[1. Call to Order, Roll Call, and Establishment of Quorum.]
[00:00:05]
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANNA WILL MEET TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2026 AT 6 P.M.
IN THE ANNA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX COUNCIL CHAMBERS, LOCATED AT 120 WEST 7TH STREET, TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON AN OPEN SESSION AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE FILL OUT AN OPINION SPEAKER REGISTRATION FORM AND TURN IT IN TO THE CITY SECRETARY BEFORE THE MEETING STARTS.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
FOR THE RECORD, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
AND NOW WE'LL GO ON TO AGENDA ITEM TWO.
I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBER BAKER IF HE'LL DO OUR INVOCATION AND PLEDGES.
FATHER GOD, WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE TIME THAT WE GET TOGETHER AND DISCUSS BUSINESS AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN JUST COME BEFORE YOU.
WE JUST ASK YOUR SPIRIT TO BE WITH US, TO HELP US PROVIDE WISE GUIDANCE AS WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY.
JUST HAVE A SPIRIT WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE HERE TODAY.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC OF THE STATES.
[3. Neighbor Comments.]
STATE UNDERSECRETARY.ALL RIGHT, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE IS NEIGHBOR COMMENTS.
AT THIS TIME, ANY PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING AN ITEM ON THIS MEETING AGENDA THAT IS NOT SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
ALSO, AT THIS TIME, ANY PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING AN ITEM THAT IS NOT IN THIS MEETING AGENDA.
EACH PERSON WILL BE ALLOWED UP TO THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
NO DISCUSSION OR ACTION MAY BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THIS AGENDA, OTHER THAN TO MAKE STATEMENTS OF SPECIFIC INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO A CITIZEN'S INQUIRY OR TO RECITE EXISTING POLICY IN RESPONSE TO THE INQUIRY.
I AM HERE TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE CITY ATTORNEY'S RECENT REMARKS REGARDING MY ETJ REMOVAL PETITIONS FROM THE MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO.
HE CLAIMED MY PAPERWORK WAS INSUFFICIENT AND THE COMMENTS WERE CONCERNING AND MISTAKEN.
I STRONGLY URGE THIS COUNCIL TO READ...
SENATE BILL 2038 AND CHAPTER 42 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE FOR YOURSELVES, YOU ARE BEING MISLED.
FOR MONTHS, THE CITY HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE A SINGLE ITEMIZED DEFICIENCY IN MY PETITIONS.
LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT EACH AND EVERY PETITION I SUBMITTED INCLUDED AN EXPLICIT ITEMIZED COVER PAGE THAT CHECKED EVERY SINGLE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT.
I PROVIDED HANDWRITTEN SIGNATURES, PRINTED NAMES, DATES OF BIRTH, EXACT MEETS AND BOUNDS, DESCRIPTIONS, AND MAPS.
THESE STATE REQUIREMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN PLAIN ENGLISH, SO ANYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEM, OKAY? FURTHERMORE, MY 2025 PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST PROVIDED A SYSTEMIC PATTERN.
EVERY SINGLE ETJ PETITION FILED WITH ANNA, INCLUDING ONE THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY AN ACTUAL ATTORNEY, WAS REJECTED WITH THE EXACT SAME LANGUAGE.
SO THAT ATTORNEY KNEW WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS WERE.
YOU CANNOT HIDE BEHIND VAGUE CLAIMS OF NONCOMPLIANCE.
UNDER SECTION 42.105D, MY PETITION STARTED YOUR STATUTORY CLOCK, WHICH HAS EXPIRED IN ELLIOTT V.
THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT.
DICTATED THAT VERIFYING THESE POSITIONS IS A MATTER OF PAPERWORK, NOT PERMISSION.
THE SUPREME COURT EXPLICITLY RULED THAT A CITY'S REFUSAL TO PROCESS THESE PETITIONS BASED ON A PENDING CONSTITUTIONAL LAWSUIT IS LEGALLY INEFFICIENT TO AVOID THE STATUTORY FAIL-SAFE.
THE HIGHEST COURT IN TEXAS EXPLICITLY STATED THAT A STATUTE IT IS PRESUMED
[00:05:01]
CONSTITUTIONAL AND CITY OFFICIALS HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO TREAT A DULY ENACTED STATUE AS VOID UNLESS AND UNTIL A COURT DECIDES IT SO.A PENDING LAWSUIT DOES NOT GRANT YOU A TEMPORARY LICENSE TO VIOLATE STATE LAW.
YOU HAVE NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO VOTE NO.
YOUR DUTY IS PURELY CLERICAL AND MANDATORY.
THE CITY ATTORNEY REMARKED THAT YOU CANNOT USE TAXPAYER FUNDS TO OFFER ME LEGAL ADVICE.
THE IRONY THAT YOU ARE WASTING TAXPAYER FUNDS TO FIGHT A LOSING LEGAL BATTLE AGAINST BINDING SUPREME COURT PRECEDENTS.
BY LAW, MY PROPERTY HAS BEEN OUT OF THE ETJ SINCE JANUARY 06, 2025, AND SUBSEQUENTLY TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES RECENTLY.
MEETING WITH THE RAPID LIBERTY HILLS DEVELOPMENT AND IMPENDING WORK ON COUNTY ROAD 290, THE CITY OF ANNA HAS ZERO REGULATORY JURISDICTION OVER MY LAND.
ANY UNPERMITTED ENCROACHMENT OR RIGHT-OF-WAY VIOLATION WILL BE MET WITH IMMEDIATE AGGRESSIVE LAWSUITS FOR MAXIMUM FINANCIAL DAMAGES.
STOP HIDING BEHIND MISTAKEN LEGAL COUNSEL.
AND UPDATE YOUR ETJ MAPS IMMEDIATELY.
NEXT UP, I'VE GOT SHERRY SACHS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY ADDRESS, 1316 DAVID DRIVE, ANNA, TEXAS.
I WANTED TO BRING AN ITEM TO THE COUNCIL FOR AWARENESS THAT ON ROSAMOND, IMAGINE THAT, FROM THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, TRAVELING EAST OUT TO 5, THERE IS NO STRIPING ON THE ROAD.
COMING OUT OF SLATER PARK, IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THIS STREET IS A TWO-WAY STREET.
I LITERALLY FOLLOWED SOMEONE DRIVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
SO I JUST WANTED TO REQUEST THAT THIS HAZARD BE PUT ON SOMEONE'S CHECKLIST AND THEN WE GET THIS COVERED.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALL TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO ME THIS EVENING.
I CAME TO THE LAST MEETING AND I BELIEVE SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD A FEW NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT TOOK PLACE.
TONIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON A REQUEST FOR ME TO REMOVE MY PROPERTY FROM THE ETJ HAVANA.
IN 2010, I HAD A, LET'S CALL IT A BATTLE WITH THE CITY OF HAVANA OVER THE PROPERTY AND WE CAME TO TERMS WITH AN DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WAS EXECUTED IN 2010 BY THE CITY.
SEVERAL TERMS OF THAT AGREEMENT WERE NOT FOLLOWED, AND THEREIN OF WE HAVE, WE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL EXPENSES RELATED TO THOSE TERMS NOT BEING FOLLOWED IN THE AGREEMENT.
AND LONG STORY SHORT, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, I GOT A KNOCK ON THE DOOR FROM COLLIN COUNTY, AND THEY ASKED TO SEE MY BUILDING PERMITS WHICH WERE ISSUED BY THE CITY OF ANNA.
I'VE GOT A BUILDING PERMIT, INSPECTIONS, AND A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FROM THE CITY OF ANNA.
SO THE TWO ISSUES ARE THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WAS NOT FOLLOWED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS EXECUTED IN 2010, AND THEN A BUILDING PERMIT THAT WAS ISSUED TO ME OVER A DECADE AGO BY THE CITY OF ANNA, ACCORDING TO COLLIN COUNTY.
THEY DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE THAT PERMIT, AND THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE PARTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WERE NOT FOLLOWED.
THE CITY, I APPROACHED THE CITY AT THE TIME AND WAS LOOKING FOR SOME HELP.
THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF ANNA.
I'M A GRADUATE OF ANNA HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WANT TO CLEAR THE AIR FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT THERE IS NO ONE ON THIS COUNCIL, AND THERE IS NO ONE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY THE CITY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THESE MISTAKES.
BUT THERE STILL WERE MISTAKES MADE AND THEY WEREN'T MADE BY ME.
SO WHEN COLLIN COUNTY SHOWED UP AND THEY ASKED FOR THOSE BUILDING PERMITS AND CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCIES, THEY DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THEM BECAUSE THEY SAID Y'ALL ISSUED THEM WHEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE THEM BECAUSE THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WASN'T EXECUTED PROPERLY.
[00:10:01]
LONG STORY SHORT, WE HAD TO SHUT DOWN A BUSINESS.WE HAD TO PULL NEW PERMITS ON A BUILDING THAT HAD BEEN BUILT FOR OVER A DECADE.
HAD TO GET IN COMPLIANCE WITH COLLIN COUNTY.
IF YOU LOOK AT MY PROPERTY, THERE'S FOUR DIFFERENT SECTIONS, AND IF YOU WALK ACROSS MY PROPERTY, YOU START OFF IN COLLIN COUNTY, YOU WALK INTO THE CITY OF ANNA, THEN YOU WALK BACK INTO COLLIN COUNTY, AND THEN YOU WALK BACK INTO THE CITY OF ANNA, AND IT'S A HODGEPODGE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF PART OF THE PROPERTY WAS ANNEXED INTO THE CITY AND PART OF IT WASN'T.
SO, LONG STORY SHORT, I'VE HAD TO SHUT DOWN A BUSINESS.
WE'VE INCURRED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF EXPENSES TO TRY TO LAUNCH THAT BUSINESS.
AND THEN WHEN COLLIN COUNTY CAME IN AND SAID THAT THE PERMIT THAT Y'ALL ISSUED WASN'T VALID AND I PULLED THE NEW PERMIT, THEY SUBJECTED ME TO ALL THE CURRENT BUILDING CODES.
TO BECOME COMPLIANT, IT WAS GOING TO BE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE NUMBERS DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD INVEST THAT TYPE OF MONEY INTO IT, AND IT KILLED THE BUSINESS.
WHAT I'M ASKING THIS EVENING IS I'M NOT ASKING TO BE MADE WHOLE.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANY RESTITUTION.
I'M NOT LOOKING FOR ANYTHING FROM THE CITY.
I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU GUYS ALLOW ME TO LEAVE THE CITY LIMITS NOW THAT I'M IN COMPLIANCE WITH CULLEN COUNTY AND TAKE ME OUT OF THE ETJ.
THESE WERE CLEAR MISTAKES NOT MADE BY ME, AND LIKE I SAID, NOT MADE BY ANYONE ON THIS COUNCIL OR ANYONE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY THE CITY.
AND I HAD MEETINGS WITH THE ONE-TIME ASSISTANT MANAGER OF THE CATERS.
AND GREG SUGGESTED THAT I JUST LEAVE THE CITY ALTOGETHER.
AND HE SAID IF I WANTED TO EXECUTE THAT OPTION, THAT HE WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
WE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS, AND LAUREN AND NADIR BOTH WERE THERE AND HEARD THAT OFFER BE MADE.
AND THEN WHEN I CAME TO EXECUTE THAT OFFER SO THAT WE COULD BE DONE, THAT'S KIND OF HOW THIS WHOLE PROCESS STARTED.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT IF YOU ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, THAT YOU WOULD ADDRESS THOSE WITH ME NOW.
BECAUSE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2010, AND I REALLY NEED TO GET SOME CLOSURE TO IT, BECAUSE THE WAY THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY SITS, IT'S A MESS.
SO I ASK TONIGHT THAT YOU WOULD GRANT ME THAT REQUEST, AND THAT IF YOU'RE NOT IN FAVOR OR IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS, THAT YOU WOULD ADDRESS THOSE WITH ME AND ALLOW ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND MY POSITION.
SO IF THERE ARE ANY CONVERSATIONS, WE'LL DO IT ON 7A.
WHEN WE GET TO 7A, THAT'S WHERE WE CAN COMMUNICATE.
[4. Presentations. ]
ALL RIGHT, THAT TAKES US TO GEN I AND IV PRESENTATIONS.RECEIVE REPORTS FROM STAFF OR CITY COUNCIL ABOUT ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS HERE.
FIRST UP, I WOULD LIKE TO DO A CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FRANKLIN HARWOOD SAUNDERS, CALLED SIGNED PINKY.
FRANKLIN HOWARD WOOD SAUNDERS CALLSIGN PINKY A CHERISHED AND LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF ANNA, PASSED AWAY ON JUNE 01, 2026, LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY OF DEDICATION, SERVICE, AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT.
AND WHEREAS COMMANDER SAUNDERS RESIDED IN THE CITY OF ANNA FOR 13 YEARS, HIS RETIREMENT YEARS, PINKY WAS A DISTINGUISHED NAVAL AVIATOR DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, WITH HIS SQUADRON BEING THE SECOND RECIPIENT OF THE PRESTIGIOUS MCCLUSKEY AWARD.
DURING HIS NAVAL CAREER, HE PERFORMED OVER 1,000 CARRIER LANDINGS.
HE WAS OF AN IMPRESSIVE GENERATION WHO WAS PROUD OF HIS COUNTRY AND WILLING TO IMPART THIS TO THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS WITH HIS SUPPORT IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS HIS LOCAL CHURCH AND COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS PINKY WAS KNOWN FOR HIS SPONSORSHIP OF NUMEROUS YOUTH MISSION TRIPS, CHURCH BUILDING PROJECTS, AND SUPPORT OF LOCAL MINISTRIES AND CHARITIES IN ANNA, HE WAS A FIRM BELIEVER THAT ONE SHOULD CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS IN THEIR CITY AND TOUTED MANY OF ANNA'S BUSINESSES AS THE BEST IN THE AREA.
WHEREAS PINKY WAS KNOWN FOR MENTIONING OTHERS IN THE WAYS OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, MENTORING OTHERS, I'M SORRY.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, INTEGRITY, PATRIOTISM, AND HARD WORK.
HIS COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN ANNA WILL HAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND THE CITY COUNCIL WISHES TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE MEMORY OF FRANKLIN HART.
HARWOOD SAUNDERS, PINKY, AND EXPEND HIS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ALL WHO WERE FORTUNATE TO KNOW HIM.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANNA DOES HEREBY COMMEND AND HONOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FRANKLIN HARWOOD SAUNDERS FOR HIS YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, AND MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS COMMENDATION BE ENTERED IN THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE CITY OF ANNA, AND THAT A COPY BE PRESENTED TO THE FAMILY IN RECOGNITION OF A LIFE WELL LIVED AND DEEPLY VALUED.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND THIS 23RD DAY OF JUNE, 2026, AND CALL THIS SEAL TO BE AFFIXED, PETE KANE, MAYOR OF CITY OF ATLANTA.
[00:15:56]
NEXT UP, WE'VE GOT A PRESENTATION CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO OFFICER BERRIENTOS.LOOKS LIKE CHIEF ISOM IS BRINGING THAT UP.
MAYOR, WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME BACK OUR CHIEF EOFF, WHO'S BEEN OFFICIALLY CHIEF 48 HOURS NOW IN THE BUILDING.
MAYOR KANE, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, GOOD EVENING.
RAY EISEN FIRE CHIEF, IT IS MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR BOYS IN BLUE, AS WE REFER TO THEM, FOR SOME ACTIONS THAT WERE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.
AND THIS WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION FROM MY FIREFIGHTERS THAT WERE ON THIS CALL.
NOW YOU ARE OFFICIALLY A CORPORAL NOW, RIGHT? OKAY, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS OFFICIAL.
SO I'LL JUST READ THIS REAL QUICKLY.
ON THE EVENING OF MAY 18, 2026, ANNA FIRE RESCUE AND THE ANNA POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A STRUCTURE FIRE WITH REPORTS OF A TRAPPED OCCUPANT.
THE FIRE OCCURRED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF ANNA.
CORPORAL BERENTOS WAS THE FIRST TO ARRIVE ON SCENE WHERE HEAVY SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THIS RESIDENCE.
UPON EXITING HIS SQUAD CAR, HE IMMEDIATELY ENCOUNTERED A FEMALE YELLING TO HIM THAT HER FIANCÉ WAS TRAPPED IN THE ATTIC.
CORPORAL BERENTOS ENTERED THE RESIDENCE, MADE HIS WAY INTO THE ATTIC WHERE THE OCCUPANT WAS LOCATED.
HE WAS THEN ABLE TO GUIDE THE OCCUPANT SAFELY OUT OF THE ATTIC.
DESPITE HEAVY SMOKE CONDITIONS.
BOTH THE OCCUPANT AND CORPORAL BERENTOS WERE ABLE TO WALK AWAY WITHOUT ANY INJURY.
THE DECISIVE ACTIONS TAKEN BY OUR CORPORAL THAT DAY RESULTED IN THE OCCUPANT ESCAPING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, LIKELY SAVING HIS LIFE.
SO ON BEHALF OF ANTIFA RESCUE, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE CORPORAL BERENTOS' ACTIONS AND HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT.
TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND I WILL NOW READ THIS CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION.
SO CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION IS PROUDLY PRESENTED TO CORPORAL BERRIANTOS IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING DEDICATION, EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE, AND GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.
YOUR DECISIVE ACTIONS ON MAY 18, 2026 DURING A WORKING STRUCTURE FIRE LIKELY SAVED THE LIFE OF AN OCCUPANT TRAPPED INSIDE THE RESIDENCE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU AND MY ENTIRE DEPARTMENT THANKS YOU AND I KNOW THE COMMUNITY REALLY SUPPORTS THESE KINDS OF EFFORTS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AND I HOPE YOU FIND THIS, I HOPE THIS GOES ON YOUR WALL.
THIS TIME I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE OUT SOME UPCOMING EVENTS.
BATTLE OF THE BADGES BLOOD DRIVE IS GOING TO BE FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH FROM 10 TO 4 P.M.
IT'LL BE AT 120 WEST 7TH STREET.
DONATED BLOOD AND VOTE FOR ANNA POLICE DEPARTMENT OR ANNA FIRE.
THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A FUTURE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
BOOTS AND BOOMS THIS SATURDAY STARTS AT 5 O'CLOCK AT SLATER CREEK PARK.
[00:20:01]
WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY.LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE KAFEI ANDERSON AGAIN ALONG WITH PEYTON MCKENNA AND A SPECIAL FLYOVER AT 8 P.M.
JULY IS PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH, RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION.
IT CELEBRATES THE VALUE OF OUTDOOR SPACES AND PROFESSIONALS WHO MAINTAIN PARKS, PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, AND PROVIDE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR EVERYONE.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, JULY 3RD, ALL CITY FACILITIES WILL BE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF INDEPENDENCE DAY.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS WORKING TO DEFINE A UNIQUE IDENTITY FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, EDC WILL BE COLLECTING COMMUNITY INPUT THROUGH A SURVEY AND PUBLIC MEETINGS.
THE DOWNTOWN BRANDING AND IDENTITY SURVEY WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL JULY 1ST.
WE DO HAVE A MEETING FOR THAT JULY 8TH AT 6 P.M.
IN THE ANNIE COMMUNITY LIBRARY.
THEY'RE GOING TO GO OVER FEEDBACK AND SHARE IDEAS ON DOWNTOWN'S IDENTITY.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A MARKETING MEETING.
AGAIN, AT THE LIBRARY, DISCUSS HOW DOWNTOWN WILL GROW AND DEVELOP.
AND THEN JULY 28TH AT 6 P.M., THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENTATION AT THE ANNA MUNICIPAL CONFLICTS HERE.
THE FINAL DOWNTOWN PLAN AND BRANDING IDENTITY WILL BE PRESENTED.
IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT, THERE'S DEFINITELY
[5. Work Session.]
MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE.ALL RIGHT, THAT TAKES US TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE, PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
CHRIS TALBOT, DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
NOW, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT US NERDS, IT'S THAT WE WOULD RATHER BE BEHIND A COMPUTER SCREEN THAN BEHIND A PODIUM.
SO, I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS.
WHY ARE WE HERE, AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT? SO WE WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS FOR THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF ANNA.
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS OUR MISSION AND OUR TEAM, WHO WE ARE, THE HATS WE WEAR, AND WHAT DRIVES US.
WE'LL ALSO DISCUSS IT BY THE NUMBERS.
THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE SOME KEY METRICS THAT HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE WORKINGS OF THE IT DEPARTMENT.
WE'LL ALSO DISCUSS IT OPERATIONS.
INFRASTRUCTURE, NETWORKING, AND CYBERSECURITY.
AND WE WILL ALSO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.
WE'LL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS AS WELL AS SOME AI INITIATIVES AND AUTOMATION.
THE MISSION OF THE CITY OF ANNA IT DEPARTMENT IS TO PROVIDE SECURE, RELIABLE, AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS THAT ENHANCE EFFICIENCY, SUPPORT MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS, AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SERVICES.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARDING DATA, OPTIMIZING SYSTEMS, AND FOSTERING INNOVATION.
THROUGH COLLABORATION AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, WE EMPOWER ALL DEPARTMENTS TO BETTER SERVE NEIGHBORS AND ADAPT TO FUTURE TECHNOLOGICAL NEEDS.
WE DO HAVE A STAFF OF THREE THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE IT WORKINGS WITHIN THE CITY.
DEVICES MANAGED, I HAVE 1,300 PLUS.
THE REASON WHY I HAVE THAT PLUS ON HERE IS THIS NUMBER IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING.
WE DO A HARDWARE REFRESH, ONBOARDING OF NEW EMPLOYEES THAT MAY NEED NEW EQUIPMENT.
CURRENTLY, WE'RE RIGHT AROUND 01,300 DEVICES.
WE ARE CURRENTLY SITTING AT A 99.92% NETWORK UPTIME.
HAD ABOUT SIX HOURS OF UNPLANNED DOWNTIME WITHIN A YEAR.
SO I THINK WE'RE DOING OKAY THERE, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, RIGHT? 04,000 SERVICE TICKETS PER YEAR.
I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT.
I HAVE A DIFFERENT SLIDE FOR THAT.
THE REASON WHY THIS HAS A PLUS ON IT IS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE DIVISIONS WITHIN DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS THAN MAYBE THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE.
SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON TOP OF EVERYBODY'S NEEDS, RIGHT? AND WE'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING AT A $1.7 MILLION ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
THE HATS WE WEAR, MYSELF, THE IT DIRECTOR, I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND BUDGETING.
I'M ALSO THE DEPARTMENT LIAISON TO ENSURE THAT WE MAINTAIN A GREAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE IT DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF OUR, I CALL THEM, THEIR CUSTOMERS.
THEY'RE OUR CUSTOMERS, RIGHT? OUR END USERS.
I'M ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR VENDOR AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS POLICY COMPLIANCE OVERSIGHT AND PROJECT PRIORITIZATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STAYING ON TASK FOR WHAT MATTERS
[00:25:02]
FOR THE CITY.NICK SHARP IS OUR IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST, TOO.
HE DEFINITELY HAS THE BEST BEARD IN THE CITY.
NICK IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR NETWORK AND SERVER MANAGEMENT.
HE DOES SOME OF OUR CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS CLOUD AND BACKUP SYSTEMS. NICK IS INVOLVED HEAVILY WITH OUR DISASTER RECOVERY PLANNING AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE.
ALEX IS OUR NEWEST MEMBER TO THE TEAM.
HE IS OUR SUPPORT SPECIALIST ONE.
ALEX IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR HELP DESK AND END USER SUPPORT.
ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES NEEDS TO CONTACT IT. ALEX IS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR THAT.
SO HE'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR DEPARTMENT.
ALEX IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR APPLICATION ADMINISTRATION, AS WELL AS TELECOM AND PHONE SYSTEMS. AND CURRENTLY HE'S WAIST DEEP, SHOULDER DEEP IN OUR HARDWARE LIFECYCLE.
HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT AS WELL.
THE IT DEPARTMENT IS ALSO PROUDLY A MEMBER OF THE TAG ITM ORGANIZATION.
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGERS.
IT'S A MOUTHFUL, BUT WE COULDN'T DO WITHOUT IT.
IT IS AN ORGANIZATION MADE UP OF MUNICIPAL, ISD, COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN TEXAS, AND IT'S A BIG GROUP OF COMMUNICATION, SUPPORT SYSTEM, BOUNCING IDEAS OFF OF EACH OTHER.
SO WE'RE PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION.
MOVING ON TO NETWORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE DO UTILIZE A WIDE AREA NETWORK OR WAN.
WE HAVE NUMEROUS BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT ARE INTERCONNECTED WITH OUR FIBER CONNECTIONS, AND WE DO MAINTAIN THAT WAN, THAT WIDE AREA NETWORK.
INFRASTRUCTURE OPERATIONS, THIS IS BOTH ON-PREMISE AND CLOUD SERVERS, AS WELL AS OUR NETWORKING EQUIPMENT.
WE HAVE NUMEROUS NETWORKING DEVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND CURRENTLY WE'RE SUPPORTING ABOUT 25 SERVERS.
THAT'S BOTH ON-PREMISE AND CLOUD MACHINES.
I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY FOR OUR WAN, WE HAVE FIBER AND CONNECTIVITY SUPPORT.
WE DO HAVE A DEDICATED FIBER LINE THAT COMES TO US FROM OUR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER, AS WELL AS DEDICATED FIBER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN OUR FACILITIES.
AND LASTLY, FOR NETWORKING AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS DISASTER RECOVERY.
WE HAVE HIGH AVAILABILITY SYSTEMS THAT ENSURE CONTINUITY DURING EMERGENCIES.
VERY IMPORTANT AND NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, AND MY COLLEAGUES HATE ME FOR IT.
WE DO UTILIZE 24-7 SECURITY OPERATION MONITORING AND INTRUSION AND DETECTION SYSTEMS TO KIND OF BE OUR LOCK ON THE FRONT DOOR, HOWEVER DEFENSE IN DEPTH, RIGHT? WE ALSO HAVE A COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENT.
WE HAVE NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT KIND OF REGULATE WHAT WE ARE AND AREN'T ALLOWED TO DO.
A FEW OF THOSE ARE CEGIS, WHICH IS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SERVICES THAT'S HEAVILY WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS PCI DSS, MOUTHFUL AGAIN, PAYMENT CARD INDUSTRY DATA SECURITY STANDARD.
THIS IS, IF YOU'RE TAKING PAYMENTS, YOU HAVE TO BE SECURE WITH THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING.
AND THEN HIPAA, MOST PEOPLE KNOW WHAT HIPAA IS.
IT IS THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.
THIS DEALS MORE WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES ON THE FIRE SIDE.
ALSO, UNDER CYBERSECURITY IS OUR INCIDENT RESPONSE.
WE DO HAVE RESPONSE PROTOCOLS AND RECOVERY PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN RECOVER FROM A POTENTIAL INCIDENT SHOULD IT OCCUR.
AND LASTLY, I HAVE EMPLOYEE TRAINING.
SOME PEOPLE MAY WONDER HOW EMPLOYEE TRAINING MAY FIT INTO CYBERSECURITY.
HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF CYBERSECURITY.
OUR EMPLOYEES ARE THE NUMBER ONE TOOL THAT COULD PREVENT US FROM HAVING AN INCIDENT.
AND SO THE BETTER EDUCATED THAT OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR USERS ARE, THE MORE SECURE THAT WE ARE.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS PROGRAM.
IN MAY OF 2023, WE RAN A BLIND PHISHING ATTACK.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE SENT FAKE MALICIOUS EMAILS TO OUR USERS.
WE HAD A 40% CLICK RATE ON THAT BLIND PHISHING TEST, WHICH IS ATROCIOUS.
WE HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE TO HELP EDUCATE EMPLOYEES, AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 6% CLICK RATE ON THOSE PHISHING EMAILS.
SO IT JUST SHOWS TO PROVE THAT OUR SECURITY AWARENESS PROGRAM WORKS.
AI AND AUTOMATION INITIATIVES.
[00:30:02]
WITH AI IS A MAGNIFICENT TOOL, AS LONG AS IT'S USED CORRECTLY.LOOKING INTO THE TOOLS THAT MAY BE BEST FIT FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, AND WE DON'T WANT TO JUMP INTO AI JUST BECAUSE IT'S AI.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SOFTWARES AND PLATFORMS THAT WORK FOR US.
WHAT WE ARE USING RIGHT NOW IS MICROSOFT COPILOT.
IT'S CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF OUR END USERS, ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH COPILOT, IT IS KIND OF A SUITE OF AI PRODUCTIVITY...
TOOLS YOU COULD SAY WITHIN OUR OFFICE ENVIRONMENT.
THE IT DEPARTMENT IS ALSO WORKING ON AN INTERNAL AI CHAT BOT.
WE'RE CURRENTLY DEVELOPING THAT.
IT WILL FOCUS ON HR AND POLICIES.
THIS WILL ALLOW OUR EMPLOYEES INTERNALLY TO ASK QUESTIONS HR RELATED, POLICY RELATED, AND GET ACCURATE RESPONSES WHICH WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE PHONE CALLS AND COMMUNICATIONS TO OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO FREE THEM UP TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB.
ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE WORKING ON A PUBLIC AI CHAT BOT.
WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE IS A BOT ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE THE NEIGHBORS CAN COMMUNICATE, ASK IT QUESTIONS IN PLAIN ENGLISH, AND THEY'LL GET RESPONSES BASED OFF OF DATA THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.
THAT'S CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND LASTLY, PROCESS AUTOMATION.
WE HAVE STARTED THE PROCESS OF CONVERTING A LOT OF OUR, I'M GOING TO SAY PROCESS AGAIN, PAPER PROCESSES.
THIS WILL INVOLVE A LITTLE BIT OF AI, BUT MOSTLY WORKFLOW AUTOMATION ON THE BACK END.
THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE EFFICIENT, LESS PRINTING, SAVES MONEY, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO BE BETTER FOR ALL OF OUR USERS.
NEXT, WE HAVE HELP DESK AND END USER SUPPORT.
YOU'LL SEE HERE THE 4,000 TICKETS RESOLVED ANNUALLY.
THAT'S AN AVERAGE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
CURRENTLY FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE SITTING AT ABOUT 2,600 TICKETS THROUGH THE END OF MAY.
AND AGAIN, I HAVE THE 1,300 PLUS DEVICES ON HERE.
IT DEALS WITH END USER SUPPORT.
AND THEN THAT LAST PERCENTAGE THERE, THE 81.97%.
WHAT THAT REPRESENTS IS TICKETS CLOSED WITHIN FOUR HOURS.
WE PUT UPON OURSELVES AN SLA TIME, A SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT TIME OF FOUR HOURS FOR CLOSING OUR TICKETS.
AND OUR GOAL IS TO HIT 80% OF THOSE TICKETS.
SO YOU CAN SEE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'RE AVERAGING 81.97%.
HOWEVER, THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THROUGH MAY, WE'RE SITTING AT 78%.
THIS CAN BE EQUATED TO GROWING STAFF AND STAFF NEEDS WHILE MAINTAINING A SMALLER IT TEAM.
MOVING ON TO ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS, WE HAVE NUMEROUS...
...APPLICATIONS THAT WE SUPPORT.
IF YOU'RE CURIOUS OF ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS, THAT MAY HAVE TO BE ANOTHER CONVERSATION.
FIRSTLY, WE HAVE OUR ERP SYSTEM.
IT STANDS FOR ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING, OR OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM.
THIS INVOLVES BUDGETING, PAYROLL, PURCHASING, AND THE REPORTS THAT MAY GO ALONG WITH THAT.
ALSO, WE HAVE PERMITTING SOFTWARE THAT WE SUPPORT.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY FOR PERMITTING APPLICATIONS.
FOR INSPECTIONS DEALING WITH THOSE PERMITS, AND OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT USES THAT SAME APPLICATION AS WELL.
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.
THIS ALLOWS US TO DIGITALLY RETAIN PAPER DOCUMENTS, AND SO WE'RE DOING A BIG PUSH.
EVERYBODY'S MOVING FROM PAPER, GOING DIGITAL, SO WE HAVE SOME SOFTWARE TO HELP US MAINTAIN THAT.
THIS ALSO MANAGES DOCUMENT RETENTION AND ASSISTS WITH PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS.
I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY TOUCH THIS BECAUSE I HAVE A WHOLE SLIDE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT WE DO SUPPORT CAD, WHICH IS COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCH, AS WELL AS RECORDS MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING.
WE SUPPORT SOFTWARE THAT HELPS MANAGE EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS OUR BENEFITS AND RECRUITING.
DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT STANDS FOR.
A LOT OF OUR SOFTWARES ARE GOING TO THE CLOUD.
SOFTWARE IS A SERVICE, A SAAS SOLUTION, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE OUR EMAILS IN THE CLOUD, OUR COLLABORATION TOOLS ARE IN THE CLOUD, AND THEN A MULTITUDE OF CLOUD-HOSTED APPLICATIONS.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING AND MANAGING THOSE SOFTWARES.
MOVING ON TO SOME PUBLIC-FACING SERVICES, HOW THE NEIGHBORS CAN INTERACT WITH CITY TECHNOLOGIES.
[00:35:03]
FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR CITY WEBSITE.THIS IS THE PRIMARY PORTAL WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN RECEIVE NEWS AND INFORMATION.
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A PHENOMENAL COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO MANAGE THE WORDS THAT GO ONTO THE WEBSITE, AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT.
HOWEVER, WE DO SUPPORT THE TECHNICAL SIDE.
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE LIBRARY, I KNOW WE HAVE.
IF WE HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE LIBRARY, TAKE A TRIP.
IT'S PACKED FULL WITH TECHNOLOGY, AND IT WAS VERY HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE INSTALL OF THE ENTIRE BUILDING.
WE DO HAVE PUBLIC USE LAPTOPS, DOCKING STATIONS, MONITORS, AS WELL AS PUBLIC USE PRINTING.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE PUBLIC USE WI-FI THAT'S ALSO AT THE LIBRARY AS WELL AS HERE IN THE PLAZA.
AND COMING SOON, I'M EXCITED ABOUT, IS A DIGITAL AGENDA BOARD.
THAT WILL ALLOW US TO POST OUR AGENDAS FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER, IN AN EASY-TO-USE PLATFORM, AND IT'S BETTER USE.
OF TIME FOR CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE DUE TO INTEGRATIONS.
THAT'S ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE HERE THIS FRIDAY.
MOVING ON TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR PHONE SYSTEMS THAT DEALS WITH OUR VOICE OVER IP SYSTEMS, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY MODERN DAY DESK PHONES, AS WELL AS OUR CELLULAR SERVICES.
AND THE CELLULAR SERVICES INCLUDE THE YOU PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES HAS THEIR OWN CELLULAR ROUTER AND WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THOSE.
THIS ALLOWS US TO REMOTELY MANAGE AND MAINTAIN OUR CELLULAR DEVICES INCLUDING THE PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES.
MOVING ON TO THE INTERNET AND WAN CONNECTIVITY, THE WIDE AREA NETWORK.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THOSE CIRCUITS.
AS WELL AS MAINTAINING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER AND ENSURING THAT THE INTERCONNECTIVITY BETWEEN OUR BUILDINGS STAYS RELIABLE.
LASTLY HERE, WE HAVE CARRIER MANAGEMENT.
THIS MORE FOCUSES AROUND VENDOR NEGOTIATIONS AND CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE COST OPTIMIZATION SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY FISCALLY AND WE'RE PAYING FOR WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED.
MOVING ON NEXT IS PUBLIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGY.
AGAIN, THE IT DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPORTING BOTH PD AND FIRE, AND THAT'S ALL ASPECTS OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
AGAIN, COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH, OR CAD, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN US AND THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS VIDEO AND SURVEILLANCE.
IT DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING SECURITY CAMERAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THE BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND VEHICLE CAMERAS, THE IT DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS THOSE AS WELL.
IS A SOFTWARE THAT WE USE THAT IT SUPPORTS.
RECORDS MANAGEMENT, WHEN DEALING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, IS VERY REGULATED THROUGH CGIS AND HIPAA, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SERVICES, AND IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT WE'RE COMPLIANT WITH THOSE REGULATIONS.
AND LASTLY HERE YOU SEE MOBILE DATA TERMINALS.
THAT IS THE IN-CAR COMPUTERS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES HAS A MACHINE IN THERE SO THAT THE PD AND FIRE CAN DO THEIR JOB WHILE THEY'RE ON THE ROAD, AND IT MAINTAINS ALL OF THOSE.
NOW, JEFF FREETH'S TEAM ARE THE SMALL AND MIGHTY POMERANIANS.
HOWEVER, I WOULD SAY THAT IT ARE LIKE SWANS.
WE'RE CALM AND STEADY ON THE SURFACE, BUT PADDLING LIKE CRAZY UNDERNEATH TO KEEP US MOVING.
AND I GUESS HE SAID IT AND NERDS WEREN'T COOL.
NEXT UP, UNDER WORK SECTION ITEMS, WE'VE GOT A DISCUSSION ON AN URBAN FORCE 2015 MASTER PLAN.
SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK.
ABOUT SAVING SOME OF THE TREES WITH SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT GOING ON.
SO ONE THING I LOOKED AT WAS, WELL, WHAT ARE OTHER CITIES AROUND TEXAS AND HONESTLY NORTH AMERICA, WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO PRESERVE SOME OF THEIR TREES, SOME OF THEIR BEAUTIFUL TREE-LINED STREETS, AND REALLY PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT'S UNIQUE? LET ME KIND OF FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE THIS.
I WANT TO START OFF WITH THE BEST TIME TO PLANT A TREE WAS 30 YEARS AGO.
THE SECOND BEST TIME IS TODAY.
AND THE REASON I SAY THAT WAS WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, SOME OF THESE NEWER NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S PRETTY BLANK.
[00:40:01]
I DON'T SEE MUCH, YOU KNOW, SMALLER TREES.THERE'S NO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT CHARACTER BESIDES THE HOUSING AND THE DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S GOT TO BE AN ELEMENT OF NATURE.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO BRING IN.
AND THE THEME REALLY IS, IF ANYONE'S EVER BEEN TO ATLANTA, IT'S...
TECHNICALLY A CITY IN A FOREST THAT'S WHAT THEY ADVERTISE IT AS THAT'S ONE THING I WANT US TO REALLY CONSIDER IF I MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE SO THERE'S A COUPLE BENEFITS THAT COME OUT JUST HIGH LEVEL SO FIRST WHEN YOU HAVE TREE LINE NEIGHBORHOODS YOU GET BEAUTIFUL STREETS YOU ALSO GET COOLER SUMMERS AND IN STRONGER COMMUNITIES YOU KNOW HOW DO YOU GET COOLER SUMMERS WELL NUMBER ONE THE SHADE IT COOLS A LOT OF THE CONCRETE DOWN THAT RETAINS A LOT OF THAT HEAT AND THEN ALSO STRONGER COMMUNITIES.
NOW, HOW IS THAT? WELL, WHEN YOU HAVE TREES AND YOU HAVE CANOPY COVER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S 90 OR 100 DEGREES OUT IN TEXAS, MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME OUT.
WHEN YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE COME OUT, MORE EYEBALLS ARE ON THE STREET.
AND WHEN THERE'S MORE EYEBALLS ON THE STREET, THAT ALSO INCREASES THE LEVEL OF SAFETY AND REDUCES SOME OF THE CRIME IN SOME OF THESE CITIES WHERE THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED SOME OF THIS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MORE THAN JUST THE GRANARY.
AND, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE JOKINGLY CALL ME THE TREE-HUGGING GUY.
I MEAN, IT JUST IS WHAT IT IS.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A REAL BENEFIT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT IT IN THE TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT NUMBER TWO, LARGE NATIVE SHADE TREES, PLANTING AND PROTECTING THE TREES THAT DEFINE ANNA FOR GENERATIONS.
WHEN YOU GO TO THE WOODLANDS, WHEN YOU GO TO ATLANTA, WHEN YOU GO TO SOME OF THESE PLACES, A LOT OF THE CHARACTER IN THOSE TOWNS OR IN THOSE LITTLE SUBSECTIONS OF HOUSTON AND OTHER AREAS, THEY STICK OUT.
THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T PUT THEIR FINGER ON IT, BUT WHEN YOU REALLY...
IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ENVELOPED IN A CANOPY, RIGHT? THERE'S A BIT OF, UM, IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOU'RE HUGGING SOMEONE.
IT'S A PSYCHOLOGICAL TERM, BUT, UM, IT REALLY PROVIDES A SENSE OF COMFORT.
AND THEN ALSO WHEN YOU HAVE, FOR NUMBER THREE, SHADED TRAILS AND WALKWAYS, IF WE'RE BUILDING ALL THESE STREETS, WE'RE BUILDING ALL THIS CONNECTIVITY, HOW DO WE GET THESE PEOPLE OUT WHEN IT'S 90 OR 100 DEGREES PLUS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PETS, WITH THEIR BARE PAWS? WITH SOME OF THE TREE CANOPIES, IT HELPS REDUCE SOME OF THAT.
IT MAKES IT MORE PLEASANT, MAKES IT EASIER TO ACCESS.
AND ALSO, IT GETS PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOUSES.
YOU KNOW, ONE THING I NOTICE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE, I'M SURE YOU GUYS DO, IS A BLUE SCREEN IN EVERYONE'S WINDOW AS SOON AS ABOUT 6 O'CLOCK HITS.
LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN TO TRY TO GET THE BLUE SCREEN OUT AND TRY TO GET THE GREEN LEAVES IN.
AND FOR NUMBER FOUR, PARKS WITH MATURE LIVE OAKS.
NOW, WHY DO I SAY LIVE OAKS? LIVE OAKS LIVE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
THEY PROVIDE A HUGE AMOUNT OF COVERAGE, BUT ALSO IT PROVIDES A LEVEL OF PERSONALITY, RIGHT? MAYBE EACH PARK HAS A SIGNATURE TREE.
ONE IS MAYBE MAGNOLIAS, RIGHT? AND THERE'S A BIT OF A THEME THAT GOES INTO EACH ONE.
SO JUST THINKING A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE THE BOX.
AND THEN FINALLY, FOR NUMBER FIVE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TO QUITE A FEW, AND I'VE HONESTLY RESEARCHED A LOT, TOO, IS A LOT OF THE DOWNTOWNS THAT ARE REALLY SUCCESSFUL AND CREATE THE WALKABILITY, IS YOU GOT TO MAKE IT COMFORTABLE FOR PEOPLE AND YOU GOT TO MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO LINGER.
WHEN YOU HAVE TREES, WHEN YOU HAVE ART, WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THESE THINGS, THERE'S A BIT OF A SCIENCE WHERE EVERY COUPLE STEPS SOMEONE WANTS TO TAKE A STEP AND LINGER AND LOOK AND ENJOY THE MOMENT.
SO REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO STAY LONGER IN DOWNTOWN, ENJOY IT MORE.
WHEN WE HAVE SOME OF THESE PATIOS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BUILT OUT, A LOT OF THIS FOLIAGE IS GOING TO HELP.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING AT LEAST MY KIDS COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERY TIME IT'S HOT AND WE GO OUT, IT'S HOT.
THIS IS GOING TO HELP MITIGATE SOME OF THAT.
IT'S JUST HOW WE FIND WAYS TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOUSE.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BASICALLY FOUR COMPONENTS, PLANT, PRESERVE.
NOW THE DEFAULT PATH THAT WE'RE ON RIGHT THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE.
MOST CITIES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE GROWING THEY BASICALLY HAVE BARE MINIMUM ORDINANCES WHERE THERE'S BASICALLY ORNAMENTAL TREES THAT GO UP THERE'S SUBDIVISIONS I MEAN YOU CAN DRIVE IN ALMOST ANY OF THE NEW SUBDIVISIONS RIGHT NOW.
THEY FEEL A BIT EXPOSED THERE'S NO YOU KNOW SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF THIS YOU KNOW CONCRETE PARKING.
AND THERE'S NO REAL DISTINCT IDENTITY, RIGHT, A SENSE OF PLACE, A SENSE OF ARRIVAL.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CREATE.
AND WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ANNA? WE HAVE A RARE CHANCE TO STEP OUTSIDE THE SHAPE.
WE HAVE A RARE CHANCE TO SHAPE ITS FUTURE BEFORE THE LAND IS BUILT OUT.
WE'RE A BLANK CANVAS RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING APPROVED, YOU KNOW, WHERE ONCE THERE WAS TREES, AND SOME OF THESE TREES ARE.
THERE'S GOT TO BE WAYS TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THOSE INTO THE DESIGN, AND THAT'S WHERE WE AS A CITY CAN HELP ENCOURAGE AND INCENTIVIZE SOME OF OUR DEVELOPERS TO MAINTAIN SOME
[00:45:01]
OF THAT CHARACTER.YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS OF THAT IS ALSO, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT LATER ON, IS HERITAGE TREES.
HOW DO WE PROTECT SOME OF THESE OLDER TREES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOREVER? SOME OF THEM EVEN LONGER THAN US.
SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN AROUND LONGER THAN MY GRANDPARENTS.
BUT HOW DO WE PROTECT SOME OF THAT LEGACY? SO ONE OF THE THINGS I ALSO WANT TO BRING UP IS WE WANT TO PLANT THE RIGHT TREE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
NOW WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? BASICALLY TREE-LINED NEIGHBORHOODS, COOLER STREETS, SHADED TRAILS AND SIDEWALKS.
THE CITY, THE DOWNTOWN ESPECIALLY, IS GOING TO HAVE A UNIQUE CHARACTER.
AND IF YOU GO TO A LOT OF DOWNTOWNS, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH TEXAS, THEY'RE ALL NEW, THEY'RE ALL SHINY, BUT THERE'S NO CHARACTER.
ANNA HAS THIS WINDOW RIGHT NOW AND HONESTLY WON'T EXIST IN FIVE, TEN YEARS, SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
NOW, WHAT'S THE VISION? MOST CITIES WANT TO BUILD PARKS INSIDE OF NEIGHBORHOODS, RIGHT? WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WHAT IF WE BUILT NEIGHBORHOODS INSIDE OF PARKS? KIND OF THAT THEME OF CITY IN A FOREST.
THINK ABOUT CHILDREN WALKING TO SCHOOL UNDER A CANOPY OF CEDAR ELMS. FAMILIES GATHER UNDER MATURE LIVE OAKS.
TRAILS FEEL LIKE FOREST PATHS WHERE YOU ALMOST CAN GET LOST.
YOU CAN GET AWAY FROM THE CITY AND FEEL LIKE YOU'RE KIND OF IN THE COUNTRY IN A SMALL TOWN.
DOWNTOWN STREETS SHADED BY MATURE TREES.
PARKING LOTS DISAPPEAR UNDER THE SHADE.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK UP ONE DAY, YOU KNOW, SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, AND JUST SEE BUILDINGS JUST SLIGHTLY STICKING OUT OUT OF A CANOPY OF TREES.
YOU KNOW, EVERY, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I ALSO MENTIONED WAS EARLIER, EVERY SUBDIVISION COULD LOOK TO HAVE ITS OWN SIGNATURE GROVE.
IN ADDITION TO THE MONUMENT TREES, RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCES, SO WHEN YOU HAVE MONUMENT ENTRANCES, SO FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT THAT MEANS IS WHEN YOU GO INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S USUALLY THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SIGN.
WHAT IF EACH NEIGHBORHOOD, WE REQUESTED ONE OF THE DEVELOPERS, HEY, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A SIGNATURE TREE OR SOME TYPE OF THEME THAT YOU BRING IN THAT GIVES IT A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXTRA SENSE OF ARRIVAL.
SO THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN REALLY CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD.
NOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ANNA URBAN FOREST VISION, WHY IS IT 2050? YOU KNOW, VISION IS SO IMPORTANT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE ORDINANCE THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED, THEY'VE DONE REALLY WELL.
BUT WHAT WE'VE COME UP IS AGAINST CHALLENGES AND, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP WHERE SOME OF THOSE AREN'T STRONG ENOUGH.
WE NEED SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO OUTLAST MULTIPLE COUNCILS AND BE A LEGACY PIECE THAT'S GOING TO CARRY ON INTO THE FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, SO AT A VERY, VERY BASIC LEVEL.
FIRST YEAR WE CAN START OFF WITH TREES, 50 TO 60 TREES PLANTED, AND A LOT OF THAT, A LOT OF YOUR NEIGHBORS WILL.
RIGHT, AND HOW DO YOU REDUCE SOME OF THAT COST TOO? ON ARBOR DAY, ON SOME OF THESE OTHER DAYS, WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL NURSERIES AND HAND THEM OUT.
PEOPLE CAN DIG THEIR OWN TREES AND PUT THEM INTO DIFFERENT PLACES.
AND AS LONG AS WE DICTATE, YOU KNOW, WHICH TREES GO IN WHICH PLACES, AND WE HELP ADVISE FOR THAT, THAT SAVES US A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY, AND WE CAN HELP ACCELERATE A LOT OF THIS.
AND THAT'S AS BASIC AS, YOU KNOW, FOUR TO FIVE TREES A MONTH.
YOU KNOW, AND EVEN FOR TREE REPLACEMENTS, FOR EVERY TREE REMOVED, RATE A TWO TO ONE RATIO AND WE MAY WANT TO LOOK AT ACCELERATING THAT MAYBE THREE TO ONE AT SOME POINT BUT I KNOW WE HAVE SOME ORDINANCES RIGHT NOW BUT I WANT TO GO A LITTLE BIT ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT SO WHAT'S SOME OF THE GOALS WE CAN START WITH THIS GOAL INCREASE EVERY YEAR UNTIL WE GET TO ABOUT 10 000 TREES PRESERVED OR PLANTED OVER THE NEXT FEW DECADES INCREASE ONE OF THE NEXT GOALS IS WE WANT TO INCREASE THE TREE THE CITYWIDE TREE CANOPY 25 TO 30 PERCENT OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THESE ARE NATIVE NORTH TEXAS SPECIES AND THAT THEY GET PRIORITY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RIGHT TREE IS MATCHED TO THE RIGHT LOCATION.
DEVELOPER INCENTIVES, NOT JUST MANDATES.
BECAUSE WHEN A DEVELOPER COMES AND BUILDS A HOME, THERE'S SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT COMING INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ALREADY HAS TREES, AND EVEN IF IT'S NEWER, YOU'RE PROVIDING SOMETHING A LOT OF DEVELOPERS DON'T HAVE ITS VALUE AT.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON IS LEGACY TREES ON EVERY MAJOR SUBDIVISION PLANT.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS, WHEN YOU HAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED ACRES THAT HAVE BEEN ANNEXED IN AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT BUILDING SOMETHING, THERE SHOULD BE ABOUT 25 TO 100 TREES THAT ARE BIG LEGACY PIECES THERE.
THAT AT LEAST ARE RETAINED FOR SOME OF THE CHARACTER.
WE CAN CALL THEM HERITAGE TREES, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM, BUT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US THERE.
WE ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE SHADE ON SCHOOL ROUTES, TRAILS, AND PARKS BECAUSE AS HIGHWAY 5 BUILDS OUT, AS ALL THESE STREETS, ROSEMOND, AND ALL THESE AREAS GET BUILT OUT, KIDS ARE GOING TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S EASY FOR THEM AS WELL.
AND ANOTHER THING WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO DO GIS CANOPY MAPPING.
AND PROVIDE A PUBLIC DASHBOARD TO SHOW YOU, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE TREES THAT WE'VE APPROVED IN CERTAIN AREAS, THE RIGHT TREE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC CAN TRACK US.
[00:50:01]
TO OUR GOALS.AND ANOTHER ONE IS ANNUAL URBAN FOREST REPORT TO COUNCIL.
SO EVERY YEAR WE GET AN UPDATE FROM CITY STAFF.
WHERE ARE WE? WHERE ARE WE GOING? ARE WE KEEPING UP WITH OUR GOALS? IS THERE ANYTHING MAYBE THAT WE'VE MISSED? AND THEN ENCOURAGE EXISTING COMMUNITIES AND HOAS TO PLANT TREES AND SUBMIT TREE DATA.
AND SPECIFICALLY, WHEN YOU COME INTO THE TREES, THE SECTIONS WHERE, OUTSIDE OF THE SIDEWALK, WHERE IT'S CLOSEST TO THE ROAD, THE LITTLE STRIP OF GRASS, MAYBE THERE'S APPROPRIATE TREES WE CAN HAVE THAT DON'T DAMAGE THE SIDEWALKS OVER TIME, AND, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THAT, BUT IT CREATES A SENSE OF ARRIVAL.
NOW, THE RIGHT TREE, THE RIGHT PLACE, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? I'VE BASICALLY BROKEN IT DOWN INTO THREE LOCATION CATEGORIES.
EACH MATCHED WITH MATURE SIZE NEEDS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE A UTILITY CORRIDOR ANYWHERE UNDER POWER LINES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE 20 TO 30-FOOT MATURE TREES, TEXAS REDBUDS, MEXICAN PLUMS, EVE'S NECKLACE, YAUPON HOLLY, POSSUMAW, IF I SAID THAT RIGHT, SORRY, HOLLY.
AND THEN FOR RESIDENTIAL STREETS, TO CREATE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD CANOPY, CEDAR ELM, CHINKAPIN OAK, SHUMER OAK, LACEBARK ELM.
THEN WE HAVE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE.
THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE A LANDMARK TREE, 60 TO 80-FOOT MATURE TREES LIKE BUR OAK, LIVE OAK, PECAN TREES.
AND RIGHT BY MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S A JALASKUM FARM FOR PECAN TREES, AND I'VE TAKEN MY SON THERE.
AND IT'S JUST HONESTLY ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
AND, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN, GO DOWN FOSTER CROSSING.
THERE'S LITERALLY A TUNNEL THROUGH THE ROAD THAT GOES THROUGH THE TREES.
IT DOESN'T EVEN FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN TEXAS.
IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD AND JUST PLAY IT ON SPEED.
BUT NOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SIGNATURE PROGRAMS, HERE'S A COUPLE OF THE KEY PIECES.
SO I TALKED ABOUT A LEGACY TREE PROGRAM EARLIER, WHERE 5 TO AT LEAST 20, MAYBE UP TO 100 TREES ON EACH SUBDIVISION PLOT ARE LANDMARKED.
YOU KNOW, LEGACY GROWTH PROGRAM, WHENEVER THERE'S A DEVELOPMENT, MAYBE THERE'S, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S A CERTAIN SECTION THAT WE CAN PRESERVE AS WELL.
WE GET THE ANNUAL FOREST REPORTS.
RIGHT, YEARLY PUBLIC REPORTS ON PLANTING CANOPY GAINS AND SURVIVAL RATES.
GATEWAY QUARTERS, ROSAMOND, FERGUSON, HACKBERRY, THESE ARE ALL STREETS THAT WE'RE GOING TO START BUILDING.
RIGHT, WE CAN LINE THEM WITH MATURE CANOPIES.
AND THEN ALSO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, ADOPT-A-TREE, MEMORIAL TREES, NEIGHBORHOOD TREE CHALLENGES.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE.
AND ANOTHER THING IS SHADE EQUITY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PRIORITIZE SCHOOL ROUTES, BUS STOPS, LOW CANOPY NEIGHBORHOODS.
BECAUSE EVERYBODY DESERVES, IF WE'RE GOING TO REALLY TAKE THIS CITY WIDE, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE HERE BEFORE, TOO.
SO ONE GUIDING PRINCIPLE, WE WANT TO PLANT THE BIGGEST NATIVE TREE THAT CAN REASONABLY FIT IN THE SPACE.
SO ONCE AGAIN, UNDER POWER LINES, ALONG NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, IN PARKS AND OPEN SPACES.
THIS SINGLE PHILOSOPHY SHAPES ANNA'S APPEARANCE FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS.
OUR CHANCE AS A COMMUNITY TO LEAVE A LEGACY FOR OUR KIDS, FOR OUR GRANDKIDS.
NOW, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTIONS I HAVE TONIGHT, THIS IS NOT AN ORDINANCE REQUEST, THIS IS A VISION AND A POLICY DIRECTION ITEM.
YOU KNOW, WHENEVER THE TIME IS APPROPRIATE, THE MOTION EVENTUALLY WOULD BE, WE MOVE TO DIRECT STAFF TO DEVELOP AN URBAN FOREST VISION 2020-2050 AND EVALUATE UPDATES TO THE CITY'S TREE PRESERVATION AND LANDSCAPING STANDARDS TO PRIORITIZE LONG-TERM CANOPY GROWTH.
PLACEMAKING, NATIVE SPECIES, AND WALKABILITY, WHILE BALANCING DEVELOPMENT FEASIBILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
NOW, THESE ARE SOME OF THE STAFF DELIVERABLES.
THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT LOOSE, BUT ONCE AGAIN, IT'S JUST GIVING A GENERAL IDEA OF WHERE WE COULD TAKE THIS.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD REQUEST IS WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, SOUTHLAKE, FRISCO, PROSPER, MCKINNEY, THE WOODLANDS, ATLANTA.
MAYBE WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THEIR URBAN PLANS.
AND THEN REALLY WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AS WELL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING TO COST MONEY.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST GOING TO COME OUT OF THIN AIR.
IT'S GOT TO MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE TOO.
AND NOW WHY DOES THIS MATTER, ULTIMATELY? NUMBER ONE, PROPERTY VALUES.
TREE CANOPIES ARE ACTUALLY PROVEN TO BOOST RESIDENTIAL VALUES BY 10 TO 20 PERCENT BECAUSE SHADED STREETS BECOME A PREMIUM AMENITY.
SHADE ON WALKING AREAS AND SCHOOL PATHS MAKES ANNA'S PLACE FAMILIES WANT TO STAY, NOT JUST PASTOR.
BUSINESSES CHOOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ATTRACT TALENT.
A BEAUTIFUL, WALKABLE CITY IS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
URBAN CANOPIES REDUCE THE SURFACE TEMPERATURE 10 TO 25 DEGREES IN NORTH TEXAS SUMMERS.
THINK ABOUT SHADE AS INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE URBAN, ANTI-URBAN FOREST VISION FOR 2050 GROWS SHOULD LEAVE BEHIND MORE THAN BUILDINGS AND
[00:55:01]
PAVEMENT.IT SHOULD LEAVE BEHIND BEAUTY.
IT'S WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO THINK WHEN THEY COME IN.
WHEN YOU HAVE FAMILY AND PEOPLE COMING HERE TO VISIT, THEY SHOULD FEEL THAT THEY'VE ARRIVED SOMEWHERE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BUILDING HERE.
[6. Consent Items.]
SINGH.DEFINITELY GIVING THE COUNCIL SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AND TALK ABOUT MOVING FORWARD.
NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA, CONSENT ITEMS. THESE ITEMS CONSIST OF NON-CONTROVERSIAL OR HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS REQUIRED BY LAW.
ITEMS MAY BE CONSIDERED INDIVIDUALLY BY ANY COUNCIL MEMBER MAKING SUCH REQUESTS PRIOR TO A MOTION AND VOTE ON THE CONSENT ITEMS. ANYTHING ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REMOVED? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEMS 6A THROUGH D.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BAKER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HERNDON.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
[7. Items For Individual Consideration and Public Hearings.]
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.ITEM 7, ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION IN PUBLIC HEARINGS.
AT THE TIME AND PLACE OF ANY PUBLIC HEARING HELD DURING THIS MEETING.
ALL PERSONS WHO DESIRE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD IN OPPOSITION TO OR IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE APPLICATION OF THE PROPOSED ITEM.
FIRST UP, WE HAVE CONDUCTED PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER, DISCUSS, ACT ON AN ORDINANCE REGARDING DISANNEXATION OF TOP FUND RANCH.
MR. NEIL STONE AND THE PRESENTING DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, CALEB KENTNER.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7.03 P.M.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL, YOU HAVE...
IN YOUR PACKETS THE COMPLETE STAFF REPORT AND I NEED TO GRAB THE CLICKER THERE.
AS YOU RECALL AND YOUR ATTENTION ALREADY TODAY ABOUT WHAT HAD OCCURRED AT THE LAST MEETING AND THE COUNCIL HAD ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL TIME TO REVIEW OVER THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED.
THESE ARE THE TWO PARCELS THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED FOR DISANNEXATION AT MR. NEVILLE'S REQUEST.
AND KIND OF YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET KIND OF THE BACKGROUND THAT GOES BEHIND THAT.
MR. NEVILLE WAS PATIENT ENOUGH TO SIT DOWN AND EXPLAIN THAT TO ME.
A FEW MONTHS AGO, AS HE WENT OVER THE SITUATION THAT HE INCURRED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND HE PRESENTED THAT TO THE COUNCIL, AND HIS REQUEST IS TO DISANNEX THESE TWO PARCELS OF PROPERTY.
AND AS FAR AS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, WE'RE UNABLE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL BASED ON YOU OUR ANNEXATION POLICIES THAT YOU HAVE ADOPTED, HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T PRECLUDE THE COUNCIL FROM TAKING ACTION THAT THEY FEEL IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY.
AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M REALLY HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
MR. NEVILLE IS HERE AS WELL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? I WILL SAY RIGHT UP FRONT THAT I WENT THROUGH THIS PRETTY DETAILED.
AND I THINK HIS REQUEST IS VALID.
WHAT WE DID OR WHAT WE DID NOT DO EQUALS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW AS A CITY.
SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE MENTIONED WAS THERE WAS SOME RULES THAT HAD CHANGED, OR I GUESS DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS OR WHATEVER IT WAS, BUT THERE WAS RULES THAT HAD CHANGED AS HE WAS KIND OF PROGRESSING THROUGH.
WHY CAN'T WE GRANDFATHER HIM INTO THE ORIGINAL RULES? IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT WE CAN DO? WELL, HIS WHOLE PROCESS TOOK PLACE, AND THERE WERE SEVERAL STATE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT OCCURRED.
AS HE TALKED ABOUT, THE BUILDING PERMITS.
PRIOR TO LEGISLATIVE CHANGES IN THE PAST, THAT WAS ALLOWED TO HAVE CERTAIN PERMITS WERE ALLOWED TO BE ISSUED BY CITIES OUT THERE.
HOWEVER, THAT'S NOW IN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COUNTY.
THE STATE LEGISLATORS HAVE MADE THOSE CHANGES.
AND WITH THOSE CHANGES, THAT NOW FALLS TO, IN THIS CASE, COLLIN COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE THOSE CALLS ON FACILITIES THAT ARE LOCATED OUT IN THE COUNTY.
AND SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY JURISDICTION OVER THAT ANY LONGER.
IN A HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION, IF THIS GENTLEMAN HERE WAS TO COME INTO THE CITY, IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD GRANDFATHER HIM INTO THE ORIGINAL STANDARDS?
[01:00:01]
SO COMING INTO THE CITY LIMITS, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY, YES.IF HE WAS ANNEXED INTO THE CITY, IF THAT'S HIS DESIRE TO DO THAT, THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY BECAUSE THE CITY HAS ADOPTED THE EXISTING BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH DOES GIVE LEEWAY AND FLEXIBILITY FOR EXISTING FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN OPERATING.
COULD APPLY TO HIS FACILITY IF HE CHOSE TO DO THAT.
SO, YES, THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.
AND IF I MAY ASK THE GENTLEMAN TO STEP UP, PLEASE, MR. NEVILLE.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, IF YOU ALL WOULD PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH ME.
I'M HARD OF HEARING, AND MY HEARING AIDS JUST QUIT.
YOUR REQUEST WAS EXAMINED AT THE TIME.
WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT OPTIONS.
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF JUST BRINGING EVERYTHING INTO THE CITY AND I MET WITH HE'S NOT HERE ANYMORE I'M SORRY MR PETERS OKAY I'M SORRY I HEARD SOMETHING IN THE BACKGROUND I MET WITH MR PETERS UH WITH LAUREN AND WITH UH NADIR AT THE TIME AND ALSO THE UH FIRE MARSHAL FOR THE CITY OF ANNA AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT IT WAS NOT A VIABLE OPTION BECAUSE OF CONCERNS THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL HAD AND AT THAT POINT, THAT'S WHEN GREG SAID, WHY DON'T WE JUST DE-ANX YOU AND JUST REMOVE YOU FROM THE CITY, AND THEN WILL THAT SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM? I MEAN, YES, IT WILL SOLVE MY PROBLEM TO SOME LEVEL, BUT TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, I MEAN, WE BOUGHT THE PERMIT FROM THE CITY OF ANNA.
THE INSPECTIONS WERE DONE FROM THE CITY OF ANNA.
WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FROM THE CITY OF ANNA.
I INVESTED OVER $100,000 INTO EQUIPMENT FOR A BUSINESS THAT GOT KILLED BY COLLIN COUNTY BECAUSE...
THE CO THAT WAS ISSUED BY THE CITY OF ANNA WAS NOT VALID.
AND I TRIED TO WORK ALL THIS OUT WITH MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH THE CITY OF ANNA AND WITH COLLIN COUNTY.
QUITE HONESTLY, I HAD HURDLES WITH COLLIN COUNTY.
I'D HAVE ONE FIRE MARSHAL SHOW UP, AND HE WOULD GIVE ME A LIST OF THINGS TO BECOME COMPLIANT.
I WOULD DO THAT LIST, AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, HE'S NO LONGER WORKING FOR COLLIN COUNTY, AND I'VE GOT A NEW FIRE MARSHAL WHO'S NOW HANDLING ME A NEW LIST.
THAT HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN 18 MONTHS WHERE I GOT THREE DIFFERENT FIRE MARSHALS DOING INSPECTIONS.
LONG STORY SHORT, THE LAST FIRE MARSHAL WANTED ME TO PUT IN A FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM, WHICH WAS GOING TO REQUIRE ME TO BUILD A WATER TOWER.
AND THAT WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PORTION OF THE WHOLE PROCESS.
BUT THE REALITY OF IT WAS THERE WERE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT THEY CAME BACK WITH THAT CAME OVER A MILLION DOLLARS TO GET COMPLIANT.
AND, OF COURSE, MY POSITION WITH COLLIN COUNTY WAS, WELL, HERE'S MY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FROM THE CITY OF ANNA.
HERE'S MY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
AND THEY BASICALLY SAID, THAT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM.
YOU'RE NOT IN THEIR JURISDICTION.
AND SO I HAD TO BUY NEW PERMITS.
I WENT THROUGH ALL THESE PROCESSES.
LONG STORY SHORT, WE KILLED A BUSINESS.
I ENDED UP SELLING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF ASSETS THAT WERE INVESTED INTO THE BUSINESS FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR.
I MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY FINANCIALLY DEVASTATING SITUATION FOR ME THAT I DIDN'T CAUSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I FOUGHT THESE BATTLES BACK IN 2010.
WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO RUN AN AGRICULTURAL OPERATION OUT THERE, AND EVERY TIME WE'D HAVE TO FIX A FENCE, THEY WANTED US TO PULL A PERMIT, OR IF WE NEEDED TO DIG A POND TO FEED ANIMALS, THEY WANTED US TO PULL A PERMIT, AND THEY WERE TREATING US LIKE WE WERE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ANNA, AND THAT'S WHEN WE CAME TO DISAGREEMENT, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD FUNCTION ON A, AT THE TIME, 100-ACRE PIECE OF PROPERTY AS AN AGRICULTURAL OPERATION UNDER RULES OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN SUBDIVISIONS WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT HOUSES 10 FEET FROM EACH OTHER.
AND SO AT THE TIME, I SPENT OVER $50,000 IN 2010 TO REACH THIS AGREEMENT.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, NOW BECAUSE IT WASN'T EXECUTED PROPERLY, I'VE KILLED A BUSINESS, I'VE LOST A SMALL FORTUNE.
AND I HATE TO THROW THE IT GUYS UNDER THE BUS, BUT LITERALLY, THIS HAS BEEN, I'VE BEEN BLEEDING FOR YEARS ON THIS THING.
AND AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, ANNA'S...
I GOT AN EMAIL FROM CALEB SAYING I HAD TO SUBMIT A $2,000 DE-ANNEXATION PERMIT AND NEEDED TO WIRE THE FUNDS BEFORE IT WOULD EVEN BE CONSIDERED FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
WELL, LONG STORY SHORT, SOMEBODY HACKED YOU, AND I SPENT ANOTHER $2,000 LAST MONTH TRYING TO GET THIS DONE.
AND SO I GUESS THAT FOR ME, WE HAD ALL THESE MEETINGS.
WE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS, MULTIPLE ROUNDTABLES.
AND WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION WAS FOR ME TO JUST LEAVE THE CITY.
CITY'S NOT PROVIDING ME ANY SERVICES OUT THERE.
I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE CITY SEWER.
I DON'T HAVE ANY CITY SERVICES OUT THERE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M TIRED AND OLD AND I'M TIRED OF FIGHTING BATTLES, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
[01:05:02]
AND AS MUCH MONEY AS I'VE LOST, AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'VE HAD AN ATTORNEY REVIEW THIS, AND THEY'VE SAID, YEAH.YOU KNOW, THERE WERE DEFINITELY MISTAKES MADE BY THE CITY OF ANNA, AND THEY ARE LIABLE.
BUT THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE CITY OF ANNA HAS PROTECTIONS THAT I DON'T HAVE AS A CITIZEN, AND YOU ALL HAVE RESOURCES THAT I DON'T HAVE AS A CITIZEN.
AND THE ATTORNEY BASICALLY TOLD ME, YEAH, IT'S $995 PER HOUR, WHICH I'M LIKE, JUST CALL IT $1,000, RIGHT? AND I SAID, OKAY, SO WHAT ARE WE UP AGAINST? HE GOES, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO WIN.
I'D SAY THERE'S A 95% CHANCE YOU'RE GOING TO WIN, AND WE COULD POTENTIALLY PURSUE DAMAGES.
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE $50,000, 50 HOURS INTO GETTING THIS DONE.
I DON'T WANT TO GO THAT ROUTE BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY SPENT A BUNCH OF MONEY I SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO SPEND.
I'M WILLING TO WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN AND CALL BYGONES BE BYGONES.
AND ALL I'M ASKING IS LET'S RECTIFY THE SITUATION.
I'LL TAKE IT ON THE CHIN FOR WHAT I'VE LOST UP TO THIS POINT.
BUT JUST ALLOW ME TO, NOW THAT I AM COMPLIANT WITH COLLIN COUNTY, NOW THAT I'VE SHUT DOWN THE BUSINESS, ALLOW ME TO GET MY PROPERTY.
AND I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPAY FOR THESE PERMITS, AND I HAD TO SPEND A BUNCH OF MONEY TO GET COMPLIANT WITH COLLIN COUNTY TO GET THEM TO AGREE, EVEN AFTER I SHUT DOWN THE BUSINESS, TO AGREE TO ALLOW ME TO LET THE BUILDINGS CONTINUE TO FUNCTION FOR SOME PURPOSES.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT LOOKING FOR YOU ALL TO MAKE ME WHOLE, BUT I AM LOOKING FOR SOME HELP HERE TO RECOGNIZE THAT, HEY, THERE WERE MISTAKES MADE, AND THEY WERE MADE BY US.
BEEN OUT A LOT OF MONEY, AND I'VE ALSO LOST A LOT OF POTENTIAL INCOME, FUTURE INCOME, WHEN I HAD TO SHUT THE BUSINESS DOWN.
AND LIKE I SAID, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD.
I JUST WANT TO, NOW THAT I'M COMPLIANT WITH COLLIN COUNTY, I'VE SHUT DOWN THAT BUSINESS, I JUST WANT TO GET MY WHOLE PROPERTY UNDER A SINGLE JURISDICTION.
BECAUSE, I MEAN, IT WAS VERY, IMAGINE IF YOU WALKED ACROSS YOUR YARD AND YOU WALKED INTO COLLIN COUNTY, INTO ANNA, INTO COLLIN COUNTY, INTO ANNA, AND THEN...
YOU'RE SITTING THERE THINKING YOU'VE GOT AN AGREEMENT THAT YOU SPENT A FORTUNE ON FROM 2010, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS IT, 14 YEARS LATER, SOMEBODY KNOCKS ON YOUR DOOR AND SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE HERE.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I WAS TOLD I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPERATE THE WAY THAT I HAD BEEN OPERATING FOR YEARS AND THE WAY THAT I WAS TOLD BY THE CITY I COULD OPERATE.
SO TO ME, THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION HERE IS I'M NOT BEING PROVIDED ANYTHING BY THE CITY.
LET ME, NOW THAT I'M IN COLLIN COUNTY'S GOOD GRACES, LET'S JUST GET ON DOWN THE ROAD AND BE DONE.
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF ANNA FOR Y'ALL TO USE THEIR TAX DOLLARS TO FIGHT ME ON SOMETHING WHERE THERE'S OBVIOUS ERRORS THAT WERE MADE HERE AND THERE'S OBVIOUS LIABILITY ON THE PART OF ANNA.
I JUST WANT TO BE DONE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A PROCESS FOR YOU.
I'M SORRY YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH SUCH A LONG PROCESS.
WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN PAIN POINTS? LIKE, WHAT ARE THREE OR FOUR SPECIFIC THINGS WHY YOU'RE LEAVING? AND FOR STAFF, IS THERE ANY REASON WHY OR WHY NOT WE CAN'T DELIVER? I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS, AS MR. NEVILLE HAS EXPRESSED, IS I KNOW THAT'S THE DIRECTION YOU'VE GIVEN ME AS THE NEW DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY, IS THAT TO BE MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY AND HELPING THOSE THINGS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENED A FEW YEARS AGO, AND HAD WE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, I THINK THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IF WE HAD DONE THAT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT CODES AND HOW WE APPLY THOSE AND BEING BUSINESS FRIENDLY ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS, THERE ARE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX THAT CAN HELP US TO DO THAT AND WORK WITH THEM.
BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT, HE'S ALREADY HAD, HE'S SHUT DOWN HIS BUSINESSES AND HE'S, AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT HE'S EXPRESSED.
THAT WERE NECESSARY TO OPERATE AT THIS POINT FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR.
THEORETICALLY, IF WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT, I'D BE STARTING OVER, AND I'M NOT FINANCIALLY IN A POSITION TO START OVER.
SO EVEN IF YOU WENT FULLY UNDER COLLIN COUNTY, WHAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT VERSUS COMING UNDER ANNA? WHAT CAN YOU DO IN COLLIN COUNTY? THE FIRE MARSHAL SAID HE DIDN'T WANT ME THERE BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ON THE LIABILITY OF THE STRUCTURES, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE INSPECTED AND CERTIFICATE POLICIES WERE ISSUED BY ANNA, WHICH I COULDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND AT THE TIME.
GREG WAS BEING RESPECTFUL OF HIS WISHES AND HIS CONCERNS, AND THAT'S WHEN GREG SAID, WOULD YOU JUST CONSIDER LEAVING THE CITY OF ANNA ALTOGETHER? AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T WANT TO
[01:10:01]
AT THAT POINT.WOULD IT FALL UNDER ESD BY ANY CHANCE? I MEAN, SINCE IT'S ETJ, WOULD IT FALL UNDER? WELL, RIGHT NOW, IF HE'S IN THE COUNTY AND THE ETJ, IT WOULD FALL UNDER COLLIN COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL.
DISCUSSIONS OTHER THAN WHAT BRAD HAS SHARED WITH ME ON THAT.
LIKE I SAID, THERE ARE ABILITIES TO DO THAT, BUT, AGAIN, HE'S ALREADY PASSED THAT POINT, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE KIND OF AT A PREDICAMENT.
WE DIDN'T COME TO THAT AGREEMENT AT THE TIME BECAUSE I EVEN SUGGESTED THAT.
I SAID, WHY DON'T YOU GUYS, BECAUSE COLLIN COUNTY IS SITTING HERE ASKING ME TO SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH I DON'T HAVE, WHICH EVEN IF I BROUGHT THE MONEY, THE BUSINESS WASN'T PROFITABLE ENOUGH TO BE VIABLE WITH A MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT.
IT JUST NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN.
SO, OKAY, SO YOU MENTIONED THAT ONE OF THE FIRES, FIRE LANE WAS AN ISSUE.
WHAT ELSE IS AN ISSUE? WHAT ARE OTHER STICKING POINTS SPECIFICALLY? WHAT ARE THE OTHER CONCERNS? YES, SPECIFICALLY.
WELL, I MEAN, I THINK OBVIOUSLY THE WAY THAT IT'S CUT UP RIGHT NOW, AND I HAVE, CURRENTLY IT'S NOT FOR SALE, AND I HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF SELLING IT.
I MEAN, I'VE LIVED IN ANNA SINCE THE FIFTH GRADE AND GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL HERE, AND I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY, AND I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN A GOOD MEMBER OF IT, EVEN WHEN WE WERE OPERATING TOP FUN RANCH AS A VENUE.
WE GAVE AWAY NINE EVENTS, WHICH NEVER INTENDED TO BE A VENUE.
I INTENDED TO BUILD IT FOR FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND SUPPORT GOOD CAUSES.
AND WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RENT IT, AND I THOUGHT IT COULD OFFSET SOME OF THE EXPENSES.
AND SO IT KIND OF FELL INTO A BUSINESS.
BUT EVEN WHEN IT WAS A FUNCTIONAL BUSINESS, WE GAVE AWAY NINE EVENTS FOR EVERY ONE WE SOLD.
BUT COLLIN COUNTY KILLED THAT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S JUST NOT VIABLE TO REVIVE.
THE BUSINESS IS DEAD, THE ASSETS ARE GONE, THE PROPERTY IS CUT UP AND PIECEMEALED.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO AFFECT ANY FUTURE VALUE THAT IT HAS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST FEEL LIKE I WAS FORCED TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD.
AND NOW THAT I'M HERE AND READY TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE, I JUST NEED BASICALLY TO GET IT DONE.
SO IS THERE NO WAY THAT WE CAN REMOVE A MAJORITY OF THESE CITY RULES? AND MAKE AN EXCEPTION.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS, CAN WE GRANDFATHER HIM IN TO WHERE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD RULES OR ANYTHING? WE WANT TO MAKE SURE...
BECAUSE WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS, I'M TRYING TO FIND A WAY, IF THERE'S A WAY, TO BRING YOU IN THE CITY OF ANNA AND STILL ADDRESS THE MAJORITY, IF NOT ALL, OF YOUR CONCERNS.
I JUST DON'T SEE THAT AS A VIABLE OPTION AT THIS POINT.
YEAH, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE TEAM PUT TOGETHER...
WE HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM AVAILABLE WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND STAFF TO...
PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND TO WORK THAT OUT.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, HE'S ALREADY CLOSED HIS BUSINESSES AT THIS POINT, AND THAT'S WHERE THE SITUATION IS, IS AT THIS POINT.
AT THIS POINT, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE COST ME A FORTUNE AND YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO OFFER ME TO KEEP ME IN THE CITY.
THERE'S NO ADVANTAGE TO ME STAYING IN THE CITY AT THIS POINT.
SO THERE'S NOTHING, SO WHAT I'M IN THAT TOOLBOX THAT STAFF HAS.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN USE? NO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
WE HAVEN'T SAT DOWN TO TALK ABOUT IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT, IF YOU GUYS WANTED TO DISCUSS SOMETHING LIKE THAT, FOR HIM TO REOPEN HIS BUSINESSES AND USE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS TO DO THAT.
THAT HASN'T BEEN A DISCUSSION.
THAT HASN'T HAPPENED BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE HE HAS INTEREST IN DOING THAT ANYMORE.
I PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO IT.
AND I'M NOT A LITIGIOUS INDIVIDUAL.
I'M JUST A GUY WHO WANTS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND USE COMMON SENSE.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M SITTING HERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY.
THE REALITY OF IT IS IT WOULD BE A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY AND FORCE SOMEBODY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND TRY TO RECOUP SOME OF MY EXPENSES THAN IT WOULD TO TRY TO RELAUNCH MY BUSINESSES.
I MEAN, WE'RE SO FAR DOWN THE ROAD, IT'S JUST NOT A PRACTICAL OPTION TO STAY IN THE CITY.
IS THERE, MAYBE THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE QUESTION FOR RIGHT NOW, BUT DOES ANYONE HAVE FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL ON YOUR PROPERTY? HAS ANYONE WHAT? HAS FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL CURRENTLY ON YOUR PROPERTY? NO.
WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD MAYBE HAVE STAFF TALK TO YOU ABOUT? I DON'T REALLY THINK I WANT TO COMPLICATE IT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I'M TRYING TO FIND A WAY THROUGH.
MY FAMILY OWNS LAND OUT IN BONHAM.
[01:15:03]
THE TIME.IT'S JUST A SHAME THAT IT'S GOTTEN TO THIS POINT.
THE ONE THING I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS SETTING A PRECEDENT.
BECAUSE ONCE THESE CITIES, ONCE THESE SECTIONS GO OUT, I MEAN, IT'S ESSENTIALLY LIKE SWISS CHEESE WHEN WE CONSIDER CITY LIMITS.
THAT'S REALLY MY MAIN CONCERN RIGHT NOW.
BUT, I MEAN, THIS IS A TOUGH DECISION.
YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN FIND A WAY TO THREAD THIS NEEDLE, YOU KNOW, I THINK MOST OF US WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I TRIED THAT FOR TWO YEARS.
BUT YOU HAVEN'T HAD US, THOUGH.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT'S NOT COMPLETELY TRUE BECAUSE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL HERE, LIKE LAUREN AND ADIR, HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS FOR OVER TWO YEARS.
WE'VE GOT NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE ARE IN A VERY DIFFERENT MINDSET THAN WE WERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE'RE HERE TO BUILD THIS PLACE UP.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO CUT ANYONE'S FEET OUT OR KNEECAP THEM.
I KNOW HISTORICALLY ANA HAS NOT BEEN THE BEST PARTNER ALWAYS TO A LOT OF LANDOWNERS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE RECTIFY THAT.
BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.
BUT THIS IS WHY I WANT TO FIND A WAY FOR US TO AT LEAST COME TO SOME UNDERSTANDING TO WHERE, ONCE AGAIN, DO YOU HAVE TIME MAYBE FOR ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO? NO.
I MEAN, Y'ALL REQUESTED LAST TIME THAT I GIVE YOU AN ADDITIONAL MONTH BECAUSE WE HAD NEW MEMBERS COMING ON, AND I WANTED TO BE RESPECTFUL, AND I FELT LIKE I WAS, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THIS STARTED IN 2010, AND THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN DRAGGED OUT FOR TWO YEARS, AND THE FACT THAT IT'S COST ME A FORTUNE.
AND I LISTENED TO YOUR REQUEST, AND I HONORED IT.
AND I FELT LIKE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD THE RIGHT TO REVIEW THE DATA AND ALSO FELT LIKE THAT THE EXISTING...
MEMBERS THAT ARE STILL ON AND MR. MAYOR HAD THE RIGHT TO DO THE RESEARCH.
BUT I THINK THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR THAT THE MISTAKES WERE MADE BY ANNA.
AND AT THIS POINT, I'M SO FAR DOWN THE ROAD, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO GRANT MY REQUEST.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A FAIR THING TO ASK.
I THINK IT'S A VERY REASONABLE THING TO ASK.
NOW, WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT EVERYTHING I'VE GOT IS FOR SALE, EXCEPT FOR MY WIFE AND KIDS AND GRANDKIDS, RIGHT? NOW, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT PLACE.
SOMEDAY BE SOMETHING FOR THE CITY OF ANNA POTENTIALLY OR IF THE UH I LOVE YOUR YOUR TREE PRESENT I'VE PLANTED OVER 100 TREES OUT THERE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS I LOVE TREES AND SO I MEAN NOTHING WOULD BE I THINK A MORE BEAUTIFUL LEGACY FOR THAT PLACE WHERE I'VE RAISED MY KIDS AND IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY THAN TO SEE IT THE NEXT GENERATION ENJOY IT BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS IS I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR A LATER DAY AND I THINK THAT AT THIS POINT, THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS TO GRANT MY REQUEST.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT PERSONALLY, I WOULD BE HONORED IF THE CITY WANTED TO CONSIDER PURCHASING THE PROPERTY.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO GET TO.
CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND MAYBE JUST HAVE STAFF AT LEAST REVIEW THAT OPTION? I RESPECTFULLY WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU ALL VOTE TONIGHT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT I'VE GIVEN YOU PLENTY OF TIME.
I DON'T THINK, I DON'T, YOU'RE NOT LOOKING TO SELL RIGHT NOW ANYWAY.
YOU'RE STILL RAISING YOUR FAMILY.
WELL, I HAD A POTENTIAL BUYER AT ONE POINT WHEN I STARTED THIS DISCUSSION WITH LAUREN AFTER GREG SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THE EASIEST THING FOR ME TO DO WAS TO LEAVE THE CITY.
AND THEN THAT'S WHEN I CAME TO THE CITY AND CAME TO LAUREN AND SAID, HEY, I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU UP ON YOUR OFFER.
THAT WAS 18 MONTHS AGO, AND SO THAT GUY IS LONG GONE.
NOW, I MISSED A VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT OPPORTUNITY WILL EVER COME UP AGAIN.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO COMPLICATE THINGS.
I FEEL LIKE Y'ALL, WHEN I SAY Y'ALL, NOT Y'ALL, THE CITY HAS COMPLICATED THINGS.
NO ONE ON THE CITY COUNCIL, NO ONE EMPLOYED BY THE CITY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO ONE HERE TODAY THAT CAUSED THESE PROBLEMS. BUT THEY WERE STILL PROBLEMS THAT ANNA'S RESPONSIBLE FOR.
AND SO I FEEL LIKE THE RIGHT THING TO DO HERE IS MAKE ME WHOLE.
AND WHEN I SAY MAKE ME WHOLE, YOU WON'T MAKE ME WHOLE TONIGHT.
I'M LITERALLY OVER $100,000 OUT OF MY POCKET ON THIS SITUATION THAT WAS CREATED BY ANNA.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO REIMBURSE MY EXPENSES.
I'M ASKING YOU TO JUST LET ME GO.
YOU KNOW, DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO.
AND, YOU KNOW, LAUREN AND NADIR CAN BOTH TESTIFY IN TWO SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE.
IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I JUST LEAVE THE CITY.
AND THAT WAS THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING FOR ME WAS WHEN I DID HAVE THAT POTENTIAL BUYER.
I TOLD HIM THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM.
I'VE ALREADY BEEN TOLD BY THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THAT, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE ALL KNOW COLLIN COUNTY IS EASIER TO DEAL WITH THAN A CITY.
[01:20:02]
AND SO BEING IN THE CITY ACTUALLY PROBABLY DECREASES MY PROPERTY VALUES.AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME TO LAUREN AND SAID, HEY, WE NEED TO EXECUTE THIS AGREEMENT AND I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU UP ON THE OFFER AND THE RECOMMENDATION THAT Y'ALL MADE, THAT WAS 18 MONTHS AGO.
AND I HAVE NO INTENTION OF SELLING RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE MY GRANDKIDS OUT THERE, AND WE'RE FISHING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME, AND IT'S STILL A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT IT IS MY RETIREMENT, AND IT'S MY EXIT STRATEGY.
AND SO I DON'T WANT TO COMPLICATE IF I EVER GET IN A POSITION, BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY LOST ONE BUSINESS, I'VE ALREADY LOST ONE SOURCE OF INCOME, AND I'VE ALREADY BEEN OUT OVER $100,000.
I DON'T WANT TO BE PUT IN A POSITION TO WHERE I'M POTENTIALLY DEVALUING MY PROPERTY OR MAKING IT MORE COMPLICATED FOR ME TO SELL IT WHEN AND IF I EVER NEED TO.
ACCORDING TO THIS TIMELINE, TRACT 1 AND 2 WERE ANNEXED IN 2006, CORRECT? AND THAT WAS BEFORE YOU PURCHASED THEM.
ACCORDING TO THIS TIMELINE, THESE TWO TRACTS WERE ANNEXED IN 2006.
YES, THEY WERE, AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THAT.
WELL, IT SAYS HERE THAT YOU BOUGHT THE TRACT 1 AND 2.
ONE IN 2009 AND TRACK TWO IN 2015.
ACCORDING TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, ALL OF THE TRACKS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY.
HAD THEY FOLLOWED THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AT THE TIME, MY BUILDING PERMIT WOULD HAVE BEEN VALID ALONG WITH MY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE CITY DIDN'T ANNEX THE ENTIRE PIECE OF PROPERTY.
THEY ONLY ANNEXED THOSE TWO TRACKS, OF WHICH THERE'S NO STRUCTURES ON, OF WHICH THE BUILDING PERMIT ISSUED BY THE CITY WAS ACTUALLY IN COLLIN COUNTY.
I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THIS PROBLEM EXISTED.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN OUT THERE OPERATING DOING THE SAME THING FOR OVER A DECADE, ALMOST TWO, AND I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THIS PROBLEM EXISTED UNTIL THE FIRE MARSHAL SHOWED UP AT MY PLACE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND THAT'S WHEN IT ALL CAME TO LIGHT.
IN FACT, WHEN I CAME TO THE CITY AND I INITIALLY WALKED IN AND SAID, HEY, I'VE GOT A PROBLEM HERE.
Y'ALL SOLD ME A BUILDING PERMIT, AND NOW...
CALLING COUNTIES SAYING THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SELL IT, THE FIRST RESPONSE WAS WE DIDN'T SELL BUILDING PERMITS BACK THEN.
I'M LIKE, WELL, HERE'S THE CANCELED CHECK, HERE'S THE PERMIT, HERE'S THE INSPECTIONS, AND HERE'S THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
AND EVERYBODY'S EYES GOT BIG AROUND.
AND SO I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN A VERY HONEST MISTAKE, BUT THE HONEST MISTAKE HAS CAUSED ME A LOT OF GRIEF AND A LOT OF EXPENSE.
WHEN DID YOUR BUSINESS SHUT DOWN? JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY.
WHEN DID YOUR BUSINESS SHUT DOWN? CAN YOU HELP ME? WE SHUT IT DOWN PROBABLY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO.
MAYOR, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE WE APPROVE ITEM 7A.
I JUST WANT TO ASK CLARK A QUESTION.
IF WE DE-ANNEX THIS, IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY ANYBODY IN THE FUTURE COULD EVER ANNEX BACK INTO THE CITY? THEORETICALLY, YES.
IF THE PROPERTY WERE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE ETJ, POSSIBLY THERE COULD BE A DEAL MADE BETWEEN THE PROPERTY OWNER AND ANOTHER CITY.
ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7.30 P.M.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MR. NEVILLE, I DO APOLOGIZE THAT YOU'VE BEEN DRUG THROUGH THE GUTTER ON THIS.
SO, AND I BELIEVE IN PROPERTY RIGHTS AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT.
AND YOU'VE BEEN A GOOD STEWARD TO THE CITY.
YOU'VE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL HERE.
WE'VE NEVER MET FACE TO FACE, BUT I'VE HEARD YOUR NAME, AND I KNOW YOU'RE WELL KNOWN AND INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SO, AND I, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T NONE OF US.
BUT I DO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE WE ARE A PART OF THIS CITY, SO I'M SORRY THAT YOU LOST YOUR BUSINESS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE ITEM 7A.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
[01:25:01]
TWO ABSTENTIONS.CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER DISCUSSING AN ACT ON AN ORDINANCE REGARDING A REQUEST FOR A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR AN AUTO REPAIR LIGHT ON 1.2 PLUS OR MINUS ACRES ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE U.S.
HIGHWAY 75, 1,250 FEET PLUS OR MINUS.
NORTH OF WEST ROSEMONT PARKWAY, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, MR. CALEB KINTNER.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT 732.
ALL RIGHT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, YOU HAVE THE COMPLETE STAFF REPORT IN YOUR PACKET THAT OUTLINES THIS REQUEST.
THIS REQUEST IS FOR A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FOR THIS REQUEST.
THIS LOCATION IS GOING RIGHT BESIDE A DISCOUNT TIRE THAT WAS APPROVED.
AND THIS IS THEIR OVERALL SITE PLAN.
THIS REQUEST DOES FIT IN WITH THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS WITH A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR AUTO REPAIR LIGHT.
AND IT DOES FIT INTO THOSE REQUESTS.
IT DID GO BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL, AND THERE WERE NO COMMENTS DURING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS OR RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS.
ARE YOU GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS? SO I THINK I'VE BEEN PRETTY VOCAL IN THE PAST WHEN IT COMES TO BEING CAREFUL ON WHAT WE'RE APPROVING IN THIS CITY.
THE WAY WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CITY'S BUDGET, I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN A POSITION TO TURN DOWN ANY COMMERCIAL TAX REVENUE RIGHT NOW.
SO ON MY END, COUNCIL, I'M PROBABLY GOING TO APPROVE FOR THIS.
ANYONE ELSE? NO, I THINK I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN SINGH.
I MEAN, IS IT THE NORTH ENTRANCE TO THE CITY? YES.
BUT FROM MY RECOLLECTION, THE...
PLAN FOR WHAT'S GOING TO GO NORTH OF IT, DIRECTLY NORTH TO IT, BUT FURTHER NORTH IS SOME NICE COMMERCIAL.
SO THIS IS KIND OF TUCKED AWAY.
IT'S A SERVICE TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
IT'S A SERVICE TO ANYONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET BUSINESS FROM OUTSIDE OF ANNA, WHICH IS ALWAYS GOOD.
SO, I MEAN, YEAH, I DON'T SEE IT'S GOING RIGHT NEXT TO A DISCOUNT TIRE.
SO IT'S KIND OF FIT IN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FIT IN WHERE YOU GET IN, I GUESS.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
OH, SORRY, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, SIR.
ANYBODY ELSE? IF NOT, I'M CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7.35 P.M., AND IF THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK FOR A SECOND, OKAY? OH, SORRY, SIR.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
CONSIDER DISCUSSING AN ACT ON A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, CERTIFYING THAT THE CITY IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE PROGRAM ASSISTANCE FOR TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS AT CARROLL PARK, CERTIFYING THAT THE CITY'S MATCHING SHARE IS READILY AVAILABLE, AND DEDICATING THE PROPOSED SITE FOR PERMANENT PUBLIC PARK AND REGRESSIVE USES.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, JOSEPH COTTON, WHO IS HANDING IT OFF.
SO I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING A GRANT APPLICATION, A TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE GRANT APPLICATION FOR OAK HOLLOW TRAIL SEGMENT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY AT THE SOUTHERN TIP OF CARROLL PARK, JUST NORTH OF TAYLOR.
THIS IS THE PROJECT SITE PLAN.
ON THE NORTH, RIGHT OFF OF PERSIMMON, THERE IS A...
A TRAILHEAD PARKING LOT THAT WAS BUILT BY THAT DEVELOPMENT RUNS DOWN
[01:30:01]
JUST OUTSIDE THE FLOOD PLAIN INTO, IT'S NOT OFFICIALLY CARROLL PARK, BUT IT IS A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT THE CITY HAS OWNED FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS THAT WAS DEDICATED AS PART OF THE OAK HOLLOW DEVELOPMENT.AND THEN THERE'S AN EXISTING SIDEWALK THAT WOULD NEED TO BE WIDENED INTO A 10-FOOT TRAIL THAT HEADS EAST, AND THEN IT EVENTUALLY...
AND THAT TRAIL THAT YOU SEE AT THE RIGHT END OF THAT TRAIL IS EXISTING TRAIL THAT'S IN THE PARK PLACE DEVELOPMENT THAT GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PARK PLACE DEVELOPMENT TO THE FAR SOUTH END.
AND THEN WHEN THE PECAN GROVE TRAIL WAS JUST COMPLETED LAST YEAR, PART OF THAT PROJECT WAS A BRIDGE THAT CROSSED THE CREEK AND CONNECTED TO THAT PARK PLACE TRAIL THAT YOU CAN SEE THE NORTH END OF.
I'LL MAYBE CALL THIS THE THROCKMORTON TRAIL.
IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A NAME.
BUT THE PINK PART OF THE TRAIL IS THE .58 MILES THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY JPI AND NRP THAT'S ACTUALLY WITHIN CARROLL PARK.
PORTION IN THE MIDDLE IS THE PORTION IN THE OAK HOLLOW TRAIL SEGMENT THAT I AM DOING THE GRANT APPLICATION FOR.
AND THE PINK TO THE SOUTH IS THE 1.1 MILE TRAIL.
THAT'S A COMBINATION OF THE PARK PLACE TRAIL AND THE PECAN GROVE TRAIL.
SO YOU BASICALLY GO FROM WHITE STREET TO THE END OF SOUTHERN TIP OF PECAN GROVE PHASE 1, AND EVENTUALLY WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT TRAIL TO THE OUTER LOOP.
SO THIS IS A LOCAL PARK PROGRAM GRANT THROUGH THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.
IT HAS A MAXIMUM AWARD OF $750,000 WITH A 50-50 MATCH.
AS I'LL GO OVER IN A MINUTE, THIS HAS ACTUALLY ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY A COUNCIL IN THE CURRENT CIP BUDGET IN AN AMOUNT OF $1.9 MILLION.
PART OF THE GRANT IS THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH REQUIRES THAT THE CITY DESIGNATE AN OFFICIAL THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR AND ACTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, CERTIFY THAT THE CITY IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE PROGRAM ASSISTANCE, CERTIFY THAT THE CITY'S MATCHING SHARE IS READILY AVAILABLE, AND TO DEDICATE THE PROPOSED SITE FOR PERMANENT PUBLIC PARK AND RECREATIONAL USES.
SO THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU, THE FIRST PART OF THAT RESOLUTION.
IT ESTABLISHES JOSEPH COTTON AS THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AS THE DESIGNATED CONTACT WITH THE CITY, AND THEN I AM IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THE GRANT APPLICATION.
AS FAR AS ELIGIBILITY, PROJECTS MUST GUARANTEE PERPETUAL PUBLIC PARKLAND USE.
THE APPLICANT MUST HAVE MATCHING FUNDS READILY AVAILABLE.
APPLICANT MUST BE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH PREVIOUSLY FUNDED TPWD RECREATION GRANTS, AND THE APPLICANT MUST POSSESS FULL SURFACE LEGAL CONTROL OF THE PROPOSED PARKLAND.
APPLICANT MUST NOT HAVE BEEN AWARDED A NON-URBAN OUTDOOR GRANT THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AS PART OF THE FUNDS, THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS, AS PART OF THE ELIGIBILITY, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THERE WAS $300,000 ALLOCATED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND $1.6 MILLION ALLOCATED IN THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PROJECT.
THE PARKLAND WAS ACCEPTED AS DEDICATION FOR MOCOLO DEVELOPMENT IN THE EARLY 2000S, AND WE'VE BEEN MAINTAINING IT FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
THE RESOLUTION SIMPLY CODIFIES THE CITY'S PLAN TO UTILIZE THE PROPERTY AS PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE PARKLAND IN PERPETUITY.
IT PUTS IT IN AN OFFICIAL RESOLUTION, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE OWNED THE PROPERTY AND IT'S BEEN DESIGNATED AS FUTURE PARKLAND FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
AND THIS IS A TIMELINE FOR THE GRANT.
A COUPLE OF THESE HAVE ALREADY PASSED.
I ATTENDED A WORKSHOP IN CEDAR HILL ON THE 27TH OF MAY.
AND THEN, IF YOU'LL RECALL, YOU'VE...
YOU ADOPTED THE UPDATED, REVISED PARK, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN RECENTLY, AND THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO TPWD ON MAY 29TH, JUST INSIDE THE DEADLINE.
[01:35:03]
THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS AUGUST 1ST.SCORING WILL OCCUR AUGUST TO DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR FUNDING IN JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR, AND THEN THERE WILL BE A...
PRE-AGREEMENT PHASE FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS, AND THEN WE SHOULD HAVE A GRANT AGREEMENT IF WE ARE AWARDED THE GRANT BY JULY OF 2027.
AND THEN WE HAVE THREE YEARS ' TO SPEND THE MONEY.
AND AGAIN, THIS RESOLUTION IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE GRANT.
THE RESOLUTION IS ACTUALLY PROVIDED BY TPWD, AND WE JUST FILL IN THE BLANKS.
AND THAT'S WHAT IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO, GREAT JOB.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HERNDON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TOTEN.
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
ITEM D, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND TAKE TESTIMONY ON THE PROPOSED LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS ON PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER 1 OF THE LIBERTY HILLS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 2 PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 372, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, JOSEPH COTTON.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 743, SORRY.
WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF THESE IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
THIS IS FOR LIBERTY HILLS IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER 1, PIT NUMBER 2.
ACTUALLY, E, HANG ON, C, D, HANG ON, I'M CONFUSED.
D, E, AND F ARE ALL RELATED THIS EVENING.
THIS WILL BE THE PUBLIC HEARING PIECE.
THEN WE WILL CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SELLING OF THE BONDS.
AND THEN F WILL BE THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS.
I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE NOW, OR WE CAN PROCEED WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GO FROM THERE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OPINION CARDS ON THIS.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS? FINAL CALL.
WE'LL CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT 7.44 P.M., AND THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM E, CONSIDER TO DISCUSS ACT ON AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING AND APPROVING A SERVICE IN OUR ASSESSMENT PLAN.
AND ASSESSMENT ROLE FOR IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER ONE OF THE LIBERTY HILLS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER TWO, MAKING A FINDING OF SPECIAL BENEFIT TO SUCH PROPERTY, LEVYING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AGAINST PROPERTY WITHIN IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER ONE OF THE DISTRICT AND ESTABLISHING A LIEN ON SUCH PROPERTY, PROVIDING FOR THE METHOD OF ASSESSMENT AND THE PAYMENT OF THE ASSESSMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 372, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
THIS IS DISCUSSION OF THE SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT PLAN.
BEFORE APPROVAL TO SELL THE BONDS, WHICH IS THE NEXT ITEM.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THIS STEP IN THE PROCESS.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE ITEM 7E.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER TOTEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER BAKER.
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
ITEM F, CONSIDER TO DISCUSS AN ACT ON AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF THE CITY OF ANNA, TEXAS SPECIAL ASSESSMENT REVENUE BOND SERIES 2026, THE LIBERTY HILLS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO.
1 PROJECT, IN A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF UP TO $20 MILLION AND IMPROVING VARIOUS DOCUMENTS RELATED TO SUCH BONDS.
THIS IS THE FINAL STOP FOR THIS PORTION
[01:40:02]
OF THIS ONE.FOR THE SALE OF THE BONDS USING THE TEXAS SPECIAL ASSESSMENT REVENUE BOND SERIES, HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE ONE.
AS LIBERTY HILLS DEVELOPS, WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED PIT ASSESSMENT THAT A TYPICAL FUTURE HOMEOWNER COULD SEE ON THEIR TAX BILL? BRING ANDRE, OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, UP AND HOPEFULLY HE CAN ANSWER THAT ONE FOR YOU.
SO THIS MORNING WE HAVE PRIZED THE LIBERTY HILLS BID NUMBER TWO IN BROOKLYN AREA ONE BONDS.
THE FINAL AMOUNT OF THOSE BONDS IS GOING TO BE 18.8 MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S A FIXED AMOUNT FOR THE BONDS.
THE INTEREST RATE WAS FIVE POINT FIFTY NINE PERCENT THAT'S A FIXED RATE FOR THE 30-YEAR PERIOD.
THE AVERAGE ASSESSMENT ON THIS PARCELS IS GOING TO BE $77,000 ON AVERAGE LIEN FOR THE 30-YEAR PERIOD.
AND THE PAYMENT NET OF THE CITY OFFSET VIA THE TERS YOU'LL BE CONSIDERING LATER TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE ABOUT $4,700.
ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, I'LL RETURN A MOTION.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HERNDON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TOTEN.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
ITEM G, ACTING AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NO.
7 IN LIBERTY HILLS, CITY OF ANAHEIM, TEXAS, CONSIDERED US...
DISCUSS AND ACT ON A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE FINAL REINVESTMENT ZONE PROJECT PLAN AND FINANCING PLAN TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO THIS WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE MEETING WAS OPEN NOT ONLY AS A CITY COUNCIL BUT ALSO AS PID BOARD NUMBER SEVEN.
SO TAKING ACTION ON THIS WILL BE AS PID BOARD NUMBER SEVEN, ALLOWING FOR THE NEXT ITEM WHEN WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND CREATE PIDS.
FOR VARIOUS INCREMENT IMPROVEMENT ZONES, YOU HAVE TO ADJUST THE TERS TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT AS WELL.
SO WHEN WE BRING ADDITIONAL PID ITEMS IN FRONT OF YOU FOR LIBERTY HILLS IN THE FUTURE, YOU WILL ALSO BE ACTING IN THIS MANNER.
SO THIS WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL STEP THAT YOU'LL SEE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
SO THIS WOULD BE AUTHORIZING YOURSELVES TO TAKE ACTION AS COUNSEL IN THE NEXT ITEM TO APPROVE.
APPROVE THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TERS BASED UPON THIS NEW PIT ASSESSMENT.
COUNCIL? CAN YOU SUMMARIZE THE TOTAL PROJECTED TERS REVENUE, WHAT PROJECTS IT WILL FUND, AND THE PUBLIC BENEFIT THE CITY EXPECTS TO SEE? SO THE TERS ITSELF HAS TWO PORTIONS IN IT FOR LIBERTY HILLS.
THIS SECTION OF THE TERS IS DESIGNED TO HELP BUY DOWN OR PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE PID ASSESSMENT FOR EACH OF THE LOTS IN THE RESIDENTIAL ZONE.
SO THE PID ITSELF WILL PAY FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, WATER, SEWER THAT ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED IN THAT INCREMENT IMPROVEMENT AREA.
AND THEN THE TERS IN THIS AREA, THE ADJUSTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING TO IT WILL CREATE THE ABILITY TO...
PROVIDE A OFFSET FOR THAT PID FEE COST.
THAT'S WHEN ANDRE MENTIONED THAT IT'S $4,700 AFTER THE TERS ADJUSTMENT.
SO BEFORE THE TERS ADJUSTMENT, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS, BUT AFTER THE TERS ADJUSTMENT IT WOULD BE $4,700 PER YEAR PER HOUSE.
AND THAT WAS OVER 30 YEARS? OVER 30 YEARS, YES SIR.
[01:45:05]
ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMEMBER HERNDON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WALDEN.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
AUTUMN H., CONSIDER TO DISCUSS AND ACT ON AN ORDINANCE TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VANTATEXAS APPROVING A FINAL TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE PROJECT AND FINANCE PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER LIBERTY HILL, CITY OF VANTATEXAS, MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
UNDER THE AUTHORITY THAT WAS JUST GIVEN YOU BY YOURSELVES FOR TURS NUMBER 7 TO ACTUALLY APPROVE THE ADJUSTMENT TO THE TURS PLAN.
COUNCIL? MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE ITEM 7-8.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER TOTEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER BAKER.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
AND BEFORE WE CONTINUE, I AM GOING TO TAKE ABOUT A 10-MINUTE RECESS.
[9. Closed Session (Exceptions).]
TO BRING US OUT OF RECESS.AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE GO INTO CLOSED SECTION UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551, 551.071, 551.072, 551.074, AND 551.087.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED? ALL RIGHT, MAKE A MOTION.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER BAKER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER BRYANT.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
UNANIMOUS, WE'RE IN MOTION AT, OR MOTION.
WE'RE IN CLOSED SESSION AT 8.08 P.M.
ALRIGHT, WE ARE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION AT 8.43 P.M.
MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPOINT MAYOR CAIN, COUNCILMEMBER WALDEN, COUNCILMEMBER SINGH TO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE AND REPORT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON ROADWAY FINANCING.
SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BAKER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WALDEN.
WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
THAT TAKES US TO AGENDA ITEM 7I, ACTING AS THE ANNA PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION, CONSIDER TO DISCUSS AND ACT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ANNA PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION AND ACTING AS THE ANNA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, CONSIDER TO DISCUSS AND ACT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ANNA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
AM I OKAY TO MAKE A MOTION? OKAY.
I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT COUNCILMEMBER PLACE 3 TO HFC PFC PRESIDENT TO BE EFFECTIVE ON 6-23-26 WITH THIS NEW APPOINTMENT SUPERSEDING ANY AND ALL PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS TO THIS POSITION.
THIS APPOINTMENT WAS MADE BY UNANIMOUS VOTE ON JUNE THE 9TH.
UNWARE OF ANY VACANCY, RESIGNATION, OR PERFORMANCE ISSUE THAT WOULD NECESSITATE REVISITING THIS MOTION.
I'LL MAKE A SECOND TO THE MOTION.
HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT CHANGED.
MAYOR, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? YEAH, IT'S JUST I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S BACK ON HERE.
[01:50:01]
SO I WAS OUT OF THE LOOP.I MEAN, I KNOW WE CAN'T DO QUORUM ISSUES, BUT IT'S JUST, I DON'T GET IT.
I DON'T GET WHY HALF THIS AGENDA IS EVEN STILL BACK ON THE AGENDA.
I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS CHANGED.
CLERK, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO PUT ANYTHING BACK ON THE AGENDA? IT'S A PROPER AGENDA ITEM, AND IT'S A PROPER MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
WELL, WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.
TAKES THE ITEM J, CONSIDERED DISCUSS ACT ON APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
I MOTION TO MAKE A REAPPOINTMENT TO THE PLACE 6 ON THE EDC BOARD FOR AN ADDITIONAL TERM THAT TAKES EFFECT WHEN THE CURRENT TERM EXPIRES.
BEFORE I MAKE ANOTHER MISTAKE LIKE I DID LAST MEETING, WHO IS PLACE 6? VANITY.
SO WE'RE MAKING, WE'RE DOING REAPPOINTMENTS WHENEVER IT'S NOT, YOUR TURN IS NOT UP.
CLERK, IS THIS DONE, IS THIS AGENDA ITEM DONE CORRECTLY? CAN YOU CONFIRM? IT'S PERMISSIBLE.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER WALDEN AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER SINGH.
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
AM I ABLE TO? NO, THE MOTION PASSES.
I GOT ONE MORE UNDER THIS SECTION.
JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN I'M READY.
SO, ITEM K, CONSIDER TO DISCUSS ACT ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS LIAISONS.
THERE WAS ONE MORE FOR ITEM J.
UM, SO I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT CATHERINE SWOFFORD TO FILL EDC PLACE THREE TO BE EFFECTIVE ON 6-23-26 WITH THIS NEW APPOINTMENT SUPERSEDING ANY AND ALL PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS TO PLACE THREE.
DO I HAVE A, SORRY, I DON'T KNOW.
MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SINGH, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WALDEN.
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
BECAUSE IT'S 85 DEGREES IN HERE.
ITEM K, CONSIDER TO DISCUSS THE ACT ON BOARDS AND COMMISSION LIAISONS.
I WANT A MOTION TO REMOVE BOARDS, LIAISONS TO THE BOARDS.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER WALDEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER BAKER.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COUNT YOUR VOTES.
WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE LIAISONS, FOUR LIAISONS.
WHAT DID I SAY? WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE LOUISIANA TOO, BUT JUST NOT TONIGHT.
MAYOR, IF I MAY, WE NEED TO GO BACK TO ITEM J AND DO A CLEANUP OF THE PARKS BOARD APPOINTMENT THAT WAS DONE AT THE LAST MEETING AS WELL.
THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
BACK TO ITEM J, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, WE NEED TO CLEAN UP A MISNUMBERED APPLICANT IN THE LAST MEETING.
[01:55:03]
DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE? SIX.DID WE USE THE NAMES? I MEAN...
SO THE INTENT OF THE APPOINTMENT WAS TO REPLACE THE VACANCY CREATED BY SCOTT GENTRY WHEN HE WAS PLACED ON THE PNC BOARD.
AND INSTEAD YOU TOOK THE MOTION TO REPLACE MADELINE MADRID BY ACCIDENT.
SO MADELINE MADRID REMAINS ON AND YOU'RE REPLACING SCOTT GENTRY'S PLACE.
TO REPLACE SCOTT GENTRY'S SEAT WITH MATT WALKER EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY ON 6-23-26 WITH THIS APPOINTMENT SUPERSEDING ANY AND ALL PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS TO THAT BOARD.
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
GRACE, DID YOU GET ALL OF THAT? IF YOU DID, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT BACK UP, RON.
IT TAKES US TO ITEM L, TO CONSIDER AND DISCUSS ACT ON APPOINTMENTS TO THE 2026 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS INTERVIEW COMMITTEE.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE THE MAYOR, PLACE 3, AND PLACE 6 ON THE BOARD SELECTION COMMITTEE TO BE EFFECTIVE ON 6-23-26 WITH THIS NEW APPOINTMENT SUPERSEDING ANY AND ALL PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS TO THIS POSITION.
I WANT TO KNOW, I WANT HELP TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS CHANGED AND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
WELL, THIS ITEM, I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF TIME, RIGHT, BECAUSE WE'RE FIXING TO GET TO THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DUE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THEN IN DECEMBER.
SO THIS ACTUALLY BELONGS, YOU KNOW, BUT THE OTHER ONES, I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, I KNOW WE JUST HAD DISCUSSIONS FOR REPLACING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND COMMISSIONER SINGH INDICATED THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS.
I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE.
I HAVEN'T DONE IT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
I THINK IF SOMEBODY HAS THE TIME TO DEDICATE TO THIS, THAT'S PROBABLY THE PERSON THAT WOULD BE BEST SERVED FOR THIS.
SO NOW YOU SAY YOU HAVE TIME? I MEAN, I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU SPEAK FOR ME.
THIS CAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, MANNY, TO ME.
YOU DIDN'T WANT TO DO INTERVIEWS BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T HAVE TIME.
AM I ON THE INTERVIEW COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW? YES OR NO? ANSWER MY QUESTION.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, THANK YOU.
MAKE NOTE THAT HE'S NOT, HE'S REFUSING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.
I'M ON THE BOARD, SORRY, I'M ON THE BOARD RIGHT NOW.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I THINK WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME DOING A LOT OF INTERNAL THINGS THAT AFFECT THE COUNCIL AND THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY HAVE REALLY NO INTEREST IN WHO SERVES ON WHAT BOARD OR WHATEVER WE DO UP HERE ON OUR COUNCIL.
AND WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TAKING CARE OF THINGS THAT WE SHOULD JUST BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF ON OUR OWN BOARD RIGHT HERE AND NOT INVOLVING EVERYBODY ON THINGS THAT...
OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE BRING UP, OF ALL THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PROJECTS AND STUFF WE HAVE TO DO, WE BICKER ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO SERVE ON WHAT BOARD OR WHO'S GOING TO DO WHATEVER THE INTERVIEW IS.
BUT WE'VE HAD THIS INTERVIEW COMMITTEE EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, AND IT HASN'T CHANGED.
I THINK IT'S TIME TO GET SOME FRESH PEOPLE ON THAT INTERVIEW.
IT CHANGED LAST YEAR, WHICH PUT MANNY AND MYSELF ON IT.
COUNCILOR BAKER, I AGREE ON YOU THAT.
I MEAN, WE'RE REALLY. WE JUST VOTED ON THIS LAST MEETING. WE JUST VOTED ON THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL THAT'S COMING UP IN THE DEPUTY BOARD. WE DIDN'T VOTE ON THIS LAST MEETING. WE DID NOT. AND WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. NOT THE COMMITTEE, BUT ALL THE OTHER STUFF. I'M SORRY, I MISSPOKE.
ALL THE OTHER STUFF, WE'RE REHASHING IT. YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO REHASH SOMETHING WE VOTED ON TWO MEETINGS AGO. SO, IT'S JUST, IT'S GAMES, AND I DON'T
[02:00:05]
LIKE, IT'S UNPROFESSIONAL, AND HERE WE ARE DOING IT. OUT OF HERE. CORRECT, AND I SEE THE THEME THAT'S HAPPENING HERE.ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
MOTION PASSES 4-2-1. TAKES US TO M. CONSIDER TO DISCUSS AN ACT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR PRO TEM AND DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE MAYOR PRO TEM'S SELECTION. DO I NEED TO MAKE A VOTE FOR THAT? OR A MOTION? THAT'S A VOTE, RIGHT? TO TABLE IT? YEAH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE MAYOR PRO TEM'S SELECTION. I'LL SECOND. HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND ON TABLING MAYOR PRO TEM? JUST THE ONE. JUST THE ONE. JUST THE FIRST ONE. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. MOTION PASSES 5-2. TEXAS DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TAKE NO ACTION. WE ALREADY HAVE BOTH.
I'M ABOUT TO PUT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. I ALREADY PUT MY MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. NOW YOU KNOW WHAT? NO, YOUR COMMENT TO MANAGE US NOW. YOU SAID NOW WE KNOW. MOTION FAILS 2-3-2.
AM I ABLE TO MAKE A MOTION, SIR? LET'S SEE HERE. I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT... COUNCIL PLACE THREE TO DEPUTY PRO TEM TO BE EFFECTIVE ON 623 WITH THIS NEW APPOINTMENT SUPERSEDING ANY AND ALL PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS TO THIS POSITION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SINGH, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAKER.
MOTION PASSES 4-1-2. AND I'D LIKE TO JUST QUICK, AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, WHY DID WE ABSTAIN FROM MAYOR PRO TEM? WHY DIDN'T WE GIVE THAT A VOTE? I'D RATHER THE COUNCIL VOTES ON THOSE TWO POSITIONS VERSUS ME. MAYOR, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I GOT A STATEMENT TO MAKE. I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE. IT WAS TWO MEETINGS AGO. AND AFTER THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED, I KIND OF BLEW UP AND SAID SOME CHOICE WORDS. A LITTLE BIT UNPROFESSIONAL OF ME, BUT I DO TAKE THIS JOB, UNPAID JOB, SERIOUS AND WITH PASSION. AND THAT'S HOW I SERVE. SO MY WORDS WERE OUT OF PASSION, AND FOR THAT I DO APOLOGIZE FOR.
TO THE CITY STAFF AND TO THE NEIGHBORS THAT WERE PRESENT.
IF I MAY SAY, IT'S REALLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND JUST REALLY THANK YOU, KEVIN. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO OBJECTION, WE'RE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.