[CALL TO ORDER/GENERAL COMMENTS ]
[00:00:04]
ALL RIGHT. TIME IS NOW 6:00. WE'LL CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
HAPPY EARTH DAY FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE I'M SURE EVERYONE REMEMBERED THAT.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE RIGHT ALONG STARTING THINGS OFF WITH AN INVOCATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RICH STEVES, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY NICHELLE DAWKINS.
SO IF EVERYONE WOULD GO AHEAD AND PLEASE RISE.
HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE GATHER HERE TONIGHT, GOD, OUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS WITH YOUR WISDOM AND GRACE.
HELP US LISTEN. HELP US TO LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER AND HELP GUIDE US IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AS WE SEEK WHAT TO DO, WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITY. AND WE PRAY FOR YOUR BLESSING TO BE UPON OUR CITY EMPLOYEES.
PLEASE GIVE THEM STRENGTH AND KEEP THEM SAFE AS THEY WORK TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS.
WE ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. AMEN.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES, COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS. ALL RIGHT.
[COUNCIL RECOGNITION ]
MOVING ALONG WE HAVE COUNCIL RECOGNITION EMPLOYEE SERVICE RECOGNITION.SO I'D LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE PODIUM FIRE CHIEF BILL WALKER.
THERE HE IS. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
PLEASED TO BE BEFORE YOU AGAIN TONIGHT WITH SOME SERVICE RECOGNITIONS.
AND WE'LL START OFF WITH CODY SPECHT. I KNOW HE'S HERE.
HERE COMES CODY. SO CODY'S ONE OF OUR GOOD YOUNG FIREFIGHTERS.
AND AS I SAY FREQUENTLY, WE'VE GOT A GREAT GROUP.
I SAY YOUNG, HE PROBABLY FEELS LIKE HE'S GETTING A LITTLE OLDER, BUT CODY STARTED ABOUT ALMOST 10, 12 YEARS AGO IN THE FIRE SERVICE DOWN IN THE HOUSTON AREA. HE CAME TO BEDFORD IN 2020.
AND HAS, YOU KNOW, REALLY MATURED AS A FIREFIGHTER AND GROWN QUITE A BIT.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS I, AS I GOT TO KNOW CODY A LITTLE BIT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HE DID ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT TO SEE YOUNG FIREFIGHTERS DO BEING ENGAGED, BEING INVOLVED, WORKING HARD. AND ONE THING THAT'S NICE, WHEN YOU TALK TO CODY ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WHAT'S GOING ON? HE'S VERY THOUGHTFUL. YOU KNOW IT'S NOT.
WELL, WHY CAN'T EVERYTHING BE A CERTAIN WAY? YOU KNOW, HE'S SOMEONE WHO KIND OF THINKS ABOUT THINGS, AND I THINK THAT REALLY BODES WELL FOR HIS FUTURE. NOT JUST LEARN ALL THE FIREFIGHTER STUFF, BUT SOMETIMES THAT PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT IT TAKES TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS BUSINESS.
SO HE COMPLETED HIS PARAMEDIC SCHOOL IN 2021.
HE'S COMPLETED HIS DRIVER OPERATOR CERTIFICATION.
HE'S HAD A LOT OF OTHER LOCAL TRAINING. HE'S ALSO ON OUR OPERATIONS COMMITTEE WHICH IS GREAT TO SEE.
AND OUTSIDE OF WORK HE'S MARRIED, HAS, I THINK TWO KIDS SIX AND THREE, BEEN MARRIED FOR EIGHT YEARS AND VERY PROMISING GREAT YOUNG FIREFIGHTER WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE AS PART OF THE BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
[APPLAUSE] OKAY. OKAY. NEXT UP TYLER DRACKLEY.
TYLER, AGAIN, SOMEONE WHO WE GOT FROM THE OUTSIDE CAME IN FIVE YEARS AGO.
SO TYLER WAS HIRED IN 2020 WITH BEDFORD FIREFIGHTER, BUT HE GREW UP OUT IN CLARENDON, AND HE STARTED AS A FIREFIGHTER FOR PERRYTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, DID THAT FOR THREE YEARS AND WAS WITH THE AMARILLO FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR SEVEN YEARS.
AND THEN SOMEHOW WE CONVINCED HIM TO COME OUT THIS WAY AND JOIN UP WITH BEDFORD.
AND IT WAS A GOOD DEAL FOR US. TYLER IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT TAKES FIRE SERVICE VERY SERIOUSLY.
HE'S VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT AND WANTS IT NOT JUST TO BE OPERATIONALLY SOUND, BUT CULTURALLY SOUND.
AND SO HE'S HE'S ALWAYS ENGAGED IN THINKING ABOUT THOSE TYPE OF THINGS AND TRYING TO GET INVOLVED IN THE DEPARTMENT. AND MY FAVORITE PART OF TYLER'S, HE RIDES DIRT BIKES LIKE I DO SO I GOT SOMEBODY TO TALK TO ABOUT DIRT BIKES WHEN WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT FIRE SERVICE BUSINESS.
BUT AGAIN, TYLER IS NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT'S DONE A TON OF STUFF.
[00:05:03]
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BEING THE HIRING COMMITTEE. HE'S ALSO ON THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.HE'S A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER FOR US. HE'S AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE NEW RECRUITS.
HE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF OUR OF OUR FALSE ALARM CLOWN GANG.
WHEN WE DO THE PREVENTION IN OCTOBER HE IS NOT TYLER THEN HE IS TAILBOARD IS HIS NAME.
SO IF YOU SEE WHO'S THE BIG GUY THEY'RE CALLING TAILBOARD THAT'S HIM.
HE ALSO HAS CERTIFICATIONS AS AN ADVANCED FIREFIGHTER, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TECHNICIAN, DRIVER OPERATOR, INSTRUCTOR ONE AND FIRE OFFICER ONE. SO AGAIN, SOMEONE WHO'S GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND SOMEONE WHO WHO IS JUST ABOUT TO TAKE OFF AND I'M SURE THERE'LL BE SOME MORE PROMOTIONS AND THINGS IN HIS FUTURE AS A LEADER IN THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO THANK YOU, TYLER [APPLAUSE].
THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT UP IS KIND OF A BIG ONE 25 YEARS.
HE'S BEEN UP HERE TO TALK A FEW TIMES. HE ALWAYS ENJOYS THAT GETS A LITTLE SWEATY, BUT HE ENJOYS IT.
AND HE WROTE HIS BIO, SO I'LL READ A LITTLE BIT OF IT, BUT I SAID, WHERE'S FRANKIE'S BIO? AND HE GOES, OH, HE WROTE IT. I SAID, OH MY GOSH.
SO IT'S KIND OF BORING. IT'S NOT IT'S NOT WHAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT. BUT I MEAN, THE THING ABOUT FRANKIE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S IF YOU CAN HAVE TWO THINGS IN THIS WORLD OUT OF SOMEBODY YOU WORKED WITH IS THAT THEY'RE FUN TO WORK WITH, AND THEY'RE GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO. AND FRANKIE'S BOTH OF THOSE. AND IF YOU WANT THE THIRD THING TO TOP OFF THAT, THAT THING, IT'S A HARD WORKER AND MAN, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, YOU GET 100% OUT OF THIS GUY EVERY DAY.
THERE'S NOT AN EVENT THAT GOES DOWN IN THIS CITY THAT HE DOESN'T SHOW UP TO.
I DON'T CARE WHERE HE'S AT. IF HE'S IN TOWN, HE'S HERE ANY TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT.
EXCUSE ME. A LITTLE DRY SPOT HERE. I GOT YOU ALL CHOKED UP [LAUGHTER].
I AIN'T CHOKED UP NO, NOT YET, SIR. I KNOW THIS MEANT SO MUCH TO YOU.
YEAH. IT'S GOING TO BE A MINUTE. OKAY. SO WITH FRANKIE, ONE OF THE HARDEST JOBS IS BEING THE TRAINING CHIEF. BECAUSE FIREFIGHTERS ARE HARD TO TRAIN BECAUSE, ONE, THEY ALL KNOW EVERYTHING ALREADY. AND THEY LOVE GOOD TRAINING.
IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT AND IT TAKES A LOT OF ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
AND BUT THE ULTIMATE THING ABOUT THAT JOB IS IT MAKES OUR FIREFIGHTERS MORE CONFIDENT AND SAFE, SO WE GIVE BETTER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. FRANKIE TOOK ON THIS ROLE AS BEING THE TRAINING CHIEF, AND WHEN I SHOWED UP FOUR YEARS AGO, HIS THING WAS, I JUST WANT TO BE THE BEST TRAINING CHIEF I CAN BE AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S ALL HE'S DONE. HE HAS CHARGED AFTER IT REALLY HARD, SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM.
NOW, I'LL READ A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT HE WROTE BECAUSE SOME OF IT IS REALLY IS IMPORTANT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HEAR FROM HIM A LOT, YOU KNOW, HIS DAD WAS A VOLUNTEER WITH BEDFORD FIRE IN THE, IN THE LATE 70S AND EARLY 80S.
BUT HE STARTED IN BEDFORD AS A VOLUNTEER IN 1994.
HE GOT HIRED IN 2000, WAS A PAID FIREFIGHTER WITH THE DEPARTMENT, AND HE SERVED IN ALL THE RANKS.
HE'S WON FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR, EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR, OFFICER OF THE YEAR, MEDAL OF MERIT, MERIT AWARD, CIVIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, MEDICAL DIRECTOR'S AWARD.
SUPER ENGAGED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE WITH THAT HEALTH AND WELLNESS THING TO MAKE SURE WHETHER IT'S THE CANCER STUFF OR IT'S JUST BEING INTEGRAL IN US BRINGING IN FRONTLINE, WHICH IS A BETTER PROGRAM FOR OUR GUYS ON THEIR PHYSICALS.
EVERY DAY HE IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO TO TRY AND MAKE OUR FIREFIGHTERS SAFER, BETTER AND THE CITY BETTER TOO, SO. I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS A LONG TIME, WELL OVER 30 YEARS, AND HE'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH.
AND I THINK THE CITY IS SUPER FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM.
AND 25 YEARS THANK YOU FRANKIE [APPLAUSE].
[00:10:04]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF WALKER. AND THANK YOU TO ALL, ALL THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN BACK THERE WHO PROTECT OUR CITY EACH AND EVERY DAY.SO THANK YOU AGAIN. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ALONG IN OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF APRIL 2025 AS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE GREG RUSK WITH MID-CITIES AMBUCS TO THE PODIUM HERE.
GOOD EVENING. HI, THERE. HI, THERE. SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THIS, AND THEN AND THEN AFTERWARDS, IF YOU HAVE SOME WORDS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. ALL RIGHT. SO WHEREAS APRIL 2025 IS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH, AND THIS OCCASION PROVIDES A FITTING OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF MID-CITIES AMBUCS.
AND WHEREAS WITH THE MID-CITIES CHAPTER AMONG THE 164 CHAPTERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AMBUCS IS A LEADING NONPROFIT VOLUNTEER SERVICE ASSOCIATION SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1922, THE ORGANIZATION HAS RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARDS ITS MISSION OF INSPIRING MOBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE.
AND WHEREAS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH RECOGNIZES VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION TO PARTICIPATE IN A HOST OF PROJECTS SUCH AS CONSTRUCTING WHEELCHAIR RAMPS AND SELLING SAFETY GRAB BARS IN BATHROOMS, AND VISITING HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS.
AND WHEREAS, IN ADDITION TO PROMOTING SERVICE ACTIVITIES, THE MID-CITIES AMBUCS CHAPTER CONTRIBUTES TO TWO NATIONAL PROGRAMS THE AMTRAK THERAPEUTIC TRICYCLE PROJECT, WHICH PROVIDES SPECIAL CYCLES TO HOMES, SCHOOLS AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN AND VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES.
AND AMBUCS SCHOLARSHIP FOR THERAPISTS, A PROGRAM THAT AWARDS MORE THAN $200,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS EACH YEAR TO STUDENTS IN ACCREDITED THERAPY PROGRAMS. AND WHEREAS, MEMBERS OF THE MID-CITIES AMBUCS HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ENRICHING THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND FOR THE EFFORTS, THEY ARE TRULY DESERVING OF OUR PRAISE. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DAN COGAN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND THE CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2025 AS NATIONAL NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD [APPLAUSE].
AND SO WE INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME TO SALTGRASS ANY MONDAY NIGHT.
I MEAN, THE SECOND MONDAY OF EACH NIGHT, EACH MONTH.
AND THURSDAY, MAY 15TH, 2025, AS POLICE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE PODIUM POLICE CHIEF BOBBY LAPENNA.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ IT AND THEN IF YOU HAVE SOME WORDS AFTERWARDS. YES. SO WHEREAS THE CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE DESIGNATED MAY 15TH AS PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY AND THE WEEK IN WHICH MAY 15TH FALLS AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK.
AND WHEREAS IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL CITIZENS KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, HAZARDS AND SACRIFICES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.
[00:15:01]
AND THAT MEMBERS OF THE BEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZE THEIR DUTY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE BY SAFEGUARDING LIFE AND PROPERTY, BY PROTECTING THEM AGAINST VIOLENCE AND DISORDER, AND BY PROTECTING THE INNOCENT AGAINST DECEPTION AND THE WEAK AGAINST OPPRESSION.NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I, DAN COGAN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND THE CITY COUNCIL, CALL UPON OUR CITIZENS AND CIVIC AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO OBSERVE THE WEEK OF MAY 12TH THROUGH THE 18TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD [APPLAUSE].
THANK YOU. JUST REAL QUICK. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
POLICE WEEK IS AN AMAZING WEEK BOTH NATIONALLY AND IN THE STATE AND LOCALLY.
WE ARE TRULY HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED DURING THIS WEEK.
OUR HONOR GUARD IS ACTUALLY TRAVELING TO AUSTIN TO PARTICIPATE IN SEVERAL OF THE FESTIVITIES THAT GO ON DOWN THERE WITH POLICE WEEK, AND THEY'LL BE PROBABLY HIGHLIGHTED IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FEATURES DOWN THERE. SO WE'LL BE SURE TO SHARE THAT LATER. AND JUST JUST TO GO ON RECORD, OUR COMMUNITY IS GREAT. THE RECOGNITION THAT COMES OUT DURING THIS WEEK FROM ALL THE MEMBERS OF, OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT STAND UP FOR US AND STAND BEHIND US AND EVERYTHING WE DO IS GREATLY APPRECIATED BY EVERYONE AT THE PD.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON IN OUR AGENDA FROM COUNCIL RECOGNITION, WE NOW HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
I HAVE ONE PERSON THAT HAS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, MR. TOM WILLIAMS, TALKING ABOUT ITEM NUMBER SIX. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME HIM TO THE PODIUM.THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS TOM WILLIAMS. I'M AN ATTORNEY. MY OFFICE ADDRESS IS 301 COMMERCE STREET, FORT WORTH.
I'M HERE TONIGHT REPRESENTING VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS.
VALASSIS OWNS AND PUBLISHES THE SAVE.COM PUBLICATION, WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED TO MANY RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND OF COURSE, ELSEWHERE IN NORTH TEXAS. RECENTLY, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE CITY PROSECUTOR AND SOME OFFICIALS FROM CODE COMPLIANCE TO ENSURE THAT THE MANNER IN WHICH OUR CLIENTS CONTRACTORS ARE DISTRIBUTING THE MATERIALS IS DONE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CURRENT ORDINANCE.
THE FIRST TIME WE ACTUALLY SAW THE LANGUAGE OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WAS, OF COURSE, LAST WEEK WHEN THE AGENDA FOR THIS, THIS MEETING WAS, WAS POSTED. AND WE DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT THE IF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WERE ENACTED AS AS DRAFTED, IT WOULD HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE WAY IN WHICH OUR CLIENT OPERATES IN BEDFORD.
AND SO TONIGHT, I GUESS MY MY REQUEST TO THE COUNCIL, RESPECTFULLY IS THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDER POSTPONING TAKING A VOTE ON THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. IF THE COUNCIL SAW FIT TO DO SO, WE WOULD TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET WITH CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS, THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND WHATEVER OTHER OFFICIALS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO DISCUSS SOME OF OUR CONCERNS.
WE RESIDENTS OF BEDFORD RELY ON THESE PUBLICATIONS.
THESE ARE COUPONS, ADVERTISEMENTS, CENTS OFF.
AND SO IT PROVIDES A VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES.
AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT EFFICIENTLY.
AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE OBVIOUSLY TO DO IT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE APPROPRIATE ORDINANCE.
SO IF THE IF THE COUNCIL WERE SO INCLINED TO EITHER EITHER TABLE CONSIDERATION ENTIRELY OR AT LEAST POSTPONE TAKING A VOTE AND SET IT ON A FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA, THEN WE WOULD TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET WITH YOUR APPROPRIATE STAFF AIR SOME OF OUR CONCERNS SEE IF THERE CAN BE SOME MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THE ORDINANCE THAT STILL FULFILL THE SPIRIT THAT SEEMS TO BE BEHIND IT AND YET DOES NOT MAKE IT WHERE WE CAN'T DISTRIBUTE OUR PRODUCTS. IF IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER THEM.
BUT BUT OTHERWISE THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD ASK IF POSSIBLE.
APPRECIATE IT. YEAH. USUALLY WITH THIS FORMAT, WE JUST KIND OF ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL REFLECT. AND SO WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM, I THINK WE'LL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT LEAST.
I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WANT TO KIND OF KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION IS, WHY THIS WAS BROUGHT UP ON ITEM NUMBER SIX. SO WE'LL GIVE STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT IT AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT CONVERSATION GOES. SO THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
[00:20:05]
ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP WE HAVE A PRESENTATION OF SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL AND INVESTMENT REPORT.[PRESENTATIONS]
I GIVE YOU FINANCE DIRECTOR BRADY OLSON. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL GOOD EVENING.HERE IS OUR QUARTERLY MEETING ON THIS SUBJECT.
SO FAR, ALL FUNDS, REVENUE VERSUS EXPENDITURES.
THE GREEN IS REVENUE, THE BLUE IS EXPENDITURES.
YOU NORMALLY HOPE FOR GREEN TO BE HIGHER THAN BLUE, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT LARGELY IS THROUGHOUT.
BUT OVERALL, THIS JUST REFLECTS A SOUND FINANCIAL HEALTH IN OUR MAJOR FUNDS SO FAR THIS YEAR.
REVENUES. SO SALES TAX IS UP THIS YEAR BASED FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THOUGH IT'S BEEN A BIT OF A ROLLER COASTER, SOME MONTHS ARE WAY UP AND THEN WE HAVE MONTHS THAT ARE DOWN.
OVERALL, SOME OF THAT SOME OF THE NON-LOCAL RETAIL, SOME ONLINE RETAIL IS DRIVING A LOT OF THE INCREASES, AS ARE SOME OF THE FOOD AND BEVERAGES. THOSE ARE TWO OF THE BIGGER INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE SEEN INCREASES IN THE CITY YEAR OVER YEAR.
IN ONLINE ORDERS? YES. SO ONLINE ORDERS AND THEN FOOD AND BEVERAGE? THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN DRIVERS FOR INCREASES WHERE WE'RE SEEING IT.
OKAY. YES. GOOD. AND AS YOU CAN SEE WE'RE STILL GENERALLY TRENDING UPWARDS IN OUR SALES TAX.
YOU WANT THE THE ORANGE AND THE BLUE LINES TO GENERALLY BE GOING UP.
THE BLUE LINE IS THE MOST RECENT YEAR, THAT'S FLATTENED A BIT OVER THE PAST YEAR OR TWO.
HOTEL OCCUPANCY, THAT IT'S FLATTENED OUT, IT'S STILL A LITTLE BIT DOWN.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A LONG SAGA OF TRYING TO GET THAT THAT BAR TO BE AS HIGH AS WE CAN.
SO WE ARE JUST CONTINUING TO WORK ON IT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING ON TOP OF THE HOTELS IN THE AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PAYING WHENEVER THEY NEED TO BE. GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES. SO WE ARE ABOUT HALFWAY, WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR AS OF THIS REPORT.
SO YOU GENERALLY LIKE TO SEE THE ACTUALS ABOUT HALFWAY FROM BUDGET.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR GENERAL FINANCES HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR? DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT. GREAT. QUARTERLY INVESTMENT UPDATE.
IT HAS BEEN A VOLATILE QUARTER IN THE MARKET.
THE THE TARIFFS REALLY THREW A CHANGE INTO INTO THINGS AND THE BOND MARKET IN GENERAL.
IT'S HARD FOR US TO GET ANYTHING ABOVE 4 AT THE MOMENT.
I THINK I'VE REFERRED TO IT AS A BATTLESHIP BEFORE.
AND WHENEVER THE MARKET RISES, WE'LL PROBABLY RISE A LITTLE BIT SLOWER THAN THAT, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP A STEADY, PREDICTABLE POSITION AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO PLAY THE DAY TO DAY WHIMS OF THE MARKET. SO OUR PORTFOLIO IS SLIGHTLY LARGER BY ABOUT $11 MILLION THIS QUARTER THAN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER. THAT'S IN LARGE PART BECAUSE THIS IS WHENEVER WE RECEIVE MOST OF OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THIS QUARTER.
THOUGH WE ARE DIPPING AT A LOWER RATE THAN THE OVERALL MARKET, GOING FROM 4.83 TO 4.71.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE BENCHMARKS. SO YOU CAN SEE THE ONE YEAR TREASURY WAS JUST ABOVE 4%.
[00:25:02]
WHERE WE HAD HIGHER RATES PREVIOUSLY. THAT IS A VERY IT'S A FLAT CURVE.IT'S IT'S HARD TO TO GUESS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM HERE.
SO WE JUST WE GENERALLY TRY TO NOT PREDICT THESE THINGS, JUST MAKE SOLID DECISIONS DAY AFTER DAY.
SO THE INTEREST RATE MARKET, THERE WAS A FAIRLY RECENT CUT.
SO WE COULD SEE THAT DIP INTO THE EVEN LOWER INTO THE THREES.
THOUGH, THESE THINGS ARE CHANGING HOUR BY HOUR.
SO IT'S IT'S HARD TO TELL IF THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN OR NOT.
IT'S MORE IN THE THREE SEVEN RANGE WHENEVER YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT.
SOME OVER OVERALL INFLATION STILL AN ISSUE. THEY'RE STILL HOPING TO BRING THAT DOWN THOUGH PRESIDENT TRUMP RECENTLY DID NOT SHOW A LOT OF FAITH IN THE CURRENT FED CHIEF. SO THERE IT'S HIS JOB AND AS LONG AS HE WANTS IT.
BUT THOSE THOSE SORT OF POLITICAL PRESSURES MAY MAY AFFECT HOW THE FED ACTS GOING FORWARD.
SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO TRY TO PREDICT THESE THINGS.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GAME THE MARKET OR GAMBLE THE CITY'S MONEY.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN SAFE THINGS AND LOCK IN INTEREST RATES AS WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PAY OUR BILLS WHENEVER WE NEED TO, AND THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE ANY MONEY FROM OUR CITIZENS DOLLARS.
OKAY, SO SO EVEN DESPITE ALL THIS, WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT DESPITE ALL THE UNCERTAINTY, YOU KNOW, OUR STRATEGY STILL REMAINS CONSTANT. WHERE WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF I CALL IT LEAPFROGGING. YOU CALL IT LADDERING, I CALL IT LEAPFROGGING, BASICALLY AS THE INTEREST RATES, YOU KNOW, AND AS THINGS MATURE, WE'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIGHEST INTEREST RATE THAT WE CAN AND THEN GET THAT FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN AND THEN GO FROM THERE.
SO I SEE WE HAVE QUITE A BIT FOR POOLS AND MONEY MARKETS.
I DID SAY THAT IN, IN OUR PACKET THAT THE MATURITY ON THOSE WAS A DAY.
SO IF WE KNOW WE HAVE A PAYROLL COMING UP, OR WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A LARGE PURCHASE OR PAY OUR BILL TO TRA FOR OUR WATER, WE CAN THEN GO TO AN INVESTMENT FIRM. WHILE IT'S MAKING 4 OR 5%, WE CAN SAY WE'D LIKE THE MONEY BACK TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE A BIG BILL TO PAY TOMORROW.
AND SO THE POOLS ALLOW US TO GET THAT LIQUIDITY, SO THE ABILITY TO ACCESS OUR MONEY QUICKLY.
VERY GOOD. AND THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE INVESTMENT, YOU KNOW, REPORT AND ALL THOSE ARE BIG SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF THAT IS IS THE POOLS ARE THE MARKET MONEY MARKET SO THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
YES. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING WHEN YOU SEE EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW A LOT OF THOSE FUNDS IN THERE.
YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
ANOTHER QUESTION. SO WE DID SEE A DECREASE WITH THE CDS RE DEPOSIT AND THE CDARS DECREASE.
CAN YOU TALK MORE TO THAT? MANAGING CDS IS A LARGE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, AND THEY'RE HAVING VERY SIMILAR RETURNS TO TREASURIES AND AGENCIES, WHICH ARE MUCH MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS.
SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE MY STAFF AN HOUR AND A HALF OF EXTRA TIME, I'D RATHER SAVE THEM, SAVE THAT TIME AND WORK ON SOMETHING ELSE IF IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME RETURN. SO THAT'S BEEN BEEN LARGELY THE CASE RECENTLY FOR CDS AS WE INCREASE WHAT WE HAVE IN TREASURIES AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. OKAY. SO WE'RE JUST CHANGING THINGS UP A BIT.
YES. IT'S VERY SIMILAR RETURNS. IT'S JUST THAT ONE HAS A LOWER ADMINISTRATIVE COST THAN THE OTHER.
OKAY. OKAY. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. GOOD JOB. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING ALONG. WE HAVE A CONSENT ITEMS FOR CONSENT.
[CONSENT]
I GIVE YOU CITY MANAGER ANDREA ROY. THANK YOU MAYOR GOOD EVENING.I'LL RUN THROUGH THE CONSENT ITEMS QUICKLY. ITEM NUMBER ONE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 8TH, 2025 REGULAR MEETING. ITEM NUMBER TWO. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AT GENERATIONS PARK AT BOYS RANCH DURING THE THIRD ANNUAL TEXAS PACIFIC ISLANDER FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY, MAY 3RD, 2025.
THE REASON YOU'RE SEEING THIS IS THE WAY OUR ORDINANCE IS STRUCTURED IS THAT ANY CITY SPONSORED EVENTS ARE ALLOWED BY RIGHT, ESSENTIALLY TO HAVE ALCOHOL SALE AND CONSUMPTION.
[00:30:03]
SO THAT'S THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE THE REQUEST.AND SO YOUR APPROVAL WOULD COVER THE EVENT THAT RUNS FROM 12 TO NOON ON THAT DAY.
THEY ARE EXPECTING ABOUT 4 TO 5,000 ATTENDEES.
MOVING ON TO NUMBER THREE, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE GRANT APPLICATION TO CONTINUE A MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR THE BEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.
SHOULD THE GRANT BE AWARDED, THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES THE CONTINUATION OF THIS WELLNESS PROGRAM.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE BEGINNING OF YEAR TWO OF THIS PROGRAM.
WE DID START IT LAST YEAR AND RECEIVED FUNDING AS WELL.
SO WE REALLY HAVE JUST GOTTEN THIS UNDERWAY AND HAVE REALLY JUST STARTED.
SO AGAIN, TOTAL COST IS $29,500, $23,600 IS THE THE THE AMOUNT PROVIDED BY THE FIRST RESPONDER MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM AND $5,900 WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE CITY. THAT IS OUR MATCH AND FUNDS ARE BASICALLY WILL BE SET ASIDE IN THE PD OPERATING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.
AND WITH THAT, THOSE ARE YOUR CONSENT ITEMS. AND I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
SOUNDS GOOD. COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU STAFF. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
[4. Public hearing and consider an ordinance rezoning the property described as The Oaks (Bedford) Addition Block 1 Lot 1A from Planned Unit Development/Master Highway Corridor to Planned Unit Development/Master Highway Corridor/Specific Use Permit – Tattoo and Body Piercing Shop. The property is generally located north of Airport Freeway, to the west of Parkwood Drive, and commonly known as 1745 Airport Freeway. (SUP-25-2). The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval by a vote of 6-1-0. ]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REZONING THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS THE OAKS BEDFORD ADDITION BLOCK 1, LOT 1A FROM PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT MASTER HIGHWAY CORRIDOR TO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT MASTER HIGHWAY CORRIDOR SPECIFIC USE PERMIT, TATTOO AND BODY PIERCING SHOP. THE PROPERTY IS GENERALLY LOCATED NORTH OF AIRPORT FREEWAY, TO THE WEST OF PARKWOOD DRIVE AND COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1745 AIRPORT FREEWAY.THIS IS SUP CASE 25 -2 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF 6 TO 1.
I GIVE YOU DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WES MORRISON.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THIS IS A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT REQUEST FOR A TATTOO PARLOR, LOCATED AT 1745. I THINK EVERYBODY IS FAIRLY FAMILIAR WITH IT, IT'S ALONG THE FREEWAY AND IT'S LOCATED IN THE BEDFORD COMMONS PUD.
SHOPPING HAS VARIOUS USES ALREADY INCLUDED IN IT; RESTAURANTS, MEDICAL OFFICES, PERSONAL SERVICE SHOPS, ETC.. IN JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THIS, IN 2022 THERE WAS A SIMILAR REQUEST ON THIS PROPERTY, IT WAS MADE BY A DIFFERENT APPLICANT. AND ULTIMATELY, THAT REQUEST WAS DENIED AT CITY COUNCIL.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING THIS SUP. HOURS OF OPERATION ARE MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, 12 P.M.
THE AS STATED, THE TATTOO AND BODY PIERCING SHOP USE DOES REQUIRE AN SUP IN OR A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT IN BEDFORD COMMONS, SPECIFICALLY THE HIGHWAY MIXED USE CHARACTER ZONE.
IF YOU'LL RECALL, BEDFORD COMMONS IS DIVIDED UP INTO VARIOUS MIXED OR VARIOUS CHARACTER DISTRICTS.
THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IS IN THE HIGHWAY MIXED MIXED USE, WHICH REALLY JUST FOCUSES ON THE IT ENCOURAGES USES THAT ARE MORE OF A ENTERTAINMENT RESTAURANT RETAIL FOCUS.
AND IT ALSO SERVES AS A GATEWAY INTO THE CORE OF THE BEDFORD COMMONS AREA.
FUTURE LAND USE MAP ON THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIES THIS PROPERTY AS A PLACE FOCUSED AGAIN FOCUSING ON THE RETAIL, RESTAURANTS AND ENTERTAINMENT USES ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE TYPE OF USES.
A LITTLE BIT OF PLACE FOCUS YOU CAN'T READ IT, BUT IT'S IT'S THERE AND IT'S IN YOUR BACKUP AS WELL. AS, YOU KNOW, THE SUP REQUIRES SITE PLANS TO BE APPROVED WITH THE WITH THE ADOPTING ORDINANCE.
THE SITE PLAN IN THIS CASE IS NOT CHANGING SO THERE'S NO EXTERNAL CHANGES PROPOSED TO THE SITE.
SO IT'S JUST AN EXISTING SITE PLAN WE HAVE THERE.
SITE PHOTOGRAPHS, AGAIN WE ALWAYS LIKE TO SHOW THESE.
WE NOTIFIED SIX ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS, PLACED A SIGN ON THE PROPERTY ADVERTISED AS REQUIRED IN LOCAL NEWSPAPER, AND WE'VE RECEIVED NO RESPONSES IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THE REQUEST.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION CONDUCTED THEIR PUBLIC HEARING. THEIR FINDINGS ARE THERE.
[00:35:04]
THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO SAW NO EXTERIOR CHANGES TO THE SITE ARE BEING PROPOSED.THEY ALSO FOUND THAT THE TATTOO AND BODY PIERCING USE WAS COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING LAND USES, AND DEEMED THAT NO CONDITIONS WERE NECESSARY TO APPLY TO THE REQUEST, AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF 6 TO 0.
I'M SORRY, 6 TO 1. TYPICALLY YOU ALL ASK THE QUESTION OF WHAT WAS P&Z'S CONCERNS, WHAT QUESTIONS DO THEY HAVE? REALLY THEY THEY FOCUSED ON THE SURROUNDING LAND USES.
THEY FOCUSED ON THE OTHER TYPES OF USES THAT THIS BUSINESS PROVIDES AS FAR AS GRAPHIC DESIGN AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER OR THE BUSINESS OWNER CAN EXPLAIN TO YOU.
SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THEY REALLY FOCUSED ON. THE ONE DISCERNING COMMISSIONER THAT VOTED AGAINST THE REQUEST, SAID THAT HE WANTED TO COMPLY OR WANTED TO FOLLOW THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SO THAT'S HIS PURPOSE FOR VOTING AGAINST THE REQUEST.
A LOT, A LOT, A LOT COVERED THERE. SO FIRST OFF, WE'RE SEEING THIS BECAUSE IT'S COMING IN AS AN SUP AND IN OUR PERMITTED USES IT IS IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE TATTOO AND BODY PIERCING THAT TYPE OF SHOP IS ONLY CAN ONLY BE IN OUR CITY UNDER SUP UNDER CERTAIN DISTRICTS.
THAT IS CORRECT. SPECIFICALLY WITH BEDFORD COMMONS BEDFORD COMMONS PUD WAS DRAFTED WITH ALLOWING A TATTOO SHOP ONLY BY THE SUP APPROVAL SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE WE'RE SEEING BEFORE US HERE TODAY.
THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT. OKAY. SO THIS PROPERTY HERE WE HAVE TWO EMPTY.
IS IT TWO EMPTY SPACES IN THERE, IN THIS SHOPPING CENTER? I BELIEVE. I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT. I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT.
I'M NOT 100% ON HOW MANY WHAT THEIR VACANCY IS RIGHT NOW, BUT I BELIEVE THERE'S APPROXIMATELY TWO, MAYBE THREE. OKAY. AND THIS SPECIFIC SPOT, DO WE KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S BEEN? I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S BEEN VACANT. SO LET'S SEE HERE WITH THIS ONE. I GUESS. I'M GOING TO HOLD MY QUESTIONS FOR THIS RIGHT NOW. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR WES ON THE? YES. COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
SO, WES, WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE THIS PROPERTY BECAME VACANT? I DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT USE THAT WAS IN THIS SUITE BEFORE.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANKS. NO PROBLEM.
MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI. THANK YOU, MAYOR COGAN.
HOW HOW LONG HAS THE THE THE BEDFORD COMMONS PLAN, WHEN WAS THAT DEVELOPED? IT WAS ADOPTED IN 2015, AND I THINK THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT IN 2017.
SO 10 YEARS. AND IS HAVE WE DONE ANYTHING THERE? I'M SORRY. IS THERE ANY IS IT. THERE IS BEDFORD COMMONS THERE.
WELL IT'S THAT'S THE THAT'S THE PUD. IT'S WITHIN THE ZONING.
NO NO NO NO. BUT WHAT I'M ASKING IS ANY OF THAT DEVELOPMENT HAPPENED IN 10 YEARS.
NOT SPECIFICALLY TO THAT SITE. THAT SITE WAS ALREADY DEVELOPED BEFORE BEDFORD COMMONS WAS.
NO, NO, I GET THAT. OKAY. SORRY. IT'S THE ENTRANCE TO THE CORE OF BEDFORD COMMONS, RIGHT, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THERE AT BEDFORD COMMONS.
WE'RE WORKING ON A STREET AND WE HAVE MURRAY'S KUSTOM HOT RODS BUT THAT'S THAT'S ALL.
AND WE'VE AND WE'VE IN THE LAST TATTOO SHOP THAT CAME UP BECAUSE I WAS ON COUNCIL WHEN THAT HAPPENED, AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS ACTUALLY IT'S ONE OF MY FEW DISSENTING VOTES WAS BECAUSE I VOTED FOR IT.
AND THE QUESTION I ALWAYS HAD WAS WE HAVEN'T WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, BUT WE'RE KEEPING, YOU KNOW, ANYWAYS, I'LL SAVE IT FOR DISCUSSION LATER, OKAY.
OKAY. THANK YOU. TO THAT END, THOUGH IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO CAN YOU SPEAK MORE TO THAT? BECAUSE WE HAD SPENT AND YOU HAVE SPENT AND P&Z SPENT MANY, COUNTLESS HOURS DEVELOPING THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AND SO THE ONE DISSENTING COMMISSIONER THAT WAS KIND OF THEIR STICKING POINT.
CAN YOU SPEAK MORE TO THAT AS TO TO THIS DECISION? AND WHEN READING THE PACKET, I DID NOTICE THAT STAFF DID RECOMMEND STAFF DID RECOMMEND DENIAL BECAUSE OF THAT, BECAUSE OF NOT ADHERING TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE? SURE.
AND SO WE DON'T HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S THIS PROCESS IS BUILT FOR A REASON.
[00:40:05]
SO THE THE IDEA IS THAT STAFF LOOKS AT IT AND SAYS, OKAY, WE HAVE PLACED FOCUSED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WE HAVE BEDFORD COMMONS.BOTH OF THESE FOCUS HEAVILY ON SOCIAL SOCIAL USES, ENTERTAINMENT USES, RESTAURANT USES, AND RETAIL USES. SO THAT'S THAT'S WHERE STAFF CAME UP WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
BUT THE PROCESSES THAT AS YOU DO THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DO A PUBLIC HEARING AT P&Z, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DO A PUBLIC HEARING HERE BEFORE COUNCIL. AS YOU GET MORE INFORMATION IT'S NOT UNCOMMON THAT P&Z LEARN SOMETHING NEW IN A PUBLIC HEARING AND DOES SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN A STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO WORK REALLY.
AND THEN IT'S NOT UNCOMMON THAT AS COUNCIL GETS THE APPLICATION, THEY LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND THEY MAKE THEIR RECOMMENDATION OR THEY MAKE THEIR ULTIMATE DECISION. SO THAT'S HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS. AND THAT PROCESS IS WORKING LIKE IT SHOULD.
AND SO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, DEVELOPMENT IS ALREADY DONE, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE LAND USE.
AND SPECIFICALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT PLACE FOCUSED, IT, IT PROVIDES A DESTINATION LEVEL.
AND I'M JUST READING IT STRAIGHT FROM THE SCREEN SO FORGIVE ME, BUT DESTINATION LEVEL, DENSITY, SCALE AND MIX OF USES INCLUDING DINING, ENTERTAINMENT OR SOCIAL GATHERING SPACES AND STAFF.
JUST WHEN STAFF INTERPRETED THAT WE DIDN'T SEE THIS TYPE OF USE.
AND IT'S NOT IN THIS AREA. IT'S NOT IN THAT IT'S NOT IN THAT AREA. AND SO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, YOU KNOW, FROM FROM YOUR WORDS, IT'S THE FUTURE USE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AHEAD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PLACES LIKE MELISSA OR SOME OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE BOOMING. BUT THEY YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A LOT OF SPACE.
IT'S A DIFFERENT STYLE OF CONFERENCE. EXACTLY. THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS IT'S THE NOW HOW DO WE WANT IT? OURS, ON THE OTHER HAND, WERE BUILT OUT. THINGS ARE BUILT.
BUT WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO GUIDE US FOR 20 YEARS IN THE FUTURE.
WHAT DO WE WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE 30 YEARS IN THE FUTURE? WHAT DO WE WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE, AM I CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR AS TO WHY THAT WAS.
AND YOU ALSO MENTIONED IN THE PACKET AS WELL, IS THAT JUST BECAUSE OF THE ZONING DISTRICT, THERE'S OTHER AREAS WITHIN THE CITY THAT THIS DESIGNATION MIGHT BE A BETTER FIT.
THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON.
THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.
IS THIS CONSIDERED A SERVICE? AS IN, NO TAX COMES TO THE CITY.
I DON'T BELIEVE I MAY HAVE TO CALL A FRIEND ON THAT ONE, I DON'T EITHER.
DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S A IF THERE'S A TAX WITH.
BUT THE SERVICE ITSELF IS NOT IS NOT TAXABLE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.
THANK YOU MAYOR. WES COULD YOU PUT THE THE DIAGRAM OF THE COMMONS DISTRICT BACK UP AGAIN? BECAUSE I HAVE IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IT SAYS THE COMMONS DISTRICT IN DETAIL IT ENDS JUST BEFORE IT GETS DOWN TO THAT.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OVERLAY? YES.
THAT'S THE COMMONS DISTRICT IN DETAIL. RIGHT.
THAT IS CORRECT. SO THIS IS THE ACTUAL ZONING.
SO AS PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THERE WAS A GOAL TO REALLY LOOK AT BEDFORD COMMONS BECAUSE THIS IS THIS IS A QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP IN THE PAST, AS ARE THE IS THE COMMONS TOO BIG AND DOES IT NEED TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FREEWAY AND DOES IT, DOES IT NEED TO ENCOMPASS EVERYTHING IT ENCOMPASSES CURRENTLY? SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL LOOK AT THROUGH THE ZONING ORDINANCE REWRITE THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW TO DETERMINE IF THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS ZONING DISTRICT NEED TO BE AMENDED.
BUT I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT BEDFORD COMMONS WAS GATHERING STEAM AND IT WAS MOVING IN, AND I UNDERSTAND NOW WE'RE DOING IT PIECEMEAL.
WE'RE JUST WORKING TOWARDS THE THE NORTH END OF IT RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHEN SECOND HALF OR THIRD HALF OR WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THE FINAL, FINAL HALF WHEN THAT'S GOING TO BE. I JUST FEEL WERE HOLDING THOSE BUSINESSES RIGHT THERE HOSTAGE UNTIL UNTIL THAT HAPPENS.
[00:45:01]
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. SO TO CLARIFY, THOUGH WE'RE IN PROCESS OF REWRITING, OBVIOUSLY, ZONING. AND THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PLACE FOCUSED, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT ZONING DISTRICT.THE COMP PLAN, WHICH CALLS FOR DINING, ENTERTAINMENT THOSE SORTS OF USES.
CORRECT. AND THAT USE OF, OF TATTOO SHOP BODY PIERCING DIDN'T QUITE FIT IN THAT ACCORDING NOT IN STAFF'S INTERPRETATION. BUT THAT'S, THAT IS THAT IS UP FOR COUNCIL'S ULTIMATE DECISION.
GOT IT. SO SO THAT'S THE REASON. SO SO MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY THAT THE BEDFORD COMMONS CODE, BUT ACCORDING TO THE COMP PLAN, WHAT WE WANT TO SEE AND YES, IT'S VERY IT'S VERY CLOSE TO THAT TO THE COMMONS.
AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S, IT IS GAINING A LITTLE BIT MORE TRACTION GOING FORWARD.
SO JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR WES? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL. WES DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER TATTOO SHOPS? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. AND SO THIS IS A SUP AND BECAUSE IT'S AN EXCEPTION.
AND WE WE DECLINED ON THE ONE THAT CAME BEFORE.
SO THERE IS SOME THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY CHANGE THE ORDINANCE INSTEAD OF DOING SUPS, BECAUSE IF WE LET ONE TATTOO SHOP IN, THEN ANOTHER SUP WILL COME UP.
SO WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SURROUNDING AREA.
AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS THE SITE'S DEVELOPED, IT'S COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING AREA.
SO THAT'S THAT'S THE REASON BEHIND AN SUP. IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA OR THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE SITE IS DEVELOPED, MOST OF THE THINGS AROUND IT ARE DEVELOPED, SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT ARE THE USES COMPATIBLE WHAT'S ALREADY EXISTING THERE? SO I DON'T WANT TO I DON'T WANT TO MISLEAD THE COUNCIL AND THINK THAT IF YOU APPROVE ONE, YOU'VE GOT TO APPROVE OTHERS IN THE FUTURE.
THEY'RE ALL VERY SITE SPECIFIC. AND AS FAR AS LIKE WE TURNED DOWN ONE THREE YEARS AGO, ARE WE LIABLE FOR THAT IF WE PASS THIS ONE THROUGH? I'M NOT I CAN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT LIABILITY. NO, NOT NOT AT ALL.
ZONING IS LEGISLATIVE. AND AS WES SAID, IT'S A FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES CASE FOR EVERY APPLICATION, AND EACH ONE SITS ON ITS OWN MERITS. OKAY. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR WES HERE? OKAY, THAT SOUNDS GOOD. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:47.
SO THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP FIRST AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS.
HELLO. I'M MITCHELL DESOUZA REQUESTING THE PERMIT APPROVAL FOR SUP 25-2.
OUR FAMILY OWNED AND FRIENDLY TATTOO SHOP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN HURST, TEXAS FOR 16 YEARS.
THROUGH OUR CUSTOMER DATABASE, WHICH ENCOMPASSES TATTOOING, PIERCING, LOGO DESIGN, BUSINESS CARD DESIGN, BROCHURE DESIGN WE'VE ACCUMULATED A DATABASE OF PHONE NUMBERS, EMAIL ADDRESSES, AND CLIENTELE THAT ARE FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE STUCK BY OUR SIDE OVER THE PAST DECADE. WE'RE EAGER TO RELOCATE OUR ESTABLISHED BUSINESS IN BEDFORD.
WE BELIEVE IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY'S OVERALL CULTURE AND ARTISTIC FABRIC.
CENTRAL PLAZA IS A THRIVING LOCATION THAT ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH OUR VISION.
IT'S A VIBRANT COMMUNITY, A HUB FILLED WITH MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD, LAUGHTER, AND FUN.
WE BELIEVE OUR ARTISTIC VALUE WILL ENHANCE THE OVERALL AMBIANCE AND CHARACTER OF THAT AREA.
WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN PATRONS OF THE NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES AND RECEIVED A WARM HOSPITALITY WITH OPEN ARMS WHEN WE CONFRONTED THEM AND LET THEM KNOW WE WERE MOVING NEXT DOOR. IF APPROVED FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT OUR PRESENCE WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND ONCE AGAIN, WANT TO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE FOR TAKING YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
[00:50:06]
AND A FUTURE SUCCESS FOR OUR BUSINESS. A LITTLE BIT FROM THE HEART IS I'VE TATTOOED IN TOWN 22 YEARS.I'M BORN AND RAISED HERE IN HURST, TEXAS. I'VE RAISED MY CHILDREN, MY DAUGHTER OF 20 YEARS OLD, MY PARTNER. WE HAVE THREE YOUNG BOYS, AND TATTOOING HAS KIND OF EVOLVED MORE OF A HUB TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
I TATTOOED GRANDPARENTS AND THEIR GRANDKIDS FOR SPECIAL MOMENTS OF THEIR LIFE FROM GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE, AND TRAINING JIU JITSU WITH THE GUYS AT DOUBLE FIVE THERE IN THE PLAZA SINCE 2020.
I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS TELLING THEM THAT I WANTED TO BE NEIGHBORS, NOT KNOWING HOW THEY WOULD REACT, AND IT GAVE ME AN OVERWHELMING INSPIRATION THAT WE'RE RIGHT WHERE WE NEED TO BE, AND HOPEFULLY THAT YOU GUYS SEE OUR PURITY AND THAT WE'D BE A BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF BEDFORD. AND THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. APPRECIATE YOU FOR THOSE WORDS.
I THINK COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU PROBABLY JUST YOUR BUSINESS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO SO RELOCATING FROM FROM HURST. HURST TEXAS PIPELINE.
GOTCHA. SO I GUESS THE MAIN THING WHY WHY HERE? WHY BEDFORD. WHY WHY NOW? WELL, 13 YEARS AGO, A GUY NAMED RON TRUSTEE OWNS A BUNCH OF PROPERTIES ON PIPELINE.
HE SAW ME FRESH WITH MY KIDS, YOUNG, EAGER TO START MY OWN BUSINESS AND LEAVE THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD AND HE GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A SUITE IN HIS PROPERTY AT TRUSTEE PLAZA. AND I HATE TO USE THE TERM, BUT IT'S ALMOST KIND OF LIKE A SLUMLORD KIND OF DEAL.
EVERYTHING BREAKS I GOT TO FIX IT. AND WE MANAGED TO SURVIVE THE LAST 13 YEARS.
BUT IN HIS PASSING, THE LAST THREE YEARS, HIS FAMILY HAS ACQUIRED A PROPERTY.
THEY WILL NOT FIX ANYTHING ON THE PROPERTY. AND DOING MY TAXES THIS YEAR, I'M OVER $58,000 INVESTED INTO THEIR BUILDING, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY APPRECIATION FOR ANY OF THAT TO FIX ANYTHING ON THE PROPERTY.
THE LAST TWO STORMS, LITERALLY OUR WHOLE CEILING CAME IN AND COST US $4,000 TO REDO THE WHOLE CEILING AND ELECTRICAL PIPING, EVERYTHING. AND THEY DIDN'T REPLACE ANY OF OUR ARTWORK THAT WAS DAMAGED THAT I'VE BEEN COLLECTING OVER 25 YEARS.
IT'S A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT WITH A TEN YEAR PERCENTAGE DEAL, I GUESS, WITH THE LANDLORD.
AND SO WE FEEL VERY SAFE MOVING INTO THE CITY OF BEDFORD WITH A GOOD LANDLORD.
OKAY. SO THAT WAS THE MAIN MOTIVATION.
YOU KNOW, THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY YOU NEEDED TO GET OUT.
SO THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC LOCATION THAT KIND OF DREW YOU TO IT OR.
WE WENT UP AND DOWN BEDFORD UP AND DOWN HARWOOD ROAD WITH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT REAL ESTATE AGENTS.
AND MY PARTNER EZEKIEL HAS BEEN WITH ME THE LAST 13 YEARS, HAS ALWAYS BELIEVED IN MY VISION.
AND THE SECOND I BROUGHT THIS UP, HE WAS RIGHT ON BOARD.
HIS INSTINCT THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT MOVE. AND SO WE ALL WE KNOW IT'S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR US TO BE.
GOTCHA, GOTCHA. SO HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE? THESE ARE THE FIVE EMPLOYEES HERE. THIS IS OUR TEAM.
AND THESE TWO GUYS HAVE BEEN WITH ME OVER A DECADE.
THESE TWO LADIES BEEN WITH US FOR TWO YEARS. AND SO IT'S GROWING STRONG.
AND OUR CHILDREN, MY DAUGHTER'S 20 YEARS OLD JUST GOT HIRED LAST WEEK TO WORK TWO DAYS A WEEK.
SO IT'S A FAMILY OWNED, OPERATED BUSINESS. HIS TEENAGERS COME ON THE WEEKENDS AND HELP RUN THE SHOP.
AND THIS IS JUST WHAT OUR FAMILY IS GOING TO DO FOREVER.
AND OUR KIDS ARE GROWING INTO THE CULTURE. VERY GOOD.
VERY GOOD. SO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS HOURS.
IT'S 12 TO 12, AND ON SUNDAYS, IT'S ACTUALLY 12 TO 8.
WHEN DO YOU SEE MOST OF YOUR CLIENTELE? WHEN DO YOU SEE THOSE? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WITHIN THOSE HOURS, BUT? THE BUSIEST HOURS IS PROBABLY BETWEEN, I'D SAY 3 AND 8, 3 AND 8. YEAH, BECAUSE PEOPLE WORK REGULAR JOBS, THEY NORMALLY DON'T COME IN UNTIL 4 OR 5, YOU KNOW. AND THE RANDOM PEOPLE THAT MIGHT HAVE OVERNIGHT SHIFTS, THEY'LL COME IN BETWEEN 12 AND 5.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE TILL MIDNIGHT THAT WAY, THE PATRONS THAT WORK 9 TO 5S CAN STILL HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET THEIR TATTOO, BECAUSE EACH TATTOO TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO DESIGN, CONSULT, AND GET THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS.
IT'S IT'S A REALLY IN A FORM IT'S A MODERN DAY THERAPY.
SO DO YOU. I MEAN, DO YOU TAKE WALK INS? ARE THEY APPOINTMENT BASED?
[00:55:01]
WE DO DO WALK INS. MOST OF OUR ARTISTS LIKE TO BOOK ONE BIG APPOINTMENT A DAY BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF CLIENTELE.AND SO IF WE DIDN'T ACCEPT WALK INS, WE'D JUST BE A DISSERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
OKAY. AND DO YOU EVER HAVE PEOPLE WAITING A BIG WAIT TIMES? OH, YEAH. YEAH. SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE WAITING 2 OR 3 HOURS. AND THAT'S WHY WE FEEL THIS LOCATION IS GOOD BECAUSE THEY HAVE AX THROWING, THEY HAVE RESTAURANTS, THEY'LL SPEND MONEY WHILE THEY'RE IN TOWN. AND A LOT OF AT OUR LOCATION NOW WE HAVE A CONVENIENCE STORE ACROSS THE STREET AND THAT'S IT.
COUNCIL QUESTIONS ABOUT BUSINESS QUESTIONS? NOPE.
OKAY. I DID HAVE ONE MORE THING I DID WANT TO SAY.
AMY, THANK YOU FOR ASKING ABOUT THE FUTURE ORDINANCES, BECAUSE 20 YEARS AGO, I DID SUBMIT WE WERE APPROVED FROM THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT. AND I DID BRING UP IF THEY WROTE AN ORDINANCE, IT WOULD BE A LOT SAFER FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE GUIDELINES OF THE CITY TO HAVE THEIR LOCATIONS THEY WOULD HAVE APPROVE OF THAT. BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. ALL RIGHT. NO MORE QUESTIONS THEN I GUESS WE'RE GOOD.
I DON'T HAVE A FANCY SPEECH PREPARED, BUT MY NAME IS EZEKIEL.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MITCHELL FOR 16 YEARS NOW, AS OF APRIL 1ST.
I REALLY TAKE PRIDE IN OUR BUSINESS. I THINK THAT WE OFFER A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN TATTOOING, SOMETHING THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE GET TO EXPERIENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE TAKE PRIDE IN MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT COME IN.
SPEAKING ON WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE, IT WAS A MASSAGE PARLOR.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. HELLO. OH, SORRY. MY NAME IS KEMP I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MITCHELL AND EASY FOR THE PAST DECADE.
THEY THEY TOOK WHATEVER I HAD GOING ON AND MADE SURE WE COULD MAKE EVERYTHING WORK OUT, AND TEACHING ME THE BUSINESS PEOPLE, ETIQUETTE, EVERYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, GROUND UP.
THEY COMPLETELY BUILT ME INTO A BUSINESSMAN, YOU KNOW.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THIS SPOT WOULD BE PERFECT JUST BECAUSE THE FOOT TRAFFIC ITSELF, IT'S RIGHT OFF THE HIGHWAY. WE OFFER A LOT OF SERVICES, LIKE A LOT OUTSIDE FROM, YOU KNOW, GRAPHIC DESIGN, LIKE HE WAS SAYING TO MURALS TO EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
I'VE DONE PERSONAL STUFF FOR PEOPLE'S BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, JUST TO GET THEM UP ON THEIR FEET AND THEY COME BACK TENFOLD, LIKE EVERY TIME. HAVING A HEART FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME IN, I FEEL IS A BIG THING, AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT WILL BENEFIT THAT ENTIRE AREA.
I'VE GROWN UP HERE. I'VE ALWAYS HUNG OUT IN THAT AREA AND EVERYTHING, AND I JUST FEEL FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT'S BETTER THAN WHAT WE GOT GOING ON, AND WE'RE A LOT BETTER THAN WE CAN, YOU KNOW, THAN WE CAN BE AT THE PLACE THAT WE'RE AT.
NOT TO MENTION WE HAVE ENDLESS AWARDS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HEALTH AND ALL OF THAT, YOU KNOW, CLIENT PRIVILEGE AND ALL THAT. WE HAVE ALL OF THAT ALREADY GOING ON.
AND THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING OVER HERE TO, YOU KNOW, HELP ADAPT WITH YOU ALL IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP EVERYTHING GOING. AND, YOU KNOW, CHINATOWN'S AWESOME AND I LOVE TO EAT THERE EVERY DAY, SO. BUT THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
DON'T SEE A MAD RUSH TO THE PODIUM HERE. SO, GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:59.
LOOKING AT IT FROM 30,000 FOOT VIEW FOR ME I SEE THIS AS WE TAKE IT ONE OF TWO WAYS.
WE LOOK AT THIS TYPE OF CASE OR APPLICATION, YOU GOT TO LOOK AT IT FROM, OBVIOUSLY WHAT IS THERE?
[01:00:05]
DOES IT MEET WITH SURROUNDING BUSINESSES, THINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE TO DATE AT THAT SHOPPING CENTER? YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS P & Z, THE ONE DISSENTING OPINION DID WAS FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.DOES THIS IS THIS BUSINESS A PLACE TO FOCUS COMMERCIAL? SO I GUESS THAT'S THE QUESTION WE NEED TO START AT AS A COUNCIL PLACE FOCUSED COMMERCIAL IS THE ZONING FOR THAT AREA.
AND SO STAFF'S INITIAL RECOMMENDATION, BECAUSE THAT ZONING DISTRICT ENCOMPASSED ENTERTAINMENT, RESTAURANTS, THAT SORT OF THING THAT THEY IN THEIR OPINION, THIS DID NOT MEET THAT CRITERIA.
SO I GUESS THAT'S WHERE WE BEGIN AS A COUNCIL.
WHERE DO WE SEE THAT THAT FIT? DO WE THINK THAT THIS IS IN THAT PLACE FOCUSED COMMERCIAL? NOW, FOR ME, LOOKING AT IT, YOU KNOW, FROM THAT POSSIBILITY, AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY AS OTHER CITIES DO WHERE WE GET TO BUILD, YOU KNOW, HOW OUR CITY IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH LAND AVAILABLE, WE GET TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE BUILT OUT. SO NOW WE HAVE TO PLAY THE WAITING GAME.
SO WE'RE IN A TOUGH SPOT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THINGS, YOU HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS LOOKING 20, 30 YEARS OUT, WHAT IS THIS GOING TO LOOK LIKE? HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE? AND SO FOR ME I TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY WHEN YOU HAVE A CITY THIS LARGE.
IT WOULD BE EASY TO PUT ANY BUSINESS IN THERE BUT THEN AGAIN, WHAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IF WE DON'T ADHERE TO IT? SO COUNCIL MEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME LIKE YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS.
I DO. AND IF THESE HEARINGS ARE TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW, I DID LEARN SOMETHING NEW.
I LEARNED THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE FOR THIS BUSINESS AND THAT YOU ALL SEEM LIKE NICE PEOPLE.
BUT WE SPENT $140,000 ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THE INK IS BARELY DRY ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WE WE APPROVED IT JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING TO THROW IT OUT.
SO I THINK WE OWE IT TO OUR 7 TO 0 VOTE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO GO WITH THAT, TO STICK WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S OTHER PLACES IN BEDFORD.
I THINK WE SHOULD NOT BE PATCHWORKING WHAT THE ZONING AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LOOKS LIKE FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD TO GO FORWARD WITH THE VISION WE AGREED TO ON THAT DAY, THAT WE SPENT A WORK SESSION GOING OVER AND CAREFULLY THOUGHT WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS BEST FOR THE CITY AT THAT TIME, WHICH WAS AGAIN IN THE YEAR 2025.
THANK YOU. I HAVE MORE DO YOU WANT IT NOW OR LATER? YOU CAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. OKAY. SO I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM THAT IT IS SUCH A GREAT LOCATION, I THINK, IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND THERE'S NO SALES TAX.
I'D RATHER SOMETHING GO THERE THAT PAYS SALES TAX.
I ALSO KNOW THAT IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE PART AROUND TURNING POINT WAS DESIGNATED FOR THE FUNKY AREA AND THE THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WOULD GATHER.
DON'T MEAN TO TURN MY BACK ON YOU, NICHELLE. SO I THINK THERE COULD BE A PLACE FOR IT.
JUST NOT HERE, IT DOESN'T FIT WITH THE PLAN. WE PAID $140,000.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TO THAT END, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I'LL REITERATE WHAT YOU SAID.
FIRST OF ALL, YEAH, I, I CAN TELL THE PASSION IS THERE FOR FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND WHAT YOU DO,
[01:05:04]
AND AND IT IS, IS QUITE PHENOMENAL. YOU HAVE A FOLLOWING THAT IS THAT IS FOR SURE.AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, WE LOOK AT THAT SHOPPING CENTER IN PARTICULAR, I THINK IT'S IT'S CLOSE TO MEETING PLACE FOCUSED COMMERCIAL. WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
YOU HAVE RESTAURANTS THERE THAT THAT FITS IN THAT IN THAT DESIGNATION IN THAT PLACE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, LIKE I MENTIONED, BECAUSE BUSINESSES WERE ALREADY APPROVED THERE PREVIOUSLY AND SO THEY WILL STAY THERE UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS. SO AGAIN, WE HAVE TO TAKE A BIGGER VIEW AT THIS.
WHAT DO WE WANT THE CITY TO LOOK LIKE 20, 30 YEARS FROM NOW? AND ARE WE ADHERING TO THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND DO WE INTERPRET IT THAT WAY? TO ME, I INTERPRET IT THAT THAT SAME WAY THAT I THINK STAFF DOES IS THAT I FEEL THAT IT NEEDS TO BE ENTERTAINMENT FOCUSED, RETAIL ORIENTED, BECAUSE IT'S A SPECIFIC SPOT.
SURE, IT'S GOING TO BE METHODICAL. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO BUILD IT UP.
BUT EVENTUALLY BEDFORD COMMONS WILL HAPPEN. AND WHEN IT DOES, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL THE PIECES, PARTS TOGETHER TO MAKE IT WORK. AND SO I'M IN AGREEMENT TO THAT TO THAT END WITH THAT.
MAYOR. YES, MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI. THANK YOU MAYOR.
COGAN I AM GOING TO HAVE TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN STEVES.
TWO YEARS AGO, WE WE RAN OFF A PERFECTLY GOOD BUSINESS TRYING TO FILL A SPOT IN, IN THAT SAME SHOPPING CENTER BECAUSE WE WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE ENTRANCE TO BEDFORD COMMONS.
LIKE WHEN WE ALL GO TO THE HOSPITAL, THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR TREATMENT AND CARE.
BUT ULTIMATELY YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PATIENT.
AND I COMPLETELY AGREE. I THINK THE FUTURE. I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE THIS THE CITY OF BEDFORD IS DOING SOME FANTASTIC THINGS AND IT HAS OVER THE LAST 5 OR 6 YEARS. BUT ON THAT SHOPPING CENTER, WHICH I HAVE OCCASIONALLY BEEN INTO ONCE OR TWICE.
AND JUST NORTH OF THAT WE HAVE DFW. WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIPS.
WE HAVE NEXT TO THAT, A HOT ROD SHOP THAT HAD TO FIGHT TO GET THERE.
AND JUST TO THE EAST OF IT, I BELIEVE, IS ANOTHER MOTORCYCLE SHOP.
SO WHAT, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? WE I SEE PEOPLE COMMENTING ALL DAY ONLINE SAYING, WHY ARE WE NOT FILLING THESE SHOPPING CENTERS? WE HAVE EMPTY SHOPPING CENTERS EVERYWHERE. AND WE CAN'T.
WE DON'T. AS A COUNCIL, IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING OUT TRYING TO FIND BUSINESS, RIGHT? IT'S WE HAVE STAFF THAT GOES. WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUNDS THAT GO OUT AND FIND THAT.
BUT THE ONE THING AS A COUNCIL WE CAN DO IS STOP SAYING NO TO PEOPLE.
PEOPLE KEEP COMING TO ASK TO COME AND OPEN THEIR BUSINESS WITH US WE KEEP SAYING WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND THEN WE SAY, WELL, WE HAVE THIS WE HAVE A PLAN FOR THIS LAND.
WE'VE HAD IT FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS, AND I AND I'M CURRENTLY ON COUNCIL RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT. I'M ON COUNCIL AND I DON'T I MEAN, WE'VE GONE THROUGH FOUR DEVELOPERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BUT IT AND THEN IN THE LAST ITERATION, JUST LIKE COUNCILMAN STEVE SAYS, WE'RE WE'RE JUST WORKING ON THE FAR NORTHERN PART.
SO IT'S NOT EVEN ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THIS TO THE STRIP CENTER, WHICH TECHNICALLY, I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WOULDN'T WANT THAT STRIP CENTER THERE AT THE ENTRANCE TO BEDFORD COMMONS AND SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE.
YOU KNOW, AND I AND I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF SYNERGY WITH THAT TATTOO PARLOR, YOU KNOW.
AND I, I JUST REALIZED THAT THIS WAS THE TATTOO SHOP, THAT I DON'T HAVE ANY TATTOOS, BUT I DRIVE PAST IT A LOT, AND I USED TO AND I'M LIKE, WELL, THEY'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN TATTOOS FROM THEM, AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A SEEDY PLACE, BUT I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THEM OFF THE FREEWAY.
IT'S VERY, VERY VISIBLE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK VERY WELL WITH ALL THE OTHER BUSINESSES.
I MEAN, AND NONE OF THEM COMPLAINED. I MEAN, P & Z LITERALLY 6 TO 1 ONE.
[01:10:01]
AND YOU WERE MENTIONING YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ONE DISSENTING VOTE.WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SIX VOTES THAT SAID LET'S DO IT.
AND THOSE PEOPLE SAID, HEY, LET'S LOOK AT THIS.
DOES IT WORK WITH THE SURROUNDING BUSINESSES? AND IT DOES. DID I, DID I SAY, DID I SAY THE NUMBER WRONG? NO. I SEE JOY LAUGHING. YOU SAID YOU SAID IT RIGHT.
SO SO OKAY, I'LL POSE THE QUESTION. THE SURROUNDING BUSINESS.
SO A TATTOO SHOP IS IN COMPLIANCE BECAUSE OF WHICH BUSINESSES? WELL I WOULD SAY YOU HAVE YOU HAVE THE AX THROWING SHOP, YOU HAVE SOME RESTAURANTS, YOU HAVE THE TWO BARS.
WELL, THERE'S THREE TECHNICALLY BECAUSE OF BIGS.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S GOING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
IT'S BY LIKE THE FIVE SEASONS OR FOUR SEASONS.
EXCUSE ME, THERE'S NOT FIVE, FOUR SEASONS. SO IN MY OPINION, I THINK IT DOES WORK AND I AND IT FILLS UP, IT FILLS UP A SPOT IN ONE OF OUR, OUR STRIP CENTERS.
BUT THOSE ARE MY $0.02. VERY GOOD. DO DO APPRECIATE APPRECIATE THE OPINION.
OKAY. YEAH. AND SO IT OBVIOUSLY IS. IT'S A THIS IS A TOUGH ISSUE BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT AND I KNOW THERE'S THIS ANTICIPATION, THERE'S THIS WANT WHERE WE GOT TO FILL OUR SHOPPING CENTERS AND WE DO.
I DON'T I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU IN THAT REGARD.
THAT THAT BEING SAID, THOUGH, YOU KNOW, IS IT SHORTSIGHTED, IS IT SHORTSIGHTED TO FOR US TO DO WE APPROVE SOMETHING THAT THAT WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, A IT IT MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR, FOR RIGHT NOW.
LIKE IT MAY FIT IN HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT AGAIN, SO, SO SO YOU GET YOU GET YOUR WISH IN HAND.
RIGHT. AND THEN SO SO YOU'VE GOT TO YOU'VE GOT TO WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.
BUT THEN AT WHAT POINT BUT IF YOU DO THAT BUT AT WHAT POINT DOES IT BLOW UP.
AND IT BECOMES MOOT WHERE THE WHOLE PLAN, THE WHOLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BECOMES.
I MEAN, HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK A TATTOO SHOP.
NO, NO, A SPOT IN THIS WOULD DESTROY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
BUT I DO THINK THE IDEA OF A ROADMAP FOR THE FUTURE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO, LIKE, START WORKING ON IT. BUT WE'VE WE'VE RUN AWAY SO MANY BUSINESSES BECAUSE WE SAY, WELL, IT'S NOT IN THE IT'S NOT IN THE BEDFORD COMMONS PLAN.
I MEAN, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE WE HAD TO THEY HAD TO LITERALLY ALMOST FIGHT US TO, TO MOVE TO BEDFORD.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S A BAD LOOK FOR US, I THINK.
I MEAN, I THINK WE SHOULD WELCOME BUSINESSES.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
I'M ACTUALLY IN LINE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI IN THAT AND WHEN I SAW THE PACKET PRESENTED, I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, WE WE I WASN'T ON COUNCIL AND I WASN'T ON P&Z WHEN IT CAME THROUGH.
SO ALL THE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENED BEFORE I GOT HERE.
AND BUT THEN WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THIS BUSINESS ALREADY HAS WITH THE OTHER BUSINESSES, IS AND WE HAD THE SAME CONVERSATION LAST YEAR WITH MURRAY'S KUSTOM RODS ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND HOW IT DIDN'T FIT.
BUT THEIR BUSINESS IS ACTUALLY COMPLEMENTARY TO HARLEY DAVIDSON, SO WE'RE ALREADY OUT OF ORDER IF WE WERE TRYING TO LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION WITH MURRAY'S KUSTOM RODS AND HOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEEDED TO MAKE IT SPECIAL.
AND THEY THEY WERE GREAT. WE, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE TO GIVE COMPLIMENTS TO THE STAFF FOR COMING UP WITH APPROPRIATE USE SO WE COULD FIT THAT BUSINESS HERE. AND I FEEL LIKE JUST WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEM DESCRIBING HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET A TATTOO.
YEAH, THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE BUSINESS FOR RON'S.
THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO DO AX THROWING.
SO I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN DONOVAN BRANDON BECAUSE I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING.
I LOOKED UP HOW MUCH DOES THE AVERAGE TATTOO COST AND WHAT THE TAX DOLLARS WOULD BE FROM THAT, SINCE THE SERVICE, WE WOULDN'T GET THE TAX DOLLARS, BUT WE WOULD GET MORE FOOT TRAFFIC WITH, YOU KNOW, BOJANGLES AND, YOU KNOW, 151 COFFEE AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING ON AIRPORT FREEWAY.
AND THEN I DID HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE HOURS, BUT BIGS AND RON'S ARE OPEN TILL 2 A.M..
BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO BE SO ANTI-BUSINESS.
LIKE THE ONLY THING THAT WILL COME, THERE IS A NAIL SHOP THAT WE DON'T NEED.
AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE PRACTICAL ABOUT BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO BE HERE, THAT WANT TO VOTE IN THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY AND COMPLEMENT THE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINION.
APPRECIATE IT. COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND AND I'M GOING TO BE TOTALLY HONEST WITH YOU GUYS.
OKAY. FIRST I WAS LIKE, GOING, DO WE NEED TO DO THIS?
[01:15:04]
DO WE REALLY WANT THIS? AND THEN I THOUGHT OF TONIGHT WHEN I WAS SITTING HERE AND I WAS LOOKING IN ONE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE ART ON HIM.AND I'M JUST THINKING BACK TO IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN AND YOU GUYS PROBABLY WENT AROUND A LITTLE OLDER 70S AND IT WAS MOTORCYCLES AND HONDA CAME OUT WITH A COMMERCIAL IT SAYS, YOU MEET THE NICEST PEOPLE RIDING A HONDA.
AND I STARTED TO THINK, I AM NOT A TATTOO. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
IT IS A TOTAL IT'S AN OBSESSION AND I HEAR ONCE YOU GET ONE YOU JUST KIND OF GO.
BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE TATTOOS AND THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE.
AND I LOOK AT WE DO HAVE A HARLEY DEALERSHIP, WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN AND I LOOK AT THE FOOT TRAFFIC AND AND PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY GOING, I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S DOING THIS, BUT I'M WITH COUNCILWOMAN DAWKINS AND AND MAYOR PRO TEM THAT LOOK, IT IS WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR GOALS AND EVERYTHING IN CONCRETE, BUT OUR PLANS HAVE TO BE IN SAND, THAT WE CAN WORK WITH BUSINESSES AND SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.
AND I THINK THESE GUYS AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING AND TALKING.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HONEST AND OPEN WITH US.
BUT I DON'T SEE A REASON WHY I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS WOULDN'T BE A GOOD FIT FOR THAT SHOPPING CENTER.
SO, YOU KNOW, I HOPE I HOPE YOU GUYS GET YOUR WISH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST PEOPLE WITH TATTOOS.
I HAVE A DAUGHTER WITH THREE. SO I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THAT'S NOT MY ISSUE.
MY ISSUE IS THAT WHY HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? WE VOTED 7 TO 0 IN FAVOR OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST PEOPLE WITH TATTOOS.
APPRECIATE IT. COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL. MY MY CONCERN IS THAT, FRANKLY, THAT SHOPPING CENTER IS MEETING ALL THE THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS IT STANDS, BECAUSE IT'S GOT ENTERTAINMENT ON BOTH ENDS.
THE AX PLACE IS ENTERTAINMENT. MONARCH DENTAL DOESN'T FIT IN, OBVIOUSLY.
AND I THINK THAT WE FORGET SOMETIMES ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT OUR SALES TAX NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED.
EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO FAITH IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IF IT DOESN'T BRING ANY CASH INTO US. SO IF WE HAVE A CHOICE, WE WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD GET A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BUSINESS INTO THAT LOCATION. AND I AM, FRANKLY, ALONG THE SAME LINE WITH MISS BRANDON, THAT WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE PLAN THAT WE PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR. WE EXPECT THE STAFF TO BACK THAT PLAN.
AND THEN AND I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE FRUSTRATING FOR THEM TO COME BEFORE US AFTER WORKING ON THIS.
AND THEN WE WE JUST SORT OF, LIKE, WIPE OUR HANDS OF IT AND SAID, WELL, WE JUST DON'T FEEL IT TODAY.
SO THE SALES TAX IS PROBABLY THE BIG THING FOR ME, BUT THANK YOU.
VERY GOOD. YEAH. YEAH. FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S COMMENTS ON THIS.
AND WE CAN DISCUSS IN A VERY RATIONAL AND AND VERY JUST LEVEL HEADED, LEVEL HEADED DISCUSSION.
SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL GOING GOING FORWARD.
IT'S GOING TO BE A PUSH AND PULL GOING IN OF WHAT WHAT IT WAS.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, I CAME IN, THERE WAS A LOT OF KNOCKS GOING ON.
THE SALES TAX WAS WAS A BIG ONE. YOU KNOW, NOT NOT HAVING A SALES TAX BUSINESS HERE.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WAS, WAS A BIG ONE, TOO.
AND WHAT WE WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE. SO THAT'S THAT'S MY OPINION.
AND I THINK WE'VE, WE'VE ALL KIND OF SHARED THAT.
SO AT THIS POINT, IF THERE IS NO OTHER DISCUSSION.
I'D LIKE TO MAYOR COGAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS THIS BUSINESS.
I HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. ALL RIGHT.
[01:20:05]
AND SO THAT THAT ACTUALLY PASSES WITH FOUR IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND THREE IN THE NEGATIVE.I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR FOR CHOOSING BEDFORD.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON. YOU GUYS CAN LEAVE IF YOU WANT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY WE'RE GOOD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ITEM NUMBER FIVE. WE HAVE CONSIDERED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 5,
[5. Consider an ordinance amending Article V, “Short-Term Rental” of Chapter 26, “Businesses” of the Code of Ordinances to clarify regulations applicable to certain types of short duration stays. ]
SHORT TERM RENTAL OF CHAPTER 26 BUSINESSES OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO CLARIFY REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN TYPES OF SHORT DURATION STAYS.I GIVE YOU DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WES MORRISON.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON ON THIS SUBJECT.
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL.
WE SHORTLY THEREAFTER IMPLEMENTED THAT. AND AS WE'VE DONE THAT, WE'VE WE'VE CREATED NEW OR WE'VE WE'VE NOT CREATED WE'VE COME ACROSS NEW, NEW USES THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY FIT INTO THE DEFINITION THAT WAS DEFINED AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
SO WHAT THAT IS, IS WE'VE A NEW TERM HAS COME OUT AND IT'S A USE THAT IS IDENTIFIED AS A CRASH PAD.
TYPICALLY, CRASH PADS ARE THE BEST AMOUNT OF RESEARCH THAT STAFF CAN DO ARE TYPICALLY ALIGNED WITH AIRLINE INDUSTRY PERSONNEL THAT NEED A PLACE JUST TO SPEND THE NIGHT FOR 1 OR 2 NIGHTS WHILE THEY'RE EITHER CHANGING SHIFTS OR DOING WHATEVER THEY NEED TO DO FOR THEIR INDUSTRY.
SO THE CONCERNS THAT STAFF HAD IN LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE AND WE'VE RECEIVED SOME COMPLAINTS FROM NEARBY NEIGHBORS OF SOME OF THESE WAS THE MAINLY THE OCCUPANCY, THE PARKING, WHAT OTHER NUISANCES THESE COULD CAUSE ON THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD? WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WHAT WE'VE DECIDED, OR WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TONIGHT, IS TO AMEND THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE TO CREATE A DEFINITION SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CRASH PAD.
AND BUT IT ALSO SUGGESTS THAT CRASH PADS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THE SHORT TERM RENTAL AS FAR AS MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS.
THE ONE EXCEPTION TO THAT IS THAT IT WE DON'T FEEL LIKE CRASH PADS WOULD FALL UNDER THE REQUIREMENT OF HAVING TO PAY HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES, SO THEY WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THAT. ONE THING THAT I WILL I DO WANT TO KIND OF TOUCH BASE ON THAT AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS AND WE WERE LOOKING AT THINGS WE ALSO STARTED HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT, ARE THERE ANY OTHER REGULATIONS THAT WE CAN APPLY TO SHORT TERM RENTALS AS A WHOLE? AND ONE IS TO LOOK AT A POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING IN A MAXIMUM, I'M GOING TO SAY A MAXIMUM DENSITY, BUT I DON'T WANT THAT TO GET CONFUSED, REALLY A MAXIMUM NUMBER WITHIN A CERTAIN RADIUS.
SO FOR INSTANCE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE SHORT TERM REGISTERED SHORT TERM RENTAL CAN'T BE WITHIN.
I'M GOING TO THROW OUT 1,000FT OF ANOTHER SHORT TERM RENTAL.
AGAIN, WE WANT TO PROTECT THE THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THAT'S THE GOAL BEHIND THAT. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THOUGH WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION PROCESS, AND THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE. SO TONIGHT YOU'RE LOOKING AT REALLY JUST ADDRESSING THE CRASH PAD ISSUE.
AND THEN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER P&Z ACTS ON A ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, WILL BRING FORWARD AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO YOU TO SET THAT REGULATION FOR DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS BETWEEN SHORT TERM RENTALS.
WITH THAT, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU WES APPRECIATE IT. SO HOW DID WE FIND OUT ABOUT THIS? PRIMARILY COMPLAINTS. COMPLAINTS? OKAY. HOW MANY DO WE HAVE IN THE CITY? WE THINK WE HAVE THREE. OKAY. AT LEAST. ARE THEY IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER? ONE NO, I DO NOT BELIEVE SO. UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE I'M NOT AWARE OF.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THE THREE THAT I KNOW OF FOR SURE ARE NOT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. SO THE ADDED PROTECTION THAT WE DISCUSSED, WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON HERE TODAY, BUT IN THE FUTURE WHERE YOU CAN ONLY LIMIT IT TO A CERTAIN RADIUS FOR, FOR A NEW WHAT IS IT PERMIT.
RIGHT. WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T SHUT ANYTHING DOWN OR WOULDN'T, BUT AT THE VERY LEAST, IT'LL LIMIT IT.
[01:25:03]
NOT NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE I'M NOT AWARE OF CURRENTLY.I WANT TO GO THROUGH THE DEFINITION REAL QUICK. CRASH PAD.
SO WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE MEANS THE RENTAL OF COMPENSATION FOR ANY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE, ROOM, BED OR SLEEPING SPACE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SHARED SPACES, MULTIPLE SLEEPING SPACES, AND ACCESS TO SHARED COMMUNITY FACILITIES SUCH AS KITCHEN, BATHROOM, LAUNDRY FACILITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING TEMPORARY HOUSING SOLUTIONS CHARACTERIZED BY STAYS OF SHORT DURATION REGARDLESS OF LEASE TERM.
CRASH PADS ARE SUBJECT TO ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THE SHORT TERM RENTAL, SO CLEARLY THIS DOES NOT THIS WILL NOT BE ANYBODY WHO HAS A LONG TERM LEASE FOR IF THEY WANT TO OR IF THEY WANT TO SUBLEASE THEIR HOUSE OR SOME OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
THAT IS CORRECT. WE HAVE A LONG TERM RENTAL PROGRAM AS WELL.
AND IT'S SPECIFICALLY ANYTHING OVER 30 DAYS. GOT IT.
AND SO THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THAT CATEGORY. THAT'S CORRECT. ALL RIGHT.
SO SO PEOPLE WHO ARE THINKING THAT THEY HAVE TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST LEASING OUT THEIR HOUSE, NOT THE CASE. NOT UNDER THIS ORDINANCE. CORRECT.
NOT UNDER THIS ORDINANCE FOR THE CRASH PAD. SO THAT BEING SAID IT'S A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD THE CHANGES THAT WE ARE THAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED MAXIMUM STAY, YOU JUST SAYING THAT CRASH PADS DO NOT APPLY ANYTHING WITHIN THE 29 DAYS.
THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. DOUBLE CHECKING THERE.
VERY GOOD. SO, SO HONESTLY, THAT'S THAT'S BASICALLY ALL THAT WE'RE DOING.
SO WHAT WHAT IS THE END GOAL HERE BY BY DOING THIS.
WHAT DO WE FEEL THE RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE BEING PLACED ON SHORT TERM RENTALS.
HOW IS THIS GOING TO HELP ALLEVIATE? SO THE THE MAIN CONCERN REALLY IS THESE CRASH PADS THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE AND, AND FUTURE ONES THAT POP UP. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, WE'RE PROTECTING THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE'RE PROTECTING ANY LIFE SAFETY CONCERNS. AND SO BUILT IN ALREADY TO THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE IS A MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY PER BEDROOM.
SO RIGHT NOW IT'S TWO, TWO PEOPLE PER BEDROOM AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL FOR THE STRUCTURE.
SO DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS PLUS TWO IT WOULD BE THE MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY.
AND THEN WE ALSO REQUIRE REGULAR INSPECTIONS...
WAY MORE THAN WHAT'S BEING REGULATED AT CURRENT SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE.
WE DO A LIFE SAFETY INSPECTION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, SMOKE DETECTORS, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT ARE WORKING. WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S HOUSE RULES POSTED.
THERE'S SOMEONE THAT IF WE DO HAVE SOME VIOLATIONS OR WE FIND ISSUES, THERE IS A 24 HOUR CONTACT, A LOCAL CONTACT THAT WE CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO.
AND AND WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET SOME OF THOSE ABATED QUICKER THAN, THAN TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE THROUGH AN APPRAISAL DISTRICT ADDRESS OR SOMETHING TO THAT NATURE. GOING OFF OF MEMORY HERE. GIVE ME JUST A SECOND.
BUT AGAIN, FOR THE FUTURE, WE'RE REGULATING THOSE AS WELL.
AND LET ME SEE IF ANYTHING ELSE THAT JUST JUMPS OUT.
PARKING RESTRICTIONS AGAIN. ALL PARKING IS RESTRICTED TO THE NUMBER OF SPACES ON THE PROPERTY.
SO OUR RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PARKING REQUIREMENTS ARE AT LEAST THREE SPACES.
BUT UNDER OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO ONLY HAVE THEY'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE US AN EXACT NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES AND NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE ON SITE.
ALL RIGHT. SO SO HEAVILY REGULATING THEM IN AN EFFORT TO GET THEM INTO COMPLIANCE, AND POSSIBLY AN EFFORT TO LIMIT THEM WITHIN THE CITY. CORRECT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT.
QUESTIONS FOR WES ON THIS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS AFTERWARDS.
SO, WES, IF THE SAME SITUATION EXISTED WITH SOMEBODY THAT WASN'T RENTING THE PROPERTY, BUT WAS HOUSING A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF BEDS. FOR INSTANCE, I'M, I'M THINKING PERHAPS WORKERS THAT TRANSFER FROM AREA TO AREA KEEPS
[01:30:06]
A PLACE FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO STAY, AND THEY'RE NOT REALLY RENTING, BUT THEY'RE STAYING IN THAT PLACE AND THEY'VE GOT SEVERAL BEDS.DOES THAT COVER THIS OR WOULD THAT REQUIRE SOMETHING ELSE? BECAUSE FRANKLY, I KNOW SOME OF THESE BIGGER HOMES COULD REALLY HOUSE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE.
SINCE THIS DEFINITION REFERENCES COMPENSATION I DON'T KNOW, BRYN.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THIS IS THE KNOWN OPEN AND OBVIOUS AIRLINE CRASH PAD BUSINESSES.
AND IF THERE ARE OTHER SORT OF NON SHORT TERM RENTAL, NON CRASH PAD, NON LONG TERM LEASE HOUSING CONCERNS, WE CAN I WOULD RECOMMEND WE LOOK AT THAT SEPARATELY.
BUT BUT THAT COULD BE AN ISSUE OR MAY ALREADY BE AN ISSUE BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW IT.
AND RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY ORDINANCES TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO IF YOU HAD LIKE 20 PEOPLE LIVING IN A 2,000 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE, REALLY JUST COMING, SLEEPING, LEAVING, COMING, SLEEPING, AND THEY WERE WORKING IN THE AREA SOME JOB.
THEN NO, WE REALLY WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO THAT.
I WOULD ONLY POINT OUT THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD A CRASH PAD ISSUE UNTIL WE GOT THE COMPLAINT.
I PEOPLE ARE GETTING VERY CREATIVE ON HOW TO USE THEIR PROPERTIES THESE DAYS.
AND THIS IS QUITE FRANKLY, IS JUST A RESPONSE TO THAT.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO, WES, WERE WE ABLE TO SEE IF OTHER CITIES HAVE THE SAME KIND OF CRASH PAD ISSUE OR WE ARE KIND OF INNOVATING AND LEADING BECAUSE OF OUR PROXIMITY? WE WE RESEARCHED A LOT OF CITIES, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE MAJOR AIRPORTS.
AND I COULD NOT FIND ANY OTHER CITIES SPECIFICALLY THAT HAD A CRASH PAD RELATED ORDINANCE.
I I SO I TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO, I COULDN'T FIND ANOTHER COMPARABLE ORDINANCE.
WE DID ADDRESS A CRASH PAD IN EULESS. THEY FOUND A SINGLE ONE.
AND THEY ELECTED TO JUST SUSPEND OPERATIONS. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THAT'S NOT THE RESPONSE WE RECEIVED FROM THE THE CURRENT CRASH PAD OWNERS IN BEDFORD. I THINK IT'S A VERY LUCRATIVE BUSINESS, FRANKLY.
BUT I'M ON THE FACULTY FOR THE UT LAND USE LAW SEMINAR EVERY YEAR WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE THE BIGGEST ZONING ISSUES IN THE STATE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. AND WE DISCUSSED I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH ONE OF THE SPEAKERS DURING THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE PRESENTATION. AND NOBODY HAS AN ANSWER AT THIS POINT FOR THESE CRASH PADS.
I MEAN, THEY REALLY ARE UNIQUE, THEY'RE NOT STATEWIDE.
TO WES'S POINT THEY DO LOCATE AROUND AIRPORTS AND SORT OF KEEP A LOW PROFILE.
OKAY. AND SO THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS AND THAT'S COMING UP THE ORDINANCE, DID WE HAVE ANY COMMUNICATION WITH THE BUSINESSES LIKE, HEY WE NEED SOME MORE STRUCTURE OR, OR JUST ANYTHING LIKE, SO THEY NOTICE.
WITH THE EXISTING CRASH PADS THAT WE KNOW OF, WE DID HAVE SOME WE HAVE TWO ACTIVE CODE VIOLATIONS RIGHT NOW WITH THOSE BECAUSE WE WERE WE WERE KIND OF TRYING TO ATTEMPT TO REGULATE THEM SOMEHOW AND THAT'S HOW WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT REALLY APPLIED TO THEM.
SO THEY DO KNOW THAT WE ARE MAKING SOME AMENDMENTS TO ADDRESS THIS.
AND WE DIDN'T GIVE THEM A TIME FRAME, SO, BUT ONCE, ONCE, THIS IS IF IT IS APPROVED, THEN WE WILL BE REACHING OUT AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THE SHORT TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION, WE'RE REGISTRATION. WE'RE GOING TO TWEAK THE APPLICATION ONLINE A LITTLE BIT. SPECIFICALLY FOR CRASH PADS. BUT BUT THIS IS NOT GOING TO SURPRISE THEM AT ALL. OKAY. I WAS YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I, I GUESS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PUSHBACK.
THIS IS ACTUALLY LESSER THAN A TOTAL BAN. SO THIS IS A COMPROMISE.
[01:35:04]
BECAUSE IF IF THEY WEREN'T STAYING THERE, THEY'D BE STAYING AT A HOTEL, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY. YOU READ THEIR ADVERTISEMENT. IT'S JUST.I'M GOING TO PASS THIS ON TO BRYN. SORRY, BRYN.
NO. THAT'S FINE. FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, THESE ARE TYPICALLY LONG TERM LEASES, AND THERE'S NO WAY FOR US TO KNOW HOW MANY NIGHTS ANY PARTICULAR PERSON STAYED UNDER THE LONG TERM LEASE. YOU SIGNED A SIX MONTH LEASE, BUT YOU'RE ONLY THERE INTERMITTENTLY FOR SO MANY DAYS EVERY MONTH.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN REQUIRE THE DISCLOSURE OF HOW MANY NIGHTS SOMEONE MAY STAY.
NOW, IF WE WANT TO INCLUDE SOME LANGUAGE IN THIS THAT ESSENTIALLY SAYS, IN THE EVENT THAT A LEASE FOR A CRASH PAD DOES NOT EXCEED 30 DAYS, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PAY HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES.
WE COULD CERTAINLY DO THAT. I THINK IT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT ON AN HONOR SYSTEM, WHETHER OR NOT WE SECURED COMPLIANCE JUST BASED ON THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE THAT WE WOULD HAVE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEAH, A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
YEAH, THAT'S THAT WAS MY $0.02 TOO, IS THAT THIS IS PEOPLE ARE DOING THIS FOR SIX MONTHS A YEAR AT A TIME LONG TERM LEASES, AND THEN THEY'RE COMING AND GOING AND JUST BE HARD TO TRACK FOR THAT, FOR THAT HOT TAX. BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I WAS TRYING TO LOOK AT IS HOW DO WE HOW DO WE GET OUR HOT TAX MONEY FROM THIS? BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I JUST DON'T THINK THERE'S THERE'S A WAY FOR THAT GOING FORWARD.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR WES? ALL RIGHT.
COUNCIL I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ONE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU STAFF. ALL RIGHT, DON'T GO ANYWHERE, WES.
[6. Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 90, “Peddler and Solicitors” of the Code of Ordinances related to handbill distribution. ]
I GIVE YOU DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WES MORRISON.WE'VE RECEIVED OVER THE PAST YEAR, I WOULD SAY BOTH DEVELOPMENT CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OUR CITIZENS REGARDING SPECIFICALLY HANDBILLS JUST BEING TOSSED FROM VEHICLES.
THEY THEY'VE LITTERED NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY'VE LITTERED STREETS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A VIDEO OF ONE BEING THROWN FROM A VEHICLE THAT NEVER EVEN MADE IT IN A YARD.
AND AND SO WHEN WE DID THAT, WE JUST DID A WHOLE REVIEW OF THE ENTIRE SOLICITOR AND HANDBILL ORDINANCE AND SO THAT'S HOW WE GOT HERE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. SPECIFICALLY, THIS REALLY JUST CLARIFIES THE THE, THE PERMIT PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT HANDBILL DISTRIBUTION IS DOES FALL UNDER COMMERCIAL SOLICITATION. ALSO, THE THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE REALLY HAD THINGS DIVIDED UP INTO DIFFERENT SECTIONS.
WE INCLUDED TIME FRAMES. THOSE TIME FRAMES DID NOT CHANGE.
THE TIME FRAMES ARE, ARE EXACTLY AS THEY WERE IN THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE.
AND THEN WE WE SPECIFICALLY STATED YOU COULD NOT BE TOSSED.
THOSE HANDBILLS COULD NOT BE TOSSED FROM VEHICLES HOW THEY HAD TO BE DISTRIBUTED.
AND SO WITH THAT, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENTS.
IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO GO INTO THOSE. I THIS IS REALLY JUST COMMERCIAL SOLICITATION HANDBILL DISTRIBUTION, DOES NOT AFFECT ANY OTHER TYPE OF RIGHTS THAT WOULD BE GRANTED UNDER FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
OKAY. I APPRECIATE IT WES. LOOKING AT THE RED LINE HERE.
UNDER DEFINITIONS, THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY CHANGED WAS UNDER SOLICITOR, THEY GAVE BASICALLY THE CRITERIA PERSON ENGAGES IN GOING DOOR TO DOOR, HOUSE TO HOUSE, OR ALONG ANY STREETS OF THE CITY, AND IT GIVES YOU CRITERIA FOR THAT.
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS ANY ITINERANT MERCHANT, ITINERANT VENDOR, PUBLICATION SOLICITOR.
SO THIS IS WHERE I'M GOING TO NEED BRYN'S LEGAL MIND ON THIS ONE.
SO LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIND IT HERE SOLICITATION ACTIVITY.
THERE WE GO. SO THIS ONE, THIS DEFINITION, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE MY THINKING IS RIGHT ON THIS.
SO IS DEFINED AS TRAVELING BY ANY MEANS GOING DOOR TO DOOR, HOUSE TO HOUSE OR BUILDING TO BUILDING, PERSONALLY CONTACTING PERSONS TO ASK, BARTER OR COMMUNICATE IN ANY MANNER, WHETHER ORALLY BY WRITTEN OR PRINTED MATERIALS,
[01:40:04]
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HANDBILLS OR LEAFLETS, HAND SIGNING, OR BY ANY OTHER METHOD, DIRECT OR IMPLIED. AND THIS IS THE PART WHERE I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SELLING OR TAKING ORDERS OF GOODS, WARES, MERCHANDISE OR SERVICES, OR COLLECTING MONEY FOR THE PURPOSE THAT DOES NOT REFLECT ON THE EXEMPTION LIST.THIS IS STRICTLY COMMERCIAL. SO THIS IS NOT TAKING AWAY ANYONE'S RIGHT FOR PASSING OUT INFORMATION, BE IT AN HOA THAT HAS AN EVENT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY'RE PASSING OUT INFORMATION.
THAT'S BE IT A CANDIDATE. THAT'S POLITICAL ACTIVITIES, RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES, THINGS THAT ARE PURELY NONCOMMERCIAL, THAT HAVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF PROTECTION UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT THAN COMMERCIAL SPEECH DOES.
SO AND OTHER THAN THAT THE TIMES HAVEN'T CHANGED.
NO NONE ON, ON SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS, SO NOTHING HAS CHANGED THERE.
MOSTLY IT'S BASICALLY I SEE WE HAVE WE ADDED SOMETHING WITH AGGRESSIVE OR INTIMIDATING MANNER.
THAT WAS NOT IN THE THAT WAS NOT IN THE REGULAR IN THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE.
AND, AND WE FOUND THAT LANGUAGE IN SEVERAL OTHER MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES THAT REGULATED THIS, AND WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BAD IDEA TO TO ADD THAT AS WELL.
VERY GOOD. SO IN YOUR RESEARCH WITH OTHER CITIES, WE'RE GOING AHEAD AND ADDING THAT AS WELL.
CORRECT? OKAY. SO DO WE FEEL THAT THAT BY THIS GIVING US WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS, THAT IT WILL GET THESE COMPANIES INTO COMPLIANCE? SO THE MAIN ISSUE HERE THAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE THROWING IT OUT THE THE CARS.
CORRECT. AND THESE, THESE HANDBILLS ARE STILL DISTRIBUTED.
IT WON'T BE THROWN OUT OF A CAR WINDOW. AND AND THERE ARE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES IN THERE AS TO HOW IF THEY ARE, THEY'VE EITHER GOT TO BE HANDED TO THE RESIDENT OR THEY'VE GOT TO BE AFFIXED SOMEHOW, MINUS USING ANY TYPE OF ADHESIVE.
GOTCHA. AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPLY TO A PERMIT.
EXACTLY. AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND THEY STILL HAVE TO DO THE REQUIRED VEST THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO WEAR AS WELL THAT OUR ORDINANCE IS A LITTLE UNIQUE IN BUT IT'S WE FOUND THAT OUR CITIZENS LIKE IT AND AND WE KEPT IT IN THERE.
THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOT IT. INTO THAT DID WE MAKE ANY CHANGES FOR THE PERMIT PROCESS? NO, WE DID NOT. JUST AS A AS A POINT OF REFERENCE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO, NO CHANGES IN THE ORDINANCE.
WE ARE MOVING TO USE OUR ONLINE SYSTEM WHICH WILL CHANGE ACTUALLY, WHERE THEY PICK UP PERMITS IN THE FUTURE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'LL BE IN BUILDING C SO A LITTLE BIT MORE USER FRIENDLY FOR THOSE PEOPLE, AND IT'S AN ONLINE SYSTEM.
ONCE ASSUMING THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED, WE WILL START MOVING TOWARD THAT PROCESS.
GOT IT. GOT IT. AND APPEALS. DID WE CHANGE ANYTHING WITH THE APPEAL PROCESS? I DO NOT BELIEVE SO, BUT LET ME DOUBLE CHECK THAT REAL QUICK.
AND THEN THE POLICE CHIEF HAS 40 DAYS UPON RECEIPT TO SCHEDULE A HEARING.
THAT'S CORRECT. I THINK WE MADE SOME WE DIDN'T REALLY CHANGE ANY OF THE REGULATIONS OR REQUIREMENTS.
WE JUST REWORDED A FEW THINGS, JUST CLARIFIED IT TO MAKE SURE THAT, HEY, YOU HAVE 10 DAYS TO FILE YOUR APPEAL AND THEN IT HOLDS OUR POLICE CHIEF ACCOUNTABLE TO SAYING YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT A HEARING WITHIN 40 DAYS.
THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. ANY OTHER MAJOR CHANGES? NOPE. THAT I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SUMMARY. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WES, HAVE WE HAD ANY? I KNOW WE HAVE VIOLATIONS. HAVE THEY BEEN FINED OR ANY COMPANIES? SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE, I BELIEVE, THERE. I KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE.
THEY'VE REALLY HELPED US TRY TO CRACK DOWN AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
AND WE DO HAVE ONE ACTIVE CITATION THAT I BELIEVE IS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH MUNICIPAL COURT.
OKAY. BECAUSE I HAD SOMEBODY THE OTHER NIGHT AT 8:30, I WAS TELLING ANDREW ABOUT IT, A PEST CONTROL COMPANY, AND IT WASN'T OUR FRIEND. JUST AND THEY HAD A YOUNG MAN HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT AN ORDINANCE WAS, LET ALONE AND WHAT ARE WE DOING TO LET OUR BUSINESSES KNOW ABOUT THIS?
[01:45:01]
HOW ARE WE GETTING THAT WORD OUT THERE TO THEM THAT THEY HAVE THIS THEY HAVE THIS PROCESS.WE HAD SOME ROBBERIES AND WE SAID SOME STUFF WITH SOLICITORS OR PEOPLE PRETENDING TO BE SOLICITORS.
SO THAT'S WHY WE CAME UP WITH THIS ORDINANCE A WHILE BACK. RIGHT? YEAH. I THINK WE'RE COMMUNICATING AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND IN ALL THE AVENUES WE CAN TO, TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS.
HONESTLY, PART OF ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ON THE STAFF LEVEL IS ONE REASON WE'RE GOING TO AN ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS IS TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO COMPLY. WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE STILL NOT GOING TO HAVE EVERYBODY COMPLY.
WE'RE JUST ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THOSE. AND THIS IS ONE THAT IT'S REALLY HARD FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT AND, AND EVEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO IF WE DON'T SEE THEM AND WE DON'T ACTUALLY WITNESS THEM DOING IT, IT'S HARD FOR US TO WRITE CITATIONS AND DO THINGS.
VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR WES? ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL. I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I GET COMPLAINTS BEING ON AN HOA BOARD CONSTANTLY ABOUT THE TRASH THAT'S BEING THROWN AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND IT'S ARBITRARY. IT'S NOT THE SAME TIME ALL THE TIME.
THEY DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO TO HIT THE RIGHT HOUSE.
IT'S IT'S TERRIBLE. AND THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO ABOUT IT.
SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT THING. SO THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON.
OKAY I'M NEW HERE. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO REQUEST THAT WE HONOR MR. WILLIAMS REQUEST TO POSTPONE THE DECISION? WELL, IT WOULD BE IT WOULD JUST BE A MOTION TO TO TABLE IT PENDING PENDING WHAT WE HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THAT, ABOUT THAT.
BUT THAT THAT IS ALL THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE GIVE A LITMUS TEST TO STAFF, THOUGH, BEFORE WE AND SEE WHAT THEIR FEELINGS ARE ON THE MATTER OR NOT.
MAYOR. YES. PLEASE GO AHEAD. I HAVE NO PATIENCE FOR THIS.
THEY KNEW THEY WERE THEY WERE MISBEHAVING FOR YEARS AND WE AND THE POLICE HAVE BEEN ON IT.
I MEAN THAT I I DON'T CARE IF THEY DON'T EVER DO IT AGAIN IN THE CITY.
SO THAT'S WHERE I STAND, AND I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO TABLE ANYTHING.
GOTCHA. VERY GOOD. I'M YOU KNOW, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.
I WAS GOING TO, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE STAFF A CHANCE. BUT THEY ALL BUTTONED UP PRETTY QUICKLY, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND PUT MY NECK OUT ON THE LINE AND SAY THAT I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT. I DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO TABLE, WHICH IS WHY I ASKED YOUR QUESTION ABOUT ABOUT ADHERING TO BUSINESS AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THEIR BUSINESS PROVIDED THAT THEY KNOW HAVE TO DO IT BY OUR RULES.
COUNCILMAN DONOVAN BRANDON. I CAN READ THE ROOM.
I OKAY, SO YOU YOU WANT TO STRIKE THAT FROM THE RECORD? I'M JUST JOKING. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL. I THINK THERE MAY BE A MOTION.
OKAY, I'LL MAKE A MOTION. A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN BY COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT PASSES AGAIN UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU STAFF. ALL RIGHT WES, YOU ARE DONE.
YOU ARE FREE. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS.
[7. Mayor/Council Member Reports ]
JUST FOR MINE, JUST AS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THIS UPCOMING SATURDAY, WE'LL HAVE MORNINGS WITH MYSELF THE MAYOR, MORNINGS WITH THE MAYOR. I KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PHRASE IT. I DON'T, I THAT DOES NOT SOUND GOOD. OH, STRIKE THAT FROM THE RECORD.YEAH. MORNINGS WITH THE MAYOR. OKAY, BUT THAT'LL BE SATURDAY OVER AT THE YMCA CENTER.
AND SO COME GET GET UPDATES FROM WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE CITY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD UPDATES COMING ON. AND SO I'LL ANTICIPATE SEEING A LOT OF YOU THERE.
SO HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY BOARD.
[8. Report on most recent meeting of the following Boards]
NOTHING TO REPORT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YES, YES.SO WE'VE GOT A GROUP CALLED THE FRIENDS OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER, THE BEDFORD ANIMAL SHELTER, AND WE'RE HAVING OUR FIRST EVENT AT TURNING POINT ON SUNDAY, AND IT WILL BE FROM 1 TO 6, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE TENT.
AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE RAISING MONEY FOR INJURED AND MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR ANIMALS.
SO STOP BY TURNING POINT TO SEE US, AND ALL THE MONEY WILL GO TO THE THE BEDFORD SHELTER.
VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DIDN'T SEE THAT YOUR COMMISSION WASN'T ON THERE, SO APOLOGIES. IT'S NOT A COMMISSION, I KNOW EXACTLY.
WE'RE WORKING ON IT. WE'RE WORKING ON IT. ALL RIGHT. BEAUTIFICATION ADVISORY BOARD. THANK YOU,
[01:50:03]
MR. MAYOR. SO, BEAUTIFICATION MET LAST NIGHT.THIS PAST WEEKEND. IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT FOR CLEANUP BEDFORD DAY.
IN CONJUNCTION, WE HAD JUNKYARD JUNK WHERE 151 CARS HAD DUMP THE DUMP AND 91 FOR E-WASTE. SO OTHER THINGS THE THE ADVISORY BOARD DID I APPRECIATE THEM BECAUSE EVERYONE IS VERY SKILLED WITH PLANTS AND PLANTING AND TREES. AND SO THEY WANTED TO SUPPLEMENT WE HAVE A, THE WESTWARD THAT'S WORKING ON THE MEDIANS. SO THE ADVISORY BOARD DID HAVE SUGGESTIONS SPECIFICALLY ON TREES.
AND SO IF YOU GUYS ARE A FAN OF BRADFORD PEARS, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD IS NOT.
SO THEY HAVE AN AUGMENTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WESTWOOD OF FOUR SPECIFIC TREES FOR THE MEDIANS.
SO AGAIN, WE HAVE SKILLED PEOPLE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD.
AND SO IT WAS A LIVELY DISCUSSION AROUND THAT.
AND THERE ARE ALSO HAVE BEEN BIG PROPONENTS FOR THE ART FESTIVAL.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ART FESTIVAL MOVED TO OCTOBER, BUT THE BEAUTIFICATION ADVISORY BOARD DOES PLAN TO HAVE A BOOTH TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT RECYCLING AND TEXAS NATIVE PLANTS. SO LOOK FOR US IN OCTOBER, THEN.
OKAY. VERY GOOD. GOOD REPORT. ALL RIGHT. LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WE MET LAST WEEK, AND I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR IN FOR THE LIBRARY IS LINDA CHRISTIE, AND SHE IS TREASURER OF THE FRIENDS GROUP.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A TEEN VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR, AND THAT IS BENNETT [INAUDIBLE].
IN ADDITION LIBRARY GIVING DAY RAISED $3,000.
THAT'S IT. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT.
PARKS AND RECREATION. THANK YOU MAYOR. NO REPORT.
WE'LL MEET AGAIN NEXT MONTH. SOUNDS GOOD. ALL RIGHT.
SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD. SEE HOW LONG WE CAN STAY HERE TONIGHT.
VERY MUCH SO. OH MY GOSH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON.
WE HAVE CITY MANAGER STAFF REPORTS. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL THIS EVENING JUST TO .
[9. City Manager/Staff Reports ]
YOU WILL SEE WES AT SEVERAL OF YOUR NEXT UPCOMING MEETINGS AS WE CONTINUE TO KIND OF WORK THROUGH SOME OF THESE MORE CRITICAL ORDINANCE CHANGES.SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP ON THAT.
LOTS OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING. ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE'VE RUN OUT OF THINGS ON OUR AGENDA. WELL, IT MUST BE THAT TIME, MAYOR.
I THINK IT IS. IT'S TIME TO MOTION TO MOVE TO ADJOURNMENT.
ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN BY MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI.
I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
ALL RIGHT. THE AYES HAVE IT, AND WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 7:53.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.