Aug 17, 2021 City Council Work Session

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[2. EXECUTIVE SESSION (5:00 P.M.)]

[00:00:43]

YOUR COMMENT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD DURING THE MEETING (MUST BE WITHIN THE 3-MINUTE TIME LIMIT).

FOR IN-PERSON COMMENTS, REGISTRATION FORMS/INSTRUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE INSIDE THE DOOR OF THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. WE ARE GOING TO START OUR AFTERNOON OFF WITH ITEM 2A. THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, ?551.071 (CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY), TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING THE HOMESTEAD AT LIBERTY GROVE DEVELOPMENT AND ASSOCIATED ECONOMIC INCENTIVE AGREEMENT. THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS BOUNDED BY LIBERTY GROVE ROAD AND PRINCETON ROAD, VE SEEN $762 MILLION IN PRIVATE

COMMERCIAL - >> MAYOR: WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO THE WORK SESSION ITEMS. OH WAIT, I AM SORRY. IT IS 5:44 AND WE HAVE COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH NO

[3A. Discuss COVID 19 and take any necessary action. (20 minutes)]

DURING A FEAR MAKES FOR BETTER STORY THE REAL SCIENCE SUPPORTS WHAT DOCTOR OF ALGAE AND IN FACT ALMOST ALL IMMUNOLOGISTS SAID AT THE BEGINNING. MASKS, OTHER THAN IN 95 DON'T PROTECT AGAINST VIRUSES. IN 95 STAR ONLY AFFECTED IF YOU CHANGE THEM SEVERAL TIMES A DAY, FIT PROPERLY AND IF YOU CAN TAKE THEM ON AND OFF PROPERLY. BY THE WAY I'M ASKED IF MASKS DON'T WORK WHY DO YOU WEAR ONE IN THE OR? THE ANSWER IS TO KEEP ACT. OUT OF OPEN SURGICAL WOUNDS. SOME DOCTORS HAVE FALLEN VICTIM TO FEAR, TOO, THEY ARE ONLY HUMAN BUT ANYONE WHO OBJECTIVELY PARSES THE FLIP-FLOPS AND ONGOING GUIDANCE FROM CDC CAN SEE THAT THE PIECES DON'T FIT TOGETHER LOGICALLY. THE COMMON THEME SEEMS TO BE WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT AND DO SOMETHING AND MAKING EVERYONE WEAR MASKS MAKES AS LITTLE SENSE AS MAKING SURE EVERYONE TAKES THEIR SHOES OFF AT THE AIRPORT. THAT IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT. GROW THE STUFF

[00:05:04]

IS THAT RIGHT ANGE? >>.

>> SPEAKER: YES MA'AM. WE HAVE NOT DONE A COVID UPDATE SINCE LATE APRIL AND WITH THE RISE IN CASES TONIGHT WE THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE IN DATE. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT I'VE TRIED TO INCLUDE DIFFERENT INFORMATION IN THIS SLIDESHOW YOU HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE. THE DELTA VARIANT IS MORE CONTAGIOUS AND SOME DATA SUGGESTS IT MIGHT CAUSE MORE SEVERE IN ILLNESS THAN OTHER STRAINS. UNVACCINATED PEOPLE TEND TO BE THE BIGGEST CONCERN.

THE FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE WITH DELTA VARIANT ARE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS AND THEY CAN SPREAD THE VIRUS TO THE OTHERS. VACCINES IN THE US HAVE PROVEN TO BE HIGHLY AFFECT AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT AND THE SYMPTOMS PRETTY MUCH ARE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE HAVING FROM I HAVE A RUNNY NOSE TO A STOMACH ACHE TO ALL OF THE REST OF COVID SYMPTOMS. THEY ARE SAYING IT CAN BE AS MUCH AS TWO TIMES MORE CONTAGIOUS.

WITH THE ORIGINAL COVID ONE PERSON MIGHT HAVE INFECTED TWO PEOPLE BUT WITH THE NEW VARIANT ONE PERSON COULD INFECT AS MANY AS FIVE. YOU GUYS ARE WELCOME TO STOP ME AT ANY POINT OTHERWISE I WILL KEEP TICKING ALONG AND YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS IN THE END. WHAT ELSE IS COMING? WE KNOW THERE ARE ALREADY OTHER VARIANTS OF COVID. THERE IS ALPHA, DATA, GAMMA, LAMBDA AND THERE'S A LOT ON THE INTERNET ABOUT WHY THEY NAMED THEM THE WAY THEY DO AND I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO NOT GO DOWN THAT RABBIT HOLE. THE CURRENT STATUS DALLAS COUNTY HAS MOVED US TO THE RED RISK LEVEL WHICH IS HIGH RISK OF TRANSMISSION AND AS OF YESTERDAY THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 1480 CASES CONFIRMED IN ROWLETT WITH 6661 THAT HAVE RECOVERED.

THERE WERE 277 NEW WEEKLY CASES LAST WEEK AND 438 ACTIVE CASES AS OF MONDAY AUGUST 16. THE GRAPH THERE SHOWS YOU FROM THE BEGINNING, FROM WHEN THIS STARTED UNTIL NOW WHAT THE ROWLETT DAILY CASE COUNT LOOKS LIKE. VACCINATION UPDATE.

APPROXIMATELY 52.18 PERCENT OF THE DALLAS COUNTY TOTAL POPULATION IS VACCINATED WITH AT LEAST ONE DOSE. IF YOU TAKE THE TWO ZIP CODES IN ROWLETT APPROXIMATELY 45.65 ROWLETT RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE VACCINE. HOW CAN YOU FIND A COVID VACCINE? THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS. GARLAND HEALTH IS OUR HEALTH PROVIDER AND THEY ARE STILL PROVIDING PVACCINES AND YOU CAN DO THAT THERE OR YOU CAN SEARCH VACCINES.GOV AND TEXT YOUR ZIP CODE OR CALL THAT NUMBER AND THEY WILL SEND YOU TO A PROVIDER. HOSPITAL STATUS. AS OF MONDAY, AUGUST 16 2626 COVID-19 PATIENTS WERE HOSPITALIZED IN TRAUMA SERVICE AREA HE. THAT IS A 19 COUNTY AREA AROUND US. THAT IS A SLIGHT DECREASE FROM FRIDAY AND THAT REPRESENTS 19.75 PERCENT OF AVAILABLE BED CAPACITY AND 45 PERCENT OF ADULT ICU PATIENTS. WHILE ON THURSDAY THERE WERE NO REPORTED PEDIATRIC ICU BEDS AVAILABLE AS OF FRIDAY AUGUST 15 BOTH MAJOR HOSPITALS HAD STAFFED ICU BEDS AVAILABLE FOR PATIENTS. I COULD NOT FIND UPDATED AS OF TODAY SO LAST WEEK WAS THE MOST RECENT. THERE IS A SMALL CHART THAT SHOWS YOU ALL DALLAS COUNTY AND ROCKWELL COUNTY HOW MONEY HOSPITALS REPORTING, WHAT THEIR TOTAL CAPACITY IS, HOW MANY ADULT ICU PATIENTS THEY HAVE, AVAILABLE BEDS THEY HAVE AND WHO IS REPORTING CRITICAL STAFF SHORTAGES. I WILL GIVE YOU A MINUTE. THAT IS A LOT OF INFORMATION. HOW DO WE HELP STOP COVID-19? GET A COVID-19 VACCINE, WASH YOUR HANDS, COVER YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE WITH A MASK, AVOID CROWDS AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. YOU CAN ALSO REPORT FRAUDULENT COVID-19 VACCINE TESTS AND TREATMENTS AND DONATE BLOOD AND PLASMA.

THE RED CROSS HAS A HUGE SHORTAGE THEY DID A BLOOD DRIVE HERE IN ROWLETT AND THERE IS AN OFFICE HERE IN ROCKWALL IF YOU

OULD LIKE TO DONATE >> MAYOR: IT IS TOMORROW AND YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP. TOMORROW IS WEDNESDAY.

>> SPEAKER: YOU ARE RIGHT. TOMORROW IS WEDNESDAY AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY IT IS! WELCOME TO MY WORLD! LET'S

[00:10:03]

THEY ARE HAVING ANOTHER MEETING TONIGHT IN THAT FORMAT. ED HAD AN EMERGENCY MANAGER MEETING WITH A NUMBER OF THE SURROUNDING CITIES AND OVERALL CITIES ARE RESPONDING TO THE NEW UPTICK WITH CAUTION. UNTIL COURTS MAKE A FINAL CALL MOST OF THESE WERE NOT NEW MANDATES OR RESTRICTIONS AND THEY ARE ENCOURAGING THEIR CITIZENS TO BECOME VACCINATED AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NON- PHARMACEUTICAL PREVENTION LIKE WASHING YOUR HANDS, WEARING A MASK AND PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING WERE POSSIBLE. HERE ARE THE HEADLINES OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS. EVERY DAY THE ARTICLES, JUDGE JENKINS FILES AN ORDER, FILES A TEMPORARY HALT MASK RULINGS AND THE SUPREME COURT SIDES WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND DALLAS DECIDES TO GO FORWARD WITH MASKS. SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE AND SOME AREN'T. YOU SEE NEEDS OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND THEY CONTINUE EVERY SINGLE DAY. IN LIGHT OF THAT OUR CURRENT CITY OF ROWLETT RESPONSE TIMES FOR CITIZENS AND VISITORS WE ARE ENCOURAGING FOLKS WHEN THEY COME TO VISIT CITY FACILITIES TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR HEALTH WE RECOMMEND FACE COVERINGS BUT THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER FREE VACCINATION FOR THE GARLAND HEALTH CLINIC. THESE ARE THE SIGNS TO THE ENTRANCE OF ALMOST ALL CITY FACILITIES. AS FOR THE CURRENT CITY OF ROWLETT RESPONSE TIMES FOR EMPLOYEES AND FACILITIES WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER FREE VACCINATION OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE GARLAND HEALTH CLINIC WE WOULD ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES WHO DON'T FEEL WELL TO STAY AT HOME. THAT IS BEEN A REAL PUSH FROM THE CITY MANAGER FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. WE ARE OFFERING FREE EMPLOYEE AND I BELIEVE SPOUSE COVID TESTING SERVICES AT ONE OF THE LOCAL FIRE STATIONS SO IF THEY DON'T FEEL WELL THEY CAN BE TESTED. WE ARE ENCOURAGING LIMITING IN-PERSON MEETINGS TO LESS THAN FIVE IN A FACE-TO-FACE AND LESS SOCIAL DISTANCING CAN BE PRACTICED.

WE ARE ENCOURAGING PUBLIC FACING DEPARTMENTS TO PUT UP PLEXIGLAS AROUND THE COUNTER. SOME HAVE NOT TAKEN THEM DOWN AND SOME ARE PUTTING THEM BACK PUP FOR THOSE FACE-TO-FACE CUSTOMER SERVICES. WE ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH AND TAKE WHATEVER PRECAUTIONS THEY BELIEVE NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEM INCLUDING WEARING FACE COVERINGS, GETTING VACCINATED AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. I WILL TELL YOU AS OF TODAY WE HAVE NIGHT TEEN CITY EMPLOYEES OUT WITH COVID. THE HARDEST HIT TWO DEPARTMENTS ARE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ANIMAL SERVICES. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS PUT SEVERAL MEASURES IN PLACE TO HELP REDUCE THE CASES INCLUDING

[00:15:02]

CITY COUNCIL HAS RESUMED THE PORTION FOR THE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AS YOU ALL KNOW INCLUDING THE WORK SESSION, REGULAR MEETINGS, EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. THIS PROVIDES SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR CITY COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC.

WE HAVE REINSTALLED THE PLEXIGLAS DIVIDERS TO ENSURE THE COUNCIL SETS THE EXAMPLE FOR PROPER PROTOCOL ON MEETINGS AND VISITORS TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE HER QUESTIONS TO PROTECT THEIR OWN HEALTH AND PHILLY INCLUDING OPTIONS LIKE WEARING FACEMASKS.

MEETINGS ARE BEING CHANGED TO LARGER AREAS IF POSSIBLE AND ONLINE MEETINGS WILL BE THERE IF POSSIBLE. THE LIBRARY'S HAVE BEEN EATING IN THE SMALL WAITING ROOM AND THEY WILL WAIT IN THE ACTIVITY ROOM. IT'S A LITTLE BIT LOUDER BUT THEY CAN PROVIDE SOCIAL DISTANCING. THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD MET IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AS OPPOSED TO THE CONFERENCE MODEROOM NEXT DOOR. MEMBERS ARE URGED TO TAKE NECESSARY PROTECTIONS AT WORK INCLUDING WEARING A FACEMASK AND IN SOME CASES WE HAVE EVEN ZOOMED IN ONE NUMBER 2 CONDUCT BUSINESS BY THAT METHOD. AND ANY DISCUSSIONS, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I WILL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER THEM. RYAN CAN HELP IN CHIEF HOWARD

IS HERE AS WELL. >>.

>> MAYOR: INCORPORATED YOU ANGIE, I APPRECIATE THAT. I GUESS ED IS NOT HER? I WILL SAY THIS. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE GOING DOWN THE RIGHT PATH. I PERSONALLY DO NOT HAVE A DESIRE TO OPEN UP THE MASS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CITY OF ROWLETT. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE DOES BUT I HAVE NO DESIRE. I LIKE THE PROTOCOLS WE HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW AND ENCOURAGING OUR PUBLIC AND KEEPING OUR EMPLOYEES AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC. THAT IS MY THOUGHT ON THAT AND I WILL GO TO

COUNCILMAN BROWN. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR ON EVERYTHING THAT SHE SAID. MY QUESTION AND YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THE ANSWER TO THIS BUT I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HOW MANY OF THE VARIANTS THERE ARE AND SO, MY QUESTION WOULD BE DO WE KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE THE VACCINES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW ARE GIVEN THAT SO MANY VARIANT ARE

BEGINNING TO POP UP? >> SPEAKER: [INDISCERNABLE]

>> MAYOR: I CANNOT TURN HER MICROPHONE ON.

>> SPEAKER: ALL GOOD. THERE IS SOME OUT THERE ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB THAT SAYS THAT THERE ARE SO FEW CASES IN THE US RIGHT NOW OF THOSE ALTERNATE AREA IT'S HARD TO TELL.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: MY OTHER QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH THE HOT TOTALS AND JUST HOW PREPARED THEY ARE TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND I WONDERED ABOUT YOU SHOWED SOME

[00:20:11]

SOMETHING ELSE? >> COUNCILMEMBER: MARTHA, I WAS AT A BOARD MEETING WITH THE BAYLOR UNIT COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND AT THAT POINT THEY WERE AS PREPARED AS THEY COULD BE AND WHAT THEY ARE SEEING IS THAT THERE ARE SOME HOSPITALS THAT HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED AND I KNOW AT LEAST A FRIDAY OF LAST WEEK ALL THE PEDIATRIC BEDS IN THE NORTH TEXAS AREA WERE FULL AND THOSE WERE DROPPED OFF A LITTLE BIT. THERE IS A MIX OF PERCENTAGE OF HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS COVID AND THAT BEGAN BY HOSPITAL THE HOSPITAL BUT A LOT OF THAT WAS THE NEW COVID PATIENTS COMING IN. BUT, WHEN IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO IT THE HOSPITAL'S, THEY ARE PREPARED EVEN TO GO BACK TO SOME OF THEIR MULTIPLE PATIENTS IN SAME ROOM AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHAT WE HAVE HEARD AT LEAST ON THE ONE CALL I HAVE BEEN ON AS WELL AS THE MEETING THAT I WAS ON WITH BAYLOR SCOTT AND WHITE, THE STAFFING SHORTAGE IS SERIOUS. THERE IS A PLAN TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO BACKFILL SOME HOSPITALS THAT ARE -HAVE FAR MORE SHORTAGES THAN OTHER AND THEY ARE TRYING TO HIT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CITIES WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP WITH. THERE IS A PLAN TO BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT IN ADDITION THE STATE HAS REOPENED ITS PROGRAM TO TRY TO HELP BRING IN PEOPLE EVEN IF THEY BRING THEM IN FROM OTHER STATES TO HELP WITH THAT THEY HAD STOPPED THAT PROGRAM FOR A WHILE BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT ONCE THE HOSPITAL HITS THAT LEVEL OR EVEN THOSE THAT WILL GO HIGHER THAN THAT IT BLOCKS EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THEY WOULD DO. IT'S NOT JUST COVID THEN. IT'S HEART ATTACKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WE DEEM THIS TO BE A REALLY SERIOUS ISSUE IS THE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND WHY THERE IS A SENSE OF URGENCY RELATED TO THIS.

>> CHIEF, DID YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE?

>> SPEAKER: I WAS AT A MEETING AT LAKE POINT LAST WEEK AND WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO BEGIN THEIR STARTER REQUEST PAID THEY DID THAT AFTERNOON AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THEY WILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR LAKE POINT. THEY WILL GET THE

STAFFING AT THE STATE LEVEL. >> COUNCILMEMBER: THAT'S GOOD

NEWS CHIEF. >> MAYOR: THE GOVERNOR OPENED UP REIMBURSEMENT ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY SHUT DOWN. THE OTHER THING THE GOVERNOR DID WAS REALLY IMPORTANT. NOT ALLOW HOSPITALS TO STEAL FROM OTHER HOSPITALS FOR THAT TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE. THAT HAPPENED HISTORICALLY.

THERE'S A LOT OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW TRAVELING TO HELP HOTSPOT. WE SHOULD GET ABOUT 750 OF THOSE IN OUR REGION WHICH IS VERY SMALL COMPARED TO WHAT WE GOT DURING THE LAST SEARCH. THAT IS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SHORTAGES THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION. BUT THERE IS SOME HELP COMING AND IT HAS ALLEVIATED, SOME OF IT I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR RESIDENT TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT THEY DEEM IS APPROPRIATE TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD BECAUSE IT IS VERY, VERY SERIOUS FOR OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS RIGHT NOW. COUNCILMEMBER MATT

GRUBISICH? >> COUNCILMEMBER: THINK YOU ANGIE. YOU SHOWED THE PERCENTAGES OF ROWLETT CITIZENS ARE VACCINATED. DO YOU KNOW THE PERCENTAGE OF CITY STAFF

THAT'S VACCINATED? >> SPEAKER: I DO NOT. WE DON'T HAVE A NECESSARYCOMPLETE WAY TO TRACK THAT. WE TO WHAT IS THE CURRENT PROTOCOL IF SOMEONE IS WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS TESTED POSITIVE? ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO QUARANTINE OR IF THEY BEEN VACCINATED DO THEY NOT HAVE TO QUARANTINE? WHAT IS THE POLICY

FOR CITY STAFF? >> IF WE GET WORD THAT THERE IS AN EMPLOYEE WHO HAS COVID IT'S THE SAME PROTOCOL WE'VE HAD SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING. THEY ARE SENT HOME UNLESS THEY ARE ALREADY AT HOME AND THEN WE START CHECKING IN WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THEM. I DON'T REMEMBER THE

[00:25:02]

>> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT BLAKE MARGOLIS?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: IT MAY BE TOO EARLY TO HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THIS BUT I THOUGHT I SAW SOME NEWS ARTICLES TODAY OUT THERE THAT THE FDA WAS LOOKING AT POSSIBLY AUTHORIZING A BOOSTER SHOT FOR EVERYBODY COMING SOON. IS THERE ANY WORD FROM THE GARLAND HEALTH AUTHORITY IF THEY WOULD BE REENACTING THEIR VACCINE HUB IN RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT HUB BUT THERE'S NO MOVEMENT AT THIS POINT. THEY ARE READY TO GIVE THAT BOOSTER

SHOT AT THE CLINIC. >> COUNCILMEMBER: OKAY.

>> SPEAKER: ESPECIALLY FOR THE IMMUNE COMPROMISED. I THINK YOU WILL SEE IT ROLL OUT BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL HAVE THAT

HUB IN THE FUTURE. FUTURE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I WASN'T SURE IF THERE WAS ANY CONVERSATION LINGERING ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY. THANK YOU FOR THAT CHIEF.

>> MAYOR: HAVE A QUESTION. IT IS FOR YOU. PROGRAMMING, I'M SURE YOU ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE OUT ON THAT THE CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT LITTLE BIT? HERE YOU HAVE CUT BACK AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF AND POLICE ARE DEALING WITH QUITE A FEW INFECTIONS. PROGRAMMING FOR THE PUBLIC AT THE RCC, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING AND HOW CLOSELY

ARE YOU WATCHING IT? >> SPEAKER: THEY ARE WATCHING IT CLOSELY. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW THE RCC HAS FLOODED AND HAD TO SHUFFLE PROGRAMS INTO LARGER ROOMS. THEY ARE REALLY WATCHING IT AND ENCOURAGING, ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS IF THEY COME PROTECT YOURSELF WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO TO DO THAT. WE ARE NECESSARILY LIMITING HOW MANY PEOPLE, SHE'S NOT NECESSARILY LIMITING HOW PEOPLE CAN GO BUT THE STAFF IS HER MONEY TO PROTECT YOURSELF IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. MOST OF THE SENIOR PROGRAMMING HAS MOVED T THE AEROBICS ROOM AND WERE SPREADING PEOPLE OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS ARE CHOOSING NOT TO PRODUCE PAY IN THE PROGRAMS BUT WE ARE STILL HAVING THEM WHILE WE CAN. IN THE SAME AT THE LIBRARY THINK ORA IS SEEN A SAME THING THERE IS A BIT OF A DOWN TO.

>> MAYOR: COUNSEL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. I HAVE ONE MORE CITIZEN INPUT ON ITEM 3B FROM MICHELLE, DID I SAY IT RIGHT THIS TIME? YOU PUT 3B AND THEN YOU PUT ONE FOR 3C ALSO. I AM ON 3A I AM SO SORRY. THAT IS MY FAULT. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS ON 3A. OKAY.

CARRYFORWARD. ALL RIGHT, 3B JOINT MEETING WITH THE ROWLETT

[3B. Joint meeting with the Rowlett Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission and the City Council. (30 minutes)]

>> SPEAKER: NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU HAVE UP

TO THREE MINUTES. >> SPEAKER: HOPE I'M SPEAKING TO THE RIGHT THING I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT

DIVERSITY AND EQUITY. >> MAYOR: SPEAK YOUR NAME.

>> SPEAKER: MICHELLE OREN 10 AND I DIDN'T GET TO PREPARE THIS TIME. I HAVE SEEN THAT TO HIRE A DIVERSITY MANAGER AND

[00:30:03]

WHEN WE WERE TALKING SHE TOLD ME HOW AWESOME IT WAS WHEN SHE INTRODUCED HERSELF I MENTIONED MY WIFE. SHE WASN'T ABLE TO DO THAT. IN CASUAL CONVERSATION WE SHY AWAY FROM SPEAKING ABOUT OUR HOME LIFE. WE DON'T HOLD HANDS IN PUBLIC. THERE'S SONY THINGS, OUR LIVES ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE LIVE IN THE CHOICES THAT WE HAVE AND ONE OF THEM IS NOT BEING GAPING THE CHOICES THAT GAY PEOPLE HAVE LOSING CONNECTIONS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS WHEN THEY ARE TOXIC TO LIVE IN THE CLOSET, OR SUICIDE ARE ALL CHOICES. ROWLETT HAS A PROBLEM WITH HOMELESSNESS RIGHT NOW AND A LOT OF LGBTQ+ YOUTH AND UP HOMELESS AND WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE OF ALL OF THIS.

I WANTED TO BRING A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION TO THAT STRESS HOW WHEN IT IS TO HAVE DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE AS WELL. IT'S HARD TO GET DIVERSITY TO PEOPLE ARE TOO AFRAID TO COMMENT AND THAT'S HOW I HAVE BEEN MOST OF MY LIFE. TRYING TO PARTICIPATE IN IT WAS A GREAT THING THAT I GOT TO HEAR FROM THAT LADY. THOSE GREAT. I HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT

BUT I AM DONE. THAT IS IT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. G HERE. DIANA, DO YOU WANT TO CALL YOUR MEETING TO ORDER? YOU HAVE A QUORUM I

SEE. >> SPEAKER: YES, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM PRESIDENT AND I WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

FIRST I WANT TO SAY HOW EXCITED WE ARE TO E HERE TODAY WHILE WE ARE COMPLETING OUR THIRD YEAR AS A COMMISSION THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR FIRST JOINT MEETING. ES RESULT WE WANTED T TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE OUR FORMER MEMBERS AND STAFF GAZE ON WHOSE NAMES ARE INCLUDED ON THIS SLIDE AS THEY HAVE HAD A DIRECT HAND IN MANY OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE HAD TONIGHT. WE WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PASTOR WHOSE LEADERSHIP WAS VALUABLE TO THIS COMMISSION AND ESTABLISH OURSELVES IN THE FIRST YEARS. BEFORE WE PROCEED FURTHER I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE OF OUR MISSION. WE AS MEMBERS OF THE RTE IC SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES OF ROWLETT'S DIVERSE POPULATION AND AS DEFINED IN THE MISSION STATEMENT WE PROVIDE CREATIVE IDEAS AND FEEDBACK AND FOSTER RESPECT IN THE ROWLETT IMMUNITY. WE ARE EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON RELATED ISSUES IN ROWLETT AND TO DEMONSTRATE THAT I'M GOING TO ASK EACH OF THEIR MEMBERS PRESENT TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THEY SERVE ON THIS COMMISSION AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO THEM. MIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START US OFF?

>> SPEAKER: MY NAME IS MIKE HERNANDEZ I AM ORIGINALLY FROM THE EL PASO AREA AND LIVING HERE FOR THE BETTER PART OF FIVE YEARS IN ROWLETT. I JOINED THIS COMMISSION BECAUSE I WANT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN FEELING THE CALLING FOR SOME TIME NOW SO I WANTED TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT DIFFERENT. I STAYED WITH THIS COMMISSION BECAUSE I REALLY DO BELIEVE IN THE COMMISSION. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION SHOULD BE A TENANT GOVERNMENT.

TO STRIVE FOR EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE TO BE HEARD AND NOT SILENCED FOR BASIC DIFFERENT THAT KEEPS ME HERE AND HOPEFULLY TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. TO WORK TO CORRECT WHAT IS BROKEN.

>> SPEAKER: MY NAME IS DENISE YOUNG AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE

[00:35:01]

>> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SUSAN CAMPBELL AND I AM GRATEFUL TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS GREAT COMMISSION AS A WOMAN, OF A MOTHER OF AN AWESOME YOUNG WOMAN LIKE WE SHOULD NEVER FACE BARRIERS BECAUSE OF HER GENDER. AS A MOTHER ALSO OF AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN WHO IS GAY SHOULD NEVER FACE AREAS BECAUSE OF HIS SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND THE WIFE OF A WONDERFUL HISPANIC MAN WHO SHOULD NEVER FACE BARRIERS BECAUSE OF HIS ETHNICITY AND AS A REGISTERED NURSE WHO CARES FOR PEOPLE OF EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC WHO SHOULD NEVER FACE BARRIERS TO HEALTHCARE ESPECIALLY DURING THIS PANDEMIC. I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR 20 YEARS AND I HAVE HIGH HOPES THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION TO TRULY MAKE IT ROWLETT FOR

ALL. >> SPEAKER: I NAME IS APRIL WISE AND I FAMILY AND I MOVED TO ROWLETT AND 2009. MY REASON FOR BEING HERE IS SIMPLE. THEIR NAMES ARE DEANDRA, ELIA, MICHAELA, JASMINE, JAY LENO AND JADEN. THOSE ARE MY NEPHEWS ANDNIECES THAT ARE MIXED. I GREW UP IN A VERY RACIST HOME AND THAT HAS BEEN EMBEDDED IN MEET THE NEED TO HELP THE AREA AROUND ME AND HPE THAT THAT GROWS. THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: WOULD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALINA JEFFERSON SHALL BE A AND I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION ALSO SINCE ITS INCEPTION FOR THREE YEARS. AS A MEMBER OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND CITIZENS OF ROWLETT I JOINED THE COMMISSION TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE OUR CITIZEN TO BECOME MORE OPEN-MINDED ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION SO OUR COMMUNITY CAN SERVE AS A MODEL TO OTHER TOWNS AND CITIES. FOR THAT I FOR ONE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THIS WORK FOR THE REST

OF MY ROWLETT LIFE. >> SPEAKER: WOULD EVENING. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA MANNING AND I AM RELATIVELY NEW TO THE ROWLETT AREA. I BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS. AS A MEMBER OF THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY THERE WAS A TIME ESPECIALLY DURING THE COVID CRISIS THAT WE NOTICED THERE WAS SOME CHALLENGES WE WERE FACING RELATED TO RACE AND VARIOUS THINGS RELATED TO DIVERSITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

INSTEAD OF TAKING IT TO THE STREETS AND RIOTING OR DOING ANYTHING IN THAT REALM I DECIDED TO ATTEMPT TO JOIN THE COMMISSION BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO ACTUALLY TAKE PART IN COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT MIGHT BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND HELP US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE OUR DIFFERENCES BUT MIGHT BE THE THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY SHARE IN COMMON TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY STRONGER AND MORE ACCEPTING OF ONE

ANOTHER. THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOANNA PHELAN AND THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR ON THE COMMISSION. I HAVE LIVED IN ROWLETT SINCE LAST YEAR. I HAVE BEEN AN EDUCATED IN GARLAND ISD AND I WORK WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, FAMILIES, SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS. I AM I LINGUAL SO I DO EVALUATIONS WITH FAMILIES THAT ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE. WHAT I FOUND WHEN WE MOVED TO ROWLETT IS LIMITED RESOURCES AT THE TIME FOR OUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN. DURING COVID I HAD A LOT OF PARENTS COME TO ME AND SAY MY KIDS CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? I HAVE TO WORK. SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES AS FAR AS DAYCARE PROVIDERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, IT IS LIMITED

[00:40:05]

>> SPEAKER: I AM RYAN KHALIL. I JOINED THE COMMISSION BECAUSE DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION THAT I AM SOMEWHAT PASSIONATE ABOUT. THE PARTS OF THAT EFFORT IN THE MISSION OF THE COMMISSION IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITIES THAT WE OFTEN TEND TO IGNORE IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES OF DISCOURSE, IT NORMALIZES THEIR EXISTENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AND IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT EFFORTS AND HAVING A COMMISSION THAT EXISTS WHOSE MISSION IS SPECIFIC TO THAT CAUSE IS A REALLY IMPORTANT AND GREAT WAY TO ENGAGE THOSE COMMUNITIES AND MAKE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNIT FEEL HEARD, LISTENS TO AND ANYWAY, THAT IS WHY I JOINED THE COMMISSION

AND, SO - >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING. LET'S MOVE ON TO DISCUSSING OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

BECAUSE WE ARE COVERING THREE YEARS OF NOT GOING TO COVER EACH ACCOMPLISHMENT IN DETAIL THE FULL LIST IS PROVIDED IN THE PACKET AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT PLEASE ASK ME THAT IN THE END. WE WILL FOCUS ON THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORK WE ARE DOING TO HEIGHTEN KEY ACHIEVEMENTS HERE FIRST AND FOREMOST THESE MAY HAVE A FAMILIAR RING BECAUSE THESE DO NOT COME WITH ROWLETT STRATEGIC PLAN. IN FACT WILL WITH CREATIVE IDEAS AND FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON HOW BEST TO ENGAGE ALL OF ROWLETT'S DIVERSE GROUPS AND DECISION-MAKING AND SERVE AS A SOUNDING BOARD ON PROPOSED POLICY ISSUES. MUCH OF THE WORK WE DO RELATES TO THIS CHARGE INCLUDING A REVIEW OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPLICATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE 1 OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO UPDATE THE QUESTION WHICH IS TO ASK ABOUT RELATIVE EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE TO THE MORE DETERMINE EXPERIENCE THIS WIDENS THE APPLICATION POOL AND IS MORE INCLUSIVE TO THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT BE ON A REGULAR EMPLOYMENT TRACK SUCH AS A STAY-AT-HOME PARENT. WE ALSO WORK WITH ROWLETT.COM TO ASSESS THE ASSESS ABILITY OF INFORMATION ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AS WELL AS TO ENSURE WE ARE USING INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE.

THE POLICY REVIEW THIS CITY COUNCIL IS MOST FAMILIAR WITH IS THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICIES WITH THE MAYOR AND MANAGER WHICH WE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL IN MAY HERE THAT TIES US TO THIS TYPE OF WORK. THE BIG COMPONENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS PROVIDING TRUST IN THE CITY GOVERNANCE AND INSTITUTIONS. IN ORDER TO BE SAFE PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL SAFE. PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL WELCOME. I WAS A BIG COMPONENT OF THAT POLICY REVIEW. NOT ONLY ARE WE ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE PROPER POLICIES IN PLACE TO PROTECT POLICE OFFICERS WE ARE SHOWING THAT THE COMMUNITY THAT RPD IS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY AND FEEDBACK. WE CREATED A FORM TO DISCUSS CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC TO DISCUSS RACIAL EQUALITY. GRADED PROCLAMATIONS TO SHINE A LIGHT ON GROUPS LIKE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, PRIDE MONTH, WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY AND WE DO THIS TO SAY THAT WE WELCOME THESE GROUPS TO OUR PUBLIC DISCOURSE. OF COURSE WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY. ONLY THIS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN THE FIRST GROUPS ARE WELCOME IN ROWLETT, IS ALL FOR ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH YOU DIVERSE COMMUNITY THROUGH CULTURAL EVENTS. I MENTIONED CELEBRATE OVERSEE WHICH IS OUR GUEST EVENT EACH YEAR AND ANOTHER NOTABLE ONE WE HAVE IS DECORATE DOWNTOWN WITH OUR AWARD-WINNING MARY HAPPY EVERYTHING DISPLAY WHICH YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO. WE WON MOST CREATIVE INTO A 19 TO EXPAND THE REACH OF OTHER HOLIDAY TRADITIONS JAN JUST HOLIDAY TREES. WE ARE ALSO HOPING TO EXPAND OUR EVENT REPERTOIRE FOR EVENTS FOR MLK AND JUNETEENTH WITH THE BOARD AS THEY EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THESE EVENTS AS WELL. WE ARE

[00:45:02]

WE KNOW THE COUNCIL HAS CONCERNS AROUND EMPLOYER ATTENTION. FOR EXAMPLE I'VE HEARD YOU DISCUSS THINGS LIKE COMPETITIVE PAY WHICH IS HELPFUL BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A WRONG WAY IN THE WORKPLACE.

EMPLOYEES WHO FEEL A STRONG SENSE OF BELONGING EXPERIENCE INCREASED JOB PERFORMANCE, A REDUCTION OF TURNOVER RISK AND SICK DAYS AND ARE LIKELY TO RECOMMEND THEIR EMPLOYER AS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK. A PERSONAL ANTIDOTE. I CAN TELL YOU THEY KNOW SOMEBODY WHO HAS WORKED FOR A COMPANY THAT'S BEEN NAMED AS THE WORLD'S BEST WORKPLACE AND THEIR DI IS WHY THEY HAVE THAT DISTINCTION. I COULD EASILY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND MAKE MORE MONEY BUT HAVING AN EMPLOYER TO ENCOURAGE ME TO BRING MY WHOLE SELF TO WORK IS MUCH MORE VALUABLE AND ADDED PAY AND THAT'S WHY I'M THERE 13 YEARS LATER. THAT BRINGS US TO A FUTURE CONCERN WE WOULD LIKE TO DRAW THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION TO IS THE NEED FOR AN INTERNAL DIVERSITY PROGRAM AND A FULL-TIME DIVERSITY COORDINATOR. WE LOVE THE WORK WE DO. EVERYONE ON THE TEAM GIVES AMAZING SUPPORT BUT NONE OF US HAVE THE TIME REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT AND MAINTAIN THIS TYPE OF WORK. WE ENCOURAGE YOU COUNSEL AS YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET TO TAKE THIS UNDER CONSIDERATION. FINALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO ANY FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR US AND WE WANT TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS AN OPEN ENDED CONVERSATION NOT JUST TONIGHT BUT ANYTIME WE NEED COUNSEL'S INPUT. YOU ARE THE ELECTED INDIVIDUALS OF THE CITY SO IT PIS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHA IS AT THE TOP OF MIND FOR YOU FOR THIS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION. WHAT ARE YOU HOPEFUL ABOUT MAC HE TALKED IN THE BEGINNING AS WE SHARED OUR EXPERIENCES THAT WE ARE EQUIPPED TO ADVISE COUNSEL ON THIS TOPIC. PLEASE UTILIZE THIS. WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU ENSURE THAT ROWLETT IS THE PERFECT LACE TO WORK AND PLAY

FOR ALL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: INCORPORATED YOU DIANA AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO PARTICIPATED. I KNOW ALL OF YOU VERY PERSONALLY AND I LOVE YOUR PERSONALITIES AND I LOVE WORKING WITH YOU AND I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE THAT.

COUNSEL, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT BLAKE

MARGOLIS? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I WANT TO SAY THAT I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. WE HAD A MEETING LAST NIGHT WE WERE

[00:50:05]

>> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER MARTHA BROWN?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: YES. DID YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU DID A POLL OF SOME TYPE? A SURVEY? YES A SURVEY.

>> SPEAKER: WE'VE DONE A COUPLE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY SURVEYS AND WERE DOING A CURRENT ONE TO ASSESS WHAT KIND OF EVENTS AROUND DIVERSITY ACTIVITIES THAT THE PUBLIC IS INTERESTED IN SEEING AND THUS THE ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE SURVEYS, EITHER ONE OF THEM. I POINT BEING IS THAT SOMETIMES WE THINK WERE DOING A GOOD JOB OF GETTING THE WORD OUT WHEN WE WANT TO GET FEEDBACK AND I THINK EVEN WHEN A COUNCILMEMBER DOESN'T KNOW, WE JUST NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AT GETTING THE WORD OUT FOR OUR SURVEYS. THAT IS JUST AN EDITORIAL COMMENT NOT NECESSARILY FOR YOU GUYS BUT FOR A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT FEEDBACK ON THAT I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF GETTING THE WORD OUT THAT WE GET GOOD FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.

>> SPEAKER: WOULD YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR US BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE, THE CITIES FACEBOOK PAGE, THE WATER BILL AND OUT AT THE FOURTH OF JULY TAKING SURVEY RESPONSES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WE UNDERSTAND. WE THINK WE GET IT OUT THERE EVERYWHERE AND I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS TO THAT, I WISH I DID. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT MIGHT TAKE A MARKETING PERSON OR SOMEONE TO HELP US WITH THAT. TO GET THE WORD OUT, IT'S BETTER TO GET GOOD FEEDBACK AND SO, I DIDN'T SEE IT IN MY WATER BILL AND OF COURSE I PAY ALL OF THAT STUFF ONLINE SO THAT IS A REAL CHALLENGE WE HAVE NOW AS FAR AS GETTING PAPER IN FRONT OF PEOPLE BUT I WANTED TO MAKE THAT AS A COMMENTS. AND THEN, I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR OUTREACH GOALS FOR 2022 AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN OR ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT GLAD ACCREDITATION IS?

>> SPEAKER: I WISH BONNIE WAS HERE BECAUSE SHE WAS THE ONE LOOKING INTO IT AND SHE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT. YOU GUYS FAMILIAR WITH THAT AT ALL? CAN YOU TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I TRIED TO LOOK ON THEIR WEBSITE AND THERE WAS NO INFORMATION ON ACCREDITATION ON THAT SO IF YOU COULD HELP US OUT WITH THE CRITERIA AND THE COST AND WHAT ALL IS INVOLVED IN THAT? > SPEAKER: WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS AND THUS WERE LOOKING INTO RIGHT NOW BUT BASICALLY WHAT IN ACCREDITATION IS IS THAT IT WOULD BE FOR THE CITY AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND FOSTERS A DIVERSE- INCORPORATED OF IT SIMILAR TO DISABILITY ACCREDITATION, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS CALLED BUT HAVING THE RIGHTS KINDS OF ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS DIVERSITY AND TO STAY SAFE AND STUFF LIKE THAT. TARGETING THE DETAILS ON THAT STILL. I KNOW BONNIE WAS LOOKING INTO IT BUT THAT'S THE GIST. DOES THAT

ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >> COUNCILMEMBER: SORT OF. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE DETAILS AND SEEING WHAT ALL IS INVOLVED WITH THAT. THEN, ALSO, I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT OR A SUGGESTION ABOUT THE OPERATION LOOK AT THE COAL BANNERS THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS A PROCESS THAT THEY GO THROUGH FOR APPROVAL OF ALL THE BANNERS THAT GO UP IN THE CITY OF DALLAS. IF WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT ALONG WITH OUR TOWER LIGHTING POLICY THAT WE CREATE A POLICY FOR BANNERS.

>> SPEAKER: WE AREN'T AT THAT POINT YET BUT WE GET THERE IT

IS PLANNED FOR COUNSEL. >> COUNCILMEMBER: SURE. I SEE

IT'S PLAN TO GO TO COUNSEL. >> MAYOR: I KEEP TELLING THEM

THEY HAVE TO GO TO COUNSEL. >> COUNCILMEMBER: SINCE IT WAS CALLED OUT AND WANTED TO MENTION THAT AND I WANTED TO SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES DID. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO LOOK AT DALLAS BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS OF APPROVAL FOR THAT. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. YOU GUYS SHOWED UP IN MASKS IN IT SHOWS THAT YOU GOT SOME REALLY GOOD CONTRIBUTIONS FROM YOUR COMMISSION AND JUST KEEP DOING THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING. IT IS GOOD FOR ME TO SEE THE

[00:55:02]

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COUNSEL? AGAIN, FOR A PERSONAL NOTE, THANK YOU, WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PRESENTATION AND GREAT WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING YEARS. DIANA, IF YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN YOUR

MEETING. >> SPEAKER: OUR MEETING IS NOW

ADJOURNED. >> MAYOR: WE DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION TONIGHT IF ANYONE WANTS TO STAY. IT WILL BE A LITTLE WHILE, ANOTHER HOUR. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM 3C.

DISCUSS THE CITY COUNCIL?S WORK PLAN FOR FY2022. (.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO 3D FIRST IF WE

RUN SHORT OF TIME? >> OR: IT SEEMS LIKE YOU WOULD.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WE HAVE SOME OPTIONS.

>> MAYOR: USUALLY HE SITS BESIDE ME AND HE TELLS ME THESE

[3D. Presentation Regarding the Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program. (30 Minutes)]

>> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

>> MAYOR: GOOD EVENING LIBBY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> SPEAKER: LIBBY TUCKER, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE ITEM YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING IS THE PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM BETTER KNOWN AS PACE. IT IS SIMPLY A FINANCING MECHANISM THAT GIVES US ANOTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING TOOL FOR BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION PROJECTS AND WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE FOR A MICROGRID, ENERGY PROJECT AT SAPPHIRE BAY. THERE IS A PROCESS THAT THE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO ADOPT THE PROGRAM. THERE'S FINANCIAL PATIENT TO THE CITY, VERY LITTLE STAFF TIME INVOLVED AS WELL. WE HAVE DEB TAYLOR HERE THIS EVENING IS THE DIRECTOR FOR PACE, TEXAS 40 TWO GIVE YOUR PRESENTATION ABOUT IT. AND, IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD AT THEIR JULY 20 MEETING HEARD THE SAME PRESENTATION AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO BRING IT TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION AS WELL.

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS MY NAME IS DOUG TAYLOR AND I AM THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR TEXAS PACE AUTHORITY AND AS LIBBY SAID, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN HEARD BY THE ECONOMIC ADVISORY BOARD. AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE BOARD IS AND THE MECHANICS, THIS IS ME BEFORE I GOT INVOLVED WITH PACE I WORKED WITH THE STATE 25 YEARS AND MOST RECENTLY THE CONSERVATION THAT WE DID THE PUBLIC SECTOR FINANCING FOR ENERGY WATER EFFICIENCY PROJECTS AND WINGS LIKE THIS THE GARLAND ISD WAS A FREQUENT CUSTOMER THAT SERVICES A LOT OF WORK IN THE AREA. SO, PACE, THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT ACE IS DESIGNED TO HELP SOLVE AND THAT IS THAT BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS OWNERS KNOW THAT MAKING INVESTMENTS IN UPGRADING ENERGY AND WATER SYSTEMS, MECHANICAL SYSTEMS IN THE BUILDING CAN SAVE MONEY BUT IT TAKES A WHILE TO RECOVER THOSE COSTS. A MUCH LONGER TIME THAN MOST WERE ABLE TO BEAR. EVEN MODEST RATES CAN COST A LOT OF MONEY AND SO THERE IS A CAPITAL TO OVERCOME AT THE OUTSET. THE IMPACT OF THIS IS A RESULT OF HIGHER OPERATING COSTS IN BUILDINGS AND IN MANY CASES TEMPERATURE ISSUES, LIGHTING ISSUES, THINGS LIKE THIS AND OVERALL PRODUCTIVITY IMPACTS THAT ARE NEGATIVE. ALSO, YOU KNOW WHEN THE AC IS GOING TO FAIL IT'S GOING TO BE JULY OR AUGUST SO YOU WIND UP GETTING THE EQUIPMENT REPLACED IN THE PIECEMEAL BASIS RATHER THAN STEPPING BACK AND TRYING TO

[01:00:02]

THE ONLY THING THAT IS NOT ELIGIBLE IS SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND RESIDENTIAL UP TO FOUR UNITS BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS. AND THAT'S ALL UNDER STATE LAW. THE KEY DIFFERENCE IN WHY THIS MAKES SENSE, CONVENTIONAL INITIAL SCENARIO IS IF A RESIDENT NEEDS TO BORROW THE MONEY, TYPICALLY A LENDER IS GOING TO WANT TO GET THEIR MONEY BACK OVER A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. GIOIA FIVE YEARS. THE PAYMENTS FOR THOSE LOANS ARE HIGHER SO THERE'S A DISCONNECT OR A NEGATIVE CASH FLOW. WITH PACE BY STRETCHING THOSE PAYMENTS OVER A LONGER TERM IT CAN BE CASH FLOW POSITIVE AND THEY REALIZE THE BENEFIT. THAT'S REALLY THE KEY DIFFERENCE. TYPE OF THINGS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE, IF IT IS A PROJECT IN IMPROVEMENT THEY CAN REDUCE ENERGY OR WATER USAGE SITE AND IT MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE. THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT. HB REPLACEMENTS, BUILDING CONTROLS, RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS DISTRIBUTIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS WHICH LIBBY MENTIONED ON THE WATER SIDE, A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS AS WELL. AND SO IS DESIGNED TO OVERCOME INVESTMENT BARRIERS NO UPFRONT CAPITAL IS NEEDED AND ON EQUIPMENT LOANS, OFTEN TIMES THERE WILL BE A DOWN PAYMENT OF SOME SORT TO PURSUE IT AND PACE CAN PROVIDE 100 PERCENT ANYTHING FUNDED UP THE LIFE OF THE EQUIPMENT LONG-TERM. IN THE CASE OF A TRIPLE NET THIS IS AN OPERATING COST AND IT WOULD BE LIKE A TAX PASSED TO A TENANT. THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FACILITY WHERE THE TENANT HAS A BUSINESS THAT COST CAN BE SHARED BETWEEN THE LANDLORD AND THE TENANT. UNLIKE SOME LOANS THAT MIGHT NOT BE AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF SHORT-TERM OWNERSHIP, A LOT OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS MIGHT OWN OR FLIP A PROPERTY EVERY 3 TO 5 YEARS. THIS IS A LONG-TERM LOAN AND TRANSFERS WITH THE SALE. SO, IT CONVEYS AND CAN AID OFF AND AUTOMATIC IT CAN BE CONVEYED UNTIL THE LOAN IS PAID. IT HELPS ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AS WELL. OVERALL IN TEXAS ONE OF THE 71 MILLION DOLLARS APIECE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN DONE JUST IN 2016 WHEN THINGS GOT GEARED UP. THE LEGISLATION PASSED IN 2013 AND MOST OF THIS IS IN THE COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL AREA.

ABOUT HALF OF IT IS ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECTS AND THE THIRD WATER CONSERVATION AND 12 PERCENT DISTRIBUTIVE GENERATION. IN TEXAS WE HAVE 59 CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED PACE AND GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS WHICH YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING NOW COVERING 60 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION. IT EXPANDED WHAT TEXAS AREA WHERE WE HAD THESE DALLAS AND PRINCETON, PROSPER AND TARRANT COUNTY. DALLAS COUNTY, COUNTYWIDE IS CONSIDERING PACE RIGHT NOW AND FOR IT TO BE COUNTYWIDE IT IS UNCERTAIN WHAT EXACTLY THAT CALENDAR IS GOING TO BE IN THAT TIMELINE. AGAIN MANY CITIES DO THIS INDIVIDUALLY. SO, THE PROCESS IS THIS AND THESE STEPS, PUBLIC BRIEFING OR DISCUSSION IS WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS A WORKSHOP TO THE CITIES AND COUNTIES WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS AND THEN SECOND, THE THINGS THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD ARE ACTUALLY REQUIREMENTS UNDER STATE LAW AND YOU HAVE TWO REPORT ON HOW THE PROGRAM WILL WORK AND THEN PASSED A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO ESTABLISH THE PROGRAM AND WHEN THAT IS PASSED THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING DATE OF THE RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT AND THEN STEP

[01:05:05]

THIS IS A FAIRLY COMPLICATED REAL ESTATE FINANCING TRANSACTION. 68,000 IS WHAT WE SEEN SO FAR. WE ARE TRYING TO STREAMLINE THIS TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO SMALLER PROPERTIES BUT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE AND ALL OF THEM HAVE RECEIVED 100 PERCENT FINANCING. ALSO ABOUT HALF OF THESE HAVE REQUIRED LENDER CONSENT BECAUSE OF A MORTGAGE HOLDER AND THAT CONSENT HAS BEEN PROVIDED. AS AN EXAMPLE, THIS IS THE VERY FIRST PROJECT IN TEXAS, THIS IS A TEMPLE IN AUSTIN, CHURCHES AND TEMPLES HAVE CASH FLOW CHALLENGES AND HAVE NEEDS.

CASES ARE A GOOD MATCH FOR NONPROFIT TO CHANGE THE AC, AND DO SOME OTHER WORK TO HELP BUY DOWN THE COST OF THE PROJECT.

A 20 PERCENT ANNUAL SAVINGS. IN HOUSTON THIS IS A CONVENTIONAL COMMERCIAL OFFICE BUILDING THAT HAD ALL ORIGINAL MECHANICAL SYSTEMS THAT WERE IN DIRE NEED OF REPLACEMENT. A $1.3 MILLION PROJECT AND 30 PERCENT ANNUAL SAVINGS. THIS

[01:10:05]

THE OWNER SPECIFIED ABOVE MINIMUM ENERGY AND WATER COULD RIDE HIM PACE SO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NEW PROPERTY BECAUSE IT ABOVE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS HAD HIGH PERFORMANCE WINDOWS AND WALLS INSULATION AND PLUMBING FIXTURES, SO FORTH AND THAT CAN QUALIFY THAT FOR PACE AS WELL. AND THEN FINALLY, THIS EXAMPLE OF AN OLD BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN AMARILLO THAT HAD BEEN ABANDONED, WAS AN EYESORE AND FULL OF BIRDS HAS RECENTLY OPENED THIS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, OPENED AS A BOUTIQUE HOTEL AND THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE HISTORIC TAX FINANCING AND UTILIZED PACE FOR ABOUT $68 MILLION. IT WAS A SHELL AND A SHOWPIECE DOWNTOWN IN AMARILLO. SO, WE THINK PACE IS A WIN, WIN, WIN THE PROPERTY OWNERS WIN. THEY SEE LOWER UTILITY BILLS, HAVE GREATER ENERGY RESILIENCY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, PROPERTY VALUE IS INCREASED AND THE CONTRACTORS, OFTEN TIMES THE CONTRACTOR WILL PROPOSE A JOB TO AN OWNER AND THEN IT STOPS RIGHT THERE. THIS IS THE WAY TO GET THROUGH THAT AND PROVIDE ATTRACTIVE FINANCING TO MOVE PROJECTS FORWARD. FOR LENDERS THIS IS A SECURE TYPE OF LOAN SECURED BY THE OWNER OF PTHE PROPERTY. AT THE STATE LEVEL REDUCING THE PEAK DEMAND ON UTILITY SYSTEMS. WE ALL WITNIS UNFORTUNATELY, BACK IN FEBRUARY. I THINK THIS HELPS WITH THE RESILIENCY ASPECT ON THE DEMAND SIDE. AND THEN FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, LAST BUT NOT LEAST THIS IS A TOOL. AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL TO BRING THE PROPERTIES BACK ONLINE, ATTRACT NEW DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVE BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND CREATE JOBS. A LOT OF RESOURCES WE HAVE ON THE WEBSITE OCCLUDING SOME TRAINING, ADDITIONAL CASE STUDIES, ETC., ETC.. YOU CAN LOOK AT THOSE IF YOU WOULD LIKE. AND I AM HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

>> MAYOR: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, COUNSEL, IT WAS MENTIONED BUT HE GAP HAS ALREADY HAD THIS PRESENTATION. COUNCILMEMBER MATT GRUBISICH?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS SO IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO GO THEY CAN. THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND IT WAS GOOD TO GET A DEEPER DIVE. REMIND ME, I MAY HAVE MISSED IT ON THE FIRST SLIDE

WIND OF THE PROGRAM START? >> THE LEGISLATION PASSED IN

2013. >> OKAY, IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LITTLE WHILE. AND THEN YOU AS THE 501(C)(3) WHICH HELPS ADMINISTER THAT HOW DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION GET FUNDED?

>> SPEAKER: WE ARE PAID ESSENTIALLY THROUGH WHAT IS A USER FEE AND SO IT IS A TRANSACTIONAL ITEM LIKE A CLOSING COST ON THE TRANSACTION TO THE OWNER, ESSENTIALLY THE FINANCING THE PROCEEDS FROM THE FINANCING PROVIDE FOR OUR FEES AS WELL AS OTHER REVIEW FEES THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE TRANSACTION. THE CITIES DON'T PAY US DIRECTLY IT WOULD COME

FROM THE OWNER AND FINANCING. >> COUNCILMEMBER: WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF THAT? IS IT A STANDING PERCENTAGE? WHAT IS

IT USUALLY? >> SPEAKER: YES. THE FEE IS A MINIMUM OF $2000 AND THEN IT IS A THEN IT IS A STAIRSTEP DOWNWARD FEET BASED ON THE TRANSACTION AND IT'S A PERCENTAGE AFTER THAT. WE HAVE THAT ALL ON OUR WEBSITE, TOO.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: FANTASTIC. DO YOU MIND GOING BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT HAD THE APPROVED PROJECT? ROJECT?

>> SPEAKER: SURE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: IT WENT BY

FAST. >> SPEAKER: DO YOU WANT THE

ROLLUP? >> COUNCILMEMBER: NO, I THINK IT HAD APPROVED PROJECTS I THINK IT WAS A SECOND OR THIRD

[01:15:02]

>> SPEAKER: THE BOTTOM LEFT RENEWABLE AND DISTRIBUTED GENERATION SYSTEM. ANYTHING THAT IS ON A CUSTOMER SIDE OF THE METER FROM THE METER'S PERSPECTIVE LOOKS LIKE AND ENERGY EFFECTIVE MEASURE AND THIS IS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED UNDER STATE LAW IF THERE IS A PROJECT THAT GENERATES EITHER ELECTRICITY OR THERMAL ENERGY AND IS ON THE CUSTOMER SIDE OF

THE METER IT CAN BE ELIGIBLE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: IT CAN BE

ELIGIBLE. OKAY. >> SPEAKER: WE HAVE HAD A HANDFUL OF SOLAR PROJECTS WHERE IT WAS JUST SOLAR ONLY AND THE OWNER WANTED TO PUT ROOFTOP SOLAR AND THAT WORKS BECAUSE OFTEN TIME THE PAYBACK ON A SYSTEM LIKE THAT CAN BE 10 OR

12 YEARS. >> COUNCILMEMBER: IT'S VERY LONG WHICH IS HOLDING IT BACK FROM TAKING OFF BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM THAT'S BUILT FOR SOLAR AND ON THE PAYBACK ON OTHER THINGS. DOES IT HAVE TO BE, TO THE BUILDING, CAN IT USED TO HELP INCENTIVIZE SOLAR IN PARKING LOTS? B3 YES. IF, FOR INSTANCE THERE IS A SHADING STRUCTURE THAT IS TILT THAT YOU PUT SOLAR PANELS ON DO PROJECTS LIKE THAT AND AGAIN IF A PARKING LOT IS BEHIND THE METER ON A CUSTOMER SIDE THE OWNER SIDE OF THE METER THEN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARKING LOT INCLUDING SOLAR, LED LIGHTING, THINGS LIKE THAT COULD BE ELIGIBLE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: ON THE OUTSIDE PART, ICY WATER, MANAGEMENT, WASTEWATER RECOVERY, THOSE ARE ALL GREAT DOES IT GET INTO BEING ABLE TO HELP INCREASE TREE CANOPIES? HELP WITH THOSE TYPES OF ADVANCED LANDSCAPING?

>> SPEAKER: POTENTIALLY IF THE WATER SAVING CAN BE ON A FIGHT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: OR A REDUCTION OF OVERALL HEAT WHICH CAN BE SHOWN IN THE ENERGY SAVINGS? WOULD THOSE BE SHOWN

AS WELL? >> SPEAKER: AGAIN, POTENTIALLY.

IT DEPENDS ON HOW HIGH THE SAVINGS NUMBERS ARE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WHO IS THE GOVERNING BODY OVER WHO SAYS THIS IS AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE VERSUS NOT?

>> SPEAKER: UNDER THE ENABLING LEGISLATION IT IS THE TOP LINE IS VERY BROAD. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AND ADDED SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES. THUS WE DO. THAT'S OUR JOB TO COMPLY WITH THE STATUTE AND THEN ALSO IT'S THE INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY REVIEWER THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER DOES ANOTHER REVIEW TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER SO THERE'S TWO LEVELS.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: OKAY. THAT'S FANTASTIC. I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. I THINK IT WILL BE A GREAT TOOL IN MY EDITORIAL COMMENT IS WE ARE JUST GRABBING THE LOW HANGING FRUIT WHICH IS A LOT OF TIMES WHAT HAPPENS IN PROJECTS LIKE THIS IN ALL SAMPLES YOU SHOWED THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD'VE HAD TO DO ANYWAY. HE MIGHT HAVE PUT IN A LITTLE BIT BETTER HVAC SYSTEM, LED OR SOMETHING ELSE AND A DIFFERENT WATERING SYSTEM THEN HE WOULD'VE HAD TO HAVE DONE.

I KNOW HIS IS WHY IT'S AN EDITORIAL COMMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO THE STATE LEGISLATOR BUT THIS COULD BE REALLY USED AS A TOOL TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE TO REALLY PUT THINGS INTO BUILDINGS THAT COULD REALLY START TO CAUSE A DIFFERENCE AND REALLY INCENTIVIZE THINGS LIKE SOLAR.

AGAIN, THIS IS JUST TAKING IT OFF IN THE EXAMPLES I'VE SEEN YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THEM THAT ARE PURE SOLAR INTO ME YOU SHOULD HAVE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE SOLAR AND HOW DO WE DO WATER RECLAMATION OR PLANT MORE TREES AND HAVE A LARGER EFFECT ON THINGS? THERE'S A LARGER OPPORTUNITY ON THINGS AND THERE IS EDUCATION DONE ON IT WITH THE CITIES TO BE ABLE TO SHOW US THAT THIS IS A WAY TO MEET WHAT SOME CITIES MIGHT PUT IN AS FAR AS ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND IF YOU WERE TO STRENGTHEN SOME OF THE CODES IN TERMS OF WHAT ENERGY PAYBACK IS. THIS COULD BE A REALLY GOOD TOOL TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE AND NOT JUST BE A FUNDING MECHANISM, ANOTHER FUNDING MECHANISM FOR DEVELOPERS TO BE ABLE TO GET THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM IT'S A START. WE ALL NEED TO GO DOWN AND THOSE ARE JUST MY EDITORIAL COMMENTS BUT SURE YOU WORK CLOSELY WITH THOSE THIRD-PARTY GROUPS AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE ON IT AND THE MORE THAT WE CAN USE THIS AS A TOOL TO BE ABLE TO PUSH WHAT TH EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGES ARE AND HOW WE CAN USE SMART ELEMENT AND SMART SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO BE

[01:20:02]

IN ROWLETT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: COUNCILMEMBER

ROBERT BLAKE MARGOLIS? >> COUNCILMEMBER: OUR PAYMENTS TO THE PACE PROGRAM MONTH-TO-MONTH OR DO THEY COME

IN CHUNKS LIKE ONCE A YEAR? >> SPEAKER: IT'S REALLY UP TO THE LENDER AND THE OWNER TO DEVELOP THAT SCHEDULE AND THEY HAVE TO BE AT LEAST ANNUAL BUT TYPICALLY THEY CAN BE ORDERLY OR TWICE A YEAR AND MONTH IS PROBABLY TOO FREQUENT THAT WE SEEN QUARTERLY AND TWICE A YEAR AND ANNUAL.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER AS MUCH HERE BECAUSE WERE TALKING A COMMERCIAL ON IT. IF IT WAS RESIDENTIAL THAT COULD BE A DISCUSSION POINT BUT IN THIS CASE IT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT. CAN A PACE LOAN BE REFINANCED? LET'S JUST SAY IF A PROPERTY HAD TO GO THROUGH FINANCING WITH THE PACE LOAN ALSO COMPLY WITH THAT?

>> SPEAKER: THE PACE LOAN COULD CONTINUE ON IN WHATEVER COMPONENTS OF THE BUILDING WOULD BE REFINANCED SEPARATELY OR REFINANCING COULD REFINANCE THE PACE LOAN, TO AND THAT COULD HAPPEN OR IT COULD BE PAID OFF IF THERE WAS A CHANGE

IN OWNERSHIP. >> COUNCILMEMBER: THOSE ARE MY TWO SIMPLE QUESTIONS AND THANKS FOR ANSWERING THAT THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND I SEE NOTHING BUT BENEFIT HERE AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO APPROVING THIS. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? BRIAN, DO YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE THINK THIS MIGHT BE USED FOR IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THANK YOU. NOT ONLY DO WE THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, IT WOULD HELP OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THINK ABOUT HOW OLD SOME OF OUR BUSINESS BUILDINGS ARE. I REMEMBER YEARS AGO WE RETROFITTED SEVERAL CITY FACILITIES AT ONE TIME PLUS SOME OF OUR STREETLIGHTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR PROGRAM. IT WASN'T SO MUCH THE FINANCING OPTION BUT THERE WERE SOME OTHER BENEFITS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

UNDER A PROJECT THAT, UNDER A STATE STATUE THAT ENCOURAGE DAILY ENCOURAGES THAT KIND OF INNOVATION. NOT ONLY THAT BUT WE HAVE A MAJOR DEVELOPER IN TOWN IN ROWLETT WHO WANTS TO USE THIS PROGRAM EVEN TO BUILD NEW STUFF. SO THIS COULD BE WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THEM AND FOR A PROJECT THAT HAS A MASTER PLAN AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AGAIN, THERE IS NO DOWNSIDE TO THIS WITH THE CITY AND THERE IS ONLY THE UPSIDE AND I THINK THAT'S WHY HE DAP WAS SO BULLISH AND HOW THEY UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED COUNSEL CONSIDERATION.

>> MAYOR: I WANTED TO MENTION BRIEFLY WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT COG IS PLANNING ON LOOKING AT THIS PROGRAM AND QUITE OFTEN CITIES WILL PARTNER WITH COG ON INITIATIVES LIKE THIS BUT THEY ARE AT THE BEGINNING STAGES OF LOOKING AT THIS AND WE THINK THERE WILL BE QUITE A DELAY IF WE WERE TO WAIT FOR COG AND THERE IS NO HARM. IF COG ENDS UP PUTTING IN PLACE A PROGRAM LIKE THIS THAT CAN BE USED IN THE FUTURE AND THIS WOULD NOT INCLUDE THAT. WE FEEL LIKE WITH AN OPPORTUNITY THAT IS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS NOW. LIBBY, DID YOU WANT TO WRAP UP? THANK YOU

SIR. >> COUNCILMEMBER: IS THERE

BECAUSE CONSENSUS? >> SPEAKER: IS THERE CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD AND IF SO WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS TO

DO THAT. >> MAYOR: YOU HAVE SEVEN THUMBS

[3C. Discuss the City Council’s Work Plan for FY2022. (30 minutes)]

YEAH! >> SPEAKER: MICHELLE WHEATON, FULLY STAFF THE ROWLETT DETENTION CENTER AND IT LOOKS

[01:25:04]

HE WAS, THE OFFICERS DETERMINED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE NORMAL USE OF HIS MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FACULTIES REASONS OF DRUG OR TOXIN VACATION THEY DID NOT TAKE HIM FOR A BLOOD DRAW. HE WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL AT 6 AM AND THEY NOTED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP HIS BALANCE OR RETRIEVE NUMBERS ON HIS PHONE, HE WAS NOT GIVEN AN INITIAL PHONE CALL THEY PUT HIM IN HIS CELL AND UNFORTUNATELY HE WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTACT HIS FAMILY AND HE'S 25 YEARS OLD. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY CHECKED ON HIM AT LUNCH AND HE DIDN'T WAKE UP. THEY LEFT HIM SLEEPING, THEY CHECKED ON HIM AGAIN AT DINNER BUT DIDN'T WAKE UP. THEY REALIZE THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND STARTED TO CONTACT PEOPLE AND ATTEMPT TO RESUSCITATE. BUT HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD. I'M STILL TRYING TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON HIS CASE HERE THIS IS THE CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT THAT I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE. IT IS HEARTBREAKING. IF WE ARE POLICING THE PRIORITY AND OFFERING OVER TIME TO BUILD TRUST THIS IS WHERE YOU BUILD TRUST. JAIL AFFECTS LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES MORE THAN THE OTHER COMMUNITY. IF YOU HAVE MONEY YOU CAN BAIL OUT YOU DON'T SIT IN JAIL YOUR FAMILY IS NOTIFIED AND YOU HAVE REPRESENTATION.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RYABRI

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL. BACK IN JUNE CIT COUNCIL MET AND DID AN EXERCISE TO IDENTIFY PROJECTS THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON AND TO ACCOMPLISH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. AND SO, ONCE WE DEVELOP THAT LIST THERE WERE QUITE A FEW, SEVERAL DOZEN ITEMS ON THERE AND THEN WE ASKED COUNSEL TO PRIORITIZE THAT AND THAT IS THE LIST THAT YOU SEE HERE. THIS REPRESENTS EVERY ITEM THAT GOT AT LEAST ONE VOTE. THERE WAS ANOTHER NINE OR 10 ITEMS THAT DID NOT RECEIVE A VOTE. SO WHAT WE TOLD COUNSEL AT THIS POINT WAS THAT THE STAFF WOULD GO BACK AND PERFORM SOME ANALYSIS AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS AND THEN WE WOULD COME BACK TO COUNSEL AND REALLY TRY TO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE DO WE REALLY SEE THAT CUT OFF BEING? WHAT DO WANT US TO FOCUS ON? EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS AN ANNUAL WORK PLAN. SOME CASES LIKE PUBLIC WORKS, IT'S VERY SPECIFIC. THIS WATERLINE OR THIS STREET OR THIS ALLEY PROGRAM. THOSE ARE PRETTY TYPICAL OF WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK OF A PROJECT. BUT EVEN IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT YOU HAVE YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS, THE ANNUAL AUDIT AND THOSE ARE ENORMOUS PROJECTS THAT TAKE UP A LOT OF RESOURCES AND TIME. BUT THIS, AS YOU SAW WE HAVE $147 MILLION PROPOSED BUDGET AND EVERY PROJECT FALLS UNDER YOUR UMBRELLA BUT YOU CAN'T MANAGE 1262 PROJECTS. MY QUESTION AND THE REASON WE DID THIS BACK IN JUNE WAS TO GET COUNSEL FEEDBACK. WHAT DO YOU

[01:30:01]

IT COULD PROBABLY NOT BE DONE IN 12 MONTHS BUT IN TWO YEARS, WE WILL GET THEM ALL DONE IN TWO YEARS AND MY QUESTION IS THIS, WHAT WE THINK AND GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, LOOKING AT THIS, IS THAT SOMEWHERE AROUND 14 TO 15 ITEMS IS AN APPROPRIATE CUTOFF. IF YOU DID IT STARKLY ON THE BOAT YOU JUST DRAW A LINE UNDER THE PUBLIC BOAT RAMP AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE ABOVE IT WOULD FOCUS ENERGY ON. I WOULD HEDGE THAT SOME OF THE ITEMS ON THE LIST WILL TAKE IN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF STAFF TIME AND OUR RESOURCES. WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW AND THERE ARE SOME THAT MIGHT BE BELOW THAT LINE THAT ARE ALREADY EITHER MIGHT HAVE OTHER PRIORITIES FOR OTHER REASONS OR FOR EXAMPLE FUNDING TRAILS UNTIL WE CAN GET TO ANOTHER BOND ELECTION AND THEN THAT MIGHT NOT BE AN OPTION.

OF COURSE THE GENERATORS IN MY MIND WOULD COME UP BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE THAT FUNDED AND WE ARE ALREADY GOING TO BE WORKING ON IT. I LSO VIEW THIS AS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD RECEIVE EITHER A MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY REPORT ON IT AND WE WOULD DISCUSS WHERE ARE WE AT ON THESE PROJECTS BECAUSE THESE ARE A TOP PRIORITY FOR YOU. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO TONIGHT YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE THE LIST WE ALSO HAVE THE APPENDI WHICH IS SIX OR SEVEN PAGES AND THAT GAVE YOU AN ANALYSIS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT AND EVEN IF WE CAN'T FINISH THAT WORK TONIGHT MAYBE A GENERAL IDEA OF WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT LIST. WITH THAT I WILL LEAVE IT UP TO

COUNSEL FOR DISCUSSION. >> MAYOR: I THINK THIS IS A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT TO HAVE A WORKING SESSION ON THIS. I THINK A BUDGET SESSION, PART OF THE BUDGET SESSION WOULD BE EASIER TO TALK ABOUT THIS. THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION . I DO WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE AND WHEN YOU GO THROUGH A PROCESS LIKE THIS EVERYBODY IS THINKING ABOUT DIFFERENTLY. LIKE I MIGHT NOT HAVE VOTED FOR SOMETHING BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DID THAT. I DON'T KNOW. I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO GO LET'S PICK THE TOP 14 OR 15 OR FIGURE OUT THE TOP 10, I THINK THIS IS A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT TO DO THAT IN. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

COUNCILWOMAN BROWN? >> COUNCILMEMBER: MAYOR I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT AND EVEN SINCE WE MADE THIS LIST TO YOUR POINT AND ALSO TO BRIAN'S, SOME OF THE PRIORITIES HAVE CHANGED AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE READY DEALING AND I THINK IT NEEDS A MUCH MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION THAN IN THIS ENVIRONMENT AS YOU POINTED OUT. IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR A

BUDGET WORK SESSION. >> MAYOR: THEY GET SOMETHING THAT WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND SEE WHAT WE COVERED IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION TYPE SESSION AND WE WANT THIS IN THE TWO-YEAR PLAN OR THE THREE-YEAR PLAN. I DON'T KNOW. COUNCILMEMBER MATT

GRUBISICH? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I AGREE WITH YOU, MAYOR. WE FIRST DID THIS EXERCISE WE THOUGHT LONG-TERM, WHAT IS THERE AND NOW WE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THE LONG-TERM STRATEGY FOR THE WATERVIEW GOLF COURSE IS IMPORTANT TO ME. IT WOULDN'T BE THE TOP OF THE LIST BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE THERE. IT COULD BE CLOSER TO 14 OR 15 AS OPPOSED TO THE NUMBER 1. I THINK IT WILL MAKE THE TOP 15 LIST BUT IT MIGHT BE YOUR TWO, THREE OR FOUR TIMEFRAME IN TERMS OF EVERYTHING ELSE IS GOING ON. WE MGHT BE ABLE TO DO ANOTHER SIMILAR STRETCH THAT WE DID LAST TIME AND SAY OKAY, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR YOUR ONE OR YOUR TWO BECAUSE IT MIGHT CHANGE HOW I VOTE A LITTLE BIT THAT'S JUST A SUGGESTION.

>> MAYOR: YOUR PRIORITIES WILL COME OUT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

[01:35:04]

COUNCILMEMBER MARGOLIS? >> COUNCILMEMBER:

>> MAYOR: DON'T THINK YOU GUYS THINK ALIKE! SO, WE CHOOSE NOT TO DISCUSS THIS RIGHT NOW. [LAUGHTER] I THINK THAT'S WHAT

WE JUST DECIDED. >> COUNCILMEMBER: LET ME SAY THIS. I STILL THINK IT WAS A GREAT EXERCISE TO GET TO THE STAGE TONIGHT BECAUSETHE MORE DETAIL IST THAT IS THE ATTACHMENT, WE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS ARE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO YOUR PLAN WOULD THAT INCLUDE 2022 AND 2023? IF WE GO THROUGH THE EXERCISE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YEAR WE WANT TO HAVE THESE THINGS ACCOMPLISHED BY YOU ALREADY NOW HAVE SOME INDICATION OF WHAT SOMETHING WOULD COST AND AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS YOU CAN THINK ABOUT THAT SOME OF THESE HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT TO THEM AND THE OTHERS IS JUST A STAFF INITIATIVE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DEPARTMENT ORDINANCE. WE WILL TAKE THAT UNDER WISEMAN AND MAYOR, TO YOUR POINT WE ENVISION THIS THURSDAY NIGHT BEING A VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION AND TENTATIVELY PLAN FOR THREE HOURS YOUR MAYBE MOST OF THE DISCUSSION CAN OCCUR IN ON THE DISCUSSION NIGHT NEXT TUESDAY THE 24TH IS WHERE WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE THE WRAP UP AND START MAKING DECISIONS. MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO PUT THIS? BASED ON WHAT YOU HEAR THURSDAY NIGHT SEE HOW IT MIGHT INFLUENCE YOUR FINAL. I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLAN AND WE WILL PLAN FOR THAT ON TUESDAY THE 24TH IF COUNSEL DOES NOT OBJECT?

>> MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBER MATT GRUBISICH?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: UNDER THE CURRENT WAY THEY WERE OPERATING BECAUSE OF COVID THIS TO ME IS NOT A GOOD SETTING FOR THAT TYPE OF WORK SO IF WE CAN DO SOCIAL DISTANCING CAN WE DO THURSDAY NIGHTS OR SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE WE CAN SPREAD OUT AND HAVE SOME MORE REAL WORK SESSIONS?

>> MAYOR: I SUGGESTED TO BRIAN TODAY THAT WE DO THE EEOC. BE THREE THAT WAS A SUGGESTION AND WE CAN SEE IF THAT OR ANOTHER ONE MIGHT BE AN OPTION BECAUSE TECHNICALLY WE NEED TO BE AROUND THE TABLE IN A SETTING WHERE IT'S NOT LIKE THIS.

>> MAYOR: IN THE TOC OR THE NEW FIRE STATION COULD SPREAD OUT.

HE DIDN'T TELL ME YES YET. >> SPEAKER: I HAVE NOT ASKED MY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER WHAT MY DECISION IS. [LAUGHTER] OKAY THERE IT WE WILL TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT AND YOU ARE RIGHT THIS IS A HARD ENVIRONMENT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF DIALOGUE. THANK

YOU. >> MAYOR: IT IS HARD TO DO A WORK SESSION IN HERE. OKAY, THAT WRAPS UP OUR WORK SESSION ITEMS, COUNSEL IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION OR YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT? OKAY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.