Jul 09, 2024 City Council

[00:00:02]

ALL RIGHT. THE TIME IS NOW 6:00.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.

IT IS TUESDAY, JULY 9TH, 2024.

[CALL TO ORDER/GENERAL COMMENTS]

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE AN INVOCATION BY MR. DAN MENDOZA, FOLLOWED BY PLEDGES LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.

EVERYONE PLEASE STAND. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US.

WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT WE LIVE IN AN AMAZING NATION WHERE WE'RE FREE TO VOICE OUR OPINIONS, ELECT LEADERS TO REPRESENT US, AND TO PARTICIPATE IN MAKING THE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY.

TONIGHT WE PRAY FOR ALL CITY LEADERS REPRESENTED HERE TONIGHT.

MAY OUR LEADERS FULFILL THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WITH KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, DISCERNMENT, AND WISDOM AS THEY MAKE THEIR DECISIONS.

WE PRAY FOR MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFETY OVER OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT THE CITY OF BEDFORD WOULD CONTINUE TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE LIVE AND GROW TOGETHER IN UNITY AND PEACE. MAY WE WALK NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY, NOR STAND IN THE PATH OF SINNERS, NOR SIT IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL.

BUT INSTEAD DELIGHT IN YOUR TRUTH AND WALK IN THE PURPOSE AND ASSIGNMENT YOU'VE GIVEN US, AND LET EVERY CONVERSATION LEAD US CLOSER TO THE IMAGE THAT YOU'VE DESIGNED FOR US IN THE GREAT CITY OF BEDFORD.

IN YOUR PRECIOUS HOLY NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. AMEN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

MENDOZA. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.

AND AND WHOEVER DECIDED TO PUT THE ACTUAL TEXAS PLEDGE ON THE SCREENS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND NOBODY HAS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT]

THANK YOU. MAYOR. GOOD EVENING.

I'LL PRESENT TO YOU A FEW ITEMS OF CONSENT THIS EVENING.

ITEM NUMBER ONE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JUNE 25TH, 2024 REGULAR MEETING ITEM TWO, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HER DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH FOUR ONE YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS FOR PRINTING SERVICES WITH GM DATA PRODUCTS IN AN ESTIMATED ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $25,000.

THIS ITEM IS ESSENTIALLY REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR AN ANNUAL CONTRACT, RENEWING UP TO FOUR TIMES FOR PRINTING SERVICES WITH GM DATA.

THIS IS A BID AND GM DATA PRODUCTS RANKED THE HIGHEST RESPONDENT.

THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN DOING MUCH OF OUR CURRENT PRINTING FOR THE CITY BUSINESS CARDS, CHECKS, ENVELOPES, AND OUR MUNICIPAL COURT FORMS. ITEM NUMBER THREE CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HER DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT WITH THE EQUALIS GROUP.

THIS ITEM WILL ESSENTIALLY ALLOW THE CITY TO BE ADDED TO THIS PURCHASING COOPERATIVE, SIMPLY GIVING THE THE CITY MORE PURCHASING OPTIONS.

THEY OBVIOUSLY OFFER VARIOUS VENDORS AND VARIOUS SERVICES THAT WE MIGHT NEED.

IT'S SIMPLY ANOTHER CO-OP AS WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN BY BOARD TIPS, OMNIA, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS ACTUALLY OBVIOUSLY DOES REQUIRE COUNCIL APPROVAL, WHICH IS WHY YOU'RE SEEING IT THIS EVENING.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS, APPROVING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT APPROPRIATION PLAN AND RECOGNIZING AND APPROPRIATING EXPENDITURES WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 CORONAVIRUS LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND BUDGET FOR THE REMODEL OF CITY HALL BUILDING C FOR HUMAN RESOURCES AND FINANCE FOR 13 OFFICES WITH WRG IN AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF $112,940 WITH POWER SOURCE ELECTRIC AND AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $5,000 WITH WW FIRE AND SECURITY, AND AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $19,876, AND WITH NORTH TEXAS GLASS COATING AND AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $6,070, FOR AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF $143,886.

THIS IS THESE ARE THE REMAINING ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RELOCATION OF FINANCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES OVER TO BUILDING C.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE CONSIDER RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS, APPROVING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT APPROPRIATION PLAN AND RECOGNIZING AN APPROPRIATE EXPENDITURES WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 CORONAVIRUS LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND BUDGET TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER, OR HER DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE ASBESTOS ABATEMENT AND DEMOLITION OF BUILDING B TO LLOYD D NABORS.

DEMOLITION FOR AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $143,500.

[00:05:01]

34 VENDORS WERE DIRECTLY NOTIFIED AND 6 BIDS WERE RECEIVED.

THE RESPONDENTS WERE EVALUATED BASED ON PRICE CAPABILITIES, DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE, AND RESPONSIVENESS TO THE REQUEST OF THE BIDS.

PRICING AND EVALUATION SCORES ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.

BASED ON THESE, THE STAFF STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO LLOYD D.

NABORS DEMOLITION.

AND AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED, BUILDING B WILL BE DEMOLISHED AS IT WILL NO LONGER BE NEEDED ONCE WE RELOCATE FINANCE AND HR TO NEARBY BUILDING C, AND WE ALSO WILL RELOCATE THE CITY'S EMERGENCY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER TO THE POLICE, THE POLICE FACILITY KNOWN AS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER.

WE ARE DOING THIS ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE BUILDING B HAS REACHED THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.

MAINTENANCE HAS BECOME EXPENSIVE, AND ONGOING REPAIRS ARE BURDENSOME AND EXTREMELY COSTLY.

RECENTLY INSTALLED AC UNITS ON THE FACILITY WILL BE RELOCATED AND REPURPOSED ELSEWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND ADDITIONALLY, THE BUILDING DOES SIT ON FUTURE BEDFORD COMMONS LAND THAT WILL ALSO TAKE US A STEP FORWARD IN THAT, IN THAT DEVELOPMENT.

AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE ON CONSENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CITY MANAGER ROY, I DO HAVE A NOTE HERE THAT FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR REQUESTING TO PULL THAT ITEM.

THAT IS CORRECT. CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXPLANATION? SURE. WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO SOME OF THE NUMBERS, WE NEED TO KIND OF GET A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSISTENT ON AND SOME OF THE BACKUP WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S CURRENT AND UPDATED.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS ON THIS ONE.

THERE WERE A LOT OF BIDS COMING IN.

AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE NUMBERS ARE STRAIGHT AND AND ENSURE THAT ALL THOSE FOLKS ARE ON THE CURRENT BY BOARD CO-OP BOARD THAT THEY NEED TO BE ON.

SO WE WOULD LIKE JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME TO WRAP THAT UP AND MOVE IT TO THE 23RD IF WE COULD.

AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT US SINCE WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE, IS ALSO DEALING KIND OF WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE ABATEMENT OF BUILDING B THAT DOESN'T AFFECT ANY TIMELINES OR ANYTHING. IT DOES NOT. NO, NO.

OKAY. SO COUNCIL FOR THAT STAFF HAS REQUESTED THAT WE PULL ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

SO I'M GOING TO NEED A MOTION TO FIRST WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PULL IT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I'LL PUT IT UNDER NEW BUSINESS.

AND THEN WHEN WE GET TO NEW BUSINESS, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND TABLE IT AT THAT POINT.

OKAY. I CONSULTED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY WHO SAID WHO SAID THAT THAT WAS THE BEST PATH FORWARD.

SO. SO A LITTLE CONFUSING, BUT I'LL KEEP TRACK OF IT.

AND AND IF YOU GUYS CAN HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE.

YEAH, I HAVE A MOTION TO GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THAT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? OUR SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE TO REMOVE THIS ONE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

AND THAT PASSES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. NOW MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ONE, TWO, THREE AND FIVE.

COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS? THANK YOU MAYOR AND AS FOR NUMBER TWO, WHAT BUDGET ITEM IS THAT GOING TO BE PAID OUT OF? I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO MISS RIGGS ON THAT.

I'M GUESSING WE'RE STRAIGHT GENERAL FUND, BUT.

OKAY, IT USUALLY IT'S LISTED, AND IT JUST IS.

YEAH. KAREN, YOU WANT TO JUMP IN? YOU'VE WALKED ALL THAT WAY.

SO IT'LL BE IN THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT BUDGETS WHERE BUSINESS CARDS MAY BE PRINTED OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS ON THIS CASSETTE? ALL RIGHT. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THESE ITEMS. I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.

OH, YOU WANT TO REDO THAT ONE? HOW ABOUT JUST A SHOW OF HANDS EVERYONE SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL RIGHT, SO THAT IS UNANIMOUS.

ALL RIGHT. DOES THAT HELP YOU, MICHAEL? YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT IS UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU STAFF.

MOVING ALONG IN OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE PERSONS TO BE HEARD.

[PERSONS TO BE HEARD]

HOW DO WE PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME? [INAUDIBLE] 2301 SHADY BROOK DRIVE, BEDFORD, TEXAS.

REQUEST TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL REGARDING A PUPPY STORE OPENING IN BEDFORD.

SO IF YOU COME TO THE PODIUM AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU. LIKE I SAID, MY NAME IS SARAH FEQUA.

I LIVE AT 2301 SHADY BROOK DRIVE.

I MOVED TO BEDFORD LAST SUMMER FROM FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE, AND I WORKED THERE AT THE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER.

AS YOU KNOW, I'M HERE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING ABOUT THE RECENT OPENING OF A PUPPY STORE H ERE IN BEDFORD, WHICH I KNOW YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF AS IT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING.

[00:10:08]

LET ME PREFACE BY SAYING THAT I WILL BE STATING A FEW STATISTICS, AND I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE REFERENCES FOR THOSE AT YOUR REQUEST.

BUT ANIMAL SHELTERS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES ARE FULL.

BUT NORTH TEXAS SPECIFICALLY IS FACING A PET OVERPOPULATION CRISIS.

THE DALLAS AND FORT WORTH SHELTERS ARE TAKING IN DOZENS OF ANIMALS EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES HAS RECENTLY BEEN AS HIGH AS 200% CAPACITY AND HAS AT TIMES HAD 300 OF THEIR KENNELS AT DOUBLE OCCUPANCY.

FORT WORTH TOOK IN 500 ANIMALS OVER THE COURSE OF ONE WEEK JUST LAST MONTH.

AND AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, OUR BEDFORD SHELTER HAS ALSO BEEN AT CAPACITY.

WE HAVE SHELTER FACILITIES LITERALLY ALL AROUND US, AND ALL OF THEM ARE FULL.

AND BECAUSE THEY ARE SO FULL, SOME OF THE LARGER FACILITIES ARE HAVING TO EUTHANIZE 15 TO 20 ANIMALS, MOSTLY DOGS, 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK.

AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE OF SPACE.

THAT MEANS THERE ARE ALREADY TOO MANY ANIMALS IN THE AREA THAT DO NOT HAVE HOMES.

SO YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH PUPPY STORE HERE IN BEDFORD? PUPPY STORE PUPPIES ARE TYPICALLY SHIPPED IN FROM OUT OF STATE.

MOST OF THEM COME FROM THE MIDWEST.

SO WE ALREADY HAVE TOO MANY DOGS IN THE AREA.

BUT A NEW PUPPY STORE MEANS WE'RE BRINGING IN MORE AND ANYWHERE FROM 90 TO 99% OF THE PUPPIES IN PUPPY STORES, DEPENDING ON WHO'S REPORTING, COME FROM PUPPY MILLS. THE PUPPY STORE THAT IS OPENED HERE IN BEDFORD CLAIMS THAT THEIR PUPPIES ARE ETHICALLY, QUOTE, ETHICALLY RAISED AND COME FROM LOCAL BREEDERS. ACCORDING TO HEALTH CERTIFICATE RECORDS FROM THE STORE'S PLANO LOCATION, WHICH MAKES THE SAME CLAIMS ABOUT LOCAL BREEDERS AND ETHICAL ETHICALLY RAISED.

ALL OF THE ASSOCIATED BREEDERS FROM MAY TO DECEMBER 2023 WERE LOCATED IN MISSOURI, WHICH, LAST I CHECKED, IS NOT TEXAS, AND I BELIEVE THAT STORE OPENED IN MARCH OR APRIL OF LAST YEAR, SO THERE'S NO OTHER DATA.

USDA RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE SPECIFIC BREEDING FACILITIES HAVE OVER 100 DOGS, AND SOME HAVE AS MANY AS 200 DOGS PER THEIR USDA RECORDS FROM 2023.

AND YES, THESE ARE USDA LICENSED FACILITIES.

HOWEVER, THE MINIMUM LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE LIVING QUARTERS OF DOGS IN USDA BREEDING FACILITIES IS ONLY SIX INCHES LARGER THAN THE DOG ON ALL SIDES. SO I'LL LET YOU COME TO YOUR OWN CONCLUSION WHETHER THAT SOUNDS ETHICAL OR NOT.

MOST PUPPY STORES, INCLUDING THE ONE HERE, OFFER FINANCING BECAUSE THESE PUPPIES CAN COST UP TO THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

DOGS AT LOCAL SHELTERS RANGE ANYWHERE FROM $85 TO FREE AND COME FULLY VACCINATED, ALTERED UP TO DATE ON SHOTS PREVENTION.

AND THE PUPPIES AT PUPPY STORES TYPICALLY LEAVE WITH JUST ONE SET OF SHOTS, AND THEY ARE NOT ALTERED, WHICH ADDITIONALLY LEADS TO THE PET OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM. MANY PEOPLE MAY WALK INTO A RETAIL PUPPY STORE JUST TO LOOK, BUT END UP LEAVING WITH AN IMPULSE PUPPY THAT THEY MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY BE PREPARED TO TAKE CARE OF, FINANCIALLY OR OTHERWISE.

AND IF IT IS NOT A BECAUSE OF A HEALTH RELATED CONCERN, THEY CANNOT RETURN THAT PUPPY IN THE SAME WAY WE CAN RETURN IT IN POST PURCHASE TO TARGET OR WALMART, AND ANY REPUTABLE RESCUE OR EVEN A BREEDER WILL ACCEPT RETURNS OF DOGS THAT THEY ADOPT OUT OR SELL. IF THAT PUPPY IS NOT GIVEN TO A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND, IT WILL END UP AT OUR LOCAL SHELTER OR FORT WORTH OR DALLAS, WHERE IT HAS A MUCH SMALLER CHANCE OF MAKING IT OUT ALIVE. PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR PUPPIES, AND THERE ARE PUPPIES AT LOCAL SHELTERS THAT ARE BEING EUTHANIZED BECAUSE OF SPACE, AND THEY ARE PUREBRED DOGS AT LOCAL SHELTERS, BEING EUTHANIZED BECAUSE OF SPACE.

FOR EVERY PERSON THAT'S LOOKING FOR A DOG AND BUYS ONE AT A PUPPY STORE, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S HERE IN BEDFORD OR CARROLLTON OR ARLINGTON OR DENTON OR ANY CITY AROUND US THAT ACTUALLY ALLOWS PUPPY STORES, THAT'S ONE LESS DOG AND A SHELTER IN THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH METROPLEX THAT GETS TO GO HOME EVER.

AND WHEN THE SHELTER HERE IN BEDFORD SPECIFICALLY IS BEING RENOVATED AND THE ANIMALS IN THEIR CARE ARE MOVED TO ANOTHER FACILITY, THAT WILL CREATE AN EVEN GREATER NEED FOR ADOPTIONS TO HAPPEN IN OUR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY.

THE BEDFORD ANIMAL SHELTER ONLY HAD TWO DOG ADOPTIONS IN THE MONTH OF JUNE AND DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICE IS LITERALLY PAYING PEOPLE TO ADOPT LARGER DOGS,

[00:15:02]

IN AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED JUST YESTERDAY, DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES PLEADED PLEASE DO NOT GO TO A PUPPY STORE TO GET A DOG.

GETTING OUT OF GETTING ANIMALS OUT OF OUR SHELTER IN NEIGHBORING SHELTERS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHED WITH THE OR WITH THE EXISTENCE OF ANOTHER PUPPY STORE NOW IN OUR BACKYARD. I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THE RECORDING OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AND I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE HOUSE BILL 2127 THAT WAS PASSED LAST APRIL, WHICH WAS ALSO MENTIONED AT THE MEETING.

BUT IT STATES THAT A MUNICIPALITY MAY NOT ADOPT, ENFORCE OR MAINTAIN AN ORDINANCE OR RULE THAT RESTRICTS, REGULATES, LIMITS, OR OTHERWISE IMPEDES THE RETAIL SALE OF DOGS OR CATS.

A MUNICIPALITY MAY ENFORCE OR MAINTAIN AN ORDINANCE OR RULE ADOPTED BEFORE APRIL 2023 THAT RESTRICTS, REGULATES, ETC., THE RETAIL SALE OF DOGS OR CATS UNTIL THE STATE ADOPTS STATEWIDE REGULATION FOR THE RETAIL SALE OF DOGS OR CATS.

SO THE CITY OF BEDFORD UNFORTUNATELY, ACTUALLY CANNOT PREVENT FUTURE PET STORES FROM OPENING UNDER SPECIAL USE PERMITS AS MAYOR COGAN ALLUDED TO AT THE LAST MEETING, BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAVE AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE PRIOR TO APRIL 2023.

MANY CITIES AROUND US, INCLUDING FORT WORTH, DALLAS AND EVEN EULESS, DO HAVE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED HUMANE PET STORE ORDINANCES.

THIS MEANS THEY DO NOT ALLOW RETAIL PUPPY STORES LIKE THE ONE HERE IN BEDFORD AT ALL.

AND SINCE THIS, SINCE THE CITY IS COMPLETELY HAMSTRUNG BY HOUSE BILL 2127, AND THIS IS A CONCERN IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT THE CITY WOULD ENDORSE THE HUMANE PET STORE BILL IN ITS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IN 2025, WHICH CONNIE STOUT MENTIONED AT THE LAST MEETING AS WELL. TO SAY WHAT THAT IS, AGAIN, THIS BILL WOULD WOULD REQUIRE THAT ONLY HEALTHY ANIMALS SOURCE FROM SHELTERS AND RESCUES BE SOLD IN RETAIL PET STORES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.

THESE STORES GREATLY INCREASE THE ADAPTABILITY OF SHELTER AND RESCUE PETS, WHO MAY NOT GET REALLY GOOD EXPOSURE INSIDE A SHELTER.

THIS WOULD PUT AN END TO RETAIL PUPPY STORES IN TEXAS, AND WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE PUPPY MILL PIPELINE, BECAUSE IT'S ESTIMATED THAT TEXAS PET STORES IMPORT 13,000 PUPPIES FROM PUPPY MILLS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

THE WAY TO PREVENT THIS FROM CONTINUING TO HAPPEN IS NOT TO AMEND LOCAL ORDINANCES OR CHANGE ZONING OR PERMITS, BECAUSE THESE STORES WILL JUST HOP TO THE NEXT TOWN THAT DOES NOT HAVE THESE BARRIERS ALREADY IN PLACE, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THIS FROM CONTINUING TO HAPPEN IS TO SUPPORT THE HUMANE PET STORE BILL IN 2025.

THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT GO TO THE STORE AND THEY MIGHT HAVE A GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE.

THE PUPPIES MIGHT BE CUTE, THE EMPLOYEES MIGHT BE NICE, IT MIGHT BE CLEAN.

BUT THE ROOT OF THE ISSUE IS WHERE THE PUPPIES COME FROM, HOW IT IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SHELTERS, AND HOW IT CONTINUES TO FUEL THE PUPPY MILL INDUSTRY. SO THE REASON I'M HERE THIS EVENING IS TO EDUCATE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WHY OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT PURCHASE PUPPIES FROM A RETAIL STOREFRONT, BUT TO ALSO ASK THE CITY TO FORMALLY PUT THE HUMANE PET STORE BILL ON ITS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR 2025.

THE MISSION OF THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL IS TO MAKE EVERY RESIDENT PROUD OF OUR CITY, AND SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION WILL CREATE NOT ONLY A HUMANE CITY OF BEDFORD, BUT A HUMANE STATE OF TEXAS AS WELL.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE PROUD OF SO THANK YOU.

YES, SIR. THANK THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR COMING TODAY AND SHEDDING SHEDDING LIGHT ON THIS ON THIS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT'S REALLY THAT'S AFFECTING NORTH TEXAS.

YOU KNOW, RECENTLY THERE WAS AN ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT IN KERA ABOUT DALLAS, ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND IT IS DEFINITELY A CRISIS.

YEAH. THAT WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH OVER THERE.

AND I KNOW IT'S EVEN IT'S EVEN EXACERBATED IN THE SUMMER.

IT ALWAYS IT COMES CYCLICAL YOU KNOW IN THE SUMMER.

AND AND SO WE'RE REALLY AND I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME, BUT IT REALLY ANGERS ME THAT PEOPLE DOWN IN AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY.

THEY'VE TAKEN AWAY THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REGULATE THINGS WITHIN OUR OWN CITY, THINGS THAT WE KNOW.

WE'RE THE ONES UP HERE, WE'RE REPRESENTING THE RESIDENTS, AND YET THEY'VE TAKEN AWAY OUR AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO IN LIEU OF THAT, I WOULD EVEN, YOU KNOW, SAY TO THE RESIDENTS AS WELL PAY ATTENTION TO WHO YOU'RE VOTING FOR AND WHO'S, YOU KNOW, TAKING AWAY THAT AUTHORITY.

YOU KNOW, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THE FACT THAT THAT WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS, THIS IS PET STORES ARE CONTROVERSIAL FOR ALL THE SITUATIONS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED.

FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE FOR COUNCIL TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, WHICH IS WHY I'M, YOU KNOW, I MADE THAT REQUEST FOR STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, PUT IT UNDER AN SUP SO THAT THERE ISN'T

[00:20:09]

SO I THINK THAT THAT WILL HELP US GOING FORWARD.

AND THEN AS FAR AS ANY KIND OF BILL THAT GIVES US BACK ANY KIND OF AUTHORITY AS A CITY PERSPECTIVE, OF COURSE I'M GOING TO BEFORE I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE.

AND SO SO I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES BEFORE THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND AND DISCUSSING THIS IN PARTICULAR WITH THEM.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG. WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS.

[4. Consider a resolution of the City of Bedford, Texas approving the American Rescue Plan Act Appropriation Plan; and recognizing and appropriating expenditures within the Fiscal Year 2024 Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Budget for the remodel of City Hall Building C for Human Resources and Finance, for 13 offices, with WRG in an estimated total of $112,940, with Power Source Electric in an estimated amount of $5,000, with WW Fire and Security in an estimated amount of $19,876, and with North Texas Glass Coating in an estimated amount of $6,070, for an estimated total of $143,886.]

AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION TO TABLE THIS TO OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING.

I'M GOING TO GET A SECOND FOR THAT ONE.

ALL RIGHT. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL.

LET'S JUST DO A REAL QUICK VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

I, I THINK EVERYONE.

ALL RIGHT. QUICK. ALL RIGHT.

I'M JUST DOING IT QUICKLY.

THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON.

ITEM NUMBER. SO THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU STAFF.

MOVING ON. NUMBER SEVEN PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS BLOCK ONE, LOT R4, MAYFAIR HARVARD OAKS, FROM

[7. Public hearing and consider an ordinance to rezone the property described as Block 1 Lot 4R Mayfair No-Harwood Oaks Kinder from Heavy Commercial to Heavy Commercial/Specific Use Permit-Religious Facility. The property is generally located on the north side of Harwood Road, to the West of Mayfair Drive and commonly known as 315 Harwood Road. (SUP-24-5). The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval by a vote of 5-0-0.]

I GIVE YOU DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WES MORRISON.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A RELIGIOUS FACILITY IN AN EXISTING OFFICE BUILDING.

THE SITE IS THE SUITE IN QUESTION IS ABOUT 2300FT² OUT OF A 6000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING.

CURRENTLY, THERE'S A CONTRACTOR'S OFFICE IN THE OTHER PORTION OF THE BUILDING.

SERVICE HOURS ARE PROPOSED TO BE 9 TO 12 SUNDAY, 6 TO 8 ON WEDNESDAY, AND THEN 9 TO 10 ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

THE PROPERTY DOES HAVE 45 PARKING SPACES ON SITE.

GIVEN THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THE FOR THE PROPOSED CHURCH AND THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THE OFFICE, WE DON'T SEE ANY CONFLICT IN PARKING ON THE PROPERTY.

THE ZONING, SURROUNDING AREAS TO THE NORTH, YOU HAVE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND THEN OFFICE AND COMMERCIAL TO THE EAST, WEST AND SOUTH. THESE ARE SIGHT PICTURES THAT JUST GIVE YOU AN IDEA AS TO WHAT'S AROUND THE PROPERTY.

WE NOTIFIED 37 ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS AND WE'VE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE IN FAVOR OR AGAINST REQUEST.

WE DID HAVE AN INQUIRY REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TYPE OF CHURCH, BUT ONCE WE GAVE THAT INFORMATION, THERE WAS NO CONCERN FROM THE RESIDENTS.

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF 5 TO 0.

I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.

DID THE P&Z HAVE ANY CONCERNS ON THIS ONE? ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, SO I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ON THIS.

SO FOR THE BUILDING ITSELF, HOW MANY SUITES ARE IN THAT BUILDING.

TWO SUITES. OKAY.

SO THIS ONE IS THERE ONE THAT'S ALREADY CURRENTLY OCCUPIED? THERE IS. IT'S A ROOFING CONTRACTOR I BELIEVE THAT'S IN THIS.

THE THE REMAINDER SO WHAT ABOUT 4000FT².

OKAY. AND SO IS THERE ANY CONCERN ABOUT PARKING? I'M ASSUMING SINCE THE CHURCH HAS OFF HOURS, OBVIOUSLY WEEKENDS AND EVENINGS.

RIGHT. EVEN IF THE EVEN IF THEY MET AT THE SAME TIME AS THE OFFICE HOURS.

IT'S OVER THE PROPERTY'S OVER PARKED AS IT IS, SO THERE IS NO PARK PARKING CONCERNS FROM STAFF ON THIS ONE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, WAIT, WE GOT A PUBLIC HEARING.

MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI IS READY TO GO.

READY TO GO HERE.

ALL RIGHT, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:24.

SO IF ANYBODY'S HERE FOR THIS ITEM, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND WELCOME, SIR.

MY NAME IS KENNETH MONK, AND I'M A LONG TERM RESIDENT OF OF BEDFORD AT 3701 CHILLUM LANE.

AND OUR CHURCH CURRENTLY IS LOCATED IN A SMALL WHAT USED TO BE A A RETAIL STORE RIGHT BESIDE TEXAS STAR BAKERY, AND OUR ADJOINING NEIGHBOR IS THEY CALL THEMSELVES AN EVENT VENUE NOW, AND UNFORTUNATELY THEIR EVENTS HAPPEN TO COINCIDE WITH OUR SERVICES SOMETIMES AND THEY'RE QUITE NOISY.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO MOVE.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.

WE HAD ORIGINALLY WANTED TO PURCHASE A PLACE, BUT LOOKING AT THE PRICES OF REAL ESTATE IN THIS AREA, IT WAS WAY OUT OF OUR

[00:25:08]

AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS PLACE QUITE A BIT.

AND RIGHT NOW OUR CURRENT FACILITY IS ABOUT 1200FT².

AND SO WE'RE MOVING INTO SOMETHING THAT'S ALMOST TWICE THAT SIZE.

AS FAR AS ACTUAL USABLE SPACE, IT IS OVER TWICE THAT SIZE FOR US.

IT ALSO GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEPARATE OUR CHURCH FROM OUR PARISH HALL AREA, SO THAT THAT WE HAVE A QUIET PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND SIT AND AND MEDITATE IF THEY WANT TO, WHILE OTHER PEOPLE ARE OUT HAVING COFFEE OR WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO.

VERY GOOD, VERY, VERY GOOD.

DO YOU MIND ME ASKING HOW BIG IS YOUR CONGREGATION? WE'RE ABOUT 34 PEOPLE.

WE STARTED OUT RIGHT NOW AT THIS CURRENT LOCATION WITH AN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE OF ABOUT 7 PEOPLE.

AND RIGHT NOW, OUR AVERAGE ATTENDANCE IS AROUND 24 TO 25.

SO YOU CAN SEE WE'RE GETTING KIND OF CRAMPED IN THAT SPACE, I WOULD IMAGINE.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO EXPAND.

OH ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, AND BRING YOU TO BEDFORD.

YES YES, YES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY, I WAS LOOKING AT THIS THE OTHER DAY AND IT DAWNED ON ME THAT THAT OUT OF OUR CURRENT MEMBERSHIP, OVER A FOURTH OF US ARE LONG TERM RESIDENTS OF BEDFORD, AS IT IS, AND NO ONE LIVES IN HURST.

WELL, SUE, YOU SEE, THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO. WE ARE VERY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. THANK. THANK YOU, MR. MONK. APPRECIATE IT.

ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY? [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT.

AND ANY QUESTIONS? THE PUBLIC HEARING IS STILL OPEN, SO IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME.

YOU CAN SEE THE MAD RUSH.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NOBODY ELSE COMING UP, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:27.

ALL RIGHT COUNCIL, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI.

I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF, AND WELCOME TO BEDFORD.

THANK YOU. VERY GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT. THAT TAKES CARE OF NEW BUSINESS.

AND NOW WE ARE ON TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS.

[8. Mayor/Council Member Reports]

AND WHAT A AMAZING SHOW THAT THE CITY PUT ON.

SO I DO WANT TO THANK ALL THE HARD WORK THAT IT TOOK TO, TO TO PUT INTO THAT, TO THAT EVENT, ALL THE STAFF THAT WAS THERE, JUST JUST AN AMAZING JOB ALL AROUND AND WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS DONOVAN, BRANDON AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME THERE AS WELL.

APPRECIATE IT. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY REPORTS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING THAT, I'LL MOVE ON TO CITY MANAGER AND STAFF REPORTS.

[9. City Manager/Staff Reports]

JUST TO KIND OF TAG ON TO YOUR MENTION OF THE 4TH OF JULY.

ALSO, JUST THANK OUR STAFF, PUBLIC WORKS PARKS AND REC, AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR GIVING UP THEIR DAY OFF AND AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL WERE WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE AND SAFE. BUT ALSO ALONG THOSE LINES, JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT WE DID HAVE ATTENDANCE OFF THE CHARTS THIS YEAR FOR THAT EVENT.

AND SO AS A RESULT, IT WAS STAFF HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF SOME OF THE PARKING CONCERNS AND ISSUES THAT DID HAPPEN IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.

SO WE ARE WE DO HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH STAFF THIS WEEK TO DEBRIEF AND LOOK AT OPTIONS GOING FORWARD WITH THE ATTENDANCE GROWING TO THE DEGREE THAT IT HAS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS GROWN MUCH BIGGER THAN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME DIFFERENT WAYS TO HANDLE SOME OF THESE PARKING MATTERS AROUND THE PARK.

SO WE WILL BE DOING THAT AND WE'LL COME BACK.

AND SO IT'S STILL FRESH ON EVERYONE'S MIND.

AND WE'LL WE'LL MAKE SOME DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS TO ADDRESS THIS NEXT YEAR.

BUT THE CITIES AROUND US SEVERAL OF THEM ARE KIND OF TAPERING BACK AND MOVING THEIR THEIR 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS ONTO OTHER DAYS.

SO BEDFORD HAS KIND OF BECOME AND RIGHTLY SO, BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT SHOW, BUT WE'VE BECOME THE PLACE FOR THE 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS ON THE DAY OF THE 4RTH.

[00:30:02]

BUT THIS IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE.

SO WE'LL WE'LL ADDRESS THAT AND GET BACK WITH YOU ALL.

ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WAS OTHER CITIES THAT EITHER THEY MOVED THEIRS, THEY'RE GOING TO DRONE SHOWS.

AND SO I TEND TO THINK THAT WITH THE WELL ATTENDANCE THAT WE'VE HAD ON JULY THIS PAST JULY 4TH, THAT WE WON OVER A LOT MORE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT CITIES.

AND I CAN SEE THIS GROWING EVEN MORE NEXT YEAR.

SO I KNOW WE'LL BE READY TO TO HANDLE THAT.

SO ALL RIGHT.

NOTHING. SEEING NOTHING ELSE.

OKAY. I THINK THAT TAKES CARE OF ALL OUR AGENDA ITEMS. SO WHAT SHOULD WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? I WOULD, MAYOR COGAN.

YES, I WOULD LOVE TO MOTION TO ADJOURN.

ALL RIGHT WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

I MOVE TO ADJOURN.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL WOMAN DAWKINS.

YES. MOVE TO ADJOURN.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.

THERE WE GO. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, AND WE ARE DONE AT 6:31.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.