkwood Drive. (PUD-23-2). The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial by a vote of 7-0-0.]
IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS LOTS 2 AND 3 BLOCK ONE, FIRST STATE BANK EDITION FROM PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, BEDFORD COMMONS CORE MIXED USE CHARACTER ZONE TO A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AND GARAGE.PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 19:16 AND 2000 PARKWOOD DRIVE.
WELCOME TO OUR MIC, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, WES MORRISON.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT'S FROM BEDFORD COMMONS PUD TO A STANDALONE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT TO ALLOW AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AND GARAGE.
LOCATION THERE ON PARKWOOD, JUST NORTH OF AIRPORT FREEWAY.
A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE PROPERTY.
IN 2007, THE SUBJECT PROPERTY WAS REZONED FROM R-9 TO A HEAVY COMMERCIAL WITH AN SUP FOR MOTORCYCLE SALES AND SERVICE.
THEN IN 2019, THE PROPERTY WAS INCLUDED IN THE BEDFORD COMMONS PUD AND PLACED IN THIS CORE MIXED USE CHARACTER ZONE, THE CORE MIXED USE CHARACTER, THE GOAL THAT'S SPELLED OUT IN BEDFORD COMMONS PUD IS THAT IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE TRANSFORMING OF PARKWOOD FROM AIRPORT FREEWAY TO THE HEART OR THE CORE OF BEDFORD COMMONS AS A MAIN STREET.
IT ENCOURAGES USES SUCH AS SMALLER SCALE OFFICE, RETAIL, AND ENTERTAINMENT USES.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO REMOVE THE PROPERTY OUT OF BEDFORD COMMONS AND THAT CHARACTER ZONE, AND CREATE ITS OWN PUD THAT WOULD ALLOW AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AND SERVICE ONLY.
THE DEFINITION FOR AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AND SERVICE IS DEFINED IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE AS BEING A USE THAT ALLOWS ALL REPAIR, WHETHER IT BE BODY WORK, PAINT, OVERHAULING OF ENGINES, ANY TYPE OF MECHANICAL WORK.
IF APPROVED, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO UTILIZE THE EXISTING BUILDING THAT'S ON SITE THAT'S AROUND APPROXIMATELY 10,000 SQUARE FEET.
THEN AS THE BUSINESS GROWS, THEY'D LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON THE 1916 LOT, ANOTHER SIMILAR BUILDING, SIMILAR STYLE, SIMILAR SIZE TO HOLD THEIR BUSINESS.
SURROUNDING LAND USES, I THINK EVERYBODY IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE SITE.
IT'S NOT TOO FAR FROM US HERE.
TO THE NORTH YOU HAVE THE SMALLER SCALE OFFICE BUILDINGS, TO THE WEST YOU HAVE A LARGER OFFICE BUILDING, TO THE SOUTH YOU HAVE MOTORCYCLE SALES AND SERVICE AND RESTAURANT USES AND OFFICE USE, AND THEN ALSO TO THE EAST YOU HAVE OFFICE USE.
WE ADVERTISED FOR THE REZONING REQUEST.
WE PLACED A SIGN ON THE PROPERTY.
WE NOTIFIED SEVEN ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET.
WE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THE REQUEST IN WRITING.
HOWEVER, YOU'VE GOT YOUR MINUTES FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.
THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE THAT CAME AND SPOKE IN OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST AT P&Z.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION BELIEVED THAT THE REQUEST DID NOT MEET THE GOALS AND THE OBJECTIVES OF BEDFORD COMMONS, AND WENT AGAINST WHAT THE GOAL OF BEDFORD COMMONS WAS.
THEREFORE, THEY RECOMMENDED DENIAL OF THE REQUEST BY 7:0 VOTE.
JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE AND I KNOW Y'ALL REMEMBER THIS, BUT WHEN P&Z RECOMMENDS DENIAL OF A VOTE OF A LAND USE DECISION, THEN IT REQUIRES SUPERMAJORITY VOTE AT COUNCIL IN ORDER TO APPROVE.
WITH THAT, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTION, JEFF.
>> THANK YOU, WES. JUST SO EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE, I'LL BRING THIS TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY, SO SUPERMAJORITY VOTE. HOW MUCH IS THAT?
>> THAT WOULD BE FIVE AFFIRMATIVE VOTES, AND THAT'S SUPER MAJORITY TO APPROVE?
[00:30:02]
>> EXACTLY. JUST TO OVERTURN P&Z'S DECISION.
>> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS WHILE WE HAVE WES UP HERE? YES, COUNCILMAN STEVES.
>> WES, WHAT'S IN THE BUILDING THAT'S THERE NOW? WHAT ZONE? WHAT ARE YOU ABLE TO DO IN THAT BUILDING?
>> THERE IS AN SUP ON THAT PROPERTY RIGHT NOW FOR MOTORCYCLE SALES AND SERVICE.
>> SERVICE, WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF THE SERVICE?
>> SERVICE WOULD BE VERY SIMILAR TO ANY TYPE OF REPAIR OR SERVICE ON A MOTORCYCLE, WHETHER IT BE YOUR STANDARD OIL CHANGES, TIRES, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, OR A MECHANICAL OVERHAUL OF A MOTORCYCLE AS WELL.
>> BUT YOU COULD SWITCH THAT OUT.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AUTOMOTIVE AND THE MOTORCYCLE?
>> BOTH BEDFORD COMMONS AND OUR ZONING ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT MOTORCYCLE AND AUTOMOTIVE ARE TWO DIFFERENT USES.
THAT'S WHY STAFF JUST COULDN'T APPROVE AN AUTOMOTIVE USE, BECAUSE WHILE THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR, PROBABLY IN THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON, IT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT USE DEFINED BY THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
>> WHAT THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSING IS A SIMILAR BUILDING, LIKE WHAT'S THERE RIGHT NOW?
>> CORRECT. THE APPLICANT HAS PROVIDED AND IT'S ATTACHED IN THE ORDINANCE IF Y'ALL CHOOSE TO ADOPT AN ELEVATION AND A SITE PLAN THAT MIMICS THAT.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, WES. THANKS.
>> THE APPLICANT IS HERE DOES HAVE A PRESENTATION AS WELL.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION BY COUNCIL MAYOR FARCO.
>> WES, WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY NOW? IS IT STILL ADAM SMITH?
>> ACCORDING TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, YES.
>> DID THEY CONTACT, DID THEY GO OUT AND GET THIS PERSON?
>> I DON'T KNOW. YOU'D HAVE TO ASK THE APPLICANT FOR THAT.
>> I APOLOGIZE, I NEED TO CLARIFY MY PRIOR STATEMENT.
IT'S ACTUALLY SIX AFFIRMATIVE VOTES. MY APOLOGIES.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS SIX, NOT FIVE.
ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCIL MAYOR CULVER.
>> WELL, SOME TIME AGO, SOME OF THE PROPERTY THAT WAS OWNED ALONG WITH THIS CAME TO PLANNING AND ZONING, PROBABLY, I MUST SAY FOUR YEARS AGO, SIX YEARS AGO.
THEY WANTED TO SUBDIVIDE THE PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY WERE INTERESTED IN BRINGING SOME TYPE OF FOOD, RESTAURANT, ENTERTAINMENT.
DO YOU RECALL THAT? DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT AND WHAT PROPERTY THAT IS? IS IT THAT PROPERTY? IS IT PROPERTY THAT RUNS ALONG THE SIDE OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON?
>> I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT APPLICATION.
WE DID A FAIRLY EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY IN THE HISTORY, AND WE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING.
THESE ARE TWO SEPARATE LOTS AS THEY SIT TODAY, SO THERE'S NOT ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT APPLICATION WITH THIS PROPERTY.
IT MAY BE AN ADJACENT ONE THAT WE DIDN'T LOOK AT THE ADJACENT LAND USE FOR, IF IT WAS SOMETHING WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON OR ONE OF THE OTHER USES NEARBY.
>> I WAS ON PLANNING AND ZONING WHEN THAT TOOK PLACE.
AND I RECALL A GENTLEMAN COMING IN AND SPEAKING TO PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, AND I KNOW WE APPROVED IT.
WE SUBDIVIDED THAT PROPERTY FOR TWO RESTAURANTS BECAUSE ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS PARKING.
BUT THEY WERE GOING TO ALLOW THE PARKING AVAILABILITY THAT SITS IN FRONT OF HARLEY TO ACCOMMODATE ANY EXTRA OVERFLOW PARKING.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, I CAN'T REMEMBER REALLY WHERE IT LIED, BUT IT LIES WITHIN THAT.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND DO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED RESEARCH ON THAT.
LIKE I SAID, WE ON 1916 AND 2000 PARKWOOD, WE DIDN'T SEE ANY APPLICATION THAT YOU'VE DESCRIBED LIKE THAT.
>> IT WAS ON TEXAS HARLEY WAY.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND DO A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH ON THAT.
>> IT MUST THEN A BUT TO THAT POSSIBLY.
>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT MORE ALONG BACK TOWARD THE EAST ON TEXAS HARLEY WAY?
>> YEAH. SEE, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A VACANT PIECE OF PROPERTY THERE.
MAYBE IT WAS THAT PROPERTY RIGHT IN THERE. I DON'T KNOW.
NOW THAT'S THE PARKING LOT THAT'S SERVING TEXAS HARLEY.
I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AND SEE EXACTLY.
IF YOU GRANTED SOME TYPE OF APPROVAL FOR A RESTAURANT AND THEN THEY'VE COME BACK AND ADDED A PARKING, I DON'T KNOW, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT THAT APPROVAL WAS.
>> SOMETHING COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN BETWEEN THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF.
[00:35:03]
I WAS JUST CURIOUS.>> THANK YOU. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT.
WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:35.
IF THE APPLICANT WANTS TO COME AND GIVE THEIR PRESENTATION, GO AHEAD.
YOU HAVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
>> I'M HEATH MURRAY. JUST TO CLARIFY TO THE TWO PEOPLE THAT DID COME TO PLANNING AND ZONING IN OPPOSITION, BEFORE THEY LEFT WERE IN FAVOR OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SID AND HIS WIFE, I CAN'T REMEMBER SID'S LAST NAME.
[LAUGHTER] THIS IS THE PROPOSED LOOK OF OUR BUILDING.
IT'S TO MATCH IN MIRROR A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT HARLEY HAS NEXT DOOR.
I'M CERTAINLY NOT A SPEAKER LIKE SPENCER. I'M NOT A PASTOR.
HI, COUNSEL, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR SEEING THIS EVENING AND LETTING US SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU ALL ABOUT THE BUSINESS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BRING TO BEDFORD. MY NAME IS HEATH MURRAY.
I'M THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF MURRAY KUSTOM RODS.
WE SPECIALIZE IN THE CRAFT OF BUILDING CARS AND RARITIES.
TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR BUSINESS, MURRAY KUSTOM RODS BUILDS CARS, WE ACTUALLY BUILD CARS.
WE ARE RENOWNED FOR OUR METALWORK AND CREATION OF PARTS THAT ARE LIMITED OR NOT AVAILABLE.
YOU COULD SAY THAT OUR BUSINESS IS VERY UNIQUE AND OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ARTISANS.
OUR PROCESS BEGINS BY APPOINTMENT WITH OUR POTENTIAL CUSTOMER TO REVIEW WHAT THEY WANT AND RESTORE, BUILD, AND RECREATE LONG BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS EVER DELIVERED ON SITE.
THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF A PROJECT CAN TAKE MONTHS, AND OUR WAITING LIST IS CURRENTLY TWO YEARS LONG.
OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ALL HIGHLY SKILLED CRAFTSMEN THAT UTILIZE SOUGHT AFTER SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT.
WE FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A COUPLE OF Y'ALL UP HERE THAT MAY CRINGE AT THE IDEA OF AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP INSIDE BEDFORD COMMONS.
BUT I ASSURE YOU, WE ARE NOT A PAINT AND BODY BUSINESS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE DON'T SELL TIRES, WE DON'T SELL BATTERIES.
WE DON'T WORK ON JUST ANY VEHICLE SO YOU CAN'T SHOW UP WITH YOUR 1995 HONDA ACCORD AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO WORK ON THAT.
WE DON'T STORE VEHICLES OUTSIDE.
WE'RE NOT A RETAIL AUTOMOTIVE STORE LIKE PET BOYS AUTO ZONE OR O'REILLY'S.
WE'RE A 96 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY BUSINESS.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE CARS THAT WE SPECIALIZE, IT'S NOT STUFF THAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY SEE.
THIS WAS A 2021 HOT RIDE OF THE YEAR CAR, FOR NATIONAL, THE UNITED STATES.
ACTUALLY, I DROVE THIS CAR THIS EVENING.
THESE ARE ALL JUST TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF OF THE WORK WE DO.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT YOUR TYPICAL EVERY DAY RUN OF THE MILL AUTOMOTIVE SHOP.
AFTER THOROUGHLY READ THROUGH THE BEDFORD COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN, IT IS CLEAR WE FIT IN MULTIPLE WAYS, ALBEIT THE PLAN LISTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE WAS CREATED ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2010, BUT WAS LAST UPDATED TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE ON DECEMBER 28TH, 2021.
BASED ON THIS LAND USE PLAN, PARKWOOD IS STILL ZONED COMMERCIAL.
BEDFORD RESIDENTS STATED THAT THE MOST CRITICAL LAND USE ISSUES ARE INCREASE THE QUALITY OF RETAIL DEVELOPMENT, ENCOURAGE MORE RETAIL DEVELOPMENT, AND INCREASE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
SIMILARLY, THE SINGLE MOST CITED ISSUE TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF PROPERTY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN BEDFORD WAS THE EXTERIOR APPEARANCE OF BUSINESSES WITH 93.4% STRONGLY SUPPORTING SUCH ACTION.
WE DO SELL RETAIL PARTS AND WE DO HAVE CUSTOMERS THAT COME TO US AS A DESTINATION BUSINESS TO PURCHASE PARTS WE MANUFACTURE.
WE PROVIDE VALUE TO THE RESIDENTS WITH OUR EXTERIOR APPEARANCE.
OUR FRESH MODERN DESIGN AND GORGEOUS LANDSCAPING WILL INSTANTLY REVITALIZE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN MANICURED IN YEARS.
WE FIT WITHIN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOALS ON MANY LEVELS.
UNDER THE ECONOMIC GOALS, BEDFORD IS TO SEEK OUT AND ATTRACT HIGH QUALITY, VISUALLY APPEARING REPEALING RETAIL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE A MORE ROBUST ECONOMIC LIFE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.
WE BRING THE EYE CANDY, BABY [LAUGHTER] AND CLOSE INSIDE THE QUALITY OF LIFE GOALS, BEDFORD IS TO FOCUS ON REDEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING COMMERCIAL AREAS IN SUCH A MANNER THAT QUALITY OF LIFE AND VALUE OF PROPERTY IS A PRIORITY CONSIDERATION.
APPLY UNIFORM REGULATIONS ENCOURAGING
[00:40:01]
HIGH AESTHETICS APPEARANCE OF EXISTING AND FUTURE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.OUR BUILDING AESTHETICS ARE TO CONFORM WITH THE BEDFORD COMMON ZONING REGULATIONS.
UNDER THE LAND USE GOALS, BEDFORD IS TO ESTABLISH NEW COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES AND EXPAND EXISTING BUSINESSES BY APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES OF CORRIDOR COMMERCIAL DESIGN AND COMMERCIAL NODE DESIGNS AS THE PRIMARY COMMERCIAL FORMS. FOCUS ON AREAS OF BEDFORD THAT HAVE POSSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPMENT THEMES WHICH PROMOTE THE HERITAGE OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
WE FIT THE LAND USE GOALS BY COMPLEMENTING TEXAS HARLEY-DAVIDSON, A BUSINESS THAT HAS BEEN IN BEDFORD LONGER THAN HIGHWAY 183.
WE WILL COMPLEMENT THEM IN APPEARANCE, DESIGN, AND SERVICES, BUT NOT COMPETING FOR BUSINESS AND FOR THOSE THAT Y'ALL WERE WONDERING ABOUT, THE OWNER OF THE 2019 16 PARKWOOD, HE'S SITTING RIGHT HERE.
HE'S THE MAN THAT CREATED TEXAS HARLEY BEFORE HIGHWAY 183 AND BUILT ALL THESE BUILDINGS.
OUR BUSINESS WILL NOT EVER BE A STRIP COMMERCIAL BUSINESS.
TWO THOUSAND PARKWOOD IS A ONE ACRE PARCEL THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR A LARGE LOT.
SINCE WE WILL OWN 1,916 AND 2,000 PARKWOOD, WE WOULDN'T NEED TO HAVE MORE THAN TWO DRIVEWAY ENTRANCES ON OPPOSING SIDES OF THE TWO COMBINED ACRES.
CURRENTLY, PARKWOODS BUILDING DESIGN WOULD MATCH THE CONCEPT OF 1916 IN COLORATION, SIGNAGE, LANDSCAPING, LIGHTING, ETC., SINCE IT WOULD BE THE SAME BUSINESS.
OUR IDEA HERE IS FOR BOTH PROPERTIES LOOK UNIFIED AS A SINGLE TWO ACRE PARCEL WITH TWO MATCHING BUILDINGS.
WE FIT WITHIN THE CITY OF BEDFORD FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS.
OUR KEY TAKEAWAYS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
WE ARE COMPLIMENTARY BUSINESS FOR TEXAS, HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND LUCKY PENNY.
BOTH OF THE BUSINESSES WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR BUSINESS LOCATED NEXT DOOR AS WELL.
OUR BUSINESS WILL BE PERFORMED 100% INDOORS IN THE COMFORT OF AC, AND ONLY CARS AND MOTORCYCLES IN THE PARKING LOT WOULD BE THOSE OF EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.
TO SIMPLY STATE, WE DON'T STORE EXPENSIVE PROJECTS OUTSIDE.
OUR PROJECT STARTED ABOUT $250,000 AND CAN GO UP SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THERE.
OUR CLIENTELE MUST HAVE DISPOSABLE INCOME IN ORDER TO AFFORD TO WORK WITH US.
THESE CUSTOMERS ARE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS ATTORNEYS AND PHYSICIANS, SEA LEVEL EXECUTIVES, MUSICIANS AND ATHLETES.
THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT BEDFORD WOULD LIKE TO ATTRACT TO THE AREA.
TO PATRONIZE THE BEDFORD COMMONS BUSINESSES.
WE ARE CURRENTLY A 2.5 MILLION ANNUAL BUSINESS AND GROWING.
OUR GOAL IS TO BE FOUR MILLION OR MORE BY 2028.
WITH WHAT OUR PROPERTY VALUATIONS AND OUR SALES, WE BRING IN A FAIR AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
WE CURRENTLY EMPLOY 20 DIVERSIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH PLANS TO CONTINUE TO HIRE AND COULD ADD FIVE EASILY TO OUR STAFF RIGHT NOW, WE THINK AS THE INTEREST RATES AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE NORMALIZED, WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADD THESE EMPLOYEES AND MORE.
BEDFORD CENTRAL LOCATION WITHIN THE METROPLEX, WOULD ALLOW US TO HIRE FROM BOTH DALLAS AND TARRANT COUNTIES.
BEDFORD ALLOWS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL.
BEDFORD'S PROXIMITY TO DFW AIRPORT ALLOWS FOR EASY ACCESS FOR OUR NON LOCAL CLIENTS.
CURRENTLY, ABOUT HALF OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE FROM OUT OF STATE.
WE HAVE A HISTORY OF WORKING WITH FORT WORTH ISD AND FORT WORTH POLICE 1916 AND 2,000 PARK WOULD GIVE US A UNIQUE LOCATION IN BEING JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY 183 FROM THE JEN A BU INGER BUILDING AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL ACADEMY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH HEB ISD TO SHOW STUDENTS THE TRADE OF METAL WORKING AND WELDING.
AS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON, IT FELT NATURAL TO WANT TO WORK WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE.
WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW WITH THE FORMULA SAE TEAM FOR INTERNSHIPS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE AS WELL FOR THEIR WELDING PROGRAM.
WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 2006.
I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WIFE WITH EXPENSIVE TASTES.
[LAUGHTER] I CAN'T RETIRE ANYTIME SOON. I GOT TO KEEP WORKING.
ONE OF THE KNOWN TOPICS IN THIS ROOM IS THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE RESTAURANTS WITHIN THE BEDFORD COMMONS LOCATIONS.
LOOKING OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS OF THE RESTAURANTS ON THE ACCESS ROAD OF HIGHWAY 183, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF VERY BIG NAMES COME AND GO.
THESE ARE ALL RESTAURANTS WITH VERY HIGH VISIBILITY AND EASY ACCESS.
NOT ONE OF THESE RESTAURANTS WOULD HAVE FARED ANY BETTER BEING ON PARKWOOD.
CREATING A RESTAURANT ON PARKWOOD OR WITHIN THE BEDFORD COMMONS REQUIRES PRIVATE INVESTMENT FROM AN ENTREPRENEUR OR A LARGER CORPORATE ENTITY.
AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I WOULD DO HEAVY RESEARCH INTO THE COMMUNITY,
[00:45:01]
LOCATION, AND THE COMPETITION, WHICH WOULD LEAD ME INTO QUESTIONS AS TO WHY THESE OTHER RESTAURANTS COULDN'T MAKE IT.AROUND 60% OF NEW RESTAURANTS FELL WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, AND NEARLY 80 SHATTER BEFORE THEIR FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.
FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE COMMUNITY OF BEDFORD, WHEN A RESTAURANT FAILS, IT TAKES YEARS FOR A BUILDING OWNER TO FIND A NEW TENANT.
BEDFORD DOES NOT WANT VACANT PROPERTIES WITHIN THE BEDFORD COMMONS AREA.
A TYPICAL PROFITABLE BENNIGAN'S, CHILI'S, CHEDDAR'S, POSADOS, ETC., PRODUCES APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILLION ANNUALLY.
AT A CURRENT TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION AND AN 18-YEAR HISTORY, WE CAN PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED CONSISTENCY IN THE AREA.
A PROFITABLE BUSINESS WILL PAY SALES AND PROPERTY TAX, A VACANT BUILDING ONLY PAYS PROPERTY TAXES.
WITH 1916 AND 2000 PARKWOOD BEING OUR ONLY PROPERTIES, ALL OF OUR TAXES ARE PAID HERE.
WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT WAS DISCUSSED ABOUT HAVING A GAS MONKEY LIVE LOCATION WITHIN THE BEDFORD COMMONS, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO EARLIER.
IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD BE A LIVELY BUSINESS THAT WOULD BRING PEOPLE INTO THE AREA.
TO FURTHER MY POINT, GAS MONKEY LIVE IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS.
PRIOR TO GAS MONKEY GARAGE BEING A BUSINESS OR THE AIRING OF FAST AND LOUD ON THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL, MURRAY KUSTOM RODS WAS IN BUSINESS.
WE HELPED IN THE CREATION OF FAST AND LOUD.
RICHARD RAWLINGS AND PILGRIM PRODUCTIONS USED MURRAY KUSTOM RODS FACILITY AND EMPLOYEES TO FILM THE ORIGINAL PILOT EPISODE TO GET FAST AND LOUD INTO PRODUCTION.
AT THE TIME, FILMING FOR FAST AND LOUD WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO DO BUT IN THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH EDDIE ROHWEDDER, THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF MANY HIT SHOWS ALONG WITH FAST AND LOUD.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS EDDIE ROHWEDDER, AND I'M AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER FOR PILGRIM MEDIA GROUP.
WE HAVE PRODUCED A TON OF GREAT PROGRAMMING FOR NUMEROUS NETWORKS INCLUDING DISCOVERY, HISTORY, A&E, LIFETIME, TLC, SYFY, OWN, CMT, WETV, AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL.
YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH A FEW OF OUR PRODUCTIONS THAT HELP MAKE REALITY TV WHAT IT IS TODAY.
AMERICAN CHOPPER, DIRTY JOBS, MIKE ROWE, ONLY IN AMERICA WITH LARRY THE CABLE GUY, GHOST HUNTERS, THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER, WICKED TUNA, MEGALODON FEATURED DURING SHARK WEEK, STREET OUTLAWS, AND FAST AND LOUD.
I'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH HEATH MURRAY OF MURRAY KUSTOM RODS ABOUT DOING A REALITY SHOW FEATURING HIS BUSINESS AND THEIR PROCESSES.
HEATH TOLD ME ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW LOCATION WHERE THE CITY IS LOOKING FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE ATTRACTIONS OR DESTINATIONS.
WHILE TRADITIONALLY, I DON'T KNOW THAT MANY AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESSES WOULD BE WHAT YOU WOULD REFER TO AS THE DESTINATION BUSINESS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT MURRAY KUSTOM RODS IS.
HEATH HAS A VERY UNIQUE BUSINESS.
TO TAKE THIS FURTHER, IF PILGRIM AND MURRAY KUSTOM RODS DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD, THERE ARE CERTAINLY POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS TO THE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY.
SOME OF THE MAJOR BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE SEEN INCLUDE INCREASED VISIBILITY AND EXPOSURE FOR THE BUSINESS, INCREASE IN SALES, OR FOR THE CITY'S SAKE, TAX REVENUE, ECONOMIC BOOST TO SURROUNDING BUSINESSES, INCREASED FOOD TRAFFIC AND TOURISM, INCREASED EXPOSURE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY PRIDE, GENTRIFICATION, OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES.
NOT ONLY DO I THINK THAT HEATH MURRAY AND HIS BUSINESS WOULD BE AN ASSET TO ANY CITY, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SHOW, THEY CAN BRING SO MUCH MORE TO THE COMMUNITY AND BE AN ATTRACTION THAT THE CITY IS LOOKING FOR.
WE HAVE BEEN A DESTINATION BUSINESS FOR OVER A DECADE.
IT IS NORMAL IN OUR OFF THE BEATEN PATH LOCATION IN FORT WORTH THAT WE MUST GIVE TOURS A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT STOP BY TO VISIT US FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WE HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON TELEVISION, YOUTUBE, PODCASTS, AND MULTIPLE SOURCES OF PRINT.
THE BEDFORD BLUES FEST WAS A PRIDEFUL POINT FOR THE CITY.
BEDFORD BROUGHT OUT SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING A VIBE OF THAT BACK.
WITH THE HELP OF GOODGUYS ROD & CUSTOM ASSOCIATION AND TEXAS HARLEY, I'M CERTAIN THAT WE CAN CREATE EVENTS THAT ARE REMINISCENT OF THE DAYS OF THE BEDFORD BLUES FEST.
I HAVE A FEW STRONG CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE MUSIC AND EVENT BUSINESS, AND WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WORKING EVENTS TOGETHER IN FORT WORTH, HOPEFULLY BEDFORD.
IN 2021, WE HELD A FREE CONCERT FEATURING JIMMIE VAUGHAN.
WE'VE HAD A FEW CONCERTS OVER THE YEARS, THEY'RE ALL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET A HOLD OF DON HENLEY THOUGH.
[LAUGHTER] BEDFORD IS MORE OF A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY WITH 98% OF THE LAND DEVELOPED, LEAVING LIMITED POSSIBILITIES FOR MORE COMMERCIAL EXPANSION.
[00:50:03]
BEDFORD IS ALSO KNOWN TO BE A BEDROOM COMMUNITY, MEANING THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION LEAVES THE CITY FOR EMPLOYMENT.ONE OF THE REASONS WE WERE ATTRACTED TO THE CITY IS THAT IT IS AN AFFORDABLE CENTRALLY LOCATED CITY WHERE OUR EMPLOYEES CAN BECOME HOMEOWNERS.
THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND RAISE THEIR CHILDREN WITHIN A GREAT SCHOOL SYSTEM.
OF THE TOP 10 MAJOR EMPLOYEES OF BEDFORD, ONLY FIVE OF THEM CONTRIBUTE TO THE TAX BASE.
I DID NOT BRING RESIDENTS OF BEDFORD TO SPEAK WITH ME, HOWEVER, I DID BRING A FEW FRIENDS THAT OWN SOME OF THE LARGER BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY THAT COLLECTIVELY EMPLOY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
IN CLOSING, I KNOW THAT MURRAY KUSTOM RODS WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY, AREA, AND CITY.
WE WOULD BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND COMPLEMENTARY BUSINESS TO THE EXISTING AND LONGSTANDING BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU ALL ON THE COUNCIL THAT HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, I'D LOVE TO PUT YOU AT EASE.
I DO HAVE A FEW SPEAKERS THAT I DON'T KNOW.
ONE OF THEM WAS OUT ON A BOMB THREAT. HE'S BACK THERE NOW.
>> OH NO. MR. MURRAY, FIRST OF, WE CAN GET YOU DON'S NUMBER.
[LAUGHTER] SECOND, DON'T SELL YOURSELF SHORT WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SPEAKING, YOU DID A VERY EXCELLENT JOB IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> THAT WAS ROUGH. [LAUGHTER].
>> NO. WE'RE NOT THAT SCARY UP HERE.
BUT NO, IN HONESTY, I'M LOOKING AT YOUR BUSINESS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I CLARIFY IT SO I CAN UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING AND SUMMARIZE, IF YOU WILL.
WHAT I'M HEARING YOU IS THAT, YOUR BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE JUST 9:00-6:00 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
THIS ISN'T LIKE A PEP BOYS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GARAGES OPEN, THIS IS ALL INDOOR, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD A FACILITY THAT'S GOING TO MATCH THE SAME ARCHITECTURE AND AESTHETICS AS THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS ON THAT VACANT LAND THAT IS RIGHT BESIDE IT, CORRECT?
>> OKAY. JUST MAKING SURE I'M HITTING SOME OF THE HIGH POINTS HERE.
>> THAT'S GOING TO TAKE ME A LITTLE BIT TO RECOUP MY MONEY AFTER MOVING IN AND DOING THE RENOVATIONS TO THE CURRENT BUILDING.
SO THAT WOULD BE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I'D BE INITIALLY COMING IN AND DOING.
>> GOT YOU. THIS IS FUTURE PLAN.
>> THIS IS FUTURE PLAN. BUT IN ORDER TO MAKE THE MOVE AND MAKE A WISE DECISION, I WANT TO SECURE THAT PROPERTY AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL WOULD ALLOW ME TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
>> IN THE FUTURE. BASICALLY, YOUR BUSINESS IS GEARED TO YOUR HIGHER MARKET VALUE CARS.
YOU SAY YOU DON'T WORK ON CARS, YOU BUILD THEM. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YOU BUILD THEM. YOUR DOLLAR AMOUNTS AREN'T YOUR TYPICAL ONE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT CUSTOM CARS AND AS YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE SLIDESHOWS THAT ARE BEING SHOWN RIGHT HERE, VERY PRETTY CARS, I MUST SAY.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THE UNIQUENESS OF YOUR BUSINESS.
THIS IS ISN'T A PEP BOYS OR ONE OF THE OTHERS.
>> I WAS TRYING TO CLARIFY THAT WE'RE NOT YOUR TYPICAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP.
>> WE HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN APPEARANCE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S A HIGHER END SERVICE AND GOOD THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING.
>> IN ADDITION TO THAT, I DO ALSO WANT TO CLARIFY, YOU MENTIONED A LOT OF THE RESTAURANTS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT.
WE DID HAVE AN EXPANSION OF THE HIGHWAY.
>> WHICH LED TO A LOT OF THOSE BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS NOT MAKING IT DUE TO THAT EXPANSION.
>> HAD THAT NOT HAPPENED, IT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT STORY.
BUT THAT'S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE.
I DO WANT TO ASK YOU A GENERAL QUESTION.
IN PNZ, THEY DENIED BASED ON THE FACT THAT THEY WANTED TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF OUR BEDFORD COMMONS PLAN, AND THAT BY DOING THIS, IF YOU GO TO THE PLAN ITSELF, IT LEAVES A BIG HOLE IN THERE FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
MY QUESTION TO YOU, AND IT'S VERY GENERAL IS, WHY SHOULD COUNCIL DO THIS? WHY SHOULD WE GO AGAINST THE INTEGRITY OF OUR BEDFORD COMMONS PLAN THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED TO CREATE A LITTLE SUBSECTION HOLE FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO ANSWER THAT 100% AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A CREATIVE WAY TO MAKE IT WORK.
I WAS BASICALLY GOING UNDER ADVICE OF, GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH WES MORRISON, AND GOING BACK AND FORTH AND THIS WAS JUST ONE AVENUE THAT I WENT DOWN A RABBIT HOLE.
CREATING A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT SEEMED TO BE WHAT MADE THE MOST SENSE.
HOWEVER, THE REGULATIONS THAT I PUT INSIDE THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT WERE FOLLOWING ALL OF BEDFORD COMMONS ZONING REGULATIONS,
[00:55:03]
SO IT WAS TO FIT AND STILL BE ALL WITHIN THAT.I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME DIFFICULTY OF SHOULD I EVER SELL THE BUILDING, MOVE OUT, OR ANYTHING ELSE AND YOU HAVE BEDFORD COMMONS ZONING, AND NOW YOU HAVE THIS HOLE IN THE PLAN.
>> HOW WE CAN MANIPULATE AND WORK AROUND THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE, YEAH, EXACTLY.
I THINK THAT WAS THE CONCERN OF A LOT OF US.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I DON'T KNOW THE LEGALITIES OF DOING ALL THIS STUFF.
I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SOME BIG STUFF HAPPEN IN YOUR CITY.
>> OF COURSE. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
COUNCIL, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MURRAY HERE? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. IN THE CURRENT SHOP, WHAT IS THE NOISE LEVEL, OUTSIDE THE BUILDING?
>> I HAVE AN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET WITH A TARRANT COUNTY JUDGE LITERALLY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME.
>> NO COMPLAINTS. THEY'RE CLOSE FRIENDS, AND I CAN PROMISE YOU THIS, I'LL NEVER MAKE AS MUCH NOISE AS THE HARLEY STORE NEXT DOOR.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CUVER.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S FOR JIMMY OR FOR BRUN, BUT HE TALKED ABOUT OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND THE LAST TIME IT WAS UPDATED WAS 2010.
THE BEDFORD COMMONS PLAN WAS COMPLETED AND APPROVED IN 2017; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT WAS RIGHT AROUND THAT TIME.
>> SO WHICH ONE IS THE GOVERNING GUIDELINE? IS IT THE BEDFORD COMMONS? IS THAT WHAT WE GO BY OR IS IT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF 2010?
>> IT'S THE BEDFORD COMMONS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ACTUAL ZONING THAT GOES WITH THE PROPERTY, NOT JUST THE PLAN, IT'S ACTUALLY THE BIBLICAL ZONING.
>> THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF 2010 REALLY DOESN'T FIT INTO THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING NOW.
>> ACTUALLY, WHAT I SAID THOUGH WAS THAT IT WAS UPDATED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE DECEMBER 28TH, 2021.
RIGHT NOW, OBVIOUSLY THE USES THAT ARE PERMITTED ARE PERMITTED BY RIGHT WOULD BE GOVERNED BY THE BEDFORD COMMON ZONING.
HOWEVER, IF YOU WERE TO REZONE THE PROPERTY, THE GUIDING DOCUMENT WOULD BE THE MASTER PLAN.
>> AGAIN, I WASN'T PLANNING AND ZONING WHEN THAT DOCUMENT WAS PRODUCED.
AND I FEEL LIKE IN ALL HONESTY, WE WERE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL WHEN THAT DOCUMENT WAS PRODUCED.
WE STARTED PRODUCING A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, AND WE WERE LOOKING AT COPYING SOME OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN FLOWER MOUND.
WHAT HAD HAPPENED UP IN NORTH RICHLAND HILLS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES ALL AROUND.
BASICALLY, BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS, LOWER LEVEL WITH RESIDENTIAL ABOVE.
SOME HOMES IN THERE, SOME CONDOS IN THERE, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO REFER TO IT, AND AS WE ALL KNOW AND ARE AWARE THAT FAILED.
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS HAS NOT BEEN AS SUCCESSFUL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
THEY'VE GONE IN AND THEY'VE HAD TO REDO THOSE LOWER BUSINESSES AND TURN THEM INTO RESIDENTIAL.
I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT TO FLOWER MOUND LATELY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT PARTICULAR.
>> THE LOWER LEVEL RETAIL WAS NOT ESPECIALLY FOR RESTAURANTS, IT WAS NOT REAL COMPATIBLE.
>> IT WAS NOT COMPATIBLE. SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING HERE REALLY, IN MY OPINION, IS TWO OUTDATED DOCUMENTS.
THE MASTER PLANNING DOCUMENT IS OUTDATED AND THE BEDFORD COMMONS PLAN IS OUTDATED IN MY OPINION.
I DO NOT WANT TO SEE US PIECEMEAL THIS.
I THINK YOUR PRODUCT IS GREAT.
I'D LOVE TO SEE YOU IN BEDFORD.
IT MAY NOT BE AT THAT PARTICULAR SITE, BUT BEFORE WE GO PICKING THIS APART, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT WE'RE WORKING ON A MASTER PLAN FOR THE CITY, AND WE MAY WANT TO SEND THE BEDFORD COMMONS BACK TO PLANNING AND
[01:00:03]
ZONING, AND HAVE IT REWORKED, BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE OFFERING TO BRING TO BEDFORD WOULD BE USEFUL, BENEFICIAL, EXCITING ALL THE ELEMENTS OF WHICH YOU'VE DESCRIBED.BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IN MY OPINION, IT DOESN'T FIT WITH EITHER THE MASTER PLAN OR THE BEDFORD COMMONS PLAN.
I THINK IT TAKES US BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TOTALLY JUST TO RELOOK AT THOSE DOCUMENTS BEFORE WE START PULLING PROPERTIES OUT AND DESIGNATING IT.
BECAUSE ONCE WE DO THIS, WE SET UP PRESIDENTS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE COME TO US AND WANT US TO DO THE VERY SAME THING.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, YOU DID IT FOR HEATH MURRAY, WHY CAN'T YOU DO IT FOR US? ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, I WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL TO THINK ABOUT REVISITING THE DOCUMENTS AND MAYBE GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO PULL YOUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER AND MAYBE REVAMP WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT TO DO.
>> YES, MA'AM. I THINK THAT MOST EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM WOULD AGREE THAT MOTORCYCLE SALES AND SERVICE IS NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I'M DOING AND TRUTH BE KNOWN, THAT BUILDING HAS NEVER BEEN MOTORCYCLE SALES AND SERVICE.
IT'S BEEN HOUSING CARS THAT WE'VE BEEN BUILDING.
THAT BUILDING IS 100% SET UP FOR WHAT WE DO.
THE WHOLE TIME THAT BUILDING HAS BEEN IN USE SINCE 2007 HAS BEEN A FACILITY TO HOLD BEAUTIFUL CARS, AND THAT'S WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO, AND IT WAS AN OVERFLOW STORAGE FOR HARLEY MOTORCYCLES FOR THE BUILDING THAT IS NOW LUCKY PENNY, IT'S CONFUSING TO ME THAT THE MOTORCYCLE SALES AND SERVICE IS ALLOWED.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS NOT AND I THINK YOU'RE ALSO STATING THAT AS WELL THAT IT NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ON THAT.
>> NO, I'M NOT STATING THAT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
[LAUGHTER] I DON'T WANT YOU PUTTING WORDS IN MY MOUTH.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT OUR LAND USE, OKAY?
>> NOW, YOU MAY WANT TO DESCRIBE IT AS THE WAY YOU JUST DID, ONE VERSUS ANOTHER, MOTORCYCLE VERSUS AUTOMOTIVE.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT OUR OVER ALL COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD, AND THE BEDFORD COMMONS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS OUT OF DATE.
AND THERE MAY BE MORE OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE FOR THE CITY IF WE GO BACK AND RELOOK AT THOSE DOCUMENTS AND CHANGE IT, AND NOT ONLY MAY IT OFFER YOU THE OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT MAY OFFER SOMEBODY ELSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME INTO THE CITY.
WE'VE HELD ONTO THIS PIPE DREAM, IF YOU WILL, THAT WE WANTED TO TAKE THIS INNER CITY PROPERTY THAT'S NOT VISIBLE FROM A HIGHWAY, IT'S NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE, AND WE WANT TO TURN IT INTO SOMETHING LIKE A DREAM THAT PEOPLE WILL COME TO.
I THINK WE'VE JUST ALREADY SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER LETTING THIS PROPERTY SIT UNDEVELOPED.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE FOR IT.
I'M JUST ASKING THAT DENY YOU OR BEFORE WE APPROVE YOU THAT MAYBE WE TABLE THIS AND GO BACK AND LOOK AT RESTRUCTURING BOTH OF THOSE DOCUMENTS.
BEFORE WE EVEN HEAR THIS CASE.
>> IT'S JUST THE THOUGHT. I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM COUNSEL FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS.
I'M SITTING BACK IN A OPEN SPOT, A LAME DUCK, SO I'M JUST HERE OFFERING MY OPINION.
ABSOLUTELY. I THINK EVERYTHING THAT GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE UP HERE THAT DENIES THAT HAVING YOUR BUSINESS HERE WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE CITY.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO DO TO THE PLAN ITSELF, WHICH COULD BE, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING ON ALMOST A DECADE OLD.
IT MAY NEED OBVIOUSLY REVISITING OUR MASTER PLAN, THANKFULLY, IS IN THE PROCESS, IN THE FINAL STAGES OF BEING DONE FOR THE CITY.
SO, WE WILL HAVE THAT AVAILABLE.
BUT AS FOR THE BEDFORD COMMONS PLAN, IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE IT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE TAKEN A LOOK AT.
[01:05:03]
I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION WE ARE IN AND THAT WE ALSO WE DON'T WANT TO PIECEMEAL THIS THING AS THINGS IN OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE IN THE PAST TO THEIR DEVELOPMENTS, SETTING THAT PRECEDENT.I'M JUST MAKING YOU SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT.
THIS IS STILL A PUBLIC HEARING AND WE STILL HAVE YOU HERE, SO I KNOW THERE'S SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD STILL ALSO LIKE TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS.
I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN CULVER ABOUT THE AGE OF THOSE DOCUMENTS AND HOW THEY DIDN'T AGE WELL, AND OTHER CITIES GOT TO LEARN THAT FIRSTHAND.
I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
JUST SO WE'RE OPEN, WE'VE MET, WE'VE HAD COFFEE AT THE WOODEN GRAIN.
YOU DROVE UP IN THAT AMAZING, I BELIEVE IT WAS A CADILLAC.
UNBELIEVABLE. ON THE PAGES OF MISSED THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN BEDFORD, ONE WAS BABES CHICKEN.
BABES AT ONE TIME WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN BEDFORD.
THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A BUSINESS PARK EARLY IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGES OF BEDFORD OFF THE 183,121 CORRIDOR. MISSED IT.
AT ONE TIME THERE WAS TALKS ABOUT HAVING, I THINK IT WAS NORTHEAST MALL AGAIN, A LONG TIME AGO. GUESS WHAT? BEDFORD DID.
WE MISSED IT. WHILE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS BEDFORD COMMONS PROJECT, WE'RE HITTING SEVEN YEARS,2017, NOW WE'RE IN SEVEN YEARS.
WHILE I DO AGREE 100% THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE PLANNING AND ZONING DOCUMENTS, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THE MASTER PLAN CURRENTLY, I DON'T WANT TO KEEP MISSING OPPORTUNITIES, AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BRING SOME ATTENTION TO BEDFORD AND I BELIEVE, KEEP SAYING, WE'RE KICKING THINGS DOWN THE ROAD FOR MAYBE LATER AND WE KEEP MISSING THESE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL ADD TO THAT.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT SINCE AUGUST OF 2022, SO I'VE BEEN WORKING IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY OF BEDFORD FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF.
AT THIS POINT, I HAVE CASH AND I'M READY TO SPEND.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCILMER DAWKINS?
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. MURRAY, WHAT INTERESTS YOU ABOUT THIS SITE IN BEDFORD?
>> WHAT INTERESTS ME ABOUT IT SPECIFICALLY, IT PUTS ME DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR TO THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON BUILDING.
WE BASICALLY WOULD BE SHARING CUSTOMERS BACK AND FORTH.
IT'S A VERY UNIQUE LOCATION, ONE THAT WAS PART OF SOME OF MY KEY TAKEAWAYS AND THE FACT IT PUTS ME CLOSE TO DFW AIRPORT, SO A LOT OF OUR OUT OF TOWN CUSTOMERS, THEY CAN FLY IN.
WE'RE IN DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH NOW, SO IT'S A 25, 30 MILE DRIVE FOR THEM.
IT GIVES MY EMPLOYEES A GREAT CITY TO LIVE IN WITH GREAT SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE HOUSING IS RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE AND I WANT MY EMPLOYEES TO DO WELL AS WELL.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME.
ONE OF THE BIG MOTIVATORS FOR ME IS THIS IS A HUGE UPGRADE FOR MY EMPLOYEES AND ONE OF THE IDEAS ABOUT TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE NOW IS I'D LIKE TO HAVE THEM IN FULL AC BY THE TIME SUMMER COMES, IT'S A BENEFIT TO THEM.
CURRENTLY, WE'RE NOT IN AC, SO I'M TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO RETAIN EMPLOYEES AND GAIN EMPLOYEES.
I THINK WE CAN BRING A LOT OF ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE CITY JUST WITH MY EMPLOYEES EATING EVERY DAY, THEY ALL HAVE TO EAT.
THEY GO NEXT DOOR TO DAPA DANCE AND GET A HAIRCUT, WE BRING A LOT MORE THAN JUST BEING HERE, SO BUT MY REASONING IS, IT'S A GREAT CITY FOR MY EMPLOYEES.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.
THANK YOU MAYOR. MR. MURRAY, I REALLY LIKE THE UNIQUENESS OF YOUR BUSINESS, AND I'D LOVE TO SEE YOU HERE IN BEDFORD, AND I WOULD JUST ASK THE MAYOR TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIND YOU A LOCATION OR GET THIS LOCATION APPROVED.
WE'D LOVE TO SEE HERE [OVERLAPPING] I'D LIKE TO SEE HERE.
[01:10:01]
>> ABSOLUTELY. WHATEVER THE OUTCOME IS OF THIS, WE STILL WANT TO WORK WITH.
I THINK IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
>> YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH WEST AND I ASSUME ANDREA FOR A YEAR OVER YEAR ON THIS PROJECT?
I>> THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNSEL NEEDS TO REMEMBER IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASKED TO FOLLOW CERTAIN GUIDELINES THAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO FOLLOW, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY'RE EXPIRED OR NOT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ENTRANCES INTO THE COMMONS.
NOT THAT THE BUSINESS IS A BAD CHOICE, BUT IT DOESN'T MATCH OUR PLANNING.
THE PLANNING IS OLD GRANTED, BUT IT'S STILL, IT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE, THE BOOKS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FOLLOW, AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE FOR US TO CHANGE THOSE PLANS ON A DIME.
WE HAVE A HISTORY OF LETTING PLANS GO.
I THINK WHEN MR. GAGLIARDI SAYS THAT WE PASSED ON THIS AND THIS AND THE OTHER, IT DOES COME TO MIND THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WE'VE HAD PLANS LIKE A FOOTBALL PLAN, AND IN OUR BOOKS AND OUR RECORDS, AND THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME CONTINUED TO IGNORE ALL OF THE PLANS THAT HAD BEEN SET ASIDE THAT DIDN'T WORK FOR US.
IT DIDN'T WORK FOR US, IT'S NOT WORKING FOR US NOW.
I'VE HAD PAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SAY, NOT THE ONE WE HAVE NOW, SAY THAT NOBODY LOOKS AT THE MASTER PLAN OR THE BEDFORD COMMONS PLANS ANYMORE ANYWAY.
IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT WE BRING TO BEDFORD.
WELL, FORTUNATELY FOR US, WE HAVE A STAFF NOW THAT DOES FOLLOW THE PLANNING.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE HIRED TO DO, THAT THEY'RE OUR SECURITY, SO THAT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GETTING WHAT WE INTEND TO GET, SO THAT WE KNOW THAT WE GET A GOOD PRODUCT, WE GET WHAT WE ANTICIPATED HAVING IN THAT AREA.
IT'S NOT THAT I THINK THAT YOUR BUSINESS IS A BAD ONE.
I THINK IT'S EXCITING, IT'S COOL, IT'S VERY, VERY COOL.
BUT I JUST PREFER TO STICK WITH THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS AS PRESENT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, SIR. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK WE'VE GOT EVERYBODY UP COUNCIL. MAYOR FARCO.
>> I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM MR. SMITH IF YOU'D LIKE TO TALK AND TELL HIM WHY YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH MR. MURRAY.
>> DON SMITH, BEDFORD HARLEY PARTNERS, LANDOWNER OF 1916.
I CAME TO BEDFORD IN 1977, BUILT A BUILDING ON THE FREEWAY.
I GAVE $1.75 A FOOT, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS RIDICULOUS [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY.
THERE WAS NO GAS, THERE WAS NO WATER, THERE WAS ELECTRICITY.
THEY RAN WATER UP FROM FOREST RIDGE.
WHEN I WENT TO RELOCATE THE BUSINESS FROM ARLINGTON TO BEDFORD, IT WAS A HARLEY STORE I BOUGHT THERE AND BROUGHT OVER HERE.
HARLEY WANTED ME TO GO TO GRAPEVINE.
THEY SAID BEDFORD IS NOT HAPPENING, GRAPEVINE IS.
I SAID, NO, I WANT TO BE IN BEDFORD ON THE FREEWAY.
IT'S ABOUT 12 MILES TO DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH.
IT'S ABOUT 12 MILES TO DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
THE AIRPORT WAS THERE, THE POST OFFICE WAS THERE, AND I THOUGHT THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING OR THEY WOULDN'T BE PUTTING A POST OFFICE WHERE THEY WERE.
AT THAT TIME, THE OFFICE BUILDING WAS THERE.
THERE WAS NO DIVIDER IN THE FREEWAY.
BEDFORD CAME AND GOT MY PARKING LOT AND MADE PARKWOOD DRIVE THROUGH THERE.
I BOUGHT THE LOT WEST TO ME FOR A PARKING LOT.
THE STATE CAME ALONG AND GOT HALF OF MY FRONT YARD, BUT THEY PAID ME FOR THAT.
BEDFORD DIDN'T PAY ME ANYTHING, BUT THEY DIDN'T CHARGE ME FOR THE STREET EITHER.
I'M NOT COMPLAINING, AND I DIDN'T THEN.
I KNOW YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE.
THIS GUY'S GOING SOMEWHERE AND HE'LL TAKE [INAUDIBLE] WITH HIM IF YOU-ALL WILL LET HIM.
HE'S A GET IT DONE GUY, HIGHLY INTELLIGENT, A HARD WORKER.
HE'S WORKED FOR ME ON MY CARS FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS,
[01:15:03]
MORE THAN 2 OR $300,000 IN MONEY.HE ALWAYS DOES GOOD WORK AND I ALWAYS KNOW THAT HE WILL.
I RECOMMEND HIM, AND I RECOMMEND HIM TO THE CITY.
I'M NOT A SEER OF THE FUTURE BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHEN I SOLD HONDA AND BOUGHT HARLEY, MY FAMILY HAD AN INTERVENTION.
MY WIFE BROUGHT ALL THE BOYS HOME AND SAID, DAD'S LOSING IT.
HE'S GETTING OUT OF THE HONDA BUSINESS AND GET INTO HARLEY.
I COULD SEE THE FUTURE THERE, AND WE WENT WITH HARLEY.
MY FAMILY AND I, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND BEDFORD HELPED US DO THAT.
THAT GOOSE LAID A LOT OF GOLDEN EGGS THAT WE COULD DO THESE OTHER PROJECTS, AND ALL BECAME OUT OF THE BEDFORD STORE, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
IN THE '90S, THE CHIEF OF POLICE CAME TO ME AND SAID, DON, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE US A GRANT OF $5,000.
IF A BUSINESS OR A CITIZEN WILL GIVE US $5,000 THEY'LL MATCH IT.
WE CAN'T DO IT, WOULD YOU DO THAT? I SAID, I'D BE GLAD TO DO IT.
THAT'S ONE WAY I COULD PAY TO BEDFORD BACK FOR ALL THE GOOD THINGS THEY HAVE DONE FOR ME BY GIVING ME AND MY FAMILY AN OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MR. SMITH, THANK YOU. THIS EVENING IS ALL ABOUT BEDFORD HERE AND THERE'S A LOT OF LOVE ON BEDFORD TONIGHT, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
DO ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SMITH WHILE HE'S HERE?
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN OUR CITY.
>> NO, THANK YOU. YOU-ALL DO GOOD WORK.
ONE TIME THEY WERE GOING TO DO THE CENTER SECTION, SOME GUY IN CHICAGO, AND HE WANTED HARLEY TO STAY.
OBVIOUSLY AT THAT TIME, HIS ATTRACTION, AND I THINK IT'S AN ATTRACTION TODAY.
I'M TELLING YOU THIS GUY'S BUSINESS GOING TO BE ONE TOO. THANK YOU.
>> IT DOESN'T APPEAR SO. THANK YOU.
>> SINCE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO COME TO THE MIC HERE FOR THIS ITEM? I NEED TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE, SIR.
[NOISE] BOB COCHRAN, 2252 BEDFORD CIRCLE.
AS RELUCTANT AS I AM TO SPEAK.
>> I KNOW YOU'RE A MAN OF FEW WORDS.
>> YES. WELL, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
WHEN I READ THE AGENDA AND I SAW THIS, I THOUGHT THAT'S THE LAST THING WE NEED IS A AUTO REPAIR SHOP.
AFTER LISTENING TO THIS PRESENTATION, WHICH BY THE WAY, AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF IT IN HERE, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TOO.
ABSOLUTELY, I THINK ONE OF THE TOP PRESENTATIONS IT'S EVER BEEN MADE TO CITY COUNCIL.
A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS ON THIS APPLICATION.
WEST TELLS ME THAT HARLEY IS IN BEDFORD COMMONS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN HAVE THAT HUGE HARLEY BUILDING, THANK YOU, MR. SMITH, IN BEDFORD COMMONS, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE TWO BUILDINGS THAT, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, WILL HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF WHAT THEY DO ON THE OUTSIDE, EXCEPT MAYBE A SIGN AND MAYBE ONE OR TWO REALLY, REALLY FANCY CARS, WHICH BY THE WAY, ARE PARKED OUTSIDE.
I DON'T SEE THAT THAT HAS ANY IMPACT ON PARKWOOD AS THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO BEDFORD COMMONS.
IF ANYTHING, IT MIGHT ADD A LITTLE ATTRACTIVENESS TO IT IN TERMS OF CUTTING OUT THIS LITTLE PIECE OF BEDFORD COMMONS, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE PLAN OR WHATEVER.
I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT COUNCILMAN CULVER YEARS AGO POINTED OUT THAT THE SUBDIVISION, SHE AND I LIVE, IN A BLOCK EAST OF HERE, WHICH IS ORIGINALLY HIS OWN COMMERCIAL.
I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME, BUT IF HE HADN'T BUILT THE HOUSES THERE, I THINK THAT'D STILL BE AN EMPTY LOT WITH SOME COWS IN IT.
I DON'T THINK THERE'D BE ANY COMMERCIAL THERE.
I DON'T SEE COMMERCIAL BEATING DOWN THE DOOR TO COME TO BEDFORD.
>> CHECK IT, IT'S GOOD. [LAUGHTER]
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE, YOU SHOULD BE.
BEDFORD HAS A REPUTATION OF BEING ANTI BUSINESS, HAS HAD FOR YEARS BECAUSE OF TURNING DOWN THIS AND THAT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW WE HAVE A AX THROWING ENTERTAINMENT PLACE ON THE FREEWAY.
[01:20:01]
THE CLAIMED WORLD'S LARGEST ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE FIREARMS AUCTION HOUSE.NOW IT'S NOT ON THE FREEWAY, BUT I LOOK AT THIS AS LIKE THEM.
IF THEY JUST COME IN AND SAID, WE WANT TO OPEN A FIREARM SHOP AND WE'RE GOING TO BE SELLING ANYTHING WE CAN GET OUR HANDS ON.
I'D THROW OUT SOME NAMES BUT I'M NOT A FIREARMS GUY, SO WHAT I CAN THINK OF IS A SNUBNOSE 38 AND AN M16.
BUT I DOUBT THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE GIVEN APPROVAL.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR YOU, AND I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT ROCK ISLAND AUCTION WAS BRINGING, AND THEY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY REDOING THAT BUILDING.
THE ONLY THING OUT FRONT IS THE SCIENCE, IS ROCK ISLAND AUCTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT FIREARMS, BUT THIS APPLICATION TO ME SEEMS KIND OF LIKE.
>> IT'S ABOUT RAISING THE BAR.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
>> WHEN I HEARD THE PRESENTATION, I'M LIKE, THIS WOULD BE REALLY GOOD.
>> IN YEARS PAST, TO YOUR POINT, BEDFORD, OBVIOUSLY I THINK DID HAVE A REPUTATION YEARS AGO BEING ANTI-BUSINESS, BUT OBVIOUSLY IN RECENT YEARS, NOT THE CASE, YOU'VE SEEN THAT.
YOU'VE SEEN HOW WE'VE CHANGED THIS FAR WITH THE EXAMPLES THAT YOU PROVIDED, ROCK ISLAND, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> I DON'T SEE THOUGH, THE NEED TO SWEAR BY THE BEDFORD COMMONS, WHICH I LIVE NEXT DOOR TO AS WELL.
IT'S IN BEDFORD COMMONS, SO WE CAN'T HAVE IT.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO TELL MR. SMITH? PACK OFF AND LEAVE THAT FANTASTIC BUILDING.
I DON'T KNOW WHO DREW THE MAP, I DON'T KNOW WHO DECIDED LET'S MAKE IT HERE TO PUT THAT IN BEDFORD COMMONS.
THE OTHER TWO THINGS, INSURANCE, OFFICE BUILDING, AND TRUCK LINE HEADQUARTERS, THEY'RE JUST RUN-OF-THE-MILL BUILDINGS.
THERE'S NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT IT AND THERE WON'T BE ANYTHING REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT THIS ONE, EXCEPT THERE'LL BE TWO BUILDINGS THAT MATCH, WHICH I THINK THERE USED TO BE BEFORE ONE GOT TORN DOWN TO ADD PARKING FOR HARLEY BECAUSE HE USED TO HAVE TWO MATCHING BUILDINGS THERE.
AT THE WORST, IF YOU TABLED IT, SO YOU HAD A LITTLE MORE TIME TO THINK ON YOUR OWN AS TO WHAT THIS WOULD OR WOULDN'T DO.
PLANS ARE GREAT, BUT OUR ORGANIZATION HAS A GROUP CALLED CITY COUNCIL TO LOOK AT THOSE PLANS AND TO DECIDE WHETHER IT'S BY GOD THAT'S THE RULE, OR IF THERE'S A REASON TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION.
I REALLY BELIEVE THERE'S A REASON TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION HERE.
>> GOOD EVENING. NEIL NOBLE. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF NAVIGANT MOTOR GROUP.
WE OPERATE TEXAS, HARLEY-DAVIDSON, AND LUCKY PENNY CYCLES.
I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE THE CHIEF STEWARD OF THIS BUSINESS SINCE 2012.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE ROAD EXPANSION WHERE ADAM AND I TOOK OFF FROM WHAT DON CREATED AND THE LEGACY IS THERE.
WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO BE IN BEDFORD.
WE WERE AT A CROSSROADS OURSELVES IN 2013 WHERE WE WERE LOOKING AT PROPERTIES AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO KEEP THE BUSINESS IN BEDFORD OR RELOCATE AND GRAPEVINE WAS AGAIN, THE RECOMMENDED DESTINATION FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON.
WE'RE THRILLED THAT WE CHOSE TO STAY HERE IN BEDFORD. IT'S SERVED US VERY WELL.
DURING THAT TIME, WE'VE HAD THE NUMBER 1 SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN THE ENTIRE WORLD IN TERMS OF VOLUME, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'RE PRETTY PROUD OF.
WE'VE BEEN AS HIGH AS NUMBER 5 IN MOTORCYCLE SALES VOLUME IN THE WORLD AS WELL.
SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S PRETTY COOL TO HAVE RIGHT HERE IN BEDFORD.
AS A NEIGHBORING BUSINESS TO THIS PROPERTY, I CAN'T THINK OF MANY BETTER NEIGHBORS FOR US TO HAVE.
IT HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
I GUESS I'VE EARNED THE LOSS OF THIS HAIR AND THE GRAYING OF ALL OF THIS SINCE THE LAST TIME I HAD TO COME UP BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, BUT WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT.
I REMEMBER SITTING DOWN WITH THE CONSULTING FIRM THAT THE CITY HAD HIRED TO DEVELOP THE COMMONS PROJECT, AND MEETING WITH THEN CITY MANAGERS AND ZONING, THEY WANTED SOME OF OUR INPUT AS WE WERE A KEY BUSINESS AS A PART OF THAT.
WE GAVE A LOT OF FEEDBACK AT THAT TIME THAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT AND THAT IF THEY CAN PULL IT OFF, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
BUT WE POSED SOME QUESTIONS AND THE QUESTIONS WERE, HOW DO WE DRAW PEOPLE FROM THE FREEWAY,
[01:25:03]
AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? I THINK TO THIS DAY, THE LACK OF DEVELOPMENT IS SHOWING THAT THE PLAN REALLY DIDN'T HAVE LEGS.I THINK THAT'S BEEN SAID TONIGHT.
BUT THE POINT I WANT TO BRING UP, AND I'M NOT A CITY PLANNER OR HAVE ANY EXPERTISE IN THAT, BUT I'M PRETTY DAMN GOOD AT RUNNING A BUSINESS AND I GUESS GOOD OR BAD, MY ROLE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY IS NOT THERE WHENEVER THINGS GO AS PER NORMAL.
FOLLOWING THE PLANS AND THE SOPS, THAT USUALLY ISN'T WHEN I GET A CALL OR WHEN I GET AN EMAIL.
I GET IT WHENEVER SOMETHING TRULY IMPORTANT IS IN FRONT OF ME WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE A CALL AND THE CALL HAS TO BE MADE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE BUSINESS.
WE LOOK OUT FOR OUR ENTITY AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT WE EMPLOY AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE CHALLENGE THAT'S HERE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT; IS WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH HEATH MURRAY'S BUSINESS AND MURRAY KUSTOM RODS HERE TO BRING SOMETHING THAT'S COMPLIMENTARY TO SOME OF THE LARGER BUSINESSES IN BEDFORD.
THEIR EMPLOYEES WILL EAT AT THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS.
IT WILL BRING MORE TRAFFIC TO THE AREA DURING THE WEEK, WHICH IS VERY BENEFICIAL TO US.
WE SELL VERY EXPENSIVE TOYS AND THEY SELL VERY EXPENSIVE TOYS SO THE FOLKS THAT THEY WOULD BRING CAN AFFORD THE EXPENSIVE TOYS THAT WE SELL.
THERE'S SOME ALIGNMENT THERE FOR EVENTS FOR JUST BRINGING THE RIGHT CUSTOMER BASE THAT SHOPS AT BOTH LUCKY PENNY CYCLES AND TEXAS HARLEY-DAVIDSON.
THOSE ARE TWO BIG ANCHOR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE MR. SMITH STARTED THE FIRST TEXAS HARLEY-DAVIDSON LOCATION THERE.
I BELIEVE IT WAS WHAT? 1988 THAT YOU LOST YOUR MIND AND SWITCHED TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON? WHICH TURNED OUT PRETTY WELL.
I GUESS FROM OUR STANDPOINT, WE ARE 100% IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
I THINK THAT ANY OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN SOMEONE OF THIS CALIBER WHO HAS THE LEGS, THIS IS NOT A NEW BUSINESS THAT'S PROPOSING SOMETHING.
IT'S RARE FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE THE TENURE IN SUCH A COMPLEX BUSINESS SINCE 2006, SO HE HAS LEGS.
IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AROUND, AND I THINK HE HAS THE EVIDENCE FOR THAT.
WE WOULD BE VERY DISAPPOINTED IF WE DIDN'T SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THE ZONING COMMENT ON THE LOT THAT WAS CARVED OUT, [BACKGROUND] YES, MA'AM.
THAT IS THE LOT THAT IS CURRENTLY A PARKING LOT THERE IN THE FRONT.
WE HAVE, AS WE SAW, THE COMMONS PROJECT COMING, WE NEEDED THAT FOR PARKING, AS WELL AS LEAVING IT OPEN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHETHER IT'S RESTAURANT, FOOD TRUCK, SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE THAT WOULD SUPPORT WHAT ELSE WAS IN THE AREA.
WITH THE LACK OF THRIVING OF SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS THAT WERE THERE IN THAT AREA, IT HAS NEVER COME TO OUR PLATE AS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO STEP INTO OR TRY TO DEVELOP THAT, BUT WE WANTED TO HAVE THAT OPTION FOR IT TO SUPPORT THE COMMONS PROJECT.
AS IT STANDS NOW, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THAT LOT BECOMES ANYTHING OTHER THAN PARKING.
BUT CERTAINLY, IF THERE WERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT OCCURRED, WE WOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
>> I THOUGHT I RECOGNIZED YOU WHEN YOU STEPPED UP.
WASN'T QUITE FOR SURE UNTIL YOU MENTIONED A FEW THINGS THAT BROUGHT BACK MEMORY TO IT.
I AM 100% IN FAVOR OF THE BUSINESS.
WHAT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF, AGAIN, IS GOING AGAINST THE PLAN.
IT'S LIKE PUTTING UP A SPEED LIMIT SIGN AT 70 MILES AN HOUR.
YOU GET A TICKET, YOU COME TO OUR JUDGE, HE WAS JUST HERE A LITTLE WHILE AGO, AND YOU SAY, BUT ALL OF THESE REASONS I HAD FOR GOING THIS RATE OF SPEED.
NOW I THINK YOU SHOULD JUST KNOW THAT I WAS GOING OVER THE SPEED LIMIT, YOU NEED TO ACCOMMODATE ME.
WE CAN'T DO THAT. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GO BACK AND LOOK IS THE SPEED LIMIT LEGITIMATE? DOES IT REALLY FIT THE ROAD? IS IT SOMETHING THAT FITS WITHIN THE FRAME OF REFERENCE? WHAT I'M SAYING NOW IS HIS BUSINESS DOES NOT FIT IN OUR FRAME OF REFERENCE.
OUR FRAME OF REFERENCE NEEDS TO CHANGE.
THE QUICKER, THE BETTER. CHANGE IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW QUICKLY WE CAN DO IT, BUT I THINK SOMEHOW BECAUSE AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO MISS HIM, BUT I DON'T WANT TO MISS THE OTHER ONE, THE NEXT ONE.
I DON'T WANT TO VOTE AGAINST THIS, I REALLY DON'T.
BUT HOWEVER YOU ARE ASKING ME, WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY.
WE HIRED CONSULTANTS, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME DEVELOPING THIS BEDFORD COMMONS.
YOU HELPED DEVELOP IT IN ESSENCE, AND NOW YOU'RE COMING BACK AND SAYING, WELL, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO CHANGE IT AND I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO IT IN THE RIGHT WAY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN DO IT.
[01:30:01]
IF THE CITY MANAGER, BRYN, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WEST, SOMEHOW, [LAUGHTER] I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN, BUT I DON'T SEE IT IN THE [INAUDIBLE].YOU NEED SIX OF US TO AGREE FOR THIS.
JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND IF YOU DON'T, IT KILLS IT AND YOU WALK AWAY.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO WALK AWAY.
I WANT YOU TO STAY. I WANT TO SEE HOW WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT, WHAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP THE BUSINESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE STILL A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THROUGH SOME PEOPLE AND THEN I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AFTER I CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING TO STAFF THAT I WOULD LIKE ANSWERED.
>> I'M DAVE SHEEHAN WITH BROKER OWNER OF REFLECT REAL ESTATE.
I'VE BEEN REPRESENTING MR. ADAM SMITH, WHO HAS 2000 PARKWOOD.
WE'VE HAD IT UP FOR SALE FOR OVER FOUR YEARS NOW.
HE'S, UNFORTUNATELY, OUT OF THE COUNTRY TODAY, SO HE SENT ME A LITTLE LETTER TO READ ON HIS BEHALF, AND THEN I HAVE A COUPLE POINTS I'D LIKE TO MAKE AFTERWARDS.
HE SAYS, "DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS ADAM SMITH, AND I'M THE PROPERTY OWNER OF 2000 PARKWOOD DRIVE, TO WHICH TONIGHT'S ZONING CHANGE IS BEING REQUESTED.
TO PROVIDE CONTEXT, I DEVELOPED THE BUILDING FOR TEXAS HARLEY-DAVIDSON, AND WAS THE OWNER OF THE BUSINESS FROM 2010 UNTIL THE SPRING OF 2022, AND STILL REMAIN A 20% OWNERSHIP STAKE IN THE DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS LUCKY PENNY CYCLES.
I HAVE DEEPLY VALUED THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BEDFORD, WHICH HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY POSITIVE.
SHORTLY AFTER MOVING INTO THE NEW BUILDING, I MET WITH A CITY PLANNER TO DISCUSS BEDFORD COMMONS.
HE SHARED THE CITY'S VISION OF BEDFORD COMMONS AND SOUGHT MY SUPPORT, WHICH I GLADLY GAVE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT COULD DRIVE TRAFFIC TO THE HARLEY STORE AND BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, DESPITE THE PASSING OF MANY YEARS, IT APPEARS THAT THIS VISION HAS NOT MATERIALIZED LIKELY DUE TO VARIOUS REASONS.
OVER MY THREE DECADES IN BUSINESS, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE MARKET ULTIMATELY DECIDES DEMAND, VALUE AND WORTH.
THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF CAPITALISM AND THE FREE MARKET.
IN THE CASE OF BEDFORD COMMONS, IT SEEMS THAT THE FREE MARKET HAS INDICATED A LACK OF DEMAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AS INITIALLY HOPED.
AS A PROPERTY OWNER, I AM NOW FACED WITH THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING A BUYER FOR MY PROPERTY.
AS SUCH, THE CURRENT ZONING RESTRICTIONS DO NOT ACCOMMODATE THIS ENDEAVOR.
THEREFORE, I HUMBLY REQUEST A VARIANCE FOR THE CURRENT APPLICANT.
MURRAY KUSTOM RODS IS AN INDUSTRY LEGEND KNOWN FOR HIS CREATIVE, AND PREMIUM CAR CUSTOMIZATIONS WHICH ATTRACT CUSTOMERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.
HIS WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED IN MAJOR INDUSTRY MAGAZINES, AND HAS EARNED NUMEROUS AWARDS AND ACCOLADES.
HAVING SUCH A RENOWNED FIGURE INTERESTED IN DOING BUSINESS IN BEDFORD IS A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY.
HIS BUSINESS ALIGNS WELL WITH THE ADJACENT HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP, MAKING THEM COMPLEMENTARY BUSINESSES.
THE MARKET IS SIGNALING THAT BEDFORD HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ATTRACT ENTHUSIASTS OF AMERICAN MOTOR ART THROUGH HARLEY-DAVIDSON, AND NOW CLASSIC CAR RESTORATION AND MODIFICATION, THANKS TO MURRAY KUSTOM RODS' PRESENCE.
LET'S EMBRACE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM THE PROPERTY INTO A REVENUE GENERATING ASSET THAT ALSO DRAWS PEOPLE TO OUR CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
MY REQUEST. SINCERELY, ADAM SMITH." THAT'S COMING TO YOU FROM LONDON, ENGLAND.
BUT AS I SAID, I'VE BEEN MARKETING THIS PROPERTY FOR OVER FOUR YEARS NOW.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INTEREST IN IT AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
MY COUNTS ON LOOPNET, SEEING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DOWNLOADING, OFFERING MEMORANDUM AND THINGS LIKE THAT IS AN INDICATION THAT IT IS THE BEDFORD COMMONS POD WHICH IS, ESSENTIALLY, HOLDING THIS PROPERTY FROM BEING SOLD.
I HAD A NUMBER OF INQUIRIES, THE MOMENT I SEND THEM OVER THE DEVELOPMENT DOCKS, CONVERSATION OVER.
OFFICE MEDICAL, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, NOT APPROVED.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE APPROVED USES OF THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY, IT'S CORE MIXED USE.
YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE TANNING SALON, AND ARTS AND CRAFTS STORES, WHICH TO A POINT, IF YOU LOOK AT MR. MURRAY'S KUSTOM VEHICLES, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THESE ARE WORKS OF ART AND NOT AUTOMOTIVE IN ANY WAY, OTHER THAN THAT THEY ROLL IN AND THEY ROLL OUT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE MAJOR CHANGES MADE, THERE IS OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE BEDFORD COMMONS TO OFFER SPECIAL USE PERMITS THAT'S IN THERE FOR VARIOUS THINGS FOR THE CORE MIXED USE.
PERHAPS INSTEAD OF CHANGING THE ENTIRE BEDFORD COMMONS ALGORITHM, THAT YOU JUST MAKE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR THIS, AND IF THE PROPERTY NEEDS TO CHANGE HANDS AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, IT STILL FALLS UNDER THE UMBRELLA, AND ANY PROPERTY MOVING IN THERE IN THE FUTURE WOULD NEED TO GO UNDER THE SIMILAR TYPE OF SCRUTINY.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE A MAJOR MISSED OPPORTUNITY IF YOU GO CHECK OUT HIS LOCATION IN THE NORTH SIDE OF FORT WORTH, UNBELIEVABLE ART PROJECTS GOING ON IN THERE.
GREAT GROUP OF CRAFTSMEN, I THINK THE CITY OF BEDFORD WOULD BENEFIT GREATLY FROM IT.
I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION, I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT SUPERMAJORITY HAS IT IN THEIR HEART TO LET THIS HAPPEN, LET IT HAPPEN TONIGHT.
AS HE SAID, HE'S GOT 20 PLUS EMPLOYEES THAT COULD REALLY USE
[01:35:02]
SOME AIR CONDITIONING COME SUMMERTIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M TROY ASH, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CALIBER COLLISION.
WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS HERE IN BEDFORD.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN WITH IT BEING AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP.
I CAN ASSURE YOU WHAT MURRAY AND HIS GROUP OF MEN HERE DO IS NOT WHAT WE DO.
YOU CAN PULL UP TO THE PLACE ON THE NORTH SIDE OVER THERE, AND FRANKLY, IT'S A ROUGH PART OF TOWN, AND IT'S ONE OF THE NICER KEPT PLACES THERE.
THEY DON'T KEEP IT TRASHY, THERE'S NOT CARS THAT ARE LEFT OUTSIDE.
IT'S JUST FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, IT'S A MUSEUM AND A PLACE WHERE ART IS AT.
THESE GUYS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER HAD A COUNCIL MEETING LIKE THIS WHERE YOU'VE HAD THIS MANY PEOPLE ON BEHALF OF ONE COMPANY.
I CAN COUNT A FEW ON MY HAND, BUT THEY ARE RARE. THEY ARE RARE.
THE PASSION THAT THESE GUYS HAVE FOR IT AND WHAT THEY DO, IS INCREDIBLE.
ANOTHER THING, YOU BROUGHT UP FAST AND LOUD, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU OR ANYONE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
THESE GUYS AREN'T THAT EITHER.
THESE ARE CLASS ACT GUYS THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE DOING BURNOUTS UP AND DOWN YOUR STREET.
THEY'RE JUST GREAT PEOPLE, AND I KNOW THEM FROM OUR CEO.
I'VE BEEN A PROJECT MANAGER FOR A CAR THAT THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN BUILDING FOR OUR CEO AT CALIBER, AND THEY'RE CLASS ACT PEOPLE, AND YOU'D BE HONORED TO HAVE THEM IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
I REALLY THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME HERE JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE HERE, AND IT'S A COMPLIMENT TO THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON STORE.
THEY'RE ALL SHINY ART PROJECTS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU CONSIDER, WE NEED SIX OF YOU, JUST NEED SIX. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANDREW EBEL.
I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF GOODGUYS ROD & CUSTOM ASSOCIATION.
WE ARE THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOT-RODDING ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF HEATH, HIS FAMILY, AND HIS TEAM, AND THEIR RELOCATION BID HERE TO BEDFORD.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN STATED UP HERE, CLEARLY, THAT THIS IS NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL TIRE AND AUTOMOTIVE SHOP.
MURRAY KUSTOM RODS IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
MURRAY KUSTOM RODS AND THEIR STAFF ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF REKINDLING MEMORIES OF OUR PAST, MAKING AUTOMOTIVE ENTHUSIASTS DREAMS COME TRUE, AND BUILDING SOME OF THE COOLEST HOT RODS, TRUCKS, AND MUSCLE CARS IN THE WORLD.
SOME OF THESE COST THEIR OWNERS UPWARDS OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
I'VE SEEN THE BUILDS HE DOES, IT'S AMAZING, YOU WON'T SEE HIM ANYWHERE ELSE.
HEATH IS A HIGH INTEGRITY VISIONARY.
HE'S AN ARTIST, A RISK-TAKING ENTREPRENEUR WHO TRAINS AND LEADS AN ELITE STAFF OF CUTTING EDGE METAL FABRICATORS, WELDERS, MECHANICS, AND ENGINEERS IN THEIR QUEST TO BUILD AND RESTORE AWARD WINNING AND ICONIC CLASSIC VEHICLES THAT HELPS SET THE TONE AND TRENDS FOR OUR INDUSTRY.
YOU SAW THE HOT ROD OF THE YEAR UP THERE, THAT'S ONE OF THE TOP INDUSTRY AWARDS THAT WE GIVE OUT OF GOODGUYS EVERY YEAR.
YOUR APPROVAL AND SUPPORT OF MURRAY KUSTOM RODS TO RELOCATE TO BEDFORD WILL NOT ONLY ALLOW THIS DYNAMIC COMPANY TO CONTINUE ITS GROWTH IN ITS CORE BUSINESS OF BUILDING AND RESTORING HOT RODS, IT WILL ALSO ALLOW HEATH TO CONTINUE HIS LONG-TERM PLANS TO EVOLVE THE COMPANY AND GROW, AND SCALE HIS NEW PARTS PRODUCTION DIVISION OF THE COMPANY.
THIS NEW PARTS PRODUCTION DIVISION WILL CREATE NEW JOBS AND WILL, ULTIMATELY, LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STOREFRONT RETAIL ENVIRONMENT AND SHOW ROOM FOR THE COMPANY, WHICH WILL DEFINITELY DRIVE TRAFFIC FROM THROUGHOUT DFW TO THIS NEW BUSINESS LOCATION, CREATING THE LIVELY BUSINESS ATTRACTION THE CITY OF BEDFORD IS LOOKING FOR AND WOULD BE PROUD OF.
HEATH AND HIS TEAM HAVE A PASSION FOR PROTECTING OUR GREAT AMERICAN CAR CULTURE, DOING BUSINESS IN A PROFESSIONAL AND FRIENDLY MANNER, AND EXPANDING A LONGSTANDING AND REPUTABLE BUSINESS THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WILL EMBRACE AND BE PROUD OF.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT MURRAY KUSTOM RODS WILL BE A WONDERFUL, POSITIVE ADDITION TO THE CITY OF BEDFORD, AND I TRULY HOPE YOU CAN CONSIDER MAKING THIS DREAM A REALITY FOR EVERYBODY HERE INVOLVED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF HEATH MURRAY AS A CHARACTER WITNESS.
MY NAME IS RICHARD CAMACHO, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF FORT WORTH, 50 YEARS OLD. I'VE BEEN THERE ALL MY LIFE.
TWENTY-TWO YEARS OF THAT, ALMOST 23 I'VE BEEN EMPLOYED AS A POLICE OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, AND I CAN TELL YOU IN THAT TIME I MET HEATH ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.
IT WAS THROUGH MY LOVE OF CARS, THAT I HAD VISITED HIS SHOP, AND THEN THAT DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIP THAT EXTENDED INTO MY ROLE AS A POLICE OFFICER.
I'M CURRENTLY A SERGEANT. IN THAT TIME AS AN EARLY YOUNG PATROL OFFICER, WORKING GANG UNIT WORK IN INTELLIGENCE WORK IN COMMUNITY SERVICE, I INTERACTED WITH HEATH AND I CAN ATTEST TO THE SUPPORT HE HAS PROVIDED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
[01:40:04]
THE COMMUNITY, AS SOMEBODY MENTIONED, THE AREA OF FORT WORTH WHERE HIS BUSINESS IS AT, IT'S A MIDDLE-INCOME LOW-INCOME AREA, HAD SOME CRIME ISSUES, GANG PROBLEMS. I KNOW IN MY ROLE AS A POLICE OFFICER, YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO HAVE STRATEGIES OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKING.I KNOW I COULD COUNT ON HEATH AS A SUPPORTER OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHETHER IT BE TO ENGAGE AND PARTICIPATE IN BACKPACK DRIVES, SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY WITH BICYCLE DRIVES, THE LOCAL SCHOOLS THERE, I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON HEATH TO BE THE PERSON.
I COULD CALL HIM, I COULD REFERENCE OUT OTHER MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SAY, HEY, IF YOU NEED SOMETHING, TO SUPPORT SOME TYPE OF CHARITABLE ENDEAVOR THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMONLY DOES, WE HAVE A EXPANSIVE, A LARGE NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING PROGRAM THAT WE SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.
I ALWAYS KNOW THAT HEATH MURRAY AND HIS STAFF THERE WOULDN'T HESITATE TO HELP US.
THAT GOES BEYOND OUR FRIENDSHIP.
HE'S BEEN A MAJOR PILLAR OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OVER THERE.
I CAN ATTEST TO SOMEBODY SAID, HIS LOCATION, THE AESTHETICS.
I DRIVE, I KNOW THAT AREA LIKE THE BACK OF MY HAND DRIVE.
YOU CAN'T EVEN CALL ANY KIND OF AUTO MOTOR SHOP BECAUSE YOU'VE SEEN SOME EYESORES.
THAT PLACE THE AESTHETICS HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPECCABLE.
YOU WOULD EVEN KNOW IT'S OTHER THAN THE BEAUTIFUL CARS THAT ARE THERE.
WHEN HE CALLED ME, IT TOOK ME A LOT TO SAY, HEY, I'M GOING TO COME UP HERE AND ATTEST TO SOMEBODY'S CHARACTER BUT MAN, HE'S A GREAT, HONEST, BRILLIANT, BUT ALSO SUPPORTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND THAT MEANS A LOT.
I HOPE YOU GUYS TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING. THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY. THANK YOU.
>> BACK AGAIN. NAME [OVERLAPPING] RAVENSWOOD DRIVE, BEDFORD.
IS THERE A PLAN RIGHT NOW FOR BEDFORD COMMONS? DO WE HAVE A DEVELOPER, DO WE HAVE AN ACTUAL SOMETHING HAPPENING?
I'LL PREFER TO SEE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YES, ANDREA CAN COME UP AS WELL BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH ACTUALLY A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT DEVELOPERS BUT THE THING IS FOREVER THE CITY NEVER ENGINEERED THE SITE, NEVER SURVEYED THE SITE AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S FINALLY MOVING FORWARD.
BUT THERE IS A COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN FOR BEDFORD COMMONS.
ANDREAS, IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD BUT I THINK THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
HOPE IT DID. WELL, THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR, BUT I'VE ALSO HEARD THAT FOR YEARS.
I'VE HEARD THAT MANY TIMES AND NOTHING GETS YOU OR THIS COUNCIL.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL MAYORS, SEVERAL COUNCIL FOLKS AND THEY COME AND GO AS YOU KNOW, AND THE PLAN IS THERE, BUT NOTHING'S BEING DONE.
WAITING ON DEVELOPERS, WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THAT'LL BE.
YOU HAVE A FIRST-CLASS OPERATION WHICH WOULD COMPLIMENT TEXAS HARLEY, BUT WE GOT TO STICK TO A PLAN.
PLAN IS NOT WORKING AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
AS A RESIDENT FOR 30-PLUS YEARS AND HEARING ABOUT BEDFORD COMMONS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS OR MORE, PLAN IS NOT WORKING, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO STICK TO THE PLAN AND ALLOW A BUSINESS TO WALK AWAY ONCE AGAIN, IS THAT SMART?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYBODY'S HOPES UP HERE.
>> I GET THAT BUT THAT'S THE PERCEPTION.
WE'RE GOING LET, IT'S GOING TO SAY NO.
WE'RE GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS DESTINATION.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FOLKS COMING FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, MAYBE THE WORLD AND EYEBALLS ARE BEYOND BEDFORD.
A LOT OF EYES WITH BIG DOLLARS.
THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO A HOTEL, MAYBE STAY IN BEDFORD, EAT IN SOME OF OUR RESTAURANTS AND YOU HEAR ABOUT DESTINATION ALL THE TIME LIKE THE PERFORMING ARTS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DESK, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME FROM ALL OVER.
THIS WILL HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION FOR BEDFORD, THIS WILL HAVE EYEBALLS ON HERE AND PUT BEDFORD ON THE MAP.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO STICK TO A PLAN AND NO DISRESPECT, RUTH.
[01:45:01]
>> BUT WE'RE GOING TO STICK WITH THE PLAN AND NOT ALLOW A BUSINESS TO FLOURISH AND THEY COME HERE.
I THINK IT'S UNWISE FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THAT'S MY OPINION.
MISS SABLE SAID THAT'S NOT THE VISION COMING INTO THE CITY.
WE HAVE HARLEY-DAVIDSON, BUT IT'S A FIRST-CLASS OPERATION. IT'S BEAUTIFUL IN THERE.
THIS WOULD COMPLIMENT THAT, NOT TAKE AWAY.
THEY WOULD COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER.
AGAIN, YOU BRING FOLKS HERE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, MAYBE THE WORLD, I DON'T KNOW, BUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF EYEBALLS HERE IN BEDFORD.
PUT US ON A MAP FOR SOMETHING JUST LIKE ROCK ISLAND. GREAT MOVE.
ROCK ISLAND BOUGHT EYEBALLS OF PEOPLE HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO JUST LET THAT SLIP AWAY? WE'RE GOING TO LET THAT GO? FOR WHAT? THE PLAN. I DON'T SEE A PLAN.
THERE ISN'T BULLDOZERS OUT THERE AND I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE SURVEY AND SO FORTH, BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.
YOU'LL BE THE CITY COUNCIL THAT DOES THAT.
LET THESE PEOPLE IN. LET THEM IN BECAUSE THAT COULD BE YOUR LEGACY.
WE'VE GOT ROCK ISLAND, WE GOT MURRAY CUSTOM.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I'M HOWARD HARRIS.
I'M ONE OF THE FOUNDING PARTNERS OF TEXAS ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALISTS ON 121-2425 AND THE LANDOWNER THERE AS WELL.
HE'S BEEN A FRIEND, A NEIGHBOR, AND OBVIOUSLY A FELLOW SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
I THINK HE'D BE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY.
HE'S HONEST, HE'S ETHICAL, HE'S VERY HARD-WORKING, HE PRIDES HIMSELF ON EXCEPTIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP.
I'D BE HONORED TO HAVE ONE OF HIS VEHICLES IN MY PARKING LOT, OR AT THE MEDICAL OFFICE, OR AT HOME.
[LAUGHTER] I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THIS.
PLEASE, I HEAR YOU NEED TO UPDATE THE CITY PLANS BUT DON'T LET THAT BE THE EXCUSE THAT YOU PASS ON AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY AND BUSINESS THAT CAN BE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
HE'LL MAKE AN EXCELLENT PARTNER IN OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY HERE IN THE MID-CITIES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYBODY ELSE TO COME TO THE MIC?
I AM A PAST PRESIDENT OF BEDFORD FOR 16 YEARS.
I CURRENTLY OWN A BUSINESS IN BEDFORD FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, FAIN MODELS AT 3700 HIGHWAY 121.
I WANTED TO COME IN AND VOUCH FOR HEATH.
I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR 12‐15 YEARS.
WE WOULD COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER IN SOME OF THE THINGS WE WOULD DO.
HE IS A MAN OF HIS WORD, GREAT INTEGRITY.
HE WOULD BE AN ASSET FOR BEDFORD.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HIM HERE.
SOME OF THE PLANS THAT ARE MADE, VERY FRANKLY, THEY'RE DREAMS. WHENEVER I FIRST HEARD OF ALL THESE PLANS BEING DONE IN DOWNTOWN, THE WORD I HEARD WAS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK DOWNTOWN BEDFORD.
[LAUGHTER] I'M SURE THAT WAS JUST A RUMOR, BUT THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.
ANYWAY, I WANT TO ENDORSE HEATH.
HIS COMPANY WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET.
YOU CAN THINK OF HIM IN THE BEDFORD BLUES FESTIVAL, WHENEVER YOU HAVE THE CAR SHOW.
WHEN YOU'VE GOT A GREAT SOURCE FOR SUPPLYING SOME CARS THAT WON'T BE AT ANY OTHER CAR SHOWS.
HERE AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO ENDORSE HEATH AND ASK YOU TO CONSIDER HIS REQUEST.
HE'S A GOOD MAN. I'M AFRAID HE'LL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IF Y'ALL DON'T APPROVE THIS.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYBODY HERE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? I DON'T SEE ANYBODY.
[01:50:04]
GOING ONCE, TWICE.THE TIME IS 7:50, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[NOISE] I THINK NOW'S THE TIME FOR STAFF.
THIS GETS COMPLICATED WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THIS.
WES, YOU CAN EXPLAIN IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, BY HAVING THIS PIECE, THIS PUD, WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THE BEDFORD COMMONS PLAN?
>> IT TAKES THE PROPERTY OUT OF BEDFORD COMMONS.
THE GOAL OF BEDFORD COMMONS WAS TO BE A LARGE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT.
IT DIVIDED UP ALL THE PROPERTIES INTO DIFFERENT CHARACTERS.
THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY IS A MAIN STREET CHARACTER ZONE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM.
THE GOAL WAS TO CREATE A MAIN STREET GOING INTO THE HEART OF BEDFORD COMMONS, WHICH PREDOMINATELY IS THE VACANT PROPERTY THAT'S NEXT TO US RIGHT NOW.
IT'S COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD THAT A DEVELOPMENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE, WHEN A DEVELOPER GETS IN PLAY, THAT CHANGES ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.
I KNOW THE CITY IS IN SOME TALKS WITH DEVELOPERS RIGHT NOW, BUT AS SOON AS THOSE TALKS BECOME MORE CONCRETE, THE VERY NEXT THING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT A NEW PLAN, OR AMENDED PLAN OF BEDFORD COMMONS THAT'S GOING TO ACCOMPLISH EVERYBODY'S GOALS, BOTH THE CITY'S AND THE DEVELOPER'S.
IT'S COMPLETELY EXPECTED THAT BEDFORD COMMONS WILL BE AMENDED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT COMES DOWN THE LINE AFTER WE'VE TALKED TO A DEVELOPER AND THEY'VE GOT OUR PLAN, THEY'VE AGREED TO WHAT WE WANT THERE, AND WE MAKE THE CHANGES.
>> I KNOW AT LEAST THE DEVELOPERS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH NOW, THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE THAT'S ADOPTED, AND THEY ALSO KNOW THAT STAFF AND COUNCIL AS A WHOLE IS SUPPORTIVE OF SOME CHANGES.
WE NEED TO MARRY THOSE UP AND SEE WHAT THOSE LOOK LIKE. WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
THE THING I WANT TO CAUTION THOUGH ON THIS APPLICATION IS THAT ONCE YOU APPROVE THIS LAND USE, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BUSINESS THAT'S BEING PROPOSED, BUT AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR RUNS WITH THE PROPERTY.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, I KNOW THE OWNER SAID THEY'RE NOT PLANNING TO SELL ANYTIME SOON, BUT LIFE HAPPENS AND WE KNOW THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT PLANNING LOOKS AT, AS WE LOOK AT THE PROPERTY AS A WHOLE AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN, NEXT WEEK A COLLISION AUTO REPAIR COMPANY COULD COME IN UNDER THIS LAND USE DEFINITION AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE TYPE OF LAND USE THAT YOU WANT TO COMPLEMENT BEDFORD COMMONS.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT STAFF HAS HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE APPLICANT.
HE'S RIGHT. WE'VE MET SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR OR MORE.
WE TOLD THE APPLICANT VERY EARLY ON, THIS IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT APPLICATION TO GET PAST.
I KNOW THAT ANDREA EVEN SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES, WE LIKE YOUR PRODUCT, WE'LL HELP YOU LOCATE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY, THIS MAY NOT BE THE BEST LOCATION FOR YOU.
I DON'T THINK STAFF HAS ANY CONCERNS OR WANTS TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT JUST LIKE THE MAJORITY OF COUNCIL DOES, WE JUST HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR USE IN THIS LOCATION.
>> IS AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP THE CORRECT DESIGNATION?
>> IS AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP THE CORRECT DESIGNATION?
>> THAT'S THE ONLY DEFINITION I HAVE IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO APPLY WHAT MR. MURRAY IS PROPOSING HERE.
I KNOW THAT IT INCLUDES MORE THAN WHAT HE IS PROPOSING.
WE MAY BE ABLE TO CONDITION IT DOWN, BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO BE AUTO-BODY REPAIR.
>> I'M JUST THINKING THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN WORD-SMITH IT IN A WAY THAT IS UNIQUE.
NOT SAYING THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD DO BUT YES.
>> NOT TO CONTRADICT WES AT ALL, IN FACT, JUST TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT HE SAID.
>> IF COUNCIL IS INCLINED TO APPROVE THIS, I'D ALMOST SUGGEST THAT WE TABLE IT FOR A MEETING TO WORK WITH THE APPLICANT TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS TO ENSURE THAT THAT VERY CIRCUMSTANCE DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THAT'S MY CONCERN AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T HAVE A DIFFERENT LAND USE DEFINITION FOR THIS TYPE OF USE, AND SO IT FALLS INTO THAT OMNIBUS LIKE AUTO REPAIR SHOP, WHICH IS AN UNSAVORY TERM, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WANT FOR A SPECIAL AREA OF THE CITY.
BUT WE CERTAINLY COULD, BECAUSE THIS IS A PUD, LIKE AN SUP, WE CAN ESTABLISH NUMEROUS CONDITIONS THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY MAKE IT IMPROBABLE, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE FOR.
>> RUN OF THE MAIL CHOP SHOP TO MOVE IN.
>> TO ADDRESS THAT CONCERN. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I THINK HAVING THAT OPTION IS VERY BENEFICIAL AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE A LOT OF TROUBLED FEELINGS ON THIS ISSUE.
[01:55:04]
THANK YOU. WHAT WOULD A TIMELINE ON THAT LOOK LIKE?>> WE COULD GET WITH THE APPLICANT AND POSSIBLY, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A NEW DEFINITION, NOT SPEAKING FOR THE APPLICANT, BUT I THINK WE COULD DO THAT RELATIVELY QUICKLY WITHIN 30 DAYS AT LEAST.
>> PROBABLY THAT'S MORE AND MORE.
>> OBVIOUSLY, I THINK FROM WHAT I'M LOOKING AT ON COUNSEL, IT IS APPARENT THAT NO ONE QUESTIONS THAT THIS IS A BUSINESS THAT IS UNIQUE.
SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IN BEDFORD.
OF COURSE, WE CAN PUT THIS IN MOTION, EVERYTHING, BUT ME PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US WORK WITH THE APPLICANT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, SO THAT GOING FORWARD, IF THE BUSINESS WERE TO SELL THAT, AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE A RUN OF THE MILL BODY SHOP COMING INTO OUR BEDFORD COMMONS AREA.
>> THIS PUD, IF IT WERE PULLED OUT OF THE CURRENT ZONING, IT WOULD LIMIT THE USES TO THIS USE EXCLUSIVELY.
IF ANOTHER TYPE OF USE WERE TO REQUEST TO GO IN, YOU COULD REQUIRE IT TO BE REZONED BACK TO BEDFORD COMMONS.
YOU WOULD SEE ESSENTIALLY WHAT WOULD COME THROUGH, AND IT WOULD BE PURE DISCRETIONARY AS TO WHETHER TO APPROVE IT.
SO IT DOESN'T OPEN THE DOOR TO ANYTHING ELSE.
>> THERE'S SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THAT.
THE NEXT BUSINESS COULD COME IN UNDER THE CODE, AND THEN WE CAN REESTABLISH IT IN THERE?
>> GOT YOU. QUESTIONS [INAUDIBLE]? [INAUDIBLE]
>> I GOT A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
NOW, IF WE WENT AHEAD AND DID THAT ROUTE, WILL WE STILL BE REQUIRED A SUPERMAJORITY, OR THAT'D BE??
>> WE WOULD REQUIRE A SUPERMAJORITY UNLESS COUNSEL DEVELOPS A LIST OF CONDITIONS AND THEN REMAINS IT BACK TO PNZ.
ESSENTIALLY SAYING, "WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT THIS AGAIN WITH THESE VERY SPECIFIC RESTRICTIVE CONDITIONS, AND CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT, YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE YOUR RECOMMENDATION."
>> WHICH IS WHAT YOU WERE RECOMMENDING?
>> RIGHT. A REMAINED TO PNZ IS ONLY A SIMPLE MAJORITY IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
BUT OTHERWISE, YES, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO REQUIRE SUPERMAJORITY IF COUNSEL WERE TO RETAIN CONTROL OVER THE CASE.
>> GOT YOU. UNTIL WE ADD CONDITIONS. THAT'S GOOD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS ONE? COUNSELMAN [INAUDIBLE]
>> HI. THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL MENTIONS THIS EVENING ABOUT DEVELOPERS, BUT IT'S KIND OF BEEN STATED IN THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T EXIST, THEY'RE ETHEREAL, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK THAT WE'RE CLOSE.
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING FROM THE DEVELOPERS? I MEAN,NO NAMES NECESSARY, BUT WHAT IS THEIR ASPIRATIONS FOR THIS CORRIDOR, IF THEY SHOULD COME TO US?
>> WE ARE ENGAGED DIRECTLY WITH DEVELOPERS CURRENTLY, AND THEY ARE REAL COMPANIES, REAL PEOPLE, REAL BUSINESSES [LAUGHTER] THAT DO THIS.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO INTIMATE DETAILS, THEY HAVE SEEN THE BEDFORD COMMONS PUD, THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT CONCEPT.
WE EVEN HAVE A CONCEPT PLAN ON THE CORE AREA, WHAT I CALL THE CORE ERA OF BEDFORD COMMONS, WHICH IS THE CITY-OWNED PROPERTY, RIGHT OVER HERE BEHIND ME, THE FIRE STATION.
THEY HAVE PROVIDED COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK ALREADY ON THAT CONCEPT THAT WE HAVE, AND LOOKING AT TWEAKING THINGS.
I DO FEEL, AND I KNOW, AGAIN, I GET IT, IT'S THE SAME SONG DIFFERENT DAY, AND WE HEAR IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
BUT I REALLY DO, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH.
I HAVE REGULAR INTERACTIONS WITH THESE GROUPS THAT WE'RE TALKING TO RIGHT NOW, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY'RE PRESSING ME TO MOVE FORWARD.
I AM GETTING PRESSURE TO KEEP GOING, GETTING BACK WITH THEM, AND KEEPING THINGS MOVING.
THERE IS PROGRESS BEING MADE, AND YES, TO YOUR POINT, I DO FEEL WE ARE VERY CLOSE.
BUT THE GROUPS THAT WE'RE TALKING TO ARE AWARE OF THE BEDFORD COMMONS OVERLAY, THE PUD.
NOW AGAIN, DETAILS ON SPECIFIC SITES HAVE NOT BEEN DISCUSSED, BUT THE OVERALL CONCEPT AND WHERE THE DIRECTION IS ON THAT IS VERY MUCH SUPPORTED, WHICH IS WHY THESE GROUPS ARE ENGAGING WITH US.
>> ARE THEY AWARE OF THIS REQUEST? I HAVE NOT MADE THEM AWARE OF THE REQUEST.
>>OKAY. I JUST HATE TO SEE A THROW A PLAN OUT THE DOOR, IT REALLY GOES AGAINST MY GRAIN.
NOT THAT I HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST THE DEALERSHIP OR WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO,I JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
[02:00:04]
>> THANK YOU MAYOR [INAUDIBLE] A COUPLE OF THINGS, BEFORE YOU RUN AWAY.
>> I JUST WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS FOR WEST OR FOR ME.
>>YOU WERE TRYING TO SNEAK OUT.
>> I KNOW SOMEONE ELSE [INAUDIBLE] JUST TO CLARIFY IT FOR EVERYBODY.
WE'VE SEEN A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL DRAWINGS FROM A PREVIOUS DEVELOPER, AND THEN CURRENT ONES.
NOW ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS I HAD TO HAVE WITH JIMMY, WAS BECAUSE, I'M GOING TO SHOW MY HAND A LITTLE.
ALL WE EVER SAW WAS THAT PORTION OF THE LAND THAT THE CITY OWNS, JUST SOUTH OF BEDFORD ROAD, OF THE BEDFORD COMMONS.
I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL RECENTLY, WELL, UNTIL IT WAS PUSHED FORWARD WITH HEATH, THAT THIS WAS ALSO THAT BEDFORD COMMONS SWUNG OUT ALL THE WAY TO CENTRAL.
>> THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT BEDFORD COMMONS.
>> ALL THOSE AREAS ARE ZONED DIFFERENTLY.
>> BUT THERE'S THE BEDFORD COMMONS PLAN UNION DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS YOUR ZONING.
THERE'S BEDFORD COMMONS, AS FAR AS WHAT WE KNOW WITHIN THE TOURS, I'M SORRY, WAS IN THE TOURS BOUNDARY.
THEN, THERE'S EVEN MORE, WHAT I CALL THE CORE AREA, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW WITH THE DEVELOPERS WE'RE TALKING TO.
EVERYBODY'S VISION AND DEFINITION OF BEDFORD COMMONS IS VERY [OVERLAPPING] DIFFERENT, AND AGAIN, THE ZONING IS THE OVERLAY, AND THAT IS A MUCH LARGER AREA.
>> SURE. THE TOURS AREA THEN BRINGS IT IN AND ACTUALLY PULLS IN OTHER PROPERTIES ALSO.
THEN THE CORE AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS JUST THIS PARCEL OVER HERE.
THE ZONING IS THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT, AND THAT'S THAT AREA.
[OVERLAPPING] JUST SO I CAN GO THROUGH A FEW THINGS HERE.
AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR AGAIN OVER 10 YEARS, AND SAYING THIS WOULD BE THE ENTRANCE TO BEDFORD COMMONS, AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
BECAUSE, THE WAY THE ON-RAMP TO THE FREEWAY IS, AND TO WHERE CENTRAL IS, IT'S BETWEEN FOREST.
DEPENDING ON HOW YOU MAKE THAT ENTRANCE, THE ENTRANCE IS ALREADY BASICALLY THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON SHOP.
WHEN YOU PULL DOWN THAT ROAD, YOU SEE TEXAS, HARLEY, AND THEN THE BUILDINGS NEXT TO IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A NEGATIVE LOOK, FOR ME, BECAUSE MY WHOLE THING IS, I DON'T WANT TO MISS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK WHEN MAYOR BOYDER WAS HERE, ONE OF THE THINGS HE ALWAYS SAID, "WAS WE GOT TO MAKE THIS PLACE A DESTINATION.
WE HAVE TO CREATE A DESTINATION." THIS IS A DESTINATION WHERE PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY I HAVE ONE OF HIS CARS IN MY GARAGE.
I HAVE TO SELL MY HOUSE AND THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE A GARAGE.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK TURNING IT DOWN, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS IN SUPPORT, THEY'RE ACTIVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
IF WE NEED TO GO BACK AND REDEFINE THESE THINGS, WHERE A MONTH LIKE WE COULD COME BACK AT, JUST WHAT ARE THE TIMELINES? WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS ON THE TABLE? BECAUSE I'D LIKE HIS BOYS TO HAVE AC.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THIS DESTINATION IN BEDFORD.
>> OBVIOUSLY, ADOPTING AN ENTIRELY NEW DEFINITION FOR LAND USE WILL TAKE SOME TIME.
THAT HAS TO GO BACK TO PNZ AND AMEND THE CODE.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
WE WOULD INSTEAD DEVELOP A LIST OF CONDITIONS THAT WE WOULD EMBED IN THE PD ORDINANCE ITSELF.
THAT COULD BE DONE, AND YOU ALL COULD HEAR IT AT YOUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> MY QUESTION IS THE BUILDING IS ALREADY THERE, THEY'RE NOT CHANGING THE BUILDING AESTHETICALLY, SO IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S THEM OR SOMEBODY ELSE THAT MOVES IN THERE, THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE IN BEDFORD COMMONS, BECAUSE WE DON'T OWN THAT LAND.
IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND BUYS THAT BUILDING AND PUTS A BUSINESS IN THERE, THAT FITS INTO THE USE RIGHT NOW, AND THEY DECIDE TO USE THAT BUILDING JUST AS IT IS, IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING. AM I CORRECT IN THAT?
>> AS FAR AS THE USES THAT ARE APPROVED, CORRECT.
>> CORRECT. THE ONLY THING IS THE ADJACENT LAND THAT'S NEXT TO IT, AND WHAT GOES ON THERE.
IF HE'S TALKING ABOUT BUILDING ANOTHER BUILDING, JUST LIKE THE ONE THAT'S THERE, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE [INAUDIBLE]
>> I THINK THE QUESTION IS THE USE.
>> EXACTLY, I UNDERSTAND THAT. IT'S THE USE.
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO, WHETHER THE USE IS HIS BUSINESS OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S BUSINESS,
[02:05:06]
AESTHETICALLY IT'S JUST GOING TO LOOK LIKE THAT.>> I THINK I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON WEST'S BEHALF.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THE AESTHETICS, I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS THAT MR. MURRAY WANTS A HIGH QUALITY BUSINESS.
I THINK IT'S ALL BEEN ABOUT THE USE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ANYTHING ABOUT THE AESTHETICS IN MY OPINION.
BECAUSE HE'S AGREED TO ADHERE TO OUR DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND ALL THAT.
>> HE'S MEETING ALL THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR THE BUILDING AND THE SITE.THAT'S JIMMY'S EXACTLY RIGHT, THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION.
>> BUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS CHANGING EVERYTHING FOR BEDFORD COMMONS.
BEDFORD COMMONS IS AN IDEA AND A CONCEPT, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
IT'S JUST THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUILDING INSIDE THAT REALLY MOST OF THE BUILDINGS HERE, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY DO INSIDE THOSE BUILDINGS.
[LAUGHTER] WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IT.
>> THE CONCERN IS WHAT WE BROUGHT UP.
THE CONCERN IS THE USE, AND IT'S FOR FUTURE USE FOR THAT SITE.
MAKING SURE THAT, LIKE I SAID, A RUN-OF-A-MILL, PEP BOYS OR ONE OF THE OTHERS, GETS INTO THAT ENTRYWAY AND SETS UP SHOP THERE.
>> ONE LAST THING. MR. MAYOR, I WANT TO MAKE A POINT.
WE'VE HAD LARGE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE INVESTED IN BEDFORD HERE.
TALK ABOUT WHAT A GREAT COMPANY THIS IS.
LIKE I SAID, THE BUILDING IS GOING TO BE THE SAME.
IF WE CAN DO WHAT BRENT SAYS, AND WE CAN MAKE IT TO WHERE THERE'S NO OTHER CHANGES IN BEDFORD COMMONS ON THAT USE, IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR ALL OF US.
>> THANK YOU. I'VE ALREADY CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNSELOR [INAUDIBLE]
>> MICHAEL, IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN PULL UP THE YOUTH'S CHART FOR BEDFORD COMMONS BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE ISSUE LIES LIKE BRYN IS SAYING.
IF WE CAN DO IT THAT QUICKLY TO GO IN AND LOOK AND CHANGE JUST THE USAGE.
>> THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT APPLICATION.
THE APPLICATION THAT'S BEFORE US JUST SO WE'RE ALL CLEAR, IS THAT IT'S REMOVING THE PROPERTY OUT OF BEDFORD COMMONS TO CREATE ANOTHER PUD.
IF I'M UNDERSTANDING EVERYBODY CORRECTLY, WHAT BRYN IS SUGGESTING IS THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT APPLICATION, JUST ADDING CONDITIONS TO IT TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL'S CONCERNS.
>> THERE ARE TWO ALTERNATIVES, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS ALLUDING TO.
THE ONE IS SLIGHTLY LONGER, AND THAT WOULD BE TO CREATE A NEW LAND USE.
WE COULD THEN AMEND THE BEDFORD COMMONS ZONING CODE AND ADD IT, AND ALLOW IT BY SUP OR BY RIGHT, AND THEN HAVE THE APPLICATION COME FORWARD UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS FOR BEDFORD COMMONS THAT WOULD REQUIRE REZONING THE ENTIRE AREA.
ALTERNATIVELY, WE WOULD PULL IT OUT OF BEDFORD COMMONS AND THEN ADD MULTIPLE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRICTIONS AND CONDITIONS ON THE CURRENT PUD APPLICATION, AND THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
THOSE ARE REALLY YOUR TWO OPTIONS IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ACCOMMODATING THIS USE.
>> I'M INTERESTED IN ACCOMMODATING THE USE, BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO DO IT THROUGH THE STEPS THAT IT DOESN'T CREATE WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE WITH THE COMMONS. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> WHAT'S THE EASIEST WAY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT?
>> IF WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE USE IS HARMONIOUS WITH THE BEDFORD COMMONS ZONING OVERLAY CODE, THEN IT WOULD REQUIRE AMENDING THE CODE ITSELF TO ADD THIS SPECIALTY HIGH-END AUTOMOTIVE USE AS A NEW USE UNDER THAT CODE.
THEN IN THAT CASE, UNLESS WE ALLOWED IT BY RIGHT, A NEW APPLICATION WOULD COME FORWARD, SAY FOR INSTANCE, IF WE REQUIRED AN SUP FOR IT, THEN YOU WOULD HEAR A NEW SUP APPLICATION AND THIS PD APPLICATION WOULD BE WITHDRAWN.
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE TIMELINE FOR THAT PROCESS?
>> I'M GOING TO SAY WITH PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, IT WOULD GO BACK THROUGH PNZ, I THINK 45, 60 DAYS.
I'M JUST THROWING OUT A NUMBER.
>> WHERE DID OUR APPLICANT GO?
>> RESTROOM. [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] JUST KIDDING.
>> I'M BALL PARKING THERE. WE CAN TRY TO MOVE IT AS FAST AS WE CAN, BUT THAT'S
>> THIS IS WHAT I WAS SPEAKING OF, IF WE COULD JUST CHANGE THAT USAGE.
>> WHAT THEY ARE SUGGESTING IS AMENDING THE LAND USE CHART IN BEDFORD COMMONS,
[02:10:04]
AND I'M HEARING EITHER REQUIRING IT AS AN SUP OR BY RIGHT BUT EITHER WAY, IT WOULD REQUIRE THIS APPLICATION TO GO AWAY AND US TO AMEND THE CHART.I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S GOING TO TAKE 45-60 DAYS AND I THINK THE QUESTION OF COUNCIL WAS
>> AGAIN, WHAT IS THE FASTEST WAY TO DO IT TO ACCOMMODATE OUR APPLICANT, BUT AGAIN, NOT TO DESECRATE THE BEDFORD COMMONS PLAN AS IT STANDS.
>> TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN OF NOT DOING TOO MUCH DAMAGE TO BEDFORD COMMONS AS IT STANDS, THEN [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE WE'VE GOT DEVELOPERS LOOKING, WE DON'T WANT TO RUN THEM OFF BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT COUNCILMAN FARCO WAS SAYING.
IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE LOOK OF THE BUILDING, THE USE INSIDE, THE POTENTIAL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MR. MURRAY BRINGS [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.
>> THEN CAN WE MAKE A MOTION FOR THAT?
>> TO TABLE IT FOR CONDITIONS.
>> WE CAN TABLE IT, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> BECAUSE IT WASN'T ONE OF YOUR POINTS THAT IT WOULD BE A SLOW MOVE INTO BEDFORD.
>> IF I WERE TO CLOSE ON ALL THE PROPERTY TODAY, IT'S GOING TO TAKE SIX MONTHS TO BE IN THERE OPERATING.
>> WE WANT TO GO IN. [OVERLAPPING]
YOU COULD EVEN WAIT LONGER THAN 60 DAYS IF WES HAS A HEART ATTACK TRYING TO GET THIS DONE.
[LAUGHTER] BUT DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M THINKING LIKE IT'S A PRETTY HEAVY DUTY ASK FOR HIM TO DO IT IN 60 DAYS.
SO EVEN IF IT WENT 90 DAYS AND WE SAID, IT'S A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET ACHIEVED FOR YOU.
>> LET ME ASK MY BOYS REAL QUICK.
>> YEAH, SUMMER'S COMING. YES.
>> BUT YEAH, I THINK FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, I THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE WANT TO GO.
I THINK IT'S BASICALLY LOOKING AT IT.
THERE'S NO QUESTION WE WANT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
WE JUST WANT TO WORK WITH YOU SO THAT WE CAN PRESERVE THE PLAN BUT ALSO ACCOMMODATE YOU TO WELCOME YOU TO BEDFORD AND MAKE US A DESTINATION.
THAT IS WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO, AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
BUT WE WILL NEED A MOTION ON THIS.
>> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. I'D BE GLAD TO.
>> DO YOU WANT TO? [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW HOW TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER.
I SEE YOU BEING MORE HESITANT HERE.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY AND BRYN, I WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT A LITTLE BIT.
IF THEY'RE WANTING TO AMEND THE PUD, THEN THIS APPLICATION BEFORE THEM TONIGHT, DOES THE APPLICANT JUST NEED TO WITHDRAW IT?
>> HERE'S MY THOUGHT ON THAT. ULTIMATELY, IF WE FOLLOW THROUGH ON AMENDING THE BEDFORD COMMONS OVERLAY, THEN THIS APPLICATION WILL NEED TO BE WITHDRAWN.
BUT IT'S UP TO THE APPLICANT TODAY WHETHER THEY WANT TO GO ON FAITH AND SEE IT THROUGH, OR WHETHER THEY WANT US TO TABLE THIS SO THAT ULTIMATELY IF WE DON'T AMEND THE BEDFORD COMMONS.
>> DO I NEED TO GET A CHARACTER WITNESS.
>> OKAY. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
>> BRYN, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, HOW DO WE WORD IT?
>> I THINK WE SHOULD ASK THE APPLICANT HOW THEY WOULD CHOOSE TO PROCEED.
ULTIMATELY, LIKE I SAID, IF WE AMEND THE BEDFORD COMMONS RULES TO ADD THIS AS AN ALLOWED USE WITH ALL THE CONDITIONS SPECIALLY PROTECTED, THEN THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO WOULD BE TO WITHDRAW THIS APPLICATION, BECAUSE WE'D NO LONGER NEED TO PULL IT OUT OF BEDFORD COMMONS.
BUT I THINK THAT'S THE APPLICANT'S CHOICE.
WE'RE TELLING HIM THAT'S WHAT WE PLAN ON WORKING ON, BUT IT'S ULTIMATELY ON FAITH AND TRUST THAT WE DO THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HELP ME? [LAUGHTER].
>> WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HELP ME IN WITHDRAWING AND MAKING THE APPROPRIATE?
>> YEAH, I THINK THIS IS COUNCIL'S WISH.
I FIRST HAVE TO WORK WITH YOU TO GET THIS GOING AND FOR THEM TO WORK ON IT. COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.
>> THANKS, MR. MAYOR. BRYN, IF I UNDERSTAND THIS, IF THE APPLICANT AGREES TO WITHDRAW THE APPLICATION, AND SO IT WOULD BE INCUMBENT UPON US TO CHANGE
[02:15:01]
THE PARAMETERS OF BEDFORD COMMONS TO ACCOMMODATE THIS TYPE OF USE.SO THEN WHAT DOES THE STEP LOOK LIKE AFTER THAT? DOES THE APPLICANT THEN HAVE TO GO TO PLANNING AND ZONING, THEN COME BACK TO US, OR IS THE USE ACCEPTABLE WHERE THEY JUST GO TO DEVELOPMENT AND MOVE IN.
>> YEAH. THAT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW WE AMEND THE BEDFORD COMMONS RULES.
IF THE GUIDANCE TO STAFF TONIGHT, SO IF THEY WITHDRAW, THERE'S NO VOTE THAT'S NECESSARY TONIGHT.
YOU TAKE NO ACTION, THE STAFF HAS DIRECTION.
IF THE DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL IS WE WANT YOU TO EXPLORE ADDING THIS NICHE USE WITH SUP ONLY, THEN THEY WILL NEED TO COME BACK WITH AN SUP, THAT CAN EITHER BE DONE SUBSEQUENT TO THE CODE BEING AMENDED OR IT CAN BE A COMPANION CASE THAT IS FORWARDED ALONG SIMULTANEOUS WITH THE CODE AMENDMENT.
IF ON THE OTHER HAND THE INFORMAL DIRECTION TO STAFF IS WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT A VERY PROTECTED USE, BUT WE'RE INCLINED TO HAVE IT ALLOWED BY RIGHT, THEN ONCE THE CODE AMENDMENT IS DONE, YOU WON'T NEED TO SEE THE APPLICANT AGAIN.
THERE WOULD BE NO CASE TO FILE.
>> IF IT IS DONE BY RIGHT, THEN CAN WE STILL ADD THOSE CONDITIONS?
>> THEN LET'S MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR HIM.
>> THAT'S UP TO YOU. YOU'LL STILL SEE THE CONDITIONS BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE EMBEDDED IN THE CODE WHEN WE AMEND IT.
>> BUT WE'LL HAVE THAT SUPERMAJORITY.
>> NO, THIS CASE WILL BE WITHDRAWN.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE CITY MANAGER'S OPINION ON ALL THIS, WHAT WE'RE DOING. [LAUGHTER].
>> IF YOU ALL WANT TO HAVE A PATH FORWARD, I THINK THE BEST THING WOULD BE FOR THE APPLICANT TO WITHDRAW.
I'M SORRY, PLEASE KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.
TO AMEND THE CODE AND I WOULD RECOMMEND IT BE BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT BECAUSE TO ME, I THINK THAT PROTECTS THE CITY.
IT GIVES THE APPLICANTS SOME ASSURANCES AND THAT'S THE CLEANEST WAY MOVING FORWARD PERSONALLY.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING, COUNCIL MEMBER.
>> I THINK WE HAVE A PATH FORWARD NOW WE JUST NEED A MOTION.
ACTUALLY, WE JUST NEED TO WITHDRAW.
>> I'M WITHDRAWN. [LAUGHTER] I HAVE FULLY WITHDRAWN.
>> OKAY. IT TOOK US A WHILE TO GET THERE, BUT I'M GLAD WE'RE GETTING THERE AND I WANT YOU TO HAVE FULL FAITH THAT THIS COUNCIL WANTS YOU HERE IN BEDFORD.
WE WANT TO MAKE YOU A PART OF THIS CITY IN WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE IN MAKING US THE DESTINATION.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR SHOWING UP IN SUPPORT.
IT'S CLEAR THAT MR. MURRAY HAS ONE OF A KIND OF BUSINESS HERE, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.
>> COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THAT DISCUSSION AND STAFF.
I KNEW IT WAS LONG AND ARDUOUS, BUT WE GOT THERE IN THE END AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.
[7. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to enter into a contract with Southwest/Medic Built Ambulance, LLC for the purchase of one ambulance modular remount on a 2024 Ford F550 chassis and one Stryker Power Pro Stretcher in the amount of $319,929.79.]
WITH THAT, I GUESS I CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. WHERE AM I AT? NUMBER 7, CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGERS DESIGNATE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH SOUTH WEST MEDICAL BUILT AMBULANCE LLC FOR PURCHASE OF ONE AMBULANCE.CHESS IS ON ONE STRIKER, POWERS PRO STRETCHER, IN THE AMOUNT OF $319,929.79 I BRING TO THE MIC OUR EMS DIVISION CHIEF, GEORGE SMITHWICK.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
YES. WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REMOUNTING OUR OLDEST AMBULANCE IN THE FLEET.
IT IS A RESERVE RESERVE AMBULANCE AT THIS TIME, WHICH IS A 2015 CHASSIS ON A 2008 BOX, SO THE AMBULANCE BOX HAS BEEN REMOUNTED ONE TIME PRIOR.
I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE BEST ACTION TO TAKE AT THIS TIME GIVEN THE STATE OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES OF 2024 AND WE ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR APPROVAL.
>> WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW, I'M LOOKING AT OUR COMMUNICATION AND SO I GUESS FOR ORDER AND DELIVERY OF A NEW AMBULANCE, IT'S 35 MONTHS.
>> THAT'S THREE YEARS FOR US TO PUT IT IN ORDER FOR AN AMBULANCE AND THEN HAVE IT DELIVERED?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE ARE BEING TOLD. YES, SIR.
>> THE LAST ONE THAT COUNCIL APPROVED, I BELIEVE IN 2021.
WE JUST RECEIVED IN NOVEMBER, I BELIEVE.
>> YEAH. THIS IS JUST THE WORLD GOING FORWARD.
[02:20:03]
>> YES. I WAS ASKING, ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE REHOUSE? WELL, NO, WE'RE NOT 100% HAPPY, BUT IT'S KIND OF THE STATE WE'RE IN.
WE HAVE NOT USED THIS COMPANY IN THE PAST BUT THEY'RE LOCAL AND KENNADALE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE VERY CONFIDENT THEY'RE GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB.
THEY WILL BASICALLY TAKE THAT BOX AND A BETTER TERM, STRIP IT COMPLETELY, REBUILD IT OUTSIDE THE FRAME.
NEW CHASSIS, NEW PAINT, NEW EVERYTHING, SO IT SHOULD BE LIKE A NEW UNIT.
>> BY DOING THIS, WE'RE SAVING THE CITY A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY.
>> THE CURRENT PRICE ON A NEW NEW AMBULANCE IS AROUND $550,000, WE'RE AT 319929, SO WE'RE SAVING A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS HERE.
>> THEN DOING THE REBOUND IN GENERAL OTHER THAN GOING OUT FOR PURCHASE OBVIOUSLY.
>> AGAIN, THEY'RE TELLING US APPROXIMATELY BY SUMMER.
BUT AGAIN EVERYTHING IS CHASSIS DEPENDENT ANYMORE? AS SOON AS THEY CAN GET A CHASSIS, THEY CAN GET STARTED.
>> WE'VE CHECKED REFERENCES FOR THEM AS WELL. THE SOUTHWEST MEDICAL.
>> YEAH, SO WE VISITED YOUR PLANT AND WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO A QUALITY JOB.
>> THEY'RE TELLING US 3-4 MONTHS.
I'M PROJECTING JUNE AGAIN, CHASSIS DEPENDENT.
THEY CALL THEM ALL AND SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOT A CHASSIS. ARE ALL READY TO GO.
IT'S GOING TO BE PROBABLY FIRST PART OF SUMMER, IF IT'S APRIL BEFORE WE GET A CHASSIS.
>> THAT DELAYS IT A LITTLE BIT.
>> YEAH, IT'S JUST HOLDING. WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF THE CHASSIS DELIVERY.
>> GOT YOU. LOOKING AHEAD AT OUR AMBULANCE UNITS, WHAT'S IN STORE FOR US AFTER WE PLACE THIS ONE? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? I WITHDRAW THE QUESTION.
>> WE MIGHT TALK TO MR. MURRAY.
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT AMBULANCE LOOKS LIKE.
>> ME TOO. [LAUGHTER] WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR TO COME BACK AND EITHER REQUEST ANOTHER REMOUNT OR TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR A NEW UNIT.
THAT'S JUST WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE.
WE RUN 6,000 CALLS A YEAR. THEY TAKE A PRETTY GOOD BEAT.
>> GOT YOU. CHIEF WALKER, YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SAY?
>> JUST IN THE LARGER PICTURE ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING WITH FLEET ABOUT TRYING TO GET A CAPITAL REPLACEMENT PLAN FOR ALL OF OUR HEAVY APPARATUS AND AMBULANCES AND OUR LIGHT FLEET AND EVERYTHING.
JUST TRYING TO GET AN IDEA BECAUSE AS MUCH AS EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD HAS GONE UP, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYTHING HAS GONE UP MORE THAN FIRE APPARATUS.
IT'S COUPLED WITH THE LEAD TIMES, WHICH LIKE GEORGE SAYING ON A NEW ONE, THEY WON'T EVEN REALLY GIVE YOU A HARD DATE.
BUT ENGINES ARE ABOUT TWO YEARS, TRUCKS ARE OVER TWO YEARS AND NOW AMBULANCES ARE KIND OF THE SAME THING.
OUR LAST AMBULANCE, WE BOUGHT A NEW AMBULANCE, THE LAST ONE THAT WENT IN SERVICE. IT WAS TWO YEARS.
WE DID A REMOUNT PRIOR TO THAT ONE, THAT REMOUNT TURNED OUT PRETTY WELL.
BUT THE REASON WE SWITCHED TO THIS NEW COMPANY, WE DID A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE TO FIGURE OUT IF THIS NEW COMPANY WAS WORTH GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO AND FEEL PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH THEM, BUT WE WERE NOT PLEASED WITH THE VENDOR THAT WE USED FOR OUR LAST BRAND NEW AMBULANCE, JUST IN THE OVERALL QUALITY CONTROL.
IT'S JUST A SITUATION I THINK WHERE THEY'VE GOT MORE BUSINESS THAN THEY CAN HANDLE AND THEY GOT A CONTRACT.
I THINK IT'S WITH NEW YORK. IS IT NEW YORK? THEY GOT FI THEY'VE GOT 200 AMBULANCES.
YOU KNOW, FROM THERE WERE 100 AMBULANCES A YEAR AND WE GOT PUSHED THE BACK A LINE A LITTLE BIT.
WE WERE A LITTLE FRUSTRATED WITH THEIR QUALITY, SO WE WENT DOWN AND HAD SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS TOWARD THE PLANT, LOOKED A LOT OF THEIR PRODUCTS, TALKED TO SOME OTHER FIRE CHIEFS AND FOLKS THAT HAVE USED THEIR AMBULANCES, THAT'S WHY WE MADE THE CHANGE TO A DIFFERENT VENDOR.
WHAT THEY'RE SMART, THEY'VE GONE AHEAD.
HE JUST BLINDLY HAS BOUGHT A WHOLE BUNCH OF CHASSIS KNOWING HE'LL HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANT REMOUNTS.
HE'S JUST TRYING TO LINE US UP WITH THE TYPE OF CHASSIS WE WANT.
THAT LOOKS LIKE IT WORKS OUT PRETTY WELL AND HOPEFULLY BY THE SUMMER WE COULD HAVE A THING DONE.
IT'S GOING TO TURN OUT TO BE A GOOD THING WE ENDED UP UNDER WERE IN THE BUDGET WE HAD $350,000 AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABOUT 319 TO GET IT DONE, SO WE WERE PLEASED WITH THAT NUMBER FROM THEM, WHICH IS STILL CRAZY FOR A REMOUNTED AMBULANCE.
BUT THAT'S THE WAY THE WORLD IS TODAY.
>> BUT WE CAME IN UNDER, SO YEAH.
>> THE REMOUNT IS FINE. HOW'S THE ENGINE AND EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE? WERE YOU DOING OKAY?
>> THE REMOUNT IS THE ENTIRE NEW.
>> ARE WE TAKING THE BOX OFF BOX?
>> YOU CAN DO A BOX OR CHASSIS.
>> IF WE PAID 350 JUST FOR THE BOX. WE'D BE IN TROUBLE.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE HAD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
[02:25:01]
ALL RIGHT, I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS ONE.BY COUNCIL MEMBER SABLE, I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO.
THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH SEVEN, SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. NEXT WE CONSIDERED RESOLUTION,
[8. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to enter an interlocal agreement with the Cities of Hurst and Euless for combined jail services for the cities of Hurst, Euless, and Bedford in the amount of $682,642.]
AUTHORIZING CITY MAYOR AND DISNEY TO ENTER INTO A LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITIES OF HURST ULIS FOR COMBINED JAIL SERVICES FOR THE CITIES OF HURST ULIS AND BEDFORD FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 682,642.GIVE IT FOR YOU. POLICE CHIEF.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY JUST KIND OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE CURRENT JAIL CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY OF ULIS THAT WE STARTED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.
HURST APPROACHED THE CITY OF ULIS ABOUT HOUSING THEIR PRISONERS THERE AS WELL, IS WHAT THIS IS DOING.
IT'S REALLY DECREASING OUR BUDGET OF WHAT WE'RE HAVING TO PAY TO THE CITY OF ULIS FROM 727,000 AND SOME CHANGE DOWN TO ABOUT 682,000.
WE'RE SAVING ABOUT 44,000 SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT WORKING ENVIRONMENT OVER THERE.
THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB HOUSING OUR PRISONERS WITH NO ISSUES, SO THAT'S REALLY THE GIST OF WHAT THIS IS.
NO MAJOR CHANGES TO THE PREVIOUS AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD WITH THEM.
I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. LOOKING AT IT, THIS WAS THE ONE WHERE HURST IS GOING TO BE THE BACK UP FACILITY?
>> YEAH. HURST CURRENTLY, THEY HAVE A NEWER FACILITY.
THEIR JAIL FACILITY WAS REMODELED JUST A FEW YEARS AGO COMPARED TO OURS, SO PART OF THIS AGREEMENT IS HURST IS GOING TO MAINTAIN A BACKUP FACILITY.
IF WE HAVE TO MOVE PRISONERS, WE HAVE A PLACE TO TAKE THEM DIRECTLY TOO WITHOUT ANY DELAY.
IT'S GOING TO BE A NICE THING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THEM OVER THERE FOR WHATEVER REASON.
SOMETIMES WE'LL HAVE POWER OUTAGES OR WATER ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PRISONERS ARE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN BE HEALTHY.
>> ARE WE PAYING FOR THAT SERVICE?
>> THAT IS A PART OF THE AGREEMENT.
ABOUT $7,900 THAT EACH ONE OF THE CITIES IS CONTRIBUTING TO KEEPING THAT FACILITY UP AND RUNNING, SO THEY'LL KEEP THE MAINTENANCE ON IT, KEEP THE LIGHTS RUNNING, KEEP EVERYTHING IN FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY.
WITH THAT ROUGHLY 2021, $22,000 A YEAR THAT THEY HAVE.
>> COUNCIL WOMAN SABLE THE STAFF GOES WITH THE PRISONERS.
OR WHO DOES HURST TAKE OVER THE PRISONER WATCH IF THEY ARE THERE?
>> NO, NO. IF THEY WERE TO MOVE FROM THE MAIN FACILITY IN ULIS TO THE HURST FACILITY, ALL OF THE STAFF FROM ULIS WILL GO TO THE NEW FACILITY.
>> YOU DON'T THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO BE LIKE WE'VE GOT TOO MANY PRISONERS RIGHT NOW AND THAT IT JUST OVERFLOW.
>> IT'S JUST THAT THERE'S A FAILURE AT THE ULAS JAIL.
>> YES, MA'AM. TALKING TO THE ULAS CHIEF, THEY HAVE PLENTY OF CAPACITY TO BRING ON THE CITY OF HURST.
ANY OTHER CITIES COMING ON BEYOND THAT? IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO PUT THEM OVER THEIR CAPACITY, SO I THINK THEY'VE PROBABLY REACHED THEIR CAPACITY.
PROBABLY THREE CITIES IS GOING TO BE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PRISONERS THEY CAN HOLD IN THERE.
EACH ONE OF THE CITIES COMBINED ROUGHLY HOLD ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF PRISONERS A YEAR, SO IT'S PRETTY EQUAL AND ONE OF THE REASONS I LIKE THIS AGREEMENT IS IT'S NOT A PAY FOR PRISONER COST.
IT'S JUST A SET COST THAT DOESN'T FLUCTUATE.
THE PREVIOUS AGENCY THAT I WAS AT WAS A PAY BY PRISONER.
WE BASE THAT OFF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
WHOEVER HOWEVER MANY PRISONERS CAME IN, SO IT WAS THIS CONSTANT MOVING NUMBER.
IT'S VERY, VERY HARD TO BUDGET FOR THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW, IS THERE GOING TO BE A SPIKE.
THERE'S SOME ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH.
OUR ARRESTS ARE GOING TO GO UP, THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE A CONSTANT NUMBER, WITH THE INCREASE OF UP TO 5% PER YEAR.
IF WE HAD A BUSINESS THAT CAME INTO TOWN THAT STARTED CAUSING PROBLEMS, WE CAN TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
IF THAT INVOLVES REST, IT'S NOT GOING TO COST OUR CITIZENS ANY MORE MONEY NEXT YEAR.
>> THE ULIS POLICE DEPARTMENT TAKES OVER FOR THE PRISONER AT THE FRONT DOOR, BASICALLY?
NOW, THERE WAS SOMETHING I THINK I EMAILED YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
IF THEY DO SOMETHING TO ONE OF OUR DESIGNATED PRISONERS LIKE THEY DIE, WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE LAWSUIT.
>> THERE'S A PORTION AND BRENT CAN PROBABLY ANSWERED BETTER.
THIS I'M NOT A LAWYER, SO I MIGHT PASS SOME OF THIS OFF AGAIN.
>> WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? [LAUGHTER]
>> THE GOOD THING IS WE ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION'S ACCREDITATION PROGRAM, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE IT NEXT FEW MONTHS WE CAN PRESENT SOMETHING TO YOU GUYS.
ULIS IS NOT, BUT ULIS HAS, TO THEMSELVES,
[02:30:01]
TAKEN ON AND GOT IN LINE WITH THOSE POLICIES SO THEY CAN HOUSE OUR PRISONERS.THEIR POLICIES OF HOW THEY TREAT PRISONERS ARE WITHIN BEST PRACTICES.
IF SOMETHING OCCURS, THE WAY THE CONTRACT IS READING IS ESSENTIALLY WE SPLIT THE LIABILITY.
I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, BUT I'M GOING TO GUESS IF THEY DID SOMETHING THAT'S GROSSLY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE, IT'S PROBABLY ALL GOING TO BE ON THEM.
>> NO, I AGREE. THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE A DEFENSE TO ANY CLAIM FOR CONTRIBUTION.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GETTING BACK TO CAPACITY, ICE HOUSE THEIR IMMIGRATION OFFENSES THERE AS WELL?
>> THEY DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE?
>> NO. ROUGHLY ABOUT 2.5 YEARS AGO, MOST OF THE CITY MUNICIPAL FACILITIES THAT WERE HOUSING ICE PRISONERS GOT OUT OF THAT BUSINESS.
IT WOULD GET VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO PASS IMMIGRATION INSPECTION REGARDLESS IF YOU'VE BEEN PASSING IT FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
WE WERE TOLD THAT, HEY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PASS.
SO MOST AGENCIES DECIDE JUST TO GET OUT OF THAT BUSINESS.
>> SO CAPACITY SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI.
>> ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE DEAL?
>> YES. THEY ARE GOOD PARTNERS AND GOOD NEIGHBORS, AND THE HEB COMMUNITY WORKS TOGETHER VERY, VERY WELL.
AND WILL THERE BE POTENTIAL SAVINGS GOING SOMEPLACE ELSE? MAYBE. BUT I THINK KEEPING THE HEB COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND THE APARTMENTS AS CLOSE AS THEY WORK TOGETHER, AND WE HAVE FUTURE ENDEAVORS THAT WE WANT TO WORK ON TO ESSENTIALLY REDUCE SOME OF THE COSTS FOR OUR CITIZENS.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PARTNERSHIP THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CHIEF.
>> ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO MORE QUESTIONS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
I HAVE A FIRST BY COUNCILMEMBER FARCO TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL, THANK YOU, STAFF.
[9. Discussion on amendments to the City Charter.]
ITEM 9, DISCUSSION ON AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER.WE'VE TALKED AT NAUSEUM ON THESE PREVIOUSLY, HAVING A COUPLE OF MEETINGS ABOUT THESE AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER.
THIS RIGHT HERE IS JUST TAKING A LOOK AT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, ASKING SOME FINAL QUESTIONS, MAYBE EVEN MAKING SOME FINAL TWEAKS, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MICHAEL WELLS, BEFORE YOU WILL BRING THAT TO US AT OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING FOR FINALLY ADOPTING IT TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. YES, JUDGE.
>> OKAY. I DID START OFF JUST BY LOOKING AT I DID HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ON THIS BECAUSE OF OUR LAST DISCUSSION.
OUR CITY ATTORNEY, BRENT, WAS NOT HERE FOR THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
SO I WANTED TO JUST VERIFY SOME THINGS WITH HIM ON THEM JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS HIS LEGAL OPINION AS WELL.
FIRST, FOR PAYMENT COUNSEL COMPENSATION, I THINK WE SAID ONE DOLLAR A MONTH.
MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION DURING THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND THEN WE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS HERE WHETHER THAT WOULD BE VIABLE FOR THE PURPOSE THAT WE WANT IT FOR, FOR MAKING IT THAT WE AS COUNCIL ARE EMPLOYEES.
>> IN TERNS IF THE TORT CLAIMS ACT THAT WE'RE IN THE PAID EMPLOYEE.
THERE REALLY ISN'T ANY CASE LAW THAT SUGGESTS WHAT THAT MINIMUM THRESHOLD AMOUNT IS.
I THINK AS LONG AS YOU'RE RECEIVING SOME AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION, THERE'S A PRIMA FACIE ARGUMENT THAT CAN BE MADE THAT YES, YOU'RE IN THE PAID EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY.
>> SO YOU'RE IN AGREEMENT THAT THAT WOULD COVER AND THEN THAT SOMEBODY COULD TRY AND PIERCE THAT BAIL OR TRY.
>> IT ALWAYS DEPENDS ON WHICH JUDGE YOU'RE IN FRONT OF BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ANY REAL GUIDANCE ON WHAT THIS MEANS, BUT IT AT LEAST ALLOWS US TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT.
I CAN'T SAY FOR CERTAIN THAT ANY PARTICULAR AMOUNT IS AN ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE BECAUSE THE STATUTE REALLY DOESN'T SAY WHAT IN THE PAID EMPLOYEE MEANS.
BUT IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THE COURT IS LOOKING FOR ANYTHING JUST TO HANG THEIR HAT ON, JUST TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BENEFITS OF THAT.
SO I THINK THIS IS ARGUABLY SUFFICIENT.
>> ARGUABLY SUFFICIENT. THAT WAS MY FIRST QUESTION SINCE YOU WEREN'T HERE FOR THAT DISCUSSION.
SECOND ONE THAT I HAVE, I GUESS THAT'S THE NEW SECTION, SECTION 2.22, PROCEDURE FOR FORFEITURE OR REMOVAL FROM COUNCIL.
IT GOES THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT WE MENTIONED WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT.
[02:35:01]
IT'S ALMOST A STEP BY STEP BASIS GOING THROUGH IT, WITH NUMBER 1, SMALL COMPLAINT GOES TO CITY SECRETARY.WE WOULD THEN FORWARD IT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR REVIEW, DISSEMINATION TO COUNCIL.
THE PERSON MAKING THE COMPLAINT MUST BE NAMED.
NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS GOING FORWARD.
MY QUESTION, I GUESS IT WOULD BE 4 AND 6.
DEFINING FORFEITURE, OFFICE REMOVAL FROM OFFICE SHALL BE A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT AND VOTING.
THAT'S JUST LAYING GROUNDWORK SAYING THAT IF THERE WAS A HEARING THAT IT WOULD TAKE A MAJORITY. AM I CORRECT ON THAT?
>> IT WOULD TAKE A MAJORITY, AND I ADDED PRESENT AND VOTING.
>> THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT OUT BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL.
THEN IF YOU HAD ABSENCES, THOSE WOULD THEN COUNT AS NO VOTES.
OR IF SOMEONE ABSTAINED, THAT COUNTS AS A NO VOTE.
IF INSTEAD YOU HAVE PRESENT AND VOTING, IT'S THOSE WHO ARE HERE AND VOTE.
YOU COUNT THE VOTES TO SEE IF IT'S A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THOSE PEOPLE AND THEN YOU AVOID SOMEBODY SIDESTEPPING THE CONTROVERSY BY JUST ABSTAINING.
>> THEN ALLOWING THAT TO COUNT AS A NO VOTE, BUT THEN ALLOWING THEM TO PUBLICLY SAY, WELL, I ABSTAINED.
THAT'S WHY I ADDED THAT, BUT THAT CAN CERTAINLY BE MODIFIED IF YOU PREFER.
>> OKAY. ANOTHER ONE IS NUMBER 6 THAT THE SWORN COMPLAINT SHALL FIRST BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH IS WHAT WE DISCUSSED, WITH ANY HEARINGS BEING DONE DURING AN OPEN SESSION.
IS THIS JUST CLARIFYING, BECAUSE MY WHOLE THING IS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S DUE PROCESS TO ANYBODY WHO IS ACCUSED BECAUSE WE'RE IN THIS, WE ALSO HAVE A SECTION ON HERE FOR THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE GIVING THEM DUE PROCESS OF A HEARING.
HOW SHOULD I WORD THIS? DOES THIS MAKE IT SO THAT IF WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND IT'S PRESENTED IN EXECUTIVE THAT THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT THAT WAY THE DUE PROCESS IS ADHERED TO.
>> I ADDED THIS IN A QUALIFIED WAY BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO BE CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE CHARTER PROVIDES FOR FORFEITURE OF OFFICE, WHERE, FOR INSTANCE, CONVICTION OF A FELONY.
YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
SO I PUT IT IN HERE IN SUCH A WAY THAT IF IT'S SELF-EVIDENT, YOU DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING WHEN SOMEBODY'S INCARCERATED, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S WHY I LEFT IT AS SOMEWHAT NON-BINDING, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE INTENT IS THE MESSAGE TO FUTURE COUNCILS IS WE WANT YOU TO AFFORD SOMEBODY DUE PROCESS.
>> SO THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT IT IS IN HERE AND THAT IF SOMEBODY WERE TO BE ACCUSED, OTHER THAN SOMEBODY WHO'S CONVICTED AND IT'S BLACK AND WHITE, THAT THERE WOULD BE A PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN OBVIOUSLY A PUBLIC VOTE.
THIS IS WHAT IT IS ENCOURAGING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. EXACTLY. THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE FORM OVER SUBSTANCE WHERE WE'RE HOLDING THIS HEARING WHEN THEY'VE EITHER RESIGNED OR THEY'RE INCARCERATED.
THE HEARING IS STRONGLY ADVISED WHEN THERE IS A QUESTION OF FACT.
>> SO IT DOESN'T PUT IT IN THERE? IT SHOULD BE.
>> IT IS IN THERE THAT IT SHOULD BE.
IT'S NOT IN THERE THAT IT MUST BE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING WHEN THE PERSON IS NOT THERE.
>> OR THEY'VE RESIGNED. THE CHARTER SAYS YOU STILL HAVE TO HOLD HEARING EVEN THOUGH THEY RESIGNED.
>> OKAY. THOSE ARE MY TWO QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE JUST TO MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR AND MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH OUR PROCESS THAT WE GOT THAT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS FROM COUNCIL OR ANY OPINIONS, WANT ANYTHING CHANGED? COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ABOUT LANGUAGE, WE'RE JUST PRESENTING THE LANGUAGE ITSELF, NOT ANY RATIONALE OR EXPLANATION OF THIS LANGUAGE.
>> THE CITY CAN SEPARATELY PUT OUT ON ITS WEBSITE FACTUAL INFORMATION FOR THE VOTERS SO THAT THEY CAN BE EDUCATED ON WHAT THESE THINGS MEAN.
THERE CANNOT BE ANY ADVOCACY BECAUSE WE CAN'T USE PUBLIC FUNDS FOR ADVOCACY.
THE BALLOT MEASURES THEMSELVES, AS YOU SEE WHEN YOU GO VOTE EVERY TIME, YOU GET A LITTLE BLURB AND THERE'S NO EXTRA INFORMATION PROVIDED TO YOU.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY THE VOTING WORKS IS IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE VOTERS TO BECOME EDUCATED ON THE MEASURES BEFORE THEY STEP INTO THE BALLOT BOX.
[02:40:03]
WE CAN CERTAINLY ASSIST WITH THAT.>> THE ONLY CHALLENGE I HAVE IS WITH THE COMPENSATION PROPOSAL WHERE I WAS AGAINST IT, BUT AS BEING A MEMBER OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, I DON'T THINK IT WAS REALLY CLEARLY ARTICULATED THE LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, WHICH MAKES THIS RECOMMENDATION APPROPRIATE.
FOLKS WHO DON'T WANT US TO GET PAID OR HAVE THAT DOWN THE LINE OF SEEKING ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FROM THE TAXPAYERS.
JUST TO UNDERSTAND, THERE'S A LEGAL RATIONALE OF WHY WE'RE DOING THAT AND HOW DO WE PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE IF IT'S NOT ON THE BALLOT?
>> RIGHT. THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE THAT THE STAFF AND COUNCIL IN THEIR OWN TIME ENGAGE IN AN INFORMATIONAL EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN FLOWER MOUND THAT OBSTACLE WAS OVERCOME.
THEY HAD A PROVISION WHERE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE COMPENSATED AND SUCCESSFULLY EDUCATED THE VOTERS SUCH THAT THEY APPROVED $150 A MONTH FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND $200 A MONTH FOR THE MAYOR, SO SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE DOLLAR, AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING YOU DO THAT, BUT JUST AS A CASE STUDY, IT CAN HAPPEN. [NOISE] THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. YEAH. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE TYPES OF ITEMS. BECAUSE AGAIN, AND I'M WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS, I THINK YOU AND I WERE BOTH ONES THAT WHEN IT CAME TO COMPENSATION, AT FIRST, WE WERE SAYING THAT, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
BUT SO WE NEED TO HAVE SOME EDUCATION ON THAT AND THAT'LL TAKE ALL OF US ON OUR PART TO DO OUR PART TO EDUCATE THE VOTERS ALONG WITH STAFF.
SOME OF THESE ITEMS, I THINK JUST PUTTING OUR RATIONALE IN THERE.
>> IT'S JUST LIKE WHEN THE CITY WANTS TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
YOU HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU'RE DOING IT AND LET THE VOTERS MAKE UP THEIR MIND WHETHER IT'S A GOOD IDEA OR NOT.
>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. SECTION 3.01.
>> YEAH, THAT'S THE RESIDENCY.
>> NO, THE QUALIFICATIONS. I'M SORRY, SECTION 3.01 QUALIFICATIONS.
[OVERLAPPING] WAS THAT UPDATED? THE PRONOUNS? OH NO, IT'S THE CITY MANAGER SHALL BE CHOSEN BY THE COUNCIL SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF HIS EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRAINING.
>> RIGHT. SO I JUST RECEIVED NOTICE THAT WE WANT TO UPDATE THE PRONOUNS I THINK YESTERDAY.
I WILL ABSOLUTELY UPDATE THE PRONOUNS.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO UPDATING THE PRONOUNS ON THAT ONE.
ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS ON THIS? ANY CHANGES? EVERYONE'S GOOD WITH THE 30 MILES OF RESIDENCY FROM CITY HALL?
>> RIGHT NOW THEY GOT TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
IT'S GOT TO BE APPROVED, RIGHT?
>> ALSO, WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR CONTRACT, COUNCIL CAN TIGHTEN THAT UP IF THEY CHOOSE.
>> CAN WE? REALLY, CAN WE? BECAUSE 30 MILES IS WHAT THE CHARTER SAYS, SO 30 MILES IS IT, ISN'T IT?
>> 30 MILES, YES. IF THIS WERE AMENDED, THEN 30 MILES IS THE NEW.
>> YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO THROUGH COUNCIL ACTION APPROVE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN THIS, ANYTHING FURTHER THAN THIS.
>>THE REASON BEING? [LAUGHTER] NOW SHE THINKS THIS IS REALLY STUPID.
>> I THINK THEY SHOULD LIVE IN THE CBD.
>> WELL, YEAH [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING].
>> BEFORE THIS GOES OFF THE RAILS, LET'S REMEMBER SABLE.
>> THIS IS THE DISCUSSION THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO EVER HAVE OURSELVES SHORTED BY THE CITY MANAGER THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HIRE BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE.
OUR INTENTION WAS NOT TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO COME TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
ESPECIALLY WHEN JIMMY CAME TO WORK FOR US, IT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME.
NOW, OTHER TIMES, POSSIBLY NOT, A LOT OF CITY MANAGERS THAT WOULD REALLY LIKE TO LIVE HERE PROBABLY, BUT WE JUST THOUGHT WE DIDN'T WANT TO SHORTEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY HIRE.
>> SO EACH ONE OF THESE PROPOSED CHANGES, AMENDMENTS WILL BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY, WILL BE VOTED IN-HOUSE?
[02:45:02]
>> YES. IT'LL BE SEPARATE PROPOSITIONS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS CONCERNING ANYTHING THAT WE WANT TO CHANGE? NOW IS THE TIME TO CHANGE ANY KIND OF VERBIAGE OR ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE SEND IT TO MICHAEL WELLS.
WITH THAT, SO THAT ENDS OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE AMENDMENTS OF THE CITY CHARTER.
WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
NEXT WE HAVE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS.
[10. Mayor/Council Member Reports]
I DO HAVE A FEW THINGS.FOR THE TARRANT COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT, YOU'LL PROBABLY REMEMBER MONTHS AGO THAT WE NOMINATED THREE MEMBERS, RICH DEOTTE, GARY LOSADA AND MR. VINCE PUENTE SR.
THEY'VE ALL THREE MADE IT ONTO THE TARRANT COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I GUESS WE USED ALL OUR VOTES FOR MR. GARY LOSADA WHICH TOOK HIM OVER THE EDGE TO WIN AS WELL.
SO I WANTED TO UPDATE COUNCIL ON THAT PIECE THERE.
ALSO, I FORGOT TO MENTION LAST TIME ON NOVEMBER 30TH, I TOOK PART IN THE HEB CHAMBERS LEADERSHIP SESSION WITH MAYOR WILSON AND MAYOR MARTIN.
WE'RE DISCUSSING THE CITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
DURING THAT, I HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME MEETING WITH THE DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THAT PROGRAM.
TOMORROW I'M ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THE CHAMBER FOR THEIR YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT.
AGAIN, TALKING ABOUT THE CITY AND WHERE WE'VE COME FROM AND BASICALLY WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING A MAYOR AND ALL OF THAT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD GOING FORWARD TO THAT.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE SOMETHING TO REPORT? [INAUDIBLE] DAWKINS
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD THE SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I KNOW MAYOR TRO TEM GAGLIARDI WAS THERE.
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE COMMITTEE AND THEY ADOPTED A MISSION OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE CULTURAL COMMISSION AND THEY HAVE A PLAN FOR 2024.
SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING THINGS THAT THE COMMISSION PLANS TO DO AND BEAUTIFICATION.
I WAS IN 3 HOURS OF COMMISSION MEETINGS YESTERDAY AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE VOLUNTEERING TO BETTER THE CITY.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI.
GOODNESS. BUT THANK YOU AGAIN TO COUNCILMAN DAWKINS AND COUNCILMAN STEVES FOR PUTTING TOGETHER AND GETTING THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD LAUNCHED.
I MEAN, I THINK GREAT THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP THE SENIOR POPULATION AND CONNECT THOSE IN NEED.
I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, COUNCILMAN FARCO.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WE HAD AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION MEETING THE OTHER DAY.
THE THREE CITIES HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER WITH THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS AND THEIR PIO'S, AND WE'RE DEVELOPING A VIDEO PROMOTING HEB AS A WHOLE WITH A FLYOVER OF THE CORRIDOR, WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES OF WORKING IN THE GREAT CITIES, AND WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER FOR ALL OF THEM, WE'RE PUTTING IT TOGETHER AND MOLLY'S WORKING, SHE'S SPEARHEADING IT FOR US.
I WAS LEADING THE MEETING AND I WAS GOING, MOLLY, I WANT YOU TO DO THIS BUT I COULDN'T SAY THAT, AND SHE STEPPED UP.
THE OTHER CITIES AGREED, AND THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE PIO'S.
BUT ALL THREE CITIES ARE WORKING TOGETHER THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION TO COME UP WITH A PROMOTIONAL VIDEO FOR ALL THREE CITIES IN THE HEB AREA.
>> EXCELLENT. COUNCILMAN STEVES.
>> YES. I JUST WANT TO REPORT THAT IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH OUR CURRENT CITY MANAGER THESE PAST FEW YEARS.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE AT THE NEXT MEETING, BUT IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU.
EVERY TIME I HAD A QUESTION, YOU WERE ALWAYS WILLING TO ANSWER IT.
SOME OF THOSE DAYS, I'D BRING IN THE AGENDA.
WE'D SIT THERE AND I'D GO OVER EVERY SINGLE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
AND YOU WERE PATIENT WITH ME AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU, JIMMY.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? I WANTED TO REITERATE THAT AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, I FOUND OUT THAT IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT TODAY WILL PROBABLY BE YOUR LAST MEETING AND I WISH I HAD THE WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE AMOUNT OF CHANGES.
I WISH I COULD GO THROUGH THE LIST, THE ENDLESS LIST OF THINGS THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS AND TO SAY ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ASKED ME, WHAT WAS THE BEST DECISION THAT YOU'VE MADE ON COUNCIL.
MY BEST DECISION THAT I TELL PEOPLE THAT I EVER MADE WAS TO GET THE MOST EXPERIENCED CITY MANAGER IN BEDFORD'S HISTORY.
YOU HAVE GIVEN IT THE FRESH START.
WHEN I RAN, I WANTED TO GIVE BEDFORD THAT FRESH START AND YOU DID THAT FOR US.
[02:50:01]
I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE HARD WORK YOU WORK FOR THIS RESIDENTS. THANK YOU, JIMMY.[11. City Manager/Staff Reports]
[APPLAUSE] MY REPORT?>> YEAH. [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU ALL AND I CAN'T THANK ALL ENOUGH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I LOOK BACK THE LAST ALMOST 3.5 YEARS AND I LOOK AT EVERYTHING WE'VE ALL ACCOMPLISHED COLLECTIVELY.
YOU KNOW, THE STUFF THAT STAFF WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITHOUT THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL, WITHOUT WHETHER IT'S FUNDING, EQUIPMENT, TRAINING, WE'D HAVE A LOT OF PLANS ON THE SHELF.
WHILE I APPRECIATE THE LOVE AND IT'S RECIPROCATED, BECAUSE HONESTLY IT ALL STARTS WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TRICKLES DOWN.
I FEEL LIKE BEDFORD IS THE PLACE TO BE.
I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE GOT A REAL STRONG SET OF EMPLOYEES.
I'VE SAID THIS TO EVERYONE, I WOULD PUT OUR STAFF AGAINST ANY CITY IN THE METROPLEX.
I THINK THERE'S THINGS THAT OUR CITY IS DOING THAT ARE THE ENVY OF OTHER CITIES.
THEY LOOK AT WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE DOING AND I THINK THEY'RE, I'D SAY JEALOUS, BUT THEY WANT TO REPLICATE IT.
I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE MEMORIES THAT I HAVE ALREADY AND I JUST KNOW GOING FORWARD, I'LL DO ANYTHING I CAN TO HELP.
I'LL ALWAYS BE A RESOURCE IF YOU WANT OR TELL YOU WHAT NOT TO DO.
BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE FRIENDSHIP AND I KNOW THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE GOING TO LAST FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT JUST KNOW I'LL ALWAYS DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP.
Y'ALL HAVE EMBARKED ON A LOT OF THINGS.
A LOT WE ACCOMPLISH A LOT THAT'S STILL IN THE PIPELINE.
ANYTHING I CAN DO WITHOUT STEPPING ON TOES TO HELP BRING IT TO FRUITION, JUST SIGN ME UP.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE SO THANKS.
WITH THAT, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON EXECUTIVE SESSION,
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
SO WE HAVE TO CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION COMPLIANCE 551.001.WE HAVE SECTION 551.072 AND SECTION 551.074.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CONVENE TO EXECUTIVE. [NOISE]
I'M SORRY, IT'S EMBEDDED IN THE SENTENCE IN THE FIRST ITEM.
>> WELL, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A RECESS AS WE CONVENE TO EXECUTIVE.
WE'RE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE AFTER A LONG, LONG DISCUSSION.
I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION.
[12. Take any action necessary as a result of the Executive Session.]
MY MOTION IS TO APPOINT ANDREA ROY AS THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER, STARTING ON JANUARY 19TH, AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.>> I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO.
ALL RIGHT, AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] I JUST WANTED TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO COUNCIL, AND WE DID THIS METHODICALLY STRATEGICALLY.
I'M VERY PROUD OF US HERE TODAY UNITING TOGETHER FOR THIS BIG DECISION, AND SO THANK YOU TO THAT.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO MAKE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR IS THAT THIS STAFF, LET ME JUST SAY THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTS THIS CURRENT STAFF THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM BUILT BY OUR AMAZING CITY MANAGER WHO WHO CHANGED THIS ORGANIZATION.
WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF BECAUSE WE REALIZE AS A COUNCIL, THAT THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS IS SUPPORTING OUR STAFF THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPERTS IN WHAT THEY DO.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW INTERIM CITY MANAGER, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD. ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
I HAVE A FIRST BY COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS, AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> GOOD NIGHT, IRENE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.