Nov 02, 2021 City Council Work Session

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

>> MAYOR: GOOD EVENING EVERYONE IT IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 AT 6:15 P.M. AT CITY HALL AT THE COUNCIL COURTROOM. AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 551.071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THIS MEETING MAY BE CONVENED INTO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ON ANY AGENDA ITEM HEREIN. THE CITY OF ROWLETT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RECONVENE, RECESS OR REALIGN THE REGULAR SESSION OR CALLED EXECUTIVE SESSION OR ORDER OF BUSINESS AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT.

TO PROVIDE COMMENT FOR THE MEETING (IF YOU ARE NOT ATTENDING IN PERSON), PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO CITIZENINPUT@ROWLETT.COM BY 3:30 P.M. THE DAY OF THE MEETING. PLEASE SPECIFICALLY STATE WHETHER YOUR COMMENT IS REGARDING A SPECIFIC CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM OR A GENERAL COMMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. YOUR COMMENT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD. WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON EMAIL WE ARE

[3A. Discuss the purchase of a 2021 Spartan 75’ Ladder Truck and equipment from Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists, Inc. (Metro Fire) in the amount of $1,121,726, through Sourcewell pricing contract and financed at the City’s discretion. [45 minutes]]

CITY?S DISCRETION. CHIEF? >> SPEAKER: THANK YU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT. WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AS SOME OF YOU REMEMBER IN 2015 WHEN WE HAD SOME FLEET ISSUES WE REFURBISH AND WE CAME OUT OF ANOTHER SECTION AND WE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THE STOCK GAP TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE COULD BE PLACED PERMANENTLY. WE REFURBISHED A COUPLE OF UNITS AND THEN BOUGHT A COUPLE OF OTHER UNITS. THESE REFURBISHMENTS HAVE EXCEEDED OUR VIABILITY. A THIRD OF THAT IS GENERAL MANAGEMENT AND IT IS A BREAKDOWN OF PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAD WITH THEM. WE HAVE HAD TO FIND FUNDS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN. ONE OF THE CONTRACTING FACTORS, AS YOU CAN SEE THIS CHART IS THE CALL VOLUME. IT HAD 2014 AND 2015 IT HAD A GOOD INCLINE AND IT STAYED FLAT, ONE OR TWO PERCENT OVER THE PAST LAST YEAR AND WE HAVE SEEN HUGE INCREASE THIS PAST YEAR. THE CALL VOLUME MEANS THAT WE ARE RUNNING MORE AND WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE APPARATUS. SOME FACTS THAT LAST YEAR AT THIS EXACT TIME AND DATE WE RAN 4793 CALLS AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE RAN 6000 CALLS.

>> DO YOU THINK OF A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF COVID?

>> THIS IS EVEN TAKEN THE 300 WATER CALLS AT THE END OF FEBRUARY OUT OF OUR NUMBERS. HAVE BEEN TAKING THOSE OUT. I THINK IT IS DUE TO THE GROWTH IN POPULATION AND THINGS WE'VE GOT GOING ON. I THINK WERE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THIS INCREASE. WERE GOING TO SEE AT LEAST A FIVE AND 10 PERCENT INCREASE OF CALL VOLUME PER YEAR GOING FORWARD.

>> MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO RESERVE UNITS AT OUR DISPOSAL AT ANY TIME. DUE TO MAJOR BREAKDOWNS OVER THE PAST YEAR WE HAVE TO PUT THE RESERVES IN SERVICE.

82 PERCENT OF THE TIME LAST YEAR WE WERE DOWN TO ONE RESERVE AND 39 PERCENT OF THAT TIME WE WERE OUT OF THE RESERVE. NO RESERVE MEANS NO BLOCKED TRUCKS FOR THE PPE.

THE MAJOR REPAIR ISSUES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED SIMULTANEOUSLY WHICH CAUSED US TO BORROW APPARATUS FROM NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS EVEN FROM THE OTHER THEY LOANED US THE APPARATUS FOR A FEW WEEKS. HE STOOD UP ONE WEEK WE WERE DOWN TO NO RESERVE AND WE HAD A TRUCK BREAKDOWN AND THEN I MYSELF WENT AND FIXED THE TRUCK BECAUSE I CALLED THE FACTORY, DONNED OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, WENT TO THE STATION AND WE GOT A BACKUP IN SERVICE. IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT. WE ARE IN A BIND. THIS IS JUST A COST SO YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH WE'VE SPENT IN THE PAST 45 YEARS ON OUR FLEET PEERED WERE TRYING TO GET OUR ARMS WRAPPED AROUND IT. THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER BUT ANY CATASTROPHIC MAJOR EVENT COULD COST US 30, $40,000 EASILY TO FIX.

>> WITH JUST ONE MONTH WE'VE ALREADY SPENT 57,000.

>> YES. >> IS EXPENSIVE.

>> THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE TWO NEW TRUCKS FOR

[00:05:07]

>> ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LEASE ON THE PUMPER?

>> YES THEY'RE GOING TO WAIVE THE LEASE FEE ON THE PUMPER.

WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE THAT WOULD BE

WAVING THE LEASE FEE. >> I'M SORRY I DID NOT READ

AHEAD! >> I HAD THE SAME QUESTION. WE DELIVER THIS BACK TO THE COUNCIL IN MAY.

>> WE BEEN SLATED IN THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT PLAN, WE WILL REPLACE THE TRUCK ONE YEAR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND WERE WAITING FOR THE NEXT UNIT TO BE REPLACED WITH THE LETTER THAT WE HAD REFURBISHED IN 2015 AND IN THE 2023 BUDGET. THE CURRENT COST WAS 121,000 WHICH INCLUDES EQUIPMENT OPTIONS AND WE HAD THE PUMP RENT FOR JONAH DOLLARS PER DAY. HE WAS TRYING TO GIVE US A DEAL, HE WAS TRYING TO HELP US OUT. THAT THEME WILL BE WAIVED IF WE PURCHASE A FLATTER TRUCK AT THE SAME TIME. OUR GOAL TO ACHIEVE FINANCING WOULD NOT BE DUE UNTIL THE 2023 BUDGET YEAR. AND WHILE WE PURCHASE A LADDER TRUCK THAT WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE 2004 TREATMENT RESERVE.

>> I'M WONDERING WHY WERE TRYING TO DELAY FINANCING? I'M SURE IT'S IN YOUR PRESENTATION.

>> WERE TRYING TO DELAY FINANCING SO WE DON'T HAVE TO COME UP WITH THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR. WE NORMALLY FINANCE IT AFTER THE PAYMENT IS DUE FOR THE DELIVERY OF THE TRUCK.

>> I THINK WHAT YOU ARE REMEMBERING IS WHEN WE BUDGET WE USUALLY BUDGET PARTIALLY. AT THE TIME WE PURCHASE IT WE MAKE THE FIRST PAYMENT IN ADVANCE. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS SPEND THE FISCAL YEAR AND BY DOING THAT IT WOULD PUT THE FIRST PAYMENT IN ARREARS WHICH WOULD BE NEXT YEAR AND AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING.

>> MAYOR: PROPOSING TO WHOM? >> COUNCILMEMBER: COUNSEL.

>> MAYOR: WHO'S GIVING US THAT OPTION?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THAT'S OUR OPTION WE WOULD FINANCE A SEPARATE HIT WE WOULD ACQUIRE IT FROM THE COMPANY WHO BUILT IT AND THEN WE WOULD DO OUR OWN FINANCE.

>> MAYOR: WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET?

>> SPEAKER: NUMBER WE WON'T HAVE TO DO THAT FOR A COUPLE OF

MONTHS. >> MAYOR: OKAY, ARE WE JUST TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE BUDGET YEAR?

>> SPEAKER: YES, FOR THE FIRST PAYMENT.

>> MAYOR: IF IT IS A RECURRING PAYMENT FOR THE BUDGET YEAR THAT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN WITHIN THE BUDGET?

>> SPEAKER: YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER: NEXT YEAR'S

BUDGET WOULD BE ONE OF 13,000. >> COUNSEL, IF WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PURCHASE WE COULD GET DIRECTION.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT. I THINK GETTING ANOTHER LETTER TRUCK IS CRITICAL BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO LADDER TRUCKS AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY RESERVE LETTER TRUCK SO WHEN ONE GOES OUT WE WERE PLACED THE LETTER WITH THE ENGINE AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE LADDER TRUCKS.

TODAY WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF NEEDING A LETTER TRUCK FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION PURPOSES. I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND I'M SO

IMPORTANTENCOURAGED BY IT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I SUPPORT IT BUT I'M NOT GOING TO CLIMB ANY OF THOSE LETTERS!

>> UPLOADED ON THE ENDS. >> MAYOR: SO, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE TWO TRUCKS THAT ARE ON ORDER?

>> SPEAKER: THEY WILL GO INTO SERVICE TO REPLACE A FEW OF OUR

OTHER TRUCKS. >> MAYOR: OKAY BUT YOU'RE GOING

TO KEEP THOSE ON ORDER? >> COUNCILMEMBER: YES.

[00:10:03]

>> SPEAKER: EVEN THE SUPPLY CHAIN RIGHT NOW IS CRAZY.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TRUCKS THAT ARE AGING

OUT? CAN WE RESELL THEM? >> SPEAKER: WE CAN USE THEM FOR BLOCKING OR RESERVES AND AS WE CONTINUE TO REPLACE WE WILL START PHASING SOME OF THEM OUT. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET TO WHERE WE HAVE A RESERVE UNIT OR EACH STATION WITH THE CALLS THAT WE WILL CONTINUALLY HAVE. THE CALL VOLUME IS KILLING US.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: LET ME MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS FOR PERSPECTIVE BUT REALLY IT IS A STRATEGY CONVERSATION. WHAT WE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD TO DO IS TO TRY TO HAVE THE LEASE PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR ALL OF OUR MEDIC UNITS AND ALL OF OUR FIRE APPARATUS. AT ANY GIVEN TIME WE HAVE AN ANNUAL LEASE PAYMENT THAT IS ROUGHLY THE SAME EVERY YEAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOMETIMES BUMPS UP AND WE BUY A NEW ONE AND THAT WAY THE YEAR THAT THE PAYMENT DROPS OFF WE ARE BUYING THE NEXT ONE AND THEN WE KEEP ON GOING AND KEEP ON GOING. WHAT CAUGHT US THIS TIME IN THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS THAT IN 2015 WE HAD TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, WE REFURBISHED AND WE HOPED WE WOULD GET 10 MORE YEARS OUT OF THE REFURBISHMENT AND WE HAVE NOT.

EVEN BY DOING THIS AND EVEN IF WE GET THAT LEASE PAYMENT OFF NEXT YEAR WILL HAVE THREE FISCAL YEARS OF PAYMENT WITH THAT EXTRA 33,000 PER YEAR WITH THE ONES WE REFURBISHED. THAT IS WHY HE STILL RESERVE STATUS AND NOT BE GOOD FOR THEM ONCE WE GET THE OTHER EQUIPMENT, TOO. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WERE STUCK WITH. INSTEAD OF THE TIMING BEING PERFECT A PAYMENT IS FALLING OFF AND THEN REFINANCE THE NEW VEHICLE.

WERE STILL GOING TO HAVE THREE YEARS WORTH OF PAYMENT ON THE OLD APPARATUS THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY REFURBISHED.

>> MAYOR: THAT'S WHY I WAS BRINGING UP WHY ARE YOU DEFERRING THE YEAR? YOU'RE CAUSING YOURSELF TO BE UPSIDE DOWN IN THE END AND KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. I'D RATHER FIND THE BUDGET MONEY AND HAVE A NORMAL LEASE SITUATION AND SAVE SOME FINANCING COST AND SEE IF THERE'S MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THOSE LEASE PAYMENTS. I JUST DON'T LIKE DEFERRING THAT FIRST PAYMENT FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.

>> SPEAKER: I DON'T INHERENTLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT AND I CERTAINLY THINK WE CAN FIND THE FIRST PAYMENT. THE ONLY OTHER THING IS THAT INTEREST RATES ARE EXTRAORDINARILY LOW. IT'S NOT LIKE THERE IS A BIG GIANT INTEREST RATE THAT WE ARE

TRYING TO MITIGATE. >> MAYOR: WE COULD HAVE A USEFUL LIFE INSTANCE DOWN THE ROAD.

>> SPEAKER: TECHNICALLY IT'S THE 11TH YEAR YOU'RE WORRIED

ABOUT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO DO THAT. WE ARE LOOKING AT A SEMI ANNUAL BUDGET REVIEW IN THE JANUARY AND FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME. THAT MAY BE A GOOD TIME TO GO AHEAD WITH THIS NOW AND FINANCING IT, THE JANUARY BUDGET TALK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH SURPLUS WERE GOING TO HAVE AND IF HER GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE WITH THOSE SITUATIONS. MAYBE NOT DELAY FINANCING FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR OR MAYBE WE DELAY IT UNTIL MIDYEAR?

>> SPEAKER: IF COUNSEL WAS COMFORTABLE AND GAVE US THE GREEN LIGHT WE WOULD BRING IT ACT IN TWO WEEKS TO DO THE ACTUAL ORDER AND IN THAT TIME PERIOD WE WOULD SOLVE FOR HOW WE WOULD FUND AT FIRST PAYMENT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A DOCUMENT THE PAYMENT AND SHE'S GIVING TWO OPTIONS TO FURTHER IT IF THEY

PROPOSE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: YOU ARE GETTING THE OFFSET FOR THE RELEASE OF THAT. WE CAN APPLY

THAT INITIAL PAYMENT. >> SPEAKER: THE WAY I SEE IT IT REALLY FIXES THE ISSUE WITH THE RESERVES WHERE WE ARE DOWN TO ONE RESERVE FOR THE ENTIRE FLEET 82 PERCENT OF THE TIME.

THAT REQUIRES US TO PUT OUR FIRST LINE APPARATUS ON THE LINE IN DANGER. THAT IS A HORRIBLE SITUATION FOR US TO BE

IN. >> SPEAKER: IT WOULD MUCHBEAM MUCH BETTER TO GET ONE OF THE OLDER TRUCKS ON.

>> MAYOR: LET ME ASK A STUPID QUESTION. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE DUMP TRUCK IDEA OR THE DIFFERENT VEHICLE IDEAS?

>> SPEAKER: HERE'S THE ISSUE. WE CAN USE A FIRE TRUCK BETTER

[00:15:07]

>> MAYOR: THANK YOU, FIVE LETTER OR LESS WORDS.[LAUGHTER]

>> SORRY. WHEN YOU DO THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC FROM WHERE YOU ARE BECAUSE THOSE ARE DESIGNED TO BE HIT STRAIGHT ON. IF YOU DO THAT WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE MULTIPLE OF THOSE TO BLOCK LIKE WE ARE BLOCKING. TEAMS WON'T ALLOW US TO BLOCK ACROSS MULTIPLE LANES.

>> THE WHOLE TRUCK IS IN ATTENUATOR IS SELF?

>> YES BUT IF YOU PUT THOSE IN TENUATE OR IS OR CRASH DUMMIES OUT THERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BLOCK EACH LANE.

>> YOU NEED ONE FIRE TRUCK OR THREE DUMP TRUCKS?

>> YES. >> YOU DON'T WANT SOMEONE

HITTING A DUMP TRUCK. >> I DO WANT TO SAY THIS TAMMY, WE HAVE APPLIED FOR A GRANT TO GET TWO OF THOSE IN TENUATE OR

TRAILERS. >> MAYOR: TO PUT ON THE BACK OF

WHAT? >> SPEAKER: IS NOT A TRAILER IT

PUTS ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. >>> COUNCILMEMBER: YES, WHAT

HE SAID. >> SPEAKER: THERE IS A COMPANY THAT HAS BUILT SOME REALLY GREAT TECHNOLOGY. WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE TWO OF THEM OUT TO BLOCK TWO LANES.

>> SPEAKER: THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE TWO?

>> YES. THE TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY ARE USING, NOT REALLY TECHNOLOGY BUT THE SYSTEM THAT THEY ARE USING EXIT A QUICK CONNECT IF YOU WILL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ANYONE'S FARM LIFE IS LIKE THAT IS LIKE A TRACTOR OR BLOWER THAT HOOKS ON LIKE THAT REALLY EASY WHICH IS A ONE PERSON ON-AND-OFF.

>> MAYOR: HERE IS MY CONFUSION. USE A FIRE TRUCK TO GO ACROSS THREE LANES WITH ONE FIRE TRUCK AND YOU DON'T USE A DUMP TRUCK ITH THAT EXTENSION. PROPOSING TO THE FUTURE USE A FIRE TRUCK WITH THE EXTENSION FOR ONE LANE SET OF THREE

LANES? AM CONFUSED BY THAT. >> SPEAKER: IS SAFER TO USE MULTIPLE TRUCKS BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS MUCH DAMAGE TO THE PERSON IN THE VEHICLE. IF THEY HAD THE FIRE TRUCK WERE GOING

TO TEAR BOTH OF THEM UP. >> MAYOR: IS THERE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT YOU CAN PUT ON BEHIND BESIDE THE FIRE TRUCK?

>> SPEAKER: IT HAS TO WAY BETWEEN 25 AND 35,000 POUNDS.

THE PROBLEM IS THE STAFFING. WE CAN STAFF A FIRE TRUCK LIKE THAT WITH FOUR PEOPLE BUT TO HAVE A 24 SEVEN GOING TO TAKE FIVE PEOPLE AT LEAST TO STUFF IT. ONE TRUCK.

>> MAYOR: IT IS ALWAYS BOTHERED ME PUTTING A MILLION-DOLLAR VEHICLE OUT THERE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WE'VE ALREADY HAD THAT HAPPEN.

>> SPEAKER: THIS TRUCK TRYING TO REPLACE THE 2004 IS THE ONE WE HAVE TO HIT OUT THERE WITH THE DAMAGE. BUT, YEAH, IF WE CAN USE OUR RESERVE APPARATUS AND OLDER MET TO DO THAT THAT IS OUR BEST BET AT THIS POINT IN TIME. BECAUSE, THEN WEKEEP A PATROL OFFICER OR FIREFIGHTER OR SOMEONE FROM GETTING KILLED.

>> MAYOR: ABSOLUTELY. THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S A CHEAPER VEHICLE TO

PUT OUT THERE AS A BLOCKER. >> SPEAKER: I CAN TELL YOU, TO HAVE A SINGLE TRUCK OUT THERE WITH THE DEVICE ON THE BACK OF

IT IS ABOUT ONE UNDER $60,000. >> WITH THIS TRUCK AND THEIR AGE THERE PROBABLY VALUED AT LESS THAN THAT? THEY HAVE IT TAKING IN WATER SO THAT THE VEHICLE FIRE CAN BE QUICK?

>> SPEAKER: I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE DAMAGE IS PAIRED WITH A FIRE TRUCK YOU HAVE 500,000 GALLONS OF WATER. IF WE HAVE AN 18 WHEELER THAT CATCHES FIRE WHICH HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES YOU NEED MORE WATER THAN WE ARE ABLE TO CARRY INTO ENGINES. WE HAVE TO HOOK UP TO A HYDRANT AND THEN DO SHUTTLE RELAYS TO GET ENOUGH WATER OR CALL FIRE LIKE WE DID THAT ONE TIME AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO PUT OUT THE VEHICLE FIRE. SO, THIS GIVES YOU AN ADVANCE OF ANOTHER 500 GALLONS TO DO A QUICK ATTACK AND KNOCK IT DOWN SO YOU DON'T HAVE A FUTURE

ISSUE. SO THAT IS ONE RIGHT? >> EVEN THE BOBTAIL TRUCK THAT WE BEEN WORKING WITH THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS, WE PUT A

[00:20:04]

>> MAYOR: I'M NOT TRYING TO DISSECT YOUR BUSINESS I'M JUST

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT - >> SPEAKER: IT IS A CHALLENGE.

>> MAYOR: IT SEEMS LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME TYPE OF

INVENTION. >> COUNCILMEMBER: WERE THINKING THAT IN A FEW MONTHS IRVINGHUBER WOULD PROVIDE

BUSINESS. [LAUGHTER] >> MAYOR: THERE HAS BEEN

STRANGER THINGS. >> COUNCILMEMBER: FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, TOO, IT'S ABOUT RISK LIKE A LOT OF THINGS WE DO. I WOULD RATHER RISK HAVING A RESERVE OUT THERE THEN A ONE HALF-MILLION DOLLAR FIRE TRUCK. ADDING ADDITIONAL RESERVE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT FOR BLOCKERS I THINK IS A HUGE ADVANTAGE FOR US AND REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF RISK WE

HAVE BY RESPONDING. >> COUNCILMEMBER: ESPECIALLY IF THE VALUE OF THOSE RESERVE VEHICLES THAT ARE AGING OUT ARE ABOUT THE SAME IS A DUMP TRUCK OR WHATEVER, WE'VE GOT IT, LET'S USE IT. IT PROVIDES, TO YOUR POINT, WE DON'T HAVE TO RETROFIT SOMETHING. IT MAKES SENSE TO ME. I COMPLETELY SUPPORT IT. WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE FINANCE IT

AND WHEN. >> MAYOR: YES. ARE WE GOOD?

THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU ALL VERY

MUCH. >> MAYOR: I'M GLAD WE HAD THAT

OPPORTUNITY. IT'S A BIG DEAL. >> SPEAKER: IT IS A BIG DEAL.

ESPECIALLY WITH THIS OTHER TRUCK. THANK YOU ALL VERY

MUCH. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. ITEM 3B.

[3B. Discuss the acquisition and installation of traffic signal poles for the intersection of Lakeview Parkway and Martin Drive and discuss the future installation of entry features/monuments to Downtown. (30 minutes)]

>> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT THIS PROJECT. THE LAKEVIEW PARKWAY AND MARTIN DRIVE OUR PRIMARY ENTRYWAYS TO DOWNTOWN. AND SO, THE TRAFFIC ENVISIONED WAS GOING TO BE A LOT WORSE. WE NEED SOME KIND OF ENTRY FEATURE APPEARED WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A LOT WORSE TO DO THE TRAFFIC STUDY AND SO THE TEXAS DOT REQUIRED THAT.

WE DID THE TRAFFIC STUDY AND IT TURNED OUT THAT IT WARRANTS TWO, THREE AND SEVEN WERE MET WITH THE CRASHES AND TRAFFIC FLOW. SO, WITH THE DARK BLUE LINE COMING IN, THIS WAS BACK IN 2011 WITH DARK BLUE LINE COMING IN WOULD INCREASE THE TRAFFIC MORE. SO I TRAFFIC SIGNAL WAS RECOMMENDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. THIS IS JUST A PICTURE OF THE INTERSECTION AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW AND WHERE THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS WOULD GO. IN 2011 THE BIDS WERE RECEIVED TO RECONSTRUCT MARTIN DRIVE. THE ORIGINAL PLANS HAD TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN IT AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PUT THE MONUMENT THERE. BECAUSE WE HAD TO GET TX DOT APPROVAL AND MOVE FORWARD THE MONUMENTS WERE TAKEN OUT AND JUST THE SIGNALS WERE LEFT IN. THE DECISION WAS MADE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH JUST PUTTING THIS IN, THE CONSTRUCTION AND JUST PUTTING IN THE PEERS FOR THE SIGNALS BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THEY WANTED MONUMENTS SO TX DOT WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THAT. AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS MARTIN UNDER CONSTRUCTION THIS IS BACK IN 2012. THEN THERE IS THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL MONUMENT THAT WAS RIGHT HERE. IT'S NOT DOING TOO WELL. ANYWAY, THAT IS THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL MONUMENT THAT WE WILL PUT IN WITH MARTIN SIGNAL PROJECT. IN 2013 WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH GETTING THE

[00:25:02]

IN 2015 THEY WERE GIVEN A PURCHASE ORDER TO GO AHEAD AND DESIGN THE DOWNTOWN MONUMENTS AND TRAFFIC SIGNALS. THIS IS WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH AND THEY GOT THAT COMPLETED -AT LEAST THE EXHIBIT AND HAD SEVERAL OTHER THINGS, IT SHOWED THE INTERSECTION AND ALL OF THAT BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHOW THE MONUMENT THEY CAME UP WITH. SO, IT WAS THE TRAFFIC STUDY WAS COMPLETED AND ALL OF THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO TX DOT THEY HAD TO DO MULTIPLE REVIEWS AND IT TOOK THREE YEARS FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH THE PLANS AND DO ALL OF THE REVIEWS. THE TRAFFIC APPROVAL AND ALL OF THAT. YES.

>> THAT'S NOT LOCAL. WE GET THINGS DONE LOCALLY.[LAUGHTER]

>> THE EXTENSION. >> ANYWAY, IN DECEMBER 2019 THEY COMPLETED THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND THEY PROVIDED AUTHORIZATION TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. WHAT THEY DID AT THAT TIME WAS SHOW THE MONUMENTS AND THAT WAS WHAT WAS SUBMITTED TO TX DOT WITH THE PLANS AND SO, AFTER THEY REVIEWED THAT THEY SAID NO, MONUMENT WAS PLACED WITH TRAFFIC HOLES AND THAT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE POLLS SO THEY WOULD NOT LET THE MONUMENT BE

PLACED ON THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS. >> WINDED WE HEAR THAT?

>> WE GOT A LETTER BACK IN 2021 SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

>> MAYOR: THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THAT.

>> SPEAKER: THEY SAID NO YOU CANNOT PUT THAT ON THEIR.

[LAUGHTER]

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THEY WERE REVIEWING THE PLANS FROM THE

DEPARTMENT. >> MAYOR: I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANY MORE APARTMENTS, PERSONALLY.

>> SPEAKER: WE WENT AHEAD AND GOT THE DOCUMENTS TO INSTALL THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS WITHOUT THE MONUMENT. SO, THE POLE PROPOSED WOULD BE THE SAME AS ON MAYOR PRO TEM GRUBISICH FOUR AND SUNSET. WE WOULD GET THOSE DESIGNS LATER ON IN THE CAN'T ON THE POLE. YOU HAVE TO GET A LOCATION AND BRING THAT BACK TO COUNSEL AND SHOW THEM THE LOCATIONS AND THE DESIGN FOR THE MONUMENT ONCE WE HAVE ALL OF THAT DONE. THAT SEPARATE FROM THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL POLES. THIS IS WHAT THE TRAN 24 AND SUNSET POLES LOOK LIKE AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO PUT THAT THERE. B2 YOU NOTICE THE MONUMENT, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE THINKING, YUMMY REMEMBER SOME OF THE EARLIEST DRAWINGS THE CONCEPT DRAWINGS DID NOT SHOW IT AS A PART OF THE POLE.

THAT BECAME A LEADER CONCEPT THAT WE EMBRACED AND THOUGHT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO BUT ORIGINALLY WE HAD MONUMENTS ON THE LAND THAT YOU OWN OUTSIDE OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE WILL NEED TO REVISIT IF WE STILL WANT A DOWNTOWN MONUMENT THERE. OBVIOUSLY NOT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ITSELF.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THAT'S NOT TODAY'S DISCUSSION EITHER. THE LIGHTS ARE TODAY'S DISCUSSION. WE'VE A LOT OF MONUMENTS IN THIS TOWN. WE HAD THOUGHT ABOUT MONUMENTS FOR THE DOWNTOWN ENTRANCE BEFORE WE HAD THE MONUMENTS ON BOTH SIDE OF 66. I WOULD LIKE US TO NOT SPEND ANY MORE TAXPAYER

DOLLARS, PERSONALLY. >> SPEAKER: MAY BE NOT A MONUMENT OR SOME PIECE OF ARTWORK AND OF COURSE AFTER THEY DO THE PLAN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO UNIFORMITY ACROSS THE CITY. I'D WANT TO SEE THAT FIRST.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I WOULD AGREE . IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A MONUMENT BUT SOMETHING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT'S DOWNTOWN.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE 66 THAT WERE STUCK IN TRAFFIC THAT I'M SURE RESTAURANTS WOULD WANT TO KNOW

[00:30:01]

>> CAN YOU PUT A SIGN WHERE THE STREET SIGN SAYS MARTIN DRIVE, COULD YOU ADD A SECTION TO THE SIDE THAT SAYS DOWNTOWN? I SEEN IT ON OTHER STREET SIGNS WHERE IT GIVES A DESIGNATION.

>> MAYOR: MUNAL WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK SHE'S GOING TO ADDRESS

US. >> SPEAKER: COUNSEL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DESIGN OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND EVERYTHING ELSE, IT AUTOMATICALLY GIVES US THE APPEARANCE OF THE DRIVERS CHANGE AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING INTO. SO, THAT ENTRY FEATURE IS SELF, ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN START LOOKING AT WITH THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN IS LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITIES, FOR EXAMPLE THUS WE TALKED ABOUT WITH OTHER TYPES OF ENTRYWAY FEATURES NOT NECESSARILY MONUMENTATION BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING. WITH THE PROGRESS WE HAVE SEEN IN DOWNTOWN, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE THAT. THAT WAS THE PURPOSE.

>> MAYOR: IT JUST DOESN'T NEED TO BE ANOTHER ONE?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: COULD YOU DESIGN IT TO HAVE A BANNER ON IT SO YOU COULD, JUST SOMETHING. I HEAR YOU, THE DIFFERENT LOOK BUT PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO KNOW THAT IF THEY ARE FROM OUT OF TOWN OR COMING THROUGH TOWN. ANYTHING, SOMETHING EVEN IF IT JUST SAID DOWNTOWN.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WHERE IT SAYS ROWLETT, CAN YOU PUT THE DOWNTOWN LOGO ON IT IF IT SAYS ROWLETT?

>> WE COULD HAVE A MORE MIGRANT DISCUSSION AT THAT TIME ON THE OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE WE CAN COME BACK AND SHOW WHAT HAS EVOLVED IN DOWNTOWN AND THEN MAYBE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND TALK ABOUT WE CAN DO WITH ASIC SIGNAGE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I'M SAYING IF YOU WANTED A QUICK SOLUTION YOU COULD NOT PUT ROWLETT AND JUST PUT THE DOWNTOWN.

>> SPEAKER: THAT IS A LARGER DISCUSSION ON HOW WE BRING THE

DOWNTOWN. >> COUNCILMEMBER: WHATEVER ARTWORK OR MONUMENTS WE ARE DOING NEEDS TO HAVE A COHESIVE FEEL. THAT'S A DISCUSSION THAT I THINK THAT MUNAL IS SAYING.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THE CITY DOES OWN THE PROPERTY AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WOULD DESIGNATE WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY BUT THAT WOULD ALSO HAVE A BEARING ON WHAT WE DO THERE, TOO.

>> SPEAKER: NEON FLASHING LIGHTS.[LAUGHTER]

>> COUNCILMEMBER: MAKE SURE THEY ARE THE RIGHT COLOR.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WE COULD HAVE THAT SCARECROW DOWNTOWN AND HAVE IT POINTING THEIR. [LAUGHTER] THE SIGNED SPINNER.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. >> SPEAKER: THIS IS THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENGINEERS DEPENDING ON THE COST TO PUT THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND IT IS 300,000. WE HAD A CONTINGENCY AND THEN AN EARLY COMPLETION BONUS WHEN THE CONTRACTOR COMES OUT LIKE WE HAVE HERE. THE MONEY LEFT ON THE MARTIN DRIVE ACCOUNT IS 209,000 AND ONE OF THE OTHER PROJECTS, PRE-RECONSTRUCTION WHICH IS FINISHED HAD 169,000 LEFT IN IT. WE PLAN TO USE THE MONEY OUT OF THAT TO FUND THIS.

SO, I WOULD LIKE THE CONSENSUS FROM THE COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THE MONUMENTS AT THIS POINT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING. THERE'S BEEN TWO INSTANCES WHERE RESTAURANTS HAVE BEEN STRUCK. THERE'S DEFINITELY A NEED. FOR PEDESTRIANS TO HAVE THE TRAFFIC

SIGNAL THERE. >> SPEAKER: THE TRAFFIC IS PRETTY BAD THERE. PEOPLE WILL SIT THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> SPEAKER: O'REILLY WOULD LIKE THAT, TOO.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: CAN YOU THINK THAT?

>> MAYOR: IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE, THIS WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION. IF WE CAN BE IN SYNC WITH THAT. AS SOON AS THE LIGHT GET OUT OF SYNC, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

>> SPEAKER: WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE TRAFFIC STEM.

>> MAYOR: WILL THIS TRAFFIC LIGHT HAVE A STREETLIGHT ON IT?

[00:35:01]

>> SPEAKER: YES. >> MAYOR: CAN SOMEONE TALK ABOUT WHY WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PUT STREETLIGHTS ON 66? THE PUBLIC IS LISTENING AND THAT IS THE MOST REQUESTED REQUEST ON 66. WHO IS GOING TO TAKE THAT HE MET GARRETT? THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: SO, WE APPROACHED TX DOT AND THEY HAVE STRICT RULES THEY DON'T PUT LIGHTS ON THEIR STUFF, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, INTERSECTIONS, SAFETY ISSUES. IF THE CITY WANTS THE LIGHT ON THE STREET WE HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL THE CONSTRUCTION AND OBVIOUSLY THE ELECTRIC WILL.

>> MAYOR: IS SO WITH A THREE YEAR WAIT TO GET A NO FROM TX DOT DON'T YOU THINK WE COULD GET A PROPOSAL FOR LIGHTS BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE THEM A YEAR OR TWO TO GET APPROVAL?

>> SPEAKER: THAT'S CORRECT. WE NEED TO GET A PLAN TO SEE WHERE

WE WANT THE LIGHTS. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME AREAS ON 66 THAT COULD BE DEEMED AS SAFETY ISSUES BUT THE NUMBER OF REFERENCES WE HAVE, A STUDY WOULD BE WARRANTED TO FIGURE THAT OUT BECAUSE I'M SURE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE A PRETTY GOOD CASE FOR SOME OF THAT SORE NOT HAVING TO FOOT THE BILL FOR ALL OF THAT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WE CAN GET THAT DATA RECORDED. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST WERE DEFINITELY WORKING WITH THAT.

>> IS ANOTHER PRIORITY BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE. WHAT DO YOU

THINK BRIAN? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I WAS GOING TO SAY I DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH WHITNEY AND MY ONLY THOUGHT IS EVEN IF WERE ABLE TO ARGUE SOME OTHER SPOT THAT COULD BE UNDER THE STATES RULES WE STILL, THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO INSTALL AND PAY FOR AND PAY FOR THE ANNUAL LIGHTING. THERE IS AN EXPENSE TO THE

CITY, TO. >> MAYOR: YOU HAVE TO DESIGN AND ANALYZE THE WHOLE THING. DO YOU HAVE TO DO THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT ALL AT ONE TIME?

>> SPEAKER: I DON'T KNOW WHAT TX DOT WOULD SAY. YOU MIGHT BE

ABLE TO DO SEGMENTS. >> MAYOR: IF YOU CAN DO A STUDY FOR ALL 66 AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY LOCATIONS TO QUALIFY FOR TX DOT FUNDING FOR ALL THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THEN FIGURE OUT PERIODIC FUNDING OF SECTIONS DOWN THE ROAD THE PUBLIC WOULD REALLY SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: EVEN WHEN WE WENT TO A BONDS.

P>> COUNCILMEMBER: ABSOLUTELY. HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK?

TALK] >> SPEAKER: THE BIG THING IS THERE SO MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE ON EITHER SIDE. THAT'S THE FIRST, YOU PUT IN THE MEDIAN ON EITHER SIDE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WERE GOING TO HAVE TO TEAR UP OUR NICE LANDSCAPED MEDIANS? NOT IN THE MEDIAN?

>> SPEAKER: IT CAN DEFINITELY NOT GO IN THE MEDIAN. WE HAVE

TO DO A STUDY. >> MAYOR: IS PROBABLY THE MOST COMPLAINED ABOUT THINGS IN THE CITY.

>> MAYOR: WE GOT OFF SUBJECT EVERYONE IN SUPPORT OF TRAFFIC

SIGNALS? >> COUNCILMEMBER: 100 PERCENT.

>> MAYOR: WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE PUT IN? SIX

MONTHS? EIGHT MONTHS? >> SPEAKER: WE CAN GET THE

DOCUMENTS READY. A. >> MAYOR: SO WE CAN TELL THE

PUBLIC WHAT TO EXPECT. >> MAYOR: IS THIS A THREE-MONTH, SIX-MONTH, NINE-MONTH?

>> SPEAKER: WE CAN GET THE BIDS AWARDED AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR AND THEN IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE FOUR MONTHS OR SO, FIVE MONTHS TO GET THE SIGNALS IN BECAUSE THE FOUNDATIONS ARE

ALREADY THERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I WONDER HOW LONG THE BACKLOG IS FOR MATERIAL? I DON'T EVEN WANT TO

TELL ANYBODY. >> MAYOR: UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WAS THE ANSWER. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE ANYBODY? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE 35 MINUTE UNTIL THE MEETING STARTS. DOES ANYBODY WANT A DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS OR ANYTHING PULLED FOR CONSIDERATION? OKAY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.