[00:00:02]
[CALL TO ORDER/GENERAL COMMENTS]
WE AHEAD AND CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE HERE TODAY.
GOOD TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE AND ENGAGED, AND THOSE OF YOU WANT TO WELCOME WHO ARE TUNING IN ONLINE.
FIRST THINGS FIRST, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HAVE AN INVOCATION BY COUNCILMEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BEING LED TO US BY MAYOR PRO TEM MICHELLE DAWKINS.
EVERYONE WILL GO AHEAD AND PLEASE RISE.
>> WILL YOU PRAY WITH ME? GRACIOUS CREATOR, SOURCE OF WISDOM ACROSS ALL NATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF GATHERING TODAY AS STEWARDS OF THIS PLACE WE CALL HOME.
BLESS EVERY SOUL IN THIS ROOM, THOSE ELECTED TO LEAD, AND THOSE WHO CAME TO SPEAK THEIR TRUTH.
HELP OUR LEADERS LISTEN WITH OPEN EARS AND OPEN HEARTS TO HEAR NOT JUST THE WORDS OF THE PEOPLE, BUT THE HOPES TUCKED BEHIND THEM.
GRANT THEM PATIENCE, EVEN WHEN OPINIONS DIFFER, AND A SPIRIT OF HUMILITY THAT SEEKS UNDERSTANDING OVER PRIDE.
MAY WISDOM RISE UP IN EACH DECISION MADE HERE TONIGHT, NOT JUST FOR WHAT'S EASY OR IMMEDIATE, BUT FOR WHAT'S JUST AND LASTING.
GIVE THIS COUNCIL THE CLARITY TO LOOK BEYOND TODAY'S HORIZON AND THE COURAGE TO CHOOSE WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
LET THIS MEETING BE A LIGHT, NOT ONLY FOR POLICY, BUT FOR UNITY.
AND MAY YOUR GRACE CARRY THIS CITY FORWARD HAND IN HAND AND NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM MICHELLE DAWKINS.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO COUNCIL RECOGNITION, EMPLOYEE SERVICE RECOGNITION.
[COUNCIL RECOGNITION]
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE PODIUM.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL.
I HAVE WITH ME TODAY, CORPORAL BAXLEY, CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF POLICE SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
CORPORAL BAXLEY BEGAN HIS CAREER IN 2010 AS A POLICE OFFICER.
HE BECAME AN FTO FIELD TRAINING OFFICER IN 2020 AND PROMOTED A CORPORAL IN 2023.
HE HOLDS A MASTER PEACE OFFICER CERTIFICATION FROM T COLE.
HE'S A SWAT ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER.
HE'S A FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR, AN ALERT INSTRUCTOR.
HE HAS A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT ON FILE.
HE'S RECEIVED SEVERAL LETTERS OF COMMENDATION AND HE'S RECOGNIZED FOR HIS RELIABILITY, WORK ETHIC AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT CORPORAL BAXLEY IS ALWAYS WILLING TO RAISE HIS HAND.
I CAN'T GET HIM TO STOP VOLUNTEERING TO TAKE ON MORE RESPONSIBILITY AND DO MORE THINGS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I OFTEN TELL HIM, WE NEED YOU TO SOMETIMES JUST WORK.
I TRUST HIS ABILITY TO TEACH OUR GUYS HOW TO HANDLE SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY STRESSFUL SITUATIONS.
I CAN TELL YOU, FROM HIS SWAT EXPERIENCE, IF YOU'RE AT ONE OF OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AND YOU SEE SOMEBODY PERCHED UP HIGH THAT'S LOOKING OVER YOU, HE MAY OR MAY NOT BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, AND I TRUST MY LIFE COMPLETELY IN HIS HANDS WHEN HE'S UP THERE.
I'M NEVER MORE COMFORTABLE WHEN I KNOW THAT CORPORAL BAXLEY IS UP THERE WORKING HARD.
HIS WORK ETHIC REALLY SETS THE BAR FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND HIS ACTIONS.
JUST TODAY, HOT OFF THE PRESS IN MY MAILBOX, I RECEIVED A LETTER OF COMMENDATION FROM THE COLLEYVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR CORPORAL BAXLEY. HE DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.
HIS ASSISTANCE IN A STOP IN THEIR CITY, AND HE DIDN'T HESITATE TO GO UP THERE TO ASSIST THEM TO TAKE A DANGEROUS SUBJECT INTO CUSTODY SAFELY WITHOUT ANYBODY GETTING HURT, INCLUDING THE SUBJECT, AND NEVER MISSED A BEAT, TO GET UP THERE AND HANDLE BUSINESS, AND THEIR CHIEF SENT ME A LETTER TODAY RECOGNIZING HIM FOR HIS EFFORT.
CORPORAL BAXLEY, 15 YEARS. [APPLAUSE]
[00:05:05]
UP, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS,[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
AND WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS HERE.THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE NEW, WE'VE RECENTLY CHANGED OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION.
IN THE PAST, WE DIDN'T HAVE A TIME LIMIT.
YOU WERE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON PARTICULAR ITEMS WHEN YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS.
NOW THAT WE'VE CHANGED THE RULES, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES ON THIS, AND YOU CAN SPEAK ON ANY ITEM THAT YOU.
TO START THINGS UP, WE WILL HAVE JAMES BRENT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JAMES BRENT EDWARDS.
MY WIFE AND I LIVE AT 4113 SILVER WOOD LANE IN THE SILVER WOOD SUBDIVISION, JUST OFF CHEEKS PERGER, WHICH IS ABOUT 100 FEET OR SO FROM THE INTERSECTION OF CHEEKS PERGER AND HERITAGE.
THE TRAFFIC ON CHEEKS PERGER IS ALREADY CHALLENGING TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT THIS NEW HEB GROCERY STORE DEVELOPMENT STRETCHING FROM HERITAGE TO RIO GRANDE BOULEVARD IS ALREADY CAUSING PEOPLE TO RECONSIDER BUYING HOMES UP AND DOWN THAT CORRIDOR.
THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY IN A JOINT EFFORT OF THE CITIES OF BEDFORD AND COLLEYVILLE.
WHILE I AM HERE AS A HOMEOWNER CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC BEING A LOOMING MAJOR PROBLEM, I ACTUALLY WANT TO ADDRESS ONE TRAFFIC MATTER IN PARTICULAR.
THAT IS THE EXIT THAT HAS BEEN CUT AND IS BEING PAVED ONTO HERITAGE AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT. YOU SEE WHERE IT IS.
I HOPE THAT EACH OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS SHORT STRETCH OF HERITAGE THAT GOES NORTH FROM CHEEK SPARGER AND PROVIDES THE BORDER BETWEEN COLLEYVILLE.
THIS VERY NARROW, NO SHOULDER STREET HAS CONTINUED TO HANDLE MORE AND MORE TRAFFIC. NEXT IMAGE. THANK YOU.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE EXIT HAS BEEN CUT RIGHT NEXT TO THE GUARD RAILS OF THE VERY SMALL AND VERY DANGEROUS BRIDGE ON HERITAGE.
I WATCHED A CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE TRYING TO TURN FROM THAT EXIT TO GO NORTH ON HERITAGE, AND IT TOOK UP THE WHOLE STREET AND BRIDGE BECAUSE OF THE TURNING RADIUS AND THE VERY NARROW BRIDGE.
IN ADDITION, I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT SOME PEOPLE DRIVING SOUTH WILL BE ABLE TO EVEN SEE A VEHICLE THAT IS EXITING OR VICE VERSA. NEXT, IMAGE. THANK YOU.
TRAFFIC AT THIS INTERSECTION, EVEN IN NON-HIGH TRAFFIC TIMES LIKE THIS, IS OFTEN CHALLENGING.
THE CURRENT THREE-LANE, VERY SHORT PIECE OF HERITAGE THAT IMMEDIATELY CLOSES DOWN TO THE TWO-LANE, NARROW LANES OF THE BRIDGE ARE BAD ENOUGH.
NEXT. BUT VEHICLES TURNING FROM CHEEK SPARGER, ONTO HERITAGE FROM EITHER DIRECTION OFTEN DO SO AT A VERY HIGH SPEED AND FREQUENTLY CUT THE CORNER WHEN DRIVING EAST AND TURNING NORTH.
NEXT, I LIKE FASHION, VEHICLES TURNING OFF HERITAGE ONTO CHEEK SPARGER, FREQUENTLY NOSE OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC.
THEN A LITTLE VIDEO CLIP, AS I TALK HERE.
THIS VIDEO GIVES JUST AN IDEA IN A MOMENT OF THE DODGEBALL GAME THAT CAN GO ON WITH THIS INTERSECTION, AND THIS WAS NOT SHOT AT HIGH TRAFFIC TIME.
IN ADDITION, THE SCHOOL BUS PARKS RIGHT AT THE EAST ENTRY TO THE CREEKSIDE SUBDIVISION AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM TRINITY UNION APARTMENTS, UNLOADING A LARGE NUMBER OF KIDS EVERY DAY.
I HAVE QUESTIONED SOME OFFICIALS, AND THEY HAVE GIVEN ME ANSWERS ABOUT STUDIES THAT WERE DONE 10 YEARS AGO.
I HAVE YET TO GET AN ANSWER FROM ANYONE IF THIS INTENTION IS FOR THIS EXIT TO ALSO BE THE ENTRY EXIT FOR TRUCKS GETTING INTO THIS DEVELOPMENT.
NO ONE OUTSIDE OF THE DEVELOPERS IN THE CITIES KNEW ABOUT THIS ENTRY-EXIT LOCATION UNTIL RECENTLY.
THERE'S A GREAT ANGST ABOUT THE TREMENDOUS STRESS THAT IS GOING ON TO PUT ON THE TRAFFIC PICTURE FOR THIS ALREADY CHALLENGED AREA.
I JUST APPEALED TO YOU IMMEDIATELY TO GO TO WORK WITH OFFICIALS FROM OTHER CITIES, PARTICULARLY COLLEYVILLE, IN THIS CASE OF THIS INTERSECTION, TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE IN PROCESS OF TALKS WITH COLLEYVILLE, AND WE'RE ALWAYS WITH THAT INTERSECTION. I FEEL YOUR PAIN.
I LIVE IN THE SUBDIVISION RIGHT NEXT TO YOURS.
I LIVE RIGHT CLOSE TO MARTIN THERE.
IT IS GOING TO BE A NIGHTMARE FOR SURE.
BUT WE WILL WORK WITH THE OTHER CITIES TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THAT ADDRESSED AS MUCH AS WHAT WE CAN WITHIN OUR AUTHORITY.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CHERYLYN EDWARDS, AND I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF SILVER WOOD CLOSE TO THE INTERSECTION OF CHEEK SPARGER IN HERITAGE.
YES, BRENT IS MY HUSBAND, BUT THREE MINUTES IS SHORT, AND HIS SPEECH EARLIER DIDN'T FIT.
ANYWAY, WHILE THE ATB PROJECT HAS BEEN TOUTED AS A SHOW OF COOPERATION BETWEEN US AND BEDFORD, THERE ARE THREE CITIES THAT COME TOGETHER AT OR NEAR THAT INTERSECTION.
I RECOGNIZE THAT COOPERATION CAN BE DIFFICULT, AND IT'S ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY TO ANOTHER CITY.
HOWEVER, AT LEAST HALF OF THAT INTERSECTION AT CHEEK SPARGER AND HERITAGE IS SURROUNDED BY BEDFORD AND BEDFORD RESIDENTS.
BEDFORD RESIDENTS TRAVEL ON CHEEK SPARGER.
THE CITY OF BEDFORD MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF ITS RESIDENTS.
[00:10:02]
YOU ARE OUR ADVOCATES.YOU ARE ELECTED ADVOCATES IN THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CITIES.
THE MAPS SHOWING WHICH PARCEL OF LAND IS OWNED BY WHICH ENTITY ARE CONFUSING, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO USE COMMON SENSE AND SAY THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR OUR CITIZENS.
AS A CURRENT HOA BOARD MEMBER, I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY HELPED OUR RESIDENTS.
ONE OF YOU MADE A CALL WHEN CONSTRUCTION LIGHTS WERE BEAMING INTO OUR HOMES AT 2:00 A.M FROM THE DIGGING AND ALL THE PRE-WORK.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR US.
I AM ASKING EACH OF YOU NOW TO MAKE A NOTE ON YOUR CALENDAR TO MAKE A PURPOSEFUL FIELD TRIP.
GO NORTH ON CENTRAL, TURN RIGHT ON CHEEK SPARGER, AND THEN YOU TRY TO TURN LEFT ONTO HERITAGE WITHOUT CROSSING THE LEFT TURN ON HERITAGE.
I HAVE NEARLY BEEN HIT HEAD-ON THERE MULTIPLE TIMES.
THEN LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT AT THE NEW DRIVEWAY AS YOU IMMEDIATELY COME UPON THE LITTLE METAL GUARDS AND NARROW BRIDGE.
THEN ADD IN, IT MIGHT BE A SCHOOL DAY, AND A SCHOOL BUS IS SITTING THERE AT THE INTERSECTION.
THEN, PLEASE USE YOUR HUMAN BRAIN, NOT AN AI ANALYSIS, TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS SAFE.
MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, AND OTHER CITY OF BEDFORD OFFICIALS, ON BEHALF OF MY HUSBAND, MYSELF, AND OTHER RESIDENTS OF SILVER WOOD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THIS POTENTIAL DANGER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT UP, WE HAVE MR. BOB COCHRAN.
>> I'M GLAD TO SEE WE FINALLY GOT THIS MICROPHONE FIXED.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S THE FIRST THING I NOTICED.
>> I'M SORRY, I WASN'T HERE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING WHEN YOU DECIDED THREE MINUTES WAS ADEQUATE BECAUSE I DO HAVE A TENDENCY TO GO ON.
FIVE WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER, BUT THAT'S SAID AND DONE.
I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE COUNCILMAN DONOVAN BRANDON FOR THE WORK SHE DID IN GETTING, WHAT IS IT HERE, GLOBAL FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS HERE IN BEDFORD, BECAUSE I THINK IT'LL DRAW SOME ATTENTION TO US, FAVORABLE ATTENTION. GOOD WORK ON THAT.
>> VERY GOOD. I APPRECIATE THE KUDOS, ALWAYS.
I'M GLAD WE GOT THAT MIC FIXED FOR YOU.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON WITH OUR AGENDA WITH PRESENTATIONS.
[PRESENTATIONS]
FIRST UP, WE HAVE THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM, TMRS, PRESENTATION ON THE OPTION OF PROVIDING A RETIREMENT COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT TO THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND POTENTIAL FUNDING OPTIONS.I'LL GIVE YOU FINANCE DIRECTOR BRADY OLSON.
>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE ARE LOOKING AT ADJUSTING OUR RETIREMENT PLAN IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE.
WE HAD MR. ANTHONY MILLS FROM TMRS TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE OPTIONS ARE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M ANTHONY MILLS, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SERVICES AT THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
I WAS JUST SITTING VISITING WITH ONE OF YOUR RESIDENTS, AND I RECALL THAT THE LAST TIME THAT I ADDRESSED THIS BODY WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2009, AND THAT WAS THE YEAR, THE DATE THAT THE COUNCIL ELECTED TO JOIN TMRS AS A PARTICIPATING CITY.
AT THAT TIME, YOU BECAME THE LARGEST PARTICIPATING CITY TO JOIN TMRS IN OVER 25 YEARS, AND THAT YOU STILL HOLD THAT DISTINCTION FROM THE DAY THAT YOU'VE JOINED.
WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE YOU AS A MEMBER OF OUR SYSTEM.
YOU'RE ONE OF 943 CITIES THAT PARTICIPATE IN TMRS. I WAS JUST THINKING, AS CORPORAL BAXLEY WAS RECEIVING HIS 15-YEAR AWARD, WHEN YOU RECRUITED HIM TO THE CITY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO TELL HIM WAS THAT TMRS IS HIS RETIREMENT PLAN.
WHEN THE CITY JOINED TMRS, WHAT YOU DID WAS YOU PUT IN PLACE A PENSION BENEFIT THAT IF EMPLOYEES WORK LONG ENOUGH FOR THIS BENEFIT, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY QUALIFY FOR A LIFETIME RETIREMENT BENEFIT.
THAT LIFETIME RETIREMENT BENEFIT THAT THEY DRAW, AND YOU NOW HAVE OVER 156 AS OF LAST MONTH, 156 FOLKS WHO HAVE RETIRED FROM THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND ARE DRAWING A RETIREMENT BENEFIT.
THOSE OTHER 332 WHO ARE WORKING AND PAYING INTO TMRS TARTER BENEFIT, AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, WHEN THEY FINALLY GET TO RETIREMENT, THAT BENEFIT WOULD BE A FIXED BENEFIT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFETIME.
BUT FOR A CO-OPTION THAT COUNCILS DO HAVE THE OPTION TO ADOPT,
[00:15:02]
AND WE'LL SPEND SOME TIME THIS EVENING TALKING ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR OPTION THAT YOU HAVE IN THE PRESENTATION THIS EVENING.>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THERE WE GO.
I DID JUST WANT TO POINT OUT TO YOU SOME OF THE VERY BASIC PENSION FUNDING MECHANICS.
AND THIS HOLDS TRUE FOR JUST ABOUT ANY RETIREMENT PLAN.
THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU MAKE IN TMRS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT COME IN FROM THE EMPLOYEES, AND THEN THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT COME IN FROM THE CITY, THE EMPLOYER.
IN TMRS, THOSE TWO CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BUILD A CASH BALANCE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE CONVERTED TO THAT LIFETIME RETIREMENT BENEFIT.
NOW, OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR MEMBERS' CAREERS, THE INVESTMENT RETURNS FROM TMRS, THAT MAKES UP THE BULK OF THE INCOME THAT WILL ACTUALLY PAY THE ULTIMATE RETIREMENT BENEFIT.
TMRS CREDITS THE CITY'S ACCOUNT WITH INTEREST EACH YEAR TO HELP YOUR BENEFIT ACCUMULATION FUND GROW.
THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU'RE PAYING OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR EMPLOYEE'S CAREER, WHEN THEY FINALLY GET TO THE FINISH LINE, JUST AS THE 156 WHO ARE ALREADY DRAWING A BENEFIT, THE CITY WILL HAVE SET ASIDE THE APPROPRIATE DOLLARS AND ACCRUED THOSE ASSETS THAT YOU NEED TO CONVERT THEIR BENEFIT TO A LIFETIME RETIREMENT BENEFIT.
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT TO ANY GOVERNING BODY THAT I SPEAK TO, THAT ONE OF THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF TMRS THAT I LIKE TO POINT OUT WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER PLANS THAT YOU MAY READ ABOUT OR HAVE HEARD ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, TMRS, OUR ACTUARIAL FUNDING POLICY ENSURES THAT REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER PLAN DESIGN YOU HAVE IN PLACE, EVERY ONE OF THE 943 CITIES THAT PARTICIPATE, THEY'RE ON TRACK TO BE SURE THAT THEY ARE 100% FULLY FUNDED.
WE HAVE A CLOSED AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE THAT ENSURES THAT WE HAVE A PREDICTABLE SCHEDULE WHEN YOU WILL HAVE 100% OF THE ASSETS TO COVER 100% OF THE LIABILITIES THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PLAN, REGARDLESS OF THE PLAN DESIGN.
I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT AS I DO FOR ANY GOVERNING BODY THAT I SPEAK TO.
BUT BACK TO THESE PENSION FUNDING BASICS, WE'VE GOT THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE INTEREST, THAT'S THE INCOME SIDE OF THE PLAN.
BUT THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU'VE GOT THE BENEFITS.
I'VE MENTIONED TO YOU THAT THE CASH BALANCES IN TMRS WILL ULTIMATELY BE CONVERTED TO THAT RETIREMENT BENEFIT.
OUR ACTUARIAL FUNDING POLICY ENSURES THAT YOU, THE EMPLOYER, WILL HAVE THE ASSETS ON ACCOUNT WHEN THE MEMBER GETS TO THAT FINISH LINE.
THEN THE OTHER EXPENSE COMES FROM TMRS'S OPERATING EXPENSES, ONE OF THE LOWEST THAT YOU'LL FIND IN ANY PUBLIC PLAN IN THE COUNTRY.
THE TMRS ANNUAL VALUATION IS CONDUCTED WHEN BOOKS CLOSE DECEMBER 31ST OF EACH YEAR.
THIS IS A SIMPLE SNAPSHOT OF THE COVER LETTER FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD'S VALUATION.
WE HAVE THE RATE LETTER THAT IS NORMALLY MADE AVAILABLE THE FIRST WEEK IN JUNE, AND THIS YEAR WAS NO DIFFERENT.
WE ANNOUNCE WHAT THE CONTRIBUTION RATE, THAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUR COVERED PAYROLL.
THOSE 332 EMPLOYEES THAT I MENTIONED THAT PARTICIPATE NOW AND ARE PAYING IN, WE LOOK AT THAT PAYROLL, AND WE HAVE FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF THAT PAYROLL THAT THE CITY OF BEDFORD NEEDS TO CONTRIBUTE DURING 2026 TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATE PROGRESS TOWARD YOUR FULLY FUNDED STATUS THAT I'VE MENTIONED ALREADY.
NOW, WHEN LOOKING AT THOSE PENSION FUNDING BASICS, ONE THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS EVENING HAS TO DO WITH THE BENEFITS.
HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, YOU DECIDE WHAT YOUR PLAN SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
JUST AS YOU DID IN NOVEMBER 2009, WHEN YOU JOINED TMRS, YOU DECIDED WHAT MADE SENSE FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
OVER THE YEARS, YOU HAVE LOOKED AT THE PLAN, AND YOU, NOT NECESSARILY THIS COUNCIL, BUT PAST COUNCILS, HAVE DELIBERATELY TAKEN THE APPROACH TO IMPROVE THE PLAN OVER THE YEARS AT YOUR DISCRETION, AND ON YOUR TERMS,
[00:20:01]
YOU'VE DECIDED WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD.WHAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS EVENING HAS TO DO WITH A PARTICULAR BENEFIT THAT I BELIEVE THAT STAFF IS PUTTING IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THIS YEAR.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BASIC DESIGN OF YOUR PLAN, I'VE MENTIONED THAT EMPLOYEES PAYING A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR PAY, 7% IS THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE HERE AT THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
THE CITY IS MATCHING ON A 2:1 BASIS, MEANING FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE MEMBER HAS ON ACCOUNT, THE CITY HAS SET ASIDE $2 WITH THAT MEMBER'S NAME ON IT.
IT DOES NOT BELONG TO THE MEMBER, THOUGH, UNTIL THAT MEMBER FINALLY RETIRES.
THAT'S WHERE WE WILL THEN CONVERT THOSE DOLLARS TO THAT LIFETIME MONTHLY RETIREMENT BENEFIT.
YOU ALSO HAVE AN OPTIONAL PROVISION CALLED UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT WITH THE TRANSFER COMPONENT.
THAT IS A PROVISION IN TMRS THAT IS ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE PROGRESS THAT A MEMBER MAKES WITH SALARY IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER AND PLAN DESIGN CHANGES THAT HAVE IMPROVED OVER THE YEARS.
WHAT IT DOES IS IT TAKES A HYPOTHETICAL LOOK BACK RETROACTIVELY AND SAYS, IF THIS EMPLOYEE HAD ALWAYS HAD THE CURRENT PLAN DESIGN IN PLACE, AND IF THIS EMPLOYEE HAD A SALARY THAT LOOKED MORE LIKE HIS SALARY TODAY, THERE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL CASH CREDITS ON ACCOUNT FOR THAT MEMBER.
THE UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT HELPS TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL CASH CREDIT TOWARD THAT MEMBER'S TOTAL RESERVE BALANCE.
THAT TOTAL RESERVE BALANCE IS WHAT WE WILL ULTIMATELY CONVERT TO THAT LIFETIME RETIREMENT BENEFIT.
IN TMRS, THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL PROVISION CALLED THE SUPPLEMENTAL DEATH BENEFIT, WHERE IF A MEMBER PASSES AWAY AS AN ACTIVE EMPLOYEE, TMRS, OVER AND ABOVE ANY RETIREMENT BENEFIT, WOULD PAY ONE TIMES THAT MEMBER'S ANNUAL SALARY TO HIS BENEFICIARY OR HER BENEFICIARY.
YOU HAVE THAT COVERAGE FOR BOTH ACTIVE EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES.
NOW, FOR YOUR RETIREES, THOSE 156 FOLKS WHO HAVE RETIRED, WHEN A RETIREE PASSES, IT IS NO LONGER TIED TO SALARY.
IT IS A SIMPLE $7,500 LUMP SUM DEATH BENEFIT THAT WOULD BE PAID TO THAT PERSON'S BENEFICIARY OVER AND ABOVE ANY SURVIVING RETIREMENT BENEFITS THAT THAT PERSON LEAVES HIS BENEFICIARY.
THAT'S THE SUPPLEMENTAL DEATH.
THEN THE OTHER BULLET POINT THAT I SKIPPED, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT YOUR STAFF WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THIS BUDGET SEASON, AND THAT IS A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
THE COLA IN TMRS ALLOWS FOR A CITY TO INCREASE THE RETIREMENT BENEFIT FOR A RETIREE BASED ON THE CHANGE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
AS I SAID AT THE OUTSET, WITHOUT A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT, YOUR RETIREE'S BENEFIT STAYS FIXED TO WHATEVER IT WAS WHEN THAT PERSON FIRST RETIRED.
YOU DO HAVE CERTAIN OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS EVENING IS NOT NECESSARILY A COMPLETE VIEW OF ALL THE OPTIONS THAT YOU COULD CONSIDER RELATED TO THE COLA.
BUT I DID WANT TO GO WITH WHAT WE KNOW YOUR STAFF HAS AT LEAST STUDIED AND DID WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
BUT CERTAINLY, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER OPTIONS THAT WE COULD ALLOW YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT AS WELL.
IN PARTICULAR, WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A PROVISION THAT WAS ADOPTED DURING THE 88TH LEGISLATURE THAT WAS IN 2023.
IT IS THE NON-RETROACTIVE COLA CALCULATION IN TMRS. BUT THIS OPTION, IT SUNSETS DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.
THE LAST TIME THAT A CITY COULD ADOPT THE NON-RETROACTIVE COLA WOULD BE THAT DATE TO TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 2026.
THE REASON THAT YOUR STAFF WOULD WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF THIS, OBVIOUSLY, THE WINDOW IS CLOSING FOR YOU TO ADOPT IT.
BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE NON-RETROACTIVE COLA DOES, THE CITY OF BEDFORD IS ONE OF THE CITIES THAT IT WAS REALLY DESIGNED FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.
HERE'S WHY. WHEN THEY ADOPTED THE NON-RETROACTIVE COLA IN 2023,
[00:25:02]
AND IT WENT INTO LAW, THERE WERE SEVERAL CITIES IN TMRS THAT WANTED TO START GRANTING REPEATING COLAS, RECURRING COLAS.TO DO SO, TMRS'S TRADITIONAL COLA CALCULATION REQUIRES THAT WE LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL RETIREMENT ANNUITY, THE ORIGINAL YEAR IN WHICH A PERSON RETIRED, AND WE FIGURE OUT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THAT PERSON'S RETIREMENT LIFE, WHAT THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF INFLATION HAS BEEN.
EACH YEAR, ONLY THE RETIREES WHO RETIRED IN THAT PARTICULAR YEAR WILL ALWAYS GET THE SAME PERCENTAGE INCREASE.
BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS GOING BACK TO THAT PERSON'S ORIGINAL RETIREMENT ANNUITY, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CHANGE OF INFLATION YEAR OVER YEAR, EACH YEAR THAT THAT PERSON HAS BEEN RETIRED.
SOMEONE WHO RETIRED IN 2009, WHEN BEDFORD FIRST JOINED TMRS. I ACTUALLY REMEMBER AS SOON AS YOU ALL CAME IN, SOMEBODY DID RETIRE WITHIN THAT VERY NEXT MONTH.
NOW, YOU TOOK THE APPROACH WHEN YOU CAME IN BECAUSE THEY DID ANOTHER OPTIONAL BENEFIT AT THAT TIME, YOU DID NOT GRANT THEM ALL OF THE MONETARY CREDIT THAT THEY COULD HAVE RECEIVED, YOU GRANTED 20% OF THE CREDIT THAT THEY COULD HAVE BECAUSE THEY DID HAVE ANOTHER RETIREMENT PLAN IN PLACE.
BUT IMPORTANTLY, ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THAT TIME, AND I THINK IT'S WORTH BRINGING UP THIS EVENING, IS THAT THE CITY OF BEDFORD AND YOUR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES HERE DO NOT PAY INTO SOCIAL SECURITY.
BECAUSE YOU DON'T PAY INTO SOCIAL SECURITY, TMRS, BEING YOUR PRIMARY RETIREMENT PLAN FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES WITHOUT A COLA, THERE IS NO OTHER PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME THAT WOULD IMPROVE FOR THOSE RETIREES WHEN THEY DO GO INTO RETIREMENT.
BUT IF YOU WERE TO ADOPT THIS NON-RETROACTIVE COLA, WHAT WE WOULD DO EACH YEAR, IT WOULD BE A RECURRING, REPEATING COLA.
BUT WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT A REPEATING COLA FOR TMRS IS JUST LIKE THE OTHER BENEFITS THAT I'VE ALLUDED TO ALREADY.
YOU GET TO ADVANCE-FUND YOUR FUTURE COLAS.
IF ANYBODY KNOWS SOMEONE WHO IS A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER, MS. MEREDITH, I BELIEVE.
A SCHOOL TEACHER IN TEXAS HAS GONE MANY YEARS WITHOUT A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IT'S SO DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GRANT A COLA TO TEACHERS IS THAT THEY HAVE NOT ADVANCED-FUNDED THE COST.
IN TMRS, EVERY CITY THAT HAS A REPEATING COLA, WE SHOW YOU THE LIABILITIES UPFRONT.
JUST LIKE THE REST OF YOUR RETIREMENT BENEFIT, YOU PUT IT ON A FIXED STANDARDIZATION SCHEDULE SO THAT BY THE TIME THEY GET TO RETIREMENT, YOU'RE ALREADY PAYING FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE COLAS.
BUT THE REASON THAT THIS NON-RETROACTIVE COLA, IN PARTICULAR, FOR A TOWN LIKE BEDFORD WAS SO IMPORTANT, IS THAT WITHOUT THAT RETROACTIVE CALCULATION, THERE WAS NO CATCH-UP TO BE HAD WHEN A CITY ADOPTS THE NON-RETRO COLA.
WE HAD LARGE CITIES LIKE AMARILLO, LIKE GARLAND, LIKE LONGVIEW.
YOU DON'T THINK OF THOSE AS LARGE CITIES, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBERS IN TMRS, THOSE ARE BIG CITIES.
THOSE CITIES, WHEN THEY ADOPTED NON-RETROACTIVE COLAS, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK BACK RETROACTIVELY, SO THERE WAS NO CATCH-UP COST.
IT'S FROM THAT POINT PROSPECTIVELY, GOING FORWARD, THAT COLAS WOULD BE CALCULATED.
BASED ON THAT PERSON'S, YOUR RETIREE'S, CURRENT RETIREMENT BENEFIT, NOT THEIR ORIGINAL RETIREMENT BENEFIT.
IT'S NOT JUST DOING AWAY WITH THE CATCH-UP, BUT WHEN WE LOOK PROSPECTIVELY, 30 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO LOOK AT THAT PERSON'S CURRENT ANNUITY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THEIR RETIREMENT, SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN RETIRED FOR 30 YEARS.
WE'RE NOT GOING BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL RETIREMENT
[00:30:03]
TO FIGURE OUT THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF INFLATION, YOU WILL HAVE BEEN GRANTING THEM ALONG THE WAY BASED ON THEIR CURRENT BENEFIT, SO IT COSTS LESS FOR THE CITY.IT IS A SIMPLER, LESS EXPENSIVE, MORE EQUITABLE COLA THAN TMRS'S TRADITIONAL COLA.
AS I SAID, OUR TRADITIONAL COLA, EVERYBODY GETS A DIFFERENT PERCENTAGE, AND IT DEPENDS ON THE YEAR IN WHICH THEY RETIRED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT DETERMINES THE IMPACT OF INFLATION OVER THEIR RETIREMENT LIVES.
ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE RETIREES WOULD RECEIVE THE SAME PERCENTAGE IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ADOPTING THIS NON-RETROACTIVE COLA.
THE CPI PERCENTAGE, I'VE MENTIONED THAT IT'S BASED ON THE CHANGE IN CPI, YOU CAN GRANT 30, 50, OR 70% OF THE CHANGE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
IT'S GOING TO, AGAIN, LOOK AT THAT CURRENT ANNUITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH IT SHOULD BE IMPROVED.
IF INFLATION IS 3% CHANGE IN THAT STUDY PERIOD, AND YOU HAVE A 50% COLA, IT'S A 1.5% INCREASE FOR EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF THE YEAR IN WHICH THEY RETIRED.
THAT'S AS SIMPLE A CALCULATION AS IT CAN GET.
THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS IN TMRS.
>> AGAIN, YOU WOULD HAVE TO ADOPT IT BEFORE THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR TO TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 2026.
THAT WOULD BE THE LAST YEAR THAT THE NON-RETROACTIVE COLA COULD BE ADOPTED.
THIS IS JUST GOING BACK TO REITERATE WHAT I'VE ALREADY SAID ABOUT HOW THAT BENEFIT IS CALCULATED AND HOW ALL RETIREES RECEIVE THE SAME BENEFIT.
THE ORDINANCE, IF YOU DO DECIDE THAT YOU WANT TO ADOPT THE NON-RETROACTIVE COLA TMRS, WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A MODEL ORDINANCE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE THAT IN TMRS, AND THIS IS JUST AN ODD QUIRK IN THE WAY OUR STATUTE IS WRITTEN, IF YOU ADOPT A REPEATING COLA, AND IN THE FUTURE, YOU MAKE A PLAN CHANGE LIKE INCREASING YOUR EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE, AND SOMEBODY WHO'S PAID CLOSE ATTENTION WOULD PROBABLY RECALL WHEN YOU IMPROVED YOUR DEPOSIT RATE TO YOUR CONTRIBUTION RATE TO 7%, SOMEBODY STOOD HERE AND TOLD YOU, WELL, 7% IS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE THAT WE COULD ADOPT.
THAT WAS TRUE UNTIL THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE EIGHT NINTH LEGISLATURE PASSED AN 8% EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE, AND CITIES AND TMRS, AFTER SEPTEMBER 1ST, WOULD BE ABLE TO ADOPT AN 8% EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE.
THAT QUIRK IN OUR STATUTE SAYS THAT ANY CITY THAT ADOPTS THAT WOULD HAVE TO READOPT THE COLA THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE.
IF YOU DID, AND IF YOU WANTED TO CONTINUE A REPEATING COLA, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN AND THE WAY OUR STATUTE IS TODAY, YOU WOULD HAVE TO READOPT THE MORE EXPENSIVE RETROACTIVE COLA TO KEEP THE REPEATING OPTION.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GO ON THE RECORD TO TELL YOU THAT.
WE DID CARRY AN OMNIBUS BILL THIS PAST SESSION THAT DID NOT MAKE ITS WAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS.
WE MADE IT OUT OF THE HOUSE, BUT WE STALLED IN THE SENATE.
HAD WE GOTTEN IT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AND HE SIGNED IT, WE WOULD HAVE MADE THE NON RETROACTIVE COLA OPTION PERMANENT.
WE WOULD HAVE ALLOWED CITIES TO INCREASE OR DECREASE.
WE WOULD HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER CHANGES, BUT OUR BILL DID NOT MAKE IT.
I CANNOT SAY WITH ANY CERTAINTY THAT WE'LL GO BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE WITH THAT NEXT SESSION.
I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF WE DON'T GO BACK TO DO IT.
BUT THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN HAD YET.
BUT I DO WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU DO ADOPT IT, AND IN THE FUTURE, MAKE SOME TYPE OF PLAN CHANGE WHERE YOU HAVE TO READOPT YOUR COLA.
YOU'D HAVE TO READOPT THE MORE EXPENSIVE, MORE COMPLEX, TRADITIONAL RETROACTIVE COLA.
WE DID PROVIDE YOUR STAFF WITH THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS CHANGE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET, YOU CAN SEE A COMPARISON OF THE 30% AND THE 50% NON-RETROACTIVE COLA.
[00:35:03]
THE DYNAMICS ARE THE SAME, OF COURSE, BUT YOU'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT LIABILITIES WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT, OF COURSE.THE HIGHER THE PERCENTAGE, THE HIGHER THE INCREASE WOULD BE FOR THE FOLKS WHO RETIRE FROM THE CITY.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE BOTTOM LINE IMPACT WOULD BE ON BOTH THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION RATE.
I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU WHEN LOOKING AT THE UNFUNDED ACTUARIAL RECRUIT LIABILITY, I KNOW THAT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU SIT SQUARE IN THE INTERSECTION OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WELL, WHAT'S REASONABLE AND WHAT'S RESPONSIBLE BENEFIT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND WHAT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN RESPONSIBLY TELL OUR CONSTITUENTS AND TAXPAYING PUBLIC THAT THIS IS APPROPRIATE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT TMRS, OUR CLOSED AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE, ENSURES THAT THE NEW LIABILITY THAT YOU WOULD ADD TO YOUR PLAN.
AGAIN, WE ARE TRANSPARENT IN THE LIABILITIES THAT YOU ADD.
WE'RE SHOWING IT TO YOU, EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE ADDING.
BUT WE DO HAVE A FIXED AMARIZATION SCHEDULE THAT ENSURES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TURN RIGHT BACK AROUND AND BEGIN MAKING THE APPROPRIATE PROGRESS TO FUND THAT BENEFIT ON THAT FIXED SCHEDULE.
WE CAN PREDICT WHEN YOU WILL HAVE FULLY FUNDED THAT NEW BENEFIT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ADDED TO YOUR PLAN.
YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT OF BOTH THE 30% AND THE 50% SIDE BY SIDE, THE IMPACT THAT IT WOULD HAVE ON YOUR CONTRIBUTION RATE AND THE IMPACT THAT IT WOULD HAVE ON YOUR UNFUNDED ACTUAL ACCRUED LIABILITY AND YOUR FUNDED RATIO, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ASSETS AND YOUR LIABILITIES.
NOW, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE I LEAVE, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AFTER THIS EVENING.
WE KNOW THAT TMRS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU LOOK AT ALL THE TIME.
YOUR STAFF IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO STUDY THIS AND WILL BE AVAILABLE.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY COME UP WITH AFTER THE SESSION THIS EVENING.
BUT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS, AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU TAKE AWAY.
WHATEVER YOU DECIDE IN TMRS, IT'S YOUR DECISION HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
TMRS IS NOT GIVING ANY CITY IN TMRS HOW YOU SHOULD DESIGN YOUR PLAN.
THOSE INSTRUCTIONS DON'T COME FROM US.
WE SIMPLY GIVE YOU INFORMATION.
WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT AS YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
ONE OF THE PIECES OF INFORMATION I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU TAKE AWAY IS THAT, REGARDLESS OF THE PLAN DESIGN YOU ULTIMATELY END UP WITH.
IF YOU GO WITH THIS, TMRS HAS THE POLICY IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FUND IT.
THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN ANY GOVERNING BODY MAKING DECISIONS LIKE THIS IN A PLAN THAT IS RESPONSIBLY ADMINISTERED AND ONE THAT IS NOT.
TMRS HAS BECOME THE MODEL PENSION PLAN, NOT JUST HERE IN TEXAS, BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY.
OTHERS ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE DO IT.
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT TMRS, AND WHAT WE DO.
I KNOW I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DEBBIE MUNOZ, OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND ALL THE STAFF AT TMRS. THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN ASSIST YOU WITH, NOT JUST TONIGHT, BUT GOING FORWARD.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP.
AGAIN, ANY DIRECT QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE GOT FOR ME.
>> MR. MILLS, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
>> DID YOU GIVE THE PRESENTATION?
>> I DID GIVE THE PRESENTATION.
>> I CAN SEE WHY WE ADOPTED IT.
VERY GOOD PRESENTATION AND VERY FORTHCOMING.
I APPRECIATE THAT. WITH ALL OF US, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DEAL WITH ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.
THERE'S A LOT TO CHEW ON HERE AND A LOT TO DIGEST AND SEE WHAT'S BEST FOR EMPLOYEES.
I THINK ALL OF US UP HERE REALIZE THAT IN ORDER TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS, WE HAVE TO HAVE COMMITTED AND JUST MOST RESPONSIBLE EMPLOYEES THAT WE CAN AND ATTRACT THE BEST TALENT.
TO DO THAT IS HAVING THE BEST BENEFITS THAT YOU CAN.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COMPETITIVE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ATTRACT THE RIGHT TALENT.
THIS IS A GREAT METRIC GOING FORWARD.
THAT BEING SAID, THOUGH, ARE YOU AWARE OF THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS OF EVERY CITY IN THIS COUNTY RIGHT NOW?
>> I DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE CONSTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON CITIES FROM THE STATE.
[00:40:07]
>> WELL, AND FROM THE COUNTY FOR TARRANT COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
I THINK I CAN'T REMEMBER A BUDGET SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL, WHERE I'M HONESTLY AT A LITTLE WORRIED GOING INTO IT KNOWING THAT WE HAVE ZERO REVENUE AND ZERO REVENUE GROWTH BECAUSE OF DECISIONS FROM THE TARRANT COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO FREEZE PROPERTY TAXES FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.
THAT PUTS US IN A BIND, AND IT COULDN'T HAVE CAME AT A WORSE TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, I DO TRUST OUR STAFF.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED TO GIVE US THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS.
THIS WAS ADOPTED THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE 88TH SESSION 2023.
>> BEFORE THAT, WAS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THIS EVER OFFERED?
>> NO, THERE HAD BEEN NO NON-RETROACTIVE COLA.
WE'VE HAD COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS SINCE 1978, AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A RETROACTIVE CALCULATION IN THAT WE'VE ALWAYS LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL RETIREMENT BENEFIT TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH THE INCREASE WOULD BE.
>> OBVIOUSLY, THIS WINDOW IS CLOSING AS OF RIGHT NOW? DO YOU SEE IT EVER BEING OPENED BACK UP IN FUTURE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS?
I KNOW THAT AS WE MOVE INTO THE INTERIM, THEY JUST STARTED ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION YESTERDAY, I THINK.
THERE WILL BE AN INTERIM AT SOME POINT, AND WE WILL HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND START OVER AGAIN AND MOVE THIS THROUGH THE PROCESS ONE MORE TIME.
>> VERY GOOD. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, AND ALSO WANT TO OFFER IT UP TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
THEY LIKE TO YES. PRO TEM MICHELLE DAWKINS.
>> THANKS, MR. MAYOR. JUST TO BE CLEAR ON THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE.
WE CAN ADOPT THE NON-RETROACTIVE COLA, WHICH WOULD BE BASED OFF OF A CALCULATION OF A COOL PERCENTAGE.
BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE OPTION TO CHANGE THE UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT AND EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE.
THOSE ARE ADDITIONAL PIECES WE CAN DO IN ADDITION TO THE NON RETROACTIVE.
>> SURE, THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF OTHER OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
I WILL POINT OUT THAT ON THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE, YOU CAN INCREASE THE RATE UPWARD, THE 8% AFTER SEPTEMBER 1ST.
AS FAR AS LOWERING THAT PERCENTAGE, YOU WOULD NEED TO CANVASS YOUR EMPLOYEES AND GET A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY TO LOWER THE DEPOSIT RATE, BUT WITHOUT EMPLOYEE INPUT, YOU CAN INCREASE THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE.
AS YOU SAID, MADAM, YOU CAN CHANGE THE UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT.
WE DID NOT GO INTO DETAILS ON THAT.
YOU HAVE THE 50% REPEATING UPDATED SERVICE CREDITS WITH TRANSFERS.
YOU CAN ADOPT 100% ON THE UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT.
IF YOU RECALL WHAT I SAID ABOUT THE UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT, IT'S THE FEATURE THAT CAN GRANT ADDITIONAL CASH CREDIT TOWARD A MEMBER'S RETIREMENT BENEFIT IF THAT EMPLOYEE HAS SEEN MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN SALARY OVER THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER OR HAS SEEN CHANGES TO THE PLAN DURING THE COURSE OF THIS CAREER.
IT CAPTURES THAT AND GRANTS CREDIT TO MAKE UP FOR THE DIFFERENCE.
>> IN THE PRESENTATION ON THE COMPARISON OF THE 2026 RATES, I DON'T KNOW IF WE GO BACK TO SLIDE 9.
THESE ARE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, OPTION 1 AND OPTION 2, WHERE WE'RE JUST FOCUSED ON ADOPTING A PERCENTAGE OF THE NON-RETROACTIVE COLA, AND THEN WE HAVE THE 30% AND THE 50% PERCENTAGE.
>> YES. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD CALL IT STAFF RECOMMENDATION YET.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN STUDIED SO FAR.
BUT AS I SAID, THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.
THE CITY COULD DO A ONE TIME COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
IT IS A RETROACTIVE CALCULATION.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR YOUR STAFF, BUT I BELIEVE THE REASON THAT STAFF WANTED TO PUT IN FRONT OF YOU THIS NON-RETROACTIVE COLA HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE SUNSET DATE.
THAT IF YOU DON'T GET IT NOW, YOU WON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THAT OPTION, MAYOR, GOING FORWARD UNLESS WE TAKE IT BACK TO THE LEGS HAVE SUCCESS THE NEXT TIME AROUND.
[00:45:03]
>> VERY GOOD. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. COUNCILMAN STEVES.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. MILLS.
FOR THE NON-RETROACTIVE COLA, COMPARED TO THE TRADITIONAL?
>> THE CURRENT RETIREES, I KNOW IT'S LESS COSTLY FOR THE CITY TO DO THE NON-RETRO COLA.
BUT WHAT ABOUT FOR THE CURRENT 156 EMPLOYEES? DO THEY WORK OUT BETTER WITH THE TRADITIONAL OR THE NON-RETRO COLA.
WELL, THEY WOULD GET A LARGER BENEFIT.
THOSE WHO'VE BEEN RETIRED, THE LONGEST THEY GET A LARGER BENEFIT BECAUSE OF THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF INFLATION.
>> WITH THE TRADITIONAL. THE RETIREES THAT WE HAVE RETIRED RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD WORK OUT BETTER FOR THEM.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. BECAUSE ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD DO IF YOU WERE TO ADOPT A TRADITIONAL RETROACTIVE COLA, EVEN IF IT'S A ONE TIME AD HOC COLA, IT'S CALCULATED ON A RETROACTIVE BASIS.
IT GOES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL RETIREMENT ANNUITY.
YOU'VE HAD PEOPLE RETIRED AS LONG AS 2009.
YOU WOULD FILL IN THOSE YEARS THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD A COLA.
BUT WITH THE NON RETRO, YOU JUST START WHERE THEY ARE TODAY AND START TO GRANT COLAS GOING FORWARD.
>> NOW, WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL DEATH BENEFIT, DID YOU SAY THEY HAVE IT RIGHT NOW?
>> YOU DO HAVE THE SUPPLEMENTAL DEATH BENEFIT?
>> FOR RETIREES OR JUST FOR CURRENT EMPLOYEES?
>> YOU HAVE IT FOR BOTH ACTIVE EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES.
>> YOU HAVE THE 7,500 AND THE YEARLY [OVERLAPPING].
>> ONE TIME ANNUAL SALARY. THAT'S CORRECT.
>> YOU GOT ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
THIS IS INTERESTING. YOU ONLY HAVE IT FOR THE ACTIVE EMPLOYEES.
>> I WAS THINKING 7,500 WASN'T.
>> I AM SO SORRY. I NORMALLY WOULD NOT HAVE MISSED THAT.
I MISSED THAT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
>> VERY GOOD. COUNCILWOMAN SABLE.
>> THE REASON YOU WOULD ONLY GIVE 30% OR 50% OF THE COLA WAS REALLY BASICALLY TO SAVE THE CITY MONEY.
BECAUSE A COLA FROM SOCIAL SECURITY WOULD YOU GET THE FULL SOCIAL SECURITY COLA, BUT YOU'RE CUTTING THEIRS IN HALF TO SAVE THE CITY MONEY.
>> WELL, THE WAY OUR STATUTE IS WRITTEN, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN WRITTEN IN AS 30, 50 OR 70%, WE DID, AT ONE TIME, HAVE A 40% OPTION.
BUT THOSE PERCENTAGES HAVE BEEN SET IN STATUTE FOR MANY YEARS.
IF YOU WERE TO FOLLOW THE RETROACTIVE COLA, THE ONE THAT WE'VE HAD UNTIL 2023, OVER TIME, WHEN YOU START TO LOOK AT THE WAY THE MATH WORKS OUT, AND THIS IS COUNTER INTUITIVE.
BUT AFTER A PERSON HAS BEEN RETIRED FOR A CERTAIN LENGTH OF TIME, WE HAVE 70% COLAS ALSO.
IN CITIES THAT HAVE THE 70% COLA, WHILE 70 IS NOT 100, OVER TIME, THAT RETROACTIVE CALCULATION, THAT CUMULATIVE EFFECT ENDS UP BEING MORE THAN 70% AND CAN GO ALL THE WAY UP TO 100%.
THE MATH OF IT AND THAT'S A CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF INFLATION.
>> EVEN THOUGH THE ACTUAL CALCULATION IS SAYING 70% OF THE CHANGE IN CPI, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE CUMULATIVE IMPROVEMENT IN THE PERSON'S RETIREMENT BENEFIT, THE MATH TURNS OUT THAT IT'S MORE THAN THOSE PERCENTAGES.
BRADY, I BELIEVE YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO ADD?
>> SURE. I WANTED TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT FROM STAFF PERSPECTIVE ON WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS TODAY.
IT'S A BENEFIT WE'VE LONG WANTED TO GIVE OUR PEOPLE, AND IT'S A BENEFIT THAT WE JUST HAVE NOT HAD THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR.
THESE ARE THE TWO MOST AFFORDABLE OPTIONS ON THE TABLE WHERE WE'D BE ABLE TO GIVE SOME INFLATIONARY HELP TO OUR RETIREES GOING FORWARD.
THE CHEAPEST OPTION, ADDS $6 MILLION IN LIABILITY, WHICH COSTS THE CITY $4-500 THOUSAND PER YEAR IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET, AND AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE TIGHTEST BUDGET YEAR WE'VE LOOKED AT IN A LONG TIME.
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO RECOMMEND, BUT WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS ON THE TABLE AND AN OPTION FOR US TO CONSIDER WHILE WE STILL HAVE IT.
OTHER PLANS, I'M SURE THAT THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE OVER THE MOON ABOUT THEM, BUT IT'S A MATTER OF WHAT THE CITY CAN SAFELY RECOMMEND TO BE PRUDENT WITH OUR FUNDS AT THIS TIME.
I'D LOVE TO WALK UP HERE AND SAY 70% FOR EVERYONE.
[00:50:03]
THAT'D BE A WONDERFUL THING.WE DO HAVE SOME FINANCING OPTIONS FOR THIS.
ACTUALLY, WE HAVE ANDRE [INAUDIBLE] WITH HILLTOP HERE, TO HAVE SOME SUPPORT IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT THERE'S BEEN AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH IN SOME CITIES RECENTLY, GRAND PRAIRIE, HARRINGTON, IRVING, THE USE OF PENSION BONDS TO HELP WITH THIS LIABILITY.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE $31 MILLION.
THAT'S THE NUMBER IN THE BOTTOM LEFT.
THAT'S HOW MUCH WE OWE ON OUR DEBT RIGHT NOW. IT'S IN OUR AUDIT.
IT SHOWS UP AS LIABILITY, EQUIVALENT OF DEBT.
JUST LIKE ANY DEBT, WE COULD THEORETICALLY REFINANCE THAT IN THE BOND MARKET.
WE COULD THEN GIVE THAT TO TMRS, WHERE THEY WOULD THEORETICALLY MAKE MORE ON THAT MONEY THAN WE'RE PAYING AN INTEREST.
THAT'S HOW IT WAS SOLD OR PROMISED IN THESE OTHER CITIES.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF CITIES IN THE AREA LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S JUST A BUDGET CRUNCH FOR EVERYONE, AND THAT IS A POTENTIAL SOLUTION.
WITHOUT PROPERTY TAX VALUE GROWTH, THEY'LL BE HARD TO RECOMMEND THIS YEAR.
BUT THAT IS AN OPTION. WHENEVER THEY DO CATCH UP, ACTUALLY REAPPRAISE EVERYONE'S HOMES, AND WE SEE THAT GROWTH.
THAT COULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD PAY FOR GOING FORWARD, AND IT WOULD HAVE NO IMPACT TO OUR CREDIT RATING.
IT WOULD HAVE NO IMPACT TO OUR AUDIT OR [INAUDIBLE].
IT'S JUST REPLACING ONE DEBT WITH ANOTHER.
>> VERY GOOD. I APPRECIATE THAT SYNOPSIS ON THAT.
I THINK THAT HAVING THESE OPTIONS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER.
BRADY, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS 400 TO $500,000 IF WE WERE GOING THROUGH THOSE OPTIONS ADDED TO THE GENERAL FUND?
>> THAT WOULD BE TO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, YES, AND THE PROPOSED NEXT YEAR.
>> IT'S JUST A PERFECT STORM WITH HAVING ZERO GROWTH AND REVENUE ISSUED TO US BY TAD, AND THEN HAVING THIS PRETTY MUCH END AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO TAKE PART IN IT, BUT WE'LL SEE HOW THE NUMBERS PLAY OUT.
I KNOW WE'RE STILL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY BEFORE BUDGET, AND WE'LL SEE HOW THIS ALL GOES.
BUT I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE THESE OPTIONS.
I'M GLAD WE'RE SEEING THIS IN FRONT OF US, BECAUSE I KNOW EVERY ONE OF US UP HERE WANTS TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR EMPLOYEES AND BENEFITS AND DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE, BUT LET'S HOPE OUR HANDS AREN'T TIED TOO MUCH.
>> WELL, LUCKY FOR ALL OF US, WE HAVE MANY MORE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS TO COME, SOMETHING TO BE EXCITED FOR.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? YEAH. I KNOW.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. [INAUDIBLE].
>> WELCOME BACK TO BEDFORD. GOOD JOB.
IT SAYS NEXT UP WITH THE PRESENTATION FOR THE GLOBAL FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE STUCK IN TRAFFIC, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER IN TODAY'S AGENDA.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE PRESENTATION WITH THE 89TH SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND UPCOMING SPECIAL SESSION.
I'LL GIVE YOU SPECIAL PROJECTS AND RISK MANAGER, BRANDY WEST.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
>> WELL, IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD TOO.
[OVERLAPPING]. WHEN WE WENT INTO THIS SESSION, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CRAZY TALKS ABOUT COMPLETELY GETTING RID OF RESIDENTIAL ZONING, SOME REALLY STRANGE THINGS OUT THERE.
I'M SO GLAD THAT WE DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THAT PASS.
BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT DID SLIP IN THERE THAT'S GOING TO BE AFFECTING US.
I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT YOU CAME BACK WITH.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AT THE END OF JUNE, I ATTENDED TML, TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE'S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
WHAT THAT WAS FOR ME WAS SIX HOURS OF DRINKING FROM THE FIREHOSE, AND WE DIDN'T EVEN TOUCH EVERYTHING.
WHAT I'M GOING TO TRY AND DO FOR YOU ALL TONIGHT IS HIT SOME HIGHLIGHTS.
THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST, THINGS THAT I KNOW ARE OF SOME INTEREST TO YOU ALL AND US.
A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE SESSION.
THIS WAS A RECORD YEAR FOR LEGISLATION.
OVER 9,000 BILLS WERE FILED, 1,231 WERE PASSED, AND TML TRACKED OVER 262 OF THOSE BILLS IMPACTING MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THAT'S A LOT. THAT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION, AND AGAIN, JUST A FRACTION OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TOUCH ON TONIGHT.
KEY MUNICIPAL IMPACTS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT.
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING, I'VE TRIED TO COMBINE THOSE WORDS THERE, PUBLIC SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS, LAND USE AND ZONING, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, AND OPEN GOVERNMENT AND ELECTIONS.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WERE REALLY FOCUSED ON, SO A LOT OF BILLS COME THROUGH ON THOSE PARTS. THERE WE GO.
ITEMS OF INTEREST. THIS IS SOME STUFF THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY,
[00:55:04]
WE'VE HEARD HOUSE BILL 134, LOCAL SALES TAX SOURCING CHANGES.THIS FAILED. BUT WHAT THIS IS IS BASICALLY CHANGING FROM A PROPOSED TO CHANGE WHERE YOUR ITEM WAS SHIPPED FROM RECEIVING THE SALES TAX, TO WHERE THE ITEM WAS RECEIVED, RECEIVING THE SALES TAX.
THAT FAILED. I WILL MENTION THAT A LOT OF THESE ITEMS, TML SAID, THOSE ITEMS THAT FAILED AND HIT THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR, YOU WILL SEE AGAIN NEXT YEAR OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW, NEXT SESSION.
I THINK WE WERE ALL INTERESTED IN PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT ONE.
>> THAT FAILED. THAT DID FAIL.
AGAIN, YOU WILL SEE IT IN 2027.
>> DO YOU MIND GIVING A SYNOPSIS OF WHAT THAT WOULD HAVE DONE FOR THOSE WHO ARE TUNING IN?
>> BASICALLY, I'LL GIVE YOU THE HIGH HIGH LEVEL.
>> IF YOU WANTED TO ADD A MOTHER IN LAW SUITE TO YOUR BACKYARD, YOU COULD DO IT WITHOUT THE CITY'S APPROVAL.
>> GOT IT. EVERYONE WOULD HAVE THAT RIGHT REGARDLESS?
>> YES. IT MAKES YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR A SECOND.
>> PART OF THAT ONE, WAS IT BE ABLE TO BE SUBDIVIDED TOO, WITH DIFFERENT LEASING OPTIONS, DO YOU RECALL?
>> THAT I DON'T. NO, NOT ENOUGH [INAUDIBLE].
>> I REMEMBER THERE WAS TALKS ON THAT.
>> IF IT WAS UNDER SEPARATE OWNERSHIP, YOU COULD SUBDIVIDE IT, AND YOU COULD PUT AS MANY ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS ON YOUR PROPERTY AS YOU COULD FIT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. TALK ABOUT THE OVERLOAD ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER, SEWER LINES, MY GOODNESS. THAT FAILED.
>> THAT FAILED, BUT AGAIN, IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE LAST YOU'VE SEEN OF IT.
THEN HOUSE BILL 21, HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION REFORM.
OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE EAST OF US, DEALT WITH THIS AND WERE VICTIMS TO THIS.
BUT THIS REFORM PASSED, AND ULTIMATELY, IT WILL BENEFIT EULESS IN TWO YEARS.
THE WAY THIS GOES, IT REQUIRES FOR AN HFC TO OPERATE OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME, CITY, THEY HAVE TO GET A RESOLUTION APPROVING THAT.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR EULESS IS IN TWO YEARS, BY JANUARY 27, I BELIEVE, YES.
JANUARY 27, THEY WILL HAVE TO OBTAIN A RESOLUTION FROM THE CITY OF EULESS TO CONTINUE OPERATING THERE.
IT ALSO MAKES HFCS OPEN TO PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT, OPEN MEETINGS.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD CHANGES THAT HAPPENED WITHIN THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THAT FIXED BECAUSE WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP AND BROUGHT TO HE ATTENTION, THE CITY OF EULESS LOST ABOUT $200,000.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT THIS IS, IS THAT YOU HAVE A HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION 500 MILES AWAY, BUYING PROPERTY IN CITIES AND TAKING IT OFF THE TAX ROLLS, MORE OR LESS.
>> THEY BOUGHT A MULTI FAMILY HOUSING APARTMENT COMPLEX, AND EULESS TOOK IT OFF THE TAX ROLLS, AND THE CITY OF EULESS LOST $200,000 IN TAX REVENUE BECAUSE OF IT.
I'M SO GLAD THAT THE LEGISLATURE FIXED THIS.
I REMEMBER BEING PART OF MAYOR'S COUNCIL, ALL THE MAYORS SIGNED UP TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. THIS WAS A BIG WIN.
>> ESPECIALLY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
>> ABSOLUTELY A BIG WIN, AND EULESS WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS FOR ANOTHER LITTLE BIT, BUT THEN THEY'VE GOT SOME RESOLUTION COMING IN THE BACK END FOR THEM. IT'S PERFECT.
>> JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF COLD WATER TO THAT.
EVERYONE SHOULD UNDERSTAND AND EXPECT THAT THESE VERY WEALTHY WEALTH GROUPS THAT BOUGHT ALL THESE PROPERTIES AND SIGNED A 99-YEAR LEASE FOR THESE PROPERTIES, AND BY THE WAY, WE'RE FINDING THEM IN A LOT OF OUR TARRANT COUNTY CITIES, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO GIVE NOTICE.
SO WE'VE FOUND THEM IN HALTOM CITY, LAKE WORTH, AZLE.
THEY'RE POPPING UP ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THEY'RE FINALLY COMING AND REALIZING THAT THEY'RE TAKING OFF THE TAX ROLLS.
THEY'RE GOING TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE REVOCATION OF THEIR ABILITY TO BE TAX EXEMPT.
WE'VE SUED CLOSE TO A DOZEN OF THESE HFC PROJECTS CURRENTLY.
THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THOUGH.
>> THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> MORE ITEMS OF INTEREST, WE'VE HEARD IT TALKED ABOUT ALREADY A FEW TIMES THIS EVENING.
BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE IMPACTED TARRANT COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND THEIR FREEZING OF PROPERTY TAXES.
IT'S GOOD IN SOME RESPECTS, BUT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THAT ANNUAL REQUIREMENT THAT WE NEEDED.
WHAT THAT DOES, IS IT ALLOWS BASIC PROPERTY INFORMATION TO BE SHARED ONLINE.
IT PROTECTS THE PRIVACY BY EXCLUDING SENSITIVE DETAILS, AND IT MAKES IT EASIER TO CHECK PROPERTY VALUES FOR TAX FAIRNESS.
THAT'S SENATE BILL 973, HOUSE BILL 2786.
THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THE ANNUAL APPRAISAL.
[01:00:01]
THAT FAILED, AND THAT'S THE ONE WE WANTED.>> YES. THERE'S A LOT OF BILLS THAT WE WERE TRACKING AND LOOKING AND HAD INTEREST IN.
LUCKILY, WE ARE A POPULATION OF LESS THAN 50,000, AND THAT MEANS THEY DON'T IMPACT US.
LOTS OF BILLS HITTING BIG CITIES OF 150,000 POPULATIONS, AND WE'RE STILL SMALL FIT OR A SMALL POND. HEAVY WITH OUR SMALL BOND.
>> FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, ALL THESE BILLS THAT THEY PUT IN AND ALL THE LAWS THAT THEY WANTED TO BE PASSED IS TO PUNISH LARGER CITIES ANYWAYS.
YOUR HOUSTON, YOUR AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO AND SUCH.
I'M GLAD THAT WE AT LEAST PUT IN SOME POPULATION CONTROLS IN THERE SO THAT WE ARE NOT AFFECTED.
WE STILL HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER OUR LITTLE SLICE OF PARADISE OVER HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. IT'S GOOD TO BE UNDER 50,000.
I MEAN, YOU'VE ALL HEARD ME SAY THAT FROM A GRANTS PERSPECTIVE BEFORE.
I MEAN, GROWTH IS GOOD, BUT [LAUGHTER]. NEXT ITEM.
GETTING INTO SOME OF THE BILLS THAT DID PASS AND WHAT WE THINK IS GOING TO IMPACT BEDFORD.
LAND USE AND ZONING, HOUSE BILL 24, ZONING PROTESTS AND NOTICE CHANGES.
PREVIOUSLY, YOU ONLY HAD 20% OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE 200 FEET LINE SIGN A PETITION TO CHANGE THE ZONING.
THEN IT WOULD NEED A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE OF YOU ALL TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
NOW IT'S 60% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THAT 200 FEET, SO A MUCH LARGER PERCENTAGE OF FOLKS, AND A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF YOU ALL.
THAT'S CHANGED HOW WE DO ZONING CHANGES.
>> IT'S STILL JUST A SIMPLE MAJORITY? WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT OF THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT USED TO BE A SUPER MAJORITY.
>> NOW IT'S A SIMPLE MAJORITY.
IT SEEMS A LITTLE COUNTER. BREN, DO YOU HAVE ANY [INAUDIBLE].
>> YEAH, THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING]. A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THIS.
IT'S STILL 20% OF THE OWNERS OF PROPERTY WITHIN 200 FEET TO TRIGGER SUPERMAJORITY VOTE OF COUNSEL, UNLESS IT IS A ZONING CHANGE TO INCREASE RESIDENTIAL DENSITY.
IF IT IS A ZONING CHANGE TO BRING MORE RESIDENTIAL, IT TAKES 60% OF THE OWNERS OF PROPERTY WITHIN 200 FEET TO FILE A PROTEST.
TO OVERCOME THAT, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S ONLY A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF COUNSEL, BUT IT'S A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, NOT A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE PRESENT AND VOTING MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, WHICH IS THEN ORDINARY DEFAULT RULE WHEN THERE'S NOT A PROTEST.
IT'S STILL A HIGHER BAR, BUT IT'S RELATIVELY EASY TO OVERCOME.
>> SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, ONLY HAVING TO DO WITH ANYTHING TO DO WITH RESIDENTIAL MEETING THAT CRITERIA?
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THEY ALSO STRIP. I'M SORRY, DID YOU?
>> THANKS, MR. MAYOR. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS DOESN'T NECESSARILY CHANGE THE ZONING LAW IF IT'S NON RESIDENTIAL.
BASICALLY, IT CHANGES A THRESHOLD IF THE ZONING IS CONCERNING RESIDENTIAL ZONING?
>> BECAUSE I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THE CAR WASH THAT WE HAD.
LAST YEAR, WE HAD 20% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET, BUT THAT WAS A SUP FOR A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
WITH THIS LAW, NOTHING WOULD CHANGE BECAUSE IT WASN'T SOMETHING RESIDENTIAL.
>> CORRECT. NOW, THERE ARE SOME OTHER ASPECTS.
THIS IS A LENGTHY BILL, AND WE'RE JUST DOING A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW, BUT THERE'S ADDITIONAL NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.
YOU NOW HAVE TO PUT THE NEWSPAPER NOTICE ON YOUR WEBSITE, YOU HAVE TO PUT A SIGN OUT, ET CETERA.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ADOPTED IN OUR ORDINANCES, A REQUIREMENT THAT IF P&Z RECOMMENDS DENIAL, IT TAKES A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE OF COUNCIL TO OVERTURN IT.
CURRENTLY IN STATE LAW, IT SAYS, A CITY MAY ADOPT THAT PROCESS IF IT WANTS TO, AND WE DID.
THAT OPTION, NOT THAT WE NEED IT BECAUSE WE'RE A HOME RULE CITY, BUT THAT OPTION HAS BEEN REPEALED COMPLETELY.
GENERAL LAW CITIES WILL NOW NO LONGER BE ABLE TO HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE WHEREBY A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE IS TRIGGERED IF P&Z RECOMMENDS DENIAL.
BUT THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE COULD THINK ABOUT.
I MEAN, DO WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT THRESHOLD OR NOT? IT'S BEEN REPEALED, BUT WE'RE A HOME RULE CITY.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN PREEMPTED IN MAINTAINING THAT ROLE GOING FORWARD.
>> GOT YOU. THIS IS ON US, WHETHER WE WANT TO KEEP IT OR NOT?
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. YEAH.
>> THE OTHER BILL ON THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, FOR HOUSE BILL 4506, BRINGS US TO THE 21ST CENTURY, ALLOWING CITIZENS TO RECEIVE ZONING CHANGES DIGITALLY, VIA EMAIL OR TEXT.
THAT'S AN OPTION THAT WE HAVE NOW, SO THAT'S NO LONGER REQUIRING A PAPER LETTER.
>> YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THIS, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY [LAUGHTER].
[01:05:02]
IT'S VERY CONVENIENT, BUT THE RECIPIENT WHO SIGNS UP FOR THE ELECTRONIC NOTICE HAS TO CONFIRM RECEIPT, AND IF THEY DON'T, IT TRIGGERS THE MAILED LETTER ANYWAY, AND YOU MAY HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME WITH THE NUMBER OF DAYS NOTICE YOU HAVE TO GIVE, AND IT COULD REALLY THROW A RUSH IN THE PROCESS.>> VERY GOOD. THAT COMPLICATES THINGS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
>> SO MANY REASONS [LAUGHTER].
>> CONTINUED WITH LAND USE AND ZONING, HOUSE BILL 2844, MOBILE FOOD VENDORS.
THIS IS THE MOBILE FOOD VENDOR REGULATORY CONSISTENCY ACT.
THIS BASICALLY MEANS NOW THAT FOOD TRUCKS CAN GET A PERMIT FROM THE STATE AND DO NOT HAVE TO GO CITY TO CITY FOR PERMITS.
WE CAN STILL REGULATE WHERE THEY ARE, OPERATING HOURS, LOCATION, THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME TO US FOR THEIR PERMITS.
>> THEY'RE ALSO ALLOWED TO EMIT SOUNDS UP TO 75 DECIBELS AND WE'RE PREEMPTED FROM DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
>> LOVELY. MAYOR PRO TEM DAWKINS.
>> WOULD THAT MEAN THAT A FOOD TRUCK CAN JUST SET UP SHOP WHEREVER THEY WANT AND OPERATE?
>> NO, WE CAN STILL REGULATE THEIR LOCATION, WHERE THEY ARE IN THE HOURS THAT THEY OPERATE.
>> WITH THIS LAW, WE HAVE FOOD TRUCKS THAT WE'RE SOLICITING FOR ART IN THE PARK THAT'S IN OCTOBER.
THERE IS A PERMIT FEE FOR THEM TO OPERATE.
BASICALLY, THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY THAT ANYMORE IF THEY HAVE A PERMIT FROM THE STATE.
>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OF PERMIT.
IF WE HAVE A PERMIT TO OPERATE WITHIN THE PARK, WE'RE ALLOWED TO CHARGE FOR THAT.
>> I THINK WE HAVE ONE FOR GENERATIONS.
>> BUT NO INSPECTION FEES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THIS ALLOWS THE CITY TO REMOVE A CO FROM A HOTEL OR MOTEL WITH PROOF OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SUSPECTED TRAFFICKING.
THAT'S A BIG ONE AND I THINK THAT'S AWARE.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PULL THEIR CERTIFICATE DOCUMENTS IF THERE'S ANY EVIDENCE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
>> I'LL DEFER TO BREN IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL OF PROOF NEEDED FOR THAT.
>> LAW ENFORCEMENT FILES AN AFFIDAVIT OF PROBABLE CAUSE, AND IT HAS TO BE REVIEWED BY A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE.
BUT IF THE COURT BELIEVES THERE'S PROBABLE CAUSE, THAT THERE'S PROSTITUTION OCCURRING, THAT ACTION ALLOWS IT TO MOVE FORWARD TO CITY COUNSEL.
WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO SET FORTH THE PROCEDURES FOR THIS.
BUT THEN THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE BASIS OF THAT JUDGE'S SUSTAINING THE EVIDENCE THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THE COUNSEL TO REVOKE THE CO FOR THE HOTEL.
THEY ARE ENTITLED TO DUE PROCESS, ETC, BUT IT'S A POWERFUL TOOL.
>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU DON'T NEED THE CONVICTION.
>> THAT IS PHENOMENAL. THAT IS GREAT NEWS.
I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE AHEAD WITH THAT PROCEDURE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT BECAUSE, YEAH, I WOULD LOVE TO SHUT SOME PLACES DOWN IF AND WHEN THAT OCCURS.
>> IS IT ONLY FOR HOTELS AND MOTELS?
>> IF IT'S LIKE A STRIP CENTER WHERE WE THINK MASSAGING IS NOT REALLY GOING ON.
>> IT'S TARGETED AT HOTELS MOTELS. THAT'S RIGHT.
>> MAYBE THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> WELL, SO IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THEY ACTUALLY DID ADOPT SOME AUTHORITY TO SHUT DOWN THESE STRIP CLUBS.
I'M SORRY, THESE MASSAGE PARLORS, AS WELL. OH MY GOD.
>> STRIKE THAT FROM THE RECORD.
>> THERE IS NOW A PROCESS TO IF THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT PD FINDS OF PROSTITUTION OCCURRING AT THESE MASSAGE PARLORS, THAT THERE'S NOW A PROCEDURE IN PLACE TO NOTIFY TDLR, AND THEY WILL SUSPEND THE OPERATION OF THE MASSAGE PARLOR.
>> VERY GOOD. THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.
THERE IS SOME GLIMMER OF HOPE, AND IT'S NOT ALL BAD NEWS WHEN THEY HAVE TO MEET.
>> I TOLD YOU IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE.
>> I TOLD YOU. MOVING ON, PUBLIC SAFETY.
NOT A SURPRISE THAT WE SAW THIS AT ALL.
THIS BASICALLY, THIS IS A BIG, LONG, LOTS OF INFORMATION IN THIS BILL.
THE HIGHLIGHTS, IT REQUIRES ANNUAL SCHOOL SAFETY PLANNING AND PLANS, ANNUAL JOINT TRAINING EXERCISES.
IT ESTABLISHES STANDARDIZED TRAINING AND REPORTING OF ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENTS, AND REQUIRES PIOS BE CERTIFIED IN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.
THAT'S REALLY JUST A TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF WHAT'S IN HERE.
BUT IT'S REALLY OBVIOUSLY IN RESPONSE TO UVALDE AND HOW WE CAN DO BETTER IN THOSE SITUATIONS,
[01:10:02]
AND COMMUNICATE BETTER IN THAT SITUATION.>> THANKS, MAYOR. BRANDY, IS THE ONUS ON WHAT THE PIOS THAT WOULD BE ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE.
>> IT'S PIOS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IT COULD BE MOLLY, IT COULD BE SOMEBODY WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM TO IDENTIFY.
>> HOUSE BILL 198. THIS IS ANOTHER GOOD ONE, THE WADE CANNON ACT.
IT REQUIRES REGULAR CANCER SCREENINGS FOR FIREFIGHTERS, SO IT BEGINS AFTER THEY HAVE SERVED FOR FIVE YEARS, AND THEN IS REQUIRED ANNUALLY AFTER THAT.
THAT'S A REALLY GOOD ONE, AND I BELIEVE MOLLY, LET ME KNOW THAT WADE CANNON WAS A FLOWER MOUND FIREFIGHTER, CORRECT?
>> NAMED AFTER HIM. THEN HOUSE BILL 35. ANOTHER GREAT ONE.
WE'VE GOT A GRANT THAT SPEAKS TO THIS AS WELL.
THIS TASK TDM WITH ESTABLISHING A PEER NETWORK PROGRAM FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, WHICH IS AN AMAZING THING.
I THINK LOOKING AT WHAT'S HAPPENED EARLIER THIS MONTH AND WHAT FIRST RESPONDERS ARE DEALING WITH DOWN THERE, A PEER SUPPORT NETWORK IS GOING TO BE A GREAT THING FOR THEM TO HAVE.
A COUPLE OF REALLY GREAT ONES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OUT THERE.
>> WE'RE GOOD. FOR HB 198 FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND CANCER SCREENING, WE ALREADY DO CANCER SCREENING FOR THEM.
IS THERE ANY CHANGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING TO MAKE DUE TO THIS?
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS NOW A REQUIREMENT IN LIEU OF AN OPTIONAL SITUATION. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
>> WE'RE ALREADY AHEAD OF THE CURVE ON THAT ONE.
>> YOU WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM IT AS LONG AS YOU WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THE NEW LAW, ACTUALLY, AS LONG AS YOU CURRENTLY PROVIDE AN EQUIVALENT SCREENING PROCESS.
>> CODE ENFORCEMENT. ALWAYS A FUN ONE. I HEARD SOME BONES.
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD OR IT'S GOING TO BE VERY BAD.
>> WELL, I ACTUALLY THINK THE COUPLE HERE THAT WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING ARE GOOD.
HOUSE BILL 4765 REQUIRES THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BE REGISTERED AND CERTIFIED.
GUESS WHAT? WE ALREADY DO THAT HERE. CHECK THE BOX.
I THINK THAT'S A WIN IN OUR COLUMN.
IT'S A SMALL RIPPLE IN THE POND THERE.
SENATE BILL 304. THIS IS A GOOD ONE.
EMPOWER CITY COURTS TO HANDLE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROBLEMS IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
GIVE CITY COURTS A LITTLE BIT MORE POWER TO HANDLE THAT. I'VE DEFERRED A BIT.
>> YOU CAN'T OVERSTATE HOW IMPORTANT THIS BILL IS.
ORDINARILY MUNICIPAL COURT IS A FINE ONLY COURT.
I HAVE CONVERSATION WITH STAFF ALL THE TIME.
WHY DOESN'T THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE ORDER PEOPLE TO FIX THE POOL OR WHATEVER? THEY DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY.
THIS ALLOWS FOR CONCURRENT JURISDICTION WITH DISTRICT AND COUNTY COURTS TO DO CIVIL ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS A HUGE STICK, AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO INCUR THE EXPENSE AND BURDEN AND TIME CONSUMING, MEASURES TO GO TO DISTRICT COURT.
>> VERY GOOD. THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CRITERIA IS HEALTH AND WELLNESS. VERY GOOD.
SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT CORDING THEIR POOL, IT'S ATTRACTING A BUNCH OF STAGNANT WATER AND MOSQUITOES, WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
>> OUR OFFICE IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS FURTHER TO FLUSH OUT WHAT TOOLS WE REALLY HAVE.
BUT THE FACT THAT WE CAN CONFER THIS POWER ON OUR OWN MUNICIPAL COURT IS A HUGE COST SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCY METHOD.
I WENT INTO THIS THINKING IT WAS GOING TO BE DOOM AND GLOOM.
>> NOW WE GO TO PROPERTY TAX AND FINANCE.
THIS INCREASES THE EXEMPTION FOR BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY.
I SAY THAT RIGHT? YES, BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY.
THIS IS A BIG JUMP FROM $2,500 TO $125,000.
I CHECKED THAT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES.
IT'S A REALLY HUGE JUMP, AND THAT'S NOT A TYPO.
>> THE THING WITH THIS ONE, IT HAS TO GO TO THE VOTERS FOR APPROVAL.
IT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT NOVEMBER IN ORDER FOR IT TO BECOME LAW.
>> BECOME EFFECTIVE. THAT'S RIGHT.
THE CONSTITUTION HAS TO BE AMENDED.
THE CONSTITUTION PROHIBITS WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AMENDED IN ORDER TO ALLOW US OTHERWISE, IT JUST DIES ON THE LINE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN ADOPTED.
>> SENATE BILL 1453 CHANGES TO DEBT SERVICE CALCULATIONS.
AGAIN, ANOTHER ONE THAT'S ALREADY IN PRACTICE.
SENATE BILL 1023 REQUIRES THAT CITIES AND COUNTIES USE ONLINE FILLABLE TAX FORMS FOR CALCULATING TAX RATE, NOT PAPER, AND REQUIRES REINVESTMENT ZONES BE CALCULATED SEPARATELY AS A TRANSPARENCY LAW.
[01:15:03]
THAT'S WANT TO SEE THINGS CLEARLY.THIS ONE WAS FUNNY TO ME JUST BECAUSE FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE DONE AN AUDIT EVERY YEAR.
SENATE BILL 1851 ESTABLISHES A PENALTY FOR THOSE CITIES THAT DON'T COMPLETE AN ANNUAL AUDIT.
WHEN I HEARD THAT THE FIRST THING OUT OF MY HEAD WAS, WHO DOESN'T DO AN ANNUAL AUDIT? THAT SEEMS WHO DOESN'T DO THAT, BUT APPARENTLY THERE ARE SOME THAT DON'T.
AGAIN, ANOTHER THING WE ALREADY DO.
>> CHECK AND IT'S NICE TO HAVE THOSE.
THIS IS CHANGING PURCHASING LAW.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS IN HERE.
BIDDING. IT RAISES THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING AMOUNT FROM $50,000-100,000.
I'LL LET KAREN SPEAK TO THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.
CHANGING HISTORICALLY UNDER UTILIZED BUSINESSES, THE HUB REQUIREMENTS.
KAREN IS MY PHONE OF FRIEND FOR THIS PARTICULAR.
>> I CAN COMMENT ON THIS. THIS IS A SHORT, BUT VERY HELPFUL BILL.
WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO LOOK AT OUR PURCHASING POLICIES.
PRESENTLY, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COMPETITIVELY BID OR OTHERWISE SEEK PROPOSALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW IF THE EXPENDITURE DOES NOT EXCEED $50,000.
THIS STATE LAW ALREADY SAID YOU HAVE TO REGULARLY USE TWO HISTORICALLY UNDER UTILIZED BUSINESSES.
IF IT IS OVER 3,000 AND UNDER 50, IT'S NOW GOING TO BE 3,000 TO $100,000.
>> OPEN GOVERNMENT AND ELECTIONS.
HOUSE BILL 15 22, EXPANDED MEETING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.
PREVIOUSLY, WE HAD TO POST OUR MEETING AGENDAS 72 HOURS PRIOR TO OUR MEETING TIME.
>> NOW, YOU HAVE TO DO IT A MONTH.
NOW IT'S CHANGED IT TO THREE BUSINESS DAYS.
THIS HAS CAUSED A LOT OF CONVERSATION.
A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND A LOT OF HOW DO WE INTERPRET.
I THINK WHAT WE'VE BOILED IT DOWN TO IS WE'VE GOT A POSTS WEDNESDAY.
>> IT'S A LITTLE MORE NUANCED THAN THAT, TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST.
UNLESS, FOR INSTANCE, THIS YEAR, MEMORIAL DAY WAS ON A MONDAY.
>> NO. YOU GOT TO MOVE EVERYTHING BACK AND ENTIRE ISSUE AT BAY.
>> AT LEAST PROBABLY A WEEK OR SO.
>> THE CONVERSATION I'M HAVING WITH ALL OF OUR CITIES IS THROW THIS OUT.
WE DON'T NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT NOW.
JUST SO YOU ALL RECALL, THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT REQUIRES JUST THE AGENDA TO BE POSTED.
WELL, BEFORE BUSINESS DAYS IN ADVANCE NOT THE PACKET.
SOMETHING YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS DO WE WANT A LATER DEADLINE FOR THE PACKET SO THAT ITEMS DON'T GET BACKED UP?
>> ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE COMING ON THE TAIL OF A P&Z MEETING THE WEEK PRIOR, AND THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME TO GET EVERYTHING READY FOR THE PACKET.
DO YOU JUST SCRAP IT ENTIRELY, OR DO YOU POST THE AGENDA WITH THE ITEM? THEN YOU HAVE A SEPARATE DEADLINE FOR THE PACKET? IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ENTERTAIN, YOU COULD ALWAYS ADOPT A RESOLUTION FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES AND SAY, THIS IS OUR DEADLINE FOR THE PACKET.
>> I THINK THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO ME, ESPECIALLY JUST GOING AT THIS FIRST AND TRYING TO ADHERE TO THIS NEW PROCEDURE, THESE NEW LAWS.
I JUST MAKE IT EASIER GOING FORWARD.
JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF US IN THE PACKET BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT TO PUT TOGETHER, PRESENTATIONS, OTHER THINGS.
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW TO A T, BUT OBVIOUSLY GIVING US SOME TIME.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE AN INTERNAL POLICY.
WHEN AGENDA ITEMS NEED TO BE INTO MICHAEL WELLS, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AS WELL, AND WHAT THE CUTOFF IS FOR THAT.
WHENEVER WE ARE AWARE OF THAT, PLEASE LET COUNSEL KNOW SO WE KNOW IF WE WANT TO ADD AN ITEM TO AGENDA, WHAT THAT CUTOFF IS.
>> JUST ANECDOTAL STORY, POOR HALTOM CITY JUST WENT TO A FOUR DAY WORK WEEK, AND THEY ARE CLOSED EVERY FRIDAY.
>> THANKS. SEE, IT COULD BE WORSE.
>> IT COULD BE WORSE. FULL CIRCLE.
>> WOW. MORE ON OPEN GOVERNMENT AND ELECTIONS, SENATE BILL 1025.
THIS IS ABOUT CLARIFYING BALLOT LANGUAGE.
ANY VOTE THAT REQUIRES A TAX INCREASE.
WE NEED ALL CAPS AT THE TOP OF IT,
[01:20:02]
IT NEEDS TO SAY, THIS IS A TAX INCREASE.IT'S SPELLING IT OUT. IT'S ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.
THIS WAS APPLIED TO SCHOOL BONDS IN 2019.
THIS WAS APPLIED TO THEIR LAW OR THEN, NOW IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.
IT APPLIES TO ALL OF US. THIS IS A TAX INCREASE.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT ON YOUR BALLOTS.
SENATE BILL 1062. USE OF DIGITAL NEWSPAPERS FOR NOTICES.
INSTEAD OF JUST PRINTED NEWSPAPERS, GOVERNMENTS CAN CHOOSE TO PUBLISH NOTICES IN DIGITAL NEWSPAPERS, BUT ONLY IF THOSE MEET SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, SUCH AS THEY HAVE A PAID SUBSCRIBER BASE IN BUSINESS MINIMALLY FOR THREE YEARS, THEY COVER LOCAL NEWS, AND THEY'RE PUBLISHED AT LEAST WEEKLY.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE TO BE MET FOR A DIGITAL POSTING.
>> THAT'S IN LIEU OF AND WE HAVE THE OPTION TO DO THAT IN LIEU OF GOING TO A TRADITIONAL PAPER THEN.
>> IN LIEU OF, BUT IT'S ONLY FOR GENERAL NOTICES, NOT SPECIFIC NOTICES THAT ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, SO IT'S NOT QUITE THE GIFT THAT WE THINK IT IS.
>> THEY'RE STILL MARRIED TO THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE ARE READING THE LEGAL SECTION OF THE NEWSPAPER.
>> ALONG SIMILAR LINES, SENATE BILL 710 ALLOWS P&Z COMMISSIONS TO CREATE AND POST AN ONLINE MESSAGE BOARD FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE AND COMMENT ON.
THIS MAY BE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE.
>> I CAN WEIGH IN ON THIS AS WELL.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE LEGISLATURE ALLOWED CITY COUNCILS TO HAVE A MESSAGE BOARD.
>> BUT IT'S NOT A VIOLATION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT FOR ALL OF YOU TO CHAT PUBLICLY ABOUT UNPOSTED ITEMS AS LONG AS IT'S ON A MESSAGE BOARD THAT EVERYONE CAN READ.
THIS EXPANDS IT TO ALLOW EVERY BOARD AND COMMISSION TO DO THAT, AS WELL.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S BECAUSE EVERYTHING ON THERE IS SUBJECT TO THE INFORMATION [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S RIGHT. IT STAYS UP FOR 30 DAYS, BUT YOU'RE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A RECORD OF IT FOR SIX YEARS.
>> YES. MAYOR PRO TEM DAWKINS.
>> THANKS, MR. MYER. DON'T WE ALREADY HAVE THAT WITH BURT BEDFORD, WHERE IT'S NOT A GENERAL MESSAGE BOARD, BUT IT'S A SPECIFIC TOPIC RELATED TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND JUST CHANGES WITH BEDFORD, CAUSE ANYBODY CAN GO IN THERE AND COMMENT.
>> THE MESSAGE BOARDS AREN'T REALLY ABOUT THE PUBLIC.
IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES OF THE OPEN MEETINGS AT PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
>> RIGHT. NO P&Z FOR THAT MATTER.
>> HOUSE BILL 149 AND SENATE BILL 1964 ARE ABOUT AI REGULATION AND DATA GOVERNANCE.
FOR HOUSE BILL 149, IT SETS RULES ON HOW AI CAN BE USED.
IT AIMS TO MAKE SURE AI IS USED SAFELY AND FAIRLY, PROTECTING PEOPLE'S PRIVACY AND RIGHTS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES MUST TELL YOU WHEN YOU ARE INTERACTING WITH AI.
AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND CLEARLY KNOWING WHO YOU'RE INTERACTING WITH.
>> SENATE BILL 1964, SETS RULES FOR HOW GOVERNMENT CAN USE AI.
IT ESTABLISHES AN AI CODE OF ETHICS.
ALONG THESE SAME LINES, THERE'S AI REGULATIONS FOR AI TRAINING.
I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE CYBERSECURITY TRAINING SO THAT WE CAN GET GRANT FUNDS.
THEY'VE NOW TIED AI TRAINING TO THOSE SAME GRANT FUNDS. IT'S THE SAME THING.
IN ORDER FOR US TO RECEIVE GRANT FUNDS, WE HAVE TO COMPLETE 100% OF OUR CYBERSECURITY, AND NOW 100% OF THE AI TRAINING FOR OUR STAFF.
>> [LAUGHTER] THIS ONE GOES DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
>> JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
>> TO DO HIS HOMEWORK. [LAUGHTER]
>> I NEVER CLICK ON THE LINKS.
>> AS YOU ALL KNOW, YESTERDAY, GOVERNOR'S SPECIAL SESSION BEGAN.
I THINK THE THOUGHT WAS THAT THE BULK OF THAT WOULD BE FOCUSED ON FLOODING AND THE RELIEFS IN THAT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENED.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF UPDATES IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT IS.
AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE IT JUST BEGAN.
THERE WERE 18 ITEMS THAT THE GOVERNOR PLACED ON THAT LIST.
THINGS THAT WE'RE WATCHING, ITEM 6, REDUCING THE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN ON TEXANS AND LEGISLATION IMPOSING SPENDING LIMITS ON ENTITIES AUTHORIZED TO IMPOSE THOSE PROPERTY TAXES.
THAT'S A LOT. I'LL REFER TO BRYN IF HE WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING ON THAT ONE, IN PARTICULAR.
THERE'S STILL THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.
>> IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO SPECULATE AND COMMENT ON THINGS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN FILED.
>> WHAT'S THE THOUGHT PROCESS ON THIS ONE?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY INSIDE INFORMATION ON THIS ONE YET.
[01:25:02]
IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO STUDY THE BILLS THAT PASSED DURING THE REGULAR SECTION. WE'LL DO THE SAME HERE.
>> INITIALLY, I'LL TELL YOU JUST READING THROUGH SOME OF IT.
WE'RE ALREADY GETTING LETTERS.
THE FIRE CHIEF IS JUST SENDING ME A LETTER OF OPPOSITION TO THIS.
INITIALLY, IT LOOKS A LITTLE SCARY.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS, AGAIN, SPENDING CAPS PLACED ON US WITHOUT REALLY FACTORING A LOT OF HOW WE OPERATE INTO THAT CAP.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE DIFFERENT FUNDS, WE HAVE DIFFERENT REVENUE SOURCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, ENTERPRISE FUNDS, NON-ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
INITIALLY, IT'S A LITTLE SCARY AND WE WILL DEFINITELY BE WATCHING IT.
WE'RE ALREADY GETTING THE, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO OPPOSE THIS BILL.
WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED, BUT WE'RE WATCHING THAT ONE.
>> IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING NEXT 30 DAYS.
>> ITEM 10, THIS ONE'S INTERESTING, PROHIBITING TAXPAYER-FUNDED LOBBYING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS IMPACTS AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE LOOK AT IT, YOU HEARD ME SAY THAT I ATTENDED A TML WORKSHOP.
TML IS TECHNICALLY CONSIDERED A LOBBYING AND THEREFORE, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SPEND OUR DOLLARS FOR THAT, BUT WE DEPEND GREATLY ON TML TO HELP US SORT THROUGH AND WADE THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
THAT'S ONE THAT WE'RE WATCHING AS WELL.
>> I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN AFTER TML FOR A LONG TIME UNSUCCESSFULLY, SO LET US HOPE THAT THAT CONTINUES IN THIS TREND BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD THEIR SIGHTS ON THEM FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT OBVIOUSLY, IT'S BENEFICIAL TO CITIES.
WE NEED TO COLLECTIVELY COME TOGETHER TO BE ADVOCATES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR RESIDENTS HERE, NOT PEOPLE DOWN IN AUSTIN.
I'M HOPING THAT THAT DOESN'T PASS EITHER.
>> THEN NEXT STEPS, LIKE WE SPOKE ABOUT, WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE SPECIAL SESSION AND SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO TRACK IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINES.
I'M SENDING INFORMATION OUT TO SENIOR STAFF SO THEY CAN TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT IMPACTS THEM AND WHAT CHANGES THEY NEED TO MAKE.
THEN REVIEWING EXISTING ORDINANCES FOR COMPLIANCE.
>> WELL, FIRST OFF, BRANDON, APPRECIATE IT.
ALL MY TIME ON COUNCIL, I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER HAD THIS BEFORE WHERE AFTER THERE WAS A LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE HAD A DEBRIEF OF WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT PASSED, HOW DID IT AFFECT US AND THAT GETS US THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN ADJUST IN THE FUTURE AND IT'S BEING TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE GET BLAMED FOR EVERYTHING, BUT A LOT OF IT IS OUT OF OUR CONTROL COMPLETELY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND GOING THERE AND JUST TAKING IN ALL THE INFORMATION AND BRINGING BACK HERE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY NOT SEEING TOO MUCH DAMAGE AFTER THE SPECIAL SESSION.
>> AFTER WE'RE DONE. FINGERS CROSSED.
DO YOU PLAN ON COMING BACK AFTER A FULL DEBRIEF AFTER THAT?
>> VERY GOOD. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
>> MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME UP HERE.
>> NEXT UP, GOING BACK PREVIOUSLY TO THE ITEM THAT WAS SKIPPED HERE.
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MARJORIE HERRERA LEWIS OF THE GLOBAL FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE COMMISSIONER REGARDING HOSTING THEIR CHAMPION GAMES HERE IN BEDFORD.
I GIVE YOU COUNCILMEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON WITH THIS ITEM.
[LAUGHTER] IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE DR. MARJORIE HERRERA LEWIS.
SHE AND I ARE FORMER COLLEAGUES AT THE FORT WORTH STAR TELEGRAM.
SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE BEAT REPORTER FOR THE DALLAS COWBOYS.
SHE AND I ARE SORORITY SISTERS, SO WE HAVE A LIFELONG CONNECTION.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, SHE'S SO ACCOMPLISHED.
SHE WROTE THIS BOOK, WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE, A HISTORICAL FICTION THAT HAS BEEN PICKED UP BY HOLLYWOOD OPTION FOR A FEATURE FILM.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, SHE IS THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE GLOBAL PRO FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
MARJORIE AND I COOKED UP A FEW THINGS, AND I AM PLEASED TO LET HER TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT AND TO INTRODUCE HER TEAM AND THAT'S A PUN I INTENDED.
JOY, COUNCILMEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO BE A PART OF THE MEETING TONIGHT.
ON BEHALF OF THE GLOBAL PRO FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE AND I APPRECIATE YOU MOVING US DOWN IN THE AGENDA, WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF OUR FRONT OFFICE WHO FLEW IN TODAY FOR THIS MEETING.
CAME IN FROM THE EAST COAST AND WE'RE DEALING WITH SOME DALLAS TRAFFIC,
[01:30:01]
SO THAT'S WHY THEY GOT HERE A LITTLE BIT LATE.>> EXACTLY. BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE SCOTT MURRAY, WHO ACTUALLY NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION IN THIS AREA, SCOTT MURRAY IS NOW WITH THE GLOBAL PRO FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
HE IS OWNER WITH HIS SON, DOUG, OF MURRAY MEDIA WORLD AND SCOTT IS GOING TO BE DOING SOME WORK FOR THE FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE AS DIRECTOR OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION.
AFTER THE OTHER FRONT OFFICE MEMBERS SPEAK, SCOTT MIGHT WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
I WANTED TO JUST USE THIS TIME TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME HERE AND INTRODUCE OURSELVES AND GET YOU A LITTLE BIT FAMILIAR WITH THE GLOBAL FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE, BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO NEXT IS, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EACH HAVE A FEW COMMENTS.
FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH QUINTUS MCDONALD.
HE'S LIKE THE JACK OF ALL TRADES WITH THIS LEAGUE.
YOU NEED ANYTHING, HE KNOWS HOW TO DO IT.
HE'S A FORMER LINEBACKER WITH PENN STATE.
HOWEVER, HE DID LETTER FOR FOUR YEARS IN FOUR DIFFERENT POSITIONS.
THAT'S WHY WE KNOW HE'S THE JACK OF ALL TRADES.
HE ALSO IS A FORMER TEAMMATE OF ALBERT BENTLEY, WHO THEY BOTH PLAYED TOGETHER FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS.
NOW, ALBERT, YOU'LL FIND OUT LATER THAT HE WAS ON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM WHEN MIAMI BEAT NEBRASKA, IF YOU ALL REMEMBER THAT ONE.
PENN STATE WENT TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AS WELL, SO QUINTUS ALSO HAS A PASSION FOR MENTORSHIP, MINISTRY, COMMUNITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE HIM THE FLOOR AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MARJORIE, FOR THE WARM INTRODUCTION.
MAYOR PRO TEM AND HIS TEAM, BOARD MEMBERS, WE WANT TO THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL, FOR HAVING US HERE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT BEDFORD COULD PROVIDE US AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
YOU ONLY GET ONE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND 2028 WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THE OLYMPICS HOST MEN'S AND WOMEN'S FLAG FOOTBALL.
ALBERT AND I HAVE TAKEN ON THE MANTLE OF A VISIONARY TO BRING PROFESSIONALISM, NOT JUST IN ACT, BUT IN THE POCKETS, IN THE WALLETS OF THE PLAYERS TO FLAG FOOTBALL.
IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COLLECTIVE EFFORT OF COMMUNITY.
THE COMMUNITIES THAT THESE TEAMS WILL HOLD THE NAME OF THE CITY.
THAT CITY WILL NEED TO BE A PART OF THE THREAD OF THE FABRIC, THE FOUNDATION OF THE FABRIC THAT BUILDS WHAT WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE AND SEE WHAT BEDFORD HAS TO OFFER.
WE ENJOYED OUR VISIT TO THE STADIUM.
IT WAS QUITE INSPIRING TO SAY THE LEAST TO SEE A HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM LIKE THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S HOW WE DO IT IN TEXAS.
>> I SEE. EVERYTHING IS BIG IN TEXAS. THAT'S RIGHT.
SPEAKING OF FOOTBALL TOO, WE WON A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
WE DID WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER LOSING THE PREVIOUS SEASON TO THE SOONERS.
[LAUGHTER] YOU GOT TO TELL THE WHOLE STORY.
BUT I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT IF THIS DOES COME TO FRUITION, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BEGIN BUILDING AND WORKING TOGETHER IMMEDIATELY.
THAT'S COMMERCE, THAT'S THE OWNERS OF BUSINESS HERE IN THIS CITY, THAT'S THE SCHOOLS COMING TOGETHER WITH US IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD A SOLID FOUNDATION TO MOVE FORWARD FROM.
IT'S NOT, LET'S LOOK TOWARD 2026.
SIGN AN AGREEMENT TODAY AND LOOK TOWARD 2026 AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE AND WE'LL HAVE THE PLAYOFFS AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE TOURNAMENT AND ALL OF THAT WITHOUT THE WORK THAT IT TAKES TO GET THERE.
THE PROCESS MATTERS AND WE ARE HERE TO BE MASTERFUL IN THAT PROCESS TO GET TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE TEAM.
THIS YOUNG MAN IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
I'LL TELL YOU WE COULD GO NOWHERE WITHOUT HIM.
MR. ERIC COOPER, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS UNK, SO ME CALLING A DUDE WHO COULD BE MY SON, UNK, [LAUGHTER] IS NEW FOR ME.
[01:35:01]
BUT JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A FEW ACCOLADES THAT THIS YOUNG MAN HAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE ARENA IN THE AREA OF FLAG FOOTBALL.HE'S BEEN IN FLAG FOOTBALL FOR 28 YEARS.
HE'S BEEN A DIRECTOR CREATING AND HOSTING VENUES, WORKING WITH BOARDS LIKE YOURSELVES, WORKING WITH CITIES TO BRING VENUES TO FLAG FOOTBALL AS A DIRECTOR FOR SEVEN YEARS.
IN THAT 28 YEARS, THE FIRST 21 YEARS, HE'S GOT EIGHT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT HE COACHED OR PLAYED ON, IN FLAG FOOTBALL, TWO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT HE COACHED OR PLAYED ON, AND TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS, 117.
THIS IS A YOUNG MAN WHO KNOWS THE LAND.
HE HAS ALL OF THE RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE NATION.
I THINK THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO PARTNER WITH THIS TEAM IF IT MAKES SENSE TO YOU, BUT I WANT TO BRING YOU ERIC COOPER, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS UNK.
>> HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS ERIC COOPER.
I GO BY UNK FOR ALL THE YOUNG FLAG FOOTBALL PLAYERS FROM 8-80, PRETTY MUCH.
I HAVE MY TWIN DAUGHTERS PLAY FLAG FOOTBALL.
I'M A FORMER PARALEGAL, SO HATS OFF TO MR. MEREDITH.
IN 2020, WHEN COVID HIT, OUR LAW FIRM SHUT DOWN FOR TWO MONTHS, AND IN MY FAMILY, WE PLAY MONOPOLY.
YOU GO BANKRUPT, YOU GOT TO PLAY A BET TO SOMEONE.
[LAUGHTER] MY WIFE WAS LIKE, WHY DON'T YOU FOCUS ON FLAG FOOTBALL FOR THESE TWO MONTHS? I WAS LIKE, THERE'S NO WAY THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT'S LIKE, I'VE TRAVELED THE COUNTRY SPONSORING TEAMS TO GO ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO PLAY FLAG, BUT FOCUSING ON IT NOW, I'M A PARALEGAL.
THIS IS A NICE HOUSE WE LIVE IN AND WE'RE BEST TO HAVE IT, BUT A BET IS A BET, SO I WENT INTO THIS TRYING TO PROVE HER WRONG, WHICH I HAVEN'T DONE IT YET IN 20 YEARS.
BUT IT JUST HAPPENED OUR FIRST EVENT, I GOT INVITED OUT HERE TO TEXAS.
I WOULD HAVE 127 CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT TEXAS BEAT US 10 TIMES, [LAUGHTER] SO HATS OFF TO YOU GUYS, BUT IN COMING OUT HERE, I LEARNED THAT IT'S DIFFERENT PROGRAMS YOU COULD PUT ON FOR FLAG FOOTBALL.
ALSO, I LEARNED THAT FLAG FOOTBALL HELPS OUR MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE I WAS FOCUSED ON WORK, BUT WHEN I'M AT WORK, AND I'M GOING OVER A PLEADING CASE, THIS AND THAT, I'M THINKING ABOUT WHEN OUR NEXT TOURNAMENT IS.
I LEARNED THE ASPECTS OF THE GAME AND HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER, AND HOW TO TRAVEL AND ACTUALLY IN OUR FIRST TWO MONTHS, HOW THE LORD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS, I GOT INVITED TO A CAMP WHERE IT WAS 45 KIDS.
IT WAS RAINING IN FLORIDA. WE HAD TO COME INSIDE.
IT WAS A YOUNG MAN THAT WASN'T DOING ANYTHING, A YOUNG MAN AND A YOUNG LADY.
I HAD THEM COME IN ALSO AND JUST PLAY.
COME TO FIND OUT THAT WAS TOM BRADY'S SON AND DAUGHTER.
WHEN HE CAME IN, HE HAD A FIT.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW THE YOUNG MAN.
HE LOVES TO CURSE. HIS SON HAS AUTISM, SO IS MY LITTLE BROTHER.
I KNEW WHO HE WAS, BUT IF YOU CAN GET LOUD, I CAN GET LOUD TOO.
I WAS LIKE, I UNDERSTAND WHO YOU ARE, BUT GET OUT OF THE GYM.
[LAUGHTER] WE'LL BE DONE IN 10 MINUTES AND WHEN YOU COME WHEN WE'RE DONE, YOU COME BACK IN AND GET YOUR SON.
THE NEXT MORNING, HE CONTACTED ME.
HE WAS LIKE, MY SON HAD A BLAST.
HE CAN'T PLAY TACKLE FOOTBALL BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION, BUT HE LOVED TO PLAY FLAG.
FROM THERE, HE INVITED ME TO COME OUT TO WORK FOR THE BUCCANEERS, JUST TO COME TO A PROGRAM AND SEE IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING FOR THE BUCS, SO I LET HIM KNOW THERE'S FLAG FOOTBALL.
THERE'S TYPE OF FOOTBALL EVERYWHERE.
IT'S FLORIDA AND TEXAS, WE LIVE BY IT.
NOT EVERYBODY CAN PLAY IT, BUT EVERYBODY CAN PLAY FLAG FOOTBALL.
MY TWIN DAUGHTERS PLAY FLAG AND MY SON PLAY FLAG AND AT 14 AND 12, THEY PLAY A FLAG ALL THE WAY COMING UP, SO HE ASKED, HOW CAN WE PUT THIS PROGRAM ON TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR EVERYONE ELSE.
I SAID WE CAN TAKE IT TO THE SCHOOLS AND JUST SHOW THEM THAT FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, THERE'S A DIFFERENT AVENUE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLAY TACKLE FOOTBALL, BUT IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
LASTLY, IT WAS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE PUT ON THAT HELPED CHANGE THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO WHERE IT WAS ONLY GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL NATIONWIDE, AND I JUST ASKED MR. [INAUDIBLE] TOMMY, I ASKED TV12, WHAT IF YOUR DAUGHTER WANTS TO PLAY COLLEGE FLAG FOOTBALL? HE FREAKED OUT. HE WAS LIKE, THERE'S NO SUCH THING, BUT THERE IS NOW.
THERE'S THE NAIA PROGRAM IN D1, BUT WITH HIM BACKING IT AND WITH BAKER MAYFIELD BEING WHO HE IS.
WELL, MARTY IS BIG ON OKLAHOMA.
THE SOONERS BACKED US IMMEDIATELY.
I CONTACTED THEM BECAUSE OF THE PRESIDENT OF OKLAHOMA.
HE HAS TWIN DAUGHTERS THAT WANTED TO PLAY.
THEY'RE VERY GOOD CHEERLEADERS, BUT WHEN THEY GOT DONE CHEERING, THEY HAD NOWHERE TO.
I SAW A LADY DO FIVE BACK HAND SPRINGS.
I WENT OVER THERE WAS LIKE, HEY, I KNOW YOU DON'T CHEER ANYMORE, BUT I CAN GIVE YOU A FOOTBALL.
YOU CAN DO THE EXACT SAME THING.
FROM THAT PROGRAM, NOW WE HAVE A DIVISION 1 AND DIVISION 2 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR GIRLS' FLAG FOOTBALL.
IT'S AN AVENUE FOR THEM TO DO A LOT NATIONWIDE AND WITH THE BEDFORD PROGRAM, IF WE CAN BRING OUR PRO TEAM HERE, THERE'S 140 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL FLAG FOOTBALL PROGRAMS, WHERE IT'S JUST MOM AND POP SHOPS, VENDORS POPPING UP HERE AND THERE, WHERE THERE HASN'T BEEN A PRO FLIGHT FOOTBALL LEAGUE YET.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE GIVE OUT $60,000 IN CASH TOURNAMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN WON BEFORE AT DIFFERENT EVENTS, BUT NOBODY ACTUALLY PUTTING THE FOOT FORWARD TO TAKE IT OVER.
MARJORIE AND ALBERT APPROACHED ME WITH THE PROSPECT OF PUTTING THE PRO FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE TOGETHER AND I WAS LIKE, FLORIDA, I FEEL LIKE WE WERE THE BEST.
[LAUGHTER] THEN WE VISITED THE HIGH SCHOOL, THAT WAS NOTHING LIKE BEDFORD.
[01:40:01]
I WORKED FOR THE BUCCANEER, WHICH IS A BLESSING.THE HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM YOU GUYS HAVE IS BETTER THAN WE HAVE DOWN AT HOME, SO I TOOK NOTES.
YOU GUYS HAVE AN ELEVATOR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, IS CRAZY.
[LAUGHTER] YOU WON ME OVER RIGHT THERE, BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO BRING THE PROGRAM HERE TO BEDFORD.
WE'VE BEEN CHASING YOU GUYS FOR YEARS, AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO COME HERE AND SAY OUR FIRST PRO FOOTBALL PROGRAM STARTED IN TEXAS, AND IT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF HERE.
LET THE FLORIDAS AND THE CALIFORNIAS AND PEOPLE UP NORTH KNOW THAT TEXAS IS FOOTBALL AND IF YOU WANT TO SHOW IT, THAT YOU CAN DO BETTER WITH IT LET'S START IN BEDFORD.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME AND I'M INTRODUCING NOW, ALBERT BENTLEY, OUR HEAD HUNTER.
HE WAS WITH THE INDIANAPOLIS CATS.
HE'S ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT ME ONTO IT.
I TALK VERY FAST, SO HE'S ONE OF PEOPLE TO COME, SLOW DOWN, TAKE YOUR BREATH.
YOU GOT TO DO IT ALL AT ONE TIME, SO LET ME INTRODUCE AB.
I DID PLAY FOR UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IN COLLEGE.
WENT THERE ACTUALLY ON A PARTIAL ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST, AND END UP WALKING ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM ON A DARE AND PLAYED 10 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL BECAUSE SOMEONE DARED ME TO GO OUT AND WALK ONTO THE TEAM.
I LIKE CHALLENGES. HAVING A PRO LEAGUE IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR US, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BRING COMMERCE TO WHATEVER AREAS THAT WE PLAY IN.
ERIC IS VERY GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES, AND WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE HIM ON OUR TEAM TO PUT TOGETHER OUR TOURNAMENTS AND PUT TOGETHER OUR GAMES.
WE'RE HOPING THAT SOME OF OUR PRO PLAYERS WILL BE ON OUR OLYMPIC TEAM IN 2028.
WE BELIEVE THAT HAVING ERIC WILL MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS AND SEEING WHAT ALL WE CAN DO TOGETHER TO MAKE OUR CHAMPIONSHIP FOR 2026, OUR CHAMPIONSHIPS PLAYOFF BEING HELD HERE, A GREAT SUCCESS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US, AND WE'LL BE WORKING WITH JOY TO GET EVERYTHING WORKED OUT.
>> APPRECIATE IT. YEAH. THANK YOU. MR. MURRAY.
>> MY NAME IS SCOTT MURRAY, AND I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS.
YES. I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT IT.
MY ENTIRE LIFE, I'VE SPENT IN SPORTS.
I HAD TWO YOUNGER SISTERS, AND I REMEMBER GOING TO THE BACKYARD, AND BOTH MY SISTERS WANTED TO KNOW WHY THEY COULDN'T PLAY FOOTBALL.
I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE GLOBAL PRO FOOTBALL IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IN FLAG FOOTBALL.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WOMEN'S DUE.
IT'S GOING TO BE MEN AND WOMEN.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
HAVING TWO YOUNGER SISTERS AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER RIGHT NOW, THEY ALL WENT ON TO BECOME CHEERLEADERS AND PLAYED OTHER SPORTS, BUT THEY NEVER PLAYED FOOTBALL.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE ALL OF THIS WITH THEM.
THAT SAID AND DONE, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BEING A PART OF THIS.
MY 30 YEARS AS A BROADCASTER, AS THE SPORTS ANCHOR AT NBC 5, WAS GREAT.
DID A LOT OF NEAT THINGS AND WAS A PART OF A LOT OF SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND FOOTBALL WAS CERTAINLY ONE OF MY FAVORITES BACK IN THE DAY WHEN SOMEBODY BY THE NAME OF TOM LANDRY WAS CALLING SHOTS FOR THE DALLAS COWBOYS AND WHAT HAVE YOU, WHEN THAT ALL HAPPENED BACK IN 1960 WHEN WE WERE ALL IN SECOND GRADE OR NOT EVEN BORN.
DON'T POINT FINGERS, FOLKS. LET'S BE NICE.
I WILL TELL YOU A QUICK STORY WHEN I SAY TOM LANDRY.
THIS YOUNG LADY TO MY LEFT HERE, JUST BEHIND ME, I'M TALKING ABOUT MARJORIE, WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR LITERALLY.
I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN TOM LANDRY CALLED ALL THE PLAYERS TOGETHER AND THE MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA, AND SHE WAS OUTSIDE AT THE TIME WHEN HE SAID THIS.
BUT HE SAID, FELLAS, IT'S A BRAND NEW WORLD IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL, AND WHEN IT COMES TO BROADCASTING, AND WHATEVER FORM OF COMMUNICATION IT'S GOING TO BE, WHETHER IT'S RADIO, TV, OR NEWSPAPERS.
YOU SEE WOMEN ON THE SIDELINES EVERY FOOTBALL GAME OUT THERE NOW.
THAT WASN'T THE CASE 40 YEARS AGO.
THIS YOUNG LADY WAS THE FIRST, AS YOU HEARD, JUST A MOMENT AGO, WAS THE FIRST ONE ON THE SIDELINES FOR THE COWBOYS.
COACH LANDRY CALLED ALL THE PLAYERS TOGETHER AND SAID, GUYS, MOVING FORWARD, MAKE SURE YOU GOT YOUR PANTS ON 24/7.
WHEN YOU'RE IN THE LOCKER ROOM. WE ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE LADIES IN THE LOCKER ROOM.
IT CHANGED THE WORLD OF SPORTS.
I'VE REALLY ENJOYED THE GREAT CAREER I'VE HAD, AND TO BE A PART OF THIS FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE IS REALLY EXCITING.
I'VE BEEN TO THE 42 SUPER BOWLS.
I'VE BEEN TO THE OLYMPICS OVER AND OVER AND OVER SINCE 1980.
MY FIRST OLYMPICS WAS AT SPIRIT.
YOU REMEMBER THE MIRACLE ON ICE, AND WHEN THE RUSSIANS LOST TO THE AMERICANS 4:03, AND THEY MADE A MOVIE OUT OF THE THING, FOR PETE'S SAKE.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
NOW, HERE WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE OLYMPICS IN 2026.
OF COURSE, YOU SEE ALL THAT'S COMING TO THE GREATER DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA.
[01:45:03]
IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE WHETHER IT'S FIFA AND THE WORLD CUP AND ALL THAT STUFF, IT'S REALLY EXCITING.FOR THE FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE TO BE A PART OF IT IS REALLY VERY SPECIAL.
I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO BE VERY EXCITED.
THAT SAID AND DONE, I'LL WRAP IT UP BY SIMPLY SAYING, ALL THE YEARS THAT I WAS ON NBC 5, I LIVED IN COLLEYVILLE, RIGHT NEXT DOOR, AND I USED TO HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH BEDFORD EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I TELL YOU WHAT. I JUST HAVE ALL THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR THIS INCREDIBLE TOWN.
WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE AT PENNINGTON FIELD, WHICH I REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS BUILT BACK IN 19, I THINK IT WAS '87.
I DON'T KNOW IF MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT, BUT I THINK IT WAS '85 OR '87. THAT WENT UP.
I THINK IT WAS '87, BECAUSE IT'LL BE 40 YEARS IN JUST '86 OR '87 NEXT YEAR, 40 YEARS.
THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE. BUT I REMEMBER BETTER, EVEN ABOVE THAT.
I CAME HERE IN '80, '81, JUST A PUNK KID.
BUT I MET A GUY BY THE NAME OF TIM EDWARDS, AND TIM EDWARDS WAS THE HEAD COACH OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM AT LD BELL.
I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WENT TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, AND I THOUGHT, WOW.
THIS WHOLE AREA, BEDFORD AND LD BELL AND EVERYTHING, AND I THOUGHT, WOW, ISN'T THIS SPECIAL? BOY, WHAT I HAVE LIKED HAVE BEEN ON THAT TEAM AS A KID PLAYING FOOTBALL WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. HOW SPECIAL IS THAT? NOW TO THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE BROUGHT RIGHT BACK HERE TO WHERE TIM WAS AND WHERE THE LD BELL TEAM WAS AND WHERE BEDFORD HAS DONE WITH PENNINGTON FIELD ALMOST FOUR DECADES AGO.
LET ME SIMPLY SAY TO ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS INCREDIBLE LEAGUE TO BE A PART OF IT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE BACK IN THE BEDFORD AREA AND BE A PART OF IT AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE SOMETHING SPECIAL.
THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR ALL YOU CONTINUE TO DO TO MAKE OUR INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL CALL HOME AS GOOD AS IT GETS.
I'VE JUST FINISHED, THIS WAS NOT IN WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
MAYBE I CAN WRAP UP WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AS WE LOOK AHEAD OF THIS WORLD.
MAYBE WE CAN GET OUR WORLD BACK TO WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN WE WERE ALL GROWING UP. REMEMBER THOSE DAYS? I'VE JUST WRITTEN MY THIRD BOOK.
I JUST FINISHED THIS MORNING TALKING TO THE PUBLISHER, AND IT'S GOING TO BE OUT THE END OF AUGUST.
BUT I'VE TAKEN ALL THESE WORDS THAT WE THINK ABOUT THAT ARE NOT THE WAY THEY USED TO BE WHEN WE WERE KIDS.
I THOUGHT I MIGHT WRAP IT UP BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE A GREAT GLOBAL PRO FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT POSITIVELY AND PRODUCTIVELY AND DONE IT WITH GREAT INTEGRITY.
THE NAME OF THE BOOK IS CALLED RHYME HIS REASON.
IT'S ALL DONE IN POETRY, AND I TOOK 125 WORDS LIKE COURAGE, COMMITMENT, CHARACTER, COMPASSION, KINDNESS, COURTESY, RESPECT, WORDS THAT HAVE LITERALLY DISAPPEARED FROM OUR WORLD.
MAYBE I CAN WRAP UP THIS PARTICULAR PORTION OF YOUR MEETING HERE TONIGHT BY SAYING, LET'S, WHEN WE ALL LEAVE HERE TONIGHT, BE POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT IN A POSITIVE WAY.
THE POEM GOES. THE FIRST ONE MY KEYNOTE THAT I GIVE ACROSS AMERICA IS IT CALLED LEADERSHIP AMERICA.
CREATING CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE THROUGH A CULTURE OF CIVILITY BECAUSE WE'VE LOST THE ABILITY TO BE KIND, COURTEOUS, AND RESPECTFUL.
THE POEM GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
LIVING LIFE IS NOT JUST ABOUT ME.
A PURPOSEFUL LIFE IS ALL ABOUT WE, SHARING TOGETHER ALL THAT WE SEE, EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT NOT ALWAYS AGREE.
RESPECTFUL AND KIND IS FOREVER KEY.
TRUTHFUL AND TRANSPARENT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE.
ERADICATING THE ANGER AND THE HATEFUL DEBRIS.
LIVE NOT IN A WORLD WHERE WE NEED REFEREES.
LET US MOVE FORWARD IN THIS PLACE WE FORESEE, DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE FOR BOTH HE AND SHE.
MATTERS NOT RELIGION, NO RACE.
WE MUST LIVE IN A WORLD THAT'S OUR HOME OF THE FREE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE KIND WORDS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
>> IF YOU GUYS ARE LIKE I AM, I'M READY TO GO OUT AND THROW A FOOTBALL.
YEAH. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH THIS GROUP AND WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
I WANT TO THANK, ESPECIALLY JOY DONOVAN BRANDON, FOR ALL THE WORK SHE'S DONE TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
BUT I'M WONDERING IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS, WE COULD BRING THE TEAM BACK UP HERE.
IF YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS, WE CAN ANSWER THOSE.
>> YEAH. FIRST OF ALL, THE PROFESSIONALISM YOU GUYS ARE JUST PRESENTING HERE TONIGHT.
I AM OVERWHELMED AND OVER THE MOON THAT BEDFORD IS GOING TO BE THE HOST FOR THIS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HERE.
YOU ALL ARE THE FIRST-EVER PRO FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
THAT IS [OVERLAPPING] INTERNATIONAL AS WELL.
THAT IS PHENOMENAL. THE FACT THAT BEDFORD HAS THE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO HOST THIS GAME [OVERLAPPING] IS JUST AMAZING.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF US UP HERE, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, HAS ALWAYS SAID, MAYBE WE GOT TO MAKE BEDFORD A DESTINATION.
WE GOT TO GET BEDFORD DESTINATION.
WE GOT TO BRING PEOPLE HERE. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I DO WANT TO MENTION IS THAT WE SCHEDULED IT SPECIFICALLY DURING THE TWO WORLD CUP GAMES THAT WILL BE PLAYED AT JERRY WORLD.
[01:50:02]
TNT, WHATEVER IT IS.BUT NOT ONLY WILL BE BETWEEN THE TWO LOCAL GAMES TO BE PLAYED, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE PLAYING WHEN THERE ARE NO TELEVISED WORLD CUP GAMES, EITHER.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN FROM OUT OF TOWN, AND THIS WILL BE THE DESTINATION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE OTHERS, I'LL STEP ASIDE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NO, ABSOLUTELY. IT'S GREAT.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILOR DONOVAN BRANDON WHEN SHE WAS CAMPAIGNING, THIS WAS HER BIG THING WAS WORLD CUP IS COMING.
THERE'S GOING TO BE MANY EYES ON THIS REGION.
THIS REGION IS HOSTING THE MOST GAMES OUT OF ANYWHERE IN NORTH AMERICA.
HOW DO WE CAPITALIZE ON THAT? HOW DO WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE BRING PEOPLE TO OUR CITY? BECAUSE ALL EYES ARE GOING TO BE ON TEXAS, ON DFW.
I KNOW THAT THAT WAS HER MISSION, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DURING THAT WHOLE THING, JOY, I THINK WE WERE THINKING, WORLD CUP, SOCCER.
HERE WE ARE WITH FOOTBALL. IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE TEXAS IS FOOTBALL.
TEXAS IS FOOTBALL, MY LIFE SURROUNDED BY FOOTBALL.
THOSE YOU MAY NOT KNOW, I TRANSLATED HERE FROM CANTON, OHIO.
THERE I GO, YES. FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME RIGHT THERE.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT FOOTBALL IS WHAT DRIVES.
TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE THIS FOR THE WORLD, DURING THIS, WHEN ALL EYES ARE GOING TO BE HERE IN DFW.
THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. COUNCILOR DONOVAN BRANDON.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE, THIS COULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HGB INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
DR. HARRINGTON HAS BEEN SO ACCOMMODATING.
IT DOESN'T HURT THAT HE'S A FORMER COACH.
BUT WITHOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BEING SO WELCOMING, THEY GAVE US A TOUR TODAY.
I THINK THE TEAM WAS IMPRESSED.
I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THEN I THINK WE'VE MISSED THE DATES.
IF SOMEBODY WOULD TALK ABOUT THE DATES.
>> WELL, BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE DATE, I DON'T WANT TO BE A DOWNER, BUT IN INTEGRITY, WE'VE NOT COME TO AN AGREEMENT.
WE WANT TO. WE LIKE WHAT WE SAW.
THE TIME OF YEAR, WHAT'S TAKING PLACE IN THE SURROUNDING CITY, IS AMAZING.
ALL OF THAT LOOKS GREAT, BUT THERE'S STILL STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN.
I DON'T WANT YOU ALL WALKING AWAY SAYING THAT THIS IS COMPLETED, THAT THIS IS DONE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT.
THERE'S SOME STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN.
THERE'S STILL CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO BE HAD.
MANY THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TALKED ABOUT.
DO WE LIKE WHAT WE'VE SEEN? 100 PERCENT.
THANK YOU, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SOON OR RED.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S OR WHAT.
THE RED CARPET WAS ROLLED OUT.
WE WERE WELCOMED HERE, AND WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE THIS ESTEEMED BOARD.
BUT IN INTEGRITY, WE COULD NOT LEAVE HERE WITH YOU ALL THINKING THAT THIS IS A DONE DEAL.
DO WE WANT TO BE HERE? I THINK WE DO. BUT IT'S NOT COMPLETED YET.
IN INTEGRITY, I'LL TAKE THE QUESTIONS.
>> TO THAT END, I GUESS, THE BIGGEST QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM THE CITY?
>> WELL, IT BEGINS REALLY WITH THE FACILITIES THAT WE SAW.
IS THAT BEING GIVEN TO US? IS THERE AN EXPECTATION OF COST FROM US? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WE WENT UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS, AND AROUND AND SAW EVERYTHING, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
>> YES, COUNCIL MEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON.
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT. DR. HARRINGTON SAID IT'S YOURS.
HELP ME, MARJORIE IF I GET THIS WRONG.
THE POLICE PRESENCE, AND YOU PAY FOR THE BOARD.
>> YEAH. THERE'S NO RENTAL FEE.
>> DO YOU MIND COMING TO THE MIC? [OVERLAPPING] MARJORIE, YOU MIND COMING IN TO THE MIC REAL QUICK?
>> YEAH. AT OUR MEETING, HE DID SAY THERE WOULD BE NO FEE FOR RENT.
BUT THERE WILL BE SOME FEE FOR SOME PEOPLE LIKE TICKET TAKERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE VERY MINIMAL, IF YOU RECALL?
>> THE LIGHTING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DON'T REMEMBER THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LIGHTING, AND WE'LL HAVE TO PROBABLY REVISIT THAT.
>> THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GETS THE CONCESSIONS.
>> EXACTLY. YEAH. HE SAID THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE
[01:55:03]
TO HAVE VENDORS OUT IN THE PARKING LOT AND EVERYTHING, BUT JUST NO FOOD BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO COMPETE WITH THE CONCESSIONS.YEAH, THAT SOUNDS LIKE ALMOST A PRETTY MUCH DONE DEAL TO BE, ESPECIALLY ON THE CITY'S BEHALF.
THE CITY, I KNOW EVERYONE UP HERE.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S GOING TO SAY OTHERWISE, BUT I THINK I'M COMFORTABLE TO SAY THAT WE WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN IN OUR CITY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY SIDE IS VERY MINIMAL, POLICE PRESENCE, SECURITY, THAT THING, WHICH ABSOLUTELY WE CAN DO.
>> THAT'S PERFECT. THAT'S STANDARD FOR MOST EVENTS WITH CONCEDING CONCESSIONS FOR SECURITY, AND WE CAN DO STUFF WITH TICKET SALES.
IF WE HAVE 16 TEAMS WITH 12 PLAYERS, THAT'S BRINGING IN HOTELS, NO HEADS FOR BED.
THE TOURISM BOARD IS WHAT I TALK TO ALL THE TIME, SO WE'LL MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS TAKEN CARE OF.
MY MOM'S FROM OHIO, SO I HAVE TO SAY OH.
>> IO. [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]
>> VERY GOOD. LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A WAY FORWARD FOR THE CITY, AND I CAN SEE THIS HAPPENING.
ONE THING ALSO IS, WHAT WE COULD DO, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN OFFERED, SO I DON'T WANT TO PULL THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE IS COMMUNICATIONS AND COVERAGE.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BROADCAST THIS.
WE NEED TO BROADCAST THIS, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, AND IT'S HAPPENING IN BEDFORD, AND YOU ALL NEED TO BE HERE, BASICALLY.
I THINK THE CITY COULD PROBABLY DO SOME THINGS WITH THAT, PERHAPS.
WITH BROADCASTING THIS IN LENGTH, PEOPLE WILL KNOW THIS EVENT IS TAKING PLACE, AND THAT WAY WE CAN MAXIMIZE ON GETTING AS MANY PEOPLE HERE TO ATTEND.
>> WHILE YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT MAXIMIZING TO GET PEOPLE ATTENDING, THAT'S WHERE THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CITY, THE COMMERCE IN THE CITY.
WE WANT TO BEGIN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE LICENSED PROFESSIONALS.
SEE, WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY HERE, PROBABLY MULTIPLE ATTORNEYS IN HERE, BUT LICENSED PROFESSIONALS, ENTREPRENEURS, PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO BEGIN TO WORK WITH THEM IMMEDIATELY. YES, SIR.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MART. COUNCILWOMAN DONOVAN BRANDON HAD TALKED TO ME, AND I'D LIKE TO SCHEDULE SOME TIME WITH YOU GUYS TO GET TO MEET WITH OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE SURROUNDING JOHN FLETCHER, WHO DOES A LOT OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW IF SCOTT KNOWS. HE SETS UP A LOT OF OUR SPEAKERS TO POSSIBLY GET YOU GUYS IN TO SPEAK WITH OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT AN UPCOMING MEETING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS CAN DO AND HOW THE CHAMBER CAN HELP YOU.
>> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A WINDOW THERE BETWEEN THE TWO GAMES.
>> YES. MAYOR PRO TEM DAWKINS.
>> THANKS, MR. MAYOR. WOULD THIS BE THE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES?
>> BECAUSE I DID NOTICE LIKE YOU GUYS STARTED THE LEAGUE IN 2024.
THIS IS A BRAND NEW BRAND, GLOBAL PRO FLAG FOOTBALL.
THAT POST THAT YOU MAY HAVE SEEN, ALL OF THAT WIPED THAT OUT.
WE NEED TO PULL THAT DOWN SINCE WE'VE GOT A DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MOVING FORWARD, ALL OF THE COMMUNICATIONS WILL BE ALIGNED WITH THE EXECUTIVE TEAM.
>> NO, THAT'S REALLY EXCITING. BECAUSE I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK, LIKE HOW THE PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIP WORKED, BUT IT'S REALLY EXCITING THAT THIS WILL BE THE INAUGURAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR ALL THE TEAMS.
>> OF ALL HISTORY. THERE WE GO.
>> YOU CAN ONLY BE THE FIRST. WELL, I FIRST WANT TO JUST THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING FOR THE PRESENTATION.
FOR ONE, I KNOW MYSELF. I AM BLOWN AWAY FROM YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE AN AMAZING EVENT, A HISTORICAL ONE FOR OUR CITY, AND IT'S GOING TO BRING A LOT OF MEMORIES, PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THIS CITY TO DISCOVER BEDFORD, AND I AM GRATEFUL.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON FOR GETTING THIS KICKED OFF AND BRINGING THIS FOR US.
>> WELL, I JUST WENT TO THE MIC TO SAY, THANK YOU ONCE MORE, SO I DON'T HAVE TO SHOUT IT OUT THE DOOR.
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. YOU GUYS ENJOY YOUR EVENING.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO TALK TO THE ESPN.
>> MOVING ON, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING PROPOSED RENOVATIONS TO THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL.
I GIVE YOU CITY MANAGER ANDREA ROY.
[02:00:20]
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. THANK YOU.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL, AND I WILL GO AHEAD AND KICK THIS OFF AND JUST TALK OUR THOUGHTS, BUT PLEASE KNOW THIS IS A COLLECTIVE DISCUSSION.
I WILL ASK HER TO CHIME IN AT THE END, WHERE SHE CAN SHARE SOME INSIGHTS ON FINANCING.
AND I BELIEVE MARK LONG IS HERE AS WELL.
YOU ARE HIDING? AND SO, AGAIN, A COLLECTIVE EFFORT AMONG THE GROUP HERE AT CITY HALL TO BRING THIS FORWARD TO ALL THIS EVENING.
SO THIS IS COMING FORWARD NOW.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAD OUR SENIOR ACTIVITIES OCCURRING AT OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL WHILE GENERATIONS PARK WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
AND SO NOW THAT WE HAVE GOT THE SENIORS IN THEIR NEW HOME AND OPERATING OVER THERE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL AGAIN.
SO THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN ON AND OFF BEING USED, I THINK, SINCE 1915, WHEN IT WAS THE FIRST BRICK STRUCTURE IN OUR AREA, BUT HAS GONE THROUGH QUITE A HISTORY AND LIFE OF DAMAGE, BEING USED AS STORAGE, NEGLECT, ATTEMPTS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, ADDITIONS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT THIS IN A REALLY METHODICAL WAY ABOUT MOVING FORWARD AT HOW WE PUT THE BUILDING BACK INTO USE.
IT IS OUR HERITAGE, IT'S OUR HISTORY HERE, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STEPPED LIGHTLY INTO THIS WORLD AND GET BACK IN, LIKE I SAID, IN A METHODICAL WAY.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT IS REALLY A STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO START MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF PUTTING THE BUILDING BACK INTO USE.
THIS IS NOT BY ANY MEANS AN NBR, A FULL COMPREHENSIVE RECOMMENDATION.
BUT INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BASED ON WHAT PRIOR FEASIBILITY STUDIES HAVE SUGGESTED WE USE THIS SPACE FOR, BASED ON RESEARCH AND DATA OF WHERE THERE ARE GAPS IN THOSE MARKETS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO FILL THOSE GAPS.
THEN, OF COURSE, STAFF, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR LAST TWO CULTURAL ART STAFF MEMBERS, HAVE CONSTANTLY SAID TO ME, WE NEED MORE CLASSROOM SPACE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WILL RESONATE WITHIN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE TONIGHT.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND JUST JUMP IN, AND WE WILL GET GOING HERE.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DOUBLE UP HERE SO I CAN SEE.
JUST TO GIVE EVERYONE AN IDEA, THIS IS THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL LAYOUT.
THE PRIMARY SCHOOL IS OBVIOUSLY THE MORE SQUARE CONFIGURATION YOU SEE, AND THEN THE ADDITION ON THE REAR THERE CONTAINS THE CIRCULAR AREAS.
THESE ARE EXISTING CONDITIONS.
YOU'VE GOT EVENT-SPACED CLASSROOMS. THEN, AGAIN, ACROSS THE HALL, EQUAL SIZE STORAGE BACK OF HOUSE AND CLASSROOMS, DOWNSTAIRS, RESTROOMS, AND THEN A SMALL PORTION OF THAT AREA THAT REALLY WAS, I THINK, DESIGNED INITIALLY JUST TO BE EXIT SPACE.
WE ARE USING AS REALLY FOOD PREP AND STORAGE.
THAT WAS HOW THE SENIORS WERE USING THAT AREA AS WELL, AND THEN HAVING THEIR ACTIVITIES IN THOSE CLASSROOMS. VERY BASIC AS FAR AS FIRST FLOOR GOES.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WE SEE ARE ITEMS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AND RENOVATED IN ORDER TO PUT THE BUILDING BACK INTO USE.
LOOKING AT THE FIRST FLOOR, YOU'VE GOT BOTH SETS OF RESTROOMS. THE BEAUTY WITH THIS IS, WHILE WE ADDED RESTROOMS TO THE SECOND FLOOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THERE WERE NO RESTROOMS THERE TO BEGIN WITH, AND SO IT WAS A COSTLY ENDEAVOR.
THE BEAUTY OF THIS IS, THE RESTROOMS ARE PRESENT AND SIMPLY NEED TO BE RENOVATED AND REESTABLISHED.
HUGE COST SAVINGS WITH PLUMBING AND MOVING WALLS AND ELECTRICITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEN MOVING FORWARD TO THE CIRCULAR AREA THERE, THE REAR OF THE BUILDING, A BIT OF AN AWKWARD SPACE.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WOULD DENY THAT, BUT DEFINITELY SPACE; NONETHELESS, IT COULD BE UTILIZED.
THOUGHTS ARE THAT THAT AREA NEEDS SOME ATTENTION TO BE FULLY UTILIZED GOING FORWARD, BUT THAT IS IT IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION.
AGAIN, THAT SERVED AS A KITCHEN PREP AREA WHILE THE SENIORS WERE IN THAT SPACE AND OPERATING OUT OF THAT AREA.
THE PICTURE THERE ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THE HALLWAY, AND AGAIN, JUST SOME AREA FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL DETAIL THAT REALLY
[02:05:03]
COULD MAKE THE SPACE A LITTLE BIT MORE INVITING.JUMPING INTO THE FIRST-FLOOR CLASSROOMS, THESE ARE THE CLASSROOMS THAT ARE ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
I THINK ALL OF US HAVE BEEN IN THERE PROBABLY AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER AT AN EVENT OR A CLASS OF SOME TYPE.
AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE IT'S A NICE SPACE, BUT VERY BASIC AND COULD USE A LITTLE BIT OF ATTENTION MOVING FORWARD.
AGAIN, ACROSS THE HALL, THEN, YOU'VE GOT THE OTHER TWO CLASSROOMS. THE ONE CLASSROOM THERE SHOWN ON THE BOTTOM IS A VERY WELL-KNOWN IMAGE OF OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL WITH THE CHALKBOARD, AND I THINK FOR MANY YEARS, THAT WAS SET UP AS THE ACTUAL CLASSROOM WITH HISTORIC DESKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH WE DO STILL HAVE POSSESSION OF.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE NOW, IT IS BEING USED AS PARTIAL STORAGE.
THERE IS STILL A LOT OF MOVEMENT HAPPENING AS THE SENIORS MOVED OUT, AND THIS BUILDING WAS USED IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE ARE TRYING TO ORGANIZE AND CLEAN AND PURGE AND SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF THAT GOING ON WITHIN THIS BUILDING.
THEN ALSO STILL MOVING OUT SOME OF THE LAST REMNANTS OF SOME THINGS THAT WERE THERE FOR THE SENIORS AND GETTING THAT OUT OF THAT SPACE AND INTO OTHER CITY FACILITIES.
MOVING ON TO THE SECOND FLOOR, ESSENTIALLY, YOU CAN SEE, AGAIN, THAT THE DOWNSTAIRS IS MIRRORED UPSTAIRS ON THAT GENERAL SQUARE, EXCEPT YOU'VE GOT A LARGE THEATER.
I THINK WE'VE TAKEN A COUPLE OF THOSE OUT, BUT THAT'S GENERALLY THE SIZE OF THE THEATER.
THEN THE SHADED YELLOW AREA IS THE STORAGE AND BACK-OF-HOUSE COMPONENT.
AGAIN, THERE IS A SMALL CONNECTOR WITH GLASS IN THAT AREA THAT'S OPEN BELOW.
THEN AGAIN, YOU MOVE OVER TO THE BACK PORTION IN THAT ADDITION, WHERE WE'VE ADDED RESTROOMS NOW.
THOSE ARE IN GREAT SHAPE, RELATIVELY NEW, SO NOTHING IS NEEDED THERE.
THEN YOU'VE GOT A BACK STAIRCASE FOR PROPER AND AGAIN, FIRE EGRESS.
DIVING INTO THE SECOND FLOOR AS FAR AS EXISTING CONDITIONS.
AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE I'VE HIGHLIGHTED A COUPLE OF SECTIONS THAT WILL REQUIRE SOME ATTENTION MOVING FORWARD, WHICH IS THE BACK OF HOUSE AND OPEN TO THE AREA BELOW.
AGAIN, JUMPING INTO THE SECOND FLOOR, STORAGE, AND CLASSROOMS AREA TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THOSE LOOK LIKE.
YOU CAN SEE THERE ON THE RIGHT, THOSE WINDOWS IN THAT BEAUTIFUL BOOK.
>> NO, THANK YOU. THE WINDOWS THERE YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT, THAT IS THE CONNECTOR PIECE BETWEEN THE OLD BUILDING AND THE NEW ADDITION.
WINDOWS ARE FOGGY, ABSOLUTELY NOT THE MOST ATTRACTIVE AREA, AND REALLY A NEAT SPACE THAT'S MISSING SOMETHING JUST MERELY BY THOSE WINDOWS BEING THE WAY THAT THEY ARE.
THEN AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURE THERE IN THE MIDDLE IS THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE STORAGE BACK OF HOUSE AREA, WHERE THINGS ARE BEING STORED FROM THE THEATER GROUP THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE ONSTAGE.
THEN AGAIN, MOVING TO THE EXTERIOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE ADDITION THERE ON THE BACK OF THE BUILDING, THE BRICK CONDITION IS REALLY DETERIORATING ON THAT PART OF THE BUILDING, AND SO EXTERIOR BRICK, NOT LOOKING THE GREATEST, AND COULD USE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO BRING THAT BACK TO LIFE.
THAT'S YOUR EXISTING CONDITIONS OF THE SPACE.
I THINK IT'S CLEAR WE COULD DO SOME ENHANCEMENTS AND THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE AGAIN, TO PUT THE BUILDING BACK INTO USE WITHOUT GOING TOO FAR.
WE ARE NOT PROPOSING AT THIS STAGE TO DO LARGE ADDITIONS ONTO THE BUILDING.
THIS IS TO LOOK AT THINGS, GET US BACK IN THE SPACE, AND I MEAN, LITERAL SPACE, AS WELL AS FIGURATIVELY BACK IN THE ART SPACE AND ACTIVE IN THAT CAPACITY.
JUST TO RUN THROUGH WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.
WE WILL NEED TO PULL IN AN ARCHITECT IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT MISSING ANYTHING.
THINGS LIKE ELECTRICAL WORK MAY NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL.
BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT PAINT, REFINISHING THE WOODS, POTENTIALLY OPENING UP THE WALL BETWEEN THE CLASSROOMS SO THAT SPACE COULD BE USED FOR LARGER EVENTS.
AGAIN, INSTALLING GALLERY DISPLAY UNITS, NEW LIGHTING.
ALSO, INSTALL WALLS TO POTENTIALLY MOVE OUR CULTURAL ART STAFF INTO THE BUILDING AND ACTUALLY HAVE FORMAL STORAGE SPACE SO WE DON'T HAVE THINGS FLOATING FROM ROOM TO ROOM LIKE THEY CURRENTLY ARE.
CONTINUED. WE LOOK AT POTENTIALLY A PREP COUNTER IN THE CLASSROOM AREA, MAINTAINING THAT HISTORICAL CLASSROOM, REMODEL BOTH MEN AND WOMEN'S RESTROOMS, THE REAR BUILDING, YOU WILL HAVE SEEN, AND I'LL SHOW SOME MORE PICTURES.
[02:10:01]
I DID NOT MOVE ON, DID I?>> THANK YOU. THE REAR OF THE BUILDING, YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THAT THERE'S FOUR DOORS EXITING OUT TO THE LAWN IN THE BACK.
WE DO NOT NEED FOUR DOORS THAT ARE RIGHT NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER.
THERE'S AN EGRESS SITUATION, BUT THAT WAS COMPLETELY OVERKILL AS FAR AS FIRE CODE GOES, AND THAT IS NOT NECESSARY.
LOOKING AT THOSE DOORS AND POTENTIALLY CLOSING THOSE UP.
THEN ALSO MOVING TO THE SECOND FLOOR. I'M RIGHT THERE.
YES. THANK YOU. AGAIN, CONTINUED PAINT THROUGHOUT, REFINISHING THE WOOD.
THE BUILDING IS BLESSED WITH BEAUTIFUL WOOD. IT IS STAINED.
HOWEVER, LOTS OF WEAR AND TEAR THAT HAS REALLY TORN THAT UP, AND SO THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF TO LOOK AT THAT.
AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE REPAIR OF THE WINDOWS, LOOKING AT THAT BACK OF HOUSE AREA, SEPARATING THAT, POTENTIALLY CREATING AN EVENT PREP AREA OR PODCAST ROOM.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED AMONG STAFF AND RECOMMENDED BASED ON INTEREST IN THE AREA THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT.
IT'S ALSO NOT AN EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE TRANSITION, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT BE AN EXPENSIVE CHANGEOVER, BUT A FEW THINGS COULD OCCUR, AND THIS COULD BECOME A PODCAST ROOM.
THEN ALSO SEPARATE OFFICE OR STORAGE AREAS.
THERE'S ALSO A NOTE THERE ABOUT POSSIBLY ADDING A REAR WALL.
THE AWKWARD STAIRCASE IN THE BACK IS ACTUALLY OPEN FROM THE SECOND TO THE FIRST FLOOR AS WELL AND OPENS INTO THAT CIRCULAR AREA, AND YOU CAN BASICALLY SEE UP, AND THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE CLOSED OFF TO ALLOW THAT BACK AREA TO ACTUALLY SERVE AS SOMETHING WHERE YOU'RE NOT LOOKING UP AS PEOPLE ARE WALKING DOWN THOSE STAIRS.
IT'S JUST A BIT OF AN AWKWARD SITUATION.
>> MOVING INTO THE FIRST FLOOR, LET ME GO.
LET'S GO BACK TO WHY ARE WE HERE? AGAIN, WE REALLY WOULD LOVE TO RE ESTABLISH OBS IS THE CULTURAL ART CENTER FOR THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
OUR CURRENT CULTURAL ART STAFF IS OFFICED IN THE SENIOR CENTER.
YOU'VE GOT TWO INDIVIDUALS SHARING A SMALL OFFICE.
THIS FACILITY WOULD ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THE IDENTITY, AND THEN ALSO OVERSEE AND MANAGE THAT BUILDING AS WE PUT IT BACK INTO USE.
IT'S A GREAT FIT FOR THAT GROUP TO BE THERE TO MANAGE THE FACILITY, AND THEY ARE ABLE AND HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT.
AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE VENUE TO HOST A DIVERSE RANGE OF CULTURE AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT A VARIETY OF POTENTIAL USES FOR THE BUILDING.
I'LL JUST RUN THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THE SPACE WITH THE CLASSROOMS, OBVIOUSLY, THE THEATER AS WELL.
OPTIONS FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SIZED EVENTS, AND I'LL JUST LIST OFF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY, RECEPTIONS, ARTIST TALKS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, BOOK READING, STORYTELLING, HERITAGE CELEBRATIONS AND SHOWCASES, DOCUMENTARY SCREENINGS AND DISCUSSIONS, ARTISTS MEET AND GREETS, TASTINGS OF VARIOUS KINDS, COFFEE, TEA, CHOCOLATE, WINE.
THERE ARE THINGS WHERE THEY ARE DOING FOOD AND ART PAIRINGS THESE DAYS.
YOU'VE GOT THEMED ART AND FOOD COMBINED FOR SMALLER SCALED EVENINGS OF THAT KIND.
CREATIVE WRITING, POETRY, THEATER, IMPROV CLASSES, DANCE MOVEMENT CLASSES, DEFINITELY ART PORTFOLIO REVIEWS AND CRITIQUES.
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON FOR REALLY WHAT ALL OF THOSE CLASSROOM, AND THEN THE UPSTAIRS CAN BE USED FOR DEPENDING ON THE SIZE THAT WE END UP OPERATING AND HAVING THERE.
AGAIN, THIS ALLOWS US TO PUT THAT BACK INTO THAT SPACE.
THESE ARE MAINTENANCE ISSUES AS WELL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE GO WITH THIS, AS TO HOW MUCH WE WANT TO DO.
THERE'S A FLOOR OF WHAT WE DO NEED TO DO TO SIMPLY MAINTAIN AND PRESERVE THE BUILDING.
I WILL JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF WHAT THE FIRST FLOOR MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO FOLKS. THANK YOU, GUYS.
GALLERY SPACE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.
I THINK THOSE TWO DOWNSTAIRS CLASSROOMS. YOU CAN SEE THE EVENT SPACE LABELED.
IF WE DO OPEN THAT UP, THAT SPACE WOULD BE A WONDERFUL USE.
THERE ARE LITERALLY GALLERY ART SPACE WALL UNITS THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO DISPLAY ART OF VARIOUS SIZES, TAKING IT ON AND OFF THE WALL, MUCH EASIER, LIKE A MODULAR SITUATION.
THEN ALSO, IF YOU HAD AN EVENT, YOU COULD POPULATE THAT WALL WITH SPECIFIC TO THAT EVENT THEMED TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY OR PICTURES.
THEN, OF COURSE, PROPER LIGHTING WOULD GO WITH THAT.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE IDEAS.
I WILL TELL YOU WE ARE CURRENTLY HOSTING IS THERE OF A VARIETY.
[02:15:03]
DANIELLE HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN RUNNING THROUGH THOSE, AND I WILL TELL YOU, I THINK SHE SAID SEVEN CLASSES THERE.EACH ONE OF THOSE HAS BEEN SOLD OUT AND BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY SUCCESSFUL.
SHE'S GOTTEN SO MUCH FEEDBACK BY GETTING PEOPLE BACK INTO THAT SPACE THAT, YOU'VE GOT SO MANY FAMILIES THAT HAVE MOVED TO BEDFORD AND THEY'RE BRINGING THEIR KIDS TO THESE THINGS, AND THEY'RE NOW SAYING, I'VE NEVER BEEN IN THIS BUILDING.
THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT TO GETTING THAT NEXT GENERATION INTO THE SPACE AND EXPERIENCING, OUR HISTORY HERE.
THESE ARE SOME OPTIONS, AGAIN, EVENT SPACE, AND AGAIN, THE CONTINUATION OF CLASSES AMONG THE MANY OTHERS THAT I'VE LISTED.
SECOND FLOOR, NOT A LOT NEEDS TO BE DONE UP HERE, BUT AGAIN, FRESH PAINT, THE WOOD REDOING.
THEN, AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE DENOTATION AT THE TOP THERE BETWEEN A PODCAST, OFFICE, STORAGE SPACE.
AGAIN, THE POTENTIAL THEATERS, CHILDREN'S THEATERS, INTERACTIVE TYPE THINGS.
THEN AGAIN, THROUGH THE FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND DISCUSSIONS ALONG THE YEARS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, IT WAS REALIZED THAT THIS SPACE IS GREAT FOR THE INTIMATE TYPES OF THINGS.
TRYING TO MAKE THIS A BIGGER VENUE IS SIMPLY NOT AN OPTION, BUT I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE WE EMBRACE WHAT WE'VE GOT AND OPERATE AT THE SCALE THAT THE SPACE IS ABLE TO OPERATE AT.
THAT'S WHERE THESE CANDLELIGHT CONCERTS WHERE YOU'VE GOT A QUARTET, PIANO, AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE GREAT FOR THAT SIZE OF A VENUE.
THAT IS WHAT WE'RE THINKING OUT.
WE WERE HOPING TO START FROM THE INSIDE, TAKE CARE OF OBVIOUSLY THE MAINTENANCE ISSUES THAT ARE SHOWING THE DETERIORATION ON THE EXTERIOR, WE ARE LOOKING AT BEGINNING LANDSCAPE BUDGET TO REALLY START TO SOFTEN THE AREA.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT THE FRONT COULD USE A LITTLE SOMETHING TO IT.
LANDSCAPING WOULD BE PART OF THIS INITIAL PHASE TO GET THE BUILDING BACK INTO USE.
BUT THE FUTURE ON THE OUTSIDE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.
WE HAD TALKED ABOUT AND WE DID SKEW IT OUT OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IN ORDER FOR US TO PROBABLY DO THIS, BUT DOING A SCULPTURE WALK, WHERE AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT A SCULPTURE ALONG THE BACK, AND YOU WALK ALONG AND THEN THESE SCULPTURES ROTATE OUT AS WE PURCHASE DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO VIEW THESE.
AGAIN, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THIS IS JUST SOME THOUGHTS THAT STAFF HAD TO PUT THAT OUTDOOR SPACE TO USE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT PROPOSING AT THIS TIME.
AGAIN, WE WANT TO TAKE STEP 1.
WALK BEFORE YOU RUN KIND OF A THING, GET IN, GET ESTABLISHED, GET THE BUILDING BACK, GET IT TO A POINT WHERE WE'VE GOT, WE'RE FULLY SAFE ELECTRICAL, AND THE PLUMBING IS RIGHT, AND WE CAN BASICALLY SET THE BAR AND THEN BEGIN TO GROW FROM THERE, AND IT ALLOWS STUFF TO SEE WHAT EVENTS AND THINGS TAKE OFF.
MAYBE WHAT DOESN'T, AND SO THEN WE CAN START TO CATER AND EXPAND BASED ON WHERE THE DEMAND IS FOR THAT.
I THINK WHERE WE ARE AT IS, I AM SEEKING SOME DIRECTION. I DID NOT.
LET'S GO TO THE DETAILS FIRST.
AGAIN, OUR INITIAL THOUGHT, AS THE RENOVATIONS I'VE OUTLINED, RELOCATE OUR TWO STAFF MEMBERS IN THE BUILDING.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WOULD ALSO NEED TO DO IS ESTABLISH OR RE-ESTABLISH BECAUSE WE DID HAVE ONE AT ONE POINT, A RENTAL AGREEMENT FOR RENTALS OF VARIETY.
THIS IS NOT JUST FOR SOMEONE TO INVENT TO DO A RENTAL FOR, A WEDDING OR A RECEPTION, THERE WOULD BE RENTAL STRUCTURES FOR USE OF THE THEATER AS WELL, BUT ALSO DOWNSTAIRS AND THEN ARTIST RENTAL AGREEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WE WOULD HAVE TO GET IN PLACE TO MOVE FORWARD.
JUST A FACT AS WE WERE LOOKING AT REVENUES OVER THE YEARS.
THE LAST YEAR THAT THE BUILDING WAS FULLY OPENED BEFORE WE CLOSED AND RELOCATED FOLKS IN THERE, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO MARKETING, WE WERE EARNING ABOUT $80,000 A YEAR ON SIMPLY DOING VERY LIMITED EVENTS AT THIS FACILITY.
THAT TELLS ME THAT WE PUT SOME EFFORT INTO IT, WE TAP INTO THOSE GROUPS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND WE COULD EASILY GROW THAT.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE.
BUT AGAIN, IF THAT'S OUR FLOOR TO START WITH, I THINK THAT WITH THE VARIETY OF WHAT WE WERE DOING THERE AND THE DEDICATED STAFF TO THIS, WE COULD REALLY GROW IT.
THEN, OF COURSE, PROGRAM THE SPACE WITH THE CLASSES WITH OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AREA.
WHY ARE WE HERE? ESSENTIALLY, AS WE WERE WALKING THE SPACE, AND WE GOT THIS LIST STARTED GETTING LONGER AND LONGER OF WHAT
[02:20:02]
WE FELT WAS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED TO GET IT BACK IN PLAY.WE STARTED RUNNING ESTIMATES, AND WE DID OBTAIN SOME HARD BIDS ON SOME OF THE WORK.
SOME OF THE OTHER WORK WAS GUESS ESTIMATED BASED ON ALL THE OTHER CONSTRUCTION WE'VE BEEN DOING IN RENOVATIONS.
BUT WHEN WE STARTED GETTING UP INTO THE 850S AND THE 900, KNOWING THAT THERE WAS STILL A COUPLE OTHER THINGS WE WOULD PROPOSE, WE DECIDED TO STOP AND SAY, WE NEED TO COME CHECK MAKE SURE WE'RE HEADED DOWN THE RIGHT PATH BEFORE WE PULL AN ARCHITECT IN, WHICH WOULD BE OUR NEXT STEP, WHO'S GOING TO REALLY EVALUATE THE SPACE BASED ON WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.
WE WANT TO GET FEEDBACK BEFORE WE BRING IN SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO SPEND TIME AND EFFORT, DESIGNING AND LOOKING AT THINGS AND BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. IF YOU'RE OKAY, I'D LOVE TO LET KAREN COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THE FINANCES REAL QUICK ON THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AND HOW THAT LOOKS.
>> WE'RE NOT ALL STICKER SHOCKED.
>> HELLO. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
YES. WE TALKED EARLIER A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS THAT WE'RE FACING.
WELL, THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS IS, WE HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE THAT ARE VERY RESTRICTED THAT WE CAN USE ON THIS PROJECT THAT WE CAN'T SPEND ON OTHER THINGS.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A PRELIMINARY LOOK INTO THE BUDGET THAT WE'LL BE PRESENTING TO YOU IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WITH THIS PARTICULAR FUND, WE'RE ESTIMATING THAT THE END OF '25 GOING INTO '26, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OVER 4.5 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE.
THEN GOING INTO '26, WE'RE ESTIMATING A LITTLE OVER 4.6 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES, FINE.
WE SIT WITH ABOUT 260,000 WITH REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES EVERY YEAR.
NOW, I DO KNOW, THIS YEAR, IN PARTICULAR, WE DO HAVE ONE HOTEL THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DOWN, SO OUR REVENUES ARE A LITTLE BIT LOW THIS YEAR FROM A TYPICAL HOTEL OCCUPANCY PERSPECTIVE.
BUT ON AN ONGOING BASIS, THIS YEAR IS AN EXCEPTION.
WE TYPICALLY GET ABOUT 1.3 MILLION IN HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
BUT FROM A FUND BALANCE PERSPECTIVE, IT'S ENOUGH TO FUND THE RENOVATIONS ON THIS FACILITY.
I DID SOME RESEARCH THIS AFTERNOON JUST TO MAKE SURE I WAS WELL VERSED IN A HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX CODE.
IT'S REALLY THRILLING READING, IF YOU'RE EVER BORED.
[LAUGHTER] RIGHT, BREN. TAX CODES.
GREAT. IT IS AN ALLOWABLE EXPENSE.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO USING HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS FOR TYPES OF PROJECTS.
THIS TYPE OF PROJECT IS AN ALLOWABLE EXPENSE FOR THESE FUNDS.
>> WE HAVE THE FUNDS. WHAT I'M MEANING IS THAT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX WE HAVE 4.5.
YOU SAID ABOUT 4.6? WHAT'S OUR EXPENDITURES FOR A YEAR FOR.
>> LET ME PUT MY GLASS. [LAUGHTER] RIGHT NOW, WE TYPICALLY SPEND ABOUT 1.4.
>> WE HAVE A GOOD CUSHION IN THERE FOR A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.
IN THESE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES, THEY CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS, FOR TOURISM, FOR THE IDEA OF ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO [OVERLAPPING] NEARING YOUR COMMUNITY.
>> WE CAN'T USE IT ELSEWHERE. THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO UNDOUBTEDLY SAY, WHY ARE YOU SPENDING A MILLION DOLLARS, AT THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL, BEHOLD, WE'RE HAVING TO CUT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
>> HOW WE CAN SPEND THESE FUNDS.
VERY GOOD. FOR ME, THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL. I'M VERY GLAD.
FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD SO WE CAN DISCUSS.
I'VE ALWAYS LOVED DISCUSSING OBS BECAUSE ONE OF THE FIRST, OH GOSH.
DEFINITELY ONE OF THE FIRST COUPLE OF MEETINGS WHEN I FIRST CAME ONTO THIS COUNCIL WAS THE DISCUSSION OF OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL.
THEY HAD A LEAKY ROOF, AND WE WERE DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE GOING TO SPEND MONEY TO FIX THE ROOF OR LET THAT BUILDING DETERIORATE, AND EVEN DEMOLISH IT AND BULLDOZE IT DOWN.
QUITE SMILING. [LAUGHTER] THAT JUST CUT.
BUT, WE'VE SPENT MONEY ON THIS.
WE'VE MADE A DECISION BACK THEN THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET OUR HISTORY BE DETERIORATED, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET IT JUST FALL IN DISREPAIR.
THE WHOLE IDEA AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAD STAFF WORK ON AT THE TIME, WE SAID, MAKE THIS BUILDING USABLE.
I THINK AT THE TIME, IT WAS JUST USED FOR WEDDINGS.
IS THAT THE NUMBER OF THE 80,000 THAT YOU WERE QUOTING, OR IS THAT FROM ADDITIONAL.
>> WHEN I PULLED THOSE NUMBERS FOR ANDREA, IT JUST WAS IN THE RENTAL ACCOUNT.
I JUST PULLED THE TOTAL DOLLAR.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHAT YEAR WAS THAT?
>> THAT WAS THE YEAR JOYCE SEPARATED FROM THE ROOF.
[02:25:04]
>> [OVERLAPPING] I WAS GOING IN THERE.
>> I PULLED FOUR YEARS OF HISTORY TO GIVE HER SOME INFORMATION JUST ON RENTALS.
FROM 2013-2016, IT WENT 60,000-82,000 IN RENTAL REVENUE.
>> FROM WHAT I CAN RECALL, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS SABLE, CAN CORRECT ME ON THAT.
I THINK IT WAS MOSTLY FOR WEDDING RENTALS AT THE TIME.
COUNCIL WANTED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ELSE WE COULD DO WITH THAT BUILDING.
LOW AND BEHOLD, UNFORTUNATELY, COVID HAPPENED.
WHEN THE PROCESS OF WHEN STAFF WAS IN THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO WITH THAT BUILDING, WE NEEDED IT, AND WE NEEDED IT AT THE TIME.
NOT ONLY THAT, FOR COVID, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE PARK BEING TORN DOWN.
BECAUSE THE PARK BEING TORN DOWN, SENIORS DIDN'T HAVE A HOME.
OBVIOUSLY, THE SENIORS HAD THEIR HOME, AND NOW WE FOUND A NEW SPOT FOR THEM.
NOW THE CONVERSATION COMES BACK FORWARD SEVEN YEARS LATER ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THIS BUILDING.
I KNOW THIS IS AN OVERARCHING, IN VERY ROUGH WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE BUILDING, MAKE IT A CULTURAL CENTER.
I LIKE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
I'D LIKE TO PROBABLY KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW WE GOT THERE ON SOME OF THIS, ESPECIALLY THE PODCASTING ROOM, SOME OF THE OTHER CHOICES.
LOOKING AT IT, JUST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED A LOT INTO THIS BUILDING TO MAKE IT FUNCTIONAL.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
ANYTHING THAT IS HAVING TO DO WITH THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF AND MAKE SURE, AGAIN, THAT THAT IS GETTING TAKEN CARE OF.
AS FAR AS PROGRAMMING GOES, I DO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE GOT TO THE IDEAS THAT WERE PROPOSED, I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE BAD, GOOD OR OTHERWISE.
LET'S START WITH THE PODCASTING ROOM.
HOW ABOUT THAT? [LAUGHTER] HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?
>> DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT OR YOU WANT ME TO?
>> YOU GO FIRST. [LAUGHTER] I'LL DROP IN UNLESS SHE WANT TO PUNT IT TOMORROW.
>> I THINK DANIELLE HAS A VISION FOR THIS BUILDING.
>> SHE IS NOT. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE ACTUALLY HAD THIS WEEK OFF HER VACATION, BUT I THINK SHE'S WATCHING ON FACEBOOK.
I THINK SHE HAS A VISION FOR THIS BUILDING AS A BLANK CANVAS, OF A VARIETY OF ACTIVITY THAT SHE CAN DO I THINK SHE SAW THIS.
IT'S A GROWING MARKET OF PEOPLE RENTING SPACE TO DO PODCAST.
I THINK SHE SAW IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY, AS ANOTHER SPACE TO RENT TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR THIS CITY.
OR, ALSO, I HAD THE IDEA, AND I MENTIONED IT TO MOLLY OF MAYBE EVEN USING THAT SPACE FOR TIM AS A VIDEO SPACE, BECAUSE IT'LL BE SOUND PROOF FOR TIM TO DO HIS VIDEOS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO PROVIDE HIM SOME SPACE AS WELL.
THAT WAS I THINK, HER VISION OR DANIELLE'S VISION FOR THAT SPACE, WAS JUST AN ADDITIONAL RENTAL OPPORTUNITY.
>> GOT YOU. JUST OUT OF TOP OF MY HEAD I KNOW TWO PODCASTERS THAT ARE BEDFORD RESIDENTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO TAKE USE OF THIS SPACE, BECAUSE IT WILL BE TOP QUALITY.
IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT RIGHT AND HAVE THE EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE, AND SO THEY WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO RENT AND USE IT FOR THEIR PODCASTS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BURN THE BUILDING DOWN AGAIN.
>> I KNOW THAT QUESTION IS GOING TO COME UP.
>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED. THEN, OBVIOUSLY, THE THING THAT IS THE QUESTION IS THAT THE SPACES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO CURRENT TENANTS OF THE BUILDING? LET'S JUST ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
>> ESSENTIALLY, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS, LIKE I SAID, AND I HATE TO KEEP SAYING, BUT WE'RE AT STEP 1.
>> LIKE I SAID, WE KNOW WE'VE GOT TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUILDING.
WE WANT TO GUT CHECK THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
BUT WHAT WE WOULD DO IS TAKE OUR DISCUSSIONS AND ENLIST THE ASSISTANCE OF AN ARCHITECT. AGAIN, WE WANT TO DO IT RIGHT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LIGHT FIXTURES ARE PERIOD APPROPRIATE.
THE DOOR REMODEL THAT WE DO IS ALSO PERIOD APPROPRIATE AND BLENDS.
WE NEED TO PULL IN AN ARCHITECT.
WE HAVE TO HIRE THAT ARCHITECT.
WE HAVE TO TOUR THAT ARCHITECT.
WE'RE HAVE TO GOING TO GET ON THEIR SCHEDULE, GET DRAWINGS FROM THAT ARCHITECT.
WE'RE TALKING SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR BEFORE WE SEE ANYTHING HAPPEN.
IT COULD BE MORE. TO ANSWER THAT, OUR BOTTOM LINE IS, WHO'S IN THERE CURRENTLY WITH ONSTAGE IS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO WORK WITH THEM AND TALK ABOUT A PLAN GOING FUTURE.
WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
[02:30:03]
WE'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH WHAT ULTIMATELY ARE WE GOING TO END UP DOING AND HOW THAT FITS WITH THAT TIMELINE, AND THEN WE CAN WORK WITH THEM ABOUT SCHEDULING AND SEEING HOW THAT LOOKS LIKE FORWARD.>> THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO MAKE THIS BUILDING AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC NUMBER 1.
BRING PEOPLE INSIDE IT TO ENJOY IT, BUT THEN ALSO MAKE IT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN RENT OUT THESE SPACES.
IT IS, HEY, WE HAVE A PERFORMING, THAT SECOND FLOOR IS A PERFORMANCE PIECE.
IF YOU'RE A CHILDREN'S THEATER, AND YOU WANT TO COME IN AND USE IT PERHAPS YOU COULD RENT AND USE IT.
[INAUDIBLE] STAGE WANTS TO USE IT, YOU CAN USE IT AS WELL.
THAT'S THE IDEA. WE RECEIVED CALLS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
IT IS EVEN EVOLVING WORLD, THE PERFORMING ARTS WORLD RIGHT NOW.
YOU DO HAVE THEATER GROUPS THAT ARE DOWNSIZING OR CONSOLIDATING.
WE DO GET A LOT OF INQUIRIES FROM FOLKS THAT SAY, HEY, WE'RE INTERESTED IN RENTING YOUR SPACE FOR THREE WEEKENDS.
WITH OUR CURRENT ARRANGEMENT, THAT'S NOT AN OPTION, BUT IT'S ALSO PARTIALLY BECAUSE THE BUILDING.
WE NEED TO GET THE BUILDING SET UP AND DESIGNED SO THAT IF YOU'RE THIS GROUP, YOU GET THIS AREA FOR YOUR STORAGE AND CAPACITY, AND THEN WE BUILD IN YOUR REHEARSAL TIMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S REALLY AN ALL ENCOMPASSING, BUT THAT WILL GIVE US OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT.
BUT WE'VE GOT TIME TO PLAN THAT OUT.
BUT THE VISION WOULD BE TO HAVE MULTIPLE GROUPS UTILIZING THE SPACE ULTIMATELY.
>> OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON THERE.
WHAT PART OF THE HISTORICAL ASPECT ARE WE KEEPING? OR ARE WE GUTTING EVERYTHING?
>> NO. THE BUILDING HAS CHARACTER.
WHILE A LOT OF THAT IS NOT OFFICIALLY ON THE HISTORIC REGISTER, IT'S GOT CHARACTER THAT YOU CANNOT FIND AND YOU WOULD NOT FIND IN NEWER BUILDINGS TODAY.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT WHAT IT IS, AND WE WANT TO PRESERVE THAT.
THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE RIGHT GROUP IN HERE BECAUSE THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE DONE WHERE YOU'VE GOT ART DECOR LIGHTING AND A HALLWAY OF A 1915 BUILDING.
WANT TO FIX THAT. WE WANT IT TO BE PROPER PERIOD, ALTHOUGH PROPER LIGHTING AS WELL, BUT IT NEEDS TO TIE IN WITH THE PERIOD AND THE THEME OF THE BUILDING.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF MIX AND MATCHING THAT DOES NOT.
>> WOULD ONE OF THE CLASSROOMS PRETTY MUCH STAY OR WAIT WITH THE CHALKBOARDS AND ALL OF THAT? WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
>> I CAN TELL YOU OUR VISION AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THAT, SO I DO WANT TO PARTIALLY ANSWER THAT.
CLASSROOM WISE, ULTIMATELY, AGAIN, UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO FEATURE THIS SPACE AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE.
WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, AGAIN, RE ESTABLISHING THAT CLASSROOM IN ITS ORIGINAL STATE, AT LEAST PARTIALLY, LEAVING IT OPEN SO THAT SPACE COULD STILL BE USED.
BUT YOU CAN SEE YOU'VE GOT PHOTOS THAT ARE JUST SET UP ALONG THE WALL.
WE WOULD COME IN AND GET THOSE FRAMED ACCORDINGLY AND PUT UP IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER.
>> FROM MY INTERACTIONS WITH RESIDENTS AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS WELL, THAT WE HAVE TO PRESERVE OUR HISTORY AND SHOWCASE IT.
I LIKE SEEING ON THERE THE HERITAGE CELEBRATIONS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ARTIFACTS IN THIS CITY THAT EVEN SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE, THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO DONATE, AS WELL AS IS THAT IF WE HAVE EXHIBITIONS, MAYBE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OR ONCE A YEAR TO SHOWCASE BEDFORD, OUR HISTORY, WHERE WE COME FROM.
YOU FEEL LIKE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD DO AND HONOR.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I KNOW THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS USED TO BE A FUNCTION MUSEUM OVERTIME, AND WE HAD THE DOCENTS THAT SHOWED FOLKS THROUGH.
WE HAD TALKED ABOUT BRINGING THAT BACK A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR ON HISTORY DAYS OR SPECIAL DAYS THAT MAY BE COMBINED WITH OTHER EVENTS GOING ON AS WELL.
I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY AN OPPORTUNITY, AND AGAIN, THERE'S SUCH UNIQUE CHARACTER HERE.
WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER AND WORK WITH A GROUP THAT'S GOING TO JUST POLISH IT OFF AND REVIVE IT A LITTLE BIT.
>> FOR ME, WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THIS, AGAIN, THIS COMES BACK TO INITIALLY SEVEN YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME ON, WE WANTED TO MAKE THIS BUILDING USABLE.
THIS HAS BEEN A BIG DECISION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE FOR THIS.
I WANT US TO RECOUP SOME FUNDS FOR THE USE OF THIS BUILDING AND HONOR OUR HISTORY IN DOING SO.
THIS BUILDING IS OUR IDENTITY, REALLY.
YOU THINK OF BEDFORD, YOU ONLY THINK OF A FEW.
YOU'VE GOT THE BOYS' RANCH, OF COURSE. IN THE LAKE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. BOYS' RANCH AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, OBS.
THAT IS THE IMAGE OF BEDFORD HERE.
[02:35:03]
WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF IT AND HONOR THE HISTORY AND SHOWCASE IT TO THE PUBLIC AND MAKE SURE IT'S PUBLIC FOR EVERYBODY. I LIKE WHAT I'M SEEING HERE.I THINK THE DEVIL IS GOING TO BE IN THE DETAILS OF HOW WE GET THERE.
ANY THOUGHT ABOUT THE THEATER SPACE, ACOUSTICS AND EVERYTHING? IS THAT A PHASE 2?
I KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED, AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE PULL IN THE GROUPS, OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO TALK TO ONSTAGE THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE.
AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SPACE IS TO A POINT WHERE IT CAN BE USED.
IF ACOUSTICS IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED, I THINK WE LOOK AT THAT AND MAYBE GET SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SOMEBODY WE KNOW IN THAT WORLD TO TALK TO SOME FOLKS ABOUT ACOUSTICS.
WHICH I KNOW IS A WHOLE OTHER WORLD.
BUT THAT IS ON THE LIST OF SOMETHING WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOOK AT.
>> WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME ISSUES.
>> DIRECTION FROM COUNSEL, YOU NEED TO GO AHEAD AND SEE WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND HOW WE WANT TO PROCEED.
I'D SAY INITIALLY, STRUCTURAL THINGS FOR THE BUILDING.
PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE AND WHAT THE BARE BONES IS THAT WHATEVER WE DO WITH THE BUILDING, THESE HAVE TO BE DONE, PRIORITY.
PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE, OBVIOUSLY, THE EXTERIOR BRICK, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, THAT THING.
THEN GOING FORWARD WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM COUNSEL AND THEIR OPINIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, CHRIS.
MY MIND GOES BACK CHRIS BROWN.
HIS WIFE, MEGAN BROWN USED TO BE MY OFFICE MANAGER.
FOR YEARS, SHE SAID THAT IF WE HAD A FUNCTIONING KITCHEN IN THERE AND A BIG TENT FOR OUTSIDE, WE WOULD HAVE EVERY WEDDING IN THE WORLD BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY OUT THERE TO DO THINGS.
WHAT I WANT TO SEE IS NOT ONLY JUST THIS, BUT A PERFORMANCE ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO RAISE MONEY, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE THIS FUNCTION AND SPACE, AND I GO BACK TO THE YMCA.
WE HAVE THIS BIG ROOM THAT THEY DON'T EVEN RUN OUT WE'VE GOT OPPORTUNITY AND POTENTIAL TO RAISE SOME MONEY.
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BREAK EVEN.
BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THE MONEY THAT WE NEED TO DO SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THINGS.
WE CAN HONOR WHAT THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IS.
IS TO HAVE EVENTS OR WEDDINGS THAT BRING PEOPLE INTO OUR HOTELS AND BRING PEOPLE EATING AT OUR RESTAURANTS AND DOING THINGS WE NEED TO DO, AND THAT'S WHAT THAT TAX IS ABOUT.
HAVING EVENTS AND DOING THINGS TO STIMULATE PEOPLE TO COME TO BEDFORD TO STAY AT OUR HOTELS AND CONTINUE TO RAISE THAT TAX.
>> CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION?
>> YOU'RE WANTING A PRO FORMA.
WOULD THAT BE SO IF WE WERE TO PRESENT TO YOU COST ANALYSIS, A REVENUE ANALYSIS, WHAT WOULD BRING IN CERTAIN EVENTS, WHAT WE WOULD CHARGE TO RENT THE SPACE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I WAS UNDERSTANDING THE PRO FORMA ASPECT.
>> BUT ALSO, MY QUESTION WOULD BE, TOO, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED SOMEBODY TO PUT ON STAFF THAT GO TO HANDLE ALL THOSE EVENTS? WHAT'S GOING TO COST TO BRING ON ADDITIONAL STAFF AND THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD.
>> YES. VERY GOOD. THAT'S ESSENTIAL GOING FORWARD.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE AND WHAT HIDDEN COSTS MIGHT BE DOWN THE ROAD FOR THE WAY FORWARD.
I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCILMEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON AND I'M GOING TO HEAD IT BACK TO YOU. COUNCILMEMBER DONOVAN BRANDON.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I AM THRILLED WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I HATE THAT WE HAVE THIS BUILDING THAT'S UNDER UTILIZED. I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
I DO THINK WITH MR. FARCO, THAT A CATERING KITCHEN IS ESSENTIAL.
I COULD SEE IT BEING USED WITH ANY RECITAL AND THAT PEOPLE COULD COME AND GET A A SANDWICH BEFORE AND MAYBE A GLASS OF WINE OR COCA COLA.
I WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT IF WE GET THIS GOING, IT WE'LL TIE INTO WHAT MIDWAY WILL DO WITH THE BEDFORD COMMONS.
THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON AT THE LIBRARY.
IF WE GOT EVEN A CATERER TO LEASE IT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
WE'RE TALKING DREAMING RIGHT HERE.
THAT MAYBE IT'S OPEN FOR LUNCH AND YOU GO TO THE LIBRARY, AND YOU HAVE LUNCH THERE. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WE HAD JERRY TRACY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HISTORIC FORT WORTH COME OUT THERE, AND SHE CALLED IT A GEM.
SHE CALLED THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL A GEM.
[02:40:02]
SHE SUGGESTED WE HAVE HOT AIR BALLOON RELEASES AND LET PEOPLE GO, LIKE, WE'RE HAVING SOMETHING ELSE, MAYBE AT THE LIBRARY, WE HAVE HOT AIR BALLOONS.I THINK THAT WOULD BE WAY COOL.
>> VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK THIS IS GREAT.
WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING, I THINK IT'S VERY IT'S REASONABLE.
LET'S GET IT UP TO OPERATING STANDARDS AND START USING IT.
I THINK IT'S GREAT. I THINK ALL OF IT'S GREAT.
ONCE WE START GETTING MOVING, ONCE WE START GETTING MORE DETAILS, I'M SURE YOU'LL SHARE THAT WITH COUNSEL, I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
THERE'S ONE FIRM I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HIRE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT.
I CONCUR WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT PRO FORMA, NOT ONLY WITH THE STAFF AND EXPENSES AND HAVING IT UP AND RUNNING, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE HIDING COSTS THAT MR. MAYOR YOU TALKED ABOUT.
I KNOW THERE WAS CONCERN IN MAKING THIS PLACE ADA FRIENDLY WHEN WE WERE HAVING SENIORS THERE, SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THAT UP THE CODE.
THEN I THINK MR. MAYOR, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORICAL NATURE AND HOW WE BOUNCED THAT OUT WITH THE RENOVATION.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WALLS COMING DOWN THE OPEN SPACE, AT WHAT POINT DO WE DO RENOVATIONS WHERE IT'S NO LONGER A HISTORICAL BUILDING, AND SO JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT PERHAPS.
WHEN WE WERE HAVING A PERFORMING ARTS DISCUSSION, IT WASN'T JUST PERFORMING ARTS.
IT WAS AN EVENT CENTER WHERE WE CAN HAVE EVENTS THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN REVISIT SOME OF THE PERFORMING ART THOUGHTS WITH THAT FOR THIS.
I THINK THAT WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED TO ASK.
MR. MAYOR, YOU HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
I KNOW THAT CONSIDERING THE PERFORMING ART CENTER, WE HAD TO OBVIOUSLY SAY NO TO THAT.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE THIS DISCUSSION HAD AN INCEPTION FROM.
IS THAT, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? COUNCIL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE].
I THINK CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE LOCATION IS HISTORIC.
>> CORRECT. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. BRANDON.
>> WHEN THE HISTORIC FORT WORTH PEOPLE WERE OUT THERE, SHE SAID SOME OF IT WAS HISTORIC AND SOME OF IT'S NOT.
BACK TO WHAT ANDREA WAS SAYING TOO, THAT SOME OF THE UPDATES HAVE NOT BEEN IN KEEPING WITH THE STYLE.
SO I THINK IT'S ALREADY A MIX, WHICH IS VARIABLE.
>> THANK YOU, MARY. YES, I LIKE THE IDEA FOR THIS.
LIKE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE ADA AND THE ENGINEERING ASPECT OF IT I KNOW THAT WAS AN ISSUE BEFORE.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT THE COST OF THAT.
BUT I LIKE WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS.
>> VERY GOOD. CASE SABLE, YOU HAVE BEEN VERY SILENT TONIGHT.
ON SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE ARTS.
NO COMMENTS? GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> THE DEAL IS, FOR ME, IS THE BUILDING IS OUR RECOGNITION.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S PROBABLY ARCHITECTURALLY NOT BEAUTIFUL, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ADDITION IN THE BACK, IT'S PRETTY BAD.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, AND WE DO HAVE TO KEEP THIS BUILDING UP TO PAR.
IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT USABLE, THAT'S FINE, BUT I THINK REALLY STRUCTURALLY AND ENGINEERING-WISE, WE HAVE TO GET IT TO THAT POINT.
IF WE DON'T DO ANOTHER THING, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR US AND CLARIFICATION.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO LOOK AT MY COUNTERPARTS AND SEE.
I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND.
AGAIN, WE DID NOT WANT TO ENLIST AN ARCHITECT AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
TO YOUR POINT, THEY MAY COME BACK AND SAY, STRUCTURALLY ADA, AND ENGINEERING-WISE, WE NEED TO DO THIS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
SO IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT, AGAIN, WE PHASE THINGS.
>> HONESTLY, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHERE IT WILL TAKE US.
>> THAT WAS OUR THOUGHT ANYWAY, BUT HOW MANY PHASES THAT LOOKS LIKE? WE'LL SEE.
[02:45:02]
I THINK AGAIN, ONCE IT GETS BACK IN ACTION AND IT'S BEING USED, I THINK IT WILL BECOME CLEAR VERY QUICKLY, WHERE AREAS OF GROWTH EXIST WITHIN THAT BUILDING, AND WE CAN START TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT.WE WILL GO GET TO WORK AND GET SOME HELP, AND WE'LL KEEP EVERYBODY POSTED.
BUT AGAIN, I DID NOT WANT TO SHOW UP HERE WITH BIDS TOTALING $1,000,000 WITHOUT GETTING FEEDBACK ON THESE TYPES OF.
ABSOLUTELY. FOR US TO OBTAIN, AND IT'LL BE A ROUGH PRO FORMA, OBVIOUSLY.
BUT FOR US TO OBTAIN ESTIMATES ON RENTAL OF THE VENUE FOR CERTAIN LENGTHS OF TIME AND FOR CERTAIN USES, AND HOW MUCH WE CAN DO THAT.
THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM. WE CAN BRING THAT FORWARD AND START TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE COST RECOVERY ON THE BUILDING THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY DO.
I SAY THAT, WE'LL GET GOING, AND WE'LL KEEP EVERYBODY POSTED ALONG THE WAY.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> VERY GOOD. WE ACTUALLY HAVE THINGS TO VOTE ON.
[CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT ]
APPROVE OF ITEMS BY CONSENT.YOU'RE STILL UP. CITY MANAGER ANDREA ROY.
>> I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. I KNOW. THANK YOU.
CONSENT ITEMS. WE'LL START WITH NUMBER 1.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM JULY 8, 2025 OF OUR REGULAR MEETING.
ITEM NUMBER 2, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HER DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF LIGHT POLES AT BROOK HALO PARK FROM TECH LINE SPORTS LIGHTING FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 126 $773.50.
IF YOU ALL RECALL LAST JULY, COUNCIL APPROVED REALLOCATING THE BALANCE OF OUR 2019 PARKS BOND TO ADDRESS THE PARK'S FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
THIS PROJECT WAS ON THAT LIST.
WHAT IT WILL DO IS REPLACE THE AGING BALLARD LIGHTS, 10 OF THEM AT BROKOLO PARK, AND MOVE THOSE TO AERIAL LIGHTS.
THE LIGHTING SITUATION THERE ON THAT TRAIL WILL BE MUCH MUCH BETTER GOING FORWARD.
THE PROJECT WAS BID AND DISTRIBUTED TO 57 VENDORS.
THE RESPONSES WERE EVALUATED, AND TECHLINE SPORTS SLIDING RECEIVED THE HIGHEST SCORE AND IS THE RECOMMENDED VENDOR.
AGAIN, FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FROM THE 2019 BOND.
ITEM NUMBER 3, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HER DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH SILSB FORD OF SILSBY, TEXAS FOR THE PURCHASE OF 12025 FORD F 550 DIESEL TRUCK, MASTER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERLOCAL PURCHASING SYSTEM IN AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $108,826, WHICH DOES INCLUDE UPFITTING AND RELATED EQUIPMENT.
IN THE SPRING THIS YEAR, PUBLIC WORKS DECOMMISSIONED A 1999.
I THINK WE GOT OUR MONEY'S WORTH OUT OF THAT. DUMP TRUCK.
GOODNESS. DUE TO ITS AGE AND OBVIOUSLY INCREASING MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH THAT.
THE REQUESTED FORD F 550 DIESEL TRUCK DOES COME WITH THE UPFITTING AND MODIFICATIONS.
THIS WILL REPLACE A DUMP TRUCK.
THIS IS NOT A STANDARD LIKE F 250 OR F 150, WE'RE THINKING.
THIS WILL SERVE AS THE DUMP TRUCK FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS GROUP.
THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT WITH THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS A FORD F 550 INSTEAD OF A FULL DUMP TRUCK.
IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE TO DRIVE IT.
THE FLEXIBILITY OF USING IT AND GETTING IT AROUND TOWN AND BRINGING TO CERTAIN THINGS INCREASES THAT FLEXIBILITY SO THAT I DON'T HAVE JUST THE FEW STAFF MEMBERS THAT HAVE THAT TYPE OF DRIVER'S LICENSE TO OPERATE IT.
MUCH MORE FLEXIBLE WITH THIS TYPE OF TRUCK VERSUS THE TRADITIONAL DUMP TRUCK.
THE TRUCK PURCHASE WAS APPROVED BY THE STREET IMPROVEMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP JUST LAST MONTH, AND THEN FUNDING IS PROVIDED THROUGH THAT GROUP FOR THE 2024 25 OPERATING BUDGET.
ONE ITEM TO NOTE ON THIS, WHEN IT DID COME TO THE FOUR B BOARD IN JULY, THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT WAS ABOUT 103,000.
ONCE WE FORMALIZED AND FINALIZED THAT BID, IT DID GO UP ABOUT 5,000.
BUT THE FUNDING IS THERE AND AVAILABLE TO COVER THAT ADDITIONAL COST. THOSE ARE ITEMS. THANK YOU.
>> QUESTIONS. MY PRO TEM DOCKETS.
>> YEAH, FOR ITEM NUMBER 2, WE'RE GOING TO USE THE 2019 BOND.
HOW MUCH IS THE REMAINING BALANCE IN THAT? YOU'RE GOING TO ASK THAT.
[02:50:18]
4.6. NOW, WE HAVE ALLOCATED MOST OF THAT TO THE PROJECTS THAT YOU APPROVED BACK LAST SUMMER, BUT WE HAVE NOT SPENT THAT.YOU'RE WELCOME. SORRY FOR THAT DELAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO APPROVE BY CUSTOMER FARGO SECOND.
BY CUSTOMER GA GARY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
HOLDING THIS HOSTAGE HERE. THAT PASSES GENERIC.
THANK YOU, COUNSEL. THANK YOU, STAFF.
NEXT UP, REPORTS: MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS.
[4. Mayor/Council Member Reports]
I HAVE REALLY NOTHING TO REPORT.I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR CASTER GAUL.
SO DO THE SCHOOLS KNOW, WE'RE COMING.
>> WELL, AS YOU RECALL, MAYOR KOCH. I WAS CHARGED.
YOU WERE CHARGED. I WAS CHARGED WITH THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
I'VE GONE TO MY WIFE'S SCHOOL AT SHADY BROOK FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, AND IT'S SORT OF EXPANDED COUNCILWOMAN H, DONA BRANDON.
I ALWAYS WANT TO SEE YOUR FIRST NAME.
SHE WENT TO BEDFORD HEIGHTS. SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND IT.
WE HAVE CITY MANAGER ROY WHO SPOKE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HAS GOTTEN IT APPROVED.
I'VE ASSIGNED SCHOOLS FOR EVERYONE.
STEVE FARCO WILL BE AT BEL MANOR.
AMY SABLE WILL BE WITH ME AT A SHADY BROOK.
JOY WILL, OF COURSE, BE AT BEDFORD HEIGHTS, AND THE SHELL WILL BE AT STONE GATES.
SO I THINK IT'S SUPER EXCITING TO GET INVOLVED, AND WE'LL HAVE SOME COOL THINGS TO HAND OUT TO THE KIDDOS FOR THE FIRST DAY SCHOOL, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HOT, BUT IT'LL BE FUN TIME.
>> VERY GOOD. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY BOARD.
[5. Report on most recent meeting of the following Boards]
>> MAYOR, I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS TO ADD TO THAT.
>> OKAY, FIRST, ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD, OUR ANIMAL CONTROL GROUP IS AMAZING.
THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING, JOSE CAME IN, AND RIGHT AWAY, WE HAD A SPECIAL SITUATION WHERE WE HAD A HOUSE THAT 83 CATS IN IT, AND THAT HE RESCUED.
YES, IT WAS A HOARDERS HOUSE, AND HE CAME IN AND TOOK CARE OF IT, AND THE SHELTER PEOPLE WERE GREAT, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST THING.
BUT SINCE THEN, THE THINGS HE DOES AND THE CONNECTIONS HE HAS IN THE COMMUNITY AND AROUND THE SURROUNDING CITIES IS AMAZING.
WE JUST RECEIVED A NATIONAL AWARD.
THAT MEANS THAT 95% OF OUR ANIMALS HAVE BEEN RELOCATED.
THERE ARE A FEW ANIMALS THAT THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO.
THEY HAVE TO BE PUT DOWN, BUT EVERYTHING THAT IS ADOPTABLE OR SALVAGEABLE, OUR GUYS DO IT, AND IT'S GREAT, AND IT WAS GREAT TO BE THEY WERE RECOGNIZED LAST WEEK.
WE HAD EVENT AT THE POLICE STATION, AND IT WAS WELL ATTENDED.
I WANT TO THANK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT TO HONOR THEM.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
WE HAVE OUR A MEETING ON AUGUST 11 AT 10:00 A.M.
HERE. BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS, FIRST, MER PRO TEM DAWKINS AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE LOST A GREAT FRIEND A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND COMMISSIONER GARY FIKAS PASSED AWAY.
COMMISSIONER FIKA WAS A GREAT FRIEND TO BEDFORD TO TARRANT COUNTY, AND TRANSPORTATION.
THE 16 YEARS HE SPENT AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND WORKING NOT ONLY WITH THE STATE, BUT NATIONALLY, TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION IN THIS AREA WAS AMAZING.
HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND. THAT WAS THE THING. HE WAS A FRIEND.
I WASN'T JUST THE COMMISSIONER; HAD DINNER WITH HIM ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND HE WAS ALWAYS SAYING, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU GUYS? HOW CAN WE IMPROVE IT? IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE TEAM.
WE WERE AT HIS CELEBRATION OF LIFE YESTERDAY, AND IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL EMAILS FROM SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS IN REGARDS TO E-BIKE.
WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT, REGARDING THE UNSAFE OPERATION OF AN E-BIKE.
I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO STAFF AND UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S AN EXISTING LAW THAT MAY ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CONCERNS.
HOWEVER, WE WOULD ALSO EXPLORING UP OPTIONS TO ENHANCE OUR CURRENT BICYCLE ORDINANCE OR POTENTIALLY CREATE A NEW ONE TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THESE E-BIKES.
WE HAVE SEVERAL ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT ARE ALMOST RUN OVER BY
[02:55:02]
THESE KIDS OR PEOPLE RIDING THESE.I WAS TALKING TO OUR POLICE CHIEF TODAY.
IF THEY HAVE A BICYCLE, I MEAN, OR PEDALS, IT'S AN E BIKE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
BUT IF IT JUST HAS A MOTOR, THAT'S CONSIDERED A MOTORCYCLE, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE TO OPERATE IT.
IT HAS TO HAVE LIGHTS, IT HAS TO HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY THINGS ON IT AS A REGULAR MOTOR VEHICLE TO BE ON THE STREETS.
SO WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT, AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW TOM BRESNAHAN WAS HERE; HE TALKED TO ME, BUT THEY GO ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR, AND THEY CAN CREATE SOME DAMAGE TO NOT ONLY CARS, BUT INDIVIDUALS, THEY RUN THEM.
WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT. FOR THE CITIZENS THAT WROTE ME, I APPRECIATE THAT.
ALL RIGHT. BEAUTIFICATION ADVISORY BOARD.
>> THANKS, MR. MAYOR. SO AS I MENTIONED, LAST MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING AWARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS IN AUGUST.
THEN THE BEAUTIFICATION BOARD HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND POSSIBLY BEAUTIFYING THE BEDFORD CEMETERY.
THE BOARD IS LOOKING INTO THAT.
THEN THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR RESIDENTS TO WORK WITH BEAUTIFICATION IS IN NOVEMBER.
WE'LL HAVE THE FALL SUIT. MORE TO COME ON THAT.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD.
>> WE HAVE NOT MET, BUT I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT SCHOOL STARTS AUGUST 13, AND IT'S EARLY.
IT'S WAY TOO EARLY, SO I AGREE.
>> MARK THE CALENDARS. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN WITH THE PARKS BOARD, WHICH IS PROBABLY ABOUT SIX YEARS NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PARKS BOARD WAS ADVOCATING FOR IS THE REMOVAL OF THE BOULDER LIGHTS AT BROOK HOLLOW PARK.
THAT WAS ITEM NUMBER 2 TONIGHT ON THE LEGS, AND WANT TO THANK MARK LONG FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
ALSO, NOW WE HAVE THE MUCH-NEEDED SHADE STRUCTURE AT HARRIS RYLE'S PARK, AND IT'S OVER THE TWO AND FIVE-YEAR-OLD PLAYGROUND.
WE GOT ADDITIONAL BENCHES THERE, AND WE HAVE A NEW SWING SET THAT'S BEING INSTALLED IN STORMY JONES PARK, AND THAT WILL HAVE A SHADE STRUCTURE OVER IT AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU TO MARK BECAUSE I KNOW THE PARKS ADVISORY BOARD HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THESE FOR A LONG TIME, TRYING TO GET IT DONE, AND YOU'RE MAKING IT HAPPEN. THANK YOU.
>> VERY GOOD. C MANAGER STAFF REPORTS.
[6. City Manager/Staff Reports]
>> THANK YOU. SO I AM VERY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE SOLD THE CAMPUS WEST PROPERTY.
>> OH MY GOSH. THANK GOODNESS.
>> WEBER. YEAH, VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
IT WAS A BUMPY ROAD, BUT WE GOT THERE.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT I HAD A PHONE CALL WITH THE DEVELOPER TODAY, AND I THINK DESPITE SOME OF THE BUMPS ALONG THE ROAD, WE HAVE STARTED OVER.
I THINK THIS WAS A HURDLE THAT WAS A DIFFICULT ONE JUST BECAUSE THEY DID HAVE TO CHANGE SOME OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE DEAL WITH SPROUTS ALONG THE WAY.
BUT THE EXCITEMENT ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE WAS VERY REFRESHING AND INVIGORATING.
WE WILL SEE ACTIVITY OUT THERE VERY SOON.
I KNOW THAT I'VE ALREADY WARNED WEST THAT YOU KNOW, THEIR PERMITS ARE ACTUALLY REVIEWED AND ALREADY READY.
I DON'T THINK I CAN SAY THAT YET.
THEIR PERMITS ARE ALREADY REVIEWED AND READY TO GO.
SO YOU WILL SEE ACTIVITY OUT ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE AT THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
THEN ALSO, JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY THE BUDGET WORKSHOP IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 7.
WE CURRENTLY DO HAVE THAT SET FOR 5:00 P.M.
UNLESS YOU ALL WOULD RATHER DO SIX.
WE'VE GOT IT SCHEDULED FOR FIVE.
WOULD YOU PREFER 6:00? I THINK WE BUMP IT UP, TURAY.
I THINK WE BUMP IT UP JUST TO GIVE US A LITTLE TIME SINCE IT IS A WORKSHOP.
>>> JUST REGULAR MEETING TIME SIX CLOCK TIME.
>> PERFECT. WE WILL SWITCH THAT TO THEN.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. THANK YOU.
SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE A MOTION.
>> MOTION PASSES, AND WE WILL BE ADJOURNED AT 9:00 EXACTLY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.