Feb 25, 2025 City Council

[CALL TO ORDER/GENERAL COMMENTS]

[00:00:03]

ALL RIGHT. TIME IS NOW 6:00. I'M GOING TO CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.

IT IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, 2025. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE.

IT'S NOT COMMON WE SEE THIS MANY PEOPLE AT A COUNCIL MEETING.

BUT ALL OF YOU, WELCOME. WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS.

A LOT OF INTERESTING TOPICS HERE TODAY. AND THOSE OF YOU TUNING IN ONLINE WELCOME AS WELL.

SO, I'D LIKE TO KICK THINGS OFF WITH AN INVOCATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMY SABOL, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY COUNCIL MEMBER NICHELLE DAWKINS.

WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE STAND? AS WE GATHER TONIGHT.

LET US OPEN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING NEEDED FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

MAY WE LISTEN WITH RESPECT, SPEAK WITH CLARITY, AND WORK TOGETHER WITH A SHARED PURPOSE TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT BENEFIT ALL.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES PRESENT AND ASK FOR THE STRENGTH TO COLLABORATE CONSTRUCTIVELY, GUIDED BY COMPASSION AND A COMMITMENT TO THE GREATER GOOD.

MAY OUR TIME BE PRODUCTIVE AND MEANINGFUL. MAY WE EXTEND KINDNESS AND UNDERSTANDING TO ALL.

AMEN. AMEN.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SABOL, COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON UP. WE HAVE COUNCIL RECOGNITION, AND SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND WELCOME TO THE

[COUNCIL RECOGNITION]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. TONIGHT WE HAVE TWO 25 YEAR MEMBERS, SO A PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME.

FIRST UP, WE HAVE CAPTAIN MICHAEL WHITESIDE. COME ON UP, CAPTAIN.

[APPLAUSE] CAPTAIN WHITESIDE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH BEDFORD FIRE ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2000.

HE'S CURRENTLY SERVING AS A CAPTAIN AT STATION ONE ON THE B SHIFT.

AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS EXTEND BEYOND HIS RANK.

HE'S ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN VARIOUS TEAMS, INCLUDING OUR TRAINING TEAM AND OUR HONOR GUARD.

HE WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF OUR SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAM.

SERVED ON THE HAZMAT AS A HAZMAT TECHNICIAN WITH NEFTA AND JUST BEEN VERY INVOLVED THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER.

CAPTAIN WHITESIDE HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS, INCLUDING ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR, AND OFFICER OF THE YEAR. AND THESE HONORS REALLY REFLECT HIS DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.

CAPTAIN WHITESIDE HOLDS AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN FIRE SCIENCE AND HAS EARNED A WIDE RANGE OF CERTIFICATIONS THROUGH THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION, INCLUDING MASTER FIREFIGHTER, DRIVER OPERATOR, INSTRUCTOR TWO, FIRE OFFICER TWO, HAZMAT TECHNICIAN, HAZMAT INCIDENT COMMANDER, AND INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER.

SO HE'S BEEN BUSY. SO WITH THAT, WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE HIM TONIGHT ON 25 YEARS.

OKAY. ANOTHER 25 YEAR VETERAN OF THE DEPARTMENT IS JEFF MARTIN, OUR ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL.

NOW, THE FIRE MARSHAL TYPES DON'T ALWAYS GET UP HERE, SO I LIKE TO TAKE ONE SECOND AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WITH CHIEF LANKFORD AND ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL MARTIN HERE.

MY LIFE IS EASY, AND I CAN TELL YOU AS A FIRE CHIEF.

GOOD FIRE MARSHALS AND INSPECTORS MAKE MY LIFE EASY.

AND I'VE LIVED A LIFE WHERE THEY DIDN'T MAKE MY LIFE EASY.

AND SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, I DON'T, NOTHING COMES MY WAY.

THESE GUYS HANDLE EVERYTHING AND DO A GREAT JOB ALONG WITH TAMMY OVERSTREET. SO WE HAVE AN AWESOME TEAM.

JEFF'S A BIG PART OF IT. JEFF GRADUATED FROM DEER PARK HIGH SCHOOL IN 91, AND THEN HE JOINED THE MARINE CORPS, WHERE HE SERVED FOR SIX YEARS, ATTAINED THE RANK OF LANCE CORPORAL, AND PLACED AS A TEAM LEADER OF A MACHINE GUN TEAM.

IN 1994, HE COMPLETED BASIC FIRE TRAINING SCHOOL, WENT ON TO WORK AT THE PALESTINE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 1995, AND THEN JOINED THE BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT IN FEBRUARY OF 2000.

JEFF HAS AN ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE IN FIRE PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY.

HE GOT CERTIFIED AS A PARAMEDIC IN 2005. HE DID TEN YEARS IN SUPPRESSION WITH BEDFORD.

THEY MOVED INTO THE FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE AS AN INSPECTOR IN 2010 AND 2014 WAS PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL.

HE HAS CERTIFICATIONS AS A MASTER, STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTER, MASTER ARSON INVESTIGATOR, MASTER,

[00:05:04]

PRETTY COOL NAME FOR A TOWN. WITH HIS SON JACK, DAUGHTER MADISON, AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF ANIMALS.

SO WE APPRECIATE HIS 25 YEARS. [APPLAUSE] GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS CITY.

25 YEARS, THAT'S QUITE A LOT. AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE COMMITMENT WE HAVE FROM OUR EMPLOYEES HERE, DEFINITELY IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. TO ALL OF YOU, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT UP WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND WE HAVE ONE PERSON WHO SIGNED UP [INAUDIBLE] OF 6705 SAPPHIRE CIRCLE,

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

PUBLIC COMMENTS. I'M [INAUDIBLE] A ND MY ADDRESS IS 6705 SAPPHIRE CIRCLE, NORTH COLLEYVILLE, TEXAS. I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE JANUARY 16TH MEETING AT APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

SO THIS YEAR, FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, APPRAISAL DISTRICT INVITED ALL THE TAXING ENTITIES AND TALK ABOUT WHATEVER HAPPENED IN 2024 WITH THEIR THE CYBER SECURITY HACK, ALL THOSE STUFF. AND THEY INVITED CYBER ALL THE UPPER IT MANAGEMENT STAFF FROM ALL THE TAXING ENTITIES. THEY INVITED OVER 700 PEOPLE.

ONLY 20 PEOPLE SHOWED UP. IT WAS A CLOSED DOOR MEETING, AND I TALKED TO SEVERAL CITY COUNCILS, AND I HEARD THAT THEY DID NOT GET THE EMAIL. I TALKED BACK TO APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND THEIR REPLY WAS A LOT OF TIMES YOUR MAIL SETTING MAIL GOES TO SPAM FOLDER AND PEOPLE DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO LOOK INTO IT.

SO AT THAT MEETING THEY HAVE PEOPLE FROM ARLINGTON, MANSFIELD, SAGINAW, TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE, TARRANT COUNTY, TARRANT COUNTY TAX OFFICE, EAGLE MOUNTAIN, SAGINAW ISD, MANSFIELD ISD, DALLAS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT, BUT NO ONE FROM ANY OTHER CITY. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EITHER YOUR ENTITY REPRESENTATIVE OR YOUR ENTITY REPRESENTATIVE WAS THERE, BUT NO ONE FROM THE CITY EMPLOYEES.

SO THEY LOST OVER $1.2 MILLION IN PRODUCTIVITY LOSS BECAUSE OF THE HACK.

THE THEIR WEBSITE WAS HACKED FOR 20 OVER 25 DAYS, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY PAID THEM ONLY OUT OF $250,000 THEY SPENT ON OVERTIME. THEY GOT THE REFUND OF $75,000.

AND THE REASON BEHIND THAT IS THEIR SYSTEM IS TOO OLD THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT COVER IT.

EVEN ONE OF THEIR PRINTER IS 26 YEARS OLD. IMAGINE A 26 YEAR OLD PRINTER WORKING THERE.

EVEN ONE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS YOUNGER THAN THAT PRINTER.

SO NOW THIS YEAR THEY ARE ADDING ONE NETWORK SECURITY SPECIALIST SPORTS.

IT'S ALREADY IN THE BUDGET AND THEY ARE STILL USING VERY I WOULD SAY VERY COMPLICATED MOMENTUM SYSTEM AND IT'S CONCERNING.

SO THIS YEAR TAX ROLL WILL BE CERTIFIED BY, BY THE SAME SOFTWARE THEY ARE USING.

BUT NEXT YEAR BUT THIS YEAR IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, THEY WILL SWITCH TO THE NEW SOFTWARE PRODIGY.

AND THEY WILL RUN PARALLEL FOR THREE MONTHS. AND NEXT YEAR, IN JANUARY 2026, THEY WILL SWITCH 100% TO TRUE PRODIGY.

SO WITH THE NEW SOFTWARE, IT WILL HAVE A TAXING UNIT PORTAL.

YOU CAN UPDATE THE DOCUMENTS ON THAT. THAT FACILITY IS NOT AVAILABLE YET, BUT PROBABLY IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER, YOU ARE ABLE TO DO IT AND BY JANUARY, IT'S YOU CAN DO IT ANYTIME IF YOU WANT TO UPDATE ANY INFORMATION TO APPRAISAL DISTRICT. LAST YEAR YOU HAD 28 VOTES, AND THAT'S THE VERY LAST TIME YOU VOTED FOR ALL FIVE. WE ALL, FIVE ALL TOGETHER. SO THIS YEAR, THE ELECTION WOULD BE ONLY

[00:10:02]

AND IF BEDFORD IS LUCKY, YOU WILL GET 12 VOTES.

SO PLEASE APPOINT SOMEONE WISELY. THAT'S ALL YOU WILL GET LETTER IN OCTOBER TO GET SOMEONE NOMINATE SOMEONE AND VOTE IN NOVEMBER OR IN DECEMBER.

BUT PLEASE VOTE IN YOUR FIRST OR SECOND MEETING SO THE PERSON IS ABLE TO GET MORE VOTES, BECAUSE NOW NO ONE HAS ENOUGH VOTES TO PUT THEIR OWN CANDIDATE ON THE BOARD, EVEN THE CITY OF FORT WORTH.

THIS YEAR THEY HAVE THEY WILL HAVE 260 SOMETHING VOTES, NOT 660 TO PUT ONE PERSON.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU HAVE MY PHONE NUMBER, CONTACT ME OR EMAIL ME. THANK YOU. I'M JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO MOVE AROUND THIS AGENDA JUST A LITTLE BIT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE FOLLOWING ALONG, I'D LIKE TO GO TO PERSONS TO BE HEARD NEXT BEFORE OUR PRESENTATION, JUST IN CASE THIS PERSON WANTS TO LEAVE AFTERWARDS.

[PERSONS TO BE HEARD]

REQUEST TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL REGARDING THE ISSUE OF SHORT TERM RENTALS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN BEDFORD.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SPENCER JACOBSON, 2920 POST OAK COURT MOVED TO BEDFORD IN 2021 AND HAVE LOVED LIVING IN BEDFORD FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. KIDS GO TO SPRING GARDEN. OUR SON GOES TO SPRING GARDEN.

OUR DAUGHTER WILL TOO. AND I'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THIS COUNCIL IN THE PAST, AND I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THE CARE THAT THIS COUNCIL AND THIS GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATES TOWARD THE PEOPLE OF BEDFORD OVER THE YEARS. AND SO TONIGHT AS MAYOR COGAN SAID, I WANTED TO SPEAK REGARDING THE ISSUE OF SHORT TERM RENTALS COMMONLY BOOKED THROUGH PLATFORMS LIKE AIRBNB AND VRBO. AS A RESIDENT, I FEEL THAT I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MY NEIGHBORS TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS AND MY OWN CONCERNS AROUND SAFETY AND SECURITY RISKS INVOLVED WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS PRESENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR HOME IS ON A SMALL EIGHT HOUSE STREET THAT ENDS IN A CUL DE SAC, AND RECENTLY ONE HOME ON THE STREET WAS PURCHASED WITH THE EXPRESS DESIRE TO CONVERT IT INTO A SHORT TERM RENTAL.

YEAR ROUND. AND THE OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY HAS COMMUNICATED THIS TO ME AND TO OTHER HOMEOWNERS ON THE STREET AS WELL.

WHEN A CLIENT BOOKS A SHORT TERM RENTAL THROUGH.

AIRBNB OR VRBO, THEY ARE TYPICALLY LOOKING TO VACATION AND VACATIONERS WANT TO HAVE FUN.

THEY WANT TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, AND TO THE DETRIMENT OF NEXT DOOR FAMILIES.

AT LARGE, GROUPS OF VISITORS COME THROUGH AND GENERATE MORE TRASH AND NOISE THAN A FAMILY OF PERMANENT RESIDENTS.

MOREOVER, THE VISITORS DO NOT KNOW THE NEIGHBORS AND THEREFORE HAVE LITTLE CONCERN FOR HOW THEIR ACTIVITY WILL DISTURB THE PEACE AND STILL SIMPLY BE GONE IN JUST A FEW DAYS.

ADDITIONALLY, LARGE GROUPS OF UNSUPERVISED STRANGERS WITH UNKNOWN BACKGROUNDS PROVIDE SECURITY RISKS FOR NEARBY FAMILIES, AND I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE ONE THAT I FEEL THE MOST ANGST AROUND.

AS A FATHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND ONE ON THE WAY.

IT LEAVES PARENTS UNABLE TO LET THEIR KIDS SAFELY USE FRONT AND BACK YARDS.

AND AT THIS TIME, AIRBNB I CAN'T SPEAK TO OTHER PLATFORMS, BUT AIRBNB DOES NOT REQUIRE CLIENTS ALL CLIENTS, TO SUBMIT TO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THEIR PLATFORM CONSISTENTLY, AND DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT ALL GUESTS SUBMIT PHOTO IDS WHEN THEY SIGN UP TO TO STAY AT AN AIRBNB. THERE ARE THERE IS A LOT OF DATA OUT THERE AROUND VIOLENCE AND OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITY THAT HAPPENS IN THESE IN THESE AIRBNBS, AND I AM NOT INTERESTED IN FEAR MONGERING, SO I'LL KEEP THAT.

BUT THE INFORMATION THAT I SHARED WITH YOU IN THE HANDOUTS ON TEXASNEIGHBORHOODCOALITION.COM.

YOU CAN LEARN A LOT ABOUT MORE A LOT MORE ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS THERE.

PARKING IS AN ISSUE AS WELL. IF THE HOME IS RENTED OUT FOR A PARTY, THEN THE STREET BECOMES CROWDED WITH MANY MORE CARS THAN WOULD BE PERMITTED FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, ESPECIALLY ON A SMALL STREET LIKE OURS.

THESE CARS MAY OCCUPY THE STREET FOR AN ENTIRE WEEKEND, MAKING IT INCONVENIENT FOR RESIDENTS AND THEIR GUESTS.

I KNOW THAT THE CITY UNDERSTANDS THIS ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNS THEY PUT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE EVERY 4TH OF JULY.

AND FOR EVENTS AT GENERATIONS PARK OR THE BOYS RANCH IF YOU'RE OLD SCHOOL.

I HAVE PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION ABOUT COURT RULINGS CONCERNING SHORT TERM RENTALS, AS WELL AS LEGAL GUIDELINES THAT CITIES MAY USE WHEN CONSIDERING REGULATING THE USE OF SHORT TERM RENTALS OR BANNING THEM ALTOGETHER.

I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE LANGUAGE IN THE GUIDELINES FOR CITIES DOCUMENT THAT I PASSED OUT IS A BIT STRONG FOR MY LIKING, AND I DO NOT PRESUME TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO THE JOB OF AN ATTORNEY, OR A CITY MANAGER OR A CITY COUNCIL PERSON.

I WOULD ASK THAT YOU SIMPLY LOOK AT THE FACTS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE DOCUMENT BECAUSE OF STATE LAWS.

[00:15:03]

AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS CREATIVE, AS EVIDENCED BY THE PURCHASING OF THE OLD YMCA PROPERTY AND CONVERTING IT INTO THE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THIS ISSUE, AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT AFTER HEARING MY CONCERNS AND SEEING THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WORK TOWARD A CREATIVE SOLUTION, AN INNOVATIVE OR NOVEL SOLUTION AS WELL.

I'LL WRAP THIS UP. I'M A PASTOR IN THE CITY. I'VE GIVEN THE INVOCATION HERE IN THE PAST, AND I THINK IT IS, I WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD AND SAY THAT THERE'S NO ONE HERE FROM MY CHURCH TONIGHT.

I'M NOT MOBILIZING MY CHURCH AROUND THIS. I'M A NEIGHBOR IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. I'M SIMPLY CONCERNED FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOR MY NEIGHBORS.

NONE OF OUR PEOPLE FROM BEACON CHURCH ARE HERE THIS EVENING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AT OUR CHURCH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAY IS THAT WE EXIST FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF OUR CITY. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WHAT IS GOOD FOR OUR CHURCH IS GOOD FOR THE CITY.

WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE CITY IS GOOD FOR OUR CHURCH. AND SO I HAVE I SAY THIS BECAUSE I HAVE DIFFICULTY SEEING HOW SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOOD OF OUR CITY IN THE LONG RUN. BEYOND. BEYOND THE GENERATION OF TAX DOLLARS, ONE COULD ARGUE THAT IT WILL ACTUALLY COST THE CITY MORE IN THE LONG RUN BECAUSE OF THE COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORS. THAT WILL MAKE CITY OFFICIALS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE TO RESPOND EACH TIME THAT CODE IS VIOLATED OR THE LAW IS BROKEN.

AND I'LL WRAP THIS UP. THIS IS THE LAST THING THAT I'VE GOT. AND HERE'S HOW I KNOW THAT THE OWNERS OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES ARE NOT INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY OF BEDFORD.

I'M HERE TONIGHT AND THEY ARE NOT. THEY ARE KIND PEOPLE, AND I DO NOT WANT TO IMPUGN THEIR CHARACTER IN ANY WAY, BUT THEY ARE NOT HERE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES ON THIS, ON THIS ISSUE.

BUT I AM AND I WILL BE, AND MY NEIGHBORS WILL BE, BECAUSE WE LIVE HERE, WE PLAY HERE, WE WORK HERE, OUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL HERE. AND BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS DO AS WELL. I KNOW YOU DO.

AND I'M EAGER TO SEE HOW YOU'LL ADVOCATE FOR ME AND FOR MY NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SPENCER. I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE, AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

I REMEMBER, MATTER OF FACT, MY LAST MORNING'S WITH THE MAYOR. I HAD PEOPLE COME UP TO ME SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

WHEN I FIRST CAME ON TO COUNCIL I REMEMBER MEETING IN THAT BACK ROOM GOING, WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS? BECAUSE ALL OF US HAD THE SAME IDEA. WE DON'T WANT THEM.

WE DON'T WANT THEM. BUT THEN AT THAT TIME, WE SAW WHAT GRAPEVINE WAS GOING THROUGH.

THEY WENT THROUGH THEIR DECISION BECAUSE THEY WERE BANNING THEM THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY. SO, WE WAITED TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYED OUT.

WELL, THE COURTS, AS I'M SURE AS YOU KNOW, DID NOT RULE IN THEIR FAVOR.

AND SO THAT BEING SAID, PLEASE, IF I I'LL LET OUR CITY ATTORNEY KIND OF JUMP IN WHEN I MISSPEAK.

BUT IN ESSENCE BECAUSE IT IS ZONED RESIDENTIAL AND IT'S BEING USED FOR ZONED USE, WHICH IS RESIDENTIAL, THAT'S THE WAY THEY PERMITTED IT. YOU BROUGHT UP PARKING.

THE JUDGES PRETTY MUCH SAY, HEY, DON'T YOU HAVE ORDINANCES ON PARKING? DON'T YOU HAVE ORDINANCES ON ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP IN THE CITY? YOU NEED TO ENFORCE THAT. YOU CANNOT ARBITRARILY BAN THEM FROM THE ENTIRE CITY.

SO WHAT THE CITY DID WAS WE DID GET CREATIVE.

WE DECIDED TO SAY, WELL, IF WE CAN'T BAN THEM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND REGULATE THEM.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO. SO THAT IF THERE IS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL OR A PROPERTY OWNER THAT WANTS TO HAVE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE NECESSARY PROCESSES. THEY HAVE TO GET INSPECTED.

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR STAFF TO KIND OF GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF BRIEFLY WHAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN A SECOND JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY AND EVERYBODY HERE IS A GOOD EDUCATION FOR EVERYBODY. WHAT ACTUALLY IS INVOLVED AND WHAT CITIZENS SHOULD DO.

PERSONALLY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE THERE. SO IF YOU KNOW THAT A SHORT TERM RENTAL IS COMING LET US KNOW SO THAT WE CAN INSPECT THEM AND SO GET THEM PERMITTED OR THEY'LL BE OPERATING ILLEGALLY. BUT THAT'S JUST ONE INSTANCE.

SO FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO KICK IT OVER TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO SEE IF I WAS RIGHT IN MY ANALYSIS, WITH MY LEGAL ANALYSIS, YOU ABSOLUTELY LISTEN TO WHAT I SAID.

OH, I DID. OKAY, GOOD, GOOD. IT MAKES MY JOB EASIER.

YEAH. GOOD, GOOD. YES, ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, THE TEXAS COURTS HAVE BEEN RATHER UNFRIENDLY, WITH SOME VERY LIMITED EXCEPTIONS TO TEXAS CITIES WANTING TO BAN THESE TYPES OF USES. EVEN THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT, WITH RESPECT TO AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUMMARY OF THE CASES, ACTUALLY FOUND MANY OF THEM. THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT CASE WHERE THE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION ATTEMPTED TO ARGUE THAT BECAUSE IT'S REVENUE GENERATING, IT'S A REVENUE GENERATING EXERCISE, THAT IT'S A COMMERCIAL USE AND THEREFORE VIOLATED THE DEED RESTRICTIONS.

AND THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT SAID THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT A COMMERCIAL USE.

IT'S INHERENTLY RESIDENTIAL. AND YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR COMMUNITY BYLAWS IF YOU WANT TO PROHIBIT THEM.

THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE WAS POURED OUT WHERE THE COURT IS, FORT WORTH COURT OF APPEALS SAID THE RIGHT TO LEASE YOUR PROPERTY IS AN INHERENT RIGHT OF HOME OWNERSHIP. THE AUSTIN COURT OF APPEALS HELD THAT THEY SAW NO LEGITIMATE ZONING BASED NEED

[00:20:09]

I'M ACTUALLY WE HAVE A STATEWIDE PRACTICE, AND WE HAVE A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT THAT SPEAKS ON REGULATING SHORT TERM RENTALS.

AND I COULD DO AN ENTIRE HOUR LONG LEGAL PRESENTATION, BUT EVERYONE WOULD FALL ASLEEP.

SO THIS IS FEBRUARY 7TH. THIS IS THE DALLAS COURT OF APPEALS.

AND YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS. I DIDN'T SEE IT IN YOUR LIST, BUT I JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTION IT. YEAH. ENJOINING THE ENFORCEMENT OF BOTH OF DALLAS'S ORDINANCES REGULATING SHORT TERM RENTALS, INCLUDING A PROHIBITION, BASICALLY SAYING CITY OF DALLAS.

YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO ENFORCE THOSE AT ALL. WHILE WE GO THROUGH THE LAWSUIT TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN UPHOLD ANY OF THIS.

SO WE'RE STRUGGLING. WE'RE TRYING FEDERAL COURT TO SEE IF THAT GIVES US SOME BETTER OPTIONS WHERE YOU HAVE APPOINTED JUDGES INSTEAD OF ELECTED JUDGES. BUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THESE OPINIONS THAT COME OUT ARE ANTAGONISTIC AT A MINIMUM TOWARDS CITIES.

AND SO WE EITHER LEAD THE FIGHT AND WE THROW A LOT OF MONEY AT IT, OR WE LET THIS ISSUE BECOME RESOLVED IN THE COURTS. BUT UNTIL THEN, I FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT WE COULD REGULATE THE HECK OUT OF THEM.

RIGHT. AND CHARGE THEM THE HOT TAX. DO THE INSPECTIONS SUSPEND THEIR OPERATING PERMIT THAT THE CITY ISSUES IF THEY HAVE SO MANY VIOLATIONS? AND SO I'VE ENCOURAGED COUNCIL TO TELL AND STAFF TO TELL THE RESIDENTS THAT IF YOU SEE A VIOLATION, THEY DON'T PUT THE TRASH CANS OUT AT THE RIGHT TIME.

THEY PARK ON THE GRASS OR THEY BLOCK THE SIDEWALK.

WE NEED TO GO AFTER THEM FROM A CODE ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE REVOKE THEIR PERMIT.

AND THEN IF WE'RE LITIGATING IT, WE'RE NOT STANDING IN FRONT OF A COURT SAYING IT'S A TOTAL BAN AND YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO RENT OUT YOUR PROPERTY FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS, ONLY OVER 30 DAYS, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S A LONG TERM LEASE. NO ONE WOULD SAY YOU CAN'T RENT YOUR PROPERTY FOR A LONG TERM LEASE.

INSTEAD, WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ADJUDICATED IN MUNICIPAL COURT, AND WE'RE ON MUCH BETTER FOOTING. SO ESSENTIALLY, THAT'S A VERY QUICK THANK YOU.

THAT WAS GOOD. THAT WAS GOOD. I'M GLAD YOU GLAD THIS WASN'T AN HOUR AND A HALF, BUT CITY MANAGER ANDREW, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD TO THAT? YEAH.

YOU WOULD BE PAYING BY THE HOUR. THERE IS NO TML RISK POOL COVERAGE FOR THIS SORT OF THING.

SO BASICALLY IT WOULD COST THE CITY TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS TO ADJUDICATE THIS.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE COURTS HAVE ALREADY SHOWN THEIR TRUE COLORS AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO RULE I, THE CITY'S STANCE WAS BASICALLY WE SHOULDN'T GO INTO A FIGHT THAT WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUTRIGHT AND THEN LOSE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO BOOT.

THE ONLY, THE ONLY MILDLY POSITIVE RULING THAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE FORT WORTH COURT OF APPEALS CAME FROM THE CITY OF ARLINGTON THAT COMMISSIONED MASSIVE STUDIES AND HAD A LITANY OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY OF ACTUAL CODE ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS, AND THAT COURT ALLOWED THE CITY OF ARLINGTON TO DRAW A LINE AROUND THEIR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AND SAY, YOU ALLOW THEM THERE, BUT OUTSIDE THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE THEM.

THAT THAT MIGHT BE TRICKY WITH BEDFORD, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A SORT OF WE'RE MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL, SO WHERE DO YOU PUT IT? AND IT'S GOING TO BE NEXT TO SOMEBODY? THAT'S RIGHT. AND WHAT'S THE RUSH? AND THEN THEN YOU'RE PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS TOO. I MEAN, IF YOU DO A PARTIAL BAN AND YOU SAY THIS NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T DESERVE PROTECTION, BUT THIS ONE DOES. I MEAN, IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT.

CORRECT. EXACTLY. VERY GOOD. CITY MANAGER ANDREA ROY, ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD ON THIS TOPIC? JUST TO REITERATE. AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE WHAT THIS DOES IS THAT IT PUTS THE BURDEN BACK ON US STAFF CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THIS.

SO WE ARE EXTREMELY AWARE OF THAT. AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IS ATTEMPT TO REGULATE IT AS BEST WE CAN RIGHT NOW SO THAT THEY AREN'T NUISANCES WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, YOU KNOW, JUST I WOULD JUST SAY, PLEASE BE AWARE.

ANYONE THAT DOES HAVE A SHORT TERM RENTAL IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITH US ANNUALLY.

THERE IS A FEE. THERE IS AN INSPECTION CONDUCTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOME IS EQUIPPED PROPERLY, AND THAT IT DOES HAVE THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT ALSO IT ALLOWS US TO COLLECT THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX THAT THEY ARE GENERATING.

SO NOT THAT THAT IS OUR MOTIVE BEHIND ANY OF THAT.

IT'S JUST IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, WE MIGHT AS WELL GET A LITTLE BIT OF THAT BENEFIT OF IT AS WELL.

SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE WE'RE BENEFITING FROM THAT.

BUT IT IS A NOMINAL AMOUNT. AND I WILL TELL YOU THERE IS AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF, OF EFFORTS THAT ARE GOING INTO MONITORING AND ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM.

[00:25:05]

BUT I WOULD SAY, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL US.

ASK US IF YOU SEE A HOME THAT YOU THINK IS OPERATING.

FEEL FREE TO CHECK IN. WE WILL SEE IF THEY'RE REGISTERED OR NOT, AND WE CAN THEN DOCUMENT AND THEN WORK TOWARD THEM IF WE NEED TO NOT REISSUE THEIR PERMIT FOR THAT YEAR BASED ON, YOU KNOW, COMPLAINTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE ABSOLUTELY ARE IN BETTER FOOTING, AS BRANDON STATED, IF WE HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION.

SO I'M NOT SAYING EVERYBODY RUN OUT AND CALL CODE ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, EVERY MORNING, BUT PLEASE KEEP US POSTED IF YOU SEE THINGS, THAT IS THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN GO ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW.

OUR HANDS ARE SOMEWHAT TIED. VERY GOOD. YEAH.

SO YEAH, I THINK THE RESIDENTS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST AN EDUCATION PIECE QUITE HONESTLY, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S A NUISANCE AND AROUND THE CITY AND I HEAR IT A LOT WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS. BUT I THINK YOU DON'T FIND ANY ONE OF US UP HERE THAT THAT WANTS TO SEE THEM IN THE CITY.

WE ALL, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET CREATIVE TO FOLLOW THE COURT CASES AND AS THE DECISIONS COME OUT, WE WILL ADJUST WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO LIMIT THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SPENCER. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

MOVING BACK UP IN THE AGENDA WITH PRESENTATIONS, WHICH I'M ASSUMING EVERYONE IS HERE, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MIDWAY

[PRESENTATIONS]

AND I ALSO WANT TO WELCOME EVERYBODY HERE FROM BEDFORD PARK, WHICH IS THE MAJORITY OF OUR AUDIENCE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

AND SINCE IT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL GIVE IT.

GET OFF TO ANNA DEANS. MAYOR, I'LL JUMP IN REAL QUICK WHILE ANNA IS GETTING SET UP. SHE'S GETTING SET UP. YEAH, YEAH. SO JUST TO KIND OF REINTRODUCE HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT.

IT WAS LAST APRIL, I BELIEVE, THAT WE HAD MIDWAY COME AND TALK TO US, AND WE ENTERED INTO AN MOU WITH THEM.

SO ESSENTIALLY WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO PUT TOGETHER SOME PLANS, SOME CONCEPTS AND MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR DISCUSSION ON WORKING WITH THEM TO DEVELOP THE BEDFORD COMMONS PROJECT.

SO THIS IS A RESULT OF THAT. WE ARE STILL UNDER THAT MOU.

IT IS A YEAR LONG. IT WAS NOT SIGNED FOR A FEW MONTHS AFTER IT CAME TO COUNCIL.

SO I THINK WE'RE WE ARE STILL UNDER THOSE TERMS. BUT AGAIN, WE FELT IT WAS TIME BASED ON YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE SEEN MIDWAY AND KIND OF WANTED TO HEAR WHERE THEY WERE AND THEIR PROGRESS. SO WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH THEM.

BUT ANNA IS GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER THAT MOU AND WILL BE THROUGH.

I BELIEVE IT'S JULY AT THIS POINT, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AUDIENCE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT. MY NAME IS ANNA DEINES.

I'M WITH MIDWAY. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT BEDFORD COMMONS.

SO LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, WE TALKED MORE ABOUT MIDWAY, OUR EXPERTISE IN DEVELOPING MIXED USE DESTINATIONS.

OUR PASSION FOR PLACEMAKING AND ULTIMATELY OUR MISSION, WHICH IS TO CREATE REMARKABLE PLACES THAT ENRICH LIVES, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A CITY CENTER FOR A WONDERFUL CITY.

AND SO IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERE AND BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

TONIGHT, WE HAVE ABOUT 20 SLIDES AND WE'LL FOCUS MORE ON THE SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY AT HAND.

SO THE SITE OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS WHERE WE ARE IN THAT PROCESS.

INITIAL CONCEPTS FOR THE SITE. VERY PRELIMINARY AND HIGH LEVEL.

WE LOVE FEEDBACK AND THEN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND NEXT STEPS.

SO WE HAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS I THINK AT THE END.

BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN.

SO ON THIS SLIDE ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE, IT MAY BE HARD TO SEE, BUT IT OUTLINES OUR PROCESS, WHICH WE CALL THE VALUE CREATION PROCESS. AND THAT STARTS WITH IDENTIFYING THE OPPORTUNITY AND THEN EVALUATING WHETHER IT IS STRATEGIC AND FEASIBLE.

SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY. THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO ENGAGE A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS TO REALLY REFINE THE PLAN, GET COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND THEN GET SOME PRICING ON INITIAL CONCEPTS.

BUT I MENTIONED THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO REITERATE HOW HIGH LEVEL AND CONCEPTUAL THIS IS TODAY.

THIS IS JUST A STARTING POINT TO GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED AND HOPEFULLY TACKLE THE BIG CHALLENGES FIRST PROJECT.

SO WE ALWAYS LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT WE UNDERSTAND TO BE THE PROJECT GOALS.

SO THE VISION IS TO CREATE A UNIQUE MIXED USE DESTINATION WITHIN BEDFORD THAT REFLECTS THE CHARACTER AND CITY OF THE CITY AND ITS COMMUNITY.

SO WE WANT THIS TO BECOME A DESTINATION NOT JUST FOR RESIDENTS, BUT FOR VISITORS TO BEDFORD.

WE WANT TO CREATE A SPACE THAT IS SMALLER IN SCALE.

[00:30:04]

THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING SURROUNDED BY RETAIL WHERE WE COULD HAVE FARMER'S MARKETS, CRAFT FAIRS, THINGS LIKE THAT. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO NURTURE AND DEVELOP SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOCAL, AND THIS HOPEFULLY WILL ALSO SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE SITE.

SO YOU'LL SEE WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING TONIGHT IS PRETTY SMALL SCALE.

IT'S LOW DENSITY BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON ESTABLISHING THE PLACE AND THE CHARACTER AND HAVE THAT BE A HUGE SUCCESS AND THEN HOPEFULLY FOLLOW WITH ADDITIONAL DENSITY AND DEVELOPMENT AROUND THAT. SO JUST A QUICK RECAP.

THIS IS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITE LOCATION.

THE ORANGE PARCELS ARE OWNED BY THE CITY. THE DARK BLUE HAS BEEN CONSIDERED PART OF THE PROJECT IN THE PAST, BUT IS NOT CURRENTLY OWNED BY THE CITY. WE'RE ALSO HIGHLIGHTING BOYS RANCH, WHICH IS THE OTHER GREAT VENUE YOU HAVE FOR EVENTS RIGHT NOW.

AND WE'RE ALSO IDENTIFYING OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SITE AND OTHER DESTINATIONS NORTH OF THE SITE, LIKE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL. SO YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A NORTH SOUTH CONNECTION THAT WE'RE EMPHASIZING IN THIS FIRST PHASE FOR THAT REASON.

SO WHEN WE'RE IN THE EVALUATE PHASE, WE START OUT BY TRYING TO EVALUATE AND IDENTIFY MAJOR RISKS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES. SO THIS IS THE HARD PART.

WE WILL WALK THROUGH WHAT WE SEE AS THE MAJOR CHALLENGES TO MAKE A SPECIAL PLACE LIKE THIS A REALITY.

I THINK A LOT OF YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE THAT THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT IS PRETTY CHALLENGING, AND THAT'S ACROSS THE NATION. THAT IS NOT UNIQUE TO BEDFORD. SO WITH ESCALATION, CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE GONE EXTREMELY HIGH, INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE HIGH AND RENTS HAVE STAYED RELATIVELY FLAT FOR THE MOST PART.

SO RIGHT NOW, IN MOST MAJOR CITIES, THERE'S A GAP BETWEEN NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ACHIEVING THOSE RENTS.

AND SO IN BEDFORD THAT BECOMES A LITTLE BIT HARDER, BECAUSE THE RENTS HERE ARE A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND IN A MAJOR CITY.

SO WE THINK THAT'S BETWEEN 15 AND $20. A SQUARE FOOT IS AN ACHIEVABLE RENTAL RATE HERE.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT TO THE FACTORS TO THAT AS TO WHY OUR RENTAL RATES MAY BE A LITTLE BIT LOWER? SURE. IT'S BASICALLY JUST SUPPLY AND DEMAND. SO IF, IF YOU HAVE A SMALLER AND THIS THE REASON THAT WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THE POPULATION HERE IS YOU HAVE MAYBE A SMALLER TRADE AREA THAN A LARGER CITY MIGHT HAVE.

AND SO THE DEMAND IS A LITTLE BIT LESS. AND SO BASICALLY THE RENT IS BASED ON WHAT THOSE BUSINESSES CAN AFFORD.

SO IF THEY'RE VERY HIGH VOLUME OF BUSINESS THEY CAN CHARGE MORE AND THEY CAN PAY MORE IN RENT.

SO IF WE CAN CREATE A PLACE THAT ENLARGES THE TRADE AREA AND STARTS TO ATTRACT PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE.

BEDFORD AND INCREASE THE VOLUME OF SALES FOR THOSE BUSINESSES.

THEN THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY MORE IN RENT. AND SOMETIMES WE ACTUALLY STRUCTURE RENTS IN THAT WAY WHERE WE HAVE A BASE RENT, AND THEN WE HAVE A SHARED REVENUE RENT ON TOP OF THAT, SO THAT WHEN THEY DO RAMP UP AND ACHIEVE THOSE HIGHER RENTS, WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE IN THAT SUCCESS. BUT ULTIMATELY WE WANT THEM TO START OUT SUCCESSFUL DAY ONE.

AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE WE START OUT A PROJECT WITH AN ASSUMPTION, AND THEN WE VERY QUICKLY TRY TO TEST THAT WITHIN THE MARKET.

SO IF WE FIND THAT DEMAND IS A LOT HIGHER THAN WE THINK, THEN WE WILL ADJUST THOSE RATES ACCORDINGLY.

SO THIS IS JUST BASED ON PRELIMINARY INFORMATION THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GATHER SO FAR.

YEAH. THANK YOU. SURE. SO OPPORTUNITIES THIS SITE IS INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL.

AND SO IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO CREATE AN AUTHENTIC, YOU KNOW, MIXED USE DESTINATION.

HERE IN BEDFORD, WE USE THE WORD AUTHENTIC A LOT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY CRITICAL TO US IN CREATING A SPECIAL PLACE THAT IT HAS AUTHENTICITY, BUT THAT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DO WITH A BLANK SLATE.

YOU KNOW, IT HELPS TO START WITH A STORY OR A NARRATIVE, AN EXISTING BUILDING, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHICH NONE OF THOSE THINGS REALLY EXIST HERE.

BUT YOU DO HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL TREES AND A CREEK THAT RUNS THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE PROPERTY.

AND SO WE'VE REALLY FOCUSED THIS FIRST PHASE ON EMBRACING THOSE NATURAL AMENITIES AND CREATING A PLACE THAT FEELS ROOTED IN HISTORY BECAUSE OF THE MATURE TREES AROUND THE BUILDINGS. WE FEEL THAT WE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT SMARTER ABOUT HOW WE INVEST THESE INITIAL DOLLARS.

AND SO I THINK PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF THE PLAN MAY HAVE SHOWN LARGE SCALE WATER FEATURES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WE FEEL LIKE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT.

AND SO WE THINK MAYBE SCALING THAT BACK AND REALLY AMPLIFYING THE CREEK IN A MORE NATURAL STATE MIGHT BE A BETTER USE OF THOSE FUNDS.

AND ALSO USING THAT CREEK AS A FORM OF DETENTION, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S TYPICALLY REQUIRED IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS SO THAT YOU CONTROL RUNOFF FROM A SITE. AGAIN, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO NURTURE SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND IT'S ALSO A GREAT WAY TO CREATE

[00:35:04]

LASTLY, AND THIS IS THIS IS THE BIG ONE TO FILL THAT GAP BETWEEN RENTS THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS TO CREATE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

IT WILL REQUIRE QUITE A BIT OF PARTICIPATION FROM THE CITY.

SO WE HAVE SOME VERY HIGH LEVEL MATH SHOWING WHAT THE POTENTIAL SCALE OF THAT MIGHT BE.

AND THEN WE'RE ALSO OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL WHERE MIDWAY MIGHT DEVELOP FOR A FEE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY SO THAT THE CITY COULD RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE PROJECT LONG TERM. SO NOW WE'LL GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THE CONCEPTS FOR THE SITE.

SO FIRST PHASE WE'RE SHOWING IN THE ORANGE PARCEL, AND THEN FUTURE PHASES WOULD HOPEFULLY FOLLOW IN THE DARK BLUE PARCELS.

SO THIS IS SHOWING THAT ORANGE PARCEL ENLARGED.

AND IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO SEE.

BUT ON THE NORTH IS BEDFORD ROAD AND ON THE SOUTH IS DODSON DRIVE.

AND SO THE DARK BLUE AREA IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO BE THE FIRST PHASE OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE RESTAURANTS, RETAIL PUBLIC PLAZAS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE ORANGE PARCEL WE'RE SHOWING SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.

THE REASON THAT WE'VE POSITIONED THESE TWO THIS WAY IS TO CREATE A BUFFER BETWEEN THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE EAST AND THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WILL BE A LOT MORE ACTIVE. THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL IS REALLY JUST A PLACEHOLDER.

THIS COULD BE SINGLE FAMILY STANDALONE HOMES.

THIS COULD BE TOWNHOMES. IT REALLY WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT WANTS TO BE ULTIMATELY, AND ALSO WHAT THE DENSITY WANTS TO BE.

WE'RE STILL SHOWING THAT KIND OF THAT CENTRAL GROVE OF TREES REMAINS, BUT IF THE CITY WANTED TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE AND INCREASE THE DENSITY OF LAND SALES, THEN WE COULD LOOK AT SOME DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS THERE.

WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING THAT MIDWAY WOULD JUST HELP FACILITATE THE SALE OF THOSE LOTS.

MIDWAY WOULDN'T HAVE ANY OWNERSHIP STAKE IN THOSE LOTS, BUT THIS WOULD BE A WAY TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE INCENTIVES THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DEVELOP THE FIRST COMMERCIAL PHASE. AND THEN THE NORTHEAST CORNER WE'RE SHOWING AS PHASE TWO DEVELOPMENT.

SO AGAIN, THAT COULD BE ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL.

THAT COULD BE THE NEXT PHASE OF COMMERCIAL, REALLY TO BE DETERMINED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY.

SO HERE WE'LL JUST HIGH LEVEL TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE ORGANIZING THIS SITE AND THE REASONS FOR THAT.

SO YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A SQUIGGLY LINE KIND OF GOING FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH.

SO IN ALL OF OUR PROJECTS IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A STRONG PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT.

WE TRY TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT THEY CAN NAVIGATE THE REST OF THE SITE ON FOOT.

AND SO IN ADDITION TO HAVING A LARGE, WALKABLE SIDEWALK ALONG THE PERIMETER OF THE SITE, WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING THAT THERE'S A MORE KIND OF MEANDERING PATHWAY ACROSS THE CREEK AND THROUGH THE TREES, AND THEN DOWN THROUGH A CENTRAL COURTYARD BETWEEN THOSE, THOSE FIRST BUILDINGS. SO THIS WILL PROVIDE THAT CONNECTION FROM OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL DOWN THROUGH THE SITE, AND THEN HOPEFULLY TO FUTURE PHASES TO THE SOUTH.

AND WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING THAT THE CREEK THERE, WE COULD ENHANCE THAT AND ALSO SERVE AS DETENTION FOR THE PROJECT.

NOW YOU'LL SEE THERE'S SOME GREEN CIRCLES THAT HAVE POPPED UP.

THESE ARE BASED ON THE EXISTING LOCATIONS OF SOME OF THE LARGER TREES ON THE SITE.

AND SO THE IDEA IS THAT WE WOULD PRESERVE THOSE AND CREATE A FRAMEWORK FOR THE REST OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEN WHERE YOU SEE THE LARGE BLUE CIRCLE.

THIS IS WHERE WE'RE SHOWING A LARGER PLAZA THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF RETAIL AND RESTAURANT BUILDINGS WITH THOSE LARGE TREES, KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PLAZA. AND THEN AS YOU MOVE SOUTH, THERE'S A MORE LINEAR PLAZA BETWEEN THOSE RETAIL AND RESTAURANT BUILDINGS THAT WOULD EXTEND FURTHER SOUTH. SO IN TOTAL, WE'RE SHOWING ABOUT 38,000FT² OF RETAIL.

THIS IS PRETTY LOW DENSITY FOR THIS AMOUNT OF AREA.

BUT TO CREATE THE TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT AND CATALYST FOR ADDITIONAL GROWTH THIS IS A STARTING POINT.

SO NOW WE'RE JUST GOING TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT PARTS IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.

SO AT THE NORTH END AND ON THE RIGHT YOU SEE A KEY THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED.

THAT'S SHOWING KIND OF WHERE IN THE SITE WE'RE LOOKING.

SO ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER YOU HAVE THIS EXISTING FIREHOUSE THAT WE UNDERSTAND COULD BE REDEVELOPED INTO ANOTHER PURPOSE.

SO WE THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT ICE HOUSE, MAYBE A RESTAURANT, BUT IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE FIREHOUSE AND INCORPORATE THAT STORY INTO WHATEVER TENANT OCCUPIES THAT BUILDING, AND SO ON THE LEFT.

THIS IS JUST A CONCEPTUAL RENDERING SHOWING WHAT THAT MIGHT FEEL LIKE.

AND THEN AS YOU TRAVEL SOUTH, WE WOULD TRY TO DO SOMETHING THAT FEELS A BIT MORE ORGANIC WITH THE EXISTING DRAINAGE FEATURE.

[00:40:05]

AND THEN WE WOULD HOPEFULLY HAVE WAYS TO REALLY INVITE PEOPLE TO ENGAGE WITH THAT, WHETHER IT'S PAVILIONS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT ULTIMATELY, THIS COULD ALSO SERVE AS DETENTION FOR THE PROJECT.

AND THEN AS YOU MOVE TO THE SOUTH END OF THE SITE, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S FOR RETAIL AND RESTAURANT BUILDINGS KIND OF FOCUSED AROUND THIS LARGE GROVE OF TREES. AND THE CONCEPT RENDERING ON THE LEFT IS SHOWING WHAT THAT SPACE, THAT LINEAR SPACE MIGHT FEEL LIKE BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS WHERE YOU COULD HAVE FARMERS MARKETS. IT'S KIND OF MORE OF A PROMENADE. AND SO AGAIN, THE TENANTS HERE WOULD REALLY HOPEFULLY BE LOCAL, TELL THEIR OWN STORIES, REFLECT THE HISTORY OF THE CITY.

WE'VE ALSO, IN OTHER PROJECTS, HAD A LOT OF GREAT SUCCESS WITH BUILDING OUT SMALLER SPACES THAT ARE MOVE IN READY WHERE WE CAN HAVE POP UP TENANTS.

SO SIX MONTHS AT A TIME, MAYBE A YEAR AT A TIME.

IT'S A SHORT FORM LEASE. IT'S A LOT MORE APPROACHABLE FOR A FIRST TIME BRICK AND MORTAR TENANT TO TRY OUT A NEW CONCEPT.

SO THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER GREAT OPTION HERE AND TO PROMOTE ACTIVITY IN THE SITE.

SO HERE'S WHERE WE GET INTO NUMBERS. AND AGAIN THIS IS EXTREMELY HIGH LEVEL.

AND HOPEFULLY ON THE HIGH END. AND WE'VE WE'VE KEPT IT CONCEPTUAL.

THIS IS REALLY JUST TO DEMONSTRATE KIND OF THE POTENTIAL SCALE OF WHAT MIGHT BE NEEDED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

SO TOTAL PROJECT COSTS IS NOT JUST HARD COSTS.

THAT INCLUDES ALL YOUR SOFT COSTS FOR YOUR ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, EVERYTHING.

WE'RE SHOWING 500 PER SQUARE FOOT. AND AGAIN, THIS IS PROBABLY ON THE HIGH SIDE.

BUT UNTIL WE DEFINE WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THAT BUDGET, THIS IS A STARTING POINT.

WE'RE ALSO SHOWING A LINE FOR TENANT IMPROVEMENTS.

THESE ARE DOLLARS THAT ARE USED TO BUILD OUT THE TENANT SPACE THEMSELVES.

SO THIS IS A LOT HIGHER THAN WHAT WE NORMALLY WOULD OFFER TO A TENANT TO BUILD OUT THEIR SPACE.

BUT BECAUSE THESE ARE PROBABLY LOCAL TENANTS THAT MAY NOT WANT TO TAKE OUT A LARGE LOAN AND HAVE A BIG FINANCIAL BURDEN WHEN THEY OPEN, WE'RE SHOWING A HIGHER TENANT IMPROVEMENT ALLOWANCE THERE, AND ULTIMATELY WE MAY EVEN WANT TO BUILD OUT THOSE SPACES FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT SPECIALIZE IN CONSTRUCTION. SO HAVING THOSE TENANTS ON BOARD VERY EARLY ON WOULD BE, I THINK, CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT. SO IN TOTAL, THAT'S SAY, $700 PER SQUARE FOOT AT 38,000FT², THAT'S ABOUT 26 MILLION. THE WAY THAT WE UNDERWRITE PROJECTS, WE LOOK AT AN ANNUAL RETURN ON TOTAL COST.

SO FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, A 10% RETURN WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.

AND SO IF YOU DO THE MATH THAT PUTS YOUR RENTS VERY HIGH, THAT'S ABOUT $70 A SQUARE FOOT, WHICH IS NOT ACHIEVABLE. EVEN IN SOME MAJOR CITIES, IT'S IT'S GETTING CLOSE, BUT IT'S STILL CHALLENGING TODAY.

WITH RENTS BEING CLOSER TO $20, WE NEED TO LOWER THAT COST BASIS TO ABOUT $200 PER SQUARE FOOT.

SO THAT PUTS A POTENTIAL SUBSIDY OF 18 TO $20 MILLION TO GET THIS FIRST PHASE OFF THE GROUND.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS CONCEPTUAL AND HOPEFULLY HIGH LEVEL AND HOPEFULLY HIGH.

BUT SOMETHING THAT WE LIKE TO DO WITH ALL OUR PROJECTS IS HAVE AN OPEN BOOK PROCESS.

AND SO WE SHARE EVERYTHING BUDGET, CONCEPTUAL, BUDGET, WE EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY.

SO OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP COSTS AS LOW AS POSSIBLE WHILE STILL ACHIEVING THE PROJECT GOALS.

ALTERNATIVELY, IF THE CITY WANTED TO MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE PROJECT.

MIDWAY WOULD BE WILLING TO DEVELOP THIS FOR A FEE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, SO THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THE CITY WOULD FUND THE ENTIRE PROJECT COSTS.

BUT YOU WOULD ALSO RECEIVE ALL OF THE REVENUES FOR THE PROJECT AND RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE PROJECT.

ADDITIONALLY, WE ALSO HAVE THE SINGLE FAMILY LOT SALES THAT COULD OFFSET THIS THIS UPFRONT COST.

SO KEY TAKEAWAYS WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CITY, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A VERY UNIQUE, COMMUNITY DRIVEN CITY CENTER FOR BEDFORD, WHICH WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

NEXT STEPS IS TO DETERMINE IF THIS DIRECTION, THE DESIGN, THE PROGRAMING, THE SCALE, THE DENSITY IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT THE CITY AND COMMUNITY ENVISION FOR THE SITE. THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, WHAT OTHER PROGRAM ELEMENTS WOULD THE COMMUNITY LIKED TO SEE HERE.

AND SO THE NEXT STEP IN OUR PROCESS IS TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER THAT BE GOING TO EVENTS, GOING TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, AND JUST SOLICITING FEEDBACK FROM WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE.

AND LASTLY, YOU KNOW, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF BEDFORD, YOU KNOW, FEELS IS REALISTIC IN TERMS OF CONTRIBUTING THE INCENTIVES REQUIRED TO MAKE IT A REALITY? AND IF SO, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WOULD WANT TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF LONG TERM OR HAVE MIDWAY PARTICIPATE IN THAT OWNERSHIP?

[00:45:01]

ALL RIGHT. SO FIRST OFF GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT IN THERE.

SO FIRST OFF GOING BACK EVERY TIME THAT WE'VE HAD ITERATIONS OF WHAT BEDFORD COMMONS COULD BE, WE UTILIZE THE ENTIRE SITE. AND A LOT OF THAT WAS DENSITY DRIVEN.

YOU KNOW, WITH APARTMENTS GOING BACK WAY BACK TO THE BEGINNING.

THEN WE STARTED SCALING IT DOWN. SO COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY WE'RE THINKING ABOUT DOING IT JUST IN THESE DIFFERENT PHASES? BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE IMAGINE BEDFORD COLUMNS, I THINK WE IMAGINED OBVIOUSLY BIGGER, RIGHT? AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT IT, I'M LIKE, I'M LIKE, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, LIKE 4 OR 5 BUILDINGS, RESTAURANTS, RETAIL.

AND SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY YOU WOULD DO IT THAT WAY? SURE. WE FEEL LIKE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WHEN YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY CREATING A NEW DESTINATION IS TO HAVE YOUR EARLY TENANTS BE VERY SUCCESSFUL, BECAUSE WE'RE AND WE'RE EXPERIENCING THIS ON OTHER PROJECTS WHERE WE'VE CREATED A NEW SUBMARKET.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF EARLY MOMENTUM ON LEASING, AND THEN YOU DON'T GET THAT NEXT WAVE OF TENANTS UNTIL YOU SEE THE, THE, THE SALES FROM THE FIRST PHASE OF TENANTS.

SO ONE HURDLE IS JUST HAVING THAT MUCH RETAIL TO PRE-LEASE UP FRONT IS GOING TO SLOW THE PROCESS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.

MOST LOANS REQUIRE 50% PLUS OF PRE-LEASING BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN START.

AND SO THE MORE RETAIL THAT YOU BUILD, THE MORE YOU NEED A PRE-LEASE BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN PUT A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND.

SO WE TRY TO PHASE ALL OUR PROJECTS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE SECOND PHASE COULDN'T BE RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST PHASE.

AND IDEALLY WE WOULD PLAN HAVE A GENERAL PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE SITE BEFORE WE START.

BECAUSE ONCE YOU BEGIN AND PEOPLE SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, PEOPLE WILL START SHOWING UP AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM.

SO I THINK WE HAVEN'T SHOWN ANYTHING FOR THE LARGE, LARGER SITE, BUT THAT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISH EARLY ON, KNOWING THAT THAT WILL PROBABLY CHANGE AS OTHER TENANTS, YOU KNOW, GET INTERESTED IN THE PROJECT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT MAKES SENSE. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S YOU KNOW, FOREFRONT IN THERE.

SO A LOT OF I MEAN, A LOT OF THIS IS HAVING TO DO WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT.

WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS AND GIVE INCENTIVES FOR IT TO FAIL.

ABSOLUTELY. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR TENANTS ARE OBVIOUSLY TAKEN CARE OF FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY CAN GET STARTED.

THEY'RE STILL PAYING THEIR THEIR LEASES, BUT IT'S NOT 70, 70 PER SQUARE FOOT AS YOU MENTIONED.

AND SO A LOT OF THIS, THE COST IS, IS BRINGING THAT DOWN TO A MANAGEABLE LEVEL.

EXACTLY. OKAY, WITH THIS WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITY'S RETAINING ENTIRE OWNERSHIP, HOW OFTEN DO YOU REALLY SEE THAT? NOT VERY OFTEN. OKAY. AND SO AND SO BECAUSE IT IS IT IS A BURDEN, YOU KNOW, THE MAINTENANCE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU COULDN'T HAVE A THIRD PARTY MANAGE THE PROJECT.

I THINK IT'S CREATIVE. I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S CREATIVE.

BUT AS FAR AS THAT WOULD REQUIRE ALL OF US TO FRONT LOAD THE ENTIRE COST OF THAT PROJECT, WHICH IS WHICH IS A LOT, TO PUT IT MILDLY. AND IN DOING SO, TO GET OUR MONEY BACK ON THAT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME, EVEN THROUGH GAINING ALL THE REVENUE.

WE'RE NOT GETTING PROPERTY TAX FROM THAT. WE WOULD JUST BE GETTING SALES TAX.

AND THEN THE LEASING REVENUE MINUS MIDWAY'S FEE.

RIGHT. ONE THING THAT'S NOT PART OF THE CONVERSATION IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS IT'S VERY BIG.

AND SO, I THINK A LOT OF US PROBABLY HAD STICKER SHOCK. BUT ONE THING THAT WE FAILED TO ACCOUNT IS THAT THERE WAS A REASON THAT WE PUT THIS IN THE TOURS AND THE TIRZ DISTRICT.

AND SO DO YOU SEE THAT OFTEN WITH THESE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENTS THAT CITIES GIVE INCENTIVES FOR THAT? THE AMOUNT THAT YOU QUOTED US, ABOUT 26 MILLION.

YOU SAID ROUGHLY HOW MUCH PORTION DO YOU THINK WOULD BE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE? THE MAJORITY OF THE COST OR A GOOD PORTION OF IT.

I THINK WE JUST NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

I WOULD HATE TO THROW SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT WOULD BE WAY OFF, BUT WE CAN THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP IS TO BREAK THAT DOWN A BIT MORE, UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT OR OUTSIDE OF THAT AND THE WHOLE REASON AND THE WHOLE REASON THAT BEDFORD COMMONS WAS NOT FROM WAY LONG AGO, THAT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL IS WE DIDN'T KNOW THE MECHANISMS TO PUT INTO PLACE TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL, SUCH AS HAVING A TIRZ DISTRICT BY PUTTING IT IN THE DISTRICT.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO TEST MYSELF HERE.

BUT IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO FUND AND INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS TO BUILD THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS,

[00:50:06]

NOW, THAT DEBT DOES NOT AFFECT THE CITY OF BEDFORD.

IT JUST AFFECTS THE TIRZ DISTRICT. SO BY TAKING OUT DEBT TO DO THESE, THESE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS TO GET IT STARTED, YOU'RE NOT PUTTING IT AGAINST THE GENERAL FUND.

YOU'RE NOT PUTTING IT AGAINST OUR RESIDENTS BY PAYING IT BACK.

IT WOULD JUST BE THE INCREASED EVALUATION OF THAT REVENUE, RIGHT.

CORRECT. OKAY. SO MY NEXT QUESTION TO STAFF IS BECAUSE WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THIS, I'M THINKING NUMBERS.

I'M THINKING, ALL RIGHT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THIS WORK. SO FOR TIRZ DISTRICT, HAVE WE LOOKED AT REVENUE WISE WHAT IT COULD GENERATE OR WHAT WE COULD HANDLE? SO, THE PRELIMINARY PROJECT OF FINANCING PLAN THAT WAS DONE FOR THE TIRZ WAS DONE UNDER A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT ASSUMPTION. SO THAT CONCEPT PLAN THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT ADOPTED THE TIRZ LAID THINGS OUT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT'S SIMILAR. IT JUST KIND OF MOVES THINGS AROUND IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAY.

BUT BASICALLY THE TIRZ IS ESTIMATED TO GENERATE JUST SHY OF 30 MILLION.

SO THOSE FUNDS ARE THERE FOR THIS TYPE OF PURPOSE.

THAT'S THE INTENT BEHIND IT. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME GENERAL OUTLINES AS TO WHAT THAT'S TO BE USED FOR BASED ON THAT ORIGINAL PLAN.

BUT AGAIN, IT IS TO HANDLE ANYTHING OF A PUBLIC NATURE.

AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO BUILT IN DIRECT INCENTIVES FOR KNOWING THAT WE'RE CREATING A MARKET WHERE THERE ISN'T ONE RIGHT NOW.

AND SO, THERE'S FUNDS SET ASIDE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, AND THEN EVERY CAPACITY OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.

AND OF COURSE, THAT WOULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE THE PUBLIC PLAZAS, FARMERS MARKET AREAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THAT'S WHAT THOSE FUNDS ARE FOR. SO AS YOU STATED, THAT COULD ABSOLUTELY BE USED TO ISSUE DEBT TO FUND THIS AND THEN PAY THAT DEBT OFF WITH THE TIRZ REVENUE WITHOUT AFFECTING TAX RATES OF THE OF THE RESIDENTS.

CORRECT. OKAY. GOT IT, GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO SET THAT STRAIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AS WE AS WE DISCUSSED THIS PERSONALLY, GOING INTO THE PROJECT AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE SHOWED US.

I LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING ON THIS.

I THINK IT'S SMART TO DO THINGS CAUTIOUSLY, NOT DOING A WHOLE PROJECT ALL AT ONCE, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S DONE IN PHASES TO MAKE SURE IT'S SUCCESSFUL.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT THERE'S A BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN THE BEDFORD PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVING MORE RESIDENTIAL THERE AND THE DENSITY.

I'M SURE THEY APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL. THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD ONE.

UTILIZING THE FIRE STATION BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A NEW FIRE STATION BUILT.

AND SO THAT BEING EMPTY, I LOVE USING THAT BUILDING THAT'S ALREADY THERE AND CREATING THAT ATMOSPHERE.

THAT'S A GREAT ONE AS WELL. AND USING DETENTION AND SO, SO VERY WELL.

I LIKE I LIKE I LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT THIS IS GOING AND THE WAY THE PLANS ARE TO CREATE THAT, THAT FEEL TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE SITE. MY BIG QUESTION THOUGH, IS ALSO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THIS BEING BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF TUCKED AWAY.

DO YOU SEE THAT AS A HINDRANCE? I THINK IF YOU CAN CREATE THAT VERY UNIQUE DESTINATION, THEN IT WON'T MATTER.

AND THAT'S WHY GETTING THE FIRST PHASE RIGHT IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND THAT'S WHY WE SUGGEST SCALING THAT BACK AND REALLY FOCUSING ON THAT FIRST PHASE AND HAVING IT A SCALE THAT WILL SUCCEED, EVEN IF IT'S THE RESIDENTS OF BEDFORD AT FIRST JUST FREQUENTING THIS PLACE, NOT COUNTING ON THAT LARGER TRADE AREA DAY ONE.

SO NO, I THINK THE SITE IS BEAUTIFUL AND IT'S NOT THAT FAR OFF.

IT WAS VERY EASY TO FIND. IT'S NOT TOO FAR FROM.

NO, NO, AND THE APPROACH IS BEAUTIFUL. I MEAN, IT'S I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S A, THAT'S AN ISSUE.

IF YOU WERE TO, TO BUILD A MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT DAY ONE, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE MORE CHALLENGING TO HAVE THAT ALL RAMP UP AT ONE TIME AND BE SUCCESSFUL. BUT ONCE YOU ESTABLISH THE PLACE AND PEOPLE KNOW IT'S THERE, WORD WILL SPREAD AND THEN YOU CAN INCREASE DENSITY AROUND IT.

GOTCHA. GOTCHA. OKAY. VERY GOOD. DO YOU FIND THAT WITH THESE PROJECTS, THE FURTHER YOU GO WITHIN A CITY? I KNOW YOU JUST KIND OF ANSWERED THAT, BUT THE FURTHER YOU GO IN THE CITY, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS.

LIKE, IF IT'S A VERY INTERIOR, THERE'S NOT MUCH ACCESS TO HIGHWAYS. DO YOU FIND THAT THEY ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO GET OFF THE GROUND AS OPPOSED TO LIKE THIS SITE, WHICH IS FAIRLY CLOSE TO THE HIGHWAY? DO YOU DO YOU SEE THAT? I THINK IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE DENSITY THAT'S ALREADY THERE.

I THINK THIS IS A KIND OF A PERFECT DISTANCE FROM THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO, YES, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE HIGHWAY RIGHT NEXT TO YOU.

EVEN WITH SOME OF OUR BIGGER PROJECTS THAT ARE NEAR HIGHWAYS, WE ALWAYS ORIENT THEM INTERNALLY, WHICH OUR FIRST PROJECT IN HOUSTON WAS THAT WAY, CITY CENTER.

AND HONESTLY, PEOPLE IN HOUSTON DEVELOPERS THOUGHT WE WERE KIND OF NUTS BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES YOU COUNT ON VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FOR SALES,

[00:55:09]

AND IT'S BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS. AND IT KIND OF FORCED PEOPLE TO THINK OF IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY ABOUT WHAT DRIVES TRAFFIC TO PLACES.

SO I THINK IF YOU CREATE A COMPELLING PLACE, THEN PEOPLE WILL FIND IT.

PEOPLE FIND IT VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD. I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON. LOOK AT ME. I GOT ON THE MICROPHONE.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS. I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES HERE.

AND I HAVE QUESTIONS IN SOME IN THE FIRST DISCUSSION THAT I HEARD, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I WAS ELECTED, BUT I WAS LISTENING. AND YOU WERE GOING TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.

DO YOU HAVE A TIME FRAME FOR THAT? BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE HAPPY.

OF COURSE. YES. SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TRY TO TACKLE THE BIG ISSUE FIRST, BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN IS FOR PEOPLE TO GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT, AND THEN WE FIND OUT IT'S NOT FEASIBLE. SO IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT IF THIS IS FEASIBLE, THEN THAT WOULD BE THE IMMEDIATE NEXT STEP.

WE WOULD PROBABLY NOT PROGRESS THESE PLANS MUCH FURTHER AND START MEETING WITH KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS GOING.

WE LIKE TO GO TO COMMUNITY EVENTS AND HAVE SURVEYS AND HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A TABLE SET UP TO FACILITATE THAT CONVERSATION.

SO THAT WOULD BE A LIKE THE NEXT STEP ESSENTIALLY.

OKAY. AND WHAT WOULD BE THE TIME FRAME FOR THIS? HOW MANY MONTHS? PLEASE DON'T SAY YEARS. I'M READY TO GO.

RIGHT. NO, THAT'S GREAT. I MEAN, WE URGENCY IS ONE OF OUR CORE VALUES.

SO WE LOVE TO MOVE FAST. SOMETIMES THERE ARE FACTORS OUT OF OUR CONTROL LIKE PERMITTING.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW WE AS PART OF THE CONVERSATION WE CAN GET THROUGH DESIGN.

YOU KNOW, IN 6 TO 8 MONTHS. IT DOES TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE FACILITATING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.

AND THEN YOU HAVE PERMITTING AND PRICING AND THEN CONSTRUCTION.

FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, A YEAR PROBABLY REALISTICALLY MINIMUM.

BUT THEY'RE SINGLE STORY BUILDINGS. AND WE WOULD TRY TO BUILD THEM VERY ECONOMICALLY AND THEY COULD GO UP VERY QUICKLY.

SO I THINK THE BIG QUESTION MARK IS, IS THE DETENTION AND THE CREEK IMPROVEMENTS.

WHAT DOES THAT REALLY LOOK LIKE? BUT ALL THIS CAN HAPPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY.

SO. OKAY. GOOD TO KNOW. AND THEN IT SEEMED TO ME IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION THAT THERE WAS A MENTION THAT SOMEHOW WE PARTNER AND I'M NEW TO THIS. SO I DON'T KNOW WITH ATTRACTING THOSE TENANTS.

DO YOU HAVE TENANTS IN MIND FOR US? SO WE LIKE TO VERY EARLY ON CREATE A PLAN LIKE THIS AND THEN IDENTIFY USES THAT WE THINK WOULD BE A GOOD MIX.

AND THEN WE WORK WITH LOCALS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL TENANTS TO TO FIT INTO THAT MIX, AND IT EVOLVES OVER TIME.

SO RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD MENTION OF A COUPLE OF CONCEPTS, A BARBECUE PLACE LOCALLY THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

WE LOVE HAVING A COFFEE SHOP AT ALL OF OUR PROJECTS, BUT THINGS THAT REALLY HIGHLIGHT WHAT'S UNIQUE TO BEDFORD, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE GREAT TO HAVE SOME SORT OF MUSIC, BUT NOT LARGE SCALE.

MAYBE IT'S JUST POP UP, YOU KNOW, BANDS ON THE WEEKENDS IN THE PLAZA, BUT THAT'S KIND OF OPEN AT THIS POINT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE AT THIS POINT, WE HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED EXACTLY WHO THOSE TENANTS WOULD BE, BUT WE WOULD WANT THAT TO BE AN EARLY PART OF THE PROCESS AS WELL. CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION, PLEASE? YES. I'VE BEEN GOING PLACES AND LOOKING AT WHAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING AND WHAT SEEMS TO BE REALLY POPULAR AND MAKES PEOPLE DRIVE ACROSS CITY BOUNDARIES ARE PLACES WHERE PARENTS CAN BRING THEIR CHILDREN.

AND THERE'S A GAME, YOU KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO.

THE JENGA AND THE WHAT DO YOU CALL IT WHEN YOU TOSS THE BEAN BAGS AND THINGS? SO THE PARENTS CAN SIT AND WATCH THEIR KIDS NOT PAY A BABYSITTER, AND THEY SPEND A LONG TIME AND BUY A LOT OF HAMBURGERS.

I COMPLETELY AGREE, I HAVE TWO GIRLS, AND THOSE ARE THE KIND OF PLACES THAT I TRY TO FIND, AND THAT'S PART OF EVERY PROJECT IN MY MIND BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT HELPS WHEN YOU DESIGN A PLACE THAT YOU WANT TO GO, OBVIOUSLY. AND SO THAT'S A HUGE PERSONALLY THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AS WELL.

I SEE THAT'S WHAT'S FILLED ON WEEKENDS AND EVEN WEEKDAYS, WEEK EVENINGS.

AND FOR SOME REASON, IT'S HARD TO FIND EVEN IN A BIG CITY LIKE HOUSTON.

WELL, I'M THINKING PEOPLE COULD DRIVE FROM GRAPEVINE AND HURST.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. VERY GOOD.

ANOTHER THING I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT AS WELL IS THAT I ALSO LIKE THE FACT THAT WE ARE PRESERVING A LOT OF THE TREES, THE MATURE TREES THAT ARE THERE. THAT IS A BIG, BIG DEAL.

AND BECAUSE WE ARE AN ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY, WE HAVE THESE MATURE TREES.

[01:00:03]

SO I'M GLAD THAT THIS PLAN IS TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND TRYING TO UTILIZE THAT.

THAT'S ALSO A VERY GOOD THING. AND ANOTHER THING IS THAT THE DENSITY THAT YOU'RE SHOWING HERE IS VERY IT'S VERY MINIMAL WHEN AND BEDFORD PARK CAN ATTEST TO THIS.

ANYTIME WE HAVE MEETINGS LIKE THIS, THE DENSITY IS ASTRONOMICAL.

AND SO THIS IS DEFINITELY A SIGH OF RELIEF. I KNOW I KNOW FROM OUR RESIDENTS SEEING SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT SMALLER AND MAKING SURE IT'S, IT'S NOT APARTMENTS. BECAUSE THAT'S A BAD WORD AROUND HERE.

SO YES. SO ALL IN ALL, SO WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR US? SO I FROM WHAT I'M SEEING, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PLAN? YES. COUNCILMEMBER STEVES AND THEN I'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER FARCO. YEAH. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. THE TOTAL COST. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT 20 MILLION ON TOP OF WHAT WE'VE PUT INTO THIS PROJECT SO FAR.

SO WHEN YOU CALCULATE THE COST OF PAYBACK TO THE CITIZENS, IS THAT INITIAL.

SO THIS IS LIKE PHASE TWO TO ME SINCE PHASE ONE WAS BUYING ALL THIS LAND.

IS THAT CALCULATED INTO YOUR INTO THE TIRZ. IS THAT SO.

NO. SO IT'S ADDITIONAL. SO IT'S 20 MILLION PLUS THE MILLIONS WE'VE ALREADY PUT INTO IT.

YES. SO IF WE DON'T GET OUT OF PHASE ONE, WE JUST HAVE 25 HOMES AND FOUR RESTAURANTS.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY BACK THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY? SO WE HAVE TO DEFINITELY GET THE PHASE TWO. SO YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING UP IN THAT UPPER CORNER? YES. THAT'S ONE OPTION. YOU KNOW WHAT WE SEE A LOT OF TIMES WITH LARGE PROJECTS LIKE THIS WHERE THERE'S A LARGE AREA OF LAND THAT'S CONTROLLED, WHEN YOU CREATE THAT FIRST PHASE, THAT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL.

THE VALUE OF THE LAND AROUND IT GOES UP. AND SO MAYBE YOU, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO SELL THE PARCELS AROUND IT AT A HIGHER PREMIUM THAN MAYBE WHAT'S THERE TODAY AND STILL GET THE USES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

BUT IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN I THINK, THE CITY OVERALL, I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT TO LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THIS AS A TRADITIONALLY STRUCTURED DEVELOPMENT AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT, BECAUSE IF YOU DO THAT, YOU'RE FORCED TO CONSIDER THINGS LIKE APARTMENTS.

THAT'S WHERE A MATTER OF FACT, THE LAST COMPANY WANTED 300 TOWNHOMES IN THAT WHICH THAT WAS A BIT MUCH.

RIGHT. SO I JUST IT'S A BALANCE AND WE WOULD WORK TO KEEP THE COSTS AS LOW AS POSSIBLE OBVIOUSLY.

BUT MARKET DEMAND AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS ARE NOT ALWAYS 100% IN ALIGNMENT.

AND SO SOMETIMES IT'S JUST AN INVESTMENT IN WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE TO SOME EXTENT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. BUT IT'S A TOUGH I MEAN, IT'S A.

REALLY LIKE TO KNOW THE TRUE COST OF THE PROJECT.

IT'S JUST IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY WAS PUT INTO THIS.

THE RESIDENTS PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO IT EARLIER ON, AND IT JUST I KNOW IT'S GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER.

I KIND OF LIKE THAT. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE COST IS GOING UP, UP, UP.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE I MEAN, MAKING IT INTO A PARK.

I MEAN, I DON'T I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE THE YOU KNOW.

BUT YEAH. SO I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION. YEAH.

THE COST IS I THINK, I THINK GOING INTO THIS AND ESPECIALLY TALKING BACK TO THE TIME PERIOD OF WHEN WE WHEN WE PURCHASED IT, IT WAS IT WAS IN DEFENSE BECAUSE AS MANY PEOPLE KNOW, I MEAN THEY WERE BUILDING THEY WERE GOING TO BUILD APARTMENTS THERE.

AND SO THIS GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CUT THAT FROM THE KNEES AT BEGINNING AND TAKE CONTROL OVER IT AND TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT SO THAT WE CAN SEE THIS DEVELOP WHICH I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S A BIG PRICE TO DO THAT, BUT WE UNDERSTOOD IT BECAUSE, AGAIN, HAVING MORE DENSITY, MORE APARTMENTS WAS NOT AN OPTION.

SO WE KIND OF BIT THE BULLET AND SAID, ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE NEED TO TAKE CONTROL.

SO A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON IN THAT REGARD. AND WITH THIS, THIS TYPE, ANOTHER THING THAT YOU WILL BE GETTING WITH THIS, YOU'LL BE GETTING THE SALE OF THE LAND GIVEN WHICH I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT IF WE MOVE FORWARD, IT WOULD BE MORE OF A TRADITIONAL INCENTIVIZED PIECE THERE.

YOU WOULD GET THE SALE OF THE LAND ESPECIALLY FOR THE RESIDENTIAL AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL.

WE WOULD GET THE PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX GENERATED FROM IT.

NOW SOME OF THAT PROPERTY TAX WILL GO BACK INTO THE TIRZ.

YEAH. THE TIRZ ALONG WITH SOME OF THE SALES TAX TO PAY BACK THAT DEBT FOR THAT.

SO AGAIN, IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT HIT TO THE RESIDENTS OR TO THE BUDGET.

SO BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SECONDARY.

YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THIS. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AS WE GET THIS STARTED.

IT CREATES THAT IDENTITY FOR THE CITY. IT CREATES A MEETING PLACE AND CAN SPUR MORE DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE HIGHWAY AROUND BEDFORD COMMONS, AND IN HOPES ALSO IMPROVE PROPERTY VALUES OF THE HOMES THAT ARE AROUND THERE, THUS GENERATING MORE TAX REVENUE AS WELL.

[01:05:02]

BUT THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER FARCO. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. HERE WE GO. I'M EXCITED BECAUSE I THINK OVER TEN YEARS AGO, YOU GUYS FINISHED UP THE NORTHGATE IN COLLEGE STATION, AND I HAD SENT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AT THAT TIME PICTURES OF NORTHGATE AND SAID, THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE NEED IN BEDFORD. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SHOWING HERE, AND IT'S VERY QUAINT AND IT'S VERY USABLE.

I THINK YOU'VE CAPTURED WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN THIS THE CITY.

IT'S NOTHING HUGE. IT'S NOTHING, YOU KNOW. BILLY BOB'S IS NOT GOING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK WITH. AND BACK TO.

COUNCILMAN. STEVES. YES, WE HAVE INVESTED MONEY IN IT, BUT WE DECIDED TO INVEST MONEY SO WE CAN CONTROL THE DESTINY HERE.

WHERE WE'VE LOST THAT MONEY, IT'S GONE. WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY, IF WE WANT TO LONG TERM TO RECOUP THAT AND THEN INVESTMENT.

OR WE SELL IT AND LET SOMEBODY ELSE DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

SO I LOVE THAT THIS IS A STARTING POINT. THIS IS THE STARTING POINT.

WE'RE JUST GETTING IN THAT CONVERSATION TO LOOK AT WHAT CAN GO BUT IT'S NOTHING THAT'S OVER THE TOP.

IT'S NOTHING THAT'S NOT MANAGEABLE. IT'S NOTHING THAT'S GOING TO DRIVE A TON OF TRAFFIC HERE.

AND FOR A NICE LITTLE RESTAURANT AND QUAINT PLACES TO GO PEOPLE WILL DRIVE.

AND WE KNOW THAT, TOO. BECAUSE I THINK ALL OF US HAVE DRIVEN OVER TO RESTAURANTS WE LIKE OVER IN VARIOUS OTHER CITIES, AND IT'S NICE. DOWNTOWN GRAPEVINE IS NOT RIGHT ON THE BEATEN PATH.

IT'S KIND OF A LITTLE OFF. THE BETTER RESTAURANTS AND THE FACILITIES ARE THERE.

THAT WOULD BE THE SAME THING FOR US. BUT WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO IS WE'VE ALL GOT TO JUST GET IN AND BUY IN AND SUPPORT A PROJECT LIKE THIS AND PROMOTE IT.

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, IF WE DON'T BUY INTO IT, WHY WOULD ANYBODY ELSE DO IT? SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CONVERSATION IN THE FUTURE.

ARE WE WILLING TO SUPPORT IT AND BELIEVE IN WHAT BEDFORD COMMONS CAN BE? BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR, I WANT TO SAY, 17 YEARS.

ABOUT WHAT THE POTENTIAL COULD BE FOR THIS, THIS PROPERTY.

AND WE HAVE IT AND YOU HAVE ONE OF THE I'M A CONSTRUCTION GUYS.

YOU HAVE ONE OF THE BEST COME TO US AND SAY WE'D LIKE TO DEVELOP HERE, AND YOU'VE GOT TO GO LOOK AT SOME OF THEIR OTHER PROJECTS TO SEE WHAT THEY'VE GOT AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE, BECAUSE THEY MAKE IT VERY, VERY UNIQUE AND TASTEFUL AND FUN. IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GO PLAY WHAT IS IT, BEANBAG OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT? CORNHOLE. YEAH, CORNHOLE AND WASHERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A TAILGATING AREA OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A A NICE LITTLE QUIET PLACE WHERE OUR RESIDENTS CAN GO AND PEOPLE CAN COME AND YOU'LL BE PROUD OF IT.

SO THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. YEAH. I WAS EXCITED WHEN I GOT THIS, THE PRESENTATION, AND I GOT TO LOOK AT IT.

I LOVE I LOVE THE IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, ORGANICALLY USING THE STREAM AND THE TREES AND MAKING IT A SPACE THAT WE ALL CAN GO TO ENJOY.

AND I LIKE HOW IT LOOKS. I ENJOY THE, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO GO THERE NOW, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, BUT I GUESS I'D JUST BE SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. SO, ONE AND I'M GOING TO AND I SAID THIS YEARS AGO, ONE OF THE, I DON'T KNOW, 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO THAT IN COPPELL THEY HAVE THAT LITTLE, THAT LITTLE TOWN CENTER THERE WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND A COUPLE OF RESTAURANTS IN THE MIDDLE. THEY HAVE A PERMANENT HOLLY FARMERS MARKET COVERS LIKE COVERING FOR FARMERS MARKET. BUT WITHIN THAT, AND IT IS GATED, THEY HAVE A JUNGLE GYM AND A PLAYGROUND FOR THE KIDS.

SO YOU CAN GO HAVE, YOU KNOW, LITTLE TIMMY AND TOMMY CAN GO RUN AND PLAY ON THE PLAYGROUND, WHICH IS GATED IN SO THEY CAN'T RUN AWAY. AND YEAH, THAT'S THE KEY.

AND THAT'S THE KEY. RIGHT. SO AND YOU KNOW, AND I'D LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HERE TOO.

I MEAN, SOMETHING THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO THAT SITE AND I'M EXCITED TO THE NUMBERS ARE EYE WATERING AND I, I HAD A SIDE CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER, ROY, AND SHE SAID, ROB, CALM DOWN.

WE HAVE THERE ARE WAYS. SO, YOU KNOW, IF IT DOESN'T BREAK THE CITY, I'D LOVE TO SEE.

I'D LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO THIS PLAN IS GREAT.

AND I JUST DO WANT TO REITERATE THE PRESERVATION OF TREES.

SO THAT IS A BIG DEAL FOR RESIDENTS. AND SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THOUGHTFULNESS TO THIS PLAN.

[01:10:06]

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS OF WHAT DRAINAGE LOOKS LIKE AT THIS SITE ALREADY.

AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION WITH A SITE LIKE THIS, DO WE NEED TO CONSIDER SOME OFF SITE PARKING OR DO WE JUST BUILD IT IN WHERE I DO HAVE CONCERN IF THESE PLACES BECOME AS POPULAR AS WE INTEND THEM TO BE.

JUST PARKING OVERFLOW INTO SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.

NO, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THERE IS A TEAM THAT'S LOOKING AT DETENTION AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS YET, BUT THAT WOULD BE KIND OF THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE SCALE OF THAT.

BUT WITH A SMALLER DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS, I THINK IT WILL BE A LOT MORE MANAGEABLE, BUT ALSO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A LONG TERM PLAN.

SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND THEN FOR PARKING.

PARKING IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST AND LAST IMPRESSION SOMEONE HAS OF A PLACE.

AND SO THAT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH PARKING AND ADEQUATE PARKING HERE.

IT'S A BALANCE, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE WE'RE USING SURFACE PARKING INSTEAD OF GARAGE PARKING BECAUSE GARAGE PARKING IS EXPENSIVE.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE COSTS LOWER. THIS PLAN IS ASSUMING THAT WE CAN USE SOME OF THE SPACES THAT ARE ON THE STREET, AROUND THE SITE, AND THEN ACROSS THE STREET AT THE CITY FACILITY.

SO LONG TERM THE PARKING STRATEGY NEEDS TO BE.

THOUGHT OUT FOR THIS PHASE AND FUTURE PHASES.

AND EVENTUALLY, IF THE DENSITY INCREASES, THERE WOULD LIKELY BE A PARKING GARAGE.

SO YOU'RE NOT JUST HAVING A SEA OF PARKING. BUT I THINK BECAUSE IT'S FURTHER AWAY FROM THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S LESS LIKELY THAT PEOPLE I THINK WILL PARK THAT FAR.

BUT WE DO NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE NEW HOMES DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO IT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR STREET DOESN'T END UP LINED WITH PARKING UNLESS THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE NATURE OF THE THAT AREA IN THEIR TOWNHOMES.

AND PEOPLE ARE OKAY WITH THAT. BUT IT'S DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS.

SO YEAH, I WOULD SAY THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS, FOR BRINGING THAT UP, BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO PARKING, I JUST FROM EXPERIENCE, IF THERE'S A NICE, COOL AREA I WANT TO GO TO AND I CANNOT FIND A PLACE TO PARK, I'M LEAVING. I'M NOT GOING TO I'M NOT GOING TO I'M NOT GOING TO SIT THERE AND FIND PARKING FOR, YOU KNOW, TEN MINUTES, 20 MINUTES JUST TO GO TO A RESTAURANT.

SO PARKING IS IMPERATIVE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

SO SEEING THAT SITE AND MAKING SURE THAT'S SUCCESSFUL IS IN NEED.

SO WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED FROM US? WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL.

SORRY. YOU WERE A LITTLE QUIET TODAY. I AM QUIET ALL THE TIME.

I WAS CURIOUS. THE CONCEPTUAL COST ANALYSIS. SO, ANDREA, YOU OBVIOUSLY PLAYED A PART IN THIS OR. KAREN, I DON'T KNOW. THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE HERE.

I CAN'T EVEN SEE KAREN TONIGHT. SO WHAT'S YOUR THINKING? I MEAN, WITH THE ANALYSIS OF THE COSTS. SO AS I MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI INDICATED, I AM NOT I AM NOT CONCERNED BY THOSE THEY'RE BIG NUMBERS, BUT WE EXPECTED THEM TO BE BIG NUMBERS.

WE'RE PREPARED FOR THEM TO BE BIG NUMBERS. AND AGAIN, WHAT ANNA PROVIDED US IS, THEIR PORTION ON WHAT WE'VE GOT TO BUILD.

SO AGAIN, THERE'S OTHER FACTORS TO INCLUDE. DEFINITELY THE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT IS GOING TO BE A REVENUE COMPONENT TO THAT TOO.

SO I THINK THAT WHAT I SEE THERE DOESN'T SCARE ME.

I THINK THAT WHAT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE, WE NEED TO FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING, YES, WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD, WE LIKE WHERE WE'RE GOING. AND THEN I THINK WE NEED TO DIVE INTO THOSE NUMBERS AND REALLY START PUTTING PEN TO PAPER AND FIGURING OUT WHAT THOSE REALLY LOOK LIKE.

KIND OF AFTER GETTING FEEDBACK, I THINK THAT MIDWAY PRESENTED THE CITY'S OWNERSHIP AS A POSSIBILITY, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE INVESTING THAT MUCH MONEY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER OF A PILL TO SWALLOW IF YOU OWN IT VERSUS HAVING SOMEONE IN YOUR IN YOUR KIND OF, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN INCENTIVE IN THAT COMPONENT IN THAT WAY.

SO NONE OF THIS SCARES ME. I THINK WE NEED TO DIVE IN AND START PAPERING THIS UP AND SEEING WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH THE REAL HARD NUMBERS AND GET SOME ESTIMATES AND THINGS.

SO I'M NOT I'M NOT AFRAID OF THIS. I THINK THIS IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE EXPECTED, AND THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO, TO KIND OF CREATE THIS MARKET. AND I WANTED YOUR OPINION ONLY BECAUSE I THINK THAT YOUR CONSERVATIVE NUMBER ONE.

AND THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT PEOPLE WERE JUMPING UP AND DOWN AND YOU, YOU ALWAYS WERE MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

SO I APPLAUD THAT. AND I THINK THAT BEDFORD RESIDENTS CARE FOR THAT, TOO.

MY QUESTION ALSO FOR YOU IS, OKAY, THE BLUE AREAS LIKE ON PAGE NINE THAT ARE NOT EVEN BEING DISCUSSED AT ALL.

[01:15:01]

THAT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO THE SOUTH WOULD MAKE AS MUCH SENSE BECAUSE IT IS SURROUNDED BY COMMERCIAL.

AND SO I THINK AT LEAST THE LOWER PORTION WOULD ALSO WANT TO BE COMMERCIAL, BUT IT WOULD PROBABLY AND HOPEFULLY HAVE MORE THAN JUST RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS.

YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOME DEMAND FOR OFFICE SPACE.

YOU KNOW, PROBABLY NOT A LOT, BUT SOME OFFICE SPACE.

THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER USES, LARGER USES THAT COULD BE WORKED INTO THAT.

BUT WHAT WE LIKE TO SAY SOMETIMES IS YOU THROW A PARTY AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHO'S GOING TO SHOW UP.

AND SO ONCE WE KIND OF GET THE WORD OUT OF WHAT WE'RE CREATING AND HOW SPECIAL IT'S GOING TO BE GROUPS WILL PROBABLY COME TO US AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL NEED TO FIGURE OUT IF IT'S A GOOD FIT OR NOT.

NOT SURE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION, THOUGH. THAT'S FINE.

BECAUSE I CAN REMEMBER BEDFORD PARK WAS BUILT.

IT WAS LIKE IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THERE. THAT WAS ALWAYS THE THE VERBIAGE THAT WENT ALONG WITH THAT.

SO I KIND OF HATE TO SEE THIS LITTLE DEVELOPMENT OVER HERE BE ANOTHER LITTLE PROBLEM IN THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DEVELOP A BUSINESS ALL THE WAY AROUND IT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE THAT MUCH BETTER THAN THE BEDFORD PARK.

PEOPLE LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON OR WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED IN THE PAST.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE IF IT WAS MORE RESIDENTIAL, THAT WOULD HELP US PAY OFF THE WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING.

AND I MEAN, THAT'S ULTIMATELY THE CITY'S DECISION AND THE KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF PHASING IT, I GUESS, IS THAT YOU HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY COMMIT TO THAT RIGHT NOW.

IF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ENDS UP BEING VERY LUCRATIVE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE FOR THE REMAINING TRACKS, THEN YOU WOULD STILL HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO THAT.

AND YOUR AND YOU'RE STILL SEEING A SLOWDOWN AS FAR AS RETAIL BUILDING RESTAURANT BUILDING ONLY BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES. SO NEW CONSTRUCTION IN GENERAL IS SLOWING DOWN.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THERE'S NOT A MARKET FOR RETAIL.

IT JUST MEANS THAT YOU'RE SEEING MORE REDEVELOPMENT AND PURCHASING OF EXISTING BUILDINGS BECAUSE YOU CAN PURCHASE A BUILDING RIGHT NOW FOR LESS THAN IT COSTS TO BUILD A NEW BUILDING. AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING A LOT MORE ACQUISITIONS RIGHT NOW AND REDEVELOPMENT THAN YOU ARE SEEING NEW CONSTRUCTION.

AND THAT WILL BALANCE OUT OVER TIME. BUT HISTORICALLY THAT THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE.

SO I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. YES. CITY MANAGER ANDREW ROY, THANK YOU.

JUST WANTED TO FILL IN A COUPLE GAPS ON THINGS.

AND WHILE WE'RE FOCUSING ON WHAT I KIND OF CONSIDER THE CORE AREA, WHICH IS THAT 16.5 ACRES THAT'S IN ORANGE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY OUR GOAL IS THAT WE START WITH PHASE ONE IN THERE AND IT SPREADS OUT.

SO THE STATE NATIONAL PROPERTY AGAIN, WHILE WE DO NOT OWN IT, STATE NATIONAL VERY MUCH DOES.

AND THEY ARE VERY HAPPY BEING THERE. YOU KNOW, THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED SELLERS.

THEY WANT TO SEE THIS CONCEPT COME TO, TO LIGHT AS WELL AND HAVE INDICATED THEIR SUPPORT.

SO JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE'RE ADDRESSING WHAT WE ABSOLUTELY CONTROL AND CAN SPEAK TO.

THERE ARE DEFINITELY FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE THIS BEYOND THOSE BOUNDARIES.

SO THIS REALLY IS YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE JUMP START TO EVERYTHING.

JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE ENGINEERING OF THIS SITE.

I THINK I'VE MADE IT CLEAR TO YOU ALL, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, EVERY PLAN I'VE SEEN UP UNTIL NOW HAS NEVER FACTORED IN THE ENGINEERING SITUATION WITH THIS PROPERTY. THE FLOODPLAIN AREA WAS NEVER FACTORED IN.

IT WASN'T CONSIDERED, AND THEREFORE WE WERE SENDING OUT, I THINK, A FALSE MESSAGE OF WHAT COULD ACTUALLY GO ON THIS SITE.

SO WHILE WE HAD TOWNHOMES THAT WERE TEN FEET APART FROM EACH OTHER AND A CREEK WAS THROUGH IT, THAT WAS NOT A REALISTIC EXPECTATION. AND SO WE ARE SLOWLY AND METHODICALLY MOVING FORWARD, ALONG WITH MIDWAY PARTICIPATING NOW AS WELL WITH AN ENGINEER TO MAKE SURE WE ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

AND SO COUNCIL DID APPROVE A COUPLE YEARS AGO NOW AN ENGINEERING CONTRACT WHERE WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE THINGS, AND THE CITY IS INITIATING THAT SO THAT THOSE ARE OUR DRAWINGS, THOSE ARE OUR PLANS.

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WITH, UNFORTUNATELY, MIDWAY OR OTHER DEVELOPERS, WE OWN THAT GOING FORWARD.

AND SO I DO HAVE A BASICALLY A PROPOSAL ON MY DESK RIGHT NOW TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT.

OBVIOUSLY MORE WORK IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE.

WE DO HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT FLOODPLAIN AREA WILL HAVE TO BE HANDLED AND PERMITTED PROPERLY, BUT IT'S A BIG PIECE THAT WE ARE. AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE METHODICALLY TACKLING THIS NOW.

AND IT'S NOT JUST A PRETTY PICTURE ANYMORE. THERE'S MEANING BEHIND IT.

AND THEN ALSO JUST TO KIND OF TOUCH ON THE TIRZ THE WAY THAT THE TIRZ IS SET UP AND WAS ESTABLISHED IS WE HAVE 12 AREA DEVELOPMENT ZONES THAT MAKE

[01:20:03]

THERE ARE 11 OTHER ZONES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHERE AS THOSE RAISE IN PROPERTY VALUE, THAT AMOUNT IS PULLED OFF AND PUT OFF TO THE SIDE AND IS IN THIS POT OF MONEY. SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT HERE, THAT REVENUE IS COMING ALSO FROM 11 OTHER PIECES OF PROPERTY, AND THOSE PROPERTIES WERE IDENTIFIED AS THOSE THAT WOULD HAVE THE MOST GROWTH POTENTIAL.

AND SO SOME OF THOSE WERE REDEVELOPMENT THOUGHTS THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND MAYBE A TEAR DOWN AND A FULL A FULL RENOVATION OR SOME OF THOSE AT THE TIME WERE IDENTIFIED AS VACANT LOTS THAT WERE PRIMED TO BE DEVELOPED AND HAVE SINCE DEVELOPED.

SO WE DO HAVE A COUPLE PIECES OF PROPERTY IN HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY HAVE BEEN VALUED AT 800,000 AND ARE NOW 6 MILLION.

SO JUST AS FAR AS KIND OF A SAFETY NET ON THE FINANCES, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE EVERYBODY AWARE THAT THIS IS VERY MUCH SPREAD OUT AMONG A DOZEN DIFFERENT PROPERTIES, AND THE REVENUE IS COMING IN, AND IT CANNOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE BUT BE REINVESTED BACK INTO THAT TIRZ.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE, LET'S GO REDO BEDFORD ROAD.

THIS IS IT MUST GO BACK IN THAT TIRZ AND BE REINVESTED IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC PURPOSES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO LAY THAT OUT THERE, WHICH IS WHY.

AND AGAIN, WE WERE TACKLING AND WHY IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS IN THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE WERE DOING THINGS WRONG YEARS AGO FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, NOT DOING ENGINEERING FIRST, JUST TO GIVE US A GOOD PICTURE OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY COULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

SO IT'S NOT PICTURES ON THE ON THERE. OH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A THING CALLED A TIRZ THAT YOU CAN DO TO INCENTIVIZE TO GET DEVELOPERS IN HERE TO, TO MAKE THESE PROJECTS HAPPEN.

SO I FEEL LIKE WE'RE FINALLY, FINALLY AT A SPOT WHERE WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE METHODICAL ABOUT IT, AND WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I FEEL THAT WE ARE FINALLY DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY WITH THIS PROJECT, SO I'M VERY EXCITED. I'M GOING GOING FORWARD TO THIS.

I, I THINK I SEE REAL POTENTIAL HERE, REALLY, TO MAKE THE CITY PROUD, MAKE OUR RESIDENTS PROUD, GIVE PEOPLE SOMETHING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT, TO COME VISIT.

GET PEOPLE OFF THE HIGHWAYS TO COME DISCOVER BEDFORD.

THIS IS A VERY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR US. VERY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY.

COUNCIL MEMBER DONAVAN BRANDON, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

SURE. THANK YOU. MAYOR. AND YOU SHOWED A CONNECTION TO THE LIBRARY.

HOW WOULD THAT CONNECTION HAPPEN? INITIALLY IT'S MORE OF A VISUAL CONNECTION.

I THINK WE JUST NEED TO MEET WITH THE CITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ELSE IS POSSIBLE.

BUT I THINK WHEN YOU'RE AT THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL AND YOU CAN SEE AN OUTDOOR PATIO ACROSS THE STREET AND PEOPLE HAVING A GREAT TIME, THEN HOPEFULLY THAT WILL PULL PEOPLE INTO THE PROJECT.

AND THEN FROM THERE THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, EXPLORE THE REST OF THE SITE.

IDEALLY, THERE WOULD BE SOME KIND OF, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY IDENTIFIED CROSSWALKS AND EASY WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO ALSO WALK ACROSS THE STREET.

BUT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL THERE YET.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SURE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO ANOTHER QUESTION.

SO WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US? SO THE NEXT PHASE IS A RAMP UP OF FOCUS OBVIOUSLY ON THE PROJECT.

SO WE WOULD IT'S KIND OF A CHICKEN OR EGG SITUATION WE NEED AS DEVELOPERS AND YOU KNOW OPPORTUNITY COSTS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE DEAL TERMS OUTLINED HIGH LEVEL BEFORE WE START COMMITTING, YOU KNOW, MAJOR COST TO A PROJECT. SO WE WOULD SUGGEST KIND OF OUTLINING WHAT THOSE TERMS LOOK LIKE AT A HIGH LEVEL, YOU KNOW, AND THEN HOPEFULLY THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO VERY QUICKLY. AND THEN WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, PUSHING FORWARD THE SCHEMATIC PLANS FOR THE SITE AND THEN TESTING THE MARKET IN TERMS OF, OF LEASING.

SO. OKAY. GOTCHA. SO THOSE ARE IN A NUTSHELL THAT'S THOSE ARE ALL THE NEXT STEPS.

YES. YES. SO WE'LL WORK ON A TERMS AND AGREEMENT AN AGREEMENT THAT OUTLINES HIGH LEVEL TERMS. AND WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU WITH THE NUMBERS. AND STAFF IS GOING TO WORK OUT THE NUMBERS AND OBVIOUSLY KEEP EVERYTHING GOING.

WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME LOOKING FOR THE NEXT. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE GOT TO PUT PEN TO PAPER.

WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT FINANCIALS. WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME HERE? BECAUSE 17 YEARS IS A LONG TIME AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING A VERY LONG TIME.

I UNDERSTAND A LITTLE A LITTLE LONGER. MAYOR, I THINK, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, OUR CONTRACT IS UP IN THE SUMMER, IN JULY, AND SO I THINK WE'LL BE IN A GOOD POSITION AT THAT POINT, IF NOT SOONER, FOR ME TO KIND OF BRING BACK, HEY, HERE'S WHERE WE'RE GOING. BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED TO OUTLINE WHO'S DOING WHAT.

WHO'S PAYING FOR WHAT? AND KIND OF HOW THAT LOOKS.

SO, I THINK JULY WOULD BE A TIME TO, TO DEFINITELY COME BACK AND GO, HERE'S WHERE, HERE'S WHERE WE ARE.

AND EVEN, YOU KNOW, LET'S TAKE STEP NUMBER ONE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

SO, JULY AT THE LATEST AND MAYBE EVEN SOONER OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. IS THAT GOOD WITH COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT.

[01:25:01]

AND I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS, DEALING WITH IT ALL AND EVERYTHING GOING FORWARD. BUT I THINK THIS IS A TREMENDOUS FIRST STEP, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE, BUT VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, MAYOR, I WANT TO POINT OUT PLEASE POINT OUT GLADES PARK.

GLADES PARK. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL OF YOU LIVED HERE AT THAT TIME, BUT MAN, THAT TOOK FOREVER TO GET GOING.

I BET YOU THAT WAS 20 YEARS. THERE WAS DEMOLITION OUT THERE.

I REMEMBER SEEING THE TRUCKS ALL THE TIME, AND I THOUGHT THEY WOULD SELL HEAVY EQUIPMENT OUT THERE. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT TAKES A BIG PROJECT, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE A LITTLE PATIENT.

SO VERY GOOD. AND WE GOT TO DO THINGS RIGHT. WE GOT TO DO THINGS RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD. GOOD COMMENT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON IN OUR AGENDA. SO THOSE OF YOU CAN WELCOME TO STAY.

THAT'S ALL THE DISCUSSION ON BEDFORD COMMONS.

BUT I'LL GIVE YOU A MOMENT TO GRAB YOUR PURSES, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL STOPPING BY.

THANK YOU ALL. AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING WHERE WE HAVE TO VOTE ON SOME THINGS I KNOW.

NO WE'RE NOT ADJOURNING. ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU GUYS A MINUTE HERE, OKAY? DOUBLE DUTY TONIGHT? YES. ALL OF US. YEAH. YEAH.

OKAY. YES. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, LET'S GET. LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD.

[CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT]

ITEMS BY CONSENT. I'LL GIVE YOU CITY MANAGER ANDREA ROY.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, COUNCIL. OKAY. YOU CAN GIVE IT A SECOND.

IT'S ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO KEEP THINGS KIND OF MOVING. I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GETTING THERE.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'LL GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.

TONIGHT WE'VE GOT A FEW ITEMS ON CONSENT. I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

ITEM NUMBER ONE. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 28TH, 2025 OF OUR REGULAR MEETING AND FEBRUARY 11TH, 2025 OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION. ITEM NUMBER TWO, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HER DESIGNEE, TO ENTER INTO A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH TWO ONE YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS FOR THE PURCHASE OF CABLING SERVICES FROM SINGLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, LLC THROUGH A MASTER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF HURST AND AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $20,000 ANNUALLY, TOTALING 60,000 IF ALL EXTENSIONS ARE EXERCISED.

OBVIOUSLY, CABLING SERVICES ARE NEEDED FOR INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADING OF OUR CONNECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE MUNICIPAL FACILITIES AND OUR BUILDINGS. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS THROUGH OUR IT OPERATING BUDGET.

ITEM NUMBER THREE CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HER DESIGNEE TO REJECT ALL BIDS FOR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS PARTS AND APPROVE THE USE OF HELMES, INC. WEBSITE FOR RESEARCH AND PRICING THOSE PRODUCTS.

THE EXPENSES FOR OEM PARTS ARE ESTIMATED AT $60,000 ANNUALLY.

THIS ITEM WAS BID PUBLICLY AND ADVERTISED AND DISTRIBUTED TO 28 VENDORS.

WE RECEIVED TWO RESPONSES FROM TWO GROUPS THAT ESSENTIALLY WE DID FEEL THAT WE WERE GETTING BETTER DEALS AND DISCOUNTS UTILIZING HELM INC.

VIA THEIR WEBSITE, AND SO SAVINGS WAS ACTUALLY A LARGER AMOUNT WAS GOING TO HELM IF WE WOULD JUST STAY THE COURSE ON THAT.

SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE DO THAT AND REJECT THESE BIDS.

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE THROUGH VARIOUS DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGETS TO COVER THESE EXPENSES.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HER DESIGNEE TO REJECT THE BID FROM INDUSTRIAL POWER FOR AUTO BODY REPAIR SERVICES AND APPROVE THE USE OF MULTIPLE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR THOSE SERVICES IN AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF 50,000.

AGAIN THIS ITEM WAS BID PUBLICLY ADVERTISED AND SENT TO EIGHT VENDORS.

WE DID RECEIVE ONE RESPONSE SUBMITTED BY INDUSTRIAL POWER.

AND AGAIN, UNFORTUNATELY, LOOKING AT THAT, WE DID FIND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET JUST AS EQUALLY COMPETITIVE ESTIMATES THROUGH OUR UTILIZATION OF BILLBOARD AND TIPS.

SO WE WOULD ACTUALLY RECOMMEND AGAIN THAT WE REJECT THAT.

BID FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OPERATING BUDGETS TO COVER THESE EXPENSES.

IN ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HER DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WITH FOR ONE YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS FOR PRINTING THE BEDFORD CONNECTION NEWSLETTER, WITH AC PRINTING IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $103,704 ANNUALLY, FOR A TOTAL OF $5,520 IF ALL EXTENSIONS ARE EXERCISED. AGAIN, THIS ITEM WAS BID ADVERTISED AND DISTRIBUTED TO 68 VENDORS.

THE CITY DID RECEIVE FOUR RESPONSES, THREE OF THOSE BEING COMPLETE AND ABLE TO BE CONSIDERED AFTER REVIEWING AND SCORING, A PRINTED WAS RECOMMENDED TO BE OUR VENDOR. AND JUST AS A GENTLE REMINDER, THE BEDFORD CONNECTION NEWSLETTER IS OUR NUMBER ONE WAY THAT WE ACTUALLY

[01:30:09]

THE CITY HAS BEEN WITH OUR CURRENT VENDOR MATRIX DATA PROS, FOR QUITE SOME TIME, BUT AC PRINTING DID SCORE HIGHER, AND WE HAVE SINCE MET WITH THEM AND ARE REALLY EXCITED TO START THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH AC PRINTING.

THEY ARE A USELESS BUSINESS AND ACTUALLY BEDFORD RESIDENTS AS WELL.

SO HAPPY TO TO PURSUE THAT RELATIONSHIP AND FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THAT IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.

OPERATING BUDGET. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. QUESTION NUMBER FIVE REAL QUICK.

SO THE BEDFORD CONNECTION ALL LOOK THE SAME, FEEL THE SAME.

AND THEY'RE DOING THE MAILING SERVICES FOR US. CORRECT? CORRECT, CORRECT. THAT WAS THE DEFICIENCY IN THE INITIAL BID WAS THAT THAT WAS NOT PART OF THAT.

BUT YES, THEY'RE TAKING GREAT EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY LOOK THE SAME, AND THAT THE BLUE IS THE CORRECT BLUE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO AGAIN, GREAT START TO THAT. RESIDENTS SHOULDN'T EVEN NOTICE A DIFFERENCE.

SHOULDN'T NOTICE. FANTASTIC. THAT'S A GREAT, GREAT SERVICE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS OVER? NOPE.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I HAVE A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.

AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. STAFF. ALL RIGHT. ON TO NEW BUSINESS.

[6. Consider a resolution of the City of Bedford, Texas, authorizing the City Manager to execute an economic development program agreement, pursuant to Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government Code and the City’s Economic Development Policy and Program, by and between the City of Bedford, Texas, the City of Euless, Texas, and H-E-B Grocery Company, for the construction and operation of a H-E-B brand grocery store, located on approximately 18 acres, known as Glade Parks South Addition, Block A, Lot 1.]

I GIVE YOU CITY MANAGER ANDREA ROY. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. GOOD EVENING. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

I THINK WE HAD STARTED THIS CONVERSATION BACK IN OCTOBER.

WE HAVE SINCE BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH HEB GROCERY STORE TO KIND OF WORK OUT THE DETAILS OF THIS INCENTIVE AGREEMENT.

SO I WILL SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN A JOINT EFFORT, OBVIOUSLY, BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES.

BOTH BEDFORD AND EULESS SAT DOWN AND LOOKED AT OUR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT HEB HAD ASKED FOR WAS SOME LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE WHEN HEB PURCHASED THE PROPERTY BACK IN 2015.

IT WAS BECAME PART OF THEIR PORTFOLIO. IT WAS PART OF THEIR ARSENAL, AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THEY WERE READY TO MOVE ON THE PROPERTY WHERE THEY REALLY DUG IN AND STARTED LOOKING AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH WERE HONESTLY EXTRAORDINARY FOR A SITE THAT SIZE.

SO YOU'LL SEE IF ANYONE'S DRIVEN BY THE AMOUNT OF GRADING THAT'S GOING ON IS ABSOLUTELY EXTENSIVE.

THE RETAINING WALLS THAT WILL BE NEEDED ARE ALSO EXTENSIVE.

AND SO BOTH THE CITIES CAME TOGETHER AND HAVE OFFERED BETWEEN THE TWO TO ASSIST TO THE LEVEL OF ABOUT $300,000 EACH FOR VERY SPECIFIC ITEMS. SO THE CITY OF EULESS IS CONTRIBUTING $300,000 TOWARD RELOCATION OF A WATER LINE ON THAT SITE.

AND THE CITY OF BEDFORD IS WILLING TO PARTICIPATE ALSO AT 300,000, FOR THE COST OF HALF OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL WORK THAT'S NEEDED FOR A LIGHT TO GO IN MID-BLOCK THERE ON CHEEK SPARGER. SO ESSENTIALLY THIS WILL OUTLINE THOSE TERMS AGAIN.

ESSENTIALLY, THEY MUST BUILD THE GROCERY STORE, WHICH I THINK WE'RE PRETTY SAFE THAT THIS IS THIS IS MOVING.

AND ESSENTIALLY THE, THE, THE GRANT OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT TRAFFIC SIGNAL WILL NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE GROCERY STORE HAS RECEIVED THEIR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. AND IT IS BUILT. SO WE FELT VERY COMFORTABLE HELPING OUT ON THE STREET LIGHT.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE TRAFFIC CONCERNS.

WE HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS. WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH ALL THE PARTNERS IN THAT AREA.

I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THERE'S MULTIPLE ENTITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THAT AREA OF OUR COMMUNITY BETWEEN HURST, I'M SORRY, BETWEEN COLLEYVILLE, TXDOT AND EULESS AS WELL.

THERE IS A LOT GOING ON. SO WE ARE WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY TO ATTEMPT TO COORDINATE SIGNALIZATION IN THAT AREA.

BUT ALSO, HEB WILL BE BUILDING A TURN LANE LEFT INTO THE FACILITY AT OUR TRAFFIC SIGNAL THAT WE'RE PARTICIPATING IN.

AND THERE WILL ALSO BE A VERY EXTENSIVE DECELERATION LANE ON THE WESTBOUND SIDE OF CHEEK SPARGER GOING INTO THAT PROPERTY.

SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE DO KNOW THERE WILL BE SOME TRAFFIC, IT'S GOING TO BE MESSY FOR A WHILE.

THIS IS THE HEB PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH AND HAVE OBSERVED IT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

THE SITE IS ACTUALLY VERY WELL SERVED FOR ACCESS.

MOST OF THEIR SITES DO NOT HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS OFF OF THREE ROADS LEADING UP TO THAT, SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH IT.

BUT AGAIN, THE REQUEST TONIGHT REALLY IS PURELY FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT AT THE FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY, THE CITY OF EULESS DID ALREADY APPROVE THEIR PORTION AS WELL.

[01:35:05]

VERY GOOD. FIRST OFF, SO TRAFFIC LIGHT THAT'S GOING TO BE WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES.

CORRECT. SO IT WILL BE OUR LIGHT. CORRECT. WHEN DID WE KNOW THAT ONE WAS NEEDED? WHEN DID WE REALIZE THAT? I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO SAY IT WAS OUR EARLY DISCUSSIONS AGAIN, NOT EARLY BACK TO 2015, BUT EARLY DISCUSSIONS ON THIS RECENT DEVELOPMENT.

SO PROBABLY 18 MONTHS AGO IS WHEN THAT BECAME PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

CONVERSATION THAT WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS THERE NEEDED TO BE A LIGHT THERE TO CONTROL TRAFFIC. AND GOING FORWARD, A FULL TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS WAS DONE IN THAT AREA.

AND THEY LOOKED AT THE PLACEMENT OF THE HEB GROCERY STORE.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT CAME OF THAT RECOMMENDATION.

OKAY. AND THAT'S WHAT CAME OUT OF IT. OKAY. SO I THINK THERE'S A THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT WE JUST DUSTED OFF 2015 AND JUST SAID GO.

AND THAT'S REALLY NOT THE CASE IS IT? NO, SIR.

YEAH. WE HAD A LOT MORE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE PUT INTO THAT TO GET THIS GOING.

SO PART OF THIS ECONOMIC AGREEMENT, WE'RE HOLDING THEM TO SOME STANDARDS.

CORRECT. AND WHAT ARE THEY? SO AGAIN, THE BUILDING MUST BE FULLY CONSTRUCTED AND IT MUST BE OPERATIONAL.

SO THEY MUST BUILD A HEAVY GRADE BRAND GROCERY STORE.

NO JOBS. NO JOBS. NO, NO. WE'RE CHANGING OUR MIND MIDWAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO SELL IT OFF TO SOMEONE.

THEY ARE REQUIRED TO OPEN UP AS AN HEB GROCERY STORE.

OKAY. AND WE'RE ALSO HOLDING TIM. I WAS LOOKING AT AN ARTICLE THREE.

IT SAYS THAT THEIR OBLIGATION IS TO OPEN BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.

YES, I THINK WE'RE AHEAD OF THAT. I THINK THEY'VE GOTTEN A HEAD START, BUT I'M JUST SAYING.

SO IT HOLDS THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE OPENING THE DOORS AT A CERTAIN DATE IN MAKING SURE THAT DEPENDING ON ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, THAT WE WILL STILL BE GETTING A HEB BRANDED GROCERY STORE. AND OKAY, SO THEN THAT'S PART OF THE REASONING BEHIND WHY WE WOULD DO SUCH A THING.

YES. AND WE ALWAYS PUT A DEADLINE IN THERE. BUT AGAIN, ALLOW FLEXIBILITY FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN.

WE COULD HAVE THE RAINIEST YEAR. YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD IN AGES THIS NEXT YEAR.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW. SO WE DO BUILD IN SOME FLEXIBILITY FOR THE FOR THE BUSINESSES IN THAT CASE.

VERY GOOD. AND SO THIS WON'T BE PAID OUT UNTIL AFTER EVERYTHING IS COMPLETE REIMBURSEMENT GRANT OKAY.

FOR THIS WILL BE COMING OUT OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND.

YES, SIR. OKAY. AND ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT DEPLETING THAT FUND BY 300,000? WE ARE NOT. NO. IT'S A VERY HEALTHY BALANCE IN THAT FUND RIGHT NOW.

SO. YES. OKAY, GOOD. ALL RIGHT. AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CONDITIONS ARE MET AND THEY DON'T HOLD UP THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN AND THEY SAY, SORRY, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ARE BAD. YOU'RE GETTING TWO JOBS. WE DON'T PAY.

OKAY. EASY ENOUGH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A I SEE A FINGER. MOTION TO APPROVE BY MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. ALL RIGHT. AND I SEE HEB HERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. AND LET'S GET THAT GOING.

YOU'RE ALREADY ON YOUR WAY THOUGH. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD.

NEXT UP WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. BUT I WAS INFORMED BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY THAT BEFORE WE TAKE THIS ITEM, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

AND 087 AND ZERO EIGHT. OH, THERE IT IS. I SEE IT.

IT WASN'T HIGHLIGHTED THERE. 551.087. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK MOMENTARILY. YOU MISSED THE BEST PART.

ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW BACK FROM OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

AND THERE IS NO ACTION TO TAKE. SO WE ARE MOVING ON WITH OUR AGENDA AND MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

[7. Consider a resolution of the City Council of the City of Bedford, Texas, directing the City Manager to immediately take all steps necessary to achieve and complete the project contemplated in the attached Exhibit “A,” “Conditional Approval for Gateway Village TxDOT Driveway FM 157,” issued by the Texas Department of Transportation (“TxDOT”), to secure a temporary construction easement to demolish the portion of the adjacent driveway to be closed, acquire a public access easement to install a new drive connection, and remove parking striping, as needed (“Project”); and finding that the project is in the best interests of the public health, safety, and general welfare. (Added Item)]

DOT TO SECURE A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT TO DEMOLISH THE PORTION OF THE ADJACENT DRIVEWAY TO BE CLOSED.

ACQUIRE A PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENT TO INSTALL A NEW DRIVE CONNECTION AND REMOVE PARKING STRIPPING AS NEEDED, AND FINDING THAT THE PROJECT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE.

AND I GIVE YOU CITY MANAGER ANDREA ROY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

GOOD EVENING. AS WAS NOTED WITHIN THE RESOLUTION LANGUAGE, WE ARE REQUESTING APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE ME TO WORK WITH THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY TO GO

[01:40:02]

DO WE HEAR ANY MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI.

A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL. THANK YOU. STAFF. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ALONG TO THE FINAL STEPS OF OUR AGENDA.

HERE WE HAVE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS.

[8. Mayor/Council Member Reports]

YOU KNOW, THING I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT ON IS ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

OUR SENIOR CENTER RIBBON CUTTING WAS AMAZING.

THOSE OF YOU WHO WENT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING A GREAT DAY TO UNVEIL THE NEW CENTER.

WE ACTUALLY MET A FEW INDIVIDUALS WHO SIGNED UP THAT DAY, AND IT'S STILL TO THIS DAY, GETTING NEW MEMBERS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SO IF YOU HAVEN'T STOPPED BY THE NEW SENIOR CENTER, DO SO AND YOU WILL BE IMPRESSED AND BLOWN AWAY BY WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THERE.

ALSO, I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT LITTLE KUDOS TO THE CITY FOR PUTTING ON A THE VALENTINE'S DAY DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE.

I GOT TO GO TO MY FIRST DAUGHTER DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE.

THAT WAS A PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE. IT WAS, I THINK THE THEME WAS STARRY NIGHT, AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD TELESCOPES OUT THERE.

I GOT TO SEE JUPITER, WHICH I'VE NEVER SEEN. THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.

THEY HAD A BOUNCE HOUSE, TO WHICH MY DAUGHTER DECIDED TO PLAY THE ENTIRE TIME IN THERE.

AND MUCH LIKE ALL MY OTHER DATES WHEN I WENT TO A DANCE, THEY TEND TO JUST GO BE WITH THEIR FRIENDS.

SO IT WAS IN LINE. I KNOW RIGHT. BUT NO, IT WAS, IT WAS IT WAS A GREAT TIME.

AND I DO WANT TO THANK THE CITY AND STAFF FOR PUTTING THAT ON. AND IT WAS SOLD OUT TOO FOR THAT.

SO GREAT JOB FOR ALL OF YOU. AND THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I GOT TO REPORT ON THIS.

SO WE'LL MOVE DOWN THE LINE. ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY BOARD.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THE ANIMAL CONTROL BOARD MEETING WAS FEBRUARY 3RD.

[9. Report on most recent meeting of the following Boards: • Animal Shelter Advisory Board • Beautification Advisory Board • Library Advisory Board • Parks and Recreation Advisory Board • Senior Advisory Board]

WE HAD LESS EUTHANIZATION. SO THAT WAS GREAT.

OUR ANIMAL CONTROL IS DOING A GREAT JOB. THERE'S AN ADOPTION EVENT THIS WEEKEND, SATURDAY FROM 1 TO 5 AT PETCO.

SO IF YOU'RE IN THE AREA, STOP BY AND SEE THEM.

NEXT MONTH, APRIL 13TH TO THE 19TH IS ANIMAL CONTROL.

BOARD APPRECIATION WEEK. AND THE ANIMAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT IS STILL TAKING DONATIONS, AND EVERYBODY ASKS, AND THEY'RE NOT THEY HAVE ALL THE SUPPLIES THEY NEED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

BUT PEOPLE ASK WHAT THEY CAN DONATE AND KITTY LITTER CLEANING SUPPLIES ARE ALWAYS GREAT.

AND THEN THEY CAN JUST USE FUNDS THAT THEY HAVE THAT THEY BUY THAT WITH FOR OTHER THINGS THAT THAT COME UP.

SO THAT'S IT FROM ANIMAL CONTROL. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BEAUTIFICATION ADVISORY BOARD. THANKS MR. MAYOR.

SO BEAUTIFICATION MET LAST MONDAY, AND SO THE NEXT EVENT THAT BEAUTIFICATION IS SUPPORTING THE CITY ON IS CRAIG CRUISER.

THAT WILL BE MARCH 15TH FROM 9 A.M. TO 11 A.M..

IT'S VERY POPULAR, SO IT FILLS UP PRETTY QUICKLY.

SO NOW THAT BEDFORD RESIDENTS DON'T NEED TO GO GET A VOUCHER, JUST LETTING FOLKS KNOW THAT THE FORT WORTH ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER IS OPEN ON SATURDAYS AT 03:00. SO IF A RESIDENT DOES FIND THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, IT FILLS UP WHILE THEY GET THERE, THEY STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISPOSE OF THOSE GOODS IN FORT WORTH. AND IT'S NOT TOO FAR. IT'S OFF OF JOHN WHITE AND I-30.

OH VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.

YES. PLEASE COME EARLY FOR THAT EVENT. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT UP, LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD. IN CASE Y'ALL DIDN'T KNOW, OUR LIBRARY IS AWARD WINNING.

FOR THE 13TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, THE BEDFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVED THE ACHIEVEMENT OF LIBRARY EXCELLENCE AWARD FROM THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LIBRARY DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. AND THAT MAKES OUR LIBRARY IN THE TOP 19% OF ALL THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO KUDOS TO MARIA AND HER STAFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL DESERVED. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. THE PARKS BOARD MET FEBRUARY 6TH AT THE MEETING.

THEY ELECTED A NEW VICE CHAIR, LYNN GROTTO. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM.

AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THEIR GOALS FOR 2025.

AND THEY WILL REPORT BACK TO YOU ON THAT ONE. SOUNDS GREAT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. DURING OUR LAST MEETING, WE ACTUALLY WE ELECTED A NEW VICE CHAIRMAN.

CHRISTINA SCHULLER. I'M PROBABLY NOT SAYING THAT CORRECTLY WILL BE TAKING OVER AS VICE CHAIR REPLACING MISS PATTY BLUM,

[01:45:06]

I HAD A COUPLE THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M INVOLVED IN THE HEB CHAMBER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.

AND SO A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WE GOT TO GO DOWN FOR TARRANT COUNTY DAYS.

AND SO WE GOT TO GO DOWN TO AUSTIN. REPRESENTATIVE TONY TINDERHOLT WAS GENEROUS ENOUGH TO GET US ROOM AND LUNCH AND SET DIFFERENT THINGS UP THROUGHOUT THE CAPITOL. WE GOT TO HEAR FROM A LOT OF THE LOCAL LEGISLATORS.

YEAH, THEY A LOT. AUSTIN IS A UNIQUE PLACE. OH, THEY DID HAVE SWEETWATER, HAD THEIR RATTLESNAKES.

AND SO I GOT TO TOUCH A LIVE RATTLESNAKE. SO THEY HAD THEY HAD THEY HAD SNAKES IN AUSTIN, WHICH IS THE FIRST SECOND I HAD THE, THE HONOR BECAUSE YOU WERE BUSY MAYOR.

YES, YES. I GOT TO BE A JUDGE AT THE 2025 REGIONAL SOUTHWEST REGIONAL CHILI COOKOFF AT TEXAS HARLEY-DAVIDSON. HAVING TEXAS, I THINK TEXAS HARLEY HERE IS A IT'S A HUGE BENEFIT.

AND IT'S GREAT BECAUSE THEY THROW THESE REAL BIG EVENTS. IT WAS VERY WELL, LOTS OF PARTICIPANTS THAT SO THIS WASN'T JUST A REGULAR CHILI COOK OFF.

THIS WAS LIKE THEY'D ALREADY WON SOMETHING. AND SO THESE WERE IT WAS ALL GOOD.

SO YOU KNOW I PICTURE EXPERT PALATE. THEY I WAS NEXT TO THE HUTCHINS, THE GUY OF HUTCHINS BARBECUE ALL THESE FANTASTIC PEOPLE.

AND THEN THERE WAS ME. AND SO I ENJOYED IT. IT WAS ALL DELICIOUS AND BUT IT WAS A GREAT TIME.

IT WAS GREAT TO JUST TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME OUT AND JUST TO BE A PART OF IT.

IT'S BEEN IT WAS WONDERFUL. I APPRECIATE YOU FILLING IN FOR ME ANYTIME.

YES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SEEING THAT UP NEXT, ITEM NUMBER TEN.

CITY MANAGER STAFF REPORTS. JUST A COUPLE QUICK UPDATES.

[10. City Manager/Staff Reports]

SHE HAS NOW SENT BACK ALL OF HER COMMENTS TO ME.

SO I'M IN POSSESSION OF THOSE. SO I'LL LOOK THROUGH THAT AND WE WILL GET THAT ORGANIZED AND GET SOMETHING BACK TO YOU ALL SOON.

SO PROGRESS IS BEING MADE ON THAT. NEXT AGENDA IS GOING TO BE PRETTY FULL.

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME ITEMS THAT WERE REALLY QUEUED UP AND READY TO GO FOR THIS EVENING. BUT IF YOU ALL NOTICE THAT KAREN IS ABSENT THIS EVENING.

SHE IS AT A CONFERENCE. AND ALSO MARK LONG IS AT A CONFERENCE AS WELL.

SO WE WILL BRING BACK A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT BOTH THOSE FOLKS ARE WORKING ON.

ONE IS, I KNOW THE LONG AWAITED SHADE STRUCTURES WILL BE ON YOUR NEXT AGENDA, AND AS WELL, AN EFFORT THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES ON, AS WELL AS ALL OF YOU.

THE POW MIA MEMORIAL WILL BE BROUGHT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING ALSO.

SO JUST ANOTHER KIND OF KUDOS TO WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD THAT WE DID.

WE HAVE ALL BUT OFFICIALLY CLOSED ON THE CAMPUS WEST PROPERTY AND SELLING THAT TO MR. DICKERSON'S GROUP FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PORTION OF IT.

SO CALL ME TOMORROW AT NOON. THAT WILL BE WRAPPED UP AT THAT POINT.

BUT ESSENTIALLY THAT IS DONE. AND THEY WILL BE PULLING PERMITS PROBABLY AT 1:00 TOMORROW.

SO THAT WILL BE MOVING. THAT'S GOOD. ONE LAST THING.

ALSO, JUST TO KIND OF NOTE WE DID HAVE A PUBLIC COME AND SPEAK TO COUNCIL A COUPLE MEETINGS AGO ABOUT SOME OF THE MAJOR SERVICE ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING. AND SO WE DID MEET WITH REPUBLIC LAST WEEK.

LORI, IN MY OFFICE, WHO TAKES THE BRUNT OF THOSE PHONE CALLS, WAS PRESENT IN THAT.

AND I WILL HAVE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE MADE PHENOMENAL PROGRESS WITH THEM SINCE THAT MEETING.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN ANY RELATIONSHIP, SOMETIMES THINGS GO SIDEWAYS.

THINGS HAVE TO BE RESET. AND I THINK THERE WERE SOME STRUGGLES THAT JUST MAYBE WEREN'T ALWAYS CONVEYED TO THE RIGHT INDIVIDUAL.

THEY WERE NOT GETTING REMEDIED. BUT THEY HAVE REALLY PRIORITIZED OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE SINCE THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION.

AND SO I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM. WHEN WE MET, LORI BASICALLY SAID, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING.

THERE'S NOTHING TO REPORT ON AT THIS TIME. WE ARE DOWN TO VERY RANDOM HERE AND THERE CALLS A MANAGEABLE AMOUNT GIVEN THE VOLUMES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO I APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS ARE REALLY KIND OF PRIORITIZE US AND GET THINGS BACK ON TRACK BECAUSE WE ARE, WE'RE DEFINITELY THERE. SO LIFE IS GOOD IN THAT SENSE.

SO HOPEFULLY I DIDN'T I DIDN'T JINX ANYTHING.

BUT WE'RE GOOD ON THAT. SO, I JUST WANTED TO REPORT OUT THAT THEY DID REALLY MOVE TO, TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THOSE ISSUES WITH US.

SO THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, I THINK WE'RE AT THAT TIME.

I LOVE MOTION TO ADJOURN. IF YOU STILL DO. SURE.

[01:50:01]

MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI. I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 9:05.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.